Not one to play it safe, Lewis Cancut’s metallic banger, ‘Plastic Games’ seems to personify the vibes that NLV Records have been championing. The track is undeniably upbeat, yet the layered song with its elements of flexible drums, chimes, and whistles is oddly hollow sonically, creating a song that doesn’t merely belong in a bass heavy club basement. The humanoid persona of Hatsune Miku, the 16-year-old singing synthesiser is responsible for the tracks eerily innocent vocals. Cancut has again shown a propensity for high-energy sonics and ‘water-testing’ beats, hopefully bringing him that little bit closer to his career goal of producing for Japan’s very own Kyary Pamyu Pamyu.

It’s been two years since we’ve been blessed with any new singles from Banoffee. The new single ‘Ripe’ seems to represent the beginning of a new era in sound exploration for the artist. Unlike her previous projects this is not born from a place of necessity in order to deal with anxiety. ‘Ripe’ is somewhat more separated from the self and in a sense, cynical.

The overt sweetness of the song nears the point of discomfort as Banoffee comments on the immense greed of consumerism that exists within the mainstream pop industry, the concept of sweet becoming sickly. The manipulated vocal sample, scratchy bassline and somewhat caustic drops combine to create a brand of experimental electronic-come-pop truly unique to Banoffee. ‘Ripe’ was conjured in the LA studios of label 10K Islands and the Australian alternative pop talent shows a great deal of development, both technically and emotionally in her music.

Moses Sumney has just signed to indie record label Jagjaguwar and to commemorate the occasion has dropped a video to accompany his track ‘Doomed’. It’s the first track we’ve seen that will feature on his imminent full-length debut album. The song itself is as ethereal yet eerie as the accompanying film clip which shows Sumney, floating naked in a swimming tank, a ghostly blue light illuminating his tank as he sings the impassioned ballad. The clips final moments show a birds eye, zoomed out view of Sumney’s tank, revealing numerous tanks, each occupied by a lone person and all distinctly separate from one another. The emotional maturity and depth of Sumney’s lyricism and accompanying clip show an artist who is authentically himself.

Photography by Ibra Ake

Titled ‘YBA’, Meek Mill’s newest track is an acronym for “Young Black America” as revealed in the hook, supplied by The-Dream. The song is palpable and genuine, featuring some of the best lyrics we’ve seen from Meek Mill. Both the lyrics and film clip for ‘YBA’ provide a compelling message about the struggles faced by young people of colour in a country plagued by political and systematic failures that reinforce stereotypes and disadvantage the already prejudiced against.

The internet, in all its glory, has delivered a gem of a track for anyone who’s been missing Earl Sweatshirt since his last album back in 2015. Allegedly named ‘Hat Trick’, the track was first heard back in May by those lucky enough to see Sweatshirt’s performance at the annual Movement Festival in Detroit. But the audio has only just had the opportunity to bless the masses as Earl and Knxwledge broadcasted the set on their Red Bull Radio show, Stay Inside. The ever authentic Earl even calls for Detroit to “make some noise for human error” mid-track, as his DJ made a mistake. The track may be a taste of what to expect on Sweatshirt’s next studio album which he says is currently in the works. Or it could be yet another stand-zone designed to make us pine for Sweatshirt. The jazzy beat marries well with Earl’s unforgettable voice, deeper perhaps than in his previous works.

Cardi B is making a seriously big impact with her massive personality, presence, and ever-developing talent. Her latest ‘Bodak Yellow’ is definitely no exception and helps solidify the artist as a serious force to be reckoned with. Paying homage to Florida rapper Kodak Black, Cardi B mimics Kodak’s flow on No Flockin’. Referencing her past career as a stripper, she raps, “Look, I don’t dance now/I make money moves” talking about her recent come-up and success. The clip for ‘Bodak Yellow’ is set in Dubai and features Cardi B looking incredible on a camel, dressed in jewels and an outfit as green as her bank account.