Friday Music Guide: New Music From Billie Eilish, Zayn, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie and more

Billboard's Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to this Friday's most essential releases — the essential music everyone will be talking about today and that will dominate playlists this weekend and beyond.

This week, Billie Eilish hits new sweet spots, Zayn enters a new phase, and A Boogie Wit da Hoodie continues to climb. Check out all of this week's picks below:

Billie Eilish, Hit hard and soft

Forget the stand-alone pieces (though there are quite a few) and the general atmosphere (which is richly developed and immediately compelling). the wonder of Billie Eilish's third studio album, Hit hard and soft, is the fact that one of the most famous young superstars in the history of popular music — coming off her second Oscar, at the age of 22! — can continue to sound so free of expectation and unfettered by contemporary pop trends. Eilish has always made irrevocable choices in the face of an ever-expanding reputation, and from the pop-rock rattle of “Lunch” to the labyrinthine epic of “Bittersuite” to the heartfelt jangle of “Birds of a Feather,” she remains unpredictable, and a master of the craft. her, in her last complete.

Zayn, Room under the stairs

Room under the stairs is Zayn's first album since turning 30 last year — and while the rustic, country-rock sound suggests a change in approach, the songwriting and vocal performances also mark a maturation, as the former One Direction star sounds completely removed from the trappings of pop stardom and ready to tell his story in his own way. Lead single “What I Am” quickly sets the tone, but “Stardust” immerses the listener in the promise of Zayn's new era, marrying his melodic prowess with deep, hard-earned soul.

A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, Better alone

In a few weeks, Bronx rapper A Boogie Wit da Hoodie will headline a show at Madison Square Garden, a full-circle moment for an MC who's always operated counter-clockwise when it comes to hip-hop's elite, but is consistently built a dedicated following and garnered hundreds of millions of streams. New album Better alone features guest spots from Future, Lil Durk and Young Thug, among others, but the piercing “Body,” featuring rising star Cash Cobain, best distills A Boogie's new school of New York hip-hop via the Jersey club and it sounds like a surefire hit.

Luke Combs, “Ain't No Love in Oklahoma”

Luke Combs' burly new rocker comes from the soundtrack to the upcoming Tornado follow Twisters, which helps explain lines like “You'll know when it's coming for you / Driving through the wind and the rain.” Removed from the context of the film, however, “Ain't No Love in Oklahoma” allows Combs to playfully roar over meaty guitar riffs, showcasing a side of the superstar that may be unfamiliar to fans unaware of the subtle of “Fast Car” cover.

Editor's Pick: Saweetie, “NANi”

Saweetie climbed the charts and crossed over to mainstream listeners thanks in part to pop-rap sweets like “My Type” and the Doja Cat collaboration “Best Friend” and new summer single “NANi,” with its keyboard riff and song-song. tune, has an excellent opportunity to follow in the footsteps of these successes. As always, Saweetie's rock-steady flow holds up her sound, as she concludes, “Another day, another f–kin bag,” with the braggadocio of a superstar.