Ever since breaking out in 2019 thanks to his feature on Polo G’s “Pop Out,” Bronx, New York rapper Lil Tjay has carried himself with a superlative level of self-confidence, as seen on his debut album True 2 Myself released later that year. That confidence carries over into the title of his upcoming album Destined 2 Win, as well as its latest single, “Born 2 Be Great,” which Tjay shared today ahead of the album’s Friday release.
Sticking to his usual complement of somber keys, Tjay reflects on the self-possession that has allowed him to maneuver his way to the upper echelons of the rap game, surprising many but never himself. As he croons on the chorus, “I was born to be great / And I won’t let nobody tell me I ain’t.”
“Born 2 Be Great” is just the latest part of an impressive rollout that has included the 6lack-featuring “Calling My Phone” and the Polo G reunion “Headshot” with fellow New Yorker Fivio Foreign. The only hiccup was Tjay’s December arrest for possession of marijuana and grand larceny but he’s already cruised past that legal trouble to release two music videos for the above-mentioned singles.
Listen to “Born 2 Be Great” above.
Destined 2 Win is due on 4/2 via Columbia Records. You can pre-save it here.
Anybody who thought the vinyl resurgence was just a fad was mistaken: The industry has experienced a legitimate revival. As a result, music fans are interested in physical media in ways they may not have if the decades-old medium hasn’t made a comeback. That doesn’t mean everybody is listening to just their parents’ old music, though. That’s part of it, sure, thanks to rereleases that present classic albums in new ways. A vital part of the renewed vinyl wave, though, is new projects being released as records, of which there are plenty.
Whatever you might be into, each month brings a new slew of vinyl releases that has something for everybody. Some stand out above the rest, naturally, so check out some of our favorite vinyl releases of March below.
Neil Young — After The Gold Rush (50th Anniversary Edition)
Warner/Reprise
It’s been over 50 years since the release of one of Young’s most classic albums, and following an anniversary release in 2020 was a deluxe vinyl box set this month. Aside from the storied album itself, the set also includes goodies like a 7-inch single featuring two versions of album outtake “Wonderin’” and a litho print of the album art. If After The Gold Rush is somehow missing from your vinyl collection, here’s a chance to own perhaps the definitive version of it.
Chet Baker — (Chet Baker Sings) It Could Happen To You, Chet Baker In New York, Chet, and Chet Baker Plays The Best Of Lerner And Loewe
Craft Recordings
Chet Baker was one of the most respected jazz artists of the ’50s, and now a quartet of his beloved albums are available on new vinyl rereleases. The albums featured in this collection were originally released between 1958 and 1959, which is a lesson in productivity at a high level. For these reissues, the albums were cut from their original analog master tapes, so this is as high quality a listening experience as possible.
Tokyo Police Club — Champ (10th Anniversary Edition)
Mom+Pop
Tokyo Police Club broke through in the mid-2000s with their debut EP A Lesson In Crime and their debut album, Elephant Shell. They followed that run with their most commercially successful release, the sophomore album Champ, which turned ten in 2020 and is getting a COVID-delayed rerelease this year. The new edition of the album (the first time it has been pressed on vinyl) includes goodies like the previously unreleased track “Hundred Dollar Day.”
The Clean — Unknown Country and Mister Pop (reissues)
Merge Records
The New Zealand group was an inspirational force behind many beloved indie musicians, and now a pair of highlights from their discography are getting fresh rereleases via Merge Records. The albums — originally released in 1996 and 2009, respectively — are now available on vinyl in the US for the first time, and Merge also offers a t-shirt bundle to let fans rep the band on both their turntables and torsos.
Leonard Cohen left behind a legacy as profound as that of perhaps any artist who has left too soon in recent years. First Aid Kit have decided to honor that with Who By Fire, a live tribute album released in honor of the late legend. The album was recorded over two performances and the duo says of those shows, “We recently listened back to this concert and realized that this was something out of the ordinary for us. […] Dwelling deeply into Cohen’s world was a pleasure, he was so prolific as both a poet and a songwriter, and everything he ever put out held a very strong standard. He cared immensely for his work.”
