Songs

“Illmatic” By Nas Turns 30: Revisiting One Of The Greatest Hip-Hop Songs Ever, “N.Y. State Of Mind”

by

Nas is one of the names that pops into people’s heads when they are conjuring up their top five rappers of all time. Without a doubt, his sharp pen, incredible storytelling, and ear for production all help make him of one of the treasures of the genre. Today marks the start of his legendary 30-year career, when he dropped almost undoubtedly the greatest debut hip-hop LP, Illmatic. We wanted to go back in time and revisit “N.Y. State of Mind,” which is widely viewed at Nas at his peak.

Famously produced by another fellow icon, DJ Premier, it is viewed as one of the most recognizable beats in rap. The incredible East Coast, boom bap production synchronizes perfectly with the keys used. Nas spoke on the creation of “N.Y. State of Mind” about eight years ago and what it meant to him. “The music just spoke to the people that needed to know what was in my head and what it was like in the minds of everybody in New York at that time—that’s what I thought.”

Read More: 50 Cent Shares Diddy “Text Messages” With Bizarre Social Media Troll

Relisten To “N.Y. State Of Mind” By Nas

Besides the song being a face of the over 50-year old genre, it was just an incredible feat period. He was just 20 years old and the first verse was something that just came naturally to him. In an interview with XXL, according to Genius, DJ Premier recalled one of the craziest moments he ever experienced in a recording booth. According to him, when Nas says, “I don’t know how to start this s***,” that was actually true. But Preem just told him to go in after his count. “He did the whole first verse in one take, and I remember when he finished the first verse, he stopped and said, ‘Does that sound cool?’ And we were all like, ‘Oh my God!’ It was like, I don’t even care what else you write,” Premier said.

What are your thoughts on “N.Y. State of Mind” by Nas? Is the greatest rap song in the history of the genre? Or is it the best New York rap track ever? Do you view Illmatic as the cream of the crop when it comes to debut albums? Where does it rank all time in hip-hop? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Nas. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on around the music world.

Quotable Lyrics:

Time to start the revolution, catch a body, head for Houston
Once they caught us off-guard, the MAC-10 was in the grass, and
I ran like a cheetah, with thoughts of an assassin
Picked the MAC up, told brothers “Back up!” — the MAC spit
Lead was hittin’ n****s, one ran, I made him back-flip
Heard a few chicks scream, my arm shook, couldn’t look

Read More: Ryan Garcia To Rock Iced-Out Crown For Devin Haney Fight

[Via]

The post “Illmatic” By Nas Turns 30: Revisiting One Of The Greatest Hip-Hop Songs Ever, “N.Y. State Of Mind” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Drake Officially Makes “Push Ups” Available To Stream

by

After “Push Ups (Drop & Give Me Fifty)” by Drake was teased online, it was only a matter of time before it would hit streaming. Well, today is the day as just minutes ago, The Boy delivered the final polished version. The “twenty-v-one” diss response sees Drizzy respond to his numerous foes. The Weeknd, Future, Metro Boomin, and the main target, Kendrick Lamar are all “in a scope.”

The massive number of bars directed right at the “Like That” rapper make that clear. But to double down, the cover art hilariously shows that further. It shows the foot measurements that you will find inside of most shoe tongues. It is a reference to Drake saying, “You won’t ever take no chain off of us / How the f*** you big steppin’ with a size-seven men’s on?”

Read More: New Kendrick Lamar Leak Seemingly Makes Reference To Drake’s Mom

Listen To “Push Ups” By Drake

As we mentioned earlier, “Push Ups” getting a wide release was essentially imminent, but there was a sign some may have missed. According to Genius, a teaser billboard and digital banner from Spotify might have given it away. It read, “Hip-Hop is a competitive sport. Drake is on the way.” Will this be his biggest diss song of all time? We think it has a pretty good shot at that mark.

What are your thoughts on Drake releasing “Push Ups” to streaming services? Out of all the diss tracks revolving around him, is this the best one, why or why not? Does this outdo Kendrick Lamar’s “Like That” verse? Will this song be as big as “Back To Back?” We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Drake, his beefs, and “Push Ups.” Finally, stay with us for everything else going on around the music world.

