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04/19/2024
The Queens MC’s groundbreaking debut turns 30 today.
04/19/2024
The Summer of Slizzy is upon us.
As soon as the weather starts to get nice, New York City becomes a playground. People from all walks of life are seemingly outside eating, drinking, smoking and blasting music. And one song that’s sure to be in heavy rotation this summer is Cash Cobain’s “Fisherrr” featuring Bay Swag. You already hear the song coming from cars as they pass by, or being used in countless Instagram Reels and TikToks, usually accompanied by its official dance, The Reemski.
Cash has teased the track on social media, feeding fans little bites here and there, but it wasn’t until he and Bay performed the song on the YouTube series From the Block that the song took off. The Instagram clip and the YouTube video each have one million views and the song currently has 3.6 million plays on Spotify. There’s also whispers of a “Fisherrr” remix being in the works with a certain New York City superstar. I’ll let you work out who that may be for yourself.
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With the song of the summer already locked down, Cash Cobain has the city on smash. I was one of the hundreds of people waiting in line for almost two hours to get into his Irving Plaza show on April 1. The lines wrapped around the block and the anticipation was intoxicating. The air was buzzing with rumors of a Drake appearance, and questions about what the hell was taking so long while little clouds of weed smoke popped up like NYC chimneys in the wintertime.
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The NYPD was deep out there, too, but they didn’t bother anybody until the crowd grew impatient and tried to bumrush the entrance. That’s when the venue officially shut Slizzyfest down and Cash took all those remaining outside up the street to Union Square Park for an impromptu performance. Hip-hop started with park jams, so it’s dope to see a younger artist like Cash carry on the tradition. Being able to control a crowd is the definition of a true MC.
I was talking to my tax guy who’s based in Atlanta as I was putting the finishing touches on this interview when he asked me what I was working on. I mentioned Cash Cobain, and he started laughing. He then sent me a screenshot of him listening to the Cash Cobain and Bay Swag performance on Hot 97’s Funkmaster Flex show. When an accountant living in another part of the country is up on you, it’s safe to say you’re on the way to becoming a star.
Billboard spoke with April’s R&B/Hip-Hop Rookie of the Month about making sexy music, working with the likes of Drake and Frank Ocean, plus much more.
How does it feel to have the song of the summer already? I feel like “Fisherrr” is only getting bigger. That From the Block video took it to another level.
It feels amazing. It feels like a moment. We haven’t had a real movement in New York in a little minute.
The energy outside of your show at Irving Plaza was electric. It’s hard to put into words, but I haven’t felt that type of excitement outside of a show in NYC in a long time. Did feeling the love from the fans outside make you want to take them up the street to Union Square Park?
They canceled my show, so I just wanted to give them something. I wanted to be seen. I was upset and decided to go outside, and everyone started gathering around me, so I started walking. I didn’t even realize Union Square Park was that close. As I’m walking, I was like, “Nah, I need to stand up or something, I need to be seen, I need some music.” You know Manhattan got them long ass blocks, so I see like a park. It was perfect. We had a good time, and nobody got hurt.
After Slizzyfest got shut down after fans started fighting outside Cash Cobain proceeded to shepherd 100+ fans to the park and now we’re doing karaoke pic.twitter.com/2C9h1nA8g6— no bells (@nobellsblog) April 2, 2024
Let’s talk about the dance that’s been going viral: The Reemski. La La Anthony and her son did a video and so has former NBA guard Lance Stephenson. That’s when I knew “Fisherrr” was different. Were you going to do that dance during your set?
Yeah, once a song gets a dance, it’s outta here. I be trying to do the dance, but I don’t know, I have to be in the mood.
Can you describe Sexy Drill? Did you come up with that name?
Everything gotta be sexy. I like sexy s–t. Chow Lee and Lonny Love really put Sexy Drill on the map.
You and Bay Swag were on Hot 97 with Funkmaster Flex recently, which got some mixed reactions. Was that a big deal for you growing up in NYC?
Flex? Hell yeah. The radio, period. It wasn’t a freestyle, though, it was more like a performance. We be saying little slick s–t in our raps, it may sound like we’re playing around, but when you say some slick s–t, you might catch someone’s attention.
Flex seemed into it. That s–t was funny because he was making funny faces after certain lines.
He was like, “I understand it, I don’t need to see it twice. Y’all some nasty motherf—kers.”
You and Bay are like horny Jada & Styles with the back and forth. Your lyrics are always raunchy. Why are you so horny?
[Laughs.] That’s just who I am for real. I wanna f—k all day.
I should use that as the headline: “Cash Cobain Wants to F—k All Day.“
That’ll go viral.
I’m not sure if people realize how versatile you are. You’ve worked with PinkPanthress. How did that link up happen?
