September: The 20 best rap tracks this month
Words: Dylan Murphy
With the fresh avalanche of new music landing every month and new artists popping up, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to cut through the noise. That’s why we curate the best new rap tracks to keep you abreast with the most exciting new artists and biggest anthems from acts pushing the needle.
As we said goodbye to the warmer months September provided the perfect soundtrack to frostier mornings with new music from Injury Reserve, Tyler, The Creator and more.
Wiki – All I Need Feat. Earl Sweatshirt
Given the fact his forthcoming album is produced entirely by Navy Blue and he’s dropped five singles in a month it’s hard to pick just one song from Wiki. Couple that with the fact the guest features on the tracks range from Navy Blue to MIKE and Earl Sweatshirt it’s all the perfect ingredients for an underground hip hop headache. In the end, I went for the drumless ‘Promised’ with MIKE, a thoughtful track that typifies the spirit of collaboration reigning in the New York scene right now.
Freddie Gibbs – Vice Lord Poetry
Gibbs woke up and chose violence on ‘Vice Lord Poetry’. Outside of a straight up diss track there’s little else as embarrassing as another artist riding a beat better than you and Freddie Gibbs picks up the same instrumental used in Drake’s ‘Champagne Poetry’ and goes not only for Drizzy but Kendrick Lamar too.
No Tourists – Playdoh
With Canadian crew No Tourists you can always expect one thing – energy. The 7 piece outfit have cut no corners with the releases in 2021 and ‘Playdoh’ continues their rich vein of form as they threaten to go global.
Swindle – BLOW YA TRUMPET Feat. Knucks, Ghetts, Akala & Kojey Radical
Avengers assemble.
Just LOOK at that lineup. I don’t need to say anymore, just listen.
Fynch – Canal Stradle Feat. Gaptoof
Imposter syndrome and the uncertainty that comes with releasing music into the world can shake even the most talented artists. Burner Records rapper Fynch wrestles with this cocktail of conflicting emotions pulling in the imagery of his locality and enlisting production from Soft Boy Records producer Gaptoof.
SELLÓ – OGGY Feat. Offica
Ooft. ‘OGGY’ is the kind of collaboration that threatens to blow the lid off the Irish scene.
reggie – Avalanche Feat. Smino
reggie’s Color show on Youtube blew us away this year and his five supporting singles have been equally impressive. The latest of the bunch sees the west-coast based rapper trade verses with Smino in a bouncy single that speaks to the soul.
Maxo Kream x Tyler, The Creator – BIG PERSONA
Does Tyler ever miss? Everything is huge on ‘Big Persona’, whether that’s the lifestyle, the horns or the one liners. The track has T annunciating his Bs with the energy of a kid blowing bubbles while Maxo looks to shake the underdog narrative – he’s the full package.
40hurtz – Maybe We’ll Be Okay Feat. Strange Boy
The bittersweet closer to south west producer 40hurtz debut album To Wake A Sleeping Giant, ‘Maybe We’ll Be Okay sees Strange Boy do what he does best as he delivers a sermon of tough life lessons that brought light at the end of the tunnel.
Central Cee – Obsessed With You
Two of 2021’s viral stars join forces as Central Cee samples Pink Pantheress’ Tik Tok hit for a love sick drill anthem.
AV Dummy – Man Burns Self Online
London-Birmingham pair AV Dummy’s latest cut rallies behind warped, bit-crushed production whilst tackling capitalism’s culture of excess. Play this one loud.
CASISDEAD – Park Assist Feat. La Roux
CASISDEAD’s return sees the masked rapper take aim at market-researched rap egos and people fronting for clout on a synth-based instrumental conceived in outer-space.
BXKS – Mean Amount
Gliding over a flute sample, rising rapper BXKS is speaking her dreams into existence in ‘Mean Amount’. It comes hot off the back of her excellent Full Time Daydreamer project that landed earlier this year.
M1llionz – Provisional License Feat. AJ Tracey
Sampling Brandy is a brave move, but M1llionz’ serving of lullaby drill hits the sweet spot.
Planet Giza – FTW
Planet Giza’s production choices always feel so fresh. ‘FTW’ sees the Canadian Trio run at their own pace with whispy ad libs filling the gaps between their stress-free bars.
“This my last year being called underrated” sounds like an apt prediction.
Sainté – Summer Is Blue Feat. A2 & Knucks
With a beat foamier than a wave that just hit the shore and bars as smooth as butter, this is a link up from three of the UK’s finest that didn’t disappoint.
Open Mike Eagle – Burner Account Feat. Armand Hammer
It’s been eight long years since Open Mike Eagle appeared on Armand Hammer’s album Race Music but now the pair have returned the favour on the track that’s production sounds like a television stuck on the wrong frequency in the best kind of way.
Miso Extra – 1013
Despite only having two releases under her belt, Miso Extra is making a splash with her original and multilingual take on rap. Having released the bubbling ‘Adventures of Tricky N Duke’ earlier this year, the rising upstart has come through with ‘1013′, a winding track that’s accordion sounds shares creative DNA with the late MF DOOM’s eponymous track.
Slaloming between both Japanese and English, her second release has an increased dose of mysticism and showcases the versatility of an artist that’s just getting started.
Injury Reserve – Outside
Ritchie and Parker Corey are masters of crafting claustrophobia on experimental masterpiece By the time I Get to Phoenix and ‘Outside’ summons otherworldly powers in what feels like getting lost in the woods at night.
Flohio – Whiplash
One thing you can count on with Flohio is she doesn’t play it safe. Her first single since her No Panic No Pain mixtape features adventurous and spacey production that few have the range of flows, let alone the charisma to carry. A great parting gift before the end of the year.
Catch all the inclusions in our ‘Best New Rap Music’ playlist on Spotify:
