Earlier this year, a woman named Sabrina Peterson accused ATL rapper T.I. of holding a gun to her head and threatening to kill her. After the accusation, Sabrina claims T.I. and Tiny have been trying to smear her name with public statements and posts on social media, doing anything they can to ruin her reputation. According to Peterson’s defamation lawsuit, Tiny referred to her on social media as “strange,” and added, “everybody know you been special.” Sabrina claims she’s since become the target of online harassment and threatening messages, but T.I. claims she can’t sue them over those comments because they are just opinions. And he’s now asking a judge to toss out the defamation suit according to TMZ.
The rapper’s lawyer, Andrew Brettler, claims Peterson “is an adjudged liar, a convicted felon with a lengthy rap sheet for crimes involving dishonesty and violent assault, and has a reputation for being unscrupulous” … and he says there’s no way T.I. and Tiny could make her reputation take a hit.
T.I. says Peterson’s defamation lawsuit is nothing more than a publicity stunt, and he wants a judge to toss it away. We’ll have to wait and see if that happens though.
This latest report comes just days after Sabrina said T.I. offered another Grand Hustle rapper $25K to kill her. Read more about that ridiculous story right here if you missed it.
If you’re a hockey fan, then you know that the Montreal Canadiens are the most iconic team in the history of the NHL. With 24 championship banners, the Canadiens are a club with a celebrated past although in recent years, they haven’t had a lot to cheer about. Despite having the best goalie in the league, Carey Price, the Canadiens have struggled to do damage in the playoffs, however, this year, that all changed.
The Habs had the worst record of any team that made the playoffs and in their first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, they were down 3 games to 1. Eventually, they came back and won the series before knocking off the Winnipeg Jets in 4. In the Stanley Cup semi-finals, the Habs played the Las Vegas Golden Knights who were favored to win it all. In true underdog fashion, the Habs had other plans and defeated them in six games, with the pivotal match going down last night in Montreal. The game was decided in overtime and as you can imagine, Habs fans were excited about their team’s accomplishment.
Police cars were flipped over and smashed all while the streets were filled with fans who were going crazy. This is the first Stanley Cup Finals appearance for the Canadiens in 28 years. The Habs won it all in 1993 and this current playoff run contains numerous similarities to that season. Needless to say, there is a lot to be happy about in Montreal right now.
The Canadiens will now await the winner of the series between the New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning, which is headed to a Game 7 tonight. The Stanley Cup Finals will begin on Monday, June 28th.
Now, it appears that some pretty attentive listeners have noticed that Tyler’s longtime collaborator Frank Ocean actually makes a surprise appearance on one of Call Me If You Get Lost‘s standout tracks. According to Uproxx, Frank pops up on the 42 Dugg-assisted “LEMONHEAD” and performs a few spoken-word lines.
Karl Walter/Getty Images
While it’s not the Frank and Tyler collaboration that most fans were probably hoping for, it’s always great to see the two former Odd Future artists connect on wax. According to Uproxx, Frank Ocean’s spoken-word segment highlights the acclaimed artist and activist Ai Weiwei, whose famous work titled “Bowls Of Pearls” — which consists of two porcelain bowls filled with pearls, made to look like bowls of rice — reportedly sold for an astonishing $391,500.
“My bro is runnin’ his finger around th-the Ai Weiwei, Ai Veivei bowl,” Frank can be heard reciting during the song’s outro. “I got that sh*t sittin’ on my counter like a fruit bowl, that’s like a hundred racks. I like the color green, in every shade. I like life. Mine, like, my life. Don’t f*cking bite, y’all n*ggas love to steal.”
Listen to the 42 Dugg-featured track “LEMONHEAD” from Tyler, The Creator’s latest full-length album Call Me If You Get Lost below. Frank Ocean makes his uncredited appearance at the 1:45-mark.
RZA’s love for cinema is well-known — in fact, it’s the core of the entire Wu-Tang brand. After launching his Saturday Afternoon Kung Fu Theater event this spring to announce his upcoming solo album, today, he shared a new single with the same title to further promote the return of his alter ego Bobby Digital. The high-concept album finds RZA verbally sparring with Bobby Digital over throwback production courtesy of longtime collaborator and friend DJ Scratch.
The concept posits Bobby Digital as a more outgoing version of the rapper inspired more by exploitation flicks like Shaft and The Mack (just check out the original RZA As Bobby Digital In Stereoalbum cover from 1998, inspired by classic movie posters). Meanwhile, the “RZA” persona is the more contemplative aspect of himself, influenced by the aged kung-fu masters in the Shaw Brothers films from which he borrowed the Wu-Tang ethos.
DJ Scratch, whose career credits include albums from the likes of Busta Rhymes, EPMD, Flipmode Squad, The Roots, and Talib Kweli, is executive producing RZA Vs. Bobby Digital, prompting RZA to say in a statement, “He delivered tracks that resonated and brought me back to a sound that I felt was missing. For me, it was really natural for me to flow and write to these songs.”
