Music
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Lil Uzi Vert has released their fourth full-length studio album, Eternal Atake 2 (out Nov. 1).
The Philadelphia rapper announced the release of their long-awaited record just one week prior (Oct. 24), sharing a mysterious teaser trailer to promote the album.
“On March 6, 2020, Lil Uzi Vert mysteriously vanished,” the screen reads. “While it was never confirmed what happened that day, the faithful believed it to be the fulfillment of a long-awaited prophecy… Eternal Atake.”
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The March 2020 disappearance date refers to the release of Lil Uzi Vert’s second album, Eternal Atake. Much of the record’s artwork and promotion was in reference to the infamous Heaven’s Gate religious group, whose mass suicide made national headlines in 1997. Surviving members of the group initially threatened Lil Uzi Vert with legal action in 2018 over their appropriation of the Heaven’s Gate logo.
The promotion for Eternal Atake 2 once again sees Lil Uzi Vert leaning into Heaven’s Gate’s underlying beliefs of ufology and prophecy fulfillment, with the album trailer featuring the rapper being transported via UFO to another dimension. Upon arrival, their memory is extracted and wiped clean by a group of natives from this unknown planet, who are seemingly possessed with a purple-tinted gleam in their eyes.
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Lil Uzi Vert had previously hinted towards retirement after the release of their next album, telling TMZ in December 2023 that following the release of Luv Is Rage 3, they would step away from music to focus on making women’s clothes.
Currently, Luv Is Rage 3 has been given no release date, with Eternal Atake 2 ostensibly arriving in its place. It serves as the follow-up to 2023’s The Pink Tape, which was released in June 2023 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 167,000 total album units sold.
The original Eternal Atake was releasing to streaming services in March 2020 just ahead of the Covid-19 pandemic shutdown. EA sold 288,000 total album units in the first week. The project came in at No. 4 on Billboard‘s Top 20 Rap Albums of 2020 list.
Stream Eternal Atake 2 below.
Kevin Liles, the co-founder and CEO of 300 Entertainment, has issued a statement in the wake of news that Atlanta rapper Young Thug is to be released from prison following a guilty plea on Thursday (Oct. 31).
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Liles, who co-founded 300 Entertainment in 2012 and signed Thug (real name Jeffery Williams) to the label in 2014, issued his statement late on Thursday following the completion of Georgia’s longest-running criminal trial.
“Words can’t express the incredible happiness and relief I feel to learn of Jeffery’s freedom,” Liles stated. “There will be a time to discuss the criminalization of hip-hop lyrics and the use of bond denial as a weapon against defendants, but in this moment everyone should feel nothing but joy that this amazing artist and even better man can hug his children, parents, siblings, and other loved ones tonight.
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“We must always remember artists aren’t fictional characters,” he concluded. “They’re human beings first. God bless Jeffery and his family.”
Thug, 33, has spent the past two years in custody, following his arrest in May 2022 with 27 others from his YSL Records label as part of a 56-count indictment for violations of Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) law. The trial, which began in November 2023, was built around claims that YSL had committed murders, carjackings, drug dealing and many other crimes.
Following days of closed-door negotiations with Fulton County prosecutors, Thug refused to take a plea deal that would have resulted in his immediate release, ultimately opting for a non-negotiated guilty plea. Late on Thursday, Judge Paige Reese Whitaker sentenced Thug to 15 years probation with no time to be served.
Ahead of his sentencing, Thug noted the power and influence he holds in his community, telling the court he takes “full responsibility for my crimes and for my charges”.
“I know what I bring to the table and I know what I am,” he added. “I know the heights I’ve reached and I know the impact I’ve got on people in the community.”
Young Thug is officially returning home after pleading guilty in a criminal case accusing him of leading a violent Atlanta street gang. The rapper was sentenced to 15 years probation and no prison time on Thursday (Oct. 31). Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Thug (real name […]
Greeicy has reeled in Kapo for the official “A Veces A Besos (Remix)” out today (Oct. 31). The highly-anticipated collaboration comes four months after Greeicy unleashed the original track in mid-June. Both the original and remix are helmed by Latin Grammy-winning producer Ovy on the Drums. “A Veces A Besos,” which translates to “sometimes with […]
As I Lay Dying’s longtime guitarist Phil Sgrosso has departed the San Diego metalcore band, just days after guitarist Ken Susi, bassist Ryan Neff and drummer Nick Pierce also announced their exit.
The guitarist took to social media to share a statement detailing why he’s choosing to split from As I Lay Dying, leaving just controversial frontman Tim Lambesis in the lineup. Lambesis spent nearly three years in prison after he was arrested for soliciting an undercover agent to murder his then-wife, Meggan Lambesis. Tim gave the agent $1,000 in cash and instructions on how to kill her, including her photo, address, security-gate code and dates he would be with their children to give him an alibi, prosecutors said.
“Thank you for your patience as I took time to gather my thoughts before speaking on the current state of As I Lay Dying,” Grosso began his statement. “With recent events, including the departure of band members and the cancellation of our European tour ahead of a new album release, it’s clear we’re in a difficult and serious situation.”
