Curren$y

Jermaine Dupri & Curren$y: “For Motivational Use Only, Vol. 1” Album Review

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Curren$y has been a mainstay in the Southern rap scene for over a decade. Covering the moody landscape of Southern rap, he’s known for his clockwork output and swaggering verses. The New Orleans-born artist has been collaborating with underground artists throughout his career. Some of his most notable collaborations have been with The Alchemist, Freddie Gibbs, and Wiz Khalifa. He remains a household name in the Southern rap scene with a fifteen-year career.

As for The Alchemist, the two released Continuance back in 2022, their third studio release as a duo. Polishing their past sound, many held that Continuance was one of the better rap projects in 2022. With For Motivational Use Only, Vol. 1, Curren$y is wisely sticking with iconic producer collaborations. This time, it’s with music legend Jermaine Dupri. The So So Def icon has produced hit records for artists such as Mariah Carey, Usher, Ludacris, Jay-Z, and LL Cool J.

Curren$y’s collaboration with Dupri has been years in the making. About teaming up with him, he said, “I had my mind made up even since the ‘Jump’ remix by Kris Kross and SuperCat that I wanted to work with him. I’d crossed paths with the legend from making moves with Lil Wayne, but it was clearly not my place to introduce myself. I had to play my part. The universe is the universe though, and it makes things right when it’s the right time.” In retrospect, it’s good to see the dedicated MC get his mainstream shine.

The EP Blends Southern R&B & Trap Styles

At its core, For Motivational Use Only, Vol. 1 is an ode to Southern rap. In an interview with Rap Radar, Dupri stated, “Part 1 is a real southern record that the south really needs.” The producer and Curren$y team up for 22 minutes of braggadocios verses and colossal beats. A true summer-time jam, the booming 808s are perfect for a warm weather drive. While much of For Motivational Use Only, Vol. 1 shoots for a trap-heavy sound on the likes of “Off the Lot,” you also have your cuts such as “Fortune 500,” which edge towards more of a lo-fi quality. Dupri showcases his ability to produce in various soundscapes, solidifying why he remains one of the most in-demand producers in hip-hop.

Curren$y spends much of the project flexing his wealth. Driving around in a fresh Cadillac, he doesn’t shy away from hyping himself up with bars such as “My diamonds are brighter than yours” or “The quarterly projections lookin’ like a straight blessing” on “Never Enough.” However, he isn’t surface-level in his description of wealth. As he puts it, it took years of hard work and suffering. He references his impoverished circumstances and his mother’s tireless work ethic throughout the record, stating, “Mama worked like a slave, that’s I work so damn hard when it come to getting paid” on “Never Enough.” His pen game is laid back yet hyper-focused from start to finish. For Motivational Use Only, Vol. 1 is a celebratory ode to where he’s currently at in life.

Curren$y Recruits Heavy Hitters

Additionally, For Motivational Use Only, Vol. 1 features fellow Southern MC counterparts 2 Chainz and T.I. They pop up on “Never Fall Off” and “Off the Lot,” two of the better cuts off of the EP. Surprisingly, it’s the first time T.I. has appeared on one of Dupri’s beats. Curren$y is one of those MCs that warrants more respect in hip-hop circles than he does in the mainstream. It explains why he’s consistently able to garner big-name features on his projects. Founding Jet Life Recordings back in 2011, he also references his wide portfolio throughout the EP.

As implied by the record title, there’s more to come from the Southern duo. In a quote from Curren$y’s Instagram, he stated, “We have a zillion songs recorded at this point, but we have selected 7 to form an EP and drop at midnight.” A successful first installment in the duo’s series, it will be exciting to see how they build on the sound of For Motivational Use Only, Vol.1 for future records. The duo hinted at a heavier feature list featuring the likes of Nas for the next volume.

In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising if Volume 2 of this series grows on the grandeur soundscapes of the first volume. More time spent in the studio between the two Southern counterparts should enable them to continue to pick at the margins of their respective potentials. With Curren$y existing in the pocket of psychedelic jazz beats over the past few years, For Motivational Use Only, Vol. 1 signifies a bold departure from his usual comfort zone.

