It's a new week, and you know what that means? New treats for your ears! Now summer is slowly approaching and the streets are calling! "We outside" can be heard from the hills. Jorts are returning. Is that seasonal depression slipping away? Spring is here, and as Justin said… *insert it's gonna be May meme*
The tunes are giving "the weather is warming up," and contenders for the song of the summer are popping up left and right. Who's ready? Turn those headphones up.
Club Soda Vol 3. x Cookiee Kawaii
Get into this fizz! Giving us Jersey Club authentic realness, Cookiee Kawaii is back on the scene with her third installment of the Club Soda series. In East Orange, New Jersey, Cookiee is doing the hometown proud. As a Garden State native, I live for a reason to yell Joiseeeyyy, for no reason.
Key Track: "Complicated," a rock-influenced Jersey club track that is pleasing me and my homegirls.
DRIVE x Tiësto
Tiësto has finally driven onto the scene with a new collection of bangers just in time for the warm weather. It has been a long time since the lead single, "The Business," was released in 2020. He collaborates with Charli XCX, Black Eyed Peas, Ava Max, and more.
Key Track: "Pump It" is not new, but Tiësto slowed down the Black Eyed Peas banger to bumping perfection. It's giving hyped crowd, mist, and crowd drenched in sweat, jumping when the beat drops in the middle of the festival.
Princess Forever x Dreamer Isioma
Capitalizing on their signature sound, the non-binary artist Dreamer Isioma creates a dreamy pop, jazzy, funk, and Afrobeat sophomore project after going viral on TikTok in 2020 and signing to AWL before releasing their debut project.
Key Track: "Saturn Ring," an astrological ode to a broken heart and a love lost.
leave me where you found me x Iann Dior
Dior continues his pop-punk rap reign with his third album.
Key Track: "make it right", The song can be summed up perfectly with one lyric "Why you always feel like you right, blame it on your trauma don't make it right." Woo, preach!
leave me where you found me on Spotifyplayin w/ fire on Spotify
playing w/ fire x redveil
Everyone's favorite self-starter, he has numerous cosigns and endorsements from your favorite rapper's favorite rapper, released a six-song ep.
Key Track: "f2g" is like Kaytranada, and Tyler the Creator fucked and had a musical brainchild. I'm gliding like Michael in dress shoes on a slick surface. I'm groovin'!
Hip-Hop 50: Vol. 2 x Swizz Beats
The rappers/producers are OUT. Swiss assembled an elite team for this project, Nas, Lil Wayne, Jadakiss, and more.
Key Track: "Take 'Em Out," As Swiss yells over the beat, Jada, butcher, and Lip rip through this beat. It's hard, raw, and exciting.
Single Drop:
It's a Pop world, after all:
"Only Smoke Trees" x Tama Gucci
The Brooklyn Native gives us his first single of the year and a taste of what will come. He loves cannabis and being with "his bitches on the beach overseas." Sometimes all you need is your homies, and several blunts rolled.
"Be The One," Bree Runway, Khalid
I am all in. I love when Bree sings and even more when she collars with Khalid. They complement each other so well, which is plain in their artistic chemistry. I hope this gets spun at the beach during sunset for all the summer lovers.
"Slow," Jackson Wang x Ciara
Jackson teams up with Ciara to take it nice and slow for us. The two trade sultry, breathy vocals urging you to come hither.
“Alone”, Kim Petras x Nicki Minaj
For her second offering of the year, after closing out 2022, a Grammy winner, Kim, teams up with the Queen of rap, debate your mothers, Nicki Minaj, on the "Better Off Alone" sampled hit.
“Mermaids” x Florence + the Machine
On a dark dance track, Florence + the Machine uses her anthemic ethereal vocals and sings about getting lost in England's nightlife and dancing away all of your pressing worries.
"True Love," Christine and The Queens x 070 Shake
A minimal cut from their next project that seeps in vulnerability and openness.
"Double Fantasy," The Weeknd x Future
The Weeknd is expanding his universe with Idol, his limited series releasing on HBO in June. If you have watched the trailer, this song fits perfectly with the old nightlife vibes. The opening instrumental sets the scene, letting the work do the talking.
"Taking Things For Granted," Joy Oladokun
Sometimes a guitar-assisted bop makes you slow down and smell the flowers, look at the sky, and appreciate life, ya know.
"Blades," Arlo Parks
You end up at a party, and there they are, the one that got away. All the feelings are bursting in your chest, but how do you navigate this? Arlo, please stop reading my diary. She honestly croons over the beat, "I don't know what to do 'cause I only want to be with you.
Oh, we Rappin?
"FW That," Peezy x Kash Doll
I keep telling y'all I love me a female rapper, especially when they elevate a song. Yeah, Peezy does his thing initially, letting us know self-sufficient women are the move. Kash comes and kills, "I think my haters dating now. I made a couple mad." Purrr Kash!
"Put It On Da Floor," Latto
It's definitely giggle-worthy when the girlies are beefin' for no reason. Latto had the girls scrambling a lil bit. "Say she got a problem, imaginary smoke." Tell 'em, Big Latto.
"New York (Concept De Paris)," Jay Z x Gil Scott-Heron
Nah, this version eats bad! Jay-Z teamed up with frequent collaborator Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton and mashed his hit song with Gil's poem "New York Is Killing Me."
Update those playlists and turn the volume up! I hope you keep returning as I recap weekly, elevate the taste, and serve up some treats. Follow me for more Black, Queer, and Pop culture content.
Fleshbot: Plug In Get Off.
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