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, Jung Kook makes an extended statement, The Beatles give one last farewell, and Olivia Rodrigo remains impossible to pin down. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Jung Kook, Golden
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Jung Kook has spent his entire career on an upward trajectory — first within BTS, scoring global hits and conquering stadiums, and more recently as a solo artist, notching billions of streams (literally) with a sleek brand of pop and smart collaborations. Golden, his debut solo album, takes some time to reflect on those dizzying highs, but also wants to keep the good times rolling: “Closer to You” (created with Major Lazer) allows Jung Kook to hop between forceful declarations and intimate breaths, while songs like the yearning dance track “Somebody” and the opulent surefire hit “Standing Next to You” demonstrate why Jung Kook deserves to be considered a superstar on his own.
The Beatles, “Now and Then”
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Positioning a piece of music as “the final Beatles song” naturally provides it with weighty expectations that are impossible to match — so consider “Now and Then,” a demo recorded in the ‘70s that was revived with modern technology and features all four members, a surprise treat hiding in their hallowed discography instead. Along with a new music video directed by Peter Jackson, the wistful, understated “Now and Then” serves as a subtle reminder of the band’s continued power, now more than a half-century removed from their original studio album.
Olivia Rodrigo, “Can’t Catch Me Now”
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Although some of the lyrics to Olivia Rodrigo’s new single “Can’t Catch Me Now,” which comes from the soundtrack to The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, seem to document an action sequence from the upcoming prequel film (“But I’m in the trees, I’m in the breeze / My footsteps on the ground,” Rodrigo sings), the pop superstar provides a gentle touch to the lilting acoustic track reminiscent of the softer moments from recent sophomore album GUTS. Instead of aiming at flash for the end credits, Rodrigo has unveiled a heartfelt new edition to both the Hunger Games musical canon and her own catalog.
Megan Thee Stallion, “Cobra”
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Megan Thee Stallion’s “Cobra” opens with a two-note electric guitar chug that serves as a snarl — and while Meg has flaunted plenty of braggadocio over the course of her career, her new single warns against getting too close because of how wounded she’s feeling. “Ayy, damn, I got problems / Never thought a bitch like me would ever hit rock bottom,” she spits, locating an impressive balance between emotional vulnerability and head-knocking hooks on “Cobra.”
Marshmello, Sugar Papi
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Marshmello has founded a sprawling, globe-trotting career on deferential collaboration, bending his aesthetic towards various artists in the worlds of pop, rock, R&B, country and everything in between. Sugar Papi, a full-length journey into Latin music, unsurprisingly features a star-studded guest list that includes Young Miko, Nicky Jam, Farruko, Anuel AA, Manuel Turizo and Fuerza Regida, among many others — yet the project sounds authentic and hard-earned, with Marshmello augmenting his featured artists without ever overpowering them, a skill that he’s developed throughout his run.
Editor’s Pick: Spiritual Cramp, Spiritual Cramp
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The members of San Francisco punk group Spiritual Cramp have been kicking around for years, both releasing EPs together and operating separately in other projects — but their self-titled debut carries the kinetic energy of a brash young band barging onto the rock scene with intentions of shaking things up. The hooks here are stylish and relentless, each sugary melody cloaking the band’s anger at the state of the world; like plenty of great punk groups, Spiritual Cramp want you to hum along and question authority in equal measure.
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, Taylor Swift turns back the calendar to 1989, and Brent Faiyaz delivers another star turn. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Taylor Swift, 1989 (Taylor’s Version)
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The arrival of 1989 (Taylor’s Version) was always going to be a big deal: after all, her 2014 album was one of Taylor Swift’s critical and commercial high points, scoring three No. 1 hits on the Hot 100 and winning the album of the year Grammy after fully reinventing the country superstar as a pop icon. When 1989 was announced as the fourth of Swift’s six albums to receive the Taylor’s Version treatment, fans understandably turned giddy at the thought of Swift’s new takes on her old classics, plus the “From the Vault” goodies coming from that time of high-wattage, cinematic pop music.
And while 1989 (Taylor’s Version) is landing at a particularly busy time for Swifties — considering the fact that “Cruel Summer” sits atop the current Hot 100 after its months-long viral comeback, the Eras Tour concert film dominated the box office this month and wholesome content of Swift and Travis Kelce is darn near inescapable — the achievement that it represents should not be overlooked, even by the most casual of fans. Perhaps more than any Taylor’s Version release thus far, the re-recorded 1989 subtly tinkers with songs like “Blank Space,” “Welcome to New York,” “Out of the Woods” and “Clean” in compelling new ways, reanimating its gems from a fresh perspective and with a more seasoned pop voice.
