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Watch Lil Baby And Kirk Franklin Take To The Court For Their Celebratory ‘Space Jam’ Track, ‘We Win’

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Let me begin by encouraging you not to believe the bad press about Space Jam: A New Legacy — I saw the film in theaters this past weekend and it more than held up to the original. LeBron isn’t quite as great as he was in Trainwreck, but it’s close! And there’s a heartwarming family angle that was missing in the original. If you like watching toons play basketball and be silly, then you’ll love the film. And if you do go watch it, keep your ears peeled for a soundtrack that’s stuffed to the brim with rappers and musical legends, partially due to LeBron’s avid love for hip-hop I’m sure.

One such soundtrack cut is Lil Baby and Kirk Franklin collaborating on the celebratory gospel track, “We Win,” and now the pair have dropped a video for it, too. Sure, there are some moments of footage from the film, but the visual also includes Lil Baby rapping from the court, Kirk playing piano courtside, and even cute clips of younger players getting their hoop on. It’s the kind of song that a move about overcoming struggle definitely needs for that joyful, final moment, and slates along other songs of the summer remarkably well. Check out the clip above.

YS Locks In With Babyface Ray & Fenix Flexin On “Hate Me”

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Compton’s YS has been a thriving voice to emerge out of Compton, though the new generation of rappers aren’t limiting themselves to regional sounds. YS has shown a tremendous amount of versatility through his ear for production that’s rooted in his stomping grounds of California.

This week, the rapper returned with a brand new single that further cements the relationship between California and the Midwest. “Hate Me” is a smooth banger that shares the thumping bass lines of the West and Detroit with Babyface Ray and Fenix Flexin’ delivering some assistance. All three rappers use the record as a moment to bask in their success, foreshadow their goals, and talk their shit.

Check out the latest offering from YS below and sound off with your thoughts in the comments.

Quotable Lyrics
I’m a Motor City young OG
I can get this shit off words, used to run OT
I get paper ’round the clock, I don’t do no sleep
We be traveling ’round for traps, but ain’t got no beef

Elton John Hits DaBaby With Facts On HIV After Rolling Loud Comments

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It’s almost as if DaBaby walked out on the Rolling Loud stage with the intentions of self-sabotage. Despite referring to himself as the Live Show Killa since his post-pandemic return to the stage, his performance in Miami this past weekend was nothing short of cringeworthy. For one, he brought out Tory Lanez in what appeared to be a calculated move to snub Megan Thee Stallion immediately after her set wrapped up. 

While that was already a bad look for DaBaby (and Tory since he apparently violated his court order), it was his call to a response that left an unsettling feeling among both concertgoers and those tuning in from home. At one point during the show, DaBaby made some incredibly insensitive and false remarks about HIV before targeting the LGBTQ+ community.

Though DaBaby’s issued somewhat of an apology, Elton John has now entered the conversation. The legendary artist expressed that he was shocked to hear about the comments made by the rapper at Rolling Loud. “We’ve been shocked to read about the HIV misinformation and homophobic statements made at a recent DaBaby show. This fuels stigma and discrimination and is the opposite of what our world needs to fight the AIDS epidemic,” he wrote before sharing a five-point thread with facts regarding HIV.


Kevin Winter/Getty Images

“Homophobic and HIV mistruths have no place in our society and industry and as musicians, we must spread compassion and love for the most marginalised people in our communities,” John wrote. A musician’s job is to bring people together.”

Check out Elton John’s post below. 

Isaiah Rashad & ScHoolboy Q Reconnect On “Runnin'”

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This Friday, Isaiah Rashad will be delivering his upcoming album The House Is Burning, his first release since 2016’s The Sun’s Tirade. Now, only a few days out from the big drop, Rashad has come through to deliver a warm-up loosie featuring none other than his labelmate ScHoolboy Q. Having been originally previewed a few years back, the Kenny Beats-produced track proved to be an instant fan favorite. 

While it didn’t make the album’s final tracklist, Rashad has decided to gift it upon us all the same. Instrumentally speaking, we’re looking at a laid-back west-coast vibe, with Rashad matching the beat’s energy with the opening verse. Q slides in to close this one out, his verse a welcome reminder of what the game has been missing; we can only hope that Q is next up once Rashad drops, as he’s been steadily working on his CrasH Talk follow-up for some time now.

Check out the full version of “Runnin’,” previously known as “Runnin’ From The Law,” and sound off if the song has lived up to the snippet after all this time.

QUOTABLE LYRICS

Hell yeah I got the chain, n***a I was buzzin’
Seeing sounds, I can taste the color from the trumpet
N***a want the cash, the house, but you was clubbin’
Better with my tears and pain for my discussion

Tupac, Biggie & Suge Knight Doc Picked Up For U.S. Distribution

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It’s been nearly 25 years since the tragic deaths of Tupac and Biggie. To this day, there are still questions that linger surrounding who killed them. Many of them have been explored in documentaries, podcasts, and films yet it feels like every year, there’s new information regarding the cases. A new documentary called Last Man Standing: Suge Knight And The Murders Of Biggie & Tupac is set to hit theatres on Aug. 20th and is close enough to a sequel to 2002’s Biggie & Tupac. 


Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Last Man Standing looks deeper look into Biggie and Tupac’s feud but more importantly, the allegations of Suge Knight’s role in their deaths. Per Variety, the film has now been picked by Gravitas Ventures who secured the rights of the documentary for U.S. distribution. 

