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It’s only been two weeks since Lil Nas X officially returned with his first single in over a year “J Christ.” But now, he’s making it clear that the drought is officially over with yet another new track. On Tuesday (Jan. 23), the rapper took to Instagram to let fans know that his next single […]
YFN Lucci pleaded guilty to a gang-related charge in a plea deal on Tuesday (Jan. 23).
After spending nearly three years behind bars, Lucci — born Rayshawn Bennett — pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. He was indicted in Atlanta in 2021 on murder, gang and racketeering charges.
The plea deal included having 12 of the 13 counts against Lucci dropped — including felony murder, which comes with a life sentence — related to the 2020 shooting death of rival gang member James Adams in Atlanta.
YFN Lucci will serve 10 years behind bars, and another 10 years on probation.
“After three years of pretrial litigation, more than two weeks of jury selection and three years of incarceration waiting for his jury trial, today, the prosecution finally relented and dismissed the murder and RICO charges against Rayshawn Bennett,” Lucci’s attorney Drew Findling tells Billboard. “After the dismissal of 12 of the 13 counts against him, Mr. Bennett entered a plea to one gang-related count.”
The “Everyday We Lit” rapper surrendered to authorities in January 2021 and was part of a May 2021 sweeping indictment targeting alleged Bloods gang members.
He will be credited for time served, which means he can be eligible for parole in four months. If granted, Lucci is slated to serve out the rest of the sentence on probation.
The state of Georgia also agreed to not file anything that will object to his release later this year. According to Atlanta’s local ABC affiliate WSB-TV, the 32-year-old addressed the court and apologized to the victim’s family before his sentencing.
Findling also vehemently denied that his client would be cooperating in any case such as Young Thug’s YSL RICO trial following his plea deal.
“As he has maintained for three years now, Mr. Bennett will NOT cooperate in any other case,” the attorney tells Billboard. “By entering into this resolution, he will be eligible for parole in as early as four months from now. The prosecution has also agreed that he should be released early on parole and this will allow him to get back to his children, family and career.”
Billboard has reached out to the Fulton County Courthouse for additional comment.
Travis Scott can’t keep his women straight in his latest “I Know?” music video, which he released on Tuesday (Jan. 23). Co-directed by Dave Meyers and Scott, the visual finds the rapper and model Emily Ratajkowski leading parallel lives in the Hollywood Hills, from playing video games to snacking on Scott’s signature McDonald’s meal. But […]
Kanye West shared a sinister album trailer on Tuesday (Jan. 23) to tease the much-delayed Vultures collaborative project with Ty Dolla $ign.
West — who now goes by Ye — tapped Jon Rafman to direct the visual, which is filled with haunting scenes throughout and no appearances from Kanye, Ty Dolla $ign, Lil Durk and Bump J.
The spooky clip finds citizens summoned by vultures as their souls are seemingly overtaken and controlled by a new host. Heading to battle, they vanish one by one as the city is the target of an explosive onslaught.
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The trailer ends with a reveal of Ye’s master plan to break down Vultures into three different volumes, with the first arriving on Feb. 9, as previously confirmed, with the others following suit on March 8 and April 5. West later confirmed the dates and various album covers in a post to his Instagram Story.
Vultures was originally supposed to be released in October, but continued to get pushed back, first to December, and now into the new year.
Kanye could be facing sampling issues contributing to the album delay. For example, the last time Nicki Minaj spoke on “New Body” — which was originally intended for Ye’s Yandhi album in 2018 — she didn’t have any plans on clearing her vocals for Vultures.
“Now regarding Kanye, that train has left the station, OK?” she said in an Instagram Live in December. “No disrespect in any way, I just put out a brand new album. Now why would I put out a song that has been out for three years? Come on guys. You know?”
West responded to Minaj’s rejection at a December Vultures listening party, saying, “I made that girl rewrite her verse three times for ‘Monster.’ I supported her career.”
Barring another setback or change-of-heart from Ye, volume one of Vultures will arrive on Feb. 9.
Watch the trailer below.
After a promotional frenzy filled with plenty of controversy, Lil Nas X is officially back like “J Christ” on the Hot 100. Lil Nas X’s latest single “J Christ” debuted at No. 69 on the chart dated Jan. 27, and the rapper is taking that particular ranking as a milestone achievement in his career. “we […]
Offset will be hitting the road for the first time as a solo act and not under the Migos umbrella. The Atlanta native announced plans for his Set It Off Tour on Tuesday (Jan. 23); it is slated to kick off in March.
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Pre-sale tickets are set to go on sale starting on Wednesday (Jan. 24) at 10 a.m. local time, while the general public will have their chance on Live Nation’s website on Friday (Jan. 26).
“SET IT OFF is more than a phrase, it’s a vibe we’re creating together. This tour is not just a series of concerts, it’s a journey into my mind,” Offset relayed in a statement. “I’m ready to hit the road on my first solo headlining tour, bringing the heat and most importantly, giving the fans a new way to experience my music.”
Offset’s first North American trek sans Quavo and the late Takeoff will begin in Philadelphia on March 10, and makes stops in New York City, Boston, Toronto, Detroit, Chicago, Denver, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Dallas and Houston before wrapping up in his hometown of Atlanta.
There’s still no word on possible openers. The tour announcement comes in support of Offset’s sophomore album of the same name, Set It Off, which arrived in October.
The LP debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 with 70,000 album-equivalent units moved in the first week and 59.1 million on-demand streams.
To execute his vision, Offset recruited a plethora of superstar guests on the expedition including Travis Scott, Cardi B, Don Toliver, Future, Latto, Chloe Bailey, and more.
See the list of tour dates below:
March 10 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore Philadelphia
March 12 – Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore Silver Spring
March 14 – New York, NY @ Palladium Times Square
March 15 – Boston, MA @ Citizens House of Blues Boston
March 17 – Toronto, ON @ HISTORY
March 19 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore Detroit
March 20 – Grand Rapids, MI @ GLC Live at 20 Monroe
March 22 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s
March 23 – Chicago, IL @ Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom
March 27 – Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
March 29 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
March 30 – San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic
April 1 – Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues Anaheim
April 3 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren
April 5 – Dallas, TX @ South Side Ballroom
April 7 – Houston, TX @ Bayou Music Center
April 10 – Atlanta, GA @ Coca-Cola Roxy
If you’ve ever heard Ludacris talk about the early days of his career working as an intern at Atlanta’s Hot 97.5 under the name “Chris Lova Lova,” then parlaying his undeniable hustle into a nearly three-decade run as a hitmaker, movie actor and author, then you know there’s a great story there. A story that […]
On Sunday night (Jan. 21), 21 Savage clinched his fourth Billboard 200 No. 1 album with the release of his third solo LP, american dream. The long-awaited blockbuster set arrives over a half-decade after his sophomore effort, 2018’s i am > i was, and could be the masterwork that etches Savage’s name as a generational star for years to come.
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While a glaring time lapse between solo albums would derail most artists’ footing, 21 remained consistent, darting out scene-stealing features and indelible full-length collaborative projects, including 2020’s Savage Mode II with Metro Boomin and 2022’s Her Loss with Drake. And even before debunking the mythical sophomore curse, 21 was a stringent rookie with unyielding charm, detonating the mixtape scene in 2016 when teaming with Metro on Savage Mode heaters such as “No Heart” and “X.” Granted, Savage’s whimsical wordplay was not quite yet top-tier, as he hurled lines that made backpackers grimace. Still, at the same time, his records were instant headbangers amongst the younger generation and ear candy for clubgoers.
