Gunna is set to release his new album ONE OF WUN on Friday, May 10th via Young Stoner Life Records/300 Entertainment.
Today, the rapper has revealed the official tracklist which features 10 tracks in total. Guest appearances on the project are quite limited — Offset, Normani, Roddy Ricch and Leon Bridges. Take a look below.
The Atlanta rapper dropped his latest single ‘Whatsapp (Wassam)’ last week which got lost in the traffic of the Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef.
Gunna will also be touring in support of his new album this spring. ‘The Bittersweet Tour’ kicks off on May 4 in Columbus, OH at Schottenstein Center, with 16 stops across the U.S. in Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Houston, Miami and more before wrapping up with a hometown performance in Atlanta at State Farm Arena on June 11
The artist lineup for this year’s Governor’s Ball Festival in New York has us excited beyond belief. Boasting sixty plus top music artists from across the globe taking over three performance stages at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, the biggest party in NYC is here to kick the summer off in style!
Spread out over three days, from June 7th to June 9th, 2024, the festival offers attendees the option of obtaining a day pass, as well as a 2-day or 3-day pass. But before you buy the tickets here to catch your favorite artists in action, here are the top 10 hip-hop and RnB acts we are most excited to see live (in no order).
21 Savage
If you’re a fan of new school hip hop, 21 Savage is a name that needs no introduction. However, if you’re a fan of rap and haven’t heard of the artist, being at the Governor’s Ball is sure to have you ad-libbing the phrase “twenty one” on your way back.
An unforgettable performer on stage, the British born and US raised rapper is known for his laid back delivery and smooth criminal persona behind the mic. Slick talking and going bar for bar with rappers like Drake on a mutual project, Her Loss, Savage was able to turn casual listeners into loyal fans with unforced finesse. Most recently, Savage reaffirmed his place in rap with the release of American Dream, where Savage flaunted his charm over trap heavy beats alongside artists like Travis Scott, Doja Cat, Lil Durk, Burna Boy and more.
21 Savage reflects Atlanta both in sound and spirit; As much as he is part of the South’s cultural heritage in hip-hop, Savage is also known for being a strong pillar for the local community and regularly rolls out support programs like the ‘Issa Back 2 School Drive’ and ‘Bank Account at Home’. Through community interventions like these, the rap icon equips youth with skills of financial literacy, personal asset management in times of crisis, and resources for sustained educational undertakings.
SZA
One of the finest artists on the TDE roster, SZA is a Grammy nominated RnB artist intent on breaking one record after another. Most recently, she became the first black female artist in music history to have an album (SOS) retain its stay in the Billboard Hot 200 for over a year. The project – just her sophomore full-length project at that, appealed to critics and the crowd alike, earning her nine Grammy nominations for the same alongside an elite singer-songwriter status in the public imagination.
Of course, this is far from a surprise when you consider her music and voice, both of which are a soul symphony – evocative and provocative at the same time. Having worked with artists like Nicki Minaj, Beyonce, Doja Cat, and even Kendrick Lamar, SZA’s versatility in writing and composition remains vastly unchallenged.
Her music can be deeply introspective – tackling themes of femininity, body positivity, and self acceptance, and can have a moving impact on any listener. In particular, SZA’s ability to captivate a universal audience through targeted and pointed restructuring of personal experience and narrative is what makes her stand out from the crowd. This is one artist you must not miss at the Governor’s Ball festival, NYC, for she will make you weep, welp and wonder in an experience only she can curate.
Post Malone
Post Malone AKA White Iverson AKA Posty, is a man of many names and talents. One of the finest voices in the current era of music, Post Malone combines the soul of hip-hop with the shimmer of pop-rock persona. The result? Massive appeal from core fans across genres, worldwide.
While the pop-star’s debut 2016 project Stoney came out with heavy trap/ hip hop based influences (especially on the drums), his latest AUSTIN marks a significant departure from that influence. The newer music is more raw, unafraid in its minimalistic, atmospheric quality with a bend of live drums and emotional openness. An introvert’s superstar, Post Malone has come a long way in embracing his authentic voice – raw, often raspy, but never devoid of dynamic and tonal dexterity.
Tatted up pretty much head to toe wearing his stories on skin, Post Malone inspires pop musicians to dream differently within the space of pop-music, and to embrace their individuality of expression. He showcases an exciting mastery over the act of finding sonic parts that stick equally well like an earworm throughout different arrangements and songs. Makes sense why his music soundtracked the visuals of a rather sticky superhero – you Spiderman fans do not want to miss this performance.
Dominic Fike
We’re not doing right by our readers if we are mentioning a curious amalgamation of pop-rock, indie and hip hop, and not including Dominic Fike in the conversation. Well, lucky for you, we totally are.
Surviving a rather rough childhood and much of adult life marred with substance abuse, volatility and even imprisonment, Fike pushed past adversity with his voice to gain global recognition for his art. While some of you may know Fike for his compelling acting performance in the show Euphoria, Fike is a musical mastermind who intoxicates listeners with sounds of an inner rebellion and reconciliation.
A true boundary pusher, blurring lines between creativity and commercial palatability, Fike slides in and out of multiple fan bases with his double-tracked, velvety voice over rhythm guitars and a confluence of cross-genre influences. Often harmonizing over up-beat music, Fike just as easily gets deeper into his feelings without much caution. If you’re a fan of vulnerable artists authentic to their purpose, Dominic Fike is an act worth not missing out on.
Teezo Touchdown
A punk rocker at heart in the body of a talented rapper, Teezo Touchdown (known previously as AyeTee and Teezo Suave) is an artist that has come a long way from his days of rapping on corners and sidewalks. A fresh artist blending unpredictable flows with elements from RnB, punk and hip-hop, Teezo became an undisputed collaborator of choice for artists like Travis Scott, Tyler the Creator and Doja Cat – who seem to enjoy sonic experimentation just as much as him.
Shooting to uncontested fame status post his 2019 release, ‘100 Drums’ (remixing Panic! At The Disco’s ‘I Write Sins Not Tragedies’) where he tackled the tough subject of armed violence in his surroundings, the rapper-producer linked with Trippie Redd and kick started a career marked with alternative fashion and musical choices in hip-hop. After all, when was the last time you saw a rapper wearing a spike-collar and bands, nails sticking out the shoes and chains around the torso? Safe to say, Teezo has vastly redefined the conventions and norms of a hip-hop based artist, from audio all the way to the visuals.
But even if you’re not a fan of hip-hop in particular, and rather enjoy bands like Green Day, Linkin Park, or 21 Pilots, this could be an act you wouldn’t want to miss either. His 2024 album How Do You Sleep At Night?With You is especially reminiscent of the aforementioned era of music and explores the complexity of love and sex with the sensitivity and rage of rock and roll.
D4VD
D4VD is one of those rare contemporary RnB prodigies who made a career in music producing off his mobile phone. Yes, you read that correctly – in fact, his most famous track ‘Romantic Homicide’, which went on to cross a billion streams on Spotify alone, was produced on a phone application called BandLab and recorded in his little sister’s closet. Craziest part? He almost didn’t even release it!
Coming out of Texas with hopes of low-key being a video-game player, D4VD found the perfect creative catalyst in reading manga and watching anime – an unlikely combination that helped him reimagine what it means to be a superhero. Going from public school to homeschooling as a teenager, D4VD confronted themes of loneliness, self-perception and companionship early on – which are all themes that can be instantly identified in the mood and words of his music.
With vocals often drenched in reverb and lyrics rooted in soul and RnB, DAVD’s music engulfs and drowns the listener in a vast multitude of feelings. A catalog that will take you over songs that make you want to headbang and slow-dance per their own whims and fancies, D4VD will be a fresh treat for live audiences at the event. If his appearance on The Cave with Kenny Beats is any indication, it is that D4VD is a complete performer, duly in tune with his impulses, spontaneity and creativity.
Saint Levant
Saint Levant AKA Lover Boy Levant, born to a French-Algerian mother and a Palestinian-Serbian father, is an artist who took social media by storm in recent times with his smooth RnB inspired raps and seductive lyrics. An instant fan favorite who can rap in three languages with equal eloquence and charm, Levant often writes music to make love to. That said, Levant’s music is as much political as it is personal, and oftentimes delves deeply into the Palestinian struggle for liberation.
