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Spotify Confirmed They’re Testing Putting A Feature That’s Currently Free Behind A Premium Paywall

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Spotify announced recently that they’re considering putting one of the most-loved user features behind a paywall — making it so only Premium subscribers can access. According to Billboard, the streaming company confirmed that as a test, they will be hiding the lyrics to songs from users in some areas who are not subscribed.

“At Spotify, we routinely conduct a number of tests, some of those tests end up paving the way for our broader user experience and others serve only as an important learning,” a company spokesperson told the publication. “In keeping with our standard practices, we’re currently testing this with a limited number of users in a pair of markets. We don’t have any further news to share at this time.”

Right now, the lyrics appear for most songs through the app, when users scroll up. Those in the free-with-advertisements tier were alerted of the potential paywall change coming, as people reportedly pointed it out on social media.

Even those subscribed to Premium don’t seem too pleased with the change. “Why would people have to pay for it when lyrics are frequently wrong, the sync is usually off by a line or two/not available, and many songs don’t even have lyrics shown,” one user asked.

Others jokingly pointed out that people can just google the lyrics to songs for free — defeating the point of trying to get more subscribers.

Continue scrolling for some more reactions to Spotify’s lyric paywall move.

Nicki Minaj Reaches Historic Spotify Milestone

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Nicki Minaj has become the first female rapper in history to have 75 songs surpass 100 million streams on Spotify. According to Hip Hop All Day, the next highest artist is Doja Cat with 39 overall. The feat comes after her Beam Me Up Scotty song, “Seeing Green,” featuring Drake and Lil Wayne cracked 100 million streams. Its success was fueled by a reissue of the 2009 mixtape by Minaj in 2021.

Minaj recently discussed the success of Beam Me Up Scotty on streaming services during a rant on Twitter, back in July. “Let’s not forget beam me up scotty doing 80K first week. A mixtape with 12 year old songs that were free to listen to on YouTube so glad Drizzy gave me that pep talk when he sent me #SeeingGreen so glad Weezy sent me a voice note rapping when I needed it.”

Read More: Nicki Minaj Shares Spotify Stats In Response To 50 Most Streamed Rap Albums Of All-Time List

Nicki Minaj With Drake & Lil Wayne

LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 21: (L-R) Recording artists Lil Wayne. Nicki Minaj, and Drake attend the 2017 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 21, 2017 in Las Vegas. Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/BBMA2017/Getty Images for dcp)

The continued dominance of Nicki Minaj comes ahead of the release of her next album, Pink Friday 2, which will be dropping later this year. She released a new single from the effort, “Last Time That I Saw You,” last Friday. While discussing the track with Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe, she explained that she didn’t plan on releasing it as a single initially.

“This time when I heard the beat, the first thing I did was I wrote the hook. And when I wrote the hook, to me, it felt it was… The vibe of it was really talking about a loss, a real loss you know. But to not make the song feel only directed at one kind of loss. When I wrote the singing verse, I tried to expand it and think even about relationships,” she explained. “And then by the time I got to the rap, it was like I had included all relationships that I had lost before, because I mentioned even best friends and stuff like that. I just wanted the next song that I put out, Zane, to represent my growth, but not just as an artist, but as a human being. I’ve experienced so many things that I hadn’t experienced five years ago, and that’s just the truth.” Be on the lookout for the rest of Pink Friday 2 on November 17, 2023.

Read More: Cardi B Has The Most Streamed Album By Female Rapper On Spotify

[Via]

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Cam’ron, Ma$e, And Treasure Wilson To Interview OJ Simpson On Their Podcast

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The IT IS WHAT IT IS TALK podcast, hosted by legends Cam’ron and Ma$e, as well as sports personality Treasure Wilson, has just nabbed another massive guest. Just a few weeks ago, the show has been gaining more and more traction with the giant contract Cam’ron and Ma$e just signed. Back on August 21, it was reported that the duo’s podcast had been picked up by sports betting company, Underdog Fantasy. The lucrative deal is worth up to $30 million dollars, but everyone involved with the show deserves it.

