Consequence has quietly been dropping great songs all year. “No Consequences” was a great collab with Kanye West, and “What Has America Done” saw the G.O.O.D. Music alum team up with Chuck D. “Blood Stain III” keeps his winning streak going. The difference here, though, is that Consequence is pulling out all the stops. He didn’t call upon one hip hop legend, but a whole roster of them to drop by and deliver stellar verses. Plus, one of the most infectious Kanye West beats in a minute.
Consequence handles the hook on “Blood Stain III,” but he relinquishes ground to his guests. Ghostface Killah kicks things off with an aggressive, punchline driven verse. He hasn’t lost a step, and Kanye even throws in a few RZA-esque punching effects to sell the Wu-Tang of it all. Rick Ross is the next rapper up, and he skates with a verse that’s slicker and more braggadocios than Ghost’s. Jim Jones is not a name you might have expected to see on a 2024 posse cut, but he acclimates well. He doesn’t rap so much as he talks ish over the beat, but it still sounds good. 38 Spesh closes out the guest verses, and he does his usual thing on the back end. Consequence wraps the song up himself, and delivers arguably the second best verse. Check this one out ASAP.
Let us know what you think of this brand-new track, in the comments section down below. Additionally, 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.
Been a hitta n**ga, you can be next D*ck riding in the Hamptons, where ya keys at? Lil’ soldier, game over, this a reset If you never lost, n**ga, bet your catalogs
After its premiere on Hot 97, Consequence has liberated his new single “Blood Stain III,” which is now available. “Blood Stain III” features the crazy lineup of Ghostface Killah, Rick Ross, Jim Jones & 38 Spesh— and is produced by Ye.
“Blood Stain III” arrives after the release of “What Has America Done,” and its accompanying video which was premiered by TMZ, as Consequence and Chuck D gave a state of the union address on the heels of the Presidential election.
“Blood Stain III” is the third and final installment in what has developed into a series for my Ye-produced single. Quite frankly, I blame Jadakiss for all this” Consequence laughs. Once he told me “Blood Stain,” hottest track of the year, you know what it is, by far,” I decided we needed to run it out even further. With Ghost, Ross, Jim and Spesh, we really took it back to some authentic rap sh*t. The Deluxe version of Nice Doing Business With You will ensure I finish out 2024 strong as possible.”
Nice Doing Business With You features appearances from Cons frequent collaborator Kanye West (who guests on “No Apologies,” and produces “Bloodstain”), Chris Rock, YNW Melly, Tony Williams and Con’s son Caiden The Crownholder. Consequence also produced the bulk of Nice Doing Business With You.
The deluxe edition of Nice Doing Business With You will be released on 12.13.24 and will include seven new tracks; including “Blood Stain III.”
The Museum of Graffiti marked its 5th anniversary last night with an unforgettable celebration in Miami’s Wynwood Art District. Sponsored by Sprite and Rolling Loud, the event brought together art enthusiasts, cultural tastemakers, and notable guests for a night of music, art, and community.
The evening featured a powerful live performance by Miami’s own Rick Ross, captivating the audience with his iconic hits. Guests also explored Slick: MIA, a bold new solo exhibition by graffiti legend OG Slick, which includes the immersive “Happy Room” installation and works that blend graffiti culture with fine art.
Attendees mingled in the interactive Spotify Artists’ Lounge and enjoyed curated culinary offerings by Chef Abe Moiz of CookxUnity, adding to the vibrant atmosphere of the celebration.
The event is part of the Museum’s three-day anniversary celebration, which continues through December 6, featuring additional exhibitions, panel discussions, and interactive experiences.
Rick Ross’s baby mother, Tia Kemp, expressed interest in Drake laying the smackdown on her in a new interview with controversial podcaster Tasha K. “I’d let him knock the Mario coins out of me,” Kemp tells Tasha in response to a question about Drake. Kemp’s suggestions to the 6 God began in April following Drake dissing Rick Ross on “Push Ups.” Ross would respond to Drake with “Champagne Moments.” On the sidelines, Tia Kemp offered Drake support and more on social media.
Drake has not responded to Kemp’s comments yet. He hasn’t publicly acknowledged Ross’s baby mama throughout the beef. According to Ross, their beef stems from Drake refusing to clear a verse for mutual friend French Montana. Ross mentioned it on his diss track, saying, “I unfollowed you, n***a ’cause you sent / The motherf****n’ cease-and-desist to French Montana, n***a.”
