genre hiphop

27 Feb 2025

Little Simz Announces New Album ‘Lotus’ & Drops Intense Lead Single: Listen to ‘Flood’

Little Simz has kicked off her 2025 with the release of a mighty new single, “Flood,” and announced her upcoming sixth album, Lotus.

The new album will be released on May 9 via AWAL, and will be her first studio LP since 2022’s No Thank You.

Featuring vocals from both Obongjayar and Moonchild Sanelly, the lead track marks the first slice of new material from Simz this year. It arrives accompanied by a striking video, which was directed by Salomon Ligthelm.

In February 2024, Simz put out her Drop 7 EP, which was followed by surprise single “Hello, Hi” in December. Throughout the year, she also made a slew of guest appearances on other artists’ tracks: Coldplay’s “We Pray,” Sampha’s “Satellite Business 2.0” and Wretch 32’s “Black and British.” In June, she appeared on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury, marking her biggest show to date.

More recently, Simz was nominated in the hip-hop/rap/grime category at The BRITs 2025, which will take place at London’s O2 Arena Saturday (March 1). She has previously triumphed at the awards ceremony, scooping the best new artist gong in 2022. 

In January, it was announced that the 31-year-old will curate this year’s Meltdown Festival at the capital’s Southbank Centre. Taking place between June 12-22, the event will see Simz craft a wide-ranging bill of music, art and workshops across 11 nights, with the full lineup expected to arrive soon.

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Across the course of an illustrious career, Simz has released five studio albums, among a wealth of mixtapes and extended projects. In 2022, she won the Mercury Prize for her fourth LP Sometimes I Might Be Introvert – her highest charting record in the U.K. to date, landing at No. 4 upon release.

27 Feb 2025

Snoop Dogg Goes All In On Web3 Streaming With Tune.FM Partnership

Crypto proponent Snoop Dogg is officially partnering with Tune. FM as the face of the Web3 music streaming platform, Billboard can exclusively report. The first project being streamed under the new partnership is the newly released single “Spaceship Party.”

The rapper/entrepreneur also plans to move more of his catalog, including his Death Row Records material, to Tune.FM.

In publicly announcing the switch, Snoop bluntly states in a comment given to Billboard, “I don’t f**k with Spotify anymore. I’m only on Tune.FM.”

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Tune.FM styles itself as a decentralized Web3 streaming platform focusing on transparency, security and fairness for artists through blockchain technology. The platform’s native cryptocurrency is something called JAM. Unlike traditional services, it says it provides instant micropayments per second streamed. Users can sign up and start streaming without needing blockchain knowledge. Upon registration, a JAM wallet is automatically created, allowing users to spend JAM tokens on streaming, tipping artists and unlocking exclusive content.

Tune.FM says its AI-driven discovery algorithm promotes independent artists organically, bypassing paid placements. Additionally, artists can tokenize music rights, allowing fans to invest and earn royalties.

Snoop Dogg’s decision to partner with the platform came after meeting Tune.FM founder/CEO Andrew Antar at the Crypto Ball prior to President Trump’s inauguration in January.

“We are thrilled to welcome Snoop Dogg as the face of Tune.FM,” Antar tells Billboard. “Snoop is the OG pioneer who is always on the cutting edge of technology and new ways of doing business. He totally gets it, and we are ready to take on the world together.” A classically trained musician, Antar also plays violin on “Spaceship Party.”

Tune.FM,

Tune.FM

Cordell Broadus

Beyond moving his catalog to Tune.FM, Snoop Dogg is planning to host fan experiences and giveaways such as a private event at his house and VIP prize tiers. Additional plans include integrating Tune.FM into live events and exclusive concerts, as well as bringing unique artist-fan interactions and collectibles to the platform’s marketplace.

Tune.FM is also in talks with major labels (Universal, Sony), major distributors and high-profile artists to bring more exclusive content to the platform. According to a Tune.FM spokesperson, “Tune.FM operates under non-exclusive licensing agreements, enabling us to unlock new revenue streams for under-monetized catalogs and artist IP on both our streaming platform and marketplace.”

The rep declined to disclose specifics about any deals, but added, “we can share that major distributors and labels are increasingly coming on board to upload catalogs that have long been under-monetized.”

27 Feb 2025

Oops, Bob Did It Again: Dylan Inexplicably Posts 2016 Video of MGK In-Store Performance on Instagram

If you’ve seen A Complete Unknown, or gone to see Bob Dylan in concert over the past few decades, or checked out the the Nobel Prize winner’s social media feeds recently then you know that the rock and roll bard’s factory setting is inscrutable.

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Which, kind of, explains Dylan’s latest inexplicable Instagram missive: a no-context re-post of a 2016 in-store performance by Machine Gun Kelly at Park Ave. CDs in Orlando, FL in 2016. Why MGK? Why this clip? We will never know, but both Kelly and his good pal, singer/producer Mod Sun, were beyond pumped at the unexpected shout-out. (Check out the post here).

“you having a phone is so rad,” Kelly wrote in the comments on the post, with Mod Sun adding, “This is my favorite thing that’s ever happened on the internet.” Other commenters also weighed in with a mix of excitement and confusion, writing, “Bob probably thought this was [A Complete Unknown star] Timothée Chalamet so he reposted it,” “Think MGK has now won against Eminem. The greatest poet of all time has just reposted him,” “I love when Dylan fans get riled ’cause he throws a curveball,” “Bob respectfully what the f–k is this” and “Not a fan of MGK, myself… Genius sees genius. This guy can spit and it seems at least one person named Bob can hear it clearly.”

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While Dylan has posted some on-brand messages lately, including a tribute to his friend and late bandmate Garth Hudson last month following the death of The Band’s longtime keyboardist, the MGK love is in keeping with his out-of-left-field online activity. Earlier this year, the 83-year-old folk rock legend joined TikTok just days before what was slated to be a ban of the app, posting a kind of career retrospective clip, followed by a half dozen other archival videos.

Over on X, the past four months have found Dylan musing about seeing a Nick Cave show in Paris and being impressed by the singer’s moving track “Joy” and giving props to “brilliant actor” Chalamet’s role in A Complete Unknown, predicting that the actor would be “completely believable as me. Or a younger me. Or some other me.”

Classic Dylan.

He’s also paid tribute to another old bandmate, late rockin’ blues giant Paul Butterfield, and, last week, posted another tribute, this time to late bluegrass/country great Don Reno.

And if you scroll through the rest of his Instagram feed, over the past two months, mixed in with promos for his ongoing Rough and Rowdy Ways world tour, you’ll see an archival video of Les Paul introducing late Van Halen guitarist Eddie Van Halen at a Les Paul tribute show in 1988, a random Ricky Nelson performance clip, a snippet of director Fritz Lang’s 1952 noir romance Clash By Night starring Barbara Stanwyck and Marilyn Monroe and a live performance video of beloved guitarist Django Reinhardt.

Mix in a post of the classic Twilight Zone episode “To Serve Man” and a reading of the “Last Testament” of the outlaw (and older brother of Jesse) Frank James.

What does it all mean? Who knows? But in the immortal words of Dylan: “don’t criticize what you can’t understand.”

26 Feb 2025

Cypress Hill to Release London Symphony Orchestra Performance as Film and Live Album

Almost three decades since it was the subject of a throwaway joke on The Simpsons, and more than seven months after it became a reality, Cypress Hill are issuing their 2024 performance with the London Symphony Orchestra as a live album and concert film.

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The eagerly-anticipated show, which took place on July 10, 2024, has its roots in a 1996 episode of The Simpsons which sees the titular family’s patriarch going on tour as a member of a Lollapalooza-style music festival.

The “Homerpalooza” episode aired on May 19, 1996, as the penultimate installment of season seven. Homer, Marge and the Simpson family head backstage at the Springfield Fairgrounds where Cypress Hill and other performers are hanging out. Event staff members are surprised to see the London Symphony Orchestra show up, and suspect that the cannabis-advocating crew may have had something to do with it. “Somebody ordered the London Symphony Orchestra. Possibly while high, Cypress Hill I’m looking in your direction,” they said.

