One of the year’s biggest albums, Cruel Summer, leaked a few days earlier than its September 18 release date. While many of us are putting the G.O.O.D. Music compilation in heavy rotation, there were also some huge drops elsewhere in music. We saw Pusha T prove that his verses keep getting better, a new cut from Danny Brown, and Fabolous’ latest record that may or may not have taken a swipe at Lil Wayne. You could hear those tracks and more from our favorite indie darlings in the Best Songs of the Week.
Related: New Music This Week
Danny Brown "Change"
This week we finally got a taste of hip-hop it-boy Danny Brown’s collaboration with Johnson&Johnson. Brown, Blu and Mainframe team up on the low-key, funky “Change” featuring some particularly smooth vocals from Brown. Danny Johnson has been “on the way” for some time now, but “Change” is any indication, it’ll be worth the wait.
Icona Pop "Ready For The Weekend (Club Mix)"
Swedish electropop duo Icona Pop comes straight out of left field with the new “Ready For The Weekend” club mix. The usually tamer pair go dubstep on this six-minute epic of thumping beats and wild drops.
Give it a listen and pick up Aino Jaw and Caroline Hjelt’s The Iconic EP, dropping October 16.
Fabolous "So NY"
Fabolous has always put on for NYC. Yesterday on In Flex We Trust, he released “So NY,” which features a sort of response to Lil Wayne’s comments about the Big Apple. The hook—“I’m so New York that Weezy probably don’t like me”— has already drawn talks of Fab taking shots. Whatever the case, it’s a banger showing love to his city. Loso's Way 2: Rise to Power is expected to drop sometime next year.
Pusha T, Raekwon & Joell Ortiz "Tick, Tock"
This week, the tracklist and production credits were revealed for RZA's soundtrack for his film, The Man With the Iron Fists. The Wu-Tang member gave us the latest single that brings three lyrical spitters together. “Tick, Tock” is the kind of gritty hip-hop you know and love with a grimy production courtesy of Frank Dukes and S-1. Look out for the entire mixtape to drop on October 23.
Natalia Kills “Controversy”
UK singer/songwriter Natalia Kills grabbed our attention this week with the wild “Controversy” and its even wilder music video. Kills walks the line between rapping, singing and talking as she goes off on every taboo topic imaginable and gives some ambivalent advice on Kool-Aid-drinking.
Check it and the equally haunting video out and look out for Trouble next year.