Rap
Knox Fortune Announces New Album Stock Child Wonder, Shares “Shirtless”: Stream
Chicago alt-rapper Knox Fortune has announced his new album Stock Child Wonder. It’s due out October 30th, and today he’s giving fans a taste with a new single called “Shirtless”. Stock Child Wonder follows up on his 2017 debut Paradise, and comes four years after his breakout appearance on Chance the Rapper’s Coloring Book. As with its predecessor, the forthcoming record splits the difference between Chicago’s indie rock and rap scenes. It features guest appearances from Windy City indie staples like Lala Lala, Will Miller of Whitney, Macie Stewart of Ohmme, members of Twin Peaks, Resavoir, and more. Additional production is provided by Acid Rap star Nate Fox and Pomo. Whereas previous single “Sincerity” had more of a pop-rap flavor, new song “Shirtless” is a breezy tu...
Bobby Shmurda Denied Parole, Will Remain in Prison Until 2021
Bobby Shmurda will remain in prison until 2021 after a parole board denied his request for early release, according to TMZ. The Brooklyn rapper was arrested in December 2014 on a litany of charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, reckless endangerment, and drug and gun possession. New York City police accused Shmurda of being “the driving force” behind a street gang called GS9, which had been involved in a wave of shootings. Shmurda frequently rapped about drug-dealing, violence, and even murder, which police said were “almost like a real-life document of what they were doing on the street.” In 2016, on the eve of his trial, Shmurda pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree conspiracy and one count of weapons possession, and was sentenced to seven years in prison. U...
Run the Jewels Performing RTJ4 in Full for Adult Swim Voter Registration Concert
Run the Jewels are taking their “fuck the political, the mission is spiritual” message to Adult Swim. The rap duo of Killer Mike and El-P will take over the TV channel for a full-album performance of their latest album, RTJ4, to promote voter registration and the ACLU. Airing Saturday, October 10th at midnight ET and simul-streamed on AdultSwim.com, the performance is dubbed “Holy CalamaVote” (a play on the RTJ4 track “holy calamafuck”). Presented commercial-free, the show will encourage fans to register for and vote in the upcoming presidential election. After the initial broadcast, the concert will be available on the Adult Swim YouTube channel, where fans will have to opportunity to donate to the ACLU. “We’re proud to be a part of this initiative to encourage and enable voting and can’t...
Saba Unleashes New Songs “Mrs. Whoever” and “Something in the Water” Featuring Denzel Curry: Stream
Two years after the release of his excellent sophomore album Care for Me, Chicago rapper Saba has returned with a pair of new songs: “Mrs. Whoever” and “Something in the Water” featuring Denzel Curry. Our former Artist of the Month hasn’t been wholly idle since his last album; as the de facto leader of Pivot Gang, he was instrumental in the 2019 release You Can’t Sit with Us. But with apologies to his immensely talented collaborators, Saba has always stood out for his charisma and the intensity of his musical ideas. Somehow, his voice always sounds slightly different song to song, as he modulates his voice to better suit the beat. That instinct is on display in the contrasting new singles. Saba produced “Mrs. Whoever” himself, but the relaxed backing track is merel...
Busta Rhymes and Anderson .Paak Uncork New Song “YUUUU”: Stream
Busta Rhymes and Anderson .Paak will turn this car around on their banging new driving song “YUUUU”. It’s the latest single from Busta’s forthcoming album Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God. As an ode to U-Turns, “YUUUU” is much more metaphorical than literal, though the sparkling production would certainly lend flair to any high-speed swerving in your future. But in a broader sense, “YUUUU” is a stunt track framed as a willingness to change course, retrace, and take care of unfinished business. “Bitch I had to bust a Uuuu!” .Paak sings, his voice high but falling. He adds, “Know I had to finish what I started/ No, it ain’t too late to turn around, is it?” Busta Rhymes takes his high-octane verse in sixth gear, but he also slows down for a memorable bridge: “Now I’m gettin’ back li...
Baby Keem Drops New Songs “hooligan” and “sons & critics freestyle”: Stream
19-year-old rapper/producer Baby Keem has dropped a pair of songs, “hooligan” and “sons & critics freestyle”. Both are expected to appear on an upcoming album, which will be released by pgLang, the new media company created this year by Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free. Born Hykeem Carter, this California wunderkind had an almost inexplicably quick rise. The official story, as he explained to Complex in 2018, is that he “sent a pack of beats to the TDE email,” and one of them unexpectedly ended up on Black Panther: The Album. He followed that up with a Beyoncé credit, writing and producing “Nile” with Kendrick Lamar on The Lion King: The Gift. For many people, his mysterious ascension was explained when Lamar’s sister tweeted — and almost immediately deleted — a message to Keem c...
