MC's Music Lounge: It’s Bebe Rexha's turn to have her own taste of chart success

It’s been a long journey for Bebe Rexha. She’s gone from songwriter behind the scenes, to charting hits as a main act. Through it all, however, she’s never gotten the success that she is due. It’s always felt like her hits are more famous than she is, and in the 10+ years she’s been releasing music she has yet to have a big album to her name. But Bebe’s hoping to change that this year with her new project DIRTY BLONDE. The visual album will follow a 26-week rollout where she will release a single and the adjacent video the following week, for all 13 tracks on the album. The best part for fans is that she will allow them all to choose which single to release next with snippets of each to be heard in the supercut she released last week when announcing the project. It’s a fun way to keep your fans invested in an entire era at a time where streaming makes everything so accessible right away.

Bebe has always been especially tuned into what her fanbase (and haters) say online, and there’s a whole world of pop girlie “stan” wars happening on a daily basis any time you log in. In Bebe’s case, the comments are relentless but she has always been able to take them in stride. The latest one however is the sometimes hilarious but semi-problematic term “khia asylum”. The term represents what fans online refer to as the imaginary jail for artists whose music is flopping on the charts. It was based off the rapper Khia whose song “My Neck, My Back (Lick It)” was a hit back in 2002 but pretty much fell off the charts immediately with the exception of a 2006 track with Janet Jackson. For obvious reasons, basing a term that refers to flopping on an actual female artist is wrong and diminishes her achievements. Given Khia’s recent transphobic and homophobic comments however, the online pop community has made an exception and chalked it up to being all in fun.

As time has gone on it has moved beyond just online fan conversations, becoming a legitimate term amongst the female artists that it pertains to. Charli XCX recently acknowledged the term in multiple interviews for her movie The Moment, even joking that for all she knows she will be sent back there and looks forward to seeing her friends. Charli famously broke out of the asylum when she released Brat in 2024. Then we have Bebe, who has not only acknowledged the term many times, but has made TikTok after TikTok about wanting to “break out” and pointing out how Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter and Zara Larsson have all broken out. It’s Bebe’s turn to break out and have her own taste of chart success. Tinashe and Bebe Rexha are often juxtaposed as they both have been making music for more than a decade, and Tinashe has had two back to back summer hits over the last two years. Bebe is up next, and with the hype surrounding the new music, she’s closer than she’s ever been. The tracks “Çike Çike” and “New Religion” already both have over 100,000 votes to become the next single, with the former already gaining traction online.

Next week will see Hilary Duff’s first album release in eleven years when she drops her album luck… or something. Her comeback has been exceeding industry expectations and has even prompted her to announce a world tour of arenas and amphitheaters. This week Bebe Rexha is joined by Brent Faiyaz, Danny L Harle and Dua Lipa, Jill Scott and JID, Cruz Beckham and a viral pick fit for a king.

Listen on…

MC’s PICKS OF THE WEEK

“I Like You Better Than Me” by Bebe Rexha

Bebe’s first taste of DIRTY BLONDE is the pop/EDM banger “I Like You Better Than Me”, and no one does an EDM singalong better than Bebe. The majority of her biggest hits fit into that genre, and it’s a perfect re-introduction for her. The song is Bebe comparing herself to others, whether it’s the size of their jeans or other physical characteristics. It’s a very real look into the mind of an artist who has gotten her share of online criticism regarding her appearance. Bebe has always been incredibly relatable and honest about her insecurities as she sings “I hate myself for feeling this way”. I know I’ve been there and I catch myself playing the comparing game all too often. I once interviewed Bebe Rexha and not only was she an absolute sweetheart but when I pointed out my favourite song of hers was “Empty” she already knew what kind of fan I was. She knows what we want to hear and it’s the connection that keeps her in the pop conversation. She’s an independent artist now as well so she’s in full control of her art, allowing her to fully execute her vision for this project. Bebe’s pen shines when she’s writing a catchy hook and an infectious pop melody. Her songs just get in your head and “I Like You Better Than Me” is no different. The melody of the lyrics when she sings the song title (which starts off the chorus) is a pop dream on its own. Add in the EDM breakdown and you feel transported to a 2013 club night, the glory days of Bebe’s original EDM feature run.

“other side.” by Brent Faiyaz

This is the most pop I have ever heard Brent Faiyaz sound on a record but I love it. “other side.” has a little of The Weeknd’s upbeat MJ-like tone with a New Edition melodic style that still keeps it rooted in R&B. This album comes six months after Brent delayed the release of Icon the night before its release. While we may never truly know what was going on in his artistic soul that led to that decision, we now have a completed ten-song project which varies from soulful productions, alternative sounds and some sprinkles of pop throughout. For an artist who has made a name for lyrics that resonate with those of us who are on the more toxic side when it comes to dating, hearing him on a breezy song like “other side.” is a welcome breath of fresh air. Not to say I don’t love the toxic king who sang songs like “ALL MINE”, and he’s very much still present on many other tracks on this project - just take a listen to “four seasons”. Every other song is still lyrically referring to a relationship in some way or another, Brent is a loverboy after all, but it does seem that Brent was going for a lighter sound in general on this project. Something less mellow and a little more upbeat and danceable. “other side.” has Brent singing in his angelic falsetto tone over a dance beat, hence the comparisons to The Weeknd.

“Two Hearts” by Danny L Harle, Dua Lipa

It’s been a hot minute since we’ve had new music from Dua Lipa. After her Radical Optimism album underperformed, she shifted focus to touring the album. Her first new music release in close to a year is courtesy of Danny L Harle who produced her 2023 single “Houdini”. Danny has just released his own solo album as producer, Cerulean, and Dua is lead vocals on the project’s lead single. It’s not a far departure from the dance music that we are used to hearing from Dua, except this one is far more electronic coded and feels like something you’d hear at 2 am in a European discotheque. While Radical Optimism may not have done the numbers her label was hoping for, it still was a quality pop album with a more elevated pop production, which “Two Hearts” seems to ricochet off of. Rather than serving as a bridge between her previous release and upcoming album era, “Two Hearts” feels like a little treat as a way to tie up the sound she’s been recording for the last few years before beginning a new adventure. Recently, Dua’s personal life has made far more impact than her music has. Just last week she gave us some serious 2000s celebrity vibes when she was snapped telling off the paparazzi in France who had been relentlessly following her and her fiancé Callum Turner. With his rumoured gig as the next James Bond picking up serious buzz, now may be the best time for Dua to get back in the studio to cook up her next album. In the meantime, “Two Hearts” serves as a perfect placeholder.

“To B Honest” by Jill Scott, JID

Jill’s newest album was more than eleven years in the making and the result is a rich collection of tracks that emulate the glory days of neo soul from the late 90s and early 2000s, which in a world post D’Angelo is something that our souls desperately need. “To B Honest” is a vulnerable plea from Jill for her lover to let her in and get to know him on a deeper level. Some music is not just designed to get you in a sensual mood physically, but also emotionally, letting down emotional barriers for a lover that makes you feel seen and safe. That’s what Jill’s music sounds like to me, a real love, a safe love. Not that I really know what either of those things feel like, but a boy can dream. Jill’s music gives me hope that it’s in my future. This track in particular was borne out of love from the start with JID expressing his excitement at working with the woman he lovingly referred to as his “whole heart” on an Instagram story dedicated to the song. Jill has since shared the story so the love affair between both artists is very mutual.

“for your love” by Cruz Beckham

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the week was my reaction when Lainey sent me this song. It’s Cruz Beckham’s first release as a solo artist signed to a major label, and it doesn’t suck. In fact, it’s pretty f*cking good and gives me total 90s vibes which as I’m sure you all know is an automatic win for me. Cruz’s tune has a clear musical direction and gives a promising look into the type of artist he will be. Admittedly, when he first started exploring music, I didn’t really pay it any mind. Given how his older brother Brooklyn’s creative endeavors have played out I kinda assumed this was another meaningless nepo baby project, something that I’m sure Cruz is prepared to be faced with upon the launch of his art. I can now say, however, that I was too quick to judge. I should know to give Cruz more credit as he has been at the center of every Spice Girls viral moment of the last year, particularly getting four of the girls together to sing “Viva Forever” with him on the guitar. I hate to always circle back to this, but if supporting Cruz’s music career means encouraging Victoria to get back on that stage then that reason alone should be enough to give this song a stream (I promise, it’s actually good though). Maybe a stint as opening act for the Spice Girls in Vegas is in the cards? I’m just manifesting here but Emma did show up to his birthday party over the weekend, alongside the entire Beckham clan (sans Brooklyn of course). Sorry to make this about your mom Cruz, but you get it man, right?

MC’s VIRAL PICK

“Liberian Girl” by Michael Jackson

With the release of the upcoming biopic Michael coming up quickly, MJ’s music has been gaining more traction online. But it’s an unexpected pick that is starting off the train. “Liberian Girl” was originally the ninth and final single from Michael’s monster-selling album Bad. Most MJ fans and the majority of the casual listening public might recognize this song for its iconic celebrity-filled music video, but now a whole new generation can associate the song with a mega-viral dance trend courtesy of dancer and content creator Jamar S. Horton. The choreography borrows from the “Majorette dance” and Jamar’s interpretation has gone so viral that it has helped “Liberian Girl” find an audience with Gen Z and Gen Alpha, even reaching the top 10 of the Viral 50 songs on TikTok’s USA charts. “Liberian Girl” was never one of MJ’s greatest hits, it didn’t even chart on the Canadian or USA Billboard charts back in the 80s. You know what they say though, it’s never too late for greatness to find a moment in the sun.

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A post shared by Jamar S. Horton (@mr.j2u)

@mskimhale Count me in.😜 DC: @JShun0729 #dance #dancer #liberiangirl #michaeljackson #majorette ♬ original sound - Hasan💫

@daughterofrael prancing Tigerettes @JShun0729 #prancingtigerettes #jshun #dd4lk #liberiangirl ♬ original sound - Saaylashay

@theshaderoom Ohkay! #ClaressaShields hops on the #LiberianGirlChallenge! How did she do?✍🏾#TSRStaffAS #fyp #foryoupage ♬ original sound - The Shade Room

Expect an onslaught of Michael Jackson headlines and viral moments to hit your feeds over the next few months, as his estate reportedly has “big plans” surrounding the release of the biopic. Mariah Carey was even prohibited from using an MJ feature on one of her new songs due to the upcoming “plans” which she divulged into on Watch What Happens Live last fall.

The 2026 “MC’s MUSIC LOUNGE” Spotify playlist is officially live. You can add it here to keep up to date with my weekly picks throughout the year.