Sty-Low’s emergence as a rising talent in the Canadian music scene is marked by his versatility as a rapper, singer, and producer. Hailing from Toronto, Sty-Low developed a signature sound he calls “Whisper Roar,” characterized by a low-toned yet energetic delivery. With a unique blend of hip-hop and R&B influences, Sty-Low has set himself apart and positioned himself as a refreshing force within the industry. Sty-Low’s commitment to authenticity is evident in his music and is perfectly displayed with his latest release, “Kaptav8’n.” The self-produced record has since amassed over 100k views on YouTube. The official video, directed by @BrownGuyMadeIT and @afilmbytk adds an additional layer to the already “captivating” track.Beyond mere entertainment, Sty-Low’s music serves as a vehicle for self-discovery. His art has the power to evoke emotions, foster connections, and inspire change. With a passion for his craft and a commitment to pushing his creative boundaries, Sty-Low is not just making music for the moment but aiming to leave a lasting impact.
So get familiar if you aren’t already and check out “Kaptav8’n” on your preferred DSP and follow Sty-Low on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mister_d.o.p.e.
Two years ago, Kanye West tapped Jay-Z and DaBaby to add verses to his “Jail” track off the Donda album. Some listeners believe DaBaby actually outrapped Hip-Hop legend Jay-Z on the song.
For example, Lil Yachty picked DaBaby’s “Jail” bars over the Brooklyn-bred MC’s bars. The A Safe Place Podcast host spoke about the lyrical competition on his show in July.
“Something I’ve wanted to talk about for a long time is the song ‘Jail’ from Kanye West,” Lil Yachty said at the time. “In my personal opinion, I think DaBaby had a better verse.”
He also added, “I know the conversation of Jay-Z versus DaBaby is insane, but I honestly think his verse was better. I feel that’s gonna get me a lot of heat anyway. Maybe not as heated as the whole Biggie situation I dealt with in 2016.”
DaBaby has now spoken about the debate over Kanye West’s “Jail” collaboration. The North Carolina native appeared as a guest on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast.
“[Lil Yachty] said your verse on ‘Jail’ was better than Hov’s,” Shannon Sharpe told his guest on the November 15th episode of Club Shay Shay. The “Shake Sumn” rapper responded, “It was. You heard both of them?”
DaBaby continued, “Jay-Z, I ain’t got nothing but respect for you. Was your verse better than mine? Come on, OG. It wasn’t. That’s okay… We ain’t do it at the same time. It ain’t like you had the ability to be able to say, ‘Hold on, [let me do it over].’ We did it in two different times. But definitely.”
In addition, DaBaby went on to say the end goal of a collaboration is to make the best song possible. However, the Baby on Baby 2 album creator also admitted that the competitive nature of rap kicks in. He insisted that when a rapper is on a track with “the best” they have to “come with your best.”
It appears Lil Uzi Vert will not be part of the forthcoming Rolling Loud California festival in 2024. Organizers for the event announced Future and Metro Boomin as Uzi’s replacements.
Originally, Rolling Loud revealed Lil Uzi Vert as one of the three headlining acts for the live three-day music showcase. However, the “Just Wanna Rock” rhymer pushed back on being booked for the gig.
Yesterday (November 15), the official Rolling Loud X account sent out a tweet clarifying the lineup for the upcoming Inglewood, California edition of the event. A new poster shows Future and Metro Boomin as the headliners for Sunday, March 17.
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While Lil Uzi Vert has been removed from the flyer, music superstars Nicki Minaj and Post Malone remain at the top of the Rolling Loud California bill for Friday (March 15) and Saturday (March 16), respectively.
Rolling Loud California 2024 will also include performances by YG, Tyga, Rae Sremmurd, Sexyy Red, Summer Walker, Big Sean, Don Toliver, Chief Keef, NLE Choppa, and more.
Lil Uzi Vert kicked off their own The Pink Tape Tour in Minneapolis on October 21. The Atlantic/Generation Now recording artist has a show scheduled for Inglewood tonight (November 16) at the Kia Forum.
Metro Boomin had a successful year in 2023. The producer’s 2022 album, Heroes & Villains, spent 49 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart over the last eleven months. Metro has also been teasing a joint project with Future.
