Oakland’s City Council will name a portion of MacArthur Boulevard, between Grand Avenue and Van Buren Avenue, “Tupac Shakur Way.” The idea comes from Council member Carroll Fife. Fife explained, “Tupac Shakur’s legacy will continue through his contributions in art and social outreach, through his family and fans.” She went on to describe the artist “touching countless lives of children and elders over the years while alive and after his death.” Fife also says that Shakur was “taken too young by gun violence.”
Tupac was born in East Harlem, but his career as an artist began on the West Coast. He moved to Oakland in the late ’80s, starting then as a background dancer and roadie for the group Digital Underground. The rap legend was tragically murdered in a drive-by shooting in 1996, at the age of 25. Several of the artist’s major albums were created in California, including Me Against The World, All Eyez On Me, and more. In 2016, Oakland additionally declared June 16 to be “Tupac Shakur Day.”
Tupac’s Legacy
Rapper Tupac Shakur performs onstage at the Palladium on July 23, 1993 in New York, New York. (Photo by Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
In March, FX released the trailer for their Tupac docuseries, Dear Mama. The show debuted in April of this year. Emotional conversations with the late rapper’s mother, Afeni Shakur, were revealed in the trailer. She said, “It was very difficult for me to be a mom. But I knew very well how to protect my children.” A young Tupac also appears in the trailer, explaining, “My mother taught me to analyze society and not be quiet.”
He also went on to say, “If there’s something on my mind, speak it. Because – I gotta reiterate it.” Tupac also shares, “my mother was a Black Panther and she was very involved in the movement.” Director of the series Allen Hughes explained, “Wherever possible, we tried to find archival footage that hadn’t been seen. So there’s a lot that we have in the five parts.” He went on to additionally reveal, “There’s also audio that’s never been heard. And not just some of his acapellas and vocals.” Hughes told viewers, “there is a lot of stuff of Tupac from his baby years that had never been seen.” He also said, “most importantly, you get to understand why he made certain decisions.”
As the latest guest on Drink Champs, Rick Ross had a lot to discuss, promote, and speak on. For example, a part of his conversation with N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN revolved around his upcoming car show. Specifically, the Biggest Boss gave some remarks on a similar event hosted by DJ Envy, and playfully brought some competition into the fray. “Envy was never on my level to battle,” he expressed. “I wouldn’t do that to Envy. I like Envy and I f**k with Envy, but in the car game he not ready for that, but I support that s**t.”
However, Rick Ross also made an interesting proclamation while shouting out Drake, Lil Wayne, and Jay-Z. Furthermore, he said that he and that group are among the “two percentile” of artists that can hear a beat, write and record something for it on the spot, and stand by their work. “We in the two percentile when it comes to writers and creators,” Rozay began. “It’s called a two percentile.
“The two percentile is when you walk into the room, you hear a production you actually love, you can actually create it, think of it, write it, and execute it right then,” Rick Ross continued. “I can’t say I’ve done that with many artists. It’s not even five artists. Drake is in the two percentile. You know, the majority of the game- and Im’a be honest, I understand when you working with Rozay, you don’t want that type of pressure on you. You come to the studio with me, there’s very few people that’s comfortable enough to listen to a beat, take my direction from it, and create something in that moment, record it right then, and stand on it. Wayne could do it, [and] Jay-Z.”
Of course, such a comment is bound to cause some debate among hip-hop fans. Whether you think any or all of those four artists don’t deserve that tile or have another candidate, one thing is for sure: the 47-year-old is right in remarking it as a rare skill. Regardless, we’re sure that these MCs will continue to craft that talent and embody it with their next efforts. For more updates on Rick Ross and the latest news on these rappers, stay posted on HNHH.
Philly-born rapper Meek Mill has made it big. The two-time platinum artist has never had an album chart lower than #3. He has become the face and voice of a generation of rappers. His last album, Expensive Pain, came out in 2021 and peaked at #3. He also released a mixtape, Flamers 5, in late 2022.
However, new rappers are always coming up. Arguably, the genre is in a golden generation, with the breakthrough of artists like Doja Cat and Ice Spice. But everyone has to start somewhere. Some people work their way up from Soundcloud, while others are lucky enough to get their voice in front of someone who matters. Now, a video has emerged showing a few young rappers getting some valuable lessons from Meek Mill himself.
A video has appeared on social media, showing Meek Mill hearing the flows of a trio of young boys. The kid gives it his best shot and he’s not terrible, but he is still, after all, a kid. But Meek’s first piece of advice is about the young MC’s content. “Why y’all talking that crazy stuff? Y’all gotta rap about what you know.” It’s a twist on the classic “write what you know”. After all, you’re strongest when speaking from experience. When it comes to rap, there’s no point rapping about the hardships you’ve faced when you’ve not faced any. Even if you’re life has been good, there is always something to draw from.
The kid keeps going, with one of his friends backing up. Again Meek has advice. “You gotta tone down on your cuss words if you wanna get on Spotify, YouTube,” Meek can be heard saying. Is the video a little cringe? Sure. But these kids are getting an amazing opportunity. So many artists have to fail and find out for themselves when they try to break into the rap game. But this chance meeting with Meek Mill could change the way these kids approach music. Maybe one day we’ll be writing articles about them. Follow HotNewHipHop for all the latest music news and viral videos.
Did you know that Shaq is platinum-certified? Did you know that Shaq rapped? Shaquille O’Neal is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. But he also released four studio albums between 1993 and 1998. His first album, Shaq Diesel, peaked at #25 and is certified platinum. Meanwhile, his second, Shaq Fu: Da Return peaked at #67 and was certified gold. Shaq’s third and fourth albums, You Can’t Stop The Reign and Respect peaked at #82 and #56 respectively.
However, Shaq’s music career was not just limited to the 90s. Shaq’s last single, “Welcome to the Playhouse ft. Steve Aoki and DJ Diesel” was released in 2022. He also featured on “King Talk” featuring Blackway and Koko, which was released as an “anthem” for the 2023 NBA playoffs. But Shaq’s not done with the music. And fans on TikTok get a first look at this next musical project.
Lil Freestyle for y’all. Never would i have thought DJing would get me here!! But when it’s your time, it’s YOUR TIME. Im beyond grateful Thotties Hit The Floor (MONSTER MASHUP) ft. Me, Lex Bratcher, Scar Lip
Posting to TikTok on May 4, Shaq revealed that he also had a freestyle coming out in the new future. The video features Shaq rapping over nu-metal classic “Bodies”. It’s a wholly bizarre experience, with Shaq dropping bars over the iconic screaming Dave Williams.
So what are some of Shaq’s best bars in “Thotties Hit The Floor”? And yes, that’s the name of the song. Here are some of our favorites:
You know I don’t stop, three-peat
I get lost when I go for a nap, I don’t get lost when I go for the stacks
I know the bitch so I know the DeNiro like I know the pound, the yen, and the euro
Shaq, Thotties Hit The Floor
You know I don’t stop, three-peat
I get lost when I go for a nap, I don’t get lost when I go for the stacks
I know the bitch so I know the DeNiro like I know the pound, the yen, and the euro
The TikTok primarily features Shaq driving a clearly-CGI semi-truck. However, there are also shots of Shaq rapping in a multi-colored void and appearing on several TV sets. The whole thing goes hard and is wonderfully weird. “Thotties Hit The Floor” is set to debut at some point in 2023.
The Restoring Artistic Protection (RAP) Act was a bill introduced in the U.S. Congress in July of last year. Just when we thought it was going nowhere, two congressmen reintroduced the bill and brought it back to national attention. Moreover, the bill aims to protect artists whose lyrics are wrongfully used to determine their verdict in a court case. Democrats Hank Johnson and Jamaal Bowman also participated in a livestream hosted by the Recording Academy with various First Amendment advocates fighting for free speech. Furthermore, these included the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC), SAG-AFTRA, the Black Music Collective, and others.
Of course, the most present example of lyrics as evidence is currently the RICO trial of Young Thug and YSL as a whole. Prosecutors used various lyrics to paint the crew as a criminal gang, which Gunna supported through statements when he took his Alford plea. Since 2020, over 500 criminal cases involved prosecutors using an artist’s lyrics against them as evidence. With this in mind, the RAP Act would add a presumption to the Federal Rules of Evidence that would limit the ability to present said artistic expression against them in court.
RAP Act Returns To Congress
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 27: U.S. Representative Jamaal Bowman and U.S. Representative Hank Johnson speak during Grammys On The Hill: Advocacy Day on April 27, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
To elaborate, Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, who co-founded BMAC and acts as its chair, gave low-profile examples of this bill’s necessity. One of these is the case of Derek Foster, who the court convicted in 1991 and who used a rap verse in his notebook against him, even though the notebook did not relate as evidence to his charges. Another case he mentioned was that of Jonair Tyreece Moore. Prosecutors gained permission to show 20 minutes of rap videos, which the court found irrelevant to his charges. Moreover, the prosecution intended to “show his knowledge of drug distribution and his motive for engaging in it.”
Of course, many believe that this is a lost cause already. However, if more prominent figures in hip-hop and beyond support it, a continuous fight for these rights until they see recognition could follow. Until then, courts may continue to subvert and warp artistic expression in lieu of hard evidence to land innocent artists in prison. Regardless of your take, come back to HNHH for the latest on the RAP Act and other news in the hip-hop world.
A$AP Rocky boasts an incredible discography, from his 2011 debut Live.Love.ASAP to his ultra-experimental, Testing. These days, we’re anticipating the release of his next studio album. He dropped a few notable solo singles in the past few years including, “Babushka Boi,” “D.M.B,” “Shi*ttin’ Me,” and “Same Problems?” The latter appears to be the first single for his new album. Rocky performed the song for the first time at Amazon Music Live in December 2022. During an interview around this time, he said he finished the album while confirming ALL $MILES as the title. As we wait for the album’s rollout to begin, we have ranked the previous entries in his discography.
4. TESTING (2018)
Though it’s not A$AP Rocky’s best album, it’s easily his most creative — and divisive. “A$AP Forever” marked the first single from the album, though the remix featuring Kid Cudi and T.I. appeared on the official tracklist. “Praise The Lord (Da Shine)” is easily one of the album’s most successful songs, thanks to the hypnotizing flute melody and bouncy flows from Rocky and Skepta. Rocky took a risks across the album, experimenting with different sounds and textures, leading to both praise and criticism. With features ranging from a jail call from Kodak Black to a rare appearance from Frank Ocean, there are plenty of noteworthy moments all over the album.
3. LONG. LIVE.A$AP (2013)
This was A$AP Rocky’s debut album and for some, his best. This album captured various soundscapes that Rocky thrives in and truly had something for many types of rap fans. “1Train” brought together seven lyrical heavyweights at the time while “Wild for the Night” banked on the popularity of dubstep to create a quintessential party rap banger. Meanwhile, tracks like “LVL” and “Pain” found Rocky back in the hazy, psychedelic-esque rap he was known for. “Phoenix” found him focusing his technical proficiencies and lyricism through internal rhyme schemes. Rocky showcased his diversity across the album and his ability to effortlessly adapt to a range of production styles. Some of Rocky’s references are dated/show his immaturity but that doesn’t stop the project from being a time capsule of his career.
2. AT. LONG. LAST. A$AP (2015)
This album was released after the passing of Rocky’s friend and mentor, A$AP Yams. Across the album, Rocky showcased his maturity as he detailed navigating through fame and the loss of his close friend. However, it also further showcased Rocky’s unmatched ear for production highlighted through the arrangement and beat switches. “Back Home” stands as one of the best, though overlooked, songs in his discography. Rocky’s verse shows him flowing at an elite level and the Yasiin Bey feature that follows it, while short, still resonates with listeners.
1. Live.Love.A$AP (2011)
Though not an album, Live.Love.A$AP remains an integral part of A$AP Rocky’s discography. Deemed as “cloud rap,” his debut project introduced the world to his “trill” sound that merged East Coast sensibilities with Houston’s chopped-n-screwed sound. Production from his day 1 collaborator Clams Casino ensured the hazy psychedelic sound is cohesive across the project. However, it was A$AP Ty Beats that produced the break-out singles, Purple Swag” and “Peso.” Only in 2022 did the project find its way to streaming services. When this happened, the project was re-released with a song titled “Sandman” which was recorded around 2019. Much to the approval of listeners, it fits right into the tracklist.
What’s your favorite A$AP Rocky album? Let us know in the comments section.
Hip-hop and video games go hand-in-hand. The Def Jam series, for instance, paired hip-hop with video games to incredible success. As time passed, they added current artists to the NBA 2K soundtracks and the Madden NFL series. These additions often split players down the middle. Some were excited about the full playlist while others took pride in sharing which songs they had on mute. Nonetheless, music plays a critical part in video games, these days. Not only do they set the tone but they can provide an adrenaline rush at the right moments. Below, we’ve gathered a list of some of the best songs in video games in recent years.
The soundtrack to the Madden games has built a legacy in its own right. Over the years, they’ve included varying genres to get the blood flowing during gameplay. However, Madden 23 included a star-studded soundtrack with a particular focus on hip-hop. Producer Hit-Boy not only curated the soundtrack but also created 33 exclusive beats that were used for the game’s cinematics. He also produced Cordae’s exclusive track for the game “Checkmate.” The original version finds Cordae reflecting on his come-up with motivational gems. In the Madden version, he restructures a few bars to parallel his own experiences with the sports world. This was a creative and fitting decision and allows the song to have a dual purpose without compromising it too much.
Denzel Curry’s “The Game” was tailored specifically for Madden NFL 22. Of course, the song title is the first giveaway. Then, there’s the nostalgia-driven cover art, reminiscent of a 90s Nintendo game. The song’s visualizer on YouTube is a play-through of a vintage game of Madden that continues the aesthetics of the cover art. In the song, Denzel describes the adversity he’s faced, overcoming said obstacles, and navigating through success. Even with its general laidback vibe, Denzel Curry’s bringing heat to the table.
A$AP Rocky – “Sh*ttin Me” (Need for Speed Unbound)
This is one song from a video game that was unexpected. Not only is Rocky in the game as himself, but he also has his own custom Mercedes 190E. Naturally, players get to drive it during a mission where their character meets Rocky. The song has nothing to do with racing or cars but that’s okay. It’s slightly surprising but it’s an energetic banger that fits the game nonetheless. Rocky seems to have treated it as an official single in his discography. His custom car makes a cameo in the music video, too.
This is one of those songs from a video game that nobody expected. Rappers have referenced the game in the past. Megan Thee Stallion even playedMortal Kombat 11 on live stream. However, it was 21 Savage that helped launch the campaign for this particular entry by debuting his single, “Immortal” in the official trailer. The Atlanta rapper uses references from the legendary franchise throughout the record, like, “Draco get to kickin’ like Liu Kang,” “Choppa cut you up like Kitana” and “Neck on froze like Sub-Zero, dawg.” Players and listeners thought 21 was a very fitting choice considering how his lyrics are typically as bleak as the gameplay itself. However, this song is not in the game itself. Fortunately, it was released on streaming services in 2019, even though the trailer was released in 2018.
Rage Against The Machine – “Guerrilla Radio” (Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2)
This entry is one of those songs from a video game that reached multiple generations. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 is a remaster pack for the two games from 1999 and 2000. “Guerilla Radio” is in the remaster pack soundtrack and was originally in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2. For players — and millennials, in general — this song has a certain nostalgia attached to it. Additionally, they used the song for the opening video of the game which combines footage from the past and present. Tony has spoken about including music that was directly connected to skate culture in all of his games. This includes having a variety of genres. Furthermore, for Rage specifically, the anti-establishment lyrics resonated with the rebel aspect of skate culture.
KoRn vs. Dem Franchize Boyz – “Coming Undone Wit It” (NFL Street 3)
This is one of the songs from a video game that you may only know of if you’ve played it. “Coming Undone Wit It” is nu-metal mash up of Dem Franchize Boyz and Korn. The song has a special nostalgic memory for players who downloaded the song to their mp3 players in their younger days. Furthermore, the song is still not on streaming services. Its only home is YouTube and computers/mp3 players from the 2000s.
What are some rap songs you remember hearing in video games? Let us know in the comments section.
Thotties Hit The Floor (MONSTER MASHUP) ft. Me, Lex Bratcher, Scar Lip 
