Hip-Hop
Kenny Mason Drops New Song “Rih”: Stream
Kenny Mason is keeping the faucet running. The Atlanta rapper has dripped out a new song for three weeks in a row now, and his latest is another excellent track called “Rih”. The 25-year-old is building up hype for a new project called Angelic Hoodrat: Supercut, which is the follow-up — not the deluxe edition — for his 2020 debut Angelic Hoodrat. So far, he’s teased it with the grungey “Play Ball”, the celestial “Pup”, and the gnarled “Partments”, and this latest preview is a quietly menacing trap banger. If the four Supercut singles aren’t enough of a glaring indicator, Mason’s style is all over the place. He seems to take as much influence from emo-rap and rock music as he does straightforward hip-hop, but tracks like “Rih”, which feels like a much chiller counterpart to his 20...
Lil Uzi Vert Hops on Posthumous FXXXXY Track ‘Yeah Kool’: Listen
A new track from late rapper-producer FXXXXY, featuring Lil Uzi Vert, arrived Thursday titled “Yeah Kool.” FXXXXY was signed to Future‘s FreeBandz label and was credited with engineering work on the song “Solitaires,” featuring Travis Scott, from the rapper’s eighth High Off Life album, released in May 2020. While working on Future and Lil Uzi Vert’s joint album Pluto x Baby Pluto, which was released in November, “he and Uzi bonded after Future ran late to their studio session. The union between both rappers ultimately led to the organic collaboration of ‘Yeah Kool,'” according to a press release. On Wednesday, FXXXXY’s official Twitter account shared an old clip of the Dallas star teasing their...
Diddy Beams Into Son’s 23rd Birthday Party Via Hologram: See Video
“I just want to tell you how much of a blessing it is that you’re my son. I feel like the coolest dad in the world just ’cause you’re my son,” the 51-year-old rapper said in his speech. “Every day that I see you, you taught me how to smile. And I just want to tell you I love you for that, for being my son. And I’m the proudest dad in the world.” Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Snoop Dogg’s son Cordell Broadus, Swae Lee, Winnie Harlow and Young Thug were reportedly among the in-person attendees at Thursday night’s birthday bash. On Instagram, Diddy shared a sweet father-son portrait for King’s big day. “Happy happy happy birthday to my King, my son, my twin, my love @kingcombs !...
Fugees Built New Classics Out of Old Staples
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Play | Stitcher | Radio Public | RSS Consequence of Sound and Sony present The Opus, an exploration of legendary albums and their ongoing legacy. For Season 13, host Jill Hopkins (The Moth Chicago, Making Beyoncé podcast) will explore the Fugees’ second and final album, The Score. So much of hip-hop is built on the notion of creating something from something. Call it covering, call it borrowing, call it sampling, but don’t call it unoriginal. For decades, samples have helped musicians turn some of greatest hits into even greater hits. Fugees are no exception to this. In fact, they built upon this legacy, The samples and covers included on 1996’s The Score range from The Delphonics to Enya — and yet they’re seamlessly woven together to create a distinct, si...
Quavo Breaks Silence on ‘Unfortunate’ Elevator Fight With Ex Saweetie
It wasn’t as bad as it looked, and it’s all in the past, says Quavo. “We had an unfortunate situation almost a year ago that we both learned and moved on from,” he explains in a statement to Billboard. “I haven’t physically abused Saweetie and have real gratitude for what we did share overall.” Two days after the video hit the web, Saweetie issued her own statement, calling the tussle “unfortunate.” Los Angeles Police Department is said to be investigating the footage, according to TMZ, and detectives reportedly want to meet with both parties separately to discuss the background to the incident. Saweetie and Quavo are no longer an item. Saweetie first announced she was single March 19 on Twitter, writing that she’d suffered “too much betrayal...
BROCKHAMPTON Share New Single “COUNT ON ME”: Stream
BROCKHAMPTON season continues. The hip-hop boy band are back with another new song called “COUNT ON ME”, available for streaming below via Apple Music or Spotify. The track is the second preview from their upcoming album ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE, which is due out in full on April 9th. Last week, they gave us our first taste of the album with a joyfully chaotic new single called “Buzzcut” that featured Danny Brown. “COUNT ON ME” takes things in a more straightforwardly melodic direction, offering the type of bright hook that was absent on the fiery “Buzzcut”. While teasing the song on Twitter, Kevin Abstract described it as “summer time vibes.” “Ride around with the windows down with ya best friend singing super loud to the chorus type vibe – shows the other si...
