Music

Pop Smoke Receives A Posthumous Grammy Award Nomination For ‘Dior’

Getty Image ‘Dior’ became an unofficial protest anthem and appeared in some unlikely places in the wake of Pop Smoke’s death. …

Although he was no longer around to campaign on his own behalf, late Brooklyn rapper Pop Smoke was able to secure a posthumous 2021 Grammy Award nomination for his summer single “Dior.” Pop Smoke was killed in February of this year during a home invasion as he rode the success of his summer 2019 hit “Welcome To The Party” and prepared for the release of his debut album. That album, Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon, was released posthumously and contained “Dior” as a bonus track, although the song had previously served as the single for Pop Smoke’s mixtape Meet the Woo 2 after originally appearing on the tape’s predecessor six months before.

The song oddly became an unofficial protest anthem, despite not addressing police brutality or racism, as protestors played the song during demonstrations in Seattle and New York City. It also appears on the soundtrack of the recently released NBA 2K21. The beat was used during the 2020 BET Hip-Hop Awards Cypher.

In the wake of his death, Pop Smoke became an icon around which the burgeoning New York drill scene began to rally, as the gruff-voiced 20-year-old’s last few recorded verses turned into a hot commodity for clout-seeking majors. Young Thug and Pusha T exchanged heated words over a song both appeared on after Pusha used his verse to continue dissing Drake, while Pop’s final verses appeared on projects from the likes of Nav, French Montana, and more.

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Artist Spotlight

C’batch delivers love, reflections and new beginning through “Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling)” (EP)

C’batch’s latest EP, “Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling),“ is a soulful exploration of the never-ending cycle that is love. It’s a release that combines intimacy with looking ahead, blending emotion with cinematic ambition. The EP embraces the ambiguity that follows, instead of providing a clean resolution to heartbreak.

This EP is a sneak peek of C’batch’s upcoming album, “The Vault 4 – Cinematic,” set for release on July 10, 2026, that will go deeper into the emotional universe. The project begins with “Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling),” a nicely balanced, measured balance of strength and openness that captures the emotional tension between self-protection and hope for another chance. “Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling) (2)” gives the same emotional struggle from a more reflective perspective, letting the feelings settle with more maturity and quiet conviction.

“Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling)1a“ tells a different story, with similar emotions reinterpreted with musical shifts, adding to the experience but still resonating with the core message of the EP. The release is completed with the cinematic version of “Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling) Cinematic Version 2,“ a sweeping song with cinematic textures that turns the title track into an immersive sound and offers a glimpse of the creative direction behind “The Vault 4 – Cinematic.“

Another point of connection in C’batch’s expanding catalog, “Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling),“ also supplies the creative inspiration for the two companion versions of “Fluorescent Buzz (You Got Me Falling)“ on the EP of the same name. These releases represent an artist consciously creating a connected musical universe that is growing in emotional depth, storytelling, and cinematic production.

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Album Review

C’batch delivers a soulful dancefloor experience with “The Vault 3 – Club / Dance / R&B-Soul / Funk / Pop / Techno / Etc.”

C’batch is back with “The Vault 3 – Club/Dance/R&B-Soul/Funk/Pop/Techno/Etc.,” a 20-track album of unreleased archival recordings, remixed into one seamless late-night journey. The project builds a world where dancefloor rhythm meets intimate introspection, for global dance culture and late-night listening.

The album opens with raw, emotional loss of love and personal clarity in tracks such as “Breaking My Heart” and “Found What’s Right for Me.” “The Club Song” and “Too Hot to Handle” up the dancefloor ante with thick club beats and game tension. “Mystique of Love (What’s Behind Your Smile)” has an air of mystery about it and is delivered with smooth R&B vibes, while “I Just Wanna Love You Now” is all about passion and urgency.

The mid-section tracks extend the emotional palette of the record. The smooth pop and soul elements of “I Am the Right Guy” promise confident self-confidence, and the next track, “On to You,” plays on attraction and groove. “Love Give Me a Sign (Velvet Switchblade) 2” mixes openness with gritty funk textures, while “No More Lonely Nights” is introspective ambient soul. “Hit Me with Your Love” has a lot more rhythm and a lot more dance energy. “Let Me School You (Vocal Version)” is a fun, funky education, and “Turn It up-2” adds to the club vibe with techno-infused layers.

The final section of “The Vault 3 – Club/Dance/R&B-Soul/Funk/Pop/Techno/Etc.” wraps everything up with warmth, groove, and emotional closure in the remaining songs. The album’s energy is carried by “Send U My Love,” “A Funk Groove,” and “Hold on Now,” the album’s lead single, balanced with romance and dance-driven momentum. Closing the album is “Midnight Love Serenade (Honeyed Girl),” bringing late-night softness and texture. C’batch describes the project as electronic adrenaline meets deep soul groove, a late-night global dance culture, and an immersive listening experience for the modern club listener around the world today.