This week the major headlines on the site and elsewhere were predicated by two major releases: Creed II: The Album and Oxnard by Anderson.Paak, two projects that could not have been more different (from one another).
On Creed II: The Album, Mike WiLL Made-It added his name to an exclusive club of hip-hop practitioners to score a major motion picture. Outside of Kendrick Lamar, Mike's album curation may be this year's best; I say this without having done a thorough check, because unless Tinsel Town comes knocking at our doorstep, I don't generally take notice. But with that said, if you showed up expecting a strumming pattern of "Eye of the Tiger," think again. "Watching me" makes our list, and with good reason.
Where Mike WiLL upends tradition on the Creed II soundtrack, Paak's Oxnard defends it to the bone. On "Mansa Musa," Cheeky Andy gets his mentor to don the stethoscope for another go at the mechanical bull-ride. It's always a pleasure to see legends like Dr. Dre find safe footing wherever he lands, be it on a project with Andy, or all on his own. The other stately figure defying age this week is the rapper formerly known as Tity Boi, with both his singles, "Hot Wings" and "Girl's Best Friend" making the cut simultaneously.
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