Music

Eight Deaths And More Than A Hundred Injuries Occurred At Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival

by
Travis Scott Astroworld Fest 2021
Getty Image

After he was forced to cancel last year’s edition of the festival, Travis Scott and his fans were extremely excited for the return of his trademark Astroworld Festival which he launched back in 2018. However, that excitement quickly turned into tragedy and chaos on the showcase’s first day. Houston’s KHOU and the Associated Press report that at least eight deaths and hundreds of injuries occurred during Travis’ solo set to end the first night of the Astroworld Festival. Fire Chief Samuel Peña spoke about the incident during a press conference after the festival on Friday night.

“The crowd began to compress towards the front of the stage, and that caused some panic, and it started causing some injuries,” he said to reporters. “People began to fall out, become unconscious, and it created additional panic.” He added that around 9:38 PM local time, the incident became a “mass causality event” as medical units on hand were “quickly overwhelmed” by the “scores of people” that were treated for injuries. Peña confirmed 17 people were transported to local hospitals, including 11 who were under cardiac arrest. A 10-year-old was one of the many people hospitalized as a result of the incident at the festival. In total, more than 300 people were treated on-site at Astroworld.

As a result, Astroworld Festival organizers announced that day two of the showcase is canceled. They also released an official statement on the matter early Saturday morning. “Our hearts are with the Astroworld Festival family tonight especially those we lost and their loved ones,” they wrote. “We are focused on supporting local officials however we can. With that in mind the festival will no longer be held on Saturday. As authorities mentioned in their press conference earlier, they are looking into the series of cardiac arrests that took place. If you have any relevant information on this, please reach out to @houstonpolice.” They added, “Thank you to our partners at the Houston Police Department, Fire Department, and NRG Park for their response and support.”

A number of posts from fans show the frantic moments that took place inside the crowd as many were left to give CPR to fellow attendees while screaming for help from security and medics. One post went into great detail about the chaos and suffocating atmosphere that was present in the crowd. Another showed attendees’ desperate but unfortunately unsuccessful attempt to grab a cameraman’s attention and notify them of what was happening within the crowd.

You can view the statement from Fire Chief Samuel Peña and Astroworld Festival organizer above. You can also view tweets from attendees below.

Jazz Cartier, Gangsta Boo And More Join Fool’s Gold Producer Grandtheft On His Debut Album ‘Wild Ways’

by

Fool’s Gold Records is well-known for curating emerging talent in the rap game, and today their releasing a full-length album by Canadian DJ/producer Grandtheft that sounds like a very promising start. Though Grandtheft, real name Aaron Waisglass, has already worked on remixes for the likes of Rihanna and Katy Perry, and produced for artists like Calvin Harris, Jazz Cartier and Kyle, this is his first solo album. But like most great producer-helmed projects, the tracklist is packed with guests.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to make a producer album like Wild Ways,” Grandtheft said in a press release. “To curate a diverse lineup of incredible artists and build out a full project embossed with my sound. This is the product of us collaborating and just jamming out tunes we want to hear, with no industry trends or A&Rs dictating what this sound needed to be. This record is informed partly by living through the wildest times on tour, but also by learning when to take time away from the mayhem. It’s about making space to really create for yourself and let your imagination go off, in whatever way that is. In a lot of ways, this album feels like the culmination of all my years making music.”

That culmination includes tracks with artists like Jazz Cartier, Haviah Mighty, The Halluci Nation (formerly A Tribe Called Red), Flosstradamus, Gangsta Boo and Duke Deuce, to name a few. Check out “What You Wanna Do,” his collab with Gangsta Boo and Duke Deuce up above, and stream the whole project below.

Key Glock Shares His ‘Something Bout Me’ Video As He Releases ‘Yellow Tape 2’

by

A little under two years removed from his surprise breakout with the original Yellow Tape, Memphis upstart Key Glock has returned to the project that made him one of hip-hop’s names to watch with Yellow Tape 2, which dropped today via Empire and Young Dolph’s Paper Route Empire. The project, which clocks in at 20 tracks — four more than its predecessor — contains no features but does have beats from notable producers like BandPlay, Buddah Bless, Juicy J, and Tay Keith.

In addition to dropping the album, Key Glock also shared the video for “Something Bout Me,” a rough-riding single produced by Tay Keith. In the video, KG runs several operations with the help of a squad of scantily clad companions. When business wraps up for the night, the women disrobe even further for an after-hours party where they twerk for the rapper as he relaxes and appreciates their talents. The single follows the video for “Ambition For Cash,” released a month ago to start the promo cycle for the new album.

Yellow Tape 2 brings Key Glock’s catalog of releases since 2020 to three projects, including his summer 2020 mixtape Son Of A Gun and his early 2021 joint album with Young Dolph, Dum And Dummer 2. He’s turning out to be quite the prolific creator, contributing to his growing profile as one of hip-hop’s hottest rising stars.

Watch Key Glock’s “Something Bout Me” video above and listen to his new project Yellow Tape 2 here.

