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In the first season of Rhythm + Flow, the rap competition show hosted by T.I., Cardi B, and Chance The Rapper, a GRAMMY Award nominee was discovered. D Smoke has officially been nominated at the 2021 GRAMMY Awards and, understandably so, T.I. couldn't be any prouder. As we wait for more information about a potential second season of the show, the first season's winner, D Smoke, is already becoming a huge star in front of our eyes. Johnny Nunez/Getty Images A few weeks ago, the West Coast emcee was a star for our On The Come Up series, and now, he's being celebrated as one of the best rappers in the world, learning of his multiple GRAMMY noms. D Smoke is taking a moment to react to the incredible news. T.I., one of his mentors on Rhythm + Flow though, is already yelling out the news from the rooftops, celebrating the moment for the Inglewood rapper. "Love it when a plan comes together," he wrote. "@dsmoke7 you earned every moment you're enjoying right now. You worked hard and pushed yourself and your art above and beyond expectations. @iamcardib @chancetherapper & I saw something special in you and we've been proven right ever since. Love and Respect Lil Bro. Congratulations on your 2 Grammy nominations I know #Inglewood Proud AF!!!! Salute." As Tip implied, D Smoke is nominated in two categories: Best New Artist and Best Rap Album. Congratulations to D Smoke, and every other nominee! View the full article

Nicki Minaj wants all of her followers to stop holding the Recording Academy -- and the GRAMMY Awards by extension -- to such a high standard because, in her eyes, they regularly get things wrong, and have been snubbing artists ever since she missed out on the Best New Artist prize in 2012. The rapper has been re-appearing on social media this week, celebrating the 10-year anniversary of her debut studio album Pink Friday and the impact it had when it was released. The album helped Nicki become the legend that she is today and, as she continues to inspire generations of women in rap, Nicki wants to remind the world that, when she was up for Best New Artist at the GRAMMY Awards, she lost, calling out a racial bias that she believes exists within the Academy. "Never forget the Grammys didn’t give me my best new artist award when I had 7 songs simultaneously charting on billboard & bigger first week than any female rapper in the last decade- went on to inspire a generation," said Nicki on Twitter. "They gave it to the white man Bon Iver. #PinkFriday." This isn't the first time that somebody has complained about a racial bias at the GRAMMY Awards. It's something that Kanye West has been saying for years, and it's the reason why many artists have spoken out in protest of the awards show. Neilson Barnard/Getty Images This year, artists like The Weeknd were snubbed from receiving any nominations, while Lil Baby's fanbase argues that he should have gotten more praise as well. This year's nominees for Best New Artist are Ingrid Andress, Phoebe Bridgers, Chika, Noah Cyrus, D Smoke, Doja Cat, Kaytranada, and Megan Thee Stallion. Who do you think will win and who do you think should win? View the full article

Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan on his band's new album "Cyr" and how he constantly strives to upend expectations. View the full article

The Recording Academy unveiled the 2021 Grammy nominees live Tuesday morning. See how BTS, Megan Thee Stallion, Jhené Aiko and others reacted to the news. View the full article

BTS' No. 1 single 'Dynamite' fails to get a Grammy nomination for record or song of the year. The Army will not be happy about this. View the full article

"Savage" rapper Megan Thee Stallion, a first-time Grammy nominee, served a highly meme-able look upon learning of her nomination Tuesday. View the full article

Oscar winners Meryl Streep and Renée Zellweger are Grammy nominees for their respective work in the spoken-word and traditional pop vocal album categories. View the full article

L.A.-based rapper D Smoke has been nominated for two 2021 Grammy Awards. Here are a few things you need to know about his rise. View the full article

The 26-year-old London-based multi-instrumentalist already has four Grammys but is a wild-card nominee in the prestigious album of the year category. View the full article

L.A. Phil earns two nominations for its Ives symphony cycle, and a UCLA professor and student choir also score Grammy love in classical categories. View the full article

Beyoncé leads the field with nine nominations, while a pair of rock and country categories are completely dominated by women. View the full article

Thought to be a favorite for "Blinding Lights" and "After Hours," the Weeknd didn't receive a single nomination. BTS and Harry Styles also were snubbed. View the full article

Beyoncé garnered nine Grammy nominations to lead all artists. Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa and Roddy Ricch each received six. The Weeknd was conspicuously shut out. View the full article

Lil Wayne is a rapper's rapper, one who understands the importance of proper craftsmanship -- it's part of the reason why he remains such a viable "best rapper alive" contender to this day. In reality, Weezy's impressive skillset is the direct result of decades of experience, the culmination of a journey that originally began in his teenage years. During an interview with Lil Baby for Rolling Stone's Musicians On Musicians series, Weezy actually opened up about some of the albums that shaped him into the emcee he is today. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images "Jay-Z, Life and Times of Shawn Carter, plain and simple," reflects Weezy, when asked about the first album that impacted him. "It was the first album where I actually [got] the car that the rapper was talking about. That was my album. Also, Jay talked so crazy. He went bananas on that album. I got lyrics from the album tattooed on me and shit. I have songs that are remakes of spinoffs of songs from that album, you know?" The third volume of Jay-Z's iconic series, Life & Times boasts classic cuts like "Big Pimpin," "Dope Man," "Watch Me," "So Ghetto" and more. Originally released in December of 1999, Lil Wayne would have been around seventeen years old upon its release. At that point, he had recently dropped his own debut album The Block Is Hot, not to mention various works with the Hot Boys and the Big Tymers. It's interesting to hear that the Jigga Man's Vol 3 had such a profound impact on a young Weezy, making their eventual collaborations like "Hello Brooklyn" and the stacked "Swagga Like Us" all the more historic. For more from Lil Wayne and Lil Baby, be sure to check the entire Rolling Stone interview right here. For those familiar with Life & Times Of Sean Carter, can you trace the influence it ultimately had on Lil Wayne's own music? View the full article

Artists grow up watching the GRAMMY Awards, wishing that they will get the chance to bring their parents to the ceremony and be celebrated as one of the greatest artists in the world. Someone like Cordae, who released his debut studio album just a year ago, earned major recognition from his peers, as well as fans worldwide, when the album was nominated for a GRAMMY, setting him up for years of success. The GRAMMYs may have a bad rap with some artists, like Kanye West, who infamously urinated on one of his awards during a Twitter rant this year, but they signify greatness, excellence, and being the best of your craft for others. Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images There have been rumblings about who will be nominated this year around and, in our realm specifically, which rappers would see a glimmer of recognition from the industry. Finally, the wait is over. As part of an hourlong live-stream the Recording Academy is hosting on Twitter, the nominations have been revealed for the 2021 GRAMMY Awards ceremony. We'll be updating this post with all of the nominations as they're announced. Good luck to all of the artists expecting to hear their names called! View the full article

Zlatan Ibile, born Omoniyi Temidayo Raphael, is a Nigerian singer-songwriter making waves in the music industry with his upbeat, catchy music. Having started making music in 2011 upon graduating high school, Zlatan has since dropped several singles including his hits, “Am I a Yahoo Boy,” and “Bolanle,” as well as his debut album, Zanku, in 2019. Having a pastor for a father, Zlatan’s musical leanings began with him playing the drums in church growing up. He told DJ Paul, “My dad is a pastor and I played drums in church, so I already had an idea about beats and being on key and all of that.” Zlatan goes on to talk about how he began making music when he had just two shirts to his name, illuminating his inspiring rags-to-riches story, which he often touches on in his songs. The industry newcomer has already racked up some impressive collaborations, including one with Burna Boy earlier this year on their track, “Killin Dem,” and a handful with DaVido, such as “Sweet in the Middle,” and “Bum Bum.” The pair go on to discuss the #EndSARS movement going on in Nigeria, in which citizens are protesting the country’s Anti-Robbery Squad, a branch of the police that uses its power to torment citizens and do little else. Zlatan says of them, “They don’t focus on robbers, that’s why people are protesting, they’re supposed to focus on robbers, but instead, they focus on young boys looking fresh.” Initially having been formed to protect the public from robberies, SARS are often the ones conducting robberies themselves, prompting citizens to call on the government to abolish the police force. To hear more from Zlatan and DJ Paul, watch the full episode above; to check out last week’s Mafia Radio episode on ghostwriting featuring Academy-Award-winning songwriter and singer Eric Bellinger, click here. View the full article

