2021 XXL Freshman Coi Leroy, Lakeyah, Morray and DDG sat down with XXL for their first roundtable interview to reflect on their rise to fame as emerging artists.
Coi says Billboard hits and platinum records are cool, but “I just think I’m not satisfied.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what [it’s] going to take for me to be satisfied, but I have to keep going. I’m appreciative, but I want more,” the “No More Parties” rapper says.
Coi Leray’s success took off after her Billboard Hot 100 single, “No More Parties,” was certified Platinum by the RIAA in May. A month before, Quality Control signee Lakeyah dropped her second mixtape, In Due Time, to follow her Time’s Up debut. Quality Control is also the home label to fellow rappers Lil Baby, Lil Yachty, City Girls and more.
Meanwhile, North Carolina native Morray closed out 2020 with a major co-sign from fellow North Carolina rapper J. Cole over his debut single, “Quicksand.” For his part, 23-year-old DDG leveraged his social media following to launch a successful music career and release his platinum “Moonwalking in Calabasas Remix,” featuring Blueface. XXL dubbed the song one of the best hip-hop remixes of the last five years.
Other rising artists on the 2021 XXL Freshman list include Flo Milli, Toosi, 42 Dugg, Blxst, Rubi Rose, Iann Dior,and Pooh Shiesty.
Ivan Moody is a poet and he does, in fact, know it.
The Five Finger Death Punch frontman has announced Dirty Poetry, a collection of original poems accompanied by ink and watercolor illustrations by artist Blake Armstrong.
“Out of all the projects I’ve undertaken this is something truly out of the ordinary, completely unorthodox, and without ‘creative walls,'” Moody says. “It is by far the oddest thing I’ve ever done (and that’s saying something).”
Dirty Poetry is set to arrive in October from publisher Z2 Comics, which has previously worked with artists including Beartooth, Skillet, Alter Bridge, and Black Veil Brides‘ Andy Biersack.
Five Finger Death Punch released their latest album, F8, in 2020. A new record is currently in the works for 2022.
(LOS ANGELES) — The Rams have unveiled new uniforms they are calling ‘modern throwbacks.’
The new uniforms honor the classic Rams uniform worn by greats like Eric Dickerson, Jack Youngblood, and the ‘Greatest Show on Turf.”
The uniforms “pay tribute to older design elements including ram horns on the capped sleeves, with newer features that weave in a modern look and feel.”
The uniforms can be worn four ways: a dark blue jersey with yellow pants; a dark blue jersey with dark blue pants; an off-white jersey with off-white pants; and a white jersey with blue pants.
The team will wear the uniforms on September 12 against the Bears, November 7 against the Titans, and November 15 against the 49ers. All three games are nationally televised, with the game against San Francisco on ESPN’s Monday Night Football.
It is the second time in two years the Rams have introduced new jerseys. Last May, Los Angeles debuted a blue jersey with yellow gradient numbering and interchangeable blue or yellow pants and an off-white jersey and pant combination.
Rise Against has announced a new graphic novel based on the band’s new album, Nowhere Generation.
The book, also titled Nowhere Generation, is characterized as a “glimpse into the lives of the abandoned, a collection of down and out individuals coming together for a revolution.”
“These are the stories of the ones who fight back,” the description reads.
Nowhere Generation is due out October 12. It’ll be published by Z2 Comics, which has worked with lots of musicians, including Machine Gun Kelly, Beartooth, Anthrax, Alter Bridge, All Time Low and Yungblud.
Rise Against released Nowhere Generation the album in June. They’ll launch a U.S. tour in support of the record July 30 in New York City.
Earlier this month, over the Independence Day weekend, Matt Stell made his first trip overseas to perform for U.S. service members. The rising star gave several live shows at Al Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi in the Persian Gulf.
Matt’s set list included his back-to-back number-one hits, his 2019 debut “Prayed for You” and hit follow-up, “Everywhere but On.” Both songs come off the singer’s debut EP, which is also titled Everywhere but On.
He also performed his current single, “That Ain’t Me No More,” which broke country radio’s top 40 last month.
Before his breakout country success, Matt spent time pursuing other career dreams: He played college basketball at Drury University, and nearly pursued a pre-med program after being accepted to Harvard University. Still, getting the chance to perform overseas for military members was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the singer says.
“This doesn’t happen to me often, but I really can’t find the words to express what this trip has meant to me,” Matt admits. “I am so thankful for the opportunity and I will never forget the experience.”
Carlos Santana has lent his guitar talents to “She’s Fire,” a track from acclaimed songwriter Diane Warren‘s forthcoming debut studio album, Diane Warren: The Cave Sessions Vol. 1.
The song, which features vocals by hitmaking rapper G-Eazy, is available now as a digital download and via streaming services. In addition, a lyric video for the tune has been posted at Warren’s official YouTube channel.
“It is an honor to co-join with Diane Warren and G-Eazy on ‘She’s Fire,'” Santana says in a statement. “Diane has an incredible gift, vision-awareness-ability to paint a picture to transport the listener to a place of emotion and passion. Her lyrics and arrangements are a part of the world’s musical tapestry and should be forever cherished.”
Adds Warren, “I’m so excited for everyone to hear ‘She’s Fire!!’ To be able to work with Carlos Santana has always been a dream of mine…I expected [the song] to be great, and it turned out even better than I imagined, pure fire.”
As previously reported, The Cave Sessions Vol. 1 is due out this year, and also features guest appearances by Celine Dion, Mary J. Blige, Hootie & the Blowfish‘s Darius Rucker, John Legend and many others.
Warren released another advance track in November 2020 called “Times Like These” that features vocals by Rucker.
Diane’s long list of credits and achievements include nine number-one hits and 32 top-10 singles. Among the hits she’s composed are Aerosmith‘s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” Starship‘s “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now,” Cher‘s “If I Could Turn Back Time,” Toni Braxton‘s “Unbreak My Heart,” and LeAnn Rimes‘ “How Do I Live.”
Santana recently told ABC Audio that Warren has written two songs that will appear on his band’s next album, Blessing and Miracles.
(NEW YORK) — An alleged sexual assault victim who says she was held against her will for months was rescued after she left notes in public restrooms pleading for help, according to authorities.
In one note she wrote, “If I don’t make it tell my family I love them,” according to a criminal complaint.
Police say the first cry for help was found Thursday, stuck to a mirror in the women’s bathroom of a Walmart in Carnegie, Pennsylvania, outside Pittsburgh.
The note was from a woman who said she had been sexually and physically assaulted, and was being held against her will, by 38-year-old Corey Brewer, who was armed with a knife, according to the complaint. The note also gave an address where she was being held and a description of a car, and begged the reader to call 911.
The alleged victim’s ex told police she and Brewer were in a relationship and that she filed a protection from abuse order against Brewer in August 2020, they said. The order expired one month later.
Police went to the address written on the note. Though no one answered the door, according to the complaint, officers said they could hear furniture being moved around inside.
Officers called Brewer’s number and asked to speak to the victim privately, but Brewer allegedly told the officers he wouldn’t take her off speaker phone, the complaint said. In the speaker phone conversation, Brewer told the officers the two were on vacation in New York, and the victim told police she was with her boyfriend.
Two days later, on Saturday, a second note signed by the same victim was found stuck to a mirror in a women’s restroom at the Fallingwater museum and landmark in western Pennsylvania, the complaint said. Police say video surveillance from Fallingwater showed Brewer and the alleged victim there.
The note said she’d been held since May 1 and was not on vacation, and again pleaded with the reader to call 911, the complaint said. The note said “she heard the police knocking at the residence, that the abuse hasn’t stopped, and please don’t give up.”
Police executed a search warrant early Sunday, rescuing the alleged victim and taking Brewer into custody, the complaint said. The woman told police Brewer confiscated her phone and she wasn’t able to escape.
She said Brewer sexually assaulted her, and that he also punched and strangled her numerous times, the complaint said. She claimed Brewer also threatened to kill her and her children if she tried to leave.
The woman also alleged Brewer took nude photos of her against her will and used a knife to cut her foot, according to the complaint.
Brewer was charged with sexual assault, strangulation and unlawful restraint. He did not have an attorney as of Tuesday afternoon and is due in court for a preliminary hearing on July 22.
(TAMPA BAY, Fla.) — Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov played the Stanley Cup Final with a broken rib, according to general manager Julien BriseBois.
Kucherov sustained a non-displaced rib fracture after a cross-check against the New York Islanders in the semi-final round, according to BriseBois.
“He played with a flak jacket from that point on and also had a nerve block injection the day before every game,” said BriseBois. “It makes his performance during these playoffs both before the injury and post broken rib all the more impressive.”
Kucherov led the playoffs with 32 points on eight goals and 24 assists.
The star wasn’t the only player dealing with an injury during the playoffs. Defenseman Victor Hedman played with a torn meniscus while forward Barclay Goodrow and defenseman Ryan McDonough played with broken hands, according to the GM.
Forward Alex Killorn broke his leg blocking a shot in game 1 of the final before have a rod put in his leg a few days later. Two days after the surgery he was already back skating with the hope of playing.
“That’s how you win a Stanley Cup,” said a choked-up BriseBois. “All the competing through injury, it was outstanding and so inspiring to watch on a game-in, game-out basis.”
Tampa Bay won its second straight Stanley Cup Final beating Montreal 4-1.
Demi Lovato is giving others some grace when it comes to learning their new pronouns.
In a message posted to Instagram, Demi writes, “If you misgender me, that’s okay. I accidentally misgender myself sometimes! It’s a huge transition to change the pronouns I’ve used for myself my entire life. And it’s difficult to remember sometimes!”
They continue, “As long as you keep trying to respect my truth, and as long as I remember my truth, the shift will come naturally. I’m just grateful for your effort in trying to remember what means so much to my healing process.”
Demi explains in the caption that they felt the need to post this message “because I often find that the change in pronouns can be confusing for some, and difficult to remember for others.”
The singer says “it’s all about your intention,” adding, “It’s important to me that you try, but if you make a mistake, it’s okay.”
This week marks Non-Binary Awareness Week. Demi came out as non-binary, changing their pronouns to they/them, in May.
St. Vincent has announced a streaming concert special, set to premiere August 4.
The virtual show, titled Down and Out Downtown, will feature the live debuts of songs off St. Vincent’s new album, Daddy’s Home, as well as “new arrangements of hits and deep cuts.”
A trailer for the special includes snippets of Daddy’s Home songs, as well as renditions of older tunes including “Los Ageless” and “Cheerleader” reworked with St. Vincent’s new backing band. You can watch that streaming now on YouTube.
Down and Out Downtown will stream via the platform Moment House. For ticket info, visit MomentHouse.com/StVincent.
Daddy’s Home, the sixth St. Vincent album, was released in May. It includes the lead single “Pay Your Way in Pain.”
