collaboration

The Weeknd Says He’s Co-Executive Producing Mike Dean’s New Album

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The Weeknd says that Mike Dean is releasing a new album this week and that he serves as a co-executive producer on the project. The Weeknd made the announcement on Twitter, Sunday night. It will be Mike Dean’s first studio album since 2022’s Smoke State 42222.

“New @therealmikedean 4:23 album co-executive produced by me dropping this week,” The Weeknd wrote on Twitter alongside an old photo of the 58-year-old producer. He also responded to a goofy photo of himself singing with the comment: “This photo… I’m playing ima drop it. The ‘mysterious’ artist gag been played out since back in 2011 house of balloon days. We gonna drop it on mike Dean album.”

Mike Dean On The Weeknd’s “After Hours Til Dawn” Tour

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – JULY 16: Mike Dean performs at the “After Hours Til Dawn” Tour at Met Life Stadium on July 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)

The fan’s photo was used in response to The Weeknd saying that he may never drop the recent music he previewed on Instagram Live. “By the way don’t know if the song I played on live will ever see the light of day… we were just jammin out,” he said.

Mike Dean just collaborated with The Weeknd for the song, “Double Fantasy,” featuring Future. In addition to having collaborated numerous times over the years, Mike Dean also is set to appear in The Idol. For the show, The Weeknd stars alongside Lily-Rose Depp as Tedros, a self-help guru and cult leader. The Weeknd also recently announced an album to accompany the show titled, THE IDOL VOL. 1. “There’s a whole album. I’m not shying away from making music. It’s just adding another element to my already crowded schedule,” he told Interview Magazine, earlier this month. The Idol will premiere on HBO on June 4.

4:23 will follow Mike Dean’s previous albums, 4:20 and 4:22 which were released in 2020 and 2021 respectively. The Weeknd didn’t reveal any further information about what fans can expect from the project. Check out the announcement on Twitter below.

The Weeknd Announces Mike Dean Album

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Kim Petras Reflects On Nicki Minaj Collaboration: “It Doesn’t Feel Real”

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Kim Petras says that working with Nicki Minaj on their new collaboration, “Alone,” feels unreal. She spoke about the making of the track during a recent interview with Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe on New Music Daily Radio.

“It doesn’t feel real still. Her singing, ‘It’s Barbie and it’s Kim Petras,’ I cried. I was on the floor and then she calls me Kim Petty in it, which all my friends are like, ‘How do we not come up with that our entire lives?’” Petras said in the interview.

Kim Petras At The Grammys

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Kim Petras accepts the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance award for “Unholy” onstage during the 65th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

She continued: “So she just changed my life in so many ways with that verse, and that verse rips. I love her and I’m so inspired by her always, it’s crazy to me. I don’t know how she does it, but she’s just the greatest ever. I’m so happy that she likes the song.” Petras also confirmed that a music video for “Alone” is on the way. “We shot the music video together and [Minaj] was like, ‘Ugh, when I heard the song, I just loved it.’ And that just made me so happy. I feel like I’ve learned so much. I feel like I love her more. When the camera’s on, it’s crazy. She just goes into full superstar,” Petras said.

The collaboration with Nicki Minaj comes after Petras won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, earlier this year. She was honored in response to her song with Sam Smith, “Unholy.” In winning the award, she became the first openly transgender artist to do so. Despite the song being featured on Smith’s fourth studio album, Gloria, he let Petras accept the award on stage at the ceremony. While addressing the crowd, she gave a shoutout to the late musician, SOPHIE, who helped pioneer the hyperpop genre in the 2010s.

Kim Petras Collaborates With Nicki Minaj

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Kim Petras Taps Nicki Minaj To Feature On Single “Alone”

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Kim Petras has released the follow up single to her featuring role on Sam Smith’s hit, “Unholy.” Petras, who recently won a Grammy award, began teasing a new song on social media in March. It was then announced that it would feature a verse from Nicki Minaj. The song, titled “Alone,” prominently samples Alice Deejay’s famous ’90s Eurodance hit “Better Off Alone.” Petras later confirmed on Instagram that the song would be released on April 21 and posted a video in which she sat next to a fireplace and spoke into a pink rotary phone. The video featured a sample of Nicki’s voice saying “Yeah! It’s Barbie and it’s Kim Petras!” over the classic ’90s tune.

