Hip-Hop
Artist of the Month Awich’s Partition EP Flaunts the Rapper’s Talent and Resolve: Review
The Lowdown: Trying to sum up the complex existence of Japanese rapper Awich is a losing game, but here are some basics: Born Akiko Urasaki, her moniker is short for “Asia Wish Child,” and she grew up on an island off mainland Japan called Okinawa. There, she grew up observing Okinawa both struggle for independence from Japan and the removal of American marine bases. It’s also where she fell in love with hip-hop — and learned English — with the help of Tupac’s All Eyes on Me. Entranced by the record and its depiction of struggle, she quickly began making music herself at age thirteen. Now in her 30s, Awich has no shortage of lived experiences to pull from for inspiration. In the years since, she moved to the US for college, got married, and had a child with an American man — who was then m...
Nas Premieres New Album King’s Disease: Stream
Nas has returned with his new album, King’s Disease. Stream it in full below via Apple Music or Spotify. King’s Disease marks the Queens legend’s 13th studio album to date and serves as the direct follow-up to 2018’s Nasir. Whereas that release was produced entirely by Kanye West, this time around Nas has linked up with in-demand producer Hit-Boy. The 13-track LP also boasts contributions from Anderson .Paak (“All Bad”), Big Sean (“Replace Me”), Lil Durk (“Til the War is Won”), Charlie Wilson (“Car #85”), and ASAP Ferg and Fivio Foreign (“Spicy”). Nas was recently named by Eminem as one of the greatest rappers of all time. He also joined Public Enemy for “Fight the Power” at the BET Awards, and remixed “Rodeo” with Lil Nas X. King’s Disease Artwork: <img data-at...
Mariah Carey’s Ms. Lauryn Hill Collab ‘Save the Day’ Is Here: Stream It Now
Saving any given day in 2020 is a tall order, but if you combine the powers of Mariah Carey and Ms. Lauryn Hill, you’re off to a strong start. This New Music Friday (Aug. 21) sees the release of “Save the Day,” a new track from Mariah Carey featuring Ms. Lauryn Hill. “Save the Day” is the first release from Mimi’s double-disc archival deep dive The Rarities (Oct. 2), which comes hot on the heels of her memoir The Meaning of Mariah Carey (out Sept. 29). With heartfelt, affecting vocals delivering a timely message (“We’re in this together”; “it’s curious, the fear still holding us down”), a few classic Mariah high notes and a sick beat drop courtesy Jermaine Dupri that accompanies the entrance of Ms. Lauryn Hill’s ...
Artist of the Month Awich on Tupac, Condensed Milk, and the Death of Her Husband
Artist of the Month is an accolade we award to an up-and-coming artist who we believe is about to break out. In August, we watch as Awich explores the human impulses that extend across cultures. When Awich speaks, her voice is like a passport stamped with all the places she’s lived. Her vowels carry a whiff of subtropical winds while her vocabulary is warmed with American slang, picked up from college and her American husband. Words were her “earliest obsession,” she says; her first source of joy and last line of defense. Born Akiko Urasaki on December 16th, 1986, she grew up on the island of Okinawa, Japan, in the shadow of US military bases. Her family lore is steeped in the trauma of World War II and the Battle of Okinawa. As a girl, a jet crashed into her mother’s school, and when her ...
‘What’s Poppin’? Definitely This Killer Back-To-School Remix From Georgia Teachers
“You got options, but you better pass my class no floppin’.” Back-to-school season is even more anxiety-filled than ever this year, as students, teachers and parents fretting over how to safely return to classrooms in the midst of the still-raging COVID-19 pandemic. But a pair of high school teachers are here to make things a little better thanks to their hype remix of Jack Harlow’s “What’s Poppin’,” featuring lyrics to help ease your transition from the couch to the socially distanced classroom (or, in many cases, back to the couch for distanced home schooling). “You got options, but you better pass my class no floppin’/Gone log in, every day, every morning, I’m watchin’/Yeah we virtual, and you know what’s up, ...
Jay-Z and Pharrell Williams Teaming Up For Anthem About Black Excellence
Surprise single ‘Entrepreneur’ is due out on Friday (Aug. 21). Jay-Z and Pharrell Williams will release a new song, “Entrepreneur,” on Friday (Aug. 21) in conjunction with a Time magazine cover package on “The New American Revolution.” The old friends and collaborators are part of a package that includes chats with Tyler, the Creator, Angela Davis and other activists talking the systemic inequalities that Black people have faced throughout U.S. history and how creating equality in culture, education, sports and policy is the key to making a change. According to a preview from Time, the song features Williams singing, “In this position with no choice / The system imprison young Black boys / Distract with white noise.” Pharrell broke down the i...
