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Drake‘s latest album, For All the Dogs, is finally here. The set, released on Friday (Oct. 6), saw the return of the rapper with a few special guests, including SZA, 21 Savage, J. Cole, Chief Keef, Sexyy Red, Snoop Dogg and more. Prior to the release of For All the Dogs, Drake released the SZA […]
Drake is about to receive a sizable addition to his bra collection — in every sense of the word. Following her recent breast reduction, Sherri Shepherd opened up about the surplus of brassieres she has on her hands now that she’s gone down a few sizes. Luckily, she knows just who to pass them on […]
The feud between Joe Budden and Drake has consumed a lot of hip-hop oxygen over the past few days. The latest tangle between Drizzy and the retired rapper-turned-podcaster centers on a recent episode of Budden’s eponymous show in which he took aim at Drake’s new For All the Dogs album, which he said is tantamount […]
21 Savage is set to perform in the U.K. for the first time after recently resolving immigration issues. The U.K.-born, Atlanta-raised rapper (real name She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph) will perform at London’s O2 Arena on Nov. 30. This marks 21 Savage’s first and biggest headline show to date. Presale starts Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 9 a.m., while general […]
Drake’s For All the Dogs album — and his subsequent back-and-forth with Joe Budden — took up a lot of airtime this weekend, but the rest of the music world was just as active. As usual, New Music Friday (Oct. 6) unleashed a fresh batch of new R&B and hip-hop tracks to sort through as we count down to the BET Hip-Hop Awards on Tuesday (Oct. 10).
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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 Megan Thee Stallion’s swing at hip-hop musical theatre. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
Freshest Find: Fivio Foreign, “Why Would I?”
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For his first unaccompanied release in several months, Fivio delivers a biting piece of authentic New York drill. With pop-drill — a subgenre that Fivio helped pioneer — topping Top 40 radio and soundtracking the Barbie movie, the skittering snares and staccato flows of New York drill have reached the apex of pop culture. With “Why Would I,” Fivio goes back to basics, as he flexes his real-life successes and achievements in the face of Internet haters, over a menacing drill beat crafted by LS Da Producer and FritzThaProducer.
Megan Thee Stallion, “Out Alpha the Alpha”
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After making a return to the rap scene alongside Cardi B with “Bongos,” Megan Thee Stallion commemorates her foray into film acting with a new song for D—ks: The Musical, a musical comedy based on Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson’s off-Broadway musical of the same name. More Hamilton than Traumazine, “Out Alpha the Alpha” finds the Hot Girl Coach delivering familiar rhymes serenading women’s independence and power — but this time she adds an extra dose of comedy in her delivery to play on the arrangement’s jaunty piano and horns.
Connie Diiamond & Jenn Carter, “Ghetto & Ratchet (Remix)”
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As two of the buzziest names coming out of the New York rap scene, it’s no surprise that Connie and Jenn have found their way on a track together. On the remix to Connie’s fast-rising “Ghetto & Ratchet,” Jenn delivers a characteristically rambunctious verse full of bars flexing both his street cred and his status as one of his city’s hottest rappers. His high-octane delivery offers a smart complement to the smoothness of Connie’s tone.
Digga D, “TLC”
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On this tender G-funk-inflected track — which incorporates a well-known guitar lick from Soul Mann & The Brothers’ “Bumpy’s Lament,” by way of Dr. Dre’s “Xxplosive” — British rapper Digga D offers an introspective number in which he waxes poetic about needing something a bit more real and human in the face of his fast-moving career. “I know it’s insane / I’m grateful, but I’m kinda tired of fame / I need some TLC, I’m drained,” he spits.
Majid Jordan, “Hands Tied”
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For the latest taste of their forthcoming Good People album, Majid Jordan delivers a vibe in the spirit of Sade. Steady percussion and twinkling keys soundtrack a love story concerned with two loves, for whom risk is the reward itself. “Suspicious, suspicious, dismissive, dismissive, dismiss us, dismiss us/ Love is the answer, love is the message, you know it,” they croon. On this smooth, quiet storm-evoking track, the duo makes the smart choice to prioritize singing straight, instead of over-embellishing the song with runaway riffs.
Mannywellz, “Serious”
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On “Serious,” ManNywellz continues his soulful blend of Afrobeats and R&B. Here, Manny extends the spirit of “no weapon formed against me shall prosper” for a war-ready anthem of resilience steeped in faith. He waltzes across the peppy, percussive beat with swagger and confidence, sourced from his knowledge of God’s protection over his life. “I identify as God’s n—a / No weapon can dance with us / Can’t compete, I got stamina,” he proclaims.
Drake‘s giving streak is still going strong. At his homecoming concert in Toronto over the weekend, the 36-year-old rapper raffled off a luxury car to one lucky fan in the crowd.
The “Rich Flex” musician has made a tradition of doling out expensive gifts to fans at his It’s All a Blur Tour, with past presents spanning designer handbags to stacks of cash. This time, however, Drizzy switched things up. Not only did he give away something he’s never given away before — a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon — but he also selected his recipient completely at random, as opposed to his usual method of scanning the crowd and choosing someone — oftentimes holding a clever homemade sign — whom he sees in the crowd.
“This is what I’m gonna do,” he told the crowd mid-show at Scotiabank Arena. “I’m gonna pick a winning ticket out of this drum here. I want everybody to be super quiet.”
