Has Jamie xx's "I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times)," which dropped 10 seconds ago and features Young Thug, already made Barter 6 irrelevant? Will Jamie xx and Young Thug thus thwart Boogie's "Oh My" from imminent rap song-of-the-summer status? Or will a resurgent French Montana conquer both of these youngins with a vengeance? Find out next time on...........Dragon Ball Z.
Justin Charity is a staff writer for Complex. Follow him @brothernumpsa.
JME f/ Skepta, Frisco, Shorty, and Jammer "Amen"
Released: May 4, 2015
The new JME album sounds trippy and gorgeous on satellite speakers; "Pulse 8" and "Test Me" are especially remarkable in this regard. Still, I prefer "Amen," a two-minute ditty with no hook, just five guys tossing a baton back and forth in freestyle fashion, over low claps and hissing drums. Grime is posse cuts galore.
Camp Lo "Black Jesus"
Released: May 4, 2015
Camp Lo must've heard that "Hot Nigga"/"Luchini" mash-up and caught a contact high from the Holy Ghost. Between "Black Jesus" and that new Jedi Mind Tricks single that's more promising than it ought to be, I'm confused regarding what year this is. 2003?
M.I.A. "Platforms"
Released: May 8, 2015
"Platforms" is a figurative handcar ride through tunneled depths, with fits of thin, metallic thrashing and workaday chanting from Rap Game U.N. Secretary-General Maya Arulpragasam. Hopefully she drops a finalized, single version of "Platforms," and hopefully Chief Keef remixes it for the win.
French Montana f/ Curren$y "In the Sun"
Released: May 8, 2015
I know, I know, "Off the Rip" is the obvious potential hit from Casino Life 2, but I deduct 20 points for its sounding like a shameless jack of the "0-100" rhythm. And anyway, "In the Sun" sounds like a beach resort town in Costa Rica, which is more so what summer is all about.
Jamie xx f/ Young Thug "I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times)"
Released: May 11, 2015
There's a couple versions of "I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times)" floating around, one with Popcaan and one without. I prefer the former, which is reportedly the version that will make the final cut of In Colour; for now we'll bask in the simpler glory of Young Thug riding in a pussy like a stroller as he assigns various pop quizzes and bangs that xylophone.