I don’t know what they were thinking with that wax figure 
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I forgot about this
I listened to Doja Cat’s 2nd album “Hot Pink” and “Superheroes” from Stormzy’s album “Heavy Is The Head” but I don’t know which to post first. Help?
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- Hot Pink
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- Superheroes
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- Listen to the rest of Stormzy’s album then post that review first
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Yeah Stormzy!!!
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My favorite rap song is Dumbstruck by Ceradi
Meg Thee Stallion and Doja Cat are also really good.
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Noted! @liyahsdiamond @PensiveShadow @Emmazapp @celestialkitten
No spoilers but I’ve heard 5 of the songs and I’m enjoying it so far
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Update 23/1/20
- Doja Cat’s single “Boss Btch” for Birds of Prey is out now! The song SLAPS!
- Lil Kim brought out Kash Doll in her performance in Detroit and performed a remix of Kash Doll’s song “Doin’ Too Much” - the official remix is coming and it is thought that Lil’ Kim and Iggy Azalea will be included
- Megan Thee Stallion is dropping B.I.T.C.H TOMORROW!
- Da Brat and Lil’ Kim supported Missy Elliot when she teared up during her speech at the Urban One Honors
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I saw that last one you mentioned, it was beautiful.
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Review #1 - Heavy Is The Head by Stormzy
I enjoyed this! Ngl, I personally like albums to be from about 10-13 songs long but despite having 16 songs it still kept my attention. This album is quite versatile. It’s UK rap and soul but each song sounds different and has it’s own vibe. My personal favourites are:
- Crown - Anyone who has misconceptions about Stormzy needs to hear this. Also love the lyric, “That’s not anti-white it’s pro-black, try to dull my shine I won’t crack” as a response to the scholarship controversy.
- Rainfall - This song is just satisfying to hear and I like the inclusion of a sample of “Shackles” by Mary Mary
- Pop Boy - The song slaps and that’s about it!
- Superheroes - Sort of like a British “Brown Skin Girl”. The song is uplifting and I love and the instrumental. And it samples the Tracy Beaker theme tune of course
Overall I’d give it 9/10 and would recommend to anyone new to UK rap 
Potential album/EP for the next review?
- Hot Pink by Doja Cat (lost the other poll)
- Something else (any suggestions?)
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Before I forget…
Rap VS #1
Azealia Banks…
vs
Iggy Azalea
I picked these two because they’ve both been in their fair share of drama and controversies plus they both were in their prime at about the same time.
So, who’s better?
- Azealia Banks
- Iggy Azalea
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Update 2/2/20
- Nicki Minaj featured on Meghan Trainor’s song “Nice to Meet Ya” Her verse gave me Pinkprint vibes
- “had to cut the grass there was snakes in the camp” 
- There seems to be some drama surrounding the Birds of Prey soundtrack
A lot of people believe Rico Nasty had some of her style copied and that she should have been in the soundtrack 
- Swizz Beats gifted Alicia Keys her own brand of tea
- Lil Uzi Vert’s upcoming album will have 16 tracks
- Azealia Banks is apparently dropping new music
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Unpopular Opinions #3 - Does Billie Eilish profit off of Black culture?
It’s that time again! Tbh I was out of ideas for UOs because I wanted something that felt relevant based on recent events but we’re in luck as the topic of cultural appropriation has popped up again
BTW seeing as this UO is more spicy than the others this is a lengthy post!
Billie Eilish, love her or hate her, has made a loud impact in the music industry with her alt-pop sound following the footsteps of previous alternative pop girls (such as Lana Del Rey, Lorde, Marina and the Diamonds and AURORA who she has credited in interviews). Only aged 18, Billie has a #1 album on the Billboard 200, a #1 single and 5 Grammys.
Billie is currently facing backlash for a comment she made during her Vogue interview, stating how some rappers lie in their music and how there is a difference between personas and lying in songs:
TL;DR/The main controversy
“It’s like, ‘I got my AK-47, and I’m f**kin’,’ and I’m like, what? You don’t have a gun. ‘And all my bitches…’ I’m like, which bitches?”
A main part of Billie’s backlash is her criticism hip-hop despite mirroring it’s sound in her music as well as in her aesthetic of long acrylic nails and baggie streetwear, two iconic elements of 90s hip-hop fashion which some fashion outlets are crediting her for instead of the hip-hop icons who first introduced the trend. Additionally, there is a conversation surrounding white artists in hip-hop, genre-switching and the use of hip-hop solely for financial gain.
My 2 cents:
Well I’m a Billie Eilish fan so my first thoughts were “Billie what are you doing?!”. Honestly, Billie DOES get criticized a lot over small things (her clothing, her “fake” depression, her winning album of the year over Ariana Grande and Lana Del Rey etc.) BUT this isn’t one of those times. There is a history of white artists using hip-hop as means of gaining attention, dropping it once said attention is gained and criticisng the same genre they got they’re coins from e.g. Miley Cyrus and Post Malone. Meanwhile, many black artists, hip-hop or not, get shoved into the hip-hop and/or r&b label even when their music clearly shows otherwise (Tyler, the Creator actually brought this up in his Grammy acceptance speech for best rap album). Being able to easily dabble in and out genres is not a luxury all artists have and this is worsened by the subtle racism in how hip-hop has and is still frequently criticized and judged for things other genres get away with.
