Originally written: June 2025
Hello Friends!
So I officially kicking off one of my first series for the Couch Potato entries! The entire premise of the series surrounds me Christopher Columbus-ing new (to me) music and sharing them with you on a semi-regular basis. If you are familiar with how President Barack Obama regularly shares his summer or yearly playlist of songs and books, think of this series of that but except being put together by a former world leader, it is put together by me, a 27-year old zillenial in her pjs, who is exisiting horizontally on her couch.
After scouring through my Spotify and YouTube music history over the last two and a hald months I have put together some of the songs that have caught my ear. Some of these are not new at all but have been found through me putting together playlists. Others popped up on my YouTube recommended videos and at least one of them I discovered via one of them instagram clip accounts.
Fair warning, I am really going to try to only include songs that are brand new to me but please understand my taste in music has no rhyme, reason or taste. My ears likey, I listen-ey, then I writey. That’s it. There is no particular order or
Lastly, I am going to need a proper name for the series so if you have any good suggestions let me know. Extra points if it is punny/witty and memorable.
Kevin Olusola Has Introdicinated Me Into Hip Hopera
- Hallelujah – Kevin Olusola
- Dark Winter – Kevin Olusola
I have been a general Pentatonics fan since 2017 so I am familar with Kevin Olusola talents, but I actually came across these songs entirely by accident. The first thing I asked when I came across these two songs was: “Oh, what brand of neuro-divergence is this?” Followed by “Can I get a smidgen of what he has?”
Please note that I have absolutely no proof to back it up that Kevin Olusola is anywhere close to neuro-digerent but just between you and me, there is something about this hip hopera fusion that is screaming…. SPECTRUM. Oh, if you have no idea of his work, let me introduce Kevin Olusola. A Nigierian-Grenadian-American, 1/5th of accapella group Pentatonix, a man that plays the cello, beat-boxes and sings. Oh and he speaks Chinese too. You see what I’m saying right? I dunno but he’s not beating my allegations.
Hallelujah and Dark Winter are earworms for me because as a girlie with too much internal rage to generally comprehend what to do with, I LOVE when an artist takes out their anger & hurt on the lyrics of their songs. I dunno who, but somebody hurt this man and ran him RAGGEDY. This feels like it is his well long over-due ‘fuck you’ to said person and wow, it is delicious. I actually had to look up if this man was going through a nasty divorce or something because who pissed him off? It takes someone who is highly atuned to the power of music to put together songs that feel both villianous and victorious, joyous and yet, so so bitter. MUAHAHA. I stan.
I know Kevin isn’t the first artist to mash up classical music and interlace it with trap/hip-hop beats but this is the first of it’s kind that has made it to my ear drums and onto my playlist. And you know what? I am sold. Didn’t even realize this is something that I would want more of but now that I have heard it, Imma need like 10 more of these hip hopera jawns in circulation.
Are The Girl Groups Are Making A Comeback?
Next for you, I have 3 very distinct girl groups who have made their way into my Spotify rotation. Let me introduce you to Katseye, The Boykinz and Say Now who are KILLING IT right now in their respective fields.
Gnarly by Katseye
I will have to thank the YouTube algorithm gods for heavily pushing Katseye heavily to my YouTube shorts feed. I Christopher Columbus-ed them right around when ‘Gnarly’ was release and I was intrigued cause those fan made cheoreo videos and edits got me. Upon further reserch (aka me spending hours down a rabbit hole) I caught up on the lore of how they were a multicultural K-Pop group formed through a TV show that had a very gruesome process for all the contesants involved. They all seem like really cool girls so far I am interested in following along with their journey because they are growing pretty quickly with each new song release.
So with the release of “Gnarly” apparently there was some controversy/backlash/hate when it was first released due to the…. questionable lyrics. I’ll be very honest upon first listen, I too was like “huh?” However, like the good brainwashed internet super-sser that I am, I soon put to rest my concerns of coherency behind me and soley focused on the asthetics of what I was seeing. The girls are giving brat, attitude, the repetition of the titular word “Gnarly” gets stuck in your head and the very fun cheorogrpahy almost made me want to attempt to learn the recreate the moves in my bedroom. Fortunately, I often lack mind-body coordination so those dreams were put to rest quickly.
