Doja Cat rarely fails to rise to the occasion. Whether it’s through her own work and performances or guest features with other artists, the rapper seems to come through every time. However, there was one moment when she couldn’t get into the zone. During a profile with Rolling Stone, Doja revealed that she almost appeared on Billie’s 2017 track “Bellyache.” The song eventually arrived as a solo effort and the second single for Billie’s 2017 EP, Don’t Smile At Me. During the interview, Doja explained why she’s not on it.
“I remember thinking it was so cute. I loved it. I just couldn’t think of anything to write,” Doja said. “It was one of my writer’s-block moments.” Despite this, Doja wasn’t upset with herself for missing out. “I remember seeing that song blow up and thinking, ‘Good for her. That’s awesome,’” she added. “I don’t think the song was for me, though. It was quite hard to write to.”
Doja also addressed criticisms for past work with producer Dr. Luke, who was accused of sexual assault by singer and protégé Kesha back in 2014. “The point is he’s gotten some credit for sh*t,” she said. “And, you know, it’s whatever. I don’t think I need to work with him again. I don’t think I need to work with him in the future. I know that.”
You can read Doja’s Rolling Stone interview here and revisit “Bellyache” in the video above.
Conditions of his bail included an ankle monitor, surrendering his passport, and letting officials know of any planned travel, but something went awry at the Newark Airport today and Fetty was arrested again. This seems to have nothing to do with his federal drug case, though, and is related to an outstanding New Jersey warrant involving a charge of public nuisance in North Bergen, New Jersey. According to TMZ’s sources, Fetty was booked but will be able to make bail for this minor infraction and be released. Hopefully he will be able to continue his holiday travel and see his loved ones, and not be stuck in jail due to an old warrant during the latest surge of cases in a deadly pandemic.
Fetty Wap is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music.
After previously releasing his mixtape, Bigger Than Life Or Death, back in July, today Louisville rapper Est Gee has shared the deluxe edition. On this extended version, he links up with artists like Yo Gotti, Future and Moneybagg Yo on additional collaborations. Never one to leave the video piece behind, he’s shared visuals for songs like “Price Tag,” “Riata Dada” and “Make It Even.”
Today he also shared a brand new video for another one the of mixtape’s tracks, “Jumpout Gang,” which you can check out above. The video features a cameo from Est Gee’s CMG labelmate 42 Dugg and was directed by Diesel Films.
The full extended tracklist for the now deluxe project is below.
Part 1:
“Riata Dada”
“Make It Even”
“5500 Degrees” (Ft. Lil Baby, 42 Dugg, and Rylo Rodriguez)
“Bigger Than Life Or Death”
“Sky Dweller”
“Lick Back Remix” (Feat. Future & Young Thug)
“In Town” (Feat. Lil Durk)
“Price Tag”
“Run N 2 Me” (ft. Yo Gotti)
“Capitol 1”
“All I Know” (Feat. Pooh Shiesty)
“Forreal”
“Real Reason”
“No Friends (Feat. Yo Gotti and 42 Dugg)
“Lick Back”
Part 2:
“Hit Maker”
“Lamborghini Geeski”
“Fan”
“Jumpout Gang”
“All My Life”
“Bloody Man”
“OD”
“Misery Loves Company”
“What It Is” (Feat. Yo Gotti)
“Balloons” (Feat. Moneybagg Yo)
“Dead Wrong” (Feat. Future)
Plenty of rappers love to celebrate Christmas and get into the holiday spirit. After all, what’s more hip-hop than flaunting your wealth while giving back to others? But perhaps no one has delivered a holiday-themed rap video that’s as committed to the bit as NLE Choppa’s “Drop Sh*t” video. The Memphis rapper, born Bryson Lashun Potts, is a “ratchet santa,” doling out gifts and decorating his tree with bills and guns — hey, no one can say he didn’t lean into the role. He’s already been known to treat friends to lavish gifts, like in his “Mmm Hmm” video, and he’s picked up a few heavy-hitting friends of his own along the way, like 50 Cent, whose show, Power, NLE recently contributed to the theme song for — along with Rileyy Lanez.
