Tierra Whack is still promoting her album World Wide Whack, picking up where the “Two Night” video left off in the new video for “Moovies.” At the end of the prior video, a massive parade float balloon version of Whack was left demolished by the unhinged citizens of her hometown, but at the beginning of “Moovies,” the Philly native puts herself back together with the aid of some normal-sized balloon animals.
Then, an animated Whack goes on a succession of movie dates with a colorful collection of cartoon characters — including the Philadelphia Phillies’ mascot, the Phillie Phanatic. Somewhere, Gritty is shedding tears into cheesesteak over missing his shot (if anyone wants to photoshop gritty into the Wolverine Crush meme with Whack and Phanatic’s phamily photo in the picture frame, they will win the internet today, at least in the City Of Brotherly Love).
Whack previously featured the Phanatic in her NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert, explaining the mascot’s presence as an abundance of hometown love on her part. “Y’all know I gotta keep it Philly,” she said. “I bleed green. I bleed red. Anything Philly is all me. I had to bring a piece of home with me.”
You can check out the video for “Moovies” above.
World Wide Whack is out now via Interscope Records. You can find more info here.
Tierra Whack’s personality and creative world is too vast to be contained. However, yesterday (June 7) the “Two Night” rapper managed to squeeze it all in during her NPR Tiny Desk Concert performance.
To commemorate Black Music Month, Tierra served up her eclectic discography for all to enjoy with a special slice of her hometown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania via a cameo from the beloved mascot, Phillie Phanatic.
If you thought only tracks from her latest album, World Wide Whack, made the setlist, you’re wrong.
Tierra and her newly formed band, The Big Backs (comprised of bassist Ali Bervine, keyboardist
Charles Jackson & Mary Floyd, guitarist Russell Gelman-Sheehan, percussionist Sheldon Robinson, drummer Mark Thomas, and vocalist Michelle Hunt), opened with 2018’s “Flea Market.” Then transitioned to melody of “Pretty Ugly,” “Hungry Hippo,” “Mood Swing,” “Accessible,”
“Ms Behave,” and “Imaginary Friends.”
Before performing “Moovies,” Tierra invited Phillie Phanatic to share the desk with her. Although the character is mute, Tierra went on to explain why their appearance was necessary to her. “Y’all know I gotta keep it Philly,” she said. “I bleed green. I bleed red. Anything Philly is all me. I had to bring a piece of home with me.”
Tierra closed the set with a vibrant performance of “27 Club” and “Shower Song.” Watch the full performance below.
In a world where conformity often reigns supreme, Tierra Whack stands as a beacon of artistic individuality and innovation. With her boundary-pushing approach to music and her unparalleled creativity, she has carved out a unique space in the music industry. Much like Tierra Whack, Will Smith’s daughter Willow Smith is another artist who constantly pushes boundaries with her music. It’s no surprise that she is now widely recognized as a rock star.
To the delight of many fans, Tierra Whack and Willow appeared on a track together in 2021. As a result of their artistic synergy, fans have clamored for more collaborations since then. The two are yet to feature on another track. Surprisingly, another question that has come up a few times is if the two are related. Admittedly, the possibility of Tierra Whack being related to the legendary Will Smith might seem far-fetched. However, it just might be true. Here’s the answer to that question.
Is There A Familial Relationship Between Tierra Whack & Will Smith?
While it may come as a shocker to some, Tierra Whack is actually related to Will Smith. The revelation happened quite recently, and beforehand, it is safe to assume that not many in the general public knew. During an interview with The Source in March 2024, Tierra Whack casually shared the news. The interviewer asked Whack what her best memory of being in Paris with Willow was.
“Me and Willow were just eating at a restaurant and just like cracking up, like laughing at everything,” she said. “People were watching and just being crazy. She’s so cool. That’s my cousin, so yeah.” Surprised, the interviewer asked if Willow was Whack’s “blood cousin,” to which she answered, “Yeah. Yeah, Will is my uncle.” Evidently, this news doesn’t change much for Whack, if anything at all. However, fans find it to be an interesting piece of information that Will Smith is a blood relative of Tierra Whack.
Tierra Whack’s Background & Ascent
The 28-year-old Hip Hop artist was born on August 11, 1995. It remains unknown which of her parents is related to Will Smith, but Tierra Whack has previously shared that she and her father are estranged. The rapper’s passion for music blossomed from an early age, and she began writing and performing her own songs as a teenager. Subsequently, she started releasing music in 2017 and dropped her first mixtape, Whack World,in 2018.
Since then, she has released many more singles and three EPs. Additionally, Whack has had guest appearances on songs with Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Flying Lotus, and a handful of others. On March 15, 2024, she dropped her highly anticipated debut album, World Wide Whack. Although it did not appear on the Billboard charts, it was met with widespread critical acclaim. Despite modest commercial numbers, Tierra Whack is highly regarded in the music industry, and rightly so.