Cardi B & Kulture Jamming To Natti Natasha’s Music Is The Cutest Thing You’ll See All Day
Cardi B has once again shown her love and admiration for Natti Natasha during a recent Instagram Live. While connecting with her fans this week, the Dominican-American rapper was seen carrying her daughter Kulture and both dancing to Natti’s latest single “Que Mal Te Fue.” What made the video even more adorable was the moment baby Kulture sang part of the song in Spanish. “Que paso? Que paso?” she sings along with mommy. “I told you she likes this song,” Cardi assured her followers. On Twitter, the “WAP” singer elaborated: “She sound sooo cute tho when she sings it randomly in the house .Que pachhhoooooo.” Natti later reacted, saying, “Que pachooo. Love it. She’s beautiful, God bless her.” Billboard can confirm that both artists have not met in person, but they have established a friendshi...
Brasstracks Share the Origins of New Single “Golden Ticket” with Common, Masego: Stream
In our new music feature Origins, we asks artists to take a moment to reflect on the backstory of their latest single. Today, Brasstracks tell us how they cashed their “Golden Ticket” with Common and Masego. Rising from their jazz school backgrounds, Brasstracks have already accomplished more than most duos made of just horns and drums could dream of. Mark Ronson essentially has them on speed dial, they’ve got some GRAMMY shine thanks to their work on Chance the Rapper’s “No Problem”, and they’ve collaborated with everyone from Wyclef Jean to Anderson .Paak. Oh, and they only formed six years ago. But now Ivan Jackson and Conor Rayne are really ready to grab the spotlight with their debut album, Golden Ticket. Due out August 21st, the full-length follows their 2019 EP Before...
12 ‘WAP’ TikTok Challenges You Need to See
Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion “WAP”ped to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 this week (dated Aug. 22), and their fans tried following in their footsteps via TikTok challenges. Cardi shared one on her Instagram Monday (Aug. 17) shortly after the news of her No. 1 hit broke, but this fan broke something else besides records. “Please guys be safe while doing the WAP WAP WAP,” the 27-year-old rapper instructed in the caption of the video showing a girl going to the hospital after a failed attempt of the “WAP” challenge. Others got creative and opted out of the viral dance for memes about visiting the dentist’s office and sparkly beauty challenges, while a couple of dads created their own remixes. And Vanessa Hudgens put her own classy spin on twe...
Barack Obama Reveals 2020 Summer Playlist: Billie Eilish, Megan Thee Stallion, Childish Gambino
Former president Barack Obama has shared his 2020 summer playlist. Similar to his past playlists, it’s a hodgepodge of modern hits and all-time classics, though this year he’s spotlighting a number of artists on the campaign trail. “Over the past few months, I’ve spent a lot of time listening to music with my family,” he announced on Twitter with an accompanying screenshot of his 53 selections. “I wanted to share some of my favorites from the summer — including songs from some of the artists at this week’s @DemConvention.” In good faith, he starred those heading to the Convention, specifically Leon Bridges (“Texas Sun”), Common (“Forever Begins”), John Legend (“Don’t Walk Away”), The Chicks (“Gaslighter”), Billie Eilish (“My Future”), Maggie Rogers (“Love You for a Long Time”), Billy Porte...
2 Men Indicted in 2002 Killing of Run-DMC’s Jam Master Jay
Two men have been indicted in the 2002 slaying of hip hop artist Jam Master Jay, which until now had been one of New York City’s most notorious unsolved killings, three law enforcement officials told the Associated Press on Monday. The officials were not authorized to speak publicly and did so on the condition of anonymity. One of them identified the suspects as Ronald Washington and Karl Jordan. Federal prosecutors were expected to announce the charges at a news conference Monday afternoon. Washington, who had reportedly been living on a couch at Jay’s home in the days before his death, was publicly named as a possible suspect or witness as far back as 2007. He is currently serving a federal prison sentence stemming from a string of robberies he committed while on the run from police afte...
Two Men Charged with Murder of Run-DMC’s Jam Master Jay
18 years after the death of Run-DMC DJ Jam Master Jay, two men have been charged in connection with his murder. Federal prosecutors will announce the indictments of Ronald Washington, 56, and Karl Jordan, Jr., 36, during a press conference set for 2:30 p.m. ET on Monday. Washington is already in a federal prison serving time for robbery, while Jordan was arrested on Sunday. Both men are charged with murder while engaged in drug trafficking, according to The New York Times. More details are expected to be revealed during the press conference, but it’s believed Jay Master Jay was financing drug-trafficking operation involving Washington and Jordan. “There was a beef — it didn’t go as planned,” an official told The Times. Editors’ Picks Born Jason Mizell, Jam Master Jay w...
