This week Future enlisted Kanye West on his latest Honestsingle ahead of the record’s planned April 22 release date. Top Dawg Entertainment’s recently signed songstress SZA’s first label project released on Tuesday (April 8) with a Kendrick Lamar assist on “Babylon.” Lil Herb got a boost from his placement on Nicki Minaj’s hard-sounding “Chi-Raq.”
The rest of the list includes more new 50 Cent from his upcoming Animal Ambition release, a posse cut featuring Fat Joe, Rick Ross, and French Montana. The Roots also feature on the list for the first time in months claiming spots for their new single and a performance with Nas.
Kanye West Features On Future’s Honest Single
With Future readying the release of his second album, the Atlanta rapper grabbed Kanye West for the final promotional push. With the rappers trading trophy wife brags over a Metro Boomin produced beat—Future rapping about his fiancee Ciara and West waxing about Kim Kardashian—the track features a single verse from each and sung hook by Future himself. “You grew up on J. Lo, Timberlands by Manolo now / Til one day I put an angel in your ultrasound,” West raps of his relationship with the Kardashian and their child North West.
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SZA Calls On Kendrick Lamar For “Babylon”
After releasing a music video for the single last month, TDE’s SZA benefitted from a Kendrick Lamar verse on “Babylon” upon her album release. With Z serving as the singer’s first label project following a late 2013 self-release, the ten-song EP also features a verse from fellow TDE rookie Isiah Rashad and Chance the Rapper. On “Babylon,” both the singer and Lamar share a gloomy vibe atop a DJ Dahi produced number. “Cross my heart then I hope to die with a peace of mind / Piece together my brain soon as this beat rewind,” Kendrick raps. “Nitrogen and propane I spike your drink at times / I make it hard to swallow this game, you throw up every line.”
The original video release of “Babylon” is available below.
Nicki Minaj Releases Surprise Single Featuring Lil Herb
Following up the controversy-stirring “Lookin Ass Nigga” in February of this year, Nicki Minaj surprised fans with an appearance from Lil Herb on her recently released “Chi-Raq.” Posting the song to her Soundcloud account earlier this week, Minaj apparently included a vocal sample pulled from the Cameron Diaz starring The Other Woman, a movie Minaj reportedly has a supporting role in. In her verse, Minaj addresses front-on the controversy started by her recent single. “Malcolm X daughter came at me / Lookin’ ass niggas ain’t happy / Rolled out with some Latin Kings / And some eses in them plain khakis.”
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Speaking with Complex earlier this week, Lil Herb described his surprise at having Minaj reach out to him and the effect of her naming the song after his city. “I don’t even really pay attention to it,” he said of the song’s title. “I don’t think it was a bad idea or a bad anything. I mean, she reached out to me, to put me on the song. She’s rapping about shit that’s going on in Chicago. That’s what I rap about. That’s what I’m known for. That’s what she reached out to me for. So why would we rap about flowers and heart shapes?
This Week’s Top 10
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2. SZA f. Kendrick Lamar – “Babylon”
3. Nicki Minaj f. Lil Herb – “Chi-Raq”
4. ScHoolboy Q & Ab-Soul – Premiere “Druggys Wit Hoes 3”
5. 50 Cent f. Trey Songz – “Smoke [Prod. Dr. Dre & Dawaun Parker]”
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6.Fat Joe f. Rick Ross, French Montana & Tiara Thomas – “Another Day”
7. The Roots – “When The People Cheer”
8. 50 Cent f. Joe – “Big Rich Town” [Video]
9. J. Cole & Andre 3000 – “Frank Sinatra”
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10. Nas f. Q-Tip & The Roots – “One Love” And “The World Is Yours” The Tonight Show Performances [Video]
RELATED: Kanye West Requested Otis Redding, Mobb Deep-Style Beat From Producer Evian Christ
