Chicago rapper Polo G is keeping the fresh music coming. The hip-hop star has come through with his new “RAPSTAR” single and music video giving the world a glimpse into his daddy duties. Polo G Shows Off Daddy Duties The Arrad-directed music video clocks in at just under three minutes and features G capturing his […]
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In the first episode of Uproxx’s newest show, Behind The Video, breakout Dallas star Erica Banks breaks down the making of the video for her viral hit, “Buss It.” Right off the bat, she debunks the belief that shooting a music video is a simple, straightforward process, then, she gets into some of the details, including the fact that she styled herself for the shoot, and even responds to a famous admirer’s YouTube comment while watching the video.
She also says that there was another “Buss It” video, but she refuses to let anyone else see it. When asked about the shorts she wears in the video, she reveals that the shorts are coming soon to her official merch site and asks fans to stay tuned.
During Banks’ visit to Uproxx Studios, she also delivered an electric live performance of “Buss It” for UPROXX Sessions. She also recently revealed that before signing to Warner Records, she was offered a deal with DaBaby’s label Billion Dollar Baby Entertainment, but turned it down to consider her options.
Watch Erica Banks break down her “Buss It” video above.
Erica Banks is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Earl Simmons, the man known to the world as Dark Man X, has passed away at the age of 50. DMX, who was best known for hits like “Party Up” and “X Gon’ Give It To Ya” and film roles in Belly and Romeo Must Die, died after an apparent relapse, overdose, and heart attack on April 2 that sent him to the hospital and prompted a wave of supportive posts on social media. After a battery of tests to determine his brain function, his family made the decision to remove him from life support.
It may sound like a cliche, but it’s true; DMX shocked the world when he first arrived on the scene in 1995, appearing with Ja Rule, Jay-Z, and Mic Geronimo on the posse cut “Time To Build” and then utterly destroying his standout verse on LL Cool J’s “4, 3, 2, 1” with Canibus, Method Man, and Redman in 1997. By the time he released his debut major-label album, It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot, anticipation was just as high as the temperature in The Bad Place, leading to a No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200. When he followed up later that year with Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood, he became the first rapper to debut at No. 1 back-to-back in the same year.
From there, he had a string of successive hit albums and singles, including … And Then There Was X, The Great Depression, and Grand Champ. Songs like “Party Up,” “What These B*tches Want,” “Who We Be,” “Where Tha Hood At,” and “X Gon’ Give It to Ya” became pop culture fixtures and have remained popular to this day, with many forming the foundation of memes and samples used in hip-hop by top rappers like ASAP Rocky and Drake.
Unfortunately, a lifelong addiction to cocaine, which started at just 14 years old after he was given a laced blunt by an acquaintance, derailed his career multiple times. Legal issues led to multiple stints in prison, including a 2017 conviction for tax fraud prompting his most recent one. After his release in 2019, he seemed to be on the road to a comeback after completing rehab, plotting out a new album featuring Griselda Records and Pop Smoke, and appearing on Verzuz alongside Snoop Dogg.
X was open about his struggles, often making them the center of dark, sometimes menacing, sometimes vulnerable rhymes on his projects. However, no matter how sinister the subject matter, he always came back to his faith; his penchant for adding prayers to his albums and live shows is well-noted. Meanwhile, his vocal pyrotechnics, ranging from a threatening growl to the explosive barks he used as ad-libs (and reportedly trained one of his actual dogs to add to his live freestyles), were made all the more impressive by his lifelong struggle with asthma — which never stopped him from performing without a hype man, pacing the stage like a caged tiger.
He often stole the show; on posse cuts like Mase’s “24 Hours To Live,” he regularly out-rapped, outboasted, or out-performed his collaborators. For a time, he had a reasonable claim to the coveted “King of New York” title in the wake of Biggie’s death, alongside Ja Rule and Jay-Z, with whom he had an alternately friendly and contentious relationship. Although they came into the game at the same time and even plotted on a group project titled “Murder Inc.,” divisions between led to the dissolution of this idea, while fans pitted them against one another in top rapper debates.
Just check out the freestyle snippet from the Def Jam tour documentary, Backstage, where you can see DMX and Jay-Z trading bars during what was likely one of mania impromptu ciphers during their 1999 Hard Knock Life Tour. Jay-Z is cool, collected, and measured as always, but DMX is downright magnetic, speeding and slowing his cadence, one moment just as disaffected as his friend/rival, the next, agitated, belligerent, showing his teeth — just like one of his beloved pets might when a stranger gets a little too close.
