J.Cole’s Dreamville Festival Set To Continue For The Next Four Years
Dreamville Festival, founded by J. Cole, announces a four-year extension in Raleigh, North Carolina, promising continued celebration of Black music and culture through 2029 with star-studded performances and strong local partnerships. We discuss it here!
J. Cole performs at Bonnaroo music festival in Manchester, Tennessee on June 6, 2022.
Photo cred: L Paul Mann
By: Joshua Martin
What many expected to be the final installment of J. Cole’s iconic Dreamville Festival actually turned out to be the start of something new. Just days before the two day event kicked off at Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh, North Carolina, organizers surprised many fans during a press conference by announcing the annual celebration of Black culture and music will continue for the next four years.
“We’re going to be here for years to come. This is a multi-year deal, and we’re so excited to be working with the city of Raleigh together on something new and exciting, and to continue to build on this incredible thing that we’ve done over the years.”
The partnership with the city of Raleigh will keep the festival in Dorothea Dix Park through at least 2029, reinforcing the event’s commitment to the local economy.
“We’re going to continue on the same path that’s been successful for us. Our consumers have told us what they like, and we’re going to try to provide that to them for the next four years.”
Raleigh City Manager Marchell Adams-David also emphasized that J.Cole will remain involved with the festival’s direction going forward. Though it is unlikely he will perform every year.
“He will obviously be involved, whether or not he headlines. That’s probably not going to be an occurrence, but he is a local resident. He is totally committed to this community, and he is totally committed to this festival.”
Longtime manager and a key Dreamville executive, Ibrahim Hamad, echoed the same sentiment.
“We call it our family reunion. I think a lot of people from all over the world and from all 50 states come in, and it’s good to be able to do it here in North Carolina.”
This year’s show included Saturday’s headliners Lil Wayne and the Hot Boys (Juvenile, Turk and B.G.) with the Big Tymers (Birdman and Mannie Fresh), 21 Savage, PARTYNEXTDOOR, and Ludacris. Other performers of the day included Dreamville’s own Ari Lennox, Ab-Soul, Bas, Young Nudy, Lute, Omen, Kai Ca$h and Niko Brim, with a special 20 year celebration of Keyshia Cole‘s debut album The Way It Is.
Sunday’s roster included headliners J. Cole, Erykah Badu, and Tems, with other performances by GloRilla, J.I.D., Wale, Coco Jones, Earthgang, BigXThaPlug, Anycia, Cozz, and Akia.
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J. Cole Celebrates 10 Years of 2014 Forest Hills Drive with Concert and Vinyl Release
J. Cole is celebrating the 10th anniversary of his iconic third studio album, 2014 Forest Hills Drive, with a special live performance in New York City. We discuss it here!
℗ 2014 Cole World/Interscope Records
By: Joshua Martin
2014 Forest Hills Drive earned Cole critical acclaim for its innovative production and introspective themes, marking a pivotal moment in the rapper's career. Featuring the production skills of Illmind, Phoenix Beats, Vinylz and more, the record began Cole’s trend of dropping solo projects with no features. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and went on to achieve triple platinum status.
The anniversary concert is set to take place at the legendary Madison Square Garden on Monday, Dec. 16th. Pre-sale tickets for the show are available today via online platforms, with general admission available Wednesday, Dec. 4th. In a nod to the album’s title, Cole is reserving 2,014 tickets priced at just $1 a piece, available in person at a location to be announced the day of the show. With the anniversary concert, Cole promises an unforgettable celebration of one of Hip Hop’s most influential albums.
Cole has had an active year, recently releasing “Inevitable,” a limited audio series documenting his journey in the music industry. He also made his early iconic mixtapes, “The Come Up,” “The Warm Up,” and “Friday Night Lights,” available on streaming platforms for the first time.
In celebration of the 10 year milestone, he will also be releasing anniversary edition vinyls and CDs of Forest Hills Drive. Included are special anniversary vinyl covers and four new bonus tracks. Fans can also look forward to the return of Cole’s annual Dreamville Festival, scheduled for April 5th-6th, 2025, at Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh, North Carolina.
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J. Cole Becomes Charlotte Hornets Minority Owner in $3 Billion Sale
Grammy-winning rapper J. Cole joins the Charlotte Hornets as a minority owner following Michael Jordan's sale approval. We discuss it here!
Las Vegas, NV/USA - 9/24/16: Jermaine Lamarr Cole known as J. Cole performs at Life Is Beautiful Festival in Las Vegas.
Credit: Sterling Munksgard via Shutterstock
By: Adonis Armstrong
J. Cole joins the Charlotte Hornets as a minority owner following the NBA's approval of Michael Jordan's sale. ESPN reports that the group led by millionaire Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall secured the team in a 29-1 vote, with the New York Knicks' owner, James Dolan, being the sole dissenter.
In June 2023, initial reports emerged indicating J. Cole's intention to become a part-owner of the Charlotte team. Following Michael Jordan's announcement of selling his majority stake in the NBA team, Cole, being a North Carolina native, signed a contract to join the ownership.
The Charlotte Hornets were sold for around $3 billion, and the sale is expected to be finalized within the next one to two weeks. In celebration, J. Cole's close friend and business partner, Ibrahim H., expressed gratitude for Cole on Twitter. “Official. Congrats to my dawg @JColeNC,” he tweeted on Sunday July 23rd.
Official. Congrats to my dawg @JColeNC. https://t.co/QbAQgwqHPE
— Ibrahim H. (@KingOfQueenz) July 23, 2023
As the NBA finalizes the deal, Michael Jordan's ownership era for the franchise comes to a close. However, he will remain a minority owner alongside country singer Eric Church, Chris Shumway, Dan Sundheim, Ian Loring, and Dyal HomeCourt Partners. The acquisition also includes involvement from several local Charlotte investors, such as Amy Levine Dawson and Damian Mills.
