The main complaint about the new era of Hip-Hop is a distinct lack of creativity and substance. Yet one just has to have their ear to the ground to know there is a sizable contingent carrying the torch for intricate wordplay and sample-based beats. One such crusader fighting the good fight is Port Huron emcee Substance810.
As he puts it, “The name is literal. I’m bringing real substance. I’m giving listeners me on every song, with every word. I feel it’s my responsibility to be as transparent as possible.” 810 is the area code for East Central Michigan, added as a way to put his region on the map. As a part of the Umbrella Collective and as a solo artist, Sub has been making a lot of noise over the last couple of years. If his recent LP with legendary Beat Junkies DJ, D-Styles, is any indication, his time is nigh.
After dropping a barrage of stink-face-inducing bars on Observe since ’98’s “Muerte de un Salvaje” LP, Sub was approached by the producer/label owner to do a full-length project. Observe is well known for his archaeological deep digs for samples, and when it comes to his producer albums, he tends to pick a specific country and style of music to pull from to create a cohesive body of work.
On principle, he eschews the all-too-common soul sample. However, he took it as a challenge when Sub requested “that soul sound” and then reveled in the thrill of unearthing records untouched by fellow crate diggers.
The result of this artistic pairing is music that was created with incredible ease. No sooner would Observe send over the beats than Substance would have the verses back to him. It’s almost like the lyrics wrote themselves. Similarly, the emcees they invited to contribute effortlessly heighten the vibe. “The Lion’s Share” will take you back to a time when heads focused on crafting a timeless classic rather than pumping out release after release strictly for financial gain.
“The Lion’s Share drops on all digital streaming services on 4/7/2023. Vinyl will be available on Bandcamp via Loretta Records, and CD’s and cassettes will be for sale on substance810.com
Substance810 & Observe since ’98: The Lion’s Share (track details) Long Nights Alone (Intro)
Power for Provisions
Lions Share (feat. Supreme Cerebral) Strike Like Lightning (feat. Jamil Honesty) Safari Tour (skit)
Wally Moccasins (feat. Mickey Diamond)
Mechanical Movements (feat. Asun Eastwood & DJ Grazzhoppa) Until You Lose It (feat. Maze Overlay)
Waiting on the Lion (skit)
Lookin in the Mirror (feat. Ralphiie Reese) No Love Lost
Kevin Gates has undergone a remarkable transformation. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana native is morphing right before our very eyes. He’s still a social media lightning rod, but he has mutated into an entrepreneur and motivationalist that espouses the virtues of living life on his own terms. He’s adapt to living off the land as well as lighting up the algorithm on your favorite platform. He talks to Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur about the changes. But, some things do not switch up. The rapper is still cranking out music at a high level and giving people that raw sound they are accustomed to, all the while bucking convention like a real nonconformist.
AllHipHop: (Shows old picture of writer and Gates) When you look at your young self, what kind of memory does that bring?
Kevin Gates: It give me gratitude like, look where I’m at now, as opposed to back then. I’m grateful.
AllHipHop: Well, I’m glad you still pushing and still striving and still creating. So let’s talk about the music first. Let’s lean into that. I heard a few of your new songs, including the one with T.I. Yeah, that joint is serious. In the beginning, you’re talking Arabic, if I’m correct.
Kevin Gates: Oh, yes, sir.
AllHipHop: Yeah. So talk about the song “Active” a little bit and what that means.
Kevin Gates: We did the song maybe a year ago. I think I went by his studio. We did the song maybe a year ago. That’s my brother. I love him. I believe he just finally released it not too long ago.
AllHipHop: He added new lyrics, though, I guess because it seems like he’s addressing some current affairs in his verse.
Kevin Gates: To be honest, I wouldn’t even know because I still listen at the old version on my phone. I’m weird like that ’cause when I’m locked in and focusing on me, ’cause like I said, I’m a lifestyle curator and things of that nature. So I be so focused on me that I don’t really be having time to pay attention to other things like other people what they be having going on. I’m just weird like that.
AllHipHop: Yeah. Yeah. Well, weird is good. When you say you’re a lifestyle curator, what does that mean?
Kevin Gates: Everybody that come around me, I add intangible wealth. I get them things that money can’t buy. People that come around me, they be like, “My skin glowing now, Kevin,” or, “I look younger.” I feel better because of the things that the lifestyle that I live and the lifestyle choices that I make, anybody that’s in the room with me eventually going to get in tune with me.
AllHipHop: How did you get to sculpt your body the way you have?
Kevin Gates: You want me to be honest?
AllHipHop: Yeah.
Kevin Gates: You want me to be honest? I went through the fire. I suffered to get where I’m at. Adversity builds character. I turned my pain into passion and my focal point to excel. That go with everything that I’m working on. It’s just my future goals right now.
Big and small screen, lifestyle curator. I’m a designer, ’cause when I go to the store, all I did is pick it out and I picked it up, but I had to get it custom tailored to fit me.
AllHipHop: Yeah. Yeah. Do you stay to yourself mostly? I don’t see you at industry parties or a lot.
