NEW MUSIC SPOTLIGHT | 17.01.22

27 January 2022

Shining a light on some of the hottest new music to drop over the course of the past week, UrlfreezeShops select their top five musical moments for your listening pleasure.

EARL SWEATSHIRT – “SICK!”

With Earl Sweatshirt’s fourth studio album, “SICK!”, the rapper ponders over personal topics ranging from fatherhood to living through a global pandemic. The project sees the artist move in a more hopeful direction, with upbeat instrumentals — provided by Black Noi$e and The Alchemist — combined with Earl’s abstract and poetic vocals.

FKA TWIGS – “CAPRISONGS”

FKA Twigs follows on from her 2019 LP, “Magdalene”, with “CAPRISONGS”: a 17-track project showcasing the British artist's leftfield approach to pop music. The mixtape’s tone is one that’s upbeat and energetic, with experimental beats — inspired by everything from trap to dancehall — combined with vocals that pirouette between rapping and singing.

CORDAE – "FROM A BIRDS EYE VIEW"

With Cordae’s second studio album, “From a Birds Eye View”, the Maryland rapper further cements his position as one of the frontrunners in contemporary hip-hop. The project sees jazzy, old-school beats combined with Cordae’s sharp lyricism, as well as guest appearances from industry legends like Stevie Wonder, Lil Wayne and Eminem.

JID, 21 SAVAGE & BABY TATE – “SURROUND SOUND”

With “Surround Sound”, JID brings fellow Atlanta rappers 21 Savage and Baby Tate on board. The track sees each artist trade vocals against a soulful, Aretha Franklin-sampled instrumental, which switches halfway through the track to reveal a slower and more ominous tone.

BONOBO – “FRAGMENTS”

Bonobo’s seventh studio album, “Fragments”, showcases Simon Green’s innovative and immersive approach to production. The British artist seamlessly fuses organic and electronic sounds throughout the 12-track project, tapping into an array of genres from — from house to R&B — in the process.