#Repost: Billboard x Spotify: Linkin Park, Future & More Are Spotify Editors' Picks for New Music Friday

Originally published via Billboard.com here. 

Every week, Spotify updates their "New Music Friday" playlist, featuring 50 of the freshest new tracks hitting the service that week.

On the heels of Billboard's partnership with the streaming giant, we'll be tapping Spotify's editors to sift through the soon-to-be-hits and highlight the best of the bunch.

Check out the picks and listen to the entire "New Music Friday" playlist below.

Linkin Park, "Heavy" feat. Kiiara

If you told the members of Linkin Park back in 1996 when they first joined forces that they would be trading in their traditionally heavier rock sound for light-hearted pop later on in their decorated careers, they may not have believed you. However, with over two decades creating music together, the group has long weathered the storm, playing with a variety of styles over the years and adopting new trends within music while also adding their own signature twist. Such is the case with their latest single, "Heavy," a radio-friendly ditty that enlists the vocals of rising singer, Kiiara. The song dramatically feels strikingly different from what one would come to expect from the rock veterans, but that also works in the group's favor, proving that throughout their impressive 21 years in the game, they've consistently refused to be placed into one particular box. "Heavy" features a little tried-and-true angst, glittered with synths and creeping, brooding percussion. With Linkin Park and Kiiara trading vocals, the at-times minimalist beat drops out just to be built back up again, showing that pop music doesn't necessarily always have to be smooth around the edges and that in this instance, the infectious vocals are leading the way. With Kiiara citing Linkin Park as one of her earliest influences, the song acts as a reminder that sometimes things truly do come full circle, with "Heavy" marking their first collaboration. The track is also the first single off of the California natives' forthcoming seventh studio album,  One More Light, due out early this summer (May 19), with member Mike Shinoda sharing with Billboard that, "Heavy" represents "the core sound of the album," allowing listeners to "get a sense of the direction of this body of work." With the song's therapeutic-feel inspiring those going through it to know they aren't the only ones overwhelmed, it looks like Linkin Park's new chapter is just as exciting as the road that led them here in the first place.

Future, "Future" (album)

Future's self-titled album is a perfect segue into getting back to what the rapper himself refers to as the version of himself that fans were finally ready for again. After a lengthy hiatus from social media, Future is back in the spotlight to reclaim what is rightfully his again, while also providing fans with what arguably is the first album from the Atlanta heavyweight in years that will have his diehard supporters uncertain of what to expect. While traditionally Future has created a buzz leading up to releasing his music, this time around, he kept things very simple and straightforward, announcing the project merely days before its release Friday (Feb. 17). He also deleted every post on his Instagram, similar to how The Weeknd did just months before, in order to metaphorically and digitally wipe the slate clean, while also sharing his intention behind his moves with his fans, writing, "With all due respect, I'm asking you to be loving, patient, and kind enough to understand my creativity is to heal wounds, not make new ones. However, the greater the risk, the greater the reward. Especially when you have great intentions for every individual that has played a major role in your life experiences." With Future's self-titled offering, he's looking to become a better person than he was yesterday, which naturally, features a collection of trials and tribulations that translate beautifully into his music. His recent collaboration with Maroon 5 stands as a strong reminder that he's got plenty of surprises left up his sleeve, a sentiment he further proves to be true throughout his fifth studio album's 17 tracks. Future's "hiatus" has proved to work in his favor, with the album chock full of bursts of refreshed energy and revived creativity, as if he's woken up after a long journey's rest eager to jump back on the road again -- except, interestingly enough, Future hasn't really stopped moving nor slowed his momentum this whole time. Perhaps Future's victory lap of a 2016 has left him recharged in ways that have even surprised him.

Trey Songz, "Nobody Else But You"

Trey Songz is kicking off the new year by embarking on a journey of rediscovery, one that wisely begins by returning to his roots. In addition to announcing the details of his seventh studio album, a project he's titled after his government name Tremaine, the R&B singer has also released the first offering, "Nobody Else But You." With the full 15-track project dropping on March 24, the lead single is proof that Trey Songz is only getting better with age, with the heartthrob singer as captivating as ever. On top of the news regarding his forthcoming album, Trey has also debuted a fresh visual to accompany his new single, kicked off his VH1 reality web show Tremaine the Playboy and announced a tour, proving that he's destined to continue being one of the most hard-working entertainers in the business, getting down to business all while bearing his charming signature smile. On "Nobody Else But You," Trey Songz reassures others (and maybe himself) that the lady who has caught his eye is the only one for him, despite his usual behavior possibly suggesting otherwise. It's easy to get wrapped up in both Trey Songz mesmerizing vocals and the picture he's painting on this one, but after all, this is one of R&B's biggest dreamboats we're talking about and it's no surprise he's gotten us in our feelings once again. 

