Spotify’s new exhibit honoring women in hip-hop had a glaring omission, and some fans are pretty upset about it. The Gold Standard Exhibition has taken over The Hole Gallery in New York City with portraits painted by Manon Biernacki, who depicted Cardi B, City Girls, Doja Cat, Flo Milli, GloRilla, Ice Spice, Latto, Megan Thee Stallion, Saweetie, and Sexyy Red in a realist style reminiscent of Renaissance paintings. However, when images from the show hit social media, fans of one rapper in particular — Nicki Minaj — expressed their displeasure.
Scenes from The Gold Standard Exhibition, featuring fine art portraits of the ladies setting the bar for hip-hop. pic.twitter.com/7HiW17OgLk
“And no Nicki ??” questioned one. “Wow Spotify the most streamed female rapper of all time ??” Another railed, “Nicki gottaaaa be on the mfn ceiling somewhere because this is ridiculous. Y’all gotta be out y’all rabbit a$$ minds.” One more added a slew of other women in rap to their complaints, writing, “where is lil kim, nicki minaj, missy elliot, lauryn hill, iggy, salt n pepa? if this is the bar then the bar is an inch off the floor.”
And no Nicki ?? Wow Spotify the most streamed female rapper of all time ??
Of course, there are arguments to be made for any number of “exclusions,” but at the end of the day, there were no criteria given for the selections other than that they’ve all got relatively recent releases currently trending on Spotify. While that number would include Nicki Minaj, it would also include a bunch of other names that weren’t selected. None of that will ever prevent the Barbz from lashing out, but then again, if they didn’t have something to complain about, would they even be the Barbz?
There are a whole host of legendary female rappers that have graced the mic over the genre’s history. Each one has had a unique impact on the game. However, there may never be no one more influential than Nicki Minaj. Many credit her for the trends that exist in the current landscape, and rightfully so. It seems every female star today takes some sort of inspiration from Onika. Sometimes, the Barbz can shove in your face a little too much, but that will never truly take away from her looming presence over the latest crop of talent. These reasons are why fans, including Summer Walker, are confused and upset with Spotify over a recent omission.
According to AllHipHop, the streaming giant put together a special exhibit called The Gold Standard Exhibition in New York City. It features tons of stunning portraits of all of the “ladies setting the bar for hip-hop”. Present faces such as Latto, Flo Milli, Sexyy Red, Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, and more were featured. However, Summer Walker was quick to point out the exclusion of Nicki Minaj, Lil’ Kim, and Missy Elliott in the comments.
“I don’t even listen to hella Nicki cause I’m a r&b lover. But where is the Queen.. or Lil Kim at least or Missy Elliott… this mad disrespectful. This why I make my music n go home the industry weird”, Walker said. Fans were equally thrown off, too. “Kim, Nicki, Foxy, Lauryn, Eve, Trina, Missy, Da Brat, Left Eye, MC Lyte, Roxanne Shonte, Queen Latifah, YoYo. I’m sure I’m missing more but the disrespect”, another adds. This is certainly alarming, but it could be only one way to view it. There’s a chance that Spotify made this for the new generation looking to take over and carry the torch of the Nickis, Kims, Hills, and etc. It seems that was the case, but if not, then this is certainly a massive misstep.
What are your thoughts on Summer Walker calling out Spotify for the omission of several female rap greats at The Gold Standard Exhibition? Do you think the streaming platform was highlighting the new stars of hip-hop, or did they just screw up? 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 Summer Walker and Nicki Minaj. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
When Will Ice Spice’s Y2K! Album Be Out On Spotify?
Y2K! is due out on Friday, July 26, so the album should become available to stream on Spotify (and across DSPs) at 9 p.m. PT on Thursday, July 25, and midnight ET on Friday, July 26.
Ice Spice has already released “Phat Butt,” “Think U The Sh*t (Fart),” “Gimmie A Light,” and “Did It First” with Central Cee, leaving six brand-new songs for fans to enjoy.
