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When André 3000 released his debut solo album, New Blue Sun, in November, hip-hop die-hards were understandably upset: The set spanned 88 minutes, showcased flute-playing in a new age and jazz paradigm and included zero words.
At 49 now, André 3000 suggested that topics like getting a colonoscopy and checking his eyesight didn’t fit into hip-hop subject matter. “Sometimes it feels inauthentic for me to rap,” he told GQ at the time of the album’s release, “because I don’t have anything to talk about in that way.”
Less than a month later, Lil Wayne, 41, said on Young Money Radio that he was “depressed” to hear 3Stacks’ comments because he has “everything to talk about.” Pusha T, 47, agreed, telling Idea Generation in live-event footage uploaded in December, “It is kind of stifling to the genre to even think like that. As long as you live in hip-hop in all capacities and as long as you’re still sharp with that pen, you got something to say. We want to hear it.”
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Ironically, the chatter about rappers reaching an expiration date occurred at the end of a yearlong celebration of hip-hop’s cultural longevity. In 2023, genre pioneers including DJ Kool Herc, Kurtis Blow and Roxanne Shanté were honored with a celebratory Hip Hop 50 Live event at New York’s Yankee Stadium. Meanwhile, icon-heavy arena tours kicked off, including Masters of the Mic: Hip-Hop 50 Tour (featuring Big Daddy Kane and Doug E. Fresh, among others), and LL COOL J’s F.O.R.C.E. Live outing (featuring Queen Latifah, Rakim and more).
That attitude has continued well into hip-hop’s 51st year, with sold-out shows and buzz-worthy albums released decades into artists’ careers. “It’s been interesting to watch rappers get older and redefine what’s acceptable and possible in hip-hop,” says Carl Chery, creative director and head of urban music at Spotify. “Rap has historically been perceived to be a young man’s game, but we’re now seeing rappers have critical and commercial success [into] their 40s.”
In July, Eminem released his long-teased concept album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), led by the top 10 Hot 100 hit “Houdini.” Its debut atop the Billboard 200 ended Taylor Swift’s record-breaking streak at No. 1 with The Tortured Poets Department. That same week, Common released his Pete Rock-produced The Auditorium Vol. 1, and in August, Rakim dropped his first album in 15 years with G.O.D.’s Network (Reb7rth) while Killer Mike delivered Songs for Sinners and Saints. Still ahead, LL COOL J will return with his first album in 11 years with The FORCE, due Sept. 6, and Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre have teased their joint album, Missionary, fresh off a performance at the Summer Olympics’ closing ceremony in Los Angeles. Will Smith has even returned to music with his first Christian/gospel single, “You Can Make It,” featuring Fridayy and Sunday Service Choir, which they debuted at the 2024 BET Awards in June.
How, then, are these rappers staying active while entering their fourth or fifth decades? Common believes it’s a matter of understanding the difference between “legacy” and “veteran.” “Sometimes when I hear ‘legacy,’ it makes me think that people don’t view you as still present in it,” he says, “that you are still creating music that is palatable and viable for the times. To me, it’s an honorable way of saying, ‘Man, you had a good run.’ ”
Meanwhile, being a veteran, he says, not only alludes but gives respect to the length of time an artist has sustained. “They have experience and some time in the art form,” he says — which is something Common felt was missing when he was starting out, as hip-hop was still a relatively new commercial art form. But now, at 52, he believes there is victory in having a passion that burns strong enough to want to keep writing raps.
“When we were coming up, we didn’t have any examples of people in their 40s and 50s making music,” he observes. “In my 20s, I was thinking, ‘Man, how am I going to make it in my 30s? Who is going to listen? I have to hurry up and make this happen.’ And now, in my early 50s, I’m like, ‘Wow, it’s a new life to this.’ ”
Chery says he’s been paying special attention to Eminem and Ye, both of whom have managed to appeal to a Gen Z audience. “Granted, Ye and Em have a unique appeal, but I wonder how many artists will be able to change their audience moving forward,” he says. “I’ve always been envious of how young rock listeners take pride in knowing Black Sabbath or Led Zeppelin. They’re students. A lot of younger rap listeners are dismissive of older music.” (Upon the release of Common’s The Auditorium Vol. 1, Grammy Award-winning producer 9th Wonder proposed on X that “adult contemporary hip-hop needs its own category” at the awards show; during this year’s ceremony, Killer Mike swept the rap categories.)
