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Listen to Lupe Fiasco freestyle over Drake’s ‘Champagne Poetry’

Lupe Fiasco has turned Drake‘s ‘Champagne Poetry’ into ‘Diet Soda Poetry’ with a new freestyle over the track.

READ MORE: Drake – ‘Certified Lover Boy’ review: a boring, bloated disappointment

The original song serves as the opener to Drake’s long-awaited sixth studio album, ‘Certified Lover Boy’, which arrived last week after a series of delays. Fiasco took to Twitter upon the album’s release, declaring his love for the cut by writing: “Champagne Poetry is my #1 running it back to back…Goodnight…(if y’all find that beat floating give me a sign)”.

Champagne Poetry is my #1 running it back to back…Goodnight…(if y’all find that beat floating give me a sign ?) #CLB ??

— TAPE TAPE & HOUSE EP NOW PLAYING (@LupeFiasco) September 3, 2021

Sharing his version on Friday (September 10), Fiasco raps: “Just left album mode with me and my n**** [A] Trak / And Drake dropped this shit got me thinkin’ ’bout going back“.

He also references Kanye West‘s recent album release, ‘DONDA’, saying: “I listened to ‘Donda’ / I also listened to Kanye’s mama in real life / That means I’m real twice“.

Check it out below.

It’s one of many freestyles Fiasco has shared in recent years, dropping a tribute to MF DOOM after the legend’s death was announced back in January. Back in 2020, he also shared a freestyle over Beanie Sigel‘s 2001 track ‘Nothing Like It’ and reworked Eminem‘s ‘Stan’ to fire back at claims he doesn’t interact with his fans.

Drake’s ‘Certified Lover Boy’ was given two stars in an NME review, who called the album “a boring, bloated disappointment”. However, the record still went on to score the Toronto rapper his fourth UK Number One album spot.

Watch Royce Da 5’ 9″ celebrate sobriety with Tiny Desk Concert

Detroit rapper Royce Da 5′ 9″ is the latest artist to take on NPR’s Tiny Desk (Home) Concert series, using the occasion to mark his eighth year of sobriety.

Royce’s instalment of series aired on Friday (September 10), consciously coinciding with National Recovery Month in the US.

READ MORE: Royce Da 5’9”: “Eminem doesn’t just rhyme words – he’s a master”

The Grammy-nominated rapper was joined by vocalist Ashley Sorrell, backing singers and a band. They worked their way through ‘God Speed’ and ‘Anything/Everything’ from 2018’s ‘Book Of Ryan’, as well as 2016’s ‘Dead President Heads’ and 2001’s ‘Boom’.

Watch the performance below.

“This is a special moment for me,” Royce said. “This is the world-famous Tiny Desk, at the world-famous Heaven Studios. This is my sanctuary, this is where I spend all my time.”

“I’m also celebrating eight years of sobriety. I decided that I didn’t want the game to chew me up and spit me out. I made a promise to myself; that I was going to leave this motherfucker with everything I came with.”

Royce released his latest album ‘The Allegory’ last year, which NME awarded four stars in a review.

“Royce’s 2018 album ‘Book of Ryan’ was always going to be a tough act to follow, but ‘The Allegory’ stands up as an accomplished body of work, packed full of poetic intricacies and life lessons, soundtracked by the sound of Detroit; it will likely end up on the majority of 2020 end-of-year rap lists,” said NME.

In addition to his solo work, the rapper is known for his work with Eminem as duo Bad Meets Evil, his project PRhyme with DJ Premier and rap supergroup Slaughterhouse, alongside Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, Kxng Crooked.

Foo Fighters Will Receive The Global Icon Award At The 2021 VMAs

On the most famous chorus he ever wrote, Dave Grohl wondered if everything could ever feel this real forever. Nearly a quarter-century later, his Foo Fighters have transcended the humble label of a rock band to become an institution of elder alternative statesmen, rock rulers who are soon to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility.

But before that, at the 2021 MTV VMAs, Grohl and the Foos will become literally planetary by receiving the Global Icon Award. The honor is set to make its debut VMA appearance after being a prestigious MTV EMA staple for years. That's as real as it gets.

https://twitter.com/vmas/status/1428416476982165508

According to a release, the Global Icon Award "celebrates an artist/band whose unparalleled career and continued impact and influence has maintained a unique level of global success in music and beyond. The VMAs will honor the global icon who has left an indelible mark on the musical landscape and continues to influence, inspire, and evolve." The Foos will be joining an impressive collection of past honorees including Queen, Whitney Houston, Eminem, Green Day, U2, and more.

At this year's VMAs, the Foos will continue the celebration with a performance as well, marking their first time rocking the VMA stage since 2007. The band's twisty, black-and-white "Shame Shame" visual is up for three Moonperson awards: Best Rock, Best Cinematography, and Best Choreography. Their first VMA noms came all the way back in 1996, and the last time the group took home a trophy was in 2011.

Since beginning in earnest as Grohl's post-Nirvana solo project in 1994 — he played every instrument on the band's self-titled debut — Foo Fighters have blossomed into a six-piece slick machine rounded out by Nate Mendel on bass, Taylor Hawkins on drums, Pat Smear on guitar, Chris Shiflett on guitar, and Rami Jaffee on keyboards and piano. Together, they've planted a flag at the top of just about every metaphorical mountain. They've had No. 1 albums and singles, toured the world and back, and even remained on the road after Grohl fell off the stage and shattered his fibula in 2015. (He designed and sat in a light-up throne for the remaining dates, strumming a guitar and singing all the while.)

Their influence on a generation is so ingrained that it can be hard to actually quantify. Younger fans might only know Grohl as the bearded, tattooed rock god howling like a werewolf at every concert, appearing in countless music documentaries (including his own), and making a disco record on a lark. But dig deeper and more treasure awaits: the self-deprecating music videos, the resurfaced deep cuts, the sheer consistency and commitment to being unabashed arena-rock stars, and more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNPb7UosJHs

"What we do can be very temporary. Things like this aren't meant to last forever," Grohl told MTV News in 2009. "We just do it one album at a time. You make a record and you think, you know what? If that's the last record, I'm cool, 'cause what an awesome run. That was great. But it doesn't keep you from making another one."

In 1997, Grohl sang "Everlong" as a love song, not a career wish. But 24 years later, the soon-to-be Global Icon Award winners in his band will have something new to love. Not a bad wish after all.

The 2021 MTV VMAs will air live on Sunday, September 12 at 8 p.m. ET/PT from Barclays Center in Brooklyn. This year’s awards will debut a newly redesigned Moonperson statue from fine artist Kehinde Wiley. They will also honor the victims of the 9/11 attacks by collaborating with the nonprofit 9/11 Day on a series of events to promote awareness and positive action around the day’s 20th anniversary. Find the full list of nominees here and the list of announced performers here.

Snoop Dogg labels NBA and NFL “racist” over lack of Black team owners

Snoop Dogg has called the NBA and the NFL “racist” in a new interview, citing the lack of Black people owning teams despite a majority of players being Black.

Speaking to the New York Times, Snoop was asked about Black celebrities and athletes investing in their own start-ups. Snoop himself is quite the entrepreneur, having famously started his own cannabis company, and more recently releasing his own line of gin and red wine.

“Right, because they understand that they got to get it,” when asked about athletes like Steph Curry and Kevin Durant who are making investments in start-ups.

“I mean, you would think that those businesspeople up top would say: ‘You know what? It’s time to change the world. We’ve got to stop treating Black people like they’re less. They’re always the ones who do the hard work, the groundwork, but we never cut them in.'”

He then went on to say, “Why don’t we have an owner in an NFL? That’s just racist. Period, point blank. We need to own an NFL team.

“We got one half-owner in the NBA, Michael Jordan. But the whole league is 90 percent Black. So we still the slaves and they still the masters.”

Snoop then contrasted the leagues to the music industry, where he says Black artists “took the initiative to say, ‘**** that’.

“We’re the masters, and we own our masters. We’re going to negotiate with you the way we think it should be. We changed that industry years ago, with our mentality of having our own labels.”

Snoop also was asked about streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music, and whether he believes they’re treating artists fairly.

“I just don’t understand how you only get this little bit amount of money per stream,” he said.

“I just don’t understand the dynamics of those numbers, and how they can create these systems without Black people up top, while Black people are the ones generating the most money from these systems through the music.”

“We need to be involved early,” he later said.

“They always cut us out. They call Snoop after they got their companies up and are like, ‘Hey, Snoop, you want to be a brand ambassador?’ I want some equity. Give me a piece of the pie. If I can’t get no equity, **** you and your company.”

Outside of his business ventures, Snoop made headlines earlier this month for giving some excellent commentary for the Equestrian event at the Tokyo Olympics.

It was also reported earlier this year that Snoop is working on an anthology series about his life and career.

Listen to a snippet of Nas’ new single ‘Rare’

Nas has shared a snippet of his next single ‘Rare’ – you can listen to it below.

READ MORE: Nas on being a hip-hop legend: “I’m rapping the same way I did when I was on the block”

The song will appear on the New York rapper’s new album ‘King’s Disease II’, which arrives this Friday (August 6) via Mass Appeal Records.

Taking to Instagram today (August 4), Nas revealed that he’ll release the track ‘Rare’ tomorrow (August 5) and shared a clip of its accompanying black-and-white video.

The visuals are also previewed with an official YouTube premiere link – tune in below.

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A post shared by Nasir Jones (@nas)

‘Rare’ will appear as the fifth track on the imminent ‘King’s Disease II’, the tracklist of which was revealed yesterday (August 3). Following on from last year’s ‘King’s Disease’, the record will feature a collaboration with Eminem called ‘EPMD 2’.

Elsewhere, there are team-ups with Ms. Lauryn Hill (on ‘Nobody’), Charlie Wilson (‘No Phony Love’), LA artist Blxst (‘Brunch On Sundays’) and the album’s executive producer Hit-Boy (‘Composure’).

Nas’ King’s Disease’ arrived in August 2020 and went on to win Best Rap Album at the 2021 Grammys, Nas’ first ever award at the ceremony.

In a four-star review of the LP, NME wrote: “‘King’s Disease’ is an acutely perceptive and culturally relevant body of work that finds its author willing to try out new ideas. There’s a genuine conversation to be had about whether it’s the best rap album of the year so far.”

Logic announces ‘Bobby Tarantino III’ mixtape is coming this week

Logic has announced the release of new mixtape, ‘Bobby Tarantino III’, which is set to arrive later this week.

READ MORE: Logic – ‘No Pressure’ review: positive rapper bids farewell with an elegiac and heartfelt swan song

It comes after the Maryland rapper recently teased the third volume in his ‘Bobby Tarantino’ series, tweeting that fans can expect “Fun Tracks and Real Raps” from the project.

This afternoon (July 25), Logic took to Instagram to announce that the third volume will arrive on Friday (July 30), sharing an animated clip using the same red and yellow colour scheme seen on previous ‘Bobby Tarantino’ projects. The imagery then transforms into the tape’s cover art, designed by Sam Spratt.

“Bobby Tarantino III out everywhere Friday,” Logic captioned the artwork, which you can see below.

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A post shared by Logic (@logic)

The rapper’s first ‘Bobby Tarantino’ tape came out in 2016 while the second arrived in 2018, debuting at Number One on the US Billboard 200 chart.

‘Bobby Tarantino III’ will mark Logic’s first full-length release of entirely new music since announcing his retirement from the music industry in July last year.

Despite his retirement announcement, Logic has continued to share a steady string of releases. He shared a beat tape in September of last year and teamed up with Madlib to form a new duo MadGic, releasing new tracks ‘Mars Only Pt. 3’ and ‘Raddest Dad’ in April and May of this year respectively.

Last month, Logic released a new compilation album called ‘The YS Collection’, which compiles songs from across his ‘Young Sinatra’ series.

Making his official return last month with the song ‘Intro’, Logic put the track out just a day after he posted a brief statement on social media saying “I’m back”. From there, he began releasing a new record every Friday, starting with ‘Vaccine’, ‘Get Up’, ‘My Way’, and last week (July 23) he dropped off ‘Call Me’.

Whether any of them will appear on ‘Bobby Tarantino II’ is not yet known, but a snippet of ‘Vaccine’ was used in today’s announcement.

Logic lends his ear to those in need on new track ‘Call Me’

Logic has shared new track ‘Call Me’, the latest in a run of weekly drops from the Maryland rapper – you can listen to it below.

READ MORE: Logic – ‘No Pressure’ review: positive rapper bids farewell with an elegiac and heartfelt swan song

Logic’s new song – produced by Coop The Truth and longtime collaborator 6ix – is the latest in a series of releases as part of his ongoing comeback after retiring from the music industry last year.

Making his return last month with the song ‘Intro’, Logic put the track out just a day after he posted a brief statement on social media saying “I’m back”. From there, he began releasing a new record every Friday, starting with ‘Vaccine’, then ‘Get Up’, and last week (July 16) he dropped off ‘My Way’.

On ‘Call Me’, Logic lends his ear to those in need – a theme similar to that of his 2017 hit single ‘1-800-273-8255’, on which he, Alessia Cara and Khalid discuss suicide prevention with the aim of inspiring people to reach out for help.

“You know you can call me/ When nobody picking up/ When it feel like don’t nobody in the world give a fuck/ Call me/ I’ll be there to pick you up/ 56442, hit me up,” Logic raps on the song’s chorus.

You can listen to ‘Call Me’ below:

Logic recently teased a third volume of his ‘Bobby Tarantino’ mixtape series, tweeting that fans can expect “Fun Tracks and Real Raps” from the third tape in the series. The first ‘Bobby Tarantino’ tape came out in 2016 while the second arrived in 2018, debuting at Number One on the US Billboard 200 chart.

Despite announcing his retirement in July of last year, Logic has continued to share a steady string of releases. He shared a beat tape in September of last year and teamed up with Madlib to form a new duo MadGic, releasing new tracks ‘Mars Only Pt. 3’ and ‘Raddest Dad’ in April and May of this year respectively.

Last month, Logic released a new compilation album called ‘The YS Collection’, which compiles songs from across his ‘Young Sinatra’ series.

The series consists of the mixtapes ‘Young Sinatra’ (2011), ‘Young Sinatra: Undeniable’ (2012), ‘Young Sinatra: Welcome To Forever’ (2013), and the studio album ‘YSIV’ (2018).

Jack Harlow talks setting an example for “white kids” in Black culture

Jack Harlow has spoken of his responsibility to set an example for white fans and rappers in Black culture.

The Louisville artist, who released his debut album ‘That’s What They All Say’ last December, told Footwear News in a new interview that he “feels blessed to have a voice in this period”.

“…Because, one, I’m not a street artist, and two, I’m not Black,” Harlow explained. “The only thing keeping me here right now is that level of authenticity, of being myself.”

He also reflected on participating in a protest against the murder of Breonna Taylor, which took place in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky (the police officers involved in the fatal shooting did not face charges relating to her death).

Diddy confirms he’s working on his first project in six years

Diddy looks set to make a return to releasing music, promising fans that he’s currently at work on a “classic”.

The Bad Boy Records founder and business mogul took to Twitter earlier today (July 11) to alert people to what he’s working on. “I’m making a classic,” he tweeted, before sharing it on his Instagram.

Diddy’s (real name Sean Combs) last project was the 2015 mixtape ‘MMM (Money Making Mitch)’, which featured tracks with Future, Big Sean, French Montana, Ty Dolla $ign, Lil Kim and more.

He released the collaborative albums ‘Last Train To Paris’ (with Dawn Richard and Kalenna Harper; as Diddy – Dirty Money) and ’11 11′ (with Guy Gerber) in 2010 and 2014 respectively, while his last solo album was 2006’s ‘Press Play’.

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A post shared by LOVE (@diddy)

A number of stars commented on Diddy’s Instagram post including Ray J, who wrote: “#TheLoveEra LOVE LOVE LOVE,” which relates to Diddy’s recent name change. In May, the ‘No Way Out’ hitmaker legally changed his name to Sean ‘Love’ Combs.

Rae Sremmurd rapper Swae Lee posted a pair of prayer hand emojis on the post, while Keyshia Cole shared a fire emoji. Other comments came from Gangsta Boo, Stacy Barthe, and Gizzle, the latter of whom appeared on ‘Money Making Mitch’.

Last month, J. Cole and Diddy re-enacted their infamous 2013 VMAs after-party altercation in a new social media video.

Diddy took to Instagram to share a video of him and Cole jokingly squaring up to each other on a balcony. The pair started off by posing for a photograph together when Cole positioned himself into a fighting stance catching Diddy off guard. The pair then laughed about the incident with clenched fists as they stared each other down.

The clip arrived after Cole confirmed the long-rumoured altercation, which took place at an after-party following the MTV Video Music Awards in 2013, on recent track ‘Let Go My Hand’, featuring Bas and 6LACK.

Listen to Logic silence the haters on new single ‘Get Up’

Logic continues to cement his return to music with the release of ‘Get Up’ – you can listen to the new single below.

READ MORE: Logic – ‘No Pressure’ review: positive rapper bids farewell with an elegiac and heartfelt swan song

‘Get Up’ is the latest in a series of releases as part of the rapper’s ongoing comeback after retiring from the music industry last year. He made his return last month with the song ‘Intro’, just a day after he posted a brief statement on social media saying “I’m back”.

In his new song, Logic gives thanks to his team and his family while getting lost in an intoxicating hook that hears him rise above the haters and those trying to keep him down: “Every time I fall, you know I get up/ Try to keep me down but I get up/ Y’all say what you want but I’ma get up/ Bitch, I’ma get up.”

He also takes a moment to take a shot at his label, Def Jam Recordings, following claims he made last year that the iconic label owed money to some of his collaborators. “I walk up in Def Jam like ‘Fuck y’all, pay up’,” he raps on ‘Get Up’.

Listen to ‘Get Up’ below:

Last week, Logic dropped his first official comeback single, ‘Vaccine‘. On the track he raps about the strength of his comeback, and teases a third volume of his ‘Bobby Tarantino’ mixtape series: “Ready to fuck up the game/ BT3 now we at it again, mane.”

Soon after the track’s release, Logic further teased the mixtape, tweeting that fans can expect “Fun Tracks and Real Raps” from the third tape in the series. The first ‘Bobby Tarantino’ came out in 2016 while the second arrived in 2018, debuting at Number One on the US Billboard 200 chart.

Despite announcing his retirement in July of last year, Logic continued to share a steady string of releases. He shared a beat tape in September of last year and teamed up with Madlib to form a new duo MadGic, releasing new tracks ‘Mars Only Pt. 3’ and ‘Raddest Dad’ in April and May of this year respectively.

Last month, Logic released a new compilation album called ‘The YS Collection’, which compiles songs from across his ‘Young Sinatra’ series.

The series consists of the mixtapes ‘Young Sinatra’ (2011), ‘Young Sinatra: Undeniable’ (2012), ‘Young Sinatra: Welcome To Forever’ (2013), and the studio album ‘YSIV’ (2018).

50 Cent announces he’s working on a new celebrity battle rap show

50 Cent has announced that he’s working on a new celebrity battle rap television show.

READ MORE: Soundtrack Of My Life – 50 Cent On Miley Cyrus, Michael Jackson and Bobby Womack’s power to move

According to Deadline, Unrapped is a competitive hip-hop reality series that will be produced by his G-Unit Film & Television company and SFO Entertainment.

50’s new show will be a contest that features celebrity contestants who will be coached by well-known rap mentors in a battle rap tournament. The weekly show will see contestants go head-to-head until a winner emerges. Casting has already begun for the show.

“I am excited to expand my relationship with ABC,” 50 said in a statement. “Unrapped brings G-Unit Film and Television’s ability to put incredible music and musical talent on screen to the competition space.”

50 (real name Curtis Jackson) will act as executive producer on the show, alongside Antonio Collier, Jon Sheinberg, Susie Ursitti Sheinberg, Gwen Osborne, and Matt Feige.

50 Cent is among the long list of names that have been announced for December’s Once Upon A Time In LA festival.

Snoop leads the bill alongside R&B legend Al Green, with 50, YG and Ice Cube rounding out the slate of headliners. They’ll be joined by a further 59 acts, including Xzibit, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and Cypress Hill, and relative newcomers like OhGeesy, Blueface and Kamaiyah.

Meanwhile, three men have been arrested on suspicion of stealing $3million (£2.1million) in cash and jewellery from a business in New Jersey owned by 50 Cent.

Matthew Gale, Richard Murphy and Travis Villalobos are accused of breaking into an apartment building that was leased for a firm owned by the rapper earlier this year, before stealing a huge haul of cash and diamonds.

Juvenile and Mannie Fresh turn ‘Back That Azz Up’ into pro-vaccine PSA

Juvenile and Mannie Fresh have reworked their classic 1999 anthem ‘Back That Azz Up’ into a public service announcement to encourage people to get the coronavirus vaccine.

READ MORE: ‘Don’t Stand So Close To Me’: UK’s most popular coronavirus quarantine songs revealed

The pair – along with No Limit rapper Mia X – have teamed up with Black singles dating app BLK to release ‘Vax That Thang Up’, a modified version of the song which originally appeared on Juvenile’s third studio album, ‘400 Degreez’.

Over the familiar bounce of Fresh’s production, the new version hears Juvenile rap: “Girl you look good once you vax that thang up/ You a handsome young brother once you vax that thang up.”

Towards the end of the track, Mia adds: “Of you wanna get sticky and hot/ Go, go, go, go get the shot/ If you wanna smash some dude named Scott/ Go, go, go, go get the shot.”

Watch the video for the new take of ‘Back That Azz Up’ below:

Explaining why he chose to get involved in the campaign, Juvenile said: “I just wanted to do something positive for my people and to stand in the front to show that I’m willing to sacrifice my life not just for me but also for my family.”

He added: “We don’t know what we’re facing right now but we really do all need to be vaccinated so we can continue to do our thing and survive.”

According to a recent survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Americans aged 18 to 29 are still the demographic least likely to be vaccinated and the least likely planning to get vaccinated in comparison to other age groups.

Jonathan Kirkland, BLK’s Head of Brand & Marketing, said ‘Vax That Thang Up’ “may be playful and fun, but the underlying message is as real as it gets.”
In addition to the new track, BLK has also unveiled a “Vaxified” badge on its app, which allows singles to promote their vaccination status. The campaign was created in partnership with the Shaquille O’Neal co-founded marketing agency Majority.

Last month, Tenacious D’s Kyle Gass reworked Ramones record ‘I Wanna Be Sedated’ into a COVID vaccination anthem.

Changing the words of the punk classic to encourage people to get their vaccination jab, Gass sings: “Twenty, twenty, twenty-four hours from now/ I’m getting vaccinated/ Waited so long that I wrote down this song/ I’m getting vaccinated.”

The comedic musician has accompanied the spoof with a video that features cameos from Evanescence singer Amy Lee, Danko Jones, Toto’s Steve Lukather and many others.

The Smithsonian Institution to release 129-song anthology of rap music

The Smithsonian has announced a nine-disc boxset of rap music to document the genre and celebrate hip-hop culture.

The world’s largest museum, education and research complex, The Smithsonian Institution, and its label Smithsonian’s Folkway Records has compiled the anthology with help from a committee including Chuck D and MC Lyte, Questlove and former Def Jam executives Bill Adler and Bill Stephney.

Released on August 20, the compendium’s 129 tracks span the history of rap, from pioneers including Grandmaster Flash through the genre’s “golden age” practitioners (2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G. and more) and through to contemporary stars including Nicki Minaj and Kanye West.

As Consequence Of Sound reports, the boxset is a collaboration with The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture and also comes with “a 300-page book featuring essays by leading hip-hop luminaries, writers and critics, as well as liner notes and hundreds of photographs documenting decades of hip-hop history”.

‘The Smithsonian Anthology Of Hip-Hop And Rap’ tracklist:

Disc 1
01. Fatback – ‘King Tim III’
02. Sugarhill Gang – ‘Rapper’s Delight’
03. The Sequence – ‘Funk You Up’
04. Kurtis Blow – ‘The Breaks’
05. Funky Four +1 – ‘That’s the Joint’
06. Spoonie Gee feat. The Sequence – ‘Monster Jam’
07. Treacherous Three – ‘The Body Rock’
08. Blondie – ‘Rapture’
09. Grandmaster Flash – ‘The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel’
10. Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force – ‘Planet Rock’

Disc 2
01. Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five – ‘The Message’
02. The Fearless Four – ‘Rockin It’
03. Cold Crush Brothers – ‘Punk Rock Rap’
04. Herbie Hancock – ‘Rockit’
05. Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force – ‘Looking for the Perfect Beat’
06. Run-DMC – ‘It’s Like That’
07. Whodini – ‘Friends’
08. Cold Crush Brothers – ‘Fresh, Fly, Wild & Bold’
09. T. La Rock – ‘It’s Yours’
10. The World’s Famous Supreme Team – ‘Hey! DJ’
11. Newcleus – ‘Jam On It’
12. UTFO – ‘Roxanne, Roxanne’

Disc 3
01. Roxanne Shanté – ‘Roxanne’s Revenge’
02. Fat Boys – ‘Fat Boys’
03. Doug E. Fresh & MC Ricky D – ‘La Di Da Di’
04. LL Cool J – ‘I Can’t Live without my Radio’
05. Schoolly D – ‘P.S.K. What Does It Mean?’
06. Run-DMC feat. Aerosmith – ‘Walk This Way’
07. Beastie Boys – ‘Paul Revere’
08. Ultramagnetic MC’s – ‘Ego Tripping’
09. Ice-T – ‘6 ‘N The Mornin’’
10. Kool Moe Dee – ‘How Ya Like Me Now’
11. LL Cool J – ‘I Need Love’
12. Eric B feat. Rakim – ‘Eric B is President’
13. Mantronix – ‘King of The Beats’

Disc 4
01. Stetsasonic feat. the Rev. Jesse Jackson & Olatunji – ‘A.F.R.I.C.A.’
02. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – ‘Parents Just Don’t Understand’
03. Audio Two – ‘Top Billin’’
04. MC Lyte – ‘Lyte As A Rock’
05. Big Daddy Kane – ‘Raw’
06. Marley Marl feat. Master Ace, Craig G, Kool G Rap, & Big Daddy Kane – ‘The Symphony’
07. MC Lyte – ‘I Cram to Understand U (Sam)’
08. Tone Lōc – ‘Wild Thing’
09. Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock – ‘It Takes Two’
10. Jungle Brothers – ‘I’ll House You’
11. N.W.A. – ‘Fuck Tha Police’
12. Public Enemy – ‘Fight the Power’
13. The Stop the Violence Movement – ‘Self Destruction’
14. Too Short – ‘Life Is…Too Short’
15. Slick Rick – ‘Children’s Story’
16. 3rd Bass – ‘The Gas Face’

Disc 5
01. Queen Latifah feat. Monie Love – ‘Ladies First’
02. Public Enemy – ‘Bring the Noise’
03. De La Soul – ‘Me Myself and I’
04. Biz Markie – ‘Just a Friend’
05. The D.O.C. – ‘It’s Funky Enough’
06. 2 Live Crew – ‘Me So Horny’
07. Digital Underground – ‘The Humpty Dance’
08. MC Hammer – ‘U Can’t Touch This’
09. Vanilla Ice – ‘Ice Ice Baby’
10. Brand Nubian – ‘All for One’
11. Geto Boys – ‘Mind Playing Tricks on Me’
12. A Tribe Called Quest – ‘Scenario’
13. Black Sheep – ‘The Choice is Yours’
14. Salt-N-Pepa – ‘Let’s Talk About Sex’
15. Yo-Yo feat. Ice-Cube – ‘Can’t Play with My Yo-Yo’
16. Naughty By Nature – ‘O.P.P.’

Disc 6
01. Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Doggy Dogg – ‘Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang’
02. Ice Cube – ‘It Was a Good Day’
03. Sir Mix-A-Lot – ‘Baby Got Back’
04. Arrested Development – ‘Tennessee’
05. Digable Planets – ‘Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)’
06. House of Pain – ‘Jump Around’
07. Positive K – ‘I Got a Man’
08. Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – ‘They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)’
09. UGK – ‘Pocket Full of Stones’
10. Wu-Tang Clan – ‘C.R.E.A.M.’
11. Cypress Hill – ‘Insane In The Brain’
12. The Pharcyde – ‘Passin’ Me By’
13. Eightball & MJG – ‘Comin Out Hard’
14. Common Sense – ‘I Used to Love H.E.R.’
15. Da Brat – ‘Funkdafied’
16. Nas – ‘N.Y. State of Mind’
17. Craig Mack feat. The Notorious B.I.G., Rampage, LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes – ‘Flava In Your Ear’

Disc 7
01. Beastie Boys – ‘Sabotage’
02. The Notorious B.I.G. – ‘Juicy’
03. Gang Starr feat. Nice & Smooth – ‘DWYCK’
04. Warren G feat. Nate Dogg – ‘Regulate’
05. Snoop Doggy Dogg – ‘Murder Was The Case’
06. E-40 feat. Suga T – ‘Sprinkle Me’
07. Goodie Mob – ‘Cell Therapy’
08. Coolio feat. L.V. – ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’
09. 2Pac – ‘Dear Mama’
10. Mobb Deep – S’hook Ones, Part 2′
11. Method Man feat. Mary J. Blige – ‘I’ll Be There For You / You’re All I Need To Get By’
12. Foxy Brown feat. Jay-Z – ‘I’ll Be’
13. Lil Kim feat. Puff Daddy – ‘No Time’
14. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony – ‘Tha Crossroads’
15. Wu-Tang Clan feat. Cappadonna – ‘Triumph’
16. Busta Rhymes – ‘Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See’
17. Master P feat. Silkk The Shocker, Mia X, Fiend – ‘Make ‘Em Say Uhh!’

Disc 8
01. Missy Elliot – ‘The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)’
02. Lauryn Hill – ‘Doo Wop (That Thing)’
03. DMX – ‘Ruff Ryders’ Anthem’
04. The Roots – ‘The Next Movement’
05. Mos Def – ‘Mathematics’
06. BG – ‘Bling Bling’
07. dead prez – ‘Hip Hop’
08. Eminem feat. Dido – ‘Stan’
09. OutKast – ‘Ms. Jackson’
10. Nelly – C’ountry Grammar (Hot Shit)’
11. Ludacris feat. Pharrell – ‘Southern Hospitality’
12. Nas – ‘One Mic’
13. 50 Cent – ‘In Da Club’
14. Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz feat. Ying Yang Twins – ‘Get Low’

Disc 9
01. Talib Kweli – ‘Black Girl Pain’
02. Kanye West – ‘Jesus Walks’
03. Three 6 Mafia feat. Young Buck, Eightball & MJG – ‘Stay Fly’
04. Rick Ross – ‘Hustlin’’
05. Lupe Fiasco feat. Nikki Jean – ‘Hip-Hop Saved My Life’
06. Young Jezzy feat. Nas – ‘My President’
07. David Banner feat. Chris Brown & Yung Joc – ‘Get Like Me’
08. Lil Wayne feat. Robin Thicke – ‘Tie My Hands’
09. Jay Electronica – ‘Exhibit C’
10. Nicki Minaj – ‘Super Bass’
11. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz – ‘Thrift Shop’
12. J Cole feat. TLC – ‘Crooked Smile’
13. Kanye West – ‘Blood On The Leaves’
14. Drake – ‘Started From the Bottom’

‘The Smithsonian Anthology Of Hip-Hop And Rap’ tracklist is Smithsonian Folkways’ third in a series of anthologies set to define particular eras of music “of, by, and for the people,” after similar compendiums dedicated to the history of American folk music and jazz.

Pre-orders are available here.

Beck says Oasis were one of the first UK acts to embrace him early in his career

Beck has revealed that Oasis were one of the first UK acts to embrace him early on in his career, at a time when he was struggling to get a gig in England.

READ MORE: Oasis – every album ranked and rated

Speaking to Matt Wilkinson on his Apple Music show to mark 25 years of his fifth album ‘Odelay’, the American singer-songwriter discussed Oasis remixing his 1996 song ‘Devils Haircut’, and how the legendary band were one of the first to show him love.

“England was the one place I really just couldn’t gig. There was no love there at all for me,” he explained. “So I got this call from my A&R, from Art Cates, he said: ‘I was just in London and I was hanging out with the Gallagher brothers and I gave them a copy of ‘Odelay’ and they’re obsessed with it. And they want to do a remix.’I said, ‘Holy, shit.'”

He continued: ‘What’s The Story Morning Glory’ had just come out. And it was huge. It was blowing up. So they wanted to go into the studio and do a remix of ‘Devil’s Haircut’. And I thought, ‘I didn’t even know they did remixes.'”

Beck then recalled a small show he played in London, where Liam Gallagher and other members of Oasis sat front row singing the lyrics to all of his songs.

“I remember we were playing at a little theatre, classic London, little theatre,” he recalled. “I come out on stage, completely jet lagged. I’m wearing a ’60s suit, a suit jacket and a tie. Definitely not grunge. And right in front of me, in the front row was Liam and I couldn’t believe they were even there. And he was singing all the words. He knew all the words to ‘New Pollution’ and ‘Devils Haircut’.

“So the first thing I thought of when you said, ‘What was surprising when people heard this record?’ It was seeing Oasis right there at that in ’96, there in the front singing the words back. It was like, my mind was blown. They were so open, armed and embracing me and generous. And I’ve never received that from another musician.

He concluded: “They were just kind of like, ‘You’re in the club. You’re one of our guys.’ And that kind of acceptance was what you dream about when you’re first starting to make music.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Beck said he was planning to sample Labi Siffre’s ‘I Got The…’ before Eminem beat him to it.

Alchemist teases secret album hidden on YouTube

US producer Alchemist has hidden a secret album somewhere on YouTube, inviting fans to hunt it down.

The record has been uploaded under a fake album title, song names and album artwork, the producer said on Twitter earlier this week. The artist hasn’t indicated that the album has been found yet.

We hid a whole album on youtube under a fake name and youtube page . Fake album cover, song titles, the whole 9. Nobody found it yet.

— Alchemist Type Beat (@Alchemist) May 22, 2021

Despite fans asking for hints on how to find the hidden music, the producer hasn’t provided any more information. However, he also said on Twitter that a vinyl re-pressing of his 2011 joint album with Curren$y, ‘Cover Coup’, as well as two new instalments of his Craft Singles collection, would soon be available.

Alchemist’s most recent work was his April release ‘This Thing Of Ours’. The eight-track record included features from Earl Sweatshirt, Pink Siifu, Boldy James, Navy Blue, Maxo and Sideshow. It arrived a month after he released ‘Haram’, a collaboration with Armand Hammer.

Last year, Alchemist worked with Freddie Gibbs on ‘Alfredo’, which went on to earn him a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album. He ultimately lost to Nas‘ ‘King’s Disease’.

Elsewhere in 2020, Alchemist worked with Conway The Machine on the collaborative EP ‘Lulu’ and ‘The Price of Tea in China’, his second collaborative album with Boldy James.

‘Charlie Bit My Finger’ to be removed from YouTube after NFT sells for over £500,000

Early viral YouTube hit ‘Charlie Bit My Finger’ is to be removed from the website after selling as a non-fungible token (NFT).

READ MORE: Burning Banksys and rubbish tweets: these are the most WTF NFTs so far

The video, which has been viewed over 880million times, was first uploaded by the Davies-Carr family in May 2007.

It has now sold at auction to a person known only as ‘3fmusic’, who purchased it for $760,999 (£538,000) after a bidding war with ‘mememaster’.

The clip was due to be removed from the site yesterday (May 23), but is currently still online as an unlisted video.

Other longstanding memes recently sold as NFTs include ‘Disaster Girl’, a picture of a young girl smiling in front of a burning building, which sold for $473,000 (£341,000), and ‘Nyan Cat’, which sold for $580,000 (£409,000) in February.

Chris Crocker of the viral clip ‘Leave Britney Alone’ sold the video as an NFT for $41,000 (£28,890), and said the funds will help pay for their grandmother’s care, as well as transition surgery.

NFTs have also made significant impact in the music industry this year, with the likes of Eminem, Grimes, Kings Of Leon, Gorillaz, Lewis Capaldi and Aphex Twin all selling work through the format.

An NFT, as NME‘s Mark Beaumont explained in a blog, is a form of cryptocurrency asset. Most cryptocurrencies are fungible (or ‘spendable’) tokens; you can exchange them for other cryptocurrencies or spend them on goods where they’re accepted.

“Non-fungible tokens act like digital gold bars, rare trading cards or paintings kept in safe storage – they’re kept on the blockchain (basically a Cloud for financial assets, but where everyone with an account keeps a note of what you own) in your name but you can only sell or trade them as collectibles,” he wrote.

Lloyd Banks shares new trailer for forthcoming album ‘COTI’

Lloyd Banks has shared a second teaser trailer for his upcoming album ‘COTI’.

READ MORE: Eminem vs everyone: a massive list of every one of Slim Shady’s lyrical feuds

The G-Unit rapper previously released an instrumental trailer for the project on his 39th birthday last month (April 30). On Friday (May 21) he released another, this time with a monologue recorded over the same piano backing.

“We have been simply faded in our own existence,” Banks says in the black-and-white clip. “But what do we say to the people who fear the choices they’ll have to make without any bit of guidance in this world? As if they already don’t have a sense of direction. If they’re not sure if it’s their time to shine or stray.”

Watch the official trailer below.

Banks hasn’t released a full-length project since his 2016 mixtape ‘Halloween Havoc 3: Four Days Of Fury’, but it appears ‘COTI’ – which, at the end of the trailer, is revealed to be an acronym for ‘The Course Of The Inevitable’ – is on its way soon.

Earlier this year, it was confirmed that G-Unit leader 50 Cent and Black-ish creator Kenya Barris are developing a new Netflix series based on The 50th Law, the bestselling book co-authored by the rapper alongside Robert Greene.

The 50th Law is a semi-autobiographical account of the ‘I Get Money’ artist’s early life and career, which also includes quotes from historical figures such as Sun Tzu, Socrates, Napoleon, Abraham Lincoln, and Malcolm X.

Barris will co-write and executive produce the pilot script with Hale Rothstein, who executive produces Netflix comedy series blackAF alongside Barris, as well as Greene and Jackson via G-Unit, according to Deadline.

Bebe Rexha Goes Deeper: ‘People Need Real Right Now’

By Jack Irvin

As Bebe Rexha settles into a Zoom call from her Los Angeles home, I preface our interview by letting her know it’s “for Rexhars and Bad Bitches only,” referencing a 2017 viral clip in which the pop star yells at “perverts” telling her to “take [her] clothes off” in the comments of an Instagram Live chat. “Yay! Finally,” Rexha says, unwrapping a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup after a long day of press. “Now let’s get the real fucking talking out.”

Rexha isn’t afraid to say exactly what she’s thinking, and it shows in her songwriting. On confessional hits “I’m a Mess” and “Me, Myself & I” with G-Eazy, she sings candidly about her experiences with anxiety, depression, and self-acceptance. It also appears in her social media presence, which features equally candid and often unfiltered discourse with fans, as well as funny photos and clips that are frequent fodder for stan Twitter memes. Where some viral videos capture her making “power-bitch moves,” as when she’s caught confidently strutting in a bright red suit, others find her overcome with emotion: In one clip, she covers her face with her hands and cries during an interview. Rexha is well-aware of her tendency to freely express her thoughts and emotions, but how does she feel when these vulnerable moments are shared among the masses?

“I’ve seen them sometimes, like the one of me crying... [and] the ‘pervert’ one I know, but I didn’t know how big it became until I had people coming to my shows and saying it to me,” Rexha tells MTV News. “If I look good and it’s cute, yeah, I like it. But if I look like shit and they’re making fun of me, no.”

Prior to our conversation, Rexha didn’t know the “power bitch moves” video had made the rounds online, but with her sophomore LP Better Mistakes — her most liberated body of work to date — out in the world as of last week, she says the album certainly counts as one. “A power-bitch move to me is anything that requires putting yourself out there,” she says. “This album is a power-boss-bitch move.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEUmYOD-G54

Better Mistakes comes nearly three years after the release of her debut album Expectations, a gap elongated by changes to the pop star’s team. (She signed to Salxco Management in September 2020.) As she began to craft the new project, Rexha wanted it to live in the same catchy, vulnerable realm of the self-deprecating “I’m a Mess,” which she feels “most connected to” of her catalog of hits. From there, she was inspired to write songs like the piano-driven, self-destructive “Sabotage” and rock-laced “Break My Heart Myself,” which opens the album with direct references to her experience living with bipolar disorder, taking Klonopin to remedy its symptoms, and fearing her own intrusive thoughts. Through her no-holds-barred lyricism and openness about her bipolar diagnosis, which she shared publicly in 2019, she’s always been honest with fans about her mental health. But now she’s letting listeners into her head like never before.

“When I was younger, I would have loved to have somebody to look up to that was open about [mental health], so I didn't feel so alone,” she says. “It’s something that'll always be a part of me, and I was thinking if I'm real with my fans, maybe there's somebody out there who will listen to it and it'll help them.”

Writing about these often-taboo topics comes easily to Rexha, a seasoned songwriter who’s also penned hits for superstar artists like Selena Gomez (“Like a Champion,” “Crowded Room”), as well as Eminem and Rihanna (“The Monster”). However, she still gets pangs of nervousness before releasing such intimate tracks about her mental health due to how they affect one listener in particular. “My mother, for some reason, feels like she made a mistake and fucked up in some way,” she says. Rexha wrote the Queen-sampling track “Mama” about her mom’s endless support. “I love her to this day. She gets a little upset when I put songs out [about my mental health], but I'm a grown woman now, and people need real right now.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG6D_KrdABo

Rexha was nearly done with Better Mistakes prior to the pandemic, but after its onset, she decided to take more time to sit with it. Then, she started to feel “really bored” and tired of the compositions’ gloomy nature, so she added songs like the club-ready “Sacrifice” and trap crooner “Amore.” These brought bursts of positive, upbeat energy to the project’s eclectic set of pop, dance, hip-hop, rock, and alternative sounds. “I’m like genre-fluid or something,” Rexha declares. “It’s painful for somebody to be like, ‘You have to write one whole album and have it all be one genre.’ Like, I would literally lose my shit.”

One of the only genres she opted to avoid on the album is country, despite the fact that her 2017 single “Meant to Be” with Florida Georgia Line is her biggest hit, with 50 weeks at No. 1 on country radio, a Grammy nomination, and more recently, a Diamond certification from the RIAA for 10 million units sold. “That was a song that lives on its own,” she says, noting that she “wasn’t in the mood” to further explore play with its stripped, plucky tunes this time around, though she’s considering a Nashville writing trip in the near future. In many ways, her foray into Western styles was unexpected, as was the monstrous success of “Meant to Be.” “We did not follow any rules whatsoever,” she adds. “I don’t like following rules.”

She shared the same sentiment working on Better Mistakes by doing what comes naturally to her, and has just so happened to score her many — often unpredictable — hits in the past: collaborating with other musicians. She gathered a group of artists she admires and who simply “felt right” for the record, including Travis Barker (“Break My Heart Myself”), Ty Dolla $ign and Trevor Daniel (“My Dear Love”), Lil Uzi Vert (“Die For a Man”), Doja Cat (“Baby I’m Jealous”), Pink Sweat$ and Lunay (“On the Go”), and Rick Ross (“Amore”). Flexing her curatorial skills, the inclusion of such high-profile features makes the album sound like a top Spotify playlist, a savvy move in today’s listening climate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PznMpRASjAg

Rexha also wants to uplift other artists with her work, hosting the annual Women in Harmony events to bring together women in the music industry to discuss their experiences. She hopes to collaborate with many more women in the future, and an appearance by Doja Cat on Better Mistakes (“I love her vibe. She’s an amazing person,” she says) is a start. “With girls, there’s still a sense of competitiveness in this industry, and it’s really sad,” she says. “I see a lot of other artists who also say they support women, and I know them behind the scenes, and they don't. They're not what they say they are, and that's really shitty.”

Though Rexha still experiences “moments of self-doubt,” she says she’s “definitely in a better place” with her mental health today than she was while writing Better Mistakes. Yet even the fact that she’s also been in a relationship with filmmaker Keyan Safyari since last year doesn’t drive the musician to write about bright subjects like love. Instead, the album features lyrics that chronicle feelings of emptiness and bring a touch of cheekiness to emotional highs and lows (“I know that it’s crazy to die for you, but I’d do it tonight,” she sings on “Death Row.”), making for a dark, edgy listen. “I thrive in darker, minor keys, and darker lyrics and concepts,” she says. “I’m good with my love life, but I can’t write a love song. It’s really hard for me.”

While she felt some of the classic sophomore-album pressure to recapture the success of her debut, above all else Rexha set out to create each song on Better Mistakes without creative restraint or extreme-hit potential in mind. “Right now, it's more about writing songs that make me happy, and to really keep defining who I am as an artist,” she says. “Then if the song blows up, that's even more incredible. But if not, it doesn't define me as a human.” Now that the album’s out, however, how does Rexha want to be defined as an artist? “Like I do whatever the fuck I want,” she says. “I want people to be like, ‘What’s Bebe going to do next?’”

Hear Taking Back Sunday and Wu-Tang Clan members team up with Q-Unique for ‘Verrazzano Villains’

Members of Taking Back Sunday and Wu-Tang Clan have joined forces with Q-Unique and DJ Eclipse for a new song, ‘Verrazzano Villains’.

READ MORE: The Other Kings of Staten Island: a guide to the NYC borough for Wu-Tang Clan fans

The collaboration features Taking Back Sunday’s Adam Lazzara and John Nolan alongside Wu-Tang Clan’s Cappadonna, who come together for a brooding rap track.

Produced by Red Right, which is the production duo of Daniel Wallace and Mark O’Connell (the latter best known as the drummer for Taking Back Sunday), the single marks another strong turn from Puerto Rican musician Q-Unique, who’s known for his work with rap group Arsonists and nu metallers StillWell.

Indie label founders and production duo Red Right said: “Q-Unique came to collaborate with Red Right Recordings through our mutual friend, Sam Hoyos (lead singer for Playing Dead). Ever since creating the label in 2017, we’ve been searching for an MC that aligned with our vision. Q has been a natural fit since the day we met him and we think ‘Verrazzano Villains’ is just the beginning of a collaboration that we think is going to produce some of Q-Unique’s best work yet.

“How the single came about was Cappadonna jumped on the track after linking up with us and taking a liking to it. Then we got bandmates Adam Lazzara and John Nolan for the hook; followed by us asking Q’s longtime friend and manager, DJ Eclipse [host of the weekly mix show Rap Is Outta Control on Eminem’s SiriusXM channel: Shade 45], to do the scratches.”

In other news, a man was jailed last month for fraud after claiming to be associated with Wu-Tang Clan and Roc Nation.

According to WRDW, Florida man Aaron Barnes-Burpo was sentenced to seven years after stealing hospitality services while claiming to be affiliated with the legendary Staten Island group and Jay-Z‘s multi-service agency.

The 29-year-old was sentenced to 84 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He was also told to pay almost $300,000 to the 19 businesses he defrauded and will serve three years of supervised release after completing his term behind bars.

Logic and Madlib form new duo MadGic and share first track ‘Mars Only Pt.3’

Logic and Madlib have joined forces to form a new duo called MadGic – listen to their first track below.

READ MORE: Logic – ‘No Pressure’ review: positive rapper bids farewell with an elegiac and heartfelt swan song

The surprise team up comes after Logic announced last year that he would be retiring from music following the release of his latest album, ‘No Pressure’, which arrived in July.

However, the Maryland rapper did joke in a previous interview that Madlib would be the only person who could bring him out of retirement.

To accompany the announcement, the pair have shared a new track, ‘Mars Only Pt.3’. Incorporating funky basslines, boom bap drums and Madlib’s trademark soul samples, the record hears Logic hint that he and the acclaimed producer have a full album together.

“Logic and Madlib is MadGic, your catalogue tragic/ Fuck a underground, fuck a pop sound/ Made this whole album in a lockdown, hip hop is our town/ Hairline like Doc Brown but I’m killin’ it,” Logic raps.

Whether the project will be released and when is not yet known.

Listen to ‘Mars Only Pt.3’ below:

This isn’t the only new music Logic has released since his retirement. Earlier this month, he shared ‘Tired In Malibu’, a one-minute track that hinted he might be coming out of retirement.

Last September, he dropped ‘TwitchTape Vol. 1’, a beat-tape that featured samples including Roy Ayres’ ‘Everybody Loves The Sunshine’ and ‘Fo’TheKids’ by Ahwlee.

Logic has also promised to release a new mixtape if a petition calling for him to do so hits a million signatures.

In a four-star review of Logic’s ‘No Pressure’, NME‘s Will Lavin wrote: “Logic’s contribution to hip-hop is deep-rooted in inclusivity and compassion, and ‘No Pressure’ continues the trend even as he bids farewell to the art form that raised him and gave him a platform to speak his truth.”

Meanwhile, Madlib has revealed that Kendrick Lamar wanted him to work with him on ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’.

The 2015 album was Lamar’s third and featured production from a host of stars including Thundercat, Flying Lotus, Pharrell Williams and more.

Redman announces long-awaited ‘Muddy Waters 2′, shares new single ’80 Barz’

Redman has announced the long-awaited sequel to his classic 1996 album ‘Muddy Waters’.

READ MORE: 20 essential tracks from the golden age of ’90s hip-hop

Due to arrive this summer, ‘Muddy Waters 2’ will follow the rapper’s VERZUZ battle with longtime rhyme partner Method Man. Billed as a “4/20 Special”, the virtual event takes place on Tuesday (April 20) to celebrate the international weed smoker’s holiday.

Redman accompanied the news of his forthcoming album with the release of a new track called ’80 Barz’. It hears the New Jersey MC rap non-stop for three minutes straight, delivering witty punchlines and hard-hitting bars throughout.

“Make you duck down/ Learned that out my boot camp/ I was a big deal when MJ dated Brooke Shields/ Now I’m equipped to go Bushwick for the bills, that part,” he spits in the opening lines of the track.

Another set of bars hears him namecheck Eminem, Dr. Dre and Houston rapper and activist Trae Tha Truth. “I rep my city like Trae in Houston/ Hungry like Em’ before Doc’ Dre produced him/ The straitjacket I had on was loose/ And now I bodybag any rap n***a that suits him,” he raps.

Listen to the new track below:

Released through RIV MUSIC, Redman spoke of his collaboration with the company. “Collaborating with RIV MUSIC doesn’t feel like a partnership,” he said in a press release. “It’s definitely a family at this point.

“I can appreciate that they understand hip-hop, the authenticity of it, quality control, and most importantly that they are fans of it. They know their stuff and it felt right jumping back with not just this track that I’ve briefly been sitting on, but ‘Muddy Waters 2’ as well.”

‘Muddy Waters 2’ has been in the works for years, dating back to Redman’s time signed to Def Jam Records. He told HipHopDX in 2018 that the album would arrive that year, however it never materialised.

Speaking to the same outlet in September, he explained why it never materialised. “You have to understand that I’m a self-contained artist,” he said. “That means I engineer everything right here in my house that I’m talking from. I engineer, I write the music and I mix in my house. What I learned from Def Jam — because I’m a Def Jam baby — I learned all my tutelage on how to put out music through Def Jam.”

He continued: “The only thing now that’s missing is me having a date and me rushing when they want me to put it out. I’m able to move on my own time. Last time I talked to you, I thought I was ready, but I wasn’t. A couple of months ago, I knew I was ready to put the album out, but COVID hit. I’m like, ‘I want to be able to be out there to promote the album, not sit from a couch doing interviews.’”

Listen to ‘Founders Remix’ of Gang Starr’s ‘Glowing Mic’

DJ Premier has shared a ‘Founders Remix’ of Gang Starr track ‘Glowing Mic’ – you can listen to it below.

READ MORE: Gang Starr’s DJ Premier on life after Guru: “We still have a lot of unreleased material”

In 2019, the iconic rap duo released ‘One Of The Best Yet’, their first album in 15 years and the first since the death of co-founder Guru.

The album was previewed by advance singles ‘Family and Loyalty’, featuring J. Cole, and ‘Bad Name’. The former track got a poignant music video that features Premier, Cole and Guru’s son Keith Casim.

They followed it up last year with an instrumental version, which featured ‘Glowing Mic’ as a bonus track. The new remix version of the record features a new verse from Gang Starr Foundation rapper Big Shug.

Accompanied by a video starring comedian and former NFL player Spice Adams and Guru’s son Keith Elam, you can listen to ‘Glowing Mics (Founders Remix)’ below:

Speaking on his decision to release ‘One Of The Best Yet’ in instrumental form, Premier said last year: “The DJ market, especially for instrumentals has never waned. I have always stayed in tune with my consumers because I am one of them. I like to release what I would buy and it seems like I am not alone.

“I feel totally satisfied knowing I made so many people happy; including Guru’s family, his fans and peers who love him and Gang Starr.”

In a three-star review of ‘One Of The Best Yet’, NME‘s Will Lavin called the album “a celebration of life, love and legacy”.

Meanwhile, Public Enemy returned last year with an explosive new protest song, ‘State of the Union (STFU), produced by DJ Premier.

The emotive track sees P.E. take “a fiery return to the frontlines as they take on Donald Trump and his fascist regime,” according to a new press release.

It continues: “An unflinching statement about the destruction the current administration has unleashed on the country and its people, ‘State of the Union (STFU)’ speaks truth to power while urging people to fight against racism, injustice and oppression with their vote.”

Busta Rhymes announces special 25th anniversary version of ‘The Coming’

Busta Rhymes has announced he’s releasing a special 25th anniversary edition of his debut album ‘The Coming’.

READ MORE: Busta Rhymes on ‘Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God’: “It’s my duty to start conversations”

The album – which was originally released on March 26, 1996 – will feature remastered audio, instrumental tracks, and a number of hard-to-find remixes. The digital-only release will be reissued on April 16.

The 36-song tracklist includes previously-unreleased instrumental versions of the album’s original 12 tracks, as well as newly remastered versions of each.

Among the highlights there are eight bonus versions of the classic hip-hop anthem ‘Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check’, including a ‘World Wide’ remix that features a verse from late Wu-Tang Clan rapper Ol’ Dirty Bastard, and a ‘Jay-Dee Bounce Remix’ produced by the legendary J Dilla. You can listen to the latter below.

‘The Coming (25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)’ tracklist:

01. ‘The Coming’
02. ‘Do My Thing’
03. ‘Everything Remains Raw’
04. ‘Abandon Ship’ (Featuring Rampage The Last Boy Scout)
05. ‘Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check’
06. ‘It’s A Party’ (Featuring Zhane)
07. ‘Hot Fudge’
08. ‘Ill Vibe’ (Featuring Q-Tip)
09. ‘Flipmode Squad Meets Def Squad’ (Featuring Jamal, Redman, Keith Murray, Rampage The Last Boy Scout, Lord Have Mercy)
10. ‘Still Shining’
11. ‘Keep It Movin’’ (Featuring Rampage The Last Boy Scout, Dinco, Milo And Charlie Brown)
12. ‘The Finish Line’
13. ‘End Of The World (Outro)’
14. ‘Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check (The World Wide Remix)’ (Featuring Ol’ Dirty Bastard)
15. ‘Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check (The Jay-Dee Bounce Remix)’
16. ‘Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check (The Jay-Dee Other Shit Remix)’
17. ‘It’s A Party (Allstar Remix)’ (Featuring SWV)
18. ‘It’s A Party (The Ummah Remix)’ (Featuring SWV)
19. ‘The Coming (Instrumental)’
20. ‘Do My Thing (Instrumental)’
21. ‘Abandon Ship (Instrumental)’
22. ‘Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check (Instrumental)’
23. ‘It’s A Party (Instrumental)’
24. ‘Hot Fudge (Instrumental)’
25. ‘Ill Vibe (Instrumental)’
26. ‘Flipmode Squad Meets Def Squad (Instrumental)’
27. ‘Still Shining (Instrumental)’
28. ‘Keep It Movin’ (Instrumental)’
29. ‘The Finish Line (Instrumental)’
30. ‘Do My Thing (DJ Scratch Remix)’
31. ‘Abandon Ship (DJ Scratch Remix)’
32. ‘Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check (DJ Scratch Albany Projects Remix)’
33. ‘Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check (Fila Mix 4)’
34. ‘Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check (Fila Mix 3)’
35. ‘Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check (Acapella)’
36. ‘It’s A Party (Acapella)’ (Featuring SWV)

Last year, Busta Rhymes released his 10th studio album, ‘Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God’. In a four-star review, NME‘s Will Lavin called it “arguably one of the best produced hip-hop albums of the last five years”.

