Kanye West

Kanye West

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Kanye West Releases New Album 'Ye'

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The GRAMMY-winning rapper's eighth studio album arrives with guest appearances by Nicki Minaj, Ty Dolla $ign and more
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Jun 1, 2018 - 7:40 am

At last, the new Kanye West album is here. Ye became available on all major streaming services on June 1 after months of anticipation.

The seven-song, 23-minute album opens with the stark and jarring "I Thought About Killing You," and delivers on the raw, candid edge West has received attention for in the media recently. He is joined on "Wouldn't Leave" by Jeremih, PARTYNEXTDOOR and Ty Dolla $ign. The album's final song "Violent Crimes" features DJ Loaf and a spoken outro by Nicki Minaj providing inspiration for a line West raps earlier in the song about being a father.

One the eve of the album's release, West hosted a listening party in Jackson Hole, Wyo., flying out hundreds of members of the media, including radio programmers, according to Rolling Stone. Several of West's superstar friends and collaborators were also on hand, including Nas, Ty Dolla $ign, Teyana Taylor, Kid Cudi, and 2 Chainz.

His new album arrives amid a string of new West-produced projects, including Pusha T's Daytona, which dropped May 25, and upcoming collabs with Nas, Taylor, and Cudi.

Watch Kanye West's GRAMMY highlights

Ye is the follow up to 2016's Life Of Pablo, which was the catalyst for West earning an impressive eight GRAMMY nominations for the 59th GRAMMY Awards, including Best Rap Album and Best Rap Song For "Ultralight Beam" and "Famous."

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Drake

Drake

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Listen: Drake's New Double Album 'Scorpion' Is Here

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After months of buildup and three singles, the GRAMMY-winning rapper's fifth album finally arrives
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Jun 29, 2018 - 7:41 am

Anticipation has been mounting all year for Drake's fifth album, Scorpion. Today, the wait is finally over as the Canadian rapper's new double album arrived.

Scorpion includes three previously released singles. "God's Plan" came first as part of Drake's Scary Hours EP in January. The song went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and held strong in that spot, making Drake the first male solo artist in history to keep more than one single in the chart's top spot for double-digit weeks. "God's Plan" appears as the fifth track on the first "disc" of Scorpion.

"Nice For What" dropped in April, featuring a sample of Lauryn Hill's "Ex-Factor" and dethroning "God's Plan" at No. 1. In May, Drake released the third single from Scorpion, "I'm Upset," which he followed with a nostalgic video for the song focused around a cast reunion of "Degrassi: The Next Generation," the Canadian teen television drama he acted on a decade ago. "I'm Upset" follows "God's Plan" as track six on disc one, while "Nice For What" anchors disc two of Scorpion as track four.

With 25 tracks total, Scorpion defies the Kanye West-led trend of releasing relatively short albums – in West's case, all of his recent releases as a producer or artist from the "Wyoming Session" have either seven or eight tracks. West also recently revealed Drake was indeed a co-writer on "Yikes" from Ye.

Drake also used featured guests sparingly on Scorpion, but the album does feature Jay-Z on "Talk Up," Static Major and Ty Dolla $ign on "After Dark," and even a posthumous appearance from Michael Jackson on "Don't Matter To Me."

Drake is all set to head out on tour in support of Scorpion. The Aubrey And The Three Amigos North American tour with Migos kicks off July 26 in Salt Lake City and wraps in Atlanta on Nov. 17. For a full list of dates and ticket info, visit Drake's website.

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Pusha T

Pusha T

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Pusha T Announces Daytona Tour, Drops "If You Know You Know" Video

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The rapper will hit the road across the U.S. in support of his recently released, Kanye West-produced album
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Jun 21, 2018 - 7:04 am

Pusha T has officially announced dates for his 2018 Daytona Tour. The Former Clipse rapper will hit the road for a 22-date U.S. tour in support the Kanye West-produced album launching in Denver on July 21 and wrapping up in Oakland, Calif. on Oct. 13. In addition to the tour announcement, Pusha also dropped a video for the lead-off track from Daytona, "If You Know You Know," directed by Shomi Patwary.  

