{"id":88213,"date":"2024-06-18T12:04:38","date_gmt":"2024-06-18T16:04:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/2024\/06\/18\/rb-hip-hop-fresh-picks-of-the-week-normani-chow-lee-marsha-ambrosius-more\/"},"modified":"2024-06-18T12:04:38","modified_gmt":"2024-06-18T16:04:38","slug":"rb-hip-hop-fresh-picks-of-the-week-normani-chow-lee-marsha-ambrosius-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/2024\/06\/18\/rb-hip-hop-fresh-picks-of-the-week-normani-chow-lee-marsha-ambrosius-more\/","title":{"rendered":"R&amp;B\/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week: Normani, Chow Lee, Marsha Ambrosius &amp;\u00a0More"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><!-- no image --><\/p>\n<div>\n<!-- do not apply CSS styles to this element! --><\/p>\n<div class=\"pmc-paywall\">\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tWith just two days to go before <a href=\"https:\/\/billboard.com\/artist\/kendrick-lamar\">Kendrick Lamar<\/a>\u2018s highly anticipated The Pop Out: Ken &amp; Friends concert (June 19), all eyes are on the West Coast for what\u2019s expected to be a victory lap for the Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper, following his heated beef with Drake this spring.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tAs usual, the South also has something to say, with <a href=\"https:\/\/billboard.com\/artist\/megan-thee-stallion\">Megan Thee Stallion<\/a>\u2018s Hot Girl Summer Tour still going strong. In the past week, the \u201cHiss\u201d rapper has brought out scores of fellow Southern rap stars \u2014 including <a href=\"https:\/\/billboard.com\/artist\/paul-wall\">Paul Wall<\/a>, Z-Ro, <a href=\"https:\/\/billboard.com\/artist\/bun-b\">Bun B<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/billboard.com\/artist\/slim-thug\">Slim Thug<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/lil-keke\/\">Lil Keke<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/billboard.com\/artist\/monaleo\">Monaleo<\/a>. Never a region to be left out, New York took a sweet trip down memory lane at Sunday night\u2019s Tony Awards (June 16), with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/alicia-keys\">Alicia Keys<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/jay-z\">Jay-Z <\/a>performing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/music\/rb-hip-hop\/jay-z-alicia-keys-empire-state-of-mind-2024-tony-awards-1235711212\/\">\u201cEmpire State of Mind\u201d<\/a> in celebration of both Keys\u2019 new Tony-winning <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/music\/awards\/2024-tony-awards-record-setters-the-outsiders-stereophonic-1235711021\/\">Hell\u2019s Kitchen<\/a><\/em> musical and the song crossing the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/aliciakeys\/status\/1802095576869150759\" target=\"_blank\">one billion streams <\/a>threshold.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tWith\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/t\/fresh-picks\/\">Fresh Picks<\/a>,\u00a0<em>Billboard\u00a0<\/em>aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&amp;B and hip-hop \u2014 from Normani\u2019s \u201900s Southern fantasia to Chow Lee\u2019s latest addition to the \u201csexy drill\u201d lexicon. Be sure to check out this week\u2019s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Freshest Find: Marsha Ambrosius, \u201cGreedy\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/su9Zt0hzt6w?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tNine-time Grammy nominee Marsha Ambrosius offers the latest taste of her forthcoming <em>Casablanco<\/em> album with \u201cGreedy.\u201d A gorgeous amalgamation of neo-soul and hip-hop, \u201cGreedy\u201d combines samples of Leon Russell\u2019s \u201cThis Masquerade\u201d and OutKast\u2019s \u201cSpottieOttieDopaliscious\u201d with lush orchestration (the cellos are particularly gorgeous here) for a rumination on a partner who takes more than then give. \u201cHow much do I owe you? It\u2019s like I don\u2019t know you\/ Go \u2018head, I don\u2019t own you, now you on your own now\/ I\u2019m remembering that you\u2019re so hard to trust\/ Just tell me, baby\/ When is enough, enough?\/ \u2018Cause it\u2019s never enough,\u201d she croons in the second verse. Produced by Dr. Dre, \u201cGreedy\u201d previews what is sure to be a record full of smart arrangements and evocative vocal performances.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Donte Thomas, \u201cSayonara\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NpSN9LGr7d4?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tDrake has compared the last verse on his albums to performing surgery. Fortunately for Donte Thomas, the Portland-bred rapper keeps the doctor away thanks to <em>An Apple a Day<\/em>. Thomas puts a bow on his introspective album, which arrived on Friday via Skyzoo\u2019s First Generation Rich imprint, with the starry project closer \u201cSayonara,\u201d featuring Shelby Swims. Thomas candidly comes to terms with his journey and knows it\u2019s going to be a laborious brick-by-brick grind to get to the top, but at least the ship\u2019s back in motion. \u201cThis is my life ain\u2019t no part of no image\/ Out of control it\u2019s only beginning\/ Out on the road you know that we winning,\u201d he raps.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Chow Lee <strong>feat. Cash Cobain &amp; Bay Swag<\/strong>, \u201cAct Bad Twin!\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nO4jiB8xzMM?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tAs the Slizzy Summer of 2024 begins to hit its stride, New York rapper Chow Lee recruits fellow \u201csexy drill\u201d flagbearers Cash Cobain and Bay Swag for his new single, \u201cAct Bad Twin!\u201d \u201cShe think she know me\/ Well she kind of do \u2019cause I f\u2013ked her\/ She still the homie, we keep it P\/ When I see her that\u2019s the sis, I\u2019m the brodie,\u201d he spits, seamlessly adding new punchlines and one-liners to the sleazy casual sex that grounds the \u201csexy drill\u201d subgenre. Cash and Bay Swag deliver characteristically strong verses that play up the different pockets on the spacious hi-hat-accented mix. If the year\u2019s earlier \u201csexy drill\u201d hits presented a stark male perspective, then Chow Lee\u2019s new joint gives the ladies some time in the driver\u2019s seat of these semi-grimy pursuits.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Forest Claudette, \u201cMoonlight\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GyIVmG6nZ-w?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<em>Moonlight<\/em> won best picture at the 2017 Academy Awards \u2013 with a botched presentation nobody will ever forget \u2013 and inspired millions of viewers across the globe. One of those acolytes was Forest Claudette, who picked up their guitar after the life-changing experience and grappled with their gender identity, which turned into a poignant alt-R&amp;B track inspired by Barry Jenkins\u2019 film. \u201cI been thinking \u2018bout moonlight, I been thinking \u2018bout the boys in my life again\/ It\u2019s not like me to be keeping quiet, no silence,\u201d the Warner Records artist croons with angelic vocals floating over soothing strings. Next up, the Australian-American singer heads home to the Land Down Under where they\u2019ll open up for Omar Apollo on the Australian leg of his tour.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Normani, \u201cStill\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Shz79-CRyzc?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tLast week (June 14), Normani finally dropped her long-awaited debut solo studio album, <em>Dopamine<\/em>. Alongside collaborations with James Blake, Starrah and Gunna lies \u201cStill,\u201d perhaps the album\u2019s best stab at combining the \u201900s Southern hip-hop of \u2018Mani\u2019s childhood with the Brandy and Michael Jackson-influenced vocal layering that\u2019s become a cornerstone of her sound. \u201cStill goin\u2019 up in the section\/ Standin\u2019 on the couch, gettin\u2019 reckless\/ I be saucin\u2019 nigga like dressin\u2019\/ In Christian Dior, I\u2019m a blessin&rsquo;\u201d she croons across the Tommy Brown- and Leather Jackettt-produced banger. Featuring an interpolation of Mike Jones\u2019 classic \u201cStill Tippin,\u201d Normani\u2019s new track achieves the increasingly rare feat of mining the past and truly innovating on what is found.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Rexx Life Raj, \u201cBlame the Bad B\u2014h\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Y8WTv-_kJPQ?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tRexx Life Raj puts his own twist on Layton Greene\u2019s \u201cLeave Em Alone\u201d with his gentle croon on the woozy chorus. The California native wrestles with settling down with a \u201cgood girl\u201d or running through a plethora of \u201cbad b\u2014hes.\u201d He keeps it real when admitting people are only as faithful as their options, and Raj boasts that he\u2019s got plenty of applications at his desk these days. \u201cI tried that good girl s\u2013t, but the bad b\u2014h turning me on,\u201d the former college football player sings. \u201cGot a solid one, but this sea of h\u2013s making me question it.\u201d The contemplative single is the final tune-up for Rexx Life Raj before the 34-year-old gets into album rollout mode later this year.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Fresh Picks: New In Hip-Hop\/R&amp;B - Master Playlist\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/playlist\/2Ib6oSAcj3NYpmJF2ZPd2D?si=8a19180c831b41d6&amp;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/music\/rb-hip-hop\/rb-hip-hop-fresh-picks-of-the-week-normani-chow-lee-marsha-ambrosius-1235711248\/\">Aller \u00e0 la source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With just two days to go before Kendrick Lamar\u2018s highly anticipated The Pop Out: Ken &amp; Friends concert (June 19), all eyes are on the West Coast for what\u2019s expected to be a victory lap for the Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper, following his heated beef with Drake this spring. As usual, the South also has something [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-88213","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-musique","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88213","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88213"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88213\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88213"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88213"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88213"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}