Meanwhile, a new song from A Tribe Called Quest‘s Phife Dawg has been released posthumously, titled ‘Nutshell Pt.2’ featuring verses from Busta Rhymes and Redman.

Freddie Gibbs flips Nas classic for new track ‘Big Boss Rabbit’

Freddie Gibbs has shared a new track called ‘Big Boss Rabbit’ – you can listen to it below.

READ MORE: Nas on being a hip-hop legend: “I’m rapping the same way I did when I was on the block”

The Indiana rapper’s latest cut flips the same Rodriguez ‘Sugar Man’ vocal sample that Large Professor used when producing Nas’ 2001 classic ‘You’re Da Man’.

Opening with a Mike Tyson interview excerpt from the boxer’s post-fight interview after his second bout with British heavyweight Frank Bruno in 1989, Gibbs then jumps straight into the track’s chorus.

“Slammin’, big MAC-11, back of the sеven on some boss shit/ I put that Prеsident on my wrist and I got frostbit/ Stack it like Pringles, you want a single? It’s gon’ cost you/ Slow on that heroin, I don’t sell them bitches too often,” he ferociously raps.

Watch the video for ‘Big Boss Rabbit’ below:

The new track follows Gibbs’ 2020 album ‘Alfredo’, created in collaboration with producer The Alchemist, which picked up a 2021 Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album.

Losing out to Nas’ ‘King’s Disease’, it’s the first time Nas has ever won a Grammy after being nominated at the annual awards show 14 times.

In a four-star review, NME‘s Will Lavin called ‘King’s Disease’ “an acutely perceptive and culturally relevant body of work that finds its author willing to try out new ideas.”

The review added: “There’s a genuine conversation to be had about whether it’s the best rap album of the year so far.”

Last week, Nas shared a luxurious video for his new track ‘EPMD’ featuring producer Hit-Boy.

Taken from the soundtrack to Judas And The Black Messiah, the biographical drama about the betrayal of Black Panther chairman Fred Hampton, the track hears Nas pay homage to New York rap duo EPMD (Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith).

Meanwhile, Nas has weighed in with his opinion of the contemporary rap scene, admitting that none of the newer generation are “keeping [him] up at night”.

Nas celebrates Black excellence in ‘EPMD’ video with Hit-Boy

Nas has shared a luxurious video for his new track ‘EPMD’ – you can watch it below.

READ MORE: Nas on being a hip-hop legend: “I’m rapping the same way I did when I was on the block”

Taken from the soundtrack to Judas And The Black Messiah, the biographical drama about the betrayal of Black Panther chairman Fred Hampton, the Hit-Boy-produced cut hears Nas pay homage to New York rap duo EPMD (Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith).

“EPMD, we back in business,” he raps on the chorus, referencing the former Def Jam group’s 1997 comeback album. “I visualise what it is, not what it isn’t/ We at the mafia table next to the kitchen/ Eatin’ Michelin Star, countin’ a million.”

The video – which also pays homage to EPMD with Nas and Hit-Boy kitted out in the duo’s trademark bucket hats and matching outfits – celebrates success, ownership and Black excellence.

“Reclaim our cultural ownership,” a message reads as the video begins. It’s then followed up with further messages: “Don’t compromise”, “Don’t cross over”, and “Respect to the kings. Love to the queens”.

Shot on the grounds of a sun-lit mansion, you can watch the video below:

Last month, Nas won his first-ever Grammy Award, after being nominated at the annual awards show 14 times.

During that livestreamed event, Nas was announced as the winner of Best Rap Album for his 13th studio record ‘King’s Disease’. He beat fellow nominees D Smoke (‘Black Habits’), Jay Electronica (‘A Written Testimony’), Freddie Gibbs and the Alchemist (‘Alfredo’), and Royce Da 5’9” (‘The Allegory’) to collect the award.

In a four-star review, NME‘s Will Lavin called ‘King’s Disease’ “an acutely perceptive and culturally relevant body of work that finds its author willing to try out new ideas.”

The review added: “There’s a genuine conversation to be had about whether it’s the best rap album of the year so far.”

Meanwhile, Nas has weighed in with his opinion of the contemporary rap scene, admitting that none of the newer generation are “keeping [him] up at night”.

Big Sean celebrates birthday with live performance of ‘Lucky Me’ and ‘Still I Rise’

Big Sean celebrated his birthday this week with a live performance of new tracks ‘Lucky Me’ and ‘Still I Rise’ – watch it below.

READ MORE: Big Sean: “God has taken away all these special people – there has to be a reason I’m still here”

The rapper turned 33 on Thursday (March 25), and to celebrate he shared a video of him performing a couple of tracks from his recent album ‘Detroit 2’.

Shot by Topshelf Junior, the video sees Sean joined by producer Hit-Boy and a backing band as he raps moving around a performance space.
“Man, lucky me/ I was diagnosed with a heart disease at 19/ Could barely stand on my feet/ Doctors said they had to cut it open, put a pacemaker on it to put it back on beat/ ‘Til my mama took me to holistic doctors and they prescribed me magnesium for two weeks,” Sean raps on ‘Lucky Me’.
“Went back to the regular doctors and they said, ‘Huh, damn, looks like we don’t need to proceed’/ That’s how I know that western medicine weak.”
Watch the video for ‘Lucky Me’ and ‘Still I Rise’ below:

In a three-star review of ‘Detroit 2’, NME‘s Will Lavin wrote: “Although it can be overblown, Sean’s passion is unreserved here, the record peppered with Instagram-worthy captions that urge listeners to take inspiration from their surroundings while keeping friends and family close.”

The review continued: “This is why Sean’s name continues to stay on the lips of rap connoisseurs almost a decade after his debut.”

Meanwhile, Big Sean has announced that his 2012 mixtape ‘Detroit’ is finally coming to streaming services.

The acclaimed project, which won Mixtape Of The Year at the 2013 BET Hip Hop Awards, features the tracks ’24K’, ‘Mula’ and ‘Sellin Dreams’, and includes guest appearances from Kendrick Lamar, Royce Da 5’9″ and Chris Brown.

Maya Rudolph plays Beyoncé taking on ‘Hot Ones’ challenge on ‘SNL’

Maya Rudolph returned to host Saturday Night Live last night (March 27), playing Beyoncé in a themed sketch.

In the scene, Rudolph’s Beyoncé took on the popular YouTube challenge Hot Ones, which sees celebrities chatting while eating increasingly hot chicken wings.

Rudolph’s most notable previous appearance as Queen Bey on the show came back in 2012, in a sketch about her son Blue Ivy that featured Justin Timberlake as Bon Iver‘s Justin Vernon and Kristen Wiig as Taylor Swift.

Watch last night’s sketch below.

Last year, Rudolph won an Emmy Award for her regular guest role on SNL portraying US Vice President Kamala Harris, alongside Jim Carrey as Joe Biden.

“I’m so grateful, always, to be a part of that place,” Rudolph told Jimmy Fallon of her time on SNL recently.

“And then like, when in my wildest dreams did I think there would ever be a candidate that looks remotely close to whatever this is? It’s my civic duty. I gotta do it.”

Elsewhere on last night’s episode, Jack Harlow made his musical debut on the show, performing his recent singles ‘Tyler Herro’ and ‘Whats Poppin’ back to back. Harlow also appeared in a sketch explaining NFTs with help from Eminem‘s ‘Without Me’.

The real Beyoncé, meanwhile, broke the record for most Grammy wins by a female artist and by any male or female singer, picking up three awards at the 2021 ceremony this month – Best Music Video for ‘Brown Skin Girl’, Best R&B Performance for ‘Black Parade’, and Best Rap Performance for her remix of Megan Thee Stallion‘s ‘Savage’.

Watch Jack Harlow perform ‘Tyler Herro / Whats Poppin’ medley on ‘SNL’

Jack Harlow made his musical debut on Saturday Night Live last night, performing his recent singles ‘Tyler Herro’ and ‘Whats Poppin’ back to back.

READ MORE: SNL heroes: stunning Saturday Night Live performances by your favourite stars

The rapper appeared on the long-running comedy sketch show on March 27 alongside actor Maya Rudolph, back on hosting duties for her first episode after a month-long hiatus.

Harlow had spoken about the honour of performing on the long-running show on Twitter when the news was announced last month (Febuary 28). “I grew up watching SNL with my family every weekend,” Harlow wrote. “I vividly remember seeing Kanye perform Love Lockdown and Heartless in 2008. Thank you for making this happen. Another dream come true.”

Watch the live performance below.

The singer also appeared in a sketch attempting to explain NFTs via Eminem’s ‘Without Me’ and The Matrix.

Harlow released his debut album ‘That’s What They All Say’ in December 2020, featuring the tracks ‘WHATS POPPIN’, ‘Tyler Herro’ and ‘Way Out’ with Big Sean. It reached Number Five on the Billboard 200.

That same month, Harlow explained why he chose not to remove Tory Lanez from his ‘WHATS POPPIN” remix.

During an interview with LA radio station Power 106, Harlow was asked why he decided to keep Lanez on the track, with reports of the Canadian rapper allegedly shooting Megan Thee Stallion breaking soon after its release.

Meanwhile, Saturday Night Live recently addressed the firing of Gina Carano from The Mandalorian after the actress shared controversial and offensive posts on social media.

Justin Bieber says he wants to collaborate with SZA, H.E.R. and Jhené Aiko

Justin Bieber has revealed in a new interview he’d like to collaborate with SZA, H.E.R. and Jhené Aiko on future material.

During an iHeartRadio launch party for his latest album, ‘Justice’, a fan asked Bieber about who he’d like to work with next, with the singer revealing the names of three artists to host Elvis Duran.

“I really love SZA, I love H.E.R., and then thirdly Jhené Aiko who I think is super, super talented,” Bieber said.

The revelation comes after Bieber released the deluxe version of ‘Justice’ yesterday (March 26), ‘Triple Chucks Deluxe’.

The new edition – which dropped a week after the original version of ‘Justice’ – features six additional tracks. All but one sees Bieber collaborate with either Lil Uzi Vert, Jaden Smith, Quavo, DaBaby or Tori Kelly.

Elsewhere in the interview, Bieber explained how he thought ‘Justice’ stands out from his other albums.

“I just think I continue to evolve, and I continue to change,” he said.

“I think as long as I just look at it through the eyes of, like, ‘Wow, I have another opportunity to use what God’s put inside me to make other people happy,’ that’s been the driving motivator for me, and so that’s been really helpful.”

READ MORE: Justin Bieber – ‘Justice’ review: pop star finds his purpose again

Bieber also recently revealed the names of his top five favourite rappers of all time in an appearance on DJ Khaled‘s The First One podcast.

Beginning by acknowledging the can of worms he was potentially opening, Bieber said, “You know, when you open this conversation there’s always room for ‘Aw, he can’t believe this’.

“But… I would say Lil Wayne, Biggie, Eminem, Kanye West and my favourite is Drizzy Drake.”

In a four-star review of ‘Justice’, NME called it an improvement over last year’s ‘Changes’.

“With bangers, ballads and heartfelt moments, the hopeless romantic with a penchant for self reflection and tackling world issues is back.”

Music industry revenue hits highest figure since 2002 at $21billion

The recorded music industry made the most money in nearly two decades last year with a revenue of $21.6billion (£15.7billion).

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry’s (IFPI) annual Global Music Report revealed that revenues grew by 7.4 per cent. Acts including BTS, Taylor Swift, Drake, Billie Eilish and The Weekend have helped boost sales.

As per the report, more than 443million people now pay for a music streaming subscription, meaning that 102million people signed up for a new account in 2020 compared to 85million in 2019 and 79million in 2018.

‘Map Of The Soul: 7‘ by BTS was the best-selling album, while The Weeknd’s ‘Blinding Lights‘ was the biggest single (2.7billion copies sold). The top 10 “most popular” and “best-selling” global artists of 2020 were, in descending order: BTS, Taylor Swift, Drake, The Weekend, Billie Eilish, Eminem, Post Malone, Ariana Grande, Juice WRLD and Justin Bieber.

The report also revealed that streaming platforms including Spotify and Apple Music accounted for 62.1 per cent of all revenues, reaching $13.4billion (£9.7billion).

Frances Moore, IFPI chief executive said [via BBC] that the figures prove “the enduring power of music to console, heal and lift our spirits” during the coronavirus pandemic.

He continued: “Some things are timeless, like the power of a great song or the connection between artists and fans. But some things have changed. With so much of the world in lockdown and live music shut down, in nearly every corner of the globe most fans enjoyed music via streaming.”

The news comes as the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) revealed that income from vinyl sales in the UK looks to surpass CDs for the first time since 1987.

Last year, record labels saw a 30 per cent boost in income from the traditional format. Streaming continues to be the dominant force overall, however, with the BPI revealing in January that the amount of music streamed in 2020 year rose by 22 per cent to 139billion audio streams (up from 114billion in 2019).

Benny The Butcher and Harry Fraud share new album ‘The Plugs I Met 2’

Benny The Butcher has released his new album ‘The Plugs I Met 2’ – you can listen to it below.

READ MORE: Eminem vs everyone: a massive list of every one of Slim Shady’s lyrical feuds

The nine-track project, which arrives four months after Benny was shot during an attempted robbery, features guest verses from the likes of 2 Chainz, Fat Joe, French Montana, Jim Jones and late rapper Chinx.

Unlike the first volume of ‘The Plugs I Met’ which had Alchemist, Daringer and a number of others handling the beats, the sequel to the Griselda rapper’s 2019 project is produced entirely by New York’s Harry Fraud.

Although it was recorded at the same time as last year’s critically acclaimed, Hit-Boy-produced ‘Burden Of Proof’ album, Benny said the energy on his latest effort is very different.

“I recorded ‘Burden Of Proof’ in Cali with Hit-Boy and ‘The Plugs I Met 2’ in Brooklyn with Harry and you can hear that influence,” Benny explained. “I came in as an underdog, to filling out my position as one of the elite rhymers in the industry. ‘Plugs 2’ expands upon that mindset; the same confidence, same attitude, cocky, but I still have something to prove”

“‘Plugs 2’ is the story of a hustler who has realised success but understands how fragile it is,” added Harry Fraud. “Lyrically, the album shows Benny reflecting on what he’s sacrificed to get here and what he’ll need to do to continue his rise to the top.”

He concluded: “With this project, we set out to transport the listener into a world that was lush, but still gritty, triumphant, but still emotional and sonically diverse across the board.”

You can listen to ‘The Plugs I Met 2’ below:

To celebrate the release of the album, Benny also shared a new video for ‘Plug Talk’ featuring 2 Chainz. You can watch the Wizard-directed video below.

Earlier this month, Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats released new album ‘Unlocked 1.5’, which is a reimagining of their 2020 collaboration ‘Unlocked’.

The new version of the eight-track EP features a number of guest appearances from the likes of Benny The Butcher, Arlo Parks, Joey Bada$$ and more.

Meanwhile, Benny’s Griselda crew mate Conway The Machine recently hinted that a collaboration with Eminem and The Alchemist could be on the way.

The US rapper said he was “just here for the comments” when he was asked why he had re-tweeted the rumour from his own account. No official confirmation of a collaboration has been given.

Ty Dolla $ign and Jhené Aiko recruit Bryson Tiller for ‘By Yourself’ remix

Ty Dolla $ign and Jhené Aiko have teamed up with Bryson Tiller for a remix of their 2020 collaboration ‘By Yourself’ – listen to it below.

READ MORE: Ty Dolla $ign – ‘Featuring Ty Dolla $ign’ review: a self-referential opus from a star with serious clout

The original version of the Mustard-produced track features on Ty Dolla’s third studio album, ‘Featuring Ty Dolla $ign’, which NME called “a victory lap for a hugely influential artist” in a four-star review.

Tiller begins his verse: “Yes, you did it by yourself, by yourself/ Sneaked into the bag, yeah, but you know/ But you know I got plans to spend my money on you (Yeah, I got plans, plans)/ But you got your own girl (Yeah, that’s what)/ Yeah, that’s what I admire.”

He then joins Ty Dolla on the chorus, where the pair repeat the phrase “You ain’t never ‘fraid to be by yourself“.

Listen to the ‘By Yourself’ remix below:

In October, Tiller released his latest album ‘Anniversary’, featuring a new track with Drake.

The follow-up to 2017’s ‘True To Self’ is made up of 10 tracks and sees Drizzy lend his vocals to the slick cut ‘Outta Time’, produced by Nineteen85, Vinylz and 40.

Tiller followed up the release last month with a deluxe edition of the album, including five new songs.

Last month, Jhené Aiko released a new single, ‘Lead The Way’, taken from the official soundtrack for new animated film Raya And the Last Dragon.

Meanwhile, Ty Dolla $ign has hailed Eminem “the greatest rapper of all time”.

The LA musician declared Slim Shady the GOAT while making his bid for a collaboration. “I have not done a song with Eminem yet,” Ty Dolla told Hot Freestyle in December. “Which I would love to. He’s the GOAT for sure.”

Check out Rag’n’Bone Man’s new autumn UK tour dates

Rag’n’Bone Man has announced a series of new UK tour dates for later this year – see the schedule below.

READ MORE: Rag’n’Bone Man: The unstoppable rise of the 21st-century blues man

The shows will come behind Rory Graham’s new album ‘Life By Misadventure’, which is set to land next month.

The tour is will begin in October with a hometown show at Brighton Centre before the dates carry on through the rest of the month and end in early November with a London show at Hammersmith Apollo.

The new dates follow three sold-out London gigs at the Jazz Cafe, set for the last week of June. See the new autumn UK tour dates below. Tickets to on sale on March 26 here, with a pre-sale on March 23.

OCTOBER 2021
17 – Brighton, Centre
18 – Dublin, Olympia Theatre
19 – Belfast, Waterfront Hall
21 – Leeds, O2 Academy
22 – Bristol, O2 Academy
23 – Bournemouth, O2 Academy
25 – Glasgow, O2 Academy
28 – Plymouth, Pavilions
29 – Manchester, O2 Apollo
31 – Birmingham, O2 Academy Birmingham

NOVEMBER 2021
3 – Newcastle, O2 Academy
6 – London, Eventim Apollo

‘Life By Misadventure’, which is released on April 23 via Columbia, was largely produced by Mike Elizondo (Eminem, Fiona Apple, Alanis Morissette) at his studio near Nashville.

Recorded “like a live album,” the project contains contributions from drummer Daru Jones (who worked on Jack White‘s ‘Lazaretto’) and guitarist Wendy Melvoin (Prince‘s The Revolution).

“We had quite a time to live with the songs this time around,” Rag’n’Bone Man explained. “Too often, how I’d done things before, was that we’d written a song and I had to sing it the same day, and that was the version we’d use on the album. This way, it was far easier to get real emotion into the music.”

The album was first previewed back in January with new single ‘All You Ever Wanted’.

Corey Taylor on Slipknot’s next album: “We’re entering a realm that we’ve never been”

Corey Taylor has discussed the direction of the next Slipknot album, saying that they’re “entering a realm that we’ve never been”.

Read more: Corey Taylor: “If I can wear a mask for a two hour Slipknot show, people can wear one for five minutes in a grocery store”

The band’s last album was 2019’s ‘We Are Not Your Kind’, which saw them score their first UK Number One in 18 years and their second overall.

Speaking in a new interview, frontman Taylor confirmed that Slipknot have begun work on their seventh album and that it will have everything “you would want from a Slipknot project”.

“We’ve compiled a lot of material,” he told Matt Pinfield of 95.5 KLOS (listen below). “Me and Clown have talked about something really, really cool, if we can pull it off. There’s a chance that it could be conceptual — if we can really do it right.

“I mean, the music is brilliant. It expands on what we did with ‘We Are Not Your Kind’ — it kind of blossoms from there — but the great thing is, it’s got not only that, but it’s got everything that you would want from a Slipknot project; there’s the heavy stuff, there’s the dark stuff, there’s the melodic stuff, there’s the weird stuff. We have so many different flavours that we can play with that, now, at this point, it’s just us kind of mixing and matching and seeing what excites us.”

He continued: “That’s all I can say for right now. But I can tell you that it’s really, really good, man. We’re entering a realm that we’ve never been, and that, to us, is exciting. Especially after all of these years, we pride ourselves on always being able to try and top ourselves, and if we can pull this off, this may be the ultimate ‘top ourselves.'”

It comes after Taylor last month teased some “massive” Slipknot news that he said will “probably” be revealed within the next month.

Meanwhile, Taylor has announced that he’s planning a “social-distanced” solo tour.

Speaking in a new interview, the frontman, who released his debut solo album ‘CMFT’last October, revealed plans to hit the road in the US for three weeks around April and May.

Russ shares moody new video for recent track ‘Hard For Me’

Russ has shared a new video for his recent track ‘Hard For Me’ – you can watch it below.

Read more: Russ – ‘Shake The Snow Globe’ review: Atlanta rapper finds success on his own idiosyncratic terms

The Atlanta rapper’s latest release hears him talk about wanting the same type of devotion he gives to other people.

“Tired of goin’ hard for people who don’t go hard for me/ And when you love somebody, the truth gets hard to see/ They gon’ knock the wind out, make it hard to breathe,” Russ raps on the chorus.

“If I go hard for you, please go hard for me/ Tired of goin’ hard for people who don’t go hard for me/ And when you love somebody, the truth gets hard to see/ They gon’ knock the wind out, make it hard to breathe/ If I go hard for you, please go hard for me.”

Directed by Joan Pabon, the song’s moody video brings the introspective lyrics to life in a beautiful manner.

Watch the video for ‘Hard For Me’ below.

The video for ‘Hard For Me’ follows last month’s ‘Misunderstood’, and recent singles ‘Ugly’ featuring Lil Baby and his collaboration with Kehlani, ‘Take You Back’.

The rapper’s 14th album, ‘Shake The Snow Globe’, was released in January last year. In a four-star review, NME‘s Will Lavin called it “unique” and heralded Russ for “finding success on his own terms”.

The review continued: “Consistent from start to finish, it’s a more complete body of work than 2018’s ‘Zoo’. People often hate those who march to their own beat, and Russ knows this. But that doesn’t stop him asking for his accolades while he’s still living (“I want roses when I’m living, not just roses when I die”). And, boy, has he earned them with this album.”

Record Store Day announce second 2021 event for July

Record Store Day has announced a second drop date for 2021, with events now taking place in June and July.

It comes after the 2020 version of the annual celebration ended up being split across three events in August, September and October.

After announcing their initial date of June 12 for 2021’s RSD at the end of last year, an additional date of July 17 has now been added.

Big Record Store Day news, we have added a second date to the Summer celebrations! The #RSDDrops are back and now taking place on Saturday 12th June AND 17th July ?. More details coming soon… #RSD21 https://t.co/azZ6fcA8Vo pic.twitter.com/gnA2li8CFr

— Record Store Day UK (@RSDUK) March 4, 2021

A statement announcing the new date read: “With vaccines on the horizon, Record Store Day organisers around the world look forward to the future, but recognise that in 2021, the world’s biggest record store party needs some adjustments to make it as successful for as many participating indie record shops as possible.

“Throughout the past year, record stores have found creative, flexible and inventive ways to keep serving the music lovers in their communities. However, the ongoing worldwide pandemic makes it impossible to predict the status of many stores and locations around the globe in the next few months.

“This brings with it many unexpected side effects, including production and distribution issues that continue to disrupt record store supply chains.”

The message concluded: “The decision to once again shift the “Record Store Day energy” across 2 dates allows the largest number of stores to participate around the world.”

The last in a trio of RSD 2020 events took place on Saturday, October 24. Fans were able to get their hands on exclusive releases from Beck and St. Vincent, Def Leppard, Eminem, Suede, Lou Reed, The Rolling Stones, Snoop Dogg and Thin Lizzy.

Back in September, it was revealed that the first Record Store Day (held in August) resulted in a 3% rise in vinyl sales, despite the COVID-19 pandemic causing significant disruption to the retail industry.

At the end of 2020, Record Store Day released limited vinyl from the likes of Motörhead, My Chemical Romance and Beastie Boys for Black Friday 2020. More than 200 UK indie record shops participated.

Watch Big Sean pay tribute to Nipsey Hussle in ‘Deep Reverence’ video

Big Sean has paid tribute to the late Nipsey Hussle in the video for his single ‘Deep Reverence’ – watch it below.

Read more: Big Sean: “God has taken away all these special people – there has to be a reason I’m still here”

The track, which is taken from Sean’s latest album, ‘Detroit 2’, hears him collaborate with Hussle over a booming slice of Hit-Boy production.

In the Sergio-directed video, Sean salutes Hussle through a series of shots of a painting of the late rapper and a couple of murals placed throughout Los Angeles. The Detroit rapper is also seen cruising around the city in a lowrider with Snoop Dogg at his side

“This one of the most uncomfortable, honest songs I ever did,” Sean said of the track on Instagram. “I said things on here I thought I’d never say publicly, but realized that u gotta live and own all your truths, cause u can’t always count on that opportunity to be there. To one of the realest, most solid humans ever made @nipseyhussle ! Thank you bro! You still blessing all of us! It’s deeper than 4Life it’s 4ever.”

Watch the video below:

‘Deep Reverence’ is the latest in a string of music videos Sean has released as of late. In September, he shared a spacey video inspired by The Shining for his single ‘Lithuania’ featuring Travis Scott.

He followed it up with a video for ‘Wolves’, his collaboration with Post Malone, and in January he joined NLE Choppa on the Memphis rapper’s track ‘Moonlight’.

Meanwhile, a new Nipsey Hussle album is in the works, according to one of the late rapper’s producers.

Mr. Lee, the Grammy Award-winning Houston producer who produced both Nipsey’s 2010 track ‘Blue Laces’ and its 2018 follow-up ‘Blue Laces 2’, has revealed that a third track in the series is on the way.

The producer also revealed he’s working on a full Nipsey Hussle album that will feature unreleased versus from the rapper, as well as appearances from Dave East and Trae Tha Truth.

BTS have been named the best selling global act of 2020

BTS have been named the best selling act of 2020.

READ MORE: BTS – ‘BE (Deluxe Edition)’ review: a sensitive, stunning document of pandemic life

The K-pop outfit topped the IFPI poll – the organisation that represents the global recorded music industry, based on worldwide sales, downloads and streams.

They are the first non-Western act to win, and the first whose songs are not predominantly sung in English.

They beat Taylor Swift, who took the crown in 2019, into second place and Drake. The Weeknd finished fourth and Billie Eilish came in at number five.

Congratulations to @BTS_bighit, the winners of the #IFPIGlobalArtistChart 2020! ?

Here’s the top ? in full:

?@BTS_twt
?@taylorswift13
?@Drake@theweeknd@billieeilish@Eminem@PostMalone@ArianaGrande@JuiceWorlddd@justinbieberhttps://t.co/loJ36s5kwP pic.twitter.com/MNz0v3xdtH

— IFPI (@IFPI_org) March 4, 2021

Frances Moore, chief executive of IFPI, said: “BTS are a global phenomenon. They have had another outstanding year… and [are] continually finding creative and engaging ways to share their story with the world.

“They truly show the power that music has to bring joy and happiness to people the world over.

“We would like to congratulate RM, Jin, Suga, J-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook and we are excited to see what they have in store next.”

The K-pop juggernauts also topped Twitter’s list of most popular artists in 2020, for the fourth year in a row. The group beat off the likes of Kanye West, Beyoncé and Drake for the most mentions on the social media platform in 2020.

They also recently joined the lineup for Music On A Mission, an upcoming virtual concert and fundraiser by the Grammys’ MusiCares Foundation.

BTS will feature on a never-before-seen set at the upcoming charity event on March 12, which will “honour the resilience of the music community, which has been deeply impacted by the COVID-19”.

The lineup will also feature performances by Haim, H.E.R., Jhene Aiko and John Legend.

Dr. Dre raps about divorce and brain aneurysm on new track with KXNG Crooked

A snippet of a new Dr. Dre track has been previewed online which hears the legendary producer rap about his divorce and recent brain aneurysm.

Read more: KXNG Crooked talks his own unreleased ‘Dear Mama’ track on 25th anniversary of 2Pac’s ‘All Eyez On Me’

DJ Silk, a longtime affiliate of Dre’s Aftermath Records, surprised fans during a recent Instagram Live session by playing a snippet of the yet to be titled record which also features rapper KXNG Crooked.

