Keeping up with new music can be exhausting, even impossible. From the weekly album releases to standalone singles dropping on a daily basis, the amount of music is so vast it’s easy for something to slip through the cracks. Even following along with the Uproxx recommendations on a daily basis can be a lot to ask, so every Monday we’re offering up this rundown of the best music released in the last week.
This week saw Beyonce’s stunning new The Lion King album, and catchy additions to the pop conversation from Hayley Kiyoko and Charli XCX. Yeah, it was a great week for new music. Check out the highlights below.
Beyonce — The Lion King: The Gift
[protected-iframe id=”fc81036c70f30fc494e21e21bd21d396-60970621-76566046″ info=”https://open.spotify.com/embed?uri=spotify:album:552zi1M53PQAX5OH4FIdTx” width=”650″ height=”380″ frameborder=”0″]
Not only did Beyonce remake some of the classic Lion King songs as part of her starring role in the new remake, but she went above and beyond by curating an album of songs inspired by the film. She pulled out all the stops, too. Aside from herself, the record also features Jay-Z, Blue Ivy, co-star Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar, and plenty of guests beyond that.
Nas — The Lost Tapes II
[protected-iframe id=”481dd7e7f9a86a374cdd65716fd37b38-60970621-76566046″ info=”https://open.spotify.com/embed?uri=spotify:album:4tRNl7PwUzXrxTP3YZjWgS” width=”650″ height=”380″ frameborder=”0″]
Nas started the month with a cryptic trailer for Lost Tapes II, and just weeks later, the record dropped. There are plenty of guests on the record, but you won’t see them listed next to the song titles; The album features production from Kanye West, The Alchemist, Hit-Boy, No I.D., Pete Rock, Pharrell Williams, RZA, Statik Selektah, and Swizz Beatz. The good news is that if you enjoy this, there might be more, as Nas apparently has enough songs for at least one more sequel.
King Princess — “Prophet”
It’s easy to forget that King Princess only dropped her debut single in 2018, because her star has been rising quickly that it feels like she’s been part of the game for longer than a year. Her early work was enough to get her signed to Mark Ronson’s label Zelig Records, and her new release on the label, “Prophet,” is another winner. It’s a clever song that continues her quest to explore the lines between genres as fervently as possible.
Hayley Kiyoko — “I Wish”
Speaking of up-and-comers. Kiyoko has been around for a minute, but her debut album only came last year, and Expectations had an impressive peak at No. 12 on the US charts. It also set great, well, expectations, for the young pop singer and songwriter, ones she exceeds on “I Wish.” It’s pop, but by no means cookie-cutter. The new song is a bop dealing with loneliness, her vulnerability making her a voice with whom her fans can relate.
Charli XCX and Christine And The Queens — “Gone”
At this point, Charli XCX is a bona fide pop star, and she’s inviting others to join her for some fun. Her latest collaborator is Christine And The Queens, and “Gone” is a cathartic banger that is a perfect showcase for both performers. It’s catchy, it’s honest, and it’s what pop should be in 2019.
Maxo Kream — Brandon Banks
[protected-iframe id=”1a582f4c7f880beda59ed9653bc08b04-60970621-76566046″ info=”https://open.spotify.com/embed?uri=spotify:album:2E5FdSQ0pyo7LHW7XxMYUi” width=”650″ height=”380″ frameborder=”0″]
The Houston rapper has been dropping mixtapes for the better part of this decade, but his debut album came in 2018 with Punken, a critically respected record that promised great things to come. Now Brandon Banks is here, and like its predecessor, the record sees Kream getting into heavy subject matter over equally weighty beats.
Whitney — “Valleys (My Love)”
Whitney’s next album, Forever Turned Around, is out at the end of August, and they’ve shared some tantalizing previews ahead of that. The latest is “Valleys (My Love),” a soulful indie-folk tune about life on the road. The video is clever, too, as it uses the nomadic life of a commercial trucker to illustrate their own experience as a touring band.
(Sandy) Alex G — “Hope”
(Sandy) Alex G is teasing an eclectic album, based on the variety of the songs from the record he’s shared so far. The latest track, though, is more straightforward, as “Hope” is a pleasant and breezy indie-folk track. If you’d like to see this live, he also just announced a world tour.
The Highwomen — “Redesigning Women”
Some of the brightest female country talents decided to get together and form an absolutely enticing supergroup, as Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, Maren Morris, and Amanda Shires are now collectively The Highwomen. The four-piece made their debut with “Redesigning Women,” a warm country tune that is meant to reflect “the goodness, the madness and the hilarity of it all.”
Lil Pump — “Pose To Do” (feat. French Montana and Quavo)
Lil Pump is only 20 years old, but he’s set his footing in the hip-hop conversation so firmly that it sometimes feels like he’s a veteran. He got a couple of more experienced rappers to hop on his latest track, “Pose To Do,” which features French Montana and Quavo. The trap song sees the three pining for the attention of one specific women in a sea of them.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. .