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T.I. Assists Jermaine Dupri And Curren$y On “Never Fall Off” From New EP

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With the release of their highly anticipated EP For Motivational Use Only right around the corner on April 4th, Grammy® Award-winning producer, songwriter, and rapper Jermaine Dupri and New Orleans-based rapper and founder of Jet Life Recordings Curren$y unveil a brand new single entitled “Never Fall Off” featuring award-winning rap mogul T.I., available today.
Listen to “Never Fall Off”HERE Weaving between a heavenly vocal sample, powerful bass kicks, and sizzling hi-hats, Curren$y opens the track with a chantable hook, “I raise my hand to the lord, I pray I never fall off.” Dupri follows with a flurry of punchy flows and bold bars before T.I. adds an incendiary verse of his own. These three titans show up and show out together. They will never fall off… The new track comes on the heels of Jermaine Dupri and Curren$y’s debut single, “Essence Fest.” 

 EssenceMagazine and Billboard recently announced that Jermaine Dupri will be celebrating hip-hop’s 50th and So So Def’s 30th anniversaries with a star-studded performance at this year’s Essence Festival. 
Listen to “Essence Fest” HERE. 

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Larry June & The Alchemist Team Up For “The Great Escape”

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Larry June’s an interesting case study in hip-hop . His unique strain of luxury raps and versatile production choices have helped him develop a cult-like following. Projects like Orange Print and the Cardo-produced Into The Late Night played like the perfect 4/20 soundtrack but all of these releases have led to his highly anticipated joint project with The Alchemist, The Great Escape, which finally hit streaming services this morning.

June’s ‘lax matter-of-fact flow detailing real estate and green juices shines over The Alchemist’s dreamy production. Laced with 15 songs in total, The Great Escape brings Larry June’s baritone delivery and The Alchemist’s hypnotic loops for a body of work that will undoubtedly stand as one of the best releases of 2023 so far. Throughout the tracklist, the two enlist a strong roster of collaborators, largely from the blog era. Big Sean, Wiz Khalifa, Action Bronson, Curren$y, Joey Bada$$, and more appear across the tracklist for The Great Escape.

“The Great Escape” Is A Perfect Union Of Larry June & The Alchemist

In the past few weeks, Larry June and The Alchemist shared a promising series of singles to lead the campaign for The Great Escape. First, they unveiled “60 Days,” and then, “Porsches In Spanish.” However, the release of “Palisades, CA” ft. Big Sean left fans thrilled for what’s to come on their joint project. The record marked Big Sean’s first time rhyming over The Alchemist’s production but the Detroit rapper and June’s similar focus on health and wellness turned the record into an immediate highlight that fans hope will lead to further collaborations in the future.

The new project extends The Alchemist’s impressive run over the past few years that includes Alfredo with Freddie Gibbs, The Elephant Man’s Bones with Roc Marciano, and several projects alongside Boldy James. However, in an interview with Billboard, he explained that he hopes Great Escape with Larry June is discussed in the same regard. “I don’t want this to be like a slept-on record, or it gets just credibility — we need to push this s–t on,” says Alchemist. “Put it up next to all the other s–t that’s out there on the high level and let it compete.”

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Jermaine Dupri And Curren$y Announce Concert At The Eastern In ATL On April 7

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Following the release of their debut single “Essence Fest,” Grammy® Award-winning producer, songwriter, and rapper, Jermaine Dupri, and New Orleans-based rapper and founder of Jet Life Recordings, Curren$y, announced their upcoming concert at The Eastern in Atlanta, GA on April 7th in support of their EP For Motivational Use Only. Doors open at 7:30 PM ET, and the show begins at 8:30 PM ET. 

Jermaine Dupri and Curren$y are also gearing up for the release of “Never Fall Off,” featuring Grammy® Award-winning rapper, T.I., on Friday, March 31st. From the Block recently debuted a live performance of Jermaine Dupri and Curren$y’s song “Never Enough”. 

Also, Essence Magazine and Billboard announced that Jermaine Dupri will be celebrating hip-hop’s 50th and So So Def’s 30th anniversaries with a star-studded performance at this year’s Essence Festival. 

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Hit-Boy Is Much More Than A Producer On “Surf Or Drown”

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Hit-Boy produced for some of the best rappers alive but now, he’s rhyming alongside them on his new album, Surf or Drown. The Fontana, CA-based artist came through with bars for his latest studio album, which arrived in the wee hours of the morning. The project consists of 11 songs in total. Hit-Boy raps alongside Nas, Dom Kennedy, Jay 305, The Alchemist (who’s also rapping), Curren$y, Devin Morrison, and plenty of others. However, Hit-Boy also added on another 10 songs of instrumentals.

In the past few months, Hit-Boy upped the ante as a rapper with several records. With singles like “Tony Fontana” with Curren$y and “2 Certified” ft. Avelino, Hit-Boy ramped up the anticipation for the project. However, it wasn’t until his feud with Hitmaka that the rollout became more evident. Hit-Boy delivered the single, “Slipping Into Darkness” with The Alchemist, where he took shots at Hitmaka, Metro Boomin, Southside, and Mustard, claiming that they can’t see him on a production level.

