Business moves quick, and that's no exception for the rap world. From the hottest new signings, to movie deals, to album pushbacks, the industry is constantly in motion. It can be hard to keep up with at times, so we've consolidated all of the must-hear information from the past month, all in one place. Be on the look out for this monthly recap of news-worthy items you may have missed, to stay afloat with the industry.
For many rap fans, that fact that Macklemore isn't up for any Grammys this February is a good thing, but by next year's ceremony, it's looking like there might be another project from him and Ryan Lewis for the judges to laud with praise and trophies.
At the very beginning of January, Funk Flex let it slip that Dipset are reuniting this year for a new mixtape. We've already received one leak, "Have My Money."
Even as Danny Brown presents himself as a wild party man (which he certainly is to some extent), he still finds time to do somethin' for the kids.
Making the Forbes list in an honor often romanticized in rap, and if the latest "30 under 30" list is any indication, more and more hip hop and R&B artists will find themselves in the Forbes tax bracket.
Trouble in paradise for the D.R.E.
It's been a while since we've gotten an update on The Wu-Tang Clan's purportedly one-of-a-kind album Once Upon A Time In Shaolin, but now that the buzz from December's A Better Tomorrow has died down, it looks like the crew have rethought the strategy by which they'll release the new project.
Back in September, we found out that Pharrell would be producing Snoop Dogg’s entire next album, and now we have a title for that project.
The Ear Drummers duo had a successful debut with SremmLife moving 49,000 units opening week and debuting at #5.
T-Pain and DJ Drama team up for a new mixtape, with no release date yet, but cover art.
With B4da$$ just released, Joey Bada$$ received the type of promotion most artists would dream of thanks to a viral selfie of President Barack Obama's daughter.
Ink titled his second album Full Speed. The album is expected to arrive on February 3rd.
For the second time in the last few months, a Chris Brown-centric event has ended in a shooting.
Common and John Legend won a Golden Globe award for "Best Original Song" for their collaborative track "Glory", which was featured on the soundtrack for the film Selma.
The Weeknd had a crazy weekend in Las Vegas, as reports indicate the singer was arrested for striking a police officer on Saturday.
The announcement of production on the Tupac biopic is becoming something of an annual news article. With that being said, this time it seems to be for real. Producer Randall Emmett has confirmed that the long-awaited film on Tupac Shakur's life will begin filming in June.
Typically, every summer Wiz Khalifa goes on an "Under the Influence" tour with some of his TGOD family and some outside rappers. This summer he links up with pop-punkers Fall Out Boy though for "Boys of the Zummer."
The-Dream recently rolled out two new singles through the traditional methods (radio), and the Radio Killa has announced the project attached to the two songs (Crown), as well as another to follow it (Jewel).
Some very tragic news arrived as we learn that 26-year-old A$AP Mob founder ASAP Yams passed away mid-month. RIP.
Slim Thug announced plans for a Hogg Life documentary and series of albums, with the first, Hogg Life: The Beginning, slated to arrived on February 3rd.
In December we received the nominations for the 2015 Grammys, which are right around the corner now. The event goes down on February 8th at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Tech N9ne revealed artwork for his upcoming Special Effects as well as the release date: May 5th. Since then he's already dropped off two singles, plus revealed an Eminem collaboration is in the works.
Cudder finally updated fans on Man On The Moon 3, and even hit the studio with Emile Haynie, so let's hope it's seriously underway. The rapper also connected with A-Trak and Plain Pat, whom he said he cannot make MOTM 3 without.
The Young Veggies' Epic Records debut is set to be called Live And Grow.
The BET Honors awards are filmed over a month in advance, and now with the instantaneous nature of Twitter and Instagram, it's hard to keep the winners under wraps for more than a matter of seconds.