The Meow Mix jingle was first introduced in television ads in the ’70s, and after all those years, the iconic tune is still one of the most recognizable jingles in all of marketing. Now the brand has celebrated the song’s legacy with a vinyl release that features modern reinterpretations of the song in varying styles. Participating in the project are Luna (delivering a pop rendition of the track), Heart & Paws (country), Gatocito (Latin), Endless Hiss (black metal), and Sweet Teddy Pepperpaw (jazz).
It’s been 25 years since Green Day dropped their fourth full-length album, an anniversary they’re celebrating with a fancy new vinyl reissue. It’s available on gorgeous translucent orange vinyl as a double LP, and aside from looking fantastic, the album has been remastered and is accompanied by eight new live tracks.
Vinyl Me, Please is delivering a huge release as one of their records of the month for April: MIA’s most enduring and commercially successful album, her sophomore effort Kala. This exclusive variation of the album is pressed on vibrant neon purple and green vinyl as a 2-LP release, has been remastered, and comes with a booklet of listening notes to further enhance the experience of the album. VMP also put out special pressings on two other MIA albums this month, but those have already sold out.
Arcade Fire and Owen Pallett — Her (Original Score)
Sony
The Joaquin Phoenix- and Scarlett Johansson-starring film Her came out way back in 2013, but it took about eight years for Arcade Fire and Owen Pallett’s score of the film to get a standalone release. The music here earned a nomination for Best Original Score at the 2014 Academy Awards and Win Butler says of it, “There is a mysterious alchemy in the way sound and picture work together, notes and moods shifting and reacting to one another like a kaleidoscope… And even in the absence of visuals, the emotional landscape still remains.”
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.
Trevor Jackson is someone I’ve watched grow up before my eyes. From his role as Kris McDuffy, a teenage best friend to an aspiring rapper, in Disney Channel’s 2012 film, Let It Shine, to playing the much more mature young man that is Aaron Jackson in Freeform’s Grown-ish, Trevor has been a star for much of his life. However, it’s not at all limited to his acting career. The multi-talented Indiana native is also a growing singer whose music career improves with each step he takes into adulthood.
The 24-year-old just released his third album, The Love Language and it’s a 14-track effort that explores the ways to receive and give affection to your partner. His commitment to being all and more for his companion comes alive on “Your Everything,” and even when the door for love hasn’t opened yet as we hear on “Just Friends,” Trevor’s willingness to pour his heart out, like he does on “This Won’t Go Viral,” tends to serve him well.
However, it’s not always green pastures and pretty flowers for the singer, but simply expressing his emotions and being sensitive through music is something he’s happy to do. “That’s how I feel about music and this album in particular,” he said during our phone call. “Just really kind of opening up about love and not being afraid to be sensitive as a black man in life, in general, is kind of like frowned upon.”
The courage towards being sensitive is found throughout The Love Language. In an interview with Uproxx, Trevor spoke about the new album, playing Aaron Jackson on Grown-ish, his own love languages, and more.
You’re someone who’s always busy. Between acting and music, it seems like there’s always something on your plate. However, with the pandemic, I assume you ended up with more time on your hands. How did you cope with that?
I think it was a message from God for me personally in my life, because I have a hard time taking breaks and tending to myself. I feel like I’m always trying to do the next thing, so it was really just like, sit down, who are you outside of your career, outside of music, outside of acting, who are you as a man? Who do you want to be as a man? What are you willing to do to obtain those things? So it was truly transformational for me, the whole pandemic, unfortunately, under unfortunate circumstances, but due to it, I was able to kind of really just see myself. I surfed a lot, I reflected a lot, I just got to find out who I was more as a man which then enabled me to make music in a different way, in a more honest way, and in a more vulnerable way.
