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If you’re not in on the “Ready to Drink” (aka RTD) bandwagon by now, you’re probably in the minority. RTDs were the fasting growing spirits category in 2021. They’ve only continued to gain in popularity since. This is likely because of the ease involved. Instead of taking time to mix together the ingredients for a margarita, old fashioned, or negroni, you can simply crack open an RTD, pour it into a glass and you’re ready to go.

What could be simpler?

“Ten years ago, if someone would have told me how popular canned cocktails would become, I wouldn’t have believed them,” says Erica Dimmig, lead mixologist at Bar Pendry in Chicago. “We have far surpassed the basic hard seltzers like White Claw and have thousands of options, spirits, and brands to choose from.”

Bartenders often shy away from RTD beverages, because the quality is sometimes lacking compared to a freshly mixed cocktail.

“Most RTDs are overly sweet and made with fake ingredients,” says Sam Nelis, beverage director at Gin Lane Bar in Montpelier, Vermont. “They usually are around 5% ABV and drink more like a spiked seltzer than a cocktail.”

But this isn’t the case with every ready-to-drink cocktail. With the rise in the category’s popularity, a myriad of great options have emerged. To find them, we asked the professionals who spend their days behind the bar to recommend one fave. Keep scrolling to see their picks.

Vervet Pale Mary

Michael Carlisi, beverage director at Barrio in San Francisco

ABV: 7%

Average Price: $17 for a four-pack

The RTD:

I lean towards Vervet, a woman and minority-owned LA-based company. Using real ingredients, these clean craft cocktails are made from scratch. The Pale Mary, a clear Bloody Mary, is savory and crisp.

Tasting Notes:

Using tomato water instead of tomato juice, it’s full of flavor but light instead of thick and heavy. It’s a much more refreshing, flavorful version of the classic bloody Mary.

Cutwater Ranch Water Lime

Jill Caron, bar principle at The Salty Pig in Boston, Massachusetts

ABV: 5.9%

Average Price: $13 for a four-pack

The RTD:

The best RTD for me would be the Cutwater Ranch Water, it’s totally crushable especially when you’re getting the backyard ready for an amazing summer of hangs and BBQs. Ranch water is a classic, refreshing cocktail and Cutwater manages to recreate it well with this RTD.

Tasting Notes:

The Ranch Water is super well balanced between the tequila, fresh lime, and bubbles. It’s light and refreshing on a hot spring or summer day.

Luxardo Aperitivo Spritz

Tom Muscolino, director of beverage Innovation at Landmark Hospitality in Plainfield, New Jersey

ABV: 10%

Average Price: $18 for a four-pack of 250ml cans

The RTD:

Luxardo Aperitivo Spritz. Drinks like an Aperol Spritz (but better). It’s made with Luxardo Aperitivo Liqueur, sparkling water, and natural flavors.

Tasting Notes:

It’s lightly carbonated and very refreshing, with notes of fresh orange peel and a pleasant bitterness. Just like the classic cocktail version.

Campari Soda

Alex Barbatsis, head bartender at The Whistler in Chicago

ABV: 10%

Average Price: Limited Availability

The RTD:

The newish Campari Soda RTD. Perfect amount of carbonation and bitterness, plus the bottle is so much cooler than all the cans out there. This 10% ABV RTD is simply a mix of the classic semisweet Campari and soda. It’s suggested that you crack one open and pour it into an ice-filled glass and garnish it with an orange slice.

Tasting Notes:

Just like the classic Campari Soda, this RTD is refreshing and bittersweet. It’s the kind of drink you’ll want to have on hand for a hot summer night.

Barr Hill Canned Gin & Tonic

Sam Nelis, beverage director at Gin Lane Bar in Montpelier, Vermont

ABV: 9.3%

Average Price: $7 for a 12-ounce can

The RTD:

Barr Hill’s canned Gin & Tonic, coming in at 9.3% ABV, sips more like a true cocktail. It’s made with Barr Hill Gin and a Barr Hill Tonic created by their bartenders. It’s the same cocktail served at their bar, but it just happens to be in a can now too.

