Tag: rap

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How Top Dawg Entertainment Became The Current Most Powerful Label In Hip-Hop

How Top Dawg Entertainment Became The Current Most Powerful Label In Hip-Hop

Independent record labels have been the lifeblood of hip-hop over the last five decades, and no other rap label is currently pushing the line like Top Dawg Entertainment.

Source: XXLMag

Established in 2004 by California native Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith, the imprint started with humble beginnings but quickly found its footing in the Los Angeles rap scene. Throughout the aughts, TDE signed rising talent like Jay Rock (2005), Kendrick Lamar (2005), Ab-Soul (2007) and ScHoolboy Q (2009). Each of the rappers’ debut albums saw modest success, but in 2012, the label scored its first top 10 Billboard 200 album when Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city debuted at No. 2. Then, in 2013, the label stepped into the R&B realm by scooping up then little-known R&B star SZA.

The label’s eye for talent has turned into a track record for success. In total, TDE has put out seven No .1 albums and a total of 17 top-20 projects. While Kendrick Lamar parted ways with the label in 2022, he turned into an international superstar under the tutelage of TDE and still has a close bond with his former labelmates and the executive team.

More recently, TDE’s successes have been playing out on major stages. K-Dot recently won five Grammy Awards and performed a record-breaking set at the 2025 Super Bowl with SZA in February. And there’s the whole matter of vanquishing hip-hop’s golden child, Drake, in 2024.

This past February, former XXL Freshman Doechii, who signed to TDE in 2022, won Best Rap Album at the 2025 Grammy Awards. Her star continues to rise, as she also earned Outstanding New Artist at the 2025 NAACP Image Awards, recently performed alongside Ms. Lauryn Hill and was honored as the Billboard Woman of the Year for 2025.

SZA has become a force to be reckoned with. Her triple-platinum sophomore album, SOS, debuted at No. 1 in 2022. The album recently tied Michael Jackson’s Thriller as the longest-running top 10 album by a Black artist in the history of the Billboard 200 chart.

She also costars alongside KeKe Palmer in the new film One of Them Days, which opened at No. 1 at the box office this year, raking in over 11 million in its opening week. SZA and Kendrick will also be embarking on the Grand National Tour later this year.

 

Read More: How TDE Became the Current Most Powerful Label in Hip-Hop | https://www.xxlmag.com/top-dawg-entertainment-most-powerful-label-hip-hop/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral

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Slick Rick, Freeway & More Connect At Inaugural Hip Hope Ball To Raise Cancer Awareness

Slick Rick, Freeway & More Connect At Inaugural Hip Hope Ball To Raise Cancer Awareness

The Health, Hope and Hip Hop Foundation made history this February, hosting its first-ever “Hip Hope Ball: A Celebration to Ignite Change” on the final day of Black History Month.

Source: AllHipHop

The star-studded event brought together Hip-Hop legends and healthcare advocates with a unified mission: raising awareness about multiple myeloma and other cancers in the Black community.

Founded by Oya Gilbert, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in December 2017 after experiencing symptoms for two years, the foundation has become a powerful voice for awareness. Gilbert’s journey from diagnosis to advocacy has positioned him uniquely to leverage Hip-Hop culture for critical health education.

Gilbert’s impact has not just been as a health advocate but also as a MC. Under the moniker Grand G, Gilbert laid groundwork that would influence some of Hip-Hop’s most significant architects, creating a ripple effect throughout the culture that many stars unknowingly benefit from today.

“He made it possible for all of us to believe and to dream,” Young Guru, ROC Nation’s acclaimed engineer and producer, said speaking directly to Gilbert during an emotional moment at the gala. “Whatever you need, I’m there for you. You know why? Because you influenced my life and put me on a path that would lead me to something great.”

In a revealing personal anecdote, Young Guru shared how Gilbert, known then by his rap moniker Grand G, had been an early inspiration.