Click here to read more about all five “From The Vault” tracks on 1989 (Taylor’s Version).
Brent Faiyaz, Larger Than Life
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Larger Than Life could represent another leveling up for Brent Faiyaz, the singular R&B star whose 2022 album Wasteland earned a No. 2 debut on the Billboard 200 and signaled a mainstream breakthrough; although billed as a mixtape, his new project boasts guest spots from Missy Elliott, A$AP Rocky, Coco Jones and Babyface Ray, among others, to help prove its commercial bonafides. Yet Larger Than Life is at its best when Faiyaz’s croon is operating with ample space and over woozy, zapped-out beats, as songs as like “Best Time,” “Wherever I Go” and “Forever Yours” succeed based on his style and taste.
Jay Wheeler, TRAPPii
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Puerto Rican star Jay Wheeler dives headfirst into trap music on his fifth studio album, following the success of his single “Pacto” — and while that hit exists as a centerpiece in the middle of the TRAPPii track list, Wheeler cooks up a dedicated, often riveting exploration of its sound in other areas. While “Walk My Way” marks a tender dip into English-language belting, “Frio” sizzles in the back half of the album, with Wheeler’s tone gliding naturally above the programmed drums.
David Guetta feat. Ayra Starr & Lil Durk, “Big FU”
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“Big FU” may be dripping in bitterness — the title of the David Guetta/Ayra Starr/Lil Durk summit represents a middle finger to the person who’s taken your place in a relationship — but as a dance track, the unlikely trio form a sweaty, effective symbiosis, and Guetta puts Starr and Durk in positions to win. Durk continues to provide rock-solid features and sinks his teeth into the bass line here, while Starr continues her upward trajectory by giving her scorn ample momentum on the hook.
Editor’s Pick: Yebba, “Waterfall (I Adore You)”
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The majority of singer-songwriter Yebba’s best-known tracks are collaborative in some way, from “Yebba’s Heartbreak” on Drake’s Certified Lover Boy to “Best Part of Me” with Ed Sheeran to her A$AP Rocky-assisted “Far Away” — and while new single “Waterfall (I Adore You)” has been released with a solid alternate version featuring R&B artist Sweata, the solo take on the track best showcases Yebba’s delicate R&B approach and nuanced vocal prowess. Following her 2021 debut album Dawn, “Waterfall (I Adore You)” feels at once more naturally rendered and sonically opulent than her previous output, and suggests a must-hear next 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.
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See latest videos, charts and news
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This week, I guess this is Blink-182 growing up, Charli XCX and Sam Smith have a night on the town and The Rolling Stones triumphantly return to the studio. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Blink-182, One More Time…
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“Aging gracefully” was never the logical outcome for Blink-182, a trio of pop-punk geniuses who built their live shows around scatological humor and turned their album titles into dirty jokes. Yet harrowing life experiences, particularly Mark Hoppus’ 2021 battle with cancer, has provided Blink-182 with a newfound sense of appreciation, and One More Time…, the first album with their classic lineup since 2011, carries a feeling of gravitas that acknowledges how much Hoppus, Tom DeLonge and Travis Barker care about each other in middle age. That doesn’t make One More Time… a dour affair, though: from early single “Edging” to pummeling opener “Anthem Part 3” to the radio-ready “Dance With Me,” Blink-182 have figured out a way to fire off more chewy melodies in between the heartfelt moments.
Charli XCX & Sam Smith, “In The City”
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“The song is about finding the people you truly love and connect with through wild nights out and partying in magical places,” Charli XCX says in a press release of her charming new one-off with Sam Smith, “In The City.” A decade after getting the party started with songs like “Take My Hand” and the Icona Pop smash “I Love It,” Charli offers a more reflective night out (“I never thought I would find it / But I found what I was lookin’ for,” she sings), while Smith’s soulful vocals and the blinking synths bolster the song, giving “In The City” the feeling of starry-eyed connection at the heart of the collaboration.
The Kid LAROI, Jung Kook & Central Cee, “Too Much”
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Jung Kook and The Kid LAROI both know their ways around a durable pop hit, while songs like “Sprinter” and “Let Go” have established British rapper Central Cee as a chart heavyweight overseas; with their powers combined, the three have cooked up a downcast, undeniably catchy collaboration that sounds primed to become ubiquitous as the weather turns colder. “Too Much” showcases another rock-solid Jung Kook hook following “Seven” and “3D,” as well as a hardened middle verse from Central Cee, but LAROI sounds reinvigorated on the track, hoisting up rhymes and melodies with an ease that recalls his Justin Bieber-assisted smash “Stay.”