Tasting Notes:

The tonic is made with real cinchona bark, the raw ingredient in which quinine is contained, other botanicals for flavor, and sweetened with regional raw honey.

Fishers Island Lemonade

Sawyer Platt, bar lead at Publico Street Bistro & Garden in South Boston, Massachusetts

ABV: 9%

Average Price: $15 for a four-pack

The RTD:

Fishers Island Lemonade has all the components of a great warm-weather drink. Lemon, honey, and vodka, with the surprise appearance of whiskey. It makes a refreshing addition to any spring picnic, patio gathering, or the early beach days of summer.

Tasting Notes:

This canned cocktail is the perfect mix of sweet and tart like a fresh squeezed lemonade, while also packing a punch at 9% ABV.

Finnish Long Drink

Drew Russ, lead bartender at Venteux in Chicago

ABV: 5.5%

Average Price: $15 for a six-pack

The RTD:

Finnish Long Drink is a great RTD. It was originally designed as a quick way to serve beverages at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki. They also make an equally good cranberry version, especially during the holiday season.

Tasting Notes:

It uses Finnish juniper berries and grapefruit for a great blast of flavor that is perfect on a sunny day. What more could you want?

Coit Spirits North Beach Peach Cocktail

Jared Bailey, bar manager at Soho Cigar Bar in New York City

ABV: 15.5%

Average Price: $5 for a 200ml can

The RTD:

Coit Spirits Craft Drafts are perfect for Spring. I especially enjoy its North Beach Peach Cocktail. Their gins are known for infusing 21 botanicals and tea directly into the spirits and their RTDs have a whopping 15.5% abv in their cans which were designed with famous street artist Hektad.

Tasting Notes:

North Beach was crafted to be like a classic Bellini with flavors like herbal gin, passionfruit, orgeat, mint, and peach.

Fly Embers Pineapple Sunset

Lee Moore, bartender at The Ballantyne Hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina

ABV: 8%

Average Price: $3 for a 16-ounce can

The RTD:

Fly Embers Hard Kombucha. Hands down one of the best RTD cocktails, a perfect balance of beer-meets-seltzer. Its Pineapple Sunset is an 8% ABV hard kombucha take on the classic sunrise cocktail.

Tasting Notes:

This is a great choice for the warmer months. It’s tart, highly refreshing, and features pineapple, toasted coconut, and other tropical fruit flavors.

Crafthouse Cocktails Moscow Mule

Erica Dimmig, lead mixologist at Bar Pendry in Chicago

ABV: 10.1%

Average Price: $20 for a four-pack

The RTD:

Hailing from Chicago, Crafthouse Cocktails was created by two of Chicago’s well-known bar experts, Charles Joly and Matt Linder. They offer everything from a Moscow Mule to a Dark Matter Coffee Old Fashioned. Only fresh ingredients and pure spirits are used, no ‘natural’ flavors or malt beverages here. The best part? You can have them delivered to your doorstep. If I had to pick one, it would be the Moscow Mule. Made with vodka, lime, and house-made ginger beer, it’s known for its refreshing, spicy flavor profile.

Tasting Notes:

Fresh lime and spicy ginger beer are the main flavors in this surprisingly complex, summery cocktail. It’s definitely your usual canned cocktail.

After several months of rumors and reports, Paramount Network’s Yellowstone was recently confirmed to end its flagship series after Season 5’s conclusion. This may or may not be a relief to Kevin Costner, but he seems like he’s been through plenty lately. He did stay relatively quiet amid rumors of his departure from the series, but he’s also watched his fellow cast members be quizzed at every opportunity, too.

Costner is also back in the director’s seat for Horizon, which is currently filming, and then there are those personal life matters, too. With all of that said, it’s not too surprising that a Costner source wants to clear the air a bit, and US Weekly has heard from such a source, who insists that any Yellowstone delays or a “holdup is not coming from Kevin.” The source added that Costner is “disappointed by the delays, which are beyond his control.” US Weekly relays how the insider says the holdup is coming from inside the house:

According to the insider, the issues are coming from behind the camera. “The drama is between some of the writers and producers,” the source tells Us, adding that the production has been “troubled” for a while. “They all have busy schedules and other projects, and that has caused delays. It’s been upsetting for Kevin because he has a family and a schedule to stick to.”

