friday music guide
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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, Linkin Park is back with a new frontwoman, Halsey suffers a hard-earned ego death, A$AP Rocky is swagged out on his way to church, Camila Cabello makes a return trip to Magic City and much more. Check out all of this week’s picks below.
Linkin Park, “The Emptiness Machine”
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Yes, Linkin Park are back — with a new tour, a new singer, and a new single, “The Emptiness Machine.” You can read all about the story behind their remarkable comeback here, including how they connected with frontwoman Emily Armstrong of Dead Sara, and you can hear the first sounds of the partnership now with the hard-charging “Machine.” If longtime fans were worried the band’s new lineup would feel too far removed from their classic sound, they should be pretty easily won over by the time of the new song’s chorus, which could not feel more textbook LP as Armstrong belts: “Let you cut me open just to watch me bleed/ Gave up who I am for who you wanted me to be/ Don’t know why I’m hopin’ for what I won’t receive/ Fallin’ for the promise of the emptiness machine.”
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Halsey, “Ego”
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With an October 25 release date now set for her The Great Impersonator album, Halsey is giving fans at least one more advance taste of the new LP with this week’s “Ego.” The dizzying pop-rock blast is absolutely prime Halsey, a lyrically frenetic plea to “go back to the beginning, when it all felt right… didn’t give a f–k if I was winning,” with a brutal refrain admitting “I’m really not as happy as I seem… I’m really not that happy being me.” It’s a welcome reminder that 10 years into their career, Halsey remains one of the most vital songwriters and performers in either pop or rock.
Megan Thee Stallion feat. RM, “Neva Play”
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Following the exciting LP releases from both earlier this year — Right Place, Wrong Time in May and Megan in June — RM and Megan Thee Stallion link up for the first time this week for the one-off “Neva Play.” The song’s speeding-up geiger counter of a beat prompts both artists to keep coming harder, as Megan spits “Money talks, and it’s my first language,” and RM meets her with “We just bossin’, pour out the sauces in the face of the big bosses.” The all-star collab has an anime-inspired music video, because of course it does.
A$AP Rocky feat. J. Cole, “Ruby Rosary”
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The slow drip of new songs from A$AP Rocky’s upcoming Don’t Be Dumb continues with the slow piano creep of the Alchemist-produced “Ruby Rosary,” with the rapper spitting about his jewel-encrusted religious necklace and generally phenomenal swag (“They ain’t seen drip like this since Rick the Ruler”). Last year’s assist king J. Cole also comes through for a guest verse, but don’t ask him for him to repeat his previous highlights: “When they ask for the old you, ignore ’em,” he advises. “Goin’ backwards is borin’, b–ch, and I’m not Michael Jordan, I don’t do the retro.”
Camila Cabello, C,XOXO – Magic City Edition
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Camila Cabello released fourth solo album C,XOXO back in June to somewhat mixed critical and commercial reaction — though even its biggest critics would have to admit the album was pretty interesting, if nothing else. It’s even more fascinating now in its extended Magic City Edition reissue, which tacks on four new songs, including the pulse-racing “Baby Pink,” the frisky “Can Friends Kiss?” and the thundering now-closer “Godspeed.” These new pieces don’t necessarily make the C,XOXO puzzle feel complete, but they do make the final image even more sprawling, weird and beautiful.
Fred again.., Ten Days
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Prolific U.K. dance sensation Fred again.. released three installments in his Actual Life LP series in about an 18-month period over 2021 and 2022, but it’s been almost two years now since his latest full-length. The (very minor) drought is now over with this week’s release of Ten Days, with a loaded guest list featuring Sampha, The Japanese House, Anderson .Paak, country legend Emmylou Harris and of course, supertrio producer buds Skrillex and Four Tet. Like Fred’s previous albums, it’s a huge album built around small moments, like Irish singer-songwriter SOAK admitting of a revelatory romantic experience, “I remember thinking to myself… don’t you dare get used to this,” on early highlight “Just Stand There,” or the producer himself singing “You’re further away now than you used to be/ But darling I saw you and you saw me” on album centerpiece “I Saw You.”
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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See latest videos, charts and news
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This week, Big Sean puts in the work, A$AP Rocky has a gift for fans and Muni Long is back with more R&B gems. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Big Sean, Better Me Than You
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“Back to the basics, back to the work,” Big Sean raps in the opening minutes of his new album Better Me Than You — and the Detroit star’s first album since 2020 indeed carries a sense of head-down purpose, with guest artists like Gunna, Syd, Kodak Black and Bryson Tiller lending a hand as Sean carries the torch of no-frills hip-hop.
