Ye Thinks Drake Can Get Back to GOAT Status

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Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR have finally revealed that their collab album, $OME $EXY $ONGS 4 U, is dropping on Valentine’s Day. In other news:

• Billboard Hot 100 📈

• There’s gonna be even more AI on Ye’s next project 😬

• Doechii makes history at the Grammys 🏆️

• Industry Insights 🔎

Billboard Hot 100

The above chart shows Billboard’s Hot 100 ranking for this week. The Hot 100 ranks songs based on streaming activity, radio airplay audience impressions, and sales data—all measured by Luminate.

Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga’s duet “Die With a Smile” has finally been knocked out of the top spot by Travis Scott’s new single “4×4.” Don’t worry though — his new track with Sexxy Red “Fat Juicy & Wet” is hiking up the charts as “Timeless” from The Weeknd and Playboi Carti takes a dive. 

Ye Thinks Drake Can Make a Comeback — And Confirms AI in BULLY

Ye has already had a pretty busy February. He pulled up to the Grammys on February 2 with his wife, Bianca Censori, and finally met an elated Kai Cenat. When it was time for pictures, Ye posted for the camera as Censori decided to show the world her physique. 

However, despite the rumors, they didn’t get kicked out of the awards ceremony. He already has a new beef with former CNN host Don Lemon (who allegedly started the rumor). Lemon released his POV of the situation the next day, but the rapper has yet to respond.

Then, Ye’s highly anticipated interview with Justin LaBoy on his podcast The Download had its official premiere at Ye’s Grammys after-party.

Don’t count out Drake just yet

During the episode, Ye reflected on competing with Drizzy throughout the years and his thoughts on the Drake/Kendrick beef. 

“It was really challenging for me to make ‘Father Stretch My Hands’ and different things, and this man got ‘Work’ a top five song ever created in life, and we doing the drums bringing Metro [Boomin] on,” Ye said. 

Laboy then declared that “Kendrick killed Drake.” However, the rapper clarified that he doesn’t think it’s for good. 

“...You can’t ever count out Steph Curry. That man might get 200 points in one song or something. You know what it was is, like, look at the Tyler, the Creator freestyle that he did. ‘That Guy,’ right? Drake added something to the algorithm, to our frequency. He advanced us. Future advanced us. And now, Kendrick has advanced the frequency …  If you don’t really learn as just a professional rapper, as a sport, what Kendrick is doing, you might be wiped. You might be wiped out,” Ye said.

Ye spills more BULLY details

The rapper also made sure to talk about his upcoming project (inspired by his son Saint, who is featured on the cover) during the interview, exclusively revealing that it will drop on North West’s birthday (June 15) since it’s “her favorite album.”

Unfortunately for some fans, though, Ye is still in his AI bag and confirmed that the technology will be used on the album.

“People are like, ‘Stay away from AI.’ It’s a more negative reaction than Auto-Tune. I remember I did Auto-Tune ’cause people thought, ‘Man, this Auto-Tune is trash… As an artist, I can take anything. I can sell a piece of shit for $10 million. [AI] is in the same family [as Auto-Tune], except people have a more visceral reaction,” the rapper said. 

He then played a snippet of an unreleased track that uses AI to replicate his vocals.

Despite the recent chaos, fans are ready for Ye to drop his next big album — which will hopefully be fully mixed and mastered.

Doechii Solidifies Status as Rap Changemaker

Releasing her first song, “Girls,” on Soundcloud back in 2016, Doechii has worked her way up through the rap game for years. After releasing her self-funded mixtape Oh, The Places You’ll Go in 2020 (spending “every last dime I had on that project”), she was eventually signed to TDE in 2022. From there, the Tampa native became even more of a force, touring with Doja Cat in 2023 and dropping hits like “What It Is (Block Boy).” 

Moving on to drop her third mixtape, Alligator Bites Never Heal (featuring tracks like “DENIAL IS A RIVER” that had its own wildly creative rollout), the rapper put on a masterclass of where rap was going — and how she was the headmaster. Finally, the hard work that Doechii’s put in for years paid off at this year’s Grammy Awards. 

A significant win for women in rap

Presented by Cardi B (who previously won the award back in 2019), Doechii was awarded the Grammy for Best Rap Album at this year’s ceremony.

Walking up on the stage with their mother, she delivered a truly megachurch-worthy speech. “I put my heart and my soul into this mixtape. I’ve bared my life. I went through so much. I dedicated myself to sobriety and Gold told me that I would be rewarded and that he would show me just how good it can get,” Doechii said. 

“There are so many people out there who probably don’t know who I am. I call myself the ‘swamp princess’ because I’m from Tampa, Florida … I know that there is some Black girl out there, so many Black women out there that are watching me right now and I want to tell you: You can do it. Anything is possible. Anything is possible,” she said as everyone in the crowd stood for applause. 

She is now the third woman, along with Cardi and Lauryn Hill, to win Best Rap Album at the Grammys.

Later in the show, she showed the world why she is one of the best in the game, performing both “CATFISH” and “DENIAL IS A RIVER.”

People around the world are praising Doechii not just for her inspirational words but also for her one-of-a-kind talent, which is finally being recognized by one of the biggest organizations in music.

• MUSTAAAAARRRRDDDDD. Heinz and Mustard are finally linking up to create a new condiment that will be released later this year. 

• Metro Boomin is back outside. He is set to headline alongside Quavo at ComplexCon in Hong Kong.

• Time to hear more from K. Dot. He has an interview with Ebro Darden and Nadeska Alexis dropping on February 6, days before his Super Bowl performance.