Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to New Music Friday’s most essential releases each week — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond.
Last week, we featured Madonna, Sienna Spiro, Riley Green and more.
This week: Gracie Abrams shares her anticipated this album, Daughter From Hell (read Billboard‘s tracks ranked here); Steve Lacy is back with his self-produced third album, Oh yeah?; and Carly Rae Jepsen continues her Day and Night rollout with the release of the upcoming double album’s second single… plus much more. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Gracie Abrams, Daughter From Hell
Gracie Abrams’ third album is finally here, just two years after The Secret of Us helped the pop singer emerge as a fast-rising star as the project debuted at No. 2 Billboard 200, bolstered by hit single “That’s So True.” This time, Abrams returned to producer Aaron Dessner’s Long Pond studio to craft the sonically intimate and lyrically expansive Daughter From Hell, led by surging singles “Hit the Wall” and “Look at My Life.” Release day focus track “Good Reason” is softer in its contemplation, as Abrams sings of putting herself first. “If only I chose you and not me/ If only I had a good reason,” she sings, with the quiet confidence of knowing she never needed one at all.
Steve Lacy, Oh yeah?
It’s been almost four years since Steve Lacy dropped his Grammy-winning Gemini Rights sophomore album and ascended to Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper status with “Bad Habit.” Now, the Internet alum has unveiled his third studio album, Oh Yeah?, which finds him sharing some of his most personal lyrics to date over whimsical fusions of synths and guitars. Featuring appearances by SZA, Erykah Badu and Cecile Believe, Oh Yeah? remains committed to The Funk™ — even in its most somber and self-effacing moments. — KYLE DENIS
Carly Rae Jepsen, “After All”
In late June, Carly Rae Jepsen announced a mega 24-track double album coming this September. Titled Day and Night, the album is fittingly divided into two sonic halves: a psychedelic pop side (Day) and a dance-pop side (Night). While lead single “On Wires,” which arrived with the album, feels distinctly day for its rock riffs and alternative feel, “After All” sounds more akin to nighttime. Boasting sleeker, tighter production, Jepsen dips into her falsetto on the song’s chorus accompanied by subtle hand claps that lead right into a groovy instrumental break — perfect for hitting the dancefloor. — L.H.
Bella Kay, “i deserve better”
Bella Kay opted out of a standard Friday release for her debut album, My Reckless Abandon, which she dropped over the weekend on July 12. Featuring her breakout hit “iloveitiloveitiloveit,” the album’s 13 tracks showcase the promising singer-songwriter’s range, which snaps into focus on closing song “i deserve better,” which staunchly contrasts the chaos-loving nature of a song like “iloveit.” Instead, Kay admits that “I love to blame myself/ It’s all on me when it goes to hell/ But this time, I don’t think that’s true…I’m not perfect, not ever/ But I still deserve better.” — L.H.
Dexter and The Moonrocks, “If You Could Talk”
Emerging Texas rockers Dexter and The Moonrocks broke out this March with “Freakin’ Out,” which earned the band its first Hot 100 entry. Now, the self-defined “Western space grunge” act is back with follow-up single “If You Could Talk,” a punchy track that plays with shifting tempo, building slowly into a proper rock song before winding back down — as if peeling back layers of a band as it continues to reveal itself in real time, and in front of a fast-growing fanbase. — L.H.
Rick Ross, Set in Stone
Ricky Rozay is back with Set in Stone, his first solo studio album in five years. Though he’s spent most of 2026 celebrating the 20th anniversary of his beloved debut album, Port of Miami, the new 19-track set finds Ross living in the present. Assisted by a mind-boggling amalgamation of collaborators — including Leon Thomas, Don Toliver, Yung Miami, Max B, Jeezy and BigXthaPlug — Set in Stone delivers more of Ross’ signature luxury rap, this time from the perspective of an MC with two decades in the game. — K.D.
Buju Banton, Too Too Bad
Serving as a pseudo-sequel to 2006’s Too Bad, Buju Banton’s highly anticipated Too Too Bad has officially landed, complete with 13 rollicking reggae and dancehall tracks. In addition to his viral take on DJ MAC & CrashDummy’s “WYFL” riddim (“X Rated”), Too Too Bad also boasts collaborations with Gramps Morgan, Ari Lennox and DJ Khaled. Notably, Too Too Bad also marks the Grammy winner’s sixth release under VP Records, the label to which he recently returned after 23 years thanks to a newly minted deal. — K.D.
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