While Common is less concerned with how the music he makes today is perceived, there is one thing he knows he wants: longevity. He admires the arc of many jazz musicians’ careers, recalling seeing pianist Ahmad Jamal, who died in 2023 at 92, play in Chicago; as Common says, Jamal “played until he left the planet.” He says the same of drummer Roy Haynes, who is 99 — and whom Common saw perform just a few years ago.
“If André 3000 decided to rap about a colonoscopy, he’s going to make it dope as hell,” Common asserts, “because this dude rapped about going to Whole Foods and made a whole story out of that.”
This story will appear in the Aug. 31, 2024, issue of Billboard.
A$AP Rocky dropped his eagerly-awaited single “Tailor Swif” early Friday (Aug. 30) on streaming platforms.
The track, which first surfaced as a leak after Rocky’s live performance at Rolling Loud Portugal in July 2022, has sparked plenty of conversation, especially with its nod to Taylor Swift.
Rocky initially performed the song under the name “Wetty,” and after it leaked online, fans clamored for an official release.
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Though the rapper was initially hesitant about including leaked tracks on his upcoming album Don’t Be Dumb, he ultimately decided to give fans what they wanted. Rocky took to social media on Thursday (Aug. 29) to announce the release, cheekily writing, “SINCE U DUMMIES LEAKED IT ALREADY,” and sharing a snippet of the music video, which was shot in Ukraine.
While describing the project for his Billboard cover story, Rocky said he’s continuing his exploration of German expressionism.
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“In this very moment, it’s very grim. That’s an abbreviation,” he said. “It’s infusing German expressionism with ghetto futurism.”
The track’s title has drawn reactions from fans, particularly Swifties, who have mixed feelings about the playful reference to the “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” singer. Despite the reception, the release of “Tailor Swif” has only heightened anticipation for Don’t Be Dumb, which Rocky has pushed back to the fall.
“Tailor Swif” follows Rocky’s August single “Highjack,” which debuted at No. 89 on the Billboard Hot 100.. With Don’t Be Dumb on the horizon, Rocky’s upcoming album is shaping up to be a major statement, both musically and visually.
Stream A$AP Rocky’s “Tailor Swif” below.
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To celebrate the 10th anniversary of his mixtape Days Before Rodeo, Houston-born rapper Travis Scott has dropped a special edition titled Days Before Rodeo – Live from Atlanta: Chopped & Screwed – Vault 1 & 2.
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The limited-edition release, available exclusively on shop.travisscott.com, features previously unheard snippets from the Days Before Rodeo era and a full live set from Scott’s recent anniversary performance in Atlanta. Alongside the music, vinyl bundles, exclusive merchandise, and other limited-edition items are also available.
Released in 2014, Days Before Rodeo was Scott’s second mixtape, setting the stage for his debut album Rodeo in 2015.
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The mixtape featured standout tracks like “Mamacita,” featuring Rich Homie Quan and Young Thug, and “Don’t Play,” featuring Big Sean and The 1975. The tracks, along with production from Metro Boomin, Lex Luger, and Travis Scott himself, introduced a moody, atmospheric style that has since become a hallmark of the trap genre.
The release comes following following Scott dropping the music video for “Drugs You Should Try It” more than a decade after its original 2014 release.
La Flame released the trippy “Drugs You Should Try It” visual on Aug. 18 after DBR came to streaming services on Aug. 23. The clip kicks off with an homage to Virgil Abloh, who designed the neon-lit smoking cowboy sign that makes an appearance. Scott starts free-falling into a pool of despair and allows his mind to drift into the depths of his conscious.
Scott’s chart success includes his sophomore album Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight, which topped the Billboard 200, and the Astroworld album, which spent three weeks at No. 1. His hit single “Sicko Mode” became a staple on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 1, while his collaborations with artists like Drake and Young Thug have secured multiple top 10 hits
Big Sean has returned. The Detroit native delivered his first album since 2020 with Better Me Than You on Friday (Aug. 30).
