It’s been a somber week, given the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile at the hands of police officers, and the events that followed. We are sending our thoughts and prayers out to the family and friends of both men and the scores of other uncovered cases of police-responsible deaths. Rest In Peace.
In the wake of these events, several artists, including Jay-Z, Chris Brown and Miguel have penned their thoughts in song. We cover these releases in this week’s round-up, as well as PJ Morton’s timely Sticking to My Guns video release.
We also bring news of the week’s best R&B / Soul EP and video releases from emerging talent. Enjoy below and stay safe.
1. Newcomer Alert! Pluto’s Just 4 Now EP
Pluto is our latest discovery of Toronto-based burgeoning R&B talent. However, as his new E.P. Just 4 Now shows, Pluto veers away from the melancholy, dark sound that’s often associated with the Toronto (Alternative) R&B scene (think The Weeknd, PartyNextDoor or Daniel Ceasar).
Just 4 Now feels futuristic, but is upbeat featuring some powerful vocals from Pluto. The singer says about the set, “This project was a challenge to myself, I wanted to make a fun project with an uptempo vibe… I wanted to create a different experience, something you can dance or chill too. Something you can enjoy everywhere.” Pluto managed to do just that. This is feel good music for whatever moment, the highlights being the opener, Tell Me and the subtly sumptuous LA. Listen above.
