No matter if it be in an intimate video for ‘Circles Around This Town’ or an unpolished rap track about fleeing a hospital, The Weeknd’s new Dawn FM album captures many of his earlier themes while feeling less oppressive and more clear-cut than its predecessors.

Gunna may also feel disengaged from this song due to its uninspired production; his flexing is subpar while Gunna’s flow feels basic and uninspiring.

‘Sacrifice’ by The Weeknd ft. Young Thug & Future

Dawn FM, The Weeknd’s most recent album, is an impressively assured collection that delves headlong into some of the deepest existential issues ever explored by likeminded artists. Its profound lyrics have made this release an instantaneous hit, topping streaming charts and reclaiming his top spot on Billboard Artist 100 charts for two straight weeks – both feats are testaments of The Weeknd’s skill as an artist and as a musician.

This album also includes a collaboration with brash Atlanta rapper Young Thug and fellow XO member Future, entitled Sacrifice. This track sounds as though it were written specifically for video, complete with trap percussion and subtle synths. Both Young Thug and Future boast about their achievements while The Weeknd flaunts his wealth in this track.

Sacrifice’s lyrics could have been so much better; The Weeknd is an expert at conveying emotion through music. Unfortunately, the rapping on Sacrifice falls flat; Young Thug’s cliche lines about being too rich to send text messages seem repetitive and flat.

Hoping that their next collaboration will far surpass this one, but this track does provide a good indicator of what we can expect on their album.

’25k jacket’ by Gunna ft. Lil Baby

Gunna followed up his breakthrough year in 2021 with the success of Wunna by creating another album – DS4EVER – that hit #1 on Billboard 200. This eclectic project includes everything from slow jams to hard-hitting bangers; with its debut track “Private Island,” an angelic tone loop synced to 808s and hi-hats showcasing how Gunna can craft soothing yet memorable music.

Lil Baby makes her presence known on “25K Jacket,” an infectious trap beat with an irresistibly melodic hook and catchy chorus that sums up their extravagant lifestyles perfectly. Their dynamic duet makes this track truly standout on the album.

Gunna’s song “Pushin P,” with its catchy hook and infectious beat, has become an internet favorite on TikTok and Twitter with users quoting its lyrics: “I’m so hot I could melt a snowman”. Additionally, its fast-paced beat features flute accompaniment to create its unique sound.

Overall, Gunna’s new album DS4EVER is an outstanding work with numerous highlights. While remaining true to Gunna’s Atlanta trap style, there are key moments of vulnerability and bravado throughout its 13 tracks that highlight his musical growth as an artist. His album features 21 Savage, Nechie, G-Herbo and Kodak Black amongst many others!

Even with its diverse collection of producers, Gunna’s album manages to maintain a cohesive vibe and show his star power as an individual musician; not relying too heavily on production but instead concentrating on his flow and sound of his music. Few rappers can achieve such results and Gunna certainly seems to possess the formula that will help win over new listeners in 2022.

‘Circles Around This Town’ by Maren Morris

After taking time away to focus on her music career and develop, country singer Maren Morris is back with new material and it shows. Her debut album opens with Circles Around This Town which will become beloved anthem for Music City dreamers everywhere. Co-written by Morris with Ryan Hurd, Julia Michaels and Jimmy Robbins as an anthem about Nashville dreams that also features lyrics reflecting Morris’ own struggles to gain success there including: “I’ve been trying to write circles around this town/Trying to say something with meaning/Something worth singing about.”

Morris has created a dynamic dance floor tune called Stompin’, infectious dance floor banger which could easily become the highlight of any festival or commercial, making this track her first single from her forthcoming project Intermission which will be released August 2. Additionally, Morris teased us with another song – Cut – from this same project, perfectly embodying our collective desire for perfection on an everyday basis – something most of us can relate to.

Morris excels throughout her record while remaining her signature combination of confident wit and charm. While this record features some more serious moments than her previous efforts (the title track delves into finding moral ground amid political unrest), its hallmark song represents an artist who has truly found her voice and knows how to craft a tale.

What Would This World Do? is an emotionally charged song which finds Morris mourning her producer Michael Busbee’s passing away. Though beautifully composed and featuring Brandi Carlile-esque epic piano sounds, its performance falls below some other tracks on this record. Even so, Morris’ new record remains an undoubtable success; her unique voice will likely keep her on charts for many years to come.

‘Mushroom Tea‘ by The Weeknd

The Weeknd (real name Abel Tesfaye), is one of the most nihilistic pop stars of recent memory. Since his breakthrough with 2011’s House of Balloons – his indie debut that would later go platinum-certified – and subsequent career progression from shadowy R&B insurgent to tentative pop star (then megastar!) has been truly incredible. From chart-dominating success with 2020’s After Hours to his Super Bowl halftime show (and subsequent Grammy snub), Tesfaye has become pop’s reigning dark prince, acting as an appropriate dark prince who speaks truthfully of our chaotic end times.

Dawn FM marks his fifth album in four years and dives headlong into some of pop music’s most unexplored existential themes, creating an unnervingly dark yet mesmerizing concept album about oversexed self-loathing, empty hook-ups, paranoid drugs and despicable fame.