Sean Don’s sixth studio album boasts 21 tracks in total with features from Gunna, Charlie Wilson, Kodak Black, Bryson Tiller, DJ Premier, Cash Cobain, Teyana Taylor, Larry June, Eryn Allen Kane and more. There’s even a cameo from the iconic WWE superstar-turned-actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
Adding some comedic relief, Big Sean sampled Ray J’s iconic call into The Breakfast Club while he was feuding with Fabolous in 2011 on the same track that also samples 2Pac’s “I Ain’t Mad at Cha.”
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Prior to delivering the LP, Sean admitted in an emotional Instagram Live that he was apprehensive about releasing the project.
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“I’ve been having a hard f—king time, dawg, I’m not gon’ lie,” he said. “Been in this b—h trying to finish a album, and I’m kinda tired of overthinking it. … And, by the way, n—a, like me, I’ve been trying to be on some sober s–t so a n—a out here raw-dogging his emotions, bro.”
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He also made sure to credit his mother for helping him power through those creative insecurities.
“I appreciate my mom for being that guardian angel always giving me that advice,” he added. “She really talked me through it for real. Like I said, I haven’t been sleeping a lot. I been giving this s–t my all. I’m burned the f–k out. I’m tired. I do do this s–t for the people that f–k with me.”
Big Sean heated up with a handful of singles in 2024 including The Alchemist-helmed “Together Forever” as well as “On Up,” “Yes,” “Ya Don’t Stop” and “Precision.” He also guested on Eminem’s The Death of Slim Shady single “Tobey” featuring BabyTron.
Sean has put up three consecutive No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 with his most recent coming in 2020 with Detroit 2. Better Me Than You was originally slated to land on Aug. 9 before being pushed to the end of the month following a leak.
Stream the album below.
Machine Gun Kelly has been a mainstay in the rap game for well over a decade and MGK’s shown versatility to dabble in other genres such as rock and even country with his “Lonely Road” single featuring Jelly Roll.
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The Cleveland native joined Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast earlier this week where he discussed a myriad of topics including how he feels white people have given him “the most s–t” when it comes to stigmatizing his place in hip-hop as a white rapper.
“I won’t deny that there is a subconscious stigma around that — being white in hip-hop,” he said around the 37-minute mark. “To me, it’s so funny because the streets f–k with me so tough. It’s honestly from other white people that give me the most s–t.”
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MGK continued while seemingly saluting his rap battle foe Eminem: “The crazy thing is there’s only been one who’s done it. There’s only been one who’s done it and crossed that line of acceptance.”
Kells returned in July with his John Denver-sampling Jelly Roll collaboration “Lonely Road,” which sits at No. 74 on this week’s Billboard Hot 100 following a No. 33 debut.
After laboring over perfecting “Lonely Road” to his standard for two years, MGK admitted he was worried he’d face backlash for people thinking he was attempting to follow in Post Malone’s footsteps in the hip-hop to country pipeline. Posty released his F-1 Trillion album earlier in August, which debuted atop the Billboard 200 with 250,000 album units sold.
“In the past two years while I was doing ‘Lonely Road,’ Post did this and so the whole time I’m thinking, like, ‘F—ing people are going to think I’m just following this.’ I had to humbly sit there while, for years, I’ve been curating this song knowing I’m gonna have to fight against something here,” he said.
MGK was nervous to play the demo to what became “Lonely Road” for Jelly Roll, but he ultimately let him hear it for the first time while they were driving around together looking for a party following the Grammy Awards in L.A. earlier this year.
“He’s driving himself. I’m like, ‘You drove yourself to the Grammys.’ He’s like, ‘I’m so white trash I can’t get it out of me,’” Machine Gun Kelly recalled. “I get the AUX cord and that same thing that took over when it told me to black out my tattoos or Tickets to My Downfall is the name — those moments when the universe is telling you something, it told me play the demo of ‘Lonely Road.’ I press play and he was like, ‘What the f–k is this?’ I was like, ‘Man, it’s just calling you.’ He was like, ‘I’m on it.’”
Watch the full interview below.
