Jim Jones Questions Pusha T’s Place On Billboards Greatest Rappers List

Billboard and Vibe’s Top 50 greatest rappers list continues to spark discussion about the rankings. Some artists felt like they should be ranked higher, and others felt like they were shunned but Jim Jones has questions for one particular artist who made the list: Pusha T. We can all agree that Pusha T stands as one of the most revered MCs of our time. There’s no doubt that he has a discography to back it as a solo artist and one half of the Clipse. However, the Dipset rapper felt as though there are other rappers who are far more deserving of the spot.

Jones appeared on the Rap Caviar podcast when co-host Trent Clark stated that Pusha T, who came in at #29, should’ve been left off the list. When Bootleg Kev combatted the statements, Jones came through with a strong opinion. “How?!” Jones asked. “What has he done that puts him in the greatest rappers of all time? Besides talk about cocaine that he probably didn’t get himself,” he said with a laugh. “He could rap his ass off but what has he done? Nobody has dressed like him, Nobody want to be like Pusha T. I don’t remember nothing.”

Jim Jones Stands With Drake?

Jones felt as though Pusha T’s impact, which was one of the criteria in Billboard and Vibe’s list, didn’t stand against the others who earned their ranking. “We don’t talk about rap where the n***a that’s poppin’, the bitches want to f*ck and the n***as want to be like,” he continued. “I don’t know too many n***as in this game that was leaning towards being like Pusha T.” Clearly, Jones has strong feelings towards Push but his argument does have its flaws.

You can’t doubt the impact of the Clipse, especially when some of Jones’ GOATs credited Pusha T as their inspiration. Though Push and Drake don’t see eye-to-eye, the Canadian rapper admitted to owning a microphone with the Virginia rapper’s autograph. Then, there’s the BAPE trend that many believed was at the core of Pusha T and Lil Wayne’s long-standing feud. Somehow, it feels like Jim Jones’ newfound adoration for Drake played in his passionate response. Check out the clip above and let us know your thoughts in the comments. 

Melle Mel Praises Pusha T’s “White Lines” Remix

Melle Mel’s had a whole lot to say about some of hip-hop’s most cherished MCs in recent times. The Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five member’s interview with the Art Of Dialogue led to hot takes. Artists like Eminem and Kendrick Lamar felt the wrath of his criticism the most. Despite Em’s high ranking in Billboard and Vibe’s top 50 greatest rappers list, Mel said the Detroit rapper wouldn’t have been as big if he wasn’t white – a comment that earned a response from 50 Cent.

Shortly after, he said that Kendrick Lamar wasn’t an influential rapper – another take that many disagreed with. Chuck D later came to his defense. He explained Mel’s been critical of the rappers that came after him, it seems as though the rap pioneer has a few artists he appreciates in modern rap. Pusha T, who recently remixed Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five’s “The Message,” is apparently one of the few rappers in the game who’ve earned Mel’s respect.

Melle Mel & Scorpio Applaud Pusha T

Pusha T debuted his remix of “The Message,” titled “White Lines,” for the Cocaine Bear soundtrack. Though Push is an embodiment of the antithesis to the iconic 1982 anthem, Melle Mel praised the Clipse member for flipping the song. “I think it’s just a great testament to the legacy of the group and myself to make a record that’s 40 years old that can still be relevant,” he told All Hip Hop. “Mobb Deep used it, too. Even up to right now with it being in Cocaine Bear and Pusha T doing the remake, it’s a testament to how powerful our music was and the imprint that it left and is still leaving within the music business.”

Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five member Scorpio echoed a similar sentiment. He explained that it’s “an honor” to see so many artists take influence from them forty years later. “To see this after all of the years is just incredible,” Scorpio added. “We’re talking 40 years. For it to stand the test of time and to see all the artists like Duran Duran, Mobb Deep, and Pusha T who keep recycling it is just an honor.” What are your thoughts on Pusha T’s record? Press play above and sound off with your thoughts in the comments.

