“17” Pink Sweat$ Released Feb. 28 Atlantic Recording Company This song’s smoothed out vocals and simple beat are the perfect match. The lyrics are sweet, making the song sound even more...

“21” Gracie Abrams Gracie Abrams under exclusive license to Interscope Records Released Feb. 20 Abrams’ vocals and lyrics are the focus of this sweet love song. With a stripped beat and...

“Honeymoon Fades” Sabrina Carpenter Released Feb. 14 Hollywood Records, Inc. Carpenter’s vocals are beautifully smooth, invoking a sound similar to Ariana Grande’s. Yet the song’s...

“Yikes” Nicki Minaj Released Feb. 7 Young Money/Cash Money Records Remember when Minaj said she was quitting music? Well, thank God that wasn’t true. “Yikes” solidifies Minaj’s...

“Better Way” NEIL FRANCES Released Jan. 31 NEIL FRANCES “Better Way” is chilled-out yet electric — its energy is bold but the execution is effortless. The song and FRANCES’s lyrics...

“B.I.T.C.H.” Megan Thee Stallion Released Jan. 24 1501 Certified Ent LLC Megan Thee Stallion is skilled in her lyricism and biting in her message. She raps with ease, and the song acts...

“Amnesia” Grace Carter Released Dec. 6 Polydor Records Grace Carter’s compelling vocals are the shining strength of “Amnesia.” Although the lyrics teeter on mundanity, the song is...

“Dark Places” Beck Released Nov. 7 Capitol Records The electro-pop foundation of Beck’s “Dark Places” isn’t intricate enough to be interesting. But it’s also not boring enough...

“Don’t Start Now” Dua Lipa Released Oct. 31 Warner Records UK The conventionally pop background to Dua Lipa’s new single is charged with an electronic beat and, oddly, the occasional interjection...

“Frail State of Mind” The 1975 Released Oct. 24 Dirty Hit The 1975’s newest track is similar in sound to their 2018 song “TOOTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME,” but “Frail State of Mind” stands out...

“HIGHEST IN THE ROOM” Travis Scott Released Oct. 4 Epic Records/Sony Can aggressive ad-libs work forever in Travis Scott’s favor? “HIGHEST IN THE ROOM,” equally brilliant and forgettable,...

“Slide” H.E.R, YG Released Sept 27 RCA Records/Sony Music Entertainment H.E.R’s smooth vocals blend with the chilled-out backdrop of “Slide,” her latest collaboration with rapper...