Iggy Azalea Debuts New Green Hair Ahead of 2 New Songs
Thursday (April 1) may be April Fools’ Day, but Iggy Azalea‘s new green hair color is perfect for St. Patrick’s Day. The Australian rapper showed off her new neon chopped locks, and she says the new look is for her upcoming single “Sip It,” featuring Tyga, which will be released on Friday along with another new song “Brazil.” Azalea and Tyga previously teamed up on “Kream” from her 2018 EP Survive the Summer. City Girls’ JT served as Azalea’s hair inspiration, and her fellow rapper gave the new look her stamp of approval by sending heart-eye and four-leaf clover emojis underneath her Instagram post. “You did the green first, but I had to try it cause it was too fire love ya,” the “Fancy” MC replied. Y...
Saweetie Responds to Video of Her Elevator Fight With Ex Quavo
Two days after TMZ released a video of Saweetie and Quavo‘s physical altercation in an elevator, Saweetie has issued a statement, calling the incident “unfortunate.” The footage captured their elevator fight, which TMZ reported took place in a North Hollywood apartment complex that Saweetie was renting in 2020. In the video, Saweetie is seen taking a swing at Quavo while the elevator is open before trying to pick up a briefcase, which Quavo grabs as he drags her to the floor of the elevator. Saweetie appears to remain on the floor for the duration of the elevator ride, and although the video does not capture any audio, the rappers seem to exchange a few words as Quavo exits the elevator and props the door open with the orange case while ...
The Weeknd’s First NFT Drop Will Feature New Music and Limited-Edition Artwork
According to a statement announcing the NFT drop, the campaign will kick off with an open edition flash sale of three distinct visual pieces of art, each accompanied by a filtered snippet of an unnamed new song. An unlimited amount of these works will be available for a limited time, followed by a 24-hour auction of “an exclusive 1-of-1 piece of art” tracked by a second, full new song, which will be unfiltered. The winner of the second auction will have an exclusive on the song, which will not be released on any other platforms in the future. “Blockchain is democratizing an industry that has historically been kept shut by the gatekeepers. I’ve always been looking for ways to innovate for fans and shift this archaic music biz and seeing NFT’s allowing creators to be seen and heard mor...
FKA Twigs Thanks Lil Nas X for “Acknowledging the Inspiration” of “Cellophane” on “Montero” Video
After Lil Nas X dropped his new single “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” on Friday, fans were quick to note the visual similarities between it and the music video for FKA Twigs’ 2019 hit “Cellophane”. Both clips feature the artists sliding down a lengthy stripper pole while putting on a difficult routine — by the same choreographer, no less — leaving viewers to question if it was plagiarism or tribute. So Twigs called the rapper on Tuesday to privately discuss the matter once and for all. Ultimately, they’re on good terms, with her even thanking him for “acknowledging the inspiration” of her track. “Thank you @lilnasx for our gentle honest conversations and for acknowledging the inspiration cellophane gave you and your creative team in creating your iconic video!” wrote FKA Twigs. “I t...
81355 Announce Debut Album This Time I’ll Be of Use, Share “Capstone”: Stream
81355 (pronounced “Bless”) is an Indianapolis rap trio signed to 37d03d, the label co-founded by Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon and The National’s Aaron and Bryce Dessner. Today, the group announced their debut album, This Time I’ll Be of Use, which is slated for release on May 28th. 81355 is comprised of Sirius Blvck, Oreo Jones, and David Adamson. According to a press release, This Time I’ll Be of Use finds the rappers “reflecting on Black struggle in the pandemic-ridden and democracy faltering landscape” while grappling with “hard-wired truths and imagines alternate realities with better futures while meshing mystical, somber and danceable elements throughout.” As a preview of the album, 81355 shared the opening track, “Capstone”. Over a spaced-out beat, the MCs demonstrate their lyrical...
Queen Latifah’s Anthem “U.N.I.T.Y.” Still Spells Out a Critical Message About Women’s Rights
Editor’s Note: As Women’s History Month draws to a close, arts critic Okla Jones looks back at the indelible legacy of Queen Latifah and the long-lasting influence her anthem “U.N.I.T.Y.” had on women’s rights, especially in the hip-hop world. The contributions of women to the arts have often been overlooked throughout history. In music (specifically hip-hop), the female artist has been held to an unfair critical standard. The industry requires women to be both talented and desirable, only to allow them to be negated by public opinion if they come across as overtly “sexy” or if their content doesn’t fit some status quo. For quite some time, the music business has served as a microcosm for society’s treatment of women overall: including the verbal and physical abuse, lack of appreciat...
