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This week saw the release of a ton of great new pop music. Tate McRae put out her sophomore record, as the 20-year-old continues taking over pop. Meanwhile, other artists like Griff and Rina Sawayama delivered thrilling new songs that completed their latest projects.

Check out the rest of Uproxx’s Best New Pop Music roundup below.

Tate McRae — “Run For The Hills”

Uproxx cover star Tate McRae has been continuing her buzz with the release of her sophomore album, Think Later. A standout track from it is “Run For The Hills,” which McRae herself gave a recent stamp of approval to. “It was always a favorite of my friends from Canada, and that always was important to me,” she shared.

Nessa Barrett — “Girl In New York”

Nessa Barrett is sleuthing out infidelity on her new “Girl In New York” single, adding a layer of emotion with the slower pacing. Fans had previously loved the song after she performed it throughout her recent tour.

Rina Sawayama – “Flavour Of The Month”

Rina Sawayama treated fans to some new bonus tracks for her Hold The Girl album. One of these, “Flavour Of The Month,” finds her not wanting her time to be wasted, over a hypnotic beat from producer Rich Cooper.

Peso Pluma, Anitta – “Bellakeo”

Peso Pluma and Anitta dropped their new “Bellakeo” collaboration, which is a fun and flirty party track. “Plan B on the radio, she sings it with her friends / Shots of Clase Azul and we’re going directly to the club,” he sings, according to Variety.

Griff — “Astronaut”

Griff’s new song “Astronaut” completes her Vert1go Vol. 1 project, as she sends listeners to another planet with the dreamy ballad. Backed with a piano instrumental played by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, she details feelings of abandonment. “We listened to maybe 30 of my songs together, but he kept stopping ‘Astronaut,’” Griff shared. “Chris advised me to strip it all back and keep things simple, so I had the cheek to ask him to play on it himself and I am so honored he agreed.”

Fletcher — “Eras Of Us”

A nod to a massive tour of the same name, Fletcher’s “Eras Of Us” used an encounter she had with an ex at the concert to turn it into a song. In it, she reflects on their relationship, and how it fell to pieces. Still, things work out how they’re supposed to.

J Balvin — “Amigos”

J Balvin’s “Amigos” serves as his hope about “going back to his roots,” as he details the fact that routine is hurting a relationship — and is, not, in fact, about Bad Bunny. “Music doesn’t have a formula,” he said, according to ABC News. “It’s the only business that you drop the product before anyone tastes them. So it’s a risk, but it is part of the game.”

Lolo Zouaï — “How To Love”

Returning this past week with her new EP, Crying In The Carwash, Lolo Zouaï delivered once again with five new entertaining pop songs. “I know I was outta line and I denied that / It’s never too late to change, I realize that,” she sings over a dreamy beat.

Fred Again.. — “Leave Me Alone” (feat. Baby Keem)

Another collaboration on this list, Fred Again.. sampled Baby Keem to make a wild ride of an electronic track — and might not be the last. “I f*ckin love keem,” Fred Again wrote on social media. “Obviously. Ever since sonny first played me his music years ago. Hangin out wit him recently has been a real treat n I feel like this tune is jus the beginning.”

Alec Benjamin — “I Sent My Therapist To Therapy”

“Releasing this song is the ultimate form of therapy,” Benjamin shared about his vulnerable new song. “It combines the two most therapeutic things in my life into one; music and therapy itself. I hope listening to this song provides the same level of catharsis for anyone struggling with their mental health as writing it did for me.”

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

In light of Diddy’s recent legal troubles centered around sexual assault allegations, some have wondered what the Grammys are planning to do about the rapper: At the 2024 ceremony, his album The Love Album: Off The Grid earned a nomination in the Best Progressive R&B Album category.

Will Diddy’s Grammy nomination be taken away, and will he be welcome at the 2024 show? That’s unclear as of now, but the Recording Academy is at least looking into it.

“We are taking this matter very seriously and we are in the process of evaluating it with the time and care that it deserves,” the Recording Academy said in a statement shared with Rolling Stone.

As for Diddy’s nomination, based on recent precedent, it doesn’t appear likely it will be rescinded. In response to Marilyn Manson receiving a Grammy nomination in 2021, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said at the time:

“We won’t restrict the people who can submit their material for consideration. We won’t look back at people’s history, we won’t look at their criminal record, we won’t look at anything other than the legality within our rules of, is this recording for this work eligible based on date and other criteria. If it is, they can submit for consideration.

