Sparky Staff Picks is a series where our writing and editing team comes together to talk about what what’s been stuck in our heads and on repeat in our playlists. it doesn’t matter if it’s new or old, popular or underground, it just needs to have us in a chokehold. Follow Sparky on Twitter and Instagram @sparkywtf for more.

Trippie Redd, “Rich MF” (featuring Polo G & Lil Durk)

Trippie Redd’s most recent album, Trip at Knight, didn’t blow me out of the water upon its initial release. However, as the months have stretched on, I’ve found myself more and more enchanted by the record. “Rich MF” is a boisterous, trappy anthem where Polo G and Lil Durk flex their skills, reminding the listener that the two are some of the most exciting names in rap right now. On the chorus, Trippie declares, “I’m a rich motherfucker, tell that bitch I love her/I’m just tryna cut her, UberX and dub her,” rapping what can only be described as absolute bars. “Rich MF” is the perfect song for going at least 20 miles over the speed limit, or for a drink-in-the-shower kind of pregame. - Liz Foster

KALI- “Addicted”

Seventeen-year-old KALI is a bonafide stand out star among the sometimes-monotonous crowd of young indie-pop singers. Their latest release, “Addicted,” opens with shredding guitars before slipping back into the artist’s frequent electronica-tinged sound. With a delicious use of whammy bar and soft, cooing vocals, “Addicted” relays the all too familiar feeling of pining after a long-gone relationship. And yet, the song strays far from melancholic, opting for a light-hearted sound to counter the singer’s dejected feelings. Just like with 2019’s “I Just Wanna,” KALI has churned out a certified banger that’s sure to solidify itself in your rotation for years to come. Seriously, stop reading this, go listen to KALI. - Liz Foster

Resavoir, “Phantasy”

If you're reading this the day it comes out, April 22nd, 2022, then a very happy Earth Day to you! In the spirit of the holiday, my picks this week are both songs that pair beautifully with the majesty of the natural world. Up first, is a song from Chicago based trumpeter Will Milner and his group Resavoir. Will and his group formed after making beats for hip hop artists around the Chicago area and beyond, but with their own music, like the song Plantasy, they show a softer side. It features piano, strings, drums, flute, saxes, and trumpet that encapsulate the listener in a warm blanket of lush, layered sounds. The wide stereo effect of this song is breathtakingly beautiful, making it the perfect accompaniment to a summit on a hike or a sunset on the beach. - Jake Trujillo

Hiroshi Yoshimura, “Green”

Up next is a classic ambient piece from the Japanese electronic musician pioneer Hiroshi Yoshimura. His track Green, from the album of the same name, is a gentle, contemplative piece of music. Unlike the last track's maximal approach to layering, this song is much more sparse, with electronic keys drenched in reverb, and a few subtle percussive elements making up the bulk of the song. It has lots of moments of brief silence, where the tail of the reverb is the only sound present. At these times you can really hear whatever environment happens to be around you, outside of the song. I want to end my staff picks by saying, if you do choose to sit in a garden or meditate listening to Green, or go on a hike with earbuds listening to Plantasy, don't forget to take a few moments to listen to the soundtrack of the natural world as well! Music can be a great accompaniment to the outdoors, but the sounds of our world should be observed, appreciated, and preserved as well. - Jake Trujillo

MyFriendNate, “Do What I Can” (featuring Hatesonny, Femdot, & TheMIND)

MyFriendNate brought together 3 of my favorite artists currently for an inspiring track in which Femdot & Hatesonny trade top tier verses; Hatesonny's verse is gritty and touches on his hunger and what he's endured to pursue his path. Femdot's verse switches things up with an ever shifting flow that keeps upping the energy that emanates from the track, anchored by theMIND's trademark buttery smooth delivery 'Do What I Can' provides constant nuggets for the listener upon repeating the song that makes it perfect to throw in your Hip-Hop playlists. - Alexy Erouart

Blvck Svm & Sebastian Kamae, “chimichurri”

Blvck Svm is simply one of the best lyricists in the game, there are very few people that can match his level of precision with internal rhyme schemes that are both vivid and make you feel like you're watching a movie in your mind. Flexing his lyrical muscle over one of the funkiest, nastiest grooves you'll hear all year, 'chimichurii' is the perfect first course before you dive into the rest of his new EP 'fiftypercentgratuity' which is entirely produced by Sebastian Kamae. The Dutch producer and Chicago based MC have an undeniable chemistry throughout and I highly advise rap fans to check it out. - Alexy Erouart

L'Impératrice, “Puer des filles”

Coming out of Paris, France, L'Impératrice is a 6-person band offering a refreshing sound that is not common in the United States. L'Impératrice strikes the perfect balance between disco and pop, and their production is reminiscent of 70’s cocaine music. Their lead singer, Flore Benguigui, delivers a transcendent vocal performance in “Puer de filles”. - Jacob Gordon

BluePesos & Duffy, “Touchable Freestyle”

Everyone loves a good diss song in rap music. BluePesos and Duffy are the newest members of the late Drakeo the Ruler’s rap group, Stinc Team; and they are taking issue towards former Stinc Team member, Remble. Rapping over the beat to Remble’s song, ‘Touchable’, OTM unloads 3 minutes of disrespect with their effortless delivery and relaxed vocal cadence. - Jacob Gordon

Opium Jai, “HARDY BOYS” (featuring Playboi Carti, Ken Carson, & Destroy Lonely)

There isn’t a more creative, harder working fanbase than Playboi Carti’s. Whether unearthing leaks, making custom album art, or digging for even the smallest details about the Atlanta cult star’s next records, Carti’s fanbase is what happens when you take all the time other stan-bases spend doxxing people who give their fave bad reviews and put it into creative ventures. Opium Jai has found his niche within Carti fandom through combining old Carti verses with his own beats to create entirely new songs, and he even released a full album, CULT, of his own Carti mashups. “HARDY BOYS” takes Carti’s verse from Gunna’s “Same Yung N****” and uses it as a hook to bookend Destroy Lonely and Ken Carson’s “Murder Muzik” verses on a maximalist rage beat, and it’s had me coming back to YouTube time and time again to listen in. Carson and Lonely’s verses actually sound more at home on the mashup than the song they were originally recorded on, and Carti’s verse works better as a hook than the guest appearance it was pulled from. A glorious example of one of music’s most interesting, talented followings. - Michael Di Gennaro

Noizu, “Summer ‘91 (Looking Back)”

It’s almost May, which means the dregs of winter should be replaced by the long, hot days of summer. Unfortunately, that has not been the case. It snowed in Toronto a few days ago, and has stayed around the same crummy British weather that is usually reserved for autumn in subsequent days. In order to avoid thinking about the despair that is a short summer, I’ve been playing “Summer ‘91”, a gorgeous piece of reverbed-piano house that brings feelings of wandering festival grounds in ninety-degree weather, drenched in molly sweat. “Summer 91” practically emits rays of sunshine through the speakers it's played in, and is exactly what you may need to keep morale high as we wait for the warmest season. - Michael Di Gennaro

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