Nas

Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty Vol. 3 Fashion Show Trailer Previews Skyline Views And A Star-Studded Cast

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When Rihanna put on her first Savage X Fenty fashion show in 2018, it was clear she intended to revolutionize the industry. Rather than simply sending models down the runway in her lingerie garments, Rihanna tapped celebrities and famous models to showcase their outfits in a cinematic and size-inclusive show complete with live music and choreography. This year, Rihanna is once again inviting a number of today’s top stars to join her for her third Savage X Fenty fashion show.

The singer just dropped an exciting trailer for Savage X Fenty Vol. 3, previewing how the runway show will take over an entire building. Along with previously announced performances by Normani, Daddy Yankee, and Nas, Rihanna has invited musicians like Troye Sivan, Erykah Badu, Sabrina Carpenter, and Jazmine Sullivan to make a cameo in the performance. The entire show will be available to stream starting on September 24 exclusively on Amazon’s Prime Video.

According to an official press release, Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty 2021 lingerie collection fashion show are meant to exude “baddie energy” by incorporating “strong lines that trace contours of the body and unconventional silhouettes that push the boundaries of individuality to bring out the baddie in everybody.”

Watch the Savage X Fenty Vol. 3 trailer above.

Savage X Fenty Vol. 3 premieres 9/24 on Prime Video. Watch it here.

Nas And Pusha T Invest In Audius Streaming Service, Which Plans To Increase ‘Significant Revenue Streams’ For Artists

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Artists from all corners of the music world have long voiced their frustration with the current format of the music streaming business. In short, artists want a higher share of the revenue made from streams and it’s something an up-and-coming streaming platform, Audius, is aiming to accomplish.

This goal seemingly convinced Nas and Pusha T to sign on as investors, as the company recently announced. The rappers join a list of artists that include Katy Perry, Jason Derulo, Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda, Steve Aoki, Chainsmokers, and Disclosure — according to a press release — as names who invested in the company.

“I believe [blockchains] might be the most important technology to ever hit the music industry,” Nas said in a statement. “Everyone who uploads to Audius can be an owner. You can’t say that about any other platform.” The company launched back in 2018 as a streaming service based on blockchain technology, which is also used to support NFTs and cryptocurrency. Audius also announced a $5 million round of strategic funding that would begin today.

Audius also boasts a sizable cast of investors that are music executives. They include Sony/ATV Music Publishing CEO Martin Bandier, Madonna and U2’s longtime manager Guy Oseary, and manager Mark Gillespie, whose clients include Frank Ocean and Calvin Harris. Speaking about Audius, Bandier said, “The blockchain is enabling entirely new revenue streams for artists and creators, like NFTs, social currency, and curation.” He added, “Audius is not only using the blockchain to add potentially significant revenue streams for artists, but it also allows them to cooperatively own the platform itself.”

The company’s highlight aspect is the fact that through blockchain technology, 90% of earnings from monetized streams would go to the artists and the remaining 10% would be given to the community that keeps Audius alive.

Nas Describes His Struggle With COVID-19: ‘It Was A Tough Time’

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In a new cover story for Ebony magazine, hip-hop pioneer Nas reveals that he contracted COVID-19 late last year and details his struggles with the virus. “I caught COVID in late October,” he admits. “This is the first time [I’m] mentioning it. It was a tough time. It was mentally and physically hard. It’s just today’s world, with chemical warfare, crazy politics, racism, food shortages, police malpractice, Black-on-Black murder. The human spirit is being tested. I think that God has a plan for all of this. But right now, we’re in a serious time.”

Elsewhere in the profile, he reveals the contemporary rappers who inspire him while freely offering his advice for them to reach the level at which he currently finds himself. “I like Lady London,” he says, praising the rising rapper whose freestyles on social media have repeatedly gone viral, making her part of a rising tide of female rappers distinguishing themselves in the modern streaming era. He also salutes another pair of rappers who have impressed him lyrically. “Kendrick Lamar. Cordae. I think rappers today have [an] entrepreneurial spirit, and they know even more than what I used to and are seizing opportunities. They just have to balance the street and their long-term goals.”

Meanwhile, Nas himself sees his inspirations as the high watermark to achieve. “I just wanna become as great as the ones I came up thinking were the greatest,” he says. “Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, LL, Slick Rick, Ice Cube—the list goes on. I just wanna be able to look at myself and say that I did what they are doing.”

You can read Ebony‘s full feature here.

Nas Resurrects His Iconic Queensbridge Chain For EBONY Cover

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New York rapper Nas is making people turn pages. The hip-hop veteran graces the cover of next month’s EBONY magazine donning major fashion including his signature Queensbridge chain. Nas Resurrects His Iconic Queensbridge Chain For EBONY Within the cover feature, Nas doesn’t hold back on sharing his state of mind on a range of topics. […]

Nas Dines W/ LeBron James, Russell Westbrook + More In ‘Brunch On Sundays’ Video

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New York rapper Nas is eating like a true king. The hip-hop star comes through with his newly released “Brunch On Sundays” music video packed with tons of celebrity cameos. The star-studded visual is packed with both NBA heavyweights like LeBron James and Russell Westbrook plus hip-hop artists including Swizz Beatz and Hit-Boy. Living up […]

Nas Enjoys ‘Brunch On Sundays’ With LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Swizz Beatz, And More In A New Video

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It’s been just over a month since the release of Nas’ fourteenth album, King’s Disease II. The sequel to the rapper’s 2020 album that gifted him his long-awaited first Grammy award. King’s Disease II is executive produced by Hit-Boy and arrived with features from Eminem, Lauryn Hill, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Charlie Wilson, and more. Today Nas unveils a new star-studded visual for “Brunch On Sundays.” In it, the rapper enjoys a mid-day mealwith LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Swizz Beatz, Blxst, Hit-Boy, Cordae, and Lil Rel.

The video is the second we’ve received for King’s Disease II, the first being “Rare.” The 2021 album has received a similar, if not better, response when compared to its predecessor, with people commending he and Hit-Boy’s chemistry and asking for the possibility of third installment in the series.

“He’s like my Quincy [Jones], you know what I mean?” Nas said during an interview with Apple Music’s Ebro Darden last month. “So I feel like the next thing I do, if I was to work with Hit-Boy on the next thing I do, I think that we might do something that is going to be magical.” He added, “I think what we have is magic. I think if we do another one, I’m excited about that idea, but you know, we’re celebrating this one now.”

You can watch the video for “Brunch On Sundays” above.

King’s Disease II is out now via Mass Appeal. Get it here.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Nas Responds To All The Birthday Shout-Outs

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New York rapper Nas is embracing more life. The hip-hop veteran has come forward to acknowledge the world coming through with well wishes and birthday salutes on his 48th born day. Nas Responds To All The Birthday Love Nasir Jones hit up Instagram with a snapshot of how well-groomed he’s looking in 2021. Instead of […]