Tory hit the stage with DaBaby after Meg’s performance. Continue reading…
Hip Hop News
N.E.R.D. Celebrates “In Search Of…” 20-Year Anniversary With Pastel Adidas Collab
Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo were recently named two of the best producers of the 21st century, and but Hip-Hop fans know that The Neptunes’ influence spans far beyond music. In addition to producing timeless hit singles like Nelly’s “Hot in Herre” and Snoop Dogg’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” Pharrell, Chad, and Shay Haley (as a part of N.E.R.D.) have also revolutionized the sneaker culture in rap, regardless of what Soulja Boy has to say about it.
Next month, N.E.R.D. will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of its debut album In Search Of…, and to honor the occasion, Pharrell, Chad, and Shay have teamed up with adidas for a special HU NMD N.E.R.D. According to HipHop DX, the commemorative sneaks come in a brand new colorway that boasts tan, mint green, and peach hues, and instead of the typical “Human Race” branding, the In Search Of… pair displays the classic N.E.R.D. lettering across the top of the shoe.
Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
Pharrell, Chad Hugo, and Shay Haley have collectively commented on the anticipate collaboration through an official statement on N.E.R.D.’s Instagram, saying, “Celebrating 20 years since the drop of our debut album, ‘In Search Of…’ [brain emoji].”
Contrary to the original release of In Search Of… (which dropped in Europe several months before its global re-release in 2002), the new HU NMD N.E.R.D. colorway will actually release worldwide before hitting Europe a month later. The sneakers are set to drop via the adidas Confirmed app and select retailers around the globe on August 6th, and sneakerheads and die-hard N.E.R.D. fans in Europe will unfortunately have to wait until early September to get their hands on a pair. Check out the pastel-colored Hu NMDs below.
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Youngest Antetokounmpo Brother Tapped For Pre-Draft Workout With Indiana Pacers
For the Antetokounmpo brothers, basketball is a family matter. After the culmination of the 2021 NBA Finals, all three brothers currently in the league – Giannis, Thanasis and Kostas – are NBA champions. Even though that alone is an amazing accomplishment, the brothers aren’t done striving for greatness. Youngest brother Alex, a 19-year-old professional player for UCAM Murcia of the Spanish Liga ACB, is chasing NBA hopes with a pre-draft workout for the Indiana Pacers that took place on Tuesday.
As a high school player at Dominican High School in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, Alex was a first-team all-state selection in his final two years, with averages of 20 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 blocks a game in the 2019-20 season. Despite having college offers to choose from, Alex decided to head overseas to UCAM Murcia to develop his game. While stats for his short professional stint overseas are scarce, it is reported that he impressed with Murcia’s second team composed of younger players.
The 6’8 small forward is relatively unknown compared to his two-time MVP, now-NBA champion and Finals MVP brother Giannis, but he shares a similar overall physical build to his brothers and has a level of rawness to his game that can be developed in the NBA. Each brother entered the league with the “development project” label attached to them, and Alex would be no different. Though, Giannis has been quoted saying he believes Alex can be better than him when everything is said and done. At 19, there’s a lot of time for Alex to develop in the league through G-League experience. Giannis didn’t truly start to click in the league until his fourth year, after he signed a four-year, $100 million extension with the Milwaukee Bucks.
In addition to the Pacers, Alex has also worked out for the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs, gaining experience and pointers from established coaches across the league during the pre-draft process. Though their brother Kostas has signed a contract to head overseas in the Euroleague next season, it would still be an impressive feat for Alex to land on an NBA team and make it four siblings who have played in the league.
What do you think of the youngest Antetokounmpo brother’s NBA potential? Let us know in the comments.
Canelo Alvarez & Caleb Plant Fight Stalled Over Contract Disagreement: Report
Negotiations for a September bout between boxing star Canelo Alvarez and super middleweight fighter Caleb Plant hit a standstill at the half-yard line Tuesday after differences in contract needs came to light. Plant had agreed to his end of the deal about two weeks ago, with no further issues concerning money or additional stipulations, and it was reported by ESPN that the stalemate was caused on Alvarez’s end. The contract had been in the works for weeks and was passed back and forth between Alvarez’s camp and Premier Boxing Champions over the weekend, and after numerous edit requests, the deal fell apart.
