Friday Afternoon Rap Roundup: Peso Peso

In an effort to continue CABBAGES' overarching mission of independent hip-hop/rap music discovery, I'm trialing this weekly series to let readers know about new releases from artists grinding and thriving outside of the major label system. Each installment of 'Friday Afternoon Rap Roundup' features one highlighted album review/recommendation, plus a short selection of new or recently dropped projects for your weekend listening consideration.

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New Release Highlight of the Week:

Peso Peso, El Patron 2 (buy it / stream it)

From OG Kid Frost and South Park Mexican to Snow Tha Product and Bo Bundy, Mexican American representation in hip-hop spans decades. This year, That Mexican OT and Shoreline Mafia's Ohgeesy respectively charted on the Billboard Hot 100, proving there's an audience in the U.S. for homegrown Latin artists rapping primarily in English. The demographics of states like California and Texas made the rise of these talents all the more likely, moving beyond the novelty songs of the 20th Century and into credible, sustainable careers for them and others in their wake. That bodes well for Peso Peso, a Galveston native with an ongoing co-sign from Houston's own Sauce Walka. Indeed, several of his projects including 2019's Hardest Ese Eva and last year's STREET PAIN dropped via The Sauce Familia, though his latest release El Patron 2 comes via a formal record deal with mega-indie EMPIRE.

That said, taking this step into his own lane doesn't mean he's leaving his people behind. Several TSF cohorts including Sauce WoodWinnin and Sosamann feature on the 13 track effort. Sauce Walka guests on no fewer than three songs, most memorably over the slow bounce of "Movin' 2 Fast." Still, Peso Peso seizes the opportunity to broaden his base on this solid if transitional project, linking with Michigan spitter BabyTron on the booming "Blanked Out" and Milwaukee's eccentric Certified Trapper on the snappy "MMMMMM." Yet while many listeners will gravitate to the collabs, especially the rather poppy "Selena" with That Mexican OT, he does his some of his best work solo here. Opener "Old Peso Vs. New Peso" covers a range of topics while subtly reintroducing himself to his fans, while street banger "TMT" demonstrates his knack for the anthemic.

Here are some other new albums, EPs, and mixtapes from independent hip-hop/rap artists and labels worth your time this weekend:

Cardo Got Wings, MADeMAN (buy it / stream it)

CLBRKS & NickyDiesel, CLBELLIC (buy it / stream it)

Doodie Lo, What Made Me (buy it / stream it)

Dylan Owen, DO BEFORE YOU DIE MIXTAPE (buy it / stream it)

Fat Tony & Fatboi Sharif, Brain Candy (buy it / stream it)

Peezy, Small Town Ghetto (buy it / stream it)

PremRock & Willie Green, Through Lines (buy it / stream it)

Rapswell & Moe Sample, Calypso (buy it / stream it)