Bops That Pop: April 2024 | Playlist 🎧

6. Benson Boone, “Slow It Down” 

Fireworks & Rollerblades // Night Street / Warner // 2024

“Oh, now you’re crying, you’re in pieces / ‘Cause the only love you’ve ever known is Jesus / I can feel it / Oh, I hate that I’m the reason that you’re…” Benson Boone has had a fabulous year in 2024. “Slow It Down” marks the second single that appears on his debut album, Fireworks & Rollerblades.  “Slow It Down” was penned by Boone alongside Jack LaFrantz and producers Jason Evigan, Connor McDonough, and Riley McDonough. Benson begins singing abruptly on the track, supported by piano accompaniment. As always, his voice is stunning – he possesses a dynamic instrument.  As he sings, you buy what he sells; he’s incredibly authentic.  In the first verse, he speaks about this budding relationship and her fears of commitment. In the chorus, he switches from the ‘powered-up’ vocals to falsetto which is ripe – delightful to the nth degree.  Thematically, he speaks about taking things slowly within the relationship sans pressure. The second verse adds additional instrumentation, sounding more developed than the first.  He continues to sing his face off as he speaks on his anxiety regarding love (“I could lose you like the others / Only girl that’s never left me is my mother”).  Despite the fever pitch reached, in the end, he indeed ‘slows it down’ and turns the volume down too.  It’s a fitting ending to another fabulous pop song by the handsome, talented musician. “Slow It Down” is a winner.  

7. A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, “Steppas” 

Better Off Alone // Atlantic / Highbridge The Label // 2024 

“Step in that bih, wiped his nose okay (okay, okay) / Hit him where it hurt, leave him in the dirt, dirt base.” Oh snap, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie! The rapper is unapologetic to the nth degree in his banger, “Steppas”.  He’s willing to kill, bringing an edge to his rhymes. “Steppas,” appears as the sixth track in his 2024 LP, Better Off Alone. Among the biggest selling points is the instrumental. London on da Track, Tone Deaf, Dez Wright, and CashMoneyAP ‘kick ass and take names’ regarding production. The backdrop is lush, malicious, and sophisticated simultaneously.  The chimes, the brass, the synths, and the beat are top-notch.  Given epic fuel for his fire, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie brings the heat with his bars.  His cadence and flow are locked in from the jump as he packs a mean punch.  His rhymes are melodic but also tough as nails and unapologetic.  While calling the wordy chorus ‘tuneful’ might be an overstatement, it is memorable, if for nothing else than the vibe (“Huh? Bust down, bust down, bust down, glass in her face”). He delivers his fair share of moments in the verses, whether its “Shoot up the funeral, shoot out the van / Shoot up the funeral, hit up your mans,” or “If I fuck on this bitch, he gon’ cry ‘bout it / Fall in love with that pussy, don’t die ‘bout it.” Word! All told A Boogie Wit da Hoodie is ‘on’ on “Steppas”.  The man doesn’t F around in the least!  

8. Charlotte Day Wilson, “Canopy” 

Cyan Blue // Stone Woman Music / XL Recordings Ltd // 2024 

“You pick a fight, I keep it light / No one stays friends with you.” That sounds sus, Charlotte Day Wilson! The Juno-nominated, Canadian R&B singer/songwriter unveiled “Canopy” in advance of her second studio album, Cyan Blue.  She penned “Canopy” alongside Amy Allen and produced it with Jack Ro with top-notch results. In the verse, she goes on to sing, “I’m done, my towel tossed / And I can’t be tapered off.” The songwriting is a strong suit of “Canopy.” Following the verse, the centerpiece, the chorus, arrives in its tuneful glory.“It’s like a canopy, all that hate / And I’m above it, can’t live that way,” Day Wilson asserts, continuing, “I know I’m covered and can’t be changed / You’re the only one in your way.” She possesses a marvelous instrument, with an utterly sublime tone. Furthermore, with vocal layers coming into the mix specifically during the chorus, “Canopy” reaches the highest of heights.  Before the chorus, the accompaniment was simple – rhythm guitar.  Post-chorus, in the bridge, the backdrop fills out anchored by a sick beat (“You get what you give into / It’s not the world verse you…”).  Notably, there is a change of pace during the outro, with guitar accompaniment supplanted with legato piano.  Reflective, she asks, “What does it say about me? / I keep on fallin’ for it / I’m under your canopy / What does it say about me?”  On this terrific “look through the unjaded eyes of my younger self”, Day Wilson delivers the goods.  