Give it a listen and let me know what you think. I will say their other songs “Gabriella” and “Gameboy” are much better entry point into their catalouge. However, if you’re just looking for a fun chaotic song with a “Touch” (hehe) of nonsensical lyrics that rely heavily on your ability to suspend your comprehension of the English language and AAVE monetairly, then you will 1000% LOVE Gnarly as much as I do.
- The Boykinz – Fell in Love with a Cowboy
I only have to thank my IG algortihm to thank for this one.
I came across the performance of The BoykinZ on America’s Got Talent where Terry Crews literally came from behind the stage to push the Golden Buzzer for them. I was immediately stunned. First thing I said is “who are these women?”
Listen, in our post Lil-Nas X Old Town Road, Beyonce Cowboy Cartber and Shaboozey – A Bar Song (Tipsy) society, I am re-igniting or shall I say re-inspired to listen out for the next generation of Black country musicians.
I was never too deep into the country music scene but I’ve always had a slight affinity for music because of my older sister who loved her some Brad Pasley, Dolly Parton, Blake Shelton, John Mayer and maybe Chris Stapleton.
As far as Black artists in the space, well baby I knew of Darius Rucker (Wagon Wheel) and that very occasionally Nelly dipped his tow into the mix (Cruise, Lil Bit) and that was abut it. I didn’t know Black people have a whole history and culture that relates to folk and blue grass music and honestly, it makes sense.
So yeah, over the last few years my mind and ears have been open and I am so glad I found The BoykinZ. They’re young, talented, fine as f**k and their style is literally so cool. Also, they are literally coming up in an untapped market. A Black Country Girl Group? Don’t quote me but I don’t think I’ve seen this in my lifetime.
I’ll be honest, I haven’t follow thier AGT journey closely only because I do not watch TV all that often but from what I’ve read up on them, they are already been performing with the likes of Shania Twain. I’m going to keep a closer eye on them but I have no doubt that these girls are going places.
- Brick by Brick by Say Now
Again, the YT algo deties were working overtime when they kept pushing Say Now content onto my feed. And I mean they showed me the video for a week or two before I caved in and clicked.
I can’t lie that drawn to them because their thumbnail reminded of the British girl group, Flo, who came out in the last few years. I am still getting hip to them but so far, I am impressed. The ladies are goregeous and
The style and the choreography is much 90s inspired without feeling like it is a cheap imitation but rather a new take on an iconic era. Just like with Katseye, the obvious diversity is a huge selling point and these girls are hiting a the largely catered to demographics in music/entertainment. The group consisting of one Black girl, one white and a South Asian. Had there been a fourth member I would have very much related to them as the Bratz dolls I grew up playing with.
Also, the color trifecta (red, blue and green) are very much giving Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup so it seems that they are just taking inspiration from all types of girl groups, no? We love to see it.
Ed Sheeran Is Rated E for Everyone.
- Sapphire by Ed Sheeran
I want y’all to know that I have so a deep love and appreciation for Ed. I promise you will not be the first nor last time that you see him on my list especially because he is literally one of the most down-to-earth, versatile artists today. His music, his production and lyrics are simple yet powerful. Ed Sheeran is for the common man. I mean, who doesn’t this man have a collab with at this point? Pick a well established music genere and I tell me if this man doesn’t have a song or two in there. Exactly, you can’t tell me nothing when it comes to my Ginger DEI king.
With this new song, Sapphire, Ed which is simply just talking the time to appreciate the beauty of the object of his affection not unlike Tennerife Sea or Shape of You. It is a pop song heavily inspired by Indian sounds and culture with a feature small feature from Indian artist, Arijit Singh.
You can tell that this man is in his era of life whereby he’s just trying to make music that makes the makes people happy. I won’t lie, I caught myself thinking the other day “Wow, so we are never ever going to get another album like the + (plus) album from him ever again huh?” It’s a pretty selfish thought but let me tell you for 14 year old me who Christopher Columbus-ed Ed, + was one of those bodies of work that spoke to my soul and really still does take me back to the place where I was when I first heard him. It literally was the perfect “Mom, I’m depressed and perhaps very mentally ill” album of the 2010s. I certaintly did not have the vocabulary to say all that in an African household but he helped the journey.
