New week, new Fresh Picks.
With Daylight Savings Time ending, there is ample time to fully immerse in some new R&B/Hip-Hop bops from this past week. Per usual, we’ve supplied you with a wide array of sounds from artists like Omar Apollo, Saba, VX Duse, YSB Tril, AzSwaye and more. Don’t forget to share the wealth with our Spotify playlist linked below.
Snøw, “Blaming Me For Us”
Lo-fi savant Snøw captures listeners through his minimal approach in “Blaming Me For Us.” On the melancholy cut, Snøw masterfully captures the blurry line between love and habit, over moody guitar and sharp-hitting percussion.
IV4 feat. Jeremih, “Stroke”
IV4 has her head in the clouds. In the “Stroke” visual, the sensual singer is hypnotic, falling from the sky before putting an unassuming man under her spell. Joined by Jeremih, the pair trade lines, professing their desire for one another over the trap-infused beat.
Andria Rose, “In the Abstract”
Ahead of her EP, singer-songwriter Andria Rose releases the musical time-capsule, “In The Abstract.” The laid-back track and visual have retro elements, while staying modern through Rose’s melodies and lyricism.
VX Duse, “Paraiso”
In the perfect marriage of drill, pop and R&B, London-based artist VX Duse TK TK. The lyricist leans into his Colombian roots, performing the entire track in Spanish.
Omar Apollo feat. Kali Uchis, “Bad Life”
Alt-R&B powerhouse Omar Apollo joined forces with Kali Uchis yet again, for the heartbreak anthem, “Bad Life.” Accompanied by an electric guitar and layers upon layers of vocals, Apollo delves into the lack of reciprocity in his relationship. As the song floats on, the production swells, reaching its climax during Uchis’s smooth verse.
YSB Tril ft. Kill Jasper, “Brand New”
YSB Tril tapped Kill Jasper to trade bars for his new single, “Brand New.” Over an 808-heavy beat, the duo melodically rap-sing about their riches. “I bought a brand new bustdown/ Girl, I’m up now, VV’d the chain on me,” Tril asserts for the chorus. The North Carolina rapper also recently earned a placement on the Madden 22 soundtrack with his track, “Count Me In.”
Rakeem Miles feat. Waka Flocka, “It Is What It Is”
L.A.-based artist Rakeem Miles links with Waka Flocka for his uptempo new single, “It Is What It Is.” Produced by Chad Hugo, the song blends a funky bassline — a staple of Hugo’s production team The Neptunes — and Waka’s signature trap flair for a song about being unstoppable.
Saba feat. Daoud, “Fearmonger”
Saba is back with his single “Fearmonger.” Produced by frequent collaborator Daoud, the Chicago artist takes the concept of a fearmonger and gives it an abstract meaning. “At the time of making this record I was beginning to realize how big of a hold fears actually had on me,” he said in a press release. “With big decisions to make, I was never sure if I was doing the right thing. I’ve never made a record that sounded anything like this and part of the fun of releasing music is to create worlds sonically and have people trust you to show them around your own imagination.” “Fearmonger” is the first single off of his forthcoming third solo album, Few Good Things.
AzSwaye, “Diss Song”
AzSwaye isn’t one to make diss songs. On his piano-lad “Diss Song” — the intro to his new EP The Lazarus Effect — the L.A. rapper asserts that he’s about that action saying, “I heard the opps wants me dead, f–k a diss song/ Before I diss a n—a, I’d rather get him slit on.”
Jahkoy, “Face2Face”
On “Face2Face,” Jahkoy yearns for what the song’s title suggests. The Toronto singer dropped off his 323 EP ahead of his forthcoming album, providing a perfect handful of sensual slow jams for the upcoming winter.
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