Royce Da 5’9″ says J. Cole is the “only competitive” artist in the current landscape of hip-hop. Appearing on Joe Budden’s podcast, Royce reflected on how the genre has changed over the years with his Slaughterhouse partner. They also discussed where Cole ranks in comparison to Drake and Kendrick Lamar.
“I haven’t taken a real deep look out into the landscape but from where I’m sitting it looks like J. Cole the only one being competitive,” he began “He’s the only one who’s rapping with the kind of conviction that says I still value the number one spot as a lyricist. I see a lot of the younger generations not really hanging their hat on just the lyrical part of creativity at all. They’re finding different ways to impact and resonate with people which is fine.”
J. Cole Performs With Drake During Dreamville Festival
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – APRIL 02: J. Cole (L) and Drake (R) perform during the Dreamville Festival at Dorothea Dix Park on April 02, 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Astrida Valigorsky/WireImage)
“That’s when the elder statesmen like myself start learning,” he continued. “I wanna make myself understand why is this touching people like that. I can’t even understand what they’re saying. It’s definitely moving away from lyricism being the caveat, which I’m cool with ’cause there’s a lot more things I can do without being lyrical-lyrical.” Budden mostly agreed, listing Cole above Kendrick Lamar. “I got Cole as my one,” Budden said. “I’m hoping that Kendrick’s next album could try to fix that for me. Drake is doing his Chuck E. Cheese sh*t. Good for him. That’s it now. Yeah, that’s it.” Check out Royce’s full comments on the podcast below.
Royce Da 5’9″ Speaks With Joe Budden
The two also discussed their expectations for Cole’s upcoming album, The Fall Off. That project will be a follow-up to his 2018 effort, KOD. Be on the lookout for further updates on Royce Da 5’9″ on HotNewHipHop.
No one can stop talking about USHER right now. But it is for good reason. The legendary R&B superstar has had a lot of important and exciting things going on in his life. If you were one of the few people who were not watching the Super Bowl this past weekend, he was the Halftime Show performer. To help celebrate that, he dropped his new album COMING HOME. Because of everything going on with him, everyone is reaching out for interviews. People got a hold of him and they talked about all the events in his life and one other unique topic. USHER was asked about Justin Timberlake and his willingness to work with him on new music.
It kind of makes sense why this question came up. Timberlake is an icon in his own right and was step for step with USHER in the early 2000s. Both had massive hits and even though they were/are fairly close no music has come out of their friendship. But, many painted them as rivals and USHER was asked about that. He shut that down according to AllHipHop, saying, “I’m in competition with no one other than myself… I’ve been motivated by people like Justin. I think that he has a legacy that should be respected and not compared to anybody else.”
Justin Timberlake, Nelly and Usher during *NSYNC Challenge for the Children IV – Closing Party at Planet Hollywood at Planet Hollywood in Orlando, Florida, United States. ***Exclusive*** (Photo by James Devaney/WireImage)
In fact, USHER doubled down by saying he has always wanted to work with JT. “I’ve always wanted to do a record with Justin and have reached out many times, but we’ve never managed to make it happen. I think that he’s an amazing performer.” Maybe that window of opportunity is open right now. Justin does have his new album, Everything I Thought It Was, on March 15, so maybe they can eek out a collab before it drops.
What are your thoughts on USHER revealing he always wanted to work with Justin Timberlake? Do you think they can make something happen in time for Justin’s upcoming album? Is this a good idea for them to collaborate? What are your opinions on USHER’s Super Bowl show? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news la surrounding USHER and Justin Timberlake. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on around the world of music.
Things may never be sorted out between NBA YoungBoy and Lil Durk. The reasons are valid, though, especially because of the tragedy of losing King Von. Their opposing fanbases are certainly not letting up on each other either. It seems every time Lil Durk and NBA YoungBoy drop new music, their material is always up for debate and comparison. More of that will be going doing this Friday, February 16, as both dropping new tracks. The Chicago native posted an Instagram Story announcing the heat he has coming.
DJ Akademiks reshared the Story on his account. Durk captioned the post, “I’m dropping some for the streets Friday F%CK it.” As we mentioned YB is doing the same thing, expanding his 2024 catalog to five. His single has a title and it is called “Closed Case.” The Louisiana rapper made this known nearly a week ago with the lyrics for it already being on Genius.
