Lil Wayne & Nas Inducted Into The Billboard's R&B & Hip Hop Hall Of Fame
Lil Wayne and Nas graced the red carpet with their daughters at the Billboard R&B & Hip Hop Hall of Fame induction, celebrating 50 years of hip hop, while reflecting on their influential careers and enduring impact on the music industry. We discuss it!
Nas and Lil Wayne both pose at the Billboard R&B Hip-Hop Live held at The Novo on August 8, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photocred: Billboard/Brandon Todd)
By: Gentel Sharrie
Lil Wayne and Nas both walked the red carpet with their daughters Reginae Carter and Destiny Jones at Billboard’s official R&B & Hip Hop Hall of Fame induction at the Novo in Downtown Los Angeles. The induction was in honor to celebrate 50 incredible years of hip hop.
Lil Wayne started his rapping career at the age of 12. He was signed by Birdman and joined Cash Money Records, becoming the youngest member at the label. Lil Wayne has released numerous successful albums and mixtapes throughout his career, including the ‘Carter’ albums. Lil Wayne has 5 Grammy awards, 4 Billboard awards, 2 MTV Video Music awards, 11 BET awards, 16 BET Hip Hop awards, 1 American Music awards, and 4 Soul Train awards.
The great, Nas started his rapping career in 1991. He rose to prominence in the 1990s with his debut album ‘Illmatic’ which is known to be one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time. Nas is also known for his introspective lyrics, storytelling ability, and social commentary, He has released several critically acclaimed albums throughout his career and won 1 Grammy award, and 2 BET Hip Hop Awards.
Nas (Billboard)
When Lil Wayne received his induction into the R&B/Hip Hop Hall of Fame he stated, “You already know I gotta give thanks to the man up above. Also those that we lost, those that we wish were here, we thank you as well… And to my fans, I think I worded it the best way when I said I ain’t shit without you. This is for y’all, y’all as in my fans, those in the crowd, my supporters, those that work for me, those that work with me, those that work around me, those that work like me. This is for us.” Lil Wayne then went on to say, “I’m not stopping.”
Nas and Lil Wayne have been part of the music history and business for over two decades and they continue to be a part of history and create new history for the world to see.
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Billboard Hip Hop Live Recap: Metro Boomin, Coi Leray, and Armani White Shut Down The Novo
We recap Billboard's celebration of Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary at the Billboard Hip Hip Live Concert in Downtown LA featuring Grammy-nominated producer Metro Boomin and opening acts Coi Leray and Armani White!
Metro Boomin - It’s Only Us Tour
On August 8, 2023, Billboard popped off a celebration for hip hop’s 50th anniversary by hosting the Billboard Hip Hop Live concert at the Novo Downtown Los Angeles. Grammy-nominated producer Metro Boomin headlined the fun with opening acts Coi Leray and Armani White. “This year marks a momentous milestone in the evolution of a genre that was initially dismissed as a fad and now reigns as a global force,” said Billboard’s executive director of R&B/Hip-Hip Gail Mitchell. “We are looking forward to celebrating hip-hop’s blazing architects and future legends during what will no doubt be an energy-packed, exciting show at The Novo.”
Armani White
As the lights dimmed and the crowd assembled, Armani White made his way to the stage! Starting the night out with his smash hit Billie Elish which immediately got the crowd lit. This single was certified Gold from the RIAA racked up over half a billion streams and generated 36 million-plus YouTube views. Keeping the vibes going he gave the audience a live taste of some of the tracks such as Goated, Silvertooth, and Big Bet.
Coi Leray
If you are sleeping on Coi Leray go see her live and you will leave a fan! The energy she gives and receives goes far beyond the “TikTok rapper” claims. With electric stage presence and catchy choreography, Coi shut the stage down performing a medley of her hits from then to now. Beginning her set with the ultimate turn-up starter, No More Parties she got the crowd dancing and engaged. She kept the vibes going giving lives teases of her hits Twin, Fly Shit, and Players while also shining a light on some gems you might have skipped like Bop and Make My Day.
Metro Boomin
Diamond-certified producer, DJ, and artist Metro Boomin is known for creating hits that change the trajectory of careers such as Migo’s Bad and Boujee and Heartless by 21 Savage. A producer headlining a concert isn’t something you get to see often but Metro Boomin showed the crowd why he was the best man for the job with his arsenal of hits. Metro started his set off strong with Future’s Digital Dash to get the crowd warmed up. As the temperature continues to rise he slid into savage mode with X by 21 Savage and Future. With all of the major artists that he’s collaborated with, of course, he brought some friends! Coi Leray returned to the stage to perform her track with Metro on the Across The Spiderverse soundtrack. Nav also hit the stage and performed his crowd favorites Call Me, Give Me A Minute, and Lemonade.
