We’re a little less than a month away from the new year, but artists are still dropping new music until the time runs out. This week, Polo G and Lil Baby teamed up for their latest collaboration “Don’t Play.” NBA YoungBoy is back with one of his most vulnerable tracks yet, “Heart and Soul.” And Ariana Grande and Kid Cudi teamed up for their new ballad “Just Look Up,” which appears in the new film Don’t Look Up. This week’s list also includes new songs from Nardo Wick, SZA, EST Gee, and more.
Check out the best new music this week below. And follow our playlist on Spotify here to stay up on the hottest releases in music.
Polo G f/ Lil Baby, “Don’t Play”
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“Don’t Play” is a new collaboration from Polo G and Lil Baby, where the duo illustrates their dangerous and fast lifestyles. Polo G kicks off the track, rapping, “In a Hellcat, watch me race and drift/ That lil’ boy a problem, don’t play with him.” Lil Baby is next, dropping a hypnotic verse about his status, wealth, and women. “I’m unstoppable, niggas can’t guard me/ Go up top, I’m too rich to be arguin’/ I been chillin’, I hope you ain’t thinkin’ I lost it,” he spits. “Don’t Play” appears on Polo G’s Hall of Fame 2.0.
SZA, “I Hate U”
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“I Hate U” is a jazzy and electric track that finds SZA reminiscing on a past relationship. Though SZA seems to be missing her ex, she also finds herself resenting them for making her feel so bad. “And if you wondered if I hate you (I do)/ Shitty of you to make me feel just like this/ What I would do to make you feel just like this,” she sings. “I Hate U” arrives after SZA teased the cover art on social media, and it’s expected to appear on her next album.
Nardo Wick f/ Future & Lil Baby, “Me or Sum”
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Rising Jacksonville rapper Nardo Wick teamed up with Future and Lil Baby for “Me or Sum,” a melodic trap song that focuses on wealth, designer possessions, and women. Future provides the soul of the record, appearing on the chorus and first verse. Nardo then comes in, rapping, “I stole her heart, thou shall not steal, I’m sorry, I’m a sinner/Let her put my chains on, now she think she me or somethin’.” Lil Baby concludes the single with a braggadocious verse. “Me or Sum” is the latest single from Nardo’s debut album, Who Is Nardo Wick?
Youngboy Never Broke Again, “Heart & Soul”
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“Heart & Soul” is a softer, melodic track from NBA YoungBoy that starts off with sweet guitar strings as YoungBoy grapples with his past legal mistakes. “Went to jail came home, time passed went back again/ All the pain I felt inside myself, thought it would never end,” he sings. Elsewhere on the song, YoungBoy gets even more vulnerable as he discusses his actions that made headlines, his family, and own mortality. On “Heart & Soul,” listeners we hear sensitive side of YoungBoy who is ready for a change.
Ariana Grande & Kid Cudi, “Just Look Up”
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“Just Look Up” is a soft ballad that unites Ariana Grande and Kid Cudi. On the track, Ariana Grande delivers angelic vocals as she sings about true love. “Just look up/ There is no place to hide/ True love doesn’t die/ It holds on tight and never lets you go,” she sings. Kid Cudi joins her on the second verse as he sings and hums, “Time is oh so precious, we don’t really have much left now (Ooh)/ Take my hand, baby, never leave you.” The new collaboration is for the soundtrack of the new film, Don’t Look Up.
EST Gee, “Fan”
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“Fan” is a street rap song from EST Gee—a bar-heavy record that finds the Louisville rapper talking about his lethal activity. “I wonder what niggas think when they make posts hopin I see em/ And next post they snot nose face tore up grievin,” he spits. The new track appears on EST Gee’s latest project, Bigger Than Life or Death Part 2.
Brent Faiyaz, “Mercedes”
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“Mercedes” is a hazy single where Brent Faiyaz sings about parties, women, and luxury cars. It’s noticeably slowed down with a seductive yet mellow vibe. Faiyaz spends a majority of the track crooning over melodic piano keys. About halfway through the track, though, the beat speeds up a bit as Faiyaz sings, “You know it’s more than just drivin’ Mercedes (More than Mercedes)/ These hoes gon’ call and drive you crazy (They gon’ drive you crazy).”
Cordae f/ Lil Wayne, “Sinister”
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“Sinister” is a new collaboration with a classic feel that unites Cordae and Lil Wayne. On the track, Cordae brags about his rap skills and fame. “Yeah, alright, my flow sinister/ This ain’t rap music, this straight literature,” the DMV native spits. Lil Wayne keeps his hot feature streak going with a new verse in which he teaches the younger generation how to do it. “Lil’ Tune flow sinister, I’ma finish ya/ Many men gon’ need ministers, I made men of them/ Enemies, I’m the enema, I’ma shit on them,” he raps.
Tierra Whack, “Stand Up”
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“Stand Up” is a rebellious anthem that fuses rock with rap. On the track, Philly’s Tierra Whack raps over J Melodic production as she discusses her humble beginnings, fashion sense, and more. “He keep starin’ at mе like he want this, mm/ Million dollar, you cannot afford/ If I wanted I could make the Forbes list, yeah, mm,” she spits. On “Stand Up,” Tierra Whack’s unique personality shines once again
Gunna f/ Future & Roddy Ricch, “Too Easy (Remix)”
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On the “Too East (Remix),” Gunna and Future recruit Roddy Ricch to lay down a new verse. Though the track starts off the same way as the original, Roddy Ricch comes in on the first verse this time to rap about his millions, designer clothes, and jewelry. “Ayy, first time I called Elliot, Gunna told me to spend two-fifty/ Now my chain cost half a milli’ and I’m plottin on a silly billi’,” he raps. Gunna and Future then finish up the track with similar braggadocious bars.
Pi’erre Bourne & TM88, “Block Boy”
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“Block Boy” is a smooth and triumphant single from Pi’erre Bourne and TM88. On the track, Pi’erre Bourne raps about his come-up. Though he his proud of how far he’s come, he also raps about loyalty to where he came from. “Sorry if I’m being rude, yeah/ But I been knew I was next/ Even when I ain’t had no food, yeah/ I knew I’d get that check, yeah,” he brags. “Block Boy” will appear on Pi’erre Bourne and TM88’s joint tape, Yo!88.
