Hip-Hop

18 Jul 2023

Wiz Khalifa Threw Out First Pitch at Pirates Game While ‘High AF’ on Mushrooms

For a huge stoner, Wiz Khalifa is a model of consistency. Morning? High. Afternoon? High. Evening? High. On stage? High. Tossing out the first pitch at a game by his hometown MLB team the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday?

“Stoned AF.”

That’s what Khalifa, 35, promised before landing one over the plate to kick off the game between the Pirates and the Cleveland Guardians at PNC Park. You were warned. He previewed his self-proclaimed high-balling in a tweet that read, “Finna get stoned AF and throw this first pitch at the Pirates game.”

A minute before that the “Love to Smoke” rapper posted a pic of what appeared to be his pre-game prep program, which consisted of two mason jars full of weed and a package of magic mushrooms. The MLB posted a video of the first pitch, in which the lanky MC waved to the crowd and casually tossed some heat with his right hand.

The MC who launched his aptly named High School Reunion Tour on July 7, later shared a snap of his work space for the day: a private box at PNC, as well as his perfect stoner snack break for the day, a bag of Cracker Jack.

And while only Khalifa knows exactly how high he was, he certainly isn’t the first pitcher to take the mound in an altered state. In fact, he’s not even the first Pittsburgh hurler to do it. Legendarily lysergic Pirates pitcher Dock Ellis famously threw a no-hitter while high on acid in 1970.

Khalifa later summed up his trippy experience by writing, “Shroomed out throwin’ a baseball is crazy.”

See the pitch and Khalifa’s tweets below.

17 Jul 2023

Lil Baby Cancels Seven ‘It’s Only Us’ Tour Dates With No Explanation

Lil Baby‘s It’s Only Us tour got a bit shorter this week. The Atlanta rapper appeared to trim more than half a dozen dates from the outing that is currently slated to kick off on July 26 at the Toyota Center in Houston, TX.

According to the Ticketmaster site, shows in Phoenix (August 1), Sacramento (August 9), Salt Lake City (August 14), Denver (August 15), Pittsburgh (Sept. 5), Indianapolis (Sept. 6) and Louisville (Sept. 8) have been cancelled, with no information available at press time on why the shows were pulled. A note on the TM site reads, “Unfortunately, the Event Organizer has had to cancel your event. No action is required to obtain a refund.”

Refunds will be issued for the cancelled shows, which is expected to take place within 30 days. The then-34-date tour was originally announced in April with a swimming pool video in which Baby FaceTimed with some of his opening acts and got them excited about hitting the road with him.

The “In a Minute” rapper posted the updated tour schedule on Instagram on Friday, with the seven cancelled dates pulled out of circulation; the post did not explain the reason for the scotched gigs, though fans had strong reactions in the comments. “F–k this tour since u took my city off,” wrote one, with another adding, “What happened to the Phoenix show?” and a third wondering “WHY DID YOU CANCEL INDIANAPOLIS????”

And while GloRilla, Rylo Rodriguez, Gloss Up and Junxho are still listed as opening acts in the updated poster, fans also noticed that one of the previously announced openers, The Kid LAROI, was no longer listed on the now-24-date roster. The new routing also added shows in Philadelphia (August 29) and New York (August 30) on the tour named for Baby’s third chart-topping album.

Check out the updated It’s Only Us tour routing below.

17 Jul 2023

D-Block Europe Sets U.K. Chart Record

D-Block Europe are now record-setters.

As the hip-hop duo’s latest mixtape DBE World (via D-Block Europe) arrives at No. 6 on the Official U.K. Chart, they become the British rap act with the most top 10 albums, with seven.

Comprising Young Adz and Dirtbike Lil Bantz, the pair stroll past Mike Skinner’s The Streets, with six top 10 appearances on the albums survey. Manchester rapper Bugzy Malone is in third spot among British hip-hop acts with five top 10 sets, the Official Charts Company reports.

