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Forget Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup: We have Doja Cat, Ice Spice and Doechii.
The three rappers took Instagram by storm on Monday (Sept. 11) with a series of snaps from a New York Fashion Week afterparty on Sunday night.
“Come see us all on tour and central cee is a great dude also my pepperonis,” Doja captioned an eclectic photo set that featured cameos from “Barbie World” producer RIOTUSA and U.K. rapper Central Cee, the artist behind the U.K. No. 2 hit “Doja.”
Ice Spice posted a similar photo dump, with hers featuring a few glimpses of “Sh– Me Out” rapper NLE Choppa. “Cench riot doechii doja,” Ice wrote in the caption. Her post comes the same day as the announcement of her new collaboration with Dunkin’ Donuts; more details surrounding the collaboration will be revealed on Sept. 13.
Doechii, whose “What It Is (Block Boy)” reaches the top 10 on Pop Airplay this week (No. 10, chart dated Sept. 16, 2023), also shared her own collection of photos, captioned, “real life power puff girls.” In her photo set, the “Persuasive” rapper included a behind-the-scenes video of her, Doja Cat and Ice Spice posing for a bevy of cameras.
The union of Doja, Ice and Doechii wasn’t just a one-off girls’ night out: The three rap stars are set to hit the road this fall. Ice Spice and Doechii will serve as opening acts for Doja Cat’s Scarlet Tour. The 24-date tour will kick off on Halloween, Oct. 31, at San Francisco’s Chase Center and hit major cities across the U.S. before wrapping Dec. 13 at Chicago’s United Center.
The Scarlet Tour is in support of Doja Cat’s forthcoming fourth studio album, Scarlet, set for release Sept. 22. So far, the album has yielded a pair of Billboard Hot 100 top 40 hits: “Attention” (No. 31) and “Paint the Town Red,” which recently became the first rap song to hit No. 1 in more than a year (chart dated Sept. 16). A promotional single titled “Demons” arrived earlier this month (Sept. 1) alongside a Christina Ricci-starring music video.
Check out Doja, Ice and Doechii’s flashy new flicks:
The bustling streets of New York City provided both the stage and audience for A Boogie wit Da Hoodie and Swae Lee on Thursday (Sept. 7), as they parked themselves across the newly-assembled TSX Stage to play NBA 2K24 on an 18,000-square-foot billboard.
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As Boogie and Swae sauntered into the plush designated gaming area inside the heart of Times Square, Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, tennis star Frances Tiafoe and digital marketing director for 2K Games, Ronnie 2K, were awaiting them to test their gaming prowess. For an hour, the five men huddled around the XBOX console, playing a single-game elimination-style tournament in front of New York City pedestrians, hoping to win the coveted iced-out 2K chain and, most importantly, bragging rights for the night. (Cunningham ultiamtely took home the top prize.)
“I think it’s a symbiotic relationship,” says Ronnie 2K on rappers’ affinity for the storied sports gaming franchise. “[Hip-Hop] has shown us so much love, and we show it right back by trying to create opportunities with the way we release music. It makes sense about athletes wanting to be rappers and [how] rappers wanna be athletes. It never speaks truer than in 2K, because if they can’t physically play, they can play in the digital world.”
First developed in 1999 by Visual Concepts, NBA 2K was released in November 1999 with cover athlete Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson. Over the years, NBA2K became a favorable video game franchise because of its sleek gameplay and its scintillating soundtracks. The 2K franchise previously enlisted rap heavyweights such as Jay-Z, Pharrell and Travis Scott to executive-produce their playlists — later taking things further by inviting artists like Lil Durk, Lil Wayne, Jack Harlow and Quavo to become playable characters in the game. Last year, J. Cole became the first rapper to land on the series’ cover.
