Best Songs of the Week

With so much good music steadily coming through, it's easy to miss some of the best. To help prevent this, we've rounded up the best new songs of the week. Here are the songs you can't afford to skip, in no particular order.

"I ain't been asleep in like five days," BlocBoy JB raps in "Rover 2.0." It's the kind of life he's living now, a Drake cosign in his rearview and 21 Savage on his guest verses. This latest single won't help the insomnia—it's an update of Blocboy's "Rover," and 21 absolutely floats over the sparse, menacing production. The relentless piano loop sounds straight out of BlocBoy's Memphis, a gritty update of Three 6 Mafia's "Bring Sally Up." It's another indication that BlocBoy JB has the ear and connections to stick around for a long while.—Graham Corrigan

Yung Bans is a safe bet to be one of the stars of 2018. He's young and from the hottest city in hip-hop, has stayed consistent with quality releases, and he knows how to navigate both online and throughout the industry without coming off as disingenuous or forced. It all seems to be paying off—Bans has built a following with his Vol. 1-4 EPs and has received a cosign from superstar and fellow ATLien Future.

Vol. 4 just dropped this week and one of the early standouts is "Mood Swings." With help from JBan$2turnt and airy production from Goose, Bans switched things up and used a heavier Auto-tune to touch on the drama that has come with his dealings with women.—Eric Isom

​Watch Yung Bans on Trending Topics here.

“All We Got” signaled Chance the Rapper’s arrival as a rap superstar, both in its not-so-subtle torch passing between Kanye West and Chano and in its booming, digitized gospel sound, which felt like a coronation. That latter element is stripped away on SBTRKT’s remix, which leans heavily on the producer’s signature blend of contemplative, buzzy synths and splashy, cymbal-heavy percussion. If it’s not quite as regal as the original, the darker tones and more muted sonic palette bring out the yearning and desperation of the song’s message that’s hidden behind the swelling horns and choir. “Music is all we got” is a statement of purpose as much as it is a reflection of a sobering reality for many young artists in Chicago, and SBTRKT’s remix brilliantly emphasizes that sentiment.—Grant Rindner

It feels like we've watched sister duo Chloe x Halle grow up right in front of our eyes in the last few years. We've all known how talented they were ever since we were first introduced to their music, but both Chloe and Halle are blossoming into complete artists. After years of preparation, the duo finally shared their official debut album The Kids Are Alright this week, and it lives up to expectations. One of the initial standouts is their collab with GoldLink titled "Hi Lo." It's a mesmerizing track that showcases Chloe and Halle's vocal range, songwriting abilities, and especially their sharp production skills. GoldLink joins in to complete the hazy track with a quick verse that compliments the subtle bounce of the rhythm. These kids are definitely alright.—Adrienne Black

Fresh off performing at SXSW, British rapper AJ Tracey dropped a new track and video this week, kicking off what we hope will be a busy 2018. Last year, he released the Secure The Bag! EP which hit No. 13 on the U.K. album chart, no mean feat for a fully independent artist.

Although he came up in the grime scene, AJ has always been experimenting with different styles and tempos, and he continues that on new track "Mimi," riding a colorful beat from Sevaqk and delivering a catchy hook too.—Alex Gardner

Approaching Chief Keef's music from a different angle isn't easy, if only because his melodies are so perfectly suited to the unmistakably Chicago sound, but Busu's "Hate Bein' Sober" cover is effortless. The Swedish rapper has already shown us how adept he is at writing his own music with his promising debut album Family, and the distinctly grunged-out sound on this cover is particularly inspired. Just like the Blink-182 sample he rapped and sang over on "Curse On You and the Clique That You Claim," his "Hate Bein' Sober" cover reiterates just how great Busu is at completely reinventing already beloved music.—Joe Price

Mike WiLL Made-It is one of the most in-demand producers in the game. So when he signs someone to his label and executive produces their album you should at least check it out, even if you're not familiar. Those who have been paying attention will already know about ATL rapper Trouble, who has been grinding for years, delivering raw rap with a unique flair for describing his life in the trap.

