Billboard Unfiltered

In this episode of ‘Billboard Unfiltered,’ Billboard staffers Carl Lamarre, Trevor Anderson, Kyle Denis and Damien Scott discuss the significant role hip-hop artists have played in the upcoming election by being vocal about their endorsements. They also react to Tyler, the Creator’s ‘CHROMAKOPIA,’ Lil Durk’s arrest, and the reasons more rappers are ending up in jail, and more!

Carl Lamarre:

I know you’ve said he’s in your Big 3. I think this has solidified it. 

Kyle Denis:

I mean, last two albums won Grammys, he’s going to probably lock up another No. 1, hopefully, with this one. 

Carl Lamarre:

I don’t think Ari got that kind of time or the patience to really try to play this indie game.

Trevor Anderson:

You really trying to put somebody away for, you know, charges that are going to be murder. You know it’s got to be multi-decade sentences, life sentences. All these kinds of things. 

Damien Scott:

It really feels like rap kind of gave up this election. We kind of sat this one out. 

Carl Lamarre:

Hey guys what’s going on and welcome to another episode of ‘Billboard Unfiltered.’

Damien Scott:

What’s good?

Carl Lamarre:

Gentleman!

Trevor Anderson:

What’s up?

Kyle Denis:

Yo, yo, yo. 

C

And we’re back again, let’s close out this week in a good way. We got some music on Monday from a certain cat called Tyler, the Creator. His seventh studio album, ‘CHROMAKOPIA.’

Damien Scott:

I enjoyed the Monday release. I enjoyed the Monday morning-

Carl Lamarre:

It feels good right? 

Damien Scott:

I enjoyed going to work, listening to a new album in the morning, on a Monday morning, starting the week with new music. I liked that, we should try more of that. 

Kyle Denis:

If more releases are as good as this one, I am all for Monday’s. 

Carl Lamarre:

You know, we could be on to something.

Keep watching for more!

In this episode of Billboard Unfiltered, Billboard staffers Carl Lamarre, Trevor Anderson, Damien Scott and Kyle Denis break down GloRilla’s No. 5 debut with Glorious and Rod Wave’s No. 2 debut Last Lap on the Billboard 200, discussing why they are so successful. They dive into whether hip-hop journalism is dead, if the BET Hip-Hop Awards should continue and more!

Trevor Anderson:Glo had that one year, she had “F.N.F.” she had “Tomorrow 2” and that’s the end of GloRilla. So for her to come back, not only with these songs.

Damien Scott:Which is insane, it was such an insane narrative. 

Carl Lamarre:Is it time to put a bow on the BET Hip Hop Awards, which started in 2006, and call it a day? Or what changes would y’all make?

Damien Scott:They want participation, but they don’t, themselves, want to participate. 

Carl Lamarre:Hip-hop is back clearly on the Billboard 200 in terms of we got Mr. Rod Wave debuting at No. 2 this week with Last Lap with 127,000 while Ms. Glo, big Glo.

Kyle Denis:Big Glo!

Carl Lamarre:No. 5 this week with 69,000 her debut album, Glorious, doubling her mixtape which came out earlier this year, Ehhthang Ehhthang, so shout out to those two for making their splashes this week. We’ll start with this: What are you guys more surprised about I guess — is it Rod not going No. 1? Is it Glo getting a top five entry? Thoughts.

Damien Scott:It’s got to be Glo because this is just what Rod does, Rod is just nothing if not consistent, and you know I think the idea of him going up against a Jelly … I thought he was going to take it, but you know, especially because I like Jelly Roll, I do. I actually like Jelly Roll. I don’t think this was the album that I would see he would, if I had to play an album for people, this is not the album I would give people to listen to of his.

Keep watching for more! 

In this episode of ‘Billboard Unfiltered,’ Billboard staffers Carl Lamarre, Trevor Anderson and Kyle Denis debate who the new big three of rap are, why Tommy Richman’s debut album failed, the current state of R&B and more!

Carl Lamarre:

Uzi was in those conversations, I feel like Lil Baby was in those conversations as well.

Trevor Anderson:

You know, A&R Twitter, PR Twiiter, management Twitter is sitting there thinking “what?”

Kyle Denis:

The artists are the issue, because there have been major R&B moments I feel like in recent years.

Carl Lamarre:

Hey, what’s going on guys. Welcome to a fresh episode of ‘Billboard Unfiltered,’ and we have the gang here. Trevor Anderson, Kyle Denis.

Kyle Denis:

Yo, yo, yo.

Carl Lamarre:

No Damien Scott. He is on the mend but will be back. We want to start the show because I know you were out.

