Hip Hop News

Leon Bridges Busts A Move In A Slick New Video For ‘Steam’

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Leon Bridges‘ third album Gold-Diggers Sound is out today, and to celebrate, the Texas soul luminary is releasing a video for album single “Steam.” On top of being a silky-smooth song, “Steam” has Bridges in full-on groove mode. Over the course of several scenes, Bridges moves in synchronized steps with friends (and occasionally solo), while other scenes are more overtly sedate, with the camera moving through clusters of trees in twilight.

Following his last album, 2018’s Good Thing, Gold-Diggers Sound has a few singles already out, including “Sweeter,” “Motorbike,” and “Why Don’t You Touch Me.” Prior to sharing “Motorbike,” Leon gave some insight about Gold-Diggers Sound. “I created this world with @rickyreed and @natemercereau at Gold Diggers Studio in East Hollywood over the course of two very long years,” Bridges wrote in an Instagram post. “With immense joy, greater purpose, and sometimes doubt, I labored over these eleven songs, but the record truly came together when I immersed myself in everything @golddiggersla making it my home, my escape, and the center of my creative world.”

The singer added, “The record features some remarkably talented friends, longtime collaborators and I believe it’s my most personal album yet.” Gold-Diggers Sound is highlighted by guest appearances from Terrace Martin, Ink, and Robert Glasper.

Press play on the video for “Steam” above.

Gold-Diggers Sound is out now via Columbia Records. Get it here.

Leon Bridges Busts A Move In A Slick New Video For ‘Steam’

by

Leon Bridges‘ third album Gold-Diggers Sound is out today, and to celebrate, the Texas soul luminary is releasing a video for album single “Steam.” On top of being a silky-smooth song, “Steam” has Bridges in full-on groove mode. Over the course of several scenes, Bridges moves in synchronized steps with friends (and occasionally solo), while other scenes are more overtly sedate, with the camera moving through clusters of trees in twilight.

Following his last album, 2018’s Good Thing, Gold-Diggers Sound has a few singles already out, including “Sweeter,” “Motorbike,” and “Why Don’t You Touch Me.” Prior to sharing “Motorbike,” Leon gave some insight about Gold-Diggers Sound. “I created this world with @rickyreed and @natemercereau at Gold Diggers Studio in East Hollywood over the course of two very long years,” Bridges wrote in an Instagram post. “With immense joy, greater purpose, and sometimes doubt, I labored over these eleven songs, but the record truly came together when I immersed myself in everything @golddiggersla making it my home, my escape, and the center of my creative world.”

The singer added, “The record features some remarkably talented friends, longtime collaborators and I believe it’s my most personal album yet.” Gold-Diggers Sound is highlighted by guest appearances from Terrace Martin, Ink, and Robert Glasper.

Press play on the video for “Steam” above.

Gold-Diggers Sound is out now via Columbia Records. Get it here.

Leon Bridges Busts A Move In A Slick New Video For ‘Steam’

by

Leon Bridges‘ third album Gold-Diggers Sound is out today, and to celebrate, the Texas soul luminary is releasing a video for album single “Steam.” On top of being a silky-smooth song, “Steam” has Bridges in full-on groove mode. Over the course of several scenes, Bridges moves in synchronized steps with friends (and occasionally solo), while other scenes are more overtly sedate, with the camera moving through clusters of trees in twilight.

Following his last album, 2018’s Good Thing, Gold-Diggers Sound has a few singles already out, including “Sweeter,” “Motorbike,” and “Why Don’t You Touch Me.” Prior to sharing “Motorbike,” Leon gave some insight about Gold-Diggers Sound. “I created this world with @rickyreed and @natemercereau at Gold Diggers Studio in East Hollywood over the course of two very long years,” Bridges wrote in an Instagram post. “With immense joy, greater purpose, and sometimes doubt, I labored over these eleven songs, but the record truly came together when I immersed myself in everything @golddiggersla making it my home, my escape, and the center of my creative world.”

