Knucks and Larry June are very much kindred spirits. They are both storytellers, using life experiences as the fuel that allows them to float on beats. On ‘I Suppose’, this dynamic duo is as good as you’d expect, with Knucks maintaining a sleek energy with every line he spits, and Larry gracing the track with some melodies akin to the legend Nate Dogg. Kenny Beats’ production here perfectly suits the smooth nature of the rappers, pairing rattling hi-hats with synths that soar with a feeling of luxury. It’s California meets Kilburn, and it’s one cruisy bop.

‘Falling or Flying’ is a slow build of a song from Jorja Smith. It starts very minimalist, with nothing but some understated drum patterns accompanying Jorja’s howling voice. This progression culminates in an assortment of synths and guitars at the end, propelling the ear-catching melodies to an arena-ready level. It’s the opener off Jorja’s new EP of the same name, which you can stream now.

There’s a lot going on in this new Teezo track. The opening section jumps quickly from Raury-like acoustic guitars to distorted shreds you’d hear in a Motley Crue song; Teezo raps from atop this rollercoaster with the relaxed urgency of Andre 3000. A quick switch into the second half introduces us to a lush R&B serenade, where the oddball vocalist is hitting notes like Confessions-era Usher. The legendary Janelle Monáe warbles in the background as a support vocalist, enriching the euphoria of the guitar’s jangly strums. It’s a lot to cover and speaks to Teezo’s position as a cutting-edge alien in music right now. We can’t wait to hear what he has in store on his upcoming album how do you sleep at night?, which drops September 8th.

Doja Cat shines with an absolutely unhinged energy on ‘Demons’. Her cadence sits somewhere between a whisper and a shout, letting off scattered statements about purchasing limousines, quitting nicotine, and a slew of other braggadocious, tongue-in-cheek life updates. The foundation of the production is owed to a wild string sample loop, which wails alongside the rapper’s peculiar presence on the track. It’s all freaking weird, but this sort of off-kilter rap is why we love Doja in the first place.

Casting love spells and concocting potions is all that borders Temgazi’s ‘Voodoo’. This track is a sweet and sentimental ode to a love so strong and hypnotic it feels like it’s controlled by an unknown power. The guitar melody guides this track smoothly as Temgazi’s vocals burst through the sonic realm with conviction. It’s the third single from her that we’ve been treated to this year, which we hope may signal a larger project to come. In the meantime, we’re eagerly mesmerised by this track here.

With his newly-released EP Livoboy, Jamel has announced that he’s stepping away from his life as a musician. It’s a sad moment, but there’s a lot to celebrate about one of the project’s highlights, ‘know me’. Jamel fuses elements of R&B and rap, dishing out nasally croons on the hook and effortlessly unleashing smooth flows on his verse. Elijah Yo slides in for the second verse, contrasting Jamel’s laid-back approach with an enthusiastic barrage. It’s a versatile cut that showcases Jamel’s vehement approach to song craft. He will be missed!

On ‘By The Way’ every member of ECB raps their verse like it might their last. Passion propels from their voice, as they move through motivated flows. Smak’s production is jam-packed with bouncy percussion, creating the perfect atmosphere for Nate G, Chiggz and DJ AN to realise their full potential. ‘By The Way’ is a bonafide banger.

Naarm’s resident baddie, Srirachi is back with another bass-boosting bumper, ‘I’M BABY’. A Srirachi track is always a mixed bag of this and that, throwing you a curveball at any given time, and this song is no different. On one half, she dominates a speaker-busting trap beat before entering EDM/hardstyle territory at the switch-up. Her signature flow and delivery is what make her untouchable – as she continues to flirt and blend together the dichotomy of hard and soft and sweet and sour. Nonetheless, we’re going all in with what Srirachi is serving up.

‘2Nas’ is some high-octane hip-hop. The production is pulsating and jam-packs industrial flourishes, sounding like a stylisied shootout in a cyberpunk universe. The raps are yelping and enthused, matching the intensity of the song’s thumping tempo. It’s intense, and incredibly fire.

Inching closer to dominating the stages of BIGSOUND and SXSW Sydney, POOKIE has dropped the corrosive heater, ‘TALKIN DIS DAT’, to get you pumped. Keen to challenge herself musically, POOKIE dominates this Solo-produced drill beat, making it clear that anything she touches is gold. Detailing how this song allowed her to step into a different character, there’s no denying that the lengths and depths at which POOKIE is able to transform her sound are limitless. With brash animation and a commanding roar, we’re excited to have POOKIE back on our radar.