The managers did what they do. The managers were managing and managed to get us in the studio. We linked in LA in person, man, we were just cookin’ up, vibin’, talkin’ and stuff. That was my first time meeting her.
You guys have similar styles, so it makes sense.
Yeah, and I didn’t know she made her own beats. So, when I locked in with her, she was like, “Let me hop on the keys right quick” and I was like, “Huh, what? You make beats?” And she was like, “Yeah, I make all my stuff.”
You guys plan on working together in the future?
Of course. I want her on my album.
Speaking of albums…i s “Fisherrr” the lead single?
Nah, that’s for my Play Cash Cobain EP that should be coming out soon. “Dunk Contest” is going to be on there too, along with some other songs like “Candle” and “Act Like.”
Ok, so is Drake going to be on the EP or the album?
[Laughs.] He made the album cover for the EP, though!
Cover art for the upcoming Play Cash Cobain EP.
There were rumors that he was supposed to pop out at your show in New York.
I don’t know about no rumors. He was already in town. He had a show [in] Long Island, and he posted the picture I’m using as the cover, so people put two and two together.
So, what’s next for you?
I have the Play Cash Cobain EP coming up and we’re just going to keep dropping music. We got some placements on the way.
Anything you can talk about?
Travis Scott. Me and Don Toliver were in the studio, we got some crazy sh—t coming. Me and Boat [Lil Yachty] are about to come out with some sh-t. And I should be doing something with Frank Ocean soon, too. He really f—ks with my music.
How do you envision your wave taking over the city once the weather breaks? Because I’ve predicted that a Slizzy Summer is in our future.
Aight, boom, we been outside. I don’t care if it’s summer, winter, we been outside odee. So, for Slizzy Summer I wanna do like a Slizzy pool party vibe, like Freaknik. We gonna call that s–t Slizznik. I wanna do a summertime show outside. I wanna make things like slizzy this, slizzy that. I just wanna have fun, I don’t want nobody to get hurt.
So, you definitely plan on doing another show in New York soon to make up for this last one?
Yeah, ASAP.
The ladies love your music. You’re putting fat boys back in style like Biggie did. Was he someone you grew up listening to?
Biggie was the first rapper I was introduced to. I listen to a lot of Biggie, Aaliyah, and Michael Jackson. I really love 50 Cent too. I grew up listening to everything: Hip-Hop, R&B, like old R&B. I’ve been listening to “Me and Mrs. Jones” by Billy Paul. You know? Meeting at the same spot at the same time every day. My grandparents and parents had all those CDs like Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson’s greatest hits.
How about on the production side of things? How did you come up with this sound?
Trap and Drill really inspired me, but I wanted to add my own flavor. I didn’t want to bite guys like Southside and Metro. I didn’t want to capitalize off a Metro-type beat. I wanted to come up with my own flavor.
How do you decide on certain samples to use?
Things catch me. I can be in the elevator and hear a song, or be watching a movie, and if I like the song or hear a part that I can use, I would Shazam it. I find things when I’m listening to music on YouTube. It could be familiar songs or unfamiliar songs.
Who taught you how to make beats?
I’m self-taught, just f—kin’ around on FruityLoops. I always wanted to make beats, though. It was the perfect match, I just had to figure it out. I was confident because my mom used to buy me drum pads, Yamahas, and s—t like that.
And what made you rap about the things that you rap about? I was surprised to see the NYPD outside of your show so deep because you don’t make that type of music.
Because I know n—as that rap about street s–t and are dead p—y. [Laughs.] They dead soft. I’m going to be true to myself. I’m not trying to incriminate myself. I have made rap songs like that, but this is what I wanna do. I wanna play autotune, I wanna sing, I wanna melodize, I want it to be sexy.
You want to be a heartthrob and not a thug.
I wanna be slizzy.
Can you define “slizzy” for the people?
Freedom. Judgement free. Doing what you want to do and not caring what anyone else thinks. It’s just a way of life. That’s how I got to where I’m at right now. Not caring about what anybody thinks.
OK, last question. Are you a Pelle Pelle model?
Yeah, shouts to my big brother Chris, he be lookin’ out for me. We’re working on a few things actually.
From Beyoncé’s interwoven Renaissance and Cowboy Carter albums to Ye and Ty Dolla $ign’s still(?)-unfurling Vultures trilogy, 2024 is undoubtedly the year of the franchise album.
Although sequels and spin-offs have gotten a fairly bad rap lately thanks to Hollywood’s recent production proclivities (looking at you, Marvel!), franchises can be fun! After all, they’re supposed to be: the innate familiarity of a few grounding themes, motifs or characters provides the foundation for a level of exploration that standalone titles cannot offer. What makes franchises fall flat on both film screens and record players, however, is aimless retreading of the same ground as the first installment. Enter Future & Metro Boomin’s We Still Don’t Like You.
