A strong representative of Colombia’s modern musical vanguard, Blessd has been hard to miss in recent years, notably in partnership with Latin hitmakers like Feid, KAROL G, and Peso Pluma. Contrasting with those flashy features, *TRINIDAD BENDITA* presents the artist largely on his own terms and with a guest list that speaks strongly to his curatorial prowess. In particular, his taste in largely homegrown producers such as Los Money Makers and ProdMonja imbues the project with distinctive qualities. Finding him reuniting with his “Mírame” co-conspirator Ovy On the Drums, “AMISTA” sets heartache to a reggaetón beat, while the SOG-helmed “CUÁNDO” harkens back to their similarly atmospheric team-up “Ojos Azules.” When he allows other vocalists into this carefully constructed sonic world, the results don’t disappoint, evidenced by the rapping camaraderie of “MÁS QUE AMIGOS” with Hades66, Blackinny, and Young Fatty. He further demonstrates his reach and status on “BALCONCITO,” a laidback yet trap-informed posse cut with Brytiago, Dei V, and Noriel.
“‘Helium’ \[sounds like\] ‘healing him, kind of a play on words,’” veteran Oakland-bred rapper G-Eazy tells Apple Music’s Zane Lowe. “This is the lightness of love—how lifting it can be, how euphoric. It’s not just love in terms of romantic relationships, it’s love and lust for life, and how fleeting that can feel sometimes too. A week later, that balloon looks less sexy—all crumpled up, barely floating.” Collaborating with producer Rodaidh McDonald helped G-Eazy open up for raw, revealing moments. In the past, he had worked with multiple producers on his projects, but McDonald’s elite résumé—which includes work with The xx, Adele, and A$AP Ferg—made G-Eazy ready to get “locked in” with him and have “some honest conversations” about how to make his eighth album special. “That’s where the greatness comes from—under that uncomfortability,” he says. “There was one day in a session where I was trying to sing this part, and he said, ‘G, I know you want to sing. You’ve taken vocal lessons. You’ve been trying. We don’t want to hear you sing. Not on this one.’” G-Eazy’s more mature outlook on life and respect for McDonald meant that instead of fighting back, he took the criticism. The producer then suggested that he take a cue from the late Canadian bard Leonard Cohen—an inspiration of G-Eazy’s—and drop his voice into his lower register. That kind of “tough love,” says G-Eazy, helped make the record better. “When a song comes together, it’s the most euphoric high that I’ve ever had, out of all the things I’ve tried,” he says. “Watching an idea come together \[can be\] excruciating when that stream of flow suddenly shuts. But then, when it opens again and the idea comes back to life—and then, that ride home, playing it in the car. Oh, my god! That feels so good.”
It has long been the case for Lil Wayne collaborators that the time they spend in the MC’s orbit can be some of the most inspired or fruitful of their careers. But imagine for a moment the perspective of someone like Mannie Fresh, accomplished DJ and producer, engine of the late-’90s/early-2000s Cash Money Records hit parade, and the man whose beats helped Wayne realize his potential as an MC. “I always start Wayne projects or songs like it’s my last day on earth,” Fresh tells Apple Music. “Because he is so important to rap, plus he is a real rap-rock star.” Their latest collaboration, Fresh’s *Lil Wayne: The Mix Before Tha VI*, is an Apple Music-exclusive DJ mix celebrating the impending arrival of Wayne’s *Carter VI* album. In true Mannie Fresh fashion, the set features a wealth of Wayne classics artfully arranged alongside the music that inspired some of those songs, spliced with a few curveballs Fresh threw in to keep even diehard Wayne stans engaged. “I try to listen to the records from a DJ point of view as well as a fan, \[because\] I want to make you feel good about new music,” he says. “I never, ever feel like \[I’m\] finished, because he always make me want to go harder every project.”
Like a fine wine, soul diva Mariah Carey matured into a classic vintage with the release of 2005’s *The Emancipation of Mimi*. The songs reflect a newfound intimacy and humor, while exploring gospel, hip-hop, and live band influences. The airy, then yearning vocals of “We Belong Together” are offset by the harmony-packed head-nodder “It’s Like That.” Meanwhile, blingtastic club bangers with Snoop Dogg and Pharrell Williams will start a party in your heart.