Ever since rap’s inception, hip-hop and Christmas have gone together like bows and wrapping paper, but occasionally the combination can result in some unsettling pairings. After all, rap music often traffics in sexual or violent content that clashes horribly with the family-friendly environment the Yuletide season has come to represent. However, sometimes, it’s just really funny. Case in point: Jucee Froot‘s raunchy “Christmas List” video, in which she cosplays a sexy Grinch (I can’t believe I typed that either, gang), right down to the fuzzy fingers as her scantily-clad team of reindeer dancers frolics around a Christmas tree.
Her daughter’s also in the video, which lends another layer of heightened absurdism to the proceedings as Jucee reels off a Christmas list that will probably not only land her on the naughty list, but also send Santa to the doghouse for a week should Mrs. Claus peek over his shoulder while reading it. Imagine how bad Saint Nick’s back is going to hurt having to carry all those presents after sleeping on the couch. Shame on you, Jucee. Shaaame.
In all seriousness, though, fans of the unapologetic Memphis rapper have been patiently waiting for the follow-up to her debut album Black Sheep for over a year (just like kids on Christmas!), so this tidbit is a tantalizing appetizer that will hopefully presage some new music come the new year.
Watch Jucee Froot’s holiday-themed “Christmas List” video above.
As she gears up for the release of her debut album in 2022, Coi Leray has been stacking up the singles in a very busy 2021. The New Jersey rapper has been living up to the “next up” moniker with cuts like the TikTok hit “No More Parties” remix with Lil Durk, “At The Top” with Kodak Black and Mustard, and even a holiday remix of “Twinnem.”
Now she’s dropped her final single of the year in “Medicine” and the accompanying video. Produced by Emrld, LeRay uses the quick-hitting 80-second song to open up about the anxiety and depression that she’s felt despite becoming incredibly successful in a short time. She slides into the frenetic beat and bares her emotions. Leray shared a personal statement with fans on her Instagram stories about the song:
“Kind of been a rough year, even though I made millions, it came with a lot of depression. “Medicine” is the last song ima drop this year. This song is strictly for my fans. When I go in the booth and vent, just know I’m speaking from the heart and I meant every word in the song. Hope everyone has a great holiday and gets everything they ever dreamed of. This new year is going to be one of the biggest years of my life. I feel it. My album is going to be one of the biggest female artist albums in the world, I can promise you that. Xoxo -Coi”
Rolling Stone reports that in the wake of the Astroworld Festival tragedy earlier this year, concert promoter Live Nation strong-armed Astroworld’s staff into signing liability waivers or risk not getting paid. According to an email acquired by Rolling Stone, just hours after 9-year-old Ezra Blount, the youngest of the festival’s 10 victims, was reported dead from injuries sustained in the crowd crush during Travis Scott’s headlining set, Live Nation had sent part-time employees a revised employment contract promising not to sue Live Nation or its Scoremore subsidiary. However, two security guards have already done so, suggesting that not everyone signed the documents.
The original contract was the same one from the 2018 festival, even still bearing the year of the fest’s inauguration at the top. However, the new ones sent on November 15 amended the error, claiming that the employees would need it to receive their $7.50/hour paychecks for tasks like checking wristbands. The new contracts’ text was duplicated in Rolling Stone:
(Employee) assumes full responsibility for any injuries or damages that may occur to the (employee) in, on or about the festival and its premises and fully and forever releases and discharges the released parties from any and all claims, demands, damages, rights of action or causes of action resulting from or arising out of the (employee’s) attending and or providing services at the festival.
The amended contracts also denied employees medical coverage or other benefits, including workers’ compensation. According to the employee who brought the email to Rolling Stone‘s attention, “It was a free for all. I saw a girl trying to run through. She got crushed. I saw kids getting knocked out. It definitely felt like there wasn’t nearly enough security to contain the rush of the fans.” There’s also a pretty harrowing firsthand account of the chaos during Travis’ closing set that frankly, sounds terrifying.
Both Live Nation and Travis Scott have denied liability in the dozens of lawsuits filed by survivors and victims’ families, despite reports that Travis had continued performing long after the concert was declared a mass casualty event.
The cannabis industry loves a good origin story. A story like Wonderbrett’s. The brand is named for Brett Feldman, a grower whose flavorful indoor-grown weed inspired a phrase heard around Los Angeles weed circles during the late ’90s and early 2000s — “You got that Brett?”
