Country and hip-hop are crossing paths more than ever nowadays. There are some that we could see working out like mgk and Jelly Roll, for example. However, there is a track that’s been gaining some traction online lately that we didn’t think would ever happen. Today, we are referring to NBA YoungBoy and Kevin Smiley teaming up for “Matador”. The latter is a pretty fresh face, as the 20-year-old has just three songs on his professional resume.
According to HipHopNMore, he hails from a really small town in Florida called Okeechobee and broke onto the scene with “Paralyzed” on May 10. Smiley began to pick up his love for music at a fairly young age due to his mom being artistically inclined. He learned to sing and play guitar at church thanks to his father being a pastor and his mother having wicked piano skills. Perhaps due to their faith, Smiley was not allowed to listen to hip-hop, but instead developed a love for country. Now, all of that homecooked experience and knowledge is being translated into songs like “Matador”. This is one of three singles that will be on his debut EP later this fall. Smiley and YB sing and rap with pain and a sense of tiredness for trying to love someone who doesn’t love them back. It’s a nice blend of emo, country, and trap, and we can foresee Smiley achieving some similar success that Shaboozey has been seeing as of late.
Like a bull chasing a matador I’m chasing the memories of us Kissing while the rain poured on your Honda Friends say I need start getting out And I should try to forget about The last six months of my life like I don’t wanna
Moneybagg Yo is ready to don a cowboy hat and spurs it appears after showing some interest in going full country for a project. This news come from an interview surrounding the success of “WHISKEY WHISKEY” with Billboard at the 2024 BET Awards. For those who are not aware, this song lands on the Memphis rapper’s recent album SPEAK NOW. It sees him work with country star Morgan Wallen, someone who has been doing his own crossing over working with the likes of Lil Durk. These two genres melding together continues to grow more and more common, so seeing this trend is not all that surprising. Overall, it works pretty well, and “WHISKEY WHISKEY” is no exception.
The album cut debuted at number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and it is the only song to chart from it. Additionally, Moneybagg’s project is doing well too, sliding into 13th on the Hot 200. But due to him and Morgan Wallen displaying some solid chemistry he sees the vision and would not be opposed to dropping a country album or EP in the near future. The veteran hitmaker also mentioned to the publication that him and Morgan had been texting very often and that the latter was encouraging him to dive into this space.
@MoneyBaggYo discusses his collaboration with Morgan Wallen and why he felt he was a great choice, teases a country EP, and chats about how genre-blending Nelly who tapped in country inspires him #BETAwardspic.twitter.com/6Xf0qxyWYg
Furthermore, he has been hearing from a lot of other country mainstays since the release of “WHISKEY WHISKEY”. Yo claims they are down to collaborate, but before that happens, he still has some ideas he wants to tackle first. “After these next two albums I’m fixing to drop before the summer is over, I think after that, going into the winter or something, I think I’m going to do a country album, a country EP or something”, Yo revealed. He did say during the rollout of SPEAK NOW that he was going to drop an R&B tape soon, so clearly it is a great time to be a fan of his right now.
What are your thoughts on Moneybagg Yo having interest in making a country project? Do you think this is something that he should genuinely pursue, why or why not? Have you been messing with “WHISKEY WHISKEY” from his recent album SPEAK NOW? We would like to hear what you have to say, so leave your thoughts in the comments. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Moneybagg Yo. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
About four months ago, Playboi Carti and pop star Camila Cabello of Fifth Harmony fame were making headlines. There were photos of the two of them in the studio together, as well as a screenshot of the rapper on FaceTime with the hitmaker. Dating rumors were sparked when the “Magnolia” creator captioned the studio session Instagram story post saying, “baby girl.” Now, we know that they were cooking up a new song “I LUV IT” which is out now.
Cabello is no stranger to linking with hip-hop artists throughout her career. During her Fifth Harmony days, the radio was constantly bumping “Work from Home” with Ty Dolla $ign. “Worth It” with Kid Ink was also another party hit during that era. Of course, when she went solo, Camila put out “Havana” with Young Thug and “My Oh My” with DaBaby.
Listen To “I LUV IT” By Camila Cabello & Playboi Carti
Most saw those previous crossovers as successful. However, “I LUV IT” is not getting the reaction that Carti and Camila may have not been expecting. People are extremely mixed on it so far with some saying that this ruined Carti’s “generational run.” The deeper delivery makes its return to a fast-paced beat that just does not fit the lighter tone of the song. Additionally, while repetitive choruses can be done right, Camila’s “I love it” refrain just does not come off right. Finally, the Gucci Mane “Lemonade” post-chorus sample is out of place too. However, there are also a good deal of people who are enjoying it. Give it a shot with the video link above.
What are your thoughts on this brand-new single, “I LUV IT,” by Camila Cabello and Playboi Carti? Is this one of the oddest collaborations/crossovers of the year, why or why not? Do you see this song performing well, why or why not? Does this get you excited for Camila’s upcoming album? Should these two work together again? 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 surrounding Playboi Carti and Camila Cabello. Finally, stay with us for the most informative song posts throughout the week.
Quotable Lyrics:
Supersonic (Yeah, ooh), in your orbit (Yeah, ah) And I’m bad (Uh), diabolic (Uh) Bottle rocket (Ooh), on the carpet (Yeah) Threw it back and he caught it I go soprano, baby, go down low And when he leads, I gotta follow (Ooh)
Joyner Lucas fans will not have to wait too much longer before his next album. Of course, we are referring to the heavily tweaked and pushed back release that is Not Now, I’m Busy. This LP was originally looking at a 2023 drop date. However, not-so-positive feedback on the singles encouraged the Massachusetts MC to go back to the drawing board. One of the new efforts from Joyner Lucas includes “Best For Me” featuring Jelly Roll.