Rozay and Kemp share three children. The former couple was together before Rick Ross became the “Biggest Bawse That You Seen Thus Far” with his breakout debut album Port of Miami. After Kemp, Ross’s relationship history included comedian Pretty Vee, rapper Foxy Brown, model Elise Neal, and video vixen Lila Mercer, who he got engaged to in 2015. Now, Ross is in a relationship with Cristina Mackey. Tia recently questioned his relationship with Mackey, claiming he was a “Diddler.”
Drake isn’t the first Rick Ross rival Kemp sided with during the feud. In 2009, she graced the cover of Smooth Magazine with 50 Cent, who began a feud with Ross that year. During the feud, 50 would take Kemp and Rozay’s son shopping and visit Floyd Mayweather. The rivals’ feud continues. In October, 50 Cent advised Drake on his battle with Kendrick Lamar, claiming Drizzy didn’t lose to Lamar. “I was telling him it’s not him. I’m listening on the outskirts, it’s not you,” 50 shared in an interview. “Don’t let yourself think that for a second. On some real sh*t, I said, ‘They said you lost, okay. Well, what did you lose?’ What exactly did he lose if he got 300-something million on his last tour? You didn’t lose a motherf**king thing, man.”
Of the last 25 years, there are few figures in the world of sports that had a larger impact on their sport and pop culture than Kobe Bryant. As a five-time champion and 2008 MVP with the Lakers, Bryant was, along with Shaq and Allen Iverson early and LeBron James later in his career, the face of the NBA. Being on the Lakers certainly didn’t hurt his cultural impact, as he is an L.A. icon, but his reach goes far beyond Los Angeles.
In the world of hip-hop, Bryant has been heavily referenced in song lyrics for the last two decades plus, eventually becoming the avatar for competing and championships. Here we are looking at 24 (plus a couple bonus tracks) times Bryant’s name came up in rap songs, as his legendary status is cemented by his impact not just on basketball but the culture as a whole. Even after his tragic death in 2020, Bryant’s legacy is still felt and artists continue to point to the Lakers great as one of the great examples of a winner and hooper.
“Overnight Celebrity” — Twista ft. Kanye West (2004)
Kanye: Give you ice like Kobe wife/We sorta like Goldie, right?/The way we mold ’em right
Twista: I could make you a celebrity overnight
The hook to Twista’s smash hit with Kanye features West referencing the massive diamond ring worn by Vanessa Bryant at a press conference after Kobe was charged with sexual assault in Colorado in 2003.
“Swagga Like Us” — T.I. ft. Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and M.I.A (2008)
Tryna get that Kobe number, one over Jordan
This is another Kobe reference from Kanye, this time using Kobe as a stand-in for 24 (and Jordan for 23), which happens frequently, as Bryant became the most iconic No. 24 in sports.
“I Wanna Rock” — Snoop Dogg (2009)
Smokin’ on that Kobe, f**kin’ wit’ that purp
Unsurprisingly, Kobe is frequently referenced in L.A. rap. Here one of Los Angeles’ finest, Snoop Dogg, drops a Kobe reference in this 2009 track, which is far from the last time someone used Kobe and the Lakers as a metaphor for purple (and gold) strands in their weed.
Kobe Bryant” — Lil Wayne (2009)
Lil Wayne took the Kobe love to a whole new level in 2009 when he released a track titled and entirely about the Lakers star, so there’s not one bar to highlight here, but just the entire song.
“Beamer Benz or Bentley” — Lloyd Banks ft. Juelz Santana (2010)
Where my ring and my confetti? I’m Kobe Bryant-ready
By 2010, after winning his fifth title with the Lakers, there was no one more synonymous with winning than Bryant, with Lloyd Banks making that evident from his hit single from that year.
“See Me Now” — Kanye West ft. Beyonce, Big Sean, and Charlie Wilson (2010)
They say G.O.O.D. Music like the new Miami Heat, s**t/Comparin’ them to us, man they gotta add Kobe
After Bryant’s 2010 championship, LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined Dwyane Wade to create the Big 3 in Miami. However, as Big Sean boasted on “See Me Now,” comparisons to Kanye’s budding G.O.O.D. Music label and the Heat wasn’t good enough, as they’d need another legend in Bryant to be on their level.
“The City” — The Game ft. Kendrick Lamar (2011)
I’m Kobe on the Lakers floor, except I give you eighty-four
Bryant’s greatest individual performance was scoring 81 points against the Raptors in 2006, and that night gets pretty regularly referenced in hip-hop, with L.A.’s The Game providing one of the more notable ones on “The City.”
