If you're a fan of the Toronto music scene, and especially PARTYNEXTDOOR, you'll be ecstatic about this announcement. Several months ago, OVO Sound artist PARTYNEXTDOOR announced that he would be impacting the industry with a brand new album at the start of the decade. That time is officially upon us and, seven days into 2020, we still have not heard a peep from PND about his album. There's been no release date, tracklist, cover art... nothing. Don't get discouraged though. According to the man himself, his plan remains the same, affirming to fans that he will still be coming through with new music in January.

If anyone deserved a vacation after putting in work in 2019, it was Megan Thee Stallion. According to her recent Instagram posts, she took her girls on a trip and they have been living it up as Meg knows how to do best. The Houston Hottie spent a large chunk of last year pouring alcohol down her fellow celebrities’ throats, a practice which she refers to as “driving the boat”. 

Meg and her bikini-clad besties drove the boat both literally and metaphorically on Monday. The breakout rapper shared a video of her gang sailing across blue waters as they shake their booties to the perfect song for the occasion – “Cognac Queen” off Meg’s 2018 mixtape, Tina Snow. Well, I suppose it wasn’t the perfect soundtrack because the ladies were actually drinking tequila. As captain of the boat, Meg gave out sips of Don Julio to all on board. These boat posts came a day after Meg shared some thirst traps taken at the beach. 

While Meg may be partying on vacation at the moment, just last week she was hard at work in the studio. She gave us some hints about the attitude and alter egos she’s bringing to her debut album set to release this year. 

Moneybagg Yo and Roddy Ricch have put in serious work in their respective solo careers, solidifying themselves as two of the game's most trusted and celebrated rappers. Having recently dropped off "U Played" with Lil Baby, all while prowling for a new lady friend in his downtime, Moneybagg is positioned for a fruitful 2020 campaign in both art and life. As for Roddy Ricch, the Compton rapper recently secured his first-ever Top 5 hit in "The Box," and many have already penciled him in as the game's next superstar.

Arturo Holmes/Getty Images

Given everything they've accomplished on their own merits, it seems fitting for a collaboration to be the next logical step. At least, it does for one fan who made the suggestion on Twitter. In response, Moneybagg himself replied with confirmation that he was indeed ready to connect with Roddy, leaving the ball in the Ricch camp's court. 

It's unclear whether Roddy is looking to record new music at the moment, having recently dropped off his new album Please Forgive Me For Being Antisocial, but the offer remains enticing all the same. We can only hope he meets the suggestion with as much enthusiasm as Moneybagg did, as a collaboration between the two would be a great look indeed. 

Today, T.I. is gearing up to drop off a new episode of his ExpediTIously podcast, and it might end up being the biggest yet. His latest guest is none other than Iron Mike Tyson, who appears to be in fine form as he reflects on stories with a joint in hand. From the look of it, one such story centers around the time 2Pac came and visited Mike Tyson in prison; you may recall that Tyson and Pac were good friends, with Pac’s death having occurred after he witnessed Mike Tyson defeat Bruce Seldon in Las Vegas.  

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In a clip shared by T.I, the conversation begins in medias res. “All of a sudden he jumps on the table,” recalls Tyson. “The cops, the guards are looking at him and I’m like, ‘come down, get down from there,” he continues, on some stern dad energy. “He’s still up there, and I say ‘what’s wrong? Come down, please, get down!’ The guards in the prison didn’t like him cause when he came, the inmates got rowdy and pumped up. That’s like a safety situation there so they really didn’t like him.”

T.I. seems content to soak it all in, laughing at Iron Mike’s animated delivery. “He was just a bolt of energy,” explains Mike. “When he came in, everybody knew him. He had mad respect. I guess that’s how he lived his life, he demanded respect. When the word came out he just came to visit me, and then he went out and shot two police officers, off-duty police officers. Everybody in the prison went crazy! It was like a riot, everybody went crazy!” 

