So many singles, so little time. Here are three songs to stream right away:
In the battle of superstar collaborations, Mary J. Blige and Nas may not have the chart impact that Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber will have, but they definitely have the better song.
"Thriving" (Republic), produced by DJ Camper, is built on a dramatic beat, strong enough to hold its own against Blige's powerful vocals and Nas' rhymes. "I am a diamond 'cause of pressure," Blige sings. "The bigger the trial, bigger the blessin'." It's intense, inspirational and ready to go into heavy rotation.
Sheeran and Bieber's "I Don't Care" (Atlantic) is a breezy sing-along about anxiety, which is a feat in itself. "I can deal with the bad nights when I'm with my baby, yeah," they sing, over a skittering, vaguely reggae beat. It's immediately likable (even when they sing "I hate everyone here") and shows that mainstream pop can still carry a message, one that will grow more powerful the more it is repeated.
"Summer Days" (STMPD RCRDS) is a surprisingly funky collaboration from EDM star Martin Garrix, Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump and Macklemore, built around a groovy bassline and Stump's sweet vocals.
