Ab-Soul is just two full days away from releasing his sixth LP titled Soul Burger. The project will carry 15 songs and will arrive on November 8 to be exact. The feature list is one to behold as well with Vince Staples, fellow TDE signee Doechii, Ty Dolla $ign, JID, and Lupe Fiasco, leading the way. Those are just a few of them though, so prepare yourself for sure. The 2013 XXL Freshman will be following up his comeback album HERBERT from 2022, which came after a six-year drought. Overall, TDE has been having an unbelievable year with the aforementioned Doechii, ScHoolboy Q, Zacari, and SiR also delivering some memorable releases.
It’s going to difficult for Ab-Soul due to the sheer artistry of those projects. But he’s definitely got more than enough talent in the tank to compete with his counterparts. The singles have been highly desirable with “Crazier” probably being our favorite out of the bunch. They are all a great refresher of what Soul brings to the table, so we are incredibly pumped for what’s possibly in store. Speaking of staying ready, the veteran MC has been popping up on a couple of freestyles lately.
One of his most recent came in the form of his respective verse on second-ever XXL‘s Cypher Lab. Him, A$AP Ferg, and Sauce Walka all brought their A game and also talked about the lack of respect for lyricism in hip-hop. The latter is something that Ab-Soul has in great supply, and he displayed that on his first “On The Radar” freestyle. He makes light work of JAY-Z’s “Squeeze 1st,” which he perhaps selected on purpose. He raps over an interpolation of that instrumental on the lead single for Soul Burger, “Squeeze 1St 2.” The lyrics are much different on this off-the-dome performance as he namedrops the album, Doechii’s new mixtape, and labels himself as “Marshall Mathers with melanin.” Check out the fire appearance above.
What are your thoughts on Ab-Soul’s “On The Radar” freestyle? Does this have you more excited for Soul Burger, why or why not? Where do you rank him amongst the rest of the TDE lineup? We would like to hear what you have to say, so leave your thoughts in the comments. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Ab-Soul. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
Yonkers rapper Iman Nunez isn’t scared of anything. That’s at least my takeaway after listening to his latest album Phases Vol. 2. The nine-track project, hosted by Gabe P’s New York-based platform On The Radar, was the start of many big moments for Iman Nunez and his 2024 campaign. Shortly after the album’s release, Nunez experienced a viral moment beside fellow NY rappers Fergie Baby, HDBeenDope, Dizzy Banko, LifeOfThom, Niko Brim, Tony E thanks to a freestyle performed on On The Radar. A few weeks later, Nunez took his talents to the 2024 BET Awards for another performance.
These moments and the ones that will surely follow are the result of the grit, fight, and resilience that Nunez on Phases Vol. 2. “I Got Time” is a boastful anthem that makes it clear that fame and the life that comes with it won’t change the person Nunez is. “Pipe Down” with Dizzy Banko and Fergie Baby demands silence from unworthy competitors and nuisances while “Get Off My Back” seeks freedom from the life’s pressures. Nunez’s rap skills are not to be questioned, nor is his determination to reach new heights — a combination that will prove to be greatly beneficial for the rising Yonkers rapper.
With Phases Vol. 2 still in rotation, we caught up with Iman Nunez for this week’s Uproxx Music 20 column. Scroll down to check out some highlights from his catalog and to learn more about his inspiration, influences, and aspirations.
My earliest memory of music is falling asleep to classical music when I was a child. Every night, my mom used to have that playing for us to go to sleep.
Who inspired you to take music seriously?
What inspired me to take music seriously was the obsession of wanting to be great. I had a love for hip-hop as a child and didn’t think that type of dream was attainable but realized it soon after and started to check goals off.
Do you know how to play an instrument? If so, which one? If not, which instrument do you want to learn how to play?
I played piano for many years of my life when growing up, but I sadly forgot because instead of learning notes, I was memorizing the way the song sounded in order to know what to do next. If I had to choose an instrument to learn, it would be to relearn the piano.
What was your first job?
