Azealia Banks Defends Cara Delevingne After The Billboard Music Awards: ‘That’s My Girl Thru And Thru’

The internet has been mad at Cara Delevingne, whose weird behavior at the Billboard Music Awards made headlines. This ranged from laying on the floor to take a picture of Doja Cat, DJ Khaled, and Fat Joe that ended up being a pretty low-quality photo, to playing with Megan Thee Stallion’s dress on the red carpet. Though Delevingne is practically known for her weird, eccentric presence, she was accused of fetishizing Black women.

In a surprising turn of events, Azealia Banks, after having a fan reach out and ask about the situation, came to Delevingne’s defense on Twitter.

She wrote, “Cara doesn’t have an obsession with with black women. It’s that upper crust English society full of fake white and jealous white hoes who were never as charismatic as she is that made fake friendships, tried sabotaging her every which way she moved and the intense jealousy. Of her older and extremely plain looking sister poppy that always made Cara feel sad and lonely. Poppy would always say mad back handed slick sh*t and tell Cara’s business to people in the industry and I always remember Cara literally traveling the world completely alone 4 years.”

She continued: “Lots of English society/media took advantage of that and there were plenty of times I would just hide Cara in my apartment for days at a time to make sure she got some deep sleep and some actual food and wasn’t just thrown out amongst the wolves like that. Everyone always wanted to use Cara for what they could get from her, and luckily for her – none of them got anything substantial. deep down I could tell she was (like me) so used to being told ur a bad person that she began to believe those things about her self and go out of her. Way to please people who saw her as an easy route to some fashion/British society clout… all of which they fumbled in the grand scheme of things. Cara and I just did normal stuff like dress up like mermaids, smoke spliffs and take naps. That’s my girl thru and thru.”

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Watch Nipsey Hussle Develop A Marijuana Strain In The New ‘The Marathon (Cultivation)’ Documentary

Nipsey Hussle’s death shook up the world three years ago and every effort to honor his legacy has provided some needed comfort or joy. The latest piece of content surrounding the late Los Angeles native comes in the form of a YouTube documentary called The Marathon (Cultivation), which follows the Victory Lap artist throughout the process of he and his brother, Samiel Asghedom, developing their own marijuana strain called Marathon OG. The documentary arrives just under a month preceding the June 18 opening of The Marathon (Collective), a cannabis retail store in Los Angeles.

Though he is not here with us physically, rappers, celebrities and companies at every turn have paid homage to the trailblazer and kept his memory alive. Hussle posthumously earned two Grammy awards in 2020 for “Racks In The Middle” (Best Rap Performance) with Hit-Boy and Roddy Ricch, and DJ Khaled’s “Higher” (Best Rap/Sung Collaboration) alongside John Legend.

Hussle was fatally slain at the end of March 2019 in front of his Marathon Clothing store in Los Angeles. The rapper had just reached the peak of his career with the success and critical acclaim of his 2018 debut album Victory Lap.

Check out the documentary, The Marathon (Cultivation), above.

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

French Montana Addresses The ‘Curse From The Kardashians’ On His New Song, ‘Alcatraz’

French Montana’s new song, “Alcatraz” features the rapper sharing small anecdotes over his life and career. Throughout the track, Montana proclaims, “I’m expensive every day, I ain’t free tomorrow.” Rife with metaphors, similes, and somewhat clever wordplay, “Alcatraz” is a typical Montana track.

Perhaps a standout line is where Montana likens himself to Kanye West, saying, “I feel like Ye through the car crash / Feel like Ye ’cause me and Ye killed the curse from the Kardashians.” In case you forgot, Montana and Khloe Kardashian dated on and off between 2013 and 2014.

Other one-liners may elicit a chuckle, like “Word to 112, my life ain’t peachy,” but lines like “She lied on her booty, that’s an ass cap / I asked her, what’s her sign, she said CashApp,” may trigger an awkward grimace. At the end of the song, Montana teased a new installment in his Mac & Cheese mixtape series, saying, “Ride big V’s like the G house / Montega in the flash, Mac & Cheese 5.”

The song’s music video, directed by Montana and Zay Jones, shows Montana rapping as police bag a body, and toward the end, the rapper is seen standing behind fire arranged in lettering reading “CB,” referring to Montana’s Coke Boyz crew.

Check out “Alcatraz” above.

