Jack Harlow recently declared, “No one in my generation can f### with me.” The Louisville-bred rapper promised to back up that proclamation with his new single.
“Nail Tech” arrived on DSPs today (February 18). An official music video accompanied Jack Harlow’s latest song. The visuals open with Yung Miami of City Girls making an appearance.
Following its premiere on YouTube, the “Nail Tech” video began trending in the platform’s music section. Jack Harlow’s name is also a Top 10 trend on Twitter as users comment on the Generation Now performer’s latest offering.
“This is one of those ones. I’ve had it for a few months. Boi-1da played me the beat, we were in the studio. And as soon as I heard it, those horns have something epic about them, but as soon as those kicks come in and the drums, they’re not on the one, so it’s a different type of bounce,” said Jack Harlow.
He added, “I remember, I went back to Atlanta a little while later and I played Don Cannon a bunch of my music just to show him where I was at. And I was playing stuff, and then at the very end, I played him this verse that was on ‘Nail Tech.’ He’s like, ‘Yo, what is that?’ I was like, ‘Oh, you like that?’ He was like, ‘Yeah, you need to finish that.’ So I got it together, man.”
Central Cee took a trip to Milan, Italy to film a music video from his upcoming 23 mixtape, set to be a mega international drill collaboration.
The West London rapper joined Italian drill stars Rondodasosa and Baby Gang for the visuals for their upcoming song, ”Eurovision.” The trio was out on the streets of San Siro with a huge entourage to film to video on Thursday night (Feb. 17).
Italian flags, barking dogs, and roaring motorcycles appear in clips that have emerged online. In other scenes, the artists are joined by their crews as they take over the stairwell of an Italian apartment building.
Last month, Central Cee announced his upcoming project, 23, sharing the cover art and revealing the 15-song tracklist. “Eurovision” is the only song with any features and it’s set to be a big international collaboration. Italian rappers Rondodasosa and Baby Gang and Ashe 22 and Freeze Corleone from France appear on the song alongside Spanish rappers Morad and Beny Jr.
Meanwhile, during a recent interview, Central Cee spoke about the state of the U.K rap scene.
“We’re in a growing state, though, we’re in the early stages to say the least,” he says of the scene as a whole. “We’re in a good position because there’s a lot to do, and there’s certain people like me that [are] pushing down doors for people to do different things. For everyone.”
Central Cee revealed that his perspective changed following the release of “Day in the Life” from his debut mixtape, Wild West.
“Before ‘Day in the Life’, I was paying attention to the UK scene and that’s why I kind of found my sound and a gap in the market. Now I might have lost touch a little bit,” Central Cee admitted. “I haven’t really been listening to no [UK rappers]. And when I am, I’m looking from a different point of view now. I’ve got a different perspective, like they’re my peers. So I don’t really know the state of the UK scene. It’s probably just quite boring outside of me. I don’t know what’s going on. Nottin’ ain’t really caught my eye. Nottin’ really exciting going on.
Last week, Central Cee dropped the video for “Khabib,” from his upcoming tape 23. Watch it below.
Four years ago, G.O.O.D. Music’s Pusha T delivered a significant blow to Drake with “The Story of Adidon” diss track. Both emcees through shots at the other going back to 2012, but that 2018 round in the feud was reignited by Drake’s issues with G.O.O.D. Music founder Kanye “Ye” West.
Kanye West and Drake ended their bad blood last year by joining forces for the “Free Larry Hoover Concert” in Los Angeles. That reunion led to questions about Pusha T’s current feelings towards his longtime adversary.
Complex recently caught up with Pusha T for 360 With Speedy Morman. The interview included the Virginia representative talking about Kanye West and Drake moving past their differences.
“I’ve already looked past that… I don’t look towards it anymore,” responded Pusha when asked about possibly moving on from the rivalry with Drake in a similar way to Ye.
The 44-year-old Daytona album creator also added, “Bygones are bygones, far as I see. And I think that’s really good that they did squash it. That works really good for them.”
According to Pusha T, fans should expect another studio LP from him in the coming months. One-half of the Clipse dropped “Diet Coke” on February 8. A Kanye West-assisted music video for the single already collected over 4 million views on YouTube.
One of Hip-Hop’s most beloved shows, YO! MTV RAPS, is making a return to the screen with two new hosts!
Paramount announced famed battle rapper Conceited and Philadelphia native DJ Diamond Kuts will front the return of the classic show. The series will include live performances, cyphers, and lifestyle content to explore Hip-Hop culture and music in 2022. YO! MTV RAPS will premiere this spring on Paramount+ although the exact date is yet to be revealed.