Surprisingly, one of the biggest beefs of 2023 involved streamer/podcaster DJ Akademiks and recording artist Saucy Santana. Lil Yachty has now shared his take on the unexpected feud.
The back and forth between DJ Akademiks and Saucy Santana revolved around Ak’s longstanding issues with Yung Miami of the City Girls. Once Santana jumped into the dispute, the jabs got really low. Both men also suggested a face-to-face confrontation.
At one point, Saucy Santana responded to DJ Akademiks calling him a “batty man” by threatening to sexually assault the controversial YouTuber. Ak then broke down during a livestream. He claimed to be afraid of getting “canceled” for verbally attacking the openly gay Santana.
Following Akademiks’s teary-eyed rebuttal, the court of public opinion seemed to sway toward Saucy Santana’s favor. Ak even tacitly admitted defeat in that round of the online bout with the “Material Gworrllllllll!” performer.
This week saw Lil Yachty publish his sitdown interview with DJ Akademiks for the A Safe Place podcast. The conversation featured Yachty discussing Ak’s days-long clash with Saucy Santana that went viral earlier this month.
“I really think he would really like beat you… He’s not a little guy,” Lil Yachty told Akademiks, referring to his rival Saucy Santana. Then Ak asked Yachty if he should actually fight the 30-year-old former makeup artist.
Yachty responded, “Why not? He’s still a man.” The Let’s Start Here album creator also said, “Why Not? Squaring up ’cause there’s beef is different than you running up and punching him because he’s gay.”
Akademiks replied, “No, me and him not getting into any type of squabbling… Come on, bro, it’s Saucy Santana. If there was any fear of me and that m###########, I’d put him down like a sick dog. We’ll just leave it at that.”
Memphis-raised rapper BlocBoy JB decided to deliver a personal public service announcement this week. The “Look Alive” hitmaker offered an explanation of why he chooses not to engage with Caucasians.
“The reason why I don’t talk to white people, like white females, because, one, they be already scared of a n####. Two, they be thinking a n#### gonna steal something,” BlocBoy JB said in a video posted to Instagram.
He continued, “And three, I don’t got no time to be getting criticized by nobody. Like b####, I got more money than you. What the f###? It’s like what the f### the n##### done did to these white people that got them so f##### in the head.”
BlocBoy JB went on to express other issues. The Bacc 2 Da Bloc mixtape creator also stated, “N##### say, ‘Hey, how you doing?’ And y’all walk past like a n#### ain’t said s###. That s###’s rude as hell, b####.”
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzooBbnxLn-/
Previously, BlocBoy JB issued a PSA in defense of Ja Morant. The NBA suspended the Memphis Grizzlies guard for flashing a firearm on Instagram Live. Morant faced widespread backlash for his actions.
“Guns are not illegal,” BlocBoy posted on Instagram in May. “If he turnt in his car [with] his gun [that’s] in his name, in his yard, and somebody recorded him, [that] ain’t on him. Free Ja.”
BlocBoy JB scored a Top 5 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart when “Look Alive” featuring Drake made it to No. 5 in 2018. “Look Alive” lives on the Simi project which debuted at number 28 on the Billboard 200.
2023 has been a big year for women in Hip-Hop. Yung Miami and JT of the City Girls, Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion and Doja Cat were among the female rappers to continuously make headlines this year.
Cosmopolitan sat down with Yung Miami and JT for the outlet’s Cheap Shots show. Part of that interview included the City Girls being asked to name eight other women they have worked with during their career.
Miami listed Latto, Ciara, Lola Brooke, Chloe Bailey, Halle Bailey, Muni Long and Kim Petras. The Caresha Please podcast host then said, “That’s all… I don’t got no more. I think that’s all the female artists.”
Following Yung Miami’s incomplete response, someone behind the camera suggested Megan Thee Stallion and Doja Cat as other collaborators. Both City Girls reacted by laughing and moving on.
Some social media users questioned why neither City Girls member mentioned Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion or Doja Cat. The Miami-bred duo collaborated with Cardi on “Twerk.”
City Girls also appeared on “Pastor” and “Do It On The Tip” with Megan Thee Stallion. In addition, Miami and JT’s City on Lock album hosted the song “P#### Talk” featuring Doja Cat.
“We literally had 30 seconds to remember the [people] we collaborated with in the spur of the moment lol, it was [supposed] to be fun. Y’all [people] really make up ANYTHING S###!” Yung Miami tweeted in response to the online heat.
