NEW RELEASES
In June, Fred again.., Skepta, and PlaqueBoyMax joined forces for "Victory Lap." The track, which features a prominent sample of Doechii and Rico Nasty's "Swamp B***hes," was a mostly unexpected crossover, even if the possibility of Fred and Skepta working together in some capacity was always there.
The original "Victory Lap" was first created on Twitch during a stream with Fred again.., Skepta, and PlaqueBoyMax. It was officially released during Fred's stream on June 17, followed by a pop-up show in Brooklyn later that evening, which was also streamed. The track is a high-energy good time and a bit of a departure from Skepta's usual sound in particular.
Now, they've linked up with Denzel Curry for the remix, the appropriately titled "Victory Lap Two." The track continues the energy displayed on the first one. With it, Curry shows why he's one of the most versatile rappers in the game today.
Skepta's verse is untouched from the original. Unfortunately, he did not come back to deliver a new set of bars. But Denzel Curry enters on the back half of the track, immediately displaying the sense of urgency he never seems to lack on a song. It's rare that a track featuring Curry feels like he's coasting, and he certainly does not coast here. His flow is hard-hitting and the bars are primarily him talking the talk about his haters, his skills, and his watch.
Thanks to his Twitch streams, PlaqueBoyMax has shown that there are some streamers with talent in the hip-hop space. Though Max does rap, his biggest strength is as a producer, which shines through on both versions of this song. Hopefully, he and Fred link up again in the near future, as they've now produced quality results twice.
Quotable Lyrics:
N****s be talking s**t off of the populace
Finna stop poppin' in front of your audience
If you wanna go, you gotta keep that fye
Bitch I'm from the M-I-A-M-I
NEW RELEASES
An expanded edition of The Beatles’ ‘Rubber Soul’ is set to arrive with a previously unheard John Lennon demo included in the collection.
Read More: Paul McCartney: “Writing a song is still a magic feeling for me, and hopefully always will be”
The refreshed editions of the celebrated 1965 record will be released on October 2 through UMG and Apple Corps Ltd. Producer Giles Martin and engineer Sam Okell handled the new mixes.
More than 60 years after its original release, the influential album will be available in updated stereo and Dolby Atmos mixes for the first time. The box set will also contain the initial mono mix and the original Capitol US Album edition.
In addition to the familiar tracklist, which includes popular songs such as ‘Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)’, ‘Nowhere Man’, ‘Michelle’, and ‘In My Life’, the collection features the double A side single ‘Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out’. Fans will also receive several previously unavailable studio recordings and home demos.
Different versions of the release include the 14 song Special Edition Standard, the 30 track Special Edition Deluxe, and a Blu ray Edition containing 16 tracks and four videos.
The largest package is the Special Edition Super Deluxe, which will be offered as either a five LP box set or a four CD box set containing 68 tracks. Its contents include the new stereo version of ‘Rubber Soul’, two Sessions and Demos discs, the album’s original mono master, the original Capitol US edition, and the seven inch A side single.
Among the demos is ‘Little Girl’, a track written and recorded by Lennon that has never been officially released since it was originally created.
The Super Deluxe packages also feature an 88 page hardcover book with a newly written introduction from Paul McCartney and a foreword assembled using Lennon’s own words.
‘Rubber Soul’ was completed across four weeks in October and November 1965. The sessions took place shortly after the Fab Four played their record setting show for over 55,000 people at Shea Stadium in New York.
Every new edition includes the updated stereo mix of the album, created directly from the original four track master tapes. The team used separation technology developed at Peter Jackson’s WingNut Films Productions Ltd.
Visit here to place a preorder and see the complete tracklist for the “Special Edition Super Deluxe” package below.
The ‘Rubber Soul Special Edition Super Deluxe Box Set’ tracklist is:
LP1: New stereo mix
Side A
Side B
LP2: Sessions, Demos and The Single, Disc 1
Side A
Side B
LP3: Sessions, Demos and The Single, Disc 2
Side A
Side B
LP4: Mono
Side A
Side B
LP5: US Album
Side A
Side B
Seven inch single
Side A
Side AA
Elsewhere in Beatles news, the group will be explored through a collection of four films directed by Sam Mendes. All four movies are currently scheduled to reach cinemas at the same time in April 2028.
Paul Mescal will portray Paul McCartney, while Harris Dickinson will play John Lennon, Joseph Quinn will appear as George Harrison, and Barry Keoghan will take on the role of Ringo Starr. Each movie will present the band’s journey through the eyes of a different member.
It has also been announced that 3 Savile Row, the famous London location closely connected to the group, will welcome visitors for the first time next year as part of the first official Beatles fan experience.
Earlier this year, Paul McCartney released his latest album, ‘The Boys of Dungeon Lane’. It marks his first solo project since 2020’s ‘McCartney III’ and includes his first duet with former Beatles bandmate Ringo Starr.
Before the record arrived, McCartney spoke with NME about both the past and future of his remarkable career. He discussed his “excitement” about appearing on the upcoming The Rolling Stones album and addressed whether retirement is part of his plans.
