Month: February 2023

SZA Said Beyoncé ‘Is So Much Bigger Than A F*cking Grammy’

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SZA Astroworld November 2022
Getty Image

In a recent interview with the The Los Angeles Times, SZA got very candid about her meteoric rise from an alternative R&B star to a pop phenomenon. However, it was the TDE singer’s statement about her recent album, S.O.S., and the 2024 Grammys that stood out. SZA said she doesn’t want to speculate on her fate at next year’s award show for fear of manifesting herself as an outcome similar to this year’s award show where Beyoncé — who was nominated for record, song, and album of the year— failed to win any awards in the main categories that night.

“Beyoncé — she’s so much bigger than a[n] f*cking Grammy,” SZA said. “She’s Beyoncé! She’s done it for women, she’s done it for Black people, she’s done it for artists. She’s done so much for the world by just being herself.”

SZA also touched on the rampant misogyny running throughout the music industry. “I was tired and angry, ” she said. “I feel like men just pick on women so much in music, it’s corny. Women sell so much music! A lot of y’all that are talking down on women — we sell more records than you. We literally make more money.”

The singer also touched on the extreme misogyny that Megan The Stallion has experienced for nearly two years since being shot in the foot by Tory Lanez and the accompanying trial that followed.

“Why did we require so much from Megan to have empathy for her?” SZA said. “It was inhumane how it all went, with the bizarre level of scrutiny on her sex life. But justice was served. I hope that Megan’s somewhere healing.”

Adrian Holmes Reveals How Will Smith’s Oscars Slap Affected “Bel-Air”

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Peacock’s reboot of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, titled Bel-Air, was a hit after its debut last year. This year, it returns for a second season on February 23 with a new showrunner, a new supporting cast, and new changes. Adrian Holmes spoke to Deadline about the future of the series. Additionally, he discusses the fallout of what happened after Will Smith’s infamous Oscars slap. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook Studios and Universal television produce the series as part of Universal Studio Group. So, how did the viral Oscars moment impact the preparation for the show’s second season?

Holmes told Deadline, “Well, there was that thought, but like I said, we have created a lane of our own. We’ve got a fan base that is very loyal. I wasn’t as worried about it, as a lot of people thought.” He continues, saying, “Yeah, I wasn’t too worried about it, to be honest. Most people I spoke to were just like, ‘we love the show. It’s such a great show, and what you’ve done with it is just brilliant and genius.’” Holmes says that “it’s something that we all need. It’s like medicine for the community, for the culture. People tap in and they get to be entertained, but they also learn something.”

Adrian Holmes Speaks

(L-R) Jimmy Akingbola, Cassandra Freeman and Adrian Holmes pose at the after party for the season 2 premiere of Peacock’s “Bel-Air” at NeueHouse on February 22, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images)

Holmes went on to discuss the importance of the show’s all-around positive narrative. He said, “It’s what the world needs right now. We live in such a sad, dark world, you know? We need as much light as we possibly can. I think our show is that light.” He continues to explain that, “our show was recognized with an NAACP Award for Best Drama. We are the number one streaming show on Peacock with over 9 million subscribers. That’s not a small thing. I really take a lot of pride in that because it’s hard to do. So I pray that we will be around for a long time. To re-imagine an iconic sitcom and for it to have legs is a miracle.”

Therefore, Holmes doesn’t think the event at the Oscars will have an impact on the show’s numbers and viewership. However, the question remiains: did Will Smith show up on set this time around? Holmes had an answer for that, as well. He said, “No, not this season, no. He text messaged me. His presence is definitely felt by all of us. We would’ve loved to have seen him. That would have been a nice surprise. But he has a lot going on and you know, hopefully, we’ll see more of him by God’s grace. We’ll have a third, fourth, fifth, and sixth season and beyond. We’ll get to see him some more.”

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Key Glock Reflects On Signing With Young Dolph

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Key Glock recently reflected on signing with Young Dolph and how his fallen friend set him up for success. Moreover, he spoke on Dolph’s generosity and emphasis on independence in a recent interview with Esquire. While the Memphis rapper bears the torch of Paper Route EMPIRE and arguably leads its charge, he still remembers how the label boss set the foundation. Furthermore, it was family and belief that brought their two paths together. Overall, Glock spoke earnestly about how small considerations made way to a successful rap career.

“It really just happened out of the blue,” the 25-year-old elaborated. “It wasn’t even a plan. I got into some trouble. I got incarcerated. And then close to the time for me to come home, my auntie was married to Young Dolph’s uncle. She told him, ‘You know, Key doing his thing… He just reached out to me and it went from there.” Of course, the Dolph protegé’s success is well-documented and recognized in the game. In fact, he just released his latest album Glockoma 2, which is among the impactful trap and hip-hop albums that 2023’s brought us so far.

