Music

DJ Diesel And Guardians Pitcher Triston McKenzie Got The Crowd Jumping With ‘Since U Been Gone’ After A Game

by
shaq-kelly-clarkson-top
Instagram/silly_willy18

Now that the NBA season is over, Shaquille O’Neal can shift his focus to his true love: music. The Hall of Famer spends his summers touring as DJ Diesel, as he’s shifted his focus away from hip-hop, when he was once a platinum selling artist, to EDM and house music, previously explaining that he just loves the energy of those crowds.

Shaq will do it all, from hitting the festival circuit to a Las Vegas residency at Encore Beach Club to performances at MLB stadiums after games. His most recent stop came on Saturday night in Cleveland, where he was at Blue Jays-Guardians and performed on the field for fans after the Guards picked up a 6-3 win to improve to 46-26 on the season.

The vibes are incredibly high for the Guards right now, and that only continued with DJ Diesel hopping on the 1s and 2s and bringing out some special guests from the clubhouse, as Cleveland pitcher Triston McKenzie (and a number of ofther Guardians players) joined Shaq on stage and performed “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson to the delight of the fans.

First off, this is a reminder that “Since U Been Gone” is 20 years old and is still an absolute banger. Kelly Clarkson was really in her bag with that one. Secondly, DJ Diesel knows what the people want, which is a Kelly Clarkson interlude before going right back into some EDM. A true showman, through and through, who absolutely knows how to work a crowd — he hyped up the Guards as a World Series contender during his set as well.

Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance’ Album Received The Ultimate Tribute From The NY Liberty’s Mascot Ellie The Elephant

by
beyonce
Getty Image

Athletes around the world have massive fan bases. Similar to the players, there are several beloved sports team mascots with followings of their own. The New York Liberty’s Ellie The Elephant has become the WNBA’s latest breakout star.

Yesterday (June 22), Big Ellie’s Halftime performance showcased that and more. The show was dedicated to Pride Month, and also paid tribute Beyoncé. The ever so fabulous mascot blended a medley of the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer’s record-setting, Grammy Award-winning album, Renaissance.

It was clear Ellie received the silver dress code notice, as the sassy elephant was rolled onto center court dressed in a mockup of Beyoncé’s tour look. With her own Renaissance World Tour dancers, Ellie slayed the mashup of “Move” featuring Grace Jones and Nina Sky’s “Move Ya Body” with hints of “Formation.”

Users online raved about the Halftime performance. Many even joked that a floral arrangement from Beyoncé would arrive at the arena soon. Ellie welcomed the idea, writing, “If this happened, tears just might fall 😭🫶🐘.”

Ellie’s Beyhive-certified tribute stated well before see hit the Barclays Center’s floor. In a clip shared to Ellie’s official X (formerly Twitter) profile she is seen Sasha Fiercly stomping across the Snipes pre-game carpet in another Beyoncé-inspired outfit with a hand fan made up of the Renaissance cover art.

Those flowers from Bey are currently en route.

Mustard Seemingly Trolls Drake With Hat At Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” Video Shoot

by

Over the weekend, Kendrick Lamar was spotted filming a music video in his hometown of Compton, surrounded by a massive crowd of fans and peers. The video in question is for “Not Like Us,” one of the defining tracks of his viral feud with Drake. As expected, fans can’t wait to see the final result, though it’s unclear when it’ll finally be unveiled.

DJ Mustard, who produced the song, came out to show his support and appear in the video. In various photos and clips making their rounds online, he’s even rocking a Toronto Blue Jays hat. Many are speculating that this could be yet another jab at Drizzy. He’s from the Canadian city and has previously shown love to the baseball team. Of course, some social media users also suspect that the hat could symbolize something else entirely, which is still up for debate.

Read More: Kendrick Lamar & His Security Arrive At Compton City Hall For “Not Like Us” Music Video Shoot

DJ Mustard Reps Toronto Blue Jays While Filming Kendrick Lamar Video In Compton

It wouldn’t come as a shock if he were to throw in yet another sneaky Drake dig, however, as the music video is sure to be full of them. After all, the song is widely believed to be the most explosive of their entire lyrical battle. On it, Kendrick accuses Drake and his OVO crew of being “certified pedophiles,” and more. Either way, viewers are looking forward to seeing the finished product, which is expected to feature several special guests.

What do you think of Kendrick Lamar being spotted filming his “Not Like Us” music video in Compton over the weekend? What about DJ Mustard rocking a Toronto Blue Jays hat during the shoot? Do you think this was yet another dig at Drake or just a simple coincidence? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

Read More: Kendrick Lamar’s “Pop Out” Cost Roddy Ricch His Paris Fashion Week Plans

[Via]

The post Mustard Seemingly Trolls Drake With Hat At Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” Video Shoot appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Kehlani & Kali Uchis Bless Us On Our New “R&B Season” Playlist Update: Stream

by

While the summer heat becomes no easier to contend with in many North American corners, we’re here to chill you out by rounding up the best of the best R&B-related new music releases of the week on our latest R&B Season playlist update. Obviously, we have a pretty big frontrunner in Kehlani’s highly anticipated new album CRASH, whose best highlights include the title track and “Sucia” featuring Jill Scott and Young Miko. They do a great job of balancing out a lot of different styles here and bringing out the best from their guests, whether they’re a Philly singer-songwriter or a Puerto Rican sensation in the latter song’s case.

Meanwhile, we also wanted to shout out the new Kali Uchis single “Never Be Yours,” a reimagined version of one of her Drunken Babble cuts from all the way back in 2012. It’s a testament to the Colombian-Virginian’s enduring songwriting talents and the longevity of her artistry that everything about the song holds up to this day. Whether it’s the new melodic and production approach, though, there are still plenty of fresh elements for longtime fans to discover. Definitely don’t miss out on blasting this R&B jam next time you’ve got the sun in your face; don’t knock it ’til you try it!

Read More: Kehlani Donates More Than $550k In Merch Sales To Palestine, Sudan, & Congo

HNHH R&B Season Playlist: Stream

Elsewhere on R&B Season this week, we’ve got a new project from Maeta to talk about, the KAYTRANADA-produced Endless Night. You definitely feel that signature touch all throughout this seven-track offering, and the title track in particular is one of the more fitting and successful link-ups here. There are some really nice and warm chords anchoring things together as whistling synthesizers fade in and out. There’s been a lot of KAYTRA to enjoy as of late, and we’re especially not complaining when the Indianapolis singer joins the fun.

Then, we also have Fridayy’s new single “Baddest In The Room” to discuss, one of the more vocally passionate cuts this week. Finally, we wanted to salute The 80s (comprised of James Fauntleroy and No ID) for their re-release of The Pursuit, their collaborative project that contains one heck of a calmer with the Snoh Aalegra-assisted “Blue.” Let us know what your favorite R&B Season pick was this week, as well as what we missed, down in the comments section below. Check the playlist out above and, as always, come back to HNHH for the latest great music drops around the clock.

Read More: Mustard & GloRilla Are Electric On Our New “Fire Emoji” Playlist Update: Stream

The post Kehlani & Kali Uchis Bless Us On Our New “R&B Season” Playlist Update: Stream appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Ice Spice Reveals Alternate “Y2K” Cover & Fans Are Split On Their Thoughts

by

Ice Spice is coming out with her new album Y2K very, very soon, and it looks like she’s got a few different ways to increase hype for it and deliver some notable art to fans. Moreover, she recently took to social media to share an alternate cover art to the original artwork, and it certainly has a lot of aesthetic similarities. For example, there’s still a heavy blue and green color scheme for the most part, city sights, and a general art style that harkens back to the 2000s… to absolutely no one’s surprise. However, on this new art, there are two Spices: one trapped in the train, and one towering over the NYC skyline with her OG orange curls, not the slick hair that she’s been rocking as of late.