Last Man Standing is directed by Nick Broomfield who offers an in-depth look into allegations made by former LAPD officer Russel Poole who claimed that Suge Knight paid off LAPD officers to kill Biggie Smalls. 

“This is a film of conviction,” Broomfield says. “I really believe that the LAPD were involved [in the murder of Biggie Smalls] and I really believed in Voletta’s lawsuit. I was horrified to see the way they were sort of derailed constantly by the LAPD and their machinations. I very much hope that [through] the film, with the help of [retired FBI agent] Phil Carson and so on, there will be some kind of resolution. I would very much like the film to be a part of that.”

[Via]

Chloe x Halle Respond To Fan Hating On Chloe’s Looks

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Contrary to 2020 when Chloe x Halle were regularly performing songs from their incredible sophomore album Ungodly Hour, the two sisters haven’t been spotted together much over the past several months because Halle had been hard at work on Disney’s upcoming live-action The Little Mermaid film. Chloe and Halle have since reunited in recent weeks, and their sisterly bond has since been tested by a rude fan who randomly came for Chloe’s looks.

Halle Bailey and Chloe Bailey of Chloe X Halle attend Planet Smoothie Backstage at 2019 Teen Choice Awards on August 11, 2019 in Hermosa Beach, California.
Jerod Harris/Getty Images

Perhaps in response to all of the headlines that Chloe Bailey has been making recently for her steamy “Have Mercy” challenge and eye-catching posts, the previously mentioned fan hit Twitter to express her opinion on the Ungodly Hour singer’s appearance. “I feel like Chloe Bailey is cute,” the fan stated, “but y’all be overhyping shawty [laughing emoji].”

The tweet soon found its way on Chloe and Halle Bailey’s Twitter feeds, and apparently, both of the Parkwood Entertainment artists had the time to respond to the fan. Chloe opted for a more sarcastic and dismissive reply, as she simply quoted the fan’s original tweet and wrote “agreed.” Hours later, Halle got into the mix and was far more direct and confrontational with the fan, opting for a nice, yet assertive response to the fan. “girl let’s not start,” Halle wrote alongside a bevy of halo and “Shh” emojis, “be blessed!! God loves you too!!!”

Catch Chloe x Halle’s catty responses to the impressed fan below, and let us know in the comments if you think the fan was out of line for arguing that Chloe Bailey is overhyped.

T-Pain Reveals The Artists Who Taught Him The Most

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T-Pain has made an undeniable impression on the music industry, and while not everyone has been accepting of his style, there are many who recognize the extent of his influence.

Currently a veteran in the game, Pain has taken to offering insight and perspective to young artists, often by way of his Twitch stream. Lest we forget his recent — and hilarious — rant about originality, which went on to earn a co-sign from Dr. Dre. Now, T-Pain has once again come forward to drop some jewels, this time taking a moment to credit some of the artists who helped guide him on his journey.

T-Pain

Mark Davis/Getty Images 

“Devin taught me how to mix records and keep it simple,” begins T-Pain, taking to Twitter. “3k and Cee Lo taught me I don’t have to limit myself to the sound ppl are used to and I can wear whatever I want while doin it. Banner and Busta taught me how to put on a real live show. Personal influence > public opinion.”

It’s unclear as to whether or not these lessons were gleaned from afar, or if T-Pizzle spent some time with the artists first-hand. Either way, it’s cool to see him paying homage to the influence of Andre 3000, Cee Lo Green, David Banner, and Busta Rhymes — as well as an artist who may or may not be Devin The Dude, although that much is unclear.  

Check out T-Pain’s recent celebratory post below, and hit the comments if you think the “Buy You A Drank” legend deserves more respect in the greater hip-hop discourse. 

Elton John Was ‘Shocked’ By DaBaby’s HIV Comments, Saying Misinformation Fuels Stigma

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Getty Image

DaBaby’s comments during his controversial Rolling Loud set in Miami this weekend continue to draw reactions from every corner of the entertainment industry. After Dua Lipa, his collaborator on the hit song “Levitating,” said she was “surprised and horrified” by his words, queer rights icon and living legend Elton John has chimed in to address the harm DaBaby’s statements could cause, whether intentional or not.

John’s official Twitter account, which doubles as the account for his Elton John AIDS Foundation, pointed out how statements like DaBaby’s can “fuel stigma and discrimination,” calling them “the opposite of what our world needs to fight the AIDS epidemic.” You can read the full statement below.

We’ve been shocked to read about the HIV misinformation and homophobic statements made at a recent DaBaby show. This fuels stigma and discrimination and is the opposite of what our world needs to fight the AIDS epidemic.

The facts are:

HIV has affected over 70 million people globally: men, women, children, and the most vulnerable people in our communities.

In America, a gay black man has a 50% lifetime chance of contracting HIV. Stigma and shame around HIV and homosexuality is a huge driver of this vulnerability. We need to break down the myths and judgments and not fuel these.

You can live a long and healthy life with HIV. Treatment is so advanced that with one pill a day, HIV can become undetectable in your body so you can’t pass it onto other people.

Homophobic and HIV mistruths have no place in our society and industry and as musicians, we must spread compassion and love for the most marginalized people in our communities.

A musician’s job is to bring people together.

DaBaby responded to the backlash a few times, noting that it wasn’t his intent to insult anyone, but unfortunately, he seems to have missed the possible unintended harm that resulted from his comments. In addition, online retailer Boohooman ended its partnership with him, while him bringing Tory Lanez onstage could have legal repercussions for the Canadian rapper. All in all, not DaBaby’s best week — although he seems to be taking it all in stride.