HipHop DX News
New Music Friday: A$AP Rocky, Denzel Curry, IDK, Roc Marciano & More
Andy Bustard (23/01/2026)
Anybody who thought that hip-hop would somehow slow down in 2026 after its so-called chart struggles last year are sadly mistaken. This week’s New Music Friday is another stacked one thanks to A$AP Rocky, who wastes no time in adding to Don’t Be Dumb by teasing out a few songs from the upcoming deluxe edition.... The post New Music Friday: A$AP Rocky, Denzel Curry, IDK, Roc Marciano & More appeared first on HipHopDX.
Anybody who thought that hip-hop would somehow slow down in 2026 after its so-called chart struggles last year are sadly mistaken.
This week’s New Music Friday is another stacked one thanks to A$AP Rocky, who wastes no time in adding to Don’t Be Dumb by teasing out a few songs from the upcoming deluxe edition. (Perhaps he’s making up for lost time after the eight-year wait for the album.)
Denzel Curry introduces his rambunctious new supergroup, The Scythe, which includes himself (under the alias Big Ultra), A$AP Ferg, TiaCorine, Bktherula and Key Nyata. Their debut album Strictly 4 The Scythe drops March 6, and the lead single “Lit Effect” is a high-energy preview of what’s to come.
Speaking of all-star lineups, IDK‘s new project Even the Devil Smiles extends not only his incredible (and slept-on) run as a solo artist, but his knack for assembling heavyweight collaborations. Pusha T, Black Thought, MF DOOM, DMX, RZA and Madlib are some of the many big names on the 15-track effort.
Roc Marciano is also back in business with 656, a fully self-produced album featuring a couple of cameos from fellow Rotten Apple rhymer Errol Holden.
Elswhere, Cam’ron airs out his issues with Damon Dash on the aptly-titled “Letter To Dame,” 42 Dugg rounds up a few usual suspects for his hard-hitting new album Part 3, and Curren$y continues to disprove the stoner slacker myth with yet another new mixtape.
Check out all the best new rap albums and songs below.
A$AP Rocky — “Flackito Jodye” (feat. Tokischa) + “I Smoked Away My Brain” (feat. Imogen Heap & Clams Casino)
Produced By: A$AP Rocky & LeoRD / Clams Casino
Denzel Curry feat. Bktherula & LAZER DIM 700 — “Lit Effect”
Produced By: BNYX & Bryvn
IDK — Even the Devil Smiles
Featuring: Pusha T, Black Thought, MF DOOM, DMX, RZA, Madlib, No ID, Conductor Williams, KAYTRANADA
Roc Marciano — 656
Featuring: Errol Holden
Cam’ron — “Letter to Dame (Freestyle)”
Produced By: Credits unavailable
42 Dugg — Part 3
Featuring: Lil Baby, GloRilla, G Herbo, EST Gee, Rylo Rodriguez, Skilla Baby, Doughboy Clay
Curren$y — Everywhere You Look
Featuring: Wiz Khalifa, Trauma Tone, Kino Beats
Ari Lennox — Vacancy
Featuring: Buju Banton, Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox, Elite, BoogzDaBeast, Cardiak, Swiff D
Hit-Boy — “NBA Centel” + “I’m Still Alive” + “Percentages”
Produced By: Hit-Boy
Wiz Khalifa — “Too Blessed To Be Stressed”
Produced By: Big Jerm & LAGUNE
Kai Ka$h feat. Marco Plus — “BADDIEHUB CONTENT”
Produced By: Credits unavailable
Rich The Kid feat. Blueface & DDG — “Vibes”
Produced By: Rich The Kid
Flo Milli — “Flo Jackson”
Produced By: Kid Hazel, Alyx & Splited Stupid
Fred again.. feat. Young Thug — “Scared”
Produced By: Fred again.., Boo & Nate Brazier
Jordan Ward — “Stranger”
Produced By: Lido
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Read More Travis Scott Responds To Pusha T Dissing Him
Andy Bustard (22/01/2026)
Travis Scott has finally fired back at Pusha T‘s flurry of shots on the Clipse‘s Let God Sort Em Out and throughout the album rollout. On the single “So Be It,” Pusha spent his entire final verse taunting his former G.O.O.D. Music collaborator, rapping: “You cried in front of me, you died in front of... The post Travis Scott Responds To Pusha T Dissing Him appeared first on HipHopDX.
Travis Scott has finally fired back at Pusha T‘s flurry of shots on the Clipse‘s Let God Sort Em Out and throughout the album rollout.
On the single “So Be It,” Pusha spent his entire final verse taunting his former G.O.O.D. Music collaborator, rapping: “You cried in front of me, you died in front of me / Calabasas took your bitch and your pride in front of me / Her Utopia had moved right up the street / And her lip gloss was poppin’, she ain’t need you to eat.”
He also alluded to possessing incriminating footage of La Flame, spitting: “The ‘net gon’ call it the way that they see it / But I got the video, I can share and A.E. it / They wouldn’t believe it, but I can’t unsee it / Lucky I ain’t TMZ it.”
In an interview with GQ last summer shortly before the release of Let God Sort Em Out, Pusha T elaborated on his issues with Travis Scott, who he accused of intentionally omitting Drake‘s verse on “Meltdown” (which contained shots at Pharrell) while playing Utopia during a Clipse and Pharrell studio session in Paris that he had “interrupted.”
“He’s smiling, laughing, jumping around, doing his fucking monkey dance,” he said. “We weren’t into the music, but he wanted to play it, wanted to film [us and Pharrell listening to it]. And then a week later you hear ‘Meltdown.’ He played the song, but not [Drake’s verse].”
Pusha added: “[I was like], ‘Dawg, don’t even come over here with that.’ Because at the end of the day, I don’t play how y’all play … He’s a whore.”
