1. Stormzy's grime freestyles have a history of scaling the charts. "One Take," which calls out the BRIT Awards for lack of diversity, might be his next to blow.
2. Bunji Garlin's latest parade-bound riddim "Generals" is perfect for this snow-pocalyptic week, whether you're booking a last-minute trip to a tropical destination or stuck at home in front of an oscillating space heater.
3. Future's Purple Rain has been out for more than a week, but we haven't stopped listening. "Wicked" is our favorite this time around, not least for its sweeping Metro and Southside-helmed beat.
4. News of perennially cool PJ Harvey's long-awaited new full-length came with "The Wheel," a five-plus minute track with cavernous production and lyrics about disappearing children.
5. On his new EP, Teklife cohort Taso included an unheard collaboration with DJ Spinn and the late, great DJ Rashad. "Nothin's Gonna Stop Me" is dizzying, beautiful, and tinged with an unavoidable sadness.
6. Jamila Woods' name popped up this week as one of the women featured on Macklemore's "White Privilege II," but it's her sonically layered, Saba-produced, and deeply empowering solo track, "Blk Girl Soldier," that we've kept on loop.
7. Who is Lil Yachty? Dude's Soundcloud is full of weird production choices and crooked flows, and his loosey-goosey ode to noncommittal relations,"1Night," has over three million plays. Probably because it not-so-secretly slams.
8. Shamir is going on tour with Duran Duran, and so he recorded a heart-achingly scaled-back acoustic cover of "Hungry Like The Wolf" to celebrate.
9. Ex-Wu Lyf vocalist Ellery Robert's LUH project is growing more intriguing by the day; just-dropped "I&I" pairs his famously gruff chops with Ebony Hoorn's sturdy singing and some immaculate production by Haxan Cloak.
10. Argentinan producer Moro has a new project out on forward-thinking African label NON; visceral standout "Libres," with its water-bubble samples, conjures images of a submerged Harry Houdini trying to bust out of his shackles.
11. Jahkoy's Wonda Gurl-produced, Zane Lowe-premiered "Odd Future" is the Toronto-born and LA-based artist at his most sophisticated and lovelorn, a delay-swaddled serenade that'll stick with you.
Listen to Songs You Need in Your Life on Spotify:
