Friday’s afternoon downpour wasn’t enough to sizzle the energy (or heat) on the first day of Rolling Loud Miami.

For its last stop of the year, Rolling Loud returned to the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens for its 8th annual flagship Miami edition. With over 100 artists billed to perform throughout the three-day festival, thousands of fans braved the scorching temperatures to experience some of hip-hop’s biggest acts, including Playboi Carti, Ice Spice, City Girls, Latto, Lil Uzi Vert, Offset, and ASAP Rocky.  This year was also the first time Rolling Loud recruited Latin artists to perform. Reggaetonero Anuel AA and dembow artist El Alfa graced the main stage on Friday and Saturday, respectively, to perform their biggest songs in front of a massive throng of fans.

Known for raucous mosh pits and viral-worthy moments, Rolling Loud wouldn’t be complete without mayhem and spectacle. Aside from delayed set times on the main Gopuff Stage and Travis Scott starting his performance almost an hour late, notable performances included Offset bringing out Cardi B to perform her verse on "Motorsport," Travis Scott announcing the release date for his new album, Utopia and accompanying movie Circus Maximus, and ASAP Rocky seemingly dissing Scott while performing a new song from his upcoming album, Don’t Be Dumb.   

Drama and chaos aside, artists blazed the stages all weekend with energetic, unforgettable performances. Here are our seven standout sets from Rolling Loud Miami. 

Fousheé Captivated Fans With Electric Rage

Clad in a white fur coat and white hair, Fousheé electrified the Culture Kings Stage with heavy metal screams and dizzying twirls. The New Jersey singer/songwriter and guitarist went viral back in 2020 when the vocals for her song "Deep End" were used by rapper Sleepy Hallow on one of his viral songs. Since then, she’s carved out a space for her alternative-pop and rock sound.  

As the sun faded into the sky, Fousheé lit up the crowd performing songs from her softCore album like "simmer down" and "scream my name." Flanked by two guitarists, her captivatingly bold vocals incited energy among the throng of fans lined around her stage. 

She helmed her performance with the grit and charisma of those who came before her like Tina Turner.  Fousheé declared: "Black women started this rock s— and we’re taking it back." 

Sexyy Red Stirred Controversy And Dominated The Stage  

The St. Louis rapper made her Rolling Loud debut on Friday, donning her signature red hair and a glittery red outfit. Sexyy Red left fans stunned as she strutted on to the Sprite Stage, leading two ski-masked men on leashes. Just months prior, she was involved in controversy for appearing to be walked like a dog by NLE Choppa in his "Slut Me Out (Remix) video.  

Sexxy Red set the first day ablaze, performing her most viral hit songs, "Female Gucci Mane," "Pound Town," and "SkeeYee" from her recent album, Hood Hottest Princess. She also brought out rapper Sukihana to perform their raunchy twerk anthem, "Born By the River."  

For her first Rolling Loud set, Sexxy Red’s penchant for bold and brazen lyricism and stunts proved she’s unapologetic and here to stay.   

Rae Sremmurd’s Turned The Sprite Stage Into A Party

Fresh off the release of their new album, Sremm 4 Life, Rae Sremmurd was one of the best performances of Friday night.   The dynamic duo turned the Sprite Stage into a party as they performed back-to-back bangers like "No Flex Zone," "Come Get Her," "Swang," "This Could Be Us" and "Powerglide." The hitmakers reminded fans of their staying power with their mainstage-worthy energy. 

Donning a Dior bodysuit, Swae Lee jumped into a sea of fans on his surfboard while Slim Jxmmi, dressed in all white, jumped on to the barricade at the front of the stage to greet the audience. They kept the crowd ignited as they went back and forth between their most iconic hits and new songs. They slowed things down just for a bit on "Sativa," a mesmerizing, trippy hit with Jhené Aiko.  

The pair held it down on the other side of the festival just as headliner Playboi Carti was gearing up to start his set. But fans didn't seem rushed to head to the main stage. Rae Sremmurd kept a sweltering crowd snaking along the edges of their stage, ready to party throughout the night. 

