The Grammy nominations are out and it’s a rapper-heavy affair. This yearat music’s most prestigious awards ceremony, the three artists with the most nominations all belong to the genre: Kendrick Lamar (8), Drake (7) and Boi-1da (6). Six out of the top 10 artists with the most nominations are either …
Read More »Tekashi 6ix9ine Arrested on Racketeering Charges in New York
Tekashi 6ix9ine, the Brooklyn rapper who’s spent much of his short career in court for a litany of criminal charges, has been arrested again, according toThe Daily Beast. According to the report, 6ix9ine (real name Daniel Hernandez) is currently in federal custody on charges of racketeering and firearms. The arrest …
Read More »CupcakKe, Rap's Raunchiest Star, Gets Personal on 'Eden'
CupcakKe had a tough time titling her second release of 2018. “I was very conflicted,” the Chicago rapper said on a phone call last week. She took to a group chat for more opinions, originally leaning towardsMenu.Since the album is her most personal yet, though, the chat (thankfully) convinced her …
Read More »Valee and Matt Ox Are an Odd Couple That Make Things Work on “Awesome”
On paper, Valee and Matt Ox shouldn’t work. One half of the duo has spent a year building and deconstructing flows like a carpenter, the other is a prepubescentrapper trying to turn a meme-able moment into a sustainable career.In the case of “Awesome,” though, the Chicago and Philly rapper concoct …
Read More »Juice WRLD and Future's “Fine China” is Kinda Fun if You Don't Listen Too Hard
One of the best scenes in the 1995 Kevin Smith-directed classicMallratsrevolves around a painting of dots that reveal a three-dimensional sailboat if you stare at it long enough. The gag is that one character, Willam, who longingly looks at the painting can’t see anything, while everyone around him can, but …
Read More »Hear Riz Ahmed Honor Pakistani Heritage on New Song 'Mogambo'
Riz Ahmed, the actor-rapper best-known for his roles in The Night Of and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, celebrates his Pakistani roots on new single “Mogambo,” released under his rap name, Riz MC. The song opens with Ahmed spitting a frenetic verse over relentless hand drums. “They put their …
Read More »Here's What It Sounds Like When Jaden Smith Imitates Migos and Bon Iver on the Same Song
Jaden Smithhas a wide range of influences, and he wears them on his sleeve. The 20-year-old is an intriguing rapper, working on the mechanics to become a good rapper. On “Back On My Sh*t” he isn’t there yet, but the process is getting closer to its endpoint. Here’s a list …
Read More »Rappers Keep Letting J. Cole Steal Their Songs
J. Colemarkets himself as an album artist, but it increasingly appears that his true calling is writing feature verses. The Fayetteville MC has a killer instinct when he’s a guest on a track, deployed for a short burst of time — the sprints, versus marathons, suit him. Very few rappers …
Read More »Hear Melii's Blistering New Song, 'La Envidia Mata'
Twenty-year-old rapper Melii released another sledgehammer of a single on Wednesday, titled “La Envidia Mata” (“Envy Kills”). It is the fourth song Melii has released since March, following “Sh*t Talk,” “Charlie’s Line” and “Icey”— which spread rapidly after Rihanna featured the song in a recent Fenty Beauty ad. Most of …
Read More »Kanye West Apologizes for Slavery Comment, Reiterates Trump Support
In a surprise appearance on Chicago’s WGCI 107.5 Wednesday morning, Kanye West walked back the heel turn he embarked on this summer when he aligned himself with President Trump and posited that slavery was a choice. The rapper spoke unguardedly and issued a long-awaited apology for his infamous slavery comments …
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