Additionally, whatever went wrong with the Paleyfest debacle surely didn’t help on Costner’s end, given that no one knows why the schedule included both him and creator Taylor Sheridan, and no one knows why plans seemingly changed at the last minute. In any event, though, Yellowstone will begin shooting at some point in August, and the back half of Season 5 will start to air in November. And maybe one of these days, we will hear more about the mystery project including Matthew McConaughey in Yellowstone mode, which will be one more of many Taylor Sheridan shows in the works.

(Via US Weekly)

Beyoncé fans are known for being some of the most enthusiastic in the music world. But there’s such a thing as being a little too enthusiastic — as one fan apparently learned at the singer’s Renaissance World Tour, which is currently winding its way through Europe.

There’s a video circulating among Beyoncé fans online of a fan who was apparently arrested during the concert for allegedly sneaking into the “Club Renaissance” section — a sort of VIP section with a “VIP concierge team and onsite hosts.” Unfortunately, it seems the fan was unaware that “concierge team” also probably means “top-flight security.”

The Renaissance World Tour has generated more than its fair share of headlines and potential drama in just two days. At the kickoff show, fans wondered whether Queen Bey had shaded the creators of Swarm, the buzzy Amazon show based on the over-the-top antics of certain members of her BeyHive fan base.

Meanwhile, the concert itself finds her addressing fans’ thirst for music videos from the album while her father reflects on her drive for stardom. Fans shared photos of the tour program, which included a handwritten setlist, and fawned over her lustrous, custom tour wardrobe, which even found her dressing as a bee and fully embracing the camp elements baked into the drag ball concept of the album.

We’re sure more Renaissance World Tour news will continue to trickle out as the tour continues, but for now, just remember: Unless you paid to get into Club Renaissance, it’s best not to test your luck.

British singer Jorja Smith is best known for her lower-tempo, hazier songs but her latest single, “Little Things,” switches things up. Upping the tempo and incorporating elements of garage and Afrobeats, “Little Things” finds Smith revealing all the small actions and details that turn her on in a romantic partner.

In a statement about the new single, Smith said, “The song is pretty self-explanatory, I had a lil concoction – rum, ting and a magnum. When we started creating this song I was just imagining hearing this walking into a party and seeing someone I’d had my eye on. It’s fun!”

Meanwhile, the video, which depicts a series of connections being made at a party (with a cameo from Headie One), is “about finding the stylistic language that made sense,” according to director Bolade Banjo. The inspiration was “a snog with someone you’re crushing on… Speaking with Jorja about how she wanted to approach this it became apparent; ‘Little Things’ was within itself…”

“Little Things” is Jorja’s second new single of 2023 following “Try Me” and continues her comeback after an unplanned hiatus in the wake of the pandemic in 2020. Since then, she’s appeared on songs from Ibeyi, Brent Faiyaz, and her recently discovered cousin, FKA Twigs.

Watch Jorja Smith’s “Little Things” video above.

The city of Buffalo, New York is called the “city of good neighbors.” And with a blizzard that has dumped more than 50 inches of snow on them, the world is getting to learn how they earned that name.

A woman named Sha’Kyra Aughtry went viral on Facebook after she reluctantly put out an emotional plea. Aughtry went live on the platform explaining that she heard someone calling for help outside, so she sent her boyfriend out to see who needed assistance. Turns out, it was a 64-year-old developmentally disabled man by the name of Joey White, who was stuck in the cold snow. Aughtry’s boyfriend helped the man out of the snow and physically carried him into the house.

White was so frozen that they had to use a hair dryer to melt the ice off of his pants that were frozen to him. The couple also had to cut his socks off along with the bags he was carrying, which were stuck to his hands. White was in a dire position and Aughtry, a mom of three preparing for Christmas, was desperate.