Tierra Whack’s Collab With Willow Smith
Willow’s fourth album Lately I Feel Everything was released on July 16, 2021. The 11-track album contains “Xtra,” a song featuring her cousin, Tierra Whack. Although it was not one of the album’s three singles, “Xtra” is undoubtedly one of the standout tracks on Lately I Feel Everything. The track is an alternative rock, emo masterpiece, and the two artists shine individually and as a unit on it. The track is just a little over two minutes, and it’s honestly, not long enough. It’s no surprise fans are hoping that the cousins will come together to make musical magic again sometime soon.
The RX is Uproxx Music’s stamp of approval for the best albums, songs, and music stories throughout the year. Inclusion in this category is the highest distinction we can bestow, and signals the most important music being released throughout the year. The RX is the music you need, right now.
What a month. March 2024 was largely defined by a string of controversies, conflicts, and conspiracy theories, which kept us a tad bit too busy for some of our typical in-depth musical coverage.
But there were also so many good hip-hop albums, I didn’t want the month to end without at least tipping my cap to the array of innovative releases that would have normally been given the RX seal of approval if there weren’t 1,000 other things going on.
And so, I present to you, loyal readers of Uproxx – and newcomers, too – to the first edition of the Best Hip-Hop Albums of the Month. Let’s call it an extension of my weekly column, designed to collect and rightfully praise the projects that impressed us the most over the past 30 or so days. After all, who says new albums only deserve a week’s worth of attention?
Flo Milli – Fine Ho, Stay
Flo Milli
Although it’s technically the Alabama rapper’s second studio album, her latest release completes a trilogy begun by her fan-favorite 2020 debut mixtape, Ho, Why Is You Here?. The new album expands on the world-building she did on it and its 2022 follow-up (and her debut album) You Still Here Ho?, the album contains contributions from Anycia, Cardi B, SZA, Gunna and Monaleo. Still, Flo Milli remains the star of the show, showing off an impressive degree of growth and polish across 14 tracks, including her latest breakout hit, “Never Lose Me.”
Kenny Mason – 9
Kenny Mason
It’s almost impossible to truly categorize what kind of music Atlanta native Kenny Mason actually makes. An amalgamation of Atlanta staples like trap, the Southern-fried funk rap of Outkast, the gloomy grunge of early-90s Nirvana, and soulful, blurry-eyed Bandcamp boom-bap, Kenny vividly details teenaged malaise, early adulthood angst, and stressful street trials without any part seeming trivial or melodramatically heightened in comparison to the others. 9’s guestlist is as eclectic as its subject matter, tapping Babydrill, Toro Y Moi, and Veeze.
Kyle – Smyle Again
Kyle
Longtime readers of my Best Hip-Hop of the Week column will likely be aware that this album combines two of my favorite things in hip-hop at the moment: A fellow West Coast native and the ongoing Black reclamation of EDM. Despite its title, Kyle’s latest doesn’t rehash the content or sound of his breakthrough 2015 mixtape; rather, it revisits its spirit, in a full-circle moment that allows the Ventura product to reflect on his career and have a little fun in the process. Utilizing an eclectic soundscape that draws on UK 2-step and garage, Smyle Again is a unique gem no one should overlook in the search for truly original hip-hop.
Schoolboy Q – Blue Lips
Schoolboy Q
Q’s first new album in five years is a gritty review of his journey so far through the eyes of a weathered vet. Sonically adventurous, it swerves erratically from blue-era Miles Davis jazz to menacing, guttural street Gothic opera, never settling into one mode for too long – or indeed, for very long at all. Yet, Q’s grizzled, paranoid flow holds everything together generating order in the chaos as he takes stock of his successes, which would be surprising if not for the perseverance he needed to exert to survive long enough to enjoy them. “Yeern 101” is a standout.
Tierra Whack – World Wide Whack
Tierra Whack
I haven’t been as devastated by a rap album since Rexx Life Raj’s 2022 album The Blue Hour. Where Whack’s colorful costumes and whimsical backing tracks might lure listeners into a false sense of upbeat security, the themes she tackles here – depression, grief, imposter syndrome, and survivor’s remorse – practically hollowed me out. “Two Night” and “27 Club” are a harrowing one-two punch that let the album linger on the terrifying implications of anointing – and leave you longing for the rest of the story, for the catharsis that even Whack can’t promise. I hope she’s doing okay.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
A few years ago, some Canadian professors created a hitchhiking robot and sent it abroad to study “how people interact with technology.” The ‘bot managed to make 10 days in Germany and three weeks in the Netherlands, but met its gruesome end in Philadelphia.
