DMX Recalls Childhood Memory Meeting An Angel In Final Interview

Last night, Sunday May 16th, the first part of DMX’s final recorded interview aired on TV One series Uncensored. The interview was filmed three weeks prior to his tragic passing on April 9th and will be aired in two separate installments — the second of which is set to air later tonight at 10 p.m. ET. 

The late legend reflects frequently on his youth, speaking on how he found solace in God amidst recurring hardship. In one emotional moment, the highly spiritual emcee recalls an early childhood memory from four years old, claiming to have met an angel following a car accident. 

DMX

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He sets the stage by explaining that he, his mother, and his little sister were visiting a family friend in Yonkers. While he and his sister were waiting outside, X found a dime on the ground and decided to head to the store to buy a lollipop and a ball. As he was crossing the street, he was struck by a car. “As soon as I stepped off the curb coming down from the store, a car hit me, knocked me way over on the other side of the street up under another car,” recalls X. 

He explains that a white woman carrying a clipboard told him to lie down until his mother was able to reach the scene. After emergency vehicles arrived, X explains that she simply disappeared. “You’d think that she would’ve stuck around because she saw the whole thing,” he muses. “I don’t know, I felt like it was an angel. She got no business being in the hood with a clipboard.” 

For much more from DMX, be sure to check out some footage from the Uncensored interview right here, bittersweet though it may be. In addition, X’s first posthumous album Exodus, recorded and finished prior to his passing, is set to arrive on May 28th; guest appearances include JAY-Z, Nas, The LOX, Snoop Dogg, Griselda, Lil Wayne, Infrared & Cross, Alicia Keys, Mr. Porter and more. 

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Young Thug Explains Controversial JAY-Z Comments & Names His Top 5 Rappers

The YSL Records family is unstoppable. Every year, it seems as though there’s a new star being molded from within the Atlanta-based crew, which is headed by Young Thug. Gunna has grown to become a superstar in his own right. Lil Keed has achieved massive amounts of success on his own. And with the recent release of Slime Language 2, upcoming stars like Unfoonk, YTB Trench, Karlae, and Yung Kayo are coming to the forefront. The entire team was present during Thugger’s latest appearance on the Million Dollaz Worth Of Game podcast with Gillie Da Kid and Wallo267.

Young Thug’s most recent appearance on the podcast came with several talking points– including the controversial comments the rapper made about JAY-Z. During the sitdown conversation, Thug’s words were misconstrued and many believed he was being disrespectful toward the legendary emcee. At the time, he insinuated that he has more arena-worthy songs than Hov, which angered thousands of rap fans. “I was talking to [sic] fast but y’all know what I meant,” he later clarified. On the new episode, which was published on Monday, Thug further elaborated on what he meant.


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“You were basically saying you got a lot of f*cking records,” said Gillie about the comments from last year. “Basically that’s all I was saying, I just used his name because he the biggest n***a in the world to me,” confirmed Thug. “I just used his name, to let the world know, like, ‘Yo, I got just as many hits as the biggest n***a in the world.’ I’m doing two hours on stage, for real. I don’t remember my last hour show… and I don’t do too much talking.”

The rapper also revealed his current picks for his top five rappers. He gave the first position to his YSL group before listing off Lil Baby, Lil Uzi Vert, and Drake. Unsure of who to name for his final pick, Thug chose both Future and 21 Savage. He went on to explain that his list wasn’t all-encompassing though, elaborating that if the list was based on lyricism, he’d have added Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and Bas from Dreamville Records. 

“It’s about everything. Everybody who I named got everything,” added Thug.

Watch the full interview below and let us know what you think of it.

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Casanova Is Fed Up With The Fake Love

Last December, popular New York rapper Casanova turned himself in after being hit with racketeering conspiracy, drug trafficking, and other charges during the takedown of the Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation gang. Prior to surrendering, he posted a video that maintained his innocence and ensured that he’d fight the case and be back out soon.

Fast forward to May 2021, and Casanova is still behind bars. In February, the Behind These Scars rapper has been vocal about the diminished support that he has received since being in jail, and unfortunately, his most recent update shows that not much has changed.

Rapper Casanova attends Meek Mill and PUMA celebrate CHAMPIONSHIPS album release party at PHD at the Dream Downtown on November 29, 2018 in New York City.
Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images

Weeks after sharing a sweet video of his wife performing a heartfelt freestyle that advocates for his release, Casanova has returned to Twitter to give his fans an update. According to the “So Brooklyn” rapper, however, things haven’t been looking too good in regard to support from his allies.

