Rico Nasty, Token, NEMS & Ron Browz, Kai Ca$h, JD Era and Chef Boy

This is Friday to Friday, your weekly rap wrapup, going through our favorite releases in rap and hiphop from Friday, July 24th to Friday, July 31st. My name is Jacob. I'm a mixing and mastering engineer from California. And your host for today, and I have with me artist, producer, and DJ hailing from the Twin Cities, Minnesota, Terry V. >> Yo, what's up? as well as producer and artist manager hailing from Montreal, Canada, Matt Kerier. >> Yo, what's good? So this week we have releases from Song, Insight, 318, Dman, Yatta Bands, Cypress Hill, Baby Goyard, Cakes, Tequilla, Ego Break, Midwest, Z all caps, bankroll, Nye, Low Shimmy, Draco, Don't Jam, Kai Cash, Chef Boy, Chef G, Real Boston, Richie, Rico, Nasty, DJ Spins, and Travis Porter, Omari, Lysite, Nems and Ron Brows, Name Bliss, JD, Era, Token, Les, Dave East and Harry Fraud, Tevin Williams, Dark Low and Vdon, MUN, and lastly, Kota the Friend dropped right at the end of the week on Thursday. So, let's get into our favorites for this week. I will kick it off with project that I was a really big fan of from this week, Rico Nasty RX. The whole project is produced by Kenny Beats. Starts with this wild Kenny Beats beat and that classic trap voice that says when she hits that Kenny tag, you know it's about to go down. And she does her Kenny right into the drop on the track CDG Foams, the first song. And it just immediately reminded me how she really understands how to create tons of energy in her music. >> I thought it was fun. It was definitely a fun project for sure. for me like so I didn't really have anything I went back to it. It was like very fun, high energy and everything. I think I just I go back to a lot of like anger management and like that kind of era of Rico Nasty. So I don't know if it it kind of felt to me like maybe something was missing from it that maybe like I could say from it. But I I did find definitely was a very fun album though to listen to for sure. >> Okay. Yeah, I playlisted a lot of stuff. Like for me personally, I'd give this No Skips. No skip stamp of approval. I loved Frenzy even though it's kind of like an SD kid type beat. Honestly, it sounds pretty much just like the beat for LV Sandals, but I love that beat so I wasn't mad at it. Also loves Cupcake. The hook rung in my head all week with the uh Nirvana Madonna references that she did and that. And then Buttad. Uh I was obsessed with that like little low MIDI horn that hits like once per bar. just those nice little touches from Kenny Beats. And then Kiss and Makeup was my least favorite song, but still had an addictive hook and it's nice, short and sweet, so it doesn't slow the album down. And then Rituals was a crazy outro song. So yeah, overall just super strong, like short and sweet, everything belonged. It just flowed perfectly from A to Z, as we like to say. >> Yeah, I've been seeing it, getting a lot of love, especially a 20minute album is I think that's perfect for nowadays, right? like just >> get through it quick like that. And it's easy to listen like three times in a row in an hour. So, I mean, I've been seeing a lot of people are happy with it. The fan base seems happy. So, that's really cool. >> My only like criticism, I don't think it's even really criticism cuz I I think it's like pretty much still like a perfect album for me. But, it doesn't have as much genre blending as her previous project which had like it was all over the place. There was like a straight up hardcore song on it and that was like one of the best songs on there. This is just straight up Rico Nasty, like what you expect from her, like her original sound, but it's just a bunch of perfect songs in that sound. So, yeah, I loved it. >> She went through a weird era of like this is how she sounded like in the beginning, then went through more genre bending and then I guess it's back now to like >> probably what people wanted to hear, maybe the core sound. >> Okay. >> So, if you if you start with this album, it's not a bad like it is her it is her sound. So, like would this be like a good introduction? Uh, if I wanted to check out more Rico Nasty, >> in my opinion, yes. >> Yeah, she's got an amazing catalog. So, I think there probably isn't a bad entry point. So, not an artist where you need a super specific entry point. I think just jump in. But yeah, well, that is Rico Nasty with RX, fully produced by Kenny Beats. Next, I want to get into something very different. I want to talk about the Nems and Ron Brows. I should boom you too. Some really good old school production '9s and 2000 influenced. For me, I liked the boom bap oriented stuff on here more than the like 2000's club stuff, >> except for Yams. Yams, that was the one for me that I was [ __ ] with in the in the club vibe. But it was kind of half and half between those two sounds. But for me, I liked like Unbelievable was fire with the Biggie reference. Krueger mix featuring Pharaoh Munch. That one had a crazy beat, crazy symphony sample >> and the Bar Exam remix featuring Buckshot. Like those ones were more what I was looking for from the sound. When I first heard of this, I was I had no idea like what it was going to sound like cuz Ron Brows has always been like I grew up with him hopping on like those club sound remixes and random stuff like that and then Nems is like a complete different sound. So >> it almost like you said it it seems like the album was kind of like split down the middle with those two styles. like you got like kind of a bit of both, but >> yeah, >> it was nice to see them just