Overall, there are plenty of differences that could make a fan prefer one over another, but also enough similarities that would have them disliking or praising both equally. Regardless, it’s a small but effective way to further tease Y2K and give fans a full preview of what the album will sound or feel like. Ice Spice has already hinted at the sonic direction with plenty of singles, most recently the rapid-flowing “Phat Butt.” But the visual aspects will surely prove crucial to the full-length record’s perception, as well.

Read More: Ice Spice Has Lost 25 Million Monthly Spotify Listeners In Just One Year

Ice Spice’s New Cover For Y2K

Still, you might remember that the reception to the original Y2K cover art was pretty divisive. In fact, Ice Spice stepped in to defend the artwork online shortly after its reveal. “David LaChapelle is #Y2K!” she said of its creator. “soooo sweet + legendary he didn’t even charge me cus he f**ks wit a real b***h [lipstick mark emoji]. thank U for all the incredible art you’ve put out through the years this cover means everything to me [red heart emoji] & yes Y2K was placed on the trash can on purpose can u guess why?”

Meanwhile, as the Latto feud seems to heat up, we might get even more of a promotional push for Ice Spice’s Y2K. Whether this works out in either femcee’s favor or not, there’s certainly a lot of interest in determining whether we’ll see a back and forth. Maybe they will just continue their not-so-cold war without getting in each other’s way too much. Or maybe this alternate cover will be part of one of the shots that they trade.

Read More: Ice Spice “Y2K”—Artists Fans Want On Her Debut Album

The post Ice Spice Reveals Alternate “Y2K” Cover & Fans Are Split On Their Thoughts appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Travis Scott Asks Kai Cenat For A 24-Hour Live Stream Together During Europe Tour

by

Travis Scott has been a fan of Kai Cenat’s content for a while now, so the idea of them doing a stream together seems pretty inevitable. Moreover, La Flame called Cenat during his recent livestream and proposed that they do a “24 hours in London” stream together. He even suggested that they go backstage for his July 11 sold-out stadium show in the city, indicating that the actual concert itself would be a big part of the stream. Overall, it’s nice to hear them be excited about meeting up regardless, but they might actually be onto something with this idea and could create something pretty cool to see for 24-hour stream standards.

Of course, Kai Cenat has done plenty of these in the past, similar to his sleepover streams with the likes of Kevin Hart and Druski. Still, there’s nothing like some killer hip-hop crossovers and fun, often comical content to engage fans and provide some awesome, albeit sometimes criticized moments for better or worse. Throwing such a big event as Travis Scott’s “Circus Maximus” tour on top of that just sounds like a massive recipe for success that we’re sure they’re probably ironing out the details of right now. Regardless, even if this 24-hour London stream doesn’t happen, we know that the two are in close contact and would likely always be down to do something together.

Read More: Kai Cenat Calls Tyla For North West’s Birthday Celebration: Watch

Travis Scott Calls Kai Cenat With An Idea

Elsewhere, folks might remember that Travis Scott has been more of a supporting character in the Kai Cenat universe. For example, he was one of many who called into 21 Savage’s stream with the Twitch giant, betting $10K on the Slaughter Gang CEO beating Kai in a game of 2K. They haven’t been the main event together yet, and spending 24 hours in London sounds like quite the bombastic way to do so. They’d get into enough antics on the streets touristing around, let alone at a concert.

Meanwhile, we know from Travis Scott’s recent arrest that he’s a bit of a party animal, so we’re sure that this stream would be great fun. Hopefully they work everything out before July 11 and they can make this one of the biggest rap crossover streams so far. After all, it’s not every day that Kai Cenat gets to match his coverage and content with something as big as a backstage pass to a blockbuster show. What’s next, a studio session stream?

Read More: Travis Scott Breaks Silence On His Arrest With Just One Word

The post Travis Scott Asks Kai Cenat For A 24-Hour Live Stream Together During Europe Tour appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Pop Smoke’s Alleged Killer Reportedly Released From Prison

by

According to numerous online reports and social media activity, authorities reportedly released one of Pop Smoke’s alleged killers from jail (specifically juvie) for what seems like his 21st birthday. Moreover, there isn’t a lot of concrete information available about this supposed release at press time, other than this being the completion of the alleged killer’s four-year sentence for pleading guilty to murder. This follows other developments in the New York drill rapper’s murder case, such as an alleged eyewitness explaining how it all went down. That took place on social media, though, not in court. As such, there are still a lot of unanswered questions and doubts when it comes to this tragedy.