9. Imagine Dragons, “Eyes Closed” 

“Eyes Closed” // KIDinaKORNER / Interscope // 2024

“I could do this with my eyes closed.” Those lyrics commence Imagine Dragons’ “Eyes Closed” with gimmicky, pitch-shifted vocals. The tone is set early. The alternative band has plenty of cooks in the kitchen from a writing perspective: Ben McKee, Dan Reynolds, Mattias Larsson, Robin Lennart Fredriksson, and Wayne Sermon.  The production, slick with plenty of playful touches – synths, sound effects, and such – is handled superbly by Mattman & Robin (Larsson and Fredriksson). Besides the gimmickry and unique sound, Frontman Dan Reynolds brings it vocally. The lyrics are dark and dramatic: “The wrath and the gift from the pit of despair / Been takin’ every whip and every word, I’ve never been spared,” which concludes the first verse. The second is penned similarly: “Less medications, less manifestations / Mantras, meditation, throw it away…” Woo! The melodic lines are rhythmic, which is on-brand for the collective.  The heaviest moments arrive in the chorus: 

“Lock me up in a maze 

Turn out, turn out the lights 

I was born, I was raised for this…”

Word! In the post-chorus, Reynolds utters the opening lyric once more: “I could do this with my eyes closed.” The bridge is kinder, and gentler, separating itself from everything else. “Eyes Closed” is true to Imagine Dragons in many ways but also marks a fresh, reinvigorating change of pace for the veteran, Grammy-winning band.  

10. Dua Lipa, “Illusion” 

Radical Optimism // Warner // 2024

“I been known to miss a red flag.” Uh-oh, Dua Lipa – don’t do that! She continues in the first verse of “Illusion”, “I been known to put my lover on a pedestal.” Stop doing that! “In the end, those things just don’t last / And it’s time I take my rose-colored glasses off.” Hell yeah! “Illusion” arrives as the third single from Radical Optimism, the third studio album by the Grammy-winning musician. The seventh track was penned by Dua Lipa, Caroline Ailin, Danny L Harle, Kevin Parker, and Tobias Jesso Jr., and produced by Harle and Parker. The backdrop exemplifies the pop aesthetic, with a scintillating, danceable groove and colorful keys and synths.  Dua, hence, has ample fuel for her musical fire! Her vocals are nuanced, playful, and powerful.  The melodies are memorable and rhythmic, easily catching on. Thematically, the songwriting is relatable – no longer will she fall for the illusion of love! The chorus sums it up best: 

“Ooh, what you doin’? 

Don’t know who you think that you’re confusin’ 

I be like, ooh, it’s amusin’ 

You think I’m gonna fall for an illusion.” 

Yeah! After admitting her flaws in the first verse and vowing to stop doing/believing that shit, she acknowledges in the second, “Was a time when that shit might’ve worked,” she’s now “grown” and knows what she deserves. Word! All in all, Dua Lipa brings the heat once again on “Illusion”. No illusion here – it’s a great song!  

11. NLE Choppa, “SLUT ME OUT 2”  

“SLUT ME OUT 2” // NLE Choppa Entertainment Inc. / Warner // 2024 

“I need all the bad bitches to the floor.” After he requested her to “SLUT ME OUT” in 2022, rapper NLE Choppa (Bryson Potts) desires more sluttiness in his two-minute-and-change single, “SLUT ME OUT 2”.  “SLUT ME OUT 2” was written by Potts and producers EMRLD and Synthetic. The result – utter sluttiness, of course! The instrumental bangs. Following the intro, NLE Choppa drops the slutty chorus. “If I was a bad bitch, I’d wanna fuck me too, hmm,” he spits, continuing, “I’d wanna suck me too, hmm / I’d wanna slut me too, hmm.” Point made.  While Potts is cocky, is he wrong? He’s a handsome, young, rich, and famous rapper. Beyond the chorus, there’s a verse and it’s purely sex. Some of the highlights include the carnal, “Ayy, let me nut on your butt / Ayy, put my face in your thighs, bitch,” “Suck on my Glock ‘til I bust / Suck on my balls, a must,” and “I’m tryna eat that ass and the pussy / I’m tryna take her to pound, pound, pound town (Baow, baow).” Holy she-it! NLE Choppa is horny AF on “SLUT ME OUT 2”.  The single lacks depth – it’s pure pornographic rap – but his passion for lust and sex is, entertaining and titillating.   

12. Shaboozey, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” 

Where I’ve Been, isn’t Where I’m Going // American Dogwood / EMPIRE // 2024 

Shaboozey delivers an entertaining country record with “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”, the second track on his 2024 album, Where I’ve Been, isn’t Where I’m Going. “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” was written by Shaboozey, Nevin, Sean Cook, and Mark Williams. Nevin and Sean Cook also produced it. Fun is the modus operandi. Shaboozey doesn’t hold back on the personality. “My baby want a Birkin, she’s been tellin’ me all night long,” he sings in the first verse, later adding, “This 9 to 5 ain’t workin’, why the hell do I work so hard?” Birkins aren’t ‘country,’ but the reference to work – that’s country to the core! Also, ‘country’ is the pre-chorus and chorus, where he drowns his sorrows: “Tell ‘em, ‘bring another round,’ we need plenty more,” and “Someone pour me a double shot of whiskey / They know me, and Jack Daniel’s got a history.” Woo! The follow-up in the second verse is entertaining too – a drunk Shaboozey: “Woke up drunk at 10 a.m., we gon’ do this shit again / Tell your girl to bring a friend.” Perhaps “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” isn’t your father’s or grandfather’s country music, but Shaboozey brings plenty of energy and fun to the table, NO CAP!  