Listen to RZA’s new single “Saturday Afternoon Kung Fu Theater Part 1” above.
The RX is Uproxx Music’s stamp of approval for the best albums, songs, and music stories throughout the year. Inclusion in this category is the highest distinction we can bestow, and signals the most important music being released throughout the year. The RX is the music you need, right now.
It’s been a while since mainstream pop stars got absolutely weird. Thankfully, artists like Doja Cat are carrying on the legacy of the likes of Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj, while saving the mainstream pool from getting dull.
“All the goofy kids, or the kids who don’t put themselves on a pedestal, or are just not normally accepted — I feel like making that example is good for those kids,” Doja said in her April Billboard cover story. “Because maybe they felt like they could never make it in an industry where everybody is so serious. It’s important that they know they have a lane.”
Staying true to her guts is mainly the reason for the 25-year-old’s rapid ascension, who thrives off of testing a whole myriad of boundaries. Whether it’s refusing to stick to one lane (she flips through rap, R&B and pop with ease), unleashing variousrenditions of “Say So” because she grew tired of performing the original version, or rocking the kookiest of outfits (2018’s viral “Mooo!” look being the most notorious), it’s clear Doja Cat lives for the thrill. So much so that she left Planet Earth and invited fans inside her new Planet Her album.
Arriving today, the 14-song collection finds the artist at her most confident. 2018’s Amala debut and 2019’s Hot Pink showcased her impressive versatility. Those albums were a yummy trail mix of talents, and Planet Her is the glue that brings it all together.
The album opens with the Afrobeats-inspired “Woman”, drifting listeners not to another planet — but the motherland. Similar to Amala’s “Wine Pon You” featuring dancehall star Konshens and Hot Pink’s “Won’t Bite” that samples 1945 Swahili love song “My Angel (Malaika)“, “Woman” is a hip-shaking celebration of the African diaspora. While bringing her heritage to the forefront (Doja’s father is South African), she shout outs Rihanna’s admirable CEO status as well as her own “divine feminine” allure. Later on “Alone,” Doja channels Rih’s come-hither attitude.
Women’s bodies double as a place of worship, and Doja Cat continues to highlight every inch of her curves on “Naked.” The artist has grown even more comfortable in her skin, and embracing sexuality is an integral theme on Planet Her. It’s best executed on the seductive “You Right.” Here, Doja reunites with The Weeknd, whom she previously collaborated on his “In Your Eyes” remix last May. The Weeknd, who is fresh off his ‘80s-inspired After Hours era, has retired the red suit and briefly returns to the dark sluttiness that longtime fans have been longing for. “But this sex will cloud your memory. A couple strokes will put an end and you’ll belong to me,” he urges in hopes Doja will leave her man.
One of Doja’s best traits is how she shapeshifts her sound to compliment guests. Along with “You Right,” she’s a gracious host on Planet Her, melding her tone to pair with Ariana Grande’s signature sultry coos on “I Don’t Do Drugs” and pumps up Young Thug for a glorious battle of the rap weirdos on “Payday.”
But there are stale moments to be avoided on Planet Her, including the forgettable “Been Like This” and “Imagine.” “Get Into It (Yuh)” is a SoundCloud rapper parody, which may or may not be a nod to when she first blew up on the streaming platform with 2012’s “So High.” What saves the track is the absolutely adorable Nicki Minaj shoutout towards the end, a reminder that the OG rapper is not only an inspiration but the one who pushed the “Say So” remix to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100.
And then there’s the shadow of Dr. Luke: In 2014, Kesha hit the pop producer/songwriter with various allegations including rape and emotional abuse. The year prior, Doja Cat signed to his Kemosabe Records and hasn’t acknowledged the working relationship. Dr. Luke’s career has remained intact and has credits on “Need To Know,” “You Right,” and “Kiss Me More,” which is difficult to shake off.
But songs like “Ain’t Sh*t” and “Need To Know” help the album achieve its vision. The former, which Doja first previewed on Instagram Live last April, will satisfy fans who’ve awaited its official version. The stripped piano melody of “Ain’t Sh*t” calls back to Elton John’s 1974 classic “Bennie And The Jets,” but that original song’s sincerity is sharply juxtaposed with Doja’s beloved dry humor and a rightfully fed up attitude of the opposite sex (“You should’ve paid my rent / Got get a f**king job!).
“Need To Know” is the best song on Planet Her: an otherworldly joyride driven by the mad scientist that is Doja Cat. She’s in true alien form here: a raunchy freak, cooing baby, helium sucker, and frantic spitter over a galaxy of ice-cold trap melodies. Lyrics like “I don’t play with my pen / I mean what I writе” and “Oh, wait, you a fan of the magic? / Poof, pussy like an Alakazam” is Doja getting deep in her cocky rap bag and it’s exciting to hear.
