Megan Thee Stallion and RM Bring the Heat, It’s MJ Lenderman Fall, and Other Songs of the Week

The post Megan Thee Stallion and RM Bring the Heat, It’s MJ Lenderman Fall, and Other Songs of the Week appeared first on Consequence .

Every week, Consequence’ s Songs of the Week column looks at great new tunes from the last seven days and analyzes notable releases. Find our new favorites and more on our Spotify Top Songs playlist, and for other great songs from emerging artists, check out our Spotify New Sounds playlist. This week, Megan Thee Stallion teamed up with BTS’ RM on her new song “Neva Play” and MJ Lenderman’s new album Manning Fireworks features the exceptional tune “Wristwatch.”

Megan Thee Stallion & RM’s “Neva Play” Is So Hot I’m a Little Scared

Here’s the thing: we absolutely need to get BTS out of the military. They’ve served enough!

If you don’t stay super up to date on all things regarding BTS, you might be surprised to hear that they’ve been on something of a hiatus for the past few years. It hasn’t felt like a hiatus at all. It’s becoming a bit mind-boggling to see how much content these guys prepared before setting off — fans have been swimming in multiple full-length albums, travel shows, documentaries, and collaborations that were all prepared ahead of time, including this new track from Megan Thee Stallion.

Megan Thee Stallion and RM make a good team. They’re both poised and confident; they both have unbelievable amounts of stage presence. They love wordplay and thrive in their respective flows when rapping. Their first team-up took place when Meg jumped on the playful, bright remix to BTS’ “Butter,” but “Neva Play” is an entirely different vibe. If anyone understands the amount of range a BTS member can offer from song to song, it’s ARMY’s resident purple princess; this is day 726 of me asking for Megan Thee Stallion photo cards. It’s what we deserve!

RM thrives in his lower register, which is employed to maximum effect on “Neva Play.” It’s always a thrill to see new listeners embrace the reality that BTS’ enormous disocgraphy promises a world of riches waiting beyond the songs that helped introduce them to the general public and casual listeners; today, Twitter has been a flurry of non-fans and Hotties (members of Meg’s fandom) proclaiming their new ARMY status. “I did not know anyone in BTS sounded like this,” one user wrote . “RM, I wasn’t aware of your game,” said another .

It seems ARMY weren’t the only ones shaken by that intro line of, “What’s up Stallion?” But any longtime fan can relate to the tension of embracing well-deserved recognition and wanting to gatekeep a little, especially because this is a particularly intense collab. This is “DDAENG” energy. This is “Cypher Pt.3” energy. This is “All Night” energy, and that’s not something to play about.

— Mary Siroky
Associate Editor

MJ Lenderman Throws His Cards on the Table on “Wristwatch”

It’s easy to lose yourself in MJ Lenderman’s shimmering, front porch-coded guitar work, and in each of the songs from his new album, Manning Fireworks , at least one lyric pops out and alters the entire song’s aura. On “Wristwatch,” that line is “I’ve got a houseboat docked at the Himbo Dome.” It would be astounding on its own, but it’s followed by “… And a wristwatch that’s a pocket knife and a megaphone/ And a wristwatch that tells me I’m all alone.” As the song’s grand finale, Lenderman takes this gloating, materialistic character into a full-on meltdown. He was pathetic enough with the opening, shouting out his Buffalo beach house (where? Lake Eerie?) and his multi-functional smart watch.

But the “Himbo Dome” is just so remarkable. It’s uttered with the tunnel vision of a man who has made mistakes, knows he’s wrong, but can’t bring himself to do that final favor of true introspection and accountability. The “Himbo Dome,” beyond being a hilarious take on Hippodrome, is a stand-in for this monolithic idea of possessions-as-armor, of ignorance fashioned as expertise. By the time he gets to the final reminder of his loneliness, Lenderman has managed to sketch a brief-but-poignant character study, all centered around the shiny, impenetrable technology we don on our wrists.