Offset
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, Metro dropped No Warning and Offset hit the stage dominating the crowd. With all of the classic hits the duo has made together, the vibes were endless. Offset turned the crowd up another notch by performing tracks like No Complaints, Bad and Bougee, and Rick Flair Drip. As the energy subsided and the show came to a close Metro Boomin announced that he and Future have a new project on the way. Now that’s how you finish a show!
In summary, this concert was everything one might have needed on a random Tuesday evening. From beginning to end the raw talent of the artists and the energy of the crowd created a space for music lovers and creatives to vibe and thrive!
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Dr. Dre Nearing a Deal To Sell His Music Worth Up To $200 Million
Dr. Dre is close to reaching an agreement to finalize a deal that’s worth $200M! He is also receiving honors during Grammy week. We discuss it here!
Dr. Dre | Credit: Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com
By: Adonis Armstrong
Dr. Dre is close to reaching an agreement in finalizing a deal that’s worth $200M, according to Billboard. He’s selling a packaged deal to Universal Music Group and Shamrock Holdings that includes owned music assets and music income streams. The assets are worth up to $10 million per year, which will be separated by percentages between the to companies. Shamrock will receive 75 percent to 90 percent of the revenue and and the remaining 10 to 25 percent will go to Universal Music Group.
The assets included in the deal are his royalties share of N.W.A., his two solo studio albums, producer royalties, and some of the writer’s share of his song catalog where Dre doesn’t own the publishing rights. This could include some songs from, The Chronic.
Dr. Dre | The Chronic
Dre’s ownership stake in Aftermath is not included in any of the packages. UMG will receive some of Kendrick Lamar’s projects when he was signed to Top Dawg label and possibly some other assets. Universal’s deal will include the masters of The Chronic, which will rerelease to return this August on Dre from Death Row Entertainment. Other successful artists who have sold their catalogs are The-Dream, Tina Turner, Future, and Lil Wayne.
The Recording Academy announced yesterday they will honor Dre at their second annual Black Music Collective event during Grammy week in February. Along side the Hip Hop mogul, the academy will also recognize rap legends Missy Elliott and Lil Wayne.
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SZA Makes History as 'SOS' Sits at No. 1 For a Month
SZA Makes History as her album, SOS, sits On The Throne at No. 1 For a Month. The R&B singer also has the No.1 single globally! We discuss it here!
SZA
By: Adonis Armstrong
SZA is making history with her latest album, SOS. For the fourth consecutive week, it holds the crown atop of the Billboard 200 thanks to the 125,000 album-equivalent units sold in the U.S. in the week ending January 5th.
“4 weeks at number one is INSANE. Thank you God and thank you everyone for riding for me !!!”
4 weeks at number one is INSANE. Thank you God and thank you everyone for riding for me 🥹!!! 🫡🆘🤍
— SZA (@sza) January 8, 2023
According to Billboard, of the album-equivalent units earned; 121,500 were streaming-equivalent, totaling 162.42 million on-demand official streams, which also dropped four percent from the past week. Her album sales sit at 3,000, which may be a 289 percent increase and her track-equivalent album sales are at 500, which is a seven percent increase.
SOS sales shot up tremendously on January 5th after she dropped two new digital versions of the album solely on her Top Dawg Entertainment online store. The digital projects included two new bonus tracks: “PSA” and a solo version of the album’s “Open Arms.” Each track is available for $4.99, while one of the digitals comes with an alternative cover art.
SZA’s SOS is the first R&B album by a woman to achieve this feat since the great, Janet Jackson’s janet., which held the crown for its first six weeks from June 5th to July 10th in 1993. But, being at the top doesn’t come easy or without rumors. SOS had some tough competition with Taylor Swift’s song, “Midnights”, which is currently number 2 on the Billboard charts. SZA took some time to address rumors swirling on artists feuding on her twitter.
Uhh I feel silly that I even have to say this but i see supporters arguing and I hate that . I don’t have beef w ANYONE especially not Taylor lmao I genuinely loved her album and the writing!Everyone’s jus tryna do their BEST as we all should . LOVE TO EVERYONE. Gn 🤍
— SZA (@sza) January 6, 2023
The R&B singer is definitely having herself a wonderful month from the dedication SZA put into the album. She revealed on Twitter that her lead single, “Kill Bill” is number 1 on the Billboards Global 200.
Number one GLOBALLY is incredible!! 🥹 I’m so GRATEFUL! Thank you to everyone around the world listening to SOS and kill bill 🫡🆘 pic.twitter.com/9Z7xdANtDB
— SZA (@sza) January 10, 2023
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Saweetie: Hip-Hop's Girl Next Door
Saweetie has cemented her influence in Hip Hop by making her music relatable and accessible for other women, establishing herself as hip-hop's Girl Next Door. We discuss it here!
