B. Simone has transformed into somewhat of a controversial person in the past few weeks. Her comments about the protesters caused a storm on Twitter. Last week, she made comments about how she can't date someone with a 9 to 5 job, only CEOs end entrepreneurs. This led to a whole Twitter spat with many clowning B. Simone for working a regular job before publishing her book. This week, it's her book that's at the center of controversy after allegations were made that parts of it were plagiarized.

Meek Mill quickly came to her defense on Twitter earlier today when he slammed the criticism by minimizing her actions. "B Simone canceled because she finessed a book and made her way from the bottom lol," he tweeted. "what major companies y’all cancel for ripping our culture off? finding ways to display hate towards our own when they start doing good is showing amongst us a lot!"

Lil Baby is special. That much is clear. The 25-year-old has the potential to become one of the biggest rap artists ever, beginning a potential monster run with this year's My Turn. The album is expected to hit #1 on the Billboard 200 again after initially debuting there. This week, the Atlanta superstar released his new single "The Bigger Picture," which is being praised by just about everybody who gives it a spin.

Detailing everything that has gone on in the last several weeks, Lil Baby speaks to the people as only he can, delivering conscious rap and sticking true to his brand. 

The song has people wishing that the rapper gets his flowers this year with some of his most popular peers publicly stating their admiration for his art.

"Just give lil baby a Grammy this year already," said Tory Lanez on Twitter, earning 18,000 retweets from fans who agree with the statement. 

It looks like New Music Friday might not be finished. We know that Rich The Kid is always working on new vibes and, according to a recent post-and-delete on his social media, he may be planning to release a free mixtape before the day ends.

Taking to Instagram Stories, the Atlanta–New York rapper teased a new project called The Lost Tape, which may be coming out today.

“Should I drop a free mixtape tonight???” asked Rich. “Featuring Future, Juice WRLD, Meek Mill, Gucci [Mane], and Big Sean?? The Lost Tape.”

The post has been taken down, so his plans for an immediate release are up in the air. Being acquainted with the way Rich The Kid generally promotes his projects, this is probably just building hype for the eventual drop in a couple of weeks/months. Hopefully, he proves me wrong though and actually comes through before midnight.

RTK was recently in the news for his short-lived feud with Tekashi 6ix9ine. The rappers went back and forth, with 6ix9ine even promising to shave his head if his rival continued losing followers. That didn’t play out and, nowadays, Tekashi has even larger targets.

Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Do you hope The Lost Tape gets released tonight?

There’s no doubt that Meek Mill‘s baby boy is set for life. The rapper may have come from humble beginnings, but thanks to his successful career in the hip hop game, he’ll be able to give his son anything and everything. Meek seems to be well aware that his newborn—his third child and first with girlfriend Milan Harris—is going to be spoiled as ever in the best way, as he posted a snapshot of the “trust fund baby” all bundled up on a private jet.

Meek welcomed his youngest child last month on May 6th, which also marked his own 33rd birthday. The name of the little angel still appears to be unknown, and Meek and Milan have been keeping the baby’s face fairly hidden to maintain their privacy, as many parents do. Last weekend, Milan celebrated one month of motherhood, as this child with Meek is her first. “I’ve learned so much about myself and motherhood during this month,” she wrote on a clip of her holding her son while K Michelle’s “A Mother’s Prayer” played in the background. “I absolutely love being a mom, I love my son soooo much.” She then went on to call him her “greatest creation.”

The beef between former couple Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill hit a boiling point as the exes, along with Nicki’s husband Kenneth Petty, exchanged words at a Los Angeles jewelry store earlier this year. They seem to have avoided one another since then, but 6ix9ine decided to egg things on while on Instagram Live on Friday (June 12). 6ix9ine recently dropped his Nicki Minaj-assisted single “Trollz,” so the rapper decided that now would be a good time to verbally attack Meek, as the Philly rapper has been vocal about avoiding people who turn federal informant.

“Imma start of with Meek Mill, right?” 6ix9ine said on Live. He then turned his cameraphone to a computer screen where he showed Desiree Perez, the CEO of Roc Nation, hanging out with Meek Mill and Jay-Z. He cited an article from the NY Daily News where the outlet stated that back in the 1990s, Perez was arrested for having 35 kilos of cocaine. She reportedly struck a deal with the Feds and became an undercover informant.

“Listen, Nicki took you on tour. You were her opener,” 6ix9ine added. “Nicki made you, you n*gga. No b*tch wanted to f*ck you, n*gga. Did you forget who you was? Listen. I forgot what Drake said. What did Drake say? Some sh*t like that, is that your tour or your girl’s tour. That was never your tour, homie. Listen, you was put on by Nicki Minaj. And you rollin’ with rats now but you know what? Nobody knows. Nobody knows. Nobody is gonna be like… You’re with a rat every day. You’re with a rat. Your prison reform. Your bail reform is with a rat. ‘Oh no, she wasn’t street.’ She was sellin’ kilos of cocaine. You don’t want nobody to know?” Check out the incendiary clip of 6ix9ine going after Meek Mill below.