Selena Gomez x Kygo, "It Ain't Me"

This year is starting to prove that the more unlikely the collaboration, the more favorable the outcome. Such is the case with Kygo and Selena Gomez, two artists from opposite ends of the world and the genre spectrum alike, who have today come together on a new anthem, "It Ain't Me." The song acts as one of Gomez's most mature offerings yet -- with lyrics detailing a relationship being torn apart due to alcoholism -- and is arguably one of the Norwegian producer's biggest collaborations to date. "It Ain't Me" is also Gomez's first release in about a year, as well as her first since publicly dating The Weeknd, with many taking to Twitter to digest whether or not the song was inspired by her ex, Justin Bieber, who was arrested back in 2014 for a DUI and resisting arrest. Regardless of where the original inspiration may lie, the song is one that a generous handful of listeners can relate to, with the theme of a relationship tarnished by alcohol abuse taking center stage. Evened out by Kygo's upbeat tropical-tinged production, the song is more uplifting and empowering than it is somber, despite lyrics that may suggest otherwise. All in all, the track marks an exciting new chapter for both artists alike, highlighting the very best of each of their respective talents.

Maggie Rogers, Now That The Light Is Fading EP

Maggie Rogers once again returns to our New Music Friday playlist, this time with yet another taste from her highly anticipated debut EP, a project that is finally available now in full. While the 22-year-old has been working her way into our hearts ever since making her first introduction this summer with her curiously magical breakout single "Alaska," a viral track that went on to propel her career to new heights and currently has over 27 million streams, the release of Now That The Light Is Fading further proves that the singer-songwriter isn't about to leave the spotlight anytime soon. With the five-track collection, Rogers invites us to explore the inner-workings of her brilliant creativity, with her signature sound proving to be as limitless as it concrete, dancing sonically somewhere between folk, electronic, indie pop, soul and then back again. In addition to the release of her first official project, Rogers has a lot to celebrate, from making her television debut this week on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to preparing for her first headlining tour, she's setting up 2017 to be just as sweet, and if not sweeter, than her 2016 ended up being. As she previously wrote in a journal entry she shared online, she's been waiting for this moment all her life, and as exemplified by her stunning new release and overall infectious joie de vivre, she's enjoying every deserved and delicious second making up this exciting phase of her budding career. If you somehow haven't yet heard of the humble genius that is Maggie Rogers, there's no better time than the present to get acquainted.

#Repost BET.com: Meek Mill's Guide for the Recently Single: A Look at His Post-Breakup Instagram Posts

In the age of Instagram, moving on from a breakup can be much more difficult than it needs to be. While it's not always easy to push on after a relationship runs its course, this can be made especially more trying if your former partner is actively updating their accounts online like nothing has changed; is still friends with all your friends so they end up on your timeline even if you unfollowed them; and if (and when) the temptation to lurk gets the best of your better judgment. Even if you smashed the block button with confidence, when there's a will to creep on an ex, there's a way and this is something we all have been guilty of whether we want to admit it or not.

Considering this goes both ways, making sure your presence is on point is also part of the game. If they're possibly going to be low key glimpsing at your page, you may as well make sure there's something there to get them in their feelings, right? Sigh, what a time to be alive.

While the desire to flex on Instagram in the ever-so-likely assumption that an ex will be looking often takes precedence and, let's face it, we all do it. Anyone who tells you such a thought about showing off online hasn't crossed their minds at one point or another is a liar. The best revenge is living well, and in the meantime, the illusion of living well can double as a coping mechanism. When it comes to relationships in the year 2017, subconsciously or openly, we all want to "win" the breakup. That even goes for Meek Mill.

With all eyes on every stage of the very public (and curiously private) relationship between the Philadelphia rapper and Nicki Minaj, Meek himself has succumbed to pressure several times, deleting his entire account each time when things went sour, just to resurface a couple weeks later. With Meek being handed L after L by Drake via an ongoing beef that Minaj herself has wanted nothing to do with, it appears as though her recent reunion with Drizzy and Lil Wayne, combined with her matter-of-fact clarification on Twitter that she is officially single, means that their breakup is as real as ever.