A$AP Rocky, “Tailor Swif”
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A previously leaked track that A$AP Rocky has properly released as a gift to fans, “Tailor Swif” finds the rapper quickly jumping between come-up stories and double-entendre boasting: “Even when I was po’, I was out here, eatin’ goats,” he spits, as the flute-laden production urges him to keep going.
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Muni Long, Revenge
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After waiting many years for her solo moment, then achieving it with the top 20 smash “Hrs & Hrs,” Muni Long has happily returned sooner than later with Revenge, which follows 2022’s Public Displays of Affection: The Album as another R&B songwriting showcase, highlighted by the electric recent hit “Made For Me.”
Tommy Richman, “Thought You Were the One”
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After “Million Dollar Baby” zoomed into the top 10 of the Hot 100 and “Devil is a Lie” continued his upward trajectory, Tommy Richman shows off his vulnerable side on “Thought You Were the One,” which molds his new jack swing riffing and falsetto croon into a more heartbroken pose.
Zedd, Telos
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When you revive Jeff Buckley’s “Dream Brother” for a dance remix, you know you are taking some big swings — and Zedd, the veteran EDM star who has scored hits by taking chances in the pop world, spends new album Telos pushing his style into intriguing new territories as a wide smattering of guests (Muse! Dora Jar! John Mayer!) swing by to help.
Noah Kahan, Live From Fenway Park
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At long last, Noah Kahan has left the road after spending multiple years gradually growing his fan base and venue size — but before wrapping up a tour that eventually made him a stadium headliner, the singer-songwriter recorded Live From Fenway Park, a live album that captures Kahan beaming through his catalog at the hometown gig.
Victoria Monét & Usher, “SOS (Sex on Sight)”
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Continuing a fruitful year in which Victoria Monét won the best new artist Grammy and Usher headlined the Super Bowl halftime show, “SOS (Sex on Sight)” allows both artists to warble about desire and showcase their abilities as master collaborators — some of their strongest respective work has been alongside other artists, and “SOS” is another winning team-up.
Editor’s Pick: Fireboy DML, Adedamola
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For casual fans who only know Nigerian singer-songwriter Fireboy DML’s global smash “Peru,” new album Adedamola is both a sumptuous listen and personal new entry into his discography, building upon his global success with anecdotes about his journey and engrossing relationship musings; this album simmers, and never loses your attention.
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.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
This week, Sabrina Carpenter releases her new full-but-not-too-full-length, Lainey Wilson captures two years’ worth of career hubbub on her latest LP, Coldplay leads a global All-Star prayer circle and much more.
Sabrina Carpenter, Short n’ Sweet
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The wait is over: Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet is here, on the backs of the consecutive smashes “Espresso” and “Please Please Please,” with 10 additional pop confections. Those range from the delectable obvious third single “Taste” to the rollicking acoustic betrayal of “Coincidence” to the frisky soft ’80s pop-funk of “Bed Chem.” For fans hoping for a coherent mix of the hooky confidence and slinky seductiveness of Carpenter’s latest singles with the clever detail and revealing lyrics of Emails I Can’t Send should have no complaints about Short n’ Sweet — outside of the brevity, anyway.
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Lainey Wilson, Whirlwind
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“Whirlwind” is the too-appropriate title to summarize Lainey Wilson’s career since 2022 breakthrough LP Bell Bottom Country, with the past two years being a blur of hits, gigs, cameos and accolades for the always-rising singer-songwriter. The mania has most recently led to her fourth studio album, in which she sounds more self-assured than ever on tracks like the strutting victory lap “Country’s Cool Again,” the Jerry Reed-inspired kiss-off “Ring Finger” and the rip-roaring lead single “Hang Tight Honey.” But she allows she probably won’t be able to do it forever, pleading “I can’t keep trying to keep up with Jones” on the album’s George Jones-referencing opening track.
Coldplay, Little Simz, Burna Boy, Elyana & TINI, “We Pray”
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Few would expect Chris Martin & Co. to lead off a New Music Friday single featuring an All-Star global cast of singers and rappers — but Coldplay have extended their pop-rock superstardom into its third decade largely due to their willingness to embrace younger artists and new sounds. So it’s not exactly shocking — and decently rousing — to hear Martin belting “We’ll be singing, Baraye!” over a booming Max Martin-co-produced beat as voices from around the world support him in hoping for simpler and safer times. “We Pray” will be featured on the band’s upcoming Mood Music album, due in October.
