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Danny Brown Reacts To Saucy Santana Comparisons On TikTok: ‘This Is Incredible’

Saucy Santana is once again going viral. This time, in the form of a TikTok sound. The aforementioned sound features vocals from Santana’s hit single “Material Girl,” which, itself, has received several rotations on TikTok, over the instrumental track of Danny Brown’s “Ain’t It Funny.”

Brown has caught wind of the sound, and it’s safe to say, he is a fan.

“I’ve noticed that you sound incredibly similar to @SaucySantana_,” said Twitter user @ReyDG23, with a video clip embedded, containing the sound.

Brown quote-retweeted the clip, saying, “this is incredible.”

Last year, Brown, 40, teased a new project called Quaranta, a reference to his age, as “quaranta” means “40” in Italian. He spoke about the project during an interview with Antony Fantano.

“We’re just waiting on the right timing,” Brown said. “But it’s not called ‘40’, it’s called ‘Quaranta’. You know what I’m saying, it’s a… I don’t wanna give away too much why, but y’all will figure it out.”

He confirmed that MixedByAli of Top Dawg Entertainment will handle the album’s final mix, which includes some production work by The Alchemist. In another interview with HotNewHipHop, Brown described the sound of Quaranta as “just all over the place,” and also, “it’s going to be fun.”

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The First ‘Thor: Love And Thunder’ Reviews Are Rumbling In, And The Reactions Are Pretty Mixed

Thanks to Taika Waititi revitalizing the Thor movies with 2017’s Thor: Raganarok, the anticipation has been through the roof for the director’s follow-up, Thor: Love and Thunder. Not only does the film reteam Waititi with star Chris Hemsworth, but it brings in Natalie Portman to play Mighty Thor, a fan-favorite character introduced in Marvel Comics. Christian Bale is also along for the ride as Gorr the God Butcher, which is turning heads due to the actor making the leap from playing Batman to joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Of course, the big question is: Does Love and Thunder deliver the goods as well as Ragnarok? Judging by the first round of reviews, not quite. While there’s no shortage of praise for Love and Thunder, there is an overwhelming consensus that it doesn’t quite hit the same mark as Ragnarok. Whether that’s crucial to the overall experience or not depends on the critic, but you can see from the snippets below that the reviews are definitely mixed.

Mike Ryan, Uproxx:

I do like Thor: Love and Thunder, but not quite as much as Ragnarok. And the more I think about it, the more I think Waititi’s irreverent style works best when a good chunk of the movie is self-contained at the Grandmaster’s palace. The tone of Ragnarok remains, the actual plot of Love and Thunder doesn’t feel as structured. There’s a lot of fun, zipping around the galaxy, but at times I had to remind myself, wait, what’s going on here again? And then I had to ask, does it matter? Then I decided, yes, it does matter at least somewhat.

Brian Truitt, USA Today:

There is more than enough magic, music and muscle to go around – everybody’s so ripped, “Love and Thunder” often seems like a Frank Frazetta painting come to life. Waititi is equally adept at crafting the MCU’s answer to “Flash Gordon” with “Ragnarok” or delivering defining, dazzling work such as “Jojo Rabbit.” And here he gives us a surprisingly personal superhero jam with extraordinary depth, infusing the delightfully fizzy narrative with queer characters, religious themes and a compelling conversation about the differences between mythic gods and all-powerful good guys.

David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter:

Dipping less rewardingly from the same well in Thor: Love and Thunder, Waititi pushes the wisecracking to tiresome extremes, snuffing out any excitement, mythic grandeur or sense of danger that the God of Thunder’s latest round of rote challenges might hope to generate. Chris Hemsworth continues to give great musclebound himbo, but the stakes never acquire much urgency in a movie too busy being jokey and juvenile to tell a gripping story.

Valerie Complex, Deadline:

The beauty of Ragnarok is its focused storytelling and poignant message, while Thunder is a little all over the place. But Waititi’s comedic timing, and talent for creating dynamic action scenes, is too good to ignore, though it’s missing crucial elements that would push the superhero movie from being good to great.

Brian Lowry, CNN:

The impressive mix of tones and styles that director Taika Waititi pulled off in “Thor: Ragnarok” largely fizzles in “Thor: Love and Thunder,” which isn’t as funny as it wants to be, as stirring as it needs to be or romantic as it ought to be. Although well paced at just under two hours, instead of the hoped-for fireworks this comes a little too close to feeling like a post-Fourth of July dud.

Tom Jorgensen, IGN:

He’s been part of saving the universe for a long time now, and Thor: Love and Thunder has no illusions about needing to push the character in a new direction. And that’s fine; Love and Thunder succeeds in honoring his journey, even if it doesn’t offer much new for the MCU at large.

Owen Gleiberman, Variety:

Like “Thor: Ragnarok,” the movie was directed and co-written by Taika Waititi, the New Zealand sleight-of-hand-prankster-who-is-also-a-serious-filmmaker, and it builds on the earlier film’s highly winning tone of skewed flippancy. But it also, like “Ragnarok,” possesses an offbeat humanity that justifies the japery. Waititi has the wit to see that if you aren’t mocking a Marvel movie as you’re making one, you might be taking it more seriously than the audience does.

Scott Mendelson, Forbes:

Marvel’s Thor: Love and Thunder tells a tale of a title character who has lost his drive, his purpose and his mojo. Frankly, it shares those core problems and becomes a metaphor for Marvel’s entire “Well, what now?” Phase Four. It has the feel of a party that no one wants to be at, or a film that only exists because Marvel needed a safe sequel amid franchise starters, with the head DJ furiously shouting at the guests to dance, laugh and act like they are having a fun time.

David Ehrlich, IndieWire:

“Love and Thunder” is clouded by its uncertain place in the universe from the moment it starts. And yet, the same thing could be said about Thor, whose mega-swole aimlessness mirrors that of his new movie in a way that sometimes allows this chapter of the MCU to feel more intimate and personal than many of the 28 installments that came before it. Even moving, on occasion.

Leah Greenblatt, Entertainment Weekly:

If Thunder, with its cheerful melee of starry cameos, in-jokes, and Cliffs-Notes mythology, feels a lot like franchise fatigue, it also has frequent moments of gonzo charm, thanks largely to the Technicolor lunacy of writer-director Taika Waititi and a cast that seems inordinately game to follow his lead.

Thor: Love and Thunder opens in theaters on July 8.

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Pacifico and Quiksilver have teamed up to provide a sustainable merch collection and clean beaches

At last, summer is here. And for many people, that means it’s time for heading to the beach and maybe even catching some waves. Surfing is a quintessential summertime activity for those who live in coastal communities—it’s not only really fun and challenging, it’s also a great way to celebrate Mother Nature’s beauty. Even after a wipeout, the cool water mixed with warm sunshine offers a certain kind of euphoria. Or, you know, just hanging back on the sand is plenty fun too. Simply being outdoors near the ocean is its own reward.

pacifico quiksilver beach cleanup

Let’s protect the places where outdoor adventure happensAll photos provided by Pacifico

However, it’s well known that our beautiful beaches are suffering the consequences of overcrowding, pollution and littering. What was once a way of playing in nature is now slowly destroying it. And of course, this affects beachgoers everywhere. The sad truth is—without taking action to preserve all the natural joys the earth provides, we will eventually lose them.

But there is hope. Two popular brands that both have roots in surf culture have teamed up to help make trips to the beach a more sustainable pastime. The best part? You don’t have to know how to hang ten in order to participate.

Pacifico®, a pilsner-style lager originally brought to the U.S. by surfers, and Quiksilver, an iconic apparel company loved by both surfers and beach goers alike, have created a brand-new range of clothing and accessories with sustainability in mind.

Take a look below. These threads are great for all kinds of fun in the sun, without compromising the environment.

pacifico quicksilver beach cleanups

Ready to make some waves

The collection launches on July 5 and includes tees and woven shirts, boardshorts, hats, flip-flops and a special beach towel and tote bag. The unique collaboration features the vibrant, colorful designs that are the hallmark of Quiksilver combined with Pacifico elements, created to make a positive impact.

Each item has been thoughtfully curated to minimize an environmental footprint and protect the outdoors. The hats, for example, are made from NetPlus® by Bureo®, a raw material created from South American recycled fishing nets. Additionally, the board shorts are made from recycled plastic bottles, and tees are made with 100% organic cotton. Pretty rad stuff, to put it in surfer lingo.

The prices on these pieces are equally rad, ranging from $28 flip-flops to $60 boardshorts.

In keeping with the sustainable ethos and protecting the places we play, Pacifico and Quiksilver will celebrate the products’ launch by hosting two beach cleanups. The first is on July 5 at Sunset Point in Malibu, California, from 4-5:30pm, and the second is on July 9th at Deerfield Beach in Florida from 8:30 – 10:30am.

pacifico quicksilver clothing line

Cleaning up and looking good while doing it

Theses beach cleanups are open to anyone over the age of 21 who’s ready to have some fun while taking care of nature’s playground.

Those who can’t make it to the beach (bummer, dude) don’t have to miss out on all the fun. The new collection will be available on July 5th at www.quiksilver.com/mens-collab-pacifico. And even if you don’t surf, never plan to surf, have no desire to even be near a surfboard, rest assured, the apparel is still cool. Plus sustainable choices are always good fashion.

Our planet provides us with an endless supply of beauty and adventure. But without more mindful actions from humanity, its natural wonders will eventually diminish. Fortunately Pacifico and Quiksilver are making it easier than ever for people to enjoy the great outdoors without jeopardizing it. That’s a wave worth riding.

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Giveon’s Indecisiveness And Past Traumas Lead Him To Love’s Double-Edged Sword On ‘Give Or Take’

The RX is Uproxx Music’s stamp of approval for the best albums, songs, and music stories throughout the year. Inclusion in this category is the highest distinction we can bestow, and signals the most important music being released throughout the year. The RX is the music you need, right now.

At the end of 2020, I wrote about Giveon and how his heart quite literally opened and closed with the world that year. The Long Beach native was receptive to romance with his debut EP Take Time, all to watch it depart from his life some seven months later with the release of When It’s All Said And Done. Through it all, we were introduced to Giveon’s charming ways thanks to earnest records like “The Beach,” which doubles as an ode to his Long Beach home, and “Like I Want You.” His baritone-baked lyrics also came from a man who has his own fair share of toxic tendencies, an undeniable aspect that “Favorite Mistake” and “Still Your Best” both make very clear. Nonetheless, through both his good and bad actions, Giveon has been left empty-handed without someone to call his own and hold at night.

Nearly two years removed from the aforementioned projects, it appears that Giveon has realized that love is somewhat transactional. Not so much in the sense of only doing things for a loved one when something is guaranteed in return, but more so in light of the Golden Rule. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” It’s a revelation that Giveon stumbles upon during a conversation with his mother at the end of his newly-released debut album. “Love will give you what you need / But also, take what you don’t appreciate,” he says to conclude “Unholy Matrimony.” It’s this conversation that provides insight into the title of Giveon’s debut album: Give Or Take.

Prior to the release of Give Or Take, we’ve known Giveon to be someone that can love hard and hold on tight to what he hopes is a fleeting romance. Much of that is true through the music on Give Or Take, but there is a new presence within these baritone soliloquies: fear. It causes him to run for the door when the time for commitment arrives and it even leads to him building walls to unconquerable heights to ensure that he can avoid attending to his heavy baggage. To his benefit, Giveon admits to being battered and bruised by romance at several points on the album. “Scarred” comforts a partner who is emotional and frustrated at their failed attempts to get Giveon to commit to a relationship. “I just don’t want you same way you want me,” he sings. “I can’t give you my heart ‘cause it’s broken.” He delivers this message point-blankly while also suggesting that the pain he’s endured in the past pales in comparison to what his partner will experience due to his rejection.

