A day late and a dollar short?
Perhaps, but nevertheless — this week, we’re back with the latest and greatest in emerging R&B and hip-hop. From the trap sounds of Louisville rapper EST Gee to R&B singer Jeff Bernat’s smooth serenade, our round-up has all you need to coast through week two of the summer season.
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Lebra Jolie, “Now What”
On her new single “Now What,” Lebra Jolie takes to the halls of her old high school to address her haters. Fittingly, the hi-hat heavy, braggadocious bop has marching band undertones similar to that of a high school football game. “Now What” finds the Houston rapper asserting herself as a force to be reckoned with — not only within the Southern rap scene but in the genre as a whole.
TOBi feat. Baby Rose, “Come As You Are”
Shortly after winning rap recording of the tear for his sophomore album Elements Vol. 1 at the 2021 Juno Awards, TOBi linked with Baby Rose for his latest single “Come As You Are.” The two flex their voices for a smooth record, reassuring the other that they’re enough.
EST Gee, “Capitol 1”
EST Gee is back with another single “Capitol 1” — and this time around, he likens his riches to the infamous credit card company. “Big Gee the capitol one, what’s in your wallet?/ I got 30, 40 thousand all blues stuffed in my pocket,” the Louisville rapper asserts.
Scorey, “Love Letter”
Under the guidance of Polo G, Syracuse rapper Scorey is making a name for himself while putting on for the former’s label imprint Only Dreamers Achieve (ODA) Records. Scorey has released a handful of singles as the label’s first signee, and on his latest song “Love Letter,” he is lovesick. “I wrote you a love letter, hope it make our love better/ Pain in her heart, I could feel it when the love left her,” he sing-raps.
Trapboy Freddy feat. Lakeyah, “Buss It Open”
Trapboy Freddy teams up with Lakeyah for a quick twerk anthem called “Buss It Open.” At less than two minutes in length, the two trade one verse each over an 808-heavy beat.
Curtis Roach, “STIMMY”
In arguably one of the most on-brand songs for the 2020 experience (aside from his own “Bored in the House”), Curtis Roach returns with “Stimmy,” a celebratory tune inspired by the government checks dished out in response to the pandemic. In the visual, Roach invests his own check, while rapping about self-love and generational wealth.
Hush Forte, “Far Away”
Hush Forte’s vibey “Far Away” features a classic hip-hop drum bounce layered over groovy instruments, while the multi-faceted artist delivers a fusion of Travis Scott-esque melodies and laidback rhymes.
Jeff Bernat, “Make Up Your Mind”
Filipino-American R&B crooner Jeff Bernat addresses indecisive energy with his relatable cut, “Make Up Your Mind.” The song features Bernat’s signature smooth, laid back vocals sitting over a classic R&B instrumental, giving all the best characteristics of ’90s R&B while feeling fresh enough for 2021.
YN Jay, “Triple S (Remix)”
YN Jay doubled up with rapper Coi Leray for the “Triple S” remix, with the latter adding some feminine flare to the TikTok-famous track. Leray mimicks the Flint rapper’s signature flow and growl, the fellow social media favorite delivering her own boastful and cheeky verse.
Wesley Joseph feat. Jorja Smith, “Patience”
British artist Wesley Joseph is joined by fellow Walsall native Jorja Smith for this single. The lyricism of “Patience” resembles a vulnerable journal entry for Joseph, while the visual centers around the concepts of life, tragedy, death, and joy — perfectly weaved together by Smith’s soulful verse and melancholic performance.
