Young M.A‘s talent as a rapper is undeniable, but for a while now her career has been beset by speculation about her mental health and general well-being. It hasn’t helped that the last solo song M.A released, ‘Aye Day Per Day,’ came out in May 2022, with few updates since. Without warning, M.A shared a new song on Sunday called ‘Open Scars.’ The track acknowledges the controversies and gives some context to her struggles: “For the past three years I let my fans down / I lost faith and I couldn’t understand how,” she raps before hinting at a new sober lifestyle. “Without the Henny I see everything clear now.” Interlaced throughout the song’s music video are clips from a 2018 episode of The Therapist where M.A discusses her trauma and coping mechanisms. M.A has never shied away from laying out her whole heart on a track before, but ‘Open Scars’ might be one of her most vulnerable turns yet. [via The FADER]

Dai Burger is making waves in New York City’s vibrant queer rap scene with the release of her latest confident anthem, ‘Whole A$$ Mood (W.A.M.).’ As the lead single off her upcoming EP Dai Dreamin, dropping in February 2024, this track showcases Dai’s smooth flow and bold lyrics celebrating self-love. Over an infectious trap beat Dai exudes effortless charisma while proclaiming herself a whole vibe. Her lines are clever yet conversational as she asserts her self-worth and relishes her carefree lifestyle, and the sound is vibrant and assured – perfectly capturing Dais’s essence. The music video is just as striking as the song itself. Decked out in stylish athleisure wear and colorful balaclavas, Dai and her squad dance and cruise around the city in a convertible. The visuals radiate confidence and unbounded joy. As Dai takes the spotlight, it’s clear she’s an artist to keep on your radar. [via Earmilk]

East London’s Teezandos has come through with another hard hitting banger ‘Come From’. Undeniably one of the coldest rappers in the game, Teezandos has consistently dropped tracks with a hard edge, belying the idea that some people think that female artists cant do Drill as well as their male counterparts. In fact, some of the hottest raising talents in the industry that find themselves tackling Drill instrumentals are female, with the likes of Cristale and Teezandos just being a few that are leading the charge. [via GRM Daily]

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Primed for a red-hot summer, Memphis rapper, magnetic personality, and visionary rarity A.R. The Mermaid shares a brand new single entitled ‘Suki’. Once again, she rolls through with clever and quotable bars. The track continues to illuminate her dynamic presence as she exudes attitude and charisma all at once in between a buoyant beat. [via The Hype Mag]

Flo Milli recently teamed up with the good folks over at 7-Eleven. The convenience store chain is looking to promote its new Slurpees, and they have done so by commissioning a new song. Milli is among some of the best artists to ask for this kind of thing, and as it turns out, the collaboration works incredibly well. The song is called ‘Anything Flows,’ and it features Maiya The Don, 2Rare, and Kari Faux. Immediately upon turning on the track, you are met with some awesome, uptempo production. Overall, the beat is something that complements the stylings of every artist here. Moreover, we have Flo Milli on the hook, who brings some truly infectious energy to the while thing. From there, Maiya The Don comes through with a standout verse that will most definitely create a few fans. 2Rare and Kari Faux are also great on this cut, and they continue to show why they are rising stars in the industry. [via Hot New Hip Hop]

In celebration of Hip Hop’s monumental 50th birthday, Mass Appeal, Google Pixel, and Sony Music Entertainment’s Certified have come together to spotlight female voices within the genre through the dynamic ‘Pixel RePresents’ content series. This series will feature the most promising female artists in Hip Hop reimagining classic tracks. New York rap star Lola Brooke leads the charge, whose highly anticipated release, ‘Blind Em,’ offers a fresh interpretation of Clipse’s chart-topping hit, ‘Grindin.’ The single’s artwork was captured using the exceptional Real Tone technology of the Google Pixel camera, ensuring an accurate representation of all skin tones. “Fifty years of Hip Hop— it’s an honor to be called on by Google and Mass Appeal to celebrate the culture this way,” said Lola Brooke. “From reinterpreting one of my favorite records Grindin’ by Clipse to capturing all the magic on a Google Pixel phone, every part felt like a celebration. It’s dope to see how it all came out, and I’m happy to have gotten the chance to create art that I can always look back on and cherish. “ [via The Source]

As many creatives do, Chika has been channelling her feelings into art. On her second single of 2023, the quick-witted star connected with Freddie Gibbs to play a game of ‘TRUTH OR DARE.’ [via Hot New Hip Hop]

Toronto-based musical giant, Haviah Mighty releases a track that pays homage to her family, ‘Zoom Zoom,’ ahead of her anticipated Crying Crystals album out on July 14. ‘Zoom Zoom’ features her sister, Omega Mighty and digs deep into traditional Afro-beats and R&B elements that we heard on her single from earlier this year, ‘Room Service,’ but with more upbeat/dancehall-leaning energy that we heard on her most recent single ‘Huh.’ It’s a perfect foreshadowing of the breadth and excitement to come on her record next month. Of the track, Haviah Mighty says, “‘Zoom Zoom’ is a reflection of the regret of truly letting someone go. It’s a rapid change of the mind, with ‘Zoom Zoom’ being a metaphor for rushing back to the one you love. In my first verse, I paint the picture. I’m single and l only, but confident: ‘Hard shell, porcupine, a cactus,’ yet still, ‘I been thinking ‘bout you lately. All this time I’m trying to break free.”

