Rap
Lil Baby’s It’s Only Me Is Mired in Mediocrity
Following up the biggest album of your career is tough sledding for any artist. But for rappers? It’s something only Houdini might pull off with ease. Hip-hop is always about what you’re doing now, not what you did yesterday. Just one false move takes you from relevant to irrelevant at the drop of a quarter, nickel, or dime. Lil Baby finds himself in that very unenviable position. 2020’s My Turn was, in a word, massive. Baby not only refined his hit-making skills but improved his rapping technique and writing. Since its release, Baby found himself the focus of a documentary that premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. So yeah, Lil Baby finds himself in a bit of a moment. It’s Only Me, out Friday, October 14th, is the result of all that pressure, success, and newfound lifestyle for the...
Robert Glasper’s New Song “Therapy pt. 2” Features a Freewheeling Mac Miller: Stream
Robert Glasper has shared a new song called “Therapy pt. 2” featuring the late Mac Miller. It’s the first single from the “Supreme Edition” of the pianist’s album Black Radio III, which is out this Friday, October 14th, via Loma Vista Recordings. “Therapy pt. 2” finds Miller at his most carefree, as he spits freewheeling rhymes over Glasper’s keys. “I’m a, alien communicator, fuckin’ up the human nature,” he raps. “Projectile vomit on a song, the fluid nasty, uh/ I just got the iPhone 6/ It looks like Steve Jobs done ran out of tricks.” In a statement, Glasper explained how the song was made. “I was working with my friend. We were just finishing up this specific beat,” he said. “I immediately sent it to him, and literally within an hour he sent me back that track. Everything was on there —...
Kanye West Tried to Intimidate Adidas Executives by Showing Them Porn
Kanye West has released a new 30-minute documentary, Last Week, which includes footage of a disturbing meeting with Adidas. Ye can be seen shoving a phone displaying a pornographic video in an executive’s face in an apparent attempt to intimidate the man. West has had an apparel partnership with Adidas since 2016, though their relationship has deteriorated as West has publicly criticized the CEO and drawn criticism for wearing “White Lives Matter” clothes. In the new footage, West smiles as the pornography plays. “He’s got the same voice, doesn’t he?” Ye says, pointing to the executive. “Is this a porn movie?” the man asks. West moves the camera closer to his face. “He’s got a northern European accent,” the exec objects, noting that their voices don’t sound very similar...
Instagram and Twitter Restrict Kanye West’s Accounts for Antisemitic Comments
Kanye West’s Twitter and Instagram accounts have both been restricted after the controversial artist made antisemitic comments on the platforms over the weekend. According to Rolling Stone, sources confirmed that certain content from West’s Instagram was restricted or deleted by Meta on Friday (October 7th). The action came after the rapper posted screenshots of a text exchange with Diddy in which Ye made several antisemitic innuendos. The post was subsequently deleted and condemned by groups like the American Jewish Committee via Instagram. West then jumped to Twitter for the first time since 2020 on Saturday, where he posted a photo of him and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg along with the caption, “Look at this Mark – How you gone kick me off instagram.” Despite a warm welcome from would-be Tw...
Rap Song of the Week: Quavo and Takeoff Move Forward as a Duo with “Two Infinity Links”
Rap Song of the Week breaks down all the hip-hop tracks you need to hear every Friday. Check out the full playlist here. This week, Migos members Quavo and Takeoff push on as a duo on “Two Infinity Links,” the opening track from their new album, Only Built for Infinity Links. After months of speculation, Quavo and Takeoff essentially admitted Migos are done (for now) earlier this week. During an appearance on DJ Scream’s Big Facts podcast, Quavo alluded to family loyalty and explained the situation was “something to do with the three brothers” rather than Offset’s recent label issues. Meanwhile, Takeoff left the door open for the return of Offset, mentioning they told him to fix “whatever ain’t right.” Regardless of what went down, Quavo and Takeoff are determined to prove their ...
Kanye West Shares Video of Tucker Carlson Visiting Yeezy Offices Ahead of Fox News Interview
Kanye West took to social media on Thursday (Oct. 6) to share a video of Fox News host Tucker Carlson stopping by the new Yeezy offices for a visit. “TUCKER CARLSON STOPPED BY THE NEW YEEZY OFFICE FUN GOD IS GOOD,” the rapper captioned the clip on his Instagram feed. After being served a welcome drink known as the Donda (“I’m pretty open-minded about what I put in my mouth,” Carlson said), the Fox News personality learned all about Yeezy’s latest experiment in 3D-printed shoes — including the possibility of creating a “3D printing facility, like a farm.” “Can I ask a stupid question?” Carlson asked a Yeezy employee about the futuristic footwear. “Are they assembled? Is the sole attached or are they printed…” He then seemed positively mind-blown when the employee explained that each shoe wa...
