The end of July brought forth legendary singer-songwriter Beyoncé’s highly anticipated seventh album Renaissance. However, one song in particular on her new release has received pushback for using a derogatory term. Yoncé faced backlash for a lyric that was deemed “ableist.”
On the album’s 11th track, ”Heated,” the term ”Spazzin” was used towards the end of the song when the entertainer said ”Spazzin’ on that ass, sp** on that ass.” In the context of the song, the line was used to express how crazy that she was about to start behaving.
While the term is of common use in America in the same context, in other communities it is used in a derogatory manner towards people who are disabled.
After the album was released many took to social media to express their excitement and positive feedback but there were a number of people who also voiced their concern and discontentment with her use of the word.
So @Beyonce used the word 'spaz' in her new song Heated. Feels like a slap in the face to me, the disabled community & the progress we tried to make with Lizzo. Guess I'll just keep telling the whole industry to 'do better' until ableist slurs disappear from music 💔
According to Snopes, a representative for Beyonce did confirm to the AP Press that the word, which was deemed ableist, will be removed from the song. ”The word, not used intentionally in a harmful way, will be replaced.
The entertainer is not the first artist who has been called out for using the word in recent months. Fellow singer Lizzo was met with criticism for using it her song “GRRRLS.”
Despite the backlash, Renaissance has had a great debut weekend with it being expected for the album to sell up to 315,000 units in its first week.
Travis Scott is headed to Sin City! The Houston rapper’s Las Vegas residency was announced Monday and is set to begin Sept. 17.
The residency, “Road to Utopia” will consist of seven shows at Resorts World’s Zouk Nightclub. In a statement, Resorts World described “Road to Utopia” as a “mind-bending, first-of-its-kind nightclub residency experience.”
“Travis Scott was a seamless fit for the Zouk Nightclub roster,” said Zouk Group CEO Andrew Li. “His electric performances will pair perfectly with our immersive atmosphere, bringing our guests an unmatched show unlike anything else they can find in Las Vegas. We can’t wait to kick off his residency and continue to amplify our talent lineup.”
Resorts World Las Vegas Chief Marketing Officer Ronn Nicolli also shared his excitement for the “Road to Utopia” residency. “From his music and fashion to unprecedented brand collaborations, Travis Scott is a one-of-a-kind, multi-talented artist. His residency will bring a new level of energy to Resorts World Las Vegas and add to the property’s diverse list of entertainment and nightlife offerings.”
Scott’s most recent performance was during Rolling Loud Miami when he was brought out as a guest performer during Future’s headlining set. He also performed solo back in May during the 2022 Billboard Music Awards coincidentally in Las Vegas. Scott is currently facing multiple lawsuits regarding the misfortunate happenings that took place during his headlining set at Astroworld Festival in 2021.
The emcee’s last full-length project was ASTROWORLD in 2018 but he has since dropped two singles, “Escape Plan” and “Mafia” in the later part of 2021. He has been featured on several songs such as “Fair Trade” by Drake, “Diamonds Dancing” by Young Thug and Gunna and “Hats Off” by Lil Baby and Lil Durk.
The first two “Road to Utopia” shows are currently on sale to the public, with additional performance dates set to be announced soon.
Té Allen is an artist you should keep on your radar. The rising Houston-based MC has been going hard, dropping singles all 2022 and is ready to keep the momentum going. With singles such as “Test Me,” “Running It Up,” and “Jabroni,” Allen showcases his skills as being able to master any beat and maintain a lyrical rhythm and flow throughout any song.
“I’m passionate about music because I simply love the feeling it gives me,” he said in a recent interview. “It’s like a drug. It can literally dictate the mood of a listener instantly.”
Get to know the rising artist below and what’s in store for him this year.
What city are you from/ Where are you based now?
I was born and raised in Houston, Texas! I love my city and it’s where I still currently reside.
What is your artist name? What is your real name? How did you get your artist name?
I go by Té Allen and it’s a play off my real name, LaVonté Allen. I wanted my name to be me, so what’s better than ya real name.
How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?
I’m an artist who makes Hip-Hop/Rap music. At my core I’m always focused on my bars but I’m an artist that lets the music lead me to wherever.
What’s one reason you are passionate about music and what inspires you?
I’m passionate about music because I simply love the feeling it gives me. It’s like a drug. It can literally dictate the mood of a listener instantly.
Who are some of your main musical influences?
The main guys are Jay-Z, Cole & Kendrick. Cole and Kendrick made me want to make music like them cuz they made music that meant something. Jay is the goat, so it’s always a master class session when listening to him. So many gems from all 3 of them guys.
Tell us the name of the project you are currently promoting? What inspired this project?
