May 6, 2024

Belated Happy Cinco de Mayo Neuphorians!

The theme of this fortnight’s playlist was going to be “Radical Optimism” after Dua Lipa’s blockbuster LP release, but late Friday night/Saturday morning, the pop queen was upstaged by the public feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar.  Even Ms. Lipa’s SNL hosting gig was usurped- as she played a local news Culture Critic, Wanda Weems commenting on the feud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCfNpjeAFaA .

For those of you living under a rock, after a March/April lower key feud between the two rappers, Lamar and Drake released 4 songs within 48 hours each dissing the other in severe terms on May 3 and 4.  A play-by-play of the feud and releases is https://www.vulture.com/article/drake-kendrick-lamar-feud-explained.html .

Still, for full disclosure, I’m a Dua Lipa fanboy- and her last LP, "Future Nostalgia" may have been my favorite LP of 2020.  In interviews, she’s indicated that “Radical Optimism” was influenced by her exposure growing up to acts like Oasis, Massive Attack, Portishead, Blur and Primal Scream- not a bad list- so it’s definitely worth a listen.

If you wish to vote, please submit your votes by EOD Saturday, May 4, in either the playlist comments section or via email.