I don’t know if Tierra Whack had that story in mind when she conceived her oddly bittersweet “Two Night” video with Alex Da Corte, but the comparisons are there if you want to make them. In the CGI-animated video, Whack appears as a massive parade balloon floating over her hometown. However, her presence REALLY seems to irk the City of Brotherly Love, whose citizens go to extreme lengths to bring the balloon down, even going as far as injuring themselves with increasingly dangerous stunts.
The balloon is brought down in flames, and only then do the people seem to realize what they’ve lost, leaving flowers in memoriam at the site of its destruction. The video is unexpectedly moving, and its message is blaringly clear and multilayered without being completely morbid; there are bright spots of hope near the end, suggesting that Whack isn’t quite ready to give up yet, despite the song’s haunting hook.
“Two Night” appears on Tierra Whack’s new album, World Wide Whack, her first ever full-length project and first project overall since 2018’s Whack World. It’s out now via Interscope Records. Get it here.
For about seven years, fans have come to know Tierra Whack as the cooky, colorful, and happy-go-lucky personality in hip-hop. The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native definitely embraces it, especially when it comes to her writing, music videos, outfits, and her flows. Almost everything she does comes across as original, and nearly never derivative. While Tierra Whack is still showcasing her wild side on her new project, WORLD WIDE WHACK, she also peeling back some extra layers. It is definitely a great idea to explore, especially on your official debut album.
Yes, after all this time, we finally have it, even though she did drop an LP back in 2018 with Whack World. In our opinion though, Tierra had a lot of unfinished ideas on that tape. Part of the reason for that was due to the scant runtimes of each track. However, WORLD WIDE WHACK takes a deeper dive into her what makes her tick.
What you will find is more personal cuts about anxiety, numbness, sui***e, drugs, love, and more. We got a hint that Tierra would be going in a slightly different direction after the “27 CLUB” single. Definitely the total opposite of the other teasers “CHANEL PIT” and “SHOWER SONG.” Even though a song like “27 CLUB” is so dark, she manages to add some body and character to them. Whack applies her eccentric deliveries and production styles that still fit the colorless and emotional moments that make WORLD WIDE WHACK familiar but different.
What are your thoughts on this brand-new album, WORLD WIDE WHACK, by Tierra Whack? Was this record worth the wait for you so far, why or why not? What songs are you gravitating toward right now and why? Did she make the right choice by not including any features on it? 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 Tierra Whack. Finally, stay with us for the most informative project posts throughout the week.
Tierra Whack is just a few days away from treating fans to her anticipated debut studio album called World Wide Whack. “I really took my time with this, so I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do,” she wrote on Instagram as part of the announcement.
Over the past few months, Whack has put out a few songs to build excitement — and she might have even more things planned.
Here’s everything to know ahead of the album’s release.
Release Date
World Wide Whack is out 3/15 via Interscope. Find more information here.
So far, Whack has released “Chanel Pit,” “Shower Song,” and most recently, “27 Club,” as singles from World Wide Whack.
Features
As of right now, there are no features on Tierra Whack’s album. This doesn’t rule out any potential ones that could happen as a remix, but nothing has been announced yet, so it is a maybe at the moment.
Artwork
Check out the cover art for World Wide Whack below.
Tour
Whack has not yet announced a tour tied to World Wide Whack, so it still could be a possibility. She is only playing one show currently, which will take place this Friday, March 15 at Webster Hall in New York City — seemingly as the album’s release show.
The arrival of spring doesn’t just mean the awakening of nature (and the loss of an hour of sleep), it also brings the recording industry back to life. While the early months of Q1 can generally be a little sleepy — with a few exceptions, of course — as the weather creeps back toward the warmth of the summer, we can expect more new releases from some of the biggest names in music.
These days, it can be a little tricky to anticipate which artists are aiming for a spring release, though. Album release cycles have gotten shorter and shorter, and in hip-hop especially, new projects can fall out of the sky with little to no warning. With that said, we’re going to do our best to run through the most anticipated hip-hop releases of the season, under the assumption that most if not all of the artists named here would like a dominant run thoughout the summer — or at least, some new material for the festivals. Let’s start with the ones we know:
March 2024 Hip-Hop Releases
March 14: Kenny Mason — 9
Atlanta rapper Kenny Mason is easily one of the hottest names simmering just under the radar thanks to his distinctive, grungy style and high-profile co-signs from the likes of Denzel Curry, Freddie Gibbs, and JID. 9 will be his second album after 2020’s Angelic Hoodrat. He just released a pair of singles that suggest his unique blend of shoegaze, grunge rock, and screamo-rap is primed for its next evolution.
March 15: Tierra Whack — World Wide Whack
Fans of the Philly battle rapper turned whimsical mad scientist have been waiting for a proper album for going on six years now. Her 2018 EP Whack World introduced listeners to a fantastical approach toward genre and subject matter that established Whack as one of the most intriguing names in hip-hop, and her debut album — which she announced this January — will give her the opportunity to expand on that foundation.
March 22: Future & Metro Boomin — We Don’t Trust You
It’s only been two months and some change and already a pattern is beginning to develop. If you’re going to release an album fans have been waiting for for years, it seems, you might as well turn it into multiple projects with release dates scattered across months. Kanye (sorta) did it, and now, Metro Boomin and Future are following in his footsteps, announcing that their heavily anticipated joint album will be released in two parts. The first arrives in March.
March 29: Rico Nasty & Boys Noize — HVRDC0RE DR3AMZ
On Leap Day, Rico Nasty announced that her ongoing chemistry with German DJ Boys Noize would bear another new fruit in the form of a joint EP. After teaming up on “Girl Crush” and “Money,” two of Rico’s more intriguing songs of the past few years, it’ll be fascinating to see her step more into her collaborator’s world on the EP, following a number of peers in blending hip-hop with various styles of EDM.
April 2024 Hip-Hop Releases
April 12: Future & Metro Broomin — We Still Don’t Trust You
The second of Future and Metro’s collaborations will arrive just two weeks after the first, an impressive turnaround time that has paid dividends for the Atlanta rapper in the past. Future’s 2017 albums Future and Hndrxx were released just a week apart and both halves of the pair went No. 1, while the first spawned the massive hit “Mask Off” — which was, of course, produced by Metro Boomin. Their creative chemistry is certainly something to look forward to.
April 26: AG Club – BRODIE WORLD
The Northern California rap clique shook up the world in 2020 with the release of their breakout hit “Memphis,” and has kept up a steady stream of releases ever since. With each, they grow a little more polished and a little more experimental, growing into their group name (Avant Garde Club) a little more. BRODIE WORLD will be their first proper release since 2022’s Imposter Syndrome, which is exciting because there’s a lot of growth that can happen in two years.
2024 Hip-Hop Albums Release TBA
Here’s where we start speculating. A large number of rap’s biggest names are set to release albums this year, many of whom will be returning from multi-year hiatuses, making the products of their time away all the more tantalizing. Below are just a few.
ASAP Rocky — Don’t Be Dumb
Rocky’s last album was 2018’s Testing. That’s a long time to go without hearing a new full collection of music from the haute couture Harlemite, who’s been busy with fatherhood (and some ill-timed legal trouble). His album has supposedly been done since 2022, so it’s only a matter of time until he gives listeners a release date; here’s hoping it’s sooner rather than later.
Baby Keem — Child With Wolves
Baby Keem made a huge splash in 2021 with his electrifying debut The Melodic Blue, and recently began teasing a new era after releasing the album’s companion film late last year.
Cardi B — TBA
Let’s say Cardi finally kicks her rollout into high gear after releasing two singles in six months, “Bongos” and “Like What,” and teasing another. It seems she keeps dipping her toe back into an album cycle, but a mean case of imposter syndrome combined with impossibly high standards has made determining if she’s really shooting her shot or just pump-faking again almost impossible to determine. She’s fortunate to be one of the few artists who can keep getting away with this pretty much indefinitely, but I’d like to hope she’s accepted the fear of potential failure and just goes for it. (Or pulls a Kendrick Lamar in 2014 and goes full avant-garde with it, scaring the hoes and making herself pretty much untouchable for the foreseeable future.)
Flo Milli — Fine Ho, Stay
Announced in October 2023, Flo Milli’s second album has the potential to turn her into a household name — especially with the ongoing and growing success of its single “Never Lose Me.” If she wants to strike while the iron is hot, a spring release might be her best bet to maintain momentum.
GloRilla — TBA
Big Glo has a lot of buzz around her name right now, both for her hard-hitting new single “Yeah Glo!” and an oopsie moment on Instagram thanks to her unfamiliarity with her new endowments. Might as well capitalize ahead of the summer, right?
Ice Spice — Y2K
TikTok star and current rap it-girl Ice Spice has been sneakily rolling out her debut album over the past few months, beginning with flying a flag at her label headquarters, dropping another catchy single, and announcing that her album is finished recording. There’s no time like the present, and with her penchant for dropping summertime-dominating tracks, an April or May release would give her plenty of lead time to once again take over the hottest months.
J. Cole — The Fall Off
The only other rapper whose album has been consistently sought after since 2018 (mostly by his own design), J. Cole could overtake friendly rivals Drake and Kendrick Lamar in the conversation if he manages to beat them both to market this year.
Rapsody — TBA
Poor Rapsody. If you happen to follow the North Carolina rapper on social media, you’ve probably seen her repost the near-constant stream of pleas from fans for a follow-up to 2019’s Eve. She’s been promising an announcement is coming imminently, and considering the curtailed album cycles of the current climate, if she does make that announcement in the next few weeks or months, that would almost certainly mean an album is following relatively quickly after.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