13. Orville Peck & Willie Nelson, “Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other” 

“Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other” // Orville Peck, LLC / Warner // 2024

Queer country music is awesome. Willie Nelson famously covered “Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other” in 2006. This gay cowboy song, far ahead of its time, was penned by Ned Sublette in 1981.  In 2024, beloved, fringe-masked, gay country artist, Orville Peck, duets with Nelson on a brand-new cover of this queer country gem.  This 2024 rendition of “Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other” was produced by Beau Bedford.  

The instrumental is subtle, which is perfect for allowing Peck and Nelson’s voices to shine. Peck starts things off, with his expressive, masculine baritone.  His tone is EVERYTHING. Gay men are often pigeonholed and stereotyped as being effeminate. Just hearing a ‘manly’ voice, from an openly gay musician, singing lyrics about male/male relationships is intriguing (“No, a small town don’t like it when a cowboy has feelings for men”). Following Peck’s verse, Nelson performs the second, delivering one of the best lyrics of the song: “But the ones [cowboys] who brag loudest are the ones that are most likely queer.” There is truth to the lyrics too, and it doesn’t simply limit itself to cowboys. Peck and Nelson join forces in the choruses, bringing out the cowboy love in, well, all its queerness. Following an instrumental break, Peck takes over the reins in the third verse, once more wowing with his awesome pipes.  He manages to drop in the most colorful verse – the one sporting an f-bomb!   

“So, when you talk to a cowboy, don’t treat him like he was a sister 

You can’t fuck with a lady that’s sleepin’ in each cowboy’s head.”  

When Peck and Nelson join forces together on the queer country classic that is “Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other”, it’s nothing short of magic!  

14. Benedict Cork, “Beauty Queen” 

Notes on a Hopeless Romance // Benedict Cork // 2024

British singer/songwriter Benedict Cork excels at piano balladry.  A prime example is “Beauty Queen”, a single from his debut album, Notes on a Hopeless Romance.  Cork penned this gorgeous ballad, which features superb, thoughtful, and vulnerable lyricism.  Furthermore, the music, led by piano accompaniment, is ear-catching too.  He produced it alongside Paul Stanborough. The music is terrific.  That said, the focal point is the handsome, talented Cork.  He delivers expressive vocals from the opening to the closing tip.  Early on, his vocals are tender.  Couple this tenderness with transparent, vulnerable lyrics and you have something that is extra special. “I’m always in this silent war with the body I live in,” he asserts, authentically and honestly in the first verse. His pain is our listening pleasure, and also, relatable.  He shows off in the section to beat, the chorus, spoiling us with a ripe falsetto.

“The curtain falls and I’m still fucking lonely 

It’s like I’m tryna make the whole world love me 

But when they call me beauty queen  

It’ll fix this broken part of me 

Yeah, I just want the audience to want me 

Until the whole world  

La la la la la la la la loves me.”

Radiant! The chorus is fabulous, but the bridge also deserves some love. The harmonic progression during the bridge is ear-catching. Furthermore, the contrast exhibited in the bridge compared to the rest of “Beauty Queen” is a selling point. The lyrics are among the best of the song. Cork caps things off with a fabulous, tender ending. “Beauty Queen” is a stunning pop gem.

15. Future, Metro Boomin & The Weeknd, “We Still Don’t Trust You” 

WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU // Wilburn Holding Co. / Boominati Worldwide / Epic // 2024

“She’s such a freak / Bad and freaky, yeah / We still don’t trust you.” 2024 has been a prolific year with Grammy-winning rapper Future following up his first collaboration with producer Metro Boomin, WE DON’T TRUST YOU, with the follow-up less than a month later, WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU.  Leading the charge on their second album of 2024 is the titular track.  Joining the duo on “We Still Don’t Trust You” is Grammy-winning R&B standout, The Weeknd.  The result is a vibe, a vibe, and a vibe! “We Still Don’t Trust You” is NOT your standard rap song.  It sounds more like an alternative R&B record, which is part of the charm.  The production is fabulous. It is hard not to move your body to the beat, while the synths and keys catch the ears.  Furthermore, The Weeknd’s ‘less lyrical’ singing on the track (“oh, whoa,” and such) is as important as his lyrical singing (“And the Paris girls, they sing my song with love…).  Another big contributor to the aesthetic is the repetition of the titular line.  If nothing else is clear, Future establishes the fact that we still don’t trust you. He performs the intro and outro, as well as the final two lines of the verse: “Electricity, transparency, higher than we will ever be / I am loving our chemistry”).  A different type of record, “We Still Don’t Trust You” is hypnotic.   

