Best New Music This Week: Keke Palmer, Jagged Edge, THEY. And More
Today’s list also includes a collaboration between Jhonni Blaze and Method Man titled “Please Don’t Break My Heart” and a new single from the iconic Ella Fitgerald’s upcoming live concert album.
Happy Friday, folks. We’re back again with some amazing music for you and yours to vibe to this weekend.
Gearing up for the release of One Of Them Days, her upcoming buddy comedy with SZA, the talented Keke Palmer drops the 4-track EP, A Story By: Keke Palmer. Today, the legendary R&B group Jagged Edge returns with a new single titled “Just Might Get It,” Jhonni Blaze and Method Man connect for “Please Don’t Break My Heart,” and the group THEY. unveils “Choosin.” Our list also includes music from Ella Fitzgerald, Lee Vasi, 4Fargo, and more.
Take a look at today’s list of new releases below.
Keke Palmer ft. DivaGurl – ‘A Story By: Keke Palmer’
In celebration of the release of One Of Them Days, the multifaceted Keke Palmer released the four-song EP A Story By: Keke Palmer. Listen to it HERE.
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Jagged Edge – “Just Might Get It”
Grammy Award winning R&B icons Jagged Edge are set to captivate fans once again with the release of their new single, “JUST MIGHT GET IT.” Stream the record HERE.
Ella Fitzgerald – “The Moment of Truth – Live At The Coliseum”
Ahead of the release of The Moment Of Truth: Ella At The Coliseum, the iconic Ella Fitzgerald drops the single of the same name. Listen to the record HERE.
TAVE ft. Kenyon Dixon – “Laid Back / Old Skool Chevy”
TAVE and Kenyon Dixon link up for “Laid Back/Old Skool Chevy,” a record that curates an image of the easygoing cruise of the old-school Chevy mixed with the nostalgia of 90s R&B and Neo-Soul. Hear it HERE.
4Fargo ft. Eric Bellinger – “Your Love Is Gold”
4Fargo and Eric Bellinger connect on the track “Your Love Is Gold.” Hear the song HERE.
Busta Rhymes & YG Marley – “Treasure & Gold”
The genres of hip-hop and reggae music collide on “Treasure & Gold,” and collaboration between Busta Rhymes and YG Marley. Check it out HERE.
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Jhonni Blaze ft. Method Man – “Please Don’t Break My Heart”
Jhonni Blaze and hip-hop legend Method Man have joined forces on the captivating new single, “Don’t Break My Heart.” Listen to the collaboration HERE.
If you’ve ever been to ESSENCE Hollywood House, you know it’s more than just a series of panels—it’s a gathering of visionaries. A space where Black creatives and leaders come together to share stories, strategies, and solutions. This year’s conversation, Let’s Talk About LA: Preserving Our City, presented by AT&T, was no different.
The discussion brought together three voices, each deeply invested in shaping LA’s future: D. Smoke, the Grammy-nominated rapper and educator; Olympia Auset, founder of SÜPRMRKT, a grocery service tackling food apartheid in LA; and DJ HED, a radio personality and advocate for independent artists. Though their paths differed, their mission was the same—creating opportunities, protecting culture, and ensuring Black spaces in LA don’t just survive but thrive.
For Olympia Ausset, the work she’s doing with SÜPRMRKT goes far beyond providing fresh groceries—it’s about laying the foundation for a stronger, healthier community. “The LA we love, the cultural beacon it’s known as today, was built by people who worked hard to create their own spaces,” she shared. “The reason I do what I do is because it’s essential. We can’t achieve any of the changes I want for my community without being in good health and having access to affordable, organic food. Without places where we can gather, heal, and support each other, none of the other goals will be possible. It starts with taking care of ourselves and building those spaces together.”
From Olympia’s focus on wellness and accessibility to DJ HED’s belief in the power of self-worth, the discussion explored what it means to dream beyond individual success and invest in collective progress. “I see a lot of people who aren’t proud of where they come from, what they look like, or where they’re at in life,” he said. “I had to learn to give myself grace, to grow. I grew up in Inglewood, raised by a single mom. We lived in a car, we were on welfare, but I knew I wanted to be bigger than my circumstances. That’s what dreaming in Black is—believing in something greater and nurturing it until it grows.”
DJ Smoke also touched on this, emphasizing the importance of intention and fulfillment. “You don’t want to climb that ladder and realize you went real high in the wrong direction,” he warned. “A lot of people in LA are ambitious, but if you don’t understand your ‘why,’ you can get to the top and still feel empty. The goal isn’t just to make it—it’s to make it mean something.
Sometimes, as Black creatives, we only dream as far as the next gig or the next check, but dreaming in Black means going beyond that. “It means thinking bigger than what’s right in front of you,” said host Donye Taylor.
This conversation was a call to action – a reminder that preserving LA’s Black culture means investing in community, honoring our history, and building a legacy that lasts.