Ed Sheeran – “Trap Queen (Fetty Wap Cover)”:
Ed Sheeran has released a live cover rendition of Fetty Wap’s Billboard chart topping rap single “Trap Queen”, with the Roots for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The cover was recorded backstage at Jimmy Fallon’s The Tonight Show music room and you can watch the cover below. Sheeran also known for his famous friendship with Taylor Swift, shot to fame in America in 2010, when he attended open mic nights all over LA and was spotted by Jamie Foxx who was so impressed that he offered Sheeran the use of his recording studio and the bed of his Hollywood home for the rest of his stay in the country. Watch his cover of “Trap Queen” below.
Tianah B – “Shakara”:
Introducing new British Nigerian singing sensation Tianah B, real name Christianah Babalola, with her brand new single titled “Shakara”. Released in collaboration with Afrobeats crooner Yemi Rush’s record label imprint IDTR/Irawo, Tianah B’s “Shakara” was produced by fast-rising beatmaker Lexy Flow, and follows on from her last single “The Way” featuring Nizzy.
On the back of early success for “The Way”, the London-based singer, songwriter and musician Tianah B is taking things up a notch with her new single “Shakara”, which she wrote and composed herself. Backed by a robust bassline, lush drums, glorious melodies and horn arrangements, “Shakara” is an instant dance floor filler and an infectious sing-along song, which comes just in time for the summer.
Juicy J – “Still”:
Even with a broken foot, veteran rapper Juicy J continues to make music. He just published the visuals for his Mike WiLL Made It-produced track “Still” off his mixtape Blue Dream & Lean 2. In the video, we can find Juicy dancing around in a tour bus with his homies. He emphasizes the lyrics of “Still” by wearing a lot of jewellery, smoking weed and holding an enormous amount of money in his hands. The rapper is currently working on his fourth solo album The Hustle Continues, which will be released soon. Watch the visuals here.
Audrey Rose + Remy Ma + Fetty Wap – “Ice Cream”:
New York-based newcomer Audrey Rose has unveiled the official music video for her single “Ice Cream” featuring female rapper Remy Ma and up-and-coming artist Fetty Wap. While Remy kicks off the track with her swaggy vocals, Rose continues to tease her lover by showing quite a lot of skin. Later on, Fetty Wap joins her singing in front of a graffiti wall. “Ice Cream” appears on Audrey’s latest mixtape Chapter One: Guns And Roses. Watch the video here.
D.Pierre – “Your Love”:
Emerging London rapper/singer D.Pierre has linked up with producer Deany Boy, who has recently worked with the likes of Shystie and Shakka, to debut his brand new single titled “Your Love”. Backed by a punchy production and filled with an exuberant energy and subtle lyricism from D.Pierre, “Your Love” also comes with visuals, directed by Dale Brodie, which you can watch below.
Consequence + Lupe Fiasco + Chris Turner – “Countdown”:
For his new track “Countdown”, Consequence links up with Chi-Town rapper Lupe Fiasco who is assisting him on the verses, and singer Chris Turner who is responsible for the melodic hook. The rhythmic song is produced by Mike Cash and Consequence himself. “Countdown” is the first of a series of collaborations between him and Fiasco, that occurred while Cons was in LA working on Kanye West’s album. Since the feel good record definitely worked out well, there will hopefully be more collaborative projects in the future. Listen to it here.
Braids – “Miniskirt”:
Braids have released their new music video for track “Miniskirt” via Pitchfork TV. The song comes from album Deep In The Iris and the video is directed by Kevan Funk. The video shows the front woman Raphaelle Standal-Preston in a multitude of locations, surround by natural scenrey and shot with a dark aesthetic.
The director Kevan commented on the visuals saying, “I’d been a huge fan of Braids long before I was lucky enough to be a collaborator, an element that made this video special from the outset. They came to me with a handful of very precise visual ideas that they had in mind, which in turn became my jumping off point to shape the rest of the video. I remember the first time I heard the song, I was simply kind of awestruck by the gravitational power that it seemed to [be] imbued with and its bold, incendiary beauty. It’s a rare sort of source material to get the opportunity to work with. I wanted to create something that could compliment the track as opposed to trying to compete with its power.
“When thinking about the song and its content, I began very interested in the idea of commodification and control of femininity in a patriarchal societal construct, and liberation from that restraint. A central consideration that emerged from that was a historical relationship to nature, in terms of the patriarchal and imperial societal impulse to control, conform and dominate. That dynamic and the song’s authorial resistance to that entitlement is what ultimately formed the thematic core of the video“, he concluded.
Kacey Musgraves – “Biscuits”:
American country music artist Kacey Musgraves has released a lyric video for the first single “Biscuits” from her upcoming new album. Following the success of her major label debut album Same Trailer, Different Park in 2013, Kacey Musgraves plans to release her new album Pageant Material this month on the 23rd of June, which is available for pre-order here.
What makes Kacey Musgraves a unique artist is the way in which she manages to intertwine her story telling country music roots with an appetizing pop sound, without straying too far from her roots, thus creating her own territory. Most significantly, however, is her ability to create brutal honesty in her seemingly fun lyrics, that confront and challenge us with some of the faults of human nature that we are forced to recognize. She encourages individuality and ambition, whilst emphasizing the importance of respecting others and their differences.
What may seem like a simple little upbeat country sound should not be underestimated; her songs are multidimensional with a unique substance that reflects Kacey’s insightful ability to raise in us some very poignant questions about the ways in which we navigate our ways through our lives and how we treat each other. In “Biscuits” for example, she reminds us not to be judgmental of others and to mind our own business essentially, or as Kacey sings, “mind your own biscuits, and life will be gravy“.
“Biscuits” begins with Kacey’s usual gentle country guitar sounds and the subtle twang in her soft, upbeat voice, gradually building a little with various layering, and is the kind of song that you’ll find yourself singing for the rest of the day without realizing how well you knew the words after just the one listen, whether you wish to admit it or not. Kacey Musgraves isn’t just the pastel coloured pearl of the singer-songwriter she might seem; she knows how to be graceful, she is incredibly wise, and she certainly knows how to pack a good punch using her pretty words. Listen here.
Words by Shakira Knight, Ayo Adepoju, Antonia Künzel and Lauren Hurrell
