Billboard’s Friday Music Guide highlights the week’s most essential new releases, and this Friday brings a mix of country, hip-hop, pop, and R&B that fans will be streaming all weekend.
Megan Moroney – Cloud Nine
Country star Megan Moroney returns with her third studio album, Cloud Nine. Following her breakout success with Am I Okay?, Moroney continues to prove herself as one of the sharpest lyricists in Nashville. The record features previously released hits like 6 Months Later and Beautiful Things, alongside new standouts such as Medicine and Stupid. A duet with Ed Sheeran on I Only Miss You marks her first major cross-genre collaboration.
Baby Keem – Ca$ino
After nearly five years, Baby Keem drops his sophomore album Ca$ino. Known for his unpredictable flows and beat switches, Keem delivers 11 tracks that balance energy with introspection. Highlights include I Am Not a Lyricist and Highway 95 Pt. 2. Kendrick Lamar makes an appearance on Good Flirts, while West Coast legend Too $hort adds swagger to $ex Appeal.
Hilary Duff – Luck… or Something
Hilary Duff continues her 2020s comeback with Luck… or Something, a confident pop album showcasing her growth as an artist. With production support from husband Matthew Koma and Brian Phillips, the record blends polished vocals with mature songwriting. Following her hit single Mature and a major tour announcement, Duff’s latest release cements her as one of pop’s most compelling comeback stories.
SZA – Save the Day
SZA surprises fans with Save the Day, a soundtrack single for Pixar’s upcoming film Hoppers. The delicate piano ballad, featuring Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons, highlights SZA’s vulnerability and artistry. While fans await her next full-length project, this track offers a heartfelt interlude.
Ty Dolla $ign feat. Leon Thomas – Miss U 2
Ty Dolla $ign teams up with protégé Leon Thomas for Miss U 2, blending hip-hop and R&B influences. The track references Aaron Hall’s classic I Miss You, continuing the trend of 1990s R&B nostalgia in modern releases.
Thundercat & Mac Miller – She Knows Too Much
Thundercat’s upcoming album Distracted features the posthumous single She Knows Too Much with Mac Miller. The track combines playful lyrics with jazzy instrumentation, reminding listeners of the chemistry between the two artists.
