You won’t believe your eyes and ears when you hear Noah Guy sing. I understand that’s a bold statement to make, but it’s the reaction I had when I stumbled upon the singer’s music, as was it seemingly the reaction of others when they discovered the Philly-bred singer. There’s an abundance of rich soul and passion that are entwined into every word and every note in Guy’s music, making for a world that is so easy to immerse yourself in while creating a craving for more of what Guy has to offer. For now, the best example of that lives on his It Must Be Love EP.

Released at the end of 2024, It Must Be Love is what Guy calls a “body of work built from thin air,” as noted in an Instagram post that announced the project. “Records that held me down and lifted me up,” he added, “Stories of light and triumph — the first few of many more like it.” The light and triumph he speaks exists on records like “Let U Lead” where he praises a lover for helping him see the true extent of his capabilities in love, an epiphany he promises to repay back to him. These triumphant moments exist on personal highlights like “Falling (In Place)” and “Jameela.” In the end, It Must Be Love lands as an incredibly moving breakthrough for Noah Guy and a sign that there’s someone to pay attention for the next generation of R&B.

With It Must Be Love out now, we placed Noah Guy under the Uproxx Music 20 spotlight to learn more about his influences, inspirations, and aspirations. Scroll down to discover the best of Mack Keane.

• Mack Keane Is Back And So Much Better On ‘Entries’
• Aqyila’s ‘Wolf’ Is A Triumphant Breakthrough Ahead Of Her ‘Falling Into Place’ Debut
• kwn Is On Her ‘Worst Behaviour’ And It’s Surely For The Best
• Journey Montana Couldn’t Be Happier To Tell Her Story On The Exuberant ‘Lucky Girl Syndrome’
• Jordyn Simone Captures Two Sides Of The Same Coin On The Intricate ‘Remember When’

What is your earliest memory of music?

My dad had this Motown’s greatest hits record stuck in the CD player of his jeep. He couldn’t get it out, and so anytime we’d drive anywhere we’d just be rinsing these ’60s and ’70s soul classics. I was still in the booster seat haha, so probably like 4 or 5 years old. Old enough though that it definitely left a mark.

Who or what inspired you to take music seriously?

My parents for sure. They were hobby musicians, but had a passion for the art form that was extraordinary. Music was a second language in my household. Someone was always singing something or playing something (a song, an instrument). My decision to pursue music professionally though was a strength I had to really find deep within myself. It wasn’t until my freshman year of college that I actually worked up the courage to start making music and putting it out into the world. When I decided to really “go for it” a few years ago, my parents welcomed my decision with open arms. I’m so thankful. It’s rare to have that kind of familial support for something so against the grain

Do you know how to play an instrument? If so, which one? If not, which instrument do you want to learn how to play?

I’m a big dabble guy. I play a little bit of guitar, keys, etc. and create most of my music with a tight crew of producers and instrumentalists. It’s a small, brilliant-minded little family. Definitely my main instrument though is my voice. I want to be a generational singer and songwriter, that’s what I’m chasing.

What was your first job?

I worked at Dairy Queen my sophomore year of high school and got fired cause I kept sneaking into the walk-in freezer to eat all the blizzard toppings. Tasted good while it lasted.

What is your most prized possession?

Probably this little brown notebook I carry around everywhere. All my rambles and things in one place. I find life pretty overwhelming without it, haha.

What is your biggest fear?

These days I think a lot about the physical separation between my family and I. I live in LA but all my loved ones are mostly back in Philadelphia where I grew up. Missing important moments and memories is something I’ve been super fearful of recently.

Who is on your music Mt. Rushmore?

Phew. This feels impossible! The answer is always changing, but right now (this month) the personal favs are probably Marvin Gaye, D’Angelo, Joni Mitchell, & Stevie Wonder.

You get 24 hours to yourself to do anything you want, with unlimited resources: What are you doing? And spare no details!

Shoot! I’m rounding up my dearest friends and heading toward Mother Nature probably, haha. Freedom to me these days sounds like getting out of dodge and getting in the woods. I love lakes, I love mountains, and I wish I had them around me always… someday.

What is the best song you’ve ever made?

These new album records I’m working on honestly are blowing me the f*ck away haha… It feels impossible to pick a single song from my current catalog, but IT MUST BE LOVE is definitely my favorite project I’ve put out, hands down. I’d grown so much from making those songs (spiritually, emotionally, and technically as an artist and songwriter). I think fans really felt and appreciated that growth too.