A beloved joke amongst fans of the series and the band, the Californian group turned fiction into fact last year when they appeared at the Royal Albert Hall in London to perform 1993 album Black Sunday and other tracks while dressed in suits.

Black Sunday arrived in July of that year and debuted atop the Billboard 200 with 261,000 album units sold in the first week. Triple-platinum lead single “Insane in the Brain” went on to crack the Billboard Hot 100 top 20, where it peaked at No. 19.

“It’s been something that we’ve talked about for many years since The Simpsons episode first aired,” B-Real told the BBC ahead of the highly-anticipated performance. “So it’s very special for us. And it’s coming off the heels of our 30th anniversary for our Black Sunday album. We’ve played a lot of historical venues throughout our career and stuff like that, but nothing as prestigious as this.”

Now, the full show – titled Cypress Hill and the London Symphony Orchestra: Black Sunday Live at the Royal Albert Hall – will be hitting theaters throughout the U.S. and Canada for three days and on March 30, 31, and April 2. Full ticketing information can be found here.

Two months later, a full recording of the performance will be released on June 6 via Mercury. To accompany the announcement, the band have released a video of 1995 track “Illusions,” which originally featured on their Black Sunday follow-up Cypress Hill III: Temples of Boom.

“It’s a trip to see that hip hop can be done in this form — and at a venue as prestigious as the Royal Albert Hall,” B-Real said in a statement. “It was truly an honor and a privilege, and now that experience can be shared.”

”I’ve always been excited by the idea of merging genres, and to do it with the most prolific hip hop group of all time and the most exquisite symphony orchestra in the world was an honor,” added Troy Miller, who handled arrangement and conductor duties of the performance. 

“The band gave me free rein on the arrangements and we made something truly unique and mesmerizing – what a sublime collaboration!”

26 Feb 2025

Here Are the Lyrics to GELO’s ‘Tweaker’ Remix With Lil Wayne

GELO was already climbing the charts with his breakthrough hit, “Tweaker,” but the song got even more of a boost thanks to a remix from none other than Lil Wayne.

That’s like hooping with [Michael] Jordan,” GELO told Billboard of working with Weezy. “He back on that Dedication type of sound. That boy was flowing.”

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Below, find the lyrics to GELO’s “Tweaker” remix with Lil Wayne.

(Glizock, pop your shit, boy)
Watch over your shoulder, nigga
Shit get real out here, fool
Ah
(KUNICA on the beat)

I might swerve, bend that corner, woah
Bitch, hold on tight ’cause I’ll tweak in this bitch, start lettin’ shit go
And I heard that she wanna show
Me who she be, I’m kinda fuckin’ with it, show me some more
Bitch, we tatted head to toe, could give a fuck, the story wrote
You wanna tweak? Get up with me and I’ma show you how that go
Like the money in my pockets, blow
They havin’ convos about me, these pussy niggas don’t know

Tell me what they talkin’ ’bout, I ain’t fuckin’ listenin’
Let your thoughts run your mouth, but ain’t touchin’ dividends
Nigga, I ain’t from the South, but kick it with my Memphis twin
Nigga, I can’t take a loss, I’m always goin’ for the win (for the win)
I been geeked up in this booth, I got my blunt packed for the starter
Nigga, don’t be here actin’ new, they’ll put some holes all through your body
I’m like “Oh, them hoes is cool, let ’em in if that shit water” (water)
See a nigga actin’ bothered, got my green light to red dot ’em (red dot, red dot)
If you spot me, ho, I’m sorry, I can’t take you, it get gnarly (get gnarly)
Look like your nigga want smoke, well, we gon’ do this shit regardless (regardless)
And I started from the bottom, just like you, but I was harder (way harder)
I came up a fuckin’ soldier, nigga, shout out to my father (shout out my father)

Ah-ah
He made sure I’ll make it farther
Ah-ah (ah-ah-ah-ah)
My trust in God, Glocks, and dollars

I might swerve, bend that corner, woah
Bitch, hold on tight ’cause I’ll tweak in this bitch, start lettin’ shit go
And I heard that she wanna show
Me who she be, I’m kinda fuckin’ with it, show me some more
Bitch, we tatted head to toe, could give a fuck, the story wrote
You wanna tweak? Get up with me and I’ma show you how that go
Like the money in my pockets, blow
They havin’ convos about me, these pussy niggas don’t know

Wah, remix, baby
I cross yo’ ass up like Jesus, baby
You know I reheat this, baby, then eat this, baby
And I laced this bitch like Victoria Secrets, baby
This for the tweakers, baby, you see this, baby
Wheezy F., and the F is for features, baby
I went from the bleachers, baby, to beaches, baby
To each his own, gotta own, I can’t lease it, baby
I’m beastin’, baby, I feast like I’m obese and lazy
And if they sleepin’ on a G.O.A.T., they countin’ sheep then, baby
Weaklings, baby, they comin’ with that weak shit, baby
You know I cook a rapper ass like I eat shit, baby, hold up
I’ma use your blood to paint the wall, dog
I could make the art of war look like a Andy Warhol
Money all out the pocket like Lamar, dog
Sonnin’ these niggas like LaVar Ball, Mula

I might swerve, bend that corner, woah
Bitch, hold on tight ’cause I’ll tweak in this bitch, start lettin’ shit go
And I heard that she wanna show
Me who she be, I’m kinda fuckin’ with it, show me some more
Bitch, we tatted head to toe, could give a fuck, the story wrote
You wanna tweak? Get up with me and I’ma show you how that go
Like the money in my pockets, blow, blow
They havin’ convos about me, these pussy niggas don’t know

Mula, baby
Yeah, stuntin’ like my daddy
All my sons killers, this is target practice, nigga, baow
Stuntin’ like my daddy
Ball ’til I fall, ball like the family, hold up
All my sons shooters
Bitch, this Young Mula, hold up
All my sons shooters
Bitch, this Young Mula, hold up
Stuntin’ like my daddy, stuntin’ like my daddy
Ball ’til I fall, ball like the family

Lyrics licensed & provided by LyricFind

WRITERS
Stanislav Kunash, Andrei Rodionov, Liangelo Ball
PUBLISHERS
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

26 Feb 2025

Here Are the Lyrics to Doechii’s ‘Denial Is a River’

Doechii is continuing her breakthrough year with the virality of “Denial Is a River,” which appeared on her Grammy-winning album, Alligator Bites Never Heal.

The superstar delivered the hit as well as “Catfish” at the Feb. 2 Grammys ceremony in Los Angeles, where the song won best rap album. Doechii became only the third woman artist to ever take home the prestigious honor. 

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Below, find the lyrics to Doechii’s “Denial Is a River.”

Hey, I thought it was all over
What’s up, Doechii?
Hey, girl
You know, it’s been a lil’ minute since you and I have had a chat?
Has it really?
Probably since, like, your last EP, Oh The Places You’ll Go
Oh, wow, it’s been a minute, yeah?
I’ve been gettin’ some calls, people are a little bit worried about you
Not worried, okay
And I know that was kinda that outlet for you, so
You were
Why don’t you just tell me what’s been goin’ on?
Okay

Remember old dude from 2019?
Nice clean nigga, did me dirtier than laundry (than laundry)
Took a scroll through his IG
Just to get a DM from his wifey? (What the fuck?)
I was so confused, what should Doechii do?
She didn’t know about me and I didn’t know ’bout Sue
I opened up the messages then had to hit the zoom
Turns out the girl was really a dude? (Goddamn)
Nigga think he slicked back ’til I slipped back
Got my lick back, turned a nigga to a knick-knack (to a knick-knack)
I moved on, dropped a couple of songs
And then I went and got signed, that was 2021

Okay, I just feel like this is the perfect opportunity
For us to just take a second and kind of unpack what’s happened to you
You know, this guy cheated on you and-
Mm, nah, (oh) fuck it

