Ready for a new list of hot tracks?
This week, ESSENCE’s The Playlist has rounded up new releases from Normani, 2 Chainz, Ayanis and more. There’s always new music dropping and we want to help you wade through it all to find the hits.
Check out our quick list of this week’s best singles.
1. 2 Chainz ft. Ty Dolla $ign – “Girl’s Best Friend”
There’s isn’t a single song in 2 Chainz’s discography that isn’t great and his latest, “Girl’s Best Friend,” is no different. Chainz teams up with Ty Dolla $ign to rap about all the things, including diamonds.
2. Ginette Claudette – “Love Me Back”
From her forthcoming project, On To Something, Ginette Claudette’s “Love Me Back” explores one-sided love, mixed signals, and heartache. In a statement about her upcoming project, Claudette said, “Creating this project has been a very therapeutic journey of self-discovery for me as a woman and an artist. For the first time, I was able to unapologetically say what I wanted while disregarding the outside pressures that I’ve faced for so long.”
3. Ayanis – “Awh Yeh”
Newcomer Ayanis has arrived with her debut EP Direction, which includes six tracks exploring love, relationships, empowerment, and bouncing back after heartbreak. You should definitely check out the entire EP, but our personal fave at the moment is “Awh Yeh.”
4. Ari Lennox & J. Cole – “Shea Butter Baby”
Mike WiLL Made-It’s Creed II soundtrack has arrived and there are numerous hits on the album, but our fave is Ari Lennox and J. Cole’s “Shea Butter Baby.” Lennox told Billboard it was an honor to work on the project and said of the collaboration with Cole, “we’re killing it together.”
5. Tyler the Creator ft. Jerry Paper – “Hot Chocolate”
Tyler the Creator has released a new Grinch-inspired EP just in time for the holidays. The EP perfectly blends Tyler’s sound and Christmas-cheer for a group of tracks that will appeal to both adults and children. Make sure to check out “Hot Chocolate” from the new EP.
6. Normani ft. 6LACK – “Waves”
Normani is coming! We’re impatiently waiting for the singer’s debut album but until then, we’ll just enjoy her new single with 6LACK, “Waves.”
7. Mariah Carey ft. Slick Rick and Blood Orange – “Giving Me Life”
The elusive chanteuse is back with her first album since 2014’s Me. I Am Mariah…the Elusive Chanteuse. Her project, Caution, has a number of great tracks, including previously released songs “With You” and “The Distance.” We’re also currently obsessed with “Giving Me Life.”
