Music

Drake is bringing together twelve of the top battle rappers for a special competition that will be livestreamed on Saturday. He has teamed with the Ultimate Rap League to host Drake’s Til Death Do Us Part.

“I really put this event together because so much time we spend debating in sport, in competition, what would happen if this person had to go up against this person,” Drizzy said in a promo video.

“A lot of the time our debates stem from our dream matchups, and this event, fortunately for us in battle rap, is that exact debate coming to life,” Drake continues. “These are battles that are fueled by rivalry, hate, a true chance to silence all the talking and definitely set up moments that will rewrite legacy and rewrite history for some people.”

The event continues Drake’s month-long birthday celebration, and marks the Ultimate Rap League’s 12th anniversary.

“Drake isn’t just a casual battle rap fan and has been a supporter behind the URL movement for years,”  Ultimate Rap League CEO Troy Mitchell says in a statement. “Over the last 20 months, he’s helped our brand grow by facilitating our partnership with Caffeine, which allows us to stream our premium content for free to our fanbase.”

“Drake’s Til Death Do Us Part is not just a birthday celebration for our friend,” Mitchell continues. “It is a shifting of the culture and is going to be the biggest event ever witnessed in battle rap history, bigger even than Summer Madness 2.”

Drake’s Til Death Do Us Part airs live on URL’s Caffeine channel on Saturday, October 30th at 6 p.m. EDT/3 p.m. PDT and will stream exclusively on URL’s app,

 

 

 

 

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Jake Owen, Ronnie Dunn and Texas-based singer Jake Worthington take the wheel on “Jonesin’,” the newest release off of the Hardy-curated Hixtape Vol. 2.

The track — which Florida Georgia Line band mate Brian Kelley co-wrote with Nashville hitmakers Ernest K. Smith and Corey Crowder — is a feel-good ode to a couple of the titans of the country genre.

“Well, I’m jonesin’ for some Jones / I’m hankerin’ for some Hank / And I’mma two-step across the dance floor / With a little lightning in my drink,” the trio sing in the chorus. “And I’m out here for a good time / Yeah, I’m trying to find some love / Gonna keep this tractor rolling / ‘Til they kick me out the country club…”

Of course, those lyrics are clever tips of the hat to songs from the Possum himself, George Jones, with another honorable mention for another country great, Hank Williams.

“Jonesin’” is the latest release off of Hixtape Vol. 2, which drops in full this December. A collaborations project also featuring the likes of Jon Pardi, Jimmie Allen, Dierks Bentley and many more, the Hixtape is a follow-up to Hardy’s 2019 duets project, Hixtape Vol 1.

Speaking of Hardy, he’s got plans to make his late-night TV debut next month. He’ll make a stop on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where he’ll perform his current single, “Give Heaven Some Hell.” That spot is set for November 8, just a few days after the 2021 CMA Awards, where Hardy’s nominated for New Artist of the Year.

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The lawsuit between Bad Wolves and the band’s former frontman, Tommy Vext, has been settled, Billboard reports.

Vext, who fronted Bad Wolves for their first two albums, parted ways with the group earlier this year in January. In July, Vext filed a lawsuit against Allen Kovac, the CEO of Bad Wolves’ record label, Better Noise Music, alleging that Kovac had orchestrated his exit from the band due to his political views, including his support for former President Donald Trump and his stance against the Black Lives Matter movement. Vext also alleged that Kovac used racial slurs in conversations with him.

Bad Wolves and Better Noise then countered with their own lawsuit, saying Vext infringed upon copyright in using his former band’s name to promote his own solo tour.

Now, in a joint statement to Billboard, the parties declare that they’ve “collectively resolved their disputes.”

“This is a settlement with no winners and no losers; it’s beneficial to everyone in order to move on and bury the hatchet,” the statement reads. “This is a new beginning and a bright future for all those concerned.”

It continues, “We’re all excited to get back to what’s important, and that’s the music. Bad Wolves and Tommy wish each other the best going forward, and ask that their fans respect this decision.”

The result comes at a fitting time, since Bad Wolves’ new album, Dear Monsters, is out today. The record is the group’s first with new lead singer Daniel “DL” Laskiewicz.

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Papa Roach has premiered a new single called “Dying to Believe.”

The earnest track finds frontman Jacoby Shaddix singing, “I’m dying to believe/That we’re more alike than we think/That we’re all the same underneath.” You can listen to it now via digital outlets.

“Dying to Believe” follows the recently released tunes “Kill the Noise” and “Swerve,” featuring FEVER 333‘s Jason Aalon Butler and rapper Sueco. All three are set to appear on the next Papa Roach album, due out in 2022.

Papa Roach’s most recent record is 2019’s Who Do You Trust?

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Zayn Malik pleaded no contest Friday to harassment charges after he “shoved” Gigi Hadid’s mother Yolanda Hadid into a dresser and hurled expletives at her, according to court records obtained by ABC News.
 
Malik was issued four harassment citations in Bucks County, Pennsylvania where, following his no contest plea, he was put on probation for 360 days. He also was ordered to complete an anger management class and have no contact with Yolanda Hadid or John McMahon, a security guard who witnessed the incident.

According to the court documents, Zayn called Yolanda a “f****** Dutch sl**” and told her to “stay away from [his] f****** daughter.” Zayn and Gigi share one-year-old daughter, Khai.
 