Travis Scott Surprised Fans With Dates For New Album, Movie 

Travis Scott’s delayed headliner set on Saturday night didn’t deter fans from inciting full-on chaos. His set started with a movie trailer teasing the release of his long-awaited album Utopia and its accompanying movie Circus Maximus. 

The enigmatic rapper appeared on stage surrounded by smoking volcanic terrain and fire shooting from the stage. Unbearable temperatures didn’t rival the heat Scott brought as he performed hits from his acclaimed 2018 ASTROWORLD album, "HIGHEST IN THE ROOM," "BUTTERFLY EFFECT," and "STARGAZING." 

Throughout the rest of his set, Scott emanated an otherworldy presence rapping "Praise God," (a Baby Keem assisted single from Ye’s Donda) and one of his most popular songs, "goosebumps." As fireworks shot into the air around him, Scott ended his set telling fans what they just witnessed was his last ASTROWORLD set and revealing the July 28 release date for his new album and accompanying movie. 

The hour-long performance officially wrapped Scott's ASTROWORLD-themed era, which was both the catalyst for launching Travis Scott into hip-hop superstardom and subject of controversy when a fatal crowd crush at his 2021 annual ASTROWORLD festival resulted in 10 fatalities.  

He invited fans to the Utopia Livestream show at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, saying "meet me at the pyramids if you can," before disappearing into the night as quickly as he emerged.  

Luh Tyler Brought Clever Bars And Charisma To The Culture King Stage 

Luh Tyler went viral last year for his steady flow on "Law & Order" — a remix of the theme song from the crime drama of the same name — and in April his debut album, My Vision, peaked at No.2 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart. The 17-year-old Tallahassee, Floria native performed on the Culture King stage alongside unexpected guest performers DDG, Danny Tower, DD Osama, and even his own grandmother. 

He rapped some of his most memorable lyrics from the Tiktok viral song "Florida Water" with Danny Towers, DJ Scheme, and Ski Mask the Slump God and closed out his set to "Law & Order."  Recently named one of XXL’s 2023 Freshman, Luh Tyler’s confidence and charm on stage made this newcomer’s set one of the most exciting to witness.  

Coi Leray Danced The Night Away 

With a few years and a new album, Coi, under her belt, Coi Leray has proved to fans and naysayers that she’s more than a one-hit wonder. She confidently helmed her stage with short black hair and scantily clad in a glittery leather two piece. Flanked by dancers dressed in all black, she performed popular Tiktok viral hits, "TWINNEM," "Players," and "No More Parties."  

Coi Leray danced the night away to a set mixed with new songs from Coi, bringing the energy to new heights  with her nostalgic "Pump Up the Jam'' sampled song "Make My Day" and the hype track "Run It Up." She promoted self-love with her Metro Boomin-produced single "Self Love" from the Spider Man: Across the Spiderverse soundtrack before ending the set the girl empowerment anthem "Players." 

Coi Leray’s fun performance was not just a standout but also encompassed the rise of women in rap. Other notable women rappers throughout the weekend were Latto, GloRilla, City Girls and Lola Brooke.  

Danny Towers Embodied Rolling Loud’s Miami Roots  

Danny Towers has been a Florida staple since his rise in South Florida’s SoundCloud era alongside the late XXXTentacion and Juice WRLD, Ski Mask the Slump God, and DJ Scheme. His set embodied Rolling Loud’s roots with songs like "Chunky Monkey," and the viral Ski Mask the Slump God, DJ Scheme, and Lil Yachty hit "How You Feel? (Freestyle)."  

He ended his set on the Culture Kings stage with "Florida Water," a DJ Scheme-produced TikTok viral Florida anthem with Luh Tyler and Ski Mask the Slump God. The closing song was fitting for the last day of Rolling Loud. While fans from all over the country moshed and yelled the lyrics to the song, Danny Towers reminded everyone the city and the culture that was the catalyst for the biggest hip-hop festival in the world.   

