Run That Back: This Week in Music, Featuring Fat Joe, Remy Ma, Jay Z and More
Music releases started to pick up a little this week. Some monstrous songs surfaced mixed with a few gems if you paid enough attention.
Fat Joe and Jay Z seemed to officially squash their long-standing beef as they teamed up with Remy Ma, French Montana and Infared on the landmark remix to Beyonce's "All the Way Up." The track is a banger and sure to be blasting in whips and the club all summer. Meek Mill and Fabolous also dropped a remix, which was pretty dope as well.
YG dropped a new song featuring Drake and Kamaiyah in preparation of his forthcoming album, Still Krazy. "Why You Always Hatin?" sounds like something that would fit right in with My Krazy Life, so suffice it to say we're excited for a new summer banger.
Just as news hit that Gucci Mane was released from prison early, he gave us a fire musical offering the Ice Cream Man hive can take to the bank. The Mike WiLL Made It-produced "First Day Out Tha Feds" shows Gucci's still got it. Knowing his rapid fire method of dropping music, expect a new mixtape next week.
Adele, Curren$y and Wiz Khalifa also released new music. Check out some of our favorites below.
Meek Mill & Fabolous - “All The Way Up (Remix)”
It looks like Cool & Dre’s “All the Way Up” backdrop is the new rappers’ playground. After cozying into its summer anthem status with an official remix featuring Jay Z, Fat Joe’s banger got jacked by Meek Mill and Fabolous for some real spit. Taking sharp aim at Drake, the Philly native hit the ground running with straight talk, metaphors and flow, evoking pre-beef nostalgia of why the street loves him. Rounding out the track is Fabolous, who did what Fabolous does with bars like “I know the Bad Boys in Brooklyn, they ain't with the Puffy tour / What's up with your Warriors? They ain't lookin' tough no more.” Strictly for the streets. - Iyana Robertson
Fat Joe & Remy Ma feat. Jay Z, French Montana & Infrared - "All The Way Up Remix"
For any New Yorker (or those who live within close proximity like myself), the quintessential New York City anthem hits you like a ton of bricks when it lands. Mainly because for years we sat at the forefront of hip hop, birthing it, burping it, raising it, you name it. Other regions have since taken the crown, so when monumental regional cuts arrive, we can't help but beat our chests and yell. That's what this "All the Way Up" remix means to us. On a local level, it's blessed because Terror Squad and the Roc have finally mended fences enough for Jay Z to get on Fat Joe and Remy Ma's track. Internationally it serves a whole other purpose: Jay's "Lemonade was a popular drink and it still is" line (R.I.P. Guru) coupled with a double entendre that references both "Elevator-gate" and Prince's dying in an elevator is really just lyrical gold. Remy's new verse arguably owns the track, as she spits some fire of her own. To some it may be just another jam for the summer, but for some of us it means much more. After the King of the South T.I. couldn't even perform in New York City without someone else's needless gunfire, we need moments like this remix to remind us that hip hop can unite peacefully when it really wants to. - Kathy Iandoli
Chris Webby - "Full Steam Ahead"
Hip hop's C-Webb mixes a little rock n' roll with his rapid fire delivery in this psychedelic audible journey. This one bangs but be warned it is definitely NSFW. - Jake Rohn
Adele - "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)"
Adele’s latest single from the album everyone's heard of was produced, if you could believe it, by Max Martin. The same guy who produced Britney Spears' "...Baby One More Time" made this bare drum and guitar-backed track. Max is known for his elaborate pop productions, but for the first time in a while, he’s at his most organic. Adele just makes other people great. This wasn’t my favorite track on the album but as a stand-alone single it works wonderfully. Plus, name an artist that can be absent from an award show but was like, “Here, since I can’t be there, premiere my new video.” That’s a bawse move. - Jon Reyes
Curren$y - "Supply & Demand"
Curren$y's been on his usual cruise control as of late. After a slew of mixtape releases already this year, each with varying styles and quality, Spitta Andretti is gearing up for his forthcoming project, The Legend of Harvard Blue, his sixth of 2016. On "Supply & Demand," the tape's first single, the New Orleans rapper goes a little out of pocket if what you were expecting was straight weed raps. He seems to be trying a little harder on this one to put a concept together, perhaps similar to Cigarette Boats or even The Carrollton Heist. Regardless, the YoungStarr-produced jawn is the perfect setup for Spitta's next body of work. - Paul Meara
Gucci Mane - "First Day Out Tha Feds"
Hear ye, hear ye. Gucci Mane is back! And it took less than a day (he was literally in the studio an hour after his release from prison) for him to drop a new track – appropriately titled, "First Day Out Tha Feds." Mike WiLL Made It provided the beat and Guwop had a lot to get off his chest on his first day out. - Janice Llamoca
YG feat. Drake & Kamaiyah - "Why You Always Hatin?"
YG’s got next. He says so on his new single, “Why You Always Hatin?” making a promising argument with bars such as, “If you ain’t know me, bet you know now.” When he recruited Drake for a guest verse, YG himself ended up picking up some of Drizzy’s confidence, and as a result, the two delivered one of the hottest singles this month. The track, which also features Oakland upcomer Kamaiyah, was debuted via Beats 1 OVO Sound Radio, making lines such as “Why you hatin’ on the progress?” hold even more weight. If “Why You Always Hatin?” is any indication, YG’s sophomore studio album, Still Krazy, is going to be a big, big record for the Compton native. - KC Orcutt