16. Debbii Dawson, “Happy World” 

“Happy World” // RCA // 2024

“I tell myself that it’s a happy world / Buy my own little place I can hide / Kinda dark but at least it’s mine.” Those memorable lyrics hail from the chorus of “Happy World”, a delightful single by singer Debbii Dawson.  She adds in the chorus, “House on fire but I’m closing the blinds / Tell myself, tell myself that I’m fine.” Way to embrace happiness… fire and all! Dawson penned this alternative pop single alongside Alida and producer, Zhone. From the opening to closing tip, “Happy World” shines. The instrumental is stellar – the perfect fuel for Dawson’s fire.  The backdrop is colorful, incorporating cues idiomatic of pop, rock, and more ‘artful,’ alternative music.  One constant thing is the groove that is potent to the nth degree.  Beyond the music, Dawson is on autopilot.  Her vocals are beautiful, commanding, and nuanced, never missing a note or a beat.  The melodies she sings are thoughtfully composed – tuneful – while the lyrics are memorable too.  Despite the adversity, Debbii embodies happiness, even if things aren’t. For example, “Trouble comes trying to knock on my door / Painted red, it can’t reach me no more / I’ll stay in life six feet underground.” Whoa! Whether or not “The grass is [actually] always green / I never want to leave,” or that’s just what Dawson tells herself, there is no doubt that she ‘puts her foot’ into “Happy World” – it is an incredible song.  

17. Twenty One Pilots, “Next Semester” 

Clancy // Fueled by Ramen LLC // 2024 

“Stand up straight now / Can’t break down / Graduate now / I don’t wanna be here, I don’t wanna be here.” Grammy-winning, alternative band Twenty One Pilots returns in 2024 with Clancy, concluding a narrative spanning multiple albums. Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun unveil a fantastic second single, “Next Semester”, written and produced by Joseph. From the beginning of “Next Semester”, Twenty One Pilots rock hard. I love the prominence of the bass at the onset.  The groove is driving, thanks to the pummeling drums of Dun, and distorted guitars which give off punk vibes. The riffs are #GIVING! Even with a dirtier sound palette, Joseph continues to sound youthful – boyish.  He shows some grit and assertiveness in the chorus:

“I remember 

I remember certain things 

What I was wearing  

The yellow dashes in the street 

I prayed those lights would take me home 

Then I heard, ‘Hey, kid, get out of the road!’” 

Beyond the chorus, there is a refrain, which appears following the second chorus, including the key lyrics, “Can’t change what you’ve done / Start fresh next semester.”  Interestingly, the final minute of “Next Semester” brings things down, embracing balladry accompanied by rhythmic guitar and keyboard textures. During the outro, Joseph exhibits his tender side (“It’s a taste test / Of what I hate less / I don’t wanna be here / Start fresh with a new year”). Furthermore, the background vocals are gorgeous.  All told, “Next Semester” marks another worthwhile song from Twenty One Pilots.  

18. Chlöe, “Boy Bye” 

“Boy Bye” // Parkwood Entertainment LLC / Columbia // 2024 

“Boy, bye / Bye / I won’t even cry / You stupid motherfucker.” Chlöe (Chlöe Bailey) exhibits plenty of attitude in her second single of 2024, “Boy Bye”.  She penned this ‘anthem’ alongside Carter Lang, Yeti Beats (David Sprecher), jesse saint john, Kurtis McKenzie, Rogét Chahayed, and Soraya LaPread.  Yeti Beats, Chahayed, Lang, and McKenzie produced it. One thing is clear – she’s kicking this lame-o to the curb! “Boy Bye” contrasts previous records from Bailey.  While it still falls under the R&B umbrella, it’s poppier. The groove kicks ass, helping to fuel the narrative she paints about this no-good dude. Lyrically, it’s familiar territory but it never gets old.  In the first verse, Chlöe states, “If we bein’ honest, it was never my fault / You just gave a little while I gave my all.” In the second, she says, “You can go back to the girl you fuckin’ on the low /… I think by now that you should know you a silly ho.” Woo! In the pre-chorus, he’s got her messed up, but in the chorus, she lets that stupid mofo walk! Chlöe has received some justified criticism as a solo artist, but on “Boy Bye” things click.  She sings well, brings feistiness and sassiness, the lyrics are relatable (and profane), and the record sounds incredible. 

