Although Taylor Swiftmap crashes Department of Tormented Poets dominated the news cycle this past weekend in April, the world of hip-hop and R&B continued to churn out hot new tracks and buzzy news to keep us occupied.
In yet another update to the Great Rap War of 2024, Drake has complied with a request by the Tuapc Shakur estate to take down his new “Taylor Made Freestyle,” which featured lyrics spat by AI versions of Snoop Dogg and Pac's voices. Kendrick Lamar still hasn't responded.
In other news, Ice Spice blessed Cash Cobain & Bay Swag's “Fisherrr” remix, Ne-Yo tore up the NPR Tiny Desk set with a medley of hits he's written for both himself and other artists, and Eminem has announced a new album titled The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) out this summer.
With fresh options, Advertising sign aims to showcase some of the best and most interesting new sounds in R&B and hip-hop — from Susan Carol's soulful debut to Tommy Richman's fast-rising smash. Be sure to check out this week's fresh picks in the Spotify playlist below.
Freshest Find: Susan Carroll, “Karma”
Fresh off her first Grammy win (Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Good Morning” with PJ Morton), Susan Carol celebrates her recent signing to Def Jam with new single “Karma.” Produced by Harmony Samuels, “Karma” finds Carol delivering a vocal performance that plays well with the rich combination of elegant guitars, steady percussion and elaborate strings. “Think you're better than you are/ And I swear the d–k was in the middle/ It's just like a boomerang/ You throw bull–t & it comes right at you/ I got nothing else to do,” she sings before the production open to a soulful symphony of lounge jazz influences. The concept of the song is simple yet effective, why waste time plotting revenge when you can let karma fight your battles for you? Well said Susan.
Tommy Richman, “Million Dollar Baby”
Tommy Richman has arrived. The Virginia native was hosted at Brent Faiyaz's Larger than life album last year — but now, he's taking his chance to fully introduce himself to the world. A TikTok clip took the platform by storm, and “Million Dollar Baby” dropped on Friday (April 26). Released via Brent Faiyaz's Iso Supremacy in association with Pulse Records, “Million Dollar Baby” sounds like a cousin of BROCKHAMPTON's catalog, with Richman switching roles and jumping octaves in his vocal range. For those who enjoy a more grungy aesthetic, the unpolished DVD version of the track is also available with chopped drums and a fuzzy bass line. “Million Dollar Baby” could make waves on the Billboard Hot 100 with a classy debut, as a bona fide Song of the Summer contender has arrived.
Normani feat. Guna, '1:59″
For the first taste of her highly anticipated debut album, dopamine, Normani enlists Gunna for a sultry mid-tempo that combines Brandy's rich vocal stacks, Aaliyah's effortless allure, and the Fifth Harmony alum's own enigmatic allure. As he does with his own R&B collaborations, Gunna comes in and doesn't harmonize with Normani, presenting welcome contrasts to the song's overall laid-back feel and providing some dynamism for the “Motivation” singer to play in the background. . Now that the debut LP finally has a release date (June 14th), “1:59” is a solid introduction to Normani's dopamine.
Anycia & Cash Cobain, “That's Hard”
Here's an unexpected collaboration from the pair of up-and-coming rappers making their mark in 2024. Everything Cash Cobain lends his Midas Touch to is gold these days. Cash belts out another silky chorus and welcomes Anycia into his world with a Slizzy summer on the horizon. It matches his typically laid-back and rowdy vibes. “I'm taking the top in the back of a brand new car/ Nene the toughest/ Singin' my s–t by the bar,” Anisia brags with her raspiness. “That's Hard” is a fun stand out from Nene's powerful Princess Pop That debut, which arrived via UnitedMasters on Friday (April 26).
JT, “Okay”
JT is on the edge. Between her smart moves in the fashion world, the fan base she's building through her current club tour, and club-ready records like “Alter Ego” (featuring Doechii) and now “Okay,” 2024 is shaping up to be as a defining year for her career. for the City Girls rapper. “I'm prettier than mama, let me look okay/ He thinks he's related to me, is that bitch okay?/ He said he ain't round, I look at him like, 'Okay'/ I used to be bad, but now ah-h okay” , parting ways with the typically laid-back tone of rattling production from Akachi and Shawn Ferrari. With a hook this sticky and a string of solo singles as strong as “Okay,” “No Bars” and “Sideways,” JT will release Cinderella of the city The mixtape could very well take her to the next level.
Babyface Ray, “Glory”
A rose bloomed from the concrete of Detroit. Babyface Ray have been as consistent as they come from the thriving Midwest rap scene. Ray basks in his glory as his smoky stream airs the lightning production. However, the 33-year-old can't relate to his Gen Z peers in some ways, such as publicly broadcasting street violence. “I'm glad I'm raised by the bosses, these n—losers in the sauce keep talking about murder/ All the killers I know, they don't even talk, so I'm talking too much right now,” he competes. Ray shifts gears and paints a picture of his baby waving goodbye from the back of his Benz – it's all about flexibility. He claimed it The summer mine with his project set for 2023, we'll see if he can find his way into the mix again this season.
Camp feat. Tank & Syd, “I Need It”
Camper, the Grammy-winning producer behind chart-topping hits like Coco Jones' “ICU,” steps into the spotlight. For his new single, the R&B master enlisted Syd and Tank, two voices that – while harkening back to two distinct eras of R&B – make for an absolutely gorgeous duet. Between Syd's seductive tone and the buttery seduction of Tank's delivery, “I Need It” finds the two singers beautifully painting Camper's intimate, bedroom-ready production. “Find a better reason/ Why we shouldn't lay down/ Go back to the freakin' now/ All I know is/ I need it,” Sid declares.
Bairi, “Man Enough”
Bairi's luscious vocals could melt a heart of ice. Sampling British art-pop group Art of Noise, “Man Enough” finds Siren beaming for a distant lover trying to decipher where they went wrong along the way. “Trapped in your sea, stuck in your weeds, please come back to me/ But I ain't trippin' if you wanna go, then go/ Just don't leave me on empty bail,” she croons. . Words for Ariana Grande, Bairi has no tears to cry and is ready to move on from her former flame who couldn't live up to the standards. “Man Enough” is just a glimpse of Bairi's talent exuding from her intoxicating debut album Fire siren.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/best-new-rb-hip-hop-fresh-picks-normani-gunna-tommy-richman-1235668730/
