J. Cole performed at North Carolina’s Dreamville Festival yesterday (April 7) and had a ton of surprises in store. Throughout his set, he brought out several special guests, like Jeremih, 6LACK, Lil Yachty, Central Cee, and more. He also addressed the fact that he dissed Kendrick Lamar on “7 Minute Drill” recently, apologizing and taking the blame.
In total, J. Cole performed a stacked 26 songs between his biggest solo hits and covering tracks from other artists, making it well worth it for fans who were there to watch him.
Check out his complete setlist below, according to Setlist.FM.
J. Cole’s Dreamville Fest 2024 Setlist
1. “Crocodile Tearz” (Live debut)
2. “Middle Child”
3. “Wet Dreamz”
4. “A Tale Of 2 Citiez”
5. “G.O.M.D.”
6. “Power Trip”
7. “Planez” (Jeremih cover) (with Jeremih)
8. “Oui” (Jeremih cover) (with Jeremih)
9. “Pretty Little Fears” (6LACK cover) (with 6LACK) (Cole live debut)
10. “Nonchalant” (6LACK cover) (with 6LACK)
11. “PRBLMS” (6LACK cover) (with 6LACK)
12. “Johnny P’s Caddy” (Benny the Butcher cover) (with Benny the Butcher)
13. “Rubber Bands & Weight” (Benny the Butcher cover) (with Benny the Butcher)
14. “The Secret Recipe” (Lil Yachty & J. Cole cover) (with Lil Yachty)
15. “Strike (Holster)” (Lil Yachty cover) (with Lil Yachty)
16. “Under The Sun” (with Lute, Bas, Cozz, EARTHGANG, & Omen)
17. “Down Bad” (with Bas, Cozz, EARTHGANG, & Omen)
18. “H.Y.B.” (with Bas) (Live debut; also with Central Cee)
19. “Sprinter” (Dave & Central Cee cover) (with Central Cee)
20. “Doja” (Central Cee cover) (with Central Cee)
21. “The London” (Young Thug cover)
22. “A Lot” (21 Savage cover)
23. “All My Life” (Lil Durk cover) (with Lil Durk)
24. “Back In Blood” (Pooh Shiesty cover) (with Lil Durk)
25. “Love Yourz”
26. “No Role Modelz”
Back in the middle of December, a new song from a rap group by the name of Concrete Boys hit YouTube. It was called “MO JAMS” and featured the talents of Lil Yachty, KARRAHBOOO, Dc2trill, and Draft Day. That was the inception of the collective that now also includes Camo! Next, they would go on to perform for On The Radar, and then drop a series of tracks in the process from the different artists. Finally, shortly after Yachty created Concrete Kekordz at the end of March, him and the gang dropped It’s Us Vol. 1.
The heavily backed record label now has its first record, and it is a fun listen pretty much all the way through. It keeps a pretty tight tracklist at just 16 cuts that last about 47 minutes. Additionally, all of the members have plenty of opportunities to showcase their respective talents. Everyone has a discernable sound, so it does not feel like you are listening to five artists wrapped into one.
As we mentioned this album is a part of Concrete Rekordz and it has tremendous support. Quality Control, the label that signed Yachty from the start, is tied to this project. Subsequently, HYBE, the American arm of the Korean entertainment group that has BTS signed, is also involved due to their partnering with QC. Be sure to give It’s Us Vol. 1 a listen with the links above.
What are your thoughts on this brand-new album, It’s Us Vol. 1, by Concrete Boys? What songs are you gravitating toward right now? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Concrete Boys. Finally, stay with us for the most informative project posts throughout the week.
Lil Yachty has had a major career resurgence in recent years, pivoting his sound into a genre-blending psych-rock fusion and even launching his own label and rap ensemble. Lil Yachty’s collective, Concrete Boys, dropped their debut LP It’s Us Volume 1 on April 5. The group consists of several members, each of whom bring their own blend of Southern flavor and sonic style to the table.
