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Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) and Ty Dolla $ign’s collaborative album Vultures 1 mysteriously vanished from Spotify just before midnight on July 11, only to re-appear several hours later without explanation.
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The album, which has had a tumultuous release history, remained available on Apple Music, but its sudden disappearance from Spotify left fans and industry insiders puzzled for several hours until it reappeared on the streaming platform.
Vultures 1 has been embroiled in issues from its inception, including delays and canceled listening events.
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The album was first removed from Apple Music and iTunes just five days after its release on February 10. On Feb. 15, it returned to Apple Music without explanation.
The album’s distributor, FUGA, had initially declined to release the project, only for it to be delivered through the platform’s automated processes by a long-standing client, violating FUGA’s service agreement.
This led to the album’s temporary removal as FUGA worked with DSP partners to rectify the situation.
The project then faced its first streaming issues on Feb. 14, when Spotify removed “Good (Don’t Die)” from its platform due to claims of “copyright infringement” made by Donna Summer’s estate. The song was later also removed from Amazon Music.
Despite the drama, Vultures 1 debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart on February 24, marking Kanye West’s 11th career No. 1 album and Ty Dolla $ign’s first. The album accumulated 148,000 equivalent album units in its first week in the U.S., according to Luminate data.
Billboard has reached out to Spotify for clarification. However, a few hours later, the album was reinstated, suggesting the disappearance might have been due to a glitch.
The incident follows recent speculation about West’s career. Earlier this week, Rich The Kid shared an alleged text from West claiming he was “retiring from professional music.”
“I am retiring from professional music Not sure what else to do,” Ye wrote in the message while seemingly caught in a state of uncertainty.
Rich replied trying to convince him otherwise: “Retire? Why? How? The ppl NEED you the music you & Ty & we have made the BIGGEST STAMP in culture to this date in 2024. Drop Ye about mine & V2 and we do it all over again the kids need you big bra fasho maybe some time to chill but retiring ain’t it.”
However, Rich The Kid later posted that West would be featured on his upcoming album Life’s A Gamble, set for release on July 19.
The “New Freezer” rapper deleted the text message exchange featuring Ye’s alleged retirement from his Instagram Story about a half-hour after originally posting it.
Sexyy Red is pushing back against rumors of low ticket sales for her upcoming Sexyy Red 4 President tour. The “Pound Town” rapper took to X on Monday (July 8) to address reports about poor ticket sales. “My fans are buying tickets we’re doin just fine. We not cancelling no tour,” she wrote in response […]
Eminem has finally revealed the tracklist for his forthcoming album, The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce), set to release this Friday, July 12.
The album, which promises to be a deep dive into the psyche of Eminem‘s notorious alter ego, Slim Shady, features 19 tracks that explore themes of rebirth, inner turmoil, and resolution.
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The tracklist was unveiled by Apple Music on July 10, just two days prior to the album’s release. It comes following Eminem’s reveal of the album’s cover art, which features Slim Shady’s head emerging from a body bag in what seems to be a metaphor for the end of one era and the beginning of another.
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The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) tracklist reads as follows:
Renaissance
Habits
Trouble
Brand New Dance
Evil
All You Got (skit)
Lucifer
Antichrist
Fuel
Road Rage
Houdini
Breaking News (skit)
Guilty Conscience 2
Head Honcho
Temporary
Bad One
Tobey (featuring Big Sean and BabyTron)
Guess Who’s Back (skit)
Somebody Save Me
One standout track that’s bound to get longtime fans excited is “Guilty Conscience 2,” a sequel to the 1999 hit that featured Dr. Dre. With Dre having previously confirmed his involvement in Em’s latest project, expectations are high for this fresh take on a classic collab.
In the lead-up to the album, Eminem has dropped two singles that have sparked conversations and fueled anticipation. “Houdini,” released on May 31, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Global Charts and quickly became a topic of discussion for its intricate lyricism and controversial references.
The track samples the Steve Miller Band’s “Abracadabra” while addressing hot-button issues such as the 2020 Megan Thee Stallion shooting incident and cancel culture.
The second single, “Tobey,” featuring Big Sean and BabyTron, was released on July 8, after initially being slated for July 5. The track marked Em’s first collaboration with Babytron and his fourth with Big Sean, following their team-up in 2017 on I Decided’s “No Favors,” Detroit 2‘s “Friday Night Cypher” and ShadyXV‘s “Detroit Vs. Everybody.”
As the release date rapidly approaches, both fans and industry insiders are filled with anticipation, eager to delve into the journey through the mind of one of rap‘s most iconic figures.
The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) is out July 12.
Kendrick Lamar just threw gasoline on the simmering flames of his feud with Drake, sending fans into a frenzy with a series of explosive teaser photos from the set of his upcoming “Not Like Us” music video.
