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Kendrick Lamar’s “good kid, m.A.A.d. city” Sold More Than Kanye West’s “VULTURES 1” In 2024

November 29, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Kendrick Lamar and Kanye West are such legendary hip-hop artists that their back catalog still sells better than most rap albums that dropped this year. But it’s astounding that the former’s 2012 classic is still selling more than one of the latter’s most recent projects, and certainly one of 2024’s most talked-about and consumed releases. Moreover, good kid, m.A.A.d. city reportedly became the eighth best-selling hip-hop album in the United States by total units in 2024, zooming by Ye and Ty Dolla $ign’s VULTURES 1. Considering that GKMC is still relatively high on the Billboard 200 and even cracked its top 20 earlier this year, maybe we shouldn’t express so much shock.

Also, it’s not like VULTURES 1 was a particularly beloved or replayed album from Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign. Of course, the LP performed very well commercially and tracks like “CARNIVAL” and “BURN” were enduring standouts throughout the year, for better or worse. Maybe the collaborative effort’s legacy will change further down the road and establish a more solid foundation, but with the championship year that K.Dot’s enjoying right now, it seems like a futile effort.

Kendrick Lamar’s Vault Is Out-Selling Kanye West’s Premieres

Kendrick Lamar’s “good kid m.A.A.d city” is now the 8th best selling rap album in the US by total units in 2024, surpassing Kanye West’s & Ty Dolla $ign’s “VULTURES 1”. pic.twitter.com/fmW2JHa4YE

— Kendrick Lamar Updates (@KendrickChart) November 29, 2024

Kendrick Lamar dropped GNX this year to massive commercial success (or at least, the best-case scenario a surprise drop can give you) and to much fan acclaim. This was after an explosive beef with Drake, “killing the party,” and building anticipation for his Super Bowl halftime show next February, so it was one heck of a cherry on top. But we’re sure some of Kanye West’s charting classics, like Graduation or My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, could outshine that new record sales-wise in a regular calendar year with ease.

Meanwhile, Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar do have one thing in common: seemingly complicated relationships with J. Cole. In Kendrick’s case, though, we really have no idea what things look like between him and Cole these days. But the Dreamville boss has a hesitant admiration for Ye that he doesn’t really seem to reciprocate. If he had funneled that energy into a more cogent album than VULTURES 1, then maybe he would have sold more than GKMC this year.

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Joe Budden Explains Why Kanye West, Jay-Z & Rihanna Have More “Leverage” Than Drake, Lil Wayne & Nicki Minaj

November 28, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The Joe Budden Podcast recently discussed the long-standing and complex rivalry between the Roc-A-Fella and Cash Money camps, plus their ensuing protégés and branched-off cliques. Specifically, the program’s titular host doesn’t want folks to compare Lil Wayne, Drake, and Nicki Minaj to Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Rihanna for a few reasons. He posited that Hov was able to form necessary industry relationships and then leave to lead his own endeavors, although cohosts Ice and Ish suggested that the New York rapper entered the game with much more independence and autonomy than someone like Drizzy did. Specifically, this is in regards to owning his material.

While Joe Budden disagreed and suggested that Jay-Z worked to get out of an exploited position, all agreed that there was still a big level-up that Jay took to become so massive, something that the Cash Money (specifically Young Money) camp has yet to do in their eyes. One factor they presented was domination in the industry and from a product standpoint – in this case, music. Ish also brought up Hov’s marriage to Beyoncé and his move into other side ventures that generated a lot of money.

The Joe Budden Podcast Compares Jay-Z’s Moves To Drake’s

Overall, this contributes to The Joe Budden Podcast‘s notion that people like Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Rihanna have more “leverage” than Drake, Lil Wayne, and Nicki Minaj due to their extracurricular projects and streams of massive revenue that land them in a top-tier industry spot. “Y’all not the only people that feed me,” Ish characterized the Roc family’s position of negotiations with the music industry. Of course, all of this ties back to the OVO mogul’s moves against UMG and Spotify in the legal space.

Elsewhere, Joe Budden doesn’t think there’s a blueprint to this process, and that it’s up to each artist who makes it in the industry to find their exit out of it. It’s all a debate around how to manage your money and power, especially if you want to stay true to your own goals. The Jay-Z/Drake debate has a new angle now thanks to this legal action, and that exhausting conversation will just keep on going.