Ice Spice’s Y2K! Tracklist
1. “Phat Butt”
2. “Oh Shh…” With Travis Scott
3. “Popa”
4. “B*tch I’m Packin’” with Gunna
5. “Plenty Sun”
6. “Did It First” with Central Cee
7. “BB Belt”
8. “Think U The Sh*t (Fart)”
9. “Gimmie A Light”
10. “TTYL”
Ice Spice’s Y2K! World Tour Dates
07/30 — Washington, DC @ The Anthem
08/01 — Montclair, NJ @ The Wellmont Theater
08/02 — Philadelphia, PA @ The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark
08/04 — Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway
08/06 — New York, NY @ The Rooftop at Pier 17
08/07 — New York, NY @ The Rooftop at Pier 17
08/09 — Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore Detroit
08/11 — Toronto, ON @ HISTORY
08/13 — Chicago, IL @ Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom
08/14 — Minneapolis, MN @ The Armory
08/17 — Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
08/19 — Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
08/21 — Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
08/23 — Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
08/25 — Dallas, TX @ The Factory Deep Ellum
08/26 — Houston, TX @ 713 Music Hall
08/28 — Atlanta, GA @ Coca-Cola Roxy
08/31 — Miami Beach, FL @ The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater
Y2K! is out 7/26 via 10K Projects/Capitol Records. Find more information here.
MF DOOM fans were shocked to find that one of the rapper’s most acclaimed albums was no longer on Spotify. MM… FOOD, released in 2004, was pulled from the popular music streaming service on the evening of July 23. It returned soon after, but not before fans started mourning their perceived loss. Of course, some fans took it as an opportunity to flex their preferred streaming service as the “superior” one.
Like much of underground hip-hop from the early 2000s, MF DOOM’s music is littered with uncleared samples. DOOM was famous for using movie samples, especially from old superhero shows. He also used obscure jazz, soul, and whatever else he could find in his production process. Many artists from DOOM’s era did not get popular enough for anyone to come after them for not getting their samples cleared. DOOM’s popularity has grown over the years, and in death, he is the most popular he’s ever been. Which is why other fans thought that MM… FOOD‘s removal had to do with the lack of cleared samples. It was more likely a bug, which is why it returned so quickly.
Long considered one of the greatest rappers of all time, MF DOOM passed away on Halloween 2020. DOOM’s wife announced the news on New Year’s Eve of that year, much to the shock of fans. Since then, fans have been keeping his legacy alive by listening to his music. He has nearly eight million monthly listeners on Spotify, at the time of this writing.
In 2023, producer Madlib and Brooklyn rapper Talib Kweliappeared on Hot 97 to talk about Liberation 2, their second collaborative release. Questions about the existence of Madvillainy 2, the long-awaited followup to MF DOOM and Madlib’s seminal work, Madvillainy arose. Madlib confirmed that the album is still being worked on, but it is unclear when it will release, if at all. Hopefully, all parties involved come together to pay tribute to the late legendary rapper if the time comes. Until then, do yourself a favor and stream MM… FOOD today.
Kendrick Lamar can notch another one in win column against Drake as he now has more monthly Spotify listeners. The NFR Podcast shared a side-by-side comparison of their accounts on the DSP giant and the proof is all there. While Kendrick is now in front of his Canadian foe, it is not by an astonishing amount. As you can see, the Compton kid is only ahead by 29,032. But at the end of the day, it is a higher number, and it is still an incredible feat. Especially because Drake is almost always at the top when it comes to rappers with the most monthlies.
However, with Kendrick surpassing him, this now makes him the second-highest MC in this category. The only other artist ahead of Kung Fu Kenny is Eminem. Overall, it makes sense because the Detroit spitter just put out The Death of Slim Shady over the weekend. The album is projected to sell around 300,000 units and should be a chart topper. Sure, Kendrick is coming off the rousing music video for his nail-in-the-coffin diss track, “Not Like Us”.
