Billboard’s First Stream serves as a handy guide to this Friday’s most essential releases — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond.
This week, Burna Boy boasts a star-studded summer party, Aespa continues to climb, and Brent Faiyaz is ready to shine on his own. Check out all of this week’s First Stream picks below:
The second half of Burna Boy’s new full-length Love, Damini features appearances by Ed Sheeran, Kehlani, J Balvin, Khalid, Popcaan and Blxst, among others; the guest list demonstrates just how wide-ranging the African Giant’s commercial appeal has become in recent years as he’s adopted the stature of a global superstar. Before that run, however, Love, Damini includes some of Burna Boy’s most revealing solo tracks to date, pairing the intricate rhythms with personal anecdotes and ruminations — and recent hit “Last Last” exists as the blueprint of what Burna does best here, serving up an undeniable chorus amidst post-breakup emotional purging.
In a crowded K-pop scene, Aespa has quickly established itself as a major player, compounding the energy of 2020 debut single “Black Mamba” on follow-up tracks and flaunting a natural chemistry between its four members. Girls – The 2nd Mini Album bursts with even more energy than last year’s Savage – The 1st Mini Album, as Karina, Giselle, Winter and Ningning attack pop hooks, rap verses, boisterous electronic breakdowns and dramatic balladry with equal aplomb; there’s a icy-cool confidence within Aespa at all times, and when they declare “We coming” on lead track “Girls,” they mean it.
Read More: Billboard.com