What’s a feature you need to secure before you die?

Tyler, The Creator has that number one spot for me. As both an artist and producer, he’s truly on his own planet. To work with him in any capacity would be a bucket list moment.

If you could appear in a future season of a current TV show, which one would it be and why?

Damn. That’s a good ass question, haha. I’m not much of a TV guy… I’ve mainly just seen bits and pieces of the classics (The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, etc.). Recently though, I properly did the deep dive into Atlanta and that show truly blew me the f*ck away. The cinematography, the surrealist story line, all of it was just so perfectly chaotic. I feel like playing some sort of fumbly, bumbly character on that show would suit me and my personality well.

Which celebrity do you admire or respect for their personality, and why?

Being from Philly and growing up playing basketball, Kobe [Bryant] was a God in my eyes. Although my competitive sports days are over, that fighting spirit and grit that Kobe had is something I’m still so deeply inspired by. It’s also a work ethic I’ve definitely tried to adopt into my artist journey as well.

Share your opinion on something no one could ever change your mind about.

S’mores are excruciatingly mid. Individually all the ingredients taste fine, but mashing them into a tiny sandwich just feels so wrong, and is definitely not something worth gathering around a campfire for.

What is the best song you’ve ever heard in your life and what do you love about it?

“Come Get To This” by Marvin Gaye. Every time I listen to it, I can’t help but cry. The arrangement, the spirit of it, it’s all just perfect. It’s crazy to me how a man with so much pain in his life, could write such a joyous, triumphant, love song. That whole record, Let’s Get It On, just explodes with emotion. Marvin yearns in a way that moves and inspires me more than any other artist.

What’s your favorite city in the world to perform, and what’s a city you’re excited to perform in for the first time?

So far, NYC has been unmatched. We performed a sold-out headline show there last month and the energy in the crowd was pretty surreal and sacred. I’m going to be doing my first proper tour alongside this next project, which can’t come soon enough. There are so many new fans and cities I want to meet and perform for, but London in particular is definitely top of the list. So much of my favorite music comes from or is inspired by that city. The album I’m working on right now pulls a lot of influence from UK music and film, too.

You are throwing a music festival. Give us the dream lineup of 5 artists that will perform with you and the location where it would be held.

A festival back home in Philly would be fire. The Roots, Tierra Whack, Lil Uzi Vert, Jill Scott… [it’s] impossible to list just 5, but Philly legends (the up-and-comers and the veterans would be the dream). Philly really has something to say with its music history.

What would you be doing now if it weren’t for music?

Before music, I went to film school and filmmaking in many ways was the first artistic medium that I really discovered/fell in love with. I’d definitely be directing full-time if music wasn’t in the cards.

If you could see five years into the future or go five years into the past, which one would you pick and why?

As cornball as it sounds, I wouldn’t really want to change much. Five years in the past would take me to the start of my artist journey. All the hard lessons learned, the growing pains, it’s all informed the music and who I am today. I guess I’d pick looking 5 years forward, but even that doesn’t sound too great either, haha. I think the present moment is right where I want to be.

What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?

Being sensitive and vulnerable is your ultimate strength, not a weakness. When I was 15, I felt a burning desire to be creative and express myself in the arts, but kept all those interests and urges at bay. It wasn’t until college where I was truly able to break that circuitry and start expressing myself in the ways I always wanted to. To my 15-year-old self I’d say… “just be free.”

It’s 2050. The world hasn’t ended, and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?

I’d love to be remembered as someone who really worked hard to push the art form forward. An artist who honored their musical influences, while offering the world a sound and a voice that felt progressive, exciting, challenging, and something new. Every morning I wake up and I think about music; I go to sleep and I’m thinking about music — It is for better or for worse truly an all consuming force in my life and I don’t see that ever changing. I’m in pursuit of greatness. I want to be one of the greats.

It Must Be Love is out now via Is It Real LLC. Find out more information here.

The Best New Hip-Hop This Week includes albums, videos, and songs from Lil Nas X and Playboi Carti.

What looked like it might be an uneventful release day in hip-hop turned into a five-alarm blitz overnight, thanks to the machinations of two of the genre’s biggest troublemakers (complimentary). While Lil Nas X had been releasing singles all week (“Dreamboy,” “Big Dummy,” “Swish,” and “Right There“), culminating in the release of his “Hot Box” video (see below), Carti threw up an absolute buzzer beater for his album MUSIC after what seemed like years of pump fakes, fakeouts, and otherwise unserious behavior.