Initially revealed within the announcement of their Billboard 200-topping We Don’t Trust You album, We Still Don’t Trust You arrives as a sequel to what is already one of the most impactful LPs of 2024. Even outside of its culture-shifting collaborations with Rick Ross and Kendrick Lamar, March’s We Don’t Trust You triumphed because it’s a remarkably consistent effort across all 17 tracks. With a bonus mixtape added as a second disc, We Still Don’t Trust You boasts an overwhelming 25 tracks – and that disregard for both brevity and quality control results in a record that’s particularly frustrating, due to how avoidable its shortcomings are.
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As is the case with so many of these records with gargantuan tracklists, there’s a good album buried somewhere inside of We Still Don’t Trust You. With some help from The Weeknd on the sparkly opener, Still immediately situates itself in a different, yet adjacent, sonic lane to that of its predecessor. Doused in Dawn FM-esque synths and a sexy bassline, “We Still Don’t Trust You” appears to signal a more pop- and R&B-facing Future – that fans would have likely embraced — in comparison to the straight rap he opted for on We Don’t Trust You. Nonetheless, the album largely abandons that path almost as quickly as it first teases it.
In a way, the record’s second and third tracks – the hedonistic Chris Brown-assisted “Drink N Dance” and the fiery “Out of My Hands” — are emblematic of the two divergent paths the album tries to simultaneously wind its way around. The former finds Future and Metro shifting the subject of their distrust – this time they’re more concerned with disloyal lovers instead of Drizzy Drake – while the latter finds them doubling down on the blows from their last album. “Ain’t goin’ against my mans to f—k on his b—h, I’m gon’ f—k up these bands/ Got too many options, they meet my demand, my team, we done spinned/ You went against the gang, you read what I’m saying, it’s out of my hands,” he spits.
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Ultimately, the duo don’t commit to the R&B bent that grants the album the majority of its standout moments, nor do they fully shift who they’re no longer trusting. Instead, the album is overstuffed with misses that lack the urgency and verve of those on We Don’t Trust You. “Jealous,” “Came to the Party” and “Mile High Memories” are all fine tracks and welcome additions to the Future-Metro cannon, but more forgettable numbers like “Luv Bad B—s” and “Overload” tend to simply float by, leaving no lasting impression at all. When you’re working within the self-imposed confines of a franchise, forgettable simply does not cut it. Because their partnership is so golden, Future and Metro aren’t really capable of making bad songs, but when their complacency starts to show and they then fall into the quantity-over-quality trap, however, the returns are unfortunately underwhelming. Some of these tracks don’t even have enough sauce to function as victory laps.
The last time Future put out new albums in such quick succession was 2017. With Future and Hndrxx – which made joint history with their back-to-back No. 1 debuts on the Billboard 200 – Future offered up one rap tape and one R&B tape, catering to both sides of his sonic profile and the different pockets of his fanbase. If We Don’t Trust You runs parallel to Future, then We Still Don’t Trust You finds its Hndrxx similarities in standout tracks like “Right 4 You.” Through an interpolation of Boyz II Men’s seminal “End of the Road,” Pluto delivers his take on a grandiose power ballad with drums that echo the electronic feel of late-2010s dancehall. There’s also the Weeknd-featuring “All to Myself,” which is built around a sample of The Isley Brothers’ 1996 gem “Let’s Lay Together.” Here, Future and Metro infuse a beloved soul track with their singular stream-of-consciousness trap balladry. With a focus on emotional betrayal that bridges the seemingly disparate styles of the duo’s own music and the samples they build upon, “All to Myself” and “Right 4 You” are the symbols of the album We Still Don’t Trust You had the potential to be.
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Still does eventually find its way back to its synthy beginnings, but that moment is robbed of its full-circle feel because of how bloated the record is. The electro-pop echoes return on “Beat It” and blossom on “Always Be My Fault” — which features another winning guest appearance from The Weeknd – but the album exhausts its welcome by the time they appear. Of course, J. Cole appears on disc one closer “Red Leather,” with a verse in which he laments not following Future’s womanizing lead before pondering if it’s really worth his “peace.” While he flows as deftly as ever, the verse withers in the shadow of last week’s Lamar apology and exit from the Big Everyone battle. What is interesting, however, is how the verse’s thorny analysis of personal growth echoes the sentiments Cole expressed in his explanation of why he couldn’t stand by “7 Minute Drill.”
For the six tracks that comprise disc two of We Still Don’t Trust You, Future cedes the floor to Breakfast Club host Charlamagne tha God, who, despite his generally problematic history, proclaims some hard truths. “It’s not a Big Three, it is a Fantastic Four,” he says via an old radio discussion. “And Future is in that.” Predictably, the subsequent tracks find Future stepping back into the braggadocious straight rap bag of We Don’t Trust You, tapping Lil Baby (“All My Life”) and A$AP Rocky (“Show of Hands”) as guest stars. While the Rocky collaboration contained the most buzzed-about disses to come from the sequel set (“N—as in they feelings over women, what, you hurt or somethin’? / I smash before you birthed, son, Flacko hit it first, son”), it’s “Crossed Out,” with its rage rap-esque synths and pristine production, that stands out as the best of the bunch.
