Hip-Hop
Song of the Week: Kid Cudi and Eminem Get Real on “The Adventures of Moon Man & Slim Shady”
Song of the Week breaks down and talks about the song we just can’t get out of our head each week. Find these songs and more on our Spotify New Sounds playlist. Music hasn’t pussyfooted around in 2020. Nor has it turned a blind eye to what’s going on in the world. More and more, artists are tackling the topics we see in our daily media feeds and on our nightly news programs, and they’re getting music into the hands — or at least ears — of listeners faster than ever. And that trend makes sense. In a time where artists reveal more about themselves than ever via social media platforms and the world never sits still for longer than a news cycle, listeners are not only demanding that songs address their needs — something to march to, dance to, or lean on — but that they do so in as close to rea...
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...
Kanye West Shares Artist Roster for Possible Yeezy Sound Streaming Service
Kanye West could be one step closer to launching his own music streaming service. The 43-year-old rapper and fashion mogul, who recently announced his plans to run for president in 2020, took to Twitter on Friday night (July 10) to share the “roster proposal” for Yeezy Sound, a company he filed trademark papers for in 2017. “YEEZY SOUND ROSTER PROPOSAL,” West captioned a handwritten note featuring a list of artists, including hip-hop duo Abstract Mindstate, G.O.O.D. Music’s CyHi The Prynce, himself, jazz drummer Tony Williams and Clipse. The mysterious list also included the name “KC” — possibly a reference to Jodeci singer K-Ci — and Kanye’s 7-year-old daughter, North West. As previously reported, West’s trademark for ̶...
Yeasayer Drop Copyright Lawsuit Against The Weeknd & Kendrick Lamar for ‘Black Panther’ Hit ‘Pray For Me’
Yeasayer voluntarily dismissed the copyright lawsuit against The Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar over their Black Panther: The Album highlight “Pray For Me.” In this dismissal obtained by Billboard today (July 10), the indie rock band and its record label We Are Free “confirmed to their satisfaction that no copyright infringement occurred” by the defendants The Weeknd (real name Abel Makkonen Tesfaye), Lamar (Kendrick Lamar Duckworth), Canadian producers Doc McKinney (Martin “Doc” McKinney) and Frank Dukes (Adam King Feeney), and labels Universal Music Group, Interscope, Aftermath and Top Dawg Entertainment. In February 2018, “Pray For Me” propelled both The Weeknd and Lamar into another echelon of superstardom when it...
Tommy Lee Drums on Remix of “Tommy Lee” Song by Tyla Yaweh and Post Malone: Stream
Last month, rapper Tyla Yaweh released a track called “Tommy Lee”, featuring Post Malone. Now, the pair have teamed up with the Mötley Crüe drummer himself on a remix of the song. Tommy Lee initially spoke of his involvement prior to the release of the original track, which caused some confusion as to whether he appeared on that version. However, it was obvious upon first listen that Lee’s drumming wasn’t on the original song. Now, the remix comes along with a music video that features Lee and Yaweh performing the song in the Mötley Crüe drummer’s studio. Along with Lee’s drumming, Rob Zombie guitarist John 5 was called in to add guitar and bass, turning the laid-back hip-hop original into a heavy banger. “I was humbled that Tyla and Post chose to name a song after me,” says Lee in a press...
First Beat: New Music By Summer Walker, Snoh Aalegra, StaySolidRocky & More
Though Juice WRLD and Kid Cudi came out swinging with their new releases, for today’s edition of First Beat (July 10), R&B makes a resounding effort with the return of Summer Walker, Snoh Aalegra and more. Check it out below. Summer Walker, Life on Earth EP After a dazzling performance at the BET Awards last month, Walker looks to keep her momentum intact with her latest collection of music. Melding together a quick five-track EP, Life on Earth is a masterclass in love and heartbreak from the R&B star. Swimming against the guitar strums on “Let It Go,” Walker waves goodbye to a troubling beau while exuding her amorous side on the PARTYNEXTDOOR-assisted “My Affection.” Though the project only clocks in at 16 minutes, Walker’s offer...
6lack’s ‘6pc’ Wings Into Top 5 on R&B Albums Chart
6lack nabs his second top five effort on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart as his new EP, 6pc Hot, debuts in the runner-up spot on the list dated July 11. The six-song project, released on LVRN/Interscope, starts with 26,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending July 2, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. The singer-rapper, whose stage name is pronounced “Black,” previously reached the top five with his prior effort, 2018’s East Atlanta Love Letter, which reigned for two weeks that September – October. His 2016 debut, Free 6lack, climbed to a No. 6 best in May 2017. In addition to its R&B debut, 6pc opens at No. 11 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and at No. 15 on the all-genre Billboard 200. As 6pc arrives, four of its cut debut on the Hot R&B Songs chart: “Float” (No....
Halsey Shows Off New Hand Tattoo Honoring Juice WRLD: See the Pic
Looks like Halsey‘s got some new ink. On Tuesday (July 8), the pop star debuted a new tattoo on social media in tribute to her late pal Juice WRLD. Written in cursive across the back side of her hand, Halsey’s latest tattoo reads “Life’s a mess 999,” referencing the title of her posthumous collaboration with the rapper and his favorite number. (Juice also had his own “999” tattoo on his forearm, which he claimed represented making good out of bad, and also named his official merch collection using the number.) “Juice was one of the greatest people I have ever known, and one of the most brilliant artists we will ever live to witness. A true genius who had lyric and melody spilling out of him without any second thought or hesitation. And a beau...
Dave Chapelle Hosts Socially-Distanced ‘Summer Camp’ Event With Erykah Badu, Common & More
Dave Chappelle and friends made sure to have a blast in a social-distanced way during the Fourth of July weekend. Chappelle ventured back to his hometown in Dayton, OH, and hosted Chappelle Summer Camp, which featured comedic and musical performances. Those in attendance included Erykah Badu, Common, Talib Kweli, Michael Che, Tiffany Haddish, DJ Trauma, Michelle Wolf, Donnell Rawlings, Cipha Sounds, Questlove, Jon Hamm, Mo Amer and Issa Ali. During the festive gathering, Chappelle did an action-packed cover of Eric B and Rakim’s “Paid in Full” featuring Common and Talib Kweli. The Roots’ Questlove gushed about his Chappelle Camp Summer experience in an Instagram post he shared after the event. “Drove 900+ miles to a hippie farm town...
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 ...
A Timeline of Kanye West Getting Political
Kanye West paved a long road before reaching his 2020 presidential run, which he announced on the 4th of July. From criticizing former President George W. Bush on national television to supporting President Donald Trump on social media, Billboard compiled a timeline of when he hit the Ye button when it comes to hot-button political issues. Sept. 2, 2005 – West declares, “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people” in historic moment during A Concert for Hurricane Relief. Following Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, La., NBC hosted an hour-long, star-studded benefit concert titled A Concert for Hurricane Relief. The rapper stood side-by-side with comedian and actor Mike Myers when he veered off script and spoke from the heart about the d...