Travis Scott Lives Like A Boss In His ‘Escape Plan’ Video

by

As of this writing, Travis Scott’s third Astroworld Festival is already underway, where he’s expected to preview at least one or two new songs from his upcoming album Utopia after releasing “Escape Plan” and “Mafia” earlier today. However, before then, he’s shared the video for “Escape Plan,” which finds him living like a boss, directing a team of brawny security guards, and running on a treadmill on a yacht.

Anticipation for Travis’ album, the follow-up to the critically acclaimed commercial juggernaut Astroworld, is at a fever pitch thanks to the new singles, as well as Travis’ recent appearance at Rolling Loud in New York and his features on projects from the likes of Baby Keem, Don Toliver, Drake, Lil Baby and Lil Durk, and Young Thug. He also expanded his Astroworld Festival to encompass a full week of events and philanthropy, including the opening of several Nike-sponsored basketball courts and the premiere of his A24-produced film.

For fans excited to see what Travis’ set will look like but are unable to attend the festival in person, he’ll be live-streaming the set exclusively on Apple Music later tonight, beginning at 7 pm PT/10 pm ET. You can watch a preview here.

Watch Travis Scott’s “Escape Plan” video.

Snoop Dogg Returns To His ‘Murder Music’ Ways With Benny, Busta Rhymes, And Jadakiss

by

Although it has been literal decades since Snoop Dogg was a legitimately menacing presence in hip-hop, that doesn’t mean he can’t occasionally tap into that mode when the mood calls for it. In the case of his new song “Murder Music,” it’s absolutely called for. However, just in case his Corona commercials softened up his image too much to be taken that seriously, he smartly calls on some of rap’s past and current prime purveyors of murder music — namely, Griselda’s Benny The Butcher, the resurgent Jadakiss, and the eternal Busta Rhymes.

Benny sets things off, declaring the ominous beat by Nottz “what they gone play when they wipe the prints off they hammers.” Then, Jadakiss reminds listeners that “it ain’t no reward for the streets.” Busta Rhymes bats cleanup, reminiscing on his rowdy battle rap past, recalling that “I don’t discriminate, I even bodied close peers.” Snoop holds down the hook, which is nice and simple, driving the “murder music” theme through repetition.

The song is set to appear on Snoop Dogg’s upcoming compilation album, Algorithm. At a recent listening session at his Compound in Los Angeles attended by Uproxx, Snoop said the project will operate as a showcase of the talent, past and present, on Def Jam, celebrating Snoop’s new position there as executive creative and strategic consultant. Algorithm is due November 19.

Listen to “Murder Music” above.

Finally, At Long Last, Dolly Parton Will Guest Star On ‘Grace And Frankie’ For The Full ‘9 To 5’ Reunion

by
Dolly Parton
Getty Image

Adding Dolly Parton to any project is always a good idea, but it gets even better when it finally completes a long-awaited reunion with her 9 to 5 costars, which is exactly what’s happening on Netflix’s Grace and Frankie. According to a new report, Parton will guest star on the series’ seventh and final season, putting her back on screen with Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda. Via TVLine:

For the uninitiated: 9 to 5 was released in 1980, and starred Parton, Fonda and Tomlin as the above-mentioned Doralee, Judy and Violet, three working women who decide to get revenge on their sexist boss (played by Dabney Coleman). The movie went on to gross over $100 million at the box office.

At the moment, Parton’s role on Frankie and Grace is being kept under wraps, but she will appear in the show’s final 12 episodes that will drop sometime in 2022. (Four episodes were released early in August to tide over fans.)

When it wraps up its seven-season run next year, Grace and Frankie will have the distinct honor of having the most amount of episodes for a Netflix original series. While Orange Is the New Black is the current record holder at 91 episodes, Grace and Frankie will top that by streaming 94 episodes when the final season premieres. And, now, the show will get to say it had Dolly Parton stop by for a freaking 9 to 5 reunion, so yeah, try and top that, whichever Netflix series is still racking up episodes. (Narcos, maybe? — Nope, that’s not it. It’ll come to us.)

(Via TVLine)

Doubters And Rejection Only Fuel Turbeazy

by

It can be hard to live up to the standard set by your parents, especially if one of them made their name in your industry. But up-and-coming New York rapper Turbeazy is both following in his father’s footsteps and blazing his own path.

Turbeazy remembers going to his father’s concerts as a kid; formative experiences that gave him his first exposure to hip-hop. When his dad became a DJ, Turbeazy took advantage of the moment, feasting on a fully fleshed-out collection of rap records that also helped to influence his career choice.

“At school, I used to freestyle,” Turbeazy says, “and one day somebody told me I should rap, so I ended up going to one of these kids that somebody put me on to that had a studio.”

Thanks to a laptop his mother gave him, Turbeazy kept recording, even while in the Army. When he got out, the education continued with classes that helped him forge a career as an audio engineer at Manhattan’s Fight Klub Studios.

When he records now, Turbeazy is sure to keep one foot in the past, allowing the influence from his father’s career and record collection to find its way into his music.

