Nicki Minaj has hyped her upcoming headline set at Wireless Fest in London. “Instead of doing another arena show in London after we sold out in the first week, I opted to do Wireless Festival. This year’s show will be a billion times more special, creative, beautiful, cohesive, ugh! I’m so excited. I’d like to tell you guys thank you in advance. Last year was so meaningful but won’t compare. Just wait & see,” Minaj wrote on Instagram. Minaj has been a regular feature at Wireless for over a deacde.
Wireless Fest takes place in London’s historic Finsbury Park this July. Other headliners include Future, 21 Savage, and Doja Cat. Minaj is currently set to play the O2 Arena in London on May 28. Are you attending the Pink Friday 2 Tour? Are you excited? Let us know in the comments.
“Instead of doing another arena show in London after we sold out in the first week, I opted to do Wireless Festival. This year’s show will be a billion times more special, creative, beautiful, cohesive, ugh! I’m so excited. I’d like to tell you guys…
Meanwhile, A video of Anne Hathaway dancing to “Anaconda” has gone viral amongst Minaj’s fans. The video, taken from an Instagram story, shows Hathaway getting low to the iconic part of Minaj’s catalog before bashfully waving off praise from the gathered crowd. However, the Barbz in particular have gone absolutely wild for the video. Some praised Hathaway for her taste, others for her dance moves. Meanwhile, a number of other fans have pointed to it as evidence of Minaj’s legacy.
Of course, it’s been a rough couple weeks for Minaj. After being shaded on Megan Thee Stallion‘s “HISS”, Minaj hit back with a diss track of her own, “Big Foot“. However, the general consensus was that she had lost the beef. Not only were people now questioning her many dubious links to sex offenders, but “Big Foot” flopped in comparison to “HISS”. Furthermore, “Big Foot” even debuted below Ben Shapiro’s terrible rap debut on the Billboard Hot 100.
Bobby Shmurda loves to party, and if you didn’t know that, just look at his wild Dubai Christmas celebrations and you’ll see how deep this goes. However, it’s not always peaches and cream for him out in the clubbing world, even when he’s tapped to perform. Moreover, the rapper and his crew recently hit up the Proud Cabaret in London, England in the early hours of Sunday (February 18). According to TMZ, he performed two songs at around 4AM local time, and then got into an intense argument with the club’s promoter that resulted in a whole lot of pushes, shoves, and him allegedly spitting on someone in the crowd.
Furthermore, it seems like Bobby Shmurda and company left promptly after this, and nothing else transpired as the night went on at the Proud Cabaret. In addition, no reports of injuries emerged from this, so it seems like it was all just a brief scuffle and nothing more. Fortunately, this isn’t a very common occurrence when you look at the track record, as there are a lot of other instances of antics that are less combative. For example, you may remember a viral clip of him hilariously falling down at a club last year.
Bobby Shmurda at the 25th Anniversary Angel Ball held at Cipriani Wall Street on October 23, 2023 in New York, New York. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Variety via Getty Images)
But the New York MC’s notable behavior isn’t reserved for just the club; the media allegedly got a fair share of it, too. “Yo, I waited… I think, like, ten hours for Bobby Shmurda when he just got out,” DJ Akademiks recently claimed. “I slept at the studio waiting for this n***a. They kept telling me, ‘Oh, his jet is coming.’ They’re like, ‘Yo, when he lands, he wants to pull right up there.’ I’m like, ‘Can’t you just tell me when he’s actually even here?’ They’re like, ‘Nah, yo, just be on standby.’ Alright… The artist feels like the business doesn’t exist without them. And partially, they’re right. But because of that inflated self-importance, like, what intuitively happens is that they pretty much start devaluing everyone’s contributions. Yeah, of course, [it’s ego s**t.] Most egotistical -– I can’t figure out no other genre where there’s a complete selfishness.”
Meanwhile, he does have a pretty good relationship with the press, participating in interviews often despite what this tale would have you assume. During a recent sit-down, the 29-year-old spoke on his imperfect commitment to celibacy and how he’s choosing to live his life these days. We’re glad that in this case (video of which you can see with the “Via” link below), it was just a quick confrontation that didn’t get any more serious. For more news and the latest updates on Bobby Shmurda, stay posted on HNHH.
