genre hiphop

02 Apr 2025

Cody Rhodes Warns Travis Scott He’s Keeping a ‘Receipt’ After Elimination Match Smack That Ruptured Ear Drum: ‘My Eyes Are Open’

Billboard Women in Music 2025

If you think wrestling is all fake, ask Cody Rhodes how he was feeling after last month’s bloody WWE Elimination Chamber match in Toronto where Travis Scott went wild during a beatdown of the undisputed WWE champ.

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After Wrestling Observer Radio revealed that Rhodes suffered a broken ear drum and a black eye after Scott slapped the hapless wrestler as he lay bloodied in the middle of the ring at the March 1 event, Rhodes told Complex this week that he kept the receipts and that payback is in the cards.

As he gears up for his third consecutive WrestleMania — where he will defend his world title against fellow great John Cena in the latter’s final WrestleMania match– Rhodes had a stern warning for La Flame. “That’s wrestling,” Rhodes said of the injuries he endured after the rapper teamed up with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Cena for the beatdown. “I am not mad so much, but I am looking and my eyes are open for what we inevitably, what we’ll call a receipt.”

At press time it’s unknown if Scott will be on hand when WrestleMania 41 takes place in Las Vegas on April 19-20, but Rhodes didn’t pull punches about the Elimination Chamber incident. When Complex simply noted that Scott was a “major part” of the Elimination Chamber match, Rhodes cheekily responded, “Oh, he was?”

Asked how hard Scott hit him — and if he gave him the “hey man, just really let me have it” license to do so — Rhodes said, “Well, the next day after the incident, I told everyone, ‘He didn’t hit me.’ I didn’t realize there was a fan video circulating of him hitting me with the power of a thousand suns and the noise deafening. And then I had a Tommy Boy situation where the entire side of my face was black and blue and I kept saying, ‘Oh no, I’m good. I’m good.’”

He said he then had a “little flutter in the eardrum” because it was popped. “Again, I’m a weirdo, this is going to sound so strange, and I apologize to your viewers and your listeners, but man, that’s wrestling. You know what I’m saying? Beat me up. I’m going to beat you up. That’s wrestling… If Travis Scott ever makes his way back into the WWE fray, maybe there’s a receipt for Travis. Prior to this though, by the way, I was a Travis Scott fan.”

Rhodes noted that he went sneaker shopping with Complex last July and that he once owned a pair of Scott’s Air Jordan’s, but that after the match “let’s say they might’ve gone somewhere. The shoes are not there anymore.”

That said, when asked who hits harder, Scott or part-time wrestler/YouTuber Logan Paul, Rhodes gave the rapper his props, kind of. “Well, Travis Scott hits pretty hard, but that’s not the hardest I’ve ever been slapped,” Rhodes said, adding that the hardest he’s ever been slapped was by female Canadian wrestler Nattie Neidhart. “If Travis Scott hit me with the force of a thousand suns, Nattie Neidhart sent me to the phantom zone. Legit, I was lost in space for a second, so that was the hardest one I ever got.”

La Flame has been all over WWE this year. His “4×4” song served as the RAW theme song in January when the show jumped to Netflix and he escorted Jey Uso to the ring for his match on Jan. 6 in Los Angeles. In addition, in January, Triple H teased that fans can expect to see more of Scott in the future. “Everybody should expect to see more things from Travis Scott in a big way,” he said.

Scott recently teamed up with WWE for a “Wrestling Is Real” T-shirt, presumably in response to the online chatter about the smack heard ’round the world.

02 Apr 2025

Lil Nas X Thanks Camila Cabello For Making Him Feel ‘So Good’ During Tough Time: ‘Beginning of Me Getting My Confidence Back’

Billboard Women in Music 2025

Lil Nas X feels lucky to have Camila Cabello in his friend orbit. The rapper who has been sprinkling singles all over the place in the lead-up to the release of his as-yet-unscheduled Dreamboy album, told Paper magazine that the “I Luv It” singer was really there for him when he was having a crisis of faith in his personal and professional lives.

“We did a great job at uplifting each other and showing each other how we view the situation and how we view each other from outside of ourselves,” he said of his bestie, who he teamed up with last summer for her “He Knows” single. “Once you made up your mind: ‘Oh, the world doesn’t see me as something great or feels like I’ve done anything amazing.‘ To hear [affirmation] from somebody who you greatly respect and you love what they’ve done, it feels great, especially because you can feel like it comes from a genuine place, and not like someone trying to get something from you.”

