Fridayy is keeping the good vibes coming in 2024 with his latest single “Baddest In The Room,” a track that sums up his lust when he spots exactly that in the middle of the party. Moreover, it follows previous singles like the Chainsmokers collab “Friday” and a more direct display of balladry and melancholy with the March cut “Without You.” In comparison to those cuts, this one takes more inspiration from dancehall and Afrobeat rhythms and tones, but the vocals and harmonies are firmly within the R&B tradition.
Furthermore, the main instrumental draw to “Baddest In The Room” is a rustic acoustic guitar lick that contrasts with airy synthesizers and deep synthetic bass. Fridayy is able to work with both timbres quite well as far as how his vocals match, but it’s also not that notable of a switch-up or change of pace compared to all his other material. He’s definitely come a long way from his debut self-titled album last year, and has even further to go.
With that in mind, we’re excited to hear where the “When It Comes To You” crooner takes us next. If you haven’t heard Fridayy’s “Baddest In The Room” yet, find it on your preferred streaming service or check out the visualizer on YouTube a bit further down. Peep some notables lines below as well, and let us know what you think of the record in the comments section. Also, as always, stick around on HNHH for more soothing R&B drops around the clock.
Fridayy’s “Baddest In The Room”: Stream & Watch The Visualizer
Quotable Lyrics I’m in the middle of the party, but all I’m thinking about is you, A hundred million shawties, but you make it easy to choose, How many men wish they could wake up right next to you? Oh, baby, bring it closer, I know just what to do
While the summer heat becomes no easier to contend with in many North American corners, we’re here to chill you out by rounding up the best of the best R&B-related new music releases of the week on our latest R&B Season playlist update. Obviously, we have a pretty big frontrunner in Kehlani’s highly anticipated new album CRASH, whose best highlights include the title track and “Sucia” featuring Jill Scott and Young Miko. They do a great job of balancing out a lot of different styles here and bringing out the best from their guests, whether they’re a Philly singer-songwriter or a Puerto Rican sensation in the latter song’s case.
Meanwhile, we also wanted to shout out the new Kali Uchis single “Never Be Yours,” a reimagined version of one of her Drunken Babble cuts from all the way back in 2012. It’s a testament to the Colombian-Virginian’s enduring songwriting talents and the longevity of her artistry that everything about the song holds up to this day. Whether it’s the new melodic and production approach, though, there are still plenty of fresh elements for longtime fans to discover. Definitely don’t miss out on blasting this R&B jam next time you’ve got the sun in your face; don’t knock it ’til you try it!
Elsewhere on R&B Season this week, we’ve got a new project from Maeta to talk about, the KAYTRANADA-produced Endless Night. You definitely feel that signature touch all throughout this seven-track offering, and the title track in particular is one of the more fitting and successful link-ups here. There are some really nice and warm chords anchoring things together as whistling synthesizers fade in and out. There’s been a lot of KAYTRA to enjoy as of late, and we’re especially not complaining when the Indianapolis singer joins the fun.
Then, we also have Fridayy’s new single “Baddest In The Room” to discuss, one of the more vocally passionate cuts this week. Finally, we wanted to salute The 80s (comprised of James Fauntleroy and No ID) for their re-release of The Pursuit, their collaborative project that contains one heck of a calmer with the Snoh Aalegra-assisted “Blue.” Let us know what your favorite R&B Season pick was this week, as well as what we missed, down in the comments section below. Check the playlist out above and, as always, come back to HNHH for the latest great music drops around the clock.
Guadalajara, México’s own Peso Pluma has had one of the hottest streaks of any artist in the Hispanic and Latin American music sphere in recent years, momentum that he’s got no plans to slow down. Moreover, he just released his 24-track juggernaut of a star-studded album in ÉXODO, which is much like his last album GÉNESIS in this regard. However, this one boasts some more interesting crossover collaborations with the likes of Cardi B, Quavo, and Rich The Kid, who appears on the single “Gimme A Second.”
In addition, there are other Latine superstars like Arcángel, Anitta, Junior H, Natanael Cano, Oscar Maydon, Gabito Ballesteros, and many more on here. It’s been amazing to see Peso Pluma’s rapid rise in the regional Mexican music sphere, despite canceled shows over cartel death threats dampening some of his hometown exposure. Hopefully he faces no further issues in that regard, and is able to connect fans to ÉXODO in a safe and meaningful manner. After all, the tracklist contains a diverse display of styles and also indicates that the “Igual Que Un Ángel” creative’s artistry will take him to further highs.
Peso Pluma has a long and likely busy summer to look forward to, and we’re sure that ÉXODO won’t just soundtrack his summer, but maybe yours as well. If you haven’t heard the album yet, find it on your preferred streaming service or check it out on YouTube below. Also down there, you can find the comments section for you to drop your thoughts on the LP and see the tracklist for any cuts that catch your attention. Also, as always, come back to HNHH for the latest hot music drops around the clock.
Tracklist Disc 1 1. LA DURANGO (ft. Junior H & Eslabon Armado) 2. ME ACTIVO (ft. Jasiel Nuñez) 3. LA PATRULLA (ft. Neton Vega) 4. LA PEOPLE II (ft. Tito Double P & Joel De La P) 5. SR. SMITH (ft. Luis R Conriquez) 6. ROMPE LA DOMPE (ft. Junior H & Oscar Maydon) 7. MAMI (ft. Chino Pacas) 8. BELANOVA (ft. Tito Double P) 9. BRUCE WAYNE 10. HOLLYWOOD (ft. Estevan Plazola) 11. RELOJ (ft. Ivan Cornejo) 12. ICE 13. SOLICITADO 14. SANTAL 33 (ft. Oscar Maydon) 15. VINO TINTO (ft. Natanael Cano & Gabito Ballesteros) 16. 14 – 14
Disc 2 1. GIMME A SECOND (ft. Rich The Kid) 2. PUT EM IN THE FRIDGE (ft. Cardi B) 3. PA NO PENSAR (ft. Quavo) 4. PESO COMPLETO (ft. Arcángel) 5. BELLAKEO (ft. Anitta) 6. MALA (ft. Ryan Castro) 7. TOMMY Y PAMELA (ft. Kenia OS) 8. TEKA (ft. DJ Snake)
Justin Timberlake now finds himself in a bit of a rough spot following a DWI arrest and a whole lot of clowning due to his mugshot. However, these obstacles and circumstances are ones that celebrities often have to deal with, however unfairly or sidestepped compared to the rest of the world. Apparently, according to alleged Hollywood insiders who spoke to Page Six, this whole scandal is affecting him particularly harshly given his album sales and tour ticket struggles. According to these alleged sources that also apparently spoke to The Post, the Memphis native’s career is not quite at the highs that he expected at this point, although it’s important to note that this is just hearsay and an understandably human response at that.
“The album didn’t do too well, and I don’t see Justin getting big acting roles right now,” an alleged Hollywood insider remarked of Justin Timberlake. “I just think Justin has a bad reputation in Hollywood as a bit of a jerk and a pain in the a**. He’s got a bit of an ego.” According to US Weekly, his wife Jessica Biel is also unhappy with his behavior as of late, although it’s unclear if she’s instead upset about the circumstances of his arrest.
Justin Timberlake At The 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 10: Justin Timberlake attends the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 10, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage/Getty Images)
“His golden boy image definitely depleted,” the alleged insider continued concerning Justin Timberlake. In addition to all this, previous discussions this year prompted renewed conversations around his relationships with Janet Jackson and Britney Spears in the professional and romantic realms, respectively. This was largely due to Spears’ new memoir last year, in which she detailed getting an abortion after getting pregnant with J.T.’s baby. “I’d like to take this opportunity to apologize to absolutely f***ing nobody,” he reportedly told a concert crowd in February.
