The Plug’n Play: June (‘25)
June 30, 2025
Illustration by Malaaya Adams
You can listen to the full playlist on Apple Music or Spotify
On the Cover: Yaya Bey is an artist, singer, songwriter, and rapper from Queens, NY. The daughter of the late, New York Hip-Hop artist, Grand Daddy I.U., Yaya Bey’s music is deeply reflective of place and time: from 90s and early-2000s Hip-Hop and Reggae to R&B, and Funk, the kaleidoscope of Black musics are all present in her music. On June 20, Yaya Bey released her sixth studio album, do it afraid, an album that further displays her gifts as a songwriter and artist.
If you’re looking for new music, this is the place for you! Each month, my friend, Kevin, and I select some of our favorite songs from the past month, compiling them into one playlist. While our tastes overlap in a lot of ways, they also diverge. Ultimately, these songs represent what has drawn us in, made us curious, or feel something.
Songs 1 - 14 were selected by Kevin. Songs 15 - 29 were selected by me, Stanley. We hope you find a song you like and check out the larger body of work, whether it’s an EP or an album. Below are a few words on some of my favorite songs from the month:
Yaya Bey — Spin Cycle
On spin cycle, Yaya Bey uses the canvas of a slow burning, Reggae beat to tell a story of love and yearning. Here, Yaya Bey, is stuck at an intersection: desiring a deeper connection with a lover, wanting to make love, yet there are larger market forces that complicate the love she is seeking. In the song, they draw a decidedly working class depiction of intimacy under capitalism: long hours at work, the rent being due, and having “a couple paid days saved” that might be used to make time for a lover. Listening to the song, which is produced by Austin Marc, you can imagine what it might feel like to be in a basement party if spin cycle came on: low lights, a crowded room, the aroma of weed in the air, slowly moving your hips in a synchronized, yet patient, manner with a partner. spin cycle is a standout track from a stellar album for me.
Curtis Nowosad — Mythologies (The Stories We Tell)
I was first introduced to drummer and songwriter, Curtis Nowosad in the spring of 2023. Nowosad was playing drums in saxophonist Braxton Cook’s band during Cook’s, Black Nostalgia Tour stop in Philadelphia. It was clear to me that Nowosad was a gifted drummer. After the show, I followed Nowosad on Instagram, and over time, I slowly started seeing him post his original music — much of which featured guitarist Andrew Renfroe, who was also playing in Cook’s band that night — and I became equally impressed with him as a composer as I was with him as a sideman. On June 6, Nowosad released his 4th studio album, I Am Doing My Best. In a variety of ways, the album deals with fatherhood, mental health, and navigating the many challenges that life may pose. Though there are no lyrics on Mythologies (The Stories We Tell), the song’s title and the sonic arc of the song — in particular, Nowosad’s fiery drum solo around the 2’ mark that resolves into the head of the tune — show the listener an artist interested in exploring story, how we’ve arrived at them, and possibly deconstructing them.
