music
Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre Tease Spike Lee Collaboration
Snoop Dogg on Thursday teased an upcoming collaboration with Dr. Dre and famed director Spike Lee in a cryptic Instagram post. “We up2somethin,” Snoop wrote under an image of Dre and Lee, which he presumably took, on the social media platform. The chart-topper did not disclose further information on what to expect from the trio’s collaboration, though he did include a movie camera emoji, which may be hinting at a film project, alongside his text. Lee has never worked with Snoop Dogg or Dr. Dre in a professional capacity, though he did appear in an Instagram Live with the “Drop It Like It’s Hot” rapper to discuss his Netflix film Da 5 Blood in June 2020. The director, whose film repertoire includes Malcolm X, Do the Right Thing, She’s Gotta Have It, Bamboozled and m...
Mallrat Goes Deeper Into The Machine
By Gabriel Aikins The ascension of Mallrat has been a long time coming. The Australian pop songwriter born Grace Shaw honed her work religiously over three EPs in the late 2010s. With each of these projects — 2016’s Uninvited, 2018’s In the Sky, and 2019’s Driving Music — the scope of her ambition and skill grew, as Shaw evolved as a producer, expanded her own musical tastes, and matured as a songwriter. Her first single of 2022, “Your Love,” represented a higher level to her art, a biting mix of hip-hop and pop unlike anything she’s created before. The result of this refinement is her long-awaited debut album Butterfly Blue, which incorporates new sounds into Shaw’s pop framework. This is the exact album she wanted to make, and no one was going to stop her. Butterfly Blue began to take sh...
Bop Shop: Songs From Kendrick Lamar, B.I, My Chemical Romance, And More
At the mention of vehicular escape, Kendrick Lamar‘s face morphs into O.J. Simpson’s. When he raps, “Friends bipolar, grab you by your pockets,” he becomes Kanye West. And then Jussie Smollett, Will Smith, Kobe Bryant, and finally, his departed friend Nipsey Hussle. Between these, in the show-stopping one-shot video for “The Heart Part 5,” Kendrick reverts back to his original face to keep rhyming. It’s a startling spectacle, and it takes repeated viewings to catch every nuance. But nothing is more potent than when he takes on Hussle’s visage, then once again his own, to state plainly: “To the killer that sped up my demise, I forgive you / Just know your soul’s in question.” —Patrick Hosken You Deserve to Make Money Even Whe...
Kendrick Lamar Could Set These 5 Records at the 2023 Grammys
With his new album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers receiving rave reviews, Kendrick Lamar could be in for a big night when the 65th annual Grammy Awards are presented early next year (most likely in January at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles). Lamar has amassed 14 Grammys, but the top prize, album of the year, has eluded him. That may well change next year. Also, Lamar’s buzzy video for “The Heart Part 5,” in which his face morphs into the faces of such Black celebrities as O.J. Simpson, Kanye West and Will Smith, could take best music video. The visual has the “stop what you’re doing and watch this now” quality of Childish Gambino’s “This Is America,” which won in that category in 2019. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Mr. Morale &...
Pete Townshend Hopes The Who’s Emotional Return to Cincinnati 43 Years After Tragedy ‘Will Bring Us All Together’
As far as Pete Townshend is concerned, The Who should never have left Cincinnati after that awful night in December 1979 when 11 fans died after concertgoers rushed the doors of Riverfront Coliseum. Like singer Roger Daltrey, the guitarist has never been able to shake the awful feeling of finding out about the tragedy that unfolded outside the venue — now named Heritage Bank Arena — on that freezing Dec. 3 night. And though it’s taken more than four decades, he is looking forward to enveloping the Queen City in a big, emotional hug when the band take the stage at Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium on Sunday night (May 15) for the rock icons’ first show in town in the city in over 40 years as part of their “Who Hits Back!” tour. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and...
Every Song Ranked on Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers’ Album: Critic’s Picks
Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, released Friday (May 13), is Compton wordsmith Kendrick Lamar’s momentous 18-track return to the rap spotlight after a five-year layoff. Outside of a few guest appearances on cousin Baby Keem’s 2021 effort The Melodic Blue, fans have not heard much from the Pulitzer Prize winner since 2017’s DAMN. Precursor single “The Heart Pt. 5,” in which Lamar raps over a sample loop of Marvin Gaye’s 1976 single “I Want You,” came earlier this week (May 8) and gave fans a taste of the new record’s overarching concepts, themes and ideas. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Sporting guest appearances from Ghostface Killah, Kodak Black, Blxst, Sampha, Summer Walker and plenty more, the double-disc record clocks in at 73 minutes a...