My first job ever was Uber Eats. I used to go to the city, get an unlimited metro card and start working ’til sundown.
What is your most prized possession?
My fiancé and I each have this grape soda pin from the movie “Up” that I cherish.
What is your biggest fear?
I have a big fear of heights. I don’t know where I developed it, but I’m trying to overcome it as I get older.
You get 24 hours to yourself to do anything you want, with unlimited resources: What are you doing? And spare no details!
I’m purchasing every single type of crypto with it being a downtime, renting out Disneyland (DCA Specifically) to set up a listening party in the park for a project coming out. I’ll also purchase court-side tickets to a Knicks playoff game in advance.
What are your three most used emojis?
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What’s a feature you need to secure before you die?
Stevie Wonder.
If you could appear in a future season of a current TV show, which one would it be and why?
The Bear. I’d love to see me as a chef in that type of high intensity environment. It’s a very well put together show.
Which celebrity do you admire or respect for their personality and why?
I’d say J. Cole. My reasoning behind that is because you can tell that he’s genuinely himself. He’s still growing as a human and it doesn’t feel like a facade.
Share your opinion on something no one could ever change your mind about.
Pineapple on pizza is a sin.
What is the best song you’ve ever heard in your life and what do you love about it?
I’m one of those people that don’t have a best song ever. That changes for me every day or week. Last week was “Birds Of A Feather” by Billie Eilish. At this very moment, the best song ever (to me) is “Glock” by Don Toliver. I don’t think there’s a better song out right now. I wish I made it myself. It’s smooth, catchy, a good time, the beat is insane.
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform, and what’s a city you’re excited to perform in for the first time?
My hometown, NYC. I’ve been blessed enough to do my own headline shows so it’s always love. A city I’m excited to perform at for my first time is Toronto.
You are throwing a music festival. Give us the dream lineup of 5 artists that will perform with you and the location where it would be held.
What would you be doing now if it weren’t for music?
I’d probably be managing artists or finding my way into the entertainment industry or start a sports agency.
If you could see five years into the future or go five years into the past, which one would you pick and why?
I’d go five years into the past because you can’t get time back once you’re gone. I already feel like there’s not enough time in a day.
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
Turn the outside noise off as much as you can and stop thinking you aren’t good enough. People respect your pen and you put in the time. Just be patient.
It’s 2050. The world hasn’t ended, and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
I would like for my music to be remembered as classic. Something you connected to that touched your heart. Honest. Not a specific timestamp to what it sounds like but something that doesn’t have a time period to it. Just timeless and heartfelt.
Phases Vol. 2 is out now via ONLYONEIMAN LLC. Find out more information here.
At least, some fans think it does after Big Sean freestyled for the On The Radar Radio show. See, over the course of his verse, Sean drops several bars that some have interpreted as shots at Kendrick Lamar. Kendrick, of course, just wrapped up his vitriolic beatdown of Drake; however, in doing so, he and the Canadian kinda stepped on Big Sean’s new album rollout.
Big Sean disses Dot multiple times and disses Kanye
“Niggas looking for engagement like they got they knee bent I gotta better things to do than find someone to beef with”
Dot being engaged for Whitney for 9 years, and also engaging in a beef Drake for clout
Sean was already tangentially involved in the “Big Three” fiasco via his new song “Clarity,” and a leaked, scrapped version of Kendrick’s 2017 song “Element” seemed to give Sean reasons for wanting to strike back. “N****s looking for engagement like they got they knee bent / I gotta better things to do than find someone to beef with,” he says in the verse.
So, does this theory hold water?
Not according to DJ Hed, who has become something of an unofficial authority on most things K. Dot for rap fans on Twitter. After calling a tweet noting the supposed diss “cap,” Hed followed up with a cryptic explanation. “I talked to Sean. The bar was ‘I got better things to do then find someone to beef with.’ And it was not for Dot. Bar was directed at a different Gemini.”
