genre hiphop
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Playboi Carti‘s new album is off to a strong start on streaming platforms.
Following its release on Friday (March 14), the Atlanta rapper’s long-awaited third studio album, MUSIC, became Spotify‘s most-streamed album in a single day in 2025 so far.
“Carti’s MUSIC is already making history,” the streaming giant captioned its announcement on X on Saturday.
In the lead-up to the album’s release, Spotify supported the rollout by putting up billboards in major cities such as Los Angeles, New York City, and Miami, displaying messages like “STREETS READY,” “SORRY4 DA WAIT” and “I AM MUSIC MF.”
MUSIC was preceded by the official single “All Red,” which reached No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 3 on Billboard‘s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Carti also released several tracks on his YouTube and Instagram, including “2024,” “BACKR00MS” featuring Travis Scott, and “H00DBYAIR.”
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Additionally, Carti performed unreleased songs during his headlining set at Rolling Loud Miami in December 2024, including “Lose You” featuring The Weeknd. Carti and The Weeknd’s collaboration “Timeless,” from The Weeknd’s Hurry Up Tomorrow album, reached No. 3 on the Hot 100 last year, following the success of their platinum-certified hit “Popular” with Madonna.
MUSIC features star-studded collaborations from Young Thug, Travis Scott, Future, Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, Lil Uzi Vert, Skepta and Ty Dolla $ign. It also boasts an impressive list of producers, including Cardo, Metro Boomin, Southside, F1lthy, Ye, Cash Cobain and the production duo Ojivolta, among others.
The 30-track project arrives five years after Carti’s last album, Whole Lotta Red, which topped the Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The 2020 set featured collaborations with Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) on “Go2DaMoon,” Kid Cudi on “M3tamorphosis,” and Future on “Teen X.”
Carti is set to headline Rolling Loud California on Sunday (March 16). The festival posted on X earlier this week, noting that his 2018 debut album, Die Lit, dropped the day before Rolling Loud Miami, and he’s continuing that tradition by releasing MUSIC the day before Rolling Loud California opens.
Ye has dropped a new song that seemingly features Sean “Diddy” Combs and his daughter North West.
On Saturday (March 15), the 47-year-old rapper — formerly known as Kanye West — took to his X account to release the track titled “Lonely Roads Still Go to Sunshine.”
“LONELY ROADS STILL GO TO SUNSHINE new song by PUFF DADDY feat. His son KING COMBS my daughter NORTH WEST and new Yeezy artist from Chicago Jasmine Williams,” the controversial artist captioned the post.
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The nearly five-minute song opens with what appears to be a phone conversation between Ye and Diddy, who is currently incarcerated and facing multiple charges, including sex trafficking.
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“I just want to thank you so much for just taking care of my kids, man,” a voice that seems to be Diddy says. “Ain’t nobody reach out to them, ain’t nobody call them.” Ye replies, “Absolutely, I love you so much, man. You raised me. Even when I ain’t know you, know what I’m saying?”
West’s 11-year-old daughter North also appears on the track, rapping, “Doing everything I wanted, that’s the key to life/ When you see me shining, then you see the light.”
Before releasing “Lonely Roads Still Go to Sunshine,” West shared now-deleted screenshots on X of text messages between him and North’s mother, Kim Kardashian, according to TMZ. In the texts, Kardashian allegedly told her ex-husband that she had trademarked their daughter’s name in an attempt to block the song’s release.
“I asked you at the time if I can trademark her name. You said yes. When she’s 18, it goes to her. So stop,” Kardashian reportedly wrote. “I sent paperwork over so she wouldn’t be in the Diddy song to protect her. One person has to trademark!” The reality TV star added, “We agreed when they were both i would get all of our kids names and trademarks So no one else would take them.”
The rapper replied, “Amend it or I’m going to war And neither of us will recover from the public fallout You’re going to have to kill me.”