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If you were wondering why Rick Ross chose to get involved in the Drake pile-on last spring, his recent sit-down with Shannon Sharpe and Ochocinco in Houston for their Nightcap Summer Sessions has your answer. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “Y’all had the summer going crazy. I […]
Streams and sales of Beyoncé’s 2016 Kendrick Lamar-featuring song “Freedom” have continued to rise throughout the last month following its pick as Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign theme song for her 2024 U.S. presidential campaign, capturing its biggest streaming day in a month on the day after Harris accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination at the party’s national convention on Aug. 22.
On Aug. 23, streams of “Freedom” ballooned to 159,000 official on-demand U.S. listens, up 43% from 111,000 on Aug. 22, the final day of the Democratic National Convention, according to Luminate. (Incidentally, Aug. 22 was also the day Beyoncé was rumored to be performing at the Chicago convention, the whispers of which did not ultimately ring true.)
A week before on Aug. 16, “Freedom” pulled 49,000 such streams, making that gain far more pronounced: a 224% jump.
Kamala Harris’ Presidential Campaign Effect on Beyoncé’s ‘Freedom’
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Streams of the song accelerated once the convention began on Aug. 19. It earned 51,000 streams on day one, followed by sums of 87,000, 101,000 and 111,000 prior to the accumulation of 159,000 on Aug. 23.
That being said, the Aug. 23 count for “Freedom” isn’t its largest over the last month or so. On July 23, one day after Harris walked out to “Freedom” while visiting her newly minted campaign headquarters, the song scored 205,000 official on-demand streams, then a 646% boost over July 22’s sum of 27,000. It rebounded again on July 25 and 26 following the premiere of a campaign ad featuring the song on July 25, racking up 179,000 and 184,000 streams those two days, respectively.
32% of “Freedom’s” on-demand official streams in the U.S., year-to-date, have occurred in the span of time between when Harris used the song at her first campaign event (July 22) and the day after she accepted the Democratic party’s nomination (Aug. 23). In those 33 days, the song garnered 2.8 million on-demand official streams – of the song’s total 8.8 million earned since the start of the year.
As for sales, “Freedom” jumped 216% in the week ending Aug. 22 to 2,000 downloads sold, spurring its coronation at No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B Digital Song Sales chart dated Aug. 31. The song had never been No. 1 before; it debuted at No. 15 on the May 14, 2016, survey and had not charted since 2019 until it blasted onto the ranking at No. 2 Aug. 3 due to its initial affiliation with Harris’ campaign.
That 2,000-download count also puts “Freedom” at No. 25 on the all-genre Digital Song Sales list, its first time there since the chart dated May 21, 2016.
“Freedom” was released as part of Lemonade, Beyonce’s sixth studio album, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 dated May 14, 2016. It peaked at No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 that year.
—Additional reporting by Keith Caulfield
Two months after rapper Enchanting’s devastating passing at age 26, her official cause of death has been revealed. The hip-hop artist died of toxic effects of oxycodone and benzodiazepines, a spokesperson for the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office told People. Her death was deemed accidental. She was previously reported to have died in the hospital […]
Jobs can feel like a prison for some people, and Cardi B felt the backlash from a recent joke she made when posting a photo from the studio, which she compared to being in jail.
The Grammy-winning rapper posted an Instagram Story on Wednesday (Aug. 28) working hard in the studio, but captioned the photo letting her fans know she was jokingly back at the “Atlantic Records correctional facilities.”
Apparently, the quip didn’t go over well with some and Cardi B spoke out defending her jest on X on Thursday (Aug. 29). “The fact that I made a little joke about the studio because I been mixing and mastering about 40-50 songs and y’all turned that into I hate creating is crazy,” she wrote. “This why artists don’t interact anymore cuz y’all will take one little joke and stretch it wider than y’all a–holes.”
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She continued: “God forbid I make a little sarcastic jokey jokey about motherhood y’all gonna claim I hate my kids and call cps…dweebs.”
A fan attempted to troll her with his response: “What do u create? lol.” Cardi wasn’t having any of it and clapped back with the swiftness: “HITS AND BEAUTIFUL A– KIDS.”
It’s been a six-year journey for Cardi B heading into her sophomore LP. She provided an update earlier in August, letting fans know that the cover art had been shot, but she was struggling on picking the right one.
