Rap
Megan Thee Stallion and Young Thug Join Forces on New Song “Don’t Stop”: Stream
Young Thug (photo by Philip Cosores) and Megan Thee Stallion (photo via Instagram) Megan Thee Stallion and Young Thug have teamed up to release a new collaborative single called “Don’t Stop”. Take a listen below via its accompanying video. “Don’t Stop” is the latest in what feels like dozens of collaborations for Megan this year. Throughout 2020, she’s dropped new music with Beyoncé, DaBaby, Juicy J, and of course Cardi B. The viral hit she made with the latter has stirred up plenty of controversy, with Republican congressional candidates, infamous Fox anchors, and reality TV stars alike all freaking out over the sexually fueled number. “Don’t Stop” also comes in anticipation of Megan’s first-ever appearance on Saturday Night Live this weekend. Editors’ Picks Unfortunately, Mega...
21 Savage and Metro Boomin Release New Collaborative Album Savage Mode II: Stream
21 Savage and Metro Boomin have shared their latest collaborative album, Savage Mode II. Stream it in full below via Apple Music and Spotify. The new 15-track effort comes four years after the pair’s Savage Mode EP, a project that bumped Metro Boomin into a new stratosphere of in-demand production and helped 21 Savage make a name for himself. After a petition urging them to release the follow-up garnered over 15,000 signatures, they announced its imminent premiere with a trailer voiced by Morgan Freeman. “‘Savage’ is defined as fierce, beastly, and untamed. ‘Mode’ is defined as a way of operating or using the system,” explained the acclaimed Freeman in the clip. “So to be in ‘Savage Mode’ is to go hard, not allowing anything to stop or deter you from your mission. Basically, this...
Chuck Strangers Returns with New Single “Regular Season”: Stream
Pro Era member Chuck Strangers had a busy 2018 thanks to the rollout cycle for his debut solo album, Consumers Park. Since then, the Brooklyn-based rapper has been relatively silent, but he’s looking to change that today by releasing a new song called “Regular Season”. This is the first official single Strangers has released through his own label, Sounds of Beverly, which he announced earlier this year. A press release suggests there’s more to come from Strangers soon, be it other solo tracks of collaborative material with other artists. The latter wouldn’t come as a surprise considering what a pivotal role he’s played in other artists’ careers over the years. In a statement, Strangers said he felt inspired to write “Regular Season” in part due to the natural evolution that comes with grow...
Westside Gunn Details New Album Who Made the Sunshine
Griselda mastermind Westside Gunn has provided details for his next album, Who Made the Sunshine. His major-label debut arrives this Friday, October 2nd through Shady Records. Westside is surely one of the few people on this blessed Earth who can call 2020 his best year yet. April’s Pray for Paris was an early contender for rap album of the year, and he followed that up in July with the solid, though occasionally uneven mixtape FLYGOD Is An Awesome God II. Even beyond that, his labelmate and real-life brother Conway the Machine put out the excellent Griselda effort From King to a God, while recent signee Armani Caesar made waves with her new tape The Liz. Now Mr. Gunn is ready to put a bow on 2020 with his debut on Shady Records. Who Made t...
Testament’s Alex Skolnick Unveils New Rap Song “Trump Sucks”: Watch
Testament’s Alex Skolnick (photo by Antonio Marino Jr.), President Trump (via YouTube) Testament’s Alex Skolnick has long been regarded as one of thrash metal’s finest guitarists, but now he’s showing off his rap skills. The metal musician spits verses on his new original track “Trump Sucks”. The veteran rocker is not exactly Snoop Dogg when it comes to his flow, but he’s got some clever rhymes that spotlight his gripes with Donald Trump and the current administration in the White House. Skolnick was inspired to write and record the song by certain responses to his recent Instagram post condemning the president. “This song just poured out of me yesterday,” wrote Skolnick about the song. “It was completed in a matter of hours. To all the # Trump2020 and # Maga folks who’ve been floodi...
21 Savage and Metro Boomin Announce New Album Savage Mode 2
21 Savage and Metro Boomin have announced Savage Mode 2, the follow-up to the 2016 trap blockbuster Savage Mode. The sequel arrives this Friday, October 2nd, and in the anticipation, the duo have shared a trailer narrated by none other than Morgan Freeman. The original EP came at a pivotal time in both men’s careers. Metro Boomin was 22 years old and already had half a dozen big hits under his belt. He may have been an in-demand beat-maker, but everybody knows Metro Boomin wants some more, and the collaboration with 21 Savage allowed him a chance to executive produce and expand his empire. As for Savage, he was a 23-year-old rising rapper in Atlanta with a pair of mixtapes to his name. After the co-sign from Metro Boomin, he became a star almost overnight. The Savage Mode 2 ...
Public Enemy Are Mostly in Full Effect on the Rallying What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down?: Review
The Lowdown: 2020 has become a year of extremes. A global pandemic that will forever affect the way that we live our lives. A political climate that has created division at a level that the United States has rarely seen. And a racial divide that has reached a boiling point. During times as distressing as these, it is important to have representation — a voice that holds the establishment accountable and gives an in-depth report on the current state of the nation and the world at large. For over 30 years, the legendary hip-hop crew Public Enemy have provided that hard-hitting soundtrack reporting back on our oft-troubled country. Last Friday, PE released their 15th studio album, What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down?. Their first on Def Jam since 1998, Chuck D, Flavor Flav, and DJ Lord ...
Kodak Black Asks Donald Trump to Commute His Prison Sentence
Kodak Black has sent a petition to Donald Trump asking him commute his prison sentence (via TMZ). In August of 2019, the rapper pleaded guilty to federal weapons charges in Florida. He was sentenced to 46 months in prison, and his time served has been shockingly eventful. Early on, he put a prison guard in the hospital after grabbing his testicles in a drug-addled fight. Afterwards, he was moved from a Miami correctional facility to a maximum-security Kentucky prison. Then, this past April, he pleaded guilty again, this time to gun possession charges in New York. That sentence will be served concurrently with his other charges. Last week Black sued the Federal Bureau of Prisons, alleging abuse by Kentucky prison guards — including a “gang beating” involving correctional officers “flicking”...
Kamala Harris Names Tupac the “Best Rapper Alive”
When asked who she thinks is the “best rapper alive,” Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris named the (officially) deceased artist 2pac. This suggests that two decades of underground research have just been proved correct — dear readers, Tupac Shakur is alive! The government lied to us, but they couldn’t keep it secret when 2pac himself told the truth! Wake up, sheeple! Wake up! she hasn’t listened to rap music in a while and whiffed on a softball question. Senator Harris made this revealing remark in conversation with CNN’s Angela Rye and representatives of the NAACP. When the syllables “2pac,” were uttered, Rye quickly interrupted with, “He’s not alive!” Harris laughed the laugh of a terrified stooge who has just disappointed her Illuminati masters, and said, “I know, I kn...
Action Bronson Unveils New Album Only For Dolphins: Stream
Action Bronson has unveiled his new album Only For Dolphins. Stream it below via Apple Music and Spotify. The album marks Bronson’s sixth full-length record overall and follows 2018’s White Bronco. Spanning 12 songs, the project boasts guest bars from Meyhem Lauren, Hologram, and Yung Mehico, as well as production provided by The Alchemist, Harry Fraud, DJ Muggs, and Daringer, among others. However, perhaps the LP’s most notable contributions come from an unlikely, non-human source: scattered throughout are giddy dolphin cackles. In a press statement, Bam Bam attributed his obsession with the aquatic mammals to their intelligence. “The dolphin is one of the most intelligent creatures ever created on whatever planet we’re on,” he said. “They have their own way of communicating. They have nu...
Polo G Reveals New Single “Epidemic”: Stream
Earlier this week, Polo G made his TV debut on The Tonight Show. Now, he’s returned with “Epidemic”, his first single since dropping The GOAT back in May. Despite its suggestive title, today’s offering is not about the coronavirus outbreak. Instead, the Chicago rapper focuses on another widespread occurrence that continues to take lives, especially within his own community: gun violence on the streets. “Every day a gamble with your life, all we know is risk,” Polo G rap-sings on the track, which is produced by Tahj Money, DMAC, Londn Blu, and Karltin Bankz. Later, he vows to be more careful for the sake of his family. “Promise to my son that the streets won’t get no more of me/ Remember every line from that obituary poetry.” Editors’ Picks Frequent collaborator Ryan Lynch d...
Song of the Week: Travis Scott Flaunts His Business Acumen on “FRANCHISE”
Young Thug and Travis Scott (photos by Philip Cosores), M.I.A. (photo by Ben Kaye) Song of the Week breaks down and talks about the song we just can’t get out of our head each week. Find these songs and more on our Spotify New Sounds playlist. Sometimes a rapper becomes bigger than the game. Travis Scott got there before he turned 30. Let’s do the rundown: owns his own record label, Cactus Jack Records; founded his own annual music festival, Astroworld; collabs on sneakers with Nike that are so popular that some stores won’t carry them for fear of being bombarded by Scott’s fans; and has his own meal featured at participating McDonald’s restaurants. That’s without mentioning the 45 million in album sales, six Grammys, and a Billboard Music Award. A lot of rappers have gold grills and drop ...
