Grammys Week is always a chaotic time in Los Angeles. In addition to preparations for the “Biggest Night In Music,” it’s a time when all the producers, managers, writers, publicists, assistants, and A&Rs finally come together in one place to catch up and plot the year ahead at a host of gatherings, from exclusive listening events to rooftop brunches — like The Labels Brunch, hosted by Uproxx and Velcro Records at the Remington in Beverly Hills and produced by Powerhouse Agency.
Taking over the stately penthouse, the Labels Brunch brought together a collection of some of music’s hottest up-and-coming acts for drinks, food, music, casino games, and the premiere of the music video for “To The Grave,” a new single from Polo G with G Herbo and Velcro Records artist HotBlock Jmoe. Also in attendance were rising stars like Backwood Brat, Domani, Fresco Trey, Kalan.FrFr, Journey Montana, MAF Teeski, Smiley, Tyla Yaweh, and YK Osiris, as well as rap pioneers like Too Short and Erick Sermon.
The brunch continued until well after sunset, as guests enjoyed some of LA’s finest catering courtesy of the Goldwing Group and DJ sets provided by Red Cup Nation. Special thanks go to Last Wave Entertainment, August Shore, Happy Dad, Fire, and Don Londres. Check out photos and videos from the Labels Brunch below.
Rappers are plenty willing to buy nice things for themselves and that’s extra true when it comes to jewelry. The push for more elaborate and expensive jewelry in rap goes back decades and still has plenty of participants. But that doesn’t mean rappers don’t occasionally flex their generosity. It’s common to see artists share videos of gifts they get for friends and family members. But if the present is elaborate enough sometimes they’ll even flex what they’re getting for each other.
Over the weekend, rapper Polo G will turn 25 and he’s already out celebrating. In a new video making the rounds online, his friend and fellow rapper Lil Tjay gives him a special birthday gift. It’s a Patek watch and one that Polo is clearly a big fan of given his reaction. In the comments, the fans shout out both rappers for sticking together despite their respective breakthroughs. “It’s dope to still see them cool, coming in the game together young and still going up together is rare considering they’re not a duo,” the top comment on the post reads. Check out the video of Polo G getting his birthday gift below.
Earlier this year, Lil Tjay returned with his new album 222. It’s his first new project since 2021’s Destined 2 Win. The album contains hits like “Project Walls,” with NBA Youngboy, “2 Grown,” with The Kid LAROI, and “June 22nd.” The album also features appearances from Summer Walker, Fivio Foreign, Jadakiss, Coco Jones, and of course Polo G.
A few weeks ago Lil Tjay shared his appreciation for the holiday season. He teamed up with Fivio Foreign to share a drill take on the festive classic “Last Christmas.” The short song racked up nearly two million views on YouTube across the holiday season and likely got slipped surprisingly into some holiday playlists. What do you think of Lil Tjay getting Polo G a Patek for his 25th birthday? Let us know in the comment section below.
Anybody who thought the vinyl resurgence was just a fad was mistaken: The industry has experienced a legitimate revival. As a result, music fans are interested in physical media in ways they may not have if the decades-old medium hasn’t made a comeback. That doesn’t mean everybody is listening to just their parents’ old music, though. That’s part of it, sure, thanks to rereleases that present classic albums in new ways. A vital part of the renewed vinyl wave, though, is new projects being released as records, of which there are plenty.
Whatever you might be into, each month brings a new slew of vinyl releases that has something for everybody. Some stand out above the rest, naturally, so check out some of our favorite vinyl releases of November below.
Snoop Dogg (who’s still smoking weed, by the way) is celebrating 30 years of his iconic debut album, Doggystyle, with a new reissue. This is a cool one, too: Aside from being available in a number of color variants, it features “Gz Up Hoes Down,” which was exclusively available on the album’s initial 100,000 units in 1993, making it sought after.
