I feel proud to know I got Coco Jones, Britney Spears interpolated song the first time. “Taste” is the lead single for Mrs. Jones DEBUT album Why Not More? dropping on April 25th and it was instantly met with mixed reviews. For Traditional R&B fans it can be jarring to see your fave pivot to new sounds, especially when you can find so much commercial success in pop music but I love that the Grammy winner isn’t playing it safe or restricting her music to one genre to appease everyone else. Coco Jones is a multifaceted artist. Whether she’s penning a critical acclaimed song like “ICU”, starring in the hit series Bel-Air or being a relatable, hilarious human being on the internet, she’s honed her skillset throughout her lifetime and her debut album will give her the freedom to explore a range of sounds and showcase her voice beyond soulful riffs and runs.

Hearing “Taste” for the first time and every time after I’m obsessed with the sleek production that Coco struts on as she professes her desire for a potent love. The vocally morphed Britney “Toxic” loop on the hook stays in your head whether you love it or hate it (like every impactful pop song) and I’m glad that Jones took this small risk now as she straddles the lane of being an R&B star and becoming a household name that has the power to dominate in any genre she chooses. R&B has always been one of the most influential genres that has nurtured many talented singers that become notable mainstream superstars (Beyonce, Usher, Ciara, and SZA to name a few) but to reach that status an artist has to be intentional with the production that compliments their voices.

Jasper Harris co-produced “Taste” alongside Stargate and Aaron Shadrow and I was thrilled to see Harris name tapped for this song after his involvement with Camila Cabello’s experimental-pop love letter to Miami C, XOXO. I love when artists create worlds with their music and I hope that this isn’t the only song this trio has a placement on. Artists deserve to challenge themselves and their audience with their music and I’m so excited to hear what else is in store for Why Not More? when we get to press play next month.

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:

Wet - Jae Stephens
Strip - Brooke Hogan (HEAR ME OUT if you don’t know the pop greatness of this record)
Get Naked (I Got A Plan) - Britney Spears
Touch - Omarion
King Of Hearts - Cassie

Thank me later m,xoxo

Coco Jones Explores New Pop Territory On “Taste”

Jae Stephen's "WET" Is Nostalgic Pop Gold