Y: Timbaland lovingly previewed “UFO,” a song featuring Tink and Andre 3000, on which Tink sings about the universal language of infidelity. You’ll have to deal with Timbaland’s hype shouting in between the lyrics, but these two are making exciting music. Also, Andre 3000. [Billboard]
N: Neneh Cherry’s “Spit Three Times” video takes place in the backseat of a car. Not a bad video, but what is up with these pitchy vocals? [Stereogum]Y: A scruffy J. Cole cues up grainy neighborhood footage in the video for “Apparently,” where he recalls his mom’s home being foreclosed on while he was selfishly “chasing panties.” Mostly the video is just him rapping coarsely in front of a background. I recommend giving his album, 2014 Forest Hills Drive, a spin. It’s considerate, self-aware and full of introspection on Cole’s personal and social responsibility. [Idolator]
Y: Majid Jordan’s video for “Her” visualizes the act of distancing yourself from a partner and then reuniting (he sings, “I got her/ Thought I lost her again”); a striking and artistic interpretation of what it’s like to break up. [Complex]
Y: The theme of Ex Cops’ “White Noise” video is, let’s all have a group pillow fight because the world sucks. [Stereogum]
N: This video for Jessie J’s “Masterpiece” is pretty run of the mill. Around the 1:48 mark, she hits a quick Nae Nae and I’m not sure if I should deduct points? I’d like to hear what this song sounds like on someone else. [That Grape Juice]Y: Here’s a retro (as in, the ’90s) remix of Elle Varner’s “Don’t Wanna Dance” that impressively tosses in a few menacing DMX adlibs, because WHY NOT. [This Is RnB]
Y: This is Diggy Simmons singing forlornly about taking a leap of faith in love (“Since we’re on the edge we should fall”). Emo Diggy (who kinda sounds like Trey Songz and Drake?) is weird and not so bad. [SoundCloud]