Image via Billboard

BY SYDNEY WILLIAMS                                         MUSIC EDITOR

2018 has only just begun but a range of artists have already begun to release singles and promos for new albums to come out in the months ahead. So let’s take a look at some of the latest hits to come out this year!

Finesse (feat. Cardi B.) - Bruno Mars

Following the trend of his single “24k Magic” Mars has produced another club banger with a musical influence from the past. Combining the hard hitting beats of Poison (Bel Biv Devo) with his own personal flavour, Bruno Mars has created the ideal throwback while remaining quite modern. Paying tribute to the 90’s TV show Living Colour in the "Finesse" music video is a perfect representation of his ability to bring the past to the present, a true testament to his roots as an artist. So dust off your old tennis shoes and be sure to turn your baseball cap backwards because "Finesse" will have rocking and bopping all night long. 

Filthy - Justin Timberlake

The OG JT is back at it again with a new album after three years of silence. Although (according to iTunes) Justin Timberlake’s album Man of the Woods hasn’t come out, his single “Filthy”, along with the song “Supplies”, has been released. Despite its title, “Filthy” is a clean combination of electronica with a smooth bass riff that you can’t help but move your body to. Opening up with a killer guitar lick it’s hard to expect what’s to come next but you surely aren’t disappointed once the song settles into its robotic electro-funk rhythm. We can expect nothing less from the Grammy award-winning artist and I for one am pumped to hear the rest of the album. 

All the Stars - Kendrick Lamar feat. SZA

Hip Hop powerhouse Kendrick Lamar and R&B queen SZA have collaborated to create “All of Stars”, a leading single on the soundtrack album of the upcoming Marvel film Black Panther. Known for his hard hitting lyrics and solid beats Lamar takes a chapter out SZA’s chillwave book to produce the smooth electronic R&B sound that is this new single. Although it leans more on the conservative side for the two artists it is definitely not a song to pass on. "All of the Stars"’ strong vocals and inspiring sound are sure to make a mark this February along with release of the long awaited film. 

Go Dung - Major Laser feat. Kes

The cold winter days tiring you out? Well not to worry, Major Lazor has just dropped a track that’ll transport you right to the summer months ahead! The electronic music trio of Diplo and DJs Jillionaire and Walshy Fire have produced another  fire Caribbean pop hit that is sure to be a party favourite this summer. “Go Dung” (Go Down in patois) has you doing just that with it’s rhythmic hook and catchy lyrics. Be sure to put this one on the back burner for July as “Go Dung” is sure to bring the heat back! 

After the Storm - Kali Uchis feat. Tyler the Creator

What can I say about Kali Uchis? At the age of 23 she is truly making a mark on the music industry with her alternative soul and R&B sound- not to mention her amazing features on other tracks such as Daniel Caesar’s Grammy nominated Get You.  The intro puts you almost into a dreamlike state with it’s 70s influence. Kali’s smooth vocals paired with a sick but clean rap verse from the one and only Tyler the Creator makes “After the Storm” a feel good tune in no rush to get you anywhere fast, but to allow you to just cruise.