Sexyy Red and GloRilla interviewed each other for a new piece from XXL and discussed a wide range of topics. One moment from the video, however, has been going viral on social media. At one point, GloRilla brings up the criticism of female rappers for behaving “too sexual.”
“I think y’all [are] some haters. I think y’all don’t want y’all b**ch to shine because y’all [are] insecure,” Sexyy Red responded. She also complained about no one caring when men have their “drawls sagging.” She explained: “It’s not a problem when y’all do it, but y’all [are] stealing our style. [Why is it] wrong when we do it?”
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 14: American rapper Sexyy Red performs onstage during day 2 of Rolling Loud Miami at Hard Rock Stadium on December 14, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Jason Koerner/Getty Images)
As the clip has circulated on social media, fans have been having mixed reactions. When The Neighborhood Talk shared it on Instagram, one user wrote: “Girl, what are you talking about? While self and sexual expression are common in female rap, people judging the actual music based on the content is very different than people hating on women for being secure and comfortable with their identity and self-expression. I lost a lil’ brain cells listening to her, but she tried tho.” Another added: “She is a plant and was placed here just to spew this message. They always have it planned out who next up. She was linked with Drake for a reason.” Others chimed in with support for the rappers.
Sexyy Red Speaks With GloRilla
Elsewhere in their interview, Sexyy and GloRilla discussed the possibility of teaming up for a collaborative project. “It’s gon’ be some super ratchet s**t,” Sexyy said. “The n****s [are] gon’ hate us. No, I mean the men gon’ hate us.” They also spoke on the experience of motherhood, celibacy, and more. Check out Sexyy Red and GloRilla’s full conversation below.
Few names in hip-hop carry as much weight as Ice Cube. With over 30 years in the game, the legendary rapper, actor, and businessman has earned his place as a hip-hop icon. Whether it’s his groundbreaking work with N.W.A., his solo career, or his influence in hip-hop cinema, Cube has always kept it real. Now, he’s back with Man Down, a highly anticipated album that proves he’s still true to his roots while pushing the envelope. From deep, thought-provoking tracks to bangers like “It’s My Ego,” the album captures Cube’s perspective on the world as well as his vision for the future.
In this exclusive interview with HotNewHipHop, Ice Cube opened up about the making of Man Down. Cube discussed how important it was for the album to connect with his fans and deliver that familiar sound they’ve come to expect. “It’s important to do what you do best,” Cube said. “After decades in the game, my experimental phase is over. I’m making records that I know sound good and that I feel my audience is looking for. That West Coast sound, that G-Funk flavor, is right up my alley. It’s what we’ve been doing from day one, so it’s cool to lean into it and get accepted for it.” Thus, day-one fans are in for a treat while listening to this project.
Moreover, the album comes at a point in Cube’s career where he’s already a seasoned vet, balancing his iconic status in hip-hop with his moves in film, sports, and business. Man Down blends the raw, street-level storytelling Cube is known for while also diving into some real-world topics. One of the main themes is masculinity today. Furthermore, he speaks on the way manhood is viewed and the misconceptions surrounding what it means to be masculine in today’s society. In our conversation, Cube broke it down and shared his thoughts on the topic.
Beyond Man Down, Cube also spoke candidly about the current state of hip-hop music on the West Coast. However, he offered a grounded perspective on the shifting tides of hip-hop by region. “We’re having our moment,” he says. “We’ve just got to keep it going. Let’s not get cocky—let’s be happy and keep doing good music. Try to top what we’re doing.” Cube also looked back on major career milestones, talked about staying true to his roots while working on Man Down, and shared his thoughts on his role as a tastemaker in West Coast hip-hop. He even gave a sneak peek into his plans for an ambitious tour production. Keep reading to hear all about what he has to look forward to.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
HotNewHipHop: Man Down is your first solo album since 2018’s Everythang’s Corrupt. It covers the topic of masculinity. How would you describe masculinity in today’s world?
Ice Cube: I think masculinity is given a bad name. When you overdo anything, it’s not good. If somebody overdoses masculinity, it does become toxic. But masculine behavior itself isn’t toxic just because it’s masculine. That’s where we are right now, and I think that’s the overshoot. Nobody likes toxic people, but just because you’re masculine doesn’t mean you’re toxic. I think masculinity is kind of under threat a little bit in today’s society. Why do you feel this was an important topic for you to talk about?
