Childish Major Is Pretty Persuasive On “F Yah Job”

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Relatively quiet since the release of his sophomore effort, Dirt Road Diamond, Childish Major is back and convincing you to quit on your boss. Well, at least he’s trying to. While the ATL rapper makes some good arguments for this little love interest of his to call in sick for the weekend, “F Yah Job” could surely be a little longer.

Produced by Hollywood Cole, this new single is glitzy and offers some bounce, but the track still grows old a little too quickly. And the song isn’t even a whole two minutes, so that says a lot. Or, realistically, not very much.

Though he hasn’t released too much material as of late, his face and voice have grown ubiquitous over the past year or so. He’s appeared in a Super Bowl commercial with Timbaland, had his song included on the last Madden soundtrack and campaigned for both Reebok and MCM back at the tail-end of 2019. Sure, it’s been a minute, but he’s still very much around.

“F Yah Job” is the first single off of Childish Major’s latest EP, Thank You, God. For It All. which is set to release on July 23. The 7-track project is said to showcase Childish Major honing his craft with laser-sharp precision. Knowing the artist and what he’s capable of, we are looking forward to there being some more promising tracks on there. Are you looking forward to hearing more material? 

Quotable Lyrics:
Job don’t need you, like I need you
Let’s make plans for the weekend, be a whole lotta freakin’

Vince Staples Explains Why Kenny Beats Is A Great Collaborator

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Vince Staples is readying the release of his upcoming self-titled album, having set the tone with his brand new single “Are You With That?” In celebration of the new single, Vince took a moment to chop it up with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1. 

Naturally, Staples had many kind words to say about his longtime collaborator Kenny Beats, who produced the upcoming Vince Staples in its entirety. “Kenny’s amazing,” praises Vince. “Kenny knows. Kenny’s somebody who still learns every day, he still takes from experiences and other things he hears in music and tries to figure out how to make them into his own.”

Vince Staples

Javier Bragado/WireImage/Getty Images

“He knows he’s very much collaborative in a sense,” continues Staples. “A lot of people have an idea of what they want to do, but Kenny is somebody who kind of listens to what you kind of want to get across and he tries his best to kind of implement whatever you need, while still kind of remaining himself. So it’s always a fun time working with Kenny.” It’s no wonder that Vince opted to turn to Kenny once again, following their stellar work on the 2018 album FM! album

. As for the album itself, Vince opened up about his creative process, providing a bit of insight into his philosophy on music and art. “People like to hear you speak about this or people like to hear you speak about this or in this certain way, or this certain platform,” he explains. “You have to take what you feel like the elements of those things are and kind of put them in music. And I think that kind of determines… If you have something to say, if you have something that you think is funny, you have something that you think is interesting or you have something that makes you upset, put it in the music.”

“If you can put it in music, then you kind of bring that connectivity with people,” he continues. “So I think that’s kind of what may help me kind of figure out this go around, was just noticing those things.”

For more from Vince Staples, be sure to check out the rapper’s brand new single right here. Look for the upcoming album to drop this Friday, July 9th. 

Vince Staples Asks ‘Are You With That?’ On His Surprisingly Melodic New Single

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Vince Staples is just days away from the release of his self-titled album, sharing its latest single, “Are You With That?” to not only build buzz for the project but to also show off his intriguing artistic growth. Usually known for pairing his fatalistic lyrics with doom-ridden, menacing soundscapes, Vince takes a different tack with “Are You With That?,” hum-rapping a reflective meditation on the Pyrrhic choices that often face folks who grow up the way he did over an upbeat, almost nostalgic tune that belies the paranoid subject matter.

Vince explained the stylistic switch up to Apple Music’s Zane Lowe as he premiered the new song, admitting, “I was just having a lot of conversations with a lot of people around me… and people always say, ‘Oh, you used to always say these stories and this and that, and I don’t notice much about these specific things. Why don’t you put it into the music?’ And it’ll be stuff that has been in songs for years. And then I realized the backdrop wasn’t right for certain things I was saying or vice versa. I feel like [Vince Staples] is kind of very descriptive and distinct… it’s not a bunch of glory stories or things like that, I guess it’s just more personal.”

Listen to “Are You With That?” above. Check out Vince’s previous Vince Staples single “Law Of Averages” here.

Vince Staples is due 7/9 on Motown. Pre-save it here.

