State Champ Radio R&B/Hip-Hop
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Miles Minnick has enjoyed a busy 2025, and the Christian rapper is looking to elevate his artistry as he’s agreed to a deal signing with EMPIRE on Friday (March 28). Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The partnership comes about as a joint venture with Minnock’s The […]
It’s been 20 years since Ding Dong’s “Badman Forward Badman Pull Up” became an ocean-crossing, generational anthem for dancers and revelers — and the man behind the iconic track is finally unleashing his debut studio album.
Billboard can exclusively reveal that, on May 5, Ding Dong (born Kemar Ottey) will release From Ding Dong to the World, an album he promises will be a breath of fresh air for the dancehall scene. Featuring production contributions from Ricky Blaze, Khalfani, Felva, Dunwell, and Black Spyda — who mixed and mastered the entire project — From Ding Dong to the World will also house collaborations with scores of dancehall superstars, including Skeng, Skillibeng, Stalk Ashley, Govana, Afro B, Popeye Caution, Vanessa Bling and Grammy-nominated rap icon Busta Rhymes. Fans can pre-save the album here.
At a succinct 13 tracks, Ding Dong’s new album aims to place him in the pantheon of dancehall greats, several of which he names as inspiration, like Elephant Man, Bounty Killer, Beenie Man and Sean Paul, whose 2002 “Gimme the Light” music video he cites as one of the most important moments of dancehall’s dance culture being highlighted on a global scale.
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“This album is the evolution of Ding Dong,” the dancer-turned-recording artist declares. “I want to show people that I am a rounded artist, not just a dancer. This style of dancehall hasn’t been done on an album in a long time. I never knew the difficulties and the challenges of doing an album. It’s not a simple thing to get [samples] cleared, so I think the time is now. I am always current. It’s God’s will!”
Ding Dong finished the album last year, but sample clearances cosmically delayed the album release timeline to coincide with the 20-year anniversary of “Badman Forward.” One of those samples was Kris Kross’ “Jump,” which Ding Dong lifts for his new Kaka Highflames and Skeng-assisted single, “Street Jump.” Serving as the set’s lead single, “Street Jump” transposes the audacious energy of Kris Kross’ 1992 Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper into a floor-quaking dancehall banger that plays on Skeng’s own penchant for leaping into the sky during his live performances. The new single arrived alongside its official music video on Thursday (March 27).
“Kris Kross was one of the artists I really messed with growing up,” explains Ding Dong. “I remember when Khalfani did the riddim and I walked in the studio and he played it – without thinking, the first thing I did was [start rapping “Jump”] over the riddim. I recorded that right away, and then mi seh, “I haffi get Skeng pon di song.”
And he did. On a clip shared to his official Instagram page — which has amassed nearly 200,000 views — Ding Dong plays the “Street Jump” riddim for Skeng as he characteristically vaults into the air because the beat moved him so much. It’s similar to what happens when a DJ drops “BadMan Forward” at a function, people simply feel compelled to move. Playing on the legacy and timelessness of “Badman Forward,” Ding Dong also included a bombastic remix of the classic featuring new-age dancehall giant Skillibeng.
“’BadMan Forward’ is the first song I recorded. If you notice, there are no verses, I just wanted to buss a dance, not a song. The version that you hear is the demo version, it’s not mixed,” reveals Ding Dong. “At the time, the willie bounce was everything but I realized di people dem wan change. So I made the song with the dance to make my mark as a dancer. When I chose the name of the song, I was told it was too long. Mi seh mi nah change it. If you wan mek change inna your life, you have to do things differently. It started in Jamaica, went to England, and then New York. The energy, the kick of the riddim and the dance itself made the song a staple within so many generations.”
Watch the official “Street Jump” music video below.
Lil Nas X has been on a tear lately. Since November, the rapper has dropped a series of songs, beginning with the dance-y “Light Again,” and the propulsive “Need Dat Boy” in late 2024. Then, this month he’s kicked things up a notch with a string of single releases in the lead-up to the as-yet-unscheduled release of Dreamboy LP, the anticipated follow-up to his 2021 debut full-length album Montero.
The flurry of activity has resulted in the surprise drop on Friday morning (March 28) of the 8-track EP, Days Before Dreamboy. The mini album collects all of Lil Nas’ recent output, including “Dreamboy,” the hard-hitting apparent title track on which he warns, “B–ch, I’m back like J. Christ,” the latter a seeming reference to his failure-to-launch 2024 single “J. Christ,” which created more controversy than chart action.
Just two days later, he was back with the no-games-played “Big Dummy,” on which he rapped “I’ma send this to the group chat/ They gon’ be like ‘who’s that?’/ I’ma be like, ‘Big X, dummy,’ now y’all know I’m comin’.” The next day (March 12), LNX hit us again with the more low-key “Swish,” the basketball metaphor-twisting ballad where he sings, “Swish, they gotta make this shot, gonna make this hot/ Swish, they gotta make this shot, gotta hit this/ I won’t miss/ Another one in, another one in.”
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He wasn’t nearly done, though, dropping the bass-thumping party jam “Right There!” on March 13, a chronicle of a wild night out, as well as a broadside against those who thought he was done. “Last year, a n–ga went missin’/ This year, I’m washin’ these n–gas like I was just doin’ the dishes/ My b–ches is n–gas, these n–gas is b–ches/ I’m drunk as f–k, what is the difference?,” he spits over gospel-like backing vocals and a crisp beat.
He capped off his frenzied release week with the Neptunes-like banger “Hotbox” and the take no mess “Lean on My Body.” They’re all collected now in one place as fans wait for news on the Dreamboy album; at press time it was not clear if all the songs on the EP will also appear on that full-length release.
Listen to Days Before Dreamboy EP below.
Ice Cube proved his hometown bona fides on Thursday (Mach 27) when he hopped in his custom blue Chevy Impala for a slow drive into Dodgers Stadium to make a very special delivery for the home team on opening day. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news A […]
Will Smith has officially returned to music with the release of Based on a True Story, his first studio album in two decades.
Out today (March 28), the album marks his first full-length project since 2005’s Lost and Found and arrives amid a wave of personal reflection and renewed creative energy for the multi-hyphenate star.
Smith began teasing the new project in 2023, slowly rolling out singles like “Beautiful Scars” featuring Big Sean, the high-energy anthem “Tantrum” with Joyner Lucas, the Teyana Taylor-assisted “You Can Make It,” and the introspective “Work of Art,” which features both Russ and Smith’s son, Jaden Smith.
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The album reunites him with longtime collaborator DJ Jazzy Jeff and is released through indie label Slang Records, with whom Smith signed a distribution deal last year.
“The past couple of years, I’ve been doing a very deep exploration of who and what I truly am,” Smith said in a teaser video posted on his Instagram on Thursday. “The process of this album is really allowing myself to be more honest with myself than I ever have about who and what I actually am. This is about to be the greatest artistic creative period of my entire life.”
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Speaking with Sway in the Morning, Smith also revealed that the album title came from advice he received from Jay-Z. “You gotta say what’s true for you… Be true to your story. Tell your story,” Smith recalled. “And that’s where I got the ‘Based on a True Story’ [title] from.”
The 14-track album blends old-school hip-hop with modern production and themes of redemption, vulnerability, and identity. It also marks a public reentry into the cultural conversation for Smith, whose 2022 Oscars incident with Chris Rock put him in the global spotlight in a very different way. Rather than shy away from controversy, Based on a True Story tackles Smith’s journey head-on, balancing personal reckoning with polished, genre-spanning collaborations.
Smith’s comeback has also included high-profile live appearances, including a performance at Rock in Rio in 2024 that featured tracks from the new album alongside hits like “Gettin’ Jiggy wit It” and “Summertime.” Earlier this month, he also announced a world tour kicking off in Europe this summer.
Based on a True Story is now streaming on all major platforms.
Lil Durk’s incarceration hasn’t stopped his music output. The Chicago rapper released his Deep Thoughts album from behind bars on Friday (March 28). With Durk behind bars inside MDC Los Angeles, his management team picked up the slack to piece together his 20-track Deep Thoughts album with his blessing. The project features assists from Future, […]
Doja Cat is the first headliner to be revealed for Hey Neighbour festival in South Africa this summer, marking the star’s first time performing in her motherland. The three-day festival will be held at Legends Adventure Farm in Pretoria, South Africa from August 29-31. Kendrick Lamar, Khalid, The Chainsmokers, Swedish House Mafia and H.E.R. performed […]
The No Fun League is back at it again. On Monday night (Mar. 26), ESPN NFL analyst Benjamin Solak posted a screenshot from the league’s rules report that was sent out to teams recently highlighting that the “nose wipe” celebration is now deemed unsportsmanlike and will cost teams a 15-yard penalty. According to the full […]
Sauce Walka mourned the death of his friend and artist Sayso P in a lengthy Instagram post after both rappers were shot in Memphis last week.
“Words or tears can’t explain the loss I feel!” he began. “Splatt, I wish your fat ahh listened to me and stayed in the room. I told you we could smoke that blunt after security and the rest of our familia pull up.. Sosaman told you, ‘F dat weed, wait til we leave an hit Superior first.’ You always so hardheaded blood, but you know I’ma ride wit you regardless. We come together, we leave together. Wish you just went [to] DR with Shimmy and shot off, and skipped this trip to Memphis, but you was to excited I finally agreed to come to da ‘M.’”
He continued, “It’s been 4 years since @tsf1punch_10100 brought you to the familia. Did everything I could to help you change your lifestyle. From Miami to all 50 states, we been mashing and splashing together. I learned a lot from you, young spilla and [I’m] thankful for all the loyalty and support city to city, hood to hood with them sticks rap hustling! You left earth as a rich young boss, you left this earth happy and successful. I’ma make sure the world knows who you really are.”
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He added, “But unfortunately, most our kings and bosses are at war with each other. I hope one day we all stop taking lives from our communities and actually start to enjoy and build better futures for our cultures. But the streets are the streets, so I accept what came with being your big brother. I love you, Splatt.”
Rumors swirled that Sayso P was targeted because he allegedly ran off with $200K; however, his mother tried to clear things up on Facebook. “This is the type of lies and sh– that keep mothers losing our sons,” she wrote. “My son never stole anything. Never ran off with anything. Didn’t have to. Haters set him up but not because he stole a dime. He would give you his last before he stole anything. Please stop spreading rumors.”
Adding, “Let me repeat that, he did not have to take sh– from anyone. Money wasn’t a factor. He was too loyal. Too loyal to the wrong people was his biggest downfall. Haters who were envious killed my baby but I won’t let y’all steal his legacy. People see him with a stack and say anything. That was his norm.”
Sayso P, born Latorian Hunt, was 27 years old.
Congrats are in order for MGK and Megan Fox, who welcomed their first child together on Thursday (March 27). Kelly revealed the birth of their daughter in a heartfelt post to Instagram with a glimpse of their baby girl. “She’s finally here!! our little celestial seed,” MGK (formerly Machine Gun Kelly) captioned the post with […]
