TDE

Rich The Kid Was Once Signed To Top Dawg Entertainment

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Rich The Kid’s autobiography will have stories for days. The “Plug Talk” rapper had a storied career, even before he had a major label deal or a break-out single. He went through the motions of the average up-and-coming artist and the hard work ultimately paid off. When he released The World Is Yours, he became champion by the rap community, including a few elite MCs.

Though Rich The Kid is far from being a top-tier lyricist, that was never his point. His infectious energy and quotable bars ultimately landed him a verse from Kendrick Lamar on his breakout hit, “No Freezer.” It was an unsuspected collaboration but one that took the world by storm. It became one of the biggest records of 2017 and felt inescapable upon its release. The song later reached platinum status and the two performed the record at the BRIT Awards in 2018 where they smashed a Lamborghini.

Rich The Kid Signed To TDE

Though we were previously aware that A$AP Ferg initially had a verse on “New Freezer,” Rich The Kid provided a far more in-depth response to how he landed a K. Dot verse. In an interview with Bootleg Kev, Rich The Kid said he penned a deal with Top Dawg Entertainment. ​​“I did sign to Interscope through TDE,” he said, confirming the long-standing rumor that emerged prior to the release of “New Freezer.” At the time, he was recording his album while Kendrick worked on DAMN. and SZA recorded CTRL.

He explained that he wasn’t even aware that Kendrick or SZA were working in the same studio complex. However, he recalled the day Kendrick came in the room to hear what he was working on. “I played him ‘New Freezer’ and he was like, ‘Yeah, I need that.’ I was waiting for the verse for like a month ’cause he was on the road doing shows and shit,” he said. The collab earned him a spot within TDE’s tightknit circle but, due to his contractual agreements with 300 Ent. and Quality Control, he had to buy his way out of both deals. Check his interview with Bootleg Kev above. 

SZA Explains Frustrations With TDE Early In Her Career

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As S.O.S. continues to break records, SZA is the new cover girl for Billboard. The outlet named the singer their Woman of the Year, and she caught up with them to pose in a stunning photoshoot and speak on the album and the evolution of her career. In 2013, SZA’s life changed when she signed a deal with Top Dawg Entertainment. The Carson, California-based label was making waves with their Rap-heavy roster, but the songbird caught their attention. Soon, she was the First Lady of TDE.

“I didn’t mind the lack of female artists. I just felt like I was always the first to do something, and that was frustrating. It was me telling y’all I need hair and makeup because I’m super hands-on, on top of being a woman. I’m making PowerPoints trying to explain why I want to be in this type of publication versus that type of publication.”

SZA Remembers Early Days With TDE

The climb to the top wasn’t easy for SZA. “It was tough,” she recalled. “But by the same token, I think all of us grew together at the same time. They never had to do anything like this before, and we were all being so randomly innovative together by trying to figure out what makes sense. And I also liked that they weren’t trying to clean me up and look like anybody else.”

It was important for the singer to have certain levels of creative freedom. It seems that TDE let her express herself as is. “They were just taking me as I was,” she further shared. “That was really priceless, just to express myself visually how I wanted to and without the judgment of “Let’s make her pretty or sparkly and shiny and sterile.”

SZA Reveals S.O.S. Deluxe Will Arrive Soon

With S.O.S. taking over playlists and charts, a deluxe version is only fitting. SZA shared that the updated installment of her sophomore record is on the horizon, and it will host an impressive 10 extra tracks. “After I do the deluxe, I’m hoping to be able to accept that this chapter is done,” said SZA. “I’m looking forward to actually feeling proud of myself and not just smiling and nodding at accolades but really feeling it internally and knowing that I’m good enough.”

SZA Wanted To Join Odd Future Before Signing To TDE

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There was a time when Tyler, The Creator and his Odd Future crew dominated music and television. The eclectic group of artists helped usher in a new era of Hip Hop—if not breed a dedicated fanbase committed to copying their styles. SZA was one of those supporters, and in a new interview with The New York Times, the S.O.S. hitmaker revisited those early days in her career. She was the first woman to ink a deal with Top Dawg Entertainment in 2013, but before that, she was an independent artist hoping to join Odd Future.