“NBA 2K has become an influential platform where basketball and hip-hop culture intersect, creating a place where fans can enjoy the best of both worlds,” says David Kelley, director of partnerships and licensing at 2K Games. Our goal has always been to be a global platform for music discovery for our players. We want to both honor the culture that came before but also push that musical culture towards what’s next and upcoming, just like how NBA basketball has always done the same for hip-hop.
The previous night, 2K set up a launch event for the game in Brooklyn, where they laid out the welcome mat for many hip-hop stars, such as Boogie and Swae Lee, to experience the game in advance. 2K enthusiasts got the best of both worlds, experiencing a collision course between watching NBA stars like Cade Cunningham and Tim Hardaway Jr. compete on the gaming console and watching rappers such as Lil Uzi Vert grace the stage to perform some of their biggest hits.
For Swae and A Boogie, 2K entered their lives pretty young. “When I first fell in love with NBA2K, I was a little kid, like 11, 12,” relays Lee after his first-round loss to Boogie. “We had all the early games. Me and brothers been on that. We had four controllers. So we all played and be on the same team versus the computer.
Like Swae Lee, Boogie’s love for 2K stemmed from competition, especially after winning a $20 bet against one of his friends.
“I fell in love with 2K my first time winning money off the game. I won $20,” remembers Boogie, who lost to Cunningham in the tournament finals. “When it comes down to 2K, we was playing since like 2K14. “Now that we doing things [different in-game features] like MyPlayer, and go into the park, we get to see all the cool add-ons that make the game fun.”
Besides the gaming experience, it’s the music in 2K that once again reigns supreme. This year, the NBA 2K24 Soundtrack features over 50 artists, including A Boogie, Lil Wayne, Central Cee, Ice Spice, Burna Boy, and more. The music collection will grow weekly, as fans can expect new songs to be added to the soundtrack every Friday. Def Jam Recordings partnered with 2K this year to kick off season one of their soundtrack by adding past and present hits ranging from Rick Ross’ “Hustlin” to Armani White’s “Goated” to bolster the audio experience.
“The soundtrack has always been such an important part of the NBA 2K series,” says Kelley. “We’ve built the union by continuing to innovate our soundtrack over the last 25 years of the series, including bringing in global talent – both established names and hot up-and-comers, partnering with global record labels to bring new artists to new audiences, in-game crossover series cards and so much more. Fans can now even experience exclusive drops of music in-game before it goes live on streaming services.
Released last Friday (Sept. 8), the late Kobe Bryant graces this year’s cover, after previously being featured in NBA 2K21, NBA 2K17 and NBA 2K10. Three editions are available for fans: the Kobe Bryant Edition for $69.99, the Black Mamba Edition for $99.99, and the 25th Anniversary Edition for $149.99.
Lil Nas X has always been unabashedly himself, never shying away from being out and proud in a genre that hasn’t always been accepting to the LGBTQ community. The “Industry Baby” rapper also reveals in his new documentary, Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero, that he helped his brother, Tramon Hill, come out as bisexual.
The film — which has its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday night — includes a scene in which Hill describes how Lil Nas, 24, made him comfortable discussing who he is as well, according to EW. “My brother really opened doors for a lot of people,” Hill says in the film, EW reported. “Yeah, he opened a door for me. What I mean by that, like, I’m not gay, though, you feel me? I’m bisexual. He helped me be real with myself. My brother made me more open to it.”
Later in the movie, Hill says that while he was worried about losing some of his cherished relationships after coming out, Lil Nas helped show him the way again. “If you f–k with me, you f–l with me. If you don’t, you don’t. Bye. Get out of my presence. I don’t need you,” Hill says. “At the end of the day, people are going to f–k with who they f–k with, so stop trying to chase a friend. A friend is going to always be there.”
The film also follows Lil Nas as he hits the road for his debut tour, 2022’s Long Live Montero, hangs with Madonna and faces off against homophobic protesters outside his shows. EW also noted that Lil Nas tells a funny story toward the beginning of the movie about running into How to Get Away With Murder star Viola Davis at the iconic L.A. grocery store Erewhon that did not go as expected.