As of this moment, the full episode has yet to drop. Stay tuned for Mike Tyson’s full appearance on T.I.s ExpediTIously arriving later today, and catch the teaser clip below. 

The last time Justin Bieber released a solo single or a studio album, Obama was still President, we all thought Jon Snow was dead, and Kobe Bryant was the star of the Los Angeles Laker (not LeBron James). Seems like ages ago, right? Needless to say, a lot has changed since then – one thing that hasn’t is the Biebs’ ability to serenade with the best of them. We’re lightyear’s away from the world that Bieber gave Purpose, his highly successful fourth project, yet out of the proverbial time capsule, he emerges ready to marvel fans once again with his vivacious vocals. 

Bieber attends the fight between KSI and Logan Paul at the Staples Center, November 2019 – Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images

Purpose amassed Bieber three no. 1 singles, propelling him in the most rarified of air. But that kind of altitude could rattle anyone – so albeit for a time, the starlet allowed the world of music to eclipse him. He vanished from the scene for a better part of the decade. Bieber’s hiatus is almost two years longer than Adele – who went missing for three and a half trips around the sun after the birth of her child. Upon returning, though, she would release her defining no. 1 single “Hello,” a gem from her recording-setting album 25. The project would go on to become the highest-selling debut of all-time.

Usher, Bieber’s mentor, took a hiatus of his own in 2001. This before releasing 8701, a legendary albumthat went on to sell almost 5 million copies in the United States alone and go 4-times platinum, Usher’s sabbatical spanned four years. So there is a playbook for Bieber to return and return with a vengeance. When addressing if he thought the time off would hurt his career, Usher told MTV, “I feel what’s meant for me will wait for me.”

So could the blue-eyed, heartthrob reengineer this type of success after a half-decade album drought?  

Since we’ve last seen Bieber, he’s gone through a very public breakup with Selena Gomez, beef with The Weeknd, canceled the final leg of his Purpose World Tour, and married Hailey Baldwin. He’s also tussled with his mental health and drug abuse. At length, he’s spoken about devotion to God and taking a stance against racism. Bieber has grown a great deal over the past half a decade, but before the song’s official release, many pondered how his sound would evolve. Furthermore, what would the now-married pop mogul have to say?

Bieber and his wife Hailey attend 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs – Omar Rawlings/Getty Images

In a December 24th Instagram video, Justin said, “As humans, we are imperfect. My past, my mistakes, all the things that I’ve been through, I believe that I’m right where I’m supposed to be and God has me right where he wants me. I feel like this is different than the previous albums just because of where I’m at in my life. I’m excited to perform it and to tour it. We all have different stories. I’m just excited to share mine.”

Bieber officially announced his new single “Yummy,” alongside the album’s trailerand hints of a tour to follow. If that wasn’t enough to sputter the hype vehicle, Justin released a trailer on New Year’s Eve announcing his 10-episode YouTube Originals documentary series.

This isn’t the teenage bubblegum version of Justin Bieber (not even close), and the miles traveled since his early success show resoundingly on “Yummy.” It’s a stark contrast to the Mickey-Mousery of older records like “One Time,” which he released in 2009 and was the antithesis of Bieber Mania.

“Your world is my world

And my fight is your fight

My breath is your breath

And your heart (is my heart)

You’re my one love

My one heart

My one life for sure

Let me tell you one time (girl I love, girl I love you)”

“Yummy” comparatively is a seductive and graphically descriptive sonnet to sexual innuendo. His delivery registers like a snake charmer’s hypnotizing command of sound, eventually making your shoulders bounce. The lyrics are pretty straightforward but few can bellow and belt on a number like the Beibs. There isn’t a whole lot of substance on the record but that’s not really what you sign up for pressing play on a Beiber track. He seems like he’s trying to fit his music into the box of current trends. Uninspiring but packaged to sell.

