Ever since Tyler The Creator first showed up on the scene, the influence he took from Pharrell was both obvious and undeniable. It didn’t take long for the two to connect in real life, and ever since, they’ve shared a fruitful creative chemistry, with Pharrell playing mentor and Tyler the eager protégé. They’ve made music together, teamed up on a Louis Vuitton capsule collection, and now, Tyler plays a role in Pharrell’s upcoming Lego animation biopic, Piece By Piece, dropping in to release a verse on the song “Virginia Boy Remix.”
Co-produced by both artists — so you should have a pretty good idea of how it sounds even before pressing “play” — “Virginia Boy Remix” features smooth-flowing, freestyle storytelling, relating the two iconoclasts’ experiences growing up so similarly on opposite coasts. The vibe resembles nothing so much as Golden Era A Tribe Called Quest, and if these two decided they want to do a whole project in this style… I’m in. One hundred percent.
For what it’s worth, Pharrell could use a new musical partner, as he is currently embroiled in a legal dispute with former The Neptunes bandmate Chad Hugo over the production duo’s name. Maybe give us some hope that things will turn out a little better for our heroes.
It really feels like Lil Durk is gearing up for his best album yet. The rapper has already proven himself to be a Grammy-winning and chart-topping talent. The rollout for his upcoming release, however, has seen him be even sharper than usual. The singles have been excellent. The tracklist, despite being hampered by feature rumors, is sprawling without being too long. And with “Late Checkout,” Lil Durk proves that he is going to show fans every facet of his musical talent. Previous single “Monitoring Me” was a vicious cut, but “Late Checkout” is a smooth, R&B-inflected bop with a slick feature from Hunxho.
Lil Durk is best known for his emotive and hard-hitting trap songs. He understands that different sounds and vibes are crucial to making a great project, though. “Late Checkout” is proof that he’s striving to put out a classic. The song sees Lil Durk deliver some haunting vocals over the intro, before slipping into an effortlessly catchy flow. The rapper laments a relationship that has fallen on rough times, which is pretty standard, topic wise, but he gives it specificity and passion. It helps that “Late Checkout” is just catchy. Hunxho slides through on the backend of the song with a mumbly, charisma-driven verse that keeps it from every getting monotonous. Another winner.
Let us know what you think of this brand-new track, in the comments section down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming projects.
You ain’t gotta worry ’bout me off the sex pills Only honey I need is for the tea She told me laser hurts, she’d rather go with V Off the liquor, it’s a high chance she ski
Pharrell knows how to make great music. He’s been doing it since 1992, when he penned a verse for the classic rap single “Rump Shaker.” The single is on the Piece By Piece soundtrack, since the movie of the same name tells Pharrell’s life and career story. There are other classic songs on here, and collabs with the likes of JAY-Z, Snoop Dogg, Clipse, and Justin Timberlake. Piece By Piece is, in one regard, one of the best greatest hits packages you could ever hope to come across. It is a sampler of the best hip hop, pop and R&B music of the last three decades. Don’t worry, though, there’s new stuff too.
It would be pointless to sit here and write about the merits of, say, “Superthug” or “Get Lucky” with Daft Punk. You know these songs, and depending on how you feel about “Happy,” you love these songs. It’s the new material, largely composed and performed by Pharrell solo, that makes Piece By Piece such an interesting listen. Most of the new songs are up top, and they are stellar. “For Real” and the title song are Pharrell in his bag, dishing out radiant melodies over oddball production. The obvious highlight is the “Virginia Boy” remix, though. Pharrell and his protege, Tyler, The Creator, sound like they’re having a ball on the hard-hitting song.
Let us know what you think of this brand new album, in the comments section down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming projects.
Just a year after GloRilla really blew up in 2022, some rap fans were already writing her off. The main impetus for this hasty conclusion was the appearance of Sexyy Red, who blew up in 2023 thanks to “Pound Town.” According to those fans, Sexyy “took Glo’s spot,” as if that’s a thing that has ever happened in the history of rap music.
Well, both of the ratchet rap faves get to have the last laugh, thanks to their new collaboration “Whatchu Kno About Me.” While proving that there’s more solidarity than discord among the current sisterhood of rap, the Memphis and St. Louis natives make one tough tag team on the song, and in its glamorous music video. Donning matching bikinis, fuzzy boots, and fur coats, they rap in their usual, shared, boisterous, unapologetic style, while getting done up at the salon with a full crew of baddies.
“Whatchu Kno About Me” is the focus track from GloRilla’s newly released album, Glorious, out today, a month after lead single, “Hollon.” Both tracks go a long way toward proving that GloRilla ain’t going anywhere anytime soon.
You can watch the video for GloRilla’s “Whatchu Know About Me” featuring Sexyy Red above.
Glorious is out now via CMG/Interscope. Find more information here.
