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Did anything else happen in the past week besides the premiere of Beyoncé‘s Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé? The music icon’s latest concert documentary vogued to the top of the weekend box office with $21 million — the biggest opening for a film on this historically sleepy first weekend in December in 20 years. With a pair of star-studded (Taylor Swift! Lupita Nyong’o!) premieres in Los Angeles and London, Queen Bey dominated all things music last week.
Nonetheless, the hip-hop and R&B worlds had plenty happening outside of the Renaissance rush. Debates around who belongs on the “mixtape Mount Rushmore” dominated social media, while other conversations continue to deal with the barrage of high-profile lawsuits filed under New York State’s recently-expired Adult Survivors Act.
On the music side, Sexyy Red repackaged her breakout Hood Hottest Princess tape with a tracklist that doubled the size of the original, Lil Wayne joined forces with Shabba Ranks and Buju Banton for the lead single for the forthcoming Book of Clarence soundtrack and Usher commemorated the close of his Las Vegas residency with his appearance on the remix of Jung Kook‘s “Standing Next to You.”
With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop. Get into these seven new picks and be sure to check out the rest of our recs in the Spotify playlist below.
Freshest Find: Antha Pantha feat. A$AP Ferg, “Catwalk”
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Harlem native Antha Pantha unleashed her debut album, Feline Season, last week, with guest appearances from A$AP Ferg (twice!) and HuntDawgg. Ferg lent his talents to the album’s second track, “Catwalk,” an electric tribute to the late ’90s New York hip-hop. He interpolates DMX‘s iconic “meet me outside” chant from “Party Up,” and uses it to evoke the brash energy of the late rapper and his era of high-octane party-rocking crossover hip-hop hits. Antha Pantha skates across the track with the flirtatious charisma of classic-era Lil Kim, always tempered by her own comedic idiosyncrasies in her lyricism and tone. New York’s female rappers just keep on winning.
Beyoncé, “My House”
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Would it be a Beyoncé film event if we didn’t get a new song? Just like the Queen’s winning cover of Frankie Beverly & Maze’s “Before I Let Go” accompanied her Homecoming documentary, “My House” arrives as Beyoncé’s bonus treat for the Renaissance doc. Equal parts marching band-infused dirty South trap and ballroom-ready house, “My House” is Beyoncé’s signature (and somewhat literal) take on house music. Between her animated vocal delivery and those ridiculously lush vocal stacks, the track is unmistakably Beyoncé despite featuring the singer at arguably her most experimental.
BigXthaPlug, “Back on My BS”
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On Friday (Dec. 1), BigXthaPlug capped off his banner year with the release of a new EP titled The Biggest. “Back On My BS” opens the project with a swaggering combination of jazz brass and skittering bass. “The one who put all this together/ They gave me somethin’ good and I made that s–t better/ Turnt up the notch, my watch changed up the weather/ I’m bigger and better, shit bigger than ever,” he spits on the single-verse track. Between his charismatic cadence and Tony Coles’ smooth beat, “Back on My BS” is a knockout opening track.
Dee-1, “Lines Drawn”
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Hip Hop 50 has been wracked with conversation regarding the current scope of the genre’s messaging, the state of hip-hop culture at large and the alleged precariousness of its current position in the music industry. Dee-1, a NOLA rapper, has been vocal about his opposition to the redundancy of mainstream contemporary rap and its glorification of violence. On his new track “Lines Drawn,” which will is presently exclusively available on Audiomack, Dee-1 demands more from both consumers and creators in hip-hop: “I said that glorifying murder in our music is bad/ Now people saying ‘Stop speaking up, we like to hear that!’/ If that’s your preference, that’s cool, but when you get on the defense/ That lemme know my spirit irritatin’ your demons,” he spits over a chugging trap-infused instrumental.
Flo Milli, “Never Lose Me”
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The Alabmama rapper’s long-gestating “Never Lose Me” is finally here — and it was, in fact, worth the wait. A snippet of this song went viral on TikTok, amassing over 100,000 posts in just under two months. The new track, and latest taste of her forthcoming Fine Ho, Stay album, finds Flo delivering smooth, sultry bars over a sample of Babyface Ray & 42 Dugg‘s “Ron Artest.” “Yeah, he my man, he was never your type/ If you try me, ho, it’s on sight/ He totin’ the Uzi, but he actin’ real bougie/ I like to fight over d–k, ho, don’t get hit with the two-piece,” she spits over the synthy instrumental, using her sweet tone as a Trojan horse for hard-hitting barbs.
Tyla, “Truth or Dare”
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As the newly Grammy-nominated South African breakout star continues to rides the waves of “Water” to new commercial heights around the world, she’s already racing to her forthcoming eponymous debut studio album. She released three strong new tracks last week (Dec. 1), including the sensual standout “Truth or Dare.” On the mellow new Afropop-infused track, Tyla employs a staccato delivery in the verses to glean the truth from a lover who got away, ultimately delivering subtle riffs and ear-candy harmonies in the chorus. “Truth or dare? Is it true you care?/ Now that you can see the love from everyone,” she croons.
Hillari, “Blind Then”
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Backed by mournful acoustic guitar, rising Filipina-Norwegian artist Hillari spends “Blind Then” parsing the difficulties of prioritizing music over certain relationships in her life. “Wish I would’ve noticed I was/ Blind then, silenced/ But I never noticed you was/ Right there, beside me,” she sings. It’s a simple arrangement — mostly reliant on a soulful collage of guitar and drums — but it’s Hillari’s weighty voice that illuminates that simplicity. Each quiver of her vibrato rings with the doubt, frustration and yearning she describes in her lyrics.
Thanksgiving week is historically a pretty slow week for new music, but that didn’t stop the hip-hop and R&B worlds from chugging through the rest of the calendar year. On Sunday night (Nov. 26), Keke Palmer hosted an intimate edition of the Soul Train Music Awards featuring performances by Muni Long, Dante Bowe, legend award winner T-Pain, Spirit of Soul award winner Janelle Monáe, SWV and Keke herself. SZA was the night’s biggest victor with four wins, including album of the year for her nine-time Grammy-nominated SOS, and fellow 2023 Grammy nominees Victoria Monét (two) and Coco Jones (one) also took home some hardware.
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Even as the Thanksgiving weekend forced everyone to prioritize leisure, a bevy of artists seized the opportunity to unleash some new music upon the world. With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from Coco Jones’ aptly-tiled new Christmas anthem to Senth’s shape-shifting amalgam of Afrobeats and R&B.
Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
Freshest Find: Senth, “Bend It”
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Placed directly in the middle of Senth’s Wayyy Saucy EP — his first body of work this year — “Bend It” achieves peak sensuality with a tantalizing mixture of booming brass, pounding drums, and a lead vocal that morphs from whispery mumble to impassioned exclamations of sexual tension. Between notes of house, soul, hip-hop, and a rhythm that pulls from both Afrobeats and dancehall, “Bend It” traverses the musical multitudes of the Black diaspora with startling ease.
Otis Kane, “Closer”
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Steeped in the same reverence for the warmth of soulful old-school R&B that permeated 2023 records from the likes of October London and Lucky Daye, Otis Kane’s “Closer” channels the steady grooves of Marvin Gaye for a tender ode to the never-ending process of growing closer to your lover. There’s a levity to “Closer” that immediately separates it from the murkier contemporary R&B scenes; Kane’s slight rasp adds some dimension to his vocal performance, but it’s the way he floats over the instrumental that truly encapsulates the track’s dynamism.
Luh Tyler, “Change My Wayz”
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A year removed from the viral success of “Law & Order,” Florida rapper Luh Tyler takes a moment to reflect on his whirlwind rise with the introspective “Change My Wayz” — from his growth in relationship to his transition to real chains and jewelry. Unlike some of his most popular tracks, “Change My Wayz” does not rely on a quirky sample or a familiar hook-reliant song structure. Instead, Luh Tyler delivers a singular stream-of-consciousness verse over a mellow CashCache-produced beat. “Know I got to stay on ten, I got to keep my head on/ She mad cause I done fucked her friend, she like, ‘You know you dеad wrong’/ Damn, I gotta change my ways,” he spits.
Tink, “40x”
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Tink has helped shape the sound of R&B for close to a decade now, and her new single “40x” offers yet another dose of morose, guitar-inflected balladry. “Real bitches can’t be bought/ So tired of being strong/ Someone come keep me soft,” she croons. By the time she reaches the chorus, Tink has attached the “40” quantifier to everything from the number of nights since she’s cried to the amount of lies her ex-lover told her. Here, Tink balances her lyrical focus on the “blues” part of R&B with a melodic cadence that brings her closer to contemporary hip-hop while still showcasing the different shades and capabilities of her voice.
Adam Blackstone & Boyz II Men, “Greatest Gift”
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Mere weeks after adding two more Grammy nominations to his belt, Emmy-winning music director Adam Blackstone has gifted fans A Legacy Christmas, his first holiday album and second solo LP. Of the project’s 11 tracks, Blackstone’s collaboration with iconic R&B vocal group Boyz II Men was the instant standout. In characteristically pitch-perfect fashion, the trio delivers their trademark ear-melting harmonies with all of the wide-eyed earnestness that holiday music requires. Blackstone’s twinkling jazz-rooted arrangement offers the group a playground of pockets to play around with, making for a winning original Christmas collaboration in a year filled with them.
Coco Jones, “A Timeless Christmas”
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Coco Jones’ recent momentum is borderline unstoppable. As if securing five Grammy nominations and a Soul Train Music Award victory for best new artist wasn’t enough, the “ICU” singer also dropped off a terrific new original Christmas song, aptly titled “A Timeless Christmas.” Co-written with Tiyon “TC” Mack, the new holiday tune smartly employs Jones’ rich voice over lyrics that paint a gorgeous winter pastoral. “There’s laughter in our hearts, a special kind/ Sharing love and kindness in every rhyme/ Every rhyme/ We gather ’round with friends by our side/ And feel all the magic in the sky/ In the sky,” she coos. Complete with chugging percussion that offers a sleek sonic contrast to the background strings and jingle bells, “A Timeless Christmas” is yet another home run for Coco Jones.
We are officially in awards season, folks! On Sunday night (Nov. 19), Billboard announced the winners of the 2023 Billboard Music Awards, with Beyoncé, Drake, The Weeknd, SZA, 21 Savage, Nicki Minaj and Metro Boomin reigning victorious in the rap and R&B categories. The 2023 Soul Train Music Awards were also taped last night; Keke Palmer will host the R&B-centric awards ceremony, which is set to air on Sunday, Nov. 26, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and BET Her. SZA, Summer Walker and Usher lead the nominations with nine nods each.
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In the midst of all of the celebratory extravaganzas, New Music Friday (Nov. 17) proceeded with business as usual, dumping a plethora of new tracks to listen to over the holiday break. With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from ScarLip’s fast-rising new hit to Inayah’s tender, Fantasia-nodding R&B jam.
Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
Freshest Find: Inayah, “For The Streets”
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Since its release back in 2007, Fantasia’s “When I See U” has become a certified R&B classic — the kind of song everyone covers for fun but no one would dare try to truly make their own. Enter Inayah, a rising R&B star who flips an interpolation of the song’s lyrics and instrumental into a no-holds-barred takedown of ain’t s–t men. “I had your picture on my mirror/ I took that s–t down/ Finally see that you been a clown/ Been holding us down while you f–king ’round,” she opens the song. Inayah smartly delivers each line with a sneaky wink, nodding to the sublime amalgam of the unmistakably iconic aura of Fantasia’s original and the tongue-in-cheek gems of truths sprinkled throughout her own track.
41 & Jenn Carter, “Problems”
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One of the new tracks from 41’s “11-track EP” 41 World: Not the Album, “Problems” is a Jenn Carter solo cut that is yet another reminder that she’s one of the most captivating voices coming out of the Brooklyn drill scene right now. The Touchamill-produced tracks find her getting a bit introspective as she waxes poetic about a relationship in turmoil. Sonically in a lane most similar to the most lovelorn snap-laden ballads of A Boogie wit da Hoodie and Lil Tjay, “Problems” proves just how versatile Jenn is. “Takin’ all my еnergy, tryna’ keep you next to me / Wе been through the worst, but I know you want the best for me/ Why you keep on testing me?/ Like, you know these bitches texting me?” she spits.
Jay Rock feat. Bongo ByTheWay, “Still That Way”
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It’s been five years since Redemption, but Jay Rock has been making up for the lengthy wait between studio albums with a steady stream of new music this year. His latest offering is the Bongo ByTheWay-helmed “Still That Way,” a booming anthem that treads the familiar ground of celebrating success while still maintaining the grounding and authenticity of your roots. Triumphant brass and skittering hi-hats provide most of the instrumental’s background while Jay Rock’s commanding voice supplies the momentum.
ScarLip, “Blick”
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Since becoming one of this year’s biggest new stars with her rousing late-summer anthem “This Is New York.” ScarLip has maintained a consistent musical and online presence. Last week (Nov. 15), the Bronx rapper unleashed “Blick,” her catchy new single that combines the raw intensity of her DMX-nodding breakout hit with the dance-facing rhythmic qualities of Jersey club-inflected drill. Already soundtracking a TikTok dance challenge, “Blick” is looking to become a sizable hit — one that smartly reveals the different shades of her artistic ethos.
Mannywellz, “Be Alright”
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Appearing on his new Mr. Oúlala EP, Mannywellz’s “Be Alright” is a no-frills guitar ballad heralding peace and security in the knowledge that everything will eventually work out as it needs to. With a sweeping melody to add some weight to the simple lyrics in the chorus (“It’s gonna be alright”), Manny relies on the warmth of his tone and the idiosyncrasies of his enunciation and phrasing to add some dynamics to the song.
Terrace Martin & Gallant, “Tandem”
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In this subtly funky slow jam, Terrace and Gallant use an extended metaphor of a tandem bike to croon about how they and their respective lovers fit perfectly together. “We’re in tandem like bikes, why don’t you take a seat?/ You’ll be riding all night, I’ll be rocking in sync/ We might fuss, we may fight, never lose chemistry/ We’re in tandem like bikes, why don’t you take a seat?” Gallant sings. Terrace’s lush production, which features notes of funk and doo-wop, provides a sensual backdrop for Gallant’s come-hither coos, but it’s the restraint in his vocal performance that’s most impressive.
No Guidnce, “Long Walk”
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Rising British R&B boy group No Guidnce continues their ascension with a reflective new cut titled “Long Walk.” Sitting on the opposite end of the hip-hop-inflected R&B spectrum from “Spicy,” the quarter opts for a soulful drum-heavy beat courtesy of Ben Billions and Terrence Rolle. It’s a simple story about meeting someone new for the first time, but the contrast of the chugging drums with their yearning harmonies makes for a particularly immersive listening experience.
“I hate to stop the show like this again,” Monaleo quipped in frustrated jest. “But I’m bout to go slap the s–t out the sound guy!” During the sold-out New York stop on her Monaleo Like Monalisa Tour, the 22-year-old Houston rapper conquered severe technical difficulties — she was forced to stop her show and […]
Nothing stops New Music Friday — not even Grammy nominations.
Although 2023 MVPs like Ice Spice, 21 Savage, Drake and Nicki Minaj racked up the rap field nominations for the upcoming 66th annual Grammy Awards, last Friday (Nov. 10) offered a litany of music beyond those four 2023 Billboard Music Awards finalists. Last week saw new albums from the likes of Brandy, YoungBoy Never Broke Again and Kodak Black, but those weren’t the only notable releases to update your weekly playlists with.
With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from BADBADNOTGOOD’s gorgeous rework of an Elmiene standout to BJ the Chicago Kid and Chloe Bailey’s sultry, synthy link-up.
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Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
Freshest Find: Sinkane feat. Tru Osborne, “Everything is Everything”
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For his first new song since 2019’s Dépaysé album, Sudanese-American singer Sinkane chose to ground his lyrics in the harsh realities of the Black living experience. Written and composed by bandleader Ahmed Gallab with vocal contributions from Harlem-bred artist Tru Osborne, “Everything Is Everything” is an amalgam of free jazz, Sudanese pop, gospel, funk and rock. A hearty choir provides a strong anchor for the arrangement, while Sinkane and Tru’s harmonies add splotches of color throughout the track. “The tides of change / Serve great purpose in our every day / My people, we will find our way,” Sinkane sings, with a hopefulness that consistently permeates the darker truths that the song explores.
Elmiene, “Marking My Time (BABDBADNOTGOOD Edit)”
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Elmiene dropped off his debut major label EP, Marking My Time, last month, and to continue his promotion of the project, he’s released a reworked version of the title track, helmed by Canadian experimental jazz collective BADBADNOTGOOD. Here, the group reimagines Elmiene’s original with heavy splashes of R&B and psychedelic, specifically of the ’70s persuasion. Elmiene’s vocal is predicated on allegiance to subtle dynamism, and it’s that steady build that grounds the winning remix.
Rick Ross, Meek Mill & Cool & Dre feat. BEAM, “Go To Hell”
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Hip-hop heavyweights Rick Ross and Meek Mill unleashed their highly anticipated Too Good To Be True joint album last week (Nov. 10), and this collaboration with BEAM and Cool & Dre is an immediate standout. Heavily nodding to Tears for Fear’s “Shout,” “Go To Hell” finds the two rappers deep in their braggadocio as they trade bars about their wealth, their escapes from the feds, and how much status and clout they have in whatever room they choose to walk into. “Bitch boys run to social media / Rich n—a, name in Wikipedia / If I f–k her once, she wanna f–k me twice / All the real n—as clique up, let’s get rich tonight,” Rozay raps.
Kevin Gates feat. B.G. & Sexyy Red, “Yonce Freestyle”
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In a way, Kevin Gates and Sexyy Red are perfect foils: two devil-may-care rappers who are unafraid to embody and celebrate the grimiest parts of sex and sexuality, with a healthy dash of humor to add some levity to the whole affair. On “Yonce Freestyle,” the pair’s new collaboration which also features NOLA rapper B.G., the two maximize their similarities — even if the end result is a bit tamer than what some may expect. “Yonce Freestyle” is a well-crafted club banger, with a murky Southern hip-hop beat courtesy of ProdByJM, EJ Grimes and Juko, and a perfect laid-back ratchet tone from Sexyy.
