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Kendrick Lamar Bashes OVO Piñata In First Look At “Not Like Us” Video

July 4, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Drake better gear up. “Not Like Us” already topped the Billboard Hot 100. It already went viral and spawned a dozen viral videos. It also served as the theme song for Kendrick Lamar’s iconic “Pop Out” show on Juneteenth. Now, the music video is incoming. Lamar has yet to give fans a proper release date, but he has dropped off some teaser images. They are, unsurprisingly, perfect. They set just the right tone for the song, while at the same time mocking Drake in new and unexpected ways.

The most focused bit of mockery comes in the form of an OVO piñata. One of the four teaser photos that dropped sees Kendrick Lamar bashing a piñata shaped like Drake’s signature owl logo. There’s not a lot of subtly in the photo, but it’s definitely effective. In case the point of the photo was lost, it comes with a disclaimer at the bottom. The disclaimer reads, quite dryly: “No OVOH*es were harmed in the making of this video.” It’s not hard to imagine all of the memes and gifs that are going to be made from the “Not Like Us” video once it drops.

Kendrick Lamar Reunites Black Hippy In The Music Video

The other photos also provide intriguing insight into the music video. Kendrick Lamar’s fiancee, Whitney Alford, appears alongside the rapper and their children. Lamar also calls on the entire TDE roster to show support. Jay Rock, ScHoolboy Q, Ab-Soul are flanking their Black Hippy brethren. There are also cameos by Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith and Punch, proving that their relationship with Lamar is still strong. Other images are a bit more abstract, and will likely make more sense in the context of the music video. This is especially notable in the photo of Lamar sitting in a white room, surrounded by people with face paint on.

The body blows just keep coming for Drake. Not only has the Toronto rapper has to sit by and watch Dot take a victory lap, but his recent releases have faltered commercially. Much was made of Drake’s collabs with Camila Cabello, but they debuted to meager numbers on the Billboard charts. “Hot Uptown,” the big single from Cabello’s new album, debuted at number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100. For an artist like Drake, who holds multiple chart records, this is bad. “Not Like Us,” meanwhile, is still holding down the number three spot.

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Kendrick Lamar’s Fiancée Whitney Alford Will Appear In “Not Like Us” Video

July 3, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Kendrick Lamar is really building up the anticipation. The rapper played “Not Like Us” five times during his “Pop Out” show on Juneteenth. He followed that staggering performance with a music video shoot in Compton. An official release date for the “Not Like Us” video has not yet been announced. That said, the rapper has blessed us with teaser photos from the anticipated video. Some of them are predictable, like the crowd shots of Compton citizens. Others, however, are a bit more surprising.

One of the most striking photos released in relation to the video is Kendrick Lamar and his family. The rapper can be seen posing alongside his fiancee, Whitney Alford, and their two children. All four of them are staring into the camera. It’s a pose that evokes the artwork for To Pimp a Butterfly or the collector’s edition of DAMN, given the stark, black-and-white color scheme. Those who have been following the K. Dot and Drake beef, however, know that Alford’s presence is huge. Drake accused Lamar of abusing his fiancee and being estranged from his family on “Family Matters.” He also alleged that Lamar’s son was actually fathered by his manager, Dave Free.

Kendrick Lamar’s Kids Also Appear In The Teaser Photos

Whitney Alford has not commented on these accusations. She has, however, shown support for Kendrick Lamar since the beef “ended.” Alford attended the aforementioned “Pop Out” show. She was spotted in the audience alongside her two children. She also, famously, provided narration for Lamar on the 2022 double album, Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers. The rapper delved into his various failings as a partner on the album, especially when it came to infidelities. Alford and Lamar have not aired out their current situation via social media, so it’s unclear what their current dynamic is.

Alford’s presence, however, does step on what Drake was trying to achieve with his diss tracks. The 6 God clearly wanted to paint a picture of Kendrick Lamar as being a bad partner and father. The fact that his entire family is on hand, and appearing in the “Not Like Us” music video, though, takes the wind out of whatever was left in the “Family Matters” sails. Behind-the-scenes footage from the video shoot also suggests that Lamar called on his former TDE label mates to make cameos. He’s bringing everybody to this party, it seems.

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Kendrick Lamar Smacks An Owl Piñata In A New Photo Teasing His ‘Not Like Us’ Video

July 3, 2024 by newhiphopnews

kendrick lamar The Pop Out ‚Äì Ken & Friends Presented by pgLang and Free Lunch — Getty Image

Kendrick Lamar’s Juneteenth concert The Pop Out — Ken & Friends was epic for several reasons, but the universally agreed upon highlight was Lamar’s decision to end his 23-song set by performing “Not Like Us” five consecutive times (plus an instrumental version as he exited the Kia Forum stage). “Not Like Us” is one of Lamar’s Drake diss tracks from the spring and perhaps the most popular, hitting No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and infiltrating unlikely corners of society.

Last week, Lamar filmed his forthcoming “Not Like Us” video in his hometown Compton, California. The highly anticipated video does not have a firm release date, but the internet is rumbling.

On Wednesday night, July 3, photos began circulating on social media teasing Lamar’s “Not Like Us” video, including a shot of Lamar obliterating an owl piñata with the message, “DISCLAIMER: NO OVH*ES WERE HARMED DURING THE MAKING OF THIS VIDEO” — a reference to the “Not Like Us” bridge mocking Drake’s OVO. There is also a photo of Lamar posing alongside Whitney Alford, his longtime partner, and their two children.

Kendrick Lamar in the “Not Like Us” music video.

Coming soon. pic.twitter.com/HMoGWgzAAS

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) July 4, 2024

KENDRICK LAMAR

“NOT LIKE US” (MUSIC VIDEO)

COMING SOON pic.twitter.com/Jc3OXzimbY

— XXL Magazine (@XXL) July 4, 2024

It appears that Kendrick Lamar’s family will be featured in the “Not Like Us” video. pic.twitter.com/xIuOlxX8K0

— Brooklyn White-Grier (@brooklynrwhite) July 4, 2024

Earlier this week, an “Us” billboard from The Pop Out popped up in Inglewood, California, using a photo of Lamar on stage with everyone he brought together for what he called an “emotional” night.

Kendrick Lamar Pop Out billboard spotted in Inglewood: “Us” pic.twitter.com/zOIamchu4q

— Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) July 3, 2024

LL Cool J Thinks Drake Made A Bad Choice In Battling Kendrick Lamar

July 3, 2024 by newhiphopnews

LL Cool J has been on a press run lately. He dropped the single “Saturday Night Special” and made some controversial comments regarding Andre 3000’s flute playing. The most hotly-discussed topic a rapper could mention in 2024, though, is the Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar battle. LL has plenty to say on the topic during a recent interview with Hot 97’s TT Torrez. Not mind-blowing takes in terms of stance, but still a fascinating POV from someone who’s had beef in the past.

LL Cool J told Torrez that Kendrick Lamar was the definitive winner in the battle. It’s pretty uncontested among hip-hop fans, but the rapper did make a point of giving Drake his props. “Kendrick won the battle. I mean, come on,” he noted. “That’s obvious. That’s a no-brainer. And listen, I like Drake. I love his music, he’s a cool dude. We don’t know each other but I like his music. I’m happy for him and everything.” Cool J then made the comment that caught most fans’ attention. He suggested that the 6 God ultimately made a bad choice when he decided to butt heads with Dot. “Kendrick… that might have been a bad choice,” he added. “I like him but Kendrick did his thing.”

LL Cool J Still Thinks Drake Handled Himself Well

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LL Cool J, who has been recognized by many as a precursor to Drake’s R&B-leaning sound, broadened the topic. He placed both Drake and Lamar in the greater context of rap history, and claimed that both men have secured their place. “It was great for Hip Hop culture, don’t get it twisted,” LL noted. “Both of their names will be etched in history because of it.” The rapper also reminded fans how good the Drake disses were, even if they were overshadowed. “Even us just talking about it now is etching it into history,” he concluded. “Both of them are super talented, they both did great. It ain’t like Drake completely and utterly played himself.”

LL Cool J voicing passion for hip-hop as a culture could not have come at a better time. The rapper-turned-actor is currently working on a new album. His first album, actually since, 2013. The album will be produced by another genre legend, Q-Tip, and will release sometime in the fall. Interestingly, a feature on his lead single, Rick Ross, is one of the many rappers who declared war on Drake earlier this year. To be fair to LL, it’s hard to avoid rappers who haven’t beefed with Drake at this point.

The post LL Cool J Thinks Drake Made A Bad Choice In Battling Kendrick Lamar appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Druski Tried To Stop DJ From Playing “Not Like Us” At BET Awards Party

July 2, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Druski and Drake go way back. The comedian made an appearance in the music video for Drake’s 2021 smash “Laugh Now, Cry Later.” When Druski made jokes about Young Money boss Birdman in 2023, the 6 God stepped in and advised him to be careful. They appear to have each other’s back, as far as major celebrity figures go. Druski kept this streak of loyalty alive on June 30, when the comedian tried to get a DJ to stop playing a Drake diss during a BET Awards after party.

The IG footage sees Druski motion towards the DJ and give him a cut-off sign. Despite his efforts, though, Kendrick Lamar’s number one single, “Not Like Us,” continues to play. It might not have worked, but Druski was asking a DJ to stop playing Lamar in Los Angeles, so it was going to be an uphill battle. It was worth a shot, at least for him. Druski has maintained that he supports Drake throughout the K. Dot battle, but this is the first time fans have gotten to see his loyalty in action. Part of the reason Druski is indebted to the 6 God is because he game the comedian a huge look early on in his career.

Druski Was Seen Trying To Cut The After Party DJ Off

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Druski recounted the experience of meeting Drake during a 2022 interview with Billboard. He jokingly compared it to meeting the President. “I’m sitting in a room, and they’re like, ‘Drake will come and talk to you.’ People are coming in and checking on me and I’m like, ‘Alright. Where’s he at?’ He comes in with like a fleet of security,” Druski recalled. The comedian then went on a tangent about Drake’s scent. “You smell this dude before he even walks in the room,” he noted. “So I’m like, ‘What the hell is that smell? Like, the whole room has this heavenly smell to it. Cologne don’t even smell like that. I’m like, ‘What the hell? Did they spray something in this whole room?’”

Drake has given Druski his flowers in return. He hopped on Instagram Live with Druski shortly after the release of Certified Lover Boy to show off his Toronto mansion. He also joked about things going downhill after the album, despite it being certified platinum. “It’s really been downhill after the album dropped,” he quipped. “I’m not going to lie. It’s been slow motion. It’s been a bit of a downward spiral.” While these words appear more prophetic in light of recent events, the point stands: Druski and Drake are tight. It’s going to be a long summer of hearing “Not Like Us” for both of them.

[via]

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Dee-1 Refuses To Clown Rick Ross After He Was Attacked In Canada

July 2, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Dee-1 and Rick Ross are diametrically opposed. The former is a Christian rapper who preaches morality in his music. Ross, well, does the opposite. He raps about cars, money, killing, and dealing. This is what led Dee-1 to call out the MMG in 2023. He challenged the rapper to set a better example for his audience and Ross responded by mocking him. Dee-1 had a wide opening to return the mockery when Rozay got jumped in Canada, but he took the high road.

The Christian rapper hopped on X (formerly Twitter) to air out the situation. He acknowledged that him and Rick Ross have had issues in the past. He did not, however, take the bait with regards to mockery. “Rick Ross got punched in the face,” Dee-1 wrote. “Some people want me to clown him because of our history, but nah… I’m genuinely wishing the best for him.” The Christian rapper then cited the incident as something that rap fans should strive to avoid. “I know we can do better,” he added. “Hopefully this leads to growth all around. The culture is on life support.”

Dee-1 And Rick Ross Beefed Back In 2023

This is not the first time Dee-1 has taken the high road. When Rick Ross combated his initial criticisms by making fun of Dee-1’s appearance, the latter refused to fire shots back. He actually went as far as to say him and Ross should sit down and have a conversation. “I love you and I hope you can choose the route we all know is best,” Dee-1 added. “Definitely down to talk more, because the public needs to see two talented, successful, imperfect black men have tough conversations.”

