pitchfork

Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” Named Third-Best Song Of The Decade So Far On Controversial List

by

Kendrick Lamar set the world on fire when he dropped “Not Like Us.” Overall, it was the final nail in the coffin of his beef with Drake. Prior to the song, he had dropped off “Meet The Grahams” which was a methodical character assassination of Drizzy. Subsequently, “Not Like Us” poured gasoline all over the OVO estate and set it ablaze. Not long after the release of the song, Kendrick was contending for number one. In fact, the song topped the Billboard charts on two separate occasions.

Now, we are approaching the middle of the decade, and numerous publications are putting out their best of the decade so far lists. One such publication is the legendary Pitchfork, which dropped its list of the 100-best songs of the 2020s. “Not Like Us” got placed third overall, right behind Lana Del Rey and RXK Nephew. As Alphonse Pierre writes, it is an undeniable song that is also full of contradictions, which makes you really analyze everything that is being said.

Read More: Wack 100 Claims Lil Wayne Won’t Perform At Super Bowl But Will Pop Out With Drake Instead

Kendrick Lamar Ended The Beef With This Track

“Having contradicting feelings about Kendrick Lamar music isn’t anything new (hello, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers), but ‘Not Like Us’ feels like one of the most complicated rap songs ever,” Alphonse Pierre wrote. “No matter what you say about it, you will be a hypocrite in some way. Forcing you to consider your listening habits, like barely any Billboard chart toppers have before.

“And like To Pimp a Butterfly’s ‘Alright’ on steroids, the phrase in the title of ‘Not Like Us’ was quickly commodified and absorbed into the cultural lexicon, turning what was initially Kendrick’s celebration of hip-hop culture and ousting of Drake from it into a branding opportunity chauffeuring Kendrick to the Super Bowl half-time show. That has gone on to soften the impact of ‘Not Like Us;’ one of the final nails in the coffin was Kendrick doing the track five times in a row on an Amazon stream. For that reason, giving it any larger cultural significance feels icky, though it will live on as the kind of omnipresent rap banger that doesn’t come along too often anymore.”

Do you believe that the song deserves this high ranking? Or do you feel like it may be all too soon to come through with this kind of high placement? Let us know in the comments section down below and stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming projects.

Read More: Hitmaka Explains Why Drake And Kendrick Lamar’s Feud “F*cked The Game Up”

[Via]

The post Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” Named Third-Best Song Of The Decade So Far On Controversial List appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Ice Spice’s “Y2K!” Rating From Pitchfork Has Fans Totally Perplexed

by

This new wave of female rappers has had a lot of hip-hop fans, especially the purists, upset over their success. Artists like Sexyy Red, GloRilla, Latto, and Saweetie all have an abrasive and raunchy approach that has been nothing but controversial. Listeners continue to highlight that their sex appeal is why they are relevant, while blasting them for their lack of writing and substance. All of these criticisms are certainly being applied to Ice Spice as well. Seeing her immense success has angered the masses, and while the New Yorker might not care about the noise, her debut was set up to quell the hate. In the eyes of Pitchfork, Ice Spice certainly did that with Y2K!.

The music reviewing publication has long been viewed as one of little validity by fans of the genre. That narrative is being pushed once more after they gave Ice Spice’s LP a 7.6 out of 10. It seems that almost everyone has been dragging Y2K!, even labeling it one of the worst projects of the year. However, with this rating, it is officially the highest score out of all of the mainstream rap tapes in 2024. Some Twitter users were asking Hip Hop All Day if ScHoolboy Q’s BLUE LIPS counts. While that certainly is a compelling argument, the Cali rapper does not have the same pull as Ice Spice, especially numbers wise.

Read More: Ice Spice & DJ Mustard Put Their Best Foot Forward On Our “Fire Emoji” Playlist

Ice Spice’s “Y2K!” Has Highest Mainstream Review By Pitchfork

In their write-up, Pitchfork does point out the lyrical shortcomings as being the major drawback. However, they feel Ice Spice put forth an album that “sounds like nothing her peers could make, swerving from one sonic inspiration to the next”. They credit her for her “agile and adaptable flow, assembling simple syllables into unusual cadences”. Overall, Pitchfork, deems Y2K! as ambitious and appreciate her willingness to make what she loves, instead of conforming to previous expectations. For context, Ice Spice received higher scores over her mainstream counterparts such as Metro Boomin and Future, Megan Thee Stallion, and Eminem, just to name a few.

What are your thoughts on Ice Spice’s debut album Y2K! getting a 7.6 out of 10 from Pitchfork? If you disagree with this score, what would you rate it? What songs are you revisiting the most from the project? 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 Ice Spice. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.

Read More: Tia Kemp Steps Up Child Support Demands From Rick Ross After Seeing Son’s Massive Tuition Bill

[Via]

The post Ice Spice’s “Y2K!” Rating From Pitchfork Has Fans Totally Perplexed appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Eminem’s “The Death Of Slim Shady” Receives Tepid Reviews From Anthony Fantano & Pitchfork

by

Eminem just dropped off his latest project The Death Of Slim Shady. At this point in his career, Em has taken a lot of criticism. Overall, there are some who believe his style is outdated. Moreover, there has been a referendum of sorts on his discography. If you ask Gen Z how they feel about his classic albums, they will tell you they aged poorly. While he still has his fair share of fans, it is pretty clear that Em doesn’t get the critical praise and esteem he used to.

A perfect example of this is the current reception to The Death Of Slim Shady. Now that the album has been out for a few days, there are plenty of reviews making their way online. One of the most anticipated was from none other than Anthony Fantano. Below, you can see that he ended up giving the album a simple 5/10. It’s not a great review by any stretch but based on Fantano’s scale, it is considered to be a mediocre and indifferent release.

Read More: 42 Dugg Defends Eminem’s Legacy In Detroit After Skilla Baby’s Controversial Take

Eminem At A Crossroads

As for Pitchfork, they gave the album a 4.8. Typically, Pitchfork will give albums in the 6 to 7 range. However, for Em, it seems like reviewer Dash Lewis was not a fan of the project. There were some scathing critiques throughout, and we’re sure Eminem fans will have something to say about all of this. As for our review of the album, you can check it our right here.

Let us know what you think of this new Eminem album, in the comments section down below. Do you agree with some of the critical reception we have been seeing over the past weekend? Is the album as bad as some critics say it is? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will continue to keep you informed on your favorite artists and their upcoming projects.

Read More: Eminem’s “The Death Of Slim Shady” First Week Sales Projections Revealed

[Via]

The post Eminem’s “The Death Of Slim Shady” Receives Tepid Reviews From Anthony Fantano & Pitchfork appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Kid Cudi Reacts To Negative Reviews Of “Insano”: “The Music Is Forever”

by

Kid Cudi says he’s not concerned about the negative reviews for his new album, Insano. When fans tagged him in a post complaining about Pitchfork’s 4.6 rating for the project, Cudi remarked that his music is everlasting. The fan had written: “Who is writing these Pitchfork reviews?? @KiDCuDi they did you dirty man. They must hand out the album review work to the biggest hater for every new album out lol.”

“Hahah I loveeee it,” Cudi replied. “When I die they’ll still have to deal [with] my awesome. I’m not goin anywhere. The music is FOREVER. The arena tours will still sell out. And I will always know that I came in the game and infected it [with] that sh*t.” He further added: “Based on their ratings of my albums, I should’ve lost my career years ago. Their opinion never holds any weight. I encourage y’all not to read reviews. It’s a waste of time. Listen for [yourself]. Same [with] movies. I never care about the rating, if it has some [of] my favorite actors in it and I like the plot, I’m watching.”

Read More: Kid Cudi “INSANO” Album Review

Kid Cudi Performs At ComplexCon

LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 19: Kid Cudi performs during ComplexCon 2023 at Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center on November 19, 2023 in Long Beach, California. (Photo by Kayla Oaddams/Getty Images)

While most of Cudi’s fans took his side in the discussion, some came to Pitchfork’s defense. One user defended the writer of the review, noting that they’ve put readers onto artists like Larry June, Boldy James, and Mach-Hommy, with positive write-ups over the years.

Kid Cudi Responds To Negative Reviews

The complaints about Pitchfork come as the site’s parent company, Condé Nast, announced it will be folding the site into GQ. Anna Wintour, chief content officer for Condé Nast, said the decision is “the best path forward for the brand so that our coverage of music can continue to thrive within the company.” According to the Associated Press, at least a dozen staffers have already been laid off. This included editor-in-chief Puja Patel. Be on the lookout for further updates on Kid Cudi on HotNewHipHop.