Lil Nas said he had fun hanging out with Cabello at a time when he was just getting comfortable “going out places. It was just genuine fun. It didn’t feel like work. Camila made me feel so good, she made me feel so great,” he said. “And that was the beginning of me getting my confidence back. To finally be at this place, where I’m like, ‘Okay, I know who the f–k I am. I know where I’m going. I don’t care what none of these b–ches say. I didn’t care at first. Why do I care now?’”

The rapper also said he’s taking a completely different approach on the new album than he did with his 2021 full-length debut album, Montero. Whereas last time he said he brought the world to him, this time “I’m bringing myself to the world,” describing Dreamboy as a collection of “everything and anything I’ve ever loved or hated… it’s just me going out there and doing me in whichever form I feel.”

So far, Lil Nas has released eight songs that could be featured on the album, including “Hotbox,” “Light Again,” “Need Dat Boy,” “Dreamboy,” “Big Dummy!,” “Swish,” “Right There!” and “Lean on My Body,” which he recently collected on the Days Before Dreamboy EP.

01 Apr 2025

Young Scooter’s Cause of Death Has Been Revealed

Billboard Women in Music 2025

Young Scooter’s cause of death has been revealed by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s office.

The Atlanta rapper, real name Kenneth Bailey, died after puncturing his thigh and losing too much blood as a result of climbing a wooden fence. “Mr. Bailey sustained a penetrating injury of his right thigh that created marked blood loss. This injury was not a gunshot wound. Mr. Bailey injured himself on organic (wooden) fencing material and/or woody debris after vaulting at least one fence,” the Medical Examiner shared in a statement to Rolling Stone.

Scooter died on Friday night (March 28) on his 39th birthday. That evening, Atlanta Police Lt. Andrew Smith led a news conference to explain what reportedly happened. According to Smith, police responded to a call about a dispute with a weapon at a home in the Lakewood Heights neighborhood of Atlanta. They set up a perimeter outside of the home where the dispute occurred, after a man shut the door on officers. Two men then fled from the house from the back door, though one returned to the house and the other jumping two fences as he was fleeing. Scooter was reportedly the man who jumped the fences, which the Medical Examiner’s ruling confirms.

Before the press conference, rumors began to spread that officers shot Scooter, leading to his death. Young Thug, for example, posted on X in a since-deleted post, “Autopsy came back street got shot,” in reference to the deceased rapper’s nickname. 

Young Scooter made his name on the Billboard charts as a featured artist on Young Thug’s 2016 hit, “Guwop,” also featuring Quavo and Offset of Migos. The track peaked at No. 45 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. He later featured on Future & Juice WRLD’s “Jet Lag” in 2018, which climbed to No. 72 on the Billboard Hot 100.

01 Apr 2025

The Weeknd Tests the Depths of His Soul in Ominous ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ Film Trailer: Watch

The Weeknd has shared another glimpse into his upcoming Hurry Up Tomorrow film ahead of its nationwide theater release on May 16.

The ominous thriller received a second trailer on Tuesday (April 1) as the Toronto singer/actor took viewers further into his bewildering odyssey. Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan serve as The Weeknd’s co-stars in the movie directed by Trey Edward Shults.

Abel plays a fictionalized pop star version of himself while Ortega (Anima) serves as his love interest and brings him on a psychotic journey, testing the depths of his soul.

“Have we met before,” The Weeknd asks Ortega’s Anima character while driving. Things get eerie when Ortega’s shown lighting a home on fire and tying the XO frontman up while performing some sort of satanic ritual on him.

The movie serves as the film companion to The Weeknd’s Hurry Up Tomorrow album, which arrived in February and saw him retire his artistic alias.

“I tried to make the movie in a way where, for his fans and people who want to approach it at that level, I hope it’s very satisfying and you get a good meal out of it,” Shults told EW. “And for people that aren’t his fans and don’t know anything about him or even care about the final capping of the Weeknd, I think you still have a great movie to go through.”

Hurry Up Tomorrow notched The Weeknd his fifth No. 1 album atop the Billboard 200 when the set earned 490,500 equivalent album units in the U.S. in the week ending Feb. 6, per Luminate.

Just ahead of Hurry Up Tomorrow hitting theaters on May 16, The Weeknd will embark on his After Hours Til Dawn Tour on May 9 in Phoenix. The trek will invade stadiums across North America this summer with Playboi Carti and Mike Dean serving as the tour’s special guests.

Watch the trailer below.

01 Apr 2025

Cardi B Says There Will Be ‘Surprising’ Features on Her Sophomore Album

Billboard Women in Music 2025

Cardi B is continuing to tease her long-awaited sophomore album, and recently gave fans some more details on what to expect.

