Since Kendrick Lamar has yet to respond to “Push Ups,” Drake has gone back to back. Hitting Instagram, The 6ix God dropped off the “Taylor Made Freestyle.”
Upon pressing play you will hear something that you wouldn’t expect, Tupac’s voice.The single opens with an AI Tupac verse requesting KDot stands up for the West Coast. It is followed by an AI Snoop Dogg asking for the same.
AI Tupac raps: Fuck this Canadian lightskin, Dot We need an undebated West Coast victory, man Call him a bitch for me Talk about him liking young girls, that’s a gift from me Heard it on the Budden Podcast, it’s gotta be true They told me the spirit of Makaveli is alive In the nigga under five-foot five, so it’s gotta be you
AI Snoop added: ‘Cause right now it’s looking like you writing out the game plan on how to lose How to bark up the wrong tree and then get your head popped in a crowded room World is watching this chess game, but are you out of moves?
After that, Drake pops in for his own slick talk: The first one really only took me an hour or two The next one is really ’bout to bring out the coward in you But now we gotta wait a fucking week ’cause Taylor Swift is your new Top And if you ’bout to drop, she gotta approve
Since “Like That,” your tone changed a little, you not as enthused How are you not in the booth? It feel like you kinda removed You tryna let this shit die down, nah, nah, nah Not this time, nigga, you followin’ through
He ends the song with a message, “I know you’re in that NY apartment, you struggling right now I know it.”
NLE Choppa is fresh off the release of his new song “SLUT ME OUT 2.” It’s a sequel to one of his biggest hits to date. The original “SLUT ME OUT” dropped last year and landed on his Cottonwood 2 project. The song spent 14 weeks on the Hot 100 and became his highest-peaking song ever when it hit number 28 on the chart. The track currently sits with over 320 streams on Spotify which lands it in his 5 most-streamed songs ever on the platform.
Last week he dropped “SLUT ME OUT 2,” the highly anticipated sequel to the original raunchy banger. It arguably dials up the intensity of the original track even more. It’s off to a strong start on streaming as well pushing towards nearly 2 million streams in less than a week. He took to Instagram to keep promoting the song and did it with a special bathtub photo shoot. In one particular picture, Choppa channels a famous Tupac photo. He lays in a bathtub covered by his own jewelry, though he also makes the addition of dozens of rubber ducks. It’s just one photo in a series of bathtub and shower shots he posted to promote the song. Check out the full set of pictures below.
NLE Choppa wanted to thank one particular group of people for their support and backing of his new single. He made a tweet shouting out the LGBTQ+ community for their appreciation for the song. Though that caught him some negative attention from rap fans in his comments, he doubled down. He chastised one fan in particular for accusing him of being gay simply for thanking the community for their support.
What do you think of NLE Choppa recreating a famous Tupac photo to promote his new single with? Do you think he did a good job at capturing the appeal of the original picture? Let us know in the comment section below.
Even from his luxury retreat in Bali, Russell Simmons is keeping up with the latest unfolding in the music industry. Though he spends most of his time focusing on mental wellness and meditation these days, on Monday (April 15), the executive posted a video on Instagram with some thoughts on all the drama unfolding around us recently. In his post, Simmons reflected on the infamous East vs. West Coast beef that led to the deaths of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls. He compares it to modern situations, including global wars that are far beyond the problems of the entertainment world.
“I walked Biggie to his car and I felt, that night, his death,” Simmons shared. “I must have been involved in saving the lives of God knows how many rappers. I’ve solved so many rap beefs behind the scenes,” he added. After walking Smalls to his car, the 66-year-old headed home where he got a call from a leading member of the Crips gang.
“Mike Concepcion called me and told me [Biggie] had been killed. The next day, I called and we set up a meeting at Mr. Farrakhan’s house. We had a meeting where East and West came together. It kind of stopped the war,” Simmons told his followers. “But it was a big deal because people were dying. Biggie and Tupac were dead. Rap beef escalated to that. We had a meeting and I felt, that night, his death.”
While her dad uses his IG platform to reflect on his role in the music industry, Aoki Lee Simmons has also been expressing herself online. The 21-year-old was under a lot of scrutiny for vacationing with a man over four decades older than her recently, and while she looked happy in his company on the beach, their fling ended almost as quickly as the world found out about it. Read what Russell Simmons’ daughter said about the situation at the link below, and check back in with HNHH later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
50 Cent’s original series, BMF, is all about the rise and fall of the Black Mafia Family. The public remembers the real-life enterprise as ‘Blowin’ Money Fast,’ thanks to its many references in rap music. But its latest episode shows that writers are the ones speedy through materials. Users online have taken to X (formerly Twitter) to call out the show for what they believe to be a historical inaccuracy and a questionable casting decision.
In its latest episode, “Sanctuary” (Season 3, Episode 3), the series’ main character, Meech (played by Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory Jr., yes, that’s his actual father) so, happens to run into the late Tupac (played by Mason Douglas). The episode’s description explains that the encounter, seemingly inspired by true events, would’ve taken place at the Jack the Rapper Weekend in 1993.
However, users online couldn’t help but clown the series for the ‘off-brand’ portrayal of the rap legend. Others called about the series from time jumping, making the encounter highly unlikely.
Check out a few of the responses below.
“‘BMF’ can’t be serious with this TEMU version of Tupac,” wrote one user.
Some users attempted to defend the scene by verifying the event details. “For everyone confused, Meech is attending the 1993 Jack the Rapper convention; that’s why Tupac is bald. They briefly show us the Wu-Tang Clan and Kid n Play, too,” explained one user.
For everyone confused, Meech is attending the 1993 Jack the Rapper convention, that’s why Tupac is bald. They briefly show us the Wu Tang Clan and Kid n Play too #BMFStarzpic.twitter.com/4D2U8Ma9El
But others were going for the breakdown. “It’s supposed to be 1990/91 in the show, though, not 93. Season 1 was 89. Timelines aren’t matching up, and that’s where the confusion is stemming from,” replied a user.
it’s supposed to be 1990/91 in the show though, not 93. season 1 was 89. timelines aren’t matching up n that’s where the confusion is stemming from.
Here’s actually photos of what Tupac actually wore to the Jack the Rapper events in Atlanta in 1992. I find it lazy to just put a bandana on a bald guy & say “this is pac,” they were better off doing similar fits like this #BMFpic.twitter.com/m09TXSGgjH
BMF fans have voiced their frustration over the show’s weak casting and portrayal of Tupac Shakur. Actor Mason Douglas only bears a passing resemblance to Pac, while the costuming debate chose to give him what can only be described as a Spirit Halloween 2Pac costume. Online, many fans commented “WhoPac” on clips from the show’s latest episode. 2Pac does not play much of a role in the story of BMF. However, his association with the powerful crime outfit is enough to warrant a brief cameo appearance as the show’s story unfolds.
The casting of 2Pac has always been a daunting one. Anthony Mackie, now best known for his work in the MCU, has famously recalled the dread he felt announcing that he would be playing 2Pac. Overall, most depictions of the beloved rapper have not gone over well with fans. How did you feel about 2Pac in BMF? Let us know in the comments.
However, BMF is not the only 50 Cent show grabbing disappointing headlines this week. Power Book II: Ghost will end after its upcoming fourth season. Starz announced the decision as a cost-cutting measure. “We want to contain content costs by developing more new shows versus sustaining series longer as they become more expensive,” Star CEO Jeffrey Hirsch explained.
Furthermore, Hirsch expanded on the rationale. “You look at the [Power] map and say, ‘OK, if I take one of those characters out and spin one of those out, I can bring that on to replace the Power show at half the cost.’ Now I’m putting a lot of money right to the bottom line. And I’m really not losing anything in terms of acquisition costs and subscriber viewership, because we know what those demos want,” he added. It’s not the first time money has been a factor with Ghost. Omari Hardwick revealed last year he was made an underwhelming offer to return to the franchise as the eponymous Ghost.
2023 was a strong year for female rap in terms of lyricism, but so far, 2024 has been mostly about the drama. As for the men in the music industry, they’re not entirely innocent either. In particular, Eminem and Benzino’s decades-old beef is rearing its ugly head in the media again. The former threw shots at the latter on “Doomsday Pt. 2” a few weeks ago, suggesting that the former head of The Source magazine is a member of the LGBTQ+ community while insulting his appearance.
After taking time to write his “Vulturius” response (with some admitted help), and arguing with Joe Budden, we saw Benzino get in his feeling on Drink Champs. More recently, he spoke with The Art of Dialogue about more of Eminem’s work – the 2004 posthumous Tupac LP, Loyal to the Game, layering the late MC’s raps over the Detroit native’s beats. “I think the s**t that he did with ‘Pac was horrible,” Benzino declared of the album.
