New Hip Hop News

Benny Blanco has worked with just about everybody in the music industry. He’s made some of the biggest hits in pop and hip-hop, working extensively with artists like Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, Rihanna, Juice WRLD, and more. The 33-year-old producer recently sat down with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe to discuss his upcoming album FRIENDS KEEP SECRETS 2. During their conversation, which included tidbits about his friendship with FINNEAS, his work on Justin Bieber’s latest album, and much more, Benny speaks about an awkward encounter he had with Beyoncé, accidentally kissing her in front of Jay-Z at their house in the Hamptons.

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According to Benny’s story, the producer was invited to stay over at Beyoncé’s house with Jay-Z, Hit-Boy, and a few other people back in 2010 or 2011. They played a game of “Would You Rather?” before listening to beats. When it got time for everyone to leave, Benny wasn’t sure what to do. Should he hug Beyoncé? Should he just say goodbye and leave it at that? He decided to give her a hug and a kiss on the cheek, but somewhere along the way, he got disoriented and ended up slipping a little peck on the corner of her lips.

“I’m probably not supposed to say any of this,” said the artist repeatedly throughout his story. “We’re saying, ‘Good night.’ And it’s at that point where I’m like… Okay, do I hug Beyoncé? Like, what’s the protocol? What do you do? We’re not close yet. And so I’m like, ‘Hey, bye’ at the end of the night. But it’s like, we’re all getting to know each other, and normally at that time I’d be like, ‘Ah, great to hang.’ So I’m like, do I go in for the hug? You’re with Jay-Z and Beyoncé. You’re at their house. They’re in shorts and a t-shirt. You’re sitting there. And I remember I go in for the hug, okay? And then, I’m like, oh, I’m going to kiss her on the cheek. That’s what you do. Everyone does that. I’m very European. You go in and you do that. This is years ago. I was even more European. So, I went to do the kiss on the cheek, and I guess we just missed a little bit. I definitely hit the corner of some sort of lip. I’m like, ‘Oh, my God. This is the worst thing in my life.’ And I’m sitting there, and as I’m doing it, out of the corner of my eye, Jay-Z is right there looking at me. And I’m just like, my lip is here. Hers is there, and there’s definitely some corner things happening.”

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Benny says his music with Beyoncé was never released, adding that he doesn’t think anyone noticed the accidental kiss. “I look at Jay and I’m like, ‘Oh, okay. I’m dead. My life is over. It was great. Nice knowing you guys.’ My life flashed before my eyes. And I’m sitting there, and I look. And then he’s like, ‘All right, bro. See you tomorrow.’ Like, no one noticed.”

Watch part of Benny Blanco’s interview below.

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The massive, genre-fluid boy band BROCKHAMPTON has been much quieter than usual since dropping off its fifth studio album Ginger on August 23, 2019, but it looks like fans of the collective won’t have to wait much longer to hear new BROCKHAMPTON music. Two weeks after uploading the mysterious “Meet The Roadrunners” teaser to YouTube, Kevin Abstract has let his Instagram followers that a new music video and single from BROCKHAMPTON will arrive later today. 

In the Instagram post, Kevin Abstract shared two pictures — one in which he’s seen sitting in a director’s chair and another showing the cover art for BROCKHAMPTON’s next single. Titled “BUZZCUT,” the self-described boy band’s next offering will arrive tonight when its music video drops, and thanks to Kevin Abstract’s post, fans now know that Detroit artist Danny Brown will be featured on the single. 

From an official title to a release window, information regarding BROCKHAMPTON’s sixth studio album has been incredibly scarce, so it’s exciting to see that the collective is officially making its return and, hopefully, starting its album rollout with the release of “BUZZCUT.” The fact that Danny Brown is also featured on the single definitely raises anticipation for it, so fans will be able to check it out when it drops later tonight.

Are you excited for BROCKHAMPTON’s next chapter?

There’s currently a list that’s rumored to have been leaked from the XXL offices showing what appears to be their 2021 Freshman List. Despite some giveaways that it might not be the real deal, including the misspelling of Coi Leray’s name and J.I’s former moniker as J.I The Prince Of N.Y, people have been reacting to it as though it were legitimate. Even some of the artists that were snubbed out from the unconfirmed spot are lashing out with hopes that the hip-hop publication reconsiders adding them to the final tally.

The list that’s going around features rising stars like Pooh Shiesty, Coi Leray, The Kid LAROI, Morray, iann dior, 42 Dugg, $NOT, and more. It is not confirmed to be real, so it’s possible that some of these artists might end up making the final cut but, for right now, none of them have been announced. Asian Doll and Drakeo The Ruler, who have both been getting heightened levels of attention this year, are both pretty upset that they weren’t listed, going off on XXL for supposedly failing to add their names.