The first signee, Draft Day, has explained that Lil Yachty assembled the Concrete Boys based on a shared feeling that each member is a solid individual, with a distinct personality and sense of self, both on wax and in their personal lives. It’s Us Volume 1 showcases Lil Yachty alongside his Concrete Boys collaborators, highlighting each members’ unique talents. Here’s a brief look at each of the 4 artists of the crew, and a breakdown of what we can expect to see from them next.
Draft Day is a frequent collaborator of Lil Yachty, and worked with him long before joining the Concrete Boys collective in 2021. Draft originally met Yachty in his early years of high school, after moving to Atlanta from his home state of Florida. In the years since, the pair have formed an inseparable bond, leaving many fans to recognize Draft from his inclusion in a wide array of Lil Yachty projects.
Draft Day has a raspy voice and a very hip-hop-forward rap style, which blends perfectly with the laid-back vibes of Lil Yachty and the other Concrete Boys lyricists. As a solo artist, he released the LP First Round Pick in 2019, and will likely continue to produce more full-length efforts after receiving a boost in popularity from his front-and-center performances on It’s Us Volume 1.
Karrahbooo
You’d be forgiven for expecting Lil Yachty’s group to be something of a boys club with a title like Concrete Boys. However, Atlanta vocalist Karrahbooo offers a much-needed female perspective on the group, providing heavenly vocal passages on a number of ‘Crete tracks. Karrahbooo first got her start as Lil Yachty’s assistant, with the intention of launching an acting career. Instead, she pivoted to music after seeing her mentor earn high-value placements in TV shows and movies such as Dave, Grown-ish, and On The Come Up.
This would ultimately turn out to be a lucrative career move, as Karrahbooo has offered show-stopping performances on tracks such as “Money Counter,” “Running Late,” and “Rip Follies.” Karrahbooo’s unique style helps to provide a great deal of sonic diversity on Concert Boyz tracks, with effortless flows that make her a stand-out star.
DC2Trill
DC2Trill first linked up with Lil Yachty in 2020, while the latter was working on his 2021 mixtape Michigan Boy Boat. Apparently, the duo were united by a mutual friend within the music industry, and have been working together ever since. Unlike most of Lil Yachty’s Concrete Boys collaborators, DC2Trill didn’t grow up in the Atlanta area. Instead, Trill brings a distinct musical flair to the group, emanating from his roots in Texas and Alabama. Trill also has one of the most robust solo catalogs compared to any other member of the group, save for Yachty himself. DC2Trill has released 4 solo albums and 1 EP, and currently touts over 100,000 monthly listeners on Spotify alone.
Obviously, Lil Yachty is the founder and de facto leader of the Concrete Boys, offering the group a distinct vision. Yachty has come a long way from his roots in the SoundCloud rap scene, and is arguably one of the most creative and inventive rappers currently active today. His latest album Let’s Start Here serves as a complete reinvention of his sound while recent singles such as “The Secret Recipe,” “Strike (Holster),” and “Something Ether” have continued to diversify his musical influence with the flexibility expected from a modern rap legend.
Since founding Concrete Boys, Lil Yachty has thrown his focus into ensuring the group succeeds, both as a collective and as individual artists. Other recording artists have not shied away from giving Yachty his flowers, explaining that the 26-year-old rapper has assisted multiple up-and-comers with their craft. For now, it’s truly anyone’s guess where the “A Cold Sunday” vocalist will take his prolific career next.
The highly anticipated debut compilation album It’s Us Vol. 1 from the culture-shifting supergroup Concrete Boys has officially hit the airwaves. Released via Concrete Rekordz/Quality Control Music, the project marks a significant milestone for the group, which includes members Lil Yachty, Karrahbooo, Dc2trill, Draft Day, and Camo!.
Accompanying the album release is a brand-new music video for the focus track, Karrahbooo’s “Where Yo Daddy,” adding visual flair to the group’s sonic offerings. Cementing their status in the rap world, Concrete Boys have been making waves with fan favorites like “MO JAMS,” “FAMILY BUSINESS,” “MY LIFE,” and “LOVE LANGUAGE,” leading up to the release of their debut full-length project.
Helmed by the creative genius Lil Yachty, “It’s Us Vol. 1” comprises 16 tracks that blend classic rap’s sonic elements with today’s youth’s contemporary energy. From soulful rap vibes to cloudy southern trap beats, the album promises to lay the groundwork for a new era in the rap game.
