At long last, the summertime is here! Now that we’ve finally made it to June, the R&B and hip-hop worlds are gearing up for what many hope will be the summer that we truly return to the energy of a pre-COVID time.
Last weekend (June 1-2), the Roots Picnic took over Philadelphia, PA, with two days of stellar performances, including memorable sets from R&B icons like Babyface, Jill Scott and Fantasia, as well as ascendant hip-hop stars such as Sexyy Red and Smino (and even rising country hitmaker Shaboozey). Headlined by Scott, Nas and Lil Wayne (with The Roots, Trombone Shorty and PJ Morton), Roots Picnic nailed the tricky balancing act that is catering to three different generations of R&B/hip-hop performers and consumers.
It’s a balance that Hot 97’s 2024 Summer Jam (June 2) struggled to achieve, with Method Man and Redman — both of whom performed at Roots Picnic the day prior — feeling the burn of the generational gap onstage.
“Not our crowd at all,” Method Man wrote in a comment under Hot 97’s Instagram post highlighting his and Redman’s set. “Thanks again, New York and the whole tri-state (that showed up to the event) plus Pete and Ebro. I got love for you guys. But never again… at this point the generation gap is just too wide for me. #nevercomingback.”
Outside of the festival circuit, Rihanna made history as the female artist with the most RIAA Diamond-certified singles, Ye was sued by a former assistant for sexual harassment, breach of contract and wrongful termination, and Eminem dropped “Houdini” — which featured a poorly received jab at Megan Thee Stallion.
With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from Usher‘s vulnerable new Coming Home track to Rhyan Dougas’ contemplative ode to the cyclical nature of romance. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
Freshest Find: Tanerélle, “Blink”
What better way to announce your signing to Republic Records than with a gorgeous new EP? Atlanta multi-hyphenate Tanerélle’s Electric Honey EP is a strong collection of songs that builds on the atmospheric foundation of 2021’s “Nothing Without You,” which earned a highly coveted synch on Issa Rae’s acclaimed HBO show Insecure. With its heavy bass, neo-soul flourishes and electro-R&B breakdowns, “Blink” is both an easy standout on the project, and a timeless story of getting lost in a lovelorn dreamworld while the world around you keeps moving. “Dreams I cannot explain/ As the walls are closing/ Dreams I cannot explain/ As my cerebellum sinks/ As the world around me blinks,” she croons in the chorus.
Maeta, “DJ Got Me”
After topping Adult R&B Airplay with “Through the Night,” singer-songwriter Maeta has returned with a new Kaytranda-produced bop. Gone are the lush, ethereal orchestrations of her When I Hear Your Name LP. On this new joint, the Roc Nation singer’s soulful vocals float over Kaytranda’s slinky synths, creating a sultry, infectious world in which she flips Indeep’s post-disco classic “Last Night a DJ Saved My Life.” “Who’s in charge of me?/ Can’t control my body/ But keep that on repeat/ And everybody’s watchin’/ But that’s okay wit’ me/ I didn’t even get a warnin’/ I be up until the mornin,’” she croons. After giving us a cuffing season anthem, Maeta is clearly ready to turn up the heat this summer.
Josh Levi, “Something More”
After snagging a buzzy hit with “Birthday Dance,” Josh Levi returns with his first piece of original music in a year. “When I don’t have the lines/ But you’re in my mind/ Could you hear me talking to you, baby/ From the inside/ Baby, tell me how deep/ Are you willing to dive,” he croons over the synthy Louie Lastic-helmed beat. If “Birthday Dance” exalted the more sensual moments of romantic encounters, “Something More” finds Levi literally yearning for something more. Sure, that sensuality is still there — “Say it with your body, baby/ You don’t gotta tell me twice,” he croons — but it’s tempered with unabashed vulnerability. He only wants one special person, even if that means just laying there with them in the silence.
Byron Juane & Daisha McBride, “I Want You Now”
Hailing from North Carolina, emerging R&B crooner Byron Juane has been steadily making a name for himself in R&B circles. For his sexy new single, “I Want You Now,” Juane tapped Knoxville, TN singer-rapper Daisha McBride to turn the joint into a steamy duet. Juane kicks off the affair as hot and as heavy as he can: “Invite me to your oasis/ I’m tryna swim in it/ I got some plans for you tonight/ You bout to beg for it,” he coos over a melody reminiscent of The-Dream‘s mid-late-2000s solo material. McBride’s raspy rap-sung cadence is a solid complement to Juane’s riff-laden vocals, but it’s the shades of queerness that contour her verse that elevate the track into an anthem of desire for all.
Ray Emmanuel, “Baybayyy”
Ray Emmanuel gained recognition as an early teen boasting lyrical brilliance beyond his years. Still only 19, the North Carolina native is finding his voice and coming into his own. The J. Cole-inspired MC delivered his first single of 2024 with the triumphant “Baybayyy.” Sampling a sped-up version of the late Billy Butler and Infinity’s soulful “Hung Up on You,” Ray shrewdly lets the backing “baby”s finish off his bars. While girls are chasing him down these days, he’s still got his eye on the prize: “One of the greats, that’s true/ The No. 1 spot, I’ma take that too,” he proclaims. After ruffling hip-hop’s feathers 2023’s “F*CK RAPPERS,” Emmanuel shows off his dexterity when it comes to putting records together — and he’s got plenty of more heat in the stash down the line.
Kanii, “MIA”
The emerging DMV-bred singer-songwriter looks to heat up the dancefloor just in time for the summer. “MIA” continues Kanii’s winning ways while making a name for himself in the R&B landscape. The 18-year-old’s airy vocals float over electro-pop synths that sound like they could’ve been a canvas for The Weeknd on Starboy. Kanii also released an eerie visual to stand alongside the addictive single, which finds him abducted and dropped off with a romantic interest at an abandoned hotel that mirrors something in Stranger Things’ Upside Down world. After unleashing a pair of EPs last year, the “I Know” artist is well-equipped for his rising stardom heading into an anticipated major-label debut album.
