We got new heat from some heavy-hitters this week. Beyoncé is back with “Be Alive,” which will appear on the soundtrack for the upcoming motion picture, King Richard. Silk Sonic finally dropped their highly anticipated album, An Evening With Silk Sonic, featuring the standout track “After Last Night.” And Juice WRLD’s estate released a new posthumous record from his forthcoming album Fighting Demons. This week’s list also includes new music from Polo G, Fivio Foreign, Rick Ross, and more.
Check out the best new music this week below. And follow our playlist on Spotify here.
Beyoncé, “Be Alive”
View this video on YouTube
Beyoncé is back. “Be Alive” is an inspirational ballad that finds the Queen celebrating life and family. On the track, Beyoncé sings about putting in hard work and taking pride in being Black. “It feels so good to be alive/ Got all my sisters by my side/ Couldn’t wipe this black off if I tried,” she sings in sweet harmonies. “Be Alive” is Beyoncé’s first single release in 2021 and will appear on the soundtrack of the forthcoming motion picture, King Richard.
Silk Sonic f/ Bootsy Collins & Thundercat, “After Last Night”
View this video on YouTube
“After Last Night” is a smooth and sultry record from Silk Sonic, the dynamic duo of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak. On the track, Anderson and Bruno harmonize over an old school, soulful beat as they recall the perfect intimate night with their lovers. “After last night, I think I’m in love with you/ Woke up and I can’t get you out of my head,” the duo sings on the chorus. The track also features Bootsy Collin as the suave host, and Thundercat on the bass. “After Last Night” appears on Silk Sonic’s highly anticipated debut album, An Evening With Silk Sonic.
Juice WRLD, “Already Dead”
View this video on YouTube
“Already Dead” is a new posthumous record from Juice WRLD that finds the Chicago native singing of heartache and substance abuse. “You can see the pain in my laugh/ Demons comin’ back from the past/ Feelin’ like I’m bout to relapse.” The track is sad, but could help other listeners who are going through similar struggles. “Already Dead” is a single from the upcoming posthumous Juice WRLD project, Fighting Demons.
Polo G, “Bad Man (Smooth Criminal)”
View this video on YouTube
On “Bad Man (Smooth Criminal),” Polo G decided to rework Michael Jackson’s 1988 hit single “Smooth Criminal.” On his new version, Polo brags about his weapons, while interpolating the chorus of MJ’s original track. “Smooth criminal, Mike Jack/ And I still like to tote a .45 like Mike back/ Pull that TEC out just to make a statement.” “Bad Man” is a different sound from Polo G. The track includes an uptempo beat and more hard raps from the Chicago rapper instead of melodies. The song will appear on Hall of Fame 2.0, which is due December 3.
Rick Ross f/ Jazmine Sullivan & 21 Savage, “Outlawz”
View this video on YouTube
“Outlawz” is a triumphant record from Rick Ross that unites the bawse with Jazmine Sullivan and 21 Savage. Sullivan ushers the track in with a soulful chorus, singing about forgiveness, then Ross comes in on the first verse with braggadocious bars about his “line of cars wrappin’ round the block,” golf course, and a “car porch.” 21 Savage is equally compelling as he raps about street life and weapons. “These niggas still talkin’ like bitches, I pray that shit stop (21)/ I don’t wanna hear yo’ opinion about what’s hip hop (21),” he spits. “Outlawz” is a single from Rick Ross’ forthcoming album Richer Than I Ever Been.
Rosalía f/ The Weeknd, “La Fama”
View this video on YouTube
“La Fama” is a Spanish language single from Rosalía that means “fame” in English. On the track, Rosalía joins forces with the Weeknd as they sing about the dangers of fame, betrayal, and jealousy. “Es mala amante la fama y no va a quererme de verdad/ Es demasia’o traicionera, y como ella viene, se me va,” they sing. “La Fama” marks the second collaboration between the pair following the “Blinding Lights Remix.”
Fivio Foreign, “Squeeze”
View this video on YouTube
“Squeeze” is a lethal freestyle from Brooklyn’s Fivio Foreign. Over a drill beat, Fivio hits the ground running, laying down hard bars about his haters and lethal tendencies. He also brags about his rising status in the game, spitting, “Nigga, why would I give you a free verse/ When it’s fifteen hundred for t-shirt.” “Squeeze” is expected to appear on Fivio Foreign’s next album. The track also follows a string of impressive feature verses including ones on Kanye’s “Off the Grid” and Polo G’s “Clueless.”
DaBaby f/ 21 Savage, “Sticked Up”
View this video on YouTube
On “Sticked Up,” DaBaby slows the beat down as he raps, “Real nigga stand on all ten toes/ When nobody got your back, you better have a back/ If I don’t got a damn thing, I better got a strap,” he spits. 21 Savage also appears on the third verse of the single, rapping, “Plenty times nigga could’ve killed us/ Shot me six times, I ain’t bitch up/ Stood toe-to-toe with the best of ‘em.” “Sticked Up” is on DaBaby’s six-track project, Back on My Baby Sh!t AGAIN.
Lil Durk, “Lion Eyes”
View this video on YouTube
“Lion Eyes” is a surprise single from Lil Durk that finds the Chicago native delivering one melodic verse over a trap beat. Durk raps about growing up in the trenches, the people he lost, and drug use. “A lot of people claim they real, they don’t be lyin’/ I be takin’ the smallest drugs, I’m feelin’ giant/ The way I’m mixin’ pop and lean, I’m passin’ science,” he spits. He also raps about playing at Rolling Loud and getting so big that “I can’t enjoy my private life.”
