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Did The Weeknd Diss Drake On “We Still Don’t Trust You”?: A Timeline Of Collabs & Beef

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Drake and The Weeknd are two of music’s biggest stars right now. The two first crossed paths in the early 2010s when The Weeknd was hardly known. Since then, their relationship surprisingly seems to have gone bad. Now, it looks like The Weeknd has taken the beef to the studio.

While they started off as collaborators, their friendship slowly deteriorated over the years, possibly to a point of no return. In the last few weeks, Drake has been dissed by a handful of rappers. With the release of Future and Metro Boomin’s latest collab project WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU, fans are wondering if The Weeknd also took a shot at Drake. Here’s a timeline of the two’s relationship over the years.

Read More: Unpacking The Weeknd & ASAP Rocky’s Shots At Drake On “WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU”

2010 – 2011: Drake Co-Signs The Weeknd

The story of Drake and The Weeknd begins in 2010, the start of a significant decade for both artists. In December 2010, Drake introduced his fans to The Weeknd, who, at the time, had very little following. Two of the singer’s songs were shared on Drake’s October’s Very Own blog with the caption “Introducing The Weeknd.” Subsequently, the two linked up in 2011 during one of The Weeknd’s shows in Canada and began working together soon after. When Drake’s sophomore album eventually dropped in November 2011, the pair’s first collab was shared with the world. “Crew Love,” a standout track from Take Care, introduced a host of new fans to The Weeknd and his music. The song was the first of a handful of collaborations between the two iconic artists.

2012: The Weeknd Turns Drake Down And Signs A Deal With Republic Records

Following their successful collaboration in 2011, Drake tried to get The Weeknd to join OVO Sound. At the time, the singer was garnering some significant media buzz and was on the verge of superstardom. Speaking to MTV in May 2012, Drake shared, “As far as on paper, it’s all being worked out, but that’s not really what counts anyway. What counts to me is the fact that the affiliation is so known, and that’s all I really care about.”

Despite his statement about caring more for the affiliation than the paperwork, Drizzy seemed optimistic that The Weeknd would join his label. However, in a surprising turn of events, the singer chose to go with Republic Records instead. Following a cryptic tweet from Drake on December 11, 2012, fans speculated that the rapper was displeased with The Weeknd’s decision. However, the following year, the two were back to working together like nothing happened. 

Read More: What Is Drake’s Best-Selling Album?

2015: The Weeknd Says He Gave Up Half Of His Album For Drake

During an interview with Rolling Stone in October 2015, The Weeknd shared some interesting news. The singer revealed that he made significant contributions to Drake’s 2011 album Take Care. “I gave up almost half of my album. It’s hard. I will always be thankful—if it wasn’t for the light he shined on me, who knows where I’d be. And everything happens for a reason. You never know what I would say if this success wasn’t in front of me now,” he said. The revelation was particularly damning for Drake because he had been facing ghostwriting allegations. Following this interview, there was a noticeable rift between Drake and The Weeknd. 

2017: A Reunion

After the two barely interacted for over a year, they seemingly reunited in February 2017. The Weeknd made an appearance during a stop in Germany on Drake’s Boy Meets World tour. Subsequently, in May 2017, Drizzy returned the favor when he performed “Crew Love” with The Weeknd at two Toronto shows during the singer’s Starboy: Legend of the Fall tour. Later, during the OVO Festival in August 2017, Drake teased a joint project with The Weeknd. “I want you to understand what this is. First of all, I don’t want to do this to you on stage, but I feel like that OVOXO project has to happen at some point. I just want to say that,” he said to the singer on stage as the crowd went wild.

October – November 2017: Murky Waters Again

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – MARCH 20: Model of the Year Honoree Bella Hadid (L) and Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye attend The Daily Front Row “Fashion Los Angeles Awards” 2016 at Sunset Tower Hotel on March 20, 2016 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The Daily Front Row)

However, tension arose again later in 2017 when rumors started spreading that Drake was dating Bella Hadid, The Weeknd’s ex-girlfriend. In October 2017, Page Six reported that Bella Hadid hooked up with the “Hotline Bling” rapper. Subsequently, Hadid commented that she was friends with Drake and nothing more. However, fans claimed to notice that Drake and The Weeknd were not on the best terms following the rumors.

