Some collaborations often catch fans off guard, and Lil Yachty and James Blake’s upcoming joint album, Bad Cameo, can fall into that category. Yet, it hasn’t been uncommon for Blake to partner with Hip Hop artists throughout his prolific career. He has worked with artists like Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, Vince Staples, Chance The Rapper, and Frank Ocean, and was featured on the Black Panther soundtrack. Yachty’s catalog of hits speaks for itself, and these two decided to band their skills together for what they hope is an unforgettable project that both say inspired their best songwriting.
“As soon as we started making songs, and I think partly it was to do with this conversation we had pretty early on where Yachty was like, ‘James, you’ve made enough,’” Blake told Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1. “‘You’ve worked on enough Rap records. Let’s make something completely different.’ And I was like, ‘Totally, what do you feel like working on?’ And I just started playing him….it’s not that I assumed we’d make a Rap vocal collab record. I just didn’t know what he wanted to do.”
“So when he said that, I was like, ‘Great, obviously the door’s open for any type of thing I’m going to play him,” Blake added. “So, I just started playing him ambient things. Things I’d been working on actually from a similar era to the Robots‘ era stuff. If you look around here, this is all just since that. I’ve made all that stuff on and I was playing him some stuff like that. Then, he had a couple of things that he brought in that kind of matched that mood.”
Both Blake and Yachty expounded on Bad Cameo, detailing why they were drawn to work with one another in the first place. Read through a few highlights below, including lessons Yachty learned from Blake and why Blake almost swore off collaborations altogether before this partnership arose. Additionally, make sure to stream Bad Cameo when it arrives this Friday, June 28.
James Blake On Why He Wanted To Work With Lil Yachty
The thing that I think it was for me—because I already respected you as an artist in the genre you started in. To me, the music you were making already was amazing. And I think lyrically you stood out energetically. You stood out, and I just felt like every time your voice came on something, it was like, oh, I just knew there was going to be a level of quality to it. I also got a sense early on that some of the kinds of genre associations and the kinds of ways that some people felt about that genre were reflecting on you unfairly. And I could see that there was someone unbelievably special who just happened to make this kind of music. And it’s also music that I love.
Lil Yachty On What He Learned From Working With James Blake
Lil Yachty: I think I have a better understanding of quality and I feel like he pushed me to—he didn’t push me physically. Like, told me, ‘Do better.’ But just being around and experiencing him work pushed me to try to have reason in my songwriting and to just live up to the quality of James’s catalog. I didn’t want to put a project out and then his fans be upset with me. Kind of slaughtering all of the—
James Blake: That could never happen.
Zane Lowe: No, but I do understand what you’re saying. Pushing yourself to connect to the music in a way where—
Yachty: Just to be as great as everything that he has done. No, seriously, I wanted to make sure he knew how serious I was. Because I, myself, have worked with so many artists who are just so unserious. They don’t understand true effort or just don’t apply themselves. It’s so easy to say, ‘Yeah, man, let’s make a project, man, let’s work. Let’s do an album. Let’s do a mixtape.’ But to genuinely apply yourself, show up, and devote time because it’s my time and his time that we spent to create this child. [I] just really wanted to show that I was there and this was as important to me as it was to him.
Lowe: It says less about the value it creates after the fact and more with actually just being completely present in the process.
Yachty: Well, we just never once had a conversation about what happens after. It was always just what we liked and what we felt was right. We never was like, ‘Oh man, we going to go number one, or…’ We never had that conversation. It’s just like we went with it.
Blake: We knew that wasn’t going to happen because I’m involved. But we definitely had conversations about the ideas of the—
Lowe: The British humility at play here.
Yachty: Well, I think he’s going to possibly help me get my Grammy.
James Blake Swore Off Any More Collabs Before Working With Yachty
Blake: I’d say before even before we even met, I decided not to do many more collaborations.
Lowe: What was the purpose behind it? What was the thinking?
Blake: Well, my thinking was in most sessions, I don’t enjoy it that much. I think, there’s a lot of great artists, but are they going to make you laugh? Are you going to actually have a good time? Are you actually going to form a friendship that is like, you actually want to see them come into the studio? I mean, there’s a certain point in your career where you’re like, ‘Well, I don’t have to do this.’ I’m not trying to cross-pollinate fan bases and get—there’s no A&R moves anymore. I’m just making music. Not that there really ever was, but now I’m like, ‘How can I preserve my space? How can I be only have fun?’ And we just, I mean, our sessions are 99 percent unserious. This is probably the most serious conversation we’ve ever had, I think.
Def Jam knew what it was doing back in 2021 when they signed Benny The Butcher. The Buffalo icon had already been dominating in Rap arenas, often alongside his Griselda brothers, for nearly two decades. His transition to the legendary Hip Hop label was fueled by its creative consultant Snoop Dogg and ushered in a new era for Benny. Finally, the rapper delivered EVERYBODY CAN’T GO on Friday (January 26), and to add insight into his latest, Benny chopped it up with Ebro Darden on Rap Life Radio for Apple Music 1.
“I realized that in my life, which is the reason I made it the album title, is just realizing that I’m at a different level. To make it from here to where I’m at right now, had to lose a lot of people,” Benny The Butcher told Ebro when explaining why gave his project its title. He added, “I came from the bullsh*t. You know what I’m saying?… I don’t ever want to go back. So, everybody can’t go. There’s some habits that I got that can’t go. Seeing that that was happening in my real life in real-time, it was only right that I named the album after that.”
Read through a few highlights from the expansive conversation between Benny and Ebro as the rapper discusses getting signed to Def Jam, delaying EVERYBODY CAN’T GO‘s arrival, rejecting a rapper’s feature for a surprising reason, and mapping out another album release this year.
On Why EVERYBODY CAN’T GO Wasn’t Released On August 28 As First Announced
I want to explain this to people. This my first go-around on a major label, and I’m just excited. I heard the label talking about August 28th. And next interview, I just said that sh*t. They let me know like, “Nah, you can’t do that type of sh*t.” You know what I mean? I’m like, from that point to this one, I see like, ain’t no way we was going to drop that date. We wasn’t ready. I ain’t had no videos done, I ain’t have sh*t done. I was just happy to announce a date…I don’t know how they do it, but I think in my case, samples wasn’t clear. You know what I’m saying? I ain’t have no video shot. I’m used to doing independent sh*t. We throw that out there as soon as it get done.
On Rejecting A Feature Because The Rapper Didn’t Show Up Over Their Outfit
I was going to do a feature with this artist. This artist, honestly, I see them doing their thing, but they could have never came and stepped to me and got a feature on their own. Some other people stepped to me and said, “We got the paper. We want to pay you for this, do this.” I’m like, “Okay, set it up for the next day.” And when the time came, they was calling me like, man, this person didn’t have their, I’m saying, their outfit wasn’t right. So, they couldn’t do it. Man, I closed the book on that. I ain’t want to do this anyway. Your outfit wasn’t right? Because all they wanted to do was come and take pictures next to me. You know what I’m saying? And I thought we was about to get in the booth. I thought we was about to do what we do. But it’s over. I closed the door on that.
On The Meaning Behind The Title, EVERYBODY CAN’T GO
I realized that in my life, which is the reason I made it the album title, is just realizing that I’m at a different level. To make it from here to where I’m at right now, had to lose a lot of people. I had to turn my back on a lot of people. And when I say turn my back, I ain’t like, forget about nobody. Nothing like that. But I had to do what’s best for me. It’s okay to be selfish. You know what I’m saying? We grown-ass men.
So, to take another leap, I got to do the same thing. And at this point of life, whoever don’t agree with your decisions to make life easier and more peaceful for yourself, they don’t love you. I want to be in this game for a minute. I want to be at peace with myself for a minute, I came from the bullsh*t. You know what I’m saying? I’m not 10 years in the game. So, I don’t ever want to go back. So, everybody can’t go. There’s some habits that I got that can’t go. Seeing that that was happening in my real life in real-time, it was only right that I named the album after that.
Benny The Butcher On How He Got Signed To Def Jam By Snoop Dogg
Well, on my side, I was already kicking it with Def Jam, trying to get the contract and work. But what I didn’t know, when he came over there, he asked them like, “Yo, who y’all trying to get, who y’all ain’t been able to get?” And they said my name, I guess. You know what I’m saying? They had him call me, we met up. We chopped it, and we kicked it. Energy was all love. You know what I’m saying? He gave me some information and some game that I needed to hear. He just kicked it with me, he was transparent with me. We exchanged phone numbers, and he sought the rest of the deal out. He made sure it happened.
On Dropping A Second Album This Year
Ebro Darden: This album got a lot of heat on it, man. And you kept it tight. Only 12 records.
Benny The Butcher: I wanted to put a lot on there, but some records ain’t get cleared. You know what I mean?
Benny: Yo, y’all smart, man. You’re the second person that said that. It’s like, “Yo, is that your plan?” And that’s exactly my plan. I’m trying to drop twice this year. I’m coming back.
Listen to Benny The Butcher and Ebro Darden’s full conversation on Rap Life Radio for Apple Music 1 at https://apple.co/_RapLife.
He just couldn’t stay away, as INSANO‘s release marked Kid Cudi’s return to music—kind of. His short-lived retirement threw fans for a loop, but not everyone was convinced he would be gone for long, even Cudi. As the reviews pour in for Cudi’s 11th album, the hitmaker chopped it up once again with Zane Lowe for Apple Music 1. These two have a history of intimate conversations encompassing Kid Cudi’s life, career, and personal growth, and this falls right in line.
As expected, the pair discussed INSANO at length, especially Cudi’s fairweather retirement. He admitted it wasn’t anything that he was set on, but Cudi didn’t feel as if fans were really hungry for new music. With INSANO, it seems that Cudi is welcoming criticism with open arms. “I’m just trying to compete,” he said.
