(AllHipHop News) Even an unexpected, highly publicized songwriter-centered dispute involving Usher’s#### “Climax” could not stop The Weeknd’s reign atop the Billboard 200. His After Hours album remained at #1 for a third straight week.
After Hours brought in another 90,000 units in its third week of release. The Weeknd has now tied Roddy Ricch (Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial)for the most weeks at #1 in 2020. Ricch’s effort has spent four non-consecutive weeks in the top spot.
Billboard reports After Hours is benefiting from sales of merchandise/album bundles. The strategy of selling music projects along with special products has become a common practice in the industry over the last several years.
The Weeknd, Illangelo, Metro Boomin, Max Martin, Holter, and others provided production for After Hours. A deluxe edition of the LP, with beats by DaHeala, was also added to DSPs following the release of the original version.
(AllHipHop News) On Friday, Tory Lanez dropped his latest commercial mixtape titled The New Toronto 3viaInterscope Records. The body of work arrived after the rapper/singer became an Instagram Live sensation with his star-studded Quarantine Radio show.
Even with all the media attention from Quarantine Radio, HitsDailyDouble projectsThe New Toronto 3 to open with 55,000-65,000 first-week units. That range is a decline from the numbers brought in by Lanez’s Chixtape 5 (83,000 units) just five months ago.
Some social media users apparently started criticizing the Canadian for the perceived low sales. The Sports Crave founder andPanoramic Records CEO Noah Miller defended Tory by tweeting about the entertainer’s purported increase in Instagram followers, YouTube subscribers, and Spotify listeners over the last month.
Lanez also addressed his critics. He wrote on Instagram:
I don’t know who this “Noah Miller” guy is … but he speaking facts . Just for insight #TheNewToronto3 is a mixtape .. and those are my first day predictions which can fluctuate thru out the week .. when chixtape 5 dropped they projected 48-55k units .. it later that week had 90 MILLION streams and sold 86,000 units … DOWNLOAD #TheNewToronto3 ON ALL PLATFORMS NOW … love it’s about good music . Not competition
Tory Lanez has gained 2.2 million Instagram followers in less than 30 days. Plus, 90% boost in Youtube subscribers.
Now has more monthly Spotify listeners than Nav, Russ, and Meek Mill.
Quarantine Radio was a huge move for a [now] independent artist. LEVERAGE.
(AllHipHop News) On Easter Sunday, Sean “Diddy” Combs and his children hosted a Dance-A-Thon on Instagram to raise funds for healthcare workers. Numerous celebrities popped into Diddy’s IG Live throughout the day.
Drake was one of the many famous A-listers to go live with the Combs family. Besides dancing to Drizzy’s “Toosie Slide” single, the former rivals also had a conversation which included Puffy praising the Toronto rapper.
“When they talk about the Top 5, all those cats got a special code. Two years ago, three years ago, I didn’t know. It’s clear, the work you put in, you’re in my official Top 5,” Diddy told Drake. “That’s right y’all heard it. Hits, hits, hits, hits, hits.”
According to the Bad Boy founder, the Team Love x Direct Relief COVID-19 Fund has already raised over $3 million to support emergency response efforts to the current coronavirus pandemic. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey donated $2 million to the campaign.
(AllHipHop News) Westside Gunn has revealed that he had the coronavirus.
The rapper went into detail about his scary experience and recovery in a lengthy Instagram post. “I have a confession to Make I’m a Corona Survivor I didn’t want anybody feeling sorry for me I had to thug it out for weeks,” he wrote.
Westside Gunn then explained how he was unable to see his children and eventually when to the hospital after having difficulty breathing.
“I went to the hospital feeling like I was breathing my last breath the fans and the love I was getting kept me strong I knew I had to drop this,” he continued.
The rapper also shared that while he appeared on both Tidal and Fat Joe’s Instagram live, he was still recovering behind the scenes on a breathing machine.
(AllHipHop Rumors) Ya’ll know…I love everybody like Brother Love. But this is EASTER! (At least at the time of this writing!) And we love us some big bodied, lovely Lizzo! But, Lizzo can be tone deaf at times. She didn’t catch the vibes Diddy was sending out all over the world today. He was trying to raise awareness for coronavirus and sending food to essential workers via DoorDash.