The Beatles — 1962-1966 (‘The Red Album’) and 1967-1970 (‘The Blue Album’)
Apple Corps Ltd/Capitol/UMe
“Now And Then” is the headlining new Beatles release of the year, but the legendary group also delivered some compelling reissues of two classic compilation albums. The new versions of the collections come with expanded tracklists (which includes “Now And Then”), all pressed on bold-colored, semi-translucent vinyl with stereo mixes. And if you just want the new (and final) Beatles song on vinyl, don’t worry, that’s also available in multiple formats.
The Beths – Expert In A Dying Field (Bandbox Exclusive)
Bandbox
If you’re not following what Bandbox is doing in the vinyl space, you better get on board. The Minneapolis-based company is announcing exclusive pressings and zines from a variety of artists on a weekly basis, and our favorite of their recent announcements is this lovely pink and green pressing of The Beths’ killer Expert In A Dying Field. It’s available for pre-order now, as well as recently announced offerings from the likes of Braid and Grizzly Bear.
Various Artists — Barbie The Album (VMP Designer Edition) and Barbie The Album (VMP Kendom Edition)
Vinyl Me, Please
Barbie was the movie of the year, but it had the soundtrack of the year, too. Given that Barbie as a brand has been a merchandising titan for decades now, the vinyl editions of the soundtrack are packed with goodies, and they come in both Designer and Kendom flavors via our friends at Vinyl Me, Please.
As part of Record Store Day’s Black Friday celebration earlier this month, Legacy Recordings dropped a series of reissues. It’s hard to call their Polo G offering a reissue, though: They pressed Die A Legend on “black ice” colored vinyl, which is actually the first time the multi-platinum album has ever been available on vinyl. So, if this is one you’ve been waiting to put on your turntable, you finally can.
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab is in the midst of a very cool reissue series with LA icons Van Halen, and the self-titled debut is a great place to start. The company describes the restoration process as “painstaking,” mastered from the original analog tapes onto MoFi’s supervinyl. When you turn up “Running With The Devil” and “Eruption” to their max volume, you’ll be hearing Eddie’s trademark guitar as well as ever.
Public Enemy — It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (35th Anniversary Edition)
UMe
It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back is an iconic release in early hip-hop history, and this year, it celebrates 35 trips around the sun. Now there’s a 4LP reissue that comes with new liner notes via Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Q-Tip, and Questlove, quite the foursome offering insight on an important hip-hop milestone.
Explosions In The Sky — Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Live Forever (Anniversary Edition) and The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place (Anniversary Edition)
Temporary Residence Ltd
Post-rock mainstays Explosions In The Sky are reissuing two of their most classic pieces of early work, and this is actually the first time either LP is available on colored vinyl. Both colorings do a terrific job at highlighting the distinct album cover art, and the albums have been remastered for this release, too.
Ten was a huge debut album for Pearl Jam, and they crushed it with its follow-up, Ten, too: It was their first No. 1 album and it hung into that top spot for five weeks. It’s been 30 years since that album dropped, and now Eddie Vedder and company are reissuing it in a number of different configurations; Pictured above is the 2LP “dreamsicle” configuration available via the band’s Ten Club, while other editions are available elsewhere.
Up was a turning point for R.E.M., as the group’s 11th album saw them without their founding drummer, Bill Berry, for the first time. It’s already been 25 years since then, so they’ve given the album a fresh coat of paint with a new remaster of the LP, and the band also has T-shirts and other cool merch to complement your vinyl purchase.
Social Distortion — Mommy’s Little Monster (40th Anniversary Reissue)
Craft Recordings
Mommy’s Little Monster, Social Distortion’s 40-year-old debut album, can now be yours via some pretty neat vinyl reissues. The album has been remastered from the original analog tapes, and there’s also a variety of limited-edition colorways to choose from, all of which are lovely.