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The track, a blistering diss aimed at the 6 God, has been a juggernaut since its release, skyrocketing to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and dominating the cultural conversation.
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Anticipation for the video reached a fever pitch following K. Dot’s Juneteenth concert at The Forum on June 19, The Pop Out – Ken & Friends, where he performed “Not Like Us” a staggering five times in a row.
The 18-track set also featured guest appearances from Kendrick’s Black Hippy crewmates and his longtime industry mentor Dr. Dre.
Among the images causing the biggest stir is a shot of Kendrick obliterating an owl piñata, a not-so-subtle jab at Drake’s OVO brand.
The photo, cheekily captioned “DISCLAIMER: NO OVHOES WERE HARMED DURING THE MAKING OF THIS VIDEO,” set social media ablaze with excitement over the music video’s contents and the escalating tensions between these two rap titans.
But it’s not all barbs and bravado.
Another snap shared offers a rare glimpse into Kendrick’s personal life, showing the Compton native posing alongside his longtime partner Whitney Alford and their two children. The tender family moment suggests that the video may offer a more multifaceted look at the rapper, balancing its hard-hitting disses with an intimate portrait of the man behind the mic.
Shot on location in Kendrick’s hometown of Compton, Ca., the “Not Like Us” video looks to continue with the authentic, gritty aesthetic that has become synonymous with the rapper’s celebrated body of work.
While the exact release date remains under wraps, one thing is certain: the cultural impact of this video is bound to be seismic.
Just hours after triumphantly returning to the scene of his Grammys night arrest to accept the BET Album of the Year award for MICHAEL, Killer Mike dropped a powerful new single and video, “HUMBLE ME,” in which he reflects on the incident and its aftermath.
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In the striking black-and-white music video, the Run the Jewels MC is seen stripped of his jewelry and placed in handcuffs, symbolizing the events of his Grammy night arrest.
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Through his lyrics, he draws parallels between his experience and the Biblical story of Daniel in the lions’ den. The video culminates in a hopeful note, with a cameo from his son Mikael “Pony Boy” Render, who recently received a life-saving kidney transplant.
Reflecting on his Grammy night ordeal, Mike raps, “I won at the Grammys / did that for Atlanta / swept up like a janitor / got sent to the slammer / treat me like an animal or some kind of Hannibal.” He then reveals, “I went to sleep as free as could be / and the next day my son got a kidney.”
“I believe that humility and worship granted me God’s grace in the face of that test,” the rapper says.
During his album of the year acceptance speech at the BET Awards, Killer Mike addressed his arrest and the subsequent journey, saying, “Technically, I was not supposed to be here. I was put in handcuffs and I was marched out of this building, but I want to tell you, look at God because I’m back baby. I’m back and I’m winning.”
“I want to tell Black people that because of BET I’m back. Not ’cause of no white person calling nobody. A Black man runs this business, a Black company put this show on, and they got my Black ass back in here. Thank y’all.”
Mike also took the opportunity to emphasize the importance of civic engagement, urging viewers to vote in the upcoming elections.
“Who we vote for on the big stage is important, but it’s more important you know who your city council person is, who your prosecutor is,” he said “And if you don’t like the people running, run your Black a** to the polls and run yourself.”
Killer Mike’s arrest on Feb. 4, 2024, after winning three Grammys, including best rap album for Michael, stemmed from an altercation with a security guard outside the Grammy pre-telecast in February.
Although he was initially charged with misdemeanor battery, the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office later declined to pursue criminal charges. Instead, Mike completed a community service requirement, leading to the case’s resolution.
Killer Mike is currently on a North American tour supporting his latest album, with upcoming performances at major festivals including Lollapalooza, Newport Folk Festival, and Montreal International Jazz Festival.
“HUMBLE ME” is slated to appear on the follow-up to MICHAEL – Mike’s first solo album in over a decade – which is expected to drop later this summer via Loma Vista Records.
The rapper, backed by the Mighty Midnight Revival choir, will be on tour through early fall with stops at major festivals and a Blue Note Jazz Club residency.
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Chance the Rapper has just dropped a major update on his upcoming release, Star Line, and it’s the news fans have been waiting for.
In a recent chat with Complex, the Chicago native revealed that his next studio project is about 83 percent complete, bringing us one step closer to hearing what he’s been working on.
Initially, Chance estimated the collection was 85 percent done but quickly adjusted his estimate.
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“That’s a little generous. I’ma say 83. 83.5, 82.7, you know what I’m saying? We’re living in the project right now,” he joked, giving fans a peek into his creative process.
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Reflecting on the journey from his debut album The Big Day (2019) to Star Line, Chance shared how different this experience has been.
“For my last project, I’d just gotten married, I just had a baby, I was about to separate from my management. Like, I had so many things going on. Now, it’s not like there isn’t a lot going on, but I’m really able to enjoy the creative process and be 100 percent myself.”
