Joe Budden discussed Drake’s iconic “timestamp” songs such as 2016’s “4 PM in Calabasas” or 2021’s “7 AM on Bridle Path” during the latest episode of his eponymous podcast. In doing so, he explained he was surprised that the Toronto rapper didn’t use the format for any of his diss tracks aimed at Kendrick Lamar. In turn, he suggested that it’s possible the team he worked with on the series is no longer available. His comments come as a number of alleged reference tracks for Drake’s songs have leaked online.
“I still think that I haven’t heard timestamp Drake in quite a long time. It does beg the question, why is that now?” Budden began while discussing how far back the reference tracks go. “If you looking at it through that lens, it looks like somebody that was important in them sessions is not there anymore and we not getting that. Why would you fail to get in that bag going against Kendrick? It just don’t make sense. And I ain’t heard that in a while. And now, he’s teasing his next project, which he took a picture with Gordo. So, that says we getting that same Honestly, Nevermind, feel maybe right?” Getting off topic, Budden then mentions how strange it’s been to see Drake’s fanbase allegedly shift from women to “these red pill n****s.”
ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 19: 21 Savage and Drake Onstage During Wicked (Spelhouse Homecoming Concert) Featuring 21 Savage at Forbes Arena at Morehouse College on October 19, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)
From there, he got back on track and expressed his disappointment that his first song back was with Sexyy Red, but gave him credit for flipping Metro Boomin’s “BBL Drizzy” beat. While he enjoyed Drake’s contribution, he labeled “U My Everything” to be “Sexyy Red’s worst song.” Check out his full comments on the situation below.
Joe Budden Shares A Theory About Drake
Joe Budden podcast discusses the reference track leaks.
“..I haven’t heard Timestamp drake in quite a long time, it does beg the question.. why is that now?”
Drake’s last timestamp release, “8am in Charlotte,” dropped back in October 2023. It was the second single from his eighth studio album For All The Dogs. Be on the lookout for further updates on Joe Budden and Drake on HotNewHipHop.
Diddy has been subject to rumors that he’s interested in men for some time now, and according to Charlamagne Tha God, that’s all thanks to Wendy Williams. On a new episode of the Flagrant podcast with Andrew Schulz, Charlamagne recalled Williams questioning the Bad Boy Records founder’s sexuality as far back as the 90s. He alleges that ultimately, it’s what cost the beloved host her job at Hot 97.
“That’s cuz of Wendy Williams,” Charlamagne said of Schulz hearing rumors about Diddy’s sexuality. “That was Wendy. Wendy’s whole thing was ‘Diddy was gay’ since the 90s… That’s why Wendy got fired from Hot 97. Wendy got fired from Hot 97 by Diddy. Cuz that’s when Bad Boy was smoking hot, and yeah, she got fired for putting that out there.”
Charlamagne Tha God Claims Recalls Wendy Williams Questioning Diddy’s Sexuality On Hot 97 In The 90s
Charlamagne speaks on Diddy allegedly having sexual relations with actor Reginald VelJohnson, who played Carl Winslow on “Family Matters,” and confirms that Diddy got Wendy Williams fired from Hot 97 in 1998 for claiming he’s gay.
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) May 29, 2024
Schulz then questioned why Diddy “held on” to rumors that he’s gay, speculating that they could be nothing but a cover-up for who he really is. “That’s the perfect smoke screen,” he explained. “You’d rather people think you’re gay than beat women.” The internet personality was referring to the 2016 footage of Diddy physically assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassie at a hotel, which went viral earlier this month.
From there, Charlamagne noted that nobody is sure of who Diddy actually is at this point, despite “bits and pieces” coming out in recent months. According to him, the truth could be worse than originally expected. “This sh*t might be deeper than rap,” he claimed. “We don’t know, like this might be a whole rabbit hole. You might be like, ‘Oh sh*t.’” What do you think of Charlamagne Tha God alleging that Diddy got Wendy Williams fired from Hot 97 for questioning his sexuality? Are you surprised or not? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
Another day, another leak. In the world of Drake, that became an occurrence every so often since Meek Mill exposed him for using a ghostwriter on “R.I.C.O.” However, in the years that followed, Drake became less apologetic for violating the cardinal rule of hip-hop and maintained a position that’s more akin to a pop star than a rap icon. That’s not to diminish his creative output but recent albums, such as Her Loss and For All The Dogs, have made it clear that his approach to creating bodies of work is far more of a collaborative effort than he or his fans, for that matter, would like to admit.
