Billboard’s Friday Music Information serves as a useful information to this Friday’s most important releases — the important thing music that everybody can be speaking about right this moment, and that can be dominating playlists this weekend and past.
This week, Pharrell and Miley conjure new (previous) magic, Cardi B will not be resting on her laurels, and Charli XCX needs to return to the trucker-hat period. Take a look at all of this week’s picks beneath:
Pharrell Williams feat. Miley Cyrus, “Physician (Work It Out)”
Whether or not seen as a victory lap following her first Grammy wins or a tribute to Bangerz a little bit after that turning-point album’s tenth anniversary, “Physician (Work It Out)” is the sound of Miley Cyrus strutting alongside certainly one of her most trusted collaborators, Pharrell Williams, on a funked-up observe that the pair first labored on years in the past. “Physician (Work It Out)” follows the identical thread of unrepentant need because the duo’s previous hit “Come Get It Bae,” with a little bit extra disco swagger and medical double entendres within the combine; the music might evaporate tomorrow or develop into a sturdy hit, however both approach, Cyrus appears like she’s having a good time with it.
Cardi B, “Like What (Freestyle)”
“Ayo, let me put some gasoline on this motherf–kin’ yr,” Cardi B sneers to start “Like What (Freestyle),” the rap celebrity’s first solo observe in a number of years that serves as a ripcord to fireplace up her rumbling, singular move. “Like What” takes purpose at Cardi’s enemies and haters over a pattern of Missy Elliott’s 1999 traditional “She’s a Bitch,” however the takedowns are merely components in a scrumptious return to kind for Cardi, who doubles down on similes and tosses out stunners like Stone Chilly Steve Austin — earlier than truly referencing him on a hilarious, X-rated rhyme.
Charli XCX, “Von Dutch”
Though Charli XCX has explored quite a lot of pop aesthetics and launch fashions over the course of her decade-plus profession, the prospect of upcoming album Brat brimming with propulsive, laser-light membership fare just like the smashing new single “Von Dutch” ought to excite each informal listeners and longtime supporters. Charli locks in on the woozy manufacturing and guides the observe in direction of the inevitable bass drops, by no means letting up as her voice circles out and in of focus; just like the titular trucker hat, “Von Dutch” is designed to evoke bleary-eyed mid-‘00s nights out, and hits its goal in thrilling vogue.
ScHoolboy Q, Blue Lips
5 years can characterize an eternity in trendy hip-hop, however for ScHoolboy Q, the follow-up to 2019’s CrasH Speak finds the TDE stalwart inhabiting his longtime pocket — telling onerous truths over left-of-center beats — whereas additionally evolving as a lyricist, particularly when specializing in parenthood and his considerations of the long run. Blue Lips will not be designed as a mainstream crossover (the bugged-out, menacing “Pop,” that includes Rico Nasty, makes that plain), however ScHoolboy Q has a loyal following that’s been ready for one more opus, and Blue Lips rewards them handsomely.
Galantis, David Guetta & 5 Seconds of Summer season, “Lighter”
What a highway 5 Seconds of Summer season has traveled: after incomes fame and fortune as new-school pop-punks and One Course’s brattier (and infrequently thrilling) opening acts, 5SOS has grown into an expansive rock outfit that’s able to highlighting a throwback dance reduce like this Galantis and David Guetta team-up. “Lighter” trades in mid-2010s euphoria, again when hits by Zedd and Clear Bandit have been throughout high 40 radio, however 5SOS is the wild card that forestalls the observe from sounding like a re-tread.
Editor’s Choose: Yard Act, The place’s My Utopia?
The place’s My Utopia? is the sound of a rock band leveling up: Leeds post-punk group Yard Act impressed on their 2022 debut The Overload, however the collective’s sophomore album sharpens their sardonic method with out abandon, as if each inch of the quartet has develop into extra fearless over the previous two years. “Dream Job” is an apparent spotlight with its call-and-response dance-punk, however “The Undertow,” “An Phantasm” and “We Make Hits” all showcase a band price investing in long-term.
