As the week in music comes to a close, HYPEBEAST has rounded up the best projects for the latest installment of Best New Tracks.
This week’s list is led by releases from Dreamville x DJ Drama and Freddie Gibbs x Rick Ross, who dropped the surprise D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape project and the new collab “Ice Cream.” Also joining this selection are New Gen honorees Doechii and ENNY with Mychelle, Japanese Breakfast, Toro Y Moi, Bakar, Lil Tjay and joints from Ibeyi x Jorja Smith and Hit-Boy x Pacman Da Gunman.
Dreamville x DJ Drama – D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape
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J. Cole’s Dreamville collective and DJ Drama join forces the surprise project D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape. The record features the entire Dreamville roster along with guest appearances from A$AP Ferg, 2 Chainz, Sheck Wes, G Perico, Young Nudy, Kenny Mason and REASON, and arrives just before the label’s annual Dreamville Festival.
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
Freddie Gibbs x Rick Ross – “Ice Cream”
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Freddie Gibbs enlists Rick Ross for his latest single “Ice Cream,” which hears producer Kenny Beats flip fragments of the sample RZA utilized in the original Raekwon cut from Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… The collab is expected to appear on Gibbs’ upcoming album Soul Sold Separately (SSS), which he told HYPEBEAST will feature the biggest names in music including Pusha T, Lil Baby, Rick Ross, Pharrell, the Neptunes, Puff Daddy and Hit-Boy.
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
Doechii – “Persuasive”
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New Gen: Fall 2021 honoree Doechii celebrates her signing to Capitol Records and Top Dawg Entertainment with the brand new single “Persuasive.” The Kal Banx-produced cut arrives with a music video directed by Omar Jones, which the artist describes as “so full of life it can fill a space… like paintings.” She added that Jones was “perfect” for the job as she “had a very specific vision with the color pallet and aesthetic of this video,” continuing, “I envision my fans playing this video on their at home projectors during a kick back,”
Watch: YouTube
Ibeyi x Jorja Smith – “Lavender & Red Roses”
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Twin sister duo Ibeyi links with Jorja Smith for their brand new Spell 31 single, “Lavender & Red Roses.” Described as a song about a troubled and lost loved one, Lisa-Kaindé explains, “We knew we wanted to create something with Jorja that would be different from what we’ve done previously that would allow us to connect with the true meaning of the song. When we came across the three sisters of fate from the Greek mythology that personify fate we knew immediately that it would be the right idea. Clotho, Lachesis, Atropos are sisters, one of them creates the thread of fate, the other analyses it and the third one cuts it. “Lavender and Red Roses” is a song about the feeling we all experience when we love someone troubled. It could be a partner, a sibling, a parent, a friend. We wanted to talk about the pain of witnessing a loved one hurting, repeating patterns and getting lost. And how it triggers in us the desire to reach them, hold them tight and wash their troubles away with lavender and red roses. But the truth is you can’t save them, if they pull you into their darkness, you will have to protect yourself, and allow them to find their own strength and light, their own way.”
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
Japanese Breakfast – “Be Sweet/Skinny Love”
Japanese Breakfast reunites with Spotify for a new entry in its Spotify Singles series — a collaboration between the streaming services and nominees of the Best New Artist category at the GRAMMYs. Michelle Zauner and company reimagine their original song “Be Sweet” and shared a cover of bon iver’s “Skinny Love.” “We decided to record Bon Iver’s ‘Skinny Love’ because it felt like a very surprising cover for Japanese Breakfast. It’s so moving and sparse. We felt we could add some interesting instrumentation to the track and celebrate our fellow label mate Bon Iver,” the band shared.
Listen: Spotify
Mychelle x ENNY – “Forbidden Fruit”
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ENNY, another New Gen honoree from the Spring 2021 list, helps rising artist and fellow FAMM labelmate Mychelle for her new single “Forbidden Fruit.” The cut features an accompanying music video helmed by Portia Barnett-Herrin, which sees Mychelle following a strange light that leads her to an alternate universe. “Such a pleasure to be part of this tune,” ENNY said. “Mychelle made something beautiful and it’s an honour to grace her art.”
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
Bakar – “N3W”
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Fresh off the release of his debut album Nobody’s Home, Bakar delivers an accompanying music video for the album track “N3W.” Helmed by Machine Operated, the visual utilizes candid shots of the North Londoner’s life in London as a way to portray his experience in the city. ” “I’ve always been here to be an alternative for the Black kids that don’t fit in,” he said in a statement.
Watch: YouTube
Toro Y Moi – “Déjà Vu”
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Toro y Moi a.k.a Chaz Bear prepares for the release of his upcoming MAHAL, which drops April 29, with the new single “Déjà Vu.” The cut follows previously-released singles “The Loop” and “Postman,” and includes a music video helmed by Justin Morris that sees a montage of the artist traveling across America. “I hope you enjoy this small slice of American pie that I have prepared for you,” he said in a statement.
nipsey x hit
glass animals
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
Hit-Boy x Pacman Da Gunman – Bulletproof Soul
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The energy of Nipsey Hussle lives through Pacman Da Gunman forever. The late artist’s protege links with Hit-Boy for the collaborative project Bulletproof Soul, named after one of Pacman’s favorite Sade songs and a reference to Nip’s Victory Lap lyric, “Hunnit proof flow, run and shoot pro, 458 drop, playing Bullet Proof Soul.” The record features the cut “Till We Meet Again,” which gives fans Pacman’s perspective on the day Nip was killed on March 31, 2019.
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
Lil Tjay – “In My Head”
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Lil Tjay is officially back with his newest single “In My Head.” Utilizing a sample from Iyaz’s 2009 hit song “Replay,” the cut shows a more vulnerable side of the F.N rapper as he opens up about more personal topics like love and relationships.
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
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