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 lineup is led by FERG, Ab-Soul and Nujabes, who each released the projects DAROLD, Soul Burger and the Samurai Champloo 20th Anniversary box set, respectively. Also joining this selection are offerings from M.I.A. with Major Lazer, Jamie xx with Oonah Doherty, BADBADNOTGOOD with Tim Bernardes, John Summit with and Venbee and Odd Mob, and Kenny Mason.
FERG – DAROLD
FERG is back with DAROLD, his first project since 2020’s Floor Seats II. The new record is described as an “intimate portrait” of the artist “through the many phases of his life, while paying tribute to those who helped shape him such as his mother, father and grandmother.” Named after his birth name, the album also features a self-portrait painted by FERG earlier in the year.
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
Ab-Soul – Soul Burger
Ab-Soul pays homage to his late childhood best friend on Soul Burger. The 15-track mixtape is a tribute to DoeBurger, who always encouraged the TDE artist to create more upbeat songs his audiences could dance to, and features guest appearances from the likes of Vince Staples, Doechii, JID, Lupe Fiasco, Ty Dolla $ign, Jason Martin, Thirsty P, Kamm Carson, Fre$h, Punch and Asia Holiday.
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
Nujabes – Samurai Champloo 20th Anniversary Box Set
Nujabes’ Samurai Champloo soundtrack is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a special box set. The 7-inch vinyl LP set features a total of six records that include the theme song and tracks of the anime, all of which produced were the late artist himself.
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
M.I.A. x Majer Lazer – ”Where’s The Daddy?”
Major Lazer, a.k.a. Diplo and Switch, reunite with M.I.A. for the first time in over a decade for the track “Where’s The Daddy?” Diplo says of the track, “Major Lazer’s origin story is a jumbled-up mess. It reads more like a villain story. I knew about Switch from being the weirdest and hardest DJ in London, and he was interested in my local scene in Philly—Spank Rock, Amanda Blank, Santigold, Plastic Little. M.I.A. got mixed up in the project when me and Dave were summoned by XL Recordings to make beats for her. I failed miserably, but I made a mixtape, Piracy Funds Terrorism, and Dave had a few bangers around town. We made too many beats for her, so we decided to go record them in Jamaica because the artists there are extremely talented, and the productions were cutting edge. We made this Major Lazer album down there and started a little movement that ended up with a few billion streams. It’s cool to put out ‘Where’s The Daddy?’ now because M.I.A. was the third daddy of Major Lazer.”
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
Jamie xx x Oonah Doherty – “Falling Together”
Jamie xx unveils the official music video for “Falling Together,” taken from his second studio effort In Waves. The visual is created in collaboration with Belfast dancer and choreographer Oona Doherty who also appears in the music video following previous appearances on “Idontknow.”
Watch: YouTube
John Summit x Venbee – “Palm of My Hands (Odd Mob Remix)”
Odd Mob delivers the official remix of John Summit and Venbee’s “Palm of My Hands,” which appeared on Summit’s debut album Comfort in Chaos. “It was an honour to remix this track. I was a bit unsure with how it would turn out flipping a DnB track into a house tune but the slowed vocals ended up providing a really cool feel to the track,” Odd Mob shares in a statement.
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
Kenny Mason – ”Hoodrat”
Kenny Mason debuts his latest single “Hoodrat,” which is set to appear on his upcoming album. The track arrives a few months after his March album 9, and just before his appearance at Tyler, The Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival.
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
BADBADNOTGOOD x Tim Bernardes – ”Poeira Cosmica”
BADBADNOTGOOD joins forces with Brazilian singer-songwriter, composer and producer Tim Bernardes for the new single “Poeira Cosmia.” The track was first debuted live at BBNG’s sold-out, eight-night residency at Blue Note earlier this September.
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
