Fly Anakin’s “The Times” is produced by Mono En Stereo and it’s on his forthcoming album, (The) Forever Dream. The Richmond, Virginia, rapper collaborated with Quelle Chris, who executive-produced the new album. Pink Siifu, BbyMutha, The Alchemist, Turich Bengy, and more appear on Anakin’s sophomore studio album. His Mutant Academy brothers Big Kahuna OG and Sycho Sid also have verses to share. Since 2020, Anakin has been in a race to become an underground legend with the release of a joint project with Pink Siifu, FlySiifu’s. He had been recording since 2014 but FlySiifu’s was a breakthrough moment. In 2022, his studio debut Frank arrived to critical acclaim. The millenial rapper has stood out because of his proud influences from people like Ghostface Killah and Sean Price. He raps more like a Gen Xer instead of the drowsy triplet flow so popular among his peers and Gen Zers. Check out the Phillip Youmans-directed visualizer for “The Times” and look for (The) Forever Dream on April 25th via Lex Records. 

 

                                                                                (The) Forever Dream

1. Good Clothes (feat. Demae)

2. Teen Summit

3. My N*gga (feat. Quelle Chris, $ilkmoney & Big Kahuna OG)

4. Lil One (Intro)

5. Lil One

6. CheckOnMe (feat. lojii)

7. NOTTOOSHABBY (feat. Quelle Chris, Nickelus F & $ilkmoney)

8. Lord Forgives, I Hold Grudges (feat. Denmark Vessey & Pink Siifu)

9. The Times

10. Forever Dream (Interlude)

11. Forever Dream

12. Corner Pocket (feat. Quelle Chris & BbyMutha)

13. Dr Phil [skit] (feat. Psycho Sid)

14. YOUGOTME!!

15. Foreverever Dream (Interlude)

16. Say Thank You (feat. Pink Siifu & Turich Benjy)

Soul and hip-hop pioneer Angie Stone passed away on March 1st in a car accident after leaving a show in Montgomery, Alabama. Stone was a rare artist who made her mark in the hip-hop and soul music worlds. Stone started her career as a teenager in her native Columbia, South Carolina, by forming the female rap trio The Sequence. An audition backstage at a Sugar Hill Gang show for Sugar Hill Records co-founder Sylvia Robinson landed them a deal, and they became the second act to sign to the label. They were the first all-female rap group, and they had a hit with “Funk You Up” and maintained their popularity with “Monster Sound,” featuring Spoonie Gee, and “Funky Sound (Tear the Roof Off).” The group dissolved in 1985 after Stone’s refusal to continue to do business with Sugar Hill. During this time she started working as a songwriter for Mantronix, Jill Jones, and Lenny Kravitz. She also sang backup for Malcolm McLaren and singer Junior. The next reinvention would be as a solo artist after she signed to Arista, and Black Diamond was released in 1999. “No More (Rain In This Cloud)” was a hit, and her voice became known by the mainstream. Her rise continued in the early 2000s with her recording the theme song to the TV show Girlfriends and the release of her sophomore album, Mahogany Soul. “I Wish I Didn’t Miss You,” “Brotha,” and her “More Than A Woman” duet with Calvin Richardson became signature songs. Stone also did some acting and appeared in five movies and one Broadway production of Chicago. 

Stone’s ascent as a solo artist was a great comeback story from her early days as a rapper, and her list of stellar collaborations grew. Prince, Raphael Saadiq, Calvin Richardson, Betty Wright, Omar, and Guru were some of the voices that she made music with on top of her writing, arranging, and vocal support work. She released 10 studio albums and had plans for new music at the time of her passing. In 2024, she was inducted into the Songwriters’ Hall Of Fame. 

 

LL Cool J has a new video for “Rock The Bells,” forty years after its original release. The black-and-white clip, directed by Gregory Bunkalla, features a new generation of rap fans lip-syncing to the song in different spots around New York City. The video comes ahead of the reissue of his All World: Greatest Hits and Phenomenon albums back on vinyl. The albums will be available in standard black 2LP pressings and limited-edition color variant 2LP pressings. All World originally came out in 1996, and it was a nice overview of the best moments of his career. Classics like “Rock The Bells,” “Going Back To Cali,” and “I Need Love” were included among the stellar tracklisting. Phenomenon is his seventh studio album, and it was released in 1997. At that point in his career, critics agreed it was his best album since Mama Said Knock You Out. Both reissues come out April 11th and can be preordered now. LL Cool J is offering this mini-retrospective, but the release of The FORCE, which is his best album in almost 20 years, proves that these reissues are not an ending but a reflection and history lesson. 

 

All World: Greatest Hits Tracklisting

1.     I Can’t Live Without My Radio

2.     Rock the Bells

3.     I’m Bad

4.     I Need Love

5.     Going Back to Cali

6.     Jack the Ripper

7.     Jingling Baby (Remixed But Still Jingling)

8.     Big Ole Butt

9.     The Boomin’ System

10.  Around the Way Girl

11.  Mama Said Knock You Out

12.  Back Seat

13.  I Need a Beat

14.  Doin It

15.  Loungin (Who Do Ya Luv) [feat. Total]

16.  Hey Lover [feat. Boyz II Men]

 

Phenomenon Tracklisting

1.     Phenomenon

2.     Candy [Ricky Bell & Ralph Tresvant]

3.     Starsky & Hitch [feat. Busta Rhymes]

4.     Another Dollar

5.     Nobody Can Freak You

6.     Hot, Hot Hot

7.     4, 3, 2, 1 [feat. Canibus, DMX, Master P, & Method Man & Redman]

8.     Wanna Get Paid [feat. The Lost Boyz]

9.     Father

10.  Don’t Be Late, Don’t Come Too Soon [feat. Tamia]

 

Madlib lost his home and lots of music in the Los Angeles fires. The producer shared the ordeal on his Instagram page, revealing that decades of music were destroyed in the fire. Hip-hop fans know him for his work on Stones Throw, where he recorded the collaboration album Champion Sound with J.Dilla. He also took Blue Note’s catalog and reworked it into Shades of Blue. Freddie Gibbs worked with him on their collaborative album Piñata and Bandana. Madlib also announced that the non-profit LOVElikeWATER has launched a fundraiser to help him and his family rebuild. Flying Lotus and DJ Premier, Stone Throw, and Freddie Gibbs shared the information with their followers. 

 

 

Another great Legend @madlib has completely lost his entire home and belongings to the California fires. A donation box has been set up. This is the only legit link. Thanks Stacy Epps for helping get this organized.https://t.co/ChBfi1omdE

— DJ Premier (@REALDJPREMIER) January 13, 2025