But with Slim Shady already having a sizeable advantage in monthly listeners prior to that, it is clear that Lamar might have to drop something else to take the crown. There is a rumor that he may release a new album in the fall, but we will have to wait and see. Currently, Em is at a whopping 84.2 million, which is good enough for eighth in the entire world. Lamar is at 13, while Drake is not too far back at 14.
What are your thoughts on Kendrick Lamar sneaking past Drake in monthly Spotify listeners? Are you surprised it took this long for him to do so, why or why not? Could Lamar surpass Eminem if he drops his rumored album this year? What songs from the Compton rapper have you been bumping lately? 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 Kendrick Lamar and Drake. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign dropped off their collaborative album Vultures 1 all the way back in February. Overall, there were supposed to be two sequels. One would drop in March and the other in Apri. However, we are all the way in July and we still have yet to receive Vultures 2. Fans have been hoping and praying for a miracle. However, there appears to be no album in sight and it’s unclear whether or not it will ever come out.
A couple of days ago, Kanye West claimed that he was retiring from music. The very next day, Vultures 1 was removed from Spotify. It was all very bizarre and fans were confused about what was happening. Well, as it turns out, the takedown for the album did not last long at all. If you were to go to Spotify right now, you would see that the album has returned. This has led to even more confusion as fans have no idea why the album would have been taken down in the first place.
Overall, Vultures has proven to be a controversial release. Many Kanye Stans see it as a huge return to form. Others believe it is the worst project he has ever made. Although Ye’s production is still solid, his lyrics have left a lot to be desired. Especially now that his politics are beginning to seep through. Subsequently, it will be interesting to see where Ye goes from here, and whether or not he truly retires.
Let us know what you thought of Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign’s Vultures 1, in the comments section down below. Do you believe that this is one of Ye’s worst projects? Or do you believe that this was a nice return to form for the artist? 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.
Eminem issued a directive to his fans on Thursday afternoon, July 11. “Public service announcement: The Death Of Slim Shady is a conceptual album, therefore, if you listen to songs out of order they might not make sense. Enjoy,” Em wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
When Will Eminem’s The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) Be On Apple Music?
The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) is due out on Friday, July 12, which logically means that the album can be expected to become available on Apple Music, Spotify, and all DSPs at 9 p.m. PT on Thursday, July 11, and midnight ET on Friday, July 12.
Eminem’s The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) Tracklist
1. “Renaissance”
2. “Habits”
3. “Trouble”
4. “Brand New Dance”
5. “Evil”
6. “All You Got (Skit)”
7. “Lucifer”
8. “Antichrist”
9. “Fuel”
10. “Road Rage”
11. “Houdini”
12. “Breaking News (Skit)”
13. “Guilty Conscience 2”
14. “Head Honcho”
15. “Temporary”
16. “Bad One”
17. “Tobey” Feat. Big Sean & BabyTron
18. “Guess Who’s Back (Skit)”
19. “Somebody Save Me”
Eminem’s The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) Album Cover Artwork
At any rate, anticipation for a fresh Eminem album is alive and well.
When Will Eminem’s The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) Be On Spotify?
Eminem’s The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) is due out on Friday, July 12, which means that the album should become available to stream on Spotify at 9 p.m. PT on Thursday, July 11, and midnight ET on Friday, July 12. The same applies to all DSPs, presumably.
Eminem posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Public service announcement: the Death of Slim Shady is a conceptual album, therefore, if you listen to songs out of order they might not make sense. Enjoy.”
Keep that in mind when reading the tracklist below.
