Coachella is here. The annual festival in Indio, Calif. kicks off today (April 13) with a star-studded and diverse lineup. Best of all, the entire day is streaming live via YouTube.
As one of the year’s most anticipated events, the three-day fest will feature some of the biggest names in hip-hop and R&B. SZA, Vince Staples, Daniel Caesar, Kali Uchis, SuperDuperKyle, and Belly will all take the stage on Day 1. Plus, The Weeknd will cap things off with a headline performance that’s sure to have everyone talking.
The rest of the lineup is also full of superstars. Beyoncé, Tyler, the Creator, and Post Malone will turn up the heat on Saturday, while Eminem, Cardi B, and Migos close things out on Sunday.
If you can’t make it to the desert, you can watch the live stream right here.
Ooh la la! Tinashe brings “No Drama” to late night. Upon releasing her long-awaited sophomore album Joyride at midnight, Tinashe celebrated with a performance on “The Tonight Show” featuring Offset.
In a revealing black leather ensemble, the R&B songstress opened the set with a fierce disposition. Backed by four dancers in matching leather trench coats, she broke into the provocative single.
While Tinashe’s dancers opened umbrellas, Offset rained down on the performance. The expecting father rhymed briefly beside Tinashe before she closed things out with a show-stopping choreographed breakdown. Jimmy Fallon also pointed out a standing ovation for the duo.
Tinashe recently spoke with Cosmopolitan about the banger. “This particular song is relevant to how I was feeling that summer,” she explained. “Just wanting to come out there, do my thing, be myself, have fun, and not worry about all the people online and all the noise and the nonsense.”
“No Drama” is a single off Tinashe’s newly-released Joyride LP. Following delays and setbacks, the album finally arrived with guest spots from Future, Ty Dolla $ign, and French Montana.
Barbie wastes no time attacking her nameless foes. “You should be cleanin’ my mansion,” she raps. “My past is disgustin’ / Why don’t you act like a Hoffman / And go get to Dustin?”
Later, she keeps the regal talk rolling, while asking her unnamed enemy to clean up after her. “Bitch, go clean my crown,” she raps. “Can’t hear my haters from way up here / They don’t make a sound.”
Thugger adds some Tupac Shakur influence to his syrupy verse. “You gotta picture me rollin’,” he sings in reference to 2Pac’s All Eyez On Me classic “Picture Me Rollin’.”
The song also arrives with a sign language lyric video in honor of Thug’s deaf brother and fans with hearing impairments. Thugger previously claimed he wouldn’t release any music this year as a tribute to his brother.
Thug’s 3-song EP Hear No Evil, his first project since last year’s Super Slimey with Future, also features appearances from Lil Uzi Vert and 21 Savage.
Meek Mill brings his case to “Nightly News.” The incarcerated Philadelphia rapper spoke out about his legal troubles during an interview with NBC’s Lester Holt.
Over the phone, Meek Mill addressed the issues surrounding his case. “I think God delivered me the job to helping people, helping minorities that come from these situations, like myself,” he said. “Don’t show me no pity because this is my life. This is what I’ve been going through and I think God put me in this position to be able to do a show with Lester Holt and open up eyes for other young black men.”
The case continues. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf and Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner say they won’t oppose his release on bail. Plus, the Philly rapper’s legal team is optimistic about his future since his original conviction may get overturned following a corruption scandal.
Meek Mill’s attorneys have also accused Judge Genece Brinkley of being unfair. Recently, Meek Mill claimed that she asked him to remix Boyz II Men’s “On Bended Knee” for her. “Fucking Nicki [Minaj] busts out laughing, but I grabbed her leg, going, ‘Yo, this is my life here,'” Meek claimed. “I tried to tell the judge, ‘All respect, but that ain’t me. I’m a Philly street rapper, not a bubblegum dude.’ She says, ‘Fine, then,’ in a real sarcastic way. ‘Suit yourself.'”
Yesterday, Nicki Minaj spoke about her interactions with the judge. “The judge in question did everything I asked of her so I can’t badmouth her because I met her personally,” she said. “I know what she said to us. He knows that I know that. Of course, I wouldn’t wish jail on anybody but…I’ll get into detail on that in the documentary and possibly on the album.”
Cardi B and SZA might be saying “I Do” to a Coachella duet. The TDE songstress hinted at a possible joint performance of their Invasion of Privacy collaboration at this weekend’s festival.
