The Golden State Warriors just handled business in the Western Conference Finals and sent the Dallas Mavericks packing with a 4-1 series win. Now the Warriors are heading back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2019 and will be a likely favorite against either the Boston Celtics or The Miami Heat — especially if the hip-hop gods work their magic with the Dubs again, because, are you ready for this? In the “Woah… that’s crazy!” department, every Kendrick Lamar album drop since 2015 has also been accompanied by a Golden State Warriors NBA Championship.
Whenever @kendricklamar drops an album, the Warriors win the title
That’s right: When Kendrick dropped To Pimp A Butterfly in 2015, the Warriors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers for the team’s first title since 1975. Then when DAMN. dropped in 2017, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and company beat the Cavs again in the Finals. Finally, when Kendrick was at the helm of the excellent Black Panther Soundtrack in 2018, the Warriors cemented their dynasty with a third title, against the Cavs again, leaving LeBron James in the dust. Maybe if Kendrick hadn’t started taking a very long break from putting out albums, the Warriors wouldn’t have dropped the 2019 Finals to the Toronto Raptors?
(The exception to this rule is Untitled Unmastered, which was released in 2016, when the Warriors lost to the Cavs in seven games. However, Untitled Unmastered isn’t usually considered a proper studio album, since it’s made up of demos from the To Pimp A Butterfly era. So, objection overruled.)
So does this year’s release of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers signify that another Warriors title is on the horizon? We’ll find out just how powerful this Kendrick/Warriors synergy is within the next two weeks. And somehow, even with the Raptors not making it anywhere close to the Finals this season, Drake still finds himself as a big winner here no matter what.
Kanye West’s fashion endeavors continue to elevate. His latest collaboration with Yeezy, Gap, and Balenciaga has added another layer with a new global drop that’s available now. The latest release, previewed in Ye’s “Life Of The Party” video, was delayed due to the tragic school shootings in Uvalde, Texas. The Yeezy Gap Experience engineered by Balenciaga includes t-shirts, hoodies, joggers, caps, and other products featuring the signature design elements of the collaboration.
The campaign has been utilizing virtually rendered avatars, but fans do note they have seen the Donda artist wearing a flame embroidered cap that has piqued their interest. The Yeezy Gap Engineered by Balenciaga collection is now available to shop via Yeezy Gap, Farfetch, Luisaviaroma, and Mytheresa. This news comes on the same day Ye released a posthumous collaboration with XXXTentacion titled “True Love,” which accompanies the documentary Look At Me focusing on XXXTentaction’s life. Kanye West is also participating in the reimagination of McDonald’s iconic packaging alongside Naoto Fukasawa.
Ye can’t stop making headlines, but this is a well-received set of news. It is a major collaboration that could open the door for more fashion innovators down the road. Check out some more of the products available for purchase in the pictures below.
Yeezy Gap BalenciagaYeezy Gap BalenciagaYeezy Gap Balenciaga
Three days on from the Uvalde, Texas elementary school shooting, many of us are still trying to wrap our heads around the tragedy. While some call for compassion and understanding for the families of the victims, others are calling for action. However, the government representatives for the state of Texas have offered little in the way of solutions or useful suggestions beyond “arming teachers” — because that’s certain to work out (he wrote with as much sarcasm as he could muster.
Even rappers are tired of the non-response. 2 Chainz, who has three elementary-aged children of his own, vented his frustration with Texas Senator Ted Cruz, posting on Instagram taking the politician and his peers to task for their less-than-helpful takes. Cruz suggested that limiting school entries could be a way to prevent school shootings — instead of just, y’know, penning in potential victims and making it easier for a shooter to inflict damage and prevent authorities from intervening.
“These politicians, some of you n****s is dumb as f*ck,” Chainz said, not holding back. “Just ’cause you put a suit on… let me tell you something. The suit is the biggest cap in the world. When n****s be having on suits, man anybody wearing a suit, they think you put on a suit you supposed to be more intelligent. Man, I’ve been listening to some of you politicians and some of y’all n****s dumb as f*ck. That n****a Ted Cruz said, ‘Lock the back door next time.’ He said to prevent what happened, have the back door locked.” He ended the video with an expression of exasperated disbelief.
Only one thing is certain; this is a problem unique to the United States, as pointed out by a Sky News reporter directly to Cruz’s bewildered face. Until we do something differently, that may be unlikely to change anytime soon. Watch 2 Chainz’s reaction below.
Rico Nasty’s last full-length project, her debut album Nightmare Vacation, is around a year and a half old now, so you can’t blame her fans for being anxious for a new one. And although Rico’s been releasing singles here and there, like the jock jam influenced “Money” with Flo Milli and her latest song, “Intrusive,” it didn’t look like there was an official rollout happening.
However, Rico’s a rebel who does things her own way. Case in point: It looks like she may have actually announced her new project on Twitter ahead of a wider release strategy. After a cryptic tweet reading, “17 :D,” it didn’t take long for fans to start speculating. However, Rico was equally quick to lay that speculation to rest, replying to a fan’s question, “17 tracks or June 17th???” with an enthusiastic response: “Bitch when I say BOTH.”
She didn’t offer much in response to further fan prodding except to confirm an upcoming European tour, but she did tease some details about the upcoming collection. “And by the way I do have some ‘singy songs’ for u lil soft ass bitches,” she wrote in a separate tweet.
And by the way I do have some “singy songs” for u lil soft ass bitches
Despite being persona non grata in the music industry for the past six months or so, Travis Scott remains as popular as ever among sneakerheads. Today, his latest collaboration with Nike dropped — and unfortunately for his fans, the shoes proved as scarce as a recent Travis headlining performance.
The culprit in this not-so-mysterious case of the missing shoes — as it so often is — was SNKRS, Nike’s app for bidding on the most coveted (or “hyped”) releases from its stocks. Whereas you’d go on the plain old Nike app for a pair of new LeBrons or general release Air Max, SNKRS is where you need to be for the latest Jordan retro or high-profile limited-edition release with artists like Travis or Billie Eilish.
However, ever since its release, it has been as much a source of frustration for fans as it has a resource — in fact, many times, it is more so. Nearly every new release day brings with it a slew of fans posting their “Ls” on social media, as the drawing system condemns many fans to the dicey proposition of the resale market, where they can get their latest grails, but only at a 200% markup (sometimes more). Today was no different, as the hotly-demanded Travis Scott Cact.us collection, consisting of a reconstructed Air Max 1 and Air Trainer 1, disappeared faster than you could say, “It’s lit!” Those who did hit today met an immediate wave of hate from their peers.
Only on @Nike SNKRS app where you can lose 4 different raffles…My brother and my cousin even tried and THEY DIDNT WIN EITHER. You’re telling me out of 12 tries.. no one could win ONE pair of shoes? Statistics aren’t even on your side. I’m done.
There is some good news on the horizon for Travis fans, though. He makes his return to the festival scene at Primavera Sound in Brazil this summer, while his album Utopia is still waiting in the wings. Check out fans’ SNKRS laments above.
Drama seems to always follow the Migos, but rumors have been swirling about internal tension between the trio ever since fans realized Offset and Cardi B unfollowed Quavo and Takeoff on Instagram. The concerns grew even further as the unfollowing aligned with Qua and Take promoting their new single “Hotel Lobby,” which was released last Friday (May 20) under the name Unc and Phew. Now, Offset is evidently here with some new music of his own, providing a small snippet on his Instagram story this week.
The three members of Migos are no strangers to doing things on their own, regularly appearing on other artists’ music by themselves and even dropping three solo albums from each member within six months of one another in 2018-2019 before taking a long break. The added layer of the social media aspect makes this a cause for concern, but none of the members have officially addressed the supposed tension. It’s known what they can do together, with multiple No. 1’s and Grammy nominations under their belt and DJ Akademiks spoke in a TMZ interview about how he believes fans should not be worried.
“They might be going through a small disagreement or whatever,” the media personality says. “I think that they’re angling it because, you know, Takeoff and Quavo just put out a song, so they’re kind of letting it lie, letting the questions linger or something like that.” In this “everything is a rollout” climate of today’s music, it’s fair to question everything. The actual blood ties between the three make this an even more intriguing situation.
Check out the snippet of Offset’s new music above.
The RX is Uproxx Music’s stamp of approval for the best albums, songs, and music stories throughout the year. Inclusion in this category is the highest distinction we can bestow and signals the most important music being released throughout the year. The RX is the music you need, right now.
Once upon a time, the phrase “Compton rapper” evoked a very different image than the one it might conjure today. Before the very concept of a denizen of the Hub City was revamped to include examples of Black excellence and crunchy granola woke rap, the above-mentioned term suggested an air of menace, as well as urgency. After all, “Straight Outta Compton” wasn’t just a declaration of hometown pride, it was a call to action.