The Rolling Stones, Hackney Diamonds
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What should a new Rolling Stones album sound like in 2023? The legends’ first full-length of new material since 2005’s A Bigger Bang was years in the making, and arrives without an ounce of anything left to prove — and that lack of expectation works in its favor, as Mick, Keith and Ronnie have cooked up a rollicking check-in that should translate nicely to the stadium stage. A mix of iconic guests (Paul McCartney, Elton John and Lady Gaga all swing by) and meat-and-potatoes rock grooves (“Mess It Up” and “Whole Wide World” are a pair of mid-album highlights) help situate Hackney Diamonds as a best-case scenario for a band in their hallowed position.
21 Savage feat. d4vd, “Call Me Revenge”
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The fact that “Call Me Revenge,” the new team-up between 21 Savage and d4vd, was launched in conjunction with the upcoming release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III helps explain the lyrical slant — after all, it’s easier to unpack d4vd crooning “I’m here to collect to all your sins, I’m goin’ in!” within the context of a first-person shooter game. Still, “Call Me Revenge” allows both artists to have fun while striking their most menacing poses, especially 21 Savage, who sounds downright jubilant while firing off clipped boasts and endless ad-libs.
Editor’s Pick: Jane Remover, Census Designated
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You won’t hear another album like Census Designated, the sophomore effort by Jane Remover, this year, or most years: the singer-producer, who reconfigured her sound (as well as came out as a trans woman) following 2021 debut Frailty, has mastered a singular blend of shoegaze, noise rock, pop melodies and indie balladry across these 10 tracks, while also prodding at her personal evolution and identity. Parts of Census Designated work best during a late-night headphones listen, while others beg to be blasted from car speakers; conceptually, the album begins at sundown and ends at dawn, but Jane Remover’s latest will affect you in any setting.
It’s Friday, October 13th, and we’re breaking down this week’s music releases. Bad Bunny dropped a new full-length album, TXT’s new LP is here and more. We have an exclusive interview with Metro Boomin. Megan Thee Stallion teased her new album and revealed that she is not currently signed to a label. And more!
Tetris Kelly:Megan Thee Stallion says she’s completely self-funded. We talked with chart-topper and cover star Metro Boomin. Shakira goes Fishing for Answers. We take you inside this week’s hottest music events, and give you new tracks to add to your playlist.
It’s almost the weekend, but first, we’ve got some Billboard News to get to. I’m Tetris Kelly, it’s Friday, October 13th, aka Jimin’s birthday.
And let’s talk new music.
Bad Bunny said “Surprise!” With little notice, he has given us ‘Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana.’
I had such a good time sitting down with Metro Boomin for the cover of Billboard, but we talked about so much more — take a look.
Your Billboard cover shoot, was this the dream? You feeling good about it?
Metro Boomin:Yes, it’s a blessing man. It feels great to be here. Still surreal.
Tetris Kelly:And I mean, at our Power Players event, we gave you a plaque for three No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200. So let’s talk about that success. What are you doing that’s so consistent that you keep topping our charts?
Metro Boomin:It’s really… I feel like it’s caring. Just like caring enough to take the time where it’s not difficult for me to just take a long time if I need to.
Tetris Kelly:Well, you’ve got so many hits, like whether they’re your hits, whether other people’s hits you produced on, you know. “Congratulations,” “Tuesday,” “Jumpman,” like what do you feel is the signature Metro Boomin song? What are the fans waiting on? What is the one you close the set with every time you do it?Watch the full video above!
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, Bad Bunny returns sooner than expected, Offset corrals his famous friends and Ice Spice links up with Rema for a new hit. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Bad Bunny, Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana
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Thought you had to wait until 2024 for Bad Bunny’s next opus, which would follow last year’s enormous Un Verano Sin Ti? A lot of us did — there’s a reason why his new semi-surprise project is titled Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana (“Nobody Knows What Will Happen Tomorrow”), considering how widespread the belief was that the Puerto Rican superstar would sit patiently until the calendar flipped. Instead, Bad Bunny has gifted another 80 minutes of dynamic solo material: zero guests are credited on Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana, and while some are sprinkled throughout, there’s clearly been a conscious decision to delineate between the summer-ready opulence of Un Verano Sin Ti and his captivating next phase. Bad Bunny’s latest requires due diligence before a snap judgment, but needless to say, it’s good to have him back sooner than anticipated.
