Hip-Hop
Cardi B Reacts to Teyana Taylor’s Music Retirement Announcement: ‘I Hate That She Feels How She Feels’
In her response, Cardi praised the R&B singer-songwriter’s 2020 release, The Album, and shared some sympathetic words. “If you know me then you know Teyana Taylor’s album it’s my favorite of 2020. I swear she really got the best album this year,” the rapper tweeted. “I hate that she feels how she feels cause she sooo talented and the music is soo good.” Since her debut in 2014, Taylor has released three albums and one EP, the most recent being 2020’s The Album. The set debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart in early July. The multi-hyphenate has also worked as a choreographer, actress, model, fitness guru and shoe designer. Following the 2021 Grammy nominations in late November, Taylor expressed frustration after The Album was...
Jeremih Released From Hospital Following Battle With COVID-19
News of of the 33-year-old R&B singer’s struggle with coronavirus was first made public on social media in mid-November by fellow artists like Chance the Rapper and 50 Cent. “Please if you can take a second to pray for my friend Jeremih, he is like a brother to me and he’s ill right now,” Chance tweeted. 50 Cent added on Instagram, “pray for my boy Jeremih he’s not doing good this covid s— is real.” In late November, Jeremih was transferred out of ICU after reportedly being on a ventilator while battling the novel coronavirus. At the time, a representative for his family told CNN that the virus had “viciously attacked his body” and reminded others that “COVID-19 is real and not to be taken lightly.” The pandemic, whi...
Dionne Warwick Asks Chance the Rapper a Pointed Question
“I am now Dionne the Singer,” Warwick announced in her next tweet. Chance, apparently awestruck by the unexpected mention (and the revelation that “Holy” is one of Warwick’s “favorite songs right now”), took a moment to respond. “Sorry I’m still freaking out that u know who I am,” he wrote back. “This is amazing!” “I will be whatever you wanna call me Ms Warwick. God bless you,” he said, politely. “Of course I know you. You’re THE rapper. Let’s rap together. I’ll message you,” suggested Warwick, who wasn’t done having fun on Twitter just yet. She set her sights on teasing someone else: “The Weeknd is next. Why? It’s not even spelled correctly?” “If you have “The” in your name i...
Jeremih Released from Hospital Following COVID-19 Battle
Jeremih has officially been released from the hospital after receiving treatment for a severe case of COVID-19. The R&B singer had been placed in the intensive care unit and put on a ventilator due to his deteriorating health. In a statement provided to ABC 7, Jeremih offered his immense gratitude to the healthcare workers at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago who “saved” his life. The 33-year-old Windy City native also shouted out all the friends, family, colleagues, and fans who’ve prayed for his speedy recovery: “First and foremost, I would like to thank God and the incredible team of doctors and nurses at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for saving my life. I will be forever grateful. I would also like to thank my family and friends for all their prayers and well wishes. I’m o...
Kamaiyah Announces New Project No Explanations, Shares “Still I Rise”: Stream
Kamaiyah rang in 2020 with a project called Got It Made. Now, she’s looking to close out the year the same way: the Oakland rapper has announced a new effort, No Explanations, due out later this month. Spanning 11 tracks, No Explanations is actually Kamaiyah’s third (!) collection of the year following the aforementioned Got It Made and September’s Oakland Nights, a collaborative mixtape with fellow Bay Area talent Capolow. As the project makes readily apparent, Kamaiyah isn’t answering to anyone, nor is she letting anything — even the nightmare that is the pandemic — hold back her prolificness. The Oakland MC makes this message crystal clear on “Still I Rise” featuring Jackboy, the lead single off No Explanations. In a statement, Kamaiyah said that the track “is about how we’re all f...
Heem Announces New Project, Shares “The Realest” featuring Benny the Butcher: Stream
Benny the Butcher is best known as one of the leaders of the prolific Griselda crew alongside Conway the Machine and Westside Gunn. However, the Buffalo rapper is also the head honcho of a different collective called the Black Soprano Family, which consists of a number of underground MCs including the rookie Heem. Back in April, Benny signed a deal to make BSF an imprint of eOne, and over the summer he released their debut project, Benny the Butcher & DJ Drama Present: The Respected Sopranos, which featured numerous amazing verses from Heem that hinted at his potential star power. Today, Heem has announced his first solo project, Long Story Short, and he’s giving listeners a fitting preview by sharing a song called “The Realest” that features The Butcher himself. Over an instrumental t...