Read More: Kid Cudi Details The Origin Of Lupe Fiasco Beef: “I Sensed Something In The Universe”

[Via]

The post Kid Cudi Reacts To Negative Reviews Of “Insano”: “The Music Is Forever” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

What’s Happening With Pitchfork And ‘GQ’?

by
pitchfork logo
Pitchfork/Derrick Rossignol

Pitchfork has been a consistent presence in the lives of many music fans, as the website launched in 1996 and has long been one of the most popular music journalism brands. (They also launched the annual Pitchfork Music Festival in 2006.) The publication has undergone some changes along the way, though, most notably being sold to Condé Nast (which also owns publications like Vogue, The New Yorker, GQ, Vanity Fair, Wired, and more) in 2015. Now, it looks like another new era at Pitchfork has just begun.

What’s happening with Pitchfork and GQ?

In a tweet on January 17, media reporter Max Tani shared a note sent by Condé Nast management to staff. The message indicates that Pitchfork will have some sort of merger with GQ. It also says that some Pitchfork employees are no longer with the company effective today (January 17), apparently including Puja Patel, who was the site’s editor in chief.

The message — signed by Anna Wintour, Condé Nast’s chief content officer and global editorial director of Vogue — reads:

“Dear all,

Today we are evolving our Pitchfork team structure by bringing the team into the GQ organization. This decision was made after a careful evaluation of Pitchfork’s performance and what we believe is the best path forward for the brand so that our coverage of music can continue to thrive within the company. Both Pitchfork and GQ have unique and valuable ways that they approach music journalism, and we are excited for the new possibilities together.

With these organizational changes, some of our Pitchfork colleagues will be leaving the company today. I want to thank Puja for her leadership of the title over the last five years. She has been a wonderful colleague and advocate for the brand, and I’m grateful for her and the team’s many contributions.

Members of the Pitchfork team will hear more about their reporting structure in meetings this week. There are no additional changes at this time as we focus on our internal team structure and operations. We will of course keep this team updated first when any new decisions are made about the transition.

Anna.”

As Variety reports, features editor Jill Mapes is among those no longer with Pitchfork, as Mapes revealed on X (formerly Twitter). Variety also notes, “A rep for Condé Nast did not have information on how many Pitchfork staffers are being let go.” Associate news director Evan Minsker also revealed he was laid off.

Meanwhile, Tani noted in response to a question about Pitchfork’s future, “Pitchfork is going to continue publishing, but future seems unclear medium/long term. I’m told this was a business side decision, advertising is stronger at other Conde brands like GQ. But don’t have much more info yet…”

Officially, there has been no announcement about specifically how Pitchfork will exist and operate going forward.

Mariah The Scientist Reposts Critique Of Pitchfork Calling Andre 3000’s Album “Rap”

by

André 3000’s new album New Blue Sun couldn’t be farther from a rap album in most people’s eyes- or ears, rather. Moreover, many folks took issue with Pitchfork‘s review of it- not because of the score (8.3, Best New Music), but because of the categorization. Instead of “New Age,” “Jazz,” “Ambient,” or other appropriate genres that describe the flute-heavy, fully instrumental project, the publication put it under the “Rap/Experimental” genre. Mariah The Scientist agrees with this criticism, as she reposted a tweet on it on her Instagram Story on Monday (November 20).

“André 300 did NOTHING but play the FLUTE and they STILL labeled it a RAP album,” the tweet in question reads. “Do we not see the problem with this?” However, before we get ahead of ourselves, there’s a legitimate reason for this categorization that might calm Mariah The Scientist down. Pitchfork designed their content management system (CMS) that they use to publish work and organize it in the “backend” so that the genre of an album ties to the principal genre of its artist. As such, since they have the Outkast member as mostly a rap and experimental artist, they couldn’t change the genre to reflect New Blue Sun‘s direction.

Read More: André 3000 Says Writing Raps “Feel Inauthentic” To Him

Mariah The Scientist Agrees With Pitchfork Slander For André 3000 Review

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom)

So, with that in mind, maybe you understand the music media icons a little bit more. But the criticism itself is very valid and applicable to other people’s discussions around the project. In fact, it’s something that the 26-year-old has addressed about her own music. “I put music out, and it’s automatically supposed to be R&B?” Mariah The Scientist asked Complex during a video interview.