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DBE’s tally includes 2019’s Home Alone (No. 6 peak) and PTSD (No. 4), 2020’s Street Trauma (No. 9) and The Blue Print – Us vs Them (No. 2), 2021’s Home Alone 2 (No. 6) and 2022’s Lap 5 (No. 2).

The Streets will hope to jointly reclaim that title with its new album, The Darker The Shadow, The Brighter The Light, slated for release Oct. 20 via 679 Records/Warner Music UK.

D-Block Europe’s success extends to the Official Singles Chart, where the act has snagged 28 top 40 hits, with three top 10s: 2021’s “Overseas” with Central Cee (No. 6 peak), and Clavish collaborations “Rocket Science” (No. 9 in 2022) and “Pakistan,” No. 10 on the latest survey.

British hip-hop is on a tear right now – both at home and further afield.

Dave and Central Cee’s current smash “Sprinter” (via Live Yours/Neighbourhood) has proved unstoppable, notching six consecutive weeks at No. 1 in the U.K. It’s also the leader on the ARIA Chart, leading the way in Australia for five non-consecutive weeks.

Last month, “Sprinter” (via Virgin Music Australia/Universal) opened at No. 1, becoming the first U.K. hip-hop single to debut at the top in the land Down Under, and ending the eight-week reign of Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” (Republic/Universal).

Russ Millions and Tion Wayne’s “Body” (Warner UK) became the first U.K. hip-hop leader on the ARIA Chart in May 2021, when it lifted 3-1.

16 Jul 2023

Fans Choose Jung Kook & Latto’s ‘Seven’ as This Week’s Favorite New Music

Jung Kook‘s “Seven,” featuring Latto, has topped this week’s new music poll.

Music fans voted in a poll published Friday (July 14) on Billboard, choosing the collaboration between the beloved BTS member and rap star as their favorite new music release of the past week.

“Seven” brought in nearly 96% of the vote, beating out new music by Billie Eilish (“What Was I Made For?”), Troye Sivan (“Rush”), Post Malone (“Overdrive”), Lil Tjay (222), and others.

The music video for the track finds BTS singer-songwriter engulfed in a heated exchange with Han So-hee, who stars in the clip as his on-screen girlfriend, while the two are out at a high-end dinner. A chandelier then falls from the ceiling, disrupting the other patrons while Jung Kook and Han So-hee remained in their argument. “Weight of the world on your shoulders/ I catch your waist and ease your mind,” Jung Kook croons over sultry guitar licks.

When the news of the team-up first broke, Latto tweeted “S/O to the Army,” alongside three “7” emojis, a reference to both the song’s title and her own jackpot imagery. The announcement adds to the “Big Energy” superstar’s big year, as she’s fresh off the release of her Cardi B-assisted “Put It On Da Floor Again,” which hit No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Jung Kook’s last solo release was “Dreamers,” a song for the 2022 FIFA World Cup soundtrack that peaked at No. 1 on Digital Song Sales.

The breezy pop tune marks the first collaboration between Jung Kook and Latto.

Trailing behind “Seven” on the poll is Eilish’s emotional Barbie soundtrack song “What Was I Made For?” In the track, which brought in nearly 3% of the vote, the 23-year-old ponders her identity and reason for existence.

See the final results of this week’s new music release poll below.

16 Jul 2023

Eminem Joins Ed Sheeran Onstage for ‘Lose Yourself’ and ‘Stan’ at Detroit’s Ford Field

Eminem and Ed Sheeran continued their musical collaboration on Saturday night (July 15) in the former’s hometown of Detroit.

It was rapper’s his first public performance since his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction last November in Los Angeles, joining the latest stop of Sheeran’s Mathematics Tour for a two-song surprise guest spot deep into the show.

