Rap
Big Boi, Sleepy Brown, and Killer Mike Perform “We the Ones (Remix)” on Fallon: Watch
It was Atlanta night in New York City on Monday as Big Boi and Sleepy Brown brought their new remix of “We the Ones” to The Tonight Show. They were joined by fellow Dungeon Family alums Killer Mike and Big Rube. In its original form, “We the Ones” appeared on the self-titled 2017 EP from production trio Organized Noize, of which Brown is a member. Bigs Boi and Rube were already present, but it took last month’s remix to add Killer Mike of Run the Jewels. The track has always been a protest song, but since it came out Killer Mike has become one of the most notable voices of the resistance. His verse added a new perspective centered around aspiration and faith. After an introduction from Jimmy Fallon, the song opened with Big Rube at a podium labelled with the official “Seal o...
Milwaukee Official Apologizes for Promoting Weatherization Assistance Program with “WAP”
From 1976 until just quite recently, there was nothing funny about the Weatherization Assistance Program. But for this year’s National Weatherization Day on October 30th, those initials “WAP” got Ryan Clancy’s juices flowing. The Milwaukee County Supervisor promoted the program on his personal Facebook page with an image of Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion. The image contained the words “Weatherization Assistance Program” and the parodic lyrics, “There’s some holes in this house!” That meme, along with a press release describing W.A.P.’s benefits, caused a public backlash. Now, at the bequest of the weatherization staff, Clancy has issued an apology. The news was first reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. With all the grace of Old Media, it described “WAP” as “a song so vivid an...
Lil Durk Drops New Song “Stay Down” Featuring Young Thug and 6LACK: Stream
Lil Durk has dropped his new song “Stay Down” featuring a hook from 6LACK and a guest verse from Young Thug. This is the second single from Durk’s forthcoming album The Voice. Produced by Metro Boomin and DY Krazy, “Stay Down” is all about priorities. Specifically, Durkio prioritizes sex and lots of money. With the aid of auto-tune, he raps “Only five star shit, ain’t no thots with us/ Chanel round shades like binoculars/ Diamond nose ring, they think Pac with us.” He’s got punchlines about The Proud Family (“I gave you every Penny like Oscar”), and shows off some non-English vocabulary to prove that women of other cultures and faiths are more than welcome in his bed. But the Chicago native’s line about going “from Harold’s Chicken to eating lobster,” is unlikely to win him many ...
Busta Rhymes Performs “YUUUU” with Anderson .Paak on Fallon: Watch
Busta Rhymes dropped his star-studded comeback album Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God on Friday. The New York rapper celebrated his big release by stopping by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon later that evening to perform “YUUUU” — and he received some on-stage assistance from none other than Anderson .Paak. Backed by a live band and standing atop a proper stage, the gym rat and veteran rapper led his crew through a synchronized dance in time with the staccato rap song. He, Spliff Star, and .Paak all took turns spitting out their lines while dancing side to side, rolling their arms in the air, and staying light on their toes. Their chemistry was undeniable, and for performing to an empty room, they sure knew how to keep the mood high. Don’t miss the moment where B...
Killer Mike Links Up with WooDaReleast for New Song “Greatness”: Stream
Killer Mike (photo by Ben Kaye) and WooDaRealest (photo courtesy of his Instagram) Killer Mike has joined the up-and-coming Atlanta rapper WooDaRealest for a new single called “Greatness”. It’s part of a forthcoming compilation album that Pharrell’s creative collective i am OTHER is releasing in collaboration with SoundCloud. As to be expected with Killer Mike on the track, “Greatness” is a politically-charged banger meant to rally up listeners as Election Day grows ever closer. “Ain’t no savior coming, Black folks gotta save ourselves/ If it come to your life or a crooked copper don’t be slaughtered/ Word to Assata,” the Run the Jewels rapper spits raps in his classic, matter-of-fact flow. At the end of the track, Mike returns with a mini sermon urging people to take to the streets instea...
Common Reveals New Album A Beautiful Revolution Pt 1: Stream
Just in time for what’s sure to be a very tense Election Day, Common has dropped a new album called A Beautiful Revolution Pt 1. Stream it in full below via Apple Music and Spotify. In a statement, the ever-socially conscious and inspiring Common described his new LP as an “affirmation.” He added, “It’s recognition. It’s elevation. It’s music to go with a movement. Because the truth is, there is still so much work to do. Regardless of the outcome of the election, we need to make sure things do not return to the status quo.” The rapper isn’t out protesting by himself, though. A Beautiful Revolution Pt 1 features contributions from the Stevie Wonder and Robert Glasper, as well as Black Thought (“Say Peace”) and Lenny Kravitz and Public Enemy’s Chuck D (“A Riot in My Mind”). Karriem Rigg...
