Hip-Hop
Universal Music Opens First-Ever Offices in Israel and Morocco
The new outposts, in Tel Aviv and Casablanca, continue the arms race among the labels of overseas resources sniffing for new talent. After broadening its footprint in Asia in 2019, Universal Music is continuing its global expansion with new offices in Israel and Morocco, marking the label as the first major music company to open standalone operations in either country. The new outposts in the Middle East and North Africa will add to UMG’s existing network of A&R and marketing in more than 60 countries. UMG Morocco will be based in Casablanca, while the Israel office will operate out of Tel Aviv. The moves come one month after Universal officially opened a new hub for hip-hop label Def Jam Africa based in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Lagos, Nigeria. And the push into North Africa and...
Anthrax, Run-DMC, Suicidal Tendencies & Volbeat Host Charitable Jam Session
Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante and Suicidal Tendencies bassist Ra Diaz virtually linked up with Run-DMC‘s Darryl “DMC” McDaniels and Volbeat guitarist Rob Caggiano to perform a medley of rap and rock hits for a good cause. Benante praised McDaniels as the “KING of ROCK” in the video description of his highly anticipated six-minute jam session, which consisted of Run DMC’s “It’s Like That” and “Sucker MCs” from the hip-hop group’s 1984 self-titled debut LP and Anthrax’s “I’m The Man” titular track from its 1987 EP. The latter is still considered to be one of the first rap-rock hybrid songs. He made the combined virtual cover available for download on Bandcamp so the proceeds would go toward&nb...
Lil Baby’s ‘My Turn’ Album Returns to No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart After Three Months
Lil Baby’s My Turn returns to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart after three months, as the set rises from No. 3 with 65,000 equivalent album units earned (up 5 percent) in the U.S. in the week ending June 11, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. It’s the second week at No. 1 for the album, following its debut atop the chart dated March 14. The album then spent the next 13 straight weeks lodged in the top six positions of the chart, between the charts dated March 21 and June 13. The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). The new June 20-dated chart (where My Turn comes back to N...
Fans Pick J Balvin’s ‘Azul’ Animated Video as This Week’s Favorite New Music
The blue-hued animated video for J Balvin‘s sensual reggaeton song “Azul” has topped this week’s new music poll. In the poll, published Friday (June 12) on Billboard, music fans voted for the Colin Tilley-directed video, which tells the story of how Balvin is trying to move on from a woman he’s crushing on. The video brought in 24% of the vote. “Azul” is from Balvin’s latest album, Colores, and follows other Tilley-directed videos for “Blanco,” “Morado,” “Rojo,” “Amarillo,” “Gris,” “Verde,” and “Rosado.” “‘Azul’ is one of the most ridiculous ideas I’ve probably ever had,” Tilley previously told Billboard. Coming in second place with 22% of the vote was Ungodly Hour, the new album from Beyonce proteges Chloe x Halle. 6ix9ine and Nicki Minaj‘s ...
Common Salutes Class of 2020’s ‘Historymakers’ at ‘For Chicago. By Chicago’ Event
Common shared his admiration of Chicago’s graduating class of 2020 in the city’s Grad 2020: For Chicago. By Chicago virtual event in an empowering speech on Sunday (June 14). During the ceremony, which aired on local stations, the Oscar-winning songwriter praised the grads for their achievement during the global coronavirus pandemic, which has canceled milestone celebrations such as graduations and proms around the country. “You all have accomplished something that no other class in the history of America, in the history of Chicago, in the history of anywhere has accomplished. You all accomplished graduation and made it to your graduation to get your diplomas in a time when the world has never seen anything like this,” said Common via video message. “You all w...
RMR Drops Debut EP Drug Dealing Is a Lost Art: Stream
The mysterious masked hip-hop vocalist RMR is looking to build off the hype of his smash debut single, “Rascal”, with the release of an eight-track EP called Drug Dealing Is a Lost Art. Stream it below via Apple Music or Spotify. Due out today via Warner Records, the EP kicks off with a Westside Gunn collaboration called “Welfare”. Other guest contributors include Future and Lil Baby, who appear on a remix of RMR’s sophomore single, “Rascal”, which interpolates Rascal Flatts’ “Bless the Broken Road”, closes out the EP. Drug Dealing Is a Lost Art EP Artwork: <img data-attachment-id="1044516" data-permalink="https://consequenceofsound.net/2020/06/rmr-drops-debut-ep-drug-dealing-is-a-lost-art-stream/rmr-drug-deal-is-a-lost-art-ep/" data-orig-file="https://consequen...
