“The Adventures of Moon Man and Slim Shady” – Kid Cudi & Eminem
Kid Cudi and Eminem collaborated on a new single they recorded during quarantine, aptly named “The Adventures of Moon Man and Slim Shady.” Lacking a hook or chorus, this track shows that these two powerhouse rappers make for an interesting duo, although I wouldn’t say this song is their best work. Unfortunately, the single falls victim to the pattern that many songs have during quarantine: the mixing isn’t very good and the sound quality of the two rappers are noticeably different. While catchy, the song‘s Trap beat is somewhat generic and falls flat when considering the caliber of the two artists. Cudi seems to sit in the rhythm more comfortably, as the low-energy beat fits well with his natural drowny, relaxed flow. Eminem’s verse is a little longer than Cudi’s, and it seems that he needed those extra seconds to settle into the track. Thankfully, Eminem eventually found his flow and delivered a solid verse, providing commentary on both the pandemic and the recent cases involving police brutality against Black people.
“Be Like That” – Kane Brown feat. Khalid and Swae Lee
Pivoting from his usual country sound, Kane Brown collaborated with superstars Khalid and Swae Lee to produce a contemporary Pop/R&B track. The three artists teamed up to sing about a love that, despite driving them crazy, they can’t live without. A simple cute pop song that is sure to get some radio play, “Be Like That “ doesn’t provide anything new or revolutionary. However, these three artists are good together, complimenting each other’s unique approaches to pop music. Die-hard fans of Khalid and Swae Lee are likely to enjoy the track despite the twangy country sound that Brown brings.
Lockdown – Anderson.Paak
Another musical assessment of current events, Anderson.Paak used “Lockdown” as an opportunity to compare the feeling of being in a pandemic to the Black Lives Matter movement. Paak focused on his hip-hop sound to provide commentary on police brutality, a distrust of the justice system, and the unfortunate need for Black people to advocate for their own existence. Sampling actual audio of police antagonizing protesters, Anderson.Paak made his stance on the Black Lives Matter movement very clear with this funky yet serious single.
Life On Earth – EP – Summer Walker
This five-track EP by singer Summer Walker is sure to entice contemporary R&B fans. A calm, laid-back sound paired with emotional heartfelt lyrics, the songs on Life on Earth show off Walker’s vocal talent and songwriting ability. Fans are familiar with her ability to provoke emotional reflection and clarity, and the opening track “Let It Go” will have you reminiscing about past relationships (even imaginary ones). The track that will gain the most traction will likely be her collaboration with OVO’s PARTYNEXTDOOR, “My Affection.” The song addresses the internal changes (or lack thereof) that can occur when two people grow up and their relationship and feelings for each other change. PARTYNEXTDOOR is definitely at home with this slow, sultry track and provides the ideal male perspective opposite Walker.
