Fans Think DaBaby Controversy Was Orchestrated By 50 Cent

Is it merely a coincidence that a week after 50 Cent took DaBaby under a mentorship role, the Charlotte rapper has embraced his role as rap’s biggest supervillain? People don’t think so.

All week, music fans, artists, and journalists have been following the backlash surrounding DaBaby’s homophobic comments at Rolling Loud. If you’ve been hiding under a rock, the rapper took the stage and shamed his fans living with HIV and AIDS, sharing harmful misinformation and also calling out his gay fans. Every time Baby has tried to “apologize” for his stunt, he’s managed to make the situation even worse for himself. At this point, much of the LGBTQ+ community is effectively finished supporting DaBaby, and well-respected artists like Madonna and Elton John have chastised the rapper with lengthy posts. 

Considering the timing of his rant, and the fact that he had a music video ready to unload directly referencing the controversy, this seems to have been orchestrated by DaBaby to an extent. But some fans also think that 50 Cent, who has promoted the rapper’s new song on social media, had a hand in this.


Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

“Coincidence that 50 Cent started ‘mentoring’ DaBaby and then his career continues to go straight to hell?” shared one fan on Twitter. 

It’s worth it to note that 50 Cent has had his own glaring problematic moments, attacking his former friend Young Buck online with constant transphobia and homophobia. With all the attention that 50 has gotten with his own anti-LGBTQ+ comments, perhaps he instructed DaBaby that it would be guaranteed publicity to come after that community. 

What do you think? Was 50 Cent involved in creating this controversy?

Skepta Goes “All In” On New EP, featuring Kid Cudi, J Balvin & More

Skepta has officially returned to the table with a gargantuan pile of chips on deck, going “All In” blind with all the reckless charm of Gus Hansen in his prime. Flipping his cards to reveal a five-track EP with guest appearances from J Balvin, Kid Cudi, and Teezee, Skepta’s latest project is a welcome microdose from the UK rap heavyweight.

Clocking in at fifteen minutes with production largely handled by Skeppy himself — with additional production by JAE5, Ragz Originale, and Josh Faulkner — All In was actually crafted with the live experience in mind. “This music isn’t for people to download and discuss,” explains Skepta, in an official statement about the project. “It’s music to feel when I perform it live, music for people to celebrate with their friends.”

Being that it’s been a few years since we last received a solo project from Skepta — 2019’s Ignorance Is Bliss to be specific — All In should be exactly what his fans have been looking for. Featuring a wide array of styles from the versatile UK rapper, who closes the project with a return to his grime roots, we can only hope that All In is foreshadowing to a larger project from the legendary rapper. Either way, it should be interesting to see how these five tracks translate to the live stage, whenever the tour circuit kicks in once again.

Stream All In now, and sound off if you’re enjoying Skepta’s latest. 

Russ Takes A Breather On “Fate”

New Jersey rapper and singer Russ continues to flaunt his consistency with the release of “Fate,” his 13th single since early May. His inspiration for the string of singles have varied from women, money, travel, and his rise to the top, though this latest track is a refreshing step back from the artist both sonically and thematically. While last week’s “Lake Como” release found Russ taking on the infectious romance of the Summer, “Fate” is an ode to the laidback days of July. 

The new release is backed by a relaxing and pleasantly simple boom-bap beat– a signature of Russ’s production at this point in his career. On the instrumental, the rapper and singer gives fans a taste of his weathered versatility. The track kicks off with a melodic chorus that could be found in any R&B track, as Russ moves away from his incessant grind and instead hopes fate will figure things out for him.

A catchy and introspective rap verse follows the chorus and sees Russ touching on his most well-known talking points: criticizing the rap game and boasting about his accomplishments. While he could take a more conventional route through the industry, Russ decides he’d rather stay outside the box and maintain his independent and outspoken persona. 

Check out the track below.

Quotable Lyrics:

One way or another, I’ma figure this out 
Don’t know where, don’t know when, and I don’t know how 
So I’ma just drink, smoke, chalk it up to fate 
So I’ma just drink, smoke, chalk it up to fate 

Toosii Extends “Thank You For Believing” With A 10-Track B-Side Titled “The Manifestation”

Earlier this year, rising New York rapper and self-proclaimed “Rookie of the Year” Toosii dropped off the sensational mixtape Thank You For BelievingAt 13 tracks, the project was mostly a showcase of Toosii’s versatility as an artist, but there were a few high-profile features from artists such as Latto, DaBaby, and Key Glock.

