New Hip Hop News

The Kendrick Lamar, Dave Free, and Baby Keem-aligned enigma that is pgLang continues to simultaneously build hype and confusion for fans. From working with Calvin Klein to appearing in The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights (Remix)” music video, the record label meets creative agency has been making major moves over the past year, but fans are really waiting to see what this means musically for Kendrick Lamar.

One thing that has remained consistent throughout all pgLang-related news, however, is that Kendrick Lamar and his cousin Baby Keem will be at the forefront of whatever the mysterious company has been working on. Last fall, the two artists covered i-D Magazine and essentially confirmed that fans should be getting really excited for what pgLang has in store, from Baby Keem’s growth to Kendrick’s new sound.

In a recently posted Instagram video, Baby Keem teases a clip from a recent studio session that shows a hooded figure leaning forward while a masked woman walks around him. Although you can’t visually see him, you can hear Kendrick’s voice guiding the young rapper from the background, and as a result, fans have already started speculating that there could be a Baby Keem and Kendrick collaboration on the way.

As the year progresses, fans are sure to learn more about the nature of Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free’s pgLang company, and this Instagram clip from Baby Keem will definitely get listeners excited for pgLang’s upcoming releases. Are you looking forward to a possible Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar collaboration or do you just need a proper full-length follow-up to 2017’s DAMN.?

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While many hold the early-2010s mixtape run in high regard — as they should, considering how much classic material was delivered during the pre-streaming period —  many tapes have yet to make the transition to the modern era. Luckily, it would appear that things are changing, as many fan-favorite projects have been steadily added to Spotify, TIDAL, Apple Music, and more. It would appear that a big one is on the way with Mac Miller’s Faces officially set to make the jump.

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Widely regarded as one of the late rapper’s most acclaimed bodies of work, the 2014 project’s streaming debut was among the more widely requested. Now, longtime Mac collaborator ID Labs recently shared a promising update on the situation, taking to Reddit to inform fans that the sample clearance process is currently underway. While that doesn’t clarify a timeline, it certainly bodes well for those eager to line their playlist with Mac classics, and rest assured that Faces is home to many. In fact, it’s one of the last projects that largely focused on bars, with everything post-Good AM taking Mac further into soulful and melodic territory.

With Faces officially on the way for a re-release, it’s set to be the second Mac Miller tape to make the transition following K.I.D.S, which recently hit platforms in April of 2020. Are you excited to check out Faces once again? If so — sound off with your favorite tracks below. Rest in peace, Mac Miller. 

Frank Ocean is a unicorn-like figure in the music world. When he appears, it’s as magical as ever. The man has a way with his words, evoking all kinds of emotion through his art. However, he sporadically pops out, making his rare sighting all the more special.

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While the last twelve months have admittedly been rough for anybody, Frank Ocean has also had to deal with the loss of his younger brother, who was killed in a tragic car crash last summer. Since the death of Ryan Breaux, Frank has been more private than usual, prompting fans to worry about his wellbeing. While he generally doesn’t share much of his personal life with fans, people have been craving to see him pop up in public as reassurance that he’s in a decent place, which happened in the last few days.

For the first time since last summer, Frank was spotted in public with Tyler, The Creator. Photographers at The Hollywood Fix managed to capture a video of Tyler walking to his car in New York City, being followed at a distance by Frank. The artist was seemingly moving without much security, outfitted in a grey peacoat, a beanie, and Adidas sneakers.

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While this doesn’t signal much in terms of Frank’s upcoming release calendar, it does show that he’s got personal support from his closest friends, which is enough for fans to stop worrying so much about him. Hopefully, Frank is well. 

Not only is Freddie Gibbs one of hip-hop’s most astute and elevated lyricists, to the point where his recent Alchemist-produced Aflredo secured him his first Grammy nomination. Yet behind all of the sharp penmanship is a man who simply loves to revel in the antics — the more absurd, the better. As it happens, Freddie was given ample room to muse on the madness during an extended conversation with Joe Rogan and Brian Moses, during the latest episode of The Joe Rogan podcast. 

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While there is, expectedly, much to unpack throughout the interview, Joe shared a few of the highlights on his official YouTube page. One such clip finds the pair musing on the fall of R. Kelly, who currently sits incarcerated for a laundry list of heinous crimes. When the topic of Kelly’s imprisonment is raised, Gibbs explains why he feels the situation is “fucked up” — a take that elicits a laugh from the bamboozled host. “The n***a had some fuckin’ jams!” says Gibbs. “I’m not saying he shouldn’t be in jail, he should be there. But it’s a waste of talent.”

“Right now, after all of the shit that has happened to R. Kelly, it’d be very, very difficult to listen to a new R. Kelly album,” continues Gibbs. “He’s got a lot of good songs. He’s a bit of shit, but he has some great songs…R. Kelly is an innovator, man. He’s the king of R&B.” He also explains that while he doesn’t forgive Kelly for his crimes, he does feel that the blame should not be reserved to one single figure. “A lot of those bitches and families and n***as that was letting their daughters go with R. Kelly knew what the fuck they was doing,” he states. “I’m not letting my daughter go with R. Kelly, nowhere. And then the shit with the hotel — I think a lot of that shit was bullshit. I think R. Kelly a nasty muthafucka, and he need to go to jail, but…”

For more from Rogan, Moses, and Gangsta Gibbs — including their real-time reactions to the unintentionally hilarious “Real Talk” —  check out the full analysis on R. Kelly and the inevitable madness of fame below. 

Controversial Brooklyn rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine has been creeping back into everyday relevance with his disrespectful musings on social media, including rude messages for Lil Durk, Meek Mill, and the late King Von. In addition to his disparaging remarks, 6ix9ine has also been releasing new music, passing 31 million views for his new music video “ZAZA”. 

One of the rappers that have drawn the ire of Tekashi for years has been Chicago stand-out Lil Reese, who has consistently taken issue with the loud-mouthed troll. Recently getting into a heated exchange with the rapper on Instagram Live, Lil Reese shifted gears by changing the subject, tweeting about a fight he had with his girlfriend. Unfortunately, 6ix9ine found a way to get involved.

“Lol I got knots on my head my girl just literally beat me up had me ballin up I say this my first time gettin beat up,” wrote the Grim Reaper on Twitter. Known for making fun of the rapper and the alleged video of him getting jumped and soiling himself, 6ix9ine took aim at Reese Money.

“Someone said first time off camera,” wrote 6ix9ine in the comments after his best friend DJ Akademiks posted the tweet on his page.

The comment has racked up over 14,000 likes, meaning people are still very much entertained by his predictable antics. While people love to claim that they don’t support 6ix9ine, the 31 million views on his video and consistent engagement on social media seemingly signal otherwise. 

Are you team 6ix9ine or team Reese?