If Doja Cat’s multiple live performances that highlight her classically trained dance skills, the feast of music videos that call back to the glory days of Busta Rhymes and Missy Elliott, or the expertly twisted wordplay weren’t enough, then Planet Her will solidify her star status. As Earth continues to slowly crumble — from climate change to social injustices — I’ll gladly book a one-way ticket and escape to Planet Her.
Planet Her is out now via Kemosabe Records/RCA Records. Get it here.
Devin Booker has been one of the most impressive players in the postseason thus far, as his Phoenix Suns are now just two wins away from an NBA Finals appearance. The Suns have defied the odds all season although they still have a tough task in front of them. The Los Angeles Clippers won Game 3 last night and Booker had himself an off night, which is concerning when you consider how he was also off in Game 2, where he suffered a broken nose thanks to a head butt from Patrick Beverley.
After Game 3, Booker got to speak about his nose and how it felt playing with a face shield. As he explains, fixing the broken nose was quite the harrowing experience as they had to give him multiple shots while also re-breaking the nose. Needless to say, it was quite a gruesome endeavor.
“Like eight shots to numb it up and then they go in there and put it back — they break it again. They break it back in place,” Booker explained. “But we had a flight out a couple hours later, so they just numbed it up — all over the place, it felt like.”
Numerous players have played with masks in the past and while it is an adjustment, it typically becomes part of the norm. With Game 4 going down on Saturday night, it will be interesting to see if Booker can bounce back.
Ski Mask the Slump God dropped off his latest mixtape Sin City today (June 25), marking his return from music after an extended hiatus. The last time we heard from Ski Mask was back in 2018 after he delivered his debut studio album Stokeley. He told Complex that admittedly, the deaths of XXXTentacion and Juice WRLD both impact him deeply, pushing him to take a break.
“I think it goes without saying, after everything that happened with both of my friends, Jah and Juice, it was natural for me to just kick out a little hiatus,” he told the publication back in July. A standout from the featureless, 9-track project from the Florida rapper’s tape is the fiery cut “ADMIT IT.”
First previewed to fans back in February of this year before being included in the trailer for the project, Ski Mask comes through with his signature aggressive flow as he spits over the minute-and-a-half long track.
Check out “ADMIT IT” and as usual, let us know what you think down in the comments.
Quotable Lyrics
I flood my wrists with rocks, my very own obelisk Lookin’ like Madara how this Prada jacket fit Tell ’em set the club up, Ski on the way, it lit, lit, lit I set the bar high every time, now hurdle, b*tch Hope opposition stay in line like compositions
With his Utopia album on the horizon, Travis Scott apparently has some new heat on the way. During today’s Dior fashion show at Paris Fashion Week, LaFlame, who recently collaborated with the high end clothing brand, decided to preview some new music while the ladies walked the runway, and one track in particular featured NY spitter Westside Gunn. The two had previously teased the collab back in February when they linked up in the studio, which left fans eagerly waiting to hear what they cooked up and now we have that first preview.
Over a more somber and harrowing beat, Laflame slows the tempo on this one and raps “Baby girl think she in Honolu’ (Wonderful)/ Don’t you know you in the I-5 loop?/ How many chickens fit in the coop? (How wonderful, wonderful)/ Wonderful, she don’t wanna leave/ She jump up, bounce back like trampoline.” Griselda then comes in with his gritty bars and spits “ayo, whip the cocaine to the pop ups/ You was on the porch, I was locked up (I was locked up, ah)/ Two-tone Maybach truck with the Maxwells/ Think a nigga shot somethin’,” he spits.
It’s unclear at the moment what the song is called, but Genius has it listed as “How Wonderful” featuring Westside Gunn AND James Blake, who we’ve yet to hear on it. Take a listen to the snippet (below) and sound off in the comments.
In addition to the Griselda feature, LaFlame also teased another record, a more uptempo rager that will presumably see life on his forthcoming Utopia album. Check that out (below) and let us know what you think!
As previously reported, the camo shark tattoo above Rihanna’s left foot was a sentimental piece of ink that reportedly commemorated her and Drake’s trip to the Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto while they were dating. To make matters even messier, Drake also has the came shark tattooed on the inside of his right arm, meaning that Rihanna has officially covered up one-half of their matching tattoos.
Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
In response to the news breaking about Rihanna’s tattoo cover-up, fans have hit Twitter to praise Rihanna for her ability to healthily move on from past romances, clown Drake for his latest L, and everything in between. One fan hysterically points out that it was until Rih started dating A$AP Rocky that she even felt compelled to cover up the tattoo, saying, “She still had it when she was with the billionaire.”
Another user took a more lighthearted approach and theorized that Drake’s forthcoming album Certified Love Boy is about to be one for the books, writing, “Man I can’t wait to hear “Robyn’s Interlude” on his new album. This about to some of the best Drake we’ve ever heard.” There’s plenty of entertaining tweets floating around about Rihanna’s latest move, so check out some of the best Twitter reactions below.
