Hip-Hop
Kelis Has Much More to Say About Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance’ Sampling: ‘I’m Coming For What’s Mine and I Want Reparations’
Kelis has much more to say about being sampled on Beyoncé‘s Renaissance album. After venting her anger about what she claimed was Bey and The Neptunes alleged failure to secure her permission to sample the 1999 song “Get Along With You” on the Renaissance track “Energy,” the “Milkshake” star dove deeper into why she feels slighted in a series of videos posted on Thursday night (July 28). Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “I’m an artist, so I am as Erykah [Badu] said ‘I’m sensitive about my s—,’” Kelis said. “The reality is that my real beef, is not only with Beyoncé, because at the end of the day, she sampled a record, she’s copied me before, so have many other artists, it’s fine, I don’t care about that.” The Neptunes’ Pharrell Williams an...
Kelis Says She Was Sampled on Beyoncé’s Renaissance Without Permission
Beyoncé’s upcoming album Renaissance, out July 29th, has a long list of famous names in its writing credits, but one name missing from the list is Kelis, who isn’t too happy about the omission. The artist says she was sampled on the album without her permission, and is calling out Beyoncé and The Neptunes — who produced the sampled song in question — for “theft.” Beyoncé’s song “Energy” samples Kelis’ 2000 track “Get Along with You,” and while The Neptunes’ Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo are credited on the album, Kelis is not. The artist is quick to concede that Williams and Hugo are the officially credited writers and producers of the original song, thanks to a record deal that essentially prevented her from owning any of her own music. Still, the artist took to Instagram to blast ...
Beyoncé Unveils New Album Renaissance: Stream
Leaks not withstanding, Beyoncé’s new album is officially out. Stream Renaissance below. Marking the highly anticipated follow-up to 2016’s Lemonade, Beyoncé previewed Renaissance by sharing the statement, “Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world. It allowed me to feel free and adventurous in a time when little else was moving. My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment. A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking. A place to scream, release, feel freedom. It was a beautiful journey of exploration. I hope you find joy in this music. I hope it inspires you to release the wiggle. Ha! And to feel as unique, strong, and sexy as you are.” Just hours before the release of Renaissance, Beyoncé confir...
Post Malone & Roddy Ricch’s ‘Cooped’ Up to No. 1 on Rhythmic Airplay Chart
Post Malone becomes one of the 10 artists with the most No. 1s on Billboard’s Rhythmic Airplay chart as “Cooped Up,” featuring Roddy Ricch, tops the list dated July 30. The single advances from No. 2 after it gained 4% in plays to become the most-played song at U.S. monitored rhythmic radio stations in the week ending July 24, according to Luminate. “Cooped,” released on Mercury/Republic Records, gives Post Malone his ninth champ on Rhythmic Airplay. Here’s a recap of his leaders: “White Iverson,” one week at No. 1, beginning Jan. 2, 2016“Rockstar,” featuring 21 Savage, six, Nov. 11, 2017“Psycho,” featuring Ty Dolla $ign, four, April 28, 2018“Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse),” four, Jan. 19, 2019“Wow.,” five, Feb. 23, 2019“Goodbyes,” featuring Young Thug, one, Sept. 21, 2019“E...
Kendrick Lamar Responds to Viral Video of Security Guard Crying at His Show
Guys love to act tough until they hear “LOVE” by Kendrick Lamar. K-dot himself has responded to a TikTok that went viral over the weekend, in which a security guard on the job at the rapper’s Houston show can be seen openly crying to the DAMN. highlight. Jazlyn Guerra — a Brooklyn-based kid journalist who posts interviews to her Instagram @jazzysworldtv — spoke with Kendrick about the video a few days later at Rolling Loud. “At the end of the day, past all the politics, past all the numbers, [what’s most important is] what music makes you feel, you know?” Lamar told her. “To see that — and shoutout to him, by the way, because I see you, bro — I was like, ‘man, I wonder what he’s going through,’” the rapper went on. “At the end of the day, that’s how you want everyone to receive your music,...
Police Officer Who Saved Lil Wayne’s Life After Suicide Attempt Dead at 65
Robert Hoobler, the former New Orleans police officer who helped save Lil Wayne’s life in 1994, has died at 65 years old. According to local Fox affiliate WVUE, Hoobler was found dead at his home in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana on Friday, July 22nd. No cause of death was revealed, but his grandson Daniel Nelson told NOLA.com that Hoobler had been dealing with health issues after a car accident and that both of his legs had been amputated due to complications from diabetes. At the age of 12, Lil Wayne (born Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.) shot himself in the chest with a 9mm pistol in what he later revealed to be a suicide attempt on November 11th, 1994. Somehow, he was still able to muster the strength to call 911 and crawl toward the front door. Hoobler, who was off-duty at the time, heard the ...
