Happy Monday! Along with your morning coffee, enjoy a fresh-baked batch of the finest tracks in emerging R&B/hip-hop this week. From sunny Afrobeats vibes to head-bobbing rap favorites, our list will have you well-prepared for the next seven days.
This week, listen to the sounds of Don Toliver, Isaiah Rashad, Spinall and more. Don’t forget to share the wealth with our Spotify playlist, linked below.
Young Crazy, Icewear Vezzo, “Shell Jumping”
Virginia’s Young Crazy and Detroit mainstay Icewear Vezzo’s “Shell Jumping” stays ever-true to the sonic disposition that defines Detroit rap: Dark, minor piano scales coexist with mile-a-minute hi-hats and slightly off-beat rhyme schemes, as the Norfolk native fully embraces the “when in Rome” mentality. Posted up outside of a gas station in what looks to be cold weather, the video feels just as Detroit as the song sounds, with Young Crazy declaring, “We just left the club and got the Shell jumping.”
Spinall ft 6lack and Fireboy DML, “Sere (Remix)”
How do you make an already fire track even hotter? Throw 6lack into the mix. Released in December 2020, Spinall and Fireboy DML’s “Sere” was host to witty lines, laidback melodies and thick harmonies, sitting atop Kel-P and Spinall’s undeniably danceable production. Last week’s remix with the Baltimore favorite breathed new life into the song. pushing “Sere” to the top of fans’ most-listened playlists, yet again.
Dylan Joshua, “Roaming”
To put it simply, Dylan Joshua’s “Roaming” sounds like an early morning, waking up to the sun peeking through semi-sheer curtains. The Toronto crooner continues a legacy of minimal, emotive R&B coming out of the Canadian music capital. Lasting only two minutes and 23 seconds, the gentle track is made to be looped through your morning routine.
Little Simz feat. Cleo Sol, “Woman”
Little Simz and Cleo Sol can be described as a U.K. musical power couple. Reminiscent of fellow London duo Floetry, the pair deliver a smooth symphony of spoken-word like rhymes combined with decadent vocals from Sol. “Woman” comes two years following their last collaboration, “Selfish,” as the dynamic duo gives fans another femme-centric anthem.
Joan, “So Good”
On their latest release, Joan leans deep into the musical flourishes that defined the late ’90s and early ’00s. While the percussion of “So Good” gives nostalgic boyband energy, the lo-fi guitar and R&B melodies feel current, melding together the best of music’s past and present.
Isaiah Rashad feat. Duke Deuce, “Lay Wit Ya”
TDE’s secret weapon is back, and on “Lay Wit Ya” he sounds both relaxed and turnt. In his May 2021 Fader cover story, Isaiah Rashad revealed that battling addiction and financial hardships led to his five-year hiatus. However, the Chattanooga rapper is ready to return, as he gears up for the release of his third album The House Is Burning.
Coi Leray, “Bout Me”
On “Bout Me,” Coi Leray asserts that she doesn’t care what others have to say about her. Though her flow and voice on this track closely resembles that of Playboi Carti, her air of confidence is commendable.
YG, Mozzy, Blxst, “Perfect Timing”
Following their first single “Bompton to Oak Park,” “Perfect Timing” is the second single off of Mozzy and YG’s upcoming joint project, slated to drop this year. This time around they tapped fellow California artist Blxst to provide the song’s chorus, becoming the standout of this new track.
Don Toliver, “What You Need”
Dropping music at the beginning of the week is underrated, but so is Don Toliver. Last Tuesday (May 4), the Cactus Jack signee dropped “What You Need,” a druggy, lo-fi-like single off his forthcoming album.
YTB Trench, “F.O.F.G.”
After his standout performance on Slime Language 2, YTB Trench is seemingly YSL Records’ next star. The melodic rapper released his new single “F.O.F.G.,” an acronym for “f–k the opps and free the guys.” The rising artist has a lot to say, as he quickly but passionately raps over a trap beat.
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