Drake’s “In My Feelings” has become a viral hit thanks to internet comedian Shiggy’s challenge. It’s also a good song with enough switchups to keep it interesting. One of the more interesting switchups comes in the second verse when City Girls, Quality Control’s star signees, come in for snippet’s of suave verses that are equally energetic and laid back. But we only get glimpses at their verses, the rest were locked away. Now, we’ve gotten them again since they’ve released the extended version of their verses.

This reminds me of the time when Rick Ross’ “Aston Martin Music” came out and glimpses of a powerful Drake feature were apparent in the tail ends of the choruses (sung by Chrisette Michelle). Drake confirmed that he’d recorded a verse for the song that was ultimately cut with “Paris Morton Music,” a standalone release that proved him to be one of the game’s hottest up-and-comers.

With City Girls’ release echoing this earlier sentiment, I’m surprised that Drake did in fact not include their verses. They fit the vibrant energy of the song, so building around them would have been instrumental to capitalize on their fanbase as well as showcase their artistry. It would give them a chance that he was robbed of earlier in his career.

Regardless, check out the City Girls version of “In My Feelings” below.

Photo courtesy of GQ

Lakeith Stanfield plays Darius on the FX’s hit show Atlanta that has been renewed for a third season. He’s the weird, idiosyncratic best friend of rapper Paper Boy who always knows more than what he lets on. Viewers fell in love with his demeanor that, according to Stanfield, isn’t that much different from him in real life. In fact, all of us blacks have traces of Stanfield’s Darius inside of us. Society may paint us as one-note stock characters, but, yes, like Darius, we talk about quantum physics and the possibility of simulation universes just as much as we can about smoking marijuana or having sex.

He may be winning over audiences and critiques as an actor, but he also wants to do the same thing as a rapper. When Stanfield was interviewed by The Breakfast Club in November of 2016, he revealed to the trio of Charlamagne Tha God, DJ Envy, and Angela Yee, that he was also a serious rapper. Charlamagne challenged him to rap, and what spit from his lips was some of the most garbage, try-hard lyricism that has been released in the last five-to-ten years. Charlamagne wasn’t impressed; the rest of the room remained equally silent. Instead of taking a hint, he’s kept at it. He recently released a song called “Mango” with Tune-Yards from his recent film Sorry To Bother You. Stanfield’s vocals are horrendous bordering on simulation-like.

There’s nothing particularly wrong with what he’s saying, it’s how he’s saying it. Stanfield’s vocals feel flat, like he’s just doing this to get it off of his chest. Of course, we know that his demeanor is normally like that, but in rap that won’t work out as well as it does in the acting and interviewing world.

Maybe time will tell. If that’s how he truly conducts his artistry, he’ll have a hard time becoming and remaining relevant in the rap game.

Nicki Minaj’s fourth studio album Queen released with a hilarious flip of Biggie’s “Just Playing (Dreams)” from his final studio album Ready to Die. Lil Kim also created a steamy version that centers around men as sexual toys, but, for some reason, Nicki’s has ruffled a few feathers. On “Barbie Dreamz,” Nicki uses modern rap males as her playthings through a series of verses that are clearly meant as jokes. Don’t take it serious.

On the song, she names 31 different people – from Quavo and Karrueche, to Lil Uzi Vert and Drake. Many have apparently “had sex” with her – Meek Mill and DJ Khaled have failed recently supposedtly – but, as stated above, it’s jokes, nothing more. She even tweeted as such after the uproar hit critical level.

I only mentioned people in #BarbieDreams that I fuk wit. This isn’t a diss. Yikes. This is culture, this is BIGGIE!!!!! New York!!!! This is FUN. Light hearted fun FUN

— Chun-Li (@NICKIMINAJ) August 10, 2018

Nicki has long been adamant that she’s never been one to sleep with a number of industry men. She’s went on record, and in interviews, to reiterate the fact. There’s also the fact that male rappers have built entire careers out of trolling. Can we let Nicki have her fun?

Let’s just enjoy the music and dissect it later.