Music

With the back-to-back frenzy of Grammy Week and Super Bowl LIX officially at our doorsteps, all eyes are on Kendrick Lamar as he uses the two marquee events to segue into his forthcoming North American stadium tour. Last week (Jan. 23), the Compton rapper and Apple Music released a new teaser for his upcoming halftime performance; the clip found SZA, his Grand National tourmate, playfully dumping a container of blue Gatorade on Lamar, confirming her guest appearance during his Super Bowl set.

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Lamar, of course, KO’d Drake in last year’s seismic rap battle — and 2025 already has some sparring of its own. On Can’t Rush Greatness (Jan. 24), his long-awaited debut album, UK rapper Central Cee threw some shots at fellow British MC Aitch, spitting, “I felt like a p—k when I went to the BRITs and they gave the award to a guy called Aitch/ I had my acceptance speech prepared like, ‘Long live F’s,’ I’m goin’ insane.” Mere hours later, Aitch responded with a tract titled “A Guy Called?”; “Little boy is just there to be spun, gettin’ mad at the BRITs, there’s bare to be won,” the Manchester-based rapper snarled. Time will tell if the Cench-Aitch battle can hold a candle to the Kendrick-Drake one.

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In heavier news, the hip-hop community also spent the weekend mourning the losses of journalist and screenwriter Barry Michael Cooper and DJ Unk, the iconic voice behind Billboard Hot 100 hits like “Walk It Out” (No. 10).

With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from Youssoupha’s rousing call to action to BigXThaPlug and Jessie Murph’s new cross-genre duet. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.

Freshest Find: Youssoupha, “Prose Combat”

As anxiety sweeps the U.S. — and as protests sweep the rest of the world — in the wake of a new American presidential administration, artists are continuing to use their music to speak truth to power. Across “Prose Combat,” a stunning lyrical exercise taken from Amour Supreme, his eighth studio LP, French rapper Youssoupha calls for liberation for oppressed people across the world, from Rwanda to Mali. “Besoin d’une vraie solution ou d’une révolution pour renverser le royaume de Macron/ Besoin de voir l’Afrique jamais résignée, qu’elle arrête de croire que Poutine est plus stylé,” he spits over Akatché & A2B’s gritty production, demanding the dissolution of invisible colonial empires before voicing his support for the Palestinian people at the end of the first verse. “Besoin de grandes gueules quand personne ne dit rien, besoin d’une terre pour l’État Palestinien/ Besoin d’éviter de gros scandales, toute ma vie, j’suis fatigué du prose combat, mais voilà.” — KYLE DENIS

Central Cee & Lil Durk, “Truth in the Lies”

Central Cee’s Can’t Rush Greatness album already gives the U.K. rhymer an early rap album of the year candidate. Cench and Durk connecting has been years in the making and the intercontinental duo didn’t disappoint. “Truth in the Lies” finds Cench and Smurk getting honest about their hesitancies about love in the spotlight over Ne-Yo’s “So Sick.” Central Cee details women switching up on him unless he’s supporting them financially while Durk lives by the famous “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” adage. — MICHAEL SAPONARA

BigXthaPlug feat. Jessie Murph, “Holy Ground”

Dallas rapper BigXthaPlug just dropped the deluxe edition of Take Care featuring several new tracks, including the Jessie Murph-assisted “Holy Ground.” An anthem of resilience and self-empowerment, “Holy Ground” finds the two stars acknowledging life’s struggles while maintaining their pride and strength. Murph’s emotive chorus conveys how hardships become a part of us, with the “smoking gun” symbolizing the unavoidable challenges that shape our lives. BigXthaPlug’s verse reflects on the harsh realities of success — from betrayal to unmet expectations — while reinforcing that loyalty and hard work are the true measures of success. — CHRISTOPHER CLAXTON

Aqyila, “Focus”

