- Words Darcy Culverhouse
From Kendrick Lamar's scathing diss track to Megan Thee Stallion's inner snake energy, press play on the tracks you need to hear this week.
‘BOA’ by Megan Thee Stallion
Houston rapper Megan Thee Stallion sheds her skin and embraces a serpent theme in her latest track, ‘BOA’. Sampling Gwen Stefani’s iconic ‘What You Waiting For?', the third single from her upcoming LP is a scorching statement. With fierce bars, Megan swiftly shuts down her detractors, leaving them in her dust with a blazing flow.
‘360’ by Charlie XCX
Teasing ‘360’ during a surprise stunt in Brooklyn last week, pop princess Charlie XCX finally puts our minds at ease by dropping this new club-ready anthem. Accompanying the release, Charlie XCX taps up some of the internet’s hottest names including Julia Fox and Emma Chamberlain to sit down for a dinner party, all whilst manifesting who will be the ‘new hot internet girl’.
‘Take A Bite’ by beabadoobee
Setting the stage for her third record, which drops in summer, bedroom pop whizz beabadoobee whisks us away to a shoegaze-y world in ‘Take A Bite’. With a '90s folk rock-inspired sound, she reflects on a cycle of negative thoughts and narrates her temptation to indulge in them.
‘Bad Vibes' by Ayra Starr, Seyi Vibez
Leading the new wave of Afrobeats, Ayra Starr gets the heat rising in her latest single, ‘Bad Vibes’. Tapping Nigerian singer Seyi Vibez, who brings his sharp style to the track, Ayra dishes up a flavoursome jam, laden with an entrancing drum rhythm that beckons you to sway to its bounce.
‘Toro’ by Remi Wolf
Remi Wolf’s latest offering is a melting pot of pop and funk’s best bits. Titled ‘Toro’, the track is about "having sex in a hotel” and is lead by a natural sultriness. Piercing electric guitar riffs swoop in and out of the upbeat production, which props up her sunken vocals.
‘I Had Some Help’ by Post Malone, Morgan Wallen
Following Beyoncé's lead, Post Malone saddles us up and kickstarts his country arc on the new single, ‘I Had Some Help'. Focused on a relationship falling apart, Post’s country rasp is loud and clear as he teams up with hotshot Morgan Wallen for a bona fide Southern banger.
‘Gimmie A Light’ by Ice Spice
Ice Spice peaks the excitement for her debut album with the release of ‘Gimmie A Light’. Sampling Sean Paul’s noughties hit of the same name, the track boasts a heavy-hitting production infused with trap tinges. Dropping a preview for it on Instagram, the Bronx artist flashes stacks of cash, hits the club and hotboxes a pink Range Rover with a ‘Y2K’ license plate; the title of her latest album.
‘HE KNOWS’ by Camila Cabello, Lil Nas X
Announcing her fourth solo album, C,XOXO earlier this week, Camila Cabello gives us a hint of what’s in store with the release of ‘HE KNOWS’. Calling on Lil Nas X, the track is a sun-soaked belter, with the American rapper upping the ante in his tongue-in-cheek verses.
‘something will happen’ by berlioz
Continuing his takeover of the jazz-house scene, mysterious DJ, berlioz channels the slow and steady in ‘something will happen’. Filled with tender piano chords, his signature saxophone sweeps the soundscape delicately all whilst a tranquil drum rhythm hypnotises below.
‘Not Like Us’ by Kendrick Lamar
It’s crystal clear that Kendrick Lamar is winning his rap battle with Drake, especially after ‘Not Like Us’. Delivering scathing hurls of insults at the Toronto rapper over a jumping trap beat, Kendrick takes it to the next level, reviving all kinds of potentially libellous rumours about the superstar.