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He added the the band “no longer offers a healthy or safe environment for anyone involved—whether creatively, personally, or professionally,” and after “witnessing some concerning patterns of behavior,” Grosso “realized that I can no longer, in good conscience, enable further actions that could negatively affect anyone working within this space.”
He continued, “For these reasons, I feel it’s in my best interest to completely distance myself, both creatively and personally, from As I Lay Dying.”
Grosso added that the door to As I Lay Dying isn’t totally shut, and that if the band puts in the “right adjustments and restructuring, our music can continue to thrive and explore new possibilities in a healthier environment.”
Read his full statement here.
On Friday (Oct. 25), Susi, Neff and Pierce shared individual statements detailing their own departures, which you can read more about here. The band’s touring manager, Alex Kendrick, also announced his exit.
The group’s eighth album, Through Storms Ahead, is still set for release on Nov. 15.
Daft Punk will give the world an early holiday gift on December 12, when their 2003 anime film Interstella 5555: The 5story of the 5ecret 5tar 5system screens in more than 80 theaters in 40 countries around the globe. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Fans of […]
Luis Miguel has new dates for the concerts in Mexico City that he postponed last week due to unspecified health problems. The Mexico City Arena, marketed as Arena CDMX, informed fans on Thursday (Oct. 31) that the shows will now occur on Dec. 8 and 10. The first date (Dec. 8) will replace the Oct. 23 and […]
Vice President Kamala Harris is looking to secure Latino votes from battleground states, including Nevada, where she’s participating in a Las Vegas rally Thursday night (Oct. 31) with Mexican rock band Maná performing. The Harris-Walz campaign also confirmed that Jennifer Lopez will be in attendance, where she is set to speak about the importance of voting.
“These artists and public figures are trusted voices for millions of Americans, who listen to their music, follow them on social media, or otherwise are inspired by them,” the campaign said in a press release. “The Harris-Walz campaign believes that by using their voices to lay out the stakes of this election, it will further encourage and mobilize people to go vote.”
With five days until Election Day on Tuesday (Nov. 5), Nevada, considered a swing state, is expected to play a decisive role in the presidential election. Latinos represent about 30% of Nevada’s population and, across the country, an estimated 36.2 million Latinos are eligible to vote this year, up from 32.3 million in 2020, according to the Pew Research Center.
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Maná has a long history of using their platform to encourage Latino voters to make their voices heard during U.S. presidential elections. They’ve also denounced Donald Trump’s racist rhetoric since he launched his first presidential campaign back in 2015, when the Republican candidate called Mexicans “rapists” and “criminals.” During their Latin Grammys performance that year, Maná, along with Los Tigres del Norte, pulled out a banner that said “Latinos, united, don’t vote for the racists.”
This time around, they’re being just as vigilant. After Nicky Jam endorsed Donald Trump in September — the reggaetón star has since withdrawn his support — Maná removed its 2016 reimagining of “De Pies a Cabeza,” a collab with Nicky, from streaming services, explaining that the group didn’t “work with racists.”
With their performance in Las Vegas on Thursday night, Maná doubles down on their efforts to secure the win for the Democratic ticket. Earlier Thursday, Los Tigres del Norte performed at a Harris rally in Phoenix.
Below, watch the rally in Nevada, where Lopez will speak and Maná will perform:
Karol G tallies a seventh consecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 chart as “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” rules the Oct. 26-dated ranking. The song lengthens the third-longest command in 2024, following the 11-week coronation by Valentino Merlo and The La Planta’s “Hoy” and Mesita, Nicki Nicole, Tiago PZK and […]
Seven months after Tyla released her self-titled debut album, which spent five weeks at No. 1 on Billboard‘s World Albums chart, the popiano princess returned with the deluxe edition TYLA +. And after gaining co-signs from SZA, Ciara and more from his “Soh-Soh” cut from his Sunday’s At Zuri’s EP this summer, Afro-R&B artist Odeal is feeding his growing fanbase with more new songs.
And those are just two of the best tracks of the month in African music, which in this edition of the column spans from Nigeria to Ghana to Zimbabwe to South Africa and back again. There’s the deep baritone of the rapper Holy Ten, the distinctive crooning of Ckay and BNXN, the aggressive stylings of Black Sherif and Stonebwoy and a high-profile guest spot from Afro Raver Rema, among several others.
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We’ve highlighted 10 of our favorite new songs by African acts that have come out roughly within the last month. Check out our latest Fresh Picks, and catch a vibe with our latest Spotify playlist below.
Phyno, “It’s Nothing”
Nigerian rapper Phyno doesn’t come to play on “It’s Nothing,” the opening track of his fifth studio album Full Time Job. He proclaims how his money and legacy are untouchable in his infectious Igbo flow. And Major Bangz’s ’90s hip-hop-inspired production, interspersed with a triumphant horn section, gives Phyno extra pep in his step.