Star Line draws inspiration from Marcus Garvey’s historic Black Star Line, a shipping company aimed at connecting the global Black diaspora in the early 1900s.
Chance elaborated on this during a 2022 interview with Sway.
“He started and ran this very important, integral shipping line. He had a fleet of ships, these giant ocean liners which are the size of cruise ships, that he owned and funded with common Black folks’ money.”
Garvey’s vision of global Black connectivity deeply resonates with Chance, who aims to channel that spirit into his music. “When I think about the Black Star Line and all the spaces that it’s been in, the black star [on the line’s flag] is [also] the representation of Ghana, in their flag, in the fabric of how their country was set up,” he said.
“They believe in global Blackness, Black connectivity and a free Africa.”
Although the album was initially slated for a Spring 2024 release, Chance hasn’t confirmed a new date yet.
To keep fans engaged, he dropped “Together,” produced by DJ Premier, in May, and “Buried Alive” in April, a track that touches on his recent divorce and legal battles with his ex-manager.
In Buried Alive, Chance gets real with lines like, “Where’s his money now? Where his wife at?/ Where his manager? Where his hype at?/ Then they threw the dirt on the casket,” showcasing his raw, introspective side.
Earlier this year, Chance posted an IG Reel of “Buried Alive,” asking fans if he should drop a video. The clips he’s shared of his new direction have featured a darker tone, with black backgrounds and white subtitles, addressing the drama he’s faced since The Big Day.
“I’m really able to revel in the creative process and put everything into that and be 100 percent myself and present in the now,” he said.
From paying homage to the African continent to packing a punch with boxing ring-ready jams, R&B and rap artists and producers have made memorable movie soundtracks that can fit any scene and that are filled with their own all-star casts.
Eminem not only had his first starring role in the 2002 semi-autobiographical movie 8 Mile, but he also executive produced its soundtrack. Thirteen years later, Slim Shady helmed the official soundtrack for Southpaw. Eminem was originally supposed to play the lead role of Billy Hope, and Southpaw screenwriter Kurt Sutter told Deadline in 2010, “in a way, this is a continuation of the 8 Mile story, but rather than a literal biography, we are doing a metaphorical narrative of the second chapter of his life.” (Eminem eventually passed on the lead role, which went to Jake Gyllenhaal, to focus on music.)
Jay-Z executive produced The Great Gatsby: Music from Baz Luhrmann’s Film in 2013, with Jeymes Samuel (also known by his stage name The Bullitts) as executive music consultant. Almost a decade later, the two worked together again on The Harder They Fall in 2021, which Samuel directed, co-wrote and co-produced; Hov co-produced the film and executive produced the soundtrack.
Jay-Z, Future, Pharrell Williams and Shawn Stockman have all pulled double duty by producing the films they also helmed the soundtracks for, while Eminem and Metro Boomin are the only stars featured on this list who star in the films they also helped make the music for (since we’re counting Metro’s cameo as Metro Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse last year). Plenty of artists have made “cameos” on others’ soundtracks, from Future appearing on Metro’s Spider-Verse soundtrack and Kendrick Lamar‘s Black Panther: The Album to Lamar appearing on Beyoncé‘s The Lion King: The Gift to Hov appearing on Bey’s The Lion King: The Gift, Judas and the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album (which Hit-Boy co-executive produced) and Eminem’s 8 Mile: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture.
And with all this star power fueling these film soundtracks from the front and back ends, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that so many of them have been recognized at major award shows. Beyoncé’s The Lion King: The Gift, which was nominated for best pop vocal album at the 2020 Grammy Awards, produced a Grammy-nominated hit and a Grammy-winning hit: “Brown Skin Girl” by Bey, Blue Ivy Carter, SAINt JHN and Wizkid won best music video at the 2021 Grammy Awards (making Blue Ivy the second-youngest Grammy winner in history at age 9), while “Spirit” was up for best pop solo performance and best song written for visual media at the 2020 Grammy Awards. “Fight For You” by H.E.R. from Judas and the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album won best traditional R&B performance at the 2022 Grammys.
“Spirit,” “Fight For You,” Kendrick Lamar & SZA‘s “All the Stars” and Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” from 8 Mile: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture have also earned best original song nods at the Golden Globe Awards in various years, with “Fight For You” eventually taking home the trophy. H.E.R.’s hit also won best original song at the 2021 Academy Awards, which Slim Shady’s smash won 18 years prior and Dot and SZA’s monster collab was nominated for two years prior. “All the Stars” was nominated for song of the year, record of the year, best song written for visual media and best rap/sung performance at the 2019 Grammy Awards, while “King’s Dead” with Lamar, Jay Rock, Future and James Blake won best rap performance and was nominated for best rap song.
