Category: Hip Hop

Genia has shared a music video for “FUHYUH,” one of many standout cuts from her recently released EP, INTENSE LOVER. Released on August 14 via Def Jam Recordings, the project also includes singles like “Can’t Wait” and “Miss Your Touch.”

On “FUHYUH,” which kicks off the festivities on INTENSE LOVER, Genia introduces some new jack swing elements. Bringing an electrifying energy to the proceedings, the California-raised singer croons: “I ain’t never been the type to act like I don’t give a f__k about love/ But that boy should’ve never locked eyes ever since I’ve been sprung.”

In the accompanying video, Genia showcases some dance moves in a busy warehouse-type work space, illuminated by cool blue lights, before moving to the streets of New York.

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The EP follows a run of singles Genia released earlier in 2026, including “Baby Ima Star,” “Downfall,” “Doomsday,” and “Toastyyy,” the latter featuring Timbaland.

In an interview with GQ South Africa, Genia reflected on what the title INTENSE LOVER is meant to represent. She explained, “When you hear the words ‘intense lover’, at least for me, it gives very chaotic love. It’s love, it’s pure, but at the same time, it’s really over the top. Each record on the EP is about that — very over-the-top love, big love.”

Genia also revealed how it took her a little while to find her footing as a musician, even pursuing a different career before moving to LA to give songwriting her full attention. “Music was always something I really, really wanted to do. Around my last year of high school, I had the idea of what I was ‘supposed’ to do — go to school to become a nurse,” she explained.

“But I figured out, ‘I’m not happy doing this. I feel like I’m not doing what I’m passionate about.’ So I took a leap of faith and just went for it. But I always knew I wanted to do music; it was never a question.”

Listen to Genia’s Intense Lover EP here.

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Jessie Reyez is about to go on a revenge tour. After releasing her acclaimed fourth album A LITTLE VENGEANCE back in June, the boundary-pushing R&B and hip-hop artist will hit the road for a run of headline shows across North America this November. Beginning Nov. 3 in Seattle and wrapping up Nov. 24 in her native Toronto, the 13-date tour will also take Reyez to Brooklyn, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Oakland, Dallas, Phoenix, San Diego, Sacramento, and Washington, DC.

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Artist presale begins Tuesday, Aug. 25 at 10 a.m. local time, followed by general onsale this Friday, Aug. 28 at 10 a.m. local time. A portion of the proceeds from the A Little Vengeance Tour will go to the Jessie Reyez Fund, a charitable initiative that focuses on opening doors for women and other historically underrepresented people in the live music industry, as well as supporting music-centered projects for underserved communities.

“Reyez is still the same sharp-tongued, quick-witted artist with a singular approach on capturing heartbreak and toxicity,” Complex wrote in praise of A LITTLE VENGEANCE. “In the near-decade since her stepping onto the scene, we now find an artist with the life experience to navigate these same emotions, and the industry stature to take her vision to the next level via elite producers and guest appearances.” Some of those guests include Muni Long, Ty Dolla $ign, and a posthumous Bob Marley, who appears on closing track “Ego Atrophy.”

Reyez has stayed busy in 2026. Beyond releasing a new album, she performed at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony in her hometown of Toronto, joining Palestinian singer-songwriter Elyanna for their collaboration “Illuminate.” She also teamed with the nonprofit PLUS1 to launch the Jessie Reyez Fund. And in Q1, she surprised fans with the $TILL PAID EP, a five-song collection building on 2025’s PAID IN MEMORIES.

Listen to Jessie Reyez’s A Little Vengeance here.

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Blake Proehl has announced his debut EP, Hearts Don’t Break, which will be released October 2 via MCA. The six-track project arrives during a year of new music from the singer-songwriter and includes his latest song, “If He Ain’t Up.”

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Proehl said Hearts Don’t Break reflects several parts of his life and the artist he has become. “I’m really excited to finally announce my first EP,” he said. “Making this project has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and each song represents a different part of my story and who I am as an artist today.” The record moves between upbeat, feel-good material and more vulnerable writing, with relationships and personal experiences providing much of its subject matter.

Proehl signed with MCA in June 2026, with the deal announced during MCA Presents: Live At The SkyDeck at CMA Fest. Since then, it’s been a whirlwind of activity. On June 5, he released “She Got It,” followed by “Wild Magnolia” on July 24. Proehl previously appeared on Season 22 of American Idol in 2024, advancing to the Top 24 after auditioning with Brett Young’s “In Case You Didn’t Know.” The Charlotte, North Carolina native signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted wide receiver in 2021; a torn ACL cost him his rookie season, and his rehabilitation period became an important part of his move into music.

Listen to Blake Proehl’s “If He Ain’t Up” here.

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Coco Jones is back with a new, romantic single “Love Me Through.” The new track, the Grammy-award winner’s first release since her August wedding, explores the realities of romance. “No cameras on / This is real life, right now / Good, bad, and ugly / But he still gon’ love me,” Jones sings.

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“Love Me Through” is Jones’ latest release in a recent string of singles, following “Body So Tea” and “Luvagirl.” In a vlog, Jones detailed the process of working on “Body So Tea,” featuring both her personal reflections and a conversation with her collaborators. When asked by HighStandardz CEO “J Dot” Jones about the track’s message of self-love, Coco shared: “I felt like the hook was kind of surface-level, and I felt like I needed to counter that… y’all know I’m way more deep than that.”

Jones previewed the new song before its release with a video of her singing to her husband, NBA player Donovan Mitchell. “I still get nervous playing new songs for him,” she shared in the caption. The couple’s August 1st wedding was recently featured in Vogue, with a story detailing the planning process and featuring photographs from the big day. “The icing on the entire cake is I’m married to my best friend!” Jones told the magazine. “That feeling is priceless.”

Last year, Jones released her debut album Why Not More? via Def Jam and HighStandardz. The record earned Coco her eighth Grammy nomination, and charted on both the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hops albums charts. A deluxe edition of the album, Why Not More? (More!), featured a collaboration with Alicia Keys.

Outside of music, Jones continues her acting endeavors, appearing in Malcolm D. Lee’s physiological thriller Strung, out now on Peacock, and starring in the upcoming romantic comedy That’s Her.

Listen to Coco Jones’ “Love Me Through” here.

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Mariah Carey is celebrating the 25th anniversary of her fan favorite 2001 LP Glitter.

Order the 25th anniversary editions of Mariah Carey’s Glitter here.

Glitter is set to return to vinyl for the first time since it was first released. Other editions of the reissue include an expanded Digital Deluxe Edition featuring 15 additional tracks, including rare and previously unreleased recordings. Glitter (25th Anniversary Edition) will arrive on October 30 via Def Jam Records/UMe.

Carey’s eighth studio album and the soundtrack to the film of the same name, Glitter includes singles like “Loverboy,” “Never Too Far,” and “Don’t Stop (Funkin’ 4 Jamaica).” Other artists featured on the LP include Eric Benét, Ludacris, Da Brat, Busta Rhymes, Fabolous, and Ja Rule.

Among the bonus material, there’s a newly reimagined version of “Didn’t Mean To Turn You On” featuring acclaimed British-Canadian singer/songwriter Rochelle Jordan and produced by KLSH.

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Regarding the reissue, Carey shared: “If someone had told me back in 2001 that I’d one day be unironically celebrating Glitter‘s 25th anniversary, I never would have believed them. I made this album with so much love and care, so it was devastating to watch it become a punchline. I’m endlessly grateful to my fans who kept championing it all these years, and I hope even more people can finally hear it for what it is. We found a few recordings buried in the vault that I am really looking forward to sharing with you in October!”

Earlier this year, Carey joined Andrea Bocelli in a performance at the Opening Ceremonies of the Milan Cortina Olympic Games. Carey offered up a stunning performance of the Italian staple “Volare” and her 2025 hit “Nothing Is Impossible.”

Order the 25th anniversary editions of Mariah Carey’s Glitter here.

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Singer-songwriter Genia has released her new EP Intense Lover via Def Jam Recordings. The project focuses its attention on Genia’s experiences with love, desire, independence, and emotional vulnerability.

