Bow Wow has apparently been quite the philanthropist (while missing the point) in the rap game as of late, as he recently threatened to reveal which MCs owe him money. “yo! yall think 50 gotta long list of rappers owing hiM MONEY??!!!” he asked on Twitter on Thursday night (May 30). “IMA START NAMING RAPPERS THAT OWE ME AND BEEN RUNNING OFF WITH THE PAPE FOR 3 yrs! dont let that like mike s**t fool you! I WANT MY MONEY!!!! ima start naming u n***as.” With a new collaboration with Chris Brown coming up soon, maybe that’s part of Breezy’s repayment plan.
Jokes and completely unfounded speculation aside, Bow Wow also has plenty to reflect on when it comes to how he made his money, such as his recent recollection of how T.I. helped craft his 2003 album, Unleashed. “This is before the King album, this is before A.T.L., this is young Tip… Me and Tip wrote that third album together with my man R.O.C.,” he told The Art Of Dialogue, specifically clarifying that this was his first project without Jermaine Dupri’s input and that he hit the Atlanta trap pioneer up after advice to do so from his A&R Kawan “KP” Prather.
“Me and Tip really kicked it,” Bow Wow continued. “We had moments, especially in the studio. Him giving me that freedom, him teaching me how to write. Cadence, bars, song structure, just everything. He was giving me the answers that I wanted Jermaine to give me. He was definitely a hundred in the studio. Tip was, that’s my dog. Even to this day, that’s my big bro right there.” Despite his current legal dispute with Dupri’s father, it’s clear that whatever issues during or after Unleashed are water under the bridge.
Meanwhile, Bow Wow also reflected on kicking his lean habit, something which he thinks has really turned his life around. The only thing that could make it even better, it seems, is if all these alleged rappers start paying their debts. Maybe he’ll spend the rest of his career looking for this. But maybe this isn’t the exaggerated situation some folks might paint this as.
Drake, his producer Noah “40” Shebib, and the rest of the OVO crew have been under fire ever since March of 2024 thanks to rap beef. However, as a result of those back-and-forth diss tracks, another conversation emerged about how they allegedly expect certain treatment from the media and their peers. Moreover, you probably already heard the claim that DJ Cipha Sounds played Kendrick Lamar’s PDF-file-alleging “Not Like Us” at Toronto, and that 40 responded with a scathing condemnation. Turns out that Cipha didn’t actually play the track and removed the post, but he had another similar story to tell Peter Rosenberg on the Juan Ep Is Life show that illustrates their issues with the two.
Furthermore, DJ Cipha Sounds recalled when he posted an old picture of him with longtime collaborator Pusha T, and how 40 criticized his post directly to him given Drake’s beef with the Clipse member. “To not be a d**k,” Cipha took the photo down, which led Peter Rosenberg to remark on an incident where his critique of the “God’s Plan” music video got him a very angry phone call from The Boy. According to Rosenberg, the issue with this OVO duo is that they expect “the homie treatment” from the media and fellow artists. The real problem lies in how they just supposedly expect this leniency and support without giving these celebrities a reason to do so.
Peter Rosenberg & DJ Cipha Sounds Speak On Drake & 40
Peter Rosenberg accuses Drake of latching on to whoever the hottest person is right now and says the issue with Drake and his producer, 40, is that they want the homie treatment.
Also, Cipha Sounds speaks about another time when Drake’s producer, 40, was mad at him for posting a… pic.twitter.com/QS4Z08BDLP
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) May 31, 2024
For example, Peter Rosenberg brought up that he hasn’t talked to Kendrick Lamar in years, but is still connected to the TDE camp. Even though he hasn’t spoken with K.Dot in a while, folks like Top Dawg and Punch still hit him up, send him tracks, and stay in touch. On the flip side, in the radio host’s opinion, Drake simply attaches himself to hot media personalities like Adin Ross, Bobbi Althoff, and DJ Akademiks for the clout of it and doesn’t do his part to be a “homie” in return. However, Rosenberg also clarified that these reactions are very understandable and especially so right now, given that Drizzy’s team has suffered violence that, while unconfirmed and unlikely to connect to the rap battle, has everyone on edge on top of feeling defensive against popular diss tracks.
Some people don’t think the beef is over, but it’s clear that most of us are taking a more retrospective look at the whole thing. Allegedly, so are Drake and 40 by keeping their loyalties and circles skeptical and in check. But what Peter Rosenberg and DJ Cipha Sounds are talking about is much more complicated, gray, and nuanced than simple fake love. That’s a song by the 6ix God, and what they’re talking about is something that no track can really tackle either way.
