R&B/Hip-Hop
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TDE’s newest rising star sat down with Apple Music’s Ebro Darden for a conversation about her young career and her critically-acclaimed mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal. Doechii credited her love of golden era rap music as a major influence on the direction she decided to take. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See […]
TDE’s Punch has been the face of the label’s front office on social media, with an emphasis on X. He engages with fans and is fine being their punching bag when it pertains to the company’s notorious album release schedule — or lack thereof. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts […]
Despite more than a decade since LLCOOLJ last released an album, the rapper picks up right where he left off. His new project, THE FORCE, debuts at No. 9 on the Top Rap Albums chart, giving the hip-hop legend his fifth consecutive top 10 result on the list, which began in 2004.
THE FORCE, released through LL COOL J’s self-titled imprint and the Def Jam Recordings record label, earned 16,000 equivalent album units in the tracking week of Sept. 6 – 12, according to Luminate. Of that sum, traditional album sales contributed 11,500 units, making THE FORCE the top-selling rap title of the week. 4,000 units derive from streaming activity, with the remaining 500 coming through track-equivalent album units. (One unit equals the following levels of consumption: one album sale, 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams for a song on the album.)
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Robust sales likely trace to LL COOL J’s flurry of promotional performances during the tracking week, including an interview on CBS Mornings and a performance to celebrate the Def Jam label’s 40th anniversary during the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, where the MC delivered a medley of his hits such as “Headsprung,” “Goin’ Back to Cali” and “Bring the Noise.”
https://youtube.com/watch?v=w_XVxj035Qk%3Fsi%3Dov7qpLz2LdcK6r5h
Released Sept. 6, THE FORCE marked the first project since 2013 for LL COOL J, the hip-hop pioneer who became one of the genre’s earliest crossover stars and, in 2017, became the first rapper to receive the Kennedy Center Honors. The album, largely produced by another rap icon, Q-Tip, of A Tribe Called Quest, boasts a strong supporting lineup, with Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross and Nas among the guest stars. Saweetie features on the set’s current single, “Proclivities,” which climbs 36-31 in its second week on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, while an Eminem feature on the album’s “Murdergram Deux” powers it to become the week’s top-selling (2,500 downloads) and most-streamed (2.3 million official U.S. streams) song on THE FORCE.
As noted, THE FORCE is the fifth consecutive top-10 effort for LL COOL J on Top Rap Albums. The streak began with The DEFinition, which reigned for one week in 2004, and followed with Todd Smith (No. 2, 2006), Exit 13 (No. 2, 2008) and Authentic (No. 4, 2013).
On the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, which began in 1958 and encompasses the rapper’s entire career, THE FORCE launches at No. 11. It becomes his 15th album to appear on the list, dating to his debut LP, Radio, in 1985.
Kid Cudi broke his foot back in April while performing at Coachella, but he’s back on his feet. Cudder reunited with frequent collaborator Chip Tha Ripper for his “love letter” to his second home of New York City with “Don’t Worry.”
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The Anthony Kilhoffer-produced track hit streaming services on Wednesday (Sept. 18), and Cudi — born Scott Mescudi — rolled out the red carpet for an accompanying self-directed visual hours later.
“I moved to NY in 2004. Over the years, it became my second home,” the Ohio native penned about the Big Apple at the start of the clip. “To the people of NY this is my love letter to you. Thank you for always making me feel like family. I love you endlessly, enjoy. Scott.”
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In the visual, Cudi galavants around NYC like he’s back playing Domingo Brown in an episode of HBO’s How to Make It In America. He and Chip soak up the Big Apple sunshine while moving around the city and stopping to interact with some fans along the way.
They even got access to film in Kaws’ NYC studio, and Cudi returned the favor and gave the artist-designer a shout-out when the carefree video arrived. “MAD LOVE TO @kaws FOR LETTIN US FILM IN HIS STUDIO,” he wrote in an Instagram post featuring a clip of him surrounded by colorful artwork in the museum-like creative space.
“Don’t Worry” accompanies the release of issue No. 4 of Cudi’s Moon Man comic-book series. The hypnotic track is slated to appear on Kid Cudi Presents The Soundtrack of Moon Man, which is coming soon, according to a press release.
