Skillz drops off the "2014 Rap Up" touching on KimYe, JAY Z/Solange gate, #BlackLivesMatter, and lots more.

The Bink!-produced track will also be featured on Skillz's upcoming joint EP along with the producer titled, Made in Virginia, dropping New Year's Eve. Listen to the "2014 Rap Up" down below.

The Oaktown artist delivered an eclectic three-pack of songs today, keeping it strictly West with collabs with Hit-Boy, the HBK's P-Lo and the Bay Area Legend, before heading down South to link with Mr. "Cut You Off." Listen to all three tracks below.

S.B.O.E. rounds up Lil Boosie, Rich Homie Quan and Yo Gotti for “Better Than Them”.

The new issue of Rolling Stone magazine that features Nicki Minaj on the front cover will be available on newsstands this Friday, January 2nd.

For the cover story, Nicki spoke on various subjects including her personal life, having an abortion, inspiring girls, her verse on Kanye West’s “Monster” song, artists not taking their craftsmanship as seriously as her, the killing of Eric Garner, and black artists speaking on the situation.

You can read excerpts from the Young Money Barbie‘s interview with Rolling Stone after the jump below!



Sharing Information About Her Personal Life On “The Pinkprint”:
“One of my goals was to give people a glimpse into my personal life, because it’s something I’ve kept very private. I had to learn to do something as simple as sleep alone. I struggled with ‘Do I express these feelings?’ And I decided there’s no reason for me to hide. I’m a vulnerable woman, and I’m proud of that.”

Inspiring Girls To Be Sexy And Smart:
“With a video like ‘Anaconda,’ I’m a grown-ass fucking woman! I stand for girls wanting to be sexy and dance, but also having a strong sense of themselves. If you got a big ol’ butt? Shake it! Who cares? That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be graduating from college.”

Having An Abortion:
I thought I was going to die. I was a teenager. It was the hardest thing I’d ever gone through. It’d be contradictory if I said I wasn’t pro-choice. I wasn’t ready. I didn’t have anything to offer a child. Millions of people are gonna hear it. And you gotta watch everything you say — people find an issue with every fucking thing.”

Artists Taking Their Craftsmanship Less Seriously Than Herself:
“I hate when artists brag about not writing rhymes, or doing things really quickly, and then it’s not great. It’s ill when Jay Z or Wayne say it, because the results are great. When they’re not? Sit your ass down and figure out something new to say!” 

Her Verse On Kanye West’s “Monster”:
“He said, ‘What do you really wanna say?’ So instead of writing a rap, I wrote pages and pages of like, ‘I’m sick of people talking about this, tired of people saying I’m that’ — ranting in a notebook, basically. Then I read it back, highlighted major things and put it in rap form.”

The Killing Of Eric Garner:
“It’s sickening, and I’ve been reading so many people saying, ‘Why are we surprised?’ That’s what’s really sad: that we should somehow be used to being treated like animals. It’s gotten to the point where people feel like there’s no accountability: If you are law enforcement and you do something to a black person, you can get away with it.”

Black Artists Addressing The Situation:
“I feel like when Public Enemy were doing ‘Fight the Power,’ we as a culture had more power — now it feels hopeless. People say, ‘Why aren’t black celebrities speaking out more?’ But look what happened to Kanye when he spoke out. People told him to apologize to Bush! He was the unofficial spokesman for hip-hop, and he got torn apart. And now you haven’t heard him speaking about these last couple things, and it’s sad. Because how many times can you be made to feel horrible for caring about your people before you say, ‘Fuck it, it’s not worth it, let me live my life because I’m rich, and why should I give a fuck?’”

Via Rolling Stone

End your 2014 - and begin your 2015 - the right way, with the latest offering from West Coast stalwart Nipsey Hussle, Mailbox Money.

The official and highly-anticipated follow-up to 2013's Crenshaw, Neighborhood Nip's new project boasts features and production from Rick Ross, Dom Kennedy, K Camp, Hit-Boy, DJ Khalil, Scoop DeVille, DJ Mustard, Buddy, and a host of others.

Per usual, Nipsey is offering the project to his fans in three ways: a Gangsta Grillz-hosted, free edition (which you can download below), a DJ-free, CDQ version for $12, and - if you're a supreme baller like that - a limited-edition physical copy for $1,000, which will also come with access to a private advance listening session for Nipsey's upcoming album, Victory Lap, at a secret location.

Pick your poison, and enjoy.

After previewing the track in London back in November, A$AP Rocky kicks off #FLACKOJODYESEASON with the release of his new single, "Lord Pretty Flacko Jodye 2 (PFJII)" – the official follow-up to the SpaceGhostPurrp-produced original that was removed from Long.Live.A$AP a.

One of the many highlights of rap music in 2014 was DeJ Loaf's wonderfully sinister "Try Me" (also known as, "the nicest set of death threats you'll ever hear). Although I believed that the remix with Ty Dolla $ign and Remy Ma was the official one, it turns out that this new version with Tip and Da Snowman is now - at the moment - the "final version." Listen below.

After breaking out with their hit single "No Flex Zone" and following suit with the equally popular "No Type," young Mississippi duo Rae Sremmurd are ready to release their debut album, Sremm Life, on January 6th.

Before the date arrives, iTunes Radio is providing fans with an early listen to the 11-track album – which includes the Nicki Minaj and Young Thug-assisted "Throw $um Mo" and "YNO" with Big Sean 

SremmLife is out 1/6 on Interscope.

Usher links with Migos for this new one “Still Got It.” 

Listen below…

Cash Money Records head Birdman has reportedly invited big spenders to drop $100,000 for a New Year’s Eve party in Florida.

According to reports, Birdman is giving diehard fans a chance to pay big bucks and enjoy a memorable New Year’s Eve with him Wednesday (December 31).

You’ll get to record a song with Birdman himself … in the same studio where Weezy and Drake lay down tracks. After that you’ll really start living like a rap star — because you and your entourage (up to 50 deep) will get into Cameo nightclub where you’ll be treated to: 

— 50 bottle of Ace of Spades Champagne
— 10 bottles of Don Julio 1942 Tequila
— 10 bottles of Grey Goose Vodka
— 5 Bottles of D’Usse VSOP Cognac (TMZ)