There will always be generational debates in Hip Hop culture. 24-year-old Darryl Dwayne Granberry (aka DDG) shared his viewpoint about contemporary rap on Twitter.
“Today’s rappers are 10x better than the rappers back in the [day]… Respectfully,” posted DDG on Wednesday night. That tweet garnered over 3,500 likes.
After another user stated today’s rappers cannot compare to legends like 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G., DDG responded, “On some real s###… when the last time [you] listened to either in the car… BE TRUTHFUL.”
Today’s rappers are 10x better than the rappers back in the today.. Respectfully
Unsurprisingly, other people online also pushed back on DDG’s comments. The Epic recording artist later offered more explanation for his disputed take on Hip Hop at the moment.
“I respect the older generation of Hip Hop, but this [generation’s] creativity [is] on another level [for real]. Hip Hop ain’t never been the number 1 genre until NOW,” DDG tweeted.
This is not the first time a rising rapper caught heat for specific statements about icons like Pac and Biggie. In recent years, Lil Yachty and Lil Xan faced the wrath of certain Hip Hop heads for their respective opinions.
i respect the older generation of hiphop, but this generation creativity on another level fr. Hip Hop ain’t never been the number 1 genre until NOW.
Granberry first rose to fame as a vlogger on YouTube. His DDG Family channel has nearly 4 million subscribers. The PontiacMadeDDG VLOGS channel has an additional 2.8 million subs.
DDG began releasing music around 2016 before earning a spot on the 2021 XXL Freshman Class cover. Since his turn toward music, he worked with other recording artists such as Famous Dex, YBN Almighty Jay, Queen Naija, Blueface, and YG.
MizOrMac has reportedly been acquitted of the attempted murder of fellow artist Midas the Jagoban and her manager.
Popular U.K. drill rapper Mucktar ”MizOrMac” Khan was accused of shooting 19-year-old afroswing artist Midas The Jagaban and her manager in South East London on Nov. 30, 2020. A statement from his legal team confirms that the rapper was acquitted after a five-week trial.
MizOrMac was charged with attempted murder after cops alleged he fired the gun that injured Midas The Jagaban.
According to the police report:
“Four suspects were subsequently detained and arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life; possession of ammunition; possession of an offensive weapon and aggravated vehicle taking.”
The officers searched the vehicle and surrounding area and recovered four Rambo knives, a further knife, a self-loading pistol, and two magazines of ammunition.
The police report continued, “Of the four suspects arrested; one has been released under investigation; one has been bailed pending further inquiries and another has been recalled to prison.”
The statement from MizOrMac’s lawyers also revealed that the court criticized the cops handling of evidence in the case. “The trial, which lasted for five weeks at Croydon Crown Court, involved an analysis of, and criticism of, the Met’s handling of key exhibits.”
A member of the Harlem Spartans drill collective, MizOrMac was previously sentenced to six years in prison on Feb. 9, 2018 after being convicted of possession of a firearm and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. In December 2020, shortly after his release, he announced he had been recalled to prison while under investigation for the new charges.
Queen Latifah is giving back to her hometown, launching a groundbreaking affordable housing project in Newark, New Jersey.
The Hip-Hop legend joined Newark Mayor Ras Baraka Tuesday (Apr. 26) to kick off the ceremony for the new 76-unit housing development.
Queen Latifah is looking towards the future of Newark with the Rise Living development that will also transform several local properties into modern housing and mixed-use spaces. Rent will start at $1,800 a month.
“It took a while, but we stayed with it and it changed and it morphed, and we stayed with what we needed to do, and the timing is right now for this place to rise,” said Queen Latifah.
Queen Latifah felt compelled to act after seeing all the empty or run-down properties in once flourishing neighborhoods. “I’m proud to be from here,” she continued. “I grew up around here playing in West Side Park, a block away. My grandfather’s hardware store was blocks from here. I drove past this block. I saw what was needed on this block, houses that weren’t lived in. Some were really dilapidated, and so I thought, ‘Why not here?’”
Queen Latifah Breaks Ground
A beaming Queen Latifah stood proudly wearing a hard hat, shovel in hand as she broke ground on the development. “I’m a little bit emotional that we got walls up, we got windows,” she revealed during the ceremony.
The Rise Living development is named in honor of Queen Latifah’s late mother, a former Newark school teacher. An acronym for “Rita is Still Everywhere,” the project is a collaboration between Life Assets Development, Gonsosa, and the BlueSugar Corporation, co-founded by Queen Latifah.
“RISE Living groundbreaking ceremony today,” penned Latifah, while sharing an image from the ceremony on instagram. “Can’t wait for the world to see the completion of the journey.”
Pusha T shut down the possibility of a collaboration with Drake after their recent online feud despite Kanye West’s reconciliation with the Toronto rapper.
