New Hip Hop News

We’re back with another round of Fire Emoji playlist updates with some of the hottest tracks that dropped on Friday. This week, Moneybagg Yo came through with the official “deluxe” version of his chart-topping album, A Gangsta’s Pain. Adding another seven songs to the tracklist, the Memphis rapper brings a slew of collaborators on deck. Lil Durk and EST Gee slide through on Moneybagg Yo’s “Switches & Dracs.” This marks Durk’s second appearance on the project following “Free Promo” alongside Polo G.

Big Sean’s been on a helluva run this year following the release of 2020’s Detroit 2. Hit-Boy has certainly played a role in shaping Big Sean’s recent run, and once again, the two join forces for “What A Life.” Sean’s rapping his ass off, once again, shutting down any of his naysayers who’ve claimed that he’s fallen off. 

The final addition on this week’s Fire Emoji playlist comes from Lil Tjay. Coming off of the release of Destined 2 Win, Lil Tjay enlisted another drill heavyweight, along with a buzzing up-and-comer for his new single, “Not In The Mood.” The exhilarating new banger includes appearances from Kay Flock and Fivio Foreign who has been crushing every guest appearance since his release from prison earlier this year.

Check out the latest Fire Emoji playlist update below and subscribe to HNHH on Spotify. 

Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics were not as good as they should have been last year. There were many around the league who felt like this team could have gone far, but in the end, they were a first-round exit. Since that time, the Celtics have been trying to retool around the likes of Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Heading into this season, there was this hope that they would be able to find renewed success, although so far, it’s been more of the same disappointment.

For instance, the Celtics lost their first game of the season to the New York Knicks, and last night, they lost to the Toronto Raptors by over 30 points. So far, the Celtics haven’t been able to show much physicality, and it’s allowing teams to run all over them.

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After the game, Tatum spoke to reporters about everything, where he admitted that the squad could be a lot better. Needless to say, Tatum wants him and his teammates to be more aggressive as the season goes on.

“We were too relaxed,” Tatum said. “It’s all about how you respond, how we come back on Sunday with a different mindset, more life, more energy.”

The Celtics will have an opportunity to get back on track Sunday when they take on the Rockets in Houston.

Soulja Boy has found a way to feud practically everyone possible, including NBA Youngboy’s loyal and dedicated fanbase. It’s not uncommon to find Youngboy fans in the comment section of any artist claiming that “YB Better.” Or, they’ll clown an artist by telling them they’ve fallen off or claiming “ratio,” whatever that means.

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Ultimately, Soulja Boy made it clear he has no problems with NBA Youngboy. During the latest episode of Akademiks’ Off The Record podcast, he dove into his recent spat with Youngboy’s fans, explaining that it actually had nothing to do with the incarcerated rapper. At first, he said that he brushed off YB’s fans who continued to tell him that he fell off but after a while, he started trolling them back. “I fuck with Youngboy. It’s just, he has some crazy ass fans,” he explained. “You gotta remember, bruh. The internet and the streets 2 different things,” he added, clarifying that the Internet trolls who support Youngboy so much are the ones that he was targeting with his previous tweets.

For Soulja Boy, the retaliation against Youngboy fans finally ended the incessant trolling. However, he said that he had already discussed what seemed like a diss towards YB with OG 3Three to squash any potential tension between the two. 

Later on in the interview, Soulja Boy revealed that Youngboy actually reached out to him early on in his career to secure a deal with SODMG.

“Youngboy, this n***a DM’d me [in] 2016, ‘I’m from Baton Rouge, I’m 16. I’m trying to make it…’ And I DM’d the n***a back. I’m like, ‘Wassup?’ And he hit me back like ‘Wassup?’ But I didn’t see the wassup until a month. He was signed,” Soulja Boy explained. “I could’ve signed NBA Youngboy but n***as don’t knowin’ shit like that.”

Check out the full episode below.

Since Odell Beckham Jr. burst onto the scene early in his career with the New York Giants, he simply hasn’t been the same player, and now appears to be moving backwards as a member of the Cleveland Browns. Whether it’s due to injuries or a lack of cohesiveness and continuity with Browns’ quarterbacks, Odell’s usage and production has began to diminish. He knows it, fans know it, and now, even current players are speaking out on it.

Former Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III, took to Twitter in OBJ’s defense, after a hampered Beckham and his aggravated shoulder managed just 23 yards on two receptions in Thursday’s win over the Denver Broncos. 

The former Dawg Pound QB tweeted his frustrations as to how the organization is utilizing the star receiver, saying:

“The Browns need to trade OBJ because they don’t feature him, some games they don’t even try to throw it to him, their QBs don’t seem to be able to sync up with him on the deep ball or any other route. He is wayyy [too] talented to be this poorly utilized. Oh, and now he is hurt… It’s time for the Browns to trade OBJ.”