It's hard to know whether XXXTentacion ever believed that he would become a modern-day hip-hop legend. Following his untimely murder at the age of twenty, millions of fans found themselves mourning a generational talent, left to reflect on the void left in his wake. It didn't take long for legions to rally behind his music, and before long, both 17 and ? were multiplatinum records, two of the thirty-two plaques currently in his name. Though he was only active in the rap game for a few short years, it's clear that he left a lasting impression, one that continues to be felt to this day. In his lifetime, Triple X was divisive. Where his musicianship and versatility were praised, many found it difficult to reconcile some of the darker aspects of his personal life. His complicated criminal history was a frequent topic of discussion. His seeming desire to repent, less so. Fans who followed his many video updates believed in XXXTentacion's willingness to grow as a man. Others retained a more cynical outlook, deeming his past sins unforgivable. These complexities made him one of popular culture's fascinating figures, one that sparked passionate responses from either side. Before long, the young Floridian was rising in notoriety, catching attention from the rap game at large. Some even reached out as collaborators and fans of his work, though more often than not a safe distance was kept. In the wake of his death, however, the floodgates appeared to open. Every artist had an opinion on the late rapper or at least felt more comfortable voicing their existing thoughts. At this point, a wide number of artists have shared their thoughts on XXXTentacion, whether he was alive to hear them or not. We've compiled a compendium of the rap game's myriad takes on XXXTentacion, an artist that captivated an entire generation. Check them out below. Jason Koerner/Getty Images 50 CENT When asked about Triple X by DJ Whoo Kid, 50 admitted he wasn’t familiar with the rapper’s music. He did, however, have some thoughts on the coverage following his death. “It’s sad cause he was young,” says 50. “He was just really taking off in his career. A lot of places he had a number one album, but they wouldn’t cover it because of his legal issues. You see Spotify switched up, now they back on his dick -- fuck out of here with that shit. I’d be like, man, take my shit off your playlist bitch.” BIG SEAN Following the news of Triple X's murder, Big Sean was among those to share his condolences on social media. "My heart dropped when I heard about @xxxtentacion," he wrote. "I feel like we only got to see a glimpse of his artistry. I didn’t know him personally but I respect how passionate he was about his music and message. Nobody deserves this kind of ending. gone too soon, damn! RIP" DAME DASH Following Triple X's death, Dame Dash took a moment to make a bold prediction. "[He's] definitely going to be looked at from this 15 to 25-year-old generation as Tupac and Biggie," explained the mogul, speaking with All Hip-Hop. While he did predict that the young generation would ultimately worship the rapper's memory for years to come, he reflected on the perils of pursuing darker subject matter in one's artistry. "You speak things into existence, but there’s a gift and a curse with that," explains Dash. "You got to be careful what you say. And for some reason, this generation seems to be infatuated with death, and getting there faster, and I don’t understand why.” DENZEL CURRY A close friend of Triple X -- the pair once lived together at Denzel's ULT House in Florida -- Denzel has spoken on the rapper's memory at length. While there are plenty of reflections scattered throughout various interviews, his stop at The Breakfast Club featured quite an insightful breakdown on the many stages of XXXTentacion. "There were different eras of X," he explained. "There was Black Hair era, where he was coming up, doing his thing, making music. Then you have the Blonde & Black era, and that's where all the crazy stuff started happening with allegations, trials, shows, riots, the Rob Stone situation, everything." "Then it went to White Hair X, where he got the tree on his forehead and shaved his eyebrows," continues Denzel. "That was his evolving state. Then he went to Indigo X. The last time we talked, he said the reason he changed his hair, and tried to do things differently, is because he understood how it was to be a bad person, and how easy it was. He wanted to change." DRAKE Though Drizzy never openly discussed the late rapper-- it should be noted that the pair were previously embroiled in a short-lived but disrespectful beef -- he actually connected with Ski Mask The Slump God following Triple X’s death. There, Ski Mask revealed that Drake “actually liked X’s music a lot,” though not much more was said on the matter. J. COLE In an interview with Billboard, Cole revealed that he and X actually got to know one another on an extensive FaceTime call. “I spoke to him on FaceTime one day in February for, like, three hours,” explained Cole. “His management reached out to Ib and asked if he could FaceTime me or call me. It was a super intense conversation. He left a mark on me, just as a person.” He also revealed that while he immediately recognized the artistic brilliance, he did acknowledge that Triple X had his own challenges to overcome. “He was praising me while also saying he was going to achieve whatever it is he felt that I had,” reflects Cole. "I’ve dealt with mentally ill people in my life before, many of them. And right away, I notice that this kid is super passionate and smart, but I could also see that he was so deep in his mind.” Despite the disturbing allegations of abuse that XXXTentacion was facing, Cole still felt sympathetic to the young rapper. “Because anybody who would do the shit that he did, hurt people,” he reflects. “I’ma be sympathetic to a kid who has clearly been through so much fucked-up shit that he inflicted this on someone else.” After his death, the Dreamville rapper took to Twitter to reflect on the game’s loss. “This got me fucked up,” wrote Cole. “RIP X. Enormous talent and limitless potential and a strong desire to be a better person. God bless his family, friends and fans.” JERMAINE DUPRI No stranger to spotting talent, So-So Def founder Jermaine Dupri was among those to mourn XXXTentacion following his death. "It’s crazy!!" wrote the legendary producer. "I hit usher when I herd his new album and told him XXX was so much more talented than I thought and he was gonna turn into something serious! This is sad for so many reason. My prayers go out to his family." JUICE WRLD During an interview on The Cruz Show, Juice WRLD opened up about a FaceTime conversation he had with Triple X prior to his passing. "Me and him, we didn't really see eye to eye," admits Juice. "We had a couple deep conversations and shit. I ain't never meet him in person, we planned on linking up...I FaceTimed him, cause he said something the day before and I was like Ah yeah, you was right about that." KANYE WEST Following Triple X’s death, Kanye West offered his condolences on Twitter. “Rest in peace,” he wrote. “I never told you how much you inspired me when you were here. Thank you for existing.” And while some accused Kanye of doing too much to honor the late rapper, especially given his hesitance to co-sign Triple X during his lifetime, Yeezy also did come through to design a shirt for the posthumous XXXTentacion clothing capsule. KENDRICK LAMAR It certainly appears that Kendrick Lamar was a fan of Triple X. Following the release of 17 in August of 2017, Kendrick shared his appreciation for the project on his Twitter page. “ Listen to this album if you feel anything,” he wrote. “Raw thoughts.” Following that, it was later reported that when Spotify attempted to remove XXXTentacion’s music from their playlists -- a decision enforced through the “Hate Content & Hateful Conduct” policy -- Kendrick was quick to voice frustration with the streaming giant. KODAK BLACK One of the rare artists to have actually collaborated with XXXTentacion (they worked together on the song "Roll In Peace,") Kodak has spoken about his relationship with XXXTentacion on occasion. From the sound of it, Triple X actively tried to warn Kodak Black about some of his choices, warning him that his decisions may ultimately lead to negative consequences. "He was hollering at me right before I [went to jail] in January," reveals