Being famous always seemed like more trouble than it’s worth. Sure, there are upsides, but as many a rap act will point out, they rarely outweigh all the extras that come along with them. Just ask Cordae, whose new single “Mad As F*ck” certainly spends some time counting up the curses alongside the blessings. While he brags about his new Ferrari, new chick, and “black diamonds, straight from Africa,” he also worries about “bills on bills coming in” and dudes he doesn’t mess with trying to dap him up. So, you win some, you lose some, I guess.
It hasn’t all been bad for the DMV area native, though. This summer, he announced his “crossroads era,” following up with the video for “Saturday Mornings” with Lil Wayne, then another video with Anderson .Paak, “Summer Drop.” It certainly seems as though he’s close to releasing his long-awaited follow-up to From A Birds Eye View.
Earlier this year, he also made a cameo in Lyrical Lemonade’s “Doomsday 2” video featuring Eminem, which riffed on his and Juice WRLD’s 2023 track “Doomsday.” If Crossroads is indeed the title for Cordae’s third album, he’s teed up the release nicely.
You can watch the video for “Mad As F*ck” by Cordae above.
Drake’s legacy has been a major talking point in 2024. He lost the rap battle against Kendrick Lamar, and has struggled to drop hits with the same frequency that he has for the last 15 years. Some people feel he should hang it up. Rod Wave is here to assure OVO fans that Drake isn’t going anywhere. The rapper had a lengthy conversation about the 6 God ahead of the release of his new album. He shed light on the Drake song that he almost featured on, but most notably, he set the record straight as to whether Drizzy will ever retire.
The answer is no. Rod Wave made it abundantly clear that Drake lives to make music, and has no plans to step back from the limelight. The rapper even likened the 6 God to former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. “He just love doing this sh*t,” Wave asserted. “He love the game. Like Brady… He at home like ‘what the f*ck I’m finna do without this sh*t.’” Drake has talked about retirement in the past, like any big rapper has. He announced his plan to retire at age 35 on the 2016 song “Weston Road Flows.” That did not take. He talked about it again during a 2023 appearance on Lil Yachty’s A Moody Conversation.
Drake wants a graceful exit. “I guess that’s the one thing that I want for myself really badly,” he told Lil Boat. “I’m not ready now, but to gracefully continue making projects that are extremely, like, interesting and hopefully cherished by people.” Since then, though, the rapper has proven Rod Wave correct. He has dropped tons of music, and teased collab albums with the likes of PARTYNEXTDOOR and Conductor Williams. The most interesting aspect of the Drake and Wave dynamic, though, is that they’ve yet to officially work together.
Rod Wave was supposed to appear on the 2021 song “Lemon Pepper Freestyle.” Drake asked him to put a verse down, but the artist admitted that he got cold feet and was intimidated. “I’m a diehard Drake fan, I just got cold feet,” he explained. Drake was rumored to feature on Rod Wave’s new album, but the song he laid down a feature has since been altered. The album version will not include the 6 God.
Last night, the heart of New York City pulsed with creativity and star power as Jazz at Lincoln Center hosted the unforgettable premiere of the highly anticipated film, Piece by Piece, a vibrant celebration of Pharrell Williams’ iconic life and career. The event drew an impressive array of stars, including A$AP Ferg, Pusha T, N.O.R.E, Bianca Lawson, Teddy Riley, and Nigel Sylvester, who came together to preview the unique LEGO®-animated film that chronicles the Virginia native’s remarkable journey.
Focus Features’ New York Premiere of “PIECE BY PIECE”
Piece by Piece is unlike any other biopic, blending Pharrell’s visionary creativity with LEGO® animation to tell the story of one of music’s most innovative minds. Directed by Academy Award-winner Morgan Neville, the film takes audiences on a colorful, heartwarming journey through Pharrell’s life, from his roots in Virginia to his evolution as a global superstar and cultural icon. Featuring star-studded appearances from artists like Gwen Stefani, Kendrick Lamar, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Busta Rhymes, Jay Z, and Snoop Dogg, the film offers an inside look into Pharrell’s creative brilliance.
In attendance to celebrate the film were not only its director and star but also key producers Mimi Valdés, Caitrin Rogers, and David Lawrence, as well as cast members Pusha T, N.O.R.E., and Teddy Riley. The event buzzed with excitement as guests, including notable figures like A$AP Ferg, Bianca Lawson, and BMX star Nigel Sylvester, gathered to witness the fusion of animation and music that brings Pharrell’s inner world to life.
Pharrell’s creative genius is on full display in the film, offering a peek into his thoughts and inspirations. Through this animated masterpiece, audiences are reminded of the powerful connection between creativity and empathy, as Pharrell opens up in ways that resonate globally. His talent, vision, and willingness to be vulnerable shine throughout the movie, delivering an inspiring message to all.
As Focus Features gears up to release Piece by Piece this Friday, October 11, fans won’t want to miss this dynamic cinematic experience that blends art, music, and imagination through Pharrell’s unique perspective.
Piece by Piece will be released exclusively in theaters, and it promises to turn up the volume on your imagination as you follow the story of one of music’s most influential icons.
Directed by: Morgan Neville Produced by: Pharrell Williams, Mimi Valdés, Caitrin Rogers, Morgan Neville Executive Producers: David Lawrence, Shani Saxon, Jill Wilfert, Keith Malone, Joshua R. Wexler, Sanjee K. Gupta, James De Julio, Lesley Worton
The Weeknd has officially beat his own record of artist with highest monthly listeners on Spotify, with over 120.5 million monthly listeners.
The XO-superstar became the first artist to reach 100 million monthly listeners in February of 2023, and has held the number 1 spot since then, aside for a recent one month period. This feat comes following The Weeknd’s latest music video for “Timeless” with Playboi Carti Produced by Pharrell. Also recently released is the fan hit “Dancing In The Flames,” from his heavily anticipated album, Hurry Up Tomorrowavailable for vinyl and CD.
Last month, The Weeknd delivered a sold out stadium spectacular live performance from São Paulo, which was streamed exclusively on YouTube. Millions of fans worldwide tuned in to witness the unique concert that showcased his signature sound and electrifying stage presence along with surprise guests Playboi Carti and Anitta. It was the highest music performance trending in the US and trended in 24 other countries, further solidifying The Weeknd’s reign as a global music icon. 10% of net proceeds from all merchandise sales at the event and online to the Brazilian Soul Fund of BrazilFoundation, supporting communities affected by natural disasters and economic hardships in southern Brazil.
DDG has not had it easy since breaking up with Halle Bailey. The rapper and YouTuber requested that fans respect their privacy. In truth, they have done everything but. They have memed DDG for not being good enough to hold on to Bailey. They’ve also made fake screenshots of DDG Instagram posts, that he has had to debunk. The latest DDG controversy may be the meanest, though. A TikToker made a post in which she accused the rapper of trapping Halle Bailey with a child. He responded, and then she got back at him. It was a whole mess.
The overall sentiment of the TikTok post was that DDG purposely “trapped” his ex-girlfriend by starting a family with her and then breaking up. DDG didn’t appreciate the theory, and took to Instagram Live to set the record straight. “CPM’s not that high for you to be on there talking for two minutes about me,” he told followers. The rapper then decided to get personal with the TikTok creator. “You got two kids, I looked on your Instagram…. with no baby daddy. But you worry about me.” DDG made it clear that he didn’t want or think people should be, in his personal business. “Y’all need to stop,” he added. “I be seeing what y’all be saying, bro.”
The creator, who goes by the handle @frankie_aab, responded. She scrolled through Halle Bailey’s Instagram and noted that DDG is nowhere to be found. “I need y’all to let me know when you see DDG on her page,” she remarked. “It’s funny that you try to use me being a baby mama as an insult when you turned her into a baby mama your damn self.” The creator then noted that including the father of her children on her social media would not make sense. “Why would I have my ex-husband on my page,” @frankie_aab asked. “Did you ever marry that girl?”
The TikToker proceeded to criticize DDG for trying to cast her in a negative. She claimed that her kids are currently spending time with their father, effectively disproving the implication that her ex-husband is not in their lives. There’s a bit of a double standard at play, here, admittedly. @frankie_aab is rightfully calling out DDG for making assumptions and casting aspersions on her life. The whole TikTok exchange started, though, because she was doing the same thing about his life.
With Election Day just weeks away, former President Barack Obama has hit the campaign trail to support Vice President Kamala Harris. On Thursday, Obama traveled to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a crucial battleground state where polls between the candidates remain close.
Recalling his famous campaign slogan “Yes, We Can,” Obama introduced a new version in support of Harris: “Yes, She Can.” He praised the vice president as “a leader who has spent her life fighting on behalf of people who need a voice and a chance.”
In his speech, Obama addressed the challenges Americans have faced in recent years, from the pandemic to rising inflation. He expressed empathy for the difficulties many are enduring, while also emphasizing the importance of leadership in such times.
Obama didn’t shy away from criticizing former President Donald Trump, describing him as “out-of-touch” and mocking Trump’s often lengthy and unfocused rally speeches, which he referred to as “word salad.” He also called out Trump for spreading misinformation, particularly concerning recent claims about FEMA’s response to Hurricane Helene. Trump has accused the administration of neglecting storm victims and redirecting FEMA funds to Democratic-leaning areas and migrants—allegations the administration has strongly denied.
“Everybody knew it wasn’t true, even local Republicans said it wasn’t true,” Obama said. He expressed dismay over Trump’s behavior, asking, “The idea of intentionally trying to deceive people in their most vulnerable moments—when did that become okay?”
Obama’s stop in Pittsburgh marked the beginning of a broader campaign tour across key swing states. He previously spoke at a campaign fundraiser in California and at the Democratic National Convention.
Next week, former President Bill Clinton is expected to join the campaign effort, with plans to rally support for Harris in the rural South, according to a campaign spokesperson.
