Avoiding the showdown last week, Wale‘s The Gifted hit stores yesterday (June 25). Already hailed as his finest work to date, Folarin included this West Coast-inspired gem on the Target version of his new album. Mr. Bucket hat himself Dom Kennedy and CTE’s newest soldier YG help smooth things out on this Jake One-produced “Hella.”

Chance The Rapper is two-for-two from the field with these Acid Rap releases. After giving us a taste of “Juice” (which has amassed over 175,000 YouTube plays in a little over three weeks), Chicago’s next big thing returns with the second sample of his forthcoming sophomore project. Not only is “Acid Rain” an incredibly mellow, pensive record, but it displays Chance’s diversity and growth as one of rap’s most promising new talents. Jake One flexes his producer’s muscles here, too. Oh, and if you thought “Juice”‘s numbers were impressive, this track has racked up over 17,000 spins in less than 12 hours. XXL, please put this kid on your freshman cover!

Via: FSD

As far as substance-driven music, you’re going to hear a lot on the internet about the latest release from Lupe Fiasco, as his sequel to the original Food And Liquor has dropped for mass consumption, and although that album is solid in its own right, it’s still a shame that it’s release may possibly overshadow this gem from Brother Ali. Teaming with super-producer Jake One for the entire project, Mourning In America and Dreaming In Color is simultaneously an honest look at the issues within America (and ourselves), but Brother Ali somehow finds a way to present the project in an overall positive light. Hit the jump to read the review in its entirety – album stream (courtesy of YouTube) and videos included.

It’s a West coast thing for Scoe’s new track. The Cali native (formerly known as Roscoe) enlists Black Hippy’s Kendrick Lamar for a familiarly dexterous guest verse, and Seattle-hailing, Rhymesayers-aligned producer Jake One, who supplies the funky, thumping sound, for “Thank You.” The track serves as an ode to arguably the scene’s greatest hip-hop icon: Dr. Dre. Pay your tributes below, and look for Scoe’s Tha Influence mixtape coming coon.

Brother Ali projects poignancy to screens as he debuts the music video for the Jake One-produced title track from his forthcoming fifth album, Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color.