On Monday, Cardi B hopped on X Spaces to discuss her highly anticipated sophomore effort, which fans have been clamoring for for over eight years.

“The features on my album are really good,” she said in the clip below. “I don’t have a lot of features but I’m working with artists, some that I have worked before and some that I haven’t worked before. And the ones that I have not worked before, I feel like it’s gonna really, really surprise y’all.

She went on to say that “It’s such a vibe,” and that she’s getting closer to giving fans what they’ve long wanted.

“I can tell y’all this, I’m 100 percent confident with this album,” she continued. “I just don’t think what I got is out there. That’s all I’mma say. I gave y’all some clues on my features, that’s it.”

Billboard has reached out to Cardi’s team for further comment.

Cardi B dropped off her debut Invasion of Privacy in 2018, and has continued to push back her sophomore effort time and time again. Bardi most recently said she was swearing off sex to finish the new project, which she hopes will finally drop this year.

“I don’t even want to take dick right now, because every single time I take dick, I get distracted. I don’t want no distraction,” Cardi said on social media back in January.

Listen to a clip of Cardi B’s X Spaces conversation below.

01 Apr 2025

Mustard Is Opening for Kendrick Lamar & SZA on Their Grand National Tour

The Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show won’t be the only time Kendrick Lamar and Mustard share the stage together this year.

Mustard revealed on Tuesday (April 1) — and this is no April Fool’s Day joke — that he’s joining the Compton rapper and SZA’s Grand National Tour as an opening act. Fans can expect Mustard to perform a nightly DJ set to warm up the crowd.

“I’m joining Kendrick Lamar and SZA on the Grand National Tour,” he wrote on his Instagram. With Mustard joining the show, the tour released additional floor seats for those who missed out on the first batch.

“Had to look out for my fans. Cash App Card Holders have exclusive access to purchase newly released tickets on the floor,” he added. “On-sale tomorrow at 10AM local time.”

The North American trek okicks off on Saturday, April 19 in Minneapolis, and will take over 19 stadiums in total with stops in Philadelphia, Houston, Atlanta, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Detroit, Chicago and Toronto before wrapping up in Washington, D.C., on June 18.

Mustard popped out with Lamar as a special guest during “TV Off” for the rapper’s Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show in New Orleans earlier this year.

Mustard delivered one of the best years of his career in 2024 as he produced the “Not Like Us” Drake diss, which went on to win record of the year and song of the year and the Grammy Awards in February. He also helmed production on Lamar’s GNX tracks such as “TV Off” and “Hey Now.”

Check out Mustard’s Instagram announcement below:

01 Apr 2025

Will Smith Claims He’s the Lionel Messi of Hip-Hop in New Freestyle: ‘Goal Scored on These Boys’

Will Smith dropped off some new bars for Lyrical Lemonade, where he claimed to be the rap equivalent of legendary footballer Lionel Messi.

On Monday (March 31), Smith stopped by Lyrical Lemonade’s “Lunch Break Freestyle” as part of the continued roll out for his new album Based on a True Story. During his time on the show, the Oscar winner spit some braggadocious bars claiming that he is hip-hop’s G.O.A.T.

“Hip Hop’s Messi, Neymar and Ronaldo/ Goal, scored on these boys/ I’ve won damn near every award on these boys,” he spit over a thumping trap beat. “Sold-out movie theaters and even tours on these boys/ Feelin’ like a mop, wipe the floor with these boys.”

Earlier in the song, Will also boasted about the adversities he’s pushed through both in his career and in his personal life. “I be overcoming s—t that y’all be having trouble with/ Let ’em run they mouths, I mean really, that’s what come with this,” he rapped during the freestyle’s opening bars. “They built a wall but I’m jumping it and loving it/ They want me to be done with it, but I’m still havin’ fun with it.”

Will Smith dropped his new album Based on a True Story on March 28, and while his upcoming summer tour remains his main focus, he said on the Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast he might squeeze in another Men in Black movie during that time, too.

“I told myself I was done with sequels. I was like, ‘I’ve made enough sequels. I got some new things I want to make,’” he said. “Literally this morning, an hour before I came down here, they just threw the bag for another Men in Black. I was like, ‘Ah, I’m supposed to be going on tour this summer.’”

Smith said he’d likely shoot the film once he’s done with his European tour, which kicks off on June 25.

Watch Smith’s full freestyle above.

01 Apr 2025

Kevin Hart A.K.A. Chocolate Droppa’s Tiny Desk Concert Is the Perfect April Fools’ Day Joke

Kevin Hart a.k.a. Chocolate Droppa’s Tiny Desk concert debut supplied the April Fools’ Day entertainment, but don’t think this rap s–t is a joke to the comedic legend.