Offset, Set It Off
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The cover of new Offset solo album finds the rap star falling away from the world as it explodes away from him, the sky and ground inverted; after Quavo’s somber Rocket Power, which reflected on Takeoff’s untimely death throughout its track list, Offset’s new artwork could be construed as a reaction to his fellow Migos member’s passing. While Set It Off does contemplate grief and unspoken words (see the late highlight “Upside Down”), Offset’s latest also revels in blockbuster-rap elegance — especially in its first half, which includes guest spots from Travis Scott, Don Toliver and Offset’s wife, Cardi B.
Ice Spice feat. Rema, “Pretty Girl”
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During her meteoric rise, Ice Spice has never compromised her style or relaxed her flow to fit in with mainstream expectations — but on crackling new single “Pretty Girl,” featuring Nigerian superstar Rema, the rapper showcases her ability to translate her effortless rhyming into a traditional pop structure, and scores one of the most likable singles of her career. “Pretty Girl” benefits from an Afrobeats-adjacent thump and the melodic charisma that Rema flaunted on “Calm Down,” but Ice Spice dominates the track, each of her bars a dart that hits its mark.
Troye Sivan, Something to Give Each Other
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Troye Sivan has always possessed a distinct pop voice — both literally, with his warm, richly developed tone, and figuratively, as a former YouTuber making fundamentally sound and unabashedly queer pop music. Yet “Rush,” the thrilling lead single to third album Something to Give Each Other, hinted that his song construction had leveled up, and the full-length has confirmed as much: not every song on his new project carries the tempo of “Rush,” but from the robo-fantasia of “One of Your Girls” to the clap-along lullaby of “Can’t Go Back, Baby,” Something to Give Each Other gives Sivan the sonic depth required to help his voice fully soar.
Boygenius, The Rest
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Prior to a breakout 2023 in which they released their debut full-length and headlined arenas, Lucy Dacus, Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker conjured magic with a six-song EP in 2018, unveiling Boygenius as a collaborative project and slowly winning over thousands of listeners. The Rest, a new four-song EP, arrives in very different circumstances for the group yet feels just as intimate, a short, moving songwriting showcase defined by sparse arrangements and overlapping voices; the closer “Power,” in particular, feels like a summation for this phase of Boygenius, with Baker singing about “a crooked little trajectory” before being joined by her best friends.
Editor’s Pick: Fred again.. feat. Jozzy, “Ten”
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As he caps off a string of shows in New York and Los Angeles, effectively putting an exclamation point on a professional period during which he ascended to dance’s A-list, Fred again.. has also unveiled one of the more satisfying grooves of his career: “Ten,” a new single with Jozzy, plays with space and vocal pitches, but that percussive hook is as wonderfully woozy as Fred hoped it would be, and Jozzy makes his presence felt in a short amount of time. “Ten” begs to be presented to and bopped with a crowd of thousands — lucky for those with Fred again.. tickets this month.
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, Drake lets the Dogs out, NewJeans joins the League of Legends, and Noah Kahan spins gold with Kacey Musgraves. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Drake, For All The Dogs
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Following the long-awaited, chart-conquering Certified Lover Boy in 2021, Drake spent last year experimenting — first with his house music detour Honestly, Nevermind, and then with his jaw-smashing 21 Savage joint album Her Loss. To some degree, For All The Dogs represents a return to the star-studded, knowingly indulgent aesthetic of CLB, but Drake’s highly anticipated new album also offers a more diverse approach to that maximalism, from the raucous fun of “Rich Baby Daddy” with Sexyy Red and SZA to the haunted rhyming of “First Person Shooter” with J. Cole to the zonked-out crooning with “All the Parties” with Chief Keef. There’s a lot to dig into with For All The Dogs, the ultimate more-is-more declaration from Drake, upon first listen.
NewJeans, “GODS”
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If “GODS” sounds like quick-rising K-pop group NewJeans striking a particularly anthemic pose, that’s because the new single arrives as the official song of the League of Legends 2023 World Championship; it’s a pretty lofty platform for the collective considering that series’ track record of success, and “GODS” sounds like it will fit in just fine as another crossover hit. “Welcome to the big show / Next on the ladder / Is it your name in the rafters?,” Hyein sings over trap drums, in between an arena-sized chorus that aims to turn “GODS” into your new favorite jock jam.
Noah Kahan & Kacey Musgraves, “She Calls Me Back”
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After separately linking up with Zach Bryan in recent months — Kacey Musgraves on the Hot 100-topping duet “I Remember Everything,” Noah Kahan with the tender surprise collaboration “Sarah’s Place” — the two singer-songwriters have joined forces on their own with “She Calls Me Back,” a heartfelt slice of storytelling that gains its power in its brisk pace. Kahan’s voice adopts a jittery cadence in the back half of the opening verse as the guitar strums gain steam, and when Musgraves arrives with the line, “I’m running out of tears to cry,” the emotional heart of “She Calls Me Back” swells, then strides forward.
Tems, “Me & U”
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On her first solo music release since 2021, Tems looks upward instead of around at all of the success she’s achieved over the past few years, and addresses a higher power with devotion and purpose: “Give me one break, I need faith / Faith to believe you, faith to receive you,” she sings. “Me & U” relies on those intimate pleas, but also isn’t confined to a small scale — if anything, the single expands the Nigerian-based superstar’s collection of sensual dance music, capable of soundtracking a night out in addition to a request to the heavens.
Jennie, “You & Me”
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BLACKPINK’s Jennie has been previewing the solo track “You & Me” on the K-pop quartet’s stadium tour, so while its sleek pop contours may be familiar to fans across the globe, receiving the studio version of the single represents an exclamation point on another huge year for the collective and its supporters. The ping-ponging production envelops Jennie’s voice as she effortlessly navigates the different components of the track; it’s been years since Jennie’s last solo song, and her confidence has grown considerably since then.
Editor’s Pick: Sufjan Stevens, Javelin
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Some Sufjan Stevens fans solely want to hear the quiet, heartbreaking indie-folk of projects like Seven Swans and Carrie & Lowell; others want their minds blown with epic writing exercises like The Age of Adz and The Ascension. Javelin, Stevens’ towering new full-length, feels like a summation of both modes: songs like “So You Are Tired” and “A Running Start” are built around finger-picked elegance, but the greatest achievement here might be the eight-minute, devastating “S–t Talk,” as one of the greatest songwriters of his generation fully justifies widening his stance.
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
This week, *NSYNC sounds “Better” together, Ed Sheeran bundles up for fall, and Bad Bunny drops a hint of what’s to come. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
*NSYNC, “Better Place”
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“I’m already up, but you lift me higher,” Justin Timberlake sings in the opening seconds of “Better Place,” the first new song from *NSYNC in over 20 years. The quintet is singing about a euphoric relationship, but that line might as well be about the long-awaited boy band reunion: “Better Place,” which will be featured in Trolls Band Together, translates Timberlake’s solo success with his previous single entries from the Trolls films and raises the stakes, as *NSYNC shimmy through whistle hooks and “Yoo-hoo’s!” like they’ve been waiting for this day for a while (and they’re not alone in that).
Ed Sheeran, Autumn Variations
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Prior to releasing Autumn Variations, his second full-length of 2023, Ed Sheeran spent the year unveiling – (Subtract), an intimate and often devastating exploration of grief and fear, and performing at stadiums while often alone onstage. As he wraps up that mega-selling tour and waves goodbye to his “Mathematics” album series, Sheeran spins that moment of transition into Autumn Variations, a lovely and understated collection that puts his songwriting front and center; credit Aaron Dessner, who helped guide Sheeran’s previous album, for finding new ways to transport his voice into rustic, fall-friendly arrangements.
Bad Bunny, “Un Preview”
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After a record-breaking 2022, Bad Bunny’s studio output this year has been relatively limited, with a handful of solo tracks and collaborations — but perhaps new single “Un Preview” is exactly that of a potentially huge 2024? Regardless of its context within Bad Bunny’s greater discography, “Un Preview” crackles, with the superstar rapping with conviction over a reggaeton beat and deploying pinpoint melodies when necessary; had this been released in May, the single may have ruled the summer, but Bad Bunny has instead given us an enticing glimpse at next year’s output.
Jung Kook feat. Jack Harlow, “3D”
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“3D” will undoubtedly draw comparisons to Jung Kook’s “Seven” — considering that the previous single reached the top of the Hot 100 chart, and also featured a hip-hop collaborator — but whereas the Latto team-up leaned into pop immediacy, “3D,” with Jack Harlow, presents itself as a rhythmic dance track that would have sounded at home on Justin Timberlake’s Justified album. Jung Kook’s confidence as a solo star continues to grow, while Harlow rides the sleek production with tossed-off charm: “I’m on my Jung Kook,” he crows, “take a chick off one look!”
The Rolling Stones feat. Lady Gaga & Stevie Wonder, “Sweet Sounds of Heaven”
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A seven-minute hymn from The Rolling Stones, featuring a soul-baring performance from Mick Jagger, powerhouse vocals from Lady Gaga and keys from Stevie Wonder? “Sweet Sounds of Heaven” feels designed in a lab for some all-star awards show performance, but instead, the track from the Stones’ upcoming Hackney Diamonds album leaps out of the speakers with studio vibrancy, as all A-listers involved commit to climbing the mountain and don’t stop until the lighters-in-the-air finale; there’s a radio edit of “Sweet Sounds of Heaven,” but really, you gotta let the whole epic bowl you over.
PinkPantheress, “Mosquito”
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“Mosquito” demonstrates why, long before “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2” became an out-of-nowhere smash for PinkPantheress earlier this year, so many pop listeners had invested in the British 22-year-old: her latest single flaunts a natural gift for world-building and hook creation, engrossing the listener with rhetorical questions for a romantic partner before dropping the bomb, “’Cause I just had a dream I was dead / And I only cared ’cause I was taken from you.” Although PinkPantheress often works with songs that clock in at under two minutes, “Mosquito” is slightly longer, more well-rounded, and an absolute gem.
Editor’s Pick: U2, “Atomic City”
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U2’s launch of the Sphere, a groundbreaking new venue in Las Vegas, is as good of an occasion as any for the band’s best single in years: “Atomic City,” an ode to the veteran superstars’ longtime supporters, possesses a quickness and stomp-clap jangle that hits a delicious groove about halfway through, with the interplay between Bono’s warble and The Edge’s riffs sounding especially refreshed. Whether enjoyed within an enormous spherical structure or in your headphones, “Atomic City” marks a resounding return to form.
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, Doja Cat turns into a hip-hop titan, Zach Bryan has more tricks up his sleeve and Shakira keeps piling up the wins. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Doja Cat, Scarlet
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Not many music stars could release an album with five bonafide pop hits, follow that up by declaring a new rap-focused era, and find just as much artistic and commercial success — but that’s exactly what Doja Cat has achieved with Scarlet, a thrilling curveball that still complements her inherent skill set. Planet Her demonstrated that Doja could toss off fierce, funny rhymes in between pop hooks, and while Scarlet contains plenty of hummable melodies to follow the one on recent No. 1 single “Paint the Town Red,” the album’s primary triumph resides in Doja’s fully rendered verses, with boastful onomatopoeia (“Shutcho”), extended sex metaphors (“Gun”) whirlwind romance (“Agora Hills”) and deafening clapbacks (“F–k The Girls (FTG)”). Scarlet proves that Doja could reside among hip-hop’s elite for a long time — but that would presume she doesn’t create a whole new dazzling world on her next project.
Zach Bryan, Boys of Faith EP
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For those surprised that Zach Bryan’s self-titled album was only 16 songs long following last year’s 34-track epic American Heartbreak, Boys of Faith, a surprise EP released less than a month after the country superstar’s first chart-topper, helps even the scales a bit, while also boasting some more intriguing sounds and collaborations to add to Bryan’s repertoire. The immediate focus will be on the back-to-back guest spots from Noah Kahan (on the rolling, wistful “Sarah’s Place”) and Bon Iver (on the wrenching, fuzzed-out title track), but opener “Nine Ball,” on which Bryan recounts his complex feelings toward his father as he helps him win a billiards bet, highlights this rewarding addendum to a breakthrough project.
Shakira & Fuerza Regida, “El Jefe”
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“I feel like a cat with more than nine lives; whenever I think I can’t get any better, I suddenly get a second wind,” Shakira told Billboard during her recent cover story interview. Amidst a period of personal tumult and professional victories, Shakira sounds like she’s positioned herself to enjoy another smash with “El Jefe,” a collaboration with regional Mexican group Fuerza Regida that transports her unmistakable voice into their ever-expanding world while pushing the tempo as the guitar strums and bubbling horns gradually turn more urgent. “El Jefe” sounds like no other Shakira song before it, and turns truly exciting — that’s why she keeps getting better.
Blink-182, “One More Time”
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Blink-182’s 2023 reunion tour included plenty of arena and festival dates, even more scatological jokes from the stage and the jokey 2022 comeback single “Edging” joining the pop-punk vets’ collection of anthems; the live run also held some unexpected moments of reflection from the trio, who candidly spoke about Mark Hoppus’ 2021 cancer battle and how they were grateful to be back together. “One More Time” bottles that appreciation into a somber, genuinely moving three-and-a-half minute self-examination: as Hoppus and Tom DeLonge sing to each other, “I don’t want to act like there’s tomorrow / I don’t want to wait to do this one more time,” longtime fans will be wiping away tears, grateful that they didn’t.
