Best New Music This Week: Kanye West, Frank Ocean, Smino, and More

Kanye West’s long-awaited Jesus Is King might have headlined the week in rap releases, but it wasn’t the only new material that made waves. We were also blessed with projects from Gallant (Sweet Insomnia), Guapdad 4000 (Dior Deposits), Tank (Elevation), Lil Zay Osama (Hood Bible), and more. Beyond the full-length offerings, this week saw new singles from Frank Ocean (“DHL”), Smino (“Trina”), Pusha-T and Swizz Beatz (“No Patience”), Tyga and YG (“Mamacita”), Kodak Black and NLE Choppa (“Zombie”), and Roddy Ricch and Gunna (“Start With Me”). These are the best new songs this week.

Follow our accompanying Best New Music playlist on Spotify.

Kanye West, “Follow God”

If you miss the old Kanye, go ahead and queue up track three on Jesus Is King, “Follow God.” Backed by a sample of Whole Truth’s “Can You Lose By Following God” (which sounds like it might have been produced during the DAYTONA sessions), Ye raps as effortlessly as he has since 2016’s Life of Pablo. You can tell he’s in touch with his body and spirit, which is refreshing coming off last year’s flawed Ye. The Jesus Is King standout is a reminder that, when locked in and inspired, Kanye can still tap into his genius and arrange music moments that are potentially timeless. —Brad Callas

Frank Ocean, “DHL”

In a new episode of his Blonded radio show on Sunday, Frank Ocean dropped his first song of 2019, “DHL.” Co-produced by German house DJ, Boys Noize, the psychedelic track marks the return of rapping Frank, as the R&B singer once again proves his ability to drop infectiously quotable bars, as efficiently as your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper. As is usually the case whenever the reclusive artist offers up new material, fans are convinced the single’s artwork—which features 13 silhouettes at the bottom, the fourth of which corresponds to the “DHL” cover—is a hint that there’s a new Frank album on the way. —Brad Callas

Smino, “Trina”

Smino pays homage to legendary Miami queen Trina on his Kenny Beats and Lido-produced new single, “Trina.” The song’s release was accompanied by a comedic visual, which begins with a nod to the 1995 classic Friday, and follows Smino as he hits up the “first annual Underwater Playas Ball.” “Stay off my grass like Stanley/Threw me cheeks on da beach, she sandy,” he raps on the hook. “Dat was my first time in Miami/Shawty played da Trina like bitch I’m da baddest.” —Brad Callas

Pusha-T f/ Swizz Beatz, “No Patience”

Godfather of Harlem is a drama series airing on Epix, starring Forest Whitaker as Bumpy Johnson, the ’60s Harlem crime lord. It’s hardly surprising, then, that King Push appears on the soundtrack’s new single, “No Patience,” which sees him spitting another one of his storied crime raps over a choir-backed banger courtesy of Swizz Beatz. Coming off a flawless streak of guest spots this summer (highlighted by stellar verses on Benny the Butcher’s “18 Wheeler” and Freddie Gibbs’ “Palmolive”), and recent one-offs like the Lauryn Hill-assisted “Coming Home” and Succession-inspired “Puppets,” it’s safe to say last year’s Best Rapper Alive has no intention of letting his reign end any time soon. —Brad Callas

Jelani Aryeh, “Earl Grey”

One of our favorite new artists, Jelani Aryeh, dropped an excellent project called Earl Grey this week, and “Earl Grey” is our early favorite. “This project is my best attempt to show you what is going on behind, in between, and beyond this highly melanated shell I reside in,” he told us this week. And on “Earl Grey,” he gives a peek at a genre-defying artist who has a knack for addictive melodies and clever turns of phrase that separate him from a pack of other ambitious young musicians. Oh, and it turns out he can rap just as well as he can sing?! There’s a lot going on under that melanated shell. —Eric Skelton

Tyga f/ YG & Carlos Santana, “Mamacita”

