SINGLES
“Slide” by Migos, Frank Ocean, Calvin Harris
“Slide” has the perfect vibe for a summer cookout or chill rooftop get together. Ocean and Migos are a wonderful pairing, providing just the right amount of cool and swag over Calvin Harris’ production.
“Passionfruit” by Drake
The dancehall/tropical beat in many of Drake’s recent hits makes “Passionfruit” the perfect jam for the season. Your friends probably already have it on repeat, so you’re sure to hear it a lot more over the summer.
“I’m The One” by DJ Khaled
Khaled, Chance the Rapper, Quavo, Lil Wayne, and Justin Bieber?! “I’m The One” was destined to be a hit.
“Loyalty” by Kendrick Lamar ft. Rihanna
For a second it seemed as if Lamar’s “Humble” was poised to be one of the biggest songs of the summer, and it still could be. But following the release of DAMN., Lamar’s fourth studio album, it became quite clear that there were a number of hits on Lamar’s album. The current frontrunner for song of the summer? “Loyalty” with Bad Gal Riri.
Love Galore by SZA
This slow banger features Travis Scott, who’s been everywhere recently, as SZA sings about the complications of relationships and love. You’re definitely going to hear this at any BBQs, but it’ll probably feature on those long summer night playlists.
That’s What I Like by Bruno Mars
We can trust Bruno Mars to give us the hits we deserve, full of funk and energy. “That’s What I Like” is a date night track, perfect for romantic evenings and, like summer, gives the feeling that the good times will never end.
ALBUMS:
Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory
If you’ve been sleeping on Vince Staples, then it’s time to wake up. The rapper’s sophomore album is expected to drop June 23 and Staples has called the album “my Afro-futurism.” There are rumors that Kendrick Lamar, ASAP Rocky, Gorillaz, and Flume may appear on the album, which would be insane.
SZA’s CTRL
With singles “Love Galore,” “Drew Barrymore,” and “Broken Clocks” already getting tons of buzz, the singer’s upcoming CTRL is set to be one of the summer’s biggest albums. Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, and Isaiah Rashad
make appearances on SZA’s highly-anticipated debut studio album, which drops June 9.
2 Chainz’s Pretty Girls Like Trap Music
The rapper’s fourth album drops June 16 and he’s enlisted the help of quite a few famous friends like Nicki Minaj, Drake, Jhene Aiko, Monica, Pharrell, and more. During a chat with LA Leakers, Chainz called the album “top tier yacht music,” which sounds like the kind of summer turn up we’ve been looking for.
ARTISTS:
TLC
With their final album in the works, it’s going to be a bittersweet summer. T-Boz and Chilli will headline the I Love The 90s tour, which will kick off July 7. But it’s possible the ladies will add more dates or reveal a solo tour after the album drops.
Lil Uzi Vert
Uzi has been coy about the release of his mixtape, Luv Is Rage 2, causing some impatient fans to take extreme measures to push its release. So to say that the Philadelphia-bred artist is one of hip hop’s most anticipated new acts is an understatement.
Migos
Migos is everywhere. The rap trio has worked with Frank Ocean, Calvin Harris, Katy Perry, Teyana Taylor, and recently leaked tracks with Kanye West. It’s not just summer that Migos are poised to take over, 2017 looks to be their entire year.