Music

Kanye West Ascends To Heaven In His Gospel-Inflected ’24’ Video

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Kanye West’s fascination with the afterlife forms the basis of his latest Donda video, “24.” The video appears to be an excerpt from Kanye’s third listening event for the album at Chicago’s Soldier Field, during which he simulated his ascension to heaven as his late mom (for whom the album is titled) watches on beatifically.

It’s only the second video to emerge from the album’s lengthy, chaotic rollout, after “Come To Life” also made use of a part of the Chicago listening in which Kanye was literally set on fire. And while the spectacle of his listening events and the hype for the album was enough to lift the project to the top of the Billboard albums chart, it certainly had its shortcomings, detractors, and downfalls, as collaborators like Soulja Boy and Todd Rundgren criticized the recording process (as well as its final result), Drake allegedly trolled Kanye by leaking his Andre 3000 collaboration (disappointing both Andre and Tyler The Creator in the process), and Drake’s Certified Lover Boy out-streamed Donda on its way to replacing it atop the Billboard 200. With all the drama swirling around the album, perhaps releasing more videos will return focus back to the music.

Watch Kanye West’s “24” video above.

Donda is out now on Def Jam. Get it here.

Lil Nas X Threatens To Sue Himself With Parody Firm Billboards Promoting His Album

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Lil Nas X continues to be a master promoter in the week leading up to the release of his debut album. In addition to dropping a contractions video paying off the maternity photoshoot he shared a week ago, he’s now playing on the court-themed trailer for his “Industry Baby” video by sharing billboards threatening to sue… himself. The billboards, which popped up in Hollywood, are clear spoofs of similar cheesy billboard ads for real law firms. However, Nas’ billboards inform viewers they may be entitled to financial compensation for such silly reasons as being gay, being single, missing “the real America,” and crucially, hating Lil Nas X.

I’ve called Lil Nas X a masterful troll in the past but it bears repeating: The kid knows exactly how to turn any and all complaints against him into comedy gold, then use that gold to buy the adoration and attention of even more fans — and more complaints, ensuring a never-ending supply of promo fodder. Knowing that his Blackness, gayness, youth, and flamboyance will be used against him, he’s kind of like Eminem’s B. Rabbit in the 8 Mile finale, stocked up with lighthearted, self-deprecating gags that turn the light of scrutiny on his detractors and ensure that the crowd is firmly on his side.

Industry Baby, meanwhile, drops at midnight tonight via Columbia Records. It features appearances from Doja Cat, Elton John, Jack Harlow, Megan Thee Stallion, and Miley Cyrus — but no Black male artists, unfortunately. While some viewed that as intentional on Nas’ part, Kid Cudi called it part of hip-hop’s “homophobic cloud” — one that Nas’s new album hopes to help erase.

Frank Ocean Has Reportedly Been ‘Shopping A New Album’ At Several Record Labels

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Frank Ocean is notoriously tight-lipped about any possibility of any new music from him. It’s been nearly five years since the musician’s last full-length release and it was looking like he was starting to gear up for a new era of music in 2019 with his “In My Room” and “DHL” singles, which eventually ended up being one-off releases. But now, fans can hold onto hope that a new album is right around the corner thanks to new allegations that Ocean is in talks with several record labels.

Every once in a while, the internet lights up with reports that a new Ocean album is right around the corner. This time, the report comes from Hits Daily Double, which alleges Ocean is “shopping a new album” to several label heads. The report states that the musician has been “taking meetings and playing the music for execs,” and that the new album is “f*cking great.” Apparently, Ocean is being represented by attorney Laurie Soriano, who Complex reached out to for comment about Ocean’s alleged album.

If Ocean was in fact planning on rolling out an album on a new label, it would line up with his confirmed appearance at Coachella 2023. The California festival’s co-founder Paul Tollett recently revealed that Ocean was unavailable for next year’s Coachella, but is expected to headline in the future.

Nicki Minaj Fans Are Now Protesting Outside The CDC’s Atlanta Headquarters For Some Reason

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While Nicki Minaj exercises her right to free speech (which, again, is not a blanket protection against being ridiculed over said speech), her fans are exercising their right to assembly, as Atlanta’s Tori Cooper of CBS46 reports. Cooper has posted a video on Twitter from outside the Center For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta depicting a crowd holding signs, marching, and chanting in an apparent protest of the agency’s vaccination recommendations. Among other slogans, they can be heard shouting, “Nicki Minaj told the truth to me, Fauci lied to me.”

I made this joke before, but it bears repeating: Yikes, indeed.

Nicki Minaj has become an unlikely avatar of the anti-vax movement supported by right-wing pundits and internet forum conspiracy theorists since tweeting on Monday, “If I get vaccinated it won’t for the Met. It’ll be once I feel I’ve done enough research. I’m working on that now.” That tweet was accompanied by one in which she referenced a cousin in Trinidad who told her about a friend who suffered an adverse reaction from the vaccine: Swollen testes and impotence. Since then, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (which is a completely separate organization from the CDC, by the way) and Chief Medical Advisor to the President of the United States, debunked the story, reminding the public that there’s no mechanistic reason for the vaccine to have such an effect.

Trinidad’s Health Minister Dr. Terrence Deyalsingh went one step further, holding a press conference to denounce the story as a tall tale after taking stock of hospital admissions and finding no one suffering from such symptoms. Meanwhile, television hosts like Stephen Colbert lampooned the anecdote for its middle-school-dating-rumor-style sourcing and the apparent hilarity of blaming obvious STD symptoms on COVID-19 vaccine side effects rather than owning up to infidelity. However, despite the obvious funny factor of the backlash against Nicki Minaj, the protest at the CDC, though anemic it may be, highlights just how unfunny Nicki’s misuse of her platform really is.

Mdou Moctar’s ‘Afrique Victime’ Documentary Shows The Danger Of Making Music Under Boko Haram’s Control

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Niger band Mdou Moctar have made a name for themselves among US and global fans for their unique style of African-influenced rock music. Their recent album Afrique Victime was released in March of 2021, but was written during a time when Niger dealing with the pandemic and under the control of guerrilla organization Boko Haram. Their new Afrique Victime documentary details the hardships of playing music in Niger under the organization’s command.

Mdou Moctar’s 10-minute Afrique Victime documentary was filmed by American bassist Mikey Coltun, who flew to the Niger capital to meet up with the rest of band. The film’s opening gives some background to the situation in Niger, explaining that travel within the country had been restricted for white travelers:

The global pandemic trapped Mdou Moctar and his band in their home country of Niger. They could not leave to promote their upcoming album, Afrique Victime. Instead, American bassist Mikey Coltun flew to Niger, carrying cameras and recording equipment. Shortly after Mikey arrived, it became clear that it was too dangerous to travel within Niger due to the presence of guerrilla groups such as Boko Haram, which have come to prominence in the country’s power vacuum. So Mdou, Mikey, Ahmoudou and Souleymane met in Niamey, the capital. It was their first time together as a band since they played over 200 concerts worldwide in 2019.

Throughout the film, Coltun interviews members of the band about their experience making music in Niger. Guitarist Ahmoudou Madassane explained that it was dangerous to play shows in the country at the time, because there was a chance it would be met with violence by Boko Haram.

Watch Mdou Moctar’s Afrique Victime documentary above.

Afrique Victime is out now via Matador. Get it here.

BlueBucksClan Pays Homage To ‘Horace Grant’ In A Freewheeling ‘UPROXX Sessions’ Performance

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The latest UPROXX Sessions performers are BlueBucksClan, who bring their freewheeling single “Horace Grant” to the studio fresh off their participation in React Like You Know. The LA-based party-rap duo’s breakout hit exemplifies their penchant for peppering their songs with slick sports references. DJ and Jeeezy’s laid-back delivery belies the quick wits that have made them a fast favorite of the West Coast underground scene, while Ten11’s thumping beat ensures that the upbeat “Horace Grant” will remain a fixture of party playlists for the foreseeable future.

Starting out in 2019 after foregoing college scholarships to play football, BlueBucksClan’s fanbase has been steadily growing ever since the release of the duo’s debut mixtape Clan Way in October of that year. The duo’s most recent release is Clan Virus 2, which they dropped in March of this year after partnering with Universal. The tape saw an expansion of the duo’s fun-loving remit, adding appearances from big names like Hit-Boy, Lil Yachty, and Quavo to a guest list that also featured their South LA compatriot and fellow rising star Bino Rideaux (who is also their Out Of The Blue labelmate). While the goal may have been to broaden their appeal, they also stuck closely to their guns, riding their off-kilter flows and gut-busting punchlines to a level of buzz most rap rookies can only dream about.

Watch BlueBucksClan’s UPROXX Sessions performance of “Horace Grant” 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.

Saweetie, Crocs, And Hidden Valley Ranch Team Up For An Unlikely But Fitting Collaboration

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Crocs

Despite having a slew of inescapably catchy singles under her belt and an album on the way, Saweetie has become just as well-known for her brand partnerships and cast-iron gut over the past few years. So, it should come as no surprise that her latest endeavor combines both for an unlikely, yet fitting collaboration. The Bay Area rapper has teamed up with Crocs, which has increased its visibility thanks to collaborations with Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, and Post Malone, and Hidden Valley Ranch, which she’s been known to slather on her spaghetti, to promote a new pair of the slipper brand’s signature rubber clogs adorned in food-related Jibbitz charms.

The Hidden Valley Ranch x Crocs Clogs are off-white-colored and accented with green speckles, drawing a resemblance to the dressing. Each of the Jibbitz charms are based on the items that folks love to dip in their ranch like fries, chicken nuggets, and vegetables. There are nine charms in all, and all are included with the clogs, which will only be available for purchase online through a drawing system. Entry is open from today to Monday, September 20 at 12pm ET. You can also check out Saweetie’s Instagram Story for a link to enter the big-city exclusive sweepstakes to win the shoes and a free pizza (in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York).

Check out some shots of the shoes (and some choice fan reactions) below.

Lil Nas X Used To Smoke So Much Weed He Had Pneumonia For An Entire Month Without Knowing It

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Lil Nas X is just hours away from the release of his anticipated debut album, Montero, which is slated to feature some vulnerable lyrics about his upbringing. Ahead of the album’s release, the musician sat down with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe to discuss the LP and just how far he’s come from his “Old Town Road” days.

Lil Nas X and Lowe’s conversation turned to his early college days, when he first found that music gave him an outlet to discover his purpose. At the time, Lil Nas X was coping with feelings of extreme anxiety, which he tried to ignore. But there was also a time where he was coping by smoking excessive amounts of weed. In fact, he would smoke so much that he even had pneumonia for an entire month without knowing it.

Replying to Lowe’s inquiry about substances, Lil Nas X said he used to smoke weed several times a day:

“I’d smoke like seven times a day. I was smoking so much that I had pneumonia and I didn’t realize it for like an entire month. They were like, ‘Oh, you really have to stop smoking right now.’ There was literally liquid in my lungs. It was crazy.”

Watch Lil Nas X’s full interview with Lowe above.

Montero is out 9/17 via Columbia. Pre-order it here.

J Balvin Performs His Scenic Tiny Desk Concert From New York’s East River

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While NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts have switched to an “at-home” format over the course of the last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the guests have branched out, stretching the concept to incorporate diners, nail salons, and rental spaces to perform their fan-favorite hits. Reggaeton star J Balvin takes it a step further in his scenic Tiny Desk Concert, performing his set from at atop a barge floating on New York’s East River, with the Brooklyn Bridge hanging over the gorgeous backdrop.

The set, which opens with “Vestido” and closes with his latest hit “In Da Getto,” also includes emphatic performances of “Que Locura,” “OTRO FILI,” and “F40,” all of which appear on his newly released album, Jose, released September 10 via Universal Latin.

In addition to releasing his new album and performing on Tiny Desk, J Balvin’s busy 2021 has included a performance at Governor’s Ball, a feature on “Nirvana” from Skepta’s new EP All In, a remix of Eladio Carrion’s “Tata” featuring Bobby Shmurda and Daddy Yankee, and an appearance on Metallica’s covers album, turning the band’s “Wherever I Roam” into a reggaeton anthem. Balvin also teamed up with UPS to support Latinx small businesses.

Watch J Balvin’s Tiny Desk Concert performance above.

Posty Fest 2021’s Lineup Includes Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Uzi Vert, Jack Harlow, And More

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Now that large-scale events can once again take place, festivals that had to cancel their 2020 events are now making a 2021 comeback. This means that Post Malone‘s curated festival, Posty Fest, is also set to kick off this fall. Now expanding from one to two days, Posty Fest 2021 has unveiled its lineup, which includes some of today’s biggest hip-hop stars.

Taking place over the weekend of October 30-31 2021, Posty Fest is set to be held outdoors outside of AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. Along with Post Malone, Posty Fest’s 2021 lineup includes sets by 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 Malone originally started the festival in 2018 with a sold-out extravaganza at Dos Equis Pavilion in Dallas. After seeing major success with its inaugural event, Posty Fest expanded to AT&T Stadium in 2019, which is home to the Dallas Cowboys. Since the 2020 event was canceled, this year’s Posty Fest is offering some special travel packages to celebrate its return. Fans who buy the travel package will receive a three-day stay at a hotel, a VIP or GA Festival ticket, Posty Fest official merch, and exclusive open bar event on Friday night in downtown Dallas.

Get tickets to Posty Fest 2021 here.

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