Friday Music Guide: New Music From Karol G, Zach Bryan, XG and More

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

This week, Karol G leads a Colombia all-star team, Zach Bryan stays prolific and XG take a step forward. Check out all of this week’s picks below:

Karol G feat. Feid, DFZM, Ovy on the Drums, J Balvin, Maluma, Blessd & Ryan Castro, “+57” 

The first words uttered on “+57” are “Colombia gang,” and they are apt: this all-star collaboration, headlined by Karol G but making room for notable names across the Latin music community, honors the music of Colombia through sheer strength in numbers, as well as a hypnotic beat that never wears out its welcome across nearly 5 minutes.

Zach Bryan, “High Road” & “This World’s a Giant” 

Following the July release of The Great American Bar Scene, Zach Bryan is back this week with a pair of singles, “High Road” and “This World’s a Giant,” both of which present somber reflections of a man wrestling with demons and not ready to step outside amidst mournful strums and stately country production.

XG, AWE 

If the breathless single “Something Ain’t Right” hinted at the promise of XG’s next era earlier this year, then its host project, AWE, fully realizes the Japanese group’s potential: AWE only run 23 minutes but features a slew of giddy pop moments and a sharp mix of the members’ respective personalities.

Ferg, Darold 

Titled after his birth name, Ferg offers an intimate portrait of the A$AP Mob mainstay and the family members who helped shape his worldview, while also bringing in top-notch guests like Future, Coco Jones, Denzel Curry and Mary J. Blige, with the lattermost featured on back-half highlights “Casting Spells” and “Chosen.”

Charlie Puth, “December 25th” 

As Charlie Puth is gearing up for a new album release next year, he’s unveiled a stocking stuffer to tide over fans before the calendar flips, with “December 25th” translating his wide vocal range, melodic gifts and penchant for classic pop nostalgia into a jingly, slightly melancholic holiday single.

Editor’s Pick: Griff, “Last Night’s Mascara” 

“Would you look at me now?” Griff asks multiple times within the chorus of new single “Last Night’s Mascara,” the remnants of the pop singer’s tears still evident the next morning as she literally prays for resolution; like all of Griff’s best tracks, the emotional resonance of her voice guides the thematic construction and provides weight to every hook.

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