Durk does not have a title for his song yet at the moment of writing this post. Fans immediately went into DJ Akademiks’ comments section comparing GRAMMY Awards and the like. One person says, “Durk Grammys: 1 YB Grammys: 0 the debate is over.” A NBA fan flies into to support him and says, “this is the dumbest s*** ever since when does a grammy determine who’s better ” Another even goes as far as to say this, “Durk: ‘imma drop some for the streets’ The streets: ‘We don’t want that s***t’ ” Only time will tell who does better this coming weekend.
What are your thoughts on Lil Durk and NBA YoungBoy both dropping music on the same day? Who is going to get more streams and why? Who do you think is the better rapper is and why? Will this competition and debating ever end? Do you think Durk did this intentionally? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to tell us in the comments below. Additionally, keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Lil Durk and NBA YoungBoy. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on around the world of music.
Coi Leray has been having herself a pretty amazing year. Overall, in 2023, Leray was able to come out with a new album all while securing some huge hits. Although she may not be firmly in hip-hop these days, she is definitely crafting pop hits. Moreover, she is consistently going viral on TikTok with her music. This has allowed herself to be propelled in ways some thought not possible. She had a lot of haters when she started her career, but these days, she seems to be making all of the right moves.
Furthermore, Coi has been pretty prominent on social media. Overall, she has dropped off a lot of racy photos of herself. However, the fans have been absolutely loving it. This has made her do even more. For instance, in the video below, you can see her twerking to “Soak City” by 310Babii. This is a mega-viral track, and many others have also danced to the track. Having said that, this latest video from Leray has led to some debates after The Neighborhood Talk she could out-twerk any other woman rapper.
Essentially, everyone in the comments section mentioned Megan Thee Stallion. Simply put, the people want to see some sort of competition between these two. As it stands, most are saying Meg would win, although we highly doubt these two would ever partake in such a thing. “Nah Meg is a beasttttt I don’t think nobody topping her,” one user said. “My money on Megan and I ain’t finna go back and forth wit yall,” said another. Needless to say, quite a debate is being had on all of this.
Let us know what you think of Coi Leray and her music, in the comments section below? Who would you like to see her collaborate with, in the future? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming releases.
J. Cole’s run in 2023 has been nothing short of incredible this year. While he has not dropped an album this year, the North Carolina talent has been spazzing on every feature verse. There are so many standout performances to name, but we can name a few that you have to check out if you have not heard them already. Of course, we have to mention his recent efforts with Drake. The two linked up for the first time in over a decade on “First Person Shooter.”
Many feel Cole really carried the song and we can see their point. From the flow switch-ups to the witty bars, it was a moment in 2023. In fact, it was so good, it went number one on the Billboard Hot 100. He also appears on the deluxe version of For All The Dogs, where he and Drizzy go back and forth on “Evil Ways.” J. Cole has also worked with Lil Yachty on the jazz and boom bap-inspired cut “The Secret Recipe.” The Atlanta rapper did his best to match his counterpart and succeeded.
Now, there is another rapper who feels he has the same chance to match him. Houston rapper, Sauce Walka, recently tweeted out that he wants to go bar for bar with the lyrical wizard. A lot of fans in the comments really feel he can and we do too. He has plenty of quality tracks in his seven-year-long discography. sauce tweeted, “I said what I said… ILL GO BAR 4 BAR WIT ANY GOAT @JColeNC let’s dance. I’m what the STREETS MISSING.” One person commented, “No cap he really can. Very interesting.” Another adds, “Sauce can rap, he ain’t saying he’s better he’s saying he can go bar 4 bar … I think he can ” It is always fun to see some friendly competition. Hopefully, this does happen.
What are your initial thoughts on Sauce Walka saying he wants to go bar for bar with J. Cole? Do you think he could match him on a track or in a rap battle? Is Cole the best lyricist in the game right now? We would like to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your hottest takes in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest breaking news around Sauce Walka and J. Cole. Furthermore, stay with us for everything else going on around the music world.
G Herbo recently took part in a dating competition hosted by No Luv Mar, but unfortunately, it doesn’t look like he was able to find his special someone. The rapper chatted with various women in hopes of recruiting a partner, but ultimately decided that none of them were a match. It seems as though he learned the lesson that yelling at potential mates doesn’t typically pan out.
During the contest, one of the women approached him, asking the simple question of where he’s from. The Chicago native got pretty offended that she didn’t already know, popping off on her as a result. “You ain’t look up nothing?” he asked. “Bye! How the f*ck you don’t know where I’m from and you talking to me… Get the f*ck on, bye!”
