Ice Spice has been busy recently. Over the weekend she made her debut at Coachella where she dazzled fans with some of the biggest hits from her breakout 2023. Just a few days later she found herself on the other side of the country making a surprise appearance during a PinkPantheress show in New York. The two collaborated on the song “Boys a liar pt. 2” last year which became a breakthrough hit for both of them. They performed the song together and then posed for a picture with yet another recent breakthrough star backstage.
That star is Tyla, whose song “Water” took hold on the charts late last year and soared to be one of the biggest hits of the last few months of 2023. The song is still holding on currently sitting at number 24. The three recently christened stars found the time to pose for a stunning photo together backstage. The picture made its way to the internet where fans couldn’t resist praising all three of them. Numerous fans left comments about them being the real “big 3” in popular music and some even compared them to TLC. Check out the mountains of fan love for the trio and the photo they took together below.
Ice Spice has fans eagerly awaiting her debut album. After promising big things in 2024 she unveiled that her studio debut is on the way. Over the weekend she debuted some new material during her Coachella set. The previews had some fans suspecting that she could be taking shots at Latto once again like she did on the deluxe edition of her Like..? EP last year.
She also announced that her album will be called Y2K and confirmed recently that the project passed the “car test” meaning it could be ready for release soon. What do you think of Ice Spice, PinkPantheress, and Tyla linking up for a new picture together? Do you think the trio should collaborate on some new music? Let us know in the comment section below.
It’s already been a major year for JT, and it looks like the hitmaker has no plans to slow down. Earlier today, she took to social media to announce yet another solo single coming soon. The track, “Okay,” will follow her previous singles “No Bars” and “Sideways.”
JT shared the exciting news alongside a preview of the song, which already has listeners in a chokehold. The accompanying video is also receiving praise online for delivering all of the throwback vibes JT’s Juvies have come to expect from the City Girl. While an official release date for “Okay” has not yet been revealed, it’s available for pre-save on all major streaming services now and is expected to appear on her upcoming mixtape, City Cinderella.
The fun video appears to be a compilation of clips from her current tour, which has seen her make stops in various cities across the U.S. Her first solo headlining tour is scheduled to run into the end of this month with final stops in New York, Baltimore, and Kansas City. While JT certainly hasn’t failed to bring people out to see her live, the rapper has still faced some criticism for her choice of venues.
GloRilla, for example, recently called them “backyard BBQs” during their heated Twitter/X spat. During a show in Florida, however, she made it clear that she has no regrets. “Let me say one motherf*cking thing. B*tches be having a lot to say,” JT said onstage. “But I ain’t have one wack cookout yet. We been lit city to city, state to motherf*cking state.”
What do you think of JT announcing yet another solo single ahead of her new album? How is it sounding so far? What about her defending her latest performances? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
Nicki Minaj’s fans will famously follow her wherever she goes. The Barbz are notoriously ruthless in online spaces and have been showing up in bulk to her Pink Friday 2 tour shows all year. Unsurprisingly, the Barbz listen whenever Nicki speaks which is why she’s made a habit of going live on various social media platforms to talk with them over the years. That was the case recently when she seemingly didn’t have anything specific to talk about but accidentally stumbled into a memorable moment.
Nicki discussed “users,” also known as people who consistently use others to get what they want. “They don’t stop being users. They stop using that person and they go on to another and another,” she said during a livestream. Because she was unspecific, fans ran to some wild places trying to find out who she may be talking about. Some think she’s talking about artists who collaborate with her and then turn around and take shots at her afterward. Others thought she might even be talking about certain members of her own fanbase. Check out some of the debate among her fans reacting to the comments below.
Speaking of fans in Nicki Minaj’s comments, right now they all seem to want one thing. A few weeks ago she announced that she and Sexyy Red teamed up for a special remix of her song “FTCU.” The track originally came from her new album Pink Friday 2 which dropped last year. It’s been weeks since the announcement and there hasn’t been any updates on the song yet.
Fans got particularly impatient when Nicki recently took to Twitter to wish Sexyy Red a happy birthday. Though plenty of fans also shared wishes with Nicki’s collaborator, others felt like it was yet another tease in the direction of their upcoming song. What do you think about Nicki Minaj’s discussion of “users?” Who do you think she’s referring to when she talk about those who just repeatedly use others? Let us know in the comment section below.
