GIVĒON — Give Or Take

GIVĒON’s dramatized R&B has resulted in GRAMMY nominations and Platinum plaques. The singer’s incisive writing drives his newest album Give Or Take. These 15 tracks do a delicate dance of portraying the artist as a wounded and unapproachable loverboy: “It’s too bad you want my love.” The ballads on this album, especially “Another Heartbreak,” have that classic bluesy quality that makes this music stick to the ribs. When GIVĒON sings “I just wanna know that I’m worth it,” we can all gather ‘round and cry together.

Bils — BAD GUYS NEED LOVE TOO

Bils first broke in 2019 with his Mans on the Move EP. The Lagos representative—his name is an acronym for “Built In Lagos State”—carries inspiration from Fela Kuti and Kanye West, blending Afropop with hip-hop on his latest EP, BAD GUYS NEED LOVE TOO. Anthems with Simi and banging rap tunes come together across the project’s six tracks. Bils’ status as an independent artist makes cosigns from Zlatan and Olamide all the more satisfying, too.

Moelogo — Euphonic

UK-based and Lagos-raised Moelogo blends Yoruba singing with R&B sensibilities to create vocal harmony. His new project Euphonic is five tracks of soothing ear candy. A decorated collaborator and songwriter—Kelly Rowland, Koffee, Adekunle Gold, and many others are on his credits sheet—when Moelogo steps into solo mode, the results are dynamic and melodious, as on “Sweetest Wine.”

Chucky73 — Reencarnaciòn

Leader of the Sie7etr3 crew, Chucky73 ended 2021 strong with Firmado Con La Calle. The project followed his 2020 debut album and continued Chucky’s ascent to the pinnacle of Latin trap from the Bronx. With Reencarnaciòn, the rapper delves further into his Dominican roots, showing off a deep love and reverence for the textures and rhythms of dembow. “This EP started coming together when I went on my third tour to the Dominican Republic,” Chucky shared in a press release. “What I’m most excited about this project is seeing how my fans will react to the new music genre I am now trying called pilita.”

Cochise — THE INSPECTION

Cochise begins his new album THE INSPECTION playfully rapping over mob boss theme music. The Florida rapper teamed up with $NOT for Re-Upped single “Tell Em” in May of 2021, and his profile has only risen since. Cochise’s intensity on the mic and colorful energy help him stand out whether he’s shout-rapping (“HUNT”) or baby-pitched (“JET FLEX”). “I just want to make my music as fun as possible without being negative,” Cochise told Audiomack World in 2021.

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