Pop

Nicki Minaj Praised Fivio Foreign’s Debut Album ‘B.I.B.L.E.’: ‘Hittin’ The Mthafkn Spot’

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There’s nothing Nicki Minaj is if not loyal. After recently collaborating with Fivio Foreign on “We Go Up” — and even stepping out to help celebrate his birthday — now the queen of rap is listening to his album on repeat this weekend. She took time out of her day to praise the album on Instagram, letting Fivio and several of his collaborators know that she’s a fan.

“This Fivio Foreign album rlly hittin the mthafkn spot,” she wrote in an Instagram story on Saturday. “Sooooo SOLID. Sonically authentic and well thought out. Cohesive body of work with a signature sound that is very true to where he’s from.” Then, she preceded to hashtag which songs were her favorites and call out some features she liked. Nicki’s picks from the record are “For Nothin,” “Changed On Me,” “On God,” and “Hello.” She thinks “KayCyy is [flame emoji] on both of his songs. Chloe bodied her verse. Loved Coi too.”

Nicki Minaj Instagram Story Fivio Foreign
Instagram

This might be the first some more casual listeners have heard that Chloe dropped more than one song on Friday. Of course, “Treat Me” was unmissable and is already making waves, but her appearance on “Hello” is something fans can check out above if they’re interested.

Nicki Minaj Had To Explain Some ‘Blick Blick’ Slang To James Corden During ‘Carpool Karaoke’

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The long-awaited return of James Corden’s bonafide hit segment, Carpool Karaoke, is finally here — and Nicki Minaj brought the show back with a bang. Finally getting around to returning the favor for Adele’s epic impression of her “Monster” verse from years ago, Nicki did a spot on Adele impression too, and the show even managed to splice them both rapping the verse side by side. This is as full circle as it gets with internet memes, people.

But because it’s Nicki and James, don’t worry, the hilarious moments didn’t stop there. While rapping along to her new collaboration with Coi Leray, “Blick Blick,” Nicki suddenly realized that James had no idea what “opps” meant. “James, if you’re going to hang out with me, you have to at least understand the lingo,” Nicki asserted, when James offered “opportunities?” as a weak guess for the slang phrase around the 5:30 minute mark. She followed up by getting him to name an opposition in his life (his neighbor’s dog ended up being the example), and explaining how they would roll up on Graeme and Brenda to let them know when it’s time to put that dog inside.

It’s a pretty hilarious moment, and a great example of how applying rap lingo to IRL, mundane situations is… never not funny. Watch up top starting around 5:30.

Yung Lean And FKA Twigs Are Dressed For A Wedding In The New ‘Bliss’ Music Video

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Idiosyncratic Swedish rapper and Drain Gang associate Yung Lean released his new mixtape Stardust today, following 2020’s critically-acclaimed Starz. It’s full of features from friends like Skrillex, Bladee (who also just unveiled a new record, Crest, recently), Ecco2k, FKA Twigs, Thaiboy Digital, and Ant Wan. The songs stick to his signature synthy sound underneath his deadpan mumble-rap.

“Bliss” is the ecstatic, bass-driven collaboration with Twigs, whose real name is Tahliah Debrett Barnett, and it opens up Stardust as the most upbeat track. Barnett’s high-pitched vocals give it an ethereal hyperpop edge while she sings about hedonism: “I want your bliss on bliss and little company / I only want it when it feels like this.” The track comes with a music video that matches the track’s chaotic vibe; it’s lo-fi and steamy, with Lean and Barnett in the back of an old car, dressed up for a wedding. At one point, Lean is rapping on a couch that’s on top of the car. It vaguely resembles something like an episode of Skins.

Barnett returned with more FKA Twigs material earlier this year with a mixtape titled Caprisongs, a play on her astrological sign, Capricorn. It followed her 2019 opus Magdalene, and proved her progress into a more unique style.

Watch the video for “Bliss” above.

