Jack Harlow’s “First Class” has taken over the Billboard Hot 100. But that was with the help of TikTok, where the new single reigns supreme.
Harlow gave TikTok a sneak peek of his new track “First Class,” a calm ballad that samples Fergie’s 2007 smash “Glamorous,” a few weeks ago. In the days leading up to its formal release, the song went viral on TikTok, spawning tens of thousands of video productions, with fans urging him to drop it and making hilarious trends to the song’s dulcet piano tones. Powered by TikTok’s success, with over 440k video creations in less than three weeks, including over 50k before the official release.
Following his smash “What’s Poppin” (400k+ combined creates) and his duet with Lil Nas X, “Industry Baby” (1.6 million creates), the song is Jack’s third TikTok-powered single to reach the high echelons of the pop charts.
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.
The US Justice Department released a lengthy report stating that “Mississippi consistently violates the constitutional rights of persons detained at Parchman,” thanks to JAY-Z, Gotti, and Team Roc’s advocacy efforts.
The report includes Parchman failing to provide adequate mental health treatment to people with serious mental health needs. In addition, Parchman does not practice sufficient suicide prevention measures to protect people at risk of self-harm and subjects people to prolonged isolation in solitary confinement in egregious conditions that place their physical and mental health at substantial risk of serious harm. Parchman also fails to protect incarcerated people from the violence of others that are incarcerated.
“On behalf of Team Roc, we are pleased to see the Department of Justice recognize the horrific conditions in Mississippi’s prisons,” said Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez. “Because of the inhumane conditions, we filed lawsuits in Mississippi to help protect the men living inside the infamous Parchman prison. For years, the incarcerated population has been forced to live inside rat-infested conditions and survive with a water system contaminated with human feces all with non-existent healthcare resources available to them. Over the past three years, the death toll has been utterly devastating and we hope today’s report brings many families and their loved ones one step closer toward getting the justice they deserve. We applaud the Department of Justice for their report.”
Yo Gotti has signed Lil Poppa, a rising star from Jacksonville, to his CMG label.
The 22-year-old rapper joins Moneybagg Yo, 42 Dugg, EST Gee, Mozzy, Blocboy JB, and others on the stacked CMG roster. Gotti’s CMG label will collaborate with Interscope Records to further develop Poppa and provide the groundwork for his career.
Poppa most recently released Blessed, I Guess in 2021, which featured collaborations with Toosii and Seddy Hendrix. The Jacksonville native was previously dubbed the “First Alert” artist on SiriusXM’s Hip-Hop Nation.
Poppa’s signing is the latest proof of CMG’s rapid growth, and it demonstrates Gotti’s ability to spot talent from all across the country. At the CMG Press Conference in Los Angeles over Super Bowl weekend in February, the CMG mogul announced that he had signed Sacramento hip-hop star Mozzy.
The acquisition of Poppa to CMG caps off a successful week for the label, which saw 42 Dugg and EST Gee’s collaborative album, Last Ones Left, launch at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 charts.
On this day in Hip Hop history, Dungeon Family member Killer Mike was born in Atlanta, Georgia. From Grammy’s to politics, Killer Mike maybe one of the most slept on figures of this culture we call Hip Hop.
Killer Mike’s Hip Hop career began with a feature on OutKast‘s 2000 album Stankonia, on the track “Snappin & Trappin.” His follow up feature with OutKast on “The Whole World” won him a Grammy at the 2003 Grammy Awards for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. That same year Killer Mike released his debut studio album Monster, which peaked at #10 on the Billboard 200 chart and #4 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.
Over the next few years, Killer Mike released I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind 1 & 2 before announcing in 2008 that he was signing to T.I.‘s record label Grand Hustle Records. Not much was heard from Killer Mike musically until he teamed up with El-P in 2011 to become Run the Jewels.
