Hip Hop News

Kehlani Quit Smoking Weed Because She “Wasn’t The Most Productive Pothead”

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Hip Hop has been a driving force in shifting cannabis culture into becoming mainstream, and in recent years, we’re seeing more artists either build their own brands or partner with others to develop strains. Kehlani has been a long supporter of cannabis and even would partake herself, but she recently explained why, back in 2018, she decided to part ways with marijuana.

For many artists, weed can help with focus and creativity, but Kehlani revealed that she was smoking so often that it was having an adverse effect. “I used to smoke a lot of weed and now I speak on it in a past tense perspective,” she said in a TikTok video. “People think I’m sh*tting on weed, I’m not.”

Kehlani, Weed
Rich Fury / Staff / Getty Images

“I loved weed when I was involved with it,” said the singer. “It’s a beautiful plant with very nice properties when used correctly. I don’t think that I was using it correctly. I think I was overusing it. I wasn’t the most productive pothead.”

“It really really messed with my vocal cords and it really took a lot of energy from my day. I stopped to regulate my body and myself,” she continued. “I got to a point where I couldn’t eat, sleep, or be at a social gathering. I couldn’t kick it without smoking weed and I just didn’t want it to have that hold on my life anymore.”

“And also my throat and lungs were tired of me,” she added. “But I’m not judging the weed smokers!” Kehlani has previously spoken about quitting smoking after her doctor alerted her that if she stayed on the path she was on, she would only have a few more years in her singing career. The singer reportedly quit that day.

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Dimitri McDowell Drops “Contact” Remix Ft. BEAM

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Rising New York City star Dimitri McDowell has a song of the summer on his hands. Back in May, he unveiled his single, “Contact” which has continued to maintain steady circulation across playlists and DJ sets. The breezy, laidback island feel and infectious melodies transformed the record into an immediate smash, though it appears that McDowell is preparing to keep that momentum high in the weeks to come.

This week, Dimitri McDowell unveiled the official remix to the song. Though much of the original composition is left intact, McDowell enlists BEAM to help boost the vibe a bit more.

BEAM is fresh off of his appearance on Pop Smoke’s FAITH where he teamed up alongside Pusha T and Travi for the record, “Top Shotta.”

Peep Dimitri McDowell’s remix of “Contact High” below.

Quotable Lyrics
She see me pull up in a Phantom, yeah
Her body movin’ like she want some, yeah
What we doin’ ain’t nobody else business
Ain’t no man ah give it to you like this

Trouble Defends DaBaby In Angry Rant Against Cancel Culture

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As DaBaby continues to face consequences for his Rolling Loud Miami remarks as well as his controversial apologies that subsequently followed, his supporters have vocalized their ire. After penning an apology yesterday (August 2) where he called out people who would rather criticize than educate, DaBaby was removed from the iHeartRadio Music Festival and Midtown Music Fest, in addition to several others. 

Rapper Trouble has come forward to defend DaBaby’s right to express himself while also condemning Cancel Culture. “All this sh*t just fake as f*ck!” Trouble said in a video he uploaded to Instagram. He angrily questioned how people, who were just lifting DaBaby up could be calling for him to be punished.

“One motherf*ckin’ mistake ’bout sh*t and you actin’ like a n*gga just went on this b*tch and said, ‘F*ck all gays,'” he continued. Trouble recalled DaBaby’s Rolling Loud moment and said if he was there, he would have followed suit and just put his light in the air. He also called out rappers, as well, for remaining silent during times of controversy.

“You wanna do songs when it’s beneficial, get on a n*gga’s sh*t, ride a n*gga’ d*ck, but you don’t got sh*t to say when that sh*t taken away from a n*gga or a n*gga in jail. Come on, man.” Watch Trouble vent his frustrations below.

Sarkodie Taps Wale, Vic Mensa & Giggs For “No Pressure” Project

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Sarkodie has kept fans anticipating new music, and finally, he’s back with a new boy of work. The rapper unveiled his new project No Pressure on Friday which does not disappoint. Stacked with 15 songs in total, the Ghanian rapper’s latest body of work boasts some prominent features across its tracklists. American names like Wale and Vic Mensa make appearances while Sarkodie also connects with Giggs on “Round 2.” Other features on the project include Kwasi Arthur, DarkoVibes, Medikal, and more.

“Some people sell out who they are to try and be accepted in different places. I know who I am and what my sound is, and that’s something I try not to lose because my authenticity is my power,” said Sarkodie of his follow-up to 2019’s Black Love.

Peep the project below. 