[]

Not much new music was released in the last week as singles and albums were pushed back out of respect for the protestors risking their lives to combat anti-Black racism in the middle of a pandemic. Still, a number of people have been looking for music to entertain them during this historic time. We saw some artists release new protest anthems in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, and others drop their regularly-planned programming. Our staff gathered up our personal favorites from the last several weeks for the new update of the TIDAL Wave playlist.

We start off with a stretch of music that will wake you right up, including Meek Mill's new single "Otherside of America" and select sounds from Run The Jewels, Flatbush Zombies, and Freddie Gibbs. This week's update is filled with RTJ4 tracks, also complemented by a number of selections from FBZ's new album now, more than ever. 

Elsewhere on the tracklist, there are offerings from Gunna, Lil Durk, Sleepy Hallow, Conway, Joell Ortiz and KXNG Crooked, Leon Bridges, Lil Yachty, and more.

Listen to the playlist below and check out our individual picks. Be sure to also sign up for your free trial at TIDAL here.

Alex Zidel (Editorial)

Gunna - DOLLAZ ON MY HEAD (feat. Young Thug)
Lil Durk - 3 Headed Goat (feat. Lil Baby & Polo G)
RMR - I'M NOT OVER YOU
Lil Yachty - Whew' Chile
SAINt JHN - Roses Remix (feat. Future)

Alex Cole (Editorial)

Sleepy Hallow - Don't Panic (feat. Sheff G)
Sleepy Hallow - 6am In NY
Run The Jewels - JU$T (feat. Pharrell Williams & Zack de la Rocha)
Run The Jewels - never look back
Flatbush Zombies - herb

Lynn S (Editorial)

Leon Bridges - Sweeter (feat. Terrace Martin)
DJ Drewski - Water (feat. DreamDoll, Rubi Rose, & Molly Brazy)
Flatbush Zombies - herb
Flatbush Zombies - iamlegend
Flatbush Zombies - dirty elevator music

Cole Blake (Editorial)

Armand Hammer - Frida (feat. Quelle Chris & Fielded)
Armand Hammer - Ramesses II (feat. Earl Sweatshirt, Fielded & Moor Mother)
Armand Hammer - Bitter Cassava (feat. Pink Siifu)
Run The Jewels - JU$T (feat. Pharrell Williams & Zack De La Rocha)
Run The Jewels - never look back

Mitch Findlay (Editorial)

Run The Jewels - holy calamafuck
Run The Jewels - out of sight (feat. 2 Chainz)
Run The Jewels - pulling the pin (feat. Mavis Staples & Josh Homme)
Flatbush Zombies - dirty elevator music
Conway - Front Lines

Paul Pirotta (Sales)

Meek Mill - Otherside Of America
Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist - 1985
Joell Ortiz & KXNG Crooked - Memorial Day

Mike Rapp (Sales)

Run The Jewels - out of sight (feat. 2 Chainz)
Meek Mill - Otherside Of America
Run The Jewels - JU$T (feat. Pharrell Williams & Zack de la Rocha)

Aron A (Editorial)

Jorja Smith - Rose Rouge
Apollo Brown & Che Noir - '94
Yaya Bey - sida A/ juu rant

Meek Mill and Nipsey Hussle only collaborated a few times during the latter’s lifetime but it looks like they were working on something at the time of Nip’s death, which was never released.

Last week, Meek Mill released his new protest song “Otherside Of America” but it appears as though the track was originally supposed to feature another artist. 

Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images

Sharing a text message log with Nipsey Hussle on Instagram, Meek Mill claims that the late rapper had recorded a verse for the concept and was ready to go. It’s unclear why his verse was not included in the official release but it’s possible that the song was rushed out because of the protests.

In the texts, you can see that Nipsey suggested “Otherside of America” as the song’s title, sending back his verse at the end of the night. 

“Nip was supposed to be on this,” wrote Meek. “RIP King!”

The two rappers were actually working on a collaborative project at the time of Nipsey’s murder, but it doesn’t seem likely for that to ever see the light of day.

“We never finished it… it’s songs left but they for his family,” said Meek this year.

Maybe we’ll get to hear Nip’s verse on “Otherside of America” eventually.

[]

It’s been one month since Meek Mill‘s girlfriend Milan Harris gave birth to their first child together, and according to the fashion designer’s latest Instagram post, it’s been the experience of a lifetime. On Saturday (June 6th), the first-time mom shared a clip of her baby boy, whose name has yet to be revealed, nestled into her chest while K Michelle’s “A Mother’s Prayer” plays in the background. 

“I’ve been a mom for 1 month,” she wrote in the caption. “I’ve learned so much about myself and motherhood during this month. I absolutely love being a mom, I love my son soooo much. Happy 1 month son…My greatest creation.”

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows

Milan gave birth to their son last month on Meek’s birthday, May 6th. Meek announced the arrival of his third child on Twitter when he tweeted, “Milano dropped me off a king on my birthday! #thebestgift.” He then shared the first glimpse of his newborn baby boy a week or so later by posting a Boomerang of him feeding the little angel on his IG story.

Congrats to Milan on one month of motherhood!