The Listening: Nas & DJ Premier, 21 Savage, Conway The Machine, Samara Cyn, and More

It’s the time of year when people are putting up decorations and running around town picking up gifts—and for music fans, there are some very interesting releases as we enter the final stretch of 2025.

This week, we get the long-awaited reunion of DJ Premier and Nas, as the two legends drop their collaborative album Light Years. We also get Yasiin Bey on the newest joint from Gorillaz, and some brand new heat from Conway The Machine.

Joyner Lucas teams up with Millyz on “Corleone;” while Rico Nasty gets Lethal-er. Samara Cyn’s run continues with her latest, “What Will They Say.”

DaBaby closes the year with “Letter To My YN,” as Dee-1 and La Reezy join forces on “Warrior Babies.” Meanwhile, 21 Savage ponders What Happened To the Streets?

Each week, Okayplayer will deliver a roundup of all the latest new heat from some of our favorite artists. Check out the latest offerings in our playlist below: 

NEW SONGS

CHARLIE BEREAL - “CHOCOLATE WOMAN” 

Death Row’s singer, songwriter, and producer returns with a soulful track that explores love, heartbreak, and the tension of giving everything in a relationship only to feel unseen or misunderstood. 

ERROL EATS EVERYTHING FEAT. PLANET ASIA - “CREASES REMIX”

Produced by Furious Evans, the original was a standout track on EEE’s self-titled album; and the remix is a robust cross-cultural take on survival, bolstered by a powerful guest spot from Planet Asia.

FLYANA BOSS - “ICICLE”

An addictive banger. Flyana’s flow is consistently inspired and she goes in on this infectious single—a track that can stay on repeat when you’re getting ready for Friday night or gettin’ it in at the gym.

KEVIN ROSS - "THIS WINTER”

The acclaimed singer-songwriter drops off the gift of a lush, soul-stirring new single. It’s a gorgeous holiday–themed track that blends romance, warmth, and vocal brilliance into the soundtrack of the season. And the vocalist delivers a timeless, intimate performance. 

DABABY - “LETTER TO MY YN”

The controversial star is closing out the year pretty strong. The personal track features his signature rapid-fire flow and confident delivery, with an almost conversational vibe. 

GORILLAZ FEAT. YASIIN BEY AND OMAR SOULEYMAN - “DAMASCUS”

Another great collab from the virtual band. The latest single to be released from the band’s forthcoming album The Mountain, the track is steeped in classic trip-hop, with Arabic-influenced grooves. 

LIL TJAY - “USED 2 LOVE”

Showcasing undeniable emotional depth and catchy enough to get mainstream radio spins. TJay is highlighting his melodic strengths on a track that proves he’s only getting better as a craftsman. 

MILLYZ  With JOYNER LUCAS - “CORLEONE”

New England hip-hop is served well on this single from the two emcees out of Massachusetts. These boys have to be making Worcester and Cambridge proud. 

SAMARA CYN - “WHAT WILL THEY SAY”

The Los Angeles-based super talent drops an inspired, topical examination. Produced by frequent collaborator Billy Ray Schlag, the song looks at what happens when we raise our voices. 

BOSSMAN DLOW W/BOSSMAN PAC - ‘TENDERNISM’

Playing on the viral sensation, this is a fun track that features some pretty impressive flexin.’ And for anyone unfamiliar with Bossman Pac—this is a perfect intro. 

PNB ROCK - ‘HOW WOULD U FEEL’

Released on what would have been his 34th birthday, the posthumous single from the late star should remind everyone of his talent. Impressive, the emotional depth he shared through his music.

NIJA FEAT. BLXST - “I JUST CALLED”

The kind of smooth, late-night R&B they say nobody makes anymore. It’s a captivating, slinky groove that almost makes you miss the lyrics—which outline the dichotomy of complicated relationships and their irresistible pull.

TIARA THOMAS - “NEVER BEEN TO THE PARTIES”

Emotionally naked, and unfiltered. With ghostly production that sits somewhere between Prince and indie ambient sounds, she delivers some of her most honest, personal lyrics.

JAYDON, USHER & PARADISE - “LULLABY” (MEGA REMIX)

The rising R&B star delivers a stellar remix, alongside fellow talent Paradise and their superstar boss. And Usher goes full Confessions on the subject matter. 

