Hip Hop News

Ibrahim H. Says Ticket Sales Are The Best Indicator Of An Artist’s “Impact In Music”

by

J. Cole’s longtime manager Ibrahim “IB” Hamad says that ticket sales are the most accurate way to determine an artist’s popularity, as opposed to sales, views, followers, or any other metric. Hamad detailed his stance on the matter with a tweet, Saturday.

“To me Ticket sales is the truest gauge of impact in music,” he explained. “You can fake streams, album sales, YouTube views, followers, bundles, you can have 30 songs to boost your streams. But you can’t fake people being at a show, which is why I love seeing the work pay off when a tour goes up.”

J. Cole, IB, Tour
Streeter Lecka /Getty Images

Wale popped up in the comments to state: “U know how we Pullin up.”

Hamad’s tweet comes days after Cole announced The Off-Season Tour, which is set to kick off in September. Check out the full list of tour stops down below.

Fri Sep 24 – Miami, FL – FTX Arena
Sat Sep 25 – Orlando, FL – Amway Center
Mon Sep 27 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
Tue Sep 28 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum Complex
Wed Sep 29 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
Fri Oct 01 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
Sat Oct 02 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
Mon Oct 04 – Washington DC – Capital One Arena
Tue Oct 05 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
Thu Oct 07 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Sun Oct 10 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
Mon Oct 11 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Arena
Thu Oct 14 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
Sat Oct 16 – Las Vegas – MGM Grand Garden Arena
Sun Oct 17 – Phoenix, AZ – Phoenix Suns Arena
Wed Oct 20 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena
Thu Oct 21 – Los Angeles, CA – The Forum

BET Awards Male Hip Hop Artist: 5 Shots Of Drake W/ Pals

by

The 2021 BET Awards is coming up and one of the biggest categories is stacked with competition. The Best Male Hip Hop Artist line-up is stiff with DaBaby, Drake, J. Cole, Jack Harlow, Lil Baby and the late Pop Smoke all in the mix. With the pressure to deliver a hard-hitting Certified Lover Boy album […]

The post BET Awards Male Hip Hop Artist: 5 Shots Of Drake W/ Pals appeared first on SOHH.com.

Damian Lillard Could Request Trade After Backlash To Chauncey Billups Hiring: Report

by

Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard could request a trade, after the team faced backlash for their expected hire of Chauncey Billups to fill their head coach vacancy, as well as growing doubt in the front office’s ability to build a championship-contending roster, according to a new report from Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes.

Haynes announced on Twitter, Sunday, that he had been informed by league sources that “the backlash from Portland Trail Blazers’ coaching search and his concerns over whether a championship contender can be built have become major factors that could force Damian Lillard to request out.”

Damian Lillard, Chauncey Billups
Steph Chambers / Getty Images

Lillard was personally the victim of the team’s hiring blunder when fans attacked him on Twitter this week regarding Billups’ past rape allegation.

“Really? I was asked what coaches I like of the names I ‘heard’ and I named them,” Lillard responded to a fan criticizing his role in the hire. “Sorry I wasn’t aware of their history I didn’t read the news when I was 7/8yrs old. I don’t support Those things … but if this the route y’all wana come at me… say less.”

Earlier in the offseason, Lillard made it clear that his preference was Jason Kidd, but the former NBA point guard opted out of the running.

[Via]

Nicki Minaj Shared A Promising Update About Her Next Album And Previewed A Song With Future

by
Getty Image

Last month, Nicki Minaj made her grand return to the music world by uploading her 2009 mixtape, Beam Me Up Scotty, to streaming services. It featured most of the project’s original songs as well as three new additions that included “Seeing Green” with Drake and Lil Wayne as well as “Fractions.” While the release was certainly appreciated, her supporters’ true desire is a new album from the rapper as her last one, Queen, arrived back in 2018. As the wait continues for her upcoming fifth album, Nicki shared a promising update about it and previewed a new song that has fans very excited.

Speaking about her next album during an Instagram Live session, Nicki said, “This album will be definitely my best album thus far.” She also previewed a track titled “Big Barbie” that features a guest verse from Future and production from LondonOnDaTrack. According to Nicki, the song was supposed to appear on Queen, however, it was left off the album for reasons she did not share. In addition to previewing the track, she also teased something special for her supporters that would arrive soon.

“I got a surprise for y’all. Maybe you’ll find out in a few days,” she said, adding that she has a “major announcement to make.”

Shortly after she uploaded Beam Me Up Scotty to DSPs, Nicki joined Polo G on “For The Love Of New York” off his chart-topping album, Hall Of Fame.

You can listen to the “Big Barbie” preview in the video above.

Miss Jones Hints At Having A Threesome With 2Pac & Monie Love

by

Iconic radio host Miss Jones recently implied that she had a threesome with 2Pac and Monie Love while being interviewed on N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN’s Drink Champs. The detail slipped while Jones was telling a story of being at a party alongside Love.

“I’m gonna tell you about the party,” Jones told N.O.R.E. “So Pac came and we’re walking and it’s like the music stops. Everyone else hears the music, but I’m with Monie and he stops and he looks at us and then…so like we know what the look means and we figure it out and it was a good night and that was it.”

N.O.R.E. followed up seeking confirmation: “So Pac and Monie had some relations?”

“Well no,” Jones replied. “It was just the three of us, the three of us just talked for a long time.”

Despite both hosts pressing for more details, Jones simply confirmed that the three “just talked for a long time.”

Jones’s story comes just one week after Pac would’ve turned 50-years-old. Tragically, the legendary rapper was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting in 1996 at just 25-years-old.