“Hornets Sports & Entertainment announced today that chairman Michael Jordan has reached an agreement to sell his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets to a group led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall,” the press release read. “As a part of the transaction, Jordan will retain a minority ownership share of the team. The transaction is subject to the approval of the NBA Board of Governors.”
J. Cole could be stepping into an great opportunity with the Hornets. Despite finishing 14th in the Eastern Conference last season, the team boasts an impressive roster of young stars. With LaMelo Ball already on board and the recent addition of Brandon Miller as the 2nd overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Hornets have the potential to become a formidable force, much like the Sacramento Kings.
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J. Cole Joins New Ownership Group of the Charlotte Hornets
J. Cole joins Charlotte Hornets ownership, highlighting his passion for basketball and expanding his influence beyond music. We discuss it here!
Las Vegas, NV/USA - 9/24/16: Jermaine Lamarr Cole known as J. Cole performs at Life Is Beautiful Festival in Las Vegas. Cole has been nominated for several Grammy Awards.
By: Adonis Armstrong
An agreement has been reached by Michael Jordan to sell the majority stake he holds in the NBA team, Charlotte Hornets.
This significant development could potentially usher in the dawn of a new era in Charlotte, as the Hornets have endured a longstanding reputation as one of the NBA's least successful teams. Since Jordan took on majority ownership in 2010, the team has only achieved three winning seasons and made two playoff appearances. Under the guidance of head coach Steve Clifford, the team recorded a disappointing 27-55 record last season, while the 2022-23 campaign marked Clifford's return for his second tenure with the Hornets
Today June 16th, Hornets Sports & Entertainment announced that Michael Jordan is in the process of selling his stake in the Charlotte Hornets to "The Buyer Group," led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall, who have previously been involved in minority team ownership. Notably, Plotkin also holds a significant stake in the Atlanta Hawks, which he is currently in the process of selling.
Read the full release on https://t.co/BzkRIrrehy.
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) June 16, 2023
🔗 https://t.co/roYUH9ilgI pic.twitter.com/N17fYc0HBp
Within “The Buying Group,” a notable addition is J. Cole, the decorated emcee, who will join as a part-owner of the Hornets. The 38-year-old rapper, hailing from Fayetteville, North Carolina, has deep roots in the state, hosting his annual Dreamville Festival there. While universally known for his music, J. Cole has consistently showcased his passion for basketball throughout the years, highlighting his admiration for the sport.
A decade ago, during an interview with Sports Illustrated, he expressed, “I was always in love with basketball as a kid, but I thought I was way better than I really was.” In the year 2021, Cole inked a contract with the Rwanda Patriots of the African Basketball League, committing to play in a series of three to six games.
The Fayettenam vet, Hollywood Cole, is a passionate Hornets fan who has been actively featured on the team's digital platforms in recent years, solidifying his connection to the organization. His involvement in assisting Caleb Martin's signing with the Miami Heat in 2021 has further propelled him into the spotlight. I believe he has a great future within the organization and the potential to turn the Hornets around.
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“New Music Friday”: 4 Hip Hop Projects To Look Out For
Summer is almost officially here, meaning that the perfectly curated summer playlists will soon be in full effect! Here are 4 highly anticipated hip hop projects to look out for on new music Friday!
J. Cole drops the “Off Season”
By: Cory Utsey
Summer is almost officially here, meaning that the perfectly curated summer playlists will soon be in full effect!
While 2021 has given us a few bangers here and there, there are a few artists who have been hinting at-- and in some cases confirming-- the release of some new projects, and a few of them happen to fall on May 14.
So let us take a quick look at four anticipated projects for this New Music Friday.
J. Cole - “The Off Season”
J. Cole and Dreamville have given us some amazing songs over the last two years with “Revenge of the Dreamers III” in 2019 and “Revenge of the Dreamers III: Director’s Cut” in 2020, but his last solo album was 2018’s “KOD”.
With that in mind, many were shocked to see that on May 4, he announced via Instagram that “The Off-Season” would be released on May 14.
Not only were fans given a sneak peak of how the album might sound with the May 6 release of “i n t e r l u d e”, but by May 10, the “Applying Pressure: The Off-Season Documentary” premiered on YouTube.
And by the looks of his L.A. Leakers Freestyle with Power 106 Los Angeles, which went viral on May 12, this album is about as highly anticipated as highly anticipated gets.
J. Cole - 9 5 . s o u t h (Official Audio)
Nicki Minaj - “Beam Me Up Scotty”
Not only is The Barbie back, but her comeback made the Crocs website crash!
Minaj, who had seemingly stepped away from social media for a couple of months, made a swift return (in pink Crocs) on May 10 to tell the world that we should be expecting something from her “F R I D A Y 🤞🏽”.
The Queen dropped Beam Me Up Scotty, which is the official release of her 2009 mixtape featuring 22 songs!
Nicki Minaj - Beam Me Up Scotty (Official Audio)
Jorja Smith - “Be Right Back”
Jorja Smith, who recently released “Nobody But You” with Sonder on April 9, might make the cut for your more relaxed summer playlists.
But the smooth and sultry songstress is releasing the eight-track project called “Be Right Back” both digitally and in vinyl, which comes three years after “Lost & Found”.
Smith has continued to experiment with new sounds and genres in the singles that she has dropped since her debut album, such as “Be Honest”, “By Any Means” and “Bussdown” (which was released on May 13 and comes right off of her new album).
Described as a sort of “sonic waiting-room” by Kyann-Sian Williams, this project should hold fans over until the official release of her sophomore album.
Jorja Smith - Time
Earthgang - “Ghetto Gods”
The details surrounding the release of Earthgang’s sophomore album “Ghetto Gods” are a bit sketchy, as the duo has been hinting at the album’s release yet had never confirmed a date.
However, by the looks of an ambiguous tweet made by the duo on May 6, as well as Hip Hop DX’s Album Release Dates, it is likely that we will be getting the album this New Music Friday.
Hopefully, we will be proven right.