By: Prince Hakeem
As female rappers' visibility and profile within hip-hop continue to elevate, there seem to be growing discussions on who's-who and where each of them "fit" within the culture. Through the late 90s to 2010s, there was a drought in regards to female rapping talent. Outside of Nicki Minaj, fans were hard-pressed to see more than one female act on the forefront in mainstream hip-hop. However, thanks to streaming, social media, and defiant pushbacks against long-held industry sexism, the landscape has shifted, and there are more diverse acts in the game today than ever before. It's safe to say that we are experiencing a Female Rap Renaissance.
Despite this new boom of artists, much of the online conversation centers on stereotypes or lanes they're expected to operate in. These "labelings," in turn, shape audiences' perception of the artist, their legitimacy, and how serious they are to be taken. While male rappers have more freedom to label themselves, the same can't be said of female rappers. She's either the unappealing conscious lyricist or the vulgar sex pot.
While the ubiquitous "rapper who only talks about sex" label is primarily aimed at women rappers, it's a lazy one-dimensional take on these dynamic artists. A new classification, however, has emerged in this new era. It's The Girl Next Door. Known as a movie trope where her accessibility is tied to a male protagonist, hip-hop's version of the Girl Next Door sees the female rapper who establishes her presence and sets goals for herself, first, and other women. And there is no other female artist who exemplifies this than Bay Area rapper and social media influencer Saweetie. She's Hip-Hop's Girl Next Door.
Born in Hayward, California, Saweetie, whose real name is Diamonté Quiava Valentin Harper, was built for the spotlight. There've been assertions that she's being forced on audiences as her online presence seems inescapable. And while she may appear to have come out of nowhere, that is not the case.
Saweetie is a self-made woman, and her breakout was a long time coming. She began songwriting at 13. The California native held education in the same high regard as music. After high school, Saweetie first attended San Diego State University, studying communication and business. Her dream school, however, was the University of Southern California (USC). Even though it was a struggle, including doubting family members and a letter to the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, Saweetie soon transferred to USC.
"But I promised myself if I got into USC, it was a sign I needed to finish college," she recalls during an interview with the Daily Trojan.
Saweetie's work ethic has been a constant fixture in her journey. While at USC, she held down four jobs. It speaks to the hustling attitude that has garnered her the visibility and attention she's enjoying today. Creating her own t-shirt brand, the 'My Type' singer also worked at a sports bar and Marshalls. On top of all that, Saweetie worked as a research assistant for a professor named Ann Majchrzak. The professor spoke on Saweetie's tremendous work ethic, recalling how she put in "several hundred hours" coding for a research project over a few months.
Despite the hectic school and work schedule, Saweetie still honed her musical skills. She would write rhymes every day on her nearly 2-hour commute to USC from Northridge. For an individual who most audiences write off as just being "pretty," she's not afraid of hard work.
The two most remarkable catalysts of Saweetie's rise are her relatability and consistency. She leaned into social media very early, showcasing not only her skills but her personality as well. She only had $40 to her name in 2017 when a freestyle posted on Instagram would change everything for her.
My Neck My Back- Saweeti Freestyle
Rapping over Khia's "My Neck, My Back" beat, Saweetie launched herself into viral superstardom. The song would eventually become "Icy Grl," giving her the first big song and break into the music industry. She then met her manager Max Gousse and signed to his label Artistry Worldwide, in partnership with Warner Records. The Freestyle gave an authentic birth to her ICY calling card and brand.
The Icy Girl branding is the crux of Saweetie's persona and artistry. After her break out hit with 'Icy Grl,' Saweetie caught another viral moment with her "High Maintenance" freestyle. She rode that moment into the debut of her first EP of the same name. She hit significant adversity with her infamous Hot97 Freestyle, creating the "she's pretty, but can't rap" narrative, which she still deals with today. However, that did not stop her.
She moved on to release her second EP, Icy, in 2019. It featured her biggest hit thus far, 'My Type'. Next was 'Tap In' in 2020, earning Saweetie her second Top 10 placement on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. She's continued her streak of hot catchy singles with 'Back to the Streets' alongside Jhene Aiko and the girl power anthem 'Best Friend' record featuring Doja Cat.
Saweetie - Best Friend (feat. Doja Cat) [Official Music Video]
Saweetie's perseverance with music best represents her Icy Girl moniker. Even with harsh critics dismissing her rap skills and online threads continuously dragging her, she "bosses up," accepts responsibility, and works through the problem.
"I'm really grateful for my start," Saweetie says in Cosmopolitan's March cover story. "Because the mistakes, the struggle, the grind—it allows me to appreciate the rewards that come now because I know what it feels like to sleep in motels, to drive and do promo, to be stressed out."
Being an Icy Girl aims to be the best version of yourself and want better things in life.