“I want to have the best album of the year. You know what I mean?” Cudi continued. “I want people to arguably have the debate about my sh*t being one of the best albums of the year. I didn’t want to have any doubts. I wanted to make something that was completely undeniable.”
Moreover, it isn’t just Kid Cudi’s music that has found the Ohio native under scrutiny. His public fallouts with good friend Kanye West have made headlines, leaving many to believe their cemented bond was fractured. Yet, these two are more than simply collaborators and friends, and Kid Cudi spoke about reuniting with Ye for a fresh start. He even said Ye is aware of the impact of his controversies.
“I had this moment to think about the past and the journey that I’ve had with this person, and I know that in his soul,” said Cudi. “There is a good man there because I’ve seen it, and you don’t give up on people. He’s learning, and he’s growing. He knows he made some mistakes and I think that that’s the beauty of it, is this is a beautiful thing.”
Check out a few highlights from Kid Cudi’s chat with Zane Lowe—his feelings about approaching 40, snagging an XXXTentacion posthumous feature, working with Lil Yachty, why he wants to make the best music possible, and hiding from Lupe Fiasco (and other rappers) while working at the BAPE store back in 2008.
Kid Cudi On His Short-Lived Retirement & Returning To Music
[When I said that] I was kind of out of it. I was just in this place where I was thinking about my future, and it didn’t seem like, I don’t know. It just doesn’t seem like there was really an appetite for my music in the ways that there used to be. Finally got through that whole retirement thing because I talked to my friend Brian, the world knows him as Kaws. But he was like, “Hey, man, I don’t mean to get in your business, but I think you should rethink this retirement thing. I think you could be around for a long time.”
to see Brian kind of come to me real like that, and he’s never approached me about my music or what I should do with my music ever before. So, it hit me in a different way as if it was like it could have been Dot or Chip or Dennis. It was different. And literally after that message, I was like, “Sh*t, man. He’s right. I’m just getting warm. I’m just getting warm.” I mean, 15 years is a long time to be doing anything, but it’s just the beginning.
I was still in this place trying to figure out what that album would sound like. And I was in Paris, I just finished my European Runner tour, and I go to see Kendrick. And this motherf*cker, it blew my mind. I’m sitting there, I’m watching the crowd reaction from the beginning of the show to the end of the show. People were in it, party mode, singing every f*cking word.
Not saying this doesn’t happen at my shows, because it does. But all the way through, I don’t have that experience. You know what I mean? And it’s like I had this moment where I was like, “You know what? This is the reaction I want. I want people to feel good and it to be a joyous occasion when I’m performing.” So I took that, the inspiration from Kendrick’s show. And Kendrick has always been my top three artists in the world.
Kid Cudi On His Relationship With Kanye West & Working With Ye
It’s usually one person does something where the other one has to defend themselves, but usually you like to keep these things private. But sometimes, they can come out. I think in my situation, it’s a little bit more complicated. Me personally, I just pray on it and walking the light. The new Scott is not angry at anyone. The new Scott doesn’t have beef with anyone, and I just try to focus on that.
Any past thing I ever had, sometimes it’s been I might fall out with somebody and never talk to them ever again. And then sometimes I fall out with somebody and might not talk for a couple years, and then we reconnect, and it’s squashed, and it’s all good. So, it depends. It’s like friendships, really it’s beyond friendship, is about when it’s brotherly, sisterly sh*t, family sh*t. It’s just a little bit more complicated.
So, you go through things, but family is always there. You don’t give up on family. And I think in the thick of it, when it was going down, I wanted to walk away. I wanted to give up, but in thinking about it the past couple years, it’s like this is someone who is my brother ultimately who came into my life and championed me and did things for me that nobody else did for me early on in my career. People don’t even know that Kanye paid for the first “Day ‘N’ Night” video when I didn’t have a deal. This was like, he needs a video, so I’mma pay for it. Guy saw me to shoot it, saw me the first director. Didn’t know me, but was sure just doing a favor.
And so, sh*t like that. I had this moment to think about the past and the journey that I’ve had with this person, and I know that in his soul, there is a good man there because I’ve seen it, and you don’t give up on people. He’s learning, and he’s growing. He knows he made some mistakes and I think that that’s the beauty of it, is this is a beautiful thing. It’s like he knows he’s been on one hell of a ride, and he knows he’s said some things that he might not be able to come back from in a lot of realms, in a lot of spaces from certain people.
But we grow, and I think I pray for him, and that’s my brother. And the reason why we became cool again is because he apologized to me, and it was sincere. I was just like, wow. Kanye does not apologize to anybody and say sorry to anyone. And that’s my brother, man. I know he loves me, and there’s just nothing like Kanye and Cudi. We like the duo that everybody loves to see.
