Month: September 2021

It’s been an interesting run for Migos, who recently delivered their new album Culture 3 and subsequent Deluxe Edition. Though some felt that the project wasn’t exactly the return-to-form that they expected, others were satisfied to see Offset, Quavo, and Takeoff go back to basics and end the trilogy on a high note.

From now on, there’s really no telling where the Migos might go from here. Given that we only recently saw an extensive new album from the trio, it’s entirely possible that they move to another round of solo projects. In 2018 and the beginning of 2019, Quavo delivered his solo debut Quavo Huncho, Takeoff dropped off The Last Rocket, and Offset came through with Father Of 4. 

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Now, Quavo has sparked further speculation that he’s gearing up for another solo release, taking to Instagram to share a peek at a new banger. “My n***as is out of control, look at they eyes, you know they throwed,” he raps, over an up-tempo instrumental. “I’m at the top of the totem pole, I’ve been getting this money, it’s getting old.”

It’s intriguing to hear Quavo seemingly entering rollout mode, though he neglected to elaborate on his future intentions. It’s entirely possible this new snippet is simply a loosie, though Huncho did go through the trouble to film a video for the track. Expect to see this one landing sooner than later, and if you’re curious to hear some new Quavo first-hand, check out the snippet below. How does it sound, by your estimation?

After a six-week trial, and two days of deliberation, the jury in R. Kelly’s sex trafficking and racketeering case in New York found the singer guilty on all counts. Emotional testimonies emerged over the course of the trial of witnesses detailing the heinous acts R. Kelly committed against underage women. “To the victims in this case, your voices were heard and justice was finally served,” Acting U.S. Attorney Jacquelyn Kasulis said after the judge read Kelly his verdict.

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The singer was convicted on nine charges including racketeering and eight counts under the Mann Act. The singer is now facing anywhere between 10 years to max. sentence of life in prison. Following the trial’s conclusion, his attorney claimed that the government “cherry-picked” evidence in order to seal a guilty verdict.

“You didn’t get to see what we saw in terms of the discovery. You didn’t get to see all the inconsistencies,” Deveraux Cannick said. “We said in our summation that the government cherry-picked their version that they thought would support the continuation of the narrative.”

While there are apparently still fans who believe the singer is completely innocent, many have expressed a sense of relief that justice was served. As expected, an output of memes flooded the timeline of everything from people expressing a rare glimpse of gratitude towards the justice system to “I Believe I Can Fly” jokes and Huey’s monologue on The Boondocks. 

Check out a few reactions below. 

Baker Mayfield has never shied away from the cameras and always leaves the media and fans with something to think about.

This Sunday, after throwing for 246 yards and a touchdown in a 26-6 win over the Bears, Mayfield brought a handful of hilarious Kanye West references to his postgame press conference. 

Speaking about losing wide receiver Jarvis Landry due to injury, Mayfield kicked off the Kanye party in saying it was big to have Odell Beckham Jr., who’d missed the Browns’ first two games, back on the field. 

“Obviously, losing a guy like Jarvis, one of our key skill players, you have to have people step up so it was a blessing to have the Late Registration of Odell come in and play for us,” the quarterback quipped. 

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Mayfield kept the bit up for the duration of his press conference. Along with references to The Life of Pablo and Watch The Throne, Mayfield dove into West’s catalog to describe his team’s mentality. 

“We’re continuing to get better and finding ways to win. There’s never going to be a point where you feel like you’ve reached that Graduation level and you have mastered the offensive system,” Mayfield asserted, referencing West’s 2007 album. “You always want to try and improve. For us, we each have that mindset of not being College Dropout(s), continuing to get better and finding ways to win.” 

What inspired Mayfield to drop so many Ye references? We don’t know, but in the wake of Donda, cheating rumors and real-estate purchases from Malibu to Belgium, it’s clear the Oklahoma product is paying attention to the headlines. 

Did Baker miss on any Kanye references? Let us know in the comments.

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Singer-songwriter Andrea Martin, who notably penned a heap of hits with R&B legends including Toni Braxton, SWV, Monica, and En Vogue, has died at 49. 

Martin’s passing was confirmed by her team on Monday, September 27. Posted in an Instagram story on her official account, the statement commemorates her life, passion for music, and her contributions to the craft. 

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“It is with a heavy heart we inform you of the passing of our beautiful Andrea Martin also known as ‘Annie’,” the statement reads. “Andrea will always be remembered for her passion and dedication to her family and friends. Her impact will continue to be felt and heard for a lifetime.”

As of now, the cause of death has not been released. 

Martin was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1972, and attended the esteemed Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, the same school where artists such as Nicki Minaj and Azealia Banks would also infamously enroll. Upon graduating, she would go on to write dozens of R&B hits over the course of a 20-year career, including Monica’s “Before You Walk out of My Life”, SWV’s “You’re The One”, Toni Braxton’s “I Love Me Some Him”, and En Vogue’s “Don’t Let Go (Love)”. 

Each of these hits topped the Billboard Hot 100. “Don’t Let Go (Love)” rose all the way up to the No. 2 spot in 1997. A year later, Martin would release her first-and-only debut album as a singer, The Best Of Me, and along with it, a few singles also reached the Billboard charts. Martin’s collaborator, Monica, took to Twitter to remember the songstress. “‘Before You Walk Out Of My Life’ has always had a special place in my heart… Now it has a deeper meaning for the incredibly talented songwriter. Rest well Andrea Martin. We love you always.”

Countless other artists have also taken to social media to pay their respects to the music veteran. “Give It To Me Right” singer Melanie Fiona was one of them. “I am shattered over this. I don’t think I’ll ever find the words or write the song to express how much you mean to me… You were my musical collaborative soul mate, my friend, a creative genius, a loving mother, a LEGEND. Anyone who knew you is blessed to have experienced your greatness. We had more to do, but I am eternally grateful for every ounce of magic we made. Thank you for pouring into me the way you did. You made me better than I knew I could be. I will miss you forever.”

The HotNewHipHop team would like to send our condolences to Andrea Martin’s family, friends, and loved ones at this time. May she rest in peace.

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It’s been rumored for a while now that Eminem, Polo G, and Mozzy united for a collaboration, a prospect originally revealed by the latter’s manager. In fact, it’s been rumored that Eminem is actually gearing up to release a full studio album, a proper follow-up to his Music To Be Murdered By: Side B. 

Some are even speculating that we’ll be seeing something release this coming Friday, with many citing the upcoming release of Venom 2: Let There Be Carnage on October 1st. As fans know, Eminem previously provided a title track for “Venom,” and it would appear he’s about to keep the tradition alive for the sequel.

 Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty Images

Shady Records fan site Southpawer recently shared a report from the Venom 2 premiere, with many attendees confirming that the film’s credits feature a collaboration from Em, Mozzy, Polo G, and Skylar Gray.

 Michael Hickey/Getty Images 

Though we haven’t been able to hear any audio of what’s to come, it will certainly be interesting to hear what this seemingly random group of collaborators managed to cook up on what might be the year’s most unexpected posse cut. It’s also unclear as to whether or not the untitled song will end up on a new Em project; fans who recall the Kamikaze rollout will remember that “Venom” was the first thing announced before the album dropped shortly thereafter. 

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Stay tuned for more news on the upcoming Let There Be Carnage collaboration from Eminem, Mozzy, Polo G, and Skylar Grey, which we can only assume is due for release on October 1st. Do you think this all but guarantees a new Eminem album will be coming up on the horizon? 

The past two years have been kind to Jack Harlow. 

The Confetti rapper dropped “What’s Poppin?” in January 2020 and almost immediately exploded onto the scene in a major way. Backed by DJ Drama and Atlantic Records, Harlow capitalized on all “What’s Poppin?” buzz and, despite the global pandemic, followed it up with the globetrotting “Tyler Herro” and the transformation from emerging rapper to near-superstar-status was on. 

Releasing the Grammy-nominated That’s What They All Say in December with a features list including the likes of Lil Baby, Big Sean, Adam Levine, Static Major and Lil Wayne, Harlow’s rise has continued and after a month featuring viral dating videos, 24 Hours with Vogue and a showstopping “Industry Baby” VMA performance with Lil Nas X, the 23-year-old Louisville native was featured on the cover of Complex, alongside comedian and friend Druski.

In the Complex story it was revealed that, at some point, Harlow and fellow Lousiville artist Bryson Tiller had discussed a collaborative project. 

Harlow and Tiller, who have previously collaborated on “Thru the Night” and “Luv is Dro,” have both expressed massive respect for each other and a collaboration between the two would be sure to have city of Louisville on their feet. And even though it hasn’t happened yet, Tiller ensured that it will happen.

“We never got around to doing it, just because I wasn’t in the right headspace,” Tiller explained. “But I think now, if (he) and I linked up, it would be super dope … We definitely have to make something happen in the future.” 

Along with giving both his and Harlow’s fanbases the hope that a collab project will happen in the coming years, Tiller also used his time in Harlow’s cover story heaping praise on the “Same Guy” rapper. 

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“He loves the city just as much as I do, if not more. And, man, he’s inspiring the next kid in Louisville to do it,” Tiller said. “Never asked for a handout. He just got back in the studio and worked harder.” 

Harlow added that he was “in awe,” “inspired” and “totally jealous” when Tiller initially hit the scene, and made the mutual admiration and respect between the two crystal clear. 

Tiller and Harlow, who both dropped in 2020, haven’t hinted at any concrete plans to collaborate on a mixtape or album but the idea of the two possibly getting together for something more than a Harlow album cut is exciting and at this point, all we can do is hope that something comes of all the conversation. 

Would you be excited for a Jack Harlow x Bryson Tiller collab project? Let us know in the comments. 

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Hip-hop fans are already familiar with Birdman’s old rules for the Cash Money Records studio, and Mustard made sure to tell his fans about his own studio guidelines last week. Some of the rules listed on Mustard’s studio door have been widely criticized across social media, prompting the Grammy-winning producer to officially update his list, specifying some of the previously laid-out orders.

Uploading a photo of “Mustard’s Studio Rules 2.0,” Mustard explained that he shared the list “for all you haters on the internet that’ll prolly never ever make it to my studio.” 

Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

The first rule, which was the most controversial, remains intact. “DO NOT COME IN MY STUDIO IF YOU UGLY,” insists Mustard. “This has nothing to do with how you look,” specified the producer. “It’s about the energy you are putting out. Yes, there is such thing as an ugly attitude and personality. So if your energy ain’t right — stay yo ugly ass at home!! Your soul is what’s going to shine here.”

His second rule, which was also widely disputed, orders all studio guests to only enter if they’ve exercised that day. “This rule is to motivate,” says Mustard. “I’m not perfect… but I’m not who I was back then… I’m always trying to better myself… And yes, I hit the gym everyday. *And post some new pics of me or I will sue yo ass for defamation of character Lmao!!”

He also provided clarification for his fifth rule about simply being happy to “breathe the same air” as the Grammy-winner, adding, “I’m grateful to do what I love everyday. So after all of my accomplishments this is my attitude. When entering my space the expectation is that you share the same mindset that I do — learn and progress. Remember: the wisest man knows he knows nothing.”

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The updated list of studio rules comes after Mustard brutally trolled some of the critics on his first post, who called him out for supposedly violating the rules himself, including the first and second ones. Check out the new list below, as well as his videos against fans.

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