Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images

CJ Wallace launches his first company.

While reports previously speculated that CJ Wallace, the son of the late Notorious B.I.G., would be following in his pops’ footsteps to pursue a musical career, the young Wallace has most recently announced his venture into entrepreneurship.

According to a new Forbes report, Wallace is joined by his stepfather Todd Russaw and Willie Mack to launch the Think BIG cannabis company. The venture will focus on vapes, apparel, “limited-edition top-shelf flower, pre-rolls” and more.

“Our challenge to the world is to first think bigger about your place in it. The rise of social justice movements like BLM, LGBTQ+ rights, and the fight for socially equitable democracies around the world is rising and cannabis is a big part of that conversation,” Mack tells Forbes. “I have been in the cannabis industry for over four years now and it is one of the fastest growing industries globally for a reason, because it touches every part of society; legal, finance, banking, creativity, art, design, legal, politics, education, science, beauty, cosmetics, agriculture, climate change! These two plants, cannabis and hemp, are going to change and maybe save the world.”

Where CJ Wallace is concerned, Think BIG is a part of carrying on the legacy of his legendary father: “In terms of legacy, I’ve always been curious about who Christopher George Latore Wallace really was,” he told the publication. “My second dad, Todd, has always instilled in me to make sure that I carry on the legacy in my own unique way, and that — because my name holds weight — I can’t do anything half-assed. I have to do my best.”

A part of this strategy includes the launching of limited edition t-shirts that commemorate the anniversary of Biggie’s death, by illustrating the intersection of Fairfax and Wilshire where the rapper was fatally shot in 1997.

“Growing up in LA, I have watched that corner change over the years, and have wondered why there wasn’t a memorial for him at that location,” CJ penned in an Instagram caption. “As a way to honor his life and legacy, we created this limited-edition T-shirt. This will serve as a memorial until we can build something to honor his life, music, and the creativity he gave to the world. 

 Rachel Murray/Getty Images for Pandora

The gunfire came from outside the show.

Rap concerts have a bad reputation with critics of the genre who claim that they have rowdy crowds at venues. The mischief that takes place at the enormous rock, metal, or country concerts is ignored but when trouble occurs at a rapper’s concert it is used by critics to insult the genre. This weekend, the critics were given more ammunition for their arguments.

Saturday night (March 9) was a hectic one for Kevin Gates. The “Change Lanes” rapper was in Corpus Christi, Texas, giving the crowd an immaculate performance when gunshots ended the night early for fans. According to TMZ, Gates was performing at the Concrete Street Amphitheatre and was close to the conclusion of his concert around 11:30 PM local time when gunshots rang out. The crowd began to flee in terror and Gate’s security came and pulled him off the stage after he tried to keep performing. He would not return to finish the show.

Kenny@kendallkinsss

I love how Kevin Gates really gave no fks that there was a shooting at his concert tonight. I’m literally over here running for my life and he’s all, “lemme do a couple more songs”…k310:19 AM – Mar 10, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee Kenny’s other Tweets

ʎlıɐnɐ@ylianaxo

@iamkevingates straight up said “fuck it one more song” when the gunshots were going off17:34 AM – Mar 10, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee ʎlıɐnɐ’s other Tweets

ʎlıɐnɐ@ylianaxo

@iamkevingates straight up said “fuck it one more song” when the gunshots were going off17:34 AM – Mar 10, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee ʎlıɐnɐ’s other Tweets

Vero@verrooo19

CC is wild, people tryna shoot up at the Kevin Gates concert 27:37 AM – Mar 10, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee Vero’s other Tweets

Police were already at the concert when the shots were fired. They investigated the situation and discovered that the gunshots came from a neighboring development adjacent to the theater. No one was injured during the incident. 

 Ethan Miller/Getty Images

French doesn’t want to be included in the drama.

The ensuing drama between Khloe Kardashian, Tristan Thompson, and Jordyn Woods has the entire culture locked onto social media. The most recent update has Khloe backtracking from her Woods hatred, and instead placing the full blame of the cheating scandal on Thompson. Originally, Khloe was enraged with Jordyn Woods over her Red Table Talk segment with Jada Pinkett Smith. “Why are you lying @jordynwoods ??,” tweeted Khloe angrily. “If you’re going to try and save yourself by going public, INSTEAD OF CALLING ME PRIVATELY TO APOLOGIZE FIRST, at least be HONEST about your story.” The reasoning for her change of heart is unclear.

Khloé✔@khloekardashian

Why are you lying @jordynwoods ?? If you’re going to try and save yourself by going public, INSTEAD OF CALLING ME PRIVATELY TO APOLOGIZE FIRST, at least be HONEST about your story. BTW, You ARE the reason my family broke up!521K7:28 PM – Mar 1, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacy156K people are talking about this

On Friday (March 1), the infamous Perez Hilton took to social media to suggest some hypocrisy coming from Khloe. He suggested that the Kardashian dated French Montana while he was still in a relationship with Trina. “Did Khloe Kardashian start dating French Montana when he was still with Trina? And wasn’t Khloe friends with Trina???,” tweeted Hilton. French immediately caught wind of the tweet though and squashed the rumor. “I was single like a 💵 dollar bill 🙏,” he responded to Hilton. Obviously, French wants to distance himself from any conversation concerning the Kardashian/Thompson/Woods drama right now. 

