Imagine yourself strolling through a shopping aisle with a basket full of groceries clutched sparingly to your chest. With every you step take an item drops down before you even reach the till. So count yourself lucky that today you won’t have to go through the stress of cutting through all the noise to find the best new releases. This week’s 5 for Friday features a good number of sounds that you need to put on rotation. J Hus returns with his new single alongside Jae5, and some new entries from some unfamiliar names might end up getting familiar with you.
J Hus – Must Be
J Hus links up with Jae5 on his latest offering which is a charming, jazzy outfit entitled ‘Must Be’, a long-awaited offering which makes hood justice sound criminally artistic.
Hus comes bearing gifts in good timing, reconnecting with the musical mastermind Jae5 to produce an impressionable sonic. ‘Must Be’ boasts late night Jazz bar timbre and streaks of orchestral music. The score carries a stunning bassline adorned with sensual saxophone blasts which are hushed by dulcet violin strings, as J Hus lays down the law with the crooked confidence of an ice cold pimp.
Darkoo – Gangsta feat. One Acen
Darkoo allures with her brand new record ‘Gangsta’, a jaunty single with a hook that’ll put you in a blissful daze. The South London based singer-songwriter puts her spin on gangster love with One Acen as her right hand man.
Darkoo teased a snippet of the single on Twitter, but today we hear ‘Gangsta’ in it’s entirety and it sounds heavenly. Hopping on a Afro-swing sonic produced by AJ Productions, ‘Gangsta’ is embellished with major scale keys woven into the candy-coated melody mixed down by Scratch. Darkoo lays down an irresistible offer over a nodding drum beat, while One Acen entices his romantic interests with a luxury lifestyle.
Tobi – Faces feat. Sango & Wax Proof
Nigerian-born artist Tobi delivers ‘Faces’ which features contributions from soul-hop producer Sango and Wax Proof on the back board. Together they curate an obscure string-driven sonic which harbours a multitude of thoughts.
‘Faces’ finds the Canadian-based artist trying to process his fast-paced lifestyle and the many faces he comes across. The production is characterised by nifty guitar strings which imitate racing thoughts on which he battles his crippling thoughts. With rattling percussion and shakers carrying the rhythm, Tobi takes time to unload on his journey and ruminate on the best moments as the obscure vocal sample withers away.
Young T & Bugsey – Don’t Rush feat. Headie One
Young T & Bugsey return with a new single and tag North London’s Headie One to jump on their blasé club banger. It’s a percussive joint loaded with nifty rap flows and a whole load of braggadocio.
Opening up with gameshow aesthetics Bugsey reels us in with a far from humble brag on the hook, using pidgin-laced lines that mirror the afro-infused production. The duo put on for their hometown with Young T appearing on a passport signalling their allegiance to the 5ive. The trio run through designer brands and boast their riches over tribal drum patterns, and tongue-in-cheek lines like “Diesel denim, buy another one my pockets fat like Heather.”
Insightful – Learn feat. Tay Iwar
LA based producer Insightful enlists Tay Iwar, singer and Soulection affiliate, on a collaborative effort. A two-part release which features the aforementioned as well as a slowed edit, ‘Learn’ finds Tay Iwar ruminating on his past romantic situations.
Insightful strings together a soothing production which echoes with gentle swoons and classic rock ballad sensibilities. Carrying low guitar licks and heavy yet sluggish drum patterns that set a melancholic mood, Tay is introspective on this somber joint and reflects on the failures of his past in hopes of becoming a better lover.
