Kendrick Lamar

Baby Keem Announces His Single ‘Family Ties’ Featuring His Cousin Kendrick Lamar

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Baby Keem

Rising Las Vegas rapper Baby Keem has a new single on the way, and to many of his fans’ delight, it will feature his cousin Kendrick Lamar. Keem shared the cover for “Family Ties,” which features a redacted family photo that leaves only his and Kendrick’s faces unobscured, as well as the release date, Thursday, August 26 at 9 PM PT (that’s Friday at midnight for you East Coasters), on social media, sparking a frenzy of excitement for its eventual release.

The cover seemingly shows that Keem shares Kendrick’s affection for using old family flicks in his promotional materials; Kendrick famously employed a baby photo of his own on the cover of his major-label debut album, Good Kid, MAAD City, using a similar technique of censoring his other family members. Not only does this highlight Kendrick’s appearance as a guest artist on Keem’s track but it also subtly anoints the younger rapper as Kendrick’s heir apparent, suggesting that his impact on the rap game will be just as huge (Keem is associated with Kendrick’s agency PgLang).

Of course, that’s a lot of pressure to put on the 20-year-old; after all, big cuz has a Pulitzer Prize to his name in addition to a wall full of plaques and a shelf covered in statuary. Keem is off to a decent start, though, with a small but growing collection of well-received bangers to his name including “No Sense,” “Durag Activity,” and an as-yet-unreleased collaboration with Kanye West. Meanwhile, the new song also seemingly kicks off the wait for Kendrick’s upcoming album, his last one under contract with Top Dawg Entertainment.

Top Dawg Ent. Responds To Kendrick Lamar Announcing ‘Final’ TDE Album

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Top Dawg Entertainment has responded. The hip-hop powerhouse’s key bosses Anthony ‘Top Dawg’ Tiffith and president Punch have stepped forward to address Kendrick Lamar announcing his final project under the label is coming. TDE Responds To Kendrick Lamar Instead of catching feelings, Top Dawg saluted Lamar on gearing up to release his last official studio […]

Top Dawg Calls Kendrick Lamar’s Impending Final TDE Album A ‘Victory Lap’

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Getty Image

Earlier today, Kendrick Lamar announced that his next album will be his last on Top Dawg Entertainment after working with the label for nearly 15 years. Shortly after his announcement, the label’s founder and CEO, Anthony Tiffith — aka, the titular “Top Dawg” of TDE — released his own statement to social media reflecting on their partnership’s impact and looking ahead to the label’s future, calling it “an honor and privilege for TDE to bless the world with the GOAT.”

“The whole goal when we started this thing was to make music, make money, and make history,” he wrote. “We did those things 10 times over and then some. TDE and its artists have provided a way to end generational curses that we were all personally born into over the last 17 years in this business.” K. Dot previously addressed this sentiment on his DAMN. track “Duckworth,” which examined the incidental connection between his own father and Top Dawg before Kendrick was even born.

“With this being Dot’s last album on TDE, this is more of a VICTORY LAP, a celebration,” Top asserted, wishing his label’s best-selling artist success in his future endeavors. “I know he will be successful in whatever it is he decides to do and will have our FULL support. As for Top Dawg Entertainment, we will continue to grow, develop, and give artists the platform to expand into whatever way they choose. Heart, honor, respect.”

Kendrick Lamar Says He’s Working On His ‘Final TDE Album’

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For the majority of his career, Kendrick Lamar has released his music with Top Dawg Entertainment and is now the label’s defining artist. It looks like that era is coming to an end, though, as Lamar has indicated that his next album will be his last one with TDE.

This afternoon, the rapper shared a link to a website, oklama.com, which features a post dated August 20. In it, he summarizes how he’s been lately and reflects on his time with TDE, saying that he’s in the process of producing his “final TDE album.” He also hinted at when new music might come, as he ended his message, “See you soon enough.” The post reads:

“I spend most of my days with fleeting thoughts. Writing. Listening. And collecting old Beach cruisers. The morning rides keep me on a hill of silence.

I go months without a phone.

Love, loss, and grief have disturbed my comfort zone, but the glimmers of God speak through my music and family.

While the world around me evolves, I reflect on what matters the most. The life in which my words will land next.

As I produce my final TDE album, I feel joy to have been a part of such a cultural imprint after 17 years. The Struggles. The Success. And most importantly, the Brotherhood. May the Most High continue to use Top Dawg as a vessel for candid creators. As I continue to pursue my life’s calling.

There’s beauty in completion. And always faith in the unknown.

Thank you for keeping me in your thoughts. I’ve prayed for you all.

See you soon enough.

-oklama.”

The post also features a grainy, blurry photo of Lamar seemingly in a studio. The image file’s EXIF data indicates it was last modified on July 15, suggesting the photo was taken, or at least last edited, on that date.

Check out oklama.com here.

National Roller Coaster Day: Here’s 4 Looks At Hip-Hop Favs On Rides

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August 16th is National Roller Coaster Day. Who knew, right? Well, some of our favorite hip-hop artists, whether they knew about the special day or not, have had their likenesses immortalized in the ever-popular “roller coaster pic.” You know the one. Check out these 4 fun Roller Coaster moments with some familiar faces. 1. Kung […]

National Roller Coaster Day: Here’s 4 Looks At Hip-Hop Favs On Rides

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August 16th is National Roller Coaster Day. Who knew, right? Well, some of our favorite hip-hop artists, whether they knew about the special day or not, have had their likenesses immortalized in the ever-popular “roller coaster pic.” You know the one. Check out these 4 fun Roller Coaster moments with some familiar faces. 1. Kung […]