State Champ Radio Hip-Hop
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And, we’re back! As the industry recalibrates itself from the holiday rush, the hip-hop and R&B worlds are slowly getting back to their weekly tidal waves of new music. The options are a bit sparse this week, as January is typically a slow month for new releases, but there are still some standouts. Even as Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday 2, Jack Harlow’s “Lovin on Me” and Drake’s For All the Dogs continue to rule the charts, there are few new remixes and singles that could very well grow into the first smash hits of 2024.
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With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from Fivio Foreign’s fiery new drill anthem to Megan Thee Stallion’s swing at hip-hop musical theatre. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
Freshest Find: Erick the Architect & George Clinton, “Ezekiel’s Wheel”
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Erick the Architect of Flatbush Zombie has a solo album on the way, and if “Ezekiel’s Wheel” is anything to go by, we’re in for a stunner of an album. Alongside the legendary George Clinton, Erick blends notes of ’90s East Coast hip-hop, reggae, funk and soul for a song that recounts his experiences growing up in Brooklyn, New York and growing into the rapper he is today. Lyrically, the track is anchored by an allusion to the Biblical story of Ezekiel’s wheel; “Everyone’s keepin’ secrets for oilin’ / Have Ezekiel’s wheels gone squeaky?” Clinton asks in trademark scraggly voice. There’s a gentleness in Clinton’s delivery that nicely offsets the chugging nature of Matt Zara’s production, a wonderful study in sonic contrast.
ScarLip feat. NLE Choppa, “Blick (Remix)”
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For the remix to her latest hit, rising Bronx rapper ScarLip tapped “Slut Me Out” hitmaker NLE Choppa. “Blick” has already been gaining traction on TikTok thanks to a viral dance, and this new remix is sure to give the track an extra boost. Most of the original “Blick” track remains unchanged, ScarLip’s gruff tone anchors high-energy verses and a danceable hook alike, so NLE Choppa smartly adapts his style to her formula. “Shake a n—a down like booty and cheeks/ I’ma Summer Walk s–t down, shout out Lil MeechCall it abuse how we beatin’ the streets/ Jumped off the porch, you was beatin’ your meat,” he raps in his signature blend of sexed-up humor.
Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine & The Alchemist, “F–k & Get High”
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Over a luxurious, drum-heavy instrumental courtesy of The Alchemist, Westside Gunn & Conway the Machine trade verses that prioritize a certain kind of lustful braggadocio. In between their relatively heady proclamations of wealth and success, they use the hook (a notably sparse “All I wanna do is f–k and get high/ That’s all I wanna do”) for some breathing room. It’s a lightweight track, but the depth of Alchemist’s production provides a sturdy foundation for their ruminations on some of the finer things in life.
Sdot Go, SweepersENT, Jay Hound, Sha Gz & Jay5ive, “I Like to Party”
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This song has been going viral on TikTok for months as a snippet, and now it’s finally here in all of its glory. Sdot’s opening lines — “I like to party, but I need b–tches/ Clap-clap to the beat/ Up, I’m tryna see if she wit’ it” — are something of a manifesto. His gruff semi-growl immediately signals the track as a drill anthem (as does the pounding production, courtesy of Ajellz, Nxxre, Bullo Producer and YoJelly) — but, more importantly, his tone is the track’s entire center of gravity. There are a slew of artists on “I Like to Party,” but no one’s voice is as commanding or as charismatic as Sdot’s. And that’s why he can score hits whether he’s behind bars or not.
Ama Louise, “Send Your Loving”
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Rising R&B Singer Ama Louise delivers a slinking, sultry ode to the security of true love with “Send Your Loving.” A quiet storm of twinkling synths and keys soundtrack her pleas for a lover to send their “loving” so she can create some sense of safety for herself. “So send your loving to me tonight/ ‘Cause only you can save me from my mind,” she croons in her honeyed timbre. From the production to Ama’s vocal performance, “Send Your Loving” is an incredibly intimate affair; it’s warm and inviting, but the ache and longing that course through her background vocals are what truly pull the song together.
UMI & V of BTS, “Wherever U R”
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As the BTS boys continue to fulfill their respective military duties and await their long-anticipated comeback, fans have found solace in each group member’s solo endeavors. Last year, Layover, V’s debut solo studio album, reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 thanks to its tight blend of pop and R&B. Now, the BTS star is kicking off 2024 by throwing an assist to UMI on the tender, guitar-backed “Wherever U R.” “Even on the days, I ain’t right by your side/ I’m keeping my promise that/ I will be wherever you are,” he sings. The duet is incredibly lush in the way UMI’s and V’s voices marry across the tasteful instrumental arrangement. Likely V’s last musical release until he completes his military service, “Wherever U R” is a heartfelt “see you later” to his fans that doubles as a heart-melting anthem of commitment for lovers.