Kodak, during an interview with 1035 TheBeat. "He was like 'you have demons around you.' He was lacing me about homeboys, how I need to move, stuff like that." The host, Papa Keith, cites his own interview with Triple X, during which the rapper was quick to show Kodak love and defend his name against some of the critics. "He gained my respect this year," continues Kodak. "When I finally got on the phone with him, to chop it up, I was like that's real." Kodak proceeds to admit that he can't listen to Triple X's music anymore, though he didn't exactly beforehand. LIL WAYNE Despite having secured several posthumous vocals from Triple X, Weezy was initially unfamiliar with the young rapper. In fact, when Elliot Wilson asked about the collaboration Wayne kept it a buck. “Y'all know I don’t listen to nothin’ else but myself cause I work too much, so I didn’t know who XXXTentacion was,” reflects Wayne. “So Mack had to explain the whole story to me right then and there. I had to Google. I figured everything out, and it was easy. It wasn’t about yes or no -- it was about let me get my verses together.” Later, Weezy took to IG to wish Triple X a happy birthday, captioned “the world misses you slime.” LIL UZI VERT While they never collaborated in an official capacity, it's clear that Uzi had his eye on Triple X, speaking on the Floridian shortly after attending his memorial service. "Out of all n*ggas, he is my only competition and I’m talking about XXX,” he declared, from atop the stage. “I had to go pay my respects,” he continued, queuing up "Look At Me" on the speakers. "And I’m going to my respects right now." Later, Uzi expressed interest in launching a foundation in Triple X's honor, addressing his intention in a since-deleted tweet. "I don’t care if you didn’t know him he is part of the hip hop / rock community I NEED HELP from celebrities Please,” he wrote, in the final week of June 2018. "Trust me this fund/foundation will be for all young entertainers and young men and women that die from gun violence etc. Think about your families [sic] future I know I am... We can buy chains and watches and cars WE ALSO CAN DONATE AND GIVE AND SUPPORT." NLE CHOPPA "I feel like God send certain people down to help other people," explained NLE Choppa, speaking on XXXTentacion during a No Jumper interview. "To be there for them. Help them get through something....His music, when you describe his music, it's like beautiful really. He made beautiful music." He clarifies that he never used to listen to Triple X's music, until he came to realize the impact it had on his mood. "I started to use music to heal me mentally. He was one of the first artists I picked up and started to listen to." PNB ROCK As one of the few to actively collaborate with XXXTentacion while he was alive, PnB Rock was able to develop an actual relationship with him. The news of Triple X's death hit him particularly hard as a result, and PnB took a moment to eulogize his fallen friend with an emotional video flashback. "Just found out me and bro went “Platinum” wit this record," he captions, alongside studio footage of their "Changes" session. "It’s not even the same tho because i didn’t get a feelin of happiness when i heard but instead i just cried because we ain’t even get to share our moment together." "He’s so musical man it was amazing working with this guy and his spirit was just unmatchable," writes Rock. "This was my brother. he checked me when i did stupid shit & i truly miss him for so many other reasons. Ya name gon live forever bro." ROB STONE During his lifetime, XXXTentacion spent the early years of his career juggling no shortage of heated feuds. Evidently, one of his biggest was with Rob Stone, a long-running saga that led to diss tracks and spontaneous on-stage violence. As it happens, however, Triple X decided to extend an olive branch to his former sparring partner, a conversation later shared by Rob Stone on Instagram. Alongside the clip, Stone penned a message eulogizing the slain rapper. "I would never wish death upon another human being,” he wrote. “We had our differences and battles in the field but at the end of it all, X reached out to me like a man and we talked it out, like men. I wasn’t ever with posting this out man but I feel like the both of our supporters need to hear this for closure. Please let him rest peacefully. I pray all young artists, including myself, will use this unfortunate situation as motivation to stop the violence and focus on bettering the world we live in. RIP xxxtentacion.” SKI MASK THE SLUMP GOD Given the long and highly personal history between Ski Mask The Slump God and XXXTentacion, there is a wealth of material to draw from. The pair originally met while in a juvenile detention center and went on to become fast friends, frequently working together and holding it down as a team in interviews throughout their musical ascent. Rather than attempting to draw a pearl of wisdom from one particular clip or another, it feels appropriate to share an interview that Ski and X did with ELEVATOR in 2017. It's likely that many fans are already familiar with this endearing and refreshingly wholesome half-hour video, but it goes a long way in establishing their dynamic and the mutual respect they shared. TECH N9NE Prior to X’s passing, Tech N9ne was actually fielding many requests to collaborate with him and Ski Mask The Slump God. Tech revealed as much to Adam 22 during a No Jumper interview, claiming that Triple X once told him that he and Eminem were the reasons he started rapping to begin with. “I know Tentacion can rap,” praises Tech. “I heard it.” Sadly, Adam’s dream to see XXXTentacion make it to his forties hits all the harder in hindsight. “He’ll be alright,” says Tech. “He’ll be alright.” Later, when XXX was killed, Tech took to Instagram to voice his frustration. “Man FUCK! I’m tired of this shit! 20 fuckin years old man! He told me that me and Eminem made him want to rap! I’m fucked up about this shit.” He later went on to pay homage to X on his Enterfear song “Outdone.” THE GAME Shortly after Triple X’s death, The Game took to Instagram to pen an emotional homage. "For some reason, he been heavy on my heart since the day he died," wrote The Game, alongside an image of the murdered rapper. "Don’t know what exactly my heart is trying to convey but I definitely feel an obligation to protect this new generation of artist. In studio thinkin bout all y’all... be creative, live life, have fun, enjoy your moment & try your hardest to bob & weave thru the madness." He later explained why he felt compelled to salute X, revealing his motivation during an interview with Big Boy. "It was important for me to show [XXXTentacion] love because he gave his life -- he didn't die when he wasn't a hip-hop artist, he died after he was a hip-hop artist and the lure of being a hip-hop artist made his murderers go after the name,” reflects Game. “They weren't after Jahseh, they were after XXX. That dude was so talented. I feel like, by now, he would have been, like, Travis Scott level." TORY LANEZ “Yo, rest in peace X,” said Tory, in an Instagram Live story following Triple X’s death. “I can’t even believe this n**a gone. I didn’t know you too well, but it felt like I knew you through the music my n***a. I felt like I lost a n***a today. We lost a good n***a today.” It should be noted that Tory and X were supposed to have collaborated on Love Me Now?, though the duet never actually materialized. “The record's a very dope record, but the clearance and the business side didn't let me clear it in time,” explained Tory, to Big Boy. "Hopefully we get to get it out soon so everybody can hear it." Unfortunately, that day has yet to come. YOUNG THUG In April of 2018, after Triple X came through with his sophomore album ?, Young Thug took to Instagram to invite XXXTentacion to collaborate. “I want ya’ll to tag XXXTentacion,” he captioned, highlighting a track in his IG story. “He’s really dope. I want him featured on this.” Not long after, X slid into Thugger’s DMs and shared one and one message only: an eye emoji. Take from that what you will. WAKA FLOCKA FLAME Though briefly, Waka Flocka touched on XXXTentacion during a Sway In The Morning interview on October 17th, 2017. "People look at XXXTentacion like he's crazy," said Waka, acknowledging the apparent generational divide between X's fans and haters. "That ni*ga's a genius. He's 19 years old." View the full article