19 Concerts And Events Celebrating The 50th Anniversary Of Hip-Hop

Between album anniversaries, surprise announcements and exciting new tracks, this week's New Music Friday (Aug. 23) is a full-blown celebration of tunes past and present.

On the album front, high-profile new releases include Sabrina Carpenter's Short n' Sweet, Thomas Rhett's About a Woman, Lainey Wilson's Whirlwind and All Time Low's The Forever Sessions Vol. 1. Plus, Warren Zeiders serves up his sophomore album, Relapse, and Randy Rogers Band celebrate the 20th anniversary of their 2004 LP Rollercoaster with a remastered re-release.

Meanwhile, Travis Scott and Ariana Grande each commemorate major anniversaries by dusting off vault tracks from some of their earliest works, blink-182 tease the second part of their latest album, Jessie Reyez links up with Lil Wayne and more.

Below, dive into some of this week's most exciting new releases, including samplings of electronic, rap and country.

Travis Scott — 'Days Before Rodeo' (Tenth Anniversary Edition)

Released on August 18, 2014, Days Before Rodeo served as the buzzy prequel for Travis Scott's debut album, Rodeo, which would arrive the following year and officially crown the Houston MC as one of rap's fastest-rising stars.

A full decade later, Scott is revisiting Days Before Rodeo for a new 10th anniversary edition complete with — as the rapper revealed when announcing the release earlier this week —"COUPLE DBR SONGS FROM THAT ERA FROM THE VAULT." If the all-caps pronouncement didn't give away Scott's palpable excitement at revisiting his seminal mixtape, he added a string of giddy gibberish followed by "IM FCKING JUMPING THRU WALLS AHHHH" for good measure. 

The number of tracks Scott tacked onto the end of his 2014 mixtape — which is now available for the very first time on all streaming platforms, in its original form — actually ended up being more than just a couple, including "Mo City Flexologist," "Too Many Chances," Young Thug's "Yea Yeah" featuring Scott as a guest artist, "Serenade" and "Whole Lots Changed" featuring Yung Mazi. (As of press time, it appears the Days Before Rodeo deluxe edition is only available for purchase via Scott's official website.)

Ariana Grande — 'My Everything (Tenth Anniversary Edition)'

Also celebrating a seminal 10th anniversary, Ariana Grande honored her sophomore album, My Everything, on Aug. 22 — the exact day it was released in 2014. The fan-favorite LP catapulted Grande from promising young starlet to bonafide pop sensation, so it was only right that she celebrated it with a 10th anniversary edition.

Along with smash hits like "Break Free," "Bang Bang" and "Problem" and OG bonus cuts "Only 1" and "You Don't Know Me," Ari reached into her vault to finally gift fans with the official studio versions of "Cadillac Song" and "Too Close."

Co-written by Victoria Monét, the former finds the soon-to-be Wicked star caught up in a breezy, doo-wop-inflected daydream as she hits the road in her titular Caddy over a sample of the 1972 deep cut "How Love Hurts" by R&B family act the Sylvers. The latter, meanwhile, revisits the early magic a young Ari captured with producer Harmony Samuels as she teases, "Baby, tell me, do you feel it like I do?/ 'Cause we both know what could go down/ If we get too close" over a bouncing, elastic beat.

We're still more than a full lunar cycle away from the release of Coldplay's Moon Music, but that didn't keep Chris Martin and co. from sharing a second taste of their forthcoming 10th album in the form of "WE PRAY."

The British rockers first debuted the single live during their headlining set at Glastonbury 2024 this summer, and the official studio version features guest turns by Lil Simz, Burna Boy, Elyanna and TINI. The special 12" vinyl and EcoCD formats — also out now — include five different versions of the song, including the live debut recorded from the Pyramid Stage at Worthy Farm.

Months after dropping her single "SHUT UP" featuring Big Sean, Jessie Reyez is back with "RIDIN," another high-profile collab — this time with Lil Wayne.

