Oh what a year it was, 2020. It was a year for the history books and that includes Hip-Hop music. There was a ton of new music that kept our head on a proverbial swivel. So much so, we could hardly keep up. For years, the trend has been older gods doing more and more incredible work and the younger ones pushing the culture into uncharted waters. 2020 was no different in this uniquely Hip-Hop renaissance. There was music all over, for everybody. Big Seans And Lil Babies, Black Thoughts And Butchers named Benny – 2020 had it all.
There’s literally no way to fully encapsulate how much good stuff came out, but here are some of the best songs of the year. We’ll keep adding stuff on.
“Steak Um” – Black Thought feat. ScHoolboy Q
‘Pardon” – T.I. feat. Lil’ Baby
“Smoke & Mirrors” – Elzhi feat. Monica Blaire
“Scrape The Bowl” – Boldy James & The Alchemist feat. Benny The Butcher
“Whole World” – Earl Sweatshirt feat. Maxo
“Baptize” – Spillage Village, JID, EARTHGANG
“Ishkabibble’s” – Westside Gunn feat. Black Thought
Chris Rock upped his therapy sessions at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and now spends seven hours a week talking to a therapist.
The “Fargo” star sought treatment for his mental health struggles when the coronavirus pandemic hit the U.S. in March, and he admits he’s learned a lot about himself during his weekly sessions.
Speaking on CBS’ Sunday Morning, he said: “I learned that I could be very hard on myself. Like really, really hard on myself, and I need to relax. And I need to listen, I need to take chances. Sometimes I wasn’t kind, and sometimes I wasn’t listening, and sometimes I was selfish, and some, you know, a lot of times.
“And sometimes, you know, I took advantage of circumstances, and positions, of you know, just everyday things. And you know, it’s ultimately, who do you want to be?”
The 55-year-old comedian previously revealed he was diagnosed with nonverbal learning disorder, which he says is great for comedy and jokes but not more “one-on-one relationships”.
Chris has also been learning to swim during lockdown.
“Do you know how f**king hard it is for a grown-up to learn how to swim?” he laughed. “You’ve got to not be scared to die. The other day, this guy says to me, ‘OK, you’re going to dive into the deep end and swim to the other side,’ and I’m like, ‘Are you f###### crazy? But then I dove into the deep end and I swam to the other side.”
He was charged with Racketeering Conspiracy, conspiracy to knowingly and intentionally manufacture distribute, or dispense, or possess with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense, a controlled substance (crack cocaine, cocaine, and marijuana), and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The 34-year-old rapper has offered to put up a total of $2.5 million as part of a bond package is lawyers presented to the court.
Casanova is putting up five properties and 13 co-signors. The properties are worth around $1,103,669.00, while the co-signors vouching for the rapper have combined salaries of approximately $1,266,145.00. The co-signors guarantee Casanova will show up for his trial should he be released from the Westchester County Jail, in Valhalla, New York, where he is currently being held.
Casanova’s Bond Motion
Casanova’s Bond Motion
Casanova’s Bond Motion
“The notion that he would surrender to the authorities with full knowledge of the charges against him but then not return to court as directed once released is inconsistent with his voluntary surrender and common sense. His surrender demonstrates his respect for this Court and the judicial process and there can be no credible argument that he presents a risk of flight,” according to his lawyer James Kousouros.
Casanova is willing to submit to home detention, geographic restrictions on his travel, electronic monitoring, and the surrender of his passport. Casanova, born Caswell Senior, vehemently denies trafficking in drugs or possessing a weapon in relation to any criminal activity.
In fact, Casanova’s lawyer plans to submit that the evidence will ultimately prove the rapper is not a drug dealer or member of the United Gorilla Stone Nation.
Kousouros says Casanova served a six-year prison sentence for robbery, and was released in 2013, and was locked up the first three years the gang allegedly perpetrated some of their crimes.
He noted that Casanova was discharged from his probation in 2018 without any issues, and was laboring as a construction worker with the Local 79 Union when he recorded his breakthrough single “Don’t Run,” which landed him a deal with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation imprint.
When it comes to Chicago, the most amazing things about the windy city are often overshadowed by the images of violence and narratives perpetuated in media, and they often obscure the fact that for decades Chicago’s music scene has birthed some of the most prolific artists in music.
Emerging rapper Yung Stakks, courtesy of Chicago’s Westside, is rewriting a new narrative one song at a time.
Yung Stakks is no stranger to adversity, as his father was a well-known gang lord in the windy city, and this caused the young rapper to grow up in one of the worst neighborhoods on Chicago’s Westside.
From being shot twice to surviving a major car accident, Stakks has undoubtedly defied all odds. Using his music as his escape, Yung Stakks would begin to emerge as one of the hottest rappers in Chicago.
Yung Stakks even had the privilege of being featured on an Apple Music playlist that boasted a prominent feature on Forbes.
On his latest single “Swing My Door,” Yung Stakks gets an assist from G Herbo. The collaborative effort will surely make its way to the top of the charts and get added to your favorite playlists.
A lawmaker in Florida is urging authorities to shut down Donald Trump’s resort, Mar-A-Lago over a party featuring rapper Vanilla Ice.
The President hosted his annual New Year’s Eve bash on December 31st, which was attended by Eric Trump, Rudy Giuliani, and Donald Trump Jr., both of whom have already caught the deadly coronavirus, which has taken over 330,000 lives since lockdowns began in March of 2020.
Omari Hardy, a Democrat who represents West Palm Beach in the House Of Representatives, urged local authorities to shut down Mar-A-Lago immediately. However, Vanilla Ice, who provided entertainment for the evening, was Hardy’s main problem.
Representative Hardy took issue with the maskless guests who attended the New Year’s party and how guests flouted Florida’s mask requirements for businesses.
Representative Hardy fired off a letter calling for Mar-A-Lago to be closed altogether for violating the order, which is in effect until January 20th.
“When I saw the video of the maskless Mar-a-Lago party, I thought about the staff working there. I thought about their families. I thought about the educators who might be teaching the staff’s children when school reopens after Winter Break,” Omari Hardy said. “I thought about the folks they might encounter at the grocery store or at the pharmacy. I thought also about our healthcare workers who are risking their own lives to treat the sick as this deadly pandemic rages on. It is for them that we should take enforcement action against Mar-a-Lago. Shut it down!”
In addition to Vanilla Ice, other maskless guests spotted at Trump’s New Year’s Eve event included Judge Jeanine Pirro, “MyPillow Guy, ” Mike Lindell, and ironically Teri Nunn, the lead singer of Berlin, best known for their hit single “Take My Breath Away. ”
President Trump skipped his annual New Year’s Eve party and instead headed back to Washington DC, where he is attempting to overturn the election results as Mike Pence prepares to certify Joe Biden as the President on January 6th.
Donald Trump Jr. was not concerned with wearing a mask either, he was more upset that he had to put on a tuxedo to attend the black-tie affair.
Lil Tjay rang in the year 2021 sitting in a New York jail cell.
The Bronx, New York rapper was released from prison on Friday (January 1st ) after posting a $50,000 bond. On Wednesday, Tjay was caught in a car loaded with guns in marijuana.
A vehicle the rapper was traveling in was stopped and when cops searched the vehicle, they found four guns in the center console. Police said they also found a book bag filled with marijuana.
None of the occupants of the vehicle took responsibility for the guns or the drugs, resulting in charges for everyone inside of the vehicle.
Tjay has already lawyered up. He is represented by criminal defense lawyer Dawn Florio, who also reps infamous snitch, Tekashi 69.
“They’re targeting Lil Tjay for this arrest based on the incident that happened a few days ago when they illegally searched him and the vehicle he was in at his video shoot. “We’re vigorously defending the allegations,” Dawn Florio told The New York Post.
Rae Sremmurd’s Swae Lee and producer Mike WiLL Made-It almost didn’t make it to 2021.
The chart-topping rapper and hit producer were involved in a serious car accident to ring in the New Year. The pair were apparently ringing in the New Year in Atlanta when they were involved in a car crash.
“ME & SWAE WILLY MADE-IT OUT THIS MF ALIVE,” Mike Will said, revealing both rappers were bruised from the wreck, but otherwise they were healthy.
Although Mike WiLL did not offer many details, he posted pictures standing on top of a smashed up Ferrari, along with a message of gratitude for being alive.
“THANK U GOD, I’M PAYING ATTENTION TO ALL THE SIGNS, 2021 WE TURNING LEMONS TO LEMONADE ALL YEAR,” Mike WiLL Made-It continued. “WE COULD HAVE BEEN DEAD EASILY, BUT WE MADE-IT OUT WITH JUST A COUPLE BRUISES, WE HERE FOR A REASON…GOD BODY..”
Rapper Skillz has delivered on his annual recap of the year with his track “Throw It In The Trash ( The 2020 Rap Up).”
The Richmond, Virginia representative dropped an 8:46 second thumper filled with witty punchlines reminiscing on the last 12 months.
Skillz, who originated the yearly “Rap Up” tradition in 2002 opened the track with a reference to what else? The year’s biggest news – the coronavirus.
From there, Skillz tackles everything from Donald Trump and the Harvey Weinstein scandal to Akon’s collaboration with infamous Rapper Tekashi 69, while labeling Joe Budden a “weirdo” for “jerking off” his dog.
Skillz also labeled actor Terry Crews a clown and begged Kanye West to sit his ass down after the Chicago rapper’s failed attempt to be President of the United States.
Skillz gave props to the Black Lives Matter movement during his verse, shouting out Breonna Taylor.
He also thoughtfully gave props to all of the teachers, who had to readjust during the pandemic, as well as the DJs who helped us get through 2020 with countless mixes, mostly delivered through Instagram.
“Throw It In The Trash ( The 2020 Rap Up)” is a tribute to George Floyd, which lasts 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the same amount of time Minnesota police officer George Chauvin held his knee on George Floyd’s neck and killed him.
This year, Skillz dropped a video to a company his annual recap of the year.
Take a look and listen to “Throw It In The Trash ( The 2020 Rap Up)” below:
In these crazy times given this year’s COVID-19 pandemic, systemic racism, and police brutality, music-lovers all around the world can appreciate music with substance that uplifts, inspires, and heals. Insert JJ Hairston, here to keep gospel music alive! As Billboard Music’s #11 gospel artist of the decade, the singer-songwriter pairs his soulful ballads with a message, with the intention of touching his audience in the most positive way.
It was 2019’s “Miracle Worker” that went #1, resulting in JJ shutting down stages during a sold-out tour around the States. With his unwavering faith in God, JJ encourages the masses to combat fear and trust that everything is in His power. And still, having consistently written and released songs for 2 decades now, JJ is more proud of his family than anything else — being both a father and husband.
Now, he unleashes his 11th studio album titled Not Holding Back on New Year’s Day.
AllHipHop: How’s it feel to be the #11 gospel artist of the decade?
: It’s funny, the best things happen when you don’t keep track. I haven’t been trying to monitor success by numbers, but more so by impact. The only way you can measure impact is by testimonies, people that reach out and say our music has helped them. In that way, we’ve been very impactful. It’s great when the numbers start to line up with your impact so for that reason, I’m really grateful for everyone that supports our music. Even for Billboard giving us the nod and congratulations, it’s really cool.
AllHipHop: What do you feel when you sing?
JJ Hairston: Wow, that mic is a weapon when I get it. I feel stronger when I am on stange than I do normally. When I’m in calm spaces, I’m very chill. I’ll have my daughter in my lap and be very relaxed. The guy on the stage has become somebody different, that man has an assignment and I’ma do everything I can to make sure that assignment happens. I feel really empowered when I’m on the stage. When I’m off the stage, I want to watch movies and hold my daughter.
AllHipHop: “Miracle Worker” was a big record for you, bring us back to when you created that one.
JJ Hairston: “Miracle Worker” was really cool because it’s our first time we recorded outside of the U.S. We recorded half of the record in Nigeria, that was really cool because I love the worship experience there. I love the way they’re engaged when they sing there. We’re singing these songs for the first time, but they’re singing in the audience louder than us. We released some great songs, some of them have become anthems worldwide so that was really humbling. It really set us up with where we’re going with this record.
AllHipHop: How much are you praying in a day?
JJ Hairston: We’re praying more than usual because this year, a lot of other people have been home and they’ve had a time off. We’ve been busier than ever because we launched a ministry this year. We’re doing a lot of work around the house, we’re preaching, really working with people. We’re praying that we’ll stay focused and strengthened, because sometimes you can get so enamored with the work that you forget your reason. We never want our how to outweigh our why, we’re really staying focused on why we’re doing what we do. Because of that we’ve been able to get through this year and grow stronger and wiser in this season.
