New Music Friday: SZA, Steelo Brim & Saweetie Drop New Tunes
It’s New Music Friday, which means it’s time for another curated playlist featuring some of BET’s favorite musicians in the game.
Trend alert: three of this week’s picks are collabs. Vic Mensa and Steelo Brim reflect on their history and harp on the present, Cakes da Killa and Dawn Richard let loose in a sensual new dance track, and SiR and Isaiah Rashad give us some fresh R&B. Also, SZA might be dominating the charts with “Snooze,” but she’s already teasing a new project with her otherworldly new track.
You might want to save a few of these for later…
Saturn - SZA
Alt-R&B superstar SZA wonders if life will be better on another planet in her surprise release, “Saturn.” The dreamily nihilistic track ponders if we’re trapped in purgatory, “Nirvana's not as advertised,” she sings. “Therе's got to be more, been here before is hell.”
Ni**a Dreams - Steelo Brim, Vic Mensa
Ridiculousness co-host Steelo Brim teams up with Vic Mensa to preach about issues facing the Black community in a nostalgic ode to the hip hop of the 1990s. “I am my ancestor's imagination, the dreams of the slaves,” Mensa raps. “With visions of breaking free from the cage.”
Richtivities - Saweetie
Feeling icy? Hip-hop and social media starlet Saweetie is flexing her paid bills and private jets on this flaunty mid-tempo bop.
Do Dat Baby - Cakes da Killa, Dawn Richard
These two artists show off their skills in the club and the bedroom in this slinky dance collab. Dawn Richard’s sensual vocals deliver a seductive hook and glittery adlibs, while Cakes da Killa lets his body – and rhymes – do the talking.
Old Days - Lil Durk
Lil Durk is “praying for the streets” in his new track, reflecting on his “Old Days.” The 31-year-old details his come-up, fake friends, protecting yourself and your family, and hopes his story serves as a cautionary tale.
Karma - SiR, Isaiah Rashad
R&B isn’t dead; it’s evolving. SiR and Isaiah Rashad link up for a vibey reflection on all past actions that might still come back to bite them. Reality check: what goes around comes back around.
Vic Mensa’s making of “BLUE EYES”
NAACP Image Award nominee Vic Mensa is giving us a special behind-the-scenes look at the making of his song, "BLUE EYES," which is an introspective look at himself and coming to terms with accepting himself. Check it out above!
And listen to the playlist here.
