Music

Fivio Foreign Unearths A ‘City Of Gods’ With Kanye West And Alicia Keys

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In what was one of the more unexpected collaborations of 2021, Fivio Foreign and Kanye West struck magic on Donda. The two, along with Playboi Carti, joined forces on “Off The Grid” and the track turned out to be one of the year’s favorite hip-hop records. Kanye later admitted that he recruited Fivio for the song after hearing his impressive freestyle on Funk Flex’s radio show. Now, the two have connected for another song and this time, it sees Fivio leading the way and Kanye supplying a guest verse with help from Alicia Keys.

The trio puts their talents together for “City Of God.” The track is carried by drill production and Alicia Keys’ interpolation of The Chainsmokers’ “New York City,” which serves as the hook for the song. Fivio lays two hard-hitting verses before Kanye arrives to lay a lengthy verse to close out the song, which also features ad-libs from Playboi Carti. For over two minutes, Kanye drops direct and indirect references to the Chicago Bulls, Pete Davidson,SNL, Justin LaBoy, Drake, Donda, Donda 2, College Dropout, and more. He also declares that his contribution to the song will be the best verse of 2022.

In addition to the new song, Fivio revealed that his debut album, B.I.B.L.E., will be released on March 25 and feature executive production from Kanye himself. Fivio also noted that the album will be dedicated to his friend and long-time collaborator Tahjay “T Dott” Dobson.

You can press play on “City Of Gods” in the video above.

Nicki Minaj And Lil Baby Brag About Their Surplus Of Luxury Items On The Flashy ‘Bussin’

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Nicki Minaj is wasting no time going to work in 2022. After going nearly a year without any new music, Nicki is back in action and she’s gearing up to release her long-awaited fifth album, and she takes another step in promoting it with her second single of the year. Nicki reunites with Lil Baby for “Bussin,” their second collaboration of the year. The track, which was previewed at the end of Nicki’s music video for her previous single, “Do We Have A Problem?” with Lil Baby, sees her laying down a quick rap flow over a hard-hitting beat. On it, she brags about the surplus of money, luxury cars, and more.

So far, Nicki is off to a great start in 2022, which was kicked off by the release of “Do We Have A Problem?” The song was released with a lengthy music video that also featured an appearance from Joseph Sikora who plays Tommy Egan on Power and Power Book IV: Force. After she released the single, Nicki had a few highlight moments in the entertainment world in the week that followed.

During an appearance on The Late Late Show With James Corden, Nicki delivered quite the impressive Adele impression. She also cleared the air with City Girls’ JT and Yung Miami after the artists spent the last few years not seeing eye to eye.

You can scroll up to watch the video for “Bussin.”

42 Dugg And EST Gee’s Joint Album, ‘Last One’s Left,’ Is Dropping This Month

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Yo Gotti’s Collective Music Group (CMG) label, which he founded back in 2012, currently holds one of the best rosters of hip-hop talents. Moneybagg Yo, Blac Youngsta, 42 Dugg, and EST Gee are all signed to the label. It remains seen what the future holds for CMG, but so far, it’s promising. On Thursday, Yo Gotti and the label’s respective acts help a press conference to announce some big news regarding CMG. It was here that 42 Dugg and EST Gee delivered a special announcement to their fans.

The rappers announced that they are finishing their joint album. “Last one’s left,” 42 Dugg said during the press conference. “Me and Gee, you know, that sh*t coming soon. We finishing it up right now. Just be ready for it.” They even revealed that the project, which is titled Last One’s Left, is slated for a tentative release on February 18, giving everyone just one week to gear up for its release.

42 Dugg and EST Gee’s announcement comes after they both had a successful 2021. 42 Dugg released his third project Free Dem Boyz which was highlighted by “Maybach” with Future. EST Gee released his fifth project Bigger Than Life Or Death last year which featured the standout “5500 Degrees” with Lil Baby, Rylo Rodriguez, and 42 Dugg.

In addition to the album announcement, Yo Gotti also revealed that Mozzy has joined the CMG roster. Mozzy’s last project came last year with he and YG’s Kommunity Service.

You can watch videos of the announcements above.

