Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to New Music Friday’s most essential releases each week — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond.
Last week, we Beyoncé, Suki Waterhouse, Teddy Swims, Feid and more.
This week: Gracie Abrams shares her anticipated third album, Daughter From Hell (read Billboard‘s tracks ranked here); Steve Lacy is back with his self-produced third album, Oh yeah?; and Carly Rae Jepsen continues her Day and Night rollout with the release of the upcoming double album’s second single… plus much more. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Gracie Abrams, Daughter From Hell
Gracie Abrams’ third album is finally here, just two years after The Secret of Us helped the pop singer emerge as a fast-rising star as the project debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, bolstered by hit single “That’s So True.” This time, Abrams returned to producer Aaron Dessner’s Long Pond studio to craft the sonically intimate and lyrically expansive Daughter From Hell, led by surging singles “Hit the Wall” and “Look at My Life.” Release day focus track “Good Reason” is softer in its contemplation, as Abrams sings of putting herself first. “If only I chose you and not me/ If only I had a good reason,” she sings, with the quiet confidence of knowing she never needed one at all.
Steve Lacy, Oh yeah?
It’s been almost four years since Steve Lacy dropped his Grammy-winning Gemini Rights sophomore album and ascended to Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper status with “Bad Habit.” Now, the Internet alum has unveiled his third studio album, Oh Yeah?, which finds him sharing some of his most personal lyrics to date over whimsical fusions of synths and guitars. Featuring appearances by SZA, Erykah Badu and Cecile Believe, Oh Yeah? remains committed to The Funk™ — even in its most somber and self-effacing moments. — KYLE DENIS
Carly Rae Jepsen, “After All”
In late June, Carly Rae Jepsen announced a mega 24-track double album coming this September. Titled Day and Night, the album is fittingly divided into two sonic halves: a psychedelic pop side (Day) and a dance-pop side (Night). While lead single “On Wires,” which arrived with the album, feels distinctly day for its rock riffs and alternative feel, “After All” sounds more akin to nighttime. Boasting sleeker, tighter production, Jepsen dips into her falsetto on the song’s chorus accompanied by subtle hand claps that lead right into a groovy instrumental break — perfect for hitting the dancefloor. — L.H.
Bella Kay, “i deserve better”
Bella Kay opted out of a standard Friday release for her debut album, My Reckless Abandon, which she dropped over the weekend on July 12. Featuring her breakout hit “iloveitiloveitiloveit,” the album’s 13 tracks showcase the promising singer-songwriter’s range, which snaps into focus on closing song “i deserve better,” which staunchly contrasts the chaos-loving nature of a song like “iloveit.” Instead, Kay admits that “I love to blame myself/ It’s all on me when it goes to hell/ But this time, I don’t think that’s true…I’m not perfect, not ever/ But I still deserve better.” — L.H.
Dexter and The Moonrocks, “If You Could Talk”
Emerging Texas rockers Dexter and The Moonrocks broke out this March with “Freakin’ Out,” which earned the band its first Hot 100 entry. Now, the self-defined “Western space grunge” act is back with follow-up single “If You Could Talk,” a punchy track that plays with shifting tempo, building slowly into a proper rock song before winding back down — as if peeling back layers of a band as it continues to reveal itself in real time, and in front of a fast-growing fanbase. — L.H.
Rick Ross, Set in Stone
Ricky Rozay is back with Set in Stone, his first solo studio album in five years. Though he’s spent most of 2026 celebrating the 20th anniversary of his beloved debut album, Port of Miami, the new 19-track set finds Ross living in the present. Assisted by a mind-boggling amalgamation of collaborators — including Leon Thomas, Don Toliver, Yung Miami, Max B, Jeezy and BigXthaPlug — Set in Stone delivers more of Ross’ signature luxury rap, this time from the perspective of an MC with two decades in the game. — K.D.
Buju Banton, Too Too Bad
Serving as a pseudo-sequel to 2006’s Too Bad, Buju Banton’s highly anticipated Too Too Bad has officially landed, complete with 13 rollicking reggae and dancehall tracks. In addition to his viral take on DJ MAC & CrashDummy’s “WYFL” riddim (“X Rated”), Too Too Bad also boasts collaborations with Gramps Morgan, Ari Lennox and DJ Khaled. Notably, Too Too Bad also marks the Grammy winner’s sixth release under VP Records, the label to which he recently returned after 23 years thanks to a newly minted deal. — K.D.
