Music

The Weeknd Is Now The United Nations’ World Food Programme Goodwill Ambassador

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Less than two years after arriving with After Hours, The Weeknd is just moments away from delivering his sixth album to the world. It’s the latest in increased activity from the singer such a short time after he dropped off his 2020 album. The shortlist of moments from him include winning the Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award, continuing work on an upcoming HBO series, collaborating with artists like Kanye West, Doja Cat, and Belly, and winning a number of music awards after events like the Juno and Billboard Music Awards.

Next up for the singer comes a new role with the United Nations. The Weeknd was recently named The United Nations World Food Programme Goodwill Ambassador. The position was announced with a statement from the singer himself.

“The U.N. World Food Programme is doing urgent and important work to change and save lives on a daily basis and I feel passionately about addressing world hunger and helping people in need,” he said. “Our partnership is an authentic extension of all our efforts and intentions to help those in need and bring an end to so much suffering.”

The new position with The United Nations comes after a number of donations to humanitarian causes including $1 million to the U.N. World Food Programme’s work in Ethiopia. The Weeknd is of Ethiopian descent as his parents emigrated to Toronto before his birth.

“Whether he is performing or speaking out about global hunger, The Weeknd’s voice is powerful and inspiring, only matched by his dedication to helping people around the globe,” Barron Segar, CEO and President of World Food Program USA, said before adding, “We are honored that he has joined our mission.”

Machine Gun Kelly Says His ‘Born With Horns’ Album Will Be ‘More Guitar-Heavy’ And Lyrically ‘Deeper’

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Machine Gun Kelly has found great success since he fully pivoted into the punk-rock lane with his 2020 album, Tickets To My Downfall. The project, which arrived after his rap-rock album, Hotel Diablo, became his first No. 1 album and his first Platinum-selling album. While some, like Slipknot’s Corey Taylor, are not too fond of his position in the rock world, Kelly is content on journeying further into the genre with his upcoming album, Born With Horns.

According to Billboard, during a recent interview on Sunday Today With Willie Geist, Kelly revealed what fans can expect on the new project, which features work with Travis Barker.

“It feels more guitar-heavy for sure, lyrically it definitely goes deeper – but I never like to do anything the same,” Kelly said. “Every album is a juxtaposition of the last album. So I went and studied ‘Tickets [To My Downfall]’, and I heard the bright sound that I had, and for this album I just turned the lights off.”

He added, “I’m not scared anymore, there’s nothing holding me back from being my true self – and my true self can’t be silenced, can’t be restrained. It’s a force, it’s like a hurricane. Can’t stop that, it just goes until it feels like stopping, and I don’t feel like stopping anytime soon.”

Kelly shared “Papercuts,” the lead single for Born With Horns, back in August with a Cole Bennett-directed video that featured an appearance from Travis Barker.

The entirety of Kelly’s interview on Sunday Today With Willie Geist premieres will air Sunday at 8 AM EST on NBC.

Kehlani And Russ Tease Fans With An Possible Joint Album

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In 2020, Kehlani and Russ both took big steps in their careers. Kehlani dropped her second album It Was Good Until It Wasn’t, which proved one of the most popular R&B projects of 2021. Russ, on the other hand, sharpened his artistry with Shake The Snow Globe. Now it looks like they may bless their respective fan bases with a collaborative album, which they teased on social media.

Kehlani kicked things off with a video of her and Russ at a party with the caption “a mixtape or ? @russ.” Afterward, a Kehlani fan page reposted the video on their Twitter account with the caption “MAKE IT HAPPEN. @Kehlani x @russdiemon via Kehlani IG Stories.” Russ responded, “Russ x Kehlani project [eye emoji].”

The upcoming project would not be the first time two have worked together. Last summer, they teamed up on “Take You Back” collaboration and its elegant music video. Until the potential project’s arrival, fans can keep an eye open for Kehlani’s upcoming third album, Blue Water Road as well as additional singles from Russ, who’s dropped a new song on a weekly basis since the beginning of May.

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

R. Kelly’s Streaming Numbers Took A Massive Leap Despite His Recent Conviction

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R. Kelly was recently found guilty of kidnapping, racketeering, and sexual exploitation of a child during his trial in a Brooklyn court. The ruling came after seven weeks of shocking and graphic testimonies from witnesses. The conviction resulted in the removal of Kelly’s YouTube channel. Unfortunately, that did not stopa boost in his streaming numbers. According to Rolling Stone, Kelly experienced a “double-digit growth” in his streaming numbers and a “triple-digit growth” in sales.

The publication noted that from September 27 to October 3, Kelly’s on-demand audio streams increased by 22 percent and his video streams went up by 23%. His album sales jumped 517% while his streaming numbers went from 11.2 million to 13.4 million during this period. This uptick will certainly take a hit now that his YouTube account has been removed, a spokesperson for the company explained to Bloomberg. “We can confirm that we have terminated two channels linked to R. Kelly in accordance with our creator responsibility guidelines,” they said in a statement.

This comes after his honorary “key to the city” in Baton Rouge was revoked following his guilty verdict. Baton Rouge Metro Council member Denise Marcelle, who gave the singer the key back in 2013, expressed her “regrets” for even awarding it to him in the first place.

Mick Jenkins’ ‘Contacts’ Video Has An Unexpected Twist At The End

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Where most rappers have to arrive at a crossroads in their career before deconstructing themselves on a record, 30 year old Chicago rapper Mick Jenkins has made a career out of doing so constantly. On his fourth album, Elephant In The Room, due out later this month, he opens up once again with conversations about both himself and the world around him.

With the just-released “Contacts,” he floats over a clean-hitting, contemplative beat produced by Rascal, Tae Beast and Eli Brown spitting “Stretching out, my shoulders wide / All my burdens boulder size,” before the cognizant punctuation on the hook that “Real eyes realize real lies, help me see the truth.” In the song’s video (above) directed by Ren, he takes his clone hostage before an unexpected twist at the end that can’t be missed.

Jenkins shared some thoughts on the upcoming album:

“From my estranged relationship with my father to friendships that don’t feel the same anymore to the even more basic idea of acknowledging that I need help. We become accustomed to allowing none progressive qualities and truths to occupy so much space in our lives simply by ignoring them, or ignoring them despite them being right in our faces! I intend to face several of those dormant issues/topics head-ons in the hopes that others can, at the very least, identify with the spaces I’ve grown from.”

Elephant In The Room is out October 29th via Cinematic Music Group. Peep the tracklist below.

Elephant In The Room Track List

1. The Valley of the shadow of death Prod. Tee-Watt, Thelonious Martin & renzell
2. Things you can die for Feat. Ben Hixon Prod. By renzell
3. Stiff Arm Feat. Ayinde Cartman Prod. By renzell
4. Contacts Prod. By Rascal, Tae Beast & Eli Brown
5. Scottie Pippen Prod. By Kiran Kai (Additional Production by Otto Maralot, Oscar Jerome Laurence, Jack Polley, Joe Armon-Jones & Oliver Simeon Sarkar Samuels)
6. Gucci Tried to tell me Prod. By Lophiile
7. D.U.I Feat. Green SLlime Prod. By Tee-Watt
8. Speed racer Prod. By Saba (Background vocals by Tiffany Lance)
9. Truffles Prod. By renzell & Monte Booker
10. Is, this Cigarette Prod. By Tee-Watt & LeRoyce (Additional Production by Otto Maralot)
11. Reflection Prod. By renzell
12. Rug Burn Feat. Serpent with Feet Prod. By Tee-Watt

Don Toliver Is Doing Everything ‘Way Bigger’ In His Latest ‘Life Of A Don’ Video

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Don Toliver takes in the sights in the video for “Way Bigger” from his newly released album, L.O.A.D. (Life Of A Don). The video sees Toliver standing on a rooftop overlooking the city, where he dances and raps, then performing atop a theatre marquee displaying the title of his new album. The stripped-down approach keeps the focus on Toliver’s music, which is marked by thumping bass and woozy, hypnotic synth loops.

Lyrically, the song focuses on Don counting his blessings, which include Goyard bags, Lambo trucks, and “hundreds of bands in cash.” The single’s content is in line with the other singles that he’s released from the album so far, which include “What You Need” and “Drugs N Hella Melodies” with Kali Uchis. The album itself features Travis Scott (who appears on two tracks, “You” and “Flocky Flocky“), Baby Keem, HVN, and SoFaygo. In addition to releasing his new album, Don Toliver has also been on his tour for it along with special guest BIA.

Watch the video for “Way Bigger” above and check out Life Of A Don, out now via Cactus Jack and Atlantic, here.

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

Meek Mill Expresses His Regrets In The Paranoid ‘Angels (RIP Lil Snupe)’ Video

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The latest video from Meek Mill’s new album Expensive Pain is “Angels (RIP Lil Snupe),” a heartfelt ode to the Philadelphia rapper whose career Meek Mill was helping to shepherd when he was shot and killed in June of 2013. Over a moody beat produced by Dougie, Meek reminisces on his lost friend and expresses his regrets. “When Snupe died, I was high, sh*t, I ain’t get to feel it,” he admits. Later he feels the paranoia from losing friends to the streets: “I can’t trust nobody, I can’t even invite nobody over.”

Meek’s album, which he released last week, to a warm reception from fans including Drake. The album, which featured appearances from A$AP Ferg, Brent Faiyaz, Giggs, Kehlani, Lil Baby, Lil Durk, Lil Uzi Vert, Moneybagg Yo, Vory, and Young Thug, was preceded by the videos for “Blue Notes 2” and “Sharing Locations” and accompanied by videos for the album’s “Intro” and “On My Soul.” Earlier this week, Meek also dropped the video for the title track.

Watch Meek Mill’s “Angels (RIP Lil Snupe)” video above.

Expensive Pain is out now via Atlantic Records and Maybach Music Group. You can stream it here.

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

Silk Sonic Moves Up The Release Date Of Their Album, ‘An Evening With Silk Sonic’

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Silk Sonic on Twitter

It looks like we’re all getting to spend An Evening With Silk Sonic a lot sooner than previously thought. After the duo consisting of pop-funk megastars Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak declared their album delayed so they could touch up the “parts that need a little more… grease,” they made an abrupt about-face this afternoon, announcing the album’s title and moved-up release date, November 11, with a photo post featuring funk godfather Bootsy Collins.

The anticipation for their album has been sky-high ever since they released their groovy debut single as a group, “Leave The Door Open” in March of this year. Since then, they’ve performed the chart-topping throwback at the 2021 Grammys, the iHeartRadio Music Awards, and the BET Awards. Their second single, “Skate,” was released in July, advancing the retro-futuristic sound of “Leave The Door Open” and proving that the duo had even more funk in store for their fans.

Silk Sonic also joked about adding golden-voiced R&B singer H.E.R. to their roster and even created a jingle for SelvaRey Rum. Meanwhile, it looks like their full album will hit just in time for the holidays.

An Evening With Silk Sonic is due 11/12 via Atlantic Records. You can pre-save it here.

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

The Rock Is Apparently A Rapper Now, Thanks To His Verse On Tech N9ne’s New Single, ‘Face Off’

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Okay, so yes, technically The Rock “raps” on “You’re Welcome,’ from Disney’s Moana soundtrack (in character as a Polynesian demigod, no less), and he did appear on Wyclef Jean’s 2000 single, “It Doesn’t Matter,” to do some of his signature smack-talk at the height of the WWE’s “Attitude” era. But on Tech N9ne’s new single “Face Off,” Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, wrestler, actor, action star, and world-class fitness motivator, actually raps. It’s … not bad? I mean, obviously, don’t quit your day job (or hurt me for saying so), but … we’ve heard worse.

After the track kicks off with some expected lightspeed tongue-twisting from Tech and his Strange Music cohorts Joey Cool and King Iso, The Rock, credited here as Dwayne Johnson, comes in with his own tough-talking bars, daring challengers to “bring Drama to the King Brahma,” boasting at the end that he nailed his verse in one take.

If he ever did decide to commit to music full-time (or at least, what constitutes full-time for future superheroes and former riverboat captains) The Rock wouldn’t be the first actor to jump into a music career. He would, however, be one of the biggest movie stars to do so, after appearing in the aforementioned Disney favorite Jungle Cruise and anchoring the upcoming Black Adam movie for DC Comics. For what it’s worth, even John Cena, who now shares a Fast And Furious role with his fellow former wrestling star, did it the other way around, using a Slim Shady-esque ring persona that included, yes, his own rap album.

You know what this means: We need a Verzuz. Get on it, Swizz!

Atmosphere, Aesop Rock, And MF DOOM’s ‘Barcade’ Video Brings Video Game Vibes

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New MF DOOM music continues to pop up nearly a year after his death last Halloween at the age of 49. The latest comes on Atmosphere’s new single “Barcade” from the Minnesota underground rap duo’s new album Word? which dropped today. Joined by Aesop Rock, the song constitutes a spiritual successor to the Molemen’s 2001 song “Put Your Quarters Up,” which also features Aesop, DOOM, and Slug trading bars about video games. “Barcade” continues in that vein, along with its suitably spaced-out video, which features arcade game visuals inspired by games like Gradius, Metroid, and Space Ace.

In the year since DOOM’s death — which was actually announced two months later, on New Year’s Eve — DOOM’s streaming numbers increased nearly 1,000 percent, and the rapper himself has appeared on a string of songs, both new and unreleased. In May, the first posthumous release was a joint album with Czarface, Super What?, while DOOM also made appearances alongside Your Old Droog on “Dropout Boogie” and IDK on “Red” with Westside Gunn and Jay Electronica. The Avalanches and Thom Yorke both also shared remixes of popular tracks that featured the late rapper, “Tonight May Have To Last Me All My Life” and “Gazzillion Ear,” respectively.

Listen to Atmosphere’s “Barcade” featuring Aesop Rock and MF DOOM above.