Eminem’s The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) Tracklist
1. “Renaissance”
2. “Habits”
3. “Trouble”
4. “Brand New Dance”
5. “Evil”
6. “All You Got (Skit)”
7. “Lucifer”
8. “Antichrist”
9. “Fuel”
10. “Road Rage”
11. “Houdini”
12. “Breaking News (Skit)”
13. “Guilty Conscience 2”
14. “Head Honcho”
15. “Temporary”
16. “Bad One”
17. “Tobey” Feat. Big Sean & BabyTron
18. “Guess Who’s Back (Skit)”
19. “Somebody Save Me”
The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) is out 7/12 via Shady Records/Aftermath/Interscope. Find more information here.
Picture this: It’s late Thursday night, minutes away from Friday. In a few moments, this week’s wave of new music releases will hit Spotify. Somebody inevitably goes for Drake’s throat on a new song again. Once fans get their first listen of the diss track, they’ll flock to X (formerly Twitter) to talk about Drizzy’s latest L. Topics related to new music are regularly X’s top trending topics on Friday morning, and it’s where much of the online conversation about what’s new in music happens.
The obvious reason is that Spotify isn’t a social media platform. But, Spotify execs have perhaps also gone through the thought process I just laid out.
Earlier this week, Spotify introduced the ability to leave comments on podcast episodes. In the announcement post, Spotify notes, “Our new Comments feature expands on the Q&A and polls functionality we introduced in 2021 as a way to bring interactivity into the podcasting industry for the first time. And interactivity is a feature that already has listeners and creators buzzing: More than 9 million unique Spotify listeners have interacted with a Q&A or poll just this year, and there’s been 80% year-over-year growth in the number of total Q&A responses and votes from listeners.”
So, Spotify has the users and at least a portion of them have expressed interest in more interactive ways to use the platform. Perhaps introducing commenting to podcasts is a way for Spotify to test and soft-launch a new era: Spotify as music-based social media platform, where users can listen to and discuss music in the same place.
If that is their plan, though, and they already have a framework for comment functionality, why not just roll it out big-time and let users comment on songs and albums now?
Well, being a giant internet company doesn’t mean a social media expansion will be an automatic success. We saw this happen with Google: They launched Google+ (which you probably forgot about, or perhaps never heard of) in 2011. The Facebook clone failed to gain significant traction and ceased operations a few years later. That’s not to say that Google rushed into it, but this does illustrate that nothing is guaranteed, no matter how dominant you are in other areas.
So, trying to pivot into social media is a big swing, and it’s smart of Spotify to take some practice cuts in the on-deck circle before stepping up to the plate. After all, if full-fledged social media is on Spotify’s agenda, there are still so many factors to consider. Would the platform be purely comments-based, or could users make their own posts? Will there be a way to see the best posts and users across the entire platform, or will each song’s/album’s comments section be its own beast? Will there be appropriate moderation in place to stop Neil Young from spamming comments about audio quality? That’s just a sampling of the major questions Spotify would have to work out ahead of a launch of this scale.
The opportunity appears to be there, though: Spotify is the world’s biggest music streaming platform and it continues to grow. Public opinion of X has waned ever since Elon Musk took over. (That’s not to say Spotify is without its controversies, though.) Many social media users would seemingly embrace a new forum for discussing music, especially one that lets them do it without switching out of the app they’re already listening in. It could certainly be a major value proposition for Spotify to help increase the gap between them and streaming competitors like Apple Music. It would also make them a unique presence in the social media landscape.
This is all assuming that Spotify even wants this — that they actually aim to expand comments beyond podcasts. We don’t know that for sure, but if that is the path they’re on, our Thursday nights and Friday mornings could look very different in the future.
Despite obstacles to listen to Vultures 1, it still debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart dated February 24 — becoming West’s 11th-career No. 1 album and Ty Dolla Sign’s first. Vultures 1 accumulated 148,000 equivalent album units in the United States during its first week, according to Billboard and its Luminate data service.
(@corneil_ri) August 1, 2024
. Y’all gotta be out y’all rabbit a$$ minds.
(@justTayforshort) August 1, 2024
Friday. 