When Ye and Drizzy reunited and finally put their differences aside for the Free Larry Hoover Benefit Concert, many wondered how Pusha T felt about the former foes coming together and if he would ever do the same. He answered both questions during a recent appearance on Shade45 while on his It’s Almost Dry press run.
“I thought that was good for them,” King Push said. I think they have this thing where, like, they sorta need to co-exist. Those two need to co-exist in their world and play within where they at.”
Relations between Pusha T and Drake turned sour over the years, and the two famously fired diss tracks at each other. While King Push has made it clear he holds no ill will towards the Toronto rapper, he has no intention of working with him.
When asked if he would ever get on a song with Drake and Ye, Pusha T replied, “Nah! No, I’m cool on all of that. I know the song I wanna make, I know the people I wanna work with, and it ain’t that. He added, “I want Ye to produce it, but other than that, I definitely don’t wanna do a record.” Check the interview below, where he also addresses Kid Cudi’s issue with Kanye.
Meanwhile, a recent Drake leak had many listeners wondering if the beef with Pusha T was still live. The “Diet Coke” rapper addressed the alleged diss during an interview with the Breakfast Club.
“It sounds old to me,” Pusha said. “Like, the flows sound old. And then it’s like, even what is the considered, like, the shots. … It’s like, bro, after what I’ve done. Like ‘the middleman’ talk and all that type of talk. That’s not scathing for me. I’m here to, like, burn down everything.”
Pusha T also explained that he won’t be subbing anyone on a track. “I’m not subliminal with nobody today. Like, I’m not doing that,” he added.
While Kim Kardashian impressed audiences with her comedic skills during her Saturday Night Livedebut, the latest episode of The Kardashians reveals the drama going down behind the scenes on the day.
Kanye told Kris Jenner that he left New York to fly to L.A. and back to get something for his then-wife. Kim Kardashian then gathered her family to announce what Kanye had done for her.
“Kanye flew home last night,” she revealed to Kris, her sister, Khloe Kardashian, and a few other members of her inner circle. He came back this morning, and I want to show you guys what he brought me.”
Kim Kardashian held back tears as she pulled the tape out from Kanye’s luggage. “He got me all of the tape back. And he flew home and he got the computer, and it was on the hard drive. He met up with Ray J at the airport and got it all back for me.”
Kim Kardashian Reveals What’s On The Tape
However, Kim Kardashian confirmed after watching the footage – it’s not a second explicit tape. “It was just footage of us at a restaurant, at a nightclub — nothing weird,” she shared. “So now I can take a deep breath and not worry about this right before SNL, right before the Bar and everything.”
In a confessional, she added, “I know Kanye did this for me, but he also did this for my kids. I want to shield them from this as much as I can and if I have the power or Kanye has the power to, that is just the most important thing to me. I’m just so emotional because of it. It just means a lot to me.”
Ye flew from NY to LA and back to NY overnight to get the remaining unreleased footage of Kim's sex tape from Ray J and give it to her before her SNL appearance: pic.twitter.com/Mv0agCseUE
Pusha T gave his fans some fresh new visuals less than a week after dropping his highly anticipated new album, It’s Almost Dry.
The eerily dark video for “Call My Bluff” directed by Omar Jones & Onda sees Pusha T embrace a more sinister side, showing folks precisely what could happen if you get on the wrong side of him.
Scenes include Pusha T enjoying a sumptuous dinner party surrounded by guests. In contrast, we also see a solitary King Push dining on rare steak while sitting in the center of a plastic-covered chamber, reminiscent of a Dexter-style kill room.
Pusha T teased the arrival of the unsettling new video via his social media, sharing an ominous trailer for the song. Watch the full video below.
According to Pharrel, he helped Pusha T embody a more menacing character during their studio sessions. While they were recording, he would play The Joker on mute, allowing Push to channel the nefarious energy.
“For me, I’ve known who Arthur Fleck was all my life,” Pharrell says, describing how Push personifies Joaquin Phoenix’s character. “It’s him. That’s who the f### he is. He’s really that. And he hadn’t seen Joker. That’s the funny thing. I had to get him to watch it. He hadn’t even seen [the movie], and when I got him to watch it I was like, ‘Bro, you know this is you, right?’ And at first, he thought I was kidding. I had to tell him I wasn’t kidding. He’s watching the s### that he does, and he’s like, ‘Oh, this is me.’”
Meanwhile, Pusha T revealed that fans can thank Kanye West for the new “It’s Almost Dry merch.
“YE COOKED UP THE BRICK,” he announced. “DONDA DESIGNED BOX SET FOR SALE NOW.”
Megan Fox says we have it all mixed up with her and her fiancé Machine Gun Kelly! They do drink each other’s blood. This is true! However, it is ONLY for ritual purposes!