Later, on November 15, 2017, Drake celebrated the six-year anniversary of Take Care. He shared a photo of a rare draft of the album’s tracklist on his Instagram account, evidently happy. However, his mood was subsequently dampened when his attention was called to a comment someone left under the post. The commenter discredited Drake’s work on the album, claiming that The Weeknd wrote most of it. “Abel Tesfaye CO WROTE on ‘Shot For Me’ and ‘Practice,’ obviously was featured on ‘Crew Love’ and ‘The Ride’ and that’s it. There’s 20 songs on that album … don’t try me,” Drake responded.

January 2019: The Weeknd Seemingly Disses Drake On “Lost In The Fire”

On January 11, 2019, The Weeknd released “Lost in the Fire” a collab track with French DJ Gesaffelstein. The track contains a lyric that sparked debate among listeners soon after its release. “And I just want a baby with the right one / ‘CauseI would never be the one to hide one,” The Weeknd sings. Fans speculated that the line was aimed at Drake who had recently been revealed to have a son. 

December 2019: Drake Clears The Air About Beef With The Weeknd

Several months later, Drake seemingly addressed the feud rumors on the track “War.” The song was released on December 24, 2019, and contains lyrics fans were convinced were about The Weeknd. “And the boy that sound like he sang on ‘Thriller,’ / You know that’s been my n***a, yeah / We just had to fix things, family, 6 tings, we can’t split up,” Drizzy raps on the track. Many listeners believed that he was alluding to wanting to leave their feud behind in 2019. “War” seemed, to most fans, as a peace offering from Drake to The Weeknd.

July 2022: Drake Reminisces About The First Time He Heard The Weeknd

On July 8, 2022, Drake shared a series of videos on his Instagram story where he spoke about listening to The Weeknd for the first time. “Okay, look. This right here, this little driveway area right here was the first place that I ever heard The Weeknd’s music. Shoutout to Oliver, of course, my brother. Oliver played me The Weeknd right here. This is my old building in Toronto. We were parked out here. It was raining,” the rapper recalled. “That same guy is selling out the SkyDome tomorrow. That man is selling out the SkyDome tomorrow,” he continued. Many fans were happy to see him celebrate The Weeknd’s win and reminisce on his journey like that.

April 12th, 2024: The Weeknd’s Subtle Shots

On April 12, 2024, Metro Boomin and Future released WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU. The 25-track album is a follow-up project to their earlier release, WE DON’T TRUST YOU. The Weeknd appears on two tracks in the album: the title track, and “All to Myself.” The latter is the song that has sparked debate about whether or not the singer dissed Drake. According to listeners, some of the lines he delivers on the track seem undeniably directed at Drizzy.

“Ooh, look at how we movin’, baby (Movin’, baby) / They could never diss my brothers, baby (Future) / When they got leaks in they operation / I thank God that I never signed my life away / And we never do the big talk (No, no, no, no, no) / They shooters makin’ TikToks /Got us laughin’ in the Lambo (Yeah) / I promise that I got your back,” The Weeknd croons.

Admittedly, The Weeknd did not directly mention Drake on the track. However, it is very hard to ignore the line about signing his life away, considering that Drake tried to sign him to OVO Sound several years ago. So, did The Weeknd diss Drake on this track? Well, we can’t say for certain, but by Drake’s reaction, it sure looks like he did.

