new music
In need of some new tunes from your favorite queer artists? We’re here to help. Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of Queer Jams of the Week, our roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ+ artists.
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See latest videos, charts and news
From Kehlani’s lovelorn new R&B track to Kevin Abstract’s confessional new collaboration, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:
Kehlani, “Folded”
Break ups don’t always have to be a hot mess. With her latest offering “Folded,” Kehlani isn’t aiming to put her ex on blast, but rather to extend them an olive branch. A breezy R&B melody helps the singer glide through this airy song of moving on after lost love, as she asks her lover if they can come pick up their clothes. “I have them folded,” she offers.
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Kevin Abstract & Dominic Fike, “Geezer”
We love it when a plan comes together, and seeing Brockhampton frontman Kevin Abstract reunite with his old friend Dominic Fike on their new duet “Geezer” feels like the best of plans. Over some indie guitars and a scattershot beat, the pair trade verses about finding their way to success, even when the people around them still feel stuck in the same place. It’s a tender take off Abstract’s upcoming new LP, and one that’s only bound to make you more hype to hear the whole thing.
Blondshell, “Diet Pepsi” (Addison Rae cover)
If you’re still jamming out to Addison Rae’s cult-favorite track “Diet Pepsi” from last year, then allow us to offer you a little bit more with a slightly different vibe. Indie star Blondshell takes Rae’s breakout alt-pop track and puts the emphasis back on the “alt,” as she translates the song into a shimmering alt-rock track that sounds like it could’ve come off her latest album. Add in Blondshell’s excellent live vocals, and you’ve got a killer cover on your hands.
Japanese Breakfast, “My Baby (Got Nothing At All)”
When it comes to soundtracking modern romance, there are few people more adept that Michelle Zauner. So it’s no wonder why A24 tapped the alt-rock star to pen her new Japanese Breakfast song “My Baby (Got Nothing At All)” for their new film Materialists. Throughout this sunny slow jam, Zauner takes some light shots at the gold-diggers of the world, opting instead for a tune about how little her lover has — and how special that makes their own connection in turn.
salute & Peter Xan, “Gbesoke”
The Yoruba word “gbesoke” roughly translates to “lift it up” in English — and after listening to salute’s latest collaboration with Peter Xan, you’ll understand why they chose to use that word as their title. With salute’s top-tier dance production working overtime alongside Xan’s alt-rock voice delivering commands to the listener, “Gbesoke” easily accomplishes its goal and will have you lifting it all up as you bounce along to this banger.
G Flip, “Big Ol’ Hammer”
What even is Pride Month without a big, campy, gay pop song to play? Thankfully, G Flip is here with just the right track for the occasion. “Big Ol’ Hammer,” the Australian star’s country-meets-synth-pop magnum opus, sees them embracing their butch side as they sing about a lover that makes the “feel like a man.” The music video only adds further context, with Flip dancing it out in a garage surrounded by fellow queers in coveralls as they declare that they’re hanging “in a tool belt, like a big ol’ hammer.”
Check out all of our picks below on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist:
CRT FRSH, Hip-Hop Wired’s playlist where we showcase music that we believe is “Certified Fresh,” is back with an all-new set of heat! With our latest update this week, we’re featuring some future legends and rising stars in the game from all over the map.
I want to explain how I approach curating the CRT FRSH playlist. Most importantly, I don’t segregate my Hip-Hop. Every form of music from the main cultural tree deserves a listen and a look. When I construct the playlist, I want to include all regions across the States and, when applicable, across the globe. I also want to entertain every fan of Hip-Hop, not just those who enjoy one segment of it. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get to it.
The CRT FRSH playlist is a labor of love. We don’t take payments, nor do we do favors. We only add joints to our playlist that fit the theme and vision we’re going for and don’t seek to waste the listener’s time. Further, we don’t stick to one lane of Hip-Hop. We believe that all aspects of the music should get some light, whether it’s young lions in the trenches or those hoping for that one shot to blow up to grizzled veterans puffing out their chests with lots more to say. — D.L. Chandler, Lead Curator, CRT FRSH
Welcome back to CRT FRSH, and I’m super excited for this week’s update. We open things up with “Welcome To The Carter” from Lil Wayne’s new album, Tha Carter VI (peep the review here). Benny The Butcher dropped off a seven-track EP, Excelsior, and the Black Soprano Family boss taps Styles P for the potent “Toxic” track.