Plant spoke with ESPN about the situation and shared his perspective about Canelo’s motives surrounding the fight:
“I question whether legacy or money is their real motive. We’ve been waiting for him to get done with his wedding, shooting his TV show, his golf tournament and now have tried to give him everything he wants and more to make this fight. I’m more than willing, able and ready to fight Canelo Alvarez on any date. Those are the real facts and if anyone has something to say differently, we have the paperwork to prove it.”
Alvarez is after the only super middleweight title that he doesn’t currently have in his possession, which Plant has held as the IBF super middleweight champion since 2019. According to ESPN, he is ranked as the second best active super middleweight fighter. There is a possibility for talks to resume, but time is of the essence as Alvarez traditionally likes to fight on Mexican Independence Day weekend, which is on the original September 18th fight date.
Another supposed option for Canelo Alvarez is to bulk up and return to 175 pounds to fight for a title with Dmitry Bivol, a professional boxer from Russia who has held the WBA light-heavyweight title since 2017. After Alvarez beat British boxer Billy Joe Saunders in May, he has been seeking a one-fight deal with a possible career-high payday. The stalled fight deal with Plant could have marked Alvarez’s pay-per-view return, but it’s now possible that he will return to streaming platform DAZN for his next fight, even after a legal battle with the platform has been settled.
Alvarez is still set to fight an opponent on September 18th, whether that be Plant or someone else. He had already started preparing to fight Plant at his San Diego gym, for what would be his fourth fight in nine months.
17 Rap Songs That Blew Up On TikTok
TikTok has grown a lot since its early days as a Vine and Musical.ly successor, now a massive and perhaps even the dominant social media platform for the youth. For some, the app is not just a fun distraction or a creative outlet but a career and a means of income. As a large facet of the app is the consumption, use, and dialogue around music, this is especially true for artists. In its nearly five years of existence, we’ve seen new artists blow up into industry stars, we’ve seen established artists score their biggest hit yet, and it’s now the norm for any artist who targets a mainstream audience to try to snag a viral dance or audio trend.
Today, before the app introduces yet another generation of rising stars, we’re breaking down the biggest hip-hop names and songs that have found their fame on TikTok.
Scroll below for seventeen rap records that blew up on TikTok.
YNW Melly and 9lokkNine – “223’s”
YNW Melly attends Murda Beatz birthday event, 2019 – Jerritt Clark/Getty Images
Fans and Hip-Hop heads have been fascinated with YNW Melly’s unique approach to his music and lyricism ever since “Murder On My Mind” first made waves in 2018. However, casual music listeners who may have been put off by Melly’s eccentric persona finally hopped on the wave when a number of his tracks received curated dances from TikTok’s biggest stars and proceeded to go viral on the app. “223’s” featuring 9lokkNine, one of Melly’s most successful tracks to date, was the first to receive expedited popularity on the app. There are over 1.6 million TikTok videos on the app that use the 2019 song– often featuring the signature dance. The dance itself isn’t too complicated, largely a reason the song received the popularity it did, with just a few steps to the front and a twirl. With the TikTok success in tow, the song became Melly’s highest placement on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #2.
9lokkNine experienced similar virality from the song, though the dance itself featured only Melly’s verse. Many credit “223’s” with boosting 9lokkNine’s then-unknown career, and the song also remains his most popular to date.
@itstaylerholder This took us so long to learn 😂 @joshrichards
SoFaygo – “Knock Knock”
SoFaygo performs at Rolling Loud Miami, 2021 – Jason Koerner/Getty Images
Soundcloud up-and-comer turned-Cactus Jack signee has TikTok to thank for his rapid rise to success in 2020. Prior to his TikTok fame, the 19-year old Atlanta rapper/singer made a name for himself in the underground Soundcloud wave, making connections with the likes of Lil Tecca and SSGKobe. However, his 2020 hit “Knock Knock,” which was produced by Lil Tecca, quickly became one of the app’s favorite sounds. The song was slowed down and sped up in various different renditions, resulting in over 100,000 TikToks. “Knock Knock” remains SoFaygo’s most popular song to date with over 75 million Spotify streams. The rapper piggybacked off of this success by signing a record deal with Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack records in February of this year.
@danceformetiktok @fashionnova 🐬 fashionnovapartner #foru#knockknock#dancetutorial (dc: ??)
Megan Thee Stallion – “Savage”
Megan Thee Stallion attends the Sports Illustrated SI launch, 2021 – Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images
Megan Thee Stallion has quickly become a powerhouse in the rap scene with catchy feminist anthems and infinite charisma. Her army of stans and devout listeners have accumulated over the past two years, predominantly through explosively viral TikTok dances and trends curated for her oft-female friendly anthems..