Equally important to the brand’s foundation is Feldman’s collaborator, Cameron Damwijk, also a master cultivator. The duo formally launched Wonderbrett in 2014, back during the Prop 215 (medical-only) days in California. Before that, Feldman and Damwijk were legends in Los Angeles music, street, and weed culture.
The quick story goes a little something like this: Back in 1997, Feldman was given a cut of OG Kush by Josh D, who along with another storied grower, Bubba, first brought the now-iconic strain to California from Florida in 1992. This may seem quaint now, but back then, this was before OG Kush was a thing outside of very select circles. Feldman went back and forth from the Bay Area, re-upping his supply of the newly in-demand strain for the Los Angeles market. Eventually, it became clear that this wasn’t the most efficient way of getting poundage in the hands of buyers, so Josh D bestowed upon Feldman a clone and basically said “have at it.”
The Brand:
Wonderbrett
Recognizing he had something special, Feldman took time to learn how to properly grow the strain in order to “not fuck it up,” he said while we toured his now 80,000-square-foot indoor grow facility in Long Beach. “When Kush was given to me, I had to figure out how to grow weed immediately,” he says. “I couldn’t kill the plants!”
And learn to grow he did. Due to the surging demand of OG Kush in Los Angeles during the late ’90s, Feldman soon found himself in the company of hip-hop’s biggest stars: Xzibit, Snoop, B-Real, and Dr. Dre among them. He was even invited to come chill in the studio during recording for Dr. Dre’s album, 2001. B-Real confirmed to me in a separate interview that it was Feldman who introduced him to Kush way back when.
Today, that legacy has turned into Wonderbrett, a full-fledged cannabis and lifestyle brand that maintains roots in the music community — Poo Bear, who is a recording artist and producer for Justin Bieber, Lupe Fiasco, Skrillex, and many others, is one of the brand’s major investors. In fact, Feldman, who is also a visual artist and the man behind the weed’s packaging design, recently released a new album of his own, “Wonderbrett: Volume 2,” which is a vibey, ethereal mix of beats perfect for — what else — smoking weed.
Wonderbrett’s Long Beach indoor cultivation site is massive. The brand grows with a 22,000-square-feet canopy footprint across 36 individual grow rooms. Altogether, it’s about 30,000 plants. Even at his highest capacity back in the pre-legal days, Feldman says he could never have imagined producing at such scale, and that while scaling has gone well for them, it remains the number one challenge.
“On a small grow, it’s easy to have control,” he says. “You’re always going to be able to be the guy who is there all the time, who sleeps at the grow, right? This is different.”
Nowadays, they have 14 proprietary cultivars in rotation, which are selected according to a number of characteristics that make Wonderbrett weed what it is. The brand’s slogan is “flavors on flavors,” and all it takes is one whiff of a jar to see why — to paraphrase Darth Vader, the terps “are strong with this one.” The focus on this aspect of weed makes a strong point often lost in today’s shopping landscape: THC percentage is merely one part of the equation, and not necessarily the most important one.
Wonderbrett/Uproxx
“If you buy weed on THC alone, you’re a dummy,” Feldman says.
It’s also about the terpenes and flavonoids, which is why it’s been so damaging to consumers to not be able to smell the weed they’re considering purchasing. Smelling it tells a massive part of the story. That’s not to say Wonderbrett’s weed isn’t strong — I am puffing on a 34.06% THC sample of the brand’s Pineapple OG as I type — but it’s true that THC potency is skewed as being the dominant marker of quality.
Walking into a Wonderbrett grow room with towering fat buds mere days away from completion makes an even finer point. I was smacked with smell every time I opened a door, whether that be an actual Peach smell in the Peach OZ room or the straight gas emanating from Black Orchid. The vividness matches the brand’s marketing strategy, which is to match dominant terpenes and flavonoids with the strain name as much as it makes sense — making an actionable connection in the customer’s mind. If someone is buying a strain with the word “peach” in the name, might it be a good idea to then pheno hunt for a variety that displays those very characteristics? Feldman says, “Yes. I’m glad you noticed that.” He offers an intentionally cartoonish laugh. “It means my strategy is working.”
The Weed
Wonderbrett/Uproxx
Feldman told me early in my tour — and I can confirm, after seeing it firsthand — that at Wonderbrett they dry trim only, which preserves trichomes, most importantly. Those are the little crystals that contain the fun cannabinoids, like THC, that make us high. He dries and cures for two weeks only. In general, from the day the weed is harvested, then tested, then dried and cured and finally packaged, Wonderbrett’s turnaround is about one month from harvest to package.
Wonderbrett’s jarred eighths aren’t cheap — they average for about $60 — and because they are constantly churning out new buds from their stratified and well-timed grow rooms, their customers are getting as fresh bud as one can possibly get on the legal market. The smell that lingers in the jars confirms this, though the bud is sometimes a bit dry. That’s more of the fault of legalization than any one individual grower.
I walked away from Wonderbrett’s facility with my head swimming in flavor, which is their intent. But does the bud stack up? I tried six: Black Orchid, Pineapple OG, Cherry Trop, Grapes of Wrath, and Chomp, which is the brand’s collaboration with rapper Russ.
Easily considered a signature cultivar of the brand, Feldman told me Pineapple OG’s roots go back to 2008, though 2014 is the first time anyone could buy it legally. These are the buds Wonderbrett led with once they could sell in the medical market. He also said it’s been one of the most consistent producers of high THC — the batch I tried, which clocked in at 34%, was no exception.
It’s gassy, redolent of its OG roots, and boasts flavors of sweet and sour fruits, like pineapples, guavas, and passionfruit. It’s easy to see why people love it, and it’s would be a solid go-to in any experienced smoker’s repertoire. Feldman also mentioned it’s a “hardy” cultivar, ideal for breeding, which he has done for other Wonderbrett strains, like Orange Banana.
Another favorite of mine is Black Orchid, which is a much more functional smoke than Wonderbrett’s other options, owing to its more balanced cannabinoid profile and dense flowers. THC is registered at 22%, which is a “Goldilocks” percentage for me — not too much, not too little, but just right. There are higher percentages of CBG and CBGA, as well, which is said to aid in relaxation. Limonene, Caryophyllene, Linalool, and Humulene are the dominant terpenes, which means this cultivar has a little bit of everything I like: citrus, earth, flowers, and a hint of gas, which one would expect from an OG Kush and Gelato cross.
The buzz that results from a Peach OZ smoke is definitely suited for daytime, but 30% THC suggests a daytime activity like taking a leisurely stroll in a beautiful location or sitting on the beach rather than anything that requires serious motor skill function. The smell and flavor match up on this one: peach, sweet citrus and a hint of vanilla round out this cultivar, which was made by Peach Rings and OZ Kush, a pheno gifted from Cannabis by Corey, which originally came from Dying Breed Seeds.
We already reviewed Chomp, which is a collaboration with the rapper Russ timed to release alongside his EP by the same name. It’s a heady strain, much more suited for cerebral activities – like, say, recording a rap album — which I attribute to Limonene as the dominant terpene.
Put simply, this is pool weed, a hybrid of Jet Fuel Gelato and Grape Pie. The high is heavy, befitting 27.65% THC, but uplifting, owing to the strong Limonene and Linalool content. It’s euphoric, something that would be greatly aided by listening to music, especially. This sounds weird, but it tastes like grape cake.
I’m not exactly sure what that means in reality, but a strong grape flavor accompanied by a yeasty, bready undertone makes sense to me here. The genetics are from Compound Genetics, purveyors of some of the hypest fire California’s breeders have to offer.
One of the grow rooms that displayed some of the most beautiful bud, in my opinion, was Cherry Trop, which popped with deep purples and even reds, depending on the light. It’s a hybrid mix of Cherry Cookies and Trop Cookies, which came from a seed pack by Relentless. The overall flavor is fruit: stone fruits and citrus, redolent of a sunny day spent eating sour candies. At 26% THC, it’s strong, but it won’t knock you on your ass. This is a stimulating daytime smoker for any activity that requires movement and focus but not too much intellectual brainpower.
Wonderbrett’s music connection is still strong
Wonderbrett
In addition to trying some of Wonderbretts current cultivar offerings and palling around with Feldman, I also got to talk to Poo Bear, who puts his money where his mouth is, as far as Wonderbrett is concerned. He said he was initially drawn to the brand through its highly stylized packaging — the brand’s signature color-blocked boxes – which struck Poo Bear as “very professional” in an era when weed was anything but. In the end, it’s really all about the weed and the man behind it, though.