We saw The Clipse tear down the stage at this year’s Roots Picnic, and the Brothers Thorton, Malice, and Pusha T are prepping a new album. Their new single, “Ace Trumpets,” is more of their usual lyrical precision. Ché Noir, who is prepping her latest release, The Color Chocolate 2, taps Detroit’s Elzhi for the booming “Who’s The Greatest?”
Coyote, the duo of Mexican-American rappers Ladies Love Guapo and Ricky Blanco, first appeared on our radar with their dope “Runnin’ All Fades” with Ab-Soul. They just dropped off their new album, yoteLAndia, and the track “Face Tatts” features Lefty Gunplay. The High & Mighty (Mr. Eon and DJ Mighty Mi) have been in the game for over 25 years, and they’re back with their new album, Sound Of Market. The track “The Rose Bowl” features the Yodfather himself, Your Old Droog, with production from The Alchemist.
Salute to Joyner Lucas, Boldy James, Nicholas Craven, GloRilla, T.F, Khrysis, SiR, GELO, 2 Eleven, Jay Rock, Ray Vaughn, KIIIA, Ab-Soul, Python P, Meek Mill, G Herbo, Planet Asia, Cozz, Flee Lord, ETO, Vel Nine, Smoke DZA, Dave East, Mike & Keys, and Jahzae Rose.
We’ll be updating this joint in two weeks. For now, rock with these records and let us know what you think in the comments or on our social media pages. The playlist can be found below.
For consideration to be included, email D.L. Chandler at: dchandler@bhmdigital.com.
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Photo: Barcielaphoto / Getty
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Gay-dies and gentle-thems, happy Pride! With the queerest season of the year officially upon us, what better way to celebrate than with some new bangers from your favorite queer artists? Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of Queer Jams of the Week, our roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ+ artists.
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See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
From Ethel Cain’s plaintive new single to Cynthia Erivo’s emotional new album, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:
Trending on Billboard
Ethel Cain, “Nettles”
After taking a brief detour with her droning EP Perverts, Ethel Cain is back to the task at hand with “Nettles,” the long-awaited first lead single off her forthcoming album, Willoughby Trucker, I’ll Always Love You. Taking fans back five years before the narrative of her critically-acclaimed LP Preacher’s Daughter, “Nettles” paints a gentle, melancholy of a young couple, deeply in love with one another for better or worse. The stunning country-blues production and Cain’s echoing, gorgeous vocal, makes “Nettles” yet another song in her growing discography you’ll keep going back for, picking out new details every time.
Cynthia Erivo, I Forgive You
After a career spent bringing others’ characters to life — whether it’s The Color Purple‘s Celie, Wicked’s Elphaba or dozens of others — Cynthia Erivo steps into herself with her stunning sophomore album I Forgive You. Over the course of 20 songs ranging from slinky R&B (early standout “Play the Woman”), touching adult contemporary, (“She Said”), or straight-up power ballads (“Worst of Me”), Erivo lets her voice do the work, showcasing her once-in-a-lifetime instrument at every given opportunity. As she told Billboard in our latest cover story: “People don’t know me as a musician in the way they’re getting to know me now.” So, get to know the real Cynthia Erivo with her lush new LP.
King Princess, “RIP KP”
What better way to kick off your Pride celebrations than with a capital-L Lesbian Anthem? King Princess returned with “RIP KP” this week, and she made sure that her first single back was a certified banger. Slinky guitars and a shuffling drum beat punctuate Mikaela Straus’ playful vocal, as the singer lists all the various ways the object of her affections can take her — “on the floor,” “up against the door,” you name it, KP is down. The title might suggest a passing on, but rest assured; King Princess is back and better than ever.
