It’s mid-July, the days are long, the nights are warm, and whether you’re heading to a backyard hang, dancing until sunrise, or just zoning out with your headphones, the right playlist makes all the difference. This week’s roundup brings heat from every corner: comeback singles, global collaborations, and songs that sit somewhere between a slow burn and an all-out banger.
From Drake’s introspective new era and BLACKPINK’s high-energy return to Clipse linking up with Nas and AJR dropping one of their more dialed-in tracks, there’s plenty to unpack. But don’t miss THEKOIWAY’s “La Calle Quema”—a gritty, genre-blurring anthem years in the making that captures the tension and resilience of life on the move. No matter your vibe, there’s something here to lock into this weekend.
THEKOIWAY – La Calle Quema
Start your weekend with “La Calle Quema,” the latest from THEKOIWAY—a fiery blend of funk, hip-hop, and Latin soul that hits as hard as its message. A decade in the making, the track started in a Mexico City studio in 2012 and was reimagined in Brooklyn in 2024, featuring Chilean rapper Jamez Manuel (Zonora Point). With live drums, sharp verses, and production help from mixer Rocky Gallo (Norah Jones, CeeLo Green) and mastering engineer Tom Waltz (Fleetwood Mac, Alicia Keys), it’s a bold, streetwise anthem. Behind it is Chilean producer Victor Vildósola, whose genre-defying project fuses Andean instruments, funk grooves, and Latin folk into something raw, global, and deeply human. “La Calle Quema” dives into survival and inequality, painting vivid scenes from Santiago to the Bronx—it’s gritty, honest, and impossible to ignore.
Drake – What Did I Miss
Drake is in reflection mode on “What Did I Miss?”, the first drop from his upcoming Iceman project. With moody production and a sense of personal reckoning, fans are already speculating that he’s unpacking the fallout from his 2024 beef with Kendrick—and how it’s reshaped the people around him. The rollout started with Iceman: Episode 1, a laid-back livestream where he cruised around Toronto in a truck and ended up surrounded by fans. As anticipation builds ahead of his Wireless Festival 2025 set, this track feels like a soft launch into a new chapter.
Justin Bieber – Swag
On the title track of his new album, Justin Bieber links up with Cash Cobain and longtime collaborator Eddie Benjamin for “Swag,” the album’s most hip-hop-forward moment—and one of its best. The trio shares the mic with confidence and chemistry, coasting over a slick beat as they chant, “I’ll put you on.” Cash brings the attitude (“That’s swag, for certain”), but it’s Benjamin’s smooth vocals that truly elevate the track. It’s a confident, no-skip flex that delivers exactly what it promises.
Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out
The Clipse comeback is real—, and “Let God Sort Em Out / Chandeliers” proves they haven’t lost a step. With chilly, stripped-down production and razor-sharp bars from Pusha T and Malice, the track explores faith, survival, and legacy in just under three minutes. A surprise beat switch brings in Nas, who adds weight with a low-key, reflective verse. It’s tight, elegant, and leaves you wanting more—proof that Clipse can still cut deep with precision and restraint.
BLACKPINK – Jump
“Jump” marks BLACKPINK’s bold return, fusing their signature genre mashup with a hardstyle twist. The brassy, trumpet-led hook feels like a World Cup anthem by way of a spaghetti Western, and while it doesn’t go full throttle, it’s packed with cinematic flair. Lyrically, it’s all about cutting loose with your girls and leaving behind whoever can’t keep up. Nearly three years since their last group title track, “Jump” shows that BLACKPINK hasn’t missed a beat—, even in a fast-moving K-pop landscape.
Deftones – My Mind Is a Mountain
Deftones are back with “My Mind Is a Mountain,” a slow-building, atmospheric track that balances metal grit with moody elegance. It channels the layered textures of Ohms and White Pony, but with a sharper contrast between distorted guitars and ethereal white noise. Chino Moreno’s haunting vocals bring a melodic weight to the chaos, pushing the track into deeply cinematic territory. It’s tense, textured, and a reminder of how deftly Deftones blend aggression with introspection.
Tyla – Is It
Tyla might’ve just dropped a sleeper hit of the summer with “Is It”—a sultry, confident shift into R&B that trades Amapiano bounce for something a little steamier. Produced by Sammy Soso, Ari PenSmith, Believve, and Mocha Bands, the track rides a sticky, late-night beat while Tyla’s smooth delivery makes the lyrics pop. “Is it the fucks that I don’t give?” she asks—bold, playful, and totally made for TikTok. Catchy enough for dance floors, cool enough for rooftop nights, and sharp enough to stick.
AJR – Betty
“Betty” is a fun one—catchy, quirky, and unmistakably AJR. Built on a solid instrumental foundation and a unique production style, it leans into the band’s theatrical pop sensibilities without getting too chaotic. The vocal melodies are sticky in the best way, and while the song might come off as just “alright” on first listen, it’s hard to deny how earwormable it is. Lyrically, it’s more focused than some of their past work, which gives the track a little extra polish. It’s not trying to be profound—it just wants to soundtrack your summer in the weirdest, most charming way possible.
Good Neighbours – Suburbs
Good Neighbours—aka Scott Verrill and Oli Fox—slow things down with “Suburbs,” a quietly powerful track that builds without ever bursting. With hushed vocals, soft percussion, and gentle guitar work, it’s a masterclass in subtlety. Lyrically, it captures the push-pull of comfort and restlessness, the kind of reflection that sneaks up on you in late summer. Emotional but never heavy-handed, it’s a track that rewards patience—and plays best when the sun’s just starting to dip.
