CHXRRY’S READY FOR HER DEBUT

Chxrry is bringing back audacity in a music landscape that’s become uninspired in the age of AI and rush for 15 seconds of social media fame. The Toronto based songstress crossed my rotation back in 2022, around the time she signed to The Weeknd’s label XO Records and became the First Lady of the alternative r&b roster of artists. Songs like “The Falls” “Call Me” and my personal fav “Around” were late night ride around, sensual and sonically cinematic cuts that made me curious to dive deeper into Chxrry’s catalogue and experience where her unapologetic bars and moody production could evolve into with a full project. Four years later Chxrry is ready to properly give us a taste of her artistry and as her star continues to rise, U, Me & My Ego is a bold, precise body of work showcasing a human that isn’t afraid to embrace the layered intricacies of our egos and how they impact who we are and how we love.

Throughout the 10 tracks Chxrry unravels the concept of ego and brings us into her rockstar lifestyle. On the opener “Blockstar” Chxrry’s in her brightest, most cocky form raging over trap production letting us know she’s on a mission to make us fall in love with her music. Alongside her executive producer Believve the duo brings her vision to life taking us on a high octane synth-pop ride on “Hall Of Fame”. The slinky electronic warning shot on “Call Security” commands your attention as she confronts a cheating lover and the sidechick on his arm. “Boring” details wanting a lover that might be toxic but keeps things exciting, “I want a show / baby lights camera action / I need fast whips and fast lips and accents / I wanna argue in the middle of Manhattan.” I wore out the live preview of the Mariah The Scientist assisted “Bottles & Lights” for months and the official netxel chirp filled version didn’t disappoint.

Chxrry is proudly carrying the torch for a specific range of eclectic 2000s artists that could give us songs for the Pop charts, clubs and late night moments of reflection when the feelings can’t be avoided by daily distractions and shots of 42. The Blockstar has always referenced her love for this era in music and the women that didn’t want to be put into a box. Think Cassie in 2012 with a freshly half shaved mohawk, urging us to escape to the dance floor with the dark, electropop “King of Hearts”. On the opposite end of the genre spectrum Keyshia Cole has been cited as a source of vocal inspiration and whenever I listen to a Chxrry song I can hear the intention put into her authenticity in the songs she writes (Chxrry wrote every song on this project alongside Believve). The lyrics are coming from her perspective. The production is what she wants to add to the pop culture zeitgeist and its makes an album like this one so satisfying to hear because it doesn’t feel like a safe effort for Billboard recognition.

Dropping a 10 track debut album in an era where labels encourage glutonus 20+ track albums hoping something penetrates the algorithm has left us with a lot of uninspired, hollow, sonical fast food that won’t be remebered in three months. U, Me & My Ego will be on heavy rotation as the weather warms up and will be the soundtrack to my nights out and moments of reflecting on where my ego is taking me. After listening to this album and reading Chxrry’s features on The Fader and Interview Magazine, I think her ego is going to bring her everything she desires:

But I don’t look at ego like a negative thing. I don’t look at it as a thing that’s like, “Fuck you, I’m better than you.” And that’s what this album’s about. It’s challenging the word and the taboo behind it. Why is it so negative, especially with women? Ego is just another layer of how confident you are. I don’t think I’m better than anyone else, but I do think I’m the best. 

Add to rotation: Hall Of Fame, Call Security, Badness (Feat. Cash Cobain), Bottles & Lights (Feat. Mariah The Scientist)

Skip: Bible

Keep Your Music Mysterious

When Tyler, The Creator gave fans 12 days to prepare for the release of his eighth studio album CHROMAKOPIA; an unnamed male singer on the chorus quickly stirred up conversation on who was featured on “St. Chroma”, the first song teased with the announcement of this new era.

The victorious, Daniel Caesar assisted “St. Chroma” set the tone to a kaleidoscope of emotions, charged production and raw storytelling from an artist at the top of his game and as we got closer to the release date, Tyler maintained the secret of who else blessed CHROMAKOPIA with a visit.

A feature-less tracklist for CHROMAKOPIA was unveiled when the album dropped on October 28th and listeners got to experience an artist they’ve grown alongside share some intimate moments and harsh lessons he’s learned from his childhood days in Hawthorne, California to the reality of a global star still trying to figure shit out in his 30s.

Daniel Caesar, Teezo Touchdown, Glorilla and Lil Wayne’s appearance on the album were quickly recognized and highlighted on social media but it took some listeners days before they pinpointed Solange’s background vocals on “I Hope You Find Your Way Home” or Donald Glover’s unmistakable ad-libs on the bridge of “Judge Judy”.

Being genuinely surprised to hear my fave Doechii demolish her spot on “Ballon” reminds me of the first time I heard Beyoncé’s heavenly vocals on Frank Ocean’s “Pink and White” or Kendrick’s haunting interlude for Drake’s “Buried Alive”.

