Hip-Hop
Lil Peep’s Hellboy Mixtape Hits Streaming Services for First Time
Four years ago today, Lil Peep’s Hellboy mixtape was released on SoundCloud. Now, to celebrate its anniversary, the late emo rapper’s estate has made the project available on streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify for the very first time. Hear it in full below. “Bunkered in a loft on Skid Row”, the original 2016 collection consists of a total of 16 songs, including hit single “Girls”. Guest bars and additional production were provided by the MC’s friends and colleagues, such as Smokeasac, Xavier Wulf, Lil Tracy, Young Cortex, and KirbLaGoop. Staying true to his emo rap status, Lil Peep (real name Gustav Elijah Åhr) incorporated samples of Bright Eyes, Blink-182’s Tom DeLonge, The Story So Far, and Mike Kinsella throughout Hellboy. The mixtape also featured samples of Underoath, Av...
Reason Pops Off on New Song “Sauce” Featuring Vince Staples: Stream
While some people might prefer a plain life, Reason is living for the “Sauce” on his new song featuring Vince Staples. “Sauce” is a summery track, perfect for driving along the California coastline with the windows down and the volume up. It’s built over a relaxed piano refrain, stunting drums, and a subterranean bass. During the chorus, Reason raps the way a schoolkid skips, with a couple syllables to gather momentum followed by a moment of suspension. “I might slip, I don’t fall, if I slip, I might crawl,” he spits. As he’s been doing his whole career Vince Staples steals the show with an exuberant guest verse. Here, he takes aim at the police. “Hit the block, chip the bars, yuh/ Catch a pig, Randy Moss, yuh/ I don’t rock with the police none/ Don’t ditch the Glock when the police ...
Here’s Who Kamala Harris Thinks Is the ‘Best Rapper Alive’
For Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Kamala Harris, Tupac “lives on.” That’s why she deemed him the “best rapper alive” during the NAACP’s virtual convention Friday (Sept. 25). CNN‘s Angela Rye, who moderated the event, then reminded the California senator that has been dead since 1996. “I keep doing that,” Harris laughed in response. “Listen, West Coast girls think Tupac lives on. I’m with you,” Rye agreed, before asking the VP nominee to pick another rapper. While Harris admitted there are “so many” rappers she likes, she also expressed that there are others “I would not mention right now because they should stay in their lane.” Kamala Harris asked, who’s the best...
Aminé Performs in Hot Air Balloon on Kimmel: Watch
Aminé soared over Los Angeles in a hot air balloon for his Thursday performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. The balloon itself was a statement, festooned in Black Lives Matter messaging, flags of countries, and religious symbols from around the world. While attempting to honor the lives of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and Sandra Bland, Aminé made a broader statement about the interconnectedness of humanity. The rapper launched into the two opening tracks of his new album Limbo, but in reverse order. First, he essayed his latest single “Woodlawn”. Lines like “Came a long way from that Woodlawn Park,” hit differently at 2,200 feet. After landing, Aminé stepped inside the balloon itself, transforming a mode of transportation into a dramatic venue. He played “Burd...
Let’s Go! See Which Rapper Will Take Dua Lipa’s ‘Levitating’ to New Heights With a New Remix
Dua Lipa already brought The Blessed Madonna, Madonna and Missy Elliott up with her on the remix of “Levitating.” So who’s hoping aboard next? DaBaby will next for the song’s second remix on Friday, Oct. 2, according to the Future Nostalgia star’s social media today (Sept. 25). He reshared her Instagram on his Story Friday, writing “BOOM” with a rocket emoji. Maybe Billboard Baby will help give her hit the lift-off it needs to go No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The first remix of the song came off her and The Blessed Madonna’s Club Future Nostalgia album, which blasted atop Billboard‘s Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart. Check out Lipa’s “Levitating” remix announcement below....
Beastie Boys’ Final Concert at Bonnaroo 2009 Is Streaming on YouTube All Weekend: Watch
As the coronavirus pandemic looms on, many artists are stepping up to the plate to help fans pass the time by uploading archival footage from years past. Now, Beastie Boys are doing their part by sharing their final concert ever, their 2009 headlining performance at Bonnaroo, for free on YouTube all weekend long. The performance actually aired on Thursday night during the kickoff to Bonnaroo’s Virtual ROO-ALITY three-day streaming event, but apparently that wasn’t enough for fans. “The last gig,” the group tweeted on Friday. “We’ve heard from so many fans around the world that were unable to tune in last night, so our friends at Bonnaroo are letting the set live online through the weekend.” The rap icons never planned to make this Bonnaroo set their last. At the time, Beastie Boys had...
