ON WAX: MAXO KREAM ANNOUNCES ‘BRANDON BANKS,’ TRINA DROPS FIRST ALBUM IN 9 YEARS, & GUCCI MANE’S ‘DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR’ TAKES FLIGHT
ON WAX IS A WEEKLY TAKE UPDATING YOU ON THE POCKET OF CULTURE KNOWN AS HIP-HOP. WE BRING YOU EVERYTHING FROM BREAKING NEWS TO ALBUM DROPS, JAIL TIME AND WHO’S BEEFING WITH WHO.
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MAXO KREAM ANNOUNCED BRANDON BANKS
The silent truth that comes with being in hip-hop are the continuous questions of how will you leave your mark, and what is it that truly separates you from being a carbon copy of formula rappers with little to no skill? In the case of Maxo Kream, it appears that time is now for him to make his mark. Announcing the release of his second album, Brandon Banks, Maxo looks to claim a place in hip-hop that he feels he may be overlooked. Releasing tracks, such as “Meet Again,” “She Live” featuring Megan Thee Stallion, and “Still,” who knows what to expect on his July 19th follow-up.
BLUEFACE JOINED NLE CHOPPA IN “SHOTTA FLOW (REMIX)”
With the release of the XXL Freshman List, one of the most notable faces to not make the list was NLE Choppa. Following the release of that list, Choppa dropped his remix for “Shotta Flow” that was shot by Lyrical Lemonade and featured Blueface. What’s strange is that this track didn’t need a remix, but this new edition isn’t half bad. Restructuring the track, NLE delivers a different verse with the same energy, and the highlight of the track comes from Blueface, demonstrating the power of a good feature.
EAUSORA ANNOUNCED DISSONANCE
DMV rapper, Eausora, took this week to announce the title of his upcoming project, Dissonance, along with the following tracklist:
- “Not Much a Candle”
- “W.I.I.K.M.S?”
- “Nowhere”
- “Gone Away”
Besides the July 19th release date, there isn’t any other information that was provided, which should be interesting to see what the artist has in store.
LIL NAS X DROPPED 7 EP
While some people were quick to write Lil Nas X as a one-hit wonder, the ATL artist returns with his debut project, 7. This EP is a mishmash of what makes Lil Nas so interesting— 7 is a blend of genres and has something for everyone — and alongside his mega hit, “Old Town Road,” there are more genre fusions, including rock, dance music, and R&B. There are also trap bangers, like “Panini” and “Rodeo” featuring Cardi B, but it’s tracks like “C7osure (You Like)” and “F9amily (You & Me)” that create an interesting rollercoaster listen. If there’s one thing Lil Nas excels at, it’s writing and crafting intriguing hooks and verses. His versatility is a unique one, especially in the hip-hop landscape, and his new EP is just enough to show us that Lil Nas X has a lot of staying power.
GUCCI MANE’S DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR
Gucci Mane is a workhorse who continues to release multiple projects year after year. However, this year he has only delivered one project, Delusions of Grandeur. Although, this may be a good thing because this is the most focused he has ever been. This new album is his hundredth project and a fourteenth studio album, and Gucci pulls zero stops— getting some of the best producers like Murda Beatz, Zaytoven, Tay Keith, J. White Did It, Kenny Beats, Southside, and others. Even though Gucci typically handles well on solo tracks, he tapped on featured acts like Justin Bieber, Jeremih, Meek Mill, Rick Ross, Wiz Khalifa, and several others who all add flavor to his discography. While Gucci’s career can be overwhelming, this is a good project to nitpick as there are plenty of tracks worth listening to.
THREE GENERATIONS OF HIP-HOP IN E-40’S “CHASE THE MONEY”
If you haven’t been introduced to 2019 XXL Freshman Roddy Rich, then this might be the best intro that you can get. Joining a class of hip-hop heavyweights, ScHoolboy Q, A$AP Ferg, and Quavo were brought together by Bay Area legend, E-40. “Chase The Money” is a track that you don’t want to miss simply on the principle of just enjoying hip-hop.
TRINA DROPPED THE ONE
Undisputed legend closes a nine-year gap by releasing her sixth studio album titled The One. While most would consider it a comeback, the mere mention of this emcee proves her status to be greater than ever needing one. The one sees artists, such as Dave East, Dj Khaled, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Plies, and Boosie Badazz, who all assist this queen in her long-awaited resurgence.
MIGOS RECAP THE “STRIPPER BOWL”
Thought there wasn’t anymore news about Quavo? Think again… On Wax loves Migos.
The three rappers flex harder than ever with a track to highlight the “Stripper Bowl.” If you’ve been wanting more from the Migos, then this should be a nice feel. They don’t stray too far from their usual, but it definitely doesn’t disappoint.
A$AP ROCKY AND IAN CONNOR SAT DOWN WITH KERWIN FROST
Curious about A$AP Mob? In this interview with Kerwin Frost, Rocky and Ian Connor comb over an era of hip-hop, mingling with fashion and speaking on the hardships they have encountered to become the people they are today. With the three men having known each other, it’s a much more relaxed interview where nothing feels fake; all of the answers are genuine, and as a fan of any of these men, you will enjoy it. Listen closely…
ANOTHER MAC MILLER TRACK RELEASED
After last week’s Free Nationals track, “Time,” another posthumous Mac Miller track has dropped. After a title leaked, Detroit producer, 88-Keys, officially released the song, “That’s Life.” The song is soulful and heartwarming with Midwest gospel/rap vibes coming through. The song also includes a feature from Sia. Being the second posthumous track from Mac, proceed with caution as the waterworks can fall given the melancholy of lyrical content. RIP Mac Miller.
J HEART DROPPED KING OF HEARTS EP
Upcoming rapper, J Heart, released his seven-track EP titled King Of Hearts. This is a project compact with outpouring of emotion, and one can find themselves getting lost in each piece of his music— whether it’s from the beat or lyrics. One play through proves that it simply isn’t enough, and you’ll be quick to find yourself playing it from the top again.
Until next time, it’s On Wax.
-Dyllan E & Hiram