We literally had 30 seconds to remember the ppl we collaborated with in the spur of the moment lol it was suppose to be fun. Yall ppl really make up ANYTHING S###!
Despite insisting that he would take a break from music following his latest “For All The Dogs album, Drake has announced a surprise new album, Scary Hours 3.
In the early hours of Thursday morning (November 16), Drake teased his fans with a trailer on Instagram. The teaser video appears to announce the arrival of a new album, Scary Hours 3. The project drops in less than 24 hours.
In the narration, Drake addressed his comments about taking a break after For All The Dogs but said he doesn’t need to disappear for the sake of mystery.
“I feel no need to appease anybody,” he stated. “I feel so confident about the body of work that I just dropped.”
He also pointed out that he could “disappear for six months, a year, two years,” if he wanted to but said, “I’m not super into the lengthy disappearances.”
Furthermore, the OVO founder revealed that he’s in a zone with his music he hasn’t experienced since recording If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late. Because of this, Drake claims all the Scary Hours 3 songs were written “in the last five days.” According to Drizzy, he did “not have one bar written” when he released For All the Dogs.
“I feel like I’m on drugs,” he said before adding, “I feel like I’m in that mental state without doing anything. It’s happening on its own. Who am I to fight it?” Watch the trailer below.
The Scary Hours 3 announcement came just hours after Drake and J. Cole dropped the video for their “First Person Shooter” collaboration. Check out the visuals below.
T.I. and Tiny are giving back to their community in a major way, opening their first affordable housing development in Atlanta earlier this week.
On Tuesday (November 14), the married couple cut the ribbon at a ceremony for their affordable housing complex in the heart of the city, per WSB-TV. T.I. and Tiny partnered with the non-profit organization Greenbriar Community Development Corporation on the project, called Intrada Westside.
“The arts and entertainment industry in this city has been able to collaborate and, I guess, be profitable enough to offer the community so many things that are much needed,” T.I. explained at the opening ceremony.
T.I. intially announced the project in October 2021, revealing they were nearly halfway through completing the construction of 143 units.
“Right here used to be the old Kmart Giant Food,” T.I. said in a video unveiling the Bankhead development project. “Now we got affordable housing. 143 units going up mixed-used community… We’re about 40% done. We’re supposed to be done sometime next year.”
Although he didn’t meet the 2022 deadline, T.I. completed all 143 living spaces. The development also includes an additional 25 units specifically designated for homeless youth.
T.I. Reveals He Used To Steal From The K-Mart That Sat On The Housing Development Site
T.I. revealed a surprising connection to the site, admitting that he once got caught stealing from the K-Mart that once occupied the land where Intrada Westside now sits.
“To offset the shame that came with that, it would behove me to invest in the community by acquiring this piece of property. It’s the least I could do,” T.I. joked.
He also revealed he drew inspiration from fellow Atlanta native Killer Mike. “If everyone does a little, no one has to do a lot,” he added, quoting the Run the Jewels rapper.
Mayor of Atlanta, Andre Dickens, also attended the ceremony and paid tribute to the rapper.
Coi Leray is frustrated over Latto mentioning her body in a song lyric claiming the “Big Energy” hitmaker needs to “make better decisions.”
The “Players” rapper addressed Latto’s “blunt big as Coi Leray” lyric during the latest episode of Angie Martinez’s IRL Podcast.
“Nobody should be mentioning me period,” she began. “As Black women in the industry, the only way that the world is gonna go round in our world the way we want it to, is if we come together. Deadass.”
Leray said comments like Latto’s undermine the mission to “spread body positivity” before highlighting the struggles artists like herself and Lizzo face for their stance.
“We trying to change that. So it don’t make it right for you to keep making it a thing,” Coi Leray added.
“You can talk about my body,” she continued. “But when its coming from someone that a lot of little girls look up to, a lot of people highly respect … then it’s like, no. You have to make better decisions on how you want to handle your career.” Check out the episode below.
Coi Leray has expressed her with Latto before. She initially took the name check as disrespect before admitting she might have overacted.
DaBaby claims he lost around a whopping $200 million following the backlash over his homophobic comments at Rolling Loud in 2021 but claims the experience has been “a blessing in disguise.”
