DJ Khaled - GRATEFUL
We speak for everyone who’s already heard it when we say that we’re grateful for DJ Khaled’s Grateful album. The famed DJ/producer has been teasing the project for months by telling us how amazing it would be and he was 100% right. Though we’ve loved all of his previously released albums, Grateful by far is our favorite one yet. All 23 songs have different messages and vibes that can fit just about any mood. It was amazing to see how Khaled put different artists – who may have completely different styles to each other -- on the same songs together and hear how incredible the songs turned out. There’s even a song with Nas and Travis Scott called “It’s Secured” that we can’t stop listening to! You can read about that in the Expert Picks section below. Khaled definitely did his thing with this one. Much respect.
Imagine Dragons - Evolve
Imagine Dragons has slowly been sharing songs from their new album Evolve over the last few months, but now, the full record as arrived. Evolve is Imagine Dragons' third studio album, and the follow up to 2015's Smoke + Mirrors. The record features 11 new songs, including their singles "Believer" and "Thunder." "Believer" actually broke the 14-year-old record for most spins on the Alternative chart.
Fall Out Boy - "Champion"
Earlier this week, Fall Out Boy teased via social media that the "second wave" of their upcoming new album M A N I A was coming, and now, it has arrived. After hearing "Young and Menace," the first taste of the forthcoming LP, the band has released another new track from the record, "Champion." The new single is the uplifting anthem you need to conquer anything. "If I can live through this/I can do anything," the lyrics of the chorus say. Sonically, the style of "Champion" is much more reminiscent of Fall Out Boy's signature rock sound, as opposed to the EDM-influenced "Young and Menace" the band dropped back in April.
Fall Out Boy also released a video for the song, featuring a fun skateboard session with Pete Wentz, rapper Post Malone, pro-skateboarder Sewa Kroetkov, and one of the llamas from the "Young and Menace" music video.
Cage The Elephant - "Whole Wide World"
Cage The Elephant are Unpeeled ... or unplugged and stripped down with the announcement of their new LP, anyway. The band has announced their upcoming Cage The Elephant: Unpeeled album, which is due out July 28th via RCA Records, and even shared a live video for "Whole Wide World" -- a remake of Wreckless Eric's 1970s single.
The video for Cage The Elephant's "Whole Wide World" is from the band's "Live & Unpeeled" tour stop in Nashville at the city's iconic Ryman Auditorium. Earlier this year in April, Cage The Elephant hit the road on their "Live & Unpeeled: The Acoustic Tour," playing nine intimate and unplugged shows throughout the US. Performances from this tour were captured for the band's Unpeeled -- their second live album, which features 21 tracks, and includes their own songs from over the years, as well as three covers: The Stranglers' 1981 song "Golden Brown," Daft Punk's "Instant Crush" from the robot duo's most recent album Random Access Memories, and Wreckless Eric's "Whole Wide World."
Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory
Vince Staples is back at it again with the release of his second studio album entitled Big Fish Theory. The previous XXL Freshman-turned-superstar’s album is unlike any other album out there, no matter what genre of music you’re talking about. Before Big Fish Theory was even released, Staples described the overall sound of it as “afro-futurism.” The Def Jam recording artist said that this was a new genre of music that he created with his new album. Once you listen to the project, this name makes perfect sense. As someone who personally went to the rapper’s listening party for Big Fish Theory and heard it beforehand, I knew from the split second after the first beat dropped that it was going to take listeners on a ride they didn’t know they wanted to go on, but glad that they experienced.
Artists For Grenfell - "Bridge Over Troubled Water"
After the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower, which left at least 79 individuals dead or missing and presumed dead, some of the biggest in the U.K. scene, including Robbie Williams, Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who, Emeli Sandé, Nile Rodgers and Stormzy, have come together for an all-star, fundraising remake of Simon & Garfunkel's “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” Oh, and folks are loving it. “Bridge Over Troubled Water" has become the market's fastest-selling single of the decade.