Diddy’s son’s were dancing and prancing to the Lizzo song and then…BLOOP! Diddy had to jump in and say, “Keep it family friendly” on Resurrection Sunday, or Easter as you PAGANS call it! HE HAS ARISEN, NON-BELIEVERS!
What do you say when one of the biggest stars in Wakanda tries to star TWERKING on your LIVE as you CLEARLY have a corporate sponsor like DoorDash?! You STOP THAT NINJA! Salute to Diddy….still a BOSS.
(AllHipHop Rumors) Right off the heels of the battle with RZA, DJ Premier is coming back straight into our rumor section. Hopefully, this chatter on the streets does not bother the god Preem. But check this out.
Preemo produced a heavy diss track during the RD era. But Hov erased it.
Now, I am looking at this tweet….It is very basic: “Preemo produced a heavy diss track during the RD era. But Hov erased it.” Now, if you know history like I know it, you know that Jay-Z released his debut album the same year that Tupac died. In fact, it was a short period of time. June and September.
As you should know, Tupac was dissing EVERYBODY back then and it was not pretty. I am not going to get into the minutiae of it all. I don’t want to get into the West/East Beef. But, it has been noted that Jay-Z, emerging as a pillar of the East, did not fire back at Pac. BIG didn’t either.
HOWEVER. If you have read this far, keep reading.
First of all, I have ZERO doubt taht Jay-Z had a diss to Tupac. Did the tweet say Pac’s name? No. But that is what I believe if there was in fact a diss that was so heavy. Now, I think Jay is a supreme strategist and knew that he would get deep in the mud if he engaged in a war with Pac. Pac’s disrespect had no bounds. He totally lied about screwing Faith, Big’s wife, for example.
Anyway, Jay allegedly deleted the diss, whereas Mobb Deep and some others from New York kept theirs.
Here is a bonus rumor that I know to be true….Biggie had a real Pac diss as well. And I don’t mean the subtle jabs and smirks that he rapped. Biggie had an all out Pac diss that never saw the light of day. I know somebody that heard it. I admit this is many years ago, in the late 90’s, but it exists.
KBeaZy is FYED UP! Just like his producer tag, mantra, and merch. The music producer hails from Kalamazoo, Michigan and is doing what most 18-year-olds can only dream of.
With over 111K subscribers on Youtube, KBeaZy, real name Keegan Bach has placements with some of rap’s greatest artists, from Smokepurpp to Roddy Ricch to Chief Keef.
What began as a mere interest and hobby soon turned into a passion and career. Through listening to his favorite artists such as Future and Drake, KBeaZy began to upload tutorials on Youtube on how to make similar “Type Beats.”
Fast forward to 2020, he’s accumulated over 10 million views and counting.
AllHipHop caught up with KBeaZy to discuss his producer tag, goals, getting placements with Roddy, Purpp, and Chief Keef, and more!
AllHipHop: When’d you move to Los Angeles?
KBeaZy: I graduated high school in May and I moved out here in July, so I’ve been here half a year.
AllHipHop: How’d you come up with the tag FYED UP?
KBeaZy: I don’t even know honestly. I needed a tag. I had a few but every producer nowadays has a few tags that are corny. I finally got one that’s good after a few tries. So my third try, I’m like “bro I need a tag.” Then I had that idea.
AllHipHop: Who is it saying it?
KBeaZy: It’s my boy Tezzy. I have one from Tezzy, then I have one from G Eazy. I haven’t used it yet.
AllHipHop: You’re only 18, how did this music thing start?
KBeaZy: I just really loved making beats. Obviously back home in my hometown, I’m from Kalamazoo.
AllHipHop: Is that by Detroit?
KBeaZy: Everyone asks that [chuckles]. If this is Michigan because it’s a mitt [holds up hand], Detroit’s here and Kalamazoo’s here. But there’s only one studio in Kalamazoo, it’s no music at all. But I started collabing with bigger producers. I made a name for myself on YouTube.
AllHipHop: How did you make a name on YouTube?
KBeaZy: I was doing tutorials. Well first, I did type beats. Freshman and sophomore year of high school, I started doing type beats. I’d upload them as well.
AllHipHop: What are type beats?
KBeaZy: Like Future type beats, that whole thing. But it was dead, people were asking me “yo, you need to show us how you make them. So I started doing tutorials, showing the screen and explaining how to make beats to people. I progressed from there. I started collabing with bigger producers and I got placements that way.
KBeaZy: What really started getting views was I’d teach people how to make beats. I’d teach people how to make a melodic beat, how to make a trap beat, whatever. I’d explain the whole thing. They were 10-minute videos mostly.
AllHipHop: Talk about making your first beat.
KBeaZy: My first beat was 3.5 years ago, so I’d just turned 15. End of freshman year. I was trash too, it was so bad. My first beat was terrible. I got a little bit better. My boy told me “just try to make beats,” I’m like “bro, I can’t.” I actually quit. I tried it for a week like “bro I’m so bad,” then I don’t know. I just wanted to do it again. I made beats until I was good I guess.
AllHipHop: This whole time, you’re in high school. What were parents thinking?
KBeaZy: I started making money to the point where I could’ve moved out. From the beats, my YouTube, all that stuff.
AllHipHop: How many subscribers do you have?
KBeaZy: 111K. I started making money to the point where I could’ve move out, right before senior year. My whole senior year, I was making good money. They liked it, they supported it. But they also wanted me to go to college. I’m the first person in 4 generations of my family to not get into Notre Dame. I didn’t get in because I tanked my grades. I was so focused on making beats, especially the last two years. I kept saying “I’m not going to school, I’m not going to school.” Finally, they’re like “alright bet.”
AllHipHop: At what point did you realize this music thing was going to be your career?
KBeaZy: Low key, I wanted this so bad. I’m like “I’m going to do it until it is. The first time in my head that I was like yo i’m not going to school, i’m going to do this, I sold my beat for like $300 online to some random person. Not a big artist, shout out to whoever it was though.
AllHipHop: Did they propose that number or was it you?
KBeaZy: I don’t remember how it went. I had sold a few beats for $20. I remember he said “yo, I want this beat exclusive.” We went back and forth a few times. $300 is really nothing but at the time, I was lit. I had applied for a regular job a week before that, then I sold my first beat. I’ve never worked a regular job. I literally was about to go get a job.
AllHipHop: What job was it?
KBeaZy: I was about to teach tennis classes.
AllHipHop: What’s your love for hip-hop?
KBeaZy: I’ve always loved it. Even in 6th grade, I really started liking rap music and it just evolved. Now I like all types of rap music: old rap, new rap, whatever. I’d say ’05 and up is my sweet spot.
AllHipHop: Who are some artists?
KBeaZy: Future. Drake. Roddy. Thug. Juice WRLD, rest in peace. There’s a lot.
AllHipHop: How did you get to co-produce on Chief Keef’s “I Need More”?
KBeaZy: That was through my boy DP. I posted a tutorial on how to make a DP type beat. If you know DP, he did a bunch of Keef’s stuff, a bunch of Uzi’s stuff. He saw the video somehow and put it on his story. Everyone started tagging me like “yo, DP saw your video!” I DM’ed a year before that “yo what’s good,” but he didn’t see it obviously. But after he saw that video, he went back and checked my DM. Then I sent him some stuff.
AllHipHop: What did he say?
KBeaZy: He’s like “yo I saw your video, s##t’s fire.”
AllHipHop: Wow, that’s so organic.
KBeaZy: Facts! Literally the most organic way. He saw a video and it happened like that.
AllHipHop: How did you get to produce on Roddy Ricch’s “Feed The Streets 2”?
KBeaZy: That was another similar scenario. Tarentino from 808 Mafia who did “March Madness” for Future, he’s one of my favorite producers still to this day. I tweeted at him like “yo, let’s cook up.” He replied to me and gave me his email. He texted me one night like “hold this beat, I got Roddy on it.” Roddy followed me on IG, DMed me. That was pretty dope.