Perez✔@ThePerezHilton

Did Khloe Kardashian start dating French Montana when he was still with Trina? And wasn’t Khloe friends with Trina???2,8628:00 AM – Mar 1, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacy743 people are talking about this

French Montana✔@FrencHMonTanA

I was single like a dollar bill Perez✔@ThePerezHiltonDid Khloe Kardashian start dating French Montana when he was still with Trina? And wasn’t Khloe friends with Trina???19K3:01 AM – Mar 2, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacy4,863 people are talking about this

 Rich Fury/Streeter Lecka/Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Tune in to our weekly mix of the biggest rap and R&B tracks.

This week’s FIRE EMOJI playlist is populated by an even split of surprise entrants and expected guests, starting with submissions from 2 Chainz‘ long-awaited Rap or Go to the League venture. Forgive 2 Chainz for allowing LeBron James a sizeable portion of the executive branch all to himself – the real treat rests in the apparent signs of progress and maturity 2 Chainz account for on his 5th studio album.

Songs like “NCAA,” “Money In The Way,” and “High Top Versace” featuring Young Thug, were easy choices to our list, even a blind pig would have resorted to making off the rip. With 2 Chainz’ choices, all punched in, the remainder of the selection process rested on the shoulders of two eclectic artists with an incredible eye for beautiful imperfections.

Tierra Whack’s latest single “Clones” shows her reliving the creative impulses she put forth on her surrealist debut. The flexible strength she deployed with every shifting vignette was put to use once again on “Clones,” this time in a far more static manner stylistically. After witnessing her purge her soul on “Clones” this past week, there can be little doubt left, over her possessive abilities.

Last but not least, when Solange hinted towards the imminent release of a musical project at the beginning of the week, she thereby stood a great chance of making the final grade on this playlist. Solange’s “Almeda” was our choice this week, for obvious reasons: it speaks to a general rap audience and a spiritual one all the same. Other artists who made their mark this past week include SAINt JHN, DaBaby, NBA Younboy, Lil West, Yung Bans, Roddy Ricch, Rich Homie Quan, YK Osiris, and Rich the Kid.

Listen to the FIRE EMOJI and follow all of HNHH Spotify playlists below.

—-

Follow HNHH on Spotify.

Follow FIRE EMOJI on Spotify.

Follow our freshly-updated Wake & Bake playlist here.

Follow our G.O.O.D. Music playlist (for a GOOD ASS FRIDAY) here.

MusicFeaturesNews

 Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images

Last night, Cardi B powered through a debilitating illness to shatter an attendance record held by Garth Brooks.

Cardi B made history last night by shattering an attendance record set by Garth Brooks, reports the Houston Chroniclecovering the landmark performance at the NGR Stadium. Friday night (March 1st) marked Cardi B’s debut at the NRG Stadium, a venue that bears a reputation like no other in the Deep South, for its ability to make even the most seasoned of performers quiver in the spotlight.

To put it mildly, tickets for the Black Heritage Night concert aka RodeoHouston, sold out in little over 40 minutes, all 75,580 of them, confirming their attendance the night of the show. As you’ll see in the above photo, Cardi B served the Houston crowd a sparkle-ridden Cowgirl outfit, as she delivered a medley of fan-favorites such as  “Be Careful,” “Money Bag,” “Drip,” “Bickenhead,” “She Bad,” “Ring,” culminating in the live performance debut of her “Please Me” duet with Bruno Mars, albeit without the diminutive singer present.

As evidenced by the above photo showcasing her sparkle-knit costume, Cardi B even took a moment to “meet and greet” some of Houston’s finest backstage, which included Bun Bintroducing the starlet to her nieces, many thanks to QC’s Coach K who brokered the arrangement behind closed doors. 

Finally, what makes Cardi B’s exploits all the more impressive, is that she completed the whole ordeal under duress. As she would later confess via Instagram, her illness was so prevalent that her management team made arrangements for a doctor to sit backstages, for emergency purposes. “I’m OD honored for all the love Houston gave me! I remember the first time I came to Houston I came out here to strip and people showed me maaaaaa love,” she wrote in her Thank You note H-Town.

 Scott Dudelson/Getty Images

Vince Staples pays tribute to Mac Miller and brings “FM!” to life.

Vince Staples was an immense part of Mac Miller’s Celebration of Life concert last year, paying tribute to his late friend with a performance and making sure that the Pittsburgh rapper’s legacy lives on forever. He decided to take things one step further by employing what can be considered the most realistic opportunity at witnessing a Mac Miller live show today on his Smile, You’re On Camera tour. While it’s evident that Vince Staples is the star of the show, a surprise headliner is highlighted after Vince’s set.

