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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.
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This week, Drake and PND flip the script, Sabrina Carpenter makes Short a little longer, and JISOO arrives as a solo star. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Drake & PARTYNEXTDOOR, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U
Drake wants you to forget about the Kendrick Lamar chatter, and remember that it’s Valentine’s Day. With $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, a new project with his pal PARTYNEXTDOOR that functions like the R&B version of Her Loss as a full-length collaboration, Drizzy focuses on personal opulence and romantic entanglements while occasionally nodding toward current events: “F–k a rap beef, I’m tryna get the party lit,” he sneers on “Gimme a Hug.”
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Sabrina Carpenter, Short n’ Sweet (Deluxe)
Although Sabrina Carpenter’s commercial breakthrough Short n’ Sweet was released less than six months ago, the pop star has been on such a hot streak that she added five new tracks to the short, sweet full-length: this deluxe edition not only boasts a Dolly Parton-assisted version of the No. 1 hit “Please Please Please,” but a new synth-pop confection, “Busy Woman,” that sounds like it could be Carpenter’s next innuendo-heavy smash.
JISOO, Amortgage
As her BLACKPINK group mates ROSÉ, LISA and JENNIE have all made their solo bids in recent months, JISOO has dropped a head-turning project of her own: Amortgage is miles beyond her 2023 double-single ME as far as sonic identity and vocal confidence, as tracks like the kinetic single “Earthquake” and snappy dance track “Hugs & Kisses” recall delicious turn-of-the-century bubblegum, streamlined for a new generation.
Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco, “Scared of Loving You”
The newly engaged Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco have also teamed up for a collaborative album, I Said I Love You First, that arrives in March, and while “Scared of Loving You” launches that project with muted vulnerability, the track also represents the welcome return of Gomez as one of our most thoughtful pop stars, five years removed from her last solo album.
Addison Rae, “High Fashion”
Fans of Addison Rae’s smoky delivery and sensual lyricism on last year’s “Diet Pepsi” have received a worthy sequel with “High Fashion,” as the former social media star and rising pop siren sounds increasingly confident while delivering lines like “I don’t need your drugs / I’d rather get, rather get high fashion.”
The Lumineers, Automatic
Rustic folk-rock has certainly made its way back into the mainstream thanks in part to troubadours like Noah Kahan and Hozier, although the Lumineers, who planted their flag in that area over a decade ago, aren’t interested in trend-chasing on new album Automatic, which finds the veteran band tossing out racing anthems rather than getting lost in banjo side quests.
Sam Smith, “Love is a Stillness”
A press release describes Sam Smith’s latest single as “a Valentine’s gift to their fans,” and if you’re a longtime supporter of Smith’s honey-voiced piano balladry, “Love is a Stillness” harkens back to their career beginnings, swerving away from pop experimentation to remind listeners how sturdy that classic vocal power remains.
Editor’s Pick: Bon Iver, “Everything is Peaceful Love”
“Everything is Peaceful Love,” the latest taste of Bon Iver’s long-awaited fifth album, has softer features than classics like “Skinny Love” and even “Holocene,” but has the same sort of immediate accessibility: Justin Vernon weaves his falsetto into multi-part harmonies and vibes out to the soft-rock synthesizers, creating another blissful anthem for patio listening in the summertime.
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.
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This week, LISA is reincarnated alongside Doja Cat and Raye, while Anitta sets forth on a new era. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
LISA feat. Doja Cat and Raye, “Born Again”
Opulence and religious imagery abound on LISA’s new team-up with Doja Cat and Raye, as the BLACKPINK star settles on disco elegance for the pop-star summit: “I would’ve made you a believer / Would’ve showed you what it’s like,” she sings as a kiss-off, while her guest stars flaunt biting rhymes and oversized vocals on the second verse and bridge, respectively. Anitta, “Romeo”
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The first Anitta release of 2025 kicks off a new era in style — moving on from Funk Generation, the Brazilian superstar continues exploring propulsive dance on “Romeo” but with more restrained production and emphasis on her vocal delivery, as if Anitta, not the beat beneath her, is the star of the show.
