THE BEST:
‘Tints’ – Anderson .Paak ft. Kendrick Lamar
Soulful
singer/rapper Anderson .Paak and rap icon Kendrick Lamar team up for this new
deliciously funky track set to appear on Paak’s upcoming album Oxnard. The lyrics seem to be about wanting
privacy from the paparazzi (hence the window tints), but if I’m honest the song
could be about anything and I’d still dig it – give me a funky instrumental,
Paak’s soulful singing and Kendrick’s smooth flow and I’m sold.
‘Sunkissed’ – Shai Nowell ft. Nai Br.XX.
For those craving some more soul, this new entrancing track from Atlanta artist Shai Nowell ought to satiate your appetite. Lush keys, clanking percussion and a smooth bassline provide a breezy backdrop for Shai’s layered vocals, whilst guest vocalist Nai Br.XX also contributes some silky singing. It feels a bit late in the year for all these summery tunes, but I guess they do help to cheer up these dreary October days.
‘Mogambo’
– Riz MC
You
may know Riz Ahmed from his acting work (apparently, he’s in the new Venom film), but on top of being an
actor he’s also a rapper. This new song ‘Mogambo’ begins with a raw recording of
Riz spitting angry bars over hand percussion before launching into a mean
banger in which Riz proceeds to deliver several provocative and witty bars surrounding
the prejudices of Asian culture. It’s similar to his work in the Swet Shop Boys,
only without Heems at his side.
‘There
Must Be Something In The Water’ – Niki Moss
Niki
Moss is back with another kooky single that opens with a fast groovy guitar
riff before taking the listener on a number of unpredictable twists and turns. The
whole song is bursting with feelgood energy. I’m as eager as Niki to know what’s
in the water. Is it a whole load of sugar? Is it cocaine? Whatever it is, I need
it in my life.
‘Sister
Jill’ – Jordan Vincent
This
is truly unique stuff. The LA singer’s voice has a real theatrical vibe to it
as it changes sharply in pitch and intonation, whilst the instrumental feels
like some mix between rock and doo-wop.
THE WORST:
‘1999’ – Charli XCX & Troye Sivan
Look
how far we’ve come. In 1982, Prince was singing about 1999 as if it were a magical
time in the distant future – now singers are looking back on it as a magical time
in the distant past.
As
fun as this track is, I feel like there’s enough 90s nostalgia out there
already. Besides Troye Sivan was 4 years old in 1999 – I doubt he was ‘driving around listening to Shady’ at
that age.