Month: February 2022

Earthgang Finally Shared Their Long-Awaited ‘Ghetto Gods’ Album, Hear ‘Billi’ Featuring Future

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Atlanta hip-hop duo Earthgang have been grinding forever, but recently, they’ve been getting the shine they always deserved. After J. Cole signed them to his Dreamville label, they released their eclectic debut, Mirrorland, and have been teasing a follow-up for a minute now. After another January date was thrown in the mix, Ghetto Gods was finally slated for release, and came out today. It’s chock full of features from other Atlanta legends, like Future and 2 Chainz, and if you want to get a taste of what their collaborations with hip-hop royalty sound like, check out “Billi” featuring Future up top.

Along with him, the album features cameos from J.I.D., fellow Dreamville artist Ari Lennox, of course label head J. Cole jumped on a track, Musiq Soulchild and Nick Canon are also featured. Disappointingly, CeeLo Green is also involved with the project, despite his past conviction of drugging a woman and raping her. A press release about the album describes it as “a sonic reminder of the godhood present in all of us and a study in how our environments create our reality, which, through dedication, faith and belief can be transmuted into whatever we desire.” Check out “Billi” above and stream the album below.

Central Cee’s Wildly-Anticipated ’23’ Mixtape Has Arrived Along With A Clip For ‘Straight Back To It’

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By the end of the day, Central Cee’s new video for “Straight Back To It” will already be touching a million views. That’s because the West London rapper is the next big thing in British rap and just dropped the wildly-anticipated mixtape 23 today.

The follow-up to last year’s breakthrough Wild West, a mixtape that saw Cench nominated for three BRIT Awards, 23 showcases a rapper firing on all cylinders. Singles like “Khabib” and “Cold Shoulder” have Cee leaving haters in the dust and rising in the ranks over sleek drill production. “Straight Back To It,” is no different. A track about fighting back when you get knocked down, it’s an apt display of the rapper’s commitment to the grind. “Done a graveyard shift last night, woke up today and got straight back to it / Took me an L, no problem / I got on my grind, got straight back to it,” he raps.

The track is produced by longtime collaborator Young Chencs and it’s another highlight from the immediately essential British hip-hop release.

Watch the video for “Straight Back To It” above and check out the 23 album artwork and tracklist below.

Central Cee 23
Central Cee

1. “Khabib”
2. “Straight Back To It”
3. “Ungrateful”
4. “Bunda”
5. “Retail Therapy”
6. “Eurovision” feat. Rondodasosa, Baby Gang, A2Anti, Morad, Benny Jr, ASHE
7. “Cold Shoulder”
8.” Mrs”
9.” Air BnB”
10. “No Pain”
11. “Terminal 5”
12. “Obsessed With You”
13. “8 Ball”
14. “Lil Bro”
15. “End of The Beginning”

23 is out now via self-release. Listen to it here.

Russ Remains Steadfast In His Beliefs With The Self-Shot ‘What Are Yall’ Video

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You can probably call Russ a lot of things — stubborn, outspoken, maybe even a little obnoxious — but you absolutely cannot call him wrong about most things, especially his philosophy about the benefits of remaining independent and retaining ownership. He once again touts both — and sends some jabs at his detractors — in his new video for “What Are Y’all,” which he boasted he shot the same day he finished the song in a marathon recording and editing session that he says proves his overall point.

“Made this song at 3 am Thursday,” he said in a note on the video. “Sent it off to Spotify and Apple at 4 pm. Shot the video at 9 pm and just finished editing it. Dreams only work if you do and freedom is priceless.”

Naturally, the video isn’t terribly complex, just featuring Russ posted up in his studio performing the song to the camera while the lyrics display at the bottom of the screen. But the impact is in the substance, not the style, as he challenges his critics using his own accomplishments. “It’s essential I shut up, it’s what ya’ll think right?” he quips. “But standing down never rеally sit right.”

Russ has been on roll this year, dropping a slew of new weekly singles including “Remember,” its remix featuring Hailey Knox, “Real,” and “Handsomer.”

Eurovision Bans Russia From The 2022 Song Contest Just A Day After Opting Not To

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Eurovision Song Contest 2018 Trophy
Getty Image

This year’s Eurovision Song Contest is set to take place in Turin, Italy in May, when musical representatives from many countries will take to the city to show off the best of what their nations have to offer. Given the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, many wondered if Russia would be allowed to participate in this year’s event. Initially, Eurovision organizers (the European Broadcast Union) told NPR yesterday, “The Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political cultural event. The EBU is however concerned about current events in Ukraine and will continue to closely monitor the situation.”

The EBU has quickly changed its tune, though, as they’ve now gone ahead and banned Russia from the 2022 contest. In a new statement today, they said:

“No Russian act will participate in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. The decision reflects the concern that, in light of the unprecedented crisis in Ukraine, the inclusion of a Russian entry in this year’s contest would bring the competition into disrepute. The EBU is an apolitical member organization of broadcasters committed to upholding the values of public service. We remain dedicated to protecting the values of a cultural competition which proves international exchange and understanding, brings audiences together, celebrates diversity through music, and unites Europe on one stage.”

In recent years, Russia has been one of the strongest-performing countries in the contest: As BBC notes, they’ve had five top-five finishes over the past decade. They last won in 2008 and the next year, the contest was held in Moscow. Meanwhile, the Eurovision website notes of Ukraine, “Ukraine first entered the contest in 2003 and rapidly became one of the most successful countries in the competition. In 15 appearances at the Eurovision Song Contest, Ukraine has never missed a Grand Final. 9 of those 14 entries have finished in the top 10, 5 have finished in the top 3, and 2 have been winners.” Those wins came in 2004 and 2016.

Rubi Rose Spills On Her Preferences With New Single, “I Like”

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One of the most popular women in rap, Kentucky-born rapper Rubi Rose has returned with her new single, “I Like.”

Kicking off the year with her new single, this also marks Rubi’s co-directorial debut as she self-directed the new music video alongside Legit Looks. With Rubi’s signature contralto flow locked in, the 24-year-old shows why she’s been stationed as one of the primary female voices in hip-hop for the last few years, unapologetically rapping about what she wants out of her lovers. 

The music video starts off as Rubi enjoys dinner with her family but, as with any family, her parents nosily press her about her love life. When she reveals she’s single, her parents start to pitch different men that she might be into, but she decides to just make it easier for them and instruct them on her personal preferences when it comes to her partners.

Check out Rubi Rose’s co-directorial debut below and stay tuned for more new music in the coming months.

Quotable Lyrics:

I don’t need a beat, b*tch, I’m on stage with the bands
In the club like ebony, I came here to dance
Hair down to my ass, skin look like cinnamon
P***y have a rap n***a singing like Jagged Edge

Tiana Major9 & Smino Vibe Out On “2 Seater”

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For her first single of 2022, Tiana Major9 is showing off her soulful singing skills and her braggadocious rap bars on “2 seater,” which boasts an appearance from 30-year-old Missouri native Smino.

“You’re my present / Show you my scars / So you can bless them oooh / Anytime you pull up I make moooves / Girl I keep them vacant seats for yoooou / Pull up on ya,” the “Wild Irish Roses” hitmaker ends his heartfelt verse.

The single also received a music video, which viewers have been heavily praising so far. “Been waiting to hear from Tiana,” one YouTube user wrote. “Smino never disappointing per usual.”

Others added, “I love this so much omfg!!! The play on Niveas ‘Okay’!!!!! This is literally heaven to my ears,” and “This song is so goooddddd omg. That transition.”

Watch the music video for Tiana Major9 and Smino’s “2 seater” above, and let us know which bars from the new single are your favourites are in the comments.

Quotable Lyrics:

I’m taking you to places you ain’t been
My playlist is how you get to know me
Ain’t nothing hidden wear my heart up on my sleeve
But still I keep it Gucci like I’m rocking red and green

Joe Budden Lands Another Nicki Minaj Interview

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Following their clash a few years ago, Nicki Minaj and Joe Budden joined forces as the Joe Budden Podcast visited Queen Radio for an informative chat about their differences, Nicki’s historic career, and much more. For fans of their first conversation, you will be pleased to see that it appears they are working together again, teaming up for yet another interview in the coming weeks.

With Nicki Minaj’s album rollout in full swing following the releases of her new singles “Bussin” and “Do We Have A Problem,” the Queen of Rap looks to be sitting down for another intimate interview with Joe Budden. On Friday (February 25), the rapper posed for a picture with Budden, who said on Instagram, “Once again it’s on…….”


Paras Griffin/Getty Images

Jacopo Raule/Getty Images

So far, it has not been revealed when the interview will be released but fans are already pumped about the upcoming conversation. It’s not often that Nicki does interviews and Joe Budden is one of the best in the business — he will definitely be asking her some of the tough questions while also learning more about Nicki’s upcoming album.

What do you expect from Joe Budden’s sit-down with Nicki Minaj? Stay tuned for more from Nicki as her new album is apparently coming “sooner than [we] think.”