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Westside Gunn Delivers New Album ‘And Then You Pray For Me’

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Westside Gunn Delivers New Album 'And Then You Pray For Me'

Westside Gunn has unveiled his much-anticipated album, And Then You Pray For Me, available through EMPIRE/ Griselda Records.

This exceptional album features an impressive lineup of legendary contributors, including RZA, Rick Ross, Jeezy, Conway The Machine, Benny The Butcher, J.I.D., DJ Drama, Giggs, Ty Dolla $ign, Denzel Curry, Stove God Cooks, Tay Keith, Boldy James, EST Gee, Rome Streetz, Daringer, Conductor Williams, Beat Butcha, and more.

In a heartfelt tribute to the late Virgil Abloh, Westside Gunn’s close friend, the renowned Off-White creative designed the artwork for And Then You Pray For Me. Abloh’s innovative and boundary-pushing designs also graced the cover of Westside Gunn’s “Pray For Paris.” This collaboration underscores their enduring friendship and creative synergy.

“I have Virgil Abloh doing my artwork and who left on earth can say that,” Westside Gunn says.  “I cannot disrespect his legacy, he’s immortal and I feel this is his way of blessing me; even though he’s not here in the physical.” 

For And Then You Pray For Me Westside Gunn adopted a unique approach by recording most of the album overseas, immersing himself in inspiring environments in Paris, Athens, London, and Denmark. This international journey allowed him to focus on his music, nurture his creativity, enhance his fashion design skills, and prioritize his mental well-being. By disconnecting from social media’s negative energy, Westside Gunn crafted a deeply personal and authentic album that resonates with listeners.

“I’ve been living a healthy, sucka-free life, and it’s given me a new energy,” Gunn details.  “I feel better than I ever have; stronger and smarter.  I’m the best curator in the game right now and that’s said by the who’s who—not me.  GOD is the greatest.  I love ya’ll.” 

You can hear the album below.

The post Westside Gunn Delivers New Album ‘And Then You Pray For Me’ first appeared on The Source.

The post Westside Gunn Delivers New Album ‘And Then You Pray For Me’ appeared first on The Source.

Tommy Davidson Recalls a ‘Run-in’ with Will Smith After a Kiss with Jada Pinkett-Smith While Filming ‘Woo’

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Tommy Davidson Recalls a 'Run-in' with Will Smith After Slipping a Kiss on Jada Pinkett-Smith While Filming 'Woo'

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith are back dominating headlines. Just this week alone, we have found out they are separated, Chris Rock tried to date Jada, and she thought the Oscars slap was a skit. Now, enter another comedian, Tommy Davidson.

Speaking on the Club Shay Shay podcast, Davidson revealed he had a “run-in” with Will Smith after he kissed Jada Pinkett Smith while filming Woo. Davidson stated he did not discuss the kiss ahead of time.

“Me and Will had a run-in,” Davidson said. “He came into the trailer and I was sitting down. He’s standing over me and he’s like, ‘I don’t appreciate that, man. I don’t appreciate that.’ And I’m like, ‘What you talking about?’ I always know to play it off.”

He added, “Finally I just said, ‘This is a small place and people are here. We should talk about it, me and you outside because it looks like you need to get something off your chest.’ And Jada was like, ‘Oh nah nah, y’all.’ I was like, ‘What you mean nah y’all? Tell him!’ And that was the end of that.”

Davidson said he found out the reason behind the encounter when writing his book. During the process, he had to get details signed off, reaching out to Will Smith’s best friend, and uncovering the reason. Davidson says he was misled by film executives that Pinkett-Smith was ready for the kiss but actually was uncomfortable.

You can hear it all from Tommy Davidson below.

The post Tommy Davidson Recalls a ‘Run-in’ with Will Smith After a Kiss with Jada Pinkett-Smith While Filming ‘Woo’ first appeared on The Source.

The post Tommy Davidson Recalls a ‘Run-in’ with Will Smith After a Kiss with Jada Pinkett-Smith While Filming ‘Woo’ appeared first on The Source.

Fat Joe Cosigns 50 Cent’s ‘Get Rich or Die Tryin’ As One of the Greatest Rap Albums Ever

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Fat Joe

Fat Joe and 50 Cent once had beef, but that’s past both of them now. Fat Joe even shows his former foe love, naming the Get Rich or Die Tryin album as one of the greatest ever.

“And it’s crazy ’cause I had beef with him and I wouldn’t allow myself to hear it, wouldn’t let DJs play it,” Fat Joe said in an episode of Diggin’ in the crates for BET. “But I knew that it was G-Unit. Recently J. Cole came out at his concert and said it was the greatest album of all time. Nas came out and said, ‘Yo this changed the game.’ And it’s a fact.”

