Music

Leon Bridges & Khruangbin Get Lost In An Animated Land Of ‘Chocolate Hills’

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This past Friday, Leon Bridges and Khruangbin released Texas Moon, the second part of their excellent two EP collaboration project. It’s a spiritual and often psychedelic journey from the artists that should not be missed. In our most recent cover story, Bridges said that “I think my collaboration with Khruangbin is really where my heart is. I love how raw our sound is.” And on “Chocolate Hills,” there’s a distinctly transportive nature to the love song, with the new video takes it a step further.

In the “Chocolate Hills” clip, Bridges is strolling along in an animated choco-dreamworld of sorts. He’s a gentle giant making his way through a portal into hills and valleys of this land of chocolate. Along the way, he finds Marc, DJ, and Laura Lee of Khruangbin in the palm of his hand and they become his pocket-sized companions on the trip. It’s an imaginative vision for the Texas Moon highlight.

Elsewhere, Bridges just announced the Boundless Tour with support from Little Dragon, which begins in late July in Las Vegas. Khruangbin has a slew of tour dates on deck themselves, beginning in early March in Madison, WI.

Texas Moon is out now via Dead Oceans/Columbia/Nighttime Stories. Stream it here.

Megan Thee Stallion Calls Out DJ Akademiks For Falsely Reporting Details Of The Tory Lanez Shooting Case

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Megan Thee Stallion isn’t pulling any punches of late, using her Instagram to call out anyone who falsely represents her dealings in court. In one major case, Meg took Carl Crawford, the founder of her label, 1501 Certified Entertainment, to task for celebrating the dismissal of her lawsuit asking the court to allow her to release music after 1501 blocked her from doing so. In a post calling Crawford a bully, she reminded him that she currently has other cases against him, including a new one to force 1501 to count her latest project off her contracted term of four albums.

In the other major case, Meg was due to go to court over the assault case against Tory Lanez for allegedly shooting her in the feet in 2020. However, before the hearing could begin, gossip blogger DJ Akademiks tweeted a major development, prompting Megan to call him out for being on Tory’s payroll.

“BREAKING,” Akademiks wrote. “It was revealed in court a few moments ago that Tory Lanez DNA WAS NOT found on the weapon in the Meg Thee Stallion case.” However, he quickly deleted the misinforming tweet when he was alerted that the hearing hadn’t even begun yet. By then, though, the damage was done, and the effectiveness of the maneuver was shot to holes. Even so, Meg took the opportunity to drag Akademiks for spreading the false info.

“Court ain’t even started so why y’all ready to start lying?” she wondered on her own Instagram Story. “I know some of yall blogs on payroll but please dont get sued trying to create a hate campaign. Be a real journalist and post FACTS. And to my haters… keep making yourself look stupid idc.” She continued her retaliation by naming Akademiks specifically, writing, “Yall got breaking news 15 minutes before court started and nobody has even been called in yet?? Yall tryna win a social media campaign this is MY REAL LIFE! Yall tryna get retweets SPREADING FALSE NARRATIVES! @iamakademiks Why are you lying? What did you gain?”

Akademiks later tried to clean up the error, claiming that he had seen court documents backing up his statements, but with the next hearing in April, it’ll be a while before anything he says is confirmed — let alone what the ultimate verdict will be. Meanwhile, Nancy Dillon, a real reporter for Rolling Stone, shot down Akademiks’ explanation, tweeting “There was ZERO mention of DNA at the Tory Lanez hearing today.” Again, check those sources, folks.

Megan Thee Stallion On ‘Euphoria’: ‘Girl, Get It Together!’

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Just like the rest of us, Megan Thee Stallion is glued to the screen when Euphoria is on. With the recent announcement of her big screen acting debut in the A24 film F*cking Identical Twins with hilarious people like Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally, and SNL’s Bowen Yang, the “WAP” rapper is starting to make the rounds talking TV and movies.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Megan Thee Stallion talked about watching Euphoria and that “they got me on the edge of my seat,” and praised all of the HBO Max show’s acting performances. She then perfectly verbalized what everyone is thinking when they watch Euphoria: “I know these are characters and the show is not real, but they got me yelling at the TV like, ‘Girl, get it together! What are you doing?!”

Meg also talked about being a “film buff,” who not only wants to act, but to also direct in the future. She also said Zendaya is “the best actress, and perfectly cast.” Preach, Meg. While her current acting resume includes mostly music videos and a round of Cheetos commercials she filmed for this past Super Bowl, that’s all about to change.

Megan Thee Stallion is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Mitski, Andre 3000, And Others Will Appear On The Massive ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ Soundtrack

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Mitski 2021
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A24 has revealed the massive 49-song tracklist for its upcoming science fiction film Everything Everywhere All At Once. Experimental trio Son Lux, who scored the film, enlisted the likes of Andre 3000, playing flute under his birth name Andre Benjamin (as Consequence notes), along with Mitski, Moses Sumney, and Randy Newman for the star-studded soundtrack.

Everything Everywhere All At Once will premiere at SXSW on March 11th, before receiving a wide theatrical release on April 8th. The soundtrack will be released on the same day as the film’s wide release.

“Even though we knew from the moment Daniels [directorial duo Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert] asked us to score this film that it would push us in new and unexpected directions, we couldn’t have predicted how much we’d learn from the project,” said Son Lux in a statement. “What emerged was our most ambitious undertaking to date, over two years in the making, resulting in two hours of new music. It was an opportunity for us to play, to infuse humor into our work, and to experiment from and beyond our various musical backgrounds.”

Check out the tracklist below.

1. “This Is A Life (Extended)” Feat. Mitski and David Byrne
2. “Wang Family Portrait”
3. “Very Busy”
4. “Vvvery Busy”
5. “What Are You Thinking About?”
6. “What A Fast Elevator!”
7. “Switch Shoes To The Wrong Feet”
8. “Nothing Could Possibly Matter More”
9. “A Choice”
10. “Chapstick”
11. “The Fanny Pack”
12. “Jobu Tupaki”
13. “The Alphaverse”
14. “The Mission” Feat. Nina Moffitt
15. “Deirdre Fight”
16. “Waymond Cries”
17. “I Love You Kung Fu”
18. “My Life Without You” Feat. André Benjamin
19. “The Story Of Jobu” Feat. Nina Moffitt
20. “Rendezvous At The Premiere”
21. “It’s You… Juju Toobootie” Feat. Chris Pattishall and Nina Moffitt
22. “Everything Bagel”
23. “You’re Living Your Worst You”
24. “The Boxcutter” Feat. André Benjamin
25. “Send Every Available Jumper”
26. “Opera Fight” Feat. Surrija and yMusic
27. “Dog Fight” Feat. André Benjamin
28. “Drummer Fight”
29. “Plug Fight”
30. “Pinky Fight” Feat. André Benjamin
31. “I Have Been Watching” Feat. Rob Moose and Nina Moffitt
32. “Somewhere Out There In All That Noise”
33. “Jobu Sees All”
34. “The Temple”
35. “Evelyn Everywhere”
36. “Evelyn All At Once”
37. “This Is How I Fight”
38. “In Another Life”
39. “It All Just Goes Away”
40. “Clair de Lune (Pied au Piano)” Feat. Chris Pattishall
41. “Come Recover (Empathy Fight)”
42. “Your Day Will Come (Empathy Fight)”
43. “Let Me Go”
44. “Specks Of Time”
45. “This Is A Life” Feat. Mitski and David Byrne
46. “Fence” Feat. Moses Sumney
47. “Now We’re Cookin’” Feat. Randy Newman
48. “Sucked Into A Bagel” Feat. Stephanie Hsu
49. “I Love You”

Tevin Campbell’s ‘Can We Talk’ Video Gets D Smoke, Kali, Almighty Jay, And More In The Mood For Love

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It has been a while — over three months! — but React Like You Know is back with a new panel of rising stars watching a classic video for the first time. Our return episode is a little late for Valentine’s Day, but as Tevin Campbell’s video for Grammy-nominated 1993 R&B staple “Can We Talk” shows, it’s never a bad time for love — and our panel, which consists of Almighty Jay, D Smoke, Kali, Lakeyah, Niko G4, Stunnaman02, and more, agrees.

Written and produced by Babyface, “Can We Talk” was the first single from Campbell’s second album, I’m Ready, and peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 earning a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America and a nomination for a Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance Grammy. The video, shot in a park on a rainy day, follows Tevin and friends as they play a game of football before he and his love interest break off for some private time.

Of course, for much of our panel, these background details are less prevalent in their memories than their moms playing the song on the radio. However, its subject matter proves to be fertile ground for discussion, with many of the rappers reminiscing on the video’s fashion and the relatable feeling of not knowing how to approach a crush. They offer their thoughts on matching ‘fits, writing love letters (Kali’s reaction is *chef’s kiss*), and what’s missing from modern R&B (KenTheMan’s take: “They don’t be standing outside with boomboxes.”).

Watch the latest episode of React Like You Know above.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The Notorious B.I.G.’s ‘Life After Death 25th Anniversary’ Box Set is The Ultimate Biggie Release

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For those who might remember, Notorious B.I.G.’s Ready To Die 2013 Record Store Day release was highlighted by sleek white vinyl records that matched the color of Biggie’s signature suit. But what the Estate of Christopher Wallace, Rhino Records, Bad Boy, and Atlantic have in store for the Life After Death 25th Anniversary Super Deluxe release will blow it out of the water.

The first step in the year-long “Sky’s The Limit: A Year Celebrating The Legacy of the Notorious B.I.G.” multimedia campaign, the Super Deluxe vinyl box set is an 8-LP edition. The first four are a remaster of Life After Death, followed by the Hypnotize 12″, Mo Money Mo Problems 12″, Sky’s The Limit 12″, and Nasty Boy 12.” The booklet insert is filled with photos from the album photoshoot, liner notes by music journalist Sheldon Pearce, and reflections of Biggie’s life from his inner circle.

The Life After Death 25th Anniversary Super Deluxe will be released on 6/10, but you can pre-order it here. Take a look at the box set and complete tracklist below.

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Rhino

Life After Death

A1. “Life After Death”
A2. “Somebody’s Gotta Die”
A3. “Hypnotize”
A4. “Kick In The Door”
B1. “Fuck You Tonight”
B2. “Last Day”
B3. “I Love The Dough”
B4. “What’s Beef?”
C1. “B.I.G. Interlude”
C2. “Mo Money Mo Problems”
C3. “Niggas Bleed”
C4. “I Gotta Story To Tell”
D1. “Notorious Thugs”
D2. “Miss U”
D3. “Another”
D4. “Going Back To Cali”
E1. “Ten Crack Commandments”
E2. “Playa Hater”
E3. “Nasty Boy”
E4. “Sky’s The Limit”

F1. “The World Is Filled…”
F2. “My Downfall”
F3. “Long Kiss Goodnight”
F4. “You’re Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You)”

Hypnotized 12″

A1. “Hypnotize” (Radio Mix)
A2. “Hypnotize” (Instrumental)
B1. “Hypnotize” (Club Mix)

Mo Money Mo Problems 12″

A1. “Mo Money Mo Problems” (Radio Mix)
A2. “Mo Money Mo Problems” (Instrumental)
B1. “Mo Money Mo Problems” (Album Version)
B2. “Fuck You Tonight”

Sky’s The Limit 2×12

A1. “Sky’s The Limit” (Radio Edit)
A2. “Kick In The Door” (Radio Edit)
B1. “Going Back To Cali”(Radio Edit)
B2. “Sky’s The Limit” (Instrumental)
C1. “Kick In The Door” (Club Mix)
C2. “Going Back To Cali” (Club Mix)
D1. “Kick In The Door” (Instrumental)
D2. “Going Back To Cali” (Instrumental)

Nasty Boy

A1. “Nasty Boy” (Radio Edit)
A2. “Nasty Boy” (Instrumental)
B1. “Nasty Boy” (Album Version)

Rhino Records is a subsidiary of Warner Music. Uproxx is also an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Lizzo Wanted To ‘Make Ursula A Thot, Shaking Ass’ When She Auditioned For ‘The Little Mermaid’

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In recent years, Disney has gotten into making live-action remakes of some of their classic animated movies. One such film is the upcoming The Little Mermaid, which has a cast that includes Daveed Diggs and Halle Bailey. The film could have had even more musical firepower than that: While Melissa McCarthy ultimately landed the role of Ursula, Lizzo auditioned for the part but did not get it. Lizzo discussed that in a new Variety interview, sharing her vision for the character.

She said, “Everyone knows I auditioned for Ursula in The Little Mermaid and I didn’t get it. But you know, I’m fine as hell. That has nothing to do with Ursula, but I was down to make Ursula a THOT, shaking ass.”

Lizzo also noted that she actually spoke with McCarthy about the movie, saying:

“You know what’s crazy? At the Adele show, I ran into Melissa McCarthy, because she [got cast as] Ursula. She was like, ‘Hi, I’m Melissa.’ And I was like, ‘Hi, I’m Melissa. And I also auditioned for Ursula.’ And she was like, ‘Well, why the hell did I get the part,’ which is a classic Melissa McCarthy thing to say. And then I was like, ‘Girl, because my audition was terrible.’ And I say that as Tyler Perry walks by. And I was like — ruined my chances there. And then she goes, ‘This is my daughter Vivian.’ And I’m like, ‘Get out of here, because my name is Melissa Viviane.’ We were looking at each other like, ‘What the hell is going on?’”

She then clarified her audition actually wasn’t bad at all, saying, “My audition wasn’t terrible. Sometimes I like to make jokes. My audition was good. You can ask Disney. I don’t want to talk too much about it. The singing was great. I’ll just say that.”

Check out the full interview here.

Lizzo is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

T.I. Subtly Corrects Omeretta The Great’s ‘Sorry Not Sorry’ Assertions About Atlanta

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T.I. has long been one of Atlanta’s greatest advocates in rap music, declaring himself one of the founders of trap music and generally waving the flag for his hometown whenever it enters the wider discussion in hip-hop these days. This week, Atlanta certainly has been the subject of some debate, mostly among Atlantans themselves, thanks to claims made by rising rapper Omeretta The Great in her song, “Sorry Not Sorry,” which T.I. subtly refuted on Instagram.

In the song, Omeretta makes some assertions about what she thinks counts as Atlanta, taunting out-of-towners who claim the city in the pursuit of credibility and notability. “College Park is not Atlanta / Lithonia is not Atlanta / Clayco is not Atlanta / Decatur is not Atlanta / Gwinnett is not Atlanta / Roswell is not Atlanta / Forest Park is not Atlanta / Lilburn is not Atlanta,” she says. However, a number of citizens took issue with her claims, debating the fragmented city’s bonafides all over social media. Naturally, T.I. stepped in with his own brand of wisdom to helpfully simplify the discussion with the help of visual aids.

“Respectfully…. Only fools dispute facts,” he wrote on Instagram in a post sharing a map of the Atlanta metro area.

Adding some insult to injury, fans noted that the video for “Sorry Not Sorry” was filmed 10 miles outside of Atlanta at Cobb County’s Truist Park. While Omeretta’s single may have backfired on her, it also helped her increase her notoriety at home. If she can weather the storm and harness the attention she’s received as a result of her stunt, she could turn the situation around and be well on her way to joining T.I. as one of the city’s most notable stars.

The Next Hitmakers Destined To Top The Charts

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The Next Hitmakers
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It’s crazy to think about, but 20 years ago, no one knew who Rihanna, Lady Gaga, or Nicki Minaj were. The world hadn’t been introduced to Kanye West or Taylor Swift. Even Adele was just another face in the crowd. Nowadays, each of them are living legends, surely to be remembered for generations to come.