April 13th, 2024: Drake Claps Back At The Weeknd On Diss Track

After WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU dropped, Drake supposedly responded to all the disses he’d received with a track of his own. On April 14, 2024, Drizzy’s “Push Ups” was leaked on the internet. On the song, the rapper fired back at everyone who had previously come for him, including The Weeknd. “Claim the 6 and boys ain’t even come from it / And when you boys got rich you had to run from it / Cash blowin’ Abel bread, out here trickin’ / S**t we do for b***hes he doing for n***as,” the rapper spits, even firing at The Weeknd’s manager, Cash XO. In response, The Weeknd shared a photo of himself laughing on a couch with a bowl of popcorn on his life while Cash simply posted a flick of himself with Future and Metro Boomin.

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The post Did The Weeknd Diss Drake On “We Still Don’t Trust You”?: A Timeline Of Collabs & Beef appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Playboi Carti Ices Out The Weeknd And His Team With XO Opium Chains

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Playboi Carti and The Weeknd are two artists who seem to be good friends. Although they don’t make a ton of music together, they have done so at least on one occasion. For instance, Carti was on “Popular” with Madonna and The Weeknd. This track was part of the The Idol soundtrack. Overall, one could argue that this song was the only memorable part of that show. Regardless, this is a song that some people felt was the true song of the summer of 2023. It did well on radio and was a streaming favorite as well.

Moving forward, The Weeknd is looking towards his next project. The same can be said of Playboi Carti, who has dropped five songs over the past few months. Amidst this rollout, it seems as though Carti has been feeling generous and appreciative of Abel. We know this because according to Kurrco on Twitter, Carti came through with some new chains for The Weeknd and his team. As you can see below, these are some Opium-ified XO chains. The double Os are found in on top and there are some spikes included around the outside.

Read More: Offset Reveals Why Playboi Carti’s Not On “Set It Off”

Playboi Carti With A Gift

Overall, these chains are made with the express purpose of being flashy but also showcasing the longstanding relationship between Opium and XO. If you are a fan of either artist, you can definitely appreciate what is going on here. One has to wonder whether or not these two have a potential collaboration on the horizon. After all, this latest gift seemingly came out of nowhere. If Carti and The Weeknd do bring out a new song, it would be interesting to hear it in the context of Carti’s new sound.

Let us know what you think about Carti and The Weeknd as a duo, in the comments section down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will always be sure to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming projects.

Read More: Playboi Carti Reveals DMs With Vince Staples

The post Playboi Carti Ices Out The Weeknd And His Team With XO Opium Chains appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Nav: The Canadian Rapper & Producer Making Waves In Hip Hop

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Nav has been making waves in hip hop since he first emerged on the scene. The Canadian artist has played a role in some of hip hop’s most notable hits in recent memory. He started his musical journey as a producer and gained popularity as a rapper. Known for his distinctly nasal tone and auto-tuned melodies, Nav has consistently released albums since 2017 and collaborated with the biggest names in hip hop. Rooted in a musical background, Nav’s uncle was a Punjabi musician from India, inspiring him to become interested in creating music of his own. He got his start uploading songs on Soundcloud and YouTube in 2015. 

His keen ear for melody and production on early songs like 2016’s “Myself” landed him a record deal. That same year, Nav signed with fellow Toronto native The Weeknd’s XO and its parent company Republic Records, joining the superstar singer and Palestinian-Canadian rapper Belly. Proud of his Punjabi roots, Nav proclaimed himself “the first brown boy to get it poppin’.” Now a multi-platinum artist and Juno Award nominee, he has propelled himself to new heights of success. Today, we take a look at the career of Nav so far.

Nav’s Hand in Production

Before breaking out into notoriety and climbing onto the charts as an artist, Nav found early success as a producer. He co-produced Drake’s 2015 lethal diss against Meek Mill, “Back to Back” and is also credited on the track as a songwriter. Following that hit, he released “Myself,” a viral song that captured the ear of his now-manager, Cash XO. Nav’s production style often consists of moody and spacious trap beats, allowing room for a rapper to provide catchy melodies. 

