New Music: Treats of the Week

Welcome back to another week of good tunes and delectable sound bites. Teased albums dropped, a lot of self-reflection and gratitude in our long-form projects, hip hop heavy in the singles with some heavy hitters giving us primo pop and R&B cuts. Let's get into it.

Since I Have A Lover x 6lack

After two home runs with his debut and sophomore, 6lack returns with Since I Have A Lover, and if you could not tell from the title, 6lack is in love and very grateful for it. Weaving parallels with his career growth, he opens the albums with fan audio praising his artistic run thus far. The love story of a down love he lost and found his way back to grounds us in the music. His melodic rapping is as sharp as ever; 6lack has broadened his artistic horizons giving us more uptempo and pop-leaning songs.

Key tracks: "Tit For Tat" is a short take on going back and forth with your lover until we attack the issue: do we stay or let it go?

Since I Have A Lover on Spotify

Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd x Lana Del Rey

On her ninth effort, Lana remembers where she came from, embraces her past, and looks forward to her future. She mourns her family, thanks their efforts to pass down knowledge, and remembers her healing journey from her losses on "The Grants," "Grandfather, please stand on the shoulders of my father…" and Kintsugi. Lana ponders and moves past her old images on "A&W" and "Candy Necklaces," not condemning them but accepting her beginnings. She hasn't changed but has grown from the product they created in 2011 with her mainstream emergence. Her future is also on her mind; whether becoming a wife or a mother is in the cards for her. Does she want it? Will someone want it with her? Lana is at her most introspective, experimental, and sometimes bloated on this project, but she always pulls it together and makes her point.

Key Track: "Paris, Texas" (Feat. SYML) is a piano-assisted diddy about knowing when to move on but wondering and hoping your lover follows you.

Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd on Spotify

Scaring the Hoes x JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown

Two of hip hops most unconventional and lauded players team up to create a little fast lane for themselves. From engaging ass song titles, banging drums, and quirky and light use of instrumentals, the pair make a fun album that plays fast and tries to grasp at anything. I believe that is why the project works; there is a seriousness but a blasé approach to execution. They know it is good, but will it garner the spins and praise of a project like "Her Loss"? They know it won't, but it might be better or more enjoyable.

Key Tracks: "Steppa Pig" is the first track on the project,with production so good we have to run it back a few times. "Fentanyl Tester" is a disjointed track that samples Milkshake by Kelis to quirky pleasing results.

Scaring The Hoes on Spotify

Boppin with the pop and R&B folk:

"Fly Girl" x FLO feat. Missy Elliot

The Brit trio bringing back our '90s pop girl group dreams released with Missy. I can't tell you how it felt to hear Missy scream her iconic line "New Flo" alongside an interpolation of her 2002 single "Work It." From the breakout single, "Cardboard Box," to now, the girls have not disappointed us and are doing everything right. MORE FLO *Missy voice*.

“Dream Hotel” x Tayla Parx

A credit to her as a singer-songwriter, Tayla fits any genre she steps in. Different from her dream-pop and R&B takes, the country bop hits.

"Smoke" x Victoria Monet x Lucky Daye

A singer-songwriter who knows her lane so well, this better be the year ya put respect on her name! I want to plug the music video because she throws a snippet or version B of "Smoke" at the end while pole dancing in a bong, and it is beautiful. Lucky was an exceptional choice for this collab.

“PutItInACoffin” x TeaMarrr

The singer-songwriters are out! After being released on her label, something we have seen artists thrive from (please see Charli XCX or Tinashe), Teamarr is rejuvenated. As with all music, there are dualities. Teamarrr could be mourning a love that went sour on both sides or even her relationship with her label "I hear all my exes in my old songs" old loves (subject matter), old ideas, and producers (subtext).

"Body Do" x Chlöe

"Do you ever wonder who else is fucking ya man" OK CHLÖE! All Imma say is we are ready for the project! Friday cannot come soon enough! We wanna see what your "Body" of work do, Chlöe!