The Love Language is your next body of work, which comes after your Rough Drafts, Pt. 1 and Rough Drafts, Pt. 2 projects. Going off that “rough draft” idea, what are some of the things that you feel you’ve improved or even perfected in your artistry?
I think the songwriting is some of my best work. I called it Love Language because music is my love language. I also think that, you know, love is like a drug and it can be good or it can be bad, but it’s never one or the other all the time. It’s never always good and it’s never always bad. Love is like life a lot of times, it’s gonna be up, it’s gonna be down, it’s gonna be about who are you going to be during that rollercoaster ride. Are you going to be the person that’s screaming and just enjoying the fact that they’re on the ride or the one that’s like, “Oh my God no. I hate this, I hate this.” Who do you want to be while you’re sitting on the rollercoaster. I want to be the guy that’s scared out of his mind but his hands are up and he’s screaming and laughing, just making the most out of the situation.
In one of your past interviews, you said your music always comes from personal experiences whereas acting finds you stepping into someone else’s shoes. Keeping that in mind, that made me appreciate this Love Language album more because we can see you working your way in and out of different love languages.
Right. Some of them it’s like, this is really good and then now, she’s making me feel weird, she’s rubbing me the wrong way and that is also a part of love. If you’re with someone and you’re mad at them, instead of being like, “Hey, I’m mad, and my feelings have been hurt, I just want you to tell me that you love me, I want to know that you still care about me,” we’ll be quiet. We’ll give the silent treatment, we’ll slam a door, we’ll go make food but make it loud. We don’t know how to express ourselves and that’s something I feel like we all need to work on. I’ve been saying this in every interview of mine, I want to push everyone to go to therapy or counseling or anything. It doesn’t mean that something’s wrong with you, it doesn’t mean you have a mental disability — and if you do have a mental disability, that’s okay. Just to have someone to speak to and open up about your life is so, so healing. Just to find out the birthplace of a lot of our behaviors, we all behave in a certain way and we all just think, “Hey, we’re just this is just who we are.” Actually no, it’s a lot, lot more complex and a lot deeper than that. Once you know the landscape, you’re able to start changing things. If you’re just confused about what’s going on, life will just happen around. If you start knowing yourself better, you’ll know how to navigate within life.
What love language would you say you have and what about your childhood and upbringing would you attribute to that?
I think quality time is definitely my top one. My mom and I went on tour when I was eight years old, so me and her would always spend a lot of time, but family members that I didn’t get to see all the time and wonder when I would see them were my favorite moments. Even now, I get to go back home like once a year, I wish I could go more but, I get to go back so spending that quality time with them really, really means a lot to me. So, yeah, I think that kind of plays into it a little bit. I don’t care if I got to shoot all day and get off at 1 a.m., I’m still going to try and come see you. Or if it’s early in the morning, I would try and come see you. I think it shows effort like, do you really care about the person? But also you can’t use that to an extent where it’s like, “Oh, you don’t care about me if you don’t come see me.” Then it’s like no, I’m gonna care about me too. Yeah, I’ve got to get rest. So it’s a hard balance, man.
Songs like “Pictures By The Pool” and “Be Yourself” are examples of what your pet peeves within a relationship are. Keeping that in mind, what are some things that you’re working on that might’ve been pet peeves to someone else?
Here’s something that I know that I do: in my understanding of my world, if things aren’t a big deal, they just aren’t. I’ve got to work on being like everyone doesn’t think like me. I’ve gotta be a little more sensitive to that, but I almost feel like Thanos, I’m not gonna let you distract me from my destiny, I’ve gotta do this, these things have to be done, and that’s just how it has to go. But I know sometimes that can come off insensitive, but in the big grand scheme of things, why are we talking about this? I’m thinking about aliens, I’m thinking about the end of the world and I’m thinking about really big concepts and really big ideas. So when you come to me with things that are minuscule in the grand scheme of things, it’s a waste of our time, not just mine, it’s yours too. We need to be having bigger conversations.
Do you feel like you parallel in any way to Aaron, the character you play on Grown-ish?
I think the main thing that I relate to with Aaron is the ambition side of things, I don’t fold. There’s many people close that would like me to change the way I might do things. I just don’t budge on that, I can’t budge on that, because it takes away the whole purpose of who I stand for, what I stand for. To conform into a way to be accepted is not my forte and I’ve been asked to do that multiple times, but I can’t do it. Who would I be telling people to be who you are unless someone tells you this is the only way to be in the movie, then you gotta be this kind of person. If this is the only way to sell a record, then you gotta be this. If this is the only way to get a lot of views on a music video, then you gotta do the music video like this. Who would I be preaching this message or whatever if I didn’t do that myself, so I think that’s how Aaron is a lot. He’s like, dude, I don’t care, this is right, this is wrong, this is what I believe, this is I’m standing behind, this is what I’m gonna do. So I definitely carry that energy with me, but I’m definitely more artistic with my political mess [compared to Aaron].
I think Aaron is trying to figure it out, you don’t get it right the first time and you probably won’t get it right the second time when it comes to love. Love is not an easy task, partnership is not an easy task, compromise is not an easy task. It takes time to get to those places. But I think that Aaron is a good person, I think he always has good intentions. He wants to save the world and sometimes saving the world gets in the way of relationship, maybe it doesn’t. I feel like that in my real life and I feel like I’ve got so much to do [that] it’s hard for me to put something or someone in front of that at the moment.
Shifting back to your career as a director, you’ve directed a lot of your own music videos and even some for your peers over the last few years. What’s one artist or even a TV show that you’d love to direct a video or an episode for?
I wouldn’t want to direct like Tom Hardy or Denzel, but I’d like to just pick the scene that they’re in and let them do what they want to do. I think a good director knows their actor, and as an actor, I know what it’s like to have someone try to come in and be like, “Yo, do it like this,” especially when you’ve done that. But that’s why I think actors who are directors are better directors, like John Fabbro to me was a great director because he acts and he knows what’s gonna work, what’s not gonna work. Guy Ritchie’s one of my favorite directors, I don’t think he’s an actor, but his directing is amazing. Zack Snyder now is another one I want to work after seeing Justice League, I mean he did 300 the guy’s a beast. Yeah. So yeah, I definitely want to write and direct for sure and I’ve been working on some ideas and concepts in mind.
What’s your ultimate goal as a creative whether it’s through acting, dancing, singing, directing or just all of them combined?
I wanna do a movie and do everything in the movie. I want to act, direct, compose, edit the movie. I want to do every part. With me, I know that that probably will take me at least four years to do because I’m going to be so stickler on my ass about it. I’m gonna be like it’s not good enough, it’s not good enough, it’s not good enough. I know even with my writing, I’m gonna have to go away somewhere and really get into it because I’m just too hard on myself and I know I want it to be great, so I gotta make sure I have that block of time.
The Love Language is out now via Born Art/EMPIRE. Get it here.
After Grimes made $6 million in one day for selling a collection of digital art as NFTs, musicians have been following suit and trying to break into the cryptocurrency art business. Artists like Diplo, Rico Nasty, and Halsey have released artwork as NFTs and now, The Weeknd is the latest to get into the game by hosting an NFT auction.
On Wednesday, The Weeknd officially announced his cryptocurrency auction, which he had previously teased. Items that will be up for sale include exclusive digital artwork and even an unreleased song.
About his decision to join the NFT marketplace The Weeknd said:
“Blockchain is democratizing an industry that has historically been kept shut by the gatekeepers. I’ve always been looking for ways to innovate for fans and shift this archaic music biz and seeing NFT’s allowing creators to be seen and heard more than ever before on their terms is profoundly exciting. I intend to contribute to this movement and can see that very soon it will be weaved into the music industry’s mechanics”
Excited to announce that my first NFT drop is taking place on Saturday at 2:00 pm EST on @niftygateway. The collection will feature new music and limited edition art. I developed the artwork with Strange Loop Studios pic.twitter.com/627BO4JekK
Echoing The Weeknd’s statement, Nifty Gateway Co-Founder Duncan Cock-Foster said: “The Weeknd’s entry into the NFT space marks a seminal moment in NFT history. One of the most influential R&B singers of our generation creating in this new medium is huge validation for the entire NFT space. We’re thrilled to present this unique, beautiful collection to the world.”
