Welcome back to another week of The Pop Off, the only playlist where we don’t care about an artist’s listener or follower count – we just care about the music. Curated by yours truly, this week, we have vibes courtesy of Raveena, FKA Twigs, Cordae, and more! Be sure to check out What’s Poppin, our favorite tunes off the playlist, and take some time to add your favorites to your musical collection.
What’s Poppin
Lekan-“F.S.T.O.W”
Lekan is an independent R&B singer, songwriter on the come-up and is looking to make his mark on the game through sensual songwriting. The soulful vocalist recently released his latest project, an EP entitled Mess Around, Vol. 1, a project full of vibes reminiscent of the golden era of Neo-Soul—the type of music that fills you with passion. While the EP is chock full of gorgeously crafted songs, one of the smoothest tunes from the EP is Lekan’s “F.S.T.O.W”; a standout track that whispers the sexy sensibilities of a lazy Sunday morning with your significant other and getting lost in the beauty of their soul—even if it’s for two minutes and fifty seconds. “F.S.T.O.W” is a beautiful track and a great starting off point into one of the most talented singer/songwriters on the rise right now. Get hip.
Che Noir, 38 Spesh, Ransom-“Table For 3”
A banger. Absolute banger. “Table For 3” is spearheaded by Buffalo, NY-based emcee Che Noir, and she is here to prove a point: nobody is messing with her on the mic. And if this song served as a metric for this debated sentiment, she has a case. A really good one. Her delivery and sound harken back to the glory days of Hip-Hop; immediate comparisons to greats such as Foxy Brown & B.I.G come to mind for me, but she manages to make it her own. Consider “Table For 3” a warning shot as her forthcoming album Food For Thought is looking to be one of the most promising projects this year. You’ve been warned.
Laundry Day-“Did You Sleep Last Night?”
Fresh off high school graduation, Laundry Day set their diplomas to the side and traded them in for their newest track, “Did You Sleep Last Night?” Serving as a bit of a reminder of who Laundry Day is and what they’re creatively capable of, “Did You Sleep Last Night?” finds the young band in the throes of Y2K garage rock blended effortlessly with particular airy confidence we’re coming to associate with the rising quintet. Laundry Day’s latest feels like a song that personifies the wonders of college shenanigans, an eternity of wonder and debauchery that immortalizes youth in song. A Jam.