Lil Wayne Endorses Donald Trump
Lil Wayne is the latest rapper to come out in support of Donald Trump. In a tweet posted on Thursday evening, Wayne revealed that he recently met with Trump and was won over by his commitment to the “Platinum Plan” for Black America, as well as his past actions achieving criminal justice reform. “Just had a great meeting with @realdonaldtrump @potus besides what he’s done so far with criminal reform, the platinum plan is going to give the community real ownership,” Wayne wrote. “He listened to what we had to say today and assured he will and can get it done. 🤙🏾” According to Bloomberg, the Trump Administration’s “Platinum Plan” commits to unlocking $500 billion in access to capital to Black communities in addition to creating three million new jobs. It also c...
Kendrick Lamar Joins Busta Rhymes on New Song “Look Over Your Shoulder”: Stream
Veteran rapper Busta Rhymes has more to flaunt these days than just a fresh physique: his forthcoming album features the first new Kendrick Lamar verse of 2020. Their collaborative song is called “Look Over Your Shoulder” and has been released today in anticipation of the album’s October 30th release. “Look Over Your Shoulder” technically dates back a few years. The joint track was initially leaked around 2018, and then recirculated again in 2019. Even so, at this point — more than three years removed from the damn good DAMN. — any Kendrick is good Kendrick. As with those early leaks, the 2020 version is built around the Jackson 5 classic “I’ll Be There”, with Busta and Kung Fu Kenny trading bars both sentimental and boastful. During his anticipated turn in the spotlight, Kendrick pro...
Goodie Mob Announce New Album Survival Kit Featuring André 3000, Big Boi, and Chuck D
Just in time for Thanksgiving, Goodie Mob have announced a kind of Dungeon Family reunion. Their new album Survival Kit drops November 13th, and will feature guest verses from old collaborators André 3000, Big Boi, and Big Rube, as well as the legend Chuck D. Production was handled by the Family crew Organized Noize. If the four members of Goodie Mob, the three producers in Organized Noize, the two representatives of OutKast, and Rube did come together at a Thanksgiving feast, their roles would be clear: André 3000 and Big Boi are the brothers who don’t talk anymore; Khujo and T-Mo are cousins who’re closer than brothers; Organized Noize cook and carve the turkey; Big Rube delivers the blessing; Big Gipp loudly says, “Their eyes are red!” after you and your cousin come back from a wal...
De La Soul Release New Single “Remove 45” featuring Chuck D, Talib Kweli, and Pharoahe Monch: Stream
Never ones to hold back their feelings, De La Soul have a delivered a pre-election Donald Trump protest song called “Remove 45”. They’re joined on the track by several other hip-hop luminaries, including Chuck D, Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch, and Styles P. The track was produced by Supa Dave West, and begins with audio of Trump himself. But he can hardly whip out the dog whistle before a chorus of aggrieved voices tells him to “Shut up!” The hook samples Public Enemy’s 1991 classic “Shut ‘Em Down”, chopping and spinning Chuck D so that he calls out, “1, 2, 3, remove 4, 5!” That’s clever and all, but the real flavor in the song comes from the veteran lyricism. “Remove 45” is five-and-a-half minutes of punchlines and policy analysis, goofy jokes and serious concerns. As De La Soul’s Posdnous ...
Kendrick Lamar Features on New Busta Rhymes Album
Busta Rhymes has convened a long list of special guests for his new album, Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God. However, there’s one name that rules them all: King Kendrick Lamar. The Compton rapper features on a track called “Look Over Your Shoulder” and, believe it or not, it’s his very first release of 2020. “Look Over Your Shoulder” technically dates back a few years. The collaboration was initially leaked around 2018, and then recirculated online again in 2019. Even so, those earlier versions had Michael Jackson attached, while the 2020 iteration does not — meaning the song has evolved in some way since it first hit the web. Additionally, at this point — more than three years removed from DAMN. — we’ll take pretty much anything Kendrick gives us. Kung Fu Kenny was mos...
Donald Trump Gains Lil Pump’s Endorsement, But Loses 50 Cent’s
We’re just over a week away from the election; if you truly don’t know who you’re voting for yet, there’s probably not a lot that can be said to convince you one way or another. But if for some reason what millionaire rappers think might sway you, consider this: Lil Pump has now endorsed Donald Trump, just as former champion 50 Cent has jumped off the bandwagon. Lil Pump made his political allegiance known in a pair of Instagram posts. One featured the rapper’s face photoshopped into a picture of someone shaking Trump’s hand. “THE DAY I MET TRUMP,” read the caption, along with the gobbledygook hashtag #trump202022020. In a since-deleted follow-up video, the Harvard Dropout rapper made clear his stance was based on the same misleading tax numbers 50 Cent used in his own endorsement of the c...
