From relationship drama to landmark album anniversaries, the worlds of R&B and hip-hop were particularly active this weekend.
On Saturday (April 25), Megan Thee Stallion set social media timelines on fire when she announced that she and Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Klay Thompson were no longer together, citing infidelity and “horrible mood swings.” The former hip-hop/sports power couple began dating last year, with the rapper spending the holidays with the basketball star’s family. Thompson even named his boat after the three-time Grammy winner. Just hours after announcing the split, Thee Hot Girl Coach was back onstage, tearing up during her Moulin Rouge! The Musical curtain call.
Beyoncé drummed up some anticipation this weekend with a trio of Instagram posts after a relatively quiet period. On Friday (April 24), she shared a vacation picture of her clutching three lemons in one hand and a bottle of her SirDavis whisky in the other, to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of her classic Lemonade album. Two days later (April 26), she shared a carousel of four Survivor-era Destiny’s Child GIFs to celebrate the 25th anniversary of that Billboard 200-topping record. (Notably, Survivor marked the group’s third album, and first as a trio.)
Finally, Queen Bey shared more recent snaps, donning a dramatic, purple Saint Laurent gown, once again referencing Lemonade by editing one picture to resemble her “Hold Up” single cover. With Mrs. Carter marking her first appearance at the MET Gala in ten years next week, everyone is on high alert regarding Act III, the imminent conclusion to the genre-spanning trilogy she launched with 2022’s Renaissance and 2024’s Cowboy Carter.
Kehlani, Billboard Women in Music’s Impact Award honoree, topped off a wonderful weekend for R&B with the release of her highly anticipated self-titled album. Featuring collaborations with the likes of Brandy, Usher, and Cardi B — as well as writing and production from Babyface and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis — Kehlani is a meticulously crafted love letter to R&B that sets a new bar for the genre’s contemporary iteration.
With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from new Girlfriend-Jaymin duet to Durand Bernarr’s funky new single. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
-
Freshest Find: Durand Bernarr, “Am I Okay?”
Durand Bernarr is keeping his Bloom rollout moving with another new single: “Am I Okay?!” Fashioned from an old Miguel demo with additional writing from both Bernarr and Sevyn Streeter — as well as production and arrangement by State of Emergency — the new single uses an earthy bass riff, P-Funk-indebted instrumentation and a deliciously ostentatious vocal performance to present a musical mental health check-in. “For a small piece of your time, I’ll pay a fee/ Just to sit here on this couch and bare my soul/ I’m a loner and it’s sad as that may seem/ Doctor, I just wanna know, oh,” he pleads in the opening verse, previewing the soulful three-and-a-half minutes to come. — KYLE DENIS
-
Girlfriend & Jaymin, “All U Need”
Girlfriend and Jaymin explore balance and emotional accountability on “All U Need,” a track rooted in the idea that love only works when it’s mutual. Written by Girlfriend alongside Jaymin and Jamaal Cole II, with production from the latter, “All U Need” blends smooth R&B with honest, grounded perspectives. Jaymin opens the track as someone who values honesty to a fault, and the pre-chorus reveals a softer layer, offering presence and reliability over perfection. Girlfriend adds depth, shaped by past experiences that have made her guarded, yet still open to something real if it’s reciprocated. She’s intentional with her energy, making it clear she’s choosing, not chasing. Together, they reflect two people who understand boundaries and refuse to overextend. — CHRISTOPHER CLAXTON
-
Jai’Len Josey, “Love Ain’t S—t”
It takes a special voice to reunite two superproducers, and Jai’Len Josey has just that. “Love Ain’t S—t,” the smooth midtempo standout from her excellent Serial Romantic debut album, marks the first co-production between The-Dream and Tricky Stewart in a decade — and it’s an instant earworm. “And I’m sorry in advance/ But we never had a chance/ All the pressure, the regression/ No goals, no plans,” she sings regretfully in the pre-chorus before segueing into the head-bopping hook. — K.D.
-
Starker feat. YL, “Buy You Jordans”
Produced by Jersey’s Grimm Dozza, New York City’s favorite tag team linked up for Starker’s most recent project, Living Type Dangerous Vol. 1: “NorthFaceNace” and they smoothed things out for the ladies as they rap about copping their favorite ladies a new pair of Jordans. With summer around the corner, be sure that your shorty is stepping correct. — A.D.
-
Young Moose, “Missing”
Already somewhat of a legend in Baltimore’s rap scene, Young Moose gets a soulful beat from producer Bobcat Goldwav and contemplates how he went from East B-More to studio sessions with Ye. Hopefully, this means we’ll be getting more Moose raps this year. — ANGEL DIAZ
Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox
Sign Up
