And just like that, summer is on its way out. Ahead of Labor Day, the hip-hop and R&B worlds spent the holiday weekend seeing summer off in style. On Thursday (Aug. 28), the biggest stars across the Caribbean descended upon Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre for the third annual Caribbean Music Awards, which included performances by dancehall titan Elephant Man, soca breakout star Lady Lava, and Trinbagonian producer duo Full Blown. With additional appearances by Bounty Killer, Spice, Shenseea, Serani, Mýa, Busta Rhymes, Armanii, Buju Banton, Dexta Daps, DJ Khaled and Swizz Beatz, this year’s Caribbean Music Awards, which will air on BET on Sept. 12, highlighted the decades-long connection between hip-hop, R&B, reggae and dancehall.
Before NYC convened on Eastern Parkway for the annual West Indian Day Parade on Monday (Sept. 1), a few of hip-hop’s biggest stars shared their latest projects, including Joey Bada$$ (Lonely at the Top) and Westside Gunn (Heels Have Eyes). On the Billboard 200 (dated Sept. 6), BigXthaPlug earned the highest-charting album of his career with I Hope You’re Happy (No. 7), while Jermaine Dupri and Drake were named the top R&B/hip-hop producer and artist, respectively, of the 21st century ahead of Billboard’s Hip-Hop & R&B Week. In other news, Funkmaster Flex played his final 7:00 p.m. E.T. Hot 97 radio show on Labor Day, and Lil Nas X officially pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of battery with injury on a police officer tied to a bizarre, nude incident in Los Angeles on Aug. 21.
With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from dvsn’s comeback single to 1900Rugrat & Rio Da Yung OG’s new collaboration. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
Joey Bada$$ feat. Rome Streetz, Kai Ca$h & CJ Fly, “BK’s Finest”
Joey may have held his own against the entire West Coast earlier this year, but he wasn’t the only New York MC throwing blows. On “BK’s Finest,” a standout from Joey’s new Lonely at the Top LP, the Billboard chart-topper joined forces with fellow Brooklyn-bred rappers CJ Fly, Kai Ca$h and Rome Streetz for a new-age anthem for the borough that builds on Jay-Z’s classic “Brooklyn’s Finest” from his landmark Reasonable Doubt debut. Between Joey’s shoutout to the late DJ Clark Kent (“Word to the Brooklyn’s finest, rest in peace to Clark Kent”), who produced Jay’s original track, Rome’s nod to Hov’s flow and opening lines (“Peep the Steez and the way these hoes sweat us”) and Statik Selektah’s jazzy boom-bap production, “BK’s Finest” handily puts to bed any conversation that attempts to disparage the how the current state of New York hip-hop upholds the region’s legacy. — KYLE DENIS
D. Jones feat. Jadakiss, Beanie Sigel & K. Gibbs, “Motion Picture”
Not only did Philly rapper D. Jones manage to get Beans and Kiss on a track together, he also got a verse from Mack Mittens using his old voice with the help of AI. I peeped someone on social media say that this is one of the more responsible uses of the controversial technology so far, and I might have to agree. This comes off the heels of the news that Freeway is helping executive-produce a Jada and Beanie collab album that has been decades in the making, a project that we will be seated for no matter what. —ANGEL DIAZ
Lexa Gates, “Past It”
When Lexa Gates previewed what to expect from her upcoming album, the Queens native told Billboard she’s looking to deliver a “more universally digestible” project that’s “less niche” and “more true artist, global.” Gates kicked off her album rollout on Friday (Aug. 29) with the twinkling “Past It,” which finds the 24-year-old ruminating on how daunting the future felt, but she’s been able to hurdle her worries to become one of the refreshing faces of rap’s next generation, and there’s still so much in front of LG. — MICHAEL SAPONARA
Spinall feat. Buju Banton, Summer Walker & Jaz Karis, “Struggle”
This globe-trotting collaboration stays true to the lyrical foundation of both hip-hop and reggae: speaking truth to power on behalf of society’s hardest and most disrespected workers. Jamaican reggae and dancehall legend Buju Banton spends his verse painting the weight of financial pressure so heavy it can even break relationships. Soon after, ATL-bred R&B superstar Summer Walker emphasizes the perils of masking pain with a smile. Nigerian DJ Spinall ties it together with a reminder not to let struggles drag you down, even when the suffering feels overwhelming. Balancing systemic inequality and personal struggles with the encouragement to persevere through adversity via hope and unity, “Struggle” is a winner. — CHRISTOPHER CLAXTON
dvsn, “Excited”
After nearly a decade with Warner Records and Drake’s OVO Sound, Canadian R&B duo dvsn inked a new deal with Jermaine Dupri’s So So Def Recordings earlier this summer, giving way to their first new single in two years. Released alongside “Love on You,” “Excited” is a characteristically seductive slow jam that samples Floetry’s classic “Say Yes.” “Sorry in advance if I go too hard/ Show me what kinda girl you are/ Need you to know you’re makin’ me/ Excited,” Daniel Daley croons over Nineteen85’s murky, atmospheric production. One of R&B’s strongest duos is back! — K.D.
Westside Gunn feat. Stove God Cooks, “Brikolai Volkoff”
If there’s a better duo in rap doing it better than Gunn and Cooks right now, please point me in the right direction. These guys are moving like the Legion of Doom in the ’90s. That proper Stove follow-up to his classic debut Reasonable Drought can’t come soon enough. He’s having a hell of a year, might as well close it out with a bang. Somebody get Babygrande on the phone! #FreeStove. — A.D.
1900Rugrat feat. Rio Da Yung OG, “Where Da Fine Shyt”
Michigan meets South Florida. 1900Rugrat and Rio Da Yung OG have teamed up, wondering “Where Da Fine Shyt” at. The trap-laden single is filled with witty quotables, bars that leave you wondering what exactly 19 or Rio said before being jabbed in the head with the next. Rio lets us know he copped a $3,000 Louis Vuitton phone case and is willing to represent himself in court, while passing the baton to Rugrat, who isn’t trying to become a dad anytime soon. — M.S.
Destin Conrad & Terrace Martin, “Wash U Away”
“Wash U Away,” a standout on Destin Conrad’s new alternative jazz project, traces the push-and-pull of an irresistibly toxic relationship. Despite recognizing the flaws, there’s still a strong physical and emotional attachment that lingers. Between a scent that won’t wash away and a chorus that funnels its desperation through repetition, this Terrace Martin-assisted track is a beautiful lesson in tension and temptation. — C.C.
Peezy feat. Icewear Vezzo, “So Ghetto”
A pair of Detroit dignitaries just stepped into the building. Peezy and Icewear Vezzo reunited for the menacing “So Ghetto,” as the duo pledge allegiance to the trenches. No matter how many millions they stack, there are just some things that are forever ingrained in their lifestyles. “I’m so ghetto, I’m getting my car washed by the hydrant,” Peezy raps, before hilariously admitting he’s flying “baddies” out on Spirit. They hit the city’s Eastside for the visual, which brings out some women rocking ankle monitors. Authenticity will always play. — M.S.