Ye, who has faced backlash in recent months for his hate-filled, antisemitic rants on social media, has recently defended Diddy. In February, West called on President Donald Trump to free the disgraced hip-hop mogul. “Free Puff,” Ye wrote in all caps on X, later adding, “@realDonaldTrump please free my brother Puff.”
Diddy was arrested in September and is currently in jail without bail, awaiting a federal trial in New York on racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution charges. Prosecutors say he orchestrated an elaborate scheme in which he “abused, threatened and coerced women and others around him to fulfill sexual desires.”
In addition to his new song, Ye posted an image on X on Saturday that he claims will be the cover of his upcoming album. The image features a red Nazi swastika against a black background. It is unclear whether this is related to the release of his Bully album, which he teased at the start of 2025. While the rapper seemed to have plans to release the project sometime this year, it remains uncertain whether the album will actually be released.
Sean “Diddy” Combs returned to federal court in New York City on Friday (March 14), pleading not guilty to the latest version of an indictment charging him with two decades of sex trafficking crimes.
The 55-year-old Combs, his beard noticeably grayer than even weeks ago, stood with his hands folded before him as he told Judge Arun Subramanian that he had read the indictment and understood the charges against him.
Combs, who has been held without bail since his September arrest, hugged two of his lawyers as he entered the courtroom and he blew kisses to family members and waved as he was led out by U.S. marshals afterward.
Subramanian told lawyers that questionnaires will be distributed to hundreds of prospective jurors at the end of April so that questioning of would-be jurors can begin on May 5, with opening statements expected to occur on May 12.
According to the indictment, Combs used the “power and prestige” he wielded as a music mogul to intimidate, threaten and lure women into his orbit, often under the pretense of a romantic relationship.
The indictment said he then used force, threats and coercion to cause victims, including three women specified in the court papers, to engage in commercial sex acts.
It said he subjected his victims to violence, threats of violence, threats of financial and reputational harm and verbal abuse.
“On multiple occasions, Combs threw both objects and people, as well as hit, dragged, choked and shoved others,” it said. “On one occasion, Combs dangled a victim over an apartment balcony.”
Defense lawyers have argued that prosecutors used the charges to try to demonize sex acts between consenting adults.
Part of the discussion in court Friday revolved around what will be allowed at the trial regarding a video that aired on CNN last year that showed Combs punching his former protege and girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie, and throwing her on the floor in a hotel hallway.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitzi Steiner said the video was “critical to the case.”
Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said the video was “deceptive and not in accordance with the actions that took place.”
He said certain actions were speeded up in the video by as much as 50% and others were taken out of order.
“From the defense standpoint, it’s a misleading piece of evidence, a deceptive piece of evidence, a piece of evidence that has been changed,” he said.
Steiner also said the government was reluctant to share information about accusers who may testify in the case with defense lawyers until deadlines arrive that require the information to be turned over.
She said many of the “individuals are incredibly frightened” not only at having their names revealed publicly but having them disclosed to defense attorneys.
Lil Nas X returns with five new tracks, and fresh music videos for each single. Keep watching to see what his new songs are! What’s your favorite track from Lil Nas X’s drops? Let us know in the comments! Lil Nas X: I’m scared, but I’m excited. Next chapter is not gonna open until you […]
When offensive lineman James Hudson III signed with the New York Giants on Thursday (March 13), he probably didn’t expect to hear from T-Pain hours later.
The Giants posted a photo of Hudson III inking his two-year $11 million agreement to X and fans began saying he looked like T-Pain and made references to the Nappy Boy Entertainment CEO.
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“I’m finna turn this franchise around,” T-Pain hilariously promised when quote-tweeting the photo of Hudson on X.
Aye chill out 😂— James Hudson III ™ (@Cinco_Cinco3) March 14, 2025
Hudson had a sense of humor about the exchange as he replied to T-Pain with a laughing emoji: “Aye chill out.”
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T-Pain’s original response has over 278,000 likes and counting since Thursday night. Football fans chimed in looking to see what skillset the Florida native had to offer. “Mr. Pain, Jokes aside, we need a quarterback. Talk soon,” one Giants fan asked.
Another joked: “New song coming soon — I’m In Love With A Kicker!”
T-Pain’s Nappy Boy Entertainment leaned into the joke further when crafting a fake quote from ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith. “The fact other teams in the National Football League did not sign him sooner… is criminal,” they wrote.
Hudson spent the first four seasons of his career playing offensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns before signing with Big Blue.
Although he didn’t sign with the Green Bay Packers, T-Pain is returning to his second home of Wiscansin in June for his fourth annual Wiscansin Fest.
The “Buy U A Drank” singer will be hitting The Rave stage alongside Pusha T, Wale, Keyshia Cole, Feid, NLE Choppa, DJ Diesel (Shaquille O’Neal), Jermaine Dupri, Kash Doll, Armani White, and more to be announced at a later date.
Tickets for the two-day festival going down on June 13 and June 14 are now available.
It’s always a blessing when two legends link up. After announcing their upcoming EP and releasing the single last month, Roc Marciano and DJ Premier just dropped the video for “Armani Section.” Directed by POE, Roc and Preemo hangout and do some shopping in L.A. and they brought along a couple luxury vehicles to lamp […]
Sometimes the past meets the present. Will Smith took it back to 1990 — The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air‘s pilot episode to be exact — when recreating the famed dance scene with Tatyana Ali (Ashley Banks) and a surprise appearance from Doechii.
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Smith posted the fun clip to Instagram on Friday (March 14) featuring him barging in on Ali jamming out and listening to Doechii’s “Anxiety” on her Walkman headphones, and then the Swamp Princess joins the fun to complete her “Anxiety” dance trend, which has taken over TikTok.
“Waited 35 years for this dance to trend,” Will Smith captioned the video. Fans were loving the nostalgic blast from the past as well.
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“Loool! Love it! And love y’all,” actress Meagan Good wrote. DJ Jazzy Jeff chimed in: “Amazing!”
ESPN/MSG Networks basketball analyst Monica McNutt said she’s firing up Hulu and “fitna go watch this episode!”
Will’s son, Jaden, was just looking for a heads up when things are popping off at home. “Dad you gotta tell me what’s happening in the crib so I can fly home bro,” he jokingly wrote.
Smith’s brain seemingly got churning last week when he reposted the original Fresh Prince scene to social media and thanked fans for the love as “Anxiety” began to take TikTok by storm. “I’ve been watching y’all and every video has been better than the last!! Love that track @Doechii. @Tatyana Ali remember this?” he wrote.
The Grammy-winning rapper linked up earlier this week when Smith posted a trippy clip mouthing the words to “Anxiety” in a mirror, but when the chair turns around, Doechii is the one actually sitting down.
Doechii released the solo version of “Anxiety” to streaming services on March 5. The track samples Gotye‘s 2012 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit “Somebody That I Used to Know” featuring Kimbra.
It was originally part of her Coven Music Sessions, which were released on YouTube in 2019. Sleepy Hallow ended up sampling it on his own “Anxiety” track in 2023. Thanks to the TikTok trend setting social media ablaze, Hallow’s version debuted at No. 45 on this week’s Hot 100.
Will Smith is in for a busy month as he announced on Friday that his Based on a True Story album will be released on March 28. It’s Smith’s first full-length LP in over 20 years. The project will feature Big Sean, Joyner Lucas, Teyana Taylor, Russ, Fridayy, his longtime running mate DJ Jazzy Jeff and more.
Find the Based on a True Story cover art below.
Mariah Carey is certified within rap circles and Cam’ron can attest to that.
The songstress frequently hung out and partied with rap stars during the ’90s and 2000s and never shied away from aligning herself with the genre as she rose to pop superstardom, having one of the more memorable pop rap hits in “Fantasy (Remix)” featuring the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard.
Cam’ron was one rapper who used to chill with Mimi back in the day and they’ve been rumored to be linked romantically throughout the years, but it has always been innuendo. In 2002, Carey was such a big fan of Cam’ron hit single “Oh Boy” featuring fellow Dipset member Juelz Santana, that she reworked the song for her record “Boy (I Need You)” and made sure to have Cam featured on it. They even performed the song on BET’s 106 & Park with Cam’ron donning his iconic pink fur outfit.
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A few years back, the Harlem rapper got into a trolling war Carey’s ex Nick Cannon where Killa posted photos of himself and the Long Island singer with captions insinuating that they once had a thing for each other. However, he was only joking around and in 2023, he reposted one of the pics along with the caption, “I’m the friend you shouldn’t worry about.”
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He addressed these old rumors on a recent episode of his YouTube show Talk With Flee. When asked by co-host Sen City about the nature of their relationship, Cam denied them and emphasized that their relationship has always been platonic. “She’s a friend,” he answered. “She’s a good friend. It’s nothing more, nothing less than that. She’s a super-duper good friend.”
He then commended her hip-hop knowledge and said she deserves more credit for bridging the gap between rap and the mainstream early on in her career. “We gotta realize,” he began. “When it comes to Mariah Carey — because she’s such a pop figure and so popular around the world and a mega superstar — people don’t give Mariah Carey a lot of credit for putting Hip Hop in her music and videos.”
Adding, “Mariah Carey worked with Da Brat, Mariah Carey worked with The LOX, Mariah Carey with Ma$e, Mariah Carey worked with me. Mariah Carey worked with Ol’ Dirty Bastard… I think she’s very underrated — that’s the word I would prefer to use — on how much she indulges in hip-hop and how much light she brings to hip-hop artists.”
Their friendship started when she heard “Oh Boy” and reached out. “She liked a song of mine and then we did ‘Boy’ and we hung out,” Cam explained. “She invited me [to Aspen]. Honestly, Mariah’s the first person who made me realize that it was festive in the Aspens about 20-something years ago. I drunk some wine, she had a pool house, we chilled out for a couple days… She took me to Capri, to Italy. She took me a lot of different places, but she’s just a friend.”
You can watch the clip below.
The sports and music world is full of exciting new updates, and we’re breaking it down. From Gelo and GloRilla’s new collab to Eminem reportedly wanting to bring a WNBA team to Detroit, keep watching to find out more! What do you think? Let us know in the comments below! Tetris Kelly:Gelo teams up with […]
King Vamp season has returned.
1,540 days after his influential sophomore Whole Lotta Red album landed on Christmas Day in 2020, Playboi Carti finally released his much-delayed and highly anticipated I Am Music album on Friday (March 14).
I Am Music hit streaming services in the morning with the Atlanta rapper sending out a tweet around 7:30 am ET with Spotify link attached after yet another postponement, which fans speculated to be tied to the blood moon eclipse. However, Carti didn’t seem too worried as he posted a clip on FaceTime with Justin Bieber to social media as he ate pasta on his Spotify billion-stream plaque for “FE!N”.
The LP is loaded with star-studded features from the likes of Young Thug, Travis Scott, Future, Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, Lil Uzi Vert, Skepta and Ty Dolla $ign. While employing an impressive list of producers that included Cardo, Metro Boomin, Soutside, F1lthy, Ye, Cash Cobain, and production duo Ojivolta, among many others.
“[This album] is very important to me because I feel like I have something to prove,” he told Numéro Berlin in 2023. “This is my moment, this is the one for me. You know, this album right here is – I say this for everything, but – I think it’s going to be my best album because I’m just popping it. It starts with music. That’s it. As long as I got that, it’s up.”
He also told Billboard, “I want to make the people feel like they don’t know what is about to happen,” during a cover story profile and that’s exactly the feeling you’re going to get the first time you hit play.
And with that being said, check out our rankings of every song on I Am Music below.
“Pop Out”