The people Cam’ron and Ma$e continue to bring on show how far this thing can go. Celebrities like Ice Cube, sports reporters such as Stephen A. Smith, and athletes like Brandon Marshall have appeared on the podcast. It appears that the 18-month-long deal was worth it for Underdog Fantasy because the trio is bringing on possibly their biggest name yet. OJ Simpson is joining them behind the microphone, according to the IT IS WHAT IT IS TALK‘s account.

Read More: Sexyy Red And Lil Durk Show Off Their Cash And Tease New Song

Cam’ron’s It Is What Is Account Reveals OJ As Their Next Guest

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by It Is What It Is (@itiswhatitis_talk)

Many are already chomping at the bit to hear what all four of them will discuss. Unfortunately, listeners will have to wait until September 5 at 8 a.m. Cam’ron is hyping up the episode on his Instagram, saying, “And 2mr episode on episode 2 of season 2!! Killa, murder and our second new football analyst Juice!! and of course stat!! Oh it’s up N****!!! @itiswhatitis_talk.” It is sure to be there most-listened to show yet and we will be here to cover it.

What are your initial thoughts on Cam’ron, Ma$e, and Treasure Wilson scoring a big-time interview with OJ Simpson? What do you think they will talk about? Have you been tuning into the show? We want to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news around the music and sports world.

Read More: Tom Brady And Irina Shayk Are Still Dating After She Posed With Her Ex On Instagram

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Chase Shakur Adds Three New Tracks To “It’s Not You, It’s Me” Along With A New Title

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With so much music coming out every day from artists all over the world, some names get moved to the wayside. Unfortunately, Chase Shakur is someone who we have not been able to cover. But, we are so happy that we are able to talk about his newest album, it’s not you, it’s me… it’s love. Actually, this is a deluxe version of his sophomore project, it’s not you, it’s me. That was released on June 16, 2023, whereas this expanded edition hit streaming platforms on September 1.

The original version was 10 tracks and an easy, breezy, 27 minutes long. This new rendition includes the same songs in the same order, but adds three more after “sink or swim (bonus).” Shakur is from the rich music city of Atlanta and is just 22 years of age. According to his Spotify profile, once he noticed his talent for making music, he decided to drop out of school. Unfortunately, his parents were very hard on him and they did not allow him to live at home.

Read More: Boosie Badazz Praises Impact Of Anger Management, Speaks On New Project With Freeway Rick Ross

Listen To It’s Not You, It’s Me… It’s Love From Chase Shakur

But, he embraced his situation and the grind and soon enough he is now a new and enticing voice in the R&B genre. His debut album, It’ll Be Fine, dropped in 2022. Songs like, “too far close,” “honda civic ’98,” and “i don’t wanna fall in love, it’s too late now,” have a combined 34 million-plus streams. Now, with his newest release, Shakur expands on his sound by combining alternative, R&B, hip-hop, and soul. He creates are truly immersive listening experience here and we hope to continue to cover more stuff from Chase Shakur!

What are your initial thoughts on this expanded version, “it’s not you, It’s me… it’s love,” from Chase Shakur? Does he possess one of the best singing voices in R&B right now? Which songs are you liking the most? Do the three new songs make the project better? We want to hear what you have to say about all of this. So, be sure to leave all of your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the hottest album releases and all of the latest breaking news around the music world.

it’s not you, it’s me… it’s love Tracklist:

  1. no more cryin’
  2. cascade road
  3. ysl
  4. 143
  5. x’s n o’s
  6. slide
  7. no savin’
  8. i’ll always be there for you
  9. i know you’ve been lonely
  10. sink or swim (bonus)
  11. nite
  12. exit 65
  13. you’re so lovely

Read More: Pregnant Chrisean Rock Twerks On Blueface During New “Crazy In Love” Episode: Video

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Midwxst Brings All Sorts Of Sounds To His Debut Album “E3”

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Midwxst might have put out one of the best albums in terms of pushing musical boundaries in hip-hop. The Indiana-born artist has been making waves ever since 2020 during the worst part of the pandemic. While it took a little bit of time for listeners to get wind of midwxst’s music, people are starting to realize what he can bring to the table. His debut album, E3, is a rollercoaster that takes you through the sounds of hip-hop, pop, rock, hyperpop, and emo rap. Honestly, there could be more we are forgetting because midwxst really tries so many different things.

