Rap
Kanye West Releases New Video for “Heaven and Hell”: Watch
Leave it to Kanye West to promote his Gap clothing line with a high-budget visual depiction of the Rapture. The maximalist video for “Heaven and Hell” features mysterious figures dressed head to toe in black Yeezy clothing (including black masks). Eventually, a god-like figure, who appears to be West himself, opens a portal that causes these figures to ascend to the sky. The video debuted during tonight’s College Football National Championship before going live online. In conjunction with the video’s release, West re-released the Yeezy Gap hoodies seen in the video. Described by Kanye as the “perfect hoodie,” it’s currently available to purchase in black and blue via YeezyGap.com. Earlier today, Netflix released a new teaser trailer for its upcoming three-part documentary on West, jeen-yuh...
Rap Song of the Week: Gunna Establishes New Slang on “pushin P” with Future and Young Thug
Our new music feature Rap Song of the Week breaks down the essential hip-hop tracks you need to hear every Friday. Check out the full playlist here. This week, Gunna teams up with Future and Young Thug on his DS4EVER standout “pushin P.” Before Gunna was considered a contemporary of Young Thug and Future, he gave his career a soft reset by dropping the Yung from his name and launching his signature Drip Season mixtape series. Five years later, he’s become a bonafide superstar who literally taught Lil Baby how to rap, so closing out the franchise with DS4EVER has particular significance. As one would expect, Thugger and Future each make multiple appearances on the project, but “pushing P” is a reminder of why we’re still hoping the sequel to Super Slimey is still happening. A...
New LL Cool J Statue In Queens Plays His Music via Solar Power
Now that it’s 2022, conventional statues just won’t cut it anymore. Case in point: a new statue of LL Cool J that just went up in the rapper’s native Queens, New York comes complete with a solar-powered audio setup that plays his music. The LL statue, which resides in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, was built by Sherwin Banfield, the Queens-raised sculptor who previously memorialized Phife Dawg, Prodigy, Jam Master Jay at the Queens Public Library back in 2019. LL’s bronze bust — decked out with his trademark ’90s bucket hat and chain, naturally — sits upon a gold-colored boombox thats powered by the sun. The side of the statue reads the anonymous quote: “If a task is once begun, never leave until it’s done. Be the labor great or small, do it well or not at all.” Advertisement Related Video ...
Testament’s Alex Skolnick Forms New Rap Duo Hu$h Money, Condemns Right-Wing Echo Chambers in “B.I.G. L.I.E.”: Stream
Testament guitarist and unlikely political hip-hop prodigy Alex Skolnick has debuted his new rap group, Hu$h Money, and shared the video for the track “B.I.G. L.I.E.” Last year, Skolnick made headlines when he released a pair of politically-charged rap songs, one blasting Donald Trump and another encouraging us to “Wear a F**king Mask.” Now Skolnick has returned as his alter ego Skoly-D and teamed up with co-conspirator Kimmy G, aka Kimmy Gordon, for a full-blown rap project. “B.I.G. L.I.E.,” which also features guest rapper J-Hype, picks up where Skoly-D left off with his previous songs, this time taking on “right-wing echo chambers” and the political lunacy that provoked the Capital insurrection a year ago today (January 6th). The song comes complete with an equally tongue-in-cheek...
Jason Derulo Gets Into Brawl with Two Men Who Called Him “Usher”
Jason Derulo was involved in an altercation with two men who heckled the singer by calling him Usher. The Las Vegas Police Department were called to the ARIA resort around 2:00 a.m. local time on Tuesday following a report that Derulo “committed a battery against two individuals,” according to USA Today. Footage of the incident obtained by TMZ shows one of the men yelling, “Hey, Usher! Fuck you, bitch!” as Derulo walked by. Derulo immediately charged at the man and threw a punch. He then went after a second man before ARIA security intervened. Advertisement Related Video Derulo was temporarily detained by police, but the victims did not want to press charges and no police report was taken. However, Derulo was told by ARIA security to leave the property under a trespass order. See footage o...
Kay Flock Arrested for Murder
Bronx rapper Kay Flock was arrested on murder charges on Thursday, December 23rd. The 18-year-old musician (born Kevin Perez) is accused of killing Oscar Hernandez, 24, outside of a Harlem barbershop on December 16th. According to the New York Daily News, Hernandez was sitting in a barber shop waiting to get a haircut when Perez walked by, opened the shop’s door, and asked Hernandez what he was looking at. Hernandez walked outside to confront Perez, at which point Perez pulled a gun and shot Hernandez in the neck and back. Related Video Police believe the shooting was gang-related, as Hernandez was a member of the Bronx-based Thirdside Gang. However, Hernandez’s family believes Perez had mistaken him for someone else, as the two did not know each other. Advertisement The drill rapper was s...
