I don’t know about you but this week we’ve had a 23-track shaped hole in our lives. Luckily, along came Friday and with it Slime Language 2, an album by Atlanta’s Young Thug and his Young Stoner Life label. First teased in spring 2020 — two years on from the first instalment — it was finally released today, featuring a handful of familiar tracks alongside fresh features from Travis Scott, Drake, Skepta, Future, Kid Cudi, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Baby and loads more. It’s Young Thug’s first album since So Much Fun, which somehow came out all the way back in 2019; and clocking in at one-hour-fifteen-minutes-long, it’s a big’n. Dive into our new music playlist this week and you’ll find the Future-featuring “Superstar” kicking off proceedings.
Next up is “boys wanna txt” by Charli XCX’s favourite Australian emo, daine. With guest vocals from ericdoa and co-production by Dylan Brady of 100 Gecs, the track is a veritable hyperpop bop. If you don’t spend time on ‘Gay Twitter’ then, well, you’ve been missing out on a lot of stuff, but especially the beautiful, unlikely pairing of Rina Sawayama and Elton John. Yes, you read that right, the Rocketman fell for Rina’s “Chosen Family” and, after a period of being “phone friends” — as they told The New York Times — the duo decided to collaborate. The result is a ‘Grammy Moment’-worthy pop hymn that preaches queer love and acceptance.
Also out this week is AJ Tracey’s new album Flu Game — 16 tracks boasting features from friends like Kehlani, Digga D and T-Pain. Lead single “Little More Love”, which comes complete with a cinematic music video, has a heavy 00s influence. Beyond that, there’s new stuff from Erika de Casier, IKD and Offset, A. G. Cook and Caroline Polachek, girl in red, Lucy Dacus, Dua Saleh, Tirzah, Pan Daijing and plenty more.