As Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl consumed the zeitgeist and Nicki Minaj and Cardi B continued to reach new lows in their years-long feud, the worlds of hip-hop and R&B kept turning.
More from Billboard
On Friday (Oct. 3), Judge Subramanian sentenced Sean “Diddy” Combs to over 50 months behind bars for violating federal prostitution laws. Accounting for time served, Diddy will serve a little over three years in federal prison. The judge noted that he hoped his sentence would “send a message to abusers and victims alike that exploitation and violence against women is met with real accountability.” Two days prior (Oct. 1), Young Thug, another star rapper who was recently caught up in a federal investigation, revealed that R&B singer Mariah the Scientist broke up with him. “I got broke up, n—a,” he explained to Adin Ross live on stream. “I got a girl. She probably don’t got a boyfriend, but I got a girl.”
In lighter news, after spending some time laying low with her new beau, Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Klay Thompson, Megan Thee Stallion took to socials to tease her new TikTok-inspired, Total-sampling single. Latto seemingly confirmed some brighter romantic news, publicly claiming 21 Savage as her “husband” after years of speculation. When asked if she gets tired of people inquiring about 21, Latto replied, “No! My man, my man, my man, my man!” Rounding out the happier female rap news, Doja Cat graced Saturday Night Live season 51 premiere with performances of “Aaahh Men!” and “Gorgeous,” two tracks from her new Vie album, which recently debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 (chart dated Oct. 11).
With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from a standout from the second-half of Bryson Tiller’s double LP to a smooth new collaboration between Karri and Kehlani. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
Freshest Find: Bryson Tiller, “I Need Her”
As “It Depends” continues climbing the charts, the Bryson Tiller train is rolling full steam ahead. Finally sharing the other half of his new Solace & The Vices double-album, Tiller squarely steps into his R&B bag after spending the previous collection of tracks exercising his hip-hop bonafides. “I Need Her,” a Charlie Heat-produced ode to romance, finds Tiller comparing his lover’s voice to his favorite radio song, while live bass and drums amp up the drama of the whole affair. Tiller truly operates best in his R&B pocket, and between the subtle vocal layering and evocative songwriting, “I Need Her” is yet another winner. — KYLE DENIS
BVNGS, “Crazy”
On a new single produced by L.David, the Rochester MC raps about a love lost and how it could make people crazy over an R&B beat. If she looks or sounds familiar, it’s because you might’ve seen her “The One” freestyle float down your timeline, or maybe it was “Get Yo Chain” where she fully leans into her versatility and sings about snatching chains. Either way, BVNGS is worth paying attention to. — ANGEL DIAZ
Karri & Kehlani, “Go”
A smooth, flirtatious R&B duet, Karri and Kehlani’s “Go” radiates chemistry and freedom. Built around production from Thomas “TD” Madynski, Daniel East, Phil Mango, G. Bliz, Sw8vy, Icee Red, and Luxury Lane, the track glides on glossy synths and understated percussion, creating the perfect backdrop for the pair’s back-and-forth dynamic. Co-written by Karri, Kehlani, Blaise Railey and Daniel East, among others, “Go” captures the thrill of surrendering to connection, two people lost in each other’s energy, willing to follow wherever love leads. Karri’s verses brim with adoration, while Kehlani’s response mirrors that devotion with confidence and allure. Together, their vocals form a playful call-and-response that turns mutual admiration into movement, making “Go” a celebration of desire and trust without limits. — CHRISTOPHER CLAXTON
HeadHuncho Amir, “You the Biggest”
HeadHuncho Amir is one of the leaders of the new Dallas movement, as Big D is emerging as a hotbed for hip-hop talent. Ahead of his 50 Year Run mixtape’s arrival later in October, Amir sets the standard with his trap anthem “You the Biggest,” which serves as the project’s lead single. The East Dallas native boasts a steady delivery and sharp bars while motivating listeners to boss up at whatever they’re chasing in life. Signed to 300 Entertainment, Amir knows the crown is heavy, and he’s ready to spread the wealth to those riding with him. “I ain’t gatekeeping the motion/ Chill around and you got action,” he raps. — MICHAEL SAPONARA
Elmiene feat. Muni Long, “Useless (Begging Remix)”
One month after sharing his excellent Heat the Streets mixtape, buzzing British-Sudanese singer-songwriter Elmiene updates standout track “Useless (Without You)” with a new remix featuring two-time Grammy winner Muni Long. “Hеartbroken over what we had/ It’s gonе and you can’t get it back/ If you ain’t cryin’, must not be that sad/ If you still breathin’, it must not be that bad,” Muni croons in her verse, smartly infusing a confrontational, yet passionate energy to Elmiene’s original lesson in yearning. — K.D.
Hit-Boy & The Alchemist, “Business Merger”
I hope this new banger means that we’ll be getting a proper, full-length album from these guys. There’s something poetic in the two of the best producers in the game keeping their best beats for themselves. It’s like Uncle Al said in his verse, “Meetings with a tucked shirt in/ You could never put enough work in.” — A.D.
Chase Shakur, “Seeing Red”
Chase Shakur dives deep into emotional chaos on “Seeing Red,” a striking R&B cut co-written with John Kim and Terrence Williams and produced by Romano, saintbelt, and Shakur himself. Built around hazy synth layers and pulsing percussion, the track captures the turbulence of a love strained by pride and miscommunication. Shakur uses the color red as a recurring motif, a symbol of anger, passion, and heartbreak, as he pleads, “Don’t be dodging me,” through a haze of frustration and longing. His voice drifts between vulnerability and defiance, reflecting the emotional push-and-pull of wanting closure while still holding on. “Seeing Red” feels like late-night introspection turned melody, a confession wrapped in smooth, moody production that blurs the line between love and letting go. — C.C.
Best of Billboard
Sign up for Billboard’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com ’
