top-dawg Archives - New Hip Hop News

TDE Celebrates 20 Years with Annual Christmas Concert and Giveback in Watts

December 16, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Marking its 20th anniversary, Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) once again brought holiday cheer and community support to Nickerson Gardens in Watts. The two-day event, held December 12-13, showcased TDE’s dual commitment to music and philanthropy, drawing over 10,000 attendees and distributing $750,000 worth of toys, clothing, and donations.

The first day featured the TDE Christmas Concert, where fans gained entry by donating unwrapped toys or new clothing. The concert lineup included performances from TDE artists like SZA, Jay Rock, Isaiah Rashad, and SiR, alongside special guests GloRilla and Lefty Gunplay. Past concerts have welcomed stars like Rihanna and Big Sean, further solidifying the event as a cultural highlight.

Day two was dedicated to a Community Giveback, offering complimentary services and activities, including a toy giveaway, raffles, carnival attractions, and a snow experience. For youth, brands like Converse and True Religion donated gifts, while the Los Angeles Rams hosted a co-ed football clinic. Adults benefited from a job fair in partnership with HACLA and local organizations, creating pathways for reentry and employment.

Founded by Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith, TDE’s annual holiday tradition reflects its deep roots in the community. Both Tiffith and Grammy-winning artist Jay Rock grew up in Nickerson Gardens, making the event a meaningful way to give back.

With support from sponsors like Wasserman, Live Nation, and Amazon Music, the 11th annual TDE Christmas solidified its role as a cornerstone of holiday goodwill in Los Angeles, uniting music and community impact.

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TDE’s Top Dawg Warns Everyone To “Stand Down” After Kendrick Lamar’s New Album “GNX”

November 24, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Top Dawg knew Kendrick Lamar was a monster, and now that he’s supposedly fully unleashed, he’s warning everyone to stay out of the way. “Dot is a dangerous man right now,” the TDE label boss wrote on his Instagram Story over the weekend, referring to K.Dot’s brand new surprise album GNX. “Everything I thought he would be at 16 years old is here right now. Everybody stand down. I promise you.” No one really knows what Top talked about with these last few statements, but some fans took it the hard way and argued why other rappers could still beat Kendrick in a battle.

Of course, a lot of people agree with Top Dawg instead and consider Kendrick Lamar to be at the absolute top of the game right now. Reactions to GNX have been pretty varied, but for the most part, everyone is at least appreciative of him really going hard in his verses in ways we haven’t heard from in a while when it comes to a project setting. Now we just have to wait to find out if theories about a second album coming soon actually pan out…

Top Dawg Thinks Kendrick Lamar Is A “Dangerous Man”

Many other hip-hop figures beyond the TDE realm continue to share their takes about Kendrick Lamar and GNX, including the one and only Nas. “Always inspired by my brother KL,” he shared on Instagram about GNX and Kendrick’s shout-out to him on the intro track, “wacced out murals.” “Keeping the essence of this s**t alive and at the forefront. Salute King!” While it’s only been out a weekend, it’s already been a lot of fun to discuss this project and find out new nuggets about it with each listen. Does that make the Compton lyricist a “dangerous man?” Yes, in some fans’ eyes, and they are ecstatic about it.

Meanwhile, TDE’s Punch is also loving the back-and-forths, as he recently reacted to Snoop Dogg’s apology to Kendrick Lamar following a lyrical mention. On GNX‘s “heart pt. 6,” Kendrick talks about coming up through Top Dawg Entertainment and the special bonds that it created. Even though they went their separate ways, to see them continue to support each other is always heartening.

[via]

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Top Dawg Entertainment Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Annual Holiday Concert and Community Giveback

November 21, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) celebrates 20 years of success with its 11th annual holiday charity event at Nickerson Gardens in Watts, Los Angeles. Founded by Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith, TDE has built a legacy as a hip-hop powerhouse and a champion for giving back to underserved communities.

Presented by TDE’s charity, Top Dawg Love the Kids, this two-day event kicks off Thursday, December 12, with a charitable holiday concert. Featuring TDE’s roster of artists—including SZA, ScHoolboy Q, Jay Rock, Isaiah Rashad, and others—alongside special guests, attendees can gain entry by donating unwrapped toys, new clothes, or other charitable items. Gates open at 11 a.m. PST.

The festivities continue on Friday, December 13, with a Community Giveback day. Highlights include a toy giveaway, youth sports programming, barbering services, and a holiday photo opportunity. The event also offers a job fair focusing on reentry pathways for ex-offenders.

With roots in Nickerson Gardens, where Tiffith and Jay Rock grew up, TDE remains committed to supporting marginalized communities. The annual event has become a holiday tradition, drawing thousands and emphasizing the label’s dedication to music and social impact.

For event details, visit 11251 Compton Ave, Los Angeles. Rideshare is strongly encouraged.

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ScHoolboy Q Shuts Down Rumors That Top Dawg Prevents Artists From Releasing Albums

April 25, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Earlier this year, ScHoolboy Q released his new album Blue Lips. It was the first new project he’s released in 5 years dating back to 2019’s CrasH Talk. While that record was met with very mixed reviews from critics and fans alike, Blue Lips has been subject to much more praise. The project sports features from Freddie Gibbs, Rico Nasty, Ab-Soul and more. Fans have praised it for some of its experimental ambitions.

During a recent podcast appearance, Q discussed how many of his label mates take similarly long breaks between projects. SZA and Kendrick Lamar both famously waited until 5 years after their 2017 albums DAMN and CTRL before dropping the follow-ups, Mr. Morale & The Big-Steppers and SOS. In his interview Q spoke on some of the theories fans online have concocted, that Top Dawg is responsible for the infrequent releases of artists signed to his label. Q shuts this down hard explaining that he’d have no incentive to do something like that. In fact, he jokes that Top probably wishes some of his marquee artists released more often. Check out the clip of Q dispelling the rumors below.

ScHoolboy Q Has Top Dawg’s Back

2024 is expected to be a major year for Top Dawg Entertainment as a label. At a show earlier this year they handed out a flyer revealing that nearly ever single artist on the label, and even some new ones who hadn’t been revealed yet, were releasing new projects. Q and SiR have already gotten it started dropping their new records in March. Singles from SZA and Doechii have also left fans hyped for what’s next as the label tries to live up to its promise.

What do you think of ScHoolboy Q shutting down rumors that Top Dawg holds artists back from releasing new material? Do you think all the previously announced TDE artists will actually drop new projects this year? Let us know in the comment section below.

[Via]

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TDE Versus Young Money: Mack Maine Trolls Punch In Comical Back & Forth Over Drake Diss

April 14, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar (and frankly, half the mainstream hip-hop game) is putting almost everyone at odds, as everyone even remotely connected to either is expected to step up. However, it seems like some people are a little too quick to jump to either’s defense, which has resulted in some funny back-and-forth “disses” and responses from folks that clearly feel energized by the animosity. There was perhaps no better recent example of this than Young Money president Mack Maine trolling TDE co-president Punch on Twitter. The labels are clearly here for all the drama, but the former is particularly looking for the smoke.

“12 hour flight!” Punch tweeted on Friday evening (April 12), and Mack Main quote-tweeted over a day later with: “You still on the [plane emoji]?” alluding to the leaked Drake diss driving everyone wild. “Nah I’m the ground [sic]. What’s good?” the TDE boss responded. “I’m in the trenches babbbyyy… just makin sure you made it safe #DropAndGimme50,” the Young Moolah honcho elaborated. Clearly taking the cue, Punch kept it up with his clap-back: “Appreciate you. Made to NZ safe and sound. SZA tryna convince me to go hiking but I ain’t really Like That,” he wrote.

Punch & Mack Maine Go Back & Forth Over Drake Diss

Nah I’m the ground. What’s good? https://t.co/rlAleHie07

— Punch TDE (@iamstillpunch) April 13, 2024

“#Barz but if you do go when you fall make sure you #DropAndGimme50 ya heard me!!” Mack Maine responded. “I was just checkin on ya tho… You usually get ya @stephenasmith & @RealSkipBayless on… you was real quiet today ain’t know if yall had wifi on the [plane emoji]… Enjoy NZ.” 20 minutes later, he was too impatient to wait for a response, and the New Orleans native double-tweeted. “PS Da Canadian got nikkaz leavin [U.S. flag emoji] and it ain’t been 24 hours… Lil weaux [plane emoji] to New Zealand to go hiking you could’ve did that in Runyon weaux #DontSNOOZEandMissDaMoment #DropAndGimme50.” “Wait… are you trying to get a rise out of me Mack Maine?” Punch responded, to which Maine quote-tweeted with a simple pause emoji.