2 Chainz Fans Are Recalling His Funniest And Most Ridiculous Metaphors

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In reinventing himself as 2 Chainz, the Atlanta rapper formerly known as Tity Boi of Playaz Circle picked up a new lease on his stalled rap career, beginning a decade-plus renaissance that saw him featured on some of hip-hop’s biggest hits — and often stealing the show thanks to his absurdist sense of humor and outsized personality.

Now, he is getting some recognition as one of hip-hop’s funniest rappers thanks to a fan’s tweet positing that “some of his metaphors make absolutely no sense but they be fye and rhyme.” Responses range from chastising the original poster for a slightly fallacious proposal — all of 2 Chainz’s ridiculous metaphors make perfect sense, even if they’re over the top, tongue-in-cheek, or wildly unrealistic, thank you very much — to reminiscing on specific bars with the help of Genius.com’s reposting function.

As one fan put it, “as soon as you hear the words ‘2 Chainz’ in the song…… you bout to hear some BARS.” The 43-year-old rapper is now six albums deep in his career as 2 Chainz, most recently dropping So Help Me God! in 2020 after appearing on Verzuz with Rick Ross and on Family Feud with Big Boi. Songs from the album include “Quarantine Thick,” “Can’t Go For That,” “Southside Hov,” and “Grey Area” — and yes, some of the wittiest bars you’ll ever hear in rap.

Robberies Of NBA Star & Fashion Nova CEO Investigated As Possible Crime Ring

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A string of robberies that we’ve ben reporting to you this week– including the high profile cases of Lakers’ star Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Fashion Nova CEO Richard Saghian, are now raising questions within the L.A.P.D about possible connections between the cases. The violent robberies, as well as similar crimes in the area, may be part of one overarching crime ring– and Los Angeles police are determined to settle the case. All cases being investigated seem to feature similar methods and descriptions, though the robberies may have come to an end last week when two of the thieves were shot by Saghian’s security- one passed away.

Both the attack on Saghian and Pope have quite similar procedures. Saghian was trailed by three gunmen in the early hours of June 25th— all the way to his home in The Hollywood Hills. The gunmen forced the Fashion Nova CEO’s entourage out of his Rolls Royce before stripping them of their jewelry. Two of the perpetrators were shot by Saghian’s security, only one survived. Saghian returned home safely, and his security guard was hospitalized for a gunshot wound. 

Caldwell-Pope was targeted by a similar group of gunmen at his L.A. home just a week prior. The suspects made off with a Rolex, jewelry, and an iPhone after ambushing Pope and his friends while hanging out in his driveway in the early morning. Now, LA police officers are looking at both cases in search of connections. 

Kentavious Caldwell Pope

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The investigation is ongoing and we will let you know of any updates. 

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Vince Staples Drops Album Intro “ARE YOU WITH THAT?”

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Vince Staples’ self-titled record is just days away, and alongside “LAW OF AVERAGES,” fans have been treated to another new single called “ARE YOU WITH THAT?,” the first track on the record. Kenny Beats helms production on the track and serves as executive producer throughout the entire record.

The forthcoming record is Staples’ first full-length follow-up to 2018’s FM!, which also prominently featured multiple production credits from Kenny Beats. Fans last heard from Vince with a pair of singles attached to a concept project called The Vince Staples Show that included fully-acted comedic scenes from the rapper as part of the singles’ music videos. He is reported to be continuing the concept project through the form of an upcoming Netflix show.

But little is left unknown about Staples’ fourth studio album, as the Long Beach rapper revealed the tracklist and release date on his 28th birthday last week. “ARE YOU WITH THAT?” is one more teaser for fans ahead of the record’s official release, as it features Kenny Beats’ notable production style over more of a lowkey rap flow from Vince.

Check out the single below. “Vince Staples” is out on July 9th.

Quotable Lyrics

Are you with that? I won’t get back
I’m gon’ hop out and crash
Are you with that? I want big racks
I’m gon’ flock, I’m gon’ stack

Akademiks Explains Why Drake Is The “Best Rapper Ever”

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Love him, hate him, tolerate him, or appreciate him, it cannot be denied that the opinion of DJ Akademiks can have an impact. Today, the media host has connected with Andrew Schulz and Akaash Singh’s Flagrant 2 podcast, where a variety of topics were discussed. One such highlights arises around the 1 hour and 54-minute mark, when Ak opens up about his favorite rapper of all time. 