“In order to move forward, you gotta be able to know and acknowledge the past,” he says. “I still feel like that needs to be represented. It’s something that I was raised to appreciate, coming from a household of an artist and a person who was deep into hip-hop culture. I love and appreciate how far music has evolved.”

While Turbeazy is forging his way forward, his journey hasn’t been without challenges.

“When I was in the Army, nobody really wanted me to rap,” he says. “They thought it was funny. I had a few supporters, but when it was time for me to leave, they were saying, ‘You should re-up and stay in the Army. You can be a good soldier.’ I was like, ‘I want to go to school. I want to be a rapper.’ People were like, ‘That’s a stupid idea.’”

He also remembers being rejected when he tried to pass somebody in the industry a flash drive of his music. It’s something that could discourage someone, but Turbeazy turned it into fuel, telling us that it made him “want to go harder.” And so far, that persistence is paying off. Turbeazy’s profile is steadily increasing and he has songs racking up tens of thousands of plays on platforms like Spotify and SoundCloud. The way Turbeazy sees it, staying positive and dedicated, especially when the goal seems so far away, is the only way forward.

Rick Ross Announces The Release Date For His Eleventh Album, ‘Richer Than I Ever Been’

by
rick ross
Getty Image

In hip-hop, it’s always been something of an accomplishment to reach double digits in your album catalog — something only a handful of well-established, super-successful rappers have accomplished in the forty or so years the genre’s been at the forefront of American pop culture. One of those artists is Rick Ross, who crossed that milestone two years ago with Port Of Miami 2. While absolutely no one would blame him for wanting to take a break, it’s clear Ross just flat-out loves to rap — a fact evidenced by today’s announcement that his 11th studio album, Richer Than I Ever Been, is coming next month.

Scheduled to release on December 10 through Maybach Music and Epic, the promo for Richer Than I Ever Been will kick off next Friday, November 12, with the lead single “Outlawz” featuring 21 Savage and Jazmine Sullivan. Ross shared the cover for Richer Than I Ever Been, which features photography by veteran hip-hop shooter Jonathan Mannion, on Instagram. Mannion himself also posted the cover, explaining the concept in his caption: “They can’t even see you, Rozay,” he wrote. “You are in a whole other stratosphere in this moment. Honored to sync up with you for this, our 5th, album campaign.”

Richer Than I Ever Been is due 12/10 via Maybach and Epic.

Latto’s ‘Soufside’ Video Gives A High-Speed Tour Of Her Hometown

by

A week after Latto ran roughshod over an impressive LA Leakers freestyle, the Atlanta native returns to give a high-speed tour of her hometown in the patriotic “Soufside” video. Shouting out the streets, businesses, and landmarks she grew up around, Latto delivers a boastful, assertive, and lyrically dextrous verse, name-checking Southlake, Pointe South, Rex Road, Riverdale, Lovejoy, and more as she cruises through Atlanta in a convertible and posts up outside the Southside Discount Mall (we call ’em swap meets in LA) with a massive crew.

The new track marks a return to the trap-inspired, bass-heavy sounds that first helped Latto make her name — y’know, before she changed it — after her last single, “Big Energy,” threw longtime fans for a loop with its pop-friendly beat. While it’s nice when artists can show versatility, rap fans are often skeptical of big stylistic changes, and here, Latto shows a powerful understanding of how to switch lanes while remaining anchored to her signature sounds. This gives her room to evolve without losing touch with her day-one fanbase, which is often the first step on the road to rap royalty. Give her another couple of years, and Latto just might go from “Queen Of Da Souf” to the ruler of the rap game (pun intended).

“Soufside,” along with “Big Energy” and “The Biggest,” are all set to lead up to the rapper’s second full-length studio album, which is due in early 2022.

Watch Latto’s “Soufside” video above.

Bobby Shmurda Looks To Make A ‘Splash’ With His Hungry New Single

by

Brooklyn rapper Bobby Shmurda has been steadily working toward a comeback ever since his release from prison earlier this year. In addition to returning to the stage at Rolling Loud — both the Miami and New York editions — he’s released a handful of new singles and guest appearances, including a remix to Eladio Carrion’s “Tata” with J Balvin and Daddy Yankee, the wide-eyed “No Time For Sleep Freestyle,” and now, his latest, the hungry “Splash.”

Over a sinister, piano-backed beat produced by Aloy and Danny Wolf, Bobby spits a tongue-twisting flow, cockily challenging foes with eye-popping taunts. His new, squelched delivery makes some of the bars harder to understand but “Splash” is much more about the vibe, creating the sensation of speeding down a highway so fast the tires of your vehicle leave the ground.

In addition to putting out new music, Bobby has also been on a philanthropic spree. In June, he arranged a “Father’s Day Give Back Brunch,” treating 200 families to a traditional Jamaican meal and giving out free haircuts for attendees. More recently, he sent 2,000 New York City students back to school with brand-new backpacks full of supplies, telling the kids at six schools “you guys are unstoppable.”

Listen to Bobby Shmurda’s new single “Splash” above.