We’ve been duly tricked over the Halloween weekend, so now it’s time for treats with new tracks from Blood Orange, REQ, Dave B and more.
Blood Orange (also known as Dev Hynes) released a gorgeous accompanying video to his dreamy track, “I Know”. Self-directed with assistance from video-maker Tracy Antonopoulos, a large portion of the grainy video takes place in a dance studio. Russian ballerina Maria Kochetkova makes an appearance alongside Dev himself, and the two are seen practising a dance routine in a playful, informal manner, quite unlike the rigid training regimen one would usually associate with ballet. This offsets the hazy mood of the track wonderfully, and we can’t wait to see and hear what else Dev has in store for us.
Seattle-based rapper Dave B teams up with the big guns for this track, with Sango (also from Seattle) on production as well as a sample from A Tribe Called Quest. A simple chord progression paired together with a jarring double snare, this track is great for a perk-me-up anytime during the day. While some have compared his rap delivery to Goldlink’s, we beg to differ. If anything, his 90s style flow gives us some of that sweet ol’ nostalgia.
Local grime rapper REQ is back at it again, this time with a scorching two minute piece. He delivers his bars from the streets of Los Angeles in a hoodie and a mask, to keep up with the mysterious, spooky vibe that Halloween’s known for.
A few seconds into the track and it’s already becoming our favorite for this week. “Tinder Date” came to fruition after a month-long hiatus that alternative pop group Tigers Are Bad for Horses’ members, Mellen and Lyell, took during the summer in Chicago. They made use of the popular dating app to meet people and the track provides a light-hearted perspective on their experiences, which are super relatable, given the smiles that it left on our faces.
Mysterious singer H.E.R dropped her first EP back in September, and got musicians like Wyclef Jean and Justine Skye talking. The EP also received a first place seating on the iTunes R&B/Soul chart, all without H.E.R. having to reveal her identity. Yet, Genius took its investigative skills to the next level and revealed that H.E.R. is in fact, RCA Records singer Gabi Wilson. Identity aside, we’re absolutely hooked onto this track, which is equal parts deep and mellow; fitting for the rainy season.
Tira Lee is Straatosphere’s resident aux cord heaux. She’s in-charge of pulling together nifty mixes each week to spread dope tracks and good vibes to the public. In her free time, she partakes in something distressingly referred to as academia and often experiences an existential crisis of sorts. She’s also paid to put pretty clothes on pretty people sometimes.
Read More: 5 Tracks for This Week’s Grind, The Halloween Edition