Written by Peter A. Berry of Third Bridge Creative

This is the third installment of our monthly column that looks back at key new releases from artists across the spectrum, from superstars to upstarts. We’ll break down what happened and why it mattered. For this edition, we take a look at releases from BossMan Dlow, Future & Metro Boomin (with Kendrick Lamar), Sexyy Red, Bladee & Yung Lean, and Hozier. 

Kendrick Lamar’s Epic Guest Verse Helps Propel Future and Metro Boomin’s WE DON’T TRUST YOU

Say what you want, but negativity sells, and Kendrick Lamar served up a heaping dose of it when he appeared on “Like That,” an already-indelible cut from Future and Metro Boomin’s new joint album, WE DON’T TRUST YOU. With the vintage Rodney O and Joe Cooley sample, a genius overlap from a classic Eazy-E track, and an anthemic Hndrxx chorus, the track was already a certified slap before Kung Fu Kenny stepped forth. But then he pulled up with a scathing, anti-camaraderie verse seemingly directed at J. Cole and Drake, the two other MCs considered to have dominated as part of rap’s nearly undisputed Blog Era-to-present triumvirate. Here, Kendrick stomps out any talk of such a star alignment: “Motherfuck the Big Three, n****, it’s just big me.” When swirled together with Future & Metro Boomin’s rumored feud with Drake, the track itself, along with the album, pretty much became the biggest topic in hip-hop. 

It’s a move straight out of Kendrick’s “Control” playbook, and it’s already paid huge dividends. At press time, “Like That” is expected to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, while the album as a whole is expected to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. 

BossMan Dlow's Mr Beat The Road Makes More Listeners Want to “Get In” 

It feels like each new year brings an emerging Florida rap star, and 2024 is no different. For this year’s edition, meet BossMan Dlow, a Sunshine State spitter who found himself in the middle of a major step-up when he released “Get In With Me” back in January. All that was left for BossMan to do was drop a dope tape, and though it can get a little monotonous, Mr Beat The Road is pretty much just that. Featuring guest spots from Sexyy Red and Rob49, as well as his customarily swaggering street raps, it’s worth more than a few listens, and it will likely be remembered as the beginning of his real ascent to stardom. In early February, BossMan sat at 172k Spotify monthly listeners. Now, he’s at just under 3 million. 

Bladee and Yung Lean Drop Psykos

As stalwarts of the underground, individual releases from Bladee and Yung Lean are notable in themselves. But a joint project feels even more eventful, and they served up just that with Psykos, a quirky constellation of disembodied soundbeds and woozy melodies. Here, they shift between soft piano ballads and new wave as they let loose dormant emotions while flaunting a natural chemistry from twin web-dwellers. For Bladee, the new project has led to a boost in his streams, with his Spotify monthly listeners growing by over 238k in the past month. Meanwhile, Chartmetric classifies Yung Lean’s career momentum as being in the growth stage, the second highest possible, despite Psykos being his first complete project since 2022’s Stardust. 

Sexyy Red Lands Biggest Solo Hot 100 Single With “Get It Sexy”

Sexyy Red has leveled up once again. After becoming a star with singles like “Pound Town” and “SkeeYee” in 2023, Sexyy landed at No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with “Get It Sexy,” another Tay Keith-produced bop designed for the dancefloor and TikTok virality. The track marks her highest solo placement to date; “SkeeYee” peaked at No. 62. Paired with a dance that could be described as a cross between a snap music dance and Soulja Boy’s “Crank Dat,” “Get It Sexy” meshes seamlessly with Sexyy Red’s playful brand, and it feels like it’s got a chance to be the song of the spring. 

Hozier's Unheard Tracks Are Widely Heard

Ten years removed from the dominance of “Take Me to Church,” Hozier could be in for a huge ascension when the next Billboard Hot 100 lineup is announced. As Forbes pointed out, the track debuted on Spotify’s U.S. chart at No. 2 behind Future and Metro Boomin’s incendiary Kendrick Lamar-featured single, “Like That.” The song that should take him there is “Too Sweet,” a new single that’s as earnest as it is mesmerizing. For this one, an offering from his new Unheard EP, the Irishman details differing lifestyles and the understated beauty of individualism, tying it all together in a package that’s heartfelt yet easygoing enough to make you dance. Despite just being released on March 22, the track has already earned nearly 30 million streams on Spotify, while his monthly listeners have increased by around 2 million.

Graphics by Nicki Camberg; data as of March 27, 2024.