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Allblack And Mozzy Trade ‘War Stories’ In Their Grizzled New Video
In Allblack‘s new video for “War Stories,” he and Mozzy keep DMX’s legacy of hyperviolent but secretly super sad lyricism alive, detailing both the bloody shootouts that peppered their lives with tragedy and the deep mental scars such trauma can bring in its aftermath. “Sometimes I wish I wasn’t loved so much, I’d die today,” Allblack mulls. “Next birthday, I’ma put a bomb inside my cake.” The sentiment is similar to X’s verse on Mase’s “24 Hours To Live,” in which X seemingly decides that 24 hours is just too long and he’s going out with a bang.
Meanwhile, Mozzy’s verse is less depressed but no less grim. “The homies popped the homie, I tried to tell him he wrong,” he remembers. “He don’t care though, all black Forces you know we wear those.” Detroit rapper Peezy brings up the anchor verse, coming a bit more boastfully but with an anxious undercurrent amid the triumphant tone. “Used to sell raw, cook crack up in the kitchen sink,” he muses. “Now I gotta wake up early for a business meetin’.” At least the story has a happy ending.
“War Stories” is the latest single from Allblack’s recently released album TY4FWM, which finds the Bay Area fixture rapping with fellow NorCal rhymers E-40, G-Eazy, Guapdad 4000, and Rexx Life Raj, as well as more Detroiters such as Sada Baby and even Long Beach’s Vince Staples. You can listen to that here.
Watch Allblack’s “War Stories” video with Mozzy above.
Jorja Smith Dreads The Choice Of Holding On Or Letting Go On Her Lovelorn EP, ‘Be Right Back’
Life is a forever-winding path filled with crossroads and intersections. At times, navigating this journey is as easy as breathing and walking; decisions are made with help from destiny and subconscious thought, going unrecognized unless one requests it from the file cabinet of the mind. Other times, destiny takes a step back and leaves us in charge of commanding the journey. Even with the highest dose of wisdom present, questions of where to turn, when to stop, slow down, or speed up become far too dreadful to answer.
As we all had to do in some corner of our lives, Jorja Smith has been left to make these decisions and, as she unveils on her new EP Be Right Back, the choices before her are some that most would hate to choose from. On the lovelorn project, Jorja engages in a mental tug of war in the often unpredictable world of love and is left to decide what’s best for her: holding on in hopes of receiving better or letting go in fear of prolonging the bad before experiencing the worst.
Be Right Back is the English singer’s first project since her 2019 debut album, Lost & Found, an effort where she quite literally discovered herself. Songs that she wrote as a naive youth grew beside her with age and became tales of what once was, what is now, and what could be. The EP not only signals her return to music, as it’s her first project in over two years, foreshadows more to come for those who crave more from Jorja, just like that morning cup of Joe.
The scene is set as Be Right Back begins. The singer is knee-deep and tangled within the webs of unrequited love on “Addicted.” Jorja craves her lover like a caffeine addict does with their cup of coffee, but unlike that morning boost of energy that seeks nothing in return from its consumer, Jorja needs reciprocation from her companion. “The hardest thing / You are not addicted to me,” she croons with a voice filled with agony on the track. “I’m the only thing you should need / You should be addicted to me.” It’s at this moment that the unsettling crossroad presents itself.
The worst thing about these journeys is you’ll never know what’s next. No amount of astrology, prayer, or fortune-telling can give a play-by-play of the future that we’d all love to have. The gains and losses that come with each turn are vastly unpredictable. Taking one path can cause the extinction of another and sacrificing something else can spark the appearance of something new and better. So when Jorja deals with the pain of departure on “Gone” and “Weekend,” and inflicts some of the same on “Time,” it’s all with the hope that maybe one day she’ll make the right decisions to bring her towards the happy moment she desires.
For what it’s worth, Jorja can end a chapter in love if it proves to be necessary. After a whirlwind of doubts blur her perception and confidence towards a successful relationship on “Home,” Jorja opts to step away from it as her worries only seem to weigh her down. “Why can’t we leave it? Should’ve left it as just another chapter,” she ponders over the soft strums of an electric guitar. “It stays the same, will always remain with my heart in doubt.”
As a result, her bags are packed and she continues on her journey towards what’s next and what is hopefully better for her. Be Right Back sees her take a momentary break from the path she travels to document the scenery and events she experienced. It’s never the destination, but rather the journey, so timely pauses to take in what’s occurred are often necessary to avoid repeating mistakes and being lost — again — within it all.
Be Right Back is out now via FAMM. Get it here.
Young Nudy Goes Hard On Addictive New Track “Perc 30”
Despite the fact that Young Nudy and 21 Savage are cousins, their rapping styles could not be anymore different. With the release of his new album Dr.EV4L, Young Nudy shows us exactly why that is. By mixing up his rap style with a zany production and aesthetic, “Perc 30,” is a unique track that’s part of an equally unique album.
