Hip Hop News

Rapper Top5 Taunts Toronto Mayor While On The Run

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Toronto rapper Top5’s recklessness reached new heights this week as the alleged murderer took to Instagram Live to troll Toronto Mayor John Tory. Top5, real name Hassan Ali, has refused to turn himself in ever since he was charged with first degree murder in May. Though he continues to be on the run, Ali went live on the social media platform to request a sit-down with the mayor so he could “spit his facts” before ending the statement with “I run Toronto, you fucking goof.” 

“You guys wanna link up? Call John Tory and tell him I f****** want a sit-down for f****** 30 minutes,” Top5 said aggressively while live-streaming. He continued with “I wanna spit my facts, and he’ll spit his facts… I run Toronto, you fucking goof.”

Top5 is currently charged with the January murder of Hashim Omar Hashi. Hashi was shot multiple times in North Fork while exiting a parking garage, and Top5, as well as another suspect, were both arrested in the following weeks. Top5 was released under copious rules and regulations in February. The rapper went on the run after his original charges of accessory after the fact to murder, two counts of failing to comply with probation, and drug charges escalated to a first degree murder charge in May.

On Top5’s case, Mayor Tory said: “I know the devastation and trauma that murders in our city have caused families and neighborhoods and it is very troubling to know someone charged with murder has so far not made himself available to the authorities.”

Check out the Instagram Live clip below.

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Jay-Z And Will Smith Invest In A Rent-To-Own Housing Startup That Helps Residents Build Credit

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Getty Image

Jay-Z and Will Smith are the unofficial avatars of Black wealth, and with their latest venture, they hope to provide a means for building wealth for more people. Their investment funds, Roc Nation and Dreamers VC respectively, have joined a group of investors raising $165 million in housing startup Landis, which will rent homes to clients until they can afford to buy them.

According to Bloomberg, the company purchases a house, rents it to the client, and then sells it to them at a preset price (including a fee on top of its original value) up within two years from the initial purchase. Landis also provides financial coaching to clients to help them manage their budgets, build credit, and save the down payments they need to purchase their homes. After the first two years, the company may offer more time or sell the property.

The idea is, of course, to make it easier for aspiring homeowners to actually achieve their goal in a housing market that has become increasingly expensive and risky in the years since the Great Recession, which was in part caused by a housing market bubble bursting in the mid-2000s.

Bloomberg reports that the typical Landis client is a first-time buyer with a budget under $400,000. The $165 million investment will allow the company to buy around 1,000 homes with the hopes of following through on 80% of its initial customer base. That would be way more than traditional rent-to-own companies. The company’s founder, Cyril Berdugo, credits the business model, which would see Landis “make money when our client buys the house back.” “If we leave money on the table,” he says, “That’s our problem.”

Among other industries Jay-Z has invested in, the mogul has put money behind Bitcoin, cannabis, and will reportedly begin producing film and television sometime in the future.

Young Dolph & The Paper Route Empire Shine On “Beat It”

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Young Dolph has adamantly carried the torch for independently-minded artists, and damned if he and his team haven’t reaped the benefits. Not only are they securing bags without the trappings of a major-label contract, but they’re also retaining the loyalty of their fanbase with every release. Today marks the arrival of a new milestone for Dolph’s collective, with Paper Route Empire’s Paper Route Illuminati officially landing in full twenty-three track glory.

Though there’s certainly plenty of material to unpack, one of the more immediate standouts happens to be “Beat It.” Boasting a dangerously classy orchestral beat, PRE’s Young Dolph and Big Unccc indulge in their unique brand of braggadocious gangsta rap. “Lay in the bushes aiming through the scope,” raps Dolph. “Wait on this fuck-n***a to walk through the door / made millions of rap without sellin’ dope / most valuable player boy, go ask your ho.” 

Check out “Beat It” now, and give the Paper Route Empire compilation project a spin to support the movement.

QUOTABLE LYRICS

Lay in the bushes aiming through the scope
Wait on this fuck-n***a to walk through the door
Made millions of rap without sellin’ dope
Most valuable player boy, go ask your ho

Leaked CDC Document Says COVID Delta Variant Is As Transmissible Than Chickenpox

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After news of Lil Nas X’s album being practically leaked in its entirety, it turns out that rampant leaks aren’t just plaguing the Hip-Hop community. According to Complex, the CDC has also recently suffered a major leak, as one of its internal documents slipped outside of the organization and landed in The Washington Post’s hands. In response to the leak, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky spoke to CNN and verified the validity of the document and reiterated the severity of the surging Delta variant.

One of the most eye-opening takeaways from the leaked report is that the COVID-19 Delta variant is not only more transmissible than the original strain, but it’s also more transmissible than SARS, Ebola, the common cold, seasonal flu, and smallpox. According to the document, “Delta variant is as transmissible as Chicken Pox.”

Exterior of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) headquarters is seen on October 13, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. Frieden urged hospitals to watch for patients with Ebola symptoms who have traveled from the tree Ebola stricken African countries.
Jessica McGowan/Getty Images

According to Complex, data as recent as July 29, 2021 reveals that 49.4% of the total U.S. population— just under 164 million people— have so far been fully vaccinated, and the vaccine has been confirmed to reduce the risk of severe disease or death by 10-fold or greater.

The report also gives data to suggest that people who previously contracted COVID-19 should still make an effort to get vaccinated, saying, “Risk of reinfection with Delta may be higher compared to Alpha variant, but only if prior infection ≥ 180 days earlier.

Does this leaked CDC report make you feel more inclined to get vaccinated if you have not been already? And are you curious as to why the CDC hadn’t yet made their findings publicly known prior to the leak?

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Boldy James & The Alchemist Drop Off “Drug Zone”

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Boldy James and The Alchemist have officially confirmed the release date for their upcoming Bo Jackson album, which is due for release on August 13th. The follow-up to their previous — and acclaimed — The Price Of Tea In China, this new effort kicks off with the new single “Drug Zone.”

Off the bat, the mood is a shadowy one, and Boldy operates quite nicely as a nocturnal being. Alc’s hazy production is the perfect backdrop for James’ observational lyricism, which begins with an acrobatic feat of dexterity. “All this press and it’s depressed, and the pressure is still pressin’ against a ni**a flesh, it’s beyond measure,” he raps, over a dark and grimy beat. From there, Boldy puts on an absolute clinic, his lyricism designed to be analyzed with rapt attention.

Check it out for yourself below, and if Bo Jackson features more where this came from, we’re in for a potential album of the year contender.

QUOTABLE LYRICS

All this press and it’s depressed,
And the pressure is still pressin’ against a ni**a flesh, it’s beyond measure
Don Mega, prawn setter, prizefighter
You know I rep the dirty glove like a high catcher

Lil Nas X Points Out The Overlooked Female Nudity In His “Industry Baby” Music Video

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For several reasons, the Hip-Hop community’s main discourse this week has been centered around sexuality. DaBaby’s homophobic comments at Rolling Loud have caused him to lose out on multiple paid opportunities, and in his defense, rap elder statesmen like T.I. and Boosie Badazz have unleashed their own problematic responses. This past weekend, Lil Nas X also released the prison-themed music video for “Industry Baby,” which like its successor “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name),” has sparked backlash for the gay imagery that’s predominantly featured in it.

In a recent tweet, Lil Nas X reflects on how absurd it is that his music video has sparked caused so many veteran Hip-Hop artists and public figures to comment on it in the first place. According to Lil Nas X, the “Industry Baby” video doesn’t even explicitly feature any male nudity. In fact, there’s even a bit of female nudity included in the video, but that has generally gone overlooked.

“The funny thing is the only actual nudity in the entire industry baby video was a woman’s a** not a single complaint,” Lil Nas X remarks. “Y’all know what y’all actually mad at lol.”

The scene that Lil Nas X is referencing takes place at the 2:15-mark while Jack Harlow performs the beginning of his “Industry Baby” guest verse.

What do you make of the “Industry Baby” music video and all of the controversy that its has prompted?

YFN Lucci Has Help Looking For A New Lady Friend From Prison

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Atlanta rapper and singer YFN Lucci’s legal troubles seem to have no end in sight as he remains behind bars as part of a 105 count gang indictment. Lucci maintains his innocence, though he doesn’t have much to fill his time as he sits in prison without bond. Still, the rapper seems to have officially given up on his tumultuous romance with 22-year-old Reginae Carter.

A recording of a call the rapper’s friend received from Lucci via jail, was posted to Instagram yesterday, which finds  Lucci seemingly single and lonely while behind bars– at least, so Lucci’s friend insinuates. 

Reginae Carter

Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Reginae Carter, daughter of Lil Wayne, and YFN Lucci had been romantically involved as recently as March of this year, it seems that, since the rapper surrendered to the authorities in May, things have cooled completely between the pair.

The clip is captioned by Lucci’s male friend with “This b**** call me everyday 24/7 all da time can y’all ladies talk to dis N**** … so he can stop calling me,” thus further cementing that Reginae should move on with her hot girl Summer.

Fans took to Instagram to support the IG influencer as well, with comments like, “I hope lil sis single single. She’s too young to deal with this.” Another wrote: “She young! She don’t need to waste her life holding him down in jail.” 

Do you think these two are done for real?

Let us know and check out the video below.

G-Eazy Is Back On His BS In “At Will” With EST Gee

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It’s a union of G and Gee on “At Will,” the brand new collaboration between G-Eazy and the rising star EST Gee. Though he’s been exploring a bit of melodic territory lately, G-Eazy has decided that it’s time to get back to his Bay Area roots. For the occasion, the rapper takes to a spooky woodwind-driven banger, the perfect backdrop for some unapologetic flexing.

In that department, few can match Young Gerald’s experience, having lived the fast life while embracing the darker side of his vices. “Came in this bitch with exceptional spirit,” he spits. “Bulletproof vision, cannot let ’em kill it / Real ones acknowledge my shit ’cause they feel it.” Fresh off the release of his acclaimed new album Bigger Than Life Or Death, EST Gee holds it down to conclude the track. “I done been too close to death to be scared,” he raps, alluding to a recent shooting that left him shot in the stomach. “I get my gun when they come unprepared / money bring shy bitches right out they shell.”

It’s a simple but effective formula. Two solid verses from two solid rappers, held together nicely by a hard-hitting instrumental. Check out G-Eazy and EST Gee’s “At Will” now.

QUOTABLE LYRICS

The rest of you want me forgotten and hidden
Whoever I fuck’s automatically trendin’
She wanna F everywhere like it’s Fendi
The pussy gets killed every time like it’s Kenny

Kanye West Is Reportedly Working On Another ‘Donda’ Listening But Needs To Make It ‘Different’ From The First One

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While Kanye West has been holed up in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium finishing his album Donda, TMZ reports the extravagant producer may be planning to use the stadium once again for a listening event for the album. However, since he already did that to somewhat mixed reviews (without releasing the album, no less), TMZ’s sources say Kanye is working on ways to make the experience substantially different from that last one at the behest of Live Nation and Creative Artists Agency, which fear they won’t sell as many tickets to a redux.

Options on the table include a new stage or musical arrangement but because Kanye has been so mercurial, often changing critical details of his projects at the last minute — such as mixing his new reunion song with Jay-Z the day of the last Donda listening — no one knows quite what he’ll do. At the previous listening, he walked around the arena floor dressed in an all-crimson outfit wearing a stocking mask as the album played — something many fans both in attendance and online questioned.

Fans also poked fun at the snack menu in the suites, believing (somewhat inaccurately) that Kanye was charging listeners $50 for chicken tenders (it was actually the group price). However, given his living situation at the arena and his new release date for the album, maybe the listening should take a backseat to actually finishing the thing for the time being.

Rexx Life Raj Takes A Studio Break In His Easygoing ‘Red Lobster Biscuits’ Video

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Rexx Life Raj is back with another new entry into his weekly music releases, this time with the easygoing video for “Red Lobster Biscuits.” Opening with a cheeky disclaimer that the “the Runtz chain that Raj is wearing isn’t actually his,” the video sees Raj trying to “feel more like a real rapper” by wearing “shiny things that sparkle and glisten in the sun.” Shot at a recording session in the Hollywood Hills, the video is laid-back, while Raj’s lyrics reflect his business-first outlook and critique rapper with misleading images.

Raj’s impressive streak of releases has included at least a new song each Friday, along with the video for “Lockheed Martin” and the three-song EP, Untitled, which he says helped him to get through the pandemic despite not creating as much new material as he wanted. You wouldn’t know it from his 2020 output though, which included his second California Poppy EP, as well as videos for “Tesla In A Pandemic,” “Bad Bad Bad,” “Bounty,” and “Built For Everything.”

Raj also recently told Uproxx he is working on a new project that is currently being tweaked to perfection. He plans to drop it sometime this year.

Watch Rexx Life Raj’s “Red Lobster Biscuits” video above.