“SOME PEOPLE THAT I THOUGHT LOVED ME, ONLY NEEDED ME,” Casanova writes, touching on his epiphany that some of his closest friends only aligned themselves with the New York rapper for their own benefit. He then continues by revealing that he has taken note, saying, “I GET IT NOW. I WON”T LET THAT GO OVER MY HEAD.”

Stay tuned for more updates regarding Casanova’s legal battle.

Rise & Grind: Kenny Mason Details Making “Angelic Hoodrat: Supercut” & His Alt-Music Inspiration

Rise & Grind is a new editorial series, meant to introduce and dissect new, buzzing, or underground artists.


Kenny Mason is one of the most eye-catching artists currently coming out of Atlanta, and his genre-bending sound has immediately set him apart from his contemporaries across the city. In the final months of 2019, the talented upstart gained widespread attention by notching millions of views onto his music video for “Hit,” and by the release of Angelic Hoodrat on April 15, 2020, it became evident that Kenny Mason was a musical tour de force.

As an artist who doesn’t shy away from experimenting across genres, Kenny Mason made a profound statement on his debut project last year, and ever since, the rising artist has been featured on Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, DJBooth, and countless other music publications as one of the most daring Hip-Hop artists out. Drawing upon his alternative rock influences, Angelic Hoodrat was a dark 14-track effort that embodied an up-and-coming artist’s hunger and expertly showcased Mason’s ability to hop from an awe-inspiring lyrical performance to a full-blown rock ballad at a moment’s notice.

One year later, Kenny Mason has doubled down on his critically acclaimed project and extended his Angelic Hoodrat era by treating fans with Angelic Hoodrat: Supercut. Days prior to releasing the impressive 12-track follow-up, Kenny Mason linked up with HNHH to discuss who he is an artist, his newly released project, and his desire to achieve longevity in the music industry.

Check out our conversation with the talented Atlanta artist below and stay tuned for a new installment of Rise & Grind every Monday.


kenny mason rise & grind

Image provided by the artist. Photo credit: Nasser Boulaich

Stomping Grounds:

I’m from Atlanta, specifically. The Westside/Southwest side. I grew up for probably half of my life there. I moved to [Zone 3] when I was a teenager. But as a kid, I was raised in Zone 4, which is like, complete Westside, all the way West. And those two areas were kind of like textbook inner city, black neighborhoods. So it was a lot. It was real community based. It could get violent, you know, but I learned a lot about being a man in those areas. I experienced a lot of stuff that forced me to be a man in a good way. 

From Zone 4, I believe Polow Da Don. He’s a producer, but he was one of the big names as far as like repping that area. I think Earth Gang. I feel like they from over there if I’m not mistaken. But as far as Zone 3, everybody know Young Thug like the big dog that come from that area. Oh and Lil Baby. Most of the Atlanta rappers that’s not from Zone 6 cuz you know, everybody know Atlanta for Zone 6. They’re most likely from Zone 4 or Zone 3.

Zodiac Sign:

I’m a Sagittarius. I was born in December.

I feel like a good part of me relate to it as far as some of the stereotypes — like a Sagittarius not knowing when to quit something, like being I guess real stubborn. So I can be like that when it comes to stuff I want to do. I like to travel. That’s what I heard about it. I don’t know like too much about it. My homegirls told me that she got like a full chart. It’s a bunch of signs. And I got a bunch of different like– I can’t remember off the top my head. But like, we got a bunch of different signs in it. I guess I got a lot of Sagittarius traits, but I also got a whole bunch of other stuff, apparently.

Top 5 DOA:

This is super hard and this is not going to be permanent, but I think today, I feel I gotta say… Well Jay Z is somebody that’s always gonna be [there] — his music hits me in a very spiritual way. His mindset. I feel like I got a real similar mindset to him as far as how he attacks writing. I’m saying stylistically, I’mma always say Jay Z. I think he is Sagittarius too, so shout out to him. Bankroll Fresh is somebody that I’m always inspired by because he was just so Atlanta. Rest in peace to him, he was so Atlanta. He bled it, like he wore it all the time. He really, to me, was one of the fyest rappers to come from the city. I’ma say, I feel like Earl Sweatshirt would be in my top five.

I 100% put Kendrick. Then I’ma split. I know it’s wack to do this, but I’ma split Three Stacks and J Cole, I’ma split them.

Biggest Accomplishment:

I think for me it’s people DMing me every day or talking to me every day, saying how my music is changing their life. I think that’s like the fire that– I don’t care too much about ever getting awards, looks or publicity, lights and stuff like that. It’s neither here nor there for me. People like telling me how my music’s changing their life. That’s like my main goal. So to know that I’m actually doing that is extremely rewarding.

Studio Habits & Essentials:

[I’ve] got to have independence. I like to have it when I’m working with [Julian] Cruz, one of my main producers. I just like to be able to play the game. I have spurts where it’s like I’m writing and then he’ll be doing his technical producer stuff. It’s just a block of time where it’s like, he’s really like, zoned in and focusing on that. And I got to sit and wait on him so I like to be able to play the game when I’m not doing that. But it’s not so much of that when I’m at home and I’m recording myself.

I like to have almonds as far as like a studio snack I guess. Probably my phone. I gotta have my phone because when I’m writing, I’ll fact check stuff and look up samples, all that. No social media when I’m recording, but I like to have my phone just to Google and fact check stuff.

Angelic Hoodrat: Supercut:

It started off as– I was really just supposed to do four or five more songs for a deluxe version of “Angelic [Hoodrat].” It honestly started off in that. We locked in. I went to Tennessee and made a bunch of songs. I just had been making a bunch of songs throughout the year. And we was all like, we need to put a lot of these out, not just four or five. It turned into like, ‘Okay, I’m gonna put out a super long thing.’ Then we all realized like, Damn, that’s kind of tacky to do or whatever. So this would just be like a separate project. It’s still a deluxe, but it’s separate from the original. But, I wouldn’t consider it like a new album, album two, or nothing like that. I would just consider it an extension or like, or a removed deluxe.

It’s 12 tracks. Some of them are just songs that I released throughout the year, but, you know, people have been begging [me] to put on streaming services. Because it was just be on YouTube or SoundCloud. And motherf*ckers would be bullying me everyday like, “Put it on Spotify, put it on Apple!” So it’s for them too.

I think these songs showed a lot of growth in a year. They really wrapped up my full ideas that I had originally going into “Angelic Hoodrat.” The original version was real experimental, you know? And I feel like I got to a point on this one where it’s like, these are just songs for people to enjoy and not think too hard about a narrative or a concept. This is just the sound that I want to have. I just want to have a solid list of songs for folks to enjoy.

First Bars:

I think I was like, probably eight or nine years old. And my older brother, he rapped and I found his rap book and he was the coolest person in the world to me. So I probably just tried to write some shit on a piece of paper, you know what that’s like. That was just something. But I think when I actually started trying to rap, I was probably like, maybe 12 or 13. I don’t know it was probably some shit about some guns. I don’t know. Probably just me trying to be like Lil Wayne, bro.

First Show:

The first time I ever performed like anything in front of a crowd of people was eighth grade, and I did a performance to this T-Pain song. I forget what song it was, but like, I was dancing and shit it was so whack. It was so whack. I had a rap verse in it too.

Clocking Out:

Probably just video games. Like probably just Grand Theft Auto. I play that shit a lot. Yeah, it’s pretty much like a guilty pleasure. I [also] watch movies, stuff like that. I like superhero movies. Except for like, I’m not watching the Justice League sh*t. That shit is too long, and I didn’t really see the first one. I really like mysteries, too. Just anything with really good acting performances. I like just real fire acting performances. If the acting is not fire, it’s gonna just take me out of the story.

Up Next:

I’m not gonna stop after this. I’m gonna be releasing more songs after “Supercut” like singles and stuff like that. And I’m definitely doing another “Ruffs” where like I drop my rough singles on YouTube and SoundCloud and stuff like that, like free sites. I’m not stopping at all.


kenny mason new interview

Image provided by the artist. Photo credit: Nasser Boulaich

HNHH: In past interviews, you’ve said that Foo Fighters, Smashing Pumpkins, and alternative music, in general, are sources of inspiration for you. What other sonic pockets are you really into that you haven’t experimented with in your own music yet?

Kenny Mason: I really like chill wave type sh*t. Yeah, like Toro Y Moi and heading into Vaporwave and all that type stuff. I’m really interested in that and making it translate with my swag as well. That’s something I’d be working on, and it’s a long process. I’m trying to figure out that, but I like that type of stuff. I love older, like 70s soul and late blues, and even the beginnings of rock and roll because a lot of people don’t give credit to a lot of those Black artists that started rock and roll. I get inspiration from them too.

Fans have heard you get on songs from Denzel Carey, IDK, and Deante’ Hitchcock. Moving forward, are you going to have more collabs on the projects that you release?

Nobody’s on Angelic, but I got a few features or Supercut. In the future, I definitely wanna have more focus on my stuff. I think it’s just the pandemic, it limited a lot of features that I could get done because it would have been way more in 2020. A lot of people reached out and [there were] a lot of people that I intend on reaching out to, too. 