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Two previously released singles showcase that range perfectly. “Can’t Wait” finds Genia directly expressing desire and asserting what she wants, while “Miss Your Touch” focuses on the difficulty of denying a connection she genuinely needs. The songs approach intimacy from different positions: one is built around certainty and pursuit, while the other acknowledges the emotional cost of trying to keep your distance. Together, they establish the tension at the center of Intense Lover, where being open to another person does not require surrendering a sense of independence.

The EP follows a run of singles Genia released earlier in 2026, including “Baby Ima Star,” “Downfall,” “Doomsday,” and “Toastyyy,” the latter featuring Timbaland. The releases introduced several sides of the sound and writing that led into the new project. “Toastyyy” leaned into a more futuristic rhythmic direction, while “Downfall” centered a more vulnerable emotional perspective. “Baby Ima Star” took a more declarative approach, placing Genia squarely in the spotlight. Across the four releases, the changes in tempo and tone established a broader palette around Genia’s work rather than tying the run to a single mood. Last year, meanwhile, one of Genia’s biggest highlights was her return to the fan favorite “Give.” A new version of the song featuring Monaleo was released. Among many heralding its release, Global Grind included the Monaleo version of “Give” in its weekly “New Music Roundup” upon its release.

Listen to Intense Lover here.

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Jae Stephens has released the video for her new song “Sugar Trap” via Def Jam Recordings and RAEDIO. The Dallas Caton-produced track is the latest preview of Stephens’ forthcoming debut album AUDACITY, which is due September 25.

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Built around heavy bass and bouncy percussion, “Sugar Trap” uses candy-coated hooks and innuendo to frame flirtation. In the video, she takes over a dive-bar setting with an all-female crew and her JaeBaes, serving drinks and dancing as the room turns into her own stage. The visual draws on the bar-room energy of the 2000 film Coyote Ugly, while its concept centers on the contrast between desire and earning Stephens’ attention. Stephens said the song is about “knowing your power and how to use it,” adding that she wrote it as a reminder for women not to place their value in someone else’s hands.

AUDACITY follows Stephens’ run of SELLOUT releases, including SELLOUT, SELLOUT II, and TOTAL SELLOUT THE DELUXE. Across those projects, her music drew coverage from Billboard, Rolling Stone, Clash Magazine, and more. SPIN named SELLOUT II among its Best EPs of 2025, while Stephens later appeared on the November cover of NME and received the Popheads 2025 Best New Artist Award.

In 2025, Stephens opened for FLO on the U.S. leg of the “AAA Tour” before launching her own SELLOUT tour in October, with initial dates in Los Angeles, New York City, and London selling out within 24 hours. She expanded the SELLOUT tour into additional North American cities in 2026. Stephens also recently performed at Lollapalooza in Chicago. Later this year, Stephens is scheduled to join Khalid on the European leg of his “It’s Always Summer Somewhere” tour.

Listen to Jae Stephens’ “Sugar Trap” here.

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Masicka has released a new single titled “Spend.” The Jamaican recording artist also has a new album, Forever Reign, arriving worldwide on August 14 via Def Jam Recordings. One day later, Masicka will make his debut performance at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center as the headliner of Reggae Fest.

The album announcement and Barclays Center booking were first reported by Billboard, according to a press release. “This album represents growth, elevation, and the next chapter of my journey,” Masicka said in the announcement.

“It’s his time,” Reggae Fest founder & CEO CJ Milan told Billboard of the occasion. “Masicka is in his prime right now; ‘Slip & Slide’ [on Di Genius’ ‘Hill & Gully’ riddim] is big; he’s definitely one of the hottest [artists right now]. And he’s also just an amazing person. I’ve worked with him before, and I just think he’s ready.”

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The announcement follows Masicka’s Her Name Is Love EP, which was released in December via Def Jam and recently picked up a dancehall album of the year nomination at the 2026 Caribbean Music Awards.

“Her Name Is Love is really me tapping into another dimension of who I am, not stepping away from the grit, but showing that there’s more to the man behind the music,” Masicka told Billboard. “The ladies always support my work, and I wanted to create something that speaks directly to them… their stories, their strength, their emotions and the energy they bring to the culture. This EP is about connection, emotion and the different forms love can take.”

