With Memorial Day Weekend officially here, we have an earful of quality music to check out.
This week, Gunna, Migos, and Russ steal the show with their newest releases on Billboard’s First Beat. Take a look and see what they brought to the party below.
Gunna, Wunna
After recently leaving his handprints on big-time collaborations such as Camilla Cabello’s “My Oh My (Remix)” and Nav’s “Turks” in the last month, Gunna hops back into the driver’s seat with his sophomore album Wunna. Not only does he solidify himself as a convincing solo threat with the mesmerizing “MOTW” and “Wunna,” but he holds his own when coupled with rap powerhouses like Travis Scott (“Top Floor”) and Roddy Ricch (“Cooler Than a B–ch”). Still, it’s the fearsome duo of Gunna and Young Thug that continues to wreak the most havoc, as proven on the album’s reflective outro “Far.”
Migos, “Need It” Featuring YoungBoy NBA
Since the start of quarantine, Migos gifted fans with freebies such as “Racks Too Skinny” and “Taco Tuesdays.” Their altruism continues Friday (May 22) with the slinky “Need It.” The trio’s hitmaking prowess remains potent, especially with YoungBoy sprinkling his tenacious energy all over the track. After releasing their fourth record of 2020, it seems that we are inching closer to Culture III.
Russ, Shake the Snow Globe (Deluxe)
Hate it or love it, over the last three years, Russ’ ascension in the rap world has been a marveling experience. After earning another top-five debut on the Billboard 200 with January’s Shake the Snow Globe, along with a newly-minted platinum single (“Best on Earth”), he puts a bow on his third album with a hearty deluxe. Not only does he string together a silky earworm with R&B’s leading hook-man Ty Dolla $ign (3 AM), but he invites fans down memory lane on the humbling “2006.”
Bino Rideaux, Outside
Ardent supporters of Nipsey Hussle should be familiar with his oft-collaborator, Bino Rideaux, who partnered up with the late rapper on their 2017 mixtape No Pressure. Today, the LA hyphenate rides solo on his latest mixtape Outside. Not only does he flaunt his signature Auto-Tuned delivery, but he also carves bulletproof Cali anthems for those yearning for the outdoors. The Mozzy-assisted “100 Extras” and “Hold It In” are the sunshiny records needed to put a smile on fans’ faces during these dark times.
Shenseea, “Wasabi”
The self-proclaimed Princess of Dancehall keeps her 2020 spicy with her latest record, “Wasabi.” Soaked with racy lyrics, “Wasabi” proves why the young star’s sauciness is the leading ingredient to her success. After releasing her video for “The Sidechick Song” in March, Shenseea’s confidence going into the summer should be strong, especially after this release.
Jaden, “Ninety”
Better three years late than never, right? Jaden returned on Thursday (May 21) with the visual for his hit “Ninety” from his 2017 album Syre, dubbed here as NINETY: A Poem By SYRE. The opening credits promise that “this is a twisted love story,” and then the viewer is taken on a journey into the California sunset. “Come here, mama, I know you want me/ Food from the soul, I know you’re hungry/ Gave you my two cents, ain’t got money, but/ I’ll take you somewhere fun and tell you something funny, hey/ It’s something funny, baby,” he sings.