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Uncle Luke Claims Jay-Z, Diddy & Kanye West Work With The System To Make Black People Villains

November 17, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Uncle Luke is quite the outspoken hip-hop voice, and he recently took to social media to rant about the villainization of the Black community. Specifically, he seemed to argue that there are alleged systems in place that look to make successful Black people out to be villains in the culture, and even named Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Diddy as specific examples of Black superstars that formed part of these very same systems and contributed to the villainization of their community.

“LeBron James is a villain,” Uncle Luke began. “Why? Because he has all-Black representation. […] You guys don’t know, that’s how America works. I, Luther Campbell, I am a villain. I’m a bad guy. That’s why when you look at my profile, ‘bad boy of hip-hop.’ I will never get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Puff Daddy was not a villain, he was one of them. Kanye West was one of them. Jay-Z was one of them. Biggie Smalls, a villain. Tupac, a villain. We all are villains. And until you people realize that as Black people in America, you are the villain. It’s black and white. You are the opposite of white. We will always be in competition with them. Y’all don’t hear me.”

Uncle Luke’s Rant About “Villains”

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Of course, this is far from the first time that Uncle Luke has expressed his thoughts on these issues and similar ones. In fact, he recently spoke on the Diddy situation and claimed that he was “consumed” by drugs. So to hear this sort of assessment now is not very surprising, although many in the comments section of the Instagram post covering this above found plenty of room for debate and pushback concerning these remarks.

Meanwhile, Uncle Luke doesn’t just call out rappers for more serious fare, but also when he feels like he deserves some of their flowers, too. He took to social media earlier this year to ask female rappers for recognition and compensation for innovating the more lewd and party-centric style that they eventually came to prominence through. We can only wonder as to what hot take will emerge from the Miami rap icon.

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Kanye West Accused Of Having Sex With Bianca Censori During Work Meetings In New Lawsuit

November 14, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Kanye West is the subject of various lawsuits, whether it’s for copyright infringement or for other, more sinister allegations. Moreover, according to legal documents reportedly obtained by TMZ, Ye’s alleged former project manager Murphy Aficionado is suing him for discrimination, retaliation, unpaid wages, and hostile work environment. Aficionado’s claims are that the Yeezy mogul was a terrible boss, and that he engaged in antisemitism and inappropriate behavior with Bianca Censori during work meetings. He alleges that the Chicago artist told him to go to a Beverly Hills hotel room he was at in November of 2022, which is where his allegations begin.

Furthermore, Murphy Aficionado claims that when he arrived to the room, Kanye West was out of breath with his pants unbuttoned, and that Bianca Censori was topless and covering her breasts with their hands. As such, he alleges that it was obvious that they were having sex. Also, Aficionado put forth the allegation that Ye called conservative commentator Candace Owens’ lawyer “a Jewish spy” and that he instructed him to wait and not leave while he went to the room that Bianca was in. The alleged former project manager claims that he heard “loud moaning and clapping” within seconds, pointing to them having sex again.

Kanye West At Super Bowl LVI

Kanye West Lawsuit Sex Bianca Censori Meetings Swastika Hip Hop News — Feb 13, 2022; Inglewood, CA, USA; Rapper/recording artist Kanye West during the Cincinnati Bengals game against the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports via Imagn Images

According to Murphy Aficionado’s allegations, Kanye West then emerged ten minutes later with a T-shirt with a swastika on it. “Don’t you like my shirt?” he allegedly asked Aficionado. The plaintiff – whose lawsuit reportedly emerged on Thursday (November 14) via a filing from his attorney William Reed – alleged that Ye then sat down to show him nude pictures of Kim Kardashian. In addition, Aficionado alleged that the “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” creative called him later in the week for another work meeting at a hotel room.

This time around, Murphy Aficionado alleges, Kanye West was with a famous wide receiver in the NFL, and they were only wearing towels around their waists for a massage. Allegedly, Aficionado waited due to Ye’s orders and had to listen to “clapping and moaning” from the room in which he was with the masseuse. He also alleged that he had to do the same thing when the alleged NFL player went in once Kanye left the room. He allegedly fired Aficionado last year. This is the latest legal move against the 47-year-old amid other harrowing accusations that haven’t been confirmed or denied by a court of law at press time.