“I met Viola Davis at an Erewhon, but I don’t think she knew who the f– I was,” Lil Nas says while showing directors Carlos López Estrada and Zac Manuel a photo of David taped to his bedroom wall, which also features images of Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny and Euphoria star Alexa Demie. “I was like, ‘I’m such a big fan,’ and she was like, ‘Oh, thanks,’ and she hurried out the store. It was kind of funny.”
At press time there was no release date yet for the film, whose debut this weekend was delayed by 20 minutes after a bomb threat was called in to the festival; authorities later verified that the threat was not credible.
When talking about versatile entertainers, Queen Latifah’s definitely makes the list. The Grammy-winning rapper and Oscar-nominated actress reminded New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium of her talent with a winning rendition of the national anthem at the New York Giants-Dallas Cowboys game on Sunday night (Sep. 10). Donning a spiffy ivory checkered pantsuit, Queen Latifah soared through […]
Offset is keeping his giant Michael Jackson stomach tattoo even though wife Cardi B recently said it makes private time kind of awkward. The “Bongos” rapper stopped by Hot 97 last week to talk to the morning crew and she revealed that the King of Pop does not make things pop for her in the […]
Ice Spice and Dunkin’ Donuts have something in the works for fans to “Munch” on their way to work. Over the weekend, the burgeoning rap star tantalized fans with a sugary post on X (formerly known as Twitter) with her tweet reading, “america runs on MUNCHKINS.” The photo displayed a puffy munchkin wearing a diamond […]
Coinciding with the celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary is the 30th anniversary of Salt-N-Pepa’s classic album Very Necessary. In honor of the occasion, Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) — the catalog division of Universal Music Group — is announcing the release of Very Necessary (30th Anniversary Edition) on Oct. 20 https://saltnpepa.lnk.to/VeryNecessary30th Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and […]
In many ways, the most recent years of Gunna’s career have cast the rap superstar in a number of different narratives — some of them false and some of them true. To some, Gunna is a hero — a true star who was able to launch a formidable comeback album amid his precarious new social standing. To others, he is a villain, the new mascot for snitching. On Saturday night (Sep. 9), during his first headlining performance in two years, Gunna obliterated each and every one of those narratives while simultaneously crafting and cementing his story on his own terms.
Treating Brooklyn, New York’s Barclays Center to a special show titled The Gift, a nod to the first part of the name of his A Gift & A Curse album — which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 in July — Gunna electrified the arena with an impressively staged, discography-spanning show.
Gunna teamed with PLUS1 and the nonprofit organization Goodr for The Gift. Every $1 per ticket went towards The Goodr Foundation, which, according to its website, “strives to end world hunger by cultivating countless resources.”
A Gift & A Curse served as Gunna’s official follow-up to last year’s Billboard 200 No. 1 album DS4Ever. That record, which spawned memorable hits such as “Pushin P” (with Future and Young Thug) and “P Power” (with Drake), became Gunna’s second consecutive No. 1 album. Primed to become one of the defining hip-hop album eras of 2022, the DS4Ever promotional campaign was cut short in May 2022 when Gunna (alongside Young Thug and 28 other YSL associates) was charged in a 56-count RICO indictment and subsequently turned himself in. After pleading guilty to a single racketeering conspiracy charge last December and receiving a four-year suspended sentence, Gunna was released from jail.
Drawing on imagery informed by Ancient Greece and the Old Testament alike, Gunna tore through a towering set that reminded the arena of his consistent ear for pristine beats, his enviable roster of hits, and his unwavering allegiance to Young Thug and YSL.
