Music

Mick Jenkins Drops His Long-Awaited Comeback Album, ‘Elephant In The Room’

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Chicago rapper Mick Jenkins returns with his new album, Elephant In The Room — the first full-length project he’s released since 2018’s Pieces Of A Man. While he did release an EP titled The Circus last year, Elephant In The Room is the first chance Mick fans have had to hear him detail his life’s changes since 2018 and he doesn’t disappoint; from the very first bar of the album, he tells us exactly how it’s been and how it’s going to be.

“Give a f*ck if yo’ pockets low, we been living lowkey,” he rhymes on “The Valley Of The Shadow of Death.” “Wonder how we was popping bottles, this far below deep.” It’s clear that some things haven’t changed: Mick’s emotive, vulnerable songwriting remains as compelling as ever, while his stark observations and razor-sharp wit still cut to the bone of any number of real-life topics, from “Things You Could Die For If Doing While Black” to feeling underappreciated on “Scottie Pippen.”

Mick rolled out the album with an engaging, revealing website that detailed his thoughts on crafting the album and on the songwriting philosophy behind additions such as “Contacts.” You can find the website here and use the password “Carefree” to access Mick’s calendar, contacts, notes, reminders, and photos. Listen to the full album below.

Reason Releases His ‘No More, No Less: Demo 1’ EP Featuring Benny The Butcher, Isaiah Rashad, And Wale

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Reason

Carson, California-bred TDE rapper Reason has returned with a new EP, No More, No Less: Demo 1, which features appearances from Adé, Benny the Butcher, Doe Boy, Reason’s TDE label-mate Isaiah Rashad, and Wale. Reason calls the EP “a small collection of thoughts and moments that I’ve been asked for repeatedly” and explained that he released it because it was “something I wanted to give to y’all in the meantime” while he’s finishing a proper follow-up to his 2020 album, New Beginnings.

The three-song effort opens with “Left Hand” featuring Benny, Isaiah, and Wale, a block thumper that finds the three rappers trading verses over a variety of different beats. That’s followed by the hypnotic “Not For Me,” which reunites Adé and Wale and includes Benny, then the set concludes with the woozy, downtempo “12am In ATL,” which features Benny, Isaiah, and Doe Boy. Clocking in at nine minutes and 53 seconds in total, No More, No Less showcases Reason’s impressive wordplay by setting it alongside some of the most prolific and clever rappers in the game today.

The EP also helps set up Reason as part of the vanguard of the post-Kendrick TDE roster the label will have to get behind after a “weird time” for TDE in 2020. Along with Isaiah, Ray Vaughn, and Doechii, Reason is carrying the torch for the West Coast rap label as it evolves in the wake of Kendrick Lamar’s departure.

Listen to the EP below.

YG Leads A Lowrider Caravan In His Sunny ‘Sign Language’ Video

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YG is back with a new G-Funk banger to take advantage of the unseasonably warm weather in California. “Sign Language” is exactly what its title suggests: A gangbanging anthem encouraging listeners to talk with their hands, whether throwing up their sets or throwing punches at foes. With a drop-top-worthy beat from Realmind and Terrace Martin, YG leads a caravan of lowriders through the streets of LA, shows off some tricky footwork in a parking lot, and posts up at Angels Gate Park in San Pedro to soak up some sun at the picturesque basketball court.

“Sign Language” is YG’s first solo single of the year, but far from his only output so far in 2021. He’s actually had quite the prolific 2021, releasing a pair of projects including Gang Affiliated, a compilation showcase for his 4Hunnid label’s new signees Day Sulan and D3Szn; and Kommunity Service, YG’s joint mixtape with Sacramento rapper Mozzy which featured a string of breakout singles including “Perfect Timing” with Blxst, “Vibe With You” featuring Ty Dolla Sign, and “Dangerous” with Chicago rapper G Herbo. YG also appeared on OhGeesy’s solo single “Big Bad Wolf” and is booked to perform at Snoop Dogg’s Once Upon A Time In LA Festival. Could all this activity mean a follow-up to My Life 4Hunnid is coming soon?

Watch the “Sign Language” video above.

Big Sean Is No Longer On GOOD Music

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For nearly the entire time the world at large has known Big Sean, the Detroit rapper has released his music under Kanye West’s GOOD Music imprint as one of Kanye’s earliest and arguably most important signees. However, over the years, the GOOD Music roster has seen its fair share of changes as some of its mainstays moved on, leaving Sean as one of the last original members of the GOOD Music family still on the label. That is, until this Friday, when he and Hit-Boy released their joint EP, What You Expect — which they apparently did under Sean’s own label imprint distributed by Def Jam, according to Sean.

“By the way this the first project where I’m on my own label as well,” he shared via Twitter. “No more lil dawg sh*t!!!! I bossed up!”

Sean explained the change when fans questioned why he was no longer on GOOD Music. “That’s a forever brotherhood, but business-wise, I had to start getting a bigger cut!” he elaborated. “I worked my way out that deal.”

Sean had previously reflected on the “brotherhood” of GOOD Music and how it changed over the years. “I don’t know what happened,” he tweeted. “Guess those the GOOD ol days. It’s all love, but we use to really be clique’d up.”

Since then, though, various members have moved onto other endeavors — including the label’s founder, Kanye, who now goes by just “Ye” and has been busy launching his own new imprint, Yeezy Sound.

Lil Uzi Vert Laments Lost Love On The Deceptively Upbeat ‘Demon High’

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Lil Uzi Vert’s been promoting his new project The Pink Tape for the past few weeks, first promising to release it by Halloween then delaying it to make sure “it won’t suck.” Today, he gave fans the first taste of how the tape will sound, sharing the deceptively upbeat single “Demon High.” Employing a Pro Logic-produced, ’80s New Wave-inspired beat, Uzi dances his cares away as he laments a lost love, expressing his distrust for women. A more traditional rap verse on the song’s bridge finds Uzi coming out of his funk to do a little boasting before lapsing back into his insecurities.

Ever since dropping his double album Eternal Atake in 2020, Uzi’s been more active than ever, both musically and socially. Throughout the year, he’s popped up songs from Internet Money (“His & Hers“), the late Juice WRLD (“Lucid Dreams (Remix)“), Trippie Redd (“Holy Smokes“), Isaiah Rashad (“From The Garden“), and Meek Mill (“Blue Notes 2“). Meanwhile, Uzi’s social calendar has been pretty full as well; in addition to being booked at this weekend’s Rolling Loud, he also went to a friend’s wedding, gifting the happy couple with stacks of cash.

Listen to “Demon High” above.

Lil Uzi Vert is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Yung Miami’s NSFW ‘Rap Freaks’ Video Calls Out Her Industry Crushes

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Miami rap duo City Girls is already well-known for their raunchy rhymes, but on Yung Miami’s new solo single “Rap Freaks,” she pulls out all the stops. Taking a page from Lil Kim’s “Dreams” and Nicki Minaj’s “Barbie Dreams,” Miami names names, calling out all her industry crushes. She includes Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Durk (and his partner India Royale), Future, Meek Mill, Moneybagg Yo, 50 Cent, Rod Wave, and her rumored beau Diddy. The song is accompanied by a BDSM-themed, borderline-NSFW music video featuring Miami doing the splits on a ceiling swing clad in black leather with a matching mask.

Both City Girls members, JT and Miami, have been branching out lately, contributing solo verses to new projects from their peers in the rap game. Miami’s latest effort was a feature on Migos member Quavo’s solo single, “Strub Tha Ground.” Its video, which reproduced legendary Atlanta festival Freaknik, found the two getting cozy, making Quavo’s absence from her “Rap Freaks” verse notable. Meanwhile, JT’s new solo verse went to Summer Walker’s “Ex For A Reason” single; JT also appeared in the Atlanta singer’s album promo trailer. The solo work hasn’t, however, stopped City Girls from continuing to collaborate; their summer single “Twerkulator” seemed to indicate that they have more group work coming soon.

Watch Yung Miami’s “Rap Freaks” video above.

Fetty Wap Was Arrested At Rolling Loud On Federal Drug Charges

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Before he ever got the chance to set foot on stage for his Rolling Loud set, Fetty Wap was arrested on federal drug charges Thursday afternoon at Citi Field in New York. TMZ reports that the New Jersey rapper was arrested by FBI agents on unspecified charges. NBC New York revealed that the indictment against the rapper is still under seal but that he was one of around six people charged.

Fetty had been largely out of the spotlight after 2015, when his inescapable singles “Trap Queen” and “My Way” dominated the airwaves. Since then, he’s had several run-ins with the police, including a 2017 arrest for drunk driving and a 2019 one for assault. As NBC notes, Fetty has had a rough run in the past year or so, as his brother was killed in New Jersey last year and his four-year-old daughter died earlier this year. He’d just released his new album The Butterfly Effect last week and performed at Rolling Loud in Miami earlier this year, so it seemed that he was bouncing back.

Rolling Stone notes that Fetty Wap — whose real name is William Junior Maxwell II — will be arraigned later today at a Central Islip federal court. Fetty’s absence was noted by fans at Rolling Loud, but apparently remained unexplained for concert-goers.

Joe Exotic Called On Cardi B To Help Him Get Out Of Jail And She Responded

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Next month will bring the premiere of Tiger King 2, for which Netflix shared a trailer a couple days ago. Ahead of that, though, Joe Exotic is looking for help with getting out of prison and has called on Cardi B for assistance, a call that Cardi recently answered.

On October 21, Exotic’s unverified Twitter account shared a photo of a handwritten note that is addressed to Cardi and reads, “When you see the truth in Tiger King 2 I need you to rally everyone together to be my voice of freedom! Be my hero girl.” Cardi finally saw the post yesterday, as she shared it and wrote, “Wait is this the real tiger king?”

John Michael Phillips, Exotic’s lawyer, responded to Cardi’s tweet, writing, “I represent Joe. He heard about your message from prison. I’d love to put you two together on a phone call next week.” He later added, “I can’t even imagine facilitating the call between @iamcardib and @joe_exotic. That collaboration may make the world explode. Here kitty kitty (the WAP remix) is so 2022. Cardi, I can probably get you on a call with Joe next week. He’s grateful for you taking on Carole early.”

Exotic sees an ally in Cardi due to her previous run-ins with Carole Baskin. Baskin shared criticisms about Cardi over the animals used in her “WAP” video, and Cardi responded, “I’m not gonna engage with Carole Baskin on that. Like, that’s just ridiculous, you know? Oh, Lord. Like, girl: you killed your g*ddamn husband.”

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

Megan Thee Stallion Drops Her New Mixtape ‘Something For Thee Hotties’

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It seems like Megan Thee Stallion never sleeps. Though she told fans back in April that she was planning to enter a phase of rest and regeneration, looks like that didn’t take. Just a few months later, she’s back with a new mixtape, this one devoted to her dedicated Hotties. The Texas rapper first teased Something For Thee Hotties last week, and shared the tracklist yesterday. Now, the tape is officially here, and it’s more of the certified bangers we’ve come to expect and love from Houston’s finest.

Aside from putting out a whole new project for her diehard listeners, Meg has also been busy doing many other things, like oh, say, graduating from college! Then there’s the intro she gave for Joc Pederson before Game 2 of the World Series – in which she bestows on him the highest honor, calling him a “bad B” — or the recent remix of BTS’ smash hit “Butter” she hopped on. Basically, anywhere you look, whether it’s hip-hop, pop, a college campus, or even baseball, Megan will be there, dominating the conversation and doing her absolute best. This woman’s work ethic is a thing of beauty, and so is her new tape.

Stream Something For Thee Hotties above.

Something For The Hotties is out now via 1501 Certified Ent./300. Get it here.

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