Hip-Hop
Page: 25
05/31/2024
Don Toliver, Tyler, the Creator, Aminé, Ye, Nas and more all have this thing in common in their discography.
05/31/2024
This year’s 21 Under 21 package features the next generation of superstars who are breaking online and busting down genre barriers.
The latter is something that Jessie Murph has done from day one, exploring new sounds and defining her identity on her “unexpected” debut album due out this year. The 19-year-old has collaborations with Diplo and Polo G, Maren Morris and Jelly Roll already under her belt, proving her ability to hopscotch across a variety of sounds.
Being raised in Athens, Ala. Murph is thrilled with the mainstream moment country music is enjoying — yet she’s contemplating just how much she wants to lean in. “I’m trying to decide that for myself because I feel like everybody’s doing it now,” she tells Billboard in her magazine feature that opens this year’s 21 Under 21 package.
Murph is just one of two artists included in this year’s roundup who explore the genre — the other being Mason Ramsey, who made his return with new music and a matured sound earlier this year. In addition to Murph, the 2024 list includes a slew of new entries including rising folk-pop artist Brenn!, Chilean breakout Floyymenor, K-pop girl group NewJeans, elusive R&B act 4batz, Nigerian singer-songwriter Qing Madi and many more. Such names are featured alongside more familiar chart-toppers (and 21 Under 21 veterans) like Tate McRae and The Kid LAROI, both of whom are on tour supporting their latest albums.
Despite featuring artists across genres and at various stages in their careers, there is one thing each artist on this year’s list has in common; Not only are they set for a stellar year ahead but, given their early start in the industry, their success stories are just getting started.
Methodology: Billboard editors and reporters weighed a variety of factors in determining the 2024 21 Under 21 list, including, but not limited to, impact on consumer behavior, measured by metrics such as album and track sales, streaming volume, social media impressions and radio/TV audiences reached; career trajectory; and overall impact in the industry, specifically during the past 12 months. Unless otherwise noted, Luminate is the source for sales/streaming data.
This article appears in the June 1, 2024 issue of Billboard.
Ángela Aguilar
Image Credit: Sergio Valenzuela
They told you it was coming and now it’s almost here. Just days after Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B and GloRilla teamed up on stage during Meg’s Madison Square Garden Hot Girl Summer show in New York last week, Cardi revealed that a remix of “Wanna Be” will drop on Friday (May 31). Unlike the […]
Epik High is preparing a pumped-up comeback as the K-hip hop trio prepares to release their first-ever mixtape, embark on a new tour, and deliver more projects after celebrating their 20th anniversary last year.
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Viewing the group’s 21st year since releasing their debut album Map of the Human Soul as a fresh start akin to their rookie days, Tablo tells Billboard how “our fans call this Epik High’s ‘+1st Year,’” pointing to a revitalized spirit driving their latest efforts. “It really does feel like a fresh start after the milestone year we had last year.”
In an exclusive Q&A with Billboard following Epik High’s announcement of their PUMP mixtape and accompanying North American tour today, Tablo teases the mixtape’s tracks, an elevated concert experience plus more new music from himself, Mithra Jin and DJ Tukutz.
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Peep all 23 of Epik High’s The Pump Tour dates in the official poster below and then dive into the full interview for more insights on PUMP and more.
Epik High
OURS Co.
Congratulations on the latest mixtape and tour news. After your 20th anniversary, you shared how “it feels like our first year again.” Tell me about the energy in Epik High today.
Tablo: Our fans call this Epik High’s “+1st Year.” And it really does feel like a fresh start, after the milestone year we had last year with the stadium show in Seoul and the resulting movie in theaters in quarter one of this year. Artists can feel lost after a milestone because it usually marks the end of an era, but we have somehow managed to make it a new beginning. Our fandom is energized more than ever. What better way to start this “first year” than by dropping our very first mixtape, jam-packed with energy reminiscent of our rookie days? It’s time to get our fans pumped all over again.
You teased the mixtape tracklist in your announcement. Are there any tracks you’re particularly excited for fans to hear?
You have to listen from track one to track nine straight because Epik High’s transitions are the best and this album has the greatest transitions. Also, there are a few songs that are going to generate tons of memes…we have a lot of visual content coming, so I suggest subscribing to our YouTube channel.
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Epik High has such a wide range of collaborators. What can you tell us about those on the record or behind the scenes?
