Kenyan rapper Elsy Wameyo goes hard on new single ‘Umva’. The multi-faceted artist is breaking out, fresh from a cavalcade of red-hot performances in Brighton over the weekend. Debut album Saint Sinner lands on July 29, and each single seems to arrive as a ready-made anthem. With co-signs from Masego and Lady Leshurr, it’s clear that Elsy Wameyo has huge breadth to her sound. New single ‘Umva’ is a case in point – the shuddering beat points to Stateside hip-hop reverberations, but the icy atmosphere is sheer grime. There’s something else, though, something harder to pin down – Elsy’s flows aim to disrupt, and she’s constantly seeking out new modes of expression. ‘Umva’ startles with its originality, relishing the shock factor while also impressing with the sheer force of character at the centre of it all. Elsy Wameyo comments… “It came from a place where I was writing and I didn’t exactly know where it was leading. I had to say certain things and this was one of those verses, where it was my body – whether I liked it or not – saying, “We have to get this out, because it’s the only way we’re going to heal. ‘Umva’ means “listen”. My photographer at the time, at the camp, he’s from Burundi. When Wuod had done the track, we were jumping around and listening to it and he said the word “umva”. I thought it was really cool, and he told me it means “listen”. I ran with that so hard. It was perfect. It was exactly the energy I wanted: when I speak, you’d better sit down and listen. When I enter a room, you stand up and you must salute. Respect.” [via Clash]

Saweetie has debuted the sunny, catchy single ‘Nani,’ which she’s been teasing for weeks. “‘Nani’ isn’t just a track; it’s the soundtrack to a good time,” Saweetie said in a press release. “This track gives main character energy! This single has been a labor of love, and it’s just the beginning. I’ve been working on this new music for a while, and I’m excited to share more of this journey with you.” The video captures the musician combing her hair before a pool party, twerking in a pull, and doing choreo to her radio-ready track at a badie-filled party. In the lyrics, Saweetie celebrates her glamorous lifestyle.“Plane. Sprinter. Glam. To the club backdoor. Section. Shots. Another club,” she raps referencing that one viral Lady Gaga interview. “Two shows. One night. What’s that? A hunnid plus. Whole room full of bad bitches, it’s a lot of us.” [via Rolling Stone]

Detroit hip-hop queen Kash Doll has dropped a new single and accompanying video called ‘Kash Kommandments,’ which sees her laying out some life lessons. The video sees Kash entering what looks like a formal business environment, looking executive-elegant, and then imparting her wisdom on a group of similarly-attired women. The lessons are pretty straightforward: don’t get fucked over more than once, get the money that you’re owed, and so on. Fair enough. “The video, directed by Diego, showcases ‘Professor Kash’ imparting invaluable lessons on being an empowered boss,” reads the press release. “Since its release via MNRK Music Group, Kash Doll has ignited the streets with ‘Kash Kommandments,’ garnering fans to jump on board, taking flight on social media, and creating over 12k videos within days of the song’s release.” [via Music Connection]

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TiaCorine, the North Carolina rapper and songwriter, has released the official mixed media music video for ‘Bonnet’. Over the uptempo Oxtoa production, she contends against fellow rappers who are, unfortunately, stale haters and makes mention of her gay hypeman and Asian DJ. Tapping into her Japanese-African American father’s heritage, the ‘Freaky T’ singer gives fans a deeper look into her “anime trap” style. Check out the visual masterpiece below to see who wins and survives. The single is from TiaCorine’s eight-track EP Almost There featuring guest versions from Luh Tyler, Key Glock, and Detroit’s Zeelooperz. [via GrungeCake]

Bktherula has announced a new project titled LVL 5 P2, the direct sequel to her most recent record. The album is due out March 8 via Warner Records and its lead single, ‘Crayon,’ is out now. On the new song, the Atlanta MC darts across a persistent, bass-heavy beat, moving through two hooks and an interceding verse like a running back slicing through a defensive line. “And that bitch talk so much shit but she ain’t gon’ say nun’ / If you wanna race me up to the top, then bitch, put the Tay-K on,” she raps in a nimble, Auto-Tuned flow. The song comes with a music video in which Bk rides through a city, finding creative uses for her seemingly endless supply of crayons along the way. Watch the clip and stream the song below. [via The FADER]

JT is releasing the record and video for her solo song ‘Sideways’ (Quality Control Music/Motown). One half of the renowned hip-hop duo City Girls with Yung Miami, ‘Sideways’ comes off the success of her solo single ‘No Bars’. ‘Sideways’ previews JT’s upcoming solo EP, and ushers in a new chapter for her as she comes into her own. “’Sideways’ is a mood! Sometimes women are forced to be friends with everyone and if we decide to stay to our self they call us mean,” she says. “Most of these btches nosey & phony! I love my btches though, the real ones. Shout out to the real b*tches!” Combining brazen charisma with sneering bars and the raucous energy of Miami nightlife, JT specializes in making girls feel empowered and to have permission to act up. The video is a testament to just that with a wild ‘Girls Night Out’ in Miami.

Brooklyn-born recording artist Lola Brooke unveils her latest music video to ‘God Bless All The Rappers.’ The powerful, BenMarc-directed official music video made its broadcast premiere on BET Jams and on the Paramount Times Square billboards. The base-knocking track, which samples ‘A Child of God (It’s Hard to Believe)’ by Millie Jackson was first revealed during the latter part of 2023 with the release of Lola’s debut project, Dennis Daughter, which is out now. ‘God Bless All The Rappers’ is a masterful blend of sound and vision from the globally acclaimed rap star. In the song, Lola professes her respect and compassion for all rappers across the board as she sheds light on the judgment and dangers that can arise from being a rapper. A story hardly told, she calls into action the need to value the lives of all rappers in a fashion that matches the acclaim received for the music that is shared by her community. The visual vividly brings into focus this notion, evoking emotion that displays Lola’s determination to raise attention to an ordeal that she is susceptible to with being a rapper herself. [via Broadway World]

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