Perc 30 is nothing short of a fire drop. Sonically speaking, the track gives a circus-traphouse vibe that is irresistible. Young Nudy skates on the beat as he spits lines laced with heat such as “Hold my money, that’s a fee. I like her body, that’s on me. Dirty dreads, red bandana, R.I.P.” Young Nudy’s bars and the production that’s laced with carnival vibes makes “Perc 30” an absolutely amusing standout from his latest LP.
The influence of the hip hop scene in Atlanta has a strong presence in Young Nudy’s work. Which sounds about right given that his stomping ground is Eastern Atlanta. Traces of Gucci Mane’s earlier work are also prevalent not only in “Perc 30,” but the rest of Dr.EV4L as well.
Perc 30 is one of the bangers from the newly dropped Dr.EV4L. Dr.EV4L is the second album from Young Nudy. His first studio album titled Anyways… was released in February of 2020.
Quotable Lyrics
Trap beat in the A, I got blocks, make a play (Make a play)
And my ho protect the spot, won’t go, no way (Go, no way)
Too many shooters in this bitch strapped up, it’s too many K’s (Too many K’s)
Everybody gon’ do what I say (Yeah)
Every word that I say is law (Law)
This game, I play too raw (Raw)
That’s why I keep my gun on me, beam just like Rudolph
Draymond Green’s Converse G4 “Hyper Swarm” PE Unveiled
Draymond Green has steadily been one of the best defensive players in the NBA over the last few years and thanks to his play on the court, he has been able to secure a deal with the likes of Converse. While he might not have his own signature shoe, he has consistently been wearing Converse’s diverse array of silhouettes, and this year, he has been a particularly huge fan of the Converse G4. In fact, Green has just been given a PE of the shoe called “Hyper Swarm” and unlike most PEs, it will actually be released to the masses.
In the official images below, you can see that this is a perfect shoe for the Golden State Warriors’ aesthetics as we can find a mostly yellow upper, all while the Converse branding is black. There is even a gum bottom here which helps add some nice contrast to the overall look. Converse’s basketball silhouettes have proven to be a huge hit and the G4 is no exception.
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Image via Converse
Image via Converse
Image via Converse
Image via Converse
Kid Cudi Joins The Cast Of The Disney+ Sci-Fi Film “Crater”
Last December, Kid Cudi finally released the long-awaited third installment in his fan-favorite Man on the Moon album series, and roughly five months after the arrival of Man On The Moon III: The Chosen, it looks like Kid Cudi is heading back to outer space. According to Complex, the Indicud artist will be appearing in Disney’s upcoming space adventure film Crater.
After appearing in shows and movies such as Westworld, We Are Who We Are, Need for Speed, and Bill & Ted Face the Music, Cudi will once again test out his acting chops in Disney’s intergalactic coming-of-age story that follows a boy who grew up on a lunar colony. According to Complex, Cudi will play the main character’s father.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
The Disney+ exclusive will be helmed by director Kyle Patrick Alvarez, and it will also star Isaiah Russell-Bailey, Billy Barratt, Orson Hong, Thomas Boyce, and Mckenna Grace.
Earlier this year, Kid Cudi proclaimed that he was going to “glow in everything” he does moving forward, and it looks like his positive manifestation has paid off. As previously reported, Kid Cudi has been in talks with 50 Cent to develop a new television show, and in addition to his newly secured role in Crater, Cudder is also set to appear in both the horror film X and the black comedy Don’t Look Up.
Stay tuned for more developments regarding Kid Cudi’s involvement in Disney’s upcoming streaming exclusive Crater.
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Freeway Rick Ross Says “Snowfall” Stole His Life Story & Rick Ross Avoids Him
Freeway Rick Ross has an incredible story. In fact, his story is so amazing that he believes that Snowfall, the FX series that everybody has been talking about, is based on himself.
During his latest interview with Shirley Ju on Shirley’s Temple, the legend spoke about how Snowfall allegedly stole his life story and made it into a mainstream TV show.
“They stole my life story, that’s my life story,” said Freeway Rick Ross about Snowfall. “They stole my story, yeah. It’s a fact. John Singleton and I was supposed to be working on a movie and the movie is [still] finna come out. We finna start casting for the movie right now.”
Later on in the interview, he explained further. “It’s so much to it. It’s my story and they’re benefitting off it,” he said. “I’m not benefitting.”
Freeway detailed his story in his new autobiography, titled The 21 Keys of Success, which he went on to discuss.
Earlier on, Freeway spoke about his decade-long beef with the rapper Rick Ross, who he previously said has made a “mockery” of his name. According to him, he believes that Rozay avoids any contact with him.
