New Song Releases
Buddy Calls Out Privilege on New Single “Black 2”: Stream
Terrace Martin, Kamasi Washington, and Denzel Curry have released their own protest song in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, as has Lil Baby. Rising Compton rapper Buddy is joining the conversation today with his own single, but his message is slightly different. On “Black 2”, the rising rapper calls out those who like to appropriate and profit from Black culture. He specifically addresses people who have the privilege of never having to actually deal with the stigma of being Black and those who remain silent about racism in America. “Everybody tryna get dreads and shit, but they ain’t African/ All the light girls gettin’ the tan so they can darken they skin,” raps Buddy. During the chorus, the former Vince Staples tour mate makes his missive even clearer: “Grew up in the w...
Toots and the Maytals Announce Got to Be Tough, Share Title Track: Stream
Reggae pioneers Toots and the Maytals have announced their first album of original music in ten years, Got to Be Tough. In anticipation of the August 28th release date, the legendary group has also shared the title track. Frederick “Toots” Hibbert formed the first iteration of the Maytals in 1962. A mainstay of Jamaica’s ska and rocksteady scenes, Toots expanded the world’s musical vocabulary with his first global hit, 1968’s “Do the Reggay”. Over the course of the band’s nearly six-decade career, the Maytals have gone through a number of lineups and explored a wide variety of genres, with the one constant being Toot’s smoky, expressive vocals. The new single “Got to Be Tough” has all of the classic reggae benchmarks, including offbeat rhythms and urgent, staccato chords. It also cont...
Lil Baby Looks at “The Bigger Picture” on New Protest Song: Stream
Lil Baby has released a new protest song called “The Bigger Picture”. The powerful offering is in response to the senseless murder of unarmed black man George Floyd, who died while in Minneapolis police custody. Today’s track begins with a news voiceover referencing Floyd and police brutality. The Atlanta rapper, who has been participating in local protests, then captures the spotlight with lines recounting the black experience in America. “They killing us for no reason/ Been going on for too long to get even,” raps Lil Baby, later adding, “Throw us in cages like dogs and hyenas… That shit be crazy, they supposed to protect us.” Despite the bleak plight of race relations in this country, the MC implores his listeners to stay strong and demand drastic change — even if it has to happen incre...
Rico Nasty Shares “Dirty” New Song from HBO’s Insecure: Stream
Last month saw Rico Nasty contribute a song called “My Little Alien” to the new Scooby-Doo movie, and join IDK on “495” for the Showtime doc Basketball County. The rapper is back today with more soundtrack work, this time for the latest season of HBO’s Insecure. On new cut “Dirty”, Rico dismisses her haters, while also talking about her raunchy bedroom activity. “You was hating back then/ Well, look at me now,” she says early on, continuing, “Imagine if I gave a fuck about how these bitches felt.” Regarding her and her partner’s between-the-sheets playtime, Rico raps on the chorus, “He like his bitches dirty, dirty, dirty… He like the sex dirty, dirty, dirty, dirty.” Sounds like one heck of a romp. Listen for yourself below. Issa Rae’s Insecure has in the past featured music from...
Tekashi 6ix9ine and Nicki Minaj Collaborate on New Single “Trollz”: Stream
Tekashi 6ix9ine and Nicki Minaj have unveiled a new collaborative single called “Trollz”. Stream the new release below. A portion of the proceeds from the song, as well as its corresponding merchandise, will benefit The Bail Project. “The fund provides free bail assistance to low-income individuals who can’t afford to pay bail while awaiting their trial,” Minaj explained on social media. “We want to protect and support the thousands of brave people working on the front lines of social justice, using their voices to demand AN END to the targeting and killing of Black Americans by the police.” For Tekashi, today’s offering marks his second comeback single since being released early from prison due to the coronavirus; revisit last month’s “GOOBA” here. The rapper had originally been sentenced...
Coriky (Ian MacKaye, Joe Lally, Amy Farina) Unveil Debut Album: Stream
In 2018, Fugazi members Ian MacKaye and Joe Lally debuted their new band Coriky during a concert in Washington, DC. Rounded out by Amy Farina, MacKaye’s spouse and co-founder of The Evens, the group is now sharing their first album. Stream the self-titled release below via Bandcamp. The album features MacKaye on guitar, Lally on bass, and Farina on drums, with all three contributing vocals. The trio plays a tight-knit variety of punk-ish alt-rock throughout the LP, a fitting fusion of the members’ previous outfits. The 11-song effort is highlighted by lead single “Clean Kill”, which features harmonized vocals. There’s also “Too Many Husbands”, a track that showcases Farina’s expressive yet catchy sneer. The new album was originally due out earlier this year via Dischord, but was pushe...