“Quiet as it’s kept, I wanted to be with, like, Odd Future,” said SZA. “I felt more like a [Odd Future manager Christian Clancy] girl.” Her connection to Odd Future wasn’t absent—SZA would release tracks over Odd Future beats. After making the big leap to move to California, she quickly began establishing a relationship with TDE. It was then that she also linked with Mac Miller, who happened to be a client of Clancy’s, as well.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: SZA speaks onstage during the 65th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy )
Read More: SZA Reflects On Having A “Great Time” At 2023 Grammys

In the end, the songbird decided to move forward with TDE because, as she says, “Punch believed in me.” SZA was referring to Top Dawg’s illustrious president who she has had some tense moments with. It has become a lucrative partnership, albeit riddled with controversies. Her debut Ctrl was widely praised, but it would take years before S.O.S. followed. The world watched as SZA called out her label for delaying S.O.S.‘s release, but once it arrived, its success was record-breaking.

Elsewhere in the NYT piece, SZA commented on the expectations laid upon Black artists. According to the singer, Black musicians are respected more in the industry if they juggle multiple skills while also coming from a pristine background. She doesn’t believe this adequately describes most of the artists with popular influence.

Read More: SZA Ties Whitney Houston’s Billboard Record

SZA says revered artists are those “who play 50 instruments, went to all the right schools, did all the right programs and talked to all the right people. I don’t like that. Black excellence is NBA YoungBoy putting out projects and speaking his heart and screaming into a microphone.”

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Ray Vaughn Builds “Sandcastles” With Ab-Soul On New Single

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Ray Vaughn tapped TDE labelmate Ab-Soul for a new track, “Sandcastles.” Moreover, both MCs deliver impassioned, emphatic, and high-impact verses over a heavy banger beat. With a new project coming soon from the recent signee, Vaughn might just make his big splash this year.

INDIO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 23: Rapper Ray Vaughn performs on the Sahara Stage during Weekend 2, Day 2 of the 2022 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 23, 2022 in Indio, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for Coachella)

Furthermore, the last we heard from the Long Beach native was back in August of 2022 with the Isaiah Rashad-assisted “Dog House.” On that track, Vaughn matched Rashad’s often low-key but intoxicating delivery over a smooth beat. This time around, it seems he’s boasting and matching the energy of one of TDE’s premier MCs.

In fact, the California label has a lot to celebrate recently. Moreover, Ab-Soul just dropped his long-awaited album Herbert to critical acclaim last December. While Ray Vaughn isn’t featured on that project, this new single displays some strong chemistry between their performance styles. Both have their energy on high, command fast and aggressive flows with ease, and add a lot of conviction to the track.

Meanwhile, the instrumental is a mid-tempo banger with heavy bass, sharp snares, and eerie piano chords. For those enamored by this beat, producer Wallis Lane worked with the likes of Mac Miller, Drake, PARTYNEXTDOOR, and many more. Even if it falls into an engaging bounce assisted by the MCs’ triplet flows, you could remix that melody into some creepy stuff easily. Throughout the verses, the instrumental relies on muted plucked strings and ethereal synth pad samples to switch things up.

Still, what did you think of Ray Vaughn’s newest single with Ab-Soul, “Sandcastles”? Whatever the case, let us know in the comments and peep some standout lines from the track below. Also, if you haven’t heard it yet, you can find the song on your preferred streaming service. As always, check back in with HNHH for the best new drops in hip-hop.

Quotable Lyrics

The lil’ homie got five hundred when he ran it up off EDD
A year later, he back broke, robbin’ white folks on Beverly
All F on my report card, got a list full of felonies
Better learn to choose your words better, that’s the quickest way to put your life in jeopardy