Another Monday, another round-up of the freshest picks of the week.
Summer is around the corner and we’ve got the songs to usher you in. This week’s collection includes rap favorites from the D to the A, and a few R&B vibes to soothe the soul, from Money Man and Young Dolph to Canadian songstress Charlotte Day Wilson.
Don’t forget to share the wealth with our Spotify playlist, linked below.
Money Man & Young Dolph, “Whole Lotta”
Atlanta meets Memphis on “Whole Lotta,” as Money Man and Young Dolph team up to flex their abundance of designer items, foreigns and guns. But despite this seemingly frivolous lifestyle, Money Man is wise about his spending, telling Pitchfork in 2018 about his business-savvy mentality and cryptocurrency investments. “A lot of my music talks about [how] I don’t have to rob [anyone], I can hustle,” he said.
Smino & Monte Booker, “Rice and Gravy”
“I rock Air Forces, don’t force s–t,” says Nike Air Force 1 enthusiast Smino. The St. Louis artist linked with fellow Zero Fatigue producer and frequent collaborator Monte Booker for “Rice and Gravy.” Smino sings and raps about his childhood and the things that made him in his usual neo-soul flare.
Matt McGhee feat. Alex Vaughn, “These Exchanges”
DMV artists Matt McGhee and Alex Vaughn complement each other well on “These Exchanges.” The two go back and forth as they express their desire for the tight bond that a relationship forms. “These Exchanges” was featured on Spotify’s Ripple Effect playlist, which “uplifts artists who are unknown, unsigned, and from underserved genres” as part of their new Frequency initiative.
Cam Wallace feat. Wiz Khalifa, “Retail (Remix)”
Two Camerons are better than one, as Houston artist Cam Wallace enlists Wiz Khalifa for a remix to his single “Retail.” “Wiz always brings the ultimate vibes to any record he’s on. When I heard his approach to his verse I was like oh this is perfect. He literally added another layer of cool to the record,” the multi-talented artist, who recently signed with Motown Records, said of the collaboration in a statement.
Michael J. Woodard, “Why You Texting Me?”
Philly artist Michael J. Woodard has released his emotionally charged debut single, “Why You Texting Me?” The rising singer recently signed to Katy Perry’s Unsub Records after she was blown away by his talent during his run on Season 16 of American Idol.
Charlotte Day Wilson, “If I Could”
Soulful Canadian songstress Charlotte Day Wilson returns with her signature, perfectly layered vocals on “If I Could.” The first single ahead of her debut album, Alpha, set to release in July, Wilson makes Biblical references in alignment with the saturation of choral stacks throughout the song. “I’d bathe you /Wash you of the sins that plague you / Rid you of the burdens and you’d be free once more,” she sings. Wilson often contributes to her own musical production, and this track was no exception.
Tobe Nwigwe feat. Far Nwingwe, “FYE FYE”
In a celebration of Black power and excellence, Tobe Nwingwe enlists his family for “Fye Fye,” a single that is nothing short of cinematic perfection. Many moments in the video are simply art, showing Nwingwe surrounded by his crew, all draped in the rapper’s signature shade of sea foam green, and some accessorized with crisp white durags. About halfway in, Nwingwe’s wife, known as “Fat,” graces the scene with a verse equally as hard-hitting as that of her Nigerian-American husband. Like Tobe, Fat is surrounded by her own crew, hyping her up while she delivers her impassioned verse and simultaneously cradles her pregnant belly. The video closes with the Nwingwe daughters making a cameo, while the crowd chants, “If you Black / We *NSYNC / Bye, bye, bye.”
Nascent feat. Duckwrth, Saba, “Lock It Up”
Producer Nascent delivers smoked-out, laid-back vibes with his latest single, “Lock It Up.” Enlisting fellow Chicagoan Saba and Los Angeles’ Duckwrth, the track chronicles a rags-to-riches come-up of the material and the mind. As the underground favorites lounge around pools and greenhouses, painting a peaceful picture, the production of the song waterfalls, providing a perfect backyard summer soundtrack.
Smoko Ono feat. Corinne Bailey Rae & UMI, “You Are”
It’s music to our collective ears: longtime British songbird Corinne Bailey Rae joins forces with up-and-comers UMI and Chicago producer Smoko Ono on “You Are.” If the soul-laden trio wasn’t enough, Ono called on R&B singer Daniel Caesar for additional production work. From the electric guitar and smooth hip-hop drums to Rae’s elongated, climbing melodies, the track exudes sensual energy, setting the tone for an intimate evening in.
Sada Baby ft. Big Sean & Hit-Boy, “Little While”
There’s no rapper rising from Detroit quite like Sada Baby. With his signature grunts, dances and quotable bars, Sada aka “Skuba Steve” came back for “A Little While” alongside fellow Detroiter Big Sean and Grammy-winning producer Hit-Boy. The track is sure to be a party favorite, featuring mile-a-minute hi-hats — distinctive of the Detroit sound — classic hip-hop cowbells and deep 808s, giving us a reason to go outside (safely) this summer.
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