Home Page

New York’s ‘Rap On Trial’ Law Passes The State Senate

by
jay-z rap on trial
Getty Image

As the Fulton County racketeering case against Young Thug and YSL Records continues to draw scrutiny for its use of the Atlanta rapper’s lyrics in its 88-page indictment, the movement to reform criminal law to limit this controversial practice made significant progress this week. Pitchfork reports that the New York State Senate has approved Senate Bill S7527 — aka known as the “Rap On Trial” law.

Sponsored by Senators Jamaal Bailey and Brad Hoylman and receiving support from rappers like Fat Joe, Jay-Z, Killer Mike, and Meek Mill, the Rap On Trial law would limit the use of artists’ lyrics as evidence unless prosecutors can prove that the raps are “literal, rather than figurative or fictional.” This could make it much more difficult for RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) cases to simply pull lyrics that mention suspected criminal organizations, such as the ones used against Young Thug. According to the State Senate website:

The purpose of this legislation is to protect freedom of speech and artistic expression in New York State. This bill effectuates the enhanced free speech protections provided by the New York State Constitution, ensuring that criminal defendants are tried based upon evidence of criminal conduct, not the provocative nature of their artistic works and tastes.

The bill must still pass the State Assembly to become law — love that bicameral Congress — and would require a signature from the Governor to become law, but should it do both, it would set a precedent for other states to follow to stop prosecutors from overreaching when it comes to rappers and their expression.

Lil Wayne Threatens To Pee In Mark Cuban’s Mouth As The Two Beef On Twitter

by
Lil Wayne NBA Western Conference Finals 2018 Playoffs
Getty Image

Lil Wayne and Mark Cuban are used to having enemies given that they’re both among the most successful figures in the competitive fields of hip-hop and business, respectively. Now, they’re facing off against each other, launching a Twitter feud that has so far peaked with Wayne proclaiming he will urinate in Cuban’s mouth.

On May 8, Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic dropped 26 points and 11 assists to tie his team’s second-round NBA Playoff series against the Phoenix Suns at 2-2, a series the Mavs would go on to win in seven games. That day, Wayne tweeted, “Luka a ho.” Cuban (who of course owns the Mavs) took a while to respond but came back with a good one on May 16, quote-tweeting Wayne’s tweet, adding a photo of Wayne sitting courtside at Game 7 of that series, and quoting a lyric from Wayne’s “Uproar”: “It’s a sh*t show, put you front row.”

Wayne was not a fan of the clap-back, as last night, he tweeted and then deleted, “Mark Cuban don’t make me get u smacked boy U playin w me?? I will piss in ya fkn mouth ho.” In a follow-up tweet that’s still up, he added, “Ya lil b*tch it’s up.”

Multiple Twitter users quickly dug up a photo of Wayne and Cuban celebrating the Mavericks’ 2011 NBA Championship together.

Cuban has yet to respond, but last night, he shared a tweet quoting Doncic as saying, “I’m living my best life right now.” Cuban added, “The best quote ever.”

It’s certainly a good time to be Doncic and Cuban, as the Mavericks are preparing to face the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. Wayne’s doing alright, too, as he’s working on new music with Tiffany Haddish.

Bishop Nehru Appears To Try Heroin In A Recent Music Video And People Were Quite Confused

by

Brooklyn rapper Bishop Nehru rose to fame in the mid 2010s thanks to his throwback sound that caught the ear of many, even the late MF DOOM. That connection eventually led to the release of Nehru’s 2018 project Elevators (Act I & II) which featured production from DOOM and Kaytranda as well. Elevators (Act I & II) was the follow-up to his 2017 project Emperor Nehru’s New Groove, both of which helped to boost his stock amongst the young rappers he was aligned with at the time. Fast forward to now, and Nehru is just a couple of weeks away from releasing a new project, but before doing so, he shared a music video that has some people talking.

On Tuesday, Nehru unveiled the video for his latest single “Heroin Addiction.” In it, the rapper appears to try his hand at heroin, which is of course a highly addictive drug. “I tried Heroin in the new video [sad emoiji],” he wrote in a post about the video on Twitter. Despite seemingly going through the process of injecting heroin into his arm, it was clear that the rapper did not actually do it despite his post-injection reaction of throwing up and seemingly dozing off due to the effects of the drug.

Regardless the video still made its way around social media and many were quick to share their thoughts about it on Twitter. Nehru’s “Heroin Addiction” video comes ahead of his upcoming project which is set to arrive on May 27th.

You can watch the video for “Heroin Addiction” above and read some responses to it below.