His 17-track album Generation of Kings arrived in 2023 and marked his first full-length project for Def Jam. His 2021 album 438, meanwhile, reached No. 2 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart, the same peak later matched by Generation of Kings. In March 2026, the government of Antigua and Barbuda approved Masicka’s appointment as Cultural Ambassador for Youth Talent Development and Creative Industries Collaboration.

Listen Masicka’s “Spend” here.

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6LACK has unveiled the music video for “I Guess,” featured on his celebrated new LP Love is the New Gangsta.

Directed by Cameron Dean, the music video features the Atlanta-raised crooner singing on an ornately decorated set, surrounded by beautiful flowers and white walls with no decorations outside of his lyrics graffiti’d in black spray paint. The backdrop shifts from this aforementioned set to a cloud-covered field and a simple blue set design. The clip also features a guest appearance from a rather massive brown bear.

“I Guess” features production from Dos Dias, Childish Major, Trey Lander, and Justin Cho, and includes some of 6LACK’s most provocative lyricism on Love is the New Gangsta. Recalling a relationship gone wrong, he croons: “Baby, it’s me, open the gate/ She opened the door, the weapon was raised.”

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The music video for “I Guess” joins a potent collection of visuals from Love is the New Gangsta tracks, including “On Me,” which features R&B singer Odeal; “RUNNING LATE FREESTYLE”; “All That Matters” featuring AZ Chike and Leon Thomas; and the 2 Chainz-assisted “Sunday Again.”

6LACK is gearing up to bring Love is the New Gangsta on the road. In September, he’ll embark on the European stretch of his 10 Years of 6LACK Tour. The run begins on September 8 in Oslo, Norway.

The headlining run will find the artist hitting venues in cities like Copenhagen, Berlin, Frankfurt, Brussels, Paris, Manchester, Dublin, London, and more. From there, 6LACK will head to North America, where he’ll visit cities like Portland, Los Angeles, Austin, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Boston, Toronto, and Brooklyn.

Love is the New Gangsta features some of 6LACK’s most emotional songwriting to date. Many of the songs were inspired by conversations he was having with Childish Major. He explained to Rolling Stone: “I just started to vent and have open conversations about what I was going through, and we just knew we had to make an album about it. It was like this ongoing session of therapy, accountability, and being creative.”

Listen to 6LACK’s “I Guess” here.

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Ari Lennox has released a new single titled “Hookah Baby.”

The song is co-written by Lennox and Alivia Blue, with production from Tommy Brown “TBHits” (“Twin Flame,” Ariana Grande’s “thank u, next,” and more) and Leather Jacket (GloRilla’s “Typa,” Ciara’s “Ecstasy,” and more).

The track arrives as Grammy-nominated R&B singer prepares to release Vacancy: Late Checkout, the deluxe edition of her critically acclaimed record. Its artwork also serves as the newly revealed cover for the forthcoming deluxe LP.

In January, Lennox released her third studio album, Vacancy. Singles include “Under The Moon,” “Vacancy,” “Soft Girl Era,” and “Twin Flame,” which she performed live on The Jennifer Hudson Show.

“There’s a space—a void—that I would love for someone to fill but the reality is, people be in and out like a gosh darn hotel,” Lennox said of the album’s title during an interview on The Jennifer Hudson Show. An essential part of the new era, Lennox shared, is that she has been practicing sobriety. “I feel a lot clearer. I can’t imagine going back… I just feel a lot more in control.”

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Vacancy is Lennox’s followup to 2022’s age/sex/location. She made her full-length debut in 2019 with Shea Butter Baby, which featured collaborations with JID and J. Cole.

In June, Ari performed a rendition of “Really Love” during a star-studded tribute to the late D’Angelo at the 2026 BET Awards, where she was also nominated for Best Female R&B/Pop Artist.

Lennox recently concluded her 31-city North American tour in support of Vacancy. During a hometown stop in Maryland, Sen. Nick Charles presented her with a proclamation honoring her soulful artistry, authenticity, and powerful voice. Lennox will appear live in concert throughout the remainder of the year, including at London’s The Jazz Cafe on Sunday, August 2, and V-103’s 50th Anniversary Concert in Atlanta on September 6.

Listen to “Hookah Baby” here.

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