Three artists who all made their start during the 2010s are manifesting their greatness. Last year, Mick Jenkins’ latest album, The Patience and IDK’s most recent, F65, were each named among Ambrosia For Heads‘ best LPs of 2023. Chicago, Illinois’ Saba is no stranger to that list, especially after 2018’s CARE FOR ME. Now, the two Windy City rappers and the London-to-PG County MC link together for a beautifully-produced Red Bull 1520 cypher in the round.

Saba kicks things off. The self-proclaimed “West Side Wizard” wears a fitting hat, and works his magic. “All I wanted in this life was a few thou’ a month / Just enough to get by, feed two mouths and a son / To move somewhere with the views of African sun / And not have to look over my shoulder like showering drunk / But the reality is, I was asking too much,” he begins, with accounts of his life and tested wisdom. The Pivot Gang leader raises his voice for emphasis as he describes going from a polite dreamer to an assertive achiever.

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Mick Jenkins seamlessly follows. The MC stays moving while rapping about aspects of nature he sees in himself and the character of others. “What’s the tea? No Queen Latifah / Got no flavor / Herbal Essence, since n___as Blessed and highly favored / Back in my Jansport, see mad men, no ‘Draper’ / ‘Nuff paper, no stapler,” he spits in a verse filled with double and triple meanings.

IDK raps last, and for nearly twice as long as his cohorts. “I’m on my catch-a-case s__t, dodgin’ fake s__t / I’m runnin’ into buildings, I’d really rather take s__t / I’m smokin’ everybody, got me trippin’ like I laced it / They say I ain’t the one, yet nobody replaced him / I been through many eras of this Rap s__t / 2015, I was on my Sub-Trap s__t / 2016, they was on they Trap Soul s__t / They wanted my soul, but b___h, I never sold it / Never got the deal, but still I got to own it,” raps the artist who has previously worked with MF DOOM, Jay Electronica, and Westside Gunn.

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The self-confident MC goes on to tout his greatness with a chip on his shoulder. IDK holds the mic with a rhinestone glove and a sizable ring. He carries himself with star power, while admitting that his numbers do not equate his skill-set. “That’s G.O.A.T. status / I give a n___a smoke from the static / Like the wire caught fire in the attic,” before demonstrating a sharp flow while referencing Tupac and Eminem, and admitting that critics say he say sounds like Kanye West and recalling beef with Logic. He then weaves in peers such as JID, Cordae, and Smino to his lyrics—while boldly showing why IDK stands alone.

While Mick and IDK blessed 2023, Saba’s most recent album was 2022’s Few Good Things.

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#BonusBeat: New music from Mick Jenkins is currently on the official AFH Playlist (follow here):