This week, the charts have blessed us with a sprinkling of Drake and some Alicia Keys, as a treat. Even though the world sucks right about now, the music has kept us going. Here are five brand-new songs you should definitely listen to, for better or worst, this weekend.
“Laugh Now Cry Later” – Drake Feat. Lil Durk
Drake has continued his onslaught of summer releases with “Laugh Now Cry Later,” in which he fabricates a sense of nostalgia reminiscent of music from earlier in his career. The song is typical Drake; it features a laid-back production with sing-songy vocals, with lyrics that describe both his romantic relationship and the relationship he has with his doubters. The horn instrumentals add some energy to the song, with a backbeat that is sure to keep you nodding your head. If the rest of Drake’s upcoming album sounds like “Laugh Now Cry Later,” he is sure to have another number one album on his hands.
“Hard On Yourself” – Charlie Puth Feat. blackbear
Charlie Puth took another foray into R&B music, this time with a more contemporary sound and upbeat flow. With the help of Florida artist blackbear, Puth perfectly adopts his new sound as he continues to evolve as a modern pop artist. Puth and blackbear exchange verses and tell their significant others to not be so critical of themselves and that they enjoy the simple parts of their relationships. Puth and blackbear’s vocals compliment each other well and Puth’s deeper voice contrasts with blackbear’s faster tempo.
“So Done” – Alicia Keys Feat. Khalid
These R&B powerhouses spanning two generations teamed up for “So Done.” Khalid accompanies Alicia Keys on this stripped down track featuring very little instrumentation, letting the prowess of these two artists shine through. Both artists seem to alter their own style to compliment the other and their harmonies carry the song. Khalid experiments with his singing style the most, at one point abandoning his usual drony, mellow voice for a more energetic and impactful vocals. Whie these two sound beautiful together, the lyrics are very simple and shallow, which is somewhat disappointing knowing the songwriting abilities of both artists.
“Bands Out The Roof” – Lil Mosey
Viral rapper Lil Mosey’s latest single seems to borrow from many of his contemporaries, using a very stereotypical modern hip-hop sound. The song is a departure from the more upbeat sound that made Lil Mosey famous, a style that also made him stand out from other up-and-coming artists. “Bands Out the Roof” Is wholly unoriginal and sounds like it could have easily been performed by a dozen other artists. The production is generic and Lil Mosey seems to be going with the crowd with this song- a shame because his past singles showed signs of an artist coming into his own. Though Lil Mosey has already managed to find massive amounts of success early in his career, it seems like the 18-year old artist still has a ways to go to reach top quality.
CUT EM IN – Anderson. Paak Feat. Rick Ross
Anderson. Paak brings his usual passion and energy to this latest single. In “CUT EM IN,” Paak leans into his hip-hop sound alongside an electric guitar and heavy backbeat. He sings about the need to have people who can support him, especially in a lucrative but public career making music. Rick Ross adds to the song’s intensity through his rough but relaxed voice during his verse. Paak shows off his ability as a rapper with a brief but impressive double-time verse towards the end of the track. “CUT EM IN” is exemplary of Paak’s ability to do it all, whether it’s R&B, Soul, Funk or Hip-Hop.