- THE DIGITAL DEN
- Posts
- THE DIGITAL DEN #11
THE DIGITAL DEN #11
🎤 Welcome to The Digital Den - Your Weekly Hip-Hop Herald 🎤
M.Matrix
June 19, 2024
In a controversial move, Diddy has returned the keys to New York City to the Mayor's office. This comes after a video surfaced of Diddy assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Cassie, in a hotel hallway.
The Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, suggested that he would revoke Diddy's key to the city, and it seems that Diddy has complied. The mayor's office confirmed that Diddy returned the key after receiving letters asking for its return.
This gesture signifies that the city no longer believes Diddy is worthy of the honor. Diddy's career has been plagued with accusations of sexual abuse and he is currently under investigation for federal criminal sex-trafficking.
Additionally, Howard University has also rescinded the honorary degree they awarded Diddy in 2014 and ended the scholarship program under his name. It remains to be seen how Diddy will bounce back from these controversies.
Rappers love to spend money, and they have made some extravagant purchases over the years. From Jay-Z and Beyoncé buying a mansion in California to Drake spending $100 million on a theme park, these rap stars know how to live in luxury.
However, not all of these purchases have turned out to be smart investments. Lil Uzi Vert famously spent a significant amount of money to implant a pink diamond in his forehead, only to have it ripped out during a stage dive.
Despite the hit or miss nature of these purchases, there is no denying that rappers are willing to spend big to get what they want. Whether it's cars, houses, jewelry, or beyond, these rappers spare no expense when it comes to their desires.
Hip hop music has often been used as a means of promoting diversity and inclusivity, tackling social issues and providing a platform for marginalized communities. REVOLT has compiled a list of 13 rap songs that highlight this aspect of the genre.
One example is Lil Baby's "The Bigger Picture," which addresses systemic racism and advocates for unity and empowerment within the African American community. Another notable track is Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' "Same Love," which focuses on LGBTQIA+ rights and marriage equality.
These songs, along with others on the list, aim to foster awareness, empathy, and a more inclusive society. Hip hop continues to serve as a conduit for important discussions surrounding diversity and inclusion.
The article "15 Best Hiphop Singers of All Time" explores the top hip-hop singers of all time, celebrating their unique styles and impact on the genre. The article highlights artists like Nas, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and Andre 3000, praising their lyrical prowess and ability to push boundaries.
It also mentions their commercial success and critical acclaim, solidifying their place in hip-hop history. While the article acknowledges their contributions to hip-hop culture, it does so in a controversial tone, seemingly provoking the reader to debate and challenge the choices made.
Overall, the article sets out to generate controversy and discussion by presenting a list of top hip-hop singers that may be seen as controversial or debatable by different readers.
LL Cool J has released his first single in 11 years, titled "Saturday Night Special," featuring Rick Ross and Fat Joe. Produced by Q-Tip, the song is part of LL Cool J's upcoming album, The Force.
Speaking about the project, LL Cool J explained that he focused on enhancing his rap skills and learning how to write better songs. LL Cool J's last solo project was released in 2013 and debuted at number 23 on the Billboard 200.
He founded Rock the Bells, a media platform dedicated to classic hip-hop. LL Cool J had previously collaborated with Q-Tip and expressed his excitement about the album, stating that it was executive produced by Q-Tip and would be something new and special.
Although the album's release was postponed, the release of "Saturday Night Special" indicates that the album's release is imminent.
LSU women's basketball star and rapper Flau'jae Johnson is nearing a significant streaming milestone, with her first song on Spotify approaching 1 million streams. Despite her achievements, Johnson has faced adversity in her personal life, including the death of her influential rapper father before her birth.
However, she has remained focused on pursuing both her basketball and musical careers. Johnson gained national attention when she appeared on "America's Got Talent" at age 14 and has since used her basketball success to promote her music.
Despite facing criticism and adversity, Johnson remains positive and true to her values. While her basketball career at LSU is expected to flourish in the upcoming season, her rap career may soon reach new heights with her increasing popularity on Spotify.
In a controversial move, rapper Bay Swag has accepted the torch passed to him by Method Man at Summer Jam. Bay Swag, known for his hit song "Fisherrr" with Cash Cobain, has taken over the stage from the older generation of fans and is determined to keep the torch blazing with his crew, the Slizzy Crew.
Method Man, a rap OG, recognized the talent of the new generation and is happy to see them shine. Bay Swag also agrees with Cam'ron's recent comments about exterminating rats in NYC.
In addition to his Summer Jam success, Bay Swag and Cash are set to release their first joint album later this year. It seems like Bay Swag is on the rise, and the controversy surrounding his acceptance of the torch adds to the buzz around his music.
"It Takes Two" by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock is hailed as one of the defining songs of hip-hop's golden age, but its success is controversial. The duo behind the hit never intended for it to become a massive hit, but rather a neighborhood party record.
However, it unexpectedly blew up around the world, changing the course of hip-hop history. The song's raw rap anthem style shocked the music industry, as it broke into the US Top 40 without any compromise or crossover appeal.
Despite its impact, "It Takes Two" is still seen as a dance-floor favorite that continues to light up weddings and parties. The song's use of sampling, particularly the James Brown sample from "Think (About It)," also sparked a debate about the ethics and creativity of sampling in music.
In conclusion, "It Takes Two" is a controversial yet undeniably influential song that forever left its mark on hip-hop.
Roddy Ricch has confirmed that he will be performing at Kendrick Lamar's upcoming show, adding fuel to the rumors that they will collaborate on Kendrick's new album. The concert, titled "Pop Out," will feature three sets, with Roddy Ricch performing during either DJ Mustard's or Kendrick Lamar's set.
Fans are already buzzing with excitement about this potential collaboration and are eagerly anticipating the show. It will be streamed on Amazon Music Live, allowing fans around the world to watch the performance.
While details about the collaboration and the songs they will perform remain unknown, fans can expect an incredible show from these two talented artists. Stay tuned for more updates and news about their upcoming projects.
Yasiin Bey, formerly known as Mos Def, paid tribute to the late rapper MF DOOM at a concert in Sydney's Vivid festival. MF DOOM is known for his critically acclaimed albums, particularly "Madvillainy," which is considered one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time.
Although DOOM's popularity increased after his death, he was able to bridge the gap between underground and mainstream hip-hop, maintaining his lyrical and conceptual style. Yasiin Bey, who had a similar rise to fame in the late nineties, also expressed admiration for DOOM and his artistry.
The concert featured songs from DOOM's discography, with Bey adding his own flair and interpretations. Overall, the tribute was a memorable and fortunate opportunity for fans to witness two greats of hip-hop come together.
The rap world is full of rappers with unique and intriguing stage names, each with their own story and meaning behind them. Lil Uzi Vert, for example, chose his name because a friend said his rapid rap style was like a machine gun.
Childish Gambino came up with his stage name using a Wu-Tang Clan name generator. Lil Dicky, on the other hand, got his name from a real medical issue involving his genitals.
These are just a few examples of the creativity and originality that goes into crafting a memorable persona in the hip hop world. Whether they reflect personal stories, cultural references, or sheer randomness, these stage names add another layer of intrigue to the rap industry.
DJ Mustard has revealed that it took him only 30 minutes to make Kendrick Lamar's hit song "Not Like Us." The beat has been hailed as one of the best of the year and played a major role in Kendrick Lamar's beef against Drake.
Despite its success, Mustard insists that he did not sample "Ether" and had no idea what Kendrick would do with the beat. He also commented on his mindset while making the beat, saying he wanted to capture how Dr.
Dre would collaborate with Lil Jon. Mustard was impressed with Kendrick's performance on the beat, stating that it could potentially be the greatest verses ever laid on a Mustard beat.
Overall, the quick creation of the beat demonstrates that genius doesn't always require years of work.
In a recent leak, an unreleased LL Cool J and Eminem song titled "Murdergram" has surfaced online. Fans are doubtful if they will ever see an official release of the track, despite LL Cool J's upcoming album scheduled to release this fall.
Eminem has been vocal about music leaks and piracy, expressing how it directly hurts him. Fans have been urged not to listen to the leaked song, believing it won't have the same impact as an official release.
The leaked track is speculated to be part of LL Cool J's first full-length album in 11 years, THE FORCE, which may be executive produced by Q-Tip. The leaked snippet of the song was reportedly uploaded on June 11, with claims that it was recorded in 2022.
The controversy lies in whether fans should listen to the leak or wait for an official release.
In a shocking case that rocked the music industry, an 18-year-old man has admitted to fatally shooting rapper Pop Smoke in his Hollywood Hills home back in 2020. The man, who was 15 at the time of the crime, admitted to a juvenile court petition charging him with first-degree murder, home-invasion robbery, and discharging a firearm.
The juvenile court judge expressed his outrage at the senseless killing, stating that the defendant had no right to take someone's life or property. Three other individuals have also been charged in connection with Pop Smoke's death.
This admission follows a guilty plea from another man back in April. Pop Smoke was an up-and-coming rap star known for his collaborations with well-known artists.
The incident occurred when a group of individuals broke into the rapper's rented home and confronted him, leading to his tragic and untimely death.
In a recent episode of his podcast, Cam'ron made a controversial claim that Jay-Z doesn't love hip-hop as much as people think he does. According to Cam'ron, Jay-Z loves money more and is more focused on taking his brand to the next level.
The rapper pointed to Jay-Z's absence from the Hip Hop 50 concerts in 2023 as evidence of his indifference towards the genre. Cam'ron appreciated Jay-Z's business acumen and suggested that he may have performed at Tom Brady's induction ceremony for a favor in return.
While Antonio Brown criticized Jay-Z for choosing the ceremony over a concert for fans, Cam'ron took a more level-headed approach and acknowledged the commercial appeal of Jay-Z's efforts to bring hip-hop to halftime at the Super Bowl.
