Hip-Hop
Rico Nasty Drops Chaotic New Single “Intrusive”: Stream
Rico Nasty has shared her new single, “Intrusive,” and its accompanying music video. Taking listeners on a journey through some of her most disturbing thoughts, the DMV rapper spits over a chaotic beat produced by Ben10k & Danes Blood. “I like putting on my makeup, ready to slash throats,” she raps. “Chokin’ bitches out with spiked chains and rope.” “This song tells the story of intrusive thoughts with some industrial elements,” Rico shared in a statement. “The song is a true [freestyle] for me and takes you for a ride through my mind.” Related Video Rico conceptualized the “Intrusive” video herself and co-directed it with Marco Alexander. Taking a DIY approach, the clip was made with “zero fucks” and features the artist’s glam team as she runs away from them and spreads messages like ...
Lorde Calls Kendrick Lamar ‘The Most Popular and Influential Artist in Modern Music’
Lorde shared an update with her fans on Tuesday (May 24) and couldn’t help but gush over Kendrick Lamar‘s latest album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers. “I’m loving Kendrick,” she wrote in her email newsletter to fans. “I cannot get over the most popular and influential artist in modern music displaying a working nervous system, admitting mistakes, trying to process intergenerational trauma and prejudice. I love the way the album opens, the pace and heat of the first few songs, and later ‘Count Me Out,’ the build and strings in ‘Auntie Diaries’… special.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The double LP — the rapper’s fifth full-length — bowed atop the Billboard 200 upon its May 13 release, notching the best first week of 2022 with 295,000 alum ...
All Hail King Kendrick: Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers Debuts at No. 1
Five years passed between Kendrick Lamar’s last album DAMN and his new one, Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers, and during that time pawns have fallen off the board and knights have jumped around, but the king stayed the king. As Billboard has revealed, Mr. Morale has clinched the top spot in the Billboard Top 200 for the upcoming list dated May 28th. Along the way, Lamar has hit a couple of notable benchmarks. This is his fourth straight album to debut at No. 1, putting him in a tie for 14th place, well behind current record holders Taylor Swift, Kanye West, and Eminem, who each accomplished the feat 10 times in a row. Besides that, Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers moved 295,500 equivalent album units in its first week — the most of any album in 2022, beatin...
Freddie Gibbs Goes Country in Trailer for Film Debut Down with the King: Watch
This summer, Freddie Gibbs is heading from the stage to the country. The rapper’s film debut, Down with the King, has officially scored a June 28th digital release date, and as a preview, the project’s first trailer is out now. Directed by Diego Ongaro (Bob and the Trees) and co-written by Ongaro and Xabi Molia, Gibbs stars in Down with the King as Mercury “Money Merc” Maxwell, a superstar rapper who is sent by his manager to a small town farm community in order to escape the stresses of city and celebrity life. But while the trip initially appears to be some sort of writing retreat, Money Merc quickly takes to farm life, and contemplates leaving the music business altogether. After all, “What other job in music do you gotta worry about getting shot?” he asks in the trailer. Bob ...
Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers’ Debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart
Kendrick Lamar lands his fourth No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart as his latest release, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, launches atop the list (dated May 28). He’s debuted at No. 1 with each of his last four albums. Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers charges in with 295,500 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending May 19, according to Luminate — the largest week of the year for any album. It’s the third straight week in which that benchmark has been crushed. A week ago, Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti did the trick with its No. 1 debut of 274,000, and in the week before that, Future’s I Never Liked You bowed at No. 1 with 222,000. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers was announced on April 1...
Eminem Shuts Down Pete Davidson’s Final SNL Rap Video: Watch
Pete Davidson had one final treat for SNL viewers before ending his seven-season run: a rap tribute video to the show’s creator, Lorne Michaels. The skit, which was apparently cut for time, begins with host Natasha Lyonne informing Davidson that Michaels is depressed because the two never got to make a rap video together. “You know, that guy has literally done everything for me, so I’m going to pay him back by doing this rap video exactly the way he wrote it,” decades Davidson. Set to the tune of “Forgot the Dre,” David proceeds to honor Michaels’ legacy by ratting off his many accomplishments — from discovering comedians like Chris Farley, David Spade, and Kristen Wiig, to writing Three Amigos, to winning the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The accompanying visuals feature Davidson dressed...
