It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these but I’m back, bitches! I did all the research for you so you don’t have to listen to a mountain of trash to find the gems. Here are the best songs that got released this week.
YBN Cordae – Have Mercy
YBN Cordae is the best member of the YBN collective and he keeps getting better and better. His flow on this track is effortless and he’s proving the young generation does, in fact, have bars. The chorus has a faux-self reflective arrogance to it where YBN wonders if he’s doing the right things but doesn’t give a fuck if he’s wrong. The beat is hypnotic, the raps are solid, everything you need in a good single.
Anderson .Paak – Reachin’ 2 much
Anderson’s 2nd album in 6 months, Ventura, is nothing short of brilliant. Where Oxnard was an aggressive, fiery, and depraved Ventura finds Anderson in a more chilled out, soulful mood. He started his career making songs like this and he’s at his best when he’s nestled into a laidback groove. I love all the songs off this album but “Reachin’ 2 much” is my favorite.
The rhythm starts out in James Brown fashion with these punchy, crisp horns and stuttering beat then evolved into one of the slickest grooves I’ve heard in a long time. And that groove just keeps on going for another 4 minutes. There are elements of 70s neo-soul and Jazz mixed which makes the song groovy, playful, and fun.
Kevin Abstract – Georgia
The leader of BROCKHAMPTON dropped a 3 song EP which all sound predictably like BROCKHAMPTON. The first two songs are mostly forgettable but “Georgia” is a personal track (like most of Kevin’s songs) about Kevin’s struggle to feel accepted being an openly gay rapper and artist in Hollywood. The lyrics aren’t that deep, they kind of just scratch the surface of his struggle, but the chorus is beautiful and I love how it transitions from the high pitched distorted vocals to the harmonies in the second half. If you like BROCKHAMPTON, you’ll love this.
You can find all these songs on the Overly Opinionated April playlist: