A new Young Thug album has hit DSPs despite the Atlanta rapper’s current incarceration and some fans are wondering whether one of its songs contains a coded diss for Thug’s collaborator/suspected co-conspirator Gunna. On “Jonesboro,” from the new Metro Boomin-produced album Business Is Business, Thug snarls the line “N***a told and he was my homie, I can’t miss him / Ain’t nobody feel him,” prompting some fans to speculate that he’s referring to Gunna after Gunna accepted a plea deal in exchange for his release from Fulton County Jail.
However, due to the album’s provenance, it seems unlikely that the line would be directed at Gunna, as all 15 of the tracks compiled in Business Is Business were recorded prior to Thug’s arrest and subsequent incarceration on suspicion of operating a criminal organization. While it does sound like he’s talking about a snitch, it literally can’t be Gunna, who was very much a respected member of YSL Records in good standing at the time the song was recorded.
In fact, if anything, the line seems like a prime example of exactly what I wrote about in my review of Gunna’s new album, A Gift And A Curse: a generic mobster trope of the type that litters a ton of rap records these days. Whether or not they stem from the real-life experiences of the artists in question, it’s clear that they get peppered into songs because they are what the audience expects and therefore what the market demands. It could be about a real person or it could just be an abstraction, a straw man of the sort that rappers always have to set up in their lyrics to prove their superiority over an opponent — real or imagined.
It certainly highlights how life can end up imitating art; rap fans hate “snitches” because rappers rap about hating “snitches,” when either side might not have any real experience with snitching in the first place. It’s a conundrum, for sure, but this confusion is also a big part of why Thug’s locked up in the first place. Remember, in the original indictment, the evidence used against him wasn’t wiretaps or videotapes but his own lyrics.
Listen to “Jonesboro” above. Business Is Business is out now on Young Stoner Life Records/300 Entertainment/Atlantic Records.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
At a recent performance, Erykah Badu took the opportunity to call out fans she spotted leaving the show early. She had her band stop the music so she could address the attendees. “Excuse me, where are y’all going?” she shouted from the stage. “This is rude,” Badu said, “motherf*cker I’m singing!” The artist then rolled right back into the performance, seemingly unfazed by the confrontation. Badu is currently on her “Unfollow Me” tour alongside Yasiin Bey, fka Mos Def, and the awkward moment took place at a stop this week.
“What if they just had to use the bathroom,” an Instagram user asked in the comments section of the uncomfortable clip. “Keep in mind she’s an artist,” another notes, claiming that Badu is “sensitive.” “Cause sit TF BACK DOWN,” a different fan jokes, adding laughing emojis.
The incident was far from the first time Badu spoke her mind. Just earlier this month, she called Blueface “trash,” telling the universe to “do [it’s] thing.” Her post came amid ongoing drama between Blueface and the mother-to-be of his child, Chrisean Rock. She shared her message in an Instagram Story of Blueface pictured alongside several women. Blueface’s mother clapped back, telling her, “Girl you was just calling Tyrone and paying his cousins and homeboys way don’t and ain’t nobody said nothing to you.”
Last month, it was announced that Badu would be joining the cast of an upcoming movie on Netflix, The Piano Lesson. She’ll be joining Samuel L. Jackson and John David Washington, who star in the film. The Piano Lesson is an adaptation of a play by August Wilson of the same name. It’s one of ten play in Wilson’s The Pittsburgh Cycle, which highlights the Black experience in 20th Century Pittsburgh. The film doesn’t have an official release-date yet, but fans are eager to see Badu make her musical cameo appearance.
The term “blackballed” gets thrown a lot these days. Rappers fail to land on the Billboard charts, and all of a sudden, there’s a massive conspiracy to take them down. In many cases, this simply isn’t true. However, for Chief Keef, there’s validity behind these claims regarding his relationship with BET.
The Chicago rapper will perform at the 2023 BET Awards – the first time in his illustrious career – this Sunday, June 25th. He will be joining an all-star generation-spanning roster of talent for their celebration of Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary. Given Chief Keef’s impact and influence, it only makes sense that he joins the likes of Fat Joe, E-40, Tyga, Big Daddy Kane, and more to celebrate the milestone.
Still, At one point, it felt like a far-fetched concept to see Chief Keef appear at the BET Awards or any other programs on the network. The network banned him from the 2013 iteration, and he unleashed a fiery rant on social media in response. Although the reason for the ban wasn’t clear at the time, many chalked it up to his controversial nature, whether due to the violent nature of his music, his feuds with other rappers, or his NSFW social media posts. Keef would later claim that he was effectively banned from BET. As fans anticipate his performance this Sunday, we’re diving into the reason why he was blackballed in the first place.
SAN BERNADINO, CA – SEPTEMBER 7: Chief Keef performs as part of the Rock the Bells Tenth Anniversary at San Manuel Amphitheatre on September 7, 2013 in San Bernadino, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)
As fans inquired why the hottest rapper at the time wouldn’t appear at the BET Awards, Chief Keef explained in 2014 that it was because he failed to show up at 106 & Park. “BET banned me a long time ago becuz I didn’t attend 106 & Park cuz I ain’t f**ckin’ feel like it,” he tweeted to a fan. It’s an explanation that doesn’t come as much of a surprise, given that this is the same rapper that flaked on a video shoot with 50 Cent and Wiz Khalifa for the lead single of his debut album.
At the height of Chief Keef’s popularity, he took social media where he declared, “F*ck BET Awards.” Shortly after revealing the mishap at 106 & Park, he went off on the network and the annual event with promises to stir up problems. “I’mma let y’all know right now. If we go to the BET Awards, chains gettin’ took, b*tches gettin’ f*cked. Baby mama’s gettin’ f*cked, still pregnant. All of that,” he said.
In 2016, Bow Wow finally confirmed that the speculation surrounding Chief Keef’s relationship with BET was, in fact, true. On Twitter, Bow Wow confirmed that BET placed a ban on the Chicago rapper, which he hinted later played a role in Keef’s inability to break into the mainstream. “BET banned sosa. I was fighting to get sosa on 106 it was no go from the uppers. They really black balled him from mainstream its cr*zy,” he wrote.
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 05: Chief Keef performs at Brooklyn Bowl on December 5, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
This Sunday, Chief Keef will join an all-star roster of talent, which includes Big Daddy Kane, DJ Unk, Ja Rule, Kid N’ Play, Soulja Boy, Master P, MC Lyte, and plenty of others for the BET Awards Hip Hop 50 Medley. It’s unclear what song Chief Keef might perform but we could imagine he’ll be one of the highlights at the show.
The BET Awards will take place at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on June 25th, 2023. The show begins at 8 p.m. Will you be tuning in?
Hip Hop’s roots sink deep into the cultural history of Black and Latinx communities in the United States. Born from a desire to express, challenge, and communicate, it swiftly grew from neighborhood block parties into a global phenomenon. The genre’s foundations rest upon five pillars: Emceeing, DJing, Breakdancing, Graffiti Art, and Knowledge. As we continue to celebrate Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary, we’re taking a look at the five core pillars of the genre that shape the culture we see today.
The Emcees
A JZ Microphones GTR1 microphone, taken on July 20, 2015. (Photo by Joby Sessions/Guitarist Magazine/Future via Getty Images)
The heartbeat of Hip Hop, emceeing is an art of “Rhythm And Poetry.” Rappers started as crowd hype masters at parties, eventually evolving into lyrically adept poets. From the political wordplay of Public Enemy to the introspective storytelling of Kendrick Lamar, emceeing remains a powerful force in Hip Hop. Of course, as the culture shifts from one generation to the next, rap styles change with the times. These days, rappers are the primary faces of Hip Hop, but DJs play an intricate role in boosting the culture into a global phenomenon.
The DJs
American DJ Kool Herc (born Clive Campbell) performs with DJ Jerry Dee (left) at the ’40th Anniversary of Hip-Hop Culture’ concert at Central Park SummerStage, New York, New York, August 10, 2013. (Photo by Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images)
DJing is the canvas upon which Hip Hop paints its vibrant stories. DJ Kool Herc, often dubbed “The Father of Hip Hop,” revolutionized music mixing in the ’70s, laying the groundwork for today’s turntablism. The DJ’s role isn’t merely playing tracks – it’s about curating a journey through beats and rhythms, as legends like Grandmaster Flash exemplify.
The Breakdancers
ROME, ITALY – NOVEMBER 11: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) In this handout image provided by Red Bull, Jong Ho “Leon” Kim of Korea performs as the other B-Boys watch on during a video production prior to this weekend’s Red Bull BC One breakdancing world final, on November 11, 2015 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Dean Treml/Red Bull via Getty Images)
Breakdancing, or b-boying, combines acrobatics, dance, and raw street style into a kinetic showcase. It originated among the youth of the South Bronx, becoming Hip Hop’s physical manifestation. From the Rock Steady Crew’s theatrics to the contemporary prowess of the Jabbawockeez, breakdancing continues to mesmerize audiences. Artists often create music for the purpose of creating dance crazes, but at Hip Hop’s inception, breakdancers were a highlight.