Rick Ross is not into the high road as of late. The rapper has had one beef after another in 2024. He took shots at Drake, at his baby mama, Tia Kemp, and at the two of them together. When Drake and Kemp got flirty via Instagram on July 1, Rozay responded by calling Drake a “pedo” and Kemp a “granny.” The only person Ross has seemingly avoided beef with has been The Game. The Compton icon mocked Rozay on Instagram and dropped a diss track called “Freeway’s Revenge.” No dice. Ross refused to take the bait and claimed that The Game was “starving” for attention.

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Rick Ross And Drake’s Beef Spills Over Onto Instagram After A Comment From Ross’ Ex

July 2, 2024 by newhiphopnews

While Drake’s beef with Kendrick Lamar appears to have largely died down, his feud of Rick Ross has been picking up steam. Days ago, Ross got punched by some apparent Drake supporters in Canada, and now the rappers are trading blows on social media.

As HotNewHipHop notes, Drake shared a photo of himself on Instagram yesterday (July 1), sitting outside wearing a sleeveless Toronto Raptors shirt. Tia Kemp, Ross’ ex and the mother of one of his children, commented, “Drakeeeeee,” along with a starry-eyed emoji. Drake responded, “my goat.”

Ross didn’t take this lying down: He tagged Drake in a comment of his own and wrote, “pedo vs. granny.”

Earlier this month, Ross celebrated the fact that he had paid his last child support payment. Kemp didn’t like that, as she responded (as Complex notes), “Listen here, b*tch — every day I’m f*cking hustlin’. I heard you was over there talking about you the best Father’s Day gift you could have got was you sending your last child support pay payment or something. You stupid, silly motherf*cker. Who the f*ck give a f*ck about your child support payments, b*tch? And if I want some more, I’ll take my ass over to family court and get some while he going to college.”

New Drake Wax Figure Headlines Revamped Madame Tassauds New York Music Area

July 2, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Merlin Entertainments’ Madame Tussauds New York is set to redefine the immersive celebrity experience with the grand reveal of its revamped Music area, including a brand-new wax figure of Drake. This upgrade is part of a multimillion-dollar investment into the Times Square attraction, continuing its tradition of honoring iconic music stars.

Drake Figure Reveal New Music Area Madame Tussauds New York Key Lime Photography

Designed by Merlin Magic Making, the new Music area transports visitors into the heart of a New Year’s Eve concert in Times Square. The dynamic environment features a lineup of headliners spanning generations, countdown clocks, celebrity New Year’s resolutions, and confetti-strewn floors, capturing the excitement of Times Square on New Year’s Eve.

Drake, known for his influential contributions to music and pop culture, joins stars like Beyoncé, Elvis, Anitta, Dua Lipa, J Balvin, Megan Thee Stallion, and Harry Styles. His figure captures his distinctive style, featuring a khaki shearling ‘shacket’, distressed gray tee, black and khaki tie-dye jeans, white Air Force 1 sneakers, and signature silver jewelry. The pose features his iconic owl hand sign, paying homage to his OVO brand.

Dua Lipa New Music Area Madame Tussauds New York Key Lime Photography

Harry Styles New Music Area Madame Tussauds New York Key Lime Photography

Beyonce New Music Area Madame Tussauds New York Key Lime Photography

Visitors can also enjoy the new Behind-The-Scenes tour, exclusive to Madame Tussauds New York. This tour offers unique insights into wax artistry, from initial measurements to the intricate details of hair and makeup. For more information, visit Madame Tussauds New York.

The post New Drake Wax Figure Headlines Revamped Madame Tassauds New York Music Area first appeared on The Source.

The post New Drake Wax Figure Headlines Revamped Madame Tassauds New York Music Area appeared first on The Source.

Drake Celebrates Canada Day By Smoking Hookah With Kevin Durant

July 2, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Drake’s approval rating is not high at the moment. The rapper lost to Kendrick Lamar, and several other rappers have taken Lamar’s side. Drake has also seemingly lost the support of several athletes that he was believed to be cool with. That being said, one athlete who the 6 God has seemingly maintained a relationship with is Kevin Durant. The two celebrities go way back, and they kicked back at Drake’s Toronto mansion on July 1 to celebrate Canada Day.