You may be thinking, why is a country star on a conscious hip-hop track? Well, if you are not aware, Jelly Roll actually has a history of working with rappers. The veteran Nashville artist has worked with fellow Tennessee greats like Three 6 Mafia, as well as UGK. He has since transitioned to writing more country material, but still implements hip-hop where necessary.
Listen To “Best For Me” By Joyner Lucas & Jelly Roll
Those reasons are why it makes sense to see Jelly and Joyner team up for this extremely personal single. “Best For Me” had to have been a tough record to write about as he talks about a friend who is suffering from drug addiction. Like he did on his politically focused “I’m Not Racist,” Lucas raps from his perspective on how he feels about it and from his unnamed friend. Jelly Roll adds some extra soul with a terrific chorus and vocal performance. “How can you love someone and learn to let them go? / How can we fall apart on things we’ll never know?“
What are your thoughts on this brand-new single, “Best For Me,” by Joyner Lucas and Jelly Roll? Is this one of the most heartfelt rap songs and records in general this year? What is your favorite element of the song and why? Who had the best performance on the track? Does this get you excited for Lucas’ upcoming album Not Now, I’m Busy? 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 surrounding Joyner Lucas and Jelly Roll. Finally, stay with us for everything the most informative song posts throughout the week.
Quotable Lyrics:
And what the f*** happened to you? (Fuck happened to you?) You’re losin’ a fight (Damn) I never thought I’d see the day that you let addiction ruin your life Everyone callin’ that shit a disease and you makin’ feel like you in the right But I hate the fact that you really be usin’ that as an excuse to do what you like Or do what you might (Do what you might, woah) And I keep on prayin’ and reachin’ for you
Brandy has collaborated with many music industry stars over the course of her decades-long career. As one of the most prolific R&B artists of all time, she’s blended so well with Hip Hop stars. Her soulful voice, paired with the talents of rap artists, is always a musical treat. Since her debut in the early 90s, Brandy has had multiple Hip Hop collaborations, highlighting her versatility with each offering. The following seven tracks are some of the hottest ones she’s released.
“Sitting Up In My Room (Remix)” fuses Brandy’s signature R&B vocals with LL Cool J’s charismatic rap style. The 1996 song rode off the success of the original, Grammy-nominated track, which was nominated for a Grammy. The original version also peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and ended up earning a platinum certification. Moreover, “Sittin’ Up In My Room (Remix)” marked one of Brandy’s first collaborations with hip-hop. Released months after the original, the track also sported a sample of Patrice Rushen’s single, “Haven’t You Heard.” While the remix didn’t turn out as popular as the original version, it became an early testament to Brandy’s versatility as a musician.
“Where You Wanna Be” is an emotional track exploring a romantic relationship where a woman is giving a man an ultimatum. The track is a cry for reassurance from a romantic partner. “Ladies, raise your hand if you’ve heard enough,” Brandy sings, as she narrates her frustrations about her man not prioritizing her. Soon after, T.I. comes in with some smooth bars about how he plans to be present “forever more, the rest of eternity.” Produced by Kanye West, “Where You Wanna Be” features a perfect balance of soulful melody and rhythmic beats, a style reminiscent of Brandy’s music.
5. “Top Of The World” Ft. Mase
“Top Of The World” is the seventh track off Brandy’s second studio album, Never Say Never. The song represents themes of success and ambition, with Brandy reminiscing about how far she had come as a musician. “Top Of The World” did relatively well on the charts, peaking at No. 44 on Billboard’s Radio Songs Chart, and reaching No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart. More recently, in 2023, “Top Of The World” was sampled by Nigerian singer Burna Boy on a track titled “Sittin’ On Top Of The World.” This brought some much-needed nostalgia for Brandy fans and a newfound appreciation for one of her most ambitious collabs.
“Put It Down” was released as the lead single of Brandy’s sixth studio album, Two Eleven. The song centers around sexual attraction and confidence, with Brandy and Chris Brown delivering flirtatious verses over a pulsating beat. Marking Brandy’s return to music after a brief hiatus, the track sees the songstress keep up with contemporary R&B while staying true to her original style. “Put It Down” was also a hit, performing relatively well on the charts, and amassing over 60 million views on YouTube.
3. “Talk About Our Love” Ft. Kanye West
Easily one of her best collabs, Brandy and longtime musical partner Kanye West excelled on this sleek number. “Talk About Our Love” was the lead single on Brandy’s fourth studio album, Afrodisiac. Peaking at No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the track was also a moderate commercial success. The track’s theme revolved around nosy acquaintances who always seemed to be in the couples’ business.
With “Baby Mama,” Brandy released an ode to single mothers. “Ain’t dependent on you, I’m a baby mama,” Brandy sings, as she praises single mothers for their resilience. In a comment on her YouTube, Brandy further explains that the inspiration for the track is her own daughter, Syrai, who motivates her to push through anything. Furthermore, Chance the Rapper’s verse helped boost the track’s appeal across R&B and Hip Hop fanbases.
1. “I Wanna Be Down” (Remix) Ft. Queen Latifah, Yo-Yo & MC Lyte
“I Wanna Be Down” (Remix) employs the talents of Queen Latifah, Yo-Yo, and MC Lyte to create a Hip Hop version of Brandy’s smash hit, “I Wanna Be Down.” This remix is important because it established Brandy as a versatile act; this was one of her first Hip Hop collabs. Moreover, with almost 60 million streams, “I Wanna Be Down” (Remix) is also one of Brandy’s most streamed songs on Spotify. Overall, it remains a timeless piece of music in her decades-long career.
(@iamtycole)