Through the 15 songs that appear on Give Or Take, Giveon’s past traumas result in indecisiveness that brings stagnation to his journey of progressing from his past and moving toward a freer future. While Giveon seems set on blaming his past failures with love for his current missteps and unpreparedness, there is also a lack of determination to conquer his mountains on his part. On “This Will Do,” he settles for intimate moments for a fan he meets at a show despite knowing it’s not what he truly wants. Two songs later on “Tryna Be,” Giveon presents loyalty and staying faithful as an extraneous task that’s made further difficult due to his occupation as a popular and touring mainstream artist. Even with the discernment that he presents throughout the album, like we hear on “For Tonight,” Giveon sometimes opts to stick within the exhausting cycle of failed love. Perhaps this occurs due to his fear – there it is again – of searching for something new all to end up in the same position sometime later.

Within the rollercoaster ride of Give Or Take, Giveon also experiences a love that moves way too fast for his liking. A freefall from the heavens can only result in a fatal crash on Earth and Giveon is quite aware of this. It’s why he sings “slow it down, don’t wanna miss a moment” on “Make You Mine,” a message he reiterates on “July 16th” adding, “Goin’ too fast, it won’t end well.” Finally, as Giveon’s discernment told him so many times that it would, he and his partner’s speeding bullet towards a lifelong love slams into a wall, bringing everything to an abrupt end. It’s a dramatic explanation of a failed relationship, but as he explains on “Unholy Matrimony,” it comes through the realization that a lifelong commitment to each other is far from the best decision they could make for themselves. “All we’re waiting for behind these chapel doors,” Giveon sings, “is a crashing course to a bad divorce.”

At 27 years old, Giveon discovers the double-edged sword that is love. Its beauty, as well as its harsh and ugly truths, are brought forth to the light, forcing him to accept its never-ceasing presence. It’s through romance that he also learns that the back he stabs within it can return the favor with little remorse. The biggest thing for Giveon on Give Or Take is how he struggles with control in the realm of love. Giving control ends with him stumbling into something he’s not ready for while taking control results in him not receiving a fair chance to find someone to truly call his own for the long haul as his past pains arrive to interrupt that process. Giveon is still trying to find his balance in love, but it would certainly help him a whole lot if he let go of his old baggage to rediscover his footing and make some progress on his journey.

Give Or Take is out now via Epic Records. You can stream it here.

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The Nets Are Reportedly Operating As If ‘They’re Bringing Kevin Durant And Kyrie Irving Back Next Season’

The Brooklyn Nets hold the keys to the entire NBA summer right now, as what they do with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving will dictate when and what other moves get made around the league. No one is interested in making other major trades until Durant’s trade request is completed, as no one wants to give away assets or space that could be used to either land Durant or facilitate a trade and land picks or players as a third or fourth team in a more complicated transaction.

As such, the hope of many was for a Durant deal to get done sooner than later, but as talks drag on, now approaching a full week of trade discussions, it’s becoming apparent that this situation may not get resolved in short order. In fact, the Nets have indicated that they could be willing to take this thing all the way to training camp if teams don’t come correct with their best offer, and Shams Charania reported on the Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday that the Nets were even willing to play next season with Irving and Durant back on the roster.

“Kyrie Irving opts in, his intention at that point is to play out the year. Kevin Durant made a decision only he can make in terms of going to the Nets and requesting a trade out of Brooklyn. From everything I’m told, that stance has not changed. There’s been no signal he’s going to back off of that, if anything, that stance is expected to continue throughout this offseason in terms of Kevin Durant wanting a trade out of Brooklyn. On the other hand the Nets, they pick up TJ Warren today, they’re making moves and doing things this offseason which, in their minds, the preparation and operation as if they’re bringing these two guys back next season and playing with these two guys. Now I think they’re open in dialogue and they’re open to teams like Toronto, Phoenix, Miami making offers, but until they get that price threshold met — which I’m told is All-Star type players, boatload of draft picks — they’re not going to move Kevin Durant until the price is met.”

