You can take the girl out of Texas, but you can’t the Texas out of the girl. Tonight (June 14), Normani released her long-awaited debut album, Dopamine. Since her days as a member of Fifth Harmony, Normani has long-cited artists like Aaliyah, Brandy, and fellow Houston native Beyoncé as inspirations. But on a rap-inspired track called “Still,” Normani reminds us that her hometown serves as more of an inspiration to her musical craft than we might think.
The song features a prominent sample of “Still Tippin’,” an H-Town classic rap song by Mike Jones, Slim Thug, and Paul Wall. Normani herself interpolates portions of the song, as she sings “Back then they didn’t want me / now I’m hot, can’t keep ’em off me” in the song’s intro.
Throughout the chorus, Normani maintains a Texas-sized spirit, and showing out with some southern style with her day one ladies.
“Still sexy, still extra, with my girls flexin’,” she sings on the song’s chorus, reminding us that while the wait for her solo debut album may have been long, she’s finally arrived, and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
You can listen to “Still” above.
Dopamine is out now via RCA. Find more information here.
Khalid has shared his new single, “Adore U.” Never one to hide from his emotions, Khalid is dealing with a different type of pain on his latest release.
“Adore U” features Khalid lamenting someone, who appears to be maintaining their distance from him. Whether its physical or emotional distance, Khalid is hoping to heal things, and return to a place of pure love.
“Thousand miles apart and you’re still in my heart / Can we take it back? I’m waiting at the start /Fly me to the moon and now I’m seeing stars when we touch,” he sings on the song’s hook.
Over the course of the song, Khalid repeats a simple remedy to bandage each other’s hearts.
“Fall into my arms / Let me adore you,” he says.
It’s been five years since Khalid has released a proper album, and fans are itching for the follow up to his 2019 sophomore album, Free Spirit. But over the course of the past month, the El Paso native has been teasing a new project. Two weeks ago, he hinted that the wait for a new album may be just about over, sharing a photo carousel with the caption reading “5 years later.
Here we go again.” A week prior, Khalid hinted that his new project is in the “mixing/mastering” phase.
Boosie Badazz likes to fight. He’s spent the last two decades attacking other rappers and saying things he knows will anger the public. Sometimes he apologizes, but most times he doubles down and mocks any person who tries to mount a defense. Yung Bleu falls under this category. Boosie Badazz and Bleu have been beefing ever since the latter left Boosie’s record label. Things took a more serious turn on June 13, when Bleu insulted his former label boss on Instagram. It didn’t take long, though, for Boosie Badazz to respond.
The Louisiana rapper absolutely unloaded on Yung Bleu. He responded to every insult that Bleu had for him and made him look foolish. “N**ga don’t get mad cause you ain’t booked every weekend across the country like your CEO lol,” he wrote on Instagram. “Do u even have shows? U stop your tour cuse you couldn’t sell out theaters.” Bleu previously made a crack about Boosie Badazz being washed up and playing local shows, but it obviously backfired. Bleu also tried to make fun of the apartments that are situated on Boosie’s property, claiming they’d fall down if a strong wind came through. Boosie had a response for this too.
According to the veteran rapper, Yung Bleu actually lived in those “motel 6” quarters until he could afford a place of his own. “You stole my money [and] went put down on your first home,” Boosie wrote. “So we coming move n next week since you squatting n our sh*t.” The rapper’s tirade continued, and he got the kids involved. He offered to come by and have his kids help Yung Bleu’s son learn to count. “Maybe my kids can come over n help yo r**arded a*s son count to five,” Boosie brutally asserted. “Go wipe all that damn slob up off your floor before y’all fall down n hurt yourself.” Brutal.
Yung Bleu’s initial blow up came a desire to separate himself from Boosie Badazz’s label. He accused the rapper of talking about him interviews, and even claimed Boosie was “obsessed” with him. The two men clearly have different takes on the situation. In Boosie’s estimation, Yung Bleu has maintained relevance by constantly bringing his name up. He said as much during an interview with DJVlad. “I feel like he’s flopping because the world knows I’m a real person,” he said. “The world knows that one thing Boosie [is] going to do is keep it real.”
Tinashe is having a moment. The singer has been dropping acclaimed albums for over a decade, but her latest single, “Nasty,” has exploded. It’s spread like wildfire on TikTok, and recently cracked the Billboard Hot 100. This marks the first time Tinashe has landed a pop hit as a solo artist, and to make things even better, she managed to do it as an independent artist. “Nasty” was released through the Tinashe Music label. She’s thrilled by the song’s success and the reaction of her former label.
