Y: Lauryn Hill is largely unreliable when it comes to being on time, but this is pretty on time. Listen to the goodness that happens when her crackly voice takes on Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good,” an optimistic view of the fresh feel of freedom in a fucked up world. When you feel like there’s no use trying to soothe your soul, all you wanna think about are butterflies and peaceful sleep. [Vulture]
Y: Jess Glynne’s trembly cover of The Weeknd’s “Earned It” loses the original’s eerie magic. Overall, though, I like her take on it more as a ballad than a nasty jam. [Spin]
N: I knew this simple-minded record from Tyga would be an instant Nah after seeing these lyrics—“I hit her, she backwards, lickin’ her asshole/ My dick is the password/ T nasty, ’bout to catch a felony for it/ Vagina juice like orange juice in the mornin’”—before pressing play. It is. Pass. [Billboard]
Y: Justin Bieber and Jack Ü’s “Where Are U Now” is currently on my Spotify playlist titled “What I Wanna Hear.” There’s something about Biebs’ cavernous yearn of a voice that hooks me. Anyway, I’m into these remixes, especially the bass on the Marshmello one. [Idolator]
Y: Bilal and Kendrick Lamar of course get busy and deep about materiality over a hustling drum rhythm on “Money Over Love.” [Rap Radar]
N: This illustrated video for Australian songwriter Katie Dey’s “unkillable” does make me want to sit and be a kid again and watch repeats of Arthur. Still, the song itself sounds like a choir of elves. [Stereogum]
Y: Why don’t we respect Omarion more? is a question I ask myself at least once a month. This playful DJ Mustard record “I’m Up (No DJ)” is very familiar sounding but ready to be pop-locked to nonetheless. [Miss Info]
Y: Popcaan’s “Never Sober” isn’t exactly a reggae groove you slow-wind to and yet someone somewhere will find a way (maybe me). The sparse beat is a sign this is best played as a post-lit party nightcap. [Miss Info]
Y: Thundercat’s “Them Changes” is like sitting on a blanket in the park on a sunny day analyzing both the sky and the mess of a past relationship. But I digress. [Billboard]
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