Rising Canadian R&B artist Aqyila has been making steady waves for years with tracks like 2023’s JUNO Award-winning “Hello,” and she’s looking to maintain that momentum in 2025. Co-written with Sam Hook and produced by Monro, “Focus” finds Aqyila seductively cooing over a sultry uptempo R&B track that employs dancehall-adjacent synths and Afrobeats-nodding drum patterns. “I need you to focus, give me all your attention/ The slippery slope is when I get your attention,” she croons in the hook, sightly dipping into a bit of a staccato delivery that contrasts nicely with her airy, languid riffs in the pre-chorus. It’s the modulation in the final chorus, however, that really highlights how precise Aqyila’s vocal acrobatics are in the uppermost reaches of her voice. — K.D.

Jordan Adetunji & Bryson Tiller, “305”

“Kehlani” was just the tip of the iceberg for Jordan Adetunji, who showcases his range of flows and a blend of Jersey club, R&B and rap sounds throughout his A Jaguar’s Dream debut project. From Belfast to Miami, Adetunji and Bryson Tiller indulge in everything Vice City has to offer. “305” meshes moody R&B that The Weeknd would lend his croon to with an uptempo electronic twist that would make anyone floor the gas pedal cruising along Ocean Drive. — M.S.

Kacy Hill & 6LACK, “Time’s Up”

Kacy Hill joined forces with 6LACK on “Time’s Up”, a track she initially penned in 2019 and later brought to life by sliding into his DMs. Co-written with Ryan Beatty and produced by Jim-E Stack, the song explores the beauty of taking time in a relationship, valuing the moments spent together. The chorus, with its repeated theme of “takin’ my time,” emphasizes the intention to savor the connection and let things unfold naturally. 6LACK’s verse contrasts the natural high of love with the chaos in his life, touching on the complexities and vulnerabilities of intimacy. Kacy Hill’s verses highlight the clarity and joy the relationship brings, with everything else fading away in their shared moments. “Time’s Up” captures a peaceful contentment, reminding us of the importance of being present and truly appreciating those we care about. — C.C.

1900Rugrat & Kodak Black, “One Take Freestyle (Remix)”

1900Rugrat made some noise in Florida with his “U.O.E.N.O.”-sampling “One Take Freestyle” last year, and the burgeoning rapper is carrying his winning streak into 2025. Kodak Black took notice of Rugrat’s movement and hopped on the official remix for his fellow Sunshine State native. Yak tackles growing from his past, “I admit, I said a lot of dumbass shit when I was a youngin” and pushes back against colorist allegations. “I’m the one, lil’ b—h said I’m a colorist, how the f–k, b—h? I love my mother,” he snarls. — M.S.

Naïka, “Layers”

Naïka refuses to be boxed in. The French-Haitian singer grapples with her identity issues and the labels society continued to throw at her growing up on the soothing “Layers.” She cathartically flips the angst into a gentle guitar ballad while encouraging listeners to celebrate the beauty naturally within themselves. “I hate the boxes, they suffocate me,” she sings. “Baby, all these layers keep me warm and make me me.” — M.S.

Charlie Bereal, “Some People”

Charlie Bereal opens “Some People” with this ethereal chant: “Communicate/ Make a friend/ Teach someone/ Share with them/ Get together/ Start your own/ Build together/ Make it better.” More than a hook that perfectly complements his and Josef Liemberg’s lush, sweeping and soulful soundscape, it’s a much-needed reminder of what we can do on an interpersonal level to make the world an easier place to exist within. With a buttery falsetto that exudes the same warmth his lyrics exalt, Charlie Bereal emerges from his latest LP, Walk With the Father, as one of contemporary soul’s most exciting new artists. — K.D.

Abir, “Butterflies”

The hiatus is over, Abir returns with her first single in four years with the intoxicating “Butterflies” — and she’s back in her R&B bag. The L.A.-based Moroccan singer makes her sweet escape as a fluttery Abir serenades a certain lover who completes her existence. “You’re supplying me with what I need to push the clouds away/ Even a knife is like a sunny day,” she admits while showcasing her mellifluous vocal range. — M.S.