The mid-tempo jam is equal parts romantic and eyebrow-raising as the Canadian songstress warbles, "Hold me/ Since love always hurt me baby/ I'mma need you to choke me/ Since love always let me jump/ I'mma need you to hold me/ Let me deep inside" on the chorus.

Reyez then cedes the floor to Weezy, who gets the entire second verse to deliver a sexually charged stanza that officially adds "legs like a Twizzler" and "drive me like a Nissan" to the Kama Sutra of modern come-ons.

On Aug. 19, blink-182 surprised fans with the news that they were doubling down on their 2023 album ONE MORE TIME… — their first in nearly a decade to feature OG member Tom DeLonge — by adding eight more songs to the track list.

While the rest of ONE MORE TIME… Part 2 drops Sept. 6, the first two songs of the new batch are "ALL IN MY HEAD," a galloping banger that sees the pop-punk trailblazers questioning existence, touring and the relentless march of time, and "NO FUN," a slice of end-of-summer punk rock that blends equal doses of nostalgia and paranoia.

Mura Masa may already have three full-lengths under his belt, but the British producer's new album, Curve 1, marks his first studio set on his own Pond Recordings imprint as a fully independent artist.

Led by previously released singles like "Whenever I Want" and "Drugs" featuring Daniela Lalita, Curve 1 also features the GRAMMY winner collaborating with the likes of Singaporean synth-pop artist Yeule on "We Are Making Out" and 2000s R&B girl group Cherish, whose 2007 single "Killa" is sampled prominently on highlight "Fly."

Offering up a second taste of her forthcoming mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal, Doechii attacks the mic with her trademark combination of ferocity and humor on "Boom Bap," a blistering freestyle that follows the deliciously braggadocious "Nissan Altima."

Also arriving in the wake of "Alter Ego," Doechii's recent collab with JT of City Girls, the Swamp Princess looks back at her journey to becoming one of hip-hop's most inventive wordsmiths on "Boom Bap" as she spits, "I gave my soul to this s—, ate lumps of coal for this s—/ Went on the road for this s—, played humble for this s—" in between name-checking the likes of J.Cole and producer Camper and blowing raspberries in the direction of her haters.

As Nate Smith sits atop Billboard's Country Airplay chart with "Bulletproof," he reaches for the rafters on his anthemic new single "Fix What You Didn't Break." A fitting follow-up to the recent duet version of "Bulletproof" with Avril Lavigne, the country upstart looked to the sounds that defined the early millennium for his latest release.

"I've always been a huge fan of big, epic pop rock songs of the 2000s — bands like Lifehouse, Goo Goo Dolls, 3 Doors Down were all influences in my early teens," Smith tells GRAMMY.com, describing his new single as "the perfect blend of 2000s rock and heartfelt country…This is easily one of my favorites I've released."

"Fix What You Didn’t Break" will be one of 16 tracks on Smith's forthcoming sophomore album, California Gold, which will be released Oct. 4.

As June kicked off over the weekend, The Roots notched another glorious celebration at West Philadelphia's Fairmount Park with the 16th annual Roots Picnic. This year's festival featured even more activations, food vendors, attendees, and lively performances.

On Saturday, June 1, the action was established from the onset. October London and Marsha Ambrosius enlivened the soul of R&B lovers, while Method Man and Redman brought out surprise guests like Chi-town spitter Common and A$AP Ferg for a showstopping outing. 

Elsewhere, rappers Smino and Sexyy Red flashed their St. Louis roots and incited fans to twerk through the aisles of the TD Pavilion. And Philly-born Jill Scott's sultry vocals made for a memorable homecoming performance during her headlining set. 

The momentum carried over to day two on Sunday, June 2, with rising stars like Shaboozey and N3WYRKLA showing the Roots Picnic crowd why their names have garnered buzz. Later in the day, rapper Wale brought his signature D.C. swag to the Presser Stage. And while Gunna's performance was shorter than planned, it still lit the fire of younger festgoers. 

Closing out the weekend was a savory tribute to New Orleans courtesy of The Roots themselves, which also starred Lil Wayne, acclaimed R&B vocalists, an illustrious jazz band, and some beloved NoLa natives. 

