New Hip Hop News

Lil Nas X has been teasing the hell out of his fans during the lead-up to his upcoming single release. Posting plenty of videos with a snippet of the song playing, it took nearly a full year for the diamond-certified hitmaker to reveal the release date for “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)”. The song will finally be out before the end of this month, and it’s already receiving a lot of praise.

Despite the song not being out yet, it’s already attracted the attention of some huge names in the music business, including Rihanna. Posting a video from their recent Zoom call, Lil Nas X showed off his fresh co-sign from the Fenty superstar.

“By the way, I heard a clip of your new song the other day,” said Rihanna on the call before Lil Nas X anxiously awaited the rest of the sentence. “Banging! Honest to God, I’m not just saying that. It is dope!”

@lilnasx

i love u rihanna

♬ CALL ME BY YOUR NAME BY LIL NAS X – not lil nas x

If you’ve heard a preview of the song, you likely already know how catchy it is. Titled after his first name, Lil Nas X appears to be nearing his next music takeover, which will start with the release of “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)”. According to the viral recording artist, it will be included on his new album, which is expected to drop this summer.

Check out Nas X’s call with Rihanna above.

Cash Money rapper 9lokkNine, real name Jacquavius Dennard Smith, appears to have been released from prison. Though the circumstances surrounding his release are as of now uncertain, rapper FSG Bangout recently shared a picture of himself and 9lokknine reunited, along with the caption “Ding Dong My Blooda Home Pussy.” Following word of his release, many of his loyal fans quickly flooded the rapper’s Instagram page with messages of support. 

LISTEN: 9lokkNine ft Bangout & RugRat OD – Timeless

The Florida artist was originally arrested in July of 2020, where he was charged with attempted second-degree murder with a firearm, shooting into an occupied building or structure, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In January of 2021, he was reportedly charged with five counts of attempted murder; his situation appeared especially dire given that the FBI appeared interested in the young rapper’s case, believing him to be involved in a gang feud that claimed the lives of several victims. 

As stated earlier, news surrounding 9lokkNine’s release remains relatively scarce. Should he ultimately move to issue a statement on the situation, updates will be shared accordingly. Perhaps he’ll follow tradition and hit the studio for a “First Day Out” freestyle. There are many who still want new music from the young rapper, as it’s been some time since his last release. In October of 2019, 9lokkNine dropped his first Cash Money mixtape Mind Of Destruction, which featured appearances from Rich The Kid, Lil Durk, and more.

Master P has enjoyed a storied career in Hip-Hop over the decades, but one thing that fans of the former rapper know without a doubt is that Percy Miller is a bonafide businessman. The No Limit entrepreneur has recently expressed interest in designing supercars and purchasing Reebok, and now, the music mogul is setting his sights on one of the pillars of African-American culture: HBCUs. 

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A post shared by Master P (@masterp)

The “Make ‘Em Say Ugh” rapper recently revealed that following the NBA All-Star Game’s spotlight on HBCUs, he was inspired to become more invested in HBCUs. Citing their importance within the Black community and their history of white ownership as major factors, the New Orleans veteran announced in an Instagram post that he is interested in becoming an official owner an HBCU.

“I used to want to own an NBA team but now I want to own a HBCU,” Master P proclaims in the caption of his latest Instagram video. “More women graduate from HBCU’s than any other university and I love that. If we’re going to change the narrative, it has to start with the truth, education, and economic empowerment.”

Phillip Faraone/Getty Images

He continues his caption, writing, “I was shocked when I Googled who owned and founded HBCU’s. We can’t change the past but we can change the future by investing in the next generation. They going to have to sell some of these schools to us, or fund it the same way other major universities are funded #Godisgood Join the Movement!”

Master P’s announcement marks the music mogul’s latest move towards achieving widespread economic empowerment for Black people, and it’s inspiring to see that he has set his eyes on better funding historically Black post-secondary educational institutions. 

Snowfall star Damson Idris just couldn’t wait to spill the beans about an awkward encounter he had with Jay-Z (and forty other people) during a recent Zoom call. Appearing on Good Morning America with Gayle King, the English actor recalled an early quarantine memory when he called into a Zoom meeting for famed photographer Lenny Santiago’s (AKA @kodaklens) birthday. He thought that only a handful of people would be on the call, so he didn’t bother to put on a shirt. That was a mistake, says Idris.

Amy Sussman/Getty Images

“At the start of the pandemic, I didn’t know what Zoom was. I was a Skype guy. My friend said to jump on Zoom, it was our friend Lenny’s birthday,” remember the Snowfall actor. “So I jump on the Zoom and immediately everyone’s laughing because I’m topless. I thought there was gonna be four people in there– there are literally 4 0 people in there.”

Idris went on to break out his unmistakable Jay-Z impression, saying that one person in the room was particularly offended by his toplessness. “I hear a distinctive voice and [he’s] like, ‘Ay man, this man’s in here topless with his nipples out and he got the grey headboard. Who’s in charge of the Zoom? Yeah, you see that guy Damson? Kick him out.”

Damson was surprised to see that there were forty people on the call, pointing out that there were multiple other celebrities, including Meek Mill, Tiffany Haddish, Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, Michael B. Jordan, and more. Thinking he could turn on his charm and avoid any issues with Hov, Idris explained that it was late and he was about to put on a hoodie and get in bed. “Jay-Z was like, ‘Okay, so, you wear a hoodie to bed?” he recalled. “Okay, well, you know, you busy. You in London. It’s Lenny’s birthday so why don’t you just give your little speech and be on your way?”

You’ve got to hear his impression. It’s spot-on. Watch the video above and let us know what you think of Damson Idris embarrassing himself in front of Jay-Z.

Donovan Mitchell has been putting on a show throughout the first half of the NBA season and as a result, the Utah Jazz are currently at the top of the Western Conference standings. Not many people thought this was possible at the start of the season but so far, the Jazz have proven themselves to be real championship contenders, and fans are hoping for this trend to continue well into the playoffs.

Earlier in the year, Mitchell was challenged by Shaquille O’Neal, who told him that he felt like Mitchell didn’t have what it takes to be a true superstar. Mitchell shrugged these comments off which led to a viral moment. In a new piece from The Athletic, Mitchell revealed how he felt about the whole situation.

“It didn’t really bother me,” Mitchell said. “I thought it was blown out of proportion, but that’s just the media in general. When I said ‘Aight,’ for me it meant that’s cool, and that’s your opinion and it’s OK to have an opinion. I play to make sure that I’m the best player I can be for myself and my teammates.”

Clearly, Mitchell doesn’t need media members to motivate him and at this point, he has one goal and that is to win a championship. If he keeps playing this way, competing for a title won’t seem like such a stretch of the imagination.

Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

[Via]