HotNewHipHop's latest livestream saw Aron and I tackle some of the biggest rap topics of the week, including the Lil Durk trial, the Drake album theories, Hit-Boy's comments about Nas, and a whole lot more. Before getting into the topics, though, we made sure to clap back at Timbaland, who took to our Instagram to voice some disappointment in our criticisms of AI music's disappointing, lazy, and sadly unstoppable rise in the industry.
Then, we talked about the Lil Durk trial, although not from the perspective of the case itself and the technical legal details. Rather, Aron and I debated about the media representation of the trial, how it shows differences between hip-hop media circles, how labels benefit from criminal visibility, and the snitching debates that reemerged. It's sad to see folks mistake commentary for factual reporting or vice versa, and the disconnect between a lot of types of coverage has made the Durk situation complex beyond its legal parameters.
Elsewhere, Aron and I also spoke about Drake potentially dropping a new album, although we think "FOMO" is a really dope tour name. So maybe it's a concert series, a documentary, more music videos, or something else beyond an album. In any case, we praised the OVO mogul's ability to stay relevant and spoke on the company finding a new majority owner.
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HNHH Live
Then, we talked about Hit-Boy's surprising comments about Nas, as he said he doesn't see them working together again. Aron and I did not speculate much about what the root of that decision may be, but we found it to be promising overall, as it confirms they won't chase an old feeling in their next moves. We also compared Esco's dynamic with Hit to the legendary rapper's other bonds with producers.
Aron and I also had a few updates on the situation between The Game and Kendrick Lamar, as we went over the former's newest statements. We weren't big fans of Rod Wave's new album, but we praised his ability to be so successful without straying away from his niche audience, earning Jay-Z comparisons business-wise.
Finally, we went over the new music of the week, with Before The World Blows by Erykah Badu and The Alchemist impressing us in particular. Praise is also due for Dahi and his debut album Black Boy (Alternative), among other releases. To wrap the livestream up, Aron and I went over hip-hop anniversaries to end the month of August, such as Outkast's ATLiens turning 30 years old and the iconic Drizzy, Ye, Lil Wayne, and Eminem posse cut "Forever" turning 17.
Be sure to stay tuned into HNHH for more livestreams, discussions, news coverage, and feature pieces. Also, make sure to rate new songs and albums on the website and let us know what you think of all these releases, topics, and more.
