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Snoop Dogg Remakes Classic Rap Album Covers From Ice Cube And LL Cool J In His ‘Look Around’ Video

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Snoop Dogg is a busy man nowadays. The Long Beach rap legend consistently finds himself in headlines, often for good reasons like his appearance at Triller’s recent Fight Club event and his upcoming role on Jamie Foxx’s Netflix vampire hunter movie. Other times it’s for more controversial things like his recent beef with Eminem. Through these ups and downs, if there’s one thing Snoop will absolutely give to his fans it’s new music and that’s something he did last week.

Celebrating the release of his eighteenth album, From Tha Streets 2 Tha Suites, Snoop returned with a new video for “Look Around.” The visual finds Snoop sifting through a crate of vinyl LPs filled with various rap albums. As the rapper picks one up to look at, the video transitions to him on a recreated version of the cover. The various covers Snoop remakes include LL Cool J’s Radio, Ice-T’s Power, Eric B & Rakim’s Paid In Full, Big Daddy Kane’s Long Live The Kane, Eazy-E’s Eazy-Duz-It, Too $hort’s Life Is… Too $hort, Ice Cube’s AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted and Death Certificate, and Snoop’s own Doggystyle.

“Look Around” can be found on the From Tha Streets 2 Tha Suites album which Snoop released on 4/20 to celebrate the weed-themed holiday. Its ten tracks feature contributions from Mozzy, Larry June, J Black, Devin The Dude, and more.

You can press play on the “Look Around” video above.

From Tha Streets 2 Tha Suites is out now via Doggystyle Records. Get it here.

Saweetie Reveals She’s Attending An Artist Development Boot Camp To Work On Her Skills

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Saweetie is set to have a big summer this year, but it’s nothing she’s not used to. Her prior records like “Tap In,” “My Type,” and “Icy Grl” could be found on the summer soundtracks for years and with official debut album, Pretty B*tch Music, on the way, her fans can expect some more great music from the Bay Area act. Before that arrives, however, Saweetie revealed that she brought her talents to an artist development boot camp with the goal of working on the areas she struggles in as a musician.

She shared the news during a recent interview with Apple Music. “For me, I’m gonna focus on what I struggle with — I struggle with breathing control, I’m gonna work on my dance moves, my details, all that good stuff, my body, my stamina, everything,” she said. The hosts on the Apple Music show were surprised by her involvement in the camp and commended her for joining it and putting an effort to improve her skills.

The interview came just a couple weeks after she released her Pretty Summer Playlist: Season 1. The seven-track effort saw appearances from Drakeo The Ruler, Bbyafricka, Kednra Jae, Lourdiz, and Loui.

You can watch Saweetie’s full Apple Music interview above. Pretty Summer Playlist: Season 1 is out now via Warner. Get it here.

Saweetie is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Swizz Beatz Delivered A Very Powerful Speech At DMX’s Memorial Service

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The first of two memorial services for DMX occurred on Saturday at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. The late rapper was brought in a bright red casket to the arena aboard a massive monster truck that was followed by hundreds of motorcyclists and bikers. As for the service itself, the night was highlighted by a performance from Kanye West and his Sunday Service Choir, a fantastic remix of DMX’s “Slippin” from the rapper’s daughter Sovonah, and appearances from Nas and the Ruff Ryders collective, among others. It was here that one of the most powerful moments of the night came.

Following comments from Eve and The Lox, Swizz Beatz took the stage to remember DMX and get a few additional things off his chest.

“Words can’t describe our loss,” he said. “But, our gain is heavy, as well, because we got a real serious person upstairs that’s looking down on us and that’s going to guide us on our journey… I just wish all of these people showed up for him when he was here. You got thousands of people claiming who they are, and [selling] tickets and things like that. This man needed everybody.”

He added, “He didn’t need everybody when he [was] not here. He needed everybody when he was here. So, we got to learn how to celebrate each other while we’re here… The things that I’m witnessing from my brother’s passing is a big educational thing for me to learn. I’m glad that I got to see it at this age. A lot of people ain’t your friends, a lot of people ain’t your family.”

The Verzuz co-founder then closed his speech with one final thought about “handling your business” and making sure your family is set up in case something goes wrong with your own health.

I need everybody to do a will. You have to do your will. You do not want strangers — bloodsuckers — handling your business when you’re not here. You want to ones that you love handling your business. But, imma make sure my brother straight. Imma make sure my brother’s kids is straight and everybody in here better do the same, as well. ‘Cause this is not a fashion show, this is not a performance, this is a real-life day-to-day.

You can watch Swizz Beatz share his words in the video above.

