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REASON Explains Why He Mentioned Mac Miller On “Fall”

This past September marked two years since the tragic passing of Mac Miller. The rapper’s death is among the major losses in the realm of hip-hop experienced in the past few years alone. Mac touched many people, from his fans to friends and collaborators, so it’s a sore spot whenever his name is brought up, regardless of the intent. TDE’s REASON was under fire over the weekend following the release of New Beginnings.

“Look, you said you wanna be an artist/Well, we gon’ turn you to an addict/Get rid of the n***as that you got on with/Then give you the tools to dig your own shit/Surround you with some wack n***as/Some yes men that’s gon’ tell you that your raps iller/A couple cars, some jewelry, make your stacks bigger/Then one day you could become the next Mac Miller,” he raps on “Fall.”

Ahead of its release, he sat down with Bootleg Kev who predicted some might have issues with the lyric. Reason explained that he has love for Mac Miller and there was no ill intent behind the lyrics. Noting that he loves Mac Miller, he said that he prides himself on being honest. The point of the lyric wasn’t to shame anyone who suffers from addiction but rather, shed light on a prevalent issue that hasn’t been addressed.

“It’s for the people that’s gon’ say, ‘Well, it’s just these artists that are affected by it.’… It’s not just the Lil’s,” he explained. “He was like one of the greats. And a great kid and a great guy and a nice guy. And this industry, in my opinion, you know what I mean? Destroyed him… It’s not just the young boys. And that’s the reason why I did it. I was like, there’s a chance that I can catch some flack but I feel like this is so important for people to understand is that it’s not just the lils.”

Though the delivery of what he said may have been rough, he explained that Mac was someone who came into the industry young. And there needs to be a change because many childhood stars resort to drugs at some point due to the horrors of the industry.

Peep the clip below.

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Kanye West Joins Chicago Ceremony Honoring His Mother With Dr. Donda West Way

Kanye West was in Chicago for a street naming ceremony honoring his late mother, Dr. Donda West, and celebrating her lasting contributions to the city, her impact on education and the arts, and her influence on her son’s life.

A portion of 78th Street bears the official designation of Dr. Donda West Way, an appropriate tribute to a woman whose legacy remains deeply entangled with Chicago. Local news covered the ceremony, attended by community leaders, and Ye could be seen clapping in the background, wearing shades, as the new street sign was unveiled.

The event celebrated Donda West’s accomplishments and her impact on the people in her life. It was also a moment of profound personal significance for Kanye. His mother played a large part in building his confidence and supporting his musical ambitions, leading him down the path that would ultimately make him one of the most recognizable artists in music.

West had already paid tribute to his mother in his 2021 album Donda. The project took 10 years to complete, the amount of time it took Ye to process her tragic passing. Donda’s voice is present throughout the album, adding another personal element to a project centered on her memory and legacy.

The Chicago ceremony falls during a busy time for West. The artist is on a world tour and played a couple of shows in Chicago just a few weeks ago. Despite the ongoing controversy about his recent past and public reception, his repeated returns to the stage have underscored the enduring size of his audience.

Currently, the unveiling of Dr. Donda West Way is not about music but about celebrating Donda West’s life and accomplishments and the impact she continues to have through the legacy she left behind.

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DJ Akademiks Opens the Door to Pusha T Amidst Drake Controversy

DJ Akademiks seems to be changing his tune on Pusha T after the leak of the rapper’s alleged album with Pharrell, though the project reportedly includes several direct shots at Drake.

The reaction is notable as Akademiks and Pusha T have been on completely unique sides of the long-running Drake-Pusha T divide. Pusha T’s infamous beef with Drake reached a major milestone in 2018 with the release of “The Story of Adidon.” Akademiks has an OVO chain and has been a big supporter of Drake, which makes his latest comments about Pusha T even more shocking.

The two have had their differences, though they have never gone back and forth publicly over the years. Akademiks, however, responded to the leaked project with a more sympathetic view of Pusha T’s position. Akademiks didn’t just point out the rapper’s continued Drake references; he also recognized that Drake has been beefing with Pusha T and Pharrell over the last few years.

Things got spicy when Akademiks reminded him that Pusha T has liked a couple of his posts before. That detail apparently has Akademiks considering reaching out directly to talk with Pusha T.

Does Pusha T even want that kind of conversation? Still, Akademiks’ comments imply that he believes there’s room for a more productive discourse between two personalities who have historically been on opposite sides of the Drake-Pusha T feud.

For now, the leaked album has provided an unexpected opening for dialogue. Akademiks’ openness to Pusha T’s side, even with his clear ties to Drake, shifts the conversation away from taking sides and toward whether a direct conversation could actually happen.

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