X contained all of these emotions and more; his music was an expression of all things hip-hop, from the streetwise braggadocio typical of the biggest hits to the exposed, bloody trauma that he was never quite able to escape from. By putting it all into his music, he expanded the bounds of what rap could be capable of; he was fallible on “Slippin’,” fiery on “Who We Be,” triumphant on “Where The Hood At,” cautioning on “Stop Being Greedy,” and even played the lothario on “What These B*tches Want.” He could be a comedian, a horror film director, an action star, a drug kingpin, a stick-up kid, and a wounded child in need of comfort.
His albums created space and precedent for future rappers like Kanye West and Kid Cudi to address their own struggles with anxiety and depression. And even though X once professed to hate everything Drake stood for, he later softened his stance, understanding that Drake’s outlook was an extension of his own, with different traumas and worries, but the same vulnerability. Kendrick Lamar credits DMX as his favorite rapper for that quality, and he’s likely not the only one who does, as we’ll likely find out in the coming weeks.
Y’all, how can this not tickle you?
https://t.co/bX5jCKI7BK pic.twitter.com/FG6A0ZomY6
— she/her/yellowbone (@eleven8) April 9, 2021
DMX’s story could be tragic, but he never let the tragedies of his life solely define him. After all, this was a man who took the internet’s fascination with his gravelly rendition of “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” and ran with it, releasing a studio version that showed his lighthearted side. He was someone who knew just how hot hell could be, but at the height of his success, got close enough to glimpse heaven. The rap world won’t be the same without him, but it already changed so much because of him. He showed us the soul of a man and hopefully, that soul is finally at peace.
One of the best shoes of all-time is the Air Jordan 1 High OG, which was first worn by Michael Jordan in 1985. The sneaker has been around for 36 years and even to this day, Jumpman is looking for ways to innovate the silhouette and make it even better. In 2021, Jordan Brand has big plans for the AJ1 and it seems like they will even be making this shoe a go-to choice for those who like to go out in the rain and other treacherous conditions.
In new renderings from @zsneakerheadz, we can see that a shoe called the Air Jordan 1 Element will be dropping later this year. The shoe is the first Air Jordan 1 to feature Gore-Tex materials along the upper, which makes it perfect for traversing tough conditions. As for the first two colorways, we will have Sail/Light Bone-College Grey-Black and Black/Chile Red-Particle Grey-Sail, which can be seen below. Overall, these are pretty interesting and they certainly bring the Air Jordan 1 into a tight little niche.
Release dates have yet to be announced for these although the Holiday season seems to be the target, at least for now. Let us know what you think of this brand new model, in the comments section below.
Lil Tjay first broke out in 2017, with a pair of consecutive Soundcloud-viral singles, “Resume” and “Brothers.” The two songs showcase the New York native’s talents, even in an early iteration, clearly: a keen sense of melody, an easy-going flow, and lyrics that showed a certain emotional state and resonated with a wide audience. Tjay would appeal to the streets via reflections on being entangled with them, in the same way he would attract a female demographic thanks to his relationship musings. Finally, wrapped up in at all is his sound– trendy and TikTok-ready, inherently for the youth, but with a touch of grit, passion and emotion, helping him also appeal to a more mature fanbase. It’s once again in this space that we find Tjay on his second studio album, Destined 2 Win.
While Destined 2 Win may keep certain themes intact from Tjay’s debut album, True 2 Myself, and his early success in general, the growth on this album is still evident, and it’s part of what makes Tjay such an exciting artist to follow. As a fan, we are able to clearly witness an evolution in real time. True 2 Myself was solid enough, however it relied more heavily on the early Soundcloud era of Tjay’s career, and failed to really explore or push that sound any further, resulting in some less-than-memorable moments. On Destined 2 Win, Tjay remedies this– perhaps one of the most obvious ways is through his production choices– the Bronx native switched tacts for his sophomore effort and enlisted an entirely different crop of producers this time around, including up-and-coming cats (DMac, JabariOnTheBeat, AriaTheProducer, Non Native and others) who are helping dictate where exactly trap, drill, and any other buzzing sub-genres are headed– and thus Tjay has ably kept himself at the fore of a new hip-hop generation.
The album’s opener is produced by one such figure, OthelloBeats (previous credits include Pop Smoke’s “Like Me”), who creates a one-minute backdrop that stews together a mix of sounds, pulling in a soulful sample from 1970’s r’n’b singer Margie Joseph to harmonize with Tjay’s own chorus of ‘oohs’, both juxtaposed beside audio of an unknown man flexing his come-up. It almost feels symbolic in a sense, Tjay both paying tribute to the past and clearly stating his future, which acts as both the album’s title and mission statement. The opening of an album is important in setting the engagement standard for the listener, as well as creating a tone and atmosphere that the listener should ostensibly be looking forward to. If the opening record is not engaging enough, the listener may opt out quickly, and discontinue streaming; if the skit is too long the listener may become equally weary; if the opening song doesn’t capture the album’s essence accurately it could derail the entire listening experience. Tjay, for his part, sets the tone masterfully. “Destined 2 Win” is not a complete record, it’s more interlude than song, however it starts the album beautifully and anticipates the sound that will soon be disseminated across the album’s 21 songs. It also leaves the listener wanting more: whether that be through a quick replay or through the next song, it reels you in to Tjay’s personal journey, from juvenile detention to worldwide fame.
