Kevin Abstract and Lil Nas X’s ‘Tennessee’ is a starry-eyed love song. They are both infatuated as they mix laid-back raps with some smooth melodies. The production is hazy, with layered synths swarming the mix and leading you into a state of hypnosis. It’s an enamoured serenade with an almost-extraterrestrial backdrop.

There’s a lot to say about this new Vv Pete track. Utility and DJ Plead form a dynamic duo on production, with UTILITY’s distorted bass and siren-like synths adding an essence of cyberpunk to Plead’s infusion of Lebanese timbre. Vv herself continues to prove that she can rap on anything, delivering sleek lines throughout a series of different flows and vocal inflections. ‘Mashallah’ is a playlist must for those moments where energy needs to be elevated.

“Walking home 12 years old, while bumping Many Men”, Curtis Damage raps on ‘Coach Carter’, and the influence of that classic 50 Cent track can be heard throughout this track. His bars feature reflections on life that he turns into whirlwinds of wordplay. The synths in the production are horror movie-like, but the drums blast with the bounce of early 2000s East Coast hip-hop. No time for window shopping; this is the moment where you buy into this Sydney spitter.

On ‘Got It’, Brazen Barbie lets us know that her time is expensive; this is clear as she wastes none of it getting to business. The blustering confidence in her bars is contagious and gets you absolutely hyped. The beat shines with its trap drum patterns and bombarding 808s. It’s a slicing, straightforward banger.

“No mistakes homie, got no room for them” IJALE proclaims on ‘So Be It’, speaking to the motivated space the Melbourne rapper/singer/producer is in right now. It’s a true showcase of his versatility, as he seamlessly switches between scurrying triplet flows, open-book lyricism, and impassioned crooning passages. The production is straight-up dreamy, with lush keys, guitar jangles, and a reverb-drenched ambience. IJALE just continues to get better and better.

With ‘act v’, 4batz affirms that he is a unique figure in the alternative R&B space. This new track is free of the gloomy soundscapes we typically hear from the scene, instead pairing warm, vintage-feeling keys to create something reminiscent you’d hear off of Usher’s self-titled album. 4batz maintains the softness in his voice, but uses a knack for storytelling to weave a tale of love finding its way out of duress. It’s a highlight off his new project u made me a st4r, which you can stream now.

LEE. and Tommy Gunn’s new song ‘STUCK’ is a moment of celebration. They reflect on the highlights of their musical journey thus far with slick melodies, conveying a sense of accomplishment with every word they sing. The production here spirited, providing the perfect bounce to pop bottles to.

Forest Claudette’s ‘Big Wigs’ is a breezy blend of soul and R&B that’s bound to make you smile. Guitars strum with a sun-soaked liveliness. Horns howl in the background, spreading a sense of glee with every brass note. Forest is as multi-faceted as ever, mixing raspy warbles with swagger-rich raps. It closes out their new EP Jupiter, which is out now.

Kaiit is back, and returns don’t get much better than ‘Space’. As her soulful vocals start to fill the space of this song, we remember how striking her talent is. As she delivers these melodies throughout slick flows, we remember how she makes every section of a song exciting. As she vehemently soars over vibrant production, we remember why we missed her so much. There ain’t many like Kaiit, and this new single is a must listen.

Simon Says’ is a lurker of a track. Eric Spice uses eerie guitar chords to create an atmosphere of haze, which MAMMOTH. wanders through with raspy raps. Singer/songwriter Jimmy Hardwood jumps on the hook, howling into the night with bone-chilling melodies.