Hip Hop News

Jorja Smith Flaunts Her Worth In The Self-Recorded ‘Addicted’ Video

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These days, it’s only on rare occasion that Jorja Smith drops new music. Following the success of her 2018 debut album Lost & Found, fans have been anxiously awaiting any word of new projects from the singer — and they finally got it on Wednesday. Smith returned to debut her song “Addicted,” the first solo single she’s released since the 2020 protest anthem “By Any Means.”

Directed by Savanah Leaf and Smith herself, the “Addicted” video sees the singer reflecting on her love life within the confines of her home. The grainy visual mirrors the slow-burning nature of the song, which sees Smith reeling from the aftermath of a toxic relationship. Smith sings her cathartic lyrics to her computer screen while moving through various rooms in her home. “The hardest thing / I’m too selfless to leave / You’re the only thing that I need / You should be addicted to me,” she croons.

While “Addicted” marks the first single Smith has released in 2021, the singer shared a handful of tracks in 2020. Along with her empowering song “By Any Means,” Smith took on a cover of the jazz classic “Rose Rouge” for a compilation record organized by legendary label Blue Note Records. Smith also teamed up with Popcaan to lend her vocals on the upbeat collaboration “Come Over.”

Watch Smith’s “Addicted” video above.

Elizabeth Banks To Direct Thriller Inspired By 80s “Cocaine Bear” Incident

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Sequels, spinoffs, and remakes have plagued Hollywood for years, but Universal Pictures appears to have an answer for American cinephiles’ sequel fatigue: an original film based on the peculiar 80s news story about a bear overdosing on cocaine in North Georgia. According to Complex, Elizabeth Banks — the actress known for her roles in The Hunger Games, Pitch Perfect, and The 40-Year-Old Virgin — has officially signed to direct the aptly titled Cocaine Bear. 

Although not much narrative insight has been provided in regards to Cocaine Bear, Complex reports that the thriller will be written by Jimmy Warden and produced under Lord Miller’s first-look deal with Universal Pictures, and it will be built upon the premise of the 1985 incident involving a bear who died of a drug overdose in North Georgia. During the 80s, it was reported that state authorities had found a 175-pound bear dead after it apparently discovered and consumed a large batch of cocaine.

Complex reports that investigators suspected that the drugs consumed by the unassuming bear were discarded by convicted drug smuggler Andrew Thornton, who was known as the leader of a Kentucky drug-trafficking ring called “The Company” and found dead in Tennessee driveway after a speculated parachuting accident.

Whether Cocaine Bear explores the lore of Andrew Thorton or focuses entirely on that poor bear, expect more information regarding Universal Pictures’ thriller once it begins production later this summer.

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Jorja Smith Releases Her New Single “Addicted”

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The few offerings we’ve received from UK singer Jorja Smith since her 2018 debut have left us wondering what direction she’ll be heading next. It’s been nearly three years since the release of Lost & Found, an album that cemented her as a leading voice in a modern era of R&B. This week, she released her latest single, “Addicted,” a melancholic, calming indie-pop tune that seemingly takes on more obscure influences.

The singer said in a press release that “Addicted” is about “focusing on wanting the full attention of someone who’s not giving enough (or any) when they should be.”

The release of “Addicted” arrives shortly after releasing the remix to “Come Over” with Oboy.

Check out Jorja Smith’s latest single which arrived alongside a music video below and sound off with your thoughts in the comments.

Quotable Lyrics
You should be addicted to me
I’m the only thing that you should need
You should be addicted to me

Haviah Mighty & TOBi Team Up On “Good On My Own Tonight”

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Toronto artists Haviah Mighty and TOBi have been seeing much success in recent times. Even though they’ve discussed working with each other, it just hasn’t happened until their latest collaboration, “Good On My Own Tonight.” Serving as the latest offering from Haviah’s recent string of releases, she and TOBi flex their lyricism over a haunting beat co-produced by Haviah and Mighty Prynce as they reflect on the necessity to put yourself first.

On creating the song, Haviah said, “TOBi and I had been talking about working on something for years, so we finally made it happen. We collaborated first on the Toronto Remix for his track 24, which inspired working together again on this project.”

Check out Haviah Mighty and TOBi’s “Good On My Own Tonight” below.

Quotable Lyrics
Look at this medal I wear it with pride
We go high we never decline
Pinot Noir I’m better with time
Know you gotta watch your back when the shots ain’t coming from behind enemy lines

Breonna Taylor’s Boyfriend Kenneth Walker Charges Permanently Dropped

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The boyfriend of Breonna Taylor, Kenneth Walker, had his charges permanently dismissed by a Kentucky judge after a Monday ruling. Judge Olu Stevens ruled that Walker cannot be re-charged– the crimes and the charges would be dismissed with prejudice. 

Last May, the charges against Walker were dropped without prejudice, meaning that he could be charged again if new information presented itself during the investigation. In a new report, prosecutors have noted that the investigation is now complete and that there is “no new information relevant to the charges” regarding Walker. 

Walker was initially arrested and charged with assault and attempted murder after shooting Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly in the thigh on March 13, 2020. Having obtained a no-knock search warrant, LMPD officers Jonathan Mattingly, Brett Hankison, and Myles Cosgrove, barged into Taylor’s home on March 13th, 2020, while Taylor and Walker were asleep, in what has since been described as a “botched raid.” The raid was part of an ongoing drug investigation, with the officers wrongly suspecting Taylor. Thinking that the officers were intruders, Walker, a licensed gun owner, allegedly shot Mattingly in the leg, prompting the police officers to open fire with 32 shots of their own, six of which hit Taylor.

breonna taylor kenneth walker charges dropped

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During the raid, officers were looking for an ex-boyfriend of Taylor’s, Jamarcus Glover, and entered the apartment in search of illegal drugs. Taylor was a 26-year-old emergency medical technician when she was killed and had no criminal record. Glover was later arrested on drug charges last August. 

Hankison was the only officer charged, giving him one count of wanton endangerment. According to The New York Times, Louisville city officials settled to pay Breonna Taylor’s family $12 million as part of the settlement, which also includes changes in policing to prevent future deaths.

Walker sued the city of Louisville and LMPD in September, seeking immunity and alleging he was the victim of police misconduct, but Stevens denied a motion to grant immunity. Walker faces a civil suit from Mattingly for the “severe trauma, mental anguish and emotional distress” Walker allegedly caused him the night of Taylor’s death and in the following months.

Rest in peace, Breonna Taylor.

Brandy To Make Her TV Comeback In ABC’s Hip-Hop Drama “Queens”

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Those who spent quarantine revisiting throwback episodes of Moesha now have reason to celebrate once more because Brandy Norwood is heading back to television in a new series to air on ABC. Following her role as Cassandra Augustine “Cassie” Brown in Fox’s Star from 2017 to 2019, Brandy is reportedly giving television another shot, and she’s set to star alongside a new bunch of music industry heavyweights.

According to Deadline, ABC’s upcoming Hip-Hop drama Queens will star Brandy, Eve, and Naturi Naughton in an upcoming pilot, co-produced by Scandal alum Zahir McGhee and Desperate Housewives veteran Sabrina Wind. Queens will feature the stacked cast of women trying to revitalize their dismantled 90s Hip-Hop group, famously known as Nasty B*tches.

Brandy will reportedly play the role of Naomi a.k.a. Xplicit Lyrics, who jumped ship from the declining group to pursue a solo career, but after her solo career and personal life didn’t go the way she thought, she’ll have to reunite with her girls, her true love, and the rival group member who stole that him from her.

Deadline also reports that Grammy winners Brandy and Eve will record and perform original songs for the show as their characters.

Are you excited to see Brandy, Eve, and Naturi Naughton in action when the pilot of Queens airs on ABC?

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Kevin Durant Says “No One Is More Authentic” Than Freddie Gibbs

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On Sunday, we’ll find out who the Academy believes deserves the recognition for their efforts over the course of the past year.  The Best Rap Album category includes Freddie Gibbs & Alchemist, D Smoke, Nas, Royce Da 5’9″, and Jay Electronica are nominated for their respective releases in 2020. Freddie Gibbs and Alchemist’s Alfredo, which topped HotNewHipHop’s best albums of 2020 list, seems like it could be a strong contender to take home the award.


Johnny Nunez/WireImage/Getty Images

During a recent profile on Freddie Gibbs for The Ringer, Nets star and close friend to Gangsta Gibbs, Kevin Durant, offered praise for the rapper and the progression he’s made. KD added that Gibbs is only getting started right now. “It just feels like he’s only hitting his prime now,” said Durant. “He can make records with anyone, but still has that versatility and killer mentality in the booth. You can tell how much he cares about his art and no one is more authentic. In his music, you can see both the humor and the pain.”

Durant and Gibbs have spoken highly of each other in the past. Following the release of Bandana, Durant appeared on Hot 97 where he seemingly challenged Ebro on why artists like Freddie Gibbs couldn’t get airplay during primetime slots. Ultimately, Ebro said there was an exception to be made because Durant made the request but admitted that people probably wouldn’t want to have Gibbs and Push discussing coke transactions on “Palmolive” with their kids in the car.

Do you think Freddie Gibbs & Alchemist will be winning the Grammy for Best Rap Album? Sound off in the comments. 

