Beneath all the sexual bluster of Childish Gambino's 2011 single "Heartbeat" is a thick fog of yearning and longing. And a singer/songwriter like Olen is perfect to tease out its emotional essence — and imbue Donald Glover's razor-sharp raps with infectious melody.

Backed by guitar, bass, drums, and keys, the Orange County-based artist conjures the fractured emotions of "Heartbeat" with ease. "I wanted you to know/ That I am ready to go, heartbeat/ My heartbeat," Olen croons over a pillow of synths. "I wanted you to know/ Whenever you are around, can't speak/ I can't speak."

In the inaugural episode of Hip-Hop Re:Defined — a limited series paying tribute to some of hip-hop's greatest hits, for the genre's 50th anniversary — watch this evocative performance from a keen interpreter.

Armani White, Bizzy Banks and Asha Imuno are among the artists included in this 10-episode series. ​​Hip-Hop Re:Defined will be posted weekly for six episodes and then begin posting every other week for the remainder of the series.

Check out this potent performance above, and keep checking GRAMMY.com for new episodes of Hip-Hop Re:Defined!

6 Artists Expanding The Boundaries Of Hip-Hop In 2023: Lil Yachty, McKinley Dixon, Princess Nokia & More

This summer continues to dazzle us with an electrifying array of music, with new releases arriving from Jimin (MUSE), Ivan Cornejo (MIRADA), Koe Wetzel (9 Lives), Denzel Curry (King Of The Mischievous South Vol. 2), and Adam Lambert (Afters), and many more this week. From eagerly awaited comebacks to iconic collaborations, July 19 has an abundance of new music to offer across all genres.

As you continue shaping up your summer playlists, be sure to check out the following 11 new songs and projects.

Following the release of "The City Cinderella Documentary," which chronicles JT's inspiring journey from overcoming challenging circumstances to embarking on a solo career, the rapper unveils her highly-anticipated 16-track mixtape, City Cinderella. The project is a showcase of talent and growth, featuring powerhouse collaborations with DJ Khaled and Jeezy, the latter of whom features on a remix of her hit "OKAY."

City Cinderella is JT's first project since parting ways with her former City Girls cohort, Yung Miami. Speaking to Paper Magazine about her new venture, JT explained that the inspiration for the project was simple: "I just wanted to authentically be myself and make music."

Puerto Rican star Rauw Alejandro has been a song machine since his Sony Latin/Demars Entertainment debut with 2019's Trap Cake, Vol. 1. He'll be releasing his fifth album in five years later this year — and judging by his latest release, it may be his sexiest yet.

"DEJAME ENTRAR" sees Alejandro getting close to a woman who once was just a crush, but has now turned into his latest love affair. The singer debuted the sultry, pulsing track with a smooth performance on "Today" on July 12; one week later, the song's official release also included the official video, which co-stars actor Adrian Brody. 

Though Alejandro hasn't revealed a release date for his next project, he teased on "Today" that it will hopefully be done "soon." "These songs [are] too good to be inside the studio," he said.

Just two months after re-releasing his 2020 project, 3.15.20, under the new title Atavista, Donald Glover is back with another Childish Gambino album, Bando Stone & the New World. The LP features stylistic musical choices that parallel Gambino's past albums, including 2011's Camp, 2013's Because the Internet, and 2016's "Awaken, My Love!," as well as features from Amaarae and Jorja Smith, Flo Milli, Fousheé, and Yeat.

As Glover revealed in April, Bando Stone & the New World will be his last album under the Childish Gambino moniker. But he's going out with a bang: along with a massive world tour, Bando Stone & the New World is accompanied by a sci-fi film titled Bando.

According to a recent interview the New York Times, it seems Glover feels a sense of completion with the project, too. "Success to me is, honestly, being able to put out a wide-scale album that I would listen to," he said. "For this album, I really wanted to be able to play big rooms and have big, anthemic songs that fill those rooms, so that people feel a sense of togetherness."

Nearly 30 years after the 1996 release of Twister, the blockbuster finally gets a sequel with the highly anticipated Twisters — and an equally exciting accompanying soundtrack. The sprawling Twisters: The Album features some of the biggest names in country music today, with tracks from Luke Combs, Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll, and many more.

