Summer has arrived and the weather is on our side, that in itself is worth celebrating after a week punctuated by loss and questionable marketing tactics, it’s time to strip back the bullshit and focus on the music.
6LACK – Switch
Premiered on the Joe Budden Podcast earlier this week, 6LACK returns to new forms with ‘Switch’. A window into his next phase, ‘Switch’ arrives as the follow up to ‘Free 6lack’ and hot on the heels of February’s ‘Cutting Ties’ release. Marking the moment fans have been fiending for, 6LACK spent much of 2017 touring the world, and now with the album apparently done, this new music season is finally upon us.
Unhurried in his vocal, and surfing on a wave of hypnotic production, Atlanta’s Ricardo Valdez Valentine plays to his strengths with an effortless offering of free form contemporary R’n’B. 6LACK manages to marry lyricism and vocal delivery that swings between weightless love and deep longing.
Laura White X Ms Banks – Heartbreaker
Grammy nominated singer songwriter Laura White shares her latest track ‘Heartbreaker’ featuring South London’s own Ms. Banks in a pitch perfect meeting of heritage sound and British talent. A former X Factor contestant, Manchester’s Laura White turns the 112 classic ‘Only You‘ (featuring Biggie & Mase) inside out. Re-imagined for 2018, ‘Heartbreaker’ is the meeting of minds that may just bridge that North, South divide.
With an album on the horizon Laura is keeping her cards close to her chest, showing us just enough to make sure we check in when it drops. Ms Banks, meanwhile, continues to show off the many sides to her talent with a verse that is equal measures stunt and swag. The video is set to drop soon, and it’ll be interesting to see how faithful the two remain to an original that came complete with biker jackets and a full dance routine.
Jay Rock ft J. Cole – OSOM
Jay Rock dropped his latest album ‘Redemption’ – his third LP and first since 2015’s ‘90059’ – and it’s not one to be slept on. Previously released single ‘King’s Dead’ (featuring Kendrick Lamar, Future, and James Blake), was included on the soundtrack for Black Panther and now, Jay Rock calls on J Cole for ‘OSOM’.
Moody and distinct from the outset, ‘OSOM’ is a meticulously paced visual, directed by Dave Free and Jack Begert. Joining the story after the pair have completed a move, ‘OSOM’ pulls you in, engulfing you immediately in this story of a race against time as Jay Rock and J. Cole live in constant fear of retribution.
B Young – ‘079 Me’
B Young injects a change of pace with new release ‘079 Me’. Poolside party music, this new single boasts a video shot in the hills of Ibiza, as B Young keeps the momentum going from his debut hit ‘Jumanji’.
Self taught when it comes to production and engineering, B Young has taken the time out to hone and refine his musical talent, “I wrote ‘079ME’ around the same time as ‘Jumanji.’ ,” B Young has said, “It’s got the same feel good vibe and it’s definitely a song for the summer. Shooting the video in Ibiza made perfect sense and it was a movie! Shout out to [director] KLVDR for capturing the chilled vibes.”
Hamzaa – ‘Stranded Love’
19 year old singer songwriter Hamzaa shareD her debut track ‘Stranded Love’ as a premiere on DJ Target’s show on 1Xtra last night. A no-holds-barred confessional about her first great heartbreak, ‘Stranded Love’ is written by Hamzaa and produced by Eddie Serafica.
Seeing the East London native start as she means to go on with this rich retelling of love lost, it’s the beginning of the road for this R’n’B Pop vocalist who brings emotive soul to an already thriving British R’n’B landscape.
