Cardi B’s “WAP” featuring Megan Thee Stallion continues to rack up end-of-the-year accolades. In addition, the controversial single was named one of the biggest trending topics on Google in 2020.
The tech giant released its annual lists for the “Year in Search.” Cardi and Megan’s chart-leading, record-setting collaboration was the top trending search for “Lyrics.” Roddy Ricch’s “The Box” and Eminem’s “Godzilla” featuring Juice WRLD rounded out the Top 3.
Earlier this year, “WAP” was officially added as an acronym to Dictionary.com. Cardi’s global smash also landed at #1 in the “Definitions” section of Google’s 2020 top trending searches. The track’s title was followed by “entanglement,” “antebellum,” “pandemic,” and “asymptomatic.”
“Election results,” “coronavirus,” “Kobe Bryant,” “coronavirus update,” and “coronavirus symptoms,” led the overall “Searches” section. Joe Biden’s name was #1 for “People,” Tom Hanks’s name was #1 for “Actors,” Parasite was #1 for “Movies,” Tiger King was #1 for “TV Shows,” and Among Us was #1 for “Games.”
On December 9, six years ago, J. Cole released what many fans and critics consider his greatest studio LP. 2014 Forest Hills Drive was praised as a masterful body of work and famously went triple-Platinum with no features.
In celebration of FHD’s anniversary, Cole’s Dreamville Records published a music video for the “Fire Squad” track off the album. Maxim Bohichik directed the cinematic visuals which feature Cole with clearly shorter locks than what he is known to have in recent years.
A bunch of @JColeNC videos got deleted way back and today were getting them all back up. And because it’s the anniversary #FHD heres the world premiere of the never before released video for ‘Fire Squad’ 🔥🔥🔥 Happy Holidays! https://t.co/103ttJ79Hhpic.twitter.com/MDJgOwjZH2
“A bunch of @JColeNC videos got deleted way back and today [we’re] getting them all back up. And because it’s the anniversary #FHD [here’s] the world premiere of the never before released video for ‘Fire Squad’ [three fire emojis] Happy Holidays!” read a tweet from the verified Dreamville Twitter account.
2014 Forest Hills Drive debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart with 353,000 copies sold. That was the best first-week sales of the North Carolina-bred emcee’s career up until that point. 2016’s 4 Your Eyez Only went on to move 492,000 first-week units.
FHD was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards, losing to Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly. J. Cole’s third studio LP did win Album of the Year at the 2015 BET Hip Hop Awards by beating projects from Lamar, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Wale, and Big Sean.
After previously promoting her Instagram followers to follow the @fuckyallbitch11 Twitter account, JT is back to tweeting from @ThegirlJT. She took the opportunity to get some things off her chest in an audio tweet.
“Stop worrying about my m############ tweets and what I m############ write, and control y’all own m############ s###. Make sure you don’t write the wrong thing,” said JT. “Get the f### off my page patrolling what the f### I say, trying to find a negative in every m############ thing people say on this app with a verified check.”
She also tweeted, “Y’all make jokes about EVERYTHING & get away with cause y’all don’t have a platform. B#### I’m one of y’all. I’m just like y’all. HAHAHA!!!! What’s today’s topic? I got my gifs ready!”
That message even got a co-sign from Brooklyn Nets basketball player Kevin Durant, someone who has also dealt with his own Twitter scandal in the past. KD simply quote-tweeted JT with a gif of Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lopez enthusiastically clapping.
The Miami rapper returned to Twitter on Wednesday night to add, “I’m really humble, but y’all bout to bring the bs out me! I will s### on y’all b###### 7 days a week & ask God to create [an] 8th day to do it again, chill!”
I’m really humble, but y’all bout to bring the bs out me! I will s### on y’all b###### 7 days a week & ask God to create a 8th day to do it again, chill!
One might think that the first family of battle rap might be one of the celebrity couples that have emerged over the years. Shooney da Rapper and Fettuccine 20, who have recently wedded in marital bliss, are still newlyweds. Tay Roc and Lady Caution 215 are adorable, but also a very new coupling. Anwar and Slim Reda from the A&R show on Caffeine and Champion regulars are close contenders but they don’t ring bells either. Some rappers are married, but because they are so guarded with their personal lives. They know that exposing their significant other would be fodder for a future battle (look at what Mike P did to Danny Myer’s beautiful wife and children’s mother regarding her unfortunate history of addiction).
But the Quinneys, a married couple from Houston, TX that have found notoriety by doing battle rap enactment, might have snatched the title just for doing what they love: watching cards and spazzing out during the haymakers. ALLHIPHOP.com connected with the couple to hear their over-decade-long Hip-Hop love story and how competitive emceeing is their vehicle to express how in sync they are as a unit.
What is it like to be considered the first family of battle rap?
Kevin: Man, Honestly it’s an honor. I haven’t given it much thought. I like the sound of it though! It’s a lot of people doing what we do but to be considered “the first family” shows people are catching on to our content (which is dope.) We put a lot of time and thought into it. We don’t just pick up the camera/phone and start recording.
Kiera: It’s crazy that other people see us in that light. I’ve never really given it that much thought! Honestly, it’s an honor because I was so unsure when we started this… I felt like people were going to think we were corny or trying too hard; I’m relieved that it’s been all love!
Who was the battle rap enthusiast first? Did they introduce the other?
Kevin: Definitely me, I wasn’t big on it at first but once I got my hands on my first SMACK DVD, I was hooked. I remember I’d leave my TV on all day every day playing the “Mook vs Serius Jones” battle and Kiera hated it! I’d wake up to it, go hoop, come back, maybe do a little studying, go to sleep and it’s still playing! Me and my roommates would be at the yard on campus yelling out, “DOT DOT DOT DOT DOT EAZYYYYYYYYYY!!!!”
Kiera: Kevin! He used to watch it in college and I thought nothing of it… Kinda thought it was a phase like he would get over it, but here we are 10 years later and he doesn’t even like missing the events! It grew on me over the years… I can’t say I’m an enthusiast, but I love the culture!
Who loves bars more and who loves performance more?
Kevin: It’s a mixture of the two for me. Even in a quiet room, if you got bars ill make the “Jaz face,” but you gotta have a little bit of performance to make it believable. But if I had to pick, I’d take bars over performance 60/40.
Kiera: Kevin. I hate being in front of the camera! Kevin conned me into doing a reenactment, because it was just supposed to be him doing it for fun, and it’s been us ever since!
How long have you all been together and was it a Hip-Hop love story?
Kevin: Man, we’ve been together so long I don’t “eeeem know!” We’ve been married for 7 years, but we dated for the longest. We went to church together when we were younger but never spoke. Then when I got to high school, I would always see her at my basketball games and I told my teammates “I’ma talk to her one day,” but never did. So, I ended up going to play ball in Oklahoma, and we still talked on and off. So my mom called me one day and said, “Maybe you should go after that pretty girl with the long hair.”
When my scholarship was taken away from me, I packed up and moved back home and transferred to the school she was going to! A little creepy but I wanted what I wanted!
Kiera: We don’t have a Hip-Hop love story… We’ve been together for almost 15 years on and off until we got married! He played me in high school, then I realized I was kinda cute, so he followed me to college and I have not been able to get rid of him since. [Editorial Note: Sounds like a really cute real-life Brown Sugar meets Love & Basketball and a sprinkle of Love Jones kind of love story if you ask us.]
Do your children watch battles and how do you feel about exposing them to the content?
Kevin: They’ll get exposed to it one day, but they are really young right now! We all know battle rap is uncensored and right now my son copies everything and repeats everything he hears! I don’t need him at daycare yelling “what we got, another 6-foot n**** with a death wish!”
Kiera: No… they are too young! My daughter wouldn’t even pay attention, but my son would be all ears and down to repeat anything! Our son, Khye, will get in front of the camera and act like he is rapping, so I am sure he will get into it.
When did you start doing the re-enactments? Talk about the decision.
Kevin: Man, it was sooooo random. We had just finished shooting an episode of our show and talking about relationship problems. I had just finished watching a rap battle and I thought it would be funny to reenact one. So I did a Twork “I’m strapped in” and it did ok on IG. I believe the next one Kiera decided to jump in and the engagement was pretty dope! So from then on, it just became a thing. Everyone just wants to see Kiera and I’m her plus 1. (laughs) I actually did one by myself recently and people commented “that’s what’s up … BUT WHERE IS KIERA?”
Kiera: This was all Kevin’s idea… Originally, it was only supposed to be him doing the videos, but he asked me to help him with one. The response we got was so crazy that he made me continue doing the videos with him. I am an extreme introvert, so being in front of the camera is completely out of my element… It’s funny when people meet us, they think we both are talkative and funny, BUT I am totally not!
When did you all blow? What was the first big recognition?
Kevin: Man, I’d say when I did a Murda Mook reenactment and he commented and followed us. I thought that was dope because he’s the one that got me watching battle rap. Then, later we’d just tag whoever we would reenact and hoped that they thought it was actually dope enough to repost! Many have. Recently, we had a few people tag us and tell us Daylyt mentioned us in his blog and that was cool because Day is one of my favorites right now. That confirmed that a few of the right people watch us.
Kiera: I feel like we did something major when Smack posted us and continued to post us like every week. He really pushed us to do more and put more out there because of the feedback we would get!
Which reenactment is your favorite?
Kevin: MANNNN! This is a tough one, I’m gonna give you 5.
Kiera murdered the Ace Amin joint “This connects it”
Brizz Rawsteen’s “Body halfway out the bag like a hash brown”
Brizz and T Top’s “How to get away with Murda”
Brizz and T Top’s “Split screen like it’s golden eye”
Daylyt’s “2 5s on the side of his face” (we couldn’t stop laughing)
Kiera: I got a top 2!
Ill Will and Rum Nitty “Hold on let me get it together,” and Brizz & T-Top vs Mook & Calicoe “Man I’m tryna get Christ on the line.”
Who are your personal top 5 battlers of all times?
Kevin: ALL TIME SHEESH! That’s tough because it’s always changing for me. No order: Lux, Day, Rum, Shine, and probably Tay. But ask me again tomorrow and that will probably change lol
Kiera: I got a top 2! Hollow Da Don and Daylyt!
What other things do you do?
Kevin: I’m a dad, what you mean! (laughs) Nah, but I’m a cinematographer and editor by trade. That’s how I keep the bills paid when we aren’t shooting reenactments.
Kiera: I might just be Jamaican because I’m a hustler lol… I’m an Interior Merchandiser and Real Estate Agent, but the majority of the time a MOM!
What are some of the end goals for The Quinneys?
Kevin: Man, so I’d love to see this translate to a bigger following, where we can have a bigger impact on people’s lives. Lately, we’ve gotten messages saying how this is bigger than entertainment for some people. Just seeing a Christ-believing Black man and a Black woman love each other, have fun on a daily and be totally transparent about their issues, gives hope to those looking for a relationship like that. Sure, we’d like to have a show one day. A show where we could talk about our relationship, our kids, and whatnot, but being able to help my brothers and sisters where there’s a need outweighs anything materialistic. This sh** bigger than Nino Brown!
Kiera: I’m open… I never thought we would have made it this far! I would love for us to be able to have a platform that stems around more than just rap. I want to dive into the culture and show people what it’s really about. When our friends ask us about rap battles, they don’t get it, and they really don’t understand the reenactments. I want people to see the art behind it and see that these guys are really out here grinding!
Through all of the imaginary gun bars, the flag-waving, and the disrespect, Kevin and Kiera have found a space to inspire people. As they said, their clips are more than just entertainment but showing healthy Black love in Hip-Hop culture.
According to D Smoke, he has his sights on taking over the literary world with his first book.
During an interview with AllHipHop, D Smoke revealed he had written a novel.
“I’ve written a book that I want to release. It’s a novel and that’s going to be somewhere in the film world, whether it’s a movie or a series and things like that,” D Smoke told AllHipHop.com. “Every year we are still dropping a project, but it’s some creative things that deserve to be shared with the world to show different sides of who I am as a creative.”
While there is no release date for the rap star’s novel, he is planning to release the literary work sometime in 2021.
Controversial rapper Tekashi 69 is getting ready to drop a new single this week.
The rapper announced he is releasing a new song called “Shooters,” which is supposed to be released later this week.
The new song is Tekashi 69’s first official music since the rollout of his failed album TattleTales.
The Brooklyn rapper boasted that TattleTales would put him on top of the charts and the music world, but when the album was finally released in September of 2020, it sold far less than anyone expected.
TattleTales opened with only 53,000 units sold, placing the controversial public figure at #4, while Big Sean’s album Detroit 2 took the top spot on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart.
According to reports, Tekashi 69’s new single “Shooters” is produced by Eduardo Molina.
Although Tekashi 69 has not released any music since the release of TattleTales, the rapper has managed to stay in the headlines.
Last week, he was filmed partying in a Miami strip club, and throwing thousands of dollars, before he ended up in a confrontation with boxing legend Geronta Davis.
In November, Tekashi 69′s name was splashed in the press, thanks to a documentary produced by Hulu titled “69: The Saga of Danny Hernandez.”
Tekashi 69’s new single “Shooters” is slated to be released on Thursday (December 11th).
Currently deemed the “industry’s best kept secret,” Vory is ready to debut himself as a recording artist with a strong pen game that does not go unnoticed. We’ve been told that before the year is over, the 23-year-old will surprise release his forthcoming, self-titled VORY.
Well…it appears it’s finally here. Exclusive teasers of the album started emerging on social media when various artists, entertainment figures, and super fans began posting never-before-seen snippets from the new album.
With Meek Mill and the DreamChasers team backing him, Vory carves his own lane somewhere in between R&B and rap, with dark hues and melodic undertones encapsulating listeners upon each release. His lyrics are relatable, his versatility is endless, and his mysterious persona is captivating.
Having worked with everyone from Drake to The Carters, this Kentucky native serves up passion and dedication in the art of creating music. We can’t wait to hear the full project.
The project itself really showcases Vory’s talents and versatility. One second he’s singing, one second he’s rapping, but all in all he’s spitting truth into his lyrics — in a way that listeners can instantly relate to. From turn up anthems to love ballads, Vory’s really here to shake up the music industry.
The “Breaks” star’s wife, Shirley, has confirmed all went well, and the 61-year-old is now resting.
A statement issued to The Washington Informer reads: “We give all glory to God for the perfect heart and transplant. He is out of surgery. Keep the prayers and praises up. God does all things well.”
Kurti Blow, real name Kurtis Walker, has a history of heart problems – he suffered a heart attack in 2016, and last year, underwent two procedures to repair an aortic artery.
Rap star Lil Wayne will be making an appearance in Miami this Friday, but unfortunately, it has nothing to do with his ultra-successful music career.
This week Wayne will make his first appearance over a weapons bust on his private jet last year.
Wayne will stand before Judge Kathleen M. Williams for the first time on Friday (December 11th) for his first court date, since being charged with having a gun and ammunition on his private jet in Miami.
After a search of the luxury jet, the cops allegedly found Wayne to be in possession of a gold plated handgun and some bullets.
“Dwayne Michael Carter, a/k/a Lil Wayne knowingly possessed a firearm and ammunition in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce, knowing that he had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year,” Ariana Fajardo Orshan, United States Attorney said after unveiling the indictment against the rap star in November.
Lil Wayne could face 10 years in the slammer over the gun and ammunition, but he has proclaimed his innocence through his lawyer, Howard Srebnick.
“There is no allegation that he ever fired it, brandished it, used it or threatened to use it. There is no allegation that he is a dangerous person. The charge is that because he was convicted of a felony in the past, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm,” Srebnick said in a statement.
The rapper caught a break in 2016 when he reached a plea deal with prosecutors for aggravated manslaughter, paving the way for his ultimate release, which is expected to occur sometime in early 2021.
Despite his problems with Jim Jones, Max B is planning a bunch of new projects as he awaits his release from prison.
In a new interview with Don Diva magazine, Max B revealed he’s readying a new album called Negro Spirituals which was recorded during his time locked down.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CIk7KR9puE9/
“I can’t wait, this is gonna be something for the ages. I’m gonna just put it out for me for the people,” Max B said. “You ain’t going to hear nobody on it. I might have one feature on it, I ain’t gonna say nothing, it’s going to be a surprise features. I’m gonna just put it out and I’m gonna just let it go, and I’m gonna just see what it do by itself. I want yall to enjoy this music that I’m about to put out because it’s real.”
Max explained the album was inspired by his time behind bars, and the oppression he felt as he served out his lengthy prison sentence.
“If you want to go inside my mind for the last few years of what I’ve been through, that’s what you’re getting with Negro Spirituals. That album freed my mind when I was being oppressed in this place,” Max B continued. “Back when the slaves was on the plantation picking cotton, they was oppressed, the chain gang used to come up with spirituals to free their minds. This is what you won’t get when you get that. It’s potent music.
Max B’s new album Negro Spirituals is supposed to be released in April of 2021.
Doja Cat sent a string of voice messages to Australian guitarist Plini to apologize after using a snippet of his song in her recent performance at the MTV European Music Awards.
The rapper/singer performed her hit “Say So” at the awards ceremony, with viewers quick to point out that she’d used part of Plini’s 2016 tune “Handmade Cities.”
Plini, full name Plini Roessler-Holgate, then issued a statement, writing that: “The lack of prior communication about it or proper credit upon release is disappointing but not particularly surprising in a sector of the industry that is usually more interested in clout than creativity (it’s being sorted now, but would have been cooler a million views ago).”
In an interview with MusicRadar, Plini went on to reveal that Doja herself had later been in touch with him to apologize for the misunderstanding.
“I made a comment on Twitter, not really accusing anyone of anything but just because I thought it was funny… and then it turned into this whole thing. I suppose the fans really did all the work, they had all the outrage on my behalf. I was just sitting back wondering what the f### was happening and finding it hilarious,” he said.
Apparently, the musical director of Doja’s MTV EMA performance had been inspired by Plini’s tune, but the singer herself was unaware of the issue until Plini’s post on Twitter.
“The best part of all this is that I woke up one day with a string of voice messages from her in my DMs, saying sorry and that she wished she’d known about all of this and wished they could have credited me properly, and also praising my song and thanking me for being nice about it,” he concluded.
“I thought about that and realized it was the number one strangest thing that’s happened to me in my career. One of the biggest pop stars is messaging me an apology because someone kinda ripped my music for her live performance. Life is so f###### weird. As far as I’m concerned it’s a great story.”
Chicago Rapper G Herbo made his first appearance in front of a judge in a wild, $1.5 million fraud case.
The rap star appeared in front of a judge via Zoom and pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts of aiding and abetting aggravated identity theft.
G Herbo will be released on $75,000 bail, but he will not be allowed to travel internationally. The rapper, born Herbert Wright III, has been ordered to surrender his passport.
The judge also banned him from opening any new lines of credit, and he cannot sell any of the asset worth over $50,000.
G Herbo and five other associates, Antonio Strong aka -“T-Glo,” Joseph Williams AKA “Joe Rodeo,” Steven Hayes, and Demario Sorrells are named in a 14-count indictment claiming they ran a scam using stolen credit card information culled from the dark web.
The rapper and his allegedly crisscrossed the country in private jets stayed in luxury hotels and took vacations, all at the expense of a variety of businesses.
A group of people who purchased tickets to the infamous Fyre Festival were handed a loss in court earlier this week.
Earlier this week, a judge tossed out the class-action lawsuit against Fyre Festival founder Billy McFarland, as well as rapper Ja Rule and the failed brand’s head of marketing, Grant Margolin.
Instead of the celebrity treatment, attendees were treated to cheese sandwiches, and shabby lodging, like rickety tents, which Jung said put every concert-goer’s life in jeopardy on the remote island.
Fyre Festival Cheese Sandwiches
Jung claimed Billy McFarland directed a scam by fraudulently promoting the event with popular influencers, and duping their fans in the process.
Earlier this week, a judge with the United States District Court in the Southern District of New York tossed Jung’s class-action lawsuit because he failed to provide enough information on some of the members in the lawsuit, and the actual damages they suffered.
The court ruled that Jung was seeking a “one size fits all” award for the members in the class-action lawsuit, without providing enough information to justify a monetary award.
“Daniel Jung has not revealed which statements he heard or saw, when he heard or saw them or when he acted in detrimental reliance by purchasing tickets to the Festival or expending money on travel,” according to the ruling.
“With ticket purchasers relying on different statements made over an extended period of time, by several different actors, Jung has not shown that his claims are typical of those that would be made by absent members of the would-be class. Jung has not demonstrated that it is likely that he heard or saw and relied upon statements that are typical of those relied upon by would-be members of the class. While the threshold for typicality is low, Jung’s thin presentation fails to meet the typicality requirement,” a judge wrote.
Jung’s battle with the Fyre Festival is not over just yet, since he did win a small victory.
A judge is planning to conduct a hearing on some of the remaining claims against Fyre Festival founder Billy McFarland, where members of the class-action lawsuit will be able to provide evidence showing how they lost money by relying on “a materially false statement causing him or her to incur quantifiable damages.”
While Ja Rule and Grant Margolin escaped the lawsuits without any consequences, Fyre Festival founder Billy McFarland was not so lucky.
In March of 2018, McFarland was convicted of two counts of wire fraud and sentenced to six years in federal prison.
Taraji P. Henson was transformed into a “fighter” after seeing her mother held at gunpoint.
