Isaiah Rashad Details SZA’s “Perfectionist” Work Ethic

Isaiah Rashad discussed SZA’s recording process in a new interview with Apple Music 1’s Nadeska, and referred to the CTRL singer as a “perfectionist.” Rashad also spoke about her contributions to his new album, The House Is Burning.

“We respect each other so much, like artistically and then like personally knowing like we have other things going on,” Isaiah Rashad said in the interview. “So when we hang, we try not to make music. So this one kind of took us like, just being okay with just doing it. Like we’re going to, because we know we’re going to do it. And knowing the song, knowing them what song it was, we both procrastinate. Sometimes she’ll make some of our best at the last minute.”

Isaiah Rashad, SZA
Jonathan Leibson / Getty Images

Rashad also celebrated the success of her two songs, “Hit Different” and “Good Days.”

He continued: “I guess maybe the on top of like the fear of failing, not being willing to fail can push out something like that. And it was just cool, just linking with her on that. But I’m surprised that I’m putting my actually, especially with her having like two of the biggest songs of the year.

“And then she been in her zone so much, like being a perfectionist,” he added. “I’m just happy that she wanted to do this. Cause she really took some time apart. She was in a studio for like a week trying to make it exactly as she wants to make it. It’s always beautiful.”

Check out the interview here.

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Lebron James To Produce Native American Basketball Film “Rez” On Netflix

In his latest cinematic play, Lebron James will be producing a new Native American basketball film titled Rez Ball. Per The Hollywood Reporter, the story, “follows the Chuska Warriors, a Native American high school basketball team from Chuska, New Mexico, that must band together after losing their star player if they want to keep their quest for a state championship alive. It’s an all-American underdog story about Navajo kids and coaches told from the inside-out.”

Sydney Freeland, is set to direct the film, co-writing it along with Sterlin Harjo, who co-created FX’s Reservation Dogs.

The script is adapted from Michael Powell’s Canyon Dreams sports novel, incorporating pieces from his own New York Times articles which preceded the original book. The overarching story focus on “reservation basketball,” a fast-paced iteration of the sport that many credit with influencing top NBA teams and coaches.

“Basketball on the Rez is like high school football in West Texas,” says Freeland. “It has a fanatical following that few sports can rival. This is a story that’s commonplace on Indian reservations all over the US, but most people aren’t even aware it exists. What we want to do is bring people into our world, to tell a story about the people and places we know, and what better way to do that than through a sports movie?”

Eminem’s Daughter Still Has Lollapalooza On Her Mind

Grammy-winning rapper Eminem’s daughter isn’t ready to bid farewell to the Lollapalooza festivities. The rap icon’s mini-me Hailie Jade has blessed social media with some fresh shots from her outing at the annual music festival. Eminem’s Daughter Still Has Lollapalooza On Her Mind Slim Shady’s daughter hit up Instagram with a slideshow of pics from […]

T-Pain Says He Thought Jay-Z’s “D.O.A.” Was A Diss Track Aimed At Him

 T-Pain says he took Jay-Z’s “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)” as a personal diss because he saw himself as “the face of Auto-Tune” at the time. Pain discussed his reaction to the classic track during a new interview on the Drink Champs podcast.

“Of course! A wise man once said, ‘You can’t knock the hustle,’” T-Pain said when asked by Co-host N.O.R.E. whether he thought the track was a diss was he first heard it. “I’m the face of this. Just like Lil Yachty was the face of mumble rap—anytime somebody talk about mumble rap, Lil Yachty was the first person to come up. I was the face of Auto-Tune. Anytime somebody said, ‘Auto-Tune,’ I’m the face. So, when you say Auto-Tune is wack, I’m the face.”

He continued: “If I woulda said fuckin’ blue Yankees are terrible, everybody woulda been like, ‘Oh you dissin’ Jay-Z now?’ … Anytime [Jay] says something is wack, it’s trash.”

T-Pain. Jay-Z
Sergio Dionisio / Getty Images

“D.O.A.” was released in 2009 and fans quickly assumed it was T-Pain who was being targeted, but Jay shut that rumor down in an interview with Hot 97 shortly after the track’s release.

“You n***as singin’ too much/Get back to rap, you T-Painin’ too much,” Hov rapped on the track.

Check out the interview below.

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Apple Music Lists New Release Date For Kanye West’s “Donda”

Kanye West’s Donda has a new release date on Apple Music, which indicates the highly anticipated project is expected to drop on August 15th. The date could easily be changed, yet again, but for now, this appears to be the most updated goal.

