Roy and God Colony have teamed up for a surreal Xmas single

There’s so 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.

Skepta – Alpha Omega

“I’m not really a big fan of Shakespeare intelligent rap, I love stupid fun bars,” Skepta recently wrote on X, justifying the lyric ​“No I ain’t from Milwaukee but I’m a Mill Walking” from his new single Alpha Omega. Sure enough, the track’s packed with stupid fun. ​“I checked my balance, and it looked like a bag of onion rings,” he spits over a long slung beat courtesy of legendary trap producer Lex Luger. A version of Alpha Omega with Kanye West leaked back in August and there’s no explanation as to what happened to that. But Skeppy doesn’t need a superstar collab to make a banger. DR

Sky Ferreira – Leash

Sky Ferreira is so back. After a two year hiatus the singer has returned with a single for the highly-anticipated A24 film Babygirl. Heavy on the synths, the dark dream pop track is inspired by Nicole Kidman’s performance as a CEO entering into a sadomasochistic affair with her much younger intern (Harris Dickinson). ​“Chains are heavy, pull me close to you /​Every scrape leads me back to you,” Sky sings. Kinky. TL

Roy & God Colony — Loss Is Not Infinite

Would you rather be right or happy? This is just one of the hard-hitting questions poet Roy, aka PJ Smith, asks on this collab with London/​Liverpool duo God Colony. All this in an attempt to achieve the mightiest of feats: reaching Christmas No.1, in aid of Damien John Kelly House, a live-in centre in Liverpool for men recovering from addiction. No one knows about that better than Roy, whose razor sharp short stories about recovery are some of the best and funniest around. On this surreal track, he adapts a story from his 2020 collection Algorithm Party, exposing the absurdities and contradictions of modern life and channelling his trademark dry humour and wit, which is punctuated by a comforting refrain: ​“Loss is not infinite”, to the dulcet tones of smooth sax. Click here to support!

Nettspend – Skipping Class

Back in the summer, Nettpend’s Deftones-sampling single That One Song was sadly pulled from streaming, seemingly due to licensing issues. But that hasn’t knocked the teenage rapper’s confidence. Skipping Class, taken from his highly-anticipated debut mixtape Bad Aass F*cking Kid, is a truancy anthem that samples Grimes’ era-defining 2012 track Genesis, corrupting the ethereal synths with distorted bass and explosive drums. It might sound like a mess on first listen, until you realise that Nettspend’s restless raps are strangely addictive. DR

Valee and Surf Gang – Why Not

Much-loved Chicago rapper Valee and New York cool kids Surf Gang have teamed up for new track Why Not, a laid back track featuring an ethereal hip-hop beat from SG boss EvilGiane and Niketech that’s overlain with Valee’s husky flow. Running at only 1:39, Why Not is a short but sweet taste of Valee and Surf Gang’s upcoming EP, Grey Sky London. TL

Blaketheman1000 & Chloe Cherry – I Want More Money

Hot on the heels of his acapella Nickelback cover, NYC funny guy Blaketheman1000 has teamed up with Euphoria star Chloe Cherry for this breezy indie-rap song about the struggle for fame and fortune, which comes with an off-the-wall vid inspired by MTV’s ​‘00s dating show Next. Having crossed paths after Chloe used Blake’s track Pixies on TikTok, these guys have bonded over pop culture, smoking weed and eating in restaurants. ​“I always wanted to make music but never felt like I was good enough,” Chloe said in the press notes. ​“Blake made me feel comfortable enough with myself musically to make a real song.” Good vibes. DR