The British singer also told McMahon to “Get the f*** out of my f****** house copper,” and also tried to engage McMahon in a fight, according to the docs.
 
The incident occurred September 29 in the home Malik shared with Gigi, whom Malik subsequently told to “strap on some f****** balls and defend your partner against your f****** mother in my house,” according to court records.

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After dropping his new album = (Equals) at midnight, Ed Sheeran has released the music video for “Overpass Graffiti.”

In the video, Ed gets stranded at a rest stop after his tour bus leaves without him. He then embarks on a desert adventure with a group of strangers.

Also on Friday, Ed teased his new Christmas song with Elton John during an interview with BBC Radio 2.

“So kiss me under the mistletoe/Pour out the wine/Let’s toast and pray for December snow/I know there’s been this year but it’s time to let it go/Next year you never know/But for now, Merry Christmas,” he sings in the snippet.

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Limp Bizkit‘s new album will arrive on Halloween.

The “Break Stuff” rockers announced late Thursday night that their first record since 2011’s Gold Cobra will drop in full on October 31. The long in-the-works album — which, at one point, was to be titled Stampede of the Disco Elephants — is officially called Limp Bizkit Still Sucks.

The record consists of 12 tracks, including the previously released single “Dad Vibes,” which first premiered during the Bizkit’s set at Lollapalooza over the summer.

“We are excited to share this with you,” Fred Durst and company say in an Instagram Story posted by their label Suretone Records. “The party has just begun. See you soon.”

Here’s the Still Sucks track list:

“Out of Style”
“Dirty Rotten Bizkit”
“Dad Vibes”
“Turn It Up, B****”
“Don’t Change”
“You Bring Out the Worst in Me”
“Love the Hate”
“Barnacle”
“Empty Hole”
“Pill Popper”
“Snacky Poo”
“Goodbye”

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Oh, well imagine, your adorable baby is finally asleep, and you don’t even need to close the you-know-what door.

Rockabye Baby! is here to help you accomplish that dream. The long-running series, which has released lullaby versions of songs by artists including The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana and Tool, has now put its spin on Panic! at the Disco.

A whole album of soothing, twinkling recreations of tracks from throughout the Panic! discography is out today. What’s more, ABC Audio has the exclusive premiere of the video for the Rockabye Baby! rendition of “I Write Sins Not Tragedies.”

“What’s cool about Panic! is they started their big breakthrough right around the same time Rockabye did,” says series founder Lisa Roth. “So, there’s a chance that the teenagers and young adults who grew up with Panic! are starting families of their own, and it’s our hope they’ll share our lullaby renditions with their little ones.” 

“Personally, I’ve always been intrigued by their genre-hopping music,” Roth adds of Brendon Urie and company. “And as a kid raised on musical theatre, I love the theatrical style of the videos and live shows.”

Here’s the Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of Panic! at the Disco track list:

“Hey Look Ma, I Made It”
“High Hopes”
“I Write Sins Not Tragedies”
“Victorious”
“The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage”
“Lying Is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off”
“Nine in the Afternoon”
“Death of a Bachelor”
“The Ballad of Mona Lisa”
“Miss Jackson”
“Say Amen (Saturday Night)”
“This is Gospel”

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Megan Thee Stallion went on an even deeper dive of her musical archive and unearthed 20 rare tracks for her new studio effort, Something for Thee Hotties: From Thee Archives, which she released Friday.

The “Savage” rapper was set to put forth a 15-track compilation, which include a mix of freestyles and never-before-heard tracks, right at midnight, but the release was slightly delayed after Meg decided to throw in five bonus tracks, including two skits.

She teased the delay will be “WORTH THEE WAIT.”

Appearing on Thee Archives are the unreleased singles “Freakend,” “Pipe Up” and “Bae Goals.”  On the freestyle side, she’s included “Southside Forever,” “Outta Town” and “Bless the Booth,” among others.

She added an extra treat, too, by placing her previously released single “Thot S***” in the mix.

The Grammy winner previously said she rummaged through her music catalogue and unearthed a mix of never-before-heard or unreleased tracks because she wanted to give her fans something to “hold ya’ll over for the rest of the year.”

She also acknowledged that her Hotties have been asking for her to release singles of the freestyles she previously shared on social media, such as her “Outta Town” and “Tuned In.”

Meg has certainly been keeping busy in the recording studio this year.  After releasing her debut album Good News in the tail end of 2020, she’s been dropping freestyles, partnered with DJ Snake for “SG” and jumped on the Maluma and Rock Mafia track “Crazy Family” for Addams Family 2.

Here’s the complete track list for Something for Thee Hotties: From Thee Archives:

“Tuned In Freestlyle”
“Megan Monday Freestyle”
“Trippy Skit” ft Juicy J
“South Side Forever Freestyle”
“Outta Town Freestyle”
“Megans Piano”
“Vickeelo and Dino BTW Skit”
“Eat It”
“All of It”
“Warning”
“Kitty Kat”
“Tina Snow Interlude”
“Let Me See It”
“Opposite Day”
“Freakend”
“Bae Goals”
“Pipe Up”
“Bless the Booth Freestyle”
“Thot S***”

 

 

 

 

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