Billboard Names Top 10 Greatest Rappers Of All Time
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Billboard Names Top 10 Greatest Rappers Of All Time

Chad Mauli

Who is the best rapper of all time? As hip-hop celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, Billboard and Vibe are counting down the greatest MCs to ever grace the mic. Over the past month, the magazine has been rolling out its list of the Top 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time before revealing the final top 10. The editorial staff determined the rankings based on the following criteria: body of work/achievements (charted singles/albums, gold/platinum certifications), cultural impact/influence (how the artist’s work fostered the genre’s evolution), longevity (years at the mic),…

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Future Says He's Back In 'Album Mode'
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Future Says He’s Back In ‘Album Mode’

Chad Mauli

Future is back in “album mode.” Fresh off his win at Sunday’s Grammys, the Atlanta rapper revealed that he is back in the studio and working on new music. He shared the big news with his 7.6 million Twitter followers on Tuesday, writing, “Im in album mode.” Prior to that, he also hinted at his big plans for the year. “Moving different all 2023.” https://twitter.com/1future/status/1623195877522264065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1623195877522264065%7Ctwgr%5Ee5c48b5b667f976846c4129dfc54f0a470b3ecfb%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rap-up.com%2F2023%2F02%2F08%2Ffuture-back-in-album-mode%2F https://twitter.com/1future/status/1623195079694327808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1623195079694327808%7Ctwgr%5Ee5c48b5b667f976846c4129dfc54f0a470b3ecfb%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rap-up.com%2F2023%2F02%2F08%2Ffuture-back-in-album-mode%2F The announcement comes just 10 months after Future released his chart-topping album I Never Liked You, which became his eighth No. 1 on the…

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Halle Bailey And DDG Spark Breakup Rumors
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Halle Bailey And DDG Spark Breakup Rumors

Chad Mauli

There may be trouble in paradise for Halle Bailey and DDG. The couple has social media buzzing over rumors of a breakup. It all started after fans noticed that DDG unfollowed his girlfriend on Instagram and removed photos of her from his page. He also posted and deleted a cryptic tweet that some believe was about Halle. “all these girls the same ain’t no way,” he wrote, leading some fans to speculate that she cheated on him. https://www.instagram.com/p/CoYE6LdyF-M/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=e89c4f56-3e2f-4e8f-96ce-82622453f732 After the breakup report surfaced, DDG refollowed Halle. As for Halle, she…

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Michael Jackson Estate Nearing $800-$900 Million Catalog Sale
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Michael Jackson Estate Nearing $800-$900 Million Catalog Sale

Chad Mauli

The King of Pop’s catalog could fetch close to a billion dollars. Michael Jackson’s estate is reportedly nearing a deal to sell half of the ownership stake in the legendary singer’s catalog in a blockbuster deal worth between $800 million and $900 million. According to Variety, Jackson’s label Sony and a possible financial partner are looking to acquire 50% of the estate’s interests in his publishing, recorded-music revenues, Broadway show, and upcoming Michael biopic, among other assets. Sources tell TMZ that the estate will never sell Jackson’s catalog outright, but…

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Grammys Celebrate 50 Years Of Hip-Hop With Epic Tribute
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Grammys Celebrate 50 Years Of Hip-Hop With Epic Tribute

Chad Mauli

Hip-hop hooray. Hip-hop turned 50 and received a star-studded salute at the 65th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday. Backed by The Roots, 33 rappers—from Grandmaster Flash to GloRilla—took the stage at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles to celebrate the milestone. The 10-minute retrospective kicked off with an introduction from LL Cool J and Black Thought before Grandmaster Flash performed “The Message.” Run-DMC brought it back with “King of Rock,” followed by Salt-N-Pepa and DJ Spinderella with “R U Ready.” The legendary lineup continued with Rakim, Public Enemy, Scarface, Ice-T,…

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Quavo Performs Emotional Tribute To Takeoff At Grammys
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Quavo Performs Emotional Tribute To Takeoff At Grammys

Chad Mauli

Long live Takeoff. Three months since Takeoff’s tragic death, Quavo returned to the stage for an emotional tribute at the 65th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday. As a photo of him and Takeoff showed on the screen, Quavo performed “Without You” with Maverick City Music as part of the In Memoriam segment. Sitting on a stool with Takeoff’s chain hanging on the mic stand next to him, Quavo delivered a stirring set while the screen displayed photos of Takeoff and other artists who have passed away over the last year.…

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Beyoncé Drops Surprise 'Cuff It' Remix
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Beyoncé Drops Surprise ‘Cuff It’ Remix

Chad Mauli

Beyoncé is in the mood to f**k something up. Ahead of the Grammys this weekend, Queen Bey drops a surprise remix to her hit “Cuff It,” which is available for purchase on her website. She takes the Renaissance track and gives it a seductive makeover, complete with a new beat, lyrics, and vocals. Over a sample of Twista’s 2009 track “Wetter,” which borrows from Janet Jackson’s “Any Time, Any Place,” Bey oozes sex as she takes it to the bedroom. “Baby, make it rain / Don’t let go till it…

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Juice WRLD Catalog Sold In Nine-Figure Deal
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Juice WRLD Catalog Sold In Nine-Figure Deal

Chad Mauli

Juice WRLD’s catalog is commanding some major cash. A majority stake in the late rapper’s rights and income streams was quietly sold to Opus Music Group in early 2022 in a nine-figure deal, according to Billboard. The deal reportedly includes “hundreds” of unreleased Juice WRLD tracks as well as his full released music catalog. His label partners, Grade A Productions and Interscope Records, will retain ownership of his master recordings. Opus, which is financially backed by investment management firm Elliott Management, now owns 90% of Juice WRLD’s interest in master…

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Doja Cat Says Her Next Album Will Have A 'More Masculine Direction'
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Doja Cat Says Her Next Album Will Have A ‘More Masculine Direction’

Chad Mauli

After conquering the world of pop, Doja Cat is trying something “more masculine.” As she gears up for the next era of her career, the Grammy-winning superstar opens up about her new sound. In an interview with Variety, Doja reveals that her next album won’t favor the pop stylings of her last project, 2021’s Planet Her. “I know that I’ve done a lot of pink and soft things, a lot of pop and glittery sounds,” she said, “but for this next era, I’m going in a more masculine direction.” As…

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NBA YoungBoy Is Becoming A Mormon
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NBA YoungBoy Is Becoming A Mormon

Chad Mauli

NBA YoungBoy is experiencing a rebirth. The 23-year-old rapper has been cooped up at his home in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he is currently on house arrest. He lives with his new wife Jazlyn Mychelle, whom he married at the beginning of 2023, and their two children, 17-month-old daughter Alice and his newborn son, Klemenza. In a new interview with Billboard, the reclusive star opens up about his personal life and reveals that he plans to be officially baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ the Latter-day Saints after…

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Chicago Prosecutor Drops Pending Sex Abuse Charges Against R. Kelly
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Chicago Prosecutor Drops Pending Sex Abuse Charges Against R. Kelly

Chad Mauli

Chicago prosecutors will no longer pursue the pending sexual assault cases against R. Kelly. Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx announced Monday that her office will move to drop the 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse at a hearing on Tuesday, citing the disgraced singer’s previous convictions, high cost of prosecution, and limited resources. According to WGN-TV, the decision to drop the charges was prompted by the 30-year prison sentence that Kelly is currently serving after being found guilty in his federal sex trafficking case in New York. He…

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Coi Leray Shades Latto Following 'Blick Blick' Leak
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Coi Leray Shades Latto Following ‘Blick Blick’ Leak

Chad Mauli

Coi Leray is popping up on her opps. Amid the success of “Players,” the rapper opened up about a leaked demo of her Nicki Minaj-assisted single “Blick Blick.” Back in November, a version with Latto surfaced online, drawing questions over who wrote the song. In an interview with Billboard, Coi claims she “had no clue” that Latto had also cut the record, which sounds similar to her version. “I heard Latto’s version and the verses sound different but the hook was there,” she said. “A lot of great music hooks…

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Bhad Bhabie Involved In Car Accident: 'I'm Beyond Devastated'
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Bhad Bhabie Involved In Car Accident: ‘I’m Beyond Devastated’

Chad Mauli

Bhad Bhabie is thankful to be alive after getting into her first car accident. The “Gucci Flip Flops” rapper was driving with her friend Tilan when they hit a divider head on. In an Instagram Story, she shared photos of her “totaled” Bentley, which sustained damage to the front and passenger side, and said that Tilan could have died if it wasn’t for the car’s weight. “I’m beyond devastated… my first car totaled and over with,” said the OnlyFans star. “If the car wasn’t so heavy tilan would probably b…

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Kanye West Suspect In Battery Investigation After Throwing Woman's Phone
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Kanye West Suspect In Battery Investigation After Throwing Woman’s Phone

Chad Mauli

Kanye West has been named a suspect in a battery investigation following a heated exchange with a woman who refused to stop filming him. In a video circulating online, Ye was seen leaving a sports complex where his children had a basketball game on Friday when he noticed that he was being recorded. He got out of his car at an intersection and confronted the woman. “If I wanna go see my son at a game, y’all ain’t gonna run up on me like that,” he told her. “Stop with…

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Lil Yachty Returns With New Album 'Let's Start Here'
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Lil Yachty Returns With New Album ‘Let’s Start Here’

Chad Mauli

Lil Boat is back. After taking the internet by storm with “Poland,” Lil Yachty keeps the momentum going with his first album in nearly three years, Let’s Start Here. The trippy 14-track set is a departure from his rap-heavy projects of the past, with appearances from Daniel Caesar, Justine Skye, Fousheé, and Diana Gordon. Surprisingly, “Poland” is not included on the tracklist. The viral sensation reached No. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October and received co-signs from Drake and Wiz Khalifa. “My new album is a non-rap album,”…

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Rae Sremmurd Drops New Single 'Sucka Or Sum'
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Rae Sremmurd Drops New Single ‘Sucka Or Sum’

Chad Mauli

The countdown is on to SremmLife 4. As they gear up for a new album this year, Rae Sremmurd keeps the music coming with their first drop of 2023. On “Sucka Or Sum,” produced by Jaxx, Slim Jxmmi and Swae Lee get back in their melodic bag. “How you gon’ try to play me like a sucka or somethin’? / How you gon’ try to play me when I’m knowin’ what’s up? / Feel like I’m 6’5″ ’cause the money is up,” sings Swae. https://twitter.com/MikeWiLLMadeIt/status/1618727182867767308?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1618727182867767308%7Ctwgr%5E59f2fd37a6cc819f529a5c6fbc1d237f186b958c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rap-up.com%2F2023%2F01%2F26%2Frae-sremmurd-sucka-or-sum%2F “Sucka Or Sum” is the…

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50 Cent Shuts Down Claim That JAY-Z's Impact Is Bigger Than Eminem
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50 Cent Shuts Down Claim That JAY-Z’s Impact Is Bigger Than Eminem

Chad Mauli

50 Cent is once again showing his loyalty to Eminem. The hip-hop mogul came to the defense of his mentor after former NBA player Jamal Crawford claimed that JAY-Z has had a greater impact on hip-hop than the Detroit rapper. During his appearance on Shaquille O’Neal’s “The Big Podcast,” Crawford brought up Hov and Em while discussing his favorite basketball players. “JAY-Z’s effect on hip-hop is bigger than any album sales that Eminem will have. That’s just how it goes,” Crawford told Shaq, who responded, “That’s a good point.” https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cnp_4Noqz_y/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=7c18eaa0-e5d9-4dcc-a519-c7b799c804e8…

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Ella Mai Announces 'Heart On My Sleeve' Tour
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Ella Mai Announces ‘Heart On My Sleeve’ Tour

Chad Mauli

Ella Mai is hitting the road this spring. The R&B singer has announced dates for her “Heart on My Sleeve” tour. The 34-date trek kicks off March 31 in Wallingford, Conn. and travels across North America, with stops in New York, Atlanta, Miami, and Los Angeles, wrapping June 1 in Toronto. The tour comes in support of her latest album Heart on My Sleeve, which was released in May. A deluxe edition is set for release on Feb. 2. https://twitter.com/ellamai/status/1617993216363724802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1617993216363724802%7Ctwgr%5E911458b6a3d007ba4aea80f76f80225609fb059d%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rap-up.com%2F2023%2F01%2F24%2Fella-mai-heart-on-my-sleeve-tour-dates%2F “The deluxe tracks are some of my favorite songs currently…

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Beyoncé Performs 'Brown Skin Girl' With Blue Ivy At Dubai Concert
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Beyoncé Performs ‘Brown Skin Girl’ With Blue Ivy At Dubai Concert

Chad Mauli

All hail the queen. Over four years since her last live show, Beyoncé reemerged during a private concert in Dubai on Saturday night as part of the opening of the luxury hotel Atlantis the Royal. She didn’t perform anything from her latest album Renaissance, instead delivering a 75-minute set full of songs that she hasn’t performed in a while. Backed by an orchestra, band, and dancers, she opened with her rendition of Etta James’ “At Last” before treating the invite-only crowd to favorites like “XO,” “Halo,” “Freedom,” “Beautiful Liar,” “Flaws…

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Drake Hints At New Album During Apollo Show
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Drake Hints At New Album During Apollo Show

Chad Mauli

Live from the Apollo, it’s Drake. After delaying the shows twice, the rapper made his triumphant return to the stage for his first performance in years at the famed Apollo Theater in Harlem for SiriusXM on Saturday night, with special guests including 21 Savage and the Diplomats. He took fans on a trip down memory lane, performing a 40-song set of his biggest hits and deep cuts that spanned his legendary career. As Variety reports, he kicked off the 90-minute show in a replica of his childhood bedroom in his…

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