A&C editor Josh Baumbach picks “the five songs (he) can’t stop listening to”
“D.D.” by The Weeknd – R&B singer The Weeknd has been creating a name for himself by releasing album-quality mixtapes. His most recent mixtape/album, “Echoes Of Silence,” features this almost modernized but vocally powerful cover of Michael Jackson’s “Dirty Diana.”
“Lonely Boy” by The Black Keys – When a band releases an album titled “El Camino” with a run-down, mid-‘90s Plymouth Voyager on the cover, you know they’re going to be fun to listen to. “Lonely Boy” is a high-energy yet slightly retro track that gets you moving.
“Monsters In My Head” by Crooked I, featuring Slaughterhouse – Crooked I is technically part of Slaughterhouse, but “Monsters In My Head” is credited to him because it appears on his mixtape “Psalm 82:6.” Crooked I, Joe Budden, Royce da 5’9”, and Joell Ortiz deliver deep lyrics accompanied by a haunting hook.
“Stay Schemin’” by Rick Ross, featuring Drake and French Montana – The standout track off Ross’ album-quality mixtape “Rich Forever,” “Stay Schemin” is entertaining and topical in its lyricism, referencing Kobe Bryant’s recent divorce: “Kobe about to lose 150 Ms — you wasn’t with him shooting in the gym!”
“Teleport 2 Me, Jamie” by WZRD – A rock-influenced side project by Kid Cudi and producer Dot Da Genius, WZRD’s self-titled debut is a sonically-sound departure from Cudi’s usual fare. “Teleport 2 Me, Jamie” sounds like it’s from a futuristic John Hughes rom-com — in a good way.