Central Cee, “Billion Streams Freestyle” & “Bolide Noir”
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“Said that my b–ch was gay, got a billion streams,” U.K. rapper Central Cee boasts about his breakthrough hit “Doja” apparently passing the 10-digit mark in online plays. The hitmaking MC, whose takeover continues to make its way across the pond, releases two new songs this week to celebrate his achievement, both the gleeful “Freestyle” and the more downbeat “Bolide Noir,” featuring Paris rapper JRK 19, in which a bleary-eyed Cench raps, “When you’ve been through all the things that I have/ Everything else is a walk in the park.” Another rewarding release from one of the decade’s most exciting new rappers.
Mk.gee, “Lonely Fight”
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In a year of major pop breakthroughs, bubbling up below the surface has been singer/songwriter Mk.gee, whose acclaimed debut album of emotional, intimate guitar ballads Two Star & The Dream Police has already earned him a fairly devoted cult following. That album only came out half a year ago, but the artist born Mike Gordon is already back with a new song: the gorgeous “Lonely Fight,” another transmission of aching guitar and warm fretless bass tied together by Gordon’s evocative but open-ended crooning. If you haven’t gotten on the bandwagon yet, be sure to hop on before LP2.
New Radicals, “Murder on the Dancefloor” & “Lost Stars”
The New Radicals hadn’t released any new music since their cult classic 1998 debut LP Maybe You’ve Been Brainwashed Too spawned one of the most enduring pop-rock gems of its era, the recently DNC-featured “You Get What You Give.” Last night, however, they debuted two quasi-new songs, along with an open letter to Kamala Harris’ “super fan” husband Doug Emhoff, and a stated hope “to rally the cause of democracy and encourage all artists to get out the vote.” The “quasi” is due to both of the songs being covers of originals already penned by frontman Gregg Alexander — Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Saltburn-revived “Murder on the Dancefloor” and “Lost Stars” from the 2013 film Begin Again — so not quite enough to raise hopes for any kind of full Brainwashed sequel, but long-Radicalized fans will still undoubtedly be very grateful for the new 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, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars link up for a surefire hit, Post Malone tries on a cowboy hat and LISA brings in a friend for a pop banger. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars, “Die With a Smile”
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The superstar collaboration “Die With a Smile” apparently came together when Bruno Mars invited Lady Gaga over to his studio one night, played her the bones of the track, and the two stayed up until dawn finishing it; that backstory is befitting of an epic duet about not wasting the finite time we all have, as Gaga and Mars let their melodies ricochet off of Andrew Watt’s guitar snarl.
Post Malone, F-1 Trillion
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Posty may have brought in Nashville’s varsity squad to help him craft his debut country project — Tim McGraw, Morgan Wallen, Blake Shelton, Dolly Parton and Hank Williams Jr. all appear on F-1 Trillion, and that’s just the first five tracks! — yet the pop-rap polymath is also a songwriting savant, and knows precisely how to translate his storytelling into a new form.
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LISA feat. Rosalía, “New Woman”
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After launching her new solo era with “Rockstar,” Blackpink’s LISA has summoned more firepower for “New Woman,” a multi-lingual electro-pop track featuring Rosalía oozing charisma, sleek production courtesy of Max Martin and Ilya, and ample room for LISA to showcase her attitude and spirit.
Tinashe, Quantum Baby
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Tinashe may have recently revived her mainstream fortunes with the viral smash “Nasty,” but she’s been releasing danceable, self-assured R&B for a decade — and Quantum Baby, a sumptuous new 8-song project full of immediately likable beats and flirtations, simply continues the positive momentum.
Grupo Firme & Demi Lovato, “Chula”
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Demi Lovato has a long history of singing in Spanish on her own projects and as a collaborator, and with “Chula,” the pop veteran links up with Grupo Firme to explore the regional Mexican sound that has exploded over the past few years, as well as toss out an anthem that works well in the waning summer days.
Hozier, Unaired
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Continuing a huge year that has included the first Hot 100 chart-topper of his career (“Too Sweet”) and packed arena audiences, Hozier has unveiled Unaired, a three-song EP that toasts the success of his Unreal Unearth album on its one-year anniversary as well as finds a home for the rollicking new soul-rock single “Nobody’s Soldier.”
Halsey, “Lonely is the Muse”
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Although Halsey didn’t work with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross on new single “Lonely is the Muse,” the spiraling rock track recalls the work that the trio created on 2022’s excellent If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power, with crashing guitars failing to wash away the pop star’s insecurities or blunt her anger.
Benson Boone, “Pretty Slowly”
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“Oh, how come all the best things fall apart?” Benson Boone wonders on “Pretty Slowly,” a stomping folk-rock track that examines a breakup from all angles and allows the singer-songwriter’s falsetto to heighten the drama; after the breakthrough of “Beautiful Things,” Boone may have another hit on his hands here.
