NLE Choppa announced the launch of his vegan food truck “This Can’t Be Vegan”.The Memphis native revealed that he started his journey as a vegan in August 2020 after realizing how meat was affecting his body. Better Food For Lower Crime According to reports, murders in Memphis spiked in 2020 and have been increasing alongside […]
When it comes to hip-hop tattoos, one of the names that most frequently comes to mind is Mister Cartoon. Today, the artist responsible for inking Eminem, 50 Cent, Kobe Bryant, Xzibit, Dr. Dre, Method Man, Prodigy, Snoop Dogg, Redman, DJ Premier, and more, has caught up with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1 for a conversation.
One of the notable moments arrives when Cartoon is asked about his most memorable tattoos, prompting the longtime artist to take a stroll back to simpler times.
“I probably have to keep going back to Eminem,” recalls Cartoon, reflecting one of his most high-profile clients. “He went beyond anything that we ever expected. We knew he was dope, we hadn’t seen him at the beginning, but when I started tattooing him, I really seen him go out of control and be on the cover of Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly. Magazines that were, I don’t know, A-list celebrity magazines, you got this tattooed rapper on there.”
“And 50 Cent’s back, he used his back piece tattoo as his promotion for his album and his movie,” continues Cartoon. “So after then, I kind of didn’t need my portfolio. We used to lug around these big portfolios and show you pictures of my work, and then I can reference those guys. Made it a lot easier.”
“50 wanted other tattoos,” he continues, circling back to his work crafting Fif’s tattoos. “And he didn’t have anything on his back. I go, “I want to do the back piece.” He goes, “I’m cool. I don’t want that right now.” I go, “Okay, when you’re ready, let me know what’s up.” And he goes, “All right.” Because I was tattooing Lloyd Banks or something and long story short, he left. I was like, damn, I could have tattooed 50 Cent. But he came back and he got that back piece.”
“Halfway through, he told me, “I got a meeting with Jimmy Iovine. I’ll be back.” And I was like, I’ll be back and he split for six hours. And his mixtapes were exploding on the streets so we waited and it’s a good thing because he showed back up. But it’s those types of things that people don’t see — they just see his back on the cover. They don’t know he left through the session, everything that it took to get to that point, you know?”
Clearly, Cartoon values his experience working with two of the game’s biggest superstars — a process that ultimately immortalized him in the hip-hop hall of fame. For more from Cartoon, be sure to check out his entire Apple Music interview below. You can also peep our own interview with Cartoon right here.
We’ve finally made it past the post-Certified Lover Boy and DONDA rush, and although we’re still waiting for Kendrick Lamar to drop his new album before truly being satisfied with this year’s musical output as hip-hop lovers, we’re starting to get a good look at how our year-end lists will gear up.
With all of the recent new music that has dropped, we’ve been busier than in previous weeks, making sure we stay on top of everything in order to update all of our playlists accordingly. This weekend, our new artist discovery series returned, and we also refreshed the Fire Emoji and R&B Season playlists on Spotify. Over on TIDAL and SoundCloud, we’ve officially got a new update for the Staff Picks playlist, showing you what we’ve all been listening to as we pump out article-after-article.
One of the largest playlists in recent weeks, we’ve got thirty-eight songs waiting for you to dive into from Joyner Lucas (with J. Cole), D Smoke, Westside Gunn, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, and others. On the R&B side, our writers have been vibing primarily with Tems, Alina Baraz, and NAO. All of which have earned a few spots on this week’s update.
Check out what each writer chose for the playlist this week and be sure to follow us on SoundCloud and TIDAL.
Alex Zidel (Editorial)
T-Shyne – 30 For 30
Coi Leray – TWINNEM
Lil Nas X – THATS WHAT I WANT
Baby Keem – scars
Latto – Big Energy
Taylor McCloud (Editorial)
Baby Keem – lost souls (feat. Brent Faiyaz)
Westside Gunn – The Fly who couldn’t Fly straight (feat. Tyler, The Creator)
Remble – Rocc Climbing (feat. Lil Yachty)
Kevin Abstract – SIERRA NIGHTS (feat. Ryan Beatty)
Mitch Findlay (Editorial)
Westside Gunn – Free Kutter (feat. J A Y E L E C T R O N I C A)
Westside Gunn – Hell on Earth, Pt. 2 (feat. Benny the Butcher & Conway the Machine)
D Smoke – Dirty Mercedes
Lupe Fiasco – Big Energy
50 Cent – Wish Me Luck (feat. Snoop Dogg, MoneyBagg Yo, & Charlie Wilson)
Joshua Robinson (Editorial)
NAO – Good Luck (feat. Lucky Daye)
Giveon – For Tonight
D Smoke – Stay True (feat. John Legend)
D Smoke – Free Write
Gunna & Future – Too Easy
Rose Lilah (Editorial)
Alina Baraz – If You Let Me
NAO – Woman (feat. Lianne La Havas)
Majid Jordan – Summer Rain
Tems – Crazy Tings
Hayley Hynes (Editorial)
Domani – Numb
Alina Baraz – I Could Imagine
Alina Baraz – Alone With You
Amber Mark – What It Is
NAO – Glad That You’re Gone
Erika Marie (Editorial)
Latto – Big Energy
Joyner Lucas – Your Heart (feat. J. Cole)
Westside Gunn – The Fly who couldn’t Fly straight (feat. Tyler, The Creator)
Run The Jewels – ooh la la (feat. Lil Wayne, Greg Nice, & DJ Premier) [Remix]
Morray – Bad Situations
Aron A. (Editorial)
YoungBoy Never Broke Again – Forgiato
Westside Gunn – Forest Lawn (feat. 2 Chainz & Armani Caesar)
Run The Jewels – ooh la la (feat. Lil Wayne, Greg Nice, & DJ Premier) [Remix]
CRIMEAPPLE & DJ Muggs – Tony 2C
Sheff G – Drum Dummy
Cole Blake (Editorial)
Wiki – Can’t Do This Alone (feat. Navy Blue)
Wiki – Promised (feat. MIKE)
Payday – Vampire (feat. Danny Brown)
Westside Gunn – The Fly who couldn’t Fly straight (feat. Tyler, The Creator)
Latto – Big Energy
Coming straight out the West Coast, Polyester The Saint has maintained a traditional route that carries the traditions of his stomping grounds. Though he’s remained a staple in L.A.’s underground scene, he’s been dumping out a consistent stream of projects in the past few years including Can’t Be Faded, Vol 1 and For The Player In You Too — both released in 2020.