Nicki Minaj Talks ‘Married Life’ & Being a Female in the Rap World With Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne delivered another episode of his Young Money Radio on Apple Music Friday (June 12), featuring an all-star cast of guests including T-Pain, Nicki Minaj, Damien Lillard, Noreaga and Lil Duval. Weezy and his longtime pal, whom he introduced as “the First Lady of Young Money and the Queen of every f—ing thing,” delved into a chat about being a female in the rap game. Wayne recalled that when he signed Nicki to his label back in 2009, people told him not to sign a woman. “It was getting someone to take you serious, and that was the whole thing I was worried about,” Minaj explained. “I didn’t know if you would take me serious, because at the time people had really given up on female rappers.” “I just knew I was going to ma...
Tommy Lee Guests on New Post Malone Song Called “Tommy Lee”
Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee has revealed that he’s playing drums on a new Post Malone track, and that the song itself is called “Tommy Lee”. In an interview with SiriusXM, Lee spilled the beans on the track, saying, “I’m playing drums on this Post Malone song that’s coming up – and if you can believe it, the song is called ‘Tommy Lee’.” He went on to say, “It’s killer. It’s basically about living that rock star life that people in hip-hop always seem to talk about.” As for his contribution, Lee explained, “The track is recorded and has some demo drums on it, but I’m going to smash over those.” Lee is promoting his upcoming solo album, ANDRO, having just released two singles off the LP last week. Heavy Consequence recently caught up with the drummer for a Zoom video chat, as well, and he spoke ...
First Beat: New Music by Tyla Yaweh, Iann Dior and Buddy
With an array of big-name releases coming through today, including 6ix9ine, Lil Baby, and more (June 12), for this edition of First Beat, we give Tyla Yaweh’s latest single a run, see if 10K’s Iann Dior is ready for stardom and more. Check out our selections below. Tyla Yaweh, “Tommy Lee” Featuring Post Malone Tyla Yaweh is undoubtedly on the precipice of stardom. “High Right Now” and, “I Think I Luv Her” proved why the Florida upstart is more than just an understudy of his mentor Post Malone. On “Tommy Lee,” Yaweh connects with his big homie for the guitar-laden anthem, which pays homage to the ’90s rock legend. Young T & Bugsey, “Don’t Rush (Remix)” Featuring DaBaby After entering the Hot 100 wi...
Usher & Ella Mai’s ‘Don’t Waste My Time’ Hits No. 1 on Adult R&B Songs Chart
Usher returns to No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Songs airplay chart for the first time in nearly eight years as “Don’t Waste My Time,” featuring Ella Mai, advances from the runner-up spot. The duet reaches the top in its 25th chart week through an 11% boost in plays in the week ending June 7, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. “Time” marks Usher’s fifth Adult R&B leader. He first led with 2008’s “Here I Stand,” a seven-week champ, and followed with “Papers” (three weeks, 2010), “There Goes My Baby,” (one week, 2010) and “Climax” (one week, 2012). “I genuinely am a fan of her voice, and also felt like the song was perfect for both of us,” Usher told Billboard about the collaboration last year. “I was working with Bryan Michael Cox and Jermaine Dupri in Atlanta, and…the more I list...
Halsey Launches Fund to Amplify Black Creators’ ‘Art, Voice and Perspective’
Halsey is stepping up her support for the Black Lives Matter movement by launching a special fund to help black creators. The Black Creators Fund will provide financial support, resources and a platform to black creators, the singer explains in a statement posted to Instagram. “Looking for black creators who want to enrich the world with their work,” she writes, “use #BLACKCREATORSFUND & tag your favorite black creators in the comments.” Launching Thursday (June 11), the fund will help amplify black artists’ voice and perspective, read a statement. The initiative is an ongoing one, and it’ll be entirely funded by the Halsey team. “If you’re an artist, poet, graphic designer, writer, film maker, music producer, journalist, make up artist, or creator of any kind,” reads the launch statem...
Saint Jhn Remembers the ‘Real Superheroes,’ Launches Fundraising T-shirts
SAINt JHN is paying tribute to the real superheroes of this world. The “Roses” rapper has released a special edition t-shirt to honor George Floyd and the countless Black lives lost to police brutality. The “Real Superheroes Tees” feature a pair of powerful designs. On the front is an artwork of some devilish protesters, accompanying the words: “Not Travon, Not Eric, Not Sandra, Not Ahmaud, Not Breonna, Not George, Not Looters, Not A Riot, Not America, Not This Time, Not A Cult.” On the back is a burning map of the United States, containing at its heart a poignant letter. The shirts are available from the hip-hop artist’s apparel and lifestyle brand Christian Sex Club, with all proceeds going to Equal Justice Initiative, a not-for-profit committed to ending mass incarceration a...