We’ll be spinning Manning Fireworks plenty more in the coming months, which means there are dozens more standout lyrics to chew over until the next one. And for that, Mr. Lenderman, we say thank you.

— Paolo Ragusa
Associate Editor

Staff Picks: Best Songs of the Week September 1st – September 6th

Jungle — Lets Go Back

One thing we can absolutely count on is Jungle to deliver an incredible music video. But even beyond the gift of another stunning visual anchored by dancer Will West, the new track from the British band is a fresh, irresistibly groovy offering. Jungle are gearing up for a US tour since experiencing a massive breakout from their 2023 single, “Back on 74,” and “Let’s Go Back” is a clear assurance that the act won’t be resting on their laurels any time soon. — M. Siroky

La Femme — Clover Paradise

French group La Femme are back with “Clover Paradise,” which serves as the second single off their upcoming album Rock Machine, and their first in English. They weren’t kidding earlier this year when they waved “Ciao Paris!,” because “Clover Paradise” is in its own universe entirely. With a throbbing synth line and an eerie sense of concern, the group conjure a pulsating spell. To make things even more stylized, the band’s guitarist rips through a hammy, glammy guitar solo. If this is what paradise looks like to La Femme, intriguing is an understatement. — P. Ragusa

Pharrell Williams — Piece by Piece

Pharrell Williams is back with his new song “Piece by Piece,” the title track for his upcoming Lego biopic (yes, you read that right). This upbeat and catchy tune reflects on the power of never giving up, full of the kind of inspirational, follow-your-dreams lyrics that Pharrell has now become known for. With an exciting electronic influence, powerful instrumentals, and an energizing beat, Williams is proving why he is a master of film soundtracks — especially when it’s for his own movie. — Rachel Rosenfield

TAVE — Difference Now

Producer and songwriter TAVE is stepping into center stage these days, and his new single, “Difference Now,” is a dreamy, hypnotic R&B offering. Known for an affinity for blending genres, TAVE welcomes singer Stacy Barthe and reggae artist Runkus to create something altogether expansive as a team. With flourishes of horns and a smooth undercurrent, “Difference Now” comes together into something quite sublime. – M. Siroky

Thus Love — On the Floor

Before their album All Pleasure comes out on November 1st, Thus Love are back with “On the Floor,” an exciting preview of what’s to come from the Vermon quartet. The band’s sound is rooted in the rock and post-punk bands from the ‘80s and ‘90s, with an energy and attitude that feels modern, resulting in a sound entirely of their own. The song’s thought-provoking lyrics center on societal oppression, and combined with its anthemic melody, “On the Floor” is a fantastic primer for what Thus Love do best. — R. Rosenfield

Video Age — Record Shop

Video Age already had quite the nostalgic sound, but now they’re dialing the time machine back even further to the late ’60s and early ’70s on “Record Shop.” Fittingly, the track is an ode to music — more specifically, it’s about someone who works at a record shop and simply loves their job. “I eat calypso and jazz for lunch,” sings vocalist Ross Farbe before boasting that if you name a record, he’ll tell you who plays keyboards on it. It’s a genuinely sweet dedication to the audiophiles who pour their heart and souls into their local record shop job, and Video Age would approve of throwing a big ‘thank you’ their way next time you pick up some vinyl. — P. Ragusa

Song of the Week Artwork:

Megan Thee Stallion's "Neva Play (ft. RM)" Single Artwork MJ Lenderman's Manning Fireworks Album Artwork Jungle's "Let's Go Back" Single Artwork La Femme's "Clover Paradise" Single Artwork Pharrell William's "Piece by Piece" Single Artwork Tave's "Difference Now" Single Artwork Thus Love All Pleasure Album Artwork sotw Video Age's "Record Shop" Single Artwork

Megan Thee Stallion and RM Bring the Heat, It’s MJ Lenderman Fall, and Other Songs of the Week
Consequence Staff