kind of do their like what you know their sound but just together. It was nice. >> Yeah, totally. >> Yeah, the single was High Regards with ASAP Ferg and I'm like this is crazy. >> Yeah. >> I think that's my favorite record off the album and I like I went into it thinking the album was going to sound like that record. So, as I'm listening to it, I'm all like, "Okay." You know, cuz Glock Talk, I'm all like, it kind of got that that that 2000, but it still ain't hit me that this album's going to sound like that and bring back those vibes until you, like you said, you get to unbelievable and then work it out and I'm like, "All right, this this sounds like 2000's jab jeans, >> Air Force Ones, Airbrush." Like, it it brought me back to uh it brought me back to that time. But, um, no, Nim snapped on this to go from battle rap. Not a lot of battle rap artists can make that transition from battle rap to doing music. So, I did enjoy this project, too. Like you said, the the um club songs are do sound a bit dated, but >> Ron Brows is still dope, man. >> Yeah. To sound it's like I'm almost I'd rather that than if he would have hopped on like a bunch of like Jersey beats or just like very like modern or whatever else. Like >> he stuck to his sound and did what he did. And but man, I had no idea. >> That would have worked so well back then too. like they were good songs for back then if they had come out back then. >> Yeah, >> for sure. But like you said, man, Nems that there were there were some some bars and some verses that caught me by surprise. Definitely. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. And that's one thing about battle rap battle rappers like their ability to structure bars, metaphors, simileies and and and punchlines and all that stuff. So when you can when you can mix that ability with song making ability, that's when you got something special. But not a lot of battle rappers can, you know, transition over and like have the ability to make really good songs. Like they can rap their ass off, but to make a really good song that's you're going to listen to from the top to the end. >> Yeah. So, no. >> Oh, yeah. I mean, even like the biggest battle rappers, it's, you know, it's it's the biggest ones have a hard time having a career outside of it, you know. >> I'm happy to see him have this. Yeah. I see he has one other album from 2015. So, I mean, hey, if this could give him a couple of looks and maybe he works with, you know, boom bat people and gets into that world a bit more, I I would love to see it. >> Harry, call Harry. Call hit. >> And they're working. >> Yeah, you can lock in with one of those guys. >> Yeah, >> good business. Right on. Well, that is Nems and Ron Brows with I should boom you too. Next, I want to get into token with I'm leaving soon. I'm just going to kick this off by saying it was a funny experience this week. realizing that I actually do like Token. Uh, guess I thought I didn't like Token. I was just like, eh, like maybe this is just a cringe white rapper and I can just skip this. >> This was really interesting. Yeah, he's not someone whose albums I'll usually check out, but I checked this out for the pod. Yeah, and it's actually really good. Uh, lots of great production all the way from like simple piano loop of the first song to all the Memphis inspired beats. Then he has these super heavy distorted trap beats. >> Yeah. >> And I didn't realize that he took so much influence from Memphis production. Um I'm not that familiar with his catalog, so I didn't know if that was like a new on this project or not, but there was a lot of that on here, which it matched his flow, so it was cool. But yeah, the bars are strong. Although a lot of the same cadence, the white boy flow as some people call it. Yeah, the super fast. >> But despite that, this project held my attention the entire 20 song run, which is rare. And it is like it's mostly because of the fire beats, but also I was picking up on enough of his personal story that I felt like I was getting to know him better as an artist throughout the project. He talks a lot about the health issues he's going through right now, which is like kind of crazy cuz he's only 27. >> So young to be having like serious health issues. But I'm not even sure what he's like sick with. But hey, hope you're healthy, bro. But yeah, what did you guys think about this? So I what you said in the beginning was it's it's exactly how I felt where for some reason in my head I always kind of was cool on Token. And I know I'm not crazy. I know I've definitely put it on, tried and like just been cool on it. Uh but this one too, just played it for the podcast. I was like, "Hey, I you know, got to do it. Got to do the homework." And uh but yeah, I was I was surprised. The same thing like you where like the flow gets, you know, redundant. It's not my favorite flow, but then yeah, you kind of get a little bit of like a perspective, you know, a bit more like about him. It's not just like punchlines and and and bars and whatnot, you know, just thrown at you. And the beats, honestly, that's you said it best. It's It's the production. Everything was very very captivating quality full production and the Memphis B2. I I would love to be able to to answer that question. I have no idea. But I liked it. >> Yeah, maybe tooken fans can answer us in the comments about that. >> Yeah, we're ignorant guys, help us. Um, for me just in terms of like creating an album that sonically is cohesive throughout the whole project and his style or whatever whatever style you want to call it, it was consistent throughout the whole project. What got me cuz I don't really listen to like me either. I haven't I've only listened to singles. So, this is my first album I listen to through um of Token, >> but um like the intro was so strong for me like I had to give it I had to give it a chance. him talking about, like you said, his personal life and talking about his struggles. Yeah, the intro set the tone and he shouted out G Herbo, too. I guess G Herbo had wanted him to pull up. So, I don't know if they were going to work on a feature, which would be crazy to hear a song with G Herbo and Token. And maybe there's a chance we get to hear it. But this was a dope project. And again, like you know, the like you said, the flow, but even still though, the lyrical content is what saved it for me. It sounded good in the gym, too. It sounded good in the car. Yeah. I'm like, "Okay, put it on um put them on my radar." >> Yeah. And speaking of that that Gerbo reference, too, we didn't get a GBO feature on the project, but there was a lot of features on this. For me, there were a lot of features for artists that I didn't recognize. Out of 15 features, the only ones I recognized were Puya and IDK. But the IDK feature was really cool. Tokens on medicine. Similar to last week on Rome Street's project, IDK is doing some really unexpected features right now, but he always crushes it and he always stays him. >> No matter what what beat he's on, he always stays IDK no matter what. So, I like the features on him. >> Mhm. >> Yes, sir. >> Yeah. Nothing felt out of place or anything. >> No, sonically everything just flowed and melted together. It was It was actually impressive. So, like I said, I want to try to attempt to do something to where like you have one sonic sound that sounds good and doesn't get so repetitive the more that you listen or go throughout it. Cuz for 20 records, too. >> Yeah. >> I'm Leaving Soon was a good listen. >> Yes. Token with I'm Leaving Soon. All right. Next, let's talk about Chef Boy with the Karate Kid. Chef Boy is a Compton, California rapper. He immediately had me dancing in my car from the first second of this project. short and sweet. Loved it. What did you guys think of Chef Boy? >> When this first came on, first record off rip was just like this is a vibe from beginning to end. But um another shout out is um Fantasy has been getting a lot of love. Luda Luda's royalty checks must be stacking up cuz earlier in the year Cole had a fantasy flip and then now Chef Boy came back with a fantasy flip which is dope. I like Shake and Move, Call Me Poppy, Big Talk. Yeah, I haven't heard of Chef Boy before like this. This I wanted I wanted to go to LA and hear this in the club. >> Yeah. Shake and move too for me. And then Yeah. Fantasy, you know, 2000s vibe. It's so fun. >> It's one of my favorite beats. >> Yeah. >> And another one of those 20inut projects, man. I love those. I'm a huge fan of those. >> Same. >> Well, it's it's easy to digest the music and then you can run it back again and again and again. >> Way more digestible for sure. Especially with the amount of music that we get nowadays. Like back in the day where you got like the one big album a month, you know, different story. But with all the music, I love these. >> Yeah. I like that the features on this project are smaller artists that he [ __ ] with. Whereas the last couple projects, he had other big West Coast artists on them like Snoop and E40. Newer artists too, like Big Sad 1900, Mazy. But this project, he only had a few features and they were all smaller artists. So >> that was cool to see just that, you know, gotten more and more fans from the last couple projects and now he's like helping bring up some smaller artists that he [ __ ] with, >> right? Yeah, >> that was cool to see. >> I liked it from beginning to end. You know, the concept is really is just get money and [ __ ] [ __ ] but it didn't sound repetitive for the for the 78 records that they had. So >> that's it. >> All right. Kept it fun the whole time. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. That's Chef Boy with the Karate Kid. All right, let's go back to some more real hip-hop type [ __ ] Let's talk about Kai Cash with Bars Not Dead. >> Yeah, >> Kai Cash, super talented lyricist from Brooklyn, New York, signed to Generation Now under DJ Drama and Don Cannon. And I've just been hearing his name more and more. And uh he showed up on this project. This this was a this was a good one. My favorites were Make Them Pay, Show Me Some, >> and then I really liked Emo, >> featuring Nico Brim and Suave. Those are my favorites. What' you guys think of this Kai Cash project? >> It was real rap, man. It was um It was a vibe. It's not usually the kind of thing that I I put on regularly, but for what it was, I had no skips really. The whole thing I I found was really good. >> Yeah. Throughout this project, it was a nice blend of you got lyricism, you got u bops, and then you got soul, you got personality, um you got some braggadocious lyrics in it as well. And I played it in the car with one of my clients and when they first heard it, I mean, it was vibing to it, turned up the music and we were just like the whole trip we were listening to this project and no skips. I have the same favorites that you had. I'd add Faithfully to that list though. that was more soulful and that was my favorite record off this project. And I like Too High as well too. Like really good messages on those songs. And then also I think it was winning. But just also again just talking about the come up run and then also just like dealing with