Atlanta’s Deante Hitchcock has been one of the most active hip-hop acts in 2021. The bulk of his work has came from his revived series New Atlanta Tuesdays, which sees him freestyling over new and old rap songs. He continued it today with a bars over Spillage Village’s “Baptize.” Just like the other songs in the series, Deante shares the new freestyle with an accompanying video. In the latest, the rapper can be found in hotel where talks to himself in the mirror before sitting fully-clothed in a tub full of water, once again impressing with his lyrical skills.
The freestyle is the fifth track Deante has dropped in 2021 as part of the new series. He began with bars over Lil Wayne’s “Let The Beat Build” and continued with a wild take on SpotemGottem’s “Beat Box.” Then he took on Drake’s No. 1 song, “What Next,” and his most recent saw him rapping over Outkast’s classic track “Roses,” off their 2004 album Speakerboxx/The Love Below.
Along with the string of freestyles, Deante has also teased a new album to be released in the near future. Until then, you can revisit his debut album, Better, which he released in 2020 and updated this year with a live version that came with videos of the performances.
You can listen to the freestyle in the video above.
March 31 is a day that will forever remembered in hip-hop history: On that date in 2019, Nipsey Hussle was tragically shot and killed at his Marathon Clothing store in Los Angeles. His death shook the music world, leaving many to grieve a loss that came at the height of his career. On the two-year anniversary, his longtime girlfriend, Lauren London, took to Instagram to honor him.
“The Day Of Ermias’ transition changed the course of my life forever,” she wrote in the post. “2 years, and it feels like yesterday and eternity all at the same time. Grief and Healing have been constant companions on this journey.” She added, “In Honor of His life and demonstration… May all of Heaven exalt Your name for all You did on Earth and beyond. Brave and Beloved Soul, Ermias. You are missed deeply. You are loved immensely. You will forever be. I love you eternally,” before signing off on the message with “Your Boogie (blue heart emoji).”
A few weeks ago London shared the special contribution she made to Nipsey’s debut album, Victory Lap. “Fun fact: the voice that says ‘victory lap’ on the album is me,” she said in a post to her Instagram story. London can also be heard on another of the album’s tracks, “Real Big.”
Nipsey Hussle is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
In a little under two weeks, Brockhampton will release their seventh album, Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine. It’s a project that their fans have spent months waiting for, even guessing its title thanks to a helpful hint from the band’s head producer, Romil Hemnani. Brockhampton finally announced it would drop on April 9, and as that date gets closer and closer, the group returned with the album’s tracklist.
Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine comes equipped with 13 songs as well as features from Danny Brown, ASAP Rocky, ASAP Ferg, Charlie Wilson Sogone Soflex, Jpegmafia, and Baird. The news comes mere hours after the group revealed they would release two albums in 2021 before calling it quits. Brockhampton’s lead vocalist, Kevin Abstract, shared the news on Twitter, writing, “2 brockhampton albums in 2021 – these will be our last.” He also said there was more on the way. “New single tmrw night [presumably Friday at midnight]. Summer time vibes,” he revealed. “Ride around with the windows down with ya best friend singing super loud to the chorus type vibe – shows the other side of the album. See Yal tmrw.”
2 brockhampton albums in 2021 – these will be our last
New single tmrw night. Summer time vibes. Ride around with the windows down with ya best friend singing super loud to the chorus type vibe – shows the other side of the album. See Yal tmrw.
1. “Buzzcut” (Feat. Danny Brown)
2. “Chain On” (Feat. Jpegmafia)
3. “Count On Me”
4. “Bankroll” (Feat. ASAP Rocky And A$ASAP Ferg)
5. “The Light”
6. “Windows” (Feat. Sogone Soflex)
7. “I’ll Take You On” (Feat. Charlie Wilson)
8. “Old News (Feat. Baird)
9. “What’s The Occasion?”
10. “When I Ball”
11. “Don’t Shoot Up The Party”
12. “Dear Lord”
13. “The Light Pt. II”
Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine is out 4/9 on Question Everything/RCA Records. You can pre-order a limited edition box set here.
