Our girl Banks debuts another single via BBC Radio 1; this time with Zane Lowe. “Drowning” is right up Banks’ fans alley and introduces the intriguing pairing of Jill with UK producer Al Shux (“Empire State of Mind”). Right now, it’s impossible to deny the speeding buzz train is Banks and we are looking to her debut full length Goddess due out on Sept. 9 via Harvest Records. Reviewed by Brian Litwin.
Banks 
(Facebook)
Rating 8.6
Chicago emcee Saba who featured on Chance the Rapper’s blogger rap fave Acid Rap debuts the R&B-laced “Burnout”. Buoyed by a strong vocal from Detroit singer Eryn Allen Kane that would not be out of place on ’97 Total record, “Burnout’s” roughly 3:30 glide by excellently with Saba’s multi-gear flow neatly complemented by the track’s densely-layered piano-driven instrumental. Saba’s COMFORTzone is out July 15.
Saba 
(Twitter)
Rating 8.4
World golden girl Sade is remixed in the nouveau house style by the many times talented Warren Xclnce for “Sweetest Taboo”. (IS)
Warren Xclnce 
(Soundcloud)
Rating 8.4
Heavy buzz hitters hailing from Brighton, Team IYES re-imagine Zella’s wistful paean “1965” through the UK duo’s genre-bouncing visceral-pop stylistic locus with a stunning turnt-down end product.
Zella Day 
(Facebook) (Purchase 7-inch Vinyl)
IYES (Soundcloud)
Rating 8.3
Mrs. Del Rey gets a remix amuse bouche from doting R&B/disco-flavored producer Grades on spotless mix for “West Coast”. Tinkling electric pianos, buffed-down breaks, washes of sexy harp sounds; if Michael McDonald 2014’s life had a sound, Grades could reach it. “Down on the West Coast, they love their tank tops.”
Lana Del Rey 
(Official) (Facebook)
Rating 8.0
Mr. Khloe Kardashian drops a 16 for the official remix to R&B starlet Mila J’s breakout track “Smoke, Drink, Break Up”. It’s 1998 in here.
Mila J (Twitter)
Rating 8.4
A writer for Jay Z, Mary J. Blige and Aloe Blacc, Jamaican-born/British-raised Knox Brown brings those A-list battlefield-forged songwriting quality to the fantastic debut “Harry’s Code”. Soulful, visceral, and immediate in ways that lesser artists can only hope to catch up to and emulate six months down the road for now, “Harry’s Code” is a very accomplished piece of writing you need to listen to right now.
Knox Brown (Soundcloud)
Rating 8.4
Former Neighbourhood drummer Bryan Sammis makes his solo B3 debut as Olivver with single “Attica ’71”. Focused around a similar in quality and composition to first wave-NBHD rhythm track, “Attica ’71” is propelled forward by Sammis’ A+ melodic construction and early Phoenix-esque (“Everything Is Everything”, “Run Run Run”, etc) modern funk-injected sensibilities in song’s immediate web of catchiness and hooks.
Olivver (Soundcloud)
Rating 8.4
Jazmine Sullivan, who’s biggest entry in the urban charts is probably that Missy-assisted reggae-tinged “Need You Bad” track from a few years ago, makes an emphatic return with the Meek Mill featuring R&B sortee “Dumb”. The minimalist kick drum/vocal sample-driven track is big on energy and charisma while working stylistically in a different/refresing/no Ty Dolla Sign palette of sounds. Give “Dumb” your attention below
Jazmine Sullivan Facebook)
Rating: 8.3
The latest stylistic iteration from Paul Dixon a/k/a FYFE is the more consciously urban in style “For You”. Contrasting w/ last year’s buzz singles “St. Tropez” and “Solace”, “For You”s hooks are immediate; the magnetism and infectiousness that was more subtle/obscured in those earlier tracks has with success been arranged much further to the track’s front. We’re digging it.
FYFE (Facebook)
Rating 8.4
Italian producer Favulous tries on a vibe-y, molasses-bathed stylistic update for Lapalux’s “Without You” with standout results. A++++
Favulous 
(Soundcloud)
Rating: 8.3
The newest signee to Duly Noted Records (IYES, The Night IV) is Brighton UK’s J. Tropic and their sooth & b dance-y “Love Up”.
J. Tropic (Soundcloud)
Rating 8.3