Now, I’m not a big astrology guy, but sources (Google) tell me that Kanye West would also fall under that description. He’s also had plenty to say about his frayed relationship with Big Sean during his appearance on N.O.R.E.’s Drink Champs podcast in 2021, calling signing the Detroit rapper the “worst thing I’ve ever done” and accusing him of being a shill for the Democratic Party, which… oy vey.
Kanye’s comments certainly would fit the “reaching for engagement” bill, as well as trying to “find someone to beef with” for Kanye trying to enter the Drake/Kendrick feud unasked (and failing miserably, by the way). Meanwhile, some of the other lines fans have identified seem like Dhalsim from Street Fighter-level stretches.
So, for now, until Sean himself says otherwise, it’s unlikely he’s dissing Kendrick. And for what it’s worth, no one wants to see part two of this nonsense, because if all that West Coast solidarity might go out the window over Jhené Aiko, what was any of it even for?
Big Sean recreated an iconic meme of LeBron James in the wake of fans theorizing that he is beefing with Kendrick Lamar. The meme shows him taking a selfie with the caption: “Smiling through it all I can’t believe this is my life.” The rumors stem from comments Sean made about rap beef during a freestyle for On the Radar on July 16. “N***as looking for engagement like they got they knee bent/I got better things to do then find someone to beef with,” he rapped. Fans quickly assumed he was referring to Kendrick Lamar’s feud with Drake.
DJ Hed later came out and confirmed the lyric wasn’t referring to Lamar. “I talked to Sean,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter). “The bar was ‘I got better things to do then find someone to beef with.’ And it was not for Dot. Bar was directed at a different Gemini.”
Big Sean Performs During “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” World Premiere
Big Sean performs onstage at the “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” World Premiere held at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing on June 20, 2024, in Beverly Hills, California (Photo by Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images)
Despite the clarification, the rumors continued to spread and Sean came out with a response on his own X account. “Yall goin wit so many narratives,” he wrote in a since-deleted post caught by AllHipHop. “Im talking to da haters who just keep finding something to point out they dont like bout me. Its not even worth explaining tho im a just focus on the music.” He further added: “So many people turned they back on me, so i appreciate the ones who stayed down. N f*ck these b*tch ass n****s, every one of them.”
Lamar has yet to comment on the situation. Check out the full freestyle above. Be on the lookout for further updates on Big Sean and Kendrick Lamar on HotNewHipHop.
Big Sean had a controversial Tuesday. The rapper dropped off a freestyle for On the Radar, and while he skated, his flow took a backseat to his bars. Sean sent shots at an unnamed rapper, taking them to task for relying on beef to get attention. “N**gas looking for engagement like they got they knee bent,” the Sean Don raps. “I gotta better things to do than find someone to beef with.” Fans assumed the target was Kendrick Lamar, given the complicated history between both artists. Evidently, it’s someone else.
DJ Hed took to Twitter shortly after the freestyle was released to set the record straight. He claimed he talked to the rapper about his subliminals, and their intended target. “I talked to Sean,” DJ Hed wrote. “The bar was, ‘I got better things to do then find someone to beef with.’” The hip-hop personality then clarified that Big Sean and Kendrick Lamar do not have a problem. “It was not for Dot,” he added. “Bar was directed at a different Gemini.” If what DJ Hed says is true, than the rest of Sean’s freestyle isn’t aimed at Lamar, either.
Sean Don clearly has someone in his crosshairs, however. DJ Hed confirmed as much when he stated that the rapper was going after another Gemini. The bars: “Difference is I’m an activist and you drink actavis and I’m back acclimated” definitely reeks of disrespect. There’s also the unreleased verse that Big Sean teased on Instagram on July 15. Once again, bars seem to be aimed in the direction of the gemini who is not K. Dot. A quick roundup of the rappers who’s birthdays fall between May 20 and June 20 turns up a few potential candidates. We seriously doubt the rapper is going at the neck of Ice Cube or Iggy Azalea or flute convertee Andre 3000.
