Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance’ Sets Sales Records For 2022

Beyoncé returned with her seventh studio album, Renaissance, on July 29. Queen Bey was able to secure another #1 debut on the Billboard 200 chart.

Renaissance opened atop the Billboard 200 with 332,000 first-week units. The project became Beyoncé’s seventh solo Number One. She also made it to the pinnacle of the rankings twice as a member of Destiny’s Child.

Plus, Renaissance set records for 2022. Beyoncé is the first female artist to lead the Billboard 200 with a project released this year. Adele’s 2021 album, 30, spent two weeks at No. 1 in January.

Additionally, Renaissance brought in the highest first-week numbers for a female artist in 2022. Those 332,000 units were the second-most of the year behind only Harry Styles’ Harry’s House (521,000 units).

Renaissance also scored the largest streaming week for a female artist this year. Beyoncé’s latest LP totaled 179 million streams during the tracking period. It was also the most weekly streams of the Texan’s career.

The buying power of the Bey Hive gave Renaissance the third-largest traditional sales week for an album in 2022 as well. Beyoncé’s fans bought 190,000 copies of the project, the most for a woman this year.

Some industry insiders predict Beyoncé could also take the top spot on this week’s Hot 100 song chart. Renaissance‘s lead single “Break My Soul” is competing for #1 against Harry Styles’s “As It Was” and Lizzo’s “About Damn Time.”

Lil Wayne Announces ‘Tha Carter 6’ Album

The Big 3 of Young Money reunited this weekend at the OVO Fest. Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Lil Wayne came back together for a special night in Toronto.

During the concert, Lil Wayne informed the crowd that he was working on a new project titled Tha Carter 6. The Young Money leader doubled down on that announcement on social media.

“Tunechi here. Thank you. I ain’t s### without you,” said Lil Wayne in a video posted to his Instagram Story. “I’m not sure if you heard but, Tha Carter 6 is on the way.

Wayne’s upcoming Tha Carter 6 will join an album series that includes multi-Platinum projects such as 2008’s Tha Carter III and 2011’s Tha Carter IV. He also dropped Tha Carter V in 2018.

Funeral is the most recent Lil Wayne studio LP. That body of work became the southerner’s fifth #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Tha Carter III spent three weeks atop the rankings.

In addition, Wayne earned #1 placements on the Billboard 200 with I Am Not a Human Being, Tha Carter IV, and Tha Carter V. His discography also includes classic mixtape series such as Da Drought, The Dedication, and No Ceilings.

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U.K. Rapper Swarmz Claps Back After Jake Paul Ridicules KSI Celebrity Boxing Match  

Swarmz issued a warning to Jake Paul after the YouTuber criticized the last-minute decision to draft the U.K. rapper as a replacement in the celebrity boxing match against KSI.  

The British YouTuber had to find a replacement after Alex Wassabi withdrew from their clash in London on August 27 after suffering an undisclosed injury. KSI, who is making his return to the ring following a two-year hiatus, turned down Jake Paul’s offer to fight for free and instead opted to go head-to-head with debutante Swarmz.  

He took to Twitter to defend the decision to fight his friend and former collaborator Swarmz after facing criticism from fans.  

Many of them wanted to see him face fellow YouTuber, Jake Paul. However, according to a recent tweet from KSI, “one of the main goals” of the Swarmz fight “was to get rid of ring rust.” He admitted, “I wanted to prove to myself that I’m a better boxer than I’ve portrayed in the past. If you wanna see, fine. If not, fine. I’m still doing it anyway.” 

He continued,” There are still many good fights on this card that I’m excited to see. We are the only YouTube boxing event happening this summer. We’ve had many things try to disrupt this event but still we stand. This is a long term play, and I’ll happily take a small L now for a Big W later.” 

KSI hoped to beat Wassabi and avenge his brother Deji’s loss to him earlier this summer. The bout would have marked his return after his victory against Jake Paul’s brother Logan in their 2019 rematch. 

However, KSI’s decision to take on Swarmz, his “Houdini’ collaborator, left a bitter taste in Jake Paul’s mouth. After Wassabi backed out, Paul challenged KSI but he did not accept, opting instead to fight Swarmz.  

“KSI vs Swampz 🤣,” Jake Paul tweeted before adding, “Don’t they have music together?” He downplayed the bout, noting KSI is “fighting someone who has never fought before and that is his friend… This This fight should for free.” 

However, Swarmz dismissed Jake Paul as just a troll and compared him to Tekashi 6ix9ine. He took to Instagram to share a video response to Jake Paul warning him, “Keep running your mouth and you’ll see what happens to you. Come London, bro. It’s easy to run your mouth up on social media.” He added, “Real life, I know you’re not about this life. We’re from the streets here,” he said before saying he and KSI are not friends.  

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However, KSI is not done with Jake Paul and called him out on Twitter, Check out his post below.  

Is Snoop Dogg Lining Up Battle Rapper Ms. Hustle As The First Lady Of Death Row? 

Ms. Hustle has cemented herself as the First Lady of URL and could now be on her way to making herself the First Lady of Death Row Records. 

The Harlem spitter has proven her credentials on the biggest stage in battle rap, taking on the best male and female rappers on Ultimate Rap League, the culture’s NBA. After debuting more than ten years ago, Ms. Hustle has gone from strength to strength, but not just in a capella clashes. 

Ms. Hustle knows how to flex on a beat! In her latest freestyle, she did just that and once again caught the eye of none other than Mr. Death Row Records, Snoop Dogg.  

The Hip-Hop legend took to Instagram to share a snippet from Ms. Hustle’s recent appearance on DJ Cosmic Ken’s Come Up Show Live. However, it appears that Snoop Dogg wants to do more than share Ms. Hustle’s bars with his followers. The Dogg Father tagged the NYC rapper, adding a series of fire and smoke emojis, before tagging Death Row Records. He also added the shrug emoji and an indication of just how fire he thinks she is.  

Snoop Dogg Shows Love To Ms. Hustle

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While fans of Ms. Hustle wondered if this was confirmation that she could be making her way to Snoop’s label, she responded humbly in the comments section. However, she didn’t give anything away. “Thank u uncle snoop ❤️❤️🙌🏾” Ms. Hustle replied. 

This isn’t the first time rumors have swirled surrounding Snoop Dogg signing Ms. Hustle to Death Row. Earlier this year, the Death Row boss shared another of the rapper’s freestyles, teasing she would soon be arriving at the label. 

 “@mshustle127 💫💫🚨🚨👏🏿💖🎙 @deathrowrecords 🔜💨🤷🏾‍♂️🌎🌎🌎🆙,” he wrote in April.  

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Ms. Hustle took to Twitter to respond, writing, “SNOOP DOGG WANNA SIGN ME TO DEATH ROW RECORDS 😆😆😆😆😆😆😆OMG.” 

If Ms. Hustle hasn’t already inked a contract to sign her up as the first lady of Death Row, Snoop Dogg may want to make a move quickly, before someone else does! 

Ms. Hustle is not only making an impact with her freestyles, but she’s outworking some of her male counterparts. She was the only female battler to feature in the mid-way point power rankings as scored by Let’s Talk Battle Rap and Black Compass Media. Check out their list here and listen to Ms. Hustle on Cosmic Kev’s show below.

There’s also a snippet of her latest single which features a cover of the Harlem classic beat Chicken Noodle Soup. As Ms. Hustle said exclusively to AllHipHop.com, Young B reached out to her to jump on the track. Check it out below.

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Irv Gotti Claims He Created ‘Happy’ After Getting Busy With Ashanti 

Irv Gotti is sharing intimate details about his relationship with Ashanti, claiming she recorded one of her biggest hits after they just finished having sex. 

The Murder Inc. Boss addressed their relationship during his recent appearance on Drink Champs. He explained to Nore and DJ EFN how their alleged undercover romance inspired Ashanti’s 2002 hit “Happy.” According to Irv Gotti, the relationship actually benefited Ashanti.  

“It helped her,” said Irv Gotti of Ashanti before explaining how “Happy “came to be. “We just finished sleeping together or whatever. I’m taking a shower, I’m in the shower, you know a n#### creative after [sex]. I think of the whole track in the shower.” 

Irv Gotti then got on the phone with his producer C#### Santana to sing him the melody. They later laid the track down in the studio with Ashanti. “The energy. That record came about ’cause of our energy,” he claimed.  

https://twitter.com/lifemotivate365/status/1556376023645786118?s=20&t=9QRM131P4rRQ91H6cMawww

However, according to Irv Gotti, he doesn’t miss that energy, “not anymore,” at least. The producer claims he’s “way past that,” and his alleged relationship with Ashanti is a thing of the past. “I honestly don’t give one single f###,” he said. “I’m Dr. Dre, been there, done that, and the chick sitting next to me, I don’t want to say crushing her, but she’s in her 20s and ridiculously hot.” 

Irv Gotti Says He’s Over Ashanti

Irv Gotti also said the R&B singer’s refusal to admit their past intimate relationship is the reason why she’s not involved in his new BET documentary. “She’s never going to do that,” Irv explained, despite trying to get her on the project several times. “Because she’s never going to say she was in love with me. She’s never gonna say we was together,” he added, and later claimed they were together “every day for like two years except the day she’s with Nelly.” 

Meanwhile, Ashanti reunited onstage with her former long-time love Nelly in Oakland on Friday night. They performed their collaboration “Body on Me” shortly after a preview of the Drink Champs interview aired. In it, Irv Gotti claims that he learned about Ashanti and Nelly’s relationship from watching a basketball game on TV. This all went down while he was “in love” with the singer.  Check out the clips below and the Drink Champs episode at the end of the article.

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Travis Scott Celebrates First Headline Show Since Astroworld Disaster  

Travis Scott made a triumphant return to the big stage this weekend in London, headlining his first since the Astroworld tragedy last year, which resulted in the deaths of ten people.  

The “Sicko Mode” hitmaker took a back seat from performing after the disaster and had several performances canceled. Nonetheless, the rapper made his return to the big stage at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday night (Aug. 6). 

He gave the crowd a preview of some unreleased tracks including “God’s Country.” The song originally appeared on an early tracklist for Kanye West’s 2021 album, Donda. He also performed “Lost Forever,” previously debuted the track at the 2022 Billboard Music Award featuring Westside Gunn and James Blake.  

After being forced to sit on the sidelines for so long, Travis Scott made sure to give London a memorable performance. He shared a clip from the concert noting, “Wow London a moment I can’t forget.” 

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Travis Scott Celebrates

Travis was overjoyed to finally get back on the main stage, if his post-concert celebrations are anything to go by. The rapper roared and beat his fists on his chest after coming off stage as Kevin Durant poured champagne on him while James Harden hyped him up as “the biggest in the world.” 

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Things are going well on the personal front too, with his on-again-off-again partner Kylie Jenner. The reality TV starlet shared a series of images from the happy family unit overseas. The snaps confirm that their romance is very much back on.  

“Utopia with you,” Kylie penned in the caption of a loved-up selfie with her boo, a reference to Travis Scott’s forthcoming and long-delayed fourth studio album, Utopia

https://twitter.com/dailytrvisxx/status/1556424468062511108?s=20&t=DZUC12LhbyxKQMm7oaBF8A

She also shared some of the highlights of their trip to London, including some pics with Travis Scott and daughter Stormi. 

“😍😍😍😍😍😍😍 best night ever !!!!” she wrote.  

Drake Names Lil Wayne & Nicki Minaj “The Greatest Of All Time” 

Drake paid tribute to Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj at the Young Money reunion show in Toronto this weekend as part of his OVO Fest.  

Drake finally reunited onstage with his Young Money co-stars for the first time in seven years this weekend. 

The 6 God brought the “Young Money Reunion” to his hometown OVO Fest after an initial delay. Drake contracted Covid before the scheduled concert on August 1 and had to postpone the reunion show to August 7.  

Then Lil Wayne had issues entering Canada, causing a further delay, and the concert ran late. However, when the show began, a message flashed up on the big screen reading, “Unfortunately, Lil Wayne had issues at the border.” Nonetheless, as the text explained, “Luckily, Drake runs the border.” 

Drake Pays Tribute To Lil Wayne & Nicki Minaj

The Toronto native is arguably the biggest name in rap worldwide, but he made sure to pay his dues to his peers during the show.  

“It’s been a long time since we been here and been able to do this together,” Drake explained to the audience. “First and foremost, I just wanna say tonight I got to stand in the crowd and watch two of the greatest musicians of all f###### time,” he said. “I’m so grateful to be a part of that team.” 

Drake then praised Lil Wayne for his role in his career, calling him “the most selfless man on planet earth” in a touching tribute. I’m your son, look at this s###,” he added. “You did this. You did this s###.” 

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However, Drake also had to give Nicki Minaj her flowers during the reunion show. “This is the greatest city in the world,” he shared. “I’m standing on stage with the greatest rapper of all time and I’m standing on stage with the other greatest rapper of all time. She’s over there with the pink hair,” Drake said, referring to Nicki. “By the way, like, are these b###### serious? Like, nobody can f### with Nicki… [She’s] like the originator—it starts here, ends here, all that s###.” Watch Drake show Niki love and check out the extended clip below.

Big-E is an Armenian-American Artist Who Has Fortified His Presence within the American and International Music Industries.

Big-E signed to Krayzie Bone and & Wish ones Label The Life Entertainment based out of Los Angeles CA.  Born in Yerevan, Armenia, and raised in Glendale, CA –– Big-E storms the scene with rapid-fast midwest style mixed with west coast flavors. His music still, remains universal as he boasts a strong international presence. 

The road to success for Big-E wasn’t an easy one. He had to hustle hard and go through the grind earlier in his life to break into the music scene. Not being afraid of failure or learning new things, his positive attitude has taken him on a long journey in the music world in his youth, where his peers didn’t realize his initial talent to pursue a career and establish himself where he is today.

The music industry has been one of those niches where thousands of artists and professionals try their luck but not all get through to attain fame and success. But individuals like Big-E have astonished everyone with their talent and working abilities within the music world to gain tremendous success. Vetted talent goes hand in hand with the technology, social and digital platforms that have also played a vital role in establishing themselves efficiently.
 
Big-E is an Armenian-American Artist who has fortified his presence within the American and International music industries.  He’s committed to furthering his brand, solidifying more collaboration, and expanding his musical discography this year.

Beyonce Had A Secret Party In New York


Beyoncé had a “secret” Renaissance party in NYC over the weekend and had all the freaks out. Check this out.

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So, here are the deets. The Queen had her official release party in NYC for the album Renaissance. The album is already a hit, topping the charts. The album was played three times in a row compliments of DJ Questlove. If you look at the images above, you will see that it was likely evoking Studio 54 vibes or something like that. Donald Glover, for example, evoked Freddie Mercury. Others, like Jill Scott, had looser fits.

“Club Renaissance” brought out Donald Glover, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kendrick Lamar,Janelle Monae, and Chloe Bailey and more. I wish I was invited!

Mike Tyson Says Hulu Are Slavers Selling Him On The Auction Block While Offering Dana White Millions

Mike Tyson has accused Hulu executives of “stealing” his life story for an upcoming TV series.

Titled “MIKE,” the eight-episode limited show explores the life and career of the controversial boxer, with Trevante Rhodes taking on the lead role.

But in the lead-up to “MIKE” airing on August 25th, Tyson took to Instagram on Saturday to call out producers for not consulting with him about the program.

“Don’t let Hulu fool you. I don’t support their story about my life. It’s not 1822. It’s 2022. They stole my life and didn’t pay me,” he wrote. “To Hulu executives, I’m just a n***** they can sell on the auction block.”

In addition, Tyson thanked the president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Dana White, for supporting him.

“Hulu tried to desperately pay my brother @danawhite millions without offering me a dollar to promote their slave master take over story about my life (sic),” the 56-year-old alleged. “He turned it down because he honors friendship and treating people with dignity. I’ll never forget what he did for me just like I’ll never forget what Hulu stole from me.”

Representatives for Hulu have not yet responded to Tyson’s criticism.

However, the official synopsis of the series makes it clear that it is “unauthorized.”

“MIKE is an unauthorized and no-holds-barred look at the life of Mike Tyson – and it is one wild ride,” the summary reads.

Mario Wants To Make A Jazz Album With Swizz Beatz

Mario has reached out to Swizz Beatz about possibly collaborating on a jazz album.

In an interview with Billboard to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his debut self-titled record, the R&B singer-songwriter revealed he has a number of projects in the pipeline, including a memoir and fashion collection.

In addition, Mario wants to venture into the world of jazz.

“I DM’d Swizz Beatz two months ago, because he has a label focusing on jazz music. I said, ‘Bro, let’s do a whole jazz album.’ It’s possible to try something new,” he explained. “You have to partner with the right people so it can translate.”

Elsewhere in the conversation, Mario discussed how his relationship with his mother, who battled drug addiction and died in 2017, has informed his music and the way in which he overcame mental health struggles in his twenties.

He also noted that he wants to explore his spirituality within his music.

“By the time I was 20 years old, I studied world religion, and it gave me an understanding of how people felt about God as a whole. Then I asked myself, ‘What other artists did what I’m doing what I’m doing by becoming a mystic?’ Prince was a mystic. Earth, Wind & Fire were mystics. Mystics are open to understanding symbolism and God on a multi-dimensional level without disrespecting anybody’s religion. That’s what caused me to be more open in my music about understanding how God and life work,” the “Let Me Love You” hitmaker added.

Lady Gaga Has Role In “Joker 2” Movie

Lady Gaga has confirmed she will appear in the upcoming Joker sequel.

In June, director Todd Phillips announced that he and co-writer Scott Silver had completed their script for “Joker: Folie à Deux,” with it rumored that the singer/actress was in the running to play Harley Quinn opposite Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck/Joker.

On Thursday, Gaga posted a teaser clip on her Instagram page which featured silhouettes of herself and Phoenix as Joker.

“Cheek to Cheek,” a song that the 36-year-old has performed many times alongside Tony Bennett, served as the soundtrack.

“Joker: Folie à Deux. 10.04.24,” she wrote in the caption.

Phillips also shared the post on his account, adding: “Cheek to Cheek. 10.4.24.”

“Folie à Deux” refers to a shared delusional disorder. In the comics, Harley Quinn falls in love with Joker while serving as his psychiatrist at the Arkham Asylum facility and becomes his sidekick and partner in crime.

Quinn was famously played by Margot Robbie in the “Suicide Squad” films and “Birds of Prey,” but the Joker version of the character will exist in a separate DC universe.

Maliachigh Drops His Broadwater Album And Says That Confidence Is The Key To Music

Maliachigh has extreme confidence in his new album, “Broadwater”. At some point in life, many people find themselves working on their self-confidence. Without it, it is easy to fall into the trap of self-doubt and negativity. This is particularly true for musicians who must deal with a myriad of challenges and situations that can make even the most experienced performer falter and sweat. Maliachigh believes that a lack of confidence can hinder an artist’s ability to perform, grow and succeed. A common misconception about confidence is that it’s a character trait that you either have or you don’t. The good news is that confidence is something you can change- and that you actually have control over. How do you deal with self-doubt and insecurities as a performer?

Maliachigh says that his confidence as an individual was already established before he started making music. He has been in the entertainment industry for close to a decade, and during this period, he has diversified his talent scope, actively trying out new things that resonate with his capabilities. The secret behind it all is confidence. He attests to the fact that stage fright is a common experience that many musicians of his caliber still experience. However, with proper coping mechanisms, it is possible to deter some daunting consequences of lack of confidence. 

It is okay to shut down the subconscious part of your mind. Maliachigh points out that our subconscious mind is always listening to everything we tell ourselves, and that it doesn’t have a filter. From negative sentiments to destructive thoughts, our subconscious mind unconditionally accepts the most consistent messages as reality. Maliachigh adds that this part of our brains is completely literal and does not have a sense of humor. Thus, our self-confidence resides in our subconscious beliefs. If you want to act, feel, and be more confident, a musician should first take control of their minds and begin thinking like confident people. Always tell yourself the right things.

Maliachigh occasionally advises novice artists about the importance of consistently practicing their art. Practice time is crucial for any creative, and while at it, they must know that the way they practice can have an effect on their confidence. Maliachigh has observed how most musicians like practicing in isolation, and in the same practice room or studio setting that they prefer. To the surprise of many, their confidence levels drop, and they begin to feel anxious when performing in front of others.

Instead, Maliachigh says it’s best to practice in different environments including the space where they will be performing, if possible. Invite people to come to listen to you and give you feedback. This will not only make you feel more confident but also more comfortable with yourself.

Confidence is also about being kind to yourself. Appreciate your strengths and weaknesses alike. Perfection in your art comes with time, same as your confidence.

Keke Palmer Says Queen Latifah And Ice Cube Launched Her Career

Keke Palmer believes Queen Latifah and Ice Cube are partially responsible for kickstarting her career.

The “Nope” star made her acting debut in 2004 in “Barbershop 2: Back in Business” as the niece of Latifah’s character Gina.

The movie starred Ice Cube, and he and Palmer teamed up for a second time to play an uncle and niece in 2008’s “The Longshots.”

In an interview with Glamour magazine, the actress said that she hopes to create more opportunities for budding Black film talents just like Latifah and Cube did for her.

“When I think about Queen Latifah or Ice Cube, these are some of the people that helped start my career. Because of their success, I got an opportunity,” Palmer explained. “Many young people want to find a way to get into the business and think that the only way you could be is onscreen. We’ve got gaffers, we’ve got key grips, and we have people that work in electric. I hope one day I can be in a position to produce and create opportunities for people in my community, not just onscreen but behind the screen.”

The 28-year-old added that she hopes to write, direct, and produce more in the future and “provide other opportunities for more people interested in doing behind-the-scenes work.”

After appearing in several small roles, Palmer got her big break starring as the title character in 2006’s “Akeelah and the Bee.” In the interview, she said she has no issue still being recognized for one of her child roles.

“Some people are always going to say, ‘Oh, Keke Palmer, from ‘Akeelah and the Bee!”… but I don’t have any bad feelings about it. If anything, I think that’s crazy that that character still has impacted so many people. It blows me away because some people don’t get that kind of role during the entirety of their careers,” she noted.

Detroit Rapper The Quantum Plane Launches INFLEWNSE LLC, a Music Development and Digital Marketing Hub

The Quantum Plane has returned to the recording studio to work on some new music after taking a brief break from social media and hip hop a couple of years ago. He has just officially launched his company called Inflewnse Media Group (IMG) and is preparing to release an exclusive EP album project by the end of this year

He’s excited to step back out into the world to continue his travels after living in countries like Thailand, Netherlands, and United Kingdom during the period of 2017-2020.

The 33-year-old artist, songwriter, and entrepreneur respectfully have a lot to express and he’s ready to showcase those talents to the world as well as help others to find the exposure their seeking in their careers. He has been quiet over the recent years redeveloping himself as an artist and business owner.

There is much in store for The Quantum Plane and he plans to take his supporters along for the ride, so strap in for the adventure.

Links:

www.instagram.com/thequantumplane

www.Instagram.com/inflewnse

www.TikTok.com/@thequantumplane

Official Website:

www.thequantumplane.net

Brilyent Kelly, The Upcoming Singer Everyone Is Talking About”

Michigan ”-based singer, songwriter, and producer Brilyent Kelly has an extraordinary way of cutting straight through to the core of his listener’s emotions. Brilyent Kelly grew up with inspiration from music icons such as 50Cent and Kayne West. Brilyent Kelly fervent lyrics and melodic melodies expose soul-shattering vocals that have the power to provoke a profound response.

Recently, Brilyent Kelly rocked out a show at the Apollo theater where he brought dynamic energy to the room leaving listeners speechless.

Brilyent Kelly has a lot of exciting things coming! Be sure to follow him on Instagram to stay up to date with the latest Music!

https://www.instagram.com/brilyentkellyofficial

Music from Brilyent Kelly. With Pastor Troy

https://music.apple.com/us/album/prove-it-feat-pastor-troy/1551582740?i=1551582743

Meet M.T.G., From Aspiring To Being

After taking advantage of an opportunity to pitch a record to a megastar, a new star was discovered in M.T.G. Under the moniker “Movin Towards Greatness”, that same demo turned out to be his debut single “Only Fans.” The single placed on iTunes Top 10 in 2021.  With big wins under his belt early in his career, listeners easily pick up to the lyrics of his new style and delivery in early records like “Go Back” and “Lyin Eyes” featuring Dreezy.