Now that the city has spawned such eclectic artistic standouts as Kendrick Lamar, Buddy, and Westside Boogie, one might think that Compton is no longer producing acts in the vein of NWA, MC Eiht, or more recently, YG. However, there’s a burgeoning underground in the city, producing rappers who are far less mainstream-friendly, but every bit as vital as their gangbanging predecessors. The one you need to know is Compton Av.
Named for the street he grew up on, Av quietly but assuredly built a decade-long career on independent releases such as Thugged Out, Tru 2 The Streets, and All In, becoming something of a local celebrity and a fixture of Compton’s indie rap scene. But with his latest release, the 10-track Net 30, he stakes a claim on the wider world of hip-hop, proving that despite his veteran status, he’s just getting started.
From its opening track, Compton Av lets listeners know what kind of time he’s on. Yes, he’s gangsta as hell, but he’s a businessman, as well, here to teach the finer points of making the transition from the streets to the boardroom. There’s a knowing wit to his rhymes, which find him smirking his way through casually delivered daggers and the sort of raunchy comedy of peers like 1TakeJay and AzChike, but he also drops the occasional gem like a thunderbolt from Zeus himself.
“I done seen record deals and said I wouldn’t take it / And took care of hoe n****s who said I wouldn’t make it,” he says in the self-titled intro. Later, in the interlude “Fucc The Opps,” Av sums up the mindset that drives the reckless lifestyle he touts: “N****s give they life to the set until they lose it / Had a chance to go to the league, the n**** blew it… How you supposed to feel when you grew up in the slums / When they asking ‘where you from,’ you better get yourself a gun.”
While much of the album is given over to turn-up anthems like “Secret,” “Tear It Up,” and “Jumpin,” he also offers upliftment on “I Did It (Winnin),” which calls to mind Jay Rock’s 2018 hit “Win.” “We made it from nothin’, look at God,” he boasts over a triumphant horn loop. And on “Slid’N” featuring West Coast rap godfather Snoop Dogg, he gets off some sinister one-liners, demonstrating both his gangsta bonafides and an unexpectedly creative way with words.
This isn’t game-changing stuff, but it is perhaps more representative of where the average Compton citizen is at than the brainy, jazz-infused raps from some of Av’s more celebrated compatriots. As important as it is to magnify the “high art,” it’s equally necessary to highlight the stuff that will soundtrack the late-night house parties, summertime cookouts, and midnight gang slides that are also a part of the city’s vibrant, rich history. Black folks shouldn’t always have to be excellent to be considered worthwhile and some stories are best told in the blunt language of the culture that created them.
Net 30 is out now via Cook Gods/Rich Off Rap/Empire. Get it here.
It’s pretty rare for a festival lineup to genuinely have something for everyone. You’ll have your hot pop headliners, your buzzy R&B/hip-hop/dance acts a few lines below, a few indie acts in the undercard, maybe a smattering of punk and metal, and probably a couple of big rock legacy names. But for those who want to dig deep into any facet of the music world at a major festival, it’s pretty lean out there.
This is where the Barcelona institution Primavera Sound comes in. When they say they have something for everyone, they really mean it. The first thing that’ll strike you about its lineup is how much of it there is — there are two stacked weekends at the actual festival ground, Parc del Fòrum, plus the full week in between featuring venue shows around the city. And from the big fonts to the small, you can find both the most relevant current artists and some genuinely legendary legacy acts from all over the spectrum: pop, indie, hip-hop, dance, R&B, punk.
Headliners for 2022 range from The Strokes, Pavement and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, to Megan Thee Stallion, Tyler, The Creator, and Dua Lipa. Elsewhere, you can find Bikini Kill, 100 Gecs, Kacey Musgraves, Charli XCX, Big Thief, Run The Jewels, Sky Ferreira, Little Simz, The Jesus & Mary Chain, and still more exciting names than could comfortably fit in a list. It’s the kind of festival lineup that makes your jaw drop.
This year the festival celebrates its 20th edition, which was of course supposed to be in 2020. (And while this feature focuses on the Barcelona iteration, there are also set to be spin-offs this year in Porto, LA, Santiago, Buenos Aires and São Paulo.) For a long time it was a purely indie and alt festival, but beginning with a 2014 headline set from Kendrick Lamar, its genre net has widened considerably.