A rapper who does seem like a logical candidate, though, is Kanye West. Sean was signed to West for the majority of his career. He was one of GOOD Music’s biggest hitmakers during the 2010s. In recent years, however, West has disparaged Sean in the media. During a 2021 appearance on Drink Champs, West claimed that signing Sean was the “worst thing” he’d ever done as a label boss. Sean admitted that he was hurt by the comments. To make matters worse, the rapper was owed $6 million from his label deal when all was said and done. Kanye West might not be the target, but he’s the most likely candidate.
Big Sean is officially in album mode. The rapper dropped a teaser single a few months back. He also teased a bunch of new songs on Instagram Live, assuring fans that they will get to hear the full versions on the album. Sean’s latest move, however, may prove to be his most attention-grabbing. The rapper did an On the Radar freestyle on July 16, and appeared to throw multiple shots at Kendrick Lamar. The two have been less than friendly for over a decade, but he appears to feel a particular way about Dot’s recent behavior.
Big Sean doesn’t mention anybody by name. He does, however, make reference to someone who uses beef to draw more attention to themselves. This is something Kendrick Lamar has been accused of doing throughout his battle with Drake. “N**gas looking for engagement like they got they knee bent,” he raps. “I gotta better things to do than find someone to beef with.” Sean also takes aim at the activism of this unnamed target. He seemingly claims that he does more for the hip-hop community than this other rapper ever did. “Difference is I’m an activist and you drink actavis and I’m back acclimated,” he adds. “And Imma need my cut off top it’s decapitated.”
To be clear, Big Sean has claimed that there’s no bad blood between him and Kendrick Lamar. Fans think the rapper has been targeted multiple times since the release of “Control,” in which Lamar called out Sean on his own song. As recent as 2023, leaked K. Dot verses have seemingly been targeted at Sean. The Detroit superstar addressed the alleged subliminals during a 2020 episode of Pull Up. “This whole Big Sean, Kendrick beef was going on,” he told host Joe Budden. “It was something I wish I would have spoken up about because there was nothing.”
When the aforementioned 2023 leak surfaced, Big Sean again took the high ground. “Ain’t no diss,” he told TMZ. “If it was a diss, it would have been a diss… If it was a diss, it would have been another diss.” Sean has said all the right things with regards to his relationship with Lamar. That being said, the Drake beef has transpired since Sean last spoke about his Compton peer. It’s possible Sean’s feelings about Lamar have shifted since the release of “Euphoria,” “Meet the Grahams,” and the rest of the Dot disses. It definitely seems like there’s more to unpack between the two rappers.
Today, On The Radar dropped the video for Cory Gunz’s“On The Radar” Freestyle. The visual shows the multi-platinum selling recording artist alongside fellow Militia members Black Saun, Whispers and RMK as he delivers rapid fire bars for four minutes straight, over a mash-up beat of previously released tracks, “Scenario” and “Rick Owens x Nike Tech.”
Cory’s “On The Radar” Freestyle comes after the release of the video for “NaySay”which pays homage to legendary hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan’sRaekwon and Ghostface Killah by replaying the beat of one of the biggest songs of rap’s Golden Era, “Ice Cream.” The video for“NaySay,” followed the release of Cory’s latest mixtape, Loosie Pack 3 which features guest appearances by Jim Jones, Chris Rivers, Jae’won, Whispers and more. Four of Loosie Pack 3’s previously released tracks, “Real Rights,” “Die Slowly,” “Laundry” and “Rick Owens x Nike Tech,” have quickly become fan-favorite songs and received playlisting on Apple Music’s Base:Line, BARS, Football, Basketball and Underground Hip-Hop Essentials.
Loosie Pack 3 is the third installment of the Loosie Pack mixtape series which began to drop last fall. The first installment, Loosie Pack contained features from veteran rapper Styles P, frequent collaborator Whispers and others. The second installment, Loosie Pack 2 followed with the revered track “3 Staxx” and contained appearances from Nino Man, RMK and more.