With over 40 new tracks from Future and Metro Boomin in under a month, it’s hard to shed a tear over the missteps on We Still Don’t Trust You. Nonetheless, both hip-hop titans have proven themselves to be more than capable of curating truly transformative album experiences, so this offering is disappointingly flaccid. Marred by sloppy sequencing and desperately in need of some fat-trimming, We Still Don’t Trust You is a fine playlist for the ride back home from the club – once you decode all the s–t-stirring drama the set has to offer, you won’t be listening that intently anyways.
04/15/2024
Future & Metro Boomin, Drake, Young Thug, Lil Baby, Big Sean and French Montana all have this thing in common in their discography.
04/15/2024
That’s right, the year of beef is still raging on. Just as they did a few weeks ago with their Billboard 200-topping We Don’t Trust You album, Future and Metro Boomin set the tone for the weekend in hip-hop and R&B with a sprawling collection of new collaborations that include a few more shots at a fellow named Drake — or “BBL Drizzy,” if you’re Rick Ross.
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Alongside We Still Don’t Trust You — 2024’s second joint album from Future and Metro — a pair of diss tracks from Drizzy and Rozay titled “Push Ups” and “Champagne Moments,” respectively. Both songs were worthy additions to the ongoing back-and-forth between Drake and Future & Metro, which came to a head with the Billboard Hot 100-topping, Kendrick Lamar-assisted “Like That.” In other beef-related news, J. Cole made good on his promise to remove “7 Minute Drill,” his response to Lamar’s “Like That” verse, from streaming services, and Uma Thurman offered up her Kill Bill jumpsuit for Drake to truly get battle-ready.
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As we await Kung Fu Kenny’s response, let’s parse through this week’s new drops. With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from the latest preview of PARTYNEXTDOOR’s upcoming album to Maiya the Don‘s funky come-hither pop-rap banger. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
Freshest Find: Jean Deaux feat. Destin Conrad, “Thinkin”
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Taken from her Nowhere, Fast EP, Jean Deaux’s new Destin Conrad duet, “Thinkin’,” is a gorgeous slice of slinky, sultry R&B. “Thinkin’, thinkin’, thinkin’, thinkin’/ But if it wine, how your touch gon’ feel with mine?/ I been/ Drinkin,’ thinkin’/ I’m reminded, we’ll never know if we don’t try,” she croons over ethereal guitars and synths. As he does with essentially every duet he partakes in, Destin Conrad brings a lovely, idiosyncratic dimension to the track, providing a warm vocal complement to Deaux. The atmospheric energy of the record helps bring to life the intimacy-sourced escapism the pair croon about across Lido’s production.
Kalan.FrFr, “Everybody”
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LA rapper Kalan.FrFr delivers a sneak attack of an anthem built on a Bankroll Got It production that’s infused with trademark West Coast bounce. “Everybody got a homie that’s a Blood/ Got a homie that’s a Crip/ Got a homie that’s a b–ch/ Got a homie that’s a pimp/ Got a homie that’s a trick/ Got a homie that whip p—y/ Got a homie p—y whipped,” he spits with a flow that’s as laid-back as it is tongue-in-cheek. Outside of how catchy the track is, “Everybody” is an unlikely ode to how much we all have in common — even if those commonalities are the nefarious activities our homies may or may not be getting up to.
BBG Steppaa, “Bisexual Glock”
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“Glock is bisexual, aim at women too / Niggas told, what you mean what your friend do? / It’s up with the whole town, beefin’ with kin too,” snarls Newark drill rapper BBG Steppaa on “Bisexual Glock,” his provacative new single. While the message is hardly one that should be endorsed, the new track — which features production contributions from AyyoLucas, Spaceman and EMRLD — finds Steppaa proclaiming his ruthlessness when it comes to protecting himself and those most loyal to him. The contrast of the high-drama string-laden embellishments juxtaposed against the drill snares make for a perfectly high-octane listening experience.
PARTYNEXTDOOR, “Lose My Mind”
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Now that dust has settled around PND’s NSFW new album cover, it’s time to get back to the music. For the latest taste of his fothcoming project, Party builds on a sample fo DMX’s classic “Party Up (Up In Here).” In fact, the entire hook is repurposed from that of DMX’s original, with Party providing the lead-in line — “Y’all gon’ make me lose my mind” — as he sings about the borderline tragic allure of beautiful women. The murky trap&B balladry that grounds the track is also quite reminiscent of classic PND.