19. Omar Apollo, “Spite” 

“Spite” // Omar Apollo / Warner // 2024 

“Why you gotta ruin every night? / Fifty K, I spend it out of spite / Every time. I see you on my phone / Hate that I still need you in my life.” Handsome, talented, Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Omar Apollo channels his anger into magnificent pop.  He penned “Spite” while Blake Slatkin and Teo Halm produced the record. The groove catches the ear from the onset, setting the tone of “Spite.” The pummeling beat, prominent bass line, and rhythmic guitar stand out. Early on, a soulful, pop/rock vibe is established.  There’s an alternative/indie vibe that Omar excels at.  He sounds terrific in the verses, expressing his feelings. “I’m too far, I’m across the boat now / Ain’t been the same since I left my hometown,” he sings in the first verse, continuing, “I’ve been thinking ‘bout moving by you / It’s been nice having somewhere to fly to.” Ah, matters of the heart, specifically, a long-distance relationship.  By the second verse, however, things are more tenuous: “Why you going out your way to hide me? / Every night that you spent beside me / It don’t matter, in my head, it’s working / Ain’t been picturing another person…” The pre-chorus is a fantastic build-up to the chorus, the crème de la crème, that is grander in sound.  Omar’s vocals are especially expressive during the chorus – he ups the ante. Additionally, some synths amplify the sound.  The post-chorus (“oohs”) shines as well. Ask yourself this question: does Omar Apollo ever make a bad song? The answer is a resounding, HELL NO. “Spite” is another bop.  

20. Suki Waterhouse, “My Fun” 

“My Fun” // Sub Pop // 2024

“Call up the past, scream on the breeze / You make me laugh, you bless my sneeze.” He blesses your sneeze, Suki Waterhouse? He sounds like a keeper, especially since “Everyone said I’m too crazy to keep / But you’re the one who sweeps me off of my feet.” Oh, love! The English actress and singer/songwriter serves up a certified vibe with “My Fun”, penned alongside Findlay and French producer, Jules Apollinaire. “My Fun” is a blast to listen to. The sound of the record is pleasing to the ears with its dusty, soulful groove, robust bass line, guitars, keys, and more. Waterhouse brings the heat with her distinct vocals full of energy and personality. Furthermore, the lyrics are memorable and tuneful from the opening tip.  Relatively brief, “My Fun” packs a mean and mighty punch.  In need of a fun addition to your playlist? Look no further than Suki and “My Fun”.  After all, “God, it feels good to find someone / Who loves me / Who loves me like I love my fun.” Word!  

21. JVKE, “clouds” 

“clouds” // JVKE Music LLC // 2024

“Yeah, I’m down bad, bad / Happiness was just a fad, fad.” Not good, JVKE (Jake Lawson) – not good! While mentally, the pop singer/songwriter is in a questionable spot – “Overthinking everything” and “Swimming in [his] thoughts” – there is nothing questionable about the quality of “clouds”. Lawson composes and produces “clouds” alongside his brother, Zac Lawson, with top-notch results.  The instrumental supporting his depressed state is delightful – driving production with a great groove, bright synths, and warm pads.  Upping the ante is whistling! It’s not merely the instrumental, or that infectious whistling that lifts “clouds”! JVKE has a beautiful voice, which he flaunts in the verses and the chorus.  The good news is, after the first verse, he gets a “pick me up” from that special somebody who changes his whole perspective.  In the chorus, he masterfully and memorably sings, “You got my head above the clouds / My feet up off the ground / And I’m not comin’ down, down, down, down.” Right on, JVKE! Furthermore, in the second verse, Lawson is in a better place. All in all, he delivers the goods with “clouds” which is sure to lift your spirits.  

22. Tinashe, “Nasty” 

“Nasty” // Tinashe Music Inc. / Nice Life Recording Company // 2024 

“Is somebody gonna match my freak?” Now that IS the question, Tinashe.  She follows up with, “Is somebody gonna match my nasty?” The contemporary R&B singer has a knack for delivering sexy songs. Honestly, who doesn’t enjoy a good sex song? “Nasty” is Tinashe doing what she does best – S-E-X-Y! In the intro, she says it best herself: “I’ve been a nasty girl, nasty.” Rick Reed and Zack Sekoff produced the record with sexy, top-notch results – a sleek, often minimalist instrumental, that is! Besides asking who’s gonna match her freak in the first verse, she asserts, “Pillow talking got my throat raspy.” Oh, snap! She follows the verse with the refrain, where the quality of the sex is the draw.  “If you keep up with me / I’ll keep on coming back,” she sings, adding, “Cause it feels like heaven / When it hurts so bad.” In the second verse, she keeps the same energy. “Nasty” is a song that lacks depth but thrives on sex.  As always, Tinashe sings well, brings mad energy, and titillates the hell out of the listener. 

