Nettspend emerges from the rap underground with F*CK SWAG

There’s much music out there and sometimes it’s hard to keep up.

Rather than letting the algorithm dictate your music taste, you can listen to Rated by THE FACE – a playlist that’s updated by our (human) editorial team every week.

Nettspend – F*CK SWAG

Out of all the intriguing characters in the newAmerican rap underground, Nettspend is the one who’s got the best shot at crossing over to the mainstream. But there have been speedbumps: the 17-year-old’s last single That One Song, which featured a Deftones sample, was pulled from streaming services soon after its release (their loss). F*CK SWAG feels like another polished drop to prepare Nettspend for a bigger audience and it comes with a big budget Cole Bennett-directed video. But his X‑rated bars and Björk references might get missed by older listeners who aren’t used to the wriggly, autotune-gargled voices of the new school. DR

Chy Cartier – YO! (remix) ft. Headie One

We included Chy Cartier’s knotty single YO! on Rated by THE FACE a couple of weeks back, and since then the track has hit 20 million TikTok views. Headie One, a master of sly wordplay, is an inspired choice for the remix guest. Here, the Tottenham drill king matches Chy’s lyrical prowess with punchlines referencing Skepta, Fred Again…, Chelsea footballer Michael Essien and, erm, Debenhams. DR

Ela Minus – Broken

There’s nothing broken about Colombian musician Ela Minus’ new single. Broken is a hopeful track that dips its toe into both techno and pop, pairing themes of self-discovery and reflection with a thumping, fizzing bassline, both of which conjure up images of soaring, finally, after a period of emotional turmoil. JW

Babymorocco – Babestation

With his debut EP The Sound, Babymorocco established himself as a subversive student of ​“attention-seeking, booze-cruise party music”. His new single Babestation feels like a rollicking continuation of that wild mission and then some. For the occasion, Babymorocco chews up the feelings of lonely horniness associated with the adult TV channel, before throwing them all back up via pulverising electroclash production. All in all, a great time. JW

Geordie Greep – Walk Up

The singer and guitarist in the now-disbanded Black Midi – the band which spearheaded an experimental rock renaissance a few years ago – is now going at it alone. The result? One hell of a solo album, The New Sound, which does what it says on the tin: introduce you to something entirely singular and discombobulating in equal measure. Recorded between São Paulo and London before the band broke up, Geordie makes eclectic references to ​“música popular brasileira” on this record; a stand-out is the pretty rude, pretty nihilistic Walk Up, which, with all its crass lyricism and unpredictable instrumentation, is uncompromising in its artistry and ambition. JW