Now Things: Listen To The Best New Caribbean Sounds on Apple Music

July 10, 2018

Popcaan Now Things

Each week, we add the best new tracks from across the Caribbean and the Diaspora to our Now Things playlist on Apple Music. Keep up with all of the latest additions to the playlist in our weekly editorial roundup.

Run tune below, and find all of our playlists over on our Apple Music channel here.

Freetown Collective – Born in Darkness

“Born in Darkness” is the title track from the debut album by Trinidad & Tobago’s Freetown Collective. Formerly a duo consisting of singer/songwriters Muhammad Muwakil and Lou Lyons, the group has expanded to include female vocalists Malene and Shanna Joseph and Tishanna Williams and producer Keron “Sheriff” Thompson. “Born in Darkness” is the sound of that expansion, an ebullient blend of pop, rock, trap and dubstep.

Popcaan – Firm and Strong

Popcaan is set to release his sophomore album Forever next week (June 20) and, of three tracks released thus far, “Firm and Strong” is the standout. Hewing more closely to the mood of Where We Come From lead single “Everything Nice” than his standard dancehall material, “Firm & Strong” builds on dubby vibes before climaxing with a gospel chorus that will stop you in your tracks.

Natural Black – Eyes Ah Look

Guyanese reggae singer and former Greensleeves recording artist Natural Black returns this week with Eyes ah Look, and once again it’s the title track that is the winner.

Tosh Alexander feat. Miss Kitty and Trillary Banks – Bubble

Big, big dancehall tune from young diva Tosh Alexander featuring hype from Jamaican TV personality Miss Kitty, a guest verse from the UK’s Trillary Banks, and production by Seani B. This one’s got legs.

Alicai Harley – Naah Done

Fresh off her 2017 sleeper hit “Gold” and an appearance alongside HoodCelebrityy and Konshens on Toddla T’s new “Walking Trophy” remix, U.K. bashment gyal Alicai Harley keeps the vibes going with a ‘90s-style dancehall ting called “Naah Done.” Definitely an artist on the rise.

Tessellated – Hallucinate

Tessellated, the dude from Amindi K Frost’s “Pine & Ginger,” connects with super-producer Rvssian on “Hallucinate,” on some smoothed-out acoustic reggae vibes similar to Gyptian’s “Wine Slow.”

Protoje – A Matter of Time

Andddddd…. the title track wins once again. Musically, “A Matter of Time” is a few steps ahead of the rest of Protoje’s album by the same name. It’s a little baroque, a little reggae, a little hip hop.