Nick Grant assembles a formidable and eclectic roster of collaborators for his highly anticipated new project, Smile, signaling a bold evolution in his sound. The South Carolina wordsmith links with soulful crooner BJ The Chicago Kid, TDE’s sharp lyricist Punch, Griselda’s gritty visionary Westside Gunn, GOOD Music alum CyHi, battle-tested veteran Ransom, and Philly’s own Young Chris to create what promises to be a rich tapestry of perspectives and styles.

From introspective soul and street wisdom to raw boom-bap energy and polished lyricism, this collective brings an unmatched chemistry that elevates Smile beyond a standard rap album. With Grant at the center holding it all together, the project looks poised to deliver both heartfelt reflection and hard-hitting bars, marking a standout moment in his discography.

You can now Purchase, Stream, Smile on all digital platforms: https://orcd.co/ngsmile

The always-impressive Buffalo rap classicist Benny The Butcher releases a lot of music, but it sometimes comes out in unpredictable, haphazard ways. Last year, for instance, Benny and his Black Soprano Family crew released their Summertime Butch album. Benny also came out with the Buffalo Butch Vol. 1 EP, which had a Drake collab and which almost immediately disappeared from the internet. Now, Benny’s got a new seven-track project entitled Excelsior available on all digital streaming platforms and it’s an instant classic.

Excelsior, which is named after the New York state motto, has appearances from Styles P, Skyler Blatt, P.R.E.M.O., Sule, and Fuego Base, as well as production from people like Harry Fraud and Daringer. The lead single “Duffel Bag Hottie’s Revenge” features another underground rap workhorse: Boldy James, who somehow had time to record his verse for this amidst his schedule of releasing a new album every other week this year. (I have lost track of whether or not that’s an exaggeration.)

Stream the album and purchase the official merch here.