“Good Bad” runs as a sun-tinged anthem about collision and contradiction, taking the good with the bad and the highs with the lows. Chrispin’s high energy delivery gives the dance beat exciting texture and vibrancy.
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Why We Like It: Alma Cook’s “So Close”
Lyrically, “So Close” tackles the bittersweet lessons of love lost with poise and poetics. If “thank u, next” spelled out such sentiments in upfront phrases, “So Close” takes a wittier approach, the rhymes as natural as the lyrics are sharp.
The O[ther] G[uy]s: Hip-Hop’s Biggest Original Namesakes
They’re some of hip-hop’s biggest names, and they’re attached to some of the culture’s most unassuming bit players: these are the other guys, the namesakes who’ve since been eclipsed by bigger and oft-better artists of the very same name.
Why We Like It: Beau Diako & Jordan Rakei’s “Flamingo”
“Flamingo” walks the line between technical flex and songwriting prowess. No single element feels introduced for the sake of its own existence, and yet the virtuosic guitar licks underpinning the track are pleasantly intricate, both a solid base and a commanding display of Beau Diako’s skills.
Why We Like It: Christina Lyon’s “Soul’s On Fire”
There’s something exceptionally beautiful about the way music can transcend time. We can playback old jams and resummon the original emotional connections to the music and even feel inspired to make new creations in the vein of our old inspirations. This is the pocket we found Christina Lyon’s “Soul’s On Fire,” a new track with an old soul.
Why We Like It: Lady Sanity’s “Trappin”
“Trappin” is a scathing attack directed at the suggested and imposed censorship of minority artists in rap music. The track plays off its own structure as Lady Sanity struggles between the ideas of commercial success through socially digestible topics like braggadocious rap and black on black violence, or bringing attention to the host of injustice she’s seen swept under the rug.
Why We Like It: Shadi G’s “Mind”
Swedish R&B singer, Shadi G takes us away with “Mind.” The beautifully softspoken vocalist dances lightly across the track, each moment subtly kissing the song with a gentle touch that makes the hair on the back of the listener’s neck stand up in anticipation.
Sampled Their Provisions: The Sonic Palette of ‘Jesus Is King’
The dust has settled and the controversy has all but passed, so what can the samples on Jesus Is King tell us about Kanye’s religious reinvention?
Why We Like It: Linae’s “Right There”
“Right There” takes all the gorgeous sounds and accents of R&B and runs them through the catchiness of a contemporary pop filter to produce a track that’s inspirations have been brought together in just the right amounts.
Why We Like It: Adam Dollar$ and Jeremy Clay’s “Maybe” (Acoustic Version)
This acoustic track from Adam Dollar$ and Jeremy Clay gently brings rap and R&B back to Earth for a soulful new take off. Clay’s vocals demarcate Dollar$ verses, never overstaying their welcome, and Dollar$ verses complement Clay’s soft-spoken delivery, punctuating his feelings with astute observations and sharp illustrations of contemporary love.