DMX’s Daughter Performed Her Own Version Of ‘Slippin’ At The Late Rapper’s Memorial Service

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Two weeks after the music world received news of DMX’s tragic death, his close friends and family gathered at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center for the first of two memorial services to honor the late rapper. A beautiful moment during the first on Saturday night came when DMX’s daughter took the stage to share her version of one of the rapper’s most popular songs.

Sonovah, who is just 12 years old, took the stage with her family and shared her own version of “Slippin,” DMX’s 1998 song that details his struggle and fight to overcome life’s demons.

“Ayo, I’m growing, I’m learning to hold my head up / Ayo, I’m growing, I’m learning to hold my head up,” she rapped. “Ayo, I’m growing, I’m learning to hold my head up / My daddy’s still holding my hand so I gotta stand up.” She even debuted a verse of her that fell in line with the flow DMX used on the original record. Sonovah’s family cheered her on as she performed the track for well over two minutes.

Sonovah’s “Slippin” remix joins Kanye West and the Sunday Service Choir’s as the highlight performances from DMX’s memorial service. The rapper and the group opened the night with a beautiful medley of gospel and soul records and continued to perform throughout the night. A second memorial service for DMX will be held on Sunday, April 25 at 2 p.m. EST and air on BET.

You can listen to DMX’s daughter’s version of “Slippin” in the videos above.

Kanye West And The Sunday Service Choir Opened DMX’s Memorial Service With A Soulful Medley

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The first of two memorial services for DMX began from Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on Saturday. The event was livestreamed to fans and supporters on YouTube as the venue was closed to only close friends and family of the late rapper. After a roughly two-and-a-half-hour delay, the service started with a chilling performance from Kanye West and his Sunday Service Choir. The rapper and the group took the stage in red hoodies and sweatpants to deliver a performance filled with gospel and soul records in honor of DMX.

Throughout their set, the Sunday Service Choir performed tracks that included Soul II Soul’s “Keep On Movin’” as well as the opening record in the classic film, Belly, which DMX appeared in. They would return later in the service to perform additional tracks like “Ultralight Beam.”

The opening performance comes after Kanye’s Yeezy brand teamed up with Balenciaga to release tribute shirts in honor of DMX. The release features an image of DMX between two crosses on the front and the phrase “In Loving Memory” on the back. The late rapper’s birth and death dates can also be found on the shirt’s left and right sleeves respectively.

You can watch clips from Kanye West and the Sunday Service Choir’s opening performance above and tune into the memorial service here. A second memorial service for DMX will be held on Sunday, April 25 at 2 p.m. EST and air on BET.

Kanye West’s Yeezy Released A DMX Tribute Shirt With Proceeds Set To Go To The Late Rapper’s Family

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Tributes for DMX have come in special ways outside of the message shared on social media since his unfortunate death on April 9. Fellow Ruff Ryders member Jadakiss held a food giveaway in honor of the late rapper in their hometown of Yonkers. On Saturday, the late rapper’s casket was driven through Brooklyn on a massive monster truck that was followed by hundreds of motorcyclists and bikers on the way to one of two memorial services. And Kanye West has now joined in on the special tributes as he released a special shirt in honor of DMX through his Yeezy brand.

The shirt, which was also made in collaboration with Balenciaga, features an image of DMX between two crosses. “RIP” appears above the rapper’s head and “In Loving Memory” can be found on the back of the shirt while his birth and death dates are printed in large lettering on the left and right sleeves respectively. The shirt only comes in black and can be purchased for the price of $200 on dmx-tribute.com. According to the site, all proceeds from the shirt will go to the late rapper’s family.

The release came hours before DMX’s memorial service at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. After a few delays, the service, which will be livestreamed on YouTube, started at 6:15 p.m. A second memorial will be held for DMX on Sunday, April 25, and air on BET. You can check out an image of the shirt in the post above.

LeBron James’ Tweet About Kendrick Lamar Is Giving People Hope That New Music Is On The Way

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Last week marked four years since Kendrick Lamar dropped his last solo album, DAMN. Since then, fans haven’t been entirely deprived of new music from him as the rapper has delivered several guest verses on top of his big role on 2018’s Black Panther soundtrack. Despite this, supporters of the TDE rapper are heavily anticipating a new body of work from him, something they think is coming soon thanks to a tweet from LeBron James.

On Saturday morning, LeBron posted, “Man I miss @kendricklamar ! In dying need of his gift/presence right now.” From the looks of it, the tweet may appear as just an innocent shoutout to the rapper, but some fans think otherwise.

