Hey I'm Brian Hyde and this is Rolling Stone Music Now. I'm here with Monkapur

Conte and Jeff Ihaza and we're going to talk about the year in hip-hop so far.

We're actually halfway into the year so we can look back we already ran a list overall of the best

albums of 2021 so far but it seemed like a good time to look back just at rap stuff.

Monkapur, you specifically, maybe we should start with your two picks,

your personal picks for a song of the summer.

Sure, yeah.

And interestingly enough, the songs that have really

started to define my season, you know,

getting out a little bit more, feeling a little bit

safer to be out in the world.

Those two songs I'm hearing the most and hearing the most excitement about have actually

been out since like October.

Their essence by Wiz Kid featuring Thames, who is, a lot of folks know Wizkid featuring Thames who is a lot of folks know Wiz kid as sort of Afro pop star from Nigeria

Thames is a burgeoning star from Nigeria as well. I'm from the morning,

but I need you know.

And the other song is Quicksand by Maray,

who is from North Carolina.

I'm driving in rules.

I'm driving around more. I'm hearing them on the radio and seeing debates on

Twitter about DJ's not playing essence at parties as much as they should and

both of them are really capturing sort of like the levity that's come back for some people, you know?

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