It’s a great time to be a TDE fan. Between new releases from Doechii, Kendrick Lamar, and SZA, fans have been consistently well-fed this year with high-quality tracks – and things aren’t slowing down anytime soon. After spending 2022 collaborating with artists like Blxst and Isabella, this week Zacari returns with “Bliss”, his first single of the year. Assisted by none other than Isaiah Rashad, “Bliss” sees Zacari’s dulcet tones effortlessly flowing over cinematic Memphis-flavored ambiance on his newest summer banger. The last time these two icons collaborated was on 2021’s “Rainy Day” with Buddy, but this week Zacari and Isaiah Rashad magnify their high-octane energy and undeniable chemistry on a futuristic southern bop. It’s been a long time since Zacari’s last project in 2019, but hopefully “Bliss” is an indicator that new music is on the horizon. With more music and visually likely planned for the near future, Zacari is an artist that needs to be on your radar this year. Check out Zacari and Isaiah Rashad’s “Bliss” below:

Last week producer powerhouse Powers Pleasant dropped “Overseas” – a stacked new single featuring an unparalleled roster of hip-hop talent. Sporting verses from Maxo Kream, Kenny Mason, Bas, and Erick the Architect, “Overseas” is a strong contender for one of the hottest hip-hop releases this year. From Kenny’s perfectly-dextrous raps to Maxo Kream’s signature Houston flair, “Overseas” is yet another powerful entry into the NY producer’s already-stacked discography. Channeling the sacred energy of tracks like “Mercy” or “Fuckin’ Problem”, Powers is thankfully revitalizing the “get all your friends on a track and go crazy” vibe all year long – and I’m totally here for it. Sporting a fakedell-directed visual, “Overseas” also sees Powers Pleasant voyaging across the country to shoot with his peers. The result? A video that combines every artist’s own style and energy into something refreshingly unique – just like “Overseas” itself. Whether he’s driving around with Kenny Mason or lounging by the pool with Bas and Erick the Architect – Powers Pleasant’s 2022 takeover is just as effortless as it is understated. Between his recent releases, fans are wondering the fated question: could Powers Pleasant be indicating a follow-up to 2019’s Life Is Beautiful? The answer is …

With two singles released so far this year, it’s safe to say that we’ve entered bLAck pARty season. Known best for his slick instrumentation and hypnotic melodies, the LA-via-Little Rock artist returns to listeners this week with “On My Way”, the next step in the rollout for his forthcoming LP Hummingbird. Fusing his dulcet tones and laid-back delivery with a glittering washed-out mix, bLAck pARty knows how to hold his audience’s attention – and “On My Way” is no exception. Unlike the electro-funk-laden “Hotline” released last month, bLAck pARty’s newest single is a true return to form. Between “On My Way”‘s clever writing and relaxed vocal layers, the hype for a new project has escalated to unreal levels. I’m not saying that “On My Way” is the song of the summer just yet, but you’d be hard-pressed catching me playing anything else this summer. With his new album Hummingbird slated for release July 14 – now is a great time to be a bLAck pARty fan. Check out bLAck pARty’s new track “On My Way” below:  

In the wake of Cochise’s 2021 debut Benbow Crescent, few artists have made me eagerly anticipate their upcoming records like him. A year and a handful of singles later – Cochise returns to us this week with THE INSPECTION – a tightly-woven collection of tracks primed to decorate your weekly rotation all summer long. Inspired by Inspector Gadget and Florida’s plugg scene – Cochise’s newest LP shows his signature sound evolving outwards while still sounding as concentrated as ever. Though tracks like “TURN IT UP” and “HALO” may sound like heightened instances of the young artist returning to form, THE INSPECTION is full of tracks that see Cochise trading in his psychedelic energy and adopting a more hard-hitting hip-hop register. Chief Keef and Yung Nudy even appear as guests on “HUNT” and “NICE” respectively, and tracks like “PROFESSOR PROFESSOR” see Cochise holding nothing back as he delivers cleverly-written bars with ah high-octane ferocity. Perfect for old and new fans of Cochise, THE INSPECTION is a record that is nothing if not worth the wait. With more music and visuals likely set for release before the end of the year, there’s never been a better time to be a Cochise fan. Check out Cochise’s …

