Yeah, I don’t know why I brought that up. Anyway, everybody seems to be really into “AI” right now — or at least, algorithms that imitate artificial intelligence (ChatGPT ain’t passing a Turing test anytime soon) — and that’s led to some quirky, fun apps like the aforementioned ChatGPT and a new Drake song generator.
Drayk.it lets users type in a song concept — or randomly generate one — and out pops a reasonable facsimile of a one-minute Drake song, which is performed by a Drake bot.
Obviously, there’s a lot of fun to be had with getting Drake to sing about something other than his broken heart, and fans are stretching that idea to its absolute limits. Suggestions have so far included a lost wallet (A Tribe Called Quest did it first/better), Drake’s Shabbos reading list, and a song about a turtle pirate(???).
Lost my wallet/had it stolen the other day, and decided to have AI Drake write a song about it. pic.twitter.com/LVpzMyWtTt
And sure, this is all in good fun, but whenever Drake gets around to pulling a Rick Astley and suing the pants off the app’s creators, this sort of thing will probably see a lot of legal scrutiny within the next few years. This is kind of a far cry from that Views cover art generator. This is actual likeness and art, which will need to be protected.
The genie’s out of the bottle now, and I can think of at least three ways this could be used for nefarious ends, and while Drake isn’t much of a sympathetic figure, there are hundreds of other recording artists out there who could be harmed by this. For now, we’ll enjoy making Drake rap about Warrior Nun or whatever, but the dominoes are already falling.
It’s astonishing considering the song’s seeming ubiquity, but Ice Spice’s breakout song “Munch” was never actually on the Hot 100 chart, instead peaking at No. 5 on Billboard‘s Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart in September. It didn’t take her too long to top that accomplishment, though; her latest single, “Gangsta Boo” featuring Lil Tjay, has garnered the Bronx rapper her first-ever Hot 100 appearance on this week’s chart.
“Gangsta Boo,” which appears on Ice’s debut EP Like..? alongside her previously released singles “Munch (Feelin’ U),” “Bikini Bottom,” and “In Ha Mood,” enters the Hot 100 this week at No. 82. Considering the omnipresence of Ice Spice catchphrases like, “you thought I was feeling you?” and “how can I lose when I’m already chose?”, it’s likely only a matter of time until we see her making regular appearances at the opposite end of the chart.
The signature redhead probably won’t stop at the charts, though; earlier this month, she hinted that a screen career might soon be on the way. “I didn’t ever really like see myself being a rapper,” she told Hot97’s Ebro Darden. “I always wanted to be an actress. That was my first passion.” With her witty personality and a gift for self-promotion, don’t be surprised if she takes over movies and TV, too.
Drake’s love for sports is well-documented. The Canadian musician has even formed close-knit friendships with some players. The rap superstar is often photographed courtside at some of his favorite basketball teams’ games. He’s given commentary during showdowns or even been the center of the commentary due to his fashion choices. He’s even found himself in a couple of social media spats while defending his hometown team, the Toronto Raptors.
When the entertainer isn’t on the road or working, he runs his own league, Sanctuary Basketball League (SBL). In contrast to rapper J. Cole, the OVO Sound boss’ likelihood of playing at the professional level is highly unlikely due in part to recurring ankle injuries. However, professional basketball player Fred VanVleet believes Drake could never make it in the league because of his lack of skill.
During the shooting guard’s appearance in a video segment from Canadian sports network Sportsnet, when asked about his opinion on rappers with a passion for the game, VanVleet replied, “[J. Cole] can play a little bit. You know what I mean? Not professionally, obviously. Drake is just old-man YMCA game. He just doesn’t move like a basketball player.”
Ironically, as much public support Drake shows the Toronto Raptors, it much hurt to hear their star guard doesn’t have faith in your game.
Usually, the self-proclaimed 6 God is quick to clap back. However, the rapper is still running off a high after celebrating his son Adonis’ 5th birthday.
Meanwhile, other players chimed in, too, like Scottie Barnes, who said of Cole, “He’s actually one of the artists that really knows how to play basketball.”
The lineups for Rolling Loud Los Angeles and Rolling Loud Portugal were previously announced, impressing hip-hop fans with headliners like Future, Playboi Carti, and Travis Scott for the former festival location and Scott, Carti, and Meek Mill for the latter. Now the lineup for Rolling Loud Thailand is out — and headliners include the Astroworld rapper again as well as Chris Brown and Cardi B.
Other guests on the roster are A$AP Ferg, Lil Uzi Vert, Rick Ross, DaBaby, Rae Sremmurd, Offset, Ski Mask The Slump God, Waka Flocka Flame, Soulja Boy, Fat Joe, Central Cee, Ken Carson, Destroy Lonely, Bktherula, Teriyaki Boyz, and many more.
It’ll take place at Legend Siam in Pattaya on April 13-15, 2023; it’s the first time ever occurring in Thailand. Ticket information can be found here.
