Asset.Radio is a weekly playlist of new hip-hop releases curated by OGM contributor Aidan Werder (@aidantheasset). See last week’s here.
Tune in weekly for a fresh batch of 25 (ish) new releases, or throw on shuffle for a random sampling of new music from some of the most original and compelling artists in hip-hop. (Advanced listeners are encouraged to listen while they read).
The goal of Asset.Radio is to paint a picture of what the cutting edge looks like, answering questions like: Which artists are bringing something new to the table? What are the cool kids listening to? And who is an asset to the culture?
And keep in mind, all in the humble opinion of Aidan the Asset.
Kicking off Asset.Radio.6.22.4 (June 2022, Part 4) by shining a light on the underappreciated Money Man. Operating in the shadows for longer than most would guess, Money Man has developed a loyal following with his uniquely intoxicating autotuned melodies, financial literacy focus and relentless street-scammer bars — perfectly articulating the updated rules of the road for the digital streets of 2022.
Following his latest crypto-themed project, Blockchain, released in November and notably accompanied by a $1 Million Bitcoin advance from EMPIRE, Money Man is back with a new project, Big Money. In addition to a number of unexpected knockout features like “Undertaker” with Nardo Wick as well as G Herbo, Peezy and the most surprising, Benny the Butcher. He shines on his solo-tracks like lead single “Big Money,” “BodyRock” and featured on this week’s Asset.Radio, “Corrupted.”
Another notable album this week came from Chris Brown. Breezy is a rare album from Breezy, with a number of strategic features from the likes of EST Gee, Blxst, WizKid and featured on Asset.Radio, “C.A.B. (Catch A Body) — a drill-infused R&B record featuring the face of NYC drill, Fivio Foreign.
Lil Durk dropped the Deluxe of his recent album 7220, one of the standouts being “Smurk Outta Here,” with his melodic flow channeling peak 2017-era Durkio. He also tapped the streets’ favorite new artist, EST Gee for the extremely street-oriented “Gangsters & Murderers.”
Ralfy the Plug dropped his own 20-track Deluxe edition of Skateboard P with a number of interesting features, one of the most unexpected being “Marma Duke” with Money Man. He’s also joined by his late brother Drakeo the Ruler for “Dynamic Duo,” and boy are they one.
In addition to Ralfy, the west coast had a strong showing this week, represented by Westside Boogie’s “AIGHT” feat. Shelley FKA DRAM, one of many standouts off his recent project More Black Superheroes. There’s also Zacari and Isaiah Rashad’s collab track “Bliss,” the underrated Shordie Shordie’s “Pon de River” and DaBoii’s “No You Not” feat. G Perico. Fans also finally got a long-awaited collab from Kalan.frfr and Blxst in “No Stoppin”, two of the most compelling rising acts on the west, each with their own compelling versions of an R&B-infused west coast hip hop.
Detroit is in the house with another hard-hitting mafia-themed single from Icewear Vezzo, “The Commission” featuring Peezy and Payroll Giovanni and Woodboy Gee’s “Too Much Money” with Detroit frontrunner Babyface Ray.
O-Block-native Shoebox Baby is representing for Chicago this week, joined by New Orleans’ red-hot newcomer Rob49 for “On Da Floor,” a hard-hitting collab named after the popular Midwestern phrase.
As discussed last week, “dance” music is making a comeback — only this time it’s hip hop. If you don’t believe Drake’s No.1 Honestly, Nevermind or Beyonce’s chart-topping “Break My Soul,” maybe Skaiwater’s “eyes” will be more up your alley.
The east coast needs no introduction to the dance trend. Newark, NJ’s Bandmanrill has been pioneering his own style based around the iconic Jersey Club sound, this time joined by Bronx Drill phenom Sha EK for “Jiggy in Jersey,” a play on his Jiggyman nickname organized by Jersey producer and dot-connector DJ Swill B. As explored in an editorial last week, the infectious, dance-ready Sexy Drill sound has been bubbling in NYC for a while now. Most recently, Lonny Love dropped his own project, Hoechella, featuring “Go Down” and MHPG Sound, the home of Sexy Drill, dropped a group tape featuring all the sub-genres favorite faces — represented here by “Nyc” featuring Spaceli and the architect himself, Cash Cobain.
In the same vein, A Boogie also dropped both a Drill and a Jersey Club remix of his 2017 smash hit “Drowning” featuring Kodak Black. Kodak also jumped on his Sniper Gang signee and Brooklyn Drill pioneer 22Gz’ “Up N Stuck.” And while we’re in the Big Apple, Bronx Drill energizer bunny, Dougie B dropped a new solo-track, “Uzi.”
From the Soundcloud “underground” (which really needs to be put in quotes at this point), Cochise dropped his long-awaited album The Inspection, with a few eyebrow-raising features from the likes of Chief Keef and Young Nudy, and a surprisingly wide range of sounds across the 13-track project, including the beautifully executed, string-heavy “Grind.” Bonafide new wave OG and original Slayworld member, Summrs dropped his own long-awaited project this week, and artist-producer-wunderkind Eem Triplin dropped a new single “AROUND THE WORLD” furthering his unique, understated and largely self-produced style.
Speaking of wunderkind, the impossibly young and extremely lovable teenage duo from across the pond, A1 x JI, dropped a brand new single in their unique, hugely catchy drill-infused style: “Deal or No Deal” featuring Mabel.
Last but not least is the double-take-inducing collab between Lil Nas X and NBA Youngboy “Late to da Party.” Following his track with ILOVEMAKONNEN, YB seems to be interested in doing the most out-of-the-box features imaginable. While it was hard to imagine them on a track together when the song was first announced, the end result is surprisingly good.
We also have Montero to thank for the Asset.Radio playlist cover this week, modeled after his song’s controversial cover art to go along with its equally polarizing “F*ck BET” refrain.
While there may have been a more tactful approach, Lil Nas X’s message that big institutions and legacy award shows are tired and out of touch is one that resonates with a lot of people — and exactly the type of disconnect that Asset.Radio aims to address.
Listen to Asset.Radio.22.6.3 below and tune in every week for a fresh batch of new releases