The “Empire” star has been opening up about her own mental health for her new program and recalled how she gained strength from her mom being robbed on two separate occasions.
Speaking in a preview for her new Facebook Watch show, “Peace of Mind With Taraji,” she said: “The first time I was six. She was held at gunpoint. I’m 50, I remember like it was yesterday. Watching her go through that, because she didn’t crumble, what she didn’t realize was that she was putting fight into me. It made me a fighter. That’s just how it affected me. Not saying I wasn’t traumatized.”
When Taraji confirmed she was set to host a show about mental health on Facebook Watch, she admitted the conversation was something that was “dear to her heart.”
She said in a statement: “I’ve long been a mental health advocate for the Black community and created the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation in 2018 that has provided resources to thousands of people who are struggling. I’m looking forward to bringing this new talk series to Facebook Watch, where I can continue to create a conversation around an issue that is near and dear to my heart.”
The death of Chicago Rapper King Von could lead to more violence and bloodshed, and it is all being played out on social media.
Yesterday, (December 8th) two of King Von’s friends posted videos of themselves looking for Quando Rondo in Savannah, Georgia. Rapper’s 600 Breezy and Memo from 600 posted videos of themselves lurking around Frazier Homes.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CIjRfJiD6Nw/
The pair shot a new video for Meme from 600’s song “Duck Yo Show” during their visit, which is a new diss track aimed at Quando Rondo.
The pair have been publicly threatening Quando Rondo since the murder of their long time associate, King Von. However, during their trip to Savannnah, 600 Breezy denied they were there looking for retaliation.
“A FUN FACT!! IF I WAS LOOKING FOR THE SINGING ASS GOOFY YALL WOULDNT EVEN KNEW I WAS THERE LETS GET THAT OUT 1st,” 600 Breezy said. “I CAME TO SHOOT A VIDEO IN HIS CITY AN MAKE YALL MF SKIN BOIL & LOOK WHAT I DID…OTF..”
According to local promoter Cory Smith of QBR, the rappers were in the wrong neighborhood.
“If he was in the right neighborhood, he might of ran into what he was looking for. When you come down here in our territory to blatantly disrespect us, it’s an issue,” Smith told local newspaper SavannahNow.
Quando Rondo has been glorifying King Von’s death since the slaying on the track “End of Story from his new mixtape “Before My Time Is Up.”
And, earlier this week King Von’s older brother, who is also a rapper, implied that it would be hard for Quando Rondo to do shows moving forward.
A few weeks ago, the cops in Macon, Georgia nixed a performance by Quando Rondo due to various threats of violence directed at the rapper since Von’s death.
Top Boy is coming back to Netflix. The global COVID-19 pandemic caused the show to shut down production earlier this year, but the streaming service confirmed filming for the series has begun again.
“We’re obviously shooting Top Boy. You asked for it, we gave it to you,” said lead actor Ashley “Asher D” Walters in a video posted to social media. Co-star Kane “Kano” Robinson then added, “There you go, Season 2. Netflix. Let’s go.”
The London-based crime drama first debuted on Great Britain’s Channel 4 in 2011 with Walters as Dushane Hill, Robinson as Gerard “Sully” Sullivan, and Malcolm Kamulete as Ra’Nell Smith. The second chapter of the program also aired on the same network beginning in 2013.
Six years later, Top Boy was revived on Netflix thanks in part to the backing of Canadian Hip Hop superstar Aubrey Drake Graham. The original eight episodes were re-branded Top Boy: Summerhouse and the Netlflix-exclusive version took on the name Top Boy.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBXAM0SjQNI/?hl=en
Series creator Ronan Bennett returned to write for Top Boy which premiered in the United States on September 13, 2019. Bennett, Drake, Charles Steel, Alasdair Flind, Yann Demange, Adel “Future” Nur, Maverick Carter, and Jamal Henderson are credited as executive producers for the series.
Season 1 of Netflix’s Top Boy also featured Micheal Ward, Shone Romulus, Ashley Thomas, Lisa Dwan, Jasmine Jobson, Kadeem Ramsay, Saffron Hocking, Kola Bokinni, and Hope Ikpoku. British music artists Simbi “Little Simz” Ajikawo and David “Dave” Omoregie were part of the cast as well.
Another season of Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta is headed to WE tv on January 7. According to a new trailer, the latest batch of episodes contains a storyline that involves the 2020 presidential election and lame-duck President Donald Trump.
“I f### with Trump!” Deb Antney can be heard saying in a trailer for the show. Antney, an industry veteran and mother of rapper Waka Flocka Flame, apparently shocked her castmates with that announcement.
In another 90-second trailer posted by The Jasmine Brand, other members of the reality show’s cast can be seen reacting negatively to Antney’s support for Trump. In particular, the video teases a tense scene between Nicki Minaj’s former manager and Waka Flocka’s wife.
Tammy Rivera tells the family matriarch, “I would hate to have to disown my own mother-in-law.” Antney fires back at Rivera by insisting, “Damn it, you don’t know s###.” Her son seems to be caught in the middle.
However, during the final weeks of this year’s campaign, the 34-year-old Atlanta resident implied that Trump was a better president than Barack Obama. Former Vice President Joe Biden ended up defeating Donald Trump in the 2020 election 306 to 232 in the Electoral College and 81.3 million to 74.2 million in the popular vote.
Pusha T’s Daytona earned the Virginia wordsmith a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album. Many Hip Hop commentators and fans rank that body of work as the best project in King Push’s discography.
With those accolades attributed to Daytona, there are questions on how the G.O.O.D. Music president will follow up on that critically-acclaimed album. Pusha spoke about his next LP on RapCaviar’s Instagram Live with his longtime business partner Steven Victor.
“To be honest with y’all, I haven’t put any features on the album yet,” Push admitted. Victor responded, “They want to know production, B. They don’t care about the features.”
At that point, Pusha T ensured his manager and the viewers that he is back working with the three producers that have helped shape his sound for the last two decades. The Clipse member said, “Oh, listen, as of right now it’s only Ye and Pharrell – and The Neptunes, I’m sorry. That’s it… Ain’t nothing to talk about.”
Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo of The Neptunes were instrumental in the rise of the Clipse. The duo’s 2002 debut, Lord Willin’, and their 2006 sophomore effort, Hell Hath No Fury, were produced entirely by The Neptunes. Pusha’s solo catalog contains multiple beats crafted by Williams and G.O.O.D. Music founder Kanye West.
The track titled “Look Over Your Shoulder” included a verse from Lamar as well as a sample from The Jackson 5’s classic 1970 song “I’ll Be There.” Busta stopped by The Daily Show with Trevor Noah to discuss the ELE2 project and that particular record featuring K. Dot.
“[Producer] Nottz put it together in an amazing way and it just blew my mind when I heard it. And I took the extra step in getting my hands on the actual, original two-inch 16-track multi of the original recording of the [Jackson 5] song,” explained Busta Rhymes. “Kendrick heard it. And when he heard it, in about a couple of days I got back that monster verse that he put on there.”
The Hip Hop legend continued, “It was like, ‘Alright we’re sitting on a different type of gem with this piece.’ Once I heard his verse, I heard the beat and just realized the way the blend felt with the Michael Jackson sample and Kendrick’s verse and the music and my verse, I was just like, ‘This is such a defining moment in this body of work.'”
Busta went on to say that “Look Over Your Shoulder” was not completed until eight or nine years into the recording process for Extinction Level Event 2. The 21-track studio LP landed 11 years after the Brooklynite’s previous album. ELE2 also features Mariah Carey, Mary J Blige, Rakim, Pete Rock, Bell Biv Devoe, Q-Tip, Rick Ross, Anderson .Paak, Rapsody, and more.
Back in 2016 and 2017, Chicago natives Chance The Rapper and Jeremih teamed up to present the two-part Merry Christmas Lil’ Mama mixtape. The duo is ready to drop more tunes connected to that holiday compilation.
Merry Christmas Lil Mama: The Gift That Keeps on Giving will arrive on all streaming platforms on December 11. Besides hosting tracks from volumes 1 and 2, The Gift That Keeps on Giving also features two new original songs – “The Return” and “Who’s To Say.”
The collaborative effort comes after Jeremih dealt with a serious weeks-long battle with COVID-19. He was eventually released from a local hospital on December 4 and is said to be getting stronger every day.
In preparation of The Gift That Keeps on Giving landing this week, Chance The Rapper published a music video for “Are U Live” on his YouTube channel on December 3. Jeremih and fellow Windy City representative Valee joined Chano for the visuals.
See the full tracklist for Merry Christmas Lil’ Mama The Gift That Keeps on Giving below:
