2023 has been widely accepted as the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, and folks all throughout the genre have been celebrating the occasion. Whether it was the 50 Years of Hip-Hop performance at this year’s Grammy Awards or the many documentaries about rappers like Tupac, Notorious B.I.G., J Dilla, Kanye West and more coming out this year, rap music has been front and center in many different forms.
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In accordance with this, Nas’ label and entertainment brand Mass Appeal has been helping facilitate EPs to recognize some of the most beloved voices in hip-hop today. First, they released their Hip Hop 50: Vol. 1 EP in July 2022, produced by DJ Premier. The five-song project includes features from Nas, Lil Wayne, Rapsody, Joey Bada$$, and more.
On Friday (April 21), Mass Appeal decided to enlist the help of Swizz Beatz for Vol. 2. With six all-new songs, Hip Hop 50: Vol. 2 delivers tracks like “Say Less” from melodic trap artists Lil Durk and A Boogie wit da Hoodie, as well as “City Sound Like,” a combination of New York drill rapper Fivio Foreign and New Jersey club/dance artist Bandmanrill.
Perhaps the most exciting song on the EP, though, comes at No. 2 on the track list. “This Sh*t Right Here” sees Lil Wayne hop on a ferocious, brass instrument-assisted beat from Swizz, while Jay-Z provides his brief this shit right here chorus. Like always, Wayne’s two verses on the track are fiery and ultra-clever, as he name-drops Drake, Mike Tyson, Britney Spears, and Hootie & the Blowfish.
Check, I’m right here, n***a
I’m like Tyson, whisperin’ in your right-ear, n***a
I’m takin’ off, I need Gucci-fly gear, n***a
Was shootin’ at them n***s, before Hype Will’, n***a
I’m out the holster with the toaster, like cheers, n***a
“This Sh*t Right Here” is one of many Wayne and Swizz collabs. Most notably, the duo has connected for “Uproar” (2018) and “Dr. Carter” (2008). Most recently, though, they came together for “Kant Nobody” in February, which includes a posthumous DMX feature verse and is the lead single for Wayne’s upcoming studio album Tha Carter 6. “This Sh*t Right Here” is also just one of a handful of Wanye-Jay-Z collaborations, with their most recent being “GOD DID” by DJ Khaled, which they both performed live together at the Grammys.
Other feature artists on Hip Hop 50: Vol. 2 include Nas, Benny The Butcher, Jadakiss, Jay Electronica, and Scar Lip. Check out “This Sh*t Right Here” by Swizz Beatz, Lil Wayne, and Jay-Z below.
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