NoCap has officially returned with his new single "Pain Show," a soulful, melodic, and bouncy drop from the Alabama rapper. His vocal chops are on display as he kicks things off with an extensive chorus, warning anyone who dares try to catch him lacking in the opening lines. "Feel sorry for your soul if you reach for my necklace," he sings. "Ridin' round with that chainsaw while I'm in Texas, yeah." Though likely boasting more finesse than Leatherface, NoCap is no less dangerous to cross. "Before you ban me, gotta kill me in your town," he warns. "Choppa Beyoncé, I just love how that bitch sound / watch out for opps as I hold the ghetto down." In spite of the more violent lyrical content, there's a painful honesty simmering within Cap's vocals; on that note, his performance here is refreshingly restrained, his presence seldom occupying too much space. It's part of why so many deem NoCap to be among the most promising new rappers, a narrative only gaining further steam since Steel Human dropped in July. QUOTABLE LYRICS Murder that she wrote and then I went and took the pen We gon' knock ya ni**a down if we never see ya Thought I made it out the streets, I fell a lil' deeper Fucked the same bitches as Meek, watch a ni*ga count a mil' up They hate I'm still here, I watched them ni*gas go buy earplugs View the full article

RMR has a clearcut vision of where he's heading, and to witness him taking each necessary step on his path to superstardom has been refreshing. Ever since he broke out onto the scene with his unconventional track "RASCAL", the masked mystery man has been impressing audiences with his genre-bending style. For the last few weeks, RMR has been teasing the arrival of his latest project, a short film titled 4th Quarter Medley. The complete film is officially out now, complete with the third part, which re-imagines the Goo Goo Dolls' classic song "Iris". RMR gives his take on the song with a live band, singing in a smoky room and delivering raw emotion, pain, and more context behind his character. "Substitution For Love" features yet another stunning vocal performance from RMR, who just keeps proudly showing his cards whenever he's challenged. Watch the full short film below and check out "Substitution For Love" at the 4:51 mark. Quotable Lyrics: I can't give up my world to touch you Even opposites in the end just might attract But I don't wanna miss you right now And with all your secrets, you can't haunt Help me, I'll keep my mouth shut Even though we made a promise that I won't forget We'll substitute love for lies View the full article