Born in Gaza and forced to relocate after seven years to Jordan, then eventually California, Levant has been able to utilize the demand for his music to help support Palestinians by directing 100% of proceeds from merch sales to children in Gaza. Even his moniker as Saint Levant draws inspiration from the term ‘levant’, which historically denotes the areas of modern-day Palestine, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. Showing up for Levant’s music at the Governor’s Ball is sure to leave you feeling the entire spectrum of human emotion and condition.
Doechii
A rapper and singer-songwriter in equal regard, Doechii will have you stunned with catchy hooks, dance rhythms and mesmerising melodies. Having opened for Doja Cat on her Scarlet Tour, Doechii is well seasoned as a performer for large audiences and is sure to leave you jaws on the floor, gasping for breath.
Often firing off with stylistically animated vocal delivery and performance, Doechii broke into the music scene with a rather unconventional approach – with her early songs famously being under two minutes. The thematic nuance of her work ranges from talking about the struggles of functioning as an adult in childhood and parental trauma to being a figure representing young black women in an empowering light.
Best known for her hit single ‘What It Is’, Doechii has often been heard over memorable samples from hit records of the last decade in songs such as ‘A N X I E T Y’ and ‘Alter Ego’. Fans of Gotye and Ayesha Erotica are in for a pleasant surprise and sure to go dancing down the memory lane in a whirlwind of nostalgia that will make you want to groove.
Don Toliver
If the line-up so far doesn’t seem sensually charged enough already, this next artist is here to take care of you. Don Toliver, famous for his high octave vocal runs that bleed into intoxicating trap inspired beats, with lyrics serving as a tasteful tease, is nothing short of an enigma.
Incorporating the ‘Don’ in his name to represent his attitude of conquering different styles and donning different hats as a musician, Toliver first put out music at the age of sixteen. In the years since, Toliver has cemented his authentic voice in hip-hop collaborating with pioneers like Nas, and even penetrating Hollywood sync-deals in movies like Fast & Furious 9.
Further having worked with artists like Eminem, Travis Scott, Masego and Justin Bieber, the rapper has a chokehold on the hearts of many and promises to deliver an auto-tune soundscaped, almost psychedelic musical experience. If getting down and dirty to good trap is your thing, look no further!
Kevin Abstract
Yep, the smooth voice behind the Brockhampton experimentalism and frenzy – Kevin Abstract is ready to grace the stage at the Governor’s Ball. Suave style of delivery filled with harmonies juxtaposed with intricate instrumental arrangement, Abstract has made hip-hop and RnB more ‘abstract’ in the best possible sense of the word.
Kevin’s music is a masterclass in revisitation and revision of his early music, in the sense that he constantly looks back at the core coming together of Brockhampton, and pushes the envelope further with his individual being. With a propensity for being deliberately abnormal in his music, his music is best described as the unending soundtrack to the lives of the ‘different’ kid – the underdog.
Sonically, his music is reminiscent of the sounds of symphony over wonkiest of bass-lines and the tightest of vocal performances. The music arrangements meander across minimalism to the lushness of synths, guitar pedals and piano laden sounds to take the listener in a loving embrace. If you’re looking to be elated, embraced and empowered through a musical experience with the most versatile of vocalists, Kevin is a treat you would want to get in line for.
The rapper has announced that his new album SPEAK NOW is ready for release, coming out May 24th via CMG / N-Less Entertainment / Interscope Records. SPEAK NOW marks the Memphis native’s eleventh solo project, following last year’s 22-track offering Hard To Love and 2021’s A Gangsta’s Pain, which spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
Bagg has also revealed the official artwork for the album which you can see below. A new single, the follow up to ‘BUSSIN‘ featuring Rob49, is expected to release later this week.
Fans have been wondering why Drake hasn’t released his ‘Push Ups‘ diss track on streaming, with some speculating it was because of the ‘What’s Beef’ sample not getting cleared. Some have even said that Drake not officially “claiming” the song and dropping it officially was a mark against him in the war of words, but today he puts that to bed.
Drake has officially put out the song on streaming. The cover art is a reference to the “how the f*ck you big stepping with a size 7 mens on?” line and the song is produced by Boi-1da, COLEMAN, Fierce and Noel Cadastre. Check it out below on Spotify or TIDAL.