“There have been rumors around Justin’s behavior for a long time,” another insider said of Justin Timberlake. “Maybe the bubble was about to burst and this was the pin that pricked the bubble. He’s got a few blemishes, for sure. In today’s world you have to be really dumb to drink and drive. Justin is showing off a side that I don’t think a lot of people knew about.” His next court date is set for July 26.
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there, who deserve to relax with our new R&B Season playlist update and the best of the best music releases this week from the rhythm and blues world. For this, Normani came in clutch with her long-awaited and finally manifested debut album, DOPAMINE. While there are plenty of highlights throughout, one that particularly caught our ear is the fast-flowing and woozy “All Yours.” It keeps a pretty consistently ethereal trap vibe instrumentally, but thanks to subtle vocal harmonies and catchy melodies, it becomes a much more lush experience throughout. It’s a must-listen LP from this week that will probably get stuck in your head quick.
Speaking of must-listen projects, R&B Season‘s next inclusion is another highly anticipated release: Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge suiting up as NxWorries once more for their new album, Why Lawd? Moreover, we already spoke on this briefly on our Fire Emoji playlist update if you caught it; if you didn’t check it out with the link at the end of this article. But we’d be remiss not to shout out this versatile record for its multiple achievements and moods. “KeepHer” featuring Thundercat is absolutely sultry, achieving a sense of chemistry and warmth that always hits hard when these artists enter a studio.
Another hot R&B-adjacent cut on our playlist update comes from new sensation Tommy Richman, who followed up the smash hit “MILLION DOLLAR BABY” with another 2000s-flavored banger, “DEVIL IS A LIE.” However, there’s a moody, laidback, and genre-fusing approach to this new single that makes the track still keep its modern sheen. Once again, Richman’s vocal chops are a main event here, but the bouncy and slightly West Coast-inspired beat, complete with fuzzy synth chords and even some string embellishments, does a lot to engage. It’s a shame it’s short, but it’s also what makes it such an earworm.
Meanwhile, Khalid gave us another single this week with the slow-burning and atmospheric “Adore U.” Finally, we wanted to highlight “Greedy” by Marsha Ambrosius for its soulful combination of sharp snares, orchestral movements, and spotlit vocal arrangements. Let us know what your favorite R&B Season inclusion was, as well as what else we missed this week, down in the comments section below. Check the playlist out above and, as always, come back to HNHH for the latest great music drops around the clock.
The biggest topic in all of rap music this year has been the conflict between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. Fans were enthralled with the saga for weeks since they were never sure when the next shots would be fired, in addition to drawing in some of the greatest names in the genre. Particularly during that one weekend when “Family Matters,” “Meet The Grahams,” and “Not Like Us” were released one after the other in quick succession. To many, Drake lost the beef, and he himself seemed to move on and try to put the whole thing behind him. Now, his best friend Odell Beckahm Jr. has released a video of him supporting Drizzy by dancing to “Family Matters.”
Odell dropped a video of himself blasting and dancing to Drake ‘s Kendrick Lamar diss track “Family Matters.” Odell is hilariously showing support to his bestie who he spends a lot of time with. Though Drake may have lost the feud in many people’s eyes, that doesn’t matter to Beckham JR., who will support his guy through thick and thin. Judging by the video, he was really feeling the track and just had to share it with the world to show folks that Drake dropped an incredible song. Drake and Odell have been friends for a long time, so the show of support is no real surprise.
Over the past few years, Drake and Odell Beckham Jr. have become close friends to the point that the Super Bowl champion once resided at the Toronto star’s Hidden Hills home. Beckham reportedly related an incident in which he was at the home of the Six Gods when supporters broke in. “Somehow [these guys] found The Boy’s house, broke into it,” he said during a podcast appearance. And man they come into the room like, ‘We made it to Drake’s crib!’ [Their] socks [were] dirty as hell like they had to crawl through the mountains to get here. So I had to try and play it cool. I had to dap them up but I was like, on edge at this point.”
Odell Beckham Jr. recently signed a deal with the Miami Dolphins, joining their young and dynamic wide receiver room. They will be looking to the veteran Odell to set the standard and hopefully help them make a deep playoff run. Odell also recently called it quits with Kim Kardashian, although the two are still cool with each other. Overall, Odell Beckham Jr. had a great time vibing to his buddy Drake’s diss track, showing some real support.
On August 9, Apple TV+ will launch The Instigators, a criminal comedy that takes a lighter approach to the heist genre. Starring in the next movie with Matt Damon and Casey Affleck are Jack Harlow as well. The action-packed trailer was posted by the actors on Thursday, June 13. For a mere two and a half minutes, viewers are introduced to Damon as an ex-Marine planning his first robbery with the help of a younger, more experienced team, which includes Harlow.
The movie, which was first revealed a year ago, is the continuation of Harlow’s acting career, which has drawn some “mixed” reviews. Although Harlow has received accolades for his performance, his previous film, a remake of White Men Can’t Jump, was heavily criticized for being very much inferior to the original. Additionally, Paul Walter Hauser, Ron Perlman, Hong Chau, Michael Stuhlbarg, Alfred Molina, and Ving Rhames make up the rest of the all-star cast of The Instigators. Since Doug Liman is also directing it, perhaps people will begin to believe all those claims that “Apple TV has the best content.” Someone someone instruct Netflix on how to accomplish this.
In a 2022 interview, Harlow talked about getting his first acting job with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe. “You know, I did the work to get it. I put the time in with the script, I sat with it. I considered things,” he explained. He continued saying, “I tried to be egoless during the audition, take notes, do what I had to do, and it came…. I just want to kill it. I just want to be good, and I want to do everything I can to make it good.” Furthermore, Jack Harlow is now loking to expand and solidify himself in the movie world.
“There was an initial excitement about announcing it and just the buzz that comes with saying, ‘Look, I’m in a movie.’ Everybody [is] like, ‘Wow, that’s crazy.’ But after that, [the] dust settles,” the rapper continued. “It’s either just going to be there was an announcement you were in a movie and nothing else, or you get that, and it’s like, ‘Wow, and you brought it. You brought it.’ So, I’m starting to look at it how I look at the music, and it’s my first one, so I care a lot about it.” Overall, The Instiators looks like it’ll be a good time, and Jack harlow looks good in it.
On Sunday, Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics prevailed 105-98 in a tense matchup with the Dallas Mavericks. With contributions from every player on the roster, the C’s eventually overcame a first-half deficit to win Game 2 at TD Garden. Along with being Boston’s tenth straight postseason victory, Dallas suffered their first back-to-back losses after the regular season. For the match, Celtics Nation was well-represented. Paul Pierce, Shaquille O’Neal, and Leland Wayne, popularly known as “Metro Boomin,” were spotted watching the action from the courtside. Like Tatum, the music producer is from St. Louis. He later praised the Celtics’ victory on social media.
Despite having yet another difficult shooting night, Jayson Tatum contributed 12 assists, 9 rebounds, and strong defensive play. After the victory, Boston led the series 2-0 and would now play the next two games in Dallas. The Celtics are one win away from winning their first NBA title since 2008 if they can secure another victory on Wednesday. Tatum’s ardent supporter, Metro Boomin, once declared that the All-NBA forward would one day serve as the league’s face. Metro was going to be there to support his guy, Jayson Tatum.
Metro Boomin’s post was captioned simply, “2 down 2 to go @celtics.” In his post, the producer praised ESPN as well. He worked with the network to get viewers excited about the NBA Finals in 2024. The song “Runnin Outta Time” by Metro, featuring Future, is a mainstay during the final matchup. During the Boston Celtics vs. Golden State Warriors NBA Finals in 2022, Metro Boomin was also spotted at TD Garden. The C’s prevailed 116-100 behind Tatum and Jaylen Brown to take a 2-1 series lead. They were shut out the remainder of the way, but they were only two wins away from the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
With the battle moving to Dallas during Games 3 and 4, Metro will be hoping Tatum and company don’t go that route. The Mavericks will have the advantage of momentum if they are able to tie the series 2-2. Getting two more wins should be easy enough, but the NBA Finals are a different beast. They still have to deal with Kyrie Irving, who will play better in Dallas, and Luka Doncic, who they continue to try to slow down. Overall, metro Boomin will be hoping for a sweep as the series moves to Dallas.
On June 9, NXT Battleground, a WWE special event, took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It was an exciting evening filled with star power, nonstop action, and captivating matches starring top NXT talents. Sexyy Red was once again in attendance and hosted the night like a pro. She gave the show’s introduction, congratulated Kelani Jordan on her victory, and celebrated with NXT champion Trick Williams following his successful retention in the main event. She, of course, made some viral moments along the way, like Twerking with NXT talent and cooking with WWE legend Shawn Michaels.
But she also had a few other moments that appear to be gaining the kind of internet attention that WWE was hoping for when they chose to work with Red. One occurred during the main program when Lola Vice and Sexyy ran into each other following Shayna Baszler’s defeat in an NXT Underground match. Since neither of the women had ever been called shy, Red felt free to turn their tandem twerk into a trio with interviewer Sarah Schreiber.
Schreiber was a good sport about it and retweeted the above, showcasing some of her skills outside of wrestling. After the show, Sexxy Red had some more fun with her favorite sexy boy. NXT head honcho Shawn Michaels made an appearance alongside TNA Knockouts champion Jordynne Grace. He leaned into the chef joke, obviously enjoying dancing with the woman who he lobbied for to get on the show. He gave Battleground a five-star rating for dinner. Sexyy Red may be looking to catapult into the ring as an actual wrestler soon. That would draw some eyeballs to NXT.
The group is seen in a kitchen scene when Sexyy Red exclaims, “I’ve got two coming in hot!” as Grace closes the door to an appliance. Shawn Michaels then called NXT Battleground a “five-star meal” while jokingly donning a chef’s hat in remembrance of his legendary DX segment from 2009. Michaels posed with Grace and Red at the end of the film, perfectly encapsulating the lively mood of the night. Overall, Shawn Michaels has been cooking up quite a show with NXT, and Sexxy Red may have been the perfect ingredient to add.
It’s impossible to divorce music from the social, cultural, and physical spaces that it was born out of and exists in, and when it comes to musicians perfectly evoking a particular location, KAYTRANADA is one of the industry’s most accomplished magicians. His production, songwriting, and groove-driven sensibilities allow him to turn any set of headphones or festival crowd into a 5AM nightclub propelled by killer house beats and even better melodies. It’s a staple of his career that brought vivid and lively projects in 99.9%, BUBBA, and the collab album KAYTRAMINÉ. But the question is, does TIMELESS allow us to immerse into that party or are we back to checking our phones?
If you’re at all a fan of the Haitian-Canadian creative, it’s no surprise that the latter option, albeit a big risk on this new hour-long album, is practically impossible. Compared to previous work, KAYTRANADA built something a little more consistent groove-wise, a little less exploratory in its genre fusions, but even more focused on crisp production, engaging songwriting, and keeping your mellowed attention with few breaks in mood or rhythm. It doesn’t always result in a winning formula, but it’s very compelling to hear these inspirations from so many genres coalesce into some of his best pop-adjacent material yet. If nothing else, it’s proof that the “#RICHAXXHAITIAN” musician can still have tricks up his sleeve even if the goal this time around is constance.