Morgan Wallen, who has dominated the music charts this year, is now the subject of relationship rumors regarding the daughter of a baseball great. Wallen was spotted at the five-star Chiltern Firehouse restaurant and hotel in London’s Mayfair district alongside Josie Canseco, daughter of A’s great Jose Canseco. The pair reportedly had a “great time” for around two hours before Wallen left, per TMZ. It’s unclear how the pair became acquainted.
Wallen’s dating life has been something of a mystery since he split from ex-fiancee Katie Smith. He had brief flings with Paige Lorenze and Megan Moroney. However, TMZ was unable to ascertain if his dinner with Canseco was anything serious or just two friends grabbing a meal. Wallen has a son, Indigo, with Smith. Meanwhile, Canseco’s exes include Brody Jenner and Logan Paul. It remains to be seen if and when they will link up again in the near future.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 08: EDITORIAL USE ONLY Morgan Wallen performs onstage during the 57th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 08, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Astrida Valigorsky/WireImage)
However, Canseco isn’t the first famous face relating to the sports world that Wallen has hit up this year. Jimmy Butler shared a brief moment with Wallen after a concert Wallen did in Toronto in September. Obviously, that’s a long way for Butler to come given his base in Miami. However, the two men were clearly very happy to see each other. They reportedly chatted for a few minutes before going their separate ways after the show.
As mentioned, Wallen has been absolutely crushing it this year. His album, One Day At A Time, spent 15 weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200. That included an 11-week run between March and June. He has also spent #16 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Last Night”. That includes a dominant 10-week run between May and July. The song most recently topped the chart for two weeks in August.
21 Savage has gone viral as he continues to tour Europe. At the end of his first-ever concert in London, Savage awkwardly jogged off stage. What made the sight all the more bizarre was that Savage kept yelling “Keep screaming till I leave the stage” to get the audience hyped up. The way he runs off stage is very reminiscent of the way that Weasel runs in The Suicide Squad – it’s all limbs and awkward gaits. Check out the hilarious video below.
Fans were quick to (lovingly) clown the rapper. “Everything about this is hilarious,” one person wrote on social media. “This is why Savage the best, he always doing funny sh-t like this,” added another. Savage has received an electric welcome across Europe as he embarks on his first-ever international tour. Finally getting his green card has allowed Savage to plan concerts beyond the US for the first time in his musical career.
Furthermore, the night before his concert, Savage received a huge welcome at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal honored the British-born rapper. Arsenal presented Savage with a custom #21 Savage jersey. The #21 jersey is currently worn by Fábio Vieira, who joined the Gunners from Porto in 2022. After the game, Savage also linked up with Emil Smith Rowe, Arsenal’s 23-year-old midfielder. Also following the game, the Emirates Stadium made sure to play Savage’s bar from “Circo Loco” about the team winning the Premier League.
Savage couldn’t have picked a better game to attend. Arsenal dismantled French side Lens, scoring six goals to officially win their Champions League group. However, Arsenal have one more match in the group stage. The Gunners travel to the Netherlands to face second-place PSV in mid-December. Furthermore, Arsenal currently sits at the top of the Premier League. A late goal at away against Brentford over the weekend moved them one point clear of Manchester City.
Last month, 21 Savage took off on his first-ever European tour. It came after a multi-year fight to establish his permanent American citizenship to ensure that he would be allowed to return to the country once the tour finished. A few years ago, fans were shocked when Savage was arrested by ICE and the information went public that he was originally born in the UK. Now, he’s finally making his return to the country with a massive show at London’s O2 Arena.
He’s been on tour across Europe all month where his shows have been getting rave reviews. He made a splash with his debut Paris show which featured a number of high-profile guests and throughout the entire month he’s been playing hyped shows across the continent. He even took the time between shows to work on a music video. Clips made the round earlier this week of Savage in Brixton shooting a music video with a number of extras on motorcycles. But he seems to have saved his biggest show for last.
The final stop on his European tour was a return to London where he was playing a highly-anticipated debut show. Savage delivered on the expectations for his show with what fans are calling an incredible performance. He brought out a trio of special guests that definitely fit the proportion of the moment. Central Cee, J Hus, and Popcaan all joined Savage on stage and were met with massive praise from fans in attendance.
21 Savage also racked up 5 nominations for the 2024 Grammys. Four of them come from his collaborative album with DrakeHer Loss. The project is up for Best Rap Album with its songs individually picking up three more nominations. He also scored yet another nomination for his Burna Boy collaboration “Sittin’ On Top Of The World.” What do you think of the guests 21 Savage brought out during his first ever show in London? Let us know in the comment section below.
Arsenal FC honored 21 Savage as the British-born rapper took in the team’s game in the Champions League. Arsenal presented Savage with a custom #21 Savage jersey. The #21 jersey is currently worn by Fábio Vieira, who joined the Gunners from Porto in 2022. After the game, Savage also linked up with Emil Smith Rowe, Arsenal’s 23-year-old midfielder. Also following the game, the Emirates Stadium made sure to play Savage’s bar from “Circo Loco” about the team winning the Premier League.
Savage couldn’t have picked a better game to attend. Arsenal dismantled French side Lens, scoring six goals to officially win their Champions League group. However, Arsenal have one more match in the group stage. The Gunners travel to the Netherlands to face second-place PSV in mid-December. Furthermore, Arsenal currently sits at the top of the Premier League. A late goal at away against Brentford over the weekend moved them one point clear of Manchester City.
PARIS, FRANCE – NOVEMBER 14: 21 Savage Performs Live For The First Time at Zenith de Paris on November 14, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images for Live Nation)
The visit to the Emirates served as the lead-in for what will be Savage’s first show in the English capital. Immigration issues over the last few years meant that Savage, despite being born in the UK, couldn’t leave the US. If he had, there would have been grounds to deport, and even potentially detain, him. However, Savage was finally able to secure his green card, allowing him to travel back to the UK and the wider expanse of Europe.
However, Savage is expected back in the US next month. December 21 is “21 Savage Day” in Atlanta and ever since the holiday was declared, Savage has always made an effort to bring some holiday cheer to the city. Before that, he still has several stops on his European tour to make. Have you seen Savage in concert this year? Let us know what you thought in the comments below.
50 Cent brought Ed Sheeran out for a performance in London on Tuesday night for his The Final Lap tour concert at the city’s O2 Arena. In doing so, Sheeran performed his hit song, “Shape Of You.” Afterward, 50 shared photos of himself with Sheeran backstage at the show.
“My man came through for me tonight,” 50 wrote on Twitter. “BOOM… LONDON went crazy! It don’t get bigger than this.” Sheeran also posted videos of the performance on social media.
MILAN, ITALY – OCTOBER 22: 50 Cent performs at Mediolanum Forum of Assago on October 22, 2023 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Sergione Infuso/Corbis via Getty Images)
50 Cent and Ed Sheeran have collaborated off the stage as well in previous years. Back in 2019, they made the song “Remember the Name” with Eminem. After its release, Sheeran spoke about his relationship with the two rappers on Hot Ones. “If you were to go into my school and go, at the height of Shady Records, at the height of Aftermath [Entertainment], and go, ‘Which one of these kids is gonna do a song with Eminem and 50 Cent?’ No one would’ve guessed me,” Sheeran joked at the time. “50 will probably disagree with this, [but] I don’t think 50 had a fucking clue who I was. I think afterward he was like, ‘Oh, the ‘Shape of You’ guy!’” Check out his appearance on The Final Lap tour below.
Prior to Tuesday’s show, Sheeran also performed an acoustic cover of 50 Cent’s “In Da Club” during a John Mayer concert. When fans trolled him for the rendition, 50 came to his defense on social media. “Ed Sheeran right now in LA at the John Mayer concert Killing shit!” 50 wrote. Be on the lookout for further updates from The Final Lap tour on HotNewHipHop.
During a recent live stream, DJ Akademiks spoke on Diddy inviting him out to a party in London. According to the internet personality, he was a bit suspicious of the invite, which ultimately made him decide to hit up a hookah spot instead. Ak name-dropped Saucy Santana at one point in his explanation, claiming that he feared the artist would “jump out and start twerking.”
He went on, noting how he was paranoid that someone he’s got beef with would show up, like Saucy Santana or Yung Miami. It’s understandable why Ak wouldn’t want any part of a confrontation with Saucy Santana at this point, though it seems as though “twerking” could be the least of his concerns. The two of them traded a few jabs online following Ak’s unflattering Yung Miami comments, and eventually, Saucy Santana threatened him.
The rapper told Ak that he would physically and sexually assault him, prompting an emotional response. “After I beat you, I’ma f*ck you in your ass,” Saucy Santana declared. Ak later shared that he felt as though he couldn’t fire back due to Saucy Santana’s sexuality, out of fear of getting canceled. Things between them have simmered down in recent days, but Saucy Santana recently teased a diss track about Ak, which could be arriving soon. What do you think of DJ Akademiks accusing Diddy of trying to set him up in London? How do you feel about him name-dropping Saucy Santana? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
One could argue that the UK’s rap scene has been running laps around that of the United States for many years. A vast city filled with a variety of cultures and styles, London has been the hub for many of the world’s best lyricists. The British capital has a rich history of pushing musical boundaries, including hip-hop and beyond. The development of London’s rap scene as we know it occurred almost concurrently with the rise of grime in the 2000s. Over the years, the genres have often overlapped, with many grime MCs taking on hip-hop production, eventually evolving to what we now know as UK drill and afroswing — two of the most popular styles of British rap music.
Today, we are highlighting 7 London rappers you should be listening to. While London is home to many legendary rappers and grime MCs, this list prioritizes the stars of today who are actively establishing themselves as the future of the city. Many UK icons still continue to release music, but we are spotlighting both the new legends and those who are working toward that status. Take a look at the list below.
Tottenham in North London is home to many of the UK’s greatest MCs, including Skepta, JME, Frisco, and Wretch 32. Also hailing from the district is Avelino, the skilled and criminally underrated lyricist. His big break was in 2015 when he released a collaborative mixtape (Young Fire, Old Flame) and an earth-shattering freestyle with his mentor, the aforementioned Wretch 32.
Fast forward to 2023, Avelino stayed on course, finally releasing his debut album, God Save The Streets earlier this year. Executive produced by Wretch, the album fulfilled Avelino’s true potential. It contains clever wordplay while also serving as a cautionary tale to his home city. With one of the best rap albums of the year, Avelino is a must-listen.
Headie One
Another Tottenham native, Headie One is the drill superstar who brought the sub-genre to new heights. Headie has played an integral role in drill’s longevity, bringing depth to the tough and aggressive style. The London rapper started his takeover at the end of the 2010s, releasing street anthems like “Know Better” and “18Hunna.” Following his 2019 mixtape, Music x Road, Headie One served four months in prison for knife possession, but he came back bigger than ever.
In 2020, he collaborated with Fred again.. for the groundbreaking GANG EP and released his gold-selling debut album, EDNA. The album hosted features from Drake, Skepta, Future, AJ Tracey, Stormzy, Young Adz, and others. More recently, Headie One branched out with his collaborations on his No Borders compilation, which featured rappers from all over Europe. He also recently teamed up with K-Trap for the collaborative mixtape, Strength To Strength. Headie One is an essential listen for drill fans.
Dave is one of London’s biggest superstars and is rapidly growing his fanbase in the United States. The Streatham, South London rapper is known for his deep lyricism and conscious subject matter, as well as his numerous hit records and award-winning albums. Both of his studio albums, 2019’s PSYCHODRAMA and 2021’s We’re All Alone in This Together are considered modern classics, earning a Mercury Prize win, BRIT Awards, and numerous platinum certifications. He’s worked with the likes of Drake, Burna Boy, Wizkid, and others. This year, Dave teamed up with Central Cee for Split Decision, a collaborative EP that included the hit single, “Sprinter.” Dave is a London rapper who is quickly building his status as a young legend in the game.