Nas has been on a creative high recently. The rapper’s collaborations with Hit-Boy has reinvigorated his career and proved that he’s more lyrical than ever. His relevancy is such that he doesn’t have to rely on his old catalog to attract listeners. Unless, of course, the album in question is Illmatic. The 1994 classic will always be Nas’ high-water mark, and the rapper chose to reflect on the making of the album ahead of its 30th (!) anniversary.
Nas hopped on Instagram to post throwback photos of the men who helped shape his project. The photos are grainy, which the rapper alludes to in the beginning of his caption, but the faces are so iconic that they’re recognizable anyway. Nas can be seen standing alongside New York legends like Pete Rock, DJ Premier, Large Professor, LES and Q-Tip. The second photo sees Nas post up next to his friend and Illmatic‘s lone feature, AZ. “Grainy pictures for grainy times,” the Queens emcee wrote.
“I had a dream I could get my favorite producers to produce on my debut album,” Nas continued in the caption. “I knew exactly what I wanted and how it should be. On April 19 we smashed s**t. Even tho the album leaked months before the release date we still are apart of music history.” The “One Love” rapper then proceeded to shout out each of the men pictured. “Thank you to everyone involved,” he added. “Friday is the albums 30th. 2 The Listeners- ONE LOVE.”
Nas has had to contend with every subsequent release of his being compared to Illmatic, but the rapper actually feels like the album has transcended his catalog. He views it as a separate entity in some ways, as he told Clash in 2014. “It’s interesting because that’s bigger than me,” he asserted. “It’s something that I look at and it trips me out a little bit. I just think about it and, with certain artists that I like, I like some of their works more than the others and I only want to hear certain albums. It’s just the way things are.” Regardless of Nas’ sense of authorship, Illmatic remains his magnum opus.
In the ever-evolving landscape of the music industry, Metro Boomin stands as a beacon of innovation and success. With a net worth soaring to $45 million in 2024, according to Celebrity Net Worth, Metro Boomin has cemented his position as one of the most influential producers of his generation. From his humble beginnings in St. Louis, Missouri, to collaborating with chart-topping artists and venturing into diverse business endeavors, Metro Boomin’s journey is a testament to his unparalleled talent, relentless work ethic, and entrepreneurial spirit.
PARIS, FRANCE – JANUARY 17: (L-R) Producer Metro Boomin and Rapper Future aka Nayvadius DeMun Wilburn attend the “YSL Beauty Hotel” event during Paris Fashion Week Menswear Fall/Winter 2018-2019 on January 17, 2018 in Paris, France. (Photo by Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Imagesfor YSL Beaute)
Born Leland Tyler Wayne in St. Louis, Missouri, Metro Boomin rose to prominence in the music industry at a young age. His passion for music production ignited during his teenage years when he began experimenting with beat-making software. After producing a handful of early hit records for Future, Metro Boomin’s breakthrough moment came when he collaborated with the rapper on his mixtape Monster in 2014. The mixtape’s success catapulted both Future and Metro Boomin into the limelight, marking the beginning of a prolific career for the young producer.
Collaborations, Production Credits & Ventures
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 08: GQ Hype celebrates Metro Boomin in New York City at Public Records on December 08, 2022 in Brooklyn, New York. The @GQ hype event poured @patron’s new tequila, EL ALTO #patronpartner #itsalto #patronelalto. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for GQ)
Metro Boomin’s impressive list of collaborations includes some of the biggest names in hip-hop and R&B. He has worked with artists such as Drake, Kanye West, Travis Scott, and 21 Savage, among others. Moreover, his production credits span a wide range of genres, from trap to pop, earning him critical acclaim and commercial success. Notable hits produced by Metro Boomin include “Jumpman” by Drake and Future, “Bad and Boujee” by Migos featuring Lil Uzi Vert, and “Congratulations” by Post Malone featuring Quavo. Most recently, he teamed up with Future for their first collaborative projects in their working relationship, We Don’t Trust You and We Still Don’t Trust You.
In addition to his work as a producer, Metro has ventured into other business endeavors to diversify his income streams. He has collaborated with brands such as Nike and Puma, releasing limited-edition merchandise and footwear collections. Metro Boomin’s entrepreneurial spirit extends beyond music and fashion. He has invested in real estate and technology startups, leveraging his wealth and influence to explore new opportunities outside of the music industry.
