Entertainment

Preme Fires Back in Kendrick vs. Drake Debate, Citing “NOKIA” Chart Success

In the ongoing war of words between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, it seems that Team OVO has taken another shot, and this one has statistics to back it up. Preme, a longtime Drake associate and fixture of the OVO sound camp, posted on social media to comment on what many perceived as a “checkmate” moment for Kendrick in the ongoing war of words. But Jamal Preme said the scoreboard says otherwise. “NOKIA” is the center of the counterattack, and it’s a song that’s at least tough enough to endure all that lyrical crossfire. It managed to top the Apple Music Top 100 Global chart, outpacing several recent Kendrick releases.

“They said we was dead,” Preme wrote in a less than subtle shot at critics who proclaimed Kendrick the winner after his Super Bowl appearance and some recent drops. “They said it was over, they said Super Bowl was checkmate, and they said he should take a few years off and disappear.” Instead, here we are in April, and “NOKIA” is cozying up with the equally menacing “SICKO MODE” at the top, while Drake, label drama and all, is still racking up records. It’s easy to get lost in the lyrical gymnastics and fan-driven bar arguments but Preme’s point is clear that numbers matter.

Check out this article: SZA Dodges Drake Drama on Jimmy Kimmel Ahead of Grand National Tour with Kendrick Lamar

In an industry where individual verses and tweets can alter the public’s view of a star in seconds, the commercial performance of “NOKIA” is an industrial signal sized reminder that Drake isn’t going anywhere. “The best revenge is success,” Preme continued the next day, reiterating a feeling that’s been part of Drizzy’s brand for a long time. What’s most striking is how this moment seems less a diss than a declaration. No subliminals are necessary when the charts do all the talking. And as Kendrick continues to ascend toward his own legacy, Preme wants the world to know that Drake remains very much in charge of his narrative and his numbers.

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Celebrity

Meek Mill Draws Mixed Reactions With Drill Take on Nico & Vinz’s “Am I Wrong”

Meek Mill has released a couple of songs that leaked online recently, giving fans a proper way to hear the tracks after they popped up over the weekend. “Philly Heathens” has been praised for its attention to street culture and youth affected by violence, but his other new album, “Am I Wrong,” has received a much more divided response.

“Philly Heathens” has been praised for its lyrics about street culture and the young people who get caught up in violence. “Am I Wrong,” however, takes a vastly different approach, remixing the song of the same name by Nico & Vinz as a drill centric interpolation.

“Am I Wrong” is now 12 years old, and its connection to the EDM sound of the time makes it especially recognizable to those who grew up with it. So Meek’s take is built on a familiar musical reference, but the response has been far from universally complimentary. A lot of the criticism has been directed at the hook. The production has also been called dated, but the track was leaked, which may explain its sound. But the strongest reactions have focused on Meek’s chorus vocals.

Some of the responses have been good, though. Some listeners felt the track was a throwback to the blog era, while others thought the criticism targeted almost entirely the hook, not the song as a whole. One Reddit commenter wrote that the track was good, but the chorus was bad, suggesting that Meek’s performance on the rest of the song was better than the reception to the hook may suggest.

The different reactions demonstrate the contrast between Meek’s two new leaks. “Philly Heathens” has resonated with audiences for its subject matter, while “Am I Wrong” has sparked discussion due to its interpolation and vocal approach.

Both songs are now officially available on YouTube so that fans can decide for themselves. The response to “Am I Wrong” shows how difficult it is to reinterpret a well known song, especially when a recognizable hook becomes the centerpiece of the new version

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Celebrity

Drake Joins Karol G in Houston for First Live Performance of “Ahi”

Drake made a surprise appearance in Houston this weekend, joining Karol G on stage for the first-ever live performance of their collaboration, “Ahi.”
The surprise appearance took place during Karol G’s show in Houston, where Drake jumped out from the bottom of the stage to perform the song with her. “Ahi” is the latest from Karol G’s project No Me Arrepiento de Sentir Tanto, and the Houston show marked the first time the pair had performed the collaboration together on stage.

Drake made his entrance to a loud reception from the crowd. The rapper popped out from under the stage, bowed to Karol G, hugged her, and launched into their collaboration. With “Ahi,” the performance was not over. Drake stayed on stage and carried on with the set, performing “Janice STFU” and “One Dance” and giving the Houston crowd a long set from the Canadian rapper.

The collaboration also sparked speculation about Drake’s upcoming music. A rumor started that Karol G was one of the collaborators on the project, along with Molly Santana and Future, days before ICEMAN is expected to drop. Future and Molly Santana were among the names on the rumored list, and Future ended up on “Run To Atlanta.”

Drake’s Houston appearance comes as he continues to promote music outside the traditional album release cycle. He released FOMO, a visual YouTube project featuring visuals for several songs from Habibti and Maid Of Honor nearly two weeks ago. The project also featured a couple of unreleased songs, including new material with Yeat and new unreleased music with Don Toliver.

Drake and Don Toliver have also dropped a remix of Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas.” The remix has recently sparked speculation about the artists after re uploaded visuals allegedly erased all footage of Langley.

But the Houston show shifted the focus back to Drake and Karol G. The surprise appearance turned the stop into the first live showcase of “Ahi” for the audience, while Drake’s renditions of “Janice STFU” and “One Dance” extended his surprise time onstage. It also gave fans their first chance to see the two artists perform their collaboration together, adding a live chapter to the release of “Ahi. “

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