The music week in review: Major Lazer, SZA, 2 Chainz and more
Ayy, it’s June. It’s getting hotter and whatnot out here, so inevitably you need some new shit to listen to.
Whether you’re stuck on the M train, turning up at a cookout, or trying to forget about the trash state of the world, we got you covered.
A lot of different cool (and uncool) stuff dropped this week, so let’s run through some of the more notable releases from the music world.
Major Lazer – Know No Better
Diplo, Walshy Fire, and Jillionaire are back to give you some watered down dancehall music with features from some of the biggest names in music.
This album isn’t particularly notable, but will most likely be inescapable this summer. Sean Paul is on it, so that’s fire.
Swet Shop Boys – Sufi La
Heems (Das Racist) and Riz MC (The Night Of) have teamed up to make Swet Shop Boys, a hip-hop duo that raps about the Middle-Eastern diaspora, birding, and Backwoods.
Sufi La isn’t going to be the best hip-hop album you’ll hear this year, but it’ll make you think, it’ll make you laugh, and it’ll make you sad.
A.Chal – On Gaz
From Queens by way of Peru, A.Chal’s mixtape On Gaz is 11 tracks of hard beats and singing about pill-popping, smoking weed, and past relationships.
Heavily influenced by The Weeknd, A.Chal is another dude in a long line of this brand of R&B. We’re surely set to see more of A.Chal. The songs in Spanish are the most fun.
PARTYNEXTDOOR – Colours 2
Speaking of r&b with hard beats, PARTYNEXTDOOR made a return with the suddenly-released Colours 2 EP.
It’s been a little while since we heard from the Toronto crooner. Colours 2 is four songs of basically what you’ve come to expect from PARTY, some dope production and singing about general thirst.
Amber Coffman – City of No Reply
Dirty Projectors member Amber Coffman has released a solo album that’s a clear departure from the band itself, Coffman’s album is very poppy and very feel-good.
City of No Reply is basically like a more indie version of Carly Rae Jepsen’s latest stuff. If you’re looking for something to hide your anxieties about the world around you crumbling, maybe check out City of No Reply.
Dan Auerbach – Waiting on a Song
Black Keys frontman Dan Auerbach’s second full-length solo album is some pleasant folky rock music.
There isn’t too much ambition or risk going on with Waiting on a Song.
Waiting basically sounds like a really popular record from the early 70s, which is to say it’s niche indie rock now.
Check out our review here.
21 Savage – “All The Smoke” (Video)
On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, 21 Savage released a new video for “All The Smoke” and it’s completely fucking terrifying.
The song is pretty much exactly what you’ve come to love out of 21 (if you love 21), but the video is some wild Jason Voorhees shit.
If you are squeamish, don’t watch this video. We’re hype for 21’s new project Issa Album, which should be dropping anytime now.
2 Chainz – “4 AM” ft. Travis Scott
After “It’s a Vibe” and “Good Drank”, “4 AM” is the next single off 2 Chainz’s project Pretty Girls Like Trap Music.
“4 AM” shows Daniel Son Necklace Don back to his old tricks over a fire Murda Beatz and Cubeatz production.
Add Travis Scott to the hook and you have a jam. Pretty Girls Like Trap Music is due on June 16th.
SZA – “Broken Clocks”
SZA dropped her third single off her upcoming studio album debut Ctrl, following “Love Galore” (also featuring Travis Scott) and “Drew Barrymore”.
On “Broken Clocks” SZA declares “I’ve had enough of petty dudes, I’ve had enough of shitty news”. Fair enough. Ctrl, initially slated to come out in February, is due June 9th.
Meek Mill – “Whatever You Need” ft. Ty Dolla $ign and Chris Brown
Meek Milly back with a little bit of a love ballad and a rework of Tony! Toni! Toné!’s “Whatever You Want”.
DJ Mustard provides the beat and Chris Brown and Ty Dolla $ign take turns on the hook.
Back in May, Meek announced a tour in the late summer with Yo Gotti and dropped a mixtape Meekend Music. Meek is definitely one to watch this summer.