Aug. 2-8, Edition 8
Keeping up with music’s ceaseless news cycle can certainly be tasking, but we at OGM are cutting right through the noise. In our weekly news series “Top 5ive,” we’re saying things straight-up — unpacking the five most important news stories you need to know right now. Know the major players and what their latest moves are, as our new editorial series is dedicated to keeping listeners informed on the most harrowing, heroic and heartfelt headlines in hip-hop.
In this week’s edition (Aug. 2-8), we take a look back at another busy week including Travis Scott’s upcoming shows, rumors of Kendrick Lamar already working on new material, Yeat announcing his new EP and so much more.
Lil Wayne needs no introduction. Between his insurmountable success as both a musician and celebrity, he is one of the most recognizable names in hip-hop for many reasons. His Carter album series is one of them — playing a large role in his legacy and hip-hop history alike. Now, Wayne looks to continue the coveted double trilogy with the forthcoming Tha Carter VI.
Taking the stage at the Young Money Reunion show on Saturday (Aug. 6), Wayne revealed plans to follow-up his legendary album run with the series’ sixth edition — confirming the announcement in a video posted to Young Money’s Twitter. It also seems that its release is coming sooner than expected, as the video announcement was accompanied by a pre-save link for the record.
Beyoncé is having a moment with her seventh studio album, Renaissance. Debuting at No 1 this past weekend (Aug. 7) — selling 332,000 first-week units — the “BREAK MY SOUL” songstress is now the first female artist to earn a No. 1 record in 2022. This is Bey’s seventh consecutive album to debut atop the Billboard 200 and is the first female emcee in Billboard history to achieve this feat.
Billed as “Act I” of a forthcoming three-part project, Bey discussed the creation of Renaissance in a statement on her website, wholeheartedly thanking her fans amid divulging the underlying themes of the record. “Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find an escape during a scary time for the world,” she penned, alluding to the album’s three-year process during the COVID-19 pandemic. “My intention was to create a safe space… a place to scream, release and feel freedom. It was a beautiful journey of exploration.”
Travis Scott is back. A week after his epic feature on NAV’s “Never Sleep” alongside Lil Baby, Scott is started to pave the path to his mythical LP Utopia more clearly for fans. Performing at the O2 Arena in London this past weekend (Aug. 6-7), Scott seems more than ready to breathe life into his long-awaited album — unveiling a few unreleased tracks including ‘God’s Country” with Ye. Amid his stop in London, Travis will also be holding seven shows this Fall at the legendary Zouk Nightclub in Las Vegas. While only two dates have been announced, his Vegas residency has officially been named “Road to Utopia” — further proving the new project is just around the corner. For more on Travis Scott’s upcoming dates, click here.
A few months removed from Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers, Kendrick Lamar is already back in the lab. Legendary Top Dawg Entertainment producer Sounwave revealed in a recent interview with Complex that he has already started working on the next album with K. Dot and reveals “there is no breaks.” While we have little information on a new body of work from Lamar, any news that points to a new LP is always good news. For more on what’s next for Kendrick, click here.
Rising superstar Yeat has had one of the most electric years any up-and-coming artist can ask for. Aside from dropping the internet-famous “Rich Minion” for the recent Minions movie, he also released his sophomore album 2 Alivë earlier this year. You can now add his forthcoming EP Lyfë to his 2022 resume — confirming the 6-track project via Instagram on July 30. He later confirmed on Aug. 2 that the new EP will be dropping sometime this month. While we have little official information on the project, a few snippets he previously showed off will seemingly make the cut, including an outro featuring Lil Uzi Vert. For more on Yeat’s new EP, click here.
