Y: Janelle Monáe and her Wondaland Records crew (who recently led a march against police brutality in Philly) revamped her song “Hell You Talmbout” (originally a bonus track on the deluxe edition of Electric Lady) into a primal thumping drum tune that urges us to remember all the black victims of police brutality. Understatement: It’s a tough listen. According to Monáe, “We recorded it to channel the pain, fear, and trauma caused by the ongoing slaughter of our brothers and sisters.”
Y: ASTR’s hollowed out remix of Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Run Away With Me” probably sounds great when you’re listening to it while speeding through a tunnel. [Spin]
N: Ugh, French Montana’s garbled, off-beat verse instantly ruins the mood of Mariah Carey’s “Why You Mad” remix from the start and it never picks back up. This should’ve just been a Mariah-Bieber duet. [Rap-Up]
N: Truthfully, I watched Tyga’s video “Don’t C Me Comin” just to hate on it, and to continue to fail to understand how he still legitimately makes music. There’s a lion in it, so that’s cool, though. [Rap-Up]
Y: Lauren Mayberry sings in that trademark whisper chirp about cyclical toxic relationships to the tune of a soft stomp of a rhythm on Chvrches’ “Never Ending Circles”: “Cut off/ I’ll go my way if I’m going at all.” [Stereogum]N: Jordin Sparks’ “They Don’t Give” song and video is all about how people don’t care about her relationship. I don’t care enough to give it a yes. [That Grape Juice]
Y: This Keznamdi remix of Jidenna’s “Classic Man,” flipped into a Rasta smoke anthem, works, but I wish it nixed the “Fancy” bass line from the original. [Complex]
Y: Hot Chip’s “Started Right” video takes place in a karaoke bar with neon lights, fake found footage and 360 camera pans. Nostalgia wins I guess. [Pitchfork]N: Salva and Eprom’s remix of Kanye West’s “All Day” adds lots of unnecessary layered noise, which Stereogum calls a “violent destruction.” Don’t like it. [Stereogum]
Y: Angel Haze breathlessly describes herself as “your favorite rapper’s mortician” on the “Babe Ruthless,” a bombastic turn-up. [Fader]
N: Uh, Brian McKnight has a new song about how a woman gives him “that uh oh feeling” and has thus re-enrolled in kindergarten. [This Is RnB]
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