The Listening: J. Cole, A$AP Rocky, Ella Mai, Fivio Foreign and More

As we head into a holiday weekend, there’s a lot of interesting new music to dive into. Some high profile projects are finally dropping — plus, there’s no shortage of dope music coming from acclaimed indie artists. In all things—balance. 

The long-awaited fourth album from A$AP Rocky is finally here, plus we get an excellent new single from Ella Mai. And one of the big stories of the week is J. Cole officially announcing The Fall Off and debuting the first track, “Track 2 (Disc 2),” on YouTube.

Fivio Foreign joins with Tory Lanez and Lil TJay for his latest tune “Sexy,” while Gunna and Chris Brown deliver a new remix for “WGFT.”

NBA Youngboy drops his new album Slime Cry — and we got Khaotic, the new heat from Wiz Khalifa. 

Each week, Okayplayer will deliver a roundup of all the latest new heat from some of our favorite artists. Check out the latest offerings in our playlist below: 

NEW SONGS

J. COLE - “TRACK 2 (DISC 2)”

The rap star out of North Carolina delivers this autobiographical track told in reverse, over a beat that was originally leaked as a Drake and Ye track. The first glimpse of what’s coming on The Fall Off.

FIVIO FOREIGN W/TORY LANEZ AND LIL TJAY - “SEXY”

Everybody teams up for this slow jam. The kind of ballad that’s more for stripper showcases than it is for bedrooms — and that’s not a bad thing. 

ELLA MAI - “100”

An elegant slice of classic R&B, produced by Mustard — the kind of gorgeously melodic track that she makes sound so effortless. 

CHARLI XCX - “WALL OF SOUND”

A beautiful string arrangement stands out in the production, but Charli delivers a standout performance on this strong single. Created for the upcoming Wuthering Heights movie soundtrack. 

GUNNA FEAT. CHRIS BROWN - “WGFT” (REMIX)

A new spin on Gunna’s hit single, and it finds the R&B superstar Brown dropping in to add some distinct vocals. The pair has undeniably found a collaborative groove. 

TIANAMAJOR9 - “ENERGY!”

The Grammy-nominated artist returns with this propulsive single, written and recorded in Jamaica with producer J.L.L. The singer-songwriter out of the U.K. taps into Y2K neosoul vibes. 

GABBY SAMONE - “COMPLICATE”

The fan favorite American Idol standout drops her debut single, a kind of effervescent R&B/pop hybrid — and it comes on the heels of her breakout Grammy weekend performance. 

MAXO KREAM FEAT. DENZEL CURRY AND JPEGMAFIA - “FAKE JEEZY”

These guys make up a unique kind of “Big Three.” Peg’s talents as a producer are perfectly showcased on the track as Kreem and Curry do their thing. 

WIZKID & ASAKE - “JOGODO”

A prelude for their new EP, REAL, Vol. 1, the track is already getting fans buzzing. With production from Magicsticks, it’s an exciting glimpse of what’s coming.

JOYNER LUCAS - “MONSTERS”

Expected to be included on the upcoming deluxe version of ADHD 2, the track finds Lucas confronting his inner demons. He breaks down the need to unload personal trauma on this grippingly vulnerable single. 

BUNNA B - “SEEUMSAYIN”

The firebrand out of East Atlanta rap drops her latest — complete with an eye-catching video. It’s her first big noise of 2026 as she looks to build on the momentum she’s had over the last year. 

VEEZE FEAT. LIL BABY AND RYLO RODRIGUEZ - “ONE OF THEM ONES”

Their first official collab, after working unofficially with each other on tracks like “F**ked a Fan,” the song highlights each’s strengths and showcases the trio’s undeniable chemistry. 

DEANTE HITCHCOCK FEAT. 6LACK, CHIKDISH MAJOR AND ANNA FIELD - “REMINDERS”

A truly compelling track that gives all the artists featured enough room to shine. The beautiful song is anchored by a powerful and heartfelt performance from Hitchcock. 

HIT-BOY - “WHO KNOWS”

The guy has been dropping music like it’s on fire and he’s demonstrating that he’s not only a prolific producer — hitmaking hasn’t dampened his hunger as an artist. And this one-minute freestyle proves it. 

GOGO MORROW - “HARD TO LOVE”

The singer-songwriter out of Philadelphia has always known how to stand out from the R&B pack. Her new single proves she’s one song away from a commercial and cultural breakthrough. 

RAAHIIM - “SLIDE4U (HATING)”

Co-produced by RAAHiiM and Jbyss, the moody atmospheric track sometimes recalls The Weeknd at his moodiest, but features some of RAAHiiM’s most affecting lyrics. 

SHAE UNIVERSE FEAT. ARIEL J - “JOURNEY TO THE SUN”

The Nigerian-born British singer-songwriter has been at the forefront of “R&Drill” sounds, but now she’s moving more into a smooth R&B vibe that feels rooted in early 2000s energy. 

HOLLYN - “AREN’T WE ALL?” 

This slice of optimistic smooth R&B delves into the uncertainty of our times and binds us through our shared anxieties and dreams. Her voice sits atop a top a sonic beautiful sonic sound bed; further highlighting her shift away from radio-driven songs. 

NEW ALBUMS

A$AP ROCKY - ‘DON’T BE DUMB’

After 8 years, the multi-hyphenate superstar releases his fourth album. The guest features list is insane: Tyler, The Creator, BossMan Dlow, Brent Faiyaz, Danny Elfman, Doechii, Gorillaz, Jon Batiste, Jessica Pratt, Slay Squad, Thundercat, Westside Gunn, and will.i.am.

NBA YOUNGBOY - ‘SLIME CRY’

After a turbulent rollout, the latest from Youngboy Never Broke Again is here. The massive project features his trademark combo of aggressive energy and vulnerable emo raps, and proof that his momentum isn’t slowing any time soon. 

WIZ KHALIFA - ‘KHAOTIC’ 

He seems like he is confidently in his bag. The rap veteran out of Pittsburgh sounds hungry and inspired, delivering some of his strongest lyricism on his latest release. 

DINA ADAYA - ‘IDENTITY’

She is adept at blending contemporary R&B with global sounds, and her new album finds the singer on a journey of self-discovery. The single "no rush" features Gunna, who also executive-produced the project. 

ELIJAH BLAKE - ‘THE GEMINI’

The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter is back with his new project, a forward-pushing collection that channels classic contemporary R&B while charting bold new territory for the artist. Featuring writing and production from Louis York, Etienne, Roark Bailey and more. 

EVILGIANE - ‘GIANE 2’

The Surf Gang founder has returned with the surprise release of a new instrumental album. Diving into his electronica background, the project features composer Rue Jacobs as well as Clams Casino.

LEXA GATES - ‘I AM’

The emcee out of NYC is wildly talented and her new album is a perfect showcase for all that she does well. She’s emotional and an open book — but it all feels very intentional. She knows exactly who she is as an artist.