“Stay Schemin’” — Rick Ross ft. Drake and French Montana (2012)
Kobe ’bout to lose a hundred fifty Ms/Kobe my n****, I hate it had to be him
Rick Ross has a number of Kobe mentions in his songs (and, really, any NBA star); on 2012’s “Stay Schemin’” guest rapper Drake makes a reference to Bryant’s on-going divorce at the time — which Kobe and Vanessa eventually resolved and stayed together.
“Believe It” — Meek Mill ft. Rick Ross (2012)
Spend Iguodala on my Rolly/Young n**** ball like Kobe
Meek Mill gives us a double NBA reference here, with the Philly native shouting out then-Sixer Andre Iguodala and his 6-year, $80 million deal before noting he’s balling like Kobe.
“Kobe” — Chief Keef (2012)
While Lil Wayne’s 2009 track was very literally about Kobe Bryant, Chief Keef’s “Kobe” is more about the mindset of thinking he’s Kobe in various ways. But, like Wayne’s track, there are too many Kobe lines in it to just pull one out.
“Bugatti” — Ace Hood ft. Rick Ross and Future (2013)
Ballin’ on n***** like Kobe/F**k all you haters, you bore me
Ace Hood’s boastful hit from 2013 wouldn’t be complete without a reference to ballin’ like Kobe.
“Juice” — Chance the Rapper (2013)
I just faced a Veg-er/And you love being Kobe when you make the lay-er/Til you realize everybody in the world f**kin’ hates the Lakers
However, there was certainly some Lakers fatigue felt by fans outside of L.A., which Chance the Rapper makes mention of in this line from 2013’s “Juice”.
This the first time I confess/Me and Top is like a Kobe and Phil/A father figure f**k with him, you get killed/F**k with me and he will kill you himself
Another L.A. connection here, as Kendrick Lamar compares himself and Top Dawg ENT founder Anthony Tiffith to Kobe and Phil.
“Still Think About You” — A Boogie wit da Hoodie (2016)
I shoot up and lean back on some Kobe s**t/They don’t know how to pass on some Kobe s**t
One of the funniest Kobe lyrics comes from A Boogie wit da Hoodie on his 2016 track where he highlights Bryant’s reputation as a premier bucket-getter and not a facilitator.
“Views” — Drake (2016)
Me and Niko used to plot on how to make a change/Now me and Kobe doin’ shots the night before the game
Sometimes a reference is just a status check, as is the case here with Drake boasting about hanging out with Kobe.
“Shake It Fast” — Rae Sremmurd ft. Juicy J (2016)
I get to ballin’ like Kobe in the fourth quarter/So much money on me I can’t even get it sorted
Kobe has long been the go-to for references to being clutch, as is the case here on Swae Lee’s verse from Rae Sremmurd’s 2016 hit.
“THat Part” — ScHoolboy Q ft. Kanye West (2016)
Walkin’, livin’ legend, man, I feel like Kobe/I just dropped sixty, man, I feel like Kobe/Lamar was with me, man, I feel like Kobe
More than a decade from his “Overnight Celebrity” chorus, Kanye West was back at it with the Kobe references, this time shouting out Kobe as a living legend as well as his iconic final game performance when he scored 60 against the Jazz.
“Stargazing” — Travis Scott (2018)
I’m way too gold for this beef, feel like I’m Kobe, yeah
Surprisingly one of the few references we could find that played off Kobe Bryant and Kobe beef, but Travis Scott made it happen in his 2018 track.
“Shotta FLow” — NLE Choppa (2019)
Feelin’ like I’m Kobe, can’t nan’ n**** hold me/If he wanna run up on me, shoot him like Ginobili
Another double NBA reference, this time from NLE Choppa, who is not the only one to pair Kobe and Ginobili — a match made in rap lyric heaven for the ability to rhyme together.
“Commercial” — Lil Baby ft. Lil Uzi Vert
I turned eight million right until I’m a quarterback/Spent a million like I’m tryna bring Kobe back
“Commercial” came out just a few weeks after Kobe’s death, and clearly Lil Uzi Vert’s verse was recorded at some point in that window as he became one of the first in hip-hop to mourn the loss of the legend on a track.
“Bean (Kobe)” — Lil Uzi Vert ft. Chief Keef (2020)
You know I’m ballin’, usual like Kobe
Not long after his verse on “Commercial”, Lil Uzi Vert again referenced Kobe, this time on a track with his name in the title. However, unlike Lil Wayne or Chief Keef’s songs, this one does not feature constant references to the Lakers legend, just at the start of the opening verse.
