🐦✈️ The Next Wave

Your weekly dose of music discovery has landed [Pigeons Planes ](#) When we look back at 2020, we’ll remember it as a year of reckoning for the music industry. In the midst of a pandemic, social unrest, digital revolutions, governors suing mayors, and watching pro athletes making millions inside of ‘bubbles,' the music world is dealing with its own issues. One of the obvious and most glaring is the lack of Black representation in executive and leadership positions. It’s not a secret that in an industry where people of color create the content they’re also being left out of the major decisions that directly affect their careers and livelihood. Between Black leaders calling for Black Out Tuesday, Ray Daniels’ impassioned essay, “[Dear White Music Executives](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRhHSGgP0UBMYQpAWh0dHBzOi8vYXBwLmhpdmUuY28vZW1haWwvZWx0Lz9oX3NpZD1hZmJkOGYxZjBiLTVhOGY4NGZkZmJkOTliNzA2NDlkMDExNyZoYXNoPTI2NzZmMDI4YTBkNTFkZCZuZXh0PWh0dHBzJTNBLy93d3cuYmlsbGJvYXJkLmNvbS9hcnRpY2xlcy9idXNpbmVzcy85NDAwNDY4L2RlYXItd2hpdGUtbXVzaWMtbGFiZWwtZXhlY3V0aXZlcy1hbm9ueW1vdXMtbGV0dGVyLXJhY2lzbS1pbmR1c3RyeSUzRnV0bV9zb3VyY2UlM0RoaXZlJTI2dXRtX21lZGl1bSUzRGVtYWlsJTI2dXRtX2NhbXBhaWduJTNEaGl2ZV9lbWFpbF9pZF81NDgwMVcDc3BjQgoAHaCcOl9BIFEyUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MkBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~),” and the formation of the Black Music Action Coalition, there have been a lot of tough talks about breaking the racist systems that have been in place for decades. Even with those challenges, there are success stories. There are leaders—execs, managers, artists, attorneys—who are trying to push the industry forward. Change for the future means acknowledging the past, the present situation, and what needs to be done for the generations to come. This week on Pigeons & Planes, [Gavin Godfrey](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRhHSGgP0UBMkTfaHR0cHM6Ly9hcHAuaGl2ZS5jby9lbWFpbC9lbHQvP2hfc2lkPWFmYmQ4ZjFmMGItNWE4Zjg0ZmRmYmQ5OWI3MDY0OWQwMTE3Jmhhc2g9MjY3NmYwMjhhMGQ1MWRkJm5leHQ9aHR0cHMlM0EvL3R3aXR0ZXIuY29tL1dyaXRlR2F2aW5Xcml0ZSUzRnMlM0QyMCUyNnV0bV9zb3VyY2UlM0RoaXZlJTI2dXRtX21lZGl1bSUzRGVtYWlsJTI2dXRtX2NhbXBhaWduJTNEaGl2ZV9lbWFpbF9pZF81NDgwMVcDc3BjQgoAHaCcOl9BIFEyUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MkBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) spoke with Black leaders in the industry about what they’ve learned, how they see the landscape, and advice for other professionals looking to find their place in the business. Read the full feature [here](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRhHSGgP0UBM4QCAWh0dHBzOi8vYXBwLmhpdmUuY28vZW1haWwvZWx0Lz9oX3NpZD1hZmJkOGYxZjBiLTVhOGY4NGZkZmJkOTliNzA2NDlkMDExNyZoYXNoPTI2NzZmMDI4YTBkNTFkZCZuZXh0PWh0dHBzJTNBLy93d3cuY29tcGxleC5jb20vcGlnZW9ucy1hbmQtcGxhbmVzLzIwMjAvMDgvYmxhY2stbXVzaWMtaW5kdXN0cnktbGVhZGVycyUzRnV0bV9zb3VyY2UlM0RoaXZlJTI2dXRtX21lZGl1bSUzRGVtYWlsJTI2dXRtX2NhbXBhaWduJTNEaGl2ZV9lbWFpbF9pZF81NDgwMVcDc3BjQgoAHaCcOl9BIFEyUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MkBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). [Image](#) [Image](#) Smino ft. Monte Booker & The Drums - “Backstage Pass” File this under good shit we didn’t ever expect to happen. For the new Madden game soundtrack, Smino and Monte Booker teamed up with The Drums for “Backstage Pass,” a reimagined version of The Drums’ 2011 hit “Money.” This is the song every 2000s mash-up wished it could be. [LISTEN NOW](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRhHSGgP0UBNkTPaHR0cHM6Ly9hcHAuaGl2ZS5jby9lbWFpbC9lbHQvP2hfc2lkPWFmYmQ4ZjFmMGItNWE4Zjg0ZmRmYmQ5OWI3MDY0OWQwMTE3Jmhhc2g9MjY3NmYwMjhhMGQ1MWRkJm5leHQ9aHR0cHMlM0EvL3lvdXR1LmJlLzVWLUt1SGtrMTNZJTNGdXRtX3NvdXJjZSUzRGhpdmUlMjZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtJTNEZW1haWwlMjZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ24lM0RoaXZlX2VtYWlsX2lkXzU0ODAxVwNzcGNCCgAdoJw6X0EgUTJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkyQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Image](#) [Image](#) Photo by Jadzia Brown Tahj Keeton Recommended If You Like: Denzel Curry, JPEGMAFIA, Slowthai "SARF," the title track from 20-year-old Atlanta artist Tahj Keeton's album of the same name, feels like three tracks in one, veering between in-your-face punk rap, precise but understated rapping, and speaker rattling electronic production. It's a fair representation of the project as a whole—impressively versatile but with a clear vision that ties the 12 songs together. "SARF [South Atlanta Rage Fest] is an album that’s about me coming to terms with all the chaos that I grew up with and me understanding what those experiences made me as a man," Tahj tells us. "Every song on this album is a direct reflection of certain emotions that I’ve felt and I made sure that they reflected in every detail in what I’m saying along with the beats. I’m not in this to just rap senselessness to people, I want people to be able to relate to my experiences and help them with their own struggles while listening." [LISTEN TO: “SARF"](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRhHSGgP0UBOUTPaHR0cHM6Ly9hcHAuaGl2ZS5jby9lbWFpbC9lbHQvP2hfc2lkPWFmYmQ4ZjFmMGItNWE4Zjg0ZmRmYmQ5OWI3MDY0OWQwMTE3Jmhhc2g9MjY3NmYwMjhhMGQ1MWRkJm5leHQ9aHR0cHMlM0EvL3lvdXR1LmJlL1dkcXZ3dl9HSnVrJTNGdXRtX3NvdXJjZSUzRGhpdmUlMjZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtJTNEZW1haWwlMjZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ24lM0RoaXZlX2VtYWlsX2lkXzU0ODAxVwNzcGNCCgAdoJw6X0EgUTJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkyQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Image](#) Photo by Justice Baiden Alycia Bella Recommended If You Like: Jhené Aiko, SZA, H.E.R. "My album is a dreamy collection of memories, reoccurring themes and patterns about my super sad love life. Although it’s about dark times, the frequency of the music is cathartic," Alycia Bella tells us of her forthcoming debut album, expected this year. Alycia Bella has already lived multiple lives, appearing on TV, in movies, and music videos, and working as a singer and songwriter with heavy hitters like Justin Timberlake and Frank Ocean. "What I learned through working with those artists is to honor your true feelings no matter who you might offend and to trust your process all the way through," Alycia says. “Use your intuition as your GPS. Allow yourself to suck sometimes because if you’re scared to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original.” This year, she's (re)introducing herself through her solo music, starting with the softly spoken R&B of "Bloom" and the woozy, dreamy "Seasons." Next up, the self-described “millennial soul” singer will set her sights on her debut project. [LISTEN TO: "Seasons"](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRhHSGgP0UCMTFE92h0dHBzOi8vYXBwLmhpdmUuY28vZW1haWwvZWx0Lz9oX3NpZD1hZmJkOGYxZjBiLTVhOGY4NGZkZmJkOTliNzA2NDlkMDExNyZoYXNoPTI2NzZmMDI4YTBkNTFkZCZuZXh0PWh0dHBzJTNBLy93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2glM0Z2JTNEcXZaNV9jWVVvR2clMjZmZWF0dXJlJTNEeW91dHUuYmUlMjZ1dG1fc291cmNlJTNEaGl2ZSUyNnV0bV9tZWRpdW0lM0RlbWFpbCUyNnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbiUzRGhpdmVfZW1haWxfaWRfNTQ4MDFXA3NwY0IKAB2gnDpfQSBRMlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTJAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Image](#) [Image](#) Photo by Hayden Sahil IDK If you aren’t up on IDK yet, here are three songs to get you started. The Maryland-raised, LA-based rapper has been steadily evolving for years, but he’s been on a hot streak since 2019. One thing we’ve learned about IDK is that he’s the type of artist who always outdoes himself—if you’re not already a fan, now’s a great time to become one. ["Lilly"](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRhHSGgP0UCMTREz2h0dHBzOi8vYXBwLmhpdmUuY28vZW1haWwvZWx0Lz9oX3NpZD1hZmJkOGYxZjBiLTVhOGY4NGZkZmJkOTliNzA2NDlkMDExNyZoYXNoPTI2NzZmMDI4YTBkNTFkZCZuZXh0PWh0dHBzJTNBLy95b3V0dS5iZS9PUVlpSDlmWFNvZyUzRnV0bV9zb3VyY2UlM0RoaXZlJTI2dXRtX21lZGl1bSUzRGVtYWlsJTI2dXRtX2NhbXBhaWduJTNEaGl2ZV9lbWFpbF9pZF81NDgwMVcDc3BjQgoAHaCcOl9BIFEyUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MkBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) ["Mazel Tov"](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRhHSGgP0UCMTVEz2h0dHBzOi8vYXBwLmhpdmUuY28vZW1haWwvZWx0Lz9oX3NpZD1hZmJkOGYxZjBiLTVhOGY4NGZkZmJkOTliNzA2NDlkMDExNyZoYXNoPTI2NzZmMDI4YTBkNTFkZCZuZXh0PWh0dHBzJTNBLy95b3V0dS5iZS9VRnBYQUltVXFrWSUzRnV0bV9zb3VyY2UlM0RoaXZlJTI2dXRtX21lZGl1bSUzRGVtYWlsJTI2dXRtX2NhbXBhaWduJTNEaGl2ZV9lbWFpbF9pZF81NDgwMVcDc3BjQgoAHaCcOl9BIFEyUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MkBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) ["24"](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRhHSGgP0UCMTZEz2h0dHBzOi8vYXBwLmhpdmUuY28vZW1haWwvZWx0Lz9oX3NpZD1hZmJkOGYxZjBiLTVhOGY4NGZkZmJkOTliNzA2NDlkMDExNyZoYXNoPTI2NzZmMDI4YTBkNTFkZCZuZXh0PWh0dHBzJTNBLy95b3V0dS5iZS9QdzkwT3JlSGItOCUzRnV0bV9zb3VyY2UlM0RoaXZlJTI2dXRtX21lZGl1bSUzRGVtYWlsJTI2dXRtX2NhbXBhaWduJTNEaGl2ZV9lbWFpbF9pZF81NDgwMVcDc3BjQgoAHaCcOl9BIFEyUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MkBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Image](#) [Image](#) The P&P playlist is updated with songs from Rico Nasty, Aminé, Charlotte Day Wilson, and Burna Boy alongside some of our favorite rising artists across all genres. The Pigeons & Planes playlist is updated constantly, with an emphasis on music discovery and human curation, not algorithms. 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