I’m in Montreal, Canada. The air is cold as I enter the venue to watch Vince Staples perform on his current tour. Right off the bat, Armani White is entertaining the crowd before the show was even advertised to begin. He only played a few songs but it was enough to get the room at an appropriate energy level. White is a very expressive performer, using his body movements to dictate the pace of the set. His movements are instinctive, rolling around on the floor during his final song and hyping up the crowd for the next artist: Buddy.

The floor is already full with fans excited to spend an evening out with their friends. There is a short intermission between Armani White and Buddy where the latter’s DJ plays songs from 21 Savage, J. Cole, and others. Buddy walks onto the stage for his first song, rocking an enormously oversized jacket (Compton is much warmer than Montreal) and busting out a hype rendition of 2017’s “That Much.” Once his jacket is taken off, the energy immediately skyrockets. Buddy says that he had difficulty getting into the country because, in his words, he was a “bad kid.” “I got a record,” he laughed. Thankfully he made it on time to set the tone further, playing “Black,” “Trippin'” and other favorites.

Buddy’s set is raw and authentic, taking the crowd to Compton with emotion and passion. His movements are calculated and rehearsed, dancing in front of a minimal set-up with no visuals. With so few production specs during Buddy’s performance, Vince Staples’ lighting and design were a shock to the crowd.

“Feels Like Summer” blares over the loudspeakers and Vince Staples makes his introduction to the crowd. Behind him is a prominent visual display of televisions showing security footage. In case you forgot, we’re at the Smile, You’re On Camera tour. One of the monitors shows a live reflection of the crowd singing the words back at Vince. Another displays softcore pornography. 

From the start, the crowd is really into him. Vince leads into “Don’t Get Chipped” before finally announcing his arrival on stage. “Welcome to the show,” he says in a nonchalant manner. Before we’re eased into the next song, the production really starts to pick up. This is the point where you may realize you’re witnessing a performance that was carefully plotted from its blueprint stages. The lighting is perfect with fog gradually building behind the Long Beach artist. The lights begin to stutter, flashing at regular intervals as Staples walks along the stage. He appears immortal. “Lift Me Up” starts to play and one fan chooses this point to start crowd surfing.

The lighting is synchronized with each movement Vince makes during “War Ready.” The rapper is truly taking such an intimate venue to the test by making the space feel vast. He is confident, acting as though he’s at home on the stage.

At this point, the set-up changes. A short interlude fills the air with ocean sounds while the lights go black. After a few brief moments, strobes are shining on both sides of the balcony and it’s evident that Vince did some heavy scouting to find the perfect concert venue in each city. Three-point lighting reflects on his head with a microphone stand placed in the middle of the stage. Staples is standing with the swagger of a soul singer, creating a larger than life ambiance. 

Earl Gibson III/Getty Images

The energy begins to diminish with moshpits shrinking in size before Vince makes a declaration. “Keep the energy. If not, there’s the door,” he screams. Instantly, we all perk up and get right back to the party, dancing to “GTFOMD.” His previous statement was the first true “Vince Staples” moment of the show. We know the rapper to be unpredictable in his words, often stirring up some controversy during his interviews. Just the other day, his comments about Jussie Smollett were met with shock and anger. His energy mirrors that of somebody who is unconcerned and laid-back, which could potentially be mistaken for apathy. Right when you might start to think that though, he circles around the stage and raps along to “FUN!” before handing out t-shirts to the fans in the front row.

Once you believe the show is finished, Mac Miller’s face pops up on the screen and speaks to the crowd. At first, it’s bizarre and a little unsettling. However, as footage of his “Tiny Desk” performance with NPR starts to barrel forward, it becomes more of a surreal experience. It sounds cliché but Mac feels like he’s right there, performing an intimate set before a couple of hundred people. It becomes clear that the full video will play, spanning four songs and officially making Mac Miller the headliner of the night. It’s bittersweet when the Pittsburgh star laughs awkwardly in between songs. His infectious smile spreads across the room. We’re in awe of what we’re watching.

The show officially ends with the words “Rest In Peace Mac Miller” displayed on the big screen, leaving the Montreal crowd crying, clapping and grinning from ear to ear.

Some of the strongest moments from the Smile, You’re On Camera tour take place between songs when Vince is just standing on stage with lights flashing on the pitch-black floor. From the dreamlike moments during the Mac Miller tribute to the overall fantastic production of Vince’s set, this tour will be implanted in your memory for a long time.

Prime Location, Vol. 1Smoke DZA

Editor Rating:HOTTTTTUser Rating:VERY HOTTTTT100% (2)Rate

Smoke DZA is back with his 2nd EP in a month’s time.

Smoke DZA is back in the mix with another EP-sized gift to his fans. Prime Location, Vol. 1 comes to us with the East Coast watermark synonymous with his jive-talking style – which in turn invokes feelings of “Black Nostaljack” to quote the iconic Camp Lo record. 

Just as the vocal sample on “Harsh Reality” kicks into high gear, an unnamed narrator takes to the podium, preaching the powers of the pelvic floor, I kid you not. “Legend Has It,” the second of three songs on the EP, transitions from a Pimper’s paradise scenario to a less glamorous poke-hole, demonstrating Smoke DZA’s award-winning stovetop technique. “Luck of Draw” closes things off in a less impeachable position. 

Prime Location, Vol. 1 is produced in its entirety by CThaSound with contributions from Benny the Butcher and Wallo. Give’er a listen, and do share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Prime Location, Vol. 1

1. Harsh Reality ft. Wallo
2. Legend Has It
3. Luck of Draw ft. Benny the Butcher

Smoke DZACthasoundBenny The ButcherWalloMixtapes

 Scott Olson/Getty Images7

Lisa VanAllen reacts to the new R. Kelly sex tapes that emerged.

R. Kelly is looking at some serious time if he’s convicted for the sex crimes he’s been accused of. Over the past week or so, there’s been more evidence that came out that seems to prove Kelly’s guilt. One of his alleged survivors, Lisa VanAllen, spoke to TMZ and revealed that the details that have emerged about the new sex tapes sound all too familiar.

Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

The details that Avenatti brought forth revealed that Kelly allegedly coached the teens he was having sex with during intercourse, choking her and calling her out by name. 

“What [Michael Avenatti] stated thus far and what I know, it’s very familiar to me, what he’s talking about. I feel like they have a strong case,” she said. 

VanAllen was one of the two young women who were in the original R. Kelly sex tape that resulted in the 2008 trial that he was acquitted in. She also backed up Avenatti’s claims that Kelly and his team had intimidated witnesses during the 2008 trial.

“There was a lot of intimidation,” she said. “I think he was acquitted — not because he was innocent because they clearly said that was him on the tape — but they also said that they were unable to prove beyond reasonable doubt that that was a 14-year-old.”

VanAllen is currently readying the release of her new book, Surviving The Pied Piper which details her time with Kelly including a run-in with Foxy Brown.

Peep the clip below. 

 Rick Diamond/Getty Images47

T-Pain dubs Soulja Boy the “GOAT.”

Soulja Boy‘s made a great case over the past two months as to why he’s one of the greatest to ever do it. The rapper pulled out receipts proving that he’s influenced pretty much every major rapper in the game right now, even going as far to say that he’s the reason why Kanye’s ego is as large as it is today. However, the rapper’s claim seemed empty to many until other artists came out to vouch for him. Now, T-Pain has come through to back-up the claim that Soulja Boy is the GOAT of the rap game.

Rich Polk/Getty Images

Speaking on Big Boy’s neighborhood, T-Pain made a bold claim that’s bound to upset a few hip-hop purists by putting Soulja Boy at the top of the ranks. T-Pain, who remixed Young Drako’s “Speakers Going hammer” remix, claimed that Soulja Boy was one of the greatest to ever do it but he feels the rapper needs to solidify this with some new music.

“Soulja Boy is the greatest artist of all time,” he said. “All I want for Soulja Boy is for all what he’s doing — and everything that he’s doing — is to come with some music to back it up.”

REAL 92.3 LA✔@Real923LA

. @TPAIN says @souljaboy is the Greatest Of All Time Soullljaaa?!

LIKE: Agree
RETWEET: Disagree3576:30 PM – Feb 27, 2019 · Burbank, CA92 people are talking about thisTwitter Ads info and privacy

Pain’s feelings about the SouljaConsole wasn’t on par with his feelings towards Soulja’s music. However, Soulja Boy seemed to overlook that. He reposted the clip to Instagram with the caption, “Y’all heard the man.”

 Theo Wargo/Getty Images5

Anderson Paak is ponying up another swan song in Ventura County.

Anderson .Paak just announced the progenitive project to 2018’s Oxnard, titled Ventura, the third solo project in succession to honor a unique setting to play an immersive role in his musical upbringing. Not only that, the project is dropping sooner than later (April 12) along with plans to promote the album on the road – alongside Earl Sweatshirt, Noname, Thundercat, Mac Demarco, and Jessie Reyez, given the ordinance of time and place.View image on Twitter

Noname✔@noname

Excited for this run!!! Thanks @AndersonPaak for bringing me out7,68912:36 AM – Feb 28, 20191,145 people are talking about thisTwitter Ads info and privacy

“Growing up in Oxnard gave me the grit and the church to find this voice of mine. One town over I went further and found my depth,” Paak told Complex with regards to his inspiration on the project. “The duality of each place inspired me greatly and from that I made two albums at the exact same time but held one back because that would have been too many songs to perform live for you all! I like ending things on an even number so welcome to Ventura.”

The full tour schedule is included in the above thumbnail. Paak didn’t provide the press with any other details concerning Ventura or its accompanying tour. He did, however, allude to Dr. Dre‘s “heavy involvement” in the production phase. The tour kicks off on May 17 in Nashville, coming to a close a month later in San Francisco – stay tuned.

 Theo Wargo/Getty Images0

The Las Vegas strip will be consumed by lovers of Skrillex, Travis Scott, and J Balvin in the month of April.