Over the minimalist backdrop, Dre discusses his publicised divorce from ex-wife Nicole Young, as well as his recent brain aneurysm scare that left him hospitalised.

“(Bitch) Trying to kill me with them lies and that perjury/ ICU/ I see you trying to fuck me while I’m in surgery,” Dre raps on the track. “In ICU/ death bed, on some money shit/ Greedy bitch, take a pick, girl you know how money get.”

Switching up his flow before bringing in KXNG Crooked, Dre adds: “You know we don’t tolerate that nonsense, by any means get your hand up out my pocket/ This life is private just like the pilot, it’s been decided, this the Poseidon.”

Listen to the snippet below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by #BaD #DoE ?BANDS? (@d0nvit0da1)

Some are speculating that Eminem also features on the track but so far there has been no confirmation of this.

Last year, it was reported that Dr. Dre‘s new album is finished, and features a performance from Eminem.

Taking to Twitter in November, Page Kennedy indicated that he’d heard what would be the legendary artist’s fourth studio album, and first since 2015’s ‘Compton’.

“This Dr. Dre album sounding [fire]” he wrote. “Hope y’all get to hear.”

Meanwhile, Eminem has shared a host of newly remastered music videos for the songs which supported his 2002 album ‘The Eminem Show’.

The Detroit rapper’s fourth studio album was released in May 2002 and features the singles ‘Without Me’, ‘Cleanin’ Out My Closet’ and ‘Superman’.

Jared Evan shares title track from his upcoming new album ‘COLLAB’

Jared Evan has shared the title track from his upcoming new album ‘COLLAB’ – you can listen to it below.

READ MORE: “Hi, my name is…” – 20 years of Eminem’s ‘The Slim Shady LP’ as told by those who were there

The New York rapper/singer announced last week that he will be releasing a new project on March 19 made up of collaborations with fans. What started off as a single track contest turned into a whole album due to the quality of entrants he received.

“I started a contest last year and it turned into an album,” Evan said, sharing news of the new track on social media. “I let you guys in on my creative process and the results were wild. Thank y’all for helping me continue to evolve. This is the first single/title track off my upcoming album COLLAB.”

Listen to ‘COLLAB’ below:

‘COLLAB’ follows the release of Evan’s last project, the surprise mixtape ‘The Art Form Of Whatever II’.

The project is a sequel to his 2015 mixtape of the same name, which featured appearances from the likes of Santana‘s daughter Stella and multiplatinum-selling singer Max.

Some of the features on ‘The Art Form Of Whatever II’ include rappers Skyzoo and Termanolgy, and longtime producer Statik Selektah, who joins both of the latter on the boom bap banger ‘Splatter Paint’.

Moe Pope, who appeared on the song ‘Karate’ on the first ‘Art Form’, returns for the sequel, on the track ‘Double Dragon’.

Meanwhile, an unreleased verse by the late Notorious B.I.G. has been unearthed by Statik Selektah.

The producer, who has worked with the likes of Nas, Joey Bada$$ and Jared Evan, used the verse on a new song he produced titled ‘Bastard Child’, which he shared last year.

Russ addresses media scrutiny on new track ‘Misunderstood’

Russ has released a new track called ‘Misunderstood’ which hears him address some of the media scrutiny he’s received over the years – listen to it below.

READ MORE: Russ – ‘Shake The Snow Globe’ review: Atlanta rapper finds success on his own idiosyncratic terms

The rapper’s second single of 2021 tells a story of how disappointing it is to have the media and industry continuously make assumptions about him based on framed soundbites and click bait titles.

‘Misunderstood’ also hears Russ talk a lover failing to understand him despite all he’s done to accurately reflect who he is.

“It’s disappointing to hear how continuously people in the industry and world at whole have a skewed picture of me and they misunderstand me, almost by choice it seems,” he said. “At the same time dealing with a personal relationship where I feel like she didn’t want to understand where I was coming from.”

He added: “In both respects feels like I’ve done all I can and then some to show all of me but it’s frustrating when people choose to only focus on a fragment of me.”

Listen to ‘Misunderstood’ below:

Russ’ new track follows last month’s ‘Ugly’ featuring Lil Baby, and recent singles ‘Hard For Me’ and his collaboration with Kehlani, ‘Take You Back’.

The Atlanta rapper’s 14th album, ‘Shake The Snow Globe’, was released in January last year. In a four-star review, NME‘s Will Lavin called it “unique” and heralded Russ for “finding success on his own terms”.

KXNG Crooked talks his own unreleased ‘Dear Mama’ track on 25th anniversary of 2Pac’s ‘All Eyez On Me’

Rapper KXNG Crooked has shared his thoughts on 2Pac’s ‘All Eyez On Me’ to marks the album’s 25th anniversary today (February 13), as well as revealing to NME that he has an unreleased track that has a special connection to the legendary rapper.

Crooked, who has worked with the likes of Eminem, Kendrick Lamar and Snoop Dogg, called the Death Row Records album a “multilayered” project “packed full of all the messages we love hip-hop for”.

“‘All Eyez On Me’ allows listeners to experience hip-hop on a number of different levels,” Crooked told NME of the album, which features the hits ‘California Love’, ‘How Do U Want It’ and ‘2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted’. “From an underground level, to a mainstream level, to a cultural level, it’s such a multilayered album.

“It’s packed full of all the messages we love hip-hop for. The Public Enemy messages. The Ice Cube messages. It gives you rhyme and ciphering, with people like Method Man, Redman and Kurupt being on it. It gives you that slick talk that we love from the street corners. It has everything.”

He continued: “When I first heard it I felt like there was going to be no stopping 2Pac. He was so vivid with his words and that’s one of the reasons why we loved him so much. I thought he was about to make another 10 albums just like it and then be the biggest superstar we’ve ever seen.”

Tupac Shakur — 2Pac. CREDIT: Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

Unfortunately, that didn’t end up being the case. 2Pac was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas just seven months after the album’s release in September 1996. Crooked, who himself was once signed to Death Row Records years after 2Pac, revealed that he actually got the opportunity to meet his hero before his untimely passing.

“Him and Snoop [Dogg] were re-recording ‘2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted’ for a St. Ides beer commercial,” Crooked explained. “Because I’m from Long Beach I went to a lot of Snoop sessions, a lot of Dogg Pound sessions. It just so happened that 2Pac was at this particular Snoop session. I was blessed to be a fly on the wall that day and watch that man work.”

He went on: “They say if you shake hands with Frank Sinatra, you’re a made man in the music business. That’s how I felt back then with 2Pac. If you ever dapped him up then you were on your way to being a made man in the rap business. I definitely felt like a made man after that.”

Discussing how 2Pac inspired him to keep pushing on with his own career – even when he was homeless and sleeping in the back of a library in Long Beach – Crooked told NME that he has a song called ‘Dear Mama’ that he recorded before 2Pac released his famous track of the same name in 1995.

“When I was young, my mother left California for Oklahoma because the economy was fucked. Everything had turned super expensive,” said Crooked. “But I decided to stay. I wound up homeless and I started missing my mom so I wrote her a letter. I recorded it at this studio owned by two former NFL payers, Chuckie Miller and Leonard Russell, who took an interest in me. That song was called ‘Dear Mama’ and it was done before 2Pac did his.”

He continued: “About a month later 2Pac drops his ‘Dear Mama’ track. I said, you know what, I can’t use this song. I wasn’t even in a position as an artist at this time in my career to put music out. I was just making music for myself, for my soul and my sanity. But when I heard 2Pac’s ‘Dear Mama’ I realised I was on the right path because my favourite rapper of all time had created a song in the same vein as mine.”

“My record still exists,” Crooked added. “And just because of this conversation I’m gonna put it out. It’s a young Crooked, and you’ll definitely be able to tell.”

Meanwhile, Swizz Beatz and Timbaland recently revealed their hopes to do a 2Pac Vs. The Notorious B.I.G. VERZUZ battle.

Last month, ‘The Best Of 2Pac’ was released on vinyl for the first time.

Nipsey Hussle’s estate launch new visual album celebrating 10 years of ‘The Marathon’

The estate of late rapper Nipsey Hussle has shared a new visual album, celebrating 10 years of his mixtape ‘The Marathon’.

READ MORE: Nipsey Hussle, 1985-2019: a musician who gave a voice to the voiceless and changed the face of indie rap

The tape, which celebrated the milestone last December, was re-released yesterday (February 5) with a 75-minute film featuring previously unseen content and interviews from around its 2010 release.

Announcing the visual album last December on the 10th anniversary of ‘The Marathon’ (December 22), a post on Hussle’s official Instagram account said: “Today marks 10 years since the release of #TheMarathon. A project our team holds near and dear to our hearts for many reasons. It represents the story of Nipsey’s resilience and unwavering faith in his mission, and the authenticity and honesty in his message.”

“It also was the first seed planted in the Marathon brand that gave fruit to many other branches that Nipsey architected, as only he could do. In commemoration of this anniversary we’re proud to announce our collaborative effort with @okidoki to bring to life an interactive live visual album experience coming in 2021.

“The experience will give viewers and intimate look at the era that helped shape this masterpiece.”

Watch The Marathon Live Visual Album Experience below:

Nipsey Hussle was shot and killed in front of his Marathon Clothing store in Los Angeles in 2019. An NME obituary for Hussle said: “Nipsey was many things to many people.

“He was a pioneering rapper, entrepreneur, hustler, father, son, partner to actor Lauren London, and anti-Trump activist (his guest verse on YG’s ‘Fuck Donald Trump’ is pure poetry). We shouldn’t allow his dark, violent death to define a life that was so full of light.”

In other news, a new Nipsey Hussle album is in the works, according to one of the late rapper’s producers.

Also in the works is a full Nipsey Hussle album that will feature unreleased verses from the rapper, as well as appearances from Dave East and Trae Tha Truth.

Snoop Dogg on who would play him in a biopic: “It would have to be someone who could win me over”

Snoop Dogg has shared his thoughts on how he would approach the casting process for a future biopic about himself.

While a Snoop film hasn’t officially been announced, the veteran rapper spoke in a new interview about who and what he would be looking for if a biopic is ever green-lit.

Read more: Remembering Larry King and his greatest music interviews

Speaking to AP Entertainment, Snoop said: “There’s so many dope actors that have graced the screen and there’s so many dope actors that have yet to grace the screen.

“I don’t know who could play me. It would have to be someone who could win me over.

BIOPIC PICKS: Rapper @SnoopDogg is prepared to search high and low for the perfect person to play him in the future. #MyBiopic pic.twitter.com/e1OYFlmKIo

— AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) February 1, 2021

“When I think of someone playing you, I think of how Jamie Foxx played Ray [Charles in the 2004 biopic Ray]. That was, like, spot on,” he continued.

“So I would have to find me a Jamie Foxx or someone that could actually become Snoop Dogg on screen and give me all of that element.

“And I don’t know if that person is out there or has yet to be discovered. But when I get to that point, I’ma find him.”

Anwan Glover (Notorious, 2009), LaKeith Stanfield (Straight Outta Compton, 2015) and Jarrett Ellis (All Eyez on Me, 2017) have all portrayed Snoop on the big screen in the past.

Last month Snoop described the recent rumoured falling-out between himself and Eminem as being “family business”, insisting that the two rappers are still friends.

Snoop’s comments followed on a week after the rapper appeared to publicly end the beef between himself and Eminem, which began back in July after Snoop explained why he hadn’t chosen Eminem to be in his list of the top 10 rappers of all time.

Rag N’ Bone Man says police interrupted his birthday karaoke session

Rag N’ Bone Man has claimed that police officers were called round to his house after reports of a party – only to discover the artist and his housemate performing a karaoke duet.

The ‘Human’ singer took to Twitter to tell the story of “some cuntchops” alerting the police on Friday night (January 29), presumably on the suspicion that a larger social gathering was taking place in violation of coronavirus lockdown laws.

READ MORE: Rag N’ Bone Man: The unstoppable rise of the 21st-century blues man

Upon arrival, however, officers discovered that the scene was an entirely legal birthday celebration featuring an homage to an ’80s pop classic.

“Some cuntchops tried to grass me up for having a birthday party last night. The old bill came in the house to find find me and my housemate Chris doing a karaoke duet of ‘waiting for a star to fall’,” Rags wrote.

Some cuntchops tried to grass me up for having a birthday party last night.
The old bill came in the house to find find me and my housemate Chris doing a karaoke duet of “waiting for a star to fall” ?

— Rags (@RagNBoneMan) January 30, 2021

Friday also saw Rag N’ Bone Man – real name Rory Charles Graham – confirm that his new 14-track album ‘Life By Misadventure’ will arrive on April 23 via Columbia, as well as share the music video for new single ‘All You Ever Wanted’.

Watch the video below.

“I’d felt sad looking around Brighton and London where I grew up… remembering all those cool places that aren’t there anymore,” the singer explained of the inspiration behind the track.

‘Life By Misadventure’ was largely produced by Mike Elizondo (Eminem, Fiona Apple, Alanis Morissette) at his studio near Nashville. Recorded “like a live album”, the project contains contributions from drummer Daru Jones (who worked on Jack White‘s ‘Lazaretto’) and guitarist Wendy Melvoin (Prince‘s The Revolution).

“We had quite a time to live with the songs this time around,” Rag N’ Bone Man explained. “Too often, how I’d done things before, was that we’d written a song and I had to sing it the same day, and that was the version we’d use on the album. This way, it was far easier to get real emotion into the music.”

You can pre-order ‘Life By Misadventure’ here.

Music world pay tribute to Mac Miller on what would have been his 29th birthday

A host of stars have paid tribute to Mac Miller on what would have been his 29th birthday.

Read more: Mac Miller – ‘Circles’ review: posthumous album is a conflicting, tantalising taste of what might have been

The late rapper passed away in September 2018 at the age of 26 following an accidental overdose.

Among those paying tribute on what would have been his birthday yesterday (January 19) were his friend and rapper Thundercat, who simply wrote: “Happy birthday Mac.”

Vince Staples also paid his respects adding: “HCD to the Legend,” while Juicy J added: “R.I.P. Mac Miller we miss you mane.” Ty Dolla $ign also marked the late rapper’s passing.

Happy birthday Mac. pic.twitter.com/XYdOQZC2CT

— ashy daddy (@Thundercat) January 19, 2021

HCD to the Legend pic.twitter.com/VRAiyQcyk3

— Vince Staples (@vincestaples) January 19, 2021

R.I.P. Mac Miller we miss you mane

— juicy j (@therealjuicyj) January 19, 2021

Happy b day @MacMiller ❤️??

— TyDolla $ign (@tydollasign) January 19, 2021

More tributes came from Disclosure, Radio 1 and MTV. You can view a selection below.

Happy Birthday @MacMiller ✨ pic.twitter.com/70w7hmvCzM

— Disclosure (@disclosure) January 19, 2021

Today would've been Mac Miller's 29th Birthday. Rest in peace to a truly incredible artist ? pic.twitter.com/UkaP1LzZ0w

— BBC Radio 1 (@BBCR1) January 19, 2021

Today on his birthday, we remember the life and legacy of Mac Miller. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/uJB5qb1smo

— MTV (@MTV) January 19, 2021

? Young Bill Murray @SeanPrice @MacMiller pic.twitter.com/2U84kxXaY5

— Duck Down Music Inc. (@DuckDownMusic) January 19, 2021

Happy Birthday Mac Miller ? pic.twitter.com/IzQfxp4IVO

— First We Feast (@firstwefeast) January 20, 2021

Meanwhile, Ariana Grande fans recently clocked what they believe to be a subtle tribute to Mac Miller on the pop star’s recent album ‘Positions’. Grande dated Miller for two years before they split in 2018.

TikTok user Maralee Bell claimed that the record’s title track features the sound of crickets when the star sings the line, “Heaven sent you to me”, with the same effect appearing on ‘Just Like Magic’ as Grande delivers the lyrics, “Take my pen and write some love letters to heaven”.

It was suggested that this is a subtle nod to Miller and his unreleased track ‘Crickets’.

A new Mac Miller box set called ‘Swimming In Circles’ was also recently released by the late rapper’s family.

Released last December, the box set combined Miller’s final two albums – ‘Swimming’ and ‘Circles’ – which according to his family was how he wanted to present the projects.

“We are proud to present the Swimming In Circles box set: a presentation of the two albums Malcolm always saw as a fully-realized, dual body of work,” the rapper’s family previously said in a statement. “It includes the music, as well as images of Malcolm taken all over the world by those closest to him as he recorded the albums—memories of him we will forever hold dearly.”

Dr. Dre returns home from hospital following brain aneurysm

Dr. Dre has returned home after almost two weeks in hospital, according to his friend, Ice-T.

The rapper and producer was taken to the intensive care unit at Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Hospital on Monday last week (January 4), after suffering a suspected brain aneurysm.

The 55-year-old updated fans following his admission to hospital, saying he was “doing great and getting excellent care from my medical team”.

Yesterday (January 15), Ice-T took to social media to confirm that Dr. Dre has returned home and is in good health.

“Just FaceTimed with Dr. Dre. He just made it home. Safe and looking good,” he tweeted.

Update: Just FaceTimed with @drdre He just made it home. Safe and looking good. ???

— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) January 15, 2021

Dr. Dre is yet to update fans on his condition since returning home. According to TMZ, doctors will continue to monitor him following his release from hospital.

Dr. Dre’s home was allegedly targeted by burglars just hours after he was admitted to ICU. LAPD officers attended Dre’s residence on January 5 and arrested four men.

Nothing is thought to have been taken in the break-in attempt, but police reportedly found burglary implements in the would-be thieves’ vehicle.

Missy Elliott, Ice Cube, LL Cool J and Flea were among those to share their best wishes to Dre on social media following his hospitalisation.

Denzel Curry joins Nyck Caution on ferocious new cut ‘Bad Day’

Nyck Caution has released a new track called ‘Bad Day’ featuring Denzel Curry – listen to it below.

Read more: The NME 100: Essential emerging artists for 2021

The Pro Era rapper’s new track is taken from his debut album ‘Anywhere But Here’, which was released today (January 15) and features Joey Bada$$, Maverick Sabre, Kota The Friend and Erick The Architect of Flatbush Zombies.

Referencing everything from T.I.‘s fashion decisions to SpongeBob SquarePants, ‘Bad Day’ is a ferocious cut that hears Caution and Curry jump around over a bed of thundering bass kicks and rapid-fire snares.

After Curry raps: “Boy-bo-boy got flow like an aqueduct/ If the shit ain’t real, it ain’t ‘Pac enough,” Caution kicks off his verse with no holds barred. “You mother fuckers not real, you imposters, bruh/ I wrote your name in a search, you ain’t poppin’ up/ Flex hard, feelin’ like Big Poppa Pump/ Beast Coast murder every fuckin’ possé cut.”

Listen to ‘Bad Day’ below:

Delivering a spin on classic New York rap sounds seasoned with his wry sense of humour and incisive storytelling, you can listen to Caution’s new album here – see the tracklist below.

‘Anywhere But Here’

01. ‘December 24th’ (ft. Elbee Thrie)
02. ‘Anywhere But Here’ (ft. Maverick Sable & Alex Mali)
03. ‘Motion Sickness’
04. ‘Vin Skit #1’
05. ‘How You Live It’ (ft. Joey Bada$$)
06. ‘What You Want’ (ft. GASHI)
07. ‘Dirt On Your Name’
08. ‘Vin Skit #2’
09. ‘Bad Day’ (ft. Denzel Curry)
10. ‘Coat Check/Session 47’
11. ‘Product Of My Environment’ (ft. Kota The Friend & Erick The Architect)
12. ‘Things Could Be Worse’ (ft. CJ Fly & Jake Luttrell)
13. ‘Something To Remember Me By’ (ft. TheMind)
14. ‘Kids That Wish’

‘Bad Day’ is the latest in a string of collaborations Curry has done as of late. Over the past few months, he’s hopped on tracks with slowthai, JPEGMAFIA and The Avalanches.

Back in October, the Floridian rapper shared a protest song entitled ‘Live From The Abyss’.

Clocking in at just under two minutes long, the track is a furious diatribe on the social and political climate of 2020, sampling a news broadcast from the Minneapolis protests in the wake of George Floyd’s murder.

“I don’t fuck with my president/ Tried to block all Mexicans/ If he hear this message/ Please don’t send swat to my residence,” Curry raps on the track.

Dua Lipa says she doesn’t have an alter ego: “It’s hard for me to make stories up”

Dua Lipa has discussed alter egos in a new interview, stating that she doesn’t possess one when she performs.

Read more: Dua Lipa live at Studio 2054: a big night in with a pop great who excels at escapism

The singer said that unlike artists such as Beyoncé, Eminem and David Bowie, she doesn’t slip into another personality when on stage.

“I don’t have two personas, an alter ego for who goes onstage,” Lipa told Rolling Stone. “I’ve never had that issue, figuring out, ‘I’m going to be this character today, or this is who I’m going to play, or this is the role I want to take on.’ It’s hard for me to make stories up.”

In the same interview, she also responded to the backlash she faced last year for being filmed at a strip club after the Grammys.

Dua Lipa performing during her ‘Studio 2054’ livestream. CREDIT: Pixie Levinson

Lipa and other artists who were present at the Los Angeles venue, including Lizzo and Lil Nas X, were criticised for “exploiting women” and being “anti-feminist”.

After footage of Lipa throwing money over women and putting notes in dancers’ underwear was posted online, the hashtag #dualipaisoverparty trended on Twitter.

“I just feel like, if you’re a feminist, you have to also support women in all fields of work,” she said.

“We have to support sex workers, we have to believe that that [work] is their choice and their right. It seems quite hypocritical, I think, people picking and choosing as to how they want to support women and when it suits them. That’s another form of misogyny, which really derives from the male gaze.”

Meanwhile, Lipa recently featured on a remix of Kylie Minogue’s song ‘Real Groove’.

The reworked track originally appeared in Lipa’s Studio 2054 livestream concert and features added instrumentation and a slightly more upbeat tempo, as well as vocals from the London singer.

Ice Cube sends love to Dr. Dre after rapper is hospitalised with brain aneurysm

Ice Cube, LL Cool J and Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ Flea have all sent their best wishes to Dr. Dre after the rap mogul was hospitalised with a suspected brain aneurysm.

The hip-hop icon was admitted to Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai hospital on Tuesday (January 5) where he is said to be in a “stable and lucid” condition, according to TMZ.

He remains in the hospital’s intensive care unit, with doctors running a series of tests to determine what caused Dre to suffer the bleed on the brain.

“Prayers up for Dr. Dre and his family for healing & Strength over his mind & body,” wrote Missy Elliott on Twitter.

“Send your love and prayers to the homie Dr Dre,” said his former NWA bandmate Ice Cube.

?Prayers up for Dr. Dre and his family for healing & Strength over his mind & body?? https://t.co/WI4k3d9U4w

— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) January 6, 2021

Send your love and prayers to the homie Dr. Dre. pic.twitter.com/dWSgzunpjj

— Ice Cube (@icecube) January 6, 2021

Love to Dr. Dre

— Flea (@flea333) January 6, 2021

Flea added: “Love to Dr. Dre.”

Other get well soon messages, which you can view below, came from the likes of Ciara, Stevie Van Zandt and LL Cool J.

All positive energy to Dr. Dre.

— Stevie Van Zandt (@StevieVanZandt) January 6, 2021

Dre is recovering nicely. ✊?

— LLCOOLJ (@llcoolj) January 6, 2021

Praying for you Dr. Dre. Praying for a full recovery ❤️??

— Ciara (@ciara) January 6, 2021

Shortly after his hospitalisation, Dre took to social media to assure fans he’s “doing great”.

On Instagram, he thanked family, friends and fans “for their interest and well wishes”. He wrote that he was “doing great and getting excellent care from my medical team.”

“I will be out of the hospital and back home soon,” he wrote. “Shout out to all the great medical professionals at Cedars. One Love!!”

Last month it was reported that Dr. Dre’s new album was finished. The record would be Dre’s first since he released ‘Compton’ in 2015.

Detroit rapper Page Kennedy hinted that Dre’s longtime friend and collaborator, Eminem, will make an appearance on the new record. Dre has yet to confirm the album’s release date.

Dr. Dre shares health update after hospitalisation over suspected brain aneurysm: “I’m doing great”

Dr. Dre has taken to social media to assure fans he’s “doing great”, following reports he was hospitalised and taken to an intensive care unit after a suspected brain aneurysm.

On Instagram, the hip-hop mogul thanked family, friends and fans “for their interest and well wishes”. He wrote that he was “doing great and getting excellent care from my medical team.”

“I will be out of the hospital and back home soon,” he wrote. “Shout out to all the great medical professionals at Cedars. One Love!!”

See his post below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dr. Dre (@drdre)

TMZ broke the news on Tuesday (January 5), citing “sources connected to Dre and with direct knowledge”. A crime reporter with the Los Angeles Times also reported that the 55-year-old had been hospitalised at Cedars-Sinai.

TMZ reported that Dr. Dre remained in intensive care today and was “stable and lucid”. Doctors are yet to determine the cause of the bleeding and are continuing to run tests on the rapper-cum-entrepreneur, they reported.

Dr. Dre is in the middle of divorce proceedings with Nicole Young, to whom he was married for 24 years. They are reportedly due to attend a hearing Wednesday (January 6) in Los Angeles.

Last month, it was reported that Dr. Dre’s new album was finished. The record would be Dre’s first since he released ‘Compton’ in 2015.

Detroit rapper Page Kennedy hinted that Dre’s longtime friend and collaborator, Eminem, will make an appearance on the new record. Dr. Dre is yet to confirm the album’s release date.

Fellow artists including Ice Cube, Kaytranada, DJ Paul and Ciara, among others, have since wished for Dre’s speedy recovery. Rapper LL Cool J has also tweeted that Dre is “recovering nicely”.

Dre is recovering nicely. ✊?

— LLCOOLJ (@llcoolj) January 6, 2021

Send your love and prayers to the homie Dr. Dre. pic.twitter.com/dWSgzunpjj

— Ice Cube (@icecube) January 6, 2021

prayers up for Dre! ??

— KAYTRA (@KAYTRANADA) January 6, 2021

Praying for you Dr. Dre. Praying for a full recovery ❤️??

— Ciara (@ciara) January 6, 2021

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Listen to 50 Cent’s new track ‘Part Of The Game’ featuring NLE Choppa and Rileyy Lanez

50 Cent has shared a new track called ‘Part Of The Game’ featuring NLE Choppa and Rileyy Lanez – listen below.

Read more: The Big Read – The Game: “Me and 50 Cent should have died in that beef”

The track, which serves as the theme song for 50’s upcoming new Power spin-off show, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, was first previewed on Instagram last month. Now, the G-Unit rapper has added it to all streaming platforms.

“I know heartbreaks, setbacks/ Bitch, if I crap out, I’m sure I’ma get back/ I been through the ups and downs, you know I get around/ So to me, it’s all a part of the game,” 50 raps on the track’s chorus.

“If I ain’t the coke man, or the dope man/ I’m almost for sure man, I gotta take it/ Don’t need to say shit, I’m gon’ take it/ Robberies turned homicide, it’s nothin’ to play with.”

Listen to ‘Part Of The Game’ below, or via Apple Music/Spotify.

Power Book III: Raising Kanan, which follows the current Starz show Power Book II: Ghost, is set to arrive on screens in the summer of 2021.

Creator Courtney Kemp’s third foray into the Power universe will star Mekai Curtis as Kanan Stark, previously portrayed by 50, the show’s executive producer. The forthcoming series will look back on Kanan’s rise to infamy on the streets of Jamaica, Queens, New York, loosely inspired by 50’s early life.

Curtis will be joined by a cast which includes Omar Epps (Juice, Shooter, House), London Brown (Ballers), and Joey Bada$$ (Mr. Robot).

Meanwhile, 50 Cent is working on a new series for cable network Starz that will look at his highly publicised past beef with fellow rapper The Game.

With a working title of Moment in Time: The Massacre, the seasonal anthology “will explore the true stories in which iconic hip-hop moments collided with the sensational and sometimes criminal events behind-the-scenes.”

Season 1 will look at how “tension between 50 Cent and The Game led to an all-out street war, pitting G-Unit against music impresario Jimmy Henchman, resulting in a murder-for-hire plot and Henchman serving a life sentence in prison.”

Kid Cudi announces deluxe edition of ‘Man On The Moon III’

Kid Cudi has announced a deluxe edition of his new album ‘Man On The Moon III: The Chosen’ is on the way.

