It’s been an interesting year to be a Travis Scott fan; while La Flame has dropped a handful of slappers featuring top-shelf production and features from notable contemporaries such as Young Thug and Future, the repeated delay of his debut record, Rodeo, has found listeners’ impatience at an all time high. Originally scheduled to hit stores in March, the record was pushed back multiple times before Scott finally confirmed a September 4 release date. While #travishive is rightfully buzzing over the confirmation, average listeners might wonder what makes Rodeo worth the wait. Thus, we’ve compiled a list of five reasons why all hip-hop fans should be chomping at the bit to get their ticket to the rodeo. Hit the jump below to get started!
For being dubbed American’s assh*le by half the country, Kanye West is truly an inspiring and open minded person. Today, E! has shareduplifting details about the first time Mr. West met Caitlyn Jenner, which will air on Sunday’s premiere episode of “I Am Cait”. “I think this is one of the strongest things that have happened in our existence as human beings, that are so controlled by perception,” Kanye told Cait during their first meeting. “You couldn’t have been up against more,” Kanye added. Well that ignorant guy from your high school that doesn’t think Caitlyn Jenner is a hero may not be accepting, but Kanye West sure is.
Don’t miss this moment on the premiere of I Am Cait, this Sunday on E!.
North America get ready to drink more water this summer into the fall, as Chicago’s Mick Jenkins just released the tour dates for his upcoming North American tour. The tour, with support from STWO, will kick off in Indianapolis on August, 29th and will stretch into early October with stops in New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Canada and many more. His hometown fans can also catch him at Lollapalooza this year.
Check out the tour date’s for Mick’s North American tour below.
Dej Loaf is the biggest female emerging artist in rap music right now, and while she is a favorite for other rappers to recruit for a hook, the ‘Detroit vs. Everybody’ singer has just released the cover art for a project of her own. Dej Loafs forthcoming EP is titled #AndSeeThatsTheThing, so be on the look out for it. We are way more excited for this project than we are for overly long hashtags.
Check out the cover art for Dej Loaf’s new EP below.
If there are two rappers that are hot right now its Chicago’s Vic Mensa and Atlanta’s Future. That’s why we were very excited when Vic dropped a little freestyle over Future’s Dirty Sprite 2 track, ‘F*ck Up Some Commas’. Next, Vic performed for his hometown crowd at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago and did a live cover of Future’s ‘Codeine Crazy’ record. And now to put the icing on the cake, Vic Mensa has dropped an official version to his Future cover, similarly titled ‘Codeine Crazy (Icarus Story)’. The track is fire!
Today is a huge day for J. Cole’s label Dreamville and Chi-town’s own, rapper Omen, as it marks the release of Omen’s debut LP, Elephant Eyes. Originally announced by the Dreamville signee three years ago, Omen’s debut album features 11 tracks and collaborations with J. Cole, CJ Hamilton, Bas and more. You can stream the album now on Spotify or purchase it on iTunes via J. Cole’s Dreamville label. You can also catch both Omen and J. Cole on tour this summer with Big Sean, YG, and more!
Stream Elephant Eyes on Spotify and watch Omen’s new music video for ‘LoveDrug’ below.
London, England was in for a treat as The Weeknd dropped by to perform a secret concert at a private island event. And if a secret gig from the ‘Can’t Feel My Face’ singer wasn’t enough, The Weeknd also performed a new never-before-heard track. “I’m a prisoner to my addiction,” sings The Weeknd in the new track which is rumored to be called ‘Addiction’ or ‘All I Know’. This song has us even more pumped for The Weeknd’s forthcoming album, Beauty Behind The Madness (pre-order it now on iTunes). No word on whether this track is on the album, but you can find out for yourself when the LP is released on August 28th.
Listen to a live performance of the new track below.
Following the critical success of his latest LP, Carrie & Lowell, singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens will be hitting the road this fall for a new U.S. tour. Kicking off in Santa Barbara, CA on October 24th, Stevens’ fall tour will hit a number of stops throughout the country before it ends with a show at the Aronoff Center in Cincinnati, OH on November 13th. Tickets will be available Friday, July 24 via www.carrieandlowell.com. This isn’t a tour to miss.
New York rapper Action Bronson found himself in headlines today as Wu Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah posted a video, sending serious threats to Action, due to Action’s recentESPN appearance. During the appearance, Action’s music was compared to Ghostface, when Action replied that “(Ghostface) isn’t rapping like this no more.” No only did Ghostface not take kindly to being called washed up, but he reallllllly didn’t take kindly. After letting some time pass, Ghostface Killah’s video sent death threats Action’s way, reminding the Mr. Wonderful rapper that he has shooters in all states, that he knows Action’s tour schedule, and that he has guys that can make people “disappear”. While Action was taking shots at a legend, he had a point, and it definitely didn’t warrant death threats or even a response from Ghost.
Although Action Bronson promptly went on an apology campaign on Twitter after the threats, his right hand man, friend, and “cousin by association” Big Body Bes did not appreciate the threats against Action. Although he wasn’t directly referring to Ghostface, with Action’s safety arguably in question today, Bes tweeted a general statement about his commitment to defend and protect his good friend. “THEY DONT MAKE WORDS TO DESCRIBE THE ACTS OF VIOLENCE I WILL COMMIT TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF @ActionBronson,” Bes tweeted. And if Ghostface really does have shooters in every state, Big Body Bes is coming prepared!
Dreamville rapper Omen announced his debut LP, Elephant Eyes, three years ago. A now it’s almost here. And from the upcoming album, today we have Omen’s Dreamville collaboration with the label’s frontman, J. Cole. The Chicago rapper’s new track is called ‘Things Change’ is one of 11-tracks off the forthcoming LP. Elephant Eyes will release July 21st (tomorrow) via J. Cole’s Dreamville label.
Listen to ‘Things Change’ and check out the tracklist for Elephant Eyes below.
The Early Registration 