This Week's Best UK Music Releases

Another week has come to round up the best that UK music has to offer.

Last week, the lands of Britain were taken over by a melange of different sounds, from hard-hitting rap records, silky-smooth R&B melodies, and even the return of one of the UK’s most talked-about singers: Jorja Smith.

Now, it is sounding that a lot of British musicians are preparing for the summer season with fresh, two-stepping material that will keep listeners entertained through the night and drowned in replay value.

With this in mind, one of the UK’s most unique rhymers, Kojey Radical, has teamed up with Harlem Spartans rapper, Blanco, while London has also provided a home to a collection of some of the smoothest soul melodies we’ve heard in a long time.

Now, as we move into the weekend, check out Hypebeast UK’s best tracks of the week below.

Blanco x Kojey Radical – “The Long Way”

Harlem Spartans rapper Blanco has just linked-up with one of the UK’s most unique and silky-smooth rhymers, Kojey Radical. Their new single, “The Long Way,” is a back-to-back and bouncy effort, stacked with a friendly, yet competitive edge that sees the duo unleash a selection of hard-hitting rhymes over a summer-ready instrumental.

Natanya – “Angel”

London-based R&B singer Nataya has just given the visual treatment to her sparkling new single “Angel.” The new alt-R&B track explores the darker side of trust, while she outlines the relationship she has with a new flame and fear of abandonment over a selection of glossy and self-produced piano keys. And while the production suggests a lighter approach to love, the overarching theme of the record is that all relationships end the same.

Rio Rainz – “Favourite Girl”

East London-residing Rio Rainz has dropped off the video to his sun-soaked new single “Favourite Girl.” The record is packed with sunshine-filled memories that are yet to be discovered, while the jazzy-rap production also lays the foundation for Rainz to show off his hopeless romantic side in the shape of a soon-to-be summer classic.

Nemzzz – “Fenty Beauty”

Manchester-based rapper Nemzzz has just released his debut EP, Nemzzz Type Beat, a project that continues to ride the wave of Nemzzz’s breakthrough single “Elevate” that dropped in 2021. One stand-out to come from the LP is “Fenty Beauty,” and the Manneh rhymer has provided some new visuals alongside it. The record is full of lyrics that explore Nemzzz’s current love life, while cannoning drill-like 808s and hypnotising synths keep things fresh and club-ready.

BODUR feat. Denzel Himself – “DON’T BEAT THE SWEET OUT OF MY BOY”

London-born and Turkish-Sri-Lankan musician BODUR has released her new single, “DON’T BEAT THE SWEET OUT OF MY BOY,” alongside Denzel Himself.

The record begins as a poem that explores her younger brother’s transition from boyhood to manhood, while the song also enlists producer Lapsung to create the enchanting soundscape. Additionally, the track is also taken straight from BODUR’s forthcoming three-track EP, ÖZ, and it welcomes long-term friend, rapper, and producer, Denzel Himself, to deliver a cinematic verse for good measure.

Jammz & Mez – “Raiden and Tyrone”

UK grime rappers Jammz and Mez have connected to provide an East London-Nottingham link-up that we never knew we needed. Their collaborative new track is titled “Raiden and Tyrone,” and it stands as one of the highlights from Jammz’s 2022-released project, Pink Lemonade. This record is one for the grime purists, with the cut-throat record seeing the two MCs go back-to-back over a Gesher production.

Jayda G – “Meant To Be”

Jayda G has released a new single titled “Meant To Be,” taken from her forthcoming album, Guy. Standing as a smooth house-funk-disco crossover packed with warm groove, this latest single takes a similar approach to Jayda G’s previous releases; “Scars,” “Circle Back Around,” and “Blue Lights,” which are all from the forthcoming album and expected to light up clubs and raves alike in the coming weeks.

ShaSimone – “Played Out”

British-Ghanaian rapper and songwriter, ShaSimone, has released her first solo track of 2023, “Played Out.” Continuing to demonstrate her consistency and commitment to creating top-draw music, her new bop sees her showcase her choppy flow over a dark and heavy grime-leaning production. Speaking about her new release, ShaSimone said: “I just really want people to know that I’m committed to releasing quality music and being consistent in my craft. I’ve learned so much from my last EP and [this song] is just the beginning of what’s coming next.”