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

NLE Choppa’s ‘Shotta Flow 6’ Video Is A Raucous Finale To His Trademark Series

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After delaying the album for one week in honor of the late Young Dolph’s tribute album, NLE Choppa returned with his sophomore album Me Vs. Me at the end of last month. In his continued effort to promote his latest body of work, NLE Choppa returns with a new video for “Shotta Flow 6.” The visual marks the finale of the series which he started at the beginning of 2019. The song helped boost his popularity as its video tallied 10 million views in a month. Now, in its sixth and final installment, NLE Choppa flaunts his trademark high-octane energy as well as quickfire rap flow from start to finish through the new visual.

NLE Choppa’s new video comes after he released visuals for “Trap Phone” and “Lick Me Baby” earlier this month. With the video for “Shotta Flow 6,” NLE Choppa has now released visuals for nearly half the songs on Me Vs. Me as “Stompin,” “Drop Sh*t,” “Jumpin,” and “Mmm Hmm” have all received the visual treatment. Throughout the 16 songs on Me Vs. Me, listeners will also catch guest appearances from Young Thug, Polo G, G Herbo, and Moneybagg Yo.

You can watch the video for “Shotta Flow 6” above.

Me Vs. Me is out now via Warner Records. You can stream it here.

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

Billie Eilish Responds To Kanye West’s Demand For Her To Apologize To Travis Scott

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Well, that didn’t take long. Less than two hours after Kanye West posted on Instagram demanding that Billie Eilish apologize to his would-be Coachella special guest Travis Scott for her comments during a recent show, Eilish responded in the comments to notify West that she not only has no intentions of doing so but she also doesn’t have anything to apologize for.

Kanye, who, like many, interpreted Eilish’s recent comments as a dig at Travis Scott posted the all-caps demand after apparently coming across an Instagram gossip account’s report of the facts. “COME ON BILLIE WE LOVE YOU PLEASE APOLOGIZE TO TRAV AND TO THE FAMILIES OF THE PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES NO ONE INTENDED THIS TO HAPPEN TRAV DIDN’T HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING WHEN HE WAS ON STAGE AND WAS VERY HURT BY WHAT HAPPENED,” he wrote, before adding the threat, “NOW I NEED BILLIE TO APOLOGIZE BEFORE I PERFORM [at Coachella, where Billie is also set to headline].” This is the rockstar equivalent of getting skunked at pickup so you take your ball and go home, but Billie handled the situation as graciously as could be.

“Literally never said a thing about Travis,” she reminded the mercurial rapper. “Was just helping a fan.” This is, in fact, what she did, stopping her show mid-performance to ensure a fan who couldn’t breathe got an inhaler while noting, “I wait for people to be OK until I keep going.” Some construed this as a slight toward Travis Scott, who reportedly performed for nearly 40 minutes during the Astroworld mass casualty disaster, but anyone who’s been to enough shows can tell you this is something performers say quite a lot — I mentioned in my recap of 2019’s Real Street Fest that Kanye’s own former artist Big Sean did and said as much during his own set.

If Travis Scott’s feeling guilty, that’s on him to settle with his own conscience. And while Kanye is running around demanding apologies perhaps he should consider offering one of his own for the last five years he subjected us all to.

Saweetie And HER’s Dance-Ready ‘Closer’ Finds Them Flirting With New Flames

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So far, Saweetie‘s had the most success with two kinds of singles. The first is throwback party jams like “Icy Grl,” “My Type,” and “Tap In,” fun tracks built on samples of 106 & Park staples that net the nostalgia of her peers (and the unfortunate derision of her elders). The second are songs in which her “icy girl” philosophy can be shared with a female companion, elevating women with the cheerful “girl power” themes of songs such as “Best Friend” and “Back To The Streets.”

Her newest single, which she teased earlier this week before releasing it today, falls into the latter category as she recruits HER to sing along on “Closer,” a flirtatious, dance-ready piece of disco pop reminiscent of her “Best Friend” collaborator Doja Cat’s big hits “Say So” and “Kiss Me More.” On “Closer,” the two performers — who share Bay Area roots and mixed Black-Filipino heritage — revel in the warm, fuzzy vibes of a new relationship. “It’s the freak in me I wanna show ya,” coos HER, while on her verse, Saweetie once again praises the benefits of her flashy lifestyle, sighing seductively, “Wanna quickie in my Rolls on the Hermes leather.”

