This past weekend, adidas Originals teamed up with hip-hop sensation Gunna to unveil the highly anticipated Adizero Aruku sneaker, blending music and football culture in an unforgettable event.
The festivities kicked off at the WIRELESS Festival in London, where Gunna electrified the crowd with a sensational performance. Amidst the vibrant lights of the stage, he debuted the striking new Adizero Aruku. The sneaker’s white and red silhouette captivated audiences, setting a new benchmark in sneaker design.
Following the festival, adidas hosted an exclusive after-party, transforming the energy of Gunna’s performance into an intimate celebration of Atlanta culture in the heart of London. The event seamlessly connected the world of hip-hop with the spirit of adidas.
Capping off the weekend, Gunna traveled to Berlin to witness Team Spain beat Team England in the Euro Cup Final, once again showcasing the Adizero Aruku.
Inspired by Japan’s dynamic streetwear, the Adizero Aruku represents a fusion of global influences, redefining the boundaries between athletic performance and urban fashion. As a symbol of modernity and versatility, it transcends traditional sneaker design to make a bold cultural statement.
Set to launch globally in 2025, the Adizero Aruku will be available at adidas stores and select retailers, promising to be a game-changer in the world of sneakers.
Young Thug and Gunna are not the friends they once were. It’s hard to imagine they ever will be. The former is still in the midst of a RICO charge, and the latter has walked. It’s widely assumed that Gunna snitched on Young Thug to avoid prison time. That said, the rapper has repeatedly stated that the “rat” claims are false. It hasn’t helped much. Kendrick Lamar cast Gunna in an unflattering light when he named him on “Euphoria.” Now, Young Thug’s kids are getting in the act. Admittedly, their reference to Gunna is a lot more aggressive.
Young Thug’s sons posted a snippet of an untitled diss song on Instagram. The duo can be seen dancing and showing off money stacks. It’s the bars, however, that definitely draw the most attention. The duo makes reference to multiple targets, but Gunna gets it the worst. “And Bentley a rat he keep leaving states,” one of the kids raps. “And Gunna get whacked if he don’t leave L.A.” It’s not clear whether Young Thug gave the thumbs up to these bars, but it shocked viewers enough to question his parenting in the comments. Some users claimed that Thugger will be disappointed by the diss. Others considered the legal ramifications. They worried the diss could be used against the rapper during the YSL trial.
Young Thug has had some controversial takes on parenting in the past. He lobbied to have full custody of his 12 kids during a Twitter rant in 2015. He felt that he had the means to provide for all of them, unlike the women he had the kids with. “I got a mansion with 12 empty bedrooms waiting for them,” he wrote. “I refuse to come on Cleveland Ave. That’s called backtracking. Just wanna no [why] should a peasant with no job, or future, or apartment/house/condo have custody of a rich mans child.”
Young Thug doubled down on this line of thinking during a 2022 Instagram Live. He went as far as to claim that people who are broke shouldn’t procreate. “We need new rules. We need a new oath,” the rapper asserted. “If you dead broke, if you a broke-a*s n**ga, you should not be able to n*t. You’re bringing poor kids into this world, f*ck n**ga. You’re making n**gas rob, and kill and steal because you’re running around with no type of career, no nothing.”
Les Ardentes Festival means business. The festival will employ seven stages to handle all of the star power descending upon Liège, Belgium from Thursday, July 11, to Sunday, July 14. The 2024 lineup features DJ Snake, Gunna, Offset, Doja Cat, 21 Savage, Central Cee, Don Toliver, Nicki Minaj, Yeat, and so many more.
Check out the Les Ardentes Festival set times you need to know below, and find the full schedule exclusively on the Les Ardentes Festival app.
Here Are The Les Ardentes Festival Set Times For 2024
Set times are listed in local time and subject to change.
Thursday, July 11
Destroy Lonely is set to perform from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., and the same stage (Big Eye) will host Gunna from 7:50 p.m. to 8:50 p.m. and Offset from 10:10 p.m. to 11:20 p.m. DJ Snake will close the night from 11:20 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Friday, July 12
Rosie will jumpstart the day from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sexyy Red is due to perform from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., followed by 21 Savage from 10:20 p.m. to 11:20 p.m. and Doja Cat from 11:30 p.m. to 12:45 a.m.