In an interview with Apple Music about the song, Kim Petras explained why she chose to sing over the sample. “I was born and raised in Germany, and that song is a classic in clubs all over Europe, so I grew up to it,” she said. “I had a lot of amazing moments, some bad moments… So many club moments in general to that song. So, that song is just in me, and I feel like it inspired me to make music. I’m just so honored that Alice Deejay let us do this shit because it’s epic.”

Some Features Are Better Than Others

What better way to start the summer pop season than singing over a dated ’90s pop instrumental? Although Kim Petras did recently take home a Grammy, it was for a featuring role on Sam Smith’s “Unholy.” Not to take away from her achievement, it’s still great. However, Kim Petras is not as good as a standalone artist as she is when she features on someone else’s song. Even if you grew up in the ’90s, the “Better Off Alone” instrumental is extremely played out. Perhaps if Dr. Luke, who produced the track, had made more of an effort to update the sound or modernize it, it would have been better. Sadly, it feels very much like a copy and paste job.

Lyrically, the song is a basic club banger reminiscent of 2010-era singles. It features lyrics about wanting to go home with someone you meet while you’re out dancing. “I could ride it, ride it, ride it, ride it all night,” Petras philosophizes over the beat. “Watch me ride it, ride it, ride it, ride it all night.” According to the credits, six people wrote the lyrics to this song. That’s not counting Nicki and her verse. Speaking of Nicki, sadly her verse does not do much for the song. While her flow is amazing as always, it feels somewhat tacked on. It does, however, go to show how much of a chameleon she is. Still, it doesn’t touch her “Princess Diana” feature from last week. What do you think of the new Kim Petras song? Sound off in the comments.

Quotable Lyrics:

I set trends from Queens to Beijing
I’m not the one that do the imitating
Puff, puff, pass ’cause you know we blazing
When I put it on him, he say, “It’s amazing”

21 Savage Songs: His Best Collaborations

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21 Savage has established his career as a certified hitmaker. He is known for his dark and introspective lyrics, and a gritty delivery, that has captivated rap fans. It is for this reason that throughout his career, 21 Savage has collaborated with numerous artists. His diverse skillsets have earned him accolades, including the highly coveted Grammy.

The rapper’s imprints are unforgettable as he has become a highly sought-after artist. His massive track, “Bank Account,” proves why he continues to break the charts. Moreover, his collaborations with some of the industry’s finest have set him apart. Here are some of 21 Savage’s best collaborations, including hits with Future, Metro Boomin, Drake, and more.

21 Savage’s Record-Breaking Numbers

THERMAL, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 16: 21 Savage performs onstage during REVOLVE Festival 2023, Thermal, CA – Day 2 on April 16, 2023 in Thermal, California. (Photo by Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for REVOLVE)

21 Savage boasts a whopping 49 million Spotify listeners. With two platinum-certified records, the Grammy award-winning rapper has worked on collaborations with some of the best. In addition, 21 Savage continues to prove his diverse skill sets with every track he has featured on becoming a global success. The certified hitmaker has made some noise alongside Post Malone, Cardi B, and the Hotline Bling King, Drake.

“Rockstar” – Post Malone ft. 21 Savage

His collaborations have always been unforgettable hits. In 2017, 21 Savage teamed up with Post Malone for the chart-topping hit song “Rockstar.” The track became a massive success, reaching the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song features a guitar riff that creates a moody atmosphere, with 21 Savage’s lyrics adding to the song’s essence. His verses on the track have a dark and violent edge, contrasting with Post Malone’s more emotional chorus.

“X” With Metro Boomin ft. Future

21 Savage collaborated with producer Metro Boomin and rapper Future on the song “X.” The 2017 hit has a haunting melody with a pulsing beat that showcases each artist’s lyrical ability. 21 Savage’s verse on the song is particularly notable as he delves into his struggles with addiction and trauma. His introspective lyrics are raw and vulnerable, which departs from his usual aggressive style.

“Bartier Cardi” Cardi B ft. 21 Savage

Topping up his 2017 success was a collaboration with Cardi B on the song “Bartier Cardi.” The track has a sample from the classic Miami bass hit “Hoochie Mama,” and it celebrates success and wealth. The lyrics are raunchy and over-the-top, and the music video for “Bartier Cardi” features both artists in a luxurious mansion, adding to the song’s elegant vibe.

“Mr. Right Now” With Drake ft. Metro Boomin

Similarly, 21 Savage teamed up with Drake in 2021 and producer Metro Boomin on the song “Mr. Right Now.” His contribution to the song is noteworthy, with his deadpan delivery and clever wordplay. The lyrics are playful, with both artists joking about their relationships and fame.

Consequence Clarifies Recent Comments On Q-Tip & Previews New Collab

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Consequence has taken to social media to clarify his recent comments on Q-Tip doing the “shadiest shit ever.” He had been referring to the legendary A Tribe Called Quest rapper signing with Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music back in the day during an interview with VladTV. Cons says that his comments made it appear as if he still holds a grudge against Q-Tip, but that isn’t the case. He also previewed an upcoming collaboration between the two of them titled, “Good Luck With That.”

“Vlad did a great job, but as a prerequisite, when I did the interview, he asked me could we go through my whole career,” Cons began in a video he posted last Friday. “And so, we just kind of chronologically went through each chamber so in particular with Q-Tip, I wanna just clarify a couple things. When I said, ‘the shadiest thing he ever…’ whatever, that was just due to the fact that I was just thinking about that time period.”

Consequence On Stage With Q-Tip

LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 22: (L-R) Consequence, Q-Tip and Jarobi White of A Tribe Called Quest perform onstage during day 2 of FYF Fest 2017 at Exposition Park on July 22, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for FYF)

He continued: “Right now me and Q-Tip – we good, everything cool. I spoke to him not too long ago. This week is his birthday, my birthday is this Monday coming up. We usually celebrate our birthdays together but he been busy, I been busy but definitely I wanna say happy birthday to Q-Tip.”

From there, Cons took the time to “fill in a couple blanks.” He explained: “Number one, you know I did ‘The Chase Pt. 2’ – Q-Tip made sure I got paid. He also gave me access to Violator Management. I was dealing with Keisha Harris. Keisha Harris plugged me with Dino Delvaille who did the Cash Money deal eventually. He was A&Ring for Jeru The Damaja and he started managing me. After we linked up, being that he was dealing with Gang Starr and Preemo’s from Texas – there was a guy from Texas who was like the white version of Preemo. His name was Overtime. Me and Overtime connected, we started working on joints. We hit a little wall tryna shop them because everybody was like, ‘Yo you Q-Tip cousin and he should be the one tryna get you a deal.”

“So I had to have a heart to heart with Tip,” he added. “Tip got on board, we did this joint called ‘Living It Up’ and it was a joint. Unfortunately that’s one of the records that we lost in the fire at his crib. So, it was a few things that led to him shopping me to Puff but nonetheless, he did it and that’s when I wound up joining Tribe.”

He concluded by hinting at putting out a new album in the near future. “Me and Q-Tip celebrate our birthdays a week apart – he’s April 10, I’m April 17. I’m in a great space right now, I have no venom or vitriol for anybody,” he said. “I’m looking forward to putting out this new album and actually, me and Q-Tip got a joint. Let’s run that real quick.” Check out Consequence’s full video below.

