June is finally in full swing, and with Juneteenth (June 19) and the BET Awards (June 30) on the horizon, the worlds of R&B and hip-hop are buzzing with excitement.
The past week in R&B/hip-hop has brought us major updates on highly anticipated new albums, as well as business moves that have left fans puzzled, amused and angry. On Saturday (June 8), Megan Thee Stallion debuted the alternate artwork for her upcoming self-titled LP, which is due out June 28. The announcement came the same day the H-Town hottie broke down in tears while performing “Cobra” on her Hot Girl Summer tour in Tampa, Florida. Earlier in the day, malicious social media users released videos created by artificial intelligence to look like Meghan's likeness.
Rihanna, on the other hand, wore an “I'm Retired” shirt, sending fans into a frenzy as they debated whether the “Diamonds” singer would ever release another album.
In one of the most entertaining business deals of the week, Nick Cannon insured his much talked about “family jewels” for $10 million. It was a much-needed relief from the controversy Jay-Z caused when Roc Nation announced their involvement in a campaign to secure $300 million in scholarships for underprivileged children at private and religious institutions, leaving hundreds of hurting public schools in the dust.
With fresh options, Advertising sign aims to showcase some of the best and most interesting new sounds in R&B and hip-hop — from BIA and JID's new '00s banger to summery new singles from Amanda Reifer and Cash Cobain. Be sure to check out this week's fresh picks in the Spotify playlist below.
JP, “Bring them here”
After bringing Milwaukee Lowend to the national scene with his hit single “Bad Bitty,” JP kept his foot firmly on the gas, offering his new album, Coming Out Party. The new record is primarily made up of more bitey “Bad Bitty”-style tubs that combine JP's sweet vocals and Milwaukee lowend's rattling bass, but it's “Bring 'Em Here” that immediately stands out among the new joints.
“S–t, I remember I was broke/ Had to take care of all my s–t, n—like they thought it was funny/ But now they see me live/ And now they wanna ask for my digits,” he muses in the intro , using a rapping beat that becomes the perfect frame for his later proclamations that he's a “freak” who's “trying to one-up you.” Produced by Ibn Farmacia & Tombo, there's a subtle guitar buried deep in the mix that takes on the intensely groovy tone that JP sings throughout the sultry midtempo jam — and it's this sonic quirk that makes the track one of the most interesting to the upcoming rapper's new project.
BIA & JID, “Lights Out”
It's already been a very memorable June for the BIA and we're only 10 days into the month. Between dissing Cardi B and appearing in her hometown at Game Two of the NBA Finals, BIA collaborated with JID for the first time on “Lights Out.” StarGate produced song landed on Bad Boys: Ride or Die soundtrack, but it has more dimension than a typical digestible soundtrack music that can feel monotonous at times. The “Whole Lotta Money” rapper delivers a catchy hook and JID is tagged in late for an assist, which finds him belting out TI's “Top Back” anthem. “I took it back and my beat down/ We put so much into the grind 'cause we were on the ground floor,” says the Dreamville resident.
Amanda Reifer, “Colonize”
After getting a pair of Grammy nominations thanks to her work on Kendrick Lamar's Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, Bajan singer-songwriter Amanda Reifer is coming into her own. Built around a lift from fellow Bajan artist Rupee's timeless “Tempted to Touch,” “Colonize” arrives as an evocative, sensual ode to staying grounded in your being and rejecting the imposition of outside ideals or expectations. “Ah, blessed, I'm not saying I'm not glad to meet you/ I'm not saying what I'm saying to annoy you/ But you'd be marking territory if I left you,” he warns. Dahi's shimmering beat with a dancehall bent. Fans who were instantly captivated by Reifer's warm, seductive tone on “Die Hard” will absolutely love how her voice takes center stage on “Colonize.”
Doechii, “MPH”
The tension between the conscious and the commercial—which is far more complex than the binary suggests—is one of the longest-running debates in hip-hop. With “MPH,” a high-octane follow-up to the house-rooted noise dance and hip-hop of her JT-assisted “Alter Ego,” Doechii offers a simple answer: “Yeah, I could give you the conscious st, but I'm too busy giving you c–t.” It really is that simple. turn, prompts listeners to have fun with their own. She cleverly anchors the song's funniest moments with an opening verse that recalls her story. “I tell you what it took to get me here, but I don't think you really get it/ It went from bitches trying to call my name, to calling my name in the stands,” he spits over Rhythm-helmed Demeanor.
Cash Cobain, “Rump Punch”
From “Fisherrr” to “Attitude” – “Grippy” not included – Cash Cobain brings his slizzy summer vibes from New York to the world. “Rump Punch,” his latest addition to the “sexy drill” lexicon, finds the Bronx rapper-producer comparing his lady's taste to the ever-satisfying drink that is rum punch. “Henny bent you, but I'll bend you too/ If you got a man, we could bend the rules/ If I was your man, I'd be tender too/ If you really wanna bring a friend or two.” he spits in a rapid flow that matches the slightly snarky vibe of his lyrics. Cash knows he's a bit of a dog, so he flies through lyrics that acknowledge his disdain for pre-existing relationships. Then again, why should this worry someone who is actually participating in a lean summer?
Isaiah Huron, “Circles”
When you aim for perfection, you discover it's a moving target. In a showcase of creative transparency, Isaia Huron's “Circles” were left intentionally unfinished. The up-and-coming R&B singer recounts the trials and tribulations of a certain woman in his life while showing off his vocal versatility as he soars into a falsetto. Frosty piano keys kick off the 90-second sprint before an absolute halftime switch to drums, with a throbbing bass building to crescendo alongside an outro that sounds like something out of Frank Ocean's playbook. “Circles” is the South Carolina singer-songwriter's first single of 2024, and Huron has a project slated to arrive this summer.
Ski Mask the Slump God & Future, “Monsters Inc.”
Ski Mask the Slump God is back with his first project in three years, As Darkness 11th dimension tap streaming services. An early standout from his sophomore LP finds Ski facing Future on “Monsters Inc.” Just don't expect any references to Mike Wazowski, Sully, or any ties to the Pixar classic for that matter. Future does the early heavy lifting and floats over menacing ATL Jacob production, while the sniper admits he still has Jennifer Lopez on his wish list. “Real leak, I'm still after J. Lo, uh-ha/ I can't go back on my word,” he raps. Pluto's syrupy ad-libs serve as an interlude with Ski Mask taking over and his rhymes bringing “Monsters Inc.” across the finish line. “All n—-you're just the stalls, I can't take you seriously,” Ski snaps.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/best-new-rb-hip-hop-cash-cobain-doechii-fresh-picks-1235705762/
