Gucci Mane’s looking to expand the 1017 roster even further. Though he built the label up within the past two years, several artists signed to him have been either incarcerated or passed away. Foogiano and Pooh Shiesty remain behind bars while Memphis’ own Big Scarr tragically died from a drug overdose in late 2022. Though many have noticed a pattern among those who ink a deal with Gucci, he isn’t allowing the public narrative to prevent new artists from joining the roster.
This morning, Gucci Mane debuted three new songs as part of the 1017 Up Next EP. “Dropboy Freestyle,” “CEO Flow Freestyle” and “Droptopwop Freestyle” appeared on DSPs this morning, along with an open verse on each song. The rapper invited up-and-coming talent to tackle the records with a 16 and share it on social media platforms with the hashtag #1017UpNext. He explained that he and his team will scour through Instagram so they could find the next big star to sign to the label.
Gucci Mane Seeks New Talent
The release of the three-song pack comes shortly after he joined forces with 21 Savage and DaBaby for “06 Gucci.” Though he’s released a handful of records prior to that, including the Kodak Black-assisted “King Snipe,” the release of 1017 Up Next also prepares Wop for his next studio album. He explained that whoever comes through with the best verse will not only land a deal with his label but will also, a feature on Wop’s new album, which is due out on October 17th, 2023. Hopefully, it won’t be long until they find the next 1017 Millionaire.
Besides Gucci’s professional ventures, 2023 is already turning out to be a great year for the 1017 boss. In February, he and his wife Keyshia Ka’oir welcomed their second child together. Iceland Davis was born on Feb. 8th, 2023, which the couple celebrated on their respective Instagram pages. “Im so thankful that my baby girl is here and she so pretty and healthy 2/8/23 7lbs 2oz ICELAND DAVIS,” Wop wrote on Insta. Given that his son, Ice Davis, served as the executive producer on Ice Daddy, perhaps the same will happen with his newborn daughter.
Today Alex Vaughn released her new EP, The Homegirl Pack, otherwise titled The Hurtbook. The rising songwriter and singer has prepared collaborations with many prominent women in the R&B community that will be joining her for the Homegirl pack. Below we’ll be giving all the details we know, including who is involved, a release date, and special tracks included.
The Homegirl Pack, or the Hurtbook, is a project recently unveiled by Alex Vaughn that celebrates independence, self-love, and self-discovery. The contents include six tracks, many of which collaborate with other women in the music industry. Alex Vaughn has been making a great impact and letting her voice shine out since the release of her debut EP “The Shift.” Since that time in 2018, she has been a great representation of what it means to be a strong woman in the industry with her empowering lyrics and soulful subtleties.
Since 2018, Alex has gained public acclaim and a slew of fans. Her most recent release through The Hurtbook (Homegirl Pack) emphasizes more of her common themes, promoting elegance, independence, and the pride of being honest with both oneself and others. Self-love is the name of the game thematically in Homegirl Pack.
The Homegirl Pack is just as it sounds, an inspiring project that celebrates not only the beauty of self-growth, but self-love and friendship. With her encouraging lyrics, Alex continues to make her voice heard through an empowering mantra in her projects. The album speaks to women everywhere, reminding us that it’s good to have some friends in our corner throughout life.
What is the inspiration behind The Homegirl Pack?
Alex Vaugh’s latest project is set to shed light on the importance of having a tribe. That is to say, sisters, friends, and other members of the female ‘race.’ Throughout her life, Alex Vaugh has had many female friends and family members that have supported not only in her career as a musician but in her life as a woman.
As both a woman and someone working in the music industry, she understands the importance of having a group of women and friends who can lift her up while encouraging her to do more to reach her full potential. The entire project is a devoted tribute to relationships in her life and the impact they have on her both as an artist and a person.
The Tracklist
The Homegirl Pack features six different tracks, all of which have diverse points and beats. However, they all come together to create a thematic unity throughout the Homegirl Pack, giving evidence to the artistry behind the making. The tracks are as follows:
‘Come Thru’ – a sultry and infectious track that invites listeners to come hang out with the homegirls. It makes for a great opening track to the entire album and is sure to make for an ear worm.
‘Rockin’ Wit U’ – a smooth and soulful ballad that celebrates the beauty of Black love and relationships. Helping build the pacing of the entire album, this track slows things down.
‘Faded’ – a vulnerable and introspective track that explores the highs and lows of life and relationships. Now that we’re into the album, Faded presents a great moody track for listeners to get into.
‘Mood’ – a feel-good anthem that encourages listeners to embrace their individuality and live their best lives. It really is a mood.
‘Gotta Have It’ – a bold and confident track that affirms Alex Vaughn’s independence and self-worth. This is one of the standout tracks, besides the last song which claims the album’s name.
