New Hip Hop News

Whenever Kehlani pops up with a Savage x Fenty photo dump her fans implode. The Bay Area songbird has been delivering her swoon-worthy photo sets for some time and her admirers, and detractors, can’t help but take notice. On Tuesday (March 9), Kehlani returned with several new pictures where she rocks Rihanna’s barely-there brand and poses in an abandoned site that looks to be in the desert. Kehlani poses in and around dilapidated cars adorned with flowers on a sunny day, but we doubt anyone is paying close attention to the scenery.

Jamie McCarthy / Staff / Getty Images

Last month, Kehlani covered Playboy and spoke with the long-running publication about developing a new sense of sexiness after becoming a mother. “I was this quirky little person before—not super in touch with myself, a super tomboy,” the singer said at the time. “Then I became a mom, and all of a sudden I got these mom hips. I got this mom sensuality and grown-woman attitude and in-touch-ness with my body that I never had before… I think motherhood has made me this insane sex symbol even to myself.”

Kehlani joked on Twitter that as her photos make the rounds, life isn’t as glamorous as it seems. “Posting fenty photos from a toddler handprint stained white tee is my brand,” she wrote. Check out the latest series of sexy photos from Kehlani below.

For over 10 years, Southside’s had his hand in some of the biggest records in rap music. His early hits with Waka Flocka undoubtedly helped shape the genre of rap in the past decade, and these days, he’s among the game’s go-to producer for hits. He’s worked alongside Future, Young Thug, Migos, and Drake, to name a few but it appears that he’s accomplished all that he’s set out to do. Following the next 808 Mafia album, it appears that we will no longer be hearing “Southside on the track” on any future trap bangers.

Retirement is officially in the plans for Southside who took to Twitter to reveal that he’ll be out of the game after this upcoming group project it out. Following the grind of the last decade, he said that he’s happy with all that he’s done in his career and is set to take on bigger roles outside of music.

“AFTER THIS 808mafia ALBUM IM DONE IM WHERE I WANNA BE IN LIFE AS A PRODUCER IM DONE JUST KNO THIS ALBUM IS GOING TO BE GREAT IM STILL GONE LEAD FOR THE CULTURE IM STILL GONE TRY TO PUT NEW PRODUCERS ON BUT AS A PRODUCER IM THROWING THE TOWEL IN AFTER THIS ALBUM I’m done,” he wrote.

The announcement shouldn’t necessarily be surprising since it’s clear he isn’t entirely impressed with the current state of the game. Last week, he announced that there were only five rappers in the game worthy of his beats.

What do you think of Southside’s announcement? 

They’ve known each other for decades and now Jermaine Dupri is making sure to celebrate Bow Wow on his birthday once again. The pair have had their ups and downs that have often played out in the media or on their show Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta, but overall, Dupri has maintained the father figure position in the rapper’s life. They’ve balanced their personal relationship with the professional one, often working together to craft hits that remain club bangers until this day, and the So So Def icon wanted to shine a light on his “son” on his big day.

Cindy Ord / Stringer / Getty Images

“My son is 34 wow!!” tweeted Dupri. “Everybody help me and wish @smoss an amazing and Blessed day,you know what it is with me,love you 4 life.” His request was met as Twitter was soon flooded with birthday wishes for Shad Moss. Omarion made sure to chime in, as well. “Happy earth strong @smoss Top hat. Child protégé & a adult anomaly,” the B2K frontman wrote. “Continue to stand in your greatness. You know the vibrationz. Party popper. Steady mobbin.”

Bow Wow was sure to thank a few of his famous friends and radio stations for sending him well wishes. Check it all out below.

The rap game has witnessed a few boss moves play out in the past few weeks. Jay-Z, specifically, consecutively announced his big moves with TIDAL and Ace Of Spades that boosted his net worth by 40%. This morning, Swizz Beatz and Timbaland announced that Triller would acquire their platform Verzuz in a deal that would make Timbo and Swizz shareholders of Triller Network. In return, Timbo and Swizz gave equity stake to the 43 performers who’ve touched the stage in the past including DMX, Alicia Keys, and John Legend.

Many people, including Swizz and Timbo, felt like it was a game-changing move but unfortunately, not everyone was celebrating. Power actor Michael Rainey Jr. hit the ‘Gram with his own take on the situation, calling the founders of Verzuzsell-outs for the move.  “Can’t ever jus have something of our own it’s always bout the money,” he wrote in one post. “Cool move but these n***as still sellouts,” he added in another.

Though he may have not gotten the low-down on the deal, it didn’t take Swizz or Timbaland to remind him. Swizz commented under @hollywoodunlocked’s Instagram post, “But we own triller,” along with a shrugging and laughing emoji. “We own everything tell who done that,” Timbaland added.

Rainey seemingly caught wind of the comments, admitting that it was “cool” that the two producers offered performers an equity stake. However, he still hoped that it would’ve remained totally owned by them. 

It was only last week when Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars announced that they were launching a duo called Silk Sonic. In a matter of days, they offered the intro from their forthcoming project and the lead single “Leave The Door Open” which was met with immediate praise. Unfortunately, the announcement of the collaborative effort arrived a little over a week before the Grammys took place but they still tried to get fans to pressure the Academy into letting them perform. 

“Dear Grammys, if you can see it in your hearts to allow two out-of-work musicians to perform at your show, we would really appreciate it. We just released a song and could really use the promotion right now. We have a lot riding on this record (and the Pelicans game next week, but that’s another story),” Mars wrote. “We’ll send in an audition tape and take as many covid tests as we need to. I promise we won’t be extra. We just really want a gig again.”

The open letter launched the #LetSilkSonicThrive campaign which ultimately started trending across the globe, prompting a response from the Academy themselves who appear to be interested in the offer. “.@BrunoMars & @AndersonPaak We have been trying to call you all week,” the tweet reads “Have you changed your numbers? We would love for #silksonic to make their TV debut at the #GRAMMYs. Are you free this Sunday night? Follow back and we will DM for details.”

It seems that the group may have split before even seeing the offer but hopefully, this could be the opportunity that calls for a reunion.