After bursting onto the scene with his 2023 sophomore album FORWARD, St. Louis singer Jordan Ward has solidified himself as a player in the future of R&B. The album received praise from critics and fans alike. Fans who heard the album thought it had an outside shot at winning the crowded “Best Progressive R&B Album” category at the most recent Grammy Awards. Unfortunately, it did not receive a nomination. It got so much love that he earned a co-sign from SZA, the woman who did eventually win in that category. SZA is the biggest name in R&B today and one of the most acclaimed artists of her generation. Needless to say, that is a high honor. “IDC,” the second track on FORWARD, featured a verse from Maryland rapper Joony, also a budding name. Now, the two are further exploring their musical chemistry on JRNY, their new extended play and first project together.
The two mull over the difficulties of love, a recurring theme on Jordan Ward’s previous album. He sings about infidelity, jealous partners, and other aspects of heartbreak. The production is varied, and both he and Joony sound at home over it. They really do work well together, as they take different approaches to similar subject matter. Ward with his singing and Joony with his bars. Jordan Ward even does a bit of rapping on the last track, showing off his versatility as an artist and reaffirming why people thought so highly of FORWARD. At six songs and only 13 minutes, it does not overstay its welcome, and even if you are not previously familiar with Jordan Ward or Joony, this should still be on your radar. Stream the new offering from the duo below.
Jordan Ward has actually been in the business for about seven years now. But really over the last two or so is where’s seen some growth in his audience. The St. Louis, Missouri singer’s 2023 is perhaps his breakout year, as he went on to release his second project FORWARD. Since it being out, tracks like “FAMJAM4000”, “WHITE CROCS”, and “CHERIMOYA” have turned out to be fan favorites. Ward has managed to stick out thanks to his vocal style that borrows some elements of the 90s to early 2000s. It’s buttery smooth and boyish but in a good way. He also went to drop the extended version later that year and in 2024, he’s kept things fairly lowkey.
However, it’s looking like he’s making a fill return and very soon. But he won’t be alone because rapper and frequent collaborator Joony, will be joining him. On October 4, these two laid-back artists will be dropping a joint effort called JRNY. That’s about all we know for now, on top of its new lead single. Jordan Ward and Joony’s “Jealousy” is all about wanting a more serious relationship with a major crush but not getting the same vibes back. It definitely has a relatable message and the melodies on this track are extremely potent to the ear. The beat is also very simple, but it plays a nice mellow backdrop to their equally chill yet pained deliveries.
Built this on a friendship, but now there’s more to manage So I keep a home here, somеwhere you can manage Widе-body girl, and she came from Atlanta You got n****s, I got b****es Different cities but I want you And yeah it’s overdue
On Monday, July 29, Blxst announced his 2024 I’ll Always Come Find You Tour, which will stage 30 North American shows. Blxst captioned his announcement, “PLAYING SONGS FROM ALL PROJECTS,” so that’s a bonus. Blxst will be joined in select cities by Leon Thomas, Joyce Wrice, and Joony.
According to a press release, tickets will first become available via the Citi pre-sale on Tuesday, July 30, and “additional pre-sales will run throughout the week” before the general public sale on Friday, August 2, at 10 a.m. local time. Find more ticketing information here.
The press release also relayed that Blxst partnered with Education Is Key to donate $1 per each ticket sold toward providing “scholarships for inner-city students in Blxst’s hometown of Los Angeles.”
Blxst’s 2024 Dates: I’ll Always Come Find You Tour
10/01 — Houston, TX @ House of Blues^%
10/02 — San Antonio, TX @ Aztec Theatre^%
10/03 — New Orleans, LA @ The Fillmore^%
10/05 — Orlando, FL @ House of Blues^%
10/07 — Dallas, TX @ South Side Ballroom^%
10/10 — Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle^%
10/11 — Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz^%
10/13 — Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore^%
10/15 — Boston, MA @ Citizens House of Blues Boston^%
10/16 — Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore^%
10/17 — New York, NY @ The Rooftop at Pier 17^%
10/19 — Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore Silver Spring^%
10/24 — St Louis, MO @ Pageant^%
10/26 — Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore Detroit^%
10/28 — Toronto, ON @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre%
10/29 — Chicago, IL @ House of Blues%
10/30 — Chicago, IL @ House of Blues%
11/01 — Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium#
11/02 — Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex#
11/03 — Las Vegas, NV @ Brooklyn Bowl#
11/06 — Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo#
11/08 — Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom#
11/09 — Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom#
11/12 — Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater#
11/15 — San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic#
11/16 — Wheatland, CA @ Hard Rock Live Sacramento#
11/19 — Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theatre#
11/21 — San Diego, CA @ Gallagher Square at Petco Park#
11/22 — Los Angeles, CA @ YouTube Theater#%
12/05 — Honolulu, HI @ The Republik&
^ with Leon Thomas
# with Joyce Wrice
& with Zacari
% with Joony
On Monday, July 29, Blxst announced his 2024 I’ll Always Come Find You Tour, which will stage 30 North American shows. Blxst captioned his announcement, “PLAYING SONGS FROM ALL PROJECTS,” so that’s a bonus. Blxst will be joined in select cities by Leon Thomas, Joyce Wrice, and Joony.