‘Homegirl’ – the title track, which serves as a love letter to the homegirls who have supported Alex Vaughn throughout her journey.
‘The Homegirl Pack’ features collaborations with some of Alex Vaughn’s close friends and fellow artists. The EP includes features from artists such as Ari Lennox, Pink Sweat$, and Ye Ali, who each bring their unique sound and perspective to the project. Speaking about The Hurtbook, Vaughn said,The project started off as a compilation of thoughts from an old relationship but grew into a quilted map of patterns and events that applied to more than just romance. It’s about being honest with yourself and how you feel about those changes that are happening. Most importantly it’s a reminder that though these series of events may have hurt you, you are not broken.”
The Visuals
In addition to the music, ‘The Homegirl Pack’ also features stunning visuals that bring the project to life. The music videos for ‘Come Thru’ and ‘Rockin’ Wit U’ showcase Alex Vaughn’s artistry and creativity, while the cover art for the EP features a beautiful and empowering image of black women supporting each other.
With each new project, BabyTron ascends to new heights. The monotoned Detroit rapper has been excellent at capitalizing on an opportunity as of late, and always gives fans a reason to keep his name in their mouths. On Friday (Feb. 3), the 22-year-old released an EP out of nowhere titled Out On Bond. With a singular feature from frequent collaborator Certified Trapper, the EP contains five songs and spans 12 minutes. Additionally, the project comes in the same month fans found out about BabyTron’s recent run-in with the law.
On Feb. 15, Twitter users learned about BabyTron’s recent arrest for possession of a controlled substance. With very little context given for the Feb. 8 arrest, fans began to worry about Tron’s status. However, Tron expressed confusion when fans commented “Free BabyTron” on his Instagram Live around the time the news broke. This could perhaps be a good sign regarding his criminal status. The same day, his mugshot from his arrest surfaced. Tron eventually used his own mugshot as the cover art for Out On Bond. He also jokingly added a fake mustache and Mario hat to the photo.
Before his arrest, BabyTron was coming off an excellent string of back-to-back full-length albums. In October, he dropped his 15-song album Bin Reaper 3: Old Testament. By titling it this, though, fans had to expect that he would follow the biblical layout and follow up with another testament. He did just that in early January, releasing Bin Reaper 3: New Testament. With 26 songs and features from Lil Yachty, Cordae, Rico Nasty, and more, BR3:NT may have been his most popular project to date.
With all this being said, the sole fact of Tron consistently putting out projects is not what excites fans the most. The releases from BabyTron as of late have also all been excellent by his standards. With continuously creative bars and pop culture references, it’s hard to even imagine how Tron keeps a straight face when rapping. He has truly mastered his craft and each new song feels like a victory lap. But, before we look ahead to his next stunning full-length LP, stream his new EP, and let us know what you think in the comments below.
Our weekly R&B Season update was notably female-focused this weekend, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have groovy tracks from male artists for you to check out elsewhere. For example, Wale the Sage’s Running From Time EP is the perfect listen if you’re hoping to get rid of some Sunday Scaries this evening. The project finally arrived on Friday (February 3) and has already earned the rising multi-talent more fans in his ever-growing audience.
Spanning nine songs, the recent effort markedly declares Wale’s debut. The Atlanta-based, Nigeria-born creative lyricizes about topics such as his family’s immigration story, his own love life, money, and various other ups and downs that come between life and death.
Image provided to HNHH by Jhalin Knowles
“‘Running From Time’ depicts the self-struggle with wanting to escape the parameters within time itself in search for inner peace,” he explains via press release. “It details that there is beauty to be found within the chaos of life and its many obstacles.”
Wale further explains, “Though the entirety of the project illustrates a journey to find inner peace, there actually is no resolve by the end of the project. This is intended to show the reality that sometimes, a happy ending is not always achieved.”
While Running From Time itself has been undeniably satisfying, that’s not the only gift the recording artist had in store for fans. The EP’s third title, “Don’t Remind Me” also received an accompanying music video, which the Sage himself directed.
Aside from his latest work, other releases to come from WtS last year include “Red Lights,” “4am in ATL,” and “Family Affair.” Additionally, he’s chiefly been impressing listeners with his vocals on songs like “Smoking On Soprano (S.O.S.)” and “Life In Pink.”
Stream Wale the Sage’s Running From Time EP on Spotify or Apple Music below. Afterward, tell us your top three favourite tracks in the comment section. Finally, make sure to check back later for more hip-hop and R&B release updates.
Another weekend of new music has come and gone, but there are still more fresh releases to be heard. On Monday (January 23), Austrian artist Dave Okumu shared his four-track EP, The Intolerable Suffering Of (The) Other, complete with help from Wesley Joseph, ESKA, Kwabs, and more.
In late November, the artist dropped You Survived So I Might Live as an EP, also consisting of four songs. That marked the first of four parts to come from Okumu, with his full-length project expected to arrive in April.