BJ the Chicago Kid feat. Chlöe, “Honey”
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BJ the Chicago Kid also released an album last week (Gravy), and that project featured loads of collaborations for R&B lovers. Among those impressive duets is the Chloe Bailey-assisted “Honey.” Landing squarely in the disco-tinged pop that has dominated mainstream top 40 for most of the young decade, BJ and Chlöe deliver a sexy, synth-laden collaboration that balances come-hither euphemisms with some outstanding harmonic choices. Between a surprisingly smooth vocal blend and a bright, clean mix, this just might be Chlöe’s best release of the year.
Ben Hughes, “What Was It For?”
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For the opening track of his forthcoming Manha EP, UK musician Ben Hughes opts for a breezy guitar and drum-forward groove. “What Was It For” fits nicely in the landscape of contemporary British R&B, and Hughes’ careful vocal approach works alongside the instrumentation instead of towering over it. It’s a very soft and lush number — an air that offers a smart counterbalance to the melodrama of the lyrics. “Bring me peace / And heal my wounds / I’m bleeding out / Just for you,” he croons.
As we await both the fate of Kanye West’s long-teased comeback and Friday’s Grammy nominations announcement, the biggest names and fastest-rising stars across hip-hop and R&B have maintained a steady stream of new music for our listening pleasure. As per usual, last Friday (Nov. 3) flooded DSPs with a host of new tracks — including some fun takes on contemporary holiday music — to usher us into the final two months of the calendar year.
With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from Destin Conrad and Masego’s blistering duet to Azealia Banks’ long-teased drill anthem. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
Freshest Find: Rapsody, “Asteroids”
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“My insecurity is the fear of being rejected / When you this raw they listen with an erection / Niggas pull the Drac’ before they rap about affection / There I go, hard to rap without a message,” Rapsody spits in the first verse of “Asteroids,” her new Hit-Boy-helmed single. With jazzy, percussive production, Hit-Boy provides Rapsody with ample room to lob some “asteroids” at the rest of the rap game. These aren’t direct, petty shots, but astute observations as to where the rap game is in relation to where it could and should be. Rapsody’s flow continues to be virtually peerless; she effortlessly switches between different pockets in the beat without ever making her transitions feel clunky or sloppy. From her slick punchlines to Hit-Boy’s wailing guitar, “Asteroids” is a winner.
UMI, “Why Don’t We Go”
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Over a breezy, dream-pop-inflected instrumental, UMI delivers a summery song about escaping into a physical and emotional space of intimacy with her special partner. “Why don’t we go somewhere we only know / Climb into me, into my waterfalls / Up in the clouds, yeah, we’ve been there before,” she croons. She opts for a no-frills vocal delivery, which allows for a greater focus on the heartwarming simplicity of her songwriting and the track’s overarching concept — it doesn’t actually matter where UMI and her lover are going, as long as they’re going together.
Ye Ali feat. RyFy & Dcmbr, “Zodiac”
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Joining a long line of horoscope-minded R&B joints, this new link-up between Ye Ali, RyFy and Dcmbr is a worthy addition to the lexicon. Steeped in neo-soul with a dash of alternative rock, “Zodiac” finds the three artists not-so-radically flipping the script on the star sign concept. Instead of whittling down the different signs and eventually landing on one that is inherently incompatible with them — they land on them all. “Virgos in LA, Capricorns make me stay / Leos can’t be tamed, but I like it that way / Taurus what I want, Scorpio’s what I need / Every damn day I need a zodiac freak,” Ye sings over the slinky arrangement, just barely reaching the deepest points of his breathy lower register in the process.
Doeboy, “Ain’t Bout Nun”
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For the latest taste of his forthcoming Ignorant EP, Doeboy joins forces with Tay Keith for a blistering warning to all his ops with “Ain’t Bout Nun.” Over skittering snares, Doeboy balances a carefully ambivalent main vocal, with ad-libs that add flashes of character dynamism, for a rap performance that captures every emotional shade of the taunting process. The hook is direct, but it’s that just-shy-of-monotone delivery that makes it feel all the more menacing. “You want war, b–ch, I want duck, it ain’t ’bout none / My ice on, you ain’t gon’ touch, it ain’t ’bout none / If I want her, then I’m f–kin’, ain’t ’bout none / What you want? Ain’t got no budget, ain’t ’bout nothin,’” he spits.