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Hart pulled up in a hoodie and a backwards red fitted cap ready to drop bars. The Band of Brothas, whom he claimed to have met for the first time outside, provided instrumentation behind him.

“Only time they had somebody on Tiny Desk with no f—ing track. I’m here off the dome,” he sneered.

Droppa took it back to his 2016 What Now mixtape as he reimagined a live performance of bi-coastal cuts “ATL Rap,” “West Coast,” “Love Song” and “Don’t F–k With Dem.” The project featured superstar guest appearances from Nick Jonas, Chris Brown, Migos, Big Sean, Wale, T.I. and more.

“Every time I see people, the first thing they say is ‘Droppa where you been? When you gonna give us more?’” Hart said. For those waiting on the next Droppa release, you’re in luck as the 45-year-old teased that an album is on the way.

The Philly native didn’t break character once as Hart remained locked in as his Chocolate Droppa rap alter-ego and put forth a solid performance commanding the stage.

Following an extended hiatus, Hart teased his return as Droppa during an appearance in Kai Cenat’s AMP cypher last summer.

Whether it’s an April Fools’ Day joke or not, the world will never know. Watch Chocolate Droppa’s Tiny Desk debut below.

01 Apr 2025

Cardi B Lathers Up With Raising Cane’s ‘Moisturizing Sauce’ in April Fools’ Day Video

Cardi B had the internet fooled when she posted a video of her moisturizing with a Raising Cane’s sauce, which seems to have been part of an elaborate April Fools’ Day prank.

On Tuesday (April 1), Cardi B shared a video on Instagram announcing that she had just purchased Raising Cane’s new Moisturizing Sauce.

“Everybody always asks me, how does my skin look so beautiful, so shiny, so amazing at the age of 32, three kids, job stressin’ me out and sleepless nights?” the Bronx-bred rapper said. “Well, I’ve been using this new cream. It’s the Cane’s Moisturizing Sauce Cream. Oh my gosh.”

Cardi then proceeds to lather herself up with the tan-colored goop, rubbing it all over her face and chest before licking some residue off her fingers.

“Sorry, I’m just so hungry and the moisturizer just tastes so good,” she says.

The Cane’s sauce, in collaboration with Ipsy, was actually done as an elaborate April Fools’ prank, and fans let out sighs of relief in the comments.

“Happy April 1st, she won,” one fan wrote, while another added, “Lmao bye Cardi! Took me a sec but dang it, I ain’t no APRIL FOOL!”

The lighthearted post comes just a few days after Cardi hopped on Instagram for a more disheartening reason. Much to her dismay, Cardi showed fans on her Instagram Story that her daughter, Kulture Kiari Cephus, had scribbled all over the raper’s crocodile skin Hermés Kelly bag.

“We spent $60,000 on this purse,” Cardi said. “Look what my daughter did to my purse. Look what my daughter did to my purse. Look what my daughter did to my f–king purse… mmmmm.”

Watch Cardi B’s prank below.

01 Apr 2025

Kendrick Lamar’s Movie With ‘South Park’ Creators Delayed Until 2026

Kendrick Lamar’s movie with the creators of South Park has been pushed back into 2026, according to Variety. Paramount’s comedy debut for Lamar with Trey Parker and Matt Stone is now slated to arrive on March 20, 2026. The flick was scheduled to arrive on July 4 of this year.

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No reason was given behind the delay, but the untitled movie will now join the I Can Only Imagine sequel starring Dennis Quaid on the release calendar for 2026. Not much is known about the casting of the film — which was first announced in 2022 — outside of comedian Vernon Chatman (Wonder Showzen, The Heart, She Holler) serving as the primary writer.

The comedy will follow an African-American intern who plays a slave actor at a local history museum who discovers that the ancestors of his white girlfriend were slave owners of some of his relatives. PgLang’s Dave Free is also on board as a producer alongside Lamar. The release date reshuffle was made official ahead of this week’s Cinemacon in Las Vegas.

2025 was already shaping up to be a busy yet decorated year for Lamar. He’s coming off of Song of the Year and Record of the Year wins at the Grammy Awards and a headlining slot at the Super Bowl LIXHalftime Show a week later.

Kendrick Lamar and SZA are gearing up to hit the road for the Grand National Tour, which will hit 19 stadiums across North America. The trek is slated to kick off in Minneapolis on April 19 and make stops in Houston, Philly, New Jersey, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, Washington, D.C. and more.