Graffiti Art
Hip-hop fashion relating to graffiti art, New York, New York, June 28, 1975. (Photo by Allan Tannenbaum/Getty Images)
Graffiti, once dismissed as mere vandalism, has emerged as a visually striking pillar of Hip Hop. Artists like Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat used city walls as their canvas, echoing the genre’s vibrant, subversive voice. Graffiti Art continues to push boundaries, immortalizing the essence of Hip Hop’s resistance. You can still see its mark in neighborhoods around the world as artists take to the streets to shine a light on the culture.
Knowledge
UNSPECIFIED – CIRCA 1980: Photo of KRS-One (Photo by David Corio/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Knowledge, the fifth element of Hip Hop, underpins the other four. It’s about understanding the genre’s history, culture, and social impact. KRS-One, an advocate for Knowledge as a Hip Hop pillar, asserts that it fosters wisdom and self-awareness among Hip Hop enthusiasts, making it as integral as the beats, rhymes, dances, and art.
Recap
The five elements of Hip Hop are interlocked pieces in a dynamic cultural puzzle. From the streets of New York to the global stage, these pillars show Hip Hop’s transformative power and enduring influence. Through them, Hip Hop continues to resonate, challenge, and inspire.
When an artist embarks on a tour, mistakes are sure to happen – even if that artist is Beyonce. So far the 41-year-old’s RENAISSANCE World Tour has been running relatively smoothly, though we have seen some eyebrow-raising moments as of late. In Amsterdam, Queen B looked noticeably angry when the production crew seemingly missed their cue to help her off her giant horse. At the time Twitter users joked about someone being fired after the incident, and from the look on the “Halo” singer’s face at the time, we wouldn’t be surprised if they were right.
Things seemed to be going better when Beyonce reached Germany, but as Page Six reports, she nearly suffered a serious wardrobe malfunction while performing in a hot pink dress. As she sang a fan favourite from her new album, “BREAK MY SOUL,” one of the Houston native’s longtime dancers noticed she was unconsciously preparing to flash her audience as the strap on her outfit began to slip. The performer has been identified as one of the Les Twins (consisting of Laurent and Larry Nicolas Bourgeois), and he chivalrously shielded Bey from the crowd as she made any necessary adjustments.
As the video continues to gain traction on TikTok, the dancer is receiving immense praise for how he handled the situation. “Not the twins protecting her twins,” one person quipped. “He secured his spot on the next tour,” and “Those twins been with her a long time. I know she loves them,” others wrote. While this is the most major wardrobe malfunction we’ve seen on the RENAISSANCE Tour so far, cameras also caught Bey nearly losing her headpiece during “AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM” recently.
Amid her many tour stops in Europe this month, Beyonce found time to visit Pharrell Williams in Paris as he was making his Louis Vuitton menswear debut. Others in attendance included Zendaya, Megan Thee Stallion, Rihanna, and ASAP Rocky. Check out some of their designer outfits at the link below, and tap back in later for more music/pop culture news updates.
Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour dancers Les Twins went above and beyond during her stop in Hamburg, Germany, saving her from an apparent wardrobe malfunction, according to Complex. It turns out they aren’t just there to make her look good, they’re also there to keep her from looking bad. Fans caught the incident on TikTok, capturing the moment as Beyoncé came close to bursting out of her dress and one of the twins stepped in front of her to make a split-second adjustment — all on beat in a move that would have left many fans none the wiser.
Fans on Twitter praised the dancers for being so aware in the moment and for pulling off the adjustment so smoothly. “Les twins will forever have a job,” one fan wrote. Another said they were “undoubtedly the greatest in the whole world.”
Another dancer who recently joined the ranks of Beyoncé’s team was the superstar’s own daughter, Blue Ivy. Blue stole the show during her first appearance and has become something of a fixture on the tour ever since. Beyoncé praised Blue Ivy for the performance, writing, “I’m so proud and thankful to be your mama. You bring us so much joy, my sweet angel.”
According to reports, a Cardi B superfan was the one to start a recent petition to get Nicki Minaj out of Hidden Hills. The petition was reported at the time to have been created by Minaj’s neighbors. It emphasized her husband, Kenneth Petty’s, status as a sex offender. “Petty is a level 3 sex offender, convicted for the attempted rape of a 16 year old girl, and has a high likelihood to reoffend,” it states. It goes on to claim that Petty was found guilty of murder. The petition also notes that him living there could lower the property value of neighborhood homes due to “safety concerns.”
“It would lead to children and women being a target,” the petition claims. The Hidden Hills Community Association reportedly had no idea about the petition. Records also reveal that the woman who started it doesn’t even live in the neighborhood. Beverly Bardan, who was said to have created the petition, appears to actually be a Cardi Stan Twitter account. The account confessed to starting the petition at the end of last year.
Instead, I printed these flyers warning the residents of Hidden Hills that s*x offender Kenneth Petty will be moving in.
I DO plan on mailing them out. It has a QR code for a petition to keep Nicki Minaj AWAY from her CO-OWNED Hidden Hills house! pic.twitter.com/AgNFmFjBoz
“No, I didn’t celebrate Christmas Instead,” the account wrote, “I printed these flyers warning the residents of Hidden Hills that s*x offender Kenneth Petty will be moving in.” The account included photos of flyers labeling Petty as “a dangerous predator and killer.” “I DO plan on mailing them out,” they added, “It has a QR code for a petition to keep Nicki Minaj AWAY from her CO-OWNED Hidden Hills house!”
The account also wrote, “We, as Nicki antis, can turn the residents of Hidden Hills AGAINST Nicki and her pedo husband moving in, hurting her assets in the process!” The Cardi superfan has posted several troubling Tweets highlighting her mission to “end” Nicki Minaj “from the inside out.” Cardi B has not yet responded to the claims. Nicki, on the other hand, just shared a gif that could potentially reference the situation. She accompanied it with the caption “AhhhhhHaaaaaaaa!!!!!!”
Earlier this month, a report emerged indicating that no hip-hop album or single has topped the Billboard 200 or Hot 100, respectively. Still, hip-hop remains a dominant genre in America and across the world. The Billboard charts are certainly indicative of an artist’s success but it doesn’t define their artistry. “That’s the mindset of a pop artist,” Big Daddy Kane told HotNewHipHop in response to the recent Billboard report. “You know, I mean, that’s what matters in popular music. You know, not how great the person is singing, not how dope the lyrics are. None of that stuff. It’s just how popular the song is.”
Kane comes from an era where the strength of one’s pen carried far more weight than a Billboard entry. Next Friday, he’ll join EPMD, KRS-One, and Slick Rick as part of Doug E. Fresh’s Hip-Hop 50 performance at Essence Festival in New Orleans. The roster of artists joining forces for this performance has played a pivotal role in shaping the culture that we know today as hip-hop.
However, amid a technological revolution that has become a threat to intellectual property, Big Daddy Kane believes the younger generation of artists is facing bigger hurdles. Artificial intelligence has been a point of contention since the rise of FN Meka. Since then, we’ve heard AI replicate the voices of artists like Jay-Z and Drake, among others. It’s a frightening development but not one that puts the legacies of artists like Big Daddy Kane at risk. However, he does fear how it might impact future generations.
Big Daddy Kane’s Message To The Younger Generation
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 17: Big Daddy Kane performs during TrillerVerz at Barclays Center on October 17, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
“Dear younger generation, please be careful in controlling the narrative of your artistry. Do the best that you can stand out as a unique artist in his day and era. Be that person that people respect because of you. Not because of the beat, not because of the hook, but because of you, the artist,” Kane explained. “As we move into the era of AI and holograms, we, at some point — I don’t mean a long time from now. I mean, in the near future – you won’t be relevant.”
Kane confidently states that his legacy, and those of Rakim, KRS-One, and MC Lyte, are set in stone. AI isn’t trying to replicate them. “We’re not a threat,” he continued. “This is for the younger generation: you have to, please, you know, protect your art form and your status as an artist… I think that’s something they really need to focus on so they don’t get replaced by computer technology. I would really hate to see that happen to young cats, especially the ones that truly believe that they have talent and want to showcase it.”
Kane: Hip-Hop Isn’t On The Decline But They Wish It Was
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 14: Big Daddy Kane attends 2018 DC Emancipation Day at Freedom Plaza on April 14, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brian Stukes/Getty Images)
In 2023, it’s hard to imagine what hip-hop was like in the late ’80s, especially for those who weren’t even born then. Cassette tapes continued to dominate the music industry years before CDs were introduced. Kane came from a courageous era where hip-hop was discounted as a fad that wouldn’t have an everlasting impact. In 2023, even if hip-hop isn’t dominating the charts, it’s hard to deny that the genre has effectively influenced pop music at large. In a sense, that’s essentially why album sales and singles hold weight in online discourse.
