An influx of collaborative tracks is flooding Spotify Release Radars as artists release new music in preparation for the rollout of their 2022 albums. Whether seeing some familiar names or discovering new ones, hip-hop listeners will find each artist below playing to each other's strengths in thrilling ways in their roles as close collaborators or guests.
Without a doubt, Denzel Curry is one of the best rappers around right now. Masterful rhymes, unbeatable flow, and an in-your-face attitude combine in hard-hitting tracks like “Zatoichi.” Though Slowthai is from the U.K., he has a similar résumé to Denzel, who both appear like mavericks despite their runaway success.
Although he is associated with the chillwave movement of the last decade, Toro y Moi’s new music shows a diversion into gentle singing atop relaxed hip-hop beats. The quiet, high-pitched voice of Salami Rose Joe Louis blends perfectly with Chaz Bear, swirling and grooving to hypnotic syncopations on “Magazine.”
Here is the headline-grabbing match-up of the week! Electronic producer Mura Masa, best known for an A$AP Rocky collaboration, teams up with Shygirl, TikTok music star PinkPantheress, and mainstream rapper Lil Uzi Vert. The results are as over-the-top as you would expect.
'Love's Train' may be a standalone Con Funk Shun cover, but it hopefully precedes a promise of new music from the incredible duo of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, so cross your fingers for a quick return.
As well, don't forget about the new Nicki Minaj collaborations with Lil Baby. Some of these artists have dates for their upcoming albums, so 2022 is shaping up for a potentially great year for hip-hop music.