As the first week of 2023 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 Metro Boomin, IDK and Deb Never, who released the Villains Version of HEROES & VILLAINS and the singles “Radioactive” and “Momentary Sweetheart.” Also joining this selection are offerings from IAMDDB, Zombie Juice, Jean Dawson, FIDLAR, Black Thought with El Michels Affair, Princess Nokia and Flo Milli.
Metro Boomin – HEROES & VILLAINS (Villains Version)
Metro Boomin delivers the Villains Version counterpart of his December 2022 album, HEROES & VILLAINS. The new edition clocks in at almost two hours and features the ChoppedNotSlopped mixes of all 15 songs, as well as the original tracks.
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
IDK – “Radioactive”
IDK delivers his first single of 2023, “Radioactive.” Produced by BLWYRMND, LNK and Lasthaze, the track hears the Maryland rapper return to his initial sound of dance and electronic music and follows a series of singles he dropped in the past year, such as jazzy and avant-garde hits like “Coal,” “Monsieur Dior,” “Free Slime” and “Drive.”
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
Deb Never – “Momentary Sweetheart”
Deb Never welcomes the year with the stunning track “Momentary Sweetheart.” The singles arrives just before she’s set to hit the road for a series of live dates across North America, which takes place between late March to early April.
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
IAMDDB – “Where Did The Love Go?”
IAMDDB channels self-care, self-protection, healing and letting go in her latest single “Where Did The Love Go?” Released in time for Valentine’s season, the track is described as “a love letter from her higher self to remind her of her strength and abilities whilst overcoming karmic cycles.”
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
Zombie Juice – “Hikari”
Flatbush Zombies founding member Zombie Juice announces his debut solo album Love Without Conditions with the lead single, “Hikari.” Produced by fellow Zombies member Erick The Architect, the track is billed as “a compassionate letting go of a past love that didn’t work” and arrives with an accompanying music video helmed by Dell Nie and inspired by Malcolm & Marie. Love Without Conditions drops April 21.
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
Flo Milli – “Nasty Dancer”
22-year-old Flo Milli debuts her latest track “Nasty Dancer,” which follows “Conceited” from January featuring Lola Brooke and Maiya The Don. The young rapper has entered her new era as she pays homage to her favorite pop culture moments with powerful Black females.
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
FIDLAR – ”Centipede”
FIDLAR announces their return from a four-year hiatus with the “Centipede,” which is set to appear on their upcoming EP That’s Life. The single is described as “a song about the minutiae of relationships that crawls under your skin the longer you spend with someone,” while the project will also include the previously released tracks “FSU,” “Sand On The Beach,” and “Taste The Money.” That’s Life drops March 17.
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
Black Thought x El Michels Affair – “That Girl”
Black Thought and El Michels Affair debut “That Girl,” another single off their collaborative album Glorious Game, which features lovesick confessional lyricism and an old school soul sample. Glorious Game drops April 14.
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
Jean Dawson – “GHOST*”
Jean Dawson further cements his status as one of modern music’s most enigmatic artists with “GHOST*.” In a simple statement, the artist shared, “THE OLD ME MUST DIE.”
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
Princess Nokia – “closure”
Princess Nokia enters a new sonic space with “closure,” which arrives with a music video helmed by by Robot MoonJuice and Princess Nokia and is reminiscent of Steve Eichner’s photos of New York City’s nightlife in the ’90s.
Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