Killer Mike and El-P were introduced to each other by Cartoon Network executive Jason DeMarco. Later that year, El-P produced Killer Mike’s album R.A.P. Music. In the same year Killer Mike featured on El-P’s album Cancer 4 Cure. Due to the fact the albums were released within weeks of each other, the two decided to go on tour together. The success of the tour led the two to team up under the moniker Run the Jewels. The duo has since released two self-titled albums and plan to release a third this year. Run the Jewels 2 peaked at #50 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Aside from music, Killer Mike is one politically active and conscious brother. Most recently, he has been heavily campaigning for Bernie Sanders, introducing him at speaking engagements, sitting with at interviews, and even going to his fundraisers as an honored guest. Over his career he has passionate against police brutality against people of color, systematic racism, and has fought for social equality. It is obvious in his music and when he speaks in interviews that Killer Mike is passionate about humanity and wants to get us all on track and acting like civil, equal human beings.
Killer Mike has also appeared on T.V. and in movies and is currently active as a rapper. His next solo project, Elegant Elephant, has been in the works since 2013 but there’s no word on when it will be released. Killer Mike is an icon and his image in Hip Hop is one of the more positive ones the genre has to offer. Take some time today to enjoy some of the fruits of his labor if you don’t already listen on the daily. From everyone here at The Source, happy born day, Killer Mike. May you see many more years of success.
On this day in Hip Hop history, Dungeon Family member Killer Mike was born in Atlanta, Georgia. From Grammy’s to politics, Killer Mike maybe one of the most slept on figures of this culture we call Hip Hop.
Killer Mike’s Hip Hop career began with a feature on OutKast‘s 2000 album Stankonia, on the track “Snappin & Trappin.” His follow up feature with OutKast on “The Whole World” won him a Grammy at the 2003 Grammy Awards for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. That same year Killer Mike released his debut studio album Monster, which peaked at #10 on the Billboard 200 chart and #4 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.
Over the next few years, Killer Mike released I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind 1 & 2 before announcing in 2008 that he was signing to T.I.‘s record label Grand Hustle Records. Not much was heard from Killer Mike musically until he teamed up with El-P in 2011 to become Run the Jewels.
Killer Mike and El-P were introduced to each other by Cartoon Network executive Jason DeMarco. Later that year, El-P produced Killer Mike’s album R.A.P. Music. In the same year Killer Mike featured on El-P’s album Cancer 4 Cure. Due to the fact the albums were released within weeks of each other, the two decided to go on tour together. The success of the tour led the two to team up under the moniker Run the Jewels. The duo has since released two self-titled albums and plan to release a third this year. Run the Jewels 2 peaked at #50 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Aside from music, Killer Mike is one politically active and conscious brother. Most recently, he has been heavily campaigning for Bernie Sanders, introducing him at speaking engagements, sitting with at interviews, and even going to his fundraisers as an honored guest. Over his career he has passionate against police brutality against people of color, systematic racism, and has fought for social equality. It is obvious in his music and when he speaks in interviews that Killer Mike is passionate about humanity and wants to get us all on track and acting like civil, equal human beings.
Killer Mike has also appeared on T.V. and in movies and is currently active as a rapper. His next solo project, Elegant Elephant, has been in the works since 2013 but there’s no word on when it will be released. Killer Mike is an icon and his image in Hip Hop is one of the more positive ones the genre has to offer. Take some time today to enjoy some of the fruits of his labor if you don’t already listen on the daily. From everyone here at The Source, happy born day, Killer Mike. May you see many more years of success.
A$AP Rocky was arrested as he returned to LAX on Wednesday morning. According to TMZ, the rapper arrived at the airport on a private jet from Barbados and was met by officers at the terminal and arrested. The charges for Rocky were assault with a deadly weapon. The weapon was a gun. Rocky was returning to America after vacationing with his girlfriend, Rihanna.
The assault is believed to occur on November 6, 2021, when Rocky allegedly shot at the victim three or four times, grazing him on the left hand, NBC News reports. The shooting reportedly happened near Vista Del Mar and Selma Ave. around 10:20 pm. Two additional men reportedly accompanied Rocky. Rocky was on hand the next day for Complex Con on November 7.