I think I have always subconciously understood this man understands deep pain and I have always appreicated how he alchemized his pain. I mean, we listened to the likes of Small Bump, A-Team and Give Me Love, right? What he did with that + album was literally make such sweet grief and vodka spiked lemonade with the lemons life handed him.
But even as a long time fan, even I have to face reality that even though that is where I met him, that is not where that man is anymore. He’s put down the bottle, fought his demons, made his dreams come true, fell in love, got married and is a whole dad now. There will never be a reason to make an album that raw ever again.
So yeah, he’s come a long way and now he makes music rated E for everyone.
Are Y’all Even Checking For Our Girl Keke?
So, we all know and love our favorite booked and busy meme queen, actress, dancer, host, and muva, Keke Palmer.
We love it when she is on a screen giving us gags and entertainment, but do y’all actually check for Keke like that? Do people even know she makes music? I’m not talking about when she sings in a show or a movie, but do y’all actually know our girl has released ALBUMS?
I’m only questioning this because when it comes to her discography, it’s usually crickets when I speak to people about her music. Not that I, myself, am super well-versed in her catalogue, but I definitely know my girl has had bops (“Hands Free“, “Enemies“, “I Don’t Belong To You“). Part of me thinks on one hand it’s a lack of marketing and promo, since it does seem she’s released quite a bit of music independently (fact check me on this one y’all). On the other hand, acting is her main bread and butter, so I don’t think she actually takes the time to let her music simmer, especially in the hands of the public, before she’s off shooting the next project. And part of me things the the latter might be slightly intentional. More on this later.
But this is the wake-up call. Our girl, Keke Palmer, released a album this last summer called “Just Keke”. It definitely has some great songs and is certainly her most personal project yet. Is it my favorite project of hers? Not necessarily.
This project is personal in the sense that Keke Palmer’s image is and always has been of a very polished and put together young Black girl who found stardom at an early age but stayed level headed and grounded. She has always been unanimously describe as brand/advertiser safe celebrity because of her care and intentiality with her image which has been very well strategically grown and maitained over the years.
Unfortunately, in the last few years there have been “cracks” in the image of who we think Keke Palmer is. I think this is quite healthy and normal for anyone who has been been working as long as she has. I think what makes it sad is that it was because of woman’s greatest enemy, a man, aka her child’s father, Darius Jackson.
Objectively, I feel for her. The album touches themes of love, insecurity, abuse, infatuation, and sex. For anyone else this is already a lot to unpack. But to have to unpack the mess while you are literally one the most famous Black entertainers in the world, reaching new heights in your career, while the person you love is simulatenous trying to humiliate you is fucking wild.
She certainly gave us a glimpse into her life, I’m thankful for it because it is not really her brand to talk about things like this. She typically keeps things very light, funny and charasmatic despite the fact that you just KNOW this girl has probably seen some grimmy stuff. HOWEVER, going back to when I said that Keke doesn’t really let her music simmer I feel like she
Unfortunately this album is giving, “I am still intellectualizing my emotions rather than feeling them because I don’t want to so I keep myself booked and busy so I don’t have to examine the ideals and relationships that have shaped my life.”
I dunno y’all, somehow, everything still feels wrapped up in a pretty bow and packaged to us as vulnerability. And I dont expect anything less from our Virgo queen. Not saying she has to go deeper, but this is still telling us more than her helping us connect with her. Would love if she went deeper into topics like the anger she must have felt having to quiet about her abuse by her partner when she is literally one of the famous people on the planet. How she feels to have the world see you as just yet another ‘Baby Mama’ despite her best efforts to keep her personal life out the spotlight. How it feels to have to re-brand when your life is in the. Misundersood tries
I would love to see where she goes from here on her next album. I think she has a bit more to unpack in her music, and if she chooses to, she really could create a masterpiece because she has all the markings of a genius.