With a net worth of $45 million, Metro Boomin has solidified his status as one of the most successful producers in the music industry. From his humble beginnings in St. Louis to collaborating with chart-topping artists and expanding his ventures beyond music, Metro Boomin’s journey is a testament to his talent, hard work, and entrepreneurial mindset.
SZA had about as impressive of a 2023 as anybody. Following the release of SOS in late 2022, she took a year-long victory lap marked by some of the biggest hits of her career so far. It began with “Kill Bill” which hovered in the top 5 of the Hot 100 for months following the album’s release and eventually hit #1 when Doja Cat teamed up for a remix. As soon as the momentum from that song slowed down, “Snooze” took over and became her biggest chart hit ever. The track is still on the charts and next week will be its stunning 70th week on the Hot 100.
Now SZA is receiving yet another honor in the wake of her massive year. It was announced today that she’ll be this year’s recipient of the Hal David Starlight Award. She’ll be given the award at the Songwriters Hall Of Fame Awards on June 13 in New York City. According to Billboard, the announcement describes the award as an honor presented to “gifted young songwriters who are making a significant impact in the music industry with their original songs.” The “Snooze” singer is just the second black woman to win the award following Alicia Keys being honored nearly two decades ago. Check out the announcement of her award below.
Late last year, SZA announced that she had a deluxe edition of SOS coming soon. The special new deluxe album was called LANA and fans were expecting it sooner rather than later. When she dropped the single “Saturn” back in February fans assumed that the full album would be dropping soon, but that hasn’t been the case. A big reason was revealed to fans last month.
The R&B darling went on a public rant against the person who leaked LANA and revealed that she’s writing and recording an entire new deluxe album instead of officially releasing the leaked songs. What do you think of SZA being honored at this year’s Songwriters Hall Of Fame Awards? Are you looking forward to SZA eventually releasing her SOS deluxe version LANA? Let us know in the comment section below.
Over the weekend, it was revealed that beloved Dungeon Family member Rico Wade passed away at the age of 52. Since the announcement, countless social media users have shared their condolences with the Organized Noize producer’s family members and friends. A cause of death has not yet been revealed.
One of Wade’s latest peers to chime in was Big Boi, who was friends with Wade for roughly 30 years ahead of his passing. He shared a heartfelt Instagram post about the late artist’s legacy on Monday (April 15). “This is a different type of hurt …. Slick Ricky Wade .. I know you’re with us STILL … in a bigger role now… Big Angel Energy… the Highest of Vibrations … Praise Yah,” he wrote.
Big Boi also shared a clip of himself discussing Wade in a 2019 interview. In the clip, he reveals that he played a major role in the success of his duo, Outkast. He also recalled Organized Noize connecting him and Andre 3000 to the producers who worked on their debut studio album, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. “Rico Wade is one third of Organized Noize and he’s like the mouthpiece for that collective of producers. He was connected to LaFace Records through Pebbles ’cause he went to school with Tionne ‘T-Boz’ Watkins from TLC. She connected him with Pebbles and through them, Pebbles introduced Rico to LA Reid,” he says in the clip.
“He was like the gateway to get to LA, as well as the producers who produced Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik,” he also added. “They signed OutKast. Organized Noize were responsible for us signing to LaFace Records. So without Rico Wade, Sleepy Brown and Ray Murray, there would [be no OutKast].” What do you think of Big Boi’s recent post about the death of Rico Wade? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
Rick Ross officially entered the building shortly after Drake dropped a bomb on the rap game. Once he aligned himself with Future and Metro Boomin — and unfollowed Drake on Instagram — we began witnessing hip-hop’s most commercially viable stars begin to bicker on wax and social media. In all fairness, everyone else is basically riding on Kendrick Lamar’s back, especially since the actual battle for the throne is between Dot and Drake. However, Rozay, surprisingly, chose to abandon his long-time collaborator for reasons that many didn’t necessarily understand immediately. The two have publicly praised each other on a number of occasions, collaborated on numerous hit records, and have developed one of the strongest rapports among collaborators in hip-hop.
Following the release of “Push Ups,” where Drake emptied the clip on everyone, Rick Ross was among the first to step up. In fact, he’s the first to officially release a diss track between himself and Drake, considering “Push Ups” remains a “leak.” He dropped “Champagne Moments” followed by a string of tyrannic social media posts trolling Drake. He referred to Drake as a “White Boy,” a sentiment that he reiterated on the cover art of the single that includes the yearbook photo of a random white man; questioning Drake’s ethnic make-up as a bi-racial Canadian, which Drake would later describe to his mother as racist.
