Week in Pop: Inspired & the Sleep, WEEED, Work Drugs

As Impose and the rest of the world returns to Austin, TX for all the big festivities; Impose’s Week in Pop remains committed to presenting showcases of the artists & arts that matter on a weekly basis. Presenting you a host of breaking media exclusives, we deliver your introductory news dive off the deep-end with word that Girlpool signed to Anti- with news that their new album Powerplant will be available May 1 & dropped the Nicholas Rattigan & Stumble on Tapes video for “123”; Joey Bada$$ announced the new album All-Amerikkkan Bada$$ available April 7 from Pro Era Records / Cinematic Music Group & dropped the Nathan R. Smith co-directed video for “Land of the Free”; Sharkmuffin announced the new album Tsuki available May 5 from Little Dickman Records & dropped “Space Glow”; First Aid Kit dropped “You Are the Problem Here” in support of women everywhere; various artists signed Global Citizen‘s open letter in solidarity of International Women’s Day; Amber Arcades announced the new EP Cannonball available June 2 from Heavenly with a UK tour with Grandaddy happening in March/April & dropped the Ben Clarkson video for “It Changes”; Phantogram & The Veldt announced their spring Eastern US tour through the six cities of Chicago, St. Paul, Madison, Champaign-Urbana, Cincinnati & Atlanta March 11-17; Little Dragon dropped the single “Sweet” off the upcoming album Season High available April 14 through Loma Vista; Future dropped the video for “Use Me” off HNDRXX; Charli XCX dropped the much hyped mixtape Number 1 Angel; Mike WiLL Made-It dropped the Motion Family video for “Gucci On My” ft. Migos, YG & 21 Savage off the forthcoming Ransom 2 tape; Grimes’ album Visions to be interpretted by 13 different composers for the “Many Visions: Plumes Deconstructs the Music of Grimes” concert series; Jay Z is getting into the venture capital fund game; Woods announced their new album Love Is Love available April 21 from Woodsist & dropped the title track; The xx dropped the Alasdair McLellan video for “Say Something Loving”; Freddie Gibbs announced You Only Live 2wice available March 31 from ESGN Records & dropped the Eric Nelson video for “Crushed Glass”; Lorde dropped “Liability” with news that Melodrama will be available June 16; P.O.S. dropped the video for “Faded” ft. Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon & Lady Midnight off the Minneapolis emcee’s album Chill, dummy; Chance the Rapper announced that he’s donating one million dollars to go toward Chicago Public Schools; Mikal Cronin & Kim Gordon are Self Esteem & they dropped the demo “War/Golden God”; 2 Chainz dropped the tracks “Smartphone” & “It’s a Vibe” ft. Ty Dolla $ign, Trey Songz & Jhené Aiko; Moon Duo announced Occult Architecture Vol. 2 available May 5 from Sacred Bones & dropped the Micah Buzan video for “Lost In Light”; Arthur Moon announced the Our Head EP available March from Velvet Elk Records, release show March 28 in NYC at Rough Trade; Diddy announced that the Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop: The Bad Boy Story documentary will debut at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival; Thom Yorke & Jonny Greenwood delivered the mix “Bloom” for Jun Takahashi’s Undercover show during Paris Fashion Week; Mr. Husband announced the album debut Plaid on Plaid available May 5 from Yellow K Records & dropped “Riding a Lightning Bolt”; Monster Movie dropped the title track from their forthcoming album with “Keep the Voices Distant”; Mastodon dropped “Andromeda” off the upcoming album Emperor of Sand available March 31 from Reprise; Mod Sun dropped Movie on Rostrum Records; The Weeknd dropped the Warren Fu video for “I Feel It Coming” ft. Daft Punk; The Afghan Whigs announced the new album In Spades available May 5 from Sub Pop & dropped the Phil Harder video for “Demon In Profile”; the Georgia Senate honored Killer Mike; Ty Segall announced his first art show titled “Assterpiece Theatre”; Nicki Minaj dropped the tracks “No Frauds” ft. Drake & Lil Wayne, “Changed It” ft. Lil Wayne, “Regret In Your Tears” & the Remy Ma beef continues to escalate; cryptic image indicates Chromatics & Johnny Jewel involvement in new Twin Peaks season; Blonde Redhead dropped the new 3 O’Clock EP & the Virgilio Villoresi video for “Golden Light”; Sean Ono Lennon dropped “Bird Song” co-written with the late great Carrie Fisher, featuring vocals from Willow Smith; Car Seat Headrest announced tour dates; obscure & unreleased J Dilla instrumentals curated by the late icon’s mom Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey titled Motor City will be available April 21 & you can hear “Motor city J-Rocc Blend #1” & then an unearthed Kanye West bit about meeting Dilla surfa
ced; rare Bowie records Cracked Actor (Live in Los Angeles 1974) & Bowpromo dropping April 22 via Record Store Day; Song to Song hype; Dave Chappelle made a hometown city council appearance in Washington D.C. discussing police brutality; Abbey Road studio’s legendary EMI TG12345 Mk IV (in use from 1971-83) recording console is up for auction; Vic Mensa busted for a concealed weapon; SxSW finally rescinded their discriminatory “deportation clauses”; the threat to NYC’s smaller venues; and Dead Gaze said goodbye with Cole Furlow’s post-rehab Marc Bolan ballad “Song For Marc” (but expect further music from the Oxford, MS artist in the near future).