State Champ Radio R&B/Hip-Hop
Page: 138
Ice Cube is a big fan of fellow Cali native Tyler, The Creator and how he’s able to be himself while also pushing the envelope creatively. In a recent sitdown interview with HipHopDX, the rapper and filmmaker gave the Odd Future founder some high praise by comparing him to a couple influential West Coast groups. […]
Fans are speculating that Lil Baby has accused his former collaborator Gunna of allegedly being a snitch once again. Baby recently released the deluxe version of his latest album WHAM, which includes four new songs: “99” featuring Future, “Idol,” “Running This Sh–” and “My Shawty.” “Running This Sh–” stands out from the bunch because the […]
Busta Rhymes is proud of the results of his fitness journey, and the Grammy-winning rapper took to Instagram on Monday (Jan. 6) to share a bathroom mirror selfie showing off his newly toned stomach and arms. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “THE BLESSINGS DON’T STOP SO […]
By now, you’ve likely heard G3’s (aka LiAngelo Ball) viral anthem “Tweaker” — or at least a snippet of it. Fans on social media have taken a liking to the song because it sounds like something out of the early to mid 2000s, when hip-hop music videos often featured fitted hats, sports jerseys and spinning […]
Before Fat Joe kissed 2024 goodbye, the hip-hop luminary had one more trick under his sleeve after enjoying a blockbuster calendar year: releasing his first solo album in 15 years. In December, Joe accomplished that feat when he dropped his long-awaited effort, The World Changed on Me, and spoke to Billboard News about the project’s inception.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Despite its compact size, the 11-track set is a hearty entree for rabid Joe supporters. The BX behemoth flaunts new flows and deliveries while maintaining his steely wordplay, as showcased on standout tracks “Dog House” and “I Got You.” With features ranging from Babyface to Ty Dolla $ign and Anitta, Fat Joe holds his own alongside his starry guest appearances. According to Joe, his decision to venture back into the booth was courtesy of Killer Mike after the Run the Jewels MC clinched three Grammy awards at last year’s ceremony.
“He’s the guy who inspired,” Joe says, referring to Mike’s inspiration. “I retired. I was gone. I had an infamous phone call with Eminem, where he was trying to talk me into not retiring. ‘Joe, we need you. You’re one of us.’ I was super done, but I got back outside because of Killer Mike. The man won that Grammy.”
For Joe, a Grammy remains an elusive feat in his decorated career. As he explains to Billboard News, seeing Killer Mike reach the achievement in the later stages of his career galvanized him to where he wanted to pursue music again. “When I seen it, I called Dre, I was like, ‘Yo. It’s possible. Let’s get back in the kitchen and cook.’ So, he inspired me to come out of retirement,” says Joe.
While Joe remains a fixture in hip-hop for his rugged raps, he was able to flex his journalistic muscle this year after STARZ premiered his new talk show, Fat Joe Talks. Premiering last October, Joe interviewed myriad friends in the music and entertainment space, including Method Man, Mary J. Blige, DJ Khaled and more. Though those names are buzzy in the hip-hop circuit, Joe has his eyes set on someone bigger and outside of the space: Barack Obama. Having the former president recount his historic 2008 election victory would be a monumental conversation for Joe, an explicit check off his interview bucket list.
“I know what it felt like for me when he did his acceptance speech. The first time he won, he did that speech in Chicago. It was like millions and millions of people out there. I felt so proud,” remembers Joe. “I could not believe it. That was when Jesse Jackson was crying in the audience. It was ill to see that.”
Watch the full interview with Billboard‘s Carl Lamarre as they chat about Chris Rock’s involvement in Joe’s new album, maintaining friendships with 50 Cent and Ja Rule simultaneously, and overcoming his bout with depression.
Travis Scott brought a new definition to his signature “It’s lit” ad-lib on Monday night (Jan. 6). La Flame popped out to WWE‘s Netflix debut of Raw in Los Angeles, where he made a special appearance escorting superstar Jey Uso to the ring. Being a man of the people, Scott brought the rage to the […]
After closing out 2024 by treating Miami to an explosive 10th anniversary lineup that included cinematic headlining sets from Travis Scott, Future and Playboi Carti, Rolling Loud is set to mount its seventh California showing on March 15 and 16 at Hollywood Park, on the grounds adjacent to SoFi Stadium, in Inglewood, Calif.
Playboi Carti — who debuted new tracks from his forthcoming I Am Music album during his 2024 Rolling Loud Miami headlining set — will return as a headliner for Rolling Loud California this year alongside Grammy-winning música Mexicana superstar Peso Pluma and Billboard 200 chart-topper A$AP Rocky. Other notable performers include Quavo, Bossman Dlow, Sexyy Red, Ken Carson, Destroy Lonely, YG, OsamaSon, Hurricane Wisdom, Molly Santana, Skaiwater, Ski Mask the Slump God, Ab-Soul, 03 Greedo, Larry June, Dom Kennedy, Kamaiyah, Blxst, 310Babii and more.
