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Listen to new must-hear songs from emerging R&B/hip-hop artists like Otis Kane and GENA.
12/15/2025
Pooh Shiesty performs onstage during 2021 Shiesty Season Spring Fest at Central Station on April 11, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. Paras Griffin/Getty Images
Christmas is just ten days away, but the worlds of hip-hop and R&B haven’t closed up shop just yet!
Last month, Billboard reported that a fan-created conspiracy theory that Timothée Chalamet is moonlighting as fast-rising Liverpool rapper EsDeeKid helped the MC’s Rebel LP reach the Billboard 200 for the first time. While on the promotional campaign trail for his upcoming film, Marty Supreme, the Oscar-nominated actor finally commented on the rumors. “I’ve got no comment,” he teased. “I’ve got two words on that. All will be revealed in due time.”
On the other end of the hip-hop spectrum, Nas and DJ Premier finally dropped their Light-Years collaborative album, which arrives after a three-decade wait. Featuring just one guest star in AZ, the new LP flaunts the chemistry that resulted in early Nas classics “N.Y. State of Mind Pt. II” and “Nas Is Like.”
Friday night saw a Caribbean wave crash over New York with the UBS Arena-set Jamaica Strong benefit concert gracing Long Island. Headlined by Shaggy, Kes and Sean Paul, the star-studded event boasts West Indian music superstars across reggae, dancehall and soca, banding together to raise funds for Hurricane Melissa relief. Over the weekend (Dec. 14), Billboard exclusively reported the release date of Jerry Wonda and Buju Banton’s forthcoming, two-part charity single, “Jam for Jamaica.” The song will be released on Feb. 6, Bob Marley’s birthday.
With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from Pooh Shiesty’s long-awaited comeback to a soulful duet between Otis Kane and Aaron Childs. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
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Freshest Find: Pooh Shiesty, “FDO”
Two months after his release from federal prison, Pooh Shiesty returned to serve up his “FDO,” and the extra time on the grill made the gourmet meal well worth the wait. Shiesty delivers five straight minutes of no-holds-barred rapping like his life depends on it. In his signature Memphis drawl, Pooh paints a vivid picture of walking fresh out of the feds to six foreign cars and stacks of cash. He reflects on his time behind bars, which included ordering exotic sports cars over a jail phone and somehow getting even richer. Seismic punchline after punchline, Pooh Shiesty knew he needed to make a bold statement to reinsert himself in the hip-hop landscape heading into 2026, and the eyes are back on him following a three-year-plus stint. — MICHAEL SAPONARA
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J Hus, “Banana Clip”
J Hus ushered in the weekend (Dec. 11) with Half Clip, a three-track EP that set the tone for the London rapper’s upcoming headlining set at the Music City Festival in Lagos, Nigeria, on Dec. 20. “Banana Clip,” the lone solo offering, is also the most interesting, with its sneaky tempo shifts and shapeshifting rap-sung cadence. “Baby girl, do you know what banana is?/ You gon’ suck me while I bark my spliff/ Ya tight pum pum with the tightest grip/ Don’t say a word, keep the tightest lip,” he spits in the second verse, incorporating dancehall lyrical flourishes that play well against the amapiano-inflected beat, crafted by 4orty, Dimz, Fumes Beats and Yjay. Sonically intricate and immediately hook-y, J Hus got another one with “Banana Clip.” — KYLE DENIS
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Sasha Kebale, “Tai Chi”
“Tai Chi” is a study in power, self-awareness, and sensual control crafted by a talented collective of writers, including A’shaari Pope, Imani Lewis, Richard Isong, Cold Ostrin, and Daoud Anthony. Sasha Keable, Billboard’s R&B Rookie of the Month for November, positions herself as both alluring and untouchable, fully conscious of her effect on people. Anchored by production from P2J, Daoud and Cole YoursTruly, “Tai Chi” frames desire as something to be handled with care, not chased recklessly. The repeated challenge, “Can you handle it?” functions as both flirtation and a warning. References to the Chinese martial art of Tai Chi evoke balance, flow and control, which Keable impressively reflects through her scintillating vocal performance. — CHRISTOPHER CLAXTON
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GENA, “How We Flow”
Liv.e and Karriem Riggins together is high art, avant-garde. They’re two for two. Tap in now, because the bandwagon will be full once the album drops. — ANGEL DIAZ
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Otis Kane & Aaron Childs, “Summer in December”
Leave it to Otis Kane and Aaron Childs to deliver the perfect antidote for a brutally cold winter. The two L.A.-based R&B artists have joined forces for “Summer in December,” a steamy, soulful number accented by staccato brass, groovy percussion and warm strings. “Take a seat, stay a while/ I just wanna make you smile, baby/ Windows fogging from the heat/ Is it hot, is it me, baby?” Otis coos in the second verse, before the pair offer up tight, sweet harmonies in the chorus as the funky bassline gets stronger with each passing second. If the snow simply isn’t for you, throw this tune on your playlist immediately. — K.D.
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Samara Cyn, “What Will They Say”
Samara Cyn charmed Camp Flog Gnaw attendees of her Dodger Stadium set last month, when the 27-year-old performed the pensive “What Will They Say” over Outkast’s “Ms. Jackson” anthem. When the soothing tune arrived last week, the 2000 earworm was swapped — for what we assume to be a clearance issue — for breezy, laid-back production. Still, “What Will They Say” remains as one of Cyn’s best releases of 2025, and shows there’s even more under the hood of her artistry as one of the emerging, fresh-faced lyricists making noise in hip-hop. Cyn leaves herself emotionally naked while vulnerably opening up about her biggest fears: not fully reaching her potential as an artist, or falling for a treacherous lover. — M.S.
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Threetwenty, “Fruit”
Sometimes the algorithm is your friend, because I randomly came across this husband-and-wife duo a few months back when their song “The Light (I Need You)” started playing in the background. I immediately stopped what I was doing and fell down a wormhole to check out the rest of their catalog, and was impressed with what I found. Their latest single “Fruit” (like most of their sound) is what that ‘90s R&B felt like, kids, so be sure to check out their album separate from the noise that they just dropped over the weekend. #dotheknowledge — A.D.
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FLO, “Recently Deleted”
“Recently Deleted” captures the quiet, messy space where a past relationship refuses to disappear entirely. A modern breakup song penned by each of the three FLO ladies, alongside an all-star cast of collaborators anchored by MNEK, “Recently Deleted” finds the photo app folder of the same name becoming a metaphor for unresolved attachment. “You’re in my stories, it don’t matter the occasion/ I know why you can’t look away/ Truth is, no matter who you keep on your rotation/ You’ll always keep my picture framed, oh, woah,” Renée and Jorja croon in the second verse, the group’s harmonies as tight as ever. With “Recently Deleted,” FLO frames heartbreak through a digital lens, showing the contradiction of moving on while still holding onto memories that are one tap away from being restored. — C.C.
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Def Soulja feat. BVNGS, “Pay What You Owe”
It’s cold and icy over here in New York City this week, so why not listen to some s—t that sounds like North Face bubbles and Timberland boots? Repping the Social Misfit crew, Def Soulja and BVNGS come through to put the gat to your chest and their winter boots on your neck until they’ll have your moms screaming, “Please, baby, pay them what you owe.” — A.D.
English (US)