A celebration of new releases from Black artists redefining sound, story, and spirit this summer.
By Sulwa Siraj
- Silk and Velvet – Annahstasia
- Annahstasia is a rising voice in the folk scene. Her soulful vocals, reminiscent of Nina Simone, meld beautifully with the delicate and stripped back instrumentation featured on the single Silk and Velvet off her debut album Tether, released June 13th. Now touring the UK, Annahstasia is gaining traction overseas with a sound that’s as introspective as it is expansive.
- Next To You – Erykah Badu & The Alchemist
- Dallas’ own Erykah Badu returns with Next to You, a collaboration with hip-hop heavy-weight The Alchemist. It’s a soulful, off-kilter prelude to Abi & Alan, the duo’s long-rumored album set to arrive this summer under Badu’s Control FREAQ label, marking her first full-length project in 15 years.
- Bed of Roses – Teyana Taylor
- After a five-year hiatus from music and rumors of possible retirement, contemporary R&B artist Teyana Taylor is reemerging with complete creative control after leaving her label. Bed of Roses is the 2nd single tailing off Taylor’s upcoming album Escape Room, which comes out August 22.
- Geezer – Kevin Abstract
- Former Brockhampton frontman, Kevin Abstract, has collaborated with artist Dominic Fike for single, Geezer, off his most recent album, Blush, released June 20th. Abstract, being from Corpus Christi, Texas, takes inspiration from his hometown on the nostalgic, summary indie-rock track. Blush as a whole feels like a sonic time-capsule, with themes of longing and restlessness infused throughout.
- Home – BigXThaPlug, Shaboozey
- Dallas rapper BigXThaPlug and Virginia’s Shaboozey come together on the song Home, released June 27, a regional crossover that celebrates their southern roots. Shaboozey, coming off the viral success of A Bar Song (Tipsy), blends country and rap influences without forcing either. Home feels like a reminder that Southern music doesn’t have to fit into one box and two artists from different scenes can still speak a common language.
- Free – Little Simz
- Hailing from North London, Little Simz has spent over a decade honing her musical prowess. Those skills shine on Free, released March 27, the highest streamed single from Little Simz’ latest album Lotus which dropped June 6. The track and album as a whole cements her as one of the UK’s most compelling storytellers and lyricists working today.
- The Field – Blood Orange
- The most recent release from Blood Orange, aka Dev Hynes, a genre-fluid music veteran that’s produced for a variety of artists, The Field, released June 26, is an ethereal, sun-soaked song featuring an arsenal of creative collaborators including Caroline Polachek and Daniel Caesar.
- Can We Talk? – Tink & Bryson Tiller
- Tink teams up with Bryson Tiller for Can We Talk?, a smooth R&B track that channels early 2000s slow jam energy. Tink has been quietly building one of the most consistent catalogs in R&B since starting her music journey in the early 2010s and this collaboration is a solid step forward to recognition.
- Outside – Cardi B
- Cardi B returns to music with Outside, her first solo release in over a year, which dropped June 20. The song, which debuted at number 10 on the Billboard Top 100, is the lead single off Cardi’s much anticipated second album Am I The Drama? The track, like Cardi herself, is unfiltered and unapologetic, delivered with the kind of confidence that helped launch her into stardom.
- DEAD – Sudan Archives
- Sudan Archives, a self-taught violinist and producer, first gained attention blending experimental R&B with her West African roots. DEAD, released June 3, marks a bold shift toward a more club-forward sound, exciting fans and new listeners alike.
Sulwa Siraj is an intern working for Texas Metro News through the Scripps Howard Foundation Emerging Journalist Program at the University of North Texas. She enjoys reading, listening to music, and studying psychology.
ADVERTISEMENT