After exploding into the public consciousness with his rapid-fire flow and tongue-in-cheek sense of humor two years ago, DaBaby remains an object of fascination with fans of all ages even despite his somewhat less than kid-friendly subject matter. A recent meme currently circulating the weirder corners of social media turned the North Carolina rapper’s head into an automobile (apparently in response to a lyric from his song “Suge”), while a teacher’s free-writing assignment for her class turned up no fewer than four short stories featuring the rapper — in Spanish, no less.
I had students do a free write about anything and 4 of them wrote imaginary stories about @DaBabyDaBaby
When the teacher remarked on the coincidence on Twitter, her comment caught the rapper’s eye, prompting him to ask her, “Send them to me.” She did so via a thread of replies showing the stories in the students’ own handwriting on notebook paper, including one with an illustration of the rapper apparently getting out of jail along with one of the astronauts from the similarly-ubiquitous mobile game Among Us. In one of the writings, the student even makes reference to the “DaBaby Convertible” meme.
The stories are weird and nonsensical in the way kids’ stories usually are. One prominently features a Kanye West action revenge movie-style plotline, which has been a source of confusion and amusement for commenters. You can see the full thread below along with some… iffy translations — and, just for fun, one of the best DaBaby Convertible videos out.
They are big fans:) I hope you like their stories, I had one more who did it on paper and didn’t turn it in on Google Classroom yet!! I’ll post it when he submits it, thank you DaBaby:)) pic.twitter.com/MN6W06tsvA
When politics buff Cardi B sees something she doesn’t like going on in government, she’s almost guaranteed to comment on it. Most recently, Cardi shared her thoughts on a recently-passed anti-pornography law in Utah which mandates filters on mobile devices and tablets sold in-state. The law is the culmination of a conservative-led drive to turn porn into a “public health hazard,” even though the state is ending its mask mandate during a pandemic that’s killed over half a million people.
Clearly, she doesn’t like the law, drawing a comparison between its proponents’ stated intention of “protecting the children” and the prevalence of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints organization in the state. “I respect everyone’s religion but Utah restricting porn and not regulating the disgusting things that happens in the FLDS,” she observed. “That cult is disturbing.”
I respect everyone’s religion but Utah restricting porn and not regulating the disgusting things that happens in the FLDS .That cult is disturbing.
She elaborated in a second tweet, ““I will understand if they restrict porn because the state is very religious however they allow soo much disgusting things out there that they claim is part of their religion and that’s MOLESTING CHILDREN …Look it up!”
I understand that .I will understand if they restrict porn because the state is very religious however they allow soo much disgusting things out there that they claim is part of their religion and that’s MOLESTING CHILDREN …Look it up ! https://t.co/5UPWuMKYfA
The FLDS Church is described as one of the largest of the fundamentalist Mormon sects and is designated a cult by the Southern Poverty Law Center. It’s received criticism for its practice of polygamy and racist attitudes toward Black people and interracial relationships and accused of trafficking underage girls across state lines, as well as child labor abuses.
Cardi is no stranger to drawing the ire of certain groups. Her song “WAP” is still a hot topic among conservative circles, even as those commentators ignored or brushed off racist terrorist attacks in the US, minimized a global pandemic, and tried to credit Donald Trump with the successes of the current administration.
Cardi B is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Russ gave his legion of fans insane, crazy bars on his 2020 EP Chomp. Now he’s offering straight gas with his weed line, Chomp by Russ x Wonderbrett. It’s the exact same strain the rapper smoked while creating the aforementioned project’s lush offerings — five songs featuring elite hip-hop lyricists Benny The Butcher, Busta Rhymes, KXNG Crooked, and Black Thought, alongside DJ Premier and… the list goes on.
In collaboration with Brett Feldman and Cameron Damwijk — founders and cultivars of West Coast cannabis brand Wonderbrett — Russ’s cannabis line is a chance for the 28-year-old artist to offer fans a glimpse inside the Chomp creation experience. It’s also the kind of marijuana that any chronic-loving musician would be hyped to smoke during studio sessions.
Since his SoundCloud beginnings, Russ has been in complete control of his career and has become the obvious example of what it means to work independently in the music industry in the digital age. Releasing as many mixtapes as he has and as dedicated to the craft as he is, launching a weed strain (that won’t leave you slumped) with one of the most reputable cannabis companies in the game feels like it was always in the cards. The point being: it’s a good fit.