The singer added, “The record features some remarkably talented friends, longtime collaborators and I believe it’s my most personal album yet.” Gold-Diggers Sound is highlighted by guest appearances from Terrace Martin, Ink, and Robert Glasper.

Press play on the video for “Steam” above.

Gold-Diggers Sound is out now via Columbia Records. Get it here.

A Group Featuring John Legend And Keith Urban Sings ‘Imagine’ At The 2020 Olympics Opening Ceremony

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Getty Image

The 2020 Summer Olympics are getting started today, and they began, as they always do, with a grandiose Opening Ceremony. This year, singers from around the world came together to sing the John Lennon classic “Imagine” (a song, by the way, that features the lyric, “Imagine there’s no countries / It isn’t hard to do”).

Participating in the pre-taped performance were Keith Urban (representing Oceania), John Legend (America), Coro Suginami (Asia), Angelique Kidjo (Africa), and Alejandro Sanz (Europe). During the performance, a fleet of drones was positioned in the sky to form an image of a globe of Earth. As CNN notes, a guide to the ceremony explains, “Imagination has the power to unite and to move us forward. By singing this much-loved song in relay, we will spread its powerful message all over the world.”

In an interview clip Urban shared, he said, “It’s one of those songs that feels like it’s just always been there. It’s sort of like a spiritual classic. It’s almost more of a hymn than a song, you know? What lyrics stand out to me? Just the ones between the beginning and the end [laughs]. It’s an amazing song! […] Even if you don’t speak English and you don’t know what’s being said in ‘Imagine,’ you can feel it. You can feel that song.”

Watch some clips from the performance above.

A Group Featuring John Legend And Keith Urban Sings ‘Imagine’ At The 2020 Olympics Opening Ceremony

by
Getty Image

The 2020 Summer Olympics are getting started today, and they began, as they always do, with a grandiose Opening Ceremony. This year, singers from around the world came together to sing the John Lennon classic “Imagine” (a song, by the way, that features the lyric, “Imagine there’s no countries / It isn’t hard to do”).

Participating in the pre-taped performance were Keith Urban (representing Oceania), John Legend (America), Coro Suginami (Asia), Angelique Kidjo (Africa), and Alejandro Sanz (Europe). During the performance, a fleet of drones was positioned in the sky to form an image of a globe of Earth. As CNN notes, a guide to the ceremony explains, “Imagination has the power to unite and to move us forward. By singing this much-loved song in relay, we will spread its powerful message all over the world.”

In an interview clip Urban shared, he said, “It’s one of those songs that feels like it’s just always been there. It’s sort of like a spiritual classic. It’s almost more of a hymn than a song, you know? What lyrics stand out to me? Just the ones between the beginning and the end [laughs]. It’s an amazing song! […] Even if you don’t speak English and you don’t know what’s being said in ‘Imagine,’ you can feel it. You can feel that song.”

Watch some clips from the performance above.

A Group Featuring John Legend And Keith Urban Sings ‘Imagine’ At The 2020 Olympics Opening Ceremony

by
Getty Image

The 2020 Summer Olympics are getting started today, and they began, as they always do, with a grandiose Opening Ceremony. This year, singers from around the world came together to sing the John Lennon classic “Imagine” (a song, by the way, that features the lyric, “Imagine there’s no countries / It isn’t hard to do”).

Participating in the pre-taped performance were Keith Urban (representing Oceania), John Legend (America), Coro Suginami (Asia), Angelique Kidjo (Africa), and Alejandro Sanz (Europe). During the performance, a fleet of drones was positioned in the sky to form an image of a globe of Earth. As CNN notes, a guide to the ceremony explains, “Imagination has the power to unite and to move us forward. By singing this much-loved song in relay, we will spread its powerful message all over the world.”

In an interview clip Urban shared, he said, “It’s one of those songs that feels like it’s just always been there. It’s sort of like a spiritual classic. It’s almost more of a hymn than a song, you know? What lyrics stand out to me? Just the ones between the beginning and the end [laughs]. It’s an amazing song! […] Even if you don’t speak English and you don’t know what’s being said in ‘Imagine,’ you can feel it. You can feel that song.”

