After a decade penning hits for artists such as Katy Perry, Kesha, Maroon 5, Ed Sheeran, and many more, prolific pop, dance, and hip-hop producer Benny Blanco issued his solo debut Friends Keep Secrets (Interscope) in late 2018. The short album comprises seven tracks assisted by vocalists from across the pop spectrum, including Juice Wrld, Panic at the Disco's Brendon Urie, Calvin Harris, Ty Dolla Sign, 6lack, Rae Sremmurd's Swae Lee, and more. Additional producers Cashmere Cat and Two Inch Punch also contributed. The light mix of electronic-washed dance-meets-hip-hop debuted in the top hundred on the Billboard 200, boosted by chart-topping single "Eastside" which featured Halsey and Khalid on vocal duet and Ed Sheeran as co-writer. ~ Neil Z. Yeung