Savages’ Jehnny Beth Shares Crushing Debut Solo Album To Live is to Love: Stream
Jehnny Beth, of post-punk band Savages, has released her debut solo album, To Live is to Love, via Caroline Records. Stream it in its entirety below via Apple Music or Spotify. For the new LP, the Savages rocker enlisted the talents of The xx’s Romy Madley Croft and Joe Talbot of IDLES. Actor Cillian Murphy also makes an appearance on “A Place Above,” as well as in the very intense music video for “I’m The Man”. Beth’s solo music still follows the same disjointed, anxious vein as Savages, with her own unique poetic lyrics placed front and center. Speaking to the New York Times, Beth said that she was inspired by Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk and David Bowie’s final record, Blackstar. “…An album can be a testament, an imprint of your vision of the world, and it will last longer than you ...
Liam Gallagher Releases MTV Unplugged Live Album: Stream
Oasis rocker Liam Gallagher filmed his MTV Unplugged performance in 2019, but it is finally being released as a proper live album. Stream MTV Unplugged Live at Hull City Hall in full below via Apple Music or Spotify. The setlist consists of 10 tracks, including two of Oasis’ biggest hits in “Some Might Say” and “Champagne Supernova.” The 47-year-old songwriter also performed some of his own work, such as his debut solo single, “Wall of Glass”, and Why Me? Why Not? selection “Now That I Found You”. In addition, the MTV Unplugged gig featured his first live performance of “Sad Song”. Gallagher was joined at Yorkshire’s Hull City Hall by Oasis’ founding guitarist Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs and the Urban Soul String Orchestra, lending a cinematic quality to the otherwise acoustic songs. Toda...
Harlem Rapper Emma Lee Sparks a Revolution on New Song “Hugo Pinell (MOSH)”: Stream
As protests against racism, police brutality, and white supremacy continue to sweep the nation, Emma Lee’s rallying new single “Hugo Pinell (MOSH)” could not have come at a better time. On the track, the Uganda-born, New York-raised rapper sparks a revolution, inviting others to join her in overthrowing oppressors of all kinds. “No matter what they did/ I wouldn’t quit/ Now we got a like-minded mosh pit/ We got an army full of tactics/ And the strike is all ready like a matchstick,” says Lee with conviction. “It’s on you to decide, but choosing nothing is the same thing as choosing sides,” adds Lee, echoing current sentiments that silence can be equated to violence and complicity. The entire boils over during the chorus, where Lee powerfully declares, “We alive, organize, let’s MOSH when y...
R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe Officially Releases “No Time for Love Like Now”: Stream
Back in March, former R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe shared a demo of a new song titled “No Time For Love Like Now”. Made in collaboration with Big Red Machine — aka The National’s Aaron Dessner and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon — the studio version of the song has now been released, complete with a stylish music video. This time around, Stipe is fully immersed in Dessner and Vernon’s soundscapes, giving his vocals a more ethereal quality. There’s depth to the sound now, which isn’t too surprising given that Stipe was literally singing over their recording in the OG demo. While Aaron produced the track, his brother and National bandmate, Bryce Dessner, actually orchestrated it. As for Vernon’s part, he supplied electric guitar, clearly channeling his inner Peter Buck. In an interview w...
Hip-Hop Supergroup Spillage Village Return with New Single “End of Daze”: Stream
Spillage Village, a supergroup featuring EarthGang, J.I.D. and 6LACK, are back with their first single since 2017. Titled “End of Daze”, it’s taken from their upcoming album due out this summer. Rounded out by Mereba, JurdanBryant, Hollywood JB, and Benji, the Atlanta-based Spillage Village penned the new song entirely during quarantine. As the title suggests, much of the lyrics reflect on the apocalyptic-nature of this pandemic era; the track also happens to be a timely offering given the protests taking over the streets of America. “It’s the end of days, end of times/ My oh my, up in a blaze, you can’t hide/ Why oh why, all the kids afraid, mama cries,” goes the chorus. “God packed his bags and said bye bye/ God packed her bags and said bye bye.” Today’s cut was recorded at J. Cole’s Dre...
Shamir Basks in Independence on New Song “On My Own”: Stream
Earlier this year, Shamir dropped a mini-album called Cataclysm. Now, he’s back with a poppy new song called “On My Own”. The track is the lead single from an upcoming album that will supposedly be his most accessible since his 2015 debut, Ratchet. After emerging as a glitzy disco and dance-pop artist on XL Recordings, Shamir became disillusioned with mainstream stardom and retreated to making lo-fi, insular indie rock for many years. “On My Own” isn’t a return to the glossy club music of Ratchet, but it is the most outwardly catchy and upbeat song he’s released in a long time. Over peppy drums, a sprightly bassline, and guitar riffs that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Cherry Glazerr LP, the Philly-based songwriter sings defiantly about regaining independence after a breakup. Conven...
