Kanye West: Mercedes-Benz Stadium Renames To “DONDA Studio” Briefly

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With a promise of receiving a new album from Kanye West last week, it should’ve come as no surprise that DONDA did not hit streaming services. The rapper played his new album from top to bottom at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA before deciding that he needed more time. Fans waited all day on Friday only to learn from Justin LaBoy that the album was pushed back to the first week of August.


Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

The good thing is Kanye is hard at work. The rapper was reported to have moved into the Mercedes-Benz Stadium temporarily where he and his crew have set up their studio in a dressing room. It’s an unorthodox method, for sure but Kanye is never the one to take a traditional route. Last night, he shared a photo of his “bedroom” which primarily consists of a mattress and a closet with a few pieces of clothing. 

What seemingly confirmed ‘Ye’s residence inside of the stadium was his brief appearance in the crowd during the Atlanta United Soccer Match. The rapper had pulled up in the exact same outfit that he donned at the listening party so fans were at least aware that he was working laboriously on DONDA.

Mercedez Benz Stadium has embraced Kanye’s presence in its facilities. For a brief moment on Twitter, they changed their name to “DONDA STUDIO At Mercedes-Benz Stadium.” It has since been changed but there are door signs that read “DONDA Studio.” Clearly, the good folks at the Mercedez-Benz Stadium have no problem with Kanye living in their venue for a few more weeks.

Lil Nas X Responds To Ongoing Homophobic Criticism Following Boosie Badazz’s Comments

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It has been a busy day for Hip Hop on social media as artists have continued to weigh in about DaBaby’s heated controversy. Last weekend’s Rolling Loud Miami moment has spelled chaos for the North Carolina-bred rapper as just about everyone has added their two cents. Unfortunately for DaBaby, brands are beginning to distance themselves from him, including BoohooMAN, and adding fuel to the fire is Boosie Badazz who included Lil Nas X’s name in the conversations.

Although Lil Nas X has been pelted with insults and threats over his music videos, Boosie doesn’t believe that he has received the same level of criticism as DaBaby. “Lil Nas X said he wanna perform naked on stage for charity. You don’t f*ck with him like you f*ck with DaBaby,” said Boosie. Then, he issued a threat of his own. “If I’m at an awards and he go up there naked, I’m gonna drag his ass off stage and beat his ass.”

Lil Nas X, DaBaby, Boosie Badazz
Paras Griffin / Stringer / Getty Images

The remarks weren’t lost on Lil Nas X who took to Twitter to address this unraveling debacle. “I’m starting to think you n*ggas gay too cuz yall stay on my d*ck,” he tweeted. “Some of y’all not even mad that i’m gay, some of y’all mad that i’m gay and still succeeding.” This controversy has seemingly divided the industry as people like Anitta, Elton John, Dua Lipa, Demi Lovato, and others have stepped forward to denounce DaBaby’s comments, while Boosie and T.I. have stood up for the rapper.

Check it out below.

DaBaby’s New Video For ‘Giving What It’s Supposed To Give’ Draws Fire In The Wake Of His Rolling Loud Controversy

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The controversy surrounding DaBaby’s homophobic and misinformed comments from his Miami Rolling Loud set just wouldn’t be complete without the release of some new music, would it? The Charlotte rapper doesn’t disappoint, releasing the new video for his song, “Giving What It’s Supposed To Give.” Apparently filmed the day before the controversial set, the video is already drawing attention and criticism for making references to AIDS and oral sex, the two topics for which he’s been under fire for the last three days.

The video is a wild, abstract jumble of vignettes playing off of his raunchy lyrics and is obviously meant to be played for humorous effect, but honestly, I’m not entirely sure that it wouldn’t have gotten a chilly reception from some of the imagery even without the Rolling Loud controversy. With it, the scene in question, which features DaBaby holding up a sign that says “AIDS” before shooting two arguing men as he raps “we like AIDS, I’m on your ass,” seems grotesque and in poor taste.

He couldn’t be happier, gleefully sharing the link to the video on Instagram with the caption: “It never seizes to amaze me the way God puts me in situations I’m already equipped to handle. Enjoy.” Skating over the part where the correct phrase should be “it never ceases to amaze me,” it does seem as if the seriousness of his offense is lost on him. It looks like he really thinks he’s just teasing, it’s all in good fun, and people are being wet blankets for pointing out the real-life harm that has come to people over comments like his — often by people espousing the same rhetoric. (Someone should also probably point out how “giving what it’s supposed to give” as slang was hijacked wholesale from drag culture, but it won’t be me).

That hasn’t stopped fans from pointing out the discrepancy between his words and actions on Twitter, criticizing him for deciding to double down instead of re-shooting/recording the video/song.

Watch DaBaby’s “Giving What’s Supposed To Give” video above.

Bobby Shmurda Returns Alongside Daddy Yankee On J Balvin & Eladio Carrion On “TATA (Remix)”

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Bobby Shmurda has been out for months but fans have been eagerly awaiting his post-prison release. In the months back home, he’s made plenty of public appearances stirring up excitement for new music. Over the weekend, he made his inaugural performance at Rolling Loud where he served as a special guest and breezed through plenty of classics that continue to rattle speakers.

Today, he officially returned with his appearance on Eladio Carrion and J Balvin’s “TATA” alongside Daddy Yankee. Teaming up with the biggest artist in Reggaeton and Latin Trap, Shmurda tackles the elegant piano-laced drill production with a triplet flow and menacing ab-libs.

This makes Bobby’s first appearance on wax since his release from prison. His feature on “TATA” is bound to drum up the anticipation for his official album.

Peep the record below.

