The summer isn’t over till we say it is, and this week’s Hot Music Friday proves that all it really takes is a solid compilation of music to keep the spirit of the season alive. We have a ton of blockbuster releases this time around, but you’ll certainly find some low-key ones down there too — a little bit for everybody.
From Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion joining forces again to the Rolling Stones starting the rollout for their first original album in nearly two decades, the weekend comes with an abundance of gifts. Let’s get started then!
Hot Music Friday – September 8, 2023
“Bongos” – Cardi B (feat. Megan Thee Stallion)
Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion have yet to miss, and they are now 2 for 2. Opening Hot Music Friday this week is their sophomore release as a pair following the earth-shattering “WAP” drop in 2020 that pissed off all the right people. If things go well, “Bongos” will do as much positive damage as its predecessor.
“Angry” – The Rolling Stones
Few would dispute that the legendary Rolling Stones are the apex of no-nonsense rock ‘n’ roll. Sixty plus years into their career, they are set to drop their first tracklist of fresh material since 2005. The first single from Hackney Diamonds is now out, and if the band’s name isn’t enough to pull you in, check out its music video featuring Sydney Sweeney.
“Galaxy” – Quavo
Though “Galaxy” was released last month as part of Quavo‘s second solo album, Rocket Power, its visual supplement deserves a special mention of its own on Hot Music Friday. If you haven’t listened to the LP already, let this be your path in because you simply cannot skip past it on our watch.
“LUXURY LIFE” – Busta Rhymes (feat. Coi Leray)
The perfect collision does exist, and it’s usually when veterans cross paths with the stakeholders of modern culture. This Busta Rhymes and Coi Leray crossover is a prime example of how age doesn’t make you irrelevant; contrarily, all it take is the right sensibilities to make a hit, so it’s refreshing to see both artists bring out the best in each other.
“H.I.M” – Shawn Archer
We stay true to our word and bring you at least one bar-centered joint every Hot Music Friday. For the love of hip-hop, check out Shawn Archer‘s latest offering if you need a little break from all the above box-office hits and are in the mood to peep what Philly’s got cooking in the kitchen.
GUTS – Olivia Rodrigo
Olivia Rodrigo is officially the new princess of pop, so we need to give the California native her flowers every step of the way. Her second album has hit the public domain and it’s safe to say that she’s getting better with each release … like much, much better, almost to the point where it’s tough to believe she’s only 20 years old!
ItWasntEnough – XXXTentacion
Make no mistake, this isn’t another posthumous release put together from scraps. In fact, these four songs were originally recorded for the late XXXTentacion‘s debut mixtape and were already floating around on Soundcloud prior to their official release. With proper access to them in the form of a single package, it’s for you to decide if dropping these cuts was the right move.
Bird Machine – Sparklehorse
Let’s once again conclude Hot Music Friday by switching up the mood, and there’s no better album for that than the final, bittersweet LP by Sparklehorse.
The Virginia indie rock outfit came to an abrupt end following the death of frontman Mark Linkous in 2010. Over the past year, the surviving members and their label have been teasing one last album with a series of fuzzy singles, and it’s now time to see if it was worth the wait. Hint: it totally was.
