genre hiphop
Page: 21
Just five months after delivering his Missionary album with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg has announced plans for his Iz It a Crime? album, which will arrive on Thursday (May 15).
The project boasts 21 tracks in total, with features sprinkled across the effort from Pharrell Williams, Sexyy Red, Wiz Khalifa, Charlie Bereal, Jane Handcock, October London and more. The title track also fittingly heavily samples Sade’s “Is It a Crime.”
Trending on Billboard
“Just some of the things that I do, that I’ve done, that have been speculation, and I just want to ask the question, ‘Is it a crime? Is it a crime for me to do the things that I do,” Snoop told Access Hollywood of the project on Tuesday (May 13). “Is it a crime for me to take care of people, to love people, to be there for people? Is it a crime for me to be me?”
With Snoop back at the helm of Death Row Records, he stopped by The Breakfast Club Wednesday (May 14) to open up about feeling inspired to continue rapping even as an elder statesman in hip-hop.
“I’m an MC and I love to rap and I love to make music, and people love my voice and they love when I make great records,” he said. “When I don’t make great records, people let me know that as well.”
Snoop continued: “I hear all of that and it makes me say to myself, ‘I should treat myself like a musician and not like a rapper.’ If you a musician, you can make music until you die, but when you’re a rapper they try to put a cap on you.”
An accompanying Iz It a Crime? short film is also set to serve as a visual companion to the music project. The flick was previewed during a private screening in NYC on Tuesday night.
Iz It a Crime? is set to be Snoop Dogg’s 21st studio album. He’s been busy in 2025, as Snoop contributed to Death Row’s Altar Call compilation gospel album in April, which is a tribute to the Long Beach legend’s late mother.
Find the Iz It a Crime? cover art and tracklist below.
Megan Thee Stallion has shut down rumors she’s been banned from the Met Gala over using her phone from inside the venue at this year’s event. People caught up with the Houston Hottie on Tuesday (May 13), and she dispelled any notion of being banned for posting to social media from the Met Gala, as […]
On “Loosies With Matches,” the ninth track off Millyz’ latest project Blanco 7, the rapper at one point abruptly stops rapping to just speak his mind to his supporters.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“You gotta have courage just walkin’ out the door in the mornin’, because you know dudes will kill you for this dream you’re trying to maintain,” he says. “That same success you’re chasing after, someone will murder you for it.”
I ask Millyz about those bars because last Saturday, the Cambridge-bred spitter had more eyes on him than ever before: During what became a record-breaking headlining night at MGM Music Hall near Boston’s Fenway Park, Millyz captivated the sold-out crowd alongside Skrilla and Benny The Butcher. With MGM’s 5,000-plus seats all filled, Millyz estimates it might be the most tickets a Boston rapper has ever sold for one show in their home city. The colossal experience obviously put a battery in Millyz back, but he admits the monumental nature of it was at times “spooky,” especially because there are no Boston-area rappers doing it at his level.
“It’s not the easiest to come home sometimes, because of the level of misunderstanding,” Millyz says. “A lot of people are just really out of the loop when it comes to this music thing. It’s not the same level of understanding as people in New York have, because they’ve seen people fly. Out here there’s almost a sense of…” He pauses for a moment, choosing his words carefully: “Like it’s almost this impossible thing that you did, and they kinda wanna deny that.”
Trending on Billboard
Billboard chats with Millyz about his record-breaking night, his new album and the Celtics rough season below.
How we feelin’ man? The Celtics aren’t doing so great. Jayson Tatum is down with an achilles tear looks like. What are your thoughts on the Celts right now?
I’m pretty devastated, you know? I’m also somebody who — I was able to witness a championship, man. I caught the confetti. Nipsey Hussle’s got a line where he says, “Even if it’s only temporary, at least we had the s—t.” I don’t think that it’s all over, but it’s definitely a sad day to see Tatum go out with a non-contact injury.
What were your thoughts when you saw it happen?
It was bad to be going down 3-1 to the Knicks regardless. So it just put everything in perspective on how much that didn’t even matter, compared to Tatum getting injured. I think it would be amazing if we could just beat the Knicks without Tatum. I don’t think we can win a championship without him. Hopefully, we could, you never know, but it would be cool to beat the Knicks in a couple more games just to stress out the fanbase.
How are you feeling about the reception to Blanco 7 so far?
I feel great about it, it’s something I wanna stay on and sink my teeth into. Projects come and go so fast nowadays. I’m fully intending to do it the way that they used to back in the day, when they would drop the album and then push singles off the album. That’s my goal with this. I wanna see if I could replicate that formula.
Take me a bit more through the Blanco mindset versus the Katrina’s Son or Holy Water mindset. When did you know you were making a Blanco record?
