Hip-Hop
NYPD Filmed Audience Leaving Drake Concert
An NYPD officer filmed the audience leaving Drake’s January 21st concert at the Apollo Theater in New York. Cell phone footage shared on Twitter by the New York Times’s Jon Caramanica captured a uniformed officer holding a camera as the crowd filed out of the main entrance of the Apollo. In a statement to Consequence, a spokesperson for the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information wrote, “The officer depicted in the video is a Community Affairs officer involved with the 28th Precinct’s social media team. The officer was taking video for an upcoming Twitter post that will highlight local community events. The video will not be utilized for any other reason.” Advertisement Related Video The video stoked concerns on social media about the NYPD engaging in surveillance o...
Boldy James Drops New Album Indiana Jones: Stream
Just days after being hospitalized due to a severe car accident, Detroit rapper Boldy James has continued to let new music flow with Indiana Jones, his new album in collaboration with producer RichGains. Stream it via Apple Music or Spotify below. Clocking in at 17 tracks, Indiana Jones heavily features Sir Michael Rocks of Chicago rap duo The Cool Kids, who appears on three tracks. Singer Jonathan Chapman, Detroit King Tape, and stuntwoman and singer Cassie Jo Craig also appear on multiple songs. Rounding out the guest list are Ann One, Chuckstaaa, Jai Imani, and Sammy Haig. RichGains previously worked on Freddie Gibbs’ 2018 album, Freddie, and his laidback, sample-based production is a good fit for Boldy’s self-assured flow and punchline-heavy rhymes. Advertisement Related Video Boldy ha...
50 Most Anticipated Albums of 2023
No one really should have been shocked by how music unfolded in 2022. Everyone — everyone — was raring to get back out there. Artists that had sat on completed records for two years were finally able to share them with the world, while those who had spent their time cooped up writing new material had fresh songs ready to go. Still, it felt like there was an inundation of albums, which begs the question: Is there anything left for 2023? Dumb question. Of course there is. With the industry’s wheels turning at full capacity again, we have new music to look forward to from all corners of the landscape. Long-anticipated efforts from Gorillaz, Miley Cyrus, The Smashing Pumpkins, and (fingers crossed) Rihanna are expected. Icons like Depeche Mode, Peter Gabriel, The Cure, and Shania Twain (!) are...
50 Greatest Rappers of All Time (40-31 Revealed)
UPDATE: The rollout of Billboard/Vibe’s Top 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time continues with this week’s reveal of the rappers ranked 40- 31. The Greatest of All Time, aka the GOAT. That’s a distinguished — and also contentious — honor when it comes to ranking who or what is the ultimate best, whether you’re talking films, TV shows, restaurants or any other subject. In early 2023, Billboard/Vibe is ranking the Top 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time as part of our salute to this year’s golden anniversary of hip-hop. (The genre dates back to 1973, when DJ Kool Herc first set up his two turntables to rock a Bronx party.) The rollout began with the Jan. 11 reveal of the rappers ranked 50-41. Then each succeeding week, 10 more rappers will be revealed, with the final top 10 being announced during th...
How to Get Tickets to Lovers & Friends 2023
The 2023 lineup for Lovers & Friends has been revealed, and tickets will reunite fans with favorites from the finest eras of hip-hop, pop, and R&B. Read our reaction here, and grab Lovers & Friends tickets via the festival’s website. What Is Lovers & Friends? The Las Vegas love fest returns for a second year to the Las Vegas Festival Grounds for an all-day extravaganza on Saturday, May 6th, 2023. With over 45 artists on the bill, the Usher-presented event captures every transformational moment in the spectrum between classic and modern hip-hop and R&B. Who Is Headlining Lovers & Friends in 2023? Advertisement Related Video Lovers & Friends will level up in its second year with headliners like Missy Elliott, in her first billed performance since 2019, Mariah Care...
Boldy James in ‘Stable Condition’ After Serious Car Accident in Detroit
Boldy James was involved in an accident that left him in critical condition earlier this week, Griselda Records confirms. The rapper underwent “extensive” surgery and is currently in stable condition. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news James was in a “serious two-car accident” in his hometown of Detroit on Monday (Jan. 9), the record label says. “Boldy arrived at the hospital in critical condition, suffering from broken vertebrae in his neck and orthopedic injuries,” a statement released on Saturday reads. “After undergoing extensive surgery on his neck, Boldy has been removed from the intensive care unit and is now in stable condition.” “Boldy and his family would like to express their gratitude to the incredible doctors and nurses that a...