“Yeah, you got that yummy-yum

That yummy-yum, that yummy-yummy

Yeah, you got that yummy-yum

That yummy-yum, that yummy-yummy

Say the word, on my way

Yeah babe, yeah babe, yeah babe

Any night, any day

Say the word, on my way

Yeah babe, yeah babe, yeah babe

In the mornin’ or the late

Say the word, on my way”

The song is Produced by Kid Culture, Sasha Sirota, and frequent collaborator Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd. Other works produced by Poo Bear include 112’s “Peaches & Cream,” “Dance With Me,” Usher’s “Superstar,” Danity Kane’s “Sleep On It” and Mariah Carey‘s “The Distance.” The trio unite to engineer a sound that is four tablespoons airy chimes and bells, one cup reverberating baseline and a dash of high-hat sprinkled with a kick for flavor. Blended together and married to Beiber’s rich voice, the beat makes for a body-rocking, intoxicating delectable.   

“Yummy” is a flare gun, lighting up the sky but packing just enough flavorless punch to keep your attention. While it is pretty to look at, the song seems most effective in building hype for this long-awaited album. As Popcorn as “Yummy” appears, it has all the fixings of a commercial smash. Catchy, sexy, fun – the track is a satisfying appetizer for Beiber faithful who have likely grown with the singer and are ready for the accelerated explicitness of the lyrics. The instrumental sounds fluffy enough to grace a 10-year old’s, skating rink birthday party playlist with lyrics raunchy enough to be played in the strip club. In all, “Yummy,” loses its sweetness rather quickly.  Despite some moderate criticisms, the song tastes just good enough, and starved “beliebers” will gobble it up. 

Responding to a Forbesarticle, the Grammy award winner coined his new sound R&Beiber. 

The pop sensation has taken detours into country, EDM and even reggae with the likes of Billie Ellish and Ed Sheeran. But his roots will always be Pop and R&B. Since being discovered and mentored by Usher, who no doubt influenced his musical palette, style, and persona, the singer has flourished. Beiber once referred to himself and Usher as a “dynamic duo.” To denote this, days ago their collaboration “Somebody To Love” surpassed 100 million streams on Spotify. Usher’s influence can be heard in Beiber’s vocal delivery. The way he floats in and out of keys sometimes racing up to falsetto’s top floor before parachuting back down in an auspicious display of range and ocular command. Usher’s longterm vision for the singer has been in the works since the early 2010s. He said this about an adolescent Bieber even back then:

“I think he posses the confidence that you have to have as an artist. The talent that you [all] have yet to discover is what I notice more than anything. His ability to play guitar, play the drums, sing while playing the piano – these are all elements that speak to artistry. When you think of a long term story, you can’t just think about what you can do with a hit record, or what you can do with a great video – you have to think about an entire career.” 

Is this is the Justin Bieber Usher envisioned all those years ago? Is there still potential untapped or has the arguable King of R&B’s protege peaked only to now be on an inevitable and treacherously mediocre skid down the slope of success? Opposite what gravity feels like for the rest of us, a journey down the mountain is always harder than the climb for a fading star.  

The Hip-hop scene wrapped their arms around a young and budding Beiber as the 13-year-old initially traipsed from his rise to the pedestal of stardom, given his co-sign from Usher. Later, his 2013 album Journals had characteristics of R&B influence. An example of this comes on, “All That Matters” a swaggy and smooth single off the memento. As the singer has grown, he’s developed more and more of an edge; in and outside of the studio. In years past, Beiber has gotten features from the likes of Lil Wayne, Migos, and even Future who joined him on “What’s Hannin.” To boot, he’s appeared on a number Hip-Hop and R&B records himself – riding shotgun for tracks like Drake’s “One Dance” remix, DJ Khaled’s “I’m the One,” or the remix to “Foreign” from Trey Songz. The new album features Ty Dolla, Post Malone, and Kelani – so we’re sure the composition will exude an R&B, Hip-hop aroma. 