Platinum record this, viral record that
I’m makin’ so much money, I’m all over the ‘net
I’m movin’ so fast, no time to process
And no, I’m not in a gang, but I’m always on set
Wrist watch, drip drop, label want the TikToks
Now I’m makin’ TikTok music, what the fuck?
I need a cleanse, need a detox
But we ain’t got time to stop, the charts needs us (and they do)
Fast forward me, 2023
I’m stackin’ lots of cheese and makin’ money
My grass is really green and

Honestly, I can’t even fucking cap no more
This is a really dark time for me
I’m goin’ through a lot
By a lot, you mean drugs?
Um, I wouldn’t-
Drugs?
No, it’s a- (no?) it’s a natural plant
No, I’m not judging
I’m not an addict
I’m just saying
I don’t think-
You wanna talk about it?
Uh

I mean, fuck, I like pills, I like drugs
I like gettin’ money
I like strippers, I like to fuck
I like day drinkin’ and day parties in Hollywood
I like doin’ Hollywood shit, snort it, probably would
What can I say? The shit works, it feels good
And my self-worth’s at an all time low
And just when it couldn’t get worse
My ex crashed my place and destroyed all I owned
Whoopsie, made a oopsie
One hunnid thousand dollar “oops” made me loopy
I ain’t a killer, but don’t push me
Don’t wanna have to turn a nigga guts into soup beans

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Rurr
Okay, Doechii, we don’t wanna revert back into (sorry) our old ways
Okay
So, we’re gonna try a breathing exercise, okay?
Alright, word
When I breathe, (okay) you breathe
Alright? Let’s go
Uh, uh, uh
Uh, uh, ah
Uh, uh, uh, ah
Uh, uh, uh, uh, ah
Uh, uh, uh, uh, ah
Woo-sah

Lyrics licensed & provided by LyricFind

WRITERS
Jaylah Ji Mya Hickmon, Spencer Golanka, Joseph R. Thompson, Ian James Anderson, Serban Sirbu
PUBLISHERS
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

26 Feb 2025

Drake Ties With Jay-Z & Taylor Swift’s Record on Billboard 200 | Billboard News

Drake has officially tied the record of having 14 No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 with his latest album with PARTYNEXTDOOR on ‘$ome $exy $ongs 4 U.’ Keep watching to see how the three have achieved this feat, and who has the most No. 1s on the Billboard 200!

Who do you think will break the tie? Let us know in the comments below!

Tetris Kelly: 

Drake just grabbed his 14th No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 with “$ome $exy $ongs 4 U” featuring PARTYNEXTDOOR, but outside of the memes we are definitely about to discuss, did you know that he now ties the record for most No. 1s ever on that chart ever with Jay-Z and Taylor Swift? We’re breaking down this historic feat. Just a few of Drake’s 14 chart toppers include ‘Take Care,’ ‘Views,’ and ‘Certified Lover Boy.’ Even after his current feud with Kendrick Lamar, he has captured the attention of the internet with the new album, returning to his Loverboy era. Drake was ready to move on. In “GIMME A HUG,” debuting at No. 6 on the Hot 100, he rapped – and “Nokia” did just that, debuting at No. 10. Both songs have been taking social media by storm with memes & TikTok renditions, with even Drake poking fun at his own lyrics by posting these. Drake now has 80 Hot 100 Top 10s, which is the most in history, leaving us asking, “Where the f**k the function?”

And Taylor Swift herself also happens to be a fan of Drizzy, and the pop superstar has 14 of her own No. 1 albums including ‘Fearless,’ ‘Red,’ and ‘1989.’ And by releasing her older albums as “Taylor’s Version,” most of her albums have topped the chart twice. Iconic. The third in this record-holding trio is another hip hop icon is Jay Z.

Keep watching for more!

26 Feb 2025

Nipsey Hussle’s Brother Blacc Sam Gives Documentary & Posthumous Music Update

Nipsey Hussle fans might be getting new material from the late rapper soon.

While sitting down with Power 106 L.A.’s Brown Bag Mornings, his older brother Blacc Sam spoke on the upcoming documentary that was teased a couple years ago and revealed that a Nipsey and Bino Rideaux collab album should be coming out this summer.