“It’s been f*ck XXL,” wrote Asian Doll on Twitter. “Nobody cares for that sh*t it’s soooooo staged now it’s been staged & the list but full of favoritism no real talent that’s why then freestyles be trash cause they pick the artist based off popularity that cover not raw at all. XXL list should be fulla females anyway they love throwing 16 n***as on there & 1 female like we ain’t out here taking over the game.”

She went on to complain that, despite having one of the biggest songs at the time, XXL never gave her ex-boyfriend King Von a spot on the cover. Later, she specified that she wasn’t throwing shade at any of the artists listed on the rumored decision, especially Coi Leray and Pooh Shiesty. “Nothing I said gotta do with Pooh or Coi fashooooooooo we don’t sneak diss around this b*tch either,” added Asian. Coi Leray was appreciative of her clarification, saying, “Asia my b*tch 4 life. Y’all know what she meant and felt what she said.”

As for Drakeo The Ruler, the LA-based rapper continued his musings by stating that XXL is playing with him by not including him. “I WASNT GONE SAY NONE BUT WTF TYPE OF SH*T YALL ON @xxl SO YALL GONE KEEP PLAYING LIKE I AINT SOMEBODY IN MY CITY WHERE MY NAME at I DONT SEE NOBODY FROM LA ON HERE.”

He concluded by theorizing that you need to have a major label deal to get on the Freshman List. 

The list going around is not confirmed. We will keep you posted as more artists react to it.

Verzuz has been lining up some heavy hitters and it continues growing. Last weekend, Ghostface Killah and Raekwon faced-off against each other for a Verzuz that hip-hop heads have been longing for. Swizz and Timbo just confirmed a new line-up for next month which includes a special 4/20 edition with Method Man and Redman, as well as a match-up between Earth, Wind & Fire and The Isley Brothers.

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During a recent interview, Da Baddest B*tch a.k.a Trina recently discussed the possibilities of going on Verzuz against another legendary MC, Lil Kim. Trina explained that she would’ve been down to face-off against either Lil Kim or Eve but the former holds a special place in her heart. “Believe it or not, when I came into the industry, like, Kim — like Kim is that bitch,” she said. “This is who I looked up to. These are the lyrics that I recite. This what made me know it’s okay to talk that lethal shit that you n***as not shit, you feel me? So I feel like that’s equivalent because Kim is legendary and she got mad records, you know.”

Though there was tension between Trina and Kim, that all ended in 2019 after the passing of Lil Kim’s father. Trina explained that if the two were to go hit-for-hit, it would be less of a competition and more a celebration. “I’m probably gonna be so much more engaged than her records than anything because it’ll go back to, like, when I first heard her,” she said. “But nobody reached out.”

Maybe we’ll see this Verzuz get lined-up this summer. 

Legendary artist Melle Mel has been on a tear this week, making comments that have been pretty controversial during his sit-down interview with VladTV. The strongly-opinionated 59-year-old icon previously declared that he would have no issue defeating Eminem in a rap battle, also speaking on why The Notorious B.I.G. would not have been successful in the earlier days of hip-hop. In the latest portion of his interview to be released, Melle Mel speaks about his comments that Jay-Z is “overrated”, giving the reason why he thinks that.

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“I think a lot of rappers are overrated. Yeah,” said Melle Mel before celebrating Jay-Z’s skills as a businessman. However, the legendary emcee says he wouldn’t put Hov at the top of his most skilled rappers list. “No, because the main problem I have with dudes like that, with a lot of these dudes, when you made it, you made it. Now you out. Forget the street guy act. You’re not street like that. I’m not even a street guy, I’m a hood n***a. I’m not a street n***a ’cause I know I’m not gon’ be out on the street like that. And then, to take it a step further, these guys live in the big houses, they live in the best neighborhoods, there ain’t no street dudes around, but you’re gonna have this street dude thinking that being on the street is the right thing to do and the right person to be? You gotta give the people that’s left in the hood something to hold onto to make it out of the hood.

A lot of this hip-hop sh*t made the ghetto permanent. You ain’t supposed to stay there like that. That’s why I say a lot of them is overrated because what they’re doing is they’re selling a product and then after the product is sold, now they’re still thinking they got product to sell. And they don’t. You live a nice life. Their kids are never going to see the inside of a jail or the inside of a public school, thank god.”

Melle Mel says the system “promotes” a culture that he wishes were no longer the norm where he says the hood “won’t win” if it continues on as it is. 

What do you think about Melle Mel’s comments about Jay-Z and other rappers that fit the mold?