Earlier this month, it appeared that Denise Bidot and Lil Wayne had called it quits after Wayne's shocking endorsement of Donald Trump. But since the election, the two have seemingly managed to patch things up. While the two haven't outright announced that they're back together — or that they ever actually broke up, Denise left a rather cheeky comment on Wayne's latest Instagram post. So, it's probably safe to assume that if they, in fact split up, they've worked things out. Lil Wayne took to Instagram last night to announce that he will be giving back to his community to celebrate Thanksgiving. "Tomorrow I’ll be giving back to the people and city that raised me," he wrote. "If you’re in Orleans, St. Charles or Jefferson parish please visit the link in my bio and sign up to have a turkey delivered to your home." Naturally, his post was met with a ton of comments from fans, praising his charitable contribution. But one comment in particular stood out from the rest: In early November, after Wayne announced his alignment with Donald Trump, fans noticed that Bidot was no longer following Tunechi on Instagram. On top of that, he had also sent out a cryptic message via Twitter, pointing to some kind of adversity in his life. "I live the way I love and love the way I live," he wrote. "I’m a lover not a lighter bekuz they burn out. I am an eternal fire and burning love, either leave with a tan, a 3rd degree burn, or stay and die in love." Fortunately, both Wayne and Bidot are following each other again and interacting on social media. View the full article