“Some of the people who started back on the first edition are still working here. But our booking department has grown a lot, and [now] it includes younger people, and way, way more female bookers,” says Head of International Press Marta Pallarès. “So we keep some of the roots and the origins of those lineups, but with our tastes evolving and new people coming to the festival, the lineups became more diverse. [But] the festival grew with a very clear philosophy about what is Primavera and what isn’t. We start thinking as a whole, and at some point we say yes, of course Megan Thee Stallion makes sense with Phoenix, or Jorja Smith with Interpol.”
“The way we decide is — do we really like this artist, would we go to see this artist if we were part of the audience? It’s sort of a commitment never to do a festival that we don’t believe in,” adds Comms Director Joan Pons. “And all the people that have spent all of their lives listening to music such as me or Marta, our criteria change. It’s like okay, maybe twelve years ago, Lorde was a pop artist that doesn’t belong to Primavera. But now it makes sense for her to be in our festival, because it makes sense for the playlist that someone in our audience is listening to every day to also have a Lorde song.”
He adds, “We remember one day [during the 2017 festival], Justin Vernon from Bon Iver looked at the running order of the stage that he played, and on the main stage it was Solange, Bon Iver, Slayer, and Aphex Twin. And he goes, ‘Wow, who’s the genius that made this running order?’ Because they’re such different artists, but it makes a lot of sense to have them all in the same day, because they are leading their genres to new expressions of music.”
It’s a true music lovers’ festival, and as such when its organizers talk about the Primavera experience, music is at the forefront. (That said, Barcelona in June at the oceanside Parc del Fòrum should be pretty spectacular in itself.) The ideal festival experience, explain Pallarès and Pons, would tick four boxes. The first, catching an artist you’ve always wanted to see but never gotten to; this year, that might be Pavement, Bikini Kill, or M.I.A., for example. The second, finding an artist you haven’t heard yet who becomes your new favorite; maybe that could be the fun-loving indie-poppers Beach Bunny, the pop-punk newcomers Meet Me @ The Altar, or the poet-slash-soul innovator Jamila Woods. The third, watching a set that’s a lot of fun; you could pick out eccentric hardcore crew The Armed, the intense hyperpop duo 100 Gecs, or the maverick rap of Tyler The Creator. And finally, checking out something that will challenge you; maybe that could be the extreme sounds of Lingua Ignota or Napalm Death, or else diving into any of the genres on display that aren’t usually your speed. And then, of course, there’s the climactic headliner Megan Thee Stallion, who could embody any one of those four categories, and is sure to be a highlight of the sprawling twelve days.
The platform of the festival comes with its responsibilities. Pallarès explains, “We always say that the festival has four big pillars. One of them being commitment to music. One being sustainability. The third one is everything related to social responsibility, with gender equality being the biggest one. And the fourth one is the commitment to the city.” Illustrating the third point, in 2019 Primavera became the first major festival to honor a 50/50 split of male and female artists. And to speak to the fourth, the Primavera a la Ciutat section of the festival — in between the two weekends — is aimed at supporting city venues that have suffered over the pandemic.
If this all sounds like a music fan’s dream, you wouldn’t be the first to say so. As Pallarès recalls: “The singer of Deerhunter said that he doesn’t know what heaven looks like, but he thinks that maybe St Peter is someone like the guy who every year delivers the keys to his room here. It is really, really nice to see that this could be a little paradise, at least for three or in this case twelve days — for artists, for audience, and also for the people who work here.”
Some of the artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
The last time we received a project from Dallas native Kaash Paige was back in 2020 with Teenage Fever. The 13-track project delivered collaborations from Don Toliver, Ssgkobe, 42 Dugg, K Camp, and Isaiah Rashad for what amounted to a strong debut from the young singer. After Teenage Fever, Paige laid low for a bit as her 2021 year was a quiet one. However, after Uproxx caught up with her at New York’s Rolling Loud festival, she hinted at a pretty eventful 2022 year. “It’s my time and everybody’s gonna know Kaash Paige,” she said at the time. “It’ll be a lot of crazy music that’s dropping [at the] top of the year.”
The music that Paige spoke of is slowly rolling in with her latest release being a collaboration with Lil Tjay. “24 Hrs” strikes as a sultry and slow tempo record that warns their respective lovers of a night of steaming intimacy after they’ve returned to town. The track arrives with an accompanying music video that captures Paige and Tjay in an abandoned and dimly-lit facility as they’re entertained by the very women they plan to end the night with.
“24 Hrs” drops after Paige kicked off her 2022 year with “Girlfriend” while recently teamed up with French Montana in the video for their “Bag Season” collaboration.
You can watch the video for “24 Hrs” above.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
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