Though only announced two weeks ago, the hype for Juicy J and Pi’erre Bourne’s collab record Space Age Pimpin has been unreal. The fire that album single “This Fronto” ignited in the hearts of myself and many others is one of passion and hope – fueled not only by a deep respect for the Memphis/Atlanta legends, but the faith that their divine connection would result in an album full of heaters. Our patience and trust are rewarded this week as Space Age Pimpin is anything a fan could want – eleven southern-flavored tracks combining classic Memphis Crunk with futuristic Atlanta psychedelia. A reference to 8Ball & MJG’s 1995 “Space Age Pimpin” – Pi’erre Bourne and Juicy J’s collaborative record is filled to the brim with music that carries a sacred reverence for the past while pushing the sound of modern music forward. While tracks like “You Want It” (featuring fellow Three 6 Mafia member Project Pat) and “Uhh Huh” may sound like Crunk with a heavy layer of modern Pi’erre polish, others like “Nft” and “Bring Them Out” see past meeting future as Pi’erre and Juicy J bend space and time to present listeners with something new. Whether or not you’re …

This month LA-based rapper Ajna returns with the eponymous final single from his upcoming LP Lifelines – a project that cycles through pain, perseverance, and everything in-between. Released alongside a Jazon Buzzell-directed visual, “Lifelines” details Ajna’s journey through a period of immense emotional trauma and the resilience required to overcome it. Over hard-hitting percussion and dejected jazz horns, Ajna presents listeners with a powerful story of growth following the untimely passing of a loved one. Haunted by memories of her, the visual for “Lifelines” sees our hero flexing his lyrical chops in the solitude of the deserts and sea – kept company only by juxtaposed visuals of the person he loved. Though the track’s emotional register definitely trends towards tragedy, “Lifelines” and Ajna’s forthcoming LP of the same name assisted him from spiraling into grief, ultimately providing listeners with a motivating and reassuring moment of serenity in an otherwise sad story. With his next project slated for release soon, Ajna’s an artist that needs to be kept on your radar this year. Perfect for fans of cleverly-written bars and nostalgic jazz beats, Ajna’s working hard to make his mark in 2022. Check out Ajna’s “Lifelines” below:  

Returning to LL this week with an uncommonly laid-back cut is none other than digicore/hip-hop favorite funeral with “none” – his newest midwxst-assisted single. Trading his high-energy glitchcore abrasion for muted piano chords and a relaxed drum loop, funeral flexes his writing chops with fellow Carolinian midwxst to craft the perfect track to colonize your summer rotation. “none” synthesizes the duo’s forward-thinking spirit with something undeniably nostalgic, sporting clever and humorous lyrics on top of a mix that could have been pulled from Tumblr in 2014. The result is something infectiously catchy, proving that even when funeral isn’t pulling out all the stops he’s still able to drop bangers effortlessly. It’s fair to say that funeral and midwxst have hit their creative stride with their most recent projects, eviscerated and better luck next time respectively, so anything else that drops this year from the two is simply a bonus gift for their already-fed fans. With more music and visuals hopefully slated for the near-future, funeral and midwxst are two artists that need to be kept on your radar. Check out “none” by funeral and midxwst below:

If you’ve spent any amount of time on TikTok this past spring, it’s likely that you’ve come across LA native kojima plus and his signature blend of hip-hop, R&B, and electronic music. Going from effectively 0 to 3400+ followers in a matter of weeks, the South Central artist is quickly picking up traction with his near-genreless music that pulls from a wide range of styles and influences (Toro Y Moi, Kanye West, Choker). Kojima’s an artist known only by the lucky few that keep their ears to the ground – but that changes today. Returning this week with his newest EP SKYLINE UNLIMITED, kojima plus hones his sound even further with five futuristic new tracks that span the genre register from hip-hop and pop to plugg and electronica. From the opening cinematic energy of “Saturn” to the final moments of space-age psychedelia on “Surfin’”, SKYLINE UNLIMITED is the most concentrated and boundary-pushing release from kojima plus thus far. Tracks like “Colors” are sparkling and melodic cuts that could have been pulled straight from Channel Orange, while the anthemic “Japanese Synth” sounds like an alternate reality where Kevin Abstract existed in the Cowboy Bebop universe. Synthesizing multiple influences and elements into something …