The Palms Casino Resort is planning quite the extravaganza for the opening weekend of its brand new KAOS venture. The hotel conglomerate described its KAOS club as the apex experience for lovers of the high stakes club-goers. To be precise they called it “a spectacular new entertainment experience consisting of a fully integrated 73,000 square foot dayclub and 29,000 square foot nightclub, which will completely redefine the daylife and nightlife experience in Las Vegas,” in a written statement issued to the press.

The notion of a “dayclub” or “daylife” might seem farfetched to the average consumer, but Las Vegas is, after all, 100% strewn together in that capacity: nonstop stimulation. In Las Vegas, business propositions need to be fun and profitable, in order to gain sustenance. A majority of Las Vegas residents are either loan sharks, concert promoters, or hospitality experts, which is why KAOS has gone to great lengths to incorporate every strata of Sinfulness in their day-to-night operations.

To mark KAOS’ unveiling on the weekend of April 5-7, The Palms Casino Resort has arranged for a medley of performing acts to help inaugurate the venue, as it lumbers towards the many A-list residencies it aims to accommodate in not-so-distant future. This is how the itinerary is shaping up thus far, barring the inclusion of “special guest performances” on April 7th, which haven’t been announced.

Friday, April 5

Pearl – An intimate evening with Alicia Keys

KAOS Nightclub – Travis Scott and Skrillex

Saturday, April 6

KAOS Nightclub – Cardi B, G-Eazy, and J Balvin

 Kevin Winter/Getty Images7

Ariana Grande is set to headline Manchester’s Pride Festival.

Ariana Grande was accused of cultural appropriation twice in the past two months. Once, for ripping off Soulja Boy, 2 Chainz and Princess Nokia with “7 Rings.” She was later accused, again, of cultural appropriation when she got a tattoo that was supposed to read “7 Rings” in Japanese but actually translated to “small charcoal grill.” After it was announced that she would be headlining Manchester’s Pride Festival, she faced backlash for from several people who claimed that she was expecting the LGBTQ community but she insists that’s not the case. 

Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Ariana Grande went straight to her iPhone Notes to offer an explanation to her fans after someone tweeted, “idk …. ariana headlining pride when she’s straight (as far as we’re all aware) …. and doubling the price of tickets …. kinda smells like exploitation of the lgbt community to me.”  The user later clarified that she wasn’t blaming Ariana and understood the singer’s connection to the city. 

“hi my love.i have nothing to do with ticket pricing — manchester pride sets those rates, and they’re mostly out of my control,” she explained. “the lgbtq community has been so special to me and supportive throughout my entire career. the relationships i have with my lgbtq fans, friends, and family make me so so happy.”

She added, “and also i wanna visit a city that means so much to me. lgbtq representation is incredibly important, and i’m always proud to share the stage with lgbtq artists… i’m not claiming to be the hero of the community or the face of the lgbtq rights movement — i just wanna put on a show that makes my lgbtq fans feel special and celebrated and supported.”

Peep her post below. 

@raininjulyvinyl · Feb 25, 2019

idk …. ariana headlining pride when she’s straight (as far as we’re all aware) …. and doubling the price of tickets …. kinda smells like exploitation of the lgbt community to me …..

Ariana Grande✔@ArianaGrande

i saw many people discussing this so i wanted to chime in…. hope that’s okay pic.twitter.com/7joiZwI1QS48.6K9:01 PM – Feb 27, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacy

8,386 people are talking about this

 Tim Whitby/Getty Images1

It’s the year to make a Michael Jackson documentary, apparently.

With HBO’s controversial Leaving Neverland set to arrive at the beginning of March, it’s no surprise that other heavyweight networks have taken notice. BBC, the British broadcaster responsible for many acclaimed series, has officially unveiled their own upcoming Michael Jackson documentary. The running title, Michael Jackson: The Rise and Fall, seems to suggest a more introspective and historical take than HBO’s own, which centers around the testimony of two alleged abuse survivors. BBC’s film will draw from the findings of “Jackson expert”  Jacques Peretti, and will arrive later this year.

Phil Walter/Getty Images

A report from Variety indicates that The Rise And Fall will center around MJ’s Jackson 5 days, subsequent solo career, Neverland Ranch escapism and “This Is It” tour. It’s unlikely that HBO’s own documentary will spill over into this one, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see some of the darker content covered in BBC’s film; it does, after all, cover the “Fall.” Still, Jacques Peretti’s title as an MJ expert isn’t for nothing. The man has a wealth of experience, having already created three prior MJ documentaries: Michael Jackson: What Really Happened, Michael Jackson’s Last Days: What Really Happened, and Michael Jackson’s Secret Hollywood. 

The doc will premiere on the BBC later on this year. Clearly, there’s something to be said about this renewed interest in the King Of Pop, which has found his name in all manner of headlines. Questions of legacy remain complex, and it’s likely the debate will rage on until the cows come home. Either way, we’ll have plenty of content to peruse in the interim. 

 Streeter Lecka/Getty Images68

In the wake of his illustrious tear through hip-hop, it’s time to analyze which J. Cole feature is the best.

