Music

DJ Mustard Will Rap For The First Time On His Upcoming Album

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DJ Mustard’s Hall of Fame plaque is set. He was one of the defining producers of the 2010s. He just scored his first number one single with Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” And he’s arguably the most famous West Coast producer of the 21st century. He could retire from music today and be deemed iconic. DJ Mustard has no such plans, however. The producer is gearing up for his most ambitious release to date, Faith of a Mustard Seed, on which he plans to debut as a rapper.

Originally, Faith of a Mustard Seed was pitched as a classic DJ Mustard affair. Which is to say, loaded with guest features and snappy production. Both of these elements will be present on the new album, but Mustard felt compelled to take a more personal approach. He discussed his decision to get on the mic during a recent interview with Real 92.3 LA. “There’s a song on my album where I’m rapping at the end,” he told the hosts. “That’s the most vulnerable [moment], because I’ve never rapped, nothing like that.” The producer then acknowledged that he vowed to never rap in the past.

DJ Mustard Wants To Give Fans His Lyrical Perspective

The reason DJ Mustard changed his mind? He wanted to give his listeners perspective. “I’ve been behind the boards so long that nobody has ever heard my side of things,” the produce noted. “When it comes to anything. Family or friends… I think it was just the time.” Mustard went on to cite the last five years of his life as being particularly dramatic, between COVID, divorce, and starting a new relationship. He felt he’d finally amassed enough material to warrant dropping a verse. “Sometimes people need to hear it, from you,” he opined.

DJ Mustard’s personal life has been a topic of discussion recently. The producer has been embroiled in legal battles with his ex-wife over custody. There was also controversy sparked when Drake, the target of Mustard’s “Not Like Us” beat, started following the producer’s ex on Instagram. Fans criticized the 6 God for the sneaky behavior, and Mustard’s ex for following him back. Most famous rappers have taken shots at Drake in 2024, so it’s very possible that DJ Mustard would get in on the fun. Mustard rocked a ball cap from Drake’s hometown during the “Not Like Us” video shoot, but he later claimed that he wasn’t trying to troll.

Read More: DJ Mustard’s Ex-Wife Seemingly Throws Shade At Him On Instagram

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Drake Posts Cryptic Photo Of AI Robot After Kendrick Lamar Battle

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2024 has not been kind to Drake. The Toronto rapper took the biggest L of his career in the Kendrick Lamar battle. To make matters worse, the impact of Lamar’s victory has been immortalized by the song “Not Like Us” and the Juneteenth “Pop Out” show. Drake has no choice to but to wait out the storm, and drop good music. The rapper has continued to play games on social media, however. He’s posted cryptic photos on his Instagram, and his latest post may be his most intriguing.

On June 26, Drake posted a photo of an AI robot. No text or additional sound. Just a robot sitting, and looking vaguely pensive. The meaning of the photo is open for interpretation, given often Drake has been linked to AI technology in recent months. K. Dot referenced Drake’s “Taylor Made Freestyle,” in which the latter used AI to impersonate Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg, during his Pop Out” concert. “Y’all ain’t gonna let anyone disrespect the West Coast or mock our legends,” Lamar told the audience. He also demanded that Drake return the Tupac ring he purchased in 2023. Drizzy could be trolling in return.

Read More: Drake Seemingly Teases Upcoming Collaboration With Dave

Drake Used AI Technology To Diss Kendrick Lamar

Sheryl Crow was also irate over Drake’s AI usage. The singer told BBC that Drake’s decision to use AI to impersonate the dead was distasteful. “It’s hateful,” Crow declared. “It is antithetical to the life force that exists in all of us.” So he could be referring to that. Drizzy could also be alluding to the recent lawsuit filed against the AI company Udio. Udio was used by Metro Boomin to make the disstrumental “BBL Drizzy.” Per CNN, the Recording Industry Association of America filed copyright infringement cases against the developers of Udio for its use of unlicensed recordings.

Drake’s connection to “BBL Drizzy” makes its AI origins even more complicated. The rapper decided to spit over the instrumental on the Sexyy Red song “U My Everything.” It was meant to take the sting out of Metro’s original. Now, however, it serves as another example of Drizzy using AI in his music. It’s possible that Drake’s AI robot post has nothing to do with the lawsuit. Or the Sheryl Crow comments. Or the Dot concert, for that matter. It could be a teaser of what Drake plans to drop next. What that is, we will just have to wait and see.