What we will control is our stages, our shows, our events, our red carpets. We’ll take a look at anyone who is asking to be a part of that, asking to be in attendance, and we’ll make our decisions at that point. But we’re not going to be in the business of restricting people from submitting their work for our voters to decide on.”

Find the full list of 2024 Grammy nominations here.

Yellowstone appears to spark nothing but real-life drama these days with Kevin Costner all but promising that he would would sue producers over John Dutton apparently being told to take a hike from the series’ upcoming final episodes. Not only that, but one of Taylor Sheridan’s ranches is now suing Cole Hauser’s coffee brand over a suspicious logo, but hey, there’s some positive vibes to be found, too.

Very positive vibes, actually. Ryan Bingham and Hassie Harrison, who portray Walker and Laramie (respectively) on the cowboy soap opera, have been dating offscreen since, well, no one knows. They did, however, go Instagram official with “more than a spark” in April 2023.

Viewers began to speculate about whether they’d decided to tie the knot after some fairly concrete evidence of the pair wearing rings, not only in a joint video about “a love song” but also in a solo Bingham video, where he plugged his bourbon brand and an upcoming music gig.

TMZ now reports that the two are genuinely married “with the actress now proudly taking her wedding ring out for a spin” late last week in Las Vegas. Sources relayed to TMZ that the pair got hitched in Dallas back in October. As well, they have already purchased a ranch together, and yep, it sure looks like they were on their way to domestic bliss in some other recent photos:

Bingham is also rumored to be among the 6666 cast with confirmation still pending. Meanwhile, Kevin Costner is not to be outdone in the romance department, since he is reportedly already post-divorce dating a 1990s music icon. And no one knows when Yellowstone‘s final episodes shall air, although filming will probably happen in late 2024.

(Via TMZ)

Today’s afrobeats scene is arguably in the best condition its been in a while simply because the new artists on the block are having as much success as the genre’s “older” generation. As Davido and Burna Boy saw viral moments through their releases this year, Rema and Asake enjoyed the same for themselves. The success isn’t only reserved for the men in the genre. Names like Ayra Starr, Tyla, Teni, and Tems are more than deserving of their place in the spotlight. In fact, it’s demanded.

As for 2023, afrobeats welcomed back artists who’d been absent from the scene for some time. Davido returned to release one of the best albums of the year with Timeless while Mr Eazi took on the role of The Evil Genius for his long-awaited debut. Other acts wasted no time getting back to work after releasing their previous projects. Asake (Work Of Art), Adekunle Gold (Tequila Ever After), and Blaqbonez (Emeka Must Shine) are examples of artists who make quick returns to the scene. Outside of these aforementioned names are artists who’ve established themselves immensely talents who found away to the top of afrobeats in 2023.

With that being said here are the ten best afrobeats albums of 2023 in alphabetical order:

Adekunle Gold — Tequila Ever After

This year seemed to be the year of quick returns for a few afrobeats artists. Burna Boy and Asake are among those who returned with projects after a short break and Adekunle Gold also joined that list this year with his fifth album Tequila Ever After. It’s always a joy to watch artists find the fun in their music again, and that’s exactly what happened with Adekunle Gold on this album. The album uses vibrant production as its canvas as Adekunle paints with moments of falling in love, dancing under the spotlight, and simply enjoying what life has blessed him with. It’s a toast to now and forever as well as motivation to find a level of enjoyment in your life comparable to what Adekunle indulges in. – W.O.

Asake — Work Of Art

After establishing himself as one of the best newcomers in afrobeats in 2022, Asake used 2023 to prove that his success is far from a moment, but rather, the starting moments of a long-lasting career. His second album Work Of Art, arrived just nine months after his stellar debut Mr. Money With The Vibe and it exercises the same winning formula that put Asake in the spotlight. The Nigerian star returns as triumphant, spiritual, and grateful as ever, and with Work Of Art, we get a slightly altered painting that is altered enough to be something new worth paying attention to, all while using the same paintbrush and colors. In the end, this formula provided records like the Grammy-nominated “Amapiano” and the fan-favorite “Lonely At The Top” that will go down as one of the best offerings in Asake’s discography. – W.O.

