Hits of the week – Featuring Charli XCX, Ice Spice and more
Charli XCX – ‘360’
It might not be the most abrasive track from Britain’s resident experimental pop-princess, but thankfully, her attempt at a more polished sound comes across just as well. Its chorus is simple, yet effective, with Charli asking: “When you’re in the mirror, do you like what you see? / When you’re in the mirror, you’re just looking at me.” But the biggest talking point of the track comes in the form of its star-studded video, which features an A-Z of everyone’s favourite ‘it’ girls. ‘360’ features cameos from the likes of Julia Fox, Julia Fox, Chloë Sevigny, Gabbriette, Alex Consani, Rachel Sennott, Emma Chamberlain, A. G. Cook, Hari Nef, just to name a few. And thanks to its memorable cast and Charli’s always sassy vocals, there’s no denying the tune will go down as one of the cuntiest anthems of 2024.
Megan Thee Stallion – ‘BOA’
Megan teams up with longtime producer LilJuMadeDaBeat for the song, which samples Gwen Stefani’s 2004 hit single “What You Waiting For?” as Megan raps with the confident swagger fans have come to expect from her. “Bitches is bitter, they thought it was sweet / All of a sudden they vegan, they don’t want beef / Talkin’ outta veneers, I’m knockin’ out teeth,” she says on the track. In the Jumanji-esque video, she becomes the video game villain of her dreams while cycling through eye-popping outfits and backdrops that have become synonymous with the Hot Girl’s visuals. Lyrically, the song is more in line with the no-holds-barred attitude of “Hiss” than the more emotionally vulnerable ‘Cobra’, but as we know, Megan is at her best when she’s making full-on bangers like this.
Ice Spice – ‘Gimme A Light’
Drill can often get stale – flows can become extremely repetitive, and so can the 808-heavy beats. So, for a prolonged career in the genre, personality is of the utmost importance. Thankfully, Ice Spice has that in abundance, and her latest track is yet more proof of that (as if you needed any more). With ‘Gimmie a Light’, longtime Ice Spice producer RiotUSA flips Sean Paul’s 2001 hit single ‘Gimme the Light’ into a Bronx drill beat. “Hot boxin’ the V, like, give me a light / Fat ass so the pants fit tight / Took her man, I’m gettin’ him right / Big knock, like, why would I fight?” she raps on the track. It’s a track that adds another stellar release to the Bronx rapper’s discography, and it’s one you should expect to hear on repeat well into the summer.
Beabadoobee – ‘Take A Bite’
Setting the stage for her third record, which drops in summer, bedroom pop whizz beabadoobee whisks us away to a shoegaze-y world in ‘Take A Bite’. With a ’90s folk rock-inspired sound, she reflects on a cycle of negative thoughts and narrates her temptation to indulge in them. Produced by the legendary Rick Rubin and long-term collaborator/bandmate Jacob Bugden, ‘Take A Bite’ was recorded at Rubin’s famous Shangri-La studio in Malibu.
Ayra Starr ft. Seyi Vibez – ‘Bad Vibes’
Leading the new wave of Afrobeats, Ayra Starr gets the heat rising in her latest single, ‘Bad Vibes’. Tapping Nigerian singer Seyi Vibez, who brings his sharp style to the track, Ayra dishes up a flavoursome jam, laden with an entrancing drum rhythm that beckons you to sway to its bounce.
