Wizkid Wows On Our New "R&B Season" Playlist Update: Stream

BYGabriel Bras Nevares1.5K Views
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Oyafestivalen 2023 - Day 1
OSLO, NORWAY - AUGUST 09: Wizkid performs during day 1 of Oyafestivalen 2023 on August 09, 2023 in Oslo, Norway. (Photo by Per Ole Hagen/Redferns/Getty Images)
In addition, SAFE and Nic Dean provided some great songs for the holiday season. Which one of these was your favorite this week?

We're pretty deep into the holiday season, and as you may have noticed, the new music release schedule is looking quite scant these days. Rather than promote new work or perform, artists would rather relax with their loved ones, take a nice break, and allow people to do the same without missing out on any big drops. Still, there are a couple of new songs and projects to sink your teeth into that we couldn't help but shout out. On this new R&B Season update, we took a look at the few but fulfilling releases within and adjacent to the genre this week. Turns out that even amid a slower season, there are always plenty of gems to find in the music world.

Leading the way this season is Wizkid's new four-track EP, S2, which is another helping of his Afrobeat waviness. Moreover, there are two specific cuts from this brief collection that were particularly refreshing and enjoyable for (hopefully) your days off. One is the Zlatan-assisted "IDK," which brings some crisp percussion, well-contrasted vocal performances, and gorgeous backing harmonies to compliment the melodies. The other, "Ololufe" with Wande Coal, is more of a dancehall-inspired cut with more club flair, watery synthesizers, and shuffling beats to vibe out to.

HNHH R&B Season Playlist: Stream

Next on R&B Season is the new single from SAFE: the sultry, slow-burning, and infectiously atmospheric "ttuctmd." This is a track that fits much more snugly into these wintery months with its restrained vocals, woozy synthesizers, and minimal production. However, there's a Jersey club flip at one point that injects the song with some brief revitalizing energy before slipping right back into its cloudy soundscape. Given how subtly the Toronto artist was able to switch between these appeals, we can't wait to see what else he does to develop this skill.

Finally, we want to highlight the new song from Nic Dean, as "Withdrawal" is a similarly hazy but much more dramatic offering. With cavernous drums and wailing synth pads, it's a fitting single to lose yourself in and become fully immersed in its emotional pallet. Let us know what your favorite release of these was in the comments down below– and what else we missed this week, too. Check our R&B Season playlist out above and, as always, come back to HNHH for more great music releases around the clock.

About The Author
Gabriel Bras Nevares is a staff writer for HotNewHipHop. He joined HNHH while completing his B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication at The George Washington University in the summer of 2022. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Gabriel treasures the crossover between his native reggaetón and hip-hop news coverage, such as his review for Bad Bunny’s hometown concert in 2024. But more specifically, he digs for the deeper side of hip-hop conversations, whether that’s the “death” of the genre in 2023, the lyrical and parasocial intricacies of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake battle, or the many moving parts of the Young Thug and YSL RICO case. Beyond engaging and breaking news coverage, Gabriel makes the most out of his concert obsessions, reviewing and recapping festivals like Rolling Loud Miami and Camp Flog Gnaw. He’s also developed a strong editorial voice through album reviews, think-pieces, and interviews with some of the genre’s brightest upstarts and most enduring obscured gems like Homeboy Sandman, Bktherula, Bas, and Devin Malik.
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