The alleged victim stated the shooting happened after an argument between the two. The LAPD says Rocky knows the victim who helped them identify the rapper as a suspect. Offers also executed a search warrant at Rocky’s home, ramming their way through his front gate.
Last week, two more classic Hip Hop albums were added to the National Recording Registry; Wu Tang Clan’s Enter The Wu Tang(36 Chambers) and A Tribe Called Quest’s 1991 Low End Theory. Its the first entry from the Staten island collective, but it’s the second album for the Queens crew to hit the Congress.
The two LPs join a 2022 inductee class that includes Bonnie Raitt’s Nick Of Time album, Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’,” and Alicia Keys’ Songs In A Minor.
Tribe’s fourth member, Jarobi White, left the group before the album was finished to pursue culinary arts while Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and the late Phife Dawg completed the album on the Jive/Zomba Records imprint. The album has been certified platinum following a coveted 5-mic rating from The Source Magazine.
Wu-Tang’s 1993 debut introduced the nine-member crew of RZA, GZA, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and Masta Killa. The Loud Records debut followed a solo outing from GZA (as The Genius) at the top of the decade, as well as an EP from RZA (as Prince Rakeem). The album was subsequently certified triple platinum. Notably, this album arrived the same day as Tribe’s third LP, Midnight Marauders.
The complete list of Hip-Hop works and the year they were selected to be inducted:
Nas’ Illmatic(2020) Dr. Dre’s The Chronic (2019) JAY-Z’s The Blueprint (2018) Run-D.M.C.’s Raising Hell (2017) N.W.A.’s Straight Outta Compton (2016) Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill (2014) Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” (2011) De La Soul’s 3 Feet High And Rising(2010) Tupac’s “Dear Mama” (2009) Public Enemy’s Fear Of A Black Planet (2004) Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five’s “The Message” (2002)
Did you think Will Smith‘s slap on Chris Rock and the punishment fall out would hinder opportunities for the King Richard actor? Think again. Sure a film from Netflix and Bad Boys 4 may be on hold but the A-List actor is reportedly “flooded with work offers.”
According to The Mirror, industry experts expect Will Smith to be invited to the small screen to establish his comeback and could appear in lesser budget action films.
Marketing consultant Jeff Kelly stated his ban was “harsh” but expects Will Smith to recover due to Hollywood’s obsession with a redemption arc. “Smaller budget companies will want to bring him on board to make movies, most likely in the action genre, using his name and cache, which they believe audiences still value.”
Another option would be television. With the Oscars being silver screen dominant, a return to TV for Big Willie is possible. “The Oscars centers on films, so TV networks hiring him in some capacity are not off the table.”
Nas has always used his craft to raise the consciousness of his fans. Whether it’s inspiring the youth with songs like “I Can” or waking the world up to what goes on in the ghetto with “N.Y. State of Mind,” the Queens native always spoke truths in his raps.
His new video, “Ugly,” is no different. Nas and Hit-Boy, get chauffeured around New York, revealing the ugly things that plague low-income communities. He speaks about poverty, jealousy, and hatred. It even exposes the problems people face who are aiming to escape the struggle. The “Ugly” video is shot in black and white because Nasir’s message is pretty simple; the struggle is still real for people apart of the ghetto.
“Damn, big dog Dove in that water and got hit with a cannonball Ugly Christmas sweater party with no Santa Claus Companies profit off of black trauma That’s ugly, mad ugly just like Sheneneh and Wanda,” raps Nas.
“Ugly” is a single released from Nas’ Magic project. Magic, which dropped in December of 2021, is the fifteenth studio album from the New York story-telling hot-spitter. It was also the second album that Nas dropped in 2021, along with King’s Disease II, nominated for a GRAMMY. Magic is a nine-track project produced by Hit-Boy, and it adds to the historical Hip-Hop catalog of Nas.
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