(AllHipHop News) “Heart On Ice” hitmaker Rod Wave just inked a global co-publishing deal with the Sony/ATV Music Publishing company. The announcement was made on March 18.
“Rod Wave has unlimited musical potential and a poetic intensity that connects with fans,” said Sony/ATV Chairman & CEO Jon Platt in a statement. “We’re thrilled to welcome singer, songwriter, & rapper Rod Wave to the global family!
“Rod Wave has unlimited musical potential and a poetic intensity that connects with fans.” Chairman & CEO Jon Platt // We’re thrilled to welcome singer, songwriter, & rapper @rodwave to the global family! pic.twitter.com/W6roSJQru3
— Sony Music Publishing (@SonyMusicPub) May 18, 2020
Earlier this year, Wave dropped his sophomore studio LP Pray 4 Love. It debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 chart with 72,000 first-week units and was the most-streamed album for the week it came out.
(AllHipHop News) It has been three years since Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN hit DSPs and spawned multiple Top 20 hits. The Top Dawg Entertainment megastar also took the helm for 2018’s Black Panther: The Album, buthe mostly laid low in 2019.
According to the head of his label, more K. Dot music is on the way. Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith commented about the Pulitzer Prize winner during a recent Instagram Live session. The TDE CEO posted, “stay patient king Kendrick will return soon.”
Lamar’s discography also includes the critically-acclaimed studio LPs Section.80, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, and To Pimp a Butterfly as well as the Kendrick Lamar EP, the Overly Dedicated mixtape, and the Untitled Unmastered compilation.
The Top Dawg Entertainment roster has been very active over the last several months. Lance Skiiiwalker, Ab-Soul, Zacari, Isaiah Rashad, SiR, Reason, and Punch have all released music since March. Plus, SZA teamed with Justin Timberlake for “The Other Side” single from Trolls World Tour (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).
(AllHipHop News) Tekashi 6ix9ine has spent the last several days spewing all kinds of conspiracy theories to explain why his new song “Gooba” failed to reach #1 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart. He even took direct aim at Ariana Grande, whose “Stuck With U” charity duet with Justin Bieber debuted in the top spot.
— billboard charts (@billboardcharts) May 18, 2020
Both Grande and Bieber pushed back against 6ix9ine’s accusations on Instagram. Billboard has now responded to Tekashi as well. In an attempt to present transparency about chart rules and calculations, the publication posted an article addressing the controversy.
For example, Billboard pointed out that the 180 million visible YouTube plays for “Gooba” are the music video’s global total, but only the 55.3 million U.S.-based plays counted toward the Hot 100. In an IG video, Tekashi referenced a “Hot 100 forecast” projecting “Gooba” would open at #1. Billboard made it clear it does not distribute any Hot 100 ranking projections to labels, management, or artists.
As far as the “24-hour sales spike” for “Stuck With U,” Billboard suggests that jump was likely from signed singles being made available in Grande and Bieber’s web stores on the last day of tracking. Apparently, 6ix9ine released a non-signed CD single/digital download on the last day of the tracking week via his own web store.
One of 6ix9ine’s most serious allegations was claiming a large bulk sum of “Stuck With U” were purchased by “six credit cards.” Bieber later called the credit card accusation a “lie.” He also stated on his Instagram Story, “60,000 units came at the end because we don’t disclose our numbers until the end of the week. That’s called strategy.”
— billboard charts (@billboardcharts) May 19, 2020
In response to the alleged credit card manipulation, Billboard wrote:
Billboard and Nielsen Music/MRC Data conducts audits on all sales reported with access to purchase-level detail, and works with data partners to recognize excessive bulk purchases and remove those units from the final sales total. All titles this week, as in every week, were put under the same scrutiny. (Billboard has reached out to Fame House/Bravado, retailer and reporter of director-to-consumer sales, for further comment about the sales data provided for “Stuck With U.”)
Overall, Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber’s “Stuck With U” drew 28.1 million U.S. streams, 26.3 million in radio airplay audience, and 108,000 units sold in the tracking week. 6ix9ine’s “Gooba” pulled in 55.3 million U.S. streams, 172,000 in radio airplay audience, and 24,000 units sold. The song landed at #3 on the Hot 100 behind “Stuck With U” (#1) and Doja Cat’s “Say So” featuring Nicki Minaj (#2).
(AllHipHop News) Lil Durk is now in the process of creating a joint effort titled No Auto Durk with Metro Boomin. The Chicago-bred rapper spoke to Ebro Darden on Apple Music about the forthcoming collection.
“Metro made himself not accessible. So for you to have a Metro it’s like, ‘Okay bet. We won.’ You do Metros with the Drakes, Futures, Thugs, 21 Savages. Everybody don’t get a Metro by themselves,” said Durk.
Metro Boomin has made official collaborative projects with 21 Savage, Offset & 21 Savage, Big Sean, and Nav. Durk just released his fifth solo studio album, Just Cause Y’all Waited 2, on May 8.
“I don’t really know, we just record. One day he probably says 13, the next day, he probably says 9. We just gonna record up until it’s time,” answered Durk when asked how many songs they plan to have for No Auto Durk. “I wanna at least do like 40 songs.”
(AllHipHop Music) The Bay Area continues to show off it’s rich legacy of timeless music with the entry of its newest star, GWALLA BOI SLIM.
Gwalla Boi Slim, straight from Menlo Park CA, started making music at the age of 15. Rappers like BUSTA RHYMES, LUDACRIS to LIL WAYNE inspired Gwalla to become a true artist. Plus those Hip Hop Icons were the inspiration to making a way out of poverty, which pushed Gwalla to become an entrepreneur. After years of grinding, Gwalla created several milestones of success, including finding himself opening shows for YOUNG DRO, to collaborating with Hip Hop Stars like MISTAH FAB, MONTANA of 300 and OMB PEEZY.
After the extreme success of GWALLA BOI’s SLIM’s new single DROP IT LOW, produced by BEATDEMONS, he is finally ready to drop his new album “Y’ALL SLEEP” this summer.
(AllHipHop Rumors) DMX and Eminem have sold more albums than just about anybody in Hip-Hop. It seems like Nelly and Luda wasn’t big enough! Timbo and Swizz are now close to assembling a MASSIVE battle with two favorites of rap.
First of all, we know that DMX really wants to battle Jay-Z and that goes back….WAY BACK to when they were first starting and they battled. This was a battle where the winner was undecided. I think DMX wants to settle the score once and for all. Jay-Z ain’t doing these battles. So lets move on.
Now, what is the next best thing? Personally, I say Ja Rule, but the talk is Eminem. It seems like both of the heavies are up to it. Nore says they are, but Jay’s name keeps coming up. LOL!
“X SAY HE CAN GET BUT I STILL WANT JAY. HAHA SO CLASSIC BEHIND THE SCENES S### SORRY IF I WASNT POST TO SAY NOTHING but I had to DMX VS SLIM SHADY??? What y’all think??? I’m riding wit the DOG!!!”
(AllHipHop News) If you know Snoop, you know he is about the kids. He has coached little league football, gave out valuable game and donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to charity. But he is not the only one from his squad that is giving back.
Warren G didn’t let this sunny late Spring weekend go without a good deed. He linked up with the San Bernardino Valley College football players and treated them to a good ole barbeque.
Since the COVID-19 sheltering-in mandate, several of the students have been unable to go to their respective homes. The “Regulate (G-Funk Era)” rapper brought home to them.
The players have one of their coaches to thank for Warren’s involvement.
According to The Sun, Warren G and SBVC assistant coach Merle Cole Jr. knew each other from Long Beach. This 30-year friendship is cultivated by weekly calls.
During one call, the former Def Jam rapper was told that the coaches paid for groceries and that some of the guys have resorted to going to food lines, so Warren stepped into action.
“Hell, no. I’ve got to do something for these guys. Can you make it happen?”
The senior coach was very honored and pleased.
Warren G brought his portable BBQ trailer, 50 pounds of chicken, 40 pounds of beef flank and short ribs and mountains of beans and mac-and-cheese.
He said, “These kids are out here from out of state and they can’t get home because of the current situation with this pandemic. They can’t get to their families and eat good meals.”
The young men are sure to remember this gesture, and can now go rub in their parents that Warren G, one of the architects of West Coast Hip-Hop, fed them some good homemade BBQ.
(AllHipHop News) In 2018, the Maybach Music head honcho was on top of the world. Rick Ross was celebrating the release of hit music with Meek Mill’s release Championships, and experiencing the joy of being a dad.
The rapper took to Twitter to announce the birth of his youngest son, Billion Leonard Roberts (born Nov. 6th). He then went on to Instagram to debut his son’s personal page, billion.heir on the social media platform.
However, one swift perusing over his social media and you see that Rozay has wiped clean any mention of little Billy and there seems to be no mention of his elder brother, Bentley.
It is almost as if he never had children at all. Why would such a stand-up boss do this?
One reason is that Ross and the boys’ mother, Briana Camille have broken up and because the issue of child support is at the forefront of both parties’ thoughts… they are now leaving things to be settled in courts.
And now the courts have settle the issue of paternity.
According to Bossip, William Leonard Roberts II, is 99% the father of Billion and Bentley.
According to Camille, Rick Ross signed as the father both children’s birth certificates.
But she ended up suing him because he allegedly has not contributed to the two kids’ life, or his unborn child with her, financially.
Rick Ross trashed Camille in an Instagram post earlier today, labeling her “fat girl,” while admitting “I’s the pappy.”
(AllHipHop News) Rap star Lil Boosie’s war against the City of Biloxi’s Dillard’s department store has come to a close now that the case has been thrown out of court.
A judge just tossed the Baton Rouge rap star’s lawsuit against the department store today (May 18th), after he was pepper-sprayed by a security guard inside of the Edgewater Mall in Biloxi, Mississippi in April 2017.
Boosie was shopping for a polo shirt with a few members of his crew when a crowd started to gather to catch a glimpse of the legendary rapper, who was in town for Black Spring Beach weekend.
Soon the crowd became unruly, and security asked Boosie to leave the mall. The rapper refused and a showdown took place between Boosie, a Dillard’s employee, and a Biloxi police officer, who responded to the scene.
Boosie accused the security guard of calling him “Boy” before he unleashed a barrage of pepper-spray on the crowd.
In January, Boosie settled with all of the parties, except for Dillards.
Earlier today (May 18th), the judge overseeing the case accused the rap star of once again of ignoring the lawsuit he filed.
The lawyer representing Boosie quit the case in July of 2019, citing an undisclosed conflict of interest.
Since then, the case has collected dust, because the rapper has not hired another attorney to represent him in his claim against Dillards.
“Here, there has been a clear record of delay and contumacious conduct by Plaintiffs. Despite the Court’s repeated Orders over the past ten months to either retain new counsel or inform the Court that they were proceeding pro se, Plaintiffs have made no contact with the Court and they have taken no action in the case. The Court’s attempts to prompt “diligent prosecution” through lesser sanctions than dismissal have proven to be futile,” wrote U.S. District Judge Halil Suleyman Ozerden.
“Plaintiffs are no longer interested in pursuing this case. As such, their remaining claims against Defendant Dillard’s, Inc. should be dismissed without prejudice,” wrote the judge.
The ruling is the latest setback for Boosie’s war with the mall and the cops.
In July of 2019, Boosie was ordered to pay the security guard $223,000 after he missed a hearing in the case, which resulted in a default judgment against the rapper.
“NOBODY GAVE ME ONE COURT NOTICE. THIS IS A RACIST PLOT TO TRY N TAKE ME DOWN. THIS MAN CHASED ME DOWN N MASED ME IN FRONT OF MY DAUGHTER N FAMILY N YALL WANT ME TO PAY HIM. Why would I miss court? THESE PPL ARE FULL OF EVIL N DECEIT,” Boosie fumed.
Boosie still has some hope, if he wants to pursue the lawsuit, because the judge dismissed the case without prejudice, meaning he will have an opportunity to appeal the verdict if he so chooses.
Brandon Lee maintains the rapper ripped off “Broad Day” and turned it into “Rodeo.” The song was featured on Lil Nas X’s debut EP 7, which included the massive hit single “Old Town Road.”
But they are not actionable, because the chord changes are “generic” in the context of Flamenco music, which inspired both songs. Thus, the case is not just about comparing two songs and looking for substantial similarities.
The entire matter will require music experts to decide to what extent those similarities are the result of creative artistic expression, and what ones are generic to Flamenco music.
Lil Nas X his lawyers have been wrangling with Lee’s attorneys, over proposed dates for musicologists to complete their expert discovery.
Brandon Lee’s lawyers claim the coronavirus has delayed their report, while Lil Nas X’s lawyers have already completed an expert analysis.
Lil Nas X’s lawyers are ready immediately via video conferencing, however, Lee’s attorneys want another three months to submit a report because his musicologist is sheltered in place in Washington D.C. and is unable to travel to access his files in Texas.
Lil Nas X’s lawyers are asking a judge to move up the due date from August 18th to June 19th.
(AllHipHop News) Ariana Grande’s manager, Scooter Braun, has jumped on the singer’s lengthy attack on Billboard Hot 100 chart rival Tekashi 6ix9ine after he suggested she and Justin Bieber didn’t deserve to be number one.
The rapper, who bowed at three on the new countdown with “Gooba,” accused the pop pair of buying their way to the top of the countdown, prompting Ariana Grande to issue a long statement shooting down his claims and urging Tekashi to be “humble” and “be grateful you’re even here.”
Her response prompted a comeback from the rap star, who added: “I don’t want you to think that I’m coming at you. I’m not saying you’re not talented, I’m not saying you can’t sing. You’re a beautiful singer, you just don’t understand my pain.”
He had previously told fans in a video that he had learned the same credit card had been used to buy multiple copies of Bieber and Grande’s duet.
And now Scooter Braun has joined the feud, offering Tekashi a lesson in how the chart works:
— First Responders Children's Foundation (@1strcf) May 18, 2020
“Only domestic streams are counted for a domestic chart. If someone is counting their total they aren’t counting correctly… We never disclose our sales until end of week. That is called strategy and is and always has been our policy… Nielsen (chart compilers) and billboard rules state clearly one credit card can only buy max 4 copies. Anything above that the entire amount gets thrown out. They review that. All must be confirmed. Which it was.”
Scooter confirms there was an investigation surrounding this week’s charts, but adds: “it was into a video that had 6 times the amount of paid bot activity than the normal video. That video was not ours.”
He added: “Ariana thank you for being so humble. Others should do the same.”
Scooter Braun also made it clear he is “proud” of Grande and fellow charge Bieber’s latest chart achievement, adding, “honored to stand with you always”.
Justin also responded to 6ix9ine’s claims on social media, adding: “He said 30k was bought with 6 credit cards but that is a lie. The rules are clear one credit card can buy max 4 copies. Anything over that the entire amount gets thrown out.
“Nielsen (chart compilers) company checks this and found all our sales were legit because our fans are amazing and bought them. Don’t discredit our fan base with false info.”
He also ripped in to the rapper for failing to mention he’s part of the song in his initial attack on Grande, adding: “If you gonna say her name make sure you say mine because it’s our song.”
(AllHipHop News) Hip-Hop star Questlove has invited fellow foodies Patti Labelle, Tiffany Haddish, Eva Longoria, Amy Schumer, and Gabrielle Union to join him online for a virtual dinner party for charity.
The Roots drummer and bandleader has been continuing his tradition of hosting celebrity get-togethers centered around good food during the coronavirus pandemic, taking the events online while people continue to self-isolate.
Now Questlove is preparing to give fans an insight into the private parties by filming a digital special “Questlove’s Potluck” for the Food Network – and he’s called on a bunch of famous friends to take a seat at his virtual table.
Additional guests will include his bandmate, Tariq ‘Black Thought’ Trotter, fellow rapper Bun B, actresses Olivia Wilde and Zooey Deschanel, model and new mom Ashley Graham, and comedians George Lopez, Hannibal Buress, Kenan Thompson, and Roy Wood, Jr.
The celebs will all present their favorite budget foods and drinks, while encouraging donations to America’s Food Fund to aid those in need during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Bringing together friends, collaborators, and those who I admire around food is something I love to do. When I can bring people together around a cause that I care deeply about, it’s even more meaningful,” said Questlove. “America’s Food Fund is supporting several organizations including Feeding America, World Central Kitchen, and No Kid Hungry, that are tackling one of the biggest issues many of our neighbors are facing, access to food. I hope everyone will join me and my friends, for a night of food, drink, and laughter in supporting this incredible organization, and having some fun while we’re at it!”
Questlove has also landed a “dream” appearance by soul legend Patti LaBelle, who boasts her own line of frozen food – and he’s devastated he won’t be able to actually taste whatever she whips up for the fundraising show.
“Patti LaBelle has been teasing me for the past 17 years about her food. Now I’m about to cry because I want to eat her food. I finally get Patti LaBelle to cook for me and I can’t even eat her food,” he quips.
Questlove’s Potluck, which was partly inspired by his 2019 release, “Mixtape Potluck Cookbook: A Dinner Party for Friends.”
“Their Recipes and the Songs They Inspire,” will air on May 28th.
(AllHipHop Rumors) Kevin Gates is one of the premier confusing people in Hip-Hop, but things are apparently getting clearer now. There is reportedly a sex tape of the rapper in circulation on the inter-webs.
Welp, I do not want to see it, but if you do: #KevinGatesVideo! Now, the response has been quite funny I just say, because Twitter is full of comedians. From what I have been told, the woman in the video is unidentified but we know for a fact that KG is married. And, his wife is also his manager. Keep that paper in the family, yall!
To keep the humor in context, I think people have to remember that sex in your home is not sex you see in p###! Get a grip! Still…the humor is not lost on me!
(AllHipHop Rumors) Yo! I hope you all had a great weekend and stayed coronafree! The weekend was eventful and Luda and Nelly topped everybody’s weekend off. But, Ice Cube also hosted a dope talk about his first album AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted! Very Dope! Let’s get back to these rumors!
My brother (in my head) West Side Gunn signed a rapper from Atlanta and he got his followers in an outrage. I guess maybe they weren’t feeling him? Or maybe on a deeper level, the kid’s sounds were just so distant from the sounds that Griselda is so known for. Check him out and some of the responses.
I Got the Hardest Young 🅱️ull period!!!! All Fakts no 🧢 resume realer than these fake rappers everybody love we’re gonna have fun WATCH!! and I would never sign somebody from NY who sound like they from ATL when I can just sign the hardest bull out of ATL 🤷🏽♂️ #BILLY 🔫 #Culturepic.twitter.com/tzaG4Nn1I4
Honestly, I don’t think that many people were “mad,” but they see it for what it is: a business move. This Young King is from the soil of Atlanta and will be another market for the good guys of Griselda. You know, they all have their own “thing,” right? But this is Westside’s. I don’t know if Conway has a label, but Benny The Butcher does.
Email me some news tips! Ki*********@***il.com
I started a CashApp to help me in these coronavirus times. $Realillseed is the handle!Anything helps! 🙂
(AllHipHop News) DaBaby’s collaboration with fellow rising rapper Roddy Ricch is the U.K.’s new number one single, landing both musicians their first ever chart-topper in Britain.