Check out a preview of The Weeknd’s NFT auction items above.
The sale starts 4/3 at 2 p.m. EST on Nifty Gateway. Find more information here.
In a new interview, Pusha T provides a wealth of updates on his highly anticipated follow-up to 2018’s Daytona. Appearing on the Instagram Live show Behind The Velvet Rope Tuesday night, Pusha told the host Biddy that the project is nearly complete. He also revealed the probable length of 12 songs, admitted he didn’t have a title for the album yet, and promised that it will be “the best album that drops in 2021.”
The only thing yet to be completed, according to Pusha, is a collaboration with Daytona‘s sole producer Kanye West. “I’m working on the album right now,” he said. “I haven’t titled it. Probably 12 [songs]. I usually don’t do a lot of extras. I feel like I have some extras right now but I’m gonna keep 12… I gotta go sit in with ’Ye for a little bit but other than that it’s just these 12.”
Of course, locking down the elusive Kanye for a session might be easier said than done. While the producer’s versatility has given him the longevity to outlast a dry spell musically, it also means his attention is being pulled in multiple directions by several projects currently in the works — among them, his own Donda album, his deal with Gap, and his pending divorce from Kim Kardashian.
However, when the two do get back together, Kanye and Pusha have shown that they can make some world-stopping music. Until then, we also have Pusha’s potential projects with Madlib and Tyler The Creator to look forward to, while The Neptunes are also rumored to be on this upcoming project, as well.
Freddie Gibbs has been on a hell of a hot streak of late, with his recent Alchemist-produced Alfredo project continuing to resonate months after its initial release. Now, it would appear that Freddie is looking to keep the momentum rolling, taking to Twitter to tease the impending release of a new single.
Scott Dudelson/Getty Images
“Drop some [Rabbit Emoji] if you want some new big rabbit this week,” writes Gibbs, sharing a brief animation by Lambo Lambo that may very well point to the art direction of an accompanying music video. In addition to the nostalgic 8-bit loop (in which Gibbs is confidently labeled as the best rapper alive), a snippet provides further insight into what we can expect from the song.
Hip-hop heads might recognize the opening sounds of the instrumental, as it was previously featured on Nas’ Stillmatic, specifically the Large Professor-produced “You’re Da Man.” It’s entirely possible that we’ll see Gibbs reimagine the introspective classic, and we’re certainly on board for that — in all honesty, Gibbs would put in serious work over the profound and vaguely haunting beat.
Look for this intriguing new track to surface later this week, and keep an eye out for additional developments from Gangsta Gibbs. Developments that may very well include a full-fledged collaboration project with Benny The Butcher, should the hip-hop Gods smile upon us and grant us good fortune.
Juicy J, the self-described “Tom Brady of Rap,” is one of Hip-Hop’s most versatile and ever-evolving veterans. Thanks to his willingness to collaborate with artists of every generation as well as his infectious energy on wax, Juicy J has enjoyed a storied career as a member of Three 6 Mafia and as a solo rapper. His latest album, The Hustle Continues dropped last fall, and the high-spirited nature of the record proves that Juicy J isn’t ready to stop any time soon.
Today, Juicy J has officially unleashed the music video for THE HUSTLE CONTINUES standout “SPEND IT.” The humorous visual for the Lil Baby- and 2 Chainz-assisted track arrives exclusively on the Memphis artist’s Facebook page, and it finds Juicy J, Lil Baby, and 2 Chainz running various unprofessional businesses.
Juicy J takes on the role of a janky used cars salesman, while Lil Baby and 2 Chainz are portrayed in the music video as owners of a pawn shop and plastic surgery center, respectively. The four-minute music video is an entertaining effort that features funny skits from Juicy J, outlandish visual effects that put Lil Baby’s head on a baby’s, and plenty of vibrant shots.
Check out the Facebook exclusive music video for Juicy J’s “SPEND IT” above and let us know what you think.
Togehter, Lil Uzi Vert and JT are one of the most surprising couples in Hip-Hop to emerge in 2021, and they have quickly become one of rap’s favorites. After some shady social media exchanges and a bit of drama concerning his ex, Brittany Byrd, Lil Uzi Vert and JT appear to be stronger than ever. The two rappers have shown a lot of PDA since confirming their relationship, and recently, Uzi revealed that JT has been somewhat of a muse for him, saying that she’s got him “making bangers.”
In a new post to his Instagram story, Lil Uzi proves that he is truly in love with the City Girls rapper, sharing a cute video of the two laid up with each other. Captured by The Shade Room before it disappeared from his story, the video clip shows the Eternal Atake artist serenading his girlfriend by singing Musiq Soulchild’s classic track “Dontchange.”
As seen above, Uzi records JT while singing the song’s unmistakable hook, and although JT has her face covered by her hand, you can hear her giggling after Uzi starts singer for her. Lil Uzi Vert‘s romantic gesture is the latest sweet development in the two rappers’ ongoing romance, so stay tuned for more updates regarding Uzi and JT.
In 2019, EarthGang delivered their debut album Mirrorland, a conceptual and vividly rendered odyssey through the creative minds of Johnny Venus and Wowgr8. Since then, the Dreamville duo has been hard at work on their sophomore studio album, recently confirmed to be titled Ghetto Gods.
Matthew Sperzel/Getty Images
At this moment, details surrounding the big release are relatively scarce, though Olu previously revealed that the Wale-assisted “Options” would be included on the final tracklist. Recently, EarthGang shared an extended look at another Ghetto Gods inclusion — a track titled “All Eyes On Me,” produced by DaBaby collaborator JetsonMade, The Breed, and Jonny Venus himself.
Speaking of which, Venus shared an additional teaser in the comments, indicating that he and his partner “we floated on this shit so crazy.” Wowgr8 also chimed in on the track, writing “One of my favorite songs we ever made. If u was a fan for “Miss the show” this a grown ni*ga version of that.” For those who don’t know, he’s referring to an EarthGang deep cut, one that finds both parties taking to slow-paced and vibey instrumental.
Based on what EarthGang opted to share of “All Eyes On Me,” the snippet certainly lives up to Wowgr8’s assessment — check it out for yourself now, and stay tuned for more news on the upcoming Ghetto Gods. Do you like what you’ve heard so far?
Yung Bleu’s up right now. The rapper’s leading the wave for the trap soul wave that’s emerging heavily out of the South these days. His sound earned the praise of Southern legend Boosie who has acted as a mentor of sorts. However, it’s his collaboration with Drake on the “You’re Mine Still (Remix)” that admittedly propelled his career to new heights, earning him even bigger bags in the process.
The Alabama artist recently appeared on Coi Leray’s single “Thieves In Atlanta” and dropped “Ghetto Love Birds” prior to this. This week, he returned his own freestyle over Drake’s “Lemon Pepper Freestyle.” Opening up with a more muddy flow and a direct delivery, he slowly breaks into melodies over the course of the 3-minute freestyle.
A visual arrived along with the song that opens up with a clip of Bleu in the studio with Big Sean who offers him some major praise. Check out the Yung Bleu’s “Lemon Pepper (Freestyle)” below.
Quotable Lyrics My lil’ dawg sat me down and said he feelin’ cursed lately Shit ain’t pannin’ out I worked too hard for this money and I can’t hand it out I just got that n***a location and now we campin’ out Heard it through the wind he was talkin’, I had to air it out