Daft Punk — Random Access Memories (Drumless Edition)
Columbia
Random Access Memories is a classic of its era, but it sounds completely different if you get rid of the drums. That’s something Daft Punk wanted to explore with a new “Drumless Edition” of the 2013 album. Aside from being a new way to experience this awesome project, the stark white cover art is just so, so clean.
In his review of Victor, Uproxx’s Aaron Williams wrote, “Victor gives listeners exactly what it says on the tin: A holistic look at an artist who’s come into his own at last. Vic had to go through everything he did to mature enough as an artist to synthesize those experiences into an honest, unfiltered summation of himself. This is his real autobiography — it was worth the wait.” Now, it’s available to spin at home, and includes an option for a signed copy.
Dylan’s 1978 world tour were his first international shows since 1966, making them a special event for those audiences. The run included his first appearances in Japan, and now we have a deluxe box set that chronicles two full shows recorded at Tokyo’s Nippon Budokan Hall on February 28 and March 1, 1978. Ultimately, there are 36 previously unreleased recordings here, making it a must for hardcore Dylan fans. Check out Steven Hyden’s review of the collection, and look below for your own physical copy.
Polo G has recently initiated a lawsuit against two concert promoters and is seeking compensation amounting to nearly $500,000. The Chicago rapper is contending that the promoters misled the public with fraudulent advertising of live performances that were never intended to transpire. Beyond the financial ramifications, Polo G asserts that these deceptive practices have inflicted harm on both his brand and reputation within the music industry.
Polo G Takes Legal Action
Polo G has taken legal action against promoters J. Noah B.V. and Jozef Wanno, filing a lawsuit demanding nearly $500,000.
According to Radar Online, the lawsuit alleges that the promoters falsely claimed to be booking agents and promoters, deceiving the public by advertising live performances that were never intended to happen. Polo G asserts that these false advertisements have caused financial harm and damaged his brand and reputation in the music industry.
Rapper Polo G Sues Promoters Over $495k Deal to Perform Overseas Months After Arrest https://t.co/lEixsYRxiz Click the image for details:
According to the lawsuit, the “Epidemic” rapper had agreed with the defendants to perform overseas.
The contract stated that he would be paid $495,000 for ten performances. However, Polo G claims that the promoters failed to fulfill their obligations. The lawsuit reveals that the rapper received only $100,000, missing the $123,000 payment deadline, and never received the remaining $23,000 or any of the promised installment payments.
Despite informing the defendants that the performances would not be happening, Polo G alleges that they continued to advertise the events. The rapper asserts that the false advertisements and misuse of his name have caused significant harm to his brand.
Polo G’s lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for the financial losses and damage to his reputation.
Polo G’s Brother’s Legal Woes
Other news involving Polo G was his brother, Taurean Bartlett, being arrested and charged with the murder of a 20-year-old man that took place in June 2023. He is currently facing felony murder charges, along with a first-degree residential robbery charge from August 2023.
In August 2023, law enforcement raided the Chicago native’s home in Los Angeles as part of a robbery investigation targeting his brother, Taurean Bartlett. Polo G was handcuffed and taken into custody.
G Herbo Sues His Former Manager
In a similar vein, fellow Chicago rapper G Herbo recently filed a lawsuit against his former manager and label, Machine Entertainment, for $8.4 million. G Herbo claimed his contract was manipulated when he was a teenager, leading to the multi-million dollar dispute.
Polo G’s brother, TrenchBaby, is facing charges of murder. Trench Baby is currently in custody, facing felony murder charges, and law enforcement authorities suspect this may not be his first offense, as he has also been charged with first-degree residential robbery for an August 2023 incident.
Unfortunate Fate
Taurean Bartlett, Polo G’s brother, has been charged with the murder of 20-year-old Dashaun Berry. The incident occurred in the early morning hours of June 10, 2023, in a North Hollywood parking lot.
Polo G’s brother, Trench Baby, has been charged with murder in a Drive-By Shooting Case pic.twitter.com/wr0hJ9P55q
Berry was found at the scene with fatal gunshot wounds. Bartlett, also known as Trench Baby, is now sitting in a jail cell, facing felony murder charges.