Kevin Gates: I say to what’s organic to me. If it’s in alignment with me, that’s why I’m at with it. People be like, “Man, the world’s so corrupt. The world … ” No, the world isn’t as it is, it’s as we see it. It’s we see it. We are reflections of one another. So if you not in love with yourself and you don’t have self-love and self-respect, you not going to ever be able to get that to nobody else.
AllHipHop: That’s a feeling.
Kevin Gates: When I say in the song, you don’t take a chance. You ain’t had a chance. You makin’ a plan to lose. Don’t need a security blanket or safety, harness abandoned school.Took an advance and paid him back. I made an advance and moved. I know how to stand and greet a man whenever he walk in the room.
AllHipHop: Right.
Kevin Gates: I know how to stand and greet a man whenever he walk in the room, ’cause it make me feel good to give another man that respect. You know? “How you doing? I’m Kevin.”
AllHipHop: You know what annoys me? When somebody doesn’t stand up for somebody when they greet them. I be like-
Kevin Gates: Maybe they don’t know.
AllHipHop: Yeah, that’s true.
Kevin Gates: I can’t fault them for what they don’t know. It’s all about perspective. The greatest teachers teach without teaching. My son, I never had to tell him, “You stand up when a man walk in the room.” No, he watch his daddy do it.
When he come in my office and he sees somebody come in my office, he’s sitting here talking to me and he watch me stand up and greet a man, I know how to stand and greet a man whenever he walk in the room. He automatically stand up because he going to emulate his father.
Now, if he ain’t had no strong male presence in his life or no positive male reinforcement in his life, then maybe he wouldn’t exhibit these type of character qualities.
‘Cause I’m not here to tell him what to do, I’m just here to guide him, ’cause me and him, we teaching each other.
AllHipHop: How old is your son?
Kevin Gates: Which one?
AllHipHop: The oldest one.
Kevin Gates: He’s 19.
AllHipHop: Okay. All right. Yo, it’s a funny thing. One of my favorite rappers from back in the day, but still one of my favorite name is KRS-One. He said-
Kevin Gates: Big teacher.
AllHipHop: Yeah.
Kevin Gates: Big teacher.
AllHipHop: Yeah, man.
Kevin Gates: Big teacher. I want to meet him.
AllHipHop: Oh, you never met him?
Kevin Gates: I want to meet him. I never met him.
AllHipHop: Oh, we going to make that happen.
Kevin Gates: I want to meet him.
AllHipHop: Oh, yeah. We definitely going to make that happen.
Kevin Gates: “I do it once, I do it twice. Now, I got steak with the beans and rice.” (Quoting “Love’s Gonna Get’cha (Material Love)”) Yeah.
AllHipHop: So you’ve been getting into this wellness journey now. Fitness has been part of it. What about the mental and spiritual stuff? Well, not even the spiritual, just the mental?
Kevin Gates: Part of it is, for me is, I do like what I’m doing now, I keep self inventory on myself and it helps me navigate. ‘Cause I like to exhibit emotional intelligence with anything that I’m dealing with in life.
Yeah. I like emotional intelligence because I was just reading that every time we have an emotion, it’s related to a chemical release in our body that causes that emotion that we are experiencing at the time.
So instead of asking me why am I feeling like this? F### how I’m feeling, why am I experiencing this emotion? It helps you navigate emotional intelligence.
If somebody disrespect me, did he really disrespect me? Was it an imminent threat? Like what morals or principles did I compromise by him doing what he did? I ask myself why was it triggering? “Is it something that happened in my past? Is it some past? Is it a past traumatic response reaction as opposed to a response?” So it’s just about emotional intelligence for me and keeping that self inventory. ‘Cause a lot of times we don’t understand vision, we don’t understand that. We don’t understand the emotional detoxes. I had to learn this on my journey. I was fortunate enough to have positive male reinforcement in my life also. But a lot of the positive male reinforcement that I had, they was doing a lot of the wrong things with the right ideas.
AllHipHop: Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Have you gone through depression in your life? Is that what’s caused you to have this-
Kevin Gates: Yeah, that’s one of my mission statements. I’m combating depression. We have all gone through depression, s###. You went through depression before you took this call. We all deal with depression. We all suffer from that, and that’s what made me take this health and wellness journey because I’m combating depression. That’s what make me enroll my children in martial arts and things of that nature making it fun because I’m combating bullying.
These are the things (bullying) that mold and shape us for the rest of our life.
AllHipHop: Yeah. That’s what’s happening.
Kevin Gates: So that’s just where I’m at with it. Right now, if you was to just be quiet, just listen. It’s peaceful here (in his home). It’s peaceful here.
It’s healing just to be here. That’s why I say I’m a lifestyle curator, ’cause anybody in the room with me, they going to have to get in tune with me, and they going to have fun. They going to discover parts of they self that they never knew existed, ’cause I don’t judge. I create a safe space for people to heal.
AllHipHop: Yeah. Is that your office you’re in?
Kevin Gates: Yeah, I’m in my office. It’s fairly new, so-
AllHipHop: That’s dope. That’s a nice office from what I can see.
Kevin Gates: Yeah. I’m Kevin, but I’m not Kevin Samuels. You heard me?
AllHipHop: Why you say that, though? Why you say that?
Kevin Gates: ‘Cause he had talked about big girls and I said in my song, “My B## bend it open and I grip her back rolls.” ‘Cause I used to punch on a big girl every now and then. You know what I’m saying?
AllHipHop: Right. Right. Ain’t nothing wrong with that, man. I didn’t catch that from Kevin Samuels. He was off code, though-
Kevin Gates: I love him. I love him. I love Kevin Samuels. In life, we agree to disagree and hey, I’ll bust a little Pillsbury up. I ain’t going to lie.
AllHipHop: Yeah, nah,, nah, he was wrong. He was wrong right there.
Kevin Gates: I’ll bust a big b#### up. I ain’t going to lie.
AllHipHop: See, there you go. So tell me, so when I hear you talk like that and I’m like, “Wait a minute, hold up. We was just talking about wellness and now we jump into this.” Is there any contradiction there?
Kevin Gates: Do you see a contradiction, are you looking for contradiction?
AllHipHop: I’m not looking for it. I’m just asking.
Kevin Gates: Well, there ain’t no contradiction then if you ain’t looking for it. I was just telling you how I differ from Kevin Samuels.
AllHipHop: Right.
Kevin Gates: Now if you want to take it and build it into else, hey, that’s on you, homie.
AllHipHop: Nah, nah, nah, nah. It’s all good.
Kevin Gates: Hey, I ain’t tripping ’cause life is about having fun, and I’m having fun. I’m not uptight. I’m not by the book. When you come around me, hey, I’d rather you hate me for who I am than love me for who I’m not. You going to get Kevin every day.
No pretendo.
No politically correct on this end.
We’re thugging.
AllHipHop: Nah, we’re thugging?
Kevin Gates: We’re thugging on this end.
AllHipHop: Okay. Okay. I ain’t calling no girl Pillsbury, though. I ain’t going to lie to you.
Kevin Gates: That’s my little nickname. Shoot, “You my little Pillsbury.”
AllHipHop: All right. Okay. Nah, ain’t no discrimination. I’ll put it that way.
Kevin Gates: Oh, my bad. You don’t want to get canceled. I’m already blackballed.
AllHipHop: Yeah. You think so?
Kevin Gates: Yeah. I don’t care.
AllHipHop: I don’t really care about getting canceled. I hold my values, but you feel like you’re canceled?
Kevin Gates: No.
AllHipHop: Why do you say that?
Kevin Gates: No, ’cause I already been blackballed ’cause I’m the black sheep. So when you look at yourself like that, it’ll allow you to live in your absolute truth. You don’t care what the consequences about living in your truth. So I already tell people, “Man, I’m already blackballed.”
Invasion Of Privacy is already the longest-charting album by a female rapper in the history of the Billboard 200 chart. Cardi B’s debut studio LP continues to rack up honors five years after its release.
For the fifth anniversary of Invasion Of Privacy, the Recording Industry Association of America officially certified the project as 4x-Platinum. The Atlantic Records-backed body of work debuted on April 6, 2018.
In addition, two singles off Cardi B’s Invasion Of Privacy earned higher RIAA certifications this week. “Be Careful” is now 4x-Platinum. “Ring” featuring Kehlani reached the 3x-Platinum mark.
Cardi became the first female artist to have every track on an album go Platinum. Invasion Of Privacy‘s “Bodak Yellow” (11x-Platinum) and “I Like It” with Bad Bunny and J Balvin (11x-Platinum) have both surpassed Diamond certification.
“Bartier Cardi” featuring 21 Savage is 3x-Platinum. Cardi B also picked up 2x-Platinum Awards for “Thru Your Phone” and “I Do” featuring SZA. The rest of the songs on the IOP tracklist scored Platinum plaques.
On this day in 2018… @iamcardib released #InvasionOfPrivacy. The debut album became the first in history to have all tracks certified platinum or more by the RIAA, and spawned the Diamond-certified hits “Bodak Yellow” & “I Like It” 🌟 #ATL75pic.twitter.com/BvflGmJYMm
Invasion Of Privacy made music history in other ways. Cardi B is the only solo female rapper to win the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. She achieved that accomplishment at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards in 2019.
Plus, Invasion of Privacy is the first album by a female rapper to host two No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and two RIAA-certified Diamond singles. “Bodak Yellow” and “I Like It” peaked at the pinnacle of the Hot 100.
Cardi B heads into the next few months with a couple of live gigs booked. The Bronx-bred entertainer will headline Rolling Loud’s inaugural festival in Thailand next week. Hot 97 also tapped Cardi to top the bill for the NYC radio station’s Summer Jam 2023 concert.
Canadian singer/songwriter Daniel Caesar let loose the Never Enough album today (April 7). The LP shows up two days after Caesar’s 28th birthday.
As part of the promotion for Never Enough, Daniel Caesar spoke with Apple Music’s R&B Now Radio host Nadeska Alexis. The conversation also addressed the time when Caesar faced backlash for his remarks about race.
“I’m trying to get canceled right now,” began Daniel Caesar’s tirade directed at his Black followers back in 2019. He added, “White people have been mean to us in the past. What are you gonna do about that? Tell me what you’re gonna do about that. There’s no answer other than creating understanding and keeping it moving.”
That rant also included Daniel Caesar suggesting the Black community embraces a victim mentality and Caucasians are the winning team. The Toronto native made those remarks during the rise of the Black Live Matter movement against racial injustice in America.
Caesar eventually apologized for his Instagram Live lecture for Black Americans. However, it appeared some of his fans did take his cancellation request seriously, because his 2019 album Case Study 01 did not have the same cultural impact as his 2017 debut Freudian.
Daniel Caesar Says He Doesn’t Want To Hurt Anybody
“I completely understand the response. After taking time to get over myself and to really honestly look at myself and everything that was happening, I was wrong. I was wrong, and I’m sorry about that. For a long time, I was like, ‘You can’t do anything, you can’t say anything without whatever,'” Daniel Caesar told Apple Music’s Nadeska Alexis.
He continued, “You can do and say whatever you want, but it’s like for every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction. And that’s physics, that’s science. That’s one of those things that the knowledge of that can literally put my mind at ease where I’m like, ‘Oh, I did deserve… What happened, happened because I deserved it, because I knocked the domino over and set a course in motion.'”
Caesar concluded, “I felt in that moment that I could say what I had said and the context of who I am would be taken into account. But I guess people don’t know who I am. I thought at the time that I was saying something meaning well, but it didn’t, and it hurt people and I don’t want to hurt anybody. That’s not what I do. That’s not what I’m interested in doing.”
Never Enough is Daniel Caesar’s first studio album released via Republic Records. Freudian and Case Study 01 came out through Golden Child Recordings. For Never Enough, Caesar worked with Zachary Simmonds, Dylan Wiggins, Mark Ronson, Raphael Saadiq, and others for the project’s production.
NLE Choppa already made it onto the Billboard Hot 100 chart with his 2022 single “S### Me Out.” The CashMoneyAP and FinesseGTB-produced track peaked at No. 82.
Nearly a year after presenting the song, Choppa has now dropped a new version of “S### Me Out” featuring Sexyy Redd. An official music video with Redd premiered on YouTube today (April 7).
When “S### Me Out” first landed on DSPs last year, NLE Choppa partnered with plant-based burger chain Slutty Vegan for the “S### Me Out” meal. Slutty Vegan customers in Atlanta could purchase the limited-edition meal for one week.
The original “S### Me Out” has racked up over 130 million streams. NLE Choppa’s explicit song amassed 75 million plays just on Spotify. “S### Me Out” currently sits at No. 6 on Spotify’s Daily Top Songs USA chart.
Even before the Waterwippinevan-directed NSFW visuals came out, NLE Choppa faced some backlash for content associated with the clip. Critics slammed the promotional photos for the “S### Me Out” remix.
“Thought you was selling 110 minerals out of the 102 million we needed nephew. This ain’t it lil bruh,” tweeted rapper/producer Chuck Inglish in response to Choppa posting sexually suggestive photos with Sexxy Redd.
Nicki Minaj’s name is one of the top trending topics on Twitter this morning. The Queens-bred rapper once again partnered with YoungBoy Never Broke Again for the new “WTF” collaboration.
YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s latest single featuring Nicki Minaj arrived with an official music video. The “WTF” visuals are also currently trending in the Top 10 on the YouTube platform.
This is the third time YoungBoy Never Broke Again and Nicki Minaj teamed up. Previously, the duo came together for Mike WiLL Made-It’s “What That Speed Bout?!” in 2020 and YoungBoy’s “I Admit” in 2022.
“Cross YoungBoy then you cross the queen, all them internet games turn boys to memes. Keep sleeping on the team, we gon’ pause your dreams,” raps Nicki Minaj on “WTF.”
Nicki Minaj comes off dropping “Red Ruby da Sleeze” in March of this year. Last year saw the Queen album creator collaborate with Lil Baby, Coi Leray, Yung Bleu, Maluma, and Myriam Fares.
YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s 2023 includes the Louisiana native putting out “Next” and “Demon Party.” He is set to let loose his sixth studio album, Don’t Try This At Home, on April 21.
“I’ma talk crazy on there,” said YoungBoy about his upcoming project. “I’m a show you the Murda Man. I’m gon’ talk crazy on there, but I’m letting you know though, don’t try this at home.”
Nas was so touched by R-Mean’s 2017 tribute track in his honor that he reached out to him, and within three days, they recorded a collab.
Born in L.A. but raised in Amsterdam R-Mean, who has songs with the likes of The Game, Joe Budden, Kxng Crooked, and King Los, cites Nas as one of his biggest influences. When he dropped a tribute to the rap icon back in 2017, he never envisioned an opportunity to record with him.
However, dreams do come true, and R-Mean and Nas released the Scott Storch-assisted “Candle of the Devil” on Friday (Arp. 7). An overjoyed R-Mean took to Instagram earlier this week to explain how the fantasy collab came to fruition.
He revealed he used to “dream about being in the studio” with his favorite rapper Nas. “Until one day I woke up and it wasn’t a dream,” he declared.
“Back in 2017 I dropped a mixtape song called Letter to the King as a tribute to my 2 biggest influences as an emcee, Nas and Em. It got a lot of love from my fans and online but that was pretty much it.
R-Mean Says He And Nas Created A “Masterpiece”
However, several years later fate brought Nas into contact with a friend of R-Mean who played him the tribute and was moved to Facetime the song’s creator. “Nas told me ‘that sh*t did something to me right now’ as he pointed to his chest,” R-Ream added. “Three days later we were in the studio at @scottstorchofficial’s house and we created this masterpiece together on the spot!”
He concluded by expressing what the song means to him: “My actual dream came true. And not just because I did a song with my childhood idol, but because Nas and I both agree that this song is truly special. It’s a masterpiece! It’s exactly what I always imagined I would create with Nas if I was given the opportunity.”
As XXXTentacion’s killers prepared to spend the rest of their life behind bars, the late rapper’s mother sent a message to the men who took her son’s life.
Judge Michael Usan sentenced Michael Boatwright, Trayvon Newsome, and Dedrick Williams to life without parole on Thursday (Apr. 6). In March, the trio were convicted of first-degree murder and armed robbery.
XXXTentacion’s mother believes justice has been served and shared her response to Boatwright’s courtroom antics. Last month, Boatwright smirked and blew a kiss to the camera, allegedly in the direction of the family, while the guilty verdict was being read out.
Cleopatra Bernard referred to her son’s killer as “Buttright” telling TMZ she hopes he “will now get the kiss he wants so bad.”
She also had a warning for Newsome and Williams: “My hope for these other gentlemen is they will retain a firm grasp on the slippery soap.” XXXTentacion’s mother shared her relief at the sentencing on her Instagram Story. “God is good,” she wrote alongside a praying hands emoji.
XXXTentacion Left Behind A Son He Never Got To Meet
XXXTentacion was shot and killed outside a Florida motorcycle dealership in June 2018. He was just 20 years old and left behind a son born after he died. The late rapper’s manager reflected on the tragedy in a statement read on behalf of the family during the sentencing.
“This is a loss we will never truly recover from,” Solomon Sobande stated. “We will never get to see Jahseh live to his full potential, we will never get to watch him grow old, we will never get to watch him be a father.”
XXXTentacion’s girlfriend and the mother of his child Gekyume broke her silence on the verdict via her Instagram Stories.
“After 5 long years you may finally rest in peace,” wrote Jenesis Sanchez last month. “Gekyume will never get to meet you earthside, but it is my job as a mother to ensure I share those special memories with him. Jah was robbed of his life and Geky was robbed of his father. For this, I will never truly have complete peace, but justice being served today helps the healing process.”
The YSL RICO trial just hit another bump in the road after the judge ordered a mental evaluation for one of the defendants who claimed to be receiving legal advice from President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden, and U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff.
The case against Young Thug and the 13 remaining defendants has been plagued with delays. Jury selection began in January and is expected to continue for months.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported earlier this week that defendant Jayden Myrick made statements that caused concern for Fulton County Chief Judge Ural Glanville. Last month, attorneys for the 22-year-old requested a hearing to determine whether Myrick was competent to represent himself, as per his instructions.
However, at the hearing earlier this week, Myrick told the court that he’s been studying law behind bars. He also claimed that Donald Trump, President Joe Biden, and U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff were giving him legal advice.
“I’m not the regular inmate, I be with Joe Biden and Donald Trump and they be talking to me,” Myrick said during the hearing. “Donald Trump is going to get me out.”
After Myrick struggled to make himself understood, Judge Glanville asked him if he had taken medication. “I have some serious concerns about his present competency,” Glanville declared.
Although the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Myrick has been prescribed medication, including an antipsychotic, the defendant said he’s not taking them.
“I don’t need the medication,” Myrick told the court. He also claimed his attorney wasn’t doing a good job with his defense and wasn’t on his side.
The judge ordered a mental evaluation within 48 hours to determine if Myrick is competent to stand trial. If he is not, his case could potentially be severed from his 13 co-defendants to avoid further delays.
Drake has unveiled a new single called “Search & Rescue” just hours after teasing it on social media. The alleged photo of Kim Kardashian on the single art was the first clue it was going to be related to the SKIMS founder in some way. Sure enough, the track is the same song he previewed at the Dreamville Festival last weekend, which included snippets of her voice discussing her divorce from Kanye West.
Drake and Kanye West have been swapping jabs for years and, at times, over Kardashian. In 2018, West pulled a tweet-and-delete after discovering Drake followed his then-wife on Instagram. Needless to say, West wasn’t particularly pleased.
“I never knew till this morning that Drake followed my wife on Instagram back in September,” he tweeted. “I had to bring this up because it’s the most f**ked up thing of all and I just saw it this morning. Imagine having a problem with somebody and they follow your wife on Instagram.”
Just a day later, West returned with another warning for the 6 God. After addressing Drake’s subliminal shots on Travis Scott’s “Sicko Mode, he revisited the controversial IG follow that made him so irate.
“This man tried to used my family’s song to get at me,” he tweeted. “He been trying to pick a fight since the pool line. He dodged me for months when I extended olive branches to talk and then called to threaten me. I’ve never mentioned or touched anything related to family when it came to Drake. He followed my wife on Instagram he mentioned Pusha’s fiancé in a song.”
“You could have been sat down with me. I don’t need to score no points off of drake. If that was the case I wouldn’t have reached out in the first place. Ima focus on my family. And you keep my family out of all this wrestling foolishness. I don’t have beef with no one. Love everyone but don’t follow my f**king wife on Instagram. Who’s bright idea was it to tell Drake to follow my wife on Instagram. This person is not Drake’s friend.”
But it all seemed like water under the bridge in December 2021 when they put their differences aside for the Larry Hoover Benefit Concert at the Hollywood Bowl. Since then, West and Kardashian’s relationship dissolved after six years of marriage and he quickly remarried.
Pop Smoke was fatally shot during a botched robbery in February 2020. More than three years later, the first defendant to plead guilty to the drill rapper’s murder has been sentenced. According to Arcamax, the defendant pleaded guilty in an Inglewood courtroom to voluntary manslaughter and home invasion robber on Thursday (April 6). Judge J. Christopher Smith sentenced the defendant to four years and two months in the Secure Youth Treatment Facility. He also warned the 20-year-old man he could remain in juvenile custody until he was 25.
The defendant was a teenager when he committed the crime, so his name has not been released. Three others are charged in Pop Smoke’s death, including two other juvenile defendants and Corey Walker, who was 19 at the time. A judge has issued a court order barring the media from identifying the juvenile defendants.
Pop Smoke, just 20, was on a four-day trip to Los Angeles when he posted an Instagram photo of a gift bag from the clothing brand, Amiri. The label revealed the address of the Hollywood Hills home where he’d been staying.
Later that night, a group of people wearing ski masks broke into Pop Smoke’s bedroom. They confronted him in a shower, where one of the juvenile suspects “pistol-whipped” him before shooting him three times in the back. They wound up with diamond-studded Rolex watch, which they sold for $2,000.
Deputy District Attorney Hilary Williams told a judge the defendant who pleaded guilty was no minor participant in the crime. Not only did he scout the mansion, he helped Walker recruit three other juveniles to rob Pop Smoke. After entering the home, he remained in “constant communication” with Walker, who waited in the getaway car.
The defendant’s attorney, Martin Lijtmaer, argued his client was intellectually disabled. But a psychologist who examined him last August believed he was faking it. A judge later found the defendant did have an intellectually disability but was competent to stand trial. The judge cited the jailhouse recording and calls with his mother that showed he understood how the courts worked.
“I don’t know how you and your friends even came to the idea to rob someone, someone whose life was taken unnecessarily,” Smith told the young man. “Mr. Jackson is not [coming home]. His life is done because of what you and your friends did. You owe. You owe.”
Nicki Minaj teamed up with NBA YoungBoy for a new single titled “WTF.”
The track marked the latest single from NBA YoungBoy’s upcoming album Don’t Try This At Home. Nicki Minaj teased the collaboration by posting a photo of herself and NBA YoungBoy on social media.
“MIDNIGHT YOUNGBOY X DA SLEEZE #WTF,” she wrote via Twitter.
The NBA YoungBoy collab arrives a month after Nicki Minaj released her track “Red Ruby Da Sleeze.” Her latest single peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Nicki Minaj fans are still waiting to see if she will drop an album in 2023. The Republic Records artist hasn’t dropped a new studio LP since 2018’s Queen. Nicki Minaj did put out a compilation titled Queen Radio Vol. 1 in 2022.
NBA YoungBoy, on the other hand, has dropped a multitude of projects in recent years. He released I Rest My Case in January.
I Rest My Case served as NBA YoungBoy’s first album for Motown Records. He left Atlantic Records in 2022.
Last month, NBA YoungBoy received good news when a judge removed a few restrictions from the terms of his house arrest. The judge allowed him to have more than three visitors at his home with no curfew as part of his supervised release.
Jermaine Dupri strived to capture the essence of Freaknik in his upcoming documentary about the event.
Hulu announced the Jermaine Dupri-produced documentary Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told on Thursday (April 6). AllHipHop recently caught up with JD, who provided a production update on the doc.
“It’s almost done,” JD told AllHipHop. “It’s coming out on Hulu. We got a little bit more filming to do, but it’s pretty close. It’s trying to make sure we can make those that didn’t attend Freaknik feel the energy through the screen.”
The documentary will explore the rise and fall of Freaknik, detailing its origins as a small Atlanta HBCU picnic and how it turned into a cultural phenomenon. The Hulu doc’s other producers include 2 Live Crew’s Uncle Luke and Mass Appeal’s Peter Bittenbender.
Hulu unveiled plans for the Freaknik documentary a few days after Jermaine Dupri released his new project For Motivational Use Only Vol. 1 with Curren$y. The EP featured seven songs with guest appearances by T.I. and 2 Chainz.
