Sam Smith – English crooner Sam Smith has teamed up with raunchy pop sensation Kim Petras on “Unholy”, the lead single from Smith’s forthcoming new album. In a surprising turn, “Unholy” is the best dance track from Sam Smith since their collaboration “Latch” with Disclosure. The sultry rhythm, relentless bass and seductive lyrics ensure that “Unholy” will become a club staple. Speaking on the making of “Unholy”, Sam Smith says: “I’ve never had so much fun making a record. It was so cathartic and freeing to experiment like this and throw out the rule book. It has also been an honor to work with Kim and get to witness her brilliance. This song is about liberating oneself from the clutches of others’ secrets…”
Listen to Sam Smith’s “Unholy” ft. Kim Petras below.
Muni Long – R&B sensation Muni Long has finally released her debut full-length album Public Displays of Affection: The Album. The tracklist consists of the songs from the singer-songwriter’s previous EPs Public Displays Of Affection and Public Displays Of Affection Too, plus 6 new songs. After entering the industry as Priscilla Renea and penning tracks for pop megastars Madonna, Rihanna, Mariah Carey, and Kelly Clarkson, Muni Long reinvented herself and struck it big with her smash R&B hit ““Hrs And Hrs” and she’s kept her foot on the gas ever since. Public Displays of Affection: The Album is only going to keep that momentum going. What stands out right away from the 18-track body of work is the expert songwriting and Long’s talent for crafting infectiously catchy melodies.
Listen to Muni Long’s “Plot Twist” from Public Displays of Affection: The Album.
Lil Baby – Rapper Lil Baby is out now with the official FIFA World Cup anthem, “The World Is Yours To Take.” Brought to you by Budweiser, the track samples Tears for Fears’ iconic 1985 hit “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.” The Atlanta rapper is one of the biggest stars currently on the scene, so it makes sense to tap him for such a momentous occasion. However, the song has some listeners online scratching their heads and pointing out that the Tears for Fears samples are used liberally and in a bit of a clunky way. One thing is for sure, Lil Baby does sound great on the track, and you’ll get to see him perform “The World Is Yours to Take” live at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Give it a listen and let us know what you think of it.
Listen to Lil Baby’s “The World Is Yours To Take” below.
Rachel Grae – Rising pop singer-songwriter Rachel Grae just dropped a music video for her new single “Right Person Right Time.” The vulnerable pop song about reflecting on a past relationship and the what-ifs and different outcomes that could’ve happened taps will hit listeners right in the feels and should catapult the New York-based artist into Olivia Rodridgo’s stratosphere. What’s “Right Person Right Time” all about? Rachel Grae says: “I wrote ‘Right Person Right Time’ about questioning what a past relationship could have been like, had you met later down the road when you were both older and more mature,” Grae explains. “I feel like people tend to think back on the relationships that ‘could’ve been the one’ after the fact, and an important stage of healing is going through all of the ‘what ifs’ of a relationship before moving on.”
Listen to Rachel Grae’s new single “Right Person Right Time” below.
Lil Nas X – In another fun piece of branded content, perpetually viral superstar Lil Nas X partnered with LoL Esports for his new single and this year’s League of Legends World Championship anthem “STAR WALKIN’ (League of Legends Worlds Anthem).” The move makes sense as Lil Nas X was recently appointed the “President of League of Legends.” With its rapped verses, sung stadium-ready hook and motivational lyrics, it really is the perfect pump-up anthem for League of Legends’ estimated 115 million active monthly players.
Listen to Lil Nas X’s “STAR WALKIN’ (League of Legends Worlds Anthem)” below.
“Dilla Time” – After winning an Academy Award and captivating audiences with his beautiful Summer of Soul documentary, we now know what Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson is tackling next. The multi-hyphenate (author, drummer, podcaster, etc) and renaissance man is set to executive produce Dilla Time, taking an in-depth look at the life and times of the influential producer J Dilla. Despite passing away at the incredibly young age of 32 due to a rare blood disorder, the producer born James Dewitt Yancey left an indelible mark on the world of hip-hop production. The Pharcyde, D’Angelo and Erykah Badu are just a few of the artists Dilla worked with during his brief life. His influence can also be felt in pop and electronic music.
The documentary is based on Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, The Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm by Dan Charnas and Charnas, Joseph Patel, Cinematic Media, Scenario Media and the Yancey estate will all be collaborating on the project with Questlove’s Two One Five Entertainment to ensure that Dilla’s story is told correctly.
Why is now the right time to tackle J Dilla’s story? According to Questlove: “Explaining musical genius is my mission. To be able to tell the world about the musician that had the most influence on me is a dream come true. Not just on me, but on an entire generation of musicians that everyone knows and loves. J Dilla was our teacher. And what he taught us was how to feel rhythm in a way we had ever felt before. I’m so honored to be a part of bringing his story to the world through this documentary.”
Stay tuned to Biff! Bam! Pop! as we’ll keep you posted with more updates on Dilla Time.