Shortly after the release of Thank You For Believing in May, Toosii was then featured on this year’s polarizing XXL Freshman Cover, and with impressive freestyle and cypher performances, his star power only rose over the past couple of months. Now, Toosii is back with a deluxe version of his popular mixtape, titled Thank You For Believing (The Manifestation).

Toosii’s latest release features 10 new tracks as well as two additional guest features from Florida rapper Hotboii and Brooklyn Drill fan-favorite Fivio Foreign. Whether you were a fan of the original version of Thank You For Believing or were just introduced to Toosii with the 2021 XXL Freshman Cover, check out the extended deluxe version below.

Tracklist:

Volume 1 (The Manifestation)

1. got damn
2. what I’m on
3. let me know (feat. Hotboii)
4. same as I used to be
5. thief in the night
6. mercedez pt. 2
7. icky vicky
8. dats real
9. heart cold
10.spin music (feat. Fivio Foreign)

Volume 2 (Thank You For Believing)

1. in my eyes
2. what it cost
3. 5’5 (feat. Latto)
4. windows down
5. shop (feat. DaBaby)
6. f*ck marry kill
7. be cautious
8. end of discussion
9. greater storm
10. tic tic
11. rich n*gga (feat. Key Glock)
12. back together
13. red die

Playboi Carti Had The Lollapalooza Crowd Going Crazy: Watch

Playboi Carti is one of the best live performers of his generation. He knows how to get the crowd going, becoming a moshpit specialist over the years. He was a standout at Rolling Loud last week in Miami, and while the fans ate up his performance, the Lollapalooza crowd in Chicago seems to have enjoyed his set a little more.


Scott Legato/Getty Images

On Thursday night, Playboi Carti hit the stage for the thirtieth anniversary of Lolla and he did not disappoint. Anybody that was in attendance can attest to the fact that he turned the entire audience up a notch, bringing them to rage-appropriate levels. One of the highlights of his show came when he performed “Rockstar Made” from his latest album Whole Lotta Red. The rapper connected with his fans, telling them that he missed coming to Chicago before the track started blaring. Instantly, people starting jumping and dancing. Comparatively to last week, it’s nice to see some music fans actually enjoying themselves at a festival. You can see thousands of people having an incredible time and, hopefully, dodging the Delta variant by wearing their masks and social distancing. It doesn’t look like there was much of the latter though.

Check out a video of Playboi Carti shutting down the festival with his amazing performance below. Are you shedding COVID anxiety to go to a festival this summer?

Exclusive: TJ Boyce Decodes His New Scarface + Trae tha Truth ‘Mr. Officer’ Video

Veteran musician TJ Boyce is officially out of his hiatus and back on the music grind. The hitmaker and certified producer chops it up with SOHH to discuss his newly released “Mr. Officer” single and music video. The Houston native reveals how it only made sense to have a couple fellow hometown icons in Scarface […]

Dave East & G Herbo Keep It Real On “Go Off”

Dave East and Harry Fraud — a logical pairing if ever there was one — have officially teamed up to deliver the new album Hoffa. Designed for those who can appreciate the art of mafioso hip-hop in its purest form, Hoffa features a spirited performance from East across the boards, who takes to Fraud’s versatile array of production with a veteran’s calculated approach. 

While there are plenty of gems to unearth on Hoffa, there’s something immediately appealing about the G Herbo-assisted “Go Off.” Featuring a beautiful blend of acoustic guitar and an ominous vocal sample, Fraud’s production is at once modern and nostalgic. Despite their differentiating styles, East and Herbo’s chemistry is certainly solid, with the latter’s slightly off-beat delivery somehow hitting with precision. “Now when I get it I stash it,” raps East. “I go to Texas they treat a n***a like a Maverick.”

Check out “Go Off” now, and be sure to go support Dave East and Harry Fraud’s new album Hoffa.

QUOTABLE LYRICS

Addicted to lean, I’m gon pour up
Run up on me it’s gon go up
Dirty ni**as we had no bucks
Now we travel the world fuck the globe up

Maxo Kream Is Finally Back With His New Single “Local Joker”

Maxo Kream is finally back and he’s got an album on the way. The first piece of the puzzle has officially arrived with the new single “Local Joker” dropping on Friday.