Consequence’s Clarification

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Timbaland Confirms He & Justin Timberlake Have Finished A New Album

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Timbaland has confirmed that he and Justin Timberlake have finished work on a new album together. Timbaland spoke about working with his long-time collaborator on the new project during a new interview for Variety. He also discussed Timberlake’s polarizing 2018 album, Man of the Woods.

“I just left working with him, we just finished up and everything sounds great. Now it’s really on him how he plans to wrap it up and how and when he envisions it to come out. With an artist of his caliber, everything has to be aligned, but it’s done and it’s coming,” he shared.

Justin Timberlake & Timbaland Perform Together

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – FEBRUARY 08: Musicians Justin Timberlake and Timbaland join mPowering Action, a global mobile youth movement at Grammy Week launch, featuring performances by Timbaland and Avicii at The Conga Room at L.A. Live on February 8, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

“It’s fun Justin — it’s like FutureSex /LoveSounds but nothing too heavy, just giving you what you’d expect from us: not overthought, the lyrics are not so deep, it’s bob-your-head, dance-to-it music. Music is a young sport, and you have to keep it fun — fun and young. We’ve both seen a lot of life, but you can’t overthink it because of that, you have to bring out the 13-year-old, 18-year-old again, you know? If not, you can get into the old-fogey stage real quick. (Laughter) That’s just the world we live in,” Timbaland explained. “So you have to know how to be authentic and true to the art and understand it, and that’s what this album is. We took our time. We had songs that maybe were too complicated, but we said ‘We want it to feel like FutureSex part two,’ so we picked songs that will fit that.”

Timbaland and Timberlake have collaborated many times over the years. He produced the hits “SexyBack,” “Cry Me a River,” “Summer Love,” and “My Love” as well as the entirety of Timberlake’s 2006 album, FutureSex/LoveSounds, and his 2013 album, The 20/20 Experience. Timbaland didn’t provide details regarding a release date for his next effort with Timberlake.

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Lil Wayne And Chance The Rapper Spotted In The Studio

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It looks like Lil Wayne and Chance The Rapper might be working on a new collaboration. The two were spotted together in a photo posted on Instagram. The picture shows Wayne in clear focus, listening to something in the studio. Then, almost out of frame, Chance The Rapper can be seen next to him. Though it seems he was purposely kept out of focus in the picture, the rapper’s unique look can’t be missed. Are we in for a new collab between the two?

This would not be the first time that Lil Wayne and Chance The Rapper have collaborated. The two have worked together on several songs. One notable example is their joint track “No Problem” from Chance’s 2016 mixtape Coloring Book, which also featured verses from 2 Chainz. The song was a massive success, receiving critical praise, earning a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Performance, and peaking at No. 43 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This collaboration showcased their seamless flow and clever wordplay, solidifying their chemistry as a duo. It looks like we might be in for more of the dynamic duo in the near future.

Wayne’s Tour Surprises

Lil Wayne recently embarked on his Welcome To Tha Carter Tour, and he has had plenty of surprise guests come along for the ride. The month long run of shows began on April 4 at The Fillmore in Minneapolis. They will continue throughout the entirety of April and into the middle of May. With 28 shows in all, Wayne isn’t taking a lot of time off between dates. Still, at least he has his friends to keep him company for some of the shows. At his show in Chicago, Wayne brought Chance The Rapper onstage to perform his song “No Problem.” This lends even more credibility to the possibility of a new collaboration between the two rappers.

That wasn’t all Wayne had in store for his fans, though. At his Toronto show on April 12, fans were treated to a very rare sight. It turns out Wayne had invited a Toronto native to open for him. With very little commotion or production, Drake walked onto the stage and began performing. As soon as they recognized him, the rapper’s fellow Torontonians went absolutely wild. Phones came out by the hundreds to film the event. Fans jumped up and down in excitement. Seeing Drake this close-up is rare, especially as an opener. Wayne likely has more surprises waiting in the wings as his tour continues throughout mid-May. Who would you like to see show up at a Wayne show? Let us know in the comments.

Lil Durk Wants SZA On His Next Album

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Lil Durk is well-known for his versatile and impressive collaborations, and their success amid hardcore fans and general audiences alike is an indicator of that. Moreover, there’s his big hit with Drake, his narrative explorations on JID’s The Forever Story, and his work with his OTF brothers for practically a decade. However, it seems that Durkio is looking for more people to bring into his artistic world, which should have amazing results. Furthermore, he just shouted out SZA on his Instagram Story and said he really wants to work with her.

“@sza the goat,” he began his message on social media, which was as excitedly written as both a fan and a businessman. “Y’all bet not sleep or get blind. Every female every car every sale she really her… I need you on my album ASAP [trophy emoji and sunglasses emoji]. A hit not a regular song. Go tag sza blow her s**t down. Tell her Smurk need her.” Given that SZA just dropped a remix of her track “Kill Bill” with Doja Cat, maybe she’s actively looking for more people to collaborate with. After she stunned fans with SOS, perhaps it’s time for her to show her stardom in other environments and musical lanes.

Lil Durk Shouts Out SZA

Of course, there might be many people who can’t imagine these two artists on a song together. Still, especially in recent years, they’ve both shown just how varied their styles can be despite often falling within a specific category. Maybe you think that SZA’s all about R&B melodies, but she often displayed her raw and impassioned lyricism and flows all over her latest album. On the flip side, Lil Durk took his storytelling abilities to the grimiest of tracks and more sophisticated or thematic cuts. It’s not about genre, but rather about their ability to fit different moods and sonic pallets with ease.

In fact, this post from the Chicago MC hints at his next moves after his upcoming album, which he recently said is already done. As of writing article, SZA hasn’t responded to Smurk’s enthusiastic words. However, fans hope that will change sooner rather than later, as it would make for a compelling mix of two usually separate worlds in many’s eyes. Regardless, check back in with HNHH for the latest news and updates on Lil Durk and SZA.

Doja Cat Hints At SZA Collab Coming Tonight

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Another Doja Cat and SZA collab? Sign us up! The artist just had a very cryptic conversation on Twitter that seems to be hinting at a new song. The two last collaborated on “Kiss Me More,” a single from Doja’s 2021 album Planet Her. The song was a smash on radio and streaming, and it is now 5x Platinum. The pair even won a Grammy for Best Pop Duo Performance for the song. It was the first Grammy for both Doja and SZA. After such a successful first collab, it isn’t a surprise that the two would want to do it again. It seems like they aren’t going to be making fans wait either. It seems like something is coming tonight at 9 PM PST.

The very short interaction between Doja and SZA on Twitter immediately sent fans into hysterics, particularly in Doja’s case. Her fans have been waiting quite a long time for new music. Not much was said or hinted at in the conversation, however. “Sis… I did something bad,” Doja tweeted at SZA. Very soon after, SZA replied, “Jesus… what is it?” Doja replied once more, but she simply said “4.13.23 9 PM.” Doja has kept pretty tight-lipped about any real details about her new music. So, the fact that something might be coming this soon was quite a surprise to fans.

Doja’s Odd Online Behavior Continues

A few days ago, Doja Cat lost her blue tick on Twitter. Her online antics have been the subject of criticism from all sides, even her fans. Still, Doja seems to remain unbothered, frequently tweeting things that seem altogether nonsensical or flat-out offensive. However, taking one look at her Twitter feed will tell you all you need to know about why she is acting the way she does. “This illuminati sh*t is so funny to me,” Doja tweeted. “I’m gonna keep doing deliberate weird ass shit just to make those people uncomfortable. I’ve fr found a new outlet of joy.”

Doja also responded to losing her verification with a bit of anger. “Having a blue tick now means theres a higher chance that you’re a complete loser and that you’re desperate for validation from famous people,” she tweeted. Prior to this, fans had poked fun at the singer for no longer being verified. Still, it looks like none of the online weirdness is stopping her from pushing ahead with her music. What do you think of the possibility of a new collab between Doja and SZA? Let us know in the comments!