Drake - "Signs"
Drake dropped a brand new song entitled "Signs" with fashion designer Louis Vuitton. Cue all the fashion killa jokes... The Men's Artistic Director at the high fashion label, Kim Jones, made the exciting announcement on Instagram. The new track was in conjunction with Paris Fashion Week and premiered on Vuitton's website. "We are very proud to announce that Drake @champagnepapi will be premiering a brand new song inspired by our #louisvuitton #pfwSS18 collection,” Jones captioned a photo of the song's cover art. Drizzy's business partner Olivier El-Khatib confirmed that "Signs" was produced by Noah "40" Shebib on IG, too. This song must have been the reason we saw a photo of the two in the studio together, not that long ago.
Geri Halliwell - "Angels In Chains"
Geri Halliwell's first music release in 12 years is called "Angels In Chains" and it just so happens to be a tribute to her friend and late, great musical icon George Michael. In a collaboration with George’s former producer and backing band, the ballad is a soaring ode to the fallen titan with plenty of references to his hits: "Freedom! ’90," "Heal The Pain," and "Father Figure.” "George gave all the proceeds of his record 'Jesus to a Child' to Childline (one of Michael’s favorite charities), and so I'm gonna do the same [with] the proceeds that I make from this single. So something good will come of it,” the former Spice Girl told Billboard.
Gucci Mane featuring Chris Brown - "Tone It Down"
Gucci Mane and Chris Brown hit the studio together to remind people that they weren’t to be messed with. The two dropped “Tone It Down” and it’s the perfect track to have some fun in the club to. Droptopwop wasn’t even released a month ago and Mane is still working hard to stay on top of the charts. Definitely a smash, “Tone It Down” was produced by Hitmaka aka Yung Berg. "Hold up lil homie tone it down/'Cause the jewelry that you're rockin' is for kids/I'm a grown up," he raps on it . Brown’s vocals add a nice smooth, but lethal touch to the song, as well.
Tory Lanez - "Loud Pack"
Tory Lanez and Dave East joined forces again to give us “Loud Pack.” They previously collaborated on “Out Of Center” and that track was too wavy. So, why not reunite to bless us with more music from themselves? “Loud Pack” is all about appreciating the beauty of ladies. It’s pretty apparent when you watch the music video for the new single, too. Gorgeous women surround Lanez and East and they look like they’re having the times of their lives. “Loud Pack” is the newest release from Lanez’s upcoming sophomore album, which he previously said is 90% done. There isn’t a release date yet for the new project, but this new track will hold us over until it eventually drops.
Ansel Elgort - "All I Think About Is You"
Ansel Elgort is a very busy guy. Currently, he's promoting his new movie Baby Driver, BUT that's not stopping him from releasing new music. Earlier this month, he put out his collaboration with Logic "You Can Count On Me," and now he's dropped his latest track "All I Think About Is You." On Ansel's new track, the producer/singer continues to showcase his versatility, "All I Think About Is You," being a more a more upbeat dance song this time around. "All I Think About Is You" looks back on a previous relationship that ended in heartache. Ansel sings, "Once I was with you/No money, no issue/We laughed even when we were down/I made my mistakes that I paid for in heartache/Now I don't know what to do/Because all I think about is you."
A$AP Ferg - "Tango"
A$AP Ferg got extremely personal with “Tango.” The rapper released the song as part of his Traplord Tuesday movement. Featuring singer Kanobby, “Tango” has Ferg spitting about the tragic deaths of both his father and fellow A$AP Mob member A$AP Yams. “Just found out my daddy died for the wrong reasons / Wasn’t the kidney that took him was just the bad treatment,” he immediately starts of on the beat. Ferg later goes on to speak about how fortunate he feels to have rap music as an outlet he can use to express himself. Making music is his way of dealing with all of the hardships life has thrown his way. "The only option is to put it in a verse / Express it to my fans so they be alert," he continues.