“When I was 15 years old, I saw somebody that looked like me on the cover of an album,” Young Guru explained, referencing a compilation called Project X. The future Grammy winner recalled begging to visit the studio with Gilbert and his colleagues, an experience that would eventually shape his legendary career.

The evening’s performances elevated the celebration to another level.

Read more at: https://allhiphop.com/news/slick-rick-freeway-more-connect-at-inaugural-hip-hope-ball-to-raise-cancer-awareness/

 

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Kendrick Lamar Becomes First Rapper To Have 3 Albums In Billboard Top 10 Simultaneously

Kendrick Lamar Becomes First Rapper To Have 3 Albums In Billboard Top 10 Simultaneously

Kendrick Lamar has reached yet another milestone following his Super Bowl performance: he has become the first rap act ever to have three albums in the top 10 of the Billboard album chart at the same time.

Source: HipHopDX

On the Billboard 200 chart dated February 22 (which reflects sales during the week ending February 13), the outlet reported on Sunday (February 16), K.Dot’s latest, GNX, will return to the number one slot. His 2017 release DAMN will be at number nine, while 2012’s good kid, m.A.A.d city will be at 10.

Lamar is the first living male artist to have a trio of albums in the chart’s top 10 since Herb Alpert in 1966. The most recent artist to hit the mark was, unsurprisingly, Taylor Swift, who actually had five simultaneous albums in the top 10 in 2023. In the immediate aftermath of Prince‘s 2016 death, he had three albums in the top 10, and then five the following week.

In this most recent charting week, Kendrick’s GNX moved 236,000 equivalent album units, while DAMN moved 39,000 and good kid did 37,000.

The rapper’s post-Super Bowl wins continued when “Not Like Us” received the Saturday Night Live treatment thanks to Will Ferrell and Ana Gasteyer.

During the sketch comedy show’s 50th anniversary special this past weekend, Ferrell and Gasteyer reprised their classic roles as music teachers Marty and Bobbi Culp to cover a host of modern hits.

Read more: https://hiphopdx.com/news/kendrick-lamar-first-rapper-3-albums-billboard-top-10-simultaneously

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Anderson .Paak Brings Out Dr. Dre & Sheila E. At Star-Studded L.A. FireAid Concert

Anderson .Paak Brings Out Dr. Dre & Sheila E. At Star-Studded L.A. FireAid Concert

Anderson .Paak brought out some big names in Dr. Dre and Sheila E. at a show in Los Angeles in aid of victims of the city’s recent wildfires.

Source: HipHopDX

The Kia Forum played host on Thursday night (January 30) to FireAid, a star-studded benefit concert that saw performances from some of the biggest names in music including Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lil Baby and Joni Mitchell.

The surviving members of Nirvana also reunited on stage, with a number of female singers including Kim Gordon, Joan Jett, St. Vincent and Violet Grohl standing in for the late Kurt Cobain.

Anderson .Paak was one of the first performers of the night and after an introduction from Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, he dove into a typically high-energy four-song set.

Sheila E., a noted singer and percussionist who performed with Prince and has previously collaborated with .Paak, joined the Oxnard native for “Put Me Thru” and “Come Down.”

.Paak then delivered one of the night’s biggest surprises by welcoming Dr. Dre to the stage perform renditions of “Still D.R.E.” and “California Love.”

 

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A post shared by Sheila E. (@sheilaedrummer)

Dre also said a few words to the hometown crowd: “I want to say this is a magical moment for me. I got so much love for you guys and this summer will be the mark of 40 years that I’ve been in this business.

“And I appreciate all the love that you guys have been giving me, and the reason that we’re here, I appreciate all the first responders and firemen that put their lives on the line and I appreciate all that love. It’s all about love for me tonight.”

While the wildfires have now largely subsided with help from some recent rainfall, devastating damage has been left behind.

Billions of dollars in estimated damages have been caused by the blazes, which burned throughout January and killed at least 29 people, while also causing tens of thousands of people to lose their homes.

A number of local rappers have been doing their part to help with the relief efforts, most notably The Game and Snoop Dogg.

 

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Mac Miller’s Posthumous Album “Balloonerism” Drops To Rave Reviews

Mac Miller’s Posthumous Album “Balloonerism” Drops To Rave Reviews

Mac Miller’s second posthumous album, Balloonerism, has arrived alongside a short film more than six years after the rapper’s untimely passing.

Source: AllHipHop

Recorded between 2013 and 2014, the 14-track project, released Friday (January 16), follows 2020’s Circles.

SZA, who features on “DJ’s Chord Organ,” took to social media shortly after Balloonerism dropped to pay tribute to Mac Miller.

“I love my friend I miss my friend,” she wrote. “Grateful he saw something in me before most and treated me w love from day 1 . Wish he could see how right ab everything he truly was . Please go stream Balloonerism RIGHT NOW.”

The album dropped alongside an animated short film directed by Samuel Jerome Mason. The film was screened at selected cinemas before the project’s release and is also available to stream on Amazon Prime.

Mac Miller’s estate announced Balloonerism last November. They note the album is, a “project that was of great importance to Malcolm – to the extent that he commissioned artwork for it and discussions concerning when it should be released were had regularly, though ultimately ‘GO:OD AM’ [2015] and subsequent albums ended up taking precedence.”

They continued: “We believe the project showcases both the breadth of his musical talents and fearlessness as an artist. Given that unofficial versions of the album have circulated online for years and that releasing ‘Balloonerism’ was something that Malcolm frequently expressed being important to him, we felt it most appropriate to present an official version of the project to the world.”

Balloonerism is already receiving rave reviews on social media and began trending No.1 on X (Twitter) shortly after it dropped. Stream the album below and check out some of the reactions at the end of the page.

Listen below:

 

 

 

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The Weeknd Explains Why He Plans To Retire Stage Name After ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ Album

The Weeknd Explains Why He Plans To Retire Stage Name After 'Hurry Up Tomorrow' Album

The Weeknd is planning to retire his stage name after the release of his forthcoming album Hurry Up Tomorrow, but fear not – he will still continue to make music.

Source: HipHopDX

In a new interview with Variety published on Friday (January 10), the superstar singer admitted that ‘The Weeknd’ is more of a persona that he no longer identifies with.

“[I am closing the chapter] on my existence as the Weeknd,” he said. “It’s a headspace I’ve gotta get into that I just don’t have any more desire for. I feel like it comes with so much… You have a persona, but then you have the competition of it all. It becomes this rat race: more accolades, more success, more shows, more albums, more awards and more No. 1s. It never ends until you end it.”

He noted that the 2022 moment when he lost his voice at his Los Angeles concert and had to reschedule just moments after the show began also played a role.

“Part of me actually was thinking, ‘You lost your voice because it’s done; you said what you had to say. Don’t overstay at the party — you can end it now and live a happy life.’ You know? Put the bow on it: ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’? Now we’re here. When is the right time to leave, if not at your peak? Once you understand who I am too much, then it’s time to pivot.”

He’s clear that he’s not quitting music, though.

“I don’t think I can stop doing that,” he added. “But everything needs to feel like a challenge. And for me right now, The Weeknd, whatever that is, it’s been mastered. No one’s gonna do The Weeknd better than me, and I’m not gonna do it better than what it is right now. I think I’ve overcome every challenge as this persona, and that’s why I’m really excited about this film, because I love this challenge.

“But I just want to know what comes after,” he concluded. “I want to know what tomorrow looks like.”

The singer has been hinting at the name retirement for some time.

Read more: https://hiphopdx.com/news/the-weeknd-why-retire-stage-name

 

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Eminem Says He’s Open to Doing Joint Album With 50 Cent

Listen to Eminem Talk About Possibly Doing a Joint Album With 50 Cent

50 Cent has responded to Eminem saying he’d be down to do a joint album with Fif, and it sounds like the Queens, N.Y. rapper wants to work on the project.

Source: XXLMag

“Looks like I’ll be back in the booth after all!” 50 captioned a screenshot of the news on Instagram. “Just gotta do this residency in Vegas first.”

Eminem Talks Possibility of 50 Cent Joint Album

On Wednesday (Dec. 25), Eminem appeared on DJ Whoo Kid’s Whoo’s House Podcast to celebrate 20 years of Em’s Shade 45 Sirius hip-hop station. During the chat, which can be heard below, Whoo Kid asks Slim Shady about the possibility of fans getting an Em and 50 collab album.

“That would be great,” Em responds around the 21:30 timestamp of the interview below. “I think that we gotta stop bullsh*tting and just do it…I would never say it’s not possible.”

Listen to Eminem Talk About Possibly Doing a Joint Album With 50 Cent

It’s been nine years since 50 Cent released his last project, the mixtape The Kanan Tape, and 10 years since he released his most recent album, Animal Ambition, in 2014. In the last decade, 50 has mostly been focusing on building his film and TV empire, which has included the fan-favorite series Power and BMF. He has, however, been outside on the massive The Final Lap Tour in 2023.

Back in September, 50 Cent revealed that he previously proposed a massive world tour to Em that would have featured them and Dr. Dre, which the Detroit rapper turned down for sentimental reasons.

“He said, ‘I just don’t want to go and come back and Hailie’s grown,'” 50 explained in an interview on CBS’ Saturday Morning. “I did not know what he meant when he said that to me. I thought he was crazy because I was like, he just don’t want to go. ’Cause I was trying to convince him to go on the tour at that point,” 50 Cent added. “And then, I was at Hailie’s wedding. She got married and I’m like, this is what he’s talking about. The time went so fast that we watched her get married.”

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Lil Wayne Reveals He Spoke To Kendrick Lamar, Addresses Rumored Super Bowl Appearance

Lil Wayne Reveals He Spoke To Kendrick Lamar, Addresses Rumored Super Bowl Appearance

Lil Wayne is opening up about a recent conversation with Kendrick Lamar about the upcoming 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show and his reaction to K. Dot referencing him on “wacced out murals.”

Source: AllHipHop

During a new interview with Skip Bayless aired Monday evening (December 16), the New Orleans native revealed he shared some words of encouragement with Lamar and said the pair are “cool.”

While Lil Wayne admitted he isn’t over it yet, he has embraced the decision and moved on.

“I wanna get to the point where I’m undeniable,” Wayne explained. “I want them to walk in there and have 10 other choices and whoever’s in charge says ‘No, you have to go with him.’”

Lil Wayne also revealed he hadn’t heard Kendrick Lamar’s “wacced out murals.”

The Young Money founder previously reacted to the track hours after Lamar’s GNX dropped.

“Man wtf I do?!” he tweeted. “Let this giant sleep. I beg u all. No one really wants destruction, not even me but I shall destroy if disturbed. On me. Love.”

On the track, Dot raps, “I used to bump Tha Carter III, I held my Rollie chain proud/Irony, I think my hard work let Lil Wayne down.”

“I think he’s a fan, like I’m a fan of his music,” Wayne stated, adding, “He saw with everybody else. He saw how much it meant to me, I think that’s all he means.”

He also said Lamar never “let me down,” acknowledging it wasn’t the Compton MC’s decision.

Wayne continued: “There was no explanation that was needed for that. I think I understand. His hard work is the reason why he made it there, and obviously that part about letting me down is me just being upset and disappointed about not getting the spot.”

Nonetheless, Lil Wayne says he and Lamar have spoken about the Super Bowl, adding, “I wished him all the best and told him he better kill it.”

While there were rumors of a surprise appearance at the Halftime Show, Lil Wayne squashed any speculation. “I’m not gonna even be in the country,” he said.

Read more: https://allhiphop.com/news/lil-wayne-kendrick-lamar-spoke-rumored-super-bowl-appearance/