In the early 2010s, a raw, uncompromising sound began to emerge from the streets of Chicago’s South Side. This sound defied the commercialized rap of the mainstream and captured the harsh realities of life in poverty-stricken, violent neighborhoods. A young artist named Chief Keef ignited this sonic revolution with his gritty rhymes and menacing beats, creating a new hip-hop subgenre: drill music.
Defining The Drill Sound
Born Keith Farrelle Cozart, Chief Keef’s rise to hip-hop fame is attributed to the development of the drill sound. Chief Keef’s songs, from his breakout mixtape Back from the Dead to his debut album Finally Rich, exhibited drill’s raw, aggressive lyrics accompanied by ominous beats. Chief Keef’s sound included elements that would come to define drill music. His flow was unique—a melodic, almost slurred delivery that prioritized vibe and emotion over technical proficiency. With ominous synths, hard-hitting 808s, and an intense cadence that reflected life on the streets, his beats were menacing. Moreover, Chief Keef’s music conveyed the dynamism of drill, an expression of marginalized communities’ struggles and triumphs. Often overlooked or misrepresented in mainstream media, his lyrics paint vivid pictures of the oppression he grew up in.
Shaping The Sound Of Hip-hop
The impact of Chief Keef’s pioneering work was felt almost immediately. Back from the Dead, his breakthrough mixtape launched him onto the scene in 2012. The project, which included viral hits like “Love Sosa” and “I Don’t Like,” showcased Chief Keef’s unique sound and style. The “I Don’t Like” music video offered a voyeuristic glimpse into Chief Keef’s world. In a sparsely furnished apartment, the young rapper leads a throng of friends in moments of raw authenticity.
As Chief Keef’s fame grows, Kanye West’s unauthorized remix of “I Don’t Like” is released. The remix features guest verses from Pusha T, Big Sean, and Jadakiss. Despite not being sanctioned by Chief Keef or his team, this high-profile collaboration cements his position as an emerging artist. It also sets the stage for the ongoing debate over who can truly claim ownership of the drill sound. After the drill sound gained traction, Chief Keef became the center of a bidding war among major labels. Ultimately, he signed a lucrative deal with Interscope Records, solidifying his position as the subgenre’s leading star.
Trailblazing A Genre
But Chief Keef’s influence extends far beyond the confines of the music industry. Using social media and connecting with fans directly enabled him to pave the way for internet-driven artists and the “SoundCloud rap” scene to emerge. As one of the first artists to leverage platforms like YouTube and Twitter to build a loyal following, he bypassed traditional industry gatekeepers to reach a wide audience. As the years passed, Chief Keef’s impact on the sound of contemporary hip-hop has become undeniable. His distinctive style and raw lyricism are heard in the music of artists like YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Lil Uzi Vert, Playboi Carti, as well as countless others.
The influence of Chief Keef goes beyond his music, as he also made an impact on fashion and pop culture. His dreadlocks, face tattoos, and minimalist style inspired a new wave of fashion trends. Meanwhile, his unique slang and catchphrases, such as “glow up” and “thot,” have become part of the hip-hop lexicon. Since his breakthrough, drill music has evolved and spread around the world, with scenes emerging in London, Ghana, and Australia. Listeners can feel Chief Keef’s impact in every gritty beat and raw lyric.
Influence & Legacy
In his new song “Drifting Away,” Chief Keef defiantly takes a shot at Kanye West’s perceived attempts to take credit for inventing drill music. He asserts, “Chief Sosa made drill; Kanye think he did, too.” The lyrical jab emphasizes Chief Keef’s status as the man responsible for the creation of the groundbreaking drill music movement himself. Despite West’s claim, Chief Keef’s defiant response serves as a reminder of his unwavering confidence and adamant stance as a hip-hop figurehead. A trailblazer, he subsequently helped create a musical style that continues to captivate audiences worldwide, inspiring a new generation of artists. Finally, Chief Keef’s legacy is shaped by sincerity, innovation, and dedication to voicing the harsh realities of street life. With his music, Chief Keef leaves a lasting impression on hip-hop, solidifying his status as a true originator.
It’s no secret that Yung Miami’s outspoken and unfiltered demeanor has a lot to do with her success, but evidently, it’s also earned her plenty of criticism. Occasionally, the City Girl will share something with fans that they think crossed the line. This is exactly what happened on a past episode of Caresha Please, in which Yung Miami opened up about some of her more shocking sexual preferences.