Kendrick Lamar, Post Malone, My Chemical Romance & More: Which Music Release Is Your Favorite? Vote!
New Music Friday on May 13 saw two rap powerhouses make their return to music — one with a highly anticipated album, and the other with a collaboration featuring another rap star. One of pop punk’s greatest also returned with a new track. But which release was your favorite? Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Kendrick Lamar dropped his fifth studio album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers — and an expansive world tour not too long after. The album — which features production from Pharrell, Duval Timothy, the Alchemist, Beach Noise, Boi-1da, Sounwave, Dahi, FNZ, J.LBS, Bekon and more — sees the gifted rapper musing on socially conscious topics, everything from wealth struggles and cancel culture to hip-hop’s relationship with transphobia in lyrics ...
Drake Performs at Dave’s Toronto Show, Announces OVO Fest Return
Streatham-born rapper Dave just brought Drake out on stage as a special guest during the Toronto leg of his cross-Atlantic tour. During Drizzy’s appearance at REBEL, Drake gave high praise to the UK rapper, before announcing the return of OVO Fest in 2022. Speaking on stage, Drake said: “Toronto, please, like I said, this guy right here is one generational talent. Whether he is rapping, pouring out his heart, whether he’s turning all the way up, whether he’s playing the piano, whether he’s acting in our show, Top Boy, I promise you this guy right here is one of one – make some noise for Dave.” He continued to say, “I love you with all my heart. They let the city back open so I will see you at OVO Fest soon.” Drake and Dave’s relationship goes back to 2016 when Drake featured on the re...
Talking Heads in 10 Songs
This article originally ran in 2017; we’re resharing it as David Byrne celebrates his birthday on May 14th. Ever felt overwhelmed by an artist’s extensive back catalog? Been meaning to check out a band, but you just don’t know where to begin? In 10 Songs is here to help, offering a crash course and entry point into the daunting discographies of iconic artists of all genres. This is your first step toward fandom. Take it. In any other band’s history, the 40th anniversary of the release of their debut album would inspire all manner of promotional hullabaloo and creaky onstage reunions. When that band is Talking Heads — the art pop group that released its debut, Talking Heads: 77, in September 1977 — this kind of milestone is going to slide by with zero fanfare and even less attempts at recon...
2022 Father’s Day Gift Guide: Vinyl, Books and More
Father’s Day is Sunday, June 19th, and if you’re trying to come up with ideas for dad, we’ve compiled some of our favorite gifts to help you out. From records to tech, books to vodka and everything in between, we’ve got gift ideas dad will love for all budgets and interests. These items are sure to have him bragging to his friends at the next neighborhood BBQ. And if you’re after a one-click solution, simply check out all of our epic Consequence merch and grab some quality swag. A comfy new shirt and/or some CBD goodies are likely exactly what dad needs to relax into summer; it’s all available in our shop here. Advertisement Check out the full gift guide below. Vinyl & CDs Vinyl Me, Please ($43.00/month – $399.00/year): Why give dad only one day out of the year when you can give him 12...
Antonio Sánchez Enlists Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for “I Think We’re Past That Now”: Stream
Antonio Sánchez has released “I Think We’re Past That Now,” his new collaboration with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross which features lyrics penned by the Nine Inch Nails frontman. Stream it below. “I can hear the sound coming out of them/ But I don’t seem to be able to comprehend,” Reznor whisper-sings on the first verse over Sánchez’s scattershot percussion. “I can feel their bullets fly through me/ But I think I’ve decided they don’t work on me.” The song will appear on the Grammy-winning drummer’s upcoming album, SHIFT (Bad Hombre Vol. II), out August 26th via Arts Music/Warner Music. The long-gestating follow-up to 2017’s Bad Hombre will also feature collaborations with the likes of Dave Matthews (“Eh Hee 2.0” with Pat Metheny), Kimbra (“Suspended Animation”), Rodrigo y Gabriela (“M-Pow...
Alice Merton Shares Origins of New Song “Loveback”: Exclusive
Our recurring new music series Origins is where artists can reveal the stories behind their latest release. Today, Mom + Pop artist Alice Merton shares “Loveback.” Alice Merton is today sharing the latest preview of her forthcoming S.I.D.E.S. LP with the single “Loveback.” “Loveback” serves as the opening salvo on the singer-songwriter’s sophomore full-length. It sets the stage for a powerful indie pop sound, one that’s full of fun, scream-along chorus, but also underscores the album’s prevalent themes of self-reclamation. Advertisement Related Video “‘Loveback’ talks about waking up one day and realizing someone has stolen a part of you that you want back,” Merton explains. “It was the realization that I didn’t ‘need’ anyone to exist. I was never dependent on anyone or anything, even...