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The woman said during the live video, “I’ve called the National Guard. I’ve called 911. I’ve called everybody – they just keep telling me I’m on a list. I don’t want to be on a list. I don’t care about nothing else. This man is not about to die over here.” It was clear to her that he needed immediate medical attention, but conditions were so bad, help never came. According to CNN, at least 31 people have died in the winter storm that pummeled the state.

Aughtry realized no one would be coming to her rescue any time soon, and the following day after FaceTiming a doctor that confirmed the severity of White’s condition, she made a last ditch effort. In the two days that she was caring for Joey, she was without her children for the holidays until a friend walked them home. Aughtry explained that White had the mental capacity of a 10-year-old, but he was able to remember his sister’s phone number and the number for his job.

The good samaritan called White’s sister to inform her that he was safe at her home and she was attempting to get him help. According to Sweet Buffalo, White was trying to get home from work when he got stuck in the storm. His sister credits Aughtry for saving her brother’s life.

During the live Facebook video, several people volunteered to come and help the man get to the hospital after seeing how severe his frostbite was. Aughtry relayed that the doctor that did the video call with them explained he could lose his fingers, or worse, if treatment wasn’t provided immediately. The frustration and desperation in her voice was palpable, and at one point, White innocently asked if he was going to die. Aughtry assured him he would not.

Within a short period of time, someone who saw Aughtry’s video came by with their snow plow to clear a path, and others showed up with a pick up truck to transport White. Since he was not only physically vulnerable but mentally vulnerable, White’s temporary caretaker insisted on riding with him to make sure he got to the hospital safely. The men that came to help had to carry White into the hospital due to his condition.

Thankfully, White received the care he needed and is currently being treated in the ICU at ECMC Hospital for fourth degree frost bite. And as a thank you for saving White’s life, North Park Theatre, where White works, set up a Go Fund Me that has reached over $100,000 in donations for Aughtry. There was also one set up for White. Buffalo really is the city of good neighbors.

If you’d like to send Joey well wishes while he recovers, you can send them here:

Joe White

ECMC462 Grider Street Buffalo, NY 14215

Room #1956

If you’d like to send cards to Sha’Kyra and her family, you can send them here:

Sha’Kyra Aughtry

P.O. Box 348

West Seneca, NY 14224

This article originally appeared on 12.23.22

There is one request that unites all women and girls no matter their political affiliation or socioeconomic status, and that’s telling them to smile when they’re just minding their business. Think of it like a fairly universal “don’t” when interacting with women, unless you’re a photographer hired to take their photo.

A mom on TikTok found herself reaping the consequences of telling her 9-year-old daughter to smile when she was rehearsing a performance for her school. To say her daughter was not amused would be an understatement. The mom, whose TikTok name is Anniesgotabun, shared a video before and after her daughter’s performance.

The caption of the video read “mistakes were made” complete with the facepalm emoji and the hastag #parentingfail. In the first part of the video you can clearly see her daughter going through the motions of the musical production looking unenthusiastic. The mom explains her error via text overlay explaining “my daughter had her final rehearsal for the school musical yesterday.”

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The video cuts to the mom with text that read, “Afterward, I regrettably said the one thing that no female *ever* wants to hear. ‘Try to smile more.’’’ The result was interesting to say the least and it certainly made the mom rethink her well-meaning advice. During the actual show, the little girl made sure her point was made by staring directly in her mother’s eyes the entire time … smiling.

You may be thinking, well then the advice worked and it did, if her plan was to have her daughter look like the Joker while staring deep into her soul the entire performance. Because that’s exactly what happened and the internet cannot unsee it and the parents of the other children on stage are probably wondering whose child that was.

Check out the funny video below and for the love of everything you cherish, please remember this mom’s mistake should you ever get the urge to tell a woman or girl to smile.

@anniesgotabun

Mistakes were made 🤦🏼‍♀️ #parentingfail

This article originally appeared on 12.24.22

The way we come across long-lasting friendships is often unexpected. But when you’re part of a military family. You learn to grab hold of the good people you meet and carry those friendships across states and oceans. You mark your friendships based off of what base you were stationed at when you met them and know those friendships can withstand just about anything because they’ve been tried.

