With so much good music, it's easy to miss out on some great tracks. So we've rounded up the best songs from the past week. Here are the songs you can't afford to skip, in no particular order.
If there's anything I've learned within the last few years, it's that sometimes the most interesting collaborations come out of nowhere. The latest collab to fit that description comes from California rapper KYLE and Boston's freshest prince, Cousin Stizz.
Their new single "Want Me Bad" perfectly blends both of their sounds for a seamless creation. KYLE is known for delivering fun, feel-good singles, while Stizz has perfected making low-key, addictive tracks. The production by Ayo is the perfect, punchy skeleton for the two respective flows.
"Want Me Bad" is a standout track for both KYLE and Stizz, and with a hook that catchy, it could lead to bigger things in no time. Here's hoping we hear more from these two.—Adrienne Black
Smino - “Anita”
Another release, another rocket from St. Louis export Smino. The drummer-turned-rapper expands his range to hit home run melodies on “Anita,” the latest collaboration with Smino's right-hand man Monte Booker. Low-key, loving, and packed with lush vocal stacks, “Anita” leaves us all the more excited for blkswn.—Alex Siber
AMA LOU - "Said It Already"
Eighteen-year-old Ama Lou is one of London's brightest young musical minds, and she's using her artwork to send messages. Her latest, the somber, cutting "Said It Already," examines "tension that is created from mixed ideals that lie in gap between multiple generations," Ama Lou told us. Our perceived differences are on display more than ever these days, and the young singer uses crisp drums, big bass, and an urgent tone to set the mood. If you're in England, catch Ama Lou at our London No Ceilings show on February 15.—Graham Corrigan
In case Atrocity Exhibition didn't make it glaringly obvious for you, let's reiterate: Paul White and Danny Brown make incredible music together. With their latest collaboration, "Accelerator," they've amped up the insanity to an almost incomprehensible degree.
The production gallops all over the place, refusing to take a breather, and Danny is more than up to the task of matching the breakneck pace. Not many rappers would even dare rap atop this instrumental, let alone pull it off as well as Danny does here. The absurd video is the cherry on top, and "Accelerator" is further proof of how essential a pair they've become.—Joe Price
I was hooked on Clayjay's "Mr. Sensei" within the first 10 seconds. The San Francisco artist's production is melodically simple but leaves room for expansion, with synths, percussion, and electronic decoration working its way in without ever cluttering the song. He leaves just enough room for New York singer Courtnie's alluring vocals.
"When I wrote 'Sensei' I tried to channel the mood of [the] forest into the music," Clayjay told us. "The song always felt like a creepy, but romantic love story set in the heart of Mt. Davidson. I wanted listeners to be able to imagine this forest as they immerse themselves in the song."—Jacob Moore
SiR ft. Anderson .Paak & King Mez - "New LA"
TDE's latest signee SiR dropped his first release with the label today, and he brought some friends out for the occasion. Anderson .Paak and King Mez show out on "New LA," the opening track off SiR's Her Too EP. It's a fittingly slinky introduction for the crooner, and .Paak replicates the magic the two cooked up on their previous collab "Liberation," making this a tongue-twisting West Coast anthem for the modern era. SiR hasn't taken any missteps since he was announced as part of TDE, and with .Paak and King Mez by his side, he's full in the California music current on this first official EP.—Graham Corrigan