Benzino Continues Eminem Hate Train on The Art of Dialogue
“I think he should have never had ‘Pac’s lyrics to do it. I understand at the time, Afeni [Shakur], maybe it was a money thing. He probably paid for that, because that there was the closest that he would be to ‘Pac,” the 58-year-old speculated. But that was another insult on our culture and community, what he did with that album. That was trash… He should have never got the okay to play with ‘Pac’s voice like that, and his legacy.”
Besides Loyal to the Game, another Eminem throwback has been running through Benzino’s mind over the past few days. Amid the rappers’ resurfaced feud, the latter pulled out an old image of Slim Shady in cosplay as Britney Spears, which certainly has hip-hop heads talking this week. Read all about that at the link below, and let us know what you think of the posthumous Tupac LP all these years later in the comments.
When it comes to R&B, artists like Jon B. remind us that the genre is far from dead, it’s alive now more than ever.
With a career spanning three decades, Jon B. is best known for his timeless hits such as “They Don’t Know,” “Are U Still Down?”, “I Do,” and many more. With endless plaques to his name, the recording artist is best known for his exceptional vocals and songwriting skills, which still hold strong to this day.
Most recently, Jon B. hosted an event in Los Angeles with Glass House Brands, delivering an intimate performance of both old and new records. He also did a Q&A prior, touching on everything from the standout features on his new project to having an album with DJ Quik to being the last artist to perform with Tupac.
Speaking on the vibes in the studio with Tupac, Jon B. states, “Tupac had the energy of an absolute — he was a ball of energy. From the moment that I got there, I had all of the equipment that I needed to produce the track myself, so I was ready to show him what I had. As far as if I need to cook this up from the beginning, it’s all good. I’m ready.”
He continues: “But before I did that, I said ‘play me some something that you have. You got anything in mind that we might could rock already?’ The first beat that he played me was the beat to ‘Are U Still Down?’ Which was produced by legendary producer Johnny J. Rest in peace Johnny J. That beat spoke to me right away. This is my Marvin Gaye joint right here. This is my ‘Midnight Love’, this is my ‘Sexual Healing’. This is a record right here I can fuck with.”
“Instantaneously, I said ‘Put that down. Let’s start writing to it,” and we started to do that,” Jon B. explains.
“Are U Still Down?” serves as the only song Jon B. and Tupac did together physically in the studio.
In terms of new music, fans can expect Jon B.’s forthcoming project titled Waiting on You, with features from Rick Ross, Tank, Donell Jones, and Alex Isley.
“First Day Out” tracks have long been a staple of Hip Hop culture. Starting as far back as Violent J (of the ICP duo)’s 1991 contribution, artists have been emerging from prison and jail with a renewed vigor and outlook on life. In some cases, this initially presents itself with a kickass rap track. As a result, the days before or after a rapper is released from behind bars is widely anticipated. While not every free rapper takes this route, the ones that have made sure to come out swinging. Here’s a list of some of the best “First Day Out” Hip Hop tracks.
When the City Girls dropped “JT First Day Out,” it was the perfect cherry to top off a long year of excellent tracks, despite the rude interruption of prison time. JT had just returned after serving 28 months in prison for credit card fraud charges. On the track, JT expressed her determination to keep blazing on no matter what.
“I been a real bitch way before the fed case / Yung Miami held me down, that’s a bitch ace / And if a bitch try her, it’s a cold case,” she rapped. Yung Miami had remarkably made sure that the duo’s momentum and dominance on the Billboard charts remained unchanged. She kept the City Girls running, working with big-time artists, particularly Cardi B and French Montana.
“First Day Out” – Kodak Black
Kodak’s “First Day Out” is a lesson on humility- or at least the futility of it. This is with the consideration that not many formerly incarcerated people can confidently repeat lines like “Gave my momma hunnid racks” on the first day of their release. It was almost a tell-all of his feelings and experiences while in jail, from allegedly concealing drugs in his cell during his incarceration to planning a comeback.
