‘Are You With That?’ is the opening song of Vince Staples’ just-released self-titled album, setting the tone for his most personal opus. It features him harkening back to his past growing up in Long Beach, reflecting on his struggles and the friends he has lost. Kenny Beats handles the production here, creating wave-like, summer-soaked synths that support Vince’s effortlessly effective melodies.

Barkaa’s ‘King Brown’ is a booming, uplifting anthem focused on self-care and forgetting your ex. The Malyangapa, Barkindji artist tells the tale of discovering her self-worth through a series of comical, yet cutting rhymes and wordplay, following each verse with an ear-catching hook that’ll have you singing yourself into confidence. It’s the first taste of her upcoming EP Blak Matriarchy, which we are eager to hear soon.

UK hip hop’s youngest OG Dave is back with a new stomper called ‘Clash’, featuring fellow London heavyweight Stormzy. The track comes from his highly anticipated second album, We’re All Alone In This Together, which drops July 23. Produced by long-time collaborator Kyle Evans, ‘Clash’ is the first official link-up we’ve seen from Dave and Stormzy and it doesn’t disappoint. Each rapper takes their turn to show off laid-back flows riddled with witty wordplay. This jumpy track is a taste of what Dave has in store for us this month, stacked with his signature heady bars that are bound to make you rinse the replay button.

BIA was already steadily climbing the charts with her single ‘Whole Lotta Money’, but this remix is about to blast it into new territories. The core song remains the same: Hard-hitting 808s, rattling hi-hats, and the clanging of a cowbell leaving enough room for BIA’s faint but fiery delivery. But now, enhanced by the bars and wordplay of the legendary Nicki Minaj, who delivers a performance rich with hunger and R-rated content. Expect to see this one crowned on every club dance floor throughout the rest of this year. 

ASHWARYA’s ‘HIDE YOU UP’ is a song about moving on from a romantic situation, following her journey to the backdrop of scattered percussion, bellowing sub-bass, retro-styled synth soundscapes. The Melbourne singer showcases the versatility of her voice throughout, from soft howls to sky-high falsetto flourishes. It’s a glowing showcase of the late-night pop music that commands her debut EP NOCTURNAL HOURS, which you can stream now. 

Omah Lay’s ‘Understand’ is a soliloquy rooted in vulnerability and pure expression. Throughout the track, the Nigerian singer reflects on a relationship, pondering the existence of reciprocated love in this romance. Tempoe handles a breezy, somber instrumental laced with melancholic guitar chords and afrobeat stylings in the drum pattern, creating the right palette for Omah to paint the song blue with an emotional delivery, rich with vehement.

The Kid LAROI isn’t a kid anymore. He’s a superstar, which is exemplified in ‘Stay’, a mega collab with the Biebs himself. The production, handled by Cashmere Cat, Omar Fedi, Blake Slatkin, and Charlie Puth is a fast-paced drive in the lanes of midnight pop music, featuring synthwave-esque soundscapes that sound like they were borrowed right from the 80s. Laroi and Biebs handle this vehicle, trading croons back and forth, speeding into falsetto territories in a hit built for the Billboard charts. 

Adelaide rap veteran CLAZ has stayed steady with the releases this year, but ‘One Time’ might be his best yet. Over a lush bed of keys and synths that occupy the room between lo-fi, boom-bap, and G-Funk (Courtesy of producer Rela), Claz lets off a myriad of bars that traverse from the flex, all the way to introspection. It’s another standout teaser of his upcoming album, slated to drop sometime this year. 

Priya Ragu’s ‘Kamali’ takes the ever-evolving sounds of R&B, and pairs them with the musical influences of her Sri-Lankan roots to create something unique, and forward-thinking. The song is based on a short film of the same name, which follows a single mother named Suganthi, her daughter Kamali, and the struggles they faced throughout the gender-role structures in their culture. Priya’s art signifies the overcoming of adversity, with every nuance of her voice cutting through like the sun behind clouds, inspiring curiosity and determination. It’s set to appear on her upcoming mixtape damnshestamil, out September 3rd.

Tkay Maidza has just released Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 3, the final chapter in her epic EP trilogy. An immediate standout on the first listen is ‘Onto Me’, an R&B anthem that finds its atmosphere in the depths of poignant piano chords, and groove-filled basslines. It finds Tkay narrating a journey through the ups and downs of love, projected by her soulful melodies and an arena-ready hook. It features Seattle singer UMI, who shares her perspective through the luscious sounds of this tale. It’s serene, sincere, and another example of why Tkay is one of the most exciting voices in music right now. 

On ‘Go Away’, Omar Apollo serenades his romantic interest, pleading to see them more often. Produced alongside Carter Lang and Chromeo, the Mexican-American songwriter uses the shoegaze-esque reverberated guitars, and a warm field of synths as a propeller to pine, exclaiming ‘I wish I saw you enough’ in the falsetto heights of the hook. It’s his first release since last year’s Apolonio and has us eager for more.