R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week: Gabriel Jacoby, Jay Electronica, Nippa & More

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Listen to caller must-hear songs from emerging R&B/hip-hop artists similar KeiyaA and Ilham.

9/22/2025

Jay Electronica backstage astatine Sony Hall connected January 10, 2022 successful New York City.

One question ruled past weekend’s taste conversation: Am I the Drama?

Doubling arsenic the rubric of Cardi B‘s sophomore workplace album, which yet arrived connected Sept. 19 aft a seven-year wait, Am I the Drama? dominated the play acknowledgment to jaw-dropping disses (“Magnet” and “Pretty & Petty”), caller euphony videos (the Kehlani-assisted “Safe”) and a packed promo tally that brought the BX rap queen crossed the state connected a mini meet-and-greet tour. Notably, Drama earned a RIAA Platinum certification connected merchandise day acknowledgment to the pre-release depletion of the Hot 100 No. 1 hits “WAP” (with Megan Thee Stallion) and “Up,” which adjacent the 23-track album. Also including the pre-singles “Outside” and “Imaginary Playerz,” Cardi’s caller acceptable looks poised to marque a large debut, pursuing successful the footsteps of her Billboard 200-topping debut LP, 2018’s Invasion of Privacy.

On the R&B broadside of things, Brandy enactment a peculiar rotation connected Kehlani‘s buzzy deed “Folded,” which precocious became the highest-charting solo opus of her vocation connected the Billboard Hot 100 (No. 34, illustration dated Sept. 20). Although Brandy’s remix is inactive MIA connected streaming platforms, fans whitethorn beryllium capable to perceive mentation of “Folded” connected The Boy Is Mine Tour, which she’ll co-headline alongside Monica this fall. The 24-city trek volition sojourn large arenas crossed the U.S. and diagnostic peculiar guests Kelly Rowland, Muni Long, Coco Jones and American Idol play 23 victor Jamal Roberts.

With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to item immoderate of the champion and astir absorbing caller sounds crossed R&B and hip-hop — from a caller Jay Electronica associated to Nippa and Cash Cobain’s caller collaboration. Be definite to cheque retired this week’s Fresh Picks successful our Spotify playlist below.

Gabriel Jacoby, “The One”

Ascendant South Carolina native Gabriel Jacoby deed a location tally with his caller single, “The One.” A spunky and funky ode to an undeniable love, “The One” finds Jacoby blending warbling guitars, a seductively raspy falsetto and earthy percussion to get his connection across. “I’ve waited connected idiosyncratic similar you/ To determination with maine darlin’/ Until the greeting arrives/ I’ll beryllium the one,” helium promises successful an earnest, soulful code successful the pre-chorus. Produced by Jacoby, Matt Zara, Pera Krstajic and Two Fresh, “The One” is simply a enactment of caller aerial that picks up connected the undercurrent of funk that’s cours...

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