By The FADER
Photos by Shamaal, underscores, and Jan Squeezy
Each week, The FADER staff rounds up the songs we can’t get enough of. Here they are, in no particular order.
Spotify and Apple Music playlists, or hear them all below.
Jim Legxacy, “idk idk”
Jump Source and billy woods, “Empty Bars”
I take the title of “Empty Bars” to be facetious, given that billy woods’ verse is anything but: the New York rapper spins a poetic yarn atop Montreal electronic duo Jump Source’s (priori and Patrick Holland) beat, a bass-guitar driven techno driver that percolates with tingly percussive flourishes. — Tobias Hess
Miles Caton, “Don’t Hate Me”
That voice. There’s not much more to say. — Steffanee Wang
lil2posh, “paper planes”
Flipping “Paper Planes” by M.I.A. should be so obvious it fails on launch, but lil2posh’s “paper planes” isn’t coasting on nostalgia. posh’s low-stakes ditty features simple end rhymes that have been playing on loop in my head (and my car) for the past five days straight. – Vivian Medithi
underscores, “lovefield”
I’m addicted to everything about this song: the wistful beginning, the double meaning behind Lovefield (a state of the heart and San Francisco’s airport), the slow build to its rapturous climax, the oddly specific lyric about getting their license and driving to Florida. A perfect emotional journey in song form if I’ve ever heard one. —SW
Memphy, “SHAKE IT”
The solo debut of New York City club roster regular, DJ and artist Memphy, would pair well with a confetti cannon: it’s gaggy, coy and, per its title, pre-made to make you “shake it.” It has production by TWONSKi, flirty800, and DJ Thank You — all producers and DJs who have an aptitude for blending pop stunts with dance brutality. — TH
Latto, “Business & Personal (Intro)”
“Business & Personal” is one of Latto’s best songs to date, her hustle raps landing with discipline and charm over a hazy soul chop before a minor-key beat switch prompts her to really talk her shit. Also, issa pregnancy – congrats to Latto and apparently, 21 Savage. Read our full track review here. – VM
Mack Keane, “Bloodshot”
There’s a select few white men who can navigate R&B without it feeling like a tourist visit. Coming off the back of Jack Harlow’s pivot into neo-soul, it’s a high-stakes space to inhabit—but Mack Keane clears. He anchors the track with a bruised vulnerability, his vocals floating over stripped-back guitar strings that feel earned rather than like a marketing ploy. – Kylah Williams
Grace Ives, “Fire 2”
The messy spirit of trying (and failing) to be a functioning human and maintain relationships is all over “Fire 2,” a standout from indie-pop song-maker Grace Ives’s new album Girlfriend. Every pop star wants to be relatable these days, but they rarely do it with as much grace, grit, and self-empathy as Ives. — SW