Nick Cammett/Getty Images

There was also speculation that Beckham Jr. potentially reaggravated his already bothered shoulder, falling on it hard late into the 2nd quarter of Thursday’s primetime game. 

Cleveland has some time to decide whether or not they want to move Odell before the trade deadline. After Thursday night’s win, they currently sit third place in the AFC North, with a 4-3 record overall. 

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers have had a rough start to the NBA season as the team is now 0-2. After losses to the Warriors and the Suns, some fans are worried that this team just doesn’t have what it takes to win a title. Of course, it is still early, however, the lack of chemistry amongst the roster seems to be of great concern. 

For instance, Anthony Davis and Dwight Howard got into an altercation last night that was a bit physical. Lakers players had to step in to break it up, and LeBron was included in the melee. After the game, LeBron told reporters and Spectrum SportsNet that the team has things under control. He acknowledged that there is a burning desire to be great and that any sort of speculation about the chemistry is overblown. 

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Per LeBron:

“I don’t think it’s a lot of frustration. I really don’t. I think there’s moments when you’re frustrated because you wanna be better. You want better communication .. But I think it gets overly blown when you lose a game and you have some techs here, and you see an altercation. And you start to saying well with these guys, ultimately, the whole thing is frustration. We’re competitors. If you don’t get mad at certain things on the floor that you feel I should’ve done better, then what are you here for? We like that as a ball club. We like the adversity. I like the adversity and I like it even more when two men in a team can come together and talk about it and move on. That’s what real men do. You don’t let it linger. You say what you gotta say. You talk about it and move on. That’s what we did tonight.”

Howard and Davis have noted that they are fine with each other and that any issue they had last night has been deaded. Moving forward, however, this Lakers team will need to find the win column or it could continue to get ugly. 

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Yesterday, it was reported that Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver was about to be exposed in an ESPN article about the workplace culture within the team. The report has yet to make it to the press, although the team is already prepared to deny the allegations. They sent out a statement yesterday claiming that nothing in the report will be true and that Sarver and the team have always provided an inclusive workplace.

Last night, the Suns played against the Los Angeles Lakers and ended up taking home the win. After the game, numerous players on the team were asked about the potential report, and as it stands, the players don’t seem to care all that much.

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

In the tweet below from reporter Duane Rankin, guys like Devin Booker, Chris Paul, and Mikal Bridges all commented on the situation. As you can see, Paul doesn’t think this will affect the team as their locker room has a solid foundation. From there, Booker is taking a wait-and-see approach, while Bridges just wants to go out and win. Simply put, the Suns are going to go and do their jobs no matter who is in charge of the team.

The potential Sarver allegations continue to loom over the Suns right now, so stay tuned to HNHH as we will be sure to bring you all of the latest updates on this developing situation.

Zach LaVine, Lonzo Ball, and the new-look Chicago Bulls are off to a hot start to begin the NBA season, as they’re now 2-0 after beating the New Orleans Pelicans at home, last night. Ball, who came over to Chicago from New Orleans in a blockbuster trade this off-season, had an impressive showcase against his former team, registering a 17-10-10 triple-double stat line, helping lead his team to victory.

It’s one thing to have great all-around performance, but it’s another to do it against your former team. LaVine acknowledged Ball’s play against his previous squad, telling reporters post-game that:

“He had a little extra bounce in his step, today. He got the first two points of the game, I think that says something,” the star guard said with a smile. “Players know who the real ballers are…he affects the game in so many ways. He stays after practice late, does everything. One of the hardest working guys on the team and he shows how good of a player he is by affecting each part of the game.” 

Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

Lonzo typically keeps an even temperament, doesn’t get too high or low, or let drama and outside situations impact his play on the court. When asked if anything about this game meant more to him, Ball responded:

“Just it being the home opener, everyone is going to come out a little extra hyped. To me, it’s just coming in every game and wanting to win that game and trying to do the best I can to help my team win that night. That’s all it’s really about, no matter who the opponent is.”

Ball is a gifted passer and facilitator, a tenacious defender, and has emerged as a knock-down 3-point shooter. His ability to impact the game in multiple ways is a major part of why Chicago acquired him, and when asked about the impact Lonzo has had on the Bulls’ team thus far, LaVine responded,

“Great. He’s everywhere. I mean, he hits his open threes, he pushes in transition, brings a real energy and physicality to the defensive end. [He’s an] all-around player, man. We’re thankful to have him.”

Check out the full post-game comments from LaVine and Ball, below: