Kid Cudi: The Rage

With a chorus drawn from the Smashing Pumpkins’ classic “Bullet With Butterfly Wings,” Kid Cudi’s “The Rage” makes for a genre-smashing, mash-up-like banger. All things considered, the sum is greater than the parts. Once again the rapper delivers lyrics worth poring over on a rich, warm track.

Empress Of: Trust Me Baby

Three years since her debut album Me, Empress Of (aka singer/songwriter, Lorely Rodriguez) has released two new songs: “In Dreams” and “Trust Me Baby“—both written, produced, engineered and performed by Rodriguez. The latter (co-produced by LA’s Cole MGN) blends in some warm R&B to her usual synth-heavy, sparkly electronic style.

The Staple Singers: I’ll Take You There

Yvonne Staples of soul trio The Staple Singers has died at 80 years old. Yvonne replaced her brother in the band after he was drafted into the army, making the group three sisters with their father on guitar. The song “I’ll Take You There” was a Billboard top 100 in 1972 (when it was released) and spent some 15 weeks on the chart. Later it …