Quotable Lyrics:

You ain’t in no big three, SZA got you wiped down
Travis got you wiped down, Savage got you wiped down
Like your label, boy, you in a scope right now
And you gon’ feel the aftermath of what I write down
I’m at the top of the mountain, so you tight now
Just to have this talk with your a**, I had to hike down

Read More: Ice Cube Trends As Caitlin Clark’s WNBA Salary Is Exposed

[Via]

The post Drake Officially Makes “Push Ups” Available To Stream appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Yeat Leaves Off “HeliMAn,” A Return To Form For Fans

by

Yeat has grown to be one of the biggest rappers in the modern landscape and could maybe be one of the most influential. His wavy, rage rap sound has evolved over the last few years and 2093 was the last iteration of it. However, it seemed to divide a lot of fans, while winning over a handful of critics, including Anthony Fantano. But the Oregon native is seemingly winning back some of his supporters with a new single “HeliMAn.”

This track is currently a Soundcloud only release, so this track seems to be for the extreme die-hards. So far, plenty of them have flocked to support “HeliMAn” and they are digging it. Tons of flame emojis and praise fill the comments under the song, and it makes sense why. As with most of Yeat’s music, you go to it for the vibes, production, and hype factor.

Read More: R.I.P. Rico Wade: A Pivotal Bridge In Hip-Hop’s 50-Year History

Listen To “HeliMAn” By Yeat

This loosie checks off each of those boxes with perhaps the beat being the biggest highlight. The synths play a major role in adding some personality throughout the instrumental. Then, you have the resonant bass which will make you want to rage out of control. We can this song working for those late summer nights and we will certainly be revisiting this track.

What are your thoughts on this brand-new single “HeliMAn” by Yeat? Can you see his fans supporting this sound compared to what 2093 did? Does this deserve a more widespread release? Are you still bumping his last album? If so which songs? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Yeat. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on around the music world.

Quotable Lyrics:

You’re gonna get X’d out on the cross, yeah, not no red (Cross)
Side by side, side, we got big trucks and big guns (Err)
They ask where I came from, I’m the holy one
Put it on the sun, put it on the moon, yeah
Tell me what the f*** you do before you gonna do it
Tell me how the f*** I look before you ever suit it

Read More: Travis Scott Receives Praise From The Barbz After Scintillating “FTCU (SLEEZEMIX)” Verse

The post Yeat Leaves Off “HeliMAn,” A Return To Form For Fans appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Taylor Swift & Post Malone Harmonize Beautifully On “Fortnight”

by

We do not typically do this sort of thing, but today we are covering some new Taylor Swift music! So, come one, come all Swifties. The Pennsylvania pop phenom has just left off her 11th album called THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT as of April 18. However, Swift stunned and most likely sent her die-hards into a frenzy when she revealed overnight that this was a “secret double album.” That is why there now two version available for streaming, with the elongated version being called THE ANTHOLOGY.

She tweeted out, “I’d written so much tortured poetry in the past 2 years and wanted to share it all with you, so here’s the second installment of TTPD: The Anthology. 15 extra songs. And now the story isn’t mine anymore… it’s all yours. 🤍 As you can imagine, the Swifties are running up the streams and plays across all platforms. “Fortnight” with Post Malone is already one the album’s most tuned into tracks and for good reason. The opener has a lot of possible secret callbacks to past relationships and flings, as Genius has so astutely researched and theorized.

Read More: NBA YoungBoy’s Bad Doctor Impression Allegedly Got Him Caught In Prescription Fraud Scheme

Listen To “Fortnight” By Taylor Swift & Post Malone

If you want a further lyrical breakdown, check out the link below. As for the song itself, “Fortnight” is a moody, soft, and smoky introduction to the LP. Jack Antonoff, one of Taylor’s most frequent producers, lays down some incredibly pretty synths that give it an 80s vibe. Post Malone chips in subtly with background vocals, but they add so much to the track. This first team-up goes over very well and it figures to be one the record’s strongest cuts.

What are your thoughts on this brand-new song “Fortnight” by Taylor Swift and Post Malone? Should they continue their work relationship moving forward, why or why not? Should Post have had more glaring contributions or did the background vocals work? How are you feeling about Swift’s new album THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT: THE ANTHOLOGY? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Taylor Swift and Post Malone. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on around the music world.

Quotable Lyrics:

And for a fortnight, there we were, forever running
‘Til you sometimes ask about the weather
Now you’re in my backyard, turned into good neighbors
Your wife waters flowers, I wanna kill her
And for a fortnight, there we were, together running
‘Til you sometimes come and tug my sweater

Read More: Kanye West & Bianca Censori Appear To Be In Good Spirits Following Assault Allegations

[Via]

The post Taylor Swift & Post Malone Harmonize Beautifully On “Fortnight” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Logic Name Drops Kendrick Lamar On New Single “44ever”

by

Logic never stops working. The rapper announced his retirement in 2020, but he’s dropped two albums and several mixtapes since then. He loves rapping too much to give it up, and his latest single, “44ever,” is a testament to that love. Logic and 6ix co-produce a moody instrumental over which Logic raps about his unbeatable talent on the mic. The rapper even compares himself to Kendrick Lamar, who’s currently engrossed in hip-hop’s “civil war.”