Russ launched a platform that lets fans vote for their favorite song from him that isn’t out yet. It’s the kind of thing you never think of and then wish your favorite rapper had been doing for years. Fans voted that ‘That’s My Girl’ was their favorite and ‘Tired’ was second, so tonight, Russ treats them to the studio versions of both songs.
Check them out below. The talented artist also got a chance to work on music for M. Night Shyamalan’s newest movie ‘Trap’, along with a role.
The tour for Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday 2 is underway and looks like it’s a commercial success. Tonight, Nicki has something extra special for the Barbz.
‘FTCU’ was a clear standout from the new album with the 4-bar portion of it from the second verse getting very popular on TikTok. Tonight, Nicki gathers Travis Scott, Chris Brown and Sexyy Red for the official remix SleezeMix.
Nas’ classic debut album Illmatic turns 30 tomorrow and to celebrate, he links back up with the legendary DJ Premier for a new song.
The pair worked together three times on that album, on ‘N.Y. State of Mind’, ‘Memory Lane’ and ‘Represent’, which are some of the best songs on the LP. Nas and Premo went on to have a great run, with songs like ‘I Gave You Power’, ‘2nd Childhood’, ‘Nas Is Like’ and more in their collection. Tonight, they add to it with a new song called ‘Define My Name’ which the QB rapper teased on social media in the week, with a post showing how long their relationship spans.
It was pretty clear from the jump that 2024 was going to be a fun year for Logic fans, with the rapper unveiling the cover art for his highly anticipated album Ultra 85 in February. In case you missed it, this is the year he’s finally putting the LP out.
After putting out ‘Fear‘ a couple of months ago, tonight Logic is back with a song called ’44ever’, which follows ’44 Bars’ from Bobby Tarantino and ‘44 More‘. Listen below.
Kanye West is the suspect in a battery report after a man reportedly sexually assaulted his wife.
Police were informed that Ye punched somebody on Tuesday night after they “grabbed” Biaca Censori, Australian architext and model Bianca Censori, who Kanye West married early last year. The man did not need treatment for any injuries.
Now, a report for Ye has told TMZ that the man not only put his hands under her dress, but grabbed her waist and spun her around before blowing her kisses. They say she was sexually assaulted and a victim of battery. They did not address the accusation that Ye punched the man.
Slum Village has announced their new album F.U.N, marking their first release in nearly 10 years.
Following a month long European tour last year, T3 and Young RJ teased the release of the album by revealing the cover art and tracklist on Tuesday (April 16). It will be available on DSPs on May 3rd (via Ne’Astra Music / Virgin Music Group) and serve as the first new Slum Village album since 2015’s critically acclaimed Yes!
Some of the guests on the album include Robert Glasper, Cordae, Eric Roberson, Larry June and Sango. Check out the tracklist below. Fans can pre-order the album here.
F.U.N Tracklist:
“Welcome” feat Brittney Carter “All Live” feat Abstract Orchestra “All Live Pt 2” feat. Sango, Phat Kat, Daru Jones “To The Disco” feat Abstract Orchestra “Request” ft. Earlly Mac, Abstract Orchestra “Yeah Yeah” ft Karriem Riggins “Just Like You” ft. Larry June, The Dramatics “F.U.N” “So Superb” ft Cordae, Earlly Mac “Keep Dreaming” ft Karriem Riggins, Fat Ray “Factor” ft. Eric Roberson, Elijah Fox “Since 92” ft Robert Glasper
Lupe Fiasco’s name has been in the headlines for the comments he made about Kendrick Lamar not being a top tier lyricist and while most assume that comes out of bitterness, those that follow Lupe a bit more closely will know that that’s just him expressing his opinion and he gives credit where he believes it’s due too.
He dropped a song called ‘LLC‘ a week ago and has performed at Coachella, where he once again said that he’s down to battle anyone. since but tonight, he puts out another song called ‘Indio’. You can hear it below. In case you missed it, Lupe announced during the weekend’s Coachella set that his new album Samurai will be out in the summer. It’s one fans have been waiting for for a long time.
Chicago OG Chief Keef and Mike WiLL Made-It put out their Dirty Nachos album a month ago and it seems like fans have been bumping and enjoying it. You can stream it here.
