Month: November 2024

Drake All Smiles At The Club After Threatening UMG Over “Not Like Us”

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It’s been a difficult year for Drake. The Toronto rapper went head-to-head with Kendrick Lamar in a viral rap battle, and according to most, lost. Earlier this month, Kendrick unleashed his new album GNX by surprise too. It’s been a major success, prompting big reactions from internet trolls. Just a few days after the unexpected drop, Drake also decided to take legal action against Universal Music Group (UMG) over Kendrick’s hit diss track “Not Like Us.”

He accuses the label and Spotify of manipulating streams through botting and influencers. He also alleges that UMG could have stopped the song from being released. In turn, this would have prevented the spread of allegations that he’s a predator. Of course, he’s been getting clowned for this as well, though some think there’s a chance he could make a serious change in the music industry. Regardless, social media users can be ruthless, especially when it comes to Drake these days.

Read More: Journalist Backs Up Drake’s Claim That Siri Played “Not Like Us” When Asked About “Certified Lover Boy”… Technically

Drake Appears Unbothered In New Clip Despite UMG Drama

Luckily, however, it doesn’t look like Drake has let all of this get him down too much. In a new clip shared by Akademiks TV on X, he’s seen smiling and laughing at a club with some friends. He appeared to be in shockingly good spirits despite everything going on, and his supporters are glad to see it. While this indicates that Drake isn’t completely hung up on the drama, it seems like he’s at least a bit tuned in. Earlier today, for example, one Instagram user shared a post asking followers whether or not Drake could win the legal battle with UMG and “declare war on the music industry.”

Timbaland responded with a GIF of someone shaking their head, suggesting that he’s not entirely convinced this is possible. Internet sleuths then quickly realized that Drake unfollowed Timbaland, meaning he could have taken offense to his comment.

Read More: Azealia Banks Thinks That Drake Could Actually Change The Music Industry For Good This Time

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Evilgiane Delivers Cross Cultural Collab With Rojuu-Assisted “Family Mart”

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Evilgiane’s reach just keeps growing and growing. “FAMILY MART,” his newest single with Spanish-speaking rapper and singer, Rojuu. The latter is 21 years old and hails from Barcelona, Spain. This marks their first collaboration and given their similar styles of cloud rap, trap, and emo rap, it’s a perfect marriage. The English translation may not do the lyrics total justice, but this single is about Rojuu losing trust and love for a girl. Moreover, this relationship sounds like it weighs on him at times. However, given the success Rojuu is now seeing, it’s helping him cope with the pain.

Speaking of winning, the youngster has been doing so for a little bit now. He’s been releasing music since 2017, so when he was about 14! It’s been a grind for sure, but he’s got some hits under his belt now such as “Umi,” “Cuando Sonries,” “Twilight,” and more. The same could be said about evilgiane, who knows a thing or two about working your way up the totem pole. His work ethic has landed him hits with the likes of Kendrick Lamar and Baby Keem, Veeze, Maxo Kream, and more. Check out “FAMILY MART” with the music video link below.

Read More: Journalist Backs Up Drake’s Claim That Siri Played “Not Like Us” When Asked About “Certified Lover Boy”… Technically

“Family Mart” – Evilgiane & Rojuu

Quotable Lyrics (English Translation):

So many wounds unhealed and I continue new
Your last memory is not going to be that kiss
You guys want to f*** with the crazy guy until you see he’s crazy (Roku)
They want to ‘tar crazy until you’re crazy’ (Roku)
‘I’m taking care of my garden, I’m number one (Number one)
It’s weirdo to live with your head being a (Swag)

Read More: Diddy’s Ex-Bodyguard Could Be Called As Witness Amid Male Inmate’s Lawsuit Over Alleged Assault

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Schoolboy Q Hits The Streets With “GNX” In The Deck

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Naturally, Schoolboy Q and TDE have been the biggest supporters of Kendrick Lamar’s surprise album, GNX, released last week. Groovy Q took to the streets with Lamar’s album and shared an Instagram post on Saturday morning (Nov. 30) bumpin’ the fan favorite “Peekaboo.” On the freeway, Q vibes to the track while smoking a blunt. As fans have praised the album throughout the week, this post adds to the support shown by fellow TDE acts Ab-Soul, Punch, and Top Dawg. Released last Friday (Nov. 22), the album took over Spotify and Apple Music.