The blessings continue to pour in for Cudi even more than 15 years into his decorated career. Mr. Rager’s 2008 breakout anthem “Day ‘N’ Nite” was certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America as Cudder added his first diamond plaque to his mantle last week.
In other Cudi news, the rapper revealed that he reached out to J. Cole to appear on his 2024 Insano album, but received “no response.”
The revealing reply came after an inquisitive fan asked about a potential Cole and Cudi collab on Wednesday (Sept. 18). “I had a session w Cole for Indicud he couldn’t write to the beat I produced. Such a bummer, and I always wanted to do something, so I reached out for INSANO, no response. So there’s that,” he explained on X.
Watch the “Don’t Worry” video below.
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Megan Thee Stallion leads the 2024 BET Hip Hop Awards nominations with 12 nods. And for the first time since the category was introduced in 2020, women have achieved parity with men in hip-hop artist of the year. The nominees include four women (Megan, Cardi B, GloRilla and Nicki Minaj) and four men (21 Savage, Drake, Future and Kendrick Lamar).
Lamar was a beat behind Megan with 11 nods, followed by Drake (eight nods); Cardi B, GloRilla, Metro Boomin and Minaj (seven each); Future and Travis Scott (six each); 21 Savage and 41 (four each); and A$AP Rocky, Common, Lil Wayne, Pete Rock and Sexyy Red (three each).
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Drake is the only artist who has been nominated for hip-hop artist of the year all five years it has been presented. This is Megan’s fourth nod in the category; the third for Cardi B, Future and Lamar; the second for 21 Savage and, surprisingly, the first for Minaj.
Megan, who hosted and performed on MTV’s VMAs on Sept. 10, received three nods in the category of best collaboration – Cardi B’s “Bongos,” on which she is featured; GloRilla’s “Wanna Be,” on which she is featured; and her own hit “Mamushi,” featuring Yuki Chiba.
Fat Joe will host and co-executive produce the show, which is set to tape in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Oct. 8. The show will air on BET one week later, on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. This will be the third year in a row that Fat Joe has hosted the show, the most since Snoop Dogg hosted from 2013 to 2015. Comedian Mike Epps holds the BET Hip Hop Awards record, having hosted four years running (2009-12).
“Joe Crack is back for the three-peat, night night baby,” Fat Joe said in a statement. “It’s been a dream to host the BET Hip Hop Awards the past few years, and I’m looking forward to taking things to the next level in Las Vegas. We’re going to be in a new city and location, but the excitement and entertainment at the awards will be even bigger than ever.”
“This year’s nominees exemplify the creativity and diversity of hip-hop and the culture,” Connie Orlando, EVP, specials, music programming and music strategy at BET, said in a statement.
Orlando will oversee production of the annual event and serve as executive producer with Jamal Noisette, BET’s SVP of specials and music programming. Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment, will act as executive producer, with Jeannae Rouzan-Clay and Dionne Harmon from Jesse Collins Entertainment also serving as executive producers.
Collins and Harmon won Primetime Emmys two years ago for their work on The Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Starring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent, which was voted outstanding variety special (live).
This will be only the fourth time the BET Hip Hop Awards, which originated in 2006, has been staged outside of Atlanta. It shifted to Miami in 2017-18 and was held in multiple locations in 2020, at the height of the pandemic.
Fans can start voting for DJ of the year, producer of the year and best hip hop platform starting Friday, Sept. 20 at noon ET on the BET website.
Here’s a complete list of the 2024 BET Hip Hop Awards nominees.
