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Run That Back: This Week in Music Featuring Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake and More

Our music staff picks their favorite songs released April 29 through May 6.

It was an interesting week in music. The residue of Beyoncé and Drake's monstrous releases have other superstars beginning to leave their confines and drop some new music.

Justin Timberlake made a splash by dropping a track that’ll sure have everyone bouncing through the summer. “Can’t Stop The Feeling” is JT’s latest as he gears up for his next album release, which is rumored to be coming later this year.

Alicia Keys dropped a little something this week for fans with “In Common.” The track is presumed to be a single off her forthcoming album as Keys SZN is upon us. Look out for more from her as she gears up to release her first LP since 2012’s Girl on Fire.

Drake and Rihanna, Chris BrownKehlani, Nipsey Hussle and Fabolous also dropped music. See what some of our staff favorites were below.

Kehlani – “24/7”


One thing’s for sure: Kehlani is a fighter. Faced with backlash for her relationship woes and criticism for her attempt to take her own life, the 21-year-old songstress took her truth to the booth with “24/7.” Opening with the simple statement “It’s OK to not be OK,” the track inspires listeners to embrace their lows. As the pressures of sharing an around-the-clock facade continue to plague society, a friendly reminder that we are merely human is always a breath of fresh air. – Iyana Robertson

Fabolous – "PANDA (Freestlye)"


Desiigner hit the top of the Hot 100 with "Panda" after it was released in 2015, and of course the remixes came flying in. Arguably, Fabolous's interpretation is the best. First off, it's refreshing to hear Menace's beat and understandg the lyrics beyond "I got broads in Atlanta" and the obvious "Panda, panda, panda." What Fab does, though, is inadvertently provide a glimpse into something of what Desiigner is discussing on the original track. "Panda" obviously is beyond a descriptor for a type of BMW. It's a journey into drugs (taking them and selling them), along with credit card scams and other types of "fun." Fab takes it a step further to talk stairwell robberies and other slick tricks you couldn't grasp from the Desiigner version. The standout line is, "Getcha robbed like Blac Chyna," but there are obviously more. Still, when a prince of New York rap gets a remix from a king of New York rap, it's reason enough to celebrate. – Kathy Iandoli

Justin Timberlake – "Can't Stop the Feeling"


The ruler’s back. Justin Timberlake got the club on smash for the summer with his infectious new single “Can’t Stop the Feeling.” The upbeat track, which will be featured in Dreamworks’ upcoming film Trolls, is Timberlake’s first musical offering since 2013. The pop juggernaut has also been recently spotted in the lab with Pharrell and Timbaland, so be ready for more to come. – Jacob Rohn

Drake featuring Rihanna – "Too Good"


There’s something about these two together that just... works. Between the dancehall interpolation of "Love Yuh Bad" and the overall basic essential vibe of the whole record, it’s infectious. Whether or not Drake is resting on his laurels from his latest album isn’t so much a concern of mine when this track hits. Pinning these two together for a track where Drizzy’s in his feelings about being “too nice” is proof that Drake is totally self-aware. Plus songs like this make me feel that memes like this are real and I love that. – Jon Reyes

Nipsey Hussle – "Ocean Views"


Nipsey Hussle's been releasing music off his #MarathonMondays series but it's been a while since we got a full body of work from the L.A. native. His "Thug Life" collaboration with Young Thug was a bit of a disappointment, however his latest drop "Ocean Views" has served as a bit of a rebound. The song paints the very picture it describes both lyrically and sonically. It always seems like Nipsey's ability to tell a story best comes through on songs that put you right on the California coast. – Paul Meara 

Alicia Keys – "In Common"


Alicia Keys is dusting off her talents, sharing the first of what is promised to be a plethora of new songs in the lead up to her first studio album since 2012’s Girl on Fire. For “In Common,” Keys swaps out her signature piano foundation for a forward-thinking Afrobeat instrumental, singing airily to create a decent, dance-friendly ear worm. While the song could hint at the beginning of a completely new direction for Keys that could be hit or miss, the tropical flavoring of the beat meshes well with her voice and, all-in-all, we ain’t mad at this one. — KC Orcutt

Chris Brown – "Grass Ain't Greener"

Chris Brown knows more than anyone that the grass ain’t greener on the other side. Even with the fame and fortune, he’s had bouts in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. In what seems to be the first single off his rumored eighth album Heartbreak on a Full Moon, Breezy sings and raps about a broken relationship he saw through rose-colored glasses. It’s a be-careful-what-you-wish-for moment. — Janice Llamoca

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