New Music Mondays: Gunna, Dawn Richard, Ovrkast. And More

October 13, 2026

Side-by-side collage of a man wearing sunglasses and black shirt against purple background, and a woman singing into a microphone wearing a yellow top. — Getty

Another week, another reason to put together a playlist of new music that will surely get your Monday off to a good start.

Gunna, one of hip-hop’s latest heavyweights, enters the next chapter of his career as CEO with the launch of his new imprint, SB The Label, in partnership with Atlantic Records. The announcement came packaged along with the delivery of his latest single, “Pop It,” which will be included on his upcoming album, Splurge. Lyrically confident as ever, Gunna relies on his signature fast flow to ride the beat and make for a catchy chorus, possibly even creating a viral catchphrase in the process. However, it’s the accompanying music video starring beautiful tennis star Coco Gauff that really steals the show. Not to mention, the ATL music mogul might even have a talent in acting.

Also running through our speakers this week is the new album by genre-bending songstress Dawn Richard. Since her days as a member of fan-favorite R&B/pop group Danity Kane, Dawn has spent the past two decades shifting her sound with much experimentation. On her latest offering, creole culture, the New Orleans-raised creative literally taps into her roots by delivering a blended sound that encompasses her many musical strengths. From trip-hop and electronica on “groove city,” assisted even further with jazzy overtones courtesy of her father Frank Richard, to crooning in contemporary soul fashion alongside Durand Bernarr on “baby, can we?,” there doesn’t seem to be a pocket she isn’t comfortable tackling and making her own.

They say there’s no such thing as bad press, and the viral backlash recently received by 28-year-old rapper Ovrkast. due to similarities between his rap moniker and that of ATL rap icons Outkast might’ve actually been part of the plan all along. On his new album, STRIKING, you won’t hear rips on the distinctive flows of André 3000 or Big Boi in the least bit. Ovrkast. instead shows off a true ear for instrumentation and melodic lyricism. Adding the fact that it’s all self-produced really makes you stop and take a listen beyond the controversy to get ahead of a multitalented emcee who may play a role in shaping the sound of the genre in the very near future. Standout tracks like the Joey Bada$$-assisted “STATIC,” the languid and retrospective “HOME” and “Heroes & Villains” with MARCO PLUS and Ben Reilly are strong examples of his talent.

Also in the mix is singer Rochelle Jordan with a four-song EP of remixes from her critically-acclaimed 2025 album, Through the Wall, Lil Baby getting help from Bally Baby and Fatt Smaxk on his new single, EARTHGANG member Johnny Venus dropping his latest solo offering, Thundercat’s fast-paced new single, the full-length by Tobe Nwigwe that we’ve been anticipating for months, a banger from TDE signee Ray Vaughn and a serenading project by Blasian baddie Joyce Wrice.