Maiya the Don, “Mean It”
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“Show me that you need it, that you need it/ Say it like you mean it, like you mean it,” Maiya challenegs a potential lover on “Mean It.” The Bankroll Got It-helmed track banks heavily on the rising New York rapper’s seductive edge, with her gruff tone evolving into something particulalry inviting against the funky left-of-pop/rock production. Showing no signs of slowing down after blowing up with “Telfy” and “Dusties” over the past two years, “Mean It” could turn into a nice spring hit for Maiya the Don.
Future & Metro Boomin feat. The Weeknd, “All to Myself”
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Metro turns the clock back a few decades with some vintage babymaking R&B production to set the candle-lit scene. Motown Future continues his Future Vandross evolution entering his lover era. The Weeknd and his falsetto make another appearance. However, his dulcet assist is soured by speculation he was adding to the flavor of the month, dissing Drake. “They could never diss my brothers, baby/ When they got leaks in they operation/ I thank God that I never signed my life away/ And we never do the big talk/ They shoot us, makin’ TikToks,” he sings.
Tinashe, “Nasty”
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Tinashe leans into her Nasty Nashe alter-ego for her sultry new single. The R&B singer-songwriter’s robotic hook casts a hypnotic spell on listeners and will have them repeating after her within seconds. Nashe has been known to dabble in painting in the studio while recording and she paints an evocative picture with her sensual second verse depicting a perfect date night. “Shotgun, my thighs on his seat/ I ain’t got nothing underneath/ Looks like you’re ’bout to spend the night/ Freak side, I’m ’bout to change your life,” she promises. 2024 is slated to be a busy campaign for Tinashe with “Nasty” serving as the lead single heading into her BB/ANG3L PT. 2 – QUANTUM BABY project.
Key Glock & Young Dolph, “Let’s Go (Remix)”
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Key Glock is one of rap’s reclusive stars, so when he reveals a collaboration is on the horizon, fans’ ears perk up. With the “Let’s Go” remix, Glizzock surprised the Paper Route Empire family with a posthumous appearance from his mentor Young Dolph. Dolph’s verse fit like a glove over the trunk-rattling production so well that fans thought it was AI-generated, a theory that Glock quickly put to rest. His braggadocios assist embodied everything that people loved about the Memphis rapper – brimming with boisterous boss talk and a peek into his raunchy romantic ways. A fitting tribute to one of rap’s voices gone way too soon. RIP Young Dolph.
Future: “Don’t you know? Don’t you know?/This life is amazin’, special occasions, we smoke n—as like packs/We roll n—as like…we cook n—as like crack, givin’ it back/So many ties, right or wrong, down for the guys (Swerve)/We ready to ride, dawg, whenever it’s time (Whenever)/However we gotta play it, we can’t be in the blind (Never in the blind)/It’s gon’ seem complicated to you if you not one of mine (Not one of mine)”Future: “Ain’t goin’ against my mans to f—k on his b—h, I’m gon’ f—k up these bands/Got too many options, they meet my demand, my team, we done spinned/You went against the gang, you read what I’m saying, it’s out of my hands”
These issues with Drake seem to be deeper than rap. I’m not sure if this all stems back to the now infamous “tweeters and deleters” Instagram Story from the Canadian rapper. Future takes the “If Metro doesn’t trust you, I’m going to shoot you” slogan to heart, acknowledging all the moving parts and mutual relationships that are going to be tested.
A couples scenes come to mind.
First, there’s this scene from the first Godfather where Michael is in a garage testing out the gun Clemenza set up for him and Clemenza is explaining to him why this tug of war for power is necessary for getting rid of the bad blood every five to 10 years.
This scene applies to the Big 3 in Drake, Kendrick, and J. Cole, but I’ll also throw Future in the mix who clearly feels he’s the odd man out of this equation. Every few years or so, rap has to go through a power struggle. We’ve seen this movie before throughout the genres history, whether it be Boogie Down Productions versus the Juice Crew or Roc-A-Fella versus the Ruff Ryders, and Nas and Queensbridge.
Then there’s the scene from The Wire where Slim Charles is telling Avon they’ve come too far to stop fighting now. This applies to the lines: “So many ties, right or wrong, down for the guys/We ready to ride, dawg, whenever it’s time” and “You went against the gang, you read what I’m saying, it’s out of my hands.”
Like Slim says, “Once you in it, you in it. If it’s a lie, then we fight on that lie, but we gotta fight.” This clip applies to some of the things said on “Nobody Knows My Struggle” as well.
Calvin LeBrun, better known as the legendary DJ Mister Cee has passed, according longtime employers Hot 97 and WLBS. Known as “The Finisher,” Mister Cee has been a fixture on New York City radio waves for over 25 years, helming the “Throwback at Noon” block on Hot 97 where he played classic old school hip-hop […]
What’s in the water lately?
