Isaac Schneider
The search for the ever-elusive “bop” is difficult. Playlists and streaming-service recommendations can only do so much. They often leave a lingering question: Are these songs really good, or are they just new?
Enter Bop Shop, a hand-picked selection of songs from the MTV News team. This weekly collection doesn’t discriminate by genre and can include anything ā it’s a snapshot of what’s on our minds and what sounds good. We’ll keep it fresh with the latest music, but expect a few oldies (but goodies) every once in a while, too. Get ready: The Bop Shop is now open for business.
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Zee Machine, Kelechi: āEverybody Wants Itā
Are you ready to don your leg warmers in July? Sleepy grooves are over and itās time to wake up, tell the world that it wonāt break your soul, and dance the day away. Weāre getting an uplifting flashback groove with Zee Machine and Kelechiās latest single āEverybody Wants It.ā Everything from the beat to the vocal stylings creates nostalgia that pumps serotonin into your veins for the weekend ahead. Zee Machine wrote on Instagram that they are āreally proud of this one because I feel like Iām truly writing music that I wanna listen to now. And hopefully you do too.ā The answer is an easy one: We do! āZach OāConnor
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They. ft. Fana Hues: āComfortableā
They. and Fana Hues get together to curate a secure and slow sexual setting. This velvety track evokes the ideal and effortless balance between power and control when itās built on boundaries and reciprocation. The artists dominate with each verse, but donāt be fooled: Fana Hues makes the rules. āGwyn Cutler
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Muna: āWhat I Wantā
Munaās new self-titled album is an unabashedly queer pop celebration, though no song rings quite as triumphant as their most recent single āWhat I Want.ā Throbbing synths and punctuated vocals set the scene for a retro bop in which they describe the type of night out on the town they desire. If they didnāt have you hooked at opening lyric (āWhen I go out again / Iām gonna drink a lot / Iām gonna take a shot / āCause thatās just what I wantā), then theyāre going to get you astral projecting by the instantly iconic chorus, featuring a simple but assured declaration: āI want to dance in the middle of a gay bar.ā Its flashy video finds them living their reckless rock star fantasies as they take their levels of ādonāt-give-a-fuckā to the extreme alongside a whoās-who of LGBTQ+ icons, including Meg Stalter, Matt Rogers, Leland, and Bronze Avery. āCarson Mlnarik
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J-Hope: āMoreā
Beginning his āChapter 2ā with a bang, BTS member J-Hope takes listeners on a wild and unexpected ride with āMore,ā an edgy, ā90s-inspired hip-hop track designed to be blared. As the first single off the K-pop superstarās upcoming solo album, Jack in the Box, āMoreā serves as an apt representation of J-Hopeās evolution. The track features an almost punk melody, filled with boisterous guitars and distorted electronic sounds that come to a climax at the chorus. When layered with the rapperās iconic rasp and heavy vocal fry, J-Hope creates a melody that you can feel in your soul. Accompanied by a dark, high-concept visual, pulling themes from the myth of Pandora and the surrealist art of Salvador Dali, J-Hope makes it clear that his artistry runs so deep that it simply cannot be contained. We canāt wait to watch Jack escape his box come July 15. āSarina Bhutani
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Quinnie: āTouch Tankā
Quinnie is on full display for her tender TikTok hit āTouch Tank.ā Her naughty and nautical metaphors are hot enough that youāll need to cool off in the kiddie pool. Deeper than that, Quinnie details the infatuation that arises when your level of intimacy is matched, arguing that even casual sex canāt compare to the comfort of a satisfying partner. Seem too good to be true? Youāve got to make a splash while the steamy summer lasts. āGwyn Cutler
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Little Mix: āNoā
If youāve dealt with an ex or even a toxic āfriendā who has repeatedly tried breaking your boundaries, this cathartic song is for you. The ladies of Little Mix refuse to be played around with anymore, and they will not be treated like doormats. āI say, āNo, no, noā / I said āyesā too many times / You should know, know, know,ā they sing. āTold you, āI’m no longer under your controlā / See, I’m not the kind of girl I was before / Can’t walk over me no more.ā Simply put, this is a powerful āfuck youā anthem. āAthena Serrano
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King Princess: āToo Badā
From over-the-top bombastic pop to plucky ballads, King Princess has traversed a variety of genres throughout the singles leading to her forthcoming sophomore album Hold On Baby. Her latest track, āToo Bad,ā finds the indie-pop singer-songwriter at her sweet spot: a classic mix of self-deprecating and sexy. Over cranked-up acoustic guitar and a slow drum loop, she crafts a deserted dive bar-friendly ode to being ātoo muchā in a relationship and the weight of being in love. āOh my god, is it hard to be loved / But thatās life,ā she sings, before twisting the knife in her own heart deeper. āToo bad that Iām never enough.ā Once again, sheās delivered the perfect pity-party soundtrack, whether youāre ready to burn it all down or youāre licking your cuts. āCarson Mlnarik
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Enhypen: āFuture Perfect (Pass the Mic)ā
The members of Enhypen make a thunderous comeback with the release of āFuture Perfect (Pass the Mic),ā the first single off their EP, Manifesto: Day 1. Inspired by the sounds of the Chicago drill scene, the high-energy hip-hop track showcases a darker side of the rising K-pop group. This is especially poignant given the massive success of their light and sweet song āPolaroid Loveā that became a TikTok phenomenon. With an accompanying visual filled with complex group choreography made for the stage, āFuture Perfect (Pass the Mic)ā is a clear representation of Enhypenās goals and aspirations as a group that aims to push boundaries. Since their debut in 2020, the boys of Enhypen have worked diligently to diversify their musical offerings, exploring interesting and unique concepts with each comeback. āFuture Perfect (Pass the Mic)ā not only proves that point, but expands on it. āSarina Bhutani