“I think that there are so many other music genres that would like to see the decline of hip hop,” Kane said. “Anybody that understands corporate structure, they know that what happens in that type of situation is that quantity comes in, and quality goes out.” In the current climate, it’s a delicate balance, he explains. “Hip hop is so strong and so powerful. But it’s a major, major quantity. But there’s not a whole lot of quality.”
Still, there are several rappers that he could count on to deliver quality music: J. Cole, Conway The Machine, Rapsody, and Lady London. “There’s a certain algorithm that plays on the radio, where, you know, majority stuff sounds the same. And artists like that may not fit that format,” he said. “But there is amazing music out there. They may not be selling.. because they don’t fit that algorithm. But there are a lot of talented young artists out there today. You know, I don’t blame the artists, I blame the people that are in control of where music is played, and what music they’re putting out and feed to the youth.”
Coi Leray and Latto’s beef was short-lived, but is still something the Masachusetts native has in mind. Moreover, she recently spoke to Ebro for Apple Music 1’s Rap Life Radio on her new album and also about the 777 artist’s line about her on “Put It On Da Floor.” “Smoking on that gas, blunt big as Coi Leray,” she rapped, which Coi took issue with online. Then, the Atlanta MC showed her love during her Coachella set, which the “Bops” rhymer reciprocated. However, she went into more detail about why she reacted the way she did in the first place.
“It’s not a sensitive conversation,” Coi Leray told Ebro. “I feel like it wasn’t more about the body, it was more of mentioning my name. I’m about positivity. For real. And I wasn’t sure where it was coming from. And not only that, I feel like the problem with our community today is we be so quick to try to change things but we don’t do nothing to actually change anything.
“So if we’re going to say we’re going to stop talking about bodies, then don’t mention anything about my body,” she continued. “Just period. Don’t compare me to nothing, don’t think about nothing. We’re not smoking on anything, it’s disrespect. And where I come from I just don’t like that.” Not only that, but the 26-year-old reflected on rap beef as a whole and how it pushes narratives of contention among artists, especially female ones.
“I don’t know, it’s starting to get old,” she remarked. “The rap beefs are for the guys. You know, I don’t even think they should do it. Us artists, we kind of control the narrative. So if we just spend more time pushing that narrative we won’t give these headlines and these blogs no reason to go ahead and push this negative narrative. That’s something we got to come together on.” For more news and the latest updates on Coi Leray and Latto, stay posted on HNHH.
Many artists would require a long break after achieving the feats that Isis Gaston – better known as Ice Spice – has crossed off her bucket list over the past few months. Instead, the 23-year-old continues to outdo herself, making major moves this New Music Friday (June 23) by unleashing her second collaboration with Nicki Minaj for Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie. The upcoming film (starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling) has one of the most impressive soundtracks of the year, with Dua Lipa, Lizzo, and PinkPanthress among those featured.
We won’t actually see the highly anticipated project hit theatres until July, but ahead of that, Spice and Minaj have shared their “Barbie World” joint effort. It boldly reimagines Aqua’s “Barbie Girl” from 1997 with flirtatious bars that the Queen and Princess of Rap are both known for. Hours after the song dropped at midnight, the New York native’s Instagram feed lit up with behind-the-scenes photos from her video shoot with Minaj. “Barbie ain’t nun to play bout ,” Spice wrote in her caption.
The photos included show the redhead wearing an ultra-tiny Chanel-style skirt suit set over a bra with tons of miniature shoes and purses attached to it. She poses inside a beautiful pink vintage car throughout most of the post, though near the end Spice did sneak in a few cheeky thirst traps.
All the images couldn’t make it into one carousel, so Spice returned shortly after to reveal more BTS from “Barbie World.” In the comments, both Flo Milli and Lil Tjay have dropped by to show love to their friend, the latter specifically noting how bodacious her booty is.
Check out Ice Spice’s second photo dump of the day below. Are you looking forward to hearing her and Nicki Minaj’s new collaboration in the upcoming Barbie movie next month? Let us know in the comments, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
(@TierraAnyeaTv) 
(FAN) (@cleverlycardi2) 
,” Spice wrote in her caption.