It is one thing to try, but he succeeds here. Furthermore, what is more impressive is that there are no features either. It is just midwxst, his raw emotion, and the production, in which he had a big hand in too. It is 12 tracks and runs around 34 minutes. Midwxst shared a lot of details on this project as well.

Read More: Jadakiss Tells The Story Of His Worst Show Ever To Dave East

Listen To E3 From Midwxst

According to Genius, midwxst says this has been in the works ever since he was 17 years old. “This album rollout has been in my head since I was 17. I have a full notepad in my phone with the script for the interludes on the project and the ideas that eventually became ‘E3.’” He continues to say, “The album is an emotional journey through the mistakes I’ve made as a person and that ‘E3,’ the protagonist of the story, is constantly facing and having to finally come to terms with.” Those ideas do ring true throughout with songs like “old me,” “lost,” and so many others. This album is worth a serious listen, as midwxst has something special brewing.

What are your initial thoughts on this brand new album, E3, from midwxst? Is he one of the most intriguing new artists combining multiple genres with hip-hop? Which songs are you gravitating towards the most so far? We want to hear what you have to say about all of this. So, be sure to leave all of your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the hottest album releases and all of the latest breaking news around the music world.

E3 Tracklist:

  1. lost
  2. pretty girls
  3. warning
  4. lights out
  5. heartache blues
  6. ball & chain
  7. grandpas interlude
  8. old me
  9. s.f.b.
  10. like nah
  11. hate how much
  12. ready for you

Read More: ScHoolboy Q Doesn’t Drop An Album Every Year For This Reason

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Blac Youngsta Seemingly Releases A Tribute Album To His Late Brother With “Blac Sheep 2”

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Memphis rapper Blac Youngsta is currently going through an extremely tough time in his life. He is still grieving the loss of his late brother Tomanuel Benson a few weeks ago. Tomanuel was reportedly shot by a man named Randy Ewing according to the Memphis Police Department at a gas station. It is still not official that it was Ewing, but he is the main suspect. Additionally, authorities still brought forth charges of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder.

Even with a lot going on in Youngsta’s life, he is still in the headspace to release new material. That is why he just put out his sequel to his second 2023 project Blac Sheep. Blac Sheep 2 comes just four months later and contains 15 tracks, equaling a runtime of 42 minutes and 26 seconds. There are also no features here, just like the first Blac Sheep. However, there is more sentiment on this record, as quite a few tracks reference the recent tragic event of his lost brother.

Read More: Kanye West And Steve Lacy Hug It Out After Ireland Concert

Listen To Blac Sheep 2 By Blac Youngsta

For example, the closing song “Too Far” features Youngsta talking about moving carefully but also dangerously. In the outro to the track, he says, “Keep your motherf****n’ head down, keep your head up n**** no matter what goin’ on.” He continues, “Be careful out here / Stay dangerous and be safe at the same time / Be smart move wise Blac Sheep.” This seems to be a reference to the Instagram story he shared moments after the passing, “I’m Gone Make The World Pay. I Swear To God Nobody Safe. Standing Over Everybody. Everybody #4LIFE. Gone Make Sure They Feel Me I Promise.” It is not confirmed that this is partially a tribute to his family member, but with messages on tracks like this one, it is hard to deny that he was inspired to write some lyrics about it.

What are your initial thoughts on this brand new album, Blac Sheep 2, by Black Youngsta? What do you think about Youngsta releasing this album in the wake of his brother’s death? Which song is your favorite on the project? We want to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave all of your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the hottest album releases and all of the latest breaking news around the music world. Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to Blac Youngsta, his family and friends during this hard time.