You can hear all of Joe’s reasoning below.

EMMY® and GRAMMY® award-winning artist Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson concluded his exhilarating Final Lap Tour with back-to-back sold-out shows at Barclays Center, leaving fans in awe.

The first night featured surprise performances that set the stage ablaze, including J. Cole, Jadakiss, DaBaby, Flo-Rida, and more. J. Cole’s dynamic collaboration with 50 Cent on “No Role Modelz” was a highlight, with J. Cole dubbing “Get Rich or Die Tryin’” the greatest album ever. Busta Rhymes and Jeremih also graced the stage, while Slick Rick and Baby Cham made memorable appearances.

Thursday’s show brought even more surprises, featuring Fat Joe, Bobby Shmurda, Young M.A., Phresher, and Sleepy Hallow. Fat Joe’s energetic rendition of “Lean Back” alongside 50 Cent was a crowd-pleaser, followed by a solo performance of “All The Way Up.” Notable guests, including T.I., Lala Anthony, and Kash Doll were also in attendance.

With an already staggering 900,000 tickets sold worldwide, the Final Lap Tour’s monumental 94-date journey continues across North America this summer before venturing overseas. For those eager to witness this historic tour, visit 50Cent.com for the remaining tickets and tour dates.

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The post Fat Joe Cosigns 50 Cent’s ‘Get Rich or Die Tryin’ As One of the Greatest Rap Albums Ever first appeared on The Source.

The post Fat Joe Cosigns 50 Cent’s ‘Get Rich or Die Tryin’ As One of the Greatest Rap Albums Ever appeared first on The Source.

Usher Returns to Top 10 of Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart for First Time in Seven Years

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Usher Returns to Top 10 of Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart

Usher is back in the spotlight, securing a top 10 position on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for the first time in seven years with his hit “Good Good,” featuring Summer Walker and 21 Savage.

According to Billboard, in the most recent tracking week (Sept. 29 – Oct. 5), “Good Good” saw 5.4 million official U.S. streams, marking a 1% increase from the previous week. The song also recorded 2,000 sales downloads, a notable 45% surge, propelling it to a new peak at No. 3 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart. Furthermore, “Good Good” garnered 38.7 million total audience impressions in radio airplay, reflecting a significant 9% improvement from the previous frame.

“Good Good” retains its position at No. 1 on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart for a second consecutive week, solidifying its status as the most-played song on U.S. monitored R&B/hip-hop radio stations, even with a minor 2% drop in plays.

Usher is getting ready to close an epic 2023 and get ready for a more grand 2024. With plans for the Super Bowl underway, Usher’s catalog is receiving a big boost.

According to Billboard, Usher’s music is rising in streams, with increases headed into the millions. Between Sunday’s announcement and Monday, Usher saw a 16% increase. His staple “Yeah!” also got 962,000 streams, while “My Boo” moved 527,000 streams. On Tidal, “You Make Me Wanna…” had a 55% jump.

With a Super Bowl performance on the way and an album loaded, Usher‘s 2024 is about to get crazy. The next announcement is reportedly a world tour.

According to Billboard, Usher is scheming on a global tour, his first in a decade. Usher’s team is reportedly working to secure locations worldwide to bring his live show.

The full report is below.

Usher recently enjoyed a playful moment with Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union as he took his residency globally for a stay in France. His current set of dates is as the La Seine Musicale in Boulogne-Billancourt, France, and the power couple was in attendance.

As Usher reaches the point of his set where he serenades a woman, he approaches Union to sing but then hits a pause. “This is Dwyane Wade, I ain’t crazy! That man will knock my whole head off and then dunk it.”

The two laugh it off before Usher says, “So happy to see you.”

Meanwhile, Usher is killing the Super Bowl promo.

The post Usher Returns to Top 10 of Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart for First Time in Seven Years first appeared on The Source.

The post Usher Returns to Top 10 of Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart for First Time in Seven Years appeared first on The Source.

Flavor Flav is the Ultimate Swiftie at Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras’ Film Premiere

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Who knew Flavor Flav was a huge Taylor Swift fan. Flav hit the The Grove in Los Angeles for the premiere of the Eras tour film. During his time at the event, Falv mingled with Swift's family and exchanged the frendship bracelets that have become a practice at Swiftie events.

Who knew Flavor Flav was a huge Taylor Swift fan? Flav hit The Grove in Los Angeles for the premiere of the Eras tour film. During his time at the event, Falv mingled with Swift’s family and exchanged friendship bracelets that have become a practice at Swiftie events.