Read on for some of the most captivating moments and exciting sets from the 2024 Roots Picnic. 

The-Dream Serenaded On The Main Stage

The-Dream | Taylor Hill/Getty Images for Live Nation Urban

After years away from the bright lights of solo stardom, The-Dream made a triumphant return to the festival stage on Saturday. The GRAMMY-winning songwriter and producer played his timeless R&B hits like "Falsetto" and "Shawty Is Da S––," reminding fans of his mesmerizing voice and renowned penmanship.

His vocals melted into the sunset overlooking Fairmount Park Saturday evening. And even in moments of audio malfunctions, he was able to conjure the greatness he's displayed as a solo act. Although, it may have looked easier than it was for the Atlanta-born musician: "Oh, y'all testing me," he said jokingly. 

The-Dream slowed it down with the moodier Love vs. Money album cut "Fancy," then dug into the pop-funk jam "Fast Car" and the bouncy "Walkin' On The Moon." He takes fans on a ride through his past sexual exploits on the classic "I Luv Your Girl," and closes on a fiery note with the "Rockin' That S—." While even he acknowledged that his set wasn't perfect, it left fans hoping to see more from the artist soon. 

Smino Rocked Out With His Philly "Kousins"

Smino | Shaun Llewellyn

Despite somewhat of a "niche" or cult-like following, Smino galvanized music lovers from all corners to the Presser Stage. The St. Louis-bred neo-soul rapper played silky jams like "No L's" and "Pro Freak" from 2022's Luv 4 Rent, then dove into the sultry records from his earlier projects.

"Klink" set the tone for the amplified showcase, with fans dancing in their seats and through the aisles. His day-one fans — or "kousins," as he lovingly refers to them — joined him on songs like the head-bopping "Z4L," and crooned across the amphitheater on the impassioned "I Deserve." 

Under Smino's musical guidance, the crowd followed without a hitch anywhere in the performance. It further proved how magnetic the "Netflix & Dusse" artist is live, and how extensive his reach has become since his 2017 debut, blkswn.

Nas Took Fans Down Memory Lane

Nas | Taylor Hill/Getty Images for Live Nation Urban

The New York and Philadelphia connection was undeniable Saturday, as legendary Queensbridge MC Nas forged the two distinctive cities for a performance that harnessed an "Illadelph State of Mind."

The "I Gave You Power" rapper played his first show in Philadelphia as a teenager, when he only had one verse under his belt: Main Source's 1991 song "Live at the BBQ." Back then, Nas admitted to underplaying the city's influence, but he knew then what he knows now — "I had to step my s— up." And he did.

The rapper played iconic songs like "Life's a B–" and "Represent" from his landmark debut Illmatic, which celebrated 30 years back in April. He even brought out Wu-Tang Clan's Ghostface Killah to add to the lyrical onslaught, and played records like "Oochie Wally" and "You Owe Me" to enliven his female fans.

Sexyy Red Incited A Twerk Fest

Sexyy Red | Frankie Vergara

Hot-ticket rapper Sexyy Red arrived on the Presser Stage with a message: "Make America Sexyy Again." And as soon as Madam Sexyy arrived, she ignited a riot throughout the TD Pavilion aisles. Twerkers clung onto friends and grasped nearby railings to dance to strip club joints like "Bow Bow Bow (F My Baby Dad)" and "Hood Rats."

Red matched the energy and BPM-attuned twerks from her fans, which only intensified as her lyrics grew more explicit. Sexyy encouraged all of the antics with a middle finger to the sky, her tongue out, and her daring lyrics filling the air. Songs like "SkeeYee" and "Pound Town" added to the nonstop action, leaving fans in a hot sweat — and with their inner sexyy fully unlocked.