Primarily crafting beats for his own albums and his XO affiliates, Nav notably co-produced “Friends” from Everything is Love, JAY-Z and Beyoncé’s 2018 collaborative album as The Carters. The first song to garner him mainstream attention as both a producer and featured artist was Travis Scott’s “Beibs in the Trap” back in 2016. Since then, the two have become frequent collaborators. Working with notable names in hip hop has allowed Nav to grow in popularity and expand his fanbase.

Numerous Collaborations

Collaboration is one of Nav’s strong suits, as his most successful songs have been in tandem with another artist. He has been featured on songs from Young Thug, AJ Tracey, Headie One, A$AP Ferg, and many more. Nav’s biggest guest features include his work with Travis Scott on the aforementioned “Biebs in the Trap” and “Yosemite” from Astroworld. Additionally, he was featured on the massive hit “Lemonade” with Internet Money, Gunna, and Don Toliver. 

While many tap Nav for features, the Canadian rapper and producer has recruited prominent names for his own tracks. Most of Nav’s most significant hits feature artists like The Weeknd, Lil Uzi Vert, Meek Mill, and Gunna, all of which are multi-platinum in Canada and the United States. His highest charting single is 2020’s “Turks” with Gunna and Travis Scott, peaking at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. Nav’s biggest hits and collaborations appear on his numerous albums and mixtapes, which he releases quite frequently.

Consistent Releases

Between producing for other artists and lending vocals to tracks from his contemporaries, Nav has been busily working on his own music. He has actively released a full-length album almost every year since 2017. His first initial releases were considered commercial mixtapes, including his self-titled debut and Perfect Timing with Metro Boomin. Nav released his debut studio album, Reckless, in 2018, followed by 2019’s Brown Boy and Bad Habits, which went No. 1. His consistent release schedule has remained active in the new decade. He started 2020 by releasing the chart-topping project Good Intentions, along with Brown Boy 2 and Emergency Tsunami that same year. 

Nav’s most recent album, Demons Protected by Angels, was released in 2022. With a rapidly growing music catalog, he continues building buzz for himself. He also does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Nav continues to add to his extensive discography with his upcoming album, Nav 2, set to be released later this year. He toured North America in 2023, generating excitement for his new project. With a new album dropping almost every year, Nav’s fanbase has continued to grow, making even larger waves for himself.

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The Weeknd Will Be On Travis Scott’s “UTOPIA,” XO Co-Founder Claims

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Of course, we all knew that The Weeknd would probably show up on Travis Scott’s highly anticipated album UTOPIA, even without all the briefcase promo. Still, it’s good to see confirmation on this news from a couple of different angles, especially when fans are so close to getting the project after a frustratingly long and cryptic rollout. Moreover, XO Records co-founder and co-manager Amir Esmailian (also known as Cash or Cash XO) just took to his Instagram to double down. He uploaded a picture of himself with the UTOPIA briefcase, tagging La Flame and Abel Tesfaye in the caption along with an hourglass emoji.

Furthermore, this is just the latest tease when it comes to the Houston MC and producer’s next full-length offering. Previously, Travis Scott upgraded from briefcases to tour buses hyping up the release of UTOPIA, with a lockbox combination that hints at a July 21 release. As far as The Weeknd’s involvement, fans can only dream of what heat they have prepared for them on the album. Maybe it will lean a little more melodic, sweet, spacey, and ’80s-tinged considering Abel’s current artistic hand of cards. On the other hand, maybe he’ll enter Scott’s darker, more rage-fueled, and psychedelic world once more.

Read More: Mike Dean Claims The Weeknd Joint Album Is On The Horizon

XO Records’ Cash Teases The Weeknd On UTOPIA

What’s more is that this could be yet another high-profile moment for the Canadian superstar after another one just wrapped up. However, considering the reception to his HBO series “The Idol,” maybe fans will consider The Weeknd’s UTOPIA more of a bounce-back than a continuation of hits. “The finale,” he remarked upon the season finale. “Grateful to share this moment with you all as the season comes to an end. continue to push the vision no matter how bumpy the journey. @lilyrose_depp @samlev00. Jocelyn Forever.”

Meanwhile, the Rodeo artist almost literally caused an earthquake with his last show, or at least that’s what many close to his Milan, Italy concert believed. Apparently firefighters in the area got a heap of calls fearing about shaking windows and floors. If that’s the kind of energy that people are anticipating UTOPIA with, it’s a good thing that the After Hours crooner will be there to cool things down. Regardless, stick around on HNHH for the latest news and updates on Travis Scott and The Weeknd.

Read More: Travis Scott Reportedly Filming “Utopia” Album Trailer

The post The Weeknd Will Be On Travis Scott’s “UTOPIA,” XO Co-Founder Claims appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Belly Reveals His Post-Rap Retirement Plans After Next Two Albums

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Sometimes, it’s hard to let go of things you love but it’s necessary. So, when we hear rappers deciding to bow out from the industry, it comes with a bittersweet sentiment. For an artist like Belly, who lays out his life every time he steps to the microphone, the decision to step back from releasing music was met with both support and sadness. With the release of Mumble Rap 2, he revealed that he has two more projects in the stash before gracefully exiting the rap game. “I love yall with all my heart, sincerely, but this industry has taken it’s toll on me. MR2 will be the first of my last three albums ever. Mini tour for MR2 then a farewell tour after my next 2,” he wrote.

During our recent interview with the Palestinian-Canadian rapper, he explained that he still loves rapping but his apparent issues with the industry at large have turned him off from wanting to participate. “I don’t think I’ll ever hang up the mic in terms of doing what I love because I’ll always do it. I just don’t know if I want to be part of the cycle of everything anymore. It has more to do with me than it does with the industry. Obviously, everyone knows that the industry can be shady – any industry can. Once you start getting to higher levels and bigger offices… things can get merky,” he explained.

Read More: Belly Reacts To Snoop Dogg’s Bid For The Ottawa Senators

The Next Chapter For Belly

MANCHESTER, TN – JUNE 10: Recording artist Belly (far R) performs onstage at This Tent during Day 3 of the 2017 Bonnaroo Arts And Music Festival on June 10, 2017 in Manchester, Tennessee. (Photo by FilmMagic/FilmMagic for Bonnaroo Arts And Music Festival )

Belly added, “Really, my goal in life is to create and imagine. And I think everything else will fall into place after that. So, without the restrictions or the parameters of the music industry, I think I could flourish a lot more when it comes to that.” So what exactly are these plans? After cementing his name in hip-hop, working alongside some of the greatest artists of all time, including his labelmate The Weeknd, he’s similarly looking towards branching outside of the music industry while expanding his creative output. 

“You know, I just want to create, man, I want to make art. I want to explore every medium of entertainment and art. You know, I’ve been writing TV and film stuff. Getting into writing scripts. A couple of scripted podcasts,” he revealed. “Putting my writing into other platforms and into other ways to connect and into other ways to imagine things and create things. Then, it just helps me when I come back to this because it doesn’t feel like I’m waking up everyday and having one job. And I never want it to feel like a job, you know? So, you know, it actually balances everything out for me.” Mumble Rap 2 is out now. 

Read More: Belly Doubts Jay-Z Collab Will Ever See The Light Of Day

Belly & Hit-Boy’s Chemistry Thrives On “Mumble Rap 2” Ft. Gucci Mane, Rick Ross & More

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One of Canada’s sharpest wordsmiths has, once again, proven that he’s a beast in his own right. Belly returned with the release of his highly-anticipated new album, Mumble Rap 2, executive produced by Hit-Boy. Marking the follow-up to See You Next Wednesday, Belly enlists a slew of heavy hitters for the anthem. Rick Ross, who Belly describes as one of his favorite rappers, appears on “Cocaine Spoon,” while Gucci Mane joins the rapper on “De La Hoya.” However, the XO presence looms heavily, as well, with Nav appearing on “Just Like Me.” 