Travis Scott Joins Future in Surprise Appearance at Rolling Loud Miami
Travis Scott surprised the crowd at Rolling Loud Miami when he took the stage with Future Saturday night (July 23). Though Scott has performed at a few one-off shows recently, this weekend’s cameo marked the rapper’s first music festival appearance since last year’s Astroworld tragedy in Houston, where 10 people died and many more were injured during his set. Rolling Loud attendees uploaded video clips of Scott and Future performing together, starting with their collaborative track “Hold That Heat.” Scott then brought a medley of his own tracks “Antidote,” “No Bystanders” and “Goosebumps” to the Miami stage. He paired up with Future again on “March Madness.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Scott had previously been approached by festival organi...
Kendrick Lamar Big Steps Into “King of Rap” Role In Dallas: Review and Setlist
“Is Dallas in this shit tonight?” Kendrick Lamar asked a roaring crowd before performing “Purple Hearts” from his new album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. “You know it’s been five years since I seen ya’ll, right? So I maybe a little bit rusty on this stage. I may need a little help. I think I need ya’ll to help me sing this … Let’s get it.” The last time Kendrick Lamar performed in Dallas was July 14th, 2017, when he brought the “DAMN. Tour” to the American Airlines Center. Then, he was one of hip hop’s biggest attractions with the highest-selling album of the year, on the verge of becoming the first-ever rapper to be awarded the prestigious Pulitizer Prize the following year, and arguably the new King of Rap. Exactly five years later, Lamar brought “The Big Steppers Tour” (get tickets...
Nicki Minaj Teases Release Dates for New Single ‘Freaky Girl’ & Upcoming Episode of ‘Queen Radio’
Nicki Minaj has some back-to-back drops coming in August. The Queen of Rap took to social media on Friday (July 22) to tease the release dates for her new single “Freaky Girl” and the upcoming episode of Queen Radio on Amazon’s Amp app. “August 11th #QueenRadio August 12th #FreakyGirl,” Minaj wrote against a pink backdrop with various emojis on Instagram.” The long-awaited next episode of Queen Radio will arrive Aug. 11, followed by the drop of her highly anticipated Rick James-sampling “Freaky Girl” on Aug. 12. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Barbz got their first taste of “Freaky Girl” earlier this month with a brief clip on social media of the superstar rapper sprawled across an orange chaise lounge as the song opens with a stripped-...
Rap Song of the Week: Megan Thee Stallion and Future Turn Up the Heat on “Pressurelicious”
On Fridays, Rap Song of the Week rounds up all the hip-hop tracks you need to hear. Check out the full playlist here. This week, Megan Thee Stallion recruits Future for her new single “Pressurelicious.” Though Megan Thee Stallion counts Future as one of her favorite rappers, the two superstars had somehow never connected on a track until her new single, “Pressurelicious.” Featuring a hypnotic beat from Hitkidd, the hard-hitting trap anthem should heat up strip clubs this summer. In a June interview with Rolling Stone, Meg said Future deserves his flowers for being “unapologetically himself” while dealing with constant online scrutiny “gracefully.” As someone who was put under a microscope long before Tory Lanez allegedly shot her, the Houston rapper can clearly relate to the immense p...
Lil Uzi Vert Returns to Soundcloud Roots with Red & White EP: Stream
Lil Uzi Vert has released their new EP Red & White, which you can stream below via SoundCloud. The nine-song project was preceded by the singles “SPACE CADET,” “HITTIN MY SHOULDER,” “I KNOW,” and “FLEX UP” and contains other tracks like “GLOCK IN MY PURSE,” “FOR FUN,” closer “FINAL FANTASY,” and more. The wide array of producers on the EP includes everyone from Brandon Finessin, Bally, ShaunGoBrazy, and Sonny Digital to BEATSBYJEFF, Maaly Raw, Oogiemane, and Mustard. Red & White serves as the colorful forerunner to P!NK, the rapper’s hotly anticipated follow-up to their sophomore album, Eternal Atake, which was released back in 2020. Lil Uzi Vert most recently teamed up with Mura Masa, PinkPantheress, and Shygirl on the collab “bbycakes,” which samples 3 of a Kind’s 2004 single “Ba...
Rolling Loud: Kid Cudi Walks Off Stage After Being Harassed By Crowd; Kanye West Makes Surprise Appearance
Miami’s Rolling Loud got off to a rocky start on Friday as the evening’s headliner, Kid Cudi, ended his performance early after audience members repeatedly threw items onto the stage. At the same time, Kanye West, who dropped off Rolling Loud’s lineup just days earlier, made a surprise appearance during Lil Durk’s own Friday night set. Kid Cudi joined Rolling Loud’s lineup earlier this week, filling in as a last-minute replacement for his one-time collaborator-turned-rival, West. The feud between the two rappers apparently permeated into the crowd, as audience members repeatedly interrupted Cudi’s set by throwing objects at him and chanting West’s name. As documented by fan-captured footage, Cudi ended his set after 30 minutes and walked off stage. Adding insult to injury, just minutes aft...
