As the R&B and hip-hop worlds prepare to descend on Philadelphia, PA, for Roots Picnic 2024 (June 1-2), a number of the scenes' hottest stars have been making headlines.
Between Sean Kingston's arrest for fraud and theft last Thursday (May 23) and Nicki Minaj's live arrest in Amsterdam for alleged “drug trafficking,” legal troubles have continued to plague hip-hop in a year that includes garbage cases — including several brought against Sean O'Diddy Combs, whose transgressions were painstakingly detailed in a shocking Rolling rock expose on Tuesday (May 28).
In lighter news, Drake dropped the viral beat “BBL Drizzy,” Sexyy Red made her WWE debut, and Kehlani made an impassioned plea to her classmates to speak out against the atrocities in Gaza. “[I don’t care] about the development of the formula the strategy the algorithm at this point please U TO BEOPLE. BE A KIND HUMAN,” she He wrote on Instagram (May 28).
With fresh options, Advertising sign aims to showcase some of the best and most interesting new sounds in R&B and hip-hop — from Sugarhill Ddot's Ginuwine-sampling banger to ASTN's introspective approach to navigating troubled relationship waters. Be sure to check out this week's fresh picks in the Spotify playlist below.
Freshest Find: Sugarhill Ddot, “Like This”
The sexy drill movement has taken over the New York rap scene, and its momentum will only increase with the block parties and outdoor shenanigans in store for the summer. 15-year-old Sugarhill Ddot is a rising star helping to push the sub-genre into the mainstream, and he's not even old enough to ride yet. Luckily, since he hails from Harlem's Sugar Hill neighborhood, he doesn't need a car to maneuver around the Big Apple. Ddot returned on Friday (May 23) with a love story laying down Ginuwine's classic “Differences,” which arrived nearly a decade before the Dominican rhymer was even born. An accompanying music video was also released depicting a well-known teenage date night scene at the local bowling alley. With co-signs from Drake and Lil Durk, the future is bright for the Priority Records signee.
FLO, “Caught Up”
For their second release of 2024, British pop&B trio FLO departs from the lovelorn tone of March's “Walk Like This” and returns to the heartfelt sensibilities of fan favorites like “3 of Us” and “Cardboard Box.” “I found some evidence last night/ It didn't really fit your time/ You say you're with your boys on vacation/ And you just post a picture with the girl you say you haven't hit on,” Renee Downer [sings] over a collection of sexy, skittering guitar licks and booming drums. The trio's harmonies are as tight as ever, crafting a light build to a bridge that elevates the whole affair while helping the group zero in on a sound reminiscent of '00s pop&B without falling into the trappings of pastiche. With names like Sevyn Streeter, Pop Wansel and Jay Versace in the credits, “Caught Up” earns its place in the lexicon of well-crafted warnings about dog men.
Vince Staples, “Justin”
Vince Staples bowed out of his ten-year odyssey with Def Jam last week. Some of the Long Beach rapper's most vivid accounts are on display Dark Times The standout 'Justin', where Staples recounts almost falling in love with Qatar. The ecstasy of a euphoric date night in Venice quickly turns into a nightmare when he is forced into an introduction to her real boyfriend. He saves face by referring to Vince as “Justin's little cousin,” and Staples is left with DJ Khaled yelling in his head, “Congratulations, you played yourself.” While a story like this would surely spark heated debate with arrows fired on 'relationship Twitter,' Staples delivers his piece in the outro: “Women tell a lot of lies, put it on the dead/Women tell a lot of lies, to God ».
ASTN, “The Makeup Song”
Perhaps best known for his viral R&B reimagining of Billie Eilish's “Happier Than Ever,” rising R&B/pop singer-songwriter ASTN has released the latest single from his upcoming. What a night to be in love ER. The new self-penned track, helmed by Jake Melvin, finds him poring over the rough patches of a relationship over sparse, wretched guitars, airy synths, slick 808s and a catchy staccato flow. “If you look my way, I'm in front of you/ Make that angry face, it made me fall for you/ I've got time today and you've got nothing to lose/ So don't worry about all the little things,” he screams. Ditching the flowery metaphors and opting for a more direct and upfront approach to lyricism, “The Makeup Song” is another winner from ASTN.
Groovy feat. Kanii, “Mariah”
Blending the worlds of Jersey club and heady R&B (coined as luv club), Groovy lives up to his name while hailing from the Garden State himself. His latest offering to the luv club comes in the form of Crying in the Club The EP is filled with atmospheric tunes including an infectious collaboration with DMV singer Kanii titled “Mariah”. Over warm pulsing synths, Groovy realizes that the woman he adores is actually a liar (aptly named Mariah), and lust hypnotizes him in an attempt to overcome dishonesty. “You're driving me crazy,” he clarifies. With Groovy's father making waves as a Jersey club DJ, the apple didn't fall far from the tree.
Kehlani, “After Hours (Cater 2 U Mix)”
Kehlani is living her best life in 2004. After sampling the coolie riddim used on Nina Sky's iconic “Move Your Body” for the modern dance tune “After Hours,” the Grammy-nominated R&B star turned to another hit of 2004 to revisit her latest single. Borrowing the shimmering cues of Destiny's Child favorite 'Cater 2 U', Kehlani amps up 'After Hours' breathtaking sexual intensity with an instrumental that focuses on dancing the night away in the bedroom instead of the dance floor. There are no new lyrics on this version of “After Hours”, and that's probably for the best. the change in production does enough heavy lifting to emphasize the duality of the song's tone and concept.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/best-new-rb-hip-hop-sugarhill-ddot-flo-kehlani-vince-staples-more-1235694903/