I kinda gotta build the foundation first, it’s like building a house. So I gotta have 3-4 foundational records, and I think one was “I Understand” with NoCap, “Dope Sellers” with East and a few others and that’s when I knew I gotta go full throttle with this thing.
You just came off a historic show in your hometown. Before the show even happened, when did you decide you wanted to pursue MGM Fenway as a possible venue? Was it nerve-racking?
I went back and forth on whether I should do House of Blues again or the MGM. The number [of seats] they told me for the MGM was so fundamentally shocking when I first heard it compared to House of Blues. House of Blues is like 2,500 and then MGM is 5,700. It’s a big jump. The MGM is spooky because just the floor holds the whole capacity for the House of Blues. So that was a little scary for me, but I just had to commit to it after a certain point.
I study Boston history as far as Boston rap, and there’s never been a Boston rapper that’s sold more than 2,600 in the Boston area, so I knew as far as we passed that 2,600 mark I knew we were in uncharted territory. It was very Hail Mary-ish, and the way ticket sales are going these days, people are buying closer to the actual show now because of how the economy is, so that wasn’t the most comforting feeling.
You’re hands down the most popular rapper to emerge out of Cambridge and Boston in years. What do you think it is about the Cambridge and Boston rap scene? Why do you think it’s so hard for rappers to break out into the mainstream from those cities?
I actually think there’s not enough examples. When you’re in these other cities, there are people that blew up, that you can point to and it’s tangible, it’s there, it’s like, “Look at this guy down the street he blew up.” Even if you’re a pessimist, you could still see the examples of people that took it to another level. When it comes to Boston, because there’s no example for 30 something years, people start to think it can only be one person. That there’s gotta be the one savior. Other cities don’t look at it like that. They have more of a casual mindset towards artists blowing up compared to here. We just have nothing to look at. I had to really go to New York and look at rappers that were already lit.
Is that what inspired your move to New York early on in your career?
Nah, for sure. Then you get around the circles and you realize there’s kind of a formula to this thing.
How does it feel knowing you might be that example for Boston?
I just hope people can see it and reverse engineer what I did as much as possible, but I do try to bring people around to see it. I try to show them this s—t in all its glory. Anything I’m doing when I know I’m doing it on a grand scale, and I’m not even a mainstream artist, but I am somebody who’s made this my profession. So I try to bring people around just so they can witness and have a point of reference now.
That’s important because like you said those superstar examples haven’t been around. I imagine certain people may have less tact when approaching you though.
Yeah, for real. People don’t really know how to deal with artists and it kinda becomes mythical. I’m somebody who talks to anybody, I have a lot of relationships. If you’re from Massachusetts, it’s not too hard to know somebody who actually knows me, but that word of mouth could go either way. But on the other spectrum of it, it’s super love!… So its polarizing.
When you were backstage, what was it like to feel all that energy at MGM?
I didn’t know it was packed out like that. I was just hoping the floor was packed, but I was [dealing] with that hometown s—t. You start getting all those calls about people not gettin’ in, “My girl’s family can’t get in,” little s—t like that. So I was going through those annoying things all the way up until showtime, but once I walked out I was like, “Oh, we did it,” You know?
What song really set the fans off?
A lot of my catalog went well, but of course “Risk Takers” went crazy. It was cool to see songs like “Swim” and “High Beams” and some of my singing songs go crazy. There was a lot of girls up front, so the ratio keeps getting better at my shows. I strive to have it to have it [70 percent] girls one day, and I’m seeing that shift, so it’s a beautiful thing.
When did you learn it was a record-breaking show?
I knew just optically just seeing it, cause like I said I studied this Boston rap s—t. There’s three rappers that sold out the House of Blues. Joyner [Lucas] has done bigger numbers in the 508, but just as far as a kid from the 617 born in a Boston hospital and raised in this area it’s the biggest in the actual city. It feels dope.
What’s next for you? Where does Millyz go from here?
Just more goals that seem hard to accomplish and scratching them off the list.
Snoop Dogg has yet another gig. As part of his expansive partnership with NBCUniversal, the rapper will host a two-hour musical variety special from Miami titled Snoop Dogg’s New Year’s Eve. According to Variety, the show will air on NBC on Dec. 31 from 10:30 p.m. ET to 12:30 a.m. ET in the latest extension […]
Halle Bailey has been granted a restraining order against DDG, her ex-boyfriend and the father of her 1-year-old son, Billboard can confirm.
TMZ was first to report Tuesday (May 13) that the 25-year-old singer/actress had filed a police report against the 27-year-old streamer and rapper and requested court-ordered protection, claiming he had attacked her multiple times.
In court documents obtained by Billboard, Bailey alleged “things got physical” starting in January, when DDG (real name Darryl Dwayne Granberry Jr.) came over to pick up their then-13-month-old son Halo and she initiated a conversation about scheduling his visits.