“Anybody that sings and is Black, or they think you Black… they, like, put you in this category of ‘She makes R&B music,’” she continued. “But if Lana Del Rey is singing about heartbreak, why [do they categorize] her album as alternative? But I put music out, and it’s automatically R&B? What if it’s neither of those? I told somebody that I wanted to make a new genre and I wanted to call it A&B for alternative and blues. I don’t know if it will happen, but if I did have to categorize myself, it would be that.” For more news and the latest updates on Mariah The Scientist and André 3000, log back into HNHH.

Read More: Mariah The Scientist Says She & Young Thug Will Get Married After He Gets Out Of Prison 

The post Mariah The Scientist Reposts Critique Of Pitchfork Calling Andre 3000’s Album “Rap” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Black Thought Gives A Shoutout To A$AP Rocky’s Debut Album

by

Many publications are rolling out content all year celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop and Pitchfork is no different. The publication teamed up with legendary rapper Black Thought from The Roots to discuss hip-hop albums that inspired him. After identifying some certified classics like The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill and Outkast’s Speakerboxxx / The Love Below he shouted out a more recent project from A$AP Rocky. “This album ushered in a new era of New York hip-hop. It’s so braggadocious, it’s so macho, it’s so Harlem,” Black Thought said of Rocky’s 2013 album LongLiveA$AP. It wasn’t the only praise he had for the project either.

Thought elaborated on his love for the album. “It’s also genre-transcendent. He was able to blur the line between the New York hip-hop aesthetic—which was trending less at the time—and the aesthetic that was beginning to trend more: classic UGK, 8Ball, and MJG. He was the bridge between dope and trill in a way that was very necessary.” The rapper also dug into many of the reasons he sees parallels between himself and Rocky. “I see elements of myself in A$AP Rocky, and later on I’d find out we share a birthday. He’s named after Rakim, who’s a huge influence of mine. He’s mellow. But he’s also one of those people I admire for his ability to continue to innovate.”

Read More: Smoke DZA Teams Up With Black Thought On Flying Lotus’ Produced New Track

Black Thought Is A Big A$AP Rocky Fan

Black Thought himself has been an influential force in rap for decades and that hasn’t slowed down in recent years. Earlier this year he teamed up with El Michels Affair for a critically acclaimed new collaborative album Glorious Game. The album features KIRBY, Son Little, and Brainstory.

That album served as a follow-up to another acclaimed collaboration last year. Black Thought teamed up with Danger Mouse on an album called Cheat Codes that managed to really live up to its name. What do you think of Black Thought’s praise of A$AP Rocky and his debut album? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: Black Thought Has Lost Attachment To Kanye West’s Music

[Via]

The post Black Thought Gives A Shoutout To A$AP Rocky’s Debut Album appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Black Thought Has Lost Attachment To Kanye West’s Music

by

The Roots’ iconic rapper Black Thought had some opinions about Kanye West’s creative identity slipping away. In a recent interview with Pitchfork, he broke down some albums from legends OutKast, Kanye, A Tribe Called Quest, and more. His 50th birthday is on October 3 and he referred to albums that have really moved him and made him who he is today. They broke it down by starting at the age of five and advancing for another five years. However, his age 35 album that he selected to talk about had the juiciest quotes to dissect.

Black Thought chose one of Kanye’s many industry-shaking records, 808s & Heartbreak. It is infamously known for its mixed reviews from fans and the rap community alike. But, it will go down as of his best works of all time for its influence on so many artists. The Weeknd, Kid Cudi, and many other careers might not happen without 808s. Songs like “Heartless” which just went RIAA Diamond-certified about a week ago, are such iconic tracks that carry so much weight. However, Thought feels like Ye has lost his mystique since that time.

Read More: Amazon Music Confirms Drake’s “For All The Dogs” Release Date

Black Thought Believes It’s “More Assembly-Line”

One of the reasons Thought details throughout his discussion about Ye is that he feels the personality is lacking. He says, “I connect with Kanye’s music less now. Maybe it’s because of the rate at which he’s been putting out art and having to keep up. I think his process has become more assembly-line.” He goes on, “I don’t know if anything’s lost, but what is sometimes compromised is the personality. The main person it’s supposed to be about is sometimes overshadowed by all these other writers, producers, and people who are contributing.” Most people will take this excerpt at face value, but could he be referring to the antics and comments he has made?

