collaboration

Trench Baby Taps Polo G For “Done It All Freestyle”

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Trench Baby is making his first single of the year a family affair as he prepares for a massive year ahead. The rapper came through with his latest offering featuring Polo G this week, “Done It All Freestyle.” The brotherly duo gets straight to the point on this one without offering a hook to tie it together.

Polo G kicks off the record with a blistering verse where he lays down the business. While he rips through his adversaries with vengeance, Polo G reminds everyone that he’s keeping his foot on the neck of the rap game. However, his verse sets up Trench Baby, who is undoubtedly on pace to have a big year ahead of him. The “Richest Gangbanger” rapper finally comes in on verse two, dishing out ominous threats to his enemies with a ferocious delivery. “He thought the switch would’ve turned him to God/ His soul was lost and now shit found,” he raps during his verse.

It feels like the latest offering from Trench Baby and Polo G is just the start of what they have in store this year. Trench Baby’s yet to release his debut project but he’s locked in collabs with artists like G Herbo. We certainly hope we’ll be hearing much more from him this year.

Polo G, on the other hand, came through with a string of singles throughout 2022. However, there hasn’t been an update on his follow-up to Hall Of Fame. He closed out 2022 with the release of “My All,” following October’s “Bag Talk.”

Make sure you check out Trench Baby’s latest collaboration with Polo G, “Done It All Freestyle.” Will Trench Baby have his breakout year in 2023? Let us know in the comments below.

Quotable Lyrics
Wooski will make shit scary, just one deep
We put the belt on the shelf like yo aunty
You think I’m cappin’? Well, lil n***a, come see
They undercover like 21 Jump Street

Tony Yayo & Lloyd Banks Collide On “Rocket Chamber”

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G-Unit is locked and loaded in 2023 with Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks connecting for some new music.

This week, Tony Yayo unveiled his latest single, “Rocket Chamber” ft. Lloyd Banks. The two rappers deliver that gritty East Coast sound on their new collab. Banks kicks things off with his sly flow but even as he creeps through the beat, he firmly asserts himself as one of the most consistent lyricists in the game. Yayo, on the other hand, doesn’t necessarily depend on quick-witted bars to get his point across. Instead, he continues to deliver blistering threats that ring out throughout the track. His energy makes up for what Banks lacks in that department but the balance between the two collaborators makes for an excellent start to 2023.

Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks during 2004 Vibe Awards - Show at Barker Hanger in Santa <a href=Monica, California, United States. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage for Vibe Magazine)” class=”wp-image-617160″ srcset=”https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-112354656.jpg 3000w, https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-112354656.jpg?resize=300,213 300w, https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-112354656.jpg?resize=768,545 768w, https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-112354656.jpg?resize=1024,727 1024w, https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-112354656.jpg?resize=1536,1090 1536w, https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-112354656.jpg?resize=2048,1453 2048w, https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-112354656.jpg?resize=1500,1065 1500w” sizes=”(max-width: 3000px) 100vw, 3000px” />
Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks during 2004 Vibe Awards – Show at Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, California, United States. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage for Vibe Magazine)

Yayo and Banks have certainly been putting in work in recent years. Lloyd Banks emerged in 2022 with the release of Course Of The Inevitable II, his follow-up to 2021’s COTI. Additionally, he’s delivered several stand-out verses.

As for Yayo, he is currently working on his upcoming The Loyal Mixtape. Though the project doesn’t have a date, “Rocket Chamber” appears to be the launch of the campaign.

It seems like we might be hearing a lot from G-Unit this year. 50 Cent recently announced that he was going to be delivering new music after earning over a billion views on YouTube last year, even though he didn’t release any music.

Could there be a G-Unit reunion in the works for 2023? We’ll have to see. In the meantime, check out Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks’s new collab.

Quotable Lyrics
Insane in my blunt from Dr. Greenthumb
Got the K in the trunk, watch the drummer boy drum
Momma not home, whip it up in the kitchen
Tend to get high, bag it up in the basement

Future Joins Yung Booke On “Easter Fit”

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Though we haven’t even hit New Years yet, Yung Booke and Future are already considering their “Easter Fit” in 2023.

Yung Booke is closing out the year on a high note with the release of his new track alongside Future, “Easter Fit.” The two rappers connect alongside ATL Jacob for the new single. It’s a glossy, aggressive banger that fuses their chemistry together. The two rappers reflect on their status through melodic flexes that find them basking in designer drip and money as a result of their success. Booke looks at how he runs his city like Big U while Future’s observations of his wealth are nonchalant, matching his effortless cool. “I’m ’bout to catch a private, I’mma be late for that,” Future raps during his second verse on the record.