The unique couple was engaged in January and she said yes. To consummate their looming marriage, the actress revealed: “And then we drank each other’s blood.”
The British version of Glamour magazine managed to get the details from her and said her initial statement may not have offered proper context.
“SO, I guess to ‘drink’ each other’s blood might mislead people or people are imagining us with goblets and we’re like Game of Thrones, drinking each other’s blood. It’s just a few drops, but yes, we do consume each other’s blood on occasion for ritual purposes only,” she explained.
“I read tarot cards and I’m into astrology and I’m doing all these metaphysical practices and meditations. And I do rituals on new moons and full moons, and all these things, she continued. “And so, when I do it, it’s a passage or it is used for a reason. And it is controlled where it’s like, ‘Let’s shed a few drops of blood and each drink it.'”
Some songs grow on you the more you listen to them; others you can identify as a gem the moment the first note is introduced. Carter Jamison has repeatedly made incredibly impactful music that hooks the listeners, but we have to take our hats off to his latest song, ‘At a Standstill.’ According to Carter Jamison, his music is a representation of his life and growth; that is why he is delighted that ‘At A Standstill’ is being recognized as the best one yet.
Carter Jamison explains that when creating the song, it wasn’t about creating the best song; rather, creating music that speaks about his growth in music and personal life and touches on real-life experiences. The song is now a resounding anthem that most people have tagged “relatable,” “the best song ever,” “a song that speaks my mind,” and so many others. Carter Jamison’s song, ‘At a Standstill,’ has received a lot of support from fans far and wide.
According to fans, the song is a perfect blend of reality and fantasy. It takes you through so many emotions, helping you make sense of each one. From the moment you listen to the song, you are immediately transported into the world of that song and its lyrics. Critics have also pointed out that ‘At A Standstill’ is incredibly raw, unfiltered, and fits right into the current music wave. Carter Jamison says that combining the features of the song together has been a great experience, especially now that the song has gained a widespread fan base.
Carter Jamison asserts that when musicians make songs from their heart, guided by their love for the art form, it becomes easier for audiences to relate to the creation. While ‘At A Standstill’ is now known as his best song yet, Carter Jamison hopes to continue creating impactful music that resonates with audiences everywhere. This is not the end but the beginning of a long and rewarding journey.
International producer and songwriter DJ Eevichov returned to the spotlight with his newest track ‘Riptides’. ‘Riptides’ features an eerie mix of different samples and instrumentals to create an interesting listen from start to finish. The new single follows up his earlier EP release ‘Summer Days’.
Pusha T sets a high standard for his collaborations with Jay-Z.
The Def Jam artist spoke about working with Jay-Z in an interview with SiriusXM’s Swaggy Sie. Pusha T noted he only hits up the Roc Nation boss for a verse under the right circumstances.
“Hov, to me, he’s the best rapper, like just period,” he said. “So, when I reach out to him about a record, I feel like he sort of knows that I’m not reaching out to him about no b#######. I must really think that this is like a joint, something that’s gonna add to the great legacy that he has.”
The Clipse rapper most recently enlisted Jay-Z for the song “Neck & Wrist,” which appears on the new albumIt’s Almost Dry. Pusha T believed Hov would elevate the track.
“I basically just write the verse, lay the hook down,” he said. “I do everything and just send it to him with a space open — I send it and I just hope he hit back. He’ll hit back. And this particular time he was like, ‘Man, what you want me to say to this man? You going crazy!’ And I was like, ‘Man, just, you know, turn it up.’”
Pusha T continued, “I only send records to him when I feel like there’s more needed to the record and there’s nothing else I can really say to it. And I feel like where he’s made it in his career and in his life, he can always add an uptick to the record. I can’t say what he says. There’s other people I could go out I know I’d get a dope verse from, but I probably could’ve said that.”
The music industry has been given the chance to expand even further in this day and age. The boom of the internet and social media particularly has given many the chance to showcase their skills. However, it’s still extremely challenging to make a name for yourself in the music industry. You have to work with immense dedication and passion.
Rapper Valentin Lozano who comes from Florida and goes by the name Lefapp is taking the music industry by storm with his talent. He is passionate and strongly believes that the music he produces is of high quality. Lefapp’s journey is very inspiring and proves that without hard work, nothing is possible.
Along with being an artist, Lefapp is a successful entrepreneur and has invested a lot of time into establishing his business. He has multi-tasked his way through many difficult times. While focusing on his studies, Lefapp has produced music and worked towards his business as well. Moreover, he has been freelancing on the side as well.
At the age of only 25, Lefapp has been able to make a lot happen. Despite setbacks and challenges, he kept growing and pushing himself toward success. However, Lefapp still has many goals to accomplish in the upcoming years. He sees himself as a famous and successful rapper and producer who will be working with a major label company.