Grace VanderWaal - "Moonlight"
Grace VanderWaal had a very successful 2016, winning "America's Got Talent," releasing her debut single "I Don't Know My Name," and debut EP Perfectly Imperfect. But, now she's continuing the success into 2017 with her brand new single "Moonlight" ... and it is a BOP. The 13-year-old's new song features her signature ukulele and raspy vocals, picking up in the chorus with some tropical percussion. Grace told J-14 of her new single, "'Moonlight’ is about somebody you know very well changing unnaturally over time right in front of you and pushing you away, so you want to help bring them back to their original self."
WizKid featuring Major Lazer - "Naughty Ride"
Drake’s conquering sound continues on the brand-new collaboration between Wiz Kid and Major Lazer called “Naughty Ride.” The cut hits all the right spots for a scorching summer anthem as WizKid vibes out to the enticement of his lady. Fun fact: This song’s title and chorus were influenced by Bob Marley’s "Ride Natty Ride."
Hardwell featuring Jolin Tsai - "We Are One"
Worlds collide on "We Are One," the brand new collaboration with between Hardwell and Asian sensation Jolin Tsai. On the atmospheric dance cut, the duo push the unity agenda. Unsurprisingly, the record serves as a partnership with China’s biggest mobile operating China Mobile Cooperation. Considering that it's already hit the top of iTunes in Taiwan, we'd say it's off to a great spot for an English-language cut.
Area 21 - "We Did It"
Martin Garrix has a side spoject and it's called Area21. After teasing “We Did It" during his Ultra Miami 2016 performance, the official release of the song has arrived and it features an unknown rapper. However, many are speculating the artist behind the track is none other than Detroit multi-talent Maejo. As you might have guessed, "We Did It" is off of Garrix's STMPD Records.
Clean Bandit featuring Marina & The Diamonds - "Disconnect"
Marina and the Diamonds pulled a surprise out of her bag when she unveiled a new collaboration with Clean Bandit. After teasing the cut two years ago during a live show, the British act deliver up a breezy four-minute song about feeling anxious about former lovers. "Disconnect" serves as the first song Marina has released since she announced a mini-haitus in April 2016.
Nico & Vinz - "Intrigued"
Nico & Vinz are back with their first official single of 2017. The Norwegian duo released a new song called "Intrigued," which gives fans a different vibe from the guys -- definitely a far cry from their 2013 hit "Am I Wrong." "Intrigued" is more sensual and groovy, as the guys sing about seeing a different side of their lady that draws them in. "There's something more to you/Than what I used to see/On the side, on the side/I'm intrigued by you."
In fact, the duo told Vents Magazine of the song, "We believe it will give fans a look at another side of Nico & Vinz that they may have not been exposed to yet."
The-Dream featuring Fabolous - "Summer Body"
The-Dream and Fabolous combine forces for their new collaboration, "Summer Body," which hears the MC spitting bars about a motivated female that knows how to have fun. It's the both of best worlds, right? Even though the song isn't affiliated with any project at the moment, we'd like to think it'd be included on Radio Killa's follow-up to 2016's Love You to Death EP.
Wiz Khalifa - Bong Rips EP
After releasing his surprise Pre-Rolleds EP three weeks ago, Wiz Khalifa bestowed another musical shock on us with his new Bong Rips EP. Wiz announced the new project on Twitter. “Here’s another qp for y’all to smoke,” he said. Bong Rips consists of four songs called “Steam Room,” “Gucci Ashtray,” “X 4 X” and “Credit.” Fellow Taylor Gang member Chevy Woods is featured on their first two songs and Desiigner assists in the third. Wiz is riding solo on the last track. Moreover; DP Beats, Girl Talk and Ricky Beats all lent their helping hands producing the EP. Bong Rips and his previously released Pre-Rolleds were dropped in anticipation of Wiz’s Rolling Papers 2 album, which will be released later this year.
HAIM - "Little of Your Love"
Since debuting it on Saturday Night Live in May, HAIM has unveiled the studio version of "Little of Your Love," the latest new cut off their sophomore effort, Something To Tell You. The release arrived during their pop-up show in Los Angeles, where our favorite pop/rock trio try and convince a lover to give in. It’s basically everything you love about HAIM in exactly three minutes and 35 seconds.