Music

Lil Baby And Russ’ New Collab Promises Things Will Get ‘Ugly’

The two rappers joined forces for the new single after sharing albums of their own in 2020 with ‘My Turn’ and ‘Shake The Snow Globe.’ …

For the first time in their careers, Russ and Lil Baby have joined forces for a new collaboration. The track, which is entitled “Ugly,” is one Russ has been teasing for the better part of the last week. The new release is an equally triumphant and egotistic effort that finds both rappers asserting their dominance and presence in whatever space they step in.

“I don’t gotta say, ‘What’s up’ to you, I don’t gotta say, ‘Hey,’” Russ proclaims on the track. “And if you talk sh*t, then it’s up with you, and that’s where it’s gon’ stay.” As the production’s trumpets continue to blare throughout Russ’ first verse, Lil Baby sticks to the track’s display of overconfidence with 16 bars that focus on his luxury cars, jewelry, and monetary gains while he brushes off issues in his love life as a result of his infidelity.

“Ugly” also arrives with a music video that sees Russ and Lil Baby in a strip club having the time of their lives as a slew of women dance around them. The song comes after a successful 2020 for both acts. Russ shared his third album, Shake The Snow Globe which was initially a 14 track effort with help from Rick Ross, Kiana Lede, Benny The Butcher, and more before a deluxe edition with seven more songs arrived.

He also dropped his Chomp EP which found him going toe-to-toe with some of today’s best lyricists including Ab-Soul, Kxng Crooked, and Black Thought. As for Lil Baby, he had last year on lock thanks to the success of his My Turn album and “The Bigger Picture,” the latter which helped him land a pair of nominations at the upcoming Grammy awards.

You can watch the “Ugly” video above.

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Album Review

Paul Terry, Aptøsrs & Cellarscape unite on bold new album “Alternative Piano Club”

Combining his three artistic alter egos, Paul Terry presents an awe-inspiring new 12-track album, “Alternative Piano Club,” written in collaboration with Aptøsrs and Cellarscape. This is an album-length voyage of music that blends acoustic, rock, and piano-driven cinematic sounds.

Torn between this complex emotional spectrum, all the while the piano remains at its core throughout. Paul Terry opens his “Memento Mori (Chromogenic Phase)” contemplatively, creating a solemn, reflective mood. Cellarscape’s “Three Years Of Roses“ is warmer, whereas Aptøsrs’ “Questionnaires“ is much more textured as a large, sculptural post-rock.

“Dave’s Theme,” written by Paul Terry, musically expands the narrative with a touch of cinematic elevation that aligns well. “We Shape The Clouds” by Cellarscape is fluffy and heart-warming, “Writers Behind The Curtain” is somber, more narrative. We are all together in “A Place We Made,” an honest, intimate, emotionally grounded space.

The project contains vocal warmth and cultural depth in the song “This Is My Home“ by Silas Miami & Lana Crowster. Proceeding in a totally different direction is the stronger emotional clarity of Paul Terry’s acoustic storytelling on “Any Time You Want To Fly” and “No Sleep Has Come.” Cellarscape presents a wide, spacious atmospheric moment in “Cygnus,” while Aptøsrs ends with “Rust Mountain (Monochrome Piano Version),” a simple gem that brings the project full circle.

The mixing of Sam Okell and Adam Noble, the mastering of Alex Wharton and Robin Schmidt have, in many ways, brought their polish to it while still making it feel human. “Alternative Piano Club” is a work entity, where three musical personalities met and talk mind in the same emotional language.

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Artist Spotlight

LAST ALEX! balances precision and pulse on the electrifying track “Plus 1”

LAST ALEX!, a Chicago-based artist and producer, comes out with “Plus 1,” a high-energy release that combines technical prowess with an undeniable melodic instinct.

LAST ALEX! puts both craftsmanship and creativity on display here. The song’s strength lies in its balance, in detailed execution without sacrificing feeling, and in complexity without losing momentum.

LAST ALEX! doesn’t fully lean into the cold technique or loose emotion, but finds the sweet spot where skill and soul meet. This yields a polished, vibrant, and musically confident track.

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