Though Booke hasn’t necessarily released a ton of music throughout the year, “Easter Fit” is bound to be a smash record. Between their seamless chemistry and ATL Jacob’s infectious production, Booke and Future make an excellent pairing. Hopefully, this collaboration leads to more in the future.

It seems like this could be Future’s final feature of the year, though he’s clearly ending things correctly. The Atlanta rapper’s experienced an excellent 2022 following the release of I NEVER LIKED YOU. The project, largely produced by ATL Jacob, became one of the highest-performing albums of the year. “WAIT FOR YOU” ft. Drake and Tems helped Future earn the second chart-topping single of his career.

It’s unclear what Yung Booke and Future have in store in the new year but thankfully, they’ve left us with some heat to close out 2022. Check out the new single below.

Quotable Lyrics
Pablo Escobar with the work, do numbers, yeah, yeah
Pop me one, I woo, turn to a monster, uh, uh
Forty pointers on her wrist, I’m her sponsor, yeah, yeah
That’s the one, put that dick past her tonsils, uh, uh

Rich Homie Quan Says Lil Dicky Reminds Him Of Kanye West

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Rich Homie Quan says that Lil Dicky reminds him of Kanye West in terms of being a “perfectionist.” Quan discussed working with Dicky for his song, “$ave Dat Money,” during a recent interview with HipHopDX.

“Lil Dicky… he doesn’t get as much credit as he deserves,” Quan told the outlet. “His mind… he reminds me of a Kanye — and I say that in a good way. Not Kanye Kanye, but perfectionist Kanye, you know what I’m saying?”

AUSTIN, TX – MARCH 19: Rich Homie Quan performs onstage during the PANDORA Discovery Den SXSW on March 19, 2015 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rachel Murray/Getty Images for PANDORA Media)

From there, Quan explained that the entire concept of the song was Dicky’s idea.

“[The song] was his idea. He pulled up to my house to shoot it, but he paid me my full price,” Quan explained. “But his mindset, his creative control… I learned so much from him in that little time we spent together. We wasn’t in the studio. It was sent via email. I sent back a full verse. I was kinda sick like, ‘Bro, I started going in right there!’ He was like, ‘Quan, hold up, wait. We’re gonna cut it.’ But I love to create.”

Quan further added that he didn’t know who Dicky was at the time when the comedic rapper reached out. However, nowadays, Quan considers Dicky one of his better friends in the industry.

“He loves what he does, and he’s genuine about what he does and he puts his all into everything. He could mess up on a tone and he’s mad. ‘I didn’t say it right!’” Quan continued. “We did something on live TV — I forgot what it was, it might have been Jimmy Kimmel or something like that — he was so mad. And I was like, ‘Bro, you killed it!’ [He was like], ‘I messed up on this one verse!’”

He added: “I love the love he puts in, the heart, he puts his all into it, so I learned that from him — if you gonna do it, give it your all; if not, go home.”

Revisit Lil Dicky and Rich Homie Quan’s “$ave Dat Money” below.

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Ashanti Would Collab With Nelly Again

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Almost ten years after they ended their relationship, Ashanti and Nelly are still commanding attention. The pair began dating back in 2003 and were together for about a decade before calling it quits. After taking the industry by storm as the “it” couple of Hip Hop and R&B, the hitmakers parted ways and continued to have successful careers independent of one another.

Recently, the former couple reunited on stage, furthering gossip about a rekindled romance. While it doesn’t look like that is the case, Ashanti is open to collaborating with Nelly once again.

Read More: Ashanti Reacts To Possibility Of Getting Back Together With Nelly

In a new interview with The New Norm with Selena Hill, Ashanti spoke about linking up musically with her ex.

“The majority of the questions I’ve been getting lately are, ‘Oh, are y’all getting back together?’” said the singer. “But releasing music together? The one thing that I can say is that we’re both very business savvy. So, if something is presenting itself as an opportunity to get money, we’re probably both gonna be with it.”

“I don’t know if we’re gonna go to the studio or anything together,” Ashanti added. “But what I will say is, again, we’re both very business savvy. If an opportunity presents itself to make a record and get to the bag, we’re probably gonna be all in.”

NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 22: Ashanti and Nelly attend the Angel Ball 2012 hosted by Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation at Cipriani Wall Street on October 22, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage for Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation)
Read More: Nelly & Ashanti Shake The Internet With Intimate Performance 

After reuniting for the first time in years on Verzuz, Ashanti and Nelly have popped up together—on stage, that is. Their flirtatious performances have caused fans to speculate about a romantic reunion, but it looks like they’re all about their business.

Check out the clip of Ashanti speaking on Nelly above. Let us know if you’d like to see them collaborate once again.

Ab-Soul Recalls Kendrick Lamar Sending Him “It Be Like That”

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Ab-Soul says that Kendrick Lamar assisted him on the song “It Be Like That,” off of his new album, Herbert. Ab-Soul spoke about the making of the project during a new interview with GQ.

He began by explaining that he tried to open himself up for help from his team of TDE’s “usual suspects” this time around.

“I didn’t fight for a record this time, I didn’t want to argue, I removed my arrogance completely, I tried to strip away the ego,” he said. “It was hard for me, getting out of my comfort zone. I asked for help, I tried to utilize my resources.”

GEORGE, WA – MAY 25: Ab-Soul performs at the Sasquatch Music Festival at The Gorge on May 25, 2015 in George, Washington. (Photo by Suzi Pratt/WireImage)

Afterward, he explained how he was assisted by Kendrick Lamar for “It Be Like That.” He says that the two are closer than people may expect.

“Kendrick sent that to me, just to let you guys know how close me and him are. He sends me records sometimes that he feels I should try,” Soul further said. “It was an exercise. I said on this one, I don’t want no punchlines, no metaphors, no double entendres, I want to be simple as possible, straight to the point. It was probably the most difficult song for me to write on the album and it’s the most simplistic song.”

The two spent years together on TDE, before Lamar’s recent departure. Ab-Soul also confirmed that Lamar’s vocals are featured on the title track to Herbert.

Elsewhere in the interview with GQ, Soul opens up about the suicide attempt he references in the song, “Gotta Rap.”

“It’s my testimony, I guess that’s what I do,” he told the outlet. He added that the support of his family and friends gave him the confidence to address the hardships.

Soul released Herbert last Friday as his first album in six years.

Check out Ab-Soul’s “It Be Like That” below.

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Kid Cudi Says He & Young Thug Have 2 Songs Coming Out

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Kid Cudi confirmed that he has two collaborations with Young Thug coming out in the near future. Speaking to his fans on Twitter, Cudi explained that he will include one on his next album, while Thug will release the other.

“I got 2 songs w Thug I did last year,” Cudi tweeted. “1 of them goin on the new album the other he’ll use. These songs are fuckin INSANE. Im tellin u. U have no idea.”

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – JULY 22: Rapper Kid Cudi performs onstage during day one of Rolling Loud Miami 2022 at Hard Rock Stadium on July 22, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Jason Koerner/Getty Images)

Young Thug is currently awaiting trial for the massive YSL RICO case, which is set to kick off next year.

New of more music from Cudi comes just months after his eighth studio album, Entergalactic. At the time, Cudi hinted at being done with music while speaking with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe in September. He said he’s gotten “bored of making albums” and needs something “different.”

“The Kid Cudi stuff, I think I want to put it on the back burner and chill out with that,” he said. “I think, I want to be done with it. I think, closing the chapter on Kid Cudi. The goal for Entergalactic, I was bored of making albums.

“Just, doing an album, two music videos and that’s it,” he further added. “And I was like, ‘Man, I went into this wanting to do something epic and different.’ And now, that I’ve done that, I just… I’ve made a lot of music, man.”

Earlier in the week on Twitter, Cudi recalled going on a two-week-long “cocaine run” after filming his music video for “Frequency.”

Check out Kid Cudi’s recent tweet below.

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Tyga Calls On Chris Brown On “Nasty”

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Chris Brown and Tyga are keeping the winter season hot with a brand-new single. The two artists reconnected for their new single, “Nasty,” which, as the title suggests, is a bedroom banger. MANMAN and Murphy Kid join forces for the production, merging a West Coast bounce with R&B’s smoothness for an undeniable bop. At the same time, Tyga leans closer toward Breezy’s melodious styling on this one for an infectious smash record.