Trevor Anderson:

I didn’t want to say it, but…

Carl Lamarre:

We got to do a quick “happy birthday” seg, you know, a little sing-along. 

Trevor Anderson:

What, a little two-part harmony?

Kyle Denis & Carl Lamarre:

*singing*

Carl Lamarre:

I could’ve gone all the way in. Wow, we gave you a little something, something.

Kyle Denis:

We’re giving you a little tease. We’re thinking of all the viewers right now.

Trevor Anderson:

Yeah, first show was, you’re old, and yeah it was a really good one. There was no crazy sort of all in one, but there was a couple events throughout a couple different days. Got to hang out with a lot of different friends.

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In this episode of Billboard Unfiltered, Billboard staffers Carl Lamarre, Kyle Denis, and Damien Scott dissect J. Cole’s features on Tee Grizzley’s “BLOW FOR BLOW” and Daylyt’s “A Plate of Collard Greens,” as well as his best features overall. The team also gives their predictions for who could receive a 2025 Grammy nomination, discusses Ye’s […]

In this episode of ‘Billboard Unfiltered,’ Billboard staffers Tetris Kelly, Trevor Anderson, Kyle Denis and Damien Scott go into Janet Jackson’s “not black” claim towards Kamala Harris, and the aftermath after her comment. The team also broke down Future’s third album ‘Mixtape Pluto’, Chlöe Bailey’s career and more! Damien Scott: In his new video that […]

In this episode of ‘Billboard Unfiltered,’ Billboard staffers Carl Lamarre, Trevor Anderson, Kyle Denis and Damien Scott go in-depth about the controversy surrounding Diddy’s charges, arrest and how the world has reacted to it. The trio also discuss why Tyla & Tems aren’t categorized as Afrobeats artists, Lil Wayne’s comment about his Super Bowl snub and more.

Trevor Anderson:

I mean, this is a federal raid y’all. The FBI raided two of his houses. This is something that has been set up for so long. This had to be planned for months, if not years.

Damien Scott:

You can’t be mad at an artist for wanting their art to be received. You can never be upset at that.

Kyle Denis:

I can’t remember another performer in recent memory like actually going and putting up a video and being like, “Oh I’m heartbroken I wasn’t chosen.” What is that?

Carl Lamarre:

Hey, what’s going on, guys. Welcome to a fresh episode of ‘Billboard Unfiltered.’ Gentlemen.

Damien Scott:

Welcome back.

Trevor Anderson:

What’s up.

Kyle Denis:

What’s good.

Trevor Anderson:

It feels like the season premiere or something. Like now everybody’s back, everyone’s off of vacation.

Carl Lamarre:

Kind of like season 2, right? Well I wish we were going to start the show off very light, you know. But we’re going to get into the trenches of mud.

Damien Scott:

You brought the negativity back with you.

Carl Lamarre:

Sadly, man. I was on an island when I heard about this news right here, so Mr. Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs charged with sex trafficking and racketeering. Per Billboard.com, “Federal prosecutors on Tuesday unsealed a criminal indictment against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs over sweeping allegations of sexual abuse, accusing the once-powerful rapper, producer and music executive of running a racketeering conspiracy that included sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson and bribery.”

Keep watching for more.

In this episode of Billboard Unfiltered, Billboard staffers Carl Lamarre, Kyle Denis and Damien Scott discuss A$AP Rocky’s cover story, his one-on-one conversation with Damien and the industry’s expectations for the rapper’s new album. They also dive into Complex’s Best Atlanta Rappers of All Time, debate, who should have taken the No. 1 spot, explore Billboard’s greatest pop stars of the 21st century and more.

Damien Scott:He sticks with his own vision, he sticks with his own ideas. I’m really excited to hear the rest of the album. What I heard sounds great. 

Carl Lamarre:André 3000 No. 1 without a solo rap album. 

Kyle Denis:If you can spit, you can spit. 

Damien Scott:Can you rap? Or can you not rap?

Carl Lamarre:50 Cent, Alicia Keys, Kendrick Lamar, Megan Thee Stallion, J. Lo, Missy Elliott, Nelly, Cardi B, Doja Cat, Future, Post Malone, SZA, Sean Paul, Chris Brown. These are the names that did not make the top 25.

Well, shout-out to this brother right here. 

Yes, sir.

Big-time Dame, big-time cover story. If you guys haven’t already, make sure you check it out right now on billboard.com with A$AP Rocky. Yes sir. Had a fire profile piece. Man, the album was supposed to come out this Friday, which is pushed and coming out this fall. But, bro, talk about your experience kicking it with Rocky and how that was.