Saturday, July 13
Ayra Starr will perform from 4:30 p.m. to 5:20 p.m. to set the tone for Zola (6:40 p.m. to 7:40 p.m.), Don Toliver (9:10 p.m. to 10:20 p.m.), and Central Cee (11:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.) on the Phoenix stage.
Sunday, July 14
Yeat is due on Big Eye from 10:15 p.m. to 11:15 p.m., flowing right into Nicki Minaj punctuating the weekend from 11:30 p.m. to 12:45 a.m. on the Phoenix stage.
Two months ago, I tweeted: “Best year of hip-hop. EVER. #2024.” and the Internet’s feisty commentators tore me up. Pardon my excitement and wild proclamation, but I haven’t felt this good about the state of rap music since life before the pandemic. The 2020s have stunk — until now. What’s not to love today? Older rappers like Nas are showing and proving that great lyricists don’t have a retirement age. The historic, long-awaited showdown between Aubrey “Drake” Graham and Kendrick Lamar Duckworth lived up to the hype and transcended it. Plus, I’ve lost count of how much terrific content Future and Metro Boomin can cook up.
Still, everybody can’t get a trophy. It’s time to recognize the best of the best. I dare you to disagree. Ha! Spoiler alert: No Ye. No Q. No Vince Staples. No J. Cole on my albums list. You got a problem with that? Turn that frown upside down and turn the music up. Here’s the best hip-hop songs and albums of 2024, so far.
The Top 10 Hip-Hop Songs Of 2024 So Far
10. Nas & DJ Premier — “Define My Name” (Mass Appeal)
Three decades since working together on his classic debut, Illmatic, Queenbridge’s finest reconnects with Preemo for some classic Big Apple boom bap. Hopefully the promise of a future full-length project between the hall-of-fame duo comes to fruition.
9. Bossman Dlow — “Mr. Pot Scraper” (Alamo/Sony)
One of hip-hop’s most celebrated freshmen, Big Za has got plenty of digestible dope boy raps, but this one is the best. He’s a hustler, baby.
What’s better than one good Atlanta female MC? Two. Newcomer Nene gets a big assist from ATL Birthday Bash headliner, Latto. The fellas better pay attention — you don’t wanna piss these ladies off.
7. Cash Cobain — “Fisherr” Feat. Bay Swag (Giant)
Bronx-bred rapper/producer, Slizzy takes his sexy drill NY sound nationwide with this irresistibly catchy, tender ode to young love. Should you play this one multiple times? For sure.
6. 21 Savage — “Redrum” (Slaughter Gang/Epic)
Murderous material made by a mad man? Yeah, that’s a pretty good summation of Savage’s haunting anthem, which pays homage to the horror classic movie, The Shining. And I still can’t believe that’s Usher at the end, gettin’ his “Vincent Price on Thriller” on.
5. Sexyy Red — “Get It Sexxy” (Open Shift/Gamma)
It’s a rallying cry to act ratchet as Ms. “Pound Town” stomps all over producer Tay Keith’s kinetic track. Whoop! Whoop!
4. GloRilla — “Yeah Glo” (CMG/Interscope)
Suffice it to say, this self-affirmation selection slaps. Who can resist cheering along to this assertive chorus? Go, Gloria!
Before ultimately losing his intense exchange with rival Kendrick Lamar, Drizzy captivated with this sonic triumvirate of lyrical warfare. Too bad that he probably foreshadowed another K Dot Grammy triumph.
Over Metro aka hip-hop’s best producer’s best beat, Compton’s most wanted deads all comparisons to Aubrey and Jermaine and declares his dominant position. There can only be one.
1. Kendrick Lamar — “Not Like Us” (Kendrick Lamar/Interscope)
It’s a diss song and a hit song. Over DJ Mustard’s masterful canvas, King Kendrick simultaneously ends hip-hop’s greatest beef and empowers the West Coast hip-hop scene. A true victory lap.
The Top 10 Hip-Hop Albums Of 2024 So Far
10. Mach-Hommy — #RichAxxHaitian (Mach-Hommy)
Mach-Hommy
Hip-hop’s most mysterious MC delivers a musically diverse magnum opus that commands your attention from beginning to end.
9. Flo Milli — Fine Ho, Stay (‘94 Sounds/RCA)
Flo Milli
Anchored by her biggest single, “Never Lose Me,” Flo defies sophomore jinx pressure and captivates with her most compelling body of work to date.
8. Benny The Butcher — Everybody Can’t Go (5 To 50/Def Jam)
Benny The Butcher
With a co-sign from West Coast icon, Snoop Dogg, this Griselda spitter subtly takes his signature gritty raps to new heights. Growth is good.