Teyana Taylor Announces Retirement From Music: ‘When One Door Closes Another Will Open’
She continued by announcing that she’s “retiring this chapter of my story with the comfort that i can depart with peace of mind seeing that all the hard work & passion put in was indeed loved & supported somewhere in the world!” “To all my supporters from day 1 & all my new ones I love you and I thank you for everything & don’t worry y’all know,” Taylor concluded. “all hustlers have the understanding that when one door closes another will open…either that or I’m pickin da locks petunia!!! So wassup.” See the post here. Billboard has reached out to Taylor’s rep for additional comment. Since her debut in 2014, the multihyphenate has released three albums and one EP, the most recent being 2020’s The Album. S...
Chance the Rapper Hit With $3M Lawsuit From Former Manager Pat Corcoran
Corcoran is suing for breach of contract, violation of the Illinois Sales Representative Act and unjust enrichment, among other counts. He is additionally asking the court to order an accounting of all amounts earned by the Bennetts beginning in Feb. 2013 — the date Corcoran says that Bennett agreed to pay him 15% commission on all touring, merch and album sales, among other income streams — as well as to enforce a sunset clause that will entitle him to future commissions for a three-year post-termination period ending Apr. 25, 2023. The complaint names as defendants Chance the Rapper, LLC as well as the rapper’s merchandise and touring companies Cool Pop Merch and CTR Touring. The 20-page suit (read in full here) narrates Corcoran’s years-long relationship with Bennett a...
First Beat: New Music by Lil Baby, 24kGoldn Rico Nasty and More
Lil Baby refuses to hit pause on his banner year. In honor of his 25th birthday this week, Baby resumed his hot streak with two new explosive tracks. Whether the discussion is finances or street prowess, Lil Baby swiftly breaks down his credentials on “Errbodyy.” He also reminds folks why he doesn’t take any offers lower than $100,000. Meanwhile, “On Me” finds Baby in a more focused zone. Instead of celebrating his wins, he’s pensive. From reflecting on baby mama drama to exploring his vices, he reawakens his ambitions on this deep cut. 24kGoldn feat. DaBaby, “Coco” After clocking his first Hot 100 No. 1 with “Mood,” 24kGoldn begins his quest for his second chart-topper. His affinity for rich designer brands remains st...
Watch Chance the Rapper, Jeremih & Valee Light Up a Christmas Party in ‘Are U Live’ Video
Chance the Rapper, Jeremih and Valee liven the party and overall holiday season in their “Are U Live” music video, which unwrapped itself on Thursday (Dec. 3). “Are U Live” was featured on Jeremih and Chance’s SoundCloud mixtape Jeremih & Chance’s Merry Christmas Lil Mama: Rewrapped that the Chicago natives released on Dec. 15, 2017. Now after Chance and Co. have “been trying to clear this record for THREE years,” as he noted on Twitter, the song has arrived on streaming services for the very first time with an accompanying Lyrical Lemonade visual. The three rappers get the party started, commit a couple of party fouls from broken glass to unsuccessful daps, and dance the night away in the Cole Bennett-directed clip, w...
Aminé Uncorks Deluxe Edition of Limbo: Stream
Aminé has dropped a new deluxe edition of his latest album Limbo. Stream it below through Apple Music or Spotify. This continues the trend of hip-hop deluxe editions that offer a whole new record’s worth of material. The Portland rapper has added seven additional tracks: “Mrs. Clean”, “Zack & Cody” featuring Valee, “Gelato”, “Talk” with Saba, “Chicken” featuring Toosii, “Buzzin” with Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and “Solid”. These cuts come front-loaded, after which Limbo unspools as it did when first released over the summer. In a September interview with Oregon Public Broadcasting, Aminé explained his intentions behind the album, saying, “When I started making Limbo I though a lot about legacy. I was inspired by a lot of albums, but one that inspired me a while ago was 4:...
Rico Nasty Drops Debut Album Nightmare Vacation: Stream
Genre-bending rapper Rico Nasty has finally released her first full-length album, Nightmare Vacation. The highly-anticipated debut is a fitting end to 2020, which has felt like a year-long nightmare. Stream it below via Apple Music or Spotify. Today’s new effort follows mixtapes like Sugar Trap in 2016 and the 2019 Kenny Beats collaboration Anger Management. It features standout singles in “iPhone” and “OFHR?”, both produced by Dylan Brady of experimental pop outfit 100 gecs. The tracklist also includes “Own It”, as well as the Gucci Mane and Don Toliver joint cut “Don’t Like Me”. Other guests include Aminé (“Back & Fourth”) and Trippie Redd (“Losers”). In an interview with the Recording Academy, Rico talked about her evolution over the years and how that impacted the LP. “I definitely...
