THE BEAT DROP 🥁
A pulse of the culture.
If you’re reading this it’s another weekend at the crib, and I am writing live from the H at the coffee shop Slow Drip TX sipping slow on my Iced Drip caramel coffee. This week, an old interrogation video starring Young Thug resurfaced and now people are calling him a rat, putting the whole of Atlanta in a frenzy. Cardi B also got the press in a frenzy as she fights charges from an alleged altercation with a security guard. Meanwhile, JAY-Z re-released the music video for “Imaginary Players” after Cardi B’s own version made waves earlier this month.
THIS WEEK’S TRACKLIST 💿
The most important news items of the week.
Young Thug has been getting the Gunna treatment after an old interrogation video popped up of him pointing the finger at Peewee Roscoe for shooting Lil Wayne’s tour bus up in 2015, thereby throwing him into the category of a rat. Whatever that means in 2025.
Cardi B’s assault trial started this week, with the rapper taking the stand in the case of a security guard accusing her of spitting on her 2018.
JAY-Z re-released the music video for “Imaginary Players” on his YouTube, following Cardi B’s rendition of the 1997 In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 cut. Apparently, there might be a new Hov album on the horizon, according to The Alchemist.
Travis Scott and Tyla had a scare at a music video shoot when a knife-wielding London man threatened the set.
Ken Carson earned four new Platinum certifications for A Great Chaos.
Kanye West was ordered over $52,000 in legal fees over a Donda track.
Funkmaster Flex announced that he’d be switching his time on Hot 97 to 5-9PM, following the Labor Day holiday.
Rihanna celebrated 20 years in the game with some fire merch and no new music.
Gunna announced his run club Wunna Run with a 5K marathon set to take place in NYC September 3. He also gave an inspiring speech ahead of the event.
Alchemist and Erykah Badu were supposed to drop an album this week and she blamed Al for the faux pas.
BARS OF THE WEEK 🎤
Notable quotes or lyrics that made waves.
“Y'all rapping ass niggas, y'all funny to me / You're selling records being you, but still you wanna be me.” — JAY-Z on “Imaginary Players” talking that talk.
“They jumped the gun.” — Young Thug on Lil Durk, Lil Baby, and others turning against Gunna before he could speak on it.”
“Duke you broke my heart, that pussy shit you did was flaw.” — Yak Gotti on “My Lil Soulja” saying how he feels about Duke talking to police.
“They ain’t lying though.” — 21 Savage on a line from Gunna’s song “bread & butter” saying “You switched up on me when you know you in business with a rat.”
“We be fighting shit. Everyday ain’t easy. Instead of going out there to got damn get it out, you might as well come in here. I promise the results will be better.” — Gunna inspiring his Wunna Run club members.
“I’m really not trying to be a conspiracist but I’m starting to think these phones are not just listening to us…” — Cardi B keeping it real on something we all been thinking.
CHART TOPPERS 📈
Notable top-performing rap and R&B tracks on streaming platforms and charts.
On the Billboard 200, Tyler, The Creator’s Cherry Bomb re-entered the chart at #6, BigXthaPlug landed at #7 with I Hope You’re Happy, and Gunna’s The Last Wun placed at #9.
On YouTube, Gunna entered at #25 on US Top Artists following the release of his sixth album, The Last Wun. "just say dat," ranked at #42 on US Top Songs with more than 1.4M views. Cardi B’s “Imaginary Playerz” landed at #21 on US Top Songs with more than 2.1M views and sits at #85 on US Top Artists, ahead of Am I The Drama? Chris Brown and Bryson Tiller’s hit "It Depends," entered at #14 on US Top Songs with more than 3.2M views and Brown landing at #13 on US Top Artists.
As far as certifications, Doechii updated five of her own records with the RIAA, including a Platinum plaque for “Anxiety” and a Gold one for my personal fave, “Nissan Altima.”
On radio, Playboi Carti reached #1 at Urban Radio with “Rather Lie” featuring The Weeknd.
SOUND WATCH 🎧
Upcoming releases and recent drops worth noting.
Yak Gotti dropped a music video for “My Lil Soulja” where he comes for his label mate Lil Duke over snitching allegations.
Rising Atlanta rapper Pluto released, “Party All Night,” which expected to land on her forthcoming project Pluto World.
4batz came through with “My Lil Shoota.”
Lancey Foux and Murda Beatz linked for “White Tee.”
Raq Baby released "Switch Crowd" featuring Fattmack.
Ian, Nino Paid and Lazer Dim 700 shared the music video for "Rich in Rome."
J.I.D dropped the music video for “Community” with The Clipse.
Lil Baby teased a diss track aimed at Offset and Gunna called “Otha Boy.”
Flo Milli shared her latest single “Perfect Person” featuring Coop.
Luhh Dyl sampled Kid Cudi for "Nite N Day" featuring Babyfaxce E and 1Up Tee.
Eminem released a new one called “Everybody’s Looking At Me.”
Joey Bada$$, Ab-Soul and Rapsody came together for “STILL.”
Fridayy unleashed “Below Zero.”