“44ever” is the latest installment in Logic’s “44” series. It’s similar to Drake’s timestamp records, in that it prepares the listeners to expect sharp bars and minimal hooks. “44 Bars” kicked off the series in 2016, followed by “44 More” in 2018. It’s been a while since Bobby Tarantino got in the booth to give us 44, but he mostly delivers here. He says right upfront that the song is for “day one” fans, before delving into bars about drinking with Zac Efron and feeling like Mick Jagger. The name drops are frequent, but the K. Dot reference is going to get most of the attention. Logic alludes to Lamar’s tendency to bomb on rappers (“Like That” anyone?) to illuminate his own competitive tendencies. “Bobby Boy bringin’ that kick like Kung Fu Kenny,” he raps. “Not many can f**k with me.”

Read More: Logic Put On Blast For Allegedly Stealing Paintings

Logic Keeps His “44” Series Going Strong

“44ever” was previewed back in March 2023. Logic teased a snippet of the song on TikTok, and stated that it will be on his upcoming album, Ultra 85. There did appear to be some confusion with the rollout, however. “44ever” was posted to Logic’s YouTube channel three hours before its official release on April 19, but it was subsequently taken down. It did not resurface until midnight ET. It’s currently available to stream on Apple Music and Spotify.

What are your thoughts on this brand-new song, “44ever” by Logic? Does Logic’s relentless flow live up to the promise of the snippet? Is this the best song in the “44” series? Are you eager to hear Logic’s new album? We want to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news on Logic. Finally, stay with us for the most informative song posts throughout the week.

Quotable Lyrics:

Uh, hotter than Teflon, sippin’ liquor with Efron
Sippin’ liquor with Zac in the back of the green room
Yeah, that’s me and my team room, ayy
Me and Khalifa done hit like a million cities, got a million bitties
Wishin’ they could get in but they can’t
Soon as they see me, they faint

Read More: Logic’s Studio Albums, Ranked: From “Under Pressure” To “College Park”

The post Logic Name Drops Kendrick Lamar On New Single “44ever” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Nas & DJ Premier Still Got It On New Single “Define My Name”

by

It doesn’t get more legendary than Nas and DJ Premier. The rapper and producer symbolize the purest form of hip-hop, and they’ve both been doing it for three decades. Nas and Preemo have classic work on their own, of course, but there’s something undeniably special about when these two collaborate. Songs like “N.Y. State of Mind,” “Nas Is Like,” and “I Gave You Power” are essential listens for any aspiring hip-hop fan. Their latest single, “Define My Name,” proves that they haven’t lost a step.

Nas has been teasing fans with a Premier collaboration all week. The rapper hopped on Instagram to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Illmatic, and thanked Preemo for his work on the album. Fans flocked to the comment section to ask for another collab, and Nas obliged. He posted the artwork and title of the new track hours before its release. “Define My Name” is exactly what you expect it to be, in the best way possible. DJ Premier’s production is both slick and dusty, while Nas’ rhymes are sharp as ever. We’ve all gotten used to hearing Nas over Hit-Boy production in the 2020s, but “Define My Name” is a reminder that nobody anchors his voice better than Preemo.

Read More: Nas Net Worth 2024: Updated Wealth Of The East Coast Legend

Nas And DJ Premier’s Chemistry Shines Through

A great song is one thing, but it remains to be seen in “Define My Name” is the teaser for an entire collab album. Nas and DJ Premier have been circling the notion of a collab album for decades. The former even referenced it on the 2022 song “30” off King’s Disease III. “Superhero material, rap star status,” he spit. “Premier album still might happen.” Information is still scarce, but if nothing else comes of the reunion, “Define My Name” was worth the hype.

What are your thoughts on this brand-new song, “Define My Name” by Nas and DJ Premier? Does the song live up to the hype? Does Preemo’s beat bring out the best in Nas? Do you want to hear a full collab album? We want to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news on Nas and DJ Premier. Finally, stay with us for the most informative song posts throughout the week.

Quotable Lyrics:

DNA of King James, kin of Saint Michael
Polygamous-minded, seven wives on ridiculous timin’
They always share the same title, that be the whiskey talk
That’s foul like I stopped and frisked New York
At twenty, I said I’d better quit by thirty
Then by thirty, I thought by forty rapping is corny

Read More: Nas Announces New TV Series In Development With A Producer From “Power”

The post Nas & DJ Premier Still Got It On New Single “Define My Name” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.