Hit-Boy Latest Album Comes On The Heels Of “King’s Disease”

The release of Hit-Boy’s new album arrives after the success of the King’s Disease series with Nas. Last year, Nas and Hit-Boy dropped off the third installment in the series – less than a year after dropping Magic. King’s Disease proved to be a fruitful collaboration between the Queensbridge legend and the “SICKO MODE” producer, which aided both of their careers. Nas earned his first Grammy, thanks to Hit-Boy, while the producer showcased the breadth of his talents behind the boards.

In addition to his new album, Hit-Boy has a few collaborative efforts in the works, including new music with Benny The Butcher. On top of that, word is that he’s working on King’s Disease 4 with Nas, which reportedly includes a feature from 50 Cent. Additionally, Belly hinted that he’ll be working closely with Hit-Boy on new music. Hopefully, we’ll get to hear that sooner than later. For now, check out Hit-Boy’s new Surf Or Drown album and sound off with your thoughts in the comments. 

“Surf Or Drown” Tracklist

  1. ​​“Big Hit Intro”
  2. “The Tide” feat. Nas
  3. “State Champ” feat. Dom Kennedy and Jay 305
  4. “Corsa” feat. Dom Kennedy
  5. “Tony Fontana III” feat. Curren$y
  6. “Just Ask” feat. Spank Nitti James
  7. “Nu.Wav” feat. Devin Morrison
  8. “Slipping Into Darkness” feat. Alchemist
  9. “2 Certified” feat. Avelino
  10. “MTR” feat. James Fauntleroy
  11. “Composure Pt. 2”

Curren$y & Jermaine Dupri Set Release Date For “For Motivational Use Only”

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Curren$y and Jermaine Dupri are the duo we never knew we needed. Over the past two years, the Southern titans have hinted at a joint project. However, they began to provide fans with a bit of insight into what they cooked up last week. The two rappers delivered a spectacular performance on “From The Block” where they debuted “Never Enough.” Then, they offloaded their first official single from the project, “Essence Fest” on Friday. The single serves as an ode to NOLA and the regional sound of bounce that emerged from it.

Both singles provided fans with some insight into what to expect, though fans won’t be waiting much longer for their full-length LP. This morning, Curren$y and Jermaine Dupri appeared on Twitter Spaces with Elliott Wilson where they confirmed a release date for their upcoming project, For Motivational Use Only. “Since everybody’s been asking when the album coming out… 404,” JD confirmed. “The date of this album is on 4/04. That’s Spitta’s birthday.” Curren$y added, “That’s 404 day for Atlanta and my birthday for the whole muthafuckin’ world.”

Curren$y & Jermaine Dupri Plot On Part 2

Spitta and Jermaine Dupri already confirmed that they have almost 40 songs loaded for the upcoming trilogy. However, it seems like we won’t be waiting long for the second installment of For Motivational Use Only. In correspondence of 504 day in New Orleans, JD suggested the follow-up could arrive a month later. “He just talked to me about dropping another record on 5/04,” JD said. “Yeah, so we dropping on muthafuckin’ Atlanta day, 4/04. Even though that’s my birthday, I want my damn area code to have some music,” Curren$y added.

With a trilogy in the works, Curren$y, who released a tribute song to Jermaine Dupri in the past, explained that they want to bring music that will speak directly to the go-getters. “You’re going to be pushed to get money, to count that money, invest that money wisely, and then once you flipped it once or two times, then maybe get yourself a little something and then continue and rinse and repeat. That’s what it’s about,” Spitta told Vibe. Check out the announcement above.

Jermaine Dupri and Curren$y Team for New Single “Essence Fest”

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Jermaine Dupri and Curren$y Team for New Single "Essence Fest"

Jermaine Dupri and Curren$y are preparing to release their highly anticipated EP For Motivational Use Only. Ahead of the EP, the two drop the single “Essence Fest,” available today.

The new single is produced by Dupri, introducing strong 808s at the top of the beat, allowing Spitta to join in with his signature flow.

“‘Essence Fest’ was birthed by the Falcons vs Saints rivalry and the fact that people from Atlanta love New Orleans; we all go there for the Essence Fest and a host of other things. People from New Orleans also love Atlanta, so I was looking for this song or trying to find something that connected the two states, musically. That’s how the title came about,” says Jermaine Dupri.

