Bop Shop: Songs From Thundercat, Mel C, Masego, And More

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  Fletcher: “Forever”
  
  
  https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=jPe5iAE9qww
  
  
  
  If you're looking for a new pop bop to carry you via uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic, look no further than Fletcher’s “Forever.” On it, the pop star’s heart is being pulled in two directions: to be single, or not to be single. "I've got a couple drunk kisses / I still need to get out my system," she admits. And though she’s sure she’s noticed The One, she’s not quite willing to sacrifice the freedom that comes with being on her own.
  
  
  "I wanna be young and party / Be foolish and never feel sorry," she shamelessly announces on the chorus, further proving that settling down just isn't on her to-do list. Still, she is aware what she's giving up. "You the type I wanna spend my whole life with," she sings. Although not the one I'll spend tonight with." —Jordyn Tilchen
  
  
  
  
  



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  Thundercat ft. Ty Dolla $ign & Lil B: “Fair Chance”
  
  
  https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=IoFOXgIme9M
  
  
  
  “This song is about Mac,” Thundercat wrote to unveil this gorgeous and subterranean track evoking his departed friend and collaborator Mac Miller. To do him justice, Thundercat enlisted some help — Ty’s moving baritone and Lil B talking about his “emo-o-o-tions” — and built an ecosystem of arpeggios. It’s a moving side of Thundercat, who can bound from wily to forlorn at the pop of a bass string. That depth is what It Is What It Is, out April 3, is all about. —Patrick Hosken
  
  
  
  
  



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  Masego: “King’s Rant”
  
  
  https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=wsLlgcagkUc
  
  
  
  Master jazzmatician Masego’s “King’s Rant” is aptly named. It opens with a procession of horns along a royal walkway, although it speedily melts into a watery mix of melodies and confident lyricism. He’s tired of playing the background, so he’s stepped confidently to the front. He has the Drake effect once he visitors on a track: That song becomes his. I love hearing him tackling shit like this, really stepping into the silk robe of a champion. The next leg of his post-Lady Lady career will be exhilarating to watch. —Trey Alston
  
  
  
  
  



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  Mel C: "Who I Am"
  
  
  https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=Fzk44YbqOz0
  
  
  
  Any time the world feels overwhelming, I tend to lean on what's familiar to me. So whenever Mel C returned this week with a new single, hearing the voice of my badass, backflipping childhood hero felt like instant comfort. "Who I Am" is a sparkling synth-pop confessional about Mel's journey to self-acceptance that comes with a nostalgia-inducing video. In it, she visits an order kind of "Mel C Museum" housing old versions of herself: each person from her tracksuit-rocking Sporty Spice persona to the spiky-haired zen master of her Northern Star era. As hordes of people ogle her statues and portraits, she sings of feeling lost about who she thought she should be, before arriving at a hard-fought declaration of self: "That's who I am / No, I have nothing left to hide ... You think you've known me all this time / Although the real me is mine." It's a bright and forward-thinking illumination of an artist who so several of us have known for years and also a reminder that she's still evolving. It's nice to know she's still taking us along for that ride. —Madeline Roth
  
  
  
  
  



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  Shura ft. Ivy Sole: “Elevator Girl”
  
  
  https://youtu.Be/65X3F-uRlrM
  
  
  
  Back in the olden days (two weeks back, elevators weren’t solely seen as a health hazard. Case in point, as Shura’s latest single attests, they would be places for giddy anticipation as you ride upward toward christening a new relationship with that special someone. The steamy R&B track sizzles with lust, yearning for the promise of potential and the intoxicating delirium of a night just getting began. —Bob Marshall
  
  
  
  
  



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  James Vickery with SG Lewis: “Pressure”
  
  
  https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=hzDjlAHF93c
  
  
  
  James Vickery’s new single might be called “Pressure,” although the South London R&B singer can dispel any sort of tension with his smooth and soulful voice alone. Over a head-bobbing beat and contemplative keys, James croons about a lover who’s “a vision of my design,” nevertheless who backtracks just as commitment comes through. The video is as much of a vibe because the track, showing James dripping in hues of color — pressure-free — as he rides through with his crew including collaborator SG Lewis, however finding himself coming back to a romance he just can’t quit. Judging by his Colors Studio performance which has over 17 million views, it seems this rising R&B star has the same effect on fans. His new EP, Overture, drops March 25. —Carson Mlnarik
  
  
  
  
  



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  Sueco the Child: “Dork”
  
  
  https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=fHi95w9Cm8U
  
  
  
  The mere say of Danimals had me raring to go whenever it came to choosing a bop for this week. Sueco the Child's impeccable wordplay in this raunchy track had me cracking up the opening time I heard it, and then vibing every time following that. It's right now become a key track once I'm attempting to get work done, Luckily, it lead to me listening to the rest of his discography, which hasn't failed to thrill and delight me. I'm at Sueco's, bitch! —Brittany Vincent
  
  
  
  
  



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  Laura Stevenson: “Time Bandits”
  
  
  
  
  
  “Time Bandits” can make you cry. So will Laura Stevenson’s accompanying note that explains the song’s origins along with her growing fears as she nears her due date. “I’m worried about my baby, I’m worried about my parents, I’m worried about everyone,” she wrote. You’re probably worried, also, and it’s OK to cry along. That’s what “Time Bandits” is for. —Patrick Hosken
  
  
  
  
  



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  Davie Jones: “Melodie$”
  
  
  https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=zIz-yWXZniU&app=desktop
  
  
  
  It’s simple, it’s catchy, and you’ll damn sure wish to run it back once it’s done. This new single from Virginia rapper Davie Jones is about the constant allure of cash and he uses its slick video to show what occurs whenever you pursue it without using typical sense. Jones moonwalks on the minimal instrumental, some days doubling over his voice for dramatic effect. You’ll hear “ring, ring, ring, ring, ring” in your head for the rest of the day immediately after listening to it. —Trey Alston
  
  
  
  
  





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  Ginger Root: “Karaoke”
  
  
  https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=aN6IQU59jyY
  
  
  
  you could find Ginger Root’s new music video particularly nostalgic, not only because it opens with some funky Windows 95 WordArt, nevertheless because it takes place at an office. Thankfully, their new music video for “Karaoke,” the opening single off their upcoming album Rikki, is the ideal escape for the times. A mix of dreamy DIY, the ’70s, and Japanese city pop, the musical group is the brainchild of Cameron Lew, who not only has a hand in writing and producing their tracks, however in shooting and editing their videos. It’s hard to not crack a smile at his larger-than-life onscreen presence as he spends the video going from the bottom of the totem pole to office king, thanks to a mysterious karaoke VHS tape he finds on his vehicle. A quirky, a little bit retro, and fully addicting, this is one to watch. —Carson Mlnarik
  
  
  
  
  



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  Kaelyn Kastle: “2 Pretty”
  
  
  
  
  
  Kaelyn Kastle's “2 Pretty” feels like a mid-2000s early Rihanna jam. Kastle’s crisp vocals about not playing around with her love feel fresh, however nostalgic — like someone paying homage to the era that they grew up in. She smooths over your ears while building a prickly declaration of problems for anyone prepared to test her romantic mettle. Years down the line, we’ll probably be looking at the release of this as her “Pon De Replay” moment. —Trey Alston
  
  
  
  
  



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  The Strokes: “Alone Together”
  
  
  
  
  
  These days, aren’t we all? —Patrick Hosken