“Lose Yourself” also won best rap song and best male rap solo performance at the 2004 Grammy Awards, when Kill Bill Vol. 1 Original Soundtrack — which RZA co-executive produced — was up for best compilation soundtrack album for a motion picture, television or other visual media. The Great Gatsby: Music from Baz Luhrmann’s Film was nominated for best compilation soundtrack for visual media at the 2014 Grammy Awards, while “Young and Beautiful” by Lana Del Rey was up for best song written for visual media.
Billboard rounded up 16 times rap and R&B artists and producers have curated or executive produced 2000s movie soundtracks, in order from newest to oldest.
Metro Boomin, Metro Boomin Presents Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Soundtrack from and Inspired by the Motion Picture) (2023)
Latto got the girls in the booth with her as she recruited Megan Thee Stallion and Flo Milli for the remix of “Sunday Service,” which arrived Friday (June 7). They teased the remix a day prior, with Meg posting footage of her, Latto and Flo twerking backstage during her Hot Girl Summer Tour with GloRilla. […]
When Sexyy Red was announced as a performer at 2024 Roots Picnic, a festival that largely caters to adult R&B lovers, the baby daddy-damning “Looking for the Hoes” rapper received a less than warm welcome — so much so that festival founder Questlove spoke up in her defense.
“There is always that one act on the show everyone hates because it serves as a reminder the hip hop THEY like is from 30 years ago,” the Roots drummer wrote in a reply to a flood of Instagram comments proclaiming that there was “nothing positive about [Sexyy’s] message.” “I mean I get it but look: we gotta round and balance the day out: there are other stages & podcasts and events to see… when have you seen a festival in which EVERY ACT is the act you love?”
And yet, when Sexyy took the Presser Stage at Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, the venue was so packed that crowds formed on the walkways looming over the ridiculously packed amphitheater. From the moment she sauntered onstage flanked by four high-octane dancers and a mock Secrete Service agent, Sexyy Red was the president — and she didn’t even need the agent to drive the point home. Nonetheless, it was a nice touch to her patriotic staging, which also featured her sporting a red, white and blue two-piece.
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In addition to her dancers and Secret Service agent, Sexyy’s stage also featured a giant inflatable red cap with the phrase “Make America Sexyy Again” emblazoned across it in the standard MAGA font. Throughout her hit-laden set, Sexyy conjured up, if only for 30 minutes, an America that embraces and exalts the most ratchet edges of everyone’s personalities. Under her presidency, the crowd achieved a sense of escapism that may not have even been explicitly searching for, but clearly needed. That’s the magic of Sexyy Red, she grants her listeners “escapism” not by way of fantasy, but by allowing people to unconditionally spoil the parts of themselves they keep hidden out of allegiance to various social standards. Don’t be mistaken, Sexyy is no Iron Lady; her laid-back approach to onstage banter and choreography is half the reason her whole shtick works. Whether she’s doing the “Crank Dat” dance or giving us her best chickenhead, Sexyy’s just doing her, so that we can do us.
Kicking things off with “Bow Bow Bow (F My Baby Dad),” Sexyy somersaulted through her enviable collection of hits, each drawing louder and more intense fan reactions than the last. The spirit of Crime Mob‘s Diamond and Princess shined through her spirited renditions of Billboard Hot 100 hits like “Get It Sexyy” (No. 20), “SkeeYee” (No. 62) and “Pound Town” (No. 66, with Tay Keith), as well as street smashes such as “Hellcats SRTs,” “Shake Yo Dreads,” and “Hood Rats” (with Sukihana). Of course, Sexyy couldn’t exclude her similarly top-notch collaborations, including “Shake Sumn” (with DaBaby), “Peaches & Eggplants” (with Young Nudy), and, of course, “Rich Baby Daddy” (with Drake & SZA), which easily garnered the most passionate crowd response and some hilariously unserious vocals from Sexyy herself.
With tight formations, several counts worth of choreography at a time, and staging that continuously emphasized the political aesthetics of her new In Sexyy We Trust mixtape, Sexyy’s 2024 Roots Picnic set displayed notable growth from her earliest shows, while still capturing the essence of what makes her such an alluring performer. In fact, her rendition of the “BBL Drizzy”-sampling “U My Everything” — a Drake collaboration from her latest tape — is the best example of that shift. To bring the sing-songy track to life, Sexyy and her dancers — who she affectionately introduced as “The Sexettes” — executed waist-gyrating girl group-esque choreography that underscored the song’s puppy-eyed love. “Bae, I love you, you my everything/ I’m your main bitch, fuck a wedding ring/ We both in fast cars and we switchin’ lanes/ When I’m away from you, you always on my brain,” she crooned.
Sexyy Red may not be the hip-hop of 30 years ago, but the verve she brought to this year’s Roots Picnic — and the way she effortlessly captivated the largest and most youthful crowd of day one — is emblematic of hip-hop’s undying party energy. Next stop: main stage.
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