Ironically, DaBaby is performing at Rolling Loud Thailand, considering he claimed that his notorious performance at Rolling Loud Miami in 2021 cost him $100 million because of his homophobic remarks that lost him fans and brand deals. “I ain’t into all of the conspiracy theories, this and that,” he said on Hot97’s Ebro In The Morning show. “Until you see it really cost a n****s a $100 million within a year’s span.”
Cardi B is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
TMZ reports Kanye West is under investigation after being accused of battery by a woman whose phone he snatched. Kanye was apparently leaving his daughter North’s basketball game when he confronted the woman and a man, who were in a car recording him. In a video posted online, Kanye can be seen accosting the voyeurs from his SUV, eventually getting out and telling them to stop filming him.
“If I say stop, stop with your cameras!” he says. However, the woman argues that because he’s a celebrity, he ought to be used to it. That only sets him off; he grabs her phone out of her hand and chucks it into the street. You can watch the video below:
Keeping up with new music can be exhausting, even impossible. From the weekly album releases to standalone singles dropping on a daily basis, the amount of music is so vast it’s easy for something to slip through the cracks. Even following along with the Uproxx recommendations on a daily basis can be a lot to ask, so every Monday we’re offering up this rundown of the best new music this week.
This week saw Lil Yachty make a left turn and Chlöe pivot away from revenge. Yeah, it was a great week for new music. Check out the highlights below.
Lil Yachty shocked the music world last week (despite a warning from over a year ago) with Let’s Start Here, a new album that sees Yachty going in a new-to-him psychedelic rock direction. He mirrored that vibe in his appropriately trippy video for “Say Something.”
Chlöe — “Pray It Away”
Chlöe made some noise by announcing In Pieces recently, and then continued the rollout with “Pray It Away.” Uproxx’s Alex Gonzalez notes of the track, “On the first piece of In Pieces, Chlöe recovers from a broken heart by getting in touch with her spirituality. Initially, she is angry and vengeful over a man who did her dirty. But instead of exacting revenge, she chooses to pray the hurt and the heartache away.”
Rosalía — “LLYLM”
Rosalía takes an organic approach on “LLYLM,” which is propelled along with handclap-driven percussion. She even busts out some English here, too, singing on the hook, “I don’t need honesty / Baby, lie like you love me, lie like you love me / Cover me in a dream, I’ll be yours or fantasy / Who needs the honesty?”
Cordae — “Two Tens” Feat. Anderson .Paak
Cordae and .Paak apparently recorded enough songs together for an EP. Who knows if all that music will ever surface, but some of it has. Last week, the pair dropped “Two Tens,” a smooth new tune that sees the pair going back and forth in a most delightful way.
Sam Smith — “I’m Not Here To Make Friends”
Sam Smith found an ally in Kim Petras, who helped him land a No. 1 single recently with “Unholy.” In other areas of his life, though, he doesn’t need anybody else, as he declared on a song that borrows its title from the mouths of countless reality show contestants, “I’m Not Here To Make Friends” (although Calvin Harris, presumably at least an acquaintance, co-wrote this one).
Zach Bryan — “Dawns” Feat. Maggie Rogers
A couple weeks ago, Bryan put some pressure on the Philadelphia Eagles: He declared that if the team beat the New York Giants in the NFL playoffs, he’d drop “Dawns,” a fan-favorite that hadn’t yet been given an official release. Well, the birds pulled through, and sure enough, Bryan released the Maggie Rogers-featuring tune, a heartbreaking rock ballad.
Rich Brian — “Sundance Freestyle”
Rich Brian is in movie star mode right now, as his film Jamojaya recently debuted at Sundance. Music is part of the equation, too, though, as much like himself IRL, in the movie, he plays an up-and-coming Indonesian rapper. So, to coincide with the film, he dropped “Sundance Freestyle” last week, a quick-hitter accompanied by a comedic video.
The Kid Laroi — “Love Again”
Laroi will continue to establish himself as a star with The First Time, his upcoming album. He continued teasing the LP last week with “Love Again,” an acoustic guiter-driven track, on which he wonders whether a past love will find their way back into his life.
Gorillaz — “Silent Running” Feat. Adeleye Omotayo
Gorillaz are on a productive streak and it’s set to culminate next month with Cracker Island, a new album. On the new “Silent Running,” Uproxx’s Alex Gonzalez says the band “recalls a hypnotic love, as they fall through an intoxicating wormhole in their mind,” adding, “Adeleye Omotayo adds some smooth, seductive vocals to the song, glistening the background, and giving it a magical touch.”
Ava Max — “One Of Us”
Diamonds & Dancefloors tragically leaked last year, months before its release date, but fans who honored Max’s intentions and waited for the album to drop were treated to its official release last week. Max also dropped a visual for “One Of Us,” a driving pop banger on which Max contrasts her passion with the relative lack of it from the other half of a relationship.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
The honorees for the annual Billboard Women In Music Awards have been announced, as a new class of women celebrate a year of making their mark on the music industry. Set for March 1, 2023, at the YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California, and hosted by Quinta Brunson — who’s making quite the mark of her own in television — the Women In Music Awards acknowledge the artists who have had an outstanding year.