DJ Khaled got Post Malone and NBA YoungBoy together for “Brothers.”
1900Rugrat delivered “Where Da Fine Shyt” featuring Rio Da Yung OG.
The Kid Laroi released “She Don’t Need To Know.”
Ella Mai shared her feelings over “Tell Her.”
Kee Nola came through with “Jezebel.”
Destin Conrad offered an album in the form of wHIMSY.
Tiara Thomas shared “A Hug.”
Bossman Dlow released "Flood / Resurrect The Trap."
DJ Snake and Don Toliver linked for "Something Wrong."
Jay Fizzle and OJ Da Juiceman delivered "Twenty Three."
Peezy and Icewear Vezzo got together for "So Ghetto.”
Yung Kayo released “Walking.”
Mick Jenkins and EMIL shared a new one called "Coco Gauff."
STEAK REPORT 🥩
Feuds, diss tracks and social media spats.
On Wednesday (August 27), a two-hour interrogation video featuring Young Thug re-surfaced and all hell broke loose in Atlanta. Now, people are saying that Thugger is a snitch because he name-dropped Peewee Roscoe as the gunman from an incident involving Lil Wayne’s tour bus getting shot up, back in 2015.
Roscoe later chimed in, claiming it was a misunderstanding, even though he had been sentenced to 10 years in prison and 10 years of probation. He further insinuated that Ralo, Lil Duke and Gunna are the real snitches.
In response, Yak Gotti dropped “My Lil Soulja,” where he referred to Lil Duke as a snitch, which prompted Duke to speak out, denying the claim.
Later, YSL Mondo came to Gunna’s defense and said that Thug has everyone brainwashed.
After all this, Ralo called Peewee Roscoe a bitch. On Thursday (August 28), Ralo shared a Motion in Limine that he claimed revealed Thug gave information about a murder. However, the motion itself states what happened is untrue, which Thug later clarified in a tweet, firmly asserting he’d NEVER rat.
Next, Ralo posted more paperwork to prove he never told on anyone, despite rumors to the contrary, and also claimed Thug told Lil Baby not to associate with him.
Thug responded, saying Ralo was willing to snitch on him and YFN Lucci to Fulton County DA Fani Willis.
As the two continued to go back and forth, and Ralo accused Thug for being the reason Atlanta rappers are turning against each other, such as Rich Homie Quan, Future, YFN Lucci and Gunna, and it is also believed that he tried to turn Birdman against Lil Wayne.
Thug took to Unfook and Duke’s defense.
As all this is going on, audio leaked of Thug wanting to ruin Gunna’s roll out for Gift and a Curse with Business Is Business. Also in the leaked audio, Thug shared more of his feelings about how things went down with Gunna. Now, Lil Baby has his own diss track called “Otha Boy” aimed at Gunna and Offset.
A lot of people are sharing their thoughts on the drama going down in ATL, and I am sure the police are having an absolute field day with folks seemingly turning against each other. As they say, loose lips sink ships.
Here’s to hoping everyone gets it together and gets back making to the beautiful music the city is known for.
TOUR BUS 🚌
Concert and festival announcements, tour updates and live performance highlights.
Pluto announced the “Party All Night Tour.”
Lenny Kravitz is set to headline the 2025 Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival.
FREESTYLE 🎙️
Memes and viral moments.
RAP HILL ⚖️
Legal matters affecting the music industry.
In the case of Drake versus UMG, the case is currently going through the discovery phase. After UMG delivered a heavily redacted version of Kendrick Lamar’s contract with the label, Drake’s legal team filed a Motion to Compel to produce an unredacted version of the contract.
Furthermore, the judge also granted Drake’s legal team and UMG’s legal team’s request to file Lamar’s recording contract under seal under a previously filed Court Ordered Protective Order.
OUTSIDE 📸
Sightings and appearances.
Someone spotted 21 Savage and Latto together, seemingly confirming they’re together. But maybe they were just hanging out together as homies. 🙂↔️
Chris Brown was outside and teased a song with Sexyy Red.
BIRTHDAYS 🎉
Celebrating artists and industry figures born this week.
Cordae, Bishop Nehru, Lil Yachty, Lil Tecca, BossMan Dlow, Skaiwater, Ma$e, Fab Five Freddy, Tiffany Evans, Pebbles, Me’Shell NdegeOcello, Van Morrison, MJG
OUTRO ✌🏽
A final thought.
Chile, what is going on? One day we wake up and they calling Young Thug a snitch. For someone like me, that doesn’t matter, because I still ride around listening to Gunna. But, Thug, has stood 10 toes down, not one toe missing on how much he despises a rat — it does matter. Now, all of Atlanta is pointing the finger at each other and having a paperwork party…when in reality we the people just want the music.
I get there’s a code these men have likely lived by when they were younger and running the streets. But, when do we grow up and realize we’re not a young nigga in the street anymore? When do we let that go and realize there’s more important things to worry about in life?
The rap industry as whole seems to be in shambles and it will take some ego deaths and forgiveness to move past it. Hopefully, sooner than later.
xx