Tinashe, who left RCA Records in 2019, told TMZ that her ex-label is “gagging” over the success of her new single. “Nasty” has continued to gain traction since its release in April. This is not the first time Tinashe has thrown shade at RCA Records, either. During a 2023 appearance on the Zach Sang Show, the R&B singer claimed she was forced to do collabs against her will. To make matters worse, they were often with artists who were over the hill, like R. Kelly. “I literally block out that R. Kelly song from my mind,” she told the host. “I forget that it even exists. That is so embarrassing. That is so unreal that I even have a song with R. Kelly. That’s so embarrassing.”
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 12: Tinashe is seen at ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ on June 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by PG/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
Tinashe was also reluctant to do a song with Chris Brown. “He was their biggest artist that they had on rhythmic radio at the time,” she recalled. “To me, I was like, ‘Well, this is a pop song. So, I really don’t feel like we should put Chris on it.’ That doesn’t compute to me, but I don’t know.” Tinashe’s instincts proved to be correct. Chris Brown wound up dissing her by asking IG users to “name five Tinashe songs.” The singer did admit that the independent grind has not been easy, though.
In a recent interview with Polyester, Tinashe detailed the effort that goes into releasing her own music. “I have to keep it 100 with people,” she explained. “It is not easy being independent. To find enough money to be able to fund the things you want to create, putting together a live show, or making a music video. Those things cost a lot of money and to be able to maintain that on your own is very hard.” Fortunately, the singer’s hard work has paid off. She scored her biggest hit in a decade, and she recently performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Megan Thee Stallion is currently making her way across the U.S. on her “Hot Girl Summer” tour, and so far, she and the Hotties have had a blast. Despite a few bumps along the way, she’s impressed numerous sold-out crowds with explosive performances, exciting special guests, and more. Joining her along the way has been none other than her “Wanna Be” collaborator, GloRilla.
Meg took to Instagram earlier this week to share some of her favorite things about the tour, revealing that getting to spend so much time with Glo has been at the top of the list. According to her, the rapper has started to feel more like a sibling to her. “I love the bond that me and @glorillapimp have built in these past few weeks ! You are my sister 4L , you and cola never getting rid of me,” she wrote.
GloRilla was sure to return the love, sharing her own heartfelt message in Meg’s comments section. “I luv you 4L Meg [heart emoji, teary-eyed emoji],” she said. “I’m so glad I got to do dis tour with you I wouldn’t have had it no other way [party emoji]. I can’t wait for dem to hear dat hot sh*t ahhhh so excited.”
The U.S. leg of the “Hot Girl Summer” tour is expected to close at the end of June with a performance in Meg’s hometown of Dallas. The following month, the duo will take on the UK and Europe until the end of July. What do you think of Megan Thee Stallion revealing some of her favorite things about her “Hot Girl Summer” tour so far? What about her speaking on the sister-like bond she’s created with GloRilla? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
It’s no secret that Kanye West is a busy guy, and fans can’t blame him for getting some rest whenever and wherever he can. Either way, one supporter was still shocked to see the Chicago MC sleeping on a recent flight to Japan. He couldn’t help but capture the unexpected moment in a TikTok. The video shows Ye seated alongside his wife Bianca Censori in economy, fast asleep in a cozy white robe. The robe had his name embroidered across the chest, indicating that he wasn’t trying to keep their trip on the low.
While Ye was catching up on his beauty sleep, Censori appeared to be wide awake and on her phone. She did rock a similarly comfy outfit, however. The Australian model stunned in a sheer white cloak, similar to the one she was recently seen wearing on their excursion in Italy.
While some social media users were surprised to see Ye on his way to Japan, others were more taken aback by the fact that he and Censori were in economy seats. Rumors that money could be tight for the performer are flying as a result. This is unconfirmed, however, and it’s certainly possible that he’s simply trying to save where he can. After all, it’s not the first time fans have seen him kicking it with the commoners. The couple also frequents chain restaurants like the Cheesecake Factory, Denny’s, and more.