41, Kyle Richh & Jenn Carter, “Stomp Stomp (feat. TaTa & Dee Billz)”
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Having already scored some of the year’s defining regional hits in “Bent” and “Jenn Jenn Jenn,” 41 — the fiery Brooklyn drill collective comprised of TaTa, Kyle Richh and Jenn Carter — continue their real-time documentation of hip-hop’s evolution with “Stomp Stomp.” Drawing on elements of Soulja Boy’s eternal “Crank That,” 41 combines the brash, no-holds-barred delivery of DMX with the quick-based bullet point flow of contemporary New York drill stars like Fivio Foreign, for a track that sits at the center of sample drill’s danceability and genuinely impressive bars — an area in which Jenn Carter routinely shines brightest.
Lucky Daye, “That’s You”
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The D’Mile Musical Universe just keeps getting more intertwined: “That’s You” — the new single from Grammy-winning R&B star Lucky Daye — finally marks the union of two D’Mile disciples, Daye and Bruno Mars. With the “Leave the Door Open” singer on co-production and co-writing credits, Lucky dives headfirst into ’70s-informed R&B songcraft — a notable departure from the more contemporary stylings of Candydrip, his most recent LP. “I been numb, so numb / Spendin’ every dime to gеt everything I want / Therе’s only one thing missing in life / That’s you,” he croons, positioning himself squarely in the “sing-pleading in the rain” era of male R&B.
Shenseea feat. Lola Brooke, “Beama”
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Just as rap is a child of rock-n-roll, it’s also a child of reggae, as Shenseaa reminds us with her new Lola Brooke team-up, “Beama.” It’s a smart collaboration, considering that Brooke already has some West Indian-adjacent inflections in her voice thanks to her hometown of Brooklyn’s position as a major Caribbean immigration hub. With production contributions from London On Da Track, Dready and Philip Cornish, “Beama” finds Shenseea and Brooke getting serious. While both artists have dropped party tracks this year, “Beama” — with its hard-hitting drill-inflected beat — is all about putting the opps on notice. “VVS so cold, straight out of my freezer / Me nuh play, like the dealers, top shottas and squeezes / Me nuh talk to bum bitch bottom feeders / Hot head fever, top model diva,” the Jamaican dancehall artist spits.
“F— Kenny G!” Action Bronson playfully exclaimed halfway through his performance at New Balance‘s TCA New York City Marathon Kick-Off Party on Friday night (Nov. 3). The Queens rapper wasn’t really throwing shots at the Grammy-winning smooth jazz saxophonist, he was simply singing the praises of Matt Carrillo (aka Young Mexico), the incredibly impressive saxophonist and keyboardist that served as one of the main anchors of the band’s whimsical set.
At New Balance’s TCA New York City Marathon Kick-Off Party, sports and hip-hop continued their decades-long convergence as Action Bronson helped celebrate the imminent 26.2-mile race, as well as the latest evolution in his partnership with sports footwear giant New Balance.
After Adidas unexpectedly canceled his UltraBOOST collaboration back in 2019, Bronson teamed up with New Balance, officially announcing a new multi-item collaborative capsule with the brand back in March. Among the items in the capsule were the New Balance 990v6 “Baklava” sneaker. A few months later, a second 990v6 sneaker — named “Lapis Lazuli” — arrived exclusively on Bronson’s specializinginlife.com website (Jun. 22), receiving a global release on Jun. 30.
“I’m just enchanted by nature,” Bronson mused backstage before his performance. “Nature’s beauty. It’s natural beauty. It’s whimsical. It’s like stranger than fiction.”
Given the forest green hues and deep blues that appear across his different colorways, Bronson’s relationship with all of nature’s gifts truly inspired the design of his New Balance collaborations. Finding a home with New Balance was a special journey after the less-than-favorable way his Adidas partnership dissolved, but “I’ve been a New Balance guy for years, way before any of this other s—,” Bronson explains. “I’ve come from a family of f—ing chubby feet, flat feet, where you need a good walking shoe and something with stability and comfort as well as performance. This provides all three for my type.” To further explain, Bronson likened his foot type to “a triangle slice of pizza.”
During his set, Bronson tore through lively renditions of “Latin Grammys,” “DMTri,” and “Baby Blue,” allowing his five-member band to riff to both their heart’s desire and the audience’s pleasure. Embodying the whimsy he attributed to nature, Bronson delivered a characteristically charismatic stage show that even featured him literally touching his toes onstage and adding idiosyncratic percussion flourishes.
Cocodrillo Turbo, Bronson’s last studio effort, arrived last year, but the Billboard Hot 100 hitmaker is already formulating his next LP, although he’s purposely keeping his plans lowkey. “Lots of things [are] coming in the new year,” he teased. “Exciting things if you can’t tell how excited I am. I’m just stoned!”