Bieber and Post Malone backstage at Coachella 2018 – Christopher Polk/Getty Images

Bieber’s new album and the tour will garner millions of “Beliebers” reciting his songs and consuming mountains of his content, inevitably. The project will probably produce massive commercial success. So far, “Yummy” is the album-catapulting single of the decade. I mean the decade is only four days old, but that counts for something, right? 

Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill has big goals and aspirations for himself in the next ten years. The man wants to become a billionaire, following in the footsteps of his friends Jay-Z and Diddy, as well as other rap superstars who transitioned into the world of entrepreneurship. Focusing on prison reform right now, Meek Mill has been very vocal about his plans to level up both personally and create change in the world around him. With a potential war on the horizon between the United States and Iran, some high-profile celebrities are thinking of getting away from Trump and America as soon as they can. Cardi B is leading the charge, begging her husband Offset to move with her to Nigeria. It would appear as though Meek Mill is on-board with that plan, taking the baton from the Bronx songstress and echoing her sentiment.

Lil Baby has proven himself to be among hip-hop’s most valuable players. Though he’s only been in the game for a few years now, it seems as if the melodic Atlanta rapper has developed a Midas Touch of sorts, coming through to deliver hit after hit in clockwork fashion. Most recently, Lil Baby delivered “Woah,” and the song has slowly but surely established a dominating presence on the charts; as of now, “Woah” currently occupies the twenty-seventh spot on the Billboard Hot 100, and it’s still climbing.

Paras Griffin/Getty Images

Last night, Lil Baby stopped by The Tonight Show to bless Jimmy Fallon with a performance of “Woah,” taking to a moodily-lit stage complete with a quartet of dancers. Though the faintest traces of a backing track can indeed be made out, it seems as if Baby is laying down some genuine vocals — as far as late-night performances go, “Woah” serves its purpose. 

With a new album called My Turn set to arrive in the imminent future, it’s clear that this Baby is aiming to start 2020 off with a bang. First, he crawled — may he now walk with utmost confidence. 

From the moment Roddy Ricch dropped his major label debut last month, Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial, it was clear that one song on there slapped harder than the rest. Listeners immediately gravitated towards “The Box”. The track’s triumphant, squeaky opening is now getting people’s blood flowing across the nation and the charts are reflecting this. 

The Compton rapper just secured his first entry in the top five of Billboard’s Hot 100. This week, “The Box” sits at No. 3 below Post Malone‘s “Circles” and Maroon 5‘s “Memories”. Ricch’s song is still picking up steam, so it wouldn’t it be too surprising to see it clench the top spot and mark another major milestone for him. “The Box” is No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B/Hip Hop chart and according to Rolling Stone‘s Artists 500 chart, it is the No. 1 song in the world. 

The most impressive aspect about “The Box”‘s success is that it was organic. It wasn’t released or promoted as a single. People having fun with the song on TikTok may have allowed it to spread more, but at the end of the day, it’s just irresistibly exhilarating. If you’re a fan of Roddy Ricch and want to see him keep winning in 2020, keep streaming “The Box” and watch it climb up the charts. 

YG almost got caught up in a major Grand Theft Auto-style situation last year when a SUV registered to him was involved in a high speed chase through Los Angeles that resulted in the death of an innocent bystander. Now, it looks like the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department will soon be closing the case altogether.

The Still Brazy emcee was cleared in this Independence Day shootout fiasco after it was determined that he was nowhere near the scene of the crime and had zero knowledge of the events going down. He told TMZ exclusively at the time, “I was nowhere near the scene of this incident and had been in a recording studio all day in Hollywood. I was there until after midnight on the Fourth of July and didn’t learn of these events until after they happened.” The situation got so serious that police even raided YG’s home in Hollywood Hills, which thankfully didn’t result in any charges for the Compton-bred rapper. 

Image by HNHH