Law enforcement authorities have reason to believe this might not be Bartlett’s first offense. In addition to the murder charge, he has also been charged with first-degree residential robbery for an incident that occurred on Aug. 15.
What Are The Other Charges?
Furthermore, Bartlett faces an additional charge of dissuading a witness by force or threat, stemming from a Sept. 10 incident. These charges paint a troubling picture of Bartlett’s involvement in criminal activities.
Currently, Bartlett remains in custody without bail. Despite the serious allegations against him, there has been no response from Bartlett’s representatives or his brother, Polo G.
The search warrant was also related to his brother, Trench Baby. This incident further adds to the ongoing legal troubles surrounding Polo G’s family.
Blac Youngsta’s Tragic Loss
On a somber note, fellow rapperBlac Youngsta is mourning the loss of his younger brother, who was shot and killed in South Memphis. The incident occurred near the BP Gas Station on South Parkway East, leaving the hip-hop community shaken once again.
Polo G’s brother Trench Baby now faces charges of felony murder for an alleged drive-by shooting on June 10 in Los Angeles. Moreover, authorities recently arrested Baby– real name Taurean Bartlett- based on accusations that he took the life of 20-year-old Dashaun Berry in a North Hollywood parking lot, according to TMZ Hip Hop. Law enforcement authorities reportedly told the outlet that paramedics pronounced the young man dead at the scene at around 1:30AM, when they found him with gunshot wounds. Amidst these developments, Taurean Bartlett awaits his fate in a jail cell; we’ll see how his court case plays out, if at all.
Furthermore, police also claim that this alleged incident is what preceded various other crimes that Polo G’s brother is accused of. Reportedly, they both engaged in these worrisome behaviors, although not much has developed in the case since an August arrest. For example, Trench Baby also faces charges of first-degree residential robbery that supposedly took place on August 15. In the same case, and with the same man, he also allegedly dissuaded a witness by force or threat around September 10.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 03: Polo G performs with DaBaby In Concert at Irving Plaza on November 03, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage/Getty Images)
When these claims around these crimes started to surface following police investigation, authorities took custody of Polo G and his brother in August. They found them at their Los Angeles home, and Trench Baby in particular has no bail option while in prison. His familial Chicago MC partner, though, seems to have avoided significant jail time here through bail, and doesn’t seem initially tied to the murder of Berry. As such, it looks like Baby’s lack of bail is specifically for this alleged drive-by shooting. They also faces accusations of punching a woman in the face at a Burbank studio altercation, but prosecutors dismissed charges for this due to there not being enough evidence.
Meanwhile, this legal trouble might’ve caused Polo G to delay the release of his next album by a considerable amount. Surely he and his family are quite concerned for Taurean, yet it’s too early to call how this case will pan out. These are pretty heft accusations and charges, and might not be easy to avoid whether or not they’re accurate. For more news and the latest updates on Trench Baby’s situation, come back to HNHH.
(WARNING: Spoilers for this week’s Rap Sh!t episode will be found below.)
The events in the second episode of Max’s Rap Sh!tseason two, titled “Heavy Traffic,” are soundtracked by songs that help to accentuate the emotions behind each scene. You can find a list of them below and details about the scenes the records were heard in.
Hood Brat, A.Chic, TT The Artist, Raedio — “Call Me Daddy”
We hear this record during the opening scene of “Heavy Traffic” as Shawna, Mia, Reina Reign, Duke, and Francois film a TikTok on their tour bus. The group shows off the bus and their new tour lifestyle to their followers with the video.
Smino — “Settle Down” Feat. Cory Henry & Ravyn Lenae
Smino’sLuv 4 Rent record plays around the 3:03 mark as Shawna & Mia get ready for their first performance. The duo is dressed in aprons as they believe that they’ll be matching Reina Reign, but Duke informs them that Reina will not be on theme with them which frustrates both Shawna and Mia.