Perhaps not as scathing as “Push Ups (Drop & Give Me 50),” Rick Ross’ latest song serves as a reminder of his formidability when it comes to going bar-for-bar. One might be able to argue that he isn’t necessarily as lyrically gifted as Drake nor as rich but his track record shouldn’t be slept on. We’ve seen him go toe-to-toe with 50 Cent and emerge relatively unscathed. Without further adieu, let’s jump into some of the lyrics from “Champagne Moments” below.
Ghostwriters & Wise Budgeting
It seemed inevitable that ghostwriters would be brought up in this battle. Considering that both Lil Yachty and Cash Cobain’s reference tracks for Drake, “Jumbotron Sh*t Poppin” and “Calling For You,” respectively,” recently leaked online, it remains a relevant topic and one that should certainly be mentioned during the ongoing rap battle. Within a few bars, Rick Ross raps, “Ghostwriters, they get to floss what you could’ve had/ Record label takin’ a loss, are you in your bag?” In its simplest form, it appears that Rick Ross is suggesting Drake could’ve saved himself a few dollars had he written his bars himself but these bars extend further as Ross addresses the diss track directly. In the second verse, Ross doubles down, rapping, “Another n***a had to write your grooves.”
In the past few years, Rick Ross has further emphasized the importance of independence and ownership in the music industry — a boss move. Though MMG created an era, Ross also helped the careers of Wale and Meek Mill lift off to great heights. “Record label takin’ a loss are you in your bag/ You a worker wantin’ to chart, don’t make me laugh,” Ross raps.
Drake certainly helped Rick Ross land a few hit records on the Billboard Hot 100 but here, the MMG boss pokes at Drizzy’s track record as a label boss vs. a signed artist. There’s no doubt that Drake, who reportedly signed a Lebron-sized deal a few years ago, has delivered plenty of hit records and brought a few artists along with him to the Billboard charts. However, here, Ross is making it clear that all the Billboard talk means little when the artists who signed to OVO have failed to reach similar feats in their careers.
Money Talk
It seemed inevitable that this whole beef would somehow resort to money and who has more than the next person. Although the reality is that this is lyrical warfare that has nothing to do with monetary gain (hence why “Push Ups” didn’t land on DSPs), Rozay does get a bit spicy yet some have argued a bit self-aware, too. “Livin’ fine, I’m gettin’ high as your shit decline” could be a reference to that moment when a credit card declined during Drake’s Instagram stream, though it was clarified that it wasn’t actually Drizzy’s.
Then, he raps, “Got more money than you, fuck you want me to say?/ Fifty mill’ for the crib, where you want me to stay?” This particular bar caused a stir since many feel as though Drake is the wealthier of the two, specifically due to the aforementioned contract. However, Rory & Mal co-host Demaris Giscombe shared a solid analysis of the bar, stating that there was an inflection in Ross voice when he rapped “Got more money than you” in an attempt to mimic Drake. Thus, his response of “F*ck you want me to say?” is more of a Kanye shrug to Drake’s braggadocio.
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 26: (L-R) Rick Ross, Drake, and Lil Wayne perform at the 2011 BET Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on June 26, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
The entire premise of this diss track is intended to question Drake’s authenticity. In the first verse, he raps, “Who believes he movin’ keys in his Louis Vs?” which pushes back against Drizzy’s mob-centric bars as of late. However, Ross goes a step further when he suggests that Drake has basically used the more street-oriented rappers in hip-hop to gain some sort of credibility.
“N***as pussy, don’t want to push me, I’m like, ‘Really, would he?’/ Like his moves, but he never had to fight in school,” he continues in the second verse, a relatively light jab compared to what comes next. “Always ran, another n***a had to write your grooves/ Flow is copy-and-paste, Weezy gave you the juice/ Another white boy at the park wanna hang with the crew,” Ross raps. Though Drake might look at Ross as someone who may have used him to gain some sort of mainstream success, Ross further reiterates that he views Drake as a suburbanite who leeched onto those with actual backgrounds in the streets to further boost his career.
