R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week: Kehlani, Tiwa Savage, Skrilla, BabyTron, Tiara Thomas & More

Yahoo

a day ago

August has arrived, and with it comes the first whispers of autumn. There's still a bit more summertime left in the tank, however, as several of hip-hop's biggest stars reminded us over the past week.
More from Billboard
Cardi B & Stefon Diggs Quell Breakup Rumors With Flirty Instagram Exchange: 'Sniffs BBL'
Shaboozey, Fireboy DML & More to Headline EMPIRE's 15th Anniversary Show
Drake, Quavo Praise Iconic Strip Club in 'Magic City' Docuseries Trailer: 'One of the Wonders of the World'
Last Friday (Aug. 1), superstar producer Metro Boomin unveiled a lush tribute to Atlanta's futuristic era with his A Futuristic Summa mixtape, featuring collaborations with both titans of that era (J Money, Roscoe Dash, Young Dro, etc.) and new-gen talent (BunnaB, Breskii, YK Niece, etc.). Crafted with the same intentions Tyler, the Creator funnelled into Don't Tap the Glass, Metro's new DJ Spinz-hosted project aims to keep the dancefloor full and active for the party, afterparty, and even the afters.
The next day (Aug. 2), Cardi B kicked off night one of WWE SummerSlam 2025 with a preview of a new song — one that many presumed was a taste of her long-awaited forthcoming sophomore LP, Am I the Drama? Due Sept. 19, Cardi's new album is a little over a month away, and surprises like her SummerSlam appearance are keeping the rollout at the top of everyone's timelines.
Spike Lee, Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky carried that late summer energy into Monday (Aug. 4) with the debut of the trailer for their forthcoming Highest 2 Lowest film. 'Don't sleep on A$AP. In this film, Denzel and A$AP go toe-to-toe,' Spike teased during a Tonight Show interview last week (July 31). 'What's interesting is, even before I got involved with this film, I always thought that A$AP looked like he could be Denzel's son. There's a big resemblance. So when you see it on the screen, it adds an element of father and son.'
With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from Knowledge the Pirate and Roc Marciano's new link-up to Kehlani's kaleidoscopic reimagining of her latest hit. Be sure to check out this week's Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
Freshest Find: Kehlani, '(Un)Folded'
Since its June 11 debut, Kehlani's 'Folded' has quickly resonated with R&B listeners thanks to the Grammy-nominated Oakland singer's gorgeous vocal performance and the '90s-evoking feel of its production. A few weeks later, Kehlani dropped '(Un)Folded,' a mostly a cappella rework of the song that doubles down on their countless layers of Brandy-esque stacked vocals. Throughout the track, Kehlani adds different vocal inflections and stresses different syllables to conjure a more forlorn vocal performance than the original, underscoring how innately soul-baring a cappella arrangements can feel. As 'Folded' continues to grow, '(Un)Folded' offers a tender alternative to the infectious original. — KYLE DENIS
ABIR, 'Nothing New'
Ahead of ABIR's sophomore album THE GAME, the Moroccan-American singer returned with her cathartic 'Nothing New' single. ABIR delves into how she finds comfort in chaos. While those around her pick at the red flags of her partner, she prefers to power through and see the good in the relationship. 'I don't want nothing new,' ABIR repeats on the stirring track. 'With God as my witness, I'm choosing the chaos.' She's not blaming anyone, but sometimes it's just easier to keep the status quo. — MICHAEL SAPONARA
Skrilla, 'Die 4 Me'
There's nothing quite like spooky rap music. Skrilla's cultivating his own sound, and is always good for some funny lines like saying 'Free Willy' after a bar about a dolphin. He raps like a GTA character (complimentary), and he's wearing a mask like one in the video. I also like how he mixes Islam with the Yorùbá religion when he mentions speaking with the deity Elegua, which made my ears perk up because I'm Puerto Rican. It's all very interesting. — ANGEL DIAZ
Tiwa Savage & Skepta, 'On the Low'
On their new single, Tiwa Savage and Skepta explore a secret romance that's intense, emotional, and hard to keep under wraps. Skepta opens the song by suggesting a getaway, showing he wants to treat her and escape the chaos of everyday life. Tiwa, meanwhile, sings about the thrill and frustration of their hidden connection, how they meet in secret, act like there's nothing between them in public, but both know there's something real going on. The chorus emphasizes how they keep pretending it's casual, even though their actions say otherwise. At its core, the song explores the tension between passion and secrecy, and the denial that often comes with situationships. — CHRISTOPHER CLAXTON
Tiara Thomas, 'Kiss Me'
For her first single of the year, Grammy and Oscar-winning singer-songwriter Tiara Thomas delved into the sultry world of lip unions. 'Kiss me/ Your lips get me so excited/ Like you miss me/ Taste so good I might bite it/ Pull me in close like ain't no time to lose,' she coos over earthy bass guitar and crisp percussion, courtesy of New Jersey-bred producer Dilemma. Short, sweet and seductive, 'Kiss Me' is the perfect introduction to Thomas' new era. — K.D.
BabyTron & Rio Da Yung OG, 'Ex 2 (BM)'
BabyTron and Rio Da Yung OG joined forces to cook up the ultimate crashout anthem. The Detroit rapper angrily raps a diary entry of all the misfortunes he hopes his babymother runs into, ranging from diabolically having 'fentanyl in her Starbucks' to taking a 'bleach bath with a box full of jellyfish.' 'Ex 2 (BM)' landed on BabyTron's new Luka Troncic 2 project — an homage to Lakers star Luka Doncic — as the 25-year-old shows you can't keep him on the bench for long. — M.S.
Knowledge the Pirate feat. Roc Marciano, 'The Outfit'
Knowledge's latest album, The Round Table, dropped in May, and it's fully produced by Roc Marciano, so it makes sense that Marci would make an appearance. Here they are walking around Little Italy spittin' mafioso raps, which has become somewhat of a lost art these days. If you're a fan of Roc, you've heard Knowledge plenty, and I'm diggin' the theme of this project because he always came across as Roc's consigliere to me; the Tom Hagen to his Michael Corleone. — A.D.
Lihtz, Fridayy & Meek Mill, 'Crash Out RMX'
This new joint from Lihtz, Fridayy, and Meek Mill finds the trio perusing the highs and lows of a toxic relationship. Each artist takes turns reflecting on love that's passionate but unstable, marked by betrayal, miscommunication, and moments of intense intimacy. The lyrics blend vulnerability with aggression, showing how love can feel like war one moment and a deep connection the next. From letting go to holding on too tight, the song paints a vivid picture of heartbreak, ego and longing. — C.C.
Kyle Bethel feat. 40 Cal, 'Decent Man Walking (40 Kyle Mix)'
If you haven't sung 'decent man walking here' to yourself over the last month or so, are you even alive? Shouts to Kyle Bethel for making some wholesome raps while resembling Russell Wilson and Kanye West at the same time, and shout out to 40 Cal for showing love while delivering a great verse. If you've ever heard a 40 Cal song, you'd think that this link-up was unexpected, but in fact, it was in play all along. He's the reason why some people smoke a carton a day. When you hear that four oh act like you know. But for real, the beat is pretty good and it's catchy as f—ck. New York rappers should put a verse on this like they did on that Cash Cobain and Laila! track. Let's end the summer on a good foot, New York! *Funk Flex voice* — A.D.
Best of Billboard
Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1
Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits
H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Solve the daily Crossword