Music

Earthgang’s Remix Of Drake’s ‘Lemon Pepper Freestyle’ Explains Why Their ‘Ghetto Gods’ Album Is Delayed

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This fall will mark two years since Earthgang dropped their debut album, Mirrorland. If the Atlanta rap duo had it their way, Earthgang’s sophomore album, titled Ghetto Gods, would already be in the hands of their awaiting supporters. Unfortunately for everyone involved, a bit more patience will need to be exercised, but in the meantime, supporters of the rap duo can enjoy Earthgang’s remix of Drake and Rick Ross’ “Lemon Pepper Freestyle” which they released on Saturday.

Wowgr8 and Johnny Venus depart from their usual soulful spirits as the former dives deep into introspection while the latter reflects on the past years of his life. Venus’ verse seemingly addresses the delayed album.

“Release date is what I’m waiting on / Interscope gotta crunch the numbers,” he raps. “This industry is flooded with mindless muddles cause lies sell / The ugly truth might not bring in the money / Don’t they know it’s real sh*t the people want? / A pause from the pill-pop subscription joint.”

Back in February, the rappers revealed the project would arrive the same day as J. Cole’s next full-length effort. That turned out to be Cole’s The Off-Season which dropped on Friday. That day came and went, however, without Earthgang’s new album. As a result, they opted to share their “truth” through the new freestyle “for those asking why Ghetto Gods didn’t drop.”

You can press play on the remix in the video above.

Nicki Minaj Addressed Recent Drug Rumors On Instagram And Denied Ever Using Cocaine

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Nicki Minaj went more than a year without dropping new music before she made her grand return on Friday. The Pink Friday rapper should absolutely be given grace for her time off, as it included the birth of her first child and the tragic death of her father. Nonetheless, Minaj stepped back into the music world by adding her beloved mixtape, Beam Me Up Scotty, to streaming services with three new songs which included “Fractions” and “Seeing Green” with Lil Wayne and Drake.

Shortly after the release, however, Minaj was forced to hop on Instagram Live and address rumors that were floating around her. The rumors insinuated that Minaj was using drugs, specifically cocaine. During the livestream, she made it very clear that she has never used cocaine in her life.

“I don’t know if it’s just me, but I wouldn’t be embarrassed about any f*ckin drugs I did, that’s why I talk about the motherf*ckin drugs I do in my motherf*ckin music,” she said. “Always have, always f*ckin will. If I’m off em, I’m off em [child], but I want to make this clear so open everybody’s ears, clear your ears out. I have never, ever in my life with my hands on Jesus Christ, and y’all know how I feel about my Lord and savior. Never in my life, ever, not even once sniffed coke. ever.”

Minaj then explained why she felt it was necessary to address the rumors.

“I have a lot of friends, or acquaintances in the industry who do coke,” she added. “I don’t judge them for it but I’ve never tried it, never wanted to, never asked them to. Especially in the fashion world, that’s so common and normal, but yes.

“That’s the thing, when people used to lie about me I never used to clear my name and there was someone who took a major step and told that lie to people,” she continued. “And I never addressed it because I thought it was too ridiculous at the time to address but something just told me to now.”

You can watch a clip from the livestream above.

Beam Me Up Scotty is out now via Republic Records. Get it here.

Conway The Machine, JID, And Ludacris Share An Eerie Performance Of ‘Scatter Brain’ On ‘The Tonight Show’

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After years of releasing mixtapes, Conway The Machine shared his official debut last fall with From King To A God. Just like the rest of the Griselda members, Conway wasted no time getting back to work as he returned with another project, La Maquina, in April. The eleven-track effort was highlight by features from Ludacris, JID, 2 Chainz, El Camino along with fellow Griselda acts Benny The Butcher and Westside Gunn. Just a little over a month removed from sharing La Maquina, Conway took his talents to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to perform one of the album’s tracks.

Sliding through with Ludacris and JID by his side, Conway took the late-night TV stage to perform “Scatter Brain.” The track is a favorite from La Maquina and the performance itself made for the rapper’s national television debut. The trio delivered their slick-lipped rhymes while pacing around an eerie stage that contained disconnected televisions, barbed wire, and floor-grazing smoke.

During a recent interview on Apple Music, Conway shared when fans could expect his next project.

“That should be coming out this summer. Like, June or July, and I’m excited,” he said. “We had to go through the channels I had to go through a lot of the stuff that had sample issues, and we couldn’t get some stuff cleared. So, songs didn’t make it, that got put out early on other projects. We had to make other songs and stuff to make up for it. It was a process but it’s finally complete.”

You can watch the performance in the video above.

HER Reveals She Was Almost In A Band With Kehlani And Zendaya

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Despite still working on her official debut album, HER is one of today’s most-awarded young acts. The Vallejo, California-born singer already has four Grammys to her name along with a Golden Globe which brings her halfway to the coveted EGOT title. This undeniable success is a result of years worth of hard work and perfecting her craft, which dates back to her early teenage days. In a recent interview on The Carlos Watson Show, HER spoke about a band she was almost a part of earlier in her career, one that included well-known names like Kehlani and Zendaya.