With Lil Yachty at the helm, the Concrete Boys are set to redefine the hip-hop landscape, offering listeners a diverse and dynamic musical experience that reflects the essence of modern rap culture.
Lil Yachty has come full circle. Before music, Yachty worked as a McDonald’s crew member, during which time, he crafted one of his artistic hallmarks — the signature vibrant red hair that made him stand out when he first stepped onto the scene.
Dropping tracks on Soundcloud in between shifts at Mickey D’s, Yachty maintained his momentum before deciding to move to New York to pursue music full-time. Nearly a decade later, Yachty delivered an energetic halftime performance at the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Games this past Tuesday (April 2). Additionally, he starred in a commercial for McDonald’s Canada, which featured him delivering a trippy rendition of the Menu Song.
Yachty’s most recent solo album Let’s Start Here showed us that his name is no longer synonymous with the Soundcloud era. Inspired by psychedelic sounds, Let’s Start Here proved to listeners that Yachty is serious about his artistry and is no flash-in-the-pan. And since its release over a year ago, Yachty has not taken his foot off the gas.
Last month, Yachty announced the launch of Concrete Recordz, as part of a partnership with Quality Control and HYBE. On the roster is his new rap collective, Concrete Boys, comprised of rappers Camo!, DC2TRILL, Draft Day, Karrahbooo, and Yachty himself.
Uproxx chatted with Yachty ahead of his halftime performance, as well as the release of Concrete Boys’ compilation album, It’s Us Vol., 1, which is set to drop Friday (April 5). With 10 years in the game, Yachty isn’t letting up anytime soon — not before pushing more bounds with his own artistry, and cultivating a new generation of movers and shakers.
Hey Yachty, how are you?
I’m blessed, man. Happy that we are having nice sunny days. I had a milkshake. And I’m lactose [intolerant], but I took my lactose pills. I took two of them. And they’re working, so we’re good. It’s always a plus when you’re lactose, and you drink milk, and you’re good. That might be too much information, but you asked, and I’m truthful.
[Laughs] I’m not tripping. How are you feeling, leading up to your performance?
It’s always a good feeling to have a full-circle moment in life. I worked for McDonald’s, and it was the first job I ever had when I was 15 or 16 years old. My McDonald’s commercial also just came out for McDonald’s Canada.
I love your commercial. It’s really trippy! How did that collaboration come together?
Separate from this, actually, McDonald’s reached out. And they wanted to redo the classic song, and I thought that was awesome. And very few artists get the opportunity to do these types of things, so it was actually a no-brainer.
What are some of your fondest memories as a McDonald’s crew member?
My mom was a very business-savvy woman. I had long, black braids back then. When I was about to go in for my interview, my mom was like “Oh, you can’t have braids, you have to look professional if you want to get hired.” She took me to the barbershop, and she made me cut off my hair.
I went to the interview, got hired, and on my first day working, everyone had long hair. I remember coming home to my mom crying and being like “You made me cut my hair! I would’ve still gotten the job.”
She felt so bad, and she was like “Okay, well let’s do something different.”
And I was like “I don’t have hair,” and then she said “dye it red.”
That’s the origin of my red hair.
And you’ve never shared that before?
You honestly just unlocked that memory in my brain. I forgot all about that.
So you’ve got It’s Us Vol. 1, dropping Friday. It’s the first album with the Concrete Boys crew. What was the process like assembling talent for this collective?
These are my friends. So it wasn’t like I was looking high and low for talent. These were friends that I’ve made along the way. The most important thing to me is my friendships — and trying to bring everyone up to a level of success so they can provide for their families is the goal. Plus, I’ve always just loved the idea of groups and crews.
How do you envision your label Concrete Rekordz growing, say five or 10 years from now?
Man, that’s more than enough time. You could say one year from now. But five or 10 years from now? That’s much more time than any artist needs to become successful. I want to make sure I say that. With today’s time, and internet [platforms], six months is all you need. But in five years, I plan to have four moguls, doing their own things, starting their own labels.