Big Thief, “Incomprehensible”
With their latest single “Incomprehensible,” Big Thief are touching on a universal theme — getting older — while still giving it enough specificity to make it feel like something brand new. Adrienne Lenker’s voice, in particular, cuts through this shimmering single, as she struggles with her own moratlity, and what that does to her identity. “And as silver as the rainbow scales that shimmer purple blue/ How can beauty that is living be anything but true?” she questions.
Scott Hoying, “PRAY”
How conversion therapy is still a legal practice in this country is beyond us — but Pentatonix’s Scott Hoying is here with a bit of a rebuttal to the folks claiming you can “pray the gay away.” On his infectious new gospel-tinged single “Pray,” Hoying sings (and believe us when we say that he sings) about his own experiences with the anti-LGBTQ+, before making it clear that the only thing we ought to be praying for is the courage to accept ourselves as we are.
Check out all of our picks below on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist:
It’s official! Pride Month is (basically) here, folks! To celebrate the occassion, why not add some new music from you favorite queer artists to your summer playlists? Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of Queer Jams of the Week, our roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ+ artists.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
From Miley Cyrus’ experimental new album to Girl in Red’s heartbreaking new single, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:
Miley Cyrus, Something Beautiful
Miley Cyrus has been through it since becoming part of the public discourse in her Hannah Montana days. But instead of simply trying to move past the tribulations she’s faced, the singer is ready to make art all about it. Something Beautiful, Cyrus’ oscillating, fluid new visual album, sees the star embracing her own story — warts and all — through scintillating pop-rock (“Easy Lover”), disco (“Every Girl You’ve Ever Loved”) and dance (“Reborn”). The throughline, as it has been on each of her albums, is Cyrus’ unwavering commitment to telling a captivating story through her own artistic medium.
Trending on Billboard
Girl in Red, “Hemingway”
During her Doing It Again tour in 2024, Girl in Red was in a dark place. Now, on her latest single “Hemingway,” the singer-songwriter is ready to give fans a glimpse of what she was going through. Over an entrancing melody, Marie Ulven sings about her struggle with addiction and depression with shocking honesty, before giving voice to the people in her life that helped pull her out of it. “You better give up this act you don’t know how to play/ And come back down before it’s too late,” she sings on the tearful chorus, once again showing fans what a stunning songwriter she really is.
Wet Leg, “CPR”
Sometimes there’s just that one voice in your head telling you that what you’re doing is maybe not the best idea. On Wet Leg’s slinky new track “CPR,” they tune that voice out and dive in head first to a relationship. Sure, Rhian Teasdale might be wondering aloud “is this love or suicide” over a bone-shaking bassline, but she makes her choice clear within the first line of the bombastic, excellent chorus: “Put your mouth to mine and give me CPR.”
Royal & the Serpent, “Euphoria”
Most people associate the phrase “euphoria” with the rush of sudden joy and pleasure — but Royal & the Serpent wants to access more than just that. With her new track of the same name, Ryan Santiago aims to “feel it all,” and proves as much with the track’s wide-ranging production. From tender, synth-assisted lows to explosive, beat-heavy highs, “Euphoria” feels, aptly, like an emotional rollercoaster. And much like those rides, you’ll be lining up to go on it again as soon as it’s over.
Kate Nash, “GERM”
The terf “TERF” has an elegant simplicity to it — it describes what it means literally (“trans-exclusionary radical feminist”), while also sounding like the simple put-down it is. Kate Nash would like to tweak the phrase just a little bit, though. On “GERM,” her experimental, spoken-word protest track, Nash looks to all the TERFs celebrating a UK court’s recent decision excluding trans women from the definition of “woman” and gives them a new name — “girl exclusionary regressive misogynists.” No, they are “not radical” or “rad at all,” Nash argues. They’re GERMs, trying to infect our public discourse with transphobic vitriol.