Check out the clip from Jones’s appearance on Drink Champs down below.

[Via]

Tyler, The Creator Credits Westwide Gunn For “Making Me Want To Just Rap Again”

by

Tyler, The Creator, fresh off of the release of his new album, CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST, says it was Westside Gunn who inspired Tyler to get back in the studio after not releasing a project since 2019. In addition to thanking Gunn, Tyler gave a shoutout to DJ Drama, Clipse and more in a new Instagram Live session.

“Shoutout rap music, I love it,” Tyler said during the clip. “DJ Drama, I love you. What you did for rap — phenomenal. From all the Waynes, all the Dedications, from P the In My Mind Prequel mixtape, to Clipse for the We Got It For Cheaps, from Lupe mixtape run all the Farenheits, the Revenge of the Nerds, to JAY-Z, to Andre (3000) … to Westside Gunn for making me wanna just rap again. I love it. I love rap. It changed n****s lives.”

Tyler the Creator, Westside Gunn
John Lamparski / Getty Images

Last year, Tyler appeared on Gunn’s Pray For Paris album for the track “327,” which also features Joey Bada$$.

Tyler also recently spoke about his appreciation for NBA Young Boy, who appears on CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST, tweeting that “he’s a sweet heart man.”

“Sending love to youngboy, such an interesting person,” he continued.

[Via]

Aitch Delivers A New Banger With “Learning Curve”

by

Aitch has been delivering hit after hit without effort. The UK wordsmith rightfully earned the MOBO Award for Best New Artist in 2020 and he continues to flourish with each release. The rapper’s sharp wordplay has continued to earn him fans among purists but it’s his ability to craft massive records that has helped propel him towards stardom.

Just as we get into the summer, Aitch made sure not to let the next few months pass without dominating your playlist. He slid through on Friday with “Learning Curve,” an upbeat and bouncy banger that highlights his penmanship and effortless flow. 

Last year, Aitch released his latest project, Polaris which included appearances from AJ Tracey and Tay Keith.

Peep the latest single from Aitch below and sound off with your thoughts in the comment section.

Quotable Lyrics
Just copped new seats for the Range, don’t worry, your girlfriend nice and comfy
It’s like I’m stuck in my ways, ain’t tryna behave or retire my fuckery
Soon as I’m touchin’ the place, gang uppin’ the pace, come slide, I’m cushty
Thick thighs with the loveliest shape, ain’t judging the weight ’cause I like ’em fluffy

Fredo Unloads On His New Single “Talk Of The Town”

by

Fredo remains an integral force in the overall sound of the UK right now. Over the years, he’s asserted his position as a leading voice in UK drill with a strong international buzz following him. Sure, it could be in part due to his collaborations with Dave or his appearance on the Top Boy soundtrack. However, Fredo’s ability to form a strong body of work remains his strongest suit to date.

This week, the rapper announced that he’d be releasing a brand new project — his second of the year — and kicked the campaign off with his new single, “Talk Of The Town.” The new record is the first release off of Independence Day and offers a glimpse into what we can expect.

Check out the latest from Fredo below. 

Quotable Lyrics
It gets lit when we come in the party
Call me Ken ’cause I come with the Barbies 
Said I would then I flooded the Carti 
Can’t find you then we bun up your doggie

Justin Bieber Had To Politely Ask Fans To Not Wait Outside His Apartment To See Him

by
Getty Image

Justin Bieber is by far one of the most famous names in today’s pop culture world. He has the second-most followers on Twitter and the tenth-most on Instagram, so one could assume that the effects of fame for the singer may be a bit more severe and unique compared to other acts. An example of this came when he arrived at his New York City apartment all to be greeted by fans who waited outside in hopes of seeing him. In a TikTok video that captured the interaction that followed, Bieber had to politely ask the group to leave the area.

“I hear you, I hear you. But this is my home. You know what I mean? This is where I live,” he said after one of the fans asked for a hug. “And I don’t appreciate you guys being here. You know when you come home at the end of the night, and you want to relax? This is my space to do that. So I would appreciate it if you guys could leave.”

This isn’t the first time that Bieber had to ask supporters to not wait outside his apartment. Back in October, he called out “disrespectful” fans for loitering around his NYC home.

“How do you convince yourself it’s not completely inappropriate and disrespectful to wait outside my home to gawk, stare and take pictures as I walk into my apartment,” he wrote on his Instagram Story. “This is not a hotel. It’s my home.”

You can watch the video of Bieber talking to supporters outside his apartment above.

Lil Uzi Vert Goes Country On Kidd G’s “Teenage Dream 2”

by

Country music and hip-hop are beginning to find a common space together. Over the years, there’s been a growing popularity of rap artists diving into country and vice versa. Young Thug’s Beautiful Thugger Girls was practically a hip-hop/country album while Lil Nas X took the fusion of genres to its apex. 

Last year, country artist Kidd G made serious waves with the release of “Teenage Dream” and now, he’s returned with an official remix of the song featuring Lil Uzi Vert. The song’s hip-hop elements allow Uzi to have a seamless transition onto the song with inspiration seemingly taken from his relationship with City Girls’ JT.

Uzi’s latest feature arrives shortly after his collaboration with Pi’erre Bourne on “Sossboy 2.”

Peep Kidd G and Lil Uzi Vert’s collab below.

Quotable Lyrics
Smiling through my pain because they know my teeth white 
In your bed, you all alone and you can’t sleep right 
You ain’t do nobody else, so you is retired
I love you so I keep you clean, just like my Jeep ride