Your last album, Let’s Start Here was a sonic risk, as you experimented with psychedelic sounds. What kind of sounds are you exploring for your next project?
I can’t tell you, my guy. But what I will tell you is that I’m definitely not done taking risks. I can’t say what I’m doing next, but I can say that I’m not done taking risks. That wasn’t a one-and-done.
You also have an album with James Blake coming out soon. What can you tell us about that?
I’m really excited about it. It’s really amazing. When [artists] make collab projects, I think a lot of times, they don’t access the full extent of what could be. Me and James really connected and just created a brotherhood. We made a really special project that is far beyond both of us, and I’m super excited for it to come out.
Can you give us a hint as to when it’s going to drop?
It keeps getting pushed back, man. It was it was supposed to come out this month. But I don’t know if it will. But it’s done. Mixed and mastered.
So earlier this week, you said that some rappers are angry because they’re “ugly as f*ck,” and therefore, lack confidence. What would you say is the key to maintaining confidence?
[Laughs] Well, I was just talking sh*t. But, I don’t know, man. I don’t take things too serious. I enjoy the life that I was given and try to stay stress-free. I’m well aware of the blessings and the cards I was dealt, and I’m just grateful. I think I can I can only speak for myself when I say that it’s very easy to be happy.
It’s been about a decade since you moved from Atlanta to New York to pursue music. As an artist, and now, the owner of your own label, what would you say is the biggest thing you’ve learned in your career?
Staying true to yourself and not letting anyone’s negative comments bring you down. The negative side of the internet isn’t real. It’s not a real place. It’s all just trolls and make-believe. It’s not real, it doesn’t translate over into the real world.
Life is funny sometimes. Occasionally, you’ll have full circle moments where you end up seemingly right back where you started, but with a fresh perspective and occasionally, a new role.
That’s what happened for Lil Yachty. The Atlanta rap star got his start as self-styled “king of the teens” after leaving his job working at McDonald’s. Now, he’s back on ol’ Ronald’s payroll, except this time, it’s as a celebrity endorser, appearing in a new TV commercial, doing what he does best. In a fun twist, the song he’s performing is also redux; Yachty runs off his favorite menu items in a remix of the chain’s 1988 “Menu Song,” which appeared in its ads nearly a decade before Yachty was even born. It’s surprisingly catchy — but maybe not that surprisingly, since it’s Lil Yachty using his “Minnesota”/”Poland” flow. He even throws in a little bit of his fellow rapper Pusha T’s Golden Arches jingle at the end.
You can check out the full commercial above.
McDonald’s has had some great luck partnering with rappers over the past few years. Aside from the aforementioned Pusha T-penned jingle, the chain has teamed up with Travis Scott, Saweetie, Cardi B, and Offset to share themed meals that have brought in plenty of revenue for the brand — and for the participating artists. Lil Yachty is a perfect addition to that tradition. Now, if only he could get that Uno movie back into production.
ScHoolboy Q is perhaps the most notorious golfer in all of hip-hop. The rapper has frequently spoken out about how much he loves the sport and even collaborated with a PGA Tour video game a few years ago. While it was passion that originally led him to the sport, he revealed in a recent appearance on Lil Yachty’s podcast what kept him there. He was funding his time between new rap releases with money he made from golf.
“I don’t kick it in the studio no more,” Q said at the beginning of the conversation. He went onto explain the ways that rapping was lucrative for him, but he also made quite a bit of money from playing golf. “I was able to relax for five years. I made a lot of money off rap, but golf helped me a lot,” he revealed. Unfortunately, there was more to the story. He opened up on refusing numerous endorsement deals because of alleged racism and the desire for him to appear “more black.” Check out the full podcast appearance he made below.
The podcast appearance comes off the release of Q’s first new album in 5 years Blue Lips. It’s received a refreshing amount of praise from both fans and critics following his least beloved album to date Crash Talk in 2019. Since the release of the album he’s been reminding everyone how funny he is with one viral moment after another while appearing on various shows and podcasts.
The album features an impressive roster of talent but it also had another high-profile appearance. Q revealed that he was in the early stages of working on a song with A$AP Rocky for the record. The collaboration eventually fell through when the pair found themselves too busy to finish it. What do you think of ScHoolboy Q revealing that he made enough money from golf to “relax for 5 years?” Do you think he’s the definitive golfer in all of hip-hop? Let us know in the comment section below.