In a cover story for Rolling Stone published on Wednesday (January 21), Travis Scott disputed Pusha T’s version of events, saying: “When you go back and look at it … it’s crazy. N*ggas said I had a film crew [with me]. I’m like, ‘What?’
“I remember when I pulled up, it was them n*ggas that had a film crew. I’m talking about the little microphone on the stick and all of that. I was like, ‘Oh, shit. Am I in a documentary?’”
The Cactus Jack founder also addressed Pusha’s grievances with “Meltdown,” insisting that Drake’s verse hadn’t yet come in when he played them his album.
“A lot of shit [Pusha] was saying just didn’t make sense to me,” he added. “It was like he was saying I was interrupting shit and I was playing them shit. First of all, I can’t interrupt something that somebody [Pharrell] asked me to come pull up on.”
“So when I hear that type of shit, it’s just like, I don’t know, man. If you got to drop Trav name for the rollout, so be it.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Travis Scott cited Iggy Pop and Ozzy Osbourne as inspirations, explained why doesn’t care about critics trashing his music, and briefly spoke about his next album.
“[I’m] putting my whole body and soul into the next [project], for more people to understand,” he said. “[For] the person that still don’t understand Trav, no matter how long I’ve been in this shit.”
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Read More Pharrell Debuts New Pusha T, A$AP Rocky & Quavo Music During Louis Vuitton Show
Andy Bustard (21/01/2026)
Pharrell‘s Louis Vuitton Fall-Winter 2026 show was as much a showcase of his musical talent as his fashion vision. During the stylish event in Paris on Tuesday (January 20), Skateboard P debuted five unreleased songs from the likes of Pusha T, A$AP Rocky and Quavo — all produced by himself. King Push appears on a... The post Pharrell Debuts New Pusha T, A$AP Rocky & Quavo Music During Louis Vuitton Show appeared first on HipHopDX.
Pharrell‘s Louis Vuitton Fall-Winter 2026 show was as much a showcase of his musical talent as his fashion vision.
During the stylish event in Paris on Tuesday (January 20), Skateboard P debuted five unreleased songs from the likes of Pusha T, A$AP Rocky and Quavo — all produced by himself.
King Push appears on a track with Jackson Wang called “Sex God,” making a brief but braggadocious cameo on the Hong Kong rapper’s bouncy, radio-friendly record.
Fresh off the release of his long-awaited album Don’t Be Dumb, Pretty Flacko keeps the new music coming by linking up with Pharrell on the jiggy, champagne-popping “Disturbing the P.”
Soundtracking the finale of the runway show, “Hit-a Lik” is the first taste of Quavo’s upcoming album which is helmed by the former Neptunes hitmaker.
Pharrell, who has served as Louis Vuitton’s men’s creative director since 2023, also premiered never-before-heard songs from John Legend (“Pray For Ya”) and Voices of Fire (“The One”), the Virginia-based gospel choir that featured on the Clipse’s Grammy-nominated “The Birds Don’t Sing.”
It’s unclear if the spree of new songs is a sign that Pharrell is gearing up to release a new solo album, which would be his first since 2014’s GIRL, or he’s simply looking to extend his late-career hot streak behind the boards.
The 52-year-old reinstated himself as one of hip-hop’s hottest producers last year thanks largely to the Clipse‘s excellent comeback album Let God Sort Em Out, which he produced entirely by himself.
The project earned not only widespread critical acclaim, but multiple Grammy nominations including for Album of the Year — Pusha T and Malice‘s first-ever nods in the coveted category.
Proving he’s still as versatile as ever, Pharrell also lent his midas touch to The Weeknd‘s Hurry Up Tomorrow and Rosalía’s Lux while cooking up heatrocks for Rick Ross (“For the Money”), Snoop Dogg (“Spot”) and Don Toliver (“LV Bag”).
“I watched The Irishman and that shit changed me because I saw [Martin] Scorsese… this guy doesn’t fucking miss and just gets better and better with time,” he said in an interview with Complex.
“That doesn’t happen in rap. A lot of times, people feel like they age out. And I understand that for some people … But man, to God be the glory that [the Clipse and I] get to wake up and still feel this way about this shit — and be fucking great!”
The post Pharrell Debuts New Pusha T, A$AP Rocky & Quavo Music During Louis Vuitton Show appeared first on HipHopDX.
Read More J. Cole Is Dropping A Mixtape Before ‘The Fall-Off,’ Jadakiss Says: “He’s Coming Crazy”
Andy Bustard (21/01/2026)
J. Cole is currently gearing up to release his new album The Fall-Off in early February, but that isn’t the only project he has on deck — according to Jadakiss. The LOX legend let the cat out of the bag during the latest episode of his and Fat Joe’s Joe & Jada podcast, revealing that... The post J. Cole Is Dropping A Mixtape Before ‘The Fall-Off,’ Jadakiss Says: “He’s Coming Crazy” appeared first on HipHopDX.
J. Cole is currently gearing up to release his new album The Fall-Off in early February, but that isn’t the only project he has on deck — according to Jadakiss.
The LOX legend let the cat out of the bag during the latest episode of his and Fat Joe’s Joe & Jada podcast, revealing that Cole is set to drop a mixtape before The Fall-Off arrives on February 6.
According to Jada, the tape hears the Fayeteville phenom hijacking a few classic hip-hop beats.
“Shout out to J. Cole. He got a project coming out called The Fall-Off and he got a mixtape where he used some of The LOX [beats]. He rhymed over ‘Money, Power & Respect’ and he rhymed over ‘Can I Live,'” he said.
“He killed them shits. Cole is coming back in a major way. When you hear his bars, all [the backlash to his Kendrick Lamar apology] don’t matter. He’s coming crazy.”
Jadakiss’ comments fuel rumors that J. Cole is dropping two projects in the coming weeks.
Speculation suggests that the Dreamville MC will release a mixtape, possibly titled It’s a Boy, on January 28 to coincide with his 40th birthday.
It’s a Boy is a title that Cole himself floated when he first announced The Fall-Off back in 2020.
Cole has also added fuel to the fire by releasing the song “Disc 2 Track 2” last week, seemingly hinting that The Fall-Off will be a double album (or accompanied by a separate project entirely).
One thing we do know for sure is that the album is being billed as J. Cole’s seventh and final studio effort, capping off one of modern hip-hop’s most impactful careers.
“For the past 10 years, this album has been hand crafted with one intention: a personal challenge to myself to create my best work. To do on my last what I was unable to do on my first,” he wrote in a message that introduces his “Disc 2 Track 2” music video.
“I had no way of knowing how much time, focus and energy it would eventually take to achieve this, but despite countless challenges along the way, I knew in my heart I would one day get to the finish line. I owed it first and foremost to myself. And secondly, I owed it to hip hop.”
The post J. Cole Is Dropping A Mixtape Before ‘The Fall-Off,’ Jadakiss Says: “He’s Coming Crazy” appeared first on HipHopDX.
Read More T.I. Returns With New Pharrell-Produced Single “Let Em Know”: Listen
Andy Bustard (19/01/2026)
After the triumphant returns of the Clipse, Mobb Deep and De La Soul last year, T.I. is the latest rap veteran looking to make a comeback. Having spent the last few years focusing on his comedy career and expediTIously podcast, as well as fighting a few legal battles, the Grand Hustle general announced over the... The post T.I. Returns With New Pharrell-Produced Single “Let Em Know”: Listen appeared first on HipHopDX.
After the triumphant returns of the Clipse, Mobb Deep and De La Soul last year, T.I. is the latest rap veteran looking to make a comeback.
Having spent the last few years focusing on his comedy career and expediTIously podcast, as well as fighting a few legal battles, the Grand Hustle general announced over the weekend: “T.I. is back.”
Tip kickstarted his comeback campaign by releasing a new single called “Let Em Know,” produced by longtime collaborator and Producer of the Year candidate (thanks to his work on the Clipse’s Grammy-nominated Let God Sort Em Out) Pharrell.
Backed by a bouncy, speaker-rattling beat from Skateboard P, who is responsible for past T.I. hits like “Blurred Lines,” “I’m Serious” and “Get Back Up” as well as the bulk of his 2014 album Paperwork, the Bankhead bully gets right back in his bag with a braggadocious anthem.
“All they do is fight for number two ’cause I’m the one / Still make ’em play with the one / All we know is success, hit her with some rich sex / Good luck gettin’ your bitch back, she forever mine ’til I let her go,” he spits.
Adding to the resurgence, T.I. has also cut off his dreads and returned to his familiar low fade — the clean-cut hairstyle that he rocked throughout his 2000s prime.
Listen to “Let Em Know” below.
“Let Em Know” is the first preview of T.I.’s long-awaited new album Kill the King, which will mark his final full-length release and first since 2020’s The L.I.B.R.A..
In a 2023 appearance on the We In Miami podcast, the Atlanta native revealed that the project will be a double album, with side A titled Kill the King and side B labeled Kiss the King.
He also said NBA YoungBoy would be featured on one of the first singles — a track he said will subvert fans’ expectations — although it’s unclear if that’s still the plan.
Speaking with TMZ last year, Tip explained that the title Kill the King represents him “killing the ego” and relinquishing his King of the South crown.
“I feel like the ‘King of the South’ moniker, it’s very egotistical and self-gratuitous. It’s a persona that kinda enters the room before I do, physically,” he admitted.
“When I was coming onto the scene, I went to all of the Southern legends that I respected and I asked [for their blessing to call myself King of the South] … All of them gave me their support … [but Big Boi] said, ‘That shit sounds cool but just understand, if you the king you’re gonna put a big bullseye on your back. The name of the game in chess is to kill the king.'”
“Standing here 20 years later, looking back on my career, I can kinda see what he meant,” he added.
The post T.I. Returns With New Pharrell-Produced Single “Let Em Know”: Listen appeared first on HipHopDX.
Read More A$AP Rocky Disses Drake On “Stole Ya Flow” & Explains Their Beef
Andy Bustard (16/01/2026)
A$AP Rocky has continued his feud with Drake on his new album Don’t Be Dumb, sending more shots at the 6 God. On the song “Stole Ya Flow,” Pretty Flacko appears to taunt Drizzy over his relationship with Rihanna (who, of course, had a rumored fling with Drake years ago) while accusing him of biting... The post A$AP Rocky Disses Drake On “Stole Ya Flow” & Explains Their Beef appeared first on HipHopDX.
A$AP Rocky has continued his feud with Drake on his new album Don’t Be Dumb, sending more shots at the 6 God.
On the song “Stole Ya Flow,” Pretty Flacko appears to taunt Drizzy over his relationship with Rihanna (who, of course, had a rumored fling with Drake years ago) while accusing him of biting his style.
“First you stole my flow / So I stole your bitch,” he spits on the hard-hitting track, before seemingly referencing Drake’s alleged history of plastic surgery: “N*ggas getting BBLs, lucky we ain’t body-shame.”
In an interview with The New York Times‘ Popcast shortly before the release of Don’t Be Dumb, A$AP Rocky all but confirmed that “Stole Ya Flow” is aimed at his former “Fuckin’ Problems” collaborator.
“I think we all know [who I’m talking about],” he said. When co-host Joe Coscarelli noted that the Internet will most likely identify Drake as the target of the song, Rocky replied: “Yeah.”