Key Glock Honors Young Dolph

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – OCTOBER 05: Young Dolph and Key Glock attend the BET Hip Hop Awards 2019 at Cobb Energy Center on October 05, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for BET)

“They always let me do me, let me be me,” Key remarked. Moreover, he said he values the independence and commitment to freedom that his late colleague lived by. “No matter what it was. Music or just everything in life. I go by my rules. You know, I don’t mean to disrespect anybody. It’s just how I move. Play by my own rules.” Early in the interview, Glock referred to a sense of confidence that likely led him to that individual hustler mentality. “From my first song, I just had so much confidence in myself,” he explained. “I let everybody hear it, before I even put it on the Internet. I don’t know if they were gassing me up or not, but to me, I was like, “Oh yeah, this song hard.”

Elsewhere in the interview, the “Russian Cream” MC spoke on his idea of success, which is dark but highly resonant. “Success is when you feel like you’re accomplishing things, but you still have this weight on you that you can’t shake. You want to keep surpassing yourself. I knew I was succeeding when I got more hate than ever. When you’re working and grinding, they aren’t going to say too much. Being successful, there’s pros and cons that comes with it.” If you’re interested, check out the full interview in the second link down below. Also, stick around on HNHH for the latest news and updates from Key Glock and to keep celebrating Young Dolph’s impactful artistry.

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Quavo Reminds Us Of His “Greatness” On This Weekend’s “Fire Emoji” Update

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Our final Fire Emoji playlist update of February has landed, and it’s got some seriously hot tracks. It’s a male-dominated list of releases. Some of them are solo efforts and others are collaborations that are sure to heat up your playlist. Landing at the top of this weekend’s list is a posthumous joint from DMX. He connects with Lil Wayne on “Kant Nobody.”

All this time after his tragic death, the New York MCs legacy continues to live on thanks to Weezy’s upcoming album. His Tha Carter VI campaign began with this new single. It’s sure to continue with even more fire over the coming weeks. Swizz Beatz also helped out with “Kant Nobody,” putting his impressive production skills to great use.

Next, we hear from Quavo, who’s slowly returning to the spotlight following the tragic death of his nephew, Takeoff. On “Greatness,” the former Migos member addressed the gossip regarding the future of the rap group. He makes it clear that without his partner in rhyme, he and Offset couldn’t go on. Still, we do hope to see the family members put aside their differences and make music together in the future.

Chicago’s G Herbo shared his latest, “Raining” on Friday. The father of three chiefly worked with Murda Beatz for the single’s fire production. Additionally, he recruited Yung Bleu to put his R&B magic touch on the track as he prepares to drop off his next album in the coming weeks.

Two noteworthy albums we heard this weekend include Don Toliver’s Love Sick and Yeat’s AftërLyfe. From the former, we selected “Private Landing” featuring Justin Bieber and Future as our title to spotlight. Other guest appearances on the ambitious project come from James Blake, Lil Durk, GloRilla, Kali Uchis, and Brent Faiyaz, just to name a few.

As for the latter, the California native has fans buzzing thanks to yet another collaboration with NBA YoungBoy. After connecting on the Louisana native’s Gangsta Grillz tape last October, they came together once again for “Shmunk.” Additionally, from Key Glock’s highly anticipated Glockoma 2 tape, we picked “Dirt” for your streaming pleasure.

Our final two fire picks of the week are EST Gee’s latest, “Undefeated,” as well as a link-up between Conway the Machine, Sauce Walka, and Juicy J. The trio celebrated the NFL Championship earlier this month with “Super Bowl,” a nearly four-minute-long banger that’s sure to satisfy fans.

Stream this weekend’s batch of Fire Emoji-worthy songs exclusively on Spotify below. Afterward, tell us which of the new additions is your favourite in the comments. Make sure to check back on Sunday (February 26) to catch more release recommendations on our R&B Season playlist.

24kGoldn Hints At A Dark Romance In “Bite”

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Pop rap artist 24kGoldn reveals his moody side in his recent drop, “Bite.” The 22-year-old has gone viral for his previous upbeat bangers, including Tik Tok sensation “Mood.” With “Bite,” the hit-maker has slowed down his flow and introduced a new sensual persona into his lyricism. Throughout the track, 24kGoldn portrays a dark romance, frequently alluding to a “vampire” lover with “bloody-colored kisses.”