7. Rapsody — Please Don’t Cry (We Each Other/Jamla/Roc Nation)
We Each Other/Jamia Records
You can’t handle the truth? Too bad. Marlena Evans bares her mind and soul on this sprawling but still soothing soundtrack.
6. Bossman Dlow — Mr. Beat The Road (Alamo/Sony)
Bossman Dlow
A ferocious force from Florida, Dlow delivers a riveting, raw mixtape that moves him one step closer to mainstream exposure.
5. A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie — Better Off Alone (Highbridge/Atlantic)
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie
New York’s most consistent MC of the past seven years releases his best album and you all lame out? Don’t let the low numbers fool you, The Artist is on his A-Game here.
4. Gunna — One Of Wun (YSL/300)
Gunna
Although his career remains riddled in controversy as long as Young Thug is on trial, Gunna remains musically unfazed, following his should’ve-been-Grammy-nominated 2023 album, A Gift & A Curse, with a melodic masterwork that only he could put together.
3. 21 Savage — American Dream (Slaughter Gang/Epic)
Slaughter Gang/Epic
Fresh off his successful collab album with Drake, Her Loss, Savage subtly addresses his immigration saga and delivers his most cohesive collection of music.
1. TIE: Future & Metro Boomin — We Don’t Trust You + We Still Don’t Trust You (Wilburn Holding/Boominati/Epic)
Future X Metro BoominFuture / Metro Boomin
How can I choose? Same foundational premise: “The elimination of Drake.” Ha! But the execution is pure flawless excellence on both sides. We Don’t uses Mobb Deep’s Prodigy as a muse, as the two Atlanta heavyweights set their mark in hip-hop history. The follow-up, We Still Don’t, hearkens back to 2017’s HNDRXX as Pluto proves his singing can be just as potent as his rhymes. The aftermath of these two releases still resonates, as it single-handedly led to the Kendrick-Drake showdown. Future and Metro did the impossible. Then they did it twice.
Gunna cannot seem to shake the “rat” allegations after a random man confronted him at the 2024 BET Awards. It was a short but bizarre interaction, as the One of Wun rapper was chatting with two female staff workers on the red carpet before the festivities began. The man walked up to the Atlanta native and said, “Gunna Wunna man, you can’t be in the city doin’ all that ratting and s*** (expletive). Rat a** n****”. As he walked away, one of the ladies shouted “What?!” and proceeded to go after him. However, Gunna stood still and watched as his trash talker scurried away not saying a word.
Instead, he stared daggers into him, and fans were siding with Gunna online. “Then he walked away like a coward cause he got scared of gunna”, one X user said. Another added, “Bro ran off so fast after he said it”. Unfortunately, this will most likely not be the last time the hitmaker gets pestered for his alleged actions keeping Young Thugin court during the YSL RICO case. All in all, it was an extremely corny and coward-like maneuver by the guy. Surprisingly, though, this is not the first time he has done something like this.
According to HipHopDX the dude goes by K Rich and went viral as well for his recorded interaction with Jay-Z. It was in regard to the dinner or the $500,000 questions that was running rampant online. Rich went up to Hov and said, ““I’m taking that $500,000. I ain’t taking that dinner, I’m taking that $500,000”. All Jay could do is give him a fist bump and tell him “be good, man”. As for Gunna, this might be the moment he remembers the most, and that is even with the three nominations he received at the BETs.
What are your thoughts on this man at the BET Awards calling Gunna a rat? Do you think people will ever let the rapper move past these allegations, why or why not? Are you still in this guy’s camp that the rapper did this? On a scale of 1-10 how corny was this? 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 Gunna and the 2024 BET Awards. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
But tonight (June 30), supporters from around the world were able to witness what could’ve been. Alongside her collaborators, Gunna and Skillibeng, Tyla performed her single, “Jump.” To pay homage to her South African heritage (as shown in the track’s official video), the set was filled with nods to the motherland.
There was no water to be found, but there was plenty of nature element. Surrounded by a mock safari display, Tyla’s background dancers even assumed the role of lioness trapped in a cage with NSFW body art. But even the box couldn’t hold Tyla’s slithery dance moves.