Babyface Ray Is All About Loyalty In His Laid-Back Video For ‘Family Over Money’

Among all of the hip-hop releases that were shared in 2022 so far, Babyface Ray’s Face is certainly at the top of the list. The Detroit native released his debut album at the top of the year and it was filled with memorable moments like “6 Mile Show” with Icewear Vezzo, “My Thoughts 3/Pop’s Prayer,” and “Dancing With The Devil” alongside Pusha T and Landstrip Chip. Nearly three months after that project arrived, Babyface Ray is already back in action with a deluxe reissue for his impressive debut.

With the re-release of Face, Babyface Ray supplies eight additional songs to the album including “Family Over Money” which he dropped with a music video. In it, Babyface Ray enjoys a serene view from a luxury house while laying off raps focused on loyalty. The visual also displays clips of him performing on stage and recording in his in-home studio.

The deluxe release of Face adds features from Veeze, Baroline, Lucki, DJ Esco, and Lil Yachty to the project that was already highlighted by appearances from G Herbo, 42 Dugg, Wiz Khalifa, and others.

You can press play on the video for “Family Over Money” above.

Face (Deluxe) is out now via Wavy Gang/Empire. You can stream it here.

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

Foushee Delivers Reassurance In The Midst Of Chaos On The Spasmodic ‘I’m Fine’

Foushee’s big stepping-out moment came last year when she released her debut album Time Machine. The project arrived after she reached viral success with “Deep End Freestyle,” which was amplified by a remix from Sleepy Hallow. Since the project’s release, which was pushed by songs like “Paper Plane” and “My Slime,” Foushee has used her genre-bending skills to pair herself with names like Vince Staples, Ayra Starr, Lil Wayne, Saba, and more. Foushee is now preparing to release her second project, and as she continues to put the finishing touches on it, she returns with its second single.

Following last month’s “Double Standard, Foushee is back in action with “I’m Fine.” The record finds the singer in a reassuring space as she convinces both listeners and the person she speaks to on the song that all is well in her world. It’s another message-focused song from Foushee, just like “Double Standard,” which she spoke about in a press release for the song.

In it, she said the song addresses “outdated gender roles that I have experienced in past relationships and rebelling against them.” Foushee adds, “The imbalance frustrates me. Don’t expect anything from me that you wouldn’t give me, including respect and loyalty. I match energy.”

You can listen to “I’m Fine” here.

Quavo And Takeoff Drop ‘Hotel Lobby’ Under The Moniker Unc And Phew

Two-thirds of the Migos are dropping heat ahead of the summer. Quavo and Takeoff have premiered their new single, “Hotel Lobby” under their new collective stage name, Unc And Phew.

The name Unc And Phew refers to their duo’s actual family dynamic, as Quavo is Takeoff’s uncle. Like many Migos tracks, “Hotel Lobby” is a braggadocious ode to wealth and debauchery. On the Murda Beatz-produced track, Takeoff opens with a verse, rapping about his love of private jets and mink coats. Quavo then takes over on the chorus, promising, “all these commas, I won’t fumble.”

In the song’s music video, directed by Quavo and Keemotion, the two pay homage to Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas, and take a road trip through the desert while tripping on shrooms. When they arrive to the aforementioned hotel lobby, the shaky, blurry lenses create the effect of a trip of a lifetime.

In regards to the elephant in the room, Offset’s absence, none of the Migos have confirmed the group’s disbandment, however, rumors began to swirl about a Migos breakup after fans noticed Offset and Cardi B unfollowed Quavo and Takeoff on Instagram.

Earlier today, TMZ caught up with Quavo at LAX Airport, however, Quavo offered no comment regarding the breakup rumors.

Check out “Hotel Lobby” above.

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

The Notorious B.I.G.’s ‘G.O.A.T.’ With Ty Dolla Sign Puts An Afrobeats Spin On One Of His Classic Tracks

This Saturday, May 20, will mark what would’ve been The Notorious B.I.G.’s 50th birthday. As expected there are big plans to honor the late rapper, and it continues what’s been a celebratory year in honor of Biggie. This year also marked the 25th anniversary of Biggie’s Life After Death, and back in February, his estate released an anniversary box set for the album complete with eight LPs for fans to indulge in. Now, in celebration of his upcoming 50th birthday, Biggie’s estate delivers the late rapper’s first song in 17 years with “G.O.A.T.” and it’s quite the unique song, at least for what you would expect from Biggie.