In addition to that, being able to collaborate with well-known musicians such as Sauce Walk, Peso Peso, and Brick WolfPack is also on his bucket list. Achieving all this might take some time, but it will happen due to Lefapp’s belief in himself.
His advice to others is to always be aware of their worth and remain confident. Many people might not be able to see your worth right away, but your success will eventually prove it to them. If you’re passionate about something, give it a shot before running out of time. His energy and a positive mindset are something that holds a lot of value. Lefapp’s journey to success is inspiring and motivational.
Lefapp’s personality is unique and intriguing. His hobbies are varied, and he is interested in philosophy, psychology, and business. He has studied computer science and is dedicated to gaining knowledge in different fields. Making music and producing beats is something he lives for, but that doesn’t stop him from growing in other areas.
People like him are role models for many up-and-coming artists, creators, and dreamers. Everything he has gained so far is because of the mindset he has towards life. Lefapp believes in his talent and has gone all out to gain more experience. He has also worked with different companies to understand how things work practically.
He is influential and has almost 10K followers on Instagram. His followers and supporters appreciate his personality and love what he does in life. His achievements motivate many to work towards achieving their utmost potential.
Lefapp is an icon who deserves a lot more recognition for the person he has become over the years. He has proven that anything is possible if you believe in yourself and refuse to give up.
Tim Westwood stepped down from his Capital Xtra radio show after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct.
Global, the parent company of Capital Xtra, confirmed the veteran DJ’s exit on Wednesday (April 27).
“Following the claims that have recently come to light, Tim Westwood has stepped down from his show until further notice,” Global said in a statement.
The DJ faces allegations of predatory sexual behavior and groping. Seven Black women, who’ve chosen to remain anonymous, detailed his misconduct in a joint investigation conducted by the BBC and the Guardian.
Three of the women recounted their experiences with the DJ’s predatory sexual behavior. Four others described his unwanted touching at events. All of the alleged victims were in their late teens or early 20s when the incidents occurred.
The alleged incidents date back to 1992. The most recent happened in 2017.
Tim Westwood denied the allegations against him. His spokesperson said the women’s claims are false.
“In a career that has spanned 40 years, there have never been any complaints made against him officially or unofficially,” the spokesperson declared. “Tim Westwood strongly rejects all allegations of wrongdoing.”
BBC Three released a documentary titled Tim Westwood: Abuse of Power on Tuesday (April 26). The documentary includes the alleged victims’ stories, but it’s only available to watch in the UK.
The Interscope Records artist revealed plans to make another rap album in an interview with Audacy. Machine Gun Kelly explained why he’s returning to Hip Hop after pivoting to pop-punk music on his last two albums.
“For myself, I’m going to make a rap album,” Machine Gun Kelly said. “For myself, for no other reason, no point to prove, no chip on my shoulder. Like, ‘OK, well, I did that. Now I gotta show ‘em.’ It’s just like, if I keep doing things to prove things to people, I’m gonna one, drive myself crazy, and two, not make a good product.”
He continued, “I made Tickets [to My Downfall] and Mainstream Sellout because I wanted to make them. I need to now also make people miss that sound. And I need to also – because Tickets and Mainstream Sellout are companion albums, I don’t think making a third that’s so close – like, sonically, making a third album is going to be unexciting unless it’s missed.”
Machine Gun Kelly scored two No. 1 albums by switching genres. But MGK isn’t ready to completely abandon his Hip Hop roots.
“I’m gonna do this tour and I’m gonna step into where I left Hotel Diablo and expound my storytelling as a rapper and find a new innovative sound for the Hip Hop Machine Gun Kelly,” he said. “And that’s where my excitement is and that’s where me, as a music archaeologist, wants to explore. I did Tickets and I did Mainstream Sellout, and I don’t know what that next version of that sound is yet. So, I need to step away until I hear the right tone or the right inspiration for OK, this is a way to level this up.”
Check out the entire interview with Machine Gun Kelly below.
Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, One Side is a music artist, entrepreneur, and clothing brand owner. One Side owns his own Digital Marketing company; One Side Entertainment – along with One Side Ent. Brand, a clothing company.
One Side bridges the gap between the punch of hip-hop/pop and the melodies of the modern scene while aiming for his music to be catchy, yet direct and edgy. One Side’s new song Villian, released on 4.24.22, is giving us some real Travis Scott/The Kid Laroi vibes. One Side is a verified Spotify artist with almost half a million streams on his single Boss Up from 2021.
Three singles down and many more coming, One Side started his music career by connecting with a long-time friend, Bernard Martin, in his kitchen. Between his own music and his record label, he plans to “take over every genre and to be labeled by just one”.