Foster The People, Paradise State of Mind
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“Pumped Up Kicks” may forever be their biggest hit, but Foster The People have fashioned an impressive decade-plus run out of the opening provided by their smash single, and Paradise State of Mind, their Atlantic Records debut, is a jaunty mix of disco, rock, psychedelia and retro pop that showcases Mark Foster’s pinpoint songwriting instincts.
Editor’s Pick: Wishy, Triple Seven
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Indianapolis quintet Wishy revel in being unclassifiable, with their songs ranging from anthemic pop-rock to hard-guitar emo to bleary shoegaze — but debut album Triple Seven is so captivating in its shaggy charm and searing hooks that you won’t care which genre lines it does or doesn’t cross.
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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See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
This week, Latto keeps hip-hop fans on their toes, Shawn Mendes returns on his own terms and J Balvin brings a ton of friends to the party. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Latto, Sugar Honey Iced Tea
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Time and again over the course of her career, Latto has zagged away from expectations, lobbing out pop tracks as an underground star then turning in ferocious verses instead of catering to radio; similarly, new album Sugar Honey Iced Tea abides by Southern rap touchstones but refuses to be pigeonholed, as Latto offers up old-school bars while tinkering with her own image and that of popular hip-hop.
Shawn Mendes, “Why Why Why”
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“I stepped off the stage with nothing left / All the lights were f–king with my head,” Shawn Mendes admits on “Why Why Why,” a highly compelling piece of folk-pop that finds the singer-songwriter vulnerable to the point of sounding haunted, two years removed from cancelling a tour due to mental health purposes — lucky for us, the next line goes, “But here I am, singing songs again.”
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J Balvin, Rayo
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Only four of the 15 tracks on J Balvin’s new album Rayo are solo cuts, with the guest-heavy project boasting visits from Feid, Carin Leon, Zion and Bad Gyal, among many others — yet Balvin never gets overshadowed as he hopscotches across genre exercises, keeping the tempo up and sounding at ease within trap, reggaeton, Mexican and electro-pop compositions.
Katy Perry, “Lifetimes”
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Katy Perry teased “Lifetimes” as a new single aimed at listeners who “want to rave,” and indeed, the follow-up to “Woman’s World” contains a more club-ready thump and outsized hook — but “Lifetimes” also marks the return of Perry’s emotional intensity, with her passion and undying devotion now directed at her daughter, Daisy.
Asake, Lungu Boy
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Nigerian superstar Asake has put in quick work to become one of the biggest Afrobeats artists in the world, and Lungu Boy, his third album in three years, is designed to keep his momentum intact: the Travis Scott team-up “Active” is a deserving mainstream shot that will get plenty of party spins, but the quieter moments on songs like “My Heart” and the Wizkid collaboration “MMS” make for a more well-rounded project.
Ravyn Lenae, Bird’s Eye
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After grabbing hold of R&B diehards on 2022 debut HYPNOS, Ravyn Lenae has honed her approach on Bird’s Eye, which features Childish Gambino and Ty Dolla $ign but is defined by the airiness of Lenae’s melodies — from the excellent opener “Genius” onward, she sounds like a sorceress, conjuring hooks out of the atmosphere around her.
NIKI, Buzz
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88rising breakout NIKI has earned a large following with subtly drawn pop songs that swell up in front of sprawling festival crowds; Buzz, her latest full-length, tweaks her atmospheric approach and drills down on its personal touches, revealing more from the rising star even on instances in which her voice is distorted or evaporating.
Beabadoobee, This is How Tomorrow Moves
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Light years removed from her breakthrough thanks to Powfu’s “Death Bed (Coffee For Your Head),” Beabadoobee continues carving out a singular alt-rock path on third album This is How Tomorrow Moves, with Rick Rubin helming the new full-length and helping streamline the guitar chug and wistful hooks on songs like “California” and “Beaches.”
Oso Oso, Life Till Bones
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Whether he’s working in the emo, indie-rock or pop worlds, Jade Lilitri remains a towering songwriting force — and Life Till Bones, his latest Oso Oso project, may be his finest moment to date, an accessible update to the aesthetic that made 2019’s Basking in the Glow so essential while also reflecting on personal tragedy and the strength that can unexpectedly result from such sorrow.
Editor’s Pick: Amos Lee, Transmissions
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After settling into his skin on 2022’s Dreamland, Amos Lee continues operating in a winning mode — with even more introspection — on Transmissions, a collection of gentle, jazzy Americana-pop amalgamations that include some of Lee’s strongest songwriting to date, particularly the poignant self-examination of “Beautiful Day” and “Carry You On,” a lump-in-throat tribute to a fallen friend.
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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See latest videos, charts and news
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This week, Charli xcx and Billie Eilish take a “Guess” together, Jack White has plenty of new riffs and A$AP Rocky returns with an unexpected guest. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Charli xcx feat. Billie Eilish, “Guess”
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Charli xcx’s spectacular Brat era continues with a new remix of “Guess,” in which Charli’s sultry delivery is paired with Billie Eilish’s soft-spoken sexual earnestness — the result is an explosive chemical reaction, that should have groups of partygoers shouting out Eilish’s line “Charli likes boys, but she knows I’d hit it” well beyond summertime.
Jack White, No Name
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Do you love the White Stripes, want to explore more of Jack White’s solo oeuvre but aren’t quite sure where to start? No Name, which was recently sneaked out to Third Man Records consumers before arriving on digital, may be White’s sixth album, but most closely resembles his former band’s bluesy garage-rock anthems, and should bring any casual listener up to speed.
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A$AP Rocky feat. Jessica Pratt, “HIGHJACK”
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During a recent chat with Zane Lowe for Apple Music, A$AP Rocky describes how Jessica Pratt’s music “kind of gave me this kind of Portishead meets Stevie Nicks vibe a little bit”; that explains how the hip-hop titan ended up corralling the indie songstress for one of the year’s more unexpected collaborations, on which Rocky’s boisterous flow collapses into Pratt’s gorgeous warbling.
Khalid, Sincere
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Khalid released his debut album, American Teen, a few days after his 19th birthday; now 26, his soothing tone remains intact but has naturally deepened on Sincere, his first full-length in five years and a revealing R&B exploration of heartbreak, fighting for peace and growing up within the music industry’s spotlight.
Jelly Roll, “Liar”
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Between his appearance on Eminem’s latest album, his contribution to the Twisters soundtrack and his John Denver-honoring team-up with mgk, Jelly Roll is on quite the prolific streak — but “Liar,” his first solo single since June’s “I Am Not Okay,” doesn’t dilute his appeal, functioning as a venomous farewell with unsettled guitar strums.
Maren Morris, Intermission
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In the past year alone, Maren Morris announced her decision to leave country music, filed from divorce from singer-songwriter Ryan Hurd and came out as bisexual during Pride month; the highs and lows of her journey are given a five-song snapshot in the form of Intermission, a compelling stopgap on which her fears and flirtations are given a technicolor pop sheen.
Justin Quiles, Permanente
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Puerto Rican hitmaker Justin Quiles wrapped up his visual song trilogy with “Te Perdió” last fall, and has moved on to more quick-hitting jams on Permanente, crafting rumbling hooks and commanding listeners’ attention while rarely allowing his tracks to stretch beyond the two-minute mark.
Jessie Murph feat. Teddy Swims, “Dirty”
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The raw, wounded way that Jessie Murph sings the words “I’ve got no mercy / You don’t deserve me” on her new Teddy Swims team-up “Dirty” allows her hurt to scan as authentic, and her voice powers her through such woe; after scoring hits with Koe Wetzel and Jelly Roll, Murph continues to shine as a collaborator and storyteller.
The Smashing Pumpkins, Aghori Mhori Mei
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There are moments across Aghori Mhori Mei, The Smashing Pumpkins’ thirteenth studio album, that harken back to their mid-‘90s heyday, and those callbacks are purposeful: Billy Corgan, James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlain have simplified their formula after some grander recent experiments, resulting in some refreshingly straightforward rockers.
Editor’s Pick: Kacey Musgraves, Deeper Into the Well
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Five months after its release, Kacey Musgraves’ charming Deeper Well has received a deluxe edition that boasts new collaborations with Leon Bridges and Tiny Habits, as well as “Irish Goodbye,” a wistful kiss-off that’s among the most emotionally resonant moments on the project.
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.
Explore
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See latest videos, charts and news
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This week, Ice Spice makes their full-length bow, Post Malone brings in another country superstar, and Halsey nods to Britney and Monica. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Ice Spice, Y2K!
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Ice Spice’s boisterous personality and no-holds-barred approach to New York drill made her a star in 2023, and this year brings Y2K!, the summation of months of single releases that still congeals into a singular full-length. Travis Scott and Gunna swing by new tracks, but Ice’s solo power on songs like “Papa,” “Plenty Sun” and “TTYL” make Y2K! worth turning up in the back half of the summer.
Post Malone feat. Luke Combs, “Guy For That”
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Post Malone’s chart-topping country music exploration continues with “Guy For That,” a hearty team-up with Luke Combs that leans on both artists’ vocal strength to achieve anthem status; both Posty and Combs are currently promoting bigger hits, and seem to use “Guy For That” to tinker with their respective images and have a down-home blast.