After teaming up on YG’s “Go Loco,” the L.A. rappers link up once again on Tyga’s new single, “Mamacita.” Featuring an appearance from legendary guitarist Carlos Santana, the Rvssian-produced track, which samples R&B group Public Announcement’s 2000 song of the same name, might be Tyga’s attempt at crafting his own “Wild Thoughts.” Nevertheless, if we learned anything from his campaign as Rap’s 2018 Comeback Player of the Year, it’s that Tyga is one of the genre’s most underrated hit-makers. —Brad Callas

Kodak Black f/ NLE Choppa & DB Omerta, “Zombie”

While locked up, Kodak Black teams up with one of the hottest new rappers of 2019, NLE Choppa, as well as DB Omerta, for his latest single, “Zombie.” On the Halloween-ready track, DB Omerta steals the show with his opening verse. “Way them women jump out the car, you would think your mans got popped/N****s on the ’Gram talking crazy, when they pull up, they get dropped/Hundred round drum bustin’ at your top, kick down the door, take all you got/When DB start spittin’ it, you know I can’t stop/And I keep a Glock on me so you know I’m gon’ pop,” he raps over the brooding beat. Sheesh. —Brad Callas

Gallant f/ 6lack, “Sweet Insomnia”

Gallant’s Sweet Insomnia is highlighted by its 6lack-assisted title track, which finds both singers delivering smooth vibes on the silky, longing song. Yearning for rest, the piercing duo reflect on past relationships that have left them heartbroken. “Sweet insomnia/You make it hard for me to sleep by myself, myself,” Gallant sings in a falsetto during the chorus. “Sweet insomnia/You make it hard for me to know myself.” 6lack continues the aching sentiment in his verse, singing, “OK, I ain’t tryna sleep by myself no more/Baby, I was waiting on you at the front door/I can’t get a nice rest when I’m feeling low.” —Brad Callas

Roddy Rich f/ Gunna, “Start With Me”

After cementing his status as one of L.A.’s hottest young rappers on the strength of his guest verses on Nipsey Hussle’s “Racks in the Middle” and DJ Mustard’s “Ballin’,” Roddy Ricch has turned fans’ attention to his forthcoming project, Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial. Two weeks after dropping his latest single, “Big Stepper,” the Compton rapper reunites with Gunna on the JetsonMade-produced banger, “Start With Me.” Both songs are expected to land on the follow-up to 2018’s Feed tha Streets II. —Brad Callas

Quin NFN f/ NLE Choppa, “Poles”

Since dropping his breakout single, “Shotta Flow,” at the top of the year, NLE Choppa has become the hottest star in Memphis rap, on the back last month’s “Camelot” and recent guest spots alongside BlocBoy JB “ChopBloc 2” and Kodak Black “Zombie.” His hot streak continues this week, as Choppa laces rising rapper Quin NFN with another stellar guest verse on the latter’s latest single, “Poles.” Over a simple piano loop that’s reminiscent of “Camelot,” NLE raps, “Extended the clips in all of my guns, I could go to war with ISIS/Keep the strap up on my hip, they say, ‘Lil chop a dyke’/Hit her from the back one time, I ain’t doin’ no motherfuckin’ wifin’/He sayin’ that I’m lyin’ every time I’m rappin/I’m knockin’ his tops, he think’s that I’m cappin’/Put him on the news, we bringin’ the static/Handguns and them automatics.” —Brad Callas

pre kai ro, “Mercy”

It’s been a quiet year for some of R&B’s new era trap-infused hitters like PND and Bryson Tiller, but while we wait, this guy pre kai ro might be one to watch in terms of keeping the energy going. Or, should I say, vibe. You might’ve heard his bubbling track “Baby Boy,” and this week’s new offering “Mercy” is a continuation of that sultry, late-night feel. Kai Ro (who, yes, hails from Egypt) croons slowly, elongating his syllables to stress the point. I hope ’ol girl gets the message. Big “u up?” hours playlist addition right here. —Frazier Tharpe