But before we get there, let’s take a look back at the past week, which got off to a crazy start on Monday. I mean, people are out there shooting at Rick Ross, Chris Brown and Frank Ocean brawled in a parking lot, and Tyler, the Creator and Miley Cyrus recorded a song co-written by Mary J. Blige. Kanye West kept it weird performing in a straitjacket while XXYYXX got interviewed by the man Nardwuar.

Lil Wayne released some lackluster artwork designed by Yeezy’s DONDA agency and we kept hearing different things about the rumored Cruel Winter project, which seems like it’s not happening. Also, we lost some music legends in Jef Lee Johnson of Soultronics and Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner of the Ohio Players. RIP.

There were plenty of notable single releases, too:

• Action Bronson – “Strictly 4 My Jeeps”
• Chance the Rapper – “Juice”
• Eagle Nebula – “Blast Off!”
• The Foreign Exchange – “So What If It Is”
• Kool A.D. – “Eroika”
• Sam Smith – “Lay Me Down”
• Mo Kolours – “Bomptious”
• Charles Bradley – “Strictly Reserved for You”

Click below to grab the best downloads of the week.

Download: LE1F - Fly Zone [Mediafire]

2013: The year that Wesleyan graduate Le1f asserts himself as one of the most colorful figures in hip-hop, with tracks on all ends of the spectrum, from the ultra-pop anthem “Wut” (and it’s hilarious accompanying video) to the dark, ambient “Buoy”, the collaborative track with producer Boody. After proving himself as a talented rapper, producer (he made the beat for the legendary “Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell”), and a queer rap icon, the future has really opened up for the young Greedhead affiliate, and his next mixtape Fly Zone is coming in as his highly anticipated sophomore project.

“Coins” comes to us as the first leak off Fly Zone, which comes out in 5 days, and if this track is any precursor to the mixtape, we’ll be seeing a lot more material similar to what was on Dark York: punchy, quick, fun beats with smart, humorous rhymes. Le1f is a modern marvel in the sense that he can change his pitch on a dime, rap about “basic bitches”, all while creating an intelligent club banger, which is what he’s done here. Stream it below.

Dark York is the debut album from Greedhead Label artist Le1f, aka Khalif Diouf, likely most known for producing the beat for Das Racist‘s breakout “Combination Pizza Hut Taco Bell”. As outsiders have continued to gain a larger impact on hip-hop in recent years, Le1f steps in with a pronounced and largely unheard voice as an openly gay rapper/producer hailing from New York City. On Dark York Le1f carves out his own stylistic niche with his own productions (notable contributions from Nguzunguzu) in a diverse 21-track listen that refuses to be pigeonholed into a single sound.

From the get-go Dark York establishes itself as something entirely different with “ΩΩΩ” which is closer to a juke/footwork production than anything hip-hop. The rest of the album ranges from slow lurching hip-hop constructions (“Mind Body” and “Here2Wait”), to tracks like “My Oozy” and “Wut” that are just as fitting within the confines of the album as they would be thumping at a club. Above theses eclectic backdrops are Le1f’s heavily treated vocals. They’re dripping over the dense production in what often sounds like some demonic twist on auto-tune.

In a recent interview with Pitchfork, Le1f expressed his desire to rap about being gay but avoiding an overly preachy or imposing attitude. Dark York succeeds by striking a balance between his sexual identity and remaining approachable to a larger audience. Le1f also stated, “Let’s not make gay NYC rap a ‘thing,’” expressing his desire to be part of a larger hip-hop conversation above surface level comparisons within the NYC gay rap scene. As a product of his environment, as well as isolated from that same community, Dark York succeeds as an honest and immersive project from the young rapper/producer. At points it bows under its own weight and ambition, but it’s that same hunger to produce something new and unique that assures Le1f still has some tricks up his sleeve for the remainder of his career.

3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5 out of 5