King Isis, “LATELY”
With their latest alt-pop anthem, rising singer-songwriter King Isis has had enough of the same routines. “Lately” sees the Oakland artist leaning into her own malleability, favoring change over stability on this angsty new single. Throw in some grungy guitars, a killer vocal performance and some smartly written lyrics, and you’ve got an excellent new track courtesy of King Isis.
Betty Who, “Sweat”
With Pride Month basically here, there’s no better time to find some songs to get you dancing this June. Naturally, Betty Who is here to deliver the goods on “Sweat,” her synthy pop anthem that’s practically built for your forthcoming Pride Month festivities. The driving beat keeps the pressure up, as Who’s voice reaches a new stratosphere, commanding you to get to the nearest dancefloor ASAP.
Check out all of our picks on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist below:
CRT FRSH, Hip-Hop Wired’s playlist where we showcase music that we believe is “Certified Fresh,” is back with the newness! With our latest update this week, we’re gonna focus on Joey BadA$$ and his feud with what seems like the entire West Coast before sharing new heat.
I want to explain how I approach curating the CRT FRSH playlist. Most importantly, I don’t segregate my Hip-Hop. Every form of music from the main cultural tree deserves a listen and a look. When I construct the playlist, I want to include all regions across the States and, when applicable, across the globe. I also want to entertain every fan of Hip-Hop, not just those who enjoy one segment of it. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get to it.
The CRT FRSH playlist is a labor of love. We don’t take payments, nor do we do favors. We only add joints to our playlist that fit the theme and vision we’re going for and don’t seek to waste the listener’s time. Further, we don’t stick to one lane of Hip-Hop. We believe that all aspects of the music should get some light, whether it’s young lions in the trenches or those hoping for that one shot to blow up to grizzled veterans puffing out their chests with lots more to say. — D.L. Chandler, Lead Curator, CRT FRSH
Like I said, I’m opening up this week’s update with all the joints I could find from Joey BadA$$, Ray Vaughn, Daylyt, and anyone else who hopped in the ring, including some of Badmon’s Pro Era team like CJ Fly. Not every song is on DSPs, so what we’ve amassed here is all we got unless folks can clear samples and production to get it up on streamers.
I’m not picking any sides in the battle. I’m just enjoying good rapping, and that it’s all being kept to recordings and not spilling into nonsense in real life. If rapping is a sport, then battling is one of the ways to show and prove one’s mettle. One super impressive thing is that in the back and forth between coasts, folks are working quickly and addressing bars head-on instead of ducking from any smoke.
If I missed a joint you feel like should’ve been added, let me know and I’ll adjust. This playlist is live for two weeks, so we’ll probably have plenty of time to update this. And, from what I’m hearing online, there are over 90 songs recorded by several artists since Joey took the first swipe at the West Coast on his Conductor Williams-produced track, “The Ruler’s Back.”
I’m not going to break down every joint. Instead, check out the collection of songs we did find, search out the rest online, and just enjoy the collection of new heat I tacked on at the end of the disses.
Salute to Joey BadA$$, Daylyt, Ray Vaughn, AZ Chike, REASON, CJ Fly, Kai Ca$h, Hitta J3, YG, Shoreline Mafia, IDK, Joey Valence, Brae, DRAM, Ellis Quinn, Chance The Rapper, Erick The Architect, Joyce Wrice, Smoke DZA, Dave East, Mike & Keys, Niontay, Sideshow, MAVI, Troy Ave, Boldy James, Your Boy Posca, Mike Shabb, CRIMEAPPLE, DJ Skizz, Estee Nack, ETO, Grafh, Benny The Butcher, NYC Rap Star, Ransom, Jay Electronica, Numbz, Larrin, Defcee, Paralell Thought, Lukah, Statik Selektah, Larry June, Cardo Got Wings.
We’ll be back with an update in two more weeks. Check out the CRT FRSH update below.
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Photo: Peter Carruthers / Getty
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Before you head off on your three day weekend, take a moment to add some new tracks to your playlista from your favorite queer artists. Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of Queer Jams of the Week, our roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ+ artists.