Though she had been making waves in the scene before gaining TikTok virality, dances choreographed to Megan’s “Savage” ultimately pushed her to the top of the Billboard charts, and the rap game. The trend first started when verified user Keara Wilson made her own dance to the song, shortly after its March 2020 release. That video, which garnered over 15 million views and 2 million likes, set the stage for over 21 million other videos replicating the dance or simply using the song. This TikTok success ultimately helped secure a Beyoncé feature on the remix and a #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100.
@keke.janajah y’all like my nails? 💓 #fyp#foryoupage#foryou THANK Y’ALL SO MUCH FOR 213k 😭🤩
Roddy Ricch – “The Box”
Roddy Ricch attends the BET Awards, 2021 – Paras Griffin/Getty Images
By 2019, Roddy Ricch had become a notable figure in the California rap scene and hip-hop circles with his Feed Tha Streets mixtape series. However, Ricch had yet to make it into household-name-status– until a TikTok trend propelled him to the top of the charts. When Ricch released his debut album, Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial in December of 2019, listeners flocked to the bizarre “ee-er” ad-lib and catchy hook on the song “The Box,” preparing it for TikTok virality. The song was inescapable on the app from late 2019 to early 2020 with a string of popular dances and hilarious memes. “The Box” spent a whopping 11 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
@saviragunawan The Box Tutorial! #thebox#fyp#foryou#foru#dance#dancetutorial#dancetuto#fypchallenge#tutorialchallenge#foryour#foryoupage#xzycba#zxycba
Erica Banks – “Buss It”
Erica Banks performs at Hot 107.9 Birthday Bash 25, 2021 – Paras Griffin/Getty Images
Not only did Erica Bank’s “Buss It” land her a deal with 1501 Certified Entertainment, but it made her the soundtrack for one of TikTok’s more sultry trends. The song blew up on the app in January of 2021, with users using the beat drop of the track to show their transitions from a glo-down to a glow-up. The track has over 5 million videos on TikTok and landed at #1 on the Billboard Triller charts. Not to mention, Erika Banks also went on to sign a major label deal with Warner Records.
@nicolescherzinger Never too late #bussitchallenge
Sleepy Hallow – “Deep End Freestyle”
Sleepy Hallow visits Sirius radio station, 2020 – Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
New York drill rapper Sleepy Hallow scored himself a gold plaque with his hit TikTok song “Deep End Freestyle” featuring Fousheé. The song is founded on an eerie repeated vocal sample (sung by a then-anonymous Fousheé), before the beat drops into a classic drill instrumental. The song has been used in almost a million videos on the app– be it for it’s signature dances, users doing crazy stunts as the beat drops, or connecting Sleepy Hallow’s opening “my body different” line to some message in the video. “Deep End Freestyle” has since been certified Gold by RCAA and has propelled him past the pool of rising New York drill rappers, while also establishing a firm and already-successful career for Fousheé.
@amirdeleon My job involves a bit of risk. And sometimes a bit more fun :)) #learntok#videography#cars
24kGoldn – “Valentino”
24kGoldn attends the “F9” World Premiere, 2021 Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
24kGoldn was still a finance student and frat bro at USC when “Valentino” made its way around TikTok in late 2019, and changed his life forever. The instant catchiness and infectious hook of “Valentino” made it perfect for the app: fans used the song simply to show edits while others created a number of dance routines. “Valentino” is often credited as being one of the first viral TikTok songs, and led 24kGoldn to drop out of college. Oddly enough, the virality of the song has haunted 24kGoldn’s career as many claim he is just a “TikTok rapper.”
@officialhowiemandel This is Golden @24kgoldn #valentino#dance#dancechallenge#howiemandel#fyp
Flo Milli – “Beef FloMix”
Flo Milli celebrates her 21st birthday in Atlanta, 2021 – Prince Williams/Wireimage/Getty Images
2021 XXL Freshman Flo Milli rose to TikTok fame in 2019 and 2020 thanks to her confident yet playful sound on “Beef FloMix” as well as an appearance on $NOT’s “Mean.” “Beef FloMix,” Flo Milli’s remix of Playboi Carti and Ethereal’s “Beef,” became a Tiktok staple in the Spring of 2019 with Flo Milli’s eccentric flow and aggressive lyrics. Whether users used the sound to show off glow-up transitions or to exude confidence by lip syncing the lyrics in a close-up shot, Flo Milli became one of TikTok’s favorite female rappers before the likes of Megan Thee Stallion.
