Da Qween—a self-described reefer-smoking, black, queer, non-binary, hard femme—delivers bars upon bars that will bury your favorite rapper. Look no further than “When Worst Comes To Worst,” the second track on Renaissance Bitch. It’s three-and-a-half minutes of unrelenting, baller verses with nary a breath. (Except for two brief moments during which the tune—and your attention—are held in stasis.) Seattle Met describes the record as “coming in hot.” Renaissance is an expansive, ambitious, and theatrical listen that’s easily one of my favorites of the year.

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Chimurenga Renaissance: Girlz With Gunz Porter Ray: Watercolor Da Qween: BabeSpace Marlowe: Marlowe Travis Thompson: Yougood? Khingz: From Slaveships to Spaceships Eighty4 Fly: COLORS Chimurenga Renaissance: riZe vadZimu riZe