However, the Harlem rapper gave a more vague answer when asked if “Stole Ya Flow” is a clear-cut Drake diss. “It’s for whoever thinks it’s about them,” he said.
Rocky also opened up about his issues with Drizzy, explaining: “I just started seeing people who started out as friends become foes. It seemed like they were unhappy for [me] and started sending shots. I think that’s what led to any of our misunderstandings. It really ain’t smoke.”
He also appeared to rule out a reconciliation, saying: “It don’t even need to be [resolved]. For what?”
His comments come at the 36:37 mark in the video below.
The pair’s relationship soured in late 2023 when Drake appeared to diss A$AP Rocky and Rihanna on his album For All the Dogs.
“Why they make it sound like I’m still hung up on you? / That could never be / Gyal can’t run me / Better him than me / Better it’s not me,” he rapped on “Fear of Heights.”
Drizzy also not-so-subtly referenced RiRi’s album Anti by spitting: “I’m anti, I’m anti / Yeah, and the sex was average with you / Yeah, I’m anti ’cause I had it with you / Okay, I’m auntie like your daddy’s sister / Auntie like a family picture / And I had way badder bitches than you, TBH / Yeah, that man, he still with you, he can’t leave you / Y’all go on vacation, I bet it’s Antigua.”
That led to a lyrical back-and-forth between Rocky and Drake on songs like “Family Matters,” Future and Metro Boomin‘s “Show of Hands” and Kid Cudi‘s “Wow.”
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Read More New Music Friday: A$AP Rocky, NBA YoungBoy, Gunna & More
Andy Bustard (16/01/2026)
A$AP Rocky headlines this week’s New Music Friday with Don’t Be Dumb, his first album in eight years. The long-awaited project is a typically eclectic and star-studded affair from Pretty Flacko that showcases his musical range and influences, with appearances from the likes of Tyler, The Creator, Westside Gunn, Doechii and Damon Albarn. Even legendary... The post New Music Friday: A$AP Rocky, NBA YoungBoy, Gunna & More appeared first on HipHopDX.
A$AP Rocky headlines this week’s New Music Friday with Don’t Be Dumb, his first album in eight years.
The long-awaited project is a typically eclectic and star-studded affair from Pretty Flacko that showcases his musical range and influences, with appearances from the likes of Tyler, The Creator, Westside Gunn, Doechii and Damon Albarn. Even legendary composer Danny Elfman and movie director Tim Burton lend their talents to the album, which is likely to earn Rock his third number one on the Billboard 200.
Another high-profile project comes from NBA YoungBoy, who finally delivers his heavily delayed Slime Cry with guest spots from Burna Boy and Jelly Roll. Extending his prolific run in recent years, Wiz Khalifa surprise-releases his new album Khaotic which is laced with features from 2 Chainz, Juicy J and the recently-freed Max B, among others.
There’s plenty of firepower on the singles front, too. Gunna teams up with Chris Brown for a remix to his Last Wun standout “wgft,” Maxo Kream, Denzel Curry and JPEGMAFIA make Snowman proud on the trap anthem “Fake Jeezy,” and Veeze proves he’s “One of Them Ones” with help from Lil Baby and Rylo Rodriguez.
Check out all the best new rap albums and songs below.
A$AP Rocky — Don’t Be Dumb
Featuring: Tyler, The Creator, Westside Gunn, Doechii, Brent Faiyaz, Damon Albarn, Sauce Walka, will.i.am, Jessica Pratt, Slay Squad
NBA YoungBoy — Slime Cry
Featuring: Burna Boy, Jelly Roll
Gunna feat. Chris Brown — “wgft (Remix)”
Produced By: Turbo & Shottie
Wiz Khalifa — Khaotic
Featuring: 2 Chainz, Juicy J, Max B, Dave East, Skilla Baby, HoodRich Pablo Juan, RMR
Maxo Kream feat. Denzel Curry & JPEGMAFIA — “Fake Jeezy”
Produced By: JPEGMAFIA
Veeze feat. Lil Baby & Rylo Rodriguez — “One of Them Ones”
Produced By: Desmos & Wana
Fivio Foreign feat. Tory Lanez & Lil Tjay — “Sexy”
Produced By: Vitalywastaken & Yoshi01
Jill Scott — “Don’t Play”
Produced By: Seige Monstracity
Ella Mai — “100”
Produced By: Mustard
Joyner Lucas — “Monsters”
Produced By: Matt Zara, BullySongs, Digital Farm Animals, Aukoustics & Reece Bullimore
PlaqueBoyMax feat. Bryson Tiller — “wyd”
Produced By: dammittony & Kat Lightning
Gorillaz — “The Hardest Thing” (feat. Tony Allen) + “Orange County” (feat. Bizarrap, Kara Jackson & Anoushka Shankar)
Produced By: Gorillaz, James Ford, Samuel Egglenton & Remi Kabaka Jr. / Gorillaz & Bizarrap
Serial Killers (Xzibit, B-Real & Demrick) — “This Thing Of Ours”
Produced By: Scoop DeVille
Deante’ Hitchcock feat. 6LACK, Childish Major & Anna Field — “Reminders”
Produced By: Leale, Boi Yanel, IVN, Angelo Imani & Rambo
Buddy feat. KEY! & CUZZOS — “Ass Match the Legs”
Produced By: Hollywood Cole
Grafh feat. Styles P, 38 Spesh & Mitchy Slick — “Outside”
Produced By: Credits unavailable
GENA (Liv.e & Karriem Riggins) — “Lead It Up”
Produced By: Karriem Riggins
Gabriel Jacoby — “gutta child”
Produced By: Elie Rizk
Lexa Gates — I Am
Featuring: N/A
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Read More A$AP Rocky Reveals ‘Don’t Be Dumb’ Tracklist & Features
Andy Bustard (15/01/2026)
A$AP Rocky has revealed the tracklist for his new album Don’t Be Dumb ahead of its long-awaited release this Friday (January 16). Dubbed “a true masterpiece by A$AP Rocky and his alter egos,” the project features 15 songs including the recently released “Helicopter$” and “Punk Rocky.” Other tracks include “Stole Ya Flow,” “Stop Snitching” and... The post A$AP Rocky Reveals ‘Don’t Be Dumb’ Tracklist & Features appeared first on HipHopDX.
