We finally got a little break from Yeezy Season, and by break, we mean he premiered "New Slaves" again on Friday night in new locations—but we already watched it last week.
Meanwhile, Nicki Minaj is out slaying verses again on Ciara's "I'm Out" track off of her forthcoming album named, of course, Ciara. But who was she throwing shots at? And how amazing was it to hear her sound so vicious on a track?
But Nicki wasn't the only female in hip-hop this week to make headlines—welcome Paris Hilton to the hip-hop world. Hilton signed a deal with Cash Money, Birdman confirmed, and everyone in the world was all, "What the fuck? Does Paris even rap?" The answer is "sometimes" but don't worry her album will be very EDM, she says.
Plus Birdman and Rick Ross released an album full of material from 2008, Katy Perry realized that Chief Keef does know who she is and will respond to her tweets about how she doesn't like "Hate Being Sober," and more in this week's What The Hell Just Happened in Music This Week?
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French Montana's Excuse My French Is Released, Is It New York's Best Rap Album in 10 Years?
French Montana's Excuse My French Is Released, Is It New York's Best Rap Album in 10 Years?
Date: May 21
Finally, the day New York City had been waiting for arrived. French Montana released his debut solo LP, Excuse My French on Tuesday. Talk about timing: the day of French's album drop also happened to be the birthdays of the legendary Notorious B.I.G. and incarcerated cult leader Max B. It seemed as if the stars were aligning for Excuse My French to back up Diddy's claims that his Bad Boy signee had created the best New York City album in the last decade.
The album has received positive reviews thus far, but the jury is still out on whether or not French has released the greatest body of work since 2003. Meanwhile, some rap fans outside of the Big Apple continue to scratch their heads at the appeal of the Coke Boyz commander-in-chief and his movement. Regardless, and despite the number of features on Excuse My French, French Montana had the world talking for a "New York Minute." —Dharmic X
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J. Cole's Moves Born Sinner Up One Week to Compete With Kanye West's Yeezus
J. Cole's Moves Born Sinner Up One Week to Compete With Kanye West's Yeezus
Date: May 21
J.Cole began the week by releasing the cover art for Born Sinner, then surprising everyone by moving the album's release up a week to June 18. This means that he's now going head-to-head with Kanye's Yeezus, which many would consider sales suicide. He tweeted that his decision was fueled by 'Ye's status as "one of the greatest artists of our generation," but that still wasn't logical enough for most people.
It's simple: Cole doesn't want his album to drop a week after Yeezus and simply be an afterthought. He told Billboard that once the release date for Yeezus was confirmed, he couldn't let Kanye dominate the charts for a week before he put his second album out. Cole's a ballplayer—of course he's going to be possessed by the spirit of competition.
You have to respect Cole's confidence, but Yeezus is going to smash everything that day. Also, not only is Born Sinner going up against Yeezus, it's also facing off with Mac Miller's Watching Movies With The Sound Off. That kid moves units, too. Expect June 18 to be something like the news team battle from Anchorman, except with less blood. —Julian Kimble
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Ciara and Nicki Minaj Team Up on "I'm Out;" It's Nicki's Most Vicious Verse in Months
Date: May 22
Remember in 2010 when Nicki Minaj dominated Kanye West's "Monster?" Remember that feeling you had hearing her kill every other verse on that song?
That's how we felt when Ciara's "I'm Out" leaked this week and Nicki went in—the energy, anger, and dominance in Nicki's voice is undeniable. She told MTV earlier this year that she is lyrically better than most of the male rappers out now, and verses like this back that claim.
The fury in her verse raised a few questions, primarily: who the hell is Nicki coming for? And is she even throwing shots at all? Yesterday, Perez Hilton posted the song with the headline: Ciara And Nicki Minaj Call Out Rihanna In I'm Out!?
We'll break down the lyrics:
1. "Aye yo, Ci Ci/Let me show you how to do a singin' bitch, greasy."
- Could it be shots at Rihanna? There's been tension between Ciara and Rihanna for years. It all began in February 2011 when Ciara appeared on E!'s "Fashion Police" and said Rihanna wasn't the nicest at a party, and Rihanna tweeted back, "Did I forget to tip you?" The two exchanged words and subliminals on Twitter.
- These days, the two have subtweeted at each other a few times but when Ciara was asked if there's still tension between the two, she brushed it off.
2. "You gon' play me? On Instagram n***a tryna shade me?"
Could this be in response to Lil Kim throwing shade on Instagram?
Caption: Fly girl Kimmie at age 16. Always been a trendsetter. Peep the fly bob haircut and bangs. Familiar much??? Lol.
Or is it in reference to Rihanna's BFF Melissa Forde posting this, which sparked even more drama between Cici and Rih:
Caption: #BodyParty (bathroom acapella version) #London
3. "Now which bitch want it? Cause that bitch get it/I gave him to you bitch don't fucking forget it"
- Could it be Drake?
4. "Say "fuck these petty niggas" if these niggas did you wrong/If he got a new bitch, then tell that bitch meet you outside/And pop her like a molly, tell them bitches recognize."
Classic Nicki getting vicious on her track. Now, the lyrics could easily be shots in the dark and Nicki repositioning herself as the best, but those similarities needed to be addressed. EIther way, Nicki kills her verse and Ciara walked away with a guaranteed club banger with "I'm Out." —Lauren Nostro
Tim Dog Is Either Dead or Alive, of That We're Reasonably Sure
Paris Hilton Signs to Cash Money
Paris Hilton Signs to Cash Money
Date: May 22
Rich girl, rich gang! Birdman confirmed that socialite Paris Hilton has indeed signed to Cash Money Records. The collective "What the fuck!" rang loud around the world but Paris does have quite a history in hip-hop, and after Lil Wayne performed at her birthday party earlier this year, it's not like all of this news comes out of nowhere.
Paris did record a song a few years ago called "Last Night (I Wanna Bang You)" with Wayne, and drank some 40s with Snoop Dogg, and had that whole love/work relationship with the infamous Scott Storch. Either way, we're anxious to hear Paris' new album with all of its hip-hop features and EDM beats. And plus, if you can't admit to liking "Stars Are Blind," you have issues addressing your guilty pleasures. —Lauren Nostro
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Katy Perry Doesn't Like "Hate Being Sober," Exchanges Words With Chief Keef on Twitter
Katy Perry Doesn't Like "Hate Bein' Sober," Exchanges Words With Chief Keef on Twitter
Date: May 23
So this week Katy Perry discovered a song called "Hate Bein' Sober" by Chief Keef and proceeded to tweet her disgust, saying she now had "serious doubt for the world." Your boy Chief Keef didn't take to it kindly, tweeting about smacking the shit out of Perry. But then Perry backpedaled and apologized to Keef and Keef apologized to her as well. Gotta say, we're kind of disappointed. We were looking forward to an all out Twitter beef between these two. Oh well, guess we'll have to wait another 45 minutes until something else dramatic happens to Keef. —Insanul Ahmed
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RELATED: Katy Perry Apologizes to Chief Keef
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