Meanwhile, Aminé made his return with the hot-stepping “Familiar“:

Rich Brian announced his next album with A Little Ray Of Light“:

And Lil Baby released his long-awaited “Dum Dumb & Dumber” video with Young Thug and Future:

Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending March 14, 2025.

Albums/EPs/Mixtapes

Finesse2Tymes — Stuck In My Ways

I’m torn. On one hand, with a rapper like Finesse2Tymes, you really do want them to grow up and grow beyond what they’ve known — if only for their own self-preservation, since hood habits have often ended with less than ideal results. On the other hand, F2T is also quite hilarious, a little like a rap Tracy Morgan, and you really want him to have enough anecdotes to draw on to keep him slinging off-the-wall punchlines for as long as possible.

Heno. & Mad Keys — Healing Out Loud

Longtime readers can probably guess, this is my favorite pick of the week. Y’all know I love me some rappity rap, especially as it relates to self-actualization. Healing Out Loud is right up my alley in that respect. The Maryland rapper and St. Louis multi-instrumentalist find a harmonious balance with each other, at least, as they strive to find that same balance in themselves.

K Camp — Built Different

There was a time the Milwaukee native ruled the airwaves, and while he saw a brief resurgence in public esteem in 2020 thanks to TikTok and “Renegade,” he hasn’t really gotten the attention he deserves. But, he keeps plugging away, and you have to respect it. Built Different arrives a little over a year after his last full-length, Float 2 London, and finds him taking a more insular approach, with only three features on its 15 tracks. Hey, and as a bonus: He’s shared the album as a performance stream on YouTube! That’s the sort of innovation that deserves recognition:

PartyOf2 — We Owe You An Explanation

At just three songs, this EP left me wanting more — a lot more — but I’ve been fascinated with this group since they were a trio going by the name Grouptherapy. The trio of former child actors self-released three full-length projects as a way of coming to terms with their experiences in the entertainment industry, and the idea of rap as self-expression and fulfillment, rather than a quick payday, or a backdoor to other opportunities in the industry, intrigues me. Minus one member, but bonded together all the more strongly for it, the rechristened PartyOf2 retains the same level of vulnerable honesty on their latest that makes them one of my prime examples for what hip-hop can be at its best.

Playboi Carti — Music

Atlanta rap misfit Playboi Carti is another fine example of pushing the limits of what hip-hop is and can be, but your mileage may vary. After years of asking myself what the draw was, though, I think I cracked the code with this album: For a generation of fans so disconnected from anything older than the past five years, he’s Lil Jon, before Lil Jon was a meme unto himself, or aggressive rap groups like M.O.P. and Onyx, back when boom-bap didn’t sound like Beethoven to anyone under 40. Which is all well and good; y’all can enjoy, but when I need some temper tantrum raps, I’ll stick to YoungBloodz and Lil Scrappy.

Singles/Videos

Armani White — “Cut The Lights”

Armani White has turned out to be something of a rap chameleon. Judging from “Billie Eilish,” his breakout hit, you might expect that he would specialize in bar-buying party rap, but here, he evokes prime ASAP Mob (albeit less chopped and screwed), with a little prime Meek Mill. It’s his greatest gift; hopefully, not having a go-to sound won’t ever hold him back.

Chuckyy — “N**** Poetry”

A South Side Chicago native who was signed to Lil Durk’s Only The Family label, Chuckyy is insanely popular in his hometown, with a slew of mixapes to his name, despite only rapping for the past two years (he’s 19). He’s got that slippery, slurry delivery that’s so popular among street rappers these days, but there’s no denying that lyrically, he’s pretty compelling (think Polo G in his teens). I may, tentatively, be a fan.

Fly Anakin — “The Times”

Frank back! The Richmond, Virginia rapper has been out of sight since 2022’s Frank, but he was never far from the Uproxx radar. With a new project, (The) Forever Dream coming down the pike, he resurfaces with a new soulful, introspective stream of consciousness. If you’re a fan of the Earl Sweatshirts and MIKEs of the world, Fly Ani is your guy (I like him a little more for his slightly sharper delivery).

Lelo — “Pot Of Greed”

Lelo’s flow is fun. It’s like a constant rolling stop at a stop sign — that four-beat is only a suggestion, but the rhyme never sounds “off-beat.” Fellow Detroiter Big Sean does something similar, but Lelo’s laconic delivery sells it better. “Pot Of Greed” isn’t going to win any converts, but it is going to feed the base, which is what he needs right now to raise his profile on those search engines.