So for an American family stationed in Japan, there was no doubt at least one lifelong friendship would be made. It just may have been surprising that the friend wasn’t affiliated with the military. Instead, the friend was an older Japanese man who didn’t speak English and lived next door to the young family in Yokosuka, Japan.

But this isn’t the first time this unique story went viral. In 2013, Reddit user Theresa52 posted a picture of a note that she received from her neighbor-turned-friend. People loved the letter and sweet story attached. Theresa explained that after moving to their new neighborhood in Japan, she and her husband passed out beer and chocolate to their neighbors. A few hours later, they met, Hiroshi Yamashita, their new neighbor and one of the recipients of their gift.

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When Yamashita knocked on the family’s door, he presented them with gifts of his own—toilet paper, stuffed animals and a note. In the thread Theresa noted, “Things that are consumable and household necessities are popular gifts. We have heard lots of stories about people getting laundry soap,” after someone asked if toilet paper was a common housewarming gift in Japan. The stuffed animals were for their infant daughter at the time.

But the note is what keeps going viral. It starts out, “I can’t speak English. Thank you for the present. My name is Hiroshi Yamashita. I’m 52 years old. [I’m divorced] and I live alone.” Since Yamashita didn’t speak English, the note had some spots that were difficult to understand but the intent was clearly pure.

Theresa wrote in the comments of the post that it appeared that he was asking if her husband was in the Navy. While the sentences are out of order a bit, if you reorganize them a little, it seems Yamashita is attempting to say, “I have stuffed animals and toilet paper. You can use it if you’d like.”

The man concludes the letter with “Thank you for your friend operation.” It seemed that he was thanking the family for their hospitality, but Reddit users surmised that he was referring to Operation Friendship in 2011 when the United States aided Japan after an earthquake. Either way, it was still friendship operation because what says friendship like taking time out of your day to write in a language you don’t speak just to make sure your neighbors feel welcomed?

“It was adorable! We had brought him a six pack and some chocolate and tried to introduce ourselves to him. A couple hours later he brought over this letter with a pack of toilet paper and some stuffed animals for our daughter,” Theresa wrote in the comments while joking that their initial introduction probably amused Yamashita.

Further explaining within comment threads, Theresa said that they used pointing and Google Translate when they initially met Yamashita, and in turn, he used a translator app to write the note.

Theresa shared an update in the comments about six years after the story originally went viral saying, “We all exchanged gifts and food regularly for the four years I lived there. We would go to neighborhood festivals and have dinners together as well. I miss them all and think about them often.”

You never know when being kind will turn into a life long friendship. We certainly hope Yamashita and Theresa are doing just as well today and are continuing to spread their kindness around.

This article originally appeared on 2.23.23

Weddings come in many different shapes and sizes. And species, apparently.

Ask actor and vintage video cassette tape collector Matt McCarthy what the weirdest footage he’s ever uncovered was, and he’ll give you the same answer every time: the dog wedding.

Not just any dog wedding, but a truly elaborate affair—complete with a throng of party guests, two-tier wedding cake and an Elvis impersonator.

In a video posted to his TikTok account, where he entertains over 149,000 followers with his obscure discoveries, McCarthy shows a cassette labeled “Gigi and Barney’s Wedding, Beagles Love” dated June 5, 1994.

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“Can you believe this summer will be their 29th wedding anniversary? I wonder what they’re up to now,” he quips while dropping the cassette into a VHS player.

At first, we see grainy static that eventually clears to reveal the blushing bride and dashing groom, dressed in a veil and tux.

@mccarthyredhead Replying to @zombieking758 #moviecollection #vhs ♬ original sound – Matt McCarthy

There are, of course, some rules to this shindig, which an officiant of some sort shares with the guests, sparing no doggy puns: No tears allowed, just barking. And all hush puppies (shoes, apparently) must be removed. Giggles ensue.

Joining paws, Gigi and Barney then exchange vows. “For better or worse, for fleas or no fleas, for shedding or no shedding.”

