State Champ Radio

by DJ Frosty

Current track

Title

Artist

Current show
blank

State Champ Radio Mix

8:00 pm 12:00 am

Current show
blank

State Champ Radio Mix

8:00 pm 12:00 am


R&B/Hip-Hop

Page: 74

While they’re not back together, Cardi B and Offset were spotted in the same Miami nightclub making it rain over the weekend. The Migos rapper made a guest appearance during Don Toliver’s Rolling Loud set and celebrated his 33rd birthday in South Beach. Cardi pulled up to support her baby daddy, but she remained in […]

A 67-year-old billionaire adopting a pop culture catchphrase should be cringe-worthy — but for Drake, it was a reminder of the ubiquity of Kendrick Lamar.
After Drake disparaged NBA star DeMar DeRozan, who had previously played for his beloved Toronto Raptors, Vivek Ranadivé (the owner of DeRozan’s current team, the Sacramento Kings) fired back at Drake in defense of his forward. While sitting courtside for a November contest between the Kings and the Raptors, Ranadivé donned a black T-shirt with four words emblazoned across his chest: “They Not Like Us.”

Count Ranadivé among the Lamar fans who have puffed out their chests since the Compton, Calif., rapper served up “Not Like Us,” the game-winning shot in his feud with Drake, on May 6. And while hip-hop purists would’ve bet on Drake as the one to walk away from a battle with a hit record, it was K. Dot who flipped the script on the Toronto rap deity.

Trending on Billboard

The OVO honcho attempted to land a direct hit of his own with the three-part blitz “Family Matters,” but Lamar didn’t even give the track a chance to breathe as he followed up 30 minutes later with the diabolical “Meet the Grahams.” Smothering “Family Matters” shrewdly allowed K. Dot to clear the lane and counter with “Not Like Us.” On the latter track, Lamar used producer Mustard’s Cali bounce to peel back the layers of Drake’s cultural identity while repeatedly accusing him of pedophilia.

In response, Drake could only muster up an addition to Lamar’s “The Heart” song series with “The Heart Pt. 6,” which found him losing his footing and backpedaling to the defensive. And when the dust settled, the consensus was clear: Lamar had emerged as the champ. Not only was “Not Like Us” a knockout blow, but a pro-Black Los Angeles anthem that is now cemented into rap battle lore alongside classic West Coast dis tracks like Ice Cube’s “No Vaseline” and 2Pac’s “Hit Em Up.”

“When I was growing up, I watched 2Pac, ‘California Love,’ Dr. Dre, Snoop [Dogg], the Death Row days,” Mustard told Billboard in October. “It’s like being a part of that again, but in this day and age.”

While Drake has been one of pop music’s architects — collecting 338 Billboard Hot 100 entries to Lamar’s 87 — K. Dot won the rap charts battle when “Euphoria” (No. 3) and “Not Like Us” (No. 1) became the only dis tracks in the feud to reach the Hot 100’s top five. “Not Like Us” not only debuted atop the chart but also set a record on Hot Rap Songs: 25 weeks at No. 1 through Nov. 23.

“That’s hard to ignore, especially when you’re evaluating an artist who’s taken pride in being so much bigger than everyone else based on his numbers,” Spotify head of urban music/creative director Carl Chery says of Lamar besting Drake. “There were moments where it felt like Drake had the advantage, but in hindsight, Kendrick was ahead every step of the way and his win feels more decisive every day.”

In retrospect, March 29, 2024, was a seminal date in rap history. Lamar chose violence with a show-stealing assist on “Like That,” the centerpiece of Future and Metro Boomin’s collaborative album We Don’t Trust You. On the track, Lamar responds to a line from J. Cole and Drake’s 2023 collaboration, “First Person Shooter,” on which Cole questions who’s leading rap’s “Big Three”: “Is it K. Dot? Is it Aubrey? Or me?” On “Like That,” Lamar defiantly replies: “Motherf–k the Big Three, n—a, it’s just big me.”

“Like That” launched at No. 1 on the Hot 100, and Lamar’s guest verse shook the tectonic plates of hip-hop. Cole dipped his toes into the feud before bowing out with a public apology onstage at his Dreamville Festival in May — leaving Drake to fight for himself.

Far before Lamar and Drake were ever dubbed part of rap’s Big Three, their paths were intertwined near the start of their careers. The titans traded verses on each other’s Take Care and good kid, m.A.A.d city albums, and Drizzy brought Lamar on the road as an opener on his 2012 Club Paradise Tour. Things turned icy the next year when Lamar put the entire rap game on blast with his maniacal verse on Big Sean’s “Control.” And while their feud was mostly dormant ever since, “First Person Shooter” poked the bear — and Lamar returned battle-ready.

Through the first weekend of May alone, Drake and Lamar exchanged haymakers at a relentless pace, dropping a collective eight dis tracks in total — all of which highlight their opposite backgrounds. Drake, who is biracial and from Toronto, was a child actor before becoming rap’s pop-leaning hit-maker. K. Dot, a Compton native with a Dr. Dre co-sign, quickly emerged as one of rap’s storytelling savants, with a penchant for illustrating the distressing Black experience in America.