“Pressure” is a perfect preview of this, as the rubbery kicks, chopped Lupe and Hov sample, and staccato keys let listeners know that this will go down as one of the funkiest albums of 2024. TIMELESS is a very fitting title, as the album’s main strengths are the cleanliness of the production and the cohesion and catchiness that the songwriting offers, aspects that KAYTRANADA owes most deeply to classic house and disco production plus its soul and funk roots. Other instrumental moments like “Dance Dance Dance Dance,” “Seemingly,” and “Please Babe” are impressive isolations of the beat-making’s prowess, whereas cuts like “Witchy” with Childish Gambino, “More Than A Little Bit” with Tinashe, and “Video” with Ravyn Lenae showcase bubbly, buttery, and satisfying interplay between verse melodies, instrumental embellishments, soaring choruses, and tension-building bridges.
Furthermore, as far as the production quality itself, there’s a consistent sheen to TIMELESS‘ tracks that puts it somewhere in between the brightness of 99.9% and the submerged feel of much of BUBBA. It doesn’t craft a wholly unique sonic identity, but it definitely switches things up here and there to entice and excite skeptics. There’s the melancholy “Feel A Way” with Don Toliver, the frantic and buzzy “Drip Sweat” with Channel Tres, and tender Latin percussion on cuts like “Lover/Friend” with Rochelle Jordan and “Hold On” with Dawn Richard. As for classic KAYTRANADA funk and groove, look no further than the infectious guitars on “Weird” with Durand Bernarr.
TIMELESS is perhaps KAYTRANADA’s most stacked and well-performing guest list to date. He himself grabs the mic on “Stepped On,” which is one of the more frustrated points in the album’s constant “highs and lows” narrative about falling in love, having fun, letting go, living in the moment, and all the things that the album doesn’t have to say for you to feel through the jams. In terms of chemistry, The collaborative highlight is easily “Do 2 Me” with Anderson .Paak and SiR, with the most progressive instrumental on the record. PinkPantheress also emerges as a no-brainer recipe for collaborative greatness on “Snap My Finger,” and we hope there’s more on the way.
However, despite the fitting but imperfect transitions and the generally cohesive aesthetics and guests, there are still some bare and stretched-out elements to TIMELESS that both casual listeners and longtime fans might dismiss. While the vocal melodies are always tight, the short runtimes on “Spit It Out” with Rochelle Jordan, “Call U Up” with Lou Phelps, and “Stuntin” with Channel Tres can’t save them from feeling disengaged loops towards the end. Still, Thundercat’s comical roasting sounds gorgeous on “Wasted Words,” and Charlotte Day Wilson’s performance is heavenly on “Still,” so it’s overall not a massive blemish.
With that in mind, the 31-year-old crafts music that is as lush, fun, catchy, intoxicating, and above all loving as it’s ever been on TIMELESS. It feels like the most amorphous, watery, and meticulous genre fusion that he’s done up to this point, even if it does sacrifice the vibrance and unpredictability of previous LPs for the consistency and wide appeal of what many might call a “pop era.” But KAYTRANADA worked too hard on this tracklist flow, the production, and the quality of the songwriting to say that as a dismissive comment. It’s just another step in his evolution, one that seems to target artistic growth in the studio over a sonic change in these sessions’ results.
Frankly, TIMELESS further defines the classic KAYTRANADA bounce as a single idea rather than the multi-faceted amalgamation of shifting focuses and appeals that albums like 99.9% are so beloved for. By the time we hit the jittery and wavy “Out Of Luck” with Mariah The Scientist, some aspects of this project might feel redundant to some listeners. But it’s primarily a house, funk, and disco record, and one that tactfully succeeds in keeping the groove alive, creating sweetly addictive songs, and immersing you in the party. Here’s hoping that KAYTRA’s next moves, no matter what direction they go in, continue to champion this timeless dedication and heartfelt passion for the joy of “Think (About It)” drum breaks and the warmth of melody.
(@metroboomin)