A$AP Rocky has revealed the tracklist for his new album Don’t Be Dumb ahead of its long-awaited release this Friday (January 16).
Dubbed “a true masterpiece by A$AP Rocky and his alter egos,” the project features 15 songs including the recently released “Helicopter$” and “Punk Rocky.”
Other tracks include “Stole Ya Flow,” “Stop Snitching” and “Whiskey (I’m Not Resisting),” all of which the Harlem rapper has performed live in recent years.
Guest features and producers remain under wraps for now, but Rocky has teased a number of high-profile collaborators including Tyler, The Creator, Metro Boomin and Busta Rhymes, among others.
There are also rumors that the elusive Frank Ocean will make a rare appearance on the song “Air Force (Black DeMarco)” after its producer, Digital Nas, strongly hinted as much on X (formerly Twitter) earlier this week.
UPDATE: A$AP Rocky has revealed the Don’t Be Dumb features via Spotify billboards promoting the album. Tyler, The Creator, Westside Gunn, Doechii, Brent Faiyaz, Thundercat, Gorillaz, BossMan Dlow, will.i.am, Danny Elfman, Jon Batiste, Slay Squad and Jessica Pratt are all set to appear.
A$AP Rocky — Don’t Be Dumb (Tracklist):
1. Order of Protection
2. Helicopter$
3. Interrogation (Skit)
4. Stole Ya Flow
5. Stay Here
6. Playa
7. Trespass
8. Stop Snitching
9. STFU
10. Punk Rocky
11. Air Force (Black DeMarco)
12. Whiskey (I’m Not Resisting)
13. Robbery
14. Don’t Be Dumb / Trip Baby
15. The End
One confirmed (and central) contributer to Don’t Be Dumb is Tim Burton, the legendary filmmaker behind Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands and the late ’80s/early ’90s Batman movies.
Burton’s name appears on the official cover art, which he also designed, while the tracklist describes the album as “the nightmare b4 the release” — a clear nod to Burton’s 1982 poem The Nightmare Before Christmas (which was, of course, later turned into a cult-classic film).
“I love Tim Burton, man. I’ve been inspired by him [since] a child,” A$AP Rocky told Vanity Fair last year. “I think what he does with claymation and how he transcended into live-action movies, the parallels between them and [how] he seamlessly included it from matte painting to German Expressionism. I think he’s a fucking genius.”
Longtime Burton collaborator, the composer Danny Elfman, is also involved, with A$AP Rocky saying in the same interview: “Danny Elfman did my album with me, he scored a bunch of the song. We had [the TV] on mute and were just making music to all of the old fims, Pee-wee’s Playhouse and The Simpsons, all that.”
As for the “alter egos” part, a clue may lie in the vinyl listing of Don’t Be Dumb.
“The 15-track [album] moves through genres the way you’d move through a city — jazz, hip hop, metal, indie, R&B — each track capturing a different block, mood, or moment. It’s Rocky in full range,” it reads.
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Read More J. Cole Drops New Single From ‘The Fall-Off,’ Hints At Double Album
Andy Bustard (15/01/2026)
J. Cole has released the first single from The Fall-Off, just hours after announcing the album. Uploaded under the title “The Fall-Off… Disc 2 Track 2” — a hint that his forthcoming (and final) project could be a double disc effort — the song is a storytelling masterpiece that would make Nas proud. Taking inspiration... The post J. Cole Drops New Single From ‘The Fall-Off,’ Hints At Double Album appeared first on HipHopDX.
J. Cole has released the first single from The Fall-Off, just hours after announcing the album.
Uploaded under the title “The Fall-Off… Disc 2 Track 2” — a hint that his forthcoming (and final) project could be a double disc effort — the song is a storytelling masterpiece that would make Nas proud.
Taking inspiration from Esco’s “Rewind,” the North Carolina native lays out his life story in reverse over soulful, southern-fried production from DZL and Maneesh — touching on his death, legacy, parenthood, marriage, career milestones and eventually his birth.
“My grandkids carried the coffin to the altar as they burst into tears from their shirts / The tears rise to the sides of they face and into their eyes, it’s piercin’ with hurt / Fast forward 60 years, I got versе of the year, my purpose is clеar, it’s to murk / Whoever dare flirt with death, the best alive and what you now hear is the work,” Cole spits, his confidence clearly undented by the backlash to his decision to bow out of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef.
Bringing the autobiographical song to life is a clever video from director Ryan Doubiago, which moves in reverse through different rooms to capture J. Cole’s reflective rhymes.
“The Fall-Off… Disc 2 Track 2” ends with a bonus snippet of an unreleased song — presumably from The Fall-Off — which uses the same Whispers sample as Mobb Deep‘s 1996 2Pac diss song “Drop a Gem On ‘Em.”
At the beginning of the video is a message explaining the concept behind The Fall-Off, which is set to arrive on February 6 and is being billed as J. Cole’s final album.
“For the past 10 years, this album has been hand crafted with one intention: a personal challenge to myself to create my best work. To do on my last what I was unable to do on my first,” the Dreamville rap star wrote.
“I had no way of knowing how much time, focus and energy it would eventually take to achieve this, but despite countless challenges along the way, I knew in my heart I would one day get to the finish line. I owed it first and foremost to myself. And secondly, I owed it to hip hop.”