Lizzo did not take home any hardware during Sunday’s (Jan. 7) second night of the 2023 Primetime Emmy Creative Arts Awards. But in a classic “just happy to be nominated” post the “About Damn Time” singer said that she was still tipping up in celebration of the honor. “NAH IMA TALK MY S–T… OUT OF […]
Kanye West is celebrating his wife’s special day. On Saturday (Jan. 6), the 46-year-old rapper, who now goes by Ye, took to social media to gush over Bianca Censori on her 29th birthday.
“Happy birthday to the most beautiful super bad iconic muse inspirational talented artist masters degree in architecture 140 IQ loving by my side everyday when half the world turned their backs on me and the most amazing step mom to our children I love you so much thank you for sharing your life with me,” Ye wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of Censori.
The rapper — who’s Vultures album with Ty Dolla $ign is expected to drop soon — shared numerous other photos of his wife on Saturday morning.
“I miss you when I wake up before you,” he captioned a snapshot of Censori flashing a smile while sporting a Vultures sweatshirt and furry white boots.
In another image, Ye dons a black armless hoodie while Censori covers her nearly-naked body with a purple pillow. “Yall know who ran the summer,” the rapper wrote.
Vultures, which was scheduled to drop on New Year’s Eve, includes features by Future, Lil Baby, Playboi Carti, Freddie Gibbs, North West and more. Ahead of the album’s original planned release in mid-December, Ye and Ty were in promo mode in Miami, doing a bevy of listening parties and performances at Art Basel and Club Liv. Ye popped up at Wynwood Marketplace in mid-December to preview the album, appearing in a black Klu Klux Klan-style hood and performed the album’s title track with his daughter North West standing alongside him. Of course, his outfit of choice sparked controversy and caused chatter on social media.
Vultures is Ye’s first album since the release of his 2021 album, Donda, which won a pair of Grammys the following year, most notably best rap song for “Jail.” As for Ye and Ty, their collaborations date back to Ty’s “Ego Death” (2020), Ye’s “Everything We Need” (2019), “Real Friends” (2016), and “Only One” (2014).
See Ye’s birthday post to Censori on Instagram here.
A$AP Rocky and Rihanna are a business, man. The couple who share two young children have teamed up on a new campaign for RihRih’s Fenty Skin Lux Balm unisex lip balm. Rocky stars in ad for the latest product from RihRih’s Fenty line, in which he drops a few bars about the gloss described as […]
Chuck D knows all about the rigors of performing your songs four decades on. That might explain why the 63-year-old Public Enemy frontman took to X early Thursday morning (Jan. 4) to defend Madonna against ageist trolls who’ve complained about the singer’s performance on her career-spanning Celebration Tour. “At 63 i know i can bike […]
This year marks the ten-year anniversary of Iggy Azalea‘s ascent to Stateside superstardom, and the Grammy-nominated “Fancy” rapper seems to be marking the occasion with an apparent retirement announcement.
In a lengthy message to her fans posted to X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday (Jan. 3), Azalea detailed the thought process that helped her decide to shift her focus away from music. “I’ve always been someone who finds my joy in being creative & seeing my ideas come to life. For a long time I used music to deliver my big crazy ideas to the world,” she wrote. “I know a lot of people have this idea that I was ‘bullied away from music’ and that’s something I’ve always laughed at because I’d never be bullied out of anything! In fact, I’m too stubborn. I think I’ve even resisted changes within myself at times, purely because I don’t like being viewed as someone who quits.”
The most recent musical updates from Azalea detailed a forthcoming as-yet-untitled fourth studio album set to be executive-produced by the now-incarcerated Tory Lanez. The album was intended to be the follow-up to 2021’s The End of an Era, which featured collaborations with BIA and Tyga, among others.
“In truth what I’ve known for a long time is that I feel more passionately about design and creative direction than I do about songwriting,” she continued. “That’s why I want to let you know that I’m not going to finish my album. It’s been paused for a few months while I was giving direction for a different project & in truth I just haven’t felt the urge to go back to it. I feel really happy & passionate in my day to day life when my [mind’s] focused on that and so I want to stick to what’s undeniably best for me.”
Although she was working on an album, Azalea has always had her hands in multiple creative pots. The “Black Widow” rapper has self-directed a number of her own music videos — including the Jennifer Hudson-assisted “Trouble” and 2021’s “I Am The Stripclub” — and, back in 2012, she signed a modeling contract with Wilhelmina Models. At the top of last year, Azalea joined the subscription-based OnlyFans platform to deliver illustrations, poetry, photography and videos to her most loyal fans. Later this year, Azalea will perform at the 2024 AVN Awards.
Azalea closed out her message saying, “[Can’t] wait to start sharing some of the things I’ve been involved in creating & hoping you’ll see my quirk & humor in anything I touch!”
Iggy Azalea has earned four career Billboard 200 entries, including her Grammy-nominated debut studio album, The New Classic (No. 3), her highest-charting entry on the ranking to date. On the Billboard Hot 100, she has notched three top ten hits from 13 total entries, including “Problem” (No. 2, with Ariana Grande), “Black Widow” (No. 3, with Rita Ora) and “Fancy” (No. 1, with Charli XCX). Her most recent musical release is last year’s “Money Come,” which received a remix featuring Ivorian Doll and Big Boss Vette.
Check out Iggy’s full message below:
This is gonna be long….so only bother reading if you love me. (If you still bother anyway you’re a weirdo who has been warned. 🤷♀️😂)I’ve always been someone who finds my joy in being creative & seeing my ideas come to life. For a long time I used music to deliver my big…— IGGY AZALEA (@IGGYAZALEA) January 3, 2024
Metro Boomin had an epic 2023, but the in-demand producer is promising he’s got an even bigger 2024 on tap. After co-producing Young Thug’s Business Is Business album and reportedly producing the delayed joint Ye/Ty Dolla $ign collection Vultures — as well as curating the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse soundtrack — MB promised in an exchange with a fan on X on New Year’s Eve that there is way more coming over the next 365.
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“How many albums do you think you’ll be dropping in 2024?” the X user asked on the eve of the new year. “3 at the very least,” Boomin responded, without specifying the titles or released dates for the projects. The promise of a trifecta came after MB tweeted, “2023 was great but just watch what I do 2024!!!!!”
While Boom didn’t name names, among the albums he appeared to be referring to are anticipated joint projects with Future and J.I.D., as well as a follow-up to his 2022 studio album Heroes & Villains; he is also producing A$AP Rocky and The Weeknd’s next efforts.
Back in October, MB chatted with Billboard for a cover story in which he revealed that there was a studio snafu while he was working on beats for the Future project. “They was beats I was making for the next time I see him, and they was going crazy. Boom, boom, boom. And I just came from Atlanta, and there was a storm,” he said.
“One of my beat machines that I use…. It’s not like a computer, it’s old-school, so it’s plugged up. The power goes out, and you haven’t saved it, that’s it,” he added about the storm that zapped “3 [fire] beats” he’d cooked up on his MPC 3000. “Sometimes, if I’m so far into something and that happens, then I’ll just be like, ‘Alright, I just gotta do something.’ And that usually be a blessing in disguise, I’ve done learned, ’cause the next thing be like, ‘Oh man, I wouldn’t have had this if I hadn’t lose this,’” he said.
See the exchange below.
How many albums do you think you’ll be dropping in 2024 ?— Don Solutions (@motrobooman) December 31, 2023
They say you can’t go home again, but that is exactly what Jack Harlow does in the trailer for his upcoming concert special No Place Like Home: A VR Concert. The preview opens with Harlow enshrouded in fog on a stage accompanied by his 2023 Jackman track “Ambitious,” in which the rapper reminisces about being […]
If Cardi B listed her relationship status on her socials, at the moment it would definitely read “it’s very complicated.” After the “Bongos” rapper revealed in early December that she was single following her split from husband Offset, she confounded the Bardigang over the weekend when she gleefully announced that the estranged couple had hooked up on the last night of 2023.
Don’t get it twisted, though, she said, that does not mean they are back together.
In a live Twitter chat on Monday (Jan. 1), Cardi seemed to confirm that she and the Migos rapper got busy on New Year’s Eve. “Was I clubbing with my baby father yesterday?” a congested Cardi said during the X event. “Yes. Did I got d—ed down yesterday? Absolutely baby… I need some d–k on New Year’s Eve.”
The rapper said she felt like she and ‘Set were “vibing” on Sunday and had a good time together.
According to social media posts, the former couple celebrated 2024’s arrival at a strip club in Miami, making it rain and dancing along with a group of friends. Both had performed earlier that night at the Fontainbleau Miami Beach, with Offset rocking LIV and Cardi playing poolside as part of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.
And though it appeared to be a happy reunion, days earlier Cardi blasted her fans for speculating that the couple had reconciled. “I must be a lil toxic cuz I enjoyed cursing ya out today… but we not taking that into 2024. Now have a good day. No make it a bad day!” she said in a fiery X post on Friday.
