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toggle caption Jonah Zorn Koplin/Courtesy of the artist

Linda Diaz's "Magic" swirls in the watercolor pools of a quirky, young love.

Jonah Zorn Koplin/Courtesy of the artist

There's an unexpected jolt of energy that comes with getting caught up — whether you're ready for it or not. This week's selects run the gamet of what it means to get caught up — in the feeling of new love, in the pressure of perception, in the grips of temptation or in the cycle of the same old bulls***.

You know what it is. Stream this week's Heat Check playlist via Spotify and Apple Music.


Linda Diaz, "Magic"

Linda Diaz's twinkling 2019 EP, Magic, definitely positions this Afro Latina as one to watch in 2020. The project's lead single swirls in watercolor pools of quirky, young love.

"I wanna see you on the weekdays / And I wanna help you see beyond your weak days / Love's blind, but you might catch a glimpse if you watch."

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Phé, "Worst Days"

When your throat is dry and your knees are weak from poor decisions made the night before, Phé is here to catch you.

YouTube

Tame Impala, "Breathe Deeper"

Kevin Parker's long-awaited fourth studio album, The Slow Rush, dropped on Valentine's Day. With this much '70s-inspired R&B intensity and sultry guitar, you can fully expect an uptick in Scorpio babies come fall.

YouTube

Tan Brown, "Again? Again."

Tan Brown's sigh of resignation on "Again? Again." feels reserved as much as powerful. With delivery reminiscent of Meshell Ndegeocello's "Fool of Me," this track taps into the muted ecstasy of doing something bad because it feels good.

"It's nice to see you again / I hope you get real comfortable / Showed up without no warning."

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Tink, "I Ain't Got Time Today"

Having been played with one too many times, "I Ain't Got Time Today" is Tink's stone-faced banishment of her f***boy, executed with precision and grace.

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Oliver Malcolm, "Switched Up"

This UK super producer-turned-leading man's latest track is the synthy, sonic version of "Keep that same energy."

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Polo G & Lil Tjay, "First Place"

After striking lyrical chemistry and running up the Billboard charts with last year's "Pop Out," the Chicago-Bronx connection is still strong.

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The Weeknd, "After Hours"

In preparation for his fourth studio album due out March 20, The Weeknd returned to the woozy, wearied aura of his 2011 mixtape days (House of Balloons, Thursday and Echoes of Silence) by enlisting producer Illangelo for the title track. The sociopathic pop bop apologizes in advance, but doesn't really mean it.

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Dua Saleh, "mOth"

Dua Saleh's "mOth" — an acronym for Man of The Hour — lurches and lingers with the type of intriguing swag meant to draw you in just close enough so they can shoot you full of venom.

"I swear that I'm the man in the tower / I got a lawn chair / To watch the bloom of the hours / You got a Moncler / I wear the stink of the flowers / While all these Big Ben butterflies spring to devour."

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Giveon, "HEARTBREAK ANNIVERSARY"

Being "foolishly patient" will serve you no good here. This is the type of firmly rooted pain that only twists deeper.

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Luke Bar$, "Die With Pride"

The Boston rapper isn't worried about hypotheticals. Instead, he's caught up in reality and mortality, hoping his legacy will be solidified by the time he's gone.

YouTube

All Songs Considered

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Roséwave: Back 2 Basic

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Roséwave: Lost Summer

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Jun 29, 2020

Heat Check: Underrated And Elevating

Enlarge this image cupcakKe switches her flow up so many times that "Discounts" is a raunchy and hilarious three-minute shopper bargain.
Jun 22, 2020

Heat Check: Can't Get It For Free

Enlarge this image Miami duo City Girls returns with their second full-length album, City on Lock. Prince Williams/WireImage/Getty Images hide…
Jun 15, 2020

Heat Check: Bigger Picture

Enlarge this image Lil Baby's "The Bigger Picture" is a conscious trap anthem for the Black Lives Matter movement. Matthew Geovany
Jun 08, 2020

Meet The 2020 Tiny Desk Contest Community

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May 31, 2020

Heat Check: 'Black Joy Is Radical'

Enlarge this image Nubya Garcia's latest single "Pace" is all about diving into the many layers of joy. Adama Jalloh/Courtesy of
May 25, 2020

Heat Check: Got A Big Ego

Enlarge this image Amaarae cuts it up better than a moon-walking Samurai on "Body Count." Philip Boakye/Courtesy of the artist hide
May 03, 2020

Heat Check: Hippocampus Two-Steps

Enlarge this image Dreya Mac spits bars at a level far beyond a novice on her debut track "Skippin." Clara Setian/Courtesy
Apr 26, 2020