I’m a man. And I’m a masculine man. I never thought of myself with that adjective, you know what I’m saying? But that’s what I am, and I kind of wanted to stand up for guys like myself. But it’s hip-hop, so it’s fun. You’ve got to be clever, talk a little shit, and still do it in a record form. You drop the jewels where you can, where they make sense. But it’s a record for everybody, really. I don’t want it to feel like this call to arms for me. It’s just a record coming from a heterosexual male perspective on what I see.
You’ve said in past interviews that Man Down is for Ice Cube fans. Can you talk about the creative process behind making an album that’s true to who you are and your roots?
It’s important to do what you do best. After decades in the game, my experimental phase is over. I’m making records that I know sound good and that I feel my audience is looking for. These are records I’ll put out. I’ve got experimental ones I’ll never release, but the ones I put out are for the fans who got me this far. You want to make sure your day-one fans still dig the music because they influence the other generations. If your day ones don’t like it, how can you expect the others to? The day twos might hear the day ones complaining, and that’s how the cycle goes. You’ve got to stay grounded. That West Coast sound, that G-Funk flavor, is right up my alley. It’s what we’ve been doing from day one, so it’s cool to lean into it and get accepted for it.
Which artists, if any, do you feel are dropping gems in their music today?
Kendrick’s definitely doing it. J. Cole’s an artist who does it too. They drop a lot of jewels.
You recently performed at the World Series. That was such a cool moment, especially as someone born and raised in LA. Talk about that experience and what it meant to you.
As a youngster, I grew up watching the Dodgers in the World Series—1977 and 1978. They lost both times, and I was mad. But then in 1981, they won, and we haven’t seen them in the series since. Just to see them play again, I thought, “Yeah, I just want to watch.” Then I got a call, “Do you want to open up the World Series?” I was supposed to do Game 1, but Fernando Valenzuela passed away before it, so they did a tribute. It was everything I dreamed of. What was your reaction when you got the call?
I was happy they called me. It meant a lot that the Dodgers felt I represented LA enough to bring me out. They could’ve called Snoop, Dre, anyone else, but they called me, and I was really honored.
Do you feel like your life is stamped with so many monumental moments like that? Yeah, I feel super blessed. From meeting Dr. Dre when I was 14 to meeting John Singleton at the right time. It’s kind of divine intervention. I never thought I’d be in this position, and I’m grateful for every opportunity that came my way.
Speaking of divine intervention, you had the opportunity to co-produce your own biographical drama with Straight Outta Compton and tell your own story.
It was like this: a thousand ways to get the movie wrong, and only a few to get it right. We had to go through those few ways. You couldn’t compromise. The movie could have gone off the rails and affected the legacy. People are watching to understand what happened, especially for those who weren’t there. This was the story from someone who was part of it.
Most people’s movies get made when they’re dead. So I thought, if we don’t do it, someone else will, and they might mess it all up. I make movies. I know how to make a good one, and I knew this one was going to be good. Refused to let it be trash, especially with our legacy attached to it. I was determined to make sure it came out right.
WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 19: Coach Ice Cube of Team Webull celebrates during the Monster Energy BIG3 Celebrity Game at Capital One Arena on August 19, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for Idol Roc Entertainment)
Let’s about the West Coast music scene. You’ve maintained a lot of creative control throughout your career. Moreover, what advice would you give to younger artists navigating today’s corporate-dominated music landscape?
It’s not easy. You’ve got to learn as much about the business before getting into it. There are millions of tutorials online—publishing, mechanicals, royalties, promotion. Young artists should take advantage of that. Learn the business as much as you like making music. Know the business so you understand what they’re talking about when they come at you with different offers. If you don’t, it’s not going to be pretty. You’ll likely get screwed.
How would you describe the current state of West Coast music? I feel like people are saying, “The West Coast is back. We’re on top again.” What’s your perspective?
It’s banging. I don’t want to say, “This one’s on top, that one’s on top.” We’re having our moment. Some great music is coming from the OGs and our biggest artists. We’ve just got to keep it going. Eventually, someone from another region will take over, and the East Coast will have its moment. It’ll swing back around, like it always does. Let’s not get cocky—let’s be happy and keep doing good music. Try to top what we’re doing.
Do you think this has always been the case? Yeah, that’s what I’ve seen throughout my career. When I first started, the East Coast dominated everything. It was like, there was no point in making a record if you weren’t from New York or the East Coast. Then it swung to the West, then the South. Right now, the West is having its run, but it’ll swing back to the East Coast next. And then back to the South. It’s cyclical.
People say the West Coast hits hardest when it comes to diss tracks. Your track “No Vaseline” dropped in 1991 and it’s considered one of the greatest diss tracks ever. Do you agree?
How do you think the world would react if “No Vaseline” dropped today in 2024?
There’d be chaos. Everyone would be going crazy online, analyzing every line. Some people would be upset, just like when we released it in ’91. It caused a lot of s**t then, and it would now too. Hip-hop talks about the good, the bad, and the ugly.
If you could assemble a West Coast cypher with past or present artists, who would you pick?
Oh man, I’d definitely have Ras Kass and Kurupt in there. Ras Kass, Kurupt, Xzibit. I’d throw Xzibit in there too. He’s a beast. Let’s see… I would put the The Game. He’s f*cking ferocious on the mic. That would be a dope a** cypher.
I know you’re gearing up for a tour. What can we expect from that?
I’m working on a big production tour. I’ve done the “grip it and rip it” style for a long time, but now I want to create a story. More of an “Evening with Ice Cube” type of feel. A big production that combines my music and movies in a cohesive way. I want it to be entertaining for the people.
Sounds amazing. What does a day in the life or evening look like for you these days?
I usually get up early, around 5 or 6 a.m. I’m the first one up in my house. I jump on my computer, see what I need to focus on for the day. I’ll drink some coffee, check the news, and get my day started. Sometimes I listen to beats and brainstorm ideas. I’ve got meetings, interviews, and calls—usually a lot going on. Later, I’ve got a meeting about putting a Big3 team in Seattle. I’m always working on business moves.
Before we go, is there anything you want to leave us with? What’s coming up for you?
I’ll keep pushing this record, doing promotion, and sticking with the videos. Next year, I’m presenting the Ice Cube Impact Award at the Basketball Hall of Fame. We’re going to select someone who truly deserves it. Then, the Big3 season will start, and I’m putting together this tour. Big things ahead.
Akon, the multi-platinum artist turned entrepreneur, opened up about the progress of his ambitious Akon City project. During a candid interview with Chuck Creekmur of AllHipHop, he reiterated that the city is in development. Akon first announced Akon City in 2018, meant to be a futuristic, eco-friendly city in Senegal powered by cryptocurrency. Fans immediately likened it to Wakanda, the fictional African city that Marvel’s Black Panther series takes place in. That was in part because the first Black Panther film released just a few months before his initial announcement. Now, Akon’s admitting that he may have gotten ahead of himself when first explaining the massive undertaking.
“My biggest thing was I promoted it way, way, way too early,” Akon said during the interview with Creekmur. He said that excitement motivated the early announcement. “Of course, anything that exciting that would change a culture, people will naturally want to know what’s happening right now, assuming that it’s already happening. But it was in a process of creating.” The vision for the city began as a technological and economic hub for Africa, including luxury apartments, a cryptocurrency-based economy and progressive energy solutions.
Akon stressed the magnitude and complexity of the effort: “It’s a city. Nowhere near done.” Early plans included 2,000 acres and a $6 billion price tag to complete. Akon and his team broke ground in 2020. Akon City’s goal is to be a source of innovation for Africa. It is located in Mbodiene, Senegal, with a goal of attracting tourists, entrepreneurs and investors. However, Akon has repeatedly said that the project is also about creating opportunities for Africans to thrive.
“Senegal is home to my family and heritage,” Akon shared when detailing the project on the Assets Over Liabilities show last August. “I want to make a lasting impact that bridges the gap between the people of Senegal and the rest of the world. It’s a process,” he said. Akon is committed to making the city a reality, and of course, time will tell on if it will thrive or not. Elsewhere in the interview, he confirmed that Not Guilty, his sixth studio album, is set for a 2025 release.