Jermaine Dupri and Spitta intend to drop more volumes of For Motivational Use Only. The two discussed their collaboration at length in an interview with AllHipHop.
Stream JD and Curren$y’s For Motivational Use Only Vol. 1 below.
Coolio’s manager revealed the late rapper’s cause of death on Thursday (April 6).
Jarel “Jarez” Posey told TMZ and Variety the hitmaking artist died due to fentanyl. A coroner also found traces of heroin and methamphetamines in Coolio’s system.
According to Posey, Coolio’s severe asthma played a role in his death. Decades of smoking cigarettes added to the complications.
Coolio, whose real name was Artis Leon Ivey Jr., passed away in September 2022. He was 59.
The Grammy-winning rapper first rose to fame as a member of WC and the Maad Circle. He gained wider recognition as a solo artist, thanks in large part to the hit single “Gangsta’s Paradise” featuring L.V.
The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1995. “Gangsta’s Paradise” spent three weeks at the top of the chart.
“Gangsta’s Paradise,” which was originally recorded for the film Dangerous Minds, appeared as the title track on Coolio’s second solo album. The album and song each earned multi-platinum certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America.
Last month, Coolio’s family announced plans to release a posthumous album. His estate dropped the first single “TAG You It” featuring Too $hort and DJ Wino in March.
A judge sentenced three men to life in prison for their roles in the death of XXXTentacion.
Judge Michael Usan handed down life sentences to Michael Boatwright, Dedrick Williams and Trayvon Newsome on Thursday (April 6). The three men were convicted of first-degree murder and armed robbery in March.
XXXTentacion was shot and killed outside of a Florida motorcycle dealership in June 2018. He was 20.
Boatwright, Williams, Newsome and a fourth man named Robert Allen were indicted for XXXTentacion’s murder in July 2018. Allen pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in August 2022.
The XXXTentacion murder trial began in February, almost five years after his death. Allen testified against Boatwright, Williams and Newsome.
Allen identified Boatwright and Newsome as the masked men seen in surveillance footage of XXXTentacion’s murder. Prosecutors said Boatwright shot the late rapper.
According to Allen, Williams served as the getaway driver. Newsome stole a Louis Vuitton bag, which contained $50,000.
Boatwright, Williams and Newsome each took $15,000 from the stolen money. Allen received $5,000 for his involvement.
A Florida jury found Boatwright, Williams and Newsome guilty after eight days of deliberations. XXXTentacion’s mother Cleopatra Bernard and Jenesis Sanchez, the mother of his child, declared justice was served.
Rapper Kodak Black has spoken out on behalf of his political uncle, Donald Trump.
On Wednesday, Apr. 5, the Florida rapper, who has been very vocal in his support of the 45th president, got on Instagram Live to address the historic indictment and give a character reference regarding his boy.
In a since-deleted post on IG, the rapper said he believes, like many other MAGA Maniacs, there is a conspiracy to get Trump off the radar, saying, “I feel like these people on some other s###. So they know like, they gon’ try to get Trump out the way ’cause Trump a stand-up n##ga, he a real n##ga.”
“He’ll let a b##ch do anything … Trump a real n##ga, man, a soldier,” he said. “It ain’t even about no s### about how he snapped for a n##ga …it ain’t even that.”
Mostly, according to Kodak Black’s logic, it’s because Trump has been rich all of his life.
“You gotta think about it bruh, Trump’s already that n-gga, Trump already had big baggage. I swear to God, luggage,” the chart-topper continued, adding that might be why the former POTUS “ain’t tripping.”
Kodak Black said, “He ain’t tripping on that, he ain’t flagging … They gon’ fake it ’til they make it.”
He believes Trump is going to take all the hate he has been receiving from the prosecution and body the charges and be able to run for president again.
The rapper believes the MAGA maniacs are powerful enough that they will be able to get him back into the White House come the next election.
“They about to let Trump run this s###. All that eight years, four years, and s###,” he said. “By the time the new muthaf##ka get in, there’s so much s### they gon’ try to fix and all that type of s###. Let that man run his course.”
Queens Rapper C-MIL$ has both Conway the Machine and Jadakiss on his EP…
Check out this new freestyle from C-MIL$, rapper from Far Rockaway, Queens NY whose attraction to rap began with seeing local artists performing around the neighborhood. Prompted to experiment with his own version of the craft that helped raise him at a young age, C-MIL$ has made huge strides in a short time winning two Underground Music Awards alongside previous winners Remy Martin, Fred the Godson, and Joyner Lucas to name a few.
Aside from CHINX, The Terror Squad’s Tony Sunshine, and Tone Trump from MDF/Roc Nations, MIL$ has recorded music with a number of other artists. Most notably, Griselda’s own Conway the Machine and Ruff Ryder legend Jadakiss are featured on his upcoming EP Blessed in a Cursed City. In addition, most recently, he’s received two major looks including Diddy and Gillie Da Kid shouting out his music on social medai. With this kind of momentum, it’s safe to say he won’t be slowing down anytime soon.
Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, the founder of Donda Academy, is reportedly force-feeding students sushi daily, racking up a staggering $10,000 monthly bill, according to a lawsuit obtained by TMZ.
The school is being sued by two former Black female teachers who allege wrongful termination and retaliation after raising concerns about education, health, safety code violations, and racial discrimination.
The lawsuit details bizarre rules and practices at the academy, such as students eating sushi on the floor without tables or chairs, a ban on crossword puzzles and coloring sheets, and Ye’s refusal to let students use forks or utensils, or the second floor of the building because he’s supposedly scared of stairs.
Furthermore, the school allegedly lacked a janitor, a school nurse, and proper disciplinary procedures, resulting in unchecked bullying and physical assaults.
When the teachers attempted to raise these issues, they were threatened and ultimately fired.
They are now suing Ye and Donda Academy for compensation. Kanye’s representatives have not yet responded to the allegations.
As you might already know, there’s no shortage of local talent in the New York City region where Hip-Hop got its early start roughly 50 years ago. In an effort to spotlight some of these artists and connect with the local community, Jake Crates sat down for an interview with J-Ne$$among several other artists who are buzzing on the NYC scene.
From gritty lyrics to trapped-out drill tracks mixed with Latin flavor these up-and-coming artists all have a chance to make a splash on the music scene in the coming years. Join us as we delve into their stories and hear what they have to say about making it in the competitive world of Rap in New York City. It’s the Big Apple, and like they say, ”if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere.”
Never one to hold his tongue Piscataway, New Jersey rapper J-Ne$$ vents about the ups and downs of his career that culminated with the visual release of his “How To Rob” style diss-track “Coming to Collect” which has garnered nearly 350,000 views since it’s release. A student of the game J-Ness tells all in this introspective interview that shows the real Hip-Hop fans who the villain is. In addition, J-Ness talks about his relationship with the late Chinx Drugz who J-Ness recorded with for his song “Roll Up” which he dubs a Coast Boys x Coke Boys collar.
Special shout out to Smit BDM the dot connector and manager extraordinaire who was able to wrangle up the noteworthy regional talent and who continues to wave the flag for the AllHipHop brand in the New York region. From helping manage talent under Diddy to making solid moves in the streets with Beanie Sigel and Jadakiss, Smit’s “Talk is Cheap” motto resonates throughout NYC and beyond.
Some of the most promising up-and-comers are yet to be found, but Jake Crates is on a nationwide tour to find that talent in support of Hip-Hop’s lasting impact in our world. Taking some time to speak with local talent across the globe, Jake Crates discussed his motivations for touring and what he hopes to accomplish with his interview series and tour.
“I want to use my platform to give back to the Hip-Hop community and help up-and-coming artists get their start. Touring can be a grind, but it’s worth it when I get to connect with fans and see them enjoy local artists’ music. I want to create an honest and relatable interview series that will resonate with listeners and drive the culture forward with better music and a greater impact on our communities worldwide.”
For more information on this interview series and column, connect with Jake Crates on social media @jakecratesor email him at On**********@***il.com.
As you might already know, there’s no shortage of local talent in the New York City region where Hip-Hop got its early start roughly 50 years ago. In an effort to spotlight some of these artists and connect with the local community, Jake Crates sat down for an interview with Earn Dinero among several other artists.
From gritty lyrics to trapped-out drill tracks mixed with Latin flavor these up-and-coming artists all have a chance to make a splash on the music scene in the coming years. Join us as we delve into their stories and hear what they have to say about making it in the competitive world of Rap in New York City. It’s the Big Apple, and like they say, ”if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere.”
Bronx rapper Earn Dinero discussed his recent run of music and popular freestyles that have been going viral online. After dropping out of college to pursue his dreams, Earn Dinero has consistently given fans a diverse array of music. A big fan of international travel as you can see in his music videos, Earn Dinero has continued pushing his brand to critical acclaim representing for THE Bronx from city to city, state to state, and country to country. Tune in below for more info on his career and his movement.
Some of the most promising up-and-comers from this round of interviews are hailing from The Bronx, Queens and Jersey but Jake Crates will be back in the coming weeks for more interviews on a nationwide tour in support of Hip-Hop’s lasting impact in our world. Taking some time to speak with local talent along the way Jake Crates discussed his motivations for touring and what he hopes to accomplish with his interview series and tour.
“I want to use my platform to give back to the hip-hop community and help up-and-coming artists get their start. Touring can be a grind, but it’s worth it when I get to connect with fans and see them enjoy local artists’ music. I want to create an honest and relatable interview series that will resonate with listeners and drive the culture forward with better music and a greater impact on our communities worldwide.”
Special shout out to Smit BDM the dot connector and manager extraordinaire who was able to wrangle up the noteworthy regional talent and who continues to wave the flag for the AllHipHop brand in the New York region. From helping manage talent under Diddy to making solid moves in the streets with Beanie Sigel and Jadakiss, Smit’s “Talk is Cheap” motto resonates throughout NYC and beyond.
For more information on this interview series and column, connect with Jake Crates on social media @JakeCrates or email him at On**********@***il.com.