Watch some clips from the performance above.

Isaiah Rashad Co-Signs The TikTok Favorite Rapper Doechii On The Smooth ‘Wat U Sed’

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Isaiah Rashad’s long-awaited sophomore(!) album The House Is Burning drops next Friday, July 30, and with just one week to go, the Chattanooga rapper released one more relaxed single to build anticipation. “Wat U Sed,” which he previewed over a year ago, has been completed and is set to be included on The House Is Burning featuring guest appearances from singer Kal Banx (who has made appearances on a variety of TDE related releases in the last few years) and TikTok breakout star Doechii.

With smooth, space-funk production provided by Amaire Johnson and Rory Behr, the song describes a typical night out for Zay, which seems to include plenty of women and bass in the trunk. Guest rapper Doechii, who rose to prominence on TikTok due to the popularity of her song “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake” (which really is better than the title makes it seem), provides an anchor verse and feminine counterpoint to Isaiah’s boasts.

Rashad first made his comeback earlier this year with “Lay Wit Ya” featuring Duke Deuce, following up with “Headshots (4r Da Locals).” He also shared a few songs that got cut from the album, including “200/Warning.”

Listen to “Wat U Sed” above.

The House Is Burning is due 7/30 via TDE/Warner. Pre-save it here.

Isaiah Rashad is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Royce Da 5’9″ Responds To Lupe Fiasco’s Diss Track

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Royce Da 5’9″ has experienced enough rap beef throughout his career, and such battle scars never quite fade. Years removed from his last proper lyrical duel — a few pointed shots at Yelawolf circa The Allegory were too one-sided to count — Royce nearly found himself pulled back into an unexpected fray with Lupe Fiasco of all people.

After the pair of former podcast hosts found themselves at odds over lyrical superiority (an admitted oversimplification of the catalyst behind their recent exchange of tracks), Lupe goaded Royce into battle by hitting him with some freestyle bars on IG Live. Provoked by Lu’s brazen volley, Royce hit the studio to showcase his elite technical prowess on “Silence Of The Lambda,” hitting Lupe with a few jabs while pulling the majority of his punches.

Royce Da 5'9"

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

The same could not be said of Lupe’s rebuttal, however. “Steve Jobs,” recorded shortly after “Lambda” landed, found Lupe getting surprisingly personal, unleashing a thrashing that may very well have caught Nickel unawares. Given the upped ante, many were eager to see Royce unleash a retaliatory combo, matching Lupe’s energy and taking things back to his “Malcolm X” days. Alas, Royce has since taken to Twitter to quell the bloodlust, confirming that he will not be issuing a second round  — at least, not yet.

“I won’t attack Lu personally,” he confirms. “I’m a real one with control of my emotions though desperate times call for desperate measures. You gotta talk reckless when you know you can’t check all them boxes. Tried to tell him, I’m different.”

While many respected his decision to sit back and be the bigger person, others felt that Royce was missing an opportunity to assert dominance over an equally formidable opponent. To be fair, it’s entirely possible that some of Lu’s bars struck a nerve, and Nickle simply didn’t want to return to such a headspace. The rift has already led to the end of their podcast, as confirmed by Lupe shortly after the release of “Steve Jobs,” so it’s clear that both parties have been affected by the recent exchange.

Still, it’s impossible to deny that Royce is a competitor, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him retract on his statement if goaded further. For now, however, it would appear that this duel has come to an end. Brief though it may have been, it certainly left us no shortage of bars to unpack — be sure to check out all of the best lyrics from both “Lambda” and “Steve Jobs” right here. 

Royce Da 5’9″ Responds To Lupe Fiasco’s Diss Track

by

Royce Da 5’9″ has experienced enough rap beef throughout his career, and such battle scars never quite fade. Years removed from his last proper lyrical duel — a few pointed shots at Yelawolf circa The Allegory were too one-sided to count — Royce nearly found himself pulled back into an unexpected fray with Lupe Fiasco of all people.

After the pair of former podcast hosts found themselves at odds over lyrical superiority (an admitted oversimplification of the catalyst behind their recent exchange of tracks), Lupe goaded Royce into battle by hitting him with some freestyle bars on IG Live. Provoked by Lu’s brazen volley, Royce hit the studio to showcase his elite technical prowess on “Silence Of The Lambda,” hitting Lupe with a few jabs while pulling the majority of his punches.

Royce Da 5'9"

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

The same could not be said of Lupe’s rebuttal, however. “Steve Jobs,” recorded shortly after “Lambda” landed, found Lupe getting surprisingly personal, unleashing a thrashing that may very well have caught Nickel unawares. Given the upped ante, many were eager to see Royce unleash a retaliatory combo, matching Lupe’s energy and taking things back to his “Malcolm X” days. Alas, Royce has since taken to Twitter to quell the bloodlust, confirming that he will not be issuing a second round  — at least, not yet.

“I won’t attack Lu personally,” he confirms. “I’m a real one with control of my emotions though desperate times call for desperate measures. You gotta talk reckless when you know you can’t check all them boxes. Tried to tell him, I’m different.”

While many respected his decision to sit back and be the bigger person, others felt that Royce was missing an opportunity to assert dominance over an equally formidable opponent. To be fair, it’s entirely possible that some of Lu’s bars struck a nerve, and Nickle simply didn’t want to return to such a headspace. The rift has already led to the end of their podcast, as confirmed by Lupe shortly after the release of “Steve Jobs,” so it’s clear that both parties have been affected by the recent exchange.

Still, it’s impossible to deny that Royce is a competitor, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him retract on his statement if goaded further. For now, however, it would appear that this duel has come to an end. Brief though it may have been, it certainly left us no shortage of bars to unpack — be sure to check out all of the best lyrics from both “Lambda” and “Steve Jobs” right here. 

Royce Da 5’9″ Responds To Lupe Fiasco’s Diss Track

by

Royce Da 5’9″ has experienced enough rap beef throughout his career, and such battle scars never quite fade. Years removed from his last proper lyrical duel — a few pointed shots at Yelawolf circa The Allegory were too one-sided to count — Royce nearly found himself pulled back into an unexpected fray with Lupe Fiasco of all people.

After the pair of former podcast hosts found themselves at odds over lyrical superiority (an admitted oversimplification of the catalyst behind their recent exchange of tracks), Lupe goaded Royce into battle by hitting him with some freestyle bars on IG Live. Provoked by Lu’s brazen volley, Royce hit the studio to showcase his elite technical prowess on “Silence Of The Lambda,” hitting Lupe with a few jabs while pulling the majority of his punches.

Royce Da 5'9"

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

The same could not be said of Lupe’s rebuttal, however. “Steve Jobs,” recorded shortly after “Lambda” landed, found Lupe getting surprisingly personal, unleashing a thrashing that may very well have caught Nickel unawares. Given the upped ante, many were eager to see Royce unleash a retaliatory combo, matching Lupe’s energy and taking things back to his “Malcolm X” days. Alas, Royce has since taken to Twitter to quell the bloodlust, confirming that he will not be issuing a second round  — at least, not yet.

“I won’t attack Lu personally,” he confirms. “I’m a real one with control of my emotions though desperate times call for desperate measures. You gotta talk reckless when you know you can’t check all them boxes. Tried to tell him, I’m different.”

While many respected his decision to sit back and be the bigger person, others felt that Royce was missing an opportunity to assert dominance over an equally formidable opponent. To be fair, it’s entirely possible that some of Lu’s bars struck a nerve, and Nickle simply didn’t want to return to such a headspace. The rift has already led to the end of their podcast, as confirmed by Lupe shortly after the release of “Steve Jobs,” so it’s clear that both parties have been affected by the recent exchange.

Still, it’s impossible to deny that Royce is a competitor, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him retract on his statement if goaded further. For now, however, it would appear that this duel has come to an end. Brief though it may have been, it certainly left us no shortage of bars to unpack — be sure to check out all of the best lyrics from both “Lambda” and “Steve Jobs” right here.