Music

Ray J Started Trending On Social Media After Some Fans Realized He’s Brandy’s Brother

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It’s a beautiful thing when the internet is used for good. Like helping the world learn something new, for example, rather than for negative things like cyberbullying and stan culture. An example of the former came on Thursday when a fan learned that singers Ray J and Brandy are siblings. It’s a fact that many people already knew, but better late than never to learn about it. That fan’s tweet likely came after Ray J got a tattoo of his sister’s artist logo, but their comments quickly went viral as some also learned something new as a result of it.

Others used it as an opportunity to reflect on Ray J’s biggest media moments and to remind people about the things the singer accomplished in his career.

One person recalled Ray J’s infamous interview with Complex where he claimed his Bunny Eyez glasses were indestructible, something that Complex’s Speedy Gonzalez proved incorrect just moments later during the sit-down. Another fan brought back a 2015 interview with Vince Staples on HOT 97 where the rapper asked for respect to be placed on the singer’s name due to the many things he’s accomplished in his career.

On the flip side, a number of fans had fed up reactions to people just learning that Ray J and Brandy are siblings. “I think I’m to old for Twitter because users are just now finding out that Brandy and Ray J are siblings & I’ve never been more confused on how someone can not know that,” one person wrote. Another person echoed a similar message, writing, “The fact Ray J is trending bcz people didn’t know him and Brandy are siblings is mind blowing.”

You can read more tweets about Ray J below.

Lizzo’s Ted Talk On The History Of Twerking Is Everything You Hoped It Would Be And More

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Lizzo has been one of the most vocal proponents of body positivity in pop music in recent memory. As a Black woman of size, she’s been very open about the cultural pressures she’s faced, not only growing up, but even after making it as a global star. So, she took it upon herself to help share the history of twerking with the world, since this ass-shaking dance also represents a major component in her own acceptance of herself. In the talk, she lets fans know that her butt was her least favorite part of her own body, and that embracing twerking was what helped her see it as a positive.

But she also wants to be clear about the rich twerking of history, which was derived from Black people and culture, with a direct parallel to West African dances like mapouka. As Lizzo explains, the dance was carried over to America through the transatlantic slave trade, and she traces it from Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith to Josephine Baker and more. “Black people will not be erased from the history, the creation, and the innovation of twerking,” she asserts. And it’s definitely stars like Lizzo that will make sure this history remains intact. Check out the full talk above.

Burna Boy And Polo G ‘Want It All’ In Their Cinematic Collaboration

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Afropop sensation Burna Boy is on a tear. Not only does he have an upcoming headlining set at the Hollywood Bowl — as the first African artist to ever do so — but he’s steadily been dropping a stream of new music that continues to buoy him past the success of his Grammy-winning album, Twice As Tall. Today’s latest actually features one of his most high-profile collaborations to date, with none other than Polo G joining him on the yearning “Want It All.”

In the video for the collaboration, the two artists take turns flexing about their recent accomplishments, recollecting how hard things used to be, and facing up to the pressure that their current success has created. Of course, Polo G is a rising Chicago rapper who is riding high off the success of his No. 1 album, Hall Of Fame, and just announced his own headlining tour in support of it.

Speaking on the collab, Burna said he’s had his eye on Polo for a minute, and was looking forward to working together. “I’ve been watching him for some time, and I just knew this had to get done, but it had to get done in the perfect way where the whole world gets to feel the reality of both of us,” he said. Check out the video above as both artists bask in the glow.

Wale And J. Cole Reunite On The J Dilla-Sampling ‘Poke It Out’

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Wale and J. Cole are a match made in hip-hop heaven, proving as much once again on their J Dilla-sampling new single, “Poke It Out.” The two former XXL Freshmen continue their long history of bringing out the best in each other on their smooth new jam, which interpolates the Jay Dee-produced beat from 1999 debut solo single “Vivrant Thing.”

The original was a huge hit in its own right, giving Q-Tip his highest-charting single to date; Wale and Cole’s version, produced by Cool & Dre, updates the lyrics but keeps a similar theme, letting the two rappers praise the beauty of a female companion with their usual slick, wordplay-laden rhymes. The two also shout out female rappers Coi Leray and Megan Thee Stallion as a way of touting their broad and inclusive tastes.

The single is the latest from Wale’s upcoming album Folarin II, which he also announced is set for release on October 22 through Warner Records. So far, he’s released a pair of other singles: “Angles” and the Mike Jones-sampling “Down South” featuring Texans Maxo Kream and Yella Beezy. From the singles released so far, it appears Wale’s latest album will pay homage to classic hip-hop as he parallels his legacy with those of his musical heroes in his ongoing efforts to prove himself one of the greatest rappers of all time.

Listen to “Poke It Out” above and pre-order Folarin II, out 10/22 on Warner Records, here.