A prime example of Savage’s genius came in 2017 with “Bank Account.” With Metro Boomin helming the production, Savage scripted a minimal-yet-sticky hook that became a chant-along for money-hungry go-getters and led to his biggest Billboard Hot 100 hit at that time, the song peaking at No. 12. Savage’s playground wit and “less is more” mantra made his verses highly digestible and downright fun. Even if you look to his features, like one Post Malone’s Hot 100 chart-topper “rockstar,” Savage’s instantly unforgettable one-liners, “Your wifey say I’m lookin’ like a whole snack,” or “Sweeter than a Pop-Tart, you know you are not hard,” helped the poker-faced rapper become a peerlessly entertaining star.
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When paired with Offset on Without Warning or Drake on Her Loss, 21 is a chameleon who blends well regardless of his co-star and is uncomplicated in his approach. He can easily serve as a reliable wingman when carving out club bangers or the antagonizing heel when sparring with the opps. And while his quick-witted verses can be playful and in jest, 21 can easily juxtapose those efforts with his harrowing street tales, which made 2018’s i am > i was a step in the right direction. Songs like “letter 2 my momma,” “all my friends” and his Grammy award-winning collaboration “a lot” with J. Cole exemplified Savage’s introspectiveness and free-flowing ruminations as a deep thinker.
Along with 21 increasing his depth lyrically, his penchant for chopped-up soul samples and growth as a songwriter – both already apparent in i am > i was – reaches a new level on american dream. While 21’s lust for bedroom theatrics (“Sneaky”) and street raps (“Dangerous”) remains at an all-time high on his third album, he digs deeper and offers more on the cinematic set. After struggling through a years-long saga regarding his immigration status, Savage uses bits and pieces of his trials and tribulations to set the table for american dream, including getting his mother to speak on their journey to America in the album’s intro and outro. Rich samples, including Rose Royce’s “Wishing on a Star” for 21’s “All of Me,” are the backdrop for his tales of a turbulent upbringing and his conflicted fight between good and evil. “I seen plenty homicides and still kept my focus,” he spits.
The album standout, “Letter to My Brudda,” is a passionate push by 21 that centers around deceit and disappointment for his comrades and shows a more sophisticated writer versus previous years. “They’ll stand on couches with you, but won’t stand on business,” he raps in dismay. The album’s outro is probably 21’s most gripping showing: “Dark Days” sees him encouraging the youth to stay in school and not risk their lives for short-term gain, rapping: “You say you love your switch, but it doesn’t love you back/ You can hug that block all night, it ain’t gon’ hug you back.”
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And when Savage reaches into the R&B world, it’s not that much of a stretch, as he fits seamlessly with whichever singer joins his escapades: The second half of american dream thrives off ’90s soul samples with Summer Walker (“Prove It”) and Brent Faiyaz (“Should’ve Wore a Bonnet”). And, of course, his murderous streak on the charts remains intact, courtesy of his No. 5-debuting Hot 100 single “Redrum,” which is already his highest-peaking unaccompanied hit on the chart.
Stat-wise, 21 already measures up well with his turn-of-the-’20s contemporaries, including Lil Baby, Lil Uzi Vert, Gunna, Lil Durk, and Playboi Carti, with his four Billboard 200 No. 1 albums and Grammy win for best rap song in 2020. He has the respect of rap luminaries such as Jay-Z and Nas, with the latter reeling him in for a feature in 2022 with “One Mic, One Gun,” disproving Savage’s inability to mesh with the older generation. His discography is pristine, boasting some of the best collaborative projects in the last decade, and his feature run is just as torrid as when he first entered the rap ecosystem, especially after last year’s showings with Travis Scott (“Topia Twins”) and Rod Wave (“Turks & Caicos”).
Though Savage has unlocked many levels so far in his young career, he still has yet to reach the status of superstars like Drake, J. Cole, Future, or Young Thug for most rap fans. Part of the issue stems from Savage not having a consensus classic album. Though american dream puts Savage on the right path to reach the mountainous heights before him, he needs to buckle down, continue to ease up on the cartoonish punchlines and create more moments like “Brudda” and “Dark Days” to have that magnum opus. And though it’s great to have the star power and cosigns 21 has on his resume, whether it’s a Drake collab album or a Post Malone record, 21 will need to churn out more solo hits to prove that he doesn’t need help and can stand alone — like “Redrum,” whose strong debut and positive momentum proves he’s getting off to a good start there.
