#jwords

They are in Arthur’s rooms, safely tucked away from the rest of the castle, when Merlin casually leans forward in the low burn of the fire and lights a candle with a flick of his hand – an action that would have damned him days ago and that still sends a strike of fear and apprehension through Arthur’s stomach. There is the fear and the magic, and the fear of the magic, and then there is the way Merlin’s jaw looks in the firelight.

On Thursday, November 16, 2023, New York City’s Armand Hammer performed a sold out show at Bowery Ballroom in support of their newest album, We Buy Diabetic Test Strips, that is out now on Fat Possum Records. The show was a part of their tour which was called “We Buy Diabetic Test Strips: The Physical Experience.” Silka performed a short set as well before Armand Hammer took the stage.

JWords - Sonic Liberations

Citrus City Records

Over three months into 2021 and we are still living with so many of the challenges that carried over from 2020. Yes, even with a light gradually glowing more visible from the end of the tunnel, COVID still looms large over all of our lives, and many of the broader issues facing our world (racism, violence, sexism) will likely remain glaring problems that impact our days for the foreseeable future.

But as I have stated many times in the past, with great adversity comes great art, and the first quarter of the new year has already brought us quality music in abundance. With the year still so young we may not have even conceived who or what will impact rap music the most in 2021, but I can say with confidence that the projects below would represent some of the best that the genre has to offer in any given year. 

My picks for the best projects & songs released in Q1 of 2021 (1/1 - 3/31) are....

Death & The Magician by Rome Streetz & DJ Muggs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r2AYxN20ZI

Haram by Armand Hammer

https://armandhammer.bandcamp.com/track/falling-out-the-sky-featuring-earl-sweatshirt

Double Down by Nappy Nina & JWords

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2Z0PBThw0M

End of the Earth by Mavi

https://soundcloud.com/mavi704/sets/end-of-the-earth

With The Shifts by Maassai

https://maassai.bandcamp.com/track/the-shifts-feat-akai-solo

SOUL TRAP by Tree

https://mctreeg.bandcamp.com/track/nothing-like-the-sun-feat-roc-marciano

The Fraud Department by Jim Jones & Harry Fraud

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuvDOsGnHPY

If It Bleeds It Can Be Killed by Conway the Machine & Big Ghost LTD.

https://bigghostlimited.bandcamp.com/track/kill-all-rats-ft-ransom-rome-streetz

Hindsight by Breez Brewin & Juggaknots

https://juggaknots.bandcamp.com/track/mentore-ft-dj-spinna

A Stream of Consciousness by Jay NiCE & Machacha

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o79Xex1G6Gc

$mokebreak EP / FlySiifu’s (Deluxe) by Fly Anakin & Pink Siifu

https://ronee.bandcamp.com/track/oatmeal-feat-chuck-strangers-prod-chuck-strangers

Prophecy Is My Present by Asun Eastwood & TheTwinning

https://twinning.bandcamp.com/track/underrated-feat-don-smith-family-gang-black

taurus_EP by lojii

https://lojii.bandcamp.com/album/taurus-ep

Portishus by Hus Kingpin

https://www.stereogum.com/2113831/stream-hus-kingpins-portishead-inspired-album-portishus/music/

Stray From The Pack by Kev Brown & J Scienide

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjS6oTZTTeM

Call Me G.T. by G.T.

https://soundcloud.com/officialgtmusic/chasing-cash

phantom of paradise. by Remy Banks

https://remybanks.bandcamp.com/track/triboro-feat-exquire-wiki-scratches-by-a-trak

Krazy Man by Drego

https://soundcloud.com/tr4620-bandgang/drego-dis-dat?in=tr4620-bandgang/sets/drego-krazy-man

100 Miles & Walk’in by Rx Papi

https://soundcloud.com/rxpapi/sets/100-miles-walkin

Drench Em (Deluxe) by 26AR

https://soundcloud.com/user-565572130/sets/drench-em-deluxe

SEVENTY​​-​​FIFTH & AMSTERDAM SIDE B LOST IN NYC by jaH-Monte Ogbon

https://kingcallis.bandcamp.com/album/seventy-fifth-amsterdam-side-b-lost-in-nyc

GOD GOKU JAY-Z by J.U.S

https://bruiserbrigaderecords.bandcamp.com/track/brown-noise-ft-danny-brown-prod-black-noi-e

