Hip Hop News

In honor of the 25th anniversary of Nas’, It Was Written, the rapper is releasing a special edition of the classic album which will contain two new bonus tracks, “Silent Murder,” and “Street Dreams (Bonus Verse).”

In addition to the digital release, the special edition of It Was Written is getting a limited physical release as well containing a 2LP Silver & Clear Galaxy Effect colored vinyl with a gatefold jacket. A colored 7″ vinyl single with  “The Message” and  “Street Dreams” will be available in a special 25th-anniversary bundle package that is expected to ship by September.

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Fans can pick up the physical release for preorder now through Get It Down.

In honor of the 25th-anniversary, Sony Music published a short video detailing the history of the iconic album.

Check out the tracklist below.

1. Album Intro
2. The Message
3. Street Dreams
4. I Gave You Power
5. Watch Dem Niggas (featuring Foxy Brown)
6. Take It In Blood
7. Nas Is Coming (featuring Dr. Dre)
8. Affirmative Action (featuring AZ, Cormega and Foxy Brown)
9. The Set Up (featuring Havoc)
10. Black Girl Lost (featuring Joel “JoJo” Hailey)
11. Suspect
12. Shootouts
13. Live Nigga Rap (featuring Mobb Deep)
14. If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) (featuring Lauryn Hill)

Bonus Tracks

15. Silent Murder
16. Street Dreams (Bonus Verse)

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Since joining the cast of Everyday Struggle, Wayno has become one of Hip-Hop’s respected cultural commentators, and as a result, he has earned his own solo Twitch show with Amazon Music, titled CONNECTED with Wayno.

For the latest episode of his Twitch show, Wayno brought Migos onto the show, fresh off the release of the deluxe version of Culture III. Unfortunately, Takeoff is not present, but Quavo and Offset still put on for the Migos in his absence. During the first half of their interview, Migos talk about the new album, what their mindset was like in the transition period between Culture II and Culture III, and their song selection process. The final stretch of the interview is where things get a bit more interesting, however, as Quavo and Offset answer live fan questions about the Migos.

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Selected at random by Wayno, the fan questions posed by the live viewers were all over the place, with some yielding obvious answers and others prompting intriguing responses from the Migos rappers. After one fan asks if Migos will start adding more Offset choreography in their videos, Offset hilariously recounts the viral video of him dancing in Whitney Houston’s “Whatchulookinat” music video as a child, saying, “I been a legend. That was the birth of a legend right there, you know what I’m saying? It wasn’t something I bragged about. I just let y’all find that out ’cause it was destined.”

Another interesting tidbit arises when a fan asks them, “Who is your biggest inspiration?” Rather than rattling off a list of influential rappers, however, Offset offers the definitive answer and offers insight into a recurring motif throughout their album covers, saying, “Our mommas. That’s why we always shout them out. Our family members, our grandmamas. That’s why you see them doves. That’s grandma on them album covers.”

Quavo and Offset also talk about who would win in a one-on-one basketball game between Quavo and Drake, wanting to work with Rihanna, and several other topics, so check out Migos’ interview with Wayno here. The Atlanta Hip-Hop group pops up around the 21-minute mark.

For any emcee over the age of 40, it’s likely that Big Daddy Kane is among their key formative influences. Easily one of the forefathers of hip-hop, the dexterous spitter has come to encapsulate the archetype of “your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper.” Alongside fellow lyricists like KRS One and Rakim, Kane paved the way for those that followed in his footsteps — including Eminem, JAY-Z, and Common.

In case you missed it, Kane has been actively working on an upcoming Netflix documentary titled Paragraphs I Manifest, and according to a recent report by HipHopDX, there are going to be a few high-profile guests on board. Speaking with the publication, Kane confirmed that Em, JAY, Common, and more will be appearing in the film. “I got JAY-Z, Eminem, KRS-One, Doug E. Fresh,” he confirmed. “I even got some of the battle rappers like Goodz Da Animal and Aye Verb, so it’s coming out real good. I’m supposed to do Common.”

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Evidently, Kane succeeded in his goal of securing a Common interview; he later posted a picture of their link-up on his Instagram page, as he once did following his meetings with Em and Hov. It should be noted that after Kane connected with Slim Shady, many speculated that the pair were in the midst of recording a collaboration. Alas, that does not appear to be the case, though it should certainly be interesting hearing the pair in conversation.

According to Kane’s recent post with Common, the project is nearing completion. “We almost done,” he confirms. Keep an eye out for an official release date whenever it ends up surfacing. Are you excited to see Big Daddy Kane’s upcoming documentary?

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky were spotted hanging out in New York City, Wednesday night, at SoHo’s Barcade, a popular bar that features vintage video games. In a video published by TMZ from the bar, the couple can be seen playing games as nearby patrons try to contain their excitement.

In other pictures taken from their night out, Rihanna could be seen rocking a pink summer dress, Dior beads, a Fendi bag, and a matching bucket hat. Rocky sported a purple knitted tank top.

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“The love of my life. My lady,” Rocky recently said when asked about his relationship with Rihanna in an interview with GQ.