Jill Scott Delivered Some Homegrown Magic

Jill Scott (left) and Tierra Whack | Marcus McDonald

To close out night one, the Roots Picnic crowd congregated at the Park Stage for a glimpse of Philadelphia's native child, Jill Scott. The famed soulstress swooned with her fiery voice and neo-soul classics like "A Long Walk" and "The Way." Fans swayed their hips and sang to the night sky as Scott sprinkled her musical magic.

Scott, wrapped up in warm, sapphire-toned garments, was welcomed to the stage by Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. The newly elected official rallied the audience for a "Philly nostalgic" evening, and the GRAMMY-winning icon delivered a soaring performance that mirrored her vocal hero, Kathleen Battle. "Philadelphia, you have all of my love," Scott gushed. "I'm meant to be here tonight at this Roots Picnic."

"Jilly from Philly" invited some of the city's finest MCs to the stage for the jam session. Black Thought rapped along her side for The Roots' "You Got Me," and Tierra Whack stepped in for the premiere of her and Scott's unreleased rap song, a booming ode to North Philly. 

Fantasia & Tasha Cobbs Leonard Brought Electrifying Energy

Fantasia | Taylor Hill/Getty Images for Live Nation Urban

Led by the musical maestro Adam Blackstone, singers Tasha Cobbs Leonard and Fantasia set the warmness of Sunday service and their Southern flare with a "Legacy Experience." And as the title of the performance suggests, their fiery passion was a thread of musical mastery.

As fans danced across the lawn, it was just as much a moment of worship as it was a soulful jam — and only the dynamic voices of the two Southern acts could do the job. "Aren't y'all glad I took y'all there this Sunday," Blackstone said.

The sanctity of Tasha Cobbs Leonard's vocals was most potent on "Put A Praise On It," and Fantasia's power brought the house down even further with classics like "Free Yourself" and "When I See U."

"I wasn't supposed to come up here and cut. I'm trying to be cute," Fantasia joked after removing her shoes on stage. The North Carolina native's lips quivered and her hands shook in excitement, as she continued to uplift the audience — fittingly closing with a roaring rendition of Tina Turner's "Proud Mary."

Babyface Reminded Of His Icon Status

Babyface | Marcus McDonald

There are few artists who could dedicate a full set to their own records, or the hits they've penned for other musicians. And if you don't know how special that is, Babyface won't hesitate to remind you. "I wrote this back in 1987," he said before singing the Whispers' "Rock Steady."

Throughout the legendary R&B singer's 45-minute set, he switched between his timeless records like "Every Time I Close My Eyes" and "Keeps on Fallin'," and those shared by the very artists he's inspired — among them, Bobby Brown's "Don't Be Cruel" and "Every Little Step," 

Fans across several generations gathered to enjoy the classic jams. There was a look of awe in their eyes, as they marveled at the work and memories Babyface has created over more than four decades. 

André 3000 Offered Layers Of Creativity

André 3000 | Marcus McDonald

Speculation over what André 3000 would bring to his Sunday night set was the buzz all weekend. Fans weren't sure if they were going to hear the "old André," or the one blowing grandiose tones from a flute on his solo debut, 2023's New Blue Sun.

The former Outkast musician went for the latter, and while some fans were dismayed by the lack of bars, hundreds stayed for the highly rhythmic set. "Welcome to New Blue Sun live," André said. The majestic chimes and flowy notes of his performance reflect a new creative outlook, and as the performance went on, there was a cloud of coolness that loomed over the amphitheater.

His artistic approach is new to many fans, but he never stopped showcasing the personality they have grown to love. After delivering a message in an indistinguishable language, he panned to the crowd with a look of deep thought and said, "I just want y'all to know, I made all that s— up." It's the kind of humor fans have admired from him for decades, and moments like those are one of many reasons they stayed to watch the nuances of the MC's set.

Lil Wayne & The Roots Gave New Orleans Its Magnolias

Trombone Shorty (left) and Black Thought | Taylor Hill/Getty Images for Live Nation Urban

The sound of jazz trombones and the gleam of Mardi Gras colors transported West Philly to the bustling streets of New Orleans for the closing set of Roots Picnic 2024. The ode to the Big Easy featured natives like Lloyd, PJ Morton and the marvelous Trombone Shorty, all of whom helped deliver a celebratory tribute that matched the city's vibrance.

