Hip Hop News

After Six Years, Jon Bellion Is Finally Allowed To Release Solo Music And Teased His Next Song

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jon bellion 66th GRAMMY Awards - Red Carpet
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Over the past year-plus, former UPROXX cover stars Jonas Brothers and Tori Kelly couldn’t speak highly enough about Jon Bellion to UPROXX. Bellion executive produced Jonas Brothers’ May 2023 LP The Album and Kelly’s Tori EP and subsequent Tori. LP. The Jonas Brothers and Kelly were fans of Bellion’s music from afar before he joined them in the studio.

Bellion has served as a producer and songwriter for an overwhelming number of A-list artists — the engine behind several ubiquitous hits — but he’s finally resuming position as a solo artist.

On Wednesday, September 25, Bellion posted a video teasing his first solo single in six years. In the 25-second clip, Bellion’s silhouette can be seen in the studio as he sings, “I am a kid again / I could do anything / I am a kid again.” In red lettering, a message flashes simultaneously across the screen: “After a 6-year wait, Jon Bellion’s recording contract has been reversed. Freeing him to make music for himself again. KID AGAIN.”

This May, Bellion appeared on The George Janko Show and went in-depth in explaining the machinations of his former deal with Live Nation and record deal and how the situation plummeted him into “panic attacks.”

“I paid myself out of the deal, and I had to pay 25 percent extra on what they advanced me,” Bellion said of Live Nation.

He noted that, at one point, he was willing to walk away from music entirely: “I told my wife, ‘I’m going to work at McDonald’s. It’s over. I’m not doing this anymore.’”

Later in the episode, the multi-platinum-certified artist opened up about his forthcoming album, which will be his first solo LP since releasing Glory Sound Prep in November 2018 via Capitol Records.

“The stuff I’m making, I’m like, thank God I waited six years to get my spirit more correct than it was before,” Bellion said. “Thank God I’m coming from a different place of [gratitude] and whatever because the music now really reflects that. If I can give people gems on this album, to some degree, of a man who’s been through it but isn’t just covered in bitterness, you’re going to receive wisdom in a palatable, edible way that will edify a lot of people. That’s what I hope the music does.”

Macklemore Explained Why He Said ‘F*ck America’ While Performing At Palestine Will Live Forever

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macklemore ibis RockCorps France 2024 At The Accor Arena
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Macklemore has been outspoken about the ongoing Israel-Gaza war since last fall. The diamond-certified musician spoke at a “Free Palestine” rally in Washington, DC last November. This May, Macklemore dropped “Hind’s Hall” to support the pro-Palestine protestors at Columbia University — promising all proceeds would go to The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

Last weekend, Macklemore performed at the Palestine Will Live Forever benefit festival in his hometown Seattle, Washington. During his set, Macklemore said, “F*ck America.” Days later, Neon City Festival announced that Macklemore “will no longer be performing due to unforeseen circumstances” and revealed new headliners. While Neon City did not cite Macklemore’s Palestine Will Live Forever appearance, Macklemore posted a lengthy statement about it on Wednesday, September 25. The statement sprawls across nine slides on Instagram.

“My thoughts and feelings are not always expressed perfectly or politely,” he wrote, in part. “Sometimes, I slip up and get caught in the moment. Saturday night was one of those times. I strive to always lead with love in an effort to bring people together and never create more division. The ‘Palestine Will Live Forever’ festival I performed at was rooted in peace, love, and solidarity. Unfortunately, the historic event in my hometown that brought thousands of people together to raise awareness and money for the people of Palestine has become overshadowed by two words.”

Macklemore continued to express his “grief and anger” due to “the last 11.5 months of watching a genocide unfold in front of us,” which “has been excruciating on a spiritual, emotional, and human level.” He shared his “utter disbelief” at how the US government’s involvement, writing, “I have been disillusioned and disheartened as our government has continued to unequivocally fund and support Israel’s ongoing violence against the people of Palestine. I don’t think I’m alone.”

Macklemore added, “Do not misconstrue the word ‘f*ck’ for the word ‘hate.’ It’s different to be angry than to disown. My ‘f*ck’ — my anger — is rooted not in disdain for where I was born but in anguish for how we can collectively allow this to continue. It is not directed at the people that make up our country, but towards our government who refuse to listen to us.”

Read Macklemore’s full statement here.

$uicideboy$ Respond To Fan Backlash After Linking Up With Drake

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$uicideboy$ have built a dedicated fanbase over the last decade. The duo made up of Scrim and Ruby da Cherry have been dropping prolifically since 2014. Even more important than their prolificness, though, is their rebellious attitude. $uicideboy$ don’t care what the mainstream thinks, and the fans love them for it. This baseline appeal is what makes the latest $uicideboy$ controversy so bizarre. The duo posed for pics with Drake on September 24. The fans didn’t like it, and now Scrim and Ruby are criticizing their fans.