Earlier on Wednesday (January 14), Cole officially announced The Fall-Off through a short but cinematic trailer which provides some further insight into the long-awaited album.
“Everything is supposed to go away eventually,” a voice says over shots of Cole cleaning his Lamborghini at a car wash and eating a meal on his own at a diner. “You see this especially in show business with famous actors or musicians. And it’s like, ‘Oh, this guy used to be famous and then he ‘fell off.’ What happened?’
“And they want to point to, ‘They did this and this and they made some sort of mistake.’ Instead of thinking that, look, it’s kinda crazy they got famous in the first place. So few people reach that level that yes, of course, it’s not gonna last forever because somebody else has to take that spot.
“And that’s how show business has been since forever. But no, they always want to say, ‘That guy fell off.’ They want to look down on him for just going through the natural cycle of rising and falling.”
The post J. Cole Drops New Single From ‘The Fall-Off,’ Hints At Double Album appeared first on HipHopDX.
Read More J. Cole Reveals ‘The Fall-Off’ Album Release Date & Artwork
Andy Bustard (14/01/2026)
J. Cole‘s new album The Fall-Off is officially around the corner. Catching the hip-hop world by surprise on Wednesday (January 14), the Dreamville rap star announced that his long-awaited seventh album will be released on February 6 — just over three weeks away. The news came via a short cinematic trailer that narrates the concept... The post J. Cole Reveals ‘The Fall-Off’ Album Release Date & Artwork appeared first on HipHopDX.
J. Cole‘s new album The Fall-Off is officially around the corner.
Catching the hip-hop world by surprise on Wednesday (January 14), the Dreamville rap star announced that his long-awaited seventh album will be released on February 6 — just over three weeks away.
The news came via a short cinematic trailer that narrates the concept behind the title and also includes a snippet of an unreleased song.
“Everything is supposed to go away eventually,” a voice says over shots of J. Cole cleaning his Lamborghini at a car wash and eating a meal on his own at a diner. “You see this especially in show business with famous actors or musicians. And it’s like, ‘Oh, this guy used to be famous and then he ‘fell off.’ What happened?’
“And they want to point to, ‘They did this and this and they made some sort of mistake.’ Instead of thinking that, look, it’s kinda crazy they got famous in the first place. So few people reach that level that yes, of course, it’s not gonna last forever because somebody else has to take that spot.
“And that’s how show business has been since forever. But no, they always want to say, ‘That guy fell off.’ They want to look down on him for just going through the natural cycle of rising and falling.”
The video closes out with a 30-second preview of a hard-hitting, southern-flavored track on which Cole raps: “Picture my soul climbing out of the infinite hole / Where n*ggas die over pride and live for the” — before it cuts off in a flurry of gunshot sounds.
Check out the trailer and cover art for The Fall-Off below. Vinyl copies are available to pre-order here.
The post J. Cole Reveals ‘The Fall-Off’ Album Release Date & Artwork appeared first on HipHopDX.
Read More Kurupt Hospitalized With “Serious” Health Issues, Daz Dillinger Asks Fans For Support
Andy Bustard (14/01/2026)
Kurupt is reportedly in hospital battling mysterious health complications. According to TMZ, Tha Dogg Pound rapper was hospitalized several weeks ago due to “some serious health issues” but is currently on the mend and hopeful of making a full recovery. Daz Dillinger alerted fans to Kurupt’s condition on Monday (January 12) when he urged his... The post Kurupt Hospitalized With “Serious” Health Issues, Daz Dillinger Asks Fans For Support appeared first on HipHopDX.
Kurupt is reportedly in hospital battling mysterious health complications.
According to TMZ, Tha Dogg Pound rapper was hospitalized several weeks ago due to “some serious health issues” but is currently on the mend and hopeful of making a full recovery.
Daz Dillinger alerted fans to Kurupt’s condition on Monday (January 12) when he urged his Instagram followers to send their well wishes to his longtime partner-in-rhyme and “let him know how much we love him.”
However, Daz remained vague about Kurupt’s health issues.
“GOD SAID WE SHALL LIVE & NOT DIE,” he wrote. “Want to send a big shout out to my big brother @official_kurupt get well speedy recovery need all FANZ to send kurupt a get well message flood his Instagram tell him how much we love him.
“Rest in peace to my cousin Joe, cool Nate Dogg and others that we lost so I need everybody to hit kurupt and let them know that we love HIM from his little brother Daz life is serious shout out to @leelee_calinanita for holding it down, Dogg Pound gangstaZ 4 LIFE GOD 1st.”
Royce Da 5’9″, Treach and Goodie Mob’s Khujo Goodie were among the many rappers who heeded Daz Dillinger’s message and sent their support to Kurupt on social media.
Kurupt has battled poor health in the past. In 2019, he was rushed to the hospital following an alcohol relapse on the set of the reality TV series Marriage Boot Camp.
TMZ reported at the time that the West Coast rap legend “drank so much” while partying with the rest of the cast that “he ended up needing medical treatment.”
In a 2022 interview with Vlad TV, Kurupt opened up about his battle with alcoholism and revealed that his addiction escalated when 2Pac introduced him to Hennessy in the 1990s.
“[I would drink] every day, all year. I’d wake up and have a shot or a beer and watch me some TV … [That was] my breakfast,” he admitted. “I’m talking about since I was 24. I used to drink before but when ‘Pac brought that Hennessy to the table it was over! … Hennessy was my thing and that was every day, all day.”
Kurupt added: “My pancreas, my liver and my kidneys were just all messed up. I had this sharp pain in my abdomen, I could barely walk. I had to hunch over and I still had to perform and do shows … [I had two seizures] back to back, and that was when I went to my doctor in Utah.”