When 24kGoldn announced the arrival of “Bite” on his socials today (February 24th), he noted, “really proud of this song and excited to introduce u to the next chapter of my artistry and the 1st of my monthly drops this year.” Although this release is the first of the singer’s one-drop-a-month challenge, he did close off last year with quite a few tracks, including “In My Head” with Travis Barker and “Checkers” featuring Bandmanrill. He also maintained a successful year of touring, which not only included his own Better Late Than Never tour but also a supporting act in Wiz Khalifa and Logic’s Vinyl Verse Summer Tour.

24kGoldn’s “Bite” Offers A New Taste Of His Music

Although 24kGoldn hasn’t publicized a relationship right now, his muse for the song has certainly sparked up inspiration within him. Continuing with the spooky underlays of this romance, the singer describes the beauty of the mysterious partner of interest: “You keep postin’ pics like that and I’ma have to marry you / Oh my God, you dead gorgeous, I’ma have to bury you.”

The California native has already hinted at an exciting year of creative endeavors, and “Bite” marks his first effort. Combining gritty and sultry into one, 24kGoldn has showcased a new side to his artistry. Although short (the full song falls shy of three minutes), this release is extremely catchy, so prepare to hear it whether you plan on checking out the above audio or not. For the hottest news in hip-hop and pop culture, be sure to keep in touch with HotNewHipHop.

Quotable Lyrics:

You with your friends but I wanna see you right now
Cancеl your plans, you don’t have to spend the night out
You’rе like a vampire, baby, when you bite down
I wanna dance with the devil ’til the lights out

Adam Sandler Cookie Monster: Man With Same Name As Actor Harrasses Santa Cruz In Costume

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Last year saw a significant rise in celebrity doppelgangers, with figures like “Fake Drake” using their resemblance to stars to get ahead. After OVO sent him a cease and desist letter a few months back, Izzy humbly agreed to stop performing as the Canadian artist. Unfortunately for Adam Sandler, a man who bares the same name as him isn’t being so kind about giving up his foolish antics.

For his part, the actor has been busy working on his “insane” 340-page script for his next collaboration with the Safdie brothers following their wild success with Uncut Gems. Elsewhere in the country, the other Adam Sandler has been dressing up in a Sesame Street Cookie Monster costume and harassing locals. According to TMZ, things are so bad that police are issuing a warning about the man wearing blue.

On Wednesday (February 22), the Santa Cruz PD put out an official notice for citizens in the area to beware of Sandler. He has no relation to the Grown Ups actor and is wandering around the beach and wharf while making uncomfortable comments to strangers and acting out erratically. Cops say that no crimes have technically been committed, but they’re remaining vigilant as he has a “history of unpredictable vulgar comments and troublesome behaviour.”

Police have asked patrons of the city to stay away from Sandler should approach or provoke them. If anything inappropriate happens, locals should feel free to contact authorities and report the incident. Their warning also makes it known that the troubled man isn’t an employee of the city – and this isn’t his first time behaving in such a manner.

Adam’s Previous Antics

Over a decade ago, in 2012, Sandler was one of the many costumed figures wandering around New York City. At that time, he opted to play the role of another Sesame Street favourite, Elmo, but instead of spreading laughter and joy, he ranted about hateful topics, including antisemitism, in Times Square. He was arrested at the time, and ultimately plead guilty to disorderly conduct. Let us know what you think about the strange man’s behaviour in the comments, and check back later for more pop culture news.

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Air Jordan 37 Low “Team Red” Unveiled: Photos

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With the Air Jordan 37 seeing a ton of success, it was only a matter of time before the Air Jordan 37 Low became a thing. Over the years, Jumpman has always created a low-top version of its signature MJ silhouette. Overall, fans have been fairly split between these two models. On one hand, you have the fans who like the high-tops. However, the other hand has everyone who prefers something that is a bit lower on their ankles. Both of these approaches and preferences are equally valid.

With that being said, Jumpman is giving just a bit more attention to the low-top variation as it is much newer. Subsequently, we are starting to see new colorways of the Air Jordan 37 Low. There are plenty of cool teasers being shown off, as well as some official images. For hoopers, this is definitely good news as they will have some new options just in time for the playoffs. First up is this “Team Red” model which is a women’s exclusive.

“Team Red” Air Jordan 37 Low

Air Jordan 37 Low
Image via Nike

If you are familiar with Nike and Jordan Brand’s previous work, you know that “Team Red” is a motif we have seen a lot of in the past. That said, this latest shoe looks amazing. It is covered in bright red hues, and these are meant to pop on the court. Firstly, you can see the side panels and overlays get a nice bright red that really stands out. Secondly, the toe box up through to the tongue is burgundy. These two shades contrast well with one another and it also looks great with the beige midsole that brings the look together.

For those who like these, you will be able to grab them as of March 8th. The retail price for this offering has been set at $175 USD. Let us know what you think of these shoes, down in the comments below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the sneaker world. We will always keep you informed on all things related to shoes.

More Photos

Image via Nike
Air Jordan 37 Low
Image via Nike

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Yeat & NBA YoungBoy Go Hard On “Shmunk” From New “AftërLyfe” Album

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Before February comes to a close next week, a large number of artists pushed to have their new arrivals out this Friday (February 24). We heard remixes from The Weeknd and Ariana Grande, as well as A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, and the albums came in numbers too. We heard from Logic and friends on College Park, and Don Toliver’s Love Sick is earning mixed reviews. One project that’s sitting incredibly well with fans so far is Yeat’s AftërLyfe.

The 22-year-old gave fans an astounding 22 tracks on his latest effort, most of them coming in without features. Of course, he did connect with a handful of collaborators, including Luh geeky on “Now” and Kranky Krany on both “Rav3 p4rty” and “Mëan feen.” Aside from those three, Yeat also reconnected with NBA YoungBoy for “Shmunk,” which has already earned nearly 45K streams on Spotify alone.

NBA YoungBoy Goes All In On Yeat’s “Shmunk” Joint

“Yeah, you heard me right / Uh, he ain’t pickin’ no fight, he ain’t pickin’ no fight,” the California-born performer rhymes as the chorus blasts at the start of the song. “Yeah, got a blick on my side, got a blick on my side / I got big money, big money ties and big mob ties.” For his part, the Louisiana native also shows out with braggadocios bars, chiefly about having stacks of cash, buying new cars, and wearing designer brands.

Yeat and YoungBoy’s latest collaborative effort isn’t their first time working together. Last October, the latter shared his Ma’ I Got A Family Gangsta Grillz tape, including 19 tracks and just two features. The first comes from Nicki Minaj on “I Admit,” while the second comes from Never Broke Again on “I Don’t Text Back.”

Stream Yeat and NBA YoungBoy’s joint “Shmunk” single on Spotify or Apple Music below. Afterward, revisit the former’s full AftërLyfe album here. Make sure to check back later today (February 25) for more release updates on our Fire Emoji playlist update.

Quotable Lyrics:

Pull up and I chop it, I pop it and pop it
She f*ck with my diamonds, I f*ck with her Gotti then
I need to buy me a brand new big body Benz
Ain’t comin’ in if they ain’t let them shottas in

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Moneybagg Yo Flexes His Jewelry

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Moneybagg Yo took to Instagram to flex his expansive and shimmering jewelry collection, and boasted that it “ain’t even half.” Moreover, he showed off a couple of watches, some chains, pendants, and what seem to be rings. Considering the Memphis rapper’s increasing and consistent success over the past few years, he built quite the impressive display. However, a lot of people in the comments didn’t take too kindly to his showing off. While some said that such behavior is what leads rappers to get robbed, others gave similar spiels on material wealth, lab-grown diamonds, and so on. Regardless, the “Wockesha” MC seems quite proud to post his collection on the Gram.

Even though you might assume the rapper’s cold and achievement-driven mentality, he’s got a softer side. In fact, he recently appeared in a funny video with girlfriend Ari Fletcher where they cook together. Furthermore, they grilled each other with questions about their relationship. “Did you really snatch my wig off when we was outside the club in Miami?” Fletcher asked the 31-year-old. “Do your kids like me? In your new song, you was like ‘F**k on my h*e, f**k on my b***h.’ Who were you talking about? Do your baby mamas like me?”

Moneybagg Yo’s Impressive Jewelry

 “Do you remember the first time you said you loved me, and when I told you?” the rapper asked her back. “You ain’t let me hit until, like Thanksgiving. You made me wait.” Although this made for a cutesy moment, they flexed their material love for each other on Valentine’s Day this year. Moreover, the social media influencer gave Moneybagg Yo a Volkswagen, and he gave Ari a Bentley.

Meanwhile, Yo is continuing his expansive and multi-hyphenate career as a leading artist and talent scouter. For example, he recently assisted Baltimore MC Rican Da Menace on her recent single “DUMB,” and the duo brought a banger together. Also, he recently signed YTB Fat to his expanding and rising Bread Gang Entertainment label. In more ways than one, Yo is stamping himself as a big influence in not just Memphis, but the rap game as a whole. With all that in mind, come back to HNHH for the latest on Moneybagg Yo.