Throughout the pandemic, Swizz Beatz and Timbaland’s Verzuz has provided a viable alternative to the live concert experience, all while highlighting many of the culture’s legendary veterans and their storied catalogs. And while there have been some questions as to how it might evolve once the world regains some semblance of “normalcy,” a new business development has shed some light on the future of Verzuz.
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According to a report from Billboard, The Triller Network has officially acquired Swizzy and Timbo’s Verzuz music platform. The deal also includes positions for both parties on the Triller Verzuz management team, though more specific financial details were not disclosed. It is confirmed that upon signing the deal, Timbaland and Swizz became massive shareholders in Triller, and used their newfound positions to pay it forward to the performers who helped make Verzuz such a triumphant success.
Billboard reports that both parties granted an unidentified equity stake to each of the forty-three Verzuz performers, listed by the publication as follows:
John Legend, DMX, Alicia Keys, 2 Chainz, Rick Ross, Too $hort, Patti LaBelle, Gucci Mane, Jeezy, E-40, Bounty Killer, D’Angelo, Ludacris, RZA, The Dream, Babyface, Nelly, Jagged Edge, Fred Hammond, Jadakiss, Fabolous, Brandy, Monica, Gladys Knight, Boi-1da, Hit-Boy, Ne-Yo, Johnta Austin, Scott Storch, T-Pain, Lil Jon, DJ Premier, Mannie Fresh, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, 112, Kirk Franklin, Sean Garrett and D’Angelo.
Speaking on the newly-inked partnership, Swizzy and Timbaland shared a joint statement. “This is a momentous occasion not only for Verzuz and Triller but the music business as a whole,” it reads. “By putting Verzuz in the Triller Network ecosystem and expanding the Verzuz brand to be side by side with the powerful Triller app, we will be able to continue to grow and evolve the music business as a whole, as we have been doing.”
Congratulations to both parties for this latest power move, with their decision to include the participating artists as shareholders being an especially classy manoeuver. We look forward to seeing how Verzuz progresses moving forward.
On Monday, Kodak checked Lil Baby for his lyrics about starting the money-spreading trend, claiming that he was actually the force behind the fad. It wasn’t Lil Baby that responded to Yak though… it was Pooh Shiesty, who seemed offended that Kodak would take credit for money-spreading. Pooh asked for clarification on who Kodak was addressing before claiming that he “lost all respect” for the rapper, which is a big deal because in the week prior, he claimed that Yak was one of his favorite rappers in an interview with HotNewHipHop. Kodak hit back by claiming that he also popularized Pooh’s signature “bllrrd” ad-lib, kicking off a heated back-and-forth on social media with the “Back In Blood” rapper posting pictures from a decade ago that show him spreading his money on his arms and legs.
Considering Pooh Shiesty’s status as a relative newcomer to the rap game, especially to mainstream fame, people have predominantly sided with Kodak Black on this one. While Pooh does have his supporters, the vast majority is with Kodak, wishing for the star to finally get his credit for being one of the rap game’s biggest influencers.
Who are you siding with? And do you think this beef might end up becoming something bigger? Hopefully, Kodak and Pooh can chop it up privately and get their differences sorted out instead of dragging this to the internet any further.
Two big-time names in the fashion world have collaborated once again and are anticipating a sell-out. Last week, part one of the Nike x Supreme collection dropped but sold out in a matter of minutes due to bots taking over everything. Luckily part two is dropping on March 11th and hopefully, some people can get […]
Cardi B may still be a newcomer to the rap game, having only delivered her debut album a few short years ago, but that hasn’t prevented her from establishing her dominance all the same. In fact, many appeared smitten with Cardi’s personality off the bat, a connection that quickly translated to success on a commercial front. When she dropped “Bodak Yellow” in June of 2017, it wasn’t surprising to see the song become an instant hit, resonating on a universal front and boasting plenty of replay value.
