Hip-Hop
Lil Nas X Has a Children’s Book on the Way
L is for Lil Nas X, and C Is for Country! The “Old Town Road” star took to Instagram on Tuesday (Sept. 15) to announce that his new children’s book, C Is for Country, will be arriving early next year. “I’m dropping the best kids book of all time soon!” he wrote. “C IS FOR COUNTRY, out January 5, 2021 from @randomhousekids. I can’t wait to share it with you all.” The book, written by Lil Nas X and illustrated by Theodore Taylor III, features a cover featuring the singer in his characteristically colorful outfit, holding a guitar and riding his horse. The story follows Lil Nas X and Panini the pony “on a joyous journey through the alphabet from sunup to sundown,” according to Random House’s website. “...
The Avalanches Share New Song “Take Care in Your Dreaming” Featuring Denzel Curry and Tricky: Stream
Last week, The Avalanches formally announced the title of their new album, We Will Always Love You. Now, the Australian electronic music outfit has landed on December 11th for the release date, as well as shared two new singles off the record. First up is “Take Care in Your Dreaming”, a collaboration with rapper Denzel Curry, trip-hop artist Tricky, and Melbourne rapper-singer Sampa the Great. With the help of their trio of guests, The Avalanches ponder life’s surprise twists and turns and countless what-ifs. The second offering is called “Music Makes Me High”, and its euphoric disco-funk glow is said to be inspired by The Whispers’ “And the Beat Goes On” and Stardusts’ “Music Feels Better with You”. Although no prominent names pop up, a gospel choir lends its heavenly vocals throughout. E...
Kanye West Says He Will No Longer Release New Music Until He’s Freed From Record Contracts
Kanye West says he will cease releasing new music until he’s freed from his existing contracts with Universal Music and Sony/ATV. In a tweet on Monday night, Kanye wrote, “I’m not putting no more music out till I’m done with my contract with Sony and Universal … On God … in Jesus name … come and get me.” “I need to see everybody’s contracts at Universal and Sony,” Kanye wrote in another tweet. “I’m not gonna watch my people be enslaved … I’m putting my life on the line for my people … The music industry and the NBA are modern day slave ships … I’m the new Moses.” Kanye has been at odds with Universal (his record label) and Sony/ATV (his publisher) for several years now. In early 2019, he filed lawsuits against both companies over unpaid royalties and ownership rights. He claimed his e...
Kanye West Compares Himself to Nat Turner, Says He’s Not Releasing Music Until He’s ‘Done’ With Sony & Universal Contracts
Those waiting for Kanye West‘s Donda album are going to have to wait a bit longer. The rapper took to Twitter on Monday night (Sept. 14) to share a string of tweets, beginning by announcing he’s “not putting no more music out till I’m done with my contract with Sony and Universal.” “On God … in Jesus name … come and get me,” he continued. In January 2019, West filed a pair of lawsuits against EMI, the song publisher that has administered the rights to his songs since 2003, and against Roc-a-Fella Records, UMG Recordings, Def Jam and Bravado International Group. EMI sued West in March 2019 for damages after what it called in court documents a response to “West’s efforts to renege on his bargained-for contractual obligations to...
Yo, Holmes to Bel Air! Will Smith Just Put the ‘Fresh Prince’ Mansion on Airbnb
Now this is the story all about how you can become the prince of Bel Air. Well, at least for a night. On Sunday (Sept. 13), Will Smith shared the news that he’s working with Airbnb to put the iconic home from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air up on the platform as a vacation rental for just five nights to celebrate the beloved sitcom’s 30th anniversary. “YOOOO!! Y’all think we should rent out the @freshprince house?? We’re making it happen with the squad at @airbnb!! #FreshPrince30th,” the star captioned a selfie with bestie and former co-star DJ Jazzy Jeff posing outside the mansion, which is actually located in neighboring Brentwood. Smith added even more charm and detail in the Airbnb listing for the property, writing, “Ready for the freshest staycation ever...
Gladys Knight vs. Patti LaBelle in ‘Verzuz’ Battle of Soul Legends: See Billboard’s Scorecard For the Event
Two of the true living legends of popular music squared off live from Philadelphia in the latest installment of Verzuz last night (Sept. 13), in a matchup about as highly anticipated as any NFL game on this season-opening Sunday. Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle, iconic soul voices, personalities and hitmakers whose careers stretch back to the early ’60s, got together for the most generation-spanning Verzuz yet, to the delight of over half a million fans watching over Instagram Live, and untold more via Apple Music — and for the first time, thousands more via the series’ official YouTube account as well. “We are so happy to be together,” LaBelle kicked off the event by saying. “We’ve been together for many, many, many years.” The two...
YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s Top Hints at a Next Level: Review
The Lowdown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has become home to some of the most fertile “breeding grounds” in the hip-hop industry. Considered a small city by census standards, it is the hub to several major tech, medical, and entertainment companies — along with being the home of Louisiana State University. For all of its bright spots, Baton Rouge is also one of the poorest cities in America, riddled with crime, poverty, and a culture of youth facing an uncertain future. With hip-hop being born out of struggle and desperation, this town has become a hot bed of sorts, giving rise to some of the genre’s biggest emerging stars, including YoungBoy Never Broke Again. Since 2015, YoungBoy has released 16 mixtapes and two studio albums, an output level that is a testament to the dedication he has for h...
Fans Choose Demi Lovato and Marshmello’s ‘OK Not to Be OK’ as This Week’s Favorite New Music
Demi Lovato and Marshmello‘s “OK Not to Be OK” has topped this week’s new music poll. Music fans voted in a poll published Friday (Sept. 11) on Billboard, choosing the inspiring ode to mental health as their favorite new music release from the past week. “OK Not to Be OK” brought in 52 percent of the vote this week, beating out new music by Usher (“Bad Habits”), Major Lazer and Mr. Eazi (“Oh My Gawd”), David Guetta and Sia (“Let’s Love”), and others. In an interview with Apple Music, Marshmello explained that the emotional subject matter in “OK Not to Be OK” took on a new meaning, given that it was released on World Suicide Prevention Day (Sept. 10). “I think it’s just such an important su...
Lil Nas X Seems to Be Teasing New Songs: See the List
Earlier this week, Lil Nas X said new music is imminent, and now it looks like he’s getting ready to deliver. “gonna start back releasing music soon the old town road money running out,” he’d tweeted on Thursday (Sept. 10). By Sunday, he’d casually posted a page of what could be song titles — since one of the items on the list is “Call Me By Your Name,” a clip fans first heard from him in July — on Instagram. He seemingly confirmed that guess when he retweeted a post indicating the list “reveals part of his track list” for his upcoming album. “Call Me By Your Name” is joined by potential song titles “Titanic,” “One of Me” and “Don’t Want It” on Lil Nas X’s list. Mos...
Judge Rules Kanye West Stays Off Ballot in Battleground Wisconsin
Kanye West does not qualify to be on the presidential ballot in battleground Wisconsin after missing a filing deadline, a judge ruled late Friday (Sept. 11), upholding a bipartisan decision by the state elections commission. The decision is likely to be rapidly appealed to the conservative-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court. That court put the mailing of absentee ballots on hold Thursday while it considers whether Green Party presidential candidate Howie Hawkins should be added. The delay is being closely watched in Wisconsin, a swing state that President Donald Trump narrowly won in 2016 and that polls show is tight again this year. State law requires ballots to be mailed by Sept. 17 to more than 1 million voters who have requests on file. There is also a Sept. 19 deadline in federal law ...
Growing Concerns Poetry Collective Announce New Album Big Dark Bright Futures
Chicago’s own Growing Concerns Poetry Collective have announced their new album, BIG DARK BRIGHT FUTURES. Due out October 16th, the followup to 2017’s We Here: Thank You for Noticing once again reunites filmmaker, poet, and actor McKenzie Chinn; actor and DIY hip-hop prodigy Mykele Deville; and multidisciplinary visual artist/musical composer Jeffrey Michael Austin. In anticipation, they’ve shared a music video for their latest single “Shout Across Mountains”. Written and composed between 2017 and 2019, the new album offers “an emotional, expansive, no-holds-barred journey through both the shadowed valleys and hopeful peaks of our current moment,” a press release notes. The Collective cites influences of Afrofuturism, Solange, and Frank Ocean, insisting that it “finds the common place...
Audrey Nuna Uncorks New Song “damn right”: Stream
Emerging singer/rapper Audrey Nuna has uncorked her new song “damn right”. This satirical stunt track is the first single from her forthcoming debut EP. Nuna grew up in New Jersey, releasing Instagram covers that eventually attracted the attention of manager/producer Anwar Sawyer. After high school, she split time writing with Sawyer and attending the prestigious Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU. But soon, her studies had to give way to the real thing. Now 21 years old and signed to Arista Records, Nuna has released a string of buzzworthy singles, of which “damn right” just might be the best. Producer Nate Donmoyer has built a thumper of a beat, but with delicate synth touches which keep the track from sounding overly serious. Nuna kicks off with a slurred, chest-banging flow...