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Halsey, “Lucky”
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Interpolating both Britney Spears’ “Lucky” and Monica’s “Angel of Mine,” Halsey utilizes past hits to tell her own tale of complicated fame and effectively tugging on heartstrings with bare emotion: “And I told everybody I was fine for a whole damn year / And that’s the biggest lie of my career,” she laments.
MGK with Jelly Roll, “Lonely Road”
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The artist formerly known as Machine Gun Kelly has reinvented himself a time or three since launching his career, and a track like “Lonely Road,” which corrals Jelly Roll and puts a modern spin on a John Denver classic with plenty of soaring harmonies and acoustic strums, demonstrates his range while forging yet another new path.
Fuerza Regida, Pero No Te Enamores
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Although “Harley Quinn,” Fuerza Regida’s hit team-up with Marshmello, is not included on the track list to Pero No Te Enamores, the full-length fusion of regional Mexican music and thumping EDM is indebted to that earlier single, with artists like Major Lazer, Afrojack and Gordo swinging by to contribute to the party.
Calvin Harris with Ellie Goulding, “Free”
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Fans of “I Need Your Love,” “Outside” and “Miracle” are going to wrap their arms around “Free,” the latest collaboration between Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding that builds upon their long-standing chemistry and pushes the tempo with a straightforward but powerful catchphrase: “When I’m with you, I’m free,” Goulding declares.
Mustard, Faith of a Mustard Seed
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Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” was momentous enough to both land a knockout blow in a rap feud and revitalize producer Mustard’s mainstream career, and the star-studded Faith of a Mustard Seed, featuring everyone from Travis Scott to Kirk Franklin to Ella Mai (who teams with Roddy Ricch on the “911” rework “One Bad Decision”), functions as an extended, well-earned victory lap.
XG, “Something Ain’t Right”
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The retro bounce of XG’s “Something Ain’t Right” goes beyond feel-good and achieves downright giddiness, as the Japanese girl group preview their forthcoming second mini-album (due out Nov. 8) with a killer hook and ‘90s-indebted production that could feasibly reach a whole new listenership in the U.S.
Central Cee, “gen z luv”
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On the same day that his “Did It First” collaborator Ice Spice unveils her new album, Central Cee has a New Music Friday banger himself: “gen z luv” is a sparse, surprisingly vulnerable tale of social-media-age romance, but the pummeling percussion also makes the song work in a club setting.
Editor’s Pick: Wand, Vertigo
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Over the course of Los Angeles rock group Wand’s decade of activity, frontman Cory Hanson’s vocal affectation has drawn endless comparisons to that of Thom Yorke; with its ambitious, psych-adjacent sprawl, new album Vertigo is great enough to evoke peak Radiohead, and enough of a sonic leap forward to serve as a breakthrough.
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, Childish Gambino takes a bow, Stray Kids eat up their new material and Jimin continues to innovate. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Childish Gambino, Bando Stone and the New World
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Donald Glover will likely be present in popular culture for a long time, but his Childish Gambino alter ego takes a bow on Bando Stone and the New World, a bold, 17-song project with an ultra-hip guest list (Flo Milli, Jorja Smith, Yeat and Amaarae all stop by) and that makes sure a beloved hip-hop personality goes out with sound-bending gusto.
Stray Kids, ATE
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The K-pop group’s new mini-album continues to showcase the upward trajectory of their confidence as both hit-makers and studio technicians: the 8-song set, helmed by their in-house production team 3RACHA, brims with effortless cool, particularly on the electro-shock of “Chk Chk Boom.”
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Jimin, Muse
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Jimin may have dominated stadiums alongside his BTS brethren and scored a No. 1 solo hit last year with “Like Crazy,” but he’s not resting on his laurels, as sophomore solo project Muse offers meditations on love and creative inspiration while still serving up cross-continental potential hits like with snappy rhythmic pop track “Who.”
Various Artists, Twisters: The Album
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What’s more formidable than one Twister? Multiple Twisters — and a big-budget soundtrack to go along with the natural-disaster epic invading multiplexes this weekend, with superstars like Luke Combs, Thomas Rhett and Miranda Lambert headlining the country project (although Benson Boone also sneaking in, with the genre-straddling stomp-along “Death Wish Love”).
Glass Animals, I Love You So F***ing Much
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Following up a record-breaking smash like “Heat Waves” is no easy task, and on the charming new album I Love You So F***ing Much, Glass Animals shrug off chart expectations while still baking oversized hooks and harmonies into the 10 songs, particularly on the opening run of “Show Pony,” “whatthehellishappening?” and “Creatures in Heaven.”