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Now, four years removed from the original release of “Bodak Yellow,” the single has officially been certified diamond by the RIAA, making Cardi the first female rapper to achieve the prestigious milestone — not that pitting the women of hip-hop against one another should be encouraged. The occasion was celebrated by Cardi’s team, with music executive Brooklyn Johnny sharing a clip of her cheerful reaction on his Instagram page. Upon seeing the luxurious plaque before her, Cardi appears endearingly humble as she stares in apparent disbelief.
If it’s not already clear that Cardi is among the most commercially viable artists in the world, perhaps this newly-acquired diamond certification should prove enlightening. And with the Megan Thee Stallion-assisted “WAP” already hitting the midway mark in less than a year, not to mention “I Like It” sitting pretty at 9x platinum, don’t be surprised to see Cardi’s hot streak continue. Especially given that she’s steadily inching toward her upcoming sophomore album, which will no doubt boast at least one or two massive hits upon its release.
Congratulations to Cardi for this massive accomplishment.
New York radio veteran Funk Flex knows the importance of March 9. The hip-hop entertainer has come forward with some super throwback footage of late music icon Notorious B.I.G. on the anniversary of his death. Funk Flex Salutes Notorious B.I.G. Funk hit up Instagram with super vintage Biggie Smalls footage. Flex took things a step […]
Soulja Boy might have made a few statements that he can’t back up, tweeting that the rap game was “faker” than WWE a few weeks ago. The tweet was offensive to a few WWE Superstars, who took turns dissing the “Crank Dat” rapper. Randy Orton, one of the longest-tenured wrestlers with the company, was the leading man behind the WWE Vs. Soulja Boy charge. After the initial surge wore off, Randy took to Twitter to jab the rapper some more, showing off two wrestlers’ battle scars after their hard-fought bout last night on Monday Night RAW.
“Fake. Right @souljaboy?” sarcastically asked Randy Orton, sharing pictures of Drew McIntyre and Sheamus’ cuts and bruises from their match on Monday night. He proceeded to go pretty low, especially in the wake of Nia Riley’s recent comments about Soulja Boy. “Btw, which one of yo baby’s mommas do I send the bill to for making you relevant again? I assume they all own yo ass so whose cuttin those checks.”
Soulja Boy’s relationship woes have been widely publicized as part of numerous reality television shows, but in the last week, Nia Riley accused the rapper of kicking her in the stomach while she was pregnant and forcing a miscarriage, also pointing out other instances of abuse.
The 2021 Grammys are less than a week away (airing on March 14), and the nominations are a reflection of 2020’s whirlwind. In a year that was riddled by heartache and isolation, artists either dug deep into quarantine-induced loneliness that birthed relatable tunes or went the opposite route to provide cheerful music to give fans some temporary relief.
This time around, Beyoncé leads the charge with nine nominations. This brings the most nominated artist in history’s career total to 62. She’s up both as a solo artist (among others, “Black Parade” is up for four categories including Record Of The Year) as well as her “Savage” collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion (also up for Record Of The Year).
Following Beyoncé are Taylor Swift (whose total now rises to 41), Dua Lipa, and Roddy Rich, with six nods each. But there are still other artists who could walk away with some trophies, including Fiona Apple, Phoebe Bridgers, and Nas. While there are a few deserving names missing from this year’s nominations (The Weeknd, Summer Walker, and The Chicks were among the most shocking), the Grammys continue to make improvements on its diversity efforts. BTS made history as the first K-pop act to be nominated and women rightfully dominated the country and rock categories.
Check out our predictions below for how the biggest and most coveted categories could play out.
Best Rap Album
D Smoke – Black Habits
Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist – Alfredo
Jay Electronica – A Written Testimony
Nas – King’s Disease
Royce Da 5’9″ – The Allegory
Who Will Win? Nas
Who Should Win? Freddie Gibbs
With all the standout rap albums released last year, it was quite surprising when The Recording Academy opted to nominate more traditional, older artists instead of highlighting the genre’s newcomers. Nevertheless, this category is filled with decades of remarkable talent. While D Smoke, Jay Electronica, and Nas were all favorites for the “rappity rap” sector of music lovers, it’s Freddie Gibbs’ Alfredo that is an immediate standout. Linking up with esteemed producer The Alchemist, Gibbs doesn’t waste a single breath on his tight bars while dishing out a rap master class.