Tyla found viral success thanks to her liquid and booty jump combination seen in the official video for “Water.” But she has much more than one-legged twerking in her choreography bag. She can wine, twerk, but most importantly sing live. As the budding amapiano pop crossover princess, Tyla’s vocal ability can’t be ignored. Earlier in the evening, Tyla took home the awards for Best New Artist and Best International Act, so it certainly didn’t go unnoticed.
Watch clips Tyla’s 2024 BET Awards performance above.
Offset and Gunna continue to display scintillating chemistry on their latest collaboration, the fashion-focused “Style Rare.” In the video, which is co-directed by Offset himself with Joshua “Mid Jordan” Farias, the two designer-minded rappers trade verses in front of a wall of screens in a white room in a scene reminiscent of the “Source” from the Matrix movies. Their all-black outfits keep the Matrix parallels going, although their dance scenes are a little slicker thanks to the women doing choreo instead of a cave full of barefoot refugees fist-pumping to techno.
The two rappers first linked up in March on Gunna’s “Prada Dem” from the YSL rapper’s then-forthcoming album, One Of Wun. Gunna is apparently returning the favor with “Style Rare,” which will presumably appear on Offset’s next solo album, which will follow 2023’s Set It Off. Intriguingly, Offset is so far the only Atlanta-based rapper to have collaborated with Gunna since he was released from Fulton County Jail after pleading guilty to racketeering charges.
Perhaps Offset’s own experiences being cut off from his former group, Migos, for a year, then losing bandmate Takeoff in a shooting, has given him a bit more perspective on the situation than some of their peers. Maybe he now thinks life’s too short to worry about adhering to “street code” when their rap careers have given so much more — and taken away a lot less.
Watch Offset and Gunna’s “Style Rare” video above.
Though it doesn’t appear on his latest album One Of Wun, Gunna’s “Bittersweet” couldn’t be more representative of his current era. With somber guitar strums as the backdrop, Gunna reflects on life’s past dealings, his reluctant acceptance of it, and how it all changed his outlook on fame, optimism towards better days, ability to trust, and much more. If the Atlanta rapper’s 2023 album A Gift & A Curse was a comeback album of sorts, re-establishing Gunna as a beloved artist and granting him a song of the summer title thanks to “F*kumean,” then One Of Wun solidifies and cements the artist that emerged from the YSL RICO trial fire which changed the way many fans and collaborators viewed the rap star.
Gunna approaches the record like a winter breeze – dry, straightforward, and undeterred by the circumstances. “Got me a taste of this fame, it was sweet, now it’s bitter,” he quips on “Bittersweet” before expounding on this point with lines like “Careful with your choices ’cause you can’t make it twice” and “N****s show they hate before they do something positive.” It’s only fitting that Gunna’s now-concluded The Bittersweet Tour shares a name with the somber pre-One Of Wun single. The month-long run of shows proved that Gunna’s status as a top-level hip-hop figure was still intact despite the snitching allegations he weathered and has continued to since his winter 2022 prison release.
Gunna was supposed to celebrate these moments with the same cast of peers-turned-brothers that he was often beside from the underground days of Drip Season 2 to his breakout with Drip Season 3 to his chart-topping moments with DS4EVER. Nowadays, these names, which include Lil Baby, Young Thug, Lil Durk, Future, and others are not only nowhere to be found beside Gunna, but they’ve also seemingly taken a stance next to Young Thug and the snitching allegations lodged against Gunna. These, among other things, are where the bittersweet feelings Gunna speaks from are rooted in. Just recently, after Gunna confirmed that he is still signed to YSL Records, Young Thug, the label’s founder, seemingly responded in a tweet, writing, “whateva wham say goes.” “Wham” is a nickname for Lil Baby which led to fans resurfacing a video of Baby at a music video shoot where it appears that he dissed Gunna. “N****s taking pleas, I know that Slime ain’t happy,” Baby raps in the video. Everything changed for the Atlanta star, just as things were getting good for him. If that isn’t bittersweet, I don’t know what is.
Back against the wall and with resources thinner than usual, Gunna came back swinging with A Gift & A Curse and One Of Wun, projects that impressed and showcased his ability to stand above adversity and triumph above critics. First-time collaborations with the likes of Normani, Tyla, IDK, Leon Bridges, Victor Thompson, and Sarz replaced his work with once-frequent collaborators mentioned earlier. DS4EVER teased this, but Gunna’s work with these artists added a new layer of diversity to his artistry. His style is unique and present in enough ways to be paired with artists in different lanes. Additionally, it proved that Gunna is a sought-after artist who will not fade into the background anytime soon.
The Bittersweet Tour is proof of this, too. Though the tour is highly similar to his A Gift and A Curse 2023 one-off shows in New York and Los Angeles, respectively, bringing these performances nationwide allowed fans who stuck by Gunna to see that a new era for the rapper is in progress. Furthermore, Gunna gave attendees a slew of memorable moments to walk out with by the end of the night. There was the silky smooth pairing of “South To West” and “On One Tonight” tied together by a satisfying transition, the performances of beloved YSL collaborations like “Hot,” “Ski,” “Pushin P,” “Oh Okay,” and more, and the explosive transition between “F*kumean” and “Rodeo Dr” brought to life for everyone who loved the experience it offered on A Gift & A Curse. There was something for every Gunna fan on The Bittersweet Tour.
After a string of electric performances, Gunna ends The Bittersweet Tour performances with a period of reflection through performances of his more introspective songs. Accounts of drug addictions which led to health scares and his current healthy lifestyle are given through “Livin Wild.” Next is “Time Reveals, Be Careful What You Wish For,” a two-part track that begins as a rags-to-riches tale for Gunna, tied with the newfound realization of life’s true meaning, before winding into a cautionary tale about the perils of fame. “Who You Foolin,” a fan-favorite, follows as it disposes of Gunna’s naivety and highlights his longtime experience in the game. Finally, the night closes with Victor Thompson & Ehis ‘D’ Greatest’s “Blessings” which Gunna remixed last year. The record is anchored by a line the trio sings together: “Everything I’ve been wanting, manifesting for my life.” Gunna has everything he’s worked towards attaining for the better part of a decade, and though it was nearly taken from him, it’s overcoming these hardships that allow you carry a title like “One Of Wun.” Gunna is that, and though it’s bittersweet, it’s still good enough to relish in. A smile and a wave goodbye to fans in attendance at the The Bittersweet Tour proves that he’s doing just that.
One third of the Migos, Offset, is back with his first solo release of 2024 with “Style Rare”. This does follow up several collaborations, though, including ones with Gunna, Blxst, Killer Mike, 1999 WRITE THE FUTURE, and more. Additionally, this is the second with the first person on that list. The fellow Georgia native grabbed him for his recent album One of Wun. They both created a hit with “prada dem”, and now they are looking to find similar success on “Style Rare”.
As the title of the track suggests, this sees both rappers at their most braggadocious. From shiny jewelry, six-figure whips, and extravagant pieces, Offset and Gunna have everyone turning heads. It is a catchy track, especially with the flows and slightly funky pop rap beat courtesy of Honorable C.N.O.T.E. “Style Rare” figures to be the lead single for the rapper’s impending third solo album. Back in early November 2023, Offset told TMZ Hip Hop that a new project would be out by this February. Furthermore, the father revealed that his oldest son, Jordan, might have a production credit or two. Sadly, that did not happen it looks like fans are going to have to wait at least a few more months. For now, though, spin “Style Rare” and check out its music video and let us know what you think.
Young Gunna ’bout to drop, I’m in labor (Drop) Been puttin’ in this labor, I ain’t askin’ for favors Droppin’ me a smash, smash potatoes (Smash) F***in’ on bae, got her a** tangled (Ass tangled) No interviews, ask me later Like Takeoff, I rather be rich than famous, yes (Yes)
Today, Grammy Award-nominated multiplatinum superstar Offset joins forces with Gunna for a summer single and music video tilted “Style Rare” out now via Motown Records. Watch the co-directed music video by Offset himself and Joshua “Mid Jordan” Farias. This notably marks Offset & Gunna’s second major collaboration of 2024, following Gunna’s rapidly rising hit “prada dem” [feat. Offset]. “Style Rare” showcases Offset’s creative side outside of the music self-directing his own videos.
Their undeniable chemistry surges through “Style Rare.” Synths accent a punchy beat as Offset and Gunna trade bars back and forth and practically finish each other’s sentences. The opulent hook hits hard, “Pull up Rolls truck, I’m rocking the rose one.” In the same spirit, Offset discloses his ambitions, “I’m trying to make 200M’s.”
The accompanying visual threads together highly stylized shots of dancers with closeups of these two hip-hop titans. Given all of the luxury fits, it speaks to their impact on the culture as global style icons.
”. Unfortunately, this will most likely not be the last time the hitmaker gets pestered for his alleged actions keeping 