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Before 21 can become the face of the new generation, though, he still must develop his willingness to become a formidable performer. After touring with Drake and J. Cole, the biggest question will be can he hold his own as a headliner and closer. While he has the anthems to deliver an electric showing, he needs the right energy and consistency to become an all-around threat for years. Also, while he has shown strides lyrically, it’ll be vital for 21 to continue to grow in that pocket, while maintaining that crossover ability.
The greats have been able to keep their essence and edge, all while barreling through the doors of mainstream with their hits. If he can develop those skills, then he’ll be the Savage he always wanted to be.
As we get closer to Usher‘s highly anticipated Super Bowl Halftime Show performance, the worlds of hip-hop and R&B are back in full swing with major albums, singles and pop culture moments driving tons of discourse across social media.
From Kendrick Lamar‘s tease of new music to Megan Thee Stallion‘s surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live alongside Reneé Rapp in support of their Mean Girls collaboration, some of hip-hop’s biggest heavyweights used stealth to their advantage. In contrast, Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign‘s elusive Vultures joint album received yet another release date; this time, the record is slated to arrive on Feb. 9. — just two days before Usher is set to take the stage at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, NV. There was also a hilarious meme acknowledgment from Drake by way of the rapper’s recreation of TikTok creator Drew Wall’s viral day-in-the-life Target run videos — soundtracked by the Grammy-winner’s “Virginia Beach,” naturally.
Of course, the R&B OGs also had an eventful week — chief among them funk legend George Clinton, who received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday (Jan. 19).
With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from Anycia and Latto’s new outside anthem to Naomi Sharon’s gorgeous, acoustic paean for love. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
Freshest Find: Anycia feat. Latto, “Back Outside”
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For their first official collaboration, Anycia and Latto skate over a horn-laden JetsonMade production that perfectly complements the laid-back-yet-urgent feel of each of their respective verses. When Anycia begins her pre-chorus with the deliciously cavalier, “Huh? I’m back outside/ Yeah, huh? N—a done made me mad,” her delivery immediately sets the foundation for a woman on a mission: she’s back outside and ready to get her lick back, but you’ll never see her sweat. As a fellow Atlanta rapper, Latto sounds right at home on the track, delivering yet another strong verse complete with funny punchlines (“And they sayin’ that I rap my ass off/ Turn around like, ‘I can’t tell’) and a healthy dose of shade (“Walked in, young b–ch, I’m turnt/ Got auntie hatin’, she burnt”).
Fivio Foreign & Meek Mill, “Same 24”
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Reuniting for the first time since 2020’s “Demons & Goblins,” Fivio Foreign and Meek Mill get introspective over a drum-heavy beat courtesy of Saint Cardona and Lala the DJ. Worlds away from the Brooklyn drill that dominated his debut studio album, 2022’s B.I.B.L.E., Fivi opens “Same 24” with a stream-of-consciousness verse in which he exalts his tenacity and his maturation journey. “We got the same twenty-four hours, n—a / Why what’s mine gotta be ours, n—a? / Talkin’ ’bout n—as need help, n—as, I was “n—as” / But I rose out of the dirt, give me my flowers, n—a,” he spits. Meek adds a characteristically loud guest verse that celebrates his own come-up by way of slick double entendres; “My granny house a mil’, she ain’t even know I could rap my ass off/ You s–ttin’ me? I was super broke, I took that cast off,” he raps.
Rob49 & Lil Wayne, “Wassam Baby”
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NOLA, stand up! In a week of stellar rap collaborations, Rob49 and Lil Wayne climb into the ring with thei rown “Wassam Baby.” Built around a gritty piano-anchored Mac Fly beat, the two New Orleans rappers wax poetic about their wealth and sexual prowess while spitting game at women from across the city, as Rob emphasizes in the chorus. If that hook sounds familiar, that’s because “Wassam Baby” leaked months ago and made the rounds as a viral sound on TikTok. With the addition of a strong Wayne verse — his balance of alliteration, punch lines and rhyme scheme variations are top-notch — Rob didn’t just give “Wassam Baby” a second wind, he gave it a completely new life.