When the perfect opportunity to dive into the cannabis business arrived, Russ chose to produce a strain that was something that he enjoys himself. And that meant a balanced strain where users could avoid both sleepiness and overthinking.
“I’m not a heavy smoker who’s just gonna sit around and smoke all day but oftentimes in the studio I enjoy experiencing an alternative yet still tuned in perspective, so keeping a joint of something productive nearby comes in handy,” Russ stated in a press release. “I might as well control what’s in the joint so that’s what I’ve done here with Wonderbrett.”
Feldman added, “The result is a great introductory high that really serves to enlighten and inspire artists to create. It doesn’t give you a couch lock effect.”
The strain itself was created with a male from Wonderbrett’s OZK stable and crossed into a Cookies & Cream female. From there they went through 20 seedlings and settled on phenotype No. 4. Currently, Chomp is only available at Stiiizy — a dispensary located in Downtown Los Angeles. But the brand has promised that new outlets will be added on the daily (stay up to date here), including the Wonderbrett flagship dispensary, launching in LA’s Fairfax District later this year.
Chomp by Russ x Wonderbrett dropped on Monday, March 29th, and we tested it that day in both its flower and pre-roll forms. Check out our review below.
The Products & Presentation
Cherise Johnson
1g CHOMP x Wonderbrett Pre-Roll & ⅛ CHOMP x Wonderbrett Box
Strain: Hybrid
Dominant Terpenes: Limonene, Humulene, Linalool, Caryophyllene, and Pinene
THC: 22.82%
CBD: .06%
Retail Price: ⅛ CHOMP x Wonderbrett Box for $60, ⅛ CHOMP x Wonderbrett Bag for $45, 1g CHOMP x Wonderbrett Pre-Roll for $15.
The Experience
First of all, the packaging. The design. The satin box. The gilded press. The snarling dog, showing its gnashing teeth. The rich, red, gold, and black colorway. The whole Chomp x Wonderbrett branding sets the tone for an opulent affair.
Though I tried Chomp as both flower and as a pre-roll, the experiences were somewhat different. First, let’s talk about what each product has to offer and then what made them different for me.
The pre-roll came prepared inside of a plastic tube container, emblazoned with Russ’s signature Chomp logo and necessary cannabis factoids. Once the top came off and the pre-roll slid into my hand, I was dealing with a Raw cone tightly packed with herb. The light up and pull was smooth to start, then I felt an immediate head rush followed by my nose feeling a bit spicy. This was just the very beginning of what would turn into an intense cerebral high.
After a few minutes, the stinging I felt in my nose disappeared and what arrived was a euphoric sense of happiness and urge to do something. Anything.
Cherise Johnson
Slight overthinking did rear its ugly head, yet the happiness and excitement I was feeling had me floating above it all. Once the high fully set in, I became very grateful and happy — living in the moment. It felt as if all my senses opened up, making all of my perceptions more clear. Not to mention, I had full confidence in my thoughts and wasn’t judging myself for every little thing.
At this point, it’s clear why Russ would dub this as “studio weed” and why sharing a name with his Chomp EP was a necessity.
When it came time to explore the flower option I was met with the soft, sweet aroma of citrus and nuts, and frosted nugs inside a dark plastic container. I love an icy nug and Chomp is fully iced out. The flower itself was pretty rigid to the touch but strong and not brittle.
Cherise Johnson
Once I packed out a raw cone with the minced Chomp nugs and lit it, the immediate head rush and nose-tingling occurred just like with the pre-roll. Once the high settled in though, the happiness I felt with the pre-roll was more extreme, if perhaps more chaotic. Maybe it’s the way I packed it that made the experience different, but I was laughing at everything when I smoked the flower and fell into a fit of laughter more than once. It really made my day fun and gave my mind the freedom for all of my ideas to flow without the weird voice of judgment that I get when smoking Sativa.
The Bottom Line
Chomp is definitely a strain best-suited for catching a late-night vibe at the studio or as a solo mid-day high if you’re a creative working from home. I can also see this as being a great strain to smoke in social settings and, of course, while listening to music. It’s a happy, relaxing herb that gets the creative juices flowing.
In a stroke of what could be either genius or insanity, Young Dolph & Key Glock have shared an usual video for the outro from their second joint album, Dum And Dummer 2. While they’ve already put out videos for “No Sense,” “Green Light,” “Aspen,” “Sleep With The Roaches,” and “Penguins,” apparently they really wanted fans to be see their chemistry “Dummest & The Dummest” just plays in the background.
And truthfully, they could be right. While not a lot happens visually, the true treat is in the subtitles that appear on-screen, designating each rapper by a hilarious nickname and literally transcribing phrases like “rich white b*tches.” Set on the patio of the cabin the duo rented out for their “Aspen” video, the two discuss Glizock’s car trouble, scamming the cabin’s owner, and the opulent home decorations. Glock also gets lost on the way out.
Speaking of getting out, it looks like Dolph is ready to get out of the rap game. He announced that Dum And Dummer 2 would be his final release on Instagram, telling fans, “I hope y’all enjoying the new mixtape, it’s my last project putting out. I wasn’t gonna tell y’all but I thought y’all should know I’m done with music.” Of course, we’ve heard that before.
Watch Young Dolph & Key Glock’s ‘Dummest & The Dummest’ video above.
Dum And Dummer 2 is out now via Paper Route EMPIRE. Get it here.
Prior to this afternoon, it seemed like now was a great time to be a Brockhampton fan. They recently released a new video for a fresh Danny Brown collaboration, “Buzzcut,” and a few days ago, they revealed they have a new album coming soon, as Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine is set to drop on April 9.
The outlook changed today, though, when Kevin Abstract took to his Twitter account, which prior to this month hadn’t been tweeted from since 2019, to declare that Brockhampton is releasing another album this year after Roadrunner. After those albums, though, the band does not intend to ever release more albums.
Abstract tweeted this afternoon, “2 brockhampton albums in 2021 – these will be our last.” Shortly after that tweet, Abstract followed up by revealing that a new song is set to drop tomorrow night (presumably on Friday at midnight), tweeting, “New single tmrw night. Summer time vibes. Ride around with the windows down with ya best friend singing super loud to the chorus type vibe – shows the other side of the album. See Yal tmrw.”
2 brockhampton albums in 2021 – these will be our last
New single tmrw night. Summer time vibes. Ride around with the windows down with ya best friend singing super loud to the chorus type vibe – shows the other side of the album. See Yal tmrw.
If Brockhampton truly does come to an end in 2021, Abstract could pivot to focus on his solo career. His latest solo effort was his 2019 album Arizona Baby, although he later expressed some regret about making that record.
Ever since breaking out in 2019 thanks to his feature on Polo G’s “Pop Out,” Bronx, New York rapper Lil Tjay has carried himself with a superlative level of self-confidence, as seen on his debut album True 2 Myself released later that year. That confidence carries over into the title of his upcoming album Destined 2 Win, as well as its latest single, “Born 2 Be Great,” which Tjay shared today ahead of the album’s Friday release.
Sticking to his usual complement of somber keys, Tjay reflects on the self-possession that has allowed him to maneuver his way to the upper echelons of the rap game, surprising many but never himself. As he croons on the chorus, “I was born to be great / And I won’t let nobody tell me I ain’t.”
“Born 2 Be Great” is just the latest part of an impressive rollout that has included the 6lack-featuring “Calling My Phone” and the Polo G reunion “Headshot” with fellow New Yorker Fivio Foreign. The only hiccup was Tjay’s December arrest for possession of marijuana and grand larceny but he’s already cruised past that legal trouble to release two music videos for the above-mentioned singles.
Listen to “Born 2 Be Great” above.
Destined 2 Win is due on 4/2 via Columbia Records. You can pre-save it here.
Anybody who thought the vinyl resurgence was just a fad was mistaken: The industry has experienced a legitimate revival. As a result, music fans are interested in physical media in ways they may not have if the decades-old medium hasn’t made a comeback. That doesn’t mean everybody is listening to just their parents’ old music, though. That’s part of it, sure, thanks to rereleases that present classic albums in new ways. A vital part of the renewed vinyl wave, though, is new projects being released as records, of which there are plenty.
Whatever you might be into, each month brings a new slew of vinyl releases that has something for everybody. Some stand out above the rest, naturally, so check out some of our favorite vinyl releases of March below.
Neil Young — After The Gold Rush (50th Anniversary Edition)
Warner/Reprise
It’s been over 50 years since the release of one of Young’s most classic albums, and following an anniversary release in 2020 was a deluxe vinyl box set this month. Aside from the storied album itself, the set also includes goodies like a 7-inch single featuring two versions of album outtake “Wonderin’” and a litho print of the album art. If After The Gold Rush is somehow missing from your vinyl collection, here’s a chance to own perhaps the definitive version of it.
Chet Baker — (Chet Baker Sings) It Could Happen To You, Chet Baker In New York, Chet, and Chet Baker Plays The Best Of Lerner And Loewe
Craft Recordings
Chet Baker was one of the most respected jazz artists of the ’50s, and now a quartet of his beloved albums are available on new vinyl rereleases. The albums featured in this collection were originally released between 1958 and 1959, which is a lesson in productivity at a high level. For these reissues, the albums were cut from their original analog master tapes, so this is as high quality a listening experience as possible.
Tokyo Police Club — Champ (10th Anniversary Edition)
Mom+Pop
Tokyo Police Club broke through in the mid-2000s with their debut EP A Lesson In Crime and their debut album, Elephant Shell. They followed that run with their most commercially successful release, the sophomore album Champ, which turned ten in 2020 and is getting a COVID-delayed rerelease this year. The new edition of the album (the first time it has been pressed on vinyl) includes goodies like the previously unreleased track “Hundred Dollar Day.”
The Clean — Unknown Country and Mister Pop (reissues)
Merge Records
The New Zealand group was an inspirational force behind many beloved indie musicians, and now a pair of highlights from their discography are getting fresh rereleases via Merge Records. The albums — originally released in 1996 and 2009, respectively — are now available on vinyl in the US for the first time, and Merge also offers a t-shirt bundle to let fans rep the band on both their turntables and torsos.
Leonard Cohen left behind a legacy as profound as that of perhaps any artist who has left too soon in recent years. First Aid Kit have decided to honor that with Who By Fire, a live tribute album released in honor of the late legend. The album was recorded over two performances and the duo says of those shows, “We recently listened back to this concert and realized that this was something out of the ordinary for us. […] Dwelling deeply into Cohen’s world was a pleasure, he was so prolific as both a poet and a songwriter, and everything he ever put out held a very strong standard. He cared immensely for his work.”
The Meow Mix jingle was first introduced in television ads in the ’70s, and after all those years, the iconic tune is still one of the most recognizable jingles in all of marketing. Now the brand has celebrated the song’s legacy with a vinyl release that features modern reinterpretations of the song in varying styles. Participating in the project are Luna (delivering a pop rendition of the track), Heart & Paws (country), Gatocito (Latin), Endless Hiss (black metal), and Sweet Teddy Pepperpaw (jazz).
It’s been 25 years since Green Day dropped their fourth full-length album, an anniversary they’re celebrating with a fancy new vinyl reissue. It’s available on gorgeous translucent orange vinyl as a double LP, and aside from looking fantastic, the album has been remastered and is accompanied by eight new live tracks.
Vinyl Me, Please is delivering a huge release as one of their records of the month for April: MIA’s most enduring and commercially successful album, her sophomore effort Kala. This exclusive variation of the album is pressed on vibrant neon purple and green vinyl as a 2-LP release, has been remastered, and comes with a booklet of listening notes to further enhance the experience of the album. VMP also put out special pressings on two other MIA albums this month, but those have already sold out.
Arcade Fire and Owen Pallett — Her (Original Score)
Sony
The Joaquin Phoenix- and Scarlett Johansson-starring film Her came out way back in 2013, but it took about eight years for Arcade Fire and Owen Pallett’s score of the film to get a standalone release. The music here earned a nomination for Best Original Score at the 2014 Academy Awards and Win Butler says of it, “There is a mysterious alchemy in the way sound and picture work together, notes and moods shifting and reacting to one another like a kaleidoscope… And even in the absence of visuals, the emotional landscape still remains.”
(@BlueDudeLance) 
