Things We Loved In Music This Week: October 11
The most notable music headlines of the week.
As the week comes to a close, we’re rounding up the most notable music-related headlines – new releases, live performances, tour announcements, merch drops, fashion campaigns, footwear collaborations, and more.
A$AP Rocky At His Coolest For PUMA
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Harlem, jazz, and an infinite canvas as creative director? Three things that guarantee a groundbreaking delivery from A$AP Rocky. For his latest (and largest) venture with PUMA, we got ten minutes with Flacko to chat more about his true-to-form new endeavor. Our favorite quotes: “No minks were harmed,” “I took the dad swag and I freaked it,” and his cosign for his cousin A$AP Nast on the cover of Hypebeast Magazine #36: Platinum Issue.
“goosebumps” Goes 17x Platinum
Breaking the record as the highest certified rap song in history, the Travis Scott and Kendrick Lamar birds in the trap sing mcknight cut dethrones Drake‘s “God’s Plan,” which previously held the record with a 16x platinum certification.
Vince Staples’ Cinematic Week
Vince Staples flexed his acting versatility this week. First off, he fronted the new Converse x Coke collab campaign as Chuck Staples. The just-over-a-minute-long video includes a subtle nod to Big Fish Theory with a shot of its cover art – a goldfish in a rectangular tank. “Children’s Song” plays. The trailer for the second season of The Vince Staples show also landed this week, with Zack Fox (finally) joining the cast.
Young Thug Is Coming Home for Christmas, Announces “Hometown Hero” ATL Show
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A true homecoming. Going down on December 16.
Benito Is So “NUEVAYoL” at Yankee Stadium
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Bad Bunny was in the stands during Game 3 of the ALDS between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays. The Yankees won. He also got hit with a foul ball.
T-Pain Drops the Crocs with the Fur
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And they are boots that you can buy now.
TDE’s Queens Alemeda x Doechii Make TDE Proud
The leading ladies of Top Dawg Entertainment connect for the first time on “Beat a Bitch Up.” And it’s only right that the long-overdue track comes equipped with a striking, Omar Jones-directed visual component. Alemeda and Doechii go from the boat to the jet ski and end up underneath the fireworks backed by a full rock band.
Slawn Makes “WUN OF WUN” Works for Gunna
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In an unsurprising link-up – the artist prominent in the rap ether, the rapper tapped in in terms of art.
JID, EARTHGANG and Ciara Are So ATL In “SK8” Music Video
The trio takes it to the roller rink in the God Does Like Ugly video.
And Chance the Rapper, Do or Die, and Twista Rep Chi-Town in “Ride Remix” Music Video
All eras of Chicago hip hop converge in Chance’s self-directed new visual.
The First Look at Charli XCX’s Film Debut, The Moment
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Produced by A24. Directed by Aidan Zamiri. Soundtracked by A.G. Cook. Starring Kylie Jenner in her acting debut. What more could you ask for? It’s also starring Charli herself, along with Rachel Sennott and Alexander Skarsgård.
Pharrell Continues To Focus on His Creative Platform, VIRGINIA
This week, Pharrell was busy. He hosted a pop-up shop in his Virginia Beach hometown to unveil the new adidas Adistar Jellyfish, which P then dropped via VIRGINIA. A merch capsule landed yesterday as well, spanning VIRGINIA-stamped graphics and goods. He also released new music entitled “Going Back To VA.”
The First Episode of the Alfredo 2 “Video Magazine” Is Here
The Alchemist and Freddie Gibbs have added yet another garnish to Alfredo 2. Joining the short film, comic book, merch capsules, and listening events comes the most raw take of the album yet. Dubbed the Alfredo 2 Video Magazine, the first episode focuses on “Ensalada,” featuring BTS in-studio footage of the track shot by Sagan Lockhart.
All Points East‘s Lineup Is One of the Best of The Season
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The London festival lineup features a two-day headlining set from Tyler the Creator, with other performances coming from Jean Dawson, Fakemink, Vince Staples, Clipse, Turnstile, Mariah The Scientist, Daniel Caesar, Dijon, Jim Legxacy, Samara Cyn, Faye Webster, and, possibly the most anticipated, Baby Keem.
Dijon, Jacob Elordi, St. Vincent. and More Audition To Be Bon Iver in “Day One” Music Video
You’re reading that right. In the video, Justin Vernon announces his retirement from Bon Iver and hosts auditions for his replacement. A bearded Jacob Elordi gives a pretty convincing performance, along with track contributors Dijon and Flock of Dimes’ Jenn Wasner, as well as St. Vincent.
Monte Booker Announces Long-Awaited, Long-Form Debut
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At last, Monte Booker is ready to release his first long-form studio album. After years of building an ambitious rolodex, including collaborations with JID, Saba, Smino, Ravyn Lenae, Noname, Mick Jenkins, and Ari Lennox, noise/meaning is officially due out October 24.
Filmmaker Gaspar Noé Directs The Weeknd’s “Big Sleep” Video
The acclaimed filmmaker envisions the existential Hurry Up Tomorrow offering in a visual that follows an elderly man as he encounters towering statues of The Weeknd and Giorgio Moroder.
And These New Releases:
OsamaSon – psykotic
A sonic rendering of the rapper’s no-holds-barred surge – one so anticipated its advance came via physical CD.
TiaCorine – CORINIAN
Meet the Hypetrak star’s “final form” on the penultimate chapter of her character-driven trilogy.
Fakemink – “Look At Me”
New fakemink always sounds better when it drops on streaming (and can be properly added to the playlist).
Mobb Deep – Infinite
Leave it to The Alchemist to conjure up the ninth and final Mobb Deep release, uniting a posthumous Prodigy with Havoc in a final act.
PinkPantheress – Fancy Some More?
Is a deluxe this good illegal? PinkPantheress tapped Bladee, Nia Archives, Kaytranada, Oklou, Ravyn Lenae, and many more for the remixed edition of her Fancy That? tape.
WHATMORE – “bombay (keep it alive)”
The New York City-based band – consisting Cisco Swank, Yoshi T., Jackson August, Sebastiano (also known as $eb), and Elijah Judah – is one to watch.
Kodak Black x Chance the Rapper – “Still Get Chanel”
The pair’s first-ever solo collaboration, appearing only on 2 Chainz‘s “I’m Not Crazy, Life Is.”
Khalid – after the sun goes down
Modern pop’s prince shimmers in the shadows on his most confident release of his career.
Not for Radio – Melt
Aka María Zardoya of The Marías‘ solo venture.
Miguel – “CAOS”
The album’s title track for a reason.
Rich Amiri – Grit & Grace
A more introspective record from the young rapper, reminding us he’s wise beyond his years.
Niia – V
For those who don’t know, Niia’s Instagram bio sums her up best as a “Goth Jazz Princess”; this album also does a pretty good job.
BIA – BIANCA
The rapper is finally ready to formally introduce herself on her studio debut – and you can tell.
Monte Booker x Nami – “Defense”
If this is anything that Booker’s debut might have in store, we’re in good hands.
Oklou x FKA twigs – “viscus”
The dancefloor definition of “for the girls.”
wolfacejoeyy – “FMB”
A classic wolfacejoeyy offering with lots of namedrops.
Eyedress – Committing Crimes
A more spacey, synth-infused shoegaze foray from the musician.
Del Water Gap – “Damn”
The third track from his imminent album, Chasing the Chimera.
Eem Triplin – “Coming Undone”
Maybe it’s about SZA unfollowing him after the meme-d X rumor of them dating…
Dexter inthenewsagent – “I told ya”
A prime example of the London-based artist’s PinkPantheress-meets-Jim Legxacy lane.
BLK ODYSSY – “Heartbreak”
With writing from Mikky Ekko and Zac Farro of Paramore.
The Cool Kids – Hi Top Fade
The Chicago-based duo (Chuck Inglish and Sir Michael Rocks) is another one to keep an eye on, and this project is a good place to start.
Chase Shakur – WONDERLOVE+
The rising R&B talent’s debut record lingers between love, longing, and limerance.
Fred again.. x Danny Brown x BEAM x PARISI – “OGDub”
The latest installment in his ongoing USB002 project.
Skepta x Finessekid – “Sirens (From Ireland)”
London’s old guard meets its new guard.