AllHipHop: What are you most excited for with your new album, Not Holding Back?
JJ Hairston: I’m excited because 2020 really inhibited our corporate worship experience where we could all get together and sing. We wanted to create a record where people can get that experience at home. We accomplished it. We’re able to write and create some songs where people can feel like they’re in a church, even though they’re in a house. I’m excited for people to be able to have that experience at least for the 12 songs we have, hopefully it’ll carry us through till this pandemic lights up and we’re able to get back to church. I’m really excited about bringing the corporate worship experience to people’s homes.
AllHipHop: Why is it so important for you to spread love and positivity?
JJ Hairston: People need it. I’ve been telling people I almost made it out of 2020 without losing anybody, but a few days ago my dad transitioned. It’s funny because I’ve been hearing people tell their stories and testimonies about how they lost someone this year and they can’t have the funerals they’d normally had. They don’t even get to grieve the normal way because everything’s been so different. For me, I know what I feel and I’m pretty strong emotionally. For those already dealing with issues, I can’t imagine how they must feel when they have the loss on top of that. It’s important that we spread positivity and love in this season because so many people are in need of it. This quarantine has caused isolation for a lot of people so we want to be able to let people know they’re not by themselves, God loves them and we love them too. The only way He can love is through us, so it’s important that we allow ourselves to be those instruments for God to show His love to people.
AllHipHop: Your post about your father passing was really touching, how does music help?
JJ Hairston: It’s funny because music’s not only our assignment and our vehicle, but it’s what we use to strengthen us and give us peace. As soon as my dad passed, I found myself thinking of a peace song. A song that brings us peace, a song that he loved. Not only do songs have the ability to give you peace, they also have the ability to bring back memories. I have memories attached to songs, there are certain songs in that day I remember that helped me keep the memory of my father alive in our hearts. Music’s so important to us in the season.
AllHipHop: What do you look for in talent when it comes to your group, Youthful Praise?
JJ Hairston: We have a lot of great singers, literally 30 singers. I can go anywhere and have 6 singers there, they’re all amazing. They all sing so much better than me. [laughs] What I really require out of all them is not how they sound, but what they say. What you say to me is more important than any riff or run you can do, or your technique. Because people don’t remember how you sound as much as they remember what you said, so I really require everyone that is with me to have something to say that’d inspire and encourage people while they’re singing.
AllHipHop: How is fatherhood during quarantine?
JJ Hairston: Fatherhood during quarantine has been crazy because my son got married this year. Having to walk him through the whole process of getting married was really strange because quarantine and the pandemic had everyone in a place we’ve never seen before. We couldn’t predict anything, everything I knew was different. Beautiful wedding, he married a beautiful young lady. He closed on his house two weeks after the wedding. Fatherhood during quarantine has been strange but awesome.
AllHipHop: Did they take after your footsteps in music?
JJ Hairston: My son’s a videographer, he’s really good at it. He’s called upon by a lot of gospel artists, I have two daughters, my middle daughter sings but she wants to get more into photography. My baby girl doesn’t sing at all. [laughs] She’s a genius, but I don’t know what she wants to do with her life.
AllHipHop: 3 things you need in the studio?
JJ Hairston: A bag of classic Lays potato chips, a bottle of water, and a pack of Fishermen Friends. Fishermen Friends are these lozenges that when you put one in your mouth, I promise you you can smell the next door. They really open you up. You really only get it for about an hour. After an hour it’s gone, you’re back to where you are. It at least helps me get to that space to open me up and be able to deliver the way I need to.
AllHipHop: Talk about your health journey, and being borderline vegan.
JJ Hairston: Borderline, yes. [laughs] We tried a number of different options. We’ve done intermittent fasting, we’ve done no carb. I haven’t had bread or rice in 4 years. It wasn’t because I was getting so big, but my family has dealt with people with heart disease and different transitions in their health. I want to be around for years so when I felt myself slipping a little, I contacted a trainer. One of our singers, her husband’s a trainer. I asked him what are the things that I should do right off the bat? He told me to stop drinking soda, lighten up on the carbs, and not a lot of fried foods. I’ve done that consistently. I’ll drink a Pepsi every now and then but I don’t eat starch anymore because once I broke it, I never went back. My wife’s much more rigid than me. She doesn’t eat any carbs, no soda. She does intermittent fasting so she doesn’t eat after 7pm, doesn’t start eating until noon. It’s crazy.
AllHipHop: How does it affect your ministry?
JJ Hairston: Being healthy helps to be more energetic. When you feel weighed down, you don’t feel good. I’ve noticed that when I’m eating fried food, I feel a different way, I don’t feel as light, I feel bogged down. Even beef surprisingly enough, when I eat beef I don’t feel as lean. I only eat grilled chicken and grilled fish as meat. My wife at one time, she went totally vegan as opposed to vegetarian. She said she even felt better so I realized what you eat really controls how you feel. To me, I need to be able to feel good to be able to minister well.
AllHipHop: Goals yourself as an artist at this point of your career?
JJ Hairston: I really want to be able to help launch young writers and singers. One of my proudest moments was being able to launch a young guy, Rich Tolbert Jr., who’s doing well now. Last year we did a tour, let him open up and put his single out. I want to do more of that, that’s what we wanted someone to do for us when we started out. For those who are afraid to do it, we’re limiting our exposure to younger artists. I don’t think that’s our assignment, we’re supposed to keep the door open for the next artists and next singers to come through.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want to let us know?
JJ Hairston: I’m excited. January 1st, week one to make sure we’re starting the year off with a record full of declarations and good music. We’re hoping that everyone that hears Not Holding Back is really encouraged and inspired to walk into 2021 with their head up and ready to go for it.
Actress Jada Pinkett Smith will only help loved ones financially if she is “willing” to give the money as a gift.
Jada has set strict rules for herself when it comes to sharing her wealth, because she doesn’t want relationships to be ruined over someone’s failure to repay a loan.
Jada explained her stance on the latest episode of her Facebook Watch show “Red Table Talk,” as she helped one viewer named Samantha navigate the “awkward” situation of feeling obliged to lend cash to relatives.
“For people like us, who came from backgrounds where we didn’t have much, don’t feel guilty,” she advised. “I spent so many years feeling guilty and my guilt made me feel like I owed everybody and I wasn’t allowed to say, ‘No.’ And that’s just not true, right?”
Sharing her money rules, Will Smith’s wife continued, “First of all, I don’t lend money. I only give money that I am willing to give like, ‘This is a gift.’
“I do not lend money because that turns into a lot of problems, just as far of the expectation of people paying you back or what have you.
“So I tend to not give where I can’t just say, ‘Here’s a gift to you.’ Specifically people who are close to me, ’cause I’m not trying to have fallouts over money.”
And Jada admits she will only come to someone’s financial assistance if they are truly ready for the help.
Offering an example, she said, “So it’s like, somebody’s like, ‘I want a new house,’ but they don’t have a job to support the house they’re trying to buy. It’s like, ‘Well, you’re not ready for that.’ So I’m not about to help you get into something that ultimately is going to make more difficulty for you, right? And so, I really had to look at that. So I’ve also learned to help people with resources, with education.”
Concluding her money message to Samantha, Jada added, “Don’t feel guilty just because we got our grind on. You don’t own nobody nothing.”
2020. Without question, one of the most difficult, polarizing, and remarkable years ever. We endured everything from unconscionable acts of racism/abuses of authority to a sweeping, intercontinental pandemic and broad shifts in power. However, on the Hip-Hop front, things moved a bit differently. We didn’t have the tours or the promotion that we would typically associate with such a monumental year in Hip-Hop, but we made due. We managed to thrive despite taking heavy losses. We had lives, we had posts, we had award shows, we had social media and we had numerous ways to ingest this thing of ours like AllHipHop. But it was the music that kept us going. This was an exceptional year for music if you were properly tapped in and the artists reflect the times more than ever.
Here is “AllHipHop’s Top 100 Hip-Hop Albums Of 2020 – From Old School To Now School.”
By Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur, Dally Wis, illseed, Houston Williams, and a few friends.
It has been a long time coming for Royce Da 5’9″ as one of the relics of the early 2000s that has not lost enthusiasm, skills, or a step as he has reached a zenith in 2020. With a Grammy nod as a co-sign, The Allegory delivers in a major way. Not only are the bars superior, but the songs are also too. From a content perspective, the album is extremely dense. Even running down the content won’t do it any justice, to be honest. You just have to listen – over and over. Nickle got a little help from friends like Eminem, KXNG Crooked, G Perico, Vince Staples, and others. When it was all said and done, the homie Royce entered the universally accepted and received G.O.A.T. conversation in 2020.
2020 had been a tough year for everybody, but before the pandemic truly hit stateside, Pop Smoke was shot dead – murdered coldly – in Los Angeles. Two weeks before his death, he released Meet The Woo 2 – where the trek to superstardom began. The Brooklyn, New Yorker liberally took cues from UK Drill, but managed to make it with his own vibe, and Meet The Woo 2 was the hustler’s soundtrack. With its dystopian, rugged beats the album managed to make Pop Smoke a legend. A team of loving industry fam would also offer Pop’s only posthumous album Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon, which also solidified him as one with the Hip-Hop Universe.
Roc Marciano forged forward in 2020. Mt. Marci put a foundation under the foundation that the progressive veteran has been laying down for over a decade. A throwback of sorts, Marciano refined and defined his musical legacy on his own terms. Mt. Marci is an album in the traditional sense – each song stands alone as a distinct, unique work of art. It’s a vibe, chopped samples, and braggadocious bars. It is just that simple.
Freddie Gibbs has a right to be annoyingly arrogant. He waded through quite a bit of industry muck, to go on to universal critical acclaim. Sonically, Alfredo is the mouthpiece for Gibbs’ cockiness and he backs up every word. And, with co-conspirator like The Alchemist, the pair concoct a recipe for Hip-Hop excellence. Mad carbs, yo! Gibbs gets the pleasure of changing cadences over some of the best beats and loops in the game. With a whole Grammy nomination, hardcore fans, voyeurs, and Johnnies-come-lately can all get on the same page: Freddie Gibbs’ time has finally come.
The Price Of Tea In China – Boldy James
The Alchemist is definitely a powerful contender for producer of the year and his other masterwork is Boldy James’s The Price Of Tea In China. 2020, a year of unprecedented change, Boldy boldly stakes his claim for album of the year. His detailed, yet understated urban sagas told in his distinct slow flow, monotone baritones are a perfect compliment to Al. Boldy, a Detroit native is able to weave these stories without glamourizing the results of street life. “My son think that I don’t love him; he don’t know his daddy thugging,” Boldy spews. Minimalism is on the menu but never gets boring with comrades like Freddie Gibbs (who blasts through in double time) and Vince Staples (a flash of brilliance).
Descendants Of Cain – Ka
Ka’s Descendants of Cain was a slow burn in 2020. A fitting way to flourish considering the Brooklyn-bred artist is also a fire chief in his legendary borough. Ka, like some of the aforementioned emcees, has a lower tone when he raps, but manages to evoke some of the most thought-provoking lyrics. With Biblical overtones, the Old Testament provides a structure for Descendants of Cain. There is much to be learned on this album, but it never feels forced or preachy. Thoughtful and insightful, Ka has given Hip-Hop what it needs, but how many are listening? The album starts with a central thought: “When age speaks, youth listens…sometimes.” Word to Cain.
The man of the year, Lil Baby managed to do what very few could. He leveraged modern sensibilities with older schooled ethics. He did not conquer thought over-the-top antics or playing Hollywood. He relied on his unique, authentic sing-rap style fortified with straight soul. His infectious melodies coupled with addictive beats manifest perfectly on My Turn. Lil Baby serves the fans like a drug dealer than actually cares for the fiends. We never get the sense that he’s too cocky for us, exuding a walk with “kings and peasants” common touch. My Turn is the year’s biggest album of all genres and he was recently deemed “the most-watched artist.” “Life Is Good” and “We Paid” were in the Top 3 of YouTube’s Top Trending Music Videos for 2020. Not too long ago, Lil Baby seemed like a meteor passing through the sky, but somehow he managed to strike Earth like an extinction-level event.