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See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
From Renee Rapp’s cheeky return to St. Vincent’s Spanish-language reimagination, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:
Reneé Rapp, “Leave Me Alone”
For every fan of Reneé Rapp’s that’s been asking, ad nauseum, “where’s the single,” the singer has a definitive answer — “leave me alone, b—h, I wanna have fun.” On this rollicking, tongue-in-cheek meta-commentary, Rapp gives her fans everything they could have asked for with her return. The lyrics are just as unhinged and provocative as the singer herself, the production adds some rock vibes to her established pop’n’b sound, and the vibes are simply, immaculate. We don’t predict anyone will be leaving
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St. Vincent & Mon Laferte, “Tiempos Violentos”
While St. Vincent has already shared a Spanish-language version of her standout track “Violent Times” from All Born Screaming, the singer-songwriter certainly hasn’t done so with rising singer-songwriter Mon Laferte. Now, “Tiempos Violentos” is given a new edge, as the pair trade lines in English and Spanish, while expanding the jazzy, dark track to a new, broader world of sound that fits both artists like a glove.
Cerrone & Christine and the Queens, “Catching Feelings”
It turns out when you take disco legend Cerrone and pace him with avant-pop chameleon Christine and the Queens, you get one of the most immediately enjoyable tracks of the year. On “Catching Feelings,” the pair lean into their strengths and create a guitar & drum-driven disco-pop track that will have you grooving along within moments.
Allison Goldfrapp, “Reverberotic”
Goldfrapp fans, wake up! We got a new banger from Allison herself! “Reverberotic,” the latest off the singer’s forthcoming new album Flux, sees Goldfrapp embracing synth-pop, trance and a touch of soul to make for one of her most unique-sounding tracks to date. “Reverberotic, wanna feel that again/ Vibrating light, a supernatural ascent,” she croons on the undulating chorus. “Reverberotic, all your dreams in the cloud/ Your sweet elixir is a part of me now.”
PINKNOISE, “Bittersweet”
It’s been a good week for rising heavy metal rocker PINKNOISE. Not only did the fast-rising artist (known off-stage as Kacey Foxx) sign with Nettwerk Music Group, but they decided to celebrate that fact with a new track. On “Bittersweet,” Foxx delivers the full range of their artistry, starting the song from a cool, quiet space before blowing up the premise and delivering a hard rock ballad that feels like it’s being powered by jet fuel. If you haven’t listened to PINKNOISE before today, let this be your official notice to go press play now.
Check out all of our picks below on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist:
Pride Month is only two weeks away, so now’s the best time to start packing your playlists with queer bangers. Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of Queer Jams of the Week, our roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ+ artists.
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See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
From Kesha’s latest banger to Arca’s glitchy new track, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:
Kesha, “BOY CRAZY.”
While fans have been thrilled to see Kesha looking back on her early-2010s stylings with her new songs, the pop star decided to turn her eyes to the future for her latest offering. Sure, “BOY CRAZY” takes a few of its cues from glittering 80s synth-pop, but the majority of the track plays like a revved up hyperpop anthem, as Kesha whets her appetite for the male form in this thrilling new track.
Trending on Billboard
Arca, “Puta”
Throughout her career, Arca has prided herself on zigging where people thought she might zag. With her double single release, Arca gives fans a song they can dance to with “Puta” — but it’s her second song “Sola” that shines brightest here. Over a scintillating beat and with a vocoder-assisted vocal, Arca lets herself strip some of the artifice away to show her own vulnerability. “I don’t want any more damage in love,” she sings in Spanish.
G Flip, “Disco Cowgirl”
What says “it’s summer” more than some ’80s synths and an anthemic vocal? Australian star G Flip is ready to ring in the season with “Disco Cowgirl,” their glittering new track dedicated to hot nights, messy relationships and good music. Along with providing some of the cleanest production of their career, “Disco Cowgirl” sounds like a vocal level up for G, as they deliver a full-blown belt of the song’s thesis in the final moments of the chorus: “Could’ve been my disco cowgirl/ But you rode off into the sunset without me.”
