On the second Friday the 13th of 2015, the Breaks examines the second album cover for Wale‘s latest, new music from Jay IDK, Fat Trel, and Oddisee, and gives a preview of what to expect when Travi$ Scott and Young Thug perform at the Fillmore Silver Spring over the weekend.
Wale’s Second Cover for The Album About Nothing Is Perfect
The first of three covers for The Album About Nothing arrived last week, and it’s a depiction of Wale’s journey. The D.C. rapper shared the second installation this week, and it’s in sync with his the artwork for his previous Seinfeld-related releases, The Mixtape About Nothing and More About Nothing. Back is the image of Wale’s feet inside of the Jordan 4s, and back is a shot of noted sneakerhead Jerry Seinfeld wearing sneakers in a somewhat awkward pose.
Calling this one the “nostalgia cover,” Wale explained that it represents him being in the same place creatively as he was when he crafted the Nothing predecessors: “This one is really for everybody who supported me and helped me elevate my career to new heights when I dropped “mixtape about nothing” and years later “more about nothing” writing this album I felt the same feeling I felt makin those other projects….”
The final cover will likely be out next week, but number two will be difficult to top. Only 18 days until The Album About Nothing‘s highly-anticipated release.
The Self-Referential Jay IDK
With the release of “The Plug,” Maryland rapper Jay IDK proves again that he’s one of the most promising rising talents in the area. On his latest, he assumes his other identity, King Trappy, who is the plug—the supreme drug connection.
On the song’s first verse, he introduces the plug. On the second, he steps back and explains the motivation: “All these niggas runnin’ wild when I say the Reagan era put a motherfuckin’ voice in my head saying ‘Trap little nigga, trap’/So I’m on the block with my glock cocked/’Til my heart stop/Fuck blood, rather pump crack.”
The bass-heavy production from Lo-Fi switches with Jay IDK’s perspective, enhancing his narrative. “The Plug” will make you eager to hear more from him.
What’s in Fat Trel’s Bag? Molly, of Course
Fat Trel raps about molly (aka MDMA) often. On “Molly Bag,” he uses syncopated production from Bueller to discuss it (and his usual fare: guns, sex, etc.) with energy. Deploying a rapidfire flow, he delivers the blunt, crude lyrics which have become his calling card: “Say the pussy come from Texas, I say the pussy should’ve came with a guest list/Say both of her baby-daddy’s died—goddamn, pussy came with a death wish.”
“Molly” will be included on Trel’s forthcoming Georgetown mixtape.
A Dark Ride with Chaz French
Chaz French is eager to carve out a place for himself on both the local and national hip-hop circuits, and his video for “Whatcha Know” is an artistic leap in the right direction. Directed by Martin Amini, the video is filled with strong images like French preaching in a church (a metaphor for rap), as well as him seated in a boat with another man who’s rowing through a red-hued lake. It’s an engaging complement to Super Miles’ distorted production and lyrics like the following which reference his father: “But he taught me how to pour up, not how to get my diploma/How to disown a woman, and live off being dishonest/How to put on a condom and take care of your baby mamas/How to bottle your problems, what a role model he was.”
Despite the criticism, French still insists that his father made an effort to raise him properly. The insight is paired with his trademark passion, the perfect match for such an intriguing visual.
A Preview of What Oddisee Has to Offer
Oddisee’s next album, The Good Fight, will be out on May 5. Its first single, “That’s Love,” has a late-1960s feel to it. That richness is only enhanced by the rapper’s lyrics, which offer an endearing account of what love truly means. “When you told me the truth even if it really hurt because you know a lie was worse—that’s love/When you let me borrow money that you didn’t really have because you knew what I was worth—that’s love.”
That honesty, as well as the up-tempo production, make it difficult not to listen to “That’s Love” on repeat.
Go to the Travi$ Scott and Young Thug Show at the Fillmore This Sunday
On Sunday night, high-energy Houston rapper Travi$ Scott and Atlanta’s enchanting, bizarre Young Thug will perform at the Fillmore Silver Spring for the Trillectro team’s latest show. Judging from the videos of their performance at Webster Hall in New York City last night, they nearly shook the building.
He also brought out Wale (they have a song together: “Quintana”). While that might not happen a second time, expect the same crowd reaction in the clip above.