Three weeks ago, Inglewood rapper D Smoke dropped his new single “Shame On You,” praising the righteous rebels of the music industry as he made his own return to the spotlight following the success of his debut project Black Habits. Today, he follows up with the release of a defiant music video for the track directed by Sergio & Babajide and produced by Undaunted. Shot in Lagos, Nigeria, the video finds the Inglewood native reconnecting with the Motherland and toasting his own success.
The video’s narrative finds Smoke flying to Nigeria to back up a friend whose village needs protection from corrupt government officials. It’s a theme that the rapper might find relatable as Inglewood becomes the site of ongoing concerns about gentrification. Smoke’s also got a connection to Nigeria through his recent collaboration with Fireboy DML, “Champion,” which came out earlier this year.
“Shame On You” joins “It’s OK” as D Smoke’s second solo video release of the year, but while he’s been low-key in 2021, he’s been far from inactive. In March, he contributed the theme song “Basketball” to the latest season of Netflix’s Last Chance U, then released the smooth “Sade” along with a remix of “Gaspar Yanga” for Spotify. Along with his Best Rap Album Grammy nomination, Smoke’s latest is a signal that his flame is only growing, and it’s time to take note.
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.
In all the noise and chaos of the rollouts for Drake and Kanye West’s new albums, it might have been easy to miss the release of one of the best albums of the year. That’s a shame, because while one of the more infuriating debates surrounding those albums was their lack of female voices, Little Simz’s new album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert should have been sufficient to satisfy any desire for a feminine presence — ironically, as it gave ample evidence that a woman, by herself, can be enough.
That may have been its goal all along. Simz elucidates the internal world of a woman pursuing her dream of rap stardom in defiance of her own discomfort at the idea of fitting into a world where women aren’t always welcome. She does this by way of narrative skits peppered throughout which highlight the introversion suggested by the album’s title; Simz is no star-chaser or glory hound, prompting one of the characters in the interludes, a character that seems to reflect Simz’s inner voice to question why she’s even here. It’s a question that I think every artist has wrestled with — or at least, one that perhaps they should.
Simz is also not a shrinking violet either. Sometimes I Might Be Introvert is her fourth album, building on the critical acclaim and momentum of her highly-praised 2019 project, Grey Area. On that album, she showed a propensity and a gift for both clear-eyed introspection and sharp observation. Here, she refines those skills, offering broad-ranging commentary and experienced insights on the world’s perceptions of Black women and her own defiant reactions to them.
On songs such as “Woman” featuring Cleo Sol, Simz lists women by nationality and occupation, offering a counterpoint to the often negative stereotypes that exist in the mainstream hip-hop world. In the interlude “Gems,” she details those struggles in conversation with the fairy godmother-esque inner voice (played by Diana, Princess of Wales actress Emma Corrin) both encouraging her and interrogating her doubts. “But understand you’re human,” she advises. “Be proud. Your light will shine in the darkest hour. Pressure makes diamonds.”
“Standing Ovation” continues this line of questioning but adds a boisterous dose of braggadocio, reminding the audience that Little Simz is one of rap’s foremost technicians as well. A beat switch reflects the duality of womanhood, swinging between the extroverted confident delivery of a traditional rapper and the somewhat muted, but never dimmed, introverted calm at the center of the storm. The latter is a swirling, shimmering instrumental breakdown, allowing Simz to pause and reflect on the personal sacrifices it takes to earn the boasts.
Throughout the album, Simz tries on different styles, inhabiting each with a calm confidence born of her hard-won self-possession. On “Point And Kill” she executes afro-pop as assuredly as Nigerian native guest artist Obongjayar, keeping the vibe every bit as strong on “Fear No Man.” Sometimes I Might Be Introvert is a sweeping experiment that operates with an astonishing level of sonic breadth, but it never loses its sense of structure and direction. Simz is completely in control, keeping the melange of sounds and styles from ever feeling as chaotic as Kanye’s Donda or artificial as Drake’s Certified Lover Boy. When she chooses to address complex parental relationships on “I Love You, I Hate You,” it’s with a grace that neither has ever completely mastered.
It’s cozy and cohesive, more revealing than either of the aforementioned, but also much more genuine and honest. Simz is speaking from her experience but speaking for so many women who might feel voiceless in the current context of hip-hop, where spectacle seems to outweigh substance. Don’t get it twisted; Sometimes I Might Be Introvert takes some big swings too, but it never lets go of its message for the sake of an impressive stroke at expanding its sound. Simz has evolved, album by album, into the kind of artist who can push boundaries and remain both relatable and universal at the same time. It’s a balancing act that so many artists could take lessons from as hip-hop pursues its contemporary aspirations at making “high art,” because Simz already is.
