Hip-Hop
Gorillaz Unveil Video for “The Lost Chord” Featuring Leee John: Watch
Few artists have made better use of 2020 than Gorillaz have. The virtual band released an album and an almanac, performed special livestream sets, dropped vinyl figurines, and visualized their Song Machine series with nine “episodes” (read: music videos). Today, they’re putting a bow on their busy year by sharing Song Machine’s season 1 finale: a music video — err, episode — for their song “The Lost Chord” featuring Leee John. For this one, the gang — 2D, Murdoc, Noodle, and Russel — return to Plastic Beach, the setting of their 2010 album. Unfortunately, their visit is short-lived, as a sea monster portrayed by Leee John emerges from the depths of the ocean and destroys Gorillaz’s former seaside home. Take in Jamie Hewlett’s full visual experience below. Perceptive fan...
Jenny Lewis and Bill Murray Share Cover of Drake’s “Laugh Now Cry Later”: Watch
Well, here’s the strangest gift to ever pop out of an advent calendar. Jenny Lewis and Bill Murray have shared a live-from-home cover of Drake’s “Laugh Now Cry Later”. Seemingly delivered to capture the quarantine vibes of Christmas 2020, Lewis and Murray’s rendition of the Lil Durk-featuring track is downtempo dirge. The former sings as she plucks a heavy bass line, while the On the Rocks actor shuffles out a sloppy drum phrase. “It’s almost christmas!” Lewis wrote in the Instagram post sharing the video. “laugh now cry later.” Check out the duo’s Drake cover below. The Xmas treat is something of a reunion for the pair, who last got in the holiday spirit together for 2015’s A Very Murray Christmas special. Editors’ Picks Lewis also recently reunited with The Postal Service for a fun...
R.I.P. John “Ecstasy” Fletcher, Rap Pioneer and Founder of Whodini Dead at 56
John “Ecstasy” Fletcher, co-founder of the trailblazing hip-hop group Whodini, is dead at 56. Fletcher was a towering figure in the history of rap, known for his playful storytelling and flamboyant Zorro hat. Questlove of The Roots was among the first to share news of his passing on Instagram. “One Love to Ecstasy of the Legendary Whodini,” he wrote, referencing the group’s 1986 hit “One Love”. Questlove added, “This man was legendary and a pivotal member of one of the most legendary groups in hip hop. This is sad man.” Fletcher’s cause of death has not been made public. Fletcher and his friend Jalil Hutchins founded Whodini in 1982 in Brooklyn. The duo became a trio in 1986 with the addition of DJ Drew Carter, aka Grandmaster Dee. Together they built a national following with hi...
Watch Quavo Surprise Saweetie With a Bentley: ‘Best Gift Ever’
The “Tap In” star let out an excited scream before hilariously throwing herself on top of the car. “Oh my God! What?” she’s heard shouting in disbelief. “Best gift ever!!! Thank u baby,” she captioned the adorable video. See it here. In a series of photos shared by Quavo, the “ICY GRL” rapper is seen sitting in the driver’s seat, which is embroidered with the word “icy.” See here. 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 of Internet revenue.
John Fletcher Dead: Whodini Rapper ‘Ecstasy’ Dies at 56
John Fletcher of hip-hop trio Whodini has died, Billboard can confirm. The artist, known by his stage name Ecstasy and recognizable from his signature Zorro hat, was 56. No cause of death has been revealed. “The African and Native American ancestors have gathered around and chosen this day, during the Winter Solstice, Dec 23rd, 2020 to call upon a most endeared, generous, and sincere soul who graced The World’s heart through performance, hip-hop, family, children and grandchildren,” his family shared in a statement to Billboard. “John ‘Ecstasy’ Fletcher was a beloved man, the life partner to Deltonia and ex-husband to Carla, twin brother to Joseph, artist, friend, and lifetime performing partner to the Legendary Jalil of Whodini. Whodini se...
Kid Cudi’s 37-Second “Beautiful Trip” Breaks Record for Shortest Song on Billboard Hot 100
It took Kid Cudi ten years to release the final entry in the Man on the Moon trilogy, but only 37 seconds to break a Billboard record. “Beautiful Trip”, the 37-second intro to Man on the Moon III: The Chosen, has become the shortest song to ever chart on the Hot 100. The Hot 100 launched 62 years ago to celebrate the most popular songs in America. It’s explicitly geared towards singles, and an unconventionally-structured track like “Beautiful Trip” would never have made the list before Billboard began counting online streams. As it is, Man on the Moon III debuted as the No. 2 album in the country behind Taylor Swift’s evermore, and since “Beautiful Trip” is the opening cut on a streaming hit, it almost accidentally grabbed the No. 100 spot on the Hot 100. The song ...
