Clockwise from top left: Brakence, Haviah Mighty, Christinna O, G Flip, McClenney and Tokyo’s Revenge.

Every week, there’s a plethora of new music at our fingertips.

Artists on platforms like Spotify and Bandcamp are plentiful, and the radio offers a steady deluge of new singles, but who has time to sort through all that? RIFF does!

We pooled our resources to find some of the best new singles from all genres and backgrounds, so you can find your newest earworm without all the drama. Enjoy this week’s hidden gems.

***

TOKYO’S REVENGE, “GOTHAM” — Up-and-coming rapper Tokyo’s Revenge has been setting the charts on fire with his previous tracks, and “GOTHAM” is proving no different. The song features his sonic signatures—heavily distorted low end, barking backup vocals and hard-as-nails bars. “GOTHAM” references iconic DC Comics characters and religious figures throughout the song, on which the artist compares himself to both Batman and the Antichrist. The young rapper’s braggadocios delivery is well-earned.

***

Haviah Mighty, “Thirteen” — Toronto rapper Haviah Mighty‘s emotional video for “Thirteen” articulates the racial prejudices entrenched within Western culture and the need to fight against white supremacy. “Thirteen” makes reference to the number’s superstitious connection to misfortune, which ties into its condemnation 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution as a legal way to continue slavery through the prison system. The video, in tandem with the song’s ethereal production and verbose bars, shows how U.S. history has victimized Black people from the start. Even so, Haviah Mighty hopes to help people realize what they can and should do to dismantle racist institutions.

***

McClenney featuring Baby Rose, “Karma Plays” — McClenney and fellow Dope Music Village collective artist Baby Rose elaborate on mental insomnia with their new single “Karma Plays.” Airtight beats, floating guitar playing and keyboards and winding vocal flow paint a picture of total emotional exhaustion—while still trying to function properly from day to day. McClenney’s R&B sound combines soulful singing and complex modulations with minimalist bedroom pop aesthetics. That’s topped off by the rustic emotion of indie pop.

***

Christinna O, “Hot Head” — Christinna O opens up about her bipolar disorder in “Hot Head.” She uses her background in spoken-word poetry to bolster her unique take on hip-hop. Over ambient instrumentation and staggered percussion, she speaks out about her mental health struggles from her perspective as a queer black woman. The song funnels her inner turmoil through expressive musicality and her constantly changing rap flow.

***

Brakence, “sauceintherough” — “Self-care punk” artist Brakence teases the re-release of his punk2 album with “sauceintherough.” The song exudes confidence with lyrics like, “She said her boyfriend’s bi and he trynna fuck”—implying that the boyfriend is also into him. He combines elements of punk and trap to create a banger that transcends labels. He’s new to the scene, at just 18 years old, but his skillful genre-mixing makes him someone to keep an eye on during the coming years.

***

G Flip featuring LoveLeo, “Hyperfine” — “Hyperfine” is a song that any millennial and or Gen-Zer could relate to. G Flip, with help from LoveLeo, presents a sharp, contemporary synth-pop song that illustrates the frustration of “situationships.” The explosive beat and pronounced singing walk listeners through tough conversations about what this relationship should be defined as. G Flip’s infectious hooks exude her vexation as these conversations always circle back to square one.

***

Aarushi’s Pick: My favorite for this week is “Thirteen” by Haviah Mighty. It’s an important listen, considering the current political climate. It’s a great opportunity for education about the mistreatment and injustices Black people have experienced and continue to experience. Haviah not only talks about these issues, but also addresses the ways people can unlearn racism and tear down white supremacist power structures. The video increases the song’s impact.

Follow reporter Aarushi Nanda at Instagram.com/aarushi_nanda and at Twitter.com/aarushi_nanda.