This week, he returned with his second offering of the year titled, The Saint. Serving as the follow-up to P-Legit: The Master Peace Album, the rapper’s latest project dives even deeper into the sounds of L.A. “3 Minutes” is a quintessential G-Funk banger for the new era while flashes of Tupac pop out on “Merit Of A Man.”
Check out the latest project from Polyester the Saint below.
As has come to be understood, a Veruz battle is not only a spirited dose of healthy competition but also a wholesome excuse for two veteran rappers to celebrate their respective catalogs. Most recently, the stage belonged to New York artists Fat Joe and Ja Rule, both of whom have blessed the game with no shortage of hit records.
Alas, not all hits were welcome in their respective setlists. Like many others, both Ja and Joe have collaborations with R. Kelly. The former collaborated with the disgraced singer on “Wonderful,” while Fat Joe linked with Kelly on “We Thuggin’.” During a recent conversation with NORE and DJ EFN over at Drink Champs, Ja opened up about their conscious decision to avoid incorporating any R. Kelly collaborations into their Verzuz battle, citing a conversation that took place prior.
For Ja, however, there’s a certain complexity surrounding Kelly’s musical legacy. Around the twenty-four-minute mark, Ja laments the inability to separate the art from the artist, claiming that it seldom happens in mediums like fine art. He laughs, noting that the difficulty of doing so is the reason they opted to go Kelly-free during Verzuz. Still, it’s clear he feels torn about the subject, as he elaborates further.
“R. Kelly is flawed,” he says. “R. Kelly is a flawed man. He’s going through his problems. Nobody’s perfect, he’s flawed. What he’s done is what he’s done and he has to account for that. But the art — do we throw it away?” NORE brings up Bill Cosby, making it clear he’s not about to stop enjoying The Cosby Show. “It’s such a touchy subject, and for me it’s a touchier subject,” continues Rule. “Here’s the crazy shit. I wrote my part and sent it to R to sing. Nobody sends R. anything to sing. He writes the hooks and sends it to everybody.”
For much more from Ja, be sure to check out his complete interview on Drink Champs below. In other R. Kelly news, the singer was recently found guilty on all charges, with the sentencing hearing to be held on May 4th of 2022; he faces life in prison.
WATCH: Ja Rule talks Verzuz & more on Drink Champs
No matter what, Young Thug will remain one of the most influential artists of the 2010s. If it’s not his groundbreaking approach to trap music, it’s his ability to spot talent. The release of Beautiful Thugger Girls included a breakout appearance from UK singer Millie Go Lightly on “Family Don’t Matter” and “She Wanna Party.” Fast forward four years, and she’s preparing to fully establish herself as an artist of her own right.
After releasing collabs alongside Landstrip Chip and Lil Gnar this year, she’s returned with a lush new single titled, “Jealousy” ft. Lil Keed and Rylo Rodriguez. Quay Global holds the production with spacey, piano-laden production as Millie’s angelic harmonies take the lead. Rylo and Keed’s unique takes on melodic rap offer authentic grittiness without making it sound too forced.
Millie Go Lightly has a bright future ahead. We’re excited to hear what she has cooked up for the final quarter of 2021.
Quotable Lyrics
How can I hide jealousy?
Until you ask me out or buy a diamond ring for me
‘Cause I can’t even lie to you
I’m out of my mind ’til you feel the same
After years of allegations and court dates for R. Kelly, a verdict has finally been handed down: The New York Times reports that today, Kelly was found guilty of racketeering as well as eight violations of an anti-sex trafficking law. The singer now “faces the possibility of decades in prison,” the publication says.
As for Kelly’s reaction to the conviction, the Times notes, “R. Kelly sat motionless in the courtroom as he was found guilty of all nine counts of the racketeering and sex-trafficking charges against him. His facial expression was hidden by a mask.”
This story is being updated.
A federal jury has found R. Kelly guilty of racketeering in his sex trafficking case in New York, as reported by the New York Times and Chicago Tribute reporter Jason Meiser. Kelly is currently facing up to 20 years in prison for the racketeering charge alone.
Kelly was charged with one count of racketeering based on sexual exploitation of children, eight violations of the sex-trafficking statute, the Mann Act, as well as kidnapping and forced labor. The jury handed down the verdict around 3:00 p.m. on Monday. The jury determined Kelly was guilty of all charges. After being found guilty of all counts, Kelly is facing a maximum sentence of 100 years in prison.
The jury found that the evidence presented in the trial proved R. Kelly served as the ringleader of a sex trafficking scheme that involved sexual abuse and recruiting underage girls and young women for over 20 years. Since the trial’s beginnings in August, 45 witnesses, including underaged men and women, testified against the singer.
With the New York trial coming to an end, a trial will now be scheduled for federal child pornography and obstruction charges in Illinois. Kelly also has state charges filed against him in Illinois, as well as Minnesota, though he has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him.
We’ll continue to keep you posted on any more updates regarding R. Kelly’s trial.