Kid Cudi’s ‘Beautiful Trip’ Breaks Record for Shortest Billboard Hot 100 Hit Ever
Kid Cudi sets the mark on the Hot 100 dated Dec. 26, 2020, a year after Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, became the shortest No. 1 hit by length since 1965, running 1:53 in its briefest iteration. Still, last year also brought a new record for the lengthiest Hot 100 hit by run time: Tool’s “Fear Inoculum” spent a week at No. 93, on the Aug. 17, 2019-dated tally, becoming the first song in the chart’s history with a run time exceeding 10 minutes (10:21). Long story short, here’s an updated look at the shortest and longest Hot 100 hits all-time, as confirmed by the invaluable Paul Haney of Joel Whitburn’s Record Research. (Songs are measured by the shortest version of a song for the first list and the longest for th...
Travis Scott (and Stormi!) Give Back With Houston Holiday Toy & Food Drive
Travis Scott spread the holiday cheer in his hometown on Tuesday (Dec. 22). The rapper’s Cactus Jack Foundation teamed up with the City of Houston and Mayor Sylvestor Turner to launch their first-ever Holiday Toy Drive event at Sunnyside Park. The group presented 2000 toys from Mattel and other brands to students and faculty across three local elementary schools, plus Houston residents. The contactless, drive-up event also offered produce, Christmas trees, comforters, blankets, clothing and PPE gear. 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 gi...
Playboi Carti Will Release New Album Whole Lotta Red on Christmas
Yes, it’s actually happening. Playboi Carti will finally release his long-awaited sophomore album Whole Lotta Red on Christmas Day. The Atlanta rapper has been teasing the follow-up to his visionary 2018 record Die Lit for over two years, revealing its title back in August 2018 and detailing it throughout 2019. Back in April of this year, he dropped its lead single “@ MEH”, which led many people to believe that the album would arrive before the summer. It didn’t, but Carti said that album was “turned in” to his label on November 23rd, and last week some eagle-eyed fans spotted promotional graffiti that seemed to indicate that Whole Lotta Red would finally be seeing the light of day on Christmas. In typical cryptic Carti fashion, the rapper has eschewed a tracklist ...
Lil Durk Pays Tribute to King Von with New Single “Backdoor”: Stream
Lil Durk has released a new song called “Backdoor” dedicated to fellow Chicago rapper and King Von who was fatally shot outside of a nightclub in November. The third single from upcoming album The Voice, it sees Lil Durk protecting himself from his enemies and staying vigilant so as not to end up like his fallen friend. “Before you leave that door, you gotta pick that glock up,” he says, later adding, “I’m riding around with choppers.” In the track’s corresponding video from JerryPHD, Lil Durk sports King Von’s own signature O’Block chain around his neck. As Complex points out, he also shared a text exchange on Instagram confirming his choice of jewelry. Watch the “Backdoor” video below. Lil Durk previously shared The Voice single “Stay Down” featuring Young Thug and 6LACK. This ...
Jack Harlow, Rick Ross & More to Perform at Michelle Obama’s When We All Vote ‘Celebrate Georgia!’ Concert
Michelle Obama’s When We All Vote is teaming up with the Georgia Project and Live Nation Urban to host the drive-in, get-out-the-vote concert “Celebrate Georgia!” featuring Rick Ross, Jack Harlow, DJ Drama and more. The Jan. 3rd drive-in concert aims to raise awareness ahead of the crucial Jan. 5 run-off election in Georgia, which will determine which party controls the Senate during the upcoming Biden administration. The event will take place from 5:00-7:30 p.m. ET at the Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood in Atlanta. Among the other acts slated to perform are Monica and Pastor Troy, with Kenny Burns and Su Solo hosting the event. Also slated to make appearances are When We All Vote co-chairs Michelle Obama, Janelle Monáe, Tracee Ellis Ross, Kerry Washington and Chr...
Lizzo Surprises Her Mom With a New Car for Christmas
In a clip of the special moment when her mom first saw the incredible gift — which Lizzo caught on camera and shared with her fans — she can be heard saying, “Merry Christmas, Mommy! Open your eyes.” “You see these things on television and you never expect this to happen to yourself,” her mother, who seemed overcome with emotion, said in disbelief. Watch the sweet holiday surprise on Instagram. 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 of Internet revenue.