Denzel Curry revealed to us just a couple of days ago that a new project was on the way. His Instagram post revealing the cover art and features got a lot of attention and for good reason. The Carol City, Florida rapper revealed that names like Juicy J, 2 Chainz, TiaCorine, FERG (A$AP Ferg), and more will be on it. A couple of names for the LP that are floating around are ULTRAGROUND and ZXLTRXN BIG ULTRA. Additionally, no release date/month is known, but we can tell you this. In an interview from four years ago, the veteran songwriter alluded to the fact that this will be one of his last projects. While we wait on that though, Denzel Curry recently made an appearance for On The Radar.
However, he was far from alone on this, as four other artists joined him. Those include Key Nyata, PlayThatBoiZay, FERG, and TiaCorine. This “Mischievous Cypher” is almost nine minutes of pure energy. Zel raps alonsgide Zay, then Nyata, followed by Tia and FERG. You can tell that everyone was having blast with it, as the vibes were extremely high. Everyone had some witty bars and one liners, so there was no shortage of firepower.
Listen To “The Mischievous Cypher” With Denzel Curry, FERG, TiaCorine, & More
While this cypher is fire, we could not help but notice a sly thing that Denzel pulled here. As we mentioned earlier, FERG and Tia are confirmed features for his next tape. There is great chance that Zay makes it as he was on a recent single with Denzel, “WOO”. Finally Key Nyata was also tagged in that IG post. We think that is a bit of promo for the album and that he wanted to give listeners a sneak peek of what sort of chemistry he has with each of them.
What are your thoughts on this latest On The Radar freestyle with Denzel Curry, FERG, TiaCorine, Key Nyata, and PlayThatBoiZay? Who had the best verse/performance on it and why? Do you think Denzel used this as a marketing tactic for his upcoming album? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Denzel Curry, FERG, TiaCorine, Key Nyata, and PlayThatBoiZay Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
Atlanta artist Mr. EGOT, formerly CyHi, made a powerful return with a freestyle at On The Radar’s studios in New York. This marks CyHi’s first offering of 2024, following the November 2023 release of “Mr. Put That Shit On,” featuring Pusha T, inspired by ‘The Wiz’ and released via EMPIRE.
“Mr. Put That Shit On” signaled CyHi’s comeback as he prepares for his upcoming concept album. As CyHi recently explained on Instagram, the album will explore “the fascinating journey of Philip Michael Thomas, an accomplished American actor and musician who coined the term ‘EGOT.’”
CyHi shows no signs of slowing down with his new album on the horizon. He has collaborated with industry giants like Lil Wayne and T-Pain, consistently delivering hit records that resonate with fans worldwide.
CyHi, formerly known as CyHi The Prynce, has got to be one of the rap game’s most unheralded lyricists. He does not drop all that often, which probably hurts his case. But he is without a doubt one of the sharpest writers of the last 10 years at least. Recently, CyHi stopped by for an “On The Radar” freestyle, to remind everyone how special he is.
The Georgia-born rapper and songwriter stepped up to the mic to give us bar after bar for five minutes straight. Outside of his effortless rapping, CyHi impressively switches up his style when the beat transitions halfway through. On the first half, the No Dope On Sundays MC spits over a more hype instrumental, whereas the backend strips things back and slows down. Hopefully, fans will get this type of dynamic spitting on his forthcoming record.
According to HipHopDX, CyHi is inching closer and closer toward dropping The Story of Mr. EGOT. It would be just his third overall LP and first since the aforementioned No Dope On Sundays. That dropped all the way back in 2017, so it has certainly been a hot minute. We perhaps got the first taste of the album back in 2022 with the EGOT the EP.
What are your thoughts on this brand-new “On The Radar” freestyle from CyHi? Is he one of the best, yet underrated writers the game has ever seen, why or why not? Where does this rank amongst the freestyles you have heard this year? Does this get you excited for his upcoming album The Story Of EGOT? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding CyHi. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
Quotable Lyrics:
What would all these rappers sound like if I turned the well off I could never fail, even if I fell off The feds will be at my door if I wrote a tell-all If I ain’t worth the wait then your scale off
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