“Peekaboo” is one of the album cuts that showcase emerging Los Angeles hip-hop artists. AzChike. Kendrick sounds menacing over the bouncy production while he and AzChike skillfully trade bars. The song topped the charts, joining the entire album that includes “tv off,” “luther,” and “hey now.” The album features an all-L.A. lineup with Lefty Gunplay, Hitta J3, Roddy Ricch, and Wallie The Sensei.

Read more: ScHoolboy Q Announces Another Tour For “Blue Lips” Along With An Exciting Twist

Schoolboy Q Ridin’ Around Bumpin’ “Peekaboo”

Lamar’s new album included more disses toward his rival Drake. Leading into the summer, Q commented on the beef, which allegedly led to TDE being banned from performing shows in Toronto.”They just canceled by sHow in Toronto,” he wrote on X in July. “Canadian police don’t want nobody from TDE performing.” SiR, another TDE artist, would comment on the ban after Q. Drake would respond to Q’s cancellation by trolling the “Man of the Year” hitmaker.

According to Hits Daily Double, GNX is projected to be the seventh-biggest debut of 2024, with Lamar securing 324,000 units. While the first release on Lamar’s PgLang, he reassured his unwavering alliance to TDE, promoting every album released this year. Schoolboy Q’s Blue Lips has received widespread acclaim and argument for Album of the Year. Q is set to hit the road in 2025 on the second leg of his album tour with new dates in Paris, London, and Berlin. 

Read more: Tyler, The Creator And ScHoolboy Q Reunite For “Thought I Was Dead”
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Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre Get Glitzy On Our New “Fire Emoji” Playlist Update: Stream

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Even though the year is starting to die down, we still have plenty of new music to take us through 2024’s end on our latest Fire Emoji playlist update, which rounds up the best of the best new hip-hop releases of the week. Starting us off is the new single from Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre’s upcoming album, Missionary. It’s the track “Another Part Of Me” featuring Sting, and it samples “Message In A Bottle” by the singer’s band, The Police. Despite the odd choice, it works out relatively well thanks to more sharp percussion, some backing vocals, and a dash of charisma.

Next up on Fire Emoji are two unconventional but nonetheless impactful and massive blockbuster albums this week. Juice WRLD’s latest posthumous album and his final project, the long-awaited The Party Never Ends, finally came out this Friday, and while it’s certainly divisive, cuts like “Celebrate” with Offset seem to have resonated. In addition, J. Cole released his classic mixtape Friday Night Lights on streaming services for the first time. It came out 14 years ago, but cuts like “Before I’m Gone” still hit hard.

Read More: J Cole Claims That Jay-Z Once Told Drake To Give Cole A Hit Single

HNHH Fire Emoji Playlist: Stream

Speaking of albums, Fire Emoji also highlighted the new Kodak Black album Trill Bill. Sonically and mic-wise, it’s pretty much exactly what you expect from the Florida native, but if you’re interested in one of the most successful and engaging examples of these retreads, look no further than the song “News Matt.” As far as other new songs this week, Benny The Butcher and 38 Spesh followed up their collab album earlier in 2024 with the grimy and raw boom-bap cut, “SS2 Freestyle.”

Finally, we wanted to shout out The LOX for the surprising, glossy, and classic East Coast-evoking single, “Isley Money.” It’s about as confident, gritty, and focused as you would expect from this iconic hip-hop collective, and it’s a treat to hear them find inspiration and skill within this instrumental. Let us know what your favorite Fire Emoji inclusion was this week, as well as what else we missed, down in the comments section below. Check the playlist out above and, as always, come back to HNHH for the best new music releases around the clock.

Read More: Kodak Black Claims He’s “Never Sober” After Livestream Percocet Scandal

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Joe Budden Revisits Larry Jackson’s Outrageous Claim About Drake’s Catalog

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Amid Drake filing a legal petition that accused Universal Music Group and Spotify of artificially inflating the commercial performance of “Not Like Us,” The Joe Budden Podcast took a trip down memory lane during a recent episode. Specifically, they debated this move in relation to Drizzy supposedly seeking to negotiate for a more bountiful contract and to his own profits in the industry. Budden brought up a conversation with Gamma CEO Larry Jackson, who alleged that the Toronto superstar’s catalog is worth more than the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s combined. This eventually led to a few different proposed pathways.