This marks the first new music from the Houston rapper in nearly two years. The young OG is a staple in his city’s hip-hop scene but he took a hiatus after the tragic passing of his brother. He’s back now and he’s spitting with a vengeance, dropping “Local Joker” for his real fans. We’ve been missing Maxo in the game throughout the entire pandemic so it’s nice to see him back.

With an album coming soon, we’ll keep you posted on all of the latest Maxo Kream news so keep it locked to HNHH.

Quotable Lyrics:

When I go back to my hood, I see them same old n***as
On the same old shit, with them same old issues
Tried to show ’em if I did it, they could probably do it bigger
But all we ever talk about is them same old bitches and them same old stories and them same old figures
We was stackin’ up in high school, for them Jordans we would kill you
I could lead you to the water but can’t pedal your canoe
Reminisce ’bout money doin’ stupid shit we used to do

DaBaby Responds To Questlove’s Criticisms By Saying He Doesn’t Know Who He Is

Over the past week, public opinion on DaBaby has, to borrow a phrase from one of his collaborators, done “a full 180“: He’s faced accusations of homophobia and the fallout from them following his controversial appearance at Rolling Loud last weekend. Questlove decided to speak out against DaBaby’s actions, which prompted DaBaby to fire back.

Questlove took to Instagram and shared a list of artists he would include in a modern Summer Of Soul festival lineup, and DaBaby’s name was on the list but crossed out. Questlove explained that he removed DaBaby from the roster in light of his recent goings-on and admitted that while he hesitated to speak out against him, the things DaBaby said were “not cool at all.” He wrote:

“I was hypothetically asked if I was curating an updated version of #SummerOfSoul who would be my acts?

I gave my dream list.

And now I’m updating my list —-because it’s 2021 & f*ck the bullshit. I’m especially not here for any savagery (if you’re lost: Google the idiocy of the crossed out). I’m not trine be all performative smurf & create a social flogging or start some click bait headlines. That’s missing the point. But right is right & his actions are wrong. Somebody Gotta say it: Homophobia/Transphobia/Xenophobia/Misogyny/Racism—-this should go w/o saying is morally wrong.

& not that fake hiding behind religion holier than thou morally wrong.

But ‘that was f*cked up’ & wrong. I had to say something. Again I’m not doing this for ‘what do you want a cookie bro w your ‘love ye one another’ posts?—–black people already have a code about publicly criticizing so I’ll admit i was slow to do this because I mean he don’t know me from Adam. So this will prolly get marked as ‘old hater’ territory. But man…..that sh*t was not cool at all.

I dunno man—maybe I’m turning into a grump: barely said anything about Rih in ’06 (lemme mind my business), looked the other way w ol bol & that MaGa Hat (he going thru thangs let him work it out)—-don’t even get me started on half of my rap heroes damn near becoming f*x news talking points w their russian bot reposts & misinformation on all things facts.

Huey Newton wisely stated in the early 70s that we as a people should NEVER go so low in life (with what we been through) that we start oppressing/terrorizing the next man in the way we been terrorized for centuries.

Y’all got my point. Sorry this came off awkward but y’all get the point. Y’all gonna learn that there are other human beings living in the space you are.”

DaBaby caught wind of the post and responded by insisting that he doesn’t know who Questlove is (despite performing with The Roots on The Tonight Show in 2019) and sharing messages for his detractors. He wrote on multiple Instagram Story posts:

“i ain’t even tryna be funny when i say …. i do NOT KNOW WHO DIS N**** IS DAWG [laughing emoji] [shrugging emoji] $ do not care bout loosing you as a fan my boy lol @questlove. You or any other n**** who wanna play follow the leader . This superstar you was a fan of is STAND UP n**** , Yeen never seen one of these huh? [laughing emoji]

These n****s really think they gone influence people to stop f*ckin w/ the INFLUENCE [laughing emoji]. They go crazy bout what I say not yall [laughing emoji]. I got da influence AND the nuts n****. Y’all n****s cheerleaders.

Y’all extra ass n****s tagging along playing on my top like I’m a n**** you can bully of sumn [laughing emojis] going out y’all way creating art work & sh*t tryna gain new fans off my situation cuz it’s QUIET for y’all n****s [crying emoji]. N****s better hit the studio of sumn.”

Check out Questlove and DaBaby’s posts below.

@dababy/Instagram
@dababy/Instagram
@dababy/Instagram