The Top 10 Releases of the Week

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Kid Cudi - Man On The Moon III: The Chosen

Kid Cudi dropped his first solo album since 2016, and lucky for us, it was the conclusion to his epic Man On The Moon trilogy. Cudi has definitely solidified his style over the years, ranging from downtempo to alternative rap, but one thing has remained constant: he produces genius music. MOTM III might hold some of his best bars thus far, and we’re just glad Cudi is back. 

Check out our full length review of the album here. 

The Neighbourhood - Chip Chrome & The Mono-Tones (Deluxe)

The Neighbourhood is a class indie rock band. You most definitely know them from their 2012 hit “Sweater Weather.” They have faded in and out of popularity over the years, but this album solidified both their relevancy and their quality back when it was released back in September. The band entered a new, self-realized era. The project is inspired by David Bowie’s persona “Ziggy Stardust,” who was addicted to cocaine, much like Chip Chrome’s persona is addicted to the internet – he’s a product of his environment. The album is rooted in experimentation and it makes for a cinematic listening experience. 

This week, we got the deluxe version. While deluxe versions are disappointing more often than not, these four new songs are great; some are even better than original album tracks, overall elevating the project to a new level. “Stargazing” is our favorite new track. It's an electric bop that offsets the other more mellow tracks nicely.

Ari Lennox - “Grounded”

R&B queen Ari Lennox has been spotlighting black owned businesses from her hometown, Washington D.C., on her Youtube series that she launched a month ago. Most recently, she featured her favorite Black-owned online and subscription-based plant store, GROUNDED.

To go along with the Grounded episode, Ari partnered with Google and US Black Chambers, Inc. to create a jingle for the business and an animated video.  

It’s super short and sweet. We hear Ari’s beautiful vocals over a simple, bouncy backbeat as she sings about the need to be grounded in order to grow, just like a plant. It’s an excellent self-care track. 

Chika - “FWB”

If you haven't listened to Chika, you gotta get on that. If you don’t believe us, believe the Grammys: this Alamba rapper is up for Best New Artist. We know they've been sketchy lately, but they’re right about this one. She has a short but impressive discography - take a closer look at her career here.

This week CHIKA delivered an R&B heavy single “FWB," which stands for friends with benefits. It’s a soulful and sensual track “for all my emotionally unavailable homies.” 

Bakar feat. Lancey Foux - “Play”

The London boys Bakar and Lancey Foux have teamed up again and the chemistry is real. This song is a free spirit indie bop, combining Bakar’s indie rock and Foux’s alternative rap styles. Bakar shared “we make lots of music together which I don’t do with many people and we felt that we should share this. I want to be free to put music out when it just feels right and this song feels like it belongs now.” 

The song was released alongside a music video shot by their friends, depicting them living it up in London. Bakar is set to release an album in 2021, a follow up to his debut album Badkid from 2018. We know he’s cooking up something great.

Channel Tres - i can’t go outside

After a year of remixes and features, Channel Tres is closing out 2020 with a new EP, i can’t go outside. The project is a reflection of the “dumpster fire of the year” with the pandemic and radical racial and social injustices that surfaced this summer. Just like everyone else in the world, Channel Tres is just trying to make sense of what is going down right now. 

Lockdown was evidently the perfect time to pump out new music. With features from Tyler, The Creator and Tinashe, i can’t go outside is bluesy, alternative, a little bit electronic, and definitely relatable. While this project is a reminder of the 2020 shit hole, Channel Tres assures that music will get all of us through this. 

Marc E. Bassy feat. Buddy - “Cold”

Heartbreak expert Marc E. Bassy joined Zoink Gang’s Buddy on the new single “Cold.” Bassy and Buddy explore the inevitable ups and downs of relationships, a pretty common theme in contemporary R&B. Bassy has become an independent artist with his own label, New Gold Medal Records, and his empowering music is only going uphill from here. 

Bassy shares that he hopes for his music to “explore the causes of depression and anxiety in modern culture while still delivering a mix of big pop songs and hip-hop-leaning gems about love and sex.” Following this theme, “Cold” is a mellow rap love song to add to your collection. 

Chris Lake & Arman van Helden - The Answer

House music heavyweight Chris Lake has had himself a busy 2020. Most recently, he’s tapped DJ/producer Armand van Helden for their collaborative EP The Answer - just a few short weeks after the release of the title track single. 

This EP showcases Chris Lake’s ability to concoct infectious beats that make you want to move your feet. Lake has expressed before, “All I’m really looking for is to get people on the dance-floor, and by the time they finish they realize, ‘Oh, God, my feet really hurt.’ I want them to dance and let go and feel good.” Although we don’t get to dance to it in the club right now, he still brings the groove on this EP.  

Hotboii feat. Toosi - “All of Your Love”

Orlando-based rapper/singer Hotboii released his second project of 2020, Double O Baby. The Florida artist is keeping himself in the spotlight. At only 20 years old, Hotboii has found some mainstream success, tapping more popular artists like Lil Mosey, Toosii and Pooh Shiesty for the project. This track was a standout for us; something about a trap beat paired with an electric guitar hits different.

Jack Harlow - That’s What They All Say

2020 has been tough on everybody, but one person would likely tell you that 2020 has been the best year of their life - and his name is Jack Harlow.  The Louisville-born rapper has had a massively successful year, capped off with the release of his debut studio album, That’s What they All Say. 

Harlow has absolutely blown up this year, mostly due to his hit single “What’s Poppin,” which later was remixed, featuring superstars like Lil Wayne, DaBaby and Tory Lanez. This album features Lil Baby, Chris Brown, Adam Levine and more; it’s an impressive, cohesive project that truly showcases his talent.