Best New Tracks Dec 21 2018: 21 Savage and YG

In recent weeks, our Best New Tracks series has featured new releases from the likes of Ice Cube, A.CHAL, Yhung T.O. and others. Notably, selections from Earl Sweatshirt, Lil Baby, Peewee Longway, DaBoii, Icewear Vezzo, Rucci, 1TakeJay and similarly-skilled artists also popped up in our end-of-week writeups. Now, with only one full week in 2018 left, we’re back with one of this year’s final Best New Tracks editorials.

This week, 21 Savage, Meek Mill, YG, Quavo, Blueface, Sauce Walka, Almighty Suspect, Mozzy, FMB DZ and RoadRunner GlockBoyz Tez dominated the scene, giving 2018’s second-to-last seven-day-stretch new visuals, singles and projects worth multiple replays. Most likely, you’ll be revisiting these releases long after this year’s last hour hits its final second.

YG featuring Quavo- “Slay”

YG is back with a brand new video for one of the standout collaborations on his latest studio album, Stay Dangerous. The latest visual offering from the West Coast native comes to us in support of “Slay,” Migos superstar Quavo. The “Slay” video comes complete with models, performances on makeshift pedestals, YG and Quavo’s own stairways to heaven, stylish outfits and more.

Blueface – “Bleed It”

LA’s most polarizing and fastest-rising new rapper continues his ascent up the rap ranks. Following the instant viral success of the videos for the “Respect My Crypn,” “Studio” and “Next Big Thing” singles, Blueface serves up another new visual for “Bleed It”. This time around, the controversial superstar-in-the-making and Cash Money West signee links up with Lyrical Lemonade architect Cole Bennett to cook up his latest music video, guaranteeing yet another hit-record and -video. In just 48 hours, Blueface’s “Bleed It” video has already racked up over three million views with ease, ensuring his spot at the very top of the West Coast rap-renaissance once 2019 begins.

21 Savage- i am > i was

Closing out 2018 on a high note, 21 Savage returns with a new — and his second overall — studio album, i am > i was. The follow-up to his 14-track debut LP, 2017’s Issa Album, 21’s latest full-length effort features appearances by Post Malone, Childish Gambino, J. Cole, Offset, and ScHoolboy Q. For the production on his sophomore album, 21 Savage chose to work with DJ Dahi, Metro Boomin, FKi 1st, Southside, Wheezy, Cardo, TM88, Kid Hazel and others.

Meek Mill – “Trauma”

Meek Mill has released a video for “Trauma,” one of the standout cuts off his latest studio album, Championships. “Trauma” is being pushed and promoted as the latest Championships single, and its accompanying visual was brought to life by director Will Ngo. The “Trauma” clip sees Meek Mill rap alongside a younger version of himself, delivering bars about the police state and his incarceration over a sample of the Mobb Deep classic “Get Away.” Altogether, director Will Ngo and his crew aim to use the “Trauma” video to give viewers a better understanding of Meek Mill’s upbringing and trials and tribulations

Sauce Walka – Sauce Ghetto Gospel

Following up this past August’s expansive Drip God album, Texas titan Sauce Walka serves up another new full-length effort, Sauce Ghetto Gospel. The influential, trend-setting rapper’s latest project is made up of 17 new tracks, and carries a lean list of features: Jim Jones, BG Kenny Lou, Peso, Big Baby Flava, Sauce Gohan and Trav are the only artists listed as guest contributors on Sauce Ghetto Gospel.

Almighty Suspect – “PayForMyPresence”

As California’s hip-hop scene nears creative heights not seen since the ’90s, high-quality new projects, singles, videos and artists are starting to flood the market at such a swift pace that you’re bound to miss some of the solid sounds pouring out from the West Coast. However, as one of this current resurgence’s originators and most consistent talents, Almighty Suspect continues to prove he’s an artist whose output is also worth keeping track of. Closing out his best year yet, the southern California rapper is back with a new full-length and possibly his strongest project yet, Almighty. Ensuring the effort receives the proper attention, he is also releasing a string of videos in support of its standout selections. For his latest vignette, Almighty Suspect revisits “PayForMyPresence,” linking up with his go-to video crew at Insomnia Music Group to deliver a straightforward video.

Mozzy – “Black Hearted”

Back in October, Mozzy released the full-length follow-up to 2017’s incredible, critically-acclaimed 1 Up Top Ahk album, Gangland Landlord. Continuing to support the 18-track body of work, the Sacramento star is back with a new visual for one of its standout selections, “Black Hearted.” Mozzy’s new “Black Hearted” video comes to us courtesy of SUJ, Mozzy’s go-to visual collaborator. An early fan-favorite, “Black Hearted” is one of those heart-wrenching, soul-searching records that plays to Mozzy’s strengths as a sage of the streets whose once-in-a-generation talents allow his words to reach far beyond the boundaries of conventional gangsta rap.

FMB DZ – The Gift 2

This past summer, Detroit’s FMB DZ kept his momentum going by releasing a no-frills, straightforward studio project known as In My Bag. Closing out his best year yet, the fast-rising Motor City hometown-hero is back with another hard-hitting body of work, The Gift 2. For his latest major release, FMB DZ compiles together 16 new tracks, producing a lengthy effort for the winter and beyond. Notably, this new project features contributions from Sada Baby, DaBoii, Snap Dogg, ALLBLACK, Mozzy, Kash Doll and others.