Everybody was locked in the house, but I think I’ll be able to collab with more folks like how I want to soon. I like challenging myself, like having songs with really, really, really, really fire people and seeing if I can bring my A-game.

On “Angels Calling” from the original Angelic Hoodrat, you mentioned getting shot. Have any similar major life events happened to you since the release of Angelic?

Yeah, not similar as in something happening to me, but loved ones, definitely. It has been tough, just in general for the pandemic for a lot of people in my family. But also I have lost family members, and I had to deal with it. I had to take time and deal with that personally, and, you know, cope with that stuff. I’m still like coping with it. But I like to think that everything happens for a reason. And when someone passes, I don’t think it’s the end of them. I think it’s just a transfer of energy, you know, they become something else. So I’m not like, extremely sad about it other than just me missing them being here, but they still here. I’m getting through and I always got music to be my therapy, you know?

After making such a grandiose album and receiving so much praise, where do you go from here?

Somebody gave me some really great advice. My homeboy, he was just like, “You know it’s all about being in the present moment and being right now. Trying to look around too much and look at the scoreboard too much, it takes away from how well you play the game.” I want to play the game the best as I can while I’m here. I’m not paying too much attention to people thinking the album is great, or even people who don’t like the album. I’m not thinking about any of that. I’m just trying to be the best I can, and I think that the best music, the best content, the best art is gonna come from me being present for every moment, and not worrying about all the other stuff. I do want to keep going, bro. I want this sh*t forever.

READ LAST WEEK’S INTERVIEW WITH TOOSII HERE.

EarthGang Spit Bars On “Lemon Pepper Freestyle”

Though EarthGang was originally teasing that the release of their recently-announced Ghetto Gods album would arrive last Friday — the same day as J. Cole’s new album The Off-Season — it would appear that the Dreamville duo has since adjusted their plans. That’s not to say they have left fans entirely empty-handed, as Olu and Wowgr8 came through to spit some bars over Drake and Rick Ross’ “Lemon Pepper,” a beat that has become a freestyle favorite. 

Off the top, Gr8 sets it off over the soulful production, his laid-back delivery pairing effectively with a steadily unfolding flow scheme. “If you don’t know you an animal then you won’t understand it, ni*gas swear by the morals until they cold with they family,” he raps. “I’m telling ya, degrees celsius / The music carried us to legendary areas.”

Following him is Olu, who provides a bit of context into what might have caused the Ghetto Gods delay. “Release date is what I’m waitin’ on, Interscope gotta crunch the numbers,” he reflects. “This industry is flooded with mindless muddles ’cause lies sell / The ugly truth might not bring in the money / Don’t they know it’s real shit the people want?” A fair question, and one worth reflecting on as EarthGang’s “Lemon Pepper Freestyle” plays out. 

QUOTABLE LYRICS

Release date is what I’m waitin’ on
Interscope gotta crunch the numbers
This industry is flooded with mindless muddles ’cause lies sell
The ugly truth might not bring in the money
Don’t they know it’s real shit the people want?

Migos Finally Confirm Their ‘Culture III’ Release Date With A Michael Jordan Parody

A few days ago, Migos shared a video for a new song, “Straightenin,” which stirred up optimism that the trio is finally ready to release their highly anticipated album Culture III. The track didn’t come with confirmation of a release date, but now, a few days later, they’ve offered one: Culture III is officially scheduled for release on June 11.

The post making the announcement is formatted like a press release and reads, “ATLANTA, GA (May 17, 2021) — The following statement was released today by the Migos through their label Quality Control Music, located in Atlanta, GA, in response to questions about Culture III. ‘June 11th. We’re Back.’”

Sports fans probably noticed immediately that the post was made to resemble the 1995 press release sent by Michael Jordan’s team to announce his return to the NBA after a brief retirement (that, or, less likely, the resemblance is an unbelievable coincidence). Jordan’s message, sent via fax, reads much like Migos’ post and famously quotes Jordan as saying simply, “I’m back.”

Back in December 2020, Quavo explained the group’s mindset behind the new album and being able to promote it, saying, “We done with the album, we just waiting on 2021, man, so everything can crack up. We want the commotion, we want to move, we want to be outside. We want to drop it and go on tour. We want to have an album listening [party] and have people in that thang and really hearing the album.”

Culture III is out 6/11 via Quality Control Music.

JT & Lil Uzi Vert Seemingly Get Each Other’s Names Tattooed

It took over a year for Lil Uzi Vert and JT to claim each other but now that their relationship is public, they’re going the extra mile to prove their love to one another (and perhaps the world). The inseparable couple has been talking about marriage and children in recent interviews and it looks like they’re serious about spending their lives together because they each seemingly got constant reminders of the other on their hands, getting tattoos over the weekend. 