One of the UK’s most trailblazing figures is J Hus. A pioneer of the afroswing genre, the Stratford, London rapper and singer heavily celebrates his Gambian heritage in his music. Hus’s humorous bars, endless versatility, and infectious melodies have earned him the status of one of the UK’s most revered artists. With classic albums like 2017’s Common Sense and 2020’s Big Conspiracy, as well as hit singles like “Did You See,” J Hus has never missed. This year, he returned with Beautiful And Brutal Yard, his third studio album that included features from the likes of Drake, Jorja Smith, and frequent collaborator Burna Boy. With one of 2023’s best hip-hop albums, J Hus is continuing his reign as one of London’s most unique rappers.
Loyle Carner
Loyle Carner is as authentic as it gets. The Lambeth, South London rapper is known for his transparent lyricism, often rhyming over jazzy hip-hop breaks. Loyle Carner’s autobiographical bars are compelling in their content and delivery. Each of his distinctly unique studio albums serves as a journey of self-discovery that marks key points in his life. Loyle Carner has worked with artists such as Jorja Smith, Sampha, and frequent collaborator Tom Misch. Loyle Carner is in a lane of his own when it comes to many different styles of hip hop coming from London.
With each album, Little Simz has grown both artistically and in notoriety. The Islington, London native has experimented with numerous styles of hip hop, crafting abrasive bangers and soulful moments of reflection. While she has recently tightened her collaborative circle, Little Simz has worked with artists like Chronixx, Syd, Chip, and Ghetts. She frequently collaborates with Cleo Sol of Sault, as well as Inflo, the producer and Sault member responsible for producing her last two critically acclaimed albums.
While each of Little Simz’s projects has its own unique sound and style, 2021’s Mercury Prize-winning Sometimes I Might Be Introvert and last year’s No Thank You took her career to new heights. Rolling Stone even listed the former on their controversial list of the 200 Greatest Hip Hop Albums of All Time. Little Simz is definitely a London rapper that you should be listening to.
Stormzy
It is impossible to discuss UK rap without mentioning Stormzy. With only three albums in his discography, the Croydon MC is one of London’s most prolific and legendary artists. He launched his career as one of grime’s most promising names before expanding his repertoire on his 2017 debut Gang Signs & Prayer. The album incorporates elements of hip-hop, grime, R&B, and gospel, with features from Ghetts, J Hus, Wretch 32, and more. In 2019, Stormzy made history at Glastonbury, becoming the first black British solo artist to headline the festival.
Stormzy’s second album, Heavy Is The Head served as a victory lap to his newfound legend status, boasting features from Ed Sheeran, Burna Boy, and H.E.R. Recently, the rap star has been releasing singles throughout 2023 following the release of his third studio album, 2022’s spiritual and R&B-centric This Is What I Mean. While Stormzy is one of London’s biggest rappers, his skill set should not go unnoticed in the U.S.
During a recent charity event in London, Diddy brought out a very special guest for a few songs. He surprised fans with Shyne, a former Bad Boy signee, who’s since become a politician. Shyne is now the Leader of the Opposition in the Belize House of Representatives. He performed two tracks from his 2000 self-titled debut, “Bad Boyz” and “Bonnie & Shyne.”
“Ayo Shyne, I love you from the bottom of my heart,” Diddy declared onstage. “This is real love. My brother Shyne is fighting for his people of Belize right now. He’s gonna be the future, I predicted it, Prime Minister of Belize.” Shyne also turned 45-years-old today (November 8), celebrating with a backstage birthday cake.
The rapper turned politician’s unique path will be detailed in an upcoming DJ Khaled and Roc Nation-produced documentary, The Honorable: Shyne. “Immigrating from Belize to Brooklyn as a child left to survive and thrive in the concrete jungle of New York, Hip Hop had a massive influence on my life, giving me the space and community to explore my creativity and amplify the voice of my pain and purpose,” Shyne told Billboard in October. “The difficult decisions of my life have shaped me into the person I am today, steadfast in my desire to build a better life for the people of Belize and humanity.”
“By bringing my story to audiences, I hope to inspire them to find the indomitable spirit within so they can overcome all adversities and be the best version of themselves positively impacting their part of humanity with their unique footprint as I have done through music, faith and public service,” he added. What do you think of Diddy surprising fans by bringing out Shyne? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
BOOM
LONDON went crazy! It don’t get bigger than this • 
(@itsrikip_)