Kylie Minogue, Tension
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Although “Padam Padam” represented a surprise comeback for Kylie Minogue — reaching international charts that the dance-pop veteran hadn’t graced in a decade, as well as becoming her first top 10 single in the 10-year history of the Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs chart in the U.S. — the reinvigoration of Minogue’s aesthetic that the hit single hinted at can now be heard in full on Tension, her most complete full-length since 2010’s Aphrodite. Minogue’s gift for airy, energetic pop music sounds more natural on songs like “Things We Do For Love,” “Green Light” and the title track than it has in years, as the Australian star mines simple pleasures in each track and then amplifies their impact.
Editor’s Pick: 070 Shake, “Black Dress”
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070 Shake is currently playing stadiums as an opening act on Coldplay’s current west coast run, and “Black Dress,” the daring hip-hop artist’s first single release of 2023, deserves an enormous venue: like 070 Shake herself, the song defies easy categorization — it combines a heavy guitar riff, swirling electronics and a “na-na-na” pop refrain — but the mixture rings out as massive. After 070 Shake enjoyed a surprise top 40 hit alongside Raye with “Escapism” earlier this year, let’s hope “Black Dress,” which precedes a forthcoming new album, receives a mainstream moment as well.
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 SZA join forces for slime time, Doja Cat gifts us one more preview of Scarlet, and Demi Lovato lets those guitar solos squeal. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Drake feat. SZA, “Slime You Out”
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“I’ma fall back and let SZA talk her s–t for a minute.” That’s how Drake concludes his opening verse on “Slime You Out,” a new high-wattage collaboration from his imminent new album For All The Dogs, and indeed, he’s made a wise decision ceding the floor: this atmospheric evisceration of fake lovers is dominated by SZA, who’s become one of the biggest names in music in the months since Drake’s last project, and sounds wholly engaged while crooning through a brush-off here. It helps that “Slime You Out” exists within the woozy, brutally honest R&B lane that SZA perfected on SOS, and instead of trying to compete with his co-star, Drake fires off a few capable similes before and after she highlights the track.
Doja Cat, “Balut”
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When Doja Cat showcased her Scarlet singles (“Attention,” “Paint the Town Red” and “Demons”) during a show-stopping medley at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards earlier this week, not only did anticipation for her Planet Her follow-up continue to heighten, but the performance also demonstrated to those who hadn’t been paying attention: Doja is one of the most exciting rappers alive. “Balut,” a more contemplative track from the imminent album, glides where her other recent songs slam on the gas, but her flow remains just as hypnotic — “Is it coke, is it crack, is it meth / What the f–k do she put in them hits?” she asks, her voice fluttering through every syllable with casual swagger.
Demi Lovato, Revamped
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Although Demi Lovato recruited some of rock music’s heavy hitters — Slash, The Used’s Bert McCracken and The Maine, among others — for a headbanging re-imagining of her pop hits, Revamped is led by Lovato’s own technical wizardry, as their vocal power is refracted through a different prism but sounds no less potent in the process. Songs like “Heart Attack,” “Cool for the Summer” and “Neon Lights” sound revitalized behind stinging guitar solos, while Lovato, whose underrated 2022 album Holy Fvck hinted at a rock makeover, giddily completes the transformation here.
Rod Wave, Nostalgia
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Nostalgia is Rod Wave’s fifth album in five years, and could potentially become his third straight Billboard 200 chart-topper — the Florida native has impressively expanded his fan base (an arena headlining tour kicks off next month) while remaining prolific with his heartfelt, ultra-melodic hip-hop. The follow-up to last year’s Beautiful Mind looks back on his journey (naturally, considering the album title) while also folding some unexpected voices into his emotive aesthetic, including indie-pop collective Wet and rising singer-songwriter Sadie Jean.
Diddy, The Love Album: Off the Grid
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Although the track list to Diddy’s long-awaited new project The Love Album: Off the Grid posits the hip-hop dynamo as something of a master of ceremonies — guests include Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, Summer Walker, 21 Savage, Herb Alpert, The-Dream and Swat Lee, and that’s just on the first half of the full-length — the man himself is far more than just a curator, as present within the futuristic R&B ideas of the album as he was on Diddy-Dirty Money’s landmark LP Last Train To Paris. In fact, the back half of the project, featuring stars ranging from Teyana Taylor to Coco Jones to Jeremih, illustrates just how adept Diddy remains at bridging gaps between a new generation of stars and his own.
Thirty Seconds To Mars, It’s The End of the World but It’s A Beautiful Day
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“Stuck” and “Seasons,” the two hits that preceded Thirty Seconds to Mars’ sixth studio album It’s The End of the World but It’s A Beautiful Day, suggested a tightening of the veteran rockers’ long-running aesthetic, which has sprawled out in the past but was sanded down to compact hooks and concise sentiments on those singles. Indeed, Jared and Shannon Leto’s latest effectively simplifies the band’s appeal for its strongest work in years: songs like “World on Fire” and “Midnight Prayer” boast intricate electro-rock foundations without ever getting lost in the details, and over 33 minutes, the band explores themes of heartbreak, isolation and personal evolution with brisk confidence.
