Kendrick Lamar, Dua Lipa, IVE, & More Best New Music This Week

Sara Delgado
·4 min read
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Courtesy of Kendrick Lamar/Instagram, Warner Records, Starship Entertainment, UMG, SM Entertainment, and Gracie Abrams/Insterscope

Another week has gone by, which means a New Music Friday — and this week's releases really took things up a notch.

If you have been online for a minute this week, you probably came across Kendrick Lamar's very direct Drake diss track “euphoria.” The Compton rapper set the internet ablaze surprise dropping the track earlier this week and now he's back with part two in the form of “6:16 in LA.”

This week is also big for long-anticipated drops, with Dua Lipa, WILLOW, and IVE finally releasing their long-anticipated projects for fans to dive in all weekend. Also taking a not-so-conventional approach in K-pop is EXO member D.O., who previewed a single off his upcoming solo album, as well as RIIZE, who dropped all the B-Sides from their June project ahead of time.

Elsewhere on the list with more bit-sized releases, we have Gracie Abrams, Kevin Abstract and Lil Nas X, and Teen Vogue cover star Coco Jones gearing up for a summer of drops. Below, listen to this week's new music releases.

Kendrick Lamar, “6:16 in LA”

Not content with just “euphoria,” rapper Kendrick Lamar unveiled his second Drake diss track, “6:16 in LA," via Instagram to ring in New Music Friday, referencing his own track from earlier in the week. As confirmed by Variety, “6:16 in LA" was co-produced by frequent Taylor Swift collaborator Jack Antonoff alongside Lamar's go-to producer Sounwave, adding to the layers.

Dua Lipa, Radical Optimism

After much anticipation, Dua Lipa's Radical Optimism is finally out just in time to soundtrack your summer evenings. “I wrote this album during my singledom. I always came into the studio with some funny story, and they all inspired different songs. There's a looseness and an honesty that I hadn't had before," Lipa shared in a press release, where she also described the record as “psychedelic pop.”

IVE, “HEYA”

K-pop girl group IVE have released their sophomore EP, IVE SWITCH, with “HEYA” as the leading track. With a music video closely inspired by the fairy tale "The Tiger Who Loved the Sun," IVE reinvent themselves with a new style and another earworm.

WILLOW, empathogen

Following the release of “b i g f e e l i n g s" last month, WILLOW's full empathogen project is out with 12 songs in total, including collaborations with Jon Batiste and St. Vincent. “Everyone wanted me to make another rock album," the star revealed to Allure about the project. "I just always do the thing that everyone thinks is a bad idea. People thought that doing a rock album was going to be a bad idea, and then it turned out to be a good idea, and so I just have to trust myself because you live and die by your own hand. That's the life of an artist.”

Coco Jones, “Here We Go (Uh-Oh)”

Coco Jones is entering her superstar era and "Here We Go (Uh-Oh)” is the perfect proof. The R&B number, centering Jones's smooth vocals, kicks off with a string arrangement before moving into sultrier territory with groovy percussion and distorted guitars.

Jorja Smith, Falling or Flying (Reimagined)

Jorja Smith reworks her latest full-length studio album falling or flying in falling or flying (reimagined), which comprises eight of her previously released tracks with a different spin.

Gracie Abrams, “Risk”

Gracie Abrams is teasing her upcoming album, The Secret of Us, with the first single off the project. Relying heavily on guitar strums and Abrams's lyricism and quasi-murmured vocals, “Risk” is simple but effective.

Kevin Abstract & Lil Nas X, “Tennessee”

BROCKHAMPTON's Kevin Abstract enlisted the help of Lil Nas X for his latest song “Tennessee.” The duo had previously debuted the collaboration during weekend two of Coachella, with Lil Nas joining Abstract on stage as a surprise guest.

RIIZE, “9 Days”

In anticipation of the release of their first mini album RIIZING, K-pop group RIIZE have decided to put out all the B-Sides in advance, releasing five tracks in total (counting the previously released “Impossible” and “Siren”) and two new music videos to boot.

Doh Kyungsoo, “Popcorn”

EXO member D.O. has released his first solo song under his new company (and his real name) with “Popcorn." The innocent ballad is the first taste of his upcoming album, Blossom, arriving May 7, and comes with a fun music video to boot, showing off Kyungsoo's acting chops.

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue

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