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Just shy of six years ago, rapper FLEE and plugg producer StoopidXool changed my warm weather playlists forever with XOOL SUMMER, an icy bundle of narcotized nocturnes that cemented the Queens native as an IYKYK icon for fans of the MexikoDro-pioneered subgenre. He’s steadily honed his knack for earworms and built out his solo discography over 2021 debut RatedStar and fall 2023 ’s GHOST, although FLEE still hasn’t had landed a breakout moment.
2025 might finally be the year that all changes: FLEE tells The FADER that the rabidly awaited XOOL SUMMER 2 will finally release this August. Despite the duo’s lengthy hiatus, FLEE’s confident in their “timeless” joint sound, and it shows on recent singles like “MAJOR SWAG,” which breezily picks up where past linkups like “Stoopid” and “SANAA LATHAN” left off. Last week’s “LITA” enlisted Surf Gang stalwart Harrison to assist behind the boards, and so the drums knock a little harder than Xool’s solo production, which can lean almost ambient in texture.
“Boosie the way she wiping me down / she said, ‘FLEE I’m really done with these clowns.’” FLEE’s mostly just swag talking, but when his voice cracks into his upper register on the insistent refrain (“Popping these beans I don’t feel like a regular Joooooe / Told you before I do not want a regular hoooooe”) it’s indelible, the sort of tune you find yourself mindlessly whistling weeks later.
