Rated by The Face: a weekly playlist
Featuring a soul-soothing single from Lil Nas X, a bottle-popping freestyle from Potter Payper and politically potent rap from Stiff Pap.
Following the satanic smut and the ensuing chaos of Montero, Lil Nas X has cooled it down a little with this tender new single, during which he consoles a younger version of himself over jangly indie rock guitars.
Holly Humberstone – The Walls are Way Too Thin
It’s been a rough year. The rising pop star Holly Humberstone has shared a song about moving to a pokey London flat and trying to overcome the sinking feeling of loneliness. Many of us will relate.
The lowkey London singer continues her (very welcome) return with her second single of the year.
V.C.R. – Trip
Trip is a song about unrequited love. But it’s also “a leap into a dissociated Neptunian fairytale world where nothing is as it seems,” says Californian singer-violinist V.C.R. More of this stunning psychedelic soul to come with V.C.R.’s forthcoming debut EP.
Oneohtrix Point Never – Nothing’s Special ft. Rosalía
Most experimental musicians are destined to play laptop sets in dingy, sparsely populated venues for their entire careers, but in comparison, 0PN’s enjoyed plenty of glamour – especially since he’s been The Weeknd’s right hand man. Rosalía’s a breakthrough pop act with experimental instincts (see last year’s Arca collab). The two of them meet in the middle with this rework of the closing track from 0PN’s 2020 album, Magic Oneohtrix Point Never.
Stiff Pap – SASSA
Politically potent rap from the South African duo, who sound unlike anyone else right now.
Potter Payper – Topshottas freestyle
Potter Payper was in jail when he heard Stormzy shout him out on stage at Glastonbury. Now, the pair of them are labelmates on the recently launched 0207 Def Jam label. Topshottas is the sound of Payper popping a bottle in celebration.