“By the power invested in me by the puppy law foundation, I now pronounce you a canine couple,” the officiant says. “You may lick your bride, Barney.”

And then…party! The camera quickly cuts to an Elvis impersonator, who surely must consider this to be one of his stranger gigs, followed by wedding guests congratulating the lovepups. Barney even gets to cut the cake…with a little help from their human companions.

“VHS tapes,” McCarthy says at the end of the clip. “The possibilities are endless.”

It might be the strangest footage McCarthy has ever dug up, but it’s also the most loved, going by the TikTok comments.

“I didn’t expect when I opened up TikTok today I’d be witness to a vintage dog wedding 🥰 Life is beautiful,” one person wrote.

“I am forever changed,” added another.

McCarthy literally has hundreds of obscure VHS finds. A good lot of them are taped television programs (Remember when we had to do that?) featuring old commercials that thrust you down memory lane so fast you’ll get whiplash.

You can find McCarthy and his impressive videotape collection on TikTok. And to Gigi and Barney: Congrats. You two were clearly loved, and we hope your marriage was joyous and flea-free.

When Justin Fox gave his bride, Raven, her engagement ring, she noticed it had an odd feature. Sitting under a glittering array of diamonds, just under the head of the ring, was a tiny white rock—or what appeared to be a rock—where it looked like a diamond should be.

Raven asked Fox if it was a mistake, and he said, “No, that’s the way it’s supposed to be.” He told her that one day he would explain the significance of that little rock.

That “one day” turned out to be their wedding day, smack dab in the middle of their vows in front of all their friends and family. And the meaning of the “rock”? Well, that turned out to be one of the oddest but sweetest engagement ring stories ever.

In a video that has gotten over 4 million views on TikTok, Fox shared how—and why—his bride’s ring has the surprise feature.

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As Fox explains, it all started when the couple went hiking together and Fox jumped over a waterfall. Raven followed him, but she didn’t quite make it across as smoothly as he did.

“Not even close,” said Fox. Raven fell flat on her face on the rocky embankment—we’re talking total, legs-in-the-air-scorpion-style faceplant.

“I just remember thinking that ‘this girl has literally fallen for me,'” Fox quips. “She is literally head over heels in love. There is no place on Earth that I could go where she won’t follow, where she won’t be by my side.”

But the next part of the story is where it gets really good. Watch Fox’s “wedding vows remix” in which he reveals where the “little rock” in her engagement ring came from.

@justintylerfox

It’s the long awaited follow-up video! Including a look at her wedding ring AND footage of her famous “leap of faith”! @GetRippedWithRaven @Smitha Lee #fyp #foryoupage #viral #funny #wedding

People in the comments went nuts over both the unique love story and the groom’s genuinely thoughtful and funny approach to his wedding vows.

“THIS IS HOW YOU DO WEDDING VOWS,” wrote Arielle Lillian.

“Her chipped tooth inside the ring is SO FUNNY and so significant to yalls story. So thoughtful!” shared Jasmine Rene.

“If his vows ain’t like this I don’t want him,” wrote NCsquared.

“This is how you tastefully roast your partner in vows,” wrote Lol.

People also shared that they love the way he talked about her and her personality and what he loves about her, not just what she does for him.

Best wedding vows ever? Perhaps. But one thing’s for certain—Raven is guaranteed that her ring is truly one-of-a-kind.

Sometimes the best new R&B can be hard to find, but there are plenty of great rhythm-and-blues tunes to get into if you have the time to sift through the hundreds of newly released songs every week. So that R&B heads can focus on listening to what they really love in its true form, we’ll be offering a digest of the best new R&B songs that fans of the genre should hear every Friday.

Since the last update of this weekly R&B and Afrobeats column, we’ve received plenty of music and news from the genre’s artists.

Brent Faiyaz teamed up with producer Marshmello for “Fell In Love,” a record that Brent uses to point out his lover’s misconceptions about him. He also announced his F*ck The World, It’s A Wasteland Tour. The Weeknd announced a new coffee line that paid homage to his heritage, and Ashanti and Nelly got back together after nearly a decade apart.