The new track could be an indication that Saweetie finally deems her upcoming debut album, Pretty Bitch Music, fit for public consumption, as she’s held it back multiple times to make tweaks over the past year. If her perfectionist streak pays off, this could be the release that finally silences her haters once and for all — and if not, at least we’ve got another fun song to dance to on TikTok.

Check out Saweetie’s new single “Closer” featuring HER above.

Central Cee Knows He’s The Next Man Up In The New Video For ‘Khabib’

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Central Cee is no doubt the next man up in British hip-hop and he knows it. Named one of Uproxx’s “Artists To Watch” for February, the West Londoner is coming off three nominations at this week’s BRIT Awards including Best New Artist and Song of The Year, for his PinkPantheress-sampling “Obsessed With You.” Now as he gets ready to drop his next mixtape, 23, he’s shared the sweeping video for the new single, “Khabib.”

Cench is a straight up grinder. He’s killing it with multiple songs currently on the UK charts and wants to impart advice on “Khabib,” saying “I keep on telling the young bulls grind, don’t quit cause it’s all about timing,” over a thick drill beat. The clip was filmed on the desolate cliffside woods of Snowdonia, Wales as he flexes his literal and figurative ascent. “They done man wrong, where are they now? Nowhere to be seen. The power’s strong, where am I now? I been on the charts for 18 weeks.”

The track is named after the polarizing UFC champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, and a famous speech he made to a booing crowd is sampled on the outro to “Khabib.” It’s Central Cee shooting his shot at anyone who doubted him up to this point and it just sets a triumphant stage for the impending release of 23.

Watch the video for “Khabib” above.

23 is out 02/25 via self-release.

Kanye West Appears To Confirm That His Coachella Headlining Set Will Include Travis Scott

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It looks like Travis Scott is still headling Coachella after all — sort of. After the Houston rapper was dropped from the lineup following the mass casualty disaster at his own Astroworld Festival last summer, it appears he found a loophole to get back on the stage at Coachella (no, not that petition full of fake signatures): by joining Kanye West’s headlining set instead. Kanye appeared to confirm that he planned to bring out Travis in an Instagram post today, writing, “YES TRAV WILL BE WITH ME AT COACHELLA.”

However, there’s one other caveat: Fellow headliner (and Travis replacement) Billie Eilish must first apologize to Travis Scott for hurting his feelings. In Kanye’s all-caps post, he railed against Billie for her comments during one of her own recent shows, during which she stopped performing to get a distressed fan medical assistance. “I wait for people to be OK until I keep going,” she said. Some fans interpreted the statement as a shot at Travis, who reportedly continued performing for almost 40 minutes after authorities had declared a mass casualty event at Astroworld.

According to Kanye, “TRAV DIDN’T HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING WHEN HE WAS ON STAGE AND WAS VERY HURT BY WHAT HAPPENED.” However, without an apology from Billie for… explaining herself, I guess… Kanye says, “I NEED BILLIE TO APOLOGIZE BEFORE I PERFORM.” I’m not sure there’s an opt-out clause in his performance agreement for being insulted by pop stars half his age. He also recently demanded an apology from the whole Kardashian family for his own antics, so maybe he’ll spend the extra sulking time figuring his life out.

DaBaby Is Being Investigated For Assault With A Deadly Weapon After Brawling With DaniLeigh’s Brother

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XXL reports that the Los Angeles Police Department is investigating Charlotte rapper DaBaby for assault with a deadly weapon after a video surfaced online of the rapper and his companions attacking a man identified as Brandon Bills, the brother of DaBaby’s ex DaniLeigh. The fight, which took place at Corbin Bowl in Tarzana, California, saw DaBaby and his friends outnumbering and overwhelming Bills on the slippery bowling surface, kicking him after he fell on the floor.

Bills had confronted the rapper at the bowling alley three months after DaBaby and DaniLeigh had an altercation on Instagram Live in which DaBaby tried to dismiss the singer, who physically attacked him in response. The incident ended with DaniLeigh being charged with two counts of simple assault after DaBaby filed a police report from that incident and another taking place a day later. The two entertainers share an infant daughter.

The incident at the bowling alley is just the latest one in which DaBaby was accused of leading a physical assault with his friends. In February 2021, he was accused of jumping the owner of an Airbnb he’d rented after violating his rental agreement to shoot a music video there, while in December, he paid a penalty to avoid charges in a 2020 beating of a limo driver in Las Vegas.