Blac Sheep 2 Tracklist:

  1. Tryna Relax
  2. Count Up
  3. No Reason
  4. Mosh Pit
  5. Ever Since
  6. Straight Line
  7. Majic Trick
  8. Behind The Wheel
  9. No Sympanthy
  10. What You On
  11. Handyman
  12. Telescope
  13. Play With Her
  14. Gone In One Day
  15. Too Far

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Bad Bunny Shed New Light On ‘Titi Me Preguntó’ While Toasting Its One Billion Spotify Streams

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Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti was one of the most dominant albums of 2022 by several metrics, making Uproxx‘s “Best Albums Of 2022” list and setting charting records left and right.

This January, the standout single “Titi Me Preguntó” became Bad Bunny’s 12th song to eclipse one billion streams on Spotify, which is the most such songs of any artist in Spotify history. The streaming platform celebrated with a new three-plus-minute Billions Club: The Series video featuring Bad Bunny humbly reflecting on the milestone.

In it, Bad Bunny strolls into a swanky brunch, where he’s presented with a shiny plaque before giving a toast. Later, Bad Bunny contextualizes the moment by saying, “The feeling of having one billion streams for this song right now is the same emotion I felt when I got 5,000 plays for the first time. For me, it’s just as big knowing that there are people who want to listen and want to enjoy what you make.”

Bad Bunny is also challenged to explain “Titi Me Preguntó” in 10 seconds, which he calls “impossible” because the song encapsulates “a lifetime of love and romance.” But he plays along anyway.

“What I can say in ten seconds is that it’s a song that was born very spontaneously in the Dominican Republic. MAG was swimming in the pool while I was trying to create the beat and write it,” he says. “All of the people mentioned in the song exist in real life. Nothing I say in the song is a lie, including the part I say I want to fall in love, but I can’t.”

Um, what about Kendall Jenner, Benito? It would appear that his difficulties with falling in love have subsided, as Bad Bunny has been linked to Jenner since February. Neither party has explicitly confirmed the relationship, though they’ve attended many public events together. However, in recent days, Bad Bunny came as close as possible to going Instagram official without officially going Instagram official, as captured by Elle.

Sid Sriram’s “Sidharth” Is A Piece Of Art

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Sid Sriram might just be one of the most underappreciated artists and singers of today. The Sidharth artist is a multi-talent that brings together so many different worlds into his music, making him a truly creative mind. Sriram was born in Chennai, India. Then, he and his family moved to the San Francisco/Bay Area suburbs when he was just a small child. Over time, he began to incorporate his different cultures into this music, creating his own identity.

Additionally, Sriram graduated from the Berklee College of Music with a degree in Music Production and Engineering. He was able to build upon his style even further with a terrific education. Sid Sriram’s music creates an incredible combination of pop, soul, classical Indian, and alternative/ambient music. That is prevalent here too with this latest effort Sidharth.

Read More: Ariana Grande Pays Tribute To Mac Miller On “Yours Truly” Deluxe As Ex-Husband Makes First Appearance Since Split

Where Does Sid Sriram’s Voice Rank Among Today’s Artists?

The tracklist is 13 songs and runs just under an hour. All of the records here provide some amazing vocals and production work from Sid. Every trip is filled with euphoric symphonies of different sounds and it makes it feel larger than life. Sid Sriram might possibly have the best voice in music period. He has a unique sound that really is not replicated by anyone else and could put him among the top of the heap.

What are your initial thoughts on this brand new album from Sid Sriram called Sidharth? Does Sid have one of the most beautiful voices in the music industry? Who do you think he should work with to create the best duet of all time? We want to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave all of your thoughts in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the hottest album releases and all of the latest breaking news around the music world.