The TCS NYC Marathon launches on Sunday (Nov. 5) at 8:00 a.m. EST.
On Friday (Nov. 3), Megan Thee Stallion made her solo return to the music scene with “Cobra,” her first unaccompanied non-soundtrack single since Tory Lanez was sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting her in July 2020.
The new song and video are packed with serpentine imagery, with Megan literally “shedding” her skin in the track’s Douglas Bernardt-helmed clip. Over a beat punctuated by rock guitars, the H-Town Hottie spits, “At night, I’m sittin’ in a dark room thinkin’ / Probably why I always end up drinkin’ / Yes, I’m very depressed / How can somebody so blessed wanna slit they wrist?”
Since the song’s release, fans have latched onto Megan’s intensely vulnerable and revelatory lyrics, commending the Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper for her honesty and bravery. “Megan is being extremely vulnerable with this record & I hope we give her, as a Black woman, a safe space that she deserves for sharing this with us through her art form,” wrote one user on X (formerly Twitter). Another user pointed out that “Cobra” follows a long line of emotional deep cuts from Megan, writing, “I’m crying at ppl acting like this Megan first vulnerable song ever made. This how I know yall not listening to her albums.”
“Cobra” boasts two particular revelations that have dominated the social media conversation. First, the “Savage” rapper reveals that she has recently been battling suicidal ideation and alcohol abuse, spitting, “Shit, I’d probably bleed out some Pinot / When they find me, I’m in Valentino / He pourin’ me shots, thinkin’ it’s lit / Hah, little did he know” and “Damn, I finally see it / I’m killin’ myself when b—es would die to be me.”
The other shocking revelation is her claim that one of her ex-partners cheated on her in her own house. “Pulled up, caught him cheatin’, gettin’ his d–k sucked in the same spot I’m sleepin’ / Lord, give me a break, I don’t know how much more of this s–t I can take,” she raps. With some simple calendar math and a bit of sleuthing, Meg’s Hotties seem to think that the cheating ex-partner in question is Pardison “Pardi” Fontaine, a Grammy-winning rapper and songwriter who dated Megan from 2020 to the top of 2023.
Pardi appeared to respond to the infidelity allegations via his Instagram Story, sharing a meme clip of Future saying “It’s an evil world we live in,” followed by an image of a laughing Tristan Thompson. He then limited the comments on his main feed.
See what fans had to say about Megan Thee Stallion, Pardison Fontaine and her new song below.
If you’re thinking about suicide, or are worried about a friend or loved one, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, available 24 hours, at 1-800-273-8255. Reach the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Hotline at
pardi cheating on megan in her own house while she was going through her lowest moments. y’all i’m about to get violent . like i need that nigga gone pic.twitter.com/lUvvJRP7tF— keke⁷ 🤍 (@stallseok) November 3, 2023
I actually respected Pardi and bought his whole feminist schtick. But, he’s dead to me.It’s obvious he cheated on her in her own house because Megan Thee Stallion has the rap career he wishes he had. That’s why he’s relegated to being a ghostwriter with flop albums. He knew…— Ola Ojewumi (@Olas_Truth) November 3, 2023
I knew Pardi didn’t stand on business when rappers half his height and weight was clowning Megan for being shot and not one swing was swung.— mina (@MinaLioness) November 3, 2023
I fell asleep before midnight so I’m a little late……but Pardi cheating on Megan in her own bed while the public was dragging her to hell and back because she was shot? And to then get with a supporter of the man who shot her? Pardison Fontaine, the bitch you are…. pic.twitter.com/N0TCP2OZn0— Dumpster Baby 👶🏽 (@makeupbyjoxlyn) November 3, 2023
Not Pardi cheating on our sister Megan. Men will go out of their way to hurt and embarrass us. Smh— 𝙱𝚎𝚌𝚌𝚊 ⚡️ (@MJFINESSELOVER) November 3, 2023
Pardi was getting the gobble gobble by another woman in Megan’s BED?! On top of the cheating itself, she was shot by her former friend and torn down by the public for it during this time. Cut the fucking “FEMINIST” tattoo off his body.— Mo 🌹 (@flwrchldtweets) November 3, 2023
With new albums from City Girls and Sampha and a pair of big announcements from Megan Thee Stallion and Ty Dolla $ign & Kanye West, it’s been a characteristically busy week for hip-hop and R&B. New Music Friday (Oct. 20) unleashed a fresh batch of new R&B and hip-hop tracks to sort through as we count down to the announcement of the 2024 Grammy nominations on Nov. 10.