Pardison Fontaine & Cardi B, “Toot It Up”
Over a masterful sample of Nas’ “Made You Look,” Pardison Fontaine and Cardi B aim for a chest-thumping anthem for a new generation on “Toot It Up,” with both artists trading rhymes on the hook and finally delivering a long-in-the-works collaboration to official streaming services.
GELO feat. Lil Wayne, “Tweaker (Remix)”
GELO’s “Tweaker” has been one of the first surprise smashes of 2025, a viral hit that has earned LiAngelo Ball a label deal and lots of raised eyebrows; that quick rise continues with this Lil Wayne-assisted remix, as Weezy (who just announced an album of his own) gets in on the basketball metaphors: “I cross your ass up like Jesus, baby.”
Dom Dolla feat. Daya, “Dreamin’”
Australian DJ Dom Dolla has been linking up with various pop stars for a while now, and Daya, the Pittsburgh native of “Don’t Let Me Down”/“Hide Away” fame, makes for a perfect muse on “Dreamin’,” a hypnotic club track in which Daya deploys the smokiness of her voice and repeats the refrain until it gets lost in the rhythms.
Editor’s Pick: Rema, “Baby (Is It a Crime)”
Revamping Sade’s 1985 classic “Is It a Crime,” Rema returns with an immediately memorable piece of rhythmic pop: the Nigerian star has demonstrated crossover potential in the past, most notably with “Calm Down,” but the contours of “Baby (Is It a Crime)” are more subtle, his flow bridging the 40-year gap in styles.
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.
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This week, The Weeknd closes out a trilogy, JENNIE continues shining solo and Morgan Wallen declares that it’s him, hi, “I’m the Problem.” Check out all of this week’s picks below:
The Weeknd, Hurry Up Tomorrow
Concluding the trilogy that began with the 2020 blockbuster After Hours and continued with the daring 2022 follow-up Dawn FM, The Weeknd splits the difference between commercial potency and devil-may-care pop experimentation on Hurry Up Tomorrow: an 84-minute opus that includes guests ranging from Lana Del Rey to Giorgio Moroder to Anitta to Travis Scott, the new album brushes off modern conventions, mixes soul-baring introspection with immaculate dance grooves, and goes for the gusto.
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JENNIE feat. Dominic Fike, “Love Hangover”
Ahead of new album Ruby, which arrives on March 7, JENNIE showcases a fresh side of herself on “Love Hangover,” which nudges her pop aesthetic towards the breezy rhythms and blurted-out realizations of her collaborator on the track, Dominic Fike; the final product is fun, funky and the perfect excuse to drop the sure-to-go-viral line “I swear, I’ll never do it again! / Ah, s–t, I did it again.”
Morgan Wallen, “I’m the Problem”
As the title track of his upcoming fourth studio album, “I’m the Problem” functions as a platform for Morgan Wallen to examine his own flaws while accusing his partner of not being perfect, either: “You hate that when you look at me, you halfway see yourself,” the country superstar sings, the hurt in his voice betraying the song’s more confrontational lyrics.
Latto feat. Playboi Carti, “Blick Sum (Remix)”
Months after first surfacing online, the version of Latto’s “Blick Sum” featuring Playboi Carti has finally arrived on streaming services, with the Atlanta rappers now trading verses that mix firearms metaphors — “That .22′ ain’t gon’ do, that 90 get me out my thong,” Latto declares — while keeping up with the bleary beat.
Zach Bryan, “Blue Jean Baby”
So many Zach Bryan songs have lore attached to their creation and release, factoids that make every hit and deep cut all the more compelling — and with “Blue Jean Baby,” a rollicking demo that fans have been hoping would some day be finished, Bryan stays prolific as a storyteller while providing listeners with another page in the history books.
EST Gee, I Ain’t Feeling You
“I really got it all right now, one of the very few,” EST Gee drawls at the top of “Houstonatlantaville,” a team-up with Lil Baby and Travis Scott; indeed, the Louisville native sounds reinvigorated on I Ain’t Feeling You, honing his bruising delivery and understanding how to operate over booming percussion more effectively than ever.
L.S. Dunes, Violet
Rock supergroups typically harken back to their members’ primary collectives, but L.S. Dunes — which features members of My Chemical Romance, Thursday, Coheed and Cambria and Circa Survive — is creating something new on sophomore album Violet: helmed by Will Yip, the new full-length takes the coiled energy of 2022’s Past Lives and stretches it out, and the sprawl results in towering anthems like “I Can See It Now…” and “Forgiveness.”
Editor’s Pick: Jamie xx feat. Erykah Badu, “F.U.”
The genesis of Jamie xx’s scorching new house track involves a Primavera festival after-party with faulty equipment that forced Erykah Badu to ad-lib through a set with just a microphone, which Jamie recorded on his phone and later rearranged into a song, with Badu’s help; it’s a fascinating backstory that also isn’t necessary to feel enthralled by the communal excitement of “F.U.,” Badu’s voice beckoning an unseen crowd as the beat slingshots around.
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.
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This week, Bruno Mars gets sexy with Sexyy, Travis Scott delivers his stadium-sized new single and Central Cee proves that patience pays off. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Sexyy Red & Bruno Mars, “Fat Juicy & Wet”
Bruno Mars has scored a pair of recent smashes, “Die With a Smile” and “APT.,” by finding a midpoint between his pop sensibility and that of his respective collaborators, Lady Gaga and ROSÉ; with the audacious “Fat Juicy & Wet,” however, Mars fully enters the world of Sexyy Red, dropping a gleefully explicit anthem built around the rising pop star’s sexual innuendos and a club-pulverizing beat.
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Travis Scott, “4×4”
For his first solo track since 2023, Travis Scott builds on his maximalist aesthetic with “4×4,” which pairs orchestral heft with a pitch-shifted flow. Scott debuted “4×4,” which will help support California fire relief funds through CD single sales, at the College Football Playoff National Championship Game earlier this week, and the studio track earns its stadium debut.
Central Cee, Can’t Rush Greatness
The title Can’t Rush Greatness nods to how long UK rapper Central Cee has been waiting for this crossover moment: after years of building hype, collecting collaborations and scoring increasingly bigger hits (culminating in “Band4Band,” last year’s team-up with Lil Baby), he now has a guest-packed, generally riveting debut full-length to call his own.
FKA Twigs, Eusexua
A decade’s worth of FKA Twigs albums have been leading to Eusexua, the culmination of her experimental amalgamation of pop, R&B, electronic and club music that finds Twigs carving out accessible pathways for new listeners while remaining as daring as ever for longtime fans. The opening run of the title track, “Girl Feels Good” and “Perfect Stranger” is perhaps the most entrancing 10-minute stretch of music we’ve gotten so far in 2025.
Tate McRae, “Sports Car”
Tate McRae has grown increasingly confident in her dance-pop formula since “Greedy” became the biggest hit of her career a little over a year ago, and while “Sports Car” crackles like her recent single releases, the whispered chorus elevates her latest, drawing the listener in before shoving them back out to dance.
Teddy Swims, I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2)
“Lose Control” is a hard commercial bar to reach — the single did top Billboard’s year-end Hot 100, after all — so on his latest release, Teddy Swims wisely tries not to re-create his breakthrough smash, and instead flesh out some husky sing-alongs like “Guilty” and “Funeral,” as well as corral some new famous friends like Coco Jones, GloRilla and Giveon.
Kane Brown, The High Road
As Kane Brown keeps cranking out crossover country hits — “Miles on It” with Marshmello was another top 20 smash last year — he concurrently continues telling stories that reach a wide listenership, and on new album The High Road, that includes heart-wrenched fare like the Jelly Roll duet “Haunted” as well as a pair of new collaborations with his wife, Katelyn Brown.
Editor’s Pick: Djo, “Basic Being Basic”
“End of Beginning” became a well-deserved viral breakthrough for actor Joe Keery’s musical project Djo last year, and in 2025, things sound like they’re about to get stranger: “Basic Being Basic” is a lovably off-kilter new single, a callback to ‘80s synth-pop with a hook that highlights Keery’s upper register and lyrics that should launch a million TikTok lip synchs.
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.
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This week, Mac Miller’s beautiful mind shines once again, Central Cee debates currency with 21 Savage, and Lucy Dacus might break with “Ankles.” Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Mac Miller, Balloonerism
If 2020’s Circles, the first posthumous Mac Miller release, provided fans a sense of closure following his tragic 2018 passing at the age of 26, Balloonerism — a long-sought-after collection of songs that date back over a decade — serves as a reminder of his wonderfully unruly creativity, with songs ranging from the shimmering piano-rap anthem “Funny Papers” to the nearly 12-minute closing exploration “Tomorrow Will Never Know.”
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Central Cee feat. 21 Savage, “GBP”
Considering the success of “BAND4BAND,” Central Cee’s team-up with Lil Baby, it’s no surprise that the UK rapper has previewed his imminent album Can’t Rush Greatness with another high-wattage collaboration — but “GBP,” featuring 21 Savage, iterates on the formula of Cench’s biggest hit, with similarly eerie production but a more spacious flow, which nicely counterbalances 21 Savage’s twitchy delivery.
Lucy Dacus, “Ankles”
Boygenius has become a supergroup that has elevated all three of its members’ profile, and Lucy Dacus’ next album, Forever is a Feeling, will arrive in March with much more fanfare than any of the singer-songwriter’s previous projects; it also helps that “Ankles,” a driving love song with beautiful harmonics on the hook, may be Dacus’ most accessible single to date, and bring in even more fans ahead of the new full-length.
Marshmello & Jonas Brothers, “Slow Motion”
Four years after scoring a hit together with “Leave Before You Love Me,” Marshmello and Jonas Brothers have reunited for “Slow Motion,” which veers toward country-pop territory more than its predecessor: after the JoBros croon the wide-reaching chorus together, their masked producer swoops in a sparkly beat drop, making for a charming bit of pop interplay.
John Summit feat. CLOVES, “Focus”
John Summit’s upward trajectory continues with “Focus,” a hypnotic new dance track with Melbourne singer-songwriter CLOVES, in which the producer tosses out a collection of pulsating rhythms and lets his collaborator weave them into a yearning cry; “Focus” runs for nearly four minutes, but begs for repeat listens (or, fingers crossed, an extended mix).
Mumford & Sons, “Rushmere”
Mumford & Sons have gone back to basics with “Rushmere,” which previews the band’s first album in seven years and finds Marcus Mumford, fresh off a recent debut solo album, leading his group (now a trio, following the departure of banjoist Winston Marshall) toward the stomping, crowd-pleasing folk-rock that made them mega-sellers at the turn of the 2010s.
Hailey Whitters, “Casseroles”
On her first new single in two years, country star Hailey Whitters offers a nuanced reflection on grief and recovery with “Casseroles,” with the Iowa native wondering how people move on from loss once loved ones stop checking in and the comfort food stops arriving. Whitters, who lost a brother over a decade ago, imbues the song with an unsettled sense of hurt, her voice prodding at an uneasy questions for herself and others.
Editor’s Pick: Rose Gray, Louder, Please
The cover of Rose Gray’s debut album depicts the British pop singer on a beach, listening to a Walkman and seemingly screaming along to her favorite song while the strangers around her ignore her cries; Louder, Please will inspire similar fits of passion from pop listeners, with songs like “Everything Changes (But I Won’t),” “Free” and “Tectonic” providing sophisticated beats and top-notch sing-along fodder.
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.
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This week, Teddy Swims is still delivering the soul, Lil Baby has even more WHAM and Wallows drop a new favorite. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Teddy Swims feat. Giveon, “Are You Even Real”
Following the smash success of “Lose Control,” which topped the Hot 100 chart last year and helped yield a best new artist Grammy nod, Teddy Swims is kicking off 2025 with some more snappy soul-pop: “Are You Even Real,” which previews the upcoming I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy, Part 2, sways delicately between the singer-songwriter’s earnest croon and guest star Giveon’s booming flourishes, with some pinpoint harmonies in the back half.
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Lil Baby, WHAM (Extended Edition)
A week after making his return with the concise, rock-hard WHAM, Lil Baby has added four new tracks to the album by way of a deluxe edition, with the sizzling Future team-up “99” serving as both the highlight of the new collection and an instant follow-up to “Dum, Dumb, and Dumber,” the Baby-Future-Young Thug summit challenging for a strong Hot 100 debut next week.
Wallows, “Your New Favorite Song”
Wallows’ upward trajectory continues with “Your New Favorite Song,” a dreamy slice of pop-rock that could serve as a crossover hit for a Los Angeles trio that’s become a sizable touring act over the past few years. Following 2024’s Model, “Your New Favorite Song” nudges Wallows forward with subtle details in the arrangement, including horns that accentuate instead of trying to dominate the mix.
JADE, “IT Girl”
“Angel of My Dreams,” JADE’s 2024 debut solo single, established the Little Mix star as a bold, forward-looking pop auteur; that reputation remains intact with new single “IT Girl,” which immediately showcases the pop star’s expansive voice before slamming into thick drums and wobbly harmonies — creating a sonic juxtaposition that worked so well with her breakthrough track, and once again succeeds here.
Warren Zeiders, “Can a Heart Take”
With new album Relapse, Lies, & Betrayal due out in March, rising country star Warren Zeiders prepares for a potentially major year with “Can a Heart Take,” a wistful rumination on loss that demonstrates the singer-songwriter’s range in the span of its chorus — he starts off speak-singing the line “How much pain can a heart take?,” then brings the sentiment to life with a wounded roar.
Editor’s Pick: Blondshell, “T&A”
Sabrina Teitelbaum’s next album as Blondshell promises to be a major leap forward from a songwriting and production standpoint, and lead single “T&A” hints at the evolution to come: with glum recollections of a regretful hook-up, an anthemic chorus that asks unanswerable questions and electric guitar work that charges up the song’s energy, “T&A” is a home run of an opening statement, and the sound of Blondshell becoming an indie star.
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.
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This week, Stray Kids earn another victory lap, Bossman Dlow keeps rising and Snoop Dogg links back up with an old friend. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Stray Kids, Hop
Five months after scoring another No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 with Ate, and one day after taking home the 2024 Billboard Music Award for Top Global K-Pop Artist, Stray Kids’ dominant run continues with Hop, which is highlighted by a sound branded as “SKZHOP” — the group’s personalized riff on hip-hop — and starts rolling with opener “Walkin on Water,” packing in ample record scratches and chest-thumping rhymes in two-and-a-half minutes.
Bossman Dlow, Dlow Curry
Few rappers have had bigger breakout years than Bossman Dlow, the Miami rapper whose springy drawl is often applied to tales of effortless success; Dlow Curry, his official debut album, arrives before the end of the year to both reflect on a major 2024 and set the MC up for an even more significant 2025, with assists coming from Ice Spice, Lil Baby and GloRilla and the previously released tracks flowing nicely within this new-school trap opus.
Snoop Dogg, Missionary
Missionary is billed as the first Snoop Dogg album that’s also a full-length collaboration with Dr. Dre as a producer since Doggystyle 30 years ago, and while the album is a guests-packed, samples-heavy showcase for Snoop with Dre hopping on just a few tracks as a rapper, hearing the West Coast legends and longtime friends link back up with some old cohorts — Eminem and 50 Cent also swing by “Gunz N Smoke” — makes for a satisfying return to a proven formula.
GloRilla with Kehlani, “Xmas Time”
“This as merry as I’m gettin’, swear to God,” GloRilla spits on “Xmas Time,” a singular holiday single on which Kehlani croons about cold nights and time with family in between Glo’s verses about getting iced out in the winter and figuring out which guys are on her naughty and nice lists; the result is disarmingly sweet, with two mega-talented performers joining forces for a Christmas cut that doesn’t sound like any other.
Fred Again.., Two More Days
After releasing his album Ten Days in September, Fred Again.. decided that that number simply couldn’t stand before 2024 closed out — so we’ve got Two More Days, a pair of singles (the hypnotic “Light Dark Light” featuring Angie McMahon, and the tropical-tinged “Little Mystery” with John Martyn) that lets the superstar producer shimmy into the new year on a high note.
Editor’s Pick: Olly Alexander, “Archangel”
As Olly Alexander continues moving through a solo career following his start as the leader of Years & Years, new single “Archangel” is a promising step toward a more established pop identity: the delicate synth-pop and fluffy melodies recall Alexander’s previous heights, but the track contains more danceable vibrancy and lyrical personality than his previous solo oeuvre, and sets up a promising future.
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.
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This week, ROSÉ tells her full story, Bad Bunny hints at a major new era and TWICE keep rolling out major moments. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
ROSÉ, rosie
The debut solo album from BLACKPINK star ROSÉ may be arriving shortly after her first top 10 hit, the Bruno Mars-assisted smash “APT.,” yet rosie doesn’t sound like a hastily constructed attempt to continue momentum — the 12-song collection is a thoughtfully considered portrait of relationship complications and personal complexities, impressively splitting the difference between intimacy and arena-ready pop.
Bad Bunny, “EL CLúB”
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While 2024 was ostensibly an off-year for Bad Bunny after a whirlwind multi-year run, the Puerto Rican superstar is seemingly gearing up for a major 2025: on “EL CLúB,” his second solo single of the year, he blends propulsive dance music with atmospheric contemplation, the beat hanging in air and never reappearing (although the song’s music video suggests that it will pick back up with a new Bad Bunny project soon enough).
TWICE, Strategy
Placing an exclamation point on another highly successful year, K-pop superstars TWICE toss out another crackling Megan Thee Stallion collaboration (“Strategy”), a surefire English-language standout (“Kiss My Troubles Away”) and a holiday confection (“Magical”) on their latest mini-album, which runs for 20 minutes but covers a good amount of new ground for the collective.
Quavo, Teddy Swims & Luke Bryan, “Georgia Ways”
Quavo, Teddy Swims and Luke Bryan have all followed wildly different professional paths since emerging from the Peach State, but the new collaboration “Georgia Ways” serves as common ground for the three, who bond over college football, Waffle House and late-‘90s Chipper Jones; Teddy Swims is the newest star of the three here, and punctuates the single with some soulful, swaggering crooning.
V x Bing Crosby, “White Christmas”
The sound of BTS member V joining Bing Crosby on this revamped version of the holiday classic “White Christmas” nods to the evolution of popular music as a more global, less time-constrained medium: with the blessing of the Crosby estate, V has made his own mark on a timeless recording, honoring its spirit while bringing “White Christmas” to a new generation.
Editor’s Pick: Khalid & Normani, “Personal”
When Khalid and Normani linked up six years ago on “Love Lies,” they scored a smash duet that lingered around multiple radio formats for months; “Personal,” a follow-up included on the deluxe edition of Khalid’s recent album Sincere, will have its commercial fate determined in the coming weeks, but hearing two gifted R&B singers weave their voices together again makes for a deeply satisfying fan service, and a reminder of both artists’ individual vocal powers.
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.
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This week, ROSÉ wants to hit “Number One,” Jack Harlow wants to make your heart swoon and Wicked wants you to sing along. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
ROSÉ, “Number One Girl”
While “APT.,” ROSÉ’s smash collaboration with Bruno Mars, became her first career top 10 hit and introduced the BLACKPINK’s star solo oeuvre to U.S. radio listeners, “Number One Girl” (which was created with Mars, in fact) effectively swerves in a different direction, a piano ballad that showcases her pleading voice and expands her story.
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Jack Harlow, “Hello Miss Johnson”
“I think it’s a song about courtship, first and foremost,” Jack Harlow recently told Apple Music about his latest single — and indeed, “Hello Miss Johnson” finds the rapper nodding toward OutKast’s “Ms. Jackson” over a lightly sashaying beat while spitting game to try and impress a lady.
Various Artists, Wicked: The Soundtrack
With Wicked hitting theaters this weekend and beguiling families ahead of Thanksgiving, the film’s official soundtrack captures the movie magic thanks to Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo — co-stars, and vocal powerhouses — injecting new life into the musical’s beloved centerpieces. Read the full review.
Jelly Roll, “Run It”
Talk about prolific: on the same day that he dropped “Hurt,” a new collaboration with OneRepublic, and the same week that he announced a stadium tour slot in support of Post Malone, Jelly Roll also unveiled “Run It,” a snappy clap-along for the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 soundtrack that sounds primed to transcend the family film.
Wizkid, Morayo
While Wizkid’s latest full-length features a satisfying array of collaborations (with features from Jazmine Sullivan, Brent Faiyaz and Asake, among others), Morayo, which is dedicated to the Nigerian star’s late mother, hits close to home, with songwriting defined by memories and intimate revelations.
Lil Nas X, “Need Dat Boy”
Although his biggest hits are uptempo, chest-thumping anthems, Lil Nas X also sounds comfortable slowing down the BPM and turning insular — and “Need Dat Boy,” in which he works through his complex feelings of fame and loneliness over sparse production before the beat switches, deserves a big listenership as well.
Quevedo, Buenas Noches
Madrid native Quevedo has made a sizable mark on Latin urban music over the past three years — a line that can be traced back to his enormous Bizarrap session in 2022 — and Buenas Noches sounds like a new star being coronated, his deep voice and springy flow given ample room to dazzle.
Editor’s Pick: Miguel, “Always Time”
Since his last album, 2017’s War & Leisure, Miguel watched his song “Sure Thing” become a viral sensation a decade after its release; now, he’s demonstrating the gorgeous ache in his voice with “Always Time,” a somber new track that sounds like a check-in with new and old fans alike before a major 2025.
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.
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This week, Linkin Park leaps back into view, Tate McRae does not want conversation, and Shawn Mendes bares his soul. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Linkin Park, From Zero
With new co-vocalist Emily Armstrong and drummer/co-producer Colin Brittain in the fold, guitarist Brad Delson, bassist Dave “Phoenix” Farrell, turntablist/producer Joseph Hahn and singer/rapper/producer/sonic architect Mike Shinoda have revived Linkin Park, and From Zero imagines a new beginning for one of the biggest bands of the past few decades in a way that any fan can appreciate. Click here for a full review of the new album.
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Tate McRae, “2 Hands”
“Want your two hands on mе / Like my life needs savin’,” Tate McRae sings on her sensual new single, her desperation for physical touch animating another rhythmic pop delicacy that will delight fans of hits like “Greedy” and “Exes.” Shawn Mendes, Shawn
With his new album, Shawn Mendes has paused what’s been a whirlwind career thus far — from viral Vine clips to global arena performances — and looked inward, returning with a rustic folk-rock sound, prodding self-examinations and the most intimate album of his career.
Shaboozey, “Good News”
While “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” continues to set Hot 100 history, now as the longest-running No. 1 song by a solo artist, newly minted best new artist nominee Shaboozey is not resting on his laurels, offering “Good News” as a somber refraction of his smash hit’s clap-along formula.
Jin, Happy
Years after BTS crossed over to top 40 radio in the U.S. with bright, bubbly pop anthems, Jin’s first solo album leans in to similar positivity, as Happy functions as both an injection of cheeriness and a lovely showcase for another one of the group’s talented members.
Gwen Stefani, Bouquet
Working with a live band at Smoakstack Studios with producer Scott Hendricks, Gwen Stefani hints at a full-blown country crossover on fifth solo album Bouquet — but more than any genre-hopping, the pop great’s voice sounds fuller when surrounded by expert instrumentation.
Rauw Alejandro, Cosa Nuestra
Puerto Rican superstar Rauw Alejandro opened up his Rolodex for his fifth studio album, with Bad Bunny, Pharrell Williams, Feid and Romeo Santos all stopping by — but the greatest strengths of Cosa Nuestra rest on Alejandro’s shoulders, his airy voice powering the most magnetic hooks here.
Lil Nas X, “Light Again!”
Lil Nas X’s flow sounds more effortless than it has in years on “Light Again!,” which applies his knack for enormous choruses to throbbing dance music and relies on his effervescent persona to maintain the listener’s attention.
Sam Fender, “People Watching”
Produced with The War on Drugs’ Adam Granduciel and serving as a tribute to a late friend and mentor, “People Watching” allows Sam Fender to dive into his big Boss influence while showcasing his emotional slant on anthemic pop-rock; this one could be big.
Editor’s Pick: 070 Shake, Petrichor
WIth Petrichor, the unbridled greatness of 070 Shake has fully emerged: unconfined by sonic boundaries and unafraid of addressing heavier topics, the singer-songwriter gets psychedelic, toys with hip-hop ideas, covers Tim Buckley alongside Courtney Love (!) and generally pours her entire being into her art, in a way any music fan must respect.