Megan Thee Stallion, TXT, Clairo & More: Best New Music Friday
This week's Best New Music Friday includes hits from Megan Thee Stallion, TXT, Clairo, and more.
Megan Thee Stallion, “Thot Sh*t”
Who is doing it like Megan Thee Stallion? In “Thot Sh*t,” the rapper takes her well-documented love of horror movies to the next level with an epic, mildly horrifying video (directed by Aube Perrie) that roasts a conservative politician for enjoying Meg's “Body” music video while simultaneously typing out degrading YouTube comments and shaming women's bodies. She warns him that women control every aspect of his existence, and then follows through by systematically ruining his life, in style. The song is full of more iconic Meg one-liners — "I don't give a f*ck 'bout a blog tryna bash me/I'm the sh*t per the Recording Academy — and let's just say that closing MV image will stick with us for a long time.
TXT, “Magic”
It's been almost two weeks since TXT's new album dropped, and we've been bopping along to “Magic” on repeat. Now, we get to bask in a gloriously galactic music video, which sees the quintet in full Star Trek mode. That anthemic bridge hits even harder when the five members scream along in the middle of Seoul's Jamsil Olympic Stadium — with fireworks, of course — before they ascend back into their rocket ship.
Doja Cat, “Need to Know”
Speaking of space vibes: ahead of her forthcoming album Planet Her, out June 25, Doja Cat dropped a new single and music video “Need to Know." The horny space fantasy of a video shows Doja and friends in alien garb as they travel around the city in a hovercar. The futuristic vibe matches the song, with lyrics like, “Prolly thinkin' I'm a telekinetic/Oh, wait, you a fan of the magic?”
TWICE, “First Time”
TWICE's new album Taste of Love is here, along with lead single and music video “Alcohol-Free.” But our early favorite on the record is b-side “First Time,” which has lyrics co-written by member Jihyo. She told Spotify the song is about capturing the feeling of “first love, when your heart's racing and you're all nervous," and the group succeeded. “First Time” has a thudding dance beat, perfect for catching eyes across the dance floor and enjoying the butterflies in your stomach.
Kuu, “Dancing in the Dark”
Exciting trio Kuu — made up of producers Riton and Alex Metric and singer-songwriter Shungudzo — returns this week with the excellent “Dancing in the Dark.” The house track is infectious and probing, a fantasy of seeing “strangers all in motion, highs and lows like mine, faces deep like oceans" and feeling far away of your problems when dancing in the dark.
Yebba, “October Sky”
Rising star Yebba, already a Grammy winner, is preparing to release her debut album in September — but first, new single “October Sky,” written by Yebba and produced by Mark Ronson (with Questlove on drums). Yebba's voice is folky and musing, with lyrics that cut into the heart the way she delivers them. “Now I work in the city and I blend into the crowd… But I'm missing my mama, so I stand on the street and get high,” she admits in the song, before remembering nostalgic childhood days in Memphis, Arkansas. It's a moving single, and we're excited to see what her full debut album, Dawn, will feel like.
Clairo, "Blouse"
This week, Clairo showed up on Lorde's delightful comeback single “Solar Power,” and on her new single “Blouse,” Lorde returned the favor. Her backing vocals crop up on Clairo's poignant ballad (also produced by Jack Antonoff), a strikingly honest appraisal of kitchen table conversation: “Why do I tell you how I feel? When you're just looking down my blouse."
Honne feat. Pink Sweat$, “WHAT WOULD YOU DO?”
Honne and Pink Sweat$ are a dynamic duo this week on “WHAT WOULD YOU DO?” a mellow disco-infused pop song that trods a well-worn premise: what if the world ended a week from now? But “WHAT WOULD YOU DO?" feels fresh despite the simplicity of the message — we love a catchy hit about the end of the world.
Let us slide into your DMs. Sign up for the Teen Vogue daily email.
Want more from Teen Vogue? Check this out: Lorde Releases "Solar Power," a Beachy, Chill Song of the Summer
Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue
