Hip-Hop Music News
Kanye West Polling at 2% in First National Poll Since Presidential Announcement
It’s been a little more than a week since Kanye West first announced his presidential candidacy, and the first bit of national polling is in. While Kanye is adamant that he’ll win, going as far to say it’s God’s will, he and the Almighty have a lot of work ahead of him. Redfield & Wilton Strategies surveyed 2,000 registered voters in the US on July 9th and found that only 2% would cast their vote for Kanye. And while some Democrats have expressed concern that Kanye’s entry into the race could take Black and younger votes away from Joe Biden, the poll actually shows the opposite happening. Whereas Biden stays firmly planted at 48%, when Kanye’s name is mentioned, Donald Trump actually loses a percentage point, going from 40% to 39%. Of course, despite his Fourth of July ...
Kanye West Drops New Song “Donda” in Honor of Late Mother: Stream
Kanye West has unveiled a new song in honor of his late mother, Donda West, on what would have been her 71st birthday. Simply titled “Donda”, the track begins with audio of Kanye’s mother reciting lyrics to KRS-One’s “Sound Of Da Police”. Kanye himself takes over around the 1:28 mark. Listen below. Donda West died on November 10th, 2017, one day after undergoing a plastic surgery procedure. A coroner later determined she passed from coronary artery disease and “multiple post-operative factors.” Last month, Kanye released “Wash Us in the Blood”, a collaboration with Travis Scott that serves as the first preview of Kanye’s upcoming album, God’s Country. He also recently announced his intention to run for president in 2020, though he has yet to file the proper paperwork and some family and fr...
Neighbors Called the Cops on the Birthday Party for Cardi B and Offset’s 2-Year-Old Daughter
On Saturday, June 11th, Cardi B and Offset (but mostly Cardi B) threw their adorable two-year-old daughter Kulture a lavish birthday party. While the kids vaulted around ornate bouncy castles, adults sipped on themed cocktails. Both groups were apparently having such a good time that the neighbors felt compelled to call the cops. Cardi B filmed police officers entering her home, and the noise complaint was apparently resolved quickly and amicably. As noted by The Daily Mail and on social media, Cardi B posted the video as an Instagram Story with the caption, “We was too loud I guess.” The short clip showed the rap star staring deadpan at the camera, sucking down a martini, while a mask-wearing police officer loomed behind her. A man’s voice is heard greeting the cop, saying “How ...
Kid Cudi and Eminem Release New Collaborative Single “The Adventures of Moon Man and Slim Shady”: Stream
Kid Cudi and Eminem have released their very first collaboration, “The Adventures of Moon Man and Slim Shady”. Stream it below via Apple Music or Spotify. For a high-definition listening experience, you can sign up for a 60-day free trial of TIDAL HiFi. The joint single was initially announced Wednesday afternoon by Cudi’s own young daughter, Vada Wamwene Mescudi. “Hi! It’s Vada, I’m here to say that my daddy’s new single, ‘The Adventures of Moon Man and Slim Shady,’ is coming on Friday! Check it out!” she adorably revealed in a video posted to Twitter. It’s not clear whether the new song is just a one-off release or taken from a larger project, such as Cudi’s promised Entergalactic album. The track’s title, of course, is a reference to the two rappers: in 2009, Cudi released a t...
Posthumous Juice WRLD Album Legends Never Die Released: Stream
Legends Never Die, the first posthumous album from Juice WRLD, has officially arrived. Stream the highly anticipated hip-hop release below via Apple Music or Spotify. For a high-definition listening experience, you can sign up for a 60-day free trial of TIDAL HiFi. Today’s effort is the third full-length to date from Juice WRLD, following Goodbye & Good Riddance from 2018 and 2019’s Death Race for Love, which hit shelves just a few months prior to the rapper’s passing in December. Among the album’s early teasers: “Righteous”, the Trippie Redd-assisted “Tell Me U Luv Me”, “Life’s a Mess” with pop singer Halsey, and “Come & Go” featuring DJ/producer Marshmello. Other album contributors include Polo G & The Kid Laroi, who appear on “Hate the Other Side”. U...
The Streets Shares New Mixtape None of Us Are Getting Out of This Life Alive: Stream
Today marks the return of The Streets with the UK hip-hop project’s first new release in nine years, the None of Us Are Getting Out of This Life Alive mixtape. Stream it below via Apple Music or Spotify, or hear it in high-definition quality by signing up for a 60-day free trial of TIDAL HiFi. The follow-up to 2011’s Computers and Blues is described by the The Streets mastermind Mike Skinner as a “rap duets album.” As such, it’s a star-studded affair with guests like Tame Impala (“Call My Phone Thinking I’m Doing Nothing Better”) and Donae’O and Greentea Peng (“I Wish You Loved You As Much As You Love Him”). Other contributors include IDLES, Ms Banks, Jesse James Solomon, Chris Lorenzo, Dapz on the Map, Kasien, and more. None of Us finds Skinner reactivating The Streets after shu...
Three Men Formally Charged in Pop Smoke Murder Case
Three men have been formally charged in connection with the murder of Pop Smoke. TMZ reports that Corey Walker, 19 and Keandre Rogers, 18, have been charged with murder, while Jaquan Murphy, 21, has been charged with attempted murder. Two other individuals under the age of 18 were also detained on Thursday, but their respective charges have not yet been disclosed. The Los Angeles Police Department says the men were part of a street gang responsible for several murders, including Pop Smoke’s. The rapper was shot and killed at his home in the Hollywood Hills on February 19th, 2020. Last week brought the release of a posthumous album called Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon, featuring unreleased music from the rapper alongside collaborations with DaBaby, Future, Quavo, Swae Lee, and other...
Black Thought Announces Streams of Thought, Vol. 3 EP, Shares “Thought vs. Everybody”: Stream
Later this month will see The Roots MC Black Thought release a new EP called Streams of Thought, Vol. 3. In anticipation, the hip-hop veteran has revealed the lead single, “Thought vs. Everybody”. The forthcoming effort follows Streams of Thought, Vol. 1 and Streams of Thought, Vol. 2, both of which hit shelves in 2018 and were produced by 9th Wonder and Salaam Remi, respectively. Production for Vol. 3 was handled by Sean C (Talib Kweli, JAY-Z), and the EP includes guest appearances from Pusha-T, Killer Mike, Swizz Beatz, Portugal. The Man, ScHoolboy Q, and The Last Artful, Dodgr. Black Thought’s first preview of the EP may not feature any of these prominent acts, but it isn’t any less thought-provoking (yes, pun intended). On “Thought vs. Everybody”, the 48-year-o...
Kanye Says He is Running for President Under “The Birthday Party”, Already Has a VP
On Fourth of July, Kanye West announced his candidacy for president. Though the election is less than fourth months away and he has yet to formally file any paperwork, in a new interview with Forbes, Kanye swore his intentions are true and not a publicity stunt. Speaking with Randall Lane of Forbes, Kanye confirmed his plans to run as a third party candidate under the banner of “The Birthday Party” (“Because when we win, it’s everybody’s birthday,” he explained.) He has already settled on a running mate: Michelle Tidbal, a preacher from Wyoming. He also confirmed that his wife Kim Kardashian and Space X founder Elon Musk are his advisors (if he wins, Kanye plans to make Musk “head of our space program.”) Kanye said he no longer supports Donald Trump, commenting,“I am taking the red hat off...
Kanye West’s Yeezy Company Received a PPP Loan for Over $2 Million
Kanye West, a literal billionaire, sought a government-backed loan to pay his employees during the coronavirus pandemic. According to the Small Business Administration (via The Daily Beast), the 2020 presidential candidate (?) has received between $2 and $5 million for his Yeezy fashion line company through the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program. The Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program was created so that companies with 500 or fewer employees could apply for loans to cover the cost of eight weeks of payroll, up to two and a half times the company’s average monthly payroll costs, with a cap of $10 million total. It’s weird to think Kanye’s “small business” was allegedly in dire need of financial support despite its expensive shoes regularly selling out, its branc...
Posthumous Juice WRLD Album Legends Never Die Dropping Later This Week
The first posthumous album from Juice WRLD has been announced, and its due date is literally just days away. Fittingly titled Legends Never Die, the effort arrives later this week on July 10th. This new collection marks the third album overall from Juice WRLD, following Goodbye & Good Riddance from 2018 and 2019’s Death Race for Love, which hit shelves just a few months prior to his passing in December. A tracklist hasn’t been revealed, but previous teasers “Righteous” and the Trippie Redd-assisted “Tell Me U Luv Me” are expected to appear on the album. As a third preview, a single dubbed “Life’s a Mess” is now being shared by the late rapper’s estate. A collaboration with pop singer Halsey, it sees Juice WRLD detailing the ups and downs of life, especially his arduous search for ...
Vanilla Ice Only Sold 284 Tickets Prior to Canceling His Coronavirus Concert
Vanilla Ice canceled his Fourth of July concert in Texas, citing concerns over the coronavirus and the safety of his fans. But lackluster ticket sales may have also contributed to his decision. Thanks to a legal loophole in Texas allowing restaurants to stay open at 50% capacity, Vanilla Ice had been scheduled to headline the “Independence Day Throwback Beach Party” at the Emerald Point Bar & Grill on Friday night. The venue made 2,500 tickets available to the event, with prices ranging from $25 to $300. But of those, only 284 were sold prior to Vanilla Ice deciding to cancel the show. The venue’s owner, William Brannam, told ABC News that he sold 84 general admission tickets, 96 VIP tickets, and 104 seated tickets. For comparison, Vanilla Ice played at the same venue last year an...