Ravyn Lenae Is Light On Her Feet On The Groovy And Infectious ‘Xtasy’ With Kaytranada

by

It was four years ago that Ravyn Lenae stood out for her 2018 EP Crush. Add in a few notable collaborations with the likes of Smino (“Glass Flows”) and Noname (“Montego Bae”), and it was clear why many were excited to hear the Chicago singer’s debut album. Unfortunately, in the years that followed, that project never arrived, but finally, the wait is almost over as Lenae prepares to release her long-awaited debut Hypnos at the end of the week. Ahead of the project’s arrival, Lenae offers up another sweet single for listeners to enjoy.

Lenae’s latest drop, a groovy track titled “Xtasy,” is one that’s carried by production from Kaytranada. Together, the two make a lightweight track that’s also very infectious to the ear. One can expect the new record to be a highlight on Hypnos which Lenae took a moment to talk about in a press release.

“When you listen to the music, I hope you have a better understanding of me and even catch a better understanding of yourself,” Lenae said. She later adds, “I’ve gone through the tunnels and seen the light on the other side. I’m finding my way. I’m clearer on who I am and my power through music and lyricism. I’m pouring more into me, friendships, family, and music. Through all of that, I’m fulfilled.”

Prior to releasing “Xtasy,”Lenae previewed Hypnos with “Light Me Up,” “Skin Tight,” and “M.I.A.”

You can listen to “Xtasy” in the video above.

Hypnos is out 5/20 via Atlantic. You can stream it here.

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

Cardi B Has To Take Care Of ‘Three Technical Difficulties’ With Her New Music Before She Puts It Out

by
Cardi B 2022 Met Gala
Getty Image

Cardi B has only recently returned to social media, which fans have been grateful for. However, they’re impatient for new music, so she took to Twitter today to reassure them that new music is on the way.

“I seen a lot of y’all talking sh*t,” she said in a voice note. “Like, ‘Oh she doesn’t feed us…’ So when I put what I’mma put out, I’mma talk more about it because clearly I can’t talk about it now. But I really had technical difficulties with my latest project. I had not one, not two, but like three technical difficulties on the music that I’ve been working on that had to be done and taken care of before I put it out.”

The rapper added: “When things come out, that’s when I’mma talk about it. It’s nothing major or crazy. Yeah, we’ll figure it out ’cause I know, I know, I know, I know you guys want that and I’m gonna give it to ya, OK? OK.”

Meanwhile her last album, the powerful 2018 debut Invasion Of Privacy, recently had every song be declared platinum.

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

Jack Harlow Jokingly Uses Brandy’s Lyrics Against Her After She Said She Would ‘Murk’ Him In Rap

by
Jack Harlow The Tonight Show Fallon 2022
Getty Image

Everything was all good for Jack Harlow a few weeks ago. Granted, things are smooth sailing for the Lousiville rapper, as he’s enjoying the success of “First Class,” which recently returned to No. 1 on the singles chart, as well as Come Home The Kids Miss You, which debuted at No. 3. However, he’s found himself in a bit of intergenerational drama and it comes after he failed to realize that Brandy and Ray J are siblings during a recent interview on HOT 97. Harlow received a lot of criticism from music lovers who felt that it was basic music knowledge that he should’ve known.

The situation recently took a new turn after Brandy caught wind of the HOT 97 interview and issued a light-hearted response on Twitter. “I will murk this dude in rap at 43 on his own beats and then sing [h]is ass to sleep,” she wrote in one tweet. In a second, she added, “See, I can have a little fun too [red heart] hehe…all love.” Harlow wouldn’t let Brandy have the last laugh though. He fired off one last joke through a post to his Instagram Story.

In the post, Harlow shared a picture of Brandy and Ray J together with the former’s “Bring Me Down,” her 2005 collaboration with Kanye West, playing in the background. Harlow specifically selected the part in the song where she sings, “I always knew that one day / They’d try to bring me down / Way down, way down,” which certainly adds to the hilarity of the moment.

You can view Harlow’s post above.

Come Home The Kids Miss You is out now via Atlantic. You can stream it here.

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

Megan Thee Stallion Reveals That Her New Album Is ‘95% Done’

by
Megan Thee Stallion 2022 Webby Awards
Getty Image

Megan Thee Stallion is having a good year. The Texas rapper just made her Billboard Music Awards debut, performing “Plan B” and “Sweetest Pie,” and she was given the key to her hometown of Houston at the start of this month. Yesterday, though, she went to the Webby Awards and revealed on the red carpet that her new album is almost done.

“Anything I want to give away? Actually, I’m probably like 95% done with my new album,” she told the interviewer. “I want to tease that for the hotties. I haven’t even told them nothing about my album.” The record will be a follow-up to October’s Something For Thee Hotties, as well as to the aforementioned songs “Plan B” and “Sweetest Pie” plus “Flamin’ Hottie.”