Since Future and Metro Boomin dropped We Don’t Trust You a couple of weeks back, rap drama has spilled out from all corners. First, Kendrick Lamar ignited a civil war between the Big 3, which now is down to Drake and Lamar after J. Cole politely bowed out this weekend at Dreamville Fest. Then you have the ladies of rap going at it, with Glorilla beefing with JT from the City Girls late last week over Big Glo’s song “Aite.”
And then today, the OGs, Joe Budden and Skillz, went back and forth over Cole’s backtracking.
Now Skillz…… there is NO LIVING BREATHING person that has you as a better MC than me. & YOU can’t career shame a mosquito with a mixtape. And the one time a year ppl wanted to hear from you got stolen from you. Go be with your family. https://t.co/YA4vjnetNY— Joe Budden (@JoeBudden) April 8, 2024
But the biggest story in “Today in Rap Beef” is undoubtedly Meek Mill being upset with Wale for taking a picture with someone he’s no longer friends with. In a now-deleted tweet, Meek posted a screenshot of Wale’s photo with Philly rapper Dean Stay Ready and wrote, “Wale never liked me.”
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Meek Mill goes off on Wale after he linked up with Meek’s former bestfriend Dean in Philadelphia.”Wale never liked me … now ima treat him like the streets every time I see him.” 😳 pic.twitter.com/AL0fnGBUW3— No Jumper (@nojumper) April 8, 2024
Wale responded, suggesting he didn’t realize taking a flick with Dean would end up being this serious.
When u get in other people unserious drama in this industry 90pct of the time they be back friends… eventually ..and then u look silly… in the end… so I love minding my business. If a photo can create such vitriol , one has to ask himself some questions. Happy Monday— Wale (@Wale) April 8, 2024
Meek then accused Wale of having “always been jealous” of him and said the D.C. rapper “killed all his relationships.” He followed it up with a series of tweets mentioning a fight Wale had in D.C., how he doesn’t believe any sex stories about Diddy, how he’s his own publicist, and how he’s treating X like his journal, among other things.
This why the rap game screwed along of niggas be having these secretly jealous vibes you can’t do songs or tours with them lol he’s always been jealous of me but tryna link with meek haters intentionally ..wale killed all his relationships dont come around again with bad energy! https://t.co/8UelusekMx— MeekMill (@MeekMill) April 8, 2024
We’re only four months into 2024 and this isn’t the first time Meek has had a public meltdown on social media. Back in February, after being named in a lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs by a producer who worked on his Grammy-nominated The Love Album: Off the Grid, Meek hopped on X and told DJ Akademiks to stop playing with his name, accused a competing music label of trying to smear him, promoted his Heathenism EP, and then asked his fans to send him the lawsuit so he could read it for himself. It was quite the day.
But as to why Meek would be so mad at his former labelmate for taking a photo with Dean Stay Ready, look no further than a DJ Akademiks interview. In the video interview, Dean talked about his past relationship with Meek Mill and accused the head Dreamchaser of blackballing him. The two reportedly had a falling-out due to Dean’s belief that Meek was preventing the advancement of his career.
The Pandora’s Box that Katt Williams opened in January isn’t closing any time soon. While Beyoncé enjoyed big wins in the country and Americana worlds, the rap game was in complete disarray the past week: Grammy-nominated “F.N.F.” rapper GloRilla dominated headlines with the release of her new Ehhthang Ehhthang mixtape which housed a new track titled “Aite” where she spits, “‘Cause Cardi and Nicki on a track would break some f–kin’ records/ Me and JT ain’t the best of friends but we ain’t beefin’.”
While that line was intended to be unifying, it opened the floodgates for heated social media back-and-forth between GloRilla and JT of City Girls. While the exact details of the origin of their beef are unclear, in this instance, JT was upset at being name-dropped in that bar after GloRilla let rumors of her slapping the “No Bars” rapper fly unchecked. This, of course, bookmarked a weekend that began with J. Cole responding to Kendrick Lamar‘s Billboard Hot 100-topping “Like That” verse on “7 Minute Drill.” That track, which served as the final track on his surprise Might Delete Later mixtape, garnered very mixed reactions, and Cole eventually walked the whole thing back by Sunday evening (April 7) at Dreamville Fest.
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“That s–t don’t sit right with my spirit,” Cole said. “That s–t disrupts my f–king peace… I want to say right now tonight, how many people think Kendrick Lamar is one of the greatest motherf–kers to ever touch a f–king microphone? Dreamville, y’all love Kendrick Lamar, correct? As do I.”