First, Joe Budden posited that Drake needs to “go in that corner” and renegotiate with absolutely everyone in his efforts to make his worth clear. But Ice pushed back on this narrative, positing that he could face an uphill battle if UMG refuses to pay him more or shuts his negotiations down. However, Budden argued that the OVO mogul most definitely has a way out if he isn’t happy with how the negotiations develop. Ish tied this in further with some other moves such as unconventional cover art, and that he meant this legal action as a “f**k you” to the label and as a way to get out of his contract.

Read More: LeBron James Slights Drake By Rapping To Kendrick Lamar’s “tv off”

The Joe Budden Podcast Discusses Drake’s Worth & Label Issues

In fact, The Joe Budden Podcast took it a step further and theorized that these anti-label moves could extend to the quality of Drake’s recent output. Certified Lover Boy was all throwaways in the group’s opinion, and his perceived lack of effort might result from these supposed label issues. Of course, we doubt that The Boy himself would characterize his art as such, so this might reach a little farther across the aisle than necessary.

But to wrap things up, The Joe Budden Podcast – specifically its titular host – posited that too many parties have a “vested interest” in keeping Drake under a label structure. Whether or not this legal filing actually succeeds in court is a mystery for Father Time, but its implications and impact could still be massive. We’ll see whether or not this changes history or simply repeats it.

Read More: Uncle Luke Clowns “Soft” Drake For Pre-Action Lawsuit Against UMG

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Yung Kayo Presents Some “Holy Grails” On His Latest Mixtape

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One of Young Thug’s newer students and YSL signees, Yung Kayo, is here this weekend with a new mixtape. For hardcore fans of the Washington D.C. native, this should be an exciting release. The reason being is based on the origins of the 16 tracks here. According to the Genius annotation for Holy Grails, these are all some highly sought after snippets and teasers from a couple of years ago. Specifically, they were concocted just a little before Yung Kayo dropped off his debut album, DFTK. This makes Holy Grails just his second LP so far, but he’s apparently got a ton more on deck. We say that because the details are unconfirmed, but the sources are there to give some validity to these notes.

What we know is that Komodo was actually going to be his next project and classified as an album. Moreover, it was apparently supposed to arrive this month. Instead, we have Holy Grails, so the former is on the shelf, for now anyway. But there are more coming at some point, including dbno, free slime, and free yak. That information was revealed in a now deleted Instagram post as of October 28. Fans will surely eat this up in the meantime though, even though it seems as if it’s more of a bridging project. There are some crazy futuristic beats, with some samples from bigger names like Lil Uzi Vert. Check out Holy Grails with the links below.

Read More: Lefty Gunplay Bashes Drake For Taking Legal Action Against “Not Like Us”

Holy Grails – Yung Kayo

Holy Grails Tracklist:

  1. rockstar
  2. flex
  3. taycan key
  4. jedi
  5. tony hawk
  6. in my room
  7. generous
  8. robin hood
  9. heads or tails
  10. run that
  11. hellofaman
  12. bye
  13. cold
  14. psych out
  15. energy
  16. all in

Read More: Azealia Banks Thinks That Drake Could Actually Change The Music Industry For Good This Time

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From Fugees to Courtroom Drama: Pras Michel’s Role in a Billion-Dollar Scandal

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Pras Michel, a founding member of the legendary hip-hop group Fugees, has been found guilty on all counts of conspiracy to launder money for fugitive Malaysian billionaire Jho Low. The April 2023 conviction marks the culmination of a years-long investigation into one of the most sprawling financial scandals in history—the $4.5 billion looting of Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund, 1MDB.

A Scene Straight from a Spy Thriller

The story reads like a Hollywood script, filled with shadowy encounters, secret codes, and international intrigue. As reported by Variety, one pivotal moment involved Pras entering the Four Seasons Hotel in Manhattan, using the phrase “banana peel” to retrieve an envelope at the concierge. He was then ushered into a hidden elevator typically reserved for high-profile dignitaries at risk of assassination and taken to a penthouse suite.