Wild ‘N Out star Conceited shared the news on Instagram yesterday with a notice that the price has gone up!
“Yesterdays price is not todays price! 🤯🤯,” Conceited wrote. “The fact that I always said I wish this is show would come back and it actually did and they got me to host it is insane!!! And with the queen philly Jawn @djdiamondkuts @mtv @mtvnews @paramountplus.”
YO! MTV RAPS Return Aims To Bring The Magic Of The Past Into The Present
Bruce Gillmer, chief content officer of music at Paramount+ and president of music, music talent, programming, and events at Paramount, said in a statement: “YO! MTV RAPS is truly one of the most groundbreaking, iconic music series to date. The wildly popular franchise introduced hip hop to the world and along the way helped launch the careers of countless artists.”
He also spoke on YO! MTV RAPS new hosts. “Conceited and DJ Diamond Kuts are the perfect pair to bring new life and energy to our storied past, as we merge the show’s legacy with the fresh faces of hip hop’s present and future, taking YO! worldwide to a whole new generation of fans on Paramount+.”
Meanwhile, the official DJ for the Philadelphia Eagles shared her joy at the announcement. “Ayeeee The news is out 🎉 Im super excited to Host MTV RAPS with @conceitednyc thank you @mtv @paramountplus for this opportunity!!! 💓💓💓 LETS GOOO 🎉”
The hugely influential series returns more than three decades on from its debut in 1998. The original YO! MTV RAPS was created by Peter Dougherty and Ted Demme and hosted by Fab 5 Freddy before Dr. Dre and Ed Lover and later, T Money took over.
Pusha T promised an album is coming soon, and it will be the best one this year!
The Bronx native dropped his recent single, “Diet Coke,” and now he has given a rare interview revealing what fans can expect from his forthcoming project. He sat down with Complex for an interview on 360 with Speedy Morman, his first in over two years.
“There’s no album that’s better than mine this year,” Pusha T declared. He also announced fans will have a short wait as the project is due sometime within the next two-to-three months. He also let slip that it will be entirely produced by the Neptunes and Kanye West. And according to King Push, nobody makes better music with his close collaborators than he does.
“Nobody makes better music with those two entities than me,” he said. “I want people to stop working with them, because it sort of cheapens what I do.” Although he admitted it is “selfish” for him to want them to work with him exclusively, it “annoys” him to see them lend their talents to other artists.
Pusha T says nobody makes better music with Kanye and Pharrell than he does and he hates when they try pic.twitter.com/ZMfCklXrbX
Pusha T also revealed details about who fans can expect to feature on the project. “I do have a verse from people on my album for sure,” he said. While he confirmed neither Jay- or Jeezy appear on the album, “I think everybody who’s on it, is great in their space,” he added. “I needed that, because I needed that to match the greatness in the production. … Pharrell and Ye, especially, they only like to work with a certain tier of artist when it’s rap time.”
Elsewhere during the interview, Pusha T addressed the length of the album following on from Daytona, which only had seven songs. He says his new project will be “all killer no filler,” and believes in quality over quantity. “I don’t hear classics that are usually that long,” he said. “Or maybe they just love everything they do so much. … Me, personally, I have a very clean and concise vision for what it is that I’m making.” He promised that the forthcoming record will be “all killer no filler.”
Southern Cali artists Vince Staples and DJ Mustard connect on a new track that was featured in the recent Beats By Dre commercial. The track is a more commercial step forward for Vince and is some of the first music we have gotten from the Long Beach rapper since last year when he dropped his last effort, a self titled EP.
Vince Staples connects with DJ Mustard for a new track titled “Magic” which was featured on a recent Beats By Dre commercial
Big K.R.I.T. is back with a new album, Digital Roses Don’t Die.
The Mississippi native premiered DRDD with a live listening session for his fans.
“Just For You 🌹👑 Tune into my LIVE listening experience tonight to vibe with me and listen to my entire album “Digital Roses Don’t Die”. #DRDD 🌹👑 #LinkInBio”
During an earlier Instagram Live session with his followers this week Big K.R.I.T. revealed what he learned from making the new album.
“I can just be as creative as I want to be,” he revealed. “A lot of the pressure that I put on myself back in the day to try to constantly prove myself, it wasn’t necessary in a sense but it was a growing process.” He continued and said as artists, “when you put the music out, you put so much time into it being 2:30 and 3:15. But, in order to make a song that is literally 2:15, might take you six, seven months.”
K.R.I.T explained that listeners fail to understand the amount of time and effort that goes into producing a song. “So, for me, when I would be at the label or when I was working on them albums it was just this gruelling process to somehow figure out a way to make people hear how much time I spent on a record in the amount of time that they actually listen to it.”