Perhaps, the most surprising inclusion on the tracklist comes from the late Gil Scott-Heron. The influential poet’s voice appears on “Loyalty v. Royalty,” a bluesy banger with production from Hit-Boy and Scott-Heron’s estate’s blessing. “We reached out. They were incredible, great about it. They just wanted to hear the record, heard the record. They were like, ‘Yeah. Done.’ Signed off on it,” Belly told HotNewHipHop in a recent interview. “Even for me, it was like, shocking because I had never tried to clear something like that.’”

Belly Unveils “Mumble Rap 2”

The latest effort from the rapper comes shortly after he announced that he has three albums left before stepping away from the music industry. Earlier this year, he confirmed that after Mumble Rap 2, he would hit the road before dropping two more albums and heading on a farewell tour. “I love yall with all my heart, sincerely, but this industry has taken it’s toll on me,” he wrote. “MR2 will be the first of my last three albums ever. Mini tour for MR2 then a farewell tour after my next 2.”

At this point, he hasn’t revealed any further details on his last two albums. However, it’s unlikely that we see the long-awaited Jay-Z collaboration land on either. The rapper previously teased a song titled “Midnight Zone” alongside the Roc Nation boss. But, in a recent interview with HotNewHipHop, he revealed the status of the record. “Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t think that’s gon’ be the case,” Belly explained when asked if the Jay-Z collab might appear on his future projects. “Just the fact I was able to get in the studio with Hov and just be in there and just to have him pull up to a couple of sessions – that’s a life-long dream for me right there.”

“Cocaine Spoon” Ft. Rick Ross

In addition to the release of Mumble Rap 2,  Belly also unveiled the official visuals for the single, “Cocaine Spoon” ft. Rick Ross. The new video comes after the release of both “American Nightmare” and “Ambiance,” which share a similar aesthetic to his latest video. Check it out above.  

Belly Feels Like “Biggie & Puff Combined” On New Single “Ambiance”

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Two years after the release of See You Next Wednesday, XO hitmaker Belly is gearing up for the release of his next studio album, Mumble Rap 2.  He unveiled the lead single, “American Nightmare” last month but today, he returned with his second single, “Ambiance.” With production from The ANMLS, Belly comes out swinging from the gate with cheeky shots at Instagram models and bold comparisons to the iconic Bad Boy duo of the Notorious B.I.G. and Puff Daddy. 

The Hit-Boy-produced “American Nightmare” boasted a triumphant feeling but “Ambiance” delves deeper into the hazy and hypnotic production choices heard from his earlier work. Although the bravado runs deep throughout the song, Belly doesn’t hide the demons that he’s battled, from mental health to substance abuse struggles. It’s another extraordinary effort that has us absolutely excited for Belly’s upcoming album Mumble Rap 2.

Belly Releases New Single “Ambiance” Ahead Of Next Album

Along with the release of “Ambiance,” Belly also dropped the tracklist for his upcoming album, due out on May 19th. The upcoming effort boasts 11 songs in total with some incredible features attached to it. Belly locked in a posthumous appearance from the great Gil Scott-Heron for “Loyalty Vs. Royalty. Although The Weeknd won’t appear on the album, Belly’s XO labelmate, Nav, will also have a feature on Mumble Rap 2. Additionally, Gucci Mane and Rick Ross will appear on the project on the singles, “De La Hoya” and “Cocaine Spoon,” respectively.

Unfortunately, Mumble Rap 2 is among the final projects Belly will release before hanging up the towel. The Canadian rapper announced that he has three projects in the stash, including MR2. He will embark on a mini-tour after this album before heading on a farewell tour after the following two. Check out Belly’s latest single above and check out the tracklist for Mumble Rap 2 below.