“Woodlawn” — Aminé (2020)
Look, RIP Kobe/N****, RIP Kobe/You was like a dad to a n****, so I’m sad, my n****/Had to get you tatted on me
After his death, there were tons of tributes to Bryant from all over the basketball, music, and entertainment worlds, showing how far-reaching his impact was, and on his 2020 song “Woodlawn”, Aminé pays heartfelt homage to his idol.
“Rich Flex” — Drake and 21 Savage (2022)
Ayy, I’m livin’ every twenty-four like Kobe did/Shoutout to the 6, R.I.P. to 8
Drake often plays with numbers in his lyrics, and here he pays tribute to Bryant with both his numbers, 24 and 8.
“2024” — Playboi Carti (2023)
Ooh, two fours in the Sprite, got me feelin’ like Kobe, R.I.P., uh
One of the most recent Kobe references, Playboi Carti showed once again how Bryant remains synonymous with the number 24.
BONUS TRACKS
“K.O.B.E.” — Kobe Bryant ft. Tyra Banks (2000)
This has all-but been scrubbed from the internet, but back in 2000 Kobe Bryant made a brief foray into the rap game with a debut single alongside Tyra Banks (???). It did not go over particularly well and Bryant made the wise choice to focus his efforts on the court — but he was better on the mic than he gets credit for.
“Freestyle” — Shaq (2008)
The most legendary NBA beef of the 2000s was that of Shaq and Kobe, with the peak coming when Shaq hopped on the mic for a freestyle at a club and infamously asked Kobe “tell me how my ass tastes.”
LeBron James is in his 22nd season in the NBA, and has been part of the national basketball consciousness since he was, at least, a junior in high school. His presence as one of the most prominent figures in basketball hasn’t just meant he’s been part of the sports conversation for the last quarter century, but he also became the reference point for basketball in the music world as well.
Similar to Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and Allen Iverson, LeBron has been regularly mentioned by artists in the hip-hop world and beyond. You can find hundreds if not thousands of songs that name-drop LeBron, both positively and negatively, and here we wanted to look at 23 notable examples of LeBron’s impact on the music world by way of the lyrics that shout him out, starting from 2003 all the way to 2024.
“Gangsta Sh*t” — G-Unit (2003)
I keep a holster on my shoulder like I’m John Wayne/Shooting these n****s lights out like LeBron James
One of the first LeBron mentions on a track came early in his rookie year in 2003, when Young Buck says he’s shooting like LeBron, which I have to note is a little funny given shooting was the one thing LeBron rather famously wasn’t very good at as a rookie.
“Gettin It In” — Jadakiss ft. Kanye West (2004)
N****s tryna figure out, since Kan’ came/Who the rookie of the year, me or LeBron James?
Kanye West, fresh off the release of “College Dropout” earlier that year, boasts his rookie season is as strong as LeBron’s in his verse on this Jadakiss track.
“Dough Is What I Got” — Lil Wayne (2006)
When it comes down to this recording/I must be LeBron James if he’s Jordan/No, I won rings with my performance/I’m more Kobe Bryant of an artist
Lil Wayne wouldn’t release “Best Rapper Alive” until 2008 on Tha Carter II, but his remix of Jay-Z’s “Show Me What You Got” two years prior asserted that position in the midst of his iconic mixtape run. To illustrate that fact, he made a reference to LeBron but became one of the first artists to use that as a bit of a jab, saying he’s more Kobe than LeBron because he “won rings with my performance.” I’m not sure what the first RINGZ argument was to be used against LeBron, but I have to imagine Lil Wayne doing so three years into James’ career was one of the earliest.
“Make Tha Trap Say Aye” — OJ Da Juiceman ft. Gucci Mane (2008)
Banana donk Chevy interior like the Lakers/LeBron James wrist when I’m f**kin’ with that caper
What did OJ Da Juiceman know in 2008 when he referenced the Lakers and LeBron James in back-to-back lines??? An aside, OJ Da Juiceman is an underrated Atlanta artist, and this isn’t even his best NBA reference off this album (“Nah Ming” is a classic).