Discovering a hidden feature on an album feels like being a kid and finding a $5 bill in a plastic pink egg on easter. In the age of streaming, the process of crate digging and trying to find the name of a new song playing on the radio has been traded in for shazaming songs at the bar and waiting six months for that random 15 seconds of a song that went viral on tiktok to drop but I appreciate Tyler for keeping the thrill in experiencing a body of work alive.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8LU3tNC/

Jae Stephen's "WET" Is Nostalgic Pop Gold

As Troye Sivan’s character on the controversial, limited series The Idol non chantly questioned “when was the last truly nast, nasty, bad pop girl?” Jae Stephens is stepping up to the ring with her latest single “WET”, a sexy but sweet mid-tempo vibe. Jae’s vocals smoothly glide on the early 2000s, Neptunes sounding cut as she enters a single era where the reposado is flowing and the dancefloors are packed.

Wet t-shirt contest, I win

Went through hell, and back again

Ended up in SoHo, and now I don’t know where my wallet is

But I don’t give a fuck ‘cause he’s sticking to me

It’s like we sharing skin

Getting hot in here, and I’m finna take it all off like, Nelly did

“WET” brings me back to a time when artists we’re giving us shit that we wanted to move to. People tend to be more timid on the dancefloor these days but I appreciate Jae Stephens giving us a carefree bop that will hopefully remind the girls that life’s too short to not be living your Nelly Furtado 2006 Loose fantasies. Side note quick queue suggestion with “Wet” starting the vibe:

1. Wet - Jae Stephens

2. Strip - Brooke Hogan (HEAR ME OUT if you don’t know the pop greatness of this record)

3. Get Naked (I Got A Plan) - Britney Spears

4. Touch - Omarion

5. King Of Hearts - Cassie

Thank me later m,xoxo

Do You Want To Play A Game? Megan Thee Stallion Drops "BOA" Off New Album

Megan Thee Stallion continues to flourish as an independent artist and I find myself picking up my jaw off the floor whenever she drops something in this venomously triumphant era. “BOA” is Thee Stallion’s latest single and it instantly got added to my heavy rotation from the first play. This song is pure fun as Meg collects her opps and haters with her undeniable cadence and word play. Longtime collaborator/producer LilJuMadeDaBeat gives Meg an eargasmic, heavy hitting sonic playground to flex her audacious bars and the chaotic blend of rap and dance pop makes me nostalgic for the SUGA era when the duo were racking up plaques while everyone was quarantined making dances on tiktok.

As the hottie raps “These bitches only hot on Tiktok,” on the interpolated Gwen Stefani hook (“What You Waiting For?” which remains a masterpiece that the new pop girls should’ve been had on their moodboards) I physically have to restrain from screeching MOTHER from the top of my lungs because Megan’s stylistic choices and references are always on point. Meg’s love for anime, horror and gaming can be seen in her insane music video for “BOA” and like the previous visuals from this era (“HISS”, “Cobra”) the Houston superstar is sparing no expense to make sure her vision is executed perfectly.

I caught the Stay Alive reference at the start of the video as we’re introduced to three Hottieville, USA residents playing The Curse Of The Serpent Woman. As the plot plays out, these gamers are at risk of losing their lives if they lose and it’s highly entertaining watching Meg KO these stoned souls in rounds of Mortal Kombat, Snake and Street Fighter. I can’t forget to mention the reference to One Piece in the title of “BOA” and Megan getting into character as “Pirate Empress” Boa Hancock, aka the “Snake Princess” the alluring captain of the Kuja Pirates. The Hotties are being fed well with “HISS” still garnering fanfare and a summer tour, I love to see Megan thriving and “BOA” feels like a warm up to a strong third album.

KAYTRANADA Drops Two New Era Singles “Lover/Friend” + “Stuntin”

“Stuntin” is a sauntering, runway vibe that should be spinning at Public Record, Cafe Erzulie or wherever aesthetically pleasing bar you sip your espresso martinis at

KAYTRANADA has been blessing us with undeniable vibes all year from the sun soaked collaborative project KAYTRAMINÉ with Aminé, producing AMAKA’s transformative, afro-futuristic debut EP OASIS and offering up some hard hitting house beats for some of my favorite women in music whose careers are thriving shoutout Mariah The Scientist, Victoria Monet, and Maeta. Before the year ends the Montreal musical genius is leaving us with some new music to hold us over as we wait for his highly anticipated third album.

While the details of KAYTRANADA’s third album are still under wraps (other than it being finito), the two latest singles “Lover/Friend” and “Stuntin” give us a little taste of what’s to come.  “Lover/Friend” features Rochelle Jordan a soulful songstress whose voice compliments KAYTRANADA’s signature sound incorporating early 2000s R&B, funk and house music. Over a slinky, downtempo beat, Rochelle leaves us with a chorus that’ll be stuck in your head after a couple plays, “Hеard you wanna be my lover / Wanna be morе than friends / Heard you wanna be my lover / And you can't pretend.” “Lover/Friend” doesn’t stray far from the low key, genre bending nostalgia of KAYTRANADA’s second studio album BUBBA that dropped in 2019. 

