Happy spring quarter! This week we’re sharing songs that will definitely be on our Summer 2018 playlist. Get ready for jams that will put you in a mood so great you’ll sing in public with no remorse.
“Nice For What” by Drake
Released: April 6, 2018
For fans of: A$AP Rocky, Cardi B, BlocBoy JB
We’re starting this week with an obvious choice. This song is a catchy, uplifting, empowering transformation, and it will make you feel so good that you won’t take anything from anybody. It samples Lauryn Hill’s “Ex Factor,” a lasting bop that has stood out as one of Hill’s top tracks from her only album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Since “Nice For What” dropped during peak party hours on Friday, April 6, it has grossed almost 14 million views. Karena Evans, a 22-year-old, Toronto-based creator, directed the video, which has an amazing cast featuring Tiffany Haddish, Olivia Wilde, Yara Shahidi, Tracee Ellis Ross, and more. All of the women are seen dancing, laughing, studying, caring for their kids, and being real, exactly what lyrics such as “That’s a real one in your reflection / Without a follow, without a mention” inspire. –Amarachi Metu
“Flight 22” by Kali Uchis
Released: April 5, 2018
For fans of: Cuco, Tyler, The Creator, Jorja Smith
With its smooth, jazzy flow featuring a string orchestra, “Flight 22” comforts and soothes. Kali Uchis’ debut album, Isolation, can be compared to the image of a baby butterfly unraveling its wings. While listening to “Flight 22” and “Nuestro Planeta,” imagine the sparkling water of the Pacific flowing into waves that beat against the shore. In a recent interview, Uchis explains that songs on the album such as “Flight 22” parallel life experiences she has had, and that the songs helped propel her into a place of peace. Kali Uchis is one of many Latin Pop artists that have broken into the United States’ mainstream, and will probably be around for a while. –Amarachi Metu
“Best Life” by Cardi B featuring Chance the Rapper
Released: April 6, 2018
For fans of: Nicki Minaj, Lil’ Kim
Released as part of Cardi B’s first debut album Invasion of Privacy, “Best Life” features a collaboration with one of the most popular new artists right now, Chance the Rapper. While Cardi B is known for her brash and confident delivery of lyrics, “Best Life” shows her more vulnerable side. She speaks out about the hate she has received online with lyrics like “I can’t believe they wanna see me lose that bad,” in reference to hashtags on Twitter calling her problematic, and “‘Fore I fixed my teeth, man those comments used to kill me.” However, together with Chance the Rapper, they both proudly keep their heads high and proclaim, “Turned all my L’s into lessons.” “Best Life” also dials down from the booming bass and frenetic pace in Cardi B’s most famous song “Bodak Yellow” and gives a welcoming change to something smoother and a bit more in the R&B genre. Too bad we didn’t swipe right enough to be able to hear this one live. –Arun Dhingra
“Space Cowboy” by Kacey Musgraves
Released: March 30, 2018
For Fans of: Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young
Golden Hour, Kacey Musgraves’ third studio album, is her most ambitious and emotional work yet. Don’t be frightened by the cliched country name, because “Space Cowboy” is anything but that. As Musgraves recounts her decision to let go of a relationship that is no longer working, she effortlessly weaves her way through what would typically be cringey country tropes. Her mellifluous and bold voice cuts through the musical flourishes as she sings, “Sunsets fade and love does too,” leaving the listener amazed at how simple yet profound her lyrics are. This isn’t even her best lyric on the song, as she takes a surprising twist on the title with “You can have your space, cowboy.” The comma illustrates Musgraves’ songwriting talent; the line gives meaning to silly country cliches and somehow sticks with you long after you’ve listened. This isn’t easy to do, especially in a genre like country, where Musgraves is seen as too “progressive.” But the way “Space Cowboy” approaches pop through country proves that she is the right person to redefine and expand the genre by bringing in more non-country listeners. –Sabira Parajuli
Other Bops to Consider:
“Pineapple Skies” by Miguel // For fans of Jeremih, Masego, SZA
“OKRA” by Tyler, The Creator // For fans of Joey Bada$$, Denzel Curry, BROCKHAMPTON
“LOGOUT” by Saba // For fans of Noname, Smino, Nx Worries