It's become evident that Denzel Curry has reached a boiling point, and the Floridian rapper has been venting his many frustrations on Twitter this morning. Originally admitting that he had grown to hate rap, a revelation that alarmed many of his loyal fans. "I watched my hobby that I did in my room become something I can’t even enjoy anymore because everyone has an opinion," he lamented, following a promising update on the project he has been steadily working on. But after that? "I’m just going disappear from y’all ass and do what the fuck I wanna do and say what I wanna say," he muses. Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images Despite his seemingly broken spirit, that's not to say that Denzel isn't wholly confident in what he's accomplished as a musician thus far. In fact, his Twitter rant ultimately went on to change course, and before long Denzel was firing off flex after flex on his many artistic merits. "I know myself and my art well enough to say, I’m The Greatest to ever do it," he declares. "I’m one of the greatest influences in music, period. If you said 'Cap' when I said I'm the greatest or very influential, you wouldn’t have your favorite rappers if it wasn’t for me. Period." "Jay Z made his first album at 26," he continues. "I’m Only 25. I was 17 getting rich." Currently twenty-five with an impressive body of work under his belt, not to mention untold influence on the Florida hip-hop scene and new generation in general, Denzel has every right to feel entitled to a little bit of sh*t-talking. Whether you agree with his assessment or not, it's clear that Zel has been feeling underappreciated of late, and perhaps it's time to show him some well deserved praise in the comments below. Lest we forget, he's given us plenty of incredible bangers throughout the years, and we look forward to many more. View the full article