“Stuntin” is a sauntering, runway vibe that should be spinning at Public Record, Cafe Erzulie or wherever aesthetically pleasing bar you sip your espresso martinis at. Channel Tres voice is always intoxicating and this record is no different. He adds the perfect touch to the bouncy cut. Both “Stuntin” and “Lover/Friend” have me missing the summer nights and sexy moments that these songs like exude. Let’s pray KAYTRANADA is cooking up another album of the summer. 

Stream Both Singles Below:

“Lover/Friend” EP:

Spotify: HERE

Apple Music: HERE

BAMBII Debut EP ‘INFINITY CLUB’ Is On Rotation

Dance music can transport your mind, body and spirit to other dimensions with the right person behind the controller. BAMBII has become a global club icon, performing her genre blurring sets around the world. Over the weekend the Toronto born DJ released her debut EP INFINITY CLUB and the short yet musically vast rave ready project has me envious of the people that have gotten to witness BAMBII’s greatness live. INFINITY CLUB opens with a collection of voices welcoming you to the inclusive dance space in various languages.  

BAMBII gives you a couple seconds to prepare yourself for a relentless, sweaty night on on the dance floor; as the speakers blare with whirring synths, drum n bass basslines and breakdowns on “One Touch”. A downtempo, sensual affair can be found on the Aluna assisted “Hooked”. No genre is off limits as BAMBII increases the BPM to match the bass-driven dancehall energy on “WICKED GYAL” and later ponders on the infectious electronic cut “Slip Slide” if money can buy love “ If I was a rich girl would you let me ride it?” With the EP length being a little over 19 minutes, the party is over way too soon so multiple visits to INFINITY CLUB is basically mandatory. Don’t be afraid to let loose on the dance floor as BAMBII provides the vibes for an uninhibited night of pleasure.

Flo Milli Announces New Album ‘Fine Ho, Stay’

Flo Milli captured the hearts and ears of millions with her debut mixtape Ho, why is you here? In 2020 showcasing her lethal pen, witty bars and unconfined brilliance. Last year the rightfully “Conceited” rapper released her debut album You Still Here, Ho? solidifying her place in the new golden era of female rap and with no days off Flo is continuing to keep her foot on our necks with the announcement of her sophomore album Fine Ho, Stay. Alongside the announcement Flo dropped the bass-heavy “Fruit Loops” a satisfying, playful bop laden with more than enough bars to remind you that Flo should always be a topic in the mainstream rap conversation. 

Benny Sings and Remi Wolf Take It Slow On “Pyjamas”

If I wasn’t paying attention to the lyrics of Benny Sings latest single “Pyjamas” I’d imagine myself swaying to the bossa nova inspired groove under the sweltering sun in Brazil with a wine glass in hand. The playful collaboration with Remi Wolf ponders the potential adventures of a man with a low libido and his partner. While Remi’s  character wants to make love, Benny would rather slow things down and enjoy the simple joys in life.

There’s a whimsical energy to the song that gets more infectious with each listen. Kenny Beats adds his magic touch to this breezy affair and has me curious to hear the rest of the musical choices he made while executive producing Sings latest album Young Hearts. With “Pyjamas” being my first taste of Benny Sings music, I’m excited to hear what else can be found on his 8th studio album.

FLO Is In Their ‘FLY GIRL’ ERA

FLO is officially teasing a new era. After reigniting the excitement for girl groups in 2022 with their undeniable debut single “Cardboard Box”; Renée, Stella and Jorja have garnered countless co-signs from legends in the music industry, blessed us with flawless live vocals and continue to top themselves with each new release honing in on their nostalgic R&B sound. “FLY GIRL” will be their first single of 2023 and judging from the bold, summer ready sound, FLO is coming for wigs and dance floors all around the world. 

https://t.co/JIyQcW1hSH pic.twitter.com/g8yXLiI4cg

— FLO (@flolikethis) March 14, 2023

Missy Elliott’s classic hit “Work It” can be heard on the sassy hook before FLO adds their signature confident bars:

“If you're a fly girl, get your nails done

Get a pedicure, get your hair did 

See, you're tellin' me I'm pretty, but it's obvious

I don't need no man to tell me where the party is.”

I’m analyzing a 30 second snippet like it’s the full masterpiece so lemme collect myself and patiently wait for this bop to drop. In the meantime make sure you have your tickets for one of their upcoming shows and add a couple of their joints to your rotation if they aren’t already on replay as we speak.

Omar Apollo’s “3 Boys” Is On Rotation

Omar Apollo is currently alongside SZA supporting her sold out S.O.S. stadium tour and while new fans are falling in love with his earnest lyrics, charming voice and beautiful face (just me?) I’m STUCK on his latest single “3 Boys”. Apollo is in a dilemma on the sonically sparse record. While there’s seemingly a lot of fish in the sea, when your heart is fixated on one person trying to move past that connection can feel impossible.

The troubadour’s rich vocals float on this dreamy track as he tries to consider taking his ex’s advice and moving on. “I know there's some things you can't speak,  but thoughts of a third make me weak,” we’ve all been in this emotionally grueling scenario and hearing it in music form feels therapeutic. Instead of texting my therapist, I’ll probably text my ex (that’s not really my ex that only responds on the weekends) 3 boys make me weak too Omar I feel your pain….