Ross’s brief but effective response record to Drake certainly had all of the bars needed to address everything thrown in his direction. However, the majority of the scathing claims were made during the outro. Led by a snippet of Drake proclaiming Ross as his “favorite person to rap with on any song,” the Miami rapper further charges at Drake for being “white,” alleging that he got nose surgery in favor of more Eurocentric features. Moreover, Ross also resurfaced the claims that Drake had plastic surgery to have a six-pack. “Yeah, you had that surgery, that six-pack gone/ That’s why you wearin’ that funny shit at your show, you can’t hide it, n***a,” he says.
Shortly after the release of WE DON’T TRUST YOU, which featured an appearance from Ross on “Everyday Hustle,” Ross unfollowed Drake, leading to speculation of their fall-out. However, it turned out that Drake subtly fired back at Ross by inviting his ex, Cristina Mackey, to his recent concert. “Let you DM my ho, but got b**ches you can’t,” Ross raps.
The Real Reason We Won’t Get YOLO
Again, the outro of “Champagne Moments” provides more insight into Rick Ross’ issues with Drake than anything else said on the record. The “Hustlin’” MC states that the reason Drake got hit with the unfollow is because the Canadian rapper allegedly sent a cease-and-desist to French Montana ahead of the release of Mac & Cheese 5 to prevent the release of “Splash Brothers.” The final version of the song features Rick Ross and Lil Wayne. “You sent the police, n***a, hatin’ on my dawg project. That wasn’t the same white boy that I seen, n***a, when we were makin’ them early records, n***a,” Ross says.
As the two continue to trade shots online, we’ll have to see how this plays out. Does it escalate or will the two make up? We’ll keep you posted on anymore developments surrounding the ongoing Drake vs. Rick Ross saga.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that Nicki Minaj’s husband Kenneth Petty asked a judge for permission to travel with her on her Pink Friday 2 world tour. Petty, who is a convicted sex offender, previously failed to register in Los Angeles after relocating to be near Nicki. As a result, he’s on probation, meaning that he can’t travel outside of the U.S. freely.
In his request, Petty claimed that he’d be accompanying Nicki on tour for “various purposes, including childcare.” Luckily for him, and he and Nicki’s son Papa Bear, it looks like things are looking up. Today, Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald approved his request, meaning that he’ll be able to take part in all of the Pink Friday 2 fun with the rest of his family.
Young M.A, DJ Clue, Big BZ, Kenneth Zoo Petty, and Nicki Minaj attend Church On Sundays Hosted By Nicki Minaj And Phil The Mayor And DJ Clues Birthday Party at The Argyle on February 8, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images)
In his filing, Petty claimed that his probation officer “does not oppose” the Queens native traveling with Nicki. He previously asked that the filing be kept secret, but that request was rejected. Currently, Nicki is scheduled to perform in various cities across the U.S. and Canada before heading to Europe in May.
While Petty’s travel request is no longer an issue for the high-profile pair, it’s not the only obstacle they’re facing. Last month, it was reported that a judge had granted their alleged assault victim a default judgment, meaning that they owe the security guard roughly $500K. What do you think of Nicki Minaj’s husband Kenneth Petty asking a judge for permission to travel with her on her Pink Friday 2 tour? What about his request getting approved? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
In the past few weeks, Drake has found himself at the center of a maelstrom of beef that sees several of his longtime collaborators turning on him in the wake of Kendrick Lamar’s open challenge on Future and Metro Boomin’s We Don’t Trust You song “Like That.” It isn’t just rappers, either; former Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder even wants smoke now after attending Drake’s tour and catching the rapper’s flirtatious affections directed at his wife Aja.
“Aye Future and Metro!” he wrote on Twitter. “I see why y’all still don’t trust him. This man was shooting at my Baby from the air.” In the video, Aja and Channing enjoy the show from a box and Drake can be seen performing from an elevated platform. However, when Drake notices Aja dancing and shouts her out (“The green right there… fine as hell!”), Channing jokes, “I’ll see Drake in the parking lot!” In the tweet, he expresses his enthusiasm for the idea of shooting back, barking, “Let me in the booth!!”
Aye Future and Metro! I see why y’all still don’t trust him. This man was shooting at my Baby from the air.
Of course, this all seems in good fun, whereas the smoke K. Dot had for Drake appears to have opened the floodgates for a bunch of friends turned foes — including ASAP Rocky, Rick Ross, and The Weeknd — to join in on jumping him after Megan Thee Stallion initially declared open season on him a few months ago with “Hiss.”
(@RickRoss) 
Let me in the booth!!!