Music

Ye Wanted To Meet With Big Sean And His Mother To ‘Begin The Healing On Both Sides’

by
kanye west
Getty Image

Last month, Ye caused a big rift in his relationship with Big Sean after he claimed the “worst thing” he’s ever done was sign him to his GOOD Music imprint. During his appearance on N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN’s Drink Champs podcast last month, Ye said, “I know this man mama bro, you know what I’m saying? I’ve changed this man’s family and both John Legend and Big Sean, when I ran for office, got used quick by the Democrats to come at their boy that actually changed their life and that’s some sellout sh*t.” He also requested “apologies” from Sean for his actions.

Sean responded to Ye’s comments during his own appearance on Drink Champs earlier this week, revealing that Ye texted him with the hope of meeting with him and his mother to “begin the healing on both sides.” However, Sean reveals it never happened because he was “angry” at the time. “I took it too personally, because it’s like, you publicly humiliated me when I’ve been down for you,” he said before diving into the political aspect of Ye’s comments. “Now peep this out: while he was running for president, I didn’t have his contact. I purposely didn’t endorse anyone publicly, politically, because my mans was running. I didn’t even have his contact at the time.”

He continued, “I’m the No. 1-earning artist on G.O.O.D. Music, and I didn’t come out and support no Democratic party because my man’s was running, and he wasn’t even on the ballot in 30-something states. You see what I’m saying? So when he said all that, it just had no—that’s why it was funny, because it just was not true.” Sean added, “I didn’t come out and support no Democratic party, bro what the f*ck? Maybe John Legend did, I don’t know. I didn’t.”

Sean also responded to Ye’s regrets about signing him. “At first I thought it was hilarious, I thought the sh*t was funny,” Sean said. “Then I took it personal. I took it personal because, I’m the only artist who’s put out five albums under G.O.O.D. Music. … I’m the only one who put out back-to-back-to-back No. 1’s, platinum albums, double platinum albums.

“But every time Kanye has called on me, every single time no matter what I was doing, within one day’s notice I’m wherever he’s at bro, whether it’s to contribute to him in the studio, whether it’s to contribute a line, write a verse for him,” he added. “I’ve traveled around the world for this man, every time he’s called. And I’ve done this and not asked for publishing a lot of the times. Why? Because he gave me a golden opportunity of signing to G.O.O.D. Music.”

You can watch Big Sean’s full Drink Champs episode in the video above.

Cardi B Reportedly Canceled The Release Of Her Dolls Due To Issues With Their Quality And Production

by
Cardi-B.jpeg
Getty Image

Back in March, Cardi B announced on Today that she planned to release a line of dolls. The rapper explained her inspiration for the line during her time on the show. “I have a 2-year-old, right? And I buy dolls every time I go to Target and they expensive,” she said. “Somebody came with this idea to me and I’m like, ‘That is great because I would love my daughter to play with a doll that looks like me.’ I mean, all these other dolls look like me, I might as well make one for myself.”

Thanks to a collaboration with Real Women Are, a fashion doll brand, Cardi made the dolls available for pre-order shortly after her Today appearance. However, months later, buyers were still empty-handed, as the dolls were not shipped out despite promises to do so by a certain date. This left people questioning the legitimacy of the dolls. Some demanded refunds,

But according to TMZ, the entire line of dolls has now been canceled. A representative for Cardi tells the publication that the dolls will not be released due to COVID-related manufacturing and shipping delays. TMZ adds that Cardi was reportedly also concerned that the dolls would not meet her high-quality standards.

As a result, Cardi asked Real Women Are to refund all pre-orders of the dolls while also telling buyers to request a refund from the doll company if they have not yet been contacted.

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

Tonight’s ‘SNL’ Will Have A Limited Cast And No Live Audience Due To The Latest COVID Outbreak

by
SNL Paul Rudd
NBC

A lot has changed in the last week. On Monday, society was largely back to normal, as it had been for months and months, all thanks to vaccines. People were gearing up for some holiday travel. They were going to in-person events, like movies and Broadway shows. In the back of everyone’s mind, there was the Omicron variant, far more transmissible but also — if you’re vaxxed — far less deadly. Then cases started spiking. New York City, once the epicenter of the pandemic, suddenly had days of record-breaking cases. Shows got cancelled. Events were postponed. (People are still flocking to the movies, or at least one of them.) And now it’s affected tonight’s Paul Rudd-hosted SNL, too.