“I think he avoids me. He avoids me,” said Freeway. “A couple of times, I went to places that he was supposed to be and he disappeared. He was nowhere to be found. I reached out to him too, I tried to make amends. I told him that if we worked together, we probably could help more people. But then he went on The Breakfast Club and dissed me. I really was more disappointed with The Breakfast Club because they didn’t invite me on to refute what he said about me.”
Watch the interview below and skip ahead to the 7:33 mark for the Rick Ross conversation, the 22:52 point for the Snowfall talk, and 32:37 for a continuation of the Snowfall accusations.
“The Batman” Movie Leaked Images Has Fans Excited About “The Riddler” New Look
The highly anticipated film The Batman starring Twilight’s Robert Pattinson has had fans excited since news of its inception.
Stills leaked on Tuesday are speculated to originate from a promotional calendar for the unreleased movie. The images provide a first look at the Riddler, played by indie actor Paul Dano. The actor, who was previously overshadowed by Pattinson’s powerhouse name, is now greeted with excitement from fans awaiting his performance as the seemingly new and improved Riddler.
In the original comics and 60s TV adaptation of Batman, the Riddler was depicted in a whimsical fashion. Although he was supposed to be mysterious and haunting, he sported a loud neon green suit decorated with question marks.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes director Matt Reeves presents the Riddler as a much darker foe in this film, drawing direct inspiration from the infamous Zodiac Killer. In the leaked images, the Riddler is shown wearing a mask almost identical to the Zodiac Killer’s horrifying disguise.
The bold move away from the previously established design of the character has only added fuel to the fan-fire. Many Batman lovers took to Twitter to share their excitement with the changes.
More promotional materials from the movie were also released on Tuesday, giving fans another look of Pattison as Batman.
The movie is expected to be released March 4, 2022.
Let us know if you’re a fan of The Riddler’s look below.
Moneybagg Yo Looking To Sign 2 Artists
Moneybagg Yo is currently enjoying a moment at the top, with his new album A Gangsta’s Pain sitting comfortably in the number one spot on the Billboard charts. Now, he’s looking to expand on his Bread Gang empire, taking to Instagram to open the floor for submissions. It’s a tactic we’ve seen employed before, with Gucci Mane frequently taking to Instagram to find the next 1017 signee — whether it yields results for Moneybagg remains to be seen.
“Tag 2 New Artists U Think I Should Sign GO!!” captions Bagg, showing a pair of iced-out Bread Gang chains for the potential newcomers. Naturally, his post brought all sorts of unsigned artists into the fray, many of whom slid into the comments to try their luck. It’s unclear as to how quickly Moneybagg is looking to bring his two new signees into the fold, but it certainly showcases a willingness to evolve as an entrepreneur behind the scenes.
Steven Ferdman/Getty Images
Unsurprising, given that Moneybagg Yo is clearly determined to ensure that he lives up to his name. Look no further than his $200k-a-show rate, which should go a long way in padding his net worth once he kicks off a proper tour. It should be interesting to see how he fares as a label head, and these next two signings will provide deeper insight into his future plans for the Bread Gang dynasty.
For now, the search goes on. Should you know any artists looking for their big break, consider directing them over to Moneybagg Yo’s Instagram page. Do you think Bread Gang has the potential to really start making noise in the imminent future, especially in the wake of Moneybagg securing his first number one album?
Missy Elliott’s ‘Supa Dupa Fly’ Video Draws Wild Reactions From Cozz, Erica Banks, And Yung Baby Tate
React Like You Know is back and this week, we’ve got a new panel and an inescapable, game-changing classic for them to watch and respond to. When Missy Elliott‘s Hype Williams-directed video for her debut single “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” dropped in 1997, it blew minds with its eye-popping, surreal imagery, avant-garde fashion choices (the air-filled “trash bag” jumpsuit!), and Williams’ signature fish-eye lens technique. It’s safe to say, hip-hop wouldn’t look anything like it does today without Missy’s adventurous debut video.
So, how does it measure up for our gen-Z panelists? Well, the episode opens with a few “Oh my God!” exclamations from Erica Banks and Fousheé, and even NLE Choppa can’t help but gush, “Missy was beautiful!” BRS Kash notes the fish-eye look “makes the video so much more dramatic,” while Blac Chyna, Cozz, and DaniLeigh all shout out the “trash bag” style — even though Missy revealed long ago it was a patent-leather jumpsuit. The Hummer also gets a lot of attention from the panel, while our studio team gets some interesting responses about the producer-artist relationship between Timbaland and Missy, as well as whether Puff Daddy can be “all in their videos — dancin.’” (The answer’s a resounding yes.)
Missy, meanwhile, is celebrating the 20th anniversary of her third album, Miss E… So Addictive, with the release of her equally groundbreaking 2001 MTV VMAs performance on YouTube coming later today.
Watch the latest React Like You video above.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.