The North Carolina native is opening up about the controversy that followed after he made offensive comments about HIV/AIDS and the LGBTQ community on the Rolling Loud stage.
At the time, DaBaby was one of the most commercially successful Hip-Hop artists on the planet, but the fallout saw a slump in streaming numbers and ticket sales while he was dropped from concert lineups and lost deals and endorsements.
However, after two years and the benefit of hindsight, DaBaby sees the situation differently. Despite a massive loss in earnings, he said it was ultimately the best thing that could have happened to him.
“You live and you learn,” he said during an appearance on the latest episode of Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast after joking he wished he missed his flight to the 2021 festival.
When Sharp suggested the backlash cost him around $50 to $60 million, DaBaby told him it was actually more than $100 million.
DaBaby Used to Feel “Robbed” Over Rolling Loud Losses
Nonetheless, DaBaby said being “forced to sit my ass down,” allowed him to reflect on his life. He also revealed he was unhappy at the time despite the money and fame, but he’s now in a much better place.
“I don’t regret anything that I done been through,” he said before admitting that his past comments on the situation were not genuine. “It feels so good to be able say that and mean it. I done probably said that before but I ain’t mean it.”
He continued,” It’s like ‘Boy I wish I had …$200 million, y’all robbed me.’ I don’t feel like that. I really feel like that’s a blessing in disguise at this point in my life and I just came to that realization in the past two weeks.”
Ultimately, DaBaby said the experience shaped him, not just as an artist, but as a man. “I love the space I’m in as a person,” he added. Check out the clip below and check out the episode here.
Much has been made about André 3000 of Outkast’s new album, which won’t include any “bars.” This has made the online chatter even louder than if it was an actual album, at least from a curiosity standpoint. Well, is seems like we have a hero that will change all that.
Lupe Fiasco has made it possible for André 3000’s experimental jazz project, New Blue Sun, to include raps. Lupe said he’s going to take the album and completely remix it, adding his own bars to the instrumentation.
“Gonna rap all over that 3stacks album and put it in the time capsule for future generations…” he tweeted. Fans are still in awe, as the album is set to be released on Friday (November 17). I am personally excited about it even though I’m not sure about it. We need this sort of maverick behavior.
Lupe Fiasco is one of our greats. He’s a rapper, producer, entrepreneur and thinker. He continues to push the line with thought-provoking and socially conscious lyrics. He’s also known to battle at the drop of a hat when push comes to shove. Lest we forget what happened between him and Royce Da 5′ 9 (another one of our favorites)?
Anyway, what do you think about this one? This is a quick rumor, but I have to admit, Lupe is qualified. Also, this might actually inspire the homie Three Stacks. He will see exactly how his otherness works in the modern day with a real rap dude. Lupe is a free style freestyler. I am interested in this. Let’s go!
Gonna rap all over that 3stacks album and put it in the time capsule for future generations… pic.twitter.com/O79ixezZzp
The rap beef between Chingy and Nelly was apparently much more grisly than many of us were aware of at the time their hits were dominating the airwaves.
According to a TikTok video, which has garnered nearly nine million views on Twitter, the shots Chingy and Nelly sent back and forth at each other over wax were rooted in real life conflict. Additionally, a Twitter user’s theory has deduced that while the pair of rappers were delivering upbeat, club-ready music, their lyrics were influencing violence.
The saga initiated in 2004 when Nelly released his song “Another One” and appeared to demand respect from Chingy due to his genre-bending approach to combining Hip-Hop with country music.
Nelly’s bars directed at Chingy were fairly coded and backhanded at the time as he raps, “I like the way you do that right thurr/Just remember when you do that right thurr/I made it tight to be country/They thought country was bummy/Till country start making money.”
On the other hand, Chingy’s response was much more aggressive and violent in nature, even though it was delivered over the upbeat production of his hit single “Right Thurr.”
“I’m going down down baby/Your street in a Range Rover,” Chingy raps. “Say another word this AK will have your brains hanging over/Hip-Hop ain’t pop sell-out change over/You frustrated wondering who snatch that chain soldier.”
And even though the pair of rappers have since reconciled their differences, a Twitter user’s theory about how their beef spilled over into the city of St. Louis provides a chilling reminder of the gruesome influence of violence in Hip-Hop.