That’s one of the most exciting parts of the music industry: watching unknown artists develop into household names and bonafide superstars. Every few years, we watch a fresh-faced crop of buzzy musicians grow before our eyes. And as the latest class — think Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X and Dua Lipa — settle into their roles as established hitmakers, it’s time to look to the future. Here are ten up-and-coming artists who have the goods to become the chart-topping idols of tomorrow.

Shenseea

No one is as poised for stardom as dancehall artist Shenseea. The Jamaican star showed up twice on Kanye West’s 2021 album Donda, demonstrating her vocal abilities on “Pure Souls” and then rapping alongside the icon on “Ok Ok Pt 2.” Ahead of her forthcoming album Alpha (due March 11), Shenseea dropped the Megan Thee Stallion-assisted “Lick,” along with an accompanying video that borders on pornography. Bold!

Check out: “Lick” (with Megan Thee Stallion), “Dolly,” “Lighter”

Dominic Fike

Before his hyped up debut as Elliot in the new season of Euphoria, Dominic Fike had already made a name for himself in the music industry. Last year alone, he made out with Lil Nas X in Brockhampton’s “Count On Me” video and captured new fans through his feature on Justin Bieber’s “Die For You.” Between his burgeoning music career and his romantic rendezvous with Euphoria co-star Hunter Schafer, Fike will be an A-lister in no time.

Check out: “Chicken Tenders,” “Die For You,” “3 Nights”

Audrey Nuna

New Jersey-bred Audrey Nuna drips with a type of swagger that can’t be manufactured. The Korean-American artist seamlessly switches between a buttery-smooth singing voice and a signature monotone rap style throughout her debut EP, 2021’s a liquid breakfast. In a genreless world of Billie Eilishes and Post Malones, Nuna is the perfect complement.

Check out: “Damn Right,” “Comic Sans”(feat. Jack Harlow), “Irene”

Muni Long

Formally known as Priscilla Renea, Muni Long racked up an impressive songwriting resume that includes credits for the likes of Rihanna, Ariana Grande, and Kelly Clarkson. For her second act, the rising star took her insider knowledge and applied it to her own career — and it paid off! Her sensual R&B track “Hrs And Hrs” went viral on TikTok, catapulting the song onto the Billboard Hot 100, where it’s currently perched at No. 16. Now her name is on every industry insider’s lips.

Check out: “Hrs And Hrs,” “Sneaky Link,” “No Signal”

Conan Gray

“If changing my clothes would make you like me more / If changing my hair would make you care / Then I’d grab the kitchen scissors and cut myself to slivers for you,” Conan Gray seethes in the opening of his latest release, “Jigsaw.” With such melodrama, it’s no surprise Gray is regularly seen palling around with the current reigning Queen of Teen Angst, Olivia Rodrigo. With the current emo revival, this sensitive soul is ready to carry Dashboard Confessional’s torch for a new generation of sad bois and girls.

Check out: “Jigsaw,” “People Watching,” “Maniac”

Noa Kirel

Noa Kirel may be relatively unknown in the States, but she is Israeli pop royalty. Not only did she win the MTV Europe Music Award for best Israeli act for four consecutive years, but at 16, she joined the panel of Israel’s Got Talent as the global franchise’s youngest judge. Now, at 20, Kirel is aiming to conquer America — and between her soaring vocals, athletic choreography, and futuristic fashion, she’s got the full pop star package.

Check Out: “Thought About That,” “Please Don’t Suck,” “Pouch”

Nessa Barrett

With a massive following (17.8 million at the time of writing) on TikTok, it’s easy to dismiss Nessa Barrett as another bored social media influencer who sees her musical projects as a side hobby rather than a career. But to come to that conclusion without giving her debut EP, last year’s Pretty Poison, a spin would be erroneous. On tracks like “I Hope Ur Miserable Until Ur Dead” and “Scare Myself,” Barrett establishes herself as a dark-pop songwriter with a knack for instantly catchy hooks — an easy sell for fans Avril and Paramore.