One of the two features on there is Sexyy Red on ‘DAMN SHORTY’ and this afternoon, the trio have linked back up to put out a music video for it. Directed by NSTY.
Following their number 1 album We Don’t Trust Youand all the hype around it, Future and Metro Boomin have announced their joint tour named We Trust You. It’s presented by Visa and Cash App.
Produced by Live Nation, the arena run kicks off on Tuesday, July 30 in Kansas City, MO at T-Mobile Center, with stops across North America in Detroit, Atlanta, Brooklyn, Houston, Toronto, Las Vegas, Inglewood, Seattle and more before wrapping up on Monday, September 9 in Vancouver, BC at Rogers Arena.
The 27-date tour also features a festival performance at Lollapalooza in Chicago, IL on Saturday, August 3.
Tickets will be available starting with a Cash App Card presale beginning Wednesday, April 17 followed by the general onsale beginning Friday, April 19 starting at 10am local time on livenation.com.
Their latest album We Still Don’t Trust You came out this past Friday and is also set to debut at number 1 on the charts.
FUTURE & METRO BOOMIN WE TRUST YOU TOUR DATES:
Tue Jul 30 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center Wed Jul 31 – Saint Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center Fri Aug 02 – Milwaukee, WI – Fiserv Forum Sat Aug 03 – Chicago, IL – Lollapalooza * Sun Aug 04 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena Tue Aug 06 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena Thu Aug 08 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena Sat Aug 10 – Columbus, OH – Schottenstein Center Sun Aug 11 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena Tue Aug 13 – Boston, MA – TD Garden Wed Aug 14 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center Thu Aug 15 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center Sat Aug 17 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena Tue Aug 20 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center Thu Aug 22 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center Fri Aug 23 – San Antonio, TX – Frost Bank Center Sat Aug 24 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center Sun Aug 25 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center Tue Aug 27 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena Wed Aug 28 – Salt Lake City, UT – Delta Center Fri Aug 30 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena Sat Aug 31 – Inglewood, CA – Intuit Dome Tue Sep 03 – Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center Wed Sep 04 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena Fri Sep 06 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena Sat Sep 07 – Portland, OR – Moda Center Mon Sep 09 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
Lupe Fiasco minced no words during his most recent performance at Coachella and asserted his talents as one of the greatest lyricists in hip hop.
The rapper made it very clear that he is ready to battle anyone in the industry, at any point of time. “Hear me clearly when I say this and I mean it from the bottom of my heart; when it comes to this art, and I quote, I will battle any motherfucking rapper. Anywhere. Any motherf***in’ time. I don’t give a f**k how many records you sold, I don’t give a f**k how many awards you have — if you want smoke, I swear on my motherf***in’ soul I will f**k you n****s. I will chew you n****s. I will f**k motherf****rs. Get wrecked n****s!”, he proclaimed loud and proud, as fans cheered in equal gusto.
He even went a step further to reiterate how he doesn’t care who it is in the industry that wants smoke and that he’s forever prepared, stating, “It goes for any motherf****r walking and talking — it go for Tyler motherf***in’ ass, it go for you, it goes for this bad boy lookin’ motherf****r over here. I don’t care. I do this s**t for real dog!” And well, if history is any proof, he’s not lying.
For the uninitiated, Lupe isn’t one to talk and not back it up — perhaps this point is proven best by his reaction to rapper Royce da 5’9”, whose diss ‘Silence of the Lambda’ Lupe responded to in a matter of hours with a scathing reply, followed up by Mickey Factz’ own two cents on WRAiTH.
With each project, too, Lupe has focused on intricate lyricism regarded as elite by hip-hop’s top critics. He himself is, quite literally, a scholar of rap that is responsible to a big degree for hip-hop lyricism penetrating academia in the US. Lupe has taken classes on Rap Theory at revered universities like the MIT, and seems like he is prepared to outclass anyone who dares to step up to him.
Meek Mill put out his HEATHENISM EP independently in February. The first song on there was ‘Came From The Bottom’ which sees Meek celebrating his journey as he often does. It mixes the singing with the rapping and tonight, it receives the visual treatment.
The video was done by Chariot Pictures. Check it out below. In case you missed it, watch the ‘Big Boy’ video here.