Quotable Lyrics
Shanghai collar can’t pop it, cause I’m anti
Mankind mama, by standard you should stand by
Yang ties, we ain’t on the same side
Got it out the mud like a landslide
Kept on, selling off the land line
Stepped on, still that shit blew up just like a landmine

Mumble Rap 2 Tracklist

Belly Is Back With “American Nightmare” Produced By Hit-Boy

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The wait is over and Belly is back. In the past two years since he released See You Next Wednesday, the rapper’s confirmed that he plans to retire in the near future. Fortunately, he has a few albums in the cut before he does. This morning, Belly returned with his latest single, “American Nightmare,” a new collaboration with Hit-Boy. The “Might Not” rapper sounds as revitalized as ever, gliding through the horn-centric production with command and high energy. Along with Hit-Boy, Nick Lamb and DannyBoyStyles share co-production credits on “American Nightmare.”

With politically-charged bars, the rapper kicks off the campaign for Mumble Rap 2 due out on May 19th. On “American Nightmare,” he delves deep into the targeting of the Middle Eastern community across the U.S. “Coming from a place that the media constantly demonizes, I wanted to express how proud I am of being not only an Arab, but someone who’s been able to set an example for young Arabs everywhere,” he explained. “The Arabian Dream, feels like the American Nightmare sometimes but we’d rather be dreamers. It’s easy to be patient when you know what you’re destined for.”

Belly Prepares For Mumble Rap 2

Belly has undoubtedly earned his reputation as a writer, from penning some of The Weeknd’s biggest hits to his own hit records. However, Mumble Rap 2, which will be executive produced by Hit-Boy, will remind fans of his proficiencies as an MC, which are on full display on “American Nightmare.” “With the first Mumble Rap I had already had a hit record and I wanted to remind people not to forget, where I actually come from & that I really do this,” he said of his upcoming project in a statement.

The rapper confirmed earlier this year that he will release three more albums, including MR2, before he hands up the microphone for good. “I love yall with all my heart, sincerely, but this industry has taken it’s [sic] toll on me,” Belly wrote in February. “MR2 will be the first of my last three albums ever. Mini tour for MR2 then a farewell tour after my next 2.” Though the news is bittersweet, we’re excited to hear what he has up his sleeve on Mumble Rap 2. Check out his latest single above.

Quotable Lyrics
5 mill for the Cali crib
Middle finger to my old neighbors
I put out a album called Immigrant
I’m in the country with no papers, damn

The Weeknd Debuts “Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength)” From “Avatar 2”

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Disney’s preparing the release of Avatar 2: The Way Of The Water. Ahead of its release, The Weeknd released the first single from the soundtrack.

The new song initially appeared in the teaser for the movie earlier this month on The Weeknd’s page. Swedish House Mafia and composer, Simon Franglen, who scored the film, co-produce The Weeknd’s new single for Avatar 2.

Jon Landau, Avatar 2: Way Of The Water producer, explained how the song came together. It began after Landau met The Weeknd during the After Hours til Dawn Tour this summer.

“When he came in, Swedish House Mafia came up with the concept of the song, and they embraced working with our composer, Simon Franglen. And together, they came up with a song that is true to who The Weeknd is but is organic to our film,” Landau told Complex. “And that’s what was important to us. We didn’t want just something to come on at the end of the movie that felt outside of it, but he embraced that collaboration, and his voice, oh my God.”

The Weeknd is coming off of an incredibly strong year. At the top of 2022, he released his new album, Dawn FM — an undeniably solid body of work. Since then, he hit the road in support of his latest project. As a result of his charitable efforts, the 2022 CMW Allan Slaight Humaniratian Spirit Award was awarded to The Weeknd. The Canadian singer’s latest honor recognized his philanthropic efforts.

“That this is a Canadian award sits deep with me,” he said. “Allan and The Slaight Family Foundation are known across the country for their generous philanthropy, and it means a lot to be acknowledged, and is an honour to be recognized along with the legendary Canadian artists who received this award before me.”

Check out The Weeknd’s new song for Avatar 2 below.

Quotable Lyrics
If I die, if I stay, give me strength
I’m with you either way
Nothing’s lost, no more pain