Sicko Mobb
“Maserati” (f/ Lil’ Durk)
Digital Single

Though most of the production on Lil’ Durk’s excellent, Signed to the Streets, is of the moody, emotive variety, it’s easy to forget that the 21 year-old south-sider’s breakout single was the frenetic, footwork-based, “I Get Money.” Durk sounds at ease on the similarly bouncy, “Maserati,” and exhilarating collaboration with two of the brightest stars of the city’s burgeoning bop scene. The Mobb (westside duo Lil Trav and Lil Ceno) and their scene seem to be the next ones to blow, and it’ll be fascinating to see how the youngsters and bop in general make out in the next few years.

Shy Girls
“Second Heartbeat”
Timeshare (out 10/29 on HIT USA)

Sensitive R&Bros, Shy Girls, are officially batting 3-for-3 in 2013’s Hot, Bedroom Traxxx game. Following the sensational, “Under Attack” and “Still Not Falling,” “Second Heartbeat” rides a sparse, steamy arraignment and vocalist Dan Vidmar’s exquisite falsetto to downtempo, satin-sheeted glory.

Ofei
“Tomorrow”
Digital Single

Though this London-based singer-songwriter has kept an enigmatic image, if you pay attention to his music, you can learn a lot about the man. “Tomorrow” is a direct, resplendent synth-cum-piano ballad, driven by his expressive vocals, “dear diary” lyrics, and quirky, disarming melodies. Ofei’s voice is a singular one that deserves much more pub than it has received.

While we’re at it, check out his beautiful video for “London.”

Best Coast
“I Don’t Know How”
Fade Away (out 10/22 on Jewel City)

Bethany Cosentino’s Best Coast has grown so much since its inception as a fuzzy, dreamy, lo-fi garage pop group. In just four years, Cosentino and band-mate (and old babysitter) Bobb Bruno have let their love for Fleetwood Mac guide them to a fuller, more developed sound. While I will always love those original singles (I was living in their native LA at the time and listening to the shit out of them), it’s been fascinating to watch Cosentino’s growth as a songwriter, a singer, and a performer, and it looks like Fade Away is going to continue that progression.

Cass McCombs
“There Can Be Only One”
Big Wheel and Others (out Oct 15 on Domino)

Throwback, Americana singer-songwriter, Cass McCombs, is the rambli-est of ramblin’ men — spending most of his adult life leading a nomadic existence. His perpetually itchy feet are a constant of his dusty, freewheeling sound, weaving road tales as ambiguous and complicated as the man himself. As I’d imagine he’d be in person, his music is wildly inconsistent. And like all successful ramblers, when he’s good, goddamn it, he’s good.

Aaliyah
“One in a Million” (Visionist Remix)
Digital Single

12 years on from her tragic passing, Aaliyah’s footprint on pop music is as indelible as ever. This creepy, evocative remix from the forward-thinking Londoner is another worthy tribute to the late visionary. Visionist handles one of her most important songs with paramount care, keeping the intoxicating vocal in tact, while twisting the arraignment into a darkly delicious slice of future pop.

Peter Hadar
“Magic” (Fingalick Remix)
Digital Single

A couple months back, New Jersey alt-R&B singer Peter Hader dropped one of the boner-iest boner jams of the year, so it’s not altogether surprising that its first official remix comes from a guy called Fingalick. The Lithuanian producer (né Tomas Narkevicius) has been around for a few years, and his deep house veneer is a fresh coating for Hadar’s rhinestone-encrusted vocals.

Danny Brown
“#ExpressYourself”
Digital Download

When Lil’ Wayne declared himself the best rapper alive all the way back in 2008, it seemed totally ridiculous, and then over the next couple years, it just sort of became so. Though the prodigiously talented 32 year-old would never do it, with every successive track it’s getting harder and harder for me to find a rapper I’d rather listen to. This non-album track shows that the Detroit MC always goes hard, even on his throwaway tracks.

Baths
“Miasma Sky”
Obsidian (out 5/28 on Anticon)

Check out the atmospheric new single from Baths — the project of LA-based producer Will Wiesenfeld. He seems to be continuing his shift from glitchy, disjointed dancefloor tracks to spacey avant-pop. Dig it.