23. Artemas, “I like the way you kiss me” 

I like the way you kiss me // Artemas // 2024

“I like the way you kiss me, I can tell you miss me / I can tell it hits, hits, hits, hits.” Artemas.  The English alt-pop singer, songwriter, and producer drops a surefire bop with the infectious “i like the way you kiss me”. Artemas pens this ‘NSA’ record alongside Jesse Fink and his fellow producers Kevin White and Daintree. “I like the way you kiss me” is ‘anti-romance’ – rather, perceived anti-romance – at its best.  In the chorus, Artemas continues, “Not tryna be romantic, I’ll hit it from the back / Just so you don’t get attached.” Still, by the time the first verse arrives, he asserts, “You take the heat, and with such grace / You say we’re done, but here you stay.” Hmm, sounds like more than sex… “Said you’re scared I’ll let you down… / Stick around and you’ll find out.” Still, in the second verse, one wonders what kind of scene he’s getting at, particularly since he asks, “Can we make it loud?” Regardless, Artemas is proud of his baby, attached or nah.  Also, worth being proud of is the energy he brings on “i like the way you kiss me”, as well as the colorful, driving sound. 

24. Chance Peña, “The Mountain Is You” 

“The Mountain Is You” // Chance Peña // 2024 

“I don’t know what it is that I’m climbing to / I hear the words in my head, you said, ‘The mountain is you.’” Chance Peña showcases his musical gifts in his single, “The Mountain Is You”.  Not only does Peña sing, but he also wrote and produced the song.  From the start, he wows in all facets of “The Mountain Is You” making it a beautiful, breathtaking, and engaging song. Early on, Chance captivates us with the sheer radiance of his voice.  He sings tenderly, making every lyric and every note count.  “I’ve become / A figment of my imagination,” he sings authentically in the first verse, continuing, “That’s why I run / Towards self-love and inner restoration.” Not only are the lyrics thoughtfully penned, but the melody is gorgeous.  The case is the same with the chorus, where the titular lyric appears, and Peña is transparent and vulnerable. The second verse is as compelling as the first with poetic lyrics and a marvelous tune.  However, it’s here where “The Mountain is You” reaches higher heights and ascends to the next level, growing dynamically and instrumentally. Chance’s vocals remain radiant but grow more commanding and powerful. “Oh, the mountain is you / Oh, you said, ‘The mountain is you’,” he sings in the outro. “The Mountain Is You” is a gorgeous and sincere indie-pop song.   

25. Bryson Tiller, “CALYPSO” 

Bryson Tiller // RCA / 2024

Four words: “Her body like Calypso.” Woo! The musical style or the beautiful, Greek mythological nymph? Or, both? The answer seems to be a mix of both with Grammy-nominated singer/rapper Bryson Tiller. “CALYPSO” appears on his self-titled, 2024 album. “CALYPSO” is a vibe and sexy as albeit. Tiller penned this single alongside various producers including Black Mic (Michael Williams), Che Ecru, and BassCharity. On “CALYPSO,” Tiller focuses exclusively on singing delivering a radiant tone on this sexy record.  Stylistically, “CALYPSO” primarily embraces contemporary R&B, with its lush keys and pads.  However, the beat gives tropical, calypso vibes – the rhythm is infectious.  Besides solid singing and a slick backdrop, it is entertaining from a songwriting perspective.  At a VIP party, Bryson and this girl drop some sweet dance moves – sexy dance moves.  The verses describe their encounters, while the pre-chorus prefaces the sexy dancing that is to commence. “Her body like Calypso / Way she throwin’ that back I’ma leave with my foot sore / I love it when you get low / I slide my hand down your back on your tats, when you get those,” he sings in the memorable chorus, closing out with a bang: “There’s a party in my bed, can I send you the info?” Ooh-wee! On “CALYPSO”, the 502 standout proves he’s still got it. 

26. Peso Pluma & Arcángel, “PESO COMPLETO” 

“PESO COMPLETO” // Double P / Rimas Entertainment // 2024 

“Andamo’ en alta, el peso con Arca, vuela dinero, ah-ah / Estos cabrone’ los tengo chupando, parecen hookero’, yeah-eh.”  Yeah… methinks! Translation, please! “We’re on a high, Peso with Arca, money flies / These bastards I have sucking, they look like hookers, yeah-eh.” Grammy winner Peso Pluma (Hassan Emilio Kabande Laija) and Arcángel drop a sleek, Latin trap banger with “PESO COMPLETO”, produced by Dímelo Flow and DJ Maff.  