Boldy James in ‘Stable Condition’ After Serious Car Accident in Detroit
Boldy James was involved in an accident that left him in critical condition earlier this week, Griselda Records confirms. The rapper underwent “extensive” surgery and is currently in stable condition. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news James was in a “serious two-car accident” in his hometown of Detroit on Monday (Jan. 9), the record label says. “Boldy arrived at the hospital in critical condition, suffering from broken vertebrae in his neck and orthopedic injuries,” a statement released on Saturday reads. “After undergoing extensive surgery on his neck, Boldy has been removed from the intensive care unit and is now in stable condition.” “Boldy and his family would like to express their gratitude to the incredible doctors and nurses that a...
Boldy James Seriously Injured in Car Accident in Detroit
Boldy James was seriously injured in a two-car accident in the Detroit area earlier this week, his publicist announced. He is currently in stable condition at an area hospital. Representatives for the rapper said the “serious” accident occurred on Monday, January 9th, leaving Boldy James with broken vertebrae in his neck and orthopedic injuries. “After undergoing extensive surgery on his neck, Boldy has been removed from the intensive care unit and is now in stable condition,” his publicist said. The statement added, “Boldy and his family would like to express their gratitude to the incredible doctors and nurses that are taking care of him, and also to the communities’ emergency medical personnel and first responders.” Advertisement Related Video Boldy James is a prolific rapper from Detro...
Young Thug Trial: Juror Who Left Country Forced to Write 30-Page Essay on Jury Duty
As Young Thug fights for his freedom against RICO charges that have been criticized for prosecutorial overreach, Chief Judge Ural Glanville has punished a prospective juror who left the country by assigning a 30-page essay on jury duty. Via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Juror No. 64 explained in a January 12th appearance before the court that she had traveled to the Dominican Republic on a business trip. She said that she emailed a copy of her travel itinerary to jury services last week, believing she was in compliance with her duties. When No. 64 didn’t appear for jury duty on January 9th, Glanville sent Fulton County deputies to her home. “I didn’t really know I was in violation until the sheriff showed up,” she said. “I thought I was following directions.” Advertiseme...
Donald Glover Isn’t Retiring Childish Gambino After All: “He’ll Be Back”
Now that his acclaimed FX dramedy Atlanta has come to a close, Donald Glover has a lot of time on his hands — enough time, in fact, that he just might resurrect his musical alter ego Childish Gambino. Speaking to E!’s Laverne Cox on the Golden Globes red carpet last night, the multi-hyphenate said that he’s been working in the recording studio and that Childish Gambino “will be back.” “I’m making music right now, I love it,” Glover said. “I’m actually working, I’m in the studio. I’ve been bringing people in, like secret people, working on little things. But I’ve just been making it for fun right now. But soon something will happen, I promise. Something will happen.” Cox made sure to clarify that Glover’s new music would, in fact, be released as Childish Gambino, the moniker he sa...
Black Thought Announces New Album Glorious Game with El Michels Affair, Shares “Grateful”: Stream
After teaming up with Danger Mouse last year, Black Thought has announced another collaborative album. This time around, he has linked up with New York funk and soul band El Michels Affair for a project called Glorious Game, out April 14th via Big Crown Records. Black Thought and El Michels Affair founder Leon Michels have a relationship dating back to the early 2000s, which includes performances together in New York and Philadelphia. After occasionally collaborating at the group’s studio over the years, Black Thought reached out to Michels during the pandemic and set the wheels in motion for the album. Pre-orders are ongoing. See the artwork and tracklist below. Related Video As a preview, Black Thought and El Michels Affair have shared the first single “Grateful.” On the track, Blac...
Marjorie Taylor Greene Locked Out of Twitter Because She Forgot About Dr. Dre(‘s Lawyers)
Marjorie Taylor Greene decided it was Fuck with Dre day and now everyone else is celebrating, as she tells TMZ she was locked out of her Twitter account for posting a video soundtracked by Dr. Dre’s music without permission. On Monday, January 9th, the part-time Congresswoman and full-time troll uploaded a long and repetitive video of her walking various places as the first chords of “Still D.R.E” played on a loop. “It’s time to begin,” she wrote, “and they can’t stop what’s coming.” But as it turns out, they can. Dr. Dre’s attorney Howard King sent MTJ a cease and desist letter, writing, “Mr. Young [Dre] has not, and will never, grant you permission to broadcast or disseminate any of his music,” and adding, “We’re writing because we think an actual lawmaker should be making...