Here’s 5 Snapshots Of DaBaby On His Daddy Duties

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Charlotte rapper DaBaby has apologized for his controversial comments, and is back to being the the guy we all know – the man after the money. In all honesty, though, Baby is a family man and loving father. When he’s not grinding music, he’s with his son (although he isn’t his biological father) and daughter […]

Popp Hunna’s Management Speak Out Following Self-Harm Video

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North Philly rapper Pop Hunna left fans in a state of concern on Monday following an incredibly alarming Instagram Live stream. The rapper shared a post on his Instagram page that suggested he was contemplating self-harm. “20 years old wit no purpose in life,” he wrote on Monday. “Allah call me home. I’m ready. I gave it my all.”

Fans immediately expressed their concern over the post and an Instagram Live stream where he spoke on harming himself. During Instagram Live, he revealed his strained relationship with his father. “My dad was like, ‘I wish you weren’t even alive,'” Popp Hunna said before leaving the bathroom where he was filming and returning with a belt around his neck.

Popp Hunna’s management team has since issued a response following the Instagram Live session where they asked for prayers and support for the rapper. “In regards to yesterday’s live, we are asking for prayers and positivity right now for Popp Hunna,” the message posted to the rapper’s Instagram page reads. “If you have someone you love and care for who is dealing with suicidal thoughts don’t overlook it get them help immediately!!!”

Pop Hunna became a viral sensation earlier this year following the success of his single, “Adderall (Corvette Corvette)” which became a TikTok hit before Lil Uzi Vert hopped on the remix. 

Kanye West Collaborator DJ Toomp Knew “Donda” Wasn’t Finished At Listening Event

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We’re officially on the countdown until Donda‘s arrival. Kanye West has been locked in at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta as he puts the final touches on his anticipated project, so it will be interesting to hear the differences from his listening party weeks ago. Kanye’s friends and collaborators have been helping hype the project including people like Justin Laboy and Consequence, but DJ Toomp was skeptical about Donda‘s development.

Toomp worked with Ye 15 years ago on the rapper’s acclaimed Graduation project and attended the listening event last month. Upon hearing the record, he told BHighTV that it was clear that the album wasn’t finished.

Kanye West, Donda
Kevin Mazur / Contributor / Getty Images

“I’mma keep it one hunnid. Just as a producer, as a music guy, as a guy who really love Hip Hop and Hip Hop is derived from drums, as far as us,” said Toomp. “We send signals across a whole ocean with drums. That’s our sh*t, the beat. That’s the rhythm. And when I heard a lot of the songs that just didn’t have drums… I thought it was about to drop and he start talkin’. I’m like, damn, that’s it? Is that the song?”

“So, my first thing was like, I hope the album doesn’t sound like this,” he continued. “That sound like that could be dope. If I was in the studio, I’d say ‘Hey, Ye, is this sh*t gonna drop anywhere? Cause you build us up and we thinkin’ that sh*t finna go crazy and it goes to another song. And that’s why I was like, ‘Ah, this album must not be finished.”

Toomp added that he’s witnessed Kanye mix records seven times before releasing and was disappointed that the Donda tracks didn’t embrace the “shock value” that some of Kanye’s previous records encompass. Check out DJ Toomp’s interview below.

 

DaBaby Promised Lollapalooza A Video Apology To Save Set

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DaBaby was set to be a staple in the festival circuit this year but he fumbled that bag within the past week. His appearance at Rolling Loud included some homophobic comments that not only caught the crowd off-guard but viewers who were tuning into the live stream. He failed to properly apologize for his comments which ultimately resulted in a slew of other festivals booting him off of the line-up.


 Kevin Winter/Getty Images

All of his performances could’ve been saved had he simply upheld his end of the bargain which was issuing a video apology. According to Billboard, reps for the rapper had reached out to seven festivals scheduled for the fall, as well as Lollapalooza, promising that DaBaby would offer a video apology for his insensitive remarks. The plan was to film a video apology that would air immediately before he hit the stage at Lollapalooza. The video didn’t arrive and Lollapalooza pulled the plug on DaBaby’s set.

DaBaby has been booted off of several festival line-ups in the past 24 hours. ACL Fest in Austin, Texas, iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas, and Music Midtown festival in Atlanta announced that DaBaby would no longer be performing.

DaBaby issued an actual apology on Monday, writing, “I want to apologize to the LGBTQ+ community for the hurtful and triggering comments I made. Again, I apologize for my misinformed comments about HIV/AIDS and I know education on this is important. Love to all. God bless.”

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