@famousmariaa
$NOT – “Mean” feat. Flo Milli
$NOT performs at Rolling Loud, 2019 – Scott Dudelson/Getty Images
“Mean”, a $not song featuring Flo Milli, followed “Beef FloMix” and was a predecessor to the likes of the “Buss It” trend. Like “Buss It,” “Mean” established itself as one of the app’s sexier sounds of 2020 with Flo Milli’s notable line “I got a small waist, pretty face, and a big bank.” Users created their own dances to the trend, often showing off their curves to Flo Milli’s lyrics.
Ultimately the viral nature of both of these records is what helped Flo Milli land her record deals with RCA Records and Pulse Music Group.
Doja Cat – “Say So”
Doja Cat celebrates releases of “Planet Her,” 2021 – Joe Scarnici/Getty Images
While song’s like 2018’s “Mooo!” marked the first viral track in Doja Cat’s career, 2019’s “Say So” was a more serious breakthrough moment for the Los Angeles Singer and rapper. The track, with its catchy and atmospheric hook, was viral almost instantly on TikTok and quickly received it’s one signature dance. The solo version of the song peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and a subsequent remix with Nicki Minaj became both artists’ first #1 placement on the chart. “Say So” was the most streamed song made by a female in 2020, and is currently used in over 14 million TikTok videos.
@hailee_jade03
Saint JHN – “Roses (Imanbek Remix)”
Saint Jhn attends the Roc Nation brunch, 2020 – Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
One of TikTok’s favorite dances came with the remix of Saint JHN’s “Roses” in September of 2019. With collaborations from Lil Baby and a number of successful singles, Saint JHN had managed to grow a decent, albeit under-the-radar, standing in the industry before his music went fully viral on TikTok. The remix to “Roses” was the defining song of Spring 2020 and carried the app through quarantine with a number of dances and trends. The catchy dance beat along with Saint JHN’s rap-singing prompted use from the app’s biggest stars. “Roses (Imanbek Remix)” is used in over 2 million TikTok videos and reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The success of the track opened up opportunities for Saint JHN, who enlisted the help of industry greats Kanye West, Lil Uzi Vert, DaBaby, and Future for his 2020 album While the World Was Burning.
@daviddobrik Ahhahaha perfect @addisonre
Coi Leray – “No More Parties”
Coi Leray at the BET Hip-Hop Awards, 2021 – Paras Griffin/Getty Images
Once largely known as the ex-girlfriend of Trippie Redd, New Jersey rapper Coi Leray scored her first big hit with “No More Parties,” thanks to TikTok success. With her baby voice-like flow and the notorious beat drop of the song, Coi Leray spurred TikTok dances and user remixes. Her incredibly catchy flow made the song perfect for TikTok virality and became her first entry into the Billboard Hot 100. Her feature on the subsequent single “Big Purr” by Pooh Shiesty also fueled her TikTok success.
@chris_gone_crazy00 LMFAOOO thing 1 and thing 2 can’t dance for shit but it’s okay I still love em😂💕🔥 @johnstontwinss_ .. y’all know who is who?👀 #fyp
Pooh Shiesty – “Back in Blood” feat. Lil Durk
Pooh Shiesty at Onyx Nightclub in Atlanta, 2021 – Prince Williams/Wireimage/Getty Images
“Pooh Shiesty that’s my dawg, but Pooh you know I’m really shiesty!” became TikTok’s favorite line in early 2020 as “Back in Blood” became a hit on the app. Fans shared videos of themselves lip syncing the line from Lil Durk’s feature on the song or pairing it with their own funny text. The TikTok success of the song propelled the song to the top of his Spotify, and remains his most popular song.
@lildurk Pooh shiesty that’s my dawg but…. 🦅🦅 @broisfunny
Pooh Shiesty & Coi Leray – “Big Purr”
Coi Leray hosts BET Awards After Party in LA, 2021 – Johnny Nunez/Getty Images
“Big Purr” enjoyed similar TikTok success as “Back in Blood,” though a snippet of the collaboration, posted by collaborator Coi Leray, blew up on the site long before the song was formally released. Coi Leray and Pooh Shiesty exchanging bars on the song made it so couples instantly gravitated towards the audio, often lip syncing alongside the two rappers’ parts. A signature dance was also created for the collaboration, which debuted at #69 on the Billboard Hot 100.