When it comes to the highly anticipated documentary, Sam expressed wanting to make sure the family had full creative control. “That’s been the journey,” he said. “It’s not for sale. People can’t throw some money at us and tell us, ‘It needs to be two episodes or three episodes.’ The creative is not for sale, so we just been kind of like backing away, turning down a lot of offers, and putting our head down and working. And once it’s finished correctly, its looking like maybe eight episodes, then we’re going to come out and release it.”

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As far as new music is concerned, he said that a new project with fellow L.A. native Bino Rideaux is in the process of being completed, but made sure to add a disclaimer first. “Also with the music — if Hussle didn’t actually do the verse or work with the person or put together the blueprint for the project — we not doing it,” he said.

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“He did something with Bino and there’s a new project that we’re about to release and this is a project that he had with Bino that was pretty much 80 percent finished. So, the team came in and got some unreleased music that he did with Bino and tightened it up. It sounds amazing and it should be coming out around this summer.”

You can watch the full convo below.

26 Feb 2025

Lil Baby’s ‘Cowardly’ Actions at Music Video Shooting Led to Teens’ Murders, Atlanta Police Allege

Atlanta police have alleged that a May 2024 triple shooting on the set of a Lil Baby (born Dominique Jones) music video sparked a gang war that led to multiple homicides.

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Major Ralph Woolfolk of the Atlanta Police Department hosted a press conference on Wednesday (Feb. 26) announcing the arrest of seven individuals tied to the July 2024 murders of 13-year-olds Jakody Davis and Lamon Freeman, who were ambushed at a birthday party for Freeman.

During the presser, Woolfolk referenced that the teens’ murders were tied to a gang war, which was allegedly connected to the triple shooting on the set of Lil Baby’s music video in Northwest Atlanta last May.

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“Gang violence that was orchestrated by adults. And the cowardly acts of an Atlanta-based rapper that decided to go into a rival gang stronghold in a place he knew he should not have been,” Woolfolk said, per Channel 2 Action News, who confirmed the Atlanta rapper referenced was Lil Baby.

Police alleged that in the months following the incident, multiple shootings and homicides can be tied back to Lil Baby’s music video shooting.

Investigators reportedly alleged that a “high-ranking” member from a gang opposing Lil Baby called in the hit on the pair of teens using a cell phone from behind bars in a Georgia prison.

“This team will work relentlessly to hold you accountable,” Woolfolk said while addressing the Atlanta rapper. There is a $50,000 reward for those with more information.

On the music side, Lil Baby is coming off the release of his WHAM album, which topped the Billboard 200 in January. The 30-year-old is slated to hit the road for the WHAM World Tour with BigXthaPlug and NLE Choppa in June.

Billboard has reached out to Lil Baby’s team for comment.

26 Feb 2025

Kendrick Lamar Takes College Classes in Newly Surfaced Photos: ‘Just a Normal Day at UCLA’

Kendrick Lamar may be one of the most successful rappers alive, but he stays humble when it comes to his education.

In newly surfaced photos from 2022 that have been going viral following his 2025 Super Bowl halftime show, the Compton artist sits in a classroom over the course of a few different days, looking casual in various hoodies. In a couple, he checks his phone while at his desk; in others, he appears to diligently pay attention.

The snaps were shared this week by a TikTok user, who wrote in text over the slideshow, “pov: just a normal day at UCLA.”

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In the comments, the user gave more context. “This was in 2022, he was incredibly kind and humble,” she wrote. “I didn’t realize who he was at that time … I just saw people asking for photos, and I took some too.”

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“It wasn’t until later that someone told me who he was,” she added. “I might take this post down since I don’t know if sharing it is the right thing to do.”

Billboard has reached out to Lamar’s rep for comment.

The new photos show up just a couple of weeks after Dot took the world by storm with his halftime showcase, which — with 1.33.5 million pairs of eyeballs — set a new record for most-watched Super Bowl performance of all time. A week before that, he took home song and record of the year for his Billboard Hot 100-topping Drake diss track “Not Like Us” at this year’s Grammys.

See Lamar studying hard in the photos below.