Read More: Drake “OVHOE” Chant Fails Miserably As BNYX Blasts The Megastar’s “Meltdown” Verse

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Camila Cabello Details The Making Of Her Upcoming Drake Collabs

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Camila Cabello is really swinging for the fences on her new album. She already has solo hits under her belt, but the former Fifth Harmony member wants more. Wisely, she decided to link up with the biggest rapper in the world: Drake. Granted, Drake’s reputation is a little rocky these days, but a feature, let alone two, from the 6 God, is a surefire way to attract eyes and ears. Cabello has been hyping up the release of her Drake collabs for weeks, but she finally shed light on how and when they came about.

Camila Cabello sat down for an interview with NBA superstar Jimmy Butler. The latter asked Cabello questions on behalf of Complex Magazine. The one that got the most attention, of course, was about Drizzy. “What’s the best thing about vacationing with Drake?,” Butler asked. Cabello giggled, before clarifying that they went on vacation to work on music together. “It was to finish our f*cking incredible banger,” she told the NBA player. “So productive.” Butler persisted, however, and asked Cabello once more what the highlight of the vacation was.

Read More: Camila Cabello’s Rise From Havana To Hollywood

Camila Cabello Praised Drake’s “Generosity” And “Kindness”

All snickering aside, Cabello cited the chance to work with one of her musical heroes. “I’ve been listening to Drake for so long,” she explained. “It’s great to get to know someone who you like, respect and admire from the outside. Then, you get to know them, and you have more respect and admiration.” The pop star also praised Drake’s personable nature during the recording sessions. “The kind of person they are, how they treat people,” she added. “Their generosity, their kindness.” Butler actually chimed in, claiming that Drake was a “good dude.”

Camila Cabello and Drake got along so well, in fact, they their plans to make one song turned into two. The former detailed this unplanned benefit during an interview with Billboard. “[The feature] came out of a non-transactional place,” she explained. “He had this idea of a song called ‘Hot Uptown,’ and it just felt like I was in the city. I was in Miami.” The second Drake feature is a solo interlude called “UUUGLY.” The singer told the outlet that she it made the final tracklist simply because she wanted to hear more Drake on her “own album.” Camila Cabello’s album, XOXO, is set for release on June 28.

Read More: Drake & Camila Cabello’s Dating Rumors Recieve Clarification Amid Collaboration News

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Kendrick Lamar Used J Cole’s Vocals During “Pop Out” Show

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Everything Kendrick Lamar does is by design. The rapper already had a reputation for being fastidious, due to his ambitious concept albums. The battle with Drake, however, took things to a new level. Lamar is now hailed as the most dangerous artist on the planet, as evidenced by the legendary “Pop Out” show. Kung Fu Kenny got an entire stadium (basically an entire coast) to sing along to his scathing diss tracks. Hidden amidst all the hatred, though, was a hidden message for the other rapper in the Big Three.

The X (formerly Twitter) account Cole World spotted a crucial detail during Lamar’s performance of “Alright.” The song sounds just like it does on To Pimp a Butterfly, but at the five second mark of the video, the voice of J Cole can be heard. Cole clearly says the word “yeah” before K. Dot digs into the chorus. What does this mean? Well, Kendrick Lamar and J Cole swapped instrumentals back on Back Friday 2015. The former rapped over Cole’s “A Tale of 2 Citiez,” while the latter rapped over “Alright.” Both artists did their thing, even if the general consensus is that Lamar washed his fellow superstar.

Read More: Kendrick Lamar And Ab-Soul Perform “6:16 In LA” During “Pop Out” Show

Kendrick Lamar Snuck In J Cole Ad-Libs On “Alright”

It appears as though Kendrick Lamar used ad-libs from J Cole’s version of “Alright” in his recent live performance. It’s a minor detail, but it carries major implications. Lamar challenged both Drake and J Cole’s supremacy on his “Like That” verse. He claimed that neither rapper could hold a candle to him, and Cole even dropped a response, “7 Minute Drill.” The way J Cole handled the aftermath is going to haunt him for the rest of his career, but the bottom line is: he apologized. Lamar and Cole seem cool once more. Lamar collaborators Daylyt and Ab-Soul even appeared on J Cole’s recent album.

Kendrick Lamar has not made any public statements about the Big Three battle. He’s let his music and his live shows do the talking. It’s unlikely he will address his relationship with J Cole directly, but placing his vocals in the mix of his LA-centric “Pop Out” show certainly implies that Lamar is showing love to the Dreamville icon. The decision to do is also another dig against Drake, who spent most of 2023 linking up with Cole on tour and on record. Diabolical.

Read More: Kendrick Lamar & Dave Free Appear To Be On Good Terms At “The Pop Out”

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Drake Seemingly Teases Upcoming Collaboration With Dave

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Drake is not letting the Kendrick Lamar battle get to him. Not publicly, at least. The rapper has continued to drop new music. A lot of it, actually. He linked up with Sexyy Red, dropped a head-scratching cover of “Hey There Delilah.” He also has two guest spots on Camila Cabello’s upcoming album. If Drake’s social media is anything to go by, though, the rapper has got even more collabs planned. A cryptic photo of UK rapper Dave surfaced on Champagne Papi’s Instagram. All signs point to a new song between the global superstars.

Drake posted a photo of Dave by a body of water. The rapper’s body is turned away from the camera, and he appears to be mixing music. He’s sitting at a desk with two speakers and a laptop. No text, but Drake knows exactly what he’s doing by being as cryptic as possible. Fans also know that Drake is an enormous fan of Dave, and has been for years. The Toronto superstar made a surprise appearance at Dave’s Canada show in 2022. The duo performed their lone collab, “Wanna Know,” before Drake gave Dave his flowers. “This guy right here is a once in a generation talent,” he told the audience. “I promise you, this guy right here is a one of one. Make some motherf**kin’ noise for Dave.”

Read More: Vory Defends Drake After Ryan Garcia Accuses Him Of Killing XXXTentacion

Drake And Dave Haven’t Collaborated Since 2016

Drizzy and Dave’s relationship actually goes beyond music. The latter played Modie in Top Boy series 3, which was executive produced by Drake. Dave has always credited Drake with broadening his audience. He also commended the 6 God’s ability to splice different sounds into a cohesive whole. “Drake’s ability to embrace different cultures within music is what makes him the best artist alive right now,” Dave told The Guardian. Drake helped but Dave on, but it’s worth noting that Dave has continued to get bigger since their 2016 collab.

Dave scored a number one UK single with “Starlight” in 2022. A year later, he teamed up with Central Cee for another number one, “Sprinter.” The latter topped the charts for 10 weeks, making it the longest-running number-one rap song in UK history. In other words, Dave is a superstar. Drake’s reputation is an all time low, on the other hand, so another collaboration may actually benefit him more than it would his UK brethren. Do you want to see Drizzy and Dave link back up for a hard-hitting single?

Read More: Drake Becomes First Artist To Hit 100 Billion Streams On Spotify

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Is Gunna Still Signed To YSL Records?

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GUNNA: The Bittersweet Tour - Atlanta, GA
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In December 2022, Gunna “entered a negotiated plea, known as an Alford plea, in which a defendant doesn’t admit he committed the crime but acknowledges that it is in his best interest to plead guilty,” as initially reported by WSB-TV. Gunna and Young Thug had been among 28 YSL members arrested in May 2022 and charged with in a 56-count grand injury indictment, including Racketeer Influenced And Corrupt Organizations (RICO) allegations. Gunna’s decision to take a plea deal sparked scrutiny with many calling Gunna a “snitch,” especially considering Young Thug is facing nine charges in the ongoing YSL RICO trial.

Is Gunna Still Signed To YSL Records?

On Wednesday, June 26, a video shared by Complex showed Gunna reiterating his loyalty to YSL.

“I’m still signed to YSL,” he said. “I’m still providing. We still pushin’. No paperwork has been changed. So, it’s like, whatever’s been getting and how we’ve been pushin’ this sh*t, it’s still going.”

It’s unclear when the video was shot and for whom, but Gunna expressed a similar sentiment about Young Thug for his XXL Magazine cover story in April: “It’s the same. It’s love, always. Our relationship is our relationship.”

Earlier this month, Jeffrey Williams Sr., Young Thug’s father, was dancing front row at Gunna’s The Bittersweet Tour finale at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Williams Sr. has been an ardent defender of Gunna.

Young Thug Posts Cryptic Tweet About Lil Baby Amidst YSL Trial

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There are a lot of moving parts in the YSL trial. Young Thug is the leader, and therefore the face, of the organization, but Lil Baby and Gunna have played pivotal roles. Lil Baby has continued to voice support for Thug. Gunna, on the other hand, has come under fire from the hip-hop world. Many believe Gunna snitched on his label boss to save himself, though he refutes these claims. This context is important, because Young Thug’s recent tweet doesn’t provide any. The rapper sent a message to Lil Baby, and fans are unsure as to what it could mean.

The tweet in question was posted on June 26. Young Thug wrote: “Whateva wham say goes,” which again, makes little sense in a vacuum. “Wham” is the nickname Thug has for Lil Baby, which implies the rapper is supporting whatever Lil Baby wants to do on the outside. Simple enough. Except for the fact that the message was shared shortly after footage of Gunna surfaced online. The footage in question sees Gunna declaring that he’s still part of YSL. “I’m still signed,” the rapper asserted. “Still providing, like we still been pushing. No paperwork has been changed… It’s still going.”

Read More: Young Thug Trial: Lil Woody Confesses He Lied To Police In Intense Rant

Young Thug And Lil Baby Have Remained Close Friends

Lil Baby and Gunna, who were once serial collaborators, have been on the outs since the YSL trial started. Lil Baby even threw subliminal disses at Gunna on the song “Family Freestyle” from 2023. “Some ni***s taking pleas at trial I know that slime ain’t happy,” Baby rapped. More disses came on “350,” which saw the rapper calling an unnamed target a “rat.” It doesn’t take much to arrive at the conclusion that Lil Baby is siding with Young Thug in the YSL cold war.

Lil Baby has been upfront about his stance on Thug. He told XXL that he barely talked to Gunna when the YSL case began, but stayed in touch with his label boss. “He’s not like one of my rap friends,” the rapper noted. “He’s one of my personal friends. We actually talk on the phone. Or if we in the same city, like one of them guys that I pull up on.” It’s unclear whether Young Thug’s tweet was meant to suggest that Lil Baby wanted Gunna off the label, or if he was merely co-signing Baby. Either way, all eyes will remain on YSL.

Read More: Young Thug Trial: Judge Refuses To Step Down After Ex-Parte Meeting Debacle

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DJ Akademiks Claims That Central Cee Is A Top 5 Relevant Rapper

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Central Cee is a massive star. The UK rapper has been recording since 2014, but he blew up off the strength of his 2022 single “Doja.” It’s been one success after another for the rapper, who scored a number one UK single with “Sprinter” in 2023. It seems apparent that Central Cee is here to stay, and DJ Akademiks is one internet personality who is absolutely convinced. Akademiks not only praised Central Cee during a recent stream, but claimed Cee was one of the most relevant rappers in the world.

The bold proclamation was made on June 25. DJ Akademiks was trying to work out who the biggest rappers were in terms of success. Central Cee, in Ak’s not-so-humble opinion, trumps most of the U.S. names at the moment. The cultural implications were not lost on the streamer. “Is this the first time,” Ak asked his viewers. “That a UK rapper could arguably be in the top 5 of rap?” He asserted that if Cee was not already, then he will be very soon. “I think Central Cee might be knocking on that door,” he asserted. “Top 5 relevant, right now.”

Read More: Chip Proves He Has No Beef With Central Cee On “C Freestyle”

Central Cee Is The First UK Rapper To Be A XXL Freshman

Viewers were quick to shoot down Ak’s ruling. That being said, Central Cee does have a lot going for him at the moment. He received a prestigious co-sign from Travis Scott in 2023, when the Texas rapper was seen dancing and rapping along to one of his tracks. Cee was the first UK rapper ever to land on the XXL Freshman List. He was also the first UK rapper to earn a billion streams in a single year on Spotify. These are not fluke achievements. The “Sprinter” hitmaker is doing, in many ways, what Bad Bunny did for the reggaeton genre during the first half of the decade.

Central Cee is keenly aware of American hip-hop. He told The Guardian that he listened to the greats when he was growing up, and attempting to bring a similar level of authenticity. “J Cole, Kendrick Lamar,” he recalled. “I had to go and listen to these people for the first time. Even Jay-Z. So that was a fun time, because everything was clicking. I just remember lightbulbs.” The rapper is adamant that he plans to stay true to his unique style, however. “When I rap, I’m in a neutral mood,” he said. “I can relate to everything, every emotion that I’ve ever felt.” Let’s see if DJ Akademiks’ claim proves true.

