part two: the 2000s the 2000s weren’t just an incredible era for rnb, but imo one of the best eras of music in general. coming out of the 90s, the genre was evolving so fast. rnb became even more influenced by pop and hip hop, while neo-soul, electronic production and experimentation pushed it in new directions. by the end of the decade, rnb sounded completely different than it did going in. these albums are all classics to me. i grew up watching TRL and 106th & Park, discove

one of the things i appreciate most about Gus is how much thought he puts into every part of his artistry. there’s obviously the music, but the visuals and entire world surrounding it have always felt just as important. every album feels like its own era. it’s not just his sound that changes, but his aesthetic too, from the colors to his clothes and hair. from the indie pop of his earlier work to the much more vulnerable and organic ‘Orca,’ and then the synth heavy, theatrica

bringing back my rotating playlist of songs that have been in HEAVY rotation for me lately. new finds, recent releases + a few songs i circled back to 🎧 “brand new chanel$” - @slayyyter “hey there [i have a compulsive complex]” - @qmarsden “Xtal” - @aphextwin.afx 
“STAMPEDE” - @genesisowusu 
“Music” - @underscores 
“STARTAFIGHT” - @jvbsucks 
“Card Declined” - @charli_xcx 
“In & Out” - @ravynlenae 
“Sunshine” - @jungle4eva swipe through for a preview. full playlist on spotify

part 1: the 90s 📀 rnb has always held a really special place for me. i grew up listening to pretty much everything because of my dad, but growing up in southeast LA, rnb and hip hop were everywhere. my siblings loved it, it was constantly playing around me, and so many of these songs and albums became part of my earliest memories with music. there was no way i could make just one rnb ranking, so i’m splitting this into three parts: the 90s, 2000s, and 2010s. starting with th

new music from ⟢ Jungle, Troye Sivan, KATSEYE, Phoebe Bridgers, Tinashe, Erykah Badu, Ayra Starr, benny blanco, Icona Pop… Phoebe Bridgers has finally made her return with ‘Lost Weekend,’ and the whole world she’s created around this album is just stunning. definitely one of her most exciting albums yet, she really made some of her best music to date. what stood out to me the most after my first listen was how cinematic a lot of the outros are on these tracks. excited to spen

‘7 Piano Sketches’ is a 15 minute meditative short film that follows André 3000 as he explores creativity, stillness, and the piano through seven intimate compositions. watch it on @mubi and get 30 days free at mubi.com/listenwithdavid or at the link in bio. availability by country: global

Lykke Li has one of my favorite discographies of any artist. over the last 15+ years she’s built a catalog that rarely misses. whether she’s making indie pop, alternative, dream pop, rnb, or something darker and more atmospheric. i’ve always thought she’s one of the most underrated artists in music. there’s a vulnerability throughout her records that has this ability to make heartbreak and loneliness sound comforting. even if you don’t realize it, you’ve probably heard her in

Music, Fashion, Film / @charli_xcx instead of trying to recreate Brat, she made one of her most introspective records yet. it’s an indie rock album with deconstructed production that explores getting older, identity, and figuring out where she fits now. what are your thoughts on the new album??? swipe through for my full album review + in the same rotation playlist on spotify + apple music ♫ overall rating: 8.3 / Replay

new music from ⟢ Charli xcx, The Strokes, WILLOW, Tyla, KATSEYE, Boy Harsher, Love Spells, ADÉLA, Victoria Monét, Jennie, 54 Ultra, Q… this is one of the strongest album weeks we’ve had all year. there’s something here for everyone with new albums from Charli xcx, The Strokes, WILLOW, Tyla, Rico Nasty, Shania Twain, and Love Spells. so far i’ve spent the most time with Charli xcx and WILLOW, and both keep pulling me back for completely different reasons. Charli keeps pushing

new music from ⟢ Steve Lacy, Nia Archives, Syd, Carly Rae Jepsen, Rick Ross, beabadoobee, Gracie Abrams, Mariah Carey, Leon Bridges… The Internet fans really won today. Steve Lacy, Syd, and Matt Martians all released new projects. Steve Lacy’s album is much more rock forward and neo-psychedelic than I expected, but it works so well. every track has its own standout moment, and even at only 10 songs it doesn’t feel rushed or underdeveloped.. i wanted to replay every song befor

