Billboard's Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to this Friday's most essential releases — the essential music everyone will be talking about today and that will dominate playlists this weekend and beyond.
This week, Linkin Park returns with a new frontwoman, Halsey suffers a hard-earned ego death, A$AP Rocky retires on his way to church, Camila Cabello makes a return trip to the Magic City, and more . See all of this week's picks below.
Linkin Park, “The Emptiness Machine”
Yes, Linkin Park is back — with a new tour, a new singer and a new single, “The Emptiness Machine.” You can read all about the story behind their remarkable comeback here, including how they connected with Dead Sara frontwoman Emily Armstrong, and you can hear the first sounds of the collaboration now with the hard-hitting 'Machine'. If longtime fans were worried that the band's new line-up would feel too far removed from their classic sound, they should be won over pretty easily by the time of the new song's chorus, which couldn't feel more like the book LP as Armstrong belts. : “Let's cut I'm opening up just to see me bleed/ I gave up who I am for what you wanted me to be/ I don't know why I'm hoping for what I won't get/ I'm falling for the promise of the vacuum machine.”
Halsey, “Me”
With an October 25th release date now set for her The Great Imitator album, Halsey gives fans at least one more taste of the new LP with this week's “Ego.” The dizzying pop-rock blast is absolutely quintessential Halsey, a lyrically frenzied plea to “go back to the beginning, when everything was good… I didn't give an af-k if I won,” with a brutal chorus admitting “I” I'm really not as happy as I look… I'm really not that happy to be me.' It's a welcome reminder that 10 years into their career, Halsey remains one of the most vital songwriters and performers in either pop or rock.
Megan Thee Stallion feat. RM, “Neva Play”
After exciting LP releases from both earlier this year — Right place, wrong time in May and Megan in June — RM and Megan Thee Stallion link up for the first time this week for the single “Neva Play.” The song's faster one-beat counter prompts both artists to keep coming harder, as Megan spits “Money talks, and it's my first language” and RM meets her with “We just bossin', pour out the sauces in the face of the big bosses.” The all-star collab has an anime-inspired music video, because of course it does.
A$AP Rocky feat. J. Cole, “Ruby Rosary”
The slow stream of new songs from A$AP Rocky's upcoming single Don't be stupid he continues with the slow piano of the Alchemist-produced “Ruby Rosary,” with the rapper spitting his bejeweled religious necklace and generally amazing swag (“Ain't seen him drip like that since Rick the Governor”). Last year's assist king J. Cole also drops in for a guest verse, but don't ask him to rehash his previous highlights: “When they ask for your ex, ignore them,” he advises. “Going backwards is boring, b–ch, and I'm not Michael Jordan, I don't do retro.”
Camila Cabello, C,XOXO – Magic City Edition
Camila Cabello has released her fourth solo album C, XOXO in June to somewhat mixed reviews and commercial reactions — though even his biggest critics would have to admit that the album was pretty interesting, if nothing else. It's even more exciting now in its extended form Magic City Edition reissue, which features four new songs, including the pulsating “Baby Pink,” the haunting “Can Friends Kiss?” and the now thunderous 'Godspeed'. These new pieces don't necessarily do that C, XOXO The puzzle looks complete, but they make the final picture even more expansive, strange and beautiful.
Fred again… Ten Days
British dance sensation Fred has released three installments again Real Life LP series over a roughly 18-month period in 2021 and 2022, but it's been nearly two years since his last full run. The (very short) drought is now over with this week's release Ten Dayswith a loaded guest list featuring Sampha, The Japanese House, Anderson .Paak, country legend Emmylou Harris and of course, producer supertrio Skrillex and Four Tet. Like Fred's previous albums, it's a huge album built on small moments, such as Irish singer-songwriter SOAK admitting to an apocalyptic romantic experience, “I remember thinking to myself… don't you dare get used to it,” in the early highlight 'Just Stand There', or the producer himself sings 'You're more away now than you were/ But honey, I saw you and you saw me' on the album's centerpiece 'I Saw You'.