Read more: Kid Cudi – ‘Man On The Moon III: The Chosen’ review: an art piece of epic highs and honest lows

Made up of 18 tracks, the rapper’s seventh studio album, which features guest appearances from Pop Smoke, Skepta, Phoebe Bridgers and Trippie Redd, was released on December 11,

The follow-up to 2016’s ‘Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin” landed at Number Two on the Billboard 200 chart, one place behind Taylor Swift’s ‘Evermore’.

On Monday (December 28), Cudi revealed that he is gearing up to release a deluxe edition of the album, with “a nice amount” of extra tracks.

Asked by a fan if he plans on putting out an extended version of the album, Cudi replied: “Yeap, its called The Cudder Cut, and will feature a nice amount of new jams, some were cut for length, and a few surprises ;).”

Cudi hasn’t yet revealed when the deluxe edition of ‘Man On The Moon III: The Chosen’ will arrive.

Yeap, its called The Cudder Cut, and will feature a nice amount of new jams, some were cut for length, and a few surprises ? https://t.co/aRwYQ5iRpa

— The Chosen One (@KidCudi) December 28, 2020

In a four-star review of Cudi’s new album, NME‘s Will Lavin called it a “cinematic masterstroke that electrifies the senses at every turn.”

The review continues: “Kid Cudi gives us every part of himself, laying out his insecurities and inner demons in the hope that it might help someone else, his words etched into a vivid backdrop of intoxicating melodies and palatial riffs. No one does mood music quite like Cudi.”

Meanwhile, Kid Cudi has broken a US chart record with ‘Beautiful Trip’, the opening song of his new album ‘Man On The Moon III: The Chosen’.

The track only lasts for 37 seconds and features a brief instrumental, backing vocals and a sample of a voice counting down: “Three, two, one.”

Despite that, ’Beautiful Trip’’s short running time has helped it set a new record on the Billboard Hot 100. It is now the shortest song to ever chart on the Hot 100, taking the 100th place last week.

Ja Rule says supergroup with Jay-Z and DMX was “like pulling teeth” to get done

Ja Rule has recalled the struggles he endured when trying to get his supergroup with Jay-Z and DMX off the ground.

Read more: Eminem vs everyone: a massive list of every one of Slim Shady’s lyrical feuds, including Ja Rule, Machine Gun Kelly and Mariah Carey

In 1995, the ‘Livin’ It Up’ rapper joined forces with Jay and X to form the group Murder Inc. – a name which was later used for the Ja’s record label. The trio made their debut on Mic Geronimo’s ‘Time To Build’, taken from the New York rapper’s debut album, ‘The Natural’.

The group would go on to connect, in variations, on several tracks throughout the 90s (most notably ‘It’s Murda’ and ‘Murdagram’), but they never fully realised their potential or released an official project.

Speaking in a new interview, Ja talked about why the group never managed to get off the ground, even with all the hype surrounding them, explaining that there was never a real conversation about an album.

“We knew what was going on, but it was kind of like pulling teeth to get it done,” Ja told HipHopDX, after being asked if they knew record executive Irv Gotti was trying to put a group together officially.

“Jay and X, you couldn’t get them in the same room together,” Ja continued, referring to the the pair’s once-complicated relationship, adding that the reason for the group not developing was more to do with ego than money.

“I was the new artist, so that was an honour for me to be able to walk with those dudes,” he added. “I’d known them before they were who they were and it was like, ‘Okay, I’m rhyming with my partners. My homies.'”

Watch Ja Rule’s interview about Murder Inc. below:

Meanwhile, Jay-Z has continued his foray into the marijuana industry, becoming the Chief Visionary Officer of a new cannabis company.

Last month, the rapper revealed his new new cannabis brand called Monogram, and was named Chief Brand Strategist for California-based cannabis company Caliva last year.

The deal comes as the SPAC have acquired Caliva and another company called Left Coast Ventures, a cannabis and hemp producer. They will all come under the umbrella of the TPCO Holding Corp, of which Jay-Z will be Chief Visionary Officer.

Billboard describe the new deal, which also extends to artists that work with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation management company, as “a corporate venture fund that will invest in Black and minority-owned cannabis businesses and contribute to progressive criminal justice initiatives”.

Rihanna says she is “always working on my music” and talks lockdown creativity

Rihanna has discussed what she’s been up to in lockdown, revealing that she’s “always working” on music.

Read more: 25 incredibly geeky facts about Rihanna

The pop star’s last record was 2016’s ‘Anti’, and fans have been eagerly anticipating the release of her ninth studio album.

Speaking in a new interview, Rihanna talked about everything she’s been up to during lockdown, her plans for 2021 and the status of her new music.

“I love what I do – but I am always busy and quarantine gave me the time to do things I wouldn’t always have been able to do – watch an entire box set in a day, cook, go for walk,” she told Closer. “It’s important we do little things we enjoy and are kind to ourselves.”

Rihanna revealed that her time spent cooking in quarantine inspired her to start planning a cookbook made up of her favourite Caribbean recipes.

In addition to the cookbook, the ‘Work’ singer also launched a skincare line this year to complement her ever-growing Fenty beauty brand. While she hasn’t released an album in four years, Rihanna also assured fans in the interview that she’s “always working on my music”.

Looking forward to next year, Rihanna added: “2021 is a little unknown for everybody and nobody is sure what restrictions there are going to be. My creativity is within my control though, and I want to take my music and my brands to a different level.”

Last week, Eminem offered an apology to Rihanna on the deluxe version of his album ‘Music To Be Murdered By’ for saying that he “sided” with Chris Brown on an old track that leaked online in 2019.

The rapper released the ‘Side B’ to ‘Music To Be Murdered By’ on Friday (December 18), featuring 16 new songs with guest contributions from the likes of Dr. Dre, Ty Dolla $ign and DJ Premier.

Courtney Love recalls time Liam Gallagher gave her an early preview of Oasis’ ‘Songbird’

Courtney Love has recalled the time Liam Gallagher played her an early preview of Oasis‘ ‘Songbird’ after the pair spent the night partying together.

Read more: Courtney Love: “I feel like the luckiest motherfucker in the history of rock’n’roll”

The Hole frontwoman took to Instagram on Saturday (December 5) to share a photograph of herself and Gallagher which she accompanied with a story about a random night out in London in the early 2000s.

“00. @liamgallagher, and a cheesy snakeskin top from night market at Juan le pins ( south of france) rolled into The capital early evening @juliewhitebread asked what we should do tonight … having been sunning / eating Niçoise salad / chugging anyone else’s Petrus (wine) daily like bums in Cannes and @u2 land,” Love’s post began, before explaining she wanted to hang out with Gallagher.

She continued: “‘I want Liam. Can we get me Liam?’ I said … . Jp said ‘ha I bet I can find him in under an hour’ ‘really ? Ok ! Do it’ off she went within 20 minutes she’d found him (met bar) ‘come down he wants to hang’ she was laughing . 20 minutes! an idiot american I’d ordered an actual limousine (no one uses those in London. Just suckers like me !)

Once Love caught up with Gallagher, and a character called Terry Chemical, she went on to enjoy a night of decadence until it was just herself and the former Oasis frontman left. It was then she was given an early preview of ‘Songbird’, the single which ended up on Oasis’ 2002 album ‘Heathen Chemistry’.

“At some point, sunrise almost with everyone else gone ( that gross almost sun rise feel! You all know it!) he grabs a guitar and after I play “hold onto me” which I was extremely proud of , my first love song,” she wrote. “He goes next and plays the most sublime “songbird” . I kept thinking . Liams the talent ! It’s not Noel! ( unfair I’m sure . It’s them both ).

“Months later “songbird “ which I’d told all that would listen was a work of such sublime game changing beauty , George Harrison aspect included , was released . but when it was recorded a minor tempo change had ruined ( for me) the alchemical magic of “songbird” still a lovely song but that sunrise cokey come down London morning it was … THE BEST SONG EVER.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Courtney Love Cobain (@courtneylove)

Julie Whitebread confirmed the story in the photo’s comments section, adding a few extra details, including one that involved “a fight about Eminem“.

“#1 It was probably 5 minutes I just had to make one phone call to @alanmcgee93,” Whitebread’s comment began. “#2 Don’t forget when we piled into car I was behind Liam and I was suddenly pushed airborne (rightfully so we have this amazing photo!).

“And #3 @liamgallagher made me go inside the gogo guys house with him and face two giant mastiffs, while he slinked in behind me! #4 I seem to remember a fight about Eminem but that may have been between me & Terry & Liam. # yes! THE BEST SONG EVER. What a night!”

Last month, Courtney Love hinted that a Hole reunion could be on the way, as well as revealing that she’s been working on a new solo album.

The grunge legend and winner of this year’s NME Icon Award teased a Hole reunion last year when she shared a photo with original members Patty Schemel, Melissa Auf Der Maur and Eric Erlandson in the studio.

Meanwhile, Liam Gallagher‘s ‘Down By The River Thames’ livestream event aired on Saturday (December 5), and during the performance he shared a few words aimed at Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson.

Gallagher and his band performed while floating down a barge on London’s River Thames for an event streamed exclusively on MelodyVR. It arrived after fans initially spotted the former Oasis frontman performing on the river last month.

Kid Cudi announces ‘Man On The Moon 3’ album will be released this week

Kid Cudi has announced that he will be releasing his ‘Man On The Moon 3’ album later this week.

Read more: All that power: celebrating the genius of Kanye West’s ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’, a tumultuous decade on

Set to arrive on Friday (December 11), Cudi has now shared the album’s artwork and tracklist, which includes features from Pop Smoke, Skepta, Phoebe Bridgers and Trippie Redd.

“In the last 10 years, Scott Mescudi has been through hell and back. After feeling like his world was over, he found hope and overcame the darkness that was plaguing his life,” an excerpt from the album’s artworks reads.

“But happiness isn’t forever,” it continues. “What he thought was peace turns into a nightmare. He finds himself lost dealing with the same pain he had not felt in years. In one night, he must face himself again and fight to win back his soul from the evil Mr. Rager.

“Featuring epic production from the legend Dot Da Genius, take a day trip, and the return of the team that helped start it all: Plain Pat, Emile Haynie, and Mike Dean, fall back into the world and twisted mind of Kid Cudi for the final installment in the Man Of The Moon trilogy.”

You can pre-save the album here and see tracklist below:

https://t.co/vWnTzN1C7T pic.twitter.com/GSqY7wLeiU

— The Chosen One (@KidCudi) December 7, 2020

The continuation of Cudi’s ‘Man On The Moon’ trilogy was mentioned on his recent collaboration with Eminem, ‘The Adventures Of Moon Man & Slim Shady’.

On the song’s outro, Cudi raps: “The adventures of Moon Man & Slim/ Yes, who want it with them?/ The trilogy continues/ Serving n*ggas, yes, see what’s on the menu (Yeah)/ Watch ’em panic, hot damnit (Let’s get it, baby)/ Hope you fuckers understand it.”

The last time Cudi put out a ‘Man On The Moon’ album was 2010’s ‘Man On The Moon II: The Legend Of Mr. Rager’, which features the Kanye West assisted ‘Erase Me’, ‘Mojo Is So Dope’, Marijuana’, and the deep cut ‘Maniac’, featuring Cage and St. Vincent.

The latter served as the basis for the Shia LaBeouf-directed short film of the same name about two serial killers making a documentary.

Meanwhile, Cudi has opened up about his feelings towards his “brother” West‘s politics in a recent interview.

Speaking with Esquire over a wide range of topics, Cudi referenced West’s longtime support of Donald Trump.

“I thought some people would be foolish about it and be like, ‘Oh, he must’ve talked to Kanye’ or ‘Kanye must’ve got to him’ or some shit like that,” Cudi said. “I think he knows where I stand, and I think he doesn’t bring it up to me. We just don’t talk about it.”

Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E.’s Ganxsta Ridd has died of coronavirus

Ganxsta Ridd of the California rap group Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. has died after succumbing to the coronavirus.

The death of the Samoan-American rapper, who had worked with the likes of Eminem, Cypress Hill‘s B-Real and Faith No More, was confirmed yesterday (December 5) by friend and fellow rapper Ice-T.

“I just woke up to the Terrible news,” Ice-T tweeted. “My very close homie ‘Gangsta Rid’ of Boo-Yaa Tribe passed away yesterday from Covid… So sad. My love and condolences go out to the family.”

I just woke up to the Terrible news.. My very close homie ‘Gangsta Rid’ of Boo-Yaa Tribe passed away yesterday from Covid… So sad. My love and condolences go out to the family. ? pic.twitter.com/YgbJCmo44E

— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) December 5, 2020

Born in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, Ridd (real name Paul Devoux) formed the Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. in the late ’80s along with his brothers Vincent, Donald, Danny, Ted, David and Roscoe Devoux.

They released their debut album ‘New Funky Nation’ in 1990, which combined rap and live instrumentation, which was something not really being done at the time. They would go on to release seven other albums, including 2003’s ‘West Koasta Nostra’ which featured the track ‘911’ with Eminem and B-Real.

In 2018, one of the group’s other members, Ted “Godfather” Devoux passed away at 55, although details surrounding his death were never revealed.

Tributes have poured in for Ganxsta Ridd on social media, including a second tweet from Ice-T, who wrote: “Unfortunately today my Twitter page is a Tribute to two brothers that are gone far to soon. ‘Godfather’ of Boo-Yaa Tribe.. Who recently died.. And his younger brother Gangsta Rid, who passed away yesterday from Covid.”

He added: “I’m speechless. Family to me and WestCoast Legends.”

Tanoai Reed, the longtime stuntman for The Rock, wrote on Instagram: “Sending my deepest condolences to the whole Devoux Aiga and my BooYaa Tribe brothers. Rest easy my uso @ganxstaridd”

“Thank you for setting the stage for future generations of Pacific Island artists, and thank you for keeping me banging hard in the gym and getting me hyped before every football game. See you when we get there.”

Unfortunately today my Twitter page is a Tribute to two brothers that are gone far to soon. ‘Godfather’ of Boo-Yaa Tribe.. Who recently died.. And his younger brother Gangsta Rid, who passed away yesterday from Covid.. I’m speechless. Family to me and WestCoast Legends ?? pic.twitter.com/eKUdJhpRu5

— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) December 5, 2020

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tanoai Reed (@samoanstuntman)

See more tributes below:

Rest in love uso ,we lost a great pioneer in music Gangsta Rid ??❤️?? https://t.co/gskIbTIjHq

— FIJITHEARTIST (@fijdog) December 5, 2020

Prayers and blessings to Gangsta Rid’s family ???

— Premium Pete (@PremiumPete) December 5, 2020

RIP Gangsta Rid! ?? pic.twitter.com/lwQDEbwlNo

— FredWreck (@Fredwreck) December 5, 2020

NxWorries debut new track ‘Where I Go’ at Double Happiness Festival

NxWorries debuted a new track called ‘Where I Go’ at Double Happiness Festival on Wednesday night (December 2).

Read more: NxWorries – ‘Yes Lawd!’ album review

The duo made up of Anderson .Paak and producer Knxwledge played a set at the 88rising festival, a virtual version of a tour that the media company has booked in past years.

The festival, which featured artists of Asian descent from around the world, saw NxWorries perform on a stage decorated with dry ice and computer graphics.

The pair, who released their debut album ‘Yes Lawd!’ in 2016, played a four-song set that featured three old tracks and new record ‘Where I Go’.

You can watch the performance below:

NxWorries Live at Double Happiness 2020 (Knxwledge & Anderson .Paak)
New Song for their next album coming soon. G A S??? pic.twitter.com/vFAOuQ43bN

— Gatzilla平和?☃️ (@gattoresu) December 3, 2020

In a four-star review of ‘Yes Lawd!’, NME’s Jordan Bassett called it a “sprawling, languid affair, running to 19 tracks of soulful hip hop”.

He added: “Yet there’s no ‘Heart Don’t Stand A Chance’ here. There’s no classic, stop-everything track to grab to you by the heartstrings. Then again, ‘Suede’ (also featured on NxWorries’ 2015 EP ‘Link Up & Suede’) comes close enough – which is closer than anyone else is likely to come before the year is up.”

Last month, Anderson .Paak joined Busta Rhymes for an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to perform their collaborative track ‘YUUUU’.

The pair initially released the single in September as the second cut from Busta’s new album ‘Extinction Level 2: The Wrath of God’, which dropped in full on October 30.

Meanwhile, Busta Rhymes has named the likes of Jay-Z and Eminem as potential Verzuz opponents.

The US webcast series, which was created by Timbaland and Swizz Beatz, pits producers, songwriters and artists against each other in a rap battle style format on Instagram Live and Apple Music.

50 Cent says Grammy 2021 nominations are “out of touch”

50 Cent has weighed in on the Grammys row, dubbing the organisers of the event as being “out of touch”.

Commenting on the forthcoming 2021 event’s nominations for Best Rap Album in a since-deleted post, Fiddy said: “Best Rap Album. They out of touch this shit ain’t it, get the fuck outta here. 50cent #bransoncognac #lecheminduroi.” He also included several grinning emojis.

His comments could possibly be due to an omission for late rapper Pop Smoke’s debut album ‘Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon’ , which he executive produced with Steven Victor and Rico Beats.

Despite that, Smoke was nominated for Best Rap Performance for ‘Dior’ – the protest anthem that appeared as a bonus track on his posthumous LP.

Those nominated included D Smoke for ‘Black Habits’, Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist’s album ‘Alfredo’, ‘A Written Testimony’ by Jay Electronica, Nas‘ ‘King’s Disease’ and Royce Da 5’9″‘s ‘The Allegory’.

Speaking to Spotify’s RapCaviar Fiddy previously said he didn’t expect Pop’s album to receive a nomination unless it was because he died.

“If it’s recognised it will only be because he’s gone,” he said. “The content is similar to what I would do. They didn’t recognise mine. They gave me Grammys when I was with Em, when I’m on records with Eminem. Other than that, they’re afraid to give him Grammys because they think it’s teaching the audience to want to be like Pop and to be like him is to be part of gang culture. Who you see get Grammys that is making drill music? You mean to tell me ain’t none of those songs worthy of it?”

Fiddy is not the only artist to criticise next year’s event. The Weeknd, Nicki Minaj and Justin Bieber have all expressed their disappointment over either a snub or being angry about which category their record has gone into.

The Weeknd in particular called out the Grammys after he failed to receive any nominations for the 2021 awards for his latest album, ‘After Hours’.

Drake has Barack Obama’s “stamp of approval” to play him in a film

Drake has been given Barack Obama‘s “stamp of approval” to play him in a prospective film.

In the latest episode of Complex‘s 360 With Speedy Morman, the former United States President answered a variety of questions ranging from this year’s presidential election, the coronavirus pandemic, his comments on rap music increasing Donald Trump’s support among Black male voters and more.

Around the 46-minute mark, Complex News host Speedy Morman also asked Obama if he would “give the thumbs up” for Drake to portray his likeness in a potential film or biopic.

“I will say this – Drake seems to be able to do anything he wants,” Obama replied.

“I mean, that is a talented brother. If the time comes, and he’s ready…Drake has – more importantly – my household’s stamp of approval. I suspect Malia and Sasha would be just fine with it.”

Around the 38-minute mark, Obama also elaborated on his comments on rap music increasing Black male voters’ support of Donald Trump.

In his original comments, Obama suggested that comparisons can be made between the way in which Trump values success and the opulent displays of wealth often portrayed in the genre’s music videos.

“I have to remind myself that if you listen to rap music, it’s all about the bling, the women, the money,” Obama previously said.

“A lot of rap videos are using the same measures of what it means to be successful as Donald Trump is. Everything is gold-plated. That insinuates itself and seeps into the culture.”

In his interview with Morman, Obama clarified that it was his usage of the term “all” that generated several heated responses on social media.

“Look, you do enough interviews, there’s gonna be a slip somewhere in terms of broad characterisations,” he said.

“I think people need to look across the board [about] what I’ve said with respect to not just my admiration for any particular artist, but my embrace of hip-hop culture that I brought into the white house in a way that was unprecedented.

“I think there’s enormous power in it, but I also think it’s important for us, as men, to realise that stuff we enjoy and take for granted sometimes has messages that – I don’t know how young boys coming up are internalising”.

Despite this, Obama maintained that he was a “huge fan of all kinds of rappers”, adding that “many of them are my friends”. He also said he recognised the power of hip-hop “not just as music but as social commentary”.

Last week, Obama shared a playlist of songs that soundtracked his time in the White House, including songs from Eminem, Bruce Springsteen and Jay-Z.

The new mix arrived to promote the release of Obama’s memoir A Promised Land, which hit shelves on November 17.

Jay-Z fan arrested after sneaking onto flight in attempt to meet the rapper

A Jay-Z fan has been arrested after they managed to sneak onto a flight in an attempt to meet the rapper.

As the Chicago Tribune reports, a woman named Yaazmina Payton, 23, was able to make it onboard the plane to LAX, Los Angeles from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport last Sunday (November 8).

READ MORE: Jay-Z – rank the albums

Following her arrest, Payton told authorities how she slipped past the security checkpoints undetected. However, someone spotted the fan ducking under ropes near to Terminal 3’s ticket gate at around 7:45am.

Payton was taken into custody after failing to produce a required ticket or boarding pass for the flight, and was subsequently charged with felony criminal trespass.

During a bail hearing on Monday (November 9), Assistant State’s Attorney Jocelyn Schieve told the court that Payton said she was trying to make it to LA with the hopes of meeting Jay.

Payton’s attorney said she had post-traumatic stress disorder and an anxiety disorder. She was released on $500 bail, but has been banned from LAX airport. An investigation into Payton’s security evasion is underway, which could take up to 90 days.

Meanwhile, Jay’s Roc Nation Management has recently signed Christina Aguilera. Sources close to the company claim that the deal went through weeks ago, though an official announcement has not yet been made. Aguilera, however, is now listed on the Roc Nation website.

Jay-Z has been tipped as a potential Verzuz opponent by Busta Rhymes along with Eminem and Lil Wayne. The second season of the rap battle webcast series kicks off next Thursday (November 19), with T.I. set to battle Jeezy in the first episode.

2020 MTV EMA Winners: See The Full List

By not being centrally located in a single city, the 2020 MTV EMA were able to spread the party out all over the world. From Budapest, David Guetta and Raye brought a night-sky, laser-filled rendition of "Let's Love," while Maluma steamed up London with a neon-purple medley of "Djadja" and "Hawái."

The winners list, too, saw artists from across the globe honored and celebrated as the show aired on Sunday (November 8). Heading into the ceremony, Lady Gaga led the nominations by earning six in total, while BTS and Justin Bieber weren't far behind with five each. During the show, BTS took home four in total — Best Song, Best Group, Biggest Fans, and Best Virtual Live. Gaga walked away with Best Artist and Best US Act, while Bieber won for his star turn in DJ Khaled and Drake's "Popstar" video.

But amid those nods was also a celebration for the night's hosts, Little Mix, who ended up nabbing Best Pop, as well as Best UK & Ireland Act, all in addition to performing new single "Sweet Melody." They thanked their Mixers on Twitter with a quick note: "You all did that!!!"

https://twitter.com/LittleMix/status/1325559586494029827

Find the complete list of EMA winners below, and explore more from the show at ema.mtv.com.

Best Video

WINNER: DJ Khaled – POPSTAR ft Drake starring Justin Bieber

Billie Eilish – everything i wanted

Cardi B – WAP ft Megan Thee Stallion

Karol G – Tusa ft Nicki Minaj

Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande – Rain On Me

Taylor Swift – The Man

The Weeknd – Blinding Lights

Best Artist

WINNER: Lady Gaga

Dua Lipa

Harry Styles

Justin Bieber

Miley Cyrus

The Weeknd

Best Song

WINNER: BTS – Dynamite

DaBaby – Rockstar ft Roddy Ricch

Dua Lipa – Don’t Start Now

Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande – Rain On Me

Roddy Ricch – The Box

The Weeknd – Blinding Lights

Best Collaboration

WINNER: Karol G – Tusa ft Nicki Minaj

BLACKPINK, Selena Gomez – Ice Cream

Cardi B – WAP ft Megan Thee Stallion

DaBaby – Rockstar ft. Roddy Ricch

Justin Bieber – Intentions ft Quavo

Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande – Rain On Me

Sam Smith, Demi Lovato – I’m Ready

Best Pop

WINNER: Little Mix

BTS

Dua Lipa

Harry Styles

Justin Bieber

Katy Perry

Lady Gaga

Best Group

WINNER: BTS

5 Seconds of Summer

BLACKPINK

Chloe x Halle

CNCO

Little Mix

Best New

WINNER: Doja Cat

BENEE

DaBaby

Jack Harlow

Roddy Ricch

YUNGBLUD

Biggest Fans

WINNER: BTS

Ariana Grande

BLACKPINK

Justin Bieber

Lady Gaga

Taylor Swift

Best Latin

WINNER: Karol G

Anuel AA

Bad Bunny

J Balvin

Maluma

Ozuna

Best Rock

WINNER: Coldplay

Green Day

Liam Gallagher

Pearl Jam

Tame Impala

The Killers

Best Hip Hop

WINNER: Cardi B

DaBaby

Drake

Eminem

Megan Thee Stallion

Roddy Ricch

Travis Scott

Best Electronic

WINNER: David Guetta

Calvin Harris

Kygo

Marshmello

Martin Garrix

The Chainsmokers

Best Alternative

WINNER: Hayley Williams

blackbear

FKA twigs

Machine Gun Kelly

The 1975

twenty one pilots

Video for Good

WINNER: H.E.R. – I Can’t Breathe

Anderson .Paak – Lockdown

David Guetta & Sia – Let’s love

Demi Lovato - I Love Me

Jorja Smith – By Any Means

Lil Baby – The Bigger Picture

Best Push

WINNER: YUNGBLUD

AJ Mitchell

Ashnikko

BENEE

Brockhampton

Conan Gray

Doja Cat

Georgia

Jack Harlow

Lil Tecca

Tate McRae

Wallows

Best Virtual Live

WINNER: BTS – Bang Bang Con: The Live

J Balvin – Behind The Colores Live Experience

Katy Perry @ Tomorrow Land – Around The World

Little Mix – UNCancelled

Maluma – Papi Juancho Live

Post Malone - Nirvana Tribute

Watch Yelawolf’s new video for ‘Country Rich’ featuring Three 6 Mafia’s DJ Paul

Yelawolf has shared a new video for ‘Country Rich’ featuring Three 6 Mafia‘s DJ Paul – you can watch it below.

Taken from last year’s ‘Ghetto Cowboy’ album, the former Shady Records rapper enlists the help of the DJ Paul to celebrate what it means to be rich in the southern states of America.

“And I just stuffed fifty racks in a can of empty Pringles/ Put quarter sacks in the plastic back of a pink flamingo/ The new Pirellis back on the Chevy, still coughin’ heavy/ Burnin’ so much rubber I caught the emphysema,” Yela raps on the track’s second verse.

On the hook, he toasts to life: “‘Cause I got a whole lot of money, whole lot of time/ Take me to the mall, I’m losin’ my mind/ I’m country rich/ I’m country rich, alright/ Got a whole lot of money, whole lot of time/ Buy the whole bar, I hope you don’t mind/ I’m country rich/ I’m country rich, alright.”

In the accompanying video, a dark story unfolds that involves cash being pulled from the walls of Yela’s trailer park home, before then being stuffed in a pink flamingo garden ornament and buried.

Watch the full video below:

Earlier this year, Korn shared a cover of Charlie Daniels’ 1979 classic ‘The Devil Went Down To Georgia’ featuring Yelawolf.

The track is available exclusively on the group’s Bandcamp page, with all proceeds going towards non-profit organisation, Awakening Youth.

Meanwhile, Three 6 Mafia have announced that they will be performing at the first indoor arena concert in the US since the coronavirus pandemic began.

Due to take place on December 11 at the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, the show, which is being billed as “the new normal”, will feature strict social distancing rules and concert-goers will be required to wear a mask.

The highly influential Memphis rap group, which currently consists of DJ Paul and Juicy J, shared the news on Instagram with a pair of videos.

Ty Dolla $ign “honoured” to be hailed “the new Nate Dogg” by Snoop Dogg

Ty Dolla $ign has said that he feels “honoured” to have been labelled “the new Nate Dogg” by Snoop Dogg.