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Kanye West Settles Class Action Yeezy Lawsuit Over Employees Alleging Unfair Wages

November 2, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Over the past few years, Kanye West received various lawsuits about Yeezy, with some being specifically about how he allegedly compensated employees of his brand. While they resulted in a variety of different outcomes, we have a new update on a long-running class action suit over allegedly unpaid wages. Moreover, according to Baller Alert, Ye and Yeezy settled for $625,000 with former employees. According to purported court documents reportedly obtained by In Touch, these funds will contribute to the former workers that this lawsuit represents, their legal fees, and a reserved slice of the pie should any other future accusations or legal claims emerge.

For those unaware, Taliah Leslie and Shelby Grochowski filed this lawsuit in 2021. In fact, reports had emerged last year that Leslie and Kanye West reached a settlement in a lawsuit, so it seems like this refers more to the class action involvement of more employees. The basic claims involve allegations of labor code violations, lack of overtime wages and meal breaks, lack of off-the-clock work compensation, and required travel to Paris, Wyoming, and more without proper reimbursement or payment.

Kanye West Settles Lawsuit From Former Yeezy Employees

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The plaintiffs in this class action lawsuit against Kanye West, who faces other serious allegations such as sexual assault, reportedly joined the Yeezy team in 2019. Taliah Leslie was an assistant designer and Shelby Grochowski was an assistant pattern-maker. “Defendant [failed] to compensate all overtime hours worked when Plaintiff and Aggrieved Employees worked over eight hours in one day or forty hours in one week,” the lawsuit alleged, also claiming that employees “worked in excess of five (5) and/or ten (10) hours a day without being provided at least half-hour meal periods.” Per the suit, the Chicago artist’s personal views impacted these workplace conditions, such as a ban on eating inside the offices.

While Kanye West and Yeezy did reportedly settle for $625K here, they “deny any liability or wrongdoing” according to reported court documents. Specifically, they alleged that they acted in full compliance with the California Labor Code and other provisions. Ye’s wife Bianca Censori reportedly signed the agreement on behalf of her husband and the company. This is far from the only legal obstacle in his path, although it seems like this instance came to a close.

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New Kanye West Documentary Reportedly Hitting Theaters Next Year

November 1, 2024 by newhiphopnews

After the jeen-yuhs documentary on Netflix and various other visual projects, it seems like Kanye West has yet another documentary in the works on his magnanimous life and career. Moreover, it’s reportedly titled In Whose Name? according to Variety, although we advise readers to take this with a grain of salt as it’s all early information. Nevertheless, it’s reportedly helmed by Nicolas Ballesteros and is planned to release in theaters in 2025. A promo reel for the film will reportedly drop on November 7 via a screening at the American Film Market. We also got the first image from the doc from Goodfellas and Utopia, who will reportedly take care of the promo reel screening.

“With a billion-dollar budget and a commitment to truth, Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, invites 18-year-old Nicolas Ballesteros armed with an iPhone on a six-year journey revealing unfiltered aspects of celebrity life which confront the provocative opinions, grand visions and bold contrarianism that defined him as the world’s most controversial artist,” the doc’s synopsis reportedly reads. “The film follows Ye’s ascent to becoming the richest Black man in American history while uncovering why the superstar risked everything he had built in the name of freedom. Examining the culture that birthed the star, ‘In Whose Name?’ explores the overlapping influences of corporate exploitation, racial complexities and psychological struggles inherent in the American dream.”

Kanye West Documentary In Whose Name? Dropping Next Year

https://twitter.com/hotnewhiphop/status/1852362621262958730?s=12&t=6N2L99mKx7LzXYhb_3_zwQ

Furthermore, the project reportedly filmed over the last six years, boasting never-before-seen footage while promising to “offer a unique and cinematic perspective on Ye’s public transformation.” According to reports, the Kanye West doc is in post-production and enlisted Ballesteros as producer along with Jack M. Russel and Shy Ranje as co-producers. Justin Staple is the co-executive producer of In Whose Name? and David Bullock is its associate producer.

“We’re thrilled to present ‘In Whose Name?’ at AFM,” Marie Zeniter (V.P. of sales at Utopia) and Eva Diederix (head of sales at Goodfellas) reportedly stated. “This powerful documentary offers an unfiltered view without narration, it invites audiences to draw their own conclusions on themes of fame, religion and power. We believe audiences globally deserve the chance to witness how one of the world’s most influential figures navigates the complexities and contradictions of celebrity.” In an alleged text message exchange with Ballesteros, Ye said the following of the doc according to Ballesteros’ recent Instagram post: “That doc was very deep. It was like being dead and looking back on my life.”

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Bianca Censori Bares It All In Skimpy Halloween Outfit In Tokyo With Kanye West

October 31, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Bianca Censori is well-known for her often lewd or striking fashion sense, and her latest offering has fans wondering if this is a Halloween fit or just a regular ol’ Bianca look. Moreover, she wore nothing but black lace nipple covers, a lace thong, and a white sleeves over her arms. This was at a Maison Margiela party in Tokyo on Wednesday (October 30) that Bianca went to with her hubby Kanye West, who wore a simple combination of a white hoodie and sweatpants. If you want to check out photos from the event, you can do so by clicking on the “Via” link further down below.

As for other news around Kanye West and Bianca Censori, allegations emerged this week that the couple actually enjoys naked therapy. No, that’s not a euphemism for something else: It’s legit naked therapy. This comes from an alleged report from In Touch, who spoke to a supposed source that says they feel “more liberated” and like they “can totally bare their souls when they’re undressed.”

Kanye West & Bianca Censori At Milan Fashion Week

Bianca Censori Outfit Lace Revealing Halloween Kanye West Hip Hop News — MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 23: Kanye West and Bianca Censori attends the Marni fashion show during the Milan Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 on February 23, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images)

“He’s always talking about how being naked makes him feel more in tune with his emotions and his art,” the alleged source said of Kanye West and Bianca Censori’s allegedly naked therapy sessions. “He thinks it’s opening up a whole new side of him creatively, but even for him this is out there. They’re also getting into doing these nude retreats and talking about taking it even further and starting their own nudist colony. Bianca is forging quite the name for herself as this liberated woman who’s not afraid to go naked in public, so she’d be the face of the business. People assume that it’s just Bianca who walks around without any clothes on, but behind closed doors, Ye is really embracing his own fetish for being in the buff.”

Meanwhile, the couple’s continued outings fended off divorce rumors earlier this month, and it seems like they’re still going strong. Considering how hectic the headlines have been for Bianca Censori and Kanye West for the past two years, therapy is probably a great idea. If not, then they will always have their fashion sense to fall back on.

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Kanye West’s Neighbors Reportedly Blast His “Delusional” DROAM City Plans

October 31, 2024 by newhiphopnews

“The city of DROAM” is one of Kanye West’s many projects over the years, which he originally planned as a self-sustainable city in the Middle East. Now, after purchasing a $35 million mansion in Beverly Hills, he suggested that he wants to build the city in Los Angeles instead, where he now has seven of the supposed 100,000 that he wants Droam to encompass. According to a TMZ report, though, Ye won’t have an easy time doing this. The outlet reportedly reached out to various of his new neighbors in the North Beverly Park gated community to react to this. One person allegedly called the plans “delusional.”

Furthermore, the community members reportedly told the outlet that the neighborhood’s homeowners association’s complex nature means Kanye West will face an uphill battle as far as acquiring the necessary votes to build a city of this scale. With not much space to build to begin with, they reportedly predict that he will have to spend millions more to even have the open room to even think about getting started. This is the Chicago artist’s most recent mansion purchase after gutting a previous Malibu property and losing millions as a result.

Kanye West Teases “DROAM” City

https://twitter.com/apollovwrld/status/1851572137431089563

As such, some neighbors reportedly characterized Kanye West as volatile due to this homeowner history. While others are not as familiar with this backstory, they reportedly worry about general disturbances and chaos caused by his massive celebrity status, such as crazed fans or other forms of ruckuses. One neighbor reportedly expressed that their best-case scenario is that the Yeezy mogul stays on vacation instead of trying to build a new city. For those unaware, he’s spending a lot of time roaming Tokyo these days with his wife Bianca Censori, so he hasn’t moved in yet.