“I’ve always been excited to come and play in Detroit,” Sheeran told the crowd of more than 65,000 at Ford Field, noting that Eminem is “one of my favorite” artists and talking about sampling the fare at the rapper’s Mom’s Spaghetti takeout nearby. “I wonder if I can play a cover of one of his songs for you?”

Sheeran — who’d also shouted out his love for Em during a Friday night (July 14) Subtraction Tour show at the suburban Royal Oak Music Theatre — and his five-piece band then began playing Eminem’s award-winning hit “Lose Yourself,” singing the opening lyrics until Eminem, sporting a dark hoodie and baseball cap, joined him to the roof-raising delight of a crowd Sheeran had already pronounced the loudest of the tour so far. The two worked through the first verse and chorus of the song, with Eminem commanding the already on its feet crowd to “stand up!”

Sheeran then told the fans that Eminem “was gonna come on and do one song, and I said, ‘You can’t come on in Detroit and do just one song. Do you want to hear another?’”

The two then recreated their Rock Hall performance of Eminem’s 2000 smash “Stan,” with Sheeran covering Dido‘s sung parts. The two shared a couple of hugs, with Eminem saying “Thank you, Ed. I appreciate you, Detroit. I love you. Peace!” before leaving the stage with a middle-finger salute to the audience.

“I don’t know about you, but that was pretty awesome,” Sheeran said before rolling into his next song, “Perfect.” He later gushed, “This has been such a memorable night. I will never forget it,” and for the encores Sheeran paid further tribute to Eminem during the encores by wearing a Detroit Lions jersey with the number five and the name Mathers on the back.

The two have been regular collaborators over the years, of course Sheeran guest on Eminem’s single “River,” from his 2017 Revival album, and also with 50 Cent on “Those Kinda Nights,” from 2020’s Music to Be Murdered By. Eminem, meanwhile, appeared on “Remember the Name,” from Sheeran’s No. 6 Collaborations Project in 2019.

Prior to the Rock Hall induction, Eminem performed at last August’s MTV Video Music Awards and with Snoop Dogg at ApeFest 2022 during June. Those came after being part of the Emmy Award-winning halftime show at Super Bowl LVI in Inglewood, Calif. Eminem hasn’t performed a full-length concert, however, since October 2019 in Abu Dhabi, one of seven international shows he played that year.

15 Jul 2023

Lizzo Reacts to Fan Holding ‘I Chose You Over Taylor Swift’ Sign at Australia Concert

Lizzo showed some love to Taylor Swift during her tour opener in Australia on Friday (July 14).

While chatting up the audience at Perth’s RAC Arena, the “About Damn Time” singer spotted a concert-goer holding up a sign that read, “I Chose You Over Taylor Swift (Heart) Can I Get a Hug.” Before addressing the flattering message, Lizzo thanked fans for attending the performance.

“I’m going to start off be saying thank you for coming to my show,” the pop-rap star said. “I know tickets are expensive to everybody’s shows, so it means the world to me that you’re here.”

She added, “Taylor Swift is amazing as well. And you don’t have to choose, because I’m going to get you tickets to Taylor Swift! I’m just kidding.”

Lizzo then asked the crowd if Swift — who is currently touring North American stadiums on her The Eras Tour — had already toured in Australia.

“Did she already play? When does she come here? She’s not coming here?” Lizzo asked before joking, “How you choose me over Taylor?”

The singer-rapper then autographed the sign and commented, “I love TayTay too … there’s no competition here.”

In late June, Lizzo received backlash from Swifties after comments she made during an Instagram Live. “The most popular person of today ain’t even comparable to what Beyonce is doing,” Lizzo said.

Many of Swift’s fans believed her words were aimed at the pop superstar, who is currently dominating the Billboard charts with her re-recorded Speak Now album and breaking records with her Eras Tour.

Watch Lizzo react to the Taylor Swift sign at her Australia concert on Twitter here.