Something For Thee Hotties ended up being the subject of lawsuits when her label, Carl Crawford’s 1501 Certified Entertainment, said that it wasn’t technically an album. After Megan sued them, they sued her back, with the attorney stating: “MTS knows that each ‘album’ must include at least twelve new master recordings of her studio performances of previously-unreleased musical compositions.”

Megan Thee Stallion is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Travis Scott Donated $1 Million In Scholarships To Black Students At HBCUs

by
Travis Scott Astroworld Festival 2021
Getty Image

A few months ago, Travis Scott was still living under the radar following the tragedy that took place at his 2021 Astroworld Festival. That incident resulted in ten deaths and nearly 5,000 injuries as well as nearly $3 billion in lawsuits. While many have placed a majority of the blame on Travis for the tragedy, others like the rapper himself feel otherwise. It’s probably why Travis began a slow return to the spotlight, one he completed with his recent performance at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards. Travis has also used the last few months to give back to the community, something he recently did with a donation to college students.

According to TMZ, Travis donated $1 million in scholarships to 100 students enrolled at HBCUs across the country. The students all are set to graduate with the Class of 2022, so his contribution ensures that students are able to do so without running into financial troubles in the near future or further down the line. The upcoming graduates, who finished their final semester with a GPA of 3.5 or higher, will each receive a $10,000 scholarship from Travis’ Waymon Webster Scholarship Fund.

In total, the scholarships were handed out to seniors at 38 schools which include Alabama A&M University, Central State University, Jackson State University, Morehouse College, Texas Southern University, Grambling State University, and more. The $1 million in scholarships are also a part of Travis’ Project HEAL initiative which he launched in March with a $5 million donation to community-based programs.

Jack Harlow Drops An Impressive Freestyle Over Snoop Dogg’s ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot’

by

Jack Harlow’s press run continues with another impressive freestyle, this time over the instrumental from Snoop Dogg’s 2004 hit “Drop It Like It’s Hot.” Incidentally, that song was produced by Pharrell as 1/2 of The Neptunes, whose 2006 debut solo single “Can I Have It Like That” Harlow previously freestyled to, and who provided production to Harlow’s new album, Come Home The Kids Miss You.

This time, Harlow appears on the LA Leakers, rocking a black hoodie and praising “Drop It Like It’s Hot” as the “best hip-hop beat of all time.” As he’s done in the past, Jack spits boastful, tongue-twisting bars full of witty punchlines. It’s not the most extensive or deepest verse, but it gets its point across, and Jack looks like he’s having a blast rapping it.

There’s no word yet on if this redeems him of his previous radio faux pas. During a trivia session on Hot 97, Harlow was shocked to learn that R&B singers Brandy and Ray J are siblings — something that caused no shortage of consternation on Twitter as fans lambasted him for his ignorance. Even Brandy jokingly got in on the act, challenging him to a rap battle (Brandy’s got bars, in case you didn’t know). Of course, in the end, it’s all love and it doesn’t appear that it hurt him too much; “First Class,” his Fergie-sampling single from the new album, returned to No. 1 on the Hot 100 on this week’s chart.

Watch Jack Harlow’s LA Leakers freestyle over “Drop It Like It’s Hot” above.

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

My Chemical Romance, Future, And Jack White Are Headlining The 2022 Music Midtown Festival

by
Music Midtown Headliners 2022
Getty Image/Ralph Ordaz

Two weeks after Shaky Knees Festival took center stage in Downtown Atlanta, the city’s other major festival, Music Midtown Festival, has ceased the limelight with yet another thoroughly stacked lineup. Going down from September 17th to 18th in Atlanta’s sprawling Piedmont Park (which you guessed it, is in Midtown), Music Midtown’s headliners include the reunited My Chemical Romance, native son rapper Future, rock and roll stud Jack White, and pop-punk mainstays Fall Out Boy.

Over 30 acts will descend upon four stages at the park for the two-day festival, which still features a giant Ferris wheel that you can hop on and take in the views. The diversity-minded festival bill will feature appearances from indie rock stars in Phoebe Bridgers, Mitski, and Phoenix; rappers 2 Chainz and Denzel Curry; and pop crossover acts like Quinn XCII, Louis The Child, and Conan Gray. Also performing over the weekend are Turnstile, A Day To Remember, 100 Gecs, Alex Benjamin, Keshi, Marc Rebillet, Key Glock, Tinashe, Hippo Campus, Ashe, and more.

Check out the full lineup poster below. Tickets for Music Midtown festival go on sale Friday, May 20th at 10 a.m. here.

Music Midtown lineup
Music Midtown

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