Russ and A Boogie Wit da Hoodie Finally Release “Rider” After Years of Fans Waiting

Some records take a little longer to make it out.

Russ and A Boogie Wit da Hoodie officially teamed up for “Rider,” a new melodic rap collaboration released August 21. The record may be new to streaming platforms, but it isn't necessarily new to fans. An unreleased version had reportedly been circulating online for roughly four years before the two finally decided to give it an official release.

The collaboration makes sense. Both artists have spent years moving between rap and melody without completely fitting into either box. “Rider” leans into that shared space, with the two talking relationships and loyalty over laid-back production. Russ moves between rapping and singing while A Boogie brings the melodic delivery that has been part of his sound since his early career.

For Russ, the release is another example of the consistency that has helped define his career. Long before independence became one of the music industry's favorite conversations, Russ was releasing music at a high volume and building an audience around himself. Instead of waiting for every release to become a major event, he developed a catalog large enough for listeners to continuously discover something new.

A Boogie's career took a different route, but his ability to blend R&B influence with New York rap helped him develop his own lane. Projects like The Bigger Artist, Hoodie SZN and Artist 2.0 produced records that pushed him far beyond New York while helping make melodic rap one of the dominant sounds of his generation.

And he's active again in 2026.

Earlier this year, A Boogie released the Before Artistry EP, which includes collaborations with Kyle Richh, Zeddy Will and Trippie Redd. His official site currently highlights the project alongside recent releases “Part of Me” and “Last Drink.”

What makes “Rider” interesting isn't necessarily that either artist is trying to reinvent himself. It's almost the opposite. The record sounds like two artists leaning into something they've both done well for years, which is probably why a song that sat unreleased for so long can still make sense in 2026.

There's also something to be said about fans keeping unreleased music alive. We've entered an era where snippets, leaks and old recordings can develop their own audiences before an artist ever officially puts the song on streaming platforms. Sometimes the demand disappears. Other times, years later, people are still waiting.

For “Rider,” Russ and A Boogie finally listened.