Best Rap Performance
Big Sean Featuring Nipsey Hussle – “Deep Reverence”
DaBaby – “Bop”
Jack Harlow – “What’s Poppin”
Lil Baby – “The Bigger Picture”
Megan Thee Stallion Featuring Beyoncé – “Savage”
Pop Smoke – “Dior”
Who Will Win? Megan Thee Stallion and Beyoncé
Who Should Win? Lil Baby
This category features all strong contenders, from the late Pop Smoke’s “Dior” continuing his posthumous reign to Jack Harlow’s “What’s Poppin” showcasing just how effortless his flow is. And of course there’s “Savage,” which finds Megan Thee Stallion teaming with her idol Beyoncé. The latter seems like the promising win here based on how massive it was, but Lil Baby shouldn’t be ignored. The rapper is at his most vulnerable on “The Bigger Picture,” as he sheds light on police brutality occurring both in his native Atlanta and across America. But what makes this protest anthem so insightful is that Lil Baby turns the mirror on himself and tries to correct the wrongs he’s done with his own violent lyrics.
Best Alternative Music Album
Fiona Apple – Fetch The Bolt Cutters
Beck – Hyperspace
Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher
Brittany Howard – Jaime
Tame Impala – The Slow Rush
Who Will Win? Fiona Apple
Who Should Win? Fiona Apple
2020 proved that alternative music still has a deserved place in mainstream music, with all five artists in this category creating some of the strongest tunes of their esteemed careers. The Slow Rush is Kevin Parker at his most refined as he imagines lush soundscapes, and both Brittany Howard’s Jaime and Phoebe Bridgers’ Punisher are graciously intimate. But not much else compares to the shocking rawness of Fiona Apple’s Fetch The Bolt Cutters. Of course, honesty has been Apple’s M.O. since her 1996 debut, but she turns the volume on max on her latest record. The most beautiful moments of Fetch The Bolt Cutters are its messiness, from Apple’s crackled, unedited vocals to the clamoring production. That kind of “zero f*cks given” energy should be commended.
Best Pop Solo Performance
Justin Bieber – “Yummy”
Doja Cat – “Say So”
Billie Eilish – “Everything I Wanted”
Dua Lipa – “Don’t Start Now”
Harry Styles – “Watermelon Sugar”
Taylor Swift – “Cardigan”
Who Will Win? Dua Lipa
Who Should Win? Doja Cat
This entire category is filled with fun pop moments, with Harry Styles inviting us to blissful paradise on “Watermelon Sugar” to Billie Eilish giving another dose of relatability on “Everything I Wanted.” Dua Lipa’s catchy earworm “Don’t Start Now” seems to be the biggest contender here, but Doja Cat’s “Say So” was just as inescapable. 2020 was a major year for the triple-threat, and it was partly due to the virality of “Say So.” After it dominated TikTok (whose dance challenge creator Haley Sharpe was featured in the video), the single literally soared onto the charts. Tacking on remix queen Nicki Minaj, “Say So” became both rappers’ first No. 1 single and also made history as the first collaboration by two female rappers to top the Hot 100. Doja Cat’s genre-bending talents combined with this song’s sheer ubiquity are surely worthy of that golden gramophone.
Best Pop Vocal Album
Justin Bieber – Changes
Lady Gaga – Chromatica
Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia
Harry Styles – Fine Line
Taylor Swift – Folklore
Who Will Win? Taylor Swift
Who Should Win? Dua Lipa
Dua Lipa, Taylor Swift, and Harry Styles arguably gifted us with the best albums of their career in 2020, but something’s telling me that The Recording Academy will award Swift’s beloved Folklore. But let’s not rule out Lipa, who was one of the few artists in recent memory who perfectly executed a proper album era. Not only did Future Nostalgia redefine what ‘80s and ‘90s pop mean in a millennial age, but the promotion — from the visually stunning videos to the accompanying remix album that was just as good as the original — took the compelling songs to new heights.
