It to be expected that with this week practically ending on Valentine’s Day, we’d receive a ton of music dedicated to love. From a surprise release of “Because of You,” by Kodak Black along with a poem for Zendaya to there being two singles entitled ” Valentine,” we also got a fair share of music with the theme of heartbreak. We also got the complete projects of Justin Bieber with ‘ Change,’ and A Boogie with the Hoodies’ ‘ Artist 2.0,’ two projects that made multiple entries into the playlist.
This weeks ‘Weekly Drop’ includes music released from Feb. 9th – 15th featuring the cover art of Pharrell Williams and two of the three shoes in his Human Made x Adidas Hu collaboration where all three silhouettes sport an unmissable oversized heart on the toe box branded “Human Made,” I thought these shoes would be fitting for this theme of Valentines weekend. Here are a few singles this week that you should keep an eye out for on the playlist.
Y.O.U – Luh Kel
Following his chart success with help of social media platform, TikTok 17-year-old R&B/Hip-Hop artist Luh Kel is creating a buzz with latest single “Y.O.U.,” produced by Backroll Got It, DJ Luney Tunez and Beat Juug, and arrives along with a cinematic visual executive produced by Adam Ben & Edgar Jonny with Blanksquare. The visual sees Kel’s playing the new kid at school, competing with a typical Jock for his crushes affection. Providing the message that labels don’t matter when it comes to love.
This smooth R&B banger is Kel’s first single since the release of ‘Mixed Emotions,’ at the end of 2019 which has quickly earned Platinum certification from the RIAA. The 17-year-old has been hard at work touring alongside Polo G at 1500-plus sized venues across North America, performing at Rolling Loud Los Angeles to close out 2019, and headlining a show in hometown St. Louis at a sold-out FuBar. All of this is shaping up to be Kel’s break-out year in 2020.
Love Song – IV Jay
IV Jay bringing back the feeling of 90’s R&B with a new school twist, with her single entitled “Love Song,” co-written by Pink Sweat$. The 17-year-old multi-talented Latinx artist who used her Instagram virality to leverage a record deal with Atlantic is expected to feature this single on her upcoming EP entitled ‘5th Element’ coming in March.
IV Jay states she never been able to write a love song and wishes she can write one. This is the dream of anyone you would consider a hopeless romantic, with dreams of falling in love with someone the way it happens in the movies. So what’s the reason she’s never had the chance to write a love song? While the reason for this that every time she felt that her feeling where moving in that direction whoever she with has done something childish to mess it up.
Monday – Kota the Friend
This is a little diversion from the mass amount of music that will have you feeling either love or hate for that person you been in a relationship with, Brooklyn native Kota the Friend has come with just a song to relax to with his newest single “Monday.” The first thing that stands out to me is the laid back and nonchalant tone of his cadence mixed with the sounds of someone plucking the strings on a basic Guitar I feel as if I’m watching a skateboard video on YouTube in it’s earliest stage or maybe on a beach in Hawaii with a Mai Tai. This is very ironic that he name the single after maybe one of the most stressful days of the week. Everyone knowns Monday is a necessary evil to get the bread for parties on Friday and Saturday so no complaints.
Honeymoon Fades – Sabrina Carpenter
Coming on the heels of her casting as Cady Heron in Tina Fey’s MEAN GIRLS THE MUSICAL on Broadway singer, songwriter, and actress Sabrina Carpenter releases single “Honeymoon Fades.” The single in itself has Carpenter hoping that the love between her and whoever else doesn’t fade away the longer they stay together.
“My newest song “Honeymoon Fades” is a love letter penned directly towards my fans,” said Sabrina. “It’s a direct thank you to everyone who has followed and stuck with me through my journey so far.”
Eugene – Arlo Parks
London-based singer-songwriter Arlo Parks is going places and her latest single “Eugene,” is proof of that. With an uncanny ability to zero in on a feeling during a delicate moment when the line between friendships and romantic relationships blur and, inevitably, feelings get hurt.
This relatable situation is captured perfectly in the song’s video directed by British rapper Loyle Carner and his brother Ryan, their debut project as The Coyle-Larner Brothers. Arlo’s bed is shown as a metaphor for the closeness she feels towards a pal. When things are good is is the backdrop for photo shoots, late-night chats, and movie screenings. However, the tone of the song shifts when Eugene enters. The Coyle-Larner Brothers demonstrate this fraying of the relationship via a literal crack in the bed that leaves the figurative distance a physical gap.
“It’s supposed to be quite ambiguous. The general gist is about having complicated feelings towards someone you’ve known for a long time. That was something I had seen around me and experienced myself,” Said Arlo Parks in a recent interview with Fader It’s not necessarily in a romantic sense, either. It’s just a feeling that you’re being left out or not getting the right kind of love from the people you care about. That amviguity is captured really well in the video. It is about two people who are close.”
Konclusions – YG ft. Kehlani
On Thursday, a new single by hip-hop couple YG and Kehlani entitled “Konclusions,” YG professes his love for the singer while boasting about their sex lives.
After YG’s cheating allegations when TMZ camera caught him kiss another woman during Todd Gurly’s Halloween Party. Kehlani wrote in a since-deleted December tweet “I am single. and focused,” it seemed the couple called it quits. Earlier this month YG unveiled his new wrist tattoo dedicated to Kehlani. The SweetSexySavage artist shared a photo of the ink in an Instagram story, essentially confirming they were working things out. And fans couldn’t have been any happier.
On Sunday, Kehlani is putting YG on blast, with the song “Valentine’s Day (Shameful),” on which she appears to confirm their split. Kehlani coming to terms with their relationship and realizing that she’s better off without him.
The playlist is posted below, so take some time and find your new go-to when you get the aux.
