Music

Vic Mensa Delivers A Defiant Performance Of ‘Shelter’ On ‘The Late Show’

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Chicago rapper Vic Mensa appeared on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert to perform a medley of new songs, “Shelter” and “FR33DOM.” Recruiting “Shelter” guest Wyclef Jean and longtime Windy City collaborator Peter Cottontale, Vic’s prerecorded performance finds him performing from the floor of an empty warehouse and visually condemning the prison system. For the second half of the performance, red highlighting accentuates a riotous rendition of the defiant “FR33DOM.”

Both songs are due to appear on Vic’s upcoming EP, I TAPE, the follow-up to last year’s V TAPE. The activist/rapper revealed the I TAPE due date via a press release after the performance: March 26. It’s clear that Vic is building up to a larger project, so a C TAPE can’t be very far behind that.

“Shelter,” I TAPE‘s first single, featured the reunion of Vic and his musical brother-in-arms Chance The Rapper. The two rappers came up at the same open mic together and had parallel career tracks early on, but when Chance’s Coloring Book took off, the two apparently had a falling out that lasted for several years. In the meantime, Vic released an experimental punk album, became an outspoken critic of various US policies, and even visited Palestine, deciding to recommit to the social justice cause and apparently getting back to his musical roots. You can read more in Uproxx’s new interview with Vic Mensa here.

Watch Vic Mensa’s The Late Show performance of “Shelter” and “FR33DOM” above.

I TAPE is out 3/26 on Roc Nation.

Bryson Tiller’s ‘Like Clockwork’ Video Sends A Sharp Warning To His Haters

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Bryson Tiller once said, “I’m back and I’m better,” and those words couldn’t be truer at the moment. After more than three years without music, the Louisville singer seemed to find his footing in the music world as he returned with his Anniversary album back in October. For those who believed the project would lead to another lengthy break, the singer is back to prove otherwise. Tiller returned with the deluxe version of Anniversary on Friday, one that adds five new songs and a guest appearance from Big Sean to the album. In addition to that, fans have also received a vibrant video for “Like Clockwork.”

Tiller uses the visual to take viewers through what a normal day looks like for him. From signing autographs for fans and making business decisions with his team to photoshoots and well-deserved downtime with friends, the singer gets through it all “like clockwork.” Further into the video, Tiller flaunts an impenetrable shield of confidence while taking direct shots at his haters and doubters. The track itself sends a clear warning to his opposition that his down days are over and he’s back to make up for the time he was gone.

The Anniversary deluxe will most likely be the last release fans of Tiller receive before he drops his long-awaited Serenity album. Early this month, the singer confirmed that the project would be a triple-disc effort featuring a rap side, an R&B side, and a pop side.

Watch the “Like Clockwork” video above.

Anniversary (Deluxe) is out now via RCA. Get it here.

Shelley Hopes To Discover What Lays Within His Lover On The Charming ‘Exposure’ Single

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The artist formerly known as Big Baby DRAM began 2020 by launching a new chapter of his career, one that with a name change. The Virginia native now goes by his legal first name of Shelley. While the change may have signaled that new music was on the way, fans failed to receive that last year. The only piece of content he delivered was a jazzy cover of “Feliz Navidad” with Young Rog for LVRN’s Home For The Holidays compilation album. However, with a new year comes new opportunities and it seems like Shelley will make his presence felt this year as he returns with a new single.

Shelley enters 2021 with “Exposure,” a track that comes just before the love-themed month of February comes to a close. On the track, he asks his love interest to allow him to explore what lays beneath their physical features. “Let me love you inside-out and outside-in,” he begs on the song. “Let me touch your soul before I touch your skin.” The track also holds a double meaning of sorts with Shelley wanting to learn more about her personality at one point while hoping to engage in a moment of naked intimacy at other points of the song.

In case you’re a bit behind on Shelley’s music, make sure to revisit “The Lay Down” with H.E.R. and his That’s A Girls Name EP.

Give the new single a listen in the video above.