The number of reference tracks that have surfaced over the years has indicated as much. That’s not to take away from Drake’s pen or his ability to strike gold on his own terms, nor do these reference songs indicate whether Drake solely relies on outsourcing songwriting to other artists. We know what Drake is capable of, though, unfortunately, it isn’t seen as often as we’d like.
Nonetheless, on Tuesday, May 28th, Vory’s reference track for “Mob Ties” surfaced. A couple of hours later, PartyNextDoor’s reference track for “Ratchet Happy Birthday” began circulating on social media. Ultimately, it led many to question the authenticity of Drake’s artistry and his pen. That’s especially the case it turns out someone else penned a few fan favorites held in high regard. It’s a tragic outcome for an artist who has allowed us a window into his life through the same soundtrack he made for our consumption. We can’t share the demos themselves, here are 7 reference tracks for Drake that have surfaced online over the years.
To start things off, we’ll kick it off with Vory’s reference track for “Mob Ties.” A non-single highlight off of Scorpion, the Boi-1da produced track initially sounded like a direct response to the aftermath of Drake’s feud with Pusha T and Kanye West. Along with bars that many dissected as a sort of allusion to X’s death (“Louis bags for body bags”), much of Drake’s ominous lyrical assertions felt like a man ready to go to war, again. He even admitted to Lebron James on The Shop that he wrote and recorded the song following Pusha T’s “The Story Of Adidon.” While we can’t say that Vory wrote the entire song, he does boast writing credits on “Mob Ties.” So technically, Drake didn’t use a ghostwriter but he did cast more doubt on his pen.
6. “Ratchet Happy Birthday” – Scorpion (2018)
Another cut off of Scorpion, “Ratchet Happy Birthday” has remained somewhat of a divisive record in Drake’s catalog. Some people love it and come around to playing it once every year on their special day while others feel either impartial or hate the song. Ultimately, it’s not universally regarded as an S-Tier song in Drake’s discography. On that note, some may have been a bit relieved to discover a reference track from OVO Sound’s PartyNextDoor. Again, Party does have writing credit on the song so Drake has somehow managed to dodge the ghostwriting allegations this time, too.
In the wake of “Not Like Us” and its exceptional third verse, it’s hard not to regard his partnerships with 21 Savage and Lil Yachty as somewhat transactional. We can’t speak to his personal relationships with the two artists but both certainly aided Drake in ushering in a new era of his career on Her Loss. “Jumbotron Sh*t Poppin” was an immediate standout from the project, specifically among Drizzy’s solo offerings.
However, to the dismay of fans, it turned out that Lil Yachty was actually behind the song. Though he had songwriting credits on the project, the reference track for “Jumbotron Sh*t Poppin” made fans realize that his contributions to the project went above and beyond simply producing a handful of tracks and offering a few adlibs. Still, it benefited Lil Yachty’s career trajectory and helped many realize his brilliance.
4. “Calling For You” – For All The Dogs (2023)
For All The Dogs can’t hold a candle next to albums like Take Care or Nothing Was The Same, sure, but it doesn’t really deserve the hate it received. There were plenty of memorable moments across the project, from the J. Cole-assisted “First Person Shooter” to the Frank Ocean-sampling “Virginia Beach.” Both records felt like a version of Drake that many hoped would mark his return.
However, songs like “Calling For You,” while incredibly infectious, underscored Drake’s problem of attempting to ride current trends (in this case, Cash Cobain’s brand of Sexy Drill) to latch onto the clubs and radio. Cash already had credits as a producer on the song, though no one necessarily noticed his songwriting credits, too. The moment the reference track to “Calling For You” surfaced earlier this year, it became clear that Drake similarly sought after Cash’s hit-making prowess to flesh out the FATD tracklist. Though Cash later suggested it was AI, it doesn’t seem like many believe him. After all, that’s the go-to excuse these days. Ultimately, it’s a great look for Cash, a horrible revelation for Drake fans.