“Lebron the A&R just told us Kendrick is coming with some summer heat I fear,” one person wrote in a tweet. Another user noted what happened the last time LeBron shared a similar tweet. “The last time he did this Kendrick dropped Untitled Unmastered (laughing emoji),” they wrote. “I appreciate what LeBron is doing for the people.”

LeBron’s tweet comes after TDE in-house engineer MixedByAli shared some insight on the rapper’s upcoming album. “I would say, every album that he has dropped since Good Kid has come with a different feeling so just look forward to Kendrick obviously expressing himself in the most creative way -– the most highest of the creative way,” he said. As for whether or not it would drop this year, this is what MixedByAli had to say: “It might, it might, you never know.”

You can read more reactions to LeBron’s tweet below.

DMX’s Casket Was Brought To His Barclays Center Memorial On A Massive Monster Truck

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DMX’s death is something the music world is still healing from. The hip-hop legend tragically died earlier this month after a reported drug overdose that triggered a heart attack and left him on life support for nearly a week. Two weeks after his passing, the world will get a pair of opportunities to say their final goodbyes to DMX in memorial services for him that will occur this weekend. With the first is set to begin Saturday afternoon, the rapper was brought to Brookyln’s Barclays Center, where the first memorial will be held, in the most fitting way.

The rapper’s casket was delivered to the arena on a massive monster truck that featured the phrase “Long Live DMX” on the left and right sides in large white and red lettering. As the truck journeyed through the Brooklyn streets, fans stood on the sidewalk to cheer as it drove by. The monster truck was also followed by hundreds of motorcyclists. Upon arriving at the arena, a message honoring the rapper could be seen on the outdoor screen. “We each have a star, all we have to do is find it,” it read. “Once you do, everyone who sees it will be blinded.”

The first service for DMX will begin at 4 p.m. from Barclays Center and be livestreamed on YouTube. A second one will be held on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. and air on BET.

You can watch video of the massive monster truck with DMX’s casket above.

Beyonce Celebrated The Fifth Anniversary Of ‘Lemonade’ With A Touching Post

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Beyonc has accomplished a lot in her stories career, but one of her towering achievements is her 2016 album Lemonade, as well as its accompanying music film, which earned accolades as well. The 12-track effort highlighted the turmoil she experienced in her marriage with Jay-Z, and people are still talking about it on its fifth anniversary. Beyonce herself made sure to commemorate the album’s birthday with a touching post to Instagram.

“I’m grateful that this body of work has resonated so deeply with so many people,” Beyonce wrote in the caption, alongside images from the movie version of the album. “I’m so thankful for all the beautiful souls involved in making one of my favorite pieces of art. As I celebrate five years of LEMONADE, I encourage everyone to continue healing, loving, forgiving and uplifting.” She added, “I hope you find joy today.”

The anniversary comes just a month after she and Megan Thee Stallion became the first women to win the Best Rap Performance award at the Grammys. Her daughter Blue Ivy also became one of the youngest Grammy winners in history after taking home an award for Best Music Video, which she appeared in alongside Beyonce, Wizkid, and Saint Jhn.

Snoop Dogg Says DMX Rented Out His Studio To Record His Upcoming Album After Their ‘Verzuz’ Battle

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One of the best recent memories people have of DMX is his Verzuz battle with Snoop Doggz last July. The late rapper could be seen in high spirits as he and Snoop went back and forth, playing some of the most popular records from their catalogs. Alas, DMX tragically passed away less than a year later, after a reported drug overdose triggered a heart attack. In a recent interview with Hot97, Snoop explained that his battle with DMX is one of his favorite memories of him.

“He actually did his whole album at my studio when he finished Verzuz,” Snoop revealed during the conversation. “He never left, stayed in L.A. and rented my studio out and did his whole album. I cooked with him, I laid it out for him.” He added, “That was the best moment, that he felt comfortable enough to do his album at my spot, and didn’t leave L.A. until it was done.”

Snoop also spoke about another moment with DMX, one that involved old-school cars and music. “One night I’m sitting in the back and cuz jump in the passenger seat, and we’re just there chopping it up listening to old-school music,” he said. “If you know anything about DMX, you know he don’t f*ck with rap. That n***a don’t f*ck with no rap. So I’m playing all this old-school music, it’s turning this n***a on he’s singing all the words, he more into it than me!”

Snoop’s sit-down on Hot97 comes as DMX’s family prepares to hold memorial services. The first will be today, April 24 at 4 p.m. EST, while the second will occur on April 25 at 2:30 p.m. EST. Both events will be livestreamed, with the former airing on YouTube and the latter on BET.

You can watch the interview in full above.