It looks like the rapper met his match, but not quite the kind he was looking for. The woman didn’t take kindly to his rant, firing back with a handful of quips and making it clear that she wouldn’t be tolerating his disrespect. “You could get the f*ck on!” she responded. “How the hell am I supposed to know where the f*ck you from? Don’t nobody know about you. Ain’t nobody looking sh*t up. Fuck you, n***a. Light-skin a**. You look like Latto with your light-skin a**. Why your hairline so far back?”
Luckily for G Herbo, he may be closer than every to finding the one, as he’s recently undergone quite the makeover. The 28-year-old just secured his “million dollar smile,” stopping by the dentist to get some new veneers. Unfortunately, he’ll soon have to report to prison to serve his five-year sentence for wire fraud, which could make it tough to meet any ladies. What do you think of G Herbo’s flirting fail? Do you think he deserved the roast he got, or did the woman take things too far? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more news.
Following the success of the first season of The Rap Game, Season 2 involved a lot of anticipation and excitement about which teen was going to be the next rap star. This season also included more contestants than the previous season, so naturally, the stakes were high and the competition was strong. Each week, the contestants put their best foot forward for the chance to sign with Jermaine Dupri’s So So Def Label. While Mani was the winner of the second season, there were many contestants with great potential. Let’s see how far The Rap Game stars have come and what they are currently doing with their lives past season 2.
Mani (Amir Mitchell-Townes)
Not long after winning The Rap Game season 2, Mani released a debut single, “You Thought,” produced by Jermaine Dupri and featuring Phresh Ali, Latto & Deetranada. He remained active online and later, created his own record label, Fly City Entertainment, in 2016. In 2020, Mani released another single, “Get It,” after changing his stage name to Mani Da Don. The following year, he put out his debut album, Had A Talk Wit Da Streets, And I Forgive You. The South Central LA native has thousands of views on YouTube and an active following on Instagram, where he keeps his fans updated about his music. Finally, his latest single, “Brrkin & Heelz,” has more than 20,000 views on YouTube already.
Even before starring in Season 2 of The Rap Game, Lil Key music began making waves across Baltimore and the country. Lil Key originally became famous after the release of his 2013 mixtape, My Life Vol. 1. After starring in the show, he continued doing what he had always done – making music and remaining involved with his community. While the Baltimore-based rapper has not released a full album since he left the show, he has released multiple songs that have gone on to gather thousands of streams on various platforms. Some of his most popular songs are “Dub,” “Love 2 Hate Me,” and “Close Friends” ft. Luh Kel. Moreover, Lil Key maintains a following of over 400k on Instagram. His latest single, “Days Like This,” has thousands of views on YouTube.
Nia Kay (Nia Kay Neal)
Nia Kay is one of the contestants who have become even more popular after the show. Since finishing The Rap Game season 2, she has released multiple singles with millions of streams on Spotify and YouTube Music. The Duchess Of Chicago, as she is popularly called, released her first project in 2018– the EP Duchess. Some of her most streamed songs are, “Ignored,” “Go Best Friend,” and “Yeah H*e.” She also has about 1.5 million followers on Instagram, where she regularly uploads snippets of her music, and shows her progress as an artist.
J.I The Prince of NY (Justin Irvin Rivera)
J.I The Prince Of NY is another contestant who has made a name for himself in the rap scene. However, the New York-based rapper of Puerto Rican descent took a hiatus from rap after The Rap Game. Nonetheless, he came back even stronger in 2019, releasing a mixtape, Hood Life Krisis, Vol. 1. The following year, he followed up with Welcome To GStarr Vol. 1. Today, he has multiple projects that have done quite well. His biggest single so far, “Need Me,” has over 200 million plays across multiple platforms. Furthermore, he has collaborated with top artists like Lil Tjay, Lil Durk, and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie. “Need Me” also received an RIAA platinum certification in May 2021.
Jayla Marie hasn’t released a lot of music since concluding season 2 of The Rap Game. Regardless, she maintains a following of over 500k on Instagram and has 182k subscribers on YouTube, where she released several covers. On Instagram, she shares her latest music but also posts general lifestyle content, including fitness content. Her latest single, “Summer Crush,” has thousands of streams on Spotify and YouTube Music.
Mini Barbie (Manariah Nicole White)
Mini Barbie has not been involved in making music in a while outside of the release of 2021’s “Ruthless”. However, she has rebranded as a fashion entrepreneur on Instagram. The Atlanta-based entrepreneur and model regularly posts pictures of herself on social media and publicizes her business on various platforms. So far, she has amassed almost a million followers on Instagram and frequently collaborates with fashion businesses.
Tally Raps (Talia Sagginario)
Tally Raps is another former contestant who isn’t making a lot of music nowadays. According to her Instagram account, she recently got married and went to Mexico for her honeymoon. She’s also into beauty and fashion. In the past, Tally Raps made a lot of covers alongside her sister, Jasmine Sagginario. Together, they formed 2XO, an R&B group, and have released songs like “Summer Love” and “Blame It on You.”
NBA Legend, entrepreneur, DJ, rapper, TV personality, the list of Shaquille O’Neal’s occupations is incredible. His reputation precedes him and he is one of the most likable celebrities and people on the planet. While Shaq is certainly one of the greatest NBA players ever, he believes he is the best at one of his other many talents. In an interview with TMZ Sports, Shaq talked about a few topics, one of which is his rapping career. For those who do not know, when he was dunking all over his opponents, he was also bodying beats. A year after he was drafted by the Orlando Magic, The Diesel was rapping on the side.
His first full project, Shaq Diesel, was put out in 1993. Then, just a year later, he released Shaq-Fu: Da Return. That album boasted impressive features from Method Man, Redman, and others. It took a while before getting back into it, but, lately, he has been a DJ for the past few years. He also dropped a fire verse with California rap duo, Coyote in early September. With all of this experience and abilities, he believes he is the best athlete-rapper of all time.
Here Is Proof Of Shaq Being The Best Athlete-Rapper
In the interview, Shaq acknowledges plenty of other athlete-spitters including Damian Lillard. However, when he hears others chattering about other talents, he needs to remind everyone who is the G.O.A.T. “It’s all competition for me, so when I hear other people that say, ‘I’m a better athlete-rapper than Shaq,’ I gotta step up.” He continues, “I know who the number one is. Ima always say myself is number one, but they got a lot of the guys out there that are coming.”
What are your initial thoughts on Shaquille O’Neal saying he is the best rapper from any professional sport? If you disagree, who do you think is better than him? What is your favorite Shaq track? We want to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest breaking news around Shaquille O’Neal and the rest of the sports and music world.
Recently, Dame Dash sat down for an enlightening and at times odd conversation with the That’s F***ed Up podcast, going into the Hov and Nas beef and much more. Moreover, that last adjective came into play thanks to a conversation they had around late R&B star Aaliyah. Specifically, the Roc-A-Fella cofounder explained how he and Jay-Z actually fought for her heart at the same time. Sure, many expressed some discomfort at the idea given how young she was, and at the general idea of discussing these things about someone who is no longer with us. However, that aside, it still made for a somewhat comical anecdote, albeit one that has a much darker and more tragic context.
“I didn’t look at her like that because she was like a tomboy,” Dame Dash began. “She was little to me. But then one time- I guess we had the same book keeper, and I walked past. Every time I saw her, she looked different. She had different looks every time and I was like, ‘Who the f**k is that?’ I just threw my A-game. And then, you know, I guess Jay was trying to get at her as well, and I didn’t know. It got brought up and I was like ‘F**k both of y’all.’ But it never worked out for them, and we were both trying to get at her. And I kind of eased up, but then we ran into each other. It’s a long story.
“Everybody was getting at Aaliyah, bro,” Dame Dash continued. “She’ll go to dinner with a n***a but she wasn’t gonna just be smashing. So that was the big deal, like, who can get with Aaliyah.” Then, one of the podcast hosts asked whether Hov was bitter about it. “Obviously,” he replied. “Yeah, he felt a way. But everybody knows that s**t. Well, they be trying to act like he was really f***ing with her. Nah, he was sending flowers and doing all that s**t, he was courting her. So we were both going hard and we ended up in the same house for 4th of July. So it was, like, one day it might lean towards him then it’ll lean towards me.
“But I was just on fire that week,” he concluded. “Everything I was saying was funny, you know what I’m saying? I remember coming downstairs and he was like… *sigh*. ‘Cause like, you know, his friends were laughing at him and s**t.” For more news and the latest updates on Dame Dash and Jay-Z, stick around on HNHH.
the debate is over.” A NBA fan flies into to support him and says, “this is the dumbest s*** ever since when does a grammy determine who’s better 
” Another even goes as far as to say this, “Durk: ‘imma drop some for the streets’
(@nojumper)
” It is always fun to see some friendly competition. Hopefully, this does happen. 