Here are some more releases on the new music front that you should check out:

Jidenna — Me You & God

It’s been nearly four years since Jidenna last released an album, but the “Classic Man” himself is back with his third album Me You & God. It’s an independent effort that comes years removed from his mainstream success, but it’s still a body of work that is true to everything we’ve known Jidenna for. Its 13 songs include features from Roman GianArthur, Gardens & Villa, Sensei Bueno, and Bootsy Collins.

BJ The Chicago Kid — “Forgot Your Name” Feat. Cory Henry

Fresh off a deal with RCA Records, BJ The Chicago Kid is ready to start a new era that will hopefully lead to his third album very soon. The first step toward that comes with “Forgot Your Name” featuring Cory Henry. It’s a sweet and honest record that captures the early moments of romance between BJ and an unnamed companion. A night filled with music, dance, drinks, and smoking has BJ caught up in the moment, so much so that he forgets his new companion’s name, but he uses that as an opportunity to share his feelings about this person with them.

Sevyn Streeter — “It’s A Man’s World”

Ladies and gentlemen, Sevyn Streeter is back! Though she returns with a cover of James Brown’s 1966 classic record “It’s Man’s Man’s World,” it’s still a more than enjoyable track to hear from her. She takes on the track with equal amounts of authority and grace that make it a captivating experience altogether. It’s always risky taking on a classic, but Sevyn does right by it no doubt.

Q — Soul, Present

Though he doesn’t have the most search-friendly name, Brooklyn singer Q is worth a look into and a listen at the very least. He arrives with his debut album Soul, Present, and through its 10 songs, Q presents a masterful blend of soul, funk, R&B, and alternative music. It’s a project crafted to impressive levels and it comes with a feature from Baby Rose too!

Phabo — “Casamigos”

Take this as another warning to hop on the Phabo wave while you still can. The singer is gearing up to release a new project, one that will be a follow-up to 2021’s Soulquarius, and ahead of that, he checks back in with “Casamigos.” The chilled-out single is a perfect snapshot of Phabo’s composed and confident demeanor, as well as, his excellent songwriting and composition skills. Case in point, Phabo’s next album isn’t one to sleep on.

Amaarae — “Co-Star”

Next month, Ghanaian-American singer Amaarae will release her second album Fountain Baby, the follow-up to 2020’s The Angel You Don’t Know. After the release of its lead single “Reckless,” Amaare delivers her second offering from Fountain Baby with “Co-Star.” The energetic record is perfect for the dance floor regardless of your skills, and at a bare moment, it’s an energy-pumping tune that’ll give your day an upbeat boost.

Reggie Becton — Sadboy, Vol. 1

Two years after his Californication album, Reggie Becton serves up a new batch of songs with his Sadboy, Vol. 1. Its eight songs, which are inspired by cinematic efforts like Kill Bill and The Dark Knight trilogy, feature a more somber Reggie who delivers records about the struggles and down moments in love while still finding brief pockets to have fun in.

Amari Noelle — “For The Girls” Feat. Kodie Shane

At the end of March, Gary, Indiana singer Amari Noelle shared her Take II project which arrived with seven sweet songs to dive into and experience everything that makes the singer a fulfilling listen. Now, she’s back with an update on that project thanks to the addition of “For The Girls” with Kodie Shane. Both Amari and Kodie use the record to boast about their qualities and the things that make them an attractive person to have by your side.

Nil Bambu — “Runnin’ Plays”

Miami singer Nil Bambu continues her return to the music landscape with her second single of the year, “Runnin’ Plays.” This bass-thumping number presents Bambu as the ride of die companion who’s ready to treat her partner to a relaxing and sensual end to their night to cap off a hard day of work. It’s a record that follows her January release, “Incomplete.”

Taylor Belle — “Say My Name”

With her new EP Star Girl on the way, Los Angeles singer Taylor Belle is back in action with “Say My Name.” It’s a record that toes the line between sultry and passionate. The song arrives a little over a year after Belle’s last project, Out Of Body.

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