Heat Check: Shake Your Senses

Enlarge this image Rooted in languid rhythm, Octavian's "Poison" featuring Santi with OBONGJAYAR sounds like nothing else out. Crowns & Owls/Courtesy…
Apr 19, 2020

Heat Check: Double My W's

Enlarge this image Kenny Mason unveils his debut project Angelic Hoodrat with a cool-under-pressure, low-lid resolve. Nasser Boulaich/Courtesy of the…
Apr 12, 2020

Heat Check: Money In My Hand

Enlarge this image Don't play with Kari Faux. Play with your kids. Quil Lemons /Courtesy of the artist hide captiontoggle caption Quil
Apr 05, 2020

Heat Check: I Feel Void

Enlarge this image Empress Of's "Void" feels like a euphoric cross-genre culture clash, a dance party in a summer storm. Dorian Lopez/Courtesy
Mar 29, 2020

Heat Check: Teleport And Transform

Enlarge this image Bongeziwe Mabandla's "masiziyekelele" sends you racing through the streets of Johannesburg. Justice Mukheli/Courtesy of the artist…
Mar 22, 2020

Heat Check: Make It Make Sense

Enlarge this image Alex Isley's "Gone" perfects the art of subtle, fear-inducing seduction. Lauren Desberg /Courtesy of the artist hide captiontoggle…
Mar 08, 2020

Heat Check: Homecoming

Enlarge this image The laboriously-delayed Eternal Atake finally delivered big time for Lil Uzi Vert fans. Erika Goldring/FilmMagic/Getty Images hide…
Feb 17, 2020

Heat Check: Répéter, Répéter

Enlarge this image Arlo Parks' "Eugene" spins a stinging reminder of getting left for convention. Charlie Cummings/Courtesy of the artist hide…
Feb 09, 2020

Heat Check: Going All Out

Enlarge this image Victoria Monét melds fantasy with reality for her latest, "Moment." Dana Trippe/Courtesy of the artist hide captiontoggle caption…
Feb 03, 2020

The Tiny Desk Contest Is Back For 2020

YouTube In the past year, we've had some pretty big names come perform at the Tiny Desk: Lizzo, Jimmy Eat World and Taylor Swift, to name a few.
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Dec 17, 2019

Bob Boilen's Top 20 Albums For 2019

Big Thief released two of Bob Boilen's favorite albums in 2019: U.F.O.F. and Two Hands. Michael Buishas hide captiontoggle caption Michael Buishas
Dec 16, 2019

Heat Check: Favorite Discoveries Of 2019

Enlarge this image Kirby, Odunsi (The Engine) and Hope Tala Courtney Loo & David Karp/Folarin Omolayole/Freddie Stisted/Courtesy of the artists hide…
Dec 01, 2019

Heat Check: Ode To The Cap

Enlarge this image Kilo Kish's glitchy, pithy "SPARK" sets fire to procrastination, pushing you to keep creating. Kish Robinson/Courtesy of the artist
Nov 17, 2019

Poll: Your Favorite Songs Of The 2010s

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Heat Check: Charge The Haters Interest

Enlarge this image Denzel Curry's Super Saiyan energy offsets Glass Animals' eerie, horn-submerged production on "Tokyo Drifting." Elliot Arndt…
Nov 10, 2019

Heat Check: Lived-In R&B, Rap And Ragga

Enlarge this image With rich, cascading runs, Ayoni's "September" is a stand-out on this week's Heat Check. Caleb Griffin/Courtesy of the artist
Nov 10, 2019

Heat Check: Lived-In R&B, Rap And Ragga

Enlarge this image With rich, cascading runs, Ayoni's "September" is a stand-out on this week's Heat Check. Caleb Griffin/Courtesy of the artist
Oct 20, 2019

Heat Check: Getting Lost, Giving In

Enlarge this image TeaMarrr's mesmerizing new single "Kinda Love" is the type of daydream to put into action. Tyren Redd/Courtesy of the
Oct 06, 2019

Heat Check: Songs That Let It All Out

Enlarge this image The Pendletons provide a jazzy, dancing-in-your-living-room soundtrack to self-care. Ivan Noble/Courtesy of the artist hide…
Sep 29, 2019

Heat Check: Euphoric Shuffle Play

Enlarge this image Daniela Andrade's "Ayayai" (single artwork pictured here) shows off the artist's linguistic versatility. Yi-Shuan Lee/Courtesy of…
Sep 15, 2019

Heat Check: Future Nostalgia

Enlarge this image KIRBY's "Kool Aid" injects just the right doses of doo-wop and soul. Courtney Loo & David Karp/Courtesy of the
Sep 02, 2019

Heat Check: Friends Of Friends Of Friends

Enlarge this image Sudan Archives' "Confessions" is included in this week's Heat Check. Alex Black/Courtesy of the artist hide captiontoggle caption…

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