New Hip Hop News

Since getting pardoned by former President Donald Trump earlier this year, Kodak Black has been living life to the fullest as a free man. The past two months have been like a whirlwind for the Bill Israel artist, as he has done everything from launching a scholarship and reportedly getting engaged to dropping heat with Lil Yachty and reaching out to Justin Bieber for a collaboration. Things are looking up for the Florida rapper, and now it appears that he’ll be adding a little more joy to his life too. 

In a video posted to Instagram by OnSite!, Kodak Black appears to hint that he is expecting his next child. Asking his followers for name suggestions, Kodak reminds fans that his son’s name is King Khalid before suggesting the name Kiope Prince Kapri. In the video, there is a woman not seen on camera who deems both of those names ugly before suggesting the name Melly, perhaps suggesting that it is his alleged fianceé Mellow Rackz.

Kodak’s reaction to Melly as his child’s name is pretty hilarious, as he quickly retorts, “Who?!” After the woman doubles down on her name suggestion, Kodak skeptically responds, “My homebody name Melly. Melly?” OnSite! alleges that the baby that Kodak is expecting is not with Mellow Rackz, but that has not been officially confirmed or denied.

Regardless of who the baby’s mother is, the Dying to Live artist definitely appears excited for the arrival of his next child. Since Kodak looking for a name that starts with ‘K,’ do you have any suggestions for the Florida rapper?

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Jay-Z is easily one of the most influential artists of all time, to the point where a co-sign from Hov can go a long way in validating a young artist. Unsurprisingly, Jay-Z’s playlists have become a welcome bonus for TIDAL subscribers, as they provide a deeper insight into his musical taste. While he generally tends to add a new one at the end of every year, Hov came through to celebrate his massive new deal with Square Inc, who officially bought a majority share in TIDAL, by introducing the MARCH 4 playlist. 

 Brian Ach/Getty Images

Featuring a blend of older and newer tunes, Hov’s new playlist kicks off with the title track off Nipsey Hussle’s Victory Lap. Following that is one of his wife’s arguable best songs in “Haunted,” while his own posse cut with Meek Mill and Rick Ross “What’s Free” is lined up next. There’s even a track from his Watch The Throne counterpart in “Can’t Tell Me Nothin,” an instrumental that Hov himself might have bodied in another life. While the majority is made up of hip-hop tunes, Hov does slide in a David Bowie classic in “Fame,” which certainly adds a bit of thematic value to the playlist — should such things interest you.

Jay-Z fans surely remember the Blueprint 2 disc one closer “My Way,” so it’s not surprising to see him bringing Frank Sinatra’s “Come Fly With Me” into the mix. He also throws in one of his most notable ghostwritten classics, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s “Still D.R.E.” Bit of hip-hop history for you: Snoop Dogg openly marveled at witnessing Hov’s efficient process during the 2001 single’s creation. “Dr. Dre flies a n***a from New York into L.A. We all in the studio. Thirty minutes later the n***a is done,” explained Snoop. The rest is history.

There’s clearly much to unpack from the Jigga Man’s new playlist, but as longtime fans of the legendary rapper, getting glimpses into the songs that shape his tastes is rewarding in itself. Check out the TIDAL exclusive MARCH 4 below, and show some love to Jay-Z for securing yet another money move.

Jay-Z just announced another major deal, revealing that Square, Inc. has acquired a majority stake in TIDAL for $297 million. In connection with the deal, the rap legend and ultra-successful businessman has been named to Square’s board of directors. He also changed his username on Twitter (shout out to Jack Dorsey) and sent out his first tweets since 2018.

 
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The deal includes all of TIDAL’s artist shareholders, which will remain as co-owners of TIDAL once the deal closes. This huge news comes in conjunction with Jay-Z’s latest move on social media, changing his username from @S_C_ to simply @sc. The perks of being good friends and partners with the owner of Twitter. Hov also sent off his first few tweets in over three years, speaking on the new deal.

Twitter

“I said from the beginning that TIDAL was about more than just streaming music, and six years later, it has remained a platform that supports artists at every point in their careers,” he said in a new tweet. “Artists deserve better tools to assist them in their creative journey. Jack is one of the greatest minds of our times, and our many discussions about TIDAL’s endless possibilities have made me even more inspired about its future. This shared vision makes me even more excited to join the Square board. This partnership will be a game-changer for many. I look forward to all this new chapter has to offer!”

Jack Dorsey also offered his thoughts on the new deal, saying, “It comes down to one simple idea: finding new ways for artists to support their work. New ideas are found at intersections, and we believe there’s a compelling one between music and the economy. I knew TIDAL was something special as soon as I experienced it, and it will continue to be the best home for music, musicians, and culture.”

Earl Gibson III/Getty Images

This comes after news of another deal that Jay-Z closed at the end of February, selling a fifty percent ownership stake in Armand de Brignac (also known as Ace of Spades) champagne to LVMH. He’s not a businessman, he’s a business, man.

Congratulations to Jay-Z on closing out yet another lucrative deal.