“A lot of fans assumed that Kendrick is a slow writer because he took a five-year break between [2017 album] DAMN. and [2022’s] Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, so I think people were shocked to see him release four songs in five days,” Chery says. “I don’t think we’ll ever see such a high-stakes battle unfold this way ever again.”

50 Cent, an artist well-versed in rap beef, thinks the back-and-forth was “good for hip-hop” by forcing both artists to become more prolific. “It was about the lyrics, but that s–t was on a different level,” he said in an October Billboard interview. “The f–king [good kid, m.A.A.d city] car in the [“Family Matters”] video — that shit was a mystery. Everything was tied to something.”

Chery also credits Lamar’s shrewd strategy and instincts as what got the better of Drake. “I think Kendrick won because his strategy was arguably better than his music,” he says. “[Lamar] predicted the way the battle was going to play out on ‘Euphoria’ and ‘6:16 in L.A.’ He also gave Drake a taste of his own medicine [by releasing] back-to-back dis songs twice.”

And not only was his strategy better, but it was built to last. Lamar’s music zeitgeist has carried momentum all year long: In September, it was announced that he would headline the Super Bowl LIX halftime show in February 2025. By November, “Not Like Us” had yet to depart the Hot 100’s top 20 since its release, Lamar scored five Grammy nominations for the upcoming 67th annual awards ceremony and he capped off his banner campaign with the surprise release of his GNX album on Nov. 22. Just days later, Billboard reported that Drake filed legal documents alleging Universal Music Group and Spotify had conspired to “artificially inflate the popularity” of “Not Like Us.”

But consumption aside, “Not Like Us” has transcended traditional popularity: Snoop credited Lamar with unifying the West Coast during Lamar’s The Pop Out: Ken & Friends concert on Juneteenth at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, Calif. The hit even permeated different alleys of pop culture, adopted by the Los Angeles Dodgers on their journey to winning the 2024 World Series.

“The song took on a life of its own beyond the battle,” Chery says. “You saw viral clips of kids dancing to it at bat mitzvahs. The U.S. basketball team played it after every win during the Summer Olympics. It’s weirdly become universal. Almost everyone can identify with representing a specific idea and feeling like someone else represents the antithesis of who they are.”

This story appears in the Dec. 14, 2024, issue of Billboard.

Post Malone loves Sublime. The “I Had Some Help” singer has covered the band’s songs before and over the weekend he was at it again during the “Santeria” group’s corporate gig for Power Home Remodeling. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The annual company retreat referred to as […]

12/16/2024

The most unforgettable moments of Rolling Loud’s 10th anniversary — from country music newcomers to grandiose, cinematic sets.

12/16/2024

On Thursday (Dec. 12), Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) hosted its annual charity concert and toy drive in Watts, California, marking the 11th year of this heartwarming tradition at the Nickerson Gardens Public Housing Projects.

This event takes place in the very neighborhood where TDE founder Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith and other label members, including Grammy-winning artist Jay Rock, grew up. The evening brought together some of TDE’s biggest stars, like Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Doechii, and more, for a celebration of music, community, and giving back. With the event taking place in the heart of Watts, it also highlighted TDE’s ongoing commitment to its roots and the neighborhood that helped shape its success.

The buzz around the event was heightened by the recent success of Kendrick Lamar’s album GNX, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. As a result, this year’s concert drew thousands of fans from across Los Angeles, many of whom lined the block with unwrapped toys and donations in hand to gain admission. These contributions were collected to support families in need within the Nickerson Gardens and surrounding areas, cementing the event’s importance as a charitable staple for the local community.

With his GNX album continuing to dominate the charts, Lamar’s involvement in this year’s concert felt even more special, as it marked a moment of connection and giving back to the community. 

However, the giving doesn’t stop on day one. Day two of the event, held on Friday, (Dec. 13), shifts focus to TDE’s annual Community Giveback. This part of the event includes a toy giveaway, raffles, youth sports programming, barbering services, and a family holiday photo opportunity — all free to attendees. 

Here are the 7 best moments from the 11th annual TDE Christmas concert.

SiR Performs “John Redcorn” During Sunset

Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre’s anticipated Missionary album was released on Friday (Dec. 13) and the West Coast icons delivered an accompanying short film to live alongside the joint LP. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The cinematic mini-movie is bookended by a pair of explosive visuals for […]

Will Smith is fed up with the jokes. The rapper turned actor was performing in San Diego this week, addressing the crowd as he tried to distance himself from the embattled Sean “Diddy” Combs by referencing alleged social media memes that he’s seen since the mogul was arrested for sex trafficking charges in September. “Some […]

Legendary football coach Bill Belichick shocked the football community when he took the University of North Carolina head coaching job earlier this week instead of waiting for a possible NFL gig. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news While plenty of debate was sparked on social media with […]

Billboard Unfiltered returned with a brand new episode on Friday (Dec. 13), and some new faces joined the fellas for the 25th installment of the series.
Vibe‘s Regina Cho and Amber Corrine make their Unfiltered debut alongside co-hosts Carl Lamarre and Kyle Denis for the final episode of 2024, during which they also discuss predictions for 2025.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Billboard‘s Top 10 Hottest Female Rappers of 2024 list created some waves around the culture, and the foursome debated what they liked and didn’t, as well as who they hope to see make a leap next year.