Read More: Nate Dogg Remembered: 1969 – 2011

The Los Angeles musician, whose third studio album ‘Featuring Ty Dolla $ign’ arrived last Friday (October 23), was speaking to LA radio station Power 106 recently when he revealed the praise he’d received from Snoop.

“I just talked to my other homie that told me that he talked to Snoop on his birthday, and Snoop said that. Snoop said I’m the reincarnation of Nate Dogg,” Ty Dolla explained. “When I heard that, I was like alright, Snoop saying it? That means everything, man. Like I said, it’s an honour.

“I feel like Nate Dogg was carrying a huge torch and he passed it down.”

He added: “It’ll be passed on again, so I just encourage for the next artist out there to be yourself – be a one of one. There’s a lot of people that sound like the next artist, but it’s always good to hear somebody that is original and I encourage it.”

You can listen to the full conversation above.

Nate Dogg, whose real name was Nathaniel Dwayne Hale, died back in 2011 at the age of 41. He was one of Snoop’s closest collaborators, and also worked with the likes of Eminem, Ludacris, Tupac Shakur and Warren G.

Following his passing, Snoop hailed Nate as “one of my best friends” and “a true legend in hip-hop and R&B”. “I love you buddy. You will always be with me forever and a day,” he added.

In a four-star review of ‘Featuring Ty Dolla $ign’, NME wrote: “…It’s a victory lap for Ty Dolla $ign’s quietly influential career to date, the sound of an artist embracing the worldview he has helped to curate.”

50 Cent backpedals on Trump support, claims that he “never liked him”

50 Cent has backpedalled on his support for US President Donald Trump, following a social media grilling from comedian and ex-girlfriend Chelsea Handler.

The rapper caused a stir earlier this month when he said that Biden voters in New York City were “out of [their] fucking mind”.

“I don’t care Trump doesn’t like black people,” 50 Cent — real name Curtis Jackson — wrote in a social media post.

View this post on Instagram

?WHAT THE FUCK! (VOTE ForTRUMP) IM OUT, ?‍♂️?FUCK NEW YORK The KNICKS never win anyway. ??‍♂️I don’t care Trump doesn’t like black people 62% are you out of ya fucking mind. ?

A post shared by 50 Cent (@50cent) on Oct 19, 2020 at 12:59pm PDT

Jackson then doubled down on his support for the incumbent President, apparently voicing concerns about Joe Biden’s financial policies.

“i don’t want to be 20cent,” he wrote in a social media post which has since been deleted.

Now, 50 Cent has backpedalled on his support for Trump, after Chelsea Handler tweeted that she would “pay [50 Cent’s] taxes in exchange for you coming to your senses”.

Handler also joked on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon that she would consider going “for another spin” with 50 Cent if he publicly denounced Trump and reneged on his support.

Handler’s message appears to have gotten through to the rapper, who withdrew his support for Trump in a social media post yesterday (October 26).

View this post on Instagram

?a what, ?another spin ?Fuck Donald Trump, i never liked him. ?for all i know he had me set up and had my friend Angel Fernandez killed but that’s history.LOL @chelseahandler @jimmyfallon

A post shared by 50 Cent (@50cent) on Oct 24, 2020 at 6:57pm PDT

“Fuck Donald Trump, i never liked him,” Jackson wrote on Instagram.

“for all i know he had me set up and had my friend Angel Fernandez killed but that’s history. LOL,” he added, cryptically.

Last week, Eric Trump shared a photoshopped image of 50 Cent and Ice Cube wearing Trump campaign hats to social media. The since-deleted image caused a stir among social media users, with Ice Cube calling out the President’s son for posting it.

Lil Pump endorses Trump for upcoming election on social media

Lil Pump has endorsed Donald Trump for the 2020 US election in a number of posts on his social media.

The rapper shared a photo on Instagram yesterday (October 26), featuring his face photoshopped onto former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shaking hands with Trump.

“THE DAY I MET TRUMP,” Lil Pump wrote in the caption, followed by the hashtag #trump202022020.

View this post on Instagram

THE DAY I MET TRUMP ? #trump202022020

A post shared by Lil Pump Jetski (@lilpump) on Oct 25, 2020 at 9:58pm PDT

READ MORE: Don’t know Lil Xan from Lil Pump? Here’s a handy who’s-who of Eminem’s nemeses, the face-tat rappers

The rapper then followed up with a since-deleted Instagram story that made his stance clear.

“Fuck I look like paying an extra 33 in tax for Biden, bitch ass n****? Fuck Sleepy Joe, n****! Trump 2020, bitch,” he yelled in the video.

LMAO LIL PUMP JUST ENDORSED TRUMP pic.twitter.com/SNnjzLmBqq

— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) October 26, 2020

Lil Pump’s support for Trump due to Biden’s proposed tax increases echoed that of 50 Cent, who backed Trump on several occasions in the last week. Talk show host and comedian Chelsea Handler, who briefly dated 50 Cent in 2010, even offered to pay his taxes if he voted for Biden in the upcoming election.

“Hey fucker! I will pay your taxes in exchange for you coming to your senses. Happily! Black lives matter. That’s you, fucker! Remember?” Handler tweeted.

Despite both rappers’ concerns about Biden’s proposed tax hikes, CNBC noted earlier this week that “few if any taxpayers pay the full statutory rates, which don’t include deductions, credits, offsets, loopholes and lower tax rates on other sources of income”.

The “other sources of income” are said to be particularly important, given that most millionaires and billionaires get large chunks of their money from capital gains.

When further number-crunching comes into play, it is confirmed that only income over $400,000 would be taxed at the higher rate of 39.8 per cent, with the first $399,999 taxed at lower marginal rates.

Kid Cudi teases third chapter of ‘Man On The Moon’ series

Kid Cudi has surprised fans by teasing a third chapter of his ‘Man On The Moon’ album series.

Taking to YouTube this afternoon (October 26), the rapper shared a video entitled ‘The Trilogy Continues…’ which opens with a quick montage of moments across a number of eras in Cudi’s career.

The video then transitions into a shot of the ‘Day ‘N’ Nite’ hitmaker stepping out of a car, smoking as he looks on at the same red moon depicted on the cover of his debut album, 2009’s ‘Man On The Moon: The End Of The Day’.

Before the clip ends, text teasing the third chapter reads: “The trilogy continues… soon.”

See the teaser video below:

The continuation of Cudi’s ‘Man On The Moon’ trilogy was mentioned on his recent collaboration with Eminem, ‘The Adventures Of Moon Man & Slim Shady’.

On the song’s outro, Cudi raps: “The adventures of Moon Man & Slim/ Yes, who want it with them?/ The trilogy continues/ Serving niggas, yes, see what’s on the menu (Yeah)/ Watch ’em panic, hot damnit (Let’s get it, baby)/ Hope you fuckers understand it.”

The latter served as the basis for the Shia LaBeouf-directed short film of the same name about two serial killers making a documentary.

Meanwhile, Cudi has opened up about his feelings towards his “brother” West‘s politics in a recent interview.

Speaking with Esquire over a wide range of topics, Cudi referenced West’s longtime support of Donald Trump.

Lil Xan sued for allegedly pulling a gun during argument about 2Pac

Lil Xan is being sued for allegedly pulling a gun during a heated argument about 2Pac.

Read More: Don’t know Lil Xan from Lil Pump? Here’s a handy who’s-who of Eminem’s nemeses, the face-tat rappers

In 2018, Xan attracted the ire of 2Pac fans following an interview. When asked for his opinion on the late hip-hop icon, the 21-year-old dismissively shrugged and said he made “boring music”.

In June 2019, he was reportedly involved in a heated argument at a 7-Eleven in Los Angeles about the comments, which has led to legal action being taken.

According to court documents obtained by TMZ, a man named Anthony Sanchez is suing the rapper following the confrontation, during which he alleges that Xan threatened him with a gun.

Sanchez is reportedly claiming that he suffered “severe emotional distress,” and is suing for assault and battery.

It’s not the only physical confrontation resulting from Xan’s 2Pac comments. Shortly after Xan’s initial comments the police were called to rescue the rapper after he was confronted by a number of high school students.

While the situation didn’t get physical, he was forced to flee to a nearby YMCA, where the police came to escort him to his car.

The day following the incident, the rapper used a fan meet-and-greet to backtrack on his 2Pac comments.

In a fan-recorded video, he can be heard saying: “For real, I gotta say something. The media twisted my words. I think 2Pac is a legend. 2Pac is definitely a legend.”

He later played 2Pac’s classic 1995 single ‘California Love’ featuring Dr. Dre at a live show in an apparent peace offering.

Lil Xan opens up about his battle with depression and sobriety

Lil Xan has opened up about his recent battles with depression and sobriety.

READ MORE: Don’t know Lil Xan from Lil Pump? Here’s a handy who’s-who of Eminem’s nemeses, the face-tat rappers

Over the summer the rapper said he was now sober after an addiction to prescription pills caused him to suffer multiple seizures earlier this year.

“About 2 months ago I suffered from multiple seizures,” the rapper tweeted at the time alongside a smiling picture of himself.

“This was my second time in the last year I’ve been hospitalized for having seizures. I decided it was best for me, my friend’s, family and supporters that I quit all prescriptions pills.”

Now, he has taken to Instagram to talk about his recent struggle with depression.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by LIL XAN/DIEGO ? (@xanxiety) on Oct 13, 2020 at 9:19pm PDT

“This is really weird for me to talk about. I’ve been going through a little depression and it fucking sucks,” he said.

“I feel like I lost a lot of confidence and this is really hard for me to talk about. I’m doing a lot better but I’m still trying to get back to a good level of just self-love and appreciating myself.

“I’m very appreciative for the friends and family that I have around me and the opportunities that I’ve been blessed with in the past. I’m just having a really hard time trying to get back to how things were.”

Xan went on to say he was starting feel a little bit better but that the process is a “bitch”.

In April, he was also hospitalised after suffering a coronavirus-induced panic attack. It is unclear if it was linked to the seizures.

Lil Xan told TMZ at the time that he’d been experiencing stress over the lockdown rules, as he is “the breadwinner in his family” and currently unable to play live.

For help and advice on mental health:

Help Musicians UK – Around the clock mental health support and advice for musicians (CALL MUSIC MINDS MATTER ON: 0808 802 8008)
Music Support Org – Help and support for musicians struggling with alcoholism, addiction, or mental health issues (CALL: 0800 030 6789)
‘Am I depressed?‘ – Help and advice on mental health and what to do next
YOUNG MINDS – The voice for young people’s health and wellbeing
CALM – The Campaign Against Living Miserably for young men
Time To Change – Let’s end mental health discrimination
The Samaritans – Confidential support 24 hours a day

Big Sean reveals his first advance from Kanye West and G.O.O.D. Music was just $15k

Big Sean has revealed that his first advance from Kanye West and his G.O.O.D. Music label was just $15,000.

Read more: Big Sean: “God has taken away all these special people – there has to be a reason I’m still here”

Speaking to Fat Joe for his Instagram Live/Revolt show, The Fat Joe Show, Sean discussed the moment he got signed by West after rapping for him on the spot at a Detroit radio station.

Sean explained that he was struggling to make it even after being signed – he signed with G.O.O.D. in 2007 but his debut album ‘Finally Famous’ didn’t arrive until 2011 – and it was at this point that Joe questioned how he was paying his bills.

“You know, my first advance was, bro, I don’t even wanna say that number, but it was something where it wasn’t a lot at all,” Sean said, before Joe asked him to reveal the number in order for them to create a “Joprah Moment.”

“We like to hear shit we ain’t never heard before,” Joe said. “What was the advance – $50,000? What was it?”

Sean answered: “No. My advance… my first advance was $15,000, bro.”

Big Sean reveals his first advance from Kanye / G.O.O.D. Music was just $15k pic.twitter.com/GaTp1lIF2n

— HipHop-N-More (@HipHopNMore) October 9, 2020

The news comes after West recently revealed that he’s giving all the artists signed to G.O.O.D. Music the 50 per cent share he holds in their masters.

Elsewhere during Sean’s chat with Joe, the Terror Squad rapper revealed that Eminem called him to try and convince him to come out of retirement.

“You know, Em called me last week – I don’t want to keep throwing his name around – but the man was trying to talk me out of retirement last week,” Joe told Sean. “This is all I ever wanted my whole life, for one of the rap gods like to call me and tell me, ‘Yo Joe, you nice. You need to get back in there.'”

See the full chat below:

Meanwhile, Big Sean has revealed that he’s sitting on three unfinished tracks with John Mayer.

Back in 2018, the rapper posted a since-deleted photograph of himself and the ‘Gravity’ hitmaker in the studio together, but no music has since materialised from their time together.

Speaking in a new interview with NME, Sean shared more details about what he and Mayer worked on, explaining that their work included input from revered musician James Fauntleroy.

“Me, John and James Fauntleroy did a 17-hour lock-in session,” he explained. “Those guys are legends, man. We came up with some fire ideas that we’ve still gotta finish.

He added: “I linked up with John one other time after that but we really gotta link back up soon. There’s at least two or three great ideas there.”

Megan Thee Stallion launches scholarships for female students of colour

Megan Thee Stallion has announced the ‘Don’t Stop Scholarship Fund’, a bursary awarded to two female students of colour pursuing degrees in any field.

For the second year running, Megan has partnered with Rap Rotation, Amazon Music’s flagship global hip-hop brand, to award two $10,000 (£7,820) funds to a pair of students wanting to attain an associate, bachelors or postgraduate degree.

Read more: Megan Thee Stallion – “I’m really working on my dynasty right now”

The ‘Don’t Stop’ title of the fund is taken from Megan’s latest single of the same name, featuring Young Thug. Applicants can find out more information about the scholarship here.

Megan Thee Stallion CREDIT: Cassidy Sparrow/Getty Images for MAXIM

Megan is currently a Health Care Administration major studying at Texas Southern University. As a press release notes, the rapper is “incredibly passionate about the transformative power of education and remains a strong advocate for women pursuing a college degree”.

In other news, Megan delivered a politically charged Saturday Night Live performance of ‘Don’t Stop’ and ‘Savage’ over the weekend. During her debut appearance on the US show, she called for justice for Breonna Taylor.

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron later criticised Megan’s “disgusting” targeting of him, in which she slammed his handling of the high profile murder case.

Appearing on Fox & Friends, Cameron said he agreed with Megan’s call to “protect Black women” but said: “The fact that someone would get on national television and make disparaging comments about me because I’m simply trying to do my job is disgusting.”

Lady Gaga Leads 2020 MTV EMA Nominations — BTS And Justin Bieber Aren’t Far Behind

Chromatica season is still raging.

Lady Gaga's sixth studio album dropped in May, but its dance-ready grooves made it a key album to get through the summer, as we saw on full display at the VMAs.

And now, Gaga's reign continues: She's the most-nominated artist at the 2020 MTV EMA, racking up seven nods, including Best Video, Best Artist, Best Pop, Best Song, and more. Gaga is followed closely behind by both BTS and Justin Bieber, who each grabbed five noms.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CF_5iBnKRA3/

This year's EMA finds the show in its 27th year, and the show adds three new categories for 2020: Best Latin, Video for Good, and Best Virtual Live. The two-hour ceremony will air globally on MTV in 180 countries and territories on Sunday, November 8, 2020. Fan voting is now open at mtvema.com and will last until November 2 at 11:59pm CET.

Find the full list of 2020 MTV EMA nominees below.

Best Video

Billie Eilish – everything i wanted

Cardi B – WAP ft Megan Thee Stallion

DJ Khaled – POPSTAR ft Drake starring Justin Bieber

Karol G – Tusa ft Nicki Minaj

Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande – Rain On Me

Taylor Swift – The Man

The Weeknd – Blinding Lights

Best Artist

Dua Lipa

Harry Styles

Justin Bieber

Lady Gaga

Miley Cyrus

The Weeknd

Best Song

BTS – Dynamite

DaBaby – Rockstar ft Roddy Ricch

Dua Lipa – Don’t Start Now

Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande – Rain On Me

Roddy Ricch – The Box

The Weeknd – Blinding Lights

Best Collaboration

BLACKPINK, Selena Gomez – Ice Cream

Cardi B – WAP ft Megan Thee Stallion

DaBaby – Rockstar ft. Roddy Ricch

Justin Bieber – Intentions ft Quavo

Karol G – Tusa ft Nicki Minaj

Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande – Rain On Me

Sam Smith, Demi Lovato – I’m Ready

Best Pop

BTS

Dua Lipa

Harry Styles

Justin Bieber

Katy Perry

Lady Gaga

Little Mix

Best Group

5 Seconds of Summer

BLACKPINK

BTS

Chloe x Halle

CNCO

Little Mix

Best New

BENEE

DaBaby

Doja Cat

Jack Harlow

Roddy Ricch

YUNGBLUD

Biggest Fans

Ariana Grande

BLACKPINK

BTS

Justin Bieber

Lady Gaga

Taylor Swift

Best Latin

Anuel AA

Bad Bunny

J Balvin

Karol G

Maluma

Ozuna

Best Rock

Coldplay

Green Day

Liam Gallagher

Pearl Jam

Tame Impala

The Killers

Best Hip Hop

Cardi B

DaBaby

Drake

Eminem

Megan Thee Stallion

Roddy Ricch

Travis Scott

Best Electronic

Calvin Harris

David Guetta

Kygo

Marshmello

Martin Garrix

The Chainsmokers

Best Alternative

blackbear

FKA twigs

Hayley Williams

Machine Gun Kelly

The 1975

twenty one pilots

Video for Good

Anderson .Paak – Lockdown

David Guetta & Sia – Let’s love

Demi Lovato - I Love Me

H.E.R. – I Can’t Breathe

Jorja Smith – By Any Means

Lil Baby – The Bigger Picture

Best Push

AJ Mitchell

Ashnikko

BENEE

Brockhampton

Conan Gray

Doja Cat

Georgia

Jack Harlow

Lil Tecca

Tate McRae

Wallows

YUNGBLUD

Best Virtual Live

BTS – Bang Bang Con: The Live

J Balvin – Behind The Colores Live Experience

Katy Perry @ Tomorrow Land – Around The World

Little Mix – UNCancelled

Maluma – Papi Juancho Live

Post Malone - Nirvana Tribute

The 2020 MTV EMA airs globally on MTV in 180 countries and territories on Sunday, November 8, 2020. Find more info at mtvema.com.

Vinyl sales continue to rise in UK despite coronavirus crisis

Vinyl sales have continued to rise in the UK despite the coronavirus crisis causing significant problems for other areas of the music industry.

Read more: Here’s the full list of Record Store Day 2020 releases

According to the Official Charts Company, last month’s Record Store Day – the first of three socially distanced events scheduled for 2020 – resulted in a 3% rise in vinyl sales, with 2.7 million units sold so far this year.

The new figures come from the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA), who manage Record Store Day in the UK.

This continuing rise comes in spite of UK music retailers and record shops being forced to close their doors in March until June as a result of the national lockdown. During the intervening period, however, many stores set up delivery services or a click-and-collect option in a bid to survive.

Love Record Stores Day — CREDIT: Michael Jacobs/Getty Images

Last month, Discogs’ mid-year report revealed that physical sales (vinyl, CD and cassette) rose by 29.69 per cent – 4,228,270 orders – on their website between January and June this year, compared to the same period in 2019.

Meanwhile, the second Record Store Day for this year is set to take place this coming Saturday (September 26), when fans will be able to get their hands on exclusive vinyl releases from the likes of Britney Spears, Declan McKenna, The Doors, Ellie Goulding, Fleetwood Mac, Nas, The Notorious B.I.G. and Tegan and Sara.

Next month’s edition will see new titles from Beck and St. Vincent, Def Leppard, Eminem, Suede, Lou Reed, The Rolling Stones, Snoop Dogg and Thin Lizzy. You can find a full breakdown of releases by date here, and locate your closest record store here.

Big Sean reveals another TWENTY88 album with Jhené Aiko is “in the works”

Big Sean has revealed that he and partner Jhené Aiko have another TWENTY88 album “in the works”.

The couple teamed up in 2016 to release a self-titled album under their TWENTY88 moniker, with another track attributed to the project appearing on Sean’s latest record, ‘Detroit 2’.

Big Sean, real name Sean Anderson, dropped the hint about future TWENTY88 music during a Reddit AMA on September 17, when he was quizzed about the pair’s collaborative project by a fan.

“Sup man, big fan. Detroit 2 is still on repeat,” wrote the user. “I really like Time In, are you guys working on a new TWENTY88 album?”

“Its in the works,” Anderson replied.

He was also asked about potential new music with Aiko during a radio interview on Hot 97’s Ebro In The Morning.

“Ya’ll gonna do another whole project like that?” asked host Ebro Darden, to which Anderson responded, “Yeah I hope, I think so.”

Big Sean talks Twenty88 pic.twitter.com/88WVCDGoug

— Seané Updates (@SeaneUpdates) September 16, 2020

A follow-up to ‘TWENTY88’ has been a long time coming, with Anderson tweeting in 2016 that “the next @twenty88 album is coming next year”.

Thank you the next @twenty88 album is coming next year. We gon get our solo's off too though! #Dons #Soulmates #88 https://t.co/bXNP2VxAbd

— Sean Don (@BigSean) November 12, 2016

While that didn’t eventuate, the couple did release a slew of collaborative songs under their own names, including Aiko’s ‘None Of Your Concern’ and Anderson’s ‘Body Language’.

They both released solo albums this year, with Aiko dropping ‘Chilombo’ in March. She shared the deluxe edition shortly after, featuring ‘Summer 2020’.

Anderson released his fifth studio album ‘Detroit 2’ earlier this month, featuring collaborative singles ‘Don Life’ with Lil Wayne, ‘Deep Reverence’ with the late Nipsey Hussle, ‘Friday Night Cypher’ with Eminem and ‘Lithuania’ alongside Travis Scott, among others.

NME gave the record three stars in a review, describing it as “unreserved passion from a generational rap talent with an upbeat message”.

Following the record’s release, which knocked Taylor Swift’s ‘Folklore’ off the number one spot on Billboard’s 200 charts, Anderson announced he would be launching his own record label once the ‘Detroit 2’ album cycle was over.

50 Cent working on new series that looks at past beef with The Game

50 Cent is working on a new series for cable network Starz that will look at his highly publicised past beef with fellow rapper The Game.

Read more: The Big Read – The Game: “Me and 50 Cent should have died in that beef”

According to Variety, Abdul Williams is onboard to write and executive produce the series. His previous credits include The New Edition Story and The Bobby Brown Story, both of which were produced for BET. Anil Kurian will help develop the project on behalf of G-Unit Film & Television.

50 is also developing a second series for Starz, an untitled drama inspired by the life of sports agent and attorney Nicole Lynn, the first Black woman to represent a Top 3 NFL draft pick.

The series “follows the rise of a determined young, African-American woman as she breaks through and climbs to the top of the highly competitive and male-dominated world of sports agents.”

Tash Grey, who has also worked as a writer and co-executive producer on 50’s Power prequel Raising Kanan, will serve as writer and executive producer on it. Kurian again will develop the project on behalf of G-Unit Film & Television.

Meanwhile, 50 Cent has discussed ‘cancel culture’ in a new interview, saying the “biggest target” of the perceived movement is “heterosexual males in general.”

The rapper was speaking in a new interview, in which he also said that he doesn’t believe that he himself can be ‘cancelled’.

Big Sean scores third consecutive Billboard Number One album with ‘Detroit 2’

Big Sean has scored his third consecutive Billboard Number One album with the recently released ‘Detroit 2’.

Read more: Big Sean – ‘Detroit 2’ review: unreserved passion from a generational rap talent with an upbeat message

Released last week (September 4), the sequel to Sean’s acclaimed 2012 mixtape features guest appearances from Anderson .Paak, Post Malone, Nipsey Hussle, Travis Scott, Stevie Wonder and more.

The rapper’s sixth studio album ended Taylor Swift’s six-week run at the top of the Billboard 200 with her eighth album ‘Folklore’, selling the equivalent of 103,000 units.

Celebrating the achievement on Instagram, Sean wrote: “Thank you! I sacrificed my privacy, I put so many emotions and lessons I learned the hard way into this music and gave a honest glimpse into my heart! it wasn’t easy, nights I thought of Offing myslef cause Life was too heavy, but the lock in was worth it! Had to remember if I’m still here and so many aren’t, it’s for reason.”

He added: “My goal was to inspire YOU to turn yourself up in all ways, Mind, Body, n Soul. Life isn’t promised as we can see, so HAVE FUN and thank you so much for the #1 album for a 3rd time in a row! Let’s KEEP GOING, Why Would I stop?!”

View this post on Instagram

Thank you! I sacrificed my privacy, I put so many emotions and lessons I learned the hard way into this music and gave a honest glimpse into my heart! it wasn’t easy, nights I thought of Offing myslef cause Life was too heavy, but the lock in was worth it! Had to remember if I’m still here and so many aren’t, it’s for reason. My goal was to inspire YOU to turn yourself up in all ways, Mind, Body, n Soul. Life isn’t promised as we can see, so HAVE FUN and thank you so much for the #1 album for a 3rd time in a row! Let’s KEEP GOING, Why Would I stop?! #Detroit2 ??✊???????

A post shared by BIGSEAN (@bigsean) on Sep 12, 2020 at 1:31pm PDT

‘Detroit 2’ is Sean’s fifth consecutive Number One debut on the Rap chart, his fourth consecutive Number One debut on the R&B/hip-hop chart, and third consecutive Number One debut on the Billboard 200 album chart.

In the weeks leading up to the release of album, Sean teased several tracks, including ‘Deep Reverence’ featuring Nipsey Hussle, ‘Don Life’ featuring Lil Wayne, and ‘Lithuania’ with Travis Scott.

Eminem also appears on the album on the 10-minute posse cut ‘Friday Night Cypher’. Delivering a dizzying verse, Slim Shady joined Sean, Tee Grizzly, Boldy James, Drego, Sada Baby, Kash Doll, Cash Kidd, Payroll, 42 Dugg and Royce Da 5’9″.

In a three-star review of ‘Detroit 2’, NME‘s Will Lavin said: “Although it can be overblown, Sean’s passion is unreserved here, the record peppered with Instagram-worthy captions that urge listeners to take inspiration from their surroundings while keeping friends and family close. This is why Sean’s name continues to stay on the lips of rap connoisseurs almost a decade after his debut.”

Conway The Machine shares new album ‘From King To A GOD’

Shady Records rapper Conway The Machine has released his new album ‘From King To A GOD’ – listen to it below.

Read more: Eminem vs everyone: a massive list of every one of Slim Shady’s lyrical feuds

The diverse 14-track project arrived on Friday (September 11) and features guest appearances and production from Freddie Gibbs, Method Man, DJ Premier, Mobb Deep‘s Havoc, Lloyd Banks, Dej Loaf, Alchemist, Daringer, Erick Sermon, Hit-Boy and his fellow Griselda rappers Westside Gunn and Benny The Butcher.

Speaking on the new album, Conway said: “Typically, when I create an album, I tend to focus on being the best rapper and having the best bars. With ‘From King To A GOD’, I wanted to show growth; how much I’ve grown as an artist and how much I’ve grown as a man.”

He added: “I wanted to showcase versatility and show people that I’m not a one trick pony. I feel like this album is not only arguably one of my best albums ever, but it is also the perfect appetiser to get my fans ready for my Shady Records debut ‘God Don’t Make Mistakes’.”

Listen to ‘From King To A GOD’ below.

Last week, Eminem dropped a dizzying new verse on Big Sean‘s new posse cut ‘Friday Night Cypher’.

The track appears on Sean’s new album, ‘Detroit 2’, which was released last Friday (September 4). It features guests appearances from Anderson .Paak, Post Malone, Nipsey Hussle, Travis Scott, Stevie Wonder and more.

‘Friday Night Cypher’ is a 10-minute monster that celebrates the MCs of Detroit. Joining Eminem and Big Sean are Tee Grizzly, Boldy James, Drego, Sada Baby, Kash Doll, Cash Kidd, Payroll, 42 Dugg and Royce Da 5’9″.

Meanwhile, a man who broke into Eminem‘s home in Detroit earlier this year allegedly told the rapper that he was “there to kill him.”

Drake and Lil Wayne have reportedly discussed another joint tour

Drake and Lil Wayne have reportedly been discussing plans for another joint tour.

In 2014, the rappers held the ‘Drake vs Lil Wayne Tour’, which hit US arenas across the summer.

Read more: Sorry Drake, you’re not cool anymore – and here’s why

Speaking as part of Brian Miller’s Art Of Facts show, Drake’s former manager, Cortez Bryant, remembered the 2014 tour, as well as revealing that plans for a second run have been discussed.

“My favourite tour of them all was this Drake vs Lil Wayne tour,” Bryant said. “The concept was crazy,” he added, referring to an interactive app given to fans at the tour, with which they could give either Drake or Wayne a “power up” while performing, in homage to Street Fighter.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by brian b.dot™ miller (@bdottm) on Sep 7, 2020 at 12:40pm PDT

“Drake came up with the Street Fighter concept. I’m not taking credit for that. Drake came up like, ‘Yo, I got a dope ass concept.'” Bryant added. “So the Street Fighter collaboration with all the graphics and content that we had on the screen – I thought that was dope.

“It was a fun tour. We had fun every night. It was at a time when Drake had arrived as an artist. From seeing him from the inception as a superstar himself and mentor and mentee just going on the stage, having fun, talking a little shit during the whole time … And they talked about [doing a second tour]. I think we do need to do it again.”

Akon recently revealed that he turned down the chance to sign Drake when he was an unknown rapper, because he thought he “sounded like Eminem”.

Drake is set to release his new album ‘Certified Lover Boy’ in the coming months, though it was recently revealed that the rapper failed to trademark the titular term ahead of the release of the album.

Big Sean says he experienced mental health struggles during making of ‘Detroit 2’

Big Sean has opened up about struggling with his mental health prior to the release of his new album, ‘Detroit 2’.

Read More: ‘Am I depressed?’ – help and advice on mental health and what to do next

The Californian rapper’s fifth studio album arrived last Friday (September 4) and features Eminem, Anderson .Paak, Post Malone and more.

Yesterday (September 7) Sean posted a series of tweets in which he said he was “working on me and figuring things out” during the making of the record, and had also experienced suicidal thoughts at that time.

“I don’t feel like this currently, but I had never gone through wanting to kill myself, give up on my life until the past few years,” he said, “and I didn’t realize how important it was to embrace the ups n downs of life and enjoy (in joy) taking active steps to better it. it’s the Journey!

Lotta things I learned making this album… I feel a like I should share a couple on my heart, a lot of it is in the music tho. Feel like I’m finna tweet a lot right now ??‍♂️

— Sean Don (@BigSean) September 7, 2020

“I thought doing what I loved would always make me happy and satisfied, so when I got tired of it, I was confused and it drove me insane. Later I realized I was just growing n had to gain a new mentality and foundation on many levels n re-discover my passion! And try new things.”

He continued: “That’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to learn how to do, I pray if and when it happens to you, you just hold on to your faith! You may discover more passions if it’s meant to be as well. Not sure if we are only meant to do one thing in life, who knows for sure.”

Big Sean then spoke of the insecurities and self-doubt he was faced with while working on ‘Detroit 2’, which led him to question whether there was still an appetite for his music among fans.

I don’t feel like this currently, but I had never gone through wanting to kill myself, give up on my life until the past few years and I didn’t realize how important it was to embrace the ups n downs of life and enjoy (in joy) taking active steps to better it. it’s the Journey!

— Sean Don (@BigSean) September 7, 2020

That’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to learn how to do, I pray if and when it happens to you, you just hold on to your faith! You may discover more passions if it’s meant to be as well. Not sure if we are only meant to do one thing in life, who knows for sure…

— Sean Don (@BigSean) September 7, 2020

While I was working on me and figuring things out (still am everyday but I just mean while I was making the album) I was worried that it was taking too long, and adding extra stress to my life worrying if people will even still want to hear from me, but even then I still…

— Sean Don (@BigSean) September 7, 2020

I couldn’t rush it. I listened to God and myself for when the time was right. That’s one of the hardest things to do as an artist was be on my time, and not the time everyone kept telling me is right for me. I had to learn MY timing isn’t everyone else’s timing n that’s fine.

— Sean Don (@BigSean) September 7, 2020

“While I was working on me and figuring things out (still am everyday but I just mean while I was making the album) I was worried that it was taking too long, and adding extra stress to my life worrying if people will even still want to hear from me, but even then I still… I couldn’t rush it,” he explained.

“I listened to God and myself for when the time was right. That’s one of the hardest things to do as an artist was be on my time, and not the time everyone kept telling me is right for me. I had to learn MY timing isn’t everyone else’s timing n that’s fine.”

Meanwhile, Big Sean has revealed plans to launch his own record label once the ‘Detroit 2’ cycle has ended.

For help and advice on mental health:

‘Am I depressed?‘ – Help and advice on mental health and what to do next
Help Musicians UK – Around the clock mental health support and advice for musicians
Music Support Org – Help and support for musicians struggling with alcoholism, addiction, or mental health issues
YOUNG MINDS – The voice for young people’s health and wellbeing
CALM – The Campaign Against Living Miserably for young men
Time To Change – Let’s end mental health discrimination
The Samaritans – Confidential support 24 hours a day

Listen to Jared Evan’s surprise new mixtape ‘The Art Form Of Whatever II’

New York rapper/singer Jared Evan has shared a surprise mixtape, ‘The Art Form Of Whatever II’ – you can listen to it below.

Read more: “Hi, my name is…” – 20 years of Eminem’s ‘The Slim Shady LP’ as told by those who were there

Evan’s latest project is a sequel to his 2015 tape of the same name, which featured appearances from the likes of Santana‘s daughter Stella and multiplatinum-selling singer Max.

Some of the features on the new mixtape include rappers Skyzoo and Termanolgy, and longtime producer Statik Selektah, who joins both of the latter on the boom bap banger ‘Splatter Paint’.

Moe Pope, who appeared on the song ‘Karate’ on the first ‘Art Form’, returns for the sequel, on the track ‘Double Dragon’.

Evan, who has previously worked with the likes of Pharrell, The Game and Joey Bada$$, opens ‘The Art Form Of Whatever II’ with the song ‘Repeat’. On it, he shouts out Killer Mike and El-P of Run The Jewels.

He raps: “Killing mics just like my last LP/ I run the jewels/ You motherfuckers, y’all can’t cancel me/ I pay my dues, you got a bag/ But it’s a bag of weed.”

Listen to ‘The Art Form Of Whatever II’ in full below:

Meanwhile, an unreleased verse by the late Notorious B.I.G. has been unearthed by Statik Selektah.

The producer, who has worked with the likes of Nas, Joey Bada$$ and Jared Evan, used the verse on a new song he produced titled ‘Bastard Child’, which he shared earlier this year (April 26).

“Some new Biggie for you? (Bored on a Sunday). Even the biggest Notorious fans prob don’t know this verse. Salute @everydayisacanvas for the reminder.”

Logic says he will release new mixtape if enough people sign petition

Logic has said he will release a new mixtape if a million people sign a petition calling for him to do so.

Read more: Logic – ‘No Pressure’ review: positive rapper bids farewell with an elegiac and heartfelt swan song

Last month, the Maryland rapper announced he would be retiring from music following the release of his latest album, ‘No Pressure’, which arrived on July 26.

“Officially announcing my retirement with the release of ‘No Pressure’ executive produced by No I.D. July 24th,” Logic wrote on Twitter. “It’s been a great decade. Now it’s time to be a great father.”

Although he said would be retiring from releasing albums, he said he would still be involved with music through side ventures and his label, Bobby Boy Records.

Now, speaking to Hard Knock TV, Logic talked about the process behind some of the beats he produced on ‘No Pressure’, including album standout ‘Heard Em Say’.

Elsewhere in the interview, Logic previews some freestyles he’s recorded over other people’s beats, including Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Rigamortis‘. He’s then asked why he’s not putting out the unreleased stuff since it’s of a high quality.

The show’s host, Nick Huff Barili, offers to start a petition to convince Logic to them out. The Def Jam rapper agrees, saying that he will put out the free tape if the petition gathers one million signatures.

A petition has since been created and so far 28,000 people have signed it – you can sign it here.

Meanwhile, Logic has spoken out about the harsh criticism he’s received over the years from rapper-turned-podcast host Joe Budden.

Budden, who has taken aim at Logic on a number of platforms, once described him as “easily one of the worst rappers to ever grace a microphone” on an episode of The Joe Budden Podcast.

Speaking in a new interview, Logic discussed his new album, mental health, social media, and Budden’s criticism of him.

“He doesn’t like me for whatever reason,” Logic told Hot 97’s Peter Rosenberg. “He wants to say I’m not Black enough, I’m not good enough. He’s a person who’s led to part of my depression, some of my darkest spaces,” said Logic around the 24 minute mark in the clip below. “Your words, they make people want to kill themselves bro.”

Crew members call on government to save future of live music industry: “You wouldn’t re-open a hospital without doctors”

Live music crew members from across the UK have spoken to NME about their call for the government to urgently provide support to their industry while unable to work due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Earlier this month, the #LetTheMusicPlay campaign saw artists and industry figures take to social media to demand that the government share arts funding to protect the future live crew, musicians and the individuals working behind the scenes.

Despite the government’s recent £1.57billion to help the arts, culture and heritage industries survive the impact of closures brought on by coronavirus, it has been said that this funding hasn’t been reaching those who are out of work within the live music industry – with 60 per cent of jobs expected to be lost from this sector.

Many of these workers are freelancers, have set up their own limited companies and, fear the furlough tap being turned off soon or have found funding difficult or impossible to access.

This week also saw the launch of the #WeMakeEvents Red Alert campaign – with hundreds of crew members marching on the streets of Manchester before arts spaces across the country lit up red in solidarity. Now more people have shared their fears of what’s in store for live music if ancillary workers aren’t supported.

The Tate Modern is lit up in red as part of the #WeMakeEvents’ ‘Throw Us a Line Campaign’ (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Andy Lenthall is the general manager of the Production Services Association, who told NME that the workers he represents are at risk of abandoning the music industry forever unless furlough is extended as part of a wider tailor-made support package.

“We know that furlough is ending in October,” he said. “We’ve already seen mass redundancies across our sector. For self-employment income support, the last grant will be paid this month and that’s it. We’re looking at that gap between October and March until everyone’s back at work. During that period, we estimate the loss of earning will be somewhere between £60-70million. That’s a gap that we can’t plug, so we need the government to.”

Despite socially distanced indoor gigs being allowed in the UK from tomorrow (Saturday August 15), it is argued that the vast majority of venues will not be viably able to host events with restrictions in place.

“We’re going to have to raise money to literally keep the roof over some people’s heads – then we’ll actually be able to put on live events when we’re allowed to,” he continued. “A lot of other people are retraining in other fields. It’s not all about supporting people because they don’t have any money, it’s actually supporting a workforce so that they’re here to provide us with a live music industry when it can return – otherwise it just won’t happen. You can’t sustain gigs without people. Happy busking everybody.”

Lenthall argued that with the live music industry generating £1.1billion in 2019, they’d be able to pay the money back to the government in tax within a year.

“Without help, we’ll lose our workforce and supply chain really rapidly,” he added. “We’re on a life support machine. They’re going to switch it off. How long will we last after that?”

The #WeMakeEvents march in Manchester. Credit: Getty

Jack Chapman, 29, has worked at The Leadmill in Sheffield for six years as part of the changeover crew for loading gear in and out before and after gigs for local acts and established artists.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” he told NME. “It’s really affected a lot of my crewmates. This is like a family to me. Now they’re going to have to make some tough choices about whether or not they continue. There’s so much uncertainty heading even as far as into next year.

“I know a few folks from other Sheffield venues who were freelancing or on zero hour contracts who don’t know what’s coming so are willing to do just about anything. There are skilled people who just might not come back.”

Asked what this could mean for the local scene, Chapman replied: “There’s a steady stream of music coming out of Sheffield, and there’s a real fear that it will get cut off if this continues. If the 18 to 19-year-olds start to consider other careers than the music industry due to the instability, then we lose out – and we won’t see the effects of that for a few years. That’s if the venues haven’t completely shut down.”

The Leadmill in Sheffield Credit: The Leadmill. CREDIT: Press

Meanwhile, Jac Nott, 47, a self-employed monitor engineer from Southampton who has worked with the likes of Marina And The Diamonds, KT Tunstall, The Pogues, The Levellers and Gary Numan, described the government’s support for the industry so far as “embarrassing”.

“A lot of newspapers are clapping back with, ‘Oh, they’ve given you £1.57billion’, but that’s not the case,” she told NME. “Some jewels in the crown of venues have got that, but it hasn’t filtered down to the supply chain. As someone said on a poster at the Manchester march the other day, you wouldn’t consider keeping hospitals open without doctors – so what’s the point in keeping venues open without people to keep them running?”

She continued: “I’m really pleased that grassroots music venues have got a look-in for the first time, but as a whole the support is inaccessible. The furlough scheme for people on PAYE is useful, but how can you expect a company to pay towards it from this month if they’ve not earned a penny since March? We’re on our arse with no prospect of a future.”

Jac Nott and her crew on tour with Marina & The Diamonds. Supplied by Jac Nott

Mark Wynn-Edwards, 43 from Beverley in East Yorkshire, is a lighting and show designer who has toured with Simple Minds, Doves, Grace Jones, Rod Stewart, InFlames, Paloma Faith and many more. He argued that the government shouldn’t underestimate the amount of talent at risk of being lost.

“Gigs and festivals will happen eventually one way or another, but the question is at what level of quality?” he said. “The UK live music industry is the best in the world – we invented it. Any huge show anywhere has at least one Brit on their crew.

“When people think of a backstage crew, they think of your typical roadie with a ripped jean jacket, but in reality they’re some of the greatest professionals you will ever meet who will run rings around professionals from other industries. There are a lot of people struggling to stay alive who have gone to get a job at Tesco and are saying they’ll stay there because it feels safe.”

He added: “The government needs to extend furlough for the industry, keep the self-employed scheme going and provide grants rather than loans to help companies keep things alive. Nothing is going to happen to February 2021 at the earliest. I know a lot of people in financial trouble who will be lucky to see the end of this month, let alone October.”

Liam Halpin with 'Big Nobby', on the road with Tool. Supplied by Liam Halpin — Liam Halpin with ‘Big Nobby’, on the road with Tool. Supplied by Liam Halpin

Liam Halpin, 41, is an award-winning sound system engineer from Lincolnshire, who has worked with Led Zeppelin, Lou Reed and Neil Young over the last 23 years, with his main recent clients from recent years including System Of A Down and Sam Smith. He was on tour with Tool in the US with a 60-strong crew when the pandemic started to see shows cancelled.

“This is the first time in a very, very long time when I haven’t known when I’m next going to be working,” he said. I’m one of the luckier ones because I’ve been doing this for a while and have reserves to fall back on, but there are a lot of people who don’t and are working invoice to invoice.”

Speaking of the very specific needs of the live music sector, Halpin hit out at the “one-size-fits all” approach of the government’s support.

“We were the first industry to shut down and we will be the last to start back up again,” he said. “December to February is usually quiet but then the Spring tours start up after that before the busy festival season starts. That’s where the money is made until the next quiet period. The timing on this couldn’t have been worse for us as an industry. With the generic wind down of furlough, most of the larger touring companies have announced that they’ll be making a minimum of 25% of their workforce redundant.”

He added: “The biggest thing that we need is recognition that the music and events industry makes a difference financially. We don’t get government support and we hide in the shadows. We’re technicians. If you see us on stage, it’s because something has gone wrong. We are supposed to be invisible. There are people who work their nuts off to provide the entertainment and escape for people in normal jobs, and now we’re being told that we can’t go to work. All we’re asking is to keep us going until we can do what we do.”

The venue will open at Newcastle Racecourse (Picture: Getty)

Rick Smith, 54 from London, is a tour and production manager for Rule Out Loud, who worked on one of the earliest Lollapalooza tours in the US before going on to tour with the likes of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Eminem, REM, Kasabian, and The Kooks. Were it not for the pandemic, he’d currently be on tour with Underworld.

“Since February, I’ve lost a European tour, an American tour, and an extremely busy festival season,” he told NME. “I’ve had no real income since March and I’d say 97 per cent of the people that I work with are in the same boat.”

Instead of touring, he’s been part of a group meeting with the government to discuss returning to gigs without social distancing, and what’s needed in the meantime.

“There was talk of shows commencing in the autumn, but as long as social distancing is a factor the economics make it totally unviable for anyone to make any kind of money and support the industry,” he said. “Social distancing kills the vibe and it kills the economics. It’s fine for the Royal Opera House and a lot of the old school, theatrical places who are fishing in the same pond for the chancellor’s £1.57billion. That’s going across all the arts and you do get the impression that the needy from our end of the spectrum are not deemed to be as worthy because we’re not as high art.

He added: “A lot of crew are self-employed, and a good 60 per cent of them are directors of their own limited companies and not eligible for any funding and are struggling. We’ve been advising the DCMS, but I feel like they haven’t been paying attention because they just regard us as a bunch of roadies.”

Responding to the latest campaign, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport told NME that Arts Council England funding of £160million has been made available to freelancers and individual artists – with over 9000 individuals and organisations benefiting from the Emergency Response Fund. They added that a further £95million of additional support for individuals, including freelancers, has been announced.

“Our £1.57billion support package is the biggest ever one-off cash injection in UK culture to secure the future of the performing arts and live events, protect jobs in the industry and ensure work continues to flow to freelancers,” a DCMS spokesperson told NME. “Throughout this crisis, we have worked with urgency to support the arts and we are committed to delivering this funding quickly and fairly to organisations across the country.”

With full capacity shows unlikely in the coming months, last month saw the organisers of a government pilot socially distanced gig with Frank Turner performing at London’s Clapham Grand acknowledg that the event “did not succeed” in creating a viable blueprint for the return of live music.

Listen to Russ honour his mother on new song ‘Live From The Villa’

Russ has shared a new song that honours his mother and offers advice to upcoming artists – listen to ‘Live From The Villa’ below.

Read more: Russ – ‘Shake The Snow Globe’ review: Atlanta rapper finds success on his own idiosyncratic terms

The Atlanta rapper’s latest track follows the release of his third studio album ‘Shake The Snow Globe’, which features the platinum-selling hit single ‘Best On Earth’.

Produced by Illmind, ‘Live From The Villa’ hears Russ celebrate his mother and list the lessons he has learned from her over the years.

“And could you focus if your parents goin’ through it?/ And you tryna make a hit to save ’em in the other room/ It’s pressure that’s gon’ either make you pop or make you pop,” he raps.

“My mama cried a lot, I made it stop, we on a yacht/ She always gives me game, gives me gems I don’t question/ Like give without remembering, receive without forgetting/ Disarm ’em with your charm, use your kindness as a weapon/ Everyone you meet, be a blessing, not a lesson.”

Watch the video for ‘Live From The Villa’ below:

Elsewhere on the track, Russ offers some words of wisdom of his own.

“I see a lot of skeptics, lot of doubters, but I’m smart/ I know that y’all are really just dreamers with broken hearts,” he spits. “Feelin’ inadequate, that’s why you doin’ so much talkin’/ ‘Cause the path that I been blazin’, you’re incapable of walkin’/ Y’all be goin’ nowhere fast, here’s some advice you should heed/ Directions way more important than speed.”

In a four-star review, NME’s Will Lavin said of Russ’ most recent album: “On his latest project, ‘Shake the Snow Globe’, he earns his seat at the big boy table, comfortably sitting alongside the Drakes, J. Coles and Kendrick Lamars of the world. That’s largely thanks to a new melody driven focus and his ever-present uncompromising lyrical content.

“Consistent from start to finish, it’s a more complete body of work than 2018’s ‘Zoo’. People often hate those who march to their own beat, and Russ knows this. But that doesn’t stop him asking for his accolades while he’s still living (“I want roses when I’m living, not just roses when I die”). And, boy, has he earned them with this album.”

Vanilla Ice cancels 4th July gig in Austin, Texas after backlash

Vanilla Ice has cancelled his planned 2,500 capacity show in Austin, Texas this weekend to celebrate 4th July.

The show, announced earlier this week, faced a backlash after a recent spike in coronavirus cases in the state, which has seen state Governor Greg Abbott scale down the reopening of bars and nightclubs.

On Wednesday (July 1), the Austin City Limits festival in the state, set for October, was cancelled due to the new spike in cases, and Ice has now also cancelled his gig, which was set to take place at the Emerald Point Bar & Grill today (July 3).
In a video shared to Twitter last night (July 2) the rapper announced that he was cancelling the gig, saying: “I listen to my fans. I hear all you people out there.

Due to the increase in COVID-19 numbers in Austin we’re gonna move the concert to a better date. We were hoping for better Coronavirus numbers by July but Unfortunately the numbers have increased quite a bit so for the safety and health of everyone we’re going to stay home. pic.twitter.com/MWWfNWf3zd

— Vanilla Ice (@vanillaice) July 2, 2020

“I didn’t know the [coronavirus] numbers were so crazy in Austin. We were hoping it would be a lot better by the Fourth of July because we booked this concert a long time ago… but it turned into a big focal point on me and it’s not about that.

“Anyway, happy Fourth of July and hopefully by New Years this corona crap will have a cure.”

“I can’t wait to get back to this,” the rapper said in an Instagram post originally announcing the gig, which was set to be a ’90s throwback event.

“The 90s were the best. We didn’t have coronavirus, or cell phones, or computers. We had 5.0’s, blockbuster, Beavis and Butthead, Wayne’s World, Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan … Mortal Kombat is still better than Fortnight … the last of the great decades.”

View this post on Instagram

I can’t wait to get back to this. The 90s were the best. We didn’t have coronavirus, or cell phones, or computers. we had 5.0‘s, blockbuster, Beavis and Butthead, Wayne’s world, Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan. And Mortal Kombat is still better than fortnight but we got out of the house, We danced, we invented house parties in the 90s. The last of the great decades #IMissThenineties

A post shared by Vanilla Ice (@vanillaiceofficial) on Jun 28, 2020 at 8:45am PDT

As the Austin Chronicle reports, 2,500 tickets were being sold for the event, around half the capacity of the venue.

Despite Governor Abbott’s new plans to scale down the reopening of bars and venues in Texas following the pandemic, the Emerald Point Bar & Grill is allowed to operate at 50% capacity as it is technically a restaurant.

On Sunday, Abbott warned that the spread of coronavirus had taken a “swift and very dangerous turn” in the state.

“Over just the past few weeks, the daily number of cases have gone from an average of about 2,000, to more than 5,000,” he said.

Megan Thee Stallion releases new song ‘Girls In The Hood’

Megan Thee Stallion has released her new song, ‘Girls In The Hood’ today (June 26).

The new track samples the Eazy-E song ‘Boyz-N-The-Hood’, and was co-produced by Scott Storch and Eminem collaborator Illadaproducer. Hear the song below:

The rapper teased the song yesterday. “Hotties y’all ready for this new HOT SHIT…pre save GIRLS IN THE HOOD right now !!!,” she wrote on Twitter.

‘Girls In The Hood’ is Megan’s fourth single for 2020, following ‘Diamonds’ with Normani, ‘FREAK’ with Tyga and ‘B.I.T.C.H’. The third song featured on her third EP, ‘Suga’, which she released in March. ‘Suga’ garnered positive reviews from fans and critics, peaking at number 7 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Earlier this year, Megan released three alternate versions of her hit ‘Savage’, two remixed by Major Lazer and another featuring Beyoncé.

In an interview with The Guardian, Megan revealed her elation at working with Beyoncé.

“I got a call: Beyoncé wants to do a remix to ‘Savage’,” she recalled.

“And I was like … what? Shut up. Shut up. You’re lying. Beyoncé don’t want to get on nothing with me. Come on, it’s me! I know I’m Megan Thee Stallion, but dang!”

Megan Thee Stallion is nominated for five awards at the 2020 BET awards, the most of any female musician. The annual awards celebrate the achievements of African-American artists and sportspeople, and those identifying as people of colour.

Megan’s 2019 record, ‘Fever’, is nominated for Album of the Year. She also earned a nod for Best Collaboration, Best Female Hip Hop Artist, Video of the Year and Viewer’s Choice Award.

Nicki Minaj To Guest On Lil Wayne’s "Young Money Radio"

Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj will officially reunite on tonight’s episode of Young Money Radio.

A pattern is beginning to take shape for Young Money Artists. Dominate the rap game only to transition into the radio game. In any case, Lil Wayne has recently launched Young Money Radio, a show where he sits down for discussions with many legendary voices in the rap game and beyond; we’ve already seen appearances from Dr. Dre, Eminem, Drake, DJ Khaled, Kevin Durant, Mike Tyson, Snoop Dogg, Killer Mike, and many more.

Nicki Minaj To Guest On Lil Wayne's "Young Money Radio"

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

On tonight’s episode of Young Money Radio, Lil Weezy is taking it back to where his record label’s movement first began, once again connecting with longtime friend and collaborator Nicki Minaj. Though the hip-hop Queen didn’t appear on Funeral, she has remained loyal to Weezy’s cause and vice versa, with their last two collaborations arriving on Queen and Tha Carter V not too long ago.

Still, Weezy himself feels the conversation is long overdue. In light of Minaj’s recent appearance on Tekashi 6ix9ine‘s Instagram Live feed, celebrating the release of their “FEFE” follow-up “Trollz,” it’s likely the pair will have no shortage of material to discuss. “The First Lady of Young Money, THE Queen @nickiminaj joins the show today,” writes Weezy. “Been waiting on this conversation for a min now.” And if that wasn’t enough, T-Pain is also set to connect with Wayne tonight, finally providing an answer to the long-pondered question of why T-Wayne never came out in the first place.

Should you be interested in catching this upcoming episode, look for Young Money Radio to kick off this evening at 4pm PT/7pm ET, exclusively on Apple Music.

Ludacris Shares His List Of Top Five Rappers With The Best Flows

Ludacris shared which rappers he feels have “undeniable flows” in the music game, but it wasn’t an easy decision.

He’s a crossover artist who is hailed as hip hop royalty with a sound and a style all his own. Ludacris has enjoyed a successful career in both music and film that has spanned over two decades, and when it comes to lyricism, he knows the ins and outs of what makes a good flow. During his recent appearance on XXL’s Hip-Hop Moments of Clarity, the rapper was asked to give his top five rappers with the most “undeniable flows,” and Ludacris called it “one of the greatest questions” he’d “ever been asked.”

Rich Fury / Stringer / Getty Images

His first pick shouldn’t come as a surprise to many. “So, top five flows, man. Andre 3000 is going to be in there. I feel like he always challenges, always challenges. Imma put Kendrick Lamar in there as No. 2. Imma put J. Cole in there as being, like—right now, I’m thinking of people that are versatile and constantly trying to think of different flows that don’t pretty much have a set flow that they always do,” Ludacris said. Those are three. Imma go ’head and put Jay-Z in there, man. Jay-Z, you know, he does different things and he does experiment with different flows. And mostly, his different subject matter and how he’s able to weave through and be on a track with anybody. So that’s No. 4. Damn, man, No. 5.”

For the final position, Luda struggled with choosing between Lil Wayne and Eminem. “I was honestly gonna put Lil Wayne. Damn, this is hard because it’s like you got Lil Wayne… You got Eminem, but Imma have to go with Lil Wayne because the body of work and his consistency and he’s been in the game almost 30 years, bruh.” It seems that he was paying attention to living rappers, so Ludacris added Tupac and Notorious B.I.G. and honorable mentions. Do you agree with his list?

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DMX Dismisses Lloyd Banks’ Entire Career and Existence

DMX got together today with Fat Man Scoop on Instagram Live and made it clear he doesn't think Lloyd Banks is lyrical or any good.

Scoop, of course, brought up the Verzuz battle DMX wants to have with JAY-z

"I'm not worried about anyone, my catalog crazy," X said. "I ain't never lost a battle," he added after Scoop brought up the notorious poolhall battle he had with Hov.

A bit after that Scoop listed his top 50 emcees lyrically

He threw out names like Nas, Rakim, Slick Rick, Big Daddy Kane, KRS, Fabolous, Big L, Eminem and Lil Wayne.

In the middle of all that, he dropped the name Lloyd Banks. DMX stopped him in his tracks

"Lloyd Banks? Lyrical?" X wondered, incredulously.

"Lloyd Banks of course," Scoop shot back. "He had some of the illest lines ever."

"Quote four bars. Impress me with four bars of his," X shot back. "It shouldn't be hard. Four bars ... give me two."

Scoop couldn't.

Jump to the nine-minute mark to hear DMX eject Lloyd Banks from any discussion of greatness.