“Empire State of Mind” — Jay-Z ft. Alicia Keys (2009)
Me? I gotta plug Special Ed, “I Got It Made”/If Jeezy’s payin’ LeBron, I’m payin’ Dwyane Wade
Probably the LeBron reference that pops into most people’s heads first when it comes to a rap lyric. By this point, LeBron had passed Michael Jordan in terms of being synonymous with the number 23 in pop culture. The reference is to Jeezy’s “23, 24” in which he says “I used to pay Kobe (24), but now I pay LeBron (23)” in the chorus, with Jay-Z noting that if Jeezy’s paying 23, he’s just paying Dwyane Wade (3). I have to say, there’s no way this was a profitable venture for Jay-Z’s plug if he was getting bricks for $3,000. Also, in hindsight, it’s kind of wild Jay-Z put this bar down a full year before LeBron left Cleveland for Miami to play with Wade.
“Dead Presidents II” — J. Cole (2009)
I’m nothing like these ho-like rappers, my whole life practice/To be the one, what’s it like to be LeBron
Another artist who has frequently made mention of LeBron (and plenty of other NBA stars), J. Cole compares himself to LeBron with shouldering expectations to be the greatest in this track off 2009’s “The Warm Up”.
“Popular Demand” — Clipse ft. Pharrell and Cam’Ron (2009)
Used to have this white b**ch, she looked like Madonna though/Heard that she f**king LeBron, but s**t, I don’t know/Like that, Bron-Bron? I had that long time ago
As mentioned in the intro, not every LeBron reference was the most positive and this was the time where LeBron fatigue had set in a bit. This one, however, had nothing to do with James’ failures to land a ring by 2009, but instead Pusha T offered up some allegations of impropriety in what I have to imagine is one of LeBron’s least favorite mentions he’s ever gotten.
“Gotta Have It” — Jay-Z and Kanye West (2011)
West: Sorry I’m in pajamas, but I just got off the PJ/And last party we had, they shut down Prive
Jay-Z: Ain’t that where the Heat play? (Yup)/N****s hate ballers these days (Yup)
West: Ain’t that like LeBron James?
Jay-Z: Ain’t that just like D-Wade? Wait
We probably could’ve pulled 23 references about LeBron just by these two, but in their triumphant track off “Watch The Throne”, Jay-Z and West go back-and-forth with a shoutout to the two stars of the Miami Heat at the time.
“Martians vs. Goblins” — The Game ft. Tyler, the Creator and Lil Wayne (2011)
Fall back like LeBron’s hairline against the Mavericks…he lost
Leave it to Tyler, the Creator to have one of the funnier bars about LeBron James, making both a hairline joke and a Heat losing to the Mavs in the Finals joke all in one line on this track with The Game.
“Believe It” — Meek Mill ft. Rick Ross (2012)
I ball hard like LeBron James/And Rozay D-Wade n****
The LeBron/Wade pairing made for a lot of song references in their time in Miami, this time with Meek Mill comparing he and Rick Ross to the Heat duo — these two also are frequent LeBron name-droppers.
“Timber” — Pitbull ft. Kesha (2013)
Club jumpin’ like LeBron now, Voli/Order me another round, homie
One of the biggest songs in terms of popularity to feature a LeBron reference, courtesy of Mr. Worldwide (formerly Mr. 305), who shouts out the then Heat star in one of his biggest hits.
“LeBron James” — Yo Gotti (2013)
I’m LeBron James, you a f**kin rookie
There are a lot of songs that name-check LeBron but Yo Gotti was one of the first major artists to release a song with James’ name as the title, using his name as a main part of the chorus.
“Bitch Better Have My Money” — Rihanna (2015)
Pay me what you owe me/Ballin’ bigger than LeBron
Rihanna was once a regular courtside at NBA games and a noted LeBron fan, so it came as little surprise when she mentioned James in the opening verse of her 2015 hit single.
“Sleep Walking” — Migos (2015)
I’m a fool with the rock like LeBron James
For a time there were few groups that were more prevalent at NBA games and All-Star Weekends than the Migos, and Offset led off their 2015 track with a LeBron mention in the opening verse.
“Trap Trap Trap” — Rick Ross ft. Young Thug and Wale (2017)
Renzel got me all day, I’m Kyrie, he LeBron James
By 2017, the references to James and a fellow star teammate had flipped from Dwyane Wade and LeBron to Kyrie and LeBron, which pops up in another Rick Ross track, this time in Wale’s verse.
“Nonstop” — Drake (2018)
Catch me cause I’m gone (Outta there, I’m gone)/How I go from 6 to 23 like I’m LeBron?
Another artist with plenty of references to LeBron in songs through the years, Drake’s 2018 hit is probably the biggest with a LeBron mention, as he plays off both of LeBron’s numbers from Miami and Cleveland (and L.A.).
