Hip-Hop
Digital Underground’s Shock G Dies at 57
Digital Underground was formed in Oakland, Calif., in 1987 by Shock G, Chopmaster J and Kenny-K, and the collective included a revolving door of more than three dozen members over its almost three decades of activity — including some of the earliest recordings from a young Tupac Shakur. The group had four top 40-charting hits on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, including the top 10 smash “The Humpty Dance,” which also spent five weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart in 1990 and peaked at No. 11 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. The song also garnered a Grammy nomination for best rap performance by a duo or group. “The Humpty Dance” was one of two top 20-charting hits on the Dance Club Songs chart, alongside 1991’s “Same Song.” The l...
Shock G Dies at 57: Celebs Remember Rapper as a ‘Total Original’
The hip-hop community is in mourning following the death of Shock G, at the age of 57. The rapper (real name Gregory Jacobs) formed Digital Underground with Chopmaster J and Kenny-K in Oakland, Calif., back in 1987, and charged into the charts on several occasions in the late ’80s and early ’90s. The group enjoyed four top 40-charting hits on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, including “The Humpty Dance,” which also spent five weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart in 1990 and peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. 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 process. Earn rewards by chatting, sha...
Executives Lyor Cohen and Kevin Liles Remember DMX & Reveal How He Helped Save Def Jam
After signing to Def Jam in 1997, The Darkman blazed through the hip-hop sphere like a raging fireball, torching every feature he appeared on. From LL Cool J’s “4, 3, 2, 1 (Remix)” to The LOX’s “Money, Power, Respect,” X scarfed down every appearance with ease. The main course arrived a year later when he unleashed his seminal debut album, It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot. Stacked with hard-hitting bangers, X’s electric flows reminded listeners that New York hip-hop hadn’t lost its edge, and that the rapper born Earl Simmons was ready to be the cornerstone of this new style. It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot rocketed to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 — the first of five consecutive DMX projects to do so. “I thi...
Gunna Discusses ‘Call of Duty’ Ad, ‘Slime Language 2′ & Why ‘Ski’ Is an ‘Everybody Song’
The two are no strangers to video games, as they often play together in their downtime at the studio, Gunna told Billboard. “I always been playing Call of Duty,” he said. “But they hit me up and [asked] was I interested in doing the commercial and I was.” While there wasn’t much acting involved in the short film, he says he can see himself doing more of it in the future. On Friday, Young Stoner Life Records released Slime Language 2, the follow-up to 2018’s Slime Language. “It was just fun. It was really like family, we just really had fun with it,” the “Skybox” rapper said of working with his labelmates. “It wasn’t nothing like forced or nothing like that. We kind of just had songs ready, and when we felt the ri...
Cordae Releases New EP Just Until…. Featuring Young Thug and Q-Tip: Stream
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-04-22T17:53:26+00:00“>April 22, 2021 | 1:53pm ET Cordae, the North Carolina-born rapper formerly known as YBN Cordae, has released a new EP. It’s called Just Until…. and it’s available to stream below via Apple Music and Spotify. Just Until…. spans four tracks in total, including two high-profile collaborations. The EP opener “More Life” features A Tribe Called Quest co-founder Q-Tip and the later track “Wassup” features the heavy-hitter Young Thug. The other two songs, “Dream in Color” and closer “Thornton Street”, see Cordae flexing his skills solo. It’s been a steady climb for Cordae in the music industry since he released his debut mixtape in 2016, and yet somehow Just Unti...
Little Simz Announces New Album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, Shares “Introvert”: Stream
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-04-21T17:36:41+00:00“>April 21, 2021 | 1:36pm ET Little Simz has announced her new album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert. It’s out September 3rd via Age 101, and today she’s offered a preview with lead single “Introvert”. The British rapper vaulted into hip-hop conversations on both sides of the Atlantic with her 2019 album GREY Area, one of our favorite albums of the year. Since then she tided over fans with the 2020 Drop 6 EP, and as good as that was, her return to the long play is welcome news. For her fourth album she’s once again she’s producing alongside her longtime collaborator Inflo, and here she’s lined up feature verses from Obongjayar and Cleo Sol. To ...