Damien Scott:It was great. You know, I’ve known Rocky — well not know him — but I’ve watched and had the pleasure of watching his career grow from the moment he released “Purple Swag” to now. I’ve worked at publications who’ve covered him. We’ve had him on the cover for various albums and I’ve been fortunate enough to be close enough to see a different match throughout his career, and I’ve always been a fan.

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In this episode of ‘Billboard Unfiltered,’ Billboard staffers Carl Lamarre, Trevor Anderson and Damien Scott react to Latto’s new album ‘Sugar Honey Iced Tea,’ break down the new Killer Mike & Travis Scott feud, debate whether Snoop Dogg is the most beloved rapper of all time and more!

Damien Scott:

He thought when he went to go listen to it that it was the strongest female rap album of the year so far. I tend to agree. I think it edges out Megan.

Carl Lamarre:

Looks like we may have a new feud between, uh, Killer Mike and Travis Scott. I did not have that- 

Trevor Anderson:

On the cards? Nah. 

Damien Scott:

He’s the most beloved living rapper right now.

Trevor Anderson:

And who was, who was before him? I mean, d*mn, it got quiet. 

Damien Scott:

Yeah.

Carl Lamarre:

And gentlemen…

Damien Scott:

Looks good.

Carl Lamarre:

What it do?

Damien Scott:

What up? What up? What up? 

Carl Lamarre: 

Miss Latto, who put out her new album ‘Sugar Honey Iced Tea’ on Friday.

Damien Scott:

Amazing. 

Carl Lamarre:

Fire features. Megan Thee Stallion, Teezo Touchdown. Um, freaking, what’s like 21’s cousin’s name? Bugging.

Trevor Anderson: 

22. 

Damien Scott:

Young Nudy. 

Carl Lamarre:

No. 

Trevor Anderson:

That’s his cousin? 

Damien Scott:

Yeah. 

Trevor Anderson:

Oh yeah, it is.

Damien Scott:

Yeah. Is he also British?

Carl Lamarre:

I don’t know. I thought  21 was born there. Wait, you think Nudy was born there too? 

Damien Scott:

I’m just asking. 

Trevor Anderson:

No, I think he’s American. OK, so I’m a-

Carl Lammare:

American?

Trevor Anderson:

Right? I’m showing my Olympic spirit, you know, apparently, like we go, we claiming it. 

Carl Lamarre

Album dropped, Coco Jones, also, Ciara, um, very Atlanta, pretty stacked, yeah, um, let’s talk about the album. Because a lot of anticipation for it, I feel like she delivered, you know, we’ll get y’all thoughts first, and then I’ll dive in. Mr. Dame? 

Damien Scott:

I think it is great.

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In this episode of ‘Billboard Unfiltered,’ Billboard staffers Carl Lamarre, Trevor Anderson, Kyle Denis and Damien Scott break down Drake’s 100GB footage and his joint album with PartyNextDoor. They also talk about Ye dropping ‘Vultures 2,’ the best songs on the album, and whether or not Ty Dolla $ign is the right collaborator for him. They give you insight on Latto’s listening party, how the women in hip-hop are doing statistically, their current favorite music and more!

Trevor Anderson:

Every stream counts, right? 

Damien Scott:

But it doesn’t. He’s giving it away for free. 

Carl Lamarre:

And how generous. 

Kyle Denis:

Because you don’t believe in it. 

Carl Lamarre:

Oh, wow. 

Damien Scott:

We’re expecting something more. There’s verses on here that aren’t finished. There’s songs that feel incomplete. There’s, you know, I saw people talking about the artwork not being high res. It just feels, it feels like Kanye doesn’t care. 

Kyle Dennis:

Her pen is undeniable, like she’s doing some of the best rapping of her career on this album, but also she’s really honing in on her hometown of Atlanta. 

Carl Lamarre:

Hey, hey, what’s going on, guys? And welcome to a fresh episode of Billboard Unfiltered. Hey, we got a lot of topics to talk about, but the first one, we’re gonna dive into the 6 God himself, 

Drake has-

Damien Scott:

I can’t believe you’re wearing that.

Carl Lamarre:

Come on man, we got to embrace it 

I just can’t believe he’s like the guy. He’s like, the meme of the guy on the plane wearing the f*cking Trump shirt

Trevor Anderson:

And everybody’s walking past him. 

Carl Lamarre:

We are not going to do a Trump, Drake that’s crazy. 

Trevor Anderson:

But the reason, the reason why I’m so hyped is because we finally got new original music from Drake, but it came with a plot twist, pun intended. So pretty much Drake did an untraditional rollout where he released unreleased music on 100 gigs.com, but-

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