Just hours before in a live X space event, Cardi reportedly told fans to “shut the f–k up” after they speculated that she’d made nice with Offset, slamming her “own f–king fan base” for “talking s–t” about her. “Did I say I was back together with somebody?” she yelled. Cardi and Offset were spotted together in New York over the Christmas holiday, leading Cardi to hit “like” on a Dec. 27 reply featuring a meme of Real Housewives of Atlanta‘s Kandi Burruss telling Porsha Williams, “you just made that up” in response to a gossip item saying “Cardi B has officially took Offset back after 12 days.”
The couple, who share two children, have been on-and-off since marrying in 2017. After Cardi filed for divorce in 2020, the couple reconciled a few months later. “I’ve been single for a minute now but I have been afraid to like — not afraid, I just don’t know how to tell the world,” she said in December after fans noticed that the couple had unfollowed each other on Instagram the week before. “But I feel like today has been a sign. The last time I got on Live, I kind of wanted to tell you guys, but I didn’t know how to tell you, so I changed my mind. But it has been like this for a minute now. I just took it as a sign.”
She also shared a cryptic post at the time about outgrowing relationships. “You know when you just out grow relationships,” she wrote. “I’m tired of protecting peoples feelings…I GOTTA PUT MYSELF FIRST!”
RZA, producer and the mastermind behind the influential hip-hop collective Wu-Tang Clan, will be presented with the TEC Innovation Award at The NAMM Show’s 2024 TEC Awards on Jan. 27 in Anaheim, Calif. The award honors individuals who have set the highest standards of excellence in the creative application of recording technology.
The award was formerly known as the NAMM TEC Les Paul Innovation Award, in honor of the legendary guitarist, songwriter and inventor who died in 2009. RZA will be the first recipient who is known primarily for hip-hop. Previous recipients include Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and Stevie Wonder, best known for R&B, and Herbie Hancock, best known for jazz and R&B.
“RZA’s formidable body of work and talent is unquestionable,” John Mlynczak, NAMM president and CEO, said in a statement. “His legacy of accomplishments and lasting power on music inspires many music makers beyond hip-hop and he deserves this high recognition.”
RZA (Robert Diggs) is a trailblazer in culture and in hip-hop, having created the group’s widely-imitated core sound consisting of stark, booming beats, and chilling samples heavily drawing from vintage soul records as well as kung fu movies.
The Staten Island group debuted in 1993 with Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Rolling Stone ranked it No. 27 on its 2020 update of its 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list, with the magazine noting, “Their raw, hectic debut launched rap’s greatest franchise and reasserted New York’s hip-hop dominance the early Nineties.” In 2022, the album was inducted into the National Recording Registry overseen by the Library of Congress.
The group’s second album, Wu-Tang Forever, entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1 in 1997 and received a Grammy nomination for best rap album.
RZA scored Jim Jarmusch’s 1999 film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai and organized and orchestrated Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Kill Bill Vol. 2 (the latter, in tandem with Robert Rodriguez). RZA is among the stars of the 2023 comedy film Problemista, which premiered at SXSW. He is also an executive producer for, and directed several episodes of Wu-Tang: An American Saga, the original Hulu series honoring his group.
Now in its 39th year and presented by NAMM, the TEC Awards recognizes the best in professional audio and sound production and takes place as a part of The NAMM Show, the world’s largest music trade show. All finalists will be celebrated at a reception being held on the campus of the Anaheim Convention Center on the evening of Saturday, Jan. 27.
The NAMM Show will include live music, including a performance by emerging female hip-hop artist Blimes, and sessions such as Innovate and Elevate: Exploring DJ Technology with DJ Hapa, as well as signature events such as the Parnelli Awards and She Rocks Awards.
Learn more about the TEC Awards here and purchase tickets here.
Here’s the full list of previous recipients of the NAMM Innovation Award, when it was called the NAMM TEC Les Paul Innovation Award:
1991: Bob Ludwig
1992: Bob Clearmountain
1993: Peter Gabriel
1994: Herbie Hancock
1995: Alan Parsons
1996: Brian Wilson
1997: Stevie Wonder
1998: Neil Young
1999: Sting
2000: Paul McCartney
2001: Steely Dan
2002: Robbie Robertson
2003: Bruce Springsteen
2004: Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
2005: David Byrne
2006: Steve Miller
2007: Al Kooper
2008: Ray Benson
2011: Lindsey Buckingham
2012: Steve Vai
2013: Pete Townshend
2014: Todd Rundgren
2015: Slash
2016: Don Was
2017: Joe Perry
2018: Jackson Browne
2019: Peter Frampton
2020: Joni Mitchell
2022: Carol Kaye
