Month: December 2021

Tommy Fury and Jake Paul were supposed to fight each other on Saturday, December 18th, however, the fight is no longer going to happen as Fury has backed out. Instead, Jake will fight Tyron Woodley for the second time. Woodley accepted the fight on short notice, and it is expected to be a revenge fight of sorts for the former UFC champion. As for Fury, he had to back out of the fight due to an illness and an injury.

“I am absolutely heartbroken that I have been forced to withdraw from my fight with Jake Paul due to a bacterial chest infection and broken rib,” Fury said per VladTV. “I really do hope we can get this fight rescheduled in the new year. I want this fight to still happen more than anything.” 

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Of course, Paul decided to make fun of Fury on social media, as he called the youngest Fury brother scared. Jake has very little respect for the Fury’s right now, however, he is excited to challenge Woodley again, as the MMA fighter was his toughest test to date.

“When my team woke me up on Friday to tell me Tommy Fumbles was pulling out, I told them I’ll fight anyone on December 18th,” Paul said. “Troy, Trey, Trevor, Travis,… I don’t give a fuck who it is. Tommy’s pulling out because of a “medical condition” called vaginitis. Unlike the Fury’s, Tyron actually has some balls, is stepping in, and contractually he is getting an extra $500,000 if he knocks me out. First time I outboxed him. This time I’m gonna punish him and leave no doubt.”

This should prove to be a fun fight, even if it is something we have already kind of seen before. Let us know who you think will win, in the comments below.

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Justin Bieber is in the hot seat following a recent performance in Saudi Arabia. The “Love Yourself” singer took to the stage at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on Sunday to sing a few of his hits for audiences at the F1 Grand Prix, despite cries of outrage coming from upset fans.

As reported by TMZ, last month, eye-catching ads began appearing on trucks in Downtown Los Angeles, petitioning for the Canadian to reconsider his decision to perform in SA. “Bieber, Your Saudi Boss Murders Journalists. Do the right Thing, Cancel,” one of them reads. “Why is Bieber singing for a Saudi dictator who executes gay men?” another asks.

The country’s Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is seen as a threat by many human rights advocates, and they see the 27-year-old agreeing to perform for him as complacency with his problematic and harmful behaviour. “If you refuse to be a pawn of MBS, your message will be loud and clear: I do not perform for dictators. I choose justice and freedom over money,” Hatice Cengiz, the widowed fiancée of murdered Washington Post reporter Jamal Khashoggi wrote to the star.

Cengiz’s plea, and the countless others, seemingly weren’t heard by Bieber, as he performed alongside a roster of names like David Guetta, Tiesto, and A$AP Rocky. Superstar athlete Lewis Hamilton won the race, and it’s been reported that the Ontario-born vocalist sung “Deserve You,” “Somebody,” and “Hold On,” among other titles. 

His wife, Hailey Bieber, was also at the event, wearing a mask and a hat, laying low while taking in the show. Check out some clips below.

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Philadelphia rapper PnB Rock recently showed off his enormous new chain, boasting as he believes that it’s the largest-sized neckpiece in the entire rap game. Challenging jewelry lovers including the Migos, T-Pain, and other chain fanatics, PnB Rock says that he believes he has the largest chain in hip-hop, calling out Soulja Boy to prove him wrong.

As you’re likely aware, Soulja Boy claims to be the first rapper in the world to do absolutely anything, so it’s a must that he has the biggest chain in the game, right? 

“Yeah, man, Big P, man,” boasted PnB Rock from the jewelry store. “I got the biggest chain in the game, this shit a fucking ornament, n***a! Soulja Boy, what’s up, man?”

Rich Polk/Getty Images

The playful video shows the rapper balancing what appears to be an extremely heavy chain on his neck. It’s unclear if he’s joking around about the eagle hanging on his chest or if he seriously bought the piece. Regardless, it’s a pretty ornate pick-up for PnB, who already has an impressive jewelry collection.

Soulja Boy has yet to respond to the call-out, but you can rest assured that once he sees it, he’ll issue a response.

What do you think about PnB Rock’s new chain?

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

In the five years since Rihanna dropped ANTI, the “Desperado” singer has done everything except release more music. 

Despite the industry’s shift towards more frequent releases and attempts to go viral, Rihanna has bolstered her portfolio outside of music, and has cemented her legacy as one of most successful businesspeople and philanthropists of her generation. In 2018, she founded Savage x Fenty, an inclusive lingerie brand that has exploded into one of the hottest commodities in its market. In 2020, Rihanna entered into a high-profile relationship with rapper A$AP Rocky, and this year, she officially achieved billionaire status and was named the 11th National Hero of her native Barbados. 

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

All the while, fans have begged for new music. 

Transforming their pleas into a legitimate social media trend, asking Rihanna for a new album has become a running joke over the last couple of years. The 33-year-old has played along a handful of times, claiming that she “lost” the album, and promising that the half-decade wait is “going to be worth it,” but has also implored begging fans to “grow up,” as the incessant inquiries about the fabled new project reached ugly heights. 

Recently, Rihanna divulged a few details about the upcoming record, and along with a glowing co-sign from Pharrell, stirred legitimate excitement about the possibility of new music. And just weeks after she was trolled by digital sign at a night club reading, “DROP THE ALBUM RIHANNA,” it looks like we are on the verge of a major blessing. 

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

In an encounter with paparazzi over the weekend, Rihanna was asked if any new music was actually on the way. Walking away from the cameras, the Savage x Fenty founder delivered a promising response. 

“Soon, soon, soon,” she said. 

What do you think of Rihanna saying new music is coming soon? Let us know down in the comments and check out her full paparazzi interaction here. 

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It’s hard to believe we’re already back at year-end list time, as it’s formally referred to. The pandemic continues to affect all of our lives in disparate ways, depending on location, age, work, and living situation; meaning that, for most of us, life still hasn’t necessarily returned to “normal.” There is still some way in which we are grappling with the pandemic aftermath, or the virus itself, whether it be via local rules and regulations or the simple fact that we were pretty much collectively shut down all of 2020. Nonetheless, for the music business, things are resuming to “normalcy” as best they can– that is to say, we’re seeing new tour announcements pop up daily, and while the beginning of the pandemic may have brought some hesitancy as far as what’s the best protocol for releasing new music, 2021 has pretty much been back in full swing, with major song releases (and album rollouts to match) from OGs like Nas, perpetually-cool artists like Drake and Tyler, the Creator, as well as newcomers like Baby Keem and EST Gee. All of these aforementioned artists make an appearance on our Top 35 Hottest Hip-Hop Songs of 2021 list below.

This year’s list showcases an eclectic mix of what was popping throughout hip-hop and rap, whether it be through a TikTok or social media channel, YouTube, or the streets. These were songs that made an impact due to sheer quality and the strength of #bars, or else, there were songs that might have been simply unavoidable, growing on us due to their ubiquity. This list blends what we perceived to be the most-talked-about, longest-lasting post-release, and most impactful and hottest hip-hop songs of 2021, with a splash of our staff’s opinions thrown in for good measure.

Scroll through the list below and sound off in the comments.

Ed. Note: We decided to slim down the list this year. You will get our team’s in-depth write-ups by way of a “Staff Picks of the Year” round-up which we’ll be dropping next Monday, December 13. Stay tuned for this more personalized year-end approach.

– Rose

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35. Lil Wayne – Ya Dig

34. Tee Grizzley – “White Lows Off Designer” feat. Lil Durk

33. Doja Cat – “Options” feat. JID

32. Pop Smoke – “Bout a Million” feat. 42 Dugg & 21 Savage

31. Benny the Butcher & Harry Fraud – “Plug Talk” feat. 2 Chainz

30. Meek Mill – “Sharing Locations” feat. Lil Durk & Lil Baby

29. Key Glock & Young Dolph – “Penguins”

28. BIA – “Whole Lotta Money” Remix feat. Nicki Minaj

27. Lil Nas X – “Industry Baby” feat. Jack Harlow

26. Freddie Gibbs – “Black Illuminati” feat. Jadakiss

25. Lil Durk & Lil Baby – “Every Chance I Get”

24. Nardo Wick – “Who Want Smoke Remix” feat. Lil Durk, G Herbo & 21 Savage

23. Nicki Minaj – “Seeing Green” feat. Drake & Lil Wayne

22. Drake – “Wants & Needs” feat. Lil Baby

21. Conway – “Scatter Brain” feat. JID & Ludacris

20. J. Cole – “Pride is the Devil” feat. Lil Baby

19. EST Gee – “5500 Degrees” feat. Lil Baby, 42 Dugg & Rylo Rodriguez

18. Nipsey Hussle – “What It Feels Like” feat. Jay-Z

17. Young Thug – “Day Before” feat. Mac Miller

16. Westside Gunn – “Hell on Earth Pt. 2”

15. Polo G – “Rapstar”

14. Sleepy Hallow – “2055”

13. Lloyd Banks – “Empathy” feat. Freddie Gibbs

12. Drake – “Knife Talk” feat. Project Pat & 21 Savage

11. Lil Tjay – “Calling My Phone” feat. 6lack

10. Isaiah Rashad – “Lay Wit Ya” feat. Duke Deuce

09. Tyler, The Creator – “WUSYANAME” feat. NBA Youngboy & Ty Dolla $ign

08. YSL – “Ski”

07. J. Cole – “My Life” feat. Morray & 21 Savage

06. Kanye West – “Off the Grid” feat. Playboi Carti & Fivio Foreign

05. Nas – “Nobody” feat. Lauryn Hill

04. Drake – “Champagne Poetry”

03. Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar – “range brothers”

02. Kanye West – “Life of the Party” feat. Andre 3000

01. Moneybagg Yo – “Wockesha”