Some of our favorite musicians returned this week. Roddy Ricch dropped the official version of “Heartless (Live From LA)” after debuting the record at the 2021 Grammys. Benny the Butcher and Harry Fraud teamed up on The Plugs I Met 2, which includes the standout single “When Tony Met Sosa.” And Justin Bieber dropped his new album Justice, featuring “Peaches,” a smooth collaboration with Giveon and Daniel Caesar. This week’s list also includes new songs from Jelani Aryeh, 22Gz, Kota the Friend, and more.Â
Check out the best new music this week below. And follow our playlist of Spotify here.Â
Roddy Ricch, “Heartless (Live From LA)”
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After debuting the track during his 2021 Grammys performance, Roddy Ricch has officially released the audio for “Heartless (Live From LA). Over a triumphant instrumental, Roddy Ricch reflects on his rise to fame. “This life left me heartless, bitch, I came from apartments/ The money turned me to a target, got a Hellcat Dodge it,” he sings. On the opening verse, Roddy looks back on some of the tough things he’s seen, getting a little vulnerable with listeners in his first solo release since the breakout success of Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial and “The Box.”
Benny the Butcher & Harry Fraud “When Tony Met Sosa”
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“When Tony Met Sosa” has a jazzy sample that leads into Benny the Butcher laying down sharp bars about turning “these bread crumbs to a hedge fund.” He also goes in about his status in the game, rapping, “I’ve been gettin’ a little too accurate, I need new challenges/ You know the rules, if you move backwards, then you do calendars/ For street niggas, I’m the new catalyst but who fathomed it?” “When Tony Met Sosa” serves as the intro track on Benny the Butcher and Harry Fraud’s new project The Plugs I Met 2. Read a track-by-track breakdown of the project here.
Justin Bieber f/ Giveon & Daniel Caesar, “Peaches”
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“Peaches” is a smooth and sultry record in which Justin Bieber taps into his R&B side. On the track, Bieber unites with Daniel Caesar and Giveon, and the trio gushes about their respective relationships. On the chorus, Justin Bieber is charismatic, singing, “I got my peaches out in Georgia (Oh, yeah, shit)/ I get my weed from California (That’s that shit)/ I took my chick up to the North, yeah (Bad-ass bitch).” Both Daniel Caesar and Giveon polish off the song with silky vocals. “Peaches” appears on Justin Bieber’s new album Justice.Â
Jelani Aryeh, “Marigold”
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“Marigold” is an electric record that finds one of our favorite up-and-coming artists Jelani Aryeh singing fondly of summer days. “Playing your stereo loud/ Flaunting your taste/ Blazing the space around you/ With love, light and marigold sounds,” he sings. The track is filled with metaphors and symbolism, as Jelani finds beautiful ways to describe the marigold color. “Solaris/ Young lion/ Being of the sun/ Come brighten.” “Marigold” is expected to appear on Aryeh’s next album, coming later this year.
22Gz, “Twirlanta”
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22Gz is vicious on “Twirlanta” as he doubles down on claims of other rappers in the game trying to jock his style. “What’s with all the tension?/ Try to run off with the drip and ain’t give me a mention,” he raps. Though the Brooklyn rapper sounds calm and poised, he evokes a sense of fear as he raps about his violent tendencies. 22Gz may have also mentioned 6ix9ine on the track saying, “Can’t respond to no nigga that gave his whole crew up.” “Twirlanta” appears on 22Gz’s new project The Blixky Tape 2.Â
Lil Tjay, Polo G, & Fivio Foreign, “Headshot”
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On “Headshot,” Lil Tjay, Polo G, and Fivio Foreign unite over a haunting beat as they discuss fame and their lethal backgrounds. “Middle of the trenches, that’s where me and the guys stood/ Killers anonymous, black masks and black hoods/ Walk down on him, make sure he get clapped good,” Polo G raps. Fivio Foreign comes in with a pulsating verse, while Lil Tjay finishes strong, rapping, “headshot or a lifelong sentence, what you need for them to label you a real one.” The track is expected to appear on Lil Tjay’s upcoming album Destined.
Guapdad 4000 & !llmind, “Chicken Adobo”Â
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“Chicken Adobo” is a lighthearted and romantic record that finds Guapdad singing about falling in love over a summery !llmind-produced beat. He often draws parallels of his love to his favorite Filipino dish. “How I fell in love with you it was beautiful/ Like Chicken Adobo how you fill me up/ Being by myself is scary, but love is scarier/ I’m just tryna make it in America,” he sings. “Chicken Adobo” is a standout on Guapdad and !llmind’s new joint project, 1176.
Kota the Friend & Statik Selektah, “Wolves”Â
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On “Wolves,” Kota the Friend raps about attacking his goals and moving through each day with the same energy and drive. He uses sports metaphors in relation to his goals as he raps, “I got Durant focus, I’m in competition with self/ Doing my best with the hand I was dealt,” over bluesy production courtesy of Statik Selektah. “Wolves” appears on Kota the Friend and Statik Selektah’s new album To Kill A Sunrise.Â
SSGKobe & $NOT, “Calabasas”
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You know that feeling when you find out two of your friends from different parts of your life actually know each other, but you hadn’t realize it? That’s how we feel about this link-up between SSGKobe and $NOT, two of our favorite new rappers, who were both featured prominently on our 2021 rappers to watch list. When you throw in the fact that the “Calabasas” video was created by one of our favorite directors (Cole Bennett) and features one of our favorite boyband leaders (Kevin Abstract), it gets even better. On top of it all, the song itself is great, full of catchy little moments with potential to go viral (“Who the fuck keep calling my phone?!”) as both rappers bring their own sauce to the track in a way that feels cohesive and natural. SSGKobe and $NOT are the future. —Eric Skelton