Andra Day, “Where Do We Go”
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It’s been nearly a decade since Andra Day’s Grammy-nominated “Rise Up” first entered the world, and in the time since, the multihyphenate has earned a slew of major industry awards and honors, including an Academy Award nomination for best actress in a leading role for her starring turn as Billie Holiday in The United States vs. Billie Holiday. Now, she’s back with the lead single for her second non-soundtrack studio album. “Where Do We Go” is a rousing exercise in the pacing of show-stopping vocal performance. Day’s sense of dynamics is on full display as she parses through the complicated process of seeking closure from a relationship she’s not ready to leave. “I see love inside your brown eyes/ Listening to ‘New Sky’/ Is everything an absolute, babe?/ Like, do we absolutely have to say goodbye?” she croons.
1K Phew & Zaytoven, “Let Go Let God”
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For the latest chapter in the ever-evolving relationship between gospel and hip-hop, 1K Phew has finally unleashed his collaborative project with iconic rap producer Zaytoven. Titled Pray for Atlanta, the genre-blending set — which features collaborations with Hunxho and Jekalyn Carr — is a heartfelt address to the city from a rapper who clearly adores his hometown, and a producer who has helped shape the city’s modern sound. Focus track “Let Go Let God,” blends familiar Atlanta rap cadences with a hearty gospel message, finding the common ground between the secular notion of “trusting the process” and the sanctified notion of leaving things in God’s hands. “I been down if that’s okay, had to learn from yesterday/ Took a lot of L’s in my life, baby, and I ain’t goin’ back there, no way/ I got an iced out cross on my neck right now, tryna show him that he already paid,” he spits over Zaytoven’s trap production.
Destin Conrad, “WAR!”
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Last Friday (Jan. 19), Destin Conrad dropped off Submissive2, the sequel to last year’s Submissive. “War,” the fourth track on the set, is a perfect blend of the rising star’s penchant for idiosyncratic Gen Z humor and lustful-yet-subtle R&B melodies. Obviously, the song is about the lengths one will go to for the person they want — rather the person they want to bag — but the trick of “War” is the way Destin plays into the innate melodrama of the concept. “I would smash the windows out your ex’s car without a second thought, baby/ I would gladly take the f–kin’ charge and that’s a criminal offense,” he opens the song.
It’s the chorus, however, that really drives home Destin’s shtick. He plays with his pitch and intonation to embody different characters across a melody that plays on the bounce-rooted “I’ll do [insert outlandish thing] for the d–k” punchline set-up. “I’ll sing Adele for that d–k / Rolling in the deep for that d–k,” the voices joke. It’s all fun and games until one voice proclaims that they’ll “pay for the d–k,” to which Destin comes back down to earth and ends the song, quipping, “Alright, you’re buggin’ (Yeah, b–ch, you dragged it) / You did too much, b–ch, too much.”
Naomi Sharon, “Nothing Sweeter”
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Just a few months removed from the launch of her acclaimed debut album, Obsidian, Naomi Sharon has unveiled another new addition to her growing discography. “Nothing Sweeter” arrives as the latest evolution of the most Sade-influenced edges of Sharon’s sonic profile. The First Lady of OVO lays her elegant vocals over a sparse, delicate guitar-forward instrumental that allows her ample space to showcase her sense of vocal control. Lyrically, she extols the healing power of love while calling back to iconic R&B ballads of yesteryear, singing, “Uncover my skin, undo this pain/ Unbreak my heart/Until I remember the way.”
Kendrick Lamar has scored a short film for Chanel that arrived courtesy of a collaboration between pgLang and the French fashion house. The Button was released Saturday (Jan. 20) and serves as a precursor to the Chanel Spring-Summer 2024 Haute Couture show film, which is set to debut as part of Paris Fashion Week on […]