Killer Mike and El-P somehow managed to survive every era of rap since they entered the game many moons ago. And like the dinosaurs that made it, they managed to stay dangerous as products of industry rigors. Now, on RTJ4, Mike and Jamie go even harder in their ongoing battle with the machine. The angst comes in the form of a jam session that attracts everyone from 2 Chainz to Josh Homme to Greg Nice to Pharrell to Zack De La Rocha to Gangsta Boo to DJ Premier and even the legendary. In fact, nobody under the age of 40 appears on RTJ4. Crazy. Seems like Hip-Hop’s odd couple are the crocodiles of rap, a pair of dinosaurs that continue to be deadly to just about anybody and anything.
Boldy James and producer Sterling Toles gave rap and art fans one of the greatest treats of 2020. Manger On McNichols is an already classic opus that was the work that refused to die. Toles gathered verses recorded by Boldy between 2007 and 2010 then took years building around with them creatively. Layer after layer after layer, the classic began to take shape with horns, strings, samples, and synths using a slew of Detroit musicians. The result is the ultimate juxtaposition. Boldy’s laid back, minimalist flow with a frenetic maelstrom surrounding the Detroit rhymester. As the first that ever recorded Boldy, Toles has seen the progression and maximizes the honesty presented. Although it took years to produce, Manger On McNichols is a work of art that took Boldy James over the top and placed Sterling Toles as a fixture on the Hip-Hop map.
Jay Electronica did it. Not only did the rapper’s debut album, A Written Testimony, come through at the same time as a historic, international pandemic, but he secured the Grammy nod as well. The rapper captured something that failed to resonate with his rap peers – less is more. The rapper, for whatever reason, maintained a low personal and professional profile. The music did all of the talking for him. No matter what happened and no matter what was rumored to have happened, Jay Electronica’s legend only grew. I did not hurt that Jay-Z came through in the clutch to co-star on the album as an emcee. Some debated that Jay-Z’s presence consumed his counterpart, but only Jay Elec’s aura could maintain such interest from a fickle audience. The New Orleans did it…greatness.
It felt like SAiNt JHN slipped right past Hip-Hop and went to the mainstream. The truth is, his 15 minutes of fame and acclaim have taken years to manifest in the American’s main vein. For example, “Roses” took over three years to hit the Billboard Hot 100, after being recorded in 2016 and he’s been a writer for the likes of Jidenna and Rihanna. But, after one remix came, then another remix, which attracted Future. The art stands even if many of the songs are reworked. It does hurt to have cameos from Beyoncé, Blue Ivy Carter, Meek Mill, and Lil Baby.
Black Thought refuses to succumb to the rigors of age and time that degrade in the finest rap artists. The Philly King has been peddling dope for almost 30 years through The Roots, but has expanded his own brand of hyper lyricism through the Streams of Thought series. The series puts Thought at the forefront of the G.O.A.T. conversation. On Streams of Thought 3, the legendary spitter teams up with another legend, producer Sean C. The results are a bar-heavy, conscious, and eccentric hodge-podge of sounds and thoughts. In an exclusive interview with AllHipHop, Black Thought was clear: he does this to super-serve his audience with their/our/his distinct intelligent form of Hip-Hop. The results are inspirational and forecast a most positive future for “your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper,” except now Tariq Trotter is just your favorite rapper. And Sean C is back where he needs to be as a producer that can craft bangers and rap joints with pop sensibilities.
Megan Thee Stallion has been one of the most dominant forces in Hip-Hop in recent years. She not only dominated, but she managed to get attention in a world that only seemed to have eyes for Cardi B and Nicki Minaj. Her latest release and pseudo debut Good News could not have come at a better time for the Houston rap mistress. Her nemesis Tory Lanez gets bodied on “Shots Fired,” a suitable introduction to the album. But, Megan doesn’t stay there, chiding the man that allegedly shot her. She transcends on “Body,” an anthem for the TikTok and Reels crowd. With a bevy of cohorts like City Girls, DaBaby, Lil Durk, 2 Chainz, Young Thug, and SZA, Good News was great news for those that want their rap raw, sexy, inappropriate, but totally sincere.
2020 represents the year Benny The Butcher went from underground sensation to star. The Griselda gangsta put up the biggest numbers of any other member of the crew with Burden of Proof. The album was less raw, presenting a refined sound compliments of production all-star Hit-Boy. Still, die-hard fans of The Plugs I Met and random bars will be more than pleased with this album. Hit-Boy’s flawless, polished production is a welcomed departure from the grimy New York boom-bap the Buffalo pro is normally heard on. Growth is a wonderful thing, even if it means reaching the inevitable height of no return among the stars.
NLE Choppa isn’t a newcomer but the masses (and some media) are just getting familiar. 2020 was his year and somehow, he managed to get enlightened on the way up. So, yes the Choppa is also an avid meditator, but Top Shotta represents the rapper at the age of 17. Mind you, he just turned 18. Top Shotta, Choppa’s official debut, tells the tale of the Memphis, Tennessee rapper up until this point. While it stars slower than his mixtapes, Top Shotta ends fast. The second half of ‘Top Shotta’, though, is outstanding, demonstrating 17-year-old Choppa’s miraculous maturity. You cannot help but feel “Made It Happen” and “Gamble With My Heart,” which are celebratory and deeply reflective. “I done really seen tragedy / But I still made it happen,” he said. Choppa pulls members of Hip-Hop’s current talent pool like Lil Baby, Roddy Ricch, and Chief Keef to make the savage cipher complete.
It has been a long time coming, but Sa-Roc finally broke through. The Sharecropper’s Daughter, the D.C.-bred queen emcee’s newest album, feels like her Illmatic. Styles P and Black Thought come through on the assist, but Sa-Roc is the only star on this one. From boom to unforgettable bap, The Sharecropper’s Daughter expands upon the much-welcomed renaissance of women in Hip-Hop. Do not get it confused, Sa-Roc is an emcee’s emcee and gender is merely a point of reference. Her pen game is ridiculous. Atlanta producer Sol Messiah produced the whole project save “Deliverance,” which was crafted by Evidence.
Spillage Village has arrived. The underground supergroup consists of a colorful eccentric consortium of characters like J.I.D., EarthGang, 6LACK, Jurdan Bryant, Hollywood JB, and others. The crew converged for Spilligion, a sequel of sorts to 2016’s Bears Like This Too Much. The audio aesthetic is decidedly underground but the multilayered approach to music guarantees the crew will catch fire once the masses catch a whiff of what they are cooking.