“RNP” — Cordae ft. Anderson Paak (2019)
Cordae: I bought a Moncler coat for the times we were broke
Paak: I’ma wear it in the summer on LeBron James’ boat
This might be one of my favorites because it has nothing to do with basketball, it’s just Paak flaunting that his life is dope enough he might get invited to hang out on a yacht with LeBron.
“Disco S**t” — 03 Greedo and Kenny Beats ft. Freddie Gibbs (2019)
Dope game, brought the kilos on the plane/23, LeBron James, got my package on the airline, yeah, now
A decade after Jeezy’s “23, 24” and Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind”, LeBron remained the go-to reference for the number 23 in rap, as Freddie Gibbs proved again on his verse here.
“Está Cabrón Ser Yo” — Bad Bunny and Anuel AA (2020)
LeBron James, cabrón, yo juego toa’ la’ posicione’/Michael Phelps tirao’ pa’ atrá’, nadando en mi’ millone’
LeBron’s influence in the music world isn’t stateside, as he has been regularly mentioned by Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, including in this 2020 track (along with Michael Phelps).
“All In” — Lil Baby (2020)
I go LeBron when it’s crunch time, it ain’t no holdin’ me
One thing you notice when you lay these lyrics out chronologically is how the narrative around LeBron changed constantly. If someone had rapped “I go LeBron when it’s crunch time” in a song in, say, 2009 it would’ve had a wildly different meaning than in 2020 when Lil Baby said it boastfully.
“Dynamite” — BTS (2020)
Sing-song when I’m walkin’ home/Jump up to the top, LeBron
Further cementing LeBron’s status as a global superstar, he found his way into one of the biggest K-Pop hits with a reference in the opening verse of BTS’ massive 2020 hit.
“The Scenic Route” — Dr. Dre ft. Rick Ross and Anderson Paak (2021)
Ross: In them funny pants, I had a gun in mine
Dre: LeBron James numbers, go ‘head, analyze ’em
By 2021, LeBron had climbed to the top of most pages in the NBA’s record books which Dr. Dre referenced in his boastful track going back-and-forth with Rick Ross.
“Meet The Grahams” — Kendrick Lamar (2024)
Hey, LeBron, keep the family away, hey, Curry, keep the family away
The most sinister of the LeBron mentions comes on Kendrick Lamar’s scathing diss track on Drake from this year, in which he leaves no doubt his feelings on the Toronto star and warns LeBron, Stephen Curry, and others to “keep the family away.”
Drake and Rick Ross are one of the best pairings in modern hip hop. Drake and Lil Wayne did their thing over the years, as did Kanye West and JAY-Z, but Drizzy and Rozay were something special. They have a ton of classic singles dating back to 2010. One of these singles, “Money In the Grave,” achieved the rare feat of netting over one billion streams on Spotify. This is a career first for Rick Ross, and it’s supremely ironic that it came through a feature on a Drake song.
Drake and Rick Ross have been sniping at each other all year. The former friends addressed each other on record and taunted each other on social media. Rozay even dedicated an entire song to dissing Drake, “Champagne Moments.” Drizzy didn’t feel the need to throw more than a few bars at Ross at a time. He made fun of the Miami rapper’s age on “Push Ups,” and asserted that he’s responsible for most of his biggest songs. “Can’t believe he jumpin’ in, this n**ga turnin’ 50,” Drake raps. “Every song that made it on the chart, he got from Drizzy. Spend that lil’ check you got and stay up out my business.”
Rick Ross attempted to shrug off the bar, but the numbers don’t lie. Drake has a whopping 18 songs with over a billion streams on Spotify. This makes him tied with The Weeknd for most songs with over a billion streams in music history. “Money In the Grave” marks the record-tying number 18, and “Look Alive,” the rapper’s collab with BlocBoy JB, is nearing the prestigious one billion mark as well. Drizzy is already the rapper with the most songs over a billion streams, but he’s on pace to become the artist with the most songs over a billions streams period.
Rick Ross is a different story. The Miami rapper has had a staggeringly successful career, but he has definitely benefited from the Drake stimulus package. “Money In the Grave” is far and away his most successful single in terms of streams. The second-most streamed song has to date is also a feature, Kanye West’s “Devil In a New Dress.” The classic 2010 single currently sits at 500K streams, meaning half the streams as his Drake collab. Drizzy appears three other times on Rick Ross’ ten most-streamed songs. ‘Nuff said.