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West London rapper, singer and songwriter Br3nya has returned with visuals for her brand-new single, ‘Payday’. Following a brief hiatus, the track re-introduces the West Londoner and demonstrates her ability to merge sultry vocals with smooth rap flows whilst maintaining a seamless delivery. Gliding across an ethereal production from frequent collaborator MadeInParis, her distinct afro-infused sonic remains at the core of her artistry as she encourages listeners to have faith in their journey to success. ‘Payday’ demonstrates her love for her work and sees her laser-focused on reaching her goals and providing for her loved ones. [via GRM Daily]

A few weeks after dropping her powerful new single of in your face hip hop, NIASHA has readied an appropriately fierce and fiery visual accompaniment, with the video for ‘MOVE’ streaming now. A bass-heavy production courtesy of BLUM, ‘MOVE’ features a hypnotic, groove-laden rhythm section with NIASHA’s commanding, self-assured, rapid-fire, tongue-twisting rhymes that “harnesses her pent-up impatience towards industry gatekeepers”. The music video, produced by 76M Films, sees these themes translated literally, as NIASHA effortlessly moves her way through a series of scenes and styles, unrestrained and not being held back. On the music video, NIASHA says, “It’s bold, it’s edgy, it’s MAIN CHARACTER ENERGY. ‘MOVE’ is a movement of legacy, of showing up for yourself and your community. It’s an ode to the African philosophy of “ubuntu”, that translates to “I am because we all are.” Any obstruction and naysayer needs to MOVE out of the way.” [via Pilerats]

BIA has returned with ‘I’m That Bitch,’ a hard-hitting track featuring Timbaland. Co-produced by and featuring ad-libs from Timbo, ‘I’m That Bitch’ sees the Massachusetts rapper delivering plenty of braggadocio over a drill-influenced beat. It’s accompanied by a flashy video directed by Mike Ho, which features BIA sporting a series of futuristic outfits. For the cover art of the single, she also showed off a Missy Elliott-inspired fit. “Had to serve this look on the cover for the STYLE ICON,” she wrote in a post on Instagram. [via Complex]

Coming through with a new tune dubbed ‘Okay Twin’ is south London spitter Queenie. Teaming up with Mazza, Queenie creates a hard-hitting drill cut that she uses to prove she’s in a league of her own. Shot in a studio, the visuals are dominated by an icy blue hue that go hand in hand with the cold offering. [via GRM Daily]

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Rising star Dreya Mac has been on a run for the past year or so and she looks to maintain that with the release of new single ‘Square Up’. The rapper and dancer brings some energetic flows to an off kilter and sample driven instrumental, that lends itself way to her lively cadence. [via GRM Daily]

Mulalo is quickly becoming the most iconic rapper out of Australia, solidifying her amazing energy, aura and voice with her newest single ‘Tracy Grimshaw’. The track showcases that Mulalo is a part of a new wave of Australian music, one that is not afraid to be brash and confident and present ideas that are beyond the typical state of mind of traditional Australian music cultures. This one is a must listen, especially its amazing outro. [via Purple Sneakers]

Bronx drill rapper Ice Spice is back with the video for her new single ‘Munch (Feelin’ U).’ It’s the follow-up to ‘No Clarity’ and ‘Name of Love.’ When she announced the single’s release date, she shared a screenshot of an apparent DM from Drake: “That munch and your on the radar freestyle hard af I’mma play em on our radio show.” [via Pitchfork]

Megan Thee Stallion has shared a black and white video for ‘Her’ from her new album Traumazine. The Houston rapper, who surprise announced her new record just a day before it was released last week, recently performed the track in New York’s Central Park. Now, Megan has dropped a stylish new clip directed by Colin Tilley, which you can view below. [via NME]

West London’s Br3nya is back with a new single dubbed ‘Kumasi’. Despite being her first solo track of the year, Br3nya’s as confident as ever on ‘Kumasi’ where she effortlessly lets off her bars to create a fun-filled drop. [via GRM Daily]

With her Clean Slate EP out now, Cardiff rhymer Juice Menace has decided to release visuals for one of the more personal songs on the project, ‘Me vs Me’. Detailing her personal journey, Juice lets herself be vulnerable and allows the listeners in on how she’s been feeling lately. Certain things in life and the music industry have led to her becoming antisocial, emphasising how the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. She lays out countless noteworthy and hard-hitting bars, such as “I heard them say that money is what makes the world turn, but the value of your life will never equal what you earn.” Juice’s inner battles have shaped her into having a wise mentality and in ‘Me Vs Me’, she gives us all a little piece of her brilliant mind. [via GRM Daily]

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