Music

Tobe Nwigwe And Killa Kyleon Quote A Wise Man In Their ‘Cujo’ Video

The Houston natives have some advice for listeners from a master in his own craft. …

Tobe Nwigwe has yet to run out of ammo for his #GetTwistedSundays #Cincoriginals campaign. Each week, he has dropped off a new video complete with coordinated costuming, complex choreography, stunning scenery, and a complete breakdown of his songs’ often complicated lyrics like clockwork, oftentimes bringing in high-profile guests to highlight his own lyrical inventiveness. This week’s video features Houston’s Killa Kyleon, putting a rapid-fire verse on “Cujo.”

The video also includes some nods to Tobe’s heritage, with an older woman in traditional clothes delivering the hook, a quote by Bruce Lee. “Be formless, shapeless like water,” she says, capping the exhortation with the Igbo word “Ighotago,” which means, “Do you understand?” The quote, which means to be flexible and avoid getting trapped in a rigid mindset, perfectly describes Tobe’s approach to music. Although he’s a truly gifted rapper, he’s been known to perform songs with almost no raps in them.

He also doesn’t adhere to the traditional business model of building a buzz, releasing an album, or signing to a label. Throughout his breakout 2020, he’s found innovative ways to approach music, settling on his current release strategies while eschewing the stereotypical rapper presentation. His family is heavily involved in his work, flying counter to the trend of rappers in committed relationships projecting themselves as players, and while he embraces some gun talk, it’s more often in service of self-defense than revenge for fallen friends. By swimming upstream — and being willing to take on many forms, Tobe has redefined success in a year when the music business has had to reckon with what success looks like without the usual means of generating profit.

Watch Tobe Nwigwe’s “Cujo” video above.

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Artist Spotlight

DJ Akademiks Backs Adin Ross After Playboi Carti Speaks on Awkward Stream

Not every collaboration turns out well in the world of online personalities and music stars. Playboi Carti recently shared his thoughts during a call on Kai Cenat’s livestream, discussing his previous experience with Adin Ross. Carti revealed that a 2023 stream with Ross didn’t go as smoothly as he had hoped, noting that their energies didn’t match. He candidly said, “I ain’t like that Adin Ross stuff, bro,” clarifying that their styles hadn’t aligned during the stream. Although he insisted that he didn’t harbor any bad feelings toward Adin, he also stressed that their interaction felt awkward.

Carti said it wasn’t about Ross’s entertainment value or lack of excitement; it was simply a case of them not clicking. He said, “Honestly, he’s just not my type of n**a. So it’s gon’ be awkward, you feel me? And it’s cool. Everybody ain’t… You feel me?” His remarks quickly sparked discussions online, with fans debating whether Carti was being fair or too dismissive. DJ Akademiks stepped in to support Adin Ross, emphasizing that just because two personalities don’t hit it off well doesn’t mean one is to blame. Akademiks has always strongly advocated for content creators who connect music artists with new audiences.

Adin Ross has become quite well-known, often hosting big names from the music industry on his streams. While not every interaction will be a perfect match, his influence on the online culture and music scene is significant. Akademiks defending Ross highlights an important truth, sometimes, the chemistry isn’t there, and that’s perfectly okay. Ultimately, Playboi Carti’s comments weren’t meant to hurt anyone, but they did spark a larger conversation about how internet personalities engage with popular artists. Whether Carti and Adin Ross will work together again remains to be seen, Akademiks isn’t shy about standing up for streamers in the hip-hop world.

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Artist Spotlight

Joe Budden Clashes With Co-Hosts Over Andrew Schulz’s Kendrick Lamar Jokes

The latest episode of The Joe Budden Podcast stirred up some intense discussions, which is typical for a show known for its passionate debates and bold opinions. This time, the spotlight was on comedian Andrew Schulz and some controversial jokes he made about rapper Kendrick Lamar. While co-hosts Ice and Emanny thought Schulz’s humor was fair game, Joe Budden strongly disagreed, labeling the comedian’s comments as tasteless and unacceptable. The conversation began with Schulz’s jokes coming into the spotlight. Ice and Emanny defended Schulz by arguing that he makes fun of everyone equally and doesn’t hold back when it comes to any ethnicity or celebrity.

They questioned why Kendrick Lamar should be treated differently if Schulz was joking about various public figures. Joe Budden, known for his straightforward style, quickly opposed Ice’s view. “I’m not letting Ice support that,” he said, clearly frustrated. He disagreed with the idea of laughing at Lamar’s expense and pointed out that Schulz often targets Black artists in particular. Budden emphasized that this comedian walks a fine line between being funny and being disrespectful.

This lively debate highlighted a bigger question in the world of entertainment, where do we draw the line when it comes to humor? Some believe comedians should be free to joke about anything, while others think it’s essential to consider context and history. Budden’s stance seemed to come from a deeper concern about who jokes about Black artists and how those jokes are interpreted. Although the discussion didn’t reach a clear conclusion, it showcased why The Joe Budden Podcast remains a hot topic in hip-hop culture. The mix of passion, disagreement, and honest viewpoints keeps listeners engaged.

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