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D Smoke Pays Homage To ‘Sade’ And Remixes The Snoop Dogg-Featuring ‘Gaspar Yanga’ For Spotify

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Just a day after Chika’s Grammy-week Spotify Singles release found her covering Billie Eilish, Chika’s fellow Best New Artist nominee D Smoke drops his own Spotify Singles package, including a remix of his Snoop Dogg-featuring “Gaspar Yanga” and new song “Sade.” “Sade” is an ode to the music of the British singer, but it’s also an homage to the healing power of music overall, as he addresses the hardships of his upbringing in Inglewood, California, and how music helps to ease his mind.

Meanwhile, on the more aggressive “Gaspar Yanga,” D Smoke does a little chest-beating, boasting of his success and strength. The remix is a rarity in 2021, as it’s an actual “remix” of the beat, utilizing a different sample after the original took its leading looping from the Koutev Bulgarian National Ensemble’s 1991 rendition of “Bre, Petrunko.”

D Smoke discussed his Grammy nominations — he’s also up for Best Rap Album — with Ebro Darden on Apple Music, explaining what the nominations meant for him just a year after his breakout in the wake of winning the first season of Netflix’s Rhythm + Flow. “I appreciate that because a lot of people think popularity is the determinant factor,” he said. “A lot of people determine their success by the numbers. When you got artists on their own dime and their own time that make something happen, that’s worth recognizing. It’s artists that stream more than me. It’s artists that have more radio play than me. But if we’re talking about what I put out and the company that I’m amongst, I’m proud to see that list.”

Listen to D Smoke’s Spotify Singles, “Gaspar Yanga (Remix)” and “Sade,” below.

Lena Waithe Launches A New Label, Hillman Grad Records, With Def Jam

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Queen & Slim creator Lena Waithe is making the jump from film and TV into music, announcing the creation of a new label with Def Jam, Hillman Grad Records (named for Waithe’s production company, which itself is named for the fictional HBCU in A Different World). Waithe will be joined by Tebs Maqubela and Albert Cooke to “identify and develop underrepresented artists in hopes of priming them for long-term success,” according to a press release. Maquebela previously helped develop Brockhampton, while Cooke worked in Artist Development at Island Def Jam and Artist Relations at SoundCloud.

Waithe detailed the importance of storytelling in music in a statement, saying, “Music and storytelling have always gone hand in hand. And I think that’s because musicians are the storytellers we love the most. They can take complex emotions and simplify it in four minutes, the same artist can sing about the revolution and falling in love. Music is a part of us. It’s so often connected to our fondest and sometimes our darkest memories. Musicians tell our story. At Hillman Grad Productions we believe in identifying and amplifying new talent, and we want to continue to do that in the music industry. Jeff Harleston and his phenomenal team at Def Jam have given us their trust and their resources to help develop artists that not only have potential but staying power. We look forward to the journey ahead.” Interestingly enough, Waithe isn’t the only film talent getting into the music business.

In 2020, Atlantic Records partnered with television and film creator Issa Rae for Raedio, a new record label that has since been the launching pad for a number of successful emerging artists like Pink Sweats, Teamarr, and Yung Baby Tate, as well as the Insecure soundtrack. If this sort of thing really does become a trend, it’ll go a long way toward reversing a dire lack of Black and female executives in the recording industry, bringing new voices to the fore, which we’re all the way here for. Someone get Quinta Brunson on the phone.

Big U Shuts Down Quando Rondo: “You Can’t Call Me Now”

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The mind behind Hip Hop Uncovered, Eugene “Big U” Henley has been running some press to speak about his latest business endeavors. A legendary man in music and one of the most notorious street presences, former Crips leader Big U linked up with Bimmy Antney at The Breakfast Club to touch on the street influence in hip-hop, documenting the culture, and more. When speaking about why young rappers should be connecting more with OGs, Big U touched on Quando Rondo’s specific situation, revealing that the Georgia-based artist reached out to him a few days ago.

Quando Rondo, who reps Crip, has been making all kinds of headlines for the last few months because of his involvement in King Von’s murder. The rapper reportedly got into an altercation with Von in an Atlanta nightclub’s parking lot before shots were fired, leading to Von’s death. While Quando was not charged with any crimes, he is still facing a lot of heat for the situation, and according to Big U, he tried to get the legend’s help in the last week before he was turned down.

Speaking about how young artists often don’t think to connect with OGs when they’re moving around different hoods, Big U said, “They got your number, they know who you is, but they feel like they bigger than the program. You got a lot of dudes that claim my neighborhood that’s in this music sh*t but they don’t really f*ck with us until it’s a problem, and then they call us. Like Quando Rondo. I just showed Envy, like, you can’t call me now. You can’t call me when the fire hot. You didn’t f*ck with me before that. You had my number, you could have called me, you could have did all that. He was around and about but how does that feel to me and how does that feel to our team?”

Watch the full interview with Eugene “Big U” Henley and Bimmy Antney below.