Big Mama has a lot to say on her new album. Latto’s fourth studio project finds her addressing everything from internet rumors to toxic relationships.

On the track “Gimme Dat,” Latto appears to take shots at Cardi B, who made a negative comment about her in a leaked audio call in 2025. Cardi had said she wasn’t “p**** a** Latto” after Ice Spice dissed her on a track. Cardi apologized to Latto, and offered to buy her a purse to make amends.

In “Gimme Dat,” Latto raps, “Talkin’ ‘bout buyin’ big mama a bag like my n**** ain’t already bought it.”

Latto also teams with partner 21 Savage on “Hostage,” in which the two rap about holding each other hostage. On “Mama,” a genre-blending collaboration with Jelly Roll, Latto reveals the gender of her child.

“Now you look just like your daddy, but you got my curls/ Can’t believe my life right now, I feel on top of the world/ Should’ve seen my face when they told me it’s a baby girl,” she raps.

Speculation that 21 Savage is the father has continued to grow after he appeared in Latto’s album trailer and pregnancy journey video, and recently shared a photo of a baby on Instagram.

Other features on the album include GloRilla, Doja Cat, Sexyy Red, Mariah the Scientist, Teyana Taylor, Wizkid and Odeal.

Ahead of the release, Latto urged fans on X to listen to the album in order. “In case you’re new here here’s the rules for midnight,” she said, sharing instructions she wrote in August 2024. “Alot has changed in 2 years…This one hit different.”

Big Mama is now available on streaming services.

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Mr. “Gone Till November” is now “Mr. October,” according to his new song. Wyclef Jean has released the lead single to his upcoming album, Clef Notes. The track features G Herbo and finds Clef returning to his hip-hop roots, a genre that once served as a means of survival for him.

“G Herbo represents the voice of a generation. We’re living in an era where we must amplify reform over violence and believe in the possibility of a better future for underserved communities,” Wyclef said in a statement.

In his own statement, G Herbo reflected on collaborating with one of his longtime inspirations.

“Working with Wyclef who I call ‘Unk’ now inspired me to focus on delivery. I can’t just get on a song with him and not focus on bars and punch lines,” he said. “It’s always been a dream of mine to work with him, and now we’re on song # 2, so I must be doing something right.” 

Wyclef previously appeared on G Herbo’s “Emergency,” which reworked his song with Mary J. Blige, “911.”

“Mr. October” is the first of seven tracks on the hip-hop-focused Clef Notes, which kicks off Wyclef’s ambitious Quantum Leap series. Over the next year, he plans to release a total of seven albums with seven tracks each, with every project centered on a different genre that helped shape him as an artist.

“Mr. October” is now available on streaming services.

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With a new album arriving Friday, Latto has announced pop-up shows featuring exclusive merch, CDs and vinyl.

The Big Mama Pop-Up, named after her upcoming album, Big Mama, is a three-day event, kicking off with a hometown stop in Atlanta on release day. It will then stop in LA on June 1 before making its way to New York on June 3. Items will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Latto has been teasing her album on social media, recently releasing a series of images on her Instagram, alongside posts tagging artists Doja Cat, Jelly Roll, Sexyy Red, Teyana Taylor, Wizkid, Mariah the Scientist and 21 Savage, who will seemingly feature on the project.

Big Mama is Latto’s fourth studio album. It arrives shortly after she appeared to confirm the arrival of her first child, officially stepping into her Big Mama era.

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Complex recently released its picks for the 50 greatest New York rappers of all time, ranking artists based on lyrical ability, songwriting, influence and cultural impact.

Topping the list is Jay-Z. “Whether you’re talking technical proficiency, Billboard hits, realest stories, global influence, personal style, magnetic charisma, total sales, brand management, feature verses, artist co-signs, enlightening interviews, patronizing laugh or just sustained relevance—by any and every quantifiable metric or qualitative assessment—Shawn Carter is simply the best, better than all the rest,” Complex’s Noah Callahan-Bever wrote, noting that Jay’s #1 spot was “unlikely and hard-fought.”

“Still, no matter what has been thrown at Jay-Z, he has persevered and prevailed, growing as an artist, a businessman, and a brand,” he added.

Also in the top five are The Notorious B.I.G. at #2, Nas at #3, Rakim at #4 and LL Cool J at #5.

The rest of the top 10 is 50 Cent at #6, Nicki Minaj at #7, DMX at #8, Busta Rhymes at #9 and KRS-One at #10. Each entry highlights the rapper’s biggest hit, an essential deep cut and their hometown, reflecting how the five boroughs have helped shape New York rap.

As with every ranking, not everyone was pleased with the results. Azealia Banks reacted on X, writing, “Azealia Banks is better than ASAP Rocky,” before adding, “Defund Complex.” She did not make the list, but Rocky landed at #40.

Max B also shared his frustration after discovering he didn’t make the cut during an interview with Complex.

“I don’t even see my name up there,” Max said. “Now you know I’m putting my name on top. That’s crazy. You ain’t got The Don up there. You think all them n***** better than me?” He then walked out of the interview.

The full list is available online.

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Ravyn Lenae is welcoming fans into Blue Island with her new album, set to arrive on Aug. 7.

The project marks her third studio album, one that finds her exploring “the full scope of her identity: the quirks, flirty energy, ‘teenage angst’ that often bleeds well into years outside its allotted window, as well as the quiet, lonely, ‘off-beat’ moments that happen when you are in the midst of a transformation,” according to a press release.

The album follows a year filled with both highs — including new opportunities — and lows, such as questions surrounding her Blackness and place within music spaces. It’s a project inspired by the desire to move forward and express herself, as did Black female artists like Santigold, Janet Jackson and Tracy Chapman, according to the release.

“‘Blue Island’ is a point of arrival, and feeling set in my ways and in who I am, and feeling free of any of those preconceived notions about Blackness or what I had to be in the past,” Ravyn said in a statement. “So I think now it’s fun to challenge the idea of what R&B is supposed to sound like, what pop is supposed to sound like … and really say ‘f*** all of that’ and do my own thing.”

As a result, the album finds Ravyn incorporating influences from The Sundays, Blondie, The Cranberries and Martin Rev, as well as the “dramatic chorus structures and high vocal tones of Bollywood soundtracks,” into her signature sound.

Ravyn kicks off Blue Island with the release of “Handle,” out now with an accompanying music video featuring choreography from New York-based movement director Akira Uchida. The visual marks the first time many fans will see Ravyn incorporate choreography into her artistry.

Blue Island is now available for presave and preorder.

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Another posthumous release from DMX is on the way — this time in the form of a book. The Gospel According to DMX, authorized by the rapper’s estate and curated by co-administrators Desiree Lindstrom and Sasha Simmons, will be released Nov. 17 via Simon & Schuster.

The book is a “collection of Earl Simmons’ spiritual writings, prayers, sermons, and select lyrics” that “offer an intimate window into the private devotions of a man whose faith was as fierce as his artistry.” Readers should not expect a traditional religious or doctrinal text, however, as the book also includes profanity, mature themes and explicit language.

The book also features a foreword by fellow hip-hop artist Rakim, along with never-before-seen archival material presented in its original form.

The Gospel According to DMX, now available for preorder, appears to take its name from audio featured in the announcement on the late rapper’s Instagram.

“I came here to meet somebody and tell them about the glory of God. Before you know it, I’ll be back doing what I’m supposed to be doing. The gospel according to X,” DMX says in the clip.

His legacy will also continue through the upcoming Becoming DMX podcast, hosted by Jadakiss, produced by 50 Cent and set to debut this summer.

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