The 2018 Daytona Tour will make stops in Detroit, Chicago, Boston, Dallas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and more. The Bronx-born rapper will bring along Valee and Sheck Wes as opening acts.

Daytona was released on May 25 as the first project of Kanye West's "Wyoming Sessions." Four of the album's songs have cracked the Billboard Hot 100 including "Infrared," "If You Know You Know," "The Games We Play," and "What Would Meek Do" featuring West. The album also debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200.

A full list of dates for the 2018 Daytona Tour, along with ticket information, can be found via LiveNation's website.

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Kid Cudi

Kid Cudi

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Kid Cudi & Kanye West Reveal Album Art, Tease L.A. Listening Party

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Ahead of Friday's release of their collaboration as Kids See Ghosts, Cudi and West tap Takashi Murakami to create the project's album art and tease an album preview party in Los Angeles
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Jun 6, 2018 - 7:34 am

GRAMMY winners Kid Cudi and Kanye West have teamed up under the moniker Kids See Ghosts for a new self-titled album due out Friday. Adding to the frenzy of anticipation leading up to the project's release, the duo have revealed the album artwork and loose details on a listening party in Los Angeles.

The album cover was designed by Japanese artist Takashi Murakami, a name many hip-hop fans will recognize as the artist who created the album artwork for West's 2007 modern classic, Graduation. West teased this latest collaboration with Murakami back in April, tweeting a sketch with the caption, "Murakami vibes." The colorful artwork for Kids See Ghosts was revealed in a tweet from Cudi on June 6.

Cudi's manager, Dennis Cummings, also took to Twitter to announce a listening party for Kids See Ghosts. While full details are still forthcoming, the tweet did say the event will happen in L.A.

West released his eighth studio album, Ye, on June 1, which was also preceded by a highly publicized listening party. The GRAMMY winner reportedly flew hundreds of members of the media to Jackson Hole, Wyo., to preview his new project on the day before it was released.

No stranger to high-profile collaborations, Cudi's most recent album is 2016's Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin', featured guest appearances from André 3000, Pharrell Williams, and Travis Scott. Cudi is also featured on "Ghost Town" on West's Ye.

The seven-song LP, Kids See Ghosts, drops June 8.

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Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj

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Nicki Minaj Announces New Album 'Queen' At Met Gala

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After dropping a pair of videos for her two latest singles last week, the GRAMMY nominee takes to the Met Gala's red carpet to announce details on her third album
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
May 8, 2018 - 7:33 am

When Nicki Minaj released a pair of singles on April 11 — "Barbie Tingz" and "Chun-Li" — speculation of a new album began to gain steam. At last night's Met Gala, Minaj put the rumors to rest, announcing her new album Queen will be released June 15.

"It's a big night for me because I just let the world know that my album is coming June 15 and it's called Queen, and I can't wait," Minaj said. 

Just this past Friday, Minaj dropped videos for each of her duo of singles, providing fans a myriad of distinctive new looks at her style, from a futuristic diva in a neon-lit bodysuit in "Chun-Li" to a Barbie puppet and Victorian-era dancer in "Barbie Tingz." Minaj's attire at the Met Gala was no less eye-catching, as she arrived in a ravishing red dress with an impressive train.

Known for its tendency to attract bold fashion statements, this year's Met Gala centered on the theme of "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination," and featured appearances by some of music's biggest names, such as Katy Perry, Ariana Grande, Rihanna, Grimes, Miley Cyrus, Janelle Monáe, Jennifer Lopez, Migos, Madonna, Mary J. Blige, Cardi B, and more.

Queen will be Minaj's third studio album, following 2014's The Pinkprint and her 2010 debut album, Pink Friday, both of which were certified platinum by the RIAA and hit No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

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