Lil Uzi Vert posted a picture on Instagram of him and his girlfriend JT, who performs as part of the City Girls, and people instantly noticed some new ink on both of them. While it’s presently unclear if the tattoos are permanent, the two rappers seemingly made their love a lifelong thing by getting each other’s names tattooed. Uzi appears to have gotten “JT” inked on his hand while JT got “Uzi” on her wrist. Fans were immediately critical of the move, which prompted JT to clap back on Twitter.

Replying to a fan who called her out for waiting a year to claim Uzi as her man because he was simultaneously dating three other women last year, JT said, “You just made my point if I ain’t the only one ain’t no going public baby! He had 10 hoes on another bitch watch not mine! You see what tf going on once I stamped it … shopping sprees and palm trees!” 

She went on to argue with fans that just because she’s in a relationship, doesn’t mean she’s not a City Girl. “I really don’t be trying to piss y’all off, sorry I don’t have to hop n***a to n***a to be a city girl.”

What do you think about their new tattoos? See how people are reacting below.

6ix9ine Shows Love To Nicki Minaj & Continues To Shade Lil Reese

6ix9ine remains one of the most polarizing and villanized artists in Hip-Hop. He’s an artist that never strays away from taking jabs at other rappers, and as his career has progressed post-prison, 6ix9ine has built a strong brand as one of the most disrespectful people in the music industry.

Like the rainbows that regularly adorn his album artwork, there are multiple sides to the TattleTales rapper, and at times, he ditches his contentious antics to show love to fallen artists like XXXTentacion or prove that he’s still loyal to people like DJ Akademiks and Nicki Minaj. Even after being branded a snitch by most of the Hip-Hop community, Nicki Minaj has been one of the biggest artists to work with 6ix9ine, so it makes sense for the infamous rapper to do everything in his power to maintain that relationship.

In one of his recent Instagram posts, 6ix9ine does just that. Hitting the ‘Gram to promote two upcoming shows that he has over the next two weeks, 6ix9ine snuck a major Nicki Minaj shoutout into the video’s caption, writing, “GO STREAM BEAM ME UP SCOTTY @nickiminaj YOU KNOW WE STARTED THIS CROC SHIT MOMMAZ I LOVE YOU 4L.”

At the start of the video, 6ix9ine also blasts Nicki’s “Crocodile Teeth (Remix)” from his whip while showing off his mismatched iced-out crocs, and in the background, viewers can hear Nicki rapping, “Headline tours, and I bring Fox’ out (Fox’ out)/If it’s a calm flex, then I bring the Crocs out.”

True to his character, the Dummy Boy artist also couldn’t help but take yet another shot at the recently wounded Lil Reese. Again referencing reports that Lil Reese was shot during an altercation that allegedly arose over a stolen car, 6ix9ine closes out his Instagram caption with a PSA in all-caps, writing, “STOP STEALING CARS.”

Check out 6ix9ines recent Instagram video below and let us know if you think that he and Nicki really are responsible for the recent resurgence of Crocs.

Tobe Nwigwe & Fat Nwigwe Come Through With “FYE FYE”

Tobe Nwigwe has returned with his new single “FYE FYE,” continuing to prove that he’s among the game’s more underrated emcees when it comes to the bars. In addition to boasting a clever pen game, Nwigwe is also unafraid to experiment with his chosen production, and as such, his songs always feel that much more original. This one is no exception, and Tobe takes to Nell’s blistering uptempo banger like a man on a mission.

“I’m extra unique,” he begins, elongating his line for extra emphasis. “My whole aura screams talent / I been listenin’ to Fela, Griselda, and Marvin Winans just to make sure I’m balanced.” He proceeds to snap with an unrestrained delivery, setting it up for his wife Fat Nwigwe to close things out with some bars of her own. “Oh God, I’m extra petite, but the hood call me Fat,” she spits. “Fire on me like Shadrach and Meshach / I keep peace for the scrap.” Check out the pair putting in work right now, and sound off if you can appreciate a husband and wife who spit bars together.

QUOTABLE LYRICS

Oh God, I’m extra petite, but the hood call me Fat
Fire on me like Shadrach and Meshach 
I keep peace for the scrap

Migos Finally Announce Wait’s Over For ‘Culture III’ Album

Atlanta rap trio Migos are done making fans wait. The hip-hop stars have circled the long-awaited drop date for their highly-anticipated Culture III studio album. Migos Finally Announce Wait’s Over The hip-hop heavyweights made things official for a Culture III June release. Barring any unexpected setbacks, fans can look forward to snagging the LP in […]

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