Month: March 2021

Quavo Introduced His Movie Co-Star Robert DeNiro To Migos’ Music

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As a member of Migos and as a solo artist, Quavo could be considered among hip-hop’s A-listers. That said, there’s no guarantee that someone would be familiar with him or his music — especially a septuagenarian like Robert De Niro. However, the Academy Award-winning actor is probably well aware of his Wash Me In The River co-star’s musical credits now.

In an interview with Billboard about his upcoming two-on-two basketball game with Jack Harlow, 2 Chainz, and Lil Baby, Quavo was kind enough to answer a couple of questions about his upcoming film debut. When asked about his experience interacting with the screen icon, Quavo explained why he’s pretty sure De Niro Googled the Atlanta rap trio at the first chance he got.

“I told him I said a line in one of my new songs about the trip I just took, and he was just like, ‘For real. M-I-G-O-S, right?’” Quavo recalled. “I was like, ‘Yeah, he’s finna go home and look me up.’ It was too hard. I couldn’t wait to tell my Mom dukes that I’m gonna be on the screen and kicked it with him. He’s a nice dude.” De Niro won’t have to wait long to check out his castmate’s latest; Quavo promised in February that Migos’ next album is due in “a month and a half.”

Regarding the upcoming B/R Open Run challenge between Quavo and his teammate Harlow and 2 Chainz and Lil Baby, Quavo said he’s betting on his high school varsity team-honed skills. “You know anyone with me is going to win,” he boasted. “Let’s get it. I hope they bring their A-game.”

Check out the full Billboard interview here.

Megan Thee Stallion Joins Maroon 5 For The Charming Single ‘Beautiful Mistakes’

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After nearly three decades in the business and three Grammy Awards to their name, Maroon 5 know how to craft a buoyant pop hit. Now teasing a new era of music, the group recruited Megan Thee Stallion for their latest offering, the shimmering single “Beautiful Mistakes.”

Over a trap-influenced beat, Maroon 5 and Megan Thee Stallion recount their regrets about an ending relationship. “I’m in love with the past / And now we liе awake, making beautiful mistakes,” they sing.

Speaking about the single in a conversation with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, Maroon 5 vocalist Adam Levine said, “I’m absolutely obsessed with the song. We love how it came out.” Levine went on to praise Megan as “a superstar” for her role on the track. “The way she built her part was just, it couldn’t have been a more epic kind of climax for the song,” he added. “I mean, it really is absolutely perfect. So, I mean, what she did was just miraculous, and it brought the song to a whole new level.”

“Beautiful Mistakes” isn’t the only exciting project Megan released on Wednesday. The rapper also announced that she’ll be one of the new faces of Calvin Klein’s 2021 campaign alongside pop singer Rina Sawayama and actor Anthony Ramos.

Listen to Maroon 5 and Megan Thee Stallion’s “Beautiful Mistakes” above.

Megan Thee Stallion is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

TM88 Connects With Future & Lil Uzi Vert Back To Back

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TM88 is making moves. The acclaimed producer recently made waves when he shared a tantalizing hint about J. Cole’s The Fall Off, a claim that had many speculating about his involvement in the anticipated project. And while he has since been relatively quiet insofar as the teasers go, TM88 recently took to Twitter to share an update on what he’s been working on this week.

TM88

Paras Griffin/Getty Images

As it happens, his schedule found him taking a pair of trips to Pluto, planning sessions with both the grown and baby versions of the once-planet. In other words, back-to-back studio sessions with Future and Lil Uzi Vert, both of whom recently collaborated on the low-stakes project Pluto X Baby Pluto. “Started the week working w/ Pluto , Ending it w/ Baby Pluto,” confirms TM, insinuating that his sessions with Lil Uzi Vert are about to kick off.

It should be noted that TM88 played a pivotal role in shaping two of their most acclaimed tunes, in “Codeine Crazy” and “XO Tour Lif3.” Coincidentally, or perhaps not, both are notably melancholic in nature. One has to wonder if TM88 will be reverting to that clearly successful formula on whatever he’s got cooking up right now, presumably for Future’s Monster 2 and Uzi’s untitled Eternal Atake follow-up. Check out TM88’s message below, and sound off if you’re excited to see what he’s got cooking up with Plutoes big and small. 