Nas Drops Surprise Album Magic: Stream
Christmas came early for Nas fans. After less than a day’s notice, the rapper has released his surprise fourteenth album Magic. Stream it below via Apple Music and Spotify. The LP marks the Nas’ second studio set of the year, arriving just five months after King’s Disease II in July. It’s also his third collaborative album with Hit-Boy, following the original King’s Disease project as well as its sequel. “MAGIC is in the air. Midnight et brand new music to vibe to,” the rapper wrote to make the announcement before tagging both Hit-Boy and Mass Appeal Records. Advertisement Related Video The nine-track project features songs titled “Speechless,” “Meet Joe Black,” and “Hollywood Gangsta, and just two guests on its tracklist with A$AP Rocky and DJ Premier joining forces on “Wave Gods.” Stream...
Rick Ross Takes Bathroom Break Mid-Interview, Never Returns
It’s nothing too out of the ordinary for artists to make a getaway mid-interview, but Rick Ross pulled off possibly the best Irish Goodbye in recent memory. During an appearance on The 85 South Comedy Show last week, the rapper told hosts DC Young Fly, Karlous Miller, and Chico Bean that he needed to use the bathroom, only to never return. All seemed to be going well in the interview, with Ross happily engaging in conversation as weed and snacks made the rounds among the group. After gladly discussing his early singles “Hustlin’” and “Push It,” Ross asked to be excused: “Let me use the bathroom one time,” he said, taking a swig of his drink before walking off the set. After a few minutes of the hosts passing the time on their own, a crew member emerged to inform them that Ross has ex...
Drakeo the Ruler Fatally Stabbed at Once Upon a Time in L.A. Festival
Drakeo the Ruler was fatally stabbed backstage at the Once Upon a Time in L.A. Festival in Los Angeles on Saturday night. The 28-year-old rapper was stabbed with a knife during an altercation that took place around 8:30 p.m. local time, according to TMZ. He was taken to an area hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Following the incident, the remainder of Once Upon a Time in L.A. was canceled, including headlining sets from 50 Cent and Snoop Dogg. “There was an altercation in the roadway backstage. Out of respect for those involved and in coordination with local authorities, artists and organizers decided not to move forward with remaining sets so the festival was ended an hour early,” organizers said in a statement. Advertisement Related Video Drakeo had been scheduled to per...
Rap Song of the Week: Boldy James Gets Ice Cold on “Hot Water Tank”
Our recurring new music feature Rap Song of the Week breaks down the hip-hop tracks you need to hear every Friday. Check out the full playlist here. This week, Boldy James and The Alchemist close out the year strong with the ICECOLDBISHOP-assisted “Hot Water Tank.” Boldy James is known for his prodigious output: Last year alone, he dropped four projects. In 2021, he slowed down the pace a bit, solely releasing his Alchemist team-up Bo Jackson, one of the best albums of the year. Today, the Detroit rapper upped his volume by releasing Super Tecmo Bo, a nine-track project combining a handful of new songs with bonus tracks previously only available on the Bo Jackson vinyl deluxe edition. One of the standouts is “Hot Water Tank” featuring underground LA rapper ICECOLDBISHOP, who brin...
All Ten Astroworld Victims Died of Compression Asphyxia, Says Medical Examiner
The ten people killed at Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival all died as a result of “compression asphyxia,” the Harris County Medical Examiner announced in a report released on Thursday. Compression asphyxia is caused when respiration is prevented by external pressure on the body, limiting oxygen supply to the lungs. Such was the case when the densely packed crowd at Astroworld surged to the stage, causing numerous individuals to become crushed and trampled. Only one of the victims had drugs in their system at the time of their death, which the medical examiner listed as a “contributing factor.” Advertisement Related Video The ten victims ranged in age from nine to 27 years old. Last week, Scott sat down for his first interview since the incident. Speaking to Charlamagne Tha God, the rappe...
Freddie Gibbs Announces 2022 “Space Rabbit Tour”
If you can’t go to outer space, let Big Boss Rabbit bring outer space to you. Freddie Gibbs has announced the 2022 “Space Rabbit Tour,” which finds the Indiana MC hopping across North America. The 22-date tour launches in San Francisco on April 14th before trekking through the southwest and across the Rocky Mountains. By mid-May, Gibbs will take on New York and the northeast, and as the month ends he’ll return to his old stomping grounds in the midwest. “Space Rabbit” lands in Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver in June. Throughout, Gibbs will be supported by various lineups featuring MIKE, Zack Fox, and Redveil. Tickets go on sale Friday, December 17th, with presale beginning on Thursday, December 16th (use code BELLS). You can book your seat here. Advertisement Related Video Gibbs is p...