Best Progressive R&B Album
Jhené Aiko – Chilombo
Chloe x Halle – Ungodly Hour
Free Nationals – Free Nationals
Robert Glasper – F*** Yo Feelings
Thundercat – It Is What It Is
Who Will Win? Jhené Aiko
Who Should Win? Chloe x Halle
R&B has been in the shadows of rap for the past few years, but the genre surpassed its sibling in 2020. That hasn’t been made more clear than with this category, whose name changed from Best Urban Contemporary Album to Best Progressive R&B Album to dismiss the negative connotations the word “urban” brings. Jhené Aiko’s Chilombo being an industry favorite makes it a predicted winner here, but the brilliance of Chloe x Halle’s Ungodly Hour is too hard to surpass. The duo’s sophomore album is a journey of their grown womanhood, as they explore sexuality, rising above failed relationships, feeling petty in the moment, and embracing their imperfections. And it’s all tied together with heaven-sent harmonies, otherwordly production that continues the Afro-Futurism conversation, and smart songwriting. Now, who dared to question if R&B is dead again?
As Record Of The Year is awarded for the final recorded product of a single, it’ll be fair for Megan Thee Stallion and Beyoncé’s “Savage” remix to take the win. The teamwork is between not only the two artists but also the producer and engineer, and it gave way to the catchiest song of 2020. “Savage” was already a standout from Megan’s Suga EP, which was followed by a massively viral moment once TikTok got hold of it and a new dance craze was born. So when Beyoncé decided to hop on the remix months later, the world was stopped once again. What’s better than the two biggest mainstream artists from Houston reveling in all things classy, bougie, and ratchet? But as we bring up catchiness, Dua Lipa’s “Don’t Start Now” also deserves a major hat tip.
Best New Artist
Ingrid Andress
Phoebe Bridgers
Chika
Noah Cyrus
D Smoke
Doja Cat
Kaytranada
Megan Thee Stallion
Who Will Win? Phoebe Bridgers
Who Should Win? Megan Thee Stallion
There are so many deserving artists in this category, including Kaytranada, Chika, and Doja Cat. But Phoebe Bridgers growing into such a major indie darling may give her the win here, and The Recording Academy has a history of shocking the audience when it comes to Best New Artist wins. Still, Megan Thee Stallion’s unwavering dominance in 2020 cannot be ignored. She’s grown into more than just a rapper: she is an advocate for Black women, a businesswoman who has scored multiple partnerships, a philanthropist who gives back to her community, and is leading the charge of unapologetic new-gen women rappers.
Song Of The Year
Beyoncé – “Black Parade”
Roddy Ricch – “The Box”
Taylor Swift – “Cardigan”
Post Malone – “Circles”
Dua Lipa – “Don’t Start Now”
Billie Eilish – “Everything I Wanted”
H.E.R. – “I Can’t Breathe”
JP Saxe Featuring Julia Michaels – “If The World Was Ending”
Who Will Win? Taylor Swift
Who Should Win? Dua Lipa
Like Record Of The Year, this category is also overflowing with strong contenders that range from timely matters of racial inequality to heartbreaking ballads. Seeing as this win is for songwriters though, Taylor Swift getting a gramophone for “Cardigan” makes the most sense. But let’s not knock out Dua Lipa too quickly; the sheer pop perfection of “Don’t Start Now” should get the recognition here. An unofficial sequel to 2017’s “New Rules,” the lead single to Future Nostalgia captures the album’s nu-disco spirit while elevating Lipa to new pop star territory.