Hip-hop artist of the year
21 Savage
Cardi B
Drake
Future
GloRilla
Kendrick Lamar
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Song of the year
“Agora Hills,” Doja Cat
“Bent,” 41 (Kyle Richh, Jenn Carter, Tata)
“Fe!N,” Travis Scott feat. Playboi Carti
“FTCU,” Nicki Minaj
“Get It Sexyy,” Sexyy Red
“Like That,” Metro Boomin, Future, Kendrick Lamar
“Mamushi,” Megan Thee Stallion feat. Yuki Chiba
“Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar
“Yeah Glo!,” GloRilla
Hip-hop album of the year
American Dream, 21 Savage
Ehhthang Ehhthang, GloRilla
For All the Dogs Scary Hours Edition, Drake
In Sexyy We Trust, Sexyy Red
Megan, Megan Thee Stallion
One of Wun, Gunna
Pink Friday 2, Nicki Minaj
Utopia, Travis Scott
We Don’t Trust You, Future & Metro Boomin
Best hip-hop video
“8 AM in Charlotte,” Drake
“Band4band,” Central Cee feat. Lil Baby
“Bent,” 41 (Kyle Richh, Jenn Carter, Tata)
“Big Mama,” Latto
“Boa,” Megan Thee Stallion
“Enough (Miami),” Cardi B
“Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar
“Type Shit,” Future, Metro Boomin, Travis Scott & Playboi Carti
Best breakthrough hip-hop artist
41
310babii
Bossman Dlow
Cash Cobain
Lady London
Sexyy Red
Skilla Baby
Tommy Richman
Best collaboration
“At the Party,” Kid Cudi feat. Pharrell Williams & Travis Scott
“Band4band,” Central Cee feat. Lil Baby
“Bongos,” Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion
“Everybody,” Nicki Minaj feat. Lil Uzi Vert
“First Person Shooter,” Drake feat. J.Cole
“Like That,” Metro Boomin, Future, Kendrick Lamar
“Mamushi,” Megan Thee Stallion feat. Yuki Chiba
“Wanna Be,” GloRilla feat. Megan Thee Stallion
Best duo or group
¥$, Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign
2 Chainz & Lil Wayne
41 (Kyle Richh, Jenn Carter, Tata)
Common & Pete Rock
Earthgang
Flyana Boss
Future & Metro Boomin
Rick Ross & Meek Mill
Best live performer
Burna Boy
Busta Rhymes
Cardi B
Drake
GloRilla
Kendrick Lamar
Megan Thee Stallion
Missy Elliott
Nicki Minaj
Travis Scott
Lyricist of the year
21 Savage
Cardi B
Common
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Lil Wayne
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Video director of the year
20k Visuals
A$AP Rocky
Cactus Jack
Cole Bennett
Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar
Dave Meyers & Travis Scott
Doja Cat & Nina McNeely
Offset
Producer of the year
Atl Jacob
Cash Cobain
Hit-Boy
Hitmaka
Metro Boomin
Pete Rock
Q-Tip
The Alchemist
DJ of the year
Big Von
DJ D-Nice
DJ Drama
DJ Khaled
Kaytranada
Metro Boomin
Mustard
The Alchemist
Best hip-hop platform
Bootleg Kev
Club Shay Shay
Complex
Drink Champs
Million Dollaz Worth of Game
On the Radar
The Breakfast Club
The Joe Budden Podcast
The Shade Room
XXL
Hustler of the year
50 Cent
A$AP Rocky
Cam’ron & Ma$e
Cardi B
Drake
Fat Joe
GloRilla
Kendrick Lamar
Megan Thee Stallion
Sweet 16: best featured verse
21 Savage, “Good Good” (Usher, 21 Savage & Summer Walker)
A$AP Rocky, “Gangsta” (Free Nationals, A$AP Rocky & Anderson .Paak)
Cardi B, “Wanna Be” remix (Glorilla, Megan Thee Stallion & Cardi B)
Drake, “Meltdown” (Travis Scott feat. Drake)
J.Cole, “First Person Shooter” (Drake feat. J. Cole)
Kendrick Lamar, “Like That” (Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar)
Lil Wayne, “Brand New” (Tyga, YG & Lil Wayne)
Megan Thee Stallion, “Wanna Be” (Glorilla, Megan Thee Stallion)
Impact track
“Blessings,” Nicki Minaj feat. Tasha Cobbs Leonard
“Fortunate,” Common & Pete Rock
“Get in With Me,” Bossman Dlow
“Hiss,” Megan Thee Stallion
“Humble Me,” Killer Mike
“Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar
“Precision,” Big Sean
“Yeah Glo!,” GloRilla
Best international flow
SDM, France
Leys Mc, France
Racionais Mcs, Brazil
Budah, Brazil
Ghetts, UK
Bashy, UK
Stefflon Don, UK
Maglera Doe Boy, South Africa
Blxckie, South Africa
Odumodublvck, Nigeria
Tommy Richman blasted off this summer with his breakthrough single “Million Dollar Baby,” and the song is still holding strong. This week, on the Sept. 21-dated charts, the song spends a 20th week at No. 1 on the Hot R&B Songs chart, making it just the seventh song in the chart’s 12-year history to reach […]
Rich Homie Quan was laid to rest during a memorial service in South Fulton, Ga., near his hometown of Atlanta, on Tuesday (Sept. 17). Hundreds of family members, friends and hip-hop peers gathered to pay tribute to the late 33-year-old rapper.
