Society has seldom seemed so divided, but music might still possess the power to bring people together if only it wasn’t quite so much work. Rarely has music carried such onerous reading lists. Noname has emerged as one of rap’s most eloquent activists, whether dissecting capitalism and colonialism, supporting Black Lives Matter, or advocating prison reform, and she’s even gone to the trouble of founding a book club to highlight authors of colour, but this week while making note of her efforts J. Cole asked her to mind her tone. Her response in the form of ‘Song 33’ punctured the air of patronage while restoring attention to the murders of trans women and George Floyd. Beyoncé’s Juneteenth special came packaged alongside a directory of black-owned businesses, the same day that brought new albums from Teyana Taylor, Smokepurpp, and Black Eyed Peas. And with Anderson. Paak and Leon Bridges keeping up the spirit of protest while Kate NV and Moses Sumney opted for something more esoteric, on Rough and Rowdy Ways Bob Dylan brought everything back down to hearth.
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Bob Dylan – ‘Mother of Muses’
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Teyana Taylor – ‘Lowkey’ (feat. Erykah Badu)
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Starchild & The New Romantic – ‘Tape’ (feat. Toro y Moi)
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Noname – ‘Song 33’
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Polo G – ’21’
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BandGang Lonnie Bands & Sada Baby – ‘Bracking’
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Moses Sumney – ‘Keeps Me Alive’
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Bruno Bavota – ‘Apartment Loop #3’
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Dead Rider – ‘The War In My Head’
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Clarke and the Himselfs – ‘Mary Rae Says’
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Anderson .Paak – ‘Lockdown’
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Koreatown Oddity – ‘No Llores’
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El Ten Eleven – ‘Nocturne’
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ZOMBIE-CHANG – ‘??????’
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bbymutha – ‘PI$$ED OFF’
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Tee Grizzley – ‘Covid’ (feat. Lil Baby)
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Pi’erre Bourne – ‘Deja vu’
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Ozuna – ‘Mi Niña’
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REASON – ‘Field Nigga’
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Duwap Kaine – ‘She Call My Phone’
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Mo Money – ‘Midnight’
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Rx Papi x Rx Nephew – ‘I Forgot Where I Was Goin’
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Smokepurpp – ‘Tide Pen’ (feat. Jack Harlow)
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700 Bliss – ‘Sixteen’
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Kate NV – ‘Ça Commence Par’
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Princess Nokia – ‘I Like Him’
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Drakeo The Ruler & JoogSZN – ‘GTA VI’
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Tory Lanez – ‘Stupid Again’
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Lil Yachty – ‘From Down Bad’
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Hey, King! – ‘Lucky’
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Toro y Moi – ‘Ordinary Guy’ (feat. The Mattson 2)
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Sally Anne Morgan – ‘Thread Song’
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Prism Tats – ‘Avalanche’ (feat. Garek Druss)
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Beyoncé – ‘BLACK PARADE’
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Rema – ‘Ginger Me’
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Black Eyed Peas & Maluma – ‘FEEL THE BEAT’
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A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie – ‘Might Not Give Up’ (feat. Young Thug)
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Young M.A – ‘Trap or Cap’
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Big Chop – ‘Go fed tryin’
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RMR – ‘RASCAL’ (feat. Young Thug)
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Covet – ‘farewell’
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The Fiery Furnaces – ‘Down at the So and So on Somewhere’
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Baby Yungin – ‘Part Of Da Game’
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Robyn – ‘Honey’ (Avalon Emerson’s Deep Current Reroll)
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Leon Bridges – ‘Sweeter’ (feat. Terrace Martin)
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42 Dugg – ‘World On My Shoulder’
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NoCap – ‘Count A Million’ (feat. Lil Uzi Vert)
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Teyana Taylor – ‘Ever Ever’
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Bob Dylan – ‘I’ve Made Up My Mind to Give Myself to You’
