Tag: rick ross

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LL COOL J Announces Release of 14th Studio Album ‘The FORCE’

LL COOL J Announces Release of 14th Studio Album ‘The FORCE’

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and two-time Grammy® Award-winning Hip-Hop icon, LL COOL J, has announced his 14th studio album, The FORCE (Frequencies of Real Creative Energy).

Source: TheSource

Set for release on September 6th via Def Jam Recordings / Virgin Music Group, the highly anticipated 14-track album features an impressive lineup of guest artists, including Nas, Eminem, Rick Ross, Fat Joe, Busta Rhymes, Saweetie, Snoop Dogg, Don Pablito, J-S.A.N.D., Mad Squablz, and Sona Jobarteh.

The FORCE, LL’s first new album in over a decade, is a powerful testament to his enduring influence in the music industry. Produced entirely by Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest, the album showcases LL’s renewed vigor and lyrical prowess. The Queens emcee describes the creation process as “learning how to rap again,” resulting in a record that is both contemporary and deeply rooted in Hip-Hop tradition.

“It’s like a director going back to film school after he’s had blockbusters,” LL says, or “Denzel going back to acting class.”

This album explores various themes, from racial injustice and law enforcement abuses to the effects of the pandemic, isolation, and LL’s legacy in the Hip-Hop canon. With sharp writing and dynamic vocals, “The The FORCE blends serious topical content and energetic, fun tracks, demonstrating LL COOL J’s continued relevance and creativity.

“We’re talking 14 tracks of straight fire, all crafted by myself and the one and only Q-Tip,” LL said. “When you listen to this album, you’re not just hearing music, you’re experiencing a whole new vibe, a whole new level of artistic passion.”

The FORCE is set to inspire and challenge the genre, offering a new direction for Hip-Hop while celebrating its rich history. Fans can look forward to a modern, thought-provoking album that reaffirms LL COOL J’s place as a Hip-Hop legend.

Previously, LL COOL J triumphantly returned to music with his new single “Saturday Night Special” featuring Rick Ross and Fat Joe. Released via Def Jam Recordings and Virgin Music Group, the track marks LL’s comeback after a decade-long hiatus.

The new single, produced by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Q-Tip, kicks off with an innovative sonic approach. LL COOL J, Rick Ross, and Fat Joe navigate the track with lyrical finesse, depicting life’s harsh realities, intricate dynamics, and the code of ethics governing it. Named after the revolver class “Saturday Night Special,” the song explores key players in the hustle, such as the “greedy killer” who reacts violently to disrespect and the “daredevil type” who seeks attention. Emphasizing self-preservation and strategic interaction, the song’s core message revolves around trust and reciprocity in the hustle.

The minimalist, black-and-white music video, directed by JakeTheShooter with creative direction from HiHat, brings the hustler anthem to life. Shot in Miami, Florida, the video features LL, Fat Joe, and Rick Ross performing together.

“‘Saturday Night Special’ is just the beginning,” LL said. “There’s a lot more where this came from, and I’m hype for y’all to hear this new record. We’re doing this for the fans and for Hip-Hop culture.”

You can see the tracklist below.

1. Spirit of Cyrus (Featuring Snoop Dogg)
2. The FORCE
3. Saturday Night Special (Featuring Rick Ross and Fat Joe)
4. Black Code Suite (Featuring Sona Jobarteh)
5. Passion
6. Proclivities (Featuring Saweetie)
7. Post Modern
8. 30 Decembers
9. Runnit Back
10. Huey In Da Chair (Featuring Busta Rhymes)
11. Basquiat Energy
12. Praise Him (Featuring Nas)
13. Murdergram Deux (Featuring Eminem)
14. The Vow (Featuring Mad Squablz, J-S.A.N.D., and Don Pablito)

Article: https://thesource.com/2024/07/13/ll-cool-j-announces-release-of-14th-studio-album-the-force/

 

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100 GREATEST DISS SONGS IN HIP HOP HISTORY: RANKED

100 GREATEST DISS SONGS IN HIP HOP HISTORY

Fresh off the conclusion of Hip Hop’s greatest battle, Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar, we proudly present our prized picks of many of Hip Hop’s finest moments in the spirit of competition.

Source: HipHopDX

100. Big Sean feat. Kendrick Lamar & Jay Electronica “Control” (2013)

99. The Game “Buddens” (2004)

98. Lil Kim “Black Friday” (2010)

97. Jaz “Ova” (2002)

96. 50 Cent “Be a Gentleman” (2000)

95. Cam’ron “You Gotta Love It” (2006)

94. Pastor Troy “No Mo Play in GA” (1999)

93. Jeezy “24, 23” (2009)

92. Rick Ross “Mafia Music” (2009)

91. Mobb Deep feat. Lil Kim “Quiet Storm (Remix)” (1999)

90. Drake “Charged Up” (2015)

89. Tragedy Khadafi “Blood Type” (1998)

88. Del The Funky Homosapien “Pissin’ On Your Steps” (1991)

87. Mack 10 feat. Ice Cube & WC “Westside Slaughterhouse” (1995)

86. DJ Pooh feat. Kam “Whoop Whoop” (1997)

85. Capone-N-Noreaga feat. Mobb Deep & Tragedy Khadafi “LA, LA” (1997)

84. 50 Cent feat. Tony Yayo “I Run New York” (2005)

83. Jadakiss & Styles P “Problem Child” (2005)

82. 50 Cent “Not Rich Still Lying” (2006)

81. Capone-N-Noreaga feat. Foxy Brown “Bang Bang” (2000)

80. Roxanne Shanté “Bite This” (1985)

79. Kool Moe Dee “How Ya Like Me Now” (1987)

78. Foolio “When I See You” (2021)

77. Spinabenz “Who I Smoke” (2021)

76. Young Dolph “Play Wit Yo’ Bitch” (2017)

75. Cam’ron “Curtis” (2007)

74. JAY-Z feat. Freeway, Geda K, Young Gunz & Memphis Bleek “I Get High (Freestyle)” (2002)

73. Jeru The Damaja “One Day” (1996)

72. Raekwon feat. Ghostface Killah “Shark N-ggas (Biters)” (1995)

71. Nas “Stillmatic (Freestyle)” (2001)

70. Lil B “T-Shirts & Buddens” (2010)

69. Joe Budden “Big Shot” (2004)

68. Prodigy “When You See Me” aka “Hail Mary (Freestyle)” (2001)

67. Tha Dogg Pound feat. Snoop Dogg & Jewell “What Would You Do” (1996)

66. Eminem feat. Dr. Dre “Say What You Say” (2002)

65. Machine Gun Kelly “Rap Devil” (2018)

64. Cam’ron “Dear Stan” (2004)

63. Beanie Sigel “Average Cat” (2009)

62. 50 Cent “Life’s On the Line” (1999)

61. Rick Ross “Champagne Moments” (2024)

60. Three Six Mafia “Live By Yo Rep” (1995)

59. U.N.L.V. “Drag ‘Em ‘N’ Tha River” (1996)

58. Tim Dog “Fuck Compton” (1991)

57. Kurupt “Callin Out Names” (1999)

56. Eminem feat. 50 Cent & Busta Rhymes “Hail Mary” (2003)

55. Ma$e “The Oracle” (2017)

54. Cam’ron & Jim Jones “Hate Me Now (Freestyle)” (2002)

53. Meek Mill “War Pain” (2016)

52. Pusha T “Infrared” (2018)

51. Drake “Duppy Freestyle” (2018)

50. J. Cole “False Prophets” (2016)

For the full list, visit https://hiphopdx.com/news/greatest-diss-songs-hip-hop-history

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The Most Disrespectful Hip-Hop Song and Mixtape Cover Art Ever

The Most Disrespectful Hip-Hop Song and Mixtape Cover Art Ever Read More: The Most Disrespectful Hip-Hop Song and Mixtape Cover Art Ever

If a picture is worth 1,000 words then well-constructed diss track cover art has to be worth at least 1 million laughs. With the track comes the opportunity to double-tap an opponent by doubling down with the cover art.

Source: XXLMag

In years past, several rappers have used mixtape and song covers to additionally besmirch a foe. In 1993, Eazy-E released the EP It’s On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa. The alternate cover for the offering features a Dr. Dre obituary. In the early 2000s, G-Unit released dozens of mixtapes and used cover art to clown their enemies on multiple occasions. One of the most notable is the artwork for G-Unit Radio Part 21: Hate It or Love It, on which they plastered a pic of The Game wearing a thong on the cover.

Recently, rappers’ diss track artwork game has gotten even more creative. In April of 2024, Rick Ross released his Drake diss song, “Champagne Moments.” On the track, Rozay attacks Drake’s mixed race by continuously calling him a White boy. The Miami rapper doubled down with the artwork for the song, using a photo of a White man who resembles The Boy.

Drake’s “Push Ups” diss song aimed at Kendrick Lamar, Rick Ross, Metro Boomin, Future and The Weeknd was also released in April of 2024. On the track, Drizzy jokes about K-Dot’s shoe size. For the cover art, Drake simply used a tag for a size 7 shoe. Chris Brown and Quavo’s raging beef the same month featured multiple diss tracks. Both artists upped the ante by also dissing each other on their songs’ covers.

Which artwork is the most disrespectful?

Rick Ross Champagne Moments

Rick Ross, “Champagne Moments”
Directed at Drake

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Chris Brown, “Weakest Link”
Directed at Quavo

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Quavo, “Over Hoes and B***hes”
Directed at Chris Brown

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G-Unit, Hate it or Love It
Directed at The Game

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Remy Ma, “Shether”
Directed at Nicki Minaj

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Cassidy, “Raid”
Directed at Meek Mill

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See more artwork at https://www.xxlmag.com/most-disrespectful-hip-hop-song-mixtape-cover-art/

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20 of the Biggest Lies Caught in Rappers’ Lyrics

20 of the Biggest Lies Caught in Rappers’ Lyrics

20 of the Biggest Lies Caught in Rappers’ Lyrics

See the Biggest Lies Caught in Rappers’ Lyrics

Source: XXLMag

Two truths and a lie might be a game, but it apparently applies to rap lyrics as well. A number of rappers, far and wide, have dropped lines on their songs that toted the embellishment line while others were blatant mistruths. Fans may have caught these fibs and offered a mere chuckle to, while others could’ve possibly gone under the radar. Either way, whether the bars strengthened the record, added some sort of comedic element or became a topic of conversation among fans, the fact remains that not all tracks are 100 percent factual.

Back in 2007, Jay-Z dropped “Hello Brooklyn 2.0” featuring Lil Wayne. On the first verse of the track, Jigga rhymes, “Hello Brooklyn, if we had a daughter/Guess what I’ma call her, Brooklyn Carter.” Five years later, Jay and Beyoncé welcomed their first daughter, whom they named Blue Ivy. In 2017, Hov and Bey then welcomed twins, a girl and a boy, named Rumi and Sir. Neither of the power couple’s daughters were named after Jay-Z’s hometown.

On Rick Ross’ 2015 song “Sorry” featuring Chris Brown, Rozay has a line, in which he says, “We at the crib, she got her legs wrapped around my waist.” For obvious reasons, the line isn’t true, and in fact, was highlighted on X, formerly known as Twitter, back in 2019.

Then there’s numerous Drake lyrics where he’s pointing out his father’s absence in his life. On “0 to 100,” the 6 God says, “I was ready… f**k that, I’ve been ready/Since my dad used to tell me/He was comin’ to the house to get me/He ain’t show up/Valuable lesson, man, I had to grow up/That’s why I never ask for help.”

However, despite this being Drake’s account of his childhood, his father, Dennis Graham, did an interview on Nick Cannon’s Close Conversations show on Power 106 in 2019, and explained that he was a present father. He added that his rapper son rhymes about that particular topic because “it sells records.”

These are just a few examples of rappers’ lyirics that contain falsehoods, but there’s plenty of others. Take a look at the biggest lies in rappers’ lyrics below.

Drake
Song: “Look What You’ve Done”
Year: 2011

Lyrics: “And my father living in Memphis now, he can’t come this way/Over some minor charges and child support/That just wasn’t paid, damn/Boo-hoo, sad story, Black American dad story.”

Why the Lyrics Are a Lie: Drake’s lyrics about his father’s absence in his life was brought into question when his dad, Dennis Graham, did an interview on Nick Cannon’s Close Conversations show on Power 106 radio station in 2019. Dennis debunked claims that he was a deadbeat parent.

Graham told Cannon, “I have always been with Drake. I said, ‘Drake why are you saying all of this different stuff about me, man? This is not cool.’ And he goes ‘Dad, it sells records.'”

To this, Drake replied on his Instagram Story and said, “Woke up today so hurt man. My father will say anything to anyone that’s willing to listen to him. It’s sad when family gets like this but what can we really do that’s the people we are stuck with … every bar I ever spit was the truth and the truth is hard for some people to accept.”

Future
Song: “56 Nights”
Year: 2015

Lyrics: “I took 56 bars all in one month, n***a, and I’m still drankin’/I could still see the scar on a n***a hand, man this s**t real crazy/I been taking these mollies, still nodding off ’cause a n***a too faded”

Why the Lyrics Are a Lie: While Future has made countless references to using recreational drugs in songs throughout his career, he admitted in a 2016 interview with Clique TV that he’s not as much into narcotics as his lyrics may lead fans to believe.

“I’m not super drugged-out or a drug addict,” Future explained. “My music may portray a certain kind of image. I don’t do it for you to have to live that type of life.”

Rick Ross
Song: “Sorry” featuring Chris Brown
Year: 2015

Lyrics: “We at the crib, she got her legs wrapped around my waist”—Rick Ross

Why the Lyrics Are a Lie: Even though Rick Ross is looking much slimmer these days, it’s not likely that his stature allowed for anyone’s legs to be wrapped around his waist at the time these lyrics were recorded. In fact, this particular line saw the Miami rhymer going viral in 2015. Many social media users took it upon themselves to declare the lyrics a complete lie.

Read Full Article Here: 20 of the Biggest Lies Caught in Rappers’ Lyrics – XXL | https://www.xxlmag.com/rappers-lyrics-lies/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral

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Nick Cannon Releases ‘Raw & B’ Mixtape Featuring Rick Ross, Chris Brown & More

Source: AllHipHop

The self-described Mr. N’Credible is back with a new project.

The 41-year-old San Diego native recruited several big names for Raw & B. The project features Rick Ross, Chris Brown, Brandy, Ty Dolla $ign, K. Michelle, 42 Dugg, Jacquees, Hitman Holla, and more.

“This is the gospel of my broken soul,” says Cannon about Raw & B. “This is as real as it gets.”

Previously, Nick Cannon dropped his self-titled album in 2003. That LP hosted the Top 40 hit “Gigolo” featuring R. Kelly. White People Party Music arrived in 2014.

In addition to being a recording artist, Cannon is also a television star. He hosts the singing competition show The Masked Singer as well as the improv game show Wild ‘n Out.

His TV experience also includes stints on programs like All That and Real Husbands of Hollywood. As an actor, Nick Cannon starred in films such as Drumline, Love Don’t Cost a Thing, Roll Bounce, and Chi-Raq.

For more information, visit:

https://allhiphop.com/news/nick-cannon-releases-raw-b-mixtape-featuring-rick-ross-chris-brown-more/