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Quan’s parents, siblings and peers took the stage at World Changers Church International to deliver moving speeches paying homage to RHQ.
“From the day I met Quan and I held him, my life changed,” Quan’s father, Corey Lamar, said. “I knew failure was not an option. But little did Quan know, he pushed me to be a dad, a role model and to be an example as what a man should be. Built upon integrity, morals and values.
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He continued: “It’s like now when I hear a Rich Homie Quan song, it sounds different to me. I was looking at Channel 2 News a week ago, and they mentioned Rich Homie Quan, and the lady said he’s an Atlanta icon. I just looked up at God and said, ‘God, I thank you.’ Transition is inevitable for all of us, and I know that day is gonna come where I’ll see him again.”
The “Type of Way” rapper’s younger brother, Andre Munford, took to the podium and recalled memories traveling the globe with Quan and how he changed their family’s fortunes with a microphone.
“My brother, he hurt me with this one,” Munford emotionally said. “To know we started this from a karaoke machine. My brother made his own beats he recorded his self. He learned to do that with no schoool.”
He reflected: “I appreciate him for taking me from 285 Old National to the Eastside, to endless flights. From endless oatmeal and cereal to continental breakfast and continental breakfast and personal chefs. We went from apartments — sometimes no hot water — we didn’t stop. I love you, man.”
Quan’s other siblings as well as peers such as Killer Mike and D.C. Young Fly also spoke at the funeral on Tuesday. Atlanta City Council Members Michael Julian Bond and Byron Amos declared Sept. 17 as Rich Homie Quan Day in the city.
Rich Homie Quan — born Dequantes Lamar — died Sept. 5 at 33 years old. Tributes from rappers immediately poured in, paying homage to the artist. His family released his first posthumous single “Song Cry” earlier this week. Quan is survived by his five children.
Watch the speeches below.
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The pumpkins and skeletons are just starting to fill the aisles, but Jennifer Hudson is fully in Christmas mode thanks to two big announcements on Wednesday (Sept. 18). The singer and daytime talk show host is teaming up with Hallmark to celebrate the 15th anniversary of their annual “Countdown to Christmas” roll-out of holiday movies and content and the 2024 “Joy To Your World” holiday campaign by teasing the new song “Let There Be Joy.”
In a preview shared with Billboard of the raucous, gospel-tinged holiday anthem, the EGOT performer joyfully wails, “Let there be joy to your world/ Every boy and girl/ Peace on Earth, good will to men/ And may we wall shine our light, make the season bright/ Share a little love again.”
In addition, Hallmark announced that songs from Hudson’s upcoming debut holiday album, The Gift of Love (Oct. 18), will appear across upcoming Hallmark holiday programming. “No one does the holidays quite like my friends at Hallmark, so I couldn’t be more thrilled to celebrate the season together with my new song ‘Let There Be Joy,’ as we Countdown to Christmas,” Hudson said in a statement. “Music and movies have always been a favorite holiday tradition for me and my family, so I hope this song can become the same tradition for everyone on Santa’s list this year!”
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Hallmark chief brand officer Darren Abbott added, “As we mark 15 incredible years of Countdown to Christmas, we continue to focus on our mission of bringing joy and happiness to the world during the holidays. Partnering with Jennifer Hudson couldn’t be a more perfect fit. The original song ‘Let There Be Joy’ captures the heart and soul of what we aim to share each holiday season — pure, genuine joy. We’re excited to share this magical experience and continue our tradition of making the holidays brighter and more joyful than ever.”
In addition, Hudson announced a limited-engagement holiday tour, The Gift of Love: An Intimate Live Experience, which will launch on Nov. 24 in Brooklyn, followed by shows in her native Chicago (Dec. 13), Los Angeles (Dec. 18) and Las Vegas (Dec. 21-22); tickets for the gigs will go on sale on Friday (Sept. 20) at 10 a.m. local time here.