Check out: “I Hope Ur Miserable Until Ur Dead,” “La Di Die” (feat. Jxdn), “Scare Myself”

Aespa

Anyone with their finger on the pulse in the world of K-pop knows that Aespa is a force to be reckoned with. The all-female foursome (or octet, if you count their avatar counterparts that regularly dance alongside them) started with a bang: in early 2021, their debut music video “Black Mamba” hit 100 million views, making them the fastest K-pop debut to reach that achievement. Their debut EP Savage also broke the record for highest-ranking K-pop girl group debut on the Billboard 200, clocking in at No. 20. With high-profile performances on the 2021 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and The Kelly Clarkson Show, Karina, Winter, Giselle, and NingNing are on their way to becoming global icons.

Check out: “Next Level,” “Black Mamba,” “Savage”

Coi Leray

Between a pair of minor hits (“No More Parties” and “Big Purr” peaked at No. 26 and No. 69 respectively on the Hot 100) and a spot in the illustrious 2021 edition of the XXL Freshmen Class, all signs are pointing to a big year for Coi Leray. On recent releases like “Twinnem” and “Anxiety,” the charismatic rapper shows off a softer, more relatable side — a smart play for an artist who is this close to take off.

Check out: “Big Purr” (feat. Pooh Shiesty), “Twinnem,” “Anxiety”

Joshua Bassett

It can’t be easy being the maligned subject of one of 2021’s biggest albums, but Joshua Bassett has responded to Olivia Rodrigo’s lyrics in stride: “If you get to tell your truth, then so do I / And it’s cool if you want me to play the bad guy / But don’t you dare act like I didn’t love you,” he declares over an acoustic accompaniment on “Crisis.” The track humanizes Bassett and serves as a necessary response to his very public relationship drama — and with it out of the way, it will be exciting to watch the young star explore his artistry outside of Rodrigo’s shadow.

Check out: “Set Me Free,” “Crisis,” “Only a Matter of Time”

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Pharrell’s Reaction To Hearing Kanye’s Breakout Single In ‘Jeen-Yuhs’ Has Fans Cracking Up

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February 22 was a big day for Kanye West. Not only was it the supposed release date for his new album, Donda 2, but he also held the latest stadium listening event for the album in Miami, Florida just as the second episode of the Netflix documentary about him, Jeen-Yuhs, went live. Fans have a lot of Kanye content to sort through, but one of the earliest points of discussion to emerge from the new documentary episode revolves around Kanye’s first big solo hit.

After putting in several years at Roc-A-Fella Records as a hit-making producer, Kanye was ready to show the world that he could also be a hit-making rapper in his own right. However, after being signed as an artist, he felt that he was losing momentum after the near-death auto crash that left his mouth wired shut while he recovered. Those experiences formed the basis of his breakout single, “Through The Wire,” which sampled the Chaka Khan classic “Through The Fire” and introduced Kanye as an artist that deserved to be taken seriously.

However, before he put it out, he wanted the seal of approval from some of his peers, which included Pharrell Williams of The Neptunes — whose reaction upon hearing the single for the first time has tickled fans on Twitter. As Kanye finishes playing the song’s second verse, Pharrell, apparently overcome with his impression of Kanye’s final bar, simply walks out of the studio to collect himself. When he returns, he still seems in disbelief that Kanye not only spit such a heartfelt verse, but did so with his mouth wired shut (as a bonus, the version played in the footage contains the rough vocals, which Ye re-recorded later for the version that eventually hit retail).

“That sh*t is phenomenal,” he praises. “You’re one of my favorite artists… and I only heard two records. You’re gonna make it, and when you make it, keep the same perspective. Still keep the same hunger.” While it’s arguable whether Kanye has managed to do that over the past few years, it’s still an intriguing, eye-opening look into what was undoubtedly a defining moment for the then-young producer-turned-rapper.