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  Sexyy Red’s authentic sound and confident persona distinguish her from her contemporaries. This article was originally published on October 5th, 2023 on 34th Street Magazine, found here . The past two years have seen the prolific rise of new female rap stars. From  GloRilla ’s “ F.N.F. ” to  Ice Spice ’s “ Munch (Feelin’ You) ,” rising female rap stars have been at the forefront of pop culture. Indeed, these young stars’ rises have been marked by high–profile collabs like Ice Spice's verse on " Karma " by  Taylor Swift , and cosigns by established veterans like  Cardi B  and  Nicki Minaj . But St. Louis’ own  Sexyy Red  seems to be running ahead of her peers in terms of grassroots support. Her raw authenticity and infectious nature set her apart—and in comparison, the pull of her originality makes her contemporaries feel manufactured. Sexyy Red, currently best known for her “ Pound Town 2 ” remix with Nicki Minaj and her solo single “ SkeeY...

a Gift & a Curse (2023)   Album Cover On Friday, June 16th, 2023, Gunna released his fourth studio album a Gift & a Curse . This release had eyes for more than a few reasons. Apart from the fact that this is Gunna first published response to allegations of snitching on his friend and mentor Young Thug from cultural landmark and label YSL, this album follows Gunna’s previous DS4EVER, which received positive buzz and acclaim from rap fans upon its release more than a year an a half ago. Content-wise, this album sits with zero features and is more introspective than his past work, as he paints a sense of solitude, almost isolation, on the record. Melodically, though, its still Gunna’s classic trap beats and melodic persuasion.  Album Highlights & Lowlights "bread & butter" single cover The intro track is a powerful tool; it can catapult an album from a complication of songs to a consistent and complete work. “[B]ack at it” fulfilled this role. The light electric...