Tyla feat. Tony Duardo, Optimist & Maestro, “SHAKE AH”
Tyla already had our booties shaking to her breakthrough smash “Water” last summer, and she’s bringing us back to the dancefloor with “Shake Ah,” the first of three new songs featured on the deluxe edition of her eponymous debut album. With producer Tony Duardo (who frequently works with fellow amapiano star Uncle Waffles) and vocalists Optimist and Maestro in tow, the Grammy-winning artist stays true to her amapiano roots with the track’s bustling log drums and folk-tinged melody. “Too serious, too serious/ Hands on my hips, he don’t wanna let go,” she breathily coos. Only a handful of the lyrics are sung in English, proving that Tyla can continue breaking through the mainstream without breaking away from the sounds of her native South Africa.
Odeal, “Temptress”
Following the success of his viral “Soh Soh” single, Odeal keeps his momentum going while sonically slowing things down on his latest enchanting offering “Temptress.” He croons about being in love with a woman whose lifestyle (“purple lights,” “cash on the bedroom floor,” you get the picture) clearly indicates the feelings aren’t mutual, while cleverly interpolating Aaliyah’s “Boy, I gotta watch my back, ‘cause I’m not just anybody” line from the chorus of “Are You That Somebody.” (“Friends told me to watch my back, ‘cause I’m one of many bodies,” he sings.) And Harry Westlake’s ‘90s R&B-inspired production has listeners as deep in their feelings as Odeal is in his.
Wizkid feat. Brent Faiyaz, “Piece of My Heart”
Wizkid and Brent Faiyaz are a pair of amorous, yet slightly misleading heartthrobs on the sexy “Piece of My Heart” single, which arrives ahead of Wiz’s sixth studio album Morayo that’s due Nov. 22. Both artists remind their lovers how inseparable they are (“Nothing can tear us apart,” Faiyaz reassures before delivering the track’s titular line) over a sultry guitar hook and bubbling percussion. The Afrobeats superstar playfully nods to his and Drake’s Hot 100 No. 1 smash “One Dance” before the track slows down in its second half. Here, Wiz and Faiyaz croon about how hard it is for their women to catch feelings for them when they’re always catching flights. “Stressful, I know/ Every other day, another timezone,” Wiz expresses. Maybe having only a piece of their hearts isn’t enough.
Nasty C, Lekaa Beats, ODUMODUBLVCK & Chip, “Trouble”
South African rapper Nasty C and Nigerian producer Lekaa Beats blend hip-hop, trap, Afrobeats and amapiano on their joint EP Confuse the Enemy. On the highlight track “Trouble,” Nasty C emphasizes the “pressure” he’s facing from all corners of his life, while featured guests Nigerian MC ODUMODUBLVCK and UK rapper Chip spit verses about their own hardships and how their hustle helped them persevere (“That’s why I let my heart pour every time I rhyme/ ‘Cause I never know who’s listening to me on the other side,” Chips raps). And Lekaa’s affecting Afrofusion production makes those listening to “Trouble” feel at ease.
Holy Ten feat. MrCandy, “Kilimanjaro”
Zimbabwean rapper Holy Ten’s deep baritone anchors this track off his new album Proud Father, with a plaintive acoustic guitar over a driving low-end beat providing a bouyant backbone for the song to soar. Alongside frequent collaborator MrCandy, who delivers a soaring guest verse, “Kilimanjaro” is a standout on the new album, which only suffers from being just 24 minutes long. The entire project is worth a listen.
Black Sherif, “Rebel Music”
Sherif’s aggressive vocal style is on full display on this latest single, with production that feels as big as his ambition and defies any easy categorization. There is something magnetic about Sherif’s confidence on the microphone, not the least because his lyrics center on defiance in the face of adversity and his own sheer force of will — not something to be taken lightly. If his last few singles are any indication, this next album will be an achievement.
BNXN & Rema, “Fi Kan We Kan”
Two of the most distinctive young voices in Nigeria teamed up for this new one, which features BNXN’s signature falsetto floating over the first verse and hook before Rema comes through and delivers a verse so slick that it’s hard to tell if he’s even taking a breath with a confidence that is infectious. The track grows in momentum throughout, with amapiano log drums becoming more pronounced as it goes along — with a cinematic music video that ties it all together.
Stonebwoy feat. Ir Sais, “Memories”
With an old school R&B feel, Ghana’s Stonebwoy delivers an infectious track that both shows off his vocal prowess and distinctive style, while Ir Sais croons over the hook. It’s a song that feels out of another place and time, but works because there’s nothing out like it right now — and is a great primer for his just-released album UP & RUNNIN6 which he dropped last week.
Ckay feat. The Cavemen., “Addicted”
Ckay’s emotional vocal stylings take a detour out of his usual minor-keyed environment into the much brighter highlife world of The Cavemen., resulting in a track that feels like watching an intimate performance at a late-night jazz club, something that’s completely different from what the young singer has done in the past. The band’s percussion gives the song a different vibe, while Ckay’s voice fits in effortlessly, for one of the strongest collaborations this year.