DMX’s Memorials: How to Watch the Livestreams
The following day, the Sunday, April 25 “Homegoing Celebration” will kick on from 2:30 pm ET and will air live on BET and its YouTube channel. According to reps for the artist, attendance to both the “Celebration” memorial and the “Homegoing” event will be restricted to close friends and family due to New York State health and safety guidelines. Currently, the state’s indoor arenas such as the Barclays Center are capped at a 10% capacity, per COVIDSafe protocols. DMX died on April 9 after suffering a heart attack triggered by a drug overdose. He was 50 years old. His passing triggered a wave of grief from the music community and fans, many of whom turned to his music. As previously reported, his greatest hits compilation The Best of DMX roared from 73-...
RZA Resurrects Bobby Digital for New Album Digital Potions, Shares “Pugilism”: Stream
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-04-21T21:55:57+00:00“>April 21, 2021 | 5:55pm ET Wu-Tang Clan mastermind RZA has revived his Bobby Digital persona for a new album, Digital Potions. As a preview, he shared a new song titled “Pugilism”. Details about the project are scarce, but it’s been 13 years since RZA dropped Digi Snacks, his most recent album as Bobby Digital. The 2008 LP marked his third official project under the moniker, following 1998’s Bobby Digital in Stereo and 2001’s Digital Bullet. Bobby Digital in Stereo was the most successful of the bunch, peaking at No. 16 on the Billboard 200 and receiving a Gold certification. RZA also frequently referred to his alter ego on 2003’s Birth of a Prince. R...
Lil Yachty Announces Michigan Boy Boat Release Date, Shares Trailer: Watch
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-04-22T02:52:02+00:00“>April 21, 2021 | 10:52pm ET Lil Yachty will return this week with his new mixtape Michigan Boy Boat. The whole thing will hit streaming services this Friday April 23rd, but the Atlanta MC has shared a trailer for the project on Instagram. Although Yachty is a born-and-raised Atlanta rapper, the 23-year-old has been associating with figures from the Michigan scene (specifically in Detroit and Flint) for years, and now he’s ready to unleash the fruits of fully embedding himself in that world. In the trailer he posted for Michigan Boat Boy, which he initially announced way back in October of last year, Yachty talks about how blown away he is by Mich...
Pretty Ricky’s Baby Blue in Critical Condition After Bowling Alley Shooting
Pretty Ricky member Baby Blue is in critical condition after being shot during an attempted robbery at a south Florida bowling alley on Monday night. In a graphic video circulating on social media, the rapper, born Diamond Blue Smith, is seen lying still on the floor, his body bloodied, near the entrance of the bowling alley while a friend frantically screams out for help. After a few seconds, two other men rushed to help the rapper who soon became responsive and rolled onto his side. 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 process. Earn rewards by chatting, sharing photos, blogging and help give users back their fair share o...
Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie and Smokey Robinson to Be Honored by National Museum of African American Music
In announcing the honorees and forthcoming celebration, NMAAM president/CEO Henry Beecher Hicks III stated, “NMAAM showcases Black music excellence every day, but this year’s Black Music Month will be a special one as we celebrate the museum’s opening with phenomenal music icons and Black music fans across the world. We can’t wait to open our doors and share in the joy of Juneteenth weekend with our supporters, fans and a few musical legends, as well.” Sponsored by Amazon, the Thursday benefit concert and honoree presentation will feature live and virtual tribute performances with limited in-person seating for the live-streamed event. Previous Rhapsody & Rhythm honorees include CeCe Winans, Nile Rodgers, Gloria Gaynor, George Clinton, Jody Watley and Keb’ Mo’. “One of Amazon’s core val...
81355 Share The Origins of New Single “Thumbs Up”: Stream
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-04-20T17:30:38+00:00“>April 20, 2021 | 1:30pm ET Our new music feature Origins allows artists to break down the inspiration behind their latest track. Today, 81355 give us insight into “Thumbs Up”. In late March, Indianapolis rap trio 81355 (pronounced “Bless”) released the haunting “Capstone”, a track that earned our Song of the Week honors for intricately reflecting the Black experience in America while conveying the struggles of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 37d03d signees are back today with “Thumbs Up”, a hypnotic new single which finds the group struggling to find sanity in the chaotic world in which we live. “Thumbs Up” features a beat mixing together psychedelic elect...
