Hip Hop News

Drake’s Certified Lover Boy may have been delayed, but many expect to see the project sooner than later. In fact, we may have already seen a glimpse at the style Drizzy plans on bringing to the table, with the Scary Hours 2 three-pack serving as a welcome prelude to the main event. Other than that, however, little else is known about Drake’s sixth studio album.

Today, French Montana took to Instagram to signal a promising development. Sharing a picture of himself and The Boy, with whom he most recently collaborated on the platinum hit “No Stylist,” French alluded to another forthcoming release from the pair. “We’ll see what’s ’bout to happen next, okayyyyyyyyyyy?!” he captions, allowing the image to fill in the appropriate blanks.

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Naturally, French’s hype-inducing post sparked many to speculate about his involvement on Certified Lover Boy, though it should be noted that Montana has yet to appear on a Drake studio album. Perhaps we’ll see that change, as Montana seems to be strongly suggesting that they’ve got something in the works. Either way, it’s clear that the partnership between the two remains strong, and we’re admittedly curious to see where the “No Stylist” duo goes from here on a musical level. 

For those wondering where Drake and French connected, the pictures were taken last night at a celebration for Belly’s 37th birthday (check out his two brand new singles right here and here) at The Highlight Room in West Hollywood; The Weeknd and Chris Brown were also in attendance. Check out French’s post below, and sound off if you’d like to see a new single from French Montana and Drake before the end of the summer. 

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers were having a phenomenal season up until he and Anthony Davis got injured. Since that time, the Lakers have struggled to have any consistency and it has left the team fighting for the top four spots in the Western Conference. Thankfully, there is some hope on the horizon for the team as it is believed that LeBron and AD will both be back on the roster within three to four weeks from now.

LeBron seems to be well-aware of this fact and even alluded to it on Instagram recently. In his most recent post, the Lakers superstar offered a fair warning for the rest of the NBA, noting that a storm is coming. The photo he posted was one alongside AD, which just goes to show he’s ready to come back with his partner in crime.

“The weatherman says the weather is changing soon and it predicts a thunderstorm is coming,” LeBron wrote. “Folks prepare and take the proper caution measures to stay safe.”

Lakers fans have been hoping to see these two back on the floor together and they may very well get that wish soon. Hopefully, they are able to be their usual old selves after a few weeks away from the game.

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Rod Wave has consistently been proving why he deserved his spot on the 2020 XXL Freshmen cover. Leading up to the release of his new album SoulFly, Rod Wave made peace with his label and shared an online video game for his “Street Runner” single. With the release of SoulFly, it looks like the Florida artist has been doing everything right, as he exceeded projections to move 133k album-equivalent units and debut atop the Billboard 200.

If you’re looking for yet another reason to stan Rod Wave, look no further than the Florida artist’s recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. In an effort to promote SoulFly, Rod Wave treated fans of a passionate and stripped-down version of the album’s second single “Tombstone.”

Filmed in the “Street Runner” artist’s home state of Florida, Rod Wave’s Tonight Show performance opens with a cinematic view of a waterfront porch, with him leaning over the rails and gazing out at the water. Once the music starts, it’s clear that Rod Wave fans are in for a special rendition of “Tombstone,” as the song’s slick drum pattern is traded out for an emotional piano accompaniment and a three-piece choir. The passionate performance further highlights Rod Wave’s ear for melody as well as his penchant for writing heartfelt lyrics.

Check out Rod Wave’s performance of “Tombstone” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon below:

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Jared Dudley is a man who is well-connected considering he gets to play on the Los Angeles Lakers. He is always informed on what is happening with the team’s biggest stars, and with the Los Angeles Lakers missing Anthony Davis and LeBron James right now, it is more important than ever to know what’s happening with their health.

During a recent interview, Dudley actually divulged some crucial information. In fact, it seems as though Anthony Davis is about two weeks from returning to the Lakers, while LeBron is about three to four weeks out. This is great news for the team, especially since they have been struggling a bit ever since both players were taken out of the lineup.

“AD is coming along, he’s on the court and doing definitely his little workouts, his calves,” Dudley said. “I’m in the weight room with him. He’s gonna be getting on the floor more this week, he’s gonna do about 30 minutes non-stop. He’s gonna get to playing here shortly and so give him a couple more weeks.”

The Lakers have slid back a bit in the Western Conference standings although once LeBron and AD return, it is safe to assume they will creep back into the top three spots. If you’re a Lakers fan, that’s all you can ask for right now.

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As any good King Of New York claimant can attest, the numbers must meet an appropriately royal standard. Luckily, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie has it covered in that department, boasting an impressive tally of gold and platinum plaques in his repertoire. In fact, he’s easily one of the most commercially consistent rappers in the game, with a grand total of forty-one RIAA certifications to his name — a tally that now includes a shiny new platinum plaque for his Artist 2.0 highlight “Me And My Guitar.” 

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In case you need a quick refresher, A Boogie’s “Me And My Guitar,” along with the rest of his third studio album Artist 2.0, was released on Valentine’s Day of 2020. To this day, the appropriately guitar-fueled track has amassed over twenty million views on YouTube alone, remaining a fan-favorite standout from the twenty-track endeavor. In fact, of all A Boogie’s songs to have secured an RIAA certification, “Me And My Guitar” is among the few from Artist 2.0 to hit platinum status. At this moment, the project itself is resting at gold. 

We’d like to congratulate A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie for adding another platinum track to his resume, solidifying his reputation as one of the game’s best-selling rappers, as far as the stats are concerned. Keep an eye out for more news on the upcoming album A Boogie Vs Artist — a project all-but-guaranteed to net the rapper another batch of plaques for his collection. In the meantime, revisit the track below. 

LISTEN: A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie – Me And My Guitar

Tekashi 6ix9ine’s ex-girlfriend Sara Molina has confirmed the death of Shadow, the rapper’s former security guard. Shadow was one of the more well-known people on 6ix9ine’s team at the height of his career, protecting the controversial rapper as he entered into feuds with dozens of other stars. He built a large following over the years, working as security for people like Drake, Jake Paul, and countless others.

Shadow was remembered by Sara Molina for helping her at one of her lowest points. She shared a log of their text messages, in which she reveals that Shadow helped her following 6ix9ine’s brutal domestic violence incident in Dubai. 

“I was gonna go on a little break from Instagram but given the circumstances and what I’ve seen happen, I want to give my deepest sincere condolences to Shadow’s family, his kids JJ, Boogie, Mason, and his latest addition Zion, as well as his wife, Christina,” she said. “I know Shadow loved you. Just the way he would talk about you– his ‘Cuban Mami’. Shadow was a great person. He was a great man, he was a family man. I am deeply saddened ’cause I know the impact he made in my life as well as many others.”

Sara went on to reveal that Shadow helped her during a domestic violence incident with 6ix9ine in Dubai, which she has described on multiple occasions. Sharing their text messages from September 2019, Shadow expressed gratitude that Sara had come forward with her abuse allegations, saying that he would explain what truly happened if he ever wrote a book. He also says he “put hands on” Tekashi after he beat up Sara, revealing what he told the rapper at the time.

Read their messages below. Rest in peace, Shadow.

Instagram

DJ Khaled’s upcoming album Khaled Khaled has been in the works for some time now, a process that the affable mogul has documented with relatively open arms. In other words, he’s managed to be simultaneously open and secretive about the project, teasing several possible collaborators without sharing even the slightest snippet of the music to come. 

We’ve seen him connecting with the likes of Lil Baby, Roddy Ricch, Migos, Jay-Z, Nas, Travis Scott, Post Malone, H.E.R, and many more — a lineup that should intrigue even the most ardent Khaled detractor. And while he has yet to reveal a possible release date for the project, Khaled has confirmed that Khaled Khaled is in the final stages of its completion. For those remaining (and no doubt stubborn) percentiles, Khaled has opted to return to Jamaica and lock-in. 

Amanda Edwards/Getty Images 

“ALBUM 97.8% DONE!” he captions, sharing a glimpse at his lush surroundings. “I’m on the Holy Mountain. On the holy ground getting it done! This is where I do my best work. The Holy Mountain is over 100 acres and the album takes 100% to get done! Let’s work!” Khaled also confirmed that he connected with Buju Banton, with whom he previously linked on Father Of Asahd highlight “Holy Mountain.” Expect to see the pair come through with another one, to quote Khaled’s preferred parlance. 

After sharing the 97.8 percent update, Khaled confirmed in a subsequent picture that the needle moved ever-so-slightly up to 97.9. “I’m saying to myself, how the fuck did this happen,” reflects an awestruck Khaled, utterly devoid of context. One thing, however, is certain — the hitmaker is undeniably stoked for this one to come to light, and given his love of the summertime release, we have to believe that the time is coming soon. 

Check out some pictures from DJ Khaled’s Jamaican excursion below.