“That would be gnarly,” a coy SZA told TMZ earlier this week. “I would be honored. I can’t confirm on her set. It’s not fair. It’s her surprises.”
SZA appears on “I Do,” a fan favorite off Cardi’s debut album Invasion of Privacy. SZA is also slated to perform her own Coachella set tonight, while Cardi B takes the stage on Sunday.
The “Bodak Yellow” rapper is reportedly in 10-hour rehearsals to prepare for her performance, for which she was paid $70,000 per weekend. However, she says the production cost her $300,000.
While speaking with TMZ, the TDE songstress also weighed in on the Cardi B and Nicki Minaj feud that intensified yesterday, when Barbie said she was “hurt” by a Bardi interview.
“Do you consider that a feud or is that outside influence and opinion?” asked SZA. “I see two women doing their best and championing themselves. I don’t see ill words being spread on either side. I think they’re doing just fine, they’re grown women. Very empowering. Very capable.”
G-Eazy, Yo Gotti, and YBN Nahmir head back to “1942” on their new collaboration off the upcoming Uncle Drew soundtrack.
Over a hypnotic flute sample by HITMAKA, SkipOnDaBeat, and Smash David, Gotti talks slick. “Flooded out my wrist, a puddle drippin’,” he raps. “’42, I’m steady sippin’.”
Meanwhile, Young Gerald raps about a threesome with Halsey. “Hit the club with wifey, brought a dime back,” he raps. “Hit the three twice and run it right back … Back in Oakland I’m a king, I know, and Halsey is a ting.”
Finally, YBN Nahmir caps things off with designer kicks. “Red Christian Loubs, I rock designer shoes,” he raps. “Hundred bands for my coupe, I speed and it go vroom!”
Following A$AP Rocky, Gucci Mane, and 21 Savage’s “Cocky,” “1942” is the latest single from the Uncle Drew soundtrack. Starring Tiffany Haddish, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kyrie Irving, Uncle Drew balls in theaters June 29.
Cardi B keeps making history. Invasion of Privacy set a new Apple Music record for most streamed album by a female artist in a single week thanks to 100 million streams worldwide.
Look what fans made her do. In half a week, Cardi B already more than doubled previous record holder Taylor Swift’s streams for Reputation, according to Billboard. Thus, Bardi now has the fifth most streamed album ever, besting The Weeknd’s Starboy and Ed Sheeran’s Divide.
Invasion of Privacy is expected to top the Billboard 200. Her Bad Bunny and J Balvin collaboration “I Like It” is the album’s most streamed song on Apple Music thus far.
“Woke up to take a shit and Boom,” said Cardi. “Thank you everybody sooo much ,FANS,Djs,Artist,BardiGang and doubters for supporting me. Thank you for buying and streaming Invasion of privacy !GOD put me here and GOD is the only one that can take me out !!! Back to sleep i go.”
Of course, Bardi is no stranger to record-breaking. Last year, she became the second unaccompanied female MC to top the Billboard Hot 100 with “Bodak Yellow.”
Cardi B is still making “Money Moves.” Recent reports indicate that she will make $70,000 per day for her Coachella performance. However, she also said that she paid about $300,000 for the stage production. “It’s an investment,” she told SiriusXM. “You gotta take that to the chin. Damnit. Right after I finished paying my taxes.”
Splash! Carnage and Migos come through drippin’ on their new “Waterworld” collaboration.
Over a hypnotic instrumental, Quavo sings about his similarities to Mariah, while flexing glaciers. “Sing like Mariah,” he sings in Auto-Tune. “Too much water, need fire / All this water on this ice / Splash! No lights.”
Despite the billing, Quavo is only accompanied by Takeoff on the track. He provides the introduction and a verse. “If I see what I like,” he says. “I ask them what’s the price / You know my life is like a poltergeist.”
“Waterworld” is a single off Carnage’s album Battered, Bruised, & Bloody, which arrived today. The project features Mac Miller, MadeinTYO, Lil B, Lil Pump, Steve Aoki, KYLE, and more.
Battered, Bruised, & Bloody also follows Carnage’s Young Martha EP with Young Thug and his Step Brothers EP with G-Eazy.
Splish-splash with Quavo, Takeoff, and Carnage below.
Esskeetit! Still buzzing off the success of “Gucci Gang,” Lil Pump unloads the flashy video for his 2018 anthem.
