THE FRIDAY ROTATION | NOVEMBER 6TH: THIS WEEK’S TOP 3 ESSENTIAL TRACKS
THE FRIDAY ROTATION | NOVEMBER 6TH: One of the biggest release days of the year, and we’ve whittled it down to three.
Skepta, Lil Baby, Statik Selektah and Cruel Santino all dropped albums today, so picking just three tracks was harder than usual. Our full rundown of everything that landed this week is live on Substack.
Here, we’re keeping it tight: a grime icon coming home, a Detroit storyteller teaming up with one of rap’s most in-demand producers, and the most fun you’ll have with a music video all week.
1. Skepta – ‘Pandora’s Box’
Skepta’s long-awaited album The Fork and Knife is finally here, and ‘Pandora’s Box’ (with a brand-new video) is the way in. The album pulls from decades spent in sound systems, clubs and raves, with Central Cee, Jorja Smith, Asake and JME among the guests. He celebrates tonight at London’s The Cause.
- Sonics: Dark, heavy and very deliberate. Skepta produced it himself (with additional production from David Dyson): huge, crunchy drums and gloomy guitars, with lots of space left around the vocal. The beat stays locked while his delivery gets faster and harder. Lyrically it’s addiction, chasing money and the cost of that lifestyle, told by someone who knows it well and isn’t going back. Early reviews are calling it one of his most introspective records. Play it on something with proper bass.
- Where to watch/listen: Watch the official video on YouTube · Stream the album on Spotify
2. Bruiser Wolf & Conductor Williams ft. Marv Won – ‘The Score’
Detroit’s most unpredictable storyteller links with the producer behind four Drake records for a full project, The Dealer Wins (out 11.11). On ‘The Score’, Wolf’s off-kilter flow slides all over Conductor’s beat, and fellow Detroit vet Marv Won holds his own.
- Sonics: Conductor’s sample-heavy, slightly warped production meets Wolf’s off-kilter rhythms and left-field punchlines. Battle-rap legend Marv Won still has bite. Stereogum says the pair “radiate personality all over the place”, and they’re not wrong.
- Where to watch/listen: Watch on YouTube · Listen on Spotify
3. GloRilla & Sexyy Red – ‘Jiggly Bow Bow’
Their fifth collaboration, and easily the most fun. Arrad’s video turns the pair into pensioners twerking their way round a retirement home, while Ace Charisma’s beat throws it right back to mid-2000s crunk. Not everyone’s on board: September’s preview split the timeline. Glo’s answer? “If you don’t like it, don’t listen.”
- Sonics: Late-crunk and early-trap bounce, playground-chant hooks, two rappers clearly having the time of their lives.
- Where to watch/listen: Watch the official video on YouTube · Listen on Spotify
Full list of the week’s new music on Substack.
Check out last week’s 3 selects here.