Blaqbonez — Emeka Must Shine

Behind giants like Davido, Wizkid, and Burna Boy lives an immensely talented class of young afrobeats artists who represent the genre’s stars of tomorrow. Nigerian’s own Blaqbonez, born Emeka Akumefule, in that class, an honor he proved he was worthy of with the 2022 release of Young Preacher. Blaqbonez doubles down on that with Emeka Must Shine, his third album in as many years. The project that bears his legal name is one that Blaqbonez uses to showcase his elevation and versatility as an artist. Introspection lives through “Road Runners” as much as his free spirit and desire to enjoy life do on “Like Ice Spice” and “6 Bizness Days.” It’s these unique aspects and Blaqbonez’s ability to tie them together in a cohesive manner that allow him to shine, just like his third album’s title says he must do. – W.O.

Burna Boy — I Told Them…

Burna Boy has never really favored humility, but when you’ve spent the bulk of your career proving your doubters wrong, how could you favor it? When success as an afrobeats artist was doubted, he proved them wrong. When he was told global stardom was out of reach, he did all he could to grab it. When he was denied awards, he found a way to give an acceptance speech with an award in hand. Burna Boy relishes in his accomplishments on his sixth album I Told Them…, and though there isn’t a stark difference or a new approach for this project, moments like “City Boys,” “Dey Play,” and “Tested, Approved & Trusted” highlight the Burna Boy we love. On the flip side, “Sittin’ On Top Of The World” and “Big 7” capture the global ambassador Burna strives to be. There’s no doubting Burna’s success, but in case you decide to, I Told Them… is proof of the progress. – W.O.

Crayon — Trench To Triumph

Don Jazzy’s Mavin Records contains a roster of talent that many labels would be envious of. The label’s most recognizable faces are Rema and Ayra Starr, but in 2023, Crayon emerged as an eligible candidate to complete a “big three” within the label thanks to his debut album Trench To Triumph. A true rags to riches story, as its title suggests, Crayon displays his spirituality, past struggles, current impressive talents, and future potential all within the project’s 13 songs. Whether it be afrobeats with “Trench Kid” and the semi-viral “Ngozi” or amapiano with “Ijo Laba” and “The One (Chop Life),” Crayon uses it all to paint the world he came from. You may not have expected Crayon to have one of afrobeats’ best albums in 2023, but going forward, that should be the expectation in future years. – W.O.

Davido — Timeless

Davido’s absence from the afrobeats world over the past couple of years, though it was respected, was surely felt by fans. So with the arrival of his fourth album Timeless, the expectation was that he would fit right into the genre’s newly-mainstream landscape while showing why he’s on the Mount Rushmore of the genre. To the surprise of no one, that’s exactly what happened. Timeless arrived as Davido’s best album to date and it’s thanks to the singer’s theme of conquering all things in his way on the album. Whether it be those who want to bring him down or unfortunate events in his life, Davido stands tall “over dem” on Timeless. – W.O.

L.A.X. — No Bad Vibes

Staying true to his name, a slight acronym for Live And Excel, Nigerian singer L.A.X. took a clear step upward with his third album No Bad Vibes. Born from months of touring and the recognition that a project that embodied his growth was needed came twelve that capture the dance-friendly nature of African music through sweet offerings with features from Ayra Starr, Black Sherif, Konshens, and more. Afrobeats, afropop, and amapiano are the means he uses to achieve his mission of ensuring its great vibes from start to finish on No Bad Vibes. “Zaza” is the infectious dancefloor warmup while “Rora” is where you let go and be free and “Options” grants the slow, intimate embrace of a loved one. L.A.X. covered the bases with No Bad Vibes and he didn’t waste a beat doing so. – W.O.

Mr Eazi — The Evil Genius

Mr Eazi was one of a few faces that represented afrobeats during its rise in the 2010s. Releases like “Skin Tight,” “Leg Over,” and “Pour Me Water,” stood out amongst the field and Eazi’s consistency was heralded just as much as the music itself. With all that being said, it’s a bit shocking that it wasn’t until 2023 that Mr Eazi delivered his official debut album. The Evil Genius and its 16 tracks combine everything we’ve come to love about Mr Eazi and his music. He doesn’t sound a decade older, but the experience and wisdom gained in those 10 years are entwined in The Evil Genius. Highlife, afropop, and other genres under the afrobeats soundtrack breathe vibrant life into an incredibly personal album that dives into love, betrayal, loneliness, and family. It was a long time coming for Mr Eazi, but as the saying goes, better late than never. – W.O.