Denzel Curry knows the value of supply and demand and how less can be more. Pairing up with Kenny Beats on Unlocked, they present a key to consumer satisfaction. Unlocked is a short album, clocking in at a terse 17 minutes and 51 seconds. There is only one song over 3 minutes, which makes it prime for today’s streaming era. Maybe the wasn’t mean to be heard, as it sounds unfinished and leaked. Nevertheless, we are so glad it was released for its penchant for beats of the darker variety, intense themes and dense lyricism. Also, there is a subtle reference to Organized Konfusion’s cover art to their seminal album Stress: The Extinction Agenda. Denzel and Kenny are in good company.
From King To A God – Conway The Machine
Griselda managed to keep climbing that mountain in 2020, producing their most polished work. From King To A God, is Conway The Machine’s best, most cohesive, album to date – in a commercial sense. Familiar voices Westside Gunn, Benny The Butcher, and Armani Caesar jump in to make the opus viable and Dej Loaf, El Camino, Flee Lord, Freddie Gibbs, Havoc, Lloyd Banks, and Method Man take From King To A God into classic status on behalf of The Machine. Also, there is the slew of legendary producers: Beat Butcha, Daringer, Alchemist, Signalflow Music, Erick Sermon, Havoc, Hit-Boy, Khrysis, Murda Beatz, Rockwilder, and DJ Premier. This has largely been promoted as a precursor to God Don’t Make Mistakes, his Shady Records debut, but FKTAG stands on its own two feet.
King’s Disease – Nas
Masterfully, Nas proves – once again – his staying power. King’s Disease, his 10th studio album, garnered the rap god critical reviews from both his core fans and new audiences. Much of the credit goes to producer Hit-Boy who takes the legend into a new chamber, which spans the 13-track playlist. As an elite, Nas does it effortlessly, melding old school sensibilities, knowledge & wisdom, and the slickness of a wily veteran bent on staying relevant. Thankfully, it is not only about hanging with the young bucks for Nas because the 30-foot jumper can put more points on the board if it goes through the hoop.
The GOAT – Polo G
Polo G came back like he was avenging his brother’s death on THE GOAT. The Chi-Town rapper with a sing-song disposition made an album worth mentioning in of the album of the year conversation. Sophomore slump be damned, he raps with a level of maturity not often seen from his generation. But he transverse between love and the streets and the hurt associated with life in general. Last year’s Die A Legend put him on the map, but this go-round, he navigated the streets like an Uber driver with Waze. Mustard, Mike Will Made-It, Murda Beatz, and others offer their production services to THE GOAT. There are no typical beats here, and the seriousness of the rhymes is supported by the addictive hooks. Polo G isn’t going anywhere.
Safe Space Invader – Paris
Safe Space Invader – Paris
Paris does not play. The revolutionary producer, emcee, and businessman emerged as one of the most important albums with Safe Space Invader. Paris slaps listeners upside the head with his self-produced funky beats and scathing raps. While folks were waiting for Kendrick to give them a soundtrack to march to, Paris provided an album to fight back to. Being the moral compass is not easy. Paris not only speaks truth to power, but he also speaks it to the powerless and the pseudo powers that be. Safe Space Invader may not have been in the highest rotation, but that does not mean it doesn’t deserve to be on this list. That just means that the ills of racism continue to populate themselves within the rap music industry.
I look around and see n##### coonin’, without a doubt
Huggin’ pigs though they shoot us, and mow us down
Just g######## fools hopin’, they gon’ change
Cryin, tryin’ to plead and show ’em, that we in pain
But anti-black backash, will be a blur
Back to hashtags and no compassion, for n##### murdered
Been true since the days of slavery, keep us scurred
And murk black adults and babies, it’s the purge
Now let’s see who wanna answer, I guess I’m canceled
Guess you want fancy dancers, instead of manhood
See black twitter twitchin’, little b####
Remind Stockholm Syndrome n##### of how they lynch us
I’m pro black and it’s clear, you n##### weird
I stand here completely fearless, ’cause I’m aware
Your only cap is that I’m racist, or outta touch
I don’t believe in warm embraces of toxic love
Pray For Paris – Westside Gunn
Griselda is a movement and the record label and brand’s owner continues to craft classics that we will forever remember. Pray For Paris is such an album. Pray for Paris, like both Benny and Conway’s 2020 efforts, is an effective expansion effort that works in a big way. So, this is Gunn’s more commercially viable album, but that does not mean his voice had lost any of its potency. Pray offers cameos by Wale, Tyler The Creator, and the crew. This is the perfect introduction to the movement for somebody that has yet to be indoctrinated. Also, the LP set the table for Westside to leave a relationship with Eminem’s Shady Records. And so…it is.
What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down? – Public Enemy
Hardcore Public Enemy fans rejoiced when the group made the big reveal of What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down?, their most recent album. The album, a grand return to their original label Def Jam, was heralded by critics as the group’s best in years. In fact, they also dropped the solid but overlooked Nothing Is Quick in the Desert in 2020. The iconic group, lead by Chuck D and Flavor Flav, managed to recover from a pseudo scandal surrounding a performance for Bernie Sanders. What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down? proves once again that the old school has the ability to compete creatively, especially in a year like 2020 when wisdom is an asset. Chuck and Flav may have a harder time getting the youthful masses to fight the powers that be, but they certainly provide a career guideline to survive everything from pandemics to Father Time. Chuck D holds nothing back, and neither do Rapsody, George Clinton, Cypress Hill, Ice-T, Nas, or Black Thought.
Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God – Busta Rhymes
Busta Rhymes did it. He crafted his magnum opus in 2020, a sequel no less. Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God hit like a meteorite, seemingly out of nowhere. After a couple of stalled singles, it seemed like the album would arrive DOA. Instead, had Busta spitting fire like never before. The album, a whopping 22-tracks, reestablishes the Dungeon Dragon as a formidable foe that did not give a damn that winter was coming. He blazed the place up.
Brooklyn’s Uncle Murda dropped his yearly recap of the year with his song “Rap Up 2020.”
The rapper, who promised the song would be posted by 12:00 a.m., started off the New Year by making fans angry when he dropped the track over an hour late.
A little before 1:30 a.m., Uncle Murda finally debuted his 2-minute and 20-second single titled “Rap Up 2020” on Vevo.
However, the track is named the “Intro” on his latest album “Don’t Come Outside Vol. 3,” leaving fans confused. Many fans were heated, believing “Intro” was Uncle Murda’s “Rap Up 2020.”