Hudson’s first holiday album will feature covers of such standards as “Jingle Bells,” “O Holy Night,” “Winter Wonderland,” “Little Drummer Boy” and “Auld Lang Syne,” along with a number of originals.
Check out Hudson’s tour announcement below.
Cardi B won’t be backing down in a lawsuit in which the rap star and her estranged husband Offset are accused of using a mansion for the purposes of shooting content, and underpaying for the privilege.
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The “Bodak Yellow” rapper turned to her social accounts, where she responded to allegations that the pair had broken an agreement over money, blamed the property’s “greedy owners,” and claimed to have receipts.
“We paid those people $10,000 IN CASH to rent the property for a whole 24 hours that same day 6am to 6am the next morning and we went over by ONE hour which we paid overage fees to the realtor for in March,” she writes on X. “Now they wanna finesse us trying to say we told them it was a TikTok video when that was nowhere in the contract and like they didn’t hear the whole song playing and see how long we was shooting….Why would it take us 24 hours to shoot a TikTok.”
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According to an 11-page complaint, the hip-hop heavyweights targeted a distinctive property and “devised a plan” to use it “without paying full market value,” according to Rolling Stone.
The document alleges that reps for Cardi and Offset had booked the property anonymously “under the false pretense” it would be used for a TikTok video.
Now, notes Cardi, the gloves are off. “The problem is people wanna find loopholes and get over but IRON YOUR BEST SUIT BITCH I’ll see you in court!!!!,” she writes.
And this is not the realtors fault…they been trying for months to settle this.Its them greedy owners wit their ugly ass house— Cardi B (@iamcardib) September 17, 2024
In a separate tweet, she adds, “And this is not the realtors fault…they been trying for months to settle this. Its them greedy owners wit their ugly ass house.”
The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, and noted that the music video produced during the shoot, “Like What,” had garnered more than 26 million views on YouTube since its release six months ago.
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It’s been an eventful time for Cardi and Offset; the artists welcomed their third baby together on Sept. 7. Cardi announced she was pregnant with baby No. 3 in August on the same day Billboard confirmed she’d filed for divorce from the rapper for a second time.
While appearing on Nightcap with hosts Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson, Snoop Dogg gave a balanced take on the Kendrick Lamar and Lil Wayne Super Bowl Halftime Show controversy.
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Snoop, who himself performed along with Dr. Dre and friends during the Super Bowl 56 Halftime Show in LA in 2022, reminded viewers that rap being featured during one of the biggest nights of the year wasn’t the norm once upon a time. “I don’t really have no opinion, but what I do wanna say is that, just remember where the NFL was 15 years ago when it comes to Hip-Hop,” he answered. “How many Hip-Hop artists was able to grace that stage 15 years ago? So, I understand both sides of the coin and I understand how people feel.”
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Adding, “I have no answer, no opinion, because I had the opportunity to get up there via Dr. Dre. I didn’t do any Snoop Dogg songs. I was up there helping Dr. Dre and it became a great moment for all of us. So, any time anybody can get on that Super Bowl stage, remember this: it’s a 12-13-minute performance and you’re not getting paid. It’s more or less you have to spend money to upgrade your show to make it mass appealing for the audience that’s home watching.”
He then mentioned that he watched Wayne’s career unfold when he was signed to Master P’s No Limit during the late ’90s before highlighting that he has great relationships with the parties involved. “Lil Wayne is the GOAT of New Orleans rap,” he said. “Remember, I was at No Limit Records for three years and I watched his whole career come to life and then watched him get bigger than me and I was gigantic at the time and I loved seeing his growth.
“Me and Wayne is family to this day, me and Kendrick is family to this day, and me and Jay-Z, and me and Roger Goodell. I don’t know who is the decision maker, all I know is that I’ll be at home watching the Super Bowl and when the halftime show comes on, I’ll be watching that as well.”
Much has been made about the NFL’s decision to have Lamar headline the the Super Bowl 59 Halftime Show this upcoming February. The Compton rapper hasn’t acknowledged the chatter, instead choosing to release an untitled song on his Instagram. Wayne, however, posted a video expressing his disappointment, saying not being chosen to perform at the Super Bowl in his hometown “broke” him. While some speculated that it may’ve been Jay-Z who made the call, it was recently revealed by Super Bowl Halftime Show executive producer Jesse Collins the the rapper and mogul does have the final say.
You can watch the full interview here.