Lloyd floated to the stage singing The Roots' "Break You Off," and delved into his own catalog with "Get It Shawty" and "You." Morton soon followed with a soulful run of his R&B records, including "The Sweetest Thing" and "Please Be Good."

With anticipation on full tilt, Black Thought welcomed the festival closer to the stage with a message: "It's only right if Philly pays homage to New Orleans that we bring out Lil Wayne." And right on cue, Wayne drew a wave of cheers as he began "Mr. Carter."

Wayne strung together his biggest Billboard-charting and street hits, including "Uproar," "Hustler's Muzik" and "Fireman." The performance was a rousing cap-off to the weekend — and it clearly meant a lot to the rapper to rep his city in such grand fashion.

"This is a dream come true," Wayne said. "It's a motherf–ing honor."

11 New Music Festivals To Attend In 2024: No Values, We Belong Here & More

Memorial Day weekend is upon us, which means we're inching closer to another music-filled summer. Less than halfway through 2024, we've received a veritable bounty of new music from Green Day, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Kacey Musgraves, Zayn … the list goes on and on.

Clearly, no matter which musical world you inhabit, 2024 has had something for you — and the slate of today's releases continues that streak. Pull up your favorite streaming service — or dust off your record player — and check out this slate of new music that's fresh out of the oven.

Sexyy Red — In Sexyy We Trust

The #MakeAmericaSexyyAgain train is unstoppable. Amid numberless recent accolades — including five nominations at the 2024 BET Awards, including Best Female Hip Hop Artist and Best New Artist — Sexyy Red has dropped a new EP, In Sexyy We Trust. By the sound of "Awesome Jawsome," we all live in Sexyy's lascivious, irresistible universe: "Give me that awesome jawsome, suck it, baby, use your teeth / Shake your dreads between my legs, do it for a G." (Take that under advisement.) And with more than 8.3 million YouTube views for her "Get it Sexyy" music video, legions are clamoring for her second official release without a doubt.

Charlie Puth — "Hero"

"You smokеd, then ate seven bars of chocolate / We declared Charlie Puth should be a bigger artist." So recounted the one and only Taylor Swift in the title track to her new album, The Tortured Poets Department, which rocketed Puth's name even further into the public consciousness. This shine partly inspired Puth to release "Hero": "I want to thank @taylorswift for letting me know musically that I just couldn't keep this on my hard drive any longer," he stated on Instagram. "It's one of the hardest songs I've ever had to write, but I wrote it in hopes that you've gone through something similar in your life, and that it can fill in the BLANK for you like it did for me," he continued. Leave it to a hero to shake that loose for Puth.

Vince Staples — Dark Times

If you're currently rounding a difficult corner in your life, Vince Staples' latest album is a trusty companion. Take the first single "Shame on the Devil," where he licks his wounds amid thick isolation and friction with loved ones. "It's me mastering some things I've tried before that I wasn't great at in the beginning," he said in a statement. "It's a testament to musical growth, song structure — all the good stuff." By the sound of this haunted yet resolute single, Dark Times could materialize as Staples' most realized album to date — and most hard-won victory to boot.

Aaron Carter — The Recovery Album

By all means, we should have Aaron Carter alive, healthy and, yes, recovered. But the beloved singer unexpectedly died in November 2022. (He accidentally drowned in his bathtub after taking sedatives and inhaling a spray cleaner.) Still, the 2000s-era teen star, who gave us "I Want Candy," "Aaron's Party (Come Get It)" and "That's How I Beat Shaq," left us with a poignant, posthumous statement in The Recovery Album: "Tomorrow is a new day / Tryin' to shake the pain away / 'Cause I'm still in recovery," he sings in the title track. Carter, who was open about his struggles with addiction, substance abuse and mental health, is also in the news for a rough ride of a documentary, Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter. But if you'd rather focus on Carter the artist, The Recovery Album shows that his considerable talent remains undimmed.