“That was my twelfth time going to jail/ That was my second time going to hell and back,” he spat. The rapper was released on June 5, 2017 after serving nearly a month of his 364-day sentence. He was locked up for a parole violation from a series of 2016 convictions. Unfortunately, the song was still hot on the streets when Kodak racked up another round of felony charges across South Carolina. These include an alleged sexual assault, multiple gun charges, and a house arrest violation.
“California Love” was Tupac’s triumphant re-entry into society following his release from prison in 1995. It remains one of the most successful First Day Out tracks ever. He had spent the previous eight months incarcerated at the Clinton Correctional Facility on contested sexual abuse charges. Pac, however, maintained his innocence and was released pending an appeal. Although he was released to what would sadly be the countdown to the end of his life, his talent remained, expectedly, unmatched.
“Out on bail, fresh outta jail, California dreamin’!” is still an iconic song opening to this day. In fact, it still resonates on highways, and in clubs today. In the song, Pac pays homage to his beloved West Coast and California, from Sacramento to the Bay Area and beyond. The song also features producer-rapper Dr. Dre, and singer Roger Troutman with his signature ‘talk box’ vocal effects.
“First Day Out” – Tee Grizzley
In October 2016, Tee Grizzley was released from a Michigan prison. That very day, he recorded a song and bared his whole heart into it, and it changed his life. Three years before, he had found himself in hot water with the law after a failed jewelry heist in Kentucky. Coupled with that was a series of alleged home break-ins, which bagged him three years in the slammer. Unlike the other artists on this list, however, Tee Grizzlley was not a known name in the industry at the time of his incarceration.
On November 16, 2016, Tee Grizzley dropped “First Day Out,” one of the most memorable tracks in his discography. The single was released one month after he served time, and was marketed as his debut single. He was notably quite emotional on the song, rapping about his struggles, and what it felt like to fight for his life in court. While the track garnered momentum, an unofficial shoutout from LeBron James boosted the song’s popularity.
James made a video dancing to the track, which kicked off the “LeBron James Challenge,” where people copied the athlete’s moves in their videos. Tee Grizzley also received a shoutout from Jay-Z and was signed by Atlantic Records in 2017. Luckily, besides a small hiccup in August 2018, when he got arrested for breaking curfew, he’s managed to stay out of trouble since then. Instead, he’s focused on his music and his new career as a Twitch streamer.
A king among others, Gucci Mane’s “First Day Out” is what many other tracks aspire to be. Released as a part of his Writing On The Wall mixtape, the track came out in 2009. Throughout these years, it remains the gold standard for First Day Out tracks. Before his sentencing, Gucci Mane found himself in a long string of legal troubles that almost seemed too much for one man.
In 2005, he faced an aggravated assault charge for an incident involving a nightclub manager the previous year. Then, he narrowly escaped a murder charge for his involvement in a shooting tied to a member of Jeezy’s crew, Pookie Loc. To worsen the situation, Gucci Mane kept violating his probation. Finally, he got sent to county jail for six months for all his probation violations.
The year was 2008, and his career was bigger than it had ever been before. However, when Gucci came back into the sunlight, he recorded “First Day Out.” The song showed how jail had only given him time to sharpen his lyricism. He would later release another acclaimed first day out track in 2016: “1st Day Out Tha Feds.” Nonetheless, everyone agrees that the original is where it’s actually at.
Over the years, many Frankie Beverly samples have made their way into Hip Hop. For decades now, the music the frontman of Maze made with the band has gotten a lot of love in the rap landscape. With his songs, producers and artists have repeatedly created timeless and nostalgic tracks through the art of sampling. Although he hasn’t released new material since the ‘90s, Frankie Beverly has significantly contributed to R&B, and by proxy, Hip Hop gems. Prominent rappers, including the likes of 50 Cent and 2Pac, have sampled the icon’s music at some point. Evidently, there’s a deep appreciation for the music of Frankie Beverly in Hip Hop. Here are some of his most unforgettable samples in the genre.
On October 11, 2005, “Hustler’s Ambition” was released as the lead single from the Get Rich Or Die Tryin’movie soundtrack. Upon its release, it didn’t take long for the song to gain traction and become a moderate hit. While it wasn’t a chart-topper, it became wildly popular and appeared on charts worldwide. At its core, “Hustler’s Ambition” provides a glimpse into 50 Cent’s life. Emphatically, it chronicles his struggles, ambitions, and relentless pursuit of success. The compelling and introspective track resonated with fans for its raw lyrics, evocative storytelling, and melodic production. Additionally, it contains one of the most popular Frankie Beverly samples in Hip Hop. It features vocal and instrumental elements from “I Need You” by Maze ft. Frankie Beverly. These sampled elements appear in several parts throughout the song.