NSG — Area Boyz

A decade into their career, NSG celebrated the milestone by releasing their debut album Area Boyz. The Nigerian and Ghanaian six-member group out of East London delivered an album that deserved to bask in the sunlight of the summer. Bass-knocking records like “Azonto,” “Zombie,” and “Seihor” set the temperature for explosive moments on the album like “Stevie Wonder” and “Nella Rose.” In addition to that, NSG finds moments to show off their timid side through offerings like “Tonight” and “Toxic Love.” Nineteen tracks deep and NSG used them all to show their versatility and growth over their decade-long career. Ten years is a mark few make it to and it’s surely a reason to celebrate, Area Boyz just makes the moment much sweeter. – W.O.

Teni — Tears Of The Sun

Nigerian singer Teni is living proof of the beauty behind seeking out the silver linings during the down times in life. Her second album Tears Of The Sun embodies that to a tee with 16 celebratory records that are as bright as the sun in the album’s title. You’re welcome to dance through songs like “Control” while “YBGFA (Young Black Girl From Africa)” offers inspiration to those who look up to her and “Holy Matrimony” supplies a dose of moving spirituality. On Tears Of The Sun, Teni rides the wave of optimism with ease and does it authentically. As a result, Tears Of The Sun lands as a moving album that’ll brighten your day and put you in a nice groove. – W.O.

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

During a recent interview with CBS Mornings, André 3000 talked about his solo career, as he recently dropped a new instrumental album, New Blue Sun. However, in the extended conversation, he also spoke about how he felt regarding the possibility of an Outkast reunion — and if Big Boi ever brought it up.

The short answer was no, as André noted that the discussion hasn’t happened because they know what inspires the other person.

“So I think in that sense, he’s never pushed that issue,” he said about Big Boi. “But I’m sure, like, I want another OutKast album. Yeah, like in my mind – but see, that’s the thing. That’s the human side. I want an OutKast album a long time ago.”

“And honestly for me as an individual, it would be gratifying to me to put out a solo rap situation,” André added. “But not for nobody else at this point. It’s for me because I actually like the challenge of, ‘How could I make this part of my life interesting and rhyme in words?’ You know what I mean? Like how can I do that? So yeah, it’s still a challenge. So I think hopefully with will and intent, something will happen.”

Check out the clip of André 3000’s interview above.

In many ways, TikTok has been a great thing for music, as it has given some artists levels of exposure they likely would have never received if their songs hadn’t gained popularity on the video platform. There’s another side of it, though, that Tate McRae is not a fan of at all: writing songs specifically with the hope that short sections of them will go viral on TikTok.

In a recent interview on CBC’s Q With Tom Power, McRae explained her position, saying:

“If I’m being super honest, I feel like whenever someone walks into a room, like a songwriter, and they’re like, ‘We need to make something that’s going to catch on TikTok,’ it, like, fully kills it for me. I’m just like, I think that is the death of art, if we are basing a song off a 15-second clip. I just don’t think that’s real music. I’m not listing to a 15-second clip to feel music the way that I want to feel music.

So that’s why I will never, ever, ever start something basing it off one section. I will always write from how a song makes me feel in the room, the full song, start to finish. I don’t care if there’s not a 15-second… if it doesn’t feel like a full song to me, it’s worthless to me.”

Check out the full interview above.

Stephen Colbert returned to host The Late Show on Monday following a two-week break so the host could recover from a ruptured appendix. “I know no one wants to hear about a hunk of dead intestine filled with poison and bile,” he said in his monologue, “but unfortunately, Donald Trump is in the news.” It’s good to have him back.

Trump recently claimed that he and his cronies have been “waging an all out war on American democracy,” and that, if re-elected, he would be a dictator, but only on the first day of his new presidency. Trump says he was only joking about the whole dictatorship thing, something something fake news, but Colbert isn’t so sure.

“Now, obviously, we know he’s kind of trolling here, but we also know he’s telling us exactly what he plans to do, and if he gets unlimited power, he won’t be giving it up,” Colbert warned before comparing Trump getting a taste of dictatorship to people trying crack.

