R. City isn’t a household name yet, but you’ve heard their work. The duo consists of brothers, Theron “Uptown AP” and Timothy “A.I.” Thomas, who’ve helped write plenty of smash hits including Miley Cyrus’ “We Can’t Stop,” Nicki Minaj’s “Only,” and Rihanna’s “Pour It Up.”
Now they’re stepping out from the shadows with their own material. The video for “Locked Away,” which is shooting up the charts, features none other than Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine, rocking a shaved head. The song combines pop heart with a tender dancehall rhythm—the brothers are from the Caribbean island of St. Thomas. The whole thing feels reminiscent of Akon’s “Locked Up,” which we’re definitely not mad about.
Look for “Locked Away” on R. City’s debut EP, due later this summer on Dr. Luke’s Kemosabe Records/RCA.