Oscar Maydon, Música en mi Jetski
Oscar Maydon releasing a reggaetón album was not on our bingo card, but now it’s here to soundtrack your summer days. Música en mi Jetski — which is clearly the type of music he jams to at the beach — embraces 21 tracks powered by urban, tropical, afrobeats and electronic rhythms, a complete contrast from the música Mexicana sound that made him a household name. On some songs, such as “¿Será el Alcohol?,” the former Billboard Latin Artist on the Rise singer incorporates Mexican music instrumentation such as the requinto guitar, and he keeps true to his Mexicali identity in the lyrics, such as on “La Cachorra,” “Mezacalita,” and “Culiacán.” Inspired by the summer days and nightlife in Miami, Música en mi Jetski includes collaborations with J Balvin, Jere Klein, Victor Mendivil and El Bogueto. — JESSICA ROIZ
Helado Negro & Reyna Tropical, Helado Tropical
After meeting in summer 2024, Roberto Carlos Lange and Fabi Reyna, artistically known as Helado Negro and Reyna Tropical, respectively, combine forces on Helado Tropical. The nine-track project is powered by dream pop guitars, drum machines, synthesizers and the mesmerizing harmonies of both artists. Pleasing to the ear and easy to dissect, this 26-minute set — that’s overall an atmospheric and ethereal soundscape — was created across North Carolina, Portland and the midwest, further encapsulating its concept. “This particular album really was able to ground me in what movement means to me and different characters that the range of movement — travel, environment, sun, wind and water — has the potential to bring out,” Fabi says in a statement. Roberto adds: “It’s not about us speaking to each other. It’s about us existing in the same feeling.” — J.R.
Francis Mercier, Lakay (Home)
Lakay (Home), the debut album from Francis Mercier, is named after the Haitian Creole word for “home,” a nod to Mercier’s Haitian upbringing, and also to all the places that have welcomed him as he’s travelled the world playing music. The expansive 20 song project spans Mercier’s signature Afro-house and tech house and includes collaborators like Robin S, Mahmut Orhan, Kah-Lo and Wyclef Jean, the latter two of whom appear on “Take Me Home,” an urgent, emotive anthem that sums up the ineffable feeling of real belonging.
Lakay (Home) is out on Mercier’s own label Solèy, which is itself named after the Haitian Creole word for “sun” and is an outlet for productions that encapsulate the same feeling of warmth that radiates from the album. “From Haiti to the world, my debut album Lakay is finally yours!” Mercier wrote of the album’s release. “Thank you for helping me find home in so many corners of the world over the years. I hope these songs find a home with you too.” Mercier celebrates the release with a July 18 set at New York’s Marquee Skydeck, before he jets across the ocean for a July 20 set at Hï Ibiza as part of his ongoing residency at the club. — KATIE BAIN
Marlon Hoffstadt, “Get Buck”
Berlin’s Marlon Hoffstadt lands another supremely hyped track ahead of his mainstage set at Tomorrowland this weekend. “Get Buck” contains the producer’s usual heavy kickdrum, but this one gets extra flair with a brass section, which adds flash, bounce and Latin flavor to a song that’s simply maximum fun. “Get Buck” comes from the producer’s debut album Das Ist Daddy, coming August 7 on Capitol Records. Meanwhile, Hoffstadt’s upcoming U.S. dates include CRSSD and Portola in September and EDC Orlando in November. — K.B.
Carly Pearce with Molly Tuttle and Dan Tyminski, “What If You Loved Me”
Kentucky native Pearce revisits her bluegrass roots on this collaboration with bluegrass luminaries Molly Tuttle and Dan Tyminski. Over washes of acoustic guitar, banjo and mandolin, these three distinct vocalists trade harmonies and verses, singing about someone pining over an unrequited love and imaging what it would be like if the roles were reversed. “What if it was you up at 2, wondering who I’m kissing?” Pearce sings, as the song’s lush instrumentations and soothing harmonies give such lyrics even more of an emotional gut punch. — Jessica Nicholson
Wyatt McCubbin, “Andy Griffith”
McCubbin is known for his work as a songwriter on hits such as Zach Top’s “Sounds Like The Radio,” but he ever more fully into his own on his latest release as an artist. This harmonica-laced track blends the crackling warmth of McCubbin’s gruff lead vocal with a laid-back delivery and vivid imagery, filling the song with hallmarks of slow-paced rural summers such as sweet iced tea, peach ice cream, dusty front porches and time spent at a local fishing hole. When so many artists focus on uptempo tracks during the summer months, this relaxed song feels like a worthy addition to summertime soundtracks. — J.N.