Jack Harlow Goes Unplugged With “Tiny Desk Concert”

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Though live concerts have become a temporary thing of the past for many artists, NPR’s Tiny Desk Home series has been a solid way for rappers to hone their performative chops. Following concerts from 2 Chainz, Conway The Machine, Benny The Butcher, and more, Jack Harlow has officially come through to run a setlist of hits complete with a live band arrangement. 

Jack Harlow

Paras Griffin#SPORT/Getty Images

With a total runtime of eighteen minutes, Harlow works in a solid six-song setlist, boasting a slew of That’s What They All Say standouts in “Rendezvous,” “21C / Delta,” “Funny Seeing You Here,” “Same Guy,” “Creme/ONCE MAY COMES,” and of course, “What’s Poppin.” For the performance, Harlow is backed by a live band, complete with a three-deep choir of backup vocalists. It’s refreshing to see each song reimagined with an acoustic arrangement, as the intricacies of the production are given room to truly shine.

Nowhere is that more evident than on the live version of “What’s Poppin,” which kicks up the infectious piano and throws in a slick delayed guitar for added emphasis. There’s clear chemistry throughout the entire setlist, the refreshing sight of musicians in sync, fronted by Harlow at the top of his game. We can only hope that once he is able to engage on a full tour, he brings a live band of this nature along for the ride. 

Check out the NPR Tiny Desk At Home concert, as well as the roster of people bringing it to life, below. 

MUSICIANS

Jack Harlow: vocals
O’Neil “Doctor O” Palmer: keys
Rico Nichols: drums
Joe Cleveland – bass
Rob Gueringer: guitar
Erik B: vocals
Chimera Patrice: vocals
Porcha Clay: vocals

March 4 “True Inuaguration Day” Conspiracy Prompts Boost In US Capitol Security

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Months after the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, authorities are reportedly concerned that another attack may be heading to Capitol Hill.  After receiving “concerning intelligence” related to a viral far-right conspiracy theory, Capitol police are boosting security at the Capitol in anticipation of any potential attacks on the building.

According to Complex, the conspiracy theory in question states that March 4—a date which held inaugurations for many years prior to the 1937 ratification of the Twentieth Amendment—is the “true Inauguration Day,” when Donald Trump will apparently regain his position in the oval office. In a security bulletin sent to CBS News, House Sergeant at Arms Timothy Blodgett revealed that his team was working with Capitol police to keep an eye on possible demonstrations and other potential acts.

Former President Donald Trump addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference held in the Hyatt Regency on February 28, 2021 in Orlando, Florida
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Below is a quick collection of Twitter reactions to the March 4 conspiracy theory. Several people have expressed uneasiness leading up to March 4 while other Twitter users don’t even take any of it seriously.

With beefed-up Capitol security in place ahead of Thursday, all we can do is wait to see if the conspiracy theory is a legitimate coup or simply a rumor blown out of proportion.

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The Alchemist Produced Armand Hammer’s Entire Upcoming Album, ‘Haram’

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Armand Hammer / Alexander Richter

The Alchemist is in the midst of something of a renaissance, producing a string of highly-regarded projects for the likes of Griselda Records’ Conway The Machine and Gary, Indiana drug rap avatar Freddie Gibbs, as well as songs for Action Bronson and Denzel Curry & Kenny Beats. Hitting the ground running to open the new year, the LA-based producer has announced his next full-length collaboration. This time around, he’s contributing his unique brand of soulful menace to the lyrics of Armand Hammer, the duo consisting of New York rappers Elucid and Billy Woods.

The new album is called Haram, and it’s due on March 26 via Backwoodz Studioz. Fronted by a striking cover — a pair of freshly butchered pigs’ heads — the album features guest appearances from Curly Castro, Earl Sweatshirt, Kayana, Quelle Chris, and more. It arrives just about nine months from the release of their last project, 2020’s Shrines, which likewise featured many of the above collaborators as well as Nosaj, Pink Siifu, and R.A.P. Ferreira. However, Haram will be Armand Hammer’s first project entirely produced by just one producer.

You can pre-order Haram here. Check out the tracklist below.