Bailey claims that as she was buckling Halo into his car seat in the back of Granberry’s car, he yelled, “Get out of my car, bi—.” At that point, she alleges, Halo started crying, making her nervous to leave the baby with him in his agitated state. When she stayed in the car, she alleges that Granberry pulled her hair, slammed her face on the steering wheel and chipped her tooth. After they arrived at Granberry’s family’s house, Bailey says she told his family what happened and left the baby with them.
Trending on Billboard
Bailey attached photos of her alleged injuries, including her chipped tooth, to the restraining order request.
In the docs, Bailey went on to detail two more alleged incidents of abuse: one in March, which she says she filed a police report over, and one this past weekend, when she says Granberry accused her of vacationing with Brent Faiyaz in a series of texts while she was on a Mother’s Day trip with their son and her mother.
Granberry announced the couple had split in October 2024, ending their two-year relationship.
“This decision was not easy, but we believe it’s the best path forward for both of us. I cherish the time we’ve spent together and the love we’ve shared,” he wrote on his Instagram Story at the time. The following month, Bailey shared in a since-deleted X post that she felt “extremely upset” when Granberry brought Halo with him during an “unapproved” appearance on Kai Cenat’s live stream. She later backpedaled, writing, “maybe i did overreact…. i know that halo is always safe with his dad. i just don’t like finding out with the rest of the world what my baby is doing.”
Shortly after those tweets, Granberry came to Bailey’s defense in a YouTube video in which he implored negative commenters to leave her alone, citing her transparency over her struggles with postpartum depression. “When situations like this happen, I try to handle it with as much grace as possible because Halo needs her. I need her,” he said at the time. “We need each other to try to create a childhood that’s safe, fun and memorable for him.” But in March, Granberry aired his grievances over their custody issues in a song titled “Don’t Take My Son.”
In the restraining order request, Bailey also requested permission to take Halo with her while she travels to Italy to film a movie, where she will have family and a traveling nanny to help care for him. She also asked the judge for a cease-and-desist order to prevent Granberry from “posting and/or streaming on any and all platforms about Halo and/or me. He is a YouTube and Twitch Blogger and creates a fan frenzy by making false claims about me. This has caused me to feel afraid and victimized. His fans then threaten me. I am often scared for my life and Halo’s safety.”
A hearing has been set for June 4 over whether a more permanent restraining order should be put in place.
Representatives for Bailey and Granberry did not immediately respond to Billboard‘s requests for comment.
Drake ends the longest break of his career from the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Rhythmic Airplay chart as “Nokia” reaches the summit of the list dated May 17. The single gives the superstar his first leader since “Rich Baby Daddy,” featuring Sexyy Red and SZA, ruled for two frames in December 2023, and becomes Drake’s record-extending 40th No. 1 on the radio ranking.
Drake’s absence from the Rhythmic Airplay summit in 2024 wrapped a 15-year string of at least one No. 1 every year since his breakthrough single, “Best I Ever Had,” stormed to a 10-week domination in 2009. The streak nearly continued, as Drake’s best Rhythmic Airplay result was a No. 2 finish for “You Broke My Heart” in March 2024.
“Nokia,” released and promoted through OVO Sound/Santa Anna/Republic, advances from No. 2 to become the most-played song on U.S. panel-contributing rhythmic radio stations in the tracking week of May 2-8, according to Luminate. The track registered a 10% gain in plays for the tracking period compared to the previous frame and wins the Greatest Gainer honor, given each week to the song with the largest increase in plays.
Trending on Billboard
As “Nokia” ascends to the top slot, it unseats Doechii’s “Anxiety” after its two-week reign. “Anxiety” slides to No. 2 with a 4% drop in plays for the week.
[embedded content]
With a 40th Rhythmic Airplay No. 1, Drake continues to lap the competition for the most champs since the radio chart’s launch in October 1992. Here’s a review of the updated leaderboard:
40, Drake17, Rihanna15, The Weeknd14, Chris Brown13, Bruno Mars13, Usher13, Lil Wayne
Elsewhere, “Nokia” nears the top of multiple other radio charts. It climbs 4-3 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay with a 4% gain in weeky plays and 22-20 on Pop Airplay (up 21%).
Shifting to audience-based airplay charts, “Nokia” holds at No. 2 on the Rap Airplay chart – its third consecutive week in the runner-up position – though it added 6% more audience impressions than the previous frame. On R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, the single rises 7-6 through a boost to combined 11.3 million in audience from mainstream R&B/hip-hop and adult R&B formats, up 3% from the prior week. The multi-format increases drive “Nokia” 19-15 on the all-genre Radio Songs chart, where it registered 32.4 million in total audience for the tracking week, an 11% improvement from the week before.
“Nokia” appears on $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, largely a collaborative album from PARTYNEXTDOOR and Drake. The pair share billing on 14 of the album’s 21 tracks, while Drake has six solo cuts, including “Nokia,” and PARTYNEXTDOOR has one. The set, released in February, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and has remained in the top 10 for its first 12 weeks on the list.
The rap game could use some more posse cuts, and Red Bull is providing just that with the third season of their “Red Bull Spiral Freestyle” series.
Shot in one take, season 3 kicks off with the Midwest, West Coast and East Coast being properly represented by the likes of Detroit’s Big Sean, Carson’s Ab-Soul and Brooklyn’s Joey Bada$$, respectively.
Sean starts things off with a stellar verse taking aim at social media critics who live on the Internet. “You goin’ nowhere fast but from your view you could never tell,” he raps. “No wonder ‘cause you live your life based on a carousel/ You bums could prolly teach a masterclass on takin’ L’s/ Truth is, if you wake up hatin’ life, then you hate yourself.”
Ab-Soul then comes through and takes off his J Dilla hat to Sean before going in and addressing Joey’s back-and-forth with Ab’s friend Daylyt and TDE labelmate Ray Vaughn. “In which case, Joey, you put me in a sticky predicament,” Soulo admits. “I had to show solidarity to my syndicate/ Nah, you know anybody can get it/ In such a way that it will make any physician conflicted/ But listen, the 47’s still on my tricep/ Pass the pot, let me skillet, I’m quite the chef.”
Trending on Billboard
He added: “Pro Era the masters, that ain’t ever incorrect/ But it’s still TDE ’til 3000 and forever/ Lyt was heavy and Ray definitely stepped/ But this is hip-hop, you know we still on that.”
Joey then closes the cypher out by replying to fans suggesting that he’s been trying to ignite another East vs. West beef when he dropped the video for “The Ruler’s Back,” where he mentions a famous Jay-Z line about West Coast admiration. “Since ‘Ruler’s Back,’ they been tryna measure up,” he spits. “Look, my name ain’t Rick, but I talk Slick, don’t press ya luck/ And I ain’t taking no words back, I’m with all that/ But this ain’t gotta turn to nothin’ else, let’s keep it all rap.”
The Brooklyn rapper then brings up the heat he was taking from fans, rapping, “First off, I could never hate the West Coast/ But since n—as comin’ for Joe, f— it then, let’s go/ N—as must’ve forgot what Dot said on ‘Control’/ There’s still a buncha sensitive rappers in they pajama clothes/ I guess this ain’t no East versus West/ I just think that I’m the best, as a matter fact, I know.”
You can watch the new Red Bull Spiral Freestyle below.
50 Cent is getting back on the road. The G-Unit boss announced that he’ll be heading to Europe with a stop in North Africa for the Legacy Tour on Tuesday (May 13).
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The trek kicks off across the pond in Germany on June 8 with additional stops in England, Morocco, London, Scotland, Switzerland, Paris, Denmark and the tour wraps up in Poland on Aug. 10.
It’s going to be a special tour for 50, who will be celebrating his 50th birthday on stage with a concert bash in Dublin on July 6.
“The Legacy Tour is here. I’m hitting Europe this summer to celebrate the music, the moments—and my 50th birthday. You know it’s gonna be crazy! Get your tickets now,” he wrote to Instagram. Tickets are currently available on 50’s website.
Trending on Billboard
The post is accompanied by a cinematic trailer 50 posted to his Instagram, running through various electric performances from his career spanning the last 20-plus years, filled with cameos ranging from G-Unit to Eminem and LeBron James.
The hip-hop legend is currently coming off his Final Lap Tour, which took the star around the globe in 2023 and grossed $103.6 million, with 1.05 million tickets sold across the 83 shows. At the time, he was only the second-ever headlining rapper to do so, joining Drake.
The Queens icon also took over Las Vegas for a six-show residency at Ph Live at Planet Hollywood to close out 2024 and ring in 2025.
“It’s cool. You don’t usually have artists that sustain themselves this long in our culture,” he told Billboard last year. “Hip-hop has a low attention span, and it’s out with the old and in with the new repeatedly. There’s even a point [where] they’ll create a resistance for you.”
Find all of the dates of 50 Cent’s Legacy Tour below:
Drake has given DDG his flowers for his new album Blame The Chat and clowned Adin Ross for having not listened to it. In DDG’s latest Twitch stream on Monday (May 12), DDG and Adin Ross spent the day together, culminating in a video call with The Boy. “Congrats on your album,” Drake told the […]
Usher has been honored with Diamond plaques from the RIAA during his decorated career, and now, he’ll be celebrated on the baseball diamond. The Atlanta Braves announced on Tuesday (May 13) that the first 15,000 fans in attendance of June 18’s game against the New York Mets at Truist Park will receive a limited-edition collectible […]