Thanks to some help from Ty Dolla Sign and Nigerian singer Bella Alubo, Biggie arrives with “G.O.A.T.” which features an unexpected dose of afrobeats within the record. Biggie delivers verses at the beginning and at the end of the song while Ty Dolla Sign takes care of the middle verse. Elsewhere, Alubo takes care of the song’s hook. The track also samples “I Love The Dough,” which is a fan favorite from Biggie’s Life After Death album.

“Being on a song with Biggie has been a dream of mine since I was a kid,” Ty said about the new song. “The song title is fitting of him…the GOAT. Happy Birthday, Big. We miss you!” Biggie’s mother, Voletta Wallace, also spoke about the new song. “It’s wonderful to witness my son’s music reimagined for his fans and today’s generation of young men and women to embrace his art,” she said. “I appreciate the hard work of all involved in bringing together the perfect blend of voices and music to this song, G.O.A.T.”

You can check out the new record in the video above.

Ty Dolla Sign is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Erykah Badu Says That Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS Panties Are ‘So Comfy’ That She Accidentally Peed Through Them

It’s safe to say that Erykah Badu is quite the eccentric woman as she’s proven on multiple occasions. One example came a few years ago when she launched her now-infamous panty perfume. Yes, the legendary neo-soul singer launched Badu Pussy perfume at the start of 2020, which was created by allegedly burning pairs of her underwear. Eccentric right? She even gifted Rihanna with a bottle of the perfume at the end of last year during the Savage X Fenty fashion show. Now in 2022, Badu had quite the unique experience with a different product, this one being Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS panties.

In a tweet she shared on Thursday, Badu wrote, “Just peed thru my @skims panties cause [I] forgot I was wearing any . No cap. So comfy . Y’all tell Kim. Do I have a law suit ! Lol.” This may not be something that most people share on social media, but when you’re as free as Erykah Badu is, you do whatever you want. After a few hours, Kim caught wind of the and offered a lighthearted as well as a compliment. “It’s actually the biggest customer complaint J/K LOL I got you Queen [white heart, goat, and crown emojis], Kim wrote. “I’m sending you fresh new @skims ASAP!!!”

Would you look at that? Honesty and a compliment get you a new pair of SKIMS panties, at least when you’re Erykah Badu that is.

You can view the interaction between Erykah and Kim in the posts above.

Omah Lay Showcases Nigerian Luxury In His New ‘Woman’ Video

Nigerian superstar Omah Lay just dropped a new heater in time for summer. On “Woman,” the latest cut from his upcoming album, Boy Alone, he celebrates the lovely lady in his life.

“Anything I do is for my woman,” Lay says on the fiery Afrobeats track. In the song’s accompanying visual, filmed in Nigeria, Lay is surrounded by models, but keeps his eye on one woman in particular. They ride in a car, dance near a harbor, and hang out in an apartment, where they feast upon gold-crusted burgers.

In a recent interview with Billboard, Lay spoke about the recent wave in popularity of Afrobeats in North America and what he enjoys about performing in the US.

“It feels more present when we come out here,” Lay said. “They could just listen to it and that’s it. But actually seeing the Afrobeats artists right here in America, it’s like, ‘OK, that’s close to home,’ Afrobeats makes you dance. And I think this is the time when the world is in that headspace. The world wants to dance.”

Check out “Woman” above.

Boy Alone is out 6/24 via KeyQaad / Sire Records. Pre-save it here.

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

J. Cole Signs With A Professional Basketball Team For The Second Time In Two Years

J. Cole’s love for basketball has been documented on several occasions throughout his music career. In recent years, Cole has not only taken multiple opportunities to show off his skills in the public eye but he’s also completed with professional athletes. In 2020, The Detroit Pistons told him to reach out about a tryout, and the following year, Cole signed a deal with Rwanda Patriots who play in the Basketball Africa League. He was with the team for a little over two weeks before he made his departure, but now, Cole is gearing up to bring his talents to another team.

In a report shared by The Athletic’s Shams Charania, it was revealed that Cole signed a contract to play with the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the Canadian Elite Basketball League. The CEBL’s training camp began this week and the season opener is on May 26. The terms of Cole’s contract are unknown at the moment, but seeing how things went with his last attempt at the pro leagues, it’s guaranteed that the rapper’s first game will garner plenty of attention from the music and sports world.

The news about Cole’s latest try at the pro leagues comes after he attended a longtime fan’s college graduation and connected with BIA for their “London” collaboration.

You can view the report from Shams Charania in the tweet above.