Week of May 15th, 2026
Credit: Billboard
“Wow,” is what I told myself after going through this week’s New Music Friday Playlist, weekly provided and refreshed by Spotify itself. Beyond a new Spotify logo celebrating a 5th of a century in existence (social media is having mixed reviews about this green disco ball logo), creating a new feeling of surprise for myself, the week’s surplus of both mediocre and decent music also provided a similar effect. Though this generalization certainly doesn’t apply to the majority of songs that put in the work to provide something meaningful for listeners and artistry, it was certainly difficult to get past a few songs supposedly intended to “bless” your ears that also had moments that were not so terrible. More to say on this matter, Drake’s release of three new LP albums (all over 30 minutes) had the most dissatisfying moments of the week, alongside positive moments when listening to the playlist. Regardless, here were my highlights: “Something To Lose” by STELLA LEFTY and Vincent Mason, “BIG DOG” by Genesis Owusu, “Bleeding Gold” by Wasia Project, “Like It” by ANOTR and 3DDY, “Seventeen” by Lola Blue, “traitor” by Megan Moroney, “depends” by Maya J’an, and “I’m your girl right?” by Tove Lo.
1. Most Streamed Song of the Week – “Make Them Cry” by Drake (8.25/10)
This week, Drake decided to do something quite unique. As aforementioned, he released three different albums on the same Friday. Impressively, the run times are quite astonishing too (especially where rap-style music is usually shorter and upholds album runtimes by quantity rather than track to track length). MAID OF HONOUR, HABIBTI, and ICEMAN are the names of three albums, running 45 minutes, 36 minutes, and 68 minutes respectively. With only about a year since his most recent album, the time crunch that Drake was under in producing the quantity of 43 songs is impressive. But sometimes, quantity doesn’t promise quality. Certain songs show clearer artistic dedication, while others don’t seem to involve much thinking in their creation. “Ran To Atlanta,” for example (in collaboration with Future and Molly Santana), felt closer to nail scratching on blackboards than quality art. While not every single rap song needs to fall under the line of feeling showcasable in the Louvre, it certainly feels better when music has soul and doesn’t feel recycled from repeated themes and production. While 10.9 million streams on a mediocre song is impressive, “Make Them Cry” provides a higher bar that Drake sets, and receives an impressive 13.2 million streams in its first day.
Although the productions are not the most creative, this isn’t the goal of the track. The 5 minutes of pure rap without a single hook for the entirety of five minutes represents a degree of talent that not many music artists can execute well. Especially meaningful is the song’s ability to highlight the sorrow that Drake feels as a human being, as the song’s thought-out lyrics reveal pitiful news: Drake’s father is fighting cancer. The song explores the responsibilities of being a child in such a situation. Carrying on with life, reminiscing on the past, and seeing who is around you to help you with your battle. The song isn’t as hard to swallow as the dreadful news is. Yet, it communicates the feelings that Drake typically seems to mask away with a rapper persona. It was refreshing to hear from a more authentic, less performative-oriented voice and hear a rap song that is a little more special in terms of the perspective it offers.
2. Lyrical Standout – “Hit The Wall” by Gracie Abrams (8.5/10)
If there is anything Gracie can do best, it must be her songwriting skills. Her new lead single off her upcoming album “Daughter From Hell” (the next and most recent album after her break-off success with “The Secret of Us”), “Hit The Wall,” feels like poetic art. To feature some of her best lines, you can look directly at the opening lines: “I’m a crack in the pavement, I’m a slipped knot | I’m afraid that my fortress is a glass box.” Describing herself as the inconvenient objects within daily life that are yet too trivial to be cared about. She’s not just an inconvenience but a mistake that doesn’t even go acknowledged. It’s a pain that hurts more than being neglected; it’s genuine invisibility and context that’s oddly specific. Gracie doesn’t kid. This song is not about the typical forms of sadness we experience, but it would be more like the feeling of walking through the streets of a city, trying to talk to a passerby, crying on the streets, yet nobody even turns their head. And, what’s even worse is that this insecurity is displayed through the “glass wall” where Abrams’ persona (or herself) feels unsecured and protected by no one. She feels invisible yet watched at the same time. What a beautiful idea and way to put such a specific pain. Clearly, Abram’s hard work in songwriting with her three fellow songwriters is evidenced by even the first two lines.
3. Sonic Standout - “Hardy” by Rostam (feat. Clairo) (9.5/10)
Technically qualified for the Hidden Gem portion of this New Music Friday review comes “Hardy” by Rostam with a feature from Clairo. Rostam, while well-established in the background scenes of the music industry (producing for Frank Ocean, Charli xcx, and, obviously, Clairo), is best known for his involvement with indie and R&B style music. While his solo career isn’t the most well-known part of his resume, it still offers another unique glimpse into his brilliant musical mind. On his new project “American Stories” (another recommended listen), “Hardy” starts off with a series of violin strings arranged to a classical beat. The song is dramatic. Then, slow. Then, tranquility. Then, the features echo. To put it plainly, it’s very cool to listen to and is unpredictable to hear the circulation of ideas, despite listening to the song at least five times on repeat, which shows immediate artistic power. Clairo’s feature is also very ‘indie-cool’ and is brief but comprehensive with an acoustic thesis that focuses on moments of brevity that fleet too quickly.
4. Hidden Gem – “But, Nvm” by Baby Rose (9/10)
When anyone is able to turn a previous insecurity into something beautiful, unique, and vocal, I believe fullheartedly that there is a need for applause, however loud or quiet. Growing up with a naturally deep voice (deeper than the typical woman's), Baby Rose has grown up insecure about her voice. However, she’s developed into an artist and a messenger of positivity and doesn’t back away from putting a spotlight on her addictive voice that she used to want to be hidden. A song that’s slow, jazzy, sexy, and filled with deeply-infiltrating soul, the song feels like walking through a coffee shop on a rainy day. You’re warm inside. Fill it up and feel the grooves! “Caroline” is another recommendation!