At the time, Yung Miami claimed that she was a fan of “golden showers,” leaving many viewers taken aback and disturbed. She’s since retracted the admission, however, admitting this week that it was simply an attempt to promote Resha Roulette. “A n***a NEVER EVER PEE’D on me! I did that to promote my card game [dollar sign eyes and tongue face emoji] & it did exactly what I needed to do!!” she wrote.
Unfortunately for Yung Miami, this did little to quell the backlash, as critics simply went on to slam her for saying something like that for attention. Many also speculated that she was just backtracking due to her potentially former fling Diddy’s current legal issues. Boosie Badazz shared his take on the debacle during a recent interview with VladTV, revealing that while he supports people’s rights to do whatever they want in the bedroom, he simply can’t get behind golden showers.
“When she said she liked to get peed on, that’s just…I don’t have no… I mean, I just don’t like how pee smell. I’m from the hood,” he explained. “I know it’s in the act of sex, but ain’t no piss coming around my sexual.” What do you think of Boosie Badazz’s take on Yung Miami’s now-debunked claims about her sexual preferences? Do you agree with him? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
It’s been a pretty difficult year for Diddy so far. Numerous lawsuits have been filed against the rap mogul. They’re alleging years of bad behavior with some even roping in fellow celebrities and behind-the-scenes collaborators. It’s put many of the people Diddy has worked aside in his decades-long career in an uncomfortable position. Certain figures like Yung Miami and LeBron James were silent for a surprisingly long time. Both unfollowed the rap mogul earlier this month after facing criticism for their seeming lack of acknowledgment of the accusations against him.
Now John Legend is breaking his silence on the situation. He and Diddy have collaborated musically in the past, but he didn’t do the rap mogul any favors with his candid statement. In particular, Legend discussed the controversy between Diddy and Cassie. It began last year with a lawsuit the singer filed before being escalated a few weeks ago. That came when CNN leaked a video of hotel security footage that seemed to capture one of the alleged assaults. Hear what Legend had to say when CNN asked him about it below.
“I was horrified by the descriptions that I read before the video evidence came out,” Legend began when asked about the situation. “And absolutely it’s something that needs to be brought to light when it happens. My default stance is to believe women when they make these accusations and to make sure that we do whatever we can to support women” he elaborated. In addition to many of the lawsuits filed against him Diddy is also facing a federal investigation. Earlier this week, CNN reported some information involving a male prostitute caught on camera at the rap mogul’s house. They also claim that he plays a role in the federal investigation.
What do you think of John Legend’s candid comments on the Diddy and Cassie situation? Are you surprised to hear him come out in support of Cassie in such strong terms despite working with Diddy in the past? Let us know in the comment section below.
It has been about two years since Jessie Reyez’s last album, Yessie, and, aside from a pair of singles in 2023 with Miguel and 6lack, she hasn’t released too much new music since then. But if you thought you’d seen the last of the Canadian singer, she’s back with a two-word message for the haters, doubters, and anyone else with anything negative to say: “Shut Up,” the title of her new single featuring Big Sean.
The video for the song features cameos from singers JoJo and Nija, who help Jessie judge a f*ckboy beauty pageant alongside actress Inanna, and from Jessie’s mom Carmen, who rides along with the singer in a Ferrari. Big Sean shows up midway through the video to offer a signature, boastful verse with one colorful sex punchline, and the video ends with a short snippet of another new song, suggesting that a follow-up to Yessie is definitely in the works.
Reyez’s recent collaborative output has been some of her strongest work yet; “Jeans,” her collaboration with Miguel, and “Homicide,” her third collab with 6lack, were solid songs that highlighted her seductive new direction. Stay tuned for more from Reyez.
Watch Jessie Reyez’s “Shut Up” video with Big Sean above.
In the video for “Young N****,” Luh Tyler rides ATVs with his friends, shows off his jewels and cash, and makes it clear he’s just as cool as ever. The Florida teen (for two more years) has been enjoying life since his song “Law & Order” took off on TikTok, and he’s just about a year removed from releasing his debut mixtape, My Vision, on Atlantic Records, so the time is ripe for a follow-up.
After his appearance on the 2023 XXL Freshman Class cover, expectations are high for the 18-year-old, who just graduated from high school last year. His 2024 has already been eventful; earlier this month, he set off on tour with A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, on whose Better Off Alone Tour he’ll be opening until late June. He hasn’t announced a new album yet, but don’t be surprised if that announcement comes sooner rather than later.
Watch Luh Tyler’s “Young N****” video above. See Luh Tyler’s tour dates with A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie below.
Luh Tyler’s 2024 Tour Dates
06/01 — Irving, TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
06/02 — Woodlands, TX @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
06/04 — Jacksonville, FL @ Daily’s Place
06/05 — West Palm Beach, FL @ iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
06/06 — Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheater at the FL State Fairgrounds
06/08 — Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheatre
06/09 — Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
06/11 — Virginia Beach, VA @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
06/12 — Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
06/14 — Detroit, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre
06/16 — Tinley Park, IL @ Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
06/18 — Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
06/20 — Boston, MA @ TD Garden
06/22 — Hartford, CT @ Xfinity Theatre
06/24 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
To be so young, Chicago rapper Polo G has been through a lot in his life. In the video for his new song “Angels In The Sky,” Polo appears to have been committed to a psychiatric hospital, where he watches his past videos on a TV that’s probably older than he is. Each version of him from those videos is pulled out of their reality and time and brought to a holding cell, where they confront each other at a table, until the contemporary Polo enters to reconcile these past lives.
Polo is currently in the midst of his revamped rollout for Hood Poet, which will be his fourth album since 2019 and his breakout with “Pop Out.” Initially announced in August 2023, Polo delayed the album after being arrested on charges of kidnapping, robbery, and assault with a deadly weapon. He relaunched his campaign in February with the video for “Sorrys & Ferraris,” but was again derailed in April after being arrested for possession of a firearm in New York.
As of this writing, Hood Poet still has an August release date; with the “Angels In The Sky” video, it seems like the rollout is still on schedule.
Watch Polo G’s video for “Angels In The Sky” above.
Ice-T and Lenny Kravitz aren’t usually two celebrities mentioned in the same sentence. They might have a few things in common, like posting the occasional thirst trap photo, but they usually do their own thing like any other normal human beings do. Well actually, the Body Count frontman did comment on a Kravitz-related subject this week after the latter pulled a bit of a Julia Fox.
Let’s back up for some context. Fox recently revealed that she has been celibate for years (ever since… you know), but she hasn’t gone nearly as far with with abstaining as Kravitz, who let the world know that it’s been nine years since he’s done the deed, and he won’t do so again until he’s in a serious relationship. And you know what? He knows what he doesn’t want.
Ice-T, however, had some thoughts on the issue and didn’t hold back. His unfiltered ways are frequently something to witness, but he seems to feel quite strongly about Kravitz’s revelation, as he wrote on Twitter/X: “9yrs without Sex? F that BS. Weirdo sh*t.”
By now, you have probably seen that tweet if you’ve been on the Internet in the past 24 hours. However, something strange has happened: the tweet no longer exists. As Page Six noticed, Ice-T has deleted that statement, so what gives? He usually doesn’t shy away from backlash, and he continued engaging on the subject in tweets that do still exist.
Hey….. If you’re a Guy and you can voluntarily go 9yrs without sex… You’re following the wrong page..
Perhaps Ice had second thoughts on referring too directly to Kravitz. And perhaps the Law & Order: SVU star who jokingly claimed to have started an earthquake with his bedroom moves thought twice due to Lenny never asking for other celebrities to weigh in on the subject. Still, Kravitz did make a personal subject into a public discussion, so there was bound to be some messy commentary in the aftermath. Whatever the case, Ice has not elaborated on why he deleted the tweet, but that sure makes for an unusual day in an overall surreal news week.
Rumors that Kendrick Lamar plans to drop a new album this year have been flying for months now and began even before his viral rap beef with Drake. While this has yet to be confirmed by the “Not Like Us” performer, fans have high hopes, especially as his peers continue to drop cryptic hints at what’s to come. Terrace Martin, for example, recently took to Twitter/X to address a fan asking about what Kendrick’s been up to. According to him, he has big things on the way.
“Sounds like a big W,” the fan wrote in response to an announcement about Roddy Ricch. “But who is locked in with Dot now?” Martin then made it clear that Kendrick has been working alongside several artists, though he didn’t specify exactly who they are aside from himself. “All of us,” he said.
He didn’t give fans any more details than that, leaving them to speculate in the comments section. These are far from the first mumblings fans have heard of new Kendrick music, however. In April, Rory & Mal chatted about his response to Drake, which had not yet arrived, on their podcast. Mal claimed that a “little bird” told him it was taking so long because Kendrick was saving it for a new album, which would drop in May of this year. Obviously, June is just around the corner and that’s yet to drop, but if there’s any truth to what Mal said, it could mean his next project is imminent.
What do you think of Terrace Martin confirming that Kendrick Lamar is “locked in” with him and various others? What about rumors that the hitmaker could be dropping a new album sometime this year? Are you looking forward to hearing whatever he’s working on? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
