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 in the present day, and that will likely be dominating playlists this weekend and past.
This week, Ariana Grande tries her hand at improv, Lil Nas X tempts blasphemy (once more), 21 Savage celebrates his everlasting stateside citizenship and extra. Try all of this week’s picks under:
Ariana Grande, “Sure, And?”
Possible essentially the most anticipated new music of the younger yr, Ariana Grande’s “Sure, And?” proclaims the return of one in all pop’s nice stars of the previous decade-plus with authority. Rumors that the only would interpolate Madonna’s “Vogue” turned out to be unfounded, however it does flash again to the house-pop sound of the early ’90s, perhaps a little bit nearer to George Michael’s “Too Funky” than Madge’s celebratory traditional. In any occasion, it’s a triumphant-sounding, attitude-spitting comeback — like a half-decade-later “No Tears Left to Cry,” with Grande now not in a state of whole disaster and actually studying to reside life in full once more.
Lil Nas X, “J Christ”
Three years after first baiting fundamentalists along with his devil-lapdancing video for “Montero (Name Me By Your Title),” Lil Nas X is again to poke the bear once more with new single and visible “J Christ” (as in, “b–ch, I’m again like J Christ”). The music options LNX speaking his s–t over a Tay-Keith-like pounding-piano beat from go-to producers Blake Slatkin and Omer Fedi (in addition to edgy EDM producer Gesaffelstein), whereas the clip sees him enjoying Jesus on the cross and an angel hooping in opposition to the satan, amongst different issues. “Is he ’bout to present ’em one thing viral?” he asks rhetorically on the refrain. Appears doubtless!
21 Savage, American Dream
After sending the web right into a fury this week with an obvious trailer for an upcoming biopic — with Donald Glover and Stranger Issues‘ Caleb McLauhglin splitting the lead function — 21 Savage has returned, not with a brand new film as thought, however with the brand new album American Dream. The 15-track set is each his first solo LP since 2018’s I Am > I Was and his first since formally changing into an American citizen in 2023. It feels appropriately exultant in consequence, with big-name visitors like Doja Cat, Travis Scott, Summer time Walker and naturally longtime producer collaborator Metro Boomin serving to an in-control Savage commemorate his dwelling the titular aspiration over sun-baked and soulful beats.
Jeymes Samuel, Jay-Z & D’Angelo, “I Need You Endlessly”
We’re fairly fortunate to get one music a yr from both Jay-Z or D’Angelo at this level, so to get one with each of them looks like Halley’s Comet. Their new teamup “I Need You Endlessly” can also be a collab with musician and filmmaker Jeymes Samuel, recorded for the soundtrack to his new film The Guide of Clarence. The nine-plus-minute psych-funk groove is likely one of the least-pop issues both artist has ever been concerned with — Andre 3000 will undoubtedly tip his flute to the duo if and when he listens — however there’s one thing undeniably hypnotic about the way in which the music builds over its in depth runtime, sending D’Angelo specifically into orbit along with his rapturous layered vocals.
Jennifer Lopez, “Can’t Get Sufficient”
Sorta loopy to consider, however it’s really been longer since we obtained a correct solo album from Jennifer Lopez than from D’Angelo. Her upcoming This Is Me… Now LP — non secular sequel to 2002’s This Is Me… Then — will likely be her first since 2014’s A.Okay.A., and is led by the blissed-out dancefloor bump of lead single “Can’t Get Sufficient.” “You bought my engine runnin’/ You bought the keys to show me on and on,” J. Lo testifies over Rick James-worthy bass and flute, earlier than dipping into the refrain hook of Alton Ellis’ ’60s reggae traditional “I’m Nonetheless in Love With You” — borrowed dozens of instances earlier than in pop historical past (from Althea & Donna to Sean Paul & Sasha) and nonetheless a winner each time.
Kali Uchis, ORQUÍDEAS
It’s been fairly per week for Kali Uchis, as the discharge of her fourth album ORQUÍDEAS is simply the second-biggest headline for her early January: the alt-R&B star additionally introduced that she was anticipating her first little one with hip-hop hitmaker Don Toliver. The LP alone ought to be greater than sufficient purpose for Uchis’ title to be on everybody’s lips this week, nevertheless. Her second predominantly Spanish-language set is an enthralling assortment that proves the singer-songwriter to be on the vanguard of forward-thinking (and forward-moving) pop and R&B, with useful assists from big-name visitors like Rauw Alejandro, Karol G and even a thrillingly out-of-his-element Peso Pluma on discofied doubtless smash “Igual Que Un Ángel.”
