The Playlist: Justin Bieber Boosts a Friend, and 14 More New Songs

Hear the tracks that caught our critics’ attention this week, from Sudan Archives, Sophie, Aminé and more.

By Jon Pareles, Jon Caramanica and Giovanni Russonello

• April 6, 2018

Justin Bieber appears on “Hard 2 Face Reality,” a new song by his longtime collaborator, Poo Bear.CreditMike Windle/Getty Images

Every Friday, pop critics for The New York Times weigh in on the week’s most notable new songs and videos — and anything else that strikes them as intriguing. This week, Sophie takes on glamour and artificiality, ASAP Rocky resurrects Moby’s “Porcelain” and Sudan Archives plucks out a self-empowerment anthem.Agen Poker , QQPoker

Just want the music? Listen to the Playlist on Spotify here (or find our profile: nytimes). Like what you hear? Let us know attheplaylist@nytimes.com and sign up for our Louder newsletter, a once-a-week blast of our pop music coverage.Poker 88

Poo Bear featuring Justin Bieber and Jay Electronica, ‘Hard 2 Face Reality’

This is … unexpected! “Hard 2 Face Reality” begins as a meditative croon by Poo Bear, the singer-songwriter who’s been a behind-the-scenes force for Justin Bieber. So when Mr. Bieber arrives with a warm, tightly-controlled verse, the transition isn’t too jarring. But just when things get comfortable, in drops Jay Electronica, hip-hop metaphysician, with some confidently delivered and unusually phrased truisms: “Reality is kinda hard to face/Like actual facts is to flat-earthers.” Which is, I suppose, true. And yet. JON CARAMANICA