As another week draws to a close, we're taking a look back at some of the finest tracks that dropped in the past five days. These include a surprise from one half of Outkast, a remix-turned-posse cut from Maybach Music Group's leading man, and a stirring record from north of the border. In case you missed anything or just feel like re-playing some choice tunes, click below to start navigating through the best songs of the week.
Related: New Music This Week
Mr. MFN eXquire "The Message 1 & 2"
Before officially dropping Power & Passion this week, Mr. MFN eXquire sent us “The Message 1 & 2.” The two-parter shows off the rapper’s range as he goes from laid-back flow to horrorcore-esque death threats. Meanwhile the backing track produced by Blue Sky Black Death transitions from subtle and vaguely electronic to a heavy thump.
Pac Div f/ Blu & Kendrick Lamar "Cross Trainers"
Pac Div ramped up the hype for their new album, GMB, this past week when they dropped "Cross Trainers." The beat and their verses were reason enough alone to get excited, but it didn't hurt that they got Blu and Kendrick Lamar to hand over some guest rhymes. It makes for one of the strongest cuts we've heard from Pac Div to date, and a damn good reason to cop GMB later this month.
Big Boi f/ A$AP Rocky & Phantogram "Lines"
While an Outkast project might be cloudy at this time, fans can still rely on Big Boi to keep dropping these crazy tracks like "Lines." This one has it all with some funky production and a monster hook from indie pop group Phantogram. As if that were not enough, both Big Boi and A$AP Rocky deliver strong verses that fit right in with the beat. This song gives great hope to all Outkast fans that Big Boi's new album Viscous Lies and Dangerous Rumors will surely be solid.
Crystal Castles "Sad Eyes"
This week we finally got to hear Crystal Castles’ eagerly awaited (III) in its entirety, and one clear standout was track six, “Sad Eyes.” With a pulsating beat, frenzied production and some hyper distorted vocals by Alice Glass, the song harnesses a feeling of pure chaos. Doom and destruction is nothing new for the Toronto electronic duo, but few songs compare to the apocalyptic vibe of “Sad Eyes.”
Rick Ross f/ Yo Gotti, French Montana, Lil Wayne & Gunplay "Hold Me Back (Remix)"
Rick Ross has always had good timing and that stayed true when he dropped his "Hold Me Back (Remix)" on Tuesday night. That night nobody was holding back President Barack Obama, who had just been reelected. The track features a monster cast of French Montana, Gunplay, Yo Gotti and Lil Wayne. All deliver nice verses but the cake has to go to Gunplay who lays down some lines that make you think he should have been on the original track.