Charania also notes that most of the recent superstar trades we’ve had, like Kyrie, Anthony Davis, and Kawhi Leonard, have all taken a month plus to get worked out, so it isn’t out of character for them to have this sort of timetable.

What this seems to be, mostly, is the Nets further illustrating their determination to get their demands met. While a public trade request is never a good thing for a team, Durant’s contract at least leaves Brooklyn with some leverage to hold the line on their demands because the clock isn’t ticking on him becoming a free agent. That’s what we are seeing right now and they know that, for a team like Phoenix especially, the closer the season gets the more they’ll start to feel the pressure to get this done, as their title window with Chris Paul is closing faster than anything else in this scenario.

While the Nets may be willing to take this into camp, no one wants that, but it’s the right thing to push to the masses in what figures to be a very long and public negotiation.

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Margot Robbie’s ‘Barbie’ Co-Workers Threw Her A Barbie-Themed Party For Her Birthday

Come on, Barbie, let’s go to Margot Robbie’s party.

To celebrate her 32nd birthday, the cast and crew of Barbie, the most important movie of 2023, held a party for the two-time Oscar nominee. Robbie was “presented with a pink Barbie birthday cake between takes,” according to E! Online (the cake reads, “Happy Birthday Barbie Margot”), while “another pic from set appears to show the 32-year-old Oscar nominee — dressed in Barbie’s neon ensemble with a white long-sleeve cover up — carrying a box of donuts, along with a party hat.”

Now this is method acting that even Mads Mikkelsen can get behind.

E! Online has pics of Robbie’s birthday outfit and cake, and they’re as delightful as all the other on-set photos we’ve seen from Greta Gerwig’s movie. Hopefully Ryan Gosling, who plays bleach-blonde himbo Ken, popped out of the pink cake with a scream.

Robbie’s aim with Barbie is to surprise people. “People immediately have an idea of, ‘Oh, Margot is playing Barbie, I know what that is,’ but our goal is to be like, whatever you’re thinking, we’re going to give you something totally different — the thing you didn’t know you wanted,” she told the Hollywood Reporter. “If we can do all that and provoke a thoughtful conversation, then we’re really firing on all cylinders.”

Barbie comes out on July 21, 2023.

(Via E! Online)

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The Trailer For Amazon’s ‘Paper Girls’ Features A Time-Traveling Ali Wong And A Whole Lot Of Sci-Fi

Going for a bike ride in the 80s used to be a wholesome activity, but thanks to Stranger Things and now Paper Girls, it actually seems like it might attract supernatural activity. Maybe that’s why pelotons are so in right now!

Today, Amazon dropped the trailer for the upcoming sci-fi series Paper Girls, based on the hit graphic novel of the same name. The series follows a group of newspaper delivery girls in 1988 who unexpectedly get transported to the wild and horrifying new world of the year 2019 when they meet their older selves and have to find a way back to the 80s.

To make it even more appealing, one of the girl’s future selves is portrayed by Ali Wong. Get ready for some chaotic fun! Here is the official synopsis:

It’s the day after Halloween in 1988 when four young friends accidentally stumble into an intense time war and find themselves inexplicably transported to the year 2019. When they come face-to-face with their adult selves, each girl discovers her own strengths as together they try to find a way back to the past while saving the world of the future.

The show also stars Riley Lai Nelet, Sofia Rosinsky, Fina Strazza, Camryn Jones, Nate Corddry, and Adina Porter. Paper Girls debuts July 29th on Amazon Prime. Check out the trailer above.