Frankie Grande, “Boys”
Turns out vocals run in the family! Frankie Grande debuted his latest single “Boys” on Friday (May 16), a club-ready pop track that sees the singer setting his sights on … well, you saw the title! Using his airy falsetto over a hard-hitting beat makes Grande’s new track an immediate contender for “That Song You Keep Hearing at Pride Festivals” in 2025.
Orla Gartland, Everybody Needs a Hero (Extended Edition)
Who doesn’t love a victory lap? After earning critical acclaim for her excellent 2024 album Everybody Needs a Hero, the Irish singer-songwriter is giving fans five bonus tracks on a new extended edition of the LP. Ranging from post-punk rage-outs (“Now What?”) or indie-rock kiss-offs (immediate standout “Pest” with Tommy Lefroy), the deluxe version of Hero gives Gartland’s fans just enough new mixed in with the vibe sound they’ve come to love.
Check out all of our picks on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist below:
In need of some new tunes from your favorite queer artists? We’ve got you covered — Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of Queer Jams of the Week, our roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ+ artists.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
From Miley Cyrus‘ emotional new song to Kali Uchis’ introspective new album, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:
Miley Cyrus, “More to Lose”
With Something Beautiful’s first two offerings (the title track and “End of the World”), Miley Cyrus gave fans two unique looks into her forthcoming new project. “More to Lose” continues that trend, stripping back the art-rock and glam-pop artifice of the album’s other singles to deliver a lofi, stripped-back ballad examining the memory of a lost love. The pop singer’s smooth alto voice glides effortlessly over lush instrumentation as she bids farewell to a bygone relationship: “I knew someday that one would have to choose,” she sings. “I just thought we had more to lose.”
Halsey & Amy Lee (of Evanescence), “Hand That Feeds”
Having already collaborated with Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for 2021, Halsey’s ready to take another spin around the block with a goth legend. On “Hand That Feeds,” featuring Evanescence’s lead vocalist Amy Lee, Halsey expertly blends her own pop stylings with the alternative metal that made her collaborator a star in the early 2000s.
Kali Uchis, Sincerely,
Kali Uchis has never been satisfied with fitting into just one lane. Sincerely, the singer’s latest album, takes yet another bold step in a new direction for the Latin star, as she explores soul, pop and even doo-wop (with a stunning bit of Amy Winehouse-esque flair on album stand out “All I Can Say”). It certainly doesn’t hurt that the unifying factor for all of Uchis’ projects — her flawless voice — continues to shine on this dreamy new album.
Maren Morris, Dreamsicle
“I was always too good for your a– anyway,” Maren Morris belts on “Too Good,” one of the immediate standouts off her vibrant new LP Dreamsicle. It also serves as something of a tone reset for an album that refuses to take itself too seriously; all throughout Dreamsicle, Morris explores a world post-divorce, as she dives back into one night stands (“Bed No Breakfast”), occasional meltdowns (“Cry in the Car”) and leaving the things behind that don’t serve her (“Lemonade”). Leaning hard into her pop sound, Morris has never sounded like she’s having more fun than on the sticky sweet Dreamsicle.
Snow Wife, “Sweat”
Need something to strut down the street to? Allow Snow Wife to assist with “Sweat,” her thrilling new Y2K pop jam. Blending together the stylings of Britney Spears with The Pussycat Dolls, the up-and-coming pop singer bounces her way through this sultry new song as she commands her listeners to dance along — and after your first listen, we’d be shocked if you managed to resist the call.
Jake Wesley Rogers, In the Key of Love
There’s a reason why Jake Wesley Rogers was heralded as a generational talent by none other than Sir Elton John. Take just one listen to his debut album In the Key of Love and you’ll hear that familiar brand of confessional, deeply personal songwriting filtered through a pop lens so inherently catchy that you cannot help but hit the replay button. Rogers’ commitment to blending pop and gospel sounds together into a harmonious new sound is a statement enough in and of itself — one that you won’t be able to forget after you’ve heard the words he’s singing on identity, spirituality and finding comfort in who you are.
Check out all of our picks below on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist:
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CRT FRSH, Hip-Hop Wired’s playlist where we showcase music that we believe is “Certified Fresh,” is back with the newness! With our latest update this week, we’ve added some songs you should know and other joints you need to know, so let’s get into it.
I want to explain how I approach curating the CRT FRSH playlist. Most importantly, I don’t segregate my Hip-Hop. Every form of music from the main cultural tree deserves a listen and a look. When I construct the playlist, I want to include all regions across the States and, when applicable, across the globe. I also want to entertain every fan of Hip-Hop, not just those who enjoy one segment of it. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get to it. — D.L. Chandler, lead curator for CRT FRSH
The CRT FRSH playlist is a labor of love. We don’t take payments, nor do we do favors. We only add joints to our playlist that fit the theme and vision we’re going for and don’t seek to waste the listener’s time. Further, we don’t stick to one lane of Hip-Hop. We believe that all aspects of the music should get some light, whether it’s young lions in the trenches or those hoping for that one shot to blow up to grizzled veterans puffing out their chests with lots more to say.
We open up this weekend’s playlist with Megan Thee Stallion’s bouncy single “Whenever,” released under the Houston Hottie’s full creative control. We follow that up with Westside Gunn’s “EGYPT” remix featuring a face-melting verse from Doechii.
Switching it up, we feature BigXThaPlug’s high-charting single “All The Way” featuring Bailey Zimmmerman, and the ultra-talented JID’s “WRK” single foll ows that track. Taking things down to Baton Rouge, we have “Shot Callin” from NBA YoungBoy, and then we hop over to New Orleans to check out La Reezy’s “Have Mercy” joint.
Salute to all of the acts that make up this CRT FRSH update: Flo Milli, T-Pain, Russ, Bas, The Hics, Ab-Soul, Saba No ID, MFnMelo, REASON, Cozz, Ray Vaughn, Defcee, Pararell Thought, Lil Tjay, 42 Dugg, Niontay, Swizz Beatz, Larry June, Conway The Machine, Sauce Walka, Benny The Butcher, Daringer, Skylarr Blatt, MIKE, Tony Seltzer, Sideshow, Valee, Harry Fraud, Curren$y, and Deante’ Hitchcock.
We’ll be back in two weeks with 20 new Certified Fresh songs. Stay tuned. Check out this week’s drop below.
To be considered for inclusion in the CRT FRSH playlist, please email playlist curator D.L. Chandler at: dchandler@bhmdigital.com
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Photo: AnnaStills / Getty
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Hip-Hop Wired’s May 2025 roundup of rising artists is packed with artists making noise across the country. From Columbus to Atlanta, here are the standout tracks you need to hear this month.
Saint Lamaar, a rising star from Columbus, Ohio, has finally released his highly anticipated track “Everybody.” Sampling Aaliyah’s classic “Are You That Somebody,” Saint Lamaar brings a modern twist to the iconic R&B hit, infusing it with his unique style and energy.
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chichi and Seddy Hendrix have teamed up for the fiery collaboration “UNDERDGS.” Seddy Hendrix delivers an exceptional performance, showcasing his lyrical prowess and solidifying his place in the spotlight.
Hailing from Atlanta, Jiah has dropped her latest single “TRUSS.” With its catchy melody and infectious hook, the track has quickly become a favorite, leaving listeners unable to get it out of their heads.(Black America Web)
These artists are among the rising talents Hip-Hop Wired is highlighting in the month of May. With their innovative sounds and captivating performances, they are set to make a significant impact on the hip-hop scene this year.
For the full list of artists to keep an eye on, check out Hip-Hop Wired’s feature.
1. Zaytoven’s son, Zayskii
2. Jiah drops “TRUSS”
3. Saint Lamaar – “EVERYBODY”
4. Fat Money “CincoDeToven” Out Now
5. sectiontoo
6. chichi x Seddy Hendrix
7. Flippa T
8. Montana 700
9. Mir Fontane
10. Mo Money