Peso Pluma and Arcángel make a formidable team.  Arcángelo performs the intro and takes the reins in the first half of the chorus.  His flow is smooth and rhythmic – compelling to say the least.  Likewise, Plumo’s keeps the same energy, with slightly more cutting pipes.  The chemistry and contrast between them are part of the charm.  After the coro, Arcángelo brings the heat in the first verse. Even without understanding any Spanish, the confidence, the energy, and the intensity are easily perceived. Check out the translation, and Arcángelo delivers lyrics like, “I have a suite in Condado / Four bitches I nail,” and “You hate me? Fuck you three times.” The scenario is similar in the second verse, where Peso Pluma both builds on the first verse and brings contrast too (“The kid is from Mexico and here I am, counting little bills / That’s why I never get discouraged or suffer for any pussy”). Facts! All in all, “PESO COMPLETO” is a surefire vibe.   

27. Tsatsamis, “Dive In”   

Our Shame (EP) // Tsatsamis // 2024

“Don’t you wanna come and get a taste (dive into) / You won’t ever feel the same (dive into).” Hell yes, I do! The temptation, Tsatsamis, is legit. Taking things a step further, the temptation is lit 🔥 – piping hot! The heart wants what it wants, as does the body 🤭 😮‍💨 😈. “Dive In”, the stellar opening track from the London-based musician’s 2024 album, Our Shame proves it is hard to yield against who you are, how you feel, and what you desire.   

“Won’t you come dive in deep 

Take this shame and wash it clean 

It’s not what you think 

It’s everything 

And I’m right here with you 

Won’t you come dive in deep.” 

Tsatsamis seems to cover a lot of ground on “Dive In.” The handsome, talented musician, who wrote, produced, and performed this track, embraces sexuality. He rids of shame, something that many queer individuals have experienced throughout their lives.  In the second verse, he’s convincing ‘him’ to lean in and dive in: “And by the way / Fuck what she says / You know how this makes you feel.” The question is, who is she? Thought-provoking, Tsatsamis. Is he with her but wants to be with him? Is a different ‘she,’ like mom, discouraging the ‘lifestyle’ as many heterosexual folks put it? Regardless, over a badass backdrop, Tsatsamis puts all the hang-ups and shame behind him and dives TF in. “Take from me what you desire / All your fears won’t reach this high,” he sings in the bridge, continuing, “I’ll lose my mind / I’ll fuck my pride / I love my mind / I’ll lose my mind, oh.” “Dive In” by Tsatsamis = the sugar honey iced tea. 

Appears in 🔻: 

• Tsatsamis, Dive In: Midnight Heat 🕛 🔥 No. 30 (2024) 

28. PARTYNEXTDOOR, “L o s e M y M i n d” 

PARTYNEXTDOOR // PARTYNEXTDOOR 4 (P4) // OVO Sound / Santa Anna Label Group // 2024 

“Ayy, y’all gon’ make me lose my mind / Fuckin’ two bitches at one time.” Oh, snap! PARTYNEXTDOOR (Jahron Brathwaite) commences the first verse of “L o s e M y M i n d” with a… wait for it… BANG 💥 😈.  “L o s e M y M i n d” appears on his 2024 LP, PARTYNEXTDOOR 4 (P4). Sex is a big deal… shocker. Continuing to explore the first verse of this slow jam, PND can’t decide between the two, so therefore, he partakes in both.  That makes sense, right? He penned the colorful “L o s e M y M i n d” alongside DMX (!), Prep Bijan, Noah “40” Shebib, Travis Marsh, and Eli Brown.  Where does DMX come into the picture, you ask? Sampling, namely the late rapper’s 1999 ace-in-the-hole, “Party Up”. “Party Up” is prevalent in the chorus: “Y’all gon’ make me lose my mind / Up in here, up in here…” The writers, sans DMX, also produce “L o s e M y M i n d,” giving it that sensual vibe. PARTYNEXTDOOR continues to lose his mind, especially “When she’s off that Molly,” per the pre-chorus. In the second verse, shallowly, “All I can think about is your booties, and / Y’all ridin’ me like Suzukis.” Notably, he asserts, “If y’all keep fuckin’ me more then y’all might be / Bad for me.” Hmm, sounds like a case of ‘No shit, Sherlock!’ Although a freaky, titillating song, “L o s e M y M i n d” does grow more introspective.  Brathwaite aspires for more, desiring to get married and wanting kids in the outro. Go figure!  

Appears in 🔻: 

• PARTYNEXTDOOR, L o s e M y M i n d: Midnight Heat 🕛 🔥 No. 33 (2024) 

29. Drake, “Push Ups”  

“Push Ups” // OVO / Republic // 2024

“Ayy, better drop and give me fifty.” Diving in, “Push Ups” is a diss track from Drake directed towards some of the biggest names in hip-hop.  Drake goes off on Kendrick Lamar, Future, Metro Boomin, J. Cole, Rick Ross, and The Weeknd. Most of his ire, however, is directed towards Kendrick. Where does the beef come from? Shots thrown by K-Dot towards Drizzy (and J. Cole) as a featured guest on the Future / Metro Boomin no. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit, “Like That” from We Don’t Trust You. “Push Ups” was produced by Boi-1da, Fierce, Coleman, and Noel Cadastre.  The instrumental, set in a minor key, is respectable, but what makes “Push Ups” most interesting are the shots fired.   

