friday music guide
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.
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, 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.
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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.
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, Lil Uzi Vert blasts off to a new world, The Weeknd gets edgy with Anitta, and Shawn Mendes hoists up a “Heart of Gold.” Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Lil Uzi Vert, Eternal Atake 2
Eternal Atake arrived in 2020 as a breathless amalgamation of Lil Uzi Vert’s elastic flows and forward-thinking ideas, a rap enigma blooming into a superstar; its sequel, which follows last year’s Pink Tape, harkens back to its predecessor at times — “Chill Bae” belongs alongside his older melodic masterworks — but also forges ahead with more tumbling bars, spaced-out beats and braggadocio.
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The Weeknd feat. Anitta, “São Paulo”
“São Paulo,” the high-wattage new team-up between The Weeknd and Anitta, immediately justifies its Halloween release: within the opening minute, a sinister synth arrangement prod at Abel Tesfaye as he gasps out, “Every time I try to run, you put your curse all over me.” Soon, “São Paulo” widens its stance and shape-shifts, offering throbbing percussion and Latin flourishes while never dropping its eeriest undertones.
Shawn Mendes, “Heart of Gold”
“Heart of Gold” is the moment in which Shawn Mendes’ sonic pivot to rootsy folk-rock catches up to his natural songwriting ability: a grief-stricken reflection on a friend he couldn’t help in time, the single boasts a myriad of moving images as well as the strongest hook of Mendes’ latest era.
The Cure, Songs of a Lost World
With Songs of a Lost World, the Cure’s first studio album in a whopping 16 years, Robert Smith and co. have offered the ideal project for longtime fans: a no-dust-detected presentation of the goth-rock greats’ classic sound, but with interesting new wrinkles, including the sweeping, 10-minute epic “Endsong” to close out the new affair.
Champion, Skrillex, Four Tet & Naisha, “Talk to Me”
Any time that Skrillex and Four Tet’s names appear together on a new track, the dance world is going to pay attention — and sure enough, “Talk to Me,” a new collaboration with British producer Champion and singer-songwriter Naisha, represents a squiggly autumnal banger, with streamlined instrumentation that dismisses the notion of a too-crowded studio.
Future & Travis Scott, “South of France (Remix)”
Future’s victory lap is not done: after triumphing with his pair of Metro Boomin albums, We Don’t Trust You and We Still Don’t Trust You, and then serving up solo revelry on Mixtape Pluto, the latter project’s “South of France” has received a remix featuring Travis Scott, with both A-listers gliding over the burbling beat.
Megan Moroney, Blue Christmas… Duh
A few months after returning with Am I Okay?, Megan Moroney is quickly back to ring in the start of the holiday season with Blue Christmas… Duh, a three-song EP featuring a pair of originals from the country star (the delicious “All I Want for Christmas is a Cowboy” and heartfelt “Christmas Morning”), as well as, duh, a cover of “Blue Christmas.”
Editor’s Pick: Ethel Cain, “Punish”
If Preacher’s Daughter, Ethel Cain’s superb 2022 album, toyed with the ideas of pop structure and classic American iconography, “Punish” suggests that she’s prepared to explode all expectations for her next move: a nearly 7-minute drone song that starts with fragile beauty and builds up to eardrum-rattling noise, “Punish” showcases Cain’s talent while legitimately surprising the listeners — always a good thing.
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, Lady Gaga supplies an antidote for hungry fans, Halsey channels the greats and Megan Thee Stallion unveils another act. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Lady Gaga, “Disease”
Lady Gaga’s new single was produced and written with Andrew Watt, a guitar virtuoso who’s become a guru to rock veterans, as well as Cirkut, one of pop’s most prolific studio whizzes; that pedigree informs a stomping new track that balances arena heft with nimble melodies, as Gaga sings, “Screamin’ for me, baby / Like you’re gonna die / Poison on the inside, I could be your antidote tonight!” in between fluttering vocal refrains and booming percussion.
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Halsey, The Great Impersonator
Most new albums are knowingly influenced by the artists that predated their creators, but few of them are enacted as purposeful homages quite like Halsey’s The Great Impersonator, which hopscotches across personal heroes ranging from Dolly Parton to David Bowie to Britney Spears; the track list can be a guessing game of who-inspired-what, but more often, Halsey’s own songwriting and perspective power the brightest spots.
Megan Thee Stallion, Megan: Act II
Following her June album Megan with a 13-track deluxe edition, Megan Thee Stallion has given fans an embarrassment of riches to cap off a highly successful year: “Bigger in Texas” sets things off with classic trash-talking Meg and “Mamushi” receives a giddy remix featuring TWICE, but “Roc Steady,” a flip of Ciara’s “Goodies” featuring Flo Milli, is the clear highlight.
Summer Walker, “Heart of a Woman”
Even though Summer Walker’s upcoming album will be called Finally Over It, but the R&B star still isn’t on “Heart of a Woman,” a sumptuous showcase for her complex emotions as she recognizes a relationship she can’t quit: “I try to be strong,” Walker sings, “but how much can I take?”
Addison Rae, “Aquamarine”
As Addison Rae continues making the transition from TikTok superstar to aspiring music A-lister, her pop aesthetic is coming into focus, with “Aquamarine” extracting the breathy flirtations from previous single “Diet Pepsi” and applying them to a sleek, futuristic dance-pop sheen.
Kelsea Ballerini, Patterns
A meditation on personal strength and moving on from divorce, Patterns may be Kelsea Ballerini’s most moving collection of songs to date, as the country-pop star sharpens her pen while examining her regrets and hopes; the opening run of songs on Patterns, including the poignant “Sorry Mom” and rousing “Baggage,” demonstrates why Ballerini remains such a captivating presence in the genre.
Gigi Perez, “Fable”
With “Sailor Song” a viral smash and an Island Records deal in hand, Gigi Perez has quickly returned with “Fable,” an acoustic sing-along searching for answers that replicates the rawness of her breakout single and sounds like it could be another hit for the singer-songwriter.
Jin, “I’ll Be There”
Jin’s upcoming album is titled Happy, and pre-release track “I’ll Be There” certainly lives up to that adjective: here, the BTS member is all smiles while reveling in pop-rock bliss, deploying a woo-oo-oo post-chorus that lodges in your brain before your first listen is even complete.
Linkin Park, “Over Each Other”
On “The Emptiness Machine” and “Heavy is the Crown,” the first two songs released from Linkin Park’s upcoming album From Zero, Mike Shinoda is the first voice heard, a steadying force before new vocalist Emily Armstrong arrives; with “Over Each Other,” however, Armstrong delivers an impressive vocal showcase, unleashing her frustration over miscommunication as the production blinks and shudders.
Editor’s Pick: Soccer Mommy, Evergreen
On her fourth Soccer Mommy album, Sophie Allison expertly finds a middle ground between the lo-fi production of her early work and the hearty, pop-adjacent rock of her more recent output; with personal loss as a central focus, Evergreen feels like Allison’s most complete record to date, and a standout during a crowded season for indie releases.
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, Morgan Wallen shakes things up, ROSÉ links up with Bruno Mars and Gracie Abrams adds to a breakthrough project. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Morgan Wallen, “Love Somebody”
On the first taste of his follow-up to last year’s blockbuster album One Thing at a Time, Morgan Wallen rearranges his tried-and-true formula, mixing his country twang with Latin rhythms on “Love Somebody” — but still prioritizing a massive chorus for his stadium crowds.
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ROSÉ & Bruno Mars, “APT.”
As her BLACKPINK group mates forge ahead with solo careers of their own, ROSÉ, who shined on her 2021 two-pack R, has teamed up with Bruno Mars for “APT.,” a slick pop confection full of clap-along refrains that will inspire wide-ranging shimmying if it ever gets a proper live performance.
Gracie Abrams, The Secret of Us (Deluxe)
Gracie Abrams continues the most successful year of her career with this deluxe edition of sophomore album The Secret of Us, which boasts both her quick-rising hit “I Love You, I’m Sorry” as well as emotionally piercing new tracks like the delightfully pissed-off “That’s So True.”
Bon Iver, SABLE,
Five years after his most recent Bon Iver album, Justin Vernon returns with a triptych of songs that echo previous highs from his most well-known musical project: “Things Behind Things Behind Things” recalls the mighty indie-folk of his sophomore album, while “SPEYSIDE” is as hushed and gorgeous as the landmark debut For Emma, Forever Ago.
Yeat, Lyfestyle
Yeat started the year with his compelling full-length 2093, and new album Lyfestyle finds the futuristic rapper on a creative tear, raging over hazy synths and trap beats alongside guests like Kodak Black, Lil Durk and Don Toliver.
Wizkid feat. Brent Faiyaz, “Piece of My Heart”
To preview his upcoming sixth album Morayo, Wizkid has corralled Brent Faiyaz for a slinky love jam that doesn’t shy away from old-school R&B pleasures while also allowing the Nigerian superstar to showcase his nimble flow.
Farruko, CVRBON VRMOR
Fans of Farrago’s signature hits and remixes will find plenty to enjoy on new album CVRBON VRMOR, as the Puerto Rican singer often pushes the tempo with the same vigor as “Pepas” — but the sprawling, 26-track project also includes mid-tempo delights like “Vibe” and “Blessings.”
Kylie Minogue, Tension II
The viral success of “Padam Padam” helped draw attention to Kylie Minogue’s Tension, the pop veteran’s most complete project in years; with Tension II, Minogue offers another electro-tinged dance kaleidoscope, still delivering onomatopoeic hooks and sounding reinvigorated.
Riley Green, Don’t Mind If I Do
Alabama singer-songwriter Riley Green has been turning heads in Nashville for a bit, and new album Don’t Mind If I Do aims at the mainstream with polished balladry and concise country jams that abide by the history of the genre.
Editor’s Pick: Mk.gee, “Rockman”
Mk.gee’s debut album Two Star & The Dream Police has been fiercely beloved by tastemakers and indie fans since its February release, and the elastic bounce of new single “Rockman” plays out like a victory lap, with the harmonies reaching high and evoking celebration.
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, Charli xcx rearranges her album with a packed guest list, Jelly Roll continues a triumphant year and JENNIE has a “Mantra” for the ladies. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Charli xcx, Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat
Like the Lorde-assisted rework of “Girl, so confusing,” which is in contention for the year’s best pop moment, the new version of Charli xcx’s masterful Brat album allows guest stars to drop by and work it out on the remix, whether it’s Ariana Grande meditating on fame over “Sympathy is a Knife” or Bon Iver crooning alongside Charli’s existential woe on “I think about it all the time”; this project revamps the concept of a remix album and extends Brat Summer into autumn.
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Jelly Roll, Beautifully Broken
Not only has Jelly Roll become one of the most successful new artists in country music in 2024, but he’s also been one of the genre’s most prolific voices — and Beautifully Broken, a 63-minute opus that includes a handful of previously released tracks but far more new country anthems, puts a bow on this fruitful era of the late-blooming singer-songwriter’s heartfelt, driving formula.
JENNIE, “Mantra”
Toward the end of “Mantra,” JENNIE lets out a delighted laugh, as if the “pretty girl mantra” that she’s just delivered is so infectious that even the voice behind can’t help but bask in its pop euphoria; indeed, the new single gives the BLACKPINK star a giddy solo banger designed to be turned up loud prior to a night out.
GloRilla, Glorious
GloRilla may have become a star thanks in part to viral-ready tracks like “F.N.F.” and “Tomorrow 2,” but the Memphis rapper was always capable of a compelling extended statement; Glorious, featuring guests ranging from Megan Thee Stallion to T-Pain to BossMan Dlow, is built around her formidable flow, and demands the listener’s attention for its full run time.
Becky G, Encuentros
Becky G’s exploration of Mexican music continues with Encuentros, her fourth studio album and another project in which the crossover star sounds wholly at ease conjuring hooks while singing in Spanish — although this time, she embraces the contours of her voice, making songs like “Otro Capítulo” and “Desierto” shine with self-certainty.
Rod Wave, Last Lap
On Rod Wave’s new album Last Lap, the twinkling and pretty track “25” is placed back-to-back with “F–k Fame,” a percolating collaboration with Lil Baby and Lil Yachty — that juxtaposition perfectly encapsulates the hip-hop star’s line-straddling aesthetic, as Rod Wave is able to offer soulfulness alongside radio-ready rap fodder.
Halsey, “I Never Loved You”
Although the lead-up to new album The Great Impersonator has found Halsey taking a chameleonic approach and channeling various eras of pop greats before her, new single “I Never Loved You” evokes more of an ‘80s vibe than a specific artist, as Halsey marinates in a breakup while hovering above piano keys and ethereal synths.
Editor’s Pick: Tyla, “Push 2 Start”
The deluxe edition of Tyla’s top-notch self-titled album from earlier this year includes three new songs, and “Push 2 Start” most effectively crystallizes the South African singer’s appeal: over sumptuous percussion and call-and-response harmonies, the “Water” star makes flirtatious car metaphors sound vibrant and celebratory.
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, Coldplay shoots for the moon, LISA nods to the ’90s and Rich Homie Quan is honored the right way. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Coldplay, Moon Music
For a stadium rock act, Coldplay takes more far-out chances than they’re given credit for: new album Moon Music features both an Afrobeats-tinged collaboration with Little Simz, Burna Boy, Elyanna and TINI, as well as a six-minute instrumental with spoken-word Maya Angelou snippets, but the British quartet also tucks in plenty of alt-rock radio fare, like the lovely lead single “feelslikeimfallinginlove.”
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LISA, “Moonlit Floor”
As she forges ahead with her solo career, BLACKPINK star LISA has revived an indelible ‘90s hit, Sixpence None the Richer’s “Kiss Me,” for “Moonlit Floor,” which functions more like a modern pop jam than an alternative foray in spite of its interpolation.
Rich Homie Quan, Forever Goin In
At 100 minutes, Forever Goin In, the first posthumous Rich Homie Quan release following the rapper’s tragic passing last month, is knowingly uncut, offering fans an extended toast at his brilliant delivery and linguistic skills; across 35 songs, however, the project rarely feels overstuffed, a nod to his greatness.
Finneas, For Cryin’ Out Loud!
Although Finneas’ younger sister Billie Eilish has enjoyed record-setting success since her first album — he’s opening on her latest arena tour, after all — the songwriter and producer has also carved out a niche of his own, continuing the promise of 2021’s Optimist with more pop dynamism and a greater emphasis on live-band arrangements with this sophomore LP.
Various Artists, Joker: Folie à Deux Soundtrack
Can’t get enough Joker: Folie à Deux? One week after co-star Lady Gaga unveiled Harlequin as a project inspired by the blockbuster film, the official soundtrack boasts plenty of the spark between Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix that will be featured on the big screen.
Toosii, Jaded
Toosii continues morphing into one of hip-hop and R&B’s most promising rapper-crooners on Jaded, a breezy project on which he often shines on his own but is best showcased alongside other stars, like the head-knocking Gunna team-up “Champs Élysées” or the soulful Muni Long collaboration “I Do.”
Tucker Wetmore, Waves on a Sunset
Rising country star Tucker Wetmore has a warm, honest twang that trembles at the end of every line, and new EP Waves on a Sunset does a nice illustrating how he can someday join the genre’s elite, on songs like the hit “Wind Up Missin’ You” and the charming “When I Ain’t Lookin’.”
A$AP Ferg feat. Future & Mike WiLL Made-It, “Allure”
As Future once again tops the Billboard 200 chart, this time with his Mixtape Pluto project, A$AP Ferg has been on something of a hot streak himself, which he continues over a thunderous Mike WiLL Made-It beat on “Allure,” which begs to be blasted out of a car stereo at nighttime.
James Bay, Changes All the Time
It’s been 10 years since James Bay broke through with the still-potent hit “Let it Go,” and on Changes All the Time, the veteran singer-songwriter places his most earnest impulses front and center, scooping on positivity amidst sunny hooks and delicate guitar strums following the rousing opener “Up All Night,” featuring The Lumineers and Noah Kahan.
Editor’s Pick: Allie X, “Bon Voyage”
Setting aside the apt description “dark Fleetwood Mac” offered in the press release for Allie X’s new single “Bon Voyage,” the veteran pop auteur’s latest is a spellbinding collection of melodies and lingering space, leaning into the restlessness of Allie’s voice and captivating by refusing to find resolution.