However, Big K.R.I.T. has changed the way he looks at how fans consume his music and now is more focused on the creation process. “Now I’m at a point where I just love making music so much,” he admitted. “I love what I do. However they enjoy it, they enjoy it and I was able to actually put the song out.”
Elsewhere during the session, he revealed that he didn’t want to make a song about the struggles of the pandemic. “I wanted to make an album that was just happy and it was the ups and down of the base idea of just love,” KR.I.T. explained. “It’s not a derivative of what we going through in the moment.”
Kanye West has made an interesting DONDA 2 announcement while previewing a new song.
The multi-hyphenate has announced that his upcoming album will not be available on streaming platforms. Kanye West said, DONDA 2 will only be released via his stem player. He shared a snippet of a new track playing on the device in a new Instagram post.
“Donda 2 will only be available on my own platform, the Stem Player,” Kanye wrote. “Not on Apple Amazon Spotify or YouTube. Today artists get just 12% of the money the industry makes. It’s time to free music from this oppressive system. It’s time to take control and build our own. Go to stemplayer.com now to order.”
Kanye West plans to drop the album on February 22, less than a week away. He also revealed a “Donda Experience Performance” at LoanDepot Park in Miami on the same date. Kanye famously held several listening parties for his first DONDA release and delayed the project several times.
The stem player was first introduced last year in conjunction with the DONDA album. The device enables users to make the listening experience truly unique by customizing individual song components. Kanye West included bonus tracks in the DONDA stem player release, to the surprise of fans who purchased one.
Kanye West Hosts “The Future Brunch”
The move comes soon after Kanye held “The Future Brunch,” where he discussed ownership amongst other topics.
“I’ve been waiting for us to take the power in our own hands. I’ve been waiting to control our narrative. We need to empower local leaders and that’s our focus,” Kanye exclaimed.
“Our money is being made and goes back into a white system,” the billionaire stated. “Our 44 million (Black people and their spending power) is worth $1.8 trillion. That means the Black dollar is neck and neck with the biggest company in the world, Apple. With more focus, the Black dollar will be the biggest company in the world.”
On August 17th, 2020, prosecutors charged Karl “Lil D Jordan Jr. and Ronald “Tinard” Washington with the October 30th, 2002 murder of the pioneering DJ inside of his Queens, New York recording studio.
According to prosecutors, Jordan and Washington executed Jam Master Jay after he allegedly cut them out of a drug deal involving multiple kilos of cocaine destined for distribution in Maryland.
While Washington has yet to present his defense, Karl Jordan Jr. has maintained his innocence. He has managed to raise a $1 million surety bond secured by 16 people who believe he is innocent.
The group backing Jordan also raised $20,000 in cash, and his father and grandmother are putting up property worth $175,000, In hopes of getting him released from the MDC lockup in Brooklyn, New York.
AllHipHop has also obtained exclusive information relating to Karl Jordan Jr.’s alibi.
He plans to present two witnesses his defense team believes are highly credible.
Jordan’s then-pregnant girlfriend says he was at her home when the murder occurred. Furthermore, the mother of his ex-girlfriend at the time – who is a former New York City corrections officer and current school teacher – is also planning to testify he was at the residence.
According to Jordan, he was an innocent 18-year-old teen when the crime happened.Lawyers for Jordan said his father, Karl “Big D” Jordan, was a lifelong friend of Jam Master Jay since the two families lived across the street from each other in Queens.
Jordan believes he was only charged after the release of a documentary on Netflix that “recklessly promoted a theory,” alleging he was one of the two individuals responsible for the murder.
In a bombshell revelation that could sink the prosecution’s case in front of a jury due to reasonable doubt, Jordan was excluded as a contributor to the DNA recovered from the scene of the murder.
Jordan’s defense team says that DNA from a hat found at the crime identified another unnamed suspect.
Because of this evidence, lawyers for Jordan submitted the proposed bail package that would include the $1 million surety bond, his grandparents’ house, and the $20,000 in cash.
Jordan would also be willing to submit to 24-hour home detention at his residence in Queens, enforced with a monitor.And he agreed to stay away from his co-defendant and other witnesses. Jordan’s lawyers also pointed out that he is not a danger to the community.
The fourth season of Donald Glover’s Atlanta series will be its last.
According to Deadline and Variety, FX chairman John Landgraf revealed the show’s coming to an end at a Television Critics Association panel on Thursday (February 17). The announcement happened a little over a month before Atlanta’s third season premieres on FX.
“After a four-year absence, we’re graced with the return of Atlanta,” Landgraf said. “Donald Glover and his team have shot the final two seasons of the series. The fourth and final season is slated to debut in the same manner in the fall.”
Atlanta’s third season is scheduled to begin on March 24. The upcoming premiere will be the show’s first new episode since 2018.
Glover spoke about his decision to wrap up the series at the TCA event. The show’s creator said he originally wanted Atlanta to end after its second season.
“Death is natural,” he explained. “I feel like when the conditions are right for something, they happen, and when the conditions aren’t right, they don’t happen. I don’t feel any longevity. Because then things start to get weird.”
Glover continued, “The story was always supposed to be what it was. And the story, it really was us. Everybody in that writers’ room, everybody on set. It really was what we were going through and what we talked about … I think it ends perfectly.”
Atlanta debuted on FX in 2016. Glover won two Emmy Awards for his work on the show.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Megan Thee Stallion has been cast in a new A24 movie called F###### Identical Twins. The film is described as a “subversive” twist on The Parent Trap, a 1961 romantic comedy that was remade in 1998.
F###### Identical Twins stars comedians Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp. The two also wrote the musical comedy, which is based on a stage show they did at the Upright Citizens Brigade.
Megan Thee Stallion will be part of a cast that includes Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally and Bowen Yang. Larry Charles, who’s known for his work on hit comedies such as Seinfeld and Borat, is directing the film.
The A24-produced movie will be Megan Thee Stallion’s first film role. Her only other acting credit comes from an appearance on the NBC drama Good Girls.
“HOTTIES THIS IS OUR FIRST MOVIEEEE/ MUSICAL! WITH SOME MOVIE LEGENDS,” she wrote on Instagram. “Im so excited i feel so blessed i feel anxious lol i feel a bunch of s###. I really have been quietly putting in this work and i just cant wait for the hotties to see everything.”
No release date has been announced for the film, which is currently in production.
Brooklyn’s Woo gang has been accused of defrauding the government’s COVID-19 relief programs.
A total of 11 members were charged with conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. Eight of them were arrested in New York City on Thursday (February 17).
The defendants include Romean Brown, Tyrek Clarke, Kennith Desir, Stephan Dorminvil, Kai Heyward, Keith James, Oneal Marks, Jahriah Olivierre, Christopher Jean Pierre, Roleeke Smith and Christopher Topey. Brown and Heyward were arrested outside of New York while Olivierre is still at large.
Woo gang members allegedly used the information of more than 800 victims to illegally obtain $4.3 million in unemployment benefits. The Department of Justice says the scam took place between March 2020 and October 2021.
The defendants are accused of submitting roughly 1,000 claims to the New York State Department of Labor in an attempt to receive approximately $20 million in unemployment insurance. These benefits were funded by COVID-19 pandemic assistance programs.
According to the DOJ, multiple Woo gang members were seen flashing money on social media. Some of them also appeared in a music video for a song called “Trappin,” which featured the lyrics “unemployment got us working a lot” in reference to their fraud.
“As alleged, the defendants conspired to steal millions of dollars in pandemic-related unemployment assistance and then brazenly flaunted the proceeds of their crimes on social media,” United States Attorney Breon Peace said in a press release. “These government programs are designed to provide financial assistance to those who are most in need during an unprecedented pandemic.”
Peace added, “This Office and its law enforcement partners will vigorously prosecute gang members and anyone else who exploits the pandemic and steals from taxpayer-funded programs.”
Kim Kardashian is no longer following Kanye West on Instagram.
The reality star unfollowed her estranged husband amid his harassment of her boyfriend Pete Davidson. Kanye West has frequently targeted the comedian since the Saturday Night Live cast member began dating Kim Kardashian.
Kim Kardashian stopped following Kanye West once he doubled down on going after Pete Davidson via social media. ‘Ye, who calls the comic “Skete,” took issue with past jokes about his mental health on Thursday (February 17).
“HI SKETE YOU GOT ANYMORE MENTAL HEALTH JOKES FOR ME?” ‘Ye wrote in a since-deleted post.
Kanye West also uploaded a video of an old Weekend Update sketch featuring Pete Davidson. The segment addressed ‘Ye not taking his psychiatric medication and going on a pro-Trump rant during a Saturday Night Live appearance in 2018.
“This boy thought he could get away with performing this sketch for the team that wrote this for him,” Kanye West wrote in the since-deleted post. “This is not harassment This is payback.”
Kim Kardashian filed to divorce Kanye West in February 2021. She’s asked a judge to legally declare her single as the divorce proceedings have stalled.
Kanye West is trying to reconcile with the mother of his four children after breaking up with actress Julia Fox. He sent Kim Kardashian a truck full of flowers on Valentine’s Day as part of his efforts to repair their relationship.
Throughout the years, the Queen Bee continues to serve the most stylish of ensembles. From, the likes of Marc Jacobs to Versace, the Notorious K.I.M. is known for her exquisite taste. Therefore, it is only natural that Lil’ Kim serves up her ample assets in racy Savage X Fenty lingerie.
Although, Valentine’s Day has already passed, the “Crush On You” rapper helps to remind the masses that every day may become Love Day. How? Well, just put on some sexy panties and allow the love in.
Moreover, the impromptu photoshoot exudes effortless allure. Although, a captivating unicorn-pink, chevron-pattern one-piece willingly caresses her curves, the essence of the iconic MC shines through. In addition, the array of beckoning poses work to evoke interest from the public.
Furthermore, for the public’s consumption, the enticing pictures are on display, by the “Get Money” boss. Likewise, her Instagram is still overflowing with adoration. Plus, the Bad Gal herself admits to the engrained respect she has cultivated for Lil’ Kim
So, back in 2017, while speaking with Vogue Paris, Rihanna states about her unyielding respect for he “Magic Stick” MC. RiRi gushes on her perspective saying she is, “Powerful, creative, without any taboos, Lil’ Kim has pushed the limits like no other black artist. Her world is colorful, fun, pop, rich, and coded. She has fun. I am happy to see a phenomenon like [her] in my life.”
As of late, the personal life of Kanye West is trying to rival that of his professional accomplishments. Be that as it may, Ye’s ongoing divorce proceedings from his estranged wife and her current beau — Pete Davidson — are snatching up headlines. So, today (Feb. 17), is no different. Again, Yeezy flays Pete Davidson for mocking his mental health.
Obviously, there is persistent acrimony between Yeezy and the Staten Island stud. Although, both Kim and Ye are dating other people, the Donda MC appears to be especially disrespected by Davidson. So, the Chicagoan is actively voicing his angst.
Nonetheless, the Jeen-Yuhs artist is working to establish a social media connection. Recently, the “On Sight” entrepreneur directs an Instagram post towards Petey. “HI SKETE YOU GOT ANYMORE MENTAL HEALTH JOKES FOR ME?” asks the inquisitive “Stronger” rapper.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CaFce88lV-2/
In addition, Mr. West, also includes a video from that same Saturday Night Live, “Weekend Update” sketch. Next, the “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” lyricist seemingly expresses more of his annoyance. “This boy thought he could get away with performing this sketch for the team that wrote this for him.” reads part of the caption.
In conclusion, the statement then offers, “This is not harassment This is payback[.]” Since, the comedian likes to allegedly have fun and to play games, Kanye West is putting the metaphorical gaming system on two player. So, it looks like the games are on.
Thus, it appears as if P.D. feels comfortable using his platform to discuss mental health issues. In fact, the funny man actually suffers from borderline personality disorder. Pot meet kettle.
The record was the first release for Tekashi 6ix9ine after he was released from prison early in April of 2020 for cooperating with the government in a racketeering trial against The Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods.
“GOOBA” was a massive success online- it broke YouTube’s record for the most-watched hip-hop video in 24 hours.
In addition to listeners, “GOOBA” caught the attention of two producers who claimed Tekashi 6ix9ine stole the track from them.
BEATDEMONS claimed “GOOBA” lifted the melody, structure, and overall composition was taken from their song titled “Regular.”
The production team was suing the rapper for the profits from “GOOBA,” estimated to be in the millions since the video has racked up almost 775 million views alone.
When the news of the lawsuit broke, Tekashi 6ix9ine’s lawyers said the lawsuit was a sham and an attempt to cash in on the Brooklyn rapper’s popularity.
However, his legal team has had a change of heart because Tekashi 6ix9ine and his record label 10K Projects has decided to settle the battle with BEATDEMONS.
“The settlement in principle is conditioned on and subject to the parties entering into a written settlement agreement approved and signed by the parties,” said BEATDEMONS lawyer Jesse A. Kaplan.
“The parties anticipate that the written settlement agreement will be finalized within the next forty-five (45) days and that a stipulation of dismissal of the entire case, with a waiver of fees and costs, will be filed shortly thereafter,” Kaplan revealed.
As of late, Drake is experiencing life to its fullest. In fact, for his strategic Super Bowl LVI wagering he immediately receives a handsome harvest. With all things considered, it seems as though Drizzy is attracting the exact energy that he continues to exude. Be that as it may, just who gifts him custom bling which salutes his business and his son?