Quotable Lyrics
Just came home off a lock-up 
“Grr” anything when I pop up
Blowin’ that nina, throw that thing up
Roll everything I see up

New York City To Pay People $100 To Get COVID-19 Vaccine

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Starting this Friday, New York City will be putting its money where its mouth is and be much more aggressive in getting citizens vaccinated. According to NBC New York, Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced that anyone who goes to a city-run vaccination site for their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine will be paid $100. Recent statistics from Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Instagram account reveal that as of Wednesday, July 28, there are 108 new COVID-19 hospitalizations and 929 new cases, which is probably why the city is so eager to get as many New Yorkers vaccinated as soon as possible. 

“We’re on the verge of administering 10 million #COVID19 vaccine doses in New York City,” he reveals via Instagram. “Now, we’re sweetening the deal. Get vaccinated at any City-run site and get 100 bucks.”

According to NBC New York, there is a surge in cases in NYC due to the explosion of the delta variant, data shows that the rolling average of new daily cases was 32% higher than a week prior. Those numbers, combined with roughly a modest 45% to 65% of New York City residents being fully vaccinated, have reportedly caused city officials to worry and subsequently start offering this monetary incentive.

New York City’s decision to give people $100 in exchange for getting the first round of COVID-19 vaccines at city-run sites also comes shortly after New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo declared that he would not be officially mandating indoor masking for vaccinated people in light of the viral delta variant.

Would you get vaccinated for COVID-19 in exchange for $100?

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DaBaby Drops “Giving What It’s Supposed To Give” & Touches On Everything That He’s Being Cancelled For

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Tory Lanez recently sparked a debate about “why the f*ck was rap started,” and although he received some mixed reactions due to his own controversies, the topic is an interesting one regardless. Different artists use the impactful genre for various different reasons, and while some use Hip-Hop to help people through tough times or inspire resistance amongst persecuted groups of people, other rappers are more than satisfied with using the rap art form to entertain.

DaBaby appears to fall on the latter part of that spectrum because even during a 72-hour period in which he has been publicly blasted, boycotted, and reprimanded for making offensive and homophobic comments at Rolling Loud, the BLAME IT ON BABY has not sheered away from the spotlight. In an extremely surprising move, DaBaby has released a new song and music video titled “Giving What It’s Supposed To Give,” and throughout it, he reiterates all of the disrespectful comments that he’s currently being “canceled” for.

Taking a moment to contextualize his outlandish and disrespectful new release, DaBaby says, “Filmed the day before my Rolling Loud performance. It never seizes to amaze me the way God puts me in situations I’m already equipped to handle. Enjoy. 😴🍿 #ITSONLYONEOFME.”

Watch the music video for “Giving What It’s Supposed To Give” below, and let us know in the comments if you think this was all one big, elaborate publicity stunt by the Charlotte, North Carolina rapper.

Quotable Lyrics

He’s a runner, he’s a track star
These tough a** niggas that rap ain’t really that, these niggas just act hard
I came in this bitch too real, I had to chill, almost got blackballed
Just talked to my CPA, said I’m approved for my new Black Card

BIA Praises Nicki Minaj & Other Established Artists Who Hop On Up-And-Comers’ Songs

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Weeks after Nicki Minaj unexpectedly announced that she would be hopping on BIA’s runaway TikTok hit “Whole Lotta Money,” the rising femcee remains one of the most exciting new faces of 2021. Although she has been putting in work in the music industry for years, this extra push from the Beam Me Up Scotty rapper seemed to be exactly what BIA needed.

Following a successful Rolling Loud performance over the weekend, the FOR CERTAIN artist has taken another moment to express her gratitude for the support that she has been receiving from fans and established artists as of late. According to BIA, established artists who help uplift up-and-coming acts by hopping on their tracks deserve plenty of respect for helping to usher in future generations of creatives. She also clarifies that well-known artists who don’t are simply in the music industry for clout.

BIA
Image via Label

“I have so much respect when bigger artists jump on smaller artists records bc so many people forget we all had to start somewhere!” BIA says without mentioning Nicki Minaj by name. A fan brings her up, however, and BIA immediately addresses the impact that Nicki Minaj has had on her career this year. For those who forgot, Nicki was also one of the first mainstream acts to co-sign and collaborate with the late Pop Smoke.

BIA went on to relay a rather motivational quote for aspiring artists, saying, “Remember ‘The openers of today, are the headliners of tomorrow.'”

Check out all of BIA’s tweets on the topic below.

Are you a fan of popular rappers remixing a rising artist’s most popular tracks? Or do you prefer more organic and original collaborations between established and aspiring acts?

Rihanna Announces Fenty Perfume

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Rihanna has fans on the edge of their seats, waiting for any droplet (or even the smell) of new music, and while she did hint at R9 back in February, she’s still seems predominantly focused on her various Fenty ventures. 

After shutting down her high-end Fenty line with LVMH a few months ago, Fenty stated, they would be “putting their focus towards building the Fenty ecosystem”– and now we have a more concrete idea of what that actually means.

The singer shared a few stunning black and white photos with the caption, “#FENTYPARFUM COMING SOON.” On the official Fenty Instagram, the smell is described as “something sensual, confident yet sexxy.”

The photos were paired with a teaser video showing of peeks of the bottle between shadowy shots of someone taking the top off the bottle, while birds chirp in the background.

As we reported, news of the perfume comes after the possibility that a Fenty hair line could be on the way. The star’s company filed a trademark application back in March, for a variety of hair products including “non-medicated dandruff shampoo, hair-styling preparations, hair-straightening preparations..hair-bleaching preparations, hair-coloring preparations, and hair glitter.”

Despite the fact that this is not a music-related announcement, social media seems to still be excited at the prospect of the perfume. 

You can sign up for the list for early access to the perfume here.