Mozzy — “Under Oath”

“The Nipsey Huss’ and Makaveli, put me next to those,” Mozzy raps on his latest. Lofty aims, to be sure, but … he ain’t wrong. At this point, the only things holding him back from such status are his independent grind, which puts an unofficial paper ceiling on his ascent, and, well… knock wood. You a real one, Moz. Stick around as long as you possibly can.

Ray Vaughn — “Flat Shasta” Feat. Ash Leone

A departure from much of what we’ve heard from the TDE signee to date, “Flat Shasta” is a vulnerable reflection on the Long Beach rapper’s tough upbringing through the lens of a letter to his mom. It also highlights his commitment to remaining humble despite his hustle; it’s not like they stock Shasta just anywhere.

Rexx Life Raj — “Take Me To The Sunlight” Feat. Mick Jenkins & Blk Odyssey

After getting really therapeutic on his last album, it sounds like Rexx Life Raj is looking outward on his next one. “Take Me To The Sunlight” finds Raj playing cultural critic, taking stock of the social justice movement and how little has changed since the last major uprisings. Mick Jenkins makes an excellent foil to this endeavor.

Sugarhill Ddot — “Energy” Feat. Star Bandz

Harlem teen star Ddot is still at it, picking up where he left off with the deluxe version of 2 Sides Of The Story. Star is also fresh off her own release, Estrella, and they keep the chemistry from their last collaboration, “My Baby,” going on this upbeat, sexy drill single.

They say you can always come home. Will Smith intends to put that adage to the test with his new album. After suffering a couple of career setbacks, the rapper-turned-actor has opted for a hard reset, returning to the skillset that first made him one of America’s sweethearts: rapping.

To that end, he’s released a string of above-average singles to get fans comfortable with the idea, and today, he revealed the title and release date for the new project, along with a glimpse at its cover art. Based On A True Story is out March 28. You can find more info here.

The tracklist shared alongside the title, cover, and release date confirms that previously released singles “Bulletproof,” “Tantrum” with Joyner Lucas, “Work Of Art” with Russ and Jaden, and “Beautiful Scars” with Big Sean all appear on the album, along with features from Fridayy, Teyana Taylor, and of course, longtime partner-in-rhyme-and-rhythm, DJ Jazzy Jeff.

There’s likely no better time for Smith to start promoting his album; his name is buzzing alongside 2024 breakout star Doechii, thanks to their recent meeting and subsequent flurry of social media videos playing on fans’ nostalgia and Doechii’s newly viral track “Anxiety.” You’ve got to strike while the iron’s hot, and right now, Will’s hotter than he’s been in years.

Check out the tracklist for Based On A True Story below.

01. “Int. Barbershop Day” Feat. DJ Jazzy Jeff & Simone
02. “You Lookin’ for Me?”
03. “The Reverend (Rave Sermon)”
04. “Rave In The Wasteland”
05. “Bulletproof” Feat. Jac Ross
06. “Hard Times (Smile)” Feat. Teyana Taylor
07. “Beautiful Scars” Feat. Big Sean and OBanga
08. “Tantrum” Feat. Joyner Lucas
09. “First Love” Feat. India Martinez and Marcin
10. “Make It Look Easy”
11. “The Reverend (YCMI Sermon)”
12. “You Can Make It” Feat. Fridayy and Sunday Service
13. “Work Of Art” Feat. Russ and Jaden
14. “The Reverend (WOA Sermon)”

Young Thug makes his first music video appearance in years in the long-awaited clip for Lil Baby’s “Dum Dumb & Dumber” with Future. The video sees the three Atlanta rappers head to Miami, where they ball out, throwing cash at the strip club and doing donuts by the docks, dressing up their relatively low-key ensembles (jeans, undershirts) with designer accessories, from diamond bracelets and necklaces to a demon mask for Thug and Future wearing either the puffiest winter hat I’ve ever seen or the removable hood from a designer coat.

“Dum Dumb & Dumber” appears on Lil Baby’s new album WHAM (Who Hard As Me), alongside other braggartly tracks like “F U 2X,” “By Myself” with Rod Wave and Rylo Rodriguez, and “Redbone” with GloRilla. It’s also Lil Baby’s first album of the year, as he plans to release its follow-up/companion, Dominique, sometime this spring. Shortly after that, he’ll be taking off on his WHAM World Tour, which begins in June and concludes in October in Australia.

It’s also nice to see signs of life from Young Thug, who was released from jail late last year after accepting a plea deal in his racketeering trial.

Watch Lil Baby’s “Dum Dumb & Dumber” video with Future and Young Thug above.

Rolling Loud returns to Los Angeles this weekend for the latest edition of Rolling Loud California. With a lineup consisting of headliners ASAP Rocky, Peso Pluma, and Playboi Carti, a special performance from NBA hopeful turned viral rap star Gelo, and an all-new layout you can check out on the site map here, the festival is going all-out for its 10th anniversary.

If you are planning on hitting Hollywood Park this Saturday and Sunday, March 15-16, for Rolling Loud California, it helps to plan your day(s) in advance. To help with that, here are the set times for Rolling Loud California 2025.

Saturday, March 15

GoPuff Stage

01:30–01:45 PM — K. Charles & DJ Whoo Kid
01:50–02:10 PM — Chow Lee
02:15–02:35 PM — Peysoh
02:45–03:05 PM — Lay Bankz
03:15–03:35 PM — DDG
03:45–04:05 PM — 310Babii
04:20–04:50 PM — Larry June
04:55–05:05 PM — Gelo
05:15–05:55 PM — Ski Mask The Slump God
06:10–06:50 PM — Sexyy Red
07:30–08:30 PM — Peso Pluma
09:30–10:45 PM — ASAP Rocky

Zig-Zag Stage

01:45–02:00 PM — Hoosh
02:10–02:30 PM — Miles Minnick
02:40–03:00 PM — Joeyy
03:15–03:35 PM — Jordan Adentunji
03:40–04:10 PM — Bas
04:20–04:50 PM — Real Boston Richey
05:00–05:30 PM — Cash Cobain
05:45–06:15 PM — Ab-Soul
06:35–07:15 PM — Ian
07:35–08:15 PM — Bossman Dlow
08:45-09:30 PM — YG

D’ussé Stage

01:55–02:20 PM — DJ Five Venoms & Friends
02:20–02:50 PM — Ray Emmanuel
03:00–03:20 PM — Slimesito
03:30–03:50 PM — Babychiefdoit
04:00–04:20 PM — Xaviersobased
04:30–05:00 PM — DJ Scheme & Friends w/ Robb Banks
05:10–05:30 PM — 1900Rugrat
05:40–06:00 PM — Dave Blunts
06:10-06:30 PM — Hotboii
06:40-07:00 PM — King Lil G
07:10-07:40 PM — Xavier Wulf x Eddy Baker
07:50-08:10 PM — Glokk40Spaz
08:25-08:45 PM — Lazer Dim
09:00-09:30 PM — Osamason

Sunday, March 16

GoPuff Stage

01:00–01:35 PM — DJ Five Venoms & Friends
01:45–02:05 PM — Stunna Girl
02:15–02:35 PM — Redveil
02:45–03:05 PM — Az Chike
03:15–03:45 PM — EBK Jaaybo
03:55–04:25 PM — 03 Greedo
04:35–05:00 PM — Homixide Gang
05:30–06:15 PM — Destroy Lonely
06:45–07:30 PM — Ken Carson
08:30–09:45 PM — Playboi Carti

Zig-Zag Stage

12:45–01:05 PM — Bad Neighbors
01:15–01:35 PM — Clip
01:50–02:10 PM — TiaCorine
02:25–02:50 PM — Thxsomch
03:05–03:30 PM — Sematary
03:40–04:05 PM — Luh Tyler
04:15–04:40 PM — La Santa Grifa
04:50–05:15 PM — Tee Grizzley
05:35–06:15 PM — Dom Kennedy
06:35–07:15 PM — TBD
07:45–08:30 PM — Blxst

D’ussé Stage

12:45–01:00 PM — Yo Trane
01:05–01:20 PM — Drownmili
01:30–01:45 PM — Sid Shyne
01:55–02:10 PM — UntilJapan
02:20–02:35 PM — Hurricane Wisdom
02:45–03:05 PM — Drexthejoint
03:15–03:35 PM — Kamaiyah
03:45–04:05 PM — DC The Don
04:15–04:35 PM — Loe Shimmy
04:45-05:05 PM — F1lthy
05:15–05:35 PM — Skaiwater
05:45–06:05 PM — Lefty Gunplay
06:15-06:35 PM — Che
06:50-07:10 PM — Devour
07:25-07:45 PM — Molly Santana
08:00-08:30 PM — Nettspend

Festival season is less than a day away from being in full swing as Rolling Loud gets ready to open its door for the California edition of its epic showcase. Rolling Loud California 2025 will best the first of many festivals that Rolling Loud will host both in and outside the United States, and the Cali edition looks to kick things on a high note. ASAP Rocky, Playboi Carti, and Peso Pluma will headline this year’s festival which also features big names like Sexyy Red, Bossman Dlow, Quavo, Blxst, YG, Cash Cobain, and more. In addition to that, Rolling Loud Cali also grants the opportunity to discover a new that could be your next favorite.

Ahead of the festival’s start on March 15, we decided to spotlight the talented artists that are listed in a smaller font on the festival’s flyer. The following names earned their way to the Rolling Loud stage with breakout songs and project that showed their true potential. As a result, we think they’re worth your ear.

Here are eight small-font 2025 Rolling Loud California artists that you can’t afford to miss:

Jordan Adetunji

The UK singer, who hails from Belfast, caught his big break in 2024 with the release of hit song “Kehlani.” Don’t label Jordan Adetunji as a one-hit wonder though, as his second project A Jaguar’s Dream proved that he’s more than capable of delivering quality music in the years that follow “Kehlani.” The sexy-drill energy of A Jaguar’s Dream should fair well with the Rolling Loud Cali audience, and Adetunji is ready to give them a show. “I am grateful for this moment,” he said in an email to Uproxx. “I cannot think of a better platform than Rolling Loud to play my first US festival set.”

TiaCorine

TiaCorine is undoubtedly a rock star in today’s music world, and with her most recent project Almost There, which features standouts like “Shamone” and “Yung Joc” with Luh Tyler, in her back pocket, you can count on TiaCorine to deliver on the Rolling Loud stage. Then, when you consider her other hits like “FreakyT” and her beloved verse on Denzel Curry’s “Hot One,” then it’s more than apparent that the North Carolina rapper has more than enough to captivate an audience. The recent release of her single “Ate” suggests more new music could be on the way, opening the door for an unreleased song or two to be teased on stage.

Lay Bankz

Few up-and-coming rappers are as committed to the role of entertainer as Philly rapper Lay Bankz is. For the past couple of years, Bankz has certified her song-making abilities by releasing at least one viral hit each year. First came hip-rocking “Ick” in 2023, followed by the bouncy Ginuwine “Pony”-sampling “Tell Ur Girlfriend” in 2024. The latter became Bankz first song to enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart, proving that she was indeed trending in the right direct. There’s more to come in 2025, a year she kicked off with last month’s “Baddie Decisions.” Next up is taking over the Rolling Loud Cali stage, and Bankz is in a great position to do just that.

AzChike

Though many on the West Coast were familiar with his name, the rest of the world was introduced to South Central rapper AzChike thanks to his appearance on Kendrick Lamar’s sixth album GNX. AzChike’s “Peekaboo” verse has been heralded as the song’s best, and it was good enough for Kendrick to include in his Super Bowl Halftime Show performance. Though “Peekaboo” will be a highlight for attendees of AzChike’s set, there’s a lot more that to look out for during his set. Other highlight records go as far back at 2017’s “Burn Rubber Again” and 2022’s “Big Dawg,” and as recently as last month’s “What 2X.” It’s safe to say that if you watch AzChike’s performance, you’ll leave a bigger fan of the South Central rapper.

Chow Lee

No sub-genre had a better year in 2024 than sexy drill. With rapper-producer Cash Cobain at its helm, the mainstream world was also introduced to some of the best names in sexy drill. That includes fellow New Yorker Chow Lee, who delivered the sub-genre’s best album with Sex Drive. Backed by standouts like “Practice,” “Ms. Beautiful V,” and “Swag It,” Lee proved that he was a rapper to respect amid amid his pursuit of the “horniest rapper alive” title. Lee prioritizes fun and having a good time in his music, and those elements are perfect ingredients to include in a Rolling Loud performance.

Loe Shimmy

Florida rapper Loe Shimmy should be on your list of up-and-coming rappers to watch in 2025. At the end of last year, Shimmy caught the attention of many, and earned his biggest song yet, with a remix of “For Me” alongside Brent Faiyaz. The record is a highlight on Nardy World which was his third (!!!) project of 2024. Nardy World as a whole is a strong project, and it began a streak of quality releases from Shimmy. “Coco Chanel” with Trippie Redd, “Salute” with Hurricane Wisdom (we’ll get to him in a second), and “Talk To Me” with French Montana followed as did Shimmy’s most recent single “Turnt Me Evil.”

