For this week’s edition of First Beat, Drake unleashes his first single for his sixth studio album, and Nas gears up for his hotly-anticipated project with Hit-Boy. See our picks for Friday’s must-hear jams below.
Drake feat. Lil Durk, “Laugh Now Cry Later”
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After gifting fans a new mixtape and a pair of DJ Khaled singles earlier this summer, Drizzy is strapped and ready to lead us to his sixth studio album, Certified Lover Boy. The first single “Laugh Now Cry Later” serves as an anthemic, championship-sounding record with the grossly-underrated Lil Durk. The two collide to not only thrash their opposition over the booming soundscape, but scold enemies who continue to get spins in the club.
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Nas & Hit-Boy, “Ultra Black”
Escobar Season is here. On “Ultra Black,” a reinvigorated Nas shows no signs of rust after a year of inactivity on the solo front. With Hit-Boy on the boards, the Queens MC pens a poignant banger designed to celebrate Black culture. Though he takes a swipe as Doja Cat, Nas’s unapologetic candor is more uplifting than aloof.
Anderson .Paak feat. Rick Ross, “Cut em In”
In June, Anderson .Paak grappled with the police force on Black Lives Matter’s importance with his stirring anthem “Lockdown.” Today, he and Rick Ross prove to be a formidable pair on his latest single “Cut em In.” .Paak drops a bevy of gem about being leery of rocky friendships and maintaining self-respect, while Rozay doubles down on .Paak’s prudent advice with his punchy verse.
Trey Songz, “Circles”
With a fistful of 2020 singles in his arsenal, Trey Songz looks to keep his campaign steady with the release of his new record “Circles.” The Virginia crooner acknowledges the revolving door in his relationship between him and his lover, and seeks to end the cyclical process. “Circles” will appear on Songz’s eighth album Back Home.
Kaash Paige, Teenage Fever
Last fall, Paige’s brilliance gleamed on her emo-leaning project, Parked Car Convos. On Friday, the burgeoning Def Jam star exudes star potential with her debut album Teenage Fever. Featuring a diverse lineup of guests, including Isaiah Rashad, Don Toliver and 42 Dugg, Paige rejoices on her wins on “Grammy Week,” and waves goodbye to her companion on the melancholy “Soul Ties.”