@coileray
K Camp – “Lottery (Renegade)”
K Camp attends the Billboard Power List Event, 2020 – Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images
Perhaps the first viral TikTok dance came to the tune of “Lottery (Renegade)” by K Camp. The song was released in June 2019 and was quickly picked up by 14-year-old TikTok user Jalaiah Harmon, who created the now-notorious dance. The song was initially released with the title “Lottery,” but the viral dance, which only incorporated the beat and the Renegade producer tag, caused the name change. Many credit this song and dance as the beginning of the viral dance trends across TikTok, and thus the rise in popularity of the app in general. The track is used in over 24 million TikTok videos.
@charlidamelio #duet with @jalaiahharmon 💕💕💕💕
Jack Harlow – “What’s Poppin'”
Jack Harlow performs at Rolling Loud Miami, 2021 – Rich Fury/Getty Images
Jack Harlow’s breakout single “What’s Poppin’,” with it’s charisma and one-liners, seems perfectly curated for the TikTok fame it quickly received. The 2020 track, which is used in over 300,000 TikTok videos, was often used for the signature “what’s poppin?” quotable line, as users made their own jokes or memes backed by the lyrics. The TikTok success, along with the Cole Bennett music video, has made “What’s Poppin'” Harlow’s most streamed song to date.
@sosatisfying Going live at 8pm EST 👀 #whatspoppin
BIA – “Whole Lotta Money”
BIA performs at Rolling Loud Miami, 2021 – Jason Koerner/Getty Images
Singer and rapper BIA has been in the industry for over five years with notable accomplishments under her belt already– collaborations with Russ and J. Balvin, a professional relationship with Pharrell, and a stint on Oxygen’s Sisterhoods of Hip Hop. Still, many younger generation TikTokers probably know her for viral track “Whole Lotta Money.” The signature line, “I put on my jewelry just to go to the Bodega,” has been used in over 275,000 TikToks with users either thirst-trapping or creating memes over the sound. “Whole Lotta Money” is the most successful track of BIA’s career so far, sending her to new heights as far as fan-reach and industry grasp goes, while its TikTok success equally spurred a Nicki Minaj remix
@bia Omw to the bodega y’all need anything? #fyp#foru#foryou#wholelottamoney
Tory Lanez’s Rolling Loud Appearance May Have Violated Megan Thee Stallion’s Restraining Order Against Him
Tory Lanez’s surprise appearance at Rolling Loud during DaBaby’s set angered fans and became one of many of that set’s controversial talking, but it may have also violated Megan Thee Stallion’s restraining order against the Canadian rapper. TMZ reports that the Miami and Los Angeles Police Departments were contacted after the set due to the fact that Tory’s presence backstage may have put him within 100 yards of the Houston rapper who accused him of shooting her in the backs of both feet last summer.
As DaBaby performed immediately after Megan, there may have been some overlap between the technical crews, backup dancers, and other stage personnel — and that might have included Tory Lanez, who DaBaby brought out in a mascot costume before a dramatic reveal to perform their collaboration “SKAT.” Meanwhile, TMZ’s sources report that Megan and her management were perturbed to learn that DaBaby performed one of his collaborations with Meg, “Cash Sh*t,” right before bringing out Lanez. Many fans interpreted the move as belittling her criminal case against Tory and provoking her due to her disapproval of DaBaby’s public shows of support for Tory in the wake of the shooting.
Meanwhile, DaBaby is facing even more fallout from his set, as his bizarre aside about HIV/AIDS and homophobic comments have prompted online retailer BoohooMan to end its partnership with him.
Megan Thee Stallion is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
DaBaby References His Shoe-Dodging Moment In Response To Losing His BoohooMan Deal
It looks like DaBaby isn’t sweating losing his deal with BoohooMan in the wake of his controversial Roling Loud set — or at least, that’s what he wants his followers to think. He seemingly played off the news by referencing another odd moment from his set, when a fan in the crowd tried to bean him with — in his words — a “busted ass Adidas” shoe.
“NO WEAPON FORMED,” he wrote in the post. “This how I bob n weave anything sent to destroy me. Check my resume and sit back.” The post included a video of the moment he ducked the sneaker, which some fans compared to George W. Bush pulling a similar maneuver during an Iraqi press conference in December 2008.