Album Of The Year
Jhené Aiko – Chilombo
Black Pumas – Black Pumas (Deluxe Edition)
Coldplay – Everyday Life
Jacob Collier – Djesse Vol. 3
Haim – Women In Music Pt. III
Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia
Post Malone – Hollywood’s Bleeding
Taylor Swift – Folklore Who Will Win? Taylor Swift
Who Should Win? Taylor Swift
Ah, Album Of The Year, the coveted Grammy that nearly every artist vies for at some point in their career. It’s also one of the most unpredictable categories as it can either go to the year’s most popular artist (see Adele in 2017 and Bruno Mars in 2018) or the year’s underdog (Kacey Musgraves in 2019 and Billie Eilish in 2020). Taylor Swift is often seen as both, with her likability swaying from overhyped to not credited enough. But there’s a reason why UPROXX chose Folklore as 2020’s best album. Jacob Collier, Haim, and Dua Lipa are all strong contenders here, yet Swift’s effort finds her at her most vulnerable. The singer-songwriter’s pen has always been sharp, and on Folklore she strengths her storytelling while also providing comfort (for herself and other listeners) in the wake of 2020’s darkness.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
New York rapper Fabolous‘ fashion goals don’t end when he’s back at the crib. The rap star lights up Instagram with some pretty epic footage of himself donning flashy matching pajamas. The clip is from a photo shoot and shows Loso even donning jewelry with his pjs. Recently, both Fab and his longtime boo Emily […]
Last week, Gen-Z and Millenials were debating on TikTok, Twitter, and other social platforms about whether to “cancel” Detroit rap legend Eminem once and for all. Citing his “problematic” lyrics, and specifically pointing out his toxic lines in “Love The Way You Lie” with Rihanna about burning down a house if ever his partner tries to leave him, Gen-Z argued that Eminem should no longer have a platform. Having grown up with his angsty rhymes, Millenials fought back and said that Slim Shady is too big to be canceled, which is arguably true. Eminem may have already sort-of responded to the debate with the release of his “Tone Deaf” lyric video, in which he also possibly subs Snoop Dogg, but the war wages on as Lil Nas X has officially stepped in to give his take on the matter.
Mocking a Millenial TikTok user who uploaded her questionable freestyle over “The Real Slim Shady” to ward off Gen-Z commenters, Lil Nas X made his own freestyle to the record. “Generation Z wants to cancel Eminem?” said LNX sarcastically before letting out a hearty laugh. “Generation Z wants to cancel Eminem? Listen up, Generation/Z, you’re a generation of Z/Z, generation of Z”. The offbeat freestyle is clearly poking fun at the debate as a whole.
CyHi The Prynce’s career has been a series of whirlwind events, having spent ample time in Kanye West’s inner creative circle. Not only has that affiliation granted him no shortage of opportunity in the hip-hop game, but it also exposed him to one of the most fascinating and complex characters in music. As such, The Prynce has no shortage of insight on Yeezy, and he proved as much during a revealing multi-part interview with DJ Vlad.
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When asked directly about Kanye West’s political ambition, CyHi offered a measured take on his longtime collaborator’s Presidential run and notorious support of Donald Trump. “When I feel like God has a calling for someone, I can’t step in the middle,” says CyHi. “He doesn’t really have the time to explain himself. He gets a lot of information. He meets with every powerful person in the world. You wouldn’t believe how many private jets he flies people out on, just to have a thirty-minute, hour meeting with them. This is a man who gets information that Twitter may not be able to get…He gets classified information.”
Noting the revelation, Vlad attempts to take the moral high-ground by highlighting Kanye’s decision to don a MAGA hat. “I do want people to understand, when you’re a spook that’s sat by the door, you’re privy to a lot of information people aren’t privy to,” counters CyHi. “When we say, this person is wrong just cause he put on the hat, I know people who’ve done way more egregious things that never put on the hat. Since the Clinton administration, blacks been getting locked up, firearms been in our neighborhoods, way before Trump was our President.”
“If you look at [Trump’s] history with black people, he’s closer to them than any other President outside of Obama,” continues The Prynce, arguing that Trump helped many prominent black cultural icons get out of prison. He also maintains that he wasn’t interested in judging Kanye West, especially given that he knew what his collaborator’s intentions were. “He was trying to change laws, he knew this was a friend he had prior to, verses trying to talk to any other President…Trump knew every black celebrity prior to running for president.”
For more insight from CyHi, check out the entire interview segment below.