The Eras premiere also saw the two biggest stars on the planet, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, hanging out. Making for a cute moment, the two sat in the first row at a movie theater and posed for a picture. Beyoncé would playfully toss popcorn to the camera.

“I’m so glad I’ll never know what my life would’ve been like without Beyoncé’s influence,” Swfit wrote on Instagram. “The way she’s taught me and every artist out here to break rules and defy industry norms. Her generosity of spirit. Her resilience and versatility. She’s been a guiding light throughout my career and the fact that she showed up tonight was like an actual fairytale.

The post Flavor Flav is the Ultimate Swiftie at Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras’ Film Premiere first appeared on The Source.

The post Flavor Flav is the Ultimate Swiftie at Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras’ Film Premiere appeared first on The Source.

Latto Blasts Tweet Calling Her an Industry Plant: ‘I Worked VERY Long & Hard to be Here’

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latto

Latto is not here for anyone who is trying to dim her light. Hitting X, Latto clapped back at a fan who called her an industry plant.

“I been doing this since a kid & I get real love/respect from the greats for that..” Latto wrote. “I came up before social media I handed out mixtapes, did open mics & talent shows, etc I when y’all say this.. I worked VERY long & hard to be here.”

You can see it from Latto below.

Latto notched her first No. 1 on the Hot 100 this past summer. Latto‘s new collaboration with Jung Kook, “Seven,” lands at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, making her the first rapper to get to that position in 2023.

Latto celebrated the achievement on her Instagram story: “Oop am I a bora girl now? 🙈 Forever grateful!! Thanks JK for trusting me! Armypots up +10000.”

Jung Kook is a K-pop star and a member of the group BTS. The single is believed to be the first from his forthcoming album.

The post Latto Blasts Tweet Calling Her an Industry Plant: ‘I Worked VERY Long & Hard to be Here’ first appeared on The Source.

The post Latto Blasts Tweet Calling Her an Industry Plant: ‘I Worked VERY Long & Hard to be Here’ appeared first on The Source.

Offset on Being Threatened by Nicki Minaj’s Husband: ‘All That S–t is a Joke’

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Offset on Being Threatened by Nicki Minaj's Husband

Offset pulled up to The Breakfast Club to talk about his album, but Charlamagne Tha God and DJ Envy asked him about getting threatened by Nicki Minaj’s husband Kenneth Petty.

“Man, please,” Offset said. “I’ll never do no lame ass shit like that. All that shit is a joke. I don’t even want to bring it up. I laugh at shit like that. I got real money, I handle real business. I’m on my way to Coach Prime on a jet. I’m 30 years old. I’m grown as hell. You know how long it took me to get away from that? That bullshit online. Anything in that manner, I just blow it off.”

Offset stated in the past, some of his decisions have cost him money, and he believes that it is a trap for him to crash out.

Beef and shots between Cardi B and Nicki Minaj are normal. Both of their husbands getting into it is a new wrinkle. Last month, Kenneth Petty threatened Offset on social media. Unfortunately for him, that threat has led to legal trouble.

According to famed court reporter Meghann Cuniff, Petty has been ordered to 120 days of house arrest by a federal judge in Los Angeles for his threats.

“Mr. Petty was recorded on video making threatening remarks towards a specific individual while in the company of someone with a criminal record,” the order reads. “This recent violation conduct raises concerns over Mr. Petty’s willingness to comply with the Court’s orders.”

The post Offset on Being Threatened by Nicki Minaj’s Husband: ‘All That S–t is a Joke’ first appeared on The Source.

The post Offset on Being Threatened by Nicki Minaj’s Husband: ‘All That S–t is a Joke’ appeared first on The Source.

Taylor Swift Praises Beyoncé at ‘ERAs’ Film Premiere: ‘She’s Been a Guiding Light Throughout My Career’

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Beyoncé Joins Taylor Swift for Premiere of 'The ERAs Tour' Film

The two biggest stars on the planet, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, linked up at the premiere of Swift’s new concert film, The Eras Tour film. Making for a cute moment, the two sat first row at a movie theater and posed for a picture. Beyoncé would playfully toss popcorn to the camera.

“I’m so glad I’ll never know what my life would’ve been like without Beyoncé’s influence,” Swfit wrote on Instagram. “The way she’s taught me and every artist out here to break rules and defy industry norms. Her generosity of spirit. Her resilience and versatility. She’s been a guiding light throughout my career and the fact that she showed up tonight was like an actual fairytale.