The album is pretty much entirely self-produced, with only one featuring artist. Our core fans will get a lot more Epik High with this one.
How will an Epik High mixtape differ from past album or EP projects?
The format frees us from having to make radio hits, allowing us to refocus on the irreverent and raw side of Epik High that our core fans love. It also allowed us to make songs that are optimized for live performance. This year’s tour setlist is gonna be amazing.
The Epik High All Time High Tour hit Europe and North America last year. What can we look forward to in The Pump Tour?
It’ll feel very new, even if you’ve come to every previous show. We are leveling up everything: the production, the merch, you name it. We’ve even revamped the VIP experience so our most dedicated fans can get rare merch and share more personal close-up moments with us. Seriously, don’t miss it.
I’m sure we’ll see Epik High’s brilliant lightstick — the “Park Kyu Bong” — on the road. Can you share more about its conceptualization? Any worries it might be banned at certain venues?
It’s the lightstick that transcends fandoms, it’s the lightstick you hold if you’re a fan of yourself. On social media, I have seen our lightstick pop up at other artists’ shows and big festivals all over the world. So if a venue blocks it, we will block the venue — because that venue probably sucks.
미니박규봉 인기 미쳤네요… 빛의 속도로 품절. 리오더 준비중! 👀mini park kyu bong sold out way too fast. preparing restock! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ARbDpmUkaA— tablo (@blobyblo) March 19, 2024
Tablo, you buy new K-pop acts’ records because you “remember what it was like being a rookie and no one buying my album.” Any recommendations?
At the moment, I’ve been so busy with our [music] that I’ve been slacking on my K-pop shopping. I will be visiting a lot of K-pop stores on this tour.
While the tour will keep you busy up til nearly October, is there anything else for fans to look forward to with Epik High in 2024?
At the end of the tour, we will have another huge show in Seoul. Also…my members are gonna kill me for saying this…but this new album PUMP is not the whole album. Lastly, I have a long awaited song with someone, finished and waiting in my hard drive. That is all I can say. [Laughs]
For his next trick, Eminem will release a new single.
On Tuesday (May 28), Em posted a joint Instagram video with magician David Blaine to announce the name and release date for his new single: “Houdini” will arrive first thing Friday.
In the video, Eminem rings up Blaine on FaceTime to ask for his help. “Yo, listen, I need your help with something,” the rapper says. “Yeah, whatever you need,” Blaine replies. “Well first of all, I just want you to know you’re the greatest to ever do it,” Eminem says, to which Blaine responds: “We should do something together one time.”
“What I was wondering is, how far can we go with this magic? Can we do a stunt or something?” Eminem asks. Blaine then grabs a glass of red wine from a nearby cafe and proceeds to down the wine before biting into the glass itself, eliciting gasps from onlookers as the glass shatters into his mouth.
“Well for my last trick,” Eminem says in response, “I’m gonna make my career disappear.”
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“Wait, what?” Blaine says with glass shards still in his mouth, before the screen goes black except for this message: “‘Houdini’ 5.31.24.”
The song will be the lead single from Eminem’s already-announced 11th album, The Death of Slim Shady. The project will be his first in four years, following 2020’s Billboard 200-topping album Music to Be Murdered By.
Notably, this is the second major single called “Houdini” to be released in the past year, with Dua Lipa dropping her own ode to the Hungarian-American escape artist in November.
While we don’t have an exact release date for The Death of Slim Shady, a teaser released last month promised it would arrive in “summer 2020.”
Watch Eminem and David Blaine’s video below:
Nicki Minaj has announced the rescheduled date for her postponed concert in Manchester, England.
The rap superstar, 41, took to social media on Monday (May 27) to provide Barbz with an update on her May 25 show at Manchester’s Co-Op Live that was called off following her arrest in Amsterdam for allegedly carrying drugs.
“OK guys, I was JUST RE-ADVISED that we actually CAN NOT do any other date for the make up #gagcityMANCHESTER date besides JUNE 3rd,” Minaj wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
She added, “So JUNE 3rd is the new official date for all ticket holders who originally had tickets to the MAY 25th #Manchester show. I apologize for all the inconvenience this has caused. I really hope you can make the #JUNE3rd show. It’ll be really special. Ticketmaster will contact you to advise officially.”
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On Saturday (May 25), the “Super Bass” rapper was released from police custody in the Netherlands just hours after recording herself being arrested by Amsterdam authorities allegedly “carrying drugs.” As a result, the artist was forced to postpone her Manchester concert as part of her Pink Friday 2 Tour.
“Despite Nicki’s best efforts to explore every possible avenue to make tonight’s show happen, the events of today have made it impossible,” promoter Live Nation said in a statement on Saturday. “We are deeply disappointed by the inconvenience this has caused.”
After “sitting in a jail cell for 5-6 hours” before arriving in Manchester, Minaj gave an update in a post on X Saturday night.
“We will have another date for tonight’s show shortly & I’ll probably be able to share it tmrw,” she wrote. “One July option & one June option is currently being discussed. I’ll find a way to not only make up the date with the performance but I’m going to create an added bonus for everyone that had a tkt for this show. Promise.”
The “Super Freaky Girl” rapper also shared her hotel location and welcomed local fans to stop by and say hello.
“Barbz, I’m going on the balcony so if you’re outside I’ll be able to see you & I may come downstairs,” she wrote. “I’ll be out there for about an hour. Rlly wanted to at least get to see you. But if you’re in bed plz STAY THERE.”
See Minaj’s announcement about her rescheduled Manchester concert on X below.
https://twitter.com/NICKIMINAJ/status/1795143672272400655/history
Nicki Minaj was seemingly arrested in Amsterdam on Saturday (May 25) while on her way to perform a concert in the United Kingdom.
The “Super Bass” rapper captured the incident in an Instagram Live video that was later reposted by her fans on social media. In the clip, an Amsterdam official is heard saying he wants to take Minaj into custody for “carrying drugs,” despite her claim that she was not holding any contraband.
“I’m not going in there. I need a lawyer present,” Minaj, 41, replies to the authorities, who repeatedly ask her to step into a vehicle and stop recording.
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Minaj was scheduled to perform at Manchester’s Co-Op Live on Saturday night as part of her Pink Friday 2 Tour. Another officer in the video is heard referencing the concert, saying officials would “try to get [her] there” as soon as possible.
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“Oh, so I’m under arrest?” she asks as the officials, who responds with, “Yes.” He didn’t offer any further explanation.
The clip ends with Minaj voluntarily getting into the police van.
It was not clear at press time if Minaj had been booked at a police station. A spokesperson for Royal Netherlands Marechaussee military police told TMZ that an American woman had been arrested for possessing “soft drugs,” but declined to identify the individual by name or the specific type of alleged drugs.
Billboard has reached out to Minaj’s representatives for comment.
The “Super Freaky Girl” rapper shared another video on Saturday that appears to be an airport official telling her that authorities need to search her bags.
“Now they said they found weed & that another group of ppl have to come here to weigh the pre-rolls,” Minaj wrote on X (formerly Twitter), later noting that her plane was being delayed a couple hours.
“Keep in mind they took my bags without consent,” she added, pointing out that marijuana is legal in Amsterdam. “My security has already advised them those pre-rolls belong to him. Oh yea & the pilot wants me to take my ig post down.”
On Instagram, the rapper suggested that her Pink Friday 2 tour was being “sabotaged.” “They’ve been trying to stop me from coming to every show,” she wrote. “They took my bags before I could see them. Put it on the plane. Now saying they’re waiting on customs. This is what it looks like when ppl are paid big money to try to sabotage a tour after all else failed. Everything they’ve done is illegal.”
The incident prompted the Barbz to share their displeasure on social media, resulting in the hashtag “#FREENICKI” trending on X.
See Minaj’s post on Instagram below.
Don Toliver announced on Wednesday (May 22) that he’ll release his fourth studio album Hardstone Psycho on June 14. He also released the third single from the album, “Attitude” featuring Charlie Wilson and Cash Cobain, along with the official music video, which maintains the same leather jacket-wearing biker gang aesthetic from his previous visuals and […]
Like anyone who’s been in the game for more than three decades, Snoop Dogg has accumulated a lot of Doggy Dogg… stuff. But unlike a lot of other famous folks, pretty soon it’s going to go under the gavel in a novel celebrity auction via sports-and-music auction house the Realest in which Snoop is directly […]
Eminem is gearing up for… something. The Detroit don continued to tease his next phase on Monday (May 20) in a cryptic post that suggested new music is just around the corner. The X post featured what looked like a text window dated midnight May 31 with a vanishing message that read: “… and for […]