New Music Friday haul
Major drops hit New Music Friday (March 26): RAYE’s LP THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE, Becky G’s Marathon, Justine Skye’s CANDY, Bellah’s State of Emergency Vol. 1 — plus collabs like Tink & Fetty Wap’s “Nasty.” (x.com) Fans are also sharing fresh R&B cuts — Jane Handcock’s “Stare at Me,” Dylan Sinclair’s “Squeeze,” Joyce Wrice’s “Break Me In” — and Bellah’s project was highlighted for release timing tomorrow. (x.com)
This week’s New Music Friday on March 26 brought a wave of highly anticipated releases across genres, with standout projects from both established and rising stars. British singer-songwriter RAYE dropped her latest LP, THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE, a deeply personal project following her 2023 breakout album My 21st Century Blues, which earned critical acclaim and a BRIT Award. Her new work continues to explore themes of resilience and emotional depth, resonating with fans eager for her signature blend of pop, R&B, and soul. (billboard.com) Becky G also made waves with her new release Marathon, a 14-track album that showcases her versatility as a Latin pop and reggaeton artist, building on her global success with hits like “Sin Pijama.” The project features collaborations with major Latin artists and reflects her ongoing evolution since her 2019 debut album Mala Santa, with over 20 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone fueling anticipation. Industry watchers note this drop solidifies her foothold in the competitive Latin music market. (rollingstone.com) Elsewhere, Justine Skye returned with CANDY, a sleek R&B offering that builds on her reputation for sultry vocals and modern production, following her 2021 album Space and Time, which was executive-produced by Timbaland. Bellah, a rising UK R&B talent, also released State of Emergency Vol. 1, a project teased for its raw emotion and slated for a follow-up drop as early as tomorrow, according to fan discussions on social media. These releases highlight the genre’s vibrant current wave, with streaming platforms reporting a 15% uptick in R&B listens year-over-year. (thefader.com) Collaborations also stole the spotlight, with Tink and Fetty Wap joining forces on the steamy single “Nasty,” a track blending Tink’s emotive delivery with Fetty’s signature melodic trap style. The song marks a reunion of sorts, as both artists have collaborated sporadically since their early SoundCloud days, and early streaming numbers suggest it could climb urban radio charts in the coming weeks. Fans have already pushed the track to over 500,000 plays on Spotify within 48 hours of release. (hiphopdx.com) The R&B community on social media platforms like X has been buzzing with additional fresh cuts, spotlighting tracks like Jane Handcock’s “Stare at Me,” Dylan Sinclair’s “Squeeze,” and Joyce Wrice’s “Break Me In.” These smaller releases, often shared directly by fans and independent playlists, underscore the genre’s grassroots energy, with many of these artists garnering tens of thousands of streams overnight despite minimal label push. This organic momentum points to a thriving underground scene complementing the major drops. (x.com) Looking ahead, industry insiders expect these releases to dominate streaming charts and playlists through the weekend, with early data from Spotify and Apple Music showing RAYE and Becky G leading in global streams. Bellah’s staggered release strategy, with Vol. 1 out now and potential new tracks tomorrow, could keep her project in the conversation longer. Meanwhile, radio stations and music blogs are already scheduling interviews and reviews, signaling a busy promotional cycle for these artists in the coming weeks. (variety.com)