True to tradition, Meek recently deactivated his Instagram account for just over two weeks, later going on to make up for lost time by posting over 20 images during his first 24 hours back on the platform. Regardless of whether or not Meek has found himself walking away from the modern day rap fairytale still in his feelings, he's still doing his best to act accordingly, assuming his role in success theater, with Instagram being his stage of choice.

Although ironic given this particular cast, Drake has provided millennial culture with an endless supply of beyond-fitting Instagram captions, including some that Meek Mill himself could borrow these days. Let's take a look to see how Meek Mill is doing following his unfortunate split from Nicki Minaj. Whether he's throwing subliminal shade or trying to have fun with his boys, here’s Meek Mill’s guide to using Instagram post-breakup.

See full listicle on BET.com here.

#Repost: Billboard x Spotify New Music Friday, February 11

Originally published here. 

Every week, Spotify updates their "New Music Friday" playlist, featuring 50 of the freshest new tracks hitting the service that week.

On the heels of Billboard's partnership with the streaming giant, we'll be tapping Spotify's editors to sift through the soon-to-be-hits and highlight the best of the bunch.

Check out the picks and listen to the entire "New Music Friday" playlist below.

Katy Perry - "Chained To The Rhythm" ft. Skip Marley

At this point, Katy Perry knows us all too well. With today's release of the superstar singer's new single, "Chained to the Rhythm," the 32-year-old not only makes her overdue return to the top of our playlists but humbly reminds us that she's long been a fan-favorite for a valid reason, singing, "Turn it up, it's your favorite song / Dance, dance, dance to the distortion." While that foreshadowing line may be a safe bet given Perry's impeccable past success, even in the song's first initial run-throughs, its potential to be the next major earworm is undeniable. While Perry is warming up for a 2017 takeover, starting with her recently confirmed performance at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards this weekend, she chose to debut the song in an epic fashion, literally scattering speakers masquerading as disco balls all over the world, inviting fans to participate in a scavenger hunt to seek out her latest tune. "Chained to the Rhythm" enlists a guest feature from Bob Marley's grandson, Skip, who made his debut on our #SpotifyNMF playlist just last week. Much like his new single "Lions," the collaborative track holds a strong-but-subtle political message woven into it, simultaneously inspiring us all to do better and rise above what is looking to tear us down. As Perry readies her first studio album since 2013's Prism, it's clear she's not holding anything back this year, proudly declaring, "We gonna call this era Purposeful Pop."

Migos - Spotify Singles

While Atlanta may have had the upset of the year with last weekend's unpredictably theatrical Super Bowl outcome, Migos is here to save the day. As the rap group continues to hold it down as ambassadors of the culture enjoying the recent fruits of their labor, recently releasing their second studio album, the reigning champs stopped by Spotify's New York headquarters to bless the studio with their signature lavish trap sound and have some fun in the process. Although their album, Culture, debuted at the number one slot on the Billboard charts, the group stays on their grind, even creating a brand new single that doubles as an ode to their recent collaboration with hip-hop's favorite snack food company, Rap Snacks. For their own special edition bags of potato chips, the group went with a sour cream flavor, aptly naming their catchy new track, "Dab of Ranch," after their own Rap Snacks’ branding. After the group posted a viral video of themselves freestyling about the fact they now have their own chip, the next logical step naturally was to lay it down in the studio. During the Spotify session, the group's members go back and forth creating what feels like an unlikely love story, with the lyrics playing into the theme brilliantly, with lines such as "Money like bags of chips / hunnits of bags I flip / finger-licking with the ranch / leaving crumbs on your lips," and "Get your rap snacks with a dab of ranch / If there ain't no more call the ambulance" the song is surprisingly (or not-so-surprisingly) incredibly well-written and full of personality, not straying far from Migos’ traditional bangers. In fact, this one can arguably hold its own weight in the club, proving not everyone can pull off a potato chip tribute quite like the Migos can. Rounding out their session with a unique rendition of their track, "T-Shirt," the Atlanta heavyweights continue to secure their sky's-the-limit legacy.

Adam Friedman - "What If"

Adam Friedman has been wisely preparing for the very stage his career in music has now arrived to for ages. While many artists are eager to release their music into the world the exact second an engineer sends back the master, this emerging singer-songwriter has opted to forge his own path. After graduating from the Berklee College of Music in 2014, Friedman headed straight to the studio, where he worked on Mike Posner's second studio album At Night, Alone, while also creating the original song score for an animated feature film Rock Dog, going on to become the singing voice of the main character, who was played by Luke Wilson. After staying busy with these endeavors, Friedman released his debut single into the wild, with "Pretty Things" going on to debut at #10 on Spotify's Global Viral Chart. Now that he's gotten his feet wet, it's just the beginning, with the LA-based musician today releasing his debut EP, Green. While the 5-track collection features two singles that may sound familiar, his celebrated collaboration with Mike Posner "Lemonade," a track that has since impressively racked up over 6 million streams as well as his lead single, "Sad," the other tracks on the project serve as an exciting reminder that Friedman is slowly and steadily making his way onto everyone's radar. With "What If," Friedman's opening vocals are perfect for a pensive reflection, as he wonders what would have happened if things with someone who had caught his eye went a little bit differently. The ambience of the song then erupts into warm electronic production full of pan flute-esque synths and a delectable variety of drums, swirling with inevitable sing-along moments proving that Friedman's ability to borrow elements from pop and dance music alike continues to work in his favor.

Desiigner - "Outlet"

While 2016 put Desiigner on the map in a permanent way with the release of his platinum singles "Panda" and "Timmy Turner," this year finds the rapper on a whole new level but chasing after the same goals. The 19-year-old is wasting no time getting back down to business after enjoying the breakout success he's now received his first heavy heaping of, recently announcing a six-week U.S. tour to kick off in April. Not only that but he also followed up the exciting news with a fresh new single, "Outlet," a song that shares the same name as the 25-city tour run and gives fans a taste of the new material the G.O.O.D. music emcee has been cooking up for his highly anticipated Def Jam debut, The Life of Desiigner. On the new track, the Brooklyn native navigates less-familiar territory, straying a bit from the patterns used in his previous singles, while tactfully weaving in his signature chirps, buttery rhyme-singing and braggadocios battle cries. While the song interestingly enough doesn't feature the word "outlet," the song doubles as a reminder that the reputedly high energy Desiigner is still charged up and ready to go. While discussing the new single, Desiigner naturally is already looking toward the bigger picture, using his new music as fuel to get him to where he wants to go next, even thinking as ambitiously as an astronaut. "I got millions and trillions, I’m here to entertain," he recently declared. "If I gotta get to the next planet and it’s the first ship going up there and it’s a performance, I want to do that. You feel me? So I’m trying to just be everywhere man, just be everywhere." With "Outlet" the first reveal of what Desiigner has on deck, it's without a doubt that while the rapper may have a long ways to go until he reaches his out-of-this-world aspiration, he certainly is heading in the right direction.

Fifty Shades Darker - Official Soundtrack

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, today's timely release of the second installment of the Fifty Shades of Grey franchise is making sure that regardless of how one may feel about the hallmark holiday, the film's soundtrack is here for the die-hard romantics and the reluctant population alike. As the best-selling book series went on to takeover the big screen, with Fifty Shades of Grey and now Fifty Shades Darker, it's only fitting that the accompanying soundtrack is full of major players, unlikely collaborations and as much sex appeal as the erotic romance tale itself exudes. While the film's first soundtrack birthed some of 2015's most sultry anthems, including The Weeknd's "Earned It" and Ellie Goulding's "Love Me Like You Do," this year's collection appears to hold just as much promise as its predecessor. As recently featured on #SpotifyNMF, Taylor Swift and Zayn's collaboration "I Don't Wanna Live Forever," has already racked up an impressive 175M plays on Spotify, with Halsey's offering "Not Afraid Anymore," gliding past 6M, building anticipation to see what else the star-studded collection has in store. With songs from John Legend, Tove Lo, Sia, Kygo, The-Dream, Nick Jonas, Nicki Minaj and more, Fifty Shades Darker covers a lot of ground, both in both the lyrical sense and genre-wise. With songs ranging from tropical house-tinged tracks to piano-led ballads to sinister pop, the soundtrack explores an overall theme of lust, with each track tackling a new interpretation of the complicated emotion and experience. While the film's at-times controversial plot is a bit more dark than the content of its soundtrack may be, Fifty Shades Darker is poised to dominate theaters and the airwaves alike this weekend and then some, with the conversations surrounding the cultural phenomenon destined to continue well past its debut opening.