We're not entirely sure how the music industry really works, but there's something to be said about all the women that came out on top this week with an arson of hits. Ariana Grande kicked it off with the breakup ballad we deserve because growth is fundamental for survival. cupcakKe and Tommy Genesis delivered new projects loaded with bangers galore. Elsewhere, bands like Cherry Glazerr, Sorry, and Rose Droll had us deep in our feelings.
JPEGMAFIA and Kenny Beats teamed up for an ode to P. Diddy, and then Earl Sweatshirt returned from his hiatus. Lil Gotit also tapped Lil Uzi Vert for another collab and it's even better than their last. And then Panda Bear hit us with a meditative tune that will keep you grounded this weekend.
Dive into this week's best new songs below.
Ariana Grande- “thank u, next”
Regardless of your astrological beliefs, Venus in retrograde has been doing some serious damage to lovers everywhere. Amidst all the chaos, it's important to keep in mind that everything happens for a reason. Ariana Grande single-handedly broke the formula for breakup ballads with this anthem and reminds us to stop blocking our blessings. Sometimes things don't work out, but it will ultimately serve you better in the long run! Let go and let grow y'all. - S
Cherry Glazerr - "Daddi"
Nothing gets my blood pumping like a cheeky garage pop tune and Cherry Glazerr's latest offering will give you quite the head rush. As sublime as the song sounds with seductive taunts, frontwoman Clementine Creevy really goes off in the chorus as she shuts down unwanted advances of men. Cherry Glazerr's fourth album Stuffed & Ready drops on February 1, 2019 via Secretly Canadian. - S
cupcakKe - “Cereal and Water”
It’s always difficult picking a favorite track from a cupcakKe project, and the fact that she keeps getting better and better seriously complicates things. However, I will say that “Cereal and Water” left me speechless. I’m a sucker for sinister-sounding beats, and the fact that cupcakKe spits incredibly sharp bars about everything from colorism to abusers getting a pass to the disproportionate incarceration of black people is yet another reason to make me want to shout about her from the mountaintops. For now, I’ll just stick to cyber-yelling at my coworkers on Slack to get them to listen to her new album Eden. - B
Earl Sweatshirt - “Nowhere2go”
Our boy Earl is finally back. After three long years (the world was a completely different place back then, let’s be real). I’m completely obsessed with how wonky this beat by Booliemane and Adé Hakim is, Earl’s just-the-right-amount-of-deadpan delivery, absolutely everything about this, basically. We’re all more than ready for more. - B
JPEGMAFIA & Kenny Beats - “Puff Daddy”
Alright, I could write several sentences about the distortion on this track alone, but I won’t. If I am to keep this brief, I’ll just say that “it bangs” is an understatement when attempting to describe this mindfuck of a song, and I will be listening to this anytime I need an instant adrenaline rush. - B
Lil Gotit- “Hercules” ft. Lil Uzi Vert
Again, I have no issue fully admitting that more or less any song involving Lil Uzi Vert will make it on this list. After the two linked up on “Heavy Metal,” they’re back at it again on a track of Herculean proportions. Shoutout to the extended, dreamy intro and Uzi’s especially raspy voice. More of those, please. - B
Panda Bear - “Dolphin”
One of my favorite Cancerian musicians is officially back in action with an aquatic-inspired masterpiece, if I do say so myself. Just one listen to the watery drip drops, guitar strums, and reverberating vocals of Panda Bear for three minutes and 41 seconds, and it’s somehow as if I’ve been in therapy for an hour and have had a deep tissue massage. - B
Rose Droll - "Fat Duck"
I live for the depth of Rose Droll's voice on this track as she sings “I know you keep the bath lit to dull all your senses/ You know I never knew what you were going through" in the opening verse. As the song slowly begins to unwind all of its sonic layers, Droll refrains from smothering the listener with too many emotions--her approach is more subdued as she hits your sensitive spots, but doesn't fully trigger the pain. The San Francisco-based artist's debut album Your Dog is due out on November 16 via Father/Daughter Records and Double Denim Records. - S
Sorry - “Starstruck”
Someone once said, "A little less conversation, a little more touch my body" and that's the same exact vibe that you get from Sorry as they dance with sexual tension. You'll feel like lead singer Asha Lorenz is spitting on you as she aggressively inhales in the chorus, and by the third time around the concept isn't even weird. Don't question it. - S
Tommy Genesis - “Naughty” ft. Empress Of
This is one of those collaborations that sneaks up on you unexpectedly, but actually makes perfect sense. There are so many gems within Tommy Genesis' debut album, but this track outshined them all for me because of the crossover with Empress Of. The blending of their worlds is so beautiful that I'm on the verge of bursting into tears just thinking about it! We love when two strong women come together to pour their hearts out in a perfectly polished song! - S
In case you missed it, check out our picks for last week's best tracks right here.