The Grammy winner then dipped his hand into a clear container filled with seat numbers printed on slips of paper. The winner? No. 17483, which appeared to be located in the upper level of the venue.
According to the Mercedes-Benz website, the base model G 550 SUV starts at $139,900.
The luxury car giveaway comes a couple weeks after Drake made headlines for hooking up one fan at his Miami show with $50K after reading the fan’s sign, which read, “I spent all my savings buying tickets for me and my ex, but Honestly, Nevermind, it’s really Her Loss.” “You know what? She’s gonna feel real f–ked up ’cause I’ma give you 50 bands, so you gon’ flex on her tonight,” he consoled the recently single — and newly rich — person in the crowd.
Prior to that, Drake offered to send a newlywed couple to Turks & Caicos after finding out they’d skipped their honeymoon in order to attend the show.
But while Drake’s good deeds have earned him some positive press in recent months, fans have been calling him out ever since he dropped his new album For All The Dogs Friday. That’s due to several lyrics on the record that fans saw as disses aimed at Rihanna, his onetime love interest, and her now partner, rapper A$AP Rocky.
On the track “Fear of Heights,” for instance, the hip-hop star repeatedly says the word “Anti,” aka the title of Ri’s Billboard 200 No. 1 2016 album. He also appears to make indirect references to her home country (Barbados), as well as her honorary Parsons degree. Plus, he seemingly takes a dig at Rocky by rapping, “That man, he still with you, he can’t leave you.”
Drake hasn’t responded to the criticisms over his apparent Rihanna lyrics, but he has started a war of words with Joe Budden in the days following The Dogs’ release. He’s also let fans know that the new album will probably be his last one for a while, as he plans to temporarily step away from music to focus on his health.
Watch Drake give away a G-Wagon below:
Drake goes on a trippy late night ghostride in the new video for his For All the Dogs song “Another Late Night.” The Cole Bennett-directed clip that dropped to coincide with the rapper’s latest studio album features Lil Yachty living it up in a forest illuminated by Christmas lights and, for some reason, frequented by […]
Drake is pushing back on Joe Budden’s criticism of his new album, For All the Dogs.
During a recent episode of The Joe Budden Podcast, the retired rapper took aim at the 36-year-old Toronto MC’s just-released eighth album, saying Drizzy is “rapping for the kids” and needs to start writing music for an older audience.
“He rappin’ for the children. Yo dog, I had to look up how old this n—a was when I finished listening to the album,” Budden said. “You are 36. Your birthday is in 20 days. I Googled that, too. You’re going to be 37 years old. Get the f— away from some of these younger n—as. And stop f—ing these 25-year-olds.”
The podcaster continued, “I want to hear adult Drake rapping for adult people. … He’s rapping for the kids, the streams, the accolades. He ain’t trying to rap for me. I accept that.”
On Saturday (Oct. 8), Drake fired back in the comments section of an Instagram post by DJ Akademiks that featured a video clip from The Joe Budden Podcast.
“@joebudden you have failed at music,” Drake began his lengthy message. “You left it behind to do what you are doing in this clip cause this is what actually pays your bills. For any artist watching this just remember you are watching a failure give their opinion on his idea of a recipe for success… a quitter give their opinion on how to achieve longevity…”
The 6 God added, “You switched careers cause the things that pop into your brain had you broke living cheque to cheque and the raps you write had 450 men showing up to your shows in dusty Enyce jeans to screw up their face to Mood Muzik 29 and pretend you are the goat…”
Drake also offered advice to artists, saying they should do what they feel is right, regardless of what others think.
“Pls to any artist that’s doing what they feel is right don’t let these opinions affect your mindset after the fact,” the rap star wrote. “This guy is the poster child of frustration and surrendering. You retired and we never hung up your jersey we don’t even remember your number. We know you for doing this… you withdrew from rap not cause you accomplished all you need to it’s cause it wasn’t working for you.”
Drizzy continued, “I never want anybody in the generations to think that the whole ‘everybody’s entitled to their opinion’ is a real thing… this is a man projecting his own self hate and the fact I did and continue to do everything he wanted to do for himself. If you need it put in simpler terms I own a 767… he owns a modest house in the 973 and flies first class on special occasions.”
Budden took notice of Drake’s comment and responded, “You’ll grow up sooner or later… Father time is undefeated.”
After nearly 10 months of teasing and delays, For All the Dogs hit streaming services on Friday (Oct. 6). The 23-song boasts a star-studded roster of guest features, including SZA, J. Cole, Chief Keef, Sexyy Red, Snoop Dogg, Sade, Teezo Touchdown, Bad Bunny, Yeat, 21 Savage, Lil Yachty and PARTYNEXTDOOR.
The set marks Drake’s first solo release since 2022’s Billboard 200 chart-topping Honestly, Nevermind.
Watch Budden discuss Drake’s For All the Dogs at the 56:44 mark in the video below.
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21 Savage can now legally travel outside the United States and plans to make his international performance in his native London. Savage’s lawyer, Charles Kuck, told The Associated Press in a statement Friday (Oct. 6) that his client has officially become a permanent U.S. resident and may now go overseas. He cleared a major traveling […]
From steamy collaborations to public outings, Rihanna and Drake toyed with fans’ emotions for years, constantly sparking speculation as to what the status of the pair’s mysterious relationship or friendship was. The term “just friends” came up often when Rihanna and Drake were coaxed into discussing their relationship. But in a 2018 profile for Vogue, Rihanna made their status crystal-clear when […]