The Late Show host then read a Washington Post op-ed from editor at large Robert Kagan, who wrote, “Indicting Trump for trying to overthrow the government will prove akin to indicting Caesar for crossing the Rubicon, and just as effective.” Colbert joked, “Yes, Trump is just like Caesar, except history will never associate him with salad.”

You can watch The Late Show monologue above.

Stephen Colbert returned to host The Late Show on Monday following a two-week break so the host could recover from a ruptured appendix. “I know no one wants to hear about a hunk of dead intestine filled with poison and bile,” he said in his monologue, “but unfortunately, Donald Trump is in the news.” It’s good to have him back.

Trump recently claimed that he and his cronies have been “waging an all out war on American democracy,” and that, if re-elected, he would be a dictator, but only on the first day of his new presidency. Trump says he was only joking about the whole dictatorship thing, something something fake news, but Colbert isn’t so sure.

“Now, obviously, we know he’s kind of trolling here, but we also know he’s telling us exactly what he plans to do, and if he gets unlimited power, he won’t be giving it up,” Colbert warned before comparing Trump getting a taste of dictatorship to people trying crack.

The Late Show host then read a Washington Post op-ed from editor at large Robert Kagan, who wrote, “Indicting Trump for trying to overthrow the government will prove akin to indicting Caesar for crossing the Rubicon, and just as effective.” Colbert joked, “Yes, Trump is just like Caesar, except history will never associate him with salad.”

You can watch The Late Show monologue above.

Every talk show has a marquee segment, the one that manages to wrangle big guests for moments that often go viral. For Late Night With Seth Meyers, that has become the segments where Meyers goes day drinking with a celebrity guest. For the latest installment that aired last night (December 11), Dua Lipa joined in on the fun.

At one point during the proceedings, Seth and Dua went back and forth asking each other tough-to-answer questions, which they didn’t have to answer if they opted to instead take a shot. Seth asked Dua who the most famous person is who has slid into her DM’s, and she went straight for the drink.

Then, she came back by asking Meyers who is least-favorite talk show host is out of the ones he co-hosted the Strike Force Five podcast with: Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, or John Oliver. After a smidge of hesitation, Meyers looked down the barrel of the camera and declared, “I don’t think the British should be allowed to have American talk shows. We fought the Revolutionary War. […] John Oliver: Go back home.”

Of course, this was all in good fun, especially since the show then contrasted Meyers’ statements by promoting joint stand-up comedy performances Meyers and Oliver will be performing together in 2024.

There was tons of fun beyond that, so check out the video above.

Dua Lipa is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Outside of Mariah Carey’s Merry Christmas One And All Tour and iHeartRadio’s Jingle Ball concert stops around the country, music lovers’ chance to experience music live is slowly fizzling out as the year comes to a close.

If you’re looking for your entertainment fix, don’t be so quick to dismiss good old-fashioned late-night television shows. From Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to Jimmy Kimmel Live recording artists delivered some striking performances this week.

Here are the best live music performances on TV from the past week (December 4 to 10) in alphabetical order.

Busta Rhymes:

Ahead of his 2024 Blockbusta Tour, Busta Rhymes dropped by The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon for a high-energy performance of “Legacy.” With a career spanning several decades, Busta Rhymes is no stranger to late-night TV, but this set was a special moment as he got to share the stage with three of his children, CIE, Trillian, and RAI, who are also entertainers.

Grupo Frontera:

Latin music stars have continued to dominate the US media space, and it won’t slow down in 2024. Grupo Frontera is at the forefront of next year’s international musicians set to take over. The group’s performance of their song “Amor Propio” on Jimmy Kimmel Live was a clear example of their breakthrough talent.

J Balvin:

Next year, fans will be treated to a hearty serving of J Balvin when he hits the road for the Que Bueno Volver A Verte Tour. In the meantime, his TV debut performance of “Amigos” on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon was a brief appetizer.

Olivia Rodrigo:

Olivia Rodrigo’s star power shines through every time she touches a microphone. But her stripped-back live rendition of “Vampire” for Saturday Night Live’s studio audience was a new peak.

Ric Wilson:

Ric Wilson is one of the most exciting acts out of Chicago, Illinois. Although it wasn’t an official in-studio performance, Wilson’s pre-filmed performance of the single “Pay It No Mind” (with Chromeo and A-Trak) for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is certainly worth a watch and honorable mention.