Kamaiyah Drops New Collaborative Mixtape Oakland Nights: Stream
Kamaiyah kicked off 2020 with Got It Made, her first project in over three years. Fans thankfully won’t have to nearly wait as long for a follow-up, as the rapper has just dropped off a new mixtape. Titled Oakland Nights, it’s a collaborative effort with fellow Bay Area local Capolow. Spanning 10 tracks, today’s collection finds the two artists proudly repping their favorite coast. Not unlike Kamaiyah’s past releases, Oakland Nights is peppered with bits of West Coast funk flavor, such as on opener “Finer Things” and closing track “So Much Money”. Other songs, meanwhile, are more geared toward the R&B/rap-singer in Kamaiyah and Capolow, including the suave “Digits” and “Undercover”. As Stereogum points out, the release might just be a reference to Kamaiyah’s debut mixtape, A Good ...
Cardi B Joins Brazilian Artist Anitta on New Single “Me Gusta”: Stream
It’s been less than a month since Cardi B successfully sent politicians, conservatives, and sexists into a tizzy with her massive Megan Thee Stallion collaboration “WAP”. But already the New York rapper is back with another joint single sure to get people talking again: “Me Gusta” with Brazilian pop singer Anitta and Puerto Rican rapper Myke Towers. “I really love this song,” Cardi B gushed on Twitter earlier this week. “I don’t get on a song the same day I hear it. Like, I gotta listen to it a couple of times. But as soon as I heard the song, at the end of the night, while I was going to sleep, I kept repeating the hook in my head,” she said, adding, “You guys know how I love Spanish music, you guys know how I love Brazilian funk, and I’m just really excited.” Check out “Me Gusta” below v...
Rico Nasty Shares New Single “Own It”: Stream
Rico Nasty is back today with a new single called “Own It”. Easily one of the Maryland MC’s most accessible tracks to date, the song is built on a rhythmic beat that rolls along muted exotic tones just hinting at a Middle Eastern vibe. Fittingly for a track called “Own It”, Rico Nasty makes no excuses for herself in the lyrics. “Talk my shit, I ain’t gonna stop,” she confidentially professes. “When I walk in, jaws gonna drop.” The song’s music video continues this unapologetic self-proprietorship. Featuring a number of wild outfits and an abundant use of a fisheye lens, the clip aligns the very 2020 artist with the weirdos of ’90s rap. Take a look below. Editors’ Picks “Own It” follows a number of singles Rico Nasty has dropped throughout the year. In addition to her solo cuts like “...
Rihanna Reveals Announces 2020 Savage x Fenty Show with Travis Scott, Rosalía, More
Rihanna has announced the second annual Savage X Fenty lingerie fashion show. According to a new trailer, the event will stream through Amazon Prime on October 2nd and feature performances headlined by Travis Scott and Rosalía. Founded in 2018, Rihanna envisioned Savage X Fenty as a more inclusive underwear brand, with a wide-range of fabric colors to complement all skin tones and an expanded range of sizes. The first show took place last September during New York Fashion Week, and saw appearances by Migos and Halsey, among others. This year’s lineup is even more star-studded, as in addition to Scott and Rosalía, Savage X Fenty Vol. 2 will see performances from Miguel, Bad Bunny, Mustard, Roddy Rich, and Ella Mai. That would be one hell of a concert, but of course the purpose of this event...
Action Bronson Reveals Funky New Single “Mongolia”: Stream
In just a little over a week, Action Bronson will serve up his marine-friendly new album, Only for Dolphins. Already we’ve heard two early offerings in “Golden Eye” and “Latin Grammys”. Now, the Queens-born rapper is unboxing a third preview with “Mongolia”. A collaboration with fellow hip-hop acts Meyhem Lauren and hologram, the track stands apart from its predecessors thanks to its rubbery funk riff and Bam Bam’s revolving door of unexpected references. In seemingly one breath, Bronson slips in mentions of The Mets, yogurt chain 16 Handles, and actor David Caruso — and that’s all after a quick-fire sample from The Wire. The MC also name-checks his own Lamb Over Rice EP from 2019. For their parts, Meyhem Lauren flaunts his glossy medallions, and hologram proudly eats African mushroom...
The Notorious B.I.G.’s Plastic Crown Sells at Auction for $594,000
Photographer Barron Claiborne paid $6 for the plastic crown that The Notorious B.I.G. wore in his iconic “King of New York” magazine shoot. Now, that same circlet has fetched $594,750 at Sotheby’s first ever hip-hop auction. The bidding took place Tuesday, September 15th, and other notable items up for grabs included a one-of-a-kind Def Jam jacket and a triptych of paintings by Fab Five Freddy. But the plastic coronet was always going to be the star of the auction. Now 57, Claiborne photographed Biggie wearing the crown in 1997, three days before his death. The stunning images later appeared in Rap Pages magazine, but as Claiborne recalled, the shoot almost didn’t happen. At the time, Bad Boy Records owner Sean “Puffy” Combs was against the whole concept. Claiborne expl...
