J. Cole Unveils Rare Gems, Gunna Flexes, Rob49 Locks In, And Other New Hip-Hop Releases To VIBE To

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.

J. Cole – 2014 Forest Hills Drive (10 Year Anniversary Edition)

The greatest music ages finely with the passage of time, as is the case with J. Cole’s classic 2014 Forest Hills Drive album.

In celebration of the 10-year anniversary of its release, J. Cole unleashed a special deluxe edition of the album, consisting of eight new songs recorded during his Born Sinner and 2014 FHD eras.

These tracks must have been vaulted for the sake of creative cohesion, as much of the material rivals the more acclaimed selections on the actual album.

On “Die Together,” Cole delves into an imaginative chamber, as he paints a picture in which his aspirations of fatherhood are dashed due to a botched drug deal. In contrast, “Judgement Day” tells the tale of a man whose life is upended by a conniving woman, driving him to the point of murder.

Glimpses into his homelife during his childhood are provided on “Winter Wonderland,” while “Black Man In Hollywood” is delivered from the vantage point of a famous and accomplished figure basking in the spoils of the rap game.

Breaking the “no features” precedent he first set on 2014 Forest Hills Drive with the Bones Thugs-N-Harmony-assisted tune, “Miles,” this anniversary edition is a stellar companion piece and breathes new life into what was already a timeless body of work. – Preezy Brown

Gunna – “Got Damn”

Gunna’s “Got Damn” is a smooth track. The production is nice, a lot less layered than his usual efforts but it still works.

The hook is simple but effective, with the repetitive refrain being “got damn.” It’s his typical flex-type record, outlining his lavish spending, work ethic, and experiences with women.

His less animated delivery makes the record get a little boring toward the end. Thankfully, the song is just a few seconds longer than two and a half minutes so by the time it could overstay its welcome, it’s over.

This doesn’t compare to some of the hits he has dropped in 2024, but it’s solid. – Armon Sadler

Rob49 – “On Sight”

Rob49 keeps his usual big energy on “On Sight.” His New Orleans drawl floats over the speedy hi-hats and rapid drum pattern.

He vividly describes his sexual escapades and drug use but makes sure women know that as soon as he sees them, he is ready for things to go down.

The record is breezy, clocking in at just under two minutes and it works. If this is what he has coming in 2025, it’s a nice preview.

There’s even a woman talking at the end expressing her willingness to do whatever he wants, furthering his resounding point through all of “On Sight.” Strong effort. – AS

Boldy James – Hidden In Plain Sight

Only lord knows what’s gotten into Boldy James.

Sure, he’s widely regarded as one of the premier street orators in the game today, but his rhyme spree reaches another level on Hidden in Plain Sight, a project in which he delivers another impressive collection before the end of the year.

Teaming up with producer whothehelliscarlo, Boldy gets things clicking from the onset with “I.S.D.A.M.L.,” shunning an introduction for slick couplets about his illicit dealings.

Navigating atop an infectious sample on “Dirty Dancing,” Boldy coordinates missions alongside Conway the Machine and Styles P on the EP’s title track, while King Hendrick$ and Zelooperz make appearances on “1st & 15th” and “Big Wigs,” respectively.

His fifth release of the year, Hidden in Plain Sight is likely Boldy’s last drop of 2024. However, given his track record, the odds of him spinning the block again prior to the ball drop are ones we wouldn’t bet against. – PB

Mozzy and Kalan.FrFr – Lucky Her

Mozzy and Kalan.FrFr combine their talents for Lucky Her, the Cali reps’ first collaborative project, which finds the pair shifting their attention towards the ladies for the greater portion of the album.

On “My Hood,” Kalan exposes a female companion to the streets that shaped and molded him, before he and Mozzy angle for “Eggs In The Morning,” putting forth their charming sensibilities while bringing new meaning to breakfast in bed.

The late-night rendezvous continue on “Run Em Over, however, some of the more memorable moments come when Mozzy and Kalan enlist outside forces, as Rob49 (“BBL”), Skilla Baby (“Size Me Up”) and Shordie Shordie (“Eulogy”) all contribute solid performances.

Balancing the lady-driven numbers with more sobering fare, such as “Where I Come From,” the upside of Lucky Her far outweighs it downs, as both Mozzy and Kalan add another round of firepower to their respective discogs. – PB

Peysoh – Peysoh Did It

Los Angeles rapper Peysoh’s performance on Kendrick Lamar’s chart-topping GNX album has boosted his profile in a major way.

The rising upstart looks to build upon that buzzworthy showing with the release of his new EP, Peysoh Did It, a five-track affair on which the West Coast rep’s nasally tone and lackadaisical flow lull new converts into his listenership.

Named after his catchphrase on K.Dot’s title track, the project kicks off with “Aint As Evil As Me,” as Peysoh details his devilish tendencies atop haunting keys, 808s and synths before branding himself as “the reaper wearing diamonds” on the equally brooding “Not Me.”

Rounded out by the terse salvo “What’s Beef” and the horn and bass-happy outro “Let Em Run,” Peysoh Did It is a favorable introduction to its namesakes stylings, as he mixes cocksure flair with the realism gleaned from his experiences on the turf – PB

Bay Swag & 42 Dugg – “Drank”

Bay Swag stepped away from his usual sexy drill style and went a bit more trappy on “Drank.”

One of the biggest critiques of this new fad is that its innovators can only do that, but the Queens rapper showed otherwise with a fluid flow and good punchlines.

Swag’s goal here was to flex on his exes, have a good time, and show off his cash flow. 42 Dugg joined the fun and, surprisingly, he did not have his signature whistle in tow.

He matched Bay’s energy seamlessly, speeding up his flow just a little bit but not leaving behind any of the bravado that Bay Swag began the record with. This is a trunk rattler for sure. – AS

41, Tata, Jenn Carter Featuring Kyle Richh – “Chill Guy”

41, Tata, Jenn Carter and Kyle Richh took the “Chill Guy” memes and turn them into their signature abrasive drill sounds.

Once you get past the hilarity of the record, it is actually a salient message and the way they blend drill and Jersey club is great once again.

It’s an undeniable bop you can’t help moving your head too or even getting sturdy. The variation of their vocals also makes it enjoyable; you get high pitches, brooding delivery, and nimble flows. “

You forgot that I’m chill, I’m really real” is an Instagram caption for years. This is some good stuff. – AS

Tre Loaded and BigXthaPlug – “Another Whip (Remix)”

Memphis native Tre Loaded doubles back with the remix to his breakout hit, “Another Whip,” this time hooking up with BigXthaPlug, as the pair shut down the dealership.

Fresh off their Take Care Tour, which BigX headlined and Tre Loaded served as the opening act on, the chemistry built during that trek is evident on this collaboration.

Taking turns attacking the bouncy, guitar-laden instrumental, Tre and his Texan counterpart bask in the joy of totaling luxury whips, only to replace them immediately.

Such is the life of a rap star, we guess. That said, “Another Whip (Remix)” packs enough appeal to make us regular Joes and Janes relish the feel, albeit vicariously. – PB

Kelz2busy – “Body2body”

Kelz2busy’s “Body2body” is one of those airy, “vibe” type records that hit hard. It leans toward the R&B side of things, but his swag and cadence has Hip-Hop DNA in it for sure.

He benefits from the blending of the genres in this era, as many rappers try to sing and he goes full falsetto with a hint of autotune. There’s lust, playfulness, and confidence oozing all throughout this track.

And if that isn’t enough, there’s a breakdown at the end of the song where the beat slows down in a Drake-like fashion and the background vocals take over. Needless to say, the essence of the track is befitting of the title. – AS

See More New Hip-Hop Releases Below

G Herbo – Greatest Rapper Alive

Stream G Herbo’s Greatest Rapper Alive. Mixtape Here.

SahBabii – Saaheem (A Lu Bit More)

IDK – “Flow”

Casey Veggies – Caught Up In The Game