Koe Wetzel, 9 Lives
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The country-leaning Texas singer-songwriter’s profile has been rapidly growing, and new album 9 Lives — featuring previous hits “High Road” with Jessie Murph and “Sweet Dreams,” as well as new standouts like “Hatchet” and “Depression & Obsession” — arrives at an opportune time and with a more mature version of his rootsy storytelling.
Khalid, “Ground”
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Khalid’s long-awaited third album, Sincere, gets another sumptuous jam, with “Ground” making the most of the singer-songwriter’s velvety tone and a hypnotic beat while leaning more toward traditional R&B; this is a head-knocker that you don’t want to end.
Alessia Cara, “Dead Man”
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“If you really care, then why am I feeling you slip right through my hands?” Alessia Cara asks on “Dead Man,” as the former best new artist Grammy winner kicks off a new era with some vibrant jazz-pop, complete with mournful trumpet blasts, that suits her voice and newfound perspective to a tee.
Joe Jonas, “Work It Out”
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A lifetime removed from his 2011 solo debut Fastlife, Joe Jonas sounds an refreshed on energetic new single “Work It Out” as Jonas Brothers did on their comeback single “Sucker,” addressing his issues with anxiety and intrusive thoughts over some kicky pop production for late-summer streaming.
Editor’s Pick: JADE, “Angel of My Dreams”
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“I didn’t want to do a safe first single, that was really important to me,” Jade Thirlwall of Little Mix says of her solo debut in a press release. No worries on that end: “Angel of My Dreams” is a shape-shifting, wholly thrilling first step that effervesces before collapsing then rising back up, and JADE handles all of his wild movements with veteran skill.
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, Eminem puts a nail in Slim Shady’s coffin, Katy Perry flexes her pop know-how and Ice Spice makes a connection from across the pond. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Eminem, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce)
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The chart success of pop-leaning lead single “Houdini,” plus the technical rap wizardry of follow-up “Tobey,” have heightened expectations for The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce), Eminem’s 12th studio album that has been billed as the finale of his raging id character, Slim Shady. Indeed, the full-length is Em’s most complete project in years by showcasing the full scope of his talent — his button-pushing devilishness and bar-bursting theatrics, as demonstrated on the singles, but also his unexpected grace (“Temporary,” with Skylar Grey, is a heartfelt message to his daughter for when he’s gone) and ability to cross into other genres (“Somebody Save Me,” with Jelly Roll, might end up garnering some country-pop airplay for Marshall Mathers).
Katy Perry, “Woman’s World”
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Pop fans who fondly remember the bright, oversized hooks and candy-colored visual fantasias of Katy Perry’s record-breaking Teenage Dream era will wrap their arms around “Woman’s World,” the introduction of a mainstream-ready new era that has been given a music video with plenty of eye-popping, cleverly conceived feminist iconography. Perry has evolved since her blockbuster 2010 album, with her lyrics turning more personal and her stardom extending into projects like American Idol — but she’s always sounded most at home on big, neon-colored pop anthems, and “Woman’s World” marks a return to a winning mode.
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Ice Spice & Central Cee, “Did It First”
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Ice Spice always sounds most effective while rapping downhill: her flow spins and tumbles, picks up speed, and remains too cool to ever get tripped up. After a few experiments with her formula on the songs preceding upcoming album Y2K!, she finds her footing on “Did It First,” a team-up with London rapper Central Cee in which she immediately begins pummeling a beat co-produced by RIOTUSA, with boasts about proudly cheating, spending money, dismissing any disinterest and committing to “party ’til the party ends.”
Clairo, Charm
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Whereas Clairo’s previous album, 2021’s Sling, lacked a sense of warmth by design — singer-songwriter Claire Cottrill moved to upstate New York and teamed up with Jack Antonoff on a muted, woodsy project — Charm radiates with the same glow that made her 2019 debut Immunity so captivating. The soft-rock arrangements feel naturally designed, as if the interplay between piano, guitar, bass and drums has always existed and Claire has simply strolled in to provide her hushed tone and sensual lyricism; the pace changes, and the details rearrange (“Echo,” for instance, sounds more synth-ified and spaced-out than anything Clairo has done before), but the formula makes for an excellent front-to-back listen.
ENHYPEN, Romance: Untold
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“XO (If You Only Say Yes),” the lead single from ENHYPEN’s new album Romance: Untold, illustrates why the K-pop seven-piece has broken through in a crowded field: full of stuttering hooks, engaging vocals and well-crafted rhythmic pop production (courtesy of JVKE, who appears on the English version of the track), “XO” works well as a crossover bid and showcase for the collective’s skill set. The rest of Romance: Untold builds upon 2021’s Dimension: Dilemma and the projects released in between, thanks largely to the strengthened chemistry between the members, who harmonize, belt, dip into falsetto and softly intone with impressive dexterity.