With so much beef, I’ll only highlight a few of the memorable shots Drake fired. Beginning with Kendrick Lamar, he insults his rap skills, asserting, “You ain’t in no big three, SZA got you wiped down / Travis got you wiped down, Savage got you wiped down.” He also makes fun of his height. Ouch! When it comes to producer Metro Boomin, the rapper spits,  “Metro, shut you ho ass up and make some drums, nigga.” To Rick Ross: “I might take your latest girl and cuff her like I’m Ricky / Can’t believe he jumpin’ in, this nigga turnin’ fifty.” And for J. Cole, Drizzy raps, “I don’t care what Cole think, that Dot shit was weak as fuck.” “Push Ups” is entertaining and intriguing.  Drake goes in and no one is exempt.   

30. Big Sean, Precision 

“Precision” // FF to Def Entertainment, LLC / Def Jam // 2024 

“Grandma was in the A, aunty was in the A, and momma had Triple-A / I wasn’t scared to crash anyone in the way.” Word, Big Sean! The Grammy-nominated rapper dropped a ‘precise’ banger in “Precision”. On “Precision,” produced by FNZ, Teddy Walton, Aaron Bow, Tom Kahre, and Zacari, a soul sample shines in the intro and serves as the basis of the backdrop. Specifically, the record samples Three 6 Mafia’s gem, “Poppin’ My Collar” (2005), which sampled the Willie Hutch classic, “Theme of the Mack” (1973). Besides those old-school vibes, “Precision” is anchored by a hard, knocking beat.  The ferocious sound gives Big Sean ample inspiration – fuel for his rapping fire! Of course, Big Sean is no stranger to bringing the heat.  He has no shortage of personality, evidenced by his amazing simulated gunshots. He excels most on the chorus, which is fire.    

“Shootin’ my shot like, pew-pew, ayy 

Hit the red dot like, pew-pew, ayy 

Finger on the trigger like, pew-pew-pew-pew, ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy 

…Hittin’ her spot like, pew-pew-pew-pew, ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy.” 

His cadence and flow are on autopilot – locked in and loaded! The bars are memorable whether it’s “I fuck her to sleep then I light up the street, got her screamin’ like Billie Jean for real” (verse one) or his ‘epiphany’ “Baby, I’m lovin’ the taste, I think I’m ready for kids / She said, well, then stop tryna cum in her face / Mm, that make sense” (verse two). Woo! While Big Sean doesn’t change or flip the game on its side with “Precision,” he sounds invested – on top of his game – in this single deep into his career. 

31. Jon Campbell, “Ukrainian Blood” 

Still Life With Motion Sickness // 7lb // 2024 

“My father’s got Ukrainian blood / Should I, should I, should I, worry more / About America and Russia’s war?” Thought-provoking lyrics from American-born singer/songwriter and visual artist, Jon Campbell.  The opening lyrics from “Ukrainian Blood”, the ninth track from the Berlin-based artist’s album, Still Life With Motion Sickness, set the tone for this socially conscious song.  Campbell composed, arranged, and produced the indie-folk cut, which sounds distinct from the opening tip.  Besides serving up superb, authentic vocals, Campbell also performs body percussion, in addition to playing colander and tambourine.  The percussion plays a key part in the sound, establishing a driving rhythm.  Also bolstering the sound of “Ukrainian Blood” is trumpet (Robin Kahl), trombone (Jan Landowski), and bass (Rosie Salvucci). The musicianship is top-notch – impressive.  

The sound is a vibe, but the biggest reason why “Ukrainian Blood” is successful is the theme and lyrics. Campbell reflects on the inhumane state of the world, specifically citing his connection to the devastating situation in Ukraine.  Of course, he is NOT in the warzone: “I watch them from the safety of my phone / Can’t understand a sibling’s blood in our hands.”  Seeing devastation from pictures on a phone isn’t the same as experiencing it firsthand.  When you are part of a situation live and in person, it ‘hits different.’ Far too often, even if we, as humans find something to be horrible, we aren’t truly as affected or as outraged as we should be. In the final section of the song, he asks, “Where the hell’s our humanity? / Should I cry more for my baby niece / Or one in Yemen or Somalia / How much blood should we share before we know peace? / How much blood shall be shed before we know peace?” “Ukrainian Blood” marks an epic, must-hear number from a talented individual.  

Appears in 🔻: 

• Jon Campbell, Ukrainian Blood: Beaming with Pride 🏳️‍🌈 No. 13 (2024)