According to a press release, tickets will first become available via the Citi pre-sale on Tuesday, July 30, and “additional pre-sales will run throughout the week” before the general public sale on Friday, August 2, at 10 a.m. local time. Find more ticketing information here.
The press release also relayed that Blxst partnered with Education Is Key to donate $1 per each ticket sold toward providing “scholarships for inner-city students in Blxst’s hometown of Los Angeles.”
Blxst’s 2024 Dates: I’ll Always Come Find You Tour
10/01 — Houston, TX @ House of Blues^%
10/02 — San Antonio, TX @ Aztec Theatre^%
10/03 — New Orleans, LA @ The Fillmore^%
10/05 — Orlando, FL @ House of Blues^%
10/07 — Dallas, TX @ South Side Ballroom^%
10/10 — Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle^%
10/11 — Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz^%
10/13 — Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore^%
10/15 — Boston, MA @ Citizens House of Blues Boston^%
10/16 — Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore^%
10/17 — New York, NY @ The Rooftop at Pier 17^%
10/19 — Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore Silver Spring^%
10/24 — St Louis, MO @ Pageant^%
10/26 — Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore Detroit^%
10/28 — Toronto, ON @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre%
10/29 — Chicago, IL @ House of Blues%
10/30 — Chicago, IL @ House of Blues%
11/01 — Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium#
11/02 — Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex#
11/03 — Las Vegas, NV @ Brooklyn Bowl#
11/06 — Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo#
11/08 — Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom#
11/09 — Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom#
11/12 — Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater#
11/15 — San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic#
11/16 — Wheatland, CA @ Hard Rock Live Sacramento#
11/19 — Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theatre#
11/21 — San Diego, CA @ Gallagher Square at Petco Park#
11/22 — Los Angeles, CA @ YouTube Theater#%
12/05 — Honolulu, HI @ The Republik&
^ with Leon Thomas
# with Joyce Wrice
& with Zacari
% with Joony
In a surprise move, R&B sensation Brent Faiyaz has officially dropped the much-anticipated version of “Paper Soldier,” featuring rising star from the DMV, Joony. This track, once a hidden gem only available through leaks on platforms like Soundcloud and YouTube, has now emerged from the shadows, delighting fans who have long awaited its official release. “Paper Soldier” gained notoriety as a fan-favorite in the digital realm. It amassed millions of views across various unofficial leaks. Now, with its official release, the track is set to solidify its place as a must-listen in the R&B scene.
While “Paper Soldier” had never seen an official release, it has become a standout element in Joony’s live performances. The hype surrounding the unreleased track reached new heights when Joony teased it during his set on the European/UK leg of Lil Tjay’s ‘Beat The Odds’ tour. Adding to the buzz, the track has witnessed a surge in creations on TikTok since its recent official release.
This unveiling serves as a smooth transition from rising rapper Joony’s Y2K-influenced EP, MEMENTO. In the ever-evolving landscape of R&B, Brent Faiyaz and Joony’s collaboration on “Paper Soldier” adds a compelling chapter, highlighting the power of unreleased gems and the excitement they bring to fans. As the official version takes center stage, it marks a significant moment for both artists, solidifying their positions as forces to be reckoned with in the world of contemporary R&B.
Let us know your thoughts on the track! Do you want more music from Brent Faiyaz soon? The R&B crooner recently dropped his project Larger Than Life, which consisted of 14 tracks. He brought out several stars as guest features on the project including: A$AP Rocky, Missy Elliott, Coco Jones, and Babyface Ray. Anyway, let us know what you think of the track below on HNHH!
Quoteable Lyrics: Money come in, but you can’t lose it, oh Shе’s tryna make love, I’m tryna make movies (Wait) Woah, don’t be cryin’, bitch, I do this I stunt for real, these niggas students From the front, my bitch a beauty From the back, look at that booty She wanna parlay with my goonies I’m tryna three way with her roommate, hey roomie
(WARNING: Spoilers for this week’s Rap Sh!t episode will be found below.)