“Yo Murda stop playin Broski you know damn well we was waiting for this s###😂😂😂 DROP THAT S### NOW!!”
However, it looks like someone on the rapper’s team botched the upload, because Uncle Murda did drop an official version of “Rap Up 2020.”
The actual version is 13:50 long. It starts off with Uncle Murda lamenting over the loss of Kobe Bryant. He calls out God for taking Kobe instead of Lamar Odom, or Delonte West.
Uncle Murda calls out President Trump for faking the coronavirus and vows not to take the vaccine. He also accuses God of f##king up for taking Pop Smoke life’s.
“The Good die young it really wasn’t his time/him being dead, Tekashi still living is a crime,” Uncle Murda raps.
He also accuses Tory of shooting Megan for being thirsty and says Megan’s a snitch, but she gets a pass because she’s a girl. Jada gets called out for giving Will Smith’s “p####” away and wonders if she gave August Alsina oral sex.
Uncle Murda also dissed Boosie Badazz for doing too much in 2020 for getting dissed by Mike Tyson and getting shot in Dallas. Uncle Murda was also shocked at how many rappers were shot this year, but Tekashi 6ix9ine hasn’t been touched yet.
Uncle Murda also clowned Jeezy for turning the other cheek after Gucci Mane’s infamous “smoking on Pookie Loc” comments during their Verzuz battle, labels Irv Gotti corny for admitting he had sex with Ashanti, disses Funk Flex for getting liposuction, and says he is going to miss President Donald Trump.
Unfortunately, Uncle Murda claims his “Rap Up 2020” will be his final release, after seven years of doing the annual run-down of the previous years’ wildest moments.
Despite the confusion, Uncle Murda’s new release “Don’t Come Outside Vol. 3,” which is a solid effort featuring guest appearances from Benny The Butcher, Lil Tjay, Conway the Machine, and others.
Police were reportedly waiting when Pump arrived at LAX Airport, and are said to have dealt with him “firmly.” He is also said to have been banned from any future JetBlue flights.
However, the incident did little to change the “Gucci Gang” star’s feelings about the pandemic, as he was captured on camera by TMZ at LAX on Wednesday.
Asked why he continued to defy mask safety protocols amid the pandemic, Pump replied: “I don’t believe in corona(virus).”
When the cameraman questioned, “You don’t believe in Covid?”, the musician answered, “Nope”.
He then wished the cameraman a “Happy New Year” before heading to the Delta Airlines terminal in the airport.
The rapper died on October 31st, but the news is just leaking out today (December 31st).
“The greatest husband, father, teacher, student, business partner, lover and friend I could ever ask for,” said his wife Jasmine in a statement. “Thank you for all the things you have shown, taught and given to me, our children and our family. Thank you for teaching me how to forgive beings and give another chance, not to be so quick to judge and write off. Thank you for showing how not to be afraid to love and be the best person I could ever be. My world will never be the same without you. Words will never express what you and Malachi mean to me, I love both and adore you always. May THE ALL continue to bless you, our family and the planet.
The revered masked rapper released a series of critically acclaimed albums like Operation: Doomsday, MM.Food, and Born Like This, amongst others.
MF Doom, real name Daniel Dumile, started his career as Zev Love X in the group KMD, best known for their hit song “Peachfuzz.”
The group disbanded after their second album, due to the death of MF Doom’s brother Subroc. Dumile debuted the MF Doom character debuted in 1999, with the release of his debut solo album Operation: Doomsday.
“I was trying to come with a new angle cause I didn’t wanna ride out the coat tails of KMD, so I’ll straight out like a new character, bang, to give the people something new for one, and at the same time gauge it to see like, ‘If I get good feedback on this then I know that these experimental like styles is worth doing as far as the people is concerned,’ and it took off way more than I thought,” MF Doom told AllHipHop.com about the beginning of his new career.
In September of 2020, the prolific rapper released his album “Mask Mouth.”
MF Doom was just 49-years-old at the time of his death, just a few months shy of his 50th birthday, which is on January 9th, 2021. So far a cause of death has yet to be revealed.
Read AllHipHop’s interview with MF Doom, touching on his beginnings in rap, how he came up with the legendary character and more.
Rapper Lil Tjay is ending 2020 on a sour note – he was just arrested by the NYPD.
The Bronx, New York rapper was targeted by the cops again, just days after a raid on his video searched turned up nothnig.
However, yesterday (December 30th), was a different story. The cops stopped the 19-year-old rapper in Brooklyn riding in a car with four other people, for allegedly making an unsafe lane change.
A search of the vehicle uncovered a large stash of marijuana – and even worse, four handguns.
According to TMZ.com, no one took responsibility for having the guns, so everyone in the car was hit with criminal possession of a weapon and marijuana possession, in addition to a grand larceny charge.
JMisJustMe is here to put on for Los Angeles through and through. Hailing from the Mid-City region, the former basketball player turned rapper has been grinding and putting in the work to showcase his talents to the world.
As a producer, recording artist, and web show host, the West Coast MC pulls from real life experiences, turning a negative into positive and reminding the masses to love themselves before anything else.
Now, he returns to unleash his debut album titled Justme Being Me, a 7-track body of work embodying the definition of hustler music. Overcoming his own obstacles from losing his longtime girlfriend and baby mother, while losing his job, JMisJustMe injects true emotion and feeling into his lyrics allowing listeners to relate and confide in.
Speaking on the new album, he states, “This is the album for the people. It’s bigger than rap, it’s the soundtrack to life.”
Justme Being Me details his own journey into choosing self-love over self-hate, in a world filled with manipulation and negativity. Stream above!
Asked about her first time breastfeeding her child, she wrote: “He had no problem breastfeeding. He latched on in the hospital which was very surprising to me.
“I was afraid maybe he wouldn’t. But breastfeeding is very painful. Pumping is too. Women make this stuff look way too easy. Moms r really superheroes.”
He had no problem breastfeeding. He latched on in the hospital which was very surprising to me. I was afraid maybe he wouldn’t. But breast feeding is very painful. Pumping is too. Women make this stuff look way too easy. Moms r really superheroes https://t.co/SdF9CXMdF3
The “Barbie Dreams” hitmaker went on to admit she was “butt naked” when her waters broke at home, and husband Kenneth Petty was “very scared” in the moment.