To begin his set — which was preceded by brief opening sets from “In The Party” rapper Flo Milli and a remarkably uncharismatic YouTuber-turned-rapper named DDG — Gunna emerged from behind a life-size marble bust of himself toppled onto its side. Donning a gray tank and crystal-studded shorts, Gunna’s entrance was a take on the “phoenix rising from the ashes” trope that only he could deliver. For his first major performance in two years, Gunna arrived completely aware of the gravity of the moment. A video interlude that played before he took the stage traced the imagery of his album covers, eventually landing on the bust that characterized the DS4Ever artwork — his final album before he went to jail.
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With his victorious stance atop the toppled bust, Gunna embraced the blows to his name and reputation and funneled them into a winning display of his live performance capabilities and the quality of A Gift & A Curse. Nonetheless, he smartly balanced all of this by choosing “Back At It,” A Gift A Curse’s breezy no-frills opener, as the first song of his setlist. The packed arena erupted into an avalanche of cheers as the song set the tone for a night anchored by a crisp live band and a determined entertainer who tore through his discography without a backing track.
The first half of The Gift featured a slew of hit singles as well as fan favorites. As Gunna maneuvered around the elaborate set — which also included a life-size marble snake and several large crystalline structures — Gunna delivered renditions of a number of DS4Ever songs, a reminder that although the show was thematically centered around his most recent album, the concert also served as the first live performance of several DS4Ever tracks. With the help of a fantastic drummer and guitarist, Gunna’s performances of “South to West” and “Too Easy” rocked Barclays. For “Poochie Gown,” a gaggle of statuesque women struck poses in flowy gowns as Gunna rapped his way through the track; the staging nodded to the song itself while also casting the women in Muse-adjacent roles in Gunna’s Ancient Greece-inspired production.
Gunna’s first moment of onstage banter came in his introduction of “P Power,” his hit Drake collaboration from DS4Ever. He flirted with the ladies in the crowd before launching into a lively rendition of the X-rated track. In terms of crowd engagement, classic Gunna reigned supreme; the lyrics of “Drip or Drown” and “Pedestrian” ricocheted across the arena with notable intensity. The best part of the first half of the show — besides the incredibly dope skull-adorned microphone stand — was when Gunna recreated his viral A Colors Show performance of “Top Off,” complete with a hanging mic.
To introduce the second half of the show, yet another video interlude played on the massive screens behind Gunna and his band. This time, documentary-style footage provided the first real glimpses into Gunna’s psyche regarding the aftermath of the YSL RICO indictment, his stint in jail, and the thorny intricacies of his post-release life. “I don’t think we talk,” a voice advises Gunna over the phone, “We put out the music.” The interlude also included snippets of what appeared to be conversations between Gunna and his mother — tender moments in which she encourages him to keep pushing despite the difficulties he’s facing. The montage showcased a clearly despondent Gunna packing bowls of weed, ruminating on the way his world unraveled, and figuring out how to pick up the pieces and rise from the rubble.
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From there, the second half of The Gift launched into the stronger and more memorable A Gift & A Curse tracks, as well as his borderline bulletproof litany of collaborations with Young Thug and Lil Baby. Album standouts “Back To the Moon” and “Bread & Butter” sounded even more lush and layered in their live arrangements; both songs cut much deeper with the added emotional context of the preceding interlude. Gunna performed the beginning of the latter half of his set on an elevated platform adorned with a combination of floral greenery and skulls à la the Gift & A Curse album cover — a move that highlighted the thematic throughline of the show’s art direction. For this part of his set, Gunna opted for an outfit change: gray-black jeans paired with a black top that recalled the obsidian wings of fallen angels. Before launching into a medley of Young Thug collaborations, Gunna flashed a “Free Jeffrey” graphic across the screens, and performances of “Hot,” “Ski,” “Oh Okay,” Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit “Pushin P” (No. 7), and an exclamation of “Free Slime!” soon followed.
