It looks like our Fire Emoji playlist is going to end off on a great and bombastic note, because this week brought us a lot of great rap releases. Moreover, this new update complies the very best of these for your listening pleasure, and leading the way is none other than Nicki Minaj. Her new album Pink Friday 2 is finally here after years of waiting, and fans have a lot of material to sink their teeth into. Perhaps that’s the best compliment we can give this project: the sheer versatility, range of skill, and different appeals on display are a treat to see. For specific highlights, check out the boisterous “Big Difference,” “Let Me Calm Down” with J. Cole, and “Needle” with Drake.
Furthermore, we also had Kenny Mason give us a couple of new tracks this week with Highway 9. Of the three songs within it, our Fire Emoji playlist chose the mellow and moody guitar-led “FACTS” as a woozy and atmospheric standout. You’ll find another dreamy soundscape on “Airplane Tickets,” the new song from Pharrell Williams, Swae Lee, and Rauw Alejandro. However, it’s a very different kind of atmosphere than Mason’s set of influences, swapping out trap patterns for a dancehall vibe with summery synth pads and keys.