June: 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.
Gone are the days where rapping was confined to the traditional sounds of hip hop; with the evolution of drill, grime and other emerging sounds, a flurry of acts are pushing the artform into unfamiliar territory and making moves on their own terms.
June was a stand out month in 2021 for new music, with Tyler, The Creator, Vince Staples, Denise Chaila and more all sharing new tracks.
Strap yourself in and enjoy, in no particular order, the 20 best rap tracks this month.
BXKS – Must Feel
If you’ve ever caught yourself an hour deep into a social media binge of scrolling and double-tapping you know how easy it is to be consumed by what is mostly, totally useless information.
UK upstart BXKS’ new video for ‘Must Feel’ from her Full Time Daydreamer project delves into the pitfalls of online insecurities with laser focus.
Your Old Droog x MF DOOM – Dropout Boogie
Whilst fans are still licking their wounds following the loss of one of the greatest to ever do it, we were blessed with a posthumous release from the villain on a track with Your Old Droog.
Declaime & Madlib – All Over the World Feat. MED
Earlier this month, Madlib shared a new song with Declaime that was recorded back in the 1990s called ‘All Around The World’ featuring MED. It’s the first track from a forthcoming album that sees the pair share music they’d crafted together over 20 years ago.
In The Beginning (Vol. 1) is out July 2 and follows a string of link ups over the years from the duo.
Space Afrika – B£E Feat. Blackhaine
There’s something bubbling up in the North West of England.
Having established his name in the world of dance, with contributions to videos for JPEGMAFIA, Flohio and more, Blackhaine has tightened his grip on the music game on a new track with Manchester duo Space Afrika.
‘B£E’ conjures cold fleeting imagery with ease and the peak of the cinematic production is a transcendent moment.
SonnyJim, Buckwild & Lord Apex – The Process
A standout from Sonnyjim & Buckwild’s Coke Le Roc, ‘The Process’ sees the pair link up with one of the hardest working in the UK underground – Lord Apex.
Mick Jenkins – Truffles
Mick Jenkin‘s unmistakable delivery snaps like a broken rubber band on ‘Truffles’. The Chicago rapper opens up a new chapter with the accompanying video that has an ominous horror flick feel to it ahead of a rumoured new studio album.
K-Trap – Maths Feat. DoRoad
An unforgiving track from two of the capital’s most uncompromising spitters.
Headie One – Pound Signs
As Headie One‘s stock grows, so does he fascination with money and the video for ‘Pound Sign’ sees the king of drill wax lyrical about his bank notes as he executes a super villain-Esque heist.
Pa Salieu – Glidin’ Feat. slowthai
Equal parts zaney and smooth, two of the UK’s most exciting forces team up for a chaotic effort in ‘Glidin’.
Avelino – Waze Feat. SL
Painting pictures comes easy to Avelino. The UK spitter invited rising star SL for a cut that has him bouncing from the tea house to the bat mobile in just over three minutes of bubbling rap goodness.
Vince Staples – LAW OF AVERAGES
We’ve had to wait two years for a fresh solo offering of Vince Staples’ unmistakable drawl, but it’s been worth it.
‘LAW OF AVERAGES’ swaps the Ramona Park MC’s sharp-tongued humour for an honest track that features production from Kenny Beats. It comes ahead of his forthcoming self-titled album.
Sello – As Gaeilge
Though he only has two songs under his belt, the pioneer of ‘Gaelic Drill’ is living up to the hype. ‘As Gaeilge’ is Sello doubling down on his ambition to push drill music into unchartered waters.
Denise Chaila – 061
Celebrating the southwest, Denise Chaila returned with a new video indebted to the sword fighting of middle earth and the ethereal sounds of Irish folklore in ‘061′.
Isaiah Rashad – Headshots (4r Da Locals)
Hitting that sweet spot between laid back rap and smokey RnB, Isaiah Rashad’s ‘Headshots (4r Da Locals)’ is a return to the TDE rapper’s trademark sound and we’re here for it.
John Glacier – If Anything
In the social media era, it’s rare to have acts that stray from the limelight, but Hackney-based rapper John Glacier has garnered unrivalled status as one of the capital’s most exciting and enigmatic artists.
This week, she shared ‘If Anything’ the first single from her forthcoming debut project SHILOH: Lost For Words. Featuring executive production from PLZ Make It Ruins head honcho Vegyn.
It sees John Glacier’s unique vocal offering meander through nocturnal and lo-fi production as she marries the distorted elements of the UK club scene with her own experimental rap tinge.
Tyler, The Creator – JUGGERNAUT Feat. Lil Uzi Vert & Pharrell
Star-studded collaboration from T’s CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST.
A wrecking ball of a track that lives up to its name.
Otis Wongsam – Genjutsu
Originally bursting onto the scene as one part of the trailblazing collective OG Horse which featured Wesley Joseph and Jorja Smith, Otis Wongsam has returned with a genre-agnostic banger.
Landing via Bone Soda, Genjutsu sees the midlands rapper carve his own lane through spacey production.
Wesley Joseph – Patience Feat. Jorja Smith
A standout track from his debut EP ULTRAMARINE, there’s a serious throwback energy to the visuals and execution of ‘Patience’. Linking up with childhood friend Jorja Smith, it’s part of Joseph’s ever-expanding universe.
ENNY – I Want
It’s easy to fall into the trap of putting other people’s needs before your own, but ENNY is isn’t compromising on her dream on the bouncy party-starter – ‘I Want’.
papa mbye – NOFOODINMYTUMMY
Equal parts futuristic and claustrophobic, ‘NOFOODINMYTUMMY’ captures crushing lows of financial insecurity. Landing alongside the track, papa mbye’s hallucinatory video is an absolute trip.
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