Take heed to new must-hear songs from rising R&B/hip-hop artists like Jon Vinyl and Flee Lord.
Cynthia Erivo at The 78th Annual Tony Awards held at Radio Metropolis Music Corridor on June 08, 2025 in New York.
John Nacion
The 2025 BET Awards dominated the weekend with a exceptional — however extremely lengthy — present that featured standout performances from breakout stars like Leon Thomas and Ravyn Lenae, in addition to stirring tributes to Final Icon honorees Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg, Jamie Foxx and Kirk Franklin.
Kendrick Lamar was the evening’s greatest winner, taking residence 5 trophies from 10 nominations, together with album of the yr for GNX and finest male hip-hop artist. The Compton MC stunned everybody by exhibiting up in individual to just accept his album of the yr award, making for one of many ceremony’s most thrilling moments. Chris Brown was the one different artist to win a number of awards on the BET Awards’ twenty fifth iteration, taking residence finest male R&B/pop artist and the viewer’s selection award for his hit single “Residuals.”
Along with the 4 sprawling Final Icon tributes, BET additionally opted to separate their in memoriam phase into thirds. For the primary part, Sinners star Miles Caton joined Grammy winner Lucky Daye and Grammy-nominated crooner Luke James for a soulful Quincy Jones tribute. Shortly after, Andra Day delivered a haunting rendition of “Killing Me Softly With His Tune” to honor the late Roberta Flack. Close to the ceremony’s shut, rising nation star Brittney Spencer took to the stage for a show-stopping cowl of the late Angie Stone‘s “No Extra Rain (In This Cloud).”
Each performers at Monday evening’s present (June 9), Lil Wayne and Amerie made headlines for non-awards-related information. Weezy, who not too long ago dropped a remix of “Banned From NO” with Nicki Minaj, dominated the weekend’s music dialog along with his new Tha Carter VI album, which was largely met with a tepid reception from followers and critics alike. Amerie additionally confronted a little bit of the Web’s wrath because of her spotty NPR Tiny Desk “1 Thing” performance, which she rapidly got here again from by way of two performances of her signature hit throughout BET Week.
With Recent Picks, Billboard goals to spotlight a few of the finest and most fascinating new sounds throughout R&B and hip-hop — from Cynthia Erivo’s huge solo swing to Sammy Virji and Skepta’s eclectic new collaboration. Be sure you try this week’s Recent Picks in our Spotify playlist beneath.
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Cynthia Erivo, “Play the Girl”
One way or the other, between racking up Oscar nominations as Elphaba in Depraved, guest-starring in Poker Face and internet hosting the 2025 Tonys, Cynthia Erivo discovered the time to craft her lush, 20-track sophomore studio LP, I Forgive You. A remarkably delicate document given her status for rafter-rattling belts, I Forgive You reaches a scintillating peak about halfway by means of with the soulful standout “Play The Girl.”
Co-written by Erivo, Justin Tranter and Will Wells, “Play the Girl” finds the Emmy, Grammy and Tony-winning powerhouse choosing a extra restrained vocal efficiency as she paints the guitar-inflected soundscape with vivid footage of queer love and need. “I might run these palms of mine down the map of your backbone/ Really feel how your warmth in opposition to my fingertips might make the blood in me rush,” she coos, injecting in every phrase with wholesome doses of vulnerability and flirtatiousness. — KYLE DENIS
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Sammy Virji & Skepta, “Cops & Robbers”
Storage producer Sammy Virji samples Brandy’s “I Wanna Be Down” and Child Cudi’s “Day & Night time” and faucets the legendary Skepta to offer a barfest to present us an absolute banger for the summer time. Huge Smoke’s hook is infectious, and his sharp verses present why he’s some of the versatile rappers doing it in the present day. What an absolute banger. — ANGEL DIAZ
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Sabrina Claudio, “Detoxing”
After spending the previous couple of years pouring into different artists as a author, Sabrina Claudio turned the mirror again on herself together with her liberating Fall in Love With Her mission. “Detoxing” finds Sabs seeking to flush away the toxins of an ex who minimize her deep. Guitar strings flood the background as Claudio’s potent vocals shine by means of, in comparison with the extra ethereal texture displayed on different components of the LP. She advised Forbes that “Detoxing” invokes emotions of nostalgia tied to Coldplay and Avril Lavigne tracks. — MICHAEL SAPONARA
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Jon Vinyl, “Dopamine”
A silky, heartfelt ode to infatuation and emotional intimacy, Jon Vinyl’s “Dopamine” is drenched in heat and sensual power. From the leap, he lays all of it out — that is about being captivated not simply by bodily magnificence, however by a connection that feels each grounding and euphoric. With strains like “She’s a masterpiece, I swear I would like all of it” and “My dopamine, the repair I’m searching for,” Vinyl positions this love curiosity as each his muse and medication. Lyrically, he blends vulnerability with reassurance, promising presence and safety. “Dopamine” seems like a late-night dialog wrapped in candlelight, the place each persons are letting their guards down and easily feeling. — CHRISTOPHER CLAXTON
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Josh Levi, “Don’t Go”
Recent off his run as an opener on FLO’s not too long ago wrapped Entry All Areas tour, rising R&B star Josh Levi has unleashed “Don’t Go” from his forthcoming debut studio album, Hydraulic. Constructed round an interpolation of Future’s Baby’s “No, No, No,” Levi pays tribute to his Houston roots whereas providing contemporary, uptempo R&B throughout Tone’s modern manufacturing. “Them different n—as can’t maintain her/ She like her kisses down low, Kelly Rowland/ She bought my sport controller/ She wanna rewind, by no means fast-forward,” he sing-raps within the second verse, riffing on DC4’s staccato vocal strategy and name-checking OG member Kelly Rowland. — Ok.D.
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Flee Lord & Eto feat. Conway the Machine, “Digi Scales”
Produced by Chrissianity, Far Rock and Upstate join for this unorthodox avenue single with a hook that pays homage to OJ da Juiceman. Flee Lord, Conway and Eto all ship stellar verses for this monitor devoted to digital scales. Ensure you tare it earlier than weighing up. — A.D.
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Lexa Gates, “Latency”
Billboard’s Hip-Hop Rookie of the Month for March jets into her subsequent period with the piano-driven “Latency.” Gates faucets into how persons are lusting for love, however don’t dive in to save lots of face and threat being embarrassed — even once they assume the connection is palpable. The 24-year-old described the intoxicating monitor as a “attractive fantasy of a love left on delay,” which was born out of a state of affairs of her being surrounded by wealthy previous males. “It’s a story as previous as time,” she says. Watch Lexa dwell out the fantasy of a real romance, taking her from NYC to the Hamptons within the visible. — M.S.
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SYX, Eric Bellinger, Steven G & Dom Belli, “All Wins All Yr”
“All Wins All Yr” is a triumphant anthem designed to gasoline confidence and ambition. Teaming up with R&B heavyweight Eric Bellinger, rising stars SYX, Steven G, and Dom Belli commerce verses with ease, showcasing a collective starvation for fulfillment and a refusal to accept something much less. The monitor radiates self-assurance and camaraderie as every artist boasts about their come-ups whereas uplifting their circle alongside the best way. “All Wins All Yr” is greater than a flex: It’s a celebration of perseverance, loyalty and the unstoppable momentum that comes whenever you transfer with goal and encompass your self with winners. — C.C.