Drake was pretty active on social media throughout the holiday. He posted a video message, as well as several photos of him smoking hookah. It wasn’t until later in the day, however, that he posted a photo of him and Kevin Durant on his Instagram Story. The two appear to be sitting in Drake’s backyard. Durant has a drink in front of him, and Drizzy has his beloved hookah. It may seem odd that Durant has Drake’s back in light of the recent, “Not Like Us”-sized L he took. But the Phoenix Suns star has always been on the rapper’s side. In the midst of the Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar battle, Durant seemingly chose the 6 God side. He posted a screenshot of the rapper’s 2021 song “No Friends In the Industry” on his IG Story.

Drake And Kevin Durant Have Been Friends For A Decade

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Their bond goes back a decade, however. Drake referenced Durant on his verse for the 2012 single “Pop That.” “OVO that’s major sh*t, Toronto with me that’s mayor sh*t,” he rapped. “Gettin cheddar packs like K.D., OKC that’s player sh*t.” He referenced him again on 2016’s “Weston Road Flows.” Durant was very humbled by the shout-outs, and gave Drake his flowers in return during a Sneaker Reporter interview. He went as far as to call the Toronto icon his favorite rapper. “When your favorite rapper puts your name in a song,” he explained. “It makes you feel like you’ve made it, no matter what you’ve done.”

Durant then went from reference point to musical role player on 2023’s For All the Dogs. The athlete was credited as an official A&R on the album. When asked what he did specifically in the studio, Durant told NBA reporters that he merely facilitated conversation. “I’m just there for him whenever Drake wants to talk about life,” he said. “And he just gave me that title.” Perhaps Durant is providing conversation and inspiration for whatever Drake will release next.

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Wack 100 Claims Drake Is Still Safe In California Despite Kendrick Battle

July 1, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Drake has been living in a “Not Like Us” world. The rapper has been drowned up by Kendrick Lamar’s number one diss record. Especially in California. Lamar’s “Pop Out” show solidified him as the king of the West Coast, and even alluded to Drake’s “California love” running out on the aforementioned song. “You think the Bay gon’ let you disrespect ‘Pac, n**ga” he spit. “That Oakland show might be your last stop, n**ga.” According to Wack 100, however, the truth is less severe.

The music executive recently went on DJ Akademiks’ live stream to discuss Drake’s California status. He told Ak that there’s a man named Wacko in Compton called for a ceasefire during the rap beef. “[He’s] a very influential dude,” Wack 100 claimed. “Impeccable track record. He’s the one that called the dog, to where [there was] no more diss records.” The executive also made note of the fact that Wacko was in the now iconic photo that Lamar took onstage during the “Pop Out” show. Wack 100 went on to explain that Wacko’s reputation allowed him to exert control over Lamar’s camp, and ensure that things go too far in the Drake conflict.

Wack 100 Says L.A. Veterans Ensured Drake’s Safety

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Wack 100 then clarified what was on Ak’s and everybody’s mind. Yes, apparently Drake is fine to move around on the West Coast. “If they respect Wacko enough to communicate with him, and Kendrick and them respect Wacko,” the executive noted. “Of course Drake can come to California and L.A. and still move around. Ain’t nobody looking to do anything to Drake.” It’s worth noting that Wack 100 has been pro-Drake, and anti-Kendrick Lamar, in the past. The executive claimed that Drake was beating Lamar after the Compton emcee dropped “Euphoria.” Wack 100 felt that Lamar’s diss lacked energy, and was repetitive given what Pusha T had said about Drake in years prior.

That being said, Wack 100 changed his tune. Lamar’s subsequent releases, coupled with the “Pop Out,” made him a believer. Wack also pointed to Lamar’s co-signs as a big reason as to why Drake’s own diss, “Family Matters,” has aged poorly. “A huge L for Drake,” he admitted. The worst part about that was YG. [Drake] name-drops him. Drake can never perform that song and mention YG’s name.” Drizzy may be spiraling, but at least he’s safe.

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