Dave Okumu performs on stage at the Womad Festival at Charlton Park on July 25, 2014 in Wiltshire, United Kingdom. (Photo by C Brandon/Redferns via Getty Images)
The 2022 release saw features from Grace Jones and Wesley Joseph on titles like “Two Things” and “Blood Ah Go Run.”
Additionally, Tom Skinner helps out on the drums while Nick Ramm works on the keys and Aviram Barath shows out on the synth.
Previously, Okumu fronted the Mercury Prize-nominated group, The Invisible. He’s also connected with artists like Amy Winehouse, St. Vincent, Theo Parish, and Anna Calvi. Later on he would mentor and record with Adele, Tony Allen, Jessie Ware, and his aforementioned hero, Grace Jones.
On his latest release, Okumu has declared his focus track as “Black Firework,” though all four titles are undoubtedly worth listening to.
Stream Dave Okumu’s The Intolerable Suffering Of (The) Other EP on Spotify or Apple Music below. Afterward, find more hot new releases on our weekly Fire Emoji playlist update here.
The Intolerable Suffering Of (The) Other Tracklist:
My Negritude (with Anthony Joseph)
The Cost (with Kwabs)
Prison (with Wesley Joseph)
Black Firework (with Wesley Joseph, ESKA, and Kwabs)
Ice Spice clones took over Times Square last night (January 21) to promote her new EP, Like..? While the rapper certainly doesn’t need any help making waves, this stunt was pretty engaging and well-received on social media. Moreover, the Internet is discussing new clips of wig-wearing dancers on the street and pairing it with their own thoughts on the album.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 17: Ice Spice attends Cardi B Hosts Fashion Night Out on September 17, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images)
Furthermore, Like..? is a collection of some of the 23-year-old’s biggest hits like “Munch (Feelin’ U),” “Bikini Bottom,” and the recent “In Ha Mood.” Also, it includes some new tracks, namely “Princess Diana,” “Actin A Smoochie,” and “Gangsta Boo” with Lil Tjay. Even if it’s not completely new, Ice Spice’s first project sets her up for success.
Other promotional “material” for her music is her developing movements in the industry, especially when it comes to connections. When asked about her relationship with Drake, the Bronx MC said that she has no beef with the Canadian artist. After Drake seemingly dissed her on a song and unfollowed her on Instagram, people wondered what could’ve happened. Although this history is written, she did pop up at his recent show at the Apollo Theater. Things have smoothed out after all.
Regardless, a lot of people loved the Manhattan stunt. “I love creative people so much step out the box sometimes and be different,” wrote one user. However, some did joke around about it, calling the lookalikes a McDonald’s ad or an Annie flash mob. Still, others were more critical of the “marketing” behind it, speaking skeptically about what its effect truly is. Well, it started a conversation, and that’s more than many billboards or videos could say.
“Great idea but how is this suppose to make anyone listen?” one user questioned. “Marketing y’all say?! She should have also brought a billboard with a video of this on Times Square then that’s Marketing.”
What did you think of Ice Spice clones taking over Times Square to promote her new EP Like..? However you may feel, let us know in the comments down below. Also, as always, come back to HNHH for the latest on Ice Spice.
Although we’re only eight days into 2023, Murs is certainly off to a busy start to the year. On January 3, he dropped Unreleased, a collaborative EP with Isaiah Toothtaker.
Only three days later, he returned for the release of a solo EP, Guide To World’s Greatest Cities. The project contains five songs and runs for nearly 17 minutes. Throughout its runtime, the L.A. rapper follows an interesting concept.
Over the course of the EP’s five songs, the 44-year-old pays homage to different cities around the world; Tokyo, New York City, Oakland, Ethiopia and Minnesota. He uses his storytelling abilities and descriptive language to paint pictures and set scenes based on his experiences in these places.
He kicks it off by expressing his love for Tokyo and telling the stories of some formative encounters while there. “No google translate back in ’98 / When I was runnin’ these streets, tryna find a date / I did alright, I fell in love twice / And love don’t need to language when it’s done right,” he raps.
However, not every track is entirely positive. On the outro, “MPLS (Punk Ass Promoter),” he reflects on a show gone wrong while in Minnesota one night. He vows to never spend another winter in the city and never do another show with a “punk ass promoter” again. Regardless, the experience is evidently one that Murs can look back and reflect on. Furthermore, his ability to candidly reflect on it represents his maturity and artistic expression.
Additionally, each song’s production reflects the city he’s rapping about in their respective songs. Produced entirely by GLDN EYE, he provides Murs with a diverse range of beats for him to reflect over.
Although known best for his 2015 track, “Okey Dog,” the 44-year-old is continuing to make waves over two decades into his career.
The new project follows up his three full-length releases from last year. The last of which is Three’s Company, which serves as a collaborative album with fellow California natives, The Grouch and Reverie.
Make sure to stream Murs’ Guide To World’s Greatest Cities EP on Spotify down below. Comment your top three tracks afterwards. Finally, make sure to stay tuned to HNHH for all of the latest music releases and stories.
Is Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders making his rap debut? Technically, no, though he does make an uplifting appearance on Maria Isa’s new CAPITOLO EP. The project arrived on Friday (January 6), and kicks off with a heartwarming (albeit explicit) conversation between the two politicians.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks during the COVID Federal Response Hearing on Capitol Hill on June 16, 2022 in Washington, DC. The hearing was held to examine and update the ongoing Federal response to COVID-19, focusing on current status and future planning. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
As HipHopDX reports, the Minnesota State Representative’s new project comes as a reminder to her fans that she’s not done with rap. Even with a successful career in politics, she still knows how to throw down over a beat.
“Of course I’m going to keep making my music — that’s where I get my energy,” Isa previously told The Star Tribune.
Across eight different tracks, the multihyphenate expertly fuses Latin, Caribbean, reggaeton, and finally, hip-hop vibes. “I had been working on it from the first day I was running for the House, and it’s been a part of my campaign trail the whole way,” she dished to the same outlet.
“Music is medication, and we can certainly use that medication in politics right now.”
“Keep it really real. I accept NO MONEY from any politician. I am already rich,” the Run The Jewels member later expertly clapped back.
Stream Maria Isa’s CAPITOLIO EP on Spotify or Apple Music below. Afterward, find more new music suggestions on our weekly R&B Season playlist update here.
The architect of trap music is back with new heat. Zaytoven slid through with his new project, Only One this morning.
Zaytoven is clearly kicking off the year on the right note. And, it could be an indication of what else he has up his sleeve in 2023. The legendary producer, who played a pivotal role in Gucci Mane’s career, unveiled his new project Only One on Friday. Though it isn’t a full-length body of work, it’s a short effort that highlights Zay’s overall artistry. His production is still top-tier. But, fans who know him for making beats will have a better understanding of his overall skillset.
AUSTIN, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 13: Zaytoven attends AFROTECH Conference 2022 – Day One at Austin Convention Center on November 13, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Robin L Marshall/Getty Images for AFROTECH)
The rapper’s new project also showcases his kids’ talents as well. The project includes features from Kamari-Carter and Xhulooo.
Years after cementing his name in Atlanta’s scene, Zaytoven is undoubtedly keeping the momentum high. 2022 was another prolific year for the legendary producer that saw the release of Streetz Got No Heart. The project boasts 10 songs in total with appearances from Bun B, Trouble, Foolio, PeeWee Longway and more.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 08: Zaytoven attends the premiere screening of “2 Finesse” at Regal Cinemas Atlantic Station Stadium 16 on December 08, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
On top of that, the producer continued to produce for high-profile artists, such as long-time collaborator, Gucci Mane. Zay produced a large chunk of So Icy Boyz: The Finale, including GuWop’s “Letter To Takeoff.” He also had two production credits on Quavo and Takeoff’s Only Built For Infinity Links on the songs, “Look @ This” and “2.30.”
Check out Zaytoven’s new project below and sound off in the comments with your favorite track.
Boldy James is undeniably one of the busiest rappers in the game. Over the course of the past few years, the Detroit native has worked tirelessly to maintain this title.
Ever since 2020, the 40-year-old has dropped several projects each year. He’s now getting ready to drop yet another one. However, this offering will only be releasing physically.
Boldy James of The Alchemist x Boldy James performs during the NBA Leather tour at The Warfield on February 01, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)
The new EP, titled ADU, will be entirely produced by Real Bad Man and will be released via RCC Music. Copies on vinyl, CD and cassettes will be available to purchase on January 16. The official announcement was made by the producer on his Instagram account. “This is a physical release through @rrcmusic.co[.] No digital, no streaming […] no pre-orders,” he writes in part of the post’s caption.
Furthermore, he also reveals the tracklist in small font at the bottom of the photo. It appears as though the project will contain six new tracks. Side A will feature the first three tracks, “Hellblock to the Sunnyside,” “Hot Cakes” and “Big Bags.” Meanwhile, Side B will contain the last three songs, “Sweetest Taboo,” “Jonny On the Spot” and “Give Or Take.”
Additionally, ADU will mark the duo’s third collaborative album. The first one is 2020’s Real Bad Boldy.
In 2022 alone, Boldy released four different albums. All of which are full-length collaborations with different producers. He kicked off his year with the release of Killing Nothing in May, which serves as his second full-length album with Real Bad Man.
Will you be trying to get your hands on the new physical-only album? Comment your thoughts below. Finally, make sure to stay tuned to HNHH for all of the latest updates and releases in music.
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