15 Jul 2023

Young Dolph Shooting Suspects to Stand Trial in March

A judge on Friday (July 14) set a trial date for two men charged in the killing of rapper Young Dolph in a daytime ambush at a bakery in Memphis, Tennessee.

Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith are scheduled to stand trial March 11 in the fatal shooting of the Memphis-born rapper, Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Lee Coffee said during a hearing.

Johnson and Smith have pleaded not guilty to charges including first-degree murder in the November 2021 shooting of Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr. A motive for the killing has not been disclosed.

The 36-year-old rapper, label owner and producer was buying cookies near his boyhood home in Memphis when he was gunned down by two men who drove up to the bakery in a stolen Mercedes Benz, authorities said. The slaying rattled Memphis and shook the entertainment world.

Two other men have been charged in the killing.

Jermarcus Johnson, the half brother of Justin Johnson, pleaded guilty June 9 to three counts of accessory after the fact, and he could testify at the trial.

Jermarcus Johnson acknowledged that he helped the two suspects communicate by cellphone after the killing while they were on the run from authorities, and that he helped one of them communicate with his probation officer after the killing.

During questioning by prosecutor Paul Hagerman, he also acknowledged taking possession of car from Justin Johnson. The car was not the one tied to the killing, Hagerman said. Jermarcus Johnson also identified a photo in which Justin Johnson was wearing the same clothing as one of the two shooters accused of gunning down Young Dolph the day the rapper was killed.

After Jermarcus Johnson’s plea hearing, Hagerman said he had no role in the actual killing of Young Dolph, but that he was one of “multiple players” who did things connected to it.

Another man, Hernandez Govan, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and conspiracy in the case. He is accused of arranging the killing. Govan has been released on bond.

Young Dolph was known in Memphis for his charitable works and his success as an independent musical artist and businessman. Young Dolph had been in the city to visit a sick relative and hand out Thanksgiving turkeys at a church when he was killed.

After his death, Memphis named a street after him and the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA honored him during a game. Murals of the rapper have been painted around the city and a pop-up museum featuring him was opened earlier this year.

The bakery, Makeda’s Homemade Cookies, became an impromptu memorial site for the slain rapper. It was closed for months after the shooting, but has since reopened.

14 Jul 2023

Trippie Redd Announces New Album ‘A Love Letter to You 5’

Trippie Redd fans just keep on eating. The Billboard 200-topping rapper is set to release A Love Letter To You 5, his new studio album, on August 4. The new release marks the fifth entry in the rapper’s Love Letter series, and the first since 2019’s A Love Letter To You 4. Details regarding the new album are scarce, but Trippie shared the record’s official artwork on his Instagram and Twitter pages.

A Love Letter To You 5 is the second full-length release of the year for Trippie Redd. The Sky Morales-featuring “Took My Breath Away,” which Trippie released last month (June 16), is set to appear on the tracklist for the new record. In January, the rapper surprised fans with Mansion Musik, a sprawling 27-track mixtape. The project debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, his seventh consecutive top five debut, and featured collaborations with Travis Scott, Rylo Rodriguez, Future, Lil Baby, Ski Mask the Slump God, and more. Trippie later revealed that he was forced the rush-release the project because all of the tracks were being “held for ransom” by unidentified hackers.

Trippie Redd has landed nine titles on the Billboard 200, seven of which reached the top five dating back to 2018’s Life’s A Trip. He has also sent four projects to No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. On the Billboard Hot 100, the rapper has earned 35 entries, reaching as high as No. 11 with 2021’s “Miss the Rage” (with Playboi Carti). Recently, Spotify named Trippie Redd as one of the 50 most-streamed rappers in the platform’s history.

Check out the cover art for A Love Letter To You 5 here:

14 Jul 2023

Latto Threatens to Put Unruly Fan on the Floor For Throwing Object At Her on Stage: ‘Want Your A– Beat?’