“STL has been the murder capital since forever,” the Twitter user wrote in part. “And the music was so upbeat and happy, nobody paid attention to the shots and subliminals. N####s just now paying attention to the Chingy remix lol. Like Nelly came out the gate with a f##### nursery rhyme about a drive – by. We just danced to it lol”
Check out the wild video below.
STL has been the murder capital since forever. And the music was so upbeat and happy, nobody paid attention to the shots and subliminals. N##### just now paying attention to the Chingy remix lol. Like Nelly came out the gate with a f##### nursery rhyme about a drive – by. We just… https://t.co/N1kSHE8PJF
In case you hadn’t noticed, The Alchemist’s latest passion project is the recent album he helmed for two lyricists who hail from his own backyard.
Said Hip-Hopers we’re speaking of are none other than underground New York City MCs MIKE and Wiki. In September, the trio of East Coast natives delivered their collaborative project, Faith Is A Rock. Coincidentally, The Alchemist also just connected with Odd Future alumni Earl Sweatshirt to deliver their surprise collaborative album, VOIRE DIRE.
There is, of course, a bit of synergy between the two records, considering MIKE was featured on a track entitled “Sentry” that appeared on Earl and The Alchemist’s joint effort. However, given the success of leading records such as “Making The Band (Danity Kane),” Earl is in the midst of a landscape-changing tear, which has surely reinvigorated his career to new heights. Don’t get it twisted, though—MIKE and Wiki certainly have created some traction of their own off the strength of the popularity of “Mayors A Cop,” among other favorites from their recent release.
Now, the question appears to be if The Alchemist can deliver the same sort of results in his work with MIKE and Wiki as they continue to roll out their collaborative debut effort. What better way to find out than by bringing their talents to the West Coast for the first-ever live performance together? That’s precisely why the trio is taking over The Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles on November 30.
In the grand scheme of things, the performance is somewhat of an ingenious idea, considering the love The Alchemist consistently has received on the West Coast. And considering the trio is armed with 10 potential crowd-pleasing records to coerce attendees of the show, there’s a good chance they can walk away with a legion of new fans.
No matter the case, check out the link for details on tickets available for the trio’s upcoming live show here and revisit the stream for their Faith Is A Rock album below.
PinkPantheress‘ debut album, Heaven Knows, is finally here. With the help of artists such as Central Cee, Bktherula and Olivia Rodrigo, she’s already knee-deep into the rollout of the project.
On Tuesday (November 14) PinkPantheress announced a sprawling set of dates for her Capable Of Love Tour, which kicks off next spring with supporting acts Bktherula and Kanii on selected dates. In addition to the 12-city North American leg of the tour, several European dates have also been announced, including sets in countries like Ireland, France and Germany, among others. PinkPantheress will also join O-Rod for select dates one her upcoming Guts Tour.
PinkPantheress delivered Heaven Knows via Warner Records UK and 300 Elektra Entertainment on Friday (November 10). Along with guest features from Rema, Kelela and Ice Spice, the 13-track project also includes contributions from previous collaborators Mura Masa, Cash Cobain, Count Baldor and more. Additionally, the “Boy’s A Liar” lyricist connected with Central Cee for their genre-bending “Nice To Meet You” collaboration, which also received the music video treatment immediately following the release of the other project.
In a statement provided courtesy of 300 Elektra Entertainment, PinkPantheress remarked on the process of making “Nice To Meet You,” explaining how the track represents all of the things that she loves about music.
“‘Nice To Meet You’ is the perfect blend of all things I love in music,” she said. “I’m honored to have Cash Cobain and Central Cee on one track for this bouncy pop moment and I hope you love it too.”
Drake and J. Cole released a reference-filled music video for their collaboration “First Person Shooter” on Wednesday (November 15). The two dropped the visuals days after announcing their joint tour.
The “First Person Shooter” video featured a cameo by actor Brian Baumgartner, who played Kevin Malone in The Office. Drake and J. Cole recreated the Spider-Man pointing meme in one scene along with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s viral chess match photo. Drake also did his best Michael Jackson impression, pulling off some of MJ’s signature dance moves in the video.
“First Person Shooter” appeared on Drake’s latest albumFor All the Dogs, which dropped in October. The J. Cole-assisted track was produced by Boi-1da, Tay Keith, FNZ and others.
Drake and J. Cole’s It’s All a Blur Tour (Big as the What?) kicks off in January 2024. The run of shows includes several rescheduled dates from Drake’s 2023 tour.
Check out the upcoming tour dates below.
January 18 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena * January 19 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena January 22 – San Antonio, TX – Frost Bank Center January 25 – Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center January 29 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center * January 30 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center February 2 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena February 7 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena * February 8 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena * February 12 – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center February 16 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena February 20 – Columbus, OH – Schottenstein Center * February 21 – Columbus, OH – Schottenstein Center February 24 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse February 27 – Buffalo, NY – KeyBank Center March 2 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center March 5 – Memphis, TN – FedExForum March 10 – Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena March 14 – Belmont Park, NY – UBS Arena ~ March 18 – State College, PA – Bryce Jordan Center ~ March 23 – Sunrise, FL – Amerant Bank Arena ~ March 27 – Birmingham, AL – The Legacy Arena at BJCC ~
Celebrating a remarkable 14-year journey in the NFL marked by Pro Bowl honors and All-Pro distinctions, Adam “Pacman” Jones is making a bold return to his roots in the world of music. Return? Yes, the football player has been a part of the Hip-Hop community for years. However, he now embraces his newfound freedom—after his storied football career and legal challenges.
Back with his signature blend of raw lyricism, gritty rhythmic cadence and a sound uniquely his own, Pacman unveils his debut EP, THE OUTLET…FINALLY FREE. This musical collection provides a window into the personal and intimate tapestry of his life, emphasizing the pivotal importance of discovering one’s voice and taking control of their narrative.
In an engaging, in-depth conversation at WonWorld Studios with Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur and DJ Thoro, Pacman covers all the bases—from his infamous life and the nosebleed highs and valley-like lows to his approach to music. The discussion even delves into his time with BMF and his role as a ghostwriter, offering a unique perspective in the rap space from someone who found wealth before entering the realm of Hip-Hop. Pacman’s story is one of resilience, growth and a testament to the power of self-expression.
Tasha K has appeared to learn zero lessons from her legal battle with Cardi B. Jada Pinkett-Smith said she and her husband plan to sue after Tasha K published an interview with a man who claimed Will Smith had sex with actor Duane Martin.
“We suing!” Jada Pinkett-Smith told TMZ when asked about the allegations.
Tasha K interviewed Brother Bilaal, who was supposedly Smith’s former friend and assistant. Bilaal told the vlogger he once walked in on Will Smith having sex with Martin.
“I opened the door to Duane’s dressing room and that’s when I see Duane having a### sex with Will,” Bilaal said. “There was a couch and Will was bent over the couch and Duane was standing up killing him … It was murder in there.”
Will Smith will WISH this interview NEVER happened! This is one of the closest people to Will aside from Jada to sit down and tell all about him. From meeting Jada, Tupac, Will’s sexuality and manhood size, he KNOWS and TELLS it ALL‼️@bopulent
Tasha K released a teaser of the interview on Monday (November 13). The clip featured Bilaal’s sex claims and comments about Jada Pinkett-Smith. A rep for Will Smith denied Bilaal’s allegations on Tuesday (November 14).
“This story is completely fabricated and the claim is unequivocally false,” the rep said.
Tasha K spoke with Bilaal a month after Jada Pinket- Smith revealed she and Will Smith separated in 2016. The couple never got divorced but lived “completely separate lives,” according to the actress.
Essyonna is a whole vibe! You most likely know her for her modeling career and lead roles in huge music videos such as, Drake videos: “POPSTAR” featuring Justin Bieber and “Falling Back” — but now, she’s ready to share her artistry with the world once and for all.
Hailing from a small town in Minnesota, Essyonna made the bold decision to move to Los Angeles solo at 18 years old. Originally going to school for nursing, she’d always known her true passion was music, which was first sparked by her ability to play the violin at the young age of 4. Her sound can be described as eclectic, unique and diverse, with the ability to both sing, rap and play the violin at any given moment.
In describing herself, Essyonna states she’s “the most serious, unserious person you’ll ever meet in your life. I’m a shapeshifter.” [laughs] Because everyone always says ‘You have such an interesting personality. You seem so humble, hard working and calm.’ Oh no, I’m a book with a lot of pages forreal. My personality and appearance can go this way and that way, but you’ll always be entertained and inspired.