As a matter of fact, the personalized piece exudes unadulterated luxury. Of course, only pristine diamonds and gleaming gold constitutes its sumptuousness. So, celebrated gemologist, Alex Moss, — responsible for commissioning the trinket for Aub — reveals to TMZ, all the details.
The Gift
https://www.instagram.com/p/CaA5WNYgjad/
To begin with, the ostentatious trinket boasts 14 karat gold. Moreover, its 15.7 carats of VVS D-F natural diamonds flood the vision of anyone who looks directly into their brilliance. Additionally, Heartbreak Drake requests to to incorporate the number 11. Also, into its design, the OVO imprint is obviously implemented.
In particular, this substantial statement-piece weighs an impressive 83 grams. Overall, the ring costs a whopping $77,000. However, since it is actually a gift for the “In The Bible” lyricist, that price tag does not concern him. So, just who purchased the benevolent gift?
https://www.instagram.com/p/CaDQXPqug7R/
Indeed, it is a well known fact that the relationship between Champagne Papi and Odell Beckham, Jr is solid. After all, for the L.A. Rams Victory, the “Knife Talk” MC pens custom creativity. Via, his Instagram page, Canada’s most precious export gives an authentic shout out the accomplished Wide Receiver.
Given that, back on November 11, of last year, news broke of Beckham’s trade from the Browns to the Rams. Truly, this is an interesting tidbit of information. Then, could OBJ be the one to gift the “Toosie Slide” rapper?
https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ8idODLhpr/
Although, the “6 God” artist and Odell are bros, Beckham did not purchase the ring. Furthermore, the specially-made ring required over two months of diligent work. Hopefully, Drake appreciates its craftsmanship.
In all actuality, the offering comes to the “Marvins Room” MC by way of Canadian, restauranteur Kai Bent-Lee. His father, is acclaimed celebrity chef, Susur Lee. To boot, the number 11 is literally an allusion to Drake’s son, Adonis. His birthday happens to be on October 11, 2017.
Truly, it must be nice to have that type of friend.
It’s crazy to think SSGKobe is only 18 years old, and he’s well on his way to superstardom.
Hailing from Louisiana, the rising star arrives on the scene with his own unique sound, swag, and style, redefining what it means to be versatile.
With the ability to transcend genres, from hip-hop to R&B to even pop, SSGKobe went from killing it on the basketball court to killing it in the studio, inspired by the greats such Juice WRLD, XXXTentacion, and Billie Eilish.
SSGKobe’s name pays homage to his favorite basketball player Kobe Bryant, while the SSG stands for Super Saiyan God from Dragon Ball Z. After recording his very first song on his mothers iPhone 6, transferring it to FL Studio and lacing it with autotune, the rest was history.
Kobe describes himself as “a smart, talented, creative artist all around. I want to do everything: all genres. Hip-hop, pop, just different things.”
It was in 2018 when he released his first song on SoundCloud, quickly garnering a fanbase that is on the brink of breaking through from underground to mainstream. In fact, Lil Tecca even posted his song “Lil Kobe,” which was originally his name, to his Instagram story — later collaborating on the song “All Day.”
Fast forward to 2022, Kobe unleashes his newest single and visual called “Don’t Miss,” following his previous bangers “MIA” (directed by Cole Bennett), “F## EM” with Lil Yachty, “ESCAPE YOUR LOVE”, and “4AM FREESTYLE.”
AllHipHop: How was it growing up in Louisiana?
SSGKobe: I lived in a small area called Centerville, it’s a very small town. Growing up there, everyone knows what your business is. Because it’s really small, our population is 400 to 500 so things can around rather quickly..
AllHipHop: Are they like, “oh s###, SSGKobe is blowing up!”
SSGKobe: I mean, I think they’re hella excited, my friends and stuff.
AllHipHop: Who were you listening to that made you want to do music?
SSGKobe: Chief Keef with his words got me to start rapping, definitely Chief Keef.
AllHipHop: How was It when Lil Tecca posted you on his story?
SSGKobe: Man I was freaking out. I was in a car ride going to AAU basketball practice. I was following him, I looked at my phone and saw he posted my song “Lil Kobe” from Youtube. When I saw he posted on his story, I was freaking out. It was so random.
AllHipHop: How many followers did you get?
SSGKobe: The thing that messed it up for me, at the time my name was Lil Kobe. That’s what it said on my Youtube, but then I switched it to SSG so everyone was looking for Lil Kobe. However it did bring a lot of traction to me.
AllHipHop: Why’d you change your name?
SSGKobe: Honestly, I like Super Saiyan. I like Dragon Ball Z, I like anime. Kobe was my favorite player so I had to have that name. I just switched It out to SSG because that was the time I started to get into anime seriously.
AllHipHop: What do you like about anime?
SSGKobe: For me, I always liked cartoons. Even the regular ones growing up, like Courage the Cowardly Dog. The Cartoon Network shows, then I found anime. I’m like, this s###’s way better.
AllHipHop: You were playing basketball. What happened with your coach?
SSGKobe: Not to get it mixed up with my second coach, coach Taylor, shout out to him. Both coaches have been with me since I couldn’t even dribble. They’ve definitely taught me the stuff I know today. I played AAU for one year, then I switched to music because I saw I could do that.
AllHipHop: Were you nice with it?
SSGKobe: Yeah, of course.
AllHipHop: You still play?
SSGKobe: I play pick up.
AllHipHop: Talk about Kaash Paige reaching out, that’s my girl!
SSGKobe: That happened because I was on SoundCloud and heard “Euphoria.” I hit her in the DM like “this is crazy.” I didn’t think she’d respond. She responded, we started having a convo. I showed her my song and she said “man, I want you on my project.” She sent me that open and I did it at home.
AllHipHop: How was that experience?
SSGKobe: That was fire. It threw me off guard because I didn’t think she’d answer honestly.
AllHipHop: How was it shooting “MIA” with Cole Bennett? That’s huge!
SSGKobe: Cole is a great guy. The whole getting it together, the themes of the different scenes, all that was fun. An unforgettable experience.
AllHipHop: Best memory from the shoot?
SSGKobe: Probably joking with Cole. We be playing, I mess with Cole.
AllHipHop: Were those real bugs? That’s terrifying!
SSGKobe: They were real bugs. [laughs] At first, I was terrified. But then I’m like, “it’s gonna come out fire.”
AllHipHop: “Don’t Miss” out now! What’re you most excited for?
SSGKobe: A crazy video. It’s based around magic with wands. It’s a lit, turnt record. I usually don’t drop many of those. I know my fans and supporters will be excited because they don’t really get too much lit, turnt music from me. It’s a big moment for me, I like it.
AllHipHop: What is it you want fans to get from your story?
SSGKobe: That it’s okay to be authentic. Even though you see other people like “damn I want to be like them,” just know the world hasn’t seen you yet. They might love the same things you see in another person, that you think is cool but being authentic and relatable is important. Because we really are all the same.
AllHipHop: You started making music around 2016. How does It feel to be signed so young?
SSGKobe: I didn’t know I’d sign before I was 18. I didn’t think my career would do what it did. It’s a fun experience that teaches you different things, learning the business side of music. It’s a learning experience.
AllHipHop: What made you go with Columbia Records?
SSGKobe: I felt out of all the labels I did visit, I felt more comfortable with Columbia. They’re running the charts. They have some of my favorite artists under their label as well.
AllHipHop: How’d you link with Lil Yachty on “F## EM”?
SSGKobe: We got the song, we were working on the song. I recorded my verse at home, then I sent it to my engineer who mixed it and went crazy. We put it out for Rolling Loud New York. We were trying to set up a video, but our schedules weren’t really matching. We were both going to be in New York for Rolling Loud so as soon as I landed, we shot the video. We did it in 3 or 4 takes. They edited it and it came out great. It’s lit.
AllHipHop: I feel like a lot of blessings are coming your way, are you spiritual at all?
SSGKobe: I feel like I definitely have a long way to go. I’m definitely a beginner.
AllHipHop: 3 things you need in the studio?
SSGKobe: Water, snacks and a TV that has Netflix. Just have it on, anything. Movies, series, anything.
AllHipHop: What inspires you the most when you record?
SSGKobe: Me thinking about where I started, to the point where I am now. Just to keep going.
AllHipHop: What’s your top animes of all-time?
SSGKobe: Attack on Titan, Death Note, The Promised Neverland, and Leech. That’s my little list.
AllHipHop: Best encounter you had with a fan?
SSGKobe: I went to a show in Orlando for Autumn’s tour. One of the fans there, they really didn’t know I was going with them. When I came on stage, everybody started going crazy. At the end, we had all gone outside. A fan, she started crying and she was shaking. So I took a picture with her, and I signed her phone case.
AllHipHop: Being only 18, what do you like to do for fun?
SSGKobe: I like to be with my friends, recording, and playing basketball.
AllHipHop: Anybody want to collaborate with?
SSGKobe: There’s a few actually. I want to work with Olivia Rodrigo, The Kid LAROI, Don Toliver, and Playboi Carti.
AllHipHop: Can we expect a project?
SSGKobe: Of course. I got my first project coming out this year. I’m still debating on the name. I was gonna go with Euphoria and spell it U4EYA. I feel like Euphoria is a unique word, just put a twist on it.
