Hip Hop News

The rollout is in full effect for Kanye West, who continues to mysteriously tease his tenth studio album. Holding a secret listening party in Las Vegas this weekend, hundreds of fans and music journalists got a chance to hear Kanye’s upcoming new album, which reportedly features Travis Scott, Baby Keem, Future, Lil Baby, Griselda, and more. 

Apparently, that wasn’t the only release party that Kanye has planned for this era. There are invites being sent for an upcoming event at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on June 22, which seemingly includes the potential album cover for Donda, which is expected to release this week. Although it was initially believed that the design was made by North West, it was later revealed that Louise Bourgeois is the artist behind the cover. She started making art to work through the trauma of losing her mother at a young age, and one of her most famous pieces has been transformed and remixed into Kanye’s artwork.

Justin LaBoy, whom Kanye played the album for this weekend, says the project will be released this week and it’s a “classic.” 

In addition to his own new music on the way, Kanye West has a producer credit on Lil Nas X’s next single “Industry Baby,” working alongside Take A Daytrip for the upcoming record. 

Check out the alleged cover below.

August 3rd will determine who the biggest crew out of New York City is — Dipset or The LOX. It’s a massive return to the big stage for both collectives but things have been heating up in recent times. Styles P and Jim Jones have been exchanging shots online recently. Styles declared that Dipset can’t outrap them before Jim Jones fired back, proclaiming that he’ll be smoking on The LOX pack at Verzuz.

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The hilarious exchange kept social media eventful over the weekend but it’s extending into a new week since Styles P has made it clear that things are “on site when I catch that n***a.” And no, he’s not talking about anyone from Dipset. The rapper took to Instagram where he expressed his concern about Jim Jones’ recent banter which P said is a result of laced weed.

“On August 3rd, I’m fucking somebody up. And physically, I mean. I’m gonna tell you why I’m fuckin’ somebody up physically,” he said. “This is getting really out of hand and I’m pissed off and I’m gettin’ upset because I love Jim Jones. I don’t know who is lacing this n***a’s weed! When I find the n***a lacing Jim Jones’ weed, I’m fuckin’ you up.”

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P explained that he concluded the recent commentary from the Dipset rapper is likely a result of smoking something more than cannabis. “I love Jim Jones. Who lacing this n***a’s shit? Why they doin’ Capo like that, man?!” He added. “As I thought about it, I said ‘somebody’s lacin’ Capo’s weed, man. This n***a talkin’ crazy.'”

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Of course, this is partially due to Jones challenging all three members of Dipset to a pull-up challenge and the overall braggadocious nature of the Harlem collective. In a separate post, Styles made it clear that he can still lift wait and proved so by carrying a 255 lbs. man on his back.

“Just making sure this 170 pound plant based frame can carry @jimjonescapo out the garden after multiple joints n a few drinks after we finish them boys,” he wrote in the caption. “he my brothers so I at least want to be to carry him out the garden on my back .. by the 3rd I may be able to get him to at least 57th st st on Cge back. I’m a little rusty when it come to carrying and dumping big fellas on they back but I should be good by the 3rd!!!!!”

Check out Styles P’s post below.

2020 was a year unlike any other. In the music industry, recording artists needed to be resourceful in how they approached their finances, no longer able to depend on touring to pad their bank accounts. Instead, music’s biggest moneymakers focused mostly on streaming and other forms of revenue to make their money during the pandemic.

Billboard has officially released its list of the highest-paid music artists in 2020, which shows how hip-hop has dominated as a genre in the last year. Some of the names on the list are expected, and others will come as a surprise.

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For starters, Taylor Swift reportedly earned $23.8 million in 2020, splitting funds evenly from sales and streaming and also making $3 million from publishing. Post Malone was the second-highest earner, making over $8 million from streaming, $700K from sales, and over $12 million from touring. Céline Dion earned the third spot, making much of her fortune from touring.

Billie Eilish also made the list with $14.7 million in fifth place, and Drake slid behind her with $12.2 million. 

Perhaps most surprisingly, YoungBoy Never Broke Again made his debut on the list, cranking in $11.9 million last year with much of that coming from streaming. He was placed right after The Beatles. With $11.7 million, Lil Baby came in at No. 10.

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Narrowly missing the Top 10 were The Weeknd, Eminem, Lil Uzi Vert, DaBaby, Bad Bunny, Future, and more.

Check out the full list of music’s top earners below.

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In a matter of weeks, we got two collaborations including back-to-back verses from Jay-Z and Nas. Once was on DJ Khaled’s new album and the other, on DMX’s posthumous album Exodus. A decade and a half prior, no one would’ve ever expected either of them to be on the same track together. Their intense feud throughout the 2000s is remembered as one of the most iconic beefs in hip-hop. However, bipartisan collaborators took a risk when working with either party.

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Scarface and Nas locked in for the record, “In Between Us” off of The Fix. Though fans have grown to love the collaboration between the Houston OG and the East Coast legend, Scarface revealed that Nas’ verse was re-written. During a recent appearance on Drink Champs, Scarface revealed that he was forced to ask Nas to do another verse as the original take contained vile subliminal shots at Jay-Z.

“And Nas, the first verse he took, was some of the stuff he laid down on ‘Ether.’ Some of those lyrics. I hope your wife cook your food with her period blood or something, you know,” Scarface recalled as N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN were taken aback by the visuals of that bar.

“He said that on ‘In Between Us’ and I was like, ‘Nah, Nas. We can’t go at cuz like that, you know. Not on here,'” Scarface continued. “Nas went at Jay on that record.”

Scarface said he can’t recall the specific bars aimed towards HOV but he admitted Nas “went off.” “He went back and did a whole other verse and it was, you know, it was clean. It was just as dope,” he said. 

N.O.R.E. asked whether Scarface ever felt that he had to court any drama between Jay and Nas at the time. He explained that, regardless of what was happening between them, he had no need to involve himself in any drama.

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“I watch the bombs fly over here but I don’t never reach in and grab one. That ain’t where I’m at,” he said. “I’m not in there. Like, don’t fuckin’ put me in that shit. If y’all squabblin’, my n***a, then let me stay where I’m at. I got my own lane.”

Revisit “In Between Us” below. 

Ever since she was a teenager, Tinashe wanted to be included in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition. This week, she accomplished that dream, becoming the first independent music artist to feature in the annual edition. She also says that she’s the first woman with braids to have photos in the Swimsuit edition.

Sharing her pictures on Instagram, Tinashe wrote, “I feel like I manifested this because I’ve wanted to be in the swim edition since I was a teenager!! Thank you @sportsillustrated pretty cool to be the first independent music artist in the magazine and also the first woman with braids.”

Michael Loccisano/Getty Images 

Tinashe wears a gold bikini and plays in the sand for her shots. She proudly shows off her braids in some pictures, also putting on a black cut-out one-piece for alternating pics. 

Sports Illustrated released the Swimsuit edition earlier today, with three covers featuring Megan Thee Stallion, Naomi Osaka, and Leyna Bloom. Megan Thee Stallion is the first rapper to appear on the cover, and Leyna Bloom is the first trans woman to pose for the cover. With Tinashe becoming the first independent artist in the magazine, a lot of history is being made today.

Check out Tinashe’s photos below.