3. “R.I.C.O” – Dreams Worth More Than Money (2015)
We can’t go through this list without acknowledging the song that started the ghostwriting allegations in the first place. Quentin Miller, whose career has primarily been associated with the scandalous legacy of If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late, appeared to deliver Drake’s verse from Meek Mill’s “R.I.C.O.” on a reference track. Ultimately, it led to Meek Mill’s online meltdown where he exposed Drake and triggered a summer of taunts with the releases of “Charged Up” and “Back To Back,” both of which Drake did write, by the way.
2. “10 Bands” – If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late (2015)
Another one of Quentin Miller’s most notable contributions to If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late is “10 Bands.” Though among the immediate highlights off of Drake’s 2015 opus, its legacy was somewhat tarnished after Funk Flex obtained the reference track for the song. Around this time, Funk Flex also aired Quentin Miller’s reference tracks for “Used To,” “Know Yourself,” and the aforementioned “R.I.C.O..” Miller’s lyrics and flow take center stage but despite the allegations of Drake using a ghostwriter, Miller has boasted credits on the album. Unfortunately, it’s hip-hop, and as Flex said at the time: “If you’re wearing that crown, you better write. If you don’t write, you don’t have that crown.”
1. “Legend” – If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late (2015)
The intro to If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late will always hold a special place in the hearts of his fans. The lush flip of Ginuwine’s “So Anxious” turned into a subtle yet powerful statement to kick off the 2015 mixtape. Drake’s talents and delivery made the song what it was but if it wasn’t for PartyNextDoor, we might not have ever had the song in the first place. An alleged reference track for “Legend” with PartyNextDoor’s vocals surfaced line in 2016, in the wake of both Drake’s victory against Meek and the release of Views. Regardless of who penned the song, it remains a fixture in his live shows, as evidenced by the It’s All A Blur tour.
Fans of Palestinian rapper Belly got some great news earlier today. His last studio album dropped in 2021 with See You Next Wednesday. The album dropped on Roc Nation and XO with an incredibly impressive list of features. The Weeknd, PnB Rock, Gunna, Moneybagg Yo, Nas, Nav, Lil Uzi Vert, Big Sean, and Benny The Butcher all appear in the tracklist. He followed it up last year with a new mixtape called Mumble Rap 2. That project also featured Nav as well as Rick Ross and Gucci Mane.
Now his next album is on the way and fans won’t have to wait long to hear it. Belly took to Twitter to make a pretty noteworthy announcement. “I got a lot more to say.. 96 Miles From Bethlehem Tomorrow..” his post reads. It comes with the album’s artwork attached sporting its title 96 Miles From Bethlehem. But the post also features an additional promise. “profits from the album and merch will donated to Gaza, the WestBank and other affected areas around Palestine” it concludes. Belly isn’t the only celeb pledging money for the conflict in Palestine. The Weeknd has made two substantial donations towards aid in some of the areas most affected by the ongoing conflict.
I got a lot more to say.. 96 Miles From Bethlehem Tomorrow.. (profits from the album and merch will donated to Gaza, the WestBank and other affected areas around Palestine) pic.twitter.com/Ft56uyTGSF
In tandem with the announcement, Belly also released a new song called “Patience vs. Patients.” The track took aim at government lies about the conflict in Palestine. He’s been extensively outspoken about the conflict ever since it kicked off in October of last year. The entire conflict has put many celebrities prone to activism like Justin Bieber in an awkward position trying to make statements about the events.
What do you think of Belly announcing a new album that’s coming out tomorrow? Who do you think he may have recruited to feature on the album? Are you looking froward to hearing the project when it drops? Let us know it the comment section below.
The Notorious B.I.G. was apparently preparing to leave Bad Boy Records and Diddy behind in the months preceding his tragic death in 1997, according to a new report from Rolling Stone. The outlet explained the situation as part of a broader investigation into Diddy, amid the numerous allegations the label’s founder is facing. Biggie’s lawyers were allegedly focused on getting back his publishing rights at the time.
“I will never give it up until I’m dead and my bones are crushed into powder,” Combs told the lawyers, according to The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop, as noted by Rolling Stone. Hip-hop photographer Monqiue Bunn further confirmed the rumor, adding: “[Biggie] was absolutely about to leave Puff. I know for a fact [because] he told me that.” Another source told the outlet: “Everybody wanted to leave Puffy. Everybody leaves him.”