Editor’s Pick: Mitski, The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We
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Whether or not you’re invested in the context of Mitski’s latest release — following last year’s widescreen triumph (yet critically polarizing) Laurel Hell, as well as a greater profile, label contract negotiations and retirement thoughts — The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We is all-out gorgeous, a studio masterclass that’s grounded in some of the most arresting arrangements of the singer-songwriter’s career. Mitski’s incisive lyricism will always be a calling card, but these 11 lush, organic songs are worth getting lost in before her words help guide the listener back home.
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 (July 28), Olivia Rodrigo shows listeners she’s got the Guts with her sophomore LP, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion team up again to recapture that old “WAP” magic, Tyler Childers and d4vd keep it brief and more.
Olivia Rodrigo, Guts
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There might not be a more anticipated sophomore LP released in 2023 than Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts, follow-up to her game-changing Sour release two years earlier. While the album was preceded by a pair of top 10 hits in the bloody ballad “Vampire” and the winking new-waver “Bad Idea Right?” Guts shows those songs to be just two of many new career highlights, including the shuffling, double-meaning pop-rock singalong “Get Him Back!” and the heartbroken (but responsibility-splitting) “Logical.” Read our list of every track ranked here, and look forward to spending a lot of time with these songs in your life over the rest of the year.
Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion, “Bongos”
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They made magic once before with the Hot 100-topping “WAP,” and now rap titans Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion have reunited for another club-killing collab with the appropriately hard-hitting “Bongos.” It’s another fun, frisky teamup with another colorful, choreo-heavy video — hopefully with less ridiculous controversy surrounding it this time — that should extend the summer for at least another week or two past labor day on its own. Make sure you stick around for Cardi’s late-song callback to Pitbull and Lil Jon’s underrated 2005 hit “Toma.”
Tyler Childers, Rustin’ in the Rain EP
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The timing could not be better for a full-length Tyler Childers release, coming off not only the good reception for his own Hot 100-debuting new single “In Your Love,” but the massive, chart-topping success of fellow Americana purveyors Zach Bryan and Oliver Anthony Music. You could maybe argue the true “full-length” qualifications of Rustin’ in the Rain — it’s seven tracks and 28 minutes, which is just barely out of EP territory — but what’s here should still be plenty to keep the singer-songwriter’s ever-growing fanbase satisfied, including “Love,” the rollicking title track, and a powerful cover of the Kris Kristofferson-penned country staple “Help Me Make It Through the Night.”
D4vd, The Lost Petals
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Teenage singer-songwriter D4vd became both a viral phenomenon and a Hot 100-charting artist in late 2022 and early 2023 with his gauzy breakthrough hits “Romantic Homicide” and “Here With Me.” With his two EP releases this year — the previously released Petals to Thorns and this week’s bonus follow-up Lost Petals — he’s showing that those singles were really just the beginning, with both his songwriting and his sonics continuing to develop at a rapid rate. Try the fragile, Joji-like piano balladry of “Poetic Vulgarity” from this one, or the Mac DeMarco-worthy wooziness of closing groover “Once More.”
Marshmello & Dove Cameron, “Other Boys”
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Shout out to Australian house duo Flight Facilities and singer-songwriter Giselle, whose sublimely longing 2010 collaboration “Crave You” was one of great understated pop gems of its era. Outside of the Land Down Under, the song was hardly a huge mainstream hit — but two artists evidently still familiar with its charms are DJ/producer Marshmello and breakout singer-songwriter Dove Cameron, who refashion the song’s chorus into the backbone of the hook to their new joint single “Other Boys.” There’s not a ton to the song once they get past the lift — at a scant 2:17, there’s not a whole lot of song here, period — but it’s a fun flashback for those of us still craving more floor-fillers like “Crave You.”
The Rolling Stones, “Angry”
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One of the greatest rock and roll bands of all time — and probably the longest-enduring — is back. Hackney Diamonds, due in late October, will be the Rolling Stones’ first album since 2016’s covers set Blue and Lonesome, and their first since the death of longtime drummer Charlie Watts. The LP is led by the ripping new single “Angry,” showcasing the group still in fine form sixty years after their debut album — and still plenty vital for the younger generation(s). Of course, it never hurts to have one of the biggest young actresses in your music video, as the Stones show with their casting of Euphoria and White Lotus star Sydney Sweeney in the “Angry” visual.