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

Dr. Dre Will Play The 2022 Super Bowl Halftime Show With Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, And Snoop Dogg

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Dr. Dre

As the Super Bowl returns to Los Angeles in 2022, some of the city’s brightest stars (and few out-of-town friends) will join forces for a hometown blowout. Dr. Dre has been announced as the performer for the Super Bowl LVI Pepsi Halftime Show — and he’s bringing a squad of his best-known buddies along, including Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, and Snoop Dogg. So far, there’s no word on 50 Cent, but you can probably bet that where Dre and Em are, 50 is likely to come strolling out to the propulsive beat of “In Da Club.”

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Securing Dr. Dre as halftime performer is a coup for the NFL, which has caught flak in the past over its musical choices. There were even some grumbles about the 2021 selection of The Weeknd despite his near-universal popularity and the incredible show he eventually put on. Two years before, the NFL was criticized for not including iconic Atlanta performers rather than Maroon 5, so it’s nice that the NFL is acknowledging that Dr. Dre basically is LA. It’s also incredible that he’s doing the show just a year after suffering a brain aneurysm.

Pepsi apparently knew as much, as Todd Kaplan, VP of Marketing, said in the press release. “Artists like Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg were at the forefront of the West Coast hip hop revolution, so to be able to bring them back to LA, where it all began alongside Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar will prove to be an epic, unforgettable celebration of the impact hip-hop has today,” he said. “The Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show has become a landmark cultural moment, bringing about some of the most iconic performances over the years – from JLo and Shakira to Lady Gaga to The Weeknd – and we are thrilled to bring together such an incredible array of talented, record-breaking musicians to put on a performance for the ages.”

Super Bowl LVI will take place on February 13, 2022 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.

Q-Tip Remembers How Columbia And Def Jam Passed On Signing Megan Thee Stallion Despite His Co-Sign

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Trying to get on in the hip-hop industry is always going to be a grind, but having a huge titan co-sign you is usually a huge help. Megan Thee Stallion might be one of the biggest artists in rap at the moment, but back when she was first trying to break into music, she apparently made a big impression on a legendary artist — none other than Q-Tip himself. In a clip from My Expert Opinion, the A Tribe Called Quest rapper explains that even with all of his own connections on the label side of things, both Columbia Records and Def Jam weren’t very interested in signing Megan when she was just an unknown rapper from Houston.

“Prior to this, my co-signs were Dilla, Nas, Redman […] so I’ve done it a few times,” he explains. “So this one in particular we’re sitting at the meeting [with Columbia] and it’s great. The dude comes back, ‘So we saw the views, yeah she’s good. We could just give her like… $30,000′ or some sh*t like that.’ Just say you don’t want to sign her, b! Don’t f*cking embarrass me. So I took her to Def Jam, but the same thing happened. And I was like I guess the co-sign isn’t working anymore. And she wound up being Megan Thee Stallion. The co-sign is kind of flimsy now, because they rely on data… I was like ‘Don’t you see who she is? She is going to be the wave!’”

Megan did post about the trip back when it happened, which backs up his story, in case there was any doubt:

Check out the relevant clips in the tweets below or the whole segment up top.

Joseph Chilliams Processes Recovering From A Traumatic Injury On ‘I Ain’t Been Outside’

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Pivot Gang rapper Joseph Chilliams has had a relatively quiet couple of years aside from releasing the Sen Morimoto collaboration “Wishlist” toward the end of 2020. Part of the reason is a traumatic injury he recently endured that left him unable to return as quickly as he wished in 2021. The Chicago-bred rapper explains what happened on a new track, “I Ain’t Been Outside,” which describes the harrowing experience of both the initial event and his long road to recovery.

“Got sucker punched with a gun,” he tweeted, sharing the track to his followers. “I have a plate in my face forever now. Made a song about trying to recover.” On the downtempo track, he describes being put on narcotic painkillers, looking like Kanye (who suffered a broken jaw in a car crash in 2002), and losing weight as a result of “struggling to eat.” Even after being released from the hospital, he had to process light sensitivity and looking “out of place hopping around” on his way to the strip club with the rest of the Pivot Gang. “PTSD, pretty sure I need therapy,” he admits, “But tonight I’m just vibing at a party with my n****s and my shorty as I sing along merrily.”

Unfortunately, Joseph’s injury wasn’t the only tragedy the Pivot Gang suffered this year. In August, the group’s producer Squeak was shot to death in the North Austin neighborhood of Chicago at the age of 26. Hopefully, Joseph has a speedy recovery and the crew can get back on track after their triumphant 2019.

Yung Baby Tate Encouraged Fans To Post ‘Natural’ Selfies In Response To A Troll’s Body-Shaming

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In addition to cultivating a flourishing career, Atlanta rapper-singer Yung Baby Tate is apparently a world-class clapback artist, as she recently proved when an Instagram influencer tried to body-shame her for having natural belly fat.

Ayesha Howard, who goes by @little.ms.golden on Instagram, commented on a photo of Yung Baby Tate performing at Afropunk over the weekend, apparently incensed by Tate’s caption praising natural bodies. Quoting Beyonce, Tate wrote, “As Queen Bey once said, “wanna see some REAL A$$?! Baby here’s your chance!” Shoutout to all my natural bellied bodies. I see you, I am you, I love you. No matter WHAT my body looks like, it is MINE and I love it! Please go project your insecurities onto a piece of paper, burn it, and throw it away. Then go look in the mirror and tell yourself how much you are loved.”

Howard, who seems to have taken the caption as a diss to women who get plastic surgery, commented, “I’m all for being natural and loving the skin you are in but that’s not just what a natural body looks like that’s a natural body with no discipline, structure and poor eating habits in their lifestyle…Girls that work out don’t look like this.” She also equated the belly fat to poor health, which… girl, no. “She’s a performer she should want the best for herself all around,” she wrote. “[I]t’s not just about looks but in her job presentation is everything and she needs to be healthy enough to do it.”

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Tate apparently had time to respond. In a tweet, she attributed Howard’s comments to pettiness and jealousy, writing, “Everyone is saying imma eat the unmarried Ayesha up for her comments on my belly but honestly her life is rocky enough. I think she saw the word “baby” in my name and got triggered so I’ll give her a pass on this beautiful WEDnesday.” Tate wasn’t finished yet, though. Next, she posted a clip of herself driving in her car and lip-syncing to her upcoming single “Pedi” on which she crows, “Real ass bitch and I might be crazy, but at least I’m authentic.”

Finally, she turned the whole exchange into a positive, teachable moment, posting a tweet reading, “natural bodied babes quote this with ur fav body pics!” Since then, she’s been retweeting and affirming followers sending her their photos, and reminding followers that “MY BODY is MY BODY to work on or NOT!”

See the exchange and Tate’s encouraging comebacks above.

Yung Baby Tate is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

99 Neighbors Cruise Through A Smooth ‘Eastside’ Invitation For ‘UPROXX Sessions’

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99 Neighbors issue a smooth invitation on their groovy single “Eastside,” pairing the laid-back, melodic track with a casual performance on the latest episode of UPROXX Sessions. The group, which normally consists of seven members, came through Uproxx Studios with a stripped-down, two-man lineup consisting of rappers Sam Paulino and Hanknative, who provide all the vocals on the song, while Jared Fier, Juju, and Somba make their presence known on the lilting, midtempo beat. Other members of the group include Aidan Ostby, a vocalist, Connor “Swank” Stankevich, also a rapper, and Shane Kaseta, the group’s graphic designer and photographer.

First-time listeners might be surprised to learn that the group hails from Burlington, Vermont, which is not exactly a hotbed of the jazz, R&B, and hip-hop that influences their sound. However, once the band formed in 2018, it didn’t take them long to acquire national recognition, thanks in part to securing the co-management services of Pat Corcoran, who formerly managed Chance The Rapper. 99 Neighbors were included as the first act in Corcoran’s 2019 label deal with Warner Records and they’ve steadily grown their profile since.

Watch 99 Neighbors’ groovy performance of “Eastside” above.

UPROXX Sessions is Uproxx’s performance show featuring the hottest up-and-coming acts you should keep an eye on. Featuring creative direction from LA promotion collective, Ham On Everything, and taking place on our “bathroom” set designed and painted by Julian Gross, UPROXX Sessions is a showcase of some of our favorite performers, who just might soon be yours, too.

99 Neighbors is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Post Malone’s Posty Fest Is Now Postponed Just Two Weeks After Unveiling Its Lineup

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It’s only been a few months since the live music and touring industry has reopened, but things have been changing rapidly. Some artists like Jason Isbell have canceled or postponed shows after encountering issues with venues enforcing vaccine policies, while others like J. Cole face complex production issues. Post Malone’s Posty Fest is now falling into the latter category as the event is now postponed due to technical problems.

Though Posty Fest’s lineup was just unveiled two weeks ago, organizers at Live Nation explained to Rolling Stone why they have decided to move the event to 2022:

“Due to logistical issues impacting the production of the festival, Posty Fest is rescheduling to 2022. Refunds available at point of purchase. We can’t wait to make 2022 our biggest year yet. Stay safe everyone, we’ll see you soon.”

Posty Fest was original set to be held outdoors outside of AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. Along with Post Malone, Posty Fest’s 2021 lineup included sets by today’s top hip-hop stars like Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Uzi Vert, Roddy Ricch, Jack Harlow, $uicideboy$, Polo G, Rod Wave, Tyga, Iann Dior, Koe Wetzel, Turnstile, Tyla Yaweh, Flo Milli, Kaash Paige, Kenny Mason, Peach Tree Rascals, RMR, Gatecreeper, Clever, LoveLeo, and more. Posty Fest hasn’t yet confirmed whether or not their lineup will stay the same, but it seems as though they’ll share more details about the 2022 event as it draws nearer.

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