Hip-Hop
Brasstracks Share the Origins of New Single “Golden Ticket” with Common, Masego: Stream
In our new music feature Origins, we asks artists to take a moment to reflect on the backstory of their latest single. Today, Brasstracks tell us how they cashed their “Golden Ticket” with Common and Masego. Rising from their jazz school backgrounds, Brasstracks have already accomplished more than most duos made of just horns and drums could dream of. Mark Ronson essentially has them on speed dial, they’ve got some GRAMMY shine thanks to their work on Chance the Rapper’s “No Problem”, and they’ve collaborated with everyone from Wyclef Jean to Anderson .Paak. Oh, and they only formed six years ago. But now Ivan Jackson and Conor Rayne are really ready to grab the spotlight with their debut album, Golden Ticket. Due out August 21st, the full-length follows their 2019 EP Before...
12 ‘WAP’ TikTok Challenges You Need to See
Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion “WAP”ped to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 this week (dated Aug. 22), and their fans tried following in their footsteps via TikTok challenges. Cardi shared one on her Instagram Monday (Aug. 17) shortly after the news of her No. 1 hit broke, but this fan broke something else besides records. “Please guys be safe while doing the WAP WAP WAP,” the 27-year-old rapper instructed in the caption of the video showing a girl going to the hospital after a failed attempt of the “WAP” challenge. Others got creative and opted out of the viral dance for memes about visiting the dentist’s office and sparkly beauty challenges, while a couple of dads created their own remixes. And Vanessa Hudgens put her own classy spin on twe...
Barack Obama Reveals 2020 Summer Playlist: Billie Eilish, Megan Thee Stallion, Childish Gambino
Former president Barack Obama has shared his 2020 summer playlist. Similar to his past playlists, it’s a hodgepodge of modern hits and all-time classics, though this year he’s spotlighting a number of artists on the campaign trail. “Over the past few months, I’ve spent a lot of time listening to music with my family,” he announced on Twitter with an accompanying screenshot of his 53 selections. “I wanted to share some of my favorites from the summer — including songs from some of the artists at this week’s @DemConvention.” In good faith, he starred those heading to the Convention, specifically Leon Bridges (“Texas Sun”), Common (“Forever Begins”), John Legend (“Don’t Walk Away”), The Chicks (“Gaslighter”), Billie Eilish (“My Future”), Maggie Rogers (“Love You for a Long Time”), Billy Porte...
2 Men Indicted in 2002 Killing of Run-DMC’s Jam Master Jay
Two men have been indicted in the 2002 slaying of hip hop artist Jam Master Jay, which until now had been one of New York City’s most notorious unsolved killings, three law enforcement officials told the Associated Press on Monday. The officials were not authorized to speak publicly and did so on the condition of anonymity. One of them identified the suspects as Ronald Washington and Karl Jordan. Federal prosecutors were expected to announce the charges at a news conference Monday afternoon. Washington, who had reportedly been living on a couch at Jay’s home in the days before his death, was publicly named as a possible suspect or witness as far back as 2007. He is currently serving a federal prison sentence stemming from a string of robberies he committed while on the run from police afte...
Two Men Charged with Murder of Run-DMC’s Jam Master Jay
18 years after the death of Run-DMC DJ Jam Master Jay, two men have been charged in connection with his murder. Federal prosecutors will announce the indictments of Ronald Washington, 56, and Karl Jordan, Jr., 36, during a press conference set for 2:30 p.m. ET on Monday. Washington is already in a federal prison serving time for robbery, while Jordan was arrested on Sunday. Both men are charged with murder while engaged in drug trafficking, according to The New York Times. More details are expected to be revealed during the press conference, but it’s believed Jay Master Jay was financing drug-trafficking operation involving Washington and Jordan. “There was a beef — it didn’t go as planned,” an official told The Times. Editors’ Picks Born Jason Mizell, Jam Master Jay w...
James Corden’s Wholesome Parents Watched ‘WAP’ — And Cardi B Is Cackling at Their Reaction
Cardi B stumbled upon a “WAP” reaction video that had her roaring in laughter at 4 a.m. Late Late Show host James Corden asked his parents to watch Cardi and Megan Thee Stallion‘s new music video with no prior context. Malcolm and Margaret Corden, an apparently wholesome older couple, found themselves wondering what their church was going to think of them viewing the suggestive clip. “Never heard of ’em!” Margaret said at the start of their reaction video, while Malcolm added, “Let’s see what all the fuss is about.” Within seconds of the start of “WAP,” the pair laughed loudly, and nervously. “They’re both, you know, well-endowed up top,” Corden’s dad pointed out, as Cardi and Megan appeared. “I...
Kanye West Re-Boots Sunday Service For COVID-19 Era
In the midst or his long-shot third-party presidential campaign, Kanye West re-booted his Sunday Service series over the weekend on his Wyoming ranch. The rapper said all the appropriate safety precautions were followed during the first worship gathering from his gospel group during the COVID-19 lockdown. “Praise God. We would like to thank our staff for making sure all Covid safety guidelines were followed today during Sunday Service at our West Mountains family ranch in Wyoming,” West tweeted. “We are beyond blessed to be able to share the love of Christ through worship.” The rapper shared video footage of the service, in which the choir, all dressed in matching burnt orange-colored outfits and standing in close proximity, without masks, could be heard singing praise in...
Lauren London Remembers Nipsey Hussle on Late Rapper’s 35th Birthday: ‘I Know You Walk With Me’
Lauren London is remembering her late boyfriend Nipsey Hussle on what would’ve been the late rapper’s 35th birthday. The actress took to Instagram on Saturday (Aug. 15) to share a heartfelt tribute to the late Los Angeles hip-hip star, who was murdered in March 2019. “King Ermias Best friend Twin Flame Greatest Teacher Beautiful Strong Vessel The Spiritual Giant that walked Earth,” London captioned a black-and-white portrait of Hussle. “‘I Miss You’ will never be deep enough for the void left in my soul. Yet, I know you walk with me — always still. Happy 35th Eternally Yours, Boogie.” Hussle, born Ermias Asghedom, was killed outside of his L.A. clothing store last year. He was 33. The hip-hop star posthumously won multiple Grammys at th...
Iggy Azalea Teases New Music, Shows Off Tiny Post-Baby Waist in Tie-Dye Dress
Iggy Azalea continues to show off her amazing post-baby body. The 30-year-old Australian rapper, who revealed in June that she gave birth to a baby boy named Onyx, took to Instagram on Saturday (Aug. 15) to show off her tiny waist in a colorful tie-dye dress from online fashion retailer Fashion Nova. Azalea has regularly been sharing photos of her stunning physique since the arrival of her son, including an ab-baring pic of herself posing in a neon orange bikini and another of her flaunting a gym-ready purple ensemble. Iggy hasn’t spoken out publicly about the identity of baby Onyx’s father, but she’s been in a long-term, off-and-on relationship with fellow rapper Playboi Carti since 2018. Meanwhile, the Aussie hip-hop star also revealed that she a new song with Tinashe c...
‘Truth Hurts’ Suit Against Lizzo Dismissed by Judge
Lizzo is most likely feelin’ good as hell after a California federal judge dismissed a lawsuit against her by two songwriters who say they helped create “Truth Hurts.” Lizzo hit first in October 2019, asking the court for a declaration that brothers Justin and Jeremiah Raisen did not co-write her Grammy-winning hit song and therefore aren’t entitled to any of its profits. The songwriters countersued in February, arguing that “Truth Hurts” is a derivative work based on a song called “Healthy” that they created with the artist in early 2017. She maintains the only significant thing to come out of that session was the line “I just did a DNA test turns out I’m a hundred percent that bitch” which was inspired by a viral tweet that anot...
Margo Price Covers Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s “WAP” on The Daily Show: Watch
Although Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s “WAP” may already be the song of the summer, it’s caused some predictable controversy amongst those with more conservative tastes. Everyone from congressional candidates to Tiger King stars have taken issue with the track, which begs the question: Is this yet another example of women — particularly Black women — facing a different level of public scrutiny? Exploring that thesis on The Daily Show on Thursday night, Margo Price recontextualized “WAP” as a beautiful country song. Would it be any less “offensive”? Price’s cover came as host Trevor Noah and remote correspondent Dulce Sloan examined the media’s sexist reaction to Kamala Harris being selected as presumptive democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s running mate. While arguing that...
Cardi B Endorses Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for President in 2024
Cardi B already has a candidate in mind for the 2024 presidential election. On Friday night (Aug. 14), the “WAP” rapper made a special request on Twitter in response to a fan-posted video on Twitter of New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez jamming out to Cardi’s 2017 breakthrough hit “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves).” “She better run for president when she turns 35,” Cardi wrote of the 30-year-old Bronx-born politician, who will be eligible to run for president in 2024. Ocasio-Cortez, a self-described democratic socialist, became the youngest woman ever elected to Congress when she beat out longtime New York politician Joseph Crowley in the 2018 midterm elections. AOC took notice of Cardi’s presidential endorsement on Twitter, responding...
