CARDI B + MEGAN THEE STALLION

 

:: View email as a web page :: Already establishing themselves earlier this year as some of the most influential international pop stars ever, BTS are back in a huge way this week. Their brand new single — the ‘80s-infused pop blockbuster “Dynamite ” that is, well, just that — broke the Youtube all-time streaming record in literally 24 hours. The key change alone is worth the hype, this song is no random streaming fluke but a bonafide pop hit. With over 100 million streams, “Dynamite” is hovering around 200 million views at the time of writing, which means it’s on track to double that initial daily count in another 24-hour cycle. There is simply no other pop force in the world who can deliver these kinds of numbers. And it’s not just in the sonic realm that this Korean boy band has their game on lock — their label has already uploaded several B-side editions of “Dynamite” to YouTube to give fans even more of what they’re craving. Playing the numbers game and the music game at the same damn time is the map to success in 2020, and BTS haven’t missed a beat as they knock it out of the park in both arenas. In one of the increasingly rare bright spots of this year, “Dynamite” comes out of left field like a reminder of a hopeful future, and a chance to find a moment of joy in the present. — Caitlin White, Uproxx Pop Critic, reacting to BTS’ record-breaking new single “Dynamite” NUMBER ONE STUNNERS CARDI B + MEGAN THEE STALLION Just in case you had any doubts about the impact of Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s “WAP,” make note that it’s topping the chart for the second week in a row. And even though when men rap about sex and objectify women no one bats an eye, both rap internet commentators and conservative bastions of mainstream culture have been up in arms about these two women owning their sexual power with fire and confidence. Let the reactionary waves roll in as they may, Cardi and Megan will be out here dripping pure charisma, and most likely occupying that top spot for many weeks to come. LISTEN BUBBLING UNDER VICTORIA MONÉT Victoria Monét has been on the cusp of becoming an enormous solo star for years now, and her debut album Jaguar comes at the perfect moment. After working with Ariana Grande on collaborations like “Monopoly” — and co-writing all over Grande’s smash album Thank U, Next — Monét is stepping out on her own. Jaguar is polished and cocky, and with beat-driven, orchestral ballads like the opener “Moment” and raunchy R&B moments that pull no punches such as “Ass Like That,” Victoria will be a pop star delivering on a first-name basis in no time. On the album’s title track, she manages to combine elements of both, proving her versatility is surpassed only by her silky-smooth diva voice.  LISTEN REMEMBER WHEN REMEMBERING AALIYAH Even though it’s been almost twenty years ago since Aaliyah passed, the impact of her tragic death is still being felt in the music industry decades later. As one of the early stars of the MTV era and an R&B icon, her unexpected passing is one of the reasons her legacy has become so impactful. But then again, imagine where she would be today, in 2020, if she had continued making music? Undoubtedly she’d be one of the defining forces in hip-hop, R&B, and pop music, taking her place alongside other icons like Beyonce. Today is the 19th anniversary of her death so we remember her with a love song — “At Your Best (You Are Love).” Rest in peace, baby girl. LISTEN LOVE LETTERS TROYE SIVAN Though he didn’t give us a full-length project, there have been few pop releases more satisfying than Troye Sivan’s brief but excellent EP, In A Dream. The perfect amount of petulant, nostalgic, sweet, and poignant, across six simple songs Sivan reminds the pop world why he’s on his way to becoming one of the biggest names in the world. From the dreamy escapism of “Take Yourself Home” to the syrupy-slow “Rager Teenager,” Troye gets to the molten center of all those too-hot, too-fast feelings. And even when I’m cooped up indoors, that’s exactly where I want to be. LISTEN Warner Music Group 1633 Broadway New York, NY 10019 USA