They’ve also got a big trip ahead of them, as it’s reported they plan to celebrate Ye’s 47th birthday in Italy, where the pair never fails to go big. What do you think of a fan spotting Kanye West and Bianca Censori on a flight to Japan? What about him catching up on his beauty sleep in economy? Can you blame him? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
Enchanting’s death still has music fans in shock. The rapper was only 26, the the circumstances in which she passed had fans remain unclear. All we know is that she was placed on life support hours before she was pronounced death. Enchanting’s sister, who broke the news via social media, posted a tribute to her in the form of an Instagram post. The rest of the rapper’s family issued a statement to fans on June 13.
The statement came in the form of a screenshot posted to Enchanting’s Instagram. The screenshot was of a text message, and it was signed “the family of Enchanting Larry.” The rapper’s family made sure to confirm her death and communicate their grief. “On behalf of Channing Nicole Larry aka Enchanting,” the statement opened. “We are deeply saddened to announce the death of our sweet and beloved daughter. She lived her life with grace and blessed so many with friendship, laughter and love.” The family decided to shift the focus, however, to the fans. They thanked Enchanting’s supporters for the kind words they’ve shared in the days since her passing.
“We also appreciate everyone’s respect of our family’s privacy as we continue to navigate through this difficult loss,” they added. There’s been lots of speculation as to what led to Enchanting’s death, but the family were not able to provide any additional information at this time. “The cause of death has not yet been determined,” they asserted. “Thanks again.” A rep from Enchanting’s management team told The Shade Room that the rapper was suffering from withdrawals in the months leading up her to death.
The rep claimed that they tried to help Enchanting stay clean, but it proved to be difficult. “She came to my house the last four days to get clean,” they explained. “She tried her best and I did everything I could to help her, she tried.” These claims have not been validated by the rapper’s family. The rep was not the only person who spoke on Enchanting’s behalf following her death, however. Gucci Mane, the artist who signed Enchanting to a record deal, also praised her on Instagram. “So sad to have to say R.I.P to such a great young lady,” he wrote. “A true star we gone all miss you Chant.”
NLE Choppa has made one thing clear in recent weeks, he’s in support of the LGBTQ community. Back in April, he released his new single “SLUT ME OUT 2.” Since then, the song has racked up more than 21 million streams and sparked a viral dance. Choppa seems well aware that quite a bit of support for the song is coming from his fans in the LGBTQ community and he hasn’t been shy about thanking them for their support on repeated occasions. But as homophobia still persists in his fan base he’s had to clap back at fans making disrespectful comments.
In his most recent embrace of his LGBTQ fans, he declared on Twitter that he wants to do a special performance of “SLUT ME OUT 2” for pride month. “I want to perform Slut Me Out 2 at a pride event in return of the love you all showed me,” a tweet he made reads. But when a fan responded with a homophobic comment, Choppa had to clear things up. He posted a reply explaining why he had love for his gay and transgender fans. “I’m secure, I know who I am. Show love it won’t hurt and also You do know women are apart of the LGBTQ community right you gone hate them too ? I mean at the least appreciate the women in that community if everything else make you uncomfortable king,” Choppa’s reply reads. Check out the entire interaction below.
Since the song dropped, “SLUT ME OUT 2” has popped up in all kinds of strange places. He’s performed the incredibly raunchy song alongside his parents and even played it at a bat mitzvah, something he faced criticism for. The viral dance associated with the song also made an appearance at graduation ceremonies around the world.
What do you think about NLE Choppa once again showing unequivocal support for his fans in the LGBTQ community? Are you surprised more rappers don’t show love to their gay and trans fans more often? Let us know in the comment section below.
Artists can’t seem to stop feuding in 2024. Drake and Kendrick will go down as the biggest battle of the year, but every week there’s a new disagreement between artists. Bebe Rexha and G-Eazy were not on our bingo board for the next rap-related beef, yet here we are. Rexha put the Oakland rapper on blast on June 13. She not only took credit for helping to put G-Eazy on, but alluded to knowing things about him that would damage his public reputation.
The diss came about when Bebe Rexha was asked to film media content alongside G-Eazy. She not only refused, but she mocked the rapper for not reaching out himself. “@G-Eazy you have my number,” she wrote over a text screenshot. “Why don’t you text me and ask me yourself you stuckup ungrateful loser.” It only got meaner from there. Rexha commented on G-Eazy’s recent resurgence, and suggested that it could all fall apart if she decided to share her experiences. “You’re lucky people are liking you again,” she wrote. “Cause I could go in on all the sh*tty things you’ve done and how you treated me after giving you your only real hit.” The cherry on top? A formal no to the initial request. “Btw,” Rexha added. “The answer is no.”
Bebe Rexha Claims G-Eazy Did “Sh*tty Things” To Her
Bebe Rexha calls out G-Eazy in latest Instagram story when asked to shoot media content with him:
“You’re lucky people are liking you again. Cause I could go in on all the shitty things you’ve done and how you treated me after giving you your only real hit. Btw the answer is… pic.twitter.com/Tbb03fw1B1
The hit that Bebe Rexha is referencing is 2015’s “Me, Myself & I.” It was the lead single on G-Eazy’s fourth album, When It’s Dark Out, and proved to be his commercial breakthrough. The song peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the biggest hit of both artists’ career. Rexha’s claim that she gave G-Eazy his only hit is not entirely true, however. While she has scored an even bigger hit with the number two single, “Meant to Be,” G-Eazy managed to top the success of “My, Myself & I” as well. His 2017 single “No Limit” peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100.
Rexha’s IG rant is worlds away from the praise she heaped on G-Eazy in 2017. She told HipHopDX that the two of them actually had great chemistry and quite a bit in common. “It’s interesting, we’re like the same person,” she claimed. “We both love music. I think we’re just kind of on the same wavelength when it comes to just wanting to be iconic. Working with him is just such an incredible energy and chemistry.” Obviously something transpired between the two artists behind closed doors. Time will tell if the rest of the world finds out what it was.
Drake is embroiled in a new legal battle, with allegations that his recent tour merchandise infringes on the trademark of the 1980s iconic apparel brand, Members Only. According to Billboard, JR Apparel World LLC, the current owner of Members Only, has filed a lawsuit against Drake and his company, Away From Home Touring Inc. The dispute centers around tour t-shirts that bear the phrase “Members Only,” which is also the title of a song on Drake’s 2023 album For All The Dogs. This lawsuit is just one of several legal challenges the rapper has faced recently, as he continues to navigate the complex landscape of intellectual property and artistic expression.
The lawsuit claims that Drake’s use of “Members Only” on his tour t-shirts is a trademark infringement. JR Apparel World LLC argues that the phrase “Members Only” is a registered trademark specifically for clothing, which they revived over the last decade. The fact that “Members Only” is a song title on Drake’s latest album does not grant him the right to use the phrase on merchandise. The lawsuit, Billboard cites, states, “The fact that ‘Members Only’ is a song on Drake’s album For All The Dogs does not obviate the likelihood of confusion or give [him] a license to use our client’s ‘Members Only’ marks in such a confusing manner, particularly on or in connection with apparel items.”
Trademark Confusion
Members Only is best known for its distinctive racer jackets, which were a fashion staple in the 1980s. Despite the design differences between the original Members Only jackets and Drake’s t-shirts, the lawsuit emphasizes the potential for consumer confusion. It asserts, “Away From Home’s use of ‘Members Only’ … is likely to cause confusion, mistake, and deception among consumers as to the origin of Away From Home’s infringing T-shirts.” The owners of the Members Only trademark are particularly concerned about the dilution of their brand identity and the potential misleading of consumers into believing that there is an association between their brand and Drake’s merchandise.
Europe Craft Imports established Members Only in 1975 and became a household name in the 1980s, thanks to its popular jackets. These jackets featured narrow epaulettes, knitted trim, and a logo tag on the chest pocket, becoming a symbol of 80s fashion. The brand’s slogan, “When you put it on, something happens,” further cemented its place in pop culture. After a period of decline, JR Apparel World LLC revitalized the brand in recent years, maintaining its retro appeal while expanding its product line.
Drake’s Legal Troubles
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: (Editorial Use Only) Drake performs surprise set on Day 1 of Wireless Festival 2021 at Crystal Palace on September 10, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Joseph Okpako/WireImage)
This lawsuit adds to a series of legal challenges Drake has faced in recent months. The rapper was previously dismissed from lawsuits related to the Astroworld disaster and settled a suit over a fake Vogue cover used to promote his album Her Loss. Additionally, Drake removed the AI-assisted track “Taylor Made Freestyle” following legal threats from Tupac Shakur’s estate.
The Road Ahead
As the lawsuit progresses, it will likely explore the nuances of trademark law and the balance between artistic freedom and intellectual property rights. For Drake, he faces yet another hurdle in his career and perhaps, it resolves itself sooner rather than later. Nonetheless, the Canadian star has fans anticipating his two new features on Camila Cabello’s forthcoming album, due out later this month.