The events in the first episode of Max’s Rap Sh!tseason two, titled “Yield,” are soundtracked by songs that help to accentuate the emotions behind each scene. You can find a list of them below and details about the scenes the records were heard in.
Reina Reign — “Tongue”
We hear this record during the opening scene of “Yield” as Reina Reign, Shawna, and Mia are shooting a video for their remix of “Tongue.” The trio are in a pink-lit kitchen for a video and they’re all directed to show their sex appeal while working with kitchen items, something that Shawna struggles to get the hang of.
Shawna & Mia & Raedio — “Seduce & Scheme”
This is the theme song of Rap Sh!t. It plays around the 2:17 mark in “Yield.” The song originally debuted in the inaugural episode of Rap Sh!t and it was the first song Shawna and Mia made after establishing their rap duo. An official full-length version of the song was recorded in season one, episode two.
Raedio, Ben Reilly, Bryant Taylorr & Tim Gent — “Fish & Grits” Feat. Cam & China
This song plays around the 6:26 mark as Mia tries on some outfits for tour. She also discovers that her friend will not be able to watch her daughter Melissa for the full month she’s on the road. We then shift to Duke who meets with one of her top sex workers who warns her of future troubles and proposes that she watch the rest of the girls while Duke is on tour with Shawna & Mia.
Fana Hues — “Float”
Fana Hues’ Flora + Fana record can be heard around the 7:57 mark as Mia meets with her Melissa’s father Lamont to ask if he can watch Melissa for two of the four weeks she’s on tour. There’s some tension between the two following last season’s events, but Lamont agrees to prioritize Melissa and take care of her during Mia’s tour.
Ice Spice — “Bikini Bottom”
Ice Spice’s hit song “Bikini Bottom” plays around the 9:08 mark as Shawna, Mia, and Duke meet at Francois’ house ahead of the tour. It’s here that Shawna, Mia, and Duke learn that the duo will only be able to perform one song, their “Tongue” remix, during their slot as the opening act for Lord AK. Additionally, there’s no guarantee that Shawna, Mia, and Duke will make money. Despite Duke’s frustrations and objections, Shawna & Mia decide to still go through with the tour.
Enchanting & Gucci Mane — “Issa Photoshoot”
Around the 12:52 mark, this record plays during a going away party for Mia with her friends and family. The drinks are flowing but the tension between Mia and her mother is still high as her mother is upset that Mia won’t let Melissa stay with her while she’s on tour. Mia and her sister also share an emotional moment before Mia’s mother gives a drunken speech.
Jordan Ward & Joony — “IDC”
Jordan Ward’s Forward track plays as Shawna and Francois hang out in the latter’s pool around the 15:22 mark. The two play a game of Never Have I Ever and reminisce about the memories they had as a former music duo as well as the things that happened after they split.
Jacques Laine — “Little Haiti” Feat. Seddy Hendrix
We hear this song around the 17:11 mark as Mia takes a dive into the pool and Francois joins her shortly after. We then transition to Lamont showing up to Mia’s party with Throat Coat as a going-away gift for Mia’s tour.
Rayn Lenae — “Skin Tight” Feat. Steve Lacy
Ravyn Lenae’s Hypnos record plays around the 22:12 mark during an intimate moment between Shawna and Maurice. It comes after the two shared a toast ahead of Shawna’s tour where Maurice wished her luck and celebrated her accomplishments.
Jean Deaux — “JD’s Revenge”
This track plays to close episode one after Maurice meets with his friend Stanley to let him know that he’s been called in for questioning by the police concerning the fraud investigation that’s ongoing at the old hotel Maurice and Shawna worked at. Maurice assures Stanley that Shawna did not snitch on them to the police, despite not having any proof of that, and Stanley warns that he will throw Shawna under the bus if it comes to it.
New episodes of ‘Rap Sh!t’ are available on Max on Thursday at 3am EST/ 12 pm PST.
In just two days, Lil Tjay will launch the Beat The Odds Tour — his first since 2021, when he toured his second album, Destined 2 Win. Since then, he’s recovered after being shot seven times during a failed robbery attempt in New Jersey last June, and released his third studio album, 222, this July.
Tjay will be joined on this tour by a slew of artists, including frequent collaborator Fivio Foreign, Dej Loaf, and rising stars Skilla Baby, Joony, Dina Ayada, Killy, Lithe, and Karri. See below for more info about the Beat The Odds Tour openers.