That was before Roddy was super lit, but I knew from then. Because he didn’t have much music out, “Die Young” just came out. I found it and the next week, he was on my beat. He DMed me like “yo what’s good, send more.” It’s funny too because I knew he was going to be a big star. “He’s out of here, he’s fire.” But kids at my school at that point were thinking it was crazy. They didn’t really know who Roddy is because I’m from Michigan, no one knew him like that. To see him now and when I go back, everyone’s listening to Roddy. It’s crazy. It’s cool to play a part in that, to play any role.
AllHipHop: What about Smokepurpp on “What I Please”?
KBeaZy: I was at the studio one night with my boy D Boy who works with Murda. This was in Los Angeles. Purpp pulled up, I met him that night and we recorded some songs. He’s dope to work with, I don’t think he gets enough credit to be honest. He’s lit. He’s very versatile too. I know the song I did with him is sort of classic, he’s just rapping on a hard ass beat, but he can really sing too. He’s a good songwriter as well.
AllHipHop: How’d you link with G-Eazy?
KBeaZy: That was dope. I don’t have any songs with him but I actually skipped my high school finals to go to a G-Eazy camp. A bunch of producers were there working on stuff for him. He was popping into each room, telling people what he liked, getting ideas. I met him at this bowling event in LA because I flew out over my Christmas break senior year. I met him but obviously he doesn’t remember that.
I skipped my finals and had his manager write me a letter. He f##ked with the fact that I skipped my high school finals to go there. That’s crazy too because I used to listen to him way back in the day. I’ve been to his house, that’s big bro. That was a dope moment. Even though I don’t have any music with him out yet — I might soon, but it was dope. It showed me that if I can earn his respect, I can get it from anyone.
KBeaZy: I have a few with him, unreleased. Rest in peace. The whole situation is crazy. I linked up with him through his engineer Max Lord. I never met him in person but I spoke to him 2 times on FaceTime very briefly. The last thing he posted on Instagram 6 days before he passed was a snippet of my beat. It has 20 million views. It’s crazy to me to see one of my favorite artists post me on IG. He’s posted one of our snippets before but he posted a Triller to it, which he doesn’t usually do. I was so hyped. It’s a tragedy. He’s mad talented, not that many artists can do what he does.
AllHipHop: What are some goals yourself as an artist at this point of your career?
KBeaZy: I want to do everything. The game is getting younger and younger nowadays. Artists are 16. Billie Eillish is the most poppin’ artist ever and she just turned 18. Kids are now putting too high of expectations on themselves, so I’m stressing out. Not even stressing but I put such high standards on myself. I have to go Diamond!
AllHipHop: You haven’t gone Diamond yet?
KBeaZy: Nah, but soon. I’m trying to work on producing bigger records. I want to produce songs that people can look back on. I want to drop music myself too, like me featuring artists. I want to show people I can produce everything, not just rap music.
(AllHipHop News) Hip-Hop mogul Russell Simmons is launching a new podcast called “Lifestyles of Hip Hop Yogi” soon.
He plans to have special guest appearances from his celebrity friends in the industry to reflect on old times and to tap into what they are doing to sustain themselves for the next leg of their lives.
“I want to speak to everybody from Snoop and 50 and all the people that are older,” Russell Simmons told AllHipHop.com. “And I want to talk about their journeys… what they’ve learned. Some of the people like Puffy, have traveled through a long life and still are hot. They didn’t fall off.”
The show will feature a roster of guests that will look like an awards show, since, in his Rolodex, Russell Simmons has access to Hip-Hop’s elite.
What else is the Def Jam founder doing in 2020?
“I’m building a school that teaches yogis how to teach yogis,” Russell Simmons revealed.
The school will be in a 40 bedroom facility in Bali, Indonesia, where he resides.
“I’m building it because I want the rest of my life to be about getting people out of suffering. Teaching them ways to cope and be happier and be greater servants,” Russell Simmons explained. “And to follow, you know it sounds boring, but it’s the same in the Bible and the Quran and the Torah and the Yoga Sutras about the same s###. It’s all the same. Here’s how we act to feel better and to help others and to have a happier, healthier life. These are basic things.”