Nardo Wick — “G Nikes” Feat. Polo G
Nardo Wick’s track with Polo G is heard around the 4:42 mark as we check in with Lamont and his daughter Melissa. Due to an early release from her school, and the unavailability of Lamont’s grandmother and Mia’s mom, Lamont is forced to bring Melissa to the studio with him as he works with an artist.
Reina Reign — “Tongue (Remix)” Feat. Shawna & Mia
Around the 6:38 mark, this track plays as Shawna & Mia take the stage with Reina Reign to perform their remix of “Tongue.” Though the performance went well, it’s clear that Shawna & Mia aren’t on the same page during this performance. Shawna, frustrated by how she and Mia looked on stage, confronts Mia about their performance, but it doesn’t go too well.
Raedio & Lord AK — “Suicide Mission”
We hear this song around the 13:08 mark as Lord AK goes on stage to begin his performance. Shawna, impressed, is in the crowd watching the performance before she’s pulled away by Duke and Mia to go to Lord AK’s green room.
Future — “Like Me” Feat. 42 Dugg & Lil Baby
Future’sI Never Liked You song plays around the 17:13 mark as Duke finally gets into Lord AK’s green room where the party is live and active. Duke meets one of Lord AK’s closest associates, Gat, and offers him some party favors to enhance his party experience.
Ron Suno — “Door”
This track plays around the 18:42 mark as Duke finds Shawna & Mia in the party. She’s clearly under the influence after taking a bit of cocaine with Gat. Duke launches into an energetic rant about making money and finding opportunities that leaves Shawna and Mia very confused.
Dear Silas — “Smoke” Feat. Sauce Father
Around the 19:45 mark, the track can be heard as Mia joins the fun of the party to play a game of flip cup with a gentleman we later find out to be Courtney Lou, the artist that Lamont told Mia to look out for. Meanwhile, Shawna stumbles into a few awkward moments at the party including one where she’s told that she gives “Rapsody vibes… if she was a hoe.”
Peachcurls — “Ass Shaker”
Peachcurls’ track can be heard around the 22:19 mark as the party in Lord AK’s room is still going strong. Shawna tries to talk to Gat but he pays her no mind. He instead kicks off a game where the winner will get to go on Lord AK’s tour bus. This game does nothing but show Gat’s colorism, and when Shawna calls him out for it and flexes her rap knowledge, he rudely sprays her with champagne.
Baby Rose — “Fight Club” Feat. Georgia Anne Muldrow
Baby Rose’sThrough And Through highlight plays around the 28:27 mark to close the episode as Shawna cleans herself after she is showered with champagne by Gat. She’s also frustrated by the disconnect between her and Mia, something that only gets worse when Mia lets the crew know that she’ll fly into the next city because she got an offer to spend some time with Cash.
New episodes of ‘Rap Sh!t’ are available on Max on Thursday at 3am EST/ 12 pm PST.
Stacia Mac, Polo G’s mother, has a bit of a reputation among hip-hop fans as a gorgeous woman who gets people feeling nervous in her comments. Sure, it’s normal to acknowledge that, but you’d be hard-pressed to not find something along the lines of “With all due respect to Polo” within her Instagram replies. Moreover, she recently posted a selfie showing off her look for a night out, and the Chicago rapper’s mom and manager looks stunning. It’s a beautiful and elegant fit, topped off with a leather jacket, and the responses reflect that. Props to her for working so hard and living her life in the process.
Furthermore, Stacia Mac has always been there for her son, through the most troubled and most triumphant parts of his life and career. For example, back in 2021, she bonded Polo G out of prison after an alleged altercation with a police officer. In addition, the 43-year-old is often boasting about his accomplishments and skills on social media, being as much of a caring business partner as a loving mom always ready to embarrass her little boy. But don’t let that lead you into believing she doesn’t have endeavors of her own to nurture.