Latto threatened to put an unruly fan on the floor after they threw an object at her on stage during the rapper’s set at Rolling Loud Germany in Munich last weekend. It was the latest example of a disturbing trend in which concertgoers have been hurling things at performers during concerts, and Latto made it clear she is not interested in joining that list.

“Want your ass beat? Throw it again,” the Atlanta rapper said during a performance of her hit “Put It On Da Floor” in a fan video of the incident in which Latto barely broke her flow while making it clear that she was not playing around as she stared down the offender; it was unknown at press time what object was tossed or if it hit the performer. “Throw it again, I’mma beat your ass,” Latto added in a cadence so casual it seemed like part of the song.

While Latto treated the moment with some levity, the recent spate of similar episodes has caused some concern about performer safety after several singers have been injured by fan-launched projectiles. Though fellow MC  Lil Nas X reacted with a joke when he dodged an anatomical bedroom aid launched at him during his Lollapalooza Stockholm set earlier this month, other artists have not been as lucky.

Bebe Rexha was hit in the face by a phone during a New York show last month, while Kelsea Ballerini was struck in the face with a bracelet, with both acts leaving the stage briefly following the incidents; Rexha was taken to the hospital after her June 18 phone episode, which opened up a cut above her eye and required stitches. In addition, Harry Styles was hit in the eye by an unknown object during as show in Vienna last week and Drake was hit in the leg by a tossed cellphone at his tour kick-off in Chicago on July 5.

Latto has some company in issuing warnings about violating the air space around the stage. Adele also had a stern warning for anyone considering such an assault during one of her recent Las Vegas residency shows. “Have you noticed how people are, like, forgetting f–king show etiquette at the moment, people are throwing s–t on stage? Have you seen that?” she said. And then, while walking across the stage holding a t-shirt gun, she added, “F–king dare you. I dare you to throw something at me.”

12 Jul 2023

LL Cool J Announces Rescheduled Dates For All-Star F.O.R.C.E. Tour

After announcing last month that he was rescheduling some dates on the first leg of his all-star F.O.R.C.E. North American tour to ensure that he gives fans a truly “unforgettable” experience, LL Cool J revealed the revamped routing for the trek on Tuesday (July 11).

LL’s first headlining tour in 30 years is now slated to kick off on August 11 in Baltimore and keep him on the road through a November 19 date in Boston. The tour, whose acronym means “Frequencies of Real Creative Energy,” will feature LL joined by The Roots, DJ Z-Trip and DJ Jazzy Jeff, along with a long roster of special guests in select cities, including: Queen Latifah, Salt-N-Pepa, Big Boi, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Common, De La Soul, Doug E. Fresh & Slick Rick, Goodie Mob, Ice-T, Jadakiss, Juvenile, MC Lyte, Method Man & Redman, Rakim, Rick Ross and more.

In the since-removed video from last month (via Hip Hop DX), LL explained the reason for the tour launch pushback, writing, “I have to give my fans an experience that is unforgettable. I want to make sure everything is done right, and in order to do that, I had to change some things up. The updated tour dates are now live.” The tour was originally slated to launch on June 25 at Boston’s TD Garden and wrap up in Los Angeles on Sept. 3.

At press time the venues for the tour had not yet been revealed.

Check out the routing for the F.O.R.C.E. tour below.

August 11 – Baltimore, MD

August 12 – Cleveland, OH

August 13 – Chicago, IL

August 18 – Detroit, MI

August 19 – Toronto, ON

August 21 – Atlanta, GA

August 22 – Memphis, TN

August 24 – Forth Worth, TX

August 25 – Houston, TX

August 27 – Albuquerque, NM

August 29 – Denver, CO

Sept. 1 – San Francisco, CA

Sept. 2 – Las Vegas, NV

Sept. 3 – Los Angeles, CA

Sept. 9 – Charlotte, NC

Sept. 10 – Raleigh, NC

Oct. 15 – Washington, D.C.

Nov. 19 – Boston, MA

Check out the tour poster below: