Again, another generally terrible month of 2020 has passed with a bunch of awesome music releases doing their best to offset the wackness. It’s a shame that Canadian artists, high-profile and otherwise, are delivering at such a consistent rate but all audiences can do about it is stay home and jam. It seems, though, that there’s no sign of it letting up as we head into the summer. Here are 10 Canadian songs that stood out this May.
Drake f/ Future and Young Thug, "D4L"
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It was pretty clear from the monthly single drops that a Drake project was coming, but he still found a way to surprise with the release of this Dark Lane Demo Tapes mixtape and announcing that album is also on the way. This batch of songs feature a relaxed, comfortable Drake alongside some stellar production and guest selection, including Thugger and an in-the-zone Future on “D4L."
NAV, "Brown Boy"
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Continuing a stellar year for the XO family, Nav’s third album Good Intentions hit No. 1 at home and south of the border. He’s broken barriers for an underrepresented—and misrepresented—ethnicity while staying true to his own unique style. It’s hard not to be happy for him.
Tory Lanez, "Temperature Rising"
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With his record deal fulfilled, Tory Lanez quickly dropped this R&B-leaning track—think Chixtape Tory—on his own One Umbrella imprint to celebrate his independence. It would have been nice if he dropped it a bit sooner because it seemed like pesky winter refused to leave until this one came out.
KILLY, "Sailor Moon"
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The atmosphere is already set from the initial twinkles of producer FREAKEY!’s beat and KILLY immediately begins painting the picture of this spaced-out trip. By the trend of his last few singles, his next project should be a stunner. Nobody builds out a mood like KILLY.
Roy Woods, "I Feel It"
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Approaching the power ballad realm with this ditty, Roy Woods flexes his vocal range on this closer from his new EP. The video for “I Feel It” subtly references the impact social distancing measures are having on relationships, good and bad. It’s another example of how Woods’ art thrives on sincere vulnerability.
Pressa,"96 Freestyle"
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In a scene full of talented heavy hitters at different points in their career, Pressa is proving to be the stand-out gem of the bunch. It’s not just the completely original tone of voice or his confident charisma, he’s a bona fide songwriter whose storytelling is as strong as his musicality, all of which are on display on “96 Freestyle."
Trippie Redd f/ PARTYNEXTDOOR, "Excitement"
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“Excitement” feels like a PARTYNEXTDOOR song, which isn’t a slight against Trippie Redd. One of his strengths is his chameleon-like ability to match his collaborator and it works to make this a cohesive collaboration. This one has "summer night" written all over it—just like most of PARTY’s catalog.
Burna Bandz, "Bet"
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It has to be something in the water. There’s a handful of Toronto MCs that can’t miss on building a catchy hook and Burna Bandz is one of them. At the same time, he doesn’t just save his tightest melodies for the chorus here, maintaining an engaging flow through the entire track.
TOBi f/ Haviah Mighty, Shad, Jazz Cartier, and Ejji Smith, "24 (Toronto Remix)”
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Part of the re-release of TOBi’s impressive 2019 release STILL, this remix brings together a few of Canada’s most acclaimed hip-hop heavyweights for an always-necessary posse cut. Of course, Haviah Mighty steals the show with her energetic opening verse, as she tends to do.
KILLY f/ Houdini, “VV’s”
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The news of 21-year-old Houdini’s passing adds yet another tragic narrative to 2020. This April collab with KILLY, set to be featured on the upcoming 6ixBuzz-curated Canada’s Most Wanted, delivered another jolt to his already impressive career and he was poised to take advantage of it. While his potential unfortunately won’t be realized, his prolific work over the past few years has left a legacy for him to be remembered by. Condolences to his family and friends.