‘It Was All a Dream’ Author Talks Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Relationship, Biggie’s Legacy 25 Years After His Death & More
Twenty-five years after The Notorious B.I.G., aka Biggie Smalls, was murdered in Los Angeles, his legacy continues to live large in the hip-hop world and beyond. At just 24, having released two albums — 1994’s Ready to Die and 1997’s Life After Death, both certified classics — he had already amassed a career that would eventually land him in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. As we remember the rapper born Christopher Wallace on what would have been his 50th birthday (May 21), Justin Tinsley, author of the new book It Was All a Dream: Biggie and the World That Made Him, reflects on why we remain so hypnotized by the iconic rapper. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news How did you go about capturing the life of such a legendary figure l...
The Notorious B.I.G.’s 50th Birthday Celebrated by Lil’ Kim, Junior M.A.F.I.A. & More at NYC Gala
Family and friends of late hip-hop icon The Notorious B.I.G. gathered for the 2nd Annual Biggie Dinner Gala at Guastavino’s in New York City on Friday (May 20). Hosted by Lil’ Kim and presented by Lexus and Pepsi, the event was in celebration of Biggie Smalls’ 50th birthday on Saturday. Although 25 years have passed since his tragic death, the rapper’s legacy has been kept alive through monumental occasions over the years. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news With a vibe similar to that of a warm family reunion, the evening started at around 8 p.m. with star-studded guests arriving on the red carpet, including Fat Joe, members of Junior M.A.F.I.A., T’yanna Wallace, Havoc, Sway, members of Smif-N-Wessun, Prayah, Ceaser Emanuel of Black Ink Crew, DJ E...
070 Shake Enlists Christine and the Queens for “Body”: Stream
070 Shake has dropped her latest single “Body” with an assist from Christine and the Queens via G.O.O.D Music/Def Jam Recordings. “I think I got to know your body/ I think I got to know your body/ We’ll travel to the dream, stay flying/ I guess I found me a new high/ You took it personal/ As soon as it got physical,” the rapper intones over Christine and the Queens’ haunting background vocals. The track is a follow-up to “Web” from earlier this month and April’s “Skin and Bones.” All three singles will be featured on 070 Shake’s forthcoming sophomore album YOU CAN’T KILL ME, which is slated to be released June 3rd. Pre-orders are ongoing. Stream the moody visualizer for “Body” below. Advertisement Related Video 070 Shake is currently on the road for her latest North American headlinin...
Boldy James and Real Bad Man Share Banging New Album Killing Nothing: Stream
Boldy James and Real Bad Man have teamed up for the ice cold new album Killing Nothing. James previously linked with Real Bad Man in 2020 for the stellar album Real Bad Boldy, which means this isn’t the first time that fans have wondered how Real Bad Man can simultaneously claim to be a Los Angeles clothing collective and also a music production crew (Adam Weissman and James Clay Jones III are credited on every track). Then again, we can definitely see the appeal in looking as tight as Killing Nothing sounds. The 13-track set features contributions from frequent Boldy collaborator Stove God Cooks, as well as CRIMEAPPLE, Knowledge the Pirate, and Rome Streetz. Stream it below via Apple Music and Spotify, and scroll onwards to check out the artwork and tracklis...
Migos’ Quavo and Takeoff (But No Offset) Form Unc and Phew, Drop New Song “Hotel Lobby”: Stream
Drama may be brewing in the Migos camp. Shortly after fans noticed Offset unfollowed his bandmates Quavo and Takeoff on Instagram, the duo have dropped “Hotel Lobby,” a new song under the name Unc and Phew. “Hotel Lobby” is accompanied by a music video inspired by Terry Gilliam’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Watch it below. Given that Quavo is Takeoff’s uncle, Unc and Phew is an appropriate name for the duo. No word on Offset’s supposed beef with the two, but his wife, Cardi B, has also unfollowed them on Twitter. Advertisement Migos’ last album was Culture III, which they released last summer. They promoted the project with a Tiny Desk (Home) Concert. All three of the rappers have released solo albums: Takeoff dropped The Last Rocket in 2018, while Quavo released Quavo Huncho...
Rihanna Gives Birth to Baby Boy
Congratulations are in order to Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, who have welcomed their first child. According to TMZ, Rihanna gave birth to a baby boy on May 13th in Los Angeles. The couple has not yet revealed the boy’s name. Rihanna and A$AP Rocky reportedly began dating in January 2020, and they announced Rihanna’s pregnancy in January 2022 after posing for photos in Rocky’s home neighborhood of Harlem, with Rihanna showing off her bump. A$AP Rocky spoke about his relationship with Rihanna in an interview with GQ in May 2021. Calling her “my lady” and “the love of my life,” the rapper said, “[It’s] so much better when you got the One. She amounts to probably, like, a million of the other ones.” Advertisement “If that’s in my destiny, absolutely,” Rocky then said regarding plans to have ki...