Rick Ross and his past relationships have not always ended on the best terms. Him and Tia Kemp‘s constant back and forth online are basically all of the proof you need. However, to be fair, it seems the internet has been on his side more in regard to his short-lived fling with Cristina Mackey. Back in early March, she claimed that they had been done for a while and that she had been doing well afterwards. However, bystanders weren’t buying it one bit, making claims that she was in the gym to draw someone new in. Ross has been pretty silent about the whole relationship, which cannot be said about Mackey and Kemp.
It makes sense why he would be though, as he has clearly been working on strengthening his new bond with another lady. According to AllHipHop, things seem to be going swimmingly, as Rick Ross has been caught constantly gassing up his new boo. Her name is Justice J Williams, and she is the proud owner of a cosmetics brand beautywar USA. Over the weekend, Williams reshared some the best moments from their dates and they are lavish ones at that.
One of them includes a cute clip of Ross kissing her neck. On her neck is a stunning diamond necklace which he bought for her. “Thank you bby… it’s not even my birthday,” she captioned the post. Williams was also treated to a ride on an expensive looking yacht. Clearly, Rozay is in awe of his new lady, and we are all here for it. In addition to the big baller spending, he’s been raining down compliments any time he can when she posts. He’s been caught commenting things like “mine” and “Can’t nobody fck w you J.” Congratulations to both of them and we wish them the best moving forward!
What are your thoughts on Rick Ross showering his new girlfriend with gifts and compliments? Do you see them lasting a while? 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 Rick Ross. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the worlds of music and pop culture.
On October 3, the online fashion retailer gained traction when fans of the “It’s Up” rapper noticed the not so subtle dig at Drake. However, as of today (October 5), the listing has been updated. The previous viral images of a Fashion Nova model dressed similarly to a For All The Dogs promotional image (down to the colorful hair accessories) have been removed from the website.
For clarity, the item available for purchase through Fashion Nova was a nude colored butt pad costume accessory. However, to give shoppers an idea of how to incorporate the practical joke piece into their Halloween plans, the brand drew back to Drake’s likeness and the now infamous back-and-forth with Metro Boomin.
Fashion Nova hasn’t released a formal statement stating why they took down the photos. But that hasn’t stopped users online for speculating about it. Both potential libel and intellectual property violation lawsuits topped the lists of Drizzy fans. But Drake himself hasn’t issued a public response to the matter.
Still, he isn’t the only celebrity-inspired Halloween costume offered. A get up mirroring elements of Beyoncé’s Renaissance and Cowboy Carter album element also picked up viral stem for other reasons.
HBCU institutions have a rich music culture. Over the last few decades, its various schools across the country have helped boost the careers of numerous artists by providing a space for their music to thrive. The shortlist of artists who have seen this effect include Jeezy, Lil Boosie, Rich Homie Quan, Migos, Young Thug, Young Dolph, and more. Additionally, the importance of music can be seen through HBCU bands that are extremely important to the fabric of school life. It comes to life through big displays like the annual Battle Of The Bands competitions and smaller instances like the infamous Grambling vs. Southern rivalry football games.
With all this being said, it’s no surprise that HBCUs have also produced some of the music’s most famous artists. From legends like Lionel Richie and Common and present day stars like Megan Thee Stallion, SZA, and Metro Boomin, the spirit of HBCUs runs through a number of artists — even if their tenure at the institution was short.
Ahead of homecoming season, we decided to spotlight ten artists who have connections to an HBCU. Scroll down for the list of artists and the institutions they attended.
Megan The Stallion (Texas Southern University)
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In 2021, the same year that she went No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts for her “Savage” remix with Beyoncé, Megan Thee Stallion graduated from Texas Southern University with a Bachelor’s degree in Health Administration. During an interview with Rolling Stone in 2021, Megan spoke about being in school “for so long” and how she balanced her rap career after deciding to ramp up her semester load to finish sooner. “Every time I had an assignment or something due, one of my managers would just pull me to the side and be like, ‘Hey Megan, you know you got to do this presentation today.’ Or ‘Hey Megan, you know you got to turn this assignment in today,’” she said. “I would have not been successful this semester without my team.”
SZA (Delaware State University)
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SZA attended Delaware Statue University after graduating from high school in 2008. The singer majored in marine biology and earned straight As for her first two semesters before losing interest. In a 2023 interview with Elle, SZA opened up about her experience in college. “I’m like, ‘I told you I was smart and I proved my point. I have to leave now,’” SZA said, recalling a conversation with her mother. A few years later, the singer met TDE president Terrence “Punch” Henderson Jr., signed to the label, and the rest is history.