Following the release of 2017’s All Amerikkkan Bada$$, Joey Bada$$ claimed that he’d secured the last of J. Cole’s coveted guest verses. After popping up on “Legendary,” the New York MC told Ebro that those bars were Cole’s last non-canonical appearance:

“Cole already told me has was getting me my verse. And literally, he told me like ‘yo, Joe you are the only person I got on my feature list. I ain’t doing no more features.'”

Known for working in self-imposed isolation, it seemed plausible that Joey’s claims were verified fact. Come 2018, it became clear that the Dreamville figurehead had recalibrated his stance. In the months that followed, Cole went on a prolific run that made each impromptu verse into a cultural event. Deemed a headline in itself, this spree of hook-ups carried the power to supersede the primary artist but paid off in dividends with cherished mainstream publicity. In fact, the trade-off between newsworthiness and the potential to be overshadowed– or “renegaded”— by Cole was noted during his contemplative verse on 21 Savage’s “A Lot”:

“Ok, no problem, I’ll show up on everyone album, you know what the outcome will be. I’m batting a thousand it’s got to the point where these rappers don’t even like rapping with me.”

Through careful mediation, his decision to keep his appearances sporadic meant that they retained a sense of occasion that most features severely lack. Now that he’s earmarked Revenge Of The Dreamers III for an April release, the curtain is being drawn on this illustrious tear through the hip-hop landscape. By way of a crescendo, Cole commandeered the headlines once again with a spot on Offset’s Father of 4. Just like the polarising album itself, Cole’s contribution to “How Did I Get Here?” sparked debate about whether or not it was up to his lofty standard.

Derided by some as “the worst” of the bunch, it gives way to a discussion about the cream of the crop from his recent guest verses. Split between likeminded peers and rappers that fly in the face of his lyrically-inclined sensibilities, one of the most riveting attributes of Cole’s whistle-stop tour through hip-hop was the varied array of MCs that he interacted with. By disregarding any generational or artistic constraints, his recent campaign can be divided into three distinct categories– The Outreach Program, The Meeting Of The Minds and The In-House. By pinpointing the highpoint from each category, the seemingly insurmountable task of choosing his finest feature becomes less daunting.

Without further adieu…

The Meeting Of The Minds

Wale and J. Cole at 2018 BET Awards – Johnny Nunez/VMN18/Getty Images

Prior to picking up the mic, J. Cole was an avid student of the game. Once inspired by the MCs that adorned his childhood bedroom’s walls, it’s clear that Cole still extracts as much joy from the artform as he did in his formative years. Perched atop the industry, this lifelong love affair now manifests in teaming up with contemporaries that capture his imagination. Whether it’s fellow top-tier lyricists or artists on the intersection between hip-hop and R&B, this whirlwind of features was filled with labours of love. Split between criminally overlooked link-ups and acclaimed appearances, these features allowed Cole to flex his creative muscles and display the full scope of his versatility.

Sparked off in emphatic fashion on Royce Da 5”9’s “Boblo Boat,” his appearances on Anderson .Paak’s “Trippy,”  Rapsody’s “Sojourner”and Wale’strunk-knocking “My Boy” saw him seamlessly veer between painstakingly honest to braggadocious dependent on what the track required. Blessed with his chameleonic ability to ride the beat and intercept the headspace of its primary artist, this became very apparent on 6lack’s Grammy-nominated “Pretty Little Fears.” Dubbed a “personal verse” by the East Atlanta singer/rapper, Cole employed a melodic flow and the full extent of his poetic range to salute the love of his life for weathering the storm alongside him.

With that said, none of these artistic forays brought the fire out of Cole quite like Jay Rock’s “OSOM.” In contention for Redemption’s finest track, his alliance with Jay Rock brought a venomous grit out of him that is often overlooked in favour of his astute pearls of wisdom. Over a foreboding beat from Pops & Crooklin, Cole joins Jay Rock in exorcizing the demons of the past by letting suicidal thoughts, drug-induced sedation and enemies disguised as allies bubble to the surface. Reminiscent of Pac and Biggie at their most poignant, its unflinching realness and combative delivery feels like a retort to everyone that’s ever mislabelled him as boring. In the words of Jay Rock himself, “He put the real in his verse. I put the real in mine.”

The In-House

J.I.D performing during J. Cole tour – Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

“Dreamville stacked like the Warriors”, proclaimed J. Cole on “Album Of The Year Freestyle” and it’s a line that’s felt prophetic ever since. Over the course of 2018, his proteges helped make the label into a veritable force to be reckoned with. Despite their own considerable merits, it’d be disingenuous to act as if his features didn’t help to draw the uninitiated towards their projects. Armed with their own idiosyncratic traits, the Dreamville roster is one of the most diverse in modern hip-hop and 2018’s release slate gave Cole a chance to take his adaptability to new heights. On Milky Way’s breakout track “Tribe,” he immersed himself in Bas’ multiculturalist production to turn in a joyful verse over wistful Spanish guitar. For all that he was preaching to the congregation, Cozz’ impeccable lyricism led Cole to bring his A-game to “Zendaya” whilst the ‘Ville’s resident songstress Ari Lennox led him to embrace the sensuality of R&B on “Shea Butter Baby.”