[Via]

Pusha T, Boygenius, Snail Mail, And More Are Added To The Already Stacked Øya Festival In Oslo

It’s undeniable that Norway’s Øya Fest is going to be a big treat this year. Taking place annually in Oslo, the five-day event already revealed a batch of exciting acts such as Blur, WizKid, Sigrid, and Caroline Polachek. While it doesn’t get much better than that, even more names have been announced, and they’re definitely going to draw in a new wave of stoked concertgoers.

Pusha T, Boygenius, and Snail Mail are joining this year’s lineup, along with Susanna Sundfør, Dry Cleaning, Ayra Starr, Liv.e, Balming Tiger, Oxlade, and more. Other artists on the bill who were previously announced include Devo, FKA Twigs, Shygirl, Amyl And The Sniffers, Obongjayar, and TV Girl. It’ll occur from August 8 to August 12 in Tøyen Park.

One of the goals of the festival is to be “as environmentally sustainable as possible,” as per a press release. “The site operates free of fossil fuels, with 98% of its power being renewable, and all construction machinery is run on biofuel.” It continues: “That progressive approach is also applied to everything from recycling.” It also prioritizes inclusion when it comes to gender by maintaining a 50/50 split of female artists and male artists on the roster.

Find ticket information here.

Clipse Will Reunite For Chicago’s Hyde Park Summerfest

The anticipation surrounding a Clipse reunion is real, especially since the likelihood is far higher now than it was a few years ago. Pusha T embarked on an incredibly successful solo career after the release of Til The Casket Drop, while (No) Malice took a step back from the rap game. His decision to retire the duo came at a time when the Clipse faced significant issues with federal law enforcement, which ultimately landed their manager, Anthony Gonzales, in prison. Push later referenced Gonzales on “Brambleton,” the opening track of It’s Almost Dry.

The latest album from Pusha T marked the official return of the brotherly duo following a brief reunion on Kanye’s Jesus Is King. The two closed out the Grammy-nominated project on the song, “I Pray For You,” a song that came shortly after their “Punch Bowl” collab on I Know Nigo! Then, they performed together at Pharrell’s Something In The Water and the BET HipHop Awards which sparked hope that Pusha T and Malice might have a full album on the way.

Clipse Headline Chicago Festival

Following their performance in 2022 at ComplexCon’s 20 Years Old Lord Willin’, they confirmed that they’ll be back on stage for a headlining set. This summer, the Clipse will return to the stage for a full set together at Chicago’s Hyde Park Festival. Clipse will headline the upcoming festival, which takes place from June 17th to 18th at Midway Plaisance Park. In addition to the Clipse, 2 Chainz, Tobe Nwigwe, and Robert Glasper are on the bill. 

During our interview with Pusha T last year, he didn’t rule out a potential Clipse project. However, he said things just aligned themselves to allow the two to work together again, especially with Nigo’s project. “I feel like the stellar work of my brother has ignited the talks and the flames of like, ‘Oh no. The Clipse definitely could put out another album tomorrow,’” he explained. However, we could only hope that the upcoming show at Hyde Park Festival leads to a new project from the Clipse. Check out the line-up for Hype Park Festival in Chicago above. 

Coke-Rap King Pusha T Dropped A ‘Cocaine Bear’ Remix Of ‘White Lines’ Because Of Course He Did

Pusha T notched his first career No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart last spring with It’s Almost Dry, home to “Diet Coke,” and he’s sticking with what got him there. Pusha recently failed to cook a steak on Valentine’s Day, but yesterday (February 22), he returned to more familiar ingredients: Cocaine Bear unveiled Pusha’s “White Lines (Cocaine Bear Remix) and made a lyric video from some of the film’s unhinged trailer footage.

Pusha raps, “All white, all winter / Even snow in the summer / The high falling from the sky / Are you the hunted or the hunter? / I got Tennessee numbers / I sing to the key numbers / The dope boys go crazy / They know I get it out the jungle / I ain’t never been a runner / We ain’t never had to wonder / You heard the pilot lost the load / We call that Dumb And Dumber / There’s no storm without thunder / The bear crawls up and under / Cocaine overload.”

