Dee-1, Shura & Snoh Aalegra: Emerging Picks of the Week
Each week, Billboard offers a triple-play of tracks to check out that all debuted on the most recent Billboard + Twitter Emerging Artists chart. Be sure to give them a listen, and check back next…
Each week, Billboard offers a triple–play of tracks to check out that all debuted on the most recent Billboard + Twitter Emerging Artists chart. Be sure to give them a listen, and check back next week for a new set of selections.
“Against Us” – Dee-1
Lifting part of its hook from The Lord’s Prayer, “Against Us” finds rapper Dee-1 dissecting a host of personal and social issues, including criticism of money supplanting personal loyalty and black-on-black crime. At one point, the rapper opines, “We new slaves hangin’ ourselves minus the noose.” Despite such a bleak outlook, the track does boast optimism and redemption, as the opening lines implore, “forgive ’em, for they know not what they do,” as Dee-1 launches into confident, assured delivery. The song’s message is resonating with listeners, who generated enough Twitter activity to spur its No. 21 debut on the weekly Emerging Artists chart.
“Indecision” – Shura
An emerging critical favorite, Shura debuts with “Indecision,” a smooth synth-pop track whose beat would fit snugly on an early Madonna album. Shura’s vocal performance, however, is far from the Material Girl’s, with an air of subtlety that mirrors Jessie Ware or Norah Jones and simultaneously lifts itself above the production and melts into the backbeat. While Shura may struggle with indecision, fans clearly favor the track. “Indecision” triggered enough Twitter response to debut at No. 22 on the Emerging Artists chart. The London-based artist has released two other tracks this year, “Touch” and “Just Once,” but has yet to reveal any information about a debut EP or LP. Given her hat trick of critical favorites, though, a debut album will be highly anticipated.
“Bad Things” – Snoh Aalegra featuring Common
A drum-centric beat compliments of No I.D. anchors “Bad Things,” the newest track by Swedish singer-songwriter Snoh Aalegra. Her latest is a testimony of internal contradictions and personal flaws, as she explains, “I do bad things to good versions of me / I find good things in bad versions of me / I don’t know, it’s just versions of me,” wrapped in vulnerability and raw exposure that evokes Amy Winehouse. Common jumps on for an inspirational verse. Despite the bad deeds that Snoh confesses, here’s one good thing to note: a No. 35 debut on the Emerging Artists chart thanks to consistent Twitter activity during the week.
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