No matter how riveting these collabs/co-signs were, none carried the sheer magnitude of his rendezvous with the heir to his throne. Unveiled just weeks before Dicaprio 2,  J.I.D and J. Cole’s “Off Deez” transcended the average feature and became a watershed moment in Dreamville history. Whilst J.I.D’s supporters have been extremely vocal, this hypnotic CHASETHEMONEY joint was all it took for him to go from errantly slept-on to toast of the genre. Centered around lyrical barrages that pitted their penmanship against everyone else, it’s a track that legitimized his student in the eyes of the unacquainted and became a genuine passing of the torch moment as Cole declared “J.I D the closest thing to me.” A testament to their prowess and skill, “Off Deez” strikes the perfect alchemy between style and substance, serving as a pre-emptive victory lap for the album that was waiting in the wings.

The Outreach Program

J. Cole with Migos backstage at Powerhouse 2014 – Brad Barket/Getty Images

As expressed throughout “Middle Child”, Cole counts the preservation and prosperity of hip-hop among his list of obligations. Positioned as an adjudicator between its past, present and future, Cole practiced what he preached by extending his services to artists that he could’ve viewed as adversaries. Born of divergent schools of thought, the concept of Cole trading bars with MoneybaggYo on “Say Na”, 21 Savage’s “a lot,”  orOffset’s “How Did I Get Here,” would’ve seemed jarring on paper but benefited from his decision to treat each verse as an olive branch. An ambassador for lyricism, Cole’s dalliances with the new school allowed him to test his mettle against the trap-based beats and ad-lib laden cadences that have garnered a stronghold in the mainstream. By placing an oar into their world, Cole not only broadens his horizons but drags the more curmudgeonly sections of his audience into areas of the hip-hop galaxy that they’d likely cordoned off.

Crafted from sheer happenstance, Moneybagg Yo’s description of how Cole’s verse on “Say Na” came to be demonstrates his desire to break down barriers: “[Cole] was like, ‘This a good song, they gon’ rock with it,’ but that ain’t what I’m looking for. I want to come to your world.’ So I got the trap J. Cole.” Although this Resetstandout felt like more of a comfortable fit than his Offset hook-up, it was a little scant to have any true replay value and lacked the insight or lateral thinking that makes a Cole verse so captivating. Conversely, these are all attributes that his spur-of-the-moment appearance on 21 Savage’s “a lot” possessed, and then some. From debunking rappers “faking they streams” to his GOAT aspirations and the heavy price that fame exacted from Tekashi 6ix9ine, Cole’s bars pack a punch without ever raising the tempo above 21’s glacially paced flow. Teamed with the new lease of life that it underwent after 21’s incarceration, it’s the only logical choice from this category.

The Verdict

J. Cole at 2019 All-Star Weekend – Jeff Hahne/Getty Images

At this profitable stage in his career, Cole could’ve languished in his comfort zone and let complacency take hold. Instead, he refused to fester after KOD’scompletion and expanded his catalogue in fascinating ways. In this respect, it is hip-hop fans that ultimately won out over any individual guest spot. All things considered, it’d be a disservice to award top billing to anything other than “Off Deez.” Granted, “a lot” and “OSOM” will live long in the memory and are a shoo-in for any “essentials” playlist but Cole and Dreamville’s hotly-tipped MC trading scattershot rhymes will be fondly remembered as the moment that a new star came to the fore. Above all else, the cultural significance of this guest verse clinched the top-spot and it’s sure to only grow in acclaim as the years roll on.

What was your favorite J.Cole feature in his 2018-2019 spree? Sound off in the poll below.

Vote on your favorite J. Cole verse

Royce Da 5”9’s “Boblo Boat”

Anderson .Paak’s “Trippy”

Rapsody’s “Sojourner”

Wale’s “My Boy”

6lack’s “Pretty Little Fears”

Jay Rock’s “OSOM”

Bas’ “Tribe”

J.I.D’s “Off Deez”

Ari Lennox’s “Shea Butter Baby”

Moneybagg Yo’s “Say Na”

21 Savage’s “a lot”

Offset’s “How Did I Get Here”

 Mike Coppola/Getty Images8

Tyga is back in the news for allegedly neglecting to pay for his luxurious habits.

TMZ has learned that Tyga is being sued by a rental company over allegedly neglecting to pay for a pair of luxury vehicles, to the tune of $128,000 in damages. Midway Rent-A-Car filed claims in which they’ve accused Tyga of neglect over a 2012 Ferrari 458 Spider and a 2012 Rolls-Royce Ghost back that were both rented in 2016. Midway contends that Tyga was a cordial customer like any other until the payments stopped coming in, all in the final months of their contractual agreement.