Furthermore, four years have passed since Pop Smoke died in a home invasion and robbery, and only one defendant remains in his case. Corey Walker is also the only adult defendant in this case, and the court delayed his trial due to an inability to settle a plea agreement with prosecutors. “Negotiations fell through, but there’s still a possibility we’ll come to an agreement,” defense attorney Deion Benjamin told Rolling Stone. “A few things need to be ironed out. If they don’t get resolved, we’ll go to trial,” for which jury selection would begin on August 6.

Read More: Steven Victor Addresses Backlash Virgil Abloh Faced Over Pop Smoke Cover Art: “That Was Bullsh*t”

Pop Smoke’s Alleged Killer Is Reportedly Free

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by DJ Akademiks (@akademiks)

However, this vague release definitely isn’t the most odd or bizarre thing to emerge out of this Pop Smoke case. Some connected it to the death of rapper Sirtanky, and believe that the latter passed away as a move of retaliation for the murder of the former. In fact, the Los Angeles rapper washed up in a barrel on the shores of Malibu, a gruesome and disturbing end with unclear context behind it. Hopefully no further violence affects this whole situation.

Meanwhile, Pop Smoke continues to live on as a staple of contemporary New York hip-hop, falling alongside city legends that have also done a lot to rep for the city in their respective eras. Sadly, his time on this Earth was far too short for him to fully enjoy and realize his impact, potential, talents, and life. Hopefully this release is a sign of completed justice, and that folks involved have learned from their horrific actions. We’ll see how else The Woo endures.

Read More: 7 Rappers Who Have Won Posthumous Awards: Pop Smoke, Tupac & More

[via]

The post Pop Smoke’s Alleged Killer Reportedly Released From Prison appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Charlamagne Tha God Admits To Disregarding Tyla’s Interview Requests: “I Have A Job To Do”

by

Earlier this month, Tyla sat down for an interview with The Breakfast Club, which ultimately earned Charlamagne Tha God some backlash. At one point in the conversation, he asked the songstress about her identity as a South African “coloured” person. He was shut down right away. Her publicist made it clear that she wouldn’t be answering any questions about that particular topic, prompting some viewers to accuse her of denying her Blackness. She later addressed this in a statement, clarifying that this was not at all her intention.

Peter Rosenberg was among the first to call Charlamagne out. He claimed that he made the interview “miserable” for both Tyla and her team. Moreover, he accused the personality of going through the list of questions she preferred not to be asked in the interview and asking each one anyway. He was obviously onto something, as Charlamagne has now confirmed that more or less, that’s exactly what he did.

Read More: Charlamagne Tha God Bestows Hip-Hop’s Crown On Kendrick Lamar: “It’s Not Even Close”

Charlamagne Tha God Discusses Tyla’s Breakfast Club Interview

According to Charlamagne, Tyla’s team previously asked him not to bring up Kai Cenat, her absence from Chris Brown’s tour, a recent injury, comparisons to other artists, her dating life, or her racial identity. “I said to them, ‘No,’” he revealed. He also claimed that at that point, it was up to them to either prepare Tyla for those topics to be brought up or just cancel the interview altogether.

“I am not a d*ck sucker for record labels,” he later added. “I have a job to do, and my job is for the people.” What do you think of Charlamagne Tha God admitting he asked Tyla questions included on her “do not ask” list? Are you surprised? Is he in the wrong for this or not? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

Read More: Peter Rosenberg Slams Charlamagne Tha God For “Blindsiding” Tyla In Interview

[Via]

The post Charlamagne Tha God Admits To Disregarding Tyla’s Interview Requests: “I Have A Job To Do” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Florida Rapper Foolio Is Dead At 26, After Being Shot While Celebrating His Birthday In Tampa

by
Foolio 2023 (1024x437)
Instagram

Tragedy has struck the Jacksonville, Florida rap community. Rising artist Foolio has died at the age of 26. The musician, known for his viral remix to Fantasia’s song “When I See You,” was reportedly shot and killed earlier today (June 23).