For Motivational Use Only has not yet been given a release date. The EP will be the first of three projects that Dupri will produce. It will have a Southern tone that can compete sonically and lyrically with the best hip-hop right now. The Grammy® Award-winning producer describes For Motivational Use Only as a new rap era that plunges listeners into the trap house.

“For Motivational Use Only is a new era of rap that takes you straight into the trap house,” Dupri added.

Dupri and Curren$y will host a concert in Atlanta on Friday, April 7th at The Eastern at 7:30 PM ET. You can grab tickets here and hear the new single below.

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Jermaine Dupri And Curren$y Join SXM/Pandora For Playback Series In Atlanta

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On Thursday, February 23rd, Sirius XM and Pandora Music brought back their famous playback series at their new office in Atlanta, Georgia. The event highlighted a conversation with Jermaine Dupri and Curren$y, moderated by Torae. 

Dupri discussed his life and musical legacy. He opened up on the significance of tracks “Welcome To Atlanta”, “Jump”, “Money Ain’t A Thing”, “Pressure” by Ari Lennox, and “I Think They Like Me”. The conversation revealed that Dupri and Curren$y are working on a project together. 

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It was a large event with over one hundred eighty people in attendance from media personalities, college students, and influencers. DJ Suga Shae provided the 1s and 2s for the large crowd. Congresswoman Nikema Williams from Georgia’s 5th district addressed the crowd at the start of the event. The event was produced by the Vice President of SXM/Pandora Music Programming, Josh “J1” Raiford.

At the end of the event J1 presented Jermaine Dupri w/ a Hip Hop 50th Anniversary Trailblazer Award on behalf of SXM/Pandora

Hip Hop Nation’s Torae, said “Celebrating thirty years of So So Def in Atlanta with Jermaine Dupri was really an amazing experience. His track record and list of hits are legendary. Curren$y being there and being excited about the music they’re about to drop together is a testament to JD’s longevity. I was honored to have moderated such a monumental moment. Shout out to J1 and the entire SXM Pandora team for putting together this historic Playback event.”  

PHOTOS: Getty/ Prince Williams

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ALLBLACK Taps Curren$y For New Song, “Pelicans”

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ALLBLACK is a household name within the diverse Bay Area hip-hop scene. Hailing from Oakland, the “Blitz” rapper combines his city’s bounce with a low-key delivery to create a unique sound.

On his newest release, he links up with New Orleans native Curren$y for the pair’s first official collaboration together, “Pelicans.” Arriving on streaming services on Friday (January 13), the new song also comes with a music video.

The 30-year-old kicks off the track with a bang. After letting the booming 808s and claps settle in, he gets right to storytelling in his calm delivery and evident confidence on the mic. “Like Ashanti, I’m so foolish / Ridin’ with this dirty glock, I pray that I don’t use it / N*ggas wanna take my life, I guess they gon’ have to go lootin’ / N*ggas thinkin’ they f*ckin’ wit me, they gon’ have to prove it,” he raps in the first verse.

Curren$y effortlessly follows suit, matching his energy in an organic way. “New Orleans to The Bay love, it always been that way / I been connected, it’s a blessin’ / Some rappers can’t go kick it nowhere, that sh*t’s stressful,” Spitta raps in his subsequent verse.

For the first time since 2017, ALLBLACK didn’t release a project last year. In 2021 though, he dropped his stacked debut album, TY4FWM. Featuring a wide variety of artists including E-40, Peezy, Drakeo the Ruler and more, the 14 tracks evidently showcase his impact on the California sound.

On the other hand, Curren$y is continuing his streak as one of the most consistent rappers in the game. Last year, he dropped three full-length projects, as well as a deluxe version to one of them, Spring Clean 2.

Make sure to stream ALLBLACK and Curren$y’s “Pelicans” on either Spotify or SoundCloud down below. Comment your thoughts afterwards. Finally, stay tuned to HNHH for all of the newest updates and releases.

Quotable Lyrics:

Took a photo with a fan and she looked me in my eyes
She said my friends wanna know, how come you don’t believe in God?
If you rock, I’m gon’ roll, Mike Amiri make my clothes
With serial killers, demons, jackers and CEOs

[WATCH] Curren$y Brings Five Fan Favorites to NPR’s Tiny Desk

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Curren$y plays five songs on NPR’s Tiny Desk, combining three of his passions: automobiles, cannabis, and music. Curren$y plays fan favorites like “Sixty-Seven Turbo Jet,” “Address,” “Breakfast,” “Airborne Aquarium,” and “Mary” over the instrumentals of a live band against the backdrop of a 1965 Chevy Impala.

You can see the entire performance below.

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