With much to listen to on May 14, it is almost certain that at least one of these artists will come through with some amazing music to get us through the summer; let the listening begin!
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15 Must Listen To Songs For The Black And Conscious
Music about Black excellence, social injustices or simply the overall Black experience are necessary for Hip Hop culture. Here are 15 must listen to songs for the Black and conscious!
By: Tomiwa Moro
Revolutionary activist, James Baldwin was once asked what being Black in America is and he said:
“To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a state of rage almost all of the time — and in one's work. And part of the rage is this: It isn't only what is happening to you, but it's what's happening all around you...”
It’s one thing to be Black, it’s another to be conscious. James Baldwin’s definition sums up what it means to be Black and conscious. Being Black and conscious is to be mentally, physically, emotionally, and socially aware of how you, your brothers, and your sisters are being treated as Black people. It’s caring about how Black men, women and children are treated in a world that favors all other races to the Black race.
Many music lovers use relatable songs as tools for connecting with their emotions. For the Black and conscious, songs about racism, Black excellence, injustice or simply being Black evokes strong emotions that might differ according to listeners and their personal experiences.
Below are 15 songs for the Black and Conscious:
1. Common - U, Black Maybe
Common - U, Black Maybe(Featuring Bilal)(Music Video)
In this song, Common — who is a very conscious rapper — raps about the Black experience. He begins in his first verse by saying, “I heard a white man’s yes is a Black maybe”. He continues by describing life in African American communities and how poverty, drugs and other issues influence the fate of the Black men, women, and children.
Quotable lyrics:
“When we talk about black maybe/ We talk about situations of people of color/
and because you are that color/
You endure obstacles and opposition”
2. Nas - Ultra Black
Nas - Ultra Black (Official Music Video)
In 2020, Nas released this anthem for all Black people titled, “Ultra Black”. The Hit-boy produced song is a celebration of Black Culture.
Quotable Lyrics: “To Africa, you say, ‘Go back’ / I stay pro-black, my Amex black/
Black like cornrows, afros/ Black like Kaep' blackballed from the Superbowls”
3. Janelle Monae - Django Jane
Janelle Monáe – Django Jane [Official Music Video]
“Django Jane” is an empowering song — especially for black women. Through her lyrics, she describes her rise to fame and success as a Black woman.
Quotable Lyrics:
“Black girl magic, y'all can't stand it/ Y'all can't ban it, made out like a bandit/ They been tryin' hard just to make us all vanish
4. Mick Jenkins - Padded Locks
Mick Jenkins - Padded Locks & Barcelona (Official Music Video)
There’s a lot to unpack on this song. In addition to Mick Jenkins’ rhythm and Ghostface’s aggressive bars, there are conscious lyrics sprinkled in many parts of the verses.
Quotable Lyrics: “Fuck the rulers, Donald Trump is a piece of shit”
5. Royce da 5’9 - Black Savage
Royce 5'9 - Black Savage ft. Sy Ari Da Kid, White Gold, CyHi The Prynce & T.I. (Official Video)
Royce is a bold artist who says whatever he wants to say. He doesn’t hold back on this one and let’s his lyrics about Blackness spray like bullets from an AK. He also pays homage to some legendary Black people in the entertainment industry.
Quotable Lyrics: “How much more do you want?/ You wanna send us back to where we came from 'Cause we just savages/ Well here's my ass to kiss”
6. Big Sean - Guard Your Heart
Big Sean - Guard Your Heart (Audio) ft. Anderson .Paak, Earlly Mac, Wale
“Guard Your Heart” is like fuel for the mind. Big Sean encourages listeners to keep their head up and stay grinding while Wale directs his lyrics at racist white people.
Quotable Lyrics: “Got tired of white silence, so the riots started/ And the robbers robbed, you wylin' 'cause yo' product gone?/ We mad that Eric Garner, Breonna, Gianna father gone”
7. J Cole - Before I’m Gone
J. Cole - Before I'm Gone
J Cole has a lot of deep and conscious songs in his discography. This one is one of the really good ones.
Quotable Lyrics:
“We tired of only having just a piece/ And fuck policing, they killing niggas what's the reason/ His daughter starving and she fucking freezing/ So no wonder why he fucking squeezing”
8. J Hus - Helicopter
J Hus - Helicopter (Official Audio) ft. iceè tgm
British rapper, J Hus can best be described as a conscious rebel who makes great music.
Quotable Lyrics:
“No man can ever put my life on pause/
They enslaved my ancestor, no remorse/ I bring knowledge to Europe, just like the Moors”
9. Black Milk - Could it Be
Black Milk - Could It Be (Official Video)
“Could It Be” is one of the best songs in Black Milk’s collection. This is a record for the Black dreamer. It’s a reminder of where we come from and where we want to be. Despite the obstacles thrown at us, we still have big dreams. Like Black Milk says in the song, “that American pie he just want a portion.”
Quotable Lyrics: “Black kid with dreams by any means/ to see himself foldin' keys to a black Porsche and/ That american pie he just want a portion”
10. G Herbo - All Black
G Herbo – All Black (From Judas And the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album)
A song that appeared on the soundtrack for Judas and the Black Messiah — an historical drama about the betrayal of Fred Hampton. Like the entire soundtrack, “All Black” is one for the culture.
11. Rakim - Black Messiah
Rakim – Black Messiah (Official Audio) [From Judas And the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album]
On “Black Messiah” Rakim pays tribute to Fred Hampton, the Black messiah.
Quotable Lyrics: “Like the barrel of a gun, crucified, he was only 21/ Look at all the things he did in a short time/ Imagine all the things that he could've done”
12. Sault - Foot on Necks
Sault - Foot on Necks
In 2020, British group, Sault outdid themselves. They released two albums that can only be described as protest anthems for Black people around the world. Although “Foot on Necks” appeared on their 2019 album, ‘5’ it makes the list because of the strong emotions it evokes.
