R&B/Hip-Hop

Nicki Minaj shared some good news/bad news with Barbz on Tuesday (Oct. 24). The good news is that her anticipated Pink Friday 2 album has a new release date that is super special to the rapper and her fans. The bad news is that instead of next month it’s now Dec. 8.
Minaj originally scheduled the album for Oct. 20, then re-scheduled it for Nov. 17, but in a message to fans she explained why she’s re-shuffled the deck again. “I have never in my life been so in love with something that I’m working on,” she said of the album that has been five years in the making, but which she explained had been delayed because she had writer’s block during her pregnancy and didn’t want to say “freaky” stuff.

“So this entire album will be the biggest gift I have ever given humanity thus far,” she promised of the LP that will make people “fall in love immediately.” First off, she said, the date change was because her longtime consigliere, Lil Wayne, is releasing a joint album with his pal 2 Chainz, Welcome 2 Collegrove, on Nov. 17, and just like he would never drop on the same day as Nicki, she is doing the same. “The new album date for this incredible body of work that I am so proud of is on a very special day to me and to the Barbz,” she said in a lengthy Instagram live video.

“It will come out on my birthday,” she added. “Pink Friday 2 I am so happy to announce will be out on my birthday, Dec 8th.” She had two other announcements as well, revealing that she has a new fragrance (also called Pink Friday 2) coming out on Dec. 13 and Dec. 26 through Amazon and J.C. Penny, respectively.

In September, while hosting the 2023 MTV VMAs, Nick previewed a new, untitled song from PF2 after previously teasing the sci-fi cover of the album.

The last time Minaj pushed the album she didn’t explain the reason, though at the time she promised on X (formerly known as Twitter) that the delay was because of “some really exciting news that I’ll share with you guys @ a later time.”

Pink Friday 2 is the follow-up to Minaj’s 2018 sophomore album, Queen.

See Minaj’s announcement below.

You already knew that Jay-Z doesn’t write down any of his rhymes. But in a preview of his upcoming two-part interview with Gayle King for CBS Mornings slated to air on Thursday and Friday (Oct. 26 and 27), the morning anchor takes a walk through the Brooklyn Public Library’s smash “Book of HOV” exhibit honoring […]

Megan Thee Stallion is ready for her next act. After recently reaching a settlement with her former label, 1501 Certified Entertainment, following three years of litigation over a record deal the rapper called “unconscionable,” the Houston MC teased “ACT ONE” of her new era in a social post on Monday night (Oct. 23).
The caption also featured a snake emoji, the latest in a recent string of teases that has employed slithery language and imagery. With the camera zeroed in on Meg’s lips floating in a black void, she says, “Just as a snake sheds its skin, we must shed our past, over and over again” with what sounds like bits of an ominous new track in the background.

As the focus pulls back to reveal Meg’s face — complete with vertical snake eyeballs — the short clip ends with a shot of a pair of dripping fangs. The title card reads: “A story by Megan Thee Stallion” and “Directed by Douglas Bernardt.” The Brazilian director is best known for his work on videos by Arlo Park, Masego and Gregory Porter, as well as the 2019 Cannes Lions Grand Prix-winning short film Bluesman.

Though she hasn’t announced her new project, the “Bongos” MC has been leaning into snake imagery lately, including a tweet earlier this month with serious Hottieween vibes in which she appeared to bear her vampire fangs. The post featured a cryptic message, “Let’s begin…,” accompanied by a sliver of a picture with a slime green filter that animated into a 3-second video in which Meg bared her sharp teeth. The clip did not have any sound, but Megan followed it with a series of Instagram posts with additional scary scenes.

The trio of posts dubbed “Act One” featured an O made up of a red snake swallowing its own tail. The captions on the slides also spotlighted the snake emoji, accompanied by a video of a white snake coiled on someone’s hand, a close-up of Megan’s face and a third of her wrists covered in thorny bracelets. The second slide added the caption “Begin [snake emoji],” and a glimpse of a green-skinned Megan reclining on a dark red divan, her long nails sharpened to sharp points.

The tease also seemed to preview what looked like a music video, with a shot in which Meg bared her vamp fangs again, as well as an image of a bowl of fruit and other totems on an altar. At press time Megan had not officially announced any new music as she eases her way back into the game following the end of the trial of Tory Lanez, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison in August for shooting Megan in the feet in July 2020. Since then she’s released her hit Cardi B collab “Bongos” and “Out Alpha the Alpha,” the lead single from the A24 move Dicks: The Musical, in which she also co-stars.

Either way, it seems like she’s going to go it alone this time, after revealing in an Instagram Live earlier this month that she’s not signed to a label and will be funding her own music projects moving forward “This part of my album is very much so funded by Megan Thee Stallion because we’re trying to get off… Y’all know what’s the tea. But I have no label right now,” she said at the time. “We’re doing everything funded straight out of Megan Thee Stallion’s pockets. So, the budget is coming from me. Motherf—ing Hot Girl Productions! The next s— y’all about to see is all straight from Megan Thee Stallion’s brain and Megan Thee Stallion’s wallet. We are in my pockets, hotties, so let’s do our big one.”

Check out Megan’s latest snake-themed tease below.

With so many Hollywood movies on ice as the strike by actors drags on into the fall, Busta Rhymes is prepping his own blockbuster. Actually, make that Blockbusta, the MC’s 11th solo studio album, which is due out on Black Friday, Nov. 24.
Busta announced the project in a video posted on his socials on Monday (Oct. 23), in which he held a Zoom sit-down with the project’s four AAA-list super producers: Pharrell Williams, Timbaland and Swizz Beatz. “This project right here is executive produced by the f—ing committee,” Swizz said in the clip. “Pharrell the Pharaoh, Timbo the King, Swizz Beatz the student.”

Timbaland gave thanks for the Transformers-like gathering of production legends, telling Busta that he is, “so grateful that you chose me to be a part of your legacy.” Pharrell also gave some insight into the project, whose track list has not yet been released.

“You really feel illuminated,” Skateboard P said of the collection that also lists Busta as an exec producer. “This illumination is good because I think people gonna be able to get and feel that.” Timbaland had a one-word description for the follow-up to Busta’s 2020 sequel album, Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God, which featured guest spots from Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Rick Ross, Mary J. Blige, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Anderson .Paak, Mariah Carey and more.

“Timeless,” Tim said, as Swizz scatted, “The Blockbusta, Busta Rhymes…zaa zaa za, zone, zone, zone.” The clip ends with a volcano erupting the album’s title into the sky.

In September, Busta dropped the “Luxury Life” single featuring Coi Leray and last week he teased a new single, “Chooky,” featuring Elesia Limura and O.T.; at press time it was unclear if either song will be featured on the new album.

Check out Busta’s Blockbusta announcement below.

On Monday (Oct. 23), Ty Dolla $ign announced a “multi stadium listening event” for his reported joint album with Kanye West. The simple IG announcement — the lone post on Ty’s otherwise-wiped-clean account — has a black background with white text that shows the yen “Y” symbol with a dollar-sign symbol and the words “multi […]