Round Up • New Releases From ADot, Drea Smith, Z-Money & More

Photo by Michael Salisbury

Each week the These Days staff comes across great music from Chicago artists that we could not provide individual features for. In an effort to keep our readers up to date with more of our recent favorites, the Round Up segment provides quick summaries and additional noteworthy content. Check out our latest picks below and feel free to submit a comment if you feel we missed something. 


ADot • "Lonely Freestyle"

ADot adds another hit to his catalogue as he links up with fellow friends Freako and 2times for "Lonely Freestyle" produced by Vee Miyagi. ADot continues to strive for new sounds and flow patterns and I have to say, this verse really impressed me. Not one to be in the spotlight, Adot continues to make it on his lonely. Check out the track below. 


Drea Smith • "six.underground"

Back again with another recording from the Vibe Cave, Drea Smith brings us "six.underground" – an acoustic slow blues cover of the Sneaker Pimps 90’s trip-hop track. Without really falling into the traditional realm of, well, anything, the Vibe Dealer continues to impress with another genuinely emotional release. Listen to "six.underground" below!


Roo$ki • "Shit Talk" & "Midnight Club"

Roo$ki is back after his recent work on 4750 with Sawbuck to bring us two tracks of his own. On "Shit Talk", Roo$ki pairs up with his long time homie KP (of 197) to remind us that he’s still as grimy as always. With "Midnight Club", Spanish Diego delivers a wobbly beat for Roo$ki and he dribbles his usually gritty lyrics all over it. Listen to both tracks below and watch for more to come from Roo$ki!


Roy French • The Legend of Lil Lit

It’s been a big summer for Roy French having recently dropped his 12 track project Alien Rockstar in June, and already back with another collection of new music. We knew there would be more to come, but damn he works fast. With his latest release, The Legend of Lil Lit, we get Roy and a slew of great beat makers for 11 tracks of his drippiest work yet. Stream the EP below and stay tuned for more from Lil Lit! 


Tree • "All Dat"

I.B.C.L.A.S.S.I.C just dropped a huge track with MC Tree in the perfect soulful style we’ve come to love from this old friend. In "All Dat", the duo melodically covers a range of topics about trap morals like the job of the lookout and the worth of a woman. This is great hip hop, simple as that. Listen below! 


Wave Chappelle • "Big Talk"

Wave Chapelle just dropped "Big Talk", his first single since W⚡️, and it’s fire. Over a chimey beat by 4Keys, Chapelle just honestly tells everybody not to waste his time unless you’re about big things. I don’t really blame him. Check out the video below! 


Z-Money • "Dope Boy Shit"

ZMoney is back at it with his most recent banger “Dope Boy Shit”. You have been sadly mistaken If you think Z is fading off Chicago's hip-hop and trap rap scene. This melodic trap beat is pure fire along with the bars Z brings. Props to Elevator as well for keeping fans visually entertained as Z slides through Chicago's west side in a black Bentley Coupe on some pure dope boy shit. Yep, he’s stuntin' super hard, and it is evident that Z is the captain of his career  as he still remains unsigned, but continues to religiously flex on the block as well as on the beat. All being said, be very sure to give this track a listen as well as to check out his most recent mixtape titled “Rich Be4ore Rap 2”. If you enjoy Chicagos hip hop scene, its probably worth it to stay alert to Z as he keeps climbing the hip hop success ladder!