Smiley “38” feat. Pressa
Smiley is a rapper hailing from Toronto who has uber star Drake’s seal of approval. In “38”, Smiley hits the mic hard with this fabulously contagious banger. Spitting lines like “Buy or Bye loadin’, I’m still here recordin’/They gotta be jokin’, I’m on beats floatin’/I’m over here exploadin’, we over here explorin’/Took her on the P. J., had her wearin’ PJ’s”, Smiley asserts a confidence in his rap game that is as refreshing as it is potent. Of note, “38” comes from Smiley’s album “Buy or Bye 2” which makes the line “Buy or Bye loadin'” that much more appreciable. Fellow Toronto rapper Pressa makes his presence felt on the track as well and complements Smiley perfectly for a single that will have everyone in the club on their feet.

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Majid Jordan “Stars Align” feat. Drake
That Drake fella really is everywhere. If he’s not endorsing one of the rappers on this list, he’s collaborating with them! This time, Drake lends his talents to Majid Jordan’s “Stars Align”. This song starts out of the gate strong with an ’80s synth sound — which is always welcome. Majid Jordan is a Canadian R&B duo (singer Majid Al Maskati and producer Jordan Ullman) with this song evoking memories of earlier work from The Weeknd. This song clearly demonstrates Majid Jordan’s prowess at producing and experimenting with different sounds and genres into a cohesive final product.
FKA twigs “Tears in the Club” feat. The Weeknd
We continue our globe-trotting, this time with FKA twigs, who is originally from England and The Weeknd, another musical gem from Canada. “Tears in the Club” is the culmination of some major talent and FKA twigs and The Weeknd don’t disappoint. For the purposes of the gentlemen’s club industry, it has to be pointed out FKA twigs worked as a hostess in a gentlemen’s club and sang at a cabaret club so she definitely is familiar with the ambiance your club is aiming for. “Tears in the Club” boasts sensual vocals with modern tech production that delivers a surefire hit for any club.
Trapt “Fire”
Trapt is a California rock band that has been around upwards of two decades — most notably making waves with their 2002 smash “Headstrong”. They’ve been consistently producing albums since and “Fire” is from their latest album “Shadow Work”. Instantly, one can hear the band’s DNA in “Fire” with the heavy guitar and singeing vocals from Chris Taylor Brown. “Fire” harkens back to turn-of-the-millenium rock with an emotional angst dripping from every lyric.

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Tacboy & Rude Minor “Not Around”
It’s practically impossible not to be hooked on “Not Around” from the opening salvo. A hypnotic, EDM-club-like beat snares you and doesn’t let up during its three-plus minutes. In an interview with ED Magazine, the pair said they met through Tacboy’s mother, Pepper Gomez of Wake Up! Music and house music fame. “She told me she knew of a kid with Chicago roots and asked if I would do a song with him,” recalled Tacboy in the interview. “We’re both two Latino kids so I agreed instantly — sight and sounds unseen. Rude sent me the beat, I recorded the chorus and he sent back his verses. Our voices definitely complement each other to create two sides of a distinct feeling. Everything just happened real smoothly.” Straight from Rude Minor’s mouth, “Not Around” has “club and dance elements … thinking about your ex at the club may have you actin’ up, throwing a few extra bills out, and drinking a few more drinks.” ‘Nuff said.
Giovannie & The Hired Guns “Ramon Ayala”
Giovannie & The Hired Guns is a Texas-based rock band known for their charged live shows. “Ramon Ayala”, named after the real-life Mexican Norteño musician, is an ode to frontman Giovannie Yanez’s appreciation for Ayala’s music. Through Yanez’s gritty vocals is a touching ballad “”I’m just your ordinary fuck up/There’s nothin’ special about me/I still bump Ramón Ayala when I get drunk/I’m just tellin’ you, I’m not playin’ you/I just wanna be the real me around you”. Oh, and if you needed any more persuasion, keep your ears open for a “Rapper’s Delight” mention.

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