Their Exchange Continued

Appreciate you. Made to NZ safe and sound. SZA tryna convince me to go hiking but I ain’t really Like That. https://t.co/Y2j7QxM8XI

— Punch TDE (@iamstillpunch) April 13, 2024

Wait… are you trying to get a rise out of me Mack Maine? https://t.co/3TVy2IBCzy

— Punch TDE (@iamstillpunch) April 13, 2024

Meanwhile, what do you think about this back and forth? What about other responses to this Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef situation? Whatever the case, let us know in the comments down below. Also, log back into HNHH for more on Punch, TDE, Mack Maine, and Young Money.

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REASON Co-Signs Drake Diss, Addresses Conflict With TDE

April 14, 2024 by newhiphopnews

TDE rapper REASON is not a big fan of his label, as they’ve been in conflict over allegedly stalled release dates and a lack of belief in his talent. However, it came as a surprise to many when the leaked Drake diss, which sent shockwaves throughout hip-hop today (Saturday, April 13), had fans thinking that this hammered the final nail in the coffin for this artist-label relationship. Moreover, the Carson, California native tweeted and deleted that the final version of that leak’s production is really solid, and then retweeted a fan explaining part of what went down with Top Dawg Entertainment. Still, he didn’t completely let this narrative run… at least, for a little bit.

REASON then called cap on someone saying that TDE dropped him, but later clarified via Twitter that he’s been looking for those papers for a while. As such, while this is not really surprising, we at least have word from the artist that he doesn’t want to be a part of the label anymore. Hopefully this ends up working out well for both parties if it actually ends up manifesting. Most recently, their spats were much more light and frankly unconnected: one of them was just differing opinions between the Porches spitter and Top Dawg co-president Moosa on J. Cole’s Kendrick Lamar diss.

REASON’s Retweet Of A Fan Explaining His TDE Conflict After Co-Signing Drake’s Kendrick Lamar Diss

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A post shared by 2Cool2Blog (@2cool2bl0g)

In fact, REASON was also one of many folks from the TDE camp to react, whether overtly or subliminally, to Cole retracting his track against Kendrick and basically waving the white flag in their beef. “Idk man, i just… idk,” he wrote on Twitter after this went down at Dreamville Fest, which seemed to allude to it. The “Show Stop” MC actually wanted to see these titans go at each other. At least he seems to have gotten what he wanted from that Drake diss to the Compton lyricist, and might continue to do so if K.Dot’s response track comes out soon.

Addressing TDE Departure Rumors

Yea bro, been asking for a min. https://t.co/9NnBt82bLu

— REASON TDE (@reasonTDE) April 14, 2024

Meanwhile, we wonder for how much longer these label issues will persist, or how much longer either party will hold out in their firm position. Either way, it looks like this new rap civil war is making MCs just as happy as the fans, and making them reconsider their priorities and loyalties to small or large degrees. After all, there’s no way that liking a beat will be enough to completely turn you away or get you hate from any reasonable person. For more news and the latest updates on REASON, Drake, and TDE, stay up to date on HNHH.

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SZA Delivers Label Executives Top Dawg & Punch The Billboard Visionary Award

February 2, 2024 by newhiphopnews

There’s every indication that 2024 will be a huge year for Top Dawg Entertainment. Despite Kendrick Lamar moving on from the label after releasing all of his studio albums on it, they still have a stacked roster of talent. Earlier this week during a special 10th anniversary show for Isaiah Rashad’s Cilvia Demo a document they passed out made the rounds online. The document claimed that new projects were coming out from nearly every single artist on the label. It even included projects from three brand-new artists, though their names were blacked out.

Only two of the albums they’ve confirmed are currently known about. The first is SZA’s which many fans suspect is her previously announced SOS deluxe edition LANA. Earlier this week, Schoolboy Q announced his new album Blue Lips which drops in early March. It’s his first studio album since 2019’s Crash Talk. Other big TDE artists like Doechii, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, and more are also expected to drop new projects this year. During a ceremony earlier this week, SZA paid tribute to the label’s founders who set up the potential for all of this in the first place.

SZA Gives Top Dawg And Punch A Visionary Award

Top Dawg and Punch, who founded Top Dawg Entertainment in 2004, are the newest recipients of the Billboard Visionary Award. For the presentation they got one of the label’s defining artists, SZA, to give a speech and she didn’t disappoint. “I was just talking to Punch the other day about how much vision he had to have to see what he saw in me with no credentials,” she began.

“I really was looking insane and behaving insane and refused writers and all these things, and he believed in me. People would come to him and tell him he should change how I look, or I should be doing these kind of beats or working with these writers, and he didn’t change a single thing about me,” her speech continued. What do you think of SZA’s speech while giving an award to Punch and Top Dawg? What new TDE release are you most excited for this year? Let us know in the comment section below.