(AllHipHop News) Soulja Boy’s manager Miami Mike shared a heartfelt story about his journey to recovery after testing positive for COVID-19.
The music manager, whose real name is Michael Sykes, feared the coronavirus was going to kill him.
“My stomach was hurting, I had diarrhea. I couldn’t eat, I lost 30 pounds since I took the test,” he shared with WMC Action News 5 during a FaceTime call with a breathing tube attached to his nose.
Miami Mike’s symptoms grew so severe he had to call 911. He was later treated at Baptist DeSoto Hospital.
“When the ambulance came to get me, I was gasping for air. It was so scary, I couldn’t breathe,” Mike said adding that he was so frightened, he almost thought the ambulance wouldn’t make it in time.
Miami Mike is now at home where he is quarantined but still has to use oxygen to help him breathe properly. He thanked the staff at Baptist DeSoto Hospital for saving his life.
“They really the heroes man. I can’t explain how nice they were to me,” he said.
While the music manager isn’t sure where he contracted the virus. he hopes people are taking the proper precautions to stay safe.
“I mean they treated me like they had known me all of their lives..they came in my room every 20mins the whole time I was there,” he wrote. “God is good & i thank every1 for their prayers for me.. iam feeling Super Fantastic now.”
(AllHipHop News) Rob Kardashian has accused his ex-fiancee Blac Chyna, for allegedly using drugs, attacking him, and threatening his life in 2016.
According to documents obtained by The Blast, Rob Kardashian says that after the birth and breastfeeding of their child Dream Kardashian, Blac Chyna began “drinking to excess and using cocaine again.”
Rob alleges that later that day, Chyna held him at gunpoint and threatened to kill him.
The documents state that friends were on a FaceTime call with the ex-couple when the incident occurred. The documents also claim that she attempted to strangle him with an iPhone charger cable and the next day, tried to use a metal pole to “repeatedly strike Rob.”
Chyna’s lawyer says the scratches on Rob’s body were a result of aggressive flirting.
“Part of that raucous and flirty celebration included Chyna ripping her fiancé Rob’s shirt and then playfully stroking her fingernails against his chest,” her lawyer told US Weekly.
She went on to state that Chyna’s ex-fiance admitted under oath that “being scratched by a woman is ‘one of the best things a man could ask for.”
She also told the publication that Rob admitted that he has never felt threatened by Chyna and found the gun pointing “funny.”
Chyna and her lawyer claim that the gun was unloaded during the time of the incident and that Rob is lying. Rob Kardashian is reportedly seeking $767,852 in damages.
(AllHipHop News) Tory Lanez might as well be crowned the king of going live.
The Toronto rapper and singer has taken over Instagram live with his ‘Quarantine Radio’ show which has garnered thousands of viewers and guest appearances from stars like Drake, Tinashe, Chris Brown, DMX, and Megan the Stallion.
Tory Lanez and Drake recently broke the record for the most Instagram live viewers, with a whopping 310,000 viewers on March 31.
Tory Lanez revealed on Twitter that he broke another exciting live record. He wrote, “I JUST BROKE THE RECORD FOR MOST TIK TOK LIVE VIEWERS ! WITH MY DJ SET !!!!! WOW.”
The live stream took place to celebrate the release of his new mixtape “The New Toronto 3.”
TikTok quoted Lanez’ tweet about his accomplishment with clapping emojis.
Congrats to Tory Lanez on his TikTok live record and the drop of his new mixtape “The New Toronto 3.”
(AllHipHop News) Pete Davidson participated in Saturday Night Live’s first remote episode, which featured host Tom Hanks and musical guest Chris Martin, who all recorded from their own homes.
Davidson’s sketches this week were both music videos, where the comedian channeled his inner musician and took on Drake and Andre 3000.
Davidson’s “Drake” music video, directed by his mom, was a parody of Champagne Papi’s new video for “Toosie Slide.”
Davidson sported similar gear that Drake wore in the video and attempted to do his version of the “Toosie Slide” dance.