“We all have an addiction to something, whether it’s alchohol or drugs. These are demons that you have to fight, and hopefully you can do it before you [die],” he reflected.
The post Kurupt Hospitalized With “Serious” Health Issues, Daz Dillinger Asks Fans For Support appeared first on HipHopDX.
Read More Fugees Collaborator John Forté Dies At 50: Wyclef Jean & Pras Pay Tribute
Andy Bustard (14/01/2026)
John Forté, the Grammy-nominated musician and producer best known for his work with the Fugees, has died at the age of 50. According to the Associated Press, Forté was found dead on Monday (January 12) in his home in Chilmark, Massachusetts. Local police said there were no signs of foul play or a “readily apparent... The post Fugees Collaborator John Forté Dies At 50: Wyclef Jean & Pras Pay Tribute appeared first on HipHopDX.
John Forté, the Grammy-nominated musician and producer best known for his work with the Fugees, has died at the age of 50.
According to the Associated Press, Forté was found dead on Monday (January 12) in his home in Chilmark, Massachusetts.
Local police said there were no signs of foul play or a “readily apparent cause of death.” The case is being investigated by the state medical examiner’s office.
Forté is survived by his wife, photographer Lara Fuller, and two young children.
As the Martha Vineyard Times pointed out, the Refugee Camp All-Stars member suffered a “serious health setback” last year when he was hospitalized following a seizure. Since then, he had reportedly been taking seizure medication.
A musical prodigy who grew up in New York City, John Forté got his start in the industry in the 1990s working as an A&R at Rawkus Records, soon after which he met Lauryn Hill.
At just 20 years old, he co-wrote and produced several songs on the Fugees’ Grammy-winning 1996 debut The Score — one of the best-selling rap albums of all time — and went on to contribute to Wyclef Jean‘s The Carnival.
Paying tribute to Forté on Instagram, Wyclef posted a video of them performing together and wrote: “This one hurts my brother @john_forte has joined the Angels legends never Die look at the smile R I P my Refugee brother.”
Forté also released a string of solo projects, most notably his 1998 debut Poly Sci which boasted appearances from DMX, Fat Joe and Pras.
“John was more than just a collaborator — he was family,” Pras wrote on his Instagram Story following news of Forté’s passing. “We came up together in an era when hip-hop was about pushing boundaries, telling real stories, and creating something that mattered. His talent as a writer, producer and artist was undeniable.
“Anyone who heard his work knew they were in the presence of someone special. I’m glad I got to share the star with him one last time. The hip-hop community has lost a real one. I’ve lost a brother. Rest in power, John. Your music and your spirit live on.”
In 2000, Forté’s promising career hit a roadblock when he was charged with possession of liquid cocaine and drug trafficking following his arrest at at Newark International Airport.
The musician was sentenced to 14 years in prison, but the sentence was commuted after seven years by President George W. Bush thanks to pressure from high-profile figures like Carly Simon (who appeared on Forté’s second album I, John).
HipHopDX sends its condolences to John Forté’s family, friends and fans.
The post Fugees Collaborator John Forté Dies At 50: Wyclef Jean & Pras Pay Tribute appeared first on HipHopDX.
Read More The Game Taps Benny The Butcher, Conway The Machine & More For New ‘Gangsta Grillz’ Mixtape
Andy Bustard (13/01/2026)
The Game is doubling back with his second Gangsta Grillz mixtape in as many months — and this one’s an all-star affair. Just a month after teaming up with DJ Drama for Every Movie Needs a Trailer — his debut entry in Mr. Thanksgiving’s legendary mixtape series — the Compton kingpin has announced via UPROXX... The post The Game Taps Benny The Butcher, Conway The Machine & More For New ‘Gangsta Grillz’ Mixtape appeared first on HipHopDX.
The Game is doubling back with his second Gangsta Grillz mixtape in as many months — and this one’s an all-star affair.
Just a month after teaming up with DJ Drama for Every Movie Needs a Trailer — his debut entry in Mr. Thanksgiving’s legendary mixtape series — the Compton kingpin has announced via UPROXX that he’s dropping a brand new installment this Friday (January 16).
The project, which will go up against A$AP Rocky‘s long-awaited Don’t Be Dumb, DaBaby‘s Be More Grateful and (possibly) NBA YoungBoy‘s Slime Cry, boasts appearances from Benny The Butcher, Conway The Machine, Boosie Badazz, Dom Kennedy, Eric Bellinger and Swizz Beatz.
Much like Every Movie Needs a Trailer, this new tape will be produced entirely by Mike & Keys, the West Coast tag-team synonymous with the late, great Nipsey Hussle.
Though further details remain under wraps for now, The Game spoke with UPROXX‘s Elliott Wilson about his recent resurgence.
“Man, where I’m at right now in my life, I just feel like people need more soul. Everybody needs a little more love and a little less hate,” he said of Every Movie Needs a Trailer. “For me, [Mike & Keys’ production] brings me right back to those old Just Blaze, No ID, Kanye beats — back in the day when it was soulful, hard-hitting, but still had that emotional layer.”
He added: “I’m in my mid-40s now. I see Hov, Nas, Preemo, Pharrell, the Clipse — classic cats still doing legendary shit. If they’re still setting the bar, then why shouldn’t I? … I’m chasing timelessness, not trends. That’s what ‘forever’ looks like to me — staying relevant, staying hungry, and staying respected no matter the era or the generation coming up.”
The former Aftermath advocate also addressed the backlash to his silence in the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef.
“Why would I? Drake has been solid with me for 15 years. Kendrick is my homie. I helped Dot early. I don’t gotta explain that to internet trolls,” he said. “I’ve lived in L.A. my entire life. Never left. Never ran. I took every fade for this city when nobody else would. That’s authenticity. That’s what I rep.”
