Today's Top Tune

London duo Baba Ali are stylistic omnivores who pack a dynamic and progressive sonic punch on their single “Black + Blue.” Get up and get ready to get sweaty!

Afropop icon Adekunle Gold showcases the beauty of the Black experience via R&B and traditional African rhythms on his new album “Catch Me If You Can,” which features a diverse array of artists including Ty Dolla $ign, Lucky Daye, and others. Catch Gold front and center on “Mercy.”

If you like the way Chet Baker sang, you’re gonna love the Swedish crooner Jay-Jay Johanson, whose cool jazz sound recalls late night sets sipping cocktails in smoky clubs.

Tunisian-American electro duo Meriem Ben Amor and Carmen Rizzo make up a new project called Didon. “Beside You” creeps in with hypnotic vocals and dirty beats.

The original version of Skinshape’s “Sua Alma,” featuring Portuguese, London-based singer D’Alma, is an upbeat Afro-tinged song, but when Manny Talvez and Alae get their hands on the track, they take down the tempo to give it umami.

Multi-talented music influencer, pioneering star of rock and funk, and fashion icon Betty Davis left this mortal coil a couple of weeks ago. Davis penned work that signed The Commodores to Motown, and her brand of raw and revealing punk-funk inspired generations of artists from Prince to Erykah Badu. She was even married to Miles Davis and influenced his album “Bitches Brew.” But at one point, Marc Bolan of T. Rex encouraged her to write for herself, and she took the advice to heart. “Come Take Me” was an unreleased track until 15 years ago, when it was included on special editions of Betty’s self-titled debut album.

Hallelujah! Warpaint is back with their first album in six years! After pursuing individual projects, the LA outfit is finally drawn back together to materialize their auditory ideas. “Radiate Like This” was created in separate makeshift studios due to pandemic restrictions, but is one of their most articulated and beautiful albums to date. Get a first taste with “Champion.”

Producer-remixer-songwriter Maths Times Joy invites New York-based vocalist Rich to lend his sound to a six-song EP. Cathartic and bracing, the title track “Change” unravels their chemistry.

Libyan-Egyptian Hamid Al Shaeri was supposed to become a pilot, but his destiny was to fill the airwaves with music. By the early ‘80s, Al Shaeri was a household name with a signature sound, despite the initial underwhelming reaction to his first album “Ayonha,” which later received accolades as the title track became popular across generations.

At 15, Nicole Wray auditioned for Missy Elliot in her mother’s Virginia home and got signed on the spot. Fast forward a couple of decades, and we know her as Lady Wray, an arresting artist with a compelling sound birthed from early years singing in church. “Come On In” is one of those songs that welcomes you in.