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Lil Wayne Lands Dr. Dre For "Young Money Radio," Teases "Funeral" Deluxe

Lil Wayne will be joined by the legendary Dr. Dre on tonight’s “Young Money Radio,” which will see the premiere of a “Funeral” Deluxe Edition.

If there are two artists who we wish would have collaborated at some point during their respective careers, it’s Lil Wayne and Dr. Dre. Despite both standing at the height of their crafts, Dre and Weezy never properly connected for a musical link-up. Still, it’s clear they have respect for one another, as Dre has been officially announced as the latest guest to appear on Lil Wayne’s Young Money Radio.

Lil Wayne Lands Dr. Dre For "Young Money Radio," Teases "Funeral" Deluxe

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Following appearances from Eminem and YBN Cordae, Dre is set to join Weezy on air at 4 pm PT/ 7 pm ET / 11 pm. From the sound of it, it’s clear that Wayne understands the significance of a Dre appearance. “This man doesn’t EVER do interviews,” he captions, alongside another enticing revelation. “Also… I’ll be dropping NEW MUSIC tonight (deluxe style) so TUNE in and watch.”

Like that, we’re looking at a meeting of the minds between two of the best artists in hip-hop history, as well as what very much sounds like a deluxe edition of Funeral lined up for release tonight. All things considered, this might be the biggest episode of Young Money Radio thus far — who’d have thought these Young Money artists would transition so nicely into the radio game? Before long, we’ll surely see Drake at the helm of his own show.

For those interested in what’s guaranteed to be a great conversation, during which a question along the lines of “why didn’t we ever collaborate?” will surely be asked, tune in to Apple Music later tonight. And look out for that Deluxe Edition to come shortly thereafter.

Vybz Kartel Declares Lil Wayne His "Favorte Rapper Alive"

Vybz Kartel shares praise from Weezy.

Though Vybz Kartel is locked up, his spirit is very much alive in all other aspects. He’s releasing music at a consistent rate while still chiming in on recent events in the world. Whether it’s some of the current artists coming up in the dancehall scene that he’s extended a co-sign to or artists from around the globe that have caught his attention, Vybz’ social media activity often sheds light on some of the people that he’s messing with in the realm of music.

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Earlier this month, Lil Wayne and Eminem had an in-depth conversation on Young Money Radio, Wayne’s recent endeavor on Beats1 Radio. During the conversation, both Em and Lil Wayne revealed that they have to Google their own lyrics in order to avoid repeating the same bars that they have in the past. Much like Vybz Kartel, both Wayne and Em have often been heralded for their work ethic. Vybz took to the ‘Gram after the episode with high praise from Lil Wayne.

“@eminem i AM google! Jamaica weh you say??? #monster vs #alien (bigup my favorite rapper alive btw @liltunechi ),” he captioned the post.

Wayne has yet to respond to the compliment. However, maybe this is the time to purpose a Vybz Kartel interview on the next episode of Young Money Radio. Even though it’s a long shot, it would definitely be lit to hear two GOATs chop it up on the air.

Peep Vybz Kartel’s post below.

Lloyd Banks’ "Til The End" Proves DMX Wrong

Lloyd Banks revealed the depth of his lyricism on “Till The End,” a song that stands as one of his greatest artistic achievements.

It’s difficult to imagine what prompted DMX to discredit Lloyd Banks in such a public fashion. Considering that the G-Unit rapper has been widely recognized as The Punchline King, it’s fair to assume that his bars have left an impression. Many are quick to cite early cuts like “That’s What’s Up” and his breakout “Victory Freestyle” as a testament to his lyrical prowess. With the bulk of his reputation having been cultivated on the mixtape circuit, which in itself encourages bars over structure and substance alike, it was initially difficult to assess Banks’ potential as a solo artist. Yet that changed with the release of his debut album The Hunger For More, an album that boasted classics like “On Fire,” “Warrior Part 2,” and arguably the greatest track of Lloyd Banks’ career in “Till The End.”

Though high caliber punchlines were expected on a Banks LP, “Till The End” unearthed additional depth in the young emcee. That of a storyteller, capable of conjuring striking images and emotional impact, never once diluted by an expansive three verse structure. A far cry from his mixtape material in subject matter, Banks retains his clever vernacular and imaginative control over language. “Nobody dead knew they would die before they woke, they probably started off a beautiful day with weed smoke,” he raps, opening the haunting reflection on a bleak note. “Out of last night’s pussy, the murder that she wrote, cold sweating from a nightmare, mind on a C-note.” Themes not unfamiliar to rap fans, the perils of a young hustler’s dangerous lifestyle; mirrored in many ways by mafioso rap, Banks understands how disloyalty speeds up the inevitability of death.

Lloyd Banks' "Til The End" Proves DMX Wrong

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Paranoia is another major theme in “Till The End,” and Banks’s second verse slowly expands the narrative to reveal some of his grievances. Like many young self-made men, Banks moves with a chip on his shoulder, both inspired and frustrated by his doubters. It’s a timeless reflection of the street cycle. Even those closest friends can fall prey to the trappings of jealousy and envy under the right circumstances. Given the track’s ominous opening — that of a violent drive-by shooting — there’s a constant sense of tension permeating throughout. It’s a testament to Banks’ ability to become one with an instrumental, his morose retrospection fueled by Eminem’s haunting lullaby. “The confusion of jealousy and dishonor will spin ya,” he warns. “But then nothing hurt worse than when that gunpowder’s in ya.” It’s something he himself grapples with, taking solace in achieving victory with those he deems kin.

Yet perhaps the damage has already been done, leaving behind unhealable scars. Even though Nate Dogg’s chorus is a comforting presence, it’s hard to shake the nightmarish foreshadowing of the opening moments. It’s not clear when death is coming for Banks, but rest assured that he knows it’s coming. And sadly, as he knows all too well, the ending is often bloody. Especially for a man who continues to carry his principles forward. “Keep my, mind on my money, and my head to the sky, I never really smile much, if you was here you’d know why,” he confesses. “There’s frustration and fire if you look in my eye.” Even amidst success, it’s difficult to discern whether Banks is even willing to accept happiness. Though he proceeds to rattle off many of his personal accomplishments, be it achieving desirability as a bachelor or commercial success as a rapper, he still cannot bring himself to smile.

Inevitably remains one of the driving themes of “Til The End.” It hangs over Banks like a guillotine blade. The fact that success is only a pitstop on the overall road, a road that is not straight, but rather circular in nature. For him, it begins and ends in the hood — the place that built him up as a man only to plant the seeds for his eventual downfall. Perhaps, as complex as it may seem, there’s a strange sense of comfort in knowing that. It would explain why Banks opted for such a tranquil instrumental, one that might otherwise evoke feelings of peace. The song packs even more impact knowing what transpired within G-Unit, a group torn apart from within, not unlike the topics explored in his lyrics. The authenticity with which Banks renders this range of themes, his cadence equally weary and wistful, makes “Till The End” stand as one of his crowning artistic achievements.

Lupe Fiasco Releases "Stan" Freestyle Following Exchange With Ungrateful Fan

Lupe Fiasco responds to a fan by way of a "Stan" freestyle.

The accessibility of social media means that all celebrities can be inundated by their fans, 24/7. They may not take the time to reply and check every single comment or message, but the fact remains that any fan can send a comment or message directly to their favorite celebrity whenever they please-- whether it's good or bad.

There are some artists who choose to engage more often with their fans. Lupe Fiasco appears to be one of them. The rapper decided to reveal one of the many DMs he receives daily, which was in fact, a negative DM. Lupe took a different approach in his response to the upset fan-- he not only offered his "acknowledgment" directly on an Instagram post, but he hit the booth and recorded a full-on song over Eminem's "Stan" instrumental.

The fan wrote to Lupe, "Damn man. We the fans made u rich and u don’t even have decency to acknowledge us, that’s so wrong man. ur doing it wrong." After screenshoting the message and sharing it on IG, as you can see below, and then he elaborates further on this idea that it's the fans who've made him (or any artist) rich by exposing misinformation in the "Stan" freestyle.

"I mean Pat, I think you gotta understand / I'm just a regular person / I'm just a man / I know you like a fan and felt / you did a lot for me / but I had something to do with writing raps / right, possibly? / I mean I did a lot to get to where I am / a lot of sacrifice to have someone like you as a fan / And this ain't easy, the record labels are greazy / Even with all of that / I don't want to downplay your role / Believe me," he raps.

He continues: "The last thing you wanna hear is some fan saying that you made me / Or that you pay my bill," Lupe continues. "You pay like $10 to keep it real / if you bought every album that would probably be like 50 or 60 / if you did a show, that's another 35 / that's less than $100, that's not enough to keep us alive / and I don't wanna downplay your input / or your financial transactions to get us where we are / but there's more to our job than just pretending to be a star."

Listen to the freestyle below.

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A post shared by Lupe Fiasco (@lupefiasco) on May 25, 2020 at 10:01pm PDT

Joyner Lucas Buys His Dad A Benz & A Rolex

Joyner Lucas made his dad’s birthday one to remember with a pair of lavish gifts.

Though his pre-fame come-up might have been difficult at times, Joyner Lucas can officially say he’s made it in the rap game. Not only has he finally dropped off his anticipated debut album ADHD at long last, he’s also earned the respect of veterans like Eminem, Royce Da 5’9″, Chris Brown, Will Smith, and more. Suffice it to say, Joyner is doing pretty well for himself, to the point where he can pay it forward for his loved ones.

Joyner Lucas Buys His Dad A Benz & A Rolex

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And that’s exactly what he did on his father’s birthday. Taking to Instagram to showcase some of the kingly gifts, Joyner revealed that he recently copped his dad a Mercedes Benz and a diamond-encrusted Rolex — not only that, but he also shared a throwback picture of himself and his dad in simpler times, with Joyner Sr. holding it down with bottle in hand.

At this point, it’s become a rite of passage for rappers to bless their parents with lavish gifts, gestures that often lead to some genuinely wholesome moments. We can only hope Joyner and his dad enjoyed a drink together like old time’s sake, but only after taking the new car for a lengthy spin. Congratulations to the Lucas boys.

Lloyd Banks Thinks He Knows Why DMX Dissed Him

Lloyd Banks has a theory as to why DMX decided to call him out, tracing it back to a studio session gone awry.

Never has the old adage "can't we all just get along" felt more applicable. Battle fever appears to have stricken hip-hop's veterans, thanks to the masterminding presence of Swizz Beatz and Timbaland and their Verzuz initiative. With rappers already competitive in the best of times, the prospect of asserting dominance in a public forum has pushed a few over the edge -- including DMX, a man clearly comfortable in his legend role.

Lloyd Banks Thinks He Knows Why DMX Dissed Him

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With his sights set on Jay-Z, X had already brushed off Eminem as no threat before doing the same to Lloyd Banks, in an altogether more dismissive fashion. As Fatman Scoop proceeded to rattle off some of rap's lyrical greats, a list that included Biggie, Jay-Z, Nas, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Eminem, and Lloyd Banks, X paused to single out the G-Unit rapper. "Lloyd Banks?" he questioned. "Lyrically? Top 4 bars. Impress me with four bars! Give me two!"

It didn't take long for Banks to catch wind of X's comments, and while he was initially quick to shrug it off, he later decided to revisit the slight with his own theory. "So because I didn’t come to the studio to work when HE reached out..I’m not that good?" ponders Banks, his tears of joy indicative of his tone. After one fan turned the tables and asked what prompted him to snub a legend, Banks simply shifted the blame to logistics. I didn’t...I had a flight to catch."

While it's unclear as to when this studio session was meant to go down, one has to wonder if it had to do with X's 50 Cent collaboration "Shot Down," which appeared on Grand Champ. In any case, one has to wonder if Banks' speculation holds true, and X is indeed nursing a grudge. After all, he did single out the PLK in a long list of names.

Is 50 Cent’s Rapping Ability Overlooked?

Now that 50 Cent has solidified himself as a television mogul, it seems appropriate to reflect on his position in the hierarchy of hip-hop greats.

Upon discovering an old tape of his formative project Power Of The Dollar, 50 Cent issued a confident declaration. “Damn i did this in 1998 and i still can rap better than you fools.” A reminder that behind all of the antics and brand-pushing hashtags stands a proud emcee. One who seldom gets the credit he might deserve. Despite having held his own alongside lyrical elites like Eminem and his own group-mate Lloyd Banks. Despite having engaged in battle with rappers like Jadakiss, The Game, and Rick Ross, three foes who would surely lay waste to a lesser challenger. Not to mention the fact that his breakout movement was based off a simple premise, which is to say, freestyling over established beats and outshining the original artist.

Consider that mixtapes of that nature have essentially gone extinct. These days, mixtapes are basically albums, albeit generally more free-flowing and lax. Back when 50 was carving out his lane, attempting to crack into an industry that was essentially too fearful to do business with him, he was spitting with a hunger not often seen in this era. Unafraid to call out names and make enemies, Fif’s intensity carried into his early music. The aforementioned Power Of The Dollar, his classic mixtape Guess Who’s Back. His reputation as a wild card allowed him a certain presence on wax, one who seemed willing to back up any threat made. For a gangsta rapper, that’s an invaluable tool. And while many have explored similar territory as young 50 tended to favor, few did it with as much relish. He seemed to feel a devilish glee while detailing acts of violence, one that imbued him with a villainous charisma — the likes of which are still felt to this day.

Is 50 Cent's Rapping Ability Overlooked?

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Remember, this was a rapper who eyed the coveted New York crown. He expressed as such on the classic “Be A Gentleman,” when he called out one of his chief competitors in Jay-Z. “Still n***s actin’ like I don’t get down or something, like I ain’t the next n***a to wear the crown or something,” he taunts, a rhyme basic on paper but impactful on wax. “You gonna talk about your chips ’til we run in your crib and you gon’ ask dumb questions like, ‘can I live?’” At the time, the race for New York kingship was tight — names like Jay, DMX, Ja Rule, Ghostface, and Raekwon were comfortably in the running delivering excellent music. And while each one was more established than Fif, he somehow managed to remain in the race. Immense hustle and work ethic can go far, but not without the skill to match. Without the ability to toggle beast mode, longevity is out of the question. It’s the reason tapes like the aforementioned two stand up today, not as historical relics but as genuinely badass servings of grimy NYC rap.

But what about his rapping ability makes him a top tier emcee? Insofar as the lyrics themselves are concerned, Fif seldom engaged in what has come to be unflatteringly described as “rappity-rap.” He’s concise in his messages, letting the attitude present within his voice emphasize any point. “In the hood summertime, it’s the killing season / it’s hot out this bitch, that’s a good enough reason,” he shrugs, on the Dr. Dre produced “Heat.” Lines like that hold more character than some rappers conjure in an entire song. The entirety of “Heat,” arguably the greatest song of Fif’s career, is a masterclass in visual storytelling. “Don’t think you safe ’cause you moved out the hood, cause ya mama still around dawg, and that ain’t good,” he continues. “If you was smart you’d be shook of me, cause I get tired of looking for ya / spray ya mama crib and let yo ass look for me.” Where a lesser lyricist might have simply delivered the threat in a passing line, Fif’s internal rhyme scheme set up gives it even more power.

Is 50 Cent's Rapping Ability Overlooked?

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And if “Heat” doesn’t hold the crown as 50’s greatest record, there’s a strong case to be made for another Get Rich Or Die Tryin classic, “Many Men.” It should be noted that as a writer, Fif seldom gets overtly conceptual in his use of language. He tends to operate in a rather frank manner, drawing from personal experience and presenting his philosophies accordingly. “In the Bible, it says what goes around, comes around,” raps Fif, in the climactic verse. “Hommo shot me, three weeks later he got shot down, now it’s clear that I’m here for a real reason / cause he got hit like I got hit, but he ain’t fuckin’ breathin’.”

On paper, the lines read relatively simple, the premise straightforward. Yet it’s exactly this approach to morality that makes his rapping so compelling. It’s not entirely different from an emcee like DMX, whose words were imbued with a similar gravitas; neither have to flow in a dexterous fashion to impress, masking lack of character with aimless lyrical gymnastics. Instead, 50 was able to paint vivid pictures with the simplest of lines, evoking the smell of gunfire, the scowls of his foes. “I’m observant in my hood, cause n***s be dumbing, shots forfeit the dice game, all you see is the running,” he reflects, on Massacre opener “In My Hood.” Words that may as well be a scene off a cinematographer’s storyboard.

How does all that factor into 50 Cent’s ability as an emcee? Those who would reserve him a spot in the top ten might be quick to tout his songwriting prowess, his ability to adapt to a variety of instrumentals, or his ear for melodic singsong flow schemes. Yet it’s unlikely that many would place him in the same conversation as artists like Royce Da 5’9”, Black Thought, Nas, Eminem, Andre 3000, or Jay-Z, rappers that have become known and regarded for their lyricism. Though 50’s writing does possess depth and authenticity, his preference for a frank and minimalist delivery has given him the illusion of simplicity. That should never be mistaken for weakness. There’s an authoritative quality to his tone that made him, at his prime, one of the most compelling rappers in the entire game.

Kid Cudi Teases Massive 2020 Campaign

Kid Cudi vows to end 2020 on a high note, teasing that he's only getting started in the new music department.

Kid Cudi may not tease his upcoming music often, but when he does, the fans take notice. After all, talks of his upcoming album Entergalactic have been swirling with increased frequency, fueled in part by singles like the recent "Leader Of The Delinquents." Though last we heard the project was to be delayed until 2021, it seems as if Cudi isn't entirely set on keeping listeners in a suspended state. Yesterday, he took a moment to engage in a little bit of fan interaction on Twitter, delivering a tantalizing promise in the process.

Kid Cudi Teases Massive 2020 Campaign

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When one user declared 2020 to be the "year of Kid Cudi," the Man On The Moon rapper took the comment one step further. "Oh im just warmin up watch," he responds, prompting further speculation as to what exactly he might be planning. Lest we forget that the year is already half over, and while we have received some new tracks from Cudi, it doesn't feel like the full extent of anything. Perhaps we'll see him deliver a mixtape, or possibly a continuation of his Travis Scott-assisted "The Scotts" movement.

Check out Cudi's confident declaration below, and sound off -- what kind of tricks do you think he's got up his sleeves? Remember, he recently made an open appeal to Eminem, who may very well be interested in hearing what the melodic rapper has to say. If there's one thing for certain, 2020 could definitely benefit from a new dose of Kid Cudi music, preferably in the long-form format. Only time will tell.

Young M.A Reveals "Red Flu" Tracklist

Young M.A reveals the tracklist for her new project "Red Flu," which releases this week.

Young M.A is one of the most skilled female rappers in the game and she's about to show us why at the end of this week.

Announcing her brand new extended play Red Flu, which drops on Friday (May 22), Young M.A has officially shared the tracklist for her latest body of work.

This time around, she will be going it alone, relying on her network of producers to keep things spicy on Red Flu. The project contains seven new songs, including the previously-released "2020 Vision."

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Production duties are almost exclusively handled by Mike Zombie, who is credited on five of the tracks. Benjamin Lasnier and NY Bangers are also responsible for some of the beats we will be hearing.

This will be Young M.A's first new project since the release of her debut studio album Herstory In The Making in 2019. She has continued rolling out content from the album, dropping a new video for "RNID" at the beginning of this month.

At the top of this year, the 28-year-old was featured on Eminem's surprise album, which marked one of the biggest co-signs of her career.

Young M.A's new EP Red Flu will be out on Friday. Check out the tracklist above and let us know if you'll be tuning in.

The Art Of Storytelling, With A Twist

Immortal Technique and Jay-Z both delivered two of hip-hop’s most memorable twists in “Dance With The Devil” and “Meet The Parents” respectively.

Imagine, if you will, that Ice Cube did indeed have to use his AK on “Today Was A Good Day.” Perhaps in another universe, he might have succumbed to his violent urges and knocked the entire plan askew. It wouldn’t be the first time a rapper allowed his tale to take a dark turn. In fact, some seem to relish taking listeners on an emotional roller coaster, plummeting headlong into discomforting territory. It’s not entirely unexpected. Writers have long enjoyed disturbing those who engage with their work. Sometimes it’s through means of the supernatural. Other times, especially in hip-hop, it’s through examinations of the human condition. Those sorts of stories, especially when given enough room to breathe and develop, are often the ones that leave a lasting impression.

For many rappers, a story is only as effective as its climactic moments. Consider those famous films that have come to be remembered by their iconic twists. The Usual Suspects. The Sixth Sense. Oldboy. When the ghastly truth is revealed, not only is a viewer shocked by the revelation, but equally curious. More often than not, the second viewing is even more rewarding, as one can completely recontextualize the story — all while gaining a deeper understanding of the writer’s true vision. The same can be applied in hip-hop. While not every story features a twist ending, many that do are often thematically dark in nature. On this topic, it’s hard not to immediately think of one of the genre’s most notorious storytelling tracks, Immortal Technique’s “Dance With The Devil.”

There are many who would comfortably name “Dance With The Devil” as the darkest song ever written. A fair case, and one made all the more potent by way of a macabre — and undeniably powerful — twist ending. For those who have never heard the song, consider this a warning. It will be spoiled. Off the bat, it’s clear that something ominous is afoot. 44 Caliber haunting piano-driven instrumental is equivalent to black clouds floating. As Immortal Technique begins recounting his cautionary tale, the focal character of Billy Jacobs is introduced. A simple young man, though Technique spends the majority of the tracks’ early moments in bringing him to life. His mother was a fiend, his father absent. A desire for money, power, and respect. “The product of a ghetto-bred capitalistic mental,” as Technique eloquently puts it. It’s important to note that he takes his time in letting the story unfold, with the song clocking in at nearly seven minutes. Despite the constant barrage of detail, it remains a slow-burner and thus all the more effective at building tension.

The Art Of Storytelling, With A Twist

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The twist is well known. In an attempt to validate himself to his fellow gangbangers, Billy Jacobs engages in the violent gang-rape of a woman, her face covered by her shirt. After participating in the act, Billy pulls back the shirt to discover the brutalized face of his own mother. The gut-punch is brilliantly conveyed by Technique, who summarizes the fallout in four powerful bars. “Cryin’ out to the sky, cause he was lonely and scared, but only the Devil responded, ’cause God wasn’t there,” he raps. “And right then he knew what it was to be empty and cold, and so he jumped off the roof and died with no soul.” A devastating ending made all the more effective through the twist — after all, it’s what has haunted over forty-four million listeners for years now. Though the song would likely hold a similar impact with the twist removed, its inclusion clearly elevated “Dance With The Devil” to new levels of notoriety. Rappers have long battled the devil on wax, from DMX’s “Damien” to Eminem’s “My Darling,” yet Immortal Technique’s chilling rendition used the device of a twist ending to strengthen the potency of his message. Brushing the horror off as the plight of the faceless instead turned to something far more personal, far closer to home.

Themes of family have often been at the center of many works of dark fiction. For Jay-Z, the topic made for one of the most compelling songs of his career, Blueprint 2 highlight “Meet The Parents.” Though deriving its name from a Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro comedic romp, Jay-Z’s tale is anything but. Over a foreboding instrumental from Just Blaze, evocative in its blend of piano and guitar, Jay wastes little time in developing his atmosphere. “Let’s take a trip down memory lane at the cemetery, rain, grey skies, seems at the end of every young black life is this line, damn, him already?” he recites, positioning himself as an omniscient narrator. Like Immortal Technique, Jay-Z takes his time in setting the stage, though his chosen tale features two focal perspectives — that of Isis, the mother, and Mike, the father. At a respectable five-minute runtime, Jay gives himself plenty of room to develop his characters. And in a dexterous turn, he allows himself to leap in and out of linear chronology as he sees fit.

The Art Of Storytelling, With A Twist

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In another moment of strong authorial control, Jay shifts focalization to Mike at the halfway point, having already established his character as seen through Isis’ point of view. It doesn’t take long before the foreshadowing begins, and first-time listeners may be so compelled by Jay’s detailed writing that it goes entirely unnoticed. When a third character enters the narrative, a young gangbanger that draws Mike’s attention and ire, a conflict immediately brews. Guns are drawn as the younger man comes to a devastating realization. “There was something in this man’s face he knew he seen before,” raps Jay. “It’s like looking’ in the mirror, seeing himself more mature.” It doesn’t matter — Mike shoots him dead, the inadvertent murderer of his own son. A tragedy in itself, amplified by Jay’s choice to frame the bulk of the tale through Isis. By feeling her pain, we’re given a direct glimpse into the catastrophic fallout of such senseless violence.

There’s an easy parallel to make between this track and “Dance With The Devil.” Like Technique’s Billy, Mike is driven by a desire to thrive in a hostile environment regardless of the pain his actions might inflict. A key distinction between the two that should be noted is the knowledge each man had regarding the consequences of their actions. When Billy participated in the horrible act of violence against his mother, he came to the realization and was moved to act on it. The knowledge of what he had done was enough to drive him to insanity from which death was the only escape.

In Mike’s case, Jay-Z doesn’t allow us that sense of closure. Both Isis’ pain and Mike’s reaction to the murder are left unresolved, open to interpretation. We’re able to glean hints at how Isis might fare, with her relapse and subsequent –though perhaps doomed– search to find balance, romance, and tenuous resolution. In Mike’s case, Jay-Z neglects to follow him after the climactic death, though he does offer a subtle clue toward his ultimate fate. Though spoken in relation to the son, the same principles can apply to the father: “He put his faith in a thirty-eight in his waist, but when you live by the gun, you die by the same fate.” Like Billy, Mike will inevitably end up dead; though not by his own hand, by his own actions all the same.

DMX Wants All The Smoke From Jay-Z In "Verzuz" Battle

DMX doubles down on wanting to go up against Jay-Z for the ever-popular "Verzuz" series.

He's down for a Verzuz battle so it's only a matter of time before we see DMX on our Instagram Lives. Yet, who will go up against the barking emcee is still up for grabs as rumors circulate about his potential opponents. It wasn't confirmed that DMX and Eminem would face-off in a Verzuz, but somehow flyers began circulating online stating that the two respected artists would go toe-to-toe. N.O.R.E. shared a brief clip to social media that showed him along with a few others hanging out with X while the It's Dark and Hell Is Hot rapper discussed his forthcoming battle.

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DMX is seen in the video saying that Eminem won't want to participate in an Instagram Live Battle, but X wants to go up against his "arch-nemesis" Jay-Z. While it's unlikely that the Roc Nation mogul will participate as well, it's an idea that DMX has been quite vocal about. Earlier this month, while visiting Drink Champs, X told Noreaga that he wanted to go up against Jay...and he hasn't changed his mind.

"He ain't gotta come outside n*gga it's in the house!" DMX exclaims while speaking to what sounds to be Swizz Beatz on the phone. "You can't go in the basement and play some records?!... That's what I'm saying. That's why it should be done. It's a celebration. We're celebrating music. He got some hits, too! He can play 'Money, Cash, Hoes,' then I can play 'Money, Cash, Hoes,'" DMX said of his 1998, Swizz Beatz-produced collaboration with Jay-Z.

"Make it happen," DMX added. "That would be dope." Check out the video clip below and let us know if you think DMX and Jay-Z is a good matchup.

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Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj will officially reunite on tonight’s episode of Young Money Radio.

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Ludacris shared which rappers he feels have “undeniable flows” in the music game, but it wasn’t an easy decision.

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Lil Wayne will be joined by the legendary Dr. Dre on tonight’s “Young Money Radio,” which will see the premiere of a “Funeral” Deluxe Edition.

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Vybz Kartel shares praise from Weezy.

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Lloyd Banks revealed the depth of his lyricism on “Till The End,” a song that stands as one of his greatest artistic achievements.

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Lupe Fiasco responds to a fan by way of a "Stan" freestyle.

Joyner Lucas made his dad’s birthday one to remember with a pair of lavish gifts.

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Lloyd Banks has a theory as to why DMX decided to call him out, tracing it back to a studio session gone awry.

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Now that 50 Cent has solidified himself as a television mogul, it seems appropriate to reflect on his position in the hierarchy of hip-hop greats.

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Kid Cudi vows to end 2020 on a high note, teasing that he's only getting started in the new music department.

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Young M.A reveals the tracklist for her new project "Red Flu," which releases this week.

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Immortal Technique and Jay-Z both delivered two of hip-hop’s most memorable twists in “Dance With The Devil” and “Meet The Parents” respectively.

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DMX doubles down on wanting to go up against Jay-Z for the ever-popular "Verzuz" series.

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