Even outside of music, 2024 has been another busy year for The Bronx native. Cardi B is currently pregnant with her third child, which she revealed on Aug. 1 and happened to be the same day Billboard confirmed that she has filed for divorce from Offset.
Per Cardi’s rep, the divorce filing “is not based on any one particular incident, it has been a long time coming and is amicable.”
“With every ending comes a new beginning! I am so grateful to have shared this season with you, you have brought me more love, more life and most of all renewed my power! Reminded me that I can have it all!” she wrote at the time. “You’ve reminded me that I never have to choose between life, love, and my passion! I love you so much and can not wait for you to witness what you helped me accomplish, what you pushed me to do! It’s so much easier taking life’s twists, turns and test laying down, but you, your brother and your sister have shown me why it’s worth it to push through!”
Invasion of Privacy arrived in April 2018. The LP debuted atop the Billboard 200 and every song on the project is at least certified platinum. Cardi B also took home best rap album honors at the 2019 Grammy Awards.
Check out Cardi’s latest tweets below:
The fact that I made a little joke about the studio because I been mixing and mastering about 40-50 songs and y’all turned that into I hate creating is crazy… this why artists don’t interact anymore cuz y’all will take one little joke and stretch it wider than y’all assholes— Cardi B (@iamcardib) August 29, 2024
God forbid I make a little sarcastic jokey jokey about motherhood y’all gonna claim I hate my kids and call cps…dweebs 😩— Cardi B (@iamcardib) August 29, 2024
Billboard Unfiltered is back with another brand new episode. Staffers Kyle Denis, Carl Lamarre and Damien Scott embraced debate on Thursday (Aug. 29) while touching on a plethora of topics such as A$AP Rocky’s new Billboard cover story, Complex‘s GOAT Atlanta rapper list, Nelly missing the cut on Billboard‘s top 25 pop stars of the 21st century list.
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Deputy Director, Editorial Damien Scott provided some context to his cover story on Rocky, who delayed his Don’t Be Dumb album into the fall. For part of their travels, Scott accompanied the Mob frontman through his hometown as Rocky’s love affair with Harlem was on full display.
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“He’s like, ‘I come back all the time.’ At first I was like, ‘No you don’t.’ People wouldn’t go this crazy if you came back all the time,” Scott said. “But because he was so comfortable there, I was like, ‘You do come back here all the time.’ He was just waltzing around like it was nothing.”
Scott continued: “He was like, ‘This is my block, this is where I came up, this is where my friend lived, this is where we used to go, this is where I used to bring my dates, my school was right here, I used to go shopping right here.’ He felt at ease as if one of you were to go back home.”
Complex recently unveiled its top 50 Atlanta rappers list with André 3000 coming in at No. 1, which Deputy Director R&B/Hip-Hop Carl Lamarre took issue with since Three Stacks is without a solo album in his discography.
“What befuddles me so crazy is you don’t have a singular body of work to put against somebody like a T.I., who has 11 albums himself — I’ma say three classics solo. Someone like Jeezy, ATL staple TM:101,” Lamarre said. “When you’re talking about individuals, it would help to have a singular body of work to represent that output.”
CL listed out his personal Mount Rushmore of Atlanta MCs in no specific order: “Future, Jeezy, Tip and Thug.” Scott went with Outkast as a duo, Ceelo Green, T.I. and Gucci Mane over Jeezy.
Staff Writer Kyle Denis was among the team responsible for crafting Billboard‘s top 25 pop stars of the 21st century list, and among the honorable mentions that didn’t make the cut like 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar and Jennifer Lopez, it was Nelly who he had the toughest time with keeping out of the 25.
“I think there’s just so much happening in 2024 specifically that you don’t get without Nelly,” he said. “We don’t get a Shaboozey ‘Tipsy,’ we don’t get half of what Beyoncé’s doing on Cowboy Carter on the back half, we don’t get a lot of Morgan Wallen’s s–t in the way that he attacks records certain songs with the cadence he uses without what Nelly does. Talking about Midwest rappers, you don’t get Sexyy Red.”
Watch the entire episode below. Keep it locked for another episode of Billboard Unfiltered next week.
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