Quotable Lyrics:
“You don't feel, what we feel, and it's evident/ That you shoot to kill, 'cause you know, you'll get away with it”
13. Pharrell ft Jay Z - Entrepreneur
Pharrell Williams - Entrepreneur (Official Video) ft. JAY-Z
Another song about Black excellence. One of the ways Black people can progress and fight oppression is by striving to be great by any means. Although the system doesn’t favor us, we can build something solid from the scratch by being entrepreneurs.
Quotable Lyrics:
“The brainwashed become hype boys/ Third eye dilate/ You ain't supposed to make it off Section 8/ Robbin' Peter just to pay Paul”
14. Jay Z and Kanye West - Murder to Excellence
Kanye West and Jay Z - Murder to Excellence
“Murder to Excellence” is consciousness at its peak. The sample amplifies the deep lyrics about the society and its relationship with black people.
Quotable Lyrics: “In the past if you picture events like a black tie/ What’s the last thing you expect to see? Black guys/ What's the life expectancy for black guys?/ The system's working effectively, that's why!”
15. G Herbo - Intuition
G Herbo - Intuition ft Sonta & 2Pretty (Official Audio)
The last song on this list, and the best way to end this piece is a quote from G Herbo’s Intuition.
Quotable Lyrics: “You can't separate or compare freedom from peace/
Because no one can be at peace unless they have freedom/ And we not even born free, at least that's where I'm from/ Everything I seen growing up was poverty strucken/ Shit was damaged, taken from us or taken advantage of already/
And this is what we exposed to all day, that's what damage does/ And if you don't understand what I'm talking about, you never been through it/ I guess you one of the people I'm saying this to and not for”
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2020 Year In Review: 15 Hip Hop Albums That Should Be In Your Playlist
2020 had some dope Hip Hop releases! Here are 15 albums that should be in your playlist!
By: James Teague
Up until COVID-19 making it’s controversial debut into the world, the year 2020 was set up to be a promising year for us. With the new year and new decade came new music to help serve as a personal life soundtrack for our lives this current year. As this year comes to a close, it’s safe to say that we will never forget 2020 and all of the craziness that’s unfolded.
I personally can’t wait until I’m at the dinner table with my future family and we’re talking to our kids about what will happen in 2020. From losing Kobe Bean Bryant in the beginning of the year to experiencing a global pandemic thanks to COVID-19, seeing the continuing cycle of black people being murdered and us being outside protesting for our rights and for police brutality and systematic racism during a pandemic, and controversial Celebrity stories such as J-Cole vs NoName, Meg The Stallion/Tory Lanez debacle, the 2020 election, etc.
With life happening all around us, it was difficult for some to really focus and digest the latest of new Friday music releases due to the lack of stability around us. How can you be mad at anyone who might have personally choose to not check for new music at a time when we don’t know what’s going to happen next in the world. Luckily for I, music still played a big role in assisting me with dealing with the global Pandemic in it’s entirety. Even though we weren’t outside as often normally, the music released this year still served it’s purpose for me.
Here is the list of just my personal favorite hip-hop albums of 2020. Keep in mind readers these favorites of mine are not in order.
BLXST - NO LOVE LOST
I remember hearing about No Love Lost while I was listening to the Joe Budden Podcast and hearing Mal giving his praises on the album. So one day while at work, I decided to take a listen for myself and this quickly became one of my favorite albums cuts to play. Til this day I love it when I discover new & original dope acts. Discovering new music is considered a love language for me personally. My favorite songs off the album include “Gang Slide”, “Overrated”, “Be Alone”, and “Wrong or Right”.
Blxst - No Love Lost
6LACK- 6PC HOT EP
I’m not even a huge 6lack fan like that but I enjoyed 6PC Hot EP. It felt good for him to create this EP to hold us over until the time comes for the official album whenever it is time to drop. My favorite song(s) off the EP was “Know my Rights” with Lil Baby and “Elephant in the Room”. Im looking forward to see what 6lack is officially cooking up for his next album.
6lack - ATL Freestyle
VIC MENSA - V TAPE
Last time that I was tapped in with Vic Mensa was on his last project Hooligans. I’ve always been a fan of Vic Mensa music since his Save Money days. Innanetape is a personal Chicago hip-hop classic mixtape. I think Vic is one of the most talented rappers to come out of the city but he almost lost me a bit when he was making his rock music. I much would rather prefer Vic when he is on his Hip-Hop tip. “Vendetta” was the perfect intro song for V Tape. Not only did it help set the tone for me on what to expect but it’s the lyrics that reminded me why Vic is considered to be one of the best emcee’s out in Chicago. All of the guest features did their thing , especially Snoh Aalegra, which i didn’t expect for ”XGames” to really be as great of a song it was. Hit Boy came through for Vic on “Dirt on my Name”.
Vic Mensa - VENDETTA
BIZZY CROOK - FROM ME, TO YOU
I want to personally thank my homie Kim Chanel for putting me onto Bizzy Crook music through via her IG story post. I came across this album From Me, To You. Up until this year recently, It’s honestly been awhile since I was actually able to search for newer and unknown hip-hop music. I was impressed by some of the people I checked out this year, including Bizzy Crook himself. Bizzy originally hails from Miami, Florida and has an extensive catalog of projects released since 2011. My favorite tracks include “Dios Mio”, “Rich and Damaged”, “Broke my Heart”, and “South Florida Girls”.
Bizzy Crook - Over You
DON TOLIVER - HEAVEN OR HELL
Let me tell you if it wasn’t for Coronavirus impacting the entire world, Heaven or Hell would have been the perfect album for the summer of 2020. I heard about Don Toliver through Twitter. He was originally on the Jackboys EP with Travis Scott. When I found out about his debut project, I decided to tap in to the project to see it for myself. I was not expecting to love this debut album as much as I do. All of the vibes that I received from this project just told me that the music would’ve hit 10x more had the world been open up formal. Regardless of COVID, Don Toliver still was able to held it down on Heaven or Hell as the artist to stand his ground and let the world know he’s here to stay, pandemic or not. My favorite cuts off this album include “Cant Feel my Legs” , “After Party”, “Cardigan”, and “Candy”.
