J. Cole, GloRilla, Doja Cat, And More Fresh 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.

J. Cole – Might Delete Later

Cole World, Inc./Interscope Records.

Rap fans were presented with a pleasant surprise in the form of J. Cole’s latest project Might Delete Later, which he surprisingly dropped at the strike of midnight, sending the Hip-Hop world into a frenzy. Granted, new music from Cole is always welcome, yet, the circumstances under which this release arrived surely upped the ante.

Continuing to make his case as one of the elite soloists in the game on “Crocodile Tearz,” “Stickz N Stonez,” and “3001,” Might Delete Later finds Jermaine straying from his formula of featureless selections. For this project, he connected with Ari Lennox, Young Dro, Gucci Mane, Cam’ron, Bas, Central Cee, Daylyt, and Ab-Soul.

The penultimate moment on Might Delete Later lies in its finale “7 Minute Drill,” a pointed rebuttal in response to Kendrick Lamar’s not-so-subliminal jabs on Future and Metro Boomin’s hit single “Like That.” Challenging K.Dot’s status as rap’s preeminent emcee while touting his own rise to power, Cole makes it clear that although he regards Kendrick as a brother, he holds no qualms with taking their lyrical duel to the fullest extent if tested.

And given the fact that the length of “7 Minute Drill” is roughly half of what the title suggests, something tells us the Dreamvillain has the other half of his onslaught stored for safekeeping until further notice. – Preezy Brown

GloRilla – Ehhthang Ehhthang

2024 CMG/Interscope Records

In today’s ever-growing crop of rap artists representing the women, GloRilla has established herself as someone both capable of making hits and garnering the adoration of the public. Capitalizing on the success of her breakout anthem “FNF (Let’s Go)” with the deluxe version of her Anyways, Life’s Great… EP last year, the Memphis sensation has silenced any talk of being a flash in the pan, keeping her gruff but sultry voice in rotation, one release at a time.

Firmly entrenched as a household name, GloRilla drops Ehhthang Ehhthang, the Grammy Award nominee’s debut album, on which she’s a confident and brash as ever. Led by the booming single “Yeah Glo!,” Ehhthang Ehhthang is by no means a one-trick pony, as GloRilla packs the project with plenty of firepower to choose from.

Blockbuster collaborations with Megan Thee Stallion (“Wanna Be”) and Moneybagg Yo (“All Dere”) are pleasing to the palette, as are additional features by Boston Richey (“Bad Bih 4 Ya”), Finesse 2x (“Finesse Da Glo),” and Kevo Muney (“Aite”).

Rounded out by the solo standouts “Opp Sh*t,” “GMFU – Pt. 2,” and “In Dat Mode,” Ehhthang Ehhthang doesn’t tread much new ground for the raptress. But they say if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and GloRilla’s approach has been one that’s proved effective and will likely keep her in the conversation for years to come. – PB

Doja Cat – Scarlet 2 CLAUDE

Kemosabe Records/RCA Records

Doja Cat returns with Scarlet 2 CLAUDE, a defacto deluxe version of her acclaimed 2023 album. Tacking several new tracks onto Scarlet‘s bonus tracklist, Doja flexes her lyrical acumen and singing abilities on “Acknowledge Me,” an opening salvo driven by a grand backdrop and soulful vocal wails.

Expressing her dissatisfaction with a romantic partner on the svelte groove “Disrespectful,” the hitmaker then trades bars with A$AP Rocky on “Urrrge!!!!!,” a pulsating thumper that captures Doja “fighting the urge” to talk heavy and accumulates additional dividends. This song is bookended by “Headhigh,” a contemplative jam on which she attributes part of her self-esteem to the support and fanfare received from her loyalists.

Scarlet 2 CLAUDE is a perfect companion project to the original Scarlet and should increase her timeshare on the airwaves even further. – PB

That Girl Lay Lay – “Fill In The Blank (Freestyle)”

2024 Fresh Rebel Muzik

It’s always amazing to witness the evolution of a young artist who harnesses their talent at an early age, which has been the case with That Girl Lay Lay, the pint-sized youngster that stole America’s hearts with her viral freestyles. Landing her own Nickelodeon series and brand deals before most finish high school, Lay Lay, now 17, is a bonafide boss, which she makes clear on her latest single “Fil In The Blank.”

While a bit more racy than her previous material, the Houston native keeps things youth-friendly while tackling topics such as dating and infidelity. With nearly two years having passed since the release of her 2022 EP Watch Me, it appears like That Girl Lay Lay is gradually gearing up for a new collection, with “Fill In The Blank” and her previous drop, “Don’t Wanna Kiss,” giving listeners a glimpse of what’s next to come from the phenom. – PB

NLE Choppa – Certified

NLE Choppa Entertainment

NLE Choppa has built a considerable discography for himself over the past few years, which he showcases on his latest release Certified, a greatest hits of sorts for the Memphis native. Longtime fans of the rapper will find familiar tracks such as the entirety of his “Shotta Flow” series, as well as key collaborations with 2Rare (“Do It Again”), Lil Baby (“Narrow Road”), Roddy Ricch (“Walk Em Down”), Polo G (“Jumpin”), and Blueface (“Shotta Flow Remix).” – PB