Directed by Elizabeth Banks, Cocaine Bear is billed as “inspired by the 1985 true story of a drug runner’s plane crash, missing cocaine, and the black bear that ate it.” The ensemble cast includes Keri Russell, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Isiah Whitlock Jr., the late Ray Liotta, and more.

Cocaine Bear hits theaters tomorrow, February 24. Watch the trailer above.

Consequence Airs Out Former G.O.O.D Music Artists On “Disappointed”

Ye basically dismantled his empire in a matter of months. Though his behavior since 2017 has been largely problematic, most people, including his inner circle, have been willing to work with him regardless. Unfortunately, things took a turn last year following controversial appearances on Drink Champs and other right-leaning podcasts where he spewed anti-Semitic comments alongside a known Holocaust denier. Everybody from fans to friends and family members distanced himself as brands like Adidas cut him off.

Ultimately, it appears that this strained his relationship with artists on the G.O.O.D Music roster. Pusha T, the former G.O.O.D Music president, confirmed that he isn’t part of the label. A month prior, Def Jam said the Ye-founded label was no longer part of their roster. This led close associates like Consequence to air out their feelings towards the signees, claiming that they turned their backs on Ye. “Does Pusha T have a right to distance himself from situations he don’t want to be in? Yeah. He a man. Do those two have grievances behind the scenes that are not being spoke about? Yes, they do,” Consequence explained of Pusha T and Kanye’s relationship.

Consequence Is “Disappointed” In G.O.O.D Music Artists

This week, Consequence addressed his issues with the G.O.O.D Music camp on his new single, “Disappointed.” The song is expected to land on his forthcoming album, NIce Doing Business With You. The effort finds Consequence speaking on his disappointment with numerous members of the G.O.O.D Music camp who turned their backs on Ye when things got rough. “When we in the crisis, you could see whose ungrateful/ The whole label ran instead of having Ye’s back,” he raps on the song.

He elaborated on his decision to release the song on Instagram, explaining that he’s been extremely vocal in the press about his displeasure with numerous signees. Once again, he calls out those who previously signed to Ye for supposedly abandoning him in a time of crisis. “If you were only around for the G.O.O.D. times then you were never on OUR team to begin with…,” he wrote. Check the song out above.

Quotable Lyrics
The whole Label ran instead of having Ye’s back
I guess crabs in a barrel is a curse from being Black
That ain’t the —- that the ancestors died for
That’s the —- that makes the internet July 4th

Pusha T’s Valentine’s Day Steak Dinner Was A Hilarious Failure, But His Wife Appreciated His Effort

Pusha T teased an upcoming installment in DJ Drama’s Gangsta Grillz mixtape series in late December, but the Virginia rapper proved on Valentine’s Day that his talents don’t necessarily translate to literal grilling. I’m sure Drake took notes.

A since-expired Instagram Story posted by Virginia Williams, Pusha’s wife, exposed that he struggled to cook her the perfect Valentine’s Day dinner. Williams apparently posted a screenshot from her text exchange with Pusha, who asked very basic questions about grilling a steak (as captured by 2Cool2Blog):

“Heat it first?” Pusha texted. Williams confirmed that was, in fact, the first step before instructing him to “add oil or butter make sure bottom is coated.” She added, “I flick one little drop of water in it to see if it’s hot enough. The steak is thick so you prob have to cook a little longer on each side.”

And that’s when Pusha sent the very sad state of the steak, to which Williams simply replied, “Zang. Did you burn it?”

Williams wrote atop the screenshot, “Happy Valentine’s Day @kingpush [crying emojis] sorry I wasn’t home to cook your steak.”

Pusha commented on 2Cool2Blog’s post, “This is crazy…” Steven Victor, Pusha’s longtime manager, thought it was hilarious (“Ghahahahaahah”), and Quality Control’s Wayno Clark chimed in with three crying-laughing emojis.