Denzel Curry And Kenny Beats Recruit Joey Badass And The Alchemist To Remix ‘Cosmic.m4a’

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Last year, Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats teamed up for their Unlocked project, which they released with little to no announcement for fans. The 8-track effort was an entirely solo release from the pairing, but it will soon receive a sweet update with the help of a strong cast of collaborators. However, before that arrives, the duo unleashes a brand new remix of “Cosmic. m4a” featuring Joey Badass and The Alchemist. Thanks to new production from the latter, the updated version comes with a more raucous beat and brash verse from Joey.

The reconstructed “Cosmic.m4a” track arrives a week after Denzel and Kenny called on Smino and Robert Glasper to remix “So.Incredible.Pkg” Both songs will appear on Unlocked 1.5, a re-release of the duo’s Unlocked that they announced last week. The news was shared through a trailer with appearances from Glasper, Alchemist, and Georgia Anne Muldrow, who all jumped on a call to discuss the new project. According to the video, fans can expect features from Arlo Parks, Benny The Butcher, Charlie Heat, Kenny Mason, Jay Versace, Sango, and more on Unlocked 1.5.

The new version of “Cosmic.m4a” comes after Denzel recently collaborated with Snot and JID on “Sangria” and “Bruuuh (Remix)” respectively. Kenny Beats has also been active this year as he produced Flo Milli’s latest single, “Roaring 20s.”

Hit play on the new song in the video above.

Unlocked 1.5 is out 3/5 via PH Recordings.

Noname Lets Her Thoughts Fly With The Wind On Her Introspective ‘Rainforest’ Single

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Noname has yet to fail on the musical front. The Chicago rapper has given fans great bodies of work with her Telefone and Room 25 albums in addition to a collection of impressive guest features and standalone singles. With that being said, this fall will mark three years since Room 25, but hopefully, by then the rapper will have released her third album, Factory Baby, a project she announced back in 2019. As we await an official release date for it, Noname returns with what could be the project’s first single in “Rainforest.”

The single fits perfectly with much of the music in her catalog. It’s backed by production that carries a slight groove while Noname lets her thoughts about a number of topics, including her displeasure with billionaires and the people who support them. The track arrives after she announced it in a very nonchalant way earlier this month. “lmao i don’t even know how to promote myself as a rapper anymore but my song Rainforest drops in a few weeks,” she wrote in a tweet.

The song is her first release since last year’s “Song 33,” a track she dropped in response to J. Cole’s controversial “Snow On Tha Bluff” record. As for Factory Baby, it remains to be seen when the album will drop, but when it does, it could be Noname’s last album as she revealed in 2019 that she would quit music after its release because her “heart isn’t fully in it anymore.”

Check out the song in the video above.

Tinashe’s ‘I’m Every Woman’ Cover Is A Towering Homage To The ’70s Classic

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As part of a new project with ESPN’s The Undefeated, Tinashe has released a cover of the classic empowerment anthem “I’m Every Woman.” First popularized by Chaka Khan in 1978 — it was the lead single off her debut album Chaka — the track was later popularized in the ’90s by Whitney Houston, who turned it into more of a pop hit than the original funk and disco vibe.

Tinashe has obviously heard both versions of the song, and seems to pull from both artist’s legacies in her own version, working in funk and disco alongside itchy house beats, but including plenty of dramatic belting that’s rare for the R&B star’s vocal style. Dramatic belting doubles as an ode to Whitney whenever it’s done well, and Tinashe pulls it off with surprising ease here. Last year she spoke to us about bringing live shows into people’s living rooms during the pandemic, this year, she’s catapulting herself into the realm of disco and funk with a truly superb cover. Check out the song above.

Other artists involved in The Undefeated’s Music For The Movement Volume II project, a part of Black History Always, also includes offerings like Tobe Nwigwe’s take on Melvin & The Blue Notes’ (Featuring Teddy Pendergrass) “Wake Up Everybody,” Brent Faiyaz contributing an original new song, “Eden,” and Freddie Gibbs doing Gil Scott Heron’s “Winter In America.” The first EP, Music For The Movement Volume I, featured Rapsody, Jensen McRae, Terrace Martin, Alex Isley, Robert Glasper, and Keedron Bryant.

Freddie Gibbs And Joyce Wrice Are Sprung In Love On Their Groovy ‘On One’ Collab

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Freddie Gibbs has lent his rap talents to a number of other hip-hop artists throughout his career, but tonight he’s working with a rising R&B star instead of a rapper. Adding a new entry to that list, the Alfredo rapper joins rising singer Joyce Wrice on their new single, “On One.” The track is a groovy number with both artists detailing the passionate relationships they find themselves in. No matter how hard they try to break it off, they end up returning to their partner for another dose of the love they tried so hard to run away from.

The track will appear on the singer’s upcoming debut album, Overgrown which is due for a release on March 19. Listeners will catch contributions from Lucky Daye, Westside Gunn, Kaytranada, Masego, Devin Morrison, and UMI on the album. While the track is Joyce and Freddie’s first collaboration together, they both appeared as guest acts on Westside’s 2020 album, Pray For Paris. On Freddie’s side of things, “On One” is his second track of the year following “Gang Signs” with Schoolboy Q. That song proved to be a much more relaxed effort than the potential song fans expected from the rappers.

“On One” comes after Freddie made an appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast where the two held a four-hour conversation. It was here that the rapper claimed to have shot a crackhead nine times, an action that didn’t have too much of an effect on his target according to Freddie.

Listen to “On One” in the video above.

Overgrown is out 3/19. Pre-order it here.

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

Pop Smoke’s ‘AP’ Single Arrives Ahead Of His Posthumous Acting Debut On ‘Boogie’

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Pop Smoke was just getting a taste of stardom when it was all ripped away from him in early 2020. The Brooklyn rapper was tragically shot and killed during a home invasion in Los Angeles. While his musical talents and impact were undeniable, we recently learned that Pop had so much more he wanted to prove to his supporters. In just a week, the rapper will make his posthumous acting debut for Eddie Huang’s basketball film, Boogie. While fans will still have to wait for the arrival of that film, they can enjoy some new music from Pop thanks to his “AP” single.

The new track finds Pop Smoke thriving in the drill rap pocket that brought him a massive wave of supporters in his unfortunately brief career. Throughout the nearly three-minute song, the Brooklyn native flaunts his lavish lifestyle and raps about his jewelry, money, and more. The track is the also official lead single for the Boogie film. In it, Pop will play a character named Monk, one who rivals the movie’s main character Alfred “Boogie” Chin (played by Taylor Takahashi) on and off the basketball court.

“AP” may not be the only song fans hear from Pop Smoke this year. DMX and Meek Mill have both teased records that he is featured on.

Hear the new single in the video above.

Boogie is scheduled for release on March 5 through Focus Features.

Hear Two New Chloe X Halle Songs On The ‘Chrome Edition’ Of ‘Ungodly Hour’

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Last night Chloe X Halle dropped the video for “Ungodly Hour,” the title track off their massive 2020 breakout album. But that wasn’t the only thing they had in store for fans. Since the pandemic has made it impossible for musicians to tour their work, plenty are opting to release a deluxe or revamped version of their records from last year. Chloe X Halle have dubbed theirs the “Chrome Edition” of Ungodly Hour, and dropped the new version tonight. This edition includes two new tracks from the sisters Bailey, and the songs hew a lot closer to gothic pop than the smoldering R&B of the rest of the album.

Not that there aren’t hints of this kind of power on “Tipsy,” but “Hazy” and “80/20” take on an even more confident, swaggering feel — there’s no shying, loved-up narrator on these tracks. Instead, braggadocio and dark beats pepper the new songs, which are ripe for remixes too. And though it’s not fair to constantly compare Chloe and Halle to their mentor, Beyonce, these two songs in particular are reminiscent of some of the more bossed up work she’s been drawn to, especially later in her career. For this duo to already be at that place of extreme confidence at this age? Now that’s the power of a mentor. Check out “Hazy” above and “80/20” below.