Still new to the masses, you have heard of the singer from his songwriting and collaborations with Juicy J, Tory Lanez, and more. M.T.G. has become one of the artists who will sneak unto your playlist and can be a future fan favorite. Currently working up to his next release he’s signed a label partnership and has been putting his pen to work. We will see what’s to come.

https://instagram.com/itsmtg

https://soundcloud.com/rGSjD8Zk4jwepQ8u8

Sam Smith Will Explore “Queer Joy” On Upcoming Album

Sam Smith has revealed their next album will be about “queer joy.”

Speaking to Billboard for their cover story on Thursday, the “Stay with Me” singer opened up about what their upcoming album will entail.

Though the pop star is “not going to say any names of them (songs) yet,” stressing the record is still a work-in-progress, they did share details about the tone of the album.

Billboard described the demos played for them as “jubilant” with “dance-pop kiss-offs” and “choral expressions of elation” – a change from Sam’s earlier “heartbroken torch songs.”

Of their new project’s main theme, Sam explained, “I think joy for me, and for a lot of queer people, is quite a dangerous place… We’re all masters of pain, and I think it’s actually a very courageous act to step into the queer joy of it all.”

The artist also detailed how they’ve been more involved in the production of this album than in earlier projects.

“For the first time I think in my career, I really just stepped into the room and said, ‘I want to learn how to produce more. I want to vocal arrange more than I have. I want to be more involved in everything,'” Sam said. “Obviously, I’ve been involved in everything since the beginning, but now I’ve just grown up a bit.”

Sam’s as-yet-untitled album, the follow-up to 2020’s Love Goes, has not been assigned a release date.

Lil Baby Hosts Annual Back To School Fest In The West End Mall For 3,000 Kids

Rapper Lil Baby hosted his annual “Back to School Fest” on Sunday, August 7th, at the West End Mall, near Atlanta’s prestigious historically Black college hub, the Atlanta University Center. 

However, this giveaway is not for Spelman, Morehouse, Clark Atlanta University, Morris Brown, ITC, or Morehouse School of Medicine students.

It is for the over 3,000 children of Southwest Atlanta looking to start their academic year with a day of delight.

The Quality Control/ Motown rapper was at The West End Mall from 12 6:00 p.m. sponsoring an afternoon of music, free games, carnival rides, food, backpacks, school supplies, and haircuts.

The “Right On” chart-topper, according to a press release, be giving away free shoes and clothing from Foot Locker Atlanta to every child in attendance.

Goodr, a sustainable waste management, and hunger relief company, also provided an after-school snack bar.

As reported by AllHipHop.com, this is not the first time Lil Baby has poured back into his community. In January of 2021, he gave away thousands of coats through a 5-city coat drive to families in need through his partnership with Goodr.

In the past, Lil Baby has sponsored bike giveaways and job opportunities for Atlanta’s youth, cleaned up a community basketball court and donated $150,000 to his old school.

“We are grateful to Lil Baby for his continued resolution in giving back to his community,” Goodr CEO Jasmine Crowe said. “It is an honor to continually team up with such a household name to relieve some of the ongoing financial burden people are facing.” 

50 Cent Was “Saved” By Bishop Lamor Whitehead’s Ministry, Infamous Preacher Claims

Bishop Lamor Whitehead claimed he played an important part in 50 Cent’s life.

The infamous preacher spoke about his relationship with the G-Unit boss in an interview with AllHipHop’s Chuck Creekmur. Whitehead mentioned his work with several rappers, which included him “saving” 50 Cent.

“50 Cent, he got saved in my ministry,” Whitehead told AllHipHop.com. “I think that somebody put up a clip of him saying how he was affected by my ministry, but I don’t really put certain people’s personal things up because I like to protect their integrity. But yeah, he said that.”

Whitehead then addressed 50 Cent’s social media activity, which helped spread a video of the preacher getting robbed during a church service. The Brooklyn bishop said he had no problem with the posts.

“50’s 50,” he explained. “50’s a comedian. I’m a comedian. So, he gonna put it out there. He didn’t say anything disrespectful. But if I’m trending No. 1 around the world, why not? He didn’t say nothing bad … He’s still a brother of mine. It is what it is.”

Whitehead also defended his lavish lifestyle, discussed his involvement with rappers such as 50 Cent, and revealed why he has an issue with Ma$e.

Check out the entire interview with Whitehead below.