As per Deadline, what was supposed to be a joyous occasion — last episode of 2021, host Paul Rudd’s acceptance into the “five timer’s club” — will still happen. It will just be dramatically scaled back.

“Due to the recent spike in the Omicron variant and out of an abundance of caution, there will be no live audience for tonight’s taping of Saturday Night Live and the show will have limited cast and crew,” a spokesperson for SNL announced on Saturday. “The show continues to follow all government safety guidelines in addition to a rigorous testing protocol.”

It’s a return to SNL in the pre-vaccine days of the pandemic, when the performers played to little or no crowds, doing their best to deliver laughs while social distancing and staying safe. At the early day of the pandemic, in spring of 2020, the show dramatically revamped itself, with performers doing everything from their home over their computers and assorted gizmos, with sometimes outside-the-box results.

SNL, of course, records in New York City, which has transformed from a largely reawaken mecca of culture and commerce into a place of long COVID testing lines, people scrambling to get results before boarding planes, trains, and automobiles. On Friday, New York State counted 21,027 new cases — a record, up from the original peak of 19,942, in January of 2021.

But the show must go on, albeit a modified version. Host Rudd will be joined by musical guest Charli XCX.

(Via Deadline)

UTFO Rapper Kangol Kid Is Dead At 55 After A Battle With Colon Cancer

by
Kangol Kid 2012 Red Tails premiere
Getty Image

Rapper and producer Kangol Kid, who was also a member of Brooklyn’s Untouchable Force Organization (UTFO) trio, has passed away at the age of 55 following a battle with colon cancer, according to Rolling Stone. His death marks a sad ending to a brief bout with cancer; he announced his diagnosis earlier this year, in a post in February. Last month, Kangol, born Shaun Fequiere, shared a picture of fellow rapper LL Cool J visiting him at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York following a surgical procedure.

“Please forgive me for not returning calls and more,” Kangol wrote. “Things have become, and are becoming a little more difficult than imagined. I’ve been admitted again for complications related to my condition.” He added, “Thank you to those who have been instrumental in my latest ordeal. Your actions have been well received and greatly appreciated. I am blessed to have you by my side through this. I love you all.”

Kangol is best known for delivering the opening verse on UTFO’s 1984 single “Roxanne, Roxanne.” On the track, UTFO’s rappers, which also include Educated Rapper (Jeffrey Campbell) and Doctor Ice (Fred Reeves), repeatedly get denied by a “stuck-up” woman for a song that launched one of hip-hop’s first beefs. After UTFO canceled an appearance at a show, rapper Roxanne Shanté connected with one of the show’s promoters Marley Marl, who was also a producer, to release a diss track aimed at the group.

“Roxanne’s Revenge” launched the “The Roxanne Wars,” a rivalry that delivered between 30 and 100 answer records, according to different sources. These include UTFO’s own responses like 1995’s “The Real Roxanne” and “Roxanne, Roxanne, Pt. 2: Calling Her A Crab.”

After the news of his death arrived, LL Cool J’s Rock the Bells festival shared their condolences with a message on Twitter. “Hip-Hop lost a legend today with the transitioning of [Kangol Kid] but his legacy will forever serve as a source of inspiration, courage, and love,” they wrote. “Rock The Bells sends our deepest condolences to all of his family and loved ones.”

New York Is Celebrating The First ‘DMX Day’ In Honor Of The Late Rapper

by
DMX Day
Getty Image

The world lost a legend earlier this year when Earl Simmons, better known as DMX, died at the age of 50. When he passed in April of this year, reports of a drug overdose were cited as the cause, a sad fact that was later confirmed by the coroner. Like plenty of people who survived childhood abuse and trauma, DMX struggled with substance abuse, but few survivors turned their pain into the kind of electrifying, undeniable music that Simmons produced in his career. And the impact of his art is why today, December 18, has been officially named DMX day in his native New York.

Today would’ve been his 51st birthday, and his home city is showing out for the legend. Namely, New York state senator Jamaal Bailey, who was at the forefront of passing a resolution honoring Simmons, shared an important monologue back in April when the day was declared. “Rest In Peace to the Earl of Westchester, rap royalty,” Bailey wrote in an Instagram post he shared of the comments he made on the senate floor about DMX. Check out the senator’s comments below, and honor DMX wherever you are today by blasting the “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem.” In case you don’t have it handy, I’ve included the video below, see if you can resist singing along once it’s going.

Rick Ross Believes Meek Mill’s Label Issues Are With Atlantic Records And Not With Maybach Music Group

by
Meek Mill Rick Ross 'Port Of Miami 2' album party
Getty Image

For months now, many have believed that there have been tensions between Rick Ross and Meek Mill over a possible contract dispute with Ross’ Maybach Music Group, which Meek signed to in 2011. The rumors started after Meek blocked Ross from entering his birthday party for allegedly refusing to let him out of his MMG contract. Months later, Ross denied that there was any tension between the two.

In a new interview on The Morning Hustle, Ross elaborated on his and Meek’s relationship. “I feel like we’re both hustlers,” he said. “That’s one thing about life, you either grow together or grow apart. As a boss, you make that decision, because whatever it is you want to do, Ricky Rozay wants to see you do it.” He also suggested that if Meek has any label issues, it would be with Atlantic Records and not MMG.

“I’ma be honest, when Meek taking a jab at anybody, the only way I can assume is he’s doing that at Atlantic Records,” Ross said. “All we ever did was get paper and it’s real easy to say a n**** name. Ain’t nothing to — you feel me? I know what it is when me and Meek always got money. He a boss now. We done been down 10 years. Is he signed to Maybach Music? Yes, he is. But he’s also a boss and real bosses give other bosses opportunities to become bigger bosses.”

He continued, “Go, man. Go buy the biggest sh*t in Dubai, man. Let’s go be billionaires. And if I’m only gonna get $7 billion and you get $20 billion, God is great! That’s all it is. Is it any pressure? It ain’t no pressure. And always remember, it’s real easy to make it clear when it’s pressure.”

You can watch Ross’ appearance on The Morning Hustle above.

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

Big Sean Says Jay-Z And Ye Once Made Him Fire His Friend For Posting A Picture Of Their Studio Session

by
Big Sean 2021 NFL performance
Getty Image

Big Sean recently made an appearance on N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN’s podcast Drink Champs not long after comments that Ye made on the show. Ye said signing Big Sean was the “worst thing I’ve ever done,” and in response, Sean called the remark “some b*tch-ass sh*t,” adding, “I’ve traveled around the world for this man, every time he’s called. And I’ve done this and not asked for publishing a lot of the times.” Sean continued to speak about Ye, including something that occurred during studio sessions for Ye’s 2011 album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.

According to Sean, he was forced to fire a friend that he brought to one of the sessions after they posted a “sneak picture” of Ye, Jay-Z, and Beyonce working on songs. “He was gonna help hold me down,” Sean said about the friend. “It’s good to just have a support system, it’s good to have one of your homies there when you tryna contribute.” However, after the picture was posted and it made its way around the internet, Ye and Jay-Z confronted him about it and expressed their frustrations with him.

“They came at me and they thought it was me,” said. “It didn’t even make sense because I wasn’t even on at that time and it was like Kanye, JAY-Z, Beyoncé, Big Sean… People were like, ‘Who the f*ck is Big Sean?’ It looked like I planted this shit.” Ye told Sean to fire his friend because it made him look “thirsty.” “I explained to him who it was and he was like, ‘You gotta fu*kin’ fire him.’ He was like, ‘We’ve all done this. We’ve hired the people that we love,’” Sean recalled.

In the end, Sean was forced to have a tough conversation with his friend. “I’m sorry, bro, we gotta figure out something else,” Sean said to that friend. However, according to him, everything eventually turned out for the best. “It ended up being a blessing in disguise,” Sean said. “He ended up transforming his life and being probably way more successful than he would have been just in the position he was in.”

You can listen to Sean recall this moment around the 40:00 mark in the video above.

Doja Cat Say She Almost Appeared On Billie Eilish’s 2017 Track ‘Bellyache’

by
doja-cat.jpeg
Getty Image

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.

Fetty Wap Was Arrested In Newark Airport Due To An Outstanding Warrant

by
Fetty Wap TF
Getty Image

It’s been a tough year when it comes to legal trouble for rap’s best trap crooner, Fetty Wap. The New Jersey rapper was arrested at Rolling Loud this year on federal drug charges before he had a chance to take the stage. According to TMZ’s report of the allegations, federal authorities suspect Fetty of distributing cocaine, crack, heroin, and fentanyl across Long Island and New Jersey. Still, the rapper, born William Junior Maxwell II, was released on $500K bond shortly after his arrest.

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.

EST Gee Released The Deluxe Version Of ‘Bigger Than Life Or Death’ And A Video For ‘Jumpout Gang’

by
est-gee.jpeg

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)