Listen to new must-hear songs from R&B/hip-hop artists like Jastin Martin and Mudbaby Ru.
6LACK in “Bird Flu” music video.
Joshua Kissi
Another week, another head-spinning collection of hip-hop and R&B headlines.
On Monday (March 23), the first presales for Jay-Z’s two forthcoming Yankee Stadium shows began, with hundreds of thousands of fans filling online queues for a chance to purchase tickets. Jiggman will celebrate the 30th anniversary of 1996’s Reasonable Doubt, his debut studio album, with a JAŸ-Z 30 show on July 10, and his landmark Blueprint LP will receive its 25th anniversary flowers during a JAŸ-Z 25 show on July 11. Hov’s upcoming trek previews a busy year in music touring, with Wu-Tang Clan and the three-pronged lineup of En Vogue, TLC and Salt-N-Pepa both announcing tours this week.
While hip-hop icons continue to flaunt their draw as live acts, two of the genre’s contemporary stars dominated the weekend with some personal news. Alongside the release of her new “Business & Personal” single, Latto confirmed her forthcoming Big Mama album (due May 29) and revealed that she’s pregnant with her first child, which she’s expecting with fellow Atlanta rapper 21 Savage.
Finally, on Friday (March 20), Chance the Rapper beat the legal claims brought against him by his longtime manager Pat Corcoran, with the jury also siding with the “Cocoa Butter Kisses “rapper on his 2021 countersuit, for which he was awarded just $35 in damages out of the $1 million he initially sought.
With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from a new 6LACK joint to a high-octane link-up between Mudbaby Ru and Key Glock. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
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6LACK, “Bird Flu”
Five-time Grammy nominee 6LACK is back with “Bird Flu,” the first single from his highly anticipated new Love Is the New Gangsta album, and it’s a real smooth listen. “An open ear can make a stranger feel like she’s somebody to me/ Why I did it wouldn’t make no sense to nobody but me/ So I take a beat, formulate how I feel, words too/ Been sick, baby, I’m so sick, got bird flu,” he sing-raps in the first verse over percussive, laid-back production. Although distractions and temptations attempt to steer him away from the power of true love, 6LACK eventually ends up on the right side by the song’s end. Moreover, he buries lyrical references to his past albums throughout the song, making for a lead single that doubles as a full-circle moment of accountability and maturation. — KYLE DENIS
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Mudbaby Ru & Key Glock, “Out the Mud”
Key Glock is very intentional about selecting his collaborations, and the Memphis titan lends a hefty co-sign to Arkansas rapper Mudbaby Ru on “Out the Mud.” Ru and the PRE rhymer make for a dynamic combination, kicking menacing street tales about their rugged upbringings over cinematic trap production while passing the mic back and forth. Glizock comes storming out of the gate with a nod to the emerging artist, who fittingly hails from West Memphis in Arkansas. “I got this s—t out the mud, baby, think I don’t got it on me, you must be crazy,” Glock raps to kick things off. Look for plenty more from Mudbaby Ru the rest of 2026 as fans await his major label debut on Geffen Records/Flawless Ent.
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Afroman, “Why You Disconnecting My Video Camera”
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Jastin Martin, “Flow State”
Jastin Martin leans into vulnerability and self-trust on “Flow State,” a reflective track about letting go of control and allowing life to unfold naturally. Written and produced by Martin herself, with additional engineering support from Izzy Garza and Chris Jordan, the song mirrors its message through a stripped-down, intimate feel, accented by her acoustic guitar performance. From the opening uncertainty of “What’s next? I don’t know…,” she resists panic and instead embraces acceptance, turning “let it flow” into both a mantra and a mindset. Jastin reminds the listener that life is something to align with rather than control. Don’t chase what isn’t meant for you and allow it to fall away naturally. “Flow State” captures the quiet strength in letting go and presents peace not as passivity, but as trust in timing, growth and the process. — CHRISTOPHER CLAXTON
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Alex Isley, “Chamomile”
“Ooh, ooh/ Ooh, ooh/ You’re just what I need/ Just my cup of tea,” Alex Isley sweetly coos on top of airy, neo-soul-indebted production courtesy of Josh Grant. “Chamomile,” a standout track from the two-time Grammy nominee’s major-label debut album, finds her cultivating the perfect vibe for a sultry night of romance, lust and quality time. She maintains a fluttery falsetto for most of the track, allowing the gentle textures of her voice to take center stage over her strikingly simple yet ultimately effective lyrics. — K.D.
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Jorja Smith, “Price of It All”
Jorja has quietly been on the run for the last year or two, dropping nothing but quality music. Here, she lands the lead single from the official soundtrack to Riz Ahmed’s upcoming Prime Video series, Bait, about a struggling actor who suddenly finds himself being rumored to play the next 007. It’s funny; when I came across this song, I thought that Jorja should have a shot at the James Bond theme song. I can see myself belting out these lyrics as the credits roll. — A.D.
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Samara Cyn, “Good Is a Lie”
Samara Cyn unpacks emotional confusion and detachment on “Good Is a Lie,” a raw reflection on questioning whether a relationship was ever as real as it once felt. Featuring production from Two Fresh, Ovrkast., and Whit Kane, the track pairs vulnerable songwriting with a moody, stripped-back sound. Cyn wrestles with disbelief, wondering how something that once felt so “good” can now feel nonexistent, suggesting those moments may not have been as genuine as she thought. As the song progresses, she balances self-awareness with emotional pull: recognizing her own worth, while still being drawn to someone inconsistent and toxic. — C.C.
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Lelo, “Monetize”
The Detroit rapper dropped an impressive album last year in New Detroit, and we highlighted him on our list of Artists to Watch in 2026. Now, from the looks of it, he’s capitalizing on that momentum with his new single “Monetize.” With the help of Beanjawn’s video game menu-inspired production, Lelo gives us lines like, “Pockets flooded, Noah’s Ark/ I spent that s—t on Jesus pieces.” — A.D.
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threetwenty, “Such Is Life”
The latest album from this husband-and-wife duo, last December’s Separate from the Noise, hasn’t left rotation. On “Such Is Life,” Ivana Nwokike’s sultriness is the perfect ingredient for Filip Hunter’s ’90s-inspired production. There’s an undeniable swing to their music and a calmness that comes with it, making for perfect house-cleaning music. — A.D.