He explained: “[A relationship is] so much better when you got the One. She amounts to probably, like, a million of the other ones. I think when you know, you know. She’s the One.”

Rocky also recently spoke with Entertainment Tonight about his arrest in Sweeden and Rihanna’s support during that time.

He said that it was “important having that support in real life,” and explained that “it’s amazing and I’m honestly truly blessed, for real.”

Rocky’s incarceration is explored in the new documentary Stockholm Syndrome, which debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival, earlier this month.

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Many of Hollywood’s biggest stars are rallying behind Britney Spears, after the pop music icon publicly addressed the court amidst her battle to be released from her conservatorship. The guardianship was originally placed implimented in 2008, following her infamous public meltdown.

In one of the most heartbreaking moments, Spears explained that she isn’t allowed to have her IUD removed, despite wanting to start a family.

“I would like to get married and have a baby,” Spears told the court. “But this so-called team won’t let me go to the doctor to take it (the IUD) out because they don’t want me to have children … This conservatorship is doing me way more harm than good. I deserve to have a life.”

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Many fans and celebrities on social media voiced their support for Spears after the court appearance.

“After what we saw today, we should all be supporting Britney at this time,” Justin Timberlake, who dated Spears for a brief time, wrote on Twitter. “Regardless of our past, good and bad, and no matter how long ago it was… what’s happening to her is just not right. No woman should ever be restricted from making decisions about her own body. No one should EVER be held against their will… or ever have to ask permission to access everything they’ve worked so hard for…”

Check out more reactions below.

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Tyler, The Creator has continuously pushed his own artistic boundaries throughout the years, a process that has proven highly rewarding for the Odd Future innovator. His last two albums Flower Boy and Igor, both of which leaned deeper into a more melodic sound, earned Tyler some Grammy recognition — the latter even took home the Best Rap Album award at the 2020 ceremony.

Tomorrow, Tyler is ready to release his sixth studio album (in a blink-and-you-missed-it event, the rapper has become a vet) Call Me If You Get Lost. Fueled by the blistering lead single “LUMBERJACK,” many welcomed Tyler’s apparent return to a more bar-heavy sound; some even drew comparisons to some of his earlier work, sparking a wave of nostalgia for the days of Goblin and Wolf. 

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With the project due at the stroke of midnight, the tracklist has arrived ahead of schedule thanks to the album’s release in select international markets. Currently accessible — albeit in preview form — on Apple Music, it would appear that Call Me If You Get Lost is set to clock in at sixteen total tracks.

In addition, look for guest appearances from 42 Dugg, Ty Dolla $ign, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Lil Wayne, Domo Genesis, Teezo Touchdown, Brent Fayaiz, Fana Hues, Lil Uzi Vert, and Pharrell Williams. You can check out the complete tracklist below, and look for the complete project to land tonight when the clock strikes twelve. 

1. SIR BAUDELAIRE
2. CORSO
3. LEMONHEAD (Feat. 42 Dugg)
4. WUSYANAME (Feat. YoungBoy Never Broke Again & Ty Dolla $ign)
5. LUMBERJACK
6. HOT WIND BLOWS (Feat. Lil Wayne)
7. MASSA
8. RUNITUP (Feat. Teezo Touchdown)
9. MANIFESTO (Feat. Domo Genesis)
10. SWEET / I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE (Feat. Brent Faiyaz & Fana Hues)
11. MOMMA TALK
12. RISE! (Feat. DAISY WORLD)
13. BLESSED
14. JUGGERNAUT (Feat. Lil Uzi Vert & Pharrell Williams)
15. WILSHIRE
16. SAFARI

WATCH: Tyler, The Creator – LUMBERJACK

Houston rapper Trae Tha Truth is opening an ice cream shop near his hometown with the goal to employ young adults with special needs. Trae’s Howdy Homemade Ice Cream will open on July 22nd, which was named Trae Day by former mayor Bill White in 2008.

“God Is Key!!!” he wrote on Instagram, announcing the ice cream shop. “Im Proud To Announce Me & My Bro ( Rod ) @vortex_surgical Just Franchised To Open Our Own Ice Cream Shop!! Howdy Homemade ice cream Katy will be opening TraeDay July 22nd. This Is Special Because We will Employ Special Needs Young Adults and Give Them A Opportunity To Work And Experience & Have a chance To Be Supported!! We hope to change the way the world looks at everyone. Follow @howdyhomemadekaty. The Mission Is To Inspire And Bless Others With Our Blessings!!!”

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The goal of helping the special needs community is personal for Trae, who is the father of a son with special needs. 

“Every aspect of Howdy Homemade encompasses the special needs of the huge under-employed segment of our population with one goal: To change the way businesses hire people with special needs,” the company’s website explains. “Today in North Texas alone, there are over 240,000 special needs adults looking for work.”

In addition to the opening of a Howdy Homemade Ice Cream shop, the rapper is partnering with Brooklyn Nets star James Harden to give away 10 scholarships to students on Trae Day.

Earlier this week, Trae dropped a new single, “June 27th,” off his upcoming project. Check it out here.

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