Early figures for Beyoncé’s forthcoming film, Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, have brought back a large first-day number. According to Deadline, The presale estimate for the first 24 hours is between $6-$7 million. The film will come after Thanksgiving and currently has a selling price of at least $22. A total presale opening for Beyoncé is projected for $20 million.

On Sunday, Beyoncé released a trailer for her upcoming movie, chronicling her groundbreaking Renaissance World Tour. The trailer is a visual feast, showcasing Beyoncé’s incredible artistry, stage presence, and creative vision.

The trailer opens with a montage of stunning shots from the tour, including Beyoncé performing on stage, interacting with her fans, and behind-the-scenes footage of her rehearsals and creative process. We also get a glimpse of the exclusive visuals from Beyoncé’s Renaissance album that will be featured in the movie.

The trailer also includes a brief interview with Beyoncé, in which she talks about the importance of the tour to her and her fans. “This tour was a celebration of our resilience and our ability to overcome any obstacle,” she says. “I wanted to create a show that would inspire and uplift people, and I think we achieved that.“

The trailer ends with the message: “Coming to theaters December 1, 2023.

The post Taylor Swift Praises Beyoncé at ‘ERAs’ Film Premiere: ‘She’s Been a Guiding Light Throughout My Career’ first appeared on The Source.

The post Taylor Swift Praises Beyoncé at ‘ERAs’ Film Premiere: ‘She’s Been a Guiding Light Throughout My Career’ appeared first on The Source.

Rudolph Isley, Founding Member of The Isley Brothers, Dead at 84

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Rudolph Isley, Founding Member of The Isley Brothers, Dead at 84

Rudolph Isley, one of the Isley Brothers’ founding members, died at the age of 84.

According to TMZ, Rudolph Isley died in the state of Illinois and is believed to have suffered from a heart attack.

Rudolph Isley and his brothers O’Kelly, Ronald, and Vernon established The Isley Brothers at the beginning of the 1950s. Initially, the group, which had its roots in gospel music, subsequently switched to the rhythm and blues style and enjoyed significant financial success and critical acclaim. Rudolph’s combined contributions to the group—as a vocalist and a percussionist—significantly influenced the distinctive musical identity of The Isley Brothers.

The Isley Brothers released several number-one singles throughout their career, including timeless standards like “Twist and Shout,” “Shout,” “It’s Your Thing,” and “Between the Sheets.” The distinctive musical style of the group was greatly influenced by Rudolph’s melodic voice and musical talent.

The impact of Rudolph Isley’s efforts on the music business is immeasurable. As a crucial part of one of the most recognizable acts in the genre, he continues to be honored and recognized for his significant contribution to influencing the sound of soul and R&B music.

The post Rudolph Isley, Founding Member of The Isley Brothers, Dead at 84 first appeared on The Source.

The post Rudolph Isley, Founding Member of The Isley Brothers, Dead at 84 appeared first on The Source.

Ice Spice Tells Fans She’s Dating Somebody, But Won’t Say Who

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Ice Spice is having an incredible breakout 2023. Her meteoric rise to fame has resulted in 4 top 10 hits in 2023 alone and some major collaborations with the likes of Nicki Minaj and Taylor Swift. She has a new song with Nigerian singer Rema dropping tonight and she will take the stage on Saturday Night Live this weekend. That means various publications have taken the opportunity to sit down with the rapper and figure out what she’s all about.

The most recent was the Los Angeles Times. which did a feature on the rapper packed full of new information about her life and work. But it was one detail that everyone honed in on pretty much immediately. In the piece, Ice Spice reveals that she’s actually dating someone, which came as news to even her most die-hard fans. But they missed out on the big reveal as Spice declined to comment on who exactly it is that she’s dating. She says she’s keeping it a secret “to keep their focus on what I’m here for, which is music.” Check out the full story below.

Read More: Ice Spice’s Booty Nearly Taken Out By Pyro While Twerking In Australia: Watch

Ice Spice Staying Quiet About Who She’s Dating

In another recent interview with Variety, Ice Spice arguably gave up even more information on her personal life. She updated fans on where she stands with The 1975 singer Matty Healy, who was part of an insulting podcast bit earlier this year about her. After he apologized to her in person the two are reportedly good now.

In the clip, she also refuted the allegations of being an industry plant. While she admitted that they bothered her at first, she’s now over it. She also explained that other female rappers can be hard to confide in as they act very differently behind the scenes than they do in public. What do you think of Ice Spice refusing to reveal who the person she’s dating is? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards’ Best Breakthrough Artist Prize Goes To Ice Spice

[Via]

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