Excuse me while I dedicate the entire intro of this week's list to Young Thug. Over the course of just a week, Thug delivered a weirdly addictive guest verse on a new Post Malone single, then showed up on the remix to Lil Nas X’s record-breaking “Old Town Road.” A month after earning the highest-charting song of his career as a lead artist with “The London,” it looks like our beloved Thugger is heading to the top of the charts again. Our king is finally receiving what he deserves. And with that out of the way, these are the best new songs of the week.
Future f/ Meek Mill & Doe Boy, “100 Shooters”
“100 Shooters” sounds like old hood folklore, thanks to the prominent flutes that anchor the track. The song may technically be a single from Future, but Meek Mill really shines with his hard-hitting verse. “Big shit, baby, it's the big fish, only VVS in my necklace and my wrist lit/I could wipe my ass with these hunnids, I'm the shit bitch,” the Philly native spits on the Tay Keith-produced track. The collaboration has us excited for their upcoming co-headlining Legendary Nights Tour, which kicks off this August. —Jessica McKinney
Big K.R.I.T. f/ J. Cole, “Prove It”
When J. Cole said he was coming to kill features in 2019, he meant it. Continuing his hot streak, Cole appears on Big K.R.I.T.’s K.R.I.T. IZ HERE standout, “Prove It.” The song is a slow-burner, but the Dreamville frontrunner comes in hot as he recalls his early career days and pays homage to his first supporters. “I wrote more songs than a man can count/Tryna figure out how to put ‘em out/Without waterin’ down my brand/I don’t want ‘em to not want my jams,” he raps. “Prove It” marks the third collaboration between K.R.I.T. and Cole, and it’s safe to say they go together like milk and honey. —Jessica McKinney
Beyoncé, “Spirit”
Beyoncé is in movie mode, so don’t expect “Spirit” to sound anything like her signature ballads or uptempo feminist anthems. Sure, the track might be a meh single for the music powerhouse, but any time the queen’s name is credited on a song, it’s definitely worth taking a listen. Her vocals never disappoint.—Jessica McKinney
Blood Orange f/ Project Pat, Gangsta Boo & Tinashe, “Gold Teeth”
Following an appearance on Blood Orange’s last album, 2018’s Negro Swan, Memphis legend Project Pat once again has scene-stealing vocals on Dev Hynes’ new mixtape, Angel’s Pulse. Backed by hazy production courtesy of Hynes, Project Pat shines throughout “Gold Teeth,” handling the intro and subsequent refrain, as well as the second verse and outro (the song samples Pat’s 1999 song “Rinky Dink II/We’re Gonna Rumble”), while Tinashe swoops in and tag-teams the hook alongside Gangsta Boo, who also submits a verse of her own. —Brad Callas
Lil Nas X f/ Young Thug & Mason Ramsey, “Old Town Road (Remix)”
Back in April, a few days after Lil Nas X credited Young Thug for starting the country trap movement, Thugger took to Instagram and teased his own remix of X’s genre-bending hit “Old Town Road.” Three months later, the Atlanta rapper finally joins the chart-topping 20-year-old, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Mason Ramsey (yes, the yodeling did) for the song of the summer’s third official remix. After Young Thug adds a verse that’s reminiscent of Beautiful Thugger Girls opener “Family Don’t Matter,” Mason closes the song, rapping, “If you don’t got no giddee up, then giddee out of my way.” —Brad Callas
Billie Eilish f/ Justin Bieber, “Bad Guy (Remix)”
If the video of Billie Elish doubling over in disbelief while meeting her longtime idol Justin Bieber at Coachella didn’t already prove that the 17-year-old singer is a true Belieber, the artwork for “Bad Guy (Remix)” features a throwback photo of Elish surrounded by Bieber posters on her wall. Out now, the remix includes a new second verse and scattered ad-libs from Bieber. "Gold teeth, my neck, my wrist is froze/I got more ice than, than the snow/That guy, don't act like you don't know/ That guy, so critical (skrrt)," Bieber croons. —Brad Callas
Ed Sheeran f/ Young Thug & J Hus, “Feels”
Considering Young Thug’s history of stealing pop songs with stellar guest spots (Jamie xx’s “I Know There’s Gonna Be Good Times,” Calvin Harris’ “Heatstroke,” and most recently, Post Malone’s “Goodbyes”) it’s hardly surprising that the Atlanta rapper sounds at home on “Feels,” a standout track off Ed Sheeran’s new project, No. 6 Collaborations. Following an opening hook courtesy of Sheeran, Thugger submits a melodic verse before J Hus closes the song with a superb appearance of his own. —Brad Callas
Nas, “Jarreau of Rap”
Nas is prepping fans for his forthcoming Lost Tapes II with “Jarreau of Rap (Skatt Attack).” Honestly, the track isn’t for everyone. For the hip-hop heads and faithful Nas supporters who are waiting for the Queens artist to redeem himself after 2018’s flop, NASIR, this probably won’t make you jump back on the bandwagon. With that being said, those who are actually familiar with who Al Jarreau is and can appreciate hip-hop and jazz’s obvious overlap will find this single refreshing. —Jessica McKinney
Baby Keem, “France Freestyle”
A month after dropping “Invented It,” one of our favorite babies is back with another one. On “France Freestyle,” Baby Keem opts for a straightforward approach, as he sqwuaks memorable phrases like, “beat the box like Bowser,” over bass-heavy production. If you got into Keem after seeing his name in the credits for Schoolboy Q's equally trunk-rattling single, “Numb Numb Juice,” you'll love this. We can’t wait to hear what he’s cooking up for the follow-up to 2018’s excellent The Sound of Bad Habit. —Eric Skelton
Madeon, “Dream Dream Dream”
Four years removed from his debut album, Madeon has entered a new chapter, which includes an upcoming tour, a Beats 1 Radio show, and more importantly, a proper follow-up to Adventure. The first offering, “All My Friends,” sticks the landing of a mid-tempo dance cut, but it’s “Dream Dream Dream” that captures another layer of artistry and inspiration the French talent has been honing. Described as a “song about celebrating the joy you’ve earned,” it finds Madeon in a state of bliss, with chopped-up choir vocals, emotive lyricism (“Your heart can heal the pain”), and soaring synth elevating the performance. Welcome to the Good Faith era. —Edwin Ortiz