experimental hip hop is one of the most exciting genres because there are no rules. artists push against what the genre is supposed to sound like, and sometimes that means loud and chaotic. other times it’s abstract, jazzy, electronic, and psychedelic. - there’s abstract storytelling / MF DOOM, Earl Sweatshirt, and billy woods - industrial & noise / Death Grips, clipping., Kanye - electronic & dance / Vince Staples - psychedelic / Outkast, KIDS SEE GHOSTS, Tyler, The Creator

new avatar / @kelela Kelela builds entire worlds around her albums. and ‘new avatar’ is her most immersive one yet for me. she explores what it means to exist in a world that can feel increasingly cold and uncertain, searching for comfort and connection without allowing that darkness to overshadow the joy that’s still there. swipe through for my full album review + in the same rotation playlist on spotify + apple music 💠🌑 ♫ overall rating: 9.3 / Essential

new music from ⟢ Beyoncé, Kelela, Future, The Rolling Stones, Cage The Elephant, Malcolm Todd, Genesis Owusu, Jungle, ROLE MODEL… Beyoncé surprised released MORNING DEW (DONK) earlier this week, kicking off a 60-day countdown to the 20th anniversary of ‘B’Day.’ It’s hypnotic and moody, and that opening line sounds like it could be an easter egg for Act iii ☔️🎸 we also got new albums from Kelela, Future, The Rolling Stones, Suki Waterhouse, Adam Lambert, and Bring Me The Hori

CONFESSIONS II / @madonna an emotionally vulnerable dance record that feels less like a sequel to Confessions on a Dance Floor and more like the culmination of Madonna’s entire career. swipe through for my full review + in the same rotation. full playlist on spotify + apple music 🪩 ♫ overall rating: 9.7 / Essential

new music from ⟢ Madonna, Justin Bieber, La Roux, Rico Nasty, Jon Hopkins & Imogen Heap, Sienna Spiro, Sophia Stel, Fat Dog, Ken Carson… Madonna’s return with Confessions II completely exceeded my expectations. I was expecting another great dance record, but what surprised me most was how vulnerable she is. beneath all the production, there’s a real sense of reflection and acceptance that makes some of these songs hit much harder than I expected. after spending most of last n

i’ve always admired how recognizable Kaytranada’s production is. there are very few producers who can make you immediately know who’s behind the song before the vocals even come in. his drums have so much bounce, everything has this loose, infectious groove that sounds effortless while still being incredibly detailed. whether he’s making house, rnb, hip hop, or electronic music, he always finds a way to make it sound uniquely his own. i’ll never forget getting to see his surp

a lot of my favorite albums from this year are the ones that are the most immersive. they’re the records i keep coming back to because there’s always another detail, transition, or production choice to appreciate. some highlights from my top albums: Tyler, the Creator / IGOR one of the most creative hip hop records of the decade. Tyler completely reinvented his sound here, blending neo-soul, alternative, hip hop, and synth-pop into something that’s emotional, and incredibly c

new music from ⟢ Charli xcx, Phoebe Bridgers, Ryan Beatty, Steve Lacy / SZA, beabadoobee, Katy Perry, Madeon, Carly Rae Jepsen, WILLOW… this is one of the most stacked weeks we’ve had all year. Ryan Beatty released his new album ‘Sweet Fortune’. sonically it picks up where ‘Calico’ left off, but the production feels much bolder and more expansive. i really loved how the writing centers around love, vulnerability, and the fear of losing someone. definitely an album that’s goin

there’s probably no definitive “best” disco album. the genre is way too varied for that… from orchestral disco and funk to hi-nrg, nu-disco, eurodisco, and club classics, part of what makes disco so special is how many different directions it can go. it’s one of those genres that’s influenced so much of the music i love. you can hear its fingerprints all over pop, rnb, dance, house, electronic music, and even indie music. all these years later artists are still borrowing from

a few upcoming releases that have my attention right now. from pop and dance to indie rock and alternative rnb, these are some of the albums i’ll be spending a lot of time with this summer. CONFESSIONS II — @madonna Oh yeah? — @steve.lacy Music, Fashion, Film — @charli_xcx Victory — @madeon petal — @arianagrande new avatar — @kelela Your Day Will Come — @chanel_beads Reality Awaits — @thestrokes which upcoming album should i add to part 2?