The whole thing started innocently enough. Drake posted the $uicideboy$ photos on his Instagram, with a caption that praised both rappers. “What a show,” the 6 God wrote. “That sh*t made me reflective and proud of the journey for all of us.” The fans were instantly put off by the notion of their beloved indie duo rubbing shoulders with the posterchild for pop-rap. They took to social media in droves to criticize Scrim and Ruby da Cherry for associating with Drake. Especially in light of the recent L he took in the Kendrick Lamar battle. The duo’s response? “Suck our motherf**king d**k.”

Read More: $uicideboy$ Go Off On “New World Depression” Record “The Thin Grey Line”

$uicideboy$ Dismissed Their Critics As ‘F**king Losers’

We’re not paraphrasing. $uicideboy$ addressed the backlash during their concert on September 25. They made it clear that they will associate with whoever they please. Even if its someone that doesn’t fit the aesthetic and overall vibe of their music. “They had grown a*s people, taking time out of their lives,” the duo stated onstage. “Writing a whole f**king paragraph about why we shouldn’t be taking pictures with a certain somebody.” The duo turned to each other to express confusion over why such a talking point even matters. They then turned their ire back towards the so-called “grown a*s people.”

“You’re a f**king weirdo,” they stated. “You’re a f**king loser.” $uicideboy$ then took the criticism and applied it to the musical empire that they have been able to build. “If anybody got the nerve to hate on me and this motherf**ker,” Skrim stated. “You just a motherf**king hater.” The concert speech was as thorough a kiss-off to critics as one could imagine. It remains to be seen if $uicideboy$ and Drake will ever link up in the studio. As it stands, though, these two musical forces seem to exist in harmony.

Read More: $uicideboy$ Deliver Familiar Yet Enjoyable Sounds On “New World Depression”

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King Harris Sets The Record Straight After T.I. & Boosie Badazz Gun Confrontation

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Earlier this week, a video of T.I. and Boosie Badazz confronting their sons went viral. In it, King Harris and Tootie Raww are seen shooting a music video together, surrounded by extras when their fathers approach. “Why y’all always got to have guns,” Boosie questioned, suggesting that they consider making music about something else. King pushed back at the time, stating that it wasn’t illegal. The two dads didn’t care and pointed out the type of lifestyle they were promoting, whether it was intended or not.

Now, King has taken to social media to address the debacle and set the record straight. According to him, the situation was not an accurate reflection of himself. “Y’all ain’t ever seen me post a gun ever in life, I don’t even own a gun,” he said.

Read More: Boosie Badazz And T.I. Scold Their Kids For Using Guns While Filming A New Music Video

King Harris Reveals He Doesn’t Own A Gun Following Viral Video With His Dad & Boosie Badazz

King continued, insisting that this is simply not who he is. “I’m not that guy,” he explained. “I’m for entertainment purposes only.” Fans are glad that King is so sure about who he wants to be, particularly as his first child is on the way, and encouraging him to stay on this path. Instagram users in the Hollywood Unlocked comments section are also commending Boosie and T.I. for trying to teach their sons the valuable lessons that they learned the hard way.

“THE POINT IS THAT [TI & Boosie] did the Right thing!!! What MANY others need to do and that’s on THAT!!” one fan points out. What do you think of King Harris’ response to the viral video of his dad T.I. and Tootie Raww’s dad Boosie Badazz confronting them for using guns in their music video? What about him claiming that he’s for “entertainment purposes only”? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

Read More: Boosie Badazz Hit With Arrest Warrant In Houston For Alleged Theft Of Service

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The Weeknd Reveals Release Date For Playboi Carti Collab “TIMELESS”

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The Weeknd and Playboi Carti are kindred spirits. Both have built their musical legacies on mystery and intrigue. The Weeknd has become one of the biggest pop stars on the planet, and Carti has become one of the most obsessed-over rappers. They both have an affinity for woozy, nocturnal sounds, though, so a second collab (after “Popular”) seems like a no-brainer. Fans have been waiting to get an official version of the Weeknd and Carti song “TIMELESS” for quite some time. And we finally have a release date.

The Weeknd confirmed the release on September 25. The singer performed “TIMELESS” alongside Carti during his one night performance Sao Paolo earlier this month. A release date anytime in the near future would have been considered a win by fans, but The Weeknd went above and beyond. He confirmed that “TIMELESS” would be coming out this Friday, September 27. It will mark the second official release from The Weeknd’s upcoming album, Hurry Up Tomorrow. The first, “Dancing In the Flames,” was praised by fans and critics alike for its production.

