The Listening: Lil Durk, Ari Lennox, Will Smith and More

Staying in the Golden State, one of the week’s best is a quintessentially California track from Lefty Gunplay, and Ty Dolla $ign proves the West Coast vibes are front-and-center on his reggaeton-tinged single with Feid.

Each week, Okayplayer will deliver a roundup of all the latest new heat from some of our favorite artists. Check out the latest offerings below.

NEW SONGS

G PERICO & DJ DRAMA “LA TAKEOVER”

South Central street rap mainstay G Perico and the iconic ATL mixtape legend and producer DJ Drama release their latest – on the heels of 2023’s Hot Shot: Gangsta Grillz album.

NIONTAY. "MUMBLEMAN"

Niontay pulls up in all of his idiosyncratic splendor for this new one.

G.T. AND BIG SEAN,  “F.T.W.”

Detroit vs. everybody as two of the city’s most respected join forces for a new single. It’s all a win for the D’s culture and scene, and the music video features some stellar cameos from Icewear Vezzo, Babyface Ray, and Peezy.

LEFTY GUNPLAY WITH JASONMARTIN, MIKE & KEYS, “HEAVENS ABOVE (MY ANGEL)”

Los Angeles’ Lefty Gunplay terms up with JasonMartin and producers Mike & Keys for this killer single. Over an Amanda Perez sample, Lefty gets personal with Perez’s soft vocals perfectly repurposed.

BB TRICKZ, “NOT A PRETTY GIRL”

Reworking and breathing new life into “Pretty Girl” by Clairo, the super talented multi-talented artist gives us a bilingual banger.

FEID x TY DOLLA $IGN – “DALLAX”

The groovy first single from this team-up is a reggaeton/rap hybrid that sounds like the perfect anthem for the warmer months. Pure California heat.

ARI LENNOX “SOFT GIRL ERA”

In what hopefully means an album is forthcoming, the critically acclaimed singer-songwriter returns with her first new release of the year. Right in time for her birthday, no less.

YUNG LEAN  – ”BABYFACE MANIACS”

Whetting fans’ appetite before the drop of his highly anticipated Jonatan, “Babyface Maniacs” is the second musical appetizer before the album due in May.

FREDO BANG, ‘DIE SLOW’

Bang’s latest single features the rhymer's sharp lyrics, aimed inward, over the track’s soulful church organ and emotional piano chords.

NEW ALBUMS

AQYILA ‘Falling Into Place’

A melding of Caribbean vibes, soulfully rendered with a jazzy polish, this is an accomplished debut project from the R&B upstart.

NAV, ‘OMW2 Rexdale’

His fifth studio album is a somber mixtape-turned-official album, that shows he can mine moodiness for captivating music. Late night vibes.

JESSIE REYEZ, ‘Paid In Memories’

A stirring mix of genres that also features a strong lineup of guest stars – from Big Sean to Weezy to Ari Lennox – that shows she’s still not playing by anyone’s rules.

BOLDY JAMES & ANTT BEATZ, ‘Hommage’

The latest in a string of great team ups for James and an inspired collaborative effort from both artists that stands out as a strong addition to both catalogs.

LIL DURK, ‘Deep Thoughts’

As the album title suggests, the new album from the Chicago rapper brings the listener into his mental state as he grapples with incarceration. A look at remorse and reflection.

WILL SMITH, ‘Based On A True Story’

The former Fresh Prince is back. The entertainment superstar returns to his hip-hop roots with his first album in twenty years.

LORD SKO, 'PIFF'

Lord Sko continues a strong last 12 months with his debut album, PIFF, which features MAVI, Conway The Machine and more.