Summertime is officially here, which means the sweet riddims of dancehall are at the peak of their powers.

On Friday (July 3), Billboard can exclusively reveal that Nigerian banku pioneer Mr Eazi tapped dancehall superproducer Dre Skull to harness that energy for a new dancehall-inspired mixtape titled Yard & Yanga. Oh, and they’re bringing King of Dancehall Vybz Kartel along for the ride. The King of Dancehall appears on “Lambo,” the project’s lead single — also out today — which finds the pair reuniting after 2021’s “Sekkle and Bop” and 2025’s “Dance Pon Me.”

“Eazi and I have been working on music together for years and, along the way, we became good friends,” Dre Skull tells Billboard. “When we go to the studio, we inevitably end up making music that weaves together elements of Dancehall and Afrobeats, and those sessions became the starting point for this project. At a certain point, we just realized we were building a larger project, and we leaned into shaping it.”

Eazi credits Nigeria’s dancehall-inspired konto artists like Baba Fryo, Kimi Ranky and Marvellous Benji as his gateway into the Jamaican-born genre, and his appreciation for the style has grown into his own “Zaggadat” catchphrase, an homage to Beenie Man. “I love the raw energy that comes with the sound. It’s one of the most genuine expressions of music,” he says. “I think it captures my other side.”

Vybz Kartel, who’s coming off last month’s God & Time album (June 5), made for a natural collaborator on “Lambo.” The summer-ready bashment banger finds Eazi using his signature, slick wordplay to deliver an earworm hook that calls on both Jamaican patois colloquialisms and Nigerian pidgin. “Dre Skull: “‘Lambo’ has a hypnotic quality built on a heavy low end that taps into the raw energy of street dances,” says Dre Skull. “I knew Kartel would know exactly what to do, and he is the perfect counterbalance to Eazi here.”

Yard & Yanga marks the natural evolution of his years-long friendship with Skull, who helped define the sound of 2010s dancehall with his work on Kartel’s Kingston Story (2011), Popcaan’s Where We Come From (2014) and Forever (2018). Notably, U.K.-based illustrator Kione Grandison hand-drew the single’s cover art, taking inspiration from West African and Caribbean folk and street art.

The mixtape, which has been years in the making, is also the latest addition to Eazi’s mixtape catalog, joining About to Blow (2013), Life Is Eazi, Vol. 1 — Accra to Lagos (2017) and Life Is Eazi, Vol. 2 — Lagos to London (2018). “With this project, I had a very clear concept of what I wanted to explore, and we intentionally kept it creatively fun during the process,” notes Eazi. “It felt naturally related to the other mixtapes I’ve done.” Yard & Yang arrives later this year via Dre Skull’s Mixpak Records and Eazi’s emPawa Africa.

Listen to “Lambo” below.

Olivia Rodrigo is still the queen of Australia’s albums chart as You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love enters a third week at No. 1, while Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” nabs a fourth non-consecutive week atop the national singles tally.

With her latest title, Langley continues the dominant run by female artists on the ARIA Singles Chart, a takeover that is coming up to a full year.

According to ARIA, female artists have held the No. 1 spot every week this year, including Olivia Dean’s collaboration with Sam Fender, “Rein Me In.” The last time a solo male artist climbed the singles chart summit was in late July last year, when Justin Bieber’s “Daisies” collected one week at No. 1.

With Rodrigo maintaining her fast pace on the ARIA Albums Chart this week, published Friday, July 3, the top debut belongs to Muse with The Wow! Signal, the British alternative rock trio’s 10th studio album. It’s new at No. 2. Matt Bellamy and Co. have reached the top 10 with seven albums, including four No. 1s: Black Holes and Revelations (2006), The Resistance (2009), Drones (2015), and Will Of The People (2022).

Also new to the albums tally is The Pretty Reckless with Dear God. It’s new at No. 7, for the U.S. rock act’s fourth top 40 appearance following Going To Hell (No. 20 in 2014), Who You Selling For (No. 33 in 2016) and Death By Rock And Roll (No. 15 in 2021).

Homegrown singer and songwriter Kita Alexander bags a career high with her sophomore album Rage, debuting at No. 11. That easily beats the No. 61 peak of her debut Young In Love, from 2024.

Another Brisbane artist, powerhouse vocalist Katie Noonan, the four-time ARIA Award winner, starts at No. 20 on the ARIA Albums Chart with Alone But All One, her 30th studio album. As member of George, Noonan bagged a No. 1 in 2002 with Polyserena.

Further down the frame, a slew of new arrivals from Toby Fox (Deltarune Chapter 5 — Original Game Soundtrack at No. 41), Justin Bieber (SWAG Live From Coachella — Weekend I at No. 46) and Australia’s 2025 Eurovision Song Contest rep Go-Jo (The Go-Jo Variety Show at No. 48).

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 featured sombr, Phoebe Bridgers, Steve Lacy with SZA and more.

This week: Madonna drops her anticipated Confessions II; rising star Sienna Spiro releases her anticipated debut album, Visitor; and Riley Green shares his latest collaboration… plus much more. Check out all of this week’s picks below:

Madonna, Confessions II

After months of hype and world building, Madonna’s Confessions II finally pulls up to the club this Friday. The icon’s 15th studio album since 1983 and her first since 2019’s Madame X, Confessions II returns her to the throbbing beats and writhing rooms of 2005’s Confessions on a Dancefloor. While that album leaned hard into disco via classics like “Hung Up” and “Sorry,” Confessions II is more upscale dance-pop and lush electronica, with songs like “Good for the Soul” and “One Step Away” pairing layered, cerebral productions by Stuart Price (who also produced the original album) with Madonna’s philosophical musings about how “the dancefloor is not just a place, it’s a threshold, a ritualistic space where movement replaces language.” 

But despite its heady tendencies, the album certainly possesses the dance world’s spirit of playfulness and fun, with “School” functioning as a slinky little ass-shaker and “Danceteria” running down a typical night at the song’s namesake club in New York City, where Madonna did her first performance in 1982. And as the original Confessions contained as much emotional nuance as it did kickdrum, so too does this new one live up to its title, via deeply personal songs about motherhood (via a collaboration with Lola Leon, Madonna’s daughter), the sting of betrayal and all flavors of romance. We’ll confess, we love it. — KATIE BAIN 

Sienna Spiro, Visitor

After breaking big on and off the charts with the emotive “Die on This Hill,” fast-rising soulful pop artist Sienna Spiro releases her debut album this Friday (July 3). Titled Visitor, the project includes that smash hit as well as previously-released singles “You Stole the Show” and the quasi-title track “The Visitor.” Spiro co-wrote the album alongside collaborators including Omer Fedi and Michael Pollack (both of whom also co-produced several tracks) among others. — LYNDSEY HAVENS

GAYLE, “junebug!”

Three years ago now, in 2023, pop singer GAYLE scored a Grammy nomination for song of the year with breakout single “abcdefu.” She went on to release two EPs and contribute a track to the Barbie soundtrack, in addition to opening on tours for Taylor Swift and Tate McRae. Now, after some time away, the rising artist is back with new music — and a big announcement. Her debut album Observing Choas, will arrive later this year; until then, lead single “junebug!” hints at the direction she’s heading in, complete with an uptempo rock-pop riff that perfectly captures the carefree chaos that kicks off summer. — L.H.

Billy Strings, “Burn the Other End”

While he’s earned a reputation for his lengthy, improv-heavy concerts, the Michigan bluegrass artist has also quietly become one of today’s sharpest recording artists, racking up three Grammy wins for best bluegrass album since 2021. Like Strings’ best studio work, “Burn the Other End” manages to condense the spooky, psychedelic bluegrass of his sprawling live sets into a more traditional song structure. But the single is also darker in spirit and style than much of Strings’ work; in announcing the forthcoming T-Bone Burnett-album it appears on, So Much For Goodbyes, Strings said he made the record to honor his mother, who died of a drug overdose last year. (Eagle-eyed observers will see another legendary Wolverine State guitar virtuoso in the credits: Jack White, who along with Burnett provides “gang vocals.”) — ERIC RENNER-BROWN

Riley Green feat. Hannah McFarland, “Go Again” 

Is there any male country artist who has cornered the co-ed duet market in recent years like Green between the two collabs with Ella Langley and his current tune with Carly Pearce?  Here, he and tourmate/fellow Alabama native McFarland attempt to keep the streak going with “Go Again” from his forthcoming album That’s Just Me. (They also duetted on the deluxe version of “Don’t Mind If I Do”). In the low-key, genial acoustic track solely written by Green, after a one-night stand the two lovers contemplate parting ways as planned or wonder if they should “go again,” both in and out of bed. More sweetly sexy than the full-on blow torch of Green’s “Worst Way,” but still steamy. — MELINDA NEWMAN

Stella Lefty, “Good at Leaving”

Lefty continues leaning into country music with this chugging track about her ability to “get gone without a warning,” because she’s far better at goodbyes than hellos. The “Boston” singer surrounds her lilting vocals with subtle pedal steel, mandolin and mainly acoustic guitar in the infectious tune that is going to stay in your brain much longer than she’s going to stick around. The official release comes after Lefty has been performing the song in concert and it has become a fan favorite. — M.N.

Rubén Blades, SUPERMAMBO

For his new album, Rubén Blades — Billboard’s 2026 Indie Icon — blends the magical worlds of music and comics. Across a mix of 17 tracks and interludes, SUPERMAMBO narrates the story of an afrolatino superhero from The Bronx, who’s elegant and knowledgeable, and whose superpower is to make people dance. Narrated by the Panamanian star, the set perfectly weaves storytelling and tropical rhythms with the intention of demonstrating the super powers of Latin culture. SUPERMAMBO — produced by Felipe Fournier and Jeremy Bosch — includes collabs with Oscar Hernández, Shae Fiol and Mariachi Flor de Toloache. — JESSICA ROIZ

Judeline, “Besito”

Judeline’s “Besito” — produced by Lil Chick, Sacha Rudy, Phil, Tuiste, and Gede da O — starts off with crashing ocean waves before transitioning into a futuristic pop song powered by experimental synths and ethereal vocal harmonies. Dubbing it as her official summer tune, the Spanish artist seductively sings about lust and desire: “I’m still thinking about yesterday’s kiss […] I want to kiss you again,” she chants. In the lyrics, she also encourages her crush to enjoy her while she’s in her 20s and living life intensely. A conceptual music video filmed by Lilian Hardouineau in France, demonstrates Judeline doing a dreamy-yet-sultry performance on the beach at night. — J.R.

Zeds Dead, “Return to the Return (of the Spectrum of Intergalactic Happiness)”

Zeds Dead’s Return to the Spectrum of Intergalactic Happiness was one of our favorite albums of 2025, and now the pair go back indeed via their new Return to the Return (of the Spectrum of Intergalactic Happiness). Chopping up the original into bits and pieces and transforming it into a journey of ambient, breakbeats, UKG, drum & bass, turntablism, and more, the new version is both a sequel and full reimagination of the original that captures the heady, experimental tendencies that have long been the duo’s signature. Zeds Dead headlined Red Rocks last night, and will do so again this evening. — K.B.

Ken Carson, xperience 

Just over a year after earning his first Billboard 200 No. 1 album with 2025’s More Chaos, Ken Carson has returned with xperience. The Atlanta rap star teased the album’s dizzying, and at times slightly industrial, rage-rap and trap soundscape at his 2026 Rolling Loud headlining set (May 10) — and later on his @xperimenting0_0 Instagram page — and the 22-track set delivers. Featuring appearances by Playboi Carti, Destroy Lonely, Lil Uzi Vert, Young Thug and 2hollis, xperiment solidifies the 26-year-old as a true niche superstar, particularly one who can converse with his fanbase in the creation of the music while still packing surprises at nearly every turn. — KYLE DENIS 

Destin Conrad, “Nervous“

Last year, Destin Conrad followed up his Love on Digital debut album, which Billboard named the No. 1 R&B Album of 2025, with an impressive alternative jazz EP called Whimsy. Ever the shapeshifter, the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter has delved into dancehall for “Nervous,” the first taste of his upcoming reggae album. His catalog has always had a subtle thread of Caribbean music, thanks to his Jamaican-born mother, and “Nervous” turns up the heat with a sizzling, Louie Lastic-produced riddim. The syncopated dancehall production pairs nicely with Destin’s seductive, layered background vocals, making for one heater of a summer anthem. — K.D. 

There is a longstanding question in K-pop about what actually holds a girl group together: a single breakout star, a concept strong enough to carry eight people, or something harder to manufacture. Hearts2Hearts, the SM Entertainment octet now 16 months into its career, is proof of the third option.

The group’s structure is built around what it refuses to do. Instead of one designated center, Hearts2Hearts spreads the weight, arranging vocal lines, choreography and camera time so that individual moments serve the whole. It’s a familiar pitch in K-pop marketing and a rare thing to actually pull off. What sets this group apart is that the balance holds up under scrutiny, onstage, in live vocal takes, in the self-produced content where group dynamics usually crack first.

Even the group’s most viral moment worked this way. Stella’s spoken English narration in “RUDE!” became the song’s signature and fueled a fan challenge, yet it never read as one member breaking away from the pack. It read as Hearts2Hearts. That house-leaning single, released this past February, climbed to a No. 57 peak on the Billboard Global 200, while rising to No. 5 on the Billboard Korea Hot 100. The demand followed offstage: in March, the group sold out showcases in both New York and Los Angeles. For an act barely a year past its debut, which reached No. 102 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart with “The Chase,” that is a group finding its ceiling and pushing past it.

“Lemon Tang,” the title track of the second mini album released June 22, carries that momentum into a bright, summer-coded dance-pop turn. Where “RUDE!” came from a team of Western topliners, the follow-up is a KENZIE record, penned by the SM in-house veteran whose credits run from Girls’ Generation’s “Into the New World” through two decades of the label’s girl-group canon. The chorus leans into a breezy, bossa-inflected sway, and the vocal arrangement follows the group’s usual logic: lines sung in pairs that build into all eight voices in unison. The lyric’s central image, a lemon that is sour alone and turns sweet in combination, is also a fair summary of how this group operates, name included.

That’s the thing about Hearts2Hearts. The appeal is cumulative rather than explosive: friendly without being lightweight, bright without being simple, and consistent in a genre that usually chases spectacle. In this interview with Billboard Korea, the eight members talk through the moment they first saw their name on the Billboard charts, the energy of their first sold-out U.S. stages, the roots each member brings to the team, and what they hope people understand about Hearts2Hearts by the end of this summer, in their own words.

From “The Chase” to “RUDE!,” sixteen months have already passed. How do you feel about where Hearts2Hearts stands now?

JIWOO: I think we’re still in the middle of growing and learning, but when I look at where we are now, I’m most proud that Hearts2Hearts is starting to have a distinctive color of its own. We’ve gained a lot of experience since debut, and I think we’re becoming more confident both as individuals and as a team. It makes me excited for how much more we can grow from here.

YE-ON: Like JIWOO unni said, I think we’re still growing as artists. But if I had to pick the biggest change, it would be how much more comfortable I’ve become on stage. At debut, I was focused on finding the cameras, but now I feel more confident connecting with our fans and enjoying the moment!

Hearts2Hearts arrived as SM’s first new girl group since aespa. Did that description ever feel heavy to you, or did it become a quiet source of strength?

YE-ON: Rather than feeling pressured, I think it motivated us to work even harder together so we could live up to people’s expectations. It felt more like positive encouragement that pushed us to keep practicing and improving!

When you first heard “Lemon Tang,” what made it feel like the right next chapter after “RUDE!”?

YUHA: The track carries the same confident energy as “RUDE!” while bringing a brighter and more refreshing feeling that fits the summer season. While “RUDE!” was about breaking away from expectations and doing things our own way, “Lemon Tang” shows a brighter side of us and celebrates how beautiful it feels when we’re together. That’s why it felt like the perfect next chapter.

“Baby Steps” carries the excitement of a new beginning, while “Secret Recipe” tells a story of building something together. Which track feels closest to the team’s heart right now?

JUUN: I think “Baby Steps” feels closest to where we are right now. As we begin this new chapter with “Lemon Tang,” I think the excitement and nervousness of trying something new really reflect how we feel as a team. That’s why I find myself relating to “Baby Steps” the most.

“RUDE!” reached No. 10 on Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales chart and entered the Billboard Global 200 as well. When you first saw Hearts2Hearts on an overseas chart, what went through your mind?

CARMEN: I’m so, so thankful to S2U and to everyone who has been listening to “RUDE!” I’m incredibly happy, and honestly, it still feels a little like a dream. Seeing our song on the Billboard chart was… just wow. It was such a huge moment for us! I’m truly grateful for all the love and support. Thank you so much!

STELLA: When I first saw “RUDE!” on the Billboard charts, I was really shocked and so grateful for all the fans who supported us. It really made me realize that there are so many global fans who love our music, and it inspired me to work harder for our next comeback.

Stella, your English narration became one of the signatures of “RUDE!” and even carried into the challenge. Did you expect that part to resonate with listeners in that way?

STELLA: When I first recorded the narration part in our song, I had hoped that our listeners would resonate with it. However, I didn’t expect the amount of love and attention that it would get at all. Watching our fans and listeners do the narration challenge was so much fun, and I feel incredibly grateful for all the support.

In March, you sold out showcases in both New York and Los Angeles. What felt different about the energy of the U.S. fans compared to the audiences you had met in Korea?

A-NA: All of our fans are incredibly passionate, but what stood out to me in the U.S. was how loudly everyone sang along and even danced with us. Seeing the crowd enjoy the music so freely and express themselves in that way was really new and memorable for me.

IAN: The showcase was a moment where I really got to feel the incredible energy of our fans in the U.S. Even the smallest things we did got such a big reaction. Hearing everyone sing along and seeing them jump and have fun with us really made me feel their passion.

Jiwoo, as the leader, what did the “RUDE!” season teach you about the members that you may not have fully realized before?

JIWOO: During our “RUDE!” promotions, I realized once again how strong and dependable our members are. I was really impressed by how everyone took responsibility for their own role and always gave their best. Even during difficult moments, the members were always looking out for each other first, and I was so grateful for that. It made me trust the team even more, and I felt just how reliable everyone is.

Carmen, as SM’s first Indonesian member, what kind of color do you feel your roots bring to Hearts2Hearts when the group connects with fans around the world?

CARMEN: As SM’s first Indonesian member, I’m really grateful to be able to share a part of my culture and experiences with Hearts2Hearts. Growing up with a different background has given me a broader perspective, and I think that helps our group connect naturally with fans from all around the world. I also feel happy that I can introduce Indonesia and represent many fans who dream of standing on a global stage. More than anything, I hope the warmth, sincerity, and positive energy I’ve grown up with can become one of the unique colors that make Hearts2Hearts even more special.

The name Hearts2Hearts carries the idea of connecting one heart to another. Since your debut, what has been the clearest moment when you truly felt that connection with your fans?

A-NA: One of the moments when I feel most connected to our fans is when I see them smiling and enjoying themselves while watching us perform on stage. Seeing that happiness on their faces makes me feel like our hearts are really connected.

The rookie season often passes faster than people expect. Is there something you feel Hearts2Hearts can only do now, precisely because you are still at the beginning?

IAN: I think it’s continuing to show how we’re growing. All of the members constantly give each other feedback and always want to improve, so I think people can really see that growth through our performances and activities.

By the end of the “Lemon Tang” promotions, what do you hope people will understand a little more clearly about Hearts2Hearts?

YUHA: Just like the feeling you get when you think of “Lemon Tang,” I hope thinking about Hearts2Hearts can make people smile and feel a little happier.

JUUN: Just like the lyrics of “Lemon Tang,” I hope people can feel that fresh, uplifting energy with us. I also hope our song becomes the soundtrack to everyone’s summer and helps make this season feel a little brighter and more fun.