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Kendrick Lamar Kicks Off “The Big Steppers Tour”: Video + Setlist
Kendrick Lamar launched “The Big Steppers Tour” at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, July 19th. The trek will continue through December, and you can grab tickets to the upcoming dates via Ticketmaster. As one would expect, the show featured several live debuts of songs from Lamar’s latest album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, including “Worldwide Steppers,” “Purple Hearts,” “Die Hard,” and the polarizing “Auntie Diaries.” He also performed the Mr. Morale single “N95,” one of the best songs of 2022 so far. Featuring more than two dozen songs, the set included other standout cuts from Lamar’s deep catalog, highlighted by “HUMBLE.,” “Alright,” “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe,” “Backseat Freestyle,” and “DNA.” He also teamed with opening act Baby Keem for their collaboration “Family Ti...
Going There with Taylor Bennett: The Chicago Rapper’s Uplifting Individuality
Listen via: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Pandora | Stitcher | Google | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | RSS Musician, rapper, entrepreneur, and all around positive guy Taylor Bennett brings his “be yourself” mentality to the Going There with Dr. Mike podcast. Advertisement The Chicago native discusses how “uplifting individuality” is his guiding philosophy in his mental health and well-being journey. Bennett explains that in order to discover our best self, we must be able to focus on how we as individuals can constantly grow and develop. That allows us to figure out what we want in the world and how to attain optimal mental, physical, and social health. In an ideal world, we would have the freedom to always be growing a...
How to Get Tickets to Alemán’s 2022 Tour
Alemán has revealed a new US tour with tickets going up for grabs just 24 hours after the announcement. The Mexican rapper’s “TOUR USA 2022” is rapidly approaching with the 16-city run starting in September. Get tickets here, and read on for more details including on-sale dates. What Is Alemán’s Next Tour? “TOUR USA 2022” kicks off at New York’s Gramercy Theatre on September 3rd and spends the first week in Philadelphia, Charlotte, and Atlanta. Alemán then takes over Texas for four nights between Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and El Paso. He plays Los Angeles on September 15th and Anaheim on September 16th followed by shows in San Diego, San Jose, Sacramento, and Las Vegas. After a stop in Denver, the tour wraps in Chicago on September 28th. Who Is Opening for Alemán on Tour? Advertisement...
Lil Uzi Vert Subtly Changes Pronouns to They/Them
Lil Uzi Vert took to social media over the weekend to quietly change their pronouns to they/them. The update can be seen right next to Lil Uzi Vert’s name on their Instagram profile, which also reads, “Endless Venim…Kawaii girls think I’m cool…Red & White = P!NK” along with a litany of emojis littered between the phrases. Historically, Lil Uzi Vert has a longstanding track record of support for the LGBTQ+ community. While remaining decidedly cryptic about their own sexual orientation, the rapper has repeatedly challenged the norms of hip-hop culture by playing with the notions of gendered clothing and donned rainbow-inspired outfits during Pride Month. Related Video LUV’s change in pronouns also comes just days after the rapper otherwise known as Symere Bysil Woods announced their next...
Kanye Drops Out of Rolling Loud, Replaced by Kid Cudi
Kanye West has pulled out of Miami’s Rolling Loud just days ahead of the festival’s launch. In his place, organizers have booked Kid Cudi. The reason for West’s departure was not made disclosed, but he previously dropped off this year’s Coachella lineup. In a statement, Rolling Loud’s organizers said, “We were looking forward to Ye headlining Rolling Loud Miami 2022. We spent months working with him and his team on the performance. Unfortunately, Ye has decided that he will no longer be performing. This is the first time a headliner has ever pulled off our show and though we don’t take it lightly, we wish him the best.” Adding to the drama of Rolling Loud’s replacement booking is the fact that Cudi and West are embroiled in a public feud. Earlier this year, West announced on Instagram that...
Kanye Drops Out of Rolling Loud, Replaced by Kid Cudi
Kanye West has pulled out of Miami’s Rolling Loud just days ahead of the festival’s launch. In his place, organizers have booked Kid Cudi. The reason for West’s departure was not made disclosed, but he previously dropped off this year’s Coachella lineup. In a statement, Rolling Loud’s organizers said, “We were looking forward to Ye headlining Rolling Loud Miami 2022. We spent months working with him and his team on the performance. Unfortunately, Ye has decided that he will no longer be performing. This is the first time a headliner has ever pulled off our show and though we don’t take it lightly, we wish him the best.” Adding to the drama of Rolling Loud’s replacement booking is the fact that Cudi and West are embroiled in a public feud. Earlier this year, West announced on Instagram that...
Beastie Boys Square Approved in New York City
It’s been a long time coming, but Beastie Boys will soon officially be honored in their native New York with a Lower East Side corner dubbed Beastie Boys Square. In addition to simply being New York legends, fans have pushed for a Beastie Boys monument because their 1989 LP, Paul’s Boutique, immortalizes the intersection of Ludlow and Rivington streets on its album cover. A campaign has existed since 2014 to rename the corner Beastie Boys Square, but the move has been shot down in the past because community board members apparently didn’t think the group met the guidelines required of street co-naming honorees. Still, former Bad Boy Records rep and Brooklyn resident LeRoy McCarthy celebrated the board’s affirmative vote, telling the New York Post, “hip-hop don’t stop.” Adver...
Kodak Black Arrested for Possession of Oxycodone
Kodak Black was arrested in Florida on Friday, July 15th, after police officers found nearly $75,000 in cash and a small clear bag that contained 31 tablets of oxycodone during a traffic stop. The 25-year-old rapper, who was born Bill Kapri, was initially pulled over due to an expired license plate and dark window tint, according to CNN. Kodak Black was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance without prescription and trafficking in oxycodone. Advertisement Related Video In a statement to TMZ, the rapper’s lawyer said, “Never judge a case based on an arrest. There are facts and circumstances that give rise to a defense, especially in this case. We negotiated a bond of $75,000 and we will move forward with resolving the matter quickly.” In November 2019, Black was sent...
Rap Song of the Week: Remy Ma and Rapsody Assert Dominance on DJ Premier’s “Remy Rap”
Rap Song of the Week is a Friday roundup of the hip-hop tracks you need to hear. Check out the full playlist here. Today, Remy Ma and Rapsody team up on DJ Premier’s “Remy Rap.” For DJ Premier’s new EP celebrating the upcoming 50th anniversary of hip-hop, the pioneering producer handpicked a lineup of rappers known for their lyricism including Nas, Lil Wayne, and Run the Jewels. Preemo also paired up seasoned MCs Remy Ma and Rapsody on the track “Remy Rap,” which finds both women letting out frustration about being underestimated in a male-dominated industry. Remy in particular spits with a fire in her belly, calling on female rappers to level up and expressing resentment for her pen game being questioned. After coming up as part of Big Pun and Fat Joe’s Terror Squad and later marryin...
Lizzo’s Vibrant New Album Makes Us All Feel Special
“Hi motherfucker, did you miss me?” Lizzo asks by way of introduction on “The Sign,” the bouncy first song on her new album Special (available today, July 15th — stream it below). Quite honestly, we did. How has the Grammy-winning chart-topper been spending her time since we last saw her? Lizzo is happy to share: She’s been healing, making smoothies, training and twerking — plus, working hard on this record, her follow up to 2019’s Cuz I Love You. In just about everything she does, Lizzo has a magical knack for making the listener or viewer feel like her best friend, whether it’s her candid and cheeky TikTok presence, inclusive energy onstage (get tickets to her upcoming tour here), or stories told through her music. Of the 12 tracks on the album, two were released ahead of time as si...
Drake Announces October World Weekend with Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Lil Baby, and More
Drake has announced a new three-day festival called October World Weekend, which will see the likes of Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Lil Baby, and Chris Brown take over his hometown of Toronto on July 28th, July 29th, and August 1st. On Thursday, July 28th, All Canadian All Stars are slated to perform at the Toronto venue HISTORY. The following night will see Chris Brown and Lil Baby headline the Budweiser Stage. Then, on August 1st, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, and a reunion of Young Money will perform at the Budweiser Stage. Drake announced October World Weekend on Instagram, adding that he planned to take his long-running OVO Fest on the road next year. “I am currently working on bringing OVO Fest around the world in 2023 for its 10th anniversary but of course we wanted to turn the city up for the...
Nicki Minaj Takes Aim at Kanye West at Essence Fest: “We Don’t Fuck with Clowns!”
Nicki Minaj didn’t mince words about former collaborator Kanye West during her headlining set at the 2022 Essence Music Festival on Friday, July 1st. The diss in question came partway through the rapper’s set, when her DJ cued up her guest verse from Ye’s star-studded smash “Monster” off 2010’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. (The track is largely credited for launching Minaj into hip-hop stardom). “A monster though! A monster though! But we don’t fuck with clowns,” she said, teasing the track before putting down her proverbial monster Giuseppe heel down and stopping the show altogether to instead give a shout-out to host city New Orleans. Advertisement Related Video It’s not exactly clear what led to Minaj’s snipe, but she previously expressed dissatisfaction over West’s decision to sh...