On Wanting To Make The Best Music Possible
LONG BEACH, CA – APRIL 29: Rapper Kid Cudi performs onstage during the Smokers Club Festival at The Queen Mary on April 29, 2018 in Long Beach, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)
I feel like all these years, I’ve kind of been exploring as an artist, and I’ve been on a quest. A quest to acquire my powers to be able to compete one day, and that was one of the goals I had going into this. It’s like, no, I’m not going to just make my just offbeat different sh*t and just be in my own lane. No, I’m just trying to compete. I want to have the best album of the year. You know what I mean? I want people to arguably have the debate about my sh*t being one of the best albums of the year. I didn’t want to have any doubts. I wanted to make something that was completely undeniable.
On Closing In On 40 Years Old
CHICAGO – AUG 01: Kid Cudi performs at 2015 Lollapalooza at Grant Park on August 1, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
I feel great. It’s like most people my age are afraid to tell their age. But I have found from experience that time gives me wisdom, and growth, and maturity. And when I think about my twenties, I would not want to live that over again. I would never want to go through that. And based on my experience, the older I’ve gotten, the better my life has. I just feel really good about being where I’m at. Being 40, I didn’t even know I would get here. I feel really blessed, man. It’s kind of crazy to know that I went through that hell. I didn’t see any way out of it at that time. I didn’t think…
On Working At The BAPE Store In NYC & Hiding From Rappers
Man, Kirk Franklin came through one time, and I helped him out with some clothes. Kirk Franklin, you remember me, man? Kirk Frank is the freshest dude, man. He’s so fresh. So when he came in, I was like, yo, Kirk Frank’s in the BAPE store shopping. He was buying mad sh*t. I was running down, getting him new shoes. He was like, “Yo, what you think about this with this?” I was like, “Oh yeah, man, this is dope. You could wear this with this. This is dope fit right here.” I was hooking them up, setting them up with fits, all sorts of sh*t. But I also had this phobia that rappers would come into the store and see me working there and then have beef with me later and bring up the fact like, “N****, you sold me clothes.” So, I would always hide in the stockroom.
On Working With Lil Yachty
There’s new people that I’m working with like Yachty, of course, who I’ve learned that we have crazy chemistry on record as well. You know what I mean? And we’re actually—there’s something going on with me and Yachty…like just more music between me and him. We’re trying to figure something out. Every so often, I’ll work with somebody and be like, oh my God, he’s like me. He has powers. Yachty got powers. And when we were sitting there, we must’ve banged out three, four songs. So, there’s a little bit more of Yachty on the deluxe, and he sounds amazing.
On Making A Song With XXXTentacion
Well, it was really like one of these things where I’ve heard it’s this version of a song that X had did on one of my songs on “Speedin’ Bullet 2 Heaven,” and I tweeted out, “Is this real?” And I ended up connecting with John Cunningham, who worked very closely with X, and he met up with me. He came to the studio. We talked a little bit. He played me the joint. It’s amazing. At some point, we have to give it out. I want them to have it. I don’t even want it. I just want to make sure that they have what they need. I’ll clear it, whatever they got to do.
But I didn’t want to ask them for a verse. I think that’s weird. So, I was like, “Man, maybe there’s something that he’s done that I could probably flip.” And I couldn’t really find that except for “Orlando” because it had no drums. And it was hitting me out of all the songs that I heard, just like, I was like, if this is not calling me to the Cudi vibes, this is just speaking to me. And I hit up John, I got the pieces to the session, got the vocals, and we were like, “Yo, just produce it up and make it brand new.” I was like, “Man, this is a gift. It was there. It was ready to be manipulated. It had no drums. It was really bare. It was there.”
So, I took that as a sign from the Heavens and went to the studio and just conjured up something and pieced together parts. And I loved his cadence and his melodies on the verse. I thought it would be cool for fans to see me be inspired by him and do his vibe. And be in his space for a little bit. Then, I wanted to just have the second half be like, this is the uplifting part. This is where we’re at right now. The light, the love. We came from the darkness.
Because X is just a reflection from my younger days, to me. I see a young man that’s hurting. I was hurting. And this song, I felt his pain. Even though it’s a verse that’s been out before, I saw some people complaining about that, whatever. But it was like a remix. My way of just showing love and giving people an idea of what an X and Cudi feature would sound like.
Diddy is claiming that an R&B revival is underway, and he’s the leader of this resurgence. While the Bad Boy Entertainment founder has played a role in bringing Mary J. Blige and Faith Evans to the R&B music world, he’s continuing to shape his legacy bringing new and fresh voices to music. Fresh off the heels of his latest project The Love Album: Off the Grid, which dropped on Sept. 15, Diddy is basking in it’s well-received praise. Diddy’s fifth studio album is pretty star-studded, with appearances from R&B heavyweights like Mary J. Blige, The-Dream, Summer Walker, The Weeknd, Jazmine Sullivan, Ty Dolla $ign, Kehlani, Coco Jones, John Legend, and more. He even featured R&B newcomers such as Jozzy, Kalan.FrFr, and Nija.
To celebrate the release, Diddy even took over the airwaves with “The Love Radio Takeover” on Apple Music 1 last week. Throughout the three-hour live radio broadcast, the music mogul formerly recognized as Puff Daddy discussed his thoughts on the current state of R&B music. “I wanted to work with different voices that I never had a chance to work with in R&B. I wanted to unify R&B because I believe that R&B is not getting the right lens,” he said. “I want to tell you some Black people, we do look alike. I could dig that, but Hip-Hop and R&B are two different things.”
Just last year, Diddy wrote in a tweet posing the question, “Who killed R&B?” This question sparked a huge discussion within the music industry, having people such as Usher chiming in to defend the genre. But now, a year later, Diddy’s had a change of heart. He’s all about R&B’s resurgence, thanks in part to the artists he collaborated with on his latest album. They’re pushing R&B into a whole new era, according to him.
The Love Records founder also discussed his thoughts on the genre by including his latest body of work as part of the conversation. “We’re coming with this album to make it clear that R&B is here,” Diddy said on Apple Music 1. “There’s an R&B resurgence and we all got together. This is not just my album. This is our album. Everybody that’s on the album from Summer Walker to Jozzy. Teyana Taylor, Babyface, John Legend and so many more.”
Undeniably, Lil Durk is one of the hottest rappers in the industry today. The Chicago native helped solidify Drill as a subgenre that would take over Hip Hop, and with over a decade of music hits under his belt, Durkio is a formidable force. He recently dropped his latest album Almost Healed and sat down with Nadeska Alexis on Apple Music 1 to detail his journey and new project. Check out a few highlights from the conversation, including Lil Durk speaking on his J. Cole feature, being mentored by people like Swizz Beatz, and how far he’s come in the last ten years. You can also watch the interview for yourself below.
Lil Durk Talks J. Cole Feature On “All My Life”
“Shout out to J. Cole. Even just to have that type of music out, just on a positive level, feels super, super good. I think that the J. Cole feature was definitely unexpected for my fans. He went super crazy. And it’s so crazy, because we’ve been talking for two years. He always be like, “Send me a record,” and I’m like, “I got to find the right record.”
“And I’m glad I waited two years, because in my eyes he’s a legend. So if you have a chance to do a song with legend, do you send him something just to send it, just to say you got one, or you’re going to make it stick? So that’s why I never just sent him a record, because I want something that’s going to stick. As soon as I did the record, he was the first person that popped into my head. I’m like, ‘I got it.’”
Reflecting On The Last 10 Years Of His Career
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – APRIL 01: Lil Durk performs during the 2023 Dreamville Music festival at Dorothea Dix Park on April 01, 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)
“Yeah, a lot can change from then to now. You can tell the big difference in just the character, the music, the beat selection, and the entourage. Everything has changed from that point, but that’s where it started from. That’s where I get my motivation from.”
“Honestly, I didn’t even have a direction. I didn’t even have a goal. I didn’t know I’d be a real artist. I’d be doing arenas and festivals and stuff like that, so at that time I was just doing it just on some local, ‘I got the trenches on lock,’ type stuff. So my vision wasn’t as big as I would’ve thought it had been.”
On Having Mentors Like Swizz Beatz
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 22: Lil Durk, Jewelry detail performs during “One Big Party Tour” at Capital One Arena on January 22, 2023 in Washington, DC.(photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)
“It’s important. Where I’m from, they don’t really do it like that. So, I’m saying ain’t a lot of leaders, where I’m from. It’s like whatever make money, the quick money. If it’s violence, if it’s this, they going to get to the money, but people like Swizz, and like my daddy, my mom, and a couple more people in my life, we’ve got something to prove, to show them we’re going to be the difference and we’re going to change the world. Because if you just look at this whole Chicago, it’s like everybody doing the same thing. Not too many want to change a lot. A lot trying to change, but can’t change because ain’t no way to. So, I hope I could be a platform for them.”
Lil Durk On Pushing Out Projects
“I’m really like, a studio head. Yeah, I’m just so much of a fan of music. I just spend all my time doing music. So, when you say ‘having fun,’ when I actually do go have fun, we feel just super good. No bad energy. Then do therapy, then talk to your friends. Let me give you an example. So, if I got my kids, and one of my guys probably see his kids but not like that, it’ll motivate him to keep his kids around more. That’s how I got motivated too, by bond.”
Lil Durk On Religion
“It keeps me sane. It keeps me stress-free. I don’t really look at everything like, “Oh, he got good luck. He got…” I believe in a higher power. As I say, the rug is what we pray on. So, whatever you believe in, whoever you believe in, if you believe in them and you’ve been through a lot of stuff in your life and you at a peaceful place, going to a happy place, I think you should get more into your religion.”
Lil Durk On Meeting NBA Legend Allen Iverson
“It was funny because it was me and French Montana in the club, and Allen Iverson pointed, and I thought he pointed at me. So I’m doing all this sh*t, and they walk up to me. He walked to French. So, I played it off like, ‘Damn, I thought you were talking to me.’ Then he turns around, like, ‘Man, bro, I f*ck with you.’ I’m like, ‘Oh…’ So that was one of the moments, with me and Allen Iverson.”
Once again, The Weeknd is proving that his creativity knows no bounds. His latest project, The Idol, finds him not only sitting in the producer and writer’s seats but also starring in and creating the soundtrack alongside some other huge artists. The controversial HBO series made its debut at Cannes Film Festival last month, with many reviews condemning the show for over-sexualizing 23-year-old Lily-Rose Depp in virtually every episode. Fans will be able to tap into the show at home this coming weekend, and ahead of that, Abel Tesfaye gave us a taste of the music that’s to come.
This New Music Friday (June 2) he joined forces with Playboi Carti and Madonna for “Popular,” which brings about a seriously nostalgic sound. The Weeknd spoke with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1 about the single, as well as his aspirations for future work with the Queen of Pop. “The thing is, I’ve always wanted to work with her. I’ve always wanted to write and produce a Madonna album… Well, co-produce with her, of course,” the Canadian shared.
He specifically praised Madonna for being “such a visionary” and keeping her sights set on a singular outcome. “I just want to come into her world and create a classic Madonna album. That was always my dream. So this can be… hopefully, this is the appetizer for that,” Tesfaye teased. Elsewhere, he spoke about “Popular” and how “proud” he is of how the track came together.
“Me and Carti had this… I mean, we’ve jammed out before. We’ve had a different version of this song prior. So I’ve had these vocals for a while and I’ve kind of just worked around it, and then kind of kept it in the tuck. But now it felt like it was time. It was time,” the genre-bending vocalist reflected. Would you be excited to stream a joint album from Madonna and The Weeknd? Let us know in the comments, and check back later for more music/pop culture news updates.
Attention has been once again focused on Janelle Monáe. Not only has she announced a new album, The Age of Pleasure, but she’s shared her much-talked-about single, “Lipstick Lover.” Social media chatter has been at an all-time high about Ms. Monáe, especially after videos of the multihyphenate artist dancing at a private party. Monáe’s eclectic style has also captured the hearts of fans across several genres. Her additions to Pop, Hip Hop, R&B, and more have set her apart in an industry of copycats.
The set off this new season, Janelle Monáe sat down with none other than Zane Lowe for Apple Music 1. During their chat, the singer discussed “Lipstick Lover” and what can be expected from The Age of Pleasure. It’s always a wild, yet enjoyable ride when Monáe is in her bag, so here are a few takeaways from her Apple Music 1 interview.
The Make-Out Inspiration Behind “Lipstick Lover”
“That song, ‘Lipstick Lover,’ ugh. I’m like, ‘Why didn’t I write this song years ago?’ Because if you know me… Today, I don’t have on any red lipstick, but I’m always in red lipstick. And there have been so many instances where I’ve made out with somebody at a party, and it’s dark. Nobody notices it. But when the lights come on, whoever I’ve made out with, lipstick all over their face. And then, I’ve also been on the receiving end of a human…who’s so attractive….or I’ll get home, and I’m like, ‘Oh my God. I have lipstick all over my face.’ I’ve also been the Lipstick Lover where you know exactly who I kissed.”
Janelle Monaé Previews The Age of Pleasure
“All the songs were written from such an honest space. Look, it never stops. Even with this album, this project. I’m just like, ‘You know what? It takes work.’ I have to learn things all over again, I have to practice, I have to… And thank God I love the songs. Yeah. So, it’s always a fun thing to do, too. It’s like starting on a blank canvas.”
“So, I hope that people feel that when they listen to the music, that they feel that when they come and encounter with me when I’m around, I definitely have had an opportunity to evolve and grow and to tap into the things that bring me pleasure. The things that perhaps I should rethink and rework. Sometimes, it really is just saying, ‘You know what? Let’s get back to the basics, and also let’s honor the present.’”
“What I’m super excited about with The Age of Pleasure. The Age of Pleasure is that… Listen, I’ve had my Age of Depression. I’ve had my Age of Anxiety. I’ve had my Age of Struggle. And again, it’s not like life is pleasurable every single day, but I think I have actively just sought out, how do I create a space for myself? How do I redirect my mind on how I’m thinking about things? How do I realize that right now, in this present moment, moments that we’ll never get back, this is where you need to find your pleasure?
“This is your moment. Don’t let it get confused that five minutes later, we’re going to try to go into doing something different. And again, this is just my experience where I’m at, even though, despite what I may be going through, there’s going to be a moment where this bad moment, I won’t even be around to even discuss it. I won’t.”
“When I was writing The Age of Pleasure, I wrote it with friends, four friends. I was just like, ‘If my friends f*ck with this, this is for us.’ Because when we are together, I want them to want to play it. And what I would do is if I knew we were having a party on that Friday or Saturday, on Monday and Tuesday, I’d be like, ‘All right. We’re going to write three songs.’ If the songs can’t work at the party, they’re not going on the album. I was like, ‘If people are not trying to Shazam…’ Because I was like, ‘Don’t say it’s me. Don’t.’ If they know…whatever. I need them Shazaming.