"It's not always about being iced up or stuntin' on hoes. Icy to me is hustling and having the mentality of getting what you said you was gon' get. Everything I was gon' get, I got. It's very important to believe in yourself — and that's what an icy girl and an icy boy is."
More than just defining what the Icy brand is, Saweetie cements her influence by making it relatable and accessible for other women. It's what makes her hip-hop's Girl Next Door. She's the girly-girls best friend. Motivated and aggressive, yet warm and inviting. She will interact with her fans and hype up the dance videos made to her records. She doesn't base her career or validation on the success of a boyfriend or male suitor.
Saweetie upholds this self-assured independence as a standard. It, in turn, sets an example for the women, who admire her beauty and confidence, to follow. That is the secret behind Saweetie. The music speaks it, the online personality reinforces it, and her boss moves manifest it. Her overall likability and branding have already gone past her music. It's the fuel behind her consistent digital presence.
When you see her, she's always having fun, looks fantastic, and aspires to bigger and better. Who wouldn't want to get next to that?
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Lil Wayne Talks About Childhood Suicide Attempt And Owning Young Money
Lil Wayne talks about owning Young Money and discusses a suicide attempt at 12 which he hopes will help people going through a similar situation get through it!
“Just being an adult, reaching a level of maturity and comfort where it’s like, ‘I want to talk about this because I know a lot of people out here might be going through that.’”
By: Omar Cook
Rapper Lil Wayne was only 12 years old when he shot himself in the chest with a handgun he got from his mother’s purse. He has always gone on record for saying it was an accident but in his recent interview with Billboard, he revealed that this was a suicide attempt. "In the past, he has called this an accident. But on the new verse he plays, Wayne admits this was a suicide attempt, undertaken after his mother told him he would no longer be allowed to rap," Billboard reports.
Young Money label president Mack Maine explained why Wayne came forward to speak about it after all this time. “He just told me one day that he was ready to address it now,” Maine said. “Just being an adult, reaching a level of maturity and comfort where it’s like, ‘I want to talk about this because I know a lot of people out here might be going through that.’”
On his album Free Weezy, he subliminally addressed the situation on the track “London Roads”: “Ms. Cita, I remember goin’ in your gun drawer/Puttin’ it to my chest and missin’ my heart by centimeters, oh Lord.” What’s crazy is that after he recovered from his injuries, his mother allowed him to join Cash Money with the agreement that he wouldn’t curse on his records. The result was his 1999 solo debut, Tha Block Is Hot which featured no curse words!
Wayne coming forward with this testimony speaks to the passion that he knew he had for rapping at an early age. It also tells us that people can hide hurtful truths about themselves and secretly go through things without anyone knowing. Wayne is one of the biggest artists in the world, and the world had no idea that it was a near death experience that propelled him into a rap career. His testimony also says that sometimes on the other side of pain, is glory and you just have to get through to receive what’s yours, no matter who’s in the way. Wayne’s maturity and growth on the situation should let people know that they too can get through what looks like the worst possible situation and come out on top.
Lil Wayne Opens Up About Childhood Suicide Attempt (CREDIT: Instagram.com/evanhernandez)
In the interview with Billboard, Wayne also addressed how he got through his long legal battles with Birdman and Cash Money Records saying, “Just the confidence in knowing that there’s always a tomorrow and I’m going to make sure that tomorrow is bright. Some people can’t go on [like] that, like, ‘OK, tomorrow will be better.’ They need it to be better right now. And thank God I didn’t, and I never did.”
Lil Wayne announced the production of his highly anticipated album, Tha Carter V, in late 2012 and was scheduled to release it on December 9, 2014. Just a few days before the scheduled release, Wayne took to twitter to express the issues he was dealing with regarding Birdman and Cash Money discussing how they refused to release the album. What followed was a $51 million lawsuit against Birdman and Cash Money, alleging breach of contract, failure to pay royalties and withholding advances, and requesting an audit of Cash Money’s books. Since then the album has been on halt.
The lawsuit has since been settled and Wayne has retained ownership of his label Young Money and recently announced that Tha Carter V would be released this fall. FINALLY. It’s about time because if you’re reading this i’m assuming you’re a Wayne fan and this is what we been waiting on. Since settling the lawsuit, Wayne and Birdman have repaired their relationship but he also revealed that it caused him to have some trust issues.
“Not even just with him, but my relationships with a lot of people have become different, just because of how different I work now,” he says. “I’m submerged in everything about myself, trying to be better at who I am. It’s something where you have to cut some things off.”
Sometimes you have to withstand a storm to receive the ultimate blessings. And sometimes you have to remove yourself from certain relationships to ultimately become who you need to be. Wayne opening up about his trials and tribulations should be a message to anyone going through something, that they can get through it and still come out on top.
Meet Gentel Sharrie, Head of Media Coverage for 247 Live Culture!
Email: Gentel@247LCTV.com