This year’s honorees include Latin music star Becky G, who will receive the Impact Award; genre-breaking rapper Doechii, who will receive the Rising Star Award; reggaeton pioneer Ivy Queen, who will receive the Icon Award; pop singer Kim Petras, who will receive the Chartbreaker Award; Atlanta rap hitmaker Latto, who will receive the Powerhouse Award; country music rising star Lainey Wilson, who will receive the Rulebreaker Award; Lana Del Rey, who will receive the Visionary Award; and K-pop girl group TWICE, who will receive the Breakthrough Award. The night’s performers will be announced at a later date.
Previous recipients of Women In Music honors include Doja Cat, HER, and Saweetie, all of whom performed at least year’s show. Tickets will be open to the public, with an American Express member-exclusive presale on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 31 and February 1, and the general sale Friday, February 3 at 10 am PT. You can learn more at billboardwomeninmusic.com.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
SZA’s sophomore album SOS proves to be the gift that keeps on giving. Today (January 30), the album is No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart dated Februrary 4, for a seventh total week.
With this latest feat, SOS becomes the first R&B/hip-hop album by a woman to top the Billboard 200 for seven weeks, since Whitney Houston’s 1987 album, Whitney, which spent 11 weeks on top upon its release.
SOS has spent the most weeks at No. 1 for any album by a woman since 2020, the last being Taylor Swift’s Folklore. It has also spent the most consecutive weeks at No. 1 within the span of a year for any album across all genres since the soundtrack to Disney’s 2021 film, Encanto.
Upon receiving the news, SZA took to her Instagram story to express her gratitude in a spiritual manner.
“7 is yemayas number,” she said. “I’m so thankful to everyone and God thank you.”
On this week’s top 10 is Swift’s Midnights, which placed at No. 2, now having spent its first 14 weeks in the top two. Trippie Redd’s Mansion Musik makes its debut at No. 3, and country-rock star Hardy’s The Mockingbird & The Crow arrives at No. 4, and Metro Boomin’s Heroes & Villains is now sitting at No. 5.
Drake & 21 Savage’s Her Loss, which temporarily dethroned Swift’s Midnights upon its release last November, is now at No. 6, pushing Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti to No. 7. Morgan Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album has fallen to No. 8, and “Something In The Orange” singer Zach Bryan’s American Heartbreak album is now at No. 9. Lil Baby’s It’s Only Me, which became his third album to debut at No. 1 upon its release last year, is now sitting at No. 10.
Some of the artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
A Philly hometown hero joined the Philadelphia Eagles as they walked out into the stadium yesterday (January 29): Kicking off the NFC Championship game in which the Eagles took on the San Francisco 49ers, Lil Uzi Vert walked out with the Eagles as their hit single “Just Wanna Rock” played throughout.
Perhaps Uzi proved to be a good luck charm for the Eagles, as they ended up beating the 49ers 31 to 7. Next month, the Eagles will take on the Kansas City Chiefs at Super Bowl LVII. That game will take place on Sunday, February 12, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The game will broadcast live on Fox at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Uzi has always held their hometown close to their heart. Last year, during an interview with Jazzy’s World, they said that without Philly, there would be no Uzi: “I was always around a very different crowd, very diverse. […] It just made me who I am today and I really took from it. If it wasn’t for Philly, I wouldn’t be Uzi.”
Check out the clips of Uzi’s NFC Championship walkout with the Eagles above.
Lil Uzi Vert is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
The recent death of Tyre Nichols has sparked outrage across the country. The 29-year-old died after succumbing to his injuries from being severely beaten by five Memphis police officers at a traffic stop. Several artists, including Moneybagg Yo, GloRilla, and more, have already commented on Nichols’ unjust death. The latest to show support is another Memphis native, NLE Choppa.
Choppa, whose real name is Bryson Lashun Potts, hopped on Twitter to share his thought on the devastating situation.
“Today, I felt it on my heart to turn a negative situation into a positive,” the rapper said in a video he shared. “I actually went to sleep dwelling on how I could wake up today and do that.”
The rapper encouraged his fans to join him for a peaceful march through the streets of Memphis, requesting that they bring their own kind of wheels, whether it be skateboards, roller skates, or wheelies.
“So, I came up with a hashtag, #SkateForTyre,” he said regarding Nichols, who was known as an avid skateboarder. “I came up with a location where I want everyone in Memphis that wants to be a part to meet me at for a peaceful march, a peaceful walk, and a peaceful skate through the streets.”
He continued: “I just want to skate for Tyre and respect to him and know that’s how he would’ve wanted everybody to act.”
Later, the rapper posted another video on his Twitter account, but this time it was alongside a group of protestors, walking and skating in honor of Nichols.
“No justice, no peace, we’re gonna skate for Tyree,” protesters said in the clip.
Following Nichols’ untimely death, the five officers involved have since been fired from the Memphis Police Department and are facing impending charges.
NLE Choppa is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
(@uzivump) 
Inependet Music Collection 