A$AP Rocky already has one foot apiece in the worlds of fashion and music, and now he's branching out even further. His next venture is acting, as he has a supporting role in "Dope," an indie film produced in part by Pharrell and Diddy that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
It's still been under a year since G-Unit officially reunited, but we've already been given a healthy serving of new material from the iconic crew. After giving us The Beauty Of Independence EP, we'll be receiving The Beast Is G-Unit. While a release date has yet to be confirmed, we did get the 6-song tracklist and artwork this past month.
While his track "I Don't Fuck With You" is still in heavy rotation, G.O.O.D. Music's Big Sean announces the title of his next album, Dark Sky Paradise. Sean later followed it up with the tracklist and official cover art, and the tracklist does not look disappointing to say the least. Kanye West (x2), Drake, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Ty Dolla $ign, John Legend, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Jhene Aiko and more. Talk about all-star line-up.
Breezy got his probation revoked in the Rihanna assault case this past month, due to crossing county lines. These ongoing legal issues led to his tour with Trey Songz and Tyga getting pushed back.
Before Travis Scott releases his highly anticipated debut album Rodeo, (which he says is due out in March), the G.O.O.D. Music rapper will be taking his talents on the road as part of the "Rodeo" tour alongside Young Thug and a DJ set from Metro Boomin.
OVO affiliate and friend of Drizzy Drake, P. Reign, confirmed that Drake has a mixtape in the works. "I think it's some of the best I’ve heard from him in my life and I already know off Drake’s mixtape the world is going to shake." We need that.
The young'n Joey managed to debut at #5 with B4.DA.$$ (57,694 units) while Tetsuo & Youth took a #14 debut (42,458 units). Surprised?
With features from 50 Cent, Pusha T,Boosie Badazz, Fat Trel, Jay 305, T.I., Wale, Ty Dolla $ign, and ScHoolboy Q on deck, Breezy and Tyga's Fan of a Fan album is set to impact later this month. The duo also cooked up some '90s-inspired cover art.
Dr. Dre took Kendrick Lamar under his wing in 2012 when the then-rising rapper signed to Aftermath, and now K. Dot is veritable rap star and hip-hop darling. Now the good Doctor has signed an unknown rapper hailing from Dallas, Texas, Justin Mohrle. We'll be on the lookout for new music from this up & comer.
In a GQ profile, we found out that Chance The Rapper has three exceptional features on his highly anticipated debut album- 3 Stacks, J. Cole and Frank Ocean. Yeesh.
Lil Wayne kept to his word, and his filed a lawsuit against Birdman/Cash Money in an effort to get out of his contract. The rapper sued his label for $51 million, plus is asking to walk away from his contract and to be a joint copyright owner of all Young Money recordings.
Good news concerning Rocky's forthcoming album, as Juicy J announced his involvement in the album on twitter.
At the very end of January, Bobby Shmurda got some good news as we learned he could be out of jail in the very near future. His $2 million bail was underway and waiting approval. No update yet, so stay tuned.
Upcoming February Releases
Smoke Dza - Hustler's Catalog (Feb 3)
Kid Ink - Full Speed (Feb 3)
Earthgang - Shallow Graves for Toys (Feb 3)
Cannibal Ox - Blade of the Ronin (Feb 3)
Slim Thug - Hogg Life: The Beginning (Feb 3)
Rich Gang - Rich Gang 2 (Feb 10)
Lil Snupe - RNIC "Jonesboro" (Feb 10)
Schoolly D - Saturday Night the Album (Feb 10)
Glasses Malone - Gh2: Life Ain't Nuthin' But (Feb 10)
Trae Tha Truth - Against Everything (Feb 17)
Raheem DeVaughn - Love, Sex & Passion (Feb 17)
Estelle - True Romance (Feb 17)
Ghostface Killah & BADBADNOTGOOD - Sour Soul (Feb 17)
Joey Fatts - Ill Street Blues (Feb 17)
Big Sean - Dark Sky Paradise (Feb 24)
Drew Dave - SynthBASED (Feb 24)
Chris Brown & Tyga - Fan of a Fan: The Album (Feb 24)
Malik B & Mr. Green - Unpredictable (Feb 24)
