Against all odds — and a brief disappearance from digital streaming platforms — Gypes I it's finally here. The new joint LP from Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign debuted atop the Billboard 200 on Sunday (February 18), while its breakout single, “Carnival,” debuts at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 (charting date 24 February ).
While this new set, which includes appearances from North West and Playboi Carti, dominated much of the conversation in the hip-hop and R&B world, it wasn't the only thing of note last week. On Valentine's Day (February 14) — or “Worst Day” if you're a member of the Future Hive — Maze frontman Frankie Beverly announced his farewell tour. Beverly, of course, lent his voice to the seminal “Before I Let Go,” covered by Beyoncé for her in 2019 Returning home live album. Her version reached No. 65 on the Hot 100.
In other R&B performance news, Usher added yet another string of dates to his ever-growing Past Present Future tour (Feb. 20) and Roots Picnic announced their 2024 headliners, which include Jill Scott, Nas, Lil Wayne & The Roots and André 3000. On the hip-hop side of things, Drake, SZA and Sexyy Red's stunning new music video for “Rich Baby Daddy” stands no chance. The clip — which has already racked up over 7.5 million views on YouTube — finds Drizzy and Solána partying in a hospital while the “Pound Town” rap princess (who recently gave birth to her second child in real life life) begins labor.
With fresh options, Advertising sign aims to showcase some of the best and most interesting new sounds in R&B and hip-hop — from Bryson Tiller's new heater to Rae Khalil's tender meditation on existentialism. Be sure to check out this week's fresh picks in the Spotify playlist below.
Freshest Find: Pratt & Moody & Cold Diamond & Mink, “Creeping Around“
Finnish soul duo Pratt & Moody make heavy old vibes on their new Cold Diamond & Mink produced single “Creeping Around”. Their take on modern soul is infused with a particularly haunting approach to melody. The grandeur of the song's production – built almost entirely around Moody's sultry guitar – evokes James Bond's most haunting themes, while the duo's extended combined vocal ranges offset fluttery falsettos with powerful holophonic screams. “We gotta stop creeping” is a simple, yet incredibly effective hook. The song's lyrical sparseness allows the meticulous arrangement plenty of room to breathe, making it a perfect backdrop for the light beat that contours each iteration of “crawl around.”
Bryson Tiller, “Whatever He Wants”
After originally appearing in his Slum Tiller, Volume 2 mixtape last November, Bryson Tiller has after all has released the fan favorite “Whatever She Wants” across all digital streaming platforms. Made with the intention of appearing on a stripper's pre-show playlist, “Whatever She Wants” finds Bryson far removed from the R&B heard in hip-hop. Instead, the Grammy nominee skates over Detroit-inspired beats produced by TylianMTB with all the effortless swagger and swagger of a man who could literally buy out the whole club. “CC, Gucci, hit Bottega, whatever he wants/ It pisses me off, somehow he still gets what he wants,” he spits, somehow striking a delicate balance of roughness and seduction in his delivery.
Tierra Whack, “27 Club”
Mental health has long been a lyrical touchstone in hip-hop, much like the “27 Club” — an infamous collection of celebrities who passed out at the age of 27 — was the brainchild of a decades-long pop culture obsession. So the convergence of these two concepts is quite natural, and Tierra Whack deftly tackles them both on her new track, '27 Club'. Produced by J Melodic and ProdbyBRIANNA, '27 Club' finds Tierra contemplating suicide. “When your life gets hard but it's simple/ When everyone surrounds you with anxiety/ It's not really hard to convince/ Looking for something to commit to?” she spits. The dark beauty of this song is that Tierra completely rejects the idea of a happy ending or a triumphant narrative. It just sits in the painful self-loathing, guilt, and depression that accompanies suicidal ideation.
Lola Brooke & 41, “Becky”
Last year, both Lola Brooke and 41 dropped full-length projects — Dennis Daughter and 41 World: Not the album, respectively — and now the two fast-rising New York rap stars are kicking off 2024 with a new collaboration. Based on the definition of “Becky” referring to fellatio, the fiery joint marks the union of some of the most exciting voices on the modern hip-hop scene. Lola's characteristically menacing delivery is a smart complement to TaTa's raucous ad-libs and Kyle Ricch's high-octane flow. Of course, the “Don't Play With It” rapper also pairs well with 41's Jenn Carter, whose slick wordplay makes her last verse the strongest.
Chantae Cann & Kenyon Dixon, “B-Side”
Kenyon Dixon has been on a hot streak lately between his 2024 Grammy nomination and a recent string of great duets. On “B-Side”, his new joint alongside Advertising sign-Charging jazz and soul signee Chantae Cann keeps this series alive. Produced and co-written by Masego, there's a piercing array of sultry, “come-here” energy that encapsulates the innate, tasteful charm of the subtlest jazz-influenced R&B tunes. Cann delivers the hook in a breathy tone that pairs well with Dixon's moody downbeat riffs. Who said great and sexy R&B is dead?!
Rae Khalil, “It's Worth It”
In celebration of the announcement of her signing with Advertising sign Anderson .Paak's APESHIT lead rapper-singer, Rae Khalil drops a new single produced by .Paak titled “Is It Worth It”. Built around a restrained soundscape full of drums and bass, Khalil asks “Is it worth it?/ If I show up when I want to/ In the sea of the same face/ Is it worth my time, my time?” The lyrical battle between her own pride and desire for connection and longing to be wanted and desired comes to a head in the rich instrumental break that serves as both the song's bridge and cover—talk about a stunner.
ScHoolboy Q, “Year 101”
Q's new LP, Blue lips, arrives in less than two weeks, and the Grammy-winning rapper is ramping up his release. Built around a pounding, bass-driven beat created by Cardo, J.LBS, Johnny Juliano & Yung Exclusive, “Yeern 101” finds the TDE star effortlessly skating over the track with borderline breathless flows. There are no easy hooks or choruses here, this is two intoxicating voices full of clever wordplay, high-speed flow switches and sly changes in inflection and intonation — both elevated by the ever-intensifying instrumentation. “I'm one—one out here, it all comes free/ I never met God, but I bet he know me/ Put the money in a set, one—a dice in their streets/ Throw the boy in the alley oops, now he's riding in fleck,” he spits.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/best-new-rb-hip-hop-bryson-tiller-lola-brooke-41-tierra-whack-1235610743/
