Tobe Nwigwe & Nas Join Forces With Jacob Banks For “On My Soul” Song From “Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts”

There’s plenty to check out this New Music Friday (May 19), though hip-hop heads, in particular, may be interested in a collaborative effort from Grammy-nominated artist Tobe Nwigwe and legendary lyricist Nas. The duo came together along with Jacob Banks to share the lead single from the forthcoming Transformers: Rise of the Beasts film, and certainly didn’t disappoint. While Tobe starts off strong on the chorus and first verse, the singer lends his talents to the bridge, crooning out, “Bring me the smoke and I’ll build you a fire / To burn my desire, burn my desire.”

Afterward, it’s Nas’ turn to shine. “Don’t slander all the banter / Just one answer, I’m an animal,” he begins the song’s second verse. “I’m just one man, outstandin’ though / Part wolf, part king, part Hannibal,” the New Yorker’s rhymes continue. To close out “On My Soul,” all three creatives come together on a final chorus, showing off their respective talents and generating buzz for what else is to come from the soundtrack.

Read More: Nas Was Almost A Member Of Junior M.A.F.I.A., Lance Rivera Claims

Tobe Nwigwe, Nas, and Jacob Banks Team Up For “On My Soul”

While speaking with The Hollywood Reporter in April, director Steven Caple Jr. hinted that some other noteworthy names will appear as well. “We have A Tribe Called Quest, we have Wu-Tang [Clan],” he revealed, also hinting at Nas’ appearance by saying, “We have a legacy artist who’s blessing us with a new track for our film, and I’m so excited about that. … He’s from the ‘90s, but I would say that he’s arguably one of the top three rappers to ever live.”

Stream “On My Soul” from the Transformers: Rise of the Beasts soundtrack on YouTube above, or add it to your playlist on Spotify/Apple Music. Who contributed your favourite part to the collaboration, Tobe Nwigwe, Nas, or Jacob Banks? Let us know in the comments, and tap back in with HNHH later this weekend for more release recommendations.

Read More: Tobe Nwigwe & Coast Contra Link Up For Fire New Track, “DESTRUCTION”

Quotable Lyrics:

Don’t slander all the banter
Just one answer, I’m an animal
I’m just one man, outstandin’ though
Part wolf, part king, part Hannibal

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Today In Hip Hop History: Nas And Damian Marley Dropped Their ‘Distant Relatives’LP 13 Years Ago

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On this date in 2010, Queensbridge king Nas and reggae royalty Damian Marley dropped their collaborative album Distant Relatives on the Universal Republic/Def Jam imprint. 

This Hip Hop/reggae collabo album was the first of its kind, with its release coming after Nas’ controversial Untitled album and Marley’s landmark Welcome To Jamrock LP. The production was very organic and exempt of super producers except for Jr. Gong and Stephen Marley, having Marley explain , “We’re trying to have a sound that’s reminiscent of both of us, but not exactly like either… A lot of charity albums come off corny. We want this to be something you’d play in your car.”

The album did daily well commercially, entering the Billboard 200 at number five and selling over 125,000 in its premiere month. Distant Relatives also served as a refreshing alternative that coupled as a vehicle of consciousness to younger listeners who were captivated by the more popular gangster themed music. Features boasted the likes of Joss Stone, Junior Reid, Lil Wayne and others. 

Salute to Damian and Nas for this pivotal piece of Hip Hop history! 

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Nas And Damian Marley Dropped Their ‘Distant Relatives’LP 13 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

LL Cool J Taps Eminem, Nas & More For Upcoming Album: Report

After nearly 40 years in the entertainment industry, expanding into film and television following a triumphant run in hip-hop, LL Cool J plans to make his return to the booth. The legendary rapper confirmed that he’ll release a new album – his first in 10 years. However, he’s bringing along a slew of MCs to join him on the project. AllHipHop reports that Eminem, Nas, Fat Joe, Rick Ross, and Saweetie will appear in the project, which is reportedly going to be produced entirely by Q-Tip.

The upcoming project aligns with Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary and the string of features reflects the genre’s evolution. Fat Joe stands as the only artist that LL Cool J worked with in the past. The two previously connected on “I Shot Ya (Remix)” in 1995. However, the appearances of Nas and Eminem are certainly the most anticipated, especially since LL hasn’t locked in with either in the past. Although a collab with Em was supposed to arrive on LL’s now-shelved The G.O.A.T 2, LL continued to ensure fans that they would come out with something in the near future.

LL Cool J Confirms Heavy-Hitters On New Album

(Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)

LL has continued to tease the upcoming effort since the beginning of the year. During his appearance at the Grammys, where he performed in the Hip Hop 50 segment, he confirmed Q-Tip’s involvement. “The album, I think, is really, really special,” he told E! News. “I think it’s something modern without chasing. It’s a whole new thing. I can’t wait for the people to see it… I think honestly and sincerely that Q-Tip as a producer is unbelievable and what he did on this record for me, I think is amazing. So the world will decide.”

It seems like the upcoming album will align with LL Cool J’s upcoming The F.O.R.C.E tour. The tour kicks off on June 25th in Boston and will include The Roots, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and DJ Z-Trip. Additionally, they plan on turning it into a hip-hop extravaganza in each city as they plot on different guests, including Rakim, Queen Latifah, Rick Ross, Jadakiss, and more. We’ll keep you posted on anymore updates surrounding LL’s upcoming album.

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Rap Beefs That Have Ended: Meek Mill, Drake, Jay-Z & More

Rap beefs have always been a significant conversation starter in hip hop culture. The causes and seriousness of rap beefs can differ depending on the situation. The nature of the tension arrives in the form of diss tracks, social media disses, or real-life altercations. Many of the high-profile feuds between rappers have ended, leading to reconciliation or artists making a song together.

This is a list of rap beefs that have ended. The nature of each of these situations is drastically different as some were shortly-lived compared to others which took longer to conclude. Some feuds between rappers resulted in more diss tracks, while others were real-life disagreements. These now-over beefs are not listed in any particular order. Take a look at the list below.

JAY-Z & Nas

One of hip hop’s most famous rap beefs is the one between JAY-Z and Nas. Their history runs deep as Jay sampled Nas’s voice for “Dead Presidents II” in 1996. JAY-Z dissed Nas on the track “Takeover” in 2001, which led to Nas releasing the legendary “Ether.” Both of these songs, as well as Jay’s “Super Ugly” response track, were so disrespectful that the winner of their beef is still disputed to this day. Their beef officially ended in 2005 when they performed together in New Jersey. They even joke with each other about their once-serious feud. Since their beef ended, JAY-Z and Nas have collaborated on several tracks, including “Success,” “Black Republicans,” “BBC,” and “Sorry Not Sorry.” Jay also brought out Nas during his B-Sides concert.

Drake & Meek Mill

The beef between Drake and Meek Mill started in 2015 following the release of their song “R.I.C.O.” They had also previously worked together on “Amen” in 2012. In 2015, Meek Mill made the accusation that Drake did not write his own lyrics. This led to the leak of reference tracks of Drake songs performed by Quentin Miller. Drake first hit back with “Charged Up” and then immediately struck Meek with “Back To Back,” with fans declaring Drake the winner upon impact. Meek released a diss that was not well received, which led to another round of sneak disses. The two ended their beef in 2018 and released their collaborative hit single, “Going Bad.”

Chip & Bugzy Malone

Chip and Bugzy Malone’s beef has to hold some sort of record for most diss tracks in one rivalry. The beef started in 2015 via radio freestyles, which escalated to a whopping total of 14 diss tracks between the two. They would out-disrespect each other by filming videos in each other’s hometowns and releasing flagrant disses. While neither of them backed down from a challenge, it was Chip who was the most relentless and warned the scene that he “can’t run out of bars.” It solidified Chip as one of the best in the Grime scene. The beef between Bugzy Malone and Chip officially ended years later in 2021 when the two posed together on Instagram and lent features to each other’s albums. Chip appeared on Bugzy’s “Notorious,” while Bugzy featured on Chip’s “Grown Flex.” Their beef was a legendary time in grime and UK rap culture.

Westside Gunn & Mach-Hommy

In 2016, Griselda was a unified front consisting of members Westside Gunn, Conway, and Mach-Hommy. They released the Don’t Get Scared Now EP that year, while Mach also appeared on Westside’s classic debut, Flygod. The origins of their disagreements are quite vague, but Mach-Hommy ended up splitting off from Griselda around 2017 following their song “Macho On Coke.” Mach built a prolific career alongside Tha God Fahim and Your Old Droog, while Westside Gunn grew the Griselda brand and audience exponentially during the following years.

There were few exchanges between the two in the music or on social media besides Westside’s jab at Mach and Fahim on 2018’s “Easter Gunday 3.” The two eventually reconciled in 2021. Westside Gunn ended up executive producing Mach-Hommy’s Pray For Haiti album, which was released under the Griselda Records label. Mach also featured on Westside’s Hitler Wears Hermes 8 album.

Logic & Joyner Lucas

The beef between Logic and Joyner Lucas started in 2016 when they both appeared on Tech N9ne’s “Sriracha,” and Logic did not perform the expected chopper flow. Joyner expressed frustration towards Logic’s titling of his “1-800-273-8255” song about suicide. He alleged that Logic had copied his 508-507-2209 album title, which also had a song about suicide. The beef was primarily one-sided until Logic subliminally addressed Joyner on “Yuck” in 2018. The two reconciled in 2019 when Logic featured on Joyner’s song “Isis.”

Gucci Mane & Jeezy

Perhaps hip hop’s most vicious beef, the situation between Gucci Mane and Jeezy was quite serious. Originating back to their hit collaboration, 2005’s “Icy,” the beef escalated both in musical form and real life. Diss tracks were released, bounties were placed on each other, chains were snatched, and Gucci even killed one of Jeezy’s affiliates. Gucci Mane’s “Truth” diss track remains among hip hop’s meanest disses. The feud was one of the most severe and long-standing rap beefs. They attempted to squash their beef multiple times but officially buried the hatchet during their 2020 Verzuz battle, performing “Icy” together. They have also toured together since.

Freddie Gibbs & Jeezy

Freddie Gibbs started his career under Jeezy’s CTE label and had a falling out before Freddie went independent and started building his momentum. Since then, Freddie had voiced his beef with Jeezy quite directly on the 2014 song “Real,” one of hip hop’s most cutthroat diss tracks ever. Freddie addressed the beef primarily as he continued to diss Jeezy publicly during the following years. They squashed their beef last year when they ran into each other at an airport. Freddie also apologized to Jeezy and showed his gratitude on the song “Rabbit Vision.”

Cam’ron & Mase

Cam’ron and Mase have had a complicated relationship. The two were childhood friends and worked together in their rap careers. They were in a group called Children of the Corn together, and they featured on each other’s tracks when they achieved mainstream success. Since 1999, Cam’ron and Mase beefed with each other publicly, inside and outside of music. Their beef peaked in 2017 when they exchanged diss tracks towards each other. Since then, Mase and Cam’ron have reconciled, and together, they host a sports talk show called It is What It is. They even recently appeared on a song together with Jadakiss.

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Swizz Beatz Drops Video for “Say Less” Feat. Lil Durk & A Boogie wit Da Hoodie

unnamedSwizz Beatz Drops Video for "Say Less" Feat. Lil Durk & A Boogie wit Da Hoodie

Swizz Beatz is back with a new video for “Say Less.” The single featuring A Boogie wit da Hoodie and Lil Durk can be found on Swizz’s collaborative EP with Mass Appeal, Hip Hop 50: Vol 2.

The 6-track project marks the second EP in Mass Appeal’s Hip Hop 50: The Soundtrack. Coming off the first installment of the EP series with DJ Premier’s Hip Hop 50 Vol. 1Hip Hop 50: Vol. 2 is entirely produced by Swizz Beatz. The EP is an ode to New York rap and includes star-studded features from Nas, Lil Wayne, Lil Durk, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Jadakiss, Jay Electronica, Benny The Butcher, Fivio Foreign, Scar Lip and Bandmanrill. Fans can also stay tuned for the “Say Less” video featuring Lil Durk & A Boogie wit da Hoodie releasing next week. 

Hip Hop 50: Vol. 2 is the culmination of Swizz Beatz’s career spanning over two decades and the sound that inspired it. The Verzuz creator first rose to prominence as a Ruff Ryder producing songs for DMX and Eve. The success of “Ruff Ryder’s Anthem” launched Beatz’s career as a highly sought-after and regarded artist. He’s since gone on to create some of the most prolific songs in Hip Hop, working with JAY-Z, Noreaga, Busta Rhymes, Cassidy, Nas, Rakim, Lil Wayne, and many more. Hip Hop 50: Vol. 2 will be followed by eight more EPs from iconic figures who’ve had a hand in expanding the culture from the streets of the Bronx to the global community. Hip Hop 50: The Soundtrack, distributed via Mass Appeal’s new deal with The Orchard, is the score to the biggest birthday bash ever.

A portion of all Hip Hop 50 proceeds will be donated to the various charitable organizations, including, the Universal Hip Hop Museum set to open its doors in 2024. Mass Appeal recently announced Hip Hop 50 partnerships with CÎROC Ultra-Premium Vodka – the official Vodka of #HipHop50, as well as Google Pixel and Sony Music Entertainment. In January, Mass Appeal partnered with Fotografiska to launch Hip Hop Conscious, Unconscious exhibition – currently on view in New York City till May 21st before traveling to other locations. Additionally, Mass Appeal has teamed up with Live Nation Urban to produce live event programming, as well as Paramount + / Showtime for a premium content partnership with captivating documentaries such as: YOU’RE WATCHING VIDEO MUSIC BOXCYPRESS HILL: INSANE IN THE BRAIN, SUPREME TEAM and more.

The post Swizz Beatz Drops Video for “Say Less” Feat. Lil Durk & A Boogie wit Da Hoodie appeared first on The Source.

AI Biggie Covers Nas’ “N.Y. State of Mind,” Twitter Is Divided

Some of our favourite artists have already dropped off noteworthy new music in 2023. Unfortunately, their releases as of late are chiefly being overshadowed by the songs coming out via artificial intelligence. From hearing Kanye West take on Hit-Boy’s “2 Certified” thanks to technology to heavy hitters like Drake and Michael Jackson covering Ice Spice’s “Munch (Feelin’ U),” the entertainment has been endless, albeit damaging to the music industry. Earlier this week, a video of the late Biggie Smalls rapping Nas’ “N.Y. State of Mind” began circulating online, sparking plenty of debate amongst the hip-hop community,

The 1994 cut previously arrived on the New Yorker’s Illmatic album and remains one of the most popular in his discography to this day. Of course, The Notorious B.I.G. lost his life just three years after this, and though he and Nas had plans to collaborate (the latter previously revealed on The Breakfast Club that he “got too high” in the studio for anything to come to fruition), it ultimately never came to be. This is the closest we’ll probably ever to see to a joint effort, and while some users are loving Biggie’s flow on his friend’s song, others are frustrated with AI’s presence in the industry at the moment.

Biggie’s Unofficial “N.Y. State of Mind” Cover

“This made me realize Nas has the greatest flow of any rapper ever,” one Twitter user said, markedly praising the 49-year-old. Another, less pleased listener chimed in, “The gap between Biggie’s flow and Nas’ flow is f*cking me up right now. This sounds so much worse than his voice on his flow lol. Too much energy with the wrong tone.” Elsewhere, someone argued that the computer-generated audio fails to “capture Big’s essence one bit.”

Apart from the comedic, discourse-causing covers, we’ve also heard brand new lyrics written and beats crafted for Champagne Papi, The Weeknd, and more, rivalling some of their previous releases in the hearts of fans. In wake of this, music labels are beginning to take action in defence of their artists to protect their work and vocals. Keep scrolling to read Twitter’s reactions to the viral Biggie AI cover, and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments afterward.

Social Media Reacts

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Nas Admits He “Probably Was A Bad Father” To His Daughter

Though naturally recluse, Nas opens up to the world whenever he steps into the booth. From the release of Illmatic to recent efforts like the King’s Disease series, Nas drops gems, whether from his own observations of the world around him or his own self-realization. Today, he appeared on the opening track of Swizz Beatz’s Hip-Hop 50 Vol. 2, “Runaway.” The Queensbridge rapper dives into his own experiences of being a parent, specifically when raising his first-born daughter.

On the record, Nas discusses his struggles balancing his life as a rapper and a father to Destiny, who he shares with Carmen Bryan. He reflects on providing Destiny with the financial backing to succeed but ultimately, failed to spend as much time as he should’ve. “Probably was a bad father to my first born/ Love her to death, but I ain’t been home since my first song/ Provided for her, but money can’t replace a father for her,” he raps on the record. Nas previously addressed raising a daughter on 2012’s Life Is Good in the song, “Daughters,” where he similarly reflected on some of the mistakes he made as a parent. 

Nas Reflects On Fatherhood

In addition to Destiny, Nas also shares a 13-year-old son with his ex-wife Kelis. Even though the two had their fair share of public disputes surrounding custody, the rapper expresses his gratitude on “Runaway” for his kids. Still, he admits that he didn’t expect to live long enough to watch them grow. “Plus I got a son, blessed with kids, yeah, man, I adore ’em/ And I was sure I was gonna leave this life too fast/ I got the guardian angels, came down and saved my ass,” he raps on the record.

Swizz Beatz’s Hip-Hop 50 Vol. 2 serves as a tribute to New York’s rap scene and includes appearances from Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Jay Electronica, Bandmanrill, Fivio Foreign, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie and more. The project follows the release of DJ Premier’s Hip Hop 50 Vol. 1. Each of these EPs has been released through Nas’ Mass Appeal imprint. Check out Nas’s new song above and sound off with your thoughts in the comments. 

Swizz Beatz Releases ‘Hip Hop 50: Vol. 2’ Via Mass Appeal

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Today, Grammy Award-winning producer, rapper, and entrepreneur, Swizz Beatz, releases his triumphant EP – Hip Hop 50: Vol. 2 – via Mass Appeal. The 5-track project marks the second EP in Mass Appeal’s Hip Hop 50: The Soundtrack. Coming off the first installment of the EP series with DJ Premier’s Hip Hop 50 Vol. 1Hip Hop 50: Vol. 2 is entirely produced by Swizz Beatz. The EP is an ode to New York rap and includes star-studded features from Nas, Lil Wayne, Lil Durk, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Jadakiss, Jay Electronica, Benny The Butcher, Fivio Foreign, Scar Lip and Bandmanrill. Fans can also stay tuned for the “Say Less” video featuring Lil Durk & A Boogie wit da Hoodie releasing next week. 

Hip Hop 50: Vol. 2 is the culmination of Swizz Beatz’s career spanning over two decades and the sound that inspired it. The Verzuz creator first rose to prominence as a Ruff Ryder producing songs for DMX and Eve. The success of “Ruff Ryder’s Anthem” launched Beatz’s career as a highly sought-after and regarded artist. He’s since gone on to create some of the most prolific songs in Hip Hop, working with JAY-Z, Noreaga, Busta Rhymes, Cassidy, Nas, Rakim, Lil Wayne, and many more. Hip Hop 50: Vol. 2 will be followed by eight more EPs from iconic figures who’ve had a hand in expanding the culture from the streets of the Bronx to the global community. Hip Hop 50: The Soundtrack, distributed via Mass Appeal’s new deal with The Orchard, is the score to the biggest birthday bash ever.

Screen Shot 2023 04 21 at 7.50.51 AM

A portion of all Hip Hop 50 proceeds will be donated to the various charitable organizations, including, the Universal Hip Hop Museum set to open its doors in 2024. Mass Appeal recently announced Hip Hop 50 partnerships with CÎROC Ultra-Premium Vodka – the official Vodka of #HipHop50, as well as Google Pixel and Sony Music Entertainment. In January, Mass Appeal partnered with Fotografiska to launch Hip Hop Conscious, Unconscious exhibition – currently on view in New York City till May 21st before traveling to other locations. Additionally, Mass Appeal has teamed up with Live Nation Urban to produce live event programming, as well as Paramount + / Showtime for a premium content partnership with captivating documentaries such as: YOU’RE WATCHING VIDEO MUSIC BOXCYPRESS HILL: INSANE IN THE BRAIN, SUPREME TEAM and more.

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