While 21 records has become a new norm in tracklist length, it’s still not always optimal, although here, three of the 21 records, tacked on at the very end as ‘bonuses’ include old records: “Losses,” “Move On,” and even 2018’s Justin Bieber-sampling “None of Your Love.” It’s safe to say these songs, especially the latter, were added on for the benefit of boosting streaming numbers, and while they don’t necessarily detract from the album as a whole, they could definitely be trimmed/neglected. In terms of pulling off the lengthy tracklist, one important factor is often curation, and this is something Tjay has done successfully with Destined 2 Win, creating an album that feels playlist-like enough, and moves quickly as to make for an easy-listen all the way through. And, while all of Tjay’s songs tend to lead with an emotional drive, there’s still a dichotomy between cuts like “Calling My Phone” and “Headshot,” which translates directly to the tracklisting, as Tjay often oscillates from one arena to the other; dividing his time between serenading ladies, coping with his past, and positioning himself for a wealthy future.
Amidst all of this, though, Lil Tjay doesn’t fail to cater to our sense of rhythm, connecting each song by its melody. The hip-hop artist has always had an r’n’b bent to his sound, and it’s one he explores to varying degrees throughout songs like “What You Wanna Do,” “Love Hurts,” and “Irregular Love.” Elsewhere, Tjay appeals to the mainstream pop-consuming listener with records like “Move” featuring two radio darlings, Saweetie and Tyga, repetitive crooning, and a feel-good, bouncy beat. In another direction, “Run It Up” is the hip-hop fan’s banger, and an easy party-playlist addition for any streaming service. The piano-laden beat, produced by Josh Petruccio, tumbles along with Lil Tjay rapping perfectly in its pocket, on top of features from trap rap colleagues, Offset and Moneybagg Yo. As the album veers into its final five records, Tjay brings things full circle in waxing poetic about his past and what his future holds, concisely recalling the album’s title.
It’s becoming clear that Lil Tjay, at just 19-years old, not only has an opportunity to shape and steer hip-hop’s future sound, but to become an icon within the genre, and outside of it. On Destined 2 Win, the young artist makes it known that this is a role he not only takes seriously, but one he plans to succeed in, no matter what.
R&B crooner Ashanti does not have a new bae. The music diva has shut down dating rumors after new photos emerged of her alongside a veteran rap star in paradise. Ashanti Shuts Down Flo Rida Romance Rumors Ashanti and hip-hop heavyweight Flo Rida posted up on vacation alongside friends and family. However, the “Foolish” crooner […]
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SpotemGottem’s “Beat Box” has gone viral on platforms like TikTok and despite being about a year old at this point, the song continues to get a lot of attention from fans and various others in the hip-hop community. The track has received a ton of remixes at this point and even now, they continue to poor. In fact, NLE Choppa recently lent his voice to the track, on “Beat Box 4.”
As one can imagine, this new remix is full of energy as NLE Choppa delivers fast flows and aggressive lyrics that have a bit of a machine gun quality to them. Overall, it is exactly what you would want from the track, especially given Choppa’s stature. It’s one of the best remixes thus far, and you can stream it, below.
Quotable Lyrics:
Park the car before we hit the street, I’m hoppin’ out on feet
Get up close so I can see his teeth but I’ma keep it brief
Ask do he remember me, then introduced him to my heat
Skrrt off the block, you followin’ this car, your whip be cream cheese
Ever since bursting onto the hip-hop scene, CupcakKe has always been known for her raunchy lyrics that always reference sex in the clearest ways possible. Even the spelling of her name is a reference to a sexual act, which should tell you everything you need to know about her content. With every new song, she continues to grow as a songwriter, and on Friday, she delivered a brand new effort called “Mickey.”
With this song, CupcakKe can be heard over some unique production, all while lamenting about a guy she seemed to be cool with but eventually, he got too comfortable and wasted her time by hanging around other women. This leads to some aggressive bars about how she’s sick of being played and that moving forward, she will have all the power in her relationships. She has whoever she wants on speed dial, and is empowered to call them whenever it pleases her.
It’s yet another dope track from CupcakKe, and you can check it out, below.
Quotable Lyrics:
This that don’t call my motherfuckin’ phone no more
You want that bitch? Then you can have that hoe (Oh yeah)
Only time you seeing me now it’s through a slideshow
Tried to ride for you but man you drive too slow (Skrr)
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