Soundcheck: New Music Previews: Diggy, Wiz, Cudi, Tech & More

posted in: Features • Urban

Spring has almost sprung and with it comes a fresh crop of new music from the likes of Kid Cudi, Wiz Khalifa, Diggy Simmons and Tech N9ne among others.

Cudi‘s latest project first caused a stir when the rapper complained his label under shipped the rock-heavy EP, WZRD. In it’s first week, the album took the No. 1 spot on iTunes and sold over 70,000 copies.  Cudi’s current single is heating up radio charts as well, setting him up for a stellar rock tour this summer.

March 13

Wiz Khalifa’s latest mixtape Taylor Allderdice drops on March 13.  The Rostrum Records rapper named the project after his high school alma mater, and it serves as a special treat to fans already enjoying the Mac & Dev offerings (with collaborator Snoop) which are currently dominating radio. Wiz is also hard at work prepping his full-length sophomore album, O.N.I.F.C., due out later this year.

Tech N9ne will be dropping his six-track EP, Klusterfuk on March 13 as well.  The Strange Music front man has been hard at work in his Kansas City hometown, prepping the project that features Krizz Kaliko, Wrekonize and Plex Luthor among others.  Check out the track list below:

  1. Klusterfuk
  2. Blur ft. Wrekonize
  3. Can’t Stand Me ft. Krizz Kaliko
  4. Ugly Duckling ft. Aqualeo
  5. Awkward
  6. D.K.N.Y. ft. Krizz Kaliko

March 20

Diggy Simmons is finally ready to release his highly anticipated debut, Unexpected Arrival on March 20 with Atlantic Records. His singles, Copy, Paste and Do You Like It featuring Jeremih already have teen girls in a tizzy; so I’m excited to see where this one goes.  The fifteen-track album also features JadaKiss on their collaboration, 88. If Diggy’s lyrical lineage is any indication, this young emcee is in it for the long haul.

  1. The Arrival (Intro)
  2. Hello World
  3. I Need to Know
  4. 88 ft. Jadakiss
  5. Two Up
  6. Unforgivable Blackness
  7. Special Occasion ft. Tank
  8. Glow in the Dark
  9. 4 Letter Word
  10. Do It Like You ft. Jeremih
  11. Tom Edison
  12. The Reign
  13. Knowing Me Knowing You (Bonus)
  14. What’s Going On (Bonus)
  15. MSG (Bonus)

Bow Wow is also set to release his first YMCMB project, Underrated on March 20. The seventeen-track album is heavy on the features, including collabs with everyone from Busta Rhymes to Talib Kweli. He enlisted help from Musiq Soulchild, Miguel, Wiz Khalifa, Jadakiss, Ace Hood, Lil Wayne and more. His current single, Sweat, is a bit underwhelming for me, but I’m hoping the full-length project will prove to be better. Check the star-studded track list below:

  1. Intro
  2. Where My Dogs At
  3. Must Be Stupid ft. Busta Rhymes
  4. Why Y’all
  5. We Going Hard ft. Ace Hood
  6. Right Now ft. Miguel
  7. Heart Stop
  8. Sweat ft. Lil Wayne
  9. Ain’t Thinking About You ft. Chris Brown
  10. Wrong Time ft. Musiq Soulchild
  11. I Try
  12. Boy Or Girl
  13. If You Were Down ft. Talib Kweli
  14. The Cypher ft. Meek Mill
  15. Lifestyle Aint For Me
  16. Ohio To Yonkers ft. Jadakiss
  17. All That I Know ft. Wiz Khalifa & Juicy J