Akademiks eventually speaks on Drake’s position in the rap game, following up his claim that Drizzy is “the best rapper ever” with a bit of context. “When I say Drake is the best rapper ever, I’m not talking about just rapping,” he clarifies. “I think he’s seeing the game, and doing all of the necessary things to capitalize and be at the top.” 

Akademiks 

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Schulz notes that JAY-Z should also be held in high esteem, largely due to the legacy he has left in his wake. “Drake had an ironclad hold on the game consistently, for ten-plus years,” continues Ak. “JAY was one of the top 5. Some years he was 1, some years he was 2, some years he was 3. But I think what he gave to the game, in terms of people, influence, his impact, people cloud their thoughts in thinking about it to say he’s the best.”

“I think what we’re looking at with Drake, is we give him props for helping other artists, but that artist could have competed with you at some point,” adds Ak. “There’s a point, where if you go back to 2015, when Future was so hot. Maybe Future could have toppled Drake. But Drake pretty much overshadowed his wave. Travis. I think Baby to a certain extent. Charlamagne said that about Baby. I don’t think Baby’s the guy yet. But I think Drake is smart – Drake won’t ever make it lines in the sand. He’ll always collaborate, help, and have those moments with that person knowing he’ll outlast them.”

“He’s like Floyd in a way,” he notes. “He doesn’t knock them out, but he’s like, if you go twelve with me, n***as will know I won.” 

For more insight from Akademiks, who continues to thrive in spite of his controversial nature, check out the full episode of Flagrant 2 below.

R. Kelly’s Lawyer Asks To Delay NYC Sex Trafficking Trial Due To Quarantine

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R. Kelly was recently taken to a prison in Brooklyn ahead of his sex trafficking trial in New York City. However, the mandated quarantine required after he was transferred is now at the center of a request to postpone the trial. According to Associated Press, Kelly’s attorney Deveraux Cannick filed a motion to court requesting a delay in the trial after Kellz was placed under a 14-day quarantine. Cannick told the court that the quarantine, which ends Tuesday, worsened their “herculean effort” to prepare for the case after they were hired on June 21st.


 Ben Gabbe/Getty Images

Cannick told Judge Ann Donnelly that because of the quarantine, Kelly’s new legal team has not been able to meet with him in person. Cannick argued that the circumstances would rob him of a fair trial.

“Robert is anxious to have his day in court; however not at the expense of his Sixth Amendment rights,” Cannick wrote. So far, there has not been a ruling on the request for a trial delay. 

Once Kelly’s quarantine is completed and he can meet with his lawyers, he’ll have to use a conference room in the jail. In the case that a room isn’t available, Kelly will have to meet with his lawyers at a shared table with other inmates and attorneys.

“The nature of the evidence here does not lend itself to open frank discussions in such an environment,” Cannick added.

We’ll keep you posted on more updates on Kelly’s NYC trial. 

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Scottie Pippen Thinks Michael Jordan Would’ve Missed The 1996 Finals Without Him

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It’s been a little over a year since The Last Dance was released ahead of schedule for the world to lose itself in through the dawn of quarantine. And while Dennis Rodman may have always seemed to be the odd man out as far as personality and bravado were concerned, Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen always has just as much ridiculous stuff to say as the next guy. In his defense, though, he was right this time.

In Pippen’s interview with Dan Patrick, he tapped in to talk about what he believes his career would’ve been like had he never been traded from Seattle to Chicago on draft night.

With as much confidence as always, he said, “I would have had some pretty good teammates, especially if we were still landing Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton. It is a team we played in the Finals. So, that sort of fit.”

Jason Merritt/Getty Images

“Some pretty good teammates”… as if the forward didn’t get a chance to spend roughly nine years playing with Michael fucking Jordan. When the host went on to mention that it’d be an interesting matchup to see this hypothetical Sonics team against Chicago in the Finals, Pip responded with the major blow, admitting “It would have been a lot of fun. I don’t know if he (Jordan) would have made it that far. If you know what I mean. I’m just saying.”

Scottie’s always been a bit outspoken amongst the media, occasionally to a fault, though this is a rather fair assessment. Do you think the Bulls stood a chance through the 90s if Jordan didn’t have a true co-star?

[Via]