Kendrick Lamar Kicks Off SNL Season 48 in Style with Three-Song Performance: Watch
Kendrick Lamar took a break from “The Big Steppers Tour” to help kick off the 48th season of Saturday Night Live. In support of his latest album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, the Compton rapper made his third visit to Studio 8H. He performed “Rich Spirit,” “N95”, and “Father Time” with Sampha. Watch the replay below. “The Big Steppers Tour” resumes later this week in Europe. Check out the tour’s itinerary and on-sale ticket links below. Kendrick came through with the energy on the season premiere of SaturdayNightLive. What was up with earrings? He pulled the look off though. #SNLPremiere #snl #kendricklamar pic.twitter.com/7r9XEOKEfJ Advertisement Related Video — GoreJust Goth (@gorejustgoth) October 2, 2022 KENDRICK LAMAR x SAMPHA – FATHER TIMEpic.twitter.com/EF9NgWYMUc — Hiiipo...
Rap Song of the Week: Smino and J. Cole Light It Up on “90 Proof”
Rap Song of the Week runs down all the hip-hop tracks you need to hear every Friday. Check out the full playlist here. This week, Smino gears up for his upcoming album Luv 4 Rent with “90 Proof” featuring J. Cole. Since dropping “24-8” earlier this month, Smino’s been teasing his next album, Luv 4 Rent, with the hashtag “droptober.” To close out September, the St. Louis native has reunited with J. Cole for his confessional new single, “90 Proof.” Over a soulful groove co-produced by frequent collaborator monte booker and Groove, Smino uses a singsong flow to plead patience from a woman he hasn’t been able to commit to. Admitting he’s not “great at relationships,” Smino expresses his feelings the best way he knows how. In addition to opening up with lyrics like, “My heart start be...
California Bill Restricts Rap Lyrics from Being Used as Criminal Evidence
Creative expression has scored a major victory in California, as Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a bill restricting rap lyrics from being used as evidence in court. The Decriminalizing Artistic Expression Act was unanimously approved by the state’s senate and assembly back in August before being signed into law. Per Variety, a virtual signing ceremony was held featuring speeches from rappers including Killer Mike, Meek Mill, Too $hort, YG, E-40, and more. CEO of the Recording Academy Harvey Mason Jr. and leaders from the Black Music Action Coalition and Songwriters of North America also joined the ceremony. “For too long, prosecutors in California have used rap lyrics as a convenient way to inject racial bias and confusion into the criminal justice process,” Dina LaPolt, entertainmen...
Coolio’s ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ Remains Evergreen on Billboard Global Charts
The Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts launched in September 2020, measuring the most popular songs in the world based on global streams and sales (the latter excluding United States-based consumption). For 72 of the 107 weeks since the lists premiered, Coolio‘s 1995 classic “Gangsta’s Paradise,” featuring L.V., has ranked among the biggest hits on Global Excl. U.S. – the most time tallied among songs released in the ’90s. “Paradise” ranks at No. 149 on the most recent, Oct. 1-dated, Global 200 (in its 62nd frame), as well as at No. 151 on Global Excl. U.S. In the week ending Sept. 22, the track drew 14.3 million official streams worldwide, according to Luminate. As previously reported, Coolio, born Artis Leon Ivey Jr., died Wednesday (Sept. 28) in Los Angeles at a...
Freddie Gibbs Unleashes New Album $oul $old $eparately: Stream
After more than a decade of success as an independent artist, Freddie Gibbs has released his major label debut album, $oul $old $eparately, via ESGN/Warner Records. Stream it below via Apple Music or Spotify. The 15-track LP features appearances from Pusha T, Rick Ross, Scarface, Offset, Raekwon, and more. Producers on the project include close collaborators Madlib and The Alchemist, as well as Boi-1da, Justice League, Kaytranada, Jake One, and DJ Dahi. James Blake, Anderson .Paak, and Three 6 Mafia’s DJ Paul pulled double duty by producing and contributing vocals. In anticipation of $oul $old $eparately, Gibbs shared Rap Song of the Week “Too Much” featuring Moneybagg Yo and the James Blake-produced “Dark Hearted.” The Gary, Indiana rapper’s last full-length was 2020’s Alfredo in collabor...
Coolio Found Dead at Age 59
Coolio, the rapper best known for his chart-topping single “Gangsta’s Paradise,” has died at the age of 59, according to TMZ. Citing the rapper’s longtime manager, TMZ reports that Coolio died from cardiac arrest on Wednesday. At the time of his death, he was at a friend’s house, his manager said. After the rapper went to the bathroom and never returned, his body was found laying on the floor. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene. Released in 1995, the Stevie Wonder-sampling, L.V.-featuring “Gangsta’s Paradise” was an ominous yet infectious document of gangster life, a darker offering from a man with a pretty lighthearted persona (if his iconic hair wasn’t proof enough, Coolio’s earlier output had built him a reputation for bringing a humorous perspective to his tales of violence). ...