“Rockstar” climbs five places to reach the summit of Friday’s Official Charts Company rundown, knocking Drake’s “Toosie Slide” down to number two.
Doja Cat’s “Say So” also falls one place to three, with Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber claiming this week’s highest new entry with their duet “Stuck With U.”
The charity single, raising funds for officials at America’s First Responders Children’s Foundation, who are providing scholarships for frontline workers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, is at four.
Powfu and Beabadoobee’s “Death Bed” completes the top five.
Meanwhile, Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia returns to the top of the U.K. albums chart, with Lewis Capaldi’s Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent at two on the first anniversary of its release.
Last week’s number one, Drake’s Dark Lane Demo Tapes, tumbles to three, with Paramore frontwoman Hayley Williams’ solo debut Petals for Armor a new entry at four.
Second World War-themed choir The D-Day Darlings are at five with “I’ll Remember You,” a week after Britain’s VE (Victory in Europe) Day 75th anniversary celebrations.
(AllHipHop News) Rapper Travis Scott has joined forces with basketball superstar Lebron James to design a special T-shirt for the Class of 2020.
The Los Angeles Lakers ace has been making sure graduating students across America have been able to enjoy some kind of celebration after in-person commencement ceremonies were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
He staged a remote event for youngsters online over the weekend, titled “Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020,” with guests including the Jonas Brothers, Pharrell Williams, Yara Shahidi, Kevin Hart, Zendaya, Timothee Chalamet, and former U.S. President Barack Obama.
And to further mark the occasion, LeBron teamed up with “Sicko Mode” hitmaker Scott to launch a special piece of merchandise, with all proceeds donated to charity.
The colorful Cactus Jack Class of 2020 T-shirt was designed by Scott and is only available via his website this weekend.
Half of the proceeds will benefit the LeBron James Foundation, supporting educational programs in his native Akron, Ohio, while Scott has selected to support the coronavirus relief efforts of officials at food charity Feeding Texas.
Sharing the design on Instagram, LeBron wrote, “Class of 2020, I told you we were going to make graduation special. Creative genius, hip hop legend, and game changing fashion designer @travisscott has personally designed the Class of 2020 Grad shirt for all of you!
“This is a collaboration between our teams, @uninterrupted and @cactusjack, to give you something special to mark this incredible accomplishment… All net proceeds go to charity. I love you guys.”
(AllHipHop News) By most accounts, this weekend saw Ludacris take the victory against Nelly in the Verzuz battle on Instagram Live. After Luda’s win on Saturday, the conversation quickly turned to who would be the next two acts to step into the virtual ring.
It appears the public could be getting a Snoop Dogg versus Busta Rhymes match in the near future. Swizz Beatz spoke to both emcees via IG, and the Verzuz curator may have secured a faceoff between the 1990s-era legends.
“Busta Rhymes seems like he fits the bill,” said Snoop. He later added, “If I do a Verzuz battle, it gotta be somebody that I love, first of all. It can’t be no, ‘I hate you. I’m trying to outshine you.’ It’s gotta be, ‘I love you and I want to shine with you.'”
Swizz then caught up with Busta. The Flipmode Squad general declared, “Ain’t too many people could like the dynamite stick and explode the whole f*cking universe and create a climate shift other than a me and a Snoop. Especially when we come together. So my paperwork is in.”
If that battle does get officially announced, Snoop Dogg will be able to draw on hits like “Who Am I (What’s My Name)?,” “Gin and Juice,” “Beautiful,” “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” and “Sensual Seduction.” The West Coaster also contributed as a guest on highly spun tunes by Dr. Dre, 2Pac, 50 Cent, Akon, DJ Khaled, Lil Duval, and others.
Busta Rhymes’s catalog hosts popular songs like “Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check,” “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See,” What’s It Gonna Be?!,” “Pass the Courvoisier, Part II,” and “Touch It.” His features list includes tracks with Puff Daddy, M.O.P., DJ Khaled, Chris Brown, and more.
