The Philadelphia-based indie act White Birds released their debut LP When Women Played Drums, a fine piece of lo-fi indie folk pop, earlier this year on their own but it’s now seeing a physical release as well via Grizzly Records. When Women Played Drums will be released on July 10 on super limited cassette – only 50 copies will be released – and it’ll also feature a brand new track called “Waters”, which will also be included with the cassette as a flexi disc single.

“Waters” is an excellent piece of lo-fi indie and it’s yours for the price of a click, using the Soundcloud player below.

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Now that 2 Chainz is the go to feature rapper, it was only a matter of time before he hooked up with hip hop’s most prolific stoner. Check out the latest track from Curren$y’s latest album, The Stoned Immaculate, and look out for the record on June 5th. The beat is nice on this one, to say the least. 2 Chainzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Diplo’s been having quite the year. His work on Usher’s “Climax” alone gained him a place among every indie kid’s favorite producers of the year, and he’s not slowing down. On June 12th, the DJ will release the Express Yourself EP, and this track will be among its tracklist.

POP ETC (aka Morning Benders) sure are banking on a risk. You probably know they opted to turn away from their beach-tastic sound, in favor of a more streamlined pop presentation, abandoning the vibe that garnered them so much acclaim with Big Echo. On the other hand, with the beach wave seeming to die down, perhaps it was the right call.

Either way, all their eggs are in the POP ETC basket, with the band even self-producing their first, self-titled, foray under the new banner. Now you can hear your “first” (two tracks that will appear on the album have been available on a mixtape released by the band) track released from the project. Also check out the tracklist below.

1. New Life
2. Back to Your Heart
3. Halfway to Heaven
4. Keep It For Your Own
5. Live It Up
6. Everything Is Gone
7. R.Y.B.
8. Why’d You Do It Honey
9. I wanna Be Your Man
10. C-O-M-M-U-N-I-C-a-T-E
11. Yoyo

Here’s the first track off of Fang Islan’s second effort, Major. For full album details, check out previous coverage, and listen the new track below, courtesy of Pitchfork.

Fang Island – “Asunder”

For anyone bummed by the commercial nature of the tracks T.I.’s released from his upcoming album, Trouble Man, thus far, well, Tha King’s got a surprise for you. The Atlanta ringleader dropped by Hot 97 and released this brand new tune, which is much closer to the T.I. fans have been looking for. Judging from the hook, he knows it.

Thanks to Rolling Stone, you can download a new Tallest Man on Earth track, here . Look out for his third LP, There’s No Leaving Now, on June 12th. Also check out the slew of tour dates supporting the album below.

The Tallest Man on Earth 2012 Tour Dates:
05/31 – Stockholm, SE @ Sodra Teatern
06/01 – Stockholm, SE @ Sodra Teatern
06/03 – Gothenburg, SE @ Pustervik
06/10 – Boulder, CO @ Boulder Theater eTown Broadcast
06/12 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
06/15 – Toronto, ON – Queen Elizabeth Theatre
06/19 – New York, NY @ Town Hall
06/20 – New York, NY @ Town Hall
07/01 – Paddock Wood, UK @ Hop Farm Festival
07/03 – London, UK @ Hackney Empire
07/04 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
07/06 – Berlin, DE @ Lido
07/07 – Dachau, DE @ Dachauer Musiksommer
07/23 – Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge
07/24 – Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel
07/25 – Saxapahaw, NC @ Haw River Ballroom
07/26 – Washington, DC @ 930 Club
07/28 – Danbury, CT @ Heirloom Arts Theatre
07/29 – Newport, RI @ Newport Folk Festival
07/30 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
08/01 – Pittsburgh PA @ Hazlett Theatre
08/02 – Columbus, OH @ Wexner Center
08/04 – Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
08/05 – Milwaukee, WI @ Pabst Theater
08/06 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
08/17 – Hasselt, Belgium @ Pukkelpop
08/18 – Wales, UK @ Green Man Festival
10/04 – Madrid, ES @ Joy Slava
10/05 – Barcelona, ES @ Casino de l’Aliancia
10/08 – Zurich, CH @ Klaufleuten
10/09 – Torino, IT @ Spazio 211
10/10 – Roma, IT @ Chiesa Evangelica Metodista
10/11 – Ravenna, IT @ Almagia
10/12 – Brescia , IT @ Foyer Teatro Grande
10/14 – Vienna , AT @ WUK
10/15 – Berlin, DE @ Helmathanfen
10/17 – Hamburg, DE @ Kampnagel
10/18 – Cologne, DE @ Live Music Hall
10/19 – Zwolle, NL @ Theater Odeon de Spiegel
10/20 – Utrecht, NL @ MC Vredenburg
10/23 – Bristol, UK @ Colston Hall
10/24 – Dublin, IE @ Vicar Street
10/25 – Belfast, IE @ Mandela Hall
10/27 – Edinburgh, UK @ Picturehouse
10/28 – Manchester, UK @ The Ritz
10/29 – Brighton, UK @ St. Bartholmew Church

As The Walkmen grow ever closer to the May 29th release of their latest LP, Heaven, tracks have appeared with regularity. Here’s the B-side to their single “Heaven”, titled “The House That You Made”. Of all critical darlings, The Walkmen may well have the most consistent pace, make sure you support them in two weeks time, and listen to “Heaven” here, if you haven’t heard it.

Hot off of Rick Ross’ twitter, check out his latest single from God Forgives, I Don’t, “Touch’N You”, which is said to play the role of the project’s lead single, now that the release has endured a considerable period of pushbacks. Not that this is persay bad news, any music fan will be happy to see the painful, Nicki Minaj hooked, “You the Boss” to get tossed out. This track features a chorus from someone more credited to provide one, Usher. Download the track and enjoy.

For fans of R. Kelly at his more traditional, the first track (“Share My Love”) released from the legendary crooner’s approaching album, Write Me Back, was somewhat confusing. Not bad, just a strange direction for Kelly to have chosen, particularly following his closest foray into old school R&B in years, Love Letter. Not to mention that he’d assured his fans this album would be ‘the new 12 Play‘, at which point it was titled Black Panties, leading some to grumble over potential label tampering (insert Prince’s Black Album references here).

They should be more easily acclimated to this latest track, “Feelin’ Single”, which boasts a vibe more akin to Kelly’s preferred smooth dance hits. No precise date for the album as of yet, stay tuned.