DIIV — Frog in Boiling Water

The idiom of a frog in boiling water is a familiar one, but it's never quite unfolded in music like this — and DIIV, one of rock's most impressionistic acts, is the band for the job. In a press statement, the group, led by Zachary Cole Smith, called Frog in Boiling Water a reflection of "a slow, sick, and overwhelmingly banal collapse of society under end-stage capitalism." To wit, tracks like "Brown Paper Bag," "Raining on Your Pillow" and "Soul-net" sound like dying in a beautiful way. "Everyone Out," another album highlight, provides a clear, critical directive.

Shenseea — Never Gets Late Here

To hear Jamaican leading light Shenseea tell it, she's been boxed in as a "dancehall artiste," but she's so much more than that. "By next year I want to be international," she said back in 2018. "An international pop star." Her second album, Never Gets Late Here, might be that final boost to the big time she's chasin. Throughout the sticky-sweet album, the genre traverser tries on disco vibes ("Flava" with Voi Leray), an Afrobeats tint ("Work Me Out" with Wizkid), and a bona fide, swing-for-the-rafters anthem in the power ballad "Stars." "Everyone is looking at everything I'm going through," she recently told Revolt, "which is special because they can see the fight I'm getting, but still see me pushing and persevering."

Trueno — EL ÚLTIMO BAILE

Argentine phenom Trueno — a rapper, singer and songwriter of equal fire — has been on a sharp rise ever since his debut, 2020's Atrevido. This time, he's especially leaning into his rap skills as he pays homage to his beloved hip-hop. And, as he explained to Rolling Stone, he's been diligently crafting this artistic culmination. "We also don't want to rush anything. We're working day and night on it," he said of EL ÚLTIMO BAILE. "I'm an artist who's all about albums and big projects, so I'm immersed in this." We're about to be, too.

Yola — My Way

Yola has been nominated for six GRAMMYs to date; this impressive feat has thickened the momentum behind her latest batch of music. For her new My Way EP, the British singer/songwriter tapped GRAMMY-nominated producer Sean Douglas, who's worked with everyone from Lizzo to Madonna to Sia. Not that this synthesist of progressive R&B, synth pop, electronica, and more needs a reintroduction. But if you're not already on board with this musically keen, lyrically conscious artist, songs like "Future Enemies" should lure you there.

2025 GRAMMYs To Take Place Sunday, Feb. 2, Live In Los Angeles; GRAMMY Awards Nominations To Be Announced Friday, Nov. 8, 2024

Travis Scott turned Crypto.com Arena into his personal road to Utopia, bringing the 2024 GRAMMYs, where he performed three songs from his latest No. 1 album.

Scott set the tone with a backdrop reminiscent of something out of a musical apocalypse. From sitting atop a stack of speakers in a smoky, strobing haze, the Houston-repping rapper kicked off with "MY EYES" before climbing down and transitioning into the brooding "I KNOW ?" The performance heated up — figuratively and literally, with bursts of flames — when he moved onto "FE!N," bringing out Playboi Carti while throwing chair shots WWE-style. 

"MY EYES" and "I KNOW ?" are two of Scott’s three solo tracks on Utopia, which is packed with collaborators across its 19 tracks. In addition to "FE!N" guest Playboi Carti, the album boasts appearances from some of music’s biggest names (as well as several current GRAMMY nominees), including Beyoncé, Drake, the Weeknd, Bad Bunny, and Future. Its production credits include input from Kanye West, Producer Of The Year nominee Metro Boomin, Daft Punk’s Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, and others. 

The heavy name recognition was well worth Utopia’s wait time, five years after Scott’s 2018 LP Astroworld. Upon its release — which arrived with a 76-minute-long visual companion, CIRCUS MAXIMUS — the album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and peaked atop Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Utopia also earned Scott his first No. 1 UK Album and his eleventh overall GRAMMY nomination, grabbing a 2024 nod for Best Rap Album.

2024 GRAMMYs: See The Full Nominees And Winners List