On this week’s episode of Call Her Daddy, Alex Cooper sits down with millennial rapper Saweetie, who opens up about her current approach to relationships, the craziest way she caught a partner cheating on her, when you should keep gifts from an ex and why she might be done dating rappers. She also discusses her love of hot Cheetos, the time she was renting rooms from Craigslist, coding on Myspace, and her new music.
The Cali rapper talks about how she is perceived by the public, saying, “I would say in the earlier on in my career, I would say, I would just disassociate myself from Saweetie ’cause there’s Diamonté and there’s Saweetie. I’m like, “Okay, if y’all knew Diamonté, to know me is to love me.” She adds, “Y’all wouldn’t be doing all this shitty stuff to me. So, at first, it was disassociation, but now I’m just so at peace with just who I am. I’m like, “God knows my heart,” and as long as God knows my heart, there’s no problem.”
When it comes to dating, Saweetie jokes that her only companion is her career. “I am seeing somebody….Their name starts with a C… Do you want to know their name?…My career, girl.” She goes on to say, “I just feel like I’m at a really special time in my career and I just have all these ideas and I want to channel my energy in a way where I feel like I can make the steps to where I see myself going and you know, I’m just really happy right now. I’m happy where my life is heading, so I’m dating my career.”
Check out Cooper’s interview with Saweetie in its entirety above courtesy of SiriusXM.
Katt Williams opened up a Pandora’s box of conflicts, allegations, scandals, conspiracies, and truth-seeking with his Club Shay Shay appearance that kicked 2024 off. His conversation with Shannon Sharpe saw him go after a whole host of celebrities for widely different reasons, including Diddy, Steve Harvey, Cedric The Entertainer, Tiffany Haddish, Kevin Hart, and many more. It remains a hot topic almost a full year after its release, and people still clearly want to talk about it. Moreover, GQ asked the comedian about this “age of truth” origin during the outlet’s “Man Of The Year” event in Los Angeles on Thursday (November 14).
Specifically, the hosts asked Katt Williams how he feels about being “America’s favorite prophet” and whether or not more conspiracies are to come before the year ends. “None of them were conspiracies, which is why they all happened,” he responded. “I believe we’re entering the golden age. Right after the age of truth, the revealing is the scab being pulled off and then the healing can begin.” Considering how explosive the Club Shay Shay interview was, that healing is certainly necessary.
“I came in this business saying I was going to expose,” Katt Williams said during his conversation with Shannon Sharpe. “When I talked about Michael Jackson, when I talked about R. Kelly, they canceled me for these things because why would you talk about another Black dude? Race is not where the line is drawn. It’s God’s side and the other side, and we don’t care nothing about the other side, period. All of these big d**k deviants is all catching hell in 2024. It’s up for all of them, it don’t matter if you Diddy or whoever you is. All lies will be exposed.”
Elsewhere, though, Katt Williams still keeps things light and doesn’t always go down these conspiratorial rabbit holes that captivated us so much back in January. He’s still down to just jab at fellow comedians for the heck of it, such as a joke at GQ‘s event about Faizon Love. We’ll see whether or not “the age of truth” continues, and we’re waiting for the healing to start.
First off if you didn’t know, Tony Rock is Chris Rock’s brother. Recently he expressed some what of disappointment over not being cast in many of his older brother Chris Rock’s films.
During an appearance on the Green Room podcast with comedian Aries Spears, the conversation shifted to Chris, prompting Spears to ask why Tony hasn’t appeared in more of his brother’s movies.
Here’s a link from Tony’s chat with Art of Dialogue and the commentary provided by Karen Civil:
Interesting how one of Tony Rock’s notable roles came through Will Smith, given the history between him and Chris.
Meanwhile, it’s great to see families like the Murphy Brothers and the Wayans family keep uplifting each other within the industry. https://t.co/Z9cOhN7kML
Tony went in to the situation, explaining, “I’m going to try to explain to you guys. I’m not saying it’s going to make sense, but my brother—he’s a businessman when it comes to movies.” He added that Chris tends to cast big-name actors to help market his films, which Tony understood from a business perspective.
