New Hip Hop News

It’s been a while since Westside Boogie came through with his Shady Records debut album Everythings For Sale, a slept-on highlight and arguably one of 2019’s best bodies of work. Since then, however, it’s been a relatively quiet front for the contemplative lyricist — though that’s not to say he’s been entirely dormant.

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In fact, following a brilliantly marketed “kidnapping” scheme, Boogie has been delivering freestyles at a decent pace. Still, anticipation for his next studio album continues to build, as we’ve admittedly heard relatively little about the forthcoming project. Not long ago, however, the Compton rapper took to Instagram to share a closer look at two stylistically-distinctive new tracks.

The first, which may or may not be titled some variant of “Mood,” is more of a banger — which is to say, an uptempo instrumental paired with some flex-heavy lyricism. The second feels closer to the foundation laid on Everythings For Sale, melodic in nature with a more relaxed delivery. It’s a testament to Boogie’s versatility and a promising sign that we’ll see him exploring a variety of different sounds whenever his new project ends up arriving. 

Check out the two snippets below, and be sure to sound off if you’re excited to see what Westside Boogie has been cooking up for his next drop on Shady Records. 

The late Big Pun recently had a Bronx street renamed in his honor, with the corner of East Fordham Road and the Grand Concourse becoming Big Pun Plaza. The unveiling of the new street sign was met with an outpouring of support, as many — including Big Pun’s family members — came together to celebrate. 

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It didn’t take long for some to notice that Pun’s longtime collaborator and close friend Fat Joe was not in attendance, as he was during the unveiling of Fred The Godson’s street sign. It didn’t take long for Joe to provide a bit of context regarding his absence, speaking on the situation during an Instagram Live session. “First thing is, God bless my brother, the one and only Big Pun,” begins Joe. “He got a block named after him today. If you never been to the Bronx, that’s a hell of an accomplishment. Big Pun Plaza on Fordham Road and the Grand Concourse.”

“I was watching, I was tuned in,” he continues. “Everyone on this side of Terror Squad, prayers is up for Big Pun. I seen Khaled on the notes. All of us praying for him. If you don’t have good things to say about somebody, I prefer to not say it. So me, I could not go over there, because there were people over there I just ain’t feeling. And I ain’t never going to feel. So when everybody DMs me, or says little things, yo bro — I will never stand beside these people ever in life.”

“In my life, all I have is my word,” he affirms. “My word is my bond. I never broke my word for nobody. If I shook your hand and told you it’s peace, then it’s peace. If I have a problem with you, I let you know. I’m not standing beside nobody. Talking about ‘let’s do it for Pun.’ No I’m not. When you slander me and my word and make me look crazy for two decades in the hood. I can not stand next to you. My kids ain’t standing next to you. We just ain’t doing that. We’re talking about the legacy of Big Pun, we’re talking about uplifting him for twenty-years…All we do is uplift Pun.”

“I know I might get some of you people mad, but that’s on you,” he adds, mentioning that he previously launched a Big Pun celebration event wiith The LOX, Busta Rhymes, The Beatnuts, and more. “I invited his son, who raps, to come and do Big Pun’s parts. He declines. I invited him when we big-upped Pun at Radio City Music Hall, where every rapper was there — but they declined. That’s cool. I was the bigger guy, and often. I know he was a kid when Pun passed, and he knows what’s told to him. I respect that it’s all good. Big we gotta salute the one and only Big Pun.” 

Check out Fat Joe’s reflection on his decision to skip the unveiling ceremony below.