R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week: India Shawn, Cash Cobain, Ckay, Smiley & More

For her first proper solo release in three years (excluding soundtrack singles and holiday fare), LA-born singer-songwriter India Shawn looped in Grammy and Oscar-winning R&B savant D’Mile for a shimmering piece of ’70s-steeped soul. “That’s a bold, kinda wild thing to say/ Let’s get off it before we get started/ This could turn from a good thing to hate/ Keep it shallow for own sake,” she croons in the first verse, meticulously introducing a narrative that finds her evolving away from unrequited love and towards a destiny steered by her own hand. Written and produced by Shawn and D’Mile alongside Varren Wade, Livvy Bennett and Michael Benjamin Hunter, “Kill Switch” somehow feels both grandiose and intimate — a testament to the innate warmth of Shawn’s vocal performance. — KYLE DENIS

There’s no telling who was the first rapper to literally say “adlib” when punching in adlibs on a song instead, but Estee Nack is definitely an early adopter and has been doing it since at least 2019, so Doja may have to pay homage or give the Dominican Nacksaw Jim Duggan a feature for the love. Hit play to hear him jokingly call the pop star out for using “adlib” as an adlib on 21 Savage’s “n.h.i.e.” and stay for his and V-Don’s lead single from their upcoming follow-up to their stellar 2023 collab tape B.R.A.P. — ANGEL DIAZ

Italian rapper ANNA returned with her first solo single of 2025 when “Désolée” arrived on Friday (June 12). The 21-year-old rhymes in Italian, but is also very in tune with American pop culture as she taught herself English growing up while listening to rappers like her idol Nicki Minaj. “Désolée” finds ANNA warning a boy who’s fumbling his chance with her by attempting to dim her light. “Don’t be fooled by this pink bubblegum/ If you hurt me, I swear I’ll do the double,” she threatens. Look for more from ANNA later this year and get hip to her catalog as she experiments with blending rap with elements of electropop, dance and reggaeton. — MICHAEL SAPONARA

CKay and Sabrina Claudio’s “again” is a sultry, emotionally conflicted duet about the cycles of love, temptation, and trying to be better for someone you care about, even when you keep messing up. The track rides a delicate balance between vulnerability and desire, with CKay admitting to bad habits, “You hit me when I give other girls my number,” but also expressing a real wish to grow. His confession, “I’m a born sinner, generous giver,” captures the tension between his flaws and his feelings. 
 
Claudio’s soft, haunting vocals mirror that complexity. She doesn’t just co-sign the chemistry—they both acknowledge that they’ve hurt each other, but there’s still a craving to reconnect, to make it work, to start over again, with the repeated refrain emphasizing that push and pull. Set against smooth production and moody undertones, “again” feels like a late-night phone call you keep replaying in your head—the kind where love, lust, guilt, and hope all blur together. — CHRISTOPHER CLAXTON

“Who the f–k is giving out Louis, Gucci, Chanel?/ I just fucked the budget up, label calling me still/ Thesen n—as hate me foreal, the bitches f–k with me still,” rising R&B artist Aaron Page sing-raps in a Drake-esque cadence across the skittering snares of “Foreal,” one of the standout cuts on his new Before I Go EP. Having already opened for both Bryson Tiller and Partynextdoor, Aaron Page has been knighted as one of the key players of male R&B’s new class, and his sensual blend of rap-sung vocal approaches and ’90s R&B melodies with contemporary ruminations of love and relationships proves he’s more than deserving of that title. — K.D.

Nemzzz and Latto’s “Art” is a flex-heavy, stylish link-up that turns everyday confidence into a masterpiece. Built on Tay Keith’s signature bounce, the track blends UK swagger and Southern fire, with Nemzzz coolly asserting that everything in his life — his girl, his wrist, his moves — is “art.” His verses are effortless, moving through wealth, women, and wins with a smirk, even laughing his way to the bank.

Latto slides in with her own brand of boss energy, dropping UK slang (“leng”) while repping the South and spinning clever bars like “Do I look like Lucci or something? Why hoes think it’s a game?” She delivers luxury and attitude with ease, matching Nemzzz bar for bar while adding her usual dose of heat and humor. — C.C.

The Drake stimulus package is back in effect. Drizzy served up a hit for OVO’s Smiley, as the pair of Canadians teamed up for “2 Mazza,” which finds the duo trading bars over a groovy Silk “Let’s Make Love” sample. The 6 God reflects on his humble beginnings and his love for the 6, before passing the baton to Smiley — who keeps up and fills in the creases for what should be another Billboard Hot 100 entry. “2 Mazza” is a win after the lukewarm reception to their 2021 “Over the Top” collaboration, and sets the stage for what could be a busy summer for Drake. — M.S.

First of all, OnlyHeaven is a star. And second of all, you gotta ask yourself, “Am I ready for yet another Slizzy Summer?” Because it looks like this is where things are headed, especially if it stops raining every damn weekend here in the Northeast. The Brooklyn rapper and producer has been in a NOLA type of mood as this is the second record this year where he essentially utilized bounce music to build a vibe. There are musicians that are world builders, but I like to view Cash as a vibe builder, and the vibes right now are in the N.O. — A.D.