“Dylan Wiggins, who is D’wayne Wiggins’s son from Tony! Toni! Toné!, we used to be in a band together,” she said. “We used to perform together when we were really young.” She added, “Kehlani was actually in our band. We all used to sing together. Zendaya was going to be in it at one point. But yeah, they all grew up together. I came into the picture in Oakland and we used to perform together.”

Poplyfe, a teen pop group from Oakland, California that appeared on season six of America’s Got Talent, is the band HER is referring to. At the time of their involvement in the talent show competition, the band’s members ranged in age from 13 to 18. The group would make it far into the show as they finish in fourth place.

You can hear HER share the news in the video above.

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

The Tracklist For DMX’s Posthumous ‘Exodus’ Reveals Collaborations With Jay Z, Nas, Lil Wayne, And More

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Since the tragic, untimely death of DMX due to complications after a drug overdose earlier this year, the hip-hop community has been hellbent on preserving his legacy. He was an artist who meant so much to so many people, and giving his catalogue the send off it deserves has been a priority for many. At the forefront of these efforts has been producer and rapper Swizz Beatz, who also recently opened up about his frustrations with some of the fake friends he saw around the late rapper.

In an effort to be anything but that, Swizz has been working as a steward for the posthumous album, Exodus, that DMX’s label recently announced. Swizz has discussed the final song he collaborated on with X, and also let fans know that a collaboration between Earl, Jay Z Nas is likely going to be in the mix.

Well, all those have been confirmed now, along with plenty of other songs, as the tracklist for the album was shared by DMX’s label today. Their all caps caption stated the following: “EXODUS 1:7 OFFICIAL TRACK LIST (5/28). THE LEGACY CONTINUES.” Along with a photo of the tracklist, which features, among many others, appearances from Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, and yes, Jay Z and Nas on the same track together. Check out the list below and look for the full project dropping later this month on May 28.

1. “That’s My Dog” Feat. The Lox and Swizz Beatz
2. “Bath Salts” Feat. Jay Z and Nas
3. “Dog’s Out” Feat. Lil Wayne and Was
4. “Money Money Money” Feat. Swizz Beatz
5. “Hold Me Down” Feat. Alicia Keys
6. “Skyscrapers” Feat. Bono
7. “Male Stick Up Skit” Feat. Cross, Infrared, and Icepick
8. “Hood Blues” Feat. Westside Gunn, Benny The Butcher, and Conway
9. “Walking In The Rain” Feat. Nas, Exodus Simmons, & Mr. Porter
10. “Take Control” Feat. Snoop Dogg
11. “Exodus Skit”
12. “Letter To My Son (Call Your Father)” Feat. Usher and Brian King Joseph
13. “Prayer”

Nicki Minaj’s Dream Collaborator Is An Unexpected Hip-Hop Legend

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For those who thought the Queen of rap was in retirement, think again. Last night Nicki Minaj returned in full force, with her new single “Fractions,” (which is drawing ample criticism for the way it references her husband’s accuser), and the re-release of her 2009 mixtape Beam Me Up Scotty on streaming services for the first time to celebrate its tenth anniversary. The re-release also came with another new track “Seeing Green” that includes appearances from her most trusted Young Money collaborators Drake and Lil Wayne.

To help all this sink in for fans, Nicki also made a surprise appearance on the audio streaming app Clubhouse today, visiting the National Barb Association room to speak directly to some of her biggest fans. One of the takeaways from this visit from Nicki is that she still has a hip-hop legend dream collaborator that she hasn’t worked with yet. It’s true, one of rap’s number one purveyors of getting artists to guest feature still hasn’t hit the top spot on her list. She revealed that the person she still most wants to work with is Lauryn Hill, which does make sense if you’ve paid attention to the way Nicki has continued to praise her as an influence over the years.

So, hey, someone hit up Lauryn’s camp right? Let’s make this happen.

DMX Will Reportedly Have A Jay Z And Nas Collaboration On ‘Exodus,’ Says Swizz Beatz

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During a recent livestream listening party via Zoom, Swizz Beatz gave a select group of DJs and music industry peers a sneak peek at DMX’s upcoming posthumous album Exodus, which Swizz also produced. Complex reports that attendees of the listening party have revealed some its possible guest appearances via social media posts. Some we knew already, such as Griselda Records’ crew of gritty rappers, or could have guessed, like The LOX, DMX’s longtime Ruff Ryders labelmates, and most frequent collaborators. Unfortunately, a planned Pop Smoke collab was nixed.

However, there were also some surprises, including yet another reunion between former foes Jay-Z and Nas, who are beginning to make a habit of appearing together on some of their most vaunted peers’ projects. Most recently, the two King Of New York competitors teamed up to issue a non-apology on DJ Khaled’s “Sorry Not Sorry,” and listeners from Swizz’s Zoom preview expressed enthusiastic reactions toward the track — the first to feature all three artists. It’s also the first collaboration between Jay and X since Jay fell out with both DMX and Nas in the late-’90s/early-2000s. The track reunites Nas and X for the first time since “Grand Finale”; they also worked together on “Life Is What You Make It” and the Hype Williams feature debut Belly.