Quizzed on the experience, she replied: “Yes. I was butt naked. Just got out the shower & I asked him to rub my back. As soon as I started scooting over to him in the bed I just felt the water start coming out.
Yes. I was butt naked. Just got out the shower & I asked him to rub my back. As soon as I started scooting over to him in the bed I just felt the water start coming out. I was weirdly calm & I quietly said “omg, I’m about to be in labor” He was very scared & I was laughing @ him. https://t.co/2FGBnQOp3T
“I was weirdly calm & I quietly said ‘omg, I’m about to be in labor’. He was very scared & I was laughing @ him.”
Nicki was asked about the birth itself and was happy to give details to her fans.
She added: “Yes, natural vaginal birth w/epidural. I pushed for 2 1/2 hours. Only b/c first the epidural didn’t wear off enough for me to feel myself pushing. Once I was able to feel the pain I pushed im on out.”
When a follower suggested this was “short” for a first-time mother, Nicki pointed out that she slept for a long time.
She explained: “Well I was actually in labor all night but all they did was let me sleep until I dilated far enough to push. The epidural didn’t hurt either. They numbed me up real good. So I took my ass right to sleep.”
The war of words between Benzino and Eminem has lasted three decades. Benzino’s former Hip Hop magazine, The Source, was very critical of Eminem and his music which led to the two men repeatedly dissing each other on wax. In 2003, The Source also presented a song by a young Eminem that included lyrics like, “Never date a Black girl because Blacks only want your money.”
In 2020, the feud between Benzino and Eminem’s camp continues. The last few days saw Zino feuding with Em’s Bad Meets Evil partner Royce Da 5’9″ on social media. This latest round apparently started after Benzino once again dissed Eminem and his fanbase.
Royce responded by calling the Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta alum a “hoe ass n####” who was “stuck in 06.” Nickle went on to tweet, “Wish I would argue back and forth with a butt naked failure. Go get yourself together bro you got a whole grown daughter out here. You embarrassing us…. Put some clothes on.”
I can’t wait till Benzino get on Clubhouse. 🤦🏿♂️ A Front row seat to the most obligatory pseudo toxic masculine tough guy talk the world has ever seen…. 🍿Please Clap for this hoe ass n#### so he can try to move on. He stuck in 06👏🏿👏🏿 Thank you… Peace, Peace ✌🏿
Wish I would argue back and forth with a butt naked failure. Go get yourself together bro you got a whole grown daughter out here. You embarrassing us…. Put some clothes on
The fight also took place on Instagram. Benzino referred to Royce as a “slave” while adding, “The worst thing is when the white stans say ‘get him’ Royce but none of them ever supported his album. Proof didn’t even like his step an fetch it ass. Smh f##### shame.”
Royce uploaded a clip from Benzino’s “The Bigger Picture” music video. The caption read, in part, “The streets know you dangerous when you desperate so ain’t no telling what lengths you’re willing to elevate this misunderstanding to so put your shell back on and go do karate with the rest of the ninja turtles. I’m a God fearing, peaceful fully clothed man. Peace Gangsta… Peace.”
Additionally, Benzino supposedly challenged Royce to a Verzuz battle. This caused the Detroit native to reply with a sarcastic post that ended with him stating, “Challenge not accepted but big props to I see booty I see booty. Don’t think we even got a venue that could facilitate that massive holy bible of art. Gave me Lennon vibes. Seeing you perform that s### live with the Roots is like top 3 bucket list for me… For real For real.”
Benzino returned to Twitter to throw some more shots at the Bad Meets Evil duo and their followers. He tweeted:
Is the weirdo and culture vulture convention over yet? What’s next? Trump 2024 rally? Hey Stans, you are and will always be the goofiest fans in hip hop, and the hood will never accept you. So stay on the outskirts looking in. Y’all are weirdo nerds to us. Sorry. Keep getting my algorithms up dumb a####, that’s all your doing, your goofy ass comments and tweets are kid s###. I’m not worried about a near mf running up on me, never was. So have dummies, I did the interview and said what I said. It stands…get it… stans. One more thing I noticed, black people have finally woken up when it comes to your guy now, if you notice, out of 3000 comments on YouTube, 75 percent agree with me. I’m getting mad dms saying “salute”. That’s never happened before. So it don’t matter what u say, my job is done. Why do Stans look so weird and dress so bummy? I mean the women have no sex appeal and the males look awkward and insecure and never have drip, is that a requirement to be a Stan?
Several rap stars have legitimate claims to being Hip Hop’s MVP of 2020. Roddy Ricch, Lil Baby, Megan Thee Stallion, DaBaby, and others put up the numbers and released the hits to claim the award.
Lil Durk had an impressive year as well. He dropped two well-received projects (Just Cause Y’all Waited 2 and The Voice). The Chicago-bred, Atlanta-based rhymer also appeared on Drake’s Top 5 single “Laugh Now Cry Later” which earned him two Grammy nominations.
According to Lil Durk, these accomplishments are part of the reason his name should be listed among the best rappers of the year. A tweet from the 28-year-old Only the Family leader made his thoughts clear on the matter. Durk says he is one of the three best players in the game right now.
“I need 200k a show now Smurk top 3 out here…,” declared Lil Durk on Twitter. His social media proclamation got more than 35,000 likes on the platform and a lot of users talking. Over 3000 commenters under the tweet expressed whether they agreed or disagreed with the “3 Headed Goat” performer.
It looks like two of the most recognized Hip Hop artists from Tennessee are officially joining forces. Memphis’s DJ Paul and Nashville’s Young Buck have apparently been recording tracks together.
DJ Paul made the announcement about the forthcoming They Gon See Tennessee project on his Instagram page. He added both #Ep and #album hashtags to his post, so it is not clear at the moment if the body of work is a full-length release.
“Who Ready??? #TheyGonSeeTennessee Full Project Goin Down!! 2021 Lookin Better Already!!! It’s Goin Down As We Speak!!!!” wrote DJ Paul on Instagram. Buck posted on his IG account, “#2021 THE WORLD IS OURS @djpaulkom!!!! WHO READY.”
Young Buck’s current discography includes Straight Outta Cashville and Buck the World. Besides his work with the iconic Three 6 Mafia, DJ Paul dropped the solo efforts Underground Volume 16: For Da Summa, Scale-A-Ton, and A Person of Interest.