1997 by Chester Watson

https://chesterwatson.bandcamp.com/album/1997

Amongst Wolves by SmooVth & Giallo Point

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WXUKV5-EHc

Collection Agency by Curren$y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9zobjG2jbs

Dope Game Stupid by Bruiser Wolf

https://bruiserbrigaderecords.bandcamp.com/album/dope-game-stupid

PANAGNL4E, VOL. 3 by Los & Nutty

https://soundcloud.com/ssradioo/sets/los-x-nutty-panagnl4e-vol-3

XENOPHON by THERAVADA

https://its2000.bandcamp.com/track/terminal-window-ft-marlo-demore-prod-theravada

UNLOCKED 1.5 by Denzel Curry & Kenny Beats

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9hvQGWskUA

Thumbing Thru Foliage by YUNGMORPHEUS & ewonee

https://yungmorpheus.bandcamp.com/track/table-for-one-feat-obijuan

Rammellzee by DJ Muggs & Flee Lord

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpfHIS2z-D8

Seismograph by SKUNKZ

https://franksvinylrecords.bandcamp.com/album/seismograph

Tha YOD Fahim by Your Old Droog & Tha God Fahim

https://yourolddroog.bandcamp.com/track/slam-dunk-contest-ft-pharaohe-monch

Nino Green by Kaimbr & Sean Born

https://ninogreen7.bandcamp.com/album/nino-green

Psychological Cheat Sheet part 2 by Vic Spencer & August Fanon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvDKP8Mm44w

Heist New York by Heist Life (Ty Da Dale, Sauce Heist & Baby Maine)

https://heistlife.bandcamp.com/releases

Next Question Please (LP) by jaH-Monte Ogbon

https://kingcallis.bandcamp.com/album/next-question-please-lp

XL Middleton & Delmar Xavier VII by XL Middleton

https://soundcloud.com/xlmiddleton/sets/xl-middleton-delmar-xavier

***SONGS***:

Scary Hours 2 by Drake

https://soundcloud.com/octobersveryown/sets/scary-hours-2-1

“Let It Roll Interlude” by IAMNOBODI feat. Phonte & BeMyFiasco 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVA1hXEnwnE

“Furious Styles” - Illa Styles feat. Nickelus F

https://illastyles.bandcamp.com/track/furious-styles-ft-nickelus-f

“Break Soul” by 7xvethegenius

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfMyCL8aD34

“DARTGUNZ” by Chuck Strangers

https://soundcloud.com/chuckstrangers/dartgunz-produced-by-samiyam

“Faygo Baby” by Kipp Stone & Chuck Strangers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHCDGh5aM7o

“Last Man Standing” - Smoke DZA, Nym Lo, Numbers, Cory Gunz & 183rd

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmhWtjbMcGc

“10″ - by Drakeo the Ruler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIRJoQFyS6c

“Last Day Out” by Rio Da Yung OG

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB51CUUod1w

“What It Feels Like” - Nipsey Hussle feat. JAY-Z

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12e4v-XlCmk

“Glory” - Tek feat. Rome Streetz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj9QK-NbnO8

“Gunz ‘n Razerz” - Planet Asia & DirtyDiggs feat. Rome Streetz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c80oGyl7rf8

"CLOUDZ” - Mother Nature feat. Sir Michael Rocks

https://soundcloud.com/mothernaturebarz/cloudz

“Overall” by Benny the Butcher & Harry Fraud

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnFQ5v7I29U

“Real Niggas Don’t Rap” - by Babyface Ray

https://soundcloud.com/miababyfaceray/real-niggas-dont-rap

“American Terrorist” by RXKNephew

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nignmGXUr24

“Marcus Smart” - Peter Rosenberg feat. Flee Lord & Stove God Cook$

https://soundcloud.com/peterrosenberg-music/marcus-smart

“Gordon Ramsay Freestyle” by Remble

https://soundcloud.com/remble2/gordon-ramsay-freestyle-prod-by-laudiano

“Gang Signs” - Freddie Gibbs feat. ScHoolboy Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WnXMMOkubA

“Trophy Wife” - Vel the Wonder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h05FxkM9PrY

“TV Boy” - Westside Gunn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3zdZ8v_DvM

ve·loc·i·ty

by H31R (JWords & Maassai)

raps/add. vocals by Maassai, JWords