1. GROOVY – Kno Me
Source:GROOVY
GROOVY uses his singular hybrid of Jersey club and R&B to explore the highs, lows, and complications of young love. Today, the rising artist announces his upcoming EP, Crying In The Club, coming May 24th via Defiant Records/Warner Records. With the announcement comes the heart-wrenching single and video “KNO ME.” Listen HERE.
The upcoming EP refines GROOVY’s blend of R&B and Jersey club: GROOVY slows down the club tempo, but keeps the genre’s five-beat pattern and signature sound effects, while applying silky smooth vocals and relatable lyrics on top. Home to “jersey luv” ft. B Jack$, GROOVY’s 2023 viral hit single, Crying In The Club, follows a loose narrative about heartbreak and GROOVY’s transition from hopeless romantic to regretful lothario. The EP features guest appearances from Kanii, Vayda, and R2R Moe.
Produced by GROOVY’s frequent collaborator Alejandro, “KNO ME” is an aching confection, layering a mournful string melody and piano arpeggios atop slow-mo club production. Using a screwed-up filter on his ultra-smooth vocals, GROOVY tells the story of a crumbling relationship built on a bed of lies in which nobody truly knew the other until it was too late. Directed by Keats, the video dramatizes the story, using striking imagery as GROOVY and his lover, Mariah, try and fail to work through their differences, and GROOVY responds the only way he knows how: with a sneaky link.
The son of a respected Jersey club DJ who finished optometry school before pursuing his musical career, GROOVY is the latest artist to join Steve “Steve-O” Carless’s Defiant Records, full of artists who build bridges between sounds that resonate on either side of the Hudson River. The Union County native first made noise last year with “jersey luv” ft. B Jack$, which became a viral sensation behind a hip-shaking trend that highlights the song’s dramatic tempo change. Named one of the Best Songs of 2023 by Complex, the song has over 450k creations on TikTok, along with over 1 billion views on the platform, and has generated over 49 million Spotify streams and nearly 500k units sold since its release in Spring 2023.
With the Crying In The Club EP, GROOVY continues to build a devoted fanbase by blending vastly different sonic traditions into an emotionally arresting package. Stay tuned for more.
2. Gunna – whatsapp (wassam)
Source:Gunna
Today, four-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated, multi-platinum Atlanta rap superstar Gunna dropped the official music video for his new track “Whatsapp (Wassam),” directed by Leff, off his new album One of Wun. Watch HERE.
The “Whatsapp (Wassam)” video arrives off the heels of the release of Gunna’s fifth studio album One of Wun, and notably marks his first full length release since his 2023 chart topping album a Gift & a Curse. The 20-track album boasts superstar collaborations with Offset, Normani, Leon Bridges and Roddy Ricch – get it HERE.
The One of Wun artwork was created by Calvin Clausell Jr., featuring creative direction by Spike Jordan of The Genius Club, as well as art direction and design by Tal Midyan.
‘The Bittersweet Tour’ continues on May 16, with a performance in Seattle at WAMU Theater, making additional stops in Phoenix, Houston, Miami and more before wrapping up on June 11th in Atlanta, GA at State Farm Arena. For tickets and tour info, please visit only1gunna.com.
3. NxWorries (Anderson .Paak & Knxwledge) ft. Snoop Dogg & October London – FromHere
Source:NxWorries
The latest track to be released from Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge’s new album Why Lawd? is “FromHere”, featuring L.A. hip-hop royalty Snoop Dogg and Death Row-signed R&B singer October London. In the video shot at Gold Line in Los Angeles, Anderson .Paak – who directed the video – laments being left alone in the club, before Snoop Dogg offers closing reflections.
Why Lawd? is out on June 7th (physical) and June 14th (digital). It marks the long-awaited return of NxWorries, 8 years after the release of their cult classic debut album Yes Lawd!. In the time since, .Paak has gone on to achieve global superstardom through his solo career and Silk Sonic, his collaborative project with Bruno Mars. Knxwledge has meanwhile cemented his legacy as one of the great beatmakers of our time, a Grammy Award-winner with a prolific catalog of his own, in addition to being called on by the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Earl Sweatshirt and others.
Previously released tracks from Why Lawd? include “86Sentra”, “Daydreaming,” and “Where I Go,” featuring H.E.R., which garnered praise from the New York Times and Pitchfork, among others.
4. Da Beatminerz, De La Soul & Pharoahe Monch ft. Rasheed Chappell & Corey Glover – My Year
Source:Soulspazm
WhileDa Beatminerz have come to define a very specific sound in Hip-Hop over the course of their illustrious career spanning more than three decades, the bulk of their production work is credited on albums by other artists. Their recent output, however, has been focused on their own proper full-length album, Stifled Creativity. On Friday (5/10/2024), the seminal Hip-Hop production duo, also known as the “Boom Bap Ambassadors”, shared the album’s second single “My Year“, with verses from De La Soul, Pharoahe Monch, Rasheed Chappell, and Corey Glover (of Living Colour). Today (5/14/2024), the song’s vibrant Anthony Edwards-animated music video debuted on YouTube.
I’m inspired by the music. Lyrics can help prompt some great results as well as help with breaking the scenes apart based on the rapper’s cadence and patterns. – Anthony Edwards
“Been friends with De La since 88 and Monch since 87 so the relationship was already there. I met them all at the record store I worked at (Music Factory in Jamaica, Queens) and this is the second song I did with both (De La “The Hustle” & Monch “Tight [REMIX]”). “My Year” was one of the first songs we worked on when we started the album and the order you hear them in is the order we made. It took a minute to get Dave’s vocals because of his health. When we got them, We were so grateful and appreciative. He didn’t have to do the song but he came through & that the world to me.I met Rasheed through Kenny Dope. When I heard him, I automatically wanted to work with him, so when we put the blueprint together for the song, I knew he would fit perfectly. The icing on the cake was Corey Glover (Thanks to Guy Routte). Everything came together just how we wanted.” – Mr. Walt of Da Beatminerz
Stifled Creativity is due out on June 21, 2024, just a day shy of the 20th anniversary of Da Beatminerz’s sophomore album Fully Loaded w/ Statik. Pre-order/save the album via Soulspazm here.
5. Bloody Civilian – Head Start
Source:BLOODY CIVILIAN
Bloody Civilian, the fiercely independent-minded singer/producer from Nigeria who is on a meteoric rise as the newest global Afro-pop phenomenon, charges back with the upbeat “Head Start,” her first single of 2024 via Def Jam Recordings/0207 Def Jam UK. Followed by an official video, directed by Bryan Ibeh & Ditweni, the brand-new, “Head Start” sets the scene for Bloody Civilian’s second EP, arriving later this year.
Bloody Civilian in her own words: “This track is quite raw. Basically, I made a vengeance track that’s Afrobeats but is also low key Travis Scott coded. I had fun making the beat and song in general.”
“Head Start” marks the first new music from Bloody Civilian since the release of her six-track debut EP last June, Anger Management, containing “How To Kill A Man,” her controversial debut single + video. “Life isn’t fair for anyone,” she said, “and when I find myself being angry, I try to find ways to not take myself too seriously… basically, I find ways to laugh and feel ridiculous about my anger and that inspired me to write ‘How To Kill a Man.’” The EP has gathered over 10 million-plus streams and counting to date.
Anger Management also featured her landmark follow-up, “I Don’t Like You” a worldwide anthem that flew to #1 on Nigeria’s Turntable Top Alternative/Dancehall chart. UPROXX proclaimed, “The record is a lovely blend of Afropop and electronic sounds that is a warm sign of what’s to come,” and BET attested, “Bloody Civilian has both an amazing pedigree and story, which make for abundantly creative music that is immaculately executed.” Mixtape Madness put it best, “With a penchant for production as well as a strong vocal range, there really is no limit as to what Bloody Civilian can achieve.” CLASH christened her a “terrific all-rounder.”
Prior to Anger Management, Bloody was first introduced to global audiences on the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From and Inspired By soundtrack album via Roc Nation Records/Def Jam Recordings/Hollywood Records (October 2022), which included Bloody’s “Wake Up” featuring Rema. The album’s 19 tracks presented more than 40 international artists recorded in Lagos, Nigeria, Mexico City, London and Los Angeles, headlined by Rihanna’s record-breaking, historic smash “Lift Me Up.”
Bloody Civilian’s growing legions of fans were treated to “Head Start,” “How To Kill A Man,” “I Don’t Like You” and “Wake Up” when she performed earlier this month at the iconic Femme Fest and Our Homecoming festivals in Lagos, Nigeria. She followed up with a special performance of “Head Start” at the first ever Boiler Room TV live from Lagos, where she premiered the…
