Elmiene has been one of our favorite British imports for quite some time now, and with good reason. The singer-songwriter has been one of the bright lights showing that R&B is very much alive and well through his many singles, EPs and live albums. One of the highlights from this year was his mixtape Heat The Streets, which had the streets buzzing and playlists popping. Now he’s revisiting that magic with his new remix EP Heat The Streets Some Mo’.
Heat The Streets Some Mo’ reimagines three tracks from Heat The Streets — “Useless (Without You),” “Damage Control” and “Miss Hot July” — along with “By Now,” a song featured in many of his live sets that now has a recorded home. But what truly makes the set notable is not just that the songs are remixed, but each of the new versions (except for “By Now”) comes with a special guest feature.
“Useless (Without You)” taps “Delulu” singer Muni Long for the “Begging Remix.” The production on the track is slicked up a bit to give it a late ’90s vibe while it becomes a duet for Elmiene and Muni as they contemplate what life would be like without one another. On “Damage Control,” meanwhile, singer/rapper Jordan Ward adds to the track’s vibes with a verse that recontextualizes the song’s premise while still keeping things on topic.
“Miss Hot July” gets a boost from none other than Shaolin’s own Ghostface Killah, who gives the song a gruff and gritty intro verse that rides atop its piano-based groove. The juxtaposition between Ghost’s grit and Elmiene’s silky smooth vibes adds an extra layer of interest that pushes it to another level that could easily land it on commercial radio.
Then, of course, there’s “By Now.” The song, a bluesy lament about not being over a past lover, plays in Elmiene’s wheelhouse of love and heartbreak. However, there’s an urgency to it that gives it a staying power, which is perhaps why it’s been so cherished by those who’ve heard earlier iterations.
Elmiene’s Heat The Streets Some Mo’ is available now on all digital music services. Stream the EP in full below, then stick around to watch a special live performance of “By Now.”
Elmiene Heat The Streets Some Mo’ [Amazon][Apple Music][TIDAL]