The final act of The Gift featured the two biggest hits from Gunna’s last record. “Fukumean,” which became the highest-charting solo song of Gunna’s career on the Hot 100 (No. 4), roared through the arena, cementing its status as not only one of the most beloved anthems of the year but also an immediate staple in Gunna’s live shows. “Rodeo Dr,” which recently got a cheeky, cinematic music video, elicited even stronger crowd reactions. Shirtless and charged with a new level of urgency and adrenaline, Gunna’s grit and gratitude illuminated Barclays on Saturday night. “I love the f— out of y’all, I swear to God,” he said. “This s— is crazy.”
And crazy it was. For an artist who saw pop culture at its most fickle while at the height of his career, Gunna’s awe was far from contrived. If anything, it was a genuine reclamation of his narrative. By drawing on various pieces of religious imagery, Gunna was able to reassert his own humanity. As triumphant as his return was, he made the admirable decision to not gloss over the hurt, pain, and depression of the past year — and that emotional depth helped add smart pockets of nuance to an already well-staged and well-produced performance. A true gift indeed.
SZA is sharing details about the upcoming deluxe version of her chart-topping 2022 album, SOS.
During her album celebration event at New York’s Brooklyn Navy Yard on Friday (Sept. 8), the 33-year-old Grammy winner announced that she’ll be releasing a deluxe version of her groundbreaking sophomore album, featuring seven to 10 new tracks.
“So the deluxe is like a whole ‘nother album, and it’s called Lana. It’s seven to 10 songs, and it’ll be out this fall,” SZA is heard saying in a fan-captured video at the show.
The TDE singer-songwriter, whose real name is Solána Rowe, performed unreleased tracks and fan favorites during the exclusive show in Brooklyn. The event also included a surprise appearance from Ice Spice, according to People.
“Heads up, we don’t actually have a plan,” SZA reportedly said at the event. “We’re just playing some songs off the deluxe, and we’re just gonna play a couple of songs you already know. It was really just — I just wanted to do something for free that was a vibe ’cause I was here in town. Literally there’s no other point to this whatsoever.”
Upon its release in December 2022, SOS debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, becoming her first chart-topper. With more than 400 million streams in the U.S. during its release week, the set became the second-largest streaming week for a female artist and third-largest of 2022 among all albums.
SOS also enjoyed a non-consecutive 10-week run atop the Billboard 200. During that time, SZA launched the aptly titled SOS Tour, which grossed $34.5 million and sold 238,000 tickets, according to Billboard Boxscore.
In late August, SZA shared the music video for “Snooze,” which features some of today’s hottest male stars, including Justin Bieber and Benny Blanco. The SOS track notched SZA her second No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay in July.
Producers Breyan Isaac and Donny “Dizzy” Flores share how they collaborated on Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s new song “Bongos.”
Tetris Kelly:All right, guys, so I got to start right away by asking you: You’ve never worked together. I think this is your first time working together, so how did this even start? How did you end up on a track with Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion?
Donny “Dizzy” Flores:I know Breyan, you know, we’re from Miami, like, we were all coming up, you know, splitting sandwiches and, you know, going through the struggle. He went his way with Mike Caren and they did a lot of crazy hits for Flo Rida, and I mean, I’ll let him tell you about that. Then I, you know, I moved on with DJ Snake and everything else. As you know, the pandemic we just catch back up again. It was like God put us in, you know, each other’s life for a reason. So it’s like, “Let’s just start working and building some more stuff together.” And this was just, you know, one of them we did. Here we are now.
Tetris Kelly:You’re following “WAP,” which was a Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 song. That’s a lot to live up to. So now that the track is out, what do you think makes it so different than what the girls offered in the past?
Breyan Isaac:It’s a completely different feel. I mean, it’s a new kind of like bounce, a new kind of vibe to be honest. Like, production-wise, it’s a different kind of direction from what “WAP” was. “WAP” was a little bit more like a mid-tempo vibe. This is definitely more of a simple, more driving, giving you some actions, something to do, you know?
Tetris Kelly:And now that it’s finished, are you guys satisfied with the product?
Breyan Isaac:Absolutely.Watch the full video above!