@Michael Hensley

songs i hope he likes

Today’s Hits is home to the biggest songs in pop, hip-hop, R&B, and more. At the top of this week’s playlist is Mariah the Scientist’s “Burning Blue” and the Kali Uchis-assisted “Is It a Crime.” Both tracks off of Mariah’s fourth album <i>HEARTS SOLD SEPARATELY</i> have blazed up the charts and propelled her into mainstream status. Check back often, as our editors update this playlist regularly—and if you hear something you like, add it to your library.

Alpha is a space for redefining the meaning of a woman’s power. Power doesn’t have to be about fighting, standing up, or changing history. The power of these artists lies in their existence. From there flows truth, authenticity, vulnerability, nuanced representation. This week, we’re diving into the title track of Lily Allen’s new album <i>West End Girl</i>, a no-holds-barred look back at the breakdown of her marriage. The dreamy orchestral number sets the scene, depicting a couple moving into a new home—but they hit a bump when one of them lands a role in a play and has to move away. ** Enter Alpha now and add it to your library to keep in touch with the women making music on their terms, uplifting one another and challenging notions through the simple matter of <i>being</i>. Now, that’s real power.

Social media hasn’t just changed how we communicate, but also what we listen to and how we hear it. With that, here’s our up-to-the-minute playlist of tracks making the leap from your social channels into the broader cultural stream. On top now is Ravyn Lenae’s “Love Me Not”—a sonically upbeat treatise on a tangled relationship. “Soon as you leave me, we always lose connection/It’s gettin’ messy, I fiend for your affection,” she sings. Because there’s no schedule for going viral, our editors update these selections throughout the week as needed, so if you hear something you want to hang on to, add it to your library. If it’s trending there, you’ll hear it here.

Rap Life is home to hip-hop's heavy hitters and its vanguard—the songs that speak to the moment and define the culture today. This week, that means G Herbo’s “Blitz,” which appears on the MC’s recently released <i>Lil Herb</i>. Listen to “Blitz” on Rap Life now, and if you hear something you like, add it to your library.

R&B is one of the most dynamic, adventurous sounds in modern music, a place where art both personal and provocative meets the mainstream. From the alt vanguard to modern vets, straightforward to left-field, these tracks capture where R&B is now and point the way to where it’s going. At the top of this week’s playlist is Summer Walker’s “No” from her newly released album <i>Finally Over It</i>. We update this playlist regularly. If you like a track, add it to your library.

A-List Pop is your weekly guide to what’s on top in pop music. Leading this week’s playlist is HUNTR/X’s Grammy-nominated hit song “Golden” from the Netflix animated film <i>KPop Demon Hunters</i> about a fictional Korean girl group that moonlights as demon hunters. The song serves as the film’s anthem and features vocals from Korean artists EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI, and the <i>KPop Demon Hunters</i> cast. Check back often, as our editors update this playlist regularly—and if you hear something you like, add it to your library.

New Music Daily is the playlist that never sleeps, updated regularly with new music you can’t miss. Today’s cover star is singer-songwriter and actor Dominic Fike with his latest single “White Keys.” Have a listen and add this playlist to your library to stay up on the latest must-hear new songs.

¡Dale Play! remains the place to hear the biggest Latin tracks from your favorite Spanish-language artists from around the world. Headlining the playlist this week are Jerry Di, Hamilton, and Maisak with “Wapa (Remix).” The multifaceted Venezuelan artist links with two notable Colombian talents for the latest iteration of his viral and vibey Afrobeats single. This playlist is updated often, so if you hear something you like, add it to your library.

ALT CTRL is home to the latest and greatest in alternative music. Here, it’s as much an attitude as a sound—music that keeps things a little left of center and rough around the edges. This week, Joyce Manor takes off at a gallop with “All My Friends Are So Depressed,” the first single off <i>I Used to Go to This Bar</i>, their new album, out January 30. In spite of its chipper melody, the song is as dark as its name implies, complete with a laundry list of things going south, including an overflowing dishwasher, insomnia, and an aching regret you can’t get over. Check back often, as our editors update this playlist regularly—and if you hear something you like, add it to your library.

This week, headlining #OnRepeat—a playlist chock-full of the hottest new songs we can’t seem to stop playing—is “Baller,” a new joint from Summer Walker’s <i>Finally Over It</i> that features GloRilla, Monaleo, and Sexyy Red. Listen to the star-studded track on the playlist, and if you hear something you like, add it to your library.