“This is a Drake song, I miss my ex this is a Drake song. Number one on the Billboard, number one of the billboard,” he sang as he walked around his mom’s basement, doing a mini-tour as Drake does in the video.
Pete Davidson then switched it up with “Andre 2000,” a more upbeat song where he did nothing but flex $2,000.
“I got $2,000. I got $2,000. It looks like a lot in the video, but it’s only $2,000,” he rapped. Towards the end sang, “Andre 2000, call me Andre 2000 what. Andre 2000, can’t afford 3000.”
(AllHipHop News) A$AP Ferg made an appearance on MSNBC’s AM Joy with Joy-Ann Reid, to discuss COID-19 and the importance of taking preventative measures.
Dr. Sampson Davis also joined the New York rapper for the coronavirus youth outreach.
Ferg talked about the importance of wiping down your cell phone and being careful when placing a mask on your neck or clothes after being outdoors.
“The germ that’s on the outside of the mask is going everywhere on your clothes and everything like that. So let’s be mindful of that,” he said.
Dr. Davis chimed in, backing Ferg’s statement and the rapper also explained how he’s using this time at home. “This is a time actually I’m just using to catch up on a lot of things that I put on to the side.”
After AM Joy, A$AP Ferg and Dr. Davis took the pandemic conversation to Instagram live where they answered questions about the coronavirus.
(AllHipHop News) Legendary producers RZA and DJ Premier finally went head to head in their highly-anticipated Instagram battle, thanks to Swizz Beatz and Timbaland’s Verzuz series.
The legendary pair battled on Saturday night, each playing 20 songs from their extensive catalog.
Aside from fans watching and chatting, several celebrities were excitedly tuned in along with upwards of 200,000 rabid fans.
RZA, the leader and creator of the Wu-Tang Clan dropped several hits of songs he’s produced for artists like Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, GZA, Notorious B.I.G. and Kanye West.
DJ Premier also had his tricks up his sleeve with M.O.P. and Gang Starr classics and other songs he’s produced for artists such as Nas, Group Home, Das EFX, Biggie and Jay-Z.
Of course, there can only be one winner, and while the score was close and they were neck and neck. The winner? It depends on who you ask. Some fans say DJ Premier won and many RZA won.
Two of AllHipHop’s editors judged the battle in real time. One had Preem winning and the other had RZA winning. The battle also went over the 20 songs they orginally claimed it would go. By the end of the night, they played a number of lesser-known, emotive songs like “New Day” by Kanye West and Jay-Z.
The real winner was Hip-Hop.
Before the battle, Premier made a video on Instagram about being asked to be a part of the battle.
“It’d be fun to do that one. Let’s get it. That’s The Abbot man, that’s The RZArectah,” he said. “The instigators Swizz Beatz and Timbaland, they’re the one that made the call and said would you be down, and I was like I’m down if he is and he said he’s down. So, let’s have some fun and get this battle cracking.”
And that’s exactly what the battle was, a fun Hip-Hop moment that will forever go down in history for the fans.
Best known for his out-of-the-box sound and cinematic visuals, the Florida-bred, Houston-based rapper is here to break barriers in the rap game. This means pairing his standout records with the utmost highest quality of music videos.
While H-Town serves as his home the past decade, Billy can hardly be boxed into the city’s sound and style.
His lyrics are gritty and emotional, teaming up with CHASETHEMONEY on his last album RELIGION. Each of the 8 tracks from the project were entirely written and conceptualized by Billyracxx himself.
While a lot of people in the music industry view Billy as an alien or alternative artist, he just wants to be someone who is super influential, “an intentional creative.”
When asked to describe himself, Billy states, “That’s literally something I’m still exploring. I’m still seeing how deep I can take this.”
Now one year later, Billyracxx unleashes his newest project titled Butterflies Pt. 1.
The butterfly wings symbolize his unique sound, utilizing the sound of a butterfly’s wings. The project is spearheaded by the record “Kill Me,” showcasing his passion and dedication to take his creative mind all the way to the top — or he’ll die trying.
AllHipHop spoke with Billyracxx to discuss his upbringing in Houston, his music career and more.
AllHipHop: What sets you apart from the other artists?
Billyracxx: I’m almost like a walking, living caricature of myself. When it comes to my wordplay, my sound, and how I live on the camera, I’ve tapped into something deeper.
AllHipHop: Being from Bayou City, how does that play into your life & career?
Billyracxx: That’s crazy you ask that because people have no clue where I’m from when they hear my music or see my visuals. I’m from Florida, but I grew up in Bayou City so my perspective is different. I moved here and it felt so big. Now I’m a name here. I’ve got ties here, so it affected me tremendously when it comes to just life. I went from being submersed in the streets of Eatonville around nothing but black folks, dread heads, and Haitians… to Houston being full of diversity and slow-talking black folks.
When it comes to the music, I hear a lot of Florida in me. Houston/Bayou City gave me the ability to slow my music down and my tone. But overall when people hear me and see me, they think I’m from space.
AllHipHop: When did you move to Houston? How has that city influenced you?
Billyracxx: Eatonville, Florida is the first all African-American established town in America. It’s super lit to say that, but hella people are dying there. My mom moved us when I was 14 years old, so Houston became my new normal. It affected my dialect, it affected my whole scope on life because Florida is nuts and Houston is very deep rooted in its culture, so it’s a complete switch. I’m so tapped into the city right now, it’s crazy. I sit back and remember myself moving here, not knowing anybody when I was 14, and now Billyracxx is a real name in this city. Real OGs in this city know what I’m going to become, and they even acknowledge it.
AllHipHop: At what point did you realize this music thing was for real?
Billyracxx: About 3 years ago when I really sat back and listened to my Billy Ocean Two project. It gave me a feeling like I really deserved influence and I hadn’t felt that before that point. When I really took that project in, I finally realized I’m a whole new mold. I couldn’t pick one rapper or artist I sounded like or resemble. It fueled me. I’ve been evolving ever since.
AllHipHop: What’s the inspiration behind your name?
Billyracxx: My last name is Billy. I didn’t come into this creating a name for shock value. I used to go by BILL$.
AllHipHop: What’s one thing you want fans to get from Butterflies Pt. 1?
Billyracxx: I want people to get that this sound doesn’t result from compromising my vision or shaping myself in the mood of some rapper before me. Everything about Butterflies is pure.
AllHipHop: Talk about your new single “Kill Me,” and the butterfly metaphor to hip-hop.
Billyracxx: It’s simple. My art is going to either make me or kill me, and I’m okay with either outcome.
AllHipHop: Who are your Top 5 artists in rotation?
Billyracxx: Lil Wayne, Lady Gaga, André 3000, CeeLo Green, Rick Ross.
AllHipHop: Favorite Rick Ross song?
Billyracxx: My favorite song right now by Rick Ross would be “Idols Become Rivals.”
(AllHipHop News) Quavo has teamed up with online fashion brand boohooMAN to launch an exclusive co-designed collection.
This is the second boohooMAN drop from the Migos rapper. “The success of the first drop was huge,” Samir Kamani, CEO of boohooMAN said in a statement.
“After persistent demand from our consumers and Huncho’s fans, Quavo and I knew we had to drop a part 2.”
The streetwear collection inspired by the ‘Huncho’ style consists of matching sets in various prints such as bandana, tie-dye, and acid wash. It will also include chained sunglasses, socks, slides, denim, and so much more.
Quavo’s boohooMAN collection launched worldwide on April 8 on boohooMAN.com. Items price range from $12 to $80.
“Collaborating with boohooMAN is special because they just really are the first team that let me open my creative mind-set and just bring my ideas to life,” Quavo expressed about teaming up with boohooMAN. “When I met the team they were young and represented the culture so I thought, ok, we can collaborate and do something special. I’m happy for it to come around again. This time it’s better!”
(AllHipHop News) Future has had enough of his alleged baby mother and her antics.
According to TMZ, Future believes Eliza Seraphin, the woman claiming that he’s the father of her daughter, is trying to “to garner the attention of his fans for herself.”
Documents obtained by the publication state that Eliza aka Eliza Reign, is claiming Future is her child’s father to gain attention and drive traffic to her online boutique store.
The rapper claims that Eliza has “led a campaign of disparagement against” him to promote herself.
Future says she is not only profiting off his name but is also receiving nightclub hosting opportunities.
(AllHipHop News) The Weeknd has blamed the press for taking comments he made about Usher’s Climax track “out of context,” insisting he meant no disrespect to the R&B “King.”
The “Can’t Feel My Face” singer recently hit headlines after noting how his alternative R&B style appeared to have influenced the sound of Usher’s 2012 single, which was produced by Diplo.
“I heard ‘Climax,’ that Usher song, and was like, ‘Holy f##k, that’s a Weeknd song,’” he told Variety. “It was very flattering, and I knew I was doing something right, but I also got angry. But the older I got, I realized it’s a good thing.”
The remarks caused a stir online as fans and critics began weighing in, with some suggesting The Weeknd was putting Usher on blast, leading Diplo to confirm that the Canadian star was right, as he had drawn inspiration for the beat from his older tunes.
the production on Climax lends itself to House of Balloons era @theweeknd. when I heard those early records they blew my mind – soulful in their silences, and a spacey iconic voice that felt uniquely internet. the idea of R&B having dark edges was what I wanted to bring to @usher
one of my favorite voices of all time. I'm glad @usher, Ariel, Eric, and I all got together to make that epic song. I remember I had the title of the song before I had the beat. It was conceptual from the beginning.
“The production on ‘Climax’ lends itself to ‘House of Balloons’ era @theweeknd,” the DJ and producer told his Twitter followers.
“when I heard those early records they blew my mind – soulful in their silences, and a spacey iconic voice that felt uniquely internet. the idea of R&B having dark edges was what I wanted to bring to @usher…”
As news of an apparent feud between the two singers began to circulate, The Weeknd took to social media to set the record straight on his Variety chat, making it clear he wasn’t taking a shot at Usher.
Reposting Diplo’s tweet on his own page, The Weeknd wrote, “Of course media blows things out of proportion and takes things out of context.
“Usher is a King and always an inspiration so it was flattering to hear what him and Diplo did on climax”.
Usher has yet to directly address the controversy, although he sent some shade to “someone.”
(AllHipHop News) Legendary R&B singer and producer Babyface is “so blessed” to have been able to celebrate his 62nd birthday on Friday after an “incredibly scary” battle with COVID-19.
The musician, real name Kenneth Brian Edmonds, took to social media on his special day to thank famous friends and fans for their well wishes, revealing he and his loved ones all tested positive for the coronavirus – but have since pulled through.
“I would like to warmly thank everyone for all the many birthday wishes today,” his note began.
“I feel so blessed to be able to celebrate another birthday. I tested positive for the Covid19 virus, as did my family. It’s an incredibly scary thing to go through my friends. I’m happy to report we have now tested negative and are on our way back to full health.”
The birthday boy went on invite fans to join him and his “little brother,” fellow R&B star Teddy Riley, in a special music battle livestream at 9 pm EST on April 18th.
Dubbed a “Celebration of Black Music Excellence” he continued, “So get ready for a night of groove and love. Ladies… put on your red dress…light the candles, pour some wine, and don’t forget to bring your dancing shoes..”
Addressing his close pal, Babyface added, “Teddy!!! Let’s show them what Hip Hop/R&B music really means to the world!”
He captioned the post, “Stay Home, Stay Safe.”
The “Tender Lover” singer is the latest musician to be diagnosed with the potentially-deadly illness – Fred the Godson, Slim Thug, and Scarface also previously went public with their positive COVID-19 tests.
The original plan was that the choir would be masked and maintaining social distance while recording songs with Kanye for the gig.
But the 42-year-old rapper decided that he could not satisfy his artistic desires and safety concerns with these arrangements, so he called off the appearance.
Discussions were reportedly ongoing up until Good Friday, but the Jesus is King star ultimately couldn’t make his plan work.
The Easter Sunday service will be broadcast over Osteen’s megachurch feed at https://www.joelosteen.com at 9: 30am EST and 12 PM EST.