He has attracted the attention of many top labels in the industry, there is a lot of interest in his music at the moment. One Side wants people to express their emotions when listening to his music, he says “everyone goes through the same emotions and don’t be afraid to express them. It doesn’t matter what anybody thinks, they’re not in your shoes”.
One Side has three singles coming out soon, Dangerous Love, Millions, and Lies. He hopes his fans can relate to his music, like how he relates to his biggest musical inspiration – Kanye West.
Don’t miss the release of One Side’s new singles, keep up with him on Instagram, Youtube and Spotify.
A Major Announcement has just been made by Grammy Nominee TeamJohnHill !!! He will be releasing a complete body of his own Music. it is to be released in “2023” Called “The Book of John” a play on his philosophy of life through Music, Relationships Growth, and Situations. The announcement was made live on Facebook while at The island Recording studio in Chicago with a few Artists and producers in the background including Euro Pop Powerhouse Trio “The Jersey Girls” Head Up Entertainment CEO “Head” Maurice Hill two of his Marquee label Recording Artists “Calhoon” and “vocals” who will all be working on the Album.
Photo:Teamjohnhill & Damon Ranger(Credit Mark Taylor)
We also hear TeamJohnhill corporation Executive and singer “Fabian James” will dust off his mic and showcase his talent on the project and to our surprise” we’re not going to take it” singer of Twisted Sister and Rock God legend “Dee Snider” will be on the album, Along with new Metal Rock band “Tantric” ,G.o.o.d Music Artist “Warren Reallydoe Trotter”, R&B crooners “Luigi the singer”, “Journee soul”.
As the video proceeded “ Hill,” said that he was in talks with Sony music about working with “Usher” and “Official Vybe” of Universal Music Group also in attendance was West African Superstar “P.Martt” who “Hill” spoke of working with as well as 6 time Emmy award-winning Grammy-winning songwriter-producer “Damon Ranger” who will be producing on the album.
Photo: Dee Snider
Apparently, this project will have a lot of twists and turns fusing RnB, Rock, Reggaetón, and Afro-pop such a mouthful of people involved could either be overkill or a Godsend whatever it maybe it will be something interesting to see especially since TeamJohn Hill is a very colorful person, in general, I think we’re all ready to lose our religion on the Book of John for more info follow Teamjohnhill.
Kiwi, a producer and artist originally from Superior, WI discovered a love for music at a young age. A natural musical talent, he taught himself to play guitar after receiving one for Christmas at the age of 10 and taught himself the basics of piano later in high school. He explained his start with music revealing, “I’ve always been into music for as long as I can remember…Growing up I listened to a variety of music, but I always liked creating my own songs.”
He started making beats in 2016 before the start of college and then began posting them on YouTube. Quick growth followed and the next two years saw him balancing school with posting and trying to connect with artists online. Talent does not go undiscovered for long and soon Kiwi was reached out to by YK Osiris and ended up making “Valentine” and “Worth It” in his dorm room. Shortly after this success, Kiwi dropped out of university and focused full-time on music.
Since then he has produced big hit songs such as “Mood Swings” by Pop Smoke and Lil Tjay and “Love Hurts” by Lil Tjay and Toosii. His accomplishments boast two triple-platinum songs, a platinum single, and a few gold and platinum albums, yet his vision and dreams are for even more.
Hunter Johnson announces his plans on taking over the music industry
We are chasing victory to satisfy our materialistic needs and inner soul. However, Hunter Johnson, an astonishing personality, has amazed the world with his miraculous talent for singing. Hunter Johnson, says “Party ended” following the same in his life he has enchanted a vast crowd under his spellbinding voice. He as the man of inspiration to the next generation has passed the message to live for passion rather than running for things that you are not born for. Because of passion, you lift your qualities and skills to the next level. The charisma of your enlightened only glitters if you chase your passion says, Hunter Johnson,
The man of brought revolution to the music world has encouraged several youths to radiate life into the music. As he is an expert in adding feelings and emotions to his songs which directly touch millions of hearts with his emotions giving life to the music. Hunter Johnson has astounded the world of lyrics by adding melodious spices to his voice in each song which has escalated his followers. Miraculously, he has brought new trends to social media through his unique style of singing. His songs such as Everywhere, Dior shirt, and Free game, are accessible on Spotify and other significant music streaming stages.
However, Hunter Johnson says “No success is without challenges” to gulp the fruit of victory one has to be ready to face the struggles and difficulties. He believed that only your optimistic thoughts and your self-belief could lead you to the glorious path of victory.
Hunter Johnson has inspired millions of youths with his unbeatable success and had left his print for others to follow. He has shown the globe that no power can stop you if you dare to challenge your talent.
A judge jokingly mentioned one of Drake’s biggest hits in a court order involving the OVO rapper.
According to court documents obtained by AllHipHop, Drake was dismissed with prejudice from a lawsuit concerning Chris Brown’s song “No Guidance.” United States District Judge Rodolfo A. Ruiz II referenced the single “Started From the Bottom” in the dismissal.