Hurricane Wisdom

Fellow Florida rapper Hurricane Wisdom also had a breakout year in 2024. His success is in thanks to his hit “Giannis” which later got a remix from Polo G after the rapper brought Wisdom out during his set at Rolling Loud Miami in 2024. Hurricane Wisdom is doing everything right to be more than a one-hit wonder as shown on his recent project Perfect Storm.

Che

Atlanta rapper Che had an early breakout moment in his career back in 2021 with “Off The Lot Remix.” Since then, Che has kept a steady output of music that most recently gave us his Sayso Says, a 17-track effort that touched down in 2024. Rolling Loud Cali 2025 will be the first time that Che will grace the stage for Rolling Loud out west, and he welcomes the opportunity with open arms. “It means the world to me. I’m nothing but thankful,” he said in an email to Uproxx. “It’s an opportunity for many who don’t know me to take a step into my life and hear what I hear in my head every day.” There’s less than a day until showtime, and Che has one goal in mind: “I just want everyone to have the time of their lives when I set foot on stage.”

Interview With The Vampire received more than a facelift with AMC‘s TV series. The series, although based upon Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles like the movie was, feels like an entirely different beast. In contrast to Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt’s portrayal of the leading duo, Sam Reid and Jacob Anderson crackle with electricity as Lestat de Lioncourt and Louis de Pointe du Lac. Their willingness to lean into their chemistry has taken the show into gloriously bawdy territory as the writers have been updating the story for a modern audience, which is also growing after the show landed on Netflix.

Is it funny that Louis, a damn vampire, was hiding out in Dubai as part of the show’s “interview” framework? For sure. That absurdity has only continued with Lestat going full-out camp, which should bode well for his next incarnation in the third season of this wildly embraced series.

Plot

Above all, it is certain that Sam Reid will also be able to top Tom Cruise at the rock star game (i.e., Rock Of Ages) in addition to being a vampire. We’ll get there in a moment.

As viewers know, the second season finale included a gorgeous reconciliation in between Louis and Lestat as they processed the death of Claudia (Delainey Hayles, who replaced Bailey Bass) and beautifully reconciled, and Louis also reconciled with his own status as vampire.

That could have been the end of the series (the episode was actually titled, “And That’s The End of It. There’s Nothing Else”), but (presumably) since the audience is so passionate for this show, AMC announced a third season of debauchery. With that said, get ready for the series to move into another Anne Rice novel, The Vampire Lestat, which means that we should look forward to diving back into the seductive one’s origins and previous interactions with Armand. How that will take shape remains a mystery, since this series has already made key story changes regarding Armand and Louis, so further changes from Rice’s source matter could be at work.

We will formally enter Lestat’s Rock Star Era, as the synopsis further indicates:

In Season 3, resentful of the perfunctory portrayal in the trashy bestseller “Interview With The Vampire,” the Vampire Lestat sets his story straight in a way only the Vampire Lestat can — by starting a band and going on tour. Gabrielle. Nicholas. Magnus. Marius. Those Who Must Be Kept. They join Louis, Armand, Molloy, Sam, Raglan, Fareed and others we can’t tell you about yet on a sexy pilgrimage across space, time and trauma. No Auto-Tuning. No Trigger Warnings. All Feels Amplified.

Trailer

Although no full trailer exists yet, AMC has teased Lestat as a rock star. He’s as spoiled and as much of a diva as you could possibly imagine, and the top YouTube comment is as follows: “oh my god he’s in his rockstar cocaine manic pixie girl phase SLAY.” Accurate.

Reid is clearly having a blast with Lestat’s amped-up diva-ness, and his “Justin Bieber” and “your soundman is dehydrated” are only the beginning. Following this teaser, speculation has abounded that this season will be largely told in a “rockumentary”-style manner (possibly with Daniel doing the interviewing again), and that the fourth season could adapt Rice’s Queen of the Damned. With that said, Screenrant noticed that the watered-down Lestat photocopy (the silent character who sits in the interview chair before he is booted in favor of Lestat) likely isn’t simply a chair placeholder. Rather, he represents the Lestat that appeared in the 2002 Queen of the Damned movie adaptation. In any event, the strange and silent figure doesn’t hold a candle to AMC’s Lestat or Sam Reid’s impeccable and fabulous performance.