Metro Boomin (Morehouse College)
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Multi-platinum producer Metro Boomin spent just one semester at Atlanta’s Morehouse College before dropping out to pursue music. He spoke about the decisions that led to him leaving the school during a 2017 interview with GQ. “As grateful as I was to be there, I didn’t want to be there,” he said. “It was bittersweet, because I knew for a fact that I need to put all of my time into music. School is the same as producing: If you want to make it far, there are a million, trillion people trying to do the same thing. If you’re not in over-grind mode, it’s probably not going to work the way that you want it to.”
Rick Ross (Albany State University)
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Grammy-nominated rapper Rick Ross attended Albany State University on a football scholarship, but dropped out of school soon after. Ross’ pursuit of a music career kicked into gear at the turn of the century, and in the decades after, Ross’ ties to Albany State University have remained strong. In 2022, he spoke to students at the school for the homecoming convocation ceremony, where he told students that “the greatest job you will ever have is being CEO of your life.”
2 Chainz (Alabama State University)
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Just like Rick Ross, 2 Chainz also attended an HBCU off an athletic scholarship. His, however, was a basketball scholarship to Alabama State University. In a 2017 interview with The Daily Beast, 2 Chainz said that he left ASU after his freshman year after he “got into some trouble.” He later returned to the school to complete his degree. In another conversation, this time with Rolling Stone, 2 Chainz addressed rumors that he graduated with a 4.0 GPA. “Don’t believe anything on Wack-ipedia,” he said. “There’s a lot of false stuff on there, to the point that every time I try to fix one thing, something else comes out.”
Wale (Virginia State University & Bowie State University)
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Our collection of HBCU scholarship athletes continues with Wale. The DMV rapper initially attended Robert Morris University on a football scholarship before transferring to Virginia State University. His football career would come to an end when he transferred to another HBCU, Bowie State University, but Wale would later drop out to pursue a music career. It was at VSU that Wale discovered his musical talents. In a 2021 conversation with The Ringer, Wale recalled spitting freestyles art the school’s Foster Hall. “The guy that was across the hall from me in my dorm was like, ‘Keep going, keep going. You tight,’” he said. “People really started f*cking with me at Virginia State.”
Killer Mike (Morehouse College)
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Earlier this year, Killer Mike won his first Grammys as a lead artist for Best Rap Album with Michael and Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song with “Scientists.” Those awards came more than 20 years after Mike won his first Grammy thanks to a feature on Outkast’s “The Whole World.” That song was the result of Mike and Big Boi’s friendship which came about through Mike’s attendance of Morehouse College in the 1990s. “The deciding factor for me getting into Morehouse was probably my homeroom teacher,” Killer Mike told the Seattle Times. “He was a Morehouse man. His name was Mister Lee-Roy Arnold.”
He added, “I think [Mr. Arnold] saw something in me, because he pushed me and messed with me for five years, to the point where he bet me all my book money for the first year that I would not get into Morehouse.”
Common (Florida A&M University)
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Before Common achieved his dreams of being a successful rapper, the Chicago native was enrolled at Florida A&M University under an academic scholarship as a business administration major. Common would only stay at the school for two years before dropping out to pursue rap. In 2019, nearly 30 years after he attended, Common would be honored with a doctorate degree in fine arts and invited him to speak at that year’s commencement ceremony. In his speech, Common said that his activism, which went on to be ever-present in his music, began right at FAMU where he says his experience was unlike anything he went through in hometown of Chicago.
Erykah Badu (Grambling State University)
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Erykah Badu nearly graduated from Grambling State University with a major in theater, but she left the school in 1993 to focus on her music career. Four years later, she delivered her debut album Baduizm, a masterclass in neo-soul that’s still heralded as a classic today. In an interview with the school’s newspaper The Gramblinite, Badu recalled her time at the university. “I auditioned for several plays while at GSU at the Floyd L. Sandle Theatre,” she said. “I danced with the Orchesis and was involved in a rap group called ‘CP Posse,’ which stands for Cultural Production.”
Lionel Richie (Tuskegee Institute)
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While all the artists on this list did not experience the HBCU life until their adult years, Lionel Richie’s time at an HBCU dates back to his childhood. The legendary singer grew up on Tuskegee Institute’s campus before attending the school and earning a Bachelor’s degree in economics with a minor in accounting. “In my world growing up on campus, we were surrounded by gospel music because of the choir,” Richie said of his experience to The Austin Chronicle. “R&B music was the music they played on the college campus.”