Editor’s Pick: Remi Wolf, Big Ideas
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Remi Wolf’s early singles may have earned millions of streams and suggested plenty of artistic promise, but it wasn’t until the singles preceding sophomore album Big Ideas, including “Cinderella” and “Toro,” that it sounded like the Palo Alto singer-songwriter had locked her funk-laden synth-pop aesthetic into place. The rest of the album plays out like a full realization of her talents: Remi Wolf is a detailed writer, knows when to throttle a melody, can harness a groove like a pro and now has the songs (especially album highlight “Soup,” and the dynamic bonus track “Slay Bitch”) to tie the presentation together.
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.
Explore
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See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
This week, Zach Bryan continues his prolific streak, Lana Del Rey and Quavo get “Tough” and Morgan Wallen takes a muted new step. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Zach Bryan, The Great American Bar Scene
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Zach Bryan has released a new full-length in each of the last three years, somehow managing to unveil extended alt-country opuses in between nonstop tour dates and expand his aesthetic in the process — after scoring his first Hot 100 chart-topper last year with the Kacey Musgraves duet “I Remember Everything,” for instance, new album The Great American Bar Scene boasts collaborations with Bruce Springsteen and John Mayer, among others. Yet Bryan’s tireless work ethic and growing popularity is not yielding diminishing returns: The Great American Bar Scene is defined by the same rustic, open-hearted songwriting that has made Bryan a star, and songs like “Mechanical Bull,” “28” and “The Way Back” are among the strongest in his quickly swelling discography.
Lana Del Rey & Quavo, “Tough”
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Lana Del Rey has become a beloved pop heroine without paying too much attention to crossover pop singles — she’s only entered the top 10 of the Hot 100 twice in her career, once with a remix and another time thanks to a featured spot on a Taylor Swift song. Yet “Tough,” her new team-up with Quavo, finds a sweet spot in between dreamy alt-pop and sizzling trap, with each artist sticking to their respective approaches before Del Rey starts rapping and the Migos star begins crooning. “Tough” shape-shifts, but never in an unnatural way; don’t be surprised if this unexpected collaboration becomes a late-summer hit.
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Morgan Wallen, “Lies Lies Lies”
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As Morgan Wallen enjoys the type of superstardom that winds up becoming decade-defining — and spends another week atop the Hot 100 chart, with his Post Malone team-up “I Had Some Help” — the country giant has released “Lies Lies Lies” as something of a palette cleanser, with the wistful, low-key track a far cry from his latest chart-conquering anthem. Originally recorded at Abbey Road Studios in 2023 and released as part of a digital series in March, “Lies Lies Lies” arrives on streaming services as a humbled admission of continued longing, with Wallen trying to convince himself that he’s moved on from a relationship before crying, “I’m still a fool for you.”
Childish Gambino, “Lithonia”
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Donald Glover’s Childish Gambino project crowned the Hot 100 and scooped up multiple major Grammys with the provocative 2018 anthem “This Is America” — and instead of doubling down on mainstream music fame, Glover released an offbeat pandemic project (3.15.20), revisited and renamed it a few years later (Atavista), and retreated into rewarding film and TV projects. Now, he’s prepping what has been teased as the final Childish Gambino album, Bando Stone & The New World, and “Lithonia” marks an intriguing first taste: a fuzzed-out power ballad featuring some open-chested singing and soul harmonies, the track sounds designed for the arena crowds that Glover can still command whenever he wants.
Eminem feat. Big Sean & BabyTron, “Tobey”
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The first two tracks that Eminem has released from his upcoming album The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) showcase two of the qualities that have made him an enduring superstar: while “Houdini” was all quotable crassness and pop hooks, “Tobey” is ear-melting rap theatrics, with Em’s technical skill taking center stage in the back half of the track. Before that, Big Sean and BabyTron crash in to deliver their own double-time rhymes, operating over a minimalist beat that allows all three MCs to turn their bars into the song’s priority.
Editor’s Pick: Kesha, “Joyride”
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The release of Kesha’s “Joyride” on Independence Day was purposeful: the new single represented the pop star’s first song as an independent artist, following a years-long legal battle with Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald and the fulfillment of her initial label contract. With that in mind, “Joyride” is both an exhalation following unhappy circumstances and a smart back-to-basics move, in which Kesha can wrap her arms around a sly, hard-charging party track and reintroduce herself. “Joyride” bounces along with carnival-esque production and wacky sound effects, but Kesha matches its exuberance, altering her voice to punctuate every punchline and having a blast on the giddy hook.