From rap bangers to emotional R&B and melancholic ballads.
Check out the top music releases from home and abroad that you shouldn’t miss. This week’s list features the new group The Scythe, with a star lineup of Denzel Curry, TiaCorine, and A$AP Ferg, a raw jam from the Rača band 13K, a fresh track by AstralKid22 from CONSPIRACY FLAT, a new album from Baby Keem, and the sensitive Lana Del Rey.
Leave a comment about which new release you like the most. Don't forget to follow our official REFRESHER playlist on Spotify, which we update every Friday with fresh tracks. If we missed something important from the music world, share your tips with us in the comments.
P. S. If you're in the mood for some nostalgia, check out the list of the best releases from 2016, featuring hits like One Dance, Panda, or Cheap Thrills, as well as successful albums from Frank Ocean and Beyoncé.
1. The Scythe – The Scythe
The name The Scythe might not ring a bell, but when we add that it's a newly formed group with Denzel Curry, TiaCorine, and FERG (formerly A$AP Ferg, editor’s note), you’ll pay attention.
The group released a single this week named The Scythe, which is the second preview of their upcoming album Strictly 4 The Scythe, set to release on March 6. This confident, charismatic new release is a mix of modern rap and nods to classic “southern” sounds, drawing inspiration from this star lineup of Curry, TiaCorine, and FERG.
Mink and the color bipolar.
White and pink Rolls Royce when I roll up (yeah, uh, damn).
2. 13K – TOKIO
After a short break, the Slovak rap group 13K is claiming the spotlight with their track TOKIO, complete with a music video by Daniel Kristl.
Šmolki and Drako recorded a raw banger with explicit lyrics and a street vibe over a beat with a great sample from the Teriyaki Boyz track Tokyo Drift by BigSip. This stylish, dark, and contemporary release is sure to rock at concerts.
By the way, this well-known Rača band is releasing a new album in March, which we believe will be at least as good as NO.1.
Dávam percy ako Kodak, milujem na to aj slopať.
Zvykneme to mixovať, medicament nosom sosať.
3. AstralKid22 – 100g
Before the album autotune saved my life drops online on February 22 at 5 PM, AstralKid22 is showcasing the track 100g along with a music video made in collaboration with the guys from the Czech streetwear brand Section.
100g comes with a dark beat, pronounced bass, and a hypnotic atmosphere tailored by the CONSPIRACY FLAT member himself. Astral goes for a confident, sharp flow with lyrics balancing between motivation and street reality. This new track perfectly fits into the current wave of Slovak rap while maintaining its own identity and energy. We can’t wait for the album.
Dobre viem, čo stváraju influencerky v noci (yeah, yeah).
Ktorým wannabe rapperom platí nájom otec (damn, damn).
4. Baby Keem – Ca$ino
The biggest rap release of the past 7 days belongs to Baby Keem, who dropped his new album Ca$ino at midnight.
The LP features a cover photo of the rapper as a child and contains 11 full-fledged tracks. Released under Kendrick’s label PGLang, Ca$ino is a bold statement from the rapper, unafraid to experiment with sound and identity in front of his fans.
The album boasts hard-hitting productions, with Keem opting for a dynamic delivery and changes in flow – sometimes aggressive and confident, other times playful and ironic, keeping you hooked throughout. Features include Kendrick Lamar on the track Good Flirts and appearances by Momo Boyd and Too $hort.
5. Ty Dolla $ign feat. Leon Thomas – miss u 2
Our Spotify playlist added the track miss u 2 this week, recorded by Ty Dolla $ign and Leon Thomas.
This melancholic R&B track leans into nostalgia, longing, and unresolved feelings after a relationship ends. The gentle production with modern sounds lets the smooth voices of both artists stand out, with Ty Dolla $ign delivering sensuous and sincere vocals, while Leon Thomas adds an intimate, soulful touch.
Balenciaga is the key to your heart (heart).
Don't get me started, girl, don't get me started.
Face card on a Platinum Amex card.
6. Jorja Smith – Don't Leave
Just yesterday, the Grape festival announced that Jorja Smith will perform in mid-August at the airport in Trenčín, and today the British star released her track Don't Leave on streaming services.
This R&B track with a minimalist beat by producer New Machine highlights the beautiful voice of the 28-year-old Walsall native. Smith explores desire, insecurity, and the fear of losing someone close in a vulnerable way, creating a melancholic atmosphere.
No doubt, her concert will be one of the highlights of this year’s Grape festival.
You’ve been planning this climax for years.
I'm gonna ruin it, so dry your tears.
7. Lana Del Rey – White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter
This week’s list ends with Lana Del Rey and her melancholic ballad titled White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter, the third preview from her upcoming album Stove, with no release date yet.
The track showcases Del Rey’s ethereal voice over soft production, creating the intimacy and nostalgia typical of the New Yorker’s work. The accompanying music video enhances the track’s somber mood, appearing like a home video as it follows the singer through different parts of a house, mainly a cluttered garage and a yard covered in fake snow from a snow machine.
Before I met him, wore a bow over three summers.
Now it's a ribbon 'round my neck, and it's cherry-colored.