COMMON & 9TH WONDER W/PJ & BILAL - “VISION”

The legendary sportscaster Stuart Scott is now the subject of the ESPN 30 For 30 film Booyah: A Portrait of Stuart Scott and Common drops this track from the documentary, celebrating Scott’s legacy. 

DEE-1 FEAT. LA REEZY - “WARRIOR BABIES”

The spiritually-guided emcee drops a soulful track examining the world around him, lamenting the state of things while rhyming for the spirit. The uplifting hook and La Reezy’s powerful guest spot only enhance what is a standout single for all involved. 

NIKO BRIM FEAT. MARCO PLUS - “CADILLAC CHROME”

As the title suggests, this feels like something you’re supposed to ride to. Soul samples are always welcome, and Brim sounds intense and floats on the track; as Marco delivers a killer of a guest verse. 

BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY - “OVER”

Bone Thugs have sounded reinvigorated and rejuvenated as of late, with their latest single featuring inspired performances from Layzie, Krayzie, Wish, Flesh and Bizzy.

POOH SHIESTY - “F.D.O. (FIRST DAY OUT)”

The raw intensity is palpable— a return to form for the Memphis rapper. The piano-driven track perfectly complements the stream-of-consciousness rhymes. The man sounds hungry.

FRENCH MONTANA & MAX B - “MAKE AMERICA WAVY AGAIN (MAWA)”

Reunited—and it feels so good. Produced by Dame Grease, Red McFly & French Montana, the collab offers a glimpse into what the pair has coming. Coke wave in the building. 

NEW ALBUMS

NAS & DJ PREMIER - ‘LIGHT YEARS’

After decades of anticipation, it’s finally here; the fruits of a partnership that is embedded in the very DNA of hip-hop. There’s only one guest appearance, and it’s from AZ.

CONWAY THE MACHINE - ‘YOU CAN’T KILL GOD WITH BULLETS’

A somber (bordering on melancholy) project that should confirm there aren’t very many better at delivering the gritty and the real. The man is focused, delivering personal street tales over evocative production.

RICO NASTY - ‘LETHAL-ER’

Though it’s technically the deluxe version of her high-powered LETHAL album from earlier in the year, she made it clear that this project of a preview of where she’s going musically—as opposed to a rehash of what she did on that project. 

FATTMACK - ‘MCKENZIE’

Closing out a huge breakout year for the Alabama rapper, his new project blends melodic elements and deeply personal lyrics into a sound that's already proving to connect with his generation. His most personal work to date.

BLACK FORTUNE - ‘ROAD TO OSSHLAND II’

The second installment in the acclaimed series and his third project of 2025. The EP follows the momentum he’s already built—as his self-produced direction continues to sharpen.

21 SAVAGE - ‘WHAT HAPPENED TO THE STREETS?’

You can tell he just needed to get this one off. The GRAMMY-winning superstar drops his fourth solo studio album. It’s a 14-track project with some major guest features: including Drake, Lil Baby, Young Nudy.

BUN B AND STATIK SELEKTAH - ‘TRILLSTATIK 5’

The latest chapter in the duo’s critically-acclaimed live series. This time Bun and Statik are coming at you from Miami, with their musical chemistry still intact and paying dividends. 

SHY GLIZZY - ‘I WAS ACTUALLY BEING HUMBLE

LIL NOONIE - ‘51 DAYS & 54 NIGHTS WALKIN’’

Ominous and infectious, this is an album that feels born of pain and paranoia, but as a rhymer and songwriter, you can hear him pushing himself. The young rapper out of Chicago is starting to put it all together. 

TY DOLLA $IGN & DISCO LINES - ‘DON’T KILL THE PARTY PACK’ EP

Ty is giving you more. Some artists are just generous—and ‘‘tis the season," right? Only two months after dropping his TYCOON album, Dolla $ign returns with a new EP.

MNRK MUSIC GROUP - ‘THE SNOWBALL EFFECT’

Tone Stith, Ron E, Gogo Morrow, C Stunna, Toian, OBN Jay and more are getting you into the holiday spirit with this collection. Putting a modern, genre-blending twist on Christmas music.