On Wax: Last Week In Hip-Hop
On Wax is a weekly take updating you on the pocket of culture known as hip-hop. We bring you everything from breaking news to album drops, jail time and who’s beefing with who.
Wale Leaves Atlantic
Not with a bang, but with a whisper, Wale parted ways with Atlantic Records with some thinking it might have a lot to do with the record sales of his last album, Shine. Selling 28,000 the first week, the album flopped with Wale citing “life changes” for the reason the album sold so few. In the current state, Wale has sat on a slump since he began going down as soon as he went up. The question is (at this point): What will be the fate of Wale? Although leaving a label isn’t always the worst thing that can happen to an artist, one has to wonder if Wale is able to bounce back while demonstrating the ability we are all aware he has.
“God’s Plan” Music Video
In other news, comeback season is in the works after releasing More Life last year; Drake took an approach that caused him to lay a bit lower than usual. He sat in the background while artists like Kendrick, Tyler, and Vince Staples would drop memorable projects. However, dropping the “God’s Plan” music video, Drake proved he was far from being done with the throne. Originally supposed to be a track with Trippie Redd, Drake allegedly released the track before Trippie Redd finished his verse after a snippet had caused the track to gain traction. With the success of the current song, there is much anticipation to see what the 6 God has planned for the rest of the year.
One Step Closer To ASAP Rocky’s New Album
Speaking of anticipation, in route to ASAP Rocky’s next album, we were given a track from him that’s attached to the Uncle Drew film. The track is produced by London On Da Track, and it attempts to balance the combined styles of 21 Savage, Gucci Maine, and Rocky, but ends up falling a tad flat. If there can be chemistry between these artists, it probably will not be found in this track.
New Jay Rock Video
Ahead of the most talked about blockbuster of 2018, Black Panther, Jay Rock drops his video for “Kings Dead” ft. Kendrick Lamar and Future. The video kicks off with Kendrick eating an eloté in a palm tree, which is the greatest cinematic event to ever occur in a music video. Future even does his now infamous “La Di Da Di Da” line. When the beat switch happens, Kendrick has to pop “a nigga” for tryna take his money after a drug deal. Then, he raps in a middle of an intersection with oncoming traffic. Honestly, it’s the greatest music video ever.
YG Reminds Us
YG dropped a new track titled “Suu Whoop.” To those not from the hood, Suu Whoop is a phrase yelled by someone who is a blood. While YG showing his allegiance is not anything new, the track is thought to have lines directed at everyone’s least favorite rapper, Tekashi 6ix9ine. On the track, the Bompton rapper says:
“Fuck it, you don’t wanna be a bitch, nigga
You a clown, you IT, nigga”
and
“I ain’t with the pink-haired Blood shit (suu whoop)
I ain’t with the only-at-the-club-Bloodin’ (suu whoo-suu whoop)”
Tekashi recently got into trouble out here in on the West Coast. He recently stated that he didn’t need to check in with the gangs of LA, and as a result, his show at the Belasco Theater was canceled due to security issues.
Until next week, it’s On Wax.
-Dyllan E. & Hiram