Jay-Z previously collaborated with DMX on Blackout,” “It’s Murda,” and “Money, Cash, Hoes,” in the late-’90s, which sent both rappers ascending to the top of the hip-hop charts. With all three reportedly combining on a track for the first time, anticipation for Exodus will likely be higher than ever.

Exodus is due 5/28 on Def Jam.

DJ Khaled Is The ‘Quincy Jones Of Hip-Hop,’ According To Fat Joe

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For just about as long as DJ Khaled has been one of the foremost figures in hip-hop and pop culture, he’s had his detractors — from critics who wonder what exactly he does to outright haters who don’t believe he actually contributes anything to the ever-expanding discography of high-profile collaborations he’s been curating all along. However, one of his most frequent collaborators, Fat Joe, became a staunch defender during a recent appearance on NORE’s Drink Champs podcast, shutting down who he calls “backseat drivers” and praising his friend with a surprising comparison.

“People take away the greatness from Khaled and they say, ‘Well he just gets a bunch of big-time rappers and puts them on the same song,’” Joe reasoned. “There’s a million DJs and producers that try that, and those ain’t hit records. And it’s been a long time since we heard Nas and Jay-Z on what to me sounds like a smash hit — that can play on the radio, [and is] streaming incredibly. So DJ Khaled really is the Quincy Jones of hip-hop right now.”

Elaborating further in the comments once the episode teaser hit Instagram, Joe addressed those outspoken nitpickers. “All these back seat drivers [and] Monday morning quarterbacks always got an opinion but can’t do it themselves. Sh*t [is] crazy to me. The term ‘Quincy jones of this time’ was used in reference to the work Khaled has put in: Years and years of hits. Obviously, there’s only one Quincy but f*ck it. Tune in tonight EXPLOSIVE lol.” He also posted his own video to Instagram addressing the controversy saying, “There’s a million guys putting a bunch of rappers together… Khaled puts out No. 1 albums, No. 1 hits, the album is incredible for me. Give the man his credit.”

It’s clear that Khaled has a few supporters in his corner ready to defend him, but for now, he’s letting the singles — which include the aforementioned “Sorry Not Sorry,” “Let It Go,” “We Going Crazy,” and more — do the talking, streaming his way to another No.1 debut.

Nicki Minaj Addressed Her Father’s ‘Devastating’ Death In An Open Letter To Fans

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Last night, Nicki Minaj shared some exciting news. Though the rapper has been relatively quiet this past year, she announced her official return with a re-release of one of her most popular mixtapes, Beam Me Up Scotty, which arrived with five new tracks. It’s been a while since Minaj has been able to interact with her fans, so she penned a special open letter to address what she’s been up to and speak about the recent passing of her father.

Minaj’s father, Robert Maraj, was tragically killed in a hit-and-run accident in February. The rapper had yet to release a statement about his death, but in an open letter posted to her website, Minaj made it clear that she’s still grieving. “Tho I can’t really bring myself to discuss the passing of my father as yet; I can say it has been the most devastating loss of my life,” she wrote. “I find myself wanting to call him all the time. More so now that he’s gone. Life is funny that way. May his soul rest in paradise. He was very loved & will be very missed.”

Elsewhere in the letter, Minaj mourned the death of DMX, noting how close they had been. “P.S. The passing of DMX hit me like a ton of bricks,” she wrote. “Losing him felt like losing someone I grew up with. I adored him. Blessings to his family.”

The remainder of Minaj’s letter was on a more joyous note. She talked about binging the Netflix show The Crown and how her pregnancy left her with an constant craving for ice cream. She also noted her infant son’s current favorite movie is Madagascar (Escape 2 Africa) and that she was finally able to get him to say “mama.”

Beam Me Up Scotty is out now. Get it here.

Internet Money’s ‘His & Hers’ Video With Don Toliver, Gunna, And Lil Uzi Vert Is A Fantasy Digital World

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Internet Money’s new single “His & Hers” arrived yesterday amid a packed New Music Friday slate, but that doesn’t detract from its hit potential. To refocus fans’ attention on the single, the production duo consisting of Nick Mira and Taz Taylor released the Cole Bennett-directed video today, prompting some celebratory tweets from Taylor.

As with most Lyrical Lemonade productions, director Cole Bennett imagines a fantastical world for his stars Don Toliver, Gunna, and Lil Uzi Vert to play around in, this time taking inspiration from nostalgia for the Windows XP default desktop backgrounds of his youth (dear God, I feel old). While Don Toliver performs his verse on a grassy hilltop under a partially cloudy blue sky, Gunna’s performance takes place in a cubical room with a similar pattern on the walls and ceiling. Meanwhile, Toliver gets to frolic among a field of sunflowers during the chorus, and Uzi tools around on the surface of the moon. For group shots, all three appear in a misty forest setting, dressed in outlandish camo hunting outfits.

Watch Internet Money’s “His & Hers” video featuring Don Toliver, Gunna, and Lil Uzi Vert above.

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