With cosigns from both
Travis Scott and
Kanye West, rising Harlem rapper
Sheck Wes rode the success of early singles "Live SheckWes Die SheckWes" and "Mo Bamba" into 2018 with the release of his debut album
Mudboy. Released jointly on
Scott's
Cactus Jack label and
West's G.O.O.D. Music,
Mudboy is packed with dark rhymes about gritty New York street life set atop ominous atmospherics with cracking beats provided by teenage producer Lunchbox. In addition to the aforementioned singles, the album also includes "Gmail" and "Jiggy on the Shits," which features verses rapped in both English and Wolof, honoring his Senegalese heritage. Upon release, the LP peaked in the Top 20 of the Billboard 200. ~ Neil Z. Yeung