The clip is a celebration of money, fancy whips, women, and snow. It kicks off with a Brinks truck that reads “Esskeetit” on the side. Soon enough, a tornado of cash swirls around him, while snow falls on an all-white crib and a pool full of scantily-clad models. The visual ends with a tantalizing game of strip poker and “Esskeetit” in the sky.
The 17-year-old rapper broke onto the charts with last year’s “Gucci Gang,” which has been certified 2x platinum. Last month, he released the star-studded remix featuring 21 Savage, Gucci Mane, French Montana, Bad Bunny, J Balvin, and Ozuna. He also recently hit the studio with Tee Grizzley.
“Esskeetit” is the first single off Pump’s sophomore album, which is due on Warner Bros. Records. He recently resigned with the label for a reported $8 million.
Dave East has always been known to not let a record go by without doing an “East Mix”. This time around he hops on Wale’s recent single “It’s Complicated” off his recent It’s Complicated EP.
DJ Esco money dances with Future, skateboards with Rich The Kid, and turns up with himself in his latest visuals for “Xotic” off of his recent project “Kolorblind.” Doesnt look like Esco is letting up with these visuals, watch below.
How many of us ever had to switch up on someone accordingly?!? Nick Grant and Yo Gotti sure have and they talk about in their latest single “Switch Up” accompanied by a Kid Art directed visual.
50 Cent may be busy on his many business moves, and going into television, that doesn’t mean he’s completely ignoring music. He just released a brand new track titled “Crazy,” the track features PnB Rock on the hook.
The Rager returns. Kid Cudi unleashes “The Rage” on the cinematic theme song from Dwayne Johnson’s new film Rampage, which hits theaters Friday.
Over wartime drums and gloomy piano keys, Cudder digs deep. “Born in the rage, untamed,” he raps. “Break free, beast out of the cage / Sky raining down flames, it’s a war in the heavens.”
The rock hybrid samples The Smashing Pumpkins’ classic “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” off 1995’s Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. “Despite all my rage, I am still just a rat in a cage,” sings Billy Corgan on the sampled hook.
The wait is finally over. Leaving delays in the dust, Tinashe revs up her engine and delivers her long-awaited sophomore album Joyride.
The “pop star aka a problem” brings star power along for the ride. Offset drives shotgun on “No Drama,” while French Montana and Ty Dolla $ign roll through on “Me So Bad.” Future (“Faded Love”) and Little Dragon (“Stuck With Me”) are also on board.
It’s a 13-song journey from beginning to end, starting with the intro “Keep Your Eyes on the Road” and ending with “Fires and Flames.”
Joyride marks the follow-up to 2014’s Aquarius, which had been delayed several times. “There were a lot of setbacks,” she recently told Vulture. “I made the mistake of even talking about the project too soon. When I look back on the entire journey of it, I’m very thankful for the time that it did take. It pushed me to create the version of the album that is coming out now. It was important that it ended up taking as long as it did.”
After working on 200 songs for the new release, Tinashe is proud of the final product. “It just feels right, complete, and urgent,” she said. “It represents me, it accomplishes what I wanted, sonically, which was to create this music that feels like it borrows from different genres, but it’s hard to place all the songs in a specific genre. I’ve always felt more comfortable as an artist being that way. The subject matter and energy is also up and that was important to me, too. I wanted to be excited [about this record] and have it be in your face.”
Young Thug is full of surprises. The Atlanta rapper, who now goes by SEX, surprises fans with a new project called Hear No Evil.
The three-track EP includes appearances from Nicki Minaj (“Anybody”), Lil Uzi Vert (“Up”), and 21 Savage (“Now”), with production from Charlie Handsome, Southside, DJ Spinz, and Rex Kudo.
The title is seemingly inspired by Thug’s deaf brother, who graces the cover art. Earlier this year, Thug vowed not to release music in 2018 in honor of his sibling.
“I got a brother who can’t hear or talk, so I want to act deaf for a year,” Thugger told Hypebeast. “I ain’t going to put out no music this year. 2019, I’m gonna put out, probably Hy!£UN35.”
In addition to the long-awaited Hy!£UN35, Thug is working on Rich Gang 2, a sequel to his 2013 collaborative album with Birdman, which is due this summer. “Thug is like my brother,” Baby told Rap-Up. “Love him to death. Solid. One of the realest I ever met in this game. As far as artist-wise, he’s the super talented one, so he led the way on the project and what we wanted to do. I think it’s super dope. We got a whole album, me and Thug.”
