Do you remember the middle of last winter ,when we all blasted music as loud as we could and reveled in our living room dance parties? (Oh, was that just me?) Well, they’re back and better than ever with Miss Rona rearing her head again and badass, talented Black artists dropping songs to keep you occupied all night—and let’s face it, all day long.
Sure, we have Victoria Monét’s “Coastin,’” which is a whole other type of dancing that can really only be done at home and Jorja Smith’s new slow R&B jam, featuring muted vocals and island-inspired beats.
But then it gets bumped the fuck up with Saucy Santa’s “Jigga Who,” which is giving hyped-up energy which will make it impossible to stay still. Also…the Black Eyed Peas are back? This is truly a question because I sort of forgot they existed after they dropped their last album with Fergie in 2009. They’ve now folded Saweetie into the mix and I have to say, I’m not mad at it.
And of course, 25 years later, the iconic duo of Nas and Ms. Lauryn Hill are back with another collab from Nas’ newest album, Kings Disease II and it’s everything I didn’t know I needed in a new song from them.
Suffice to say, we’re back to dancing indoors. But with the help of these eight new tracks, it might not be so bad.
Black Eyed Peas – “Hit It” (feat. Saweetie and Lele Pons)
I’m not going to lie, I stopped paying attention to the Black Eyed Peas after they released The E.N.D and Fergie went off on her own. But now that they’ve tapped the unofficial queen of 2021, Saweetie, for a feature, I’m here for it. “Hit It” has all one would want from a Black Eyed Peas x Saweetie collab. There are some techno Daft Punk autotune vibes that don’t really fit the trajectory of the song but are not completely out of pocket; Saweetie’s verse isn’t very aggressive and shows a different side of her musical identity—which, unlike the overly used techno and Auto-Tuned voices of the Black Eyed Peas—I’m very here for.
I’m also not going to lie: it’s really fucking catchy.
August 6, 2021, EPIC (Pop)
India Shawn – “Don’t Play With My Heart”
Paying homage to the iconic queens of disco and soul, India Shawn honors legends such as Donna Summer and Diana Ross with a new take on the ‘70’s genre that incorporates elements of pop and alternative R&B. The track has a bouncy rhythm and features Shawn’s vocals to etherial yet powerful effect. She employs some of Summer’s signature extended high notes in the hook yet keeps it modern and current with the staccato bridge. The video features disco era videography and a few psychedelic green screen moments.
Pera press release provided to The Root:
In the accompanying visual directed by David Camerena, she plays an old vinyl and falls into a shimmering disco soul dream. Throughout the clip, she delivers a show-stopping performance and rocks various Studio 54-ready high fashion looks, nodding to the spirit and style of the seventies’ foremost icons with her own attitude.
August 6, 2021, Epic Records (Alternative R&B
Jenevieve – “Résumé”
Before we even get to the song, I want to talk about how much I want to live in Jenevieve’s house in the video for “Résumé.” The open windows, lush leaves, and all-around zen are what I need right now. Jenevieve is on someone’s resumé and not going anywhere, no matter what they do. However, she’s not trying to blow up their spot and make anything about their relationship a big deal—saying she’ll “keep it off social media.” The instrumentals are very mellow and lowkey, accompanying her vocals and fitting the vibe of the song well. It’s not really a song to dance to, but it’s definitely a stance song (stand-dancing). I appreciate the way Jenevieve keeps a consistent theme throughout her music when it comes to the instruments and beats—it feels very much like a collection and portfolio rather than a bunch of different singles.
August 6, 2021, Joyface Records (R&B)
Jorja Smith – “All of This” (Jorja Smith x GuiltyBeatz)
Get off your ass and shake it to Jorja Smith’s new track with GuiltyBeatz. Though her vocals follow a slow and sultry pattern, the beat and rhythm are upbeat and feel island-inspired. Her vocals become slightly subdued as the song progresses while the beats and instrumentals become more prominent. The video looks like it’s been shot on VHS, contradicting the song’s vibe in an interesting way. The trippy—really just funky camera work—scenes in the video work really well with the instrumentation as it becomes darker and “spookier.”
August 5, 2021, FAMM (Alternative R&B)
Nas – “Nobody” (feat. Ms. Lauryn Hill)
25 years after dropping “If I Ruled The World (Imagine That), Nas is back with a new track with Ms. Lauryn Hill, “Nobody.” The song asks questions about what it means to be alone in a place and time where everyone and everything is so interconnected. Ms. Lauryn Hill “doesn’t need to turn [her]self into a parody,” meaning, she’s not changing, and don’t sit around waiting for her to do so (but if you do, you’ll be waiting forever, because, you know…Ms. Lauryn Hill has that reputation). “Nobody” has a funky-ass horns section and beautiful vocalization and vocal harmonies. The release of “Nobody” coincided with the release of a new album, Kings Disease II which features Eminem, A Boogie With da Hoodie, Charlie Wilson and more.
August 6, 2021, Mass Appeal (Hip Hop)
Saucy Santana – “Jigga Who”
Bitch, what’s the energy?
Clearly, it’s high energy or no energy in Saucy Santana’s “Jigga Who.” We can only assume that this track was meant to be played on some loud-ass speakers with people losing their minds to the beat. It gives ‘80s hip hop vibes and the lyrics are full of quotable rhymes that will have you smiling from the opening “Jigga, what / Jigga, who.” It’s just a damn fun song—the type that will probably end up on TikTok remixed with a bunch of other tracks but still unapologetically Black and upbeat. “Jigga Who” is on Saucy Santana’s newest album, Outside, which is available on all streaming platforms.
August 5, 2021, Arena Music Productions., LLC (Hip Hop)
Tierra Whack – “Walk the Beat”
All I have to say about this song is it’s one of those mellow dance songs that’s catchy enough to make you want to get up and move while also being a song you can lay down and vibe to. Win-win.
August 3, 2021, Interscope Records
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