“I have my friend who’s my DJ. He worked on some of the songs on the project with me. I was like, ‘Just play it. Put it after this song.’ We put it in the setlist. And that’s how we made the album. I was walking around. I was so scared. I almost went to the bathroom one time. But ‘Float,’ we did that. ‘Lipstick Lover,’ we did like that. I have a song called ‘Champagne Machine’ that’s on there. I don’t want to give away too much, but basically every song that you’ll hear on the project, that’s how I did it. I want it to be so specific to this Pan-African crowd who are my friends. I want it to be a love letter to the diaspora. And if they f*ck with it, it’s good. I’m great.”
Fans who have kept up with Latto are more than familiar with her sister, Brooklyn Nikole. The rapper has had a meteoric rise within the last few years, but Latto has been grinding at her career since she was a child. With over a decade of work under her belt, the “Big Energy” hitmaker’s family knows all too well what it has taken for Latto to succeed. Behind the scenes, she’s Alyssa Stephens, while to the world, she’s a global, award-winning superstar. In their candid conversation for Apple Music 1, Latto and Brooklyn have a sisterly chit-chat for the world to dissect.
Recently, Latto announced she would join the ranks of other rappers with their own shows. She partnered with Apple Music 1 to deliver 777 Radio, and in its most recent episode, it’s a family affair. Latto and Brooklyn discuss the Pop-Rap star’s career goals, hectic schedule, Latto-chella, going under the knife, and family dynamics. They also touch on dating, but it doesn’t look like Latto is giving any more details regarding the identity of her mysterious beau. Read the highlights below and watch the sisters on Latto’s 777 Radio on Apple Music 1.
Latto-chella Takeover
Latto: It gave like special guests. The girls. It gave new music. It gave choreo, it gave a b*tch could never. Thank you so, so, so much to Teyana Taylor. And the Aunties. Coco, I effing love you, b*tch. Jasper. I got a whole new creative direction team and I really been investing in myself and it shows—six to eight-hour rehearsals.
Brooklyn Nikole: She’s a hard worker. She don’t play because she was in there as soon as she got up. She leaving, not coming home ’til like, three o’clock in the morning. Because you be working all day and you got to remember that choreo. And what people don’t know about you, you very involved. The DJs, the sound people, everything.
Latto: I got my sister in here. Let’s talk about family. The whole family. We got same mama, same daddy. … Mommy is our everything. They see our Christmas videos and whatever, and they [say], “Oh, it’s the three of y’all,” da da da. But, no sad sh*t, but I want you to talk from a daddy perspective. Because people think they seen us on The Rap Game, whatever. They don’t know how much this career path affects family as well. Funny sh*t aside, I haven’t necessarily spoken to my daddy in probably two years, probably two years now.
Latto: It changes the relationships of everyone around you. A lot of times, I feel guilty, and I’m like, “Damn, my sister got to deal with all this bullsh*t. This not even her career choice. My mama got to deal with all this bullsh*t.”
Brooklyn Nikole: And I think for me, because people, of course, always want to say, “You wouldn’t have this without your sister,” da da da. It’s inevitable. I’m going to always hear that because this is your career. You’re famous. What the f*ck?
Latto: Yeah. And just as much as you get defensive over me, I get defensive over you and everybody else that I love. Because I be like, “Who? I’m not passing around allowances around this b*tch.” “She getting this on her own. You see her throwing a thousand in the club, baby. That’s her money. Please, that’s Beauty by Brooklyn.”
Sisterhood & Women Supporting Women
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 15: Latto and Brooklyn attend the 2022 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 15, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Brooklyn Nikole: You know what I love? You use your platform to bring up other women. Like Coachella, you had the girls on your radio show, you be having the girls. … Because you is a girl’s girl. But even between us two, you really be loving the girls. We be having conversations. So, what do you feel like inspired you to be so involved with other girls in the industry?
Latto: You know what? I always say this: I feel like it really started from my foundation. I come from a one-sibling household, and that’s a sister. So really, sisterhood is embedded in me. I look at women like my sister, I don’t know how to explain it. I look at Rap, female Rap, like a sisterhood because I come from a tight relationship with my sister, a tight relationship with my mama. So, it come from just literally being a fan and not being shady or not being what people expect women to be. Not being what people set the tone for women to be.
Latto: Bring other women up and really put them on game, because I really wish someone would have put me under that wing. Had that hospitality and really showed me, “This how it go, girl. Hit me whenever you are going through whatever you going through.” Yeah, friendly energy in this game, because all the time, it’s this person versus this person. But it really be like we all go through the same sh*t and only we understand the sh*t that we go through.
So it’s really a sisterhood. I keep going back to sisterhood. Because nobody else know what it feels like to be dealing with this bullsh*t, trying to get a feature cleared on the back end. We the only people that understand each other’s struggles in this industry. So, I just be trying to do my little part and put the girls on however I can. I don’t know much, but I know a little something. When I’m doing Coachella, and I have these platforms like 777 Radio on Apple motherf*cking Music, you know what I’m saying? I want to interview my girls, and I want to include my girls however which way I can.