Read More: The Weeknd Shows Love To Nicki Minaj After She Praised His “Sweet” Falsetto

The Weeknd Has Already Performed “TIMELESS” In Concert

It’s a good time to be a Weeknd fan, but it’s an even better time to be a Playboi Carti fan. Carti has been musically dormant since the release of Whole Lotta Red in 2020. Getting the rapper to drop new music, in an official capacity, is like pulling teeth. Incredibly, “TIMELESS” will mark the second official Carti song to drop in a single month. The eccentric rapper released a single for his upcoming project, “ALL RED,” on September 13. “TIMELESS” will also mark the first time a Weeknd and Carti collab will end up on a “real” album. Their previous song, “Popular,” appeared on the soundtrack for the HBO series The Idol.

The song (and the series) was panned by critics, but The Weeknd maintained that he had a special musical connection with Playboi Carti. “I’m proud of it. I’m definitely proud of it,” he told Apple Music. “Me and Carti had this… I mean, we’ve jammed out before. We’ve had a different version of this song prior. So I’ve had these vocals for a while, and I’ve kind of just worked around it.” Here’s hoping their second collab delivers on the sky high expectations that fans have built.

Read More: Playboi Carti Drops Cameo-Filled “All Red” Visualizer And Teases New Video

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Latto Dances With $10K “Brokey” Challenge Winner After It Got Her Fired

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Recently, one Latto fan participated in her “Brokey” challenge in hopes of winning $10K. Unfortunately, however, her situation quickly took a turn for the worse. After her video went viral, she hopped online to reveal that she’d been fired from her job at Waffle House, where she filmed the challenge. She got emotional, explaining that she’d been let go within a day of posting the video, despite working there for six years.

“I’m so pissed,” she captioned the post. “Like yall don’t understand the bullsh*t i done through with this company to fire me over a video that was literally rooting on them. bs. straight bs.” While this surely put a serious damper on the fan’s day, Latto was quick to cheer her up.

Read More: Latto Snaps On Troll For Asking Her An Insensitive Question About Her BBL

Latto Teams Up With Ex Waffle House Employee

The fan later posted a second part of her video, which features the Atlanta rapper herself. In it, she hands the fan $10K, crowning her the winner of the challenge. It’s unclear whether or not she thinks it was all worth it, but the fan certainly appeared to be in good spirits as she accepted the cash. Latto first started the challenge in response to social media users believing she was making fun of hard working people with her track. She asked supporters to make videos to the song at their jobs, noting that this wasn’t the case.

“I hate that y’all think I was calling hard workers brokeys,” she Tweeted earlier this month. “So I got $10k for whoever makes the best video at their job to brokey & I’ll fly u out to be in the music video…no mo waiting til ur bday to go outta town. Tag me & hashtag #Brokey so I can see them all.” What do you think of Latto’s “Brokey” challenge getting a Waffle House employee fired? Are you surprised or not? What about the rapper crowning her the winner of the challenge and giving her $10K? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

Read More: Latto & Mariah The Scientist Send Fans Into Frenzy After Discussing Their Relationships

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Eve Claims Janet Jackson Saved Her Life During An MTV Afterparty

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Eve has been making hits for decades. The first lady of Ruff Ryders has rubbed shoulders with some of the biggest and brightest that hip hop has had to offer. Her path to superstardom was not easy, though. The rapper detailed her music industry experience in her new memoir, Who’s That Girl?. One of the most harrowing incidents divulged in the book occurred at the 2007 MTV Awards afterparty. Eve claimed that her drink was spiked, and were it not for Janet Jackson, things could have gone bad.

Eve claims she became hysterical when she attended the aforementioned afterparty. She suspected that something had been slipped into her drink when she wasn’t looking. Fortunately, Janet Jackson showed up to save the day. “Missy came in to check on me, but I was just unable to collect myself,” Eve recalled. “Then who walks in, Janet Jackson.” The rapper noted that she had never met Miss Jackson prior to this MTV encounter. Despite this, Jackson sprung to her aid. “She just sprang into action and told people to get aspirin, water, hot sauce, and a piece of white bread,” Eve wrote. “That concoction knocked me right out of my hysteria.”

Read More: Eve Clarifies JAY-Z’s Alleged Controversial Comment About Female Rappers

Eve Believes Her Drink Was Spiked At The 2007 Party

DOHA, QATAR – OCTOBER 28: Janet Jackson attends the EMERGE GALA Dinner and Live Charity Auction hosted by International supermodel and philanthropist Naomi Campbell in partnership with Sotheby’s to recognize and reward young creative and business talents from emerging regions, with a focus in Africa, The Diaspora and developing communities around the world, at QF Ceremonial Court on October 28, 2022 at Doha, Qatar. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for EMERGE)

Eve has maintained a reverence for Jackson ever since the afterparty incident. “Basically Janet Jackson saved my life,” she asserted. This is not the first time the Ruff Ryders icon has discussed this experience. She talked about her lone Janet Jackson encounter during a 2018 appearance on CBS’ The Talk. There were even more details shared, in fact, when Eve opened up to hosts Sharon Osbourne, Julie Chen, Sara Gilbert and Sheryl Underwood. The rapper claimed she was taken to a bedroom where she began to cry. She also noted that Jackson put her at ease by telling her not to stress. “And she’s like, ‘I got this, don’t worry, relax, calm down,’” Eve explained.

There are several other notable stories littered throughout Eve’s memoir. Many, thankfully, are more positive and uplifting than her MTV afterparty experience. The rapper recalls working with Dr. Dre and Gwen Stefani on her smash single “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” in 2001. She also detailed the struggles she was forced to overcome as a female rapper in a predominantly male field. Given that she was the third female rapper to ever top the Billboard 200, we’d say she figured it out.

Read More: Nicki Minaj Reacts To Eve’s “Groundbreaking” Admission About Working With Her On “Barbershop”

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Future Promotes Healthier Habits In Music Video For “TEFLON DON”

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Future has gone three for three in a lot of people’s eyes this year after the release of MIXTAPE PLUTO. The 17-song affair is just a straight 40-plus minutes of wavy and grimy trap bangers with no guests. That’s been upsetting to some listeners, as features with at least Travis Scott and Gunna were heavily teased. Additionally, the similar and familiar sounds may feel like wash, rinse, and repeat Pluto. But, as we just mentioned, his day one listeners understand what this tape is all about and it’s why it’s looking at a solid opening week on the charts. As it stands, the Atlanta legend is projecting to sell over 120,000 units. As for the songs themselves, there most likely won’t be a “Like That” in terms of hit level. However, there are some memorable cuts Future lays down here such as “TEFLON DON”.

It’s got a hypnotic instrumental, courtesy of a slew of talent behind the boards such as Southside. Pluto also does his thing on it, bring his trademark high and low pitch vocal inflections. It’s extremely braggadocious, as he plays around with the comparison of criminal kingpin John Gotti, aka “TEFLON DON”. Future’s touts himself as someone who is always finding himself on top no matter how many times people try to bring him down. However, the new visuals for the track add another layer to always trying to better oneself. Uproxx points out the custom wrapped old school sedans which are promoting Suboxone and Narcan. They are drugs that help fight addiction to opioids, something that Future’s been synonymous with, but has also been putting down in real life. Check out the NSFW visuals with the link below.

Read More: 6ix9ine Gets Involved In Tense Confrontation In Miami: Watch

“TEFLON DON” Music Video – Future

Read More: 50 Cent Roasts Diddy With A New Name For Baby Oil

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Offset Earns Diamond Plaque Thanks To Tyga’s Hit, “Taste”

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Offset has earned his first-ever diamond single after Tyga’s hit song, “Taste,” sold over ten million units. Reacting to the news on his X (formerly Twitter) account, the Migos rapper wrote: “Went diamond today God is good,” alongside a photo of himself. Tyga also celebrated the news on the platform. He wrote: “Taste just went diamond 10x platinum.. Thank you to everyone that streamed it and twerked to it.”

Tyga released “Taste” as the lead single to his 2019 album, Legendary. It peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100, marking a major return for Tyga, who hadn’t appeared on the chart in the previous three years. It’s the second highest-charting single of his career behind only “Rack City.” In bolstering its success, Tyga dropped a star-studded music video for the song, featuring 2 Chainz, Wiz Khalifa, Joyner Lucas, YK Osiris, Ronny J and King Bach.

Read More: Tyga Releases New Single “Taste” Featuring Offset

Offset & Quavo Pose With Tyga

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – OCTOBER 16: Tyga, Offset, and Quavo attend Quavo’s Album Launch Party For “Quavo Huncho” at 1OAK on October 16, 2018, in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jerritt Clark/Getty Images)

In response to Offset celebrating the news on X, fans shared plenty of uplifting messages. “So well deserved! God’s plan always comes through in the best ways. Keep shining!” one user replied. Another fan wrote: “How have you JUST NOW received your first one after ten years of stardom and it wasn’t even for Versace or Bad and Boujee that’s crazy congrats tho.” In Tyga’s post, he shared a video of himself posing with the plaque next to EMPIRE CEO Ghazi and COO Nima Etminan. Check out Tyga and Offset’s posts on social media below.

Tyga & Offset Celebrate Going Diamond With “Taste”

Tyga is currently opening for Nicki Minaj on her ongoing Pink Friday 2 World Tour. In the coming weeks, Nicki has dates lined up in Kansas City, Miami, and her hometown of Queens, New York. Be on the lookout for further updates on Offset and Tyga on HotNewHipHop.

Read More: Tyga & Offset Hit No. 1 On Rhythmic Songs Chart With “Taste”

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