AllHipHop: What do your tattoos mean?
SSGKobe: [pulls out forearm] I got this one, it’s a Nirvana angel. I got this one because of Kurt Cobain. This one, honestly I don’t even remember. It’s a moth. I also have a black cat with orange. My whole aesthetic is black cats, so I just had to stamp it. But I’m done with tats.
AllHipHop: Why?
SSGKobe: I’m not too sure, I think at least for now I’m done. I like tats, I like getting them too. I only got them on my arm, I don’t think those hurt too bad.
AllHipHop: Goals yourself as an artist at this point of your career?
SSGKobe: New year, I want to stay focused. I want to get on the Billboards, at least Top 10 this year. Hopefully work with one of the artists I had named. I want to have a successful project.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want to let us know?
SSGKobe: I do have a couple features on the project. All the new music is a whole new me. Before you listen and dive into it, think of it as me growing up. It’s definitely a big leap. You can tell in lyrics and beats, flows, cadences, all that stuff.
AllHipHop: Are we going to get pop records from you?
SSGKobe: Yeah definitely. I have one on my project I’m working on now. It’s all versatile. That’s what I’m saying, that’s going Platinum.
Jamaican recording artist Shenseea made headlines in America for her 2022 single “Lick” featuring Megan Thee Stallion. Apple Music has now selected Shenseea for the “Up Next”program.
The up-and-comer broke out with 2016’s “Loodi” featuring fellow Dancehall performer Vybz Kartel. Three years later, Shenseea signed a record deal with Interscope. “Blessed” featuring Tyga arrived in 2019 as well.
“I’m so excited to be chosen as an Apple Music Up Next artist,” stated Shenseea. “Apple Music has always been such a great supporter ever since the release of my U.S. single ‘Blessed’ and especially now that I am about to release my debut album, ALPHA.”
Shenseea appeared in an Up Next short film for Apple Music. The visual presentation includes the 25-year-old singer discussing her upbringing in Jamaica and her complicated relationship with her mother.
In addition, Shenseea will perform on the March 3 episode of ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! late-night talk show. Apple Music 1 host Nadeska also conducted an interview with the Mandeville-born, Kingston-raised soloist.
“Shenseea’s drive and versatility can’t be understated,” said Nadeska. “Her artful blend of Dancehall, Pop, and R&B is undeniable and I can’t wait to listen to her debut album.”
Previously, Apple Music chose Megan Thee Stallion, H.E.R., Summer Walker, Don Toliver, and Givēon as “Up Next” artists. The purpose of the streaming platform’s initiative is to identify, showcase, and elevate rising stars in the music industry.
Supporters of the legendary Roots crew can expect a new studio LP. The upcoming album will be the Hip Hop band’s first body of work since 2014’s …And Then You Shoot Your Cousin.
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson spoke to Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe, and the veteran drummer confirmed The Roots are headed back to the studio. While members of the group are involved in other outside projects, listeners can expect more music to drop in the coming months.
“It’s been nine years and Black Thought, right now, is doing genius levels of… he just basically wrote one of the greatest plays… it’s mind-blowing,” stated Questlove. The 51-year-old Philadelphian added, “It opens in two weeks on Broadway. Once I finish this go-round, he finishes his play. We’re pretty much 80% done.”
Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter’s Black No More musical is an adaptation of George S. Schuyler’s novel Black No More: Being an Account of the Strange and Wonderful Workings of Science in the Land of the Free, AD 1933-1940. Black Thought also created the score for Black No More.
Questlove’s Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) recently earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature. Former United States President Barack Obama even named Summer of Soul as one of his favorite films in 2021.
Oscar Nominated Film Director Questlove……I just need to see this in print. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
While Black Thought is trying his hand at theater and Questlove entered the film world, both artists are still committed to making more songs with The Roots. According to Questlove, the Grammy-winning collective is on a magical run.
“I don’t want to get people’s hope up and be like, ‘Hey, return to form.’ But… I know that there’s a sect of Roots fans that have a sentimental place in their heart for the first six albums,” Questlove told Zane Lowe. “A lot of our music just dictates what the times were. We were in really depressing times kind of in the last five years or so. But I will say that this is probably the first time where I had fun. You can tell.”
He continued, “I have fun making this movie and this wasn’t a thing where it’s like, ‘I want to make an Oscar caliber film.’ When you start thinking on that level, then it shows, and there are three ways to make a record. There’s heart, there’s brain, and then there’s ego. So, when you create more from your heart, that’s where the magic starts. And so that’s where we’re coming from.”
