Hip-Hop
Biz Markie Mourned by Al Sharpton & More at NYC Memorial Service: ‘He Was More Than Just a Friend’
The New York MC, born Marcel Theo Hall, died July 16 at age 57. He was hospitalized in April 2020 because of diabetes complications and reportedly suffered a stroke while in a diabetic coma last year as well. Best known for his party anthem and Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit “Just a Friend,” Biz was bigger than his biggest hit, according to the Reverend Al Sharpton’s eulogy. “But he was more than just a friend. He was our icon. He was more than just a friend. He was our example! He was more than just a friend! He was our star! He was more than just a friend!” said Sharpton while referencing the record’s title. “The hit record doesn’t tell you the whole story. Thank you, Biz! You never let us down! You were more than just a friend....
Lizzo Returning Next Week with “Rumors,” Her First New Song in Two Years
Lizzo is kicking off a new era next week with “Rumors,” her first new song in two years. It’s due out Friday, August 13th via Atlantic Records. “Rumors” marks Lizzo’s first new material since linking up with Charli XCX on “Blame It on Your Love” in May 2019. One month prior, the Minnesota rapper and singer dropped Cuz I Love You, one of the best albums released that year. The breakout project contains her massive No. 1 hit, “Truth Hurts,” as well as the popular singles “Good As Hell” and “Juice.” It also propelled Lizzo to Grammy wins for Best Pop Solo Performance, Best Traditional R&B Performance, and Best Urban Contemporary Album. Now that touring has resumed again, fans can catch Lizzo making appearances at festivals like Bonnaroo, where she will become the first ever...
DaBaby Issues New Apology for Homophobic Rant, Rips Critics Attempting to “Demolish” His Career
DaBaby has issued a new apology amidst the growing controversy over his recent homophobic remarks. Much like his initial apology from last week, the 29-year-old rapper spends a good amount of time blaming others before acknowledging his own faults. “Social media moves so fast that people want to demolish you before you even have the opportunity to grow, educate, and learn from your mistakes,” DaBaby wrote in an Instagram post on Monday. “As a man who has had to make his own way from very difficult circumstances, having people I know publicly working against me– knowing that what I needed was education on these topics and guidance– has been challenging. I appreciate the many people who came to me with kindness, who reached out to me privately to offer wisdom, education, and resources. That’...
DaBaby Replaced on Day N Vegas Lineup After Homophobic Comments
During his Rolling Loud performance in Miami two weeks ago, Baby uttered homophobic and misogynistic comments. “If you didn’t show up today with HIV, AIDS, or any of them deadly sexually transmitted diseases that’ll make you die in two to three weeks, then put your cellphone lighter up,” he said to attendees. “Ladies, if your p—y smell like water, put your cellphone lighter up. Fellas, if you ain’t sucking di– in the parking lot, put your cellphone lighter up.” His comments sparked outrage across the LGBTQ community, and many artists, including Elton John, Madonna and Demi Lovato, condemned Baby for his statements. Dua Lipa, who collaborated with DaBaby on a remix of her song “Levitating,” said she was “surprised&...
DaBaby Issues Formal Apology for Homophobic Comments After Lost Festival Gigs
Last week, DaBaby did not apologize for his statements and instead said that individuals who did not pay to attend the event should “shut the f— up.” The following day, the “Rockstar” rapper fired off several messages on Twitter about the critical response to his homophobic comments, apologizing to anyone affected by HIV/AIDS for his “insensitive” remarks but holding firm on the rest of his comments. “Social media moves so fast that people want to demolish you before you even have the opportunity to grow, educate, and learn from your mistakes,” he wrote in the new note. “As a man who has had to make his own way from very difficult circumstances, having people I know publicly working against me— knowing th...
Governors Ball Drops Homophobic Rapper DaBaby From 2021 Festival
Governors Ball is the latest US festival to boot DaBaby from its 2021 lineup in the wake of a series of homophobic comments made by the rapper. In a statement, Governors Ball producers Founders Entertainment said it “does not and will not tolerate hate or discrimination of any kind. We welcome and celebrate the diverse communities that make New York City the greatest city in the world. Thank you to the fans who continue to speak up for what is right. Along with you, we will continue to use our platform for good.” DaBaby had been scheduled to play the festival’s opening night on Friday, September 24th. “Stay tuned for a lineup addition,” advised Founders Entertainment. Advertisement Related Video DaBaby has been roundly criticized for remarks he made last weekend at Miami’s Rollin...
Roddy Ricch’s ‘Night’ Rises to No. 1 on Rhythmic Airplay Chart
Roddy Ricch banks a fifth No. 1 on Billboard’s Rhythmic Airplay chart as “Late at Night” surges from No. 5 to lead the list dated July 31. The single advances with a 17% burst in plays in the week ending July 25 to become the most-played song of the week on monitored U.S. rhythmic stations, according to MRC Data. With the new champ, here’s a rundown of the rapper’s five leaders: Song Title, Artist (if other than Roddy Ricch), Weeks at No. 1, Date Reached No. 1“Ballin,” with Mustard, two, Dec. 21, 2019“The Box,” six, Feb. 22, 2020“High Fashion,” featuring Mustard, one, July 13, 2020“Rockstar,” DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch, nine, July 4, 2020“Late at Night,” one (to date), July 31, 2021 You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating shoul...
iTunes R&B Sale Sends Otis Redding, Mariah Carey & Aretha Franklin Back Onto Charts
Otis Redding’s “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” leads the R&B resurgence as it returns to the list at No. 3, having sold 7,700 downloads in the week ending July 22, according to MRC Data. Among notable feats for the recording, “Dock” posted four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1968 and became the first posthumous leader in the chart’s history, as Redding died in December 1967 in a plane crash. Including “Dock,” 13 of the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart’s 25 positions can be traced at least in part to the iTunes discount. Here’s a full rundown of the markdown’s impact: Position, Song Title, ArtistNo. 3, “Sittin on the Dock of the Bay,” Otis ReddingNo. 4, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” Marvin Gaye & Tammi TerrellNo. 6, “Suga Suga,” Baby Bash featuring Frankie JN...
Lollapalooza Drops Homophobic Rapper DaBaby as Sunday Night Headliner
Lollapalooza has booted DaBaby as its Sunday night headliner in the wake of a series of homophobic comments made by the rapper. “Lollapalooza was founded on diversity, inclusivity, respect, and love. With that in mind, DaBaby will no longer be performing at Grant Park tonight,” the festival announced via Twitter on Sunday morning. Instead, Young Thug will close out Lollapalooza on Sunday night opposite Foo Fighters. DaBaby has been roundly criticized for remarks he made last weekend at Miami’s Rolling Loud Festival, in which he insulted gay people, slandered women, and demonized those suffering from HIV and AIDS. “You didn’t show up today with HIV, AIDS, any of those deadly sexually transmitted diseases that’ll make you die [in] two, three weeks, put your cellphone light in the air,” he sa...
Tyler, The Creator Brings Out Igor During Lollapalooza Headlining Set: 5 Best Moments
For a set so steeped in the concept of escapism, it oddly and unintentionally suited a moment in which 100,000 fans were seeking just that by attending the first major festival to return since the start of the pandemic — and as the COVID-19 Delta variant is on the rise. While Tyler never made any remarks on the return of live music as night one headliner Miley Cyrus did, to do so would have also pulled attendees out of the scene he aimed to set. Here are the five best parts of Tyler, The Creator’s Lolla headlining gig. The Theatrics From the moment Tyler came on stage to the final second of his set, he acted as if every spare moment was part of a music video, moving intentionally with each step and smile. In fact, under his bellhop outfit was the very same look he wore in the “...
DaBaby Claims He Doesn’t Know Questlove, Except They Performed Together Just Two Years Ago
Questlove took to social media earlier this week to slam DaBaby for his homophobic rant at Rolling Loud Miami, and the rapper has issued a bafflingly ignorant response in return. In his original post, the Roots founder updated the “dream list” he’d previously put together when asked to hypothetically curate a lineup for his own Summer of Soul-inspired festival. The list featured a number of prominent and rising Black artists including Rihanna, Sade, the Isley Brothers, and DaBaby, except now the rapper’s name has been vehemently crossed out in red. “And now I’m updating my list — because it’s 2021 & fuck the bullshit,” he captioned the post, in part. “I’m especially not here for any savagery (if you’re lost: Google the idiocy of the crossed out). I’m not trine be all performative smurf...
Kanye West Announces ‘Donda’ Album Release Event in Atlanta
Ahead of the expected release of Donda, Kanye West has scheduled an album release event in Atlanta. Kanye West Presents the Donda Album Release will take place on Thursday, Aug. 5 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium — where the rapper has been living as he completes work on his 10th album, and the location where his Donda listening event to preview the highly anticipated project went down about a week ago. The planned start time for the event is 9 p.m. ET. Tickets for the Aug. 5 event will be on sale on Monday (Aug. 2) at 10 a.m. ET at Ticketmaster. Ticket prices will range from $30 to $75. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to meet Beautiful people, chat and make money in the ...