Sometimes I Might Be Introvert is out now via AWAL Digital Limited and AGE 101. Get it here.
Brooklyn drill stalwart Fivio Foreign may have eased up on his 2020 momentum earlier this year thanks to an unfortunate run-in with the police this past spring but now that he’s back out on the streets, he’s also been right back in the studio, revealing the results with the harrowing video for “Story Time,” his first new single since April’s “Self Made.”
True to its title, the “Story Time” video finds Fivio holding court as his friends huddle around him while he narrates the tragic experience of incarceration. “Let me tell a little sad story about this young boy,” he starts, before reeling off the kid’s struggles with the system and the abuses he experiences at the hands of callous agents of the state. As Fivio narrates, the scenes play out in vivid, vicious detail, following the young boy as he’s processed into the penitentiary, then forced to adapt to survive the harsh conditions.
The new single helps Fivio get back on track in the rollout to his upcoming album Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth (that spells “B.I.B.L.E.,” in case you missed it). He hasn’t revealed a release date yet, but after appearing on Lil Tjay’s “Headshot” and Hit-Boy’s “Salute,” he was positioned for plenty of attention early this year. We’ll see if his short bid took any of the wind out of his sails — and whether strong showings like “Story Time” can bring some of it back.
After dazzling in 2019 with her phenomenal debut album, Shea Butter Baby, Ari Lennox kept things cool, calm, and collected in 2020. She made a few appearances on Dreamville’s Revenge Of The Dreamers III and Spillage Village’s Spilligion while delivering some singles of her own. They included her Shea Butter Baby remix EP, which delivered updated takes of tracks from her debut. As for 2021, it seems like Lennox could be bringing fans closer to the long-awaited release of her sophomore album and the road towards the project begins with her brand new single, “Pressure.”
The singer’s newest release is fun and free-spirited as it captures Lennox delivering sultry lines about her passionate love life with her new partner. Dreamville’s First Lady declares she’s “okay with being nasty” and adds, “Don’t need nobody but I’ll take you down tonight.” She also delivers a vibrant visual for the song that depicts her in a number of throwback looks which add to the fun of the new song.
“Pressure” arrives after Summer Walker confirmed Lennox, along with Lil Durk and SZA, will appear on her upcoming album. If you’re looking to catch Lennox live in concert, you’ll be able to do so at HER’s upcoming Lights On Festival in Brooklyn. As for her more recent releases, Lennox’s last release came alongside Queen Naija for “Set Him Up.”
You can press play on the new single in the video above.
Unlike Lorde, though, Nicki didn’t give a reason for backing out, instead confirming her cancelation on Twitter in response to a fan question and promising to return in the the future. “I just pulled out,” she replied to the fan’s inquiry about whether or not she was performing. “I’ll explain why another day.”
In the past, Nicki took issue with the BET Awards’ Facebook post, pulling out of the BET Experience performances in 2019, but in this case, it appears that the split was more amicable. “I love those guys at MTV,” she gushed. “Thank you Bruce. I love you so much. Next year we there baby.”
I just pulled out. I’ll explain why another day. But I love those guys at MTV. thank you Bruce. I love you so much. Next year we there baby. https://t.co/QkueA9fcOu
Lorde, meanwhile, previously explained that her own reason for pulling out was the show’s updated safety protocols, which would have forced her to change her planned performance. Rather than doing that, she decided to cancel rather than shortchange her fans.
The VMAs air this Sunday at 8:00 pm ET / 5:00 pm PT.
Sacramento reality rapper Mozzy returns with a new album and the video for its first single. “Straight To The 4th,” which released today at midnight, finds Mozzy waxing nostalgic on his fallen friend Skeemo and giving his directives for what to do upon his own passing: “If I die before I wake, then take me straight to 4th,” he rhymes on the chorus. A helpful flyby shot of a 44th Street sign in Mozzy’s home neighborhood Oak Park elucidates his meaning.
Along with the video for “Straight To The 4th,” Mozzy announced the impending release of his next album, Untreated Trauma, which will be his second of 2021 and fifth project in the last two years. In 2019, he dropped Internal Affairs, while in 2020, he put out two projects, Beyond Bulletproof and Occupational Hazard. The former became his highest-charting project to date, peaking at No. 43 on the Billboard 200. Meanwhile, earlier in 2021, Mozzy teamed up with Compton rapper YG for the collaborative album Kommunity Service, which included the singles “Bompton to Oak Park,” “Perfect Timing” with Blxst, and “Vibe with You” featuring Ty Dolla Sign. Untreated Trauma, set for a September 17 release, will include appearances from Babyface Ray, Celly Ru, E. Mozzy, EST Gee, Kalan.FrFr, and YFN Lucci.
Watch Mozzy’s “Straight To The 4th” video above.
Untreated Trauma is due 9/17 via EMPIRE. You can pre-save it here.
Maybe it was the popularity of the Silhouette Challenge that planted the seed for Pepsi’s newest campaign with its sample of ’50s star Paul Anka alongside the sultry vocals of modern pop phenom Doja Cat. In the new ad, which promotes the brand’s new “soda shop” line of flavors, Doja Cat again takes on a retro classic, but this time adds another layer of meta flair with a cover of Olivia Newton-John’s Grease showstopper “You’re The One I Want.”
Recreating a handful of scenes from the ’70s film with the ’50s aesthetic, the new ad puts a modern spin on both, updating the rock-and-roll style music with glittering contemporary pop and utilizing a multicultural cast of greasers and preps. Meanwhile, despite taking on the role of Sandy, it turns out Doja’s mission isn’t so much hooking up with Danny, but getting her well-manicured hands on his can of Pepsi.
In an interview with Billboard about the new campaign, the MTV VMA host admitted having trouble locking down the vocal approach on the classic. “I sing, but I feel like I have a lot of trouble singing certain things, even my own songs,” she said. “This was one of those songs where I had to really push and find different parts of my singing ability to make it happen.”
“Back then, music was so different and so carefully done. It wasn’t just loops and beats, which is why I feel like this was a bit harder for me. I can’t believe I was able to kind of hit some of those notes because it’s a very difficult song to sing. I’m happy about it.”
Watch Doja Cat cover “You’re The One I Want” for Pepsi above.
While some may want music at a more steady rate from the TDE singer, for what it’s worth, SZA has been more active in the past twelve months than she’s been in years prior. It all started last fall when she made her return with “Hit Different” alongside Ty Dolla Sign. SZA kept things rolling with the release of “Good Days” and even teased a few songs that he supported can expect in the future. While the new music is all well and good, her fans’ true desire is a new album. For the time being, they’ll have to keep their patience intact for the TDE act’s sophomore album, but they can enjoy a new single from her in the meantime.
SZA arrives with “The Anonymous Ones,” a pop-friendly track that finds the singer singing for those who often find themselves stuck in the shadows of the world, a place she admits she resides in at times. The single appears on the soundtrack for the upcoming film, Dear Evan Hansen, which follows a high school senior who suffers from social anxiety through a journey of self-discovery and acceptance following the tragic suicide of a classmate.
The new song comes after she released “random thoughts” in the form of three songs last month, those being “I Hate You,” “Joni,” and “Nightbird.” Summer Walker also confirmed that SZA will appear on her upcoming album.
You can listen to SZA’s “The Anonymous Ones” in the video above.
After weeks of anticipation, Chloe Bailey’s long-awaited debut solo single is finally here, arriving with an exciting video. Chloe shined as a part of a duo with sister Halle, but now it’s time for her to impress as a solo act, something she looks to do with her brand new single, “Have Mercy.” Chloe shows off her dance moves and twerking abilities as a cast of guys watch in awe. The singer is also accompanied by a group of female dancers that keep up with her and seductive moves.
Chloe impressed for years through music and on the small screen in shows like Freeform’s Grown-ish. An excellent example of Chloe’s musical talents came last year with the release of last year’s Ungodly Hour as a part of the Chloe X Halle duo.
“Have Mercy” will appear on the singer’s upcoming album and prior to the track’s release, Chloe delivered an update on the project and teased what kind of music fans can expect to hear on it. “It’s 90% done,” she said about the project, adding that the album “is definitely more pop.” “I’m creating my own lane, as well as paying homage to the ones who have inspired me,” she continued. “It has been fun finding my voice.”
It’s safe to say Syd has something special on the way for her faithful listeners. The singer’s last solo project came in at the end of 2017 with Always Never Home. The 3-track EP came months after she released her solo debut album, Fin. From the looks of it, it appears a second dose of the latter could be on the way, but until that is confirmed, fans can enjoy her latest single, “Right Track” with Smino. The new release is a change in tempo for the singer’s often breezy and chilled-out songs. In the song, Syd and Smino use a giddy beat to beg for trust and commitment from their partner while promising that they’ll reach the next level together if things stay on the “right track.”
Syd’s latest single arrives after as her third track of the year. She launched her 2021 campaign with February’s “Missing Out,” a track she described as an “anti-Valentine’s Day ode” while singing about her partner’s inability to “spend the proper time trying to work it out.” Months later she returned with “Fast Car,” a more positive record focused on the intimate moments a couple spends together when they ignore the rest of the world. “I wanted to make something for the gay Black girls,” Syd said about the song. “I want them to see themselves in this and in me.”
You can press play on Syd and Smino’s new collaboration in the video above.
