The weekend has finally arrived and it comes bearing gifts! The newest edition of Respect My Region’s New Music Friday is officially here. Featuring full-length studio records from P!nk, Caroline Polachek, and Skrillex, Polo G and Future also made major news with the release of “No Time Wasted.”
Check out the full list of our favorite releases below:
New Music Friday February 17, 2023
“No Time Wasted” – Polo G feat. Future
Chicago’s very own Polo G has been on the rise since his debut album was certified platinum in 2019. Fully aware of his status in the hip-hop space, he went on to drop the modestly titled Goat, Hall of Fame and Hall of Fame 2.0 to similar degrees of success. He’s been riding with the big dawgs ever since he broke through and has not disappointed. To that point, his new collaboration with Trap King Future is as on-brand as you’d expect. If you like what you’ve heard from either of them so far, you’re going to love this one!
“Hollywood Baby” – 100 gecs
Hyperpop is where even the most open-minded and progressive fans of music draw the line. As pioneers of the genre, 100 gecs have become the brand ambassadors of splitting the crowd and making people question if they’re “getting too old for this shit.” Yet, every now and then, they put out tracks that bring the kids together with those of the preceding generation. “Hollywood Baby” is nowhere near as polarizing as their other stuff; it is, in fact, pretty much a pop-punk joint with glimmers of their trademark vocal distortion. We can all enjoy this one together.
“Float” – Janelle Monae (feat. Seun Kuti & Egypt 80)
The spirit of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti lives. The late Nigerian musician’s eldest son is now the leader of his legendary band, Egypt 80, and they’re onto big things. Seun Kuti’s latest collaboration with American singer and rapper Janelle Monáe is a colossal power move that demonstrates his father’s longevity as well as his own unique modernity. Who doesn’t like a flavorful crossover?
“A&W” – Lana Del Rey
It’s always a pleasure to have Lana Del Rey drop by. There’s something exciting about having an artist among us who gets us to stop whatever it is we’re doing to listen to their music, and she has that power over us. This Valentine’s Day, the singer-songwriter surprised us with a new single that now guarantees her upcoming album will generate thick traffic when it drops on March 24. This is Lana at her very best, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed in the hope that Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd is just as perfect.
“Lottery” – Latto feat. LU KALA
Congolese-Canadian singer LU KALA is still new to the game, but she has distinguished herself as someone who is changing the way pop stars sound and look. Now pair her with someone who is already established for doing exactly that and you’re in check mate. With “Lottery” out, there’s less and less room for critics to make a case against these two divas.
Trustfall – P!nk
With cameos from the Lumineers, First Aid Kit and Chris Stapleton, P!nk’s ninth studio album is finally here. Among her most personal and intimate records yet, the singer even claimed that this is “the best album [she] had ever made” during an appearance on Good Morning America. With three widely successful singles out, the anticipation around this release is high and rightfully so. P!nk is one of the most wholesome pop stars of the 21st century and rooting for her this far into her career doesn’t feel forced at all, and this album will show you exactly why that’s the case.
Heroes & Villains (Villains Version) – Metro Boomin
Metro Boomin is trap and hip-hop royalty — this simply isn’t up for debate anymore. For those with even a shred of doubt regarding this, 2022’s Heroes & Villains shut them down for good. He’s a legend already and we’re here to see him get better with each album, each feature and each credit. Though entirely new music is always the #1 demand, his latest record was such a hard-hitter that pretty much anything to do with it is sure to be phenomenal. The Heroes Version contained all the instrumentals from the album, and it’s flipside is now here. Alexa, queue the Villains Version.
Desire, I Want to Turn Into You – Caroline Polachek
Indie synth-pop outfit Chairlift certainly made waves as a collective, but their singer has slowly been establishing herself as an elite solo act in the past few years. After releasing her debut album under the alias of Ramona Lisa, she dropped two more that made it clear she is a force all by herself. Polachek has now put out her fourth studio record, and this pretty much seals the deal — Chairlift is now second to her own name in her list of accomplishments.
Quest For Fire – Skrillex
Considering Skrillex was one of the biggest names in music for almost a decade, it’s surprising that he’s only ever released one full-length solo album … until today, that is. The EDM pioneer has had a prolific career that spans genres and continues to rack up some of the richest collaborations in music, but it’s been nearly a decade since his last record, Recess. Though Quest For Fire, isn’t exactly a solo project considering pretty much every track has a feature, it’s still a body of work we can attribute entirely to the genius mind of Skrillex.