His new album Edgewood is out now, and it features Drake, Quavo, The Weeknd, Fetty Wap, and more. Those big name features are a lot of fun, especially Quavo on "Rider," but this project is all about Trouble and Mike-WiLL's chemistry. "Might Not," with its haunting beat, is a perfect example of the magic they can make together.—Alex Gardner

Florida’s L8LOOMER (formerly Broderick Batts) has previously tucked deeper messages into propulsive, summertime jams such as the impressive “Right Side,” a party anthem that broaches everything from the importance of owning your own publishing to Mercury in retrograde.

His latest, “SFWU,” is the kind of emotionally complex love song that an edgier, older Khalid might be making in a few years. The track chronicles the eventual phase of acceptance in a turbulent relationship, as L8LOOMER reflects on all the drama he and the object of his affection have weathered together. The hook bristles with a certain amount of indignation, and that mix of anger, appreciation, and acceptance is something we’ve all likely felt at some point.—Grant Rindner

Earlier this year, Saba announced the release of his upcoming album Care For Me and shared "Busy," a reflective lead single that finds him dealing with feelings of loneliness and isolation. This week, he offered up another taste of the album in the form of "LIFE," which continues the existential tone and subject matter of "Busy."

On "LIFE," Saba wrestles with fear, depression, and death with a devastating urgency. "I tell death to keep a distance, I think he obsessed with me," Saba raps as a haunting, plaintive bassline and bone-dry percussion swell under him. The production, a collaboration between Daoud, daedaePIVOT, and Saba himself, creates a somber, shadowy backdrop for his moving, confessional lyricism. "LIFE" showcases Saba's masterful storytelling ability and powerful, stirring delivery.—Charlotte Freitag

"There's a suitable amount of melancholy mixed with self-deprecation, and also a general feeling that it's going to be okay," Still Woozy told us, of his music. "Intimacy is something that I really care about in music. It needs to feel like I'm connecting with someone or something. That's living."

His latest track, "Lucy," features fellow rising artist Odie, and the two deliver a sweet and sunny indie pop song that's going to be in rotation all summer long.—Alex Gardner

I really wish that I had the confidence to be as open as Snail Mail's Lindsey Jordan when it came to matters of the heart. There's this sick, sinking sensation that goes through your body when your feelings for someone are so raw and strong that they consume everything around you. That's what this song reminds me of, with soaring guitars drowning out the self-doubt.

"Don't you like me for me?/ Is there any better feeling than coming clean?" Lindsey sings in the chorus. "And I know myself and I'll never love anyone else/ I won't love anyone else/ I'll never love anyone else."

When you're on the brink of adulthood, nobody wants to tell you that moving on is a struggle, accepting change is easier said than done, and growing up never really ends.—Sydney Gore

Read our interview with Snail Mail here.

T.Y.E. has rapped about his battles with mental health before, but it's never been quite this vivid. "Voices" is the first single off the Dallas rapper's next album, and it finds him literally split between two internal voices, trying to rise above his baser, opposing instincts. DZY's production sets a grim scene, and as the argument intensifies, the full range of T.Y.E.'s abilities comes into focus. The former opera singer is a passionate, unflinching storyteller, and if "Voices" is your lane, T.Y.E.'s Tr:32 (All About Money) dropped just last January.—Graham Corrigan

If there's one thing you can expect from Sheck Wes, it's energy. The Harlem rapper brought intensity and raw visuals to match with his previous singles "Live Sheck Wes Die Sheck Wes" and "Mo Bamba," and leading into the release of his debut project MUDBOY he's back with more. Wes returned with "Do That" this week and he charged through the aggressive production with precision. The Cactus Jack signee told Zane Lowe that he wants his debut to be all him and so far, the formula is working.—Eric Isom

​Read our interview with Sheck Wes here.

Bernard Jabs has already become one of the more exciting new artists we've come across in 2018. Working mainly with producer SIDEPCE, the Tifton, Georgia native is delivering hard-hitting tracks that are in the two-minute range that many fans today are becoming accustomed to. "End Goal" is another SIDEPCE-produced record and Jabs doesn't disappoint. Bernard's stock is on the rise and all signs are pointing towards a fruitful year for the young spitter.—Eric Isom

​Learn more about Bernard Jabs here.