Music on Repeat

Welcome to Music on Repeat: a list of music that has been on my personal replay list recently.

Jorja Smith – Be Honest Ft. Burna Boy (Tera Kòrá & Midas Hutch Remix): Slick, sexy and sensual, “Be Honest” is a tasteful blend of R&B, Funk and Jazz: all the right genres coming together in the right place.

JThéos – DIVINE: This track opens with some ascending, digital arpeggios, surrounded by heavy hitting trap instrumentation, and precedes some brief, beautiful atmospheres.

Töme – Sol: Töme constructs a groovy yet slightly subdued afrobeat bop with “Sol,” as she intertwines French and English into her exotic, charmingly sung vocals; I was pleasantly surprised.

Yellow Claw – Let’s Get Married Ft. Offset, Era Istrefi: The glistening organs, soaring pads, and tonal bells really set the “wedding day” mood conveyed by the song’s title and lyrics. Instrumentally, “Let’s Get Married” features quick and simple trap drums, and both featured artists surprisingly complement each other well in creating a cute, endearing and blissful mood.

Vintage Lee – Malibu: The production features standard trap drums, some cute piano chord strums, and a vintage style solo brass. Yet, there’s something interesting about the way it all accumulates alongside the artist’s somewhat braggadocious lyrics.

Big Boi & Sleepy Brown – Intentions Ft. CeeLo Green: We need more blends of pop, funk, dance and hip hop: we need more songs like this. The production on this one isn’t too crazy, but it features just the right buttery, retro-inspired funky guitar licks, synths and drums to capture an ideal party vibe.

Jay Wile – Who’s Lovin’ U?: Yet another brand of music we need more of: love inspired R&B and soul. Just one listen, and I bet you’ll notice how better it is than a lot of the mainstream stuff out there today. It’s simple but sweet.

Thutmose – Beautiful: I heard the Minnie Ripperton sample, and as a bit of an “old-head,” I was instantly sold.

Honorable Mention:

OMGOMGOMG: ChancetheRapper – I Love My Wife (Parody) If you ever wanted a quick pick me up in under 30 seconds…this is it. Not only is the instrumentation intricately layered, but the lyrics are heartfelt, playful, and genuine. This is a song that our world needs but doesn’t deserve.

God, why does this exist: Shoreline Mafia - Caribbean: The aquatic instrumental had some potential, but the rappers on the track were neither compelling nor entertaining.

Darlon Riviere - Staff Writer