As we deal with the aftermath of Cole’s culture-quaking decision and continue to wait for Drake’s “Like That” response, there’s still so much new music to explore. 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 Bryson Tiller‘s sultry new Victoria Monét duet to J. Cole’s cross-generational link-up with Cam’ron. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
Freshest Find: The Amours & TA Thomas, “Pick Me Up”
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Ahead of their new Changes EP (out April 26), sister duo The Amours team up with R&B savant TA Thomas for the gorgeous “Pick Me Up.” Forlorn guitars immediately introduce the track, with the duo trading devastating lines about the turbulent nature of growing together in a relationship. Their tight harmonies function as just another instrument in the overall arrangement, which allows for the song to maintain a conversational, back-and-forth feel despite there technically being three vocalists on the track. “You can always be yourself around me/ Caught in the middle of trust and belief,” they croon harmoniously. TA Thomas, of course, delivers a characteristically silky vocal performance that provides just enough depth to contrast with the brighter tones of The Amours.
GloRilla & Megan Thee Stallion, “Wanna Be”
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Most people opened Instagram on Sunday to a two-minute clip of Megan Thee Stallion flaunting “the best a– on IG” while promoting her new GloRilla collaboration “Wanna Be.” While the clip is certainly a winner, so is the new song. Built on samples from a pair of timeless tracks — Soulja Boy‘s “Petty Boy Swag” and Project Pat‘s “Don’t Save Her” — the two Southern rap stars flaunt their independence and reject the notion of being “claimed.” With an all-star line-up of Ace Charisma, Payday, MKMentality and Yo Gotti on production duties, “Wanna Be” boasts one of the most infectious beats of the year so far. If that weren’t enough to secure its spot as a viable summer anthem, both Glorilla and Meg delivery fiery verses and an incredibly catchy, Instagram caption-ready hook, to boot.
Bryson Tiller feat. Victoria Monét, “Persuasion”
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With D’Mile on production, you know you’re in for a treat. Add Victoria Monét and Bryson Tiller, and you’re in for some heat too. “Persuasion,” one of two collaborations of Bryson Tiller’s new eponymous album, is easily one of the LP’s best offerings. Across the bouncy ’90s-inspired instrumental, Bryson and Victoria trade verses where they play with enunciation and innuendo, teasing listeners with phrasing that hints at expletives before delving into something cleaner — and sneakily more nuanced. “He asked if he could grab all on my— absolutely/ I’m in no opposition so I’m gonna sit on that decision tonight,” Victoria croons. The two R&B stars have palpable verve and chemistry on this track, adding just the right amount of dynamism for an instant standout.
J. Cole feat. Cam’ron, “Ready ‘24”
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J. Cole comes out of the gate guns blazing on this Might Delete Later standout, hilariously bragging about being able to pull your girl without a haircut while rocking some Crocs. Admittedly, his puffed-out chest declarations about “nobody being better” than him on the planet are hitting differently after copping a plea at Dreamville Fest and waving the white flag in his feud with Kendrick Lamar. The Barbara Mason-sampling tune uses the same lift as a Dipset classic from two decades earlier, and Cam’ron himself steps into the booth here like he hasn’t lost a step since Diplomatic Immunity dropped.
Khalid, “Please Don’t Fall In Love With Me”
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It’s been a minute since Khalid led R&B conversations as he did with blockbuster hits such as 2017’s “Location” or 2019’s “Talk.” “Please Don’t Fall In Love With Me” could thrust him back into that limelight. Produced by Jason Kellner and featuring an interpolation of Alicia Keys‘ “Unthinkable (I’m Ready),” the new single finds Khalid updating his plaintive, atmospheric R&B style with some trap inflections. Pounding bass soundtracks his nimble rap-sung in the verses, while the production opens up into synthy mirage when he lifts into his falsetto in the hook. “I hope that you believe in the end that I got you/ How can I move forward when every relationship I get in/ Don’t hit the same ’cause it’s not you?” he asks. With a pen as sharp as ever and a sound that feels fresh and believable, Khalid appears to be back on track.
Doja Cat feat. Teezo Touchdown, “MASC”
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Only Doja Cat can flip threats to end a relationship into a light-hearted angelic chorus. With cinematic production that sounds as if it could’ve landed on Kanye West’s Vultures, Doja aims to have her man sleeping on the couch again while revealing this love story needs a rewrite. “You gave me the d–k / Then gave the d–k without the D,” she cleverly rhymes. Teezo Touchdown steps in to play Doja’s romantic interest in the fried relationship, and attempts to win her back. “I need your time, I need your feet cuddlin’ mine,” he sings. Doja Cat and Teezo Touchdown’s rap-singing styles smoothly mesh, making for a robust collaboration between the eccentric RCA labelmates.
G-Eazy feat. Coi Leray & Kaliii, “Femme Fatale”
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After taking over a year off, G-Eazy kicks off his next era by catering to the women and “sex positivity.” In his hitmaking prime, Young Gerald meticulously dished out catchy hooks and he crafts another one centered around Century Steel Band’s “Heaven and Hell Is on Earth.” Eazy invites rising female rap stars Coi Leray and Kaliii to join him at the party and Leray steals the show with a raunchy assist. “Get this p—y, get more wings and I could get him to fly/ G-Eazy want a bite and I could see in his eyes/ But slow down, don’t rush, baby, give it some time,” she raps. With an album on the way set for this fall, it’s a step in the right direction for the Bay Area rhymer looking to reclaim his hip-hop titan status.
What’s rap beef?
Rap beef is when the best claim the throne. This has happened throughout the genre’s history. Battling on wax is etched in stone, the ritual is one of the game’s 10 Rap Commandments. Rap’s been a game of thrones since the very beginning. Do the knowledge on MC Shan and KRS-One or Kool Moe Dee vs. LL Cool J. Carrying on tradition, last night J. Cole responded to Kendrick’s sneak attack on “7 Minute Drill,” the last track on his surprise mixtape Might Delete Later. However, he sounded like his heart wasn’t fully in it like when Nino had to put G-Money down, just as he alluded to on the song. And instead of a headshot like most expected, Cole instead fired a shot in the air. His retort wasn’t enough.
Though Cole gets right to it and is very direct, he never crosses the lines that need to be crossed. To be fair, he does say this is just a warning shot and this thing is just getting started. But when you first hear Cole spit, “Now I’m front of the line with a comfortable lead/How ironic, soon as I got it, now he want somethin’ with me” as he runs down his thoughts on Lamar’s catalog and claims to have overtaken him in the power rankings, your ears perk up and you start rubbing your hands together, expecting a proper reply. But then he just coasts along until the beat switches to something a little more sinister courtesy of Griselda stalwart Conductor Williams and your ears perk up again.
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And still, Cole plays with his food and never truly handles his business. Instead, he comes off reluctant to really engage, spitting, “My text flooded with the hunger for a toxic reply/I’m hesitant, I love my brother, but I’m not gonna lie/I’m powered up for real, that shit would feel like swattin’ a fly/Four albums in twelve years, n—a, I can divide.” Cole knew he needed to send a shot back, especially before the weekend of his annual Dreamville Fest. What’s interesting is “7 Minute Drill” would’ve hit a little harder if, instead of just coopting Jay lyrics, he went full Jigga and premiered it live on stage and not on streaming services on New Music Fridays. He missed the opportunity to put Kenny on that Dreamville screen.
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When Jay-Z was closing out his Volume era at the end of the ‘90s, he and Nas were the Defacto Kings of Rap with acts like Prodigy and Scarface not far behind. Jay was aware of the stakes and the history of this thing of ours. He understood what it took to be the best. So, at Hot 97’s annual Summer Jam concert in 2001, he boldly reached for the crown and snatched it. During his set he performed “Takeover” for the first time, months before it would appear on his sixth album, The Blueprint, and called Nas out by name. That moment was so seismic and important to hip-hop history, people forgot that he brought out Michael Jackson during that same performance! The stakes were that high. Now, over 20 years later, another band of kings must usher in a new era.
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The Big 3 Civil War has officially begun. Last month, Future and Metro Boomin dropped their chart topping collab album We Don’t Trust You. It’s essentially the equivalent of the Mean Girls burn book directed at Drake. On the album’s sixth track, “Like That,” there was a hidden pipe bomb that reverberated throughout every corner of hip-hop. It was very slick on Future and Metro’s part and fitting that they and Lamar chose that song to launch their offensive, with its Rodney-O & Joe Cooley sample serving as a reminder that at the end of the day, this is hip-hop.
Those saying Kendrick’s verse is mid (for the record, they’re delusional, but for the sake of an argument let’s go with it) are missing the point. The “Like That” verse has the potential to be the Big 3 Era’s defining moment. It’s closer to Jay on that Summer Jam stage performing “Takeover” than it is to Lamar’s first attempt at claiming the throne with ‘Control” back in 2013. We Don’t Trust You and Kenny’s vitriol have sparked the beginnings of a power struggle atop Mt. Rap and the game will be better for it in the long run.
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“Like That” is the number one song in the country. It’s being played in sports arenas and during “NBA on TNT” halftime shows. This is a page taken out of Drake’s own playbook. His Meek Mill diss “Back to Back” was made to be played in clubs and on the radio; you couldn’t escape it. The song peaked at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and put a dent in Meek’s resume forever. Now, Drake and Cole find themselves in the position Nas was in when Jay said his name on that Summer Jam stage. Cole’s first rebuttal fell flat, but he still has a chance to drop an “Ether.” Drake, however, should pay attention to the response J. Cole is getting. He now knows that warmup jabs aren’t going to get it done, nor will they appease the fans thirsty to watch the game’s three biggest stars go bar-for-bar. Drake needs a “No Vaseline” or, you know, another “Back to Back.”
But one thing is for sure: The Great Rap Battle of 2024 is here, folks.