Read More: Asake & Central Cee Blend Their Styles To Perfection On “Wave”

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Who Is Diany Dior? Meet The Bronx Rapper With A Cash Cobain Co-Sign

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This spring, Diany Dior delivered an “On The Radar” freestyle — featuring a cameo from Cash Cobain — and stayed to chat with On The Radar Radio. She teased “a surprise” with Cobain, a fellow Bronx-bred rapper, and she was presumably talking about her and Nav’s “Favorite Lady” remix featuring Cobain.

With On The Radar Radio, Dior shared that she had signed “a major label deal” with GoodTalk in January. CEO Slo contacted her through Instagram after her “Drewski Freestyle” from May 2023. She also teased collaborations with Skilla Baby and Fivio Foreign, and she returned to On The Radar to perform “Sexy Drill” with Fivio in late April.

“[In] 2021, it started,” Dior said. “I got myself into this little independent label, and I was in the studio working every day. I was outside doing shows by myself, getting my name out there. Being outside just led me to knowing mad people. By the time I did ‘Drewski,’ I knew the whole New York, but they just ain’t really respect me that much until I did that. Then, I got my respect.”

Since “Drewski,” Dior has released singles “Too P,” “Pack Came In,” “Not My Fault,” and “Favorite Lady.” She initially released “Favorite Lady” in April before Nav and Cobain hopped on the remix.

Most recently, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie brought Dior out during his Better Off Alone Tour stop at New York City’s Madison Square Garden on June 24.

“MADISON SQUARE GARDEN?!!!!!” Dior captioned an Instagram carousel about the show. “IM CRYING WHILE TYPING THIS WOW SMH THANK YOU NYC FOR SHOWING ME LOVE LAST NIGHT WOW!!! THANK YOU @aboogievsartist FOR BRINGING ME OUT!!! I COULD TAKE THIS TIME TO TELL EVERYONE WHO SLEPT ON ME SOMETHING BUT I RATHER JUST TELL EVERYONE WHO STOOD 10 W ME THAT I LOVE YA SO MUCHHHH MAMA LOOK OH YEA EVERYONE I GREW UP LISTENING TO, NOW LISTENING TO ME & I CANT THANK GOD ENOUGH!!! BX STAND UPPP.”

Nicki Minaj’s Sister Ming Li Claims She Was Bullied Over Minaj’s Success

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Nicki Minaj is the most successful female rapper of all time. She continues to break records more than a decade and a half into her career, and she doesn’t seem to be slowing down. She will go down as one of the defining rappers of her generation, regardless of gender. In other words, Nicki Minaj casts a massive shadow. It would be extremely difficult to break through in the same field as Minaj, especially as a family member. This is what makes Ming Li Minaj’s recent comments so revelatory.

Ming Li recently went on the We In Miami podcast. She discussed her burgeoning music career, and her complicated relationship with Nicki Minaj, her older half-sister. Nepotism has become a talking point in recent years, but Ming Li claims her family ties actually made things harder for her growing up. “It was kinda hard,” she admitted. “I used to be bullied a lot because people used to say like ‘Oh if this person was your sister, why didn’t she do this for you?’” Ming Li went on to explain that the bullying she dealt with led to resentment. “At a young age, you don’t know how to answer,” she stated.

Read More: Nicki Minaj Dispels Kenneth Petty Divorce Rumors With Adorable Family Outing Clip

Nicki Minaj’s Sister Admits They Were Never Close

The relationship grew more complicated when Ming Li decided to become a rapper. “I never needed her to help me get to my goal,” she asserted. “I just needed her to see that I can do it, and she can be proud of me without having to think that I needed to have a easy way.” Nicki Minaj’s success was daunting for Ming Li on multiple levels. It also led to instances in which Ming Li tried to impress the rapper. “I used to have this urge,” she revealed. “Of wanting to impress my sister.” Part of the desire to impress Minaj was due to the fact that the rapper was always busy. Ming Li claimed that the two were never very close, and they had a propensity to fight whenever they were together.

At the end of the day, though, Ming Li claimed it was all love. The burgeoning rapper attributed her arguments with Minaj as being something that siblings just do. “She was good sister,” Ming Li added. “She would check up on me and my dad from time to time… Always made sure that were good. I don’t have no hate towards her.” As Ming Li’s profile, fans may even get to see her and Nicki Minaj trade bars on the same record.

Read More: Nicki Minaj’s Security Clash With Paris Paparazzi

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