New Music: Lloyd Banks – “Reach Out”

Going away to jail is no laughing matter. Getting out and not being able to readjust yourself back into society is even worse. Ja Rule, the once famed early 2000s New York rapper, has been in and out of the system quite extensively over the last decade -- he's been hit with a gun charge back in 2007. As just when things were looking up, in 2011, Ja Rule received an additional 28-month prison sentence for tax evasion. Good news is he's been out since 2013 (see: pic above) and it's nice to see/hear he's in good health. Unfortunately the music he's putting out could definitely use some jailhouse-like dicipline, for lack of a better word. He's sharing a pair of new tracks here, in "New York Giant" and "Nah!!" Neither one of these tracks is all that popping, to be honest. Hopefully Ja receives some assistance from notable contemporary producers and writers to bring him back to 100% in this modern rap ish. Listen to both "New York Giant" and "Nah!!" after the jump.

You know, I'm not the biggest Papoose fan. Personally, I'm not a fan of his music or his personality. That cringeworthy New York attitude, that dated sound, that unwillingness to create forward-thinking music. We've got guys like Future and Chance the Rapper out right now, killing the game in their respective lanes, that you often wonder: Where does Papoose fit into all of this? And the short answer is: Nowhere. No offense, of course. The dude can spit, I guess. But one thing I've always admired about Pap is his unbridled love for fellow rapper, Remy Ma. Remy was locked up for some six years stemming from a gun charge and during that time Pap was behind his woman 100% of the time. And with the two now set to appear on the new season of Love & Hip-Hop Pap is showing his lady love via a Ty Dolla $ign feature. Remy is featured, too. Check it out after the jump.

50 Cent has a new signee and it's someone named Rotimi. Yep, Rotimi sounds like a rap name in 2015. Anyway, Rotimi is a new signee to 50's G-Unit imprint which had itself a pretty good 2014 and a decent 2015 thus far. But 50 is taking things up a notch with Rotimi, who is also an actor from what we've gathered. This track "Lotto" also features 50, so check that out after the jump.

Don't sleep on Tree, even if his moniker is corny. This Chicago emcee has a style he calls "soul trap" and you'll see why as soon as you hit that play button. Here he's continuing doing what he does best: Give you that pure, unadulterated ish. Check out Tree's "Trafikka Bambaataa" after the jump.

Al-Doe, who is part of Smoke DZA's RFC supergroup (check out their excellent 2014 release The Outsiders, which you may get via iTunes here) teams up with Harlem native Dave East for a new cut entitled "Hells Angels." The track, produced by The Heatmakerz, can also be heard on iTunes, which you can cop here as a single. Also, you may stream the track for free after the jump. Enjoy!

Tony Yayo is continuing his throwback series; so far he's blessed us with some Eric B. & Rakim, Main Source, Black Moon, and Channel Live. Now he's going in on another classic, this time it's Half-A-Mill's "Some N*ggaz." Listen after the jump.

Lloyd Banks continues delivering his throwback trend with his latest: "Serial Killa Freestyle." The track finds Banks going off rip on Snoop Dogg's classic "Serial Killa" track. Check it out after the jump. For the real.