What are your thoughts on Black Thought’s comments about Kanye West’s music? Do you agree or disagree with him? Where do you stand with Kanye’s recent albums? We want to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave all of your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest breaking news around the music world.

Read More: Cardi B Says Offset Will Sue Troll Who Accused Him Of Cheating

The post Black Thought Has Lost Attachment To Kanye West’s Music appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Lil Yachty Calls Out Pitchfork For “Let’s Start Here” Review

by

Lil Yachty came through with his latest body of work, Let’s Start Here on Friday. The project marked a significant leap for Yachty as he dived into psychedelic rock and soul in an attempt to establish himself as more than just a “rapper.” Ultimately, the experimental project led to a flurry of reactions. Some loved it, others hated it but overall, it created a dialogue surrounding Yachty’s artistry.

Pitchfork evidently didn’t hold the project in high regards. Alphonse Pierre gave the album a 6.0 in a review that detailed the highs and lows of the project. As with most Pitchfork reviews, it stirred up discussion online and Yachty had a brief analysis of the publication. “Lol pitchfork is so washed up,” Lil Yachty tweeted in response to the publications review. 

Despite Pitchfork’s review, artists like Drake and Questlove have had rave reviews for Yachty’s departure album. Questlove inked a lengthy review on his Instagram page, where he praised Lil Yachty for going outside of his own comfort zone. He also said Let’s Start Here gave him hope for the future of hip-hop as a whole.

“I really really really really love this @lilyachty record and I love when artists pull off a good departure record,” he wrote. “this aptly titled #LetsStartHere lp might be the most surprising transition of any music career I’ve witnessed in a min, especially under the umbrella of hip hop… Shit like this (envelope pushing) got me hyped about music’s future.”

The music Yachty released during his teenage years undoubtedly defined his sound. Over the years, he struggled to shake off the stigma attached to his name. When he was a leader of the pack of Soundcloud rappers that made it to the charts, he continued to face backlash from OGs and fans in general who weren’t happy with what he dropped. During the album release party, Yachty explained that he wanted people to take him seriously as an artist.

“I think I created this just because I really ​​wanted to be taken serious as an artist. Not just some Soundcloud rapper, not just some mumble rapper, not some guy that made one hit… I respect all walks of music. Not just rap and hip-hop but everything,” Lil Yachty said. “If we gon’ be honest, there’s just a lot of n***as started copying the swag. And I felt like, cool, well, if everyone can do this then that’s fine but I’m going to show you what y’all can’t do.”

How do you feel about Lil Yachty’s album? Let us know in the comment section below. 

Mitski, The National, And The Roots Will Headline The 2022 Pitchfork Music Festival

by
Mitski 2019 Governors Ball
Getty Image / Nicholas Hunt

Pitchfork Music Festival will return to Union Park in Chicago this summer. Celebrating newcomers and veterans in the realm of indie music, Pitchfork Music Festival takes place over the course of three days, with over 60,000 fans expected to attend this year.

Festivities kick off Friday, July 15, with headliners The National, Spiritualized, and Parquet Courts. Supporting these headliners are Tierra Whack, Ethel Cain, Cupcakke and more. Mitski, Japanese Breakfast, and Lucy Dacus will take the stage Saturday, July 16, with support from Magdalena Bay, Chubby And The Gang, and more. Closing out the festival on Sunday, July 17 are The Roots, Toro Y Moi, And Earl Sweatshirt, along with the likes of Noname, Badbadnotgood, and Injury Reserve.

“This year’s lineup is a celebration of the rising indie class, and those who continue to pave the way for innovation,” said Pitchfork editor in chief Puja Patel in a press release. “Our goal was to highlight a diverse group of artists who are taking their musical genres to new heights, and I’m proud of how it’s come together.”

General on-sale begins Friday, March 11 at 10 a.m. Check out the full line-up below.

Pitchfork Music Festival Lineup 2022
Courtesy of Pitchfork Music Festival

Some of the artists mentioned are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.