“Nasty” is the latest single that extends Chris Brown and Tyga’s collaborative partnership. Over the years, they’ve certainly earned a reputation for creating magic on wax, beginning with the Fan Of A Fan mixtape. As soon as it dropped, the 2010 effort produced hit records like “Deuces” and “No Bullshit.”

Five years later, the two reconnected for Fan Of A Fan: The Album. This time, they connected with a slew of artists that helped emphasize the gangsta rap inspiration behind the project. ScHoolboy Q, Boosie Badazz, 50 Cent, Pusha T, T.I., and Fat Trel appeared in the project. Upon its release, the album debuted in the top 10 on the Billboard 200.

Besides their recent collab, the two have had extremely productive years. Chris Brown blessed fans with his tenth studio album, Breezy, and hit the road alongside Lil Baby for the “One Of Them Ones” tour. Additionally, he dropped a re-release of the project including his holiday singles, “It’s Giving Christmas” and “No Time Like Christmas.”

Though Tyga hasn’t released a project since 2019’s Legendary, he’s continued to deliver a streak of smash records, like “Booty Dancer,” “Fantastic,” and the Jhené Aiko and Pop Smoke-assisted, “Sunshine.”

Check out their new collaboration below and sound off with your thoughts in the comments.

Quotable Lyrics
You should get freaky for me
Throw it in reverse, make it easy for me
Show a little skin, got you leakin’ for me
Make it easy for me

Ab-Soul Calls DJ Premier Collab A “Dream Come True”

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Ab-Soul says that his Herbert collaboration with DJ Premier, “Gotta Rap,” is a “dream come true.” The TDE rapper detailed working with the legendary producer during a new sit-down with Vulture.

“I knew I needed him this time around. He definitely put me to work. I had to do it about five or six times until he found the right frequency,” Ab-Soul revealed.

NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 06: (L-R) Elliott Wilson and Ab-Soul attend backstage at Irving Plaza on October 6, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

As for why it took so many takes, Ab-Soul says it was difficult to match the “frequency” exactly.

“No, not rewriting,” he explained. “He liked the verse, but I had to match the frequency of the record, because I guess that was one of his favorite beats. So he wanted to make sure I came correct. That was the first time anybody ever made me re-record. So that was humbling. But it’s Preemo.”

From there, he added: “Before I even had my official stage name, when I was just Snap G, I knew I always wanted a Preemo beat. Preemo keeps his ear to the streets. I can honestly say I do get the respect of being the last of the lyricists, that cloth. I’ve met him in passing before, but we connected when he did PRhyme.”

Ab-Soul also recalled a time he interacted with Premier while working on a song at Mac Miller’s house with Royce Da 5’9.

The interview with Vulture comes ahead of the release of Ab-Soul’s next album, Herbert. In addition to working with Premier, he also connected with Sounwave, James Blake, Hit-Boy, Boi-1da, and DJ Dahi for the project. Ab-Soul says the album will be releasing on Friday, December 16th. It will be his first album in six years.

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SZA Recalls How Phoebe Bridgers Collab Come Together

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SZA says that she and Phoebe Bridgers had the “best conversations” together while collaborating on “Ghost in the Machine.” The track is featured on SZA’s newest album, SOS, which she released last Friday.

“We had been playing festivals together recently, but [our sets were] at the same time so we never got to meet,” SZA explained to Consequence for a new cover story.

LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 25: SZA performs onstage at 2017 BET Awards at Microsoft Theater on June 25, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images )

However, they were able to get in touch with each other through social media DMs.

“She popped on by,” she said. “She was cool as f—.”

SZA added that they had the “best conversations” during the experience.

“It was interesting to bring us both together,” she explained.

Other artists featured on SOS include Don Toliver, and Travis Scott, as well as Ol’ Dirty Bastard. Speaking with Consequence, SZA detailed how she chose ODB to appear on the song, “Forgiveless.”

“I thought it was so crazy because I tried to find a feature for that song and no one responded in time,” SZA said “It turns out ODB just sounded the coolest before I could even think about anything else.”

Elsewhere in the interview, SZA discussed being called an “R&B artist,” a label she finds disrespectful.

“I’m so tired of being pegged as [an] R&B artist,” she admitted. “I feel like that’s super disrespectful, because people are just like, ‘Oh, ’cause you’re Black, this is what you have to be’ — like, put in a box. And I hate that. With songs on this album, it’s supposed to help round out the picture and the story.”

Check out SZA’s collaboration with Phoebe Bridgers, “Ghost in the Machine,” below.

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