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Three Contentious Michael Jackson Songs Have Been Removed From Streaming By Sony

13 years after his death, Michael Jackson’s legacy continues to be disputed, debated, and discussed by fans both old and new. Recently, a new twist was thrown into the discourse as Sony Music, which manages the rights to Jackson’s music, has removed three of his songs from streaming services. The three songs, “Breaking News,” “Keep Your Head Up,” and “Monster” featuring 50 Cent, all appear on the 2010 posthumous album Michael and have been subject to controversy for years.

The controversy stems from some fans’ belief that the songs do not feature Jackson’s vocals. Instead, they think that the songs were completed by a session singer, undermining the claim that the album consists of “previously unreleased vocal tracks performed by Michael Jackson.” In fact, one fan even sued Sony and Jackson’s estate over the contentious tracks, claiming they violated consumer laws and amounted to fraud. Vera Serova’s 2014 class-action lawsuit calls the three songs an “elaborate artistic fraud masterminded by co-defendants Eddie Cascio and James Porte.”

Some members of Jackson’s family have even weighed in on both sides. His mom Katherine and sister LaToya both maintained that the songs were either faked or didn’t sound like him, but a court eventually ruled that there was no case because of lack of evidence. It has since been appealed.

However, according to American Songwriter via Stereogum, the three tracks weren’t removed because of their doubted veracity, but because “the continuing conversation about the tracks is distracting the fan community and casual Michael Jackson listeners from focusing their attention where it should be: on Michael’s legendary and deep music catalog,” according to a statement from the estate.

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Metallica Are Thrilled With How ‘Stranger Things’ Used ‘Master Of Puppets’ In The Season Finale

Kate Bush and “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” have gotten a lot of buzz lately thanks to the fourth season of Stranger Things, but that song isn’t the only one the show has given a boost. Metallica’s 1986 classic “Master Of Puppets” features prominently in the season finale, and subsequently, it has received renewed attention. The song entered Spotify’s Daily Top Songs USA chart for the first time on July 1 (the day the two latest Stranger Things episodes were released) and rose to the No. 10 spot on July 4. (All the while, by the way, “Running Up That Hill” was No. 1 on that chart.)

Now, the band have shared their thoughts on the situation, offering some praise by writing on Instagram:

“The way The Duffer Brothers have incorporated music into Stranger Things has always been next level, so we were beyond psyched for them to not only include ‘Master of Puppets’ in the show, but to have such a pivotal scene built around it. We were all stoked to see the final result and when we did we were totally blown away… it’s so extremely well done, so much so, that some folks were able to guess the song just by seeing a few seconds of Joseph Quinn’s hands in the trailer!! How crazy cool is that?

It’s an incredible honor to be such a big part of Eddie’s journey and to once again be keeping company with all of the other amazing artists featured in the show.”

Robert Trujillo also noted on his own Instagram that his son Tye actually recorded guitar for the show, writing, “That’s my boy! Proud of ya Tye! Stranger Things finale shredding it on ‘Master of Puppets’ and big thanks to @kirkhammett on helping!”

Despite “Master Of Puppets” being one of Metallica’s most popular songs — it’s one of their 13 tracks to achieve at least Gold certification from the RIAA — it has actually never appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, so the tune’s potential debut on those ranks could be something to look out for when next week’s chart is released.

Meanwhile, in a new Variety interview, Stranger Things music supervisor Nora Felder noted of the track’s role in the show, “It was another one of those ‘it has to be this song’ moments. This part of the story was anticipated to be a pivotal and especially hair-raising scene in which Eddie heroically stood tall for the fight of his life. I believe the Duffer Brothers felt that playing ‘Master Of Puppets’ throughout the extended scene was the clear choice. No other song was discussed further, and we jumped in to clear it straight away.”

Find the aforementioned Instagram posts below.

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All The Best New Pop Music From This Week

With the announcement of a new Sabrina Carpenter record, plus a collaboration between Tiësto and Charli XCX and a new Rina Sawayama single, this week in pop did not disappoint. No, not even if Katy Perry botched a well-intentioned, pro-choice joke on Twitter about her hit “Firework.”

