Childish Gambino Makes His Trek, Quavo Links With Lana Del Rey, VanVan Shines Bright And Other Hip-Hop Releases

Today is Friday, which means there are a ton of new releases to look forward to from some of your favorite Hip-Hop artists. To help you unwind and enjoy the weekend, check out VIBE’s picks of songs and albums you should hear and add to your soundtrack of weekend festivities.

Childish Gambino – “Lithonia”

Childish Gambino is riding on a high note at this moment. After recently paying tribute to Usher with a performance at the 2024 BET Awards, the multihyphenate is back with his new single, “Lithonia,” a heartfelt cut that finds him pouring out his emotions over a guitar and piano-laden backdrop. “Lithonia” arrives as Gambino prepares to deliver his forthcoming album Bando Stone & The New World, which is set to drop on July 19, less than two weeks after the creative’s performance recent performance, CHILDISH GAMBINO LIVE FROM LITTLE ISLAND in NYC. –Preezy Brown

Quavo & Lana Del Rey – “Tough”

Seeing Quavo and Lana Del Rey’s names next to one another on “Tough” was a bit jarring and immediately made one wonder what type of song they would do. It isn’t out of the ordinary for the Atlanta rapper, as he worked with Madonna back in 2018 and other pop stars throughout his career, but still, what is this? Somehow, they found a way to blend their styles into a solid track. Quavo leans more into his singing voice, locking in on introspection and a somber tone. Lana mostly plays the background, but she is more than present to create her signature airy, ethereal soundscape. This is the song that no one may have ever fantasy booked, but upon hearing it, you may not want to let it go. – Armon Sadler

VanVan – VAN VAN

Child stars in Hip-Hop have been seen before, but VanVan’s cherubic vibe and swag are years beyond her age, which makes her self-titled debut album a must-listen for fans young and grown. After a brief intro, VanVan jumps right into things on the project’s titled track, which finds the youngster giving affirmation to herself, rhyming “Van Van, smart, Black and inteliigent/ Every day I wake up, God say I’m heaven sent.” Other highlights from the tracklist include “Playing Outside Everyday,” “Party,” and “Too Bold” featuring DaBrat, Rapsody, and MC Lyte, as VanVan makes her official debut and makes good on her viral fame. –PB

42 Dugg – 4Eva Us, Never Them

42 Dugg delivers his debut album, 4eva Us Neva Them, a body of work that culminates his tumultuous rise to stardom. Boasting one of the most distinctive voices in Hip-Hop, the Michigan native lets his intentions be known on “Win Wit Us,” a trunk-rattling thumper that finds him vowing to get back at his nemesis. Collaborations are abundant, as Meek Mill, Rylo Rodriguez, Sexyy Red, Blac Youngsta, EST Gee, Young Jeezy, and Lil Baby all make contributions, but 42 manages not to be outshone by his costars, as he holds his own with some of the top artists in the game. With the prison bars and controversy hopefully in his rearview, Dugg’s time to capitalize on his potential is now, with 4eva Us Neva Them being a good start in that endeavor. – PB

Chow Lee – “Practice!”

Chow Lee’s “Practice!” is an enjoyable effort. As usual, his lyrics are riddled with sensual bars, but they are equally hilarious. He croons about being willing to pay for sex and asks if he should send money via Zelle or PayPal, and says that he would order “pu**y” at the steakhouse. In the end, all he wants is to get down to the nitty gritty and there’s no time for practice. He fully leans into the sexy drill version of Allen Iverson, who infamously dismissed practice in his classic press conference in the early 2000s. Chow’s constant teeth-sucking on the track is also fitting for the level of pretentiousness he conveys on the track. “Practice!” is great. – AS

DaBaby – “NAN”

DaBaby’s “NAN” is actually somewhat refreshing. His flow on the verses is the same as usual, but he tries out new production and it works. The beat’s tempo is slower than his usual choices, and utilizes more instruments, and a vocal sample. The chorus is basic and repetitive, but it isn’t awful either. Despite his poor decisions and decline over the years, the Charlotte rapper maintains his confidence and believes that people haven’t met someone who is “poppin’” like him. Listeners’ mileage on that claim may vary, but putting out one of his best songs in quite some time helps his case. – AS

Rich Homie Quan Featuring 2 Chainz – “Ah’chi”

Rich Homie! “Ah’chi” delivers everything a listener would want from these two veterans: lush production, impressive nimble flows, a strong hook, and of course, the higher-pitched Quan croons. The two Atlanta artists spend the duration of the track boasting about themselves and it doesn’t get old throughout the almost four-minute runtime. 2 Chainz hasn’t been rapping his strongest the last few years. Still, this guest appearance feels like a statement to remind people of what he does when called upon. Rich Homie Quan is far from the white-hot act he used to be, but seeing that he can still conceive records like this at a high level is very enjoyable. – AS

Ken Carson – A Great Chaos

After dropping off his A Great Chaos album, Ken Carson doubles up with a deluxe version featuring a handful of bangers to give the project further life. While no new wrinkles in Carson’s artistry are present on the additional tracks, he sticks to the script and does so well. Highlights like “i need u,” “leather jacket,” and “overseas” all garner a favorable approval rating. – PB

Stalley – Peerless

Stalley’s latest offering, Peerless, emerges as a testament to the artist’s evolution and artistic maturity. Known for his introspective lyricism and knack for storytelling, the veteran scribe brings a refreshing vibe with this album, which includes various moments that have left us marveling at Stalley’s talent. Short on features, as Benny The Butcher, Curren$y, Jay Worthy, and NBA star Kevin Durant are the lone great contributors on the album, Peerless is a must-listen from Stalley, as he shines on highlights including “Awakened,” “Eye Get,” “AP Skeleton,” “Fine Print,” and “These Days.” –PB

Shordie Shordie & 03 Greedo – “Ride With You”

Shordie Shordie and 03 Greedo delivered the quintessential West Coast banger. They deliver a nice yin-yang dynamic, with Shordie’s more croony vocals and Greedo’s raspier voice. In the end, the collective is earnest; they’re seeking a woman to be a passenger princess and giving her the soundtrack to enjoy a car ride. The hook is simple but catchy, using an infectious melody that quickly attaches to one’s brain even if they don’t know the lyrics at first. It is a three-minute track which doesn’t feel that way due to its fluidity and the peaks and valleys. There is no doubt that this track will pass the car test and have California’s best dancers going crazy. – AS

Jay Fizzle – “Hot N Ready”

Jay Fizzle’s track “Hot N Ready” serves up a potent dose of gritty street rap, showcasing the Paper Route Empire artist’s confident delivery and sharp lyricism over a twangy, hard-hitting beat. Fizzle is in a lustful zone on this number, as he details his yearnings and desires for the ladies in his life. Little Ceasars and Papa John’s promise to deliver it “hot,” but Jay Fizzle comes ready on his latest release, which precedes the release of his forthcoming album Who Is Grizzape, set to drop on July 19. – PB