Combs was the first to tease a taste of the soundtrack with his gritty, uptempo tune "Ain't No Love In Oklahoma," which was released alongside a music video that featured clips from the movie. Scenes from the film can also be seen in the clip for Jelly Roll's "Dead End Road," which arrived the day before the album's release. 

But there's so much more to discover across the soundtracks 29 songs, from Megan Moroney's "Never Left Me" to Charley Crocket's "(Ghost) Riders In The Sky." And though the track list is stacked with country stars, there's a few gems to enjoy by hitmakers from other genres, too, including Benson Boone ("Death Wish Love") and Leon Bridges ("Chrome Cowgirl").

It's been two years since we last heard from Alessia Cara, but she's ready to begin her next chapter. The GRAMMY winner unveils "Dead Man," the lead single from her forthcoming fourth album — and if the kiss-off track is any indication, Cara's in her fearless era.

Backed by crisp drums and harmonious saxophones, "Dead Man" is an edgy ode to someone she's cutting off because he's no longer serving her. "If you really care, then why am I feeling you just slipping through my hands?," she questions in the chorus. "If you're really there, then why can I walk right through ya?/ Talkin' to a dead man."

In the folk-pop collaboration that dreams are made of, James Bay teams up with longtime friend Noah Kahan and genre giants The Lumineers for "Up All Night." The track boasts a vibrant instrumental layered beneath the harmonious blend of each artists' vocals — a perfect soundtrack for warm, starry summer nights.

The week "Up All Night" arrives also marks a full-circle tour moment for Kahan and Bay. Five years after Kahan first opened for Bay on the "Let It Go" singer's Electric Light Tour in 2019, Bay is now opening for Kahan — at New York City's Madison Square Garden and Boston's Fenway Park, no less — on the We'll All Be Here Forever Tour.

After four years and two projects with Atlantic Records, Sueco unveils his first independently released studio album, Attempted Lover. Across 12 tracks, the L.A. native delves into the complexities of love and relationships, while navigating the tangled emotions that accompany these themes.

Sueco set the stage back in March with the project's lead single, "Drama Queen" — a raw, high-energy track that drew in both new and loyal listeners. He soon followed up with "Mulholland Drive," a stripped-down acoustic gem, showcasing the impressive range of musical styles that Attempted Lover has to offer. 

In celebration of the release, Sueco will embark on the Attempted Lover Tour in Sept. 13, kicking things off in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and hitting 32 cities in North America until Nov. 2.

During a short break from their Payback Tour, KALEO is back with new music — and making a statement and an impact with their latest release.

The rock band deliver the emotionally charged "USA Today," a reflection on gun violence in America. Though frontman JJ Julius Son first wrote the track in 2019 with Shawn Everett and Eddie Spear, he felt compelled to release the track after an innocent bystander was killed during the attempted assassination of Donald Trump on July 13.

"So here we are/ Fighting for america/ Fighting for a new day/ Trying hard to change/ USA today," Son sings over gritty guitar riffs and dark synths. KALEO invites listeners to join the movement, pledging to donate a portion of the proceeds from the song to the gun violence advocacy group Everytown.

"USA Today" is the second track KALEO released from their forthcoming fourth album, which is due later this year; it follows the acoustic lead single, "Lonely Cowboy."

After being named an Artist to Watch by Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, and CMT in 2023, country newcomer Avery Anna further displays her promise and prowess with her debut album, Breakup Over Breakfast. The Arizona native co-wrote all 17 tracks on the project, including standout track "girl next door," a powerful ballad that puts Anna's golden vocals on display.

"These songs mean the world to me. It's a little bit of rock, country, acoustic, pop, and everything personal," the singer/songwriter wrote in an Instagram post. "I really wanted to give you guys an album that you can confide in. I carefully chose the songs and track listing, and creating it was an adrenaline rush / a relief all at the same time."

With his 2022 debut album, Rx, Role Model dove deeply into themes of love. Two years later, the rising bedroom pop star offers a different take on that same topic, grieving the very relationship that inspired Rx with Kansas Anymore.

Along with offering a different take on love and relationships, Role Model's latest effort is also inspired by his longing for his native state of Maine. Drawing inspiration from artists like Zach Bryan, the War on Drugs and Caamp, Kansas Anymore chronicles Role Model journeys back home, attempting to fill the void created by leaving his East Coast roots for California. The project represents a mature step forward, navigating the rollercoaster of heartbreak and homesickness — and moving listeners in the process.