As for Kanye West’s new mansion, it’s a 20,000-square-foot, 11-bedroom behemoth that rests on a seven-acre plot of land in the North Beverly area in L.A. Maybe he’s not serious about expanding this into Droam City, as he could’ve just called this new property his own personal “city” online amid his alleged therapy. But either way, it seems like the 47-year-old is going to have a tough conversation with his neighbors when he moves in.

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Kanye West Launches Pre-Orders For New Album “Bully,” But Fans Still Don’t Think It Will Drop

October 25, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Kanye West album cycles can be an exhausting affair, mainly because we never know if or when an announced project will actually drop. So while a lot of fans are very excited for his next solo album, Bully, there’s also a lot of skepticism even when he’s asking for your money for it. Moreover, Ye just launched some pre-orders for the new record comprised of digital or vinyl versions for $20 each. In addition, he also put up some shirts for sale that depict the album cover for some and display a gothic-style text of its title in others. Do you believe it will come out or will this be another Yandhi situation, even if pre-orders are already live? In any case, if you’re interested, you can find them by clicking the “Via” link down below.

Nevertheless, there are actually a lot of theories floating around Kanye West right now that have nothing to do with his upcoming album Bully. One of these was his rumored divorce from Bianca Censori, but that speculation didn’t last long at all in the rumor mill. They popped out together on a couple of occasions after this gossip started flying about this, and a recently shared photoshoot online (date unclear) has fans thinking that they’re as strong as ever.

Kanye West Drops Bully Pre-Orders: See Replies For Reactions

Sadly, other Kanye West rumors are better characterized as allegations, as he’s been accused of alleged sexual assault. At press time, neither he nor his legal team have responded to these accusations publicly, and we’ve heard no reports of a court update in either case. The suit comes from a former assistant named Lauren Pisciotta, who alleges that the Chicago artist drugged and sexually assaulted her at a party. We’ll see if we witness a public resolution to these allegations or if they seek a more private settlement.

Folks like Dame Dash are defending Kanye West while we learn more of the veracity of these allegations, so take everything with a grain of salt. That’s kind of a blanket statement for everything going on in his career right now, whether it’s albums or his personal life. Also, the disappointment of the VULTURES series certainly doesn’t help. But it also sparks hope and speculation that this time will be different.

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Kanye West & Bianca Censori Fend Off Allegations With Power Couple Photoshoot

October 24, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Kanye West and Bianca Censori still seem as strong as ever, even if they haven’t directly addressed rumors of their divorce to the general public. Despite that speculation, they continue to go out together and flaunt their relationship for the cameras, including a recent photoshoot of the couple. In it, Ye dons a black jacket and dark grey jeans, whereas his wife wore a simple black bra and a large, light-colored gown from the waist down. It’s oddly reminiscent of the VULTURES 1 album cover, except you can actually see their faces this time around. It’s unclear when these pictures were taken, but if you want a peep, check them out by clicking the “Via” link down below.

However, another headline swirling around Kanye West right now concerns the various lawsuits against him, both of which allege sexual assault. At press time, it seems like he hasn’t responded to these allegations, whether in court through a legal filing or publicly. Many out there expressed staunch condemnations of this, but others like Dame Dash represented more leniency. “No matter what, Kanye is my brother,” he said on the American Nu Network. “So I’m going to always hope that what’s said is not true, as a person that’s been accused of sexual assault and went through a whole trial and got the press of the accusation… You know, I would have questions.”

Kanye West & Bianca Censori At Milan Fashion Week

Kanye West Bianca Censori Photos Allegations Divorce Hip Hop News — MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 23: Kanye West and Bianca Censori attends the Marni fashion show during the Milan Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 on February 23, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images)

Nevertheless, it looks like Kanye West has no plans to slow down amid these narratives. He recently revealed the cover art for his next album Bully, which will apparently be much more of a solo effort than most Ye albums. Maybe the Chicago artist will speak on these rumors and allegations on wax. But we wouldn’t bet on it.

Meanwhile, other recent pictures of Kanye West caused fans to hope that he feels better these days, as he looks quite rejuvenated. Perhaps that’s just confirmation bias or a massive reach from just some snapshots, but we don’t blame fans for holding out hope. It’s been a rough few years, but at least it looks like Bianca Censori is still by his side.

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