This feature highlights a hand-picked selection of some of the bigger tracks of the week. We have chosen a few of the tracks that landed within our top 10 most played, focusing on those that stood out, and left room for discussion.
Once again, this particular feature is cataloguing the most POPULAR songs on the site, for some of the more overlooked tracks, check out Underrated Audio.
This edition of Top Tracks features Lil Wayne, Juicy J, DJ Khaled and more. Take a look at the list in the gallery above, and feel free to let us know your own favorite tracks in the comments.
DJ Khaled- Hold U Down (Freat. Chris Brown, Jeremih, Future & August Alsina)
DJ Khaled- Hold U Down (Freat. Chris Brown, Jeremih, Future & August Alsina)
The R&B crew track is a rarely attempted, likely because it's hard to pull off. Four crooners on the same track can seem lot more crowded than 4 rappers, but on DJ Khaled's "Hold U Down" there isn't too much toe-stepping going on, though it does mean stretching the runtime a tad long. Somehow, Jeremih comes out the MVP and most underused singer on the song, extending his recent string of impressive singles. The for-the-ladies jam proves that while Khaled's style is based in event-singles, he can also exhibit range.
Jeremih- Can't Go No Mo (Feat. Juicy J)
It's hard to say why this one was pulled from Jeremih's upcoming album. One doesn't generally ditch a shiny instrumental from Atlanta's prolific DJ Spinz, and a verse from a post-"Dark Horse" Juicy J. What seems like a recipe for a hit has been relegated to b-side status, but we're not mad at it. The Chicago singer delivers a memorable hook, and plenty of his signature layered vocal stabs. If this is what the leftovers sound like, we probably have a lot to look forward to with Late Nights: The Album.
Wiz Khalifa- Promises
"We Dem Boyz" displayed a reinvigorated Wiz, and what seemed like a new direction for the weeded-out rapper's new album. While it did predict the trap-obsessed 28 Grams, it certainly didn't say much for the rest of Blacc Hollywood, which has been quite varied, much of it leaning more toward pop and R&B than the first single's street aspirations suggested. "Promises" is one of the most melodic we've heard yet, and suits Khalifa, who extends his voice to a more ambitious range than his signature hazy-style of hook-writing.
Lil Wayne- Grindin' (Feat. Drake)
The first people said about "Grindin'" (after expressing there can only be one) was that Wayne was channelling non other than divisive ATL hitmaker Young Thug on it. This is a complex accusation, as Thugger has been vocal about the debt he owes to lean-era Weezy (not to mention, his melodies suggest he spent a whole lot of time listening to "Steady Mobbin'"). Either way, Wayne doesn't seem to be going to far out of his warbly comfort zone, while Drake supplies a more structured foil to his YM boss's weirdness. The martian's back.
Juicy J- Low (Feat. Nicki Minaj, Lil Bibby & Young Thug)
Dr. Luke and Juicy J work wonders together, but we knew that well before "Dark Horse" proved it on a commercial scale. The pop superproducer provided the sparkling beat for Juicy's "Bounce It", as well as the should've-been-hit "Scholarship" with ASAP Rocky. All of their collaborations have landed midway between Three Six's darkness, and EDM's top 40 appeal. The unlikely crossover rapper has scored yet another home run with "Low", and he's not even the best part. With Luke supplying an almost footwork-esque beat (the bassline closely resembling Nicki's "Chiraq" venture), Minaj brings her rhythmic best (the only rapper on the track to sit squarely on the punchy bass stabs at the beginning of her verse), while Thug adds brief but colorful melodic accents, and Lil Bibby adds some weaving Chi-town flows. Rarely is music this exciting this accessible, but Juicy and Luke seem to have cracked the code.