Greg Doherty/Getty Images

Midway claims Tyga stopped responding to their notices, so they were forced to repo both vehicles, ahead of schedule. According to the documents obtained by TMZ, Tyga owes $44,000 on the sportier 458 Spider, and another $84,000 on the Ghosty. This isn’t the first time the LA rapper finds himself quibbling over disputed transactions.

Last weekend, Tyga was apprehended by a number of individuals who once loaned him a Maybach. As you may have heard, the confrontation ended with Tyga getting yanked from the club, at which point he inadmissibly pulled a hammer out to settle the dispute, once and for all. The ill-fated confrontation would later incite another round of ridicule from Soulja Boy, who has since promised to deliver a scathing diss record with Tyga as its subject. TMZ contacted Tyga, in the hopes of clearing up his side of the Ferrari-Ghosty predicament, to no avail. 

 Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images4

Drake’s illustrious 2018 gains the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry’s approval.

According to the IFPI, the organization that oversees Global sales data in the music industry, Drake was the runaway “Best Selling Artist” relative to Worldwide outreach. What differentiates the IFPI designation from Drake’s other marked achievements in 2018, is the inclusion of the many listening platforms that are completely alien to North American consumers.

Drake has his knack for marketing to thank for the viral success of “God’s Plan” which engendered a social movement centered around “positive altruism,” while the release of “In My Feelings” was aided by the accompanying dance craze promulgated by Shiggy. Even the issuance of the “Nice For What” music video raised a timely social issue: that of female empowerment, enacted by a host of leading women.

At a standstill, the social embeddedness of each song made Scorpion all the more accessible to people on generalist terms. Before long, cattle ranchers in SouthEast Asia were taking part in the many crazes associated with the project, because in a sense: the science of FOMO knows no bounds. Drake clued in at a critical juncture of social evolution. Through deduction, Drake weighed the viral impact of each release before it hit the ground, like a ballplayer calling swish from their preferred sweet spot on the court.

 Roy Rochlin/Getty Images3

The music business is a fickle beast.

De La Soul are legends in the game. Their vast discography spans across nine studio albums, released between 1989 and 2016. Unfortunately, the majority of their catalog did not fare well in the jump to the “Streaming Era.” As of this writing, only 2016’s and the Anonymous Nobody… and 2004’s The Grind Date are available on all major streaming services. Luckily for fans, it would appear that change is underway. Posdnuos, Dave and DJ Maseo recently confirmed that their entire discography will be arriving on streaming platforms, though the victory is somewhat of a pyrrhic one. View image on Twitter

De La Soul✔@WeAreDeLaSoul

Hmmm… #delasoul #tommyboy @tommyboyrecords #threefeethighandrising #delasoulisdead #buhloonemindstate #stakesishigh #aoimosaicthump #bionix #respecttheculture54710:36 PM – Feb 25, 2019260 people are talking about thisTwitter Ads info and privacy

Sadly, the legendary trio will not be seeing the majority of the royalties. Citing a lack of negotiation decorum, their label Tommy Boy seems to be content with withholding the lion’s share. As it shakes out, De La will be rewarded with ten percent of all total royalties. “Uh oh,” they write, in a foreboding statement. De La Soul hit Sway In The Morning to clear the air about the process, revealing some of the hurdles they had to face.

“We’re completely missing a significant part of this digital era because of all the infractions that exist with the back catalog,” explains Maseo. “Now fast forward to 2019, Tommy Boy has been able to acquire the catalog back [from Warner Bros], but there’s still some infractions around the catalog for the release, things that we’re sure that still aren’t cleared that might have more potential issues now dealing with the new medium. Also, for what’s on the table for De La is unfavorable.”

In this day and age, the idea that music industry higher-ups can still brazenly lord over the artists they depend on is abhorrent. Hopefully, De La Soul can find themselves in a more favorable situation. Keep your heads up, boys. 

 Scott Olson/Getty Images4

Michael Avenatti believes R. Kelly’s enablers could be targeted by prosecutors.

R. Kelly‘s inner circle could be subject to criminal liability for their roles in allegedly aiding the singer in allegedly sexually abusing underage girls. Prosecutors believe R. Kelly’s used his inner circle to help lure in underage girls. They allege that he met a 16-year-old girl who was celebrating her birthday at a restaurant, his manager was the one who her a business card with the singer’s number on it, telling her that Kelly wanted her to call him. Prosecutors claim Kells sexually abused the girl once a month for a year after she got the singer’s number from her mom’s purse.

Chicago Police Department via Getty Images

Michael Avenatti, the lawyer for two of the alleged victims, said that over 10 associates of R. Kelly could be exposed to criminal liability for being staying silent or helping Kelly in his alleged sex crimes. Avenatti said that Kelly was dependent on the people on his team to help him target underage girls, lure them, and pay them, off to keep him quiet for years.

“[R. Kelly] could not have accomplished this for 28 years without the assistance of others who looked the other way because they didn’t want the R. Kelly gravy train to end,” he said.

Avenatti said that he expects Kelly’s insiders to turn on him if prosecutors for after them. “His handlers and enablers are going to look to save their own butts as opposed to R. Kelly,” he said.

[Via]