people in this industry that you go through who just like you know when you're up it's all like now I believe you now I want to support you and it's all like where was that when I was grinding doing my thing. But no bars not dead was a really fun listen. If you want boom bap you want new stuff. It's kind of like Cole Saba mixed together where you get lyrical concept, you get some fun stuff, and you get some stuff that you could just pop to. It >> was really cool. But, you know, it's this year there's I got to say there's a lot of competition with with albums that are about bars, there's a lot of of of lyrical stuff. And even though it's been very different for me this year, I'm getting a lot of safe, but there's almost like too much like lyrical albums, you know? So, right now it's like they're all competing for whoever has the best production. And this one, I think, really uh definitely brought it a lot of it, man. This year, >> I mean, because that's a that's also like a good problem to have, but then it's just all like, you know, you know, where do you dive in first? And then like what are you really looking for that's going to tickle your ear or separate these artists from the other. But from where from where people were complaining that music was at to where it's at now, I think, you know, it's wide open for people of all, you know, of all talent or skill levels to to to come out and and to do your thing. So, I'm I'm I'm here for it, man. More artists who can spit and then give you some stuff to bop to, man. I'm with it. >> No doubt. So, that was Kai Cash with Bars Not Dead. And I think he proved that bars are not dead. Lastly, I want to wrap up with JD Era 4 for4 EP. Fire rapper from Toronto, Canada. This whole project was good top to bottom. Really clean, smooth trap beats, good hooks, just rapping his ass off, short and sweet. A few freestyles on here, a couple of which came out already as singles, but those and the new songs are fire. It's called four for four, so I'm wondering if it was going to be four songs and then ended up being five songs at the last minute. But hey, four for four was five for five from me. >> Did you guys have a chance to check this out? >> I did. And funny enough, I had never heard of him and I'm I'm the the Canadian on the podcast. And but I will say like when I when I first checked his page, I think he had like 9 or 8,000 monthly listeners, so I don't feel that bad not knowing about him. But uh but no, that was >> pretty small. >> Yeah, that was a good one to put on. Honestly, I was I was surprised. Yeah, I wasn't mad. >> Yeah, >> there's a feature Ronnie that that was on the album that has he has 80,000 month listeners. So much bigger. I haven't heard of him either. So >> I haven't heard of Ronnie either, but I did artist. >> Damn, I'm failing. >> There you go. since 2012 and an OVO. Uh, so yeah, I guess this is all just OVO affiliated. So yeah, man, I'm I'm in the in the wrong province. >> It's funny. Yeah, exactly. It's funny just because like I'm just like, yeah, it's Canada, Matt. You should know everything going on in Canada. But it's like the space between >> That's a long drive. Yeah, >> that's the problem. But man, I'm I'm glad I was put on. And I mean, there's there's a lot of artists over there that I haven't heard of. I think it's hard to get found here where like, you know, 9,000 monthly listeners is not much, but if it's 9,000 people locally, that's quite a bit, right? >> So, I mean, I'm I'm happy if you're finding these and and putting them on the playlist. And that's a plug to follow the playlist. >> Absolutely. >> That's right. We will plug the playlist again in the outro here. But that is all of our favorites for this week. Before we get into releases for next week, let's do plugs. You know, I'm just going to shamelessly keep replplugging the single we got out right now, Neo Geo, produced by Frequency Overflow with rapper Killer Tracks. You can stream that everywhere now. You can always check out our beats at frequencyoverflow.com. Follow us everywhere at frequency overflow. That's me. What do you want to plug, Matt? So, I, as usual, don't have much, but I've been, you know, just making beats. Uh, there will be a new single that we worked on that'll be uploaded soon. So, when that time comes, I'll I'll I'll share some more details on it. Um, produced and mixed and mastered by Frequency Overflow, which, you know, as Jacob has said, week after week, they're always working on music and August. Definitely a lot of things coming out. So, excited to see uh what that brings. >> Mhm. What you got, Terry? What do you want to plug? >> Um, Ego is out now. Video released earlier last week. Working on new music and have a single coming August 21st and another surprise coming soon. So, locked in. about to continue releasing music. You can follow me at yo terry v all the socials. >> So, next week we got Homeboy Sandman and Jack Splash. And lastly, Shabuzzy. >> That's it. >> That's all we got that we know about. I'm sure lots more will come out, but that's all that we know about right now. But thank you listeners. You can check us out on our website at f2fpod.com. You can follow the podcast on Instagram at Friday to Friday podcast. You can save the official Spotify playlist to hear the best releases from each week before the episode comes out. You can find that link in the description. Our intro and outro music by Lunar G. Find him at Prod by Lunar.g. It's the show about Fridays that comes out on a Monday. Join us every Monday to stay in tune with hip-hop releases from Friday to Friday. Peace.