As for his absence at Kendrick’s Pop Out concert, The Game explained: “Because it wasn’t about me. I didn’t want to cause distractions. I watched it at home and loved it. It was good for the culture. Dot know what it is with me. Drake know what it is. That’s all that matters.”
The post The Game Taps Benny The Butcher, Conway The Machine & More For New ‘Gangsta Grillz’ Mixtape appeared first on HipHopDX.
Read More A$AP Rocky Goes Dumb In New PlayStation-Inspired “Helicopter” Video: Watch
Andy Bustard (13/01/2026)
A$AP Rocky starts a riot in the music video for his latest single, “Helicopter.” Directed by Dan Streit, the dystopian clip sees Pretty Flacko taking to the skies in a stolen chopper (the same one from some of his recent festival performances) and lording over New York City as it descends into chaos. The Harlem... The post A$AP Rocky Goes Dumb In New PlayStation-Inspired “Helicopter” Video: Watch appeared first on HipHopDX.
A$AP Rocky starts a riot in the music video for his latest single, “Helicopter.”
Directed by Dan Streit, the dystopian clip sees Pretty Flacko taking to the skies in a stolen chopper (the same one from some of his recent festival performances) and lording over New York City as it descends into chaos.
The Harlem native made pains to point out on Instagram that the visual “is not AI generated.” Instead, it employs motion-captured animations of the rapper and his crew, along with a nostalgic lo-fi filter that gives it the feel of late ’90s PlayStation games. (The single’s cover art also nods to classic games from this era.)
As for the track itself, “Helicopter” features ominous, hard-hitting producing from Kelvin Krash and Soufien 3000 and agile, staccato flows from A$AP Rocky, who namedrops Cam’ron and Jim Jones while pledging allegiance to his fashion partners Puma.
“I’m checkin’ my sneakers, no checks on my sneakers / Just Puma, Gap and yeah, the goody GRIM,” he raps, before adding: “I ridе around in an all-pink Mercedes, thе pussy whip / Like Killa Cam, my braids lookin’ like I could be Jim.”
Watch the video below.
“Helicopter” is the latest offering from A$AP Rocky’s long-awaited upcoming album Don’t Be Dumb, which is finally set to arrive this Friday (January 16).
While a tracklist has yet to be confirmed, other songs expected to appear on the project include the recently released “Punk Rocky,” as well as “Stop Snitchin,” “Stole Ya Flow” and “Whiskey (I’m Not Resisting)” which Rocky has debuted during live performances in recent years.
Much like its predecessor, 2018’s Testing, Don’t Be Dumb could also be a star-studded affair, with rumored contributions from Metro Boomin, Tyler, The Creator and Playboi Carti, among others.
Flacko’s closest collaborator is his unlikeliest, though. The artwork credits Tim Burton, the legendary filmmaker behind Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice and the late ’80s/early ’90s Batman movies, as Rocky’s partner-in-crime, although it remains to be seen what role he plays exactly.
“I love Tim Burton, man. I’ve been inspired by him [since] a child,” Rocky said in a recent sit-down with Vanity Fair. “I think what he does with claymation and how he transcended into live-action movies, the parallels between them and [how] he seamlessly included it from matte painting to German Expressionism. I think he’s a fucking genius.”
The post A$AP Rocky Goes Dumb In New PlayStation-Inspired “Helicopter” Video: Watch appeared first on HipHopDX.
Read More Snoop Dogg Hilariously Admits He’s “High As A Muthaf*cka” While Presenting Golden Globe
Andy Bustard (12/01/2026)
You can always count on Snoop Dogg to be a hundred percent himself, no matter what room he’s in. That was definitely the case at the 2026 Golden Globes on Sunday night (January 11) when Tha Doggfather’s well-documented weed habit provided a hilarious onstage moment during the star-studded ceremony. While presenting the inaugural Best Podcast... The post Snoop Dogg Hilariously Admits He’s “High As A Muthaf*cka” While Presenting Golden Globe appeared first on HipHopDX.
You can always count on Snoop Dogg to be a hundred percent himself, no matter what room he’s in.
That was definitely the case at the 2026 Golden Globes on Sunday night (January 11) when Tha Doggfather’s well-documented weed habit provided a hilarious onstage moment during the star-studded ceremony.
While presenting the inaugural Best Podcast award, which went to Amy Poehler’s Good Hang with Amy Poehler, Snoop began to stumble over his words and lose his train of thought before he joked: “I’m high as a muthafucka right now! Y’all had me here too damn long.”
The audience saw the funny side of Snoop’s stoner struggles as they erupted in laughter at his confession.
Snoop Dogg was briefly censored during the Golden Globes broadcast after saying
“I'm high as a motherfucker right now. Y'all had me here too damn long”
Here is the uncensored version.
pic.twitter.com/Q9h1RXTO2Q— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) January 12, 2026
Another highlight from Snoop Dogg’s trip to the Golden Globes came courtesy of Stephen Graham, who took home the award for Best Male Actor in a Limited Series for his role in Adolescence.
While speaking to the media following his win, the acclaimed British actor revealed: “This one I’ve got to tell the kids … I met Snoop Dogg and he shook my hand and looked me right in the eyes — well, I couldn’t see his eyes because he had his [sun]glasses on — and he just said, ‘You a muthafuckin’ gangsta.'”
Graham then added with a proud smile: “My life is complete.”
Snoop appeared to enjoy the interaction as well as he reacted to a video of Graham’s comments on X (formerly Twitter) with several laughing face emojis.
Check out the full list of Golden Globes winners here.
— Snoop Dogg (@SnoopDogg) January 12, 2026
The post Snoop Dogg Hilariously Admits He’s “High As A Muthaf*cka” While Presenting Golden Globe appeared first on HipHopDX.
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