Since releasing his first solo album, Fastlife, in 2011, Joe Jonas has been plenty busy, from landing a megahit with his pop-rock group DNCE to bringing back the Jonas Brothers with his siblings Nick and Kevin. Thirteen years later, the singer makes a solo comeback with "Work It Out," the bouncy lead single from his sophomore solo album, Music for People Who Believe in Love, due Oct. 18.

"This album is a celebration of gratitude, hope, and love. These songs reflect on my life from a bird's-eye-view acknowledging the many blessings around me," Jonas shared on Instagram, referencing both his own experiences as an individual and as a recent father of two. "I hope it brings you as much joy as it brought me creating it."

Eight years ago, Fetty Wap made quite the introduction with his debut single, "Trap Queen." By the end of 2015, the track climbed to the top of the Billboard Hot 100, accumulated the highest number of on-demand streams for the year, and even snagged him two GRAMMY nominations for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance.

In this episode of Hip-Hop Re:Defined, rap up-and-comer Monaleo pays homage to Fetty Wap's breakout hit with a sultry rendition of "Trap Queen." Rather than a fast-paced, bass-tinged instrumental like the original, the performance is driven by a jazzy piano and a pair of backup singers.

Like Fetty Wap, Monaleo also broke through with her debut single, 2021's "Beating Down Yo Block." On May 26, she released her first full-length project, Where the Flowers Don't Die.

Press play on the video above to hear Monaleo's reimagining of Fetty Wap's "Trap Queen," and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Hip-Hop Re:Defined, a limited performance series in celebration of hip-hop's 50th anniversary.

Lil Yachty Wants You To Be "Ready For Everything" At The Field Trip Tour

Remy Ma's "Conceited (There's Something About Remy Ma)" is the epitome of 2000s mainstream rap. Along with its lyrics that drip with confidence — as she boasts about her "miraculous, phenomenal" character and appearance — the song's music video features gaudy displays of luxury, with the rapper lounging in an oversized mansion while shirtless men and women in lingerie serve her.

"See, I look too good for this necklace/ And I look too good to be wearing this/ You know I look way too good to be innocent," Remy Ma sings in the chorus. "I'm conceited, I got a reason."

In this episode of Hip-Hop Re:Defined, newcomer Connie Diiamond — a fellow Bronx native — performs a fierce rendition of "Conceited." As Diiamond conveys in her delivery, she has said the track makes her feel like "the baddest in the room, the baddest in the party, and the baddest in their borough."

Diiamond oozes that same hubris Remy Ma embodied on her latest single, "Ghetto & Ratchet," which she released on Sept. 1 via Def Jam Recordings. Earlier this year, Diiamond dropped her debut studio album, Underdog Season.

Press play on the video above to watch Connie Diiamond's bold cover of Remy Ma's "Conceited," and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Hip-Hop Re:Defined, a limited series in celebration of hip-hop's 50th anniversary.

A Guide To New York Hip-Hop: Unpacking The Sound Of Rap's Birthplace From The Bronx To Staten Island

Twenty-three years after its release, DMX's "Party Up (Up in Here)" continues to be a staple to live events and party playlists globally. But beyond its irresistible melody and chorus, "Party Up" was one of the very first chart-busting — and GRAMMY-nominated — diss tracks as the Compton native proudly dared his opposers to "meet me outside."

In this episode of Hip-Hop Re:Defined, watch rising rap trio 41 deliver an upbeat cover of "Party Up." And just like the title suggests, the three rappers "party up" throughout the performance with infectious dance moves and harmonious ad-libs.

Their carefree nature and determination to have fun have become a hallmark of 41's sound, including their latest singles, "Fetty" — whose lyrics are a paronomasia referencing rap star Fetty Wap — and "Bent." In April, they released their debut album, 41 Ways.

Press play on the video above to watch 41's energetic cover of DMX's "Party Up (Up In Here)," and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Hip-Hop Re:Defined, a limited series in celebration of hip-hop's 50th anniversary.

A Guide To New York Hip-Hop: Unpacking The Sound Of Rap's Birthplace From The Bronx To Staten Island