American rappers Notorious BIG (also known as Biggie Smalls, born Christopher Wallace, 1972 – 1997) (left) and Sean Combs (also known as Puff Daddy and P Diddy) perform onstage, Anaheim California, circa 1994. (Photo by Nitro/Getty Images)
Rolling Stone also uncovered a new allegation in their investigation which stems from Diddy’s time at Howard University. Citing a friend of his college girlfriend, they reported on an alleged incident outside of one of the dorm buildings. The friend claimed Diddy showed up “belligerent” and “screamed and hollered and acted a stone fool until she [the girlfriend] came downstairs.” When she did, Diddy allegedly used a belt to hit her “all over the place.” The outlet spoke with multiple other alleged witnesses of the incident as well.
In a response to Rolling Stone’s piece, Diddy’s lawyer, Jonathan Davis, said that his client, “cannot address every allegation picked up by the press from any source, no matter how unreliable.” Be on the lookout for further updates on Diddy on HotNewHipHop.
It’s no secret that Diddy’s been put through the wringer as of late due to the legal issues he’s facing. According to attorney Pete Gleason, one of his most notable exes could also find herself in the courtroom sometime soon. Gleason spoke with In Touch recently, revealing that Jennifer Lopez could potentially get subpoenaed in at least two of his lawsuits. Lopez dated Diddy for roughly two years beginning in 1999. She was present for the 1999 nightclub shooting that left three people injured, and as a witness, she could be called to the stand.
“Jennifer Lopez’s presence the night of the shooting incident and then departing in the same vehicle as Combs makes her a witness with firsthand knowledge and could subject her to being subpoenaed to testify under oath,” Gleason claims. “If there are any criminal charges or civil claims not outside the statute of limitations, this would likely prove problematic for Lopez.”
Pete Gleason Says That Jennifer Lopez Might Get Involved In Diddy’s Legal Battle
Sean “Puffy” Combs & Jennifer Lopez during The 42nd Annual GRAMMY Awards – Arista Records Pre-GRAMMY Party at Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, United States. (Photo by SGranitz/WireImage)
Diddy, Lopez, and one of the Bad Boy Records founder’s bodyguards were arrested in connection to the shooting. Lopez’s charges were dropped, and Diddy and his bodyguard were acquitted in 2001. Shyne, on the other hand, was convicted of assault, reckless endangerment, and gun possession. He was sentenced to ten years behind bars the same year.
Gleason also says that Lopez could be called as a witness in April Lampros’ lawsuit against Diddy. Lampros accuses him of sexually assaulting her multiple times while he was dating Lopez. What do you think of Pete Gleason claiming that Jennifer Lopez could be called as a witness in Diddy’s lawsuits? Are you surprised or not? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
Snoop Dogg never misses an opportunity to expand his empire with new non-music endeavors, and evidently, neither does his wife Shante Broadus. Earlier this week, the rapper took to Instagram to announce that his other half is opening a new strip club in downtown LA, The Players Club. Reportedly, she’ll be hosting a private grand opening event tonight, which will be packed with several of their celebrity peers.
According to a source who spoke with TMZ, they’ll be joined by the likes of Tiffany Haddish, Cedric The Entertainer, Too $hort, Big Boy, and more. Reportedly, DJ Drama and DJ Sky High Baby will DJ the event. Snoop’s announcement arrived alongside some NSFW footage of the dancers’ auditions, giving clubgoers an idea of what they can expect.
“I am thrilled to introduce The Players Club to Los Angeles,” Broadus says of her latest venture. “This club is more than just a venue; it’s a celebration of empowerment, beauty, and entrepreneurship, providing a space where everyone can feel like a boss.” According to a press release, The Players Club is the “newest and most exclusive” source of adult entertainment in the area, and is also “poised to redefine luxury and liberation in the city’s nightlife scene.” Fans in his comments section are praising Broadus for her creativity and commitment to making a splash.
Broadus isn’t the only one getting creative when it comes to raking in cash, however. Earlier this month, Snoop teamed up with DJ Skee to auction off various pieces of memorabilia. Chains, scripts, clothes, and more were a part of the auction. An authenticated roach preserved in resin is even being auctioned off, and the current highest bid is nearly $2K. What do you think of Snoop Dogg’s wife, Shante Broadus, opening up a new strip club in LA? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
Summer is still young, but at this point, it looks like if the Song Of The Summer race ended today, the title would go to Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso.” Still, there’s time to change that, and it might come from the hip-hop world: GloRilla and Megan Thee Stallion dropped “Wanna Be” back in April, but now the track is getting a fresh coat of paint via a remix featuring Cardi B.
Cardi confirmed the news on social media today (May 29), announcing that the remix is set for release on Friday, May 31.
This came after the three teased the song on Megan’s Hot Girl Summer tour, on which GloRilla serves as opener. When the trek his New York City’s Madison Square Garden on May 21, Cardi B hit the stage for a few songs. While there, after Meg and Glo ran through “Wanna Be,” Glo teased an announcement before revealing that a Cardi-featuring remix of the song was incoming (as NME notes).
Cardi, meanwhile, recently shared her thoughts on pornography, in response to Candace Owens’ call to ban it, saying, “Ommmggg why yall so against porn ? Is it that bad for yall ? I enjoy it but I don’t know I guess is like a 6 time a year thing .I personally don’t feel no connection or addiction to it just a little quick one two ….NOTHING LIKE REAL INTIMACY!”
Dame Dash says that he considered turning to rapping himself as Roc-A-Fella struggled during the early stages. Appearing on the Moguls in the Making podcast, the label’s co-founder explained that, had JAY-Z’s “Big Pimpin’” not blown up as it did, he would’ve gotten in the studio.
“In that moment, Roc-A-Fella was in trouble and if that ‘Big Pimpin” didn’t work, I was gon’ start rapping,” he claimed. “[I don’t got bars, but] I would have just did it for the company.” Elsewhere in the interview, he also suggested that JAY-Z was merely pretending to be him on the song. “Everything Jay said, he was pretending to be me,” he claimed.
Dame Dash & JAY-Z Attend New York City Fashion Week
Jay-Z and Damon Dash during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2004 – Baby Phat – Backstage at Gertrude Tent, Bryant Park in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Dash additionally reflected on the feud between JAY-Z and Nas and claimed there was never any concern over possible violence. In doing so, he compared it to The Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac. “There was no fear of us getting hurt when it came to Nas. I’m telling you right now, there was no fear of any violence when it came to that,” he insisted. “There was no fear when it came to us of any battle that we had when it came to violence. We were never worried about that. Now, ‘Pac and Biggie, n****s got killed. But n****s get killed in Hip Hop now. They be battling and then they end up dead. It’s a little more serious now.” Check out his full comments during the interview below.
Dame Dash Speaks On Roc-A-Fella Records
As for “Big Pimpin’” the track ended up being a massive success for Roc-A-Fella. It peaked at No. 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and has since been certified three times platinum by the RIAA. Be on the lookout for further updates on Dame Dash on HotNewHipHop.
FBG Butta is certainly no stranger to making wild claims about his peers, and Lil Durk is no exception. During a recent interview with VladTV, Butta went in on the “All My Life” performer, even accusing him of cooperating with federal authorities. According to him, it’s suspicious that despite being involved in so many cases, Durk is a free man.
Butta also pointed out that he was taken into custody due to his own name being mentioned, even though he’s not as well-known as Durk. “His sh*t got brought up way more than mine,” he explained. “And he got some money too… He’s the feds, gang.” Butta didn’t stop there, however. He also went on to suggest that Lil Durk could be tied to the Illuminati in some way.
FBG Butta Wonders How Lil Durk Has Stayed Out Of Jail
“A lot of people died around Durk from his brother to Von to a whole bunch of other people,” DJ Vlad explained, prompting Butta to share his theory. “Sounds like the Illuminati to me,” he said. “Sounds like Illuminati sacrifices.” He also brought up some dark conspiracy theories about FBG Duck and other prominent rappers, suggesting that manipulation by record labels could be at play. Obviously, none of this is confirmed, and all purely speculation. Durk has yet to respond to FBG Butta’s claims.
This is far from the only criticism Lil Durk has received as of late, however. Earlier this month, the Chicago-born performer debuted a massive new star of Islam chain, which earned him a great deal of backlash online. Commenters called him out for seemingly living a lifestyle that doesn’t align with the teachings of Islam, while others said that men wearing chains is Haram. What do you think of FBG Butta’s recent rant about Lil Durk? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
FLAGRANT/YouTube) 
Wanna Be Remix out Friday!! 