1. “Sir Benni Miles”
2. “Roaches Don’t Fly”
3. “Black Sunlight” feat. KAYANA
4. “Indian Summer”
5. “Aubergine” feat. Fielded
6. “God’s Feet”
7. “Peppertree”
8. “Scaffolds”
9. “Falling Out The Sky” feat. Earl Sweatshirt
10. “Wishing Bad” feat. Curly Castro & Amani
11. “Chicharrones” feat. Quelle Chris
12. “Squeegee”
13. “Robert Moses”
14. “Stonefruit”

50 Cent Says He’s ‘Headed’ To Texas After The Governor Ended All Mask Mandates

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When cities across the country began lockdowns last March, many average Americans were under the impression that things would go back to “normal” in just a few short weeks. But a year and 28 million confirmed cases later, the US is still struggling to contain the virus. While the vaccine rollout is going better than planned, states like Texas are fed up with restrictions. Going against the advice of nearly all medical professionals, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that the state would be lifting all lockdowns and restrictions put in place, including all mask mandates.

50 Cent is apparently happy about the news, and he’s ready to take advantage of the state’s reopening. 50 Cent shared a screenshot of the news on Instagram Tuesday night and expressed his wish to visit the state. “i’m headed to Texas f*ck this,” he wrote.

This isn’t the first time 50 Cent tried to skirt around mask rules. During Super Bowl weekend last month, 50 Cent threw a massive, maskless party indoors. The event was held at a private air hanger in St. Petersburg, FL, and Mayor Rick Kriseman wasn’t happy with the rapper’s blatant disregard for COVID restrictions. “This isn’t how we should be celebrating the Super Bowl. It’s not safe or smart. It’s stupid,” Mayor Kriseman wrote in response. “We’re going to take a very close look at this, and it may end up costing someone a lot more than 50 cent.”

Jack Harlow Delivers A Soulful Tiny Desk Concert From His Living Room

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Jack Harlow’s busy March continues. After the Louisville, Kentucky rapper was announced as the performer on an upcoming episode of Saturday Night Live and promoted his participation in Bleacher Report’s B/R: Open Run NBA All-Star event with 2 Chainz, Lil Baby, and Quavo, it turned out that Jack also had one more ace up his sleeve: An NPR Tiny Desk Concert.

Harlow performs from what appears to be his living room, which gets packed with his band and backup singers as they perform his songs “Rendezvous,” “21C / Delta,” and “Funny Seeing You Here.” Sadly, no one plays the piano that already appears to be part of the room’s decor, but the live band does give Harlow’s familiar songs an even more soulful flair.

The last year has been bad for live shows, but great for Tiny Desk Concerts. Since shifting to the “At Home” format to accommodate COVID-19 safety precautions, the show has been able to bypass the logistical constraints that limited some of the biggest stars from appearing. This has led to not only plenty of bigger guests performing but also to even more memorable performances themselves. 2 Chainz got a pedicure during his, while Polo G took over a local basketball court and Spillage Village went to church and Conway ordered up at Nas’s Sweet Chick restaurant in Queens. While we’re all hoping for a return to live music… NPR should really keep this format, at least part-time. It’s a lot of fun.

Watch Jack Harlow’s Tiny Desk Concert above.

Jack Harlow is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Fivio Foreign Accused Of Sexual Assault: Report

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A Brooklyn woman, known publicly as Zendi, has made allegations against rapper Fivio Foreign, claiming that he sexually assaulted her at a party. She made the claims during a live-stream, saying that Fivio forced himself on her and stuck his finger inside of her without her consent.


Johnny Nunez/Getty Images

Instagram blog @gossipofthecity_ has shared videos of the woman recalling her alleged experience with Fivio, saying, “I’m in a room, he comes in the room, he locks the door. This sh*t is not funny. We’re laying down and he starts touching me. I’m like, ‘get off of me’. I’m screaming but the f*cking music is so loud, I was screaming my friend’s name, but the music was so loud nobody could hear me. He sticks his fingers up me, I’m like, ‘yo, this feels like rape’. He’s like, ‘b*tch I will rape you right now.'”

The woman says that after Fivio’s friend and her friend entered the room when the music was shut off, the rapper got off of her. 

Zendi’s friend reportedly also shared her side of the story, corroborating her claims in the post below.

People have been commenting on the allegations on social media, reacting to the claims made against Fivio. Thus far, the rapper has not issued any public statements on the allegations. We will keep you posted on any updates.