One of these is Stacia Mac’s Geffen Records partnership to create a new entertainment company, House of Legends. “When I got into management with Polo G, I always knew I wanted to grow but also understood the importance of timing,” she expressed of this move back in 2021. “ODA Management grew into ODA Records and I’m so excited to now launch a new company in partnership with Geffen Records. I’ve long been committed to developing talent and this serves as another platform for me to do so with independent artists. Lee and his team are incredible partners who bring tremendous expertise and equally committed to nurturing creators. I’m confident this partnership will be fruitful.”
Meanwhile, she’s also been able to reflect on the choices that led her and her son to this moment. The Chicago native remarked this year that she didn’t force Polo to get a job back when he was younger. It’s wild to see just how fruitful and successful they’ve been together. On that note, come back to HNHH for more news and the latest updates on Stacia Mac and her son and artist, Polo G.
Polo G is showing love to the cast of his “Barely Holdin’ On” music video. A source caught up to TMZ Hip-Hop and revealed the Chicago legend dropped off $10,000 to everyone who helped create the video.
Involved in the video are Diana, an organ transplant survivor; a single mother named Bobbi, Deon, a substance abuse survivor; and Willie, a 12-year-old gunshot victim-turned-paraplegic basketball player.
“It was an emotional roller coaster for many,” said the video’s director SixTwentySix’s Arrad. “Nobody was expecting to get the cash at the end. It was a huge surprise and everyone was in complete denial! Polo was very generous and wanted to make sure he could thank each and every person – he expressed his gratitude multiple times and gave them all the cash at the end. It was extremely nice and heartwarming of him.”
Last month, Polo G unveiled the captivating music video for his latest single, “Barely Holdin’ On.” The poignant video delivered an emotionally charged visual experience.
The video’s narratives were thoughtfully chosen by Polo himself, featuring real individuals grappling with genuine struggles. This deliberate decision reflects Polo’s commitment to authenticity, highlighting their everyday challenges and triumphs.
“Barely Holdin’ On” is the lead single from Polo G’s highly anticipated forthcoming album, HOOD POET, which will arrive via Columbia Records.
“Barely Holdin’ On” rapper Polo G has quickly become one of the leaders of rap’s new school. Since the release of his debut album, Die A Legend, in 2019, the Chicago native hasn’t deviated from his annual tradition of dropping a new project for fans. However, that could change this year. So, why is Polo G’s forthcoming album, Hood Poet, being delayed?
On August 12, Polo G took to his official Instagram page to announce the album (which at the time was scheduled for Friday, September 15) via a new diamond necklace with accent lavender stones, an elaborate pendant, and other tricked-out personal modifications made by IceBox Diamonds & Watches. However, by September 9, he stunned fans when he revealed that the project was no longer dropping.
Yesterday (September 14), in an exchange on X (formerly Twitter), Polo G gave supporters more insight into why he ultimately decided to delay the album. When asked outright by a follower, Polo G replied, “[I] was going through some sh*t, gang. We are still pushing [forward] though. You know that.”
Although Polo G did not state specifics, the sh*t he’s referring to could be tied to his recent arrest (August 23) on alleged kidnapping, robbery, and assault with a deadly weapon charges. If Polo G is tied up in a legal battle of this magnitude, it would greatly hinder his ability to tour and travel for press.
Following the incident, Polo G’s lawyer, Bradford Cohen, released a statement regarding his arrest. Read the complete statement below.
“The incident surrounded someone staying in Polo’s home and not Polo directly. The officers have detained Polo to ‘verify’ that he is not a convicted felon, as they assert a firearm was found in the home. It is widely known that Polo is not a convicted felon and never was a convicted felon. I personally got all his charges in Miami dismissed when he was, in our opinion, wrongfully arrested and charged. They have refused to allow us access to our client, which is also an illegal and unethical practice, and someone will have to answer for these new wrongful actions. We are hopeful the LAPD will handle this matter with tact and transparency.”
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