To make matters more confusing, Complex notes that iTunes lists its expected release date for Donda as August 13.

Kanye West, Donda
Michael Loccisano / Getty Images

Justin Laboy previously teased that Donda would drop on August 6th, after a second listening party.

“Kanye West will move the release date of Donda to August 6th,” Laboy tweeted in July. “Thanks for your patience. He wants to give his fans the best possible product without rushing anything. He loves yall with all of his heart. God bless.”

After the album didn’t drop, following a second listening party, Mike Dean joked on Twitter that West found a mistake for him to fix during the performance.

“He was actually calling me from a mix mistake!!” Dean tweeted in response to a photo from the event.

Jermaine Dupri recently said that all the delays should be expected: “I’m not sure many understand what Ye did because n***as don’t have listening parties much in this era, but you play the music and gage what you got by the reactions, then prioritize by best reaction and fix where the response was weak, real A&R shit.”

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Watch New Trailer Season 2 Of “Wu-Tang: An American Saga”

Ahead of the season’s official arrival on September 8th, the first trailer to come of Season 2 of Wu-Tang: An American Saga is here. 

In season 1, which featured the likes of Dave East as Method Man and Joey Bada$$ as Inspectah Deck, focused on the mere beginnings of the crew before Wu-Tang itself was ever formed. The new season will bring fans into the creation of the actual group and their debut Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).

Notably, Joey Bada$$ will not reprise his role as he is replaced by Uyoata Udi of This Is Us and Watchmen.

The new trailer arrives just shortly after the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York revealed that it sold the only copy of Wu-Tang’s Once Upon A Time In Shaolin album, previously seized from disgraced “pharma bro” Martin Shkreli.

The most recent buyer and purchasing price remain undisclosed though prosecutors said that it covered the $7.4 million forfeiture judgment balance. New York attorney Peter Scoolidge, however, identified himself as the facilitator of the purchase, stating that his client would soon reveal themselves ” in the next 30 to 60 days.”

Scoolidge’s connection to the case as an attorney who has previously represented other artists and producers attempting to collect royalties and proper payment from the first sale of the album to Shkreli, however, has raised speculation that members of the Wu-Tang Clan may have bought the album back themselves. Time will surely tell.

Bob Odenkirk Says He’s “Doing Great” After Collapsing On Set Of “Better Call Saul”

Bob Odekirk, star of Better Call Saul, says he’s “doing great” after having collapsed on the set of “Better Call Saul.” Odenkirk admitted afterward that he had suffered a “small heart attack.”

“I am doing great,” Odenkirk wrote on Twitter, Saturday. “I’ve had my very own ‘It’s a wonderful life’ week of people insisting I make the world slightly better. Wow! Thank you, I love everyone right now but let’s keep expectations reasonable!”

Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Charley Gallay /Getty Images

Shortly after spending the night in the hospital, Odenkirk released a statement to his friends, family, and fans explaining what had happened:

To my family and friends who have surrounded me this week. And for the outpouring of love from everyone who expressed concern and care for me. It’s overwhelming. But I feel the love and it means so much… I had a small heart attack. But I’m going to be ok thanks to Rosa Estrada and the doctors who knew how to fix the blockage without surgery. Also, AMC and SONYs support and help throughout this has been next-level. I’m going to take a beat to recover but I’ll be back soon.

The sixth season of Better Call Saul is expected to be it’s final.

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Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion Tease New Collab On 1-Year Anniversary Of “WAP”

Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion celebrated the one-year anniversary of the release of their hit single, “WAP,” on Twitter, Saturday. Additionally, the pair teased that another collaborative effort could be on the way soon.

“Wow I can’t believe wappity WAP turned one today. It don’t even feel like it,” Cardi tweeted. “What a record! @theestallion we should do it again sometime.”

Megan replied: “Happy WAPIVERSARY. Thank you for having me, I think the people deserve another collab.”

Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi, WAP
Kevin Winter / Getty Images

“WAP” was the most-streamed song of 2020 by a female artist in the US, with 732.7 million. It also had the most searched lyrics on Google in 2020

Not only the song, but the music video as well, was wildly successful. On YouTube, the single set the record for the biggest 24-hour debut for an all-female collaboration on the site.

Halle Berry reflected on the video on the one-year anniversary, writing on Twitter: “Unseen footage from #WAP video. Happy 1-year ladies. @theestallion @iamcardib.” The tweet included footage from the movie B.A.P.S.

Many conservative media pundits criticized the music video, the song’s lyrics, and the duo’s live performance of “WAP” at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards for being sexually explicit.