Lemons /Courtesy of the artist

Don't play with Kari Faux. Play with your kids.

Quil Lemons /Courtesy of the artist

Whatever your goals this week, month or year, remember to move with intention and consistency. Whenever I find myself losing focus or fire, I have to remember why I started and the passion that pushed me to start in the first place.

Whether you need to move with the urgency of Kari Faux collecting some duly-owed coin, politick with the classy-ratchet confidence of Yung Baby Tate or maneuver as strategically as Blaccmass and BIGBABYGUCCI trying to find their next party, keep that energy on ten.

Check out the refreshed Heat Check playlist on Spotify and Apple Music.


Odunsi (The Engine), "Decided (feat. Tems)"

The nonchalant Nigerian wave maker returns with a pacing new gem. There's tinges of boy-band pop in his delivery, but the emotion and conviction are still intact.

"But I need to go deeper, fighting for freedom / My mind is a legion / Remember days when they said I wouldn't live up / Many times I didn't see trust / Many times I didn't see love / Now they see fire in my eyes / And wonder why everything took so long."

YouTube

April Maey, "Starry Night"

Representing Nigeria via Belgium, April Maey's Ticket to Anywhere EP floats with a bottled, jazzy excitement. You feel butterflies with each new verse. "Starry Night" highlights the underrated strength of pushing past the nerves to say what you feel.

"Even if the moon fall down tonight / We got stars around, and they might tell us why / Even if the stars don't speak tonight / We can light a fire so they will feel alright."

YouTube

Salt Cathedral, "How Beautiful (She Is) [feat. duendita and MC Bin Laden]"

Colombia's Salt Cathedral collides with Queens conjurer duendita and Brazilian funk chameleon MC Bin Laden for an unexpected texture of voices. A stunner like "How Beautiful (She Is)" is the type of crossover surprise that brings worlds together.

YouTube

Kari Faux, "StickUp!"

Make no mistake: Kari Faux is keeping track of who owes her what! This is the track you play to hype yourself right before going into salary negotiations or while loading up your car with the crew to get your stuff back from your ex's crib. Either way, it's time to pay off your debts.

YouTube

Yung Baby Tate, "Never Lonely (feat. Jozzy)"

The bubblegum, classy-ratchet musical manifestos of Georgia triple threat Yung Baby Tate fit perfectly in the world of Issa Rae's award-winning comedy, Insecure. So it's only right that, when the show came back from its short hiatus this past weekend, the music supervisors rung in the occasion with a confident, new Baby Tate banger.

YouTube

Skepta, Chip & Young Adz, "Mains"

The trap flute prevails on "Mains," a bouncy yet deterrent heater off Insomnia, the latest collaborative album by U.K. rappers Skepta, Chip and Young Adz.

"Ex man talk about beef, man catch him eating chicken and fries / Yeah, you might see my niggas in the video / But they're coming in disguise," Skeppy warns.

YouTube

Blaccmass and BIGBABYGUCCI, "Need Anotha Party (feat. KillBunk)"

Atlanta producer Blaccmass consistently impresses with adventurous flips and match-ups. (The beat smith is known for juxtaposing upcoming MCs or pop culture staples against classic hip-hop beats.) On "Need Anotha Party," BIGBABYGUCCI and KillBunk adjust their flows to this chopped, smoothed and sanded bossanova production.

YouTube

All Songs Considered

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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 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 23, 2020

Heat Check: Caught Up And Curious

Enlarge this image Linda Diaz's "Magic" swirls in the watercolor pools of a quirky, young love. Jonah Zorn Koplin/Courtesy of the artist
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

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Default Image
Dec 17, 2019

Bob Boilen's Top 20 Albums For 2019

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Dec 16, 2019

Heat Check: Favorite Discoveries Of 2019

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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

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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

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Oct 20, 2019

Heat Check: Getting Lost, Giving In

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Heat Check: Songs That Let It All Out

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Sep 29, 2019

Heat Check: Euphoric Shuffle Play

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Sep 15, 2019

Heat Check: Future Nostalgia

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Sep 02, 2019

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