Most recently, Essyonna unveiled another highly-anticipated video for “Hate,” which she deems one of the most fun and easiest songs she’s ever recorded. The visual was shot during her recent trip to Japan, one of her favorite places in the world.
AllHipHop spoke with Essyonna in downtown Los Angeles, who had been locked in the lab all day recording. Read below as we discuss her roots in Minnesota, favorite artists, new single “Hate,” how she landed lead roles in the Drake videos, goals, and more!
AllHipHop: Talk about being from a small town in Minnesota.
Essyonna: It’s interesting. I’m from the suburbs, the outskirts of the main city so it’s extremely sheltered . Everybody’s very small-minded. Country lifestyle, everyone knows everything about everyone vibe[laughs]. When I moved here by myself, when I was 18-19, it was a big difference.
AllHipHop: What made you move?
Essyonna: Music. I just left college in Fresno where I was in school to become a nurse anesthetist. That’s where I started my journey in California. I was there for a while, a couple months. I’m like, this is not for me. I want to do what I want to do, I just left and I never went back.
AllHipHop: Were you scared?
Essyonna: Oh yeah, it was very interesting. But I met a lot of people along the way. I knew nobody. Because at that time, I was still very sheltered and introverted, not super into social media. At the time I was just recording for fun in some random little studio in Fresno. I play the violin, so that was always my outlet into music. When I came here, I really started moving and building my platforms and fanbase. Meeting people definitely is a big thing, it changed my life out here. Because the right people and having the right close-knit circle definitely can make the biggest difference. I definitely needed that.
AllHipHop: Were there certain artists that made you want to do music?
Essyonna: As a kid, definitely Avril Lavigne, Erykah Badu ,Tupac ,and Beyoncé of course. I definitely watched a lot of music videos I wasn’t supposed to be watching. [laughs] I listened to a lot of 50 Cent, all that stuff. That was my start. When I got really into music, definitely now Doja Cat. A lot of eclectic, unique, very true to themselves artists inspire me. A lot of underground artists too, I listen to Destroy Lonely, Veeze, Ken Karson, stuff like that. My taste is all over, but definitely Doja Cat. She’s someone that I always love her music and her career path.
AllHipHop: You’re talking your s### on “Hate,” what inspired this record?
Essyonna: I was mad about stuff. [laughs] When I get in the zone, especially about something that really relates to my life really really really deeply, I gotta lay it down now. A few situations and people in my life at the time had me mad frustrated, so I was like let me make an extremely rappy song about it. And we did. Me and my team got in one day and we went in. It was so fun. It was one of my easiest songs I ever recorded. I love to rap though. I love to sing because of the beautiful notes, and emotions it can bring. But rapping is so fun to get my personality off.
AllHipHop: 3 things you need in the studio at all times?
Essyonna: My bong. [laughs] Everybody makes fun of me, they call me Billy Bong Thornton. It goes everywhere with me. Definitely, I’m usually in sweats or oversized pants. Because it be cold, and a hoodie usually. And snacks. Lots of snacks, Veggie Straws. A lot of Veggie Straws and coconut water. I drink a lot of coconut water.
AllHipHop: What Drake videos were you in?
Essyonna: I did the one with Justin Bieber, I was bald with red hair. Then I did “Falling Back” with all the wives. I went to Toronto. It was really fun. The girls were amazing, the experience was one-of-the-kind. Everyone was so nice. It was a blessing.
AllHipHop: Was Drake cool?
Essyonna: It was a huge three day set, everyone was welcoming and professional. It was definitely a super fun professional experience.
AllHipHop: How’d the opportunity come about?
Essyonna: I’m blessed to have met a lot of beautiful people along the way. Director X, he’s great. He has hired me for different modeling/ acting jobs, also Hype Williams. They have hired me for jobs. I’ve done multiple videos for them, I did a Puma campaign for Hype. A lot of different things. They’ve been so kind to consider me for a lot of roles over the years, and always hire me when they thought it was a perfect fit. I’m always so grateful for the opportunities!
AllHipHop: Did that spark you to do more modeling?
Essyonna: No, Hype definitely was one of the people that got me into modeling the most. Because that’s when I did my first music video, which was back in 2019/2020. It was Young Thug and A Boogie. It was for Hype.I ended up being the only girl in the video. [laughs] but it was a great experience. That definitely got me into modeling but then I stopped full time modeling within the last year. The last one I did was the Drake ‘falling back’ video, that’s it for me now, it’s just my music for me now! [laughs]
AllHipHop: What’s something fans may not know about you?
Essyonna: I have a lot of layers. Everybody always assumes I’m so put together and confident at all times which I am. I love myself alot. [laughs] But I ‘m very much like everybody else. I cry, I have bad days and good days, there are lots of things that I struggle with in life just like everyone else. I’m human and I enjoy the journey of the human experience, I’m not immune to real life s### just like everyone else is.
AllHipHop: I’m sure music helps?
Essyonna: Oh yeah, outlet for sure. 100%, every day.
AllHipHop: Any goals for yourself at this point in your career?
Essyonna: Definitely keep growing and sharing my music.I have so much fire stuff coming! Also to always stay true to everything that I see for the vision. Granted, take account of all the advice and beautiful things people tell me along the way. But don’t let all the wild exterior things that will come along, or that have come along affect the whole vision and the art. And what I know in my heart I want for myself and my music, because that can easily happen and I’ve seen it happen. I’m really excited to share my art with the world.
Big Hit, who returned home from prison earlier this year, weighed in on Keefe D’s arrest for Tupac Shakur’s murder in an interview with AllHipHop’s Chuck Creekmur. Hit-Boy’s father stressed the importance of not snitching in reaction to the developments in the long-unsolved case.
“S###, got to just stick to the code, my n####,” Big Hit said. “I’m feeling for everybody. It’s a f#####-up situation on both sides. All else fails, just like anybody knows, just got to stick to the code, my n####. And just keep your f###### mouth shut. I don’t give the f### what happens.”
Keefe D, whose real name is Duane Davis, was indicted for murder in September. He pleaded not guilty to the charge in November. Big Hit believed Keefe D’s arrest offered no closure for Tupac’s death.
“That’s still not even enough, man,” Big Hit said. “It’s like, man, he was so great. He brought so much to the game. That loss was just bigger than Keefe D … This whole situation, man, that was f##### up. It was a great loss, man. He can’t be replaced. Nah, this s### ain’t going to be no closure. It’s just going to be water under the bridge, s###.”
Check out AllHipHop’s interview with Hit-Boy and Big Hit below.
A golden opportunity emerged in 2023 in the competitive world of music when the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) teamed up with legends Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis and ASCAP to launch an annual grant, the BMAC x Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Music Maker Grant.
On Wednesday (November 15), they opened applications for the the second annual grant, promising to light the way for emerging Black music producers and songwriters across the United States. The applications will be open until November 30.
This isn’t just any grant; it’s a beacon of hope and a launchpad for new talent, inspired by the Hall of Fame-worthy careers of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Last year, the grant changed the game for up-and-coming artist Mondaii.
“The music maker grant and the $5,000 funding helped to kick start my career,” Mondaii said. “With the money, I was able to fund the mixing for my latest single ‘Back N Forth.’ I was also able to pay for a promotional photoshoot for the cover art and allocate a budget of $2,000 toward a PR campaign to generate traction towards the single.”
The grant isn’t solely about the money. It’s a mentorship paradise, offering studio time and guidance from the BMAC Board, Executive Leadership Council and the iconic Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis themselves.
As Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, CEO & president of BMAC, puts it, “Black Music Action Coalition is committed to ensuring the next generation of leaders in our industry are equipped with the knowledge, resources and access that our community deserves and does not always receive. We see the impact made when we truly invest in our future. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are two of the greatest producers, songwriters and human beings in this industry, so having them as mentors to a young person is invaluable. When you add the network that the BMAC Board & our Executive Leadership Council and ASCAP will provide, this is really an incredible opportunity.”
Mondaii added, “The whole experience was truly life changing. Prophet, Parlay [Hip-Hop Global Reach Foundation] and none other than the legendary Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis all provided ongoing mentorship, and I literally called on Prophet and Parlay for everything. They really have been an instrumental part of me learning the music business.”
The 2024 winner will be unveiled in December, in a celebration of new talent and enduring legacies. For those ready to leap into their musical journey, all roads lead to the BMAC website for applications and more details.