“The Real One” – 2 Live Crew & Ice-T
As far as unforgettable Frankie Beverly Hip Hop samples go, “The Real One” is certainly one of those. The song was released on April 7, 1998, and is the title track of 2 Live Crew’s eighth album. While it was not a massive commercial success, it was a standout track from the album. “The Real One” was especially enjoyed for its sample of the iconic Maze & Frankie Beverly song, “Before I Let Go.” Besides the many times it has been sampled across genres, “Before I Let Go” has been famously covered by Beyonce and Mary J. Blige. For the sample on “The Real One,” 2 Live Crew used Frankie Beverly’s vocals. In addition, many elements of the original beat were retained as well, and can be heard throughout “The Real One.” 2 Live Crew and Ice-T ate their respective verses up, putting the sample to good use.
“Can U Get Away” – 2Pac
One of the greatest Hip Hop samples of a Frankie Beverly song was created on Tupac’s “Can U Get Away.” This soulful offering from the late icon is a track on his critically acclaimed third album, Me Against The World. While it was not released as one of the album’s singles, it is certainly one of its standout tracks. With evocative lyrics, the song delves into the concept of escaping from a toxic environment for the sake of love. 2Pac was also a full-blown romantic on the track, and he wore the hat proudly. Showcasing his storytelling ability, he vividly painted the picture of a woman trapped in a toxic relationship, and urged her to break free. “Can U Get Away” contains a sample of Frankie Beverly’s “Happy Feelin’s.” The sample, in combination with the beat, creates a soulful and melodic backdrop for 2Pac’s heartfelt lyrics.
While it’s been over a decade since Nate Dogg sadly passed away, his legacy powerfully lives on through songs like “These Days.” It was released as a part of the King of Hook’s debut album, G-Funk Classic, Vol. 1 & 2 (1998). Both Nate Dogg and Daz Dillinger deliver on their verses, and the iconic hook brings it all together. Of the many Frankie Beverly samples present in Hip Hop, the one on “These Days” is arguably the easiest to miss. However, this is precisely why it is so fun to point out and sticks with listeners afterward. Like 2 Live Crew’s “The Real One,” the sampled track on “These Days” is Beverly’s “Before I Let Go.” The sample comes in at the 2:41 mark on “These Days,” and only then. Go give it a listen now to hear what exactly Nate Dogg borrowed from Frankie Beverly’s song.
“Go Ahead In The Rain” – A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest released their critically acclaimed debut album on April 10, 1990. One of the tracks that make up the alternative Hip Hop masterpiece is “Go Ahead In The Rain.” Although it is not among the group’s most popular tracks, the song has been appreciated by listeners since 1990. It samples a special rendition of “Joy And Pain” by Frankie Beverly. The version that is sampled is from the Live In Los Angeles album Maze and Frankie Beverly released in 1986. About 30 seconds into “Go Ahead In The Rain,” the sample kicks in. The interesting vocal sample is taken from the 0:21 mark of “Joy and Pain (Live in Los Angeles).” Although no additional elements are borrowed from the song, that one vocal sample significantly contributes to “Go Ahead in the Rain.” It can be heard throughout the song.
Nate D. Sanders Auctions is set to showcase a remarkable piece of music history: a signed concert ticket by Tupac Shakur from January 1992, just two months after the release of his debut album, 2Pacalypse Now. The auction is scheduled for January 26, 2024.
The ticket, autographed on the verso in blue ballpoint, features Tupac’s unmistakable signature and the inscription, ”PEACE 2U 2PAC.” This unique artifact captures a pivotal moment when Tupac was on the verge of stardom, and the autograph conveys the artist’s iconic message of peace.
The concert ticket is for the Digital Underground show on January 31, 1992, at the Warfield in San Francisco. Given Digital Underground’s crucial role in Tupac’s early career, this ticket is a sought-after collector’s item for fans and enthusiasts.
This auction offers a rare chance for individuals to possess a tangible piece of Tupac Shakur’s formative years and enduring legacy. The signed concert ticket is a nostalgic memento, highlighting the artist’s profound influence and lasting impact on hip-hop.
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