Latto: Because a b*tch be looking natural, because this one thing about it, if you going to do it, do it right. I’m going to do it right. I did it right. For a girl who have little tweaky tweaks, I be on your case about not touching nothing.
Brooklyn Nikole: Which I think people wouldn’t think. I think people think just because somebody has surgery, they just encourage everybody else to get it. “You need to get this, you need…” you don’t do that. You be telling me, “Don’t touch your body. Don’t touch your face.”
Latto: I’m telling you. I’m telling you—to all the young girls listening, all the women listening right now. I’m telling you from someone who’s been there, done it. Find peace within your natural state. Because you’re going to find a flaw and another flaw and another flaw and another flaw. Surgery, any of that stuff, is not a permanent fix.
Brooklyn Nikole: But how do you feel about people speaking on women with surgery, making them feel like they can’t speak about their bodies, like, “Oh, I look good.” And if you say that, they’re like, “Well girl, you got a BBL,” “Girl, you got a da da da.”
Latto: I don’t like that either, though. I don’t like that either. I’m a very much advocate for women in general. Surgery, natural, whatever. However you want to play it, just make sure that’s what you comfortable with. But I just think surgery is so popular now. That’s the most thing I be trying to remind you of. Don’t be so gullible for the social media traps and whatever, because you never going to be good enough for the outsider’s eye.
When I didn’t have my surgery, they’re like, “Oh, she shaped like her white side.” What the f*ck do that even mean? For real, what do that even mean? And then when I got the surgery, it is, “Oh, she’s botched,” “Oh, it’s too heavy.” You’re never going to win. So just find peace within yourself, whatever you want to do, do that. And you’re one of the people who I be like, “I promise you, without the pressure on you, you would love yourself.”
Brooklyn Nikole: I’m single, but I be doing my little thing or whatever. Not really though. Not for real. I don’t really be doing my thing for real, but you know, I be having me a little lookie, yeah, yeah.
Latto: Your girl in love or whatever. [Brooklyn says, “Oh, she’s in love. So do you want to get married? Do you see yourself getting married?”] I do. I do. I’m big into marriage, and…you know what I’m saying? I want to do stuff the traditional way. And it might be because we come from a two-parent household. Being together forever don’t mean it’s perfect, either.
I’m learning from my parents, learning from my own experiences, whatever. I want to do stuff the traditional way, getting married, have a baby. But dead for real, my biggest thing is loyalty. And that’s really with anyone around me, everyone around me. My day one dawg is now my road manager. My day one dawg is now my assistant.
Moneybagg Yo pulled up on Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe and revealed that he made his new single “Blow” to celebrate his birthday.
“The vibe… it was just a party, birthday club vibe,” Moneybagg Yo said. “I made it probably a month ago but then I was making it intentionally for my birthday, you know what I’m saying? Just trying to put out a birthday song, do a record.”
“Blow” is one of the intro songs to his forthcoming album. Speaking of the follow up to A Gangsta’s Pain, Moneybagg Yo reveals music still gets him nervous.
“It’s been like a year and three months I ain’t dropped, but I’m just putting out songs, little 3-packs, 2-packs…you still get butterflies sometimes. Just drilling and rushing and everything. It just be a little much, a little crazy… but I can handle it I got it.”
Now that Silk Sonic has released its debut album, An Evening With Silk Sonic, Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak are ready to give something else a try. In fact, they just announced their next endeavor: The duo is hosting a new limited Apple Music radio series, which shares its name with the new album. They also shared a trailer for the show today.
The series premieres today at 10 p.m. ET on Apple Music 1 and press materials note of the first episode, “On the debut episode, Bruno and Anderson, with the help of Bootsy Collins, invite listeners to join them on an after-hours journey with music from The Jackson 5, Con Funk Shun, Thundercat, The Isley Brothers, Partynextdoor, and much more.” Of the series as a whole, press materials also say, “Over the course of four one-hour episodes, the pair feature Silk Sonic-inspired sets of all of their favorite records, ranging from old-school hits to R&B jams, hip-hop, funk, disco, and everything in between. From surprise guests to even more surprising conversation, it’s your turn to be a fly on the wall and spend some time with the kings of smooth.”
Mars says of the show, “Apple Music asked us to host a radio show to talk about the album. We had so much fun that we’ve decided to retire from music and become full time radio personalities. We want to thank Apple Music for helping us find our new calling. Goodbye cruel world of music. Hello radio. See you at the top.”
.Paak added, “When we come together on those rare instances when the clouds open and the stars unite, we go as Silk Sonic. It’s been a long time coming, but it’s never too late to turn it around, and speaking of never too late, I think we right on time.”
Watch the teaser clip above.
An Evening With Silk Sonic is out now via Atlantic Records. Get it here.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
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