New single drops from Nicki Minaj, Chainsmokers and the first single from the Chili Peppers since John Frusciante’s return to the fold.
The most exciting to happen in rock this past week is the announcement of the Red Hot Chili Peppers releasing new music. “Black Summer” is the first single from the band since the return of John Frusciante. The guitarist was absent for much of the past decade from the band’s lineup. But the rest of RHCP – Anthony Kiedis, Flea and Chad Smith – forged on, released albums with guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, who did a great job filling in for Frusciante. But historically, Frusciante has always invigorated the RHCP. He did it when he joined the band at the onset of the 90s and when he rejoined for “Californication” back in 1998. And he’s poised to do so again now in 2022. Because that’s how it sounds like with “Black Summer.” The song starts out slow, with Frusciante’s no-nonsense rhythm guitar simplicity dipping here and there into Hendrix-type motifs. Kiedis’ rhymes alludes and associates platypuses, China being on the dark side of the moon, and archer’s being on the run. But it all makes sense as it builds upon feelings of seclusion as Kiedes sings “It’s been a long time since I made a new friend / waitin’ on another black summer to end / It’s been a long time, and you know when / waitin’ on another black summer to end.” Quite the timely sentiment as the world approaches the third year of the pandemic. The band must be itching to meet their fans on the road and vice versa. That might happen soon, as this single is just the first from an album that’s forthcoming. The thick fuzz solo by Frusciante here is not by any means a technical one. But it dripps with feel and vibe, and that’s how a rock guitar should be, and that just makes us all the more excited about the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Nicki Minaj returns with a new single and video called “Do We Have a Problem?” The track, featuring also features Lil Baby, is a mid-tempo banger from the “Super Bass” singer. This is the latest from Minaj, who’s last was the full album “Beam Me Up Scotty” of 2021. Ms. Minaj has kept busy since, and this single is the latest. The music video, directed by Benny Boom, sees Minaj and Lil Baby sharing screen time with Joseph Sikora and Cory Hardrict on a “high-octane bank heist with big screen-worthy production.” A high-profile appearance at the Late Late Show with James Corden and a recent appearance at a Clippers game has Nicki Minaj on high visibility mode once again.
The Chainsmokers also recently unveiled their new single titled “High.” This is the first single from celebrity DJ’s Alexander “Alex” Pall and Andrew “Drew” taggart who spent the last two years on hiatus. But it’s time well spent, apparently, as the “Selfie” duo is poised to release their fourth album soon. “High” is a memorable single more akin to pop than the duo’s usual EDM, and that’s a good thing. According to the duo, the song is about “the lengths we will go for someone we love, and the lies we tell ourselves to continue on unhappily." But the song never feels that way, though, as it feels “celebratory.” “Because we all know at the end of the day, we never listen to advice, we do what feels best for ourselves and keep telling ourselves it will be different this time.”