BoohooMan, which has gained popularity through its capsule collections with popular rappers like Lil Skies, Quavo, and Swae Lee, cut ties with DaBaby after a viral clip of his Rolling Loud set depicted the Charlotte rapper making homophobic comments and insulting comments about HIV/AIDS. While he insisted that it was not his intent to insult anyone, intent and impact are two different things, and his combative tone made it clear he wasn’t interested in addressing the latter.
As a result, the fashion brand issued a statement on Instagram reading, “BoohooMAN condemn the use of homophobic language and confirm we will no longer be working with DaBaby.” While DaBaby doesn’t seem too put out by the loss, he’s also the same guy who insisted on performing during a pandemic because he was losing money, so … grain of salt, I’m just saying.
Lizzo Reveals She’s Working With Mark Ronson While Sarcastically Insisting She’s Not Making An Album
Things on the Lizzo front have been relatively quiet as of late, but it turns out part of the reason for that is because she’s hard at work on new music. In fact, she just revealed that she’s working on new music with Mark Ronson and Philip Lawrence, the latter of whom is best known for his work as part of the songwriting/production team The Smeezingtons, alongside Bruno Mars and Ari Levine.
In a recent TikTok video, Lizzo responds to a comment that reads, “I HEAR AN ALBUM IS COMING.” Talking while moving the camera around to show off her surroundings, Lizzo lays the sarcasm on thick and says, “A album? Absolutely not, I’m not making no f*ckin’ album! I’m not in a studio. This isn’t Mark Ronson. This isn’t a whole board. I’m not hanging out with songwriters like [Lawrence]. [laughs] I’m not making a f*ckin’ album! Where you get that from?”
.@Lizzo reveals that she is working on new music with @MarkRonson. pic.twitter.com/BaPgxjTiIS
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) July 28, 2021
It would make sense for Lizzo to have new music out soon, considering she has a busy summer and fall ahead of her: She’s set to perform at festivals like Bonnaroo, Firefly, and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Lil Nas X Debut Album “MONTERO” Reportedly Leaks
“INDUSTRY BABY” is presently the top trending song in music as Lil Nas X continues to tease the release of his upcoming debut album MONTERO, but it looks like he may need to change his rollout plan for the album after sixteen songs reportedly leaked online this week.
According to a report by HipHopNMore, a grand total of sixteen songs were leaked from Lil Nas X’s MONTERO recording sessions. It’s unclear how many of them were actually cleared for the album release, but it’s likely that many of them were going to make the final tracklist.
Amy Sussman/BBMA2020/Getty Images
The new songs that were reportedly leaked are: “Life After Salem,” “Tales Of Dominica,” “Anomaly,” “Dolla Sign Slime,” “Void,” “You Can Awake,” “Scoop,” “One Of Me,” Lost In The Citadel,” and more. There were also tracks featuring Miley Cyrus (“Am I Dreaming”) and Sam Smith (“Empathy”) that were included in the leak. The tracklist also features previously released songs, including “INDUSTRY BABY” with Jack Harlow, “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” and “SUN GOES DOWN.”
Unless this was part of his planned rollout strategy, Lil Nas X and his label will need to seriously consider whether they still want to wait to release the album. Previously, Lil Nas said he wasn’t interested in quickly rolling out the project, allowing time for each single to properly drop. He may not have a choice now, unfortunately.
Lil Nas X has not commented on the reported leak as of the time of this publication.
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Duckwrth Teams Up With Phabo For “4K”
LA’s own Duckwrth has officially come through with his new single “4K,” set to be included on his upcoming EP SG8*, due for release this fall. Speaking on the significance of his latest tune, Duckwrth revealed his inspiration behind “4K” in a press release. “Right when outside started opening up and everyone started flocking to Tulum and Hawaii, that’s what 4K is about,” he explains. “Trying to adjust and acclimate while still having fun.”
“It’s the paradox of the recurring line, ‘Was your pandemic popping?’” he continues. “4K is a movie, and that’s what the pandemic turned into when we were let loose.” As for the music, “4K” is appropriately pristine, featuring a lush blend of synthesizers, crisp drums, and triumphant brass. Fans of the experimentally-driven artist would be wise to check this one out, and look for more where that came from when Duckwrth drops off his new EP SG8* at some point in autumn.
QUOTABLE LYRICS
Life is a beach and my baby just bought me some sandals
Stressin’ away, nothin’ new, nothin’ I cannot handle
Present me them cheeks and I’ll grip it like back with them handles