- Words Notion Staff
New Music Friday is here and Notion Now has all the tracks you need to be adding to your playlists over the next seven days.
‘Gas Me Up (Diligent)’ by Skepta
Skepta’s attacking 2024 with all the verve you’d anticipate from someone at the top of their game. As well as releasing his debut film, Tribal Mark, today, he dropped his heavily teased and highly anticipated single, ‘Gas Me Up (Diligent)’. Honouring his entrepreneurial spirit, the spacey trap cut takes the intergalactic elements of Blacklisted and renovates them for the now, sparking twinkling melodies with fizzy 808s. Knife and Fork, his first full-length since 2019, is due to drop later this year.
‘Think U The Sh*t (Fart)’ by Ice Spice
After teasing the track for months, Bronx icon Ice Spice finally drops, ‘Think U The Shit (Fart)’. Returning to her rap roots on a rhythmic beat imbued with feverish vigour, Ice Spice compares herself to another woman, concluding, “Think you the shit, bitch? You not even the fart.”. Despite the comedic title, Ice Spice is not playing around - she's asserting her dominance and leaving no room for ambiguity. It seems like it’s Ice Spice’s world and the rest of us are just living in it.
‘Everything’s Beautiful’ by Hiatus Kaiyote
Ringing in 2024 with their new single, ‘Everything’s Beautiful’, Australian jazz-funk four-piece Hiatus Kayote are back and sounding as majestic as ever. The track produces the sort of positivity you need at the start of the year; Nai Palm’s voice is like a warm blanket while harps and wind instruments whisper in your ear that everything will be okay.
‘HEAVEN’ by The kid LAROI
Spreading his wings, The Kid LAROI’s latest single, ‘HEAVEN’, is a “super personal” track. Standing as a ballad which studies the 20-year-old rapper’s evolution, this poignant love song strays from LAROI’s usual hip-hop sound, instead delicate piano sets the spellbinding rhythm. We hear LAROI’s vocals, laden with raw emotion, cascade over the track as he wears his heart on his sleeve.
‘still a little something’ by Kamal.
Depicting that nauseating anxiety you feel when bumping into your ex, ‘still a little something’ questions whether, in those moments, the spark remains. Kamal. is no stranger to melancholy and here he leaps into the feeling head first, looping his dulcet vocals around delicate piano loops and whirring electronica.
‘Hiss’ by Megan Thee Stallion
On ‘Hiss’, Megan Thee Stallion is angry, like, very angry. “I just wanna kick this shit off by saying fuck ya’ll,” she declares on the opening line, before launching into a ghoulish trap beat, laying down her law again for everyone to follow. Having released a single called ‘Cobra’ last November, the snake-themed singles continue.
‘PAIDNFULL’ by LUCKI
On ‘PAIDNFULL’, Lucki addresses the painful reality of his success, getting rich off songs about his failed relationships and near-fatal drug addictions. The Chicago rapper, known for his alternative brand of trap, has a propensity for contagious verses, slurring his Illinoian drawl over thumping 808s like a slobbery dog. This track is no different.
‘Sickly Sweet’ by NewDad
Treading their own generational path, Irish shoegazers, NewDad are firing up the rock scene with unmatched groove, especially on their latest release, ‘Sickly Sweet’. Taken from their debut album MANDRA, ‘Sickly Sweet’, unravels the theme of repeating unhealthy patterns. Bringing the sombre to life, raw vocals swoop in, sitting atop a thrumming backdrop of electric guitar riffs and aggressive drums that are sure to get your head bopping.
‘Tea Over Henny’ by Sainté
The Leicester-raised MC is proving to be one of the hottest names in the game. With the release of his latest single, ‘Tea Over Henny’, Sainté brings upmost unapologetic energy to the table, riding a synth-heavy beat that blends trap and drill. Through confident flow and unmatched wordplay, he reflects on his journey, acknowledging his youth and recognising that this is just the start of his musical adventure.
‘Burn The Hard Drive’ by Jade Bird, Mura Masa
Back with a bang, Jade Bird proves that her musical prowess is still intact with her latest track, ‘Burn The Hard Drive. Teaming up with ‘it’ producer and songwriter, Mura Masa, Jade explores the depths of her past relationship, crafting a bittersweet goodbye. The track's pop melodies and subtle touches of electronica exude a sultry, sorrowful vibe as Jade’s powerful vocals paint a picture of what might have been.