Gucci Mane and Jeezy's battle last week on Verzuz is still making headlines, mostly because of Pookie Loc's sons moves following the event. If you're unfamiliar, Pookie Loc is a rapper that was killed after allegedly trying to snatch Gucci Mane's chain. He was signed to Jeezy's label, working closely with the rapper and becoming one of his close friends. During the Verzuz, Gucci Mane played "Truth", which is a diss track against Jeezy, referencing the death of Pookie Loc and throwing some additional shots after the track closed out. "We smokin' on Pookie Loc tonight," exclaimed the rapper on stage. Pookie Loc's son, Quint "Leftside" Ross, has been gaining attention in the aftermath of the hits face-off, even claiming that he's been receiving death threats the other day. Yesterday afternoon, he went live on Facebook to speak about accusations he's received from people saying he's trying to clout-chase off of the situation, saying: "I'm doing hella views. These folks chompin' at me hard. Say I'm clout-chasing and all that," said Ross. "Folk done lost they rabbit-ass mind out here, man, just saying. They say I'm a little bit too loud. I told them come pipe me down. Why the hell I gotta chase clout if I'm just tryna defend my daddy name? That man said he smokin' on my daddy. What? The fuck wrong with y'all weird-ass n***as, mane? If it was one of y'all people that passed away, a bitch say they smokin' on y'all shit, ya feel me? Y'all woulda goddamn got upset, too, and said something. It ain't alright. I'm getting death threats. All type of shit, cuz." It's unclear why Pookie Loc's son is receiving death threats. Especially since his response was pretty warranted, considering his father was discussed in an extremely disrespectful manner during the battle. Watch part of his live stream above. [via] View the full article

Meek Mill has been hard at work, and though some may still be jonesing for a new album from the Philadelphia rapper, it would appear that the time will soon be upon us. Not long after whetting appetites with the release of the Quarantine Pack, a four-song effort featuring Lil Durk, 42 Dugg, and Vory, Meek flashed a glimpse at another batch of unreleased tracks, taking to Instagram to highlight a folder of three mysterious songs. Steven Ferdman/Getty Images Though it's unclear as to where this batch of three is meant to appear, it's clear that Meek has been assembling a library of potential album cuts, including "Trenches (PAP)," "Goin Up 1-11-19," and "Active (DP)." If the date on "Goin Up" is any indication, Meek has been working on his Championships follow-up for a while now; it should also be noted that a Meek Mill and Young Thug collaboration called "Trenches" recently leaked in its entirety, with some wondering as to whether it would be found on Meek's upcoming album. Of course, it's entirely possible that Meek Mill's library is simply lined with older music, as many artists tend to assemble expansive vaults while deep in album mode. Provided he does intend on coming through with a full-length release in the imminent future, it wouldn't be surprising if Meek is deliberately stoking the fires of hype, sharing glimpses at three tracks set to be included on the untitled effort. Keep an eye out for further updates on Meek's potential rollout as they occur -- lest we forget, he did previously confirm a new album before the end of the year. View the full article

'I too know the pain of not winning the award!' joked 'The Daily Show' host and 'one-time Grammy nominee' Trevor Noah, who will emcee the 2021 Grammy Awards. View the full article

The 2021 Grammy nominations, in 83 categories View the full article