“Brett always had the best product, you know, so when the opportunity came about to come in as an investor, I was like, ‘I would love to.’ I was investing in Wonderbrett because I just believe in him so much,” Poo Bear says of Feldman.
Poo Bear is also a major believer in Los Angeles weed culture, which he says isn’t just having a moment now – it’s always been quietly dominant. It’s just that people are finally starting to understand and recognize its greatness.
“I think LA took over awhile ago,” Poo Bear says of California’s mostly friendly competition between regional cannabis cultures. “You know, the Bay always had their purps, the things they were famous for. But L.A. has always been pushing it with these different flavors. It was probably like five or six years ago, scientists and growers just really started pushing the envelope in L.A. and I started to hear less and less about the Bay and L.A. just started filling that gap with consistency and variety. You see it with all the cannabis cups — L.A. wins all the cups. It’s definitely the cannabis capital.”
It goes without saying that Poo Bear thinks Wonderbrett was instrumental in making that happen and that the brand will be a staple of L.A. cannabis culture to come. After seeing their operation firsthand and smoking through the line, I’m ready to say I agree.
Jack Harlow cut his teeth at Atherton High School. The Louisville native started rapping as a teenager and even filmed now viral videos of him rapping in the halls of the school. He’s been showing a lot of love to his hometown lately in the midst of the “No Place Like Home” Tour that takes place at five different venues in Louisville, and recently announced that he’ll be spreading his wealth by making contributions to five local non-profits.
But what he did this morning, by visiting his alma mater Atherton High School is just good vibes all around. The energy from the students as Harlow walked into the school is so pure as they welcome back one of their own. Harlow posted a couple clips of the moment on Instagram:
Talk about a hero’s welcome. The sea of cellphones and the dozens of huggers that immediately embrace Harlow is a reflection of the good spirits and positivity Harlow is letting flow back into his hometown. Good on you sir.
12/17/2021 — Louisville, KY @ Mercury Ballroom
12/18/2021 — Louisville, KY @ Old Forester’s Paristown Hall
01/07/2022 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Novo
01/09/2022 — Pomona, CA @ The Fox Theater
01/10/2022 — San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park
01/11/2022 — San Luis Obispo, CA @ Alex B. Madonna Events Center
01/13/2022 — San Jose, CA @ San Jose Civic Center Auditorium
01/14/2022 — Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
01/15/2022 — San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic
01/16/2022 — Sacramento, CA @ Ace Of Spades
Jack Harlow is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Well, half his label is going to be locked up come Christmas, but somehow that still hasn’t stopped Gucci Mane from feeling the holiday spirit and continuing his longstanding season tradition of releasing a holiday-themed compilation album. While previous years have seen new iterations of the trap pioneer’s East Atlanta Santa mixtapes (most recently in 2019), this year’s project is, like his October 2021 release So Icy Boyz, a compilation project showcasing the talents of his 1017 signees such as Bic Fizzle, Big Scarr, BigWalkDog, Enchanting, and Hot Boy Wes.
Unfortunately, two of the label’s biggest stars, Foogiano and Pooh Shiesty, are not on the compilation despite being the consensus standouts of last year’s So Icy Summer and having massive breakouts earlier this year as a result. Both rappers are locked up facing various federal charges after a series of shootings; Foogiano, in custody for skipping bail to attend a funeral a state away from his native Georgia, was indicted for a South Carolina club shootout that left two dead, while Pooh was accused of not only shooting a security guard at a Miami club but also playing Grinch during a driveway sneaker sale, shooting the seller in the buttocks and stealing the shoes (but forgetting to collect all his cash in the getaway).
Apparently, Gucci won’t let their dilemmas bring down the rest of the team, slinking down rap fans’ collective chimneys and dropping off this 17-track celebration of the season. While only a handful of the tracks seem to be actually about Christmas — namely, the ones Gucci himself is on — it’s still a worthwhile addition to his quasi-annual tradition, bringing some cheer to a December capping a year that desperately needs it.
So Icy Christmas is out now via Atlantic. Get it here.