Don Toliver - Heaven Or Hell [Official Audio]
K CAMP - KISS 5
I would just like to get this out of the way and say that K Camp does not miss at all when it comes to music. He does not disappoint with Kiss 5 (regular and deluxe album) as this served as the sendoff for the final chapter of the Kiss Series. “What’s on Your Mind”, “Tatted Up”, “1 Mo Time”, “Ari, What’s The Rush”, and “Rude Boy” are some of my favorite cuts to come from this album. Even though this deluxe has came out I’m already excited for whats to come with Camp and the Rare Sound crew in 2021. On another note, Camp told us through social media that he is to be referred as Float.
K CAMP - Regret (Intro/Audio)
DOE BOY AND SOUTHSIDE - DEMONS R US
This album was most anticipated from me with Doe Boy. Since 2012, Ive been following his music and I’ve been waiting so long for Doe to make an album that’s going to let the world know that he’s here to stay. He makes the type of music that I want to hear and he didn’t disappoint at all not even the slightest. The sound for Demons R US is the exact sound I was waiting for Doe to rap on. I’m looking forward to seeing where Doe goes 2021 and beyond.
Doe Boy, Southside - Intro (Official Audio)
BENNY THE BUTCHER AND HIT BOY - BURDEN OF PROOF
Hit Boy has been having a helluva year between playing executive producer for Sean’s album Detroit 2 and other projects plus him opening up about his slave deal he got into when he was younger, Hit has been making it a point to prove his worthiness to be being producer of the year. He hooked up with one of Griselda’s own Benny the Butcher and the result was his album Burden of Proof. His first single timeless with Lil Wayne and Big Sean had me sold on being excited for this new album. I’m not a huge huge fan of Griselda like that even though I know they’re some of the most talented rappers out right now, but I was amazed by Benny’s album. The sound throughout the album sounds so much more polished and rich. You can tell that there has been a lifestyle upgrade. “Famous”, “Timeless”, “Where Would I Go”, “Over The Limit”, and “Legend” are some of the songs that I enjoy.
Benny The Butcher and Hit Boy - Burden Of Proof
21 SAVAGE AND METRO BOOMIN – SAVAGE MODE 2
Savage Mode 2 was another anticipated album that I was looking forward to. It was safe to say that the sequel overly delivered and its possible that it can be better than the original but we’ll let time tell since this album is still brand new. Now that the album has been out for a minute I can say confidently that “Runnin” is a top 5 21 Savage song. “Runnin” and “Glock In My Life” going back to back should be considered a crime. What I also love about Savage Mode 2 is how 21 has found his pocket with the Memphis sound. 21 and Metro are a duo to be reckoned with.
21 Savage - Intro
GUNNA – WUNNA DELUX
It’s took me some time to warm up to Gunna’s music but Wunna did what it was supposed to do. A lot of Gunna’ music prior to Wunna was hit or miss for me. I liked him when he was making songs with Lil Baby or if he was on certain songs with certain rappers. Gunna to me at first sounded a whole lot like Thug too much. I was watching him and Lil Baby’s musical growth to see who was better. I’m not going to hold you I thought Baby’s album My Turn was going to be better than Wunna but once I pressed play the album told me a different story. “Met Gala”, “MOTW”, “Top Floor”, “Wunna”, “Blindfold”, and “Cooler Than a Bitch” are some of the tracks I love from Wunna.
Gunna - 200 FOR LUNCH [Official Audio]
HONORABLE MENTIONS
G-HERBO - PTSD DELUXE
LIL UZI VERT - LUV VS THA WORLD 2/ETERNAL ATAKE
LIL BABY - MY TURN
DRAKE - DARK LANE DEMO TAPE
NAS AND HIT BOY - KINGS DISEASE
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The Most Anticipated Hip Hop Releases Of 2020
2020 is set to be a great year for new music! We discuss the most anticipated hip hop releases coming this year!
By: James Teague
There’s going to be major life changes occurring all around us in this new decade and what better way to help us embrace these changes than through new music releases! New music this year will serve as our personal life soundtracks towards all newfound memories. The 2010’s started out smoking hot and progressed as the years passed. We’ve been blessed with some classic works that will be part of our lives. Even though it personally felt like the music in 2019 was lacking longevity, there were still some solid musical releases I personally enjoyed.
As we’re just now starting 2020, I'm looking forward to some of the artists we haven’t heard from in some time providing us listeners with some new vibes. I’ll be starting my 30’s in 2021 and I'm eager to know how impactful music will be to my taste and my life as I elevate in this new journey. Here is my list of artists whom I’m personally excited about that's rumored to release new music.
Noname, Smino, & Saba aka “Ghetto Sage”
Back in October, Chicago rapper NoName announced that her, Saba, & Smino had announced that they were forming a rap supergroup called “Ghetto Sage” and went on to debut their first group sound called “Haagen Dazs”. Each of these artists have dropped great albums at the end of the decade; NoName with Room 25, Saba with Care for ME & Smino with Noir. Even though “Haagen Dazs” is the first debut song for the group, they’ve collaborated 2 more times before becoming an official group. There’s been some talks about the group maybe having a project together but we will see as time progresses on.
The Weeknd
The last time that we’ve heard from Toronto Native The Weeknd was back in 2016 when he had released his last album Starboy. Since then we’ve gotten sights of Abel doing features for rappers such as Future & Trouble. If we didn’t hear him through music, then we would hear about his personal dating matters on and off. The Weeknd decided to surprise the fanbase by dropping two new singles. His single “Heartless” is produced by Metro Boomin. No information has been released yet for his new album but I’m looking forward to this next batch of new music coming.
Partynextdoor
These days you can find Toronto native Partynextdoor playing the songwriter role. The last time we heard new music was when he released his project called “Seven Days back in 2017.” Back in August, Drake said for us to expect new music coming soon from Party. In November, Party hinted on his IG that new music was coming out that Friday and proceeded to release two new singles, “The News” and “Loyal” with Drake. Awhile back before he went behind the scenes, Party mentioned that his next album would be titled “Club Atlantis” but there’s no confirmation on whether or not that album title still stands. For now Party has been teasing us about new music that’s coming. There’s still a special place in my heart for Party’s first two albums and i’m excited to hear what he’s cooking up with this new album at the top of the year.
G-Herbo
Out of all the acts in the city, G-Herbo is considered one of my top favorite acts to come out of Chicago in the last couple of years. His last collaborative album with Southside, Swervo, is still in my music rotation since the day it released. Before the 2019 ended, Herbo had said he is currently working on his next project, PTSD. He didn’t specify when the album was coming but after surprising his fans with dropping a short but sweet project, Sessions, one can only assume that he plans to release PTSD later on sometime this year.
Tory Lanez
Even though he just recently just dropped his album Chixtape 5, Tory is always consistently working and releasing new music, whether singles or guest features. Tory has already said that he has some upcoming projects that are in the works. There are currently no release dates assigned to these new projects at this time, however one can hope that maybe Tory could drop a project maybe such as The New Toronto 3. Personally, The New Toronto series is a preferred favorite series out of the others for me.
SZA
Periodically on Social Media, via Instagram, you can catch a glimpse of TDE songstress SZA out and about living life to the fullest. She has updated us through Twitter that she is currently working on her next upcoming album. The 3 year anniversary of CTRL is around the corner and this album sounds as fresh as it did the first time it was released. No information yet has been released about the album but we’re looking forward to hearing what SZA has to say this following go round.
Isaiah Rashad
Recently on Twitter, Isaiah has hinted on being in a better space mentally to release the music that he loves. The last time we heard from TDE’s own was back in 2016 when he dropped his sophomore effort The Sun’s Tirade. It’s clear that Isaiah has been working on music but he’s reportedly said he was having a hard time finding his stride in making the type of music he loves. Recently he’s hinted at finding his stride out and also teased a possible collab record with Schoolboy Q with Kenny Beats on the production side. We don’t have any album information but we’re patiently waiting on Zaywop to bless us with new heat soon.
Migos
It’s been awhile since we last heard new music from Migos. Following the release of Culture 2, the rap group from Gwinnett County decided to go in a different direction by releasing their solo albums. Even though each of the members have their unique talents, we quickly realize that all three of these members are much better as one unit compared to being solo acts. Culture 3 is currently in the works, and it was mentioned that there was a chance it could be dropping sometime in the first quarter. We’ll stay tuned.
Future
The Wizard has already kicked off the new year 2 for 2 with “Life is Good” with Drake and “Federal Fed” with Moneybagg Yo. If there’s one thing you can always count on every year is a brand new Future project dropping. Theres no other information on plans of Future’s next album endeavors but with “Life is Good” being released, one can be certain that Future is planning to drop soon at some point. Now whether it’s going to be another Future album or the rumored sequel to “What A Time to Be Alive,” I’m always looking forward to new projects being distributed out by The Wizard Himself.
Griselda (Westside Gunn & Madlibb/Conway)
The Infamous crew hailing from Buffalo, New York is coming fresh off a great 2019. Members of Griselda; Benny the Butcher, Conway, & Westside Gunn have held their own in each of the latest projects released. Once the group signed with Roc Nation with the help of Jay-Z, the rap group knew what time it was. Two Projects from Westside Gunn and Conway’s collaborative effort with Madlib are planning to drop sometime this year. Westside Gunn ended up making a bold start on the end of year Rap Radar Interview with Elliot Wilson and Bdot by saying Griselda had a much better year in 2019 than TDE and Dreamville.
Rihanna
These days trying to get a global icon like Rihanna to drop new music is almost equivalent to pulling teeth. Rih has been busy collecting her bag with her company Fenty. There’s not a lot of information that’s out about her album outside of hearing that this next upcoming album is supposedly reggae influenced.
Drake
Whether you love him or you hate him, Drake always has a way of making the masses remember him, whether through his chart topping hits, gossip blogs/news, or finding him supporting platforms such as Rap Radar and Shop Talk. Drake seems to have moved past all of the ills that occurred from 2018 during the release of his last album Scorpion. In usual Drake fashion, he’s announced via tour that he has been hard at work on his next upcoming album. No telling when this album will come out but I can bet you he will have something out right around the summertime.
J. Cole
Cole has already confirmed about his next upcoming album following up from KOD titled The Fall Off. He’s already been working on that album. In between time he’s also been busy giving out feature verses to rappers like Young Thug, Royce, Gangstarr, & his Dreamville roster. His team all created a moment by creating and releasing Revenge of the Dreamers 3 compilation albums featuring the members of the Dreamville roster and friends. Cole said that he’s finished with giving out feature verses and has returned back into the lab to finish up on The Fall Off. This album is set to come out sometime this year.
Kendrick Lamar
We’re on the cusp of hitting the 3 year anniversary mark of Kendrick Lamar’s last solo album DAMN. Granted he’s followed up with curating The Black Panther soundtrack, its been very quiet for the Compton rapper. Outside of hearing news about him having his first child with his woman, he’s stayed off the scene for quite sometime. Also what’s more telling is how there hasn’t been as many guest verses from Kendrick as before within the last few years. Things have been quiet until this past weekend, Billboard columnist and former editorial director, Bill Werde, took to his twitter and present some interesting news regarding Kendrick’s next coming album. He mentions Kendrick’s next album may be more rock influenced however he follows up clarifying that “just because recording had hit a point where folks believe it may be finished — albums go back to the studio all the time after this point, and for a million different reasons.” At this point, all we can do is just wait until the TDE superstar decides to release his album. All that we can do now is wait patiently until the TDE superstar decides its time for us to hear what he has to say.
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Kafar Myers Talks His Latest Mixtape "Self Privilege"
East Coast rapper, Kafar Myers, recently dropped his new mixtape Self Privilege! Listen here and check out what he had to say!
“This project really embodies the growth of someone on a journey and dealing with outgrowing people, and disappointments. The outside conflicts of the world.”
“This project really embodies the growth of someone on a journey and dealing with outgrowing people, and disappointments. The outside conflicts of the world.”
By: Omar Cook
East Coast rapper, Kafar Myers, recently dropped his new mixtape Self Privilege! This project certainly didn’t disappoint as it gave a true hip hop feel, real lyrics, and dope beats!
It’s what I represent, the self privilege lifestyle, which is finding purpose within yourself. Wanted a title the spoke to everyone especially the ones that embraced superiority in individuality. This project is the soundtrack to that.
This mixtape features 8 tracks and there is no song that you will want to skip, a total complete project. The whole tape gives off J Cole vibes.
Every song is a must listen but if I had to choose one it will be track 6 WALK N WARS,
because it’s a song reflecting on the generational defects we are seeing at the moment. Situations like freshmen having babies, guns over knowledge, depression, social media bringing an addiction to live out our means.
This is the second project of the year for Kafar Myers as he dropped his album Testimony earlier this year.
This project has a more steady focus on self growth and a more vivid message from start to end. The versatility from start to finish is a credible change as well!
My personal favorite is “Fall Back” as it gives a more up beat tempo with relatable lyrics of course, but each song is dope no doubt. You get a true variety of sounds on this project.
Expect to hear a versatility of sounds. Melodic choruses and verses as well as a life changing metaphors. Story telling, with inspiring words !
Check out the project below and download to itunes now!
Luxury - Kafar Myers, Self Privilege The Mixtape (Official Audio)
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Death of Juice WRLD Raises The Discussion Of Drug Abuse In Hip Hop Culture
Hip Hop has always been at the forefront of growing trends in America, with drug use becoming a major focal point in the last decade. The recent death of Juice WRLD raises the discussion of drug abuse In Hip Hop culture! We discuss it here!
By: Omar Cook
Hip Hop for the last 40 years has been at the forefront of growing trends in America, with every decade bringing in new waves of rappers and new styles. This particular decade of the 2010s I have noticed a growing trend of glorifying drug use and it’s becoming disturbing with lives being lost unfortunately.
Just recently we lost 21 year rapper Juice WRLD to an overdose of prescription drugs. 21 y’all. The crazy thing is that this could have been prevented, and it was his own doing. We also lost legendary Mac Miller to the same issue. While these guys make some dope music, it’s obvious that hard drugs have become a major issue.
This time period is weird because it’s like, when did glorifying drugs and being high alllllll the time become the thing to do? You hear rappers daily speak about using percocets, codeine, Xanax, Molly, cocaine, etc. What issues are plaguing these rappers so much that these drugs become the only option? Hitting the blunt a few times wasn’t enough???
These rappers perpetuate this lifestyle into the minds of an already impressionable generation that holds onto rap lyrics like gold. And killing themselves in the process. I just want to say before I keep going, glorifying these drugs and being high all the time is not the wave. These are the signs of a junky.
J Cole spoke about the issues of drug abuse and drug addiction on his song “Friends” on his album KOD.
You running from yourself and you buying product again
I know you say it helps and no I'm not trying to offend
But I know depression and drug addiction don't blend
Reality distorts and then you get lost in the wind
And I done seen the combo take niggas off the deep end
One thing about your demons they bound to catch up one day
I'd rather see you stand up and face them than run away
I understand this message is not the coolest to say
But if you down to try it I know of a better way
Meditate
J. Cole - FRIENDS
We don’t get to hear about the lives of regular citizens that are lost due to these drug problems, only when celebrities or music artists die because of it. How many more people have to pass away before we start labeling this as a real problem? It would be easy to say stop supporting music that encourages this drug culture, but that would be irrational because this is a generational problem. There are a number of artists that push drug culture and normalize depression and sadness in their music.
My issue is not with the artists that choose to live this lifestyle because these are grown people making their own decisions, but the fact that their are kids and teenagers coming up that feed off of these young rappers is where this becomes a major problem. Hip hop will continue to be a major influencer but at what point do we start pushing music that speaks on real issues or encourages its audience to do better instead of continuously pushing music that sets us back?
It is very unfortunate what happened to Juice WRLD as this was another young black live lost, but he is also fully responsible for his actions. Anyone that chooses to abuse drugs will have to deal with the consequences that comes with it. The solution…don’t do drugs.
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10 Rap Albums You Should Have On Your Radar For 2019
2018 was a good year for hip hop with some dope projects being released. With the New Year, here are 10 rap albums you should have on your radar for 2019!
By: James Teague
Not only does the New Year bring fresh new clean slate in our lives but it also brings us new potential musical classics. 2018 was really a doozy with the music releases. It was to the point where some people were debating whether or not there was too much music being released. Though it has been the new year for some time, we’re still anticipating the new musical releases that are coming. Everybody is gearing up for artists that are releasing new music this year. Here’s a list of my top 10 anticipated artist whose projects that I’m looking forward to for the new year.
1. Schoolboy Q - TBD
At the height of Top Dawg’s evolution, it never surprises me when they set the tone each year when it’s album time for the roster. Schoolboy Q is one of the top anticipated releases within the squad that i’m looking forward to. We last heard from Groovy Q back in 2016 on his Sophomore album, Blankface LP. He’s been spotted killing features here & there. It’s been reported that Q was close to finishing his album but he pushed the album release back due to the sudden death of his good friend/comrade Mac Miller. According to Q, when he spoke about this at a concert, he said he wasn’t ready to release it because of having to do interviews and being asked to speak on Mac’s Death. It appears that Q got his mind right and is ready to go with the new release. Im so excited to hear what’s to come this time around from Groovy Q.
2. Isaiah Rashad - TBD
Outside of Q, another member of the Top Dawg family, Isaiah Rashad, is gearing up for their new album release as well. Isaiah has actually been real quiet since the release of his sophomore album The Sun’s Tirade. While we already know how Kendrick, Jay Rock, & SZA can roll on album releases, i’m real interested to see and hear which direction is Zay going with his music releases.
3. Dreamville - Revenge of the Dreamers 3
Following the Revenge of the Dreamers 3 sessions all throughout 2019 so far has been one of the best moments in hip-hop even in the early stages of the new year. Watching the sessions from the outside in via social media is like being a kid walking into a candy store. It also felt like it was an exclusive invite only fan club as each and everyday, rappers, artists, Musicians, & certain media members were invited to the sessions. Everything on IG from the Invites to the pictures/ video snippets, Seeing theses sessions unfold right before our eyes through Dreamville in an organic way will be amazing. Nothing’s for certain on whats going to come from these sessions but all of the music released, whether it makes the compilation album, someone else’s album, or serves as a single loosie, seeing that the ROTD 3 session playing a role into bringing this moment for life and I believed this topic was here for years.
4. J. Cole - The Fall Off
There was already an announcement of Cole’s next album “The Fall Off” during this KOD run. The last thing that we’ve heard on the status of the album was that he was “Working on it” according to a Tweet made. If you have been under a rock lately, it appears that Cole was re-inspired and has been in the studio more often working with his peers and exploring different producers. Seeing Cole expand himself to different artists and producers is cool and i’m anxious to see if this is going to play a part in creating his next album.
5. Future - Future Hndrxx Presents: The WIZRD
Even though initially Future dropped 4 projects last year ( curated Superbly Soundtrack, DJ Esco Presents Kolor Blind, Beast Mode 2 & Wrld on Drgs tape with Juice Wrld), it still really felt slick light year musically. It felt as though we didnt necessarily see or feel his presence like that (unless you were glued to his IG) At the top of the new year that, he announced his next album The WZRD is scheduled for release on 1/18 and it’s included a documentary accompanied by the album which was released on 1/11. The tracklist dropped today and what i’ve gathered was that this album be a mix of FUTURE & HNDRXX, his last two major albums released in 2017.
6. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Bandana
One of the better underrated rappers in the game, Freddie Gibbs has blessed the listeners with two projects this past year; Freddie and his collaboration with Curren$y called Fetti from his collaborating has been still riding the wave of his project released last year with Kenny Beatz titled, Freddie. It’s been announced already about the release of Bandana with Madlib. Freddie has been dropping heat all 2018 and so I expect it to be the same coming from him this year.
7. 21 Savage & Young Nudy - 4L Gang The Album
Both 21 Savage & Young Nudy were making their rounds this past year when they respectively dropped their solo projects, (Slime Ball 3 from Nudy & I Was > I Am from 21) for the streets to hear. Both projects ended up being amazing and helps continue to solidify both of their positions in the Atlanta rap world. It was announced at the end of the year that 21 & Nudy were planning to a collaborative project and have dropped a single out titled “Since When.” At the Beginning of the new year, a poll was made on twitter asking to help 21 decide which projects to start on between Savage Mode 2, Without Warning 2, a New Album, or the 4L Gang album. Safe to say it was officially decided the 21/Nudy album was going to be priority for the new year.
8. Rick Ross - Port of Miami 2
Rozay has been teasing us about Port of Miami 2 through his tweets, from telling Just Blaze happy birthday and thanking the Justice League. Rather You Than Me was one of the top albums to be released in 2017, one of my personal favorite recent Rozay albums. I’m interested to see where the sound is going this time with Port of Miami 2.
9. Chance The Rapper - TBD (Chance’s Solo, Chance/Kanye Good Ass Job & Chance/Childish Gambino)
Aside from the features and some loosies given to us, that time we received a full blown project from Chicago’s friendly neighborhood rapper Chance the Rapper was back in 2016 with Coloring Book. It’s already expected that he has a few projects that are on the way; including his own Solo album and two collaborative albums; one with him & Childish Gambino and the other with Kanye for GOOD Ass Job. He’s been real tight-lipped about the new album but stay tuned.
10. Pusha-T - TBD
I don’t have a lot of details on this album but through the grapevine, i’ve heard that Pusha T would be releasing an album this year. There’s not a lot of information regarding this but at this point, anything is possible with The President of GOOD Music.
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J. Cole Posts Much Needed Message To The Music Industry In Light Of Mac Miller Death
J Cole Posts Much Needed Message To The Music Industry In Light Of Mac Miller Death
By: Omar Cook
We all heard the unfortunate news of the passing of talented rapper and producer, Mac Miller. Mac Miller passed away due to a drug overdose at the young age of 26. There were millions of tweets celebrating the rappers life, but one in particular stood out and that was from J Cole. His tweet and Miller's death brings attention to the ugly truths that some people deal with, and thats the overuse of drugs. Drug culture and using drugs to cope with certain things is a bigger issue than a lot of people realize.
Instead of dealing with issues head on, a lot of people turn to drugs rather than talking to friends or family about their problems. Drug use is over glorified in hip hop culture and honestly that needs to change. J. Cole touched on the subject on his recent album KOD with his song "Friends." Listen to it below.
J. Cole - “Friends” Music Video
Unfortunately, a lot of times we get so caught up in our own lives that we forget to check up on friends and family and don't realize they're going through something. Particularly, in the black community, mental health is an issue that often isn't taken seriously and people lack the courage to speak up and get help for their issues. Drug use is the easy way out, but unfortunately it doesn't always end up with the best results.
If you're battling with an issue, think about who you can talk to before turning to a hardcore drug that will do nothing more than suppress the feelings for a limited time. And if you know you haven't reached out to your loved ones the way you need to, you never know if they're needing someone to talk to and you can change that person's life.
Mac Miller will forever be remembered for the dope music that he gave us but his death will also serve a purpose that drug use is an issue that needs to dealt with. Thank you for the music and may you rest in peace.
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Email: Joshua@247LCTV.com