“Any list that does not include GloRilla at No. 1 I feel like causes an uproar because it is undeniable the year she has had,” Cho said. “It is so remarkable how in June, Doechii was not on the list, and now she’s at No. 6. The ascension she’s had in the last few months is so amazing to see … My year was defined in Latto, Megan Thee Stallion and Glo.”

As a resident of Gag City, Corrine wanted to see Nicki Minaj get the nod over Megan Thee Stallion at No. 2. “I’m very happy to see Nicki Minaj in the top five, but I would maybe make her No. 2,” she said. “I’d like to see Tierra Whack too.”

Denis is very happy with how the list turned out, as JT moved up a slot compared to June’s iteration. “I’m happy to see my girl JT move up a spot. I’m incredibly proud of the year she’s had,” he shared. “Latto was another defining artist regardless of genre or gender for me … If I had to champion one person who didn’t make the list, it would probably Little Simz.”

Lamarre, who spearheaded the list, enjoyed the reception to it, but especially the humility displayed by Cardi B at No. 10, as he sees a dominant 2025 in her future. “To be quite frank, there were discussions about her being off the list altogether,” he admitted. “We’re used to seeing Cardi in superstar form and she has not been that … She took it with grace … I think Cardi is going to put herself in position to have an explosive 2025, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see her go from 10 to one.”

Also discussed during the episode was Jay-Z, who in a civil lawsuit filed Dec. 8 was accused of raping a 13-year-old girl at a 2000 MTV Video Music Awards afterparty with Diddy. A Jane Doe made the assault allegations against the two men in the suit filed by Texas attorney Tony Buzbee. Hov has vehemently denied all allegations against him, calling the suit “extortionate.”

“I wasn’t shocked because it felt like they were coming for Jay-Z next,” Corrine said. With Jay-Z being a fixture in his life as his favorite rapper, Denis shared that his “stomach sank” after hearing the shocking lawsuit’s details. “That was pretty heavy to sit with. I’m gonna wait to see how this plays out,” he said. “My heart broke for Blue [Ivy].”

Watch the episode below.

Fat Joe is still not over his Grammy loss back in 2017. The Bronx rapper has never been shy about speaking his mind, and that didn’t change during a recent listening session of his latest album, The World Changed on Me.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

In a clip shared by XXL, Crillz talked about contemplating retirement before discussing when he lost out on Grammys to the Black Eyed Peas and Chance the Rapper. “So, I’m busy trying to get these businesses going and get real money,” he began. “Then, Killer Mike wins three Grammys, right? And I call Dre [of Cool & Dre] up, and was like, ‘F—k that, they givin’ real n—as Grammys?’ I said, ‘Let’s go back in, let’s lock in.’ If it wasn’t for [Killer Mike], I was retired.”

Remy Ma, who was sitting next to Joe, then mentioned some of the Grammys they’ve been nominated for over the years before Joe interjected, proclaiming, “We got robbed.”

He then elaborated, saying, “‘Lean Back’ we lost to the Black Eyed Peas — I don’t know if you know — without Fergie. And then we lost ‘All the Way Up’ to Chance the Rapper.” Adding, “Like that’s the biggest disrespect … Let me tell you something, I’ma keep it real with you,” as the crowd in attendance reacted to what he was saying.

He then continued, “You know how Jay-Z used to say, ‘Gotta learn to live with regrets?’ I can’t live with that one. Losing to Chance the Rapper. .. ‘All the Way Up’ or whatever his s–t was, it was just not that, a’ight. So, Remy comes outta jail, I come outta jail, we throw a f—king miracle frisbee out there, s–t No. 1 in America and you gonna give it to, you know? It’s crazy. Grammys been playing with us for a long time.”

Fat Joe recalls the time Chance The Rapper won the Grammy over Joe and Remy Ma.“And then we lost ‘All the Way Up’ to Chance The Rapper. Like that’s the biggest disrespect… you know how Jay-Z used to say, ‘Gotta learn to live with regrets,’ I can’t live with that one.” pic.twitter.com/Vsixj81vTw— XXL Magazine (@XXL) December 12, 2024

In 2004, the Black Eyed Peas won the Grammy for best rap performance by a group or duo for “Let’s Get It Started,” and then in 2017, Chance, Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz took home that Grammy for “No Problem,” while Drake‘s “Hotline Bling” beat out “All the Way Up” for best rap song.