In terms of Billie’s aesthetic, she is clearly influenced by 90s hip-hop artists and she herself has admitted this. Billie’s baggie clothes are reminiscent of Missy Elliot and Salt ‘n’ Pepa’s style. In terms of Black culture, these fashion choices have had a large impact on mainstream culture and were popularized by Black Americans. Also her music does have hip-hop influences e.g. My Boy, &Burn, When I Was Older. As Billie has given credit for her style is not a cultural appropriator because cultural appropriation is essentially theft.
Yes, “Black” is broad and doesn’t specify which part of the African diaspora but in this specific context this is about Black America as “African American” and “Black” are often used interchangeably. Black people plus other POC didn’t decide to be the “other” and have our customs all lumped together. As Black Americans have faced and still face discrimination for their art, Black culture is important in Black American history and the music industry.
Back to her criticism, some rappers do lie or fake their personas. Faking your truth in hip-hop is looked down upon because the OG rappers did live the lives they rap about and did come out of high-crime impoverished areas to fame and success. A fake rags-to-riches story is quite shallow and doesn’t take into account the actual struggles some artists have had to go through. However, Billie’s criticism doesn’t hold a lot of weight once you realise that it can literally apply to ALL genres. AdrianXpression made some good points on Twitter about how double standards when it comes to analysing hip-hop. Why is death and/murder common topic for songs of all genres but “glamorising gangs” when it’s a hip-hop artist? Why is hip-hop judged for “promoting drug use” but not pop/dance tunes for excessive drinking at parties? Why are hip-hop (especially black female) artists judged for promisious lyrics but in pop it’s empowerment? Why is Billie’s storytelling genuine and not these rappers’? I can keep going!
Long story short, I see nothing wrong w/ Billie being inspired by Black culture as long as she gives credit which she already has. No, Billie isn’t “not allowed” to comment on or participate in Black culture because she isn’t black even tho no one made this argument in the 1st place and this is deliberately misinterpreting the convo at hand. However Billie is speaking from a privileged position. She can easily move in and out of genres whilst still benefiting from a 90s hip-hop image whilst again, black artists are confined into the boxes of hip-hop and r&b. She can reap the benefits without facing the discrimination that comes along with it so her comment is quite ignorant.
Lastly, rappers have personas and tell stories. Remember Nicki Minaj’s persona “Roman”? Ever heard of Megan Thee Stallion’s “Tina Snow”? Lil Kim’s “Aunt Dot” which features 4 different characters?! Hip-hop is as deserving of being recognized for its art just like every other genre.
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The thing about hip hop is that it’s seen as “a black thing” when even Latinx people contributed to it during the birth of the hip-hop culture. It came from the Bronx, the South Bronx! White people were even hip-hop artists too! Asians! House of Pain? Vanilla Ice? (Even if he was trash) Yoon Mirae, who’s half-black? Tiger JK? Jessi?? Awkafina? Hip-hop is universal, not just for black people. And when they say black people, we all know the image they have in mind.
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The issue mainly is blacks are only ever out into that genre (same with rap) and nothing else. Those people aren’t the ones being called out as “glamorizing gangs” and “all about drugs” compared to when a black person does it.
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Yes, it’s universal but there comes a line where they’re the ones profiting and we get negative stereotypes when it’s towards us. 
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This is true! However, when a lot of criticisms/judgments come towards hip-hop they can specifically be anti-black - terms such as “ratchet”, “ghetto” etc. and not all artists who participate in in hip-hop are willing to call out this anti-blackness because they only see hip-hop as a business venture and don’t care about it’s history.
Additionally, the way hip-hop has been marketed and sold hasn’t always benefited the same people who contributed to its creation. The Latinx community and white individuals (e.g. Eminem) have contributed largely to hip hop but aren’t always affected by it’s criticisms which are connected to anti-blackness. In Kpop there is a similar controversy going on as some artists will be inspired by hip-hop but still hold anti-black views.
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This is so true. 
Couldn’t agree more.
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I agree with that.
This really makes me sick, because it’s like they’re devaluing hip-hop’s cultural significance. Pretty much cultural appropriation if you can see it that way. Get the cash, leave the trash.
I will never understand why hip-hop has a “violent image” or is associated with negative things. I think it’s related to race honestly.
So true. Like Jay Park? He’s said things that can be considered racist, but since he works with black people and appeals to a black audience, he will never be held accountable for his words or actions. I mean, at least there are some people, musicians and/or actors in the industry who respect black people. South Korea itself isn’t very accepting of us, despite it being the 21st century… yes, we exist… no, we do not all talk in slang or vernacular- whatever sociologists call it… yes, we can live in your country without being stared at like aliens.
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This is annoying because it always conveniently leaves out the positive aspects aspects of rap and hip-hop.
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I was kinda disappointed with this because kpop is extremely creative and some of it’s artists do appear better than western artists. I remember the group EXO’s song “Overdose” having a great futuristic video concept and a hip-hop-esque sound + I really enjoyed the song and then there was a clip going around of them calling one of their members a “darkie”? I was saddened honestly…
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Like the unity? The production? Positive messages that some songs have??
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