Sidharth Tracklist:

  1. Most High
  2. Do The Dance
  3. Quiet Storm
  4. Dear Sahana
  5. The Hard Way
  6. Blue Spaces
  7. Friendly Fire
  8. Stance
  9. Amelia
  10. Shoulda Been There
  11. Came Along
  12. Standstill
  13. Cliqueless

Read More: Bad Bunny’s Latest Thirst Trap Leaves Nothing To the Imagination

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Tobi Lou And FARADA Team Up For Another Project “Caturday”

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Multi-talented artist tobi lou and producer FARADA went back to the studio for their third collaboration. This time, it is in the form of an EP called Caturday. Before this the duo put out two shorter albums this year, ‘Decent and Baggy Weather (Mini Version). The chemistry is here once again for four tracks at around the 15-minute mark.

The beats fit tobi lou’s laid-back and playful style. Lou is also displaying his singing voice and rapping abilities across each track. Some of the songs have a somber tone adding more emotional weight. It makes for an easy-breezy listen that fans are sure to be excited about.

Read More: Steve Harvey Reportedly Fires Social Media Manager Over Divorce Rumors, Viral Comedian Tweet

Tobi Lou Is An Interesting Talent

Tobi Lou might be one of the most intriguing artists in rap. He was born in Nigeria and lived there for just a short amount of time. He and his family then relocated to Chicago still as a youngster. The influences behind Lou’s music were inspired by the musical superstars that the city is so well known for. The biggest artists that Lou has brought up are Kanye West and Common, who are both great models to look up to. Since his popularity has grown, he has gone on to work with the likes of Polo G, Damian Lillard (Dame D.O.L.L.A), Chief Keef, and Saba. All of these big names appear on his 2023 album ‘Decent, which is also a team effort with FARADA.

What are your initial thoughts on this brand new EP from tobi lou and FARADA called Caturday? Do you enjoy it when these two collaborate on a project together? Which song is their best work? We want to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave all of your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the hottest project releases and for all of the latest breaking news around the music world.

Caturday Tracklist:

  1. Caturday
  2. Meteorite
  3. Roller Coaster
  4. Fee

Read More: Azealia Banks Says Beyonce Is “Nasty,” While Nicki Minaj Is “Chic, Stylish, Sexy, At Ease…”

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BONES Releases Single-Driven Project “BasketCase”

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Michigan-born rapper and crooner BONES is back to feed fans more new music. His third album of 2023, BasketCase is out now on all streaming platforms. You can check out the Apple Music and Spotify links below to give it a spin. The rapper is known for his unique blends of trap metal, horrorcore, cloud rap, and trap rap. BONES brings that in full force once again, so fans should be happy about that.

The album consists of 14 tracks. However, the majority of the project is single-heavy. Furthermore, with half of the LP out within a week or so before the release, there is not a whole lot of new material here. But, die-hard fans of BONES are used to the artists’ urge to release tons of music in a short time. Some of the best cuts to check out are “94” and “FreakyFriday.”

Read More: Drake Shoots His Shot At Fan’s Mom, Wears Her Bra On His Head

BONES Might Have Had A Theme For The Rollout

“FreakyFriday” was released on August 18th. The second single “Misery” followed just 24 hours later on August 19th. Then, the third single “94” released on August 20th, with contains an intro by BONES’ child. Do you notice the pattern here? Allegedly, BONES followed a certain 24-hour trend up until the day before the album’s release, giving his fans a taste of what to expect on BasketCase. Do you think that is a smart strategy to put out so much material before the full length?

What are your initial thoughts on this brand new project from BONES called BasketCase? Do you enjoy his constant release of new music, or would you rather him drop less often? What song is your favorite so far? We want to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave all of your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the hottest album releases and all of the latest breaking news around the music world.

BasketCase Tracklist:

  1. Misery
  2. 94
  3. FreakyFriday
  4. Ratatat
  5. Swayze
  6. Peroxide
  7. UncleRicksMonteCarlo
  8. SwampOfSorrows
  9. MyOwnPersonalHell
  10. KidNPlay
  11. CD-R
  12. FourSeasons
  13. BellTowerPark
  14. AsThePendulumSwings

Read More: Jaylen Brown Becomes First Active NBA Player To Appear In The Big3

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