Each week, Uproxx rounds up the best new pop releases. Listen up.

Quinnie – “Touch Tank”

If you’ve been on TikTok at all in the past month or so, you know how anticipated the release of this song was. The lo-fi track went viral before it was even out; the clip circulated of Quinnie singing, “He’s so pretty when he goes down on me / Gold-skinned eager baby, blue shirt out the laundry.” It was tender and open about female sexuality in a way that’s rare and special. The entire ballad is as lovely as you’d expect.

Sabrina Carpenter – “Vicious”

Vicious” is Sabrina Carpenter’s first release since the announcement of her new album, and it portrays a catchy, sassy direction that her previous songs “Skinny Dipping” and “Fast Times” previewed as well. Her attitude and devotion to drama, especially in the bridge, make for a visceral listening experience.

Tiësto, Charli XCX – “Hot In It”

Speaking of attitude, Charli XCX’s devotion to being a pop diva has been carried over from her extravagant masterwork Crash. The hook is simple and repetitive but serves as a perfect mantra for clubbing this summer: “Tonight, I’m gon’ be rockin’ it, droppin’ it / Shake my ass, no stoppin’ it / I look hot in it, hot in it.”

Rina Sawayama – “Catch Me In The Air”

Rina Sawayama’s forthcoming album Hold The Girl is going to be dynamic and unpredictable. The first single, “This Hell,” was an abrasive, rock-tinged anthem that flirted with danger; this new single “Catch Me In The Air” feels like its polar opposite. With a buoyant sound reminiscent of early-2000s pop, it’s much more wholesome and is focused on optimism and growth.

Daya – “Love You When You’re Gone”

Daya’s synthy “Love You When You’re Gone” is a sparkling ode to yearning with a Cure-like atmosphere. The rhythm bounces in a “Just Like Heaven” kind of way, and her vocals soar through the song with pure feeling. The lyrics are poetic in portraying frustration and misplacement: “I only love you when you’re gone / Lonely hearts just don’t belong.”

Catie Turner – “Step Mom”

“Step Mom” by Catie Turner kicks off with instantly relatable storytelling: “We broke up, it was messy and I’m so embarrassed / Let it get the best of me, I wasn’t thinking clearly.” Turner’s bubbly, unafraid personality separates her from the other pop singers right now; with the brazen hook “I’m gonna steal your dad / Be the best he ever had,” there’s no competition.

Lauv – “Kids Are Born Stars”

There’s an infectious groove running through Lauv’s new song “Kids Are Born Stars.” Even with downtrodden lyrics about rejection and heartbreak, Lauv keeps it hopeful and confident: “I cried but it’s cool she didn’t come over / But I knew that someday I knew I’d be a really, really, really, really big star,” he sings.

Steve Lacy – “Bad Habit”

Woozy guitars make “Bad Habit” by Steve Lacy absolutely addictive, and his vocals, drenched in an intense sense of longing and sincerity, make it even better. A deep bassline and glittering synths complete its perfection; after listening, you’ll have the melody stuck in your head for hours: “I wish I knew, I wish I knew you wanted me.” It ends in a trance-like, psychedelic haze.

Gia Woods – “Lesbionic”

Gia Woods is fearless on “Lesbionic,” which bursts with Kim Petras- or Slayyyter-like hyperpop insanity. Instead of singing, it sounds like she’s making declarations: “Hey girls, no fighting, no kiss, just biting / It’s not iconic, it’s lesbionic.” Over trippy synths and a fast rhythm, the song is sure to be blasted at clubs.

Gryffin, MØ – “Reckless”

After collaborating together and with King Princess for “Head On Fire,” Gryffin and MØ are back to making music with each other. Their chemistry is obvious; “Reckless” is another great, radio-ready anthem for driving through a beautiful, hot day with the windows down. It has an undeniable groove and texture of excitement that feels inspiring and contagious.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.