Fivio Foreign
Brooklyn rapper Fivio Foreign is best known for his collaborations with late drill rap vanguard Pop Smoke, as well as high-profile collabs with the likes of Drake, Kanye West, Lil Baby, and Quavo. After being featured in the 2020 XXL Freshman Class, he released his debut album, B.I.B.L.E. in 2022, debuting at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Dej Loaf
Blog era fave Dej Loaf first came to national prominence in 2014 with the release of her second mixtape, Sell Sole, and its single “Try Me.” She was signed to Columbia Records, but after years of delays, split from the label to independently release Sell Sole II in 2020. Since then, the Detroit native has made regular appearances as a coveted features artist for artists like Doe Boy and Tyla Yaweh.
Skilla Baby
Another Detroit rapper, Skill Baby is protege of Sada Baby, whose work ethic is every bit as uncompromising as his contemporaries like Babyface Ray and 42 Dugg. After releasing two projects in 2022, he followed up this year with the Controversy mixtape alongside fellow Motor City rapper Tee Grizzley.
Joony
Hailing from Maryland, Joony sing-raps over soulful and occasionally haunting beats, venting about life and relationships. He’s quite prolific; his latest album, Sh*tumss, dropped in May, just a year after his last, Pretty In Black. You can catch him on Tjay’s London, Birmingham, and Glasgow dates.
Dina Ayada
Dina Ayada is a rapper and singer from Morocco who has built an impressive following on moody songs like “Miles Away” and “Games.” There isn’t a whole lot of info about her yet, but she’s got an intriguing sound and a cool look that could lead to more growth in the future. She’s billed on the UK dates of the tour.
Killy
A Canadian rapper of mixed Bajan and Filipino heritage, he’s already gotten Drake’s attention, and released an impressive collection of projects in just the six short years since his debut in 2017. His latest, K3 is less than a week old as of this writing. He’ll be joining Tjay on his Canadian dates.
Lithe
When the tour swings around to Australia, local singer Lithe will join, performing popular tracks like “Lot Of Love,” “Pessimist,” and “Hold Out.”
Karri
The tour’s West Coast swing will see rising San Francisco R&B singer Karri tag along. His latest release is the four-song EP, Only U.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
The RX is Uproxx Music’s stamp of approval for the best albums, songs, and music stories throughout the year. Inclusion in this category is the highest distinction we can bestow and signals the most important music being released throughout the year. The RX is the music you need, right now.
Life as Brent Faiyaz knew it changed by the time summer arrived in 2017. His guest appearance on GoldLink’s “Crew” with Shy Glizzy, which dropped in December 2016, shot him into the spotlight thanks to the perfect hook he provided for the song. While that record is certainly the most impactful towards his upward trajectory, there’s another one that came out two months prior that best speaks to the man we hear today. Sonder, Brent Faiyaz’s group with producers Dpat and Atu, released a record called “Too Fast” which Brent uses to respond to those who “say I drive too fast, move too fast, live too fast.” Little did we know this line would foreshadow Brent’s demise a half-decade later.
Brent Faiyaz’s sophomore album, Wasteland, expands on the message from “Too Fast.” Throughout the album’s 19 songs, which include features from big names like Tyler The Creator, Drake, and Alicia Keys as well as fellow Marylanders Joony and Tre’Amani, an all-gas-no-breaks lifestyle is not the only thing that Brent defends. He also critiques the “toxic” label that’s been placed on him, especially after the 2020 release of his F*ck The World EP. “That’s the Internet word that people like to attach to sh*t” and “So if you sing some real sh*t, like what’s toxic? What’s real?” he says to open Wasteland on “Villian’s Theme.” For Brent, his songs detail a very real lifestyle that isn’t some false persona or game of pretend to play into a trend. Brent isn’t being anything, he just is it, and to him, there’s a difference between the two.
As the non-linear and cluttered conversation on “Villian’s Theme” concludes, in comes the intimidating strikes of a violin on “Loose Change.” The first official record of the album is one Brent uses to pour out his complaints about fame like water from a bucket. The ladies complain too much for more of his time and the men are clout chasing and/or trying to knock him off his throne. Following the monetary theme at hand, “Price Of Fame,” finds Brent once again fighting for peace in the spotlight. “They just wanna take me off of here,” he quips on the song before letting us know that fame, glitz, glam, people screaming your name, and the demands “isn’t everything.” In other instances on the album, like on “Gravity,” “Wasting Time,” and momentarily on “Addictions,” Brent appears worn out and exhausted by the requirements of those in his world. For what it’s worth, more times than not, he’s only asked for the bare minimum – especially from women – and it’s for this reason that there’s a better word than toxic to describe the 26-year-old singer.
In all reality, Brent is more selfish than toxic, that’s seemingly the message on Wasteland. Sure, each share qualities that intersect, but I’d argue that the latter better represents the Maryland native. It’s selfishness that leads to him making a red carpet appearance with his side chick on “Oblivion” moments after his baby mother expresses her frustrations towards feeling lonely and uncared for on “Egomaniac.” It’s selfishness that sees Brent check in with nonchalance for a woman and her seemingly unfounded complaints on “Ghetto Gatsby.” “I can’t buy you happiness if you ain’t got it,” he sings. “Move you to a place, still ain’t what you wanted.” Notably, just two songs later comes “Wasting Time,” the Drake-featured track that arrives as an ode to a minimalistic and unbothered relationship, one that brings a twinkle to the eye of Brent.
In a way, it’s a good thing that Brent is very front-facing about his desires; that way you know exactly what you’re getting into with him. He isn’t controlling, he tells you to do as you please on “Dead Man Walking.” He wants you to view the world as he does as he proudly flexes his approaches and offers to teach them on the foot-stomping “Role Model.” Even in his most love-driven moments, your disappointment about his true personality isn’t something he can fix as noted on “Heal Your Heart.” Brent is a rockstar, matter of fact, he’s a “Rolling Stone” as he coolly reminds us. On that song, he sings, “I’m sorry in advance if I let you down,” with enough sincerity and sympathy that you almost believe he’s genuinely apologetic. But as we know, it’s nonchalance towards others hurt by a lifestyle he loves that takes precedent. The real Brent arrives a few lines earlier. “I’m a rolling stone,” he declares. “I’m too wild for you to own / In a whip that’s meant to speed.”
While he’s not opposed to settling down, Brent is opposed to slowing down. He told us there was no such thing as too fast, but as we hear at the end of “Wake Up Call,” that’s not totally true. He realizes this as his car tumbles to destruction as he rushes to try and save his pregnant baby mother from a suicide attempt. During the last seconds of Brent’s frantic phone call with her, she bluntly says, “No, you can’t always get what you want.” He once said F*ck The World, and while he was completely in his right to say that, the world now returns the insult. The thing is, the world – this chaotic Wasteland that Brent finds himself in – is through his own creation. “Life moves fast when you do what you want,” he sings on “Jackie Brown.” What he soon learns through this album’s well-crafted, dark, and vivid records is that the fast life is oftentimes a death race rather than a carefree cruise through the city.
Wasteland is out now via Lost Kids LLC. You can stream it here.
Joony is back with his first official album of 2022, Pretty In Black. The 11-track collection has his trademark melancholy, which pairs beautifully with his keen sense of production. Following the success of his Fast & Furious-inspired single “Drifting In Tokyo,” the 21-year-old musician digs deep into his creative arsenal to provide a varied full-length effort. Following his enthralling performance at Broccoli City Festival 2022, the “Say My Name” MC held bi-coastal listening sessions to drum up interest in his new album. The DMV-bred recording artist teased some of his new material for sold-out venues in Los Angeles and New York.
Pretty in Black has a summery vibe to it. For the most part, Joony was a one-man show, but he did pick up some interesting features. On “ZOOM ZOOM,” Jordan Ward provided some fiery vocal support, while Lily Rayne collaborated with Baby Joon on “BE OTW,” an Afrobeats-infused banger. On the producing side, the Brent Faiyaz/Lost Kids co-signee has some strong hitters. Grammy-nominated producer Charlie Heat created the track for “MISERY,” while multi-platinum super-producer CashMoneyAP produced “HIGHS LOWS.”
Joony from Maryland is “Drifting In Tokyo” in his video. His first official single off his upcoming album, Pretty In Black, is “Drifting In Tokyo.” The “Baby Joon” rapper swerves through the city while dripping in fancy clothing in the Fast and Furious-inspired clip. As usual, Joony may be spotted watching TV with attractive women making donuts in an empty parking lot.
Over the last few years, the burgeoning rap sensation from the District of Columbia has made huge ripples in the business. Many people have backed him because of his outstanding work ethic and constant productivity, including GRAMMY Award-nominated R&B singer Brent Faiyaz. Furthermore, his new single follows his highly anticipated performance at Washington, DC’s Broccoli City Festival. Joony will be performing with some of the biggest names in music, like Lil Durk, Summer Walker, and DMV icon Wale.
GRNDZRO Entertainment executive produced Joony’s new cinematic visual for “Drifting In Tokyo,” which you can watch now!