Of course, there’s a lyric video that exists, too.

Cast

Sam Reid (Lestat), Jacob Anderson (Louis), Assad Zaman (Armand), Daniel Malloy (Eric Bogosian), Justin Kirk (Raglan), and Gopal Divan (Fareed) will return, and AMC has teased that many cast additions will be announced. This will include Lestat’s band members, and please let this be a real-life band having a grand time with alter egos.

Release Date

AMC has stayed closed lipped, perhaps preferring to nurse the Lestat Mystique. However, late 2025 is likely the plan, since that would match up to the gap between the first two seasons (October 2022 and May 2024)

Currently, AMC hasn’t provided a release date, but the first and second seasons landed in October 2022 and May 2024, respectively, so late 2025 is entirely possible. They could even swing a Halloween season release, but first, if you missed the promised crossover on Mayfair Witches, that episode is there for the taking over on AMC+.

Los Angeles singer-songwriter Cuco has a pair of albums — 2019’s Para Mi and 2022’s Fantasy Gateway — under his belt. Now, he’s got a third in the chamber: Ridin’ is set for May 9 via Interscope. The project is billed as an homage to Cuco’s LA roots.

Today (March 14), he previewed the project with “My 45.” The track sees him collaborating with Jean Carter for an especially smooth and soulful three minutes.

Cuco says of the album:

“Everybody listens to music when they’re driving. Music is part of your commute, whether you’re in a good or bad mood. You’re ridin’ through the motion of your life where nothing is linear. All of my songs here are romantic, whether that’s in a super-animated way or sad and heartbroken.”

Per a press release, the album features “Cuco’s signature blend of dreamy psychedelia, R&B, and traditional Latin influences, creating a sonic landscape that captures the essence of modern Chicano culture.” It also notes the project “celebrates regional touchstones” including “AM radio, classic soul arrangements, lush horn sections, and vintage car culture while exploring coming-of-age themes of romance and friendship.”

Listen to “My 45” above.

Cuco’s Ridin’ Album Cover Artwork

Ridin’ is out 5/9 via Interscope. Find more information here.

Aliases and pseudonyms are not a new phenomenon in music. In fact, many of the recording industry’s biggest names have one including Taylor Swift and Anderson .Paak. But, for rising alternative R&B rookie Montell Fish (or DJ Gummy Bear), his dual personas are parts of his whole musical self.

Today (March 14), DJ Gummy Bear dipped back out to release yet another track. Over on YouTube, DJ Gummy Bear followed up his March 4 drop of “Prada” and “Like An Addict” with the evocative new single, “Murder.”

Stepping outside of his previous electronic venture, on “Murder,” he leans fully into his love of blending indie rock and R&B. The melodic tune also explores Montell Fish’s favorite topics — love of a partner and God.

The official video for “Murder” intensifies those emotional intersections as DJ Gummy Bear fights with the figurative ghost of his lover inside an abandoned house of worship.

Back in February, DJ Gummy Bear shared tracks “Deserve” and “Energy.” With a total of five new records out, DJ Gummy Bear appears to be gearing up for a full-length project. However, with Montell Fish’s Once Upon A Dream Deer Tour set to kick off in May, an album might have to wait.

Watch the “Murder” video above.

As African music grows in international esteem, its artists have begun to cross-pollinate genres and fanbases on the continent itself, leading to some fascinating results. One of the latest is Davido, who tapped South African producer DJ Maphorisa for his new single “Be There Still.”

In a press release for the single, Davido said, “This one is for my Day 1s. ‘Be There Still’ is all about perseverance, and the journey. It’s a sound my fans know and love. I’m excited the world finally gets to hear it.” In the lyrics, Davido promises his loyalty to those Day 1s, singing, “Anywhere wey money dey / Make them call me / I will be there still / Loke loke / Across the border / I will be there still.”

“Be There Still” is the second single from Davido’s upcoming album 5ive, which is due in April. Davido announced the album with the release of its first single, “Funds,” featuring Odumodublvck & Chike. He’s called the upcoming release his best album yet, and with his blending of Nigerian Afrobeats with South African amapiano, it certainly has all the ingredients to be another international — if not global — success.

You can listen to Davido’s new single “Be There Still” above.

5ive is coming in April via RCA Records. You can pre-order it here.