Billboard’s Friday Music Information serves as a helpful information to this Friday’s most important releases — the important thing music that everybody will likely be speaking about at this time, and that will likely be dominating playlists this weekend and past.
This week, Dua Lipa will get the social gathering re-started, Kendrick Lamar is ingesting Haterade, and Gunna drops one other zonked-out hit. Try all of this week’s picks beneath:
Dua Lipa, Radical Optimism
Within the 4 years because the launch of her sophomore album Future Nostalgia, Dua Lipa has develop into an A-list superstar — popping up in blockbuster movies and at trend exhibits, proudly owning journal covers and area phases — and it’s all due to the smashes that got here from that disco-revival opus, in addition to the one-off singles (like “Chilly Coronary heart” and “Dance the Night time”) that adopted. Lipa’s hits are the engine of her rising visibility, and Radical Optimism makes an attempt to pile up extra W’s whereas revealing extra of the artist behind them: working over candy-coated dance manufacturing and attacking every refrain with full-throated vigor, Lipa sings about need and betrayal — though typically the quieter moments of the album, like on the understated guitar-pop of “Maria,” reduce the deepest.
Kendrick Lamar, “6:16 in LA” and “Euphoria”
Kendrick Lamar has had a productive week whereas gazing a photograph of Drake on his bulletin board: because the rap-superstar feud continues, Ok. Dot has dropped a pair of snarling diss tracks aimed toward questioning the very fiber of his opponent’s being. Earlier this week we obtained “Euphoria,” a six-minute-plus takedown of the best way that Drake talks, walks and clothes, amongst different issues; this morning, Lamar dropped “6:16 in LA,” which performs off Drizzle’s timestamp track sequence and goes for the jugular (“Faux bully, I hate bullies, you have to be a horrible individual / Everybody inside your staff is whispering that you just deserve it”).
Gunna, “Whatsapp (Wassam)”
One week earlier than the discharge of latest album Considered one of Wun, Gunna is again with a delightfully chilled-out new single, as “Whatsapp (Wassam)” returns the rap star to the spacey heights of Wunna highlights like “Skybox” and “Wunna Flo.” No person in hip-hop is as adept at tossing out these kind of relaxed, stream-of-consciousness flows as precise hits, and after “Fukumean” turned the largest solo hit of his profession final yr, Gunna has doubtless scored one other rap-playlist staple.
Think about Dragons feat. J Balvin, “Eyes Closed”
Think about Dragons have by no means been shy about mashing up their guitar-heavy pop-rock with hip-hop by way of visitor rappers, from “Sucker for Ache” to “Enemy,” however a brand new model of “Eyes Closed” brings in J Balvin to drop bars in Spanish and supply the pummeling track with a brand new path. Dan Reynolds capably hoists the hook above the head-snapping percussion and manufacturing wobble, however Balvin highlights the observe, making “Eyes Closed” a showcase for his personal talent set as he visits one other artist’s universe.
Kane Brown & Marshmello, “Miles on It”
Kane Brown and Marshmello have already mashed up their country-pop and dance stylings to nice success due to the 2019 single “One Factor Proper,” and with new collaboration “Miles on It,” the duo are each attempting to recapture the magic in addition to provide the world with a not-very-subtle track of the summer time. “Simply you and me in a truck mattress broad like a California King / We might break it in, if you understand what I imply,” Brown sings on the refrain earlier than the tempo turns double-time, suggesting that “Miles on It” just isn’t precisely referring to his Chevy’s odometer.
Editor’s Choose: WILLOW, Empathogen
Following her preteen beginnings with “Whip My Hair,” WILLOW has spent greater than a decade upending expectations of her recording profession, swiveling from family-friendly pop to luxurious R&B to riotous pop-punk. New album Empathogen provides jazz, art-pop and indie-rock prospers into her increasing palette, however WILLOW’s character drives the complete undertaking, powering songs like “Run!” and “The Concern is Not Actual” with jittery vitality and resplendent attraction; she’s a veteran at this level, however she’s nonetheless serving up the unpredictable.