I’m currently working on my project “It Is What It Is” that’s dropping sometime in the summer. The inspiration came from sitting in the house during the coronavirus lockdown and I wanted to just put out some music. I had these collections of songs at the time and I just wanted to bundle them together and drop them. The reason that didn’t happen was because there was one song I wanted to record to add to the project, so when I went to record it, my boy C3 told me “let’s add some more music to it”. From there it took on a life of its own.
Date that this project dropped or is set to drop?
We’re thinking about sometime in August. That’s a special month to me, so that’s looking like the move.
What is this project about in your own words?
This project for me is about overcoming and living with the results. Oftentimes I was in my head about the music. Whether thinking if people would rock with it or not or if sonically it sounded good to put out. I wanted to dead that way of thinking and just create, which these songs are a product of that process. I also wanted to show my versatility as an artist that can not only bar you up, but can make enjoyable ass music. At the end of the day, that’s always the goal.
What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects we should be on the lookout for? Include some dates if you have them.
What’s next is continuing to get better as an artist, sharpening my sword. As importantly, growing my fanbase is a priority as well as growing with them. All around growth. Up until the release of “IIWII” I’ll be hitting the streets with singles monthly. I’ve released three to date, “Running It Up,” “Jabroni” & “Test Me” ft. Cozz and Mick Jenkins. All the releases have done well in becoming building blocks leading into the project and what people can expect.
What message do you hope fans take away from your music and from this project?
The main message in my music is perseverance. I pride myself on writing relatable real content showcasing different sides of me. In this day in age, the listener wants to know so much about the artist, so what better way to do that than in the music. I’ll give you the good, the bad, the ugly, and the turn up!
Where can we follow you on social media? Include links.
Singer, song writer R.O.Z released his first single “Talking to Me” alongside fellow Ghanaian artist Quamina MP earlier this month. The single release commemorates the partnership deal between Sony Music West Africa and EMB INC, North American independent record label owned by brothers R.O.Z, Richmond, and William Nyantakyi.
The collaboration between R.O.Z and Quamina was “organic and easy”, says artist, R.O.Z. “He [Quamina MP] is one of my favourite artists in general. There is a lot of stuff going on, and I definitely want to have MP a part of it”. Produced by EMB producers duo, 2Epik, who were already working with Quamina MP, knew the feature would be a natural fit.
“Talking to Me” is a fusion of afro and hip-hop and is already climbing its way up the charts in Ghana. It’s the perfect vibe for Summer 2022, which already has compromised of leading Afro sounds. The visual project was recently released, directed by Junie Annan, highlighting the vibrancy of the Ghanaian and West African diaspora.
As an artist, R.O.Z is looking forward to releasing his 5th project up to date as well as looking forward to signing new Canadian and African talent alongside their current roster in conjunction with Sony Music West Africa/International.
Nigerian-American lyricist Xavier Top Floor has shared the music video to his gruesome single, “Cable”.
Featured in the New LA Playlist, Xavier floats on the drumming instrumental like a vet. In his eyes, the song is a soundtrack to his life. Chronicling his life on the song, it essentially tells a story of his parents emergence from the sandy shores of Nigeria, to secure a better life in Los Angeles, California.
“It’s a really simple synopsis; this song represents my life. My Nigerian immigrant parents coming to this country with nothing, sacrificing for their children’s future now their son is on TV (cable)”.
The Nigerian west coast emcee is acclaimed for his slick bars and a keen ear for versatile production. With song placements in NBA2K, Fox, ESPN, and Netflix, it’s only a matter of time until Xavier is a household name on his own.
LA-based hip-hop artist and producer, Jabez debuted his new single and music video,Do Ur Dancetoday with S-Curve/Hollywood Records – Hollywood’s most innovative record label, consistently scoring with hit records and pushing the envelope with innovative sounds.
Hailing from Leimert Park, Los Angeles, Jabez is a multi-hyphenate hip-hop artist, music producer, and actor. Inspired by Motown music such as the Temptations and West Coast legend Tupac Shakur, Jabez uses his diverse lyricism and producing talents to perfectly blend his unique sound with nostalgic compositions.
Written and produced by Jabez, Do Ur Dance, is the perfect song for the summer that has a new school feel with Jabez’s West coast lyrics and nostalgic early 2000’s sound.
Over the years, Jabez has received opportunities to perform at venues such as the Hard Rock Cafe, The Avalon, and the Grammy Museum. In addition, Jabez was scheduled to perform at the Pantages before the start of the Broadway show Hamilton in 2020.
Jabez is currently working on his debut EP, set to release in early 2023.
“I’m excited to have released my first single with S-Curve/Hollywood Records called, Do Ur Dance,” says Jabez. “Do Ur Dance is about bringing fun back into the world, and inspiring people to be themselves, live life to the fullest, and do ur dance!”
Do Ur Danceis now available on all streaming platforms.
Matt McGhee (@Mattxmcghee) is back with a statement on his