Tory Lanez Releases Ill-Advised Album About Megan Thee Stallion Shooting
Until today, Tory Lanez had remained largely silent about allegedly shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the foot back in July. Now, though, the rapper born Daystar Peterson has finally broken his silence on the matter, but not by publicly apologizing or even issuing a simple statement. No, instead the Canadian MC has released a whole damn album denying Megan’s claims and bemoaning their impact on his career. Quick recap: Tory Lanez was arrested in mid-July on concealed weapons charges. A few days later, Megan revealed she’d actually been shot in the foot prior to his arrest. About a month after that, the “WAP” rapper confirmed rumors that it was indeed Lanez behind the trigger. Which brings us to last night. After disappearing from social media following the arrest and shooting, Lanez ret...
T.I. Taps Young Thug For Fast-Paced ‘Ring’ Video, Announces Upcoming Album Title: Watch
Libra season is upon us, and so is The Libra era for T.I.. On his 40th birthday on Friday (Sept. 25), the rapper announced the title of his upcoming album, The Libra, which not only nods to his star sign but also stands for The Legend Is Back Running Atlanta. In conjunction with the announcement, T.I. unveiled his dynamic new video for “Ring,” featuring Young Thug. The clip finds Tip as a therapist and Slime his patient who has outgrown “the hostilities you’ve harbored from past activities.” Young Thug rejects how the “chaos” of his life affects him, and insists that he loves it. The duo then delve into the stirring track, trading verses against a background of luxurious cars and stunning women. Watch the video below. [embedded ...
Public Enemy Release New Album What You Gonna Do When The Grid Goes Down?: Stream
Public Enemy have released their first new album in three years, What You Gonna Do When The Grid Goes Down?. Stream the star-studded LP below via Apple Music and Spotify. What You Gonna Do When The Grid Goes Down? sees Public Enemy’s original lineup of Chuck D, Flavor Flav, and DJ Lord returning to Def Jam Records for the first time in over 20 years. The label put out the trio’s first five studio albums including 1988’s It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back and 1990’s Fear of a Black Planet, both of which went on to shape the history of hip-hop as we know it. The 17-track full-length sees Public Enemy linking up with rap royalty, like Beastie Boys’ Ad-Rock and Mike D alongside Run-DMC on the cut “Public Enemy Number One”. On the 2020 remix of “Fight the Power”, they team up with Na...
Travis Scott Drops New Single “Franchise” Featuring M.I.A. and Young Thug: Stream
Young Thug and Travis Scott (photos by Philip Cosores), M.I.A. (photo by Ben Kaye) Travis Scott has unleashed his latest single “Franchise”, featuring M.I.A. and Young Thug. Check it out below via its accompanying self-directed music video/short film. The song comes hot on the heels of Scott’s smash hit McDonald’s collaboration, which has been so popular that various locations are literally running out of ingredients. “Franchise” is itself something of a branding exercise, as the short film premiered ahead of select IMAX screenings of Christopher Nolan’s Tenent on Thursday night. Scott also contributed the track “The Plan” to the film’s soundtrack, leading Nolan to call the new short film “part of a Travis/Tenet/Travis sandwich” in a note he wrote the rapper. Yet despite all the cross-prom...
Tory Lanez’s Big Announcement Was Actually a Big Tease
If you stayed up late to hear Tory Lanez break his silence, you’ll have been disappointed. But if you were desperate for new music from the Canadian rapper, you’re in luck. Lanez mobilized his fanbase earlier in the day with the tease of a potentially dynamite admission. “To my fans … I’m sorry for my silence …. but respectfully .. I got time today …… 9 PM PST,” he tweeted. To my fans … I’m sorry for my silence …. but respectfully .. I got time today …… 9 PM PST . — Tory Lanez (@torylanez) September 24, 2020 Of course, there’s some serious backstory to this. Megan Thee Stallion has repeatedly accused Lanez of shooting her in the leg during a confrontation in August. Earlier this month, the 28-year-old rapper and singer, whose real name ...
Public Enemy’s Chuck D Talks Return to Def Jam, George Clinton, and Ferocious New Album
In the hour of need, Public Enemy returns to fight the power once more. And this time, they brought friends. The hip-hop heavyweights drop their latest album What You Gonna Do When The Grid Goes Down, a call to arms loaded with collaborations. Spanning 17 tracks, When The Grid Goes Down is a statement on these strange times, and the pandemic that’s brought the world to a screeching halt. Its special guests are the messengers. “If we can’t use the music to show people that we can do things with the music, than what good is it, right?,” founding P.E. frontman Chuck D tells Billboard. Look closer and you’ll find some answers. “The question is in the title, which means beware of government tricks,” the legendary hype man explains. “And the time and chaos of emergency.” When T...