“Standards” x Keke Palmer

Miss KeKe(ep a Job) Palmer is back on the music scene gearing pop for the release of Big Boss, her next album. She sounds better than ever, clearly holding tight to her "Standards" and what has made her the prolific figure she is today.

"Da Girls" x Ciara

Ciara continues her female empowerment run of singles. Which is a cute area for Ciara to stay and thrive in. The "Ciara Prayer" has become a comical yet pointed pop culture reference about Ciara's romantic journey from fuckboy Future to her knight in shining armor, Russell Wilson. We see what you have done for others, Lord lol.

“Switch” x Destin Conrad

His first contribution to 2023, Destin, gives us a cute Afrobeat-aided minute-and-a-half crooner about changing things up in the bedroom to keep things spicy and fresh. His voice pours over the body like a warm embrace you can't help but sway along.

Rappin circles around em:

"Dogtooth" x Tyler, the Creator

Simpin hard for a girl that money can't buy on the first song of cuts that didn't make his last album, Tyler sits pretty solo on his private plane, reminiscing about the good things that money has afforded him and that if we don't know his grandmother's name, then we do not know him!

“Turnin’ Heads” x Kari Faux feat Big K.R.I.T

With her second release of 2023, Kari is confident, protected, and doing it for those who can't do it. I genuinely hope this is gearing up for a project release.

"Lil Nas X" x Enyce

LA rapper Enyce spits confident and playful bars letting us know his troll abilities are Lil Nas X levels, so eat it the fuck up.

“1-800-Bad-Bxtch” x Saucy Santana

Does Santana miss? Does Santana not make a bop every time? He gon do it EVERY TIME! That phone number is a privilege, boo. What is he doing for it? Set the bar high, ladies and gays. Is he applying pressure or stressing you out? Call me now!

"I'm That Bitch” x Bia

The girls are really feeling Missy these days. Give mama her flowers! Over a "She's A Bitch” sample Bia reminds us, "I'm that bitch. The way I left that s**t on read, he don't exist." A mantra I can get behind.

"Problem" x Big Boss Vette

I love when the rap girls talk with their chests. I'm scared of ya.

"Palisades, CA" Larry June, The Alchemist, Big Sean

"Bettin on myself every time, and it's a hit." I want Big Sean to come back. Soon he keeps saying. We will take the verses, though!

Remixing the girls:

“Hey, Mickie” x Baby Tate, Saweetie

Still capitalizing on the resurgence of her hit, Tate throws Saweetie on the remix and an upcoming video.

"Don't Play With It" Lola Brooke, Latto, Yung Miami

The internet was unsure why Lola remixed this old song, but the girls are having FUN! I don't think this was for anything other than a cute link-up for the girls. This is the second Yung Miami verse I have committed to memory. "Caresha single and siddity, he ok with it… no shade with it, no shade with it!" Don't play with Caresha, ok! Latto talking her s**t, too, "Why would I dm a n**ga first when I'm the catch?" Asking the real questions y'all!

"Bed Time" Flo Milli, Monaleo, Gloss Up

Flo Milli and Monaleo always have me giggling and feeling like the baddest in their songs. Their wordplay and bars always tickle a bitch. Gloss was a perfect addition; she comes in with the pretty, unbothered, don't try me energy Flo effortlessly exudes.

On the Underground:

Nasir Mf is a Brooklyn-based electronic artist who hopes to continue the legacy of Black folks who've come before him while pushing the boundaries of sound and expression. Get lost in the recently released luv, self-loathe, an electro and hyper pop dream project tackling themes of love, isolation, and simpin. Check out two of the visuals for the project and a remix of fucking lonely.

Key track: "romantic fury", a banger that reminds me of a collab between Sophie & Charli.

fucking lonely remix on Spotify

Tune in next week when Chlöe drops her debut In Pieces, Melanie Martinez returns with her third effort Portals, and my guy Tyler releases Call Me If You Get Lost: The Estate Sale". Oh, we geeked!

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