In a video that made the rounds online over the weekend, Yachty says, “I personally think that rap n****s are so angry and so mad and so ‘grr’ all the time because they ugly… as f*ck. A lot of rappers don’t like what they see when they wake up, and they realize they probably only get women because they have money. Me, on the other hand, am gorgeous. And it’s like, I’m happy, you know? Life’s great. I got some money, decent looking, I smell great.”
Yachty, of course, has a strong sense of humor, so he’s likely joking around, at least a little bit, here.
Appearance aside, Yachty certainly has a lot to be happy about at the moment. A few days ago, it was announced that he teamed with Quality Control and HYBE to start his own record label, Concrete Rekordz.
ScHoolboy Q has an incredibly unique cadence on every beat he spits over, but he’s a talented storyteller outside of the studio too. This week, Lil Yachty and Mitch debuted a new episode of their A Safe Place podcast, bringing on the “CrasH” artist to talk about everything from his brand new album to his life before finding fame. As a teenager, Q was once robbed by gang members at a bus stop, though he thankfully didn’t have too much to lose when they approached him.
“Some Bloods rob me. They took my bread. I had, like, a transfer for the bus, and like $2. But I was peace treaty as soon as they walked up, though, right?” he told the hosts. “He took my beanie off, and he said, ‘How much money you got in your pocket?’ And I said, ‘I got $2. I play basketball.’ He said, ‘We need some weed anyway,’” Q recalled, as HipHopDX reports.
ScHoolboy Q Chats with Lil Yachty and Mitch on A Safe Place Podcast
The altercation could’ve been much scarier, but Q handled it as well as any teenager could’ve. It certainly wasn’t his last time crossing paths with Bloods, though his celebrity status makes him a much bigger target for serious robberies. Besides gang activity, the 37-year-old also shared his thoughts on dealing with groupies and how much younger high school kids look now than when he was still a student.
Elsewhere in the news, ScHoolboy Q continues to celebrate the success of his Blue Lips LP. In an Instagram post earlier this week, the West Coast icon shared that Jay-Z was a fellow artist who had the opportunity to listen to the album ahead of its release – a seemingly surreal moment for Q. Read all about that at the link below, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
Lil Yachty is blazing new trails each and every day it seems. From his new features that drop weekly, to his future and most recent projects, Lil Boat is thriving. Pretty soon the Atlanta rapper and UK singer James Blake will be dropping an album together called Bad Cameo, which should be an interesting pairing. Elsewhere, Yachty has been quickly developing a rap collective called the Concrete Boys. They began buzzing in late December with their “MO JAMS” release. Now, Yachty and his compadres Camo!, DC2TRILL, Draft Day, and KARRAHBOOO, have Concrete Rekordz as a stable foundation.
The label is headed by the Let’s Start Here. creator, but he is not totally alone. According to Uproxx, the new recording brand has the support of Quality Control, which Yachty signed to. Additionally, QC is now a part of HYBE America, a subdivision of the Korean company that houses the popular K-pop groups like BTS. With the crazy support of some of the biggest names in the business, Yachty and Concrete Rekordz is going to be a force to be reckoned with.
Concrete Rekordz Is Looking To Be The Next Big Label
To help celebrate this massive achievement, the Concrete Boyz dropped a new single for their upcoming record, It’s Us, Vol. 1. “FAMILY BUSINESS” and its accompanying music video hit YouTube earlier today. According to Genius, the project will drop on April 5 and from what we have so far, it will be an enticing listen. You can check out the new single above.
What are your thoughts on this brand-new single, “FAMILY BUSINESS,” by Concrete Boys and the founding of Concrete Rekordz? Is this the group’s best song to date, why or why not? Does this get you excited for their upcoming album It’s Us, Vol. 1? Who had the strongest performance on the record? Is Yachty on the hottest run in hip-hop right now? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Concrete Boys, Concrete Rekordz, and Lil Yachty. Finally, stay with us for the most informative song posts throughout the week.