This year, Rolling Loud California will shift to a two-day format. Fans can spend the weekend experiencing carnival rides, brand activations, art installations and more than 75 artist performances across three different stages for $179 (general admission, no hidden fees). VIP passes begin at $499.
Trending on Billboard
“We’re excited to switch things up with a two-day format that keeps all the energy of Rolling Loud but makes it more affordable for our fans,” said Matt Zingler and Tariq Cherif, co-founders and co-CEOs of Rolling Loud, in a press release. “By cutting down a day, we can offer the same epic lineup, dope activations and unforgettable vibes at a price that’s easier on the wallet. At the end of the day, it’s all about making sure everyone can come together to celebrate hip-hop without breaking the bank.”
Rocky (2019) and Carti (2023) have previously headlined Rolling Loud California, while Peso Pluma makes history as the first non-hip-hop artist to headline any edition of the festival. Like Carti, Rocky also has an album that’s expected to arrive in 2025. In a Billboard cover story last year, the Harlem rapper described his long-awaited Don’t Be Dumb record as “the best album he’s ever made.” In June 2024, Peso Pluma unveiled Éxodo, his Grammy-nominated fourth studio album, which reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and placed 23 of its 24 tracks on Hot Latin Songs.
Rolling Loud Miami celebrated the festival’s 10th anniversary in style, with an enflamed Future, Playboi Carti’s bald backup dancers and Owen Wilson’s “FE!N” cameo emerging as the weekend’s defining images.
Passes go on sale on Friday, Jan. 10, at 12 p.m. PT, only on Rolling Loud California’s website.
Eminem and MGK (formerly Machine Gun Kelly) have one of modern music’s longest standing feuds, but if one person can bring them together, it’s probably Jelly Roll. And on a recent episode of the Flagrant podcast, the “Son of a Sinner” singer said that he’s up to the task.
While discussing how he’s worked with both the Detroit rapper and the “My Ex’s Best Friend” musician in the past, Jelly revealed that he hopes to someday “bring them together,” as he sees “so much more of them in each other than they know.” “They’re gonna get together one day, eventually,” he added confidently.
Trending on Billboard
“I haven’t really brought it up to Marshall yet, ’cause I’m just still kind of glad that I’m still in that circumference to be able to have those conversations,” the country star continued. “I also gave [MGK] some perspective too: We all grew up watching Eminem take over the game early. If you got mentioned in an Eminem song, it was like being mentioned in a comedy special. You’re on f–king fire. You couldn’t be hotter.”
Em and MGK first started butting heads in 2012, when the latter — who was 22 at the time — referred to the former’s then-16-year-old daughter Hallie as “hot as f–k” on Twitter, which is now called X. In the years since, the two rappers have dissed each other in their music, and Slim Shady most recently name-dropped his opponent on 2020’s “Unaccommodating.”
“But when they ask me is the war finished with MGK? Of course it is,” Em riffed on the track. “I cleansed him of his mortal sins/ I’m God and the Lord forgives/ Even the devil worshippers.”
Even so, Jelly said that a truce between his two friends is “inevitable.” “I think that they’re gonna find each other’s heart more than they don’t,” he said on the podcast. “If they never do connect that way, [the feud] did more for both of them than it did to hurt either one of them.”
When asked how he balances his relationships with Em and MGK, Jelly noted that he simply stays transparent with both stars and their teams. The “Need a Favor” musician has worked with the “Emo Girl” artist on the tracks “Lonely Road” and “Time of Day,” as well as appeared on “Somebody Save Me” from Eminem’s Billboard 200-topping album The Death of Slim Shady. According to Jelly, neither of his friends has ever had an issue with him working with both of them, despite the two hip-hop stars’ famous beef.
Listen to Jelly share his thoughts on Eminem and MGK’s feud on Flagrant above.
Kendrick Lamar has a couple more names to add to his opp list for 2025. WWE‘s Raw made its Netflix debut in Los Angeles on Monday night (Jan. 6), and wrestling tag team New Day called out the West Coast rapper in his home state. “Think about it,” began the duo’s Xavier Woods. “The past […]
Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) and streamer Kai Cenat seem to be on good terms these days. Over the weekend, the Chicago rapper posted a picture on his Instagram Story of a horse wearing a Bully stable blanket standing in the middle of the room Cenat uses to stream his popular Twitch show. Cenat, […]