“Ordered and adjudged that Defendant Aubrey Drake Graham a/k/a Drake is dismissed with prejudice and without costs or attorneys’ fees as against any party,” Judge Ruiz wrote. “In dismissing this case, the Court notes that Mr. Graham started from the bottom — being named as a Defendant — now we’re here — a dismissal with prejudice.”
Singer Brandon Cooper and producer Timothy Valentine sued Chris Brown and Drake for copyright infringement in 2021. The lawsuit claimed Chris Brown and Drake’s collaboration “No Guidance” ripped off the plaintiffs’ song “I Love Your Dress.”
The plaintiffs, whose stage names are Mr. Cooper and Drum’n Skillz, said they dropped their track three years before the 2019 release of Chris Brown’s single. They contend the RCA Records artist’s “No Guidance” copied or was mostly derived from their song “I Love Your Dress.”
Listen to “No Guidance” and “I Love Your Dress” below.
KINGMOSTWANTED is here to put on for the Inland Empire, putting his city on the map any chance he can. At only 20 years old, the rising star has already lived through a lifetime of hardships and experiences… every reason why fans can’t help but gravitate towards his music. Injecting real-life scenarios and sentiments into his rhymes, the West Coast spitter has his eyes on being one of the greats.
In describing himself, KING states he’s “reckless, goofy, turnt up. I’ve got a soft side. I like all music, all types of music. I’m just a cool person. I’ve easy to vibe with and I’m not easy to vibe with, just complicated basically.”
Most recently, KINGMOSTWANTED unveiled his new single and visual for “Cali Lovin,” flipping one of the most timeless records in hip-hop: Ice Cube’s “Check Yo Self.” The fact he does the track justice is a talent in itself, adding a modern-day twist that audiences around the world can relate to.
He spits, “I gotta check myself before I wreck myself, I’m a 909 n*gga with a Tec under my belt. Bank account high I’m living it well, and it’s f### the police free my sharks out the cell.”
“Cali Lovin” serves as the lead single to his forthcoming EP aptly titled Notorious King, his newest project following 2020’s FRESHMAN YEAR. Currently releasing music via Vydia, KING has come a long way since the release of “In My City,” which put his name on the map.
AllHipHop: What was it like growing up in the IE?
KINGMOSTWANTED: It was fun, a lot of life learning lessons and everything. I like the IE, I love the IE actually.
AllHipHop: Who’s really from there?
KINGMOSTWANTED: From the IE, that’s big? Nobody really.
AllHipHop: I know Audio Push and Hit-Boy…
KINGMOSTWANTED: Shout out to Hit-Boy if he’s from the IE.
AllHipHop: He did Nipsey Hussle’s “Racks in the Middle.”
KINGMOSTWANTED: I don’t know that. I don’t listen to Nipsey Hussle. Rest in peace though, I pay my respects. It’s just not my type of music.
AllHipHop: What’s your type of music?
KINGMOSTWANTED: NBA Youngboy, Billie Eilish, Shawn Mendes.
AllHipHop: Billie Eilish?!
KINGMOSTWANTED: I love Billie Eilish. I don’t listen to West Coast music like that.
AllHipHop: So where do you get your bars from?
KINGMOSTWANTED: It’s all natural, it’s me. That’s just how I talk so if people consider it West Coast, then I guess it is, but I don’t listen to West Coast music honestly. There’s a lot of people and a lot of talent out here, there really is. It’s just not my style, I don’t like listening to it sometimes. No disrespect or anything, I love the West Coast.
AllHipHop: When did you fall in love with music?
KINGMOSTWANTED: Me doing it, as soon as I started. Ever since I was younger, I’ve always loved music. I loved country music, I like a lot. All types of music.
AllHipHop: When did you realize you could do music for a living?
KINGMOSTWANTED: When I was 13, I realized when I was in jail. 12, 13 years old, an officer told me… I was just rapping, playing on the homie’s head. She pulled me to the side and said “you’re talking nonsense, but you really know what you’re saying. You could put bars together, rhyme good and make sense.” Then I took it seriously at around age 15, 16.
AllHipHop: What were you doing before then?
KINGMOSTWANTED: Before music? School. Just school and turning up with the homies. Hanging out and s###, just partying.
AllHipHop: How did you get your name?
KINGMOSTWANTED: KINGMOSTWANTED, just because I was in juvi again. I was locked up. Not a lot of people know this, but I was going by BIGMONEYKING at first. Somebody from the Bay, I forget now who it was but they had that in their name and they were already poppin’. I thought “I can’t just take that name, I’m a switch it up. What can I be?” I seen a lot of people have “most hated.” Why do a lot of people want to be most hated? I’m most wanted. The cops want me, the fame, the money, the girls. I’m the most wanted. King’s my last name so KINGMOSTWANTED.
AllHipHop: How long were you locked up for?
KINGMOSTWANTED: I’ve been locked up about 12 times in juvenile hall, then I’ve been to county at 18 once.
AllHipHop: What did you learn from being behind bars?
KINGMOSTWANTED: I actually learned there’s a lot of snakes out there, and probation’s really just a set-up.
AllHipHop: It’s better than being locked up, no?
KINGMOSTWANTED: Not really. I don’t know, in my eyes you’re gon; get locked back up. Probation… I’ve only been in jail for a charge once and that’s when I was 12. Every other time, it was violations from probation. I think about it like if they never put me on probation, I never would’ve gone back to jail.
AllHipHop: Talk about “In My City,” the video has 9.2 million views on Youtube. Did you think it would blow up like this?
KINGMOSTWANTED: I did. Not really as far as it went nationwide and international. I be seeing I got plays in Germany, all different countries. I didn’t think that, but I did know that song was one of them ones because I’m not targeting strictly San Bernardino. I’m saying “In my City,” where you live you can bang that. So if you’re from the Bay, you’re from San Diego, you can say it. “In My City,” I’m not targeting one area. For surely I put my city in there though. My town. But anybody could — even if you’re from New York, whatever city you from, you can say “in my city.” I already knew it was going to be one of them ones. I didn’t expect it to blow up as much as it did, but I’m proud of it.
AllHipHop: Did that help build your following? Or was there another moment?
KINGMOSTWANTED: There were a lot of moments. There was a time where I had 5, 6 different songs going crazy at once, all at once. Different challenges to one song, they were all doing different types of things to one song. All of them helped with my following.
AllHipHop: New single and visual “Cali Lovin,” what inspired you to create this one? It’s an Ice Cube classic!
KINGMOSTWANTED: I really like Ice Cube a lot. I don’t listen to his music like that but when I heard the “check yoself” song, I said “I gotta do it, I just have to.” I already knew I had to sample and remake it, put my splash on it. That’s a good song.
AllHipHop: Was it hard to clear the sample?
KINGMOSTWANTED: Very hard. A year and a half hard. My team did it, shout out to Vydia. They worked really hard, specifically June and Saheed, all of them. June really put the pressure on them, shout out to him.
AllHipHop: What inspired the visual?
KINGMOSTWANTED: Me, my manager, and the cameraman SuperGebar, shout out to him. But my manager Ocho, they really helped. It was all a team discussion and decision type. We all came together on it, really shout out to them. They put the most effort into that video.
AllHipHop: What was the best memory from shooting?
KINGMOSTWANTED: When I was behind the bars, it gave me back memories. But I can actually walk out of these bars! Damn I could walk out and I felt good, I was with my people and everything. It just felt good. It’s a good video shoot and I like the way it looks, all of it. Super Gebar, he did his stuff on that. It’s a good video.
AllHipHop: How’s the independent grind?
KINGMOSTWANTED: I love it. I can drop whenever I want, I’m not forced to do certain things. I went on the right path because nobody owns me. I’m me and I get to be with my team. I’m still 8PETOWN.
AllHipHop: What is it you want fans to get from your story?
KINGMOSTWANTED: I’ve heard from a lot of different fans that they get certain things from a song that I didn’t even expect them to get from it. Honestly, whatever you can get from listening to it because every human being is different. I’ve been getting a whole lot of different responses from certain songs. I’m like “oh, I wasn’t even targeting that.” But if you got that from it, it’s good.
AllHipHop: Talk about your upcoming project “Notorious King,” what can we expect?
KINGMOSTWANTED: Notorious King, you can expect some big features. Something crazy, I can’t go too in on it, but it’s notorious. Notorious King, just like the name. It’s going to be spectacular.
AllHipHop: You can’t give us an exclusive on the features?
KINGMOSTWANTED: Shout out to JOP, Jesús Ortiz Paz you feel me. He’s gon be on there. He’s a Spanish artist, he’s the biggest one right now. He’s from San Bernardino too so we collaborated. He’s really blowing up in Mexico and everything, this is his first song. Oh yeah, “Cali Lovin” with King Combs too.
AllHipHop: Love King Combs! How did y’all link?
KINGMOSTWANTED: I’ve been linked with him before. Originally, I had him on another song but that one is still in the process of getting cleared so I had him get on this one. I talked to him, Facetimed him, and just told him. He heard the song and he said “yeah I’m a do it.”
AllHipHop: Did he bring that East Coast swag? Well, I guess he’s from the West Coast, technically.
KINGMOSTWANTED: Hell yeah, his first bar. He said “I’m an eastside n*gga…” [laughs]
AllHipHop: Talk about your “F### Yo Samples” mixtape with DJ Five Venoms.
KINGMOSTWANTED: “F### Yo Samples,” it’s really all in the name. because I don’t get that clearance stuff, I’m trying to bring back stuff from people. I didn’t even know about Biggie Smalls so I’m trying to recreate and put it back out there so people my generation, my age can know about it. That clearance s###: y’all don’t want me to bring them back? Certain songs will never see the light of day?. So it’s really “F### Yo Samples,” I’m a drop it anyways.
AllHipHop: What’s the vibe with Venoms? Love him!
KINGMOSTWANTED: I love Venoms man. I can say it with my whole heart, he’s dope to just jump in and be a part of it. It was a great experience what we did. He was playing my stuff at Rolling Loud and I wasn’t even there! Because I couldn’t be there. I heard he was playing my songs, shoutout to him.
AllHipHop: 3 things you need in the studio at all times?
KINGMOSTWANTED: I need my brothers with me, I need the music up really loud, and sometimes I need ecstasy.
Teslas, I like the Tesla slide.
AllHipHop: AZChike, he just made a song “Tesla or the X.”
KINGMOSTWANTED: Yes, I love it. I love AzChike too, that’s my brother.
AllHipHop: You’re only 20, do you feel young?
KINGMOSTWANTED: Nah, I feel like I’ve lived my life. I know there’s more that I can do, but I’ve done more than what a grown 60-year-old man could say he’s done. Way more.
AllHipHop: What do you like to do when you’re not doing music?
KINGMOSTWANTED: Man, I like to be with my brothers. I could be in the crib for a whole week with them and it feels like we went to Hawaii or something.
AllHipHop: These your brothers?
KINGMOSTWANTED: Jank Baby, TGK Splash. They have now, not next ever. They part of the team.
AllHipHop: You’ve been on TikTok?
KINGMOSTWANTED: Yeah, I’m poppin’ on TikTok. It’s really good if you want to go nationwide, international. Sometimes, I’ll see a bad female. I’ll click on it and I’ll be like “damn, but she’s from Atlannta. Show me some Cali people!” Just from that, I know that s###’s international. It’s important to some artists.
AllHipHop: What are your favorite brands?
KINGMOSTWANTED: My own clothing, Versace, and Bad News. 8PETOWN and 8K, I really love it. Also ain’t gon’ cap, that Desto Dubb: A Lot of Cough Syrup and A Lot of Percs. I like that, that’s hard.
AllHipHop: Anything you want fans to know about you?
KINGMOSTWANTED: Know I might come off aggressive sometimes, but I’m not always like that. I am like that, but I’m not always like that. Some fans, they text me and they tell me, “I seen you there, but I didn’t want to take a picture. I didn’t know if you was in the mood.” Man, you come up and take a picture with me. I love my fans and supporters.
AllHipHop: What does your face tattoo mean?
KINGMOSTWANTED: The Asian one, that’s my granny named Margaret. Rest in paradise.
AllHipHop: Do you have any goals for yourself?
KINGMOSTWANTED: Keep elevating, keep going up. More visuals, I love visuals. More performances, and just takeover. I’m coming for Mexico next. All of Mexico. JOP on there, shoutout to Fuerza Regida and all that.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want to let us know?
KINGMOSTWANTED: Shout out my brothers, TGK Splash, Jank Baby. Shout out MCM Raymond, shout out Big Ocho, shout out the whole 8K team. Shout out GQ, Bad News, and shout out my man Fake Jello. They all doing their thing, and shout out to you and your 7 gram blunt. Damn, I only put 3.5 in my Wood. I’m finna smoke that right now.
Dennis Driftmeyer is taking over the music industry with his musical talent. He is from Boston, Massachusetts, and has been creating music ever since he was a young man. His music career began when his mother signed him up for choir in the 4th grade. This experience fuelled his passion for music and has been the driving force of his life ever since. Dennis focuses on creating music that is funky, soulful, and inspiring.
He is currently an independent artist who writes and produces all the music he releases. He is extremely intricate with his work and only releases the finest quality. Dennis utilizes his life experience thus far as the cornerstone for the lyrics and energy behind his music. The way his beats blast through the speakers leaves all who listen, upbeat and ready to have a good time. It is Dennis Driftmeyer’s goal to not only leave people in a good mood but to inspire the next future generations of musicians. He wants them to know that anything is possible. With a healthy work ethic and passion behind what you do, all is possible.
As for the next project he has yet to set a release date but anticipates that it will be completed in the early months of 2022. His latest project focuses on music that has a mix of afro beats and soul music. He intends for all that listening to it will feel like wanting to live life to its fullest and being comfortable in their own skin. Be sure to check out Dennis Driftmeyer on Spotify as he looks to crush the next endeavor of his already lustrous career.