The Weeknd Just Put Out An ‘Out of Time’ Single On A Playable Saw Blade

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The marketing cycle for an album in 2022 sure has changed a lot. Take The Weeknd’s Dawn FM, which has already seen an Amazon special, an alternate version album, NFT collectibles in conjunction with Tom Brady, Jim Carrey, mysterious phone numbers, and a highly-anticipated tour with Doja Cat. So the next logical step for The Weeknd is… a limited edition vinyl record that’s actually on a playable Skil saw blade. Why not?

The Weeknd has indeed announced just that. The new very limited edition 12″ single of “Out Of Time” is being released on a saw blade. The drop even has its own website called winylblade.com and it’s all a collaboration with Brooklyn-based viral marketing/design company MSCHF — the same people behind Lil Nas X’s “Satan shoes” with a drop of human blood in them.

“The record grooves are engraved into a copper band via direct metal mastering, which is then inset in the saw blade body,” a release for the drop says. “The blade itself is a carbide-tipped 12″ combo blade–for both rips and crosscuts–with powder-coated color and graphics.”

There are only 25 copies of the “Out Of Time” vinyl blade, which is up for auction on the website for the next 24 hours starting at a cool $1,000. This has big Nipsey Hussle $100 mixtape vibes. But who else can claim that you can build a house with their music besides The Weeknd? Genius.

Check out all of the detailed info and even place a bid here. You can peep a couple of photos below as well.

The Weeknd Vinyl Blade
MSCHF
The Weeknd Vinyl Blade
MSCHF

Japanese Breakfast Was In The Bathroom With Doja Cat For Her Famous 2022 Grammys Pee

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Doja Cat had what is surely the most famous music urination in recent memory, when she nearly missed the chance to accept her Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance because she was in the bathroom. Fellow Grammy nominee Japanese Breakfast (aka Michelle Zauner) had a unique perspective on that bit of Grammys history as she was actually in the bathroom with Doja during that fateful pee.

Zauner broke down different parts of her 2022 Grammys experience in a new Pitchfork feature and she noted of Doja:

“I went out during a commercial break and I was in the bathroom. Doja Cat came in, and I was like, ‘OMG, it’s Doja Cat! She’s going to pee next to me.’ Then some woman came in and was like, ‘Doja Cat! Doja Cat! Doja Cat!’ And all of sudden she was, like, yanking her by the wrists past me, and her skirt flew up and she flashed her ass to everyone running in to go and accept her award. They close the door and hold them during a commercial break, and once the show starts, they don’t let anyone back in, and so she was running with Doja Cat because she had just won.”

We now have a look at basically every part of that moment, as Zauner’s story comes shortly after video of Doja’s sprint from the bathroom to the stage surfaced.

She also discusses getting a photo with BTS and more, so check out the feature here.

Years After Adele’s Legendary Cover, Nicki Minaj Finally Returns The Favor On ‘Carpool Karaoke’

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Last night, James Corden’s “Carpool Karaoke” segment returned to The Late Late Show after a two-year hiatus. Fans were elated to see Nicki Minaj as the first guest upon the segment’s return. During her slot, Minaj and Corden ran through her hits, including “Anaconda,” “Super Bass,” and “Starships.”

In true Minaj fashion, the rapper at one point spoke to Corden in a British accent, explaining that her music is “motivational speaking for the world.”

Corden tells her she sounds like Adele and asks if she’s seen the “Easy On Me” singer’s episode of “Carpool Karaoke” in which she raps Minaj’s verse of her Kanye West collaboration, “Monster.”

“I just loved it,” Minaj said of Adele’s 2016 segment. “She made me so, so happy. She embodied Nicki Minaj.”

The screen then cuts to Minaj rapping along to “Monster” as Adele’s 2016 clip appears on a split-screen. Corden and Minaj then proceed to sing Adele’s “Someone Like You,” Minaj showing off her vocal chops.

After bringing Adele’s “Monster” recreation full circle six years after the fact, Corden and Minaj rap along to Minaj’s collaboration with Coi Leray, “Blick Blick.”

“Pop up on an opp and watch it blick blick,” the two rap, before Minaj asks Corden “You have opps?” Corden replies “I don’t know what we’re talking about… what does opps mean? Opportunities?”

“Opposition,” Minaj explains. “Anybody that is opposing you in the world.”

Speaking of opps, Minaj revealed her struggles with anxiety, which, in part, is linked to criticism from her “opps” in real life.

“I don’t think it’s natural,” Minaj said. It’s not natural for a human being to always feel like everyone’s critiquing them. When I first came into the industry, I had this amazing sense of freedom, because nobody gave a sh*t about what I was doing. I could get away with doing anything and they’re just like, ‘Oh, haha! Nicki Minaj.’ And then it goes from that to the complete opposite where it’s like, if I blink my eye wrong, they’ll have a story made up about why I’ve blinked my eye that way.”

Later in the segment, Corden pulls out a clarinet from the backseat of the car. He asks Minaj, who played clarinet in middle school and high school, “Do you still got it?” Minaj then plays the theme to Jaws, and then the ad-libs to her 2018 hit “Chun Li.”

Check out the full video above.

The Weeknd And Swedish House Mafia Will Replace Kanye West As Coachella Headliners

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Well, that was quick. Just days after Kanye West pulled out of headlining Coachella — allegedly to get his head on straight after months of juvenile social media antics — the festival has announced his replacement: A double act consisting of EDM supergroup Swedish House Mafia and ’80s pop revivalist The Weeknd.

Funnily enough, The Weeknd actually beat the actual festival in posting the new lineup on Twitter by about five minutes. That said, the fest’s official account quickly corroborated the new information by posting the flyer shortly after.

In the wake of Kanye’s withdrawal from the festival, there was plenty of speculation about who could take his place, with some sources positing everyone from Doja Cat to Justin Bieber. With Swedish House Mafia and The Weeknd, Coachella has found a pair of artists who collectively have the clout to fill the void left by West’s departure.

The Weeknd — who recently became the artist with the second-most diamond certifications in history — may use the headlining set as a dry run for his upcoming After Hours Til Dawn Tour with Doja Cat. The Canadian singer had pushed back the tour after finding that arenas were too constraining to do everything he wanted to do with the show, which will now take over stadiums in 18 cities, including his native Toronto.

The Weeknd Now Has The Second-Most Diamond Singles Ever Thanks To Two New RIAA Certifications

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The Weeknd is one of the most decorated artists both in recent years and over the course of the modern music industry more broadly. That’s true pretty much regardless of whatever measure you use, but right now, let’s look at certifications from the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America). There’s actually some news on that front today, as two The Weeknd songs — “Blinding Lights” and “Starboy” — have now achieved Diamond certification, indicating sales of at least 10 million units in the US.

That in itself is a big deal, but what’s even more noteworthy is what this does for The Weeknd’s placement on the all-time ranks: According to the RIAA website, today’s certifications put The Weeknd at three total Diamond singles, which is the second-most ever. (His other Diamond single, by the way, is “The Hills.”)

He’s now behind only Bruno Mars, who has four Diamond singles. The Weeknd is currently tied with Ed Sheeran, Eminem, Imagine Dragons, Katy Perry, and Maroon 5, at three. All those artists are among the few who have multiple Diamond singles: Those with two Diamond singles are Cardi B, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Post Malone, and that’s it.

Meanwhile, The Weeknd got some other RIAA certifications today, too: “I Feel It Coming” is now 6-times Platinum, “Die For You” is 4-times Platinum, “Heartless,” “Party Monster,” and “Reminder” are 3-times Platinum, and as far as albums, Starboy is 4-times Platinum. Overall, The Weeknd now has 30 Gold singles, 30 Platinum singles, and 16 multi-Platinum singles.

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