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With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from Yuna’s bilingual rumination on a relationship’s demise to Rick Ross & Meek Mill’s latest taste of their forthcoming collaborative project. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
Freshest Find: Wu-Tang Clan feat. Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Nicole Bus & Mathematics, “Claudine”
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The 30th anniversary of Wu-Tang Clan’s landmark debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), is less than a month away, and the hip-hop legends are ringing in the celebration with a gorgeous new track. Featuring a pair of emotive, nuanced verses from Meth and Ghostface, “Claudine” recalls the chugging, introspective relationship-minded songs that peppered the tracklists of Wu-Tang’s classic records. A weighty hook from Billboard chart-topping R&B singer Nicole Bus brings things full circle; her soulful, raspy vocal evokes the Southern R&B records RZA used to sample to create some of the most intricate Wu-Tang beats.
Yuna, “Bad Intentions”
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With this smooth combination of dembow, soul, and bossa nova influences, Malaysian R&B crooner Yuna delivers a bilingual ode to the all-consuming vengeance, hurt, confusion, and attachment that linger at the end of a relationship. The sparse production effortlessly embodies the emptiness that permeates the lyrics — from the devastatingly lush post-chorus to the hook, where she sings, “I know you love her/ Your new lover/ Will be the end of me/ It’s a cruel world.”
Q, “Hello”
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Earlier this year, Q dropped off one of R&B’s best 2023 offerings with his stunning Soul, Present project. For his first single release since that set, Q has released “Hello” — a delightfully funky track about choosing to be your best and most authentic itself no matter what seemingly insurmountable challenges are thrown at you. “Feels like a million years since I got out of bed/ My brain’s fried from the lies I’ve been tellin’ myself,” he sings over an instrumental arrangement that further explores his penchant for Prince’s amalgamation of soul, rock, and funk.
Arin Ray, “Moonlight”
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It’s been a banner year for raucous, sexually explicit music, but Arin Ray opts for a softer, more sensual angle for this cut from his new Phases III EP. With light vocal layering and an alluring tone, he’s able to bypass the innate raunch in lyrics like, “Put that a– on me, it’s ’bout to go/ I wanna see a f–kin’ show/ Baby been a freak/ See she came here in with no panties on.” It’s nice to hear Arin holding it down for R&B’s bachelors in a sea of toxic lovers and sad boys.
Rick Ross & Meek Mill, “Lyrical Eazy”
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With a new joint project on the way, it’s only right that these two rap titans put their best foot forward. Enter: “Lyrical Eazy.” The follow-up to last month’s “Shaq & Kobe,” “Lyrical Eazy” finds Ross and Meek trading verses that flaunt their wealth and success while also reiterating why they believe they are at the very top of the hip-hop ecosystem. “N—a diss, I ain’t respondin’, I’m like, “Y’all ain’t even poppin’/ ‘Cause we’ve been mobbin’, flyin’ private, different hours/ And I ain’t lyin’, I got this money shit to a science/ Got your baby momma in the Bahamas actin’ different and she wildin’,” Meek raps over a beat that reimagines the same sample (Stanley Clarke’s “Got to Find My Own Place”) from Jay-Z’s “Breathe Easy (Lyrical Exercise).”
Lola Brooke & French Montana, “Pit Stop”
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As she readies the release of her forthcoming Dennis Daughter project, Brooklyn rapper Lola Brooke has unveiled her new French Montana collab “Pit Stop.” Featuring her trademark playful intonation — which pulls from both Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown on this track, with a healthy dose of Lola’s own humor — “Pit Stop” is flirty back-and-forth between the two New Yorkers, one that plays on the city’s unique courting dynamics. “Ask me where my man at, n—a, I don’t know/ Say you wanna risk it all, I hope/ Could never play with ‘nani, mm, no-no-no/ Said he like me more than his b–ch, ooh, oh, no,” Lola spits.
Terrace Martin & Alex Isley, “2 Step in the Living Room”
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Every week R&B’s brightest stars continue to prove that the genre is unquestionably alive and well. In this mid-set cut from the pair’s new joint I Left My Heart in Ladera project, this duo perfectly captures the lightweight, love-drunk mood of grooving in the living room to the soulful soundtrack of your life alongside the people you love the most. With a dash of vocoder towards the outro, the song pulls from Parliament’s most subtle funk-indebted tracks to create something a bit more subdued and hazy, all anchored by Alex Isley’s warm tone.
The wait for City Girls’ new album is almost over, and this new snippet is sure to carry us through the home stretch. On Wednesday (Oct. 18), the “Act Up” rappers took to their official Instagram page to upload a video featuring a snippet of a new song. “Flashy Ft. @KimPetras FRIDAY 10/20 📸✨🩷 #RAW,” […]