According to News4JAX, Foolio (real name Charles Jones) and several friends were believe to be celebrating his birthday (June 21) over the weekend at a private Airbnb rental.

In a post shared to Jones’ official Instagram Stories, the late rapper claimed that police arrived to the location and shut down his promoted pool party. He then alleged that he was forced from the property’s grounds. Jones’ lawyer, Lewis Fusco, echoed that via his statement to the outlet.

Foolio Instagram Stories 062232024
Instagram
Foolio Instagram Stories 062232024
Instagram

Some time after Fusco said, Jones secured a room at the Holiday Inn in Tampa, where we would reportedly be killed in the parking lot around 4:40 a.m.

“What we have learned, and this is early in the investigation, two cars were shot at,” said Joneé Lewis, public information officer for the Tampa Police Department. “The victim in this morning’s shooting is believed to be Charles Jones. Positive identification is pending confirmation from the Medical Examiner’s Office.”

According to officials, three other gunshot victims were taken to local hospitals. But, Lewis if confident they will make a full recovery. No arrests have been made at this time.

In 2023, Jones was shot in the foot in his hometown. Jones attempted to relocate after that incident and his then ongoing tension with fellow rapper Yungeen Ace, who is known for his Vanessa Carlton-sampling song “Who I Smoke.”

ASAP Rocky Teases “Don’t Be Dumb” With Dramatic Trailer & Fans Can’t Believe It

by

Well, it’s finally here… or almost, at least, but even knowing of its existence is enough to vindicate and validate six years of agonizing patience. Moreover, ASAP Rocky is dropping his new album Don’t Be Dumb on August 30, and fans couldn’t be more excited, happy, or in disbelief about the news. He recently posted a new clip on his social media that features some masked and heavily clothed people walking around a smoky area with industrial buzzes, rising synthesizers, and dramatic droning in the background. It’s more of an atmospheric mood board than anything else, but we’ll take it with a big smile on our face now that we at least have a release date.

Furthermore, this is the first time that A$AP Rocky has fully locked in a release date for Don’t Be Dumb since he began teasing his fourth studio album all those years ago. From what new interviews, statements, and announcements indicate, he’s currently in the mixing and mastering phase of the project, which is very exciting since it suggests that the post-production process will be very detailed. The Harlem native is known for his attempts at creating full, distinct worlds with each of his full-length records, which are all very different from each other. Here’s hoping No. 4 sees him expand his reach and experiment some more.

Read More: Rihanna Wants More Kids With ASAP Rocky & Gives Big Update On Pregnancy Rumors

ASAP Rocky’s Latest Don’t Be Dumb Teaser

Of course, a big part of the delays behind Don’t Be Dumb, and Rihanna’s much-anticipated album as well, has been her and A$AP Rocky’s relationship and new life as parents. Whether folks are critiquing their fashion styles or going wild over their wholesome posts or viral moments, there’s a lot to discuss around the power couple. Most importantly, it seems like they’re in a great place of joy and fulfillment that the creation of music likely can’t fill the void of anymore. But at least they’re still putting in hard work for their fans, and they want to get it just right.

So rejoice, A$AP Rocky fans: this isn’t another adorable Bottega Veneta campaign with his kids. This is the real deal, and it looks like Don’t Be Dumb will be one of the year’s biggest releases. Will he deliver yet another fantastic experience that pushes his artistry in a similar direction or can none of us predict what the madman will do on this latest experiment? For excitement’s sake, we’re hoping for the latter.

Read More: Hip-Hop Albums We’re Still Waiting On For 2024

The post ASAP Rocky Teases “Don’t Be Dumb” With Dramatic Trailer & Fans Can’t Believe It appeared first on HotNewHipHop.