Inside the suite, Pras met Sun Lijun, the third-highest-ranking official in China, who held a cigarette and a copy of an email from then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions regarding American hostages in China. The surreal meeting involved discussions of hostage negotiations, with Pras suggesting the release of a pregnant woman as a goodwill gesture. A week later, federal agents apprehended him in New York City, launching a legal battle that would grip headlines worldwide.

Pras Speaks Out: “A Spy Is Not Sexy”

In his first interview since the conviction, Pras reflected on the chaos that unfolded. “I don’t know if subconsciously it was a bit exciting for me too,” he admitted. “I like spy movies, but I never wanted to be a spy. I don’t think that’s sexy. But a part of it felt like that.”

Despite his acknowledgment of the surreal circumstances, the rapper maintains that he was swept into a situation far larger than himself. “I wasn’t running from the law,” Pras stated. “I was trying to understand what was happening. It all spiraled out of control.”

The 1MDB Scandal: A Global Web of Corruption

At the center of the case is Jho Low, the fugitive financier accused of orchestrating the embezzlement of billions from Malaysia’s 1MDB fund. The funds were allegedly funneled into luxury real estate, yachts, and even Hollywood films like The Wolf of Wall Street. Pras’s connection to Low, along with his alleged role in covert lobbying efforts and money laundering, put him in the crosshairs of U.S. prosecutors.

Court documents revealed that Pras received millions of dollars from Low, which were then funneled into various lobbying efforts, including attempts to influence the U.S. government on behalf of foreign interests. The conviction cemented his fall from the heights of musical stardom to becoming one of the most high-profile figures in the corruption case.

Pras Michel’s journey from Grammy-winning artist to a central figure in an international financial scandal serves as a stark reminder of how fame and fortune can intersect with global corruption in unexpected ways. As he awaits sentencing, the story continues to captivate audiences, blending elements of espionage, power, and betrayal—proving that sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.

The post From Fugees to Courtroom Drama: Pras Michel’s Role in a Billion-Dollar Scandal appeared first on The Source Magazine.

Journalist Backs Up Drake’s Claim That Siri Played “Not Like Us” When Asked About “Certified Lover Boy”… Technically

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Drake caused a massive uproar thanks to his legal petition against Universal Music Group and Spotify for their alleged artificial inflation of “Not Like Us” in terms of sales. The news even hit mainstream media, and CNN recently asked journalist Sowmya Krishnamurthy about the whole endeavor. Specifically, they went over Drizzy’s claim that Apple’s Siri would play “Not Like Us” when asked about Certified Lover Boy, which became one of the more viral tech-related stories from the Kendrick Lamar battle. Krishnamurthy explained that there are multiple nuanced reasons as to why this occurred for some people that deserve an explanation.

“So I’m going to be honest,” Sowmya Krishnamurthy explained concerning the Drake and Kendrick Lamar situation. “I actually did the test during this time, and it did work. When you said, ‘Hey Siri, play Certified Lover Boy,’ it did play ‘Not Like Us.’ It did, yes. I actually posted a video on my YouTube and social media. But I think we all knew that it was pulling from the lyrics. So I think Apple could have an argument that people were searching for that song, or that’s what their algorithm was kicking up. Because it is not just titles, but also lyrics. So there’s a little bit of nuance there.”

Read More: J Cole Claims That Jay-Z Once Told Drake To Give Cole A Hit Single

Journalist Breaks Down Drake’s Petition Over Kendrick Lamar’s Diss Track

“Yeah, that’s what a lot of industry insiders are saying,” Sowmya Krishnamurthy replied when asked about whether it’s plausible that Drake could’ve benefitted from the same alleged practices that Kendrick Lamar allegedly benefitted from. “For the entirety of his career, Drake really has enjoyed this privilege. Being an industry darling, being the most streamed artist on Spotify for hip-hop. Even now, like, the last time I checked, his monthly uniques on Spotify are more than Kendrick. If we go back to 2018, there was a huge campaign where every single Spotify playlist was Drake. Whether it was hip-hop, pop, country, gospel. So these campaigns by these streaming services or companies, they’re not uncommon. But the question is, is Drake now bitter or whining because he’s not the beneficiary?”

“I think a lot,” Sowmya Krishnamurthy answered a question about how much this hurts Drake’s credibility. “You know, it’s one thing to lose a rap battle… [shake] the hand of your adversary and say, ‘Hey, good game.’ I think that’s good sportsmanship. But this, to me, just really seems like whining. It seems like when things don’t go as well. I think you alluded to this earlier. It has that very much ‘Stop the steal’ energy. That doesn’t do too well in hip-hop.”

Read More: XXXTentacion’s Killer Points To Drake In Appeal Brief

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Skyzoo Gives Fans A Personal Tour De Force With “Keep Me Company”

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Skyzoo has done it with his new album, Keep Me Company. This is his ninth solo effort and its his first project of 2024. That is unless you count the release of the deluxe of his 2023 outing, The Mind Of A Saint. In a year chockful of tremendous LPs from both the mainstream and underground, some records are bound to fly under the radar. Keep Me Company may do the same, especially with it dropping a month before 2025 begins. But Skyzoo’s performance across this 13-song tracklist will assuredly not be forgotten by us. Released via Old Soul Music and First Generation Rich, the Brooklyn, New York act is getting deeply personal, and it revolves heavily around personal growth.

Skyzoo breaks it down very well for every potential and current listener. “The new album is officially out now. An album about growth, as an artist, a listener, a leader, just growth. Feeling alone in a growth spurt, thinking maybe you’re wrong for being the only one who sees things the way you do, and then realizing there’s others who also feel alone in thinking the way you do, and finding out that yall aren’t alone at all. At that point the realization becomes “‘oh you feel the same way too? Aye man come keep me company.’” Simple math.” Our words won’t do the tape justice. You’ll just have to listen for yourself and multiple times at that, Skyzoo recommends.

Read More: MIA Accuses Jay-Z Of Telling Her To Get Plastic Surgery

Keep Me Company – Skyzoo

Keep Me Company Tracklist:

  1. Community Service with JRose
  2. Finders Keepers
  3. Home Away from Home
  4. Ayinde at the March
  5. Drug Free School Zone
  6. Prayers for the Customers
  7. Courtesy Call with Chuck D
  8. Esoteric
  9. Store Runs (Interlude)
  10. Record Store Day
  11. Sleeping Beauty
  12. Wins of the Father
  13. Jazz in the Projects

Read More: Ab-Soul & DJ Hed Claim Kendrick Lamar Still Isn’t Done Yet

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Azealia Banks Thinks That Drake Could Actually Change The Music Industry For Good This Time

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Everyone went up in arms when Drake launched a legal petition against Universal Music Group and Spotify, but he’s got some people in his corner. Moreover, he accused his major label and the streaming service of collusion that sought to artificially inflate the commercial success of Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” diss track in order to damage him. Some folks disagree with the move, but others like Azealia Banks are fully behind The Boy.

“Oh drake DEFINITELY has the gun,” Azealia Banks claimed in response to a fan’s critiques. “He’s about to crook umg and spotify on some minor legal formalities and actually be the first rapper in history to stage a heist of such epic proportions. It’s really such a lethal chess move when you really examine it. He’s going to subpoena literally every platforms records, they will not be able to cook the books- and *discover* (expose) all the shady backend parts of music streaming no one really understands… then they will all have to prove that drake is a pedophile which would make UMG and spotify look r***rded if they even did, kendrick is not going to be able to perform they not like us, and jayz is going to have officially been bodied by a singing n***a…..

Read More: J Cole Claims That Jay-Z Once Told Drake To Give Cole A Hit Single

Azealia Banks Defends Drake

“everyone is going to gag at how this plays out,” Azealia Banks continued concerning the Drake situation. “It’s better to watch and understand what’s happening then get emotionally involved or pick sides, we’re about to watch the girls BATTLE honey yaaass. […] Either way I’m so perched. I’m genuinely interested on how this will turn out. This s**t is 100% about to become music industry case law whichever way it goes. People all like “oh drake is soft and blah blah,” but it’s tru I y refreshing to not see a contemporary rap beef end up in violence. This is some s**t my nerdy a** can get behind.”

Meanwhile, it seems like Drake continues to clean out his circle after some surprising Instagram unfollows. It was a pretty petty move, but just like with this petition, a lot of people understand it.

Read More: Azealia Banks Expresses Pity Over Kim Kardashian’s Intimate Photoshoot With A Tesla Robot

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