West Sydney artist DSP goes in on his new track ‘FALL BACK’. It’s a punchy, afro-infused hitter that takes notes from the vibier end of UK rap with DatsGrinny, Domba and Déjà Miru teaming up on production. To be fair, everyone involved is in their damn bag on this one and DSP continues proving himself to be a serious contender for a top spot in the growing local scene.

Sydney’s Shanae (FKA Madam3empress) blew our minds when we first heard her perform ‘Illusions’ as part of the 2022 Acclaim All-Stars earlier in the year and today we finally get to indulge in the studio version of this very special track. Over emotive pianos and a pulsing kick, Shanae showcases her silky vocals and clever melodies. It’s a lush escape that we’ll probably keep on rotation for a long time.

Sydney collective BBGB drops their third single as a group in the form of ‘Perfect Timing’. This posse cut from features B Wise on the hook as Manu Crooks, Lil Spacely, Kwame and BLESSED trade high-energy verses. It’s a hard hitter from one of the most exciting collectives in the country right now. We’re ready and waiting for that EP!

New Zealand’s Muroki gives us a smooth and upbeat moment with ‘Simple Pleasures’, a song made for soundtracking the impending warm months in the Pacific. Over glittery guitars, Muroki reminds us of the little things that mean the most. It’s a positive vibe from the Aotearoa musician taken from his br new EP Heading East.

Dev Hynes AKA Blood Orange returns this week after surprising us with a new 4 track EP aptly named Four Songs. ‘Wish’ is one of the standouts for us; a dreamy slice of shoegaze pop that’s understated and strangely soothing. Pretty much just the way we like it from Blood Orange!

Nigerian superstar WizKid is back with ‘Bad To Me’, a song that sees him switch up his stylings for this bop that carries more of an amapiano feel and we must say Wiz really kills it here. It’s not a song that begs for the dancefloor but we doubt you can listen to the whole thing without moving a least a little bit. A great one for that lazy weekend playlist.

Kelela delighted fans around the world this week with her long awaited return since 2017’s Take Me Apart. The first new music in half a decade comes in the form of ‘Washed Away’, an airy and ambient ballad that showcases the artist’s unique vocal cadence. We’re sure there is more to come from Kelela soon but we’ll settle for being washed away in this one for now.

‘WE THEM KIDS’ sees NSW artist and producer Chandler Jewels showcase his skills on the mic after a big year of production credits including Dro Kenji and Mike Dimes, Manu Crooks, BLESSED and more. The gloomy trap anthem heaves until the late switch-up warps into a psychedelic outro. It’s a solid offering from Jewels who we’re sure to hear a lot more from in the near future.

Arno Faraji’s smooth flow floats over the thoughtful production laid down by New Haven on his latest drop ‘Black Sunday’ it’s a contemplative record that sees Arno reflecting on the state of the world, displaying shades of classic hip hop tracks like Scarface’s ‘On My Block’. It’s a nice pocket for Faraji, whose storytelling shines on this one.

Melbourne spitter Matthew Craig gets introspective on ‘Let It Burn’, a mellow, late-night cut from his pending debut project. Teaming up with JUJO on production and Jeremy Bennett on the hook, Craig showcases his poignant writing skills and encapsulates the mood of golden-era rap. Keeping it locked for more from the upcoming project.