Let’s dive in …
Get this, the All of Us actor admitted feeling “crushed” after missing out on a role in Chris’s film Top Five. According to Tony, Chris had invited him to be part of the project but never followed up. He only learned about the film’s production when friends called him from the set. “Two months in, I get a f**king phone call that says, ‘Yo, you at the wrap party? We here,’” Tony recalled. “That sh*t crushed me. I have never seen the movie Top Five.”
Now Tony made one thing clear, he said he rarely asks his brother for favors. “I’ve asked Chris for five favors my whole life. He said ‘no’ every time, and I swore on everything I loved I would never ask him for anything for as long as I live,” he said.
That’s real and his transparency is admirable.
These comments come two years after Tony publicly stood by Chris following the infamous Oscars incident where Will Smith slapped him. Tony took shots at Smith in defense of his brother, declaring during a stand-up set, “If you think you’re gonna walk up on this stage, this ain’t the motherfking Oscars. And if you walk your a up here, you ain’t nominated for sh*t but these motherfuking hands! Oh, we going to pop the rest of the year, nia. Every time you see me do a show, pop!”
Tony continued, “I didn’t want to start the show like that. You gonna hit my motherfking brother because your bih gave you a side-eye? Oh, it’s a lot of Rock brothers, y’all ain’t know, it’s a lot of Rock brothers.”
Hip-hop legend 50 Cent recently weighed in yet again on the Drake Kendrick beef. The G-Unit honcho turned Hollywood powerhouse offered reassurance to Drake after the feud’s conclusion. In a candid interview with Billboard, 50 Cent shared the advice he gave to Drizzy, telling him he hadn’t “lost” anything, despite what public opinion might suggest.
“I was telling him, it’s not him. I’m listening on the outskirts, it’s not you,” 50 Cent said when discussing what he believes Drake’s next move should be. “Don’t let yourself think that for a second. On some real sht, I said, ‘They said you lost, okay. Well, what did you lose? What exactly did he lose, if he got $300 something million on his last tour? You didn’t lose a motherf*king thing, man.’”
The “In Da Club” rapper went on to dish that the rivalry was ultimately beneficial for the genre, pushing both artists to release high-quality music. “The resistance will make you feel like your material isn’t good. Then you gotta figure out how to keep pushing, how to keep creating—because that’s what it feels like to you at the moment. That sh*t was good for Hip-Hop. It made both of them create quality material faster,” he added.
Joe Budden has come to the defense of Kendrick Lamar amid criticism over his recent interview with SZA. Speaking about the Harper’s Bazaar cover story during the latest episode of his podcast, Budden and company spoke about some of the more controversial revelations.
The discussion started with the group speaking on Lamar’s comments about embracing his vulnerability while making music. Budden theorized the remarks were a way of appealing to Drake’s fanbase. “I felt like this is him coming around having to pander back to the pansies,” he said. “‘I killed King Pansy–‘ to him, I’m not calling him that. But, ‘I killed King Pansy, but I lost some pansies in the process, so I gotta come back around and appeal to them.’”
Kendrick Lamar & SZA Perform Together At Coachella
INDIO, CA – APRIL 13: SZA and Kendrick Lamar perform onstage during the 2018 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Field on April 13, 2018, in Indio, California. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Coachella)
Budden isn’t the only person to speak out in defense of Lamar over the piece. When several voices in the media criticized him for taking an easy interview, TDE Punch wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “I respect Hip Hop Journalism and feel it’s needed in its truest form. It help keep the culture alive. But it’s only a few real ones left. Most of you guys are trash. Just my opinion. That’s why artist don’t want to talk to you.” Adam22, on the other hand, labeled it a “softball interview.”
Joe Budden Speaks On Kendrick Lamar
Check out the full discussion of Lamar’s interview with SZA in a clip from The Joe Budden Podcast below. In the interview, the two also discussed the meaning behind “Not Like Us,” SZA meeting Katt Williams, and more. Be on the lookout for further updates on Joe Budden as well as Kendrick Lamar and SZA on HotNewHipHop.
Joe budden defends Kendrick Lamar after Marc Lamont Hill says people are giving him kdot a pass for the stuff he said in this interview. They would’ve killed drake for the same thing .and they also debate is SZA being fake for doing the interview ? pic.twitter.com/h8OdefuyoL
We live in some strange times. Marlon Wayans recently opened up about his initial struggles with accepting his child’s decision to transition, revealing that he even attempted to prevent it by trying to hypnotize them.
It all went down in an interview with Neal Brennan, where the comedian candidly discussed his journey of understanding and coming to terms with his child Kai’s transition.
Understandably, Wayans bravely admitted that it was a challenging process for him as a parent, as he wrestled with his own expectations. “This was happening when they were 22, 23, and for me… you’re trying to hold on, and you want this thing in your head, you want normalcy… grandchildren… but yo, it’s not on me, and like, this is their life, they should be happy,” he said. “And if they want to do this or change this or whatever they want to do… it’s not on me to punch down on my child. So, I’m gonna love my child. Period.”
Get this, when Brennan asked if Wayans had actively tried to stop his child from transitioning, Marlon responded, “Oh, of course.” He then humorously admitted, “I tried to hypnotize that bih,” laughing as he recalled his failed attempt. “I was like, ‘No, wait, hold on, wait—’ And I protested against it. I don’t say that with pride. I look back on those actions, and I’m ashamed. I was embarrassed when I was forced to look in the mirror, and it only took me a week. I will say that I got to a beautiful place of acceptance, and I pray for a lot of parents, family members, and people in general. It’s not on us to judge anybody like, hey man, life yo life.”
Brennan pressed further, as he should have when asking what Wayans’ plan was if hypnosis didn’t work. The comedian confessed that he resorted to “imposing sanctions,” joking that he tried to “take away allowance,” though this too proved ineffective.
What’s more, Wayans also reflected on how his relationship with Kai evolved as they transitioned, emphasizing his commitment to loving his child unconditionally, but with one humorous caveat: “I’m a father first, I’m a comedian second, and those two clash.”
“I told my child, ‘I’ma have my jokes, ni**a… and they know my heart, and they trust that I’ma tell a great story, and I can’t wait for people to see it,” Wayans concluded, underscoring both his acceptance and his sense of humor about the situation.
Here we go with a really weird take from Kristin Cavallari regarding Ye. She recently sparked controversy with a wild conspiracy theory, claiming that Kanye West has been replaced by a clone created by the Illuminati.
During an episode of her Let’s Be Honest podcast, Cavallari wildly suggested that West was “taken” by the secret society following his controversial antisemitic comments, and that the current Kanye is not the same person people once knew.
Wait for it …
“I think Kanye is a clone; I wholeheartedly believe what I’m about to say,” Cavallari boldly stated, explaining that the Illuminati and the Cabal “didn’t like how much [Kanye] was revealing” when he was outspoken in the past. She referenced a comment West allegedly made, saying, “If I go away and come back looking different, that is not me.” Cavallari expressed her belief that the real Kanye was replaced after he disappeared for a while and returned looking different.
Why does that cloning Tyrone movie come to mind right about now? Anyway …
Get this, in a preview of the podcast episode, Cavallari went further, claiming that people who expose cloning in Hollywood “get killed.” She emphasized, “What the f—k happened? He disappeared, then came back. Look at him now. Compare old photos. It’s not the same f—king person.”
When it came to her guest, Justin Anderson, he was skeptical, questioning why no one would expose the cloning of “one of the biggest pop stars in the world.” Cavallari responded, “Literally, you’d get killed.” She ended her theory by saying, “I believe this with every ounce of my body.”
As expected, Cavallari’s comments set off a frenzy online, with reactions pouring in. Candace Owens responded in the comments, saying, “They didn’t clone him but they absolutely did try to MK Ultra drug him out of his mind. Which is what they did to Britney Spears.” Other fans echoed Cavallari’s sentiments, with one stating, “1000% he was replaced.”
What’s more, Cavallari didn’t offer further proof of her claims, Kanye West has been embroiled in a lawsuit filed by his former assistant, Lauren Pisciotta. She accused him of sexual assault and detailed disturbing behavior during her time working for him. Pisciotta’s lawsuit, among other issues surrounding West, has kept him in the headlines, adding fuel to the ongoing scrutiny of his actions.
People can just say anything nowadays. It’s crazy but maybe it’s good entertainment. You be the judge.
