Best New Tracks: Dua Lipa, Kamasi Washington, Gunna and More

As the week in music comes to a close, Hypebeast has rounded up the best projects for the latest installment of Best New Tracks.

This week’s lineup is led by Dua Lipa, Kamasi Washington and Gunna, who each released the albums Radical Optimism and Fearless Movement and the single “Whatsapp (Wassam).” Also joining this selection are offerings from Channel Tres, evilgiane with Slimesito, Wolfacejoeyy, Slum Village, Mutant Academy, Audrey Nuna and Kevin Abstract with Lil Nas X.

Dua Lipa - Radical Optimism

Dua Lipa debuts her third studio album Radical Optimism. The 11-track effort features no guest appearances and hears her pay homage to ’90s Britpop while attempting to channel her interest in psychedelic pop and the UK’s rave culture. “I wrote this album during my singledom,” she says in a statement. “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.”

Listen: Spotify | Apple Music

Kamasi Washington - Fearless Movement

Kamasi Washington returns with his “dance music” album, Fearless Movement. The jazz saxophonist collaborates with artists such as Andre 3000, George Clinton, BJ The Chicago Kid and D-Smoke for the first time, as well as lifelong friends and collaborators like Patrice Quinn, Brandon Coleman, DJ Battlecat and Terrace Martin.

Listen: Spotify | Apple Music

Gunna – “Whatsapp (Wassam)”

Gunna announces his fifth studio album, One of Wun, which is set to release on May 10. He also debuted his Turbo and Evrgrn-produced new single “Whatsapp (Wassam),” following “Bittersweet” and the Offset-featured “Prada Dem.”

Listen: Spotify | Apple Music

Channel Tres – “Berghain”

Channel Tres’ highly-anticipated debut album Head Rush is finally scheduled to release on June 14. The South LA artist enlists Barney Bones for the single “Berghain,” with Tres stating, “It’s about the time I played Berghain and how the culture in that environment made me feel, I didn’t feel weird anymore.” He contineus, “Everyone’s the same, the goal for everyone in that place is to enjoy themselves and be free, and music played a pivotal role in that. It was the main thing for me and I wanted to document that experience I had there through music so that I always have that memory in my life. So I can feel that memory while I’m performing and relive that experience.”

Listen: Spotify | Apple Music

Slum Village - F.U.N

Slum Village returns with their newest album, F.U.N. Joining T3 and Young RJ across the 12-track album are Robert Glasper, Cordae, Eric Roberson, Larry June, Sango, Karriem Riggins and more, and follows 2015’s Yes!.

Listen: Spotify | Apple Music

Kevin Abstract x Lil Nas X – “Tennessee”

Shortly after performing the cut live at Coachella 2024, Kevin Abstract and Lil Nas X officially release their joint single “Tennessee.” Produced by Romil, Quadeca, Devstacks and Abstract himself, the cut hears the pair talk about being with their own loving partners.

Listen: Spotify | Apple Music

Audrey Nuna – “Jokes On Me”

Audrey Nuna drops her second release of 2024, “Jokes On Me.” Written in Joshua Tree with her close friends, she says of the track, “The melody and words were inspired by the guitar chords that were playing. We were all sitting around in a dark home studio set-up and the melody was a one-take. Being around people that I could feel vulnerable with allowed the song to happen naturally. It’s a song about going through ups and downs with someone to realize in the end that the irony is pointing right back at you.”

Listen: Spotify | Apple Music

Mutant Academy – “SODA”

Mutant Academy, the supergroup comprised of Big Kahuna OG, Fly Anakin and Henny L.O., announce the May 17 release date for their new EP TALK SOON. The trio also unveils the project’s first and only single “SODA.”

Listen: Spotify | Apple Music

Wolfacejoeyy – “double tap”

Wolfacejoeyy drops off his latest single “double tap,” which features production from the likes of MCVERTT, wunderkind and more. This marks the latest visual to come from the NYC star’s upcoming project Valentino (out May 15), which is described as “an exploration of joeyy’s loverboy persona, packed with romantic anthems that relay flirtatious conversations and late-night adventures in joeyy’s melodious croon.”

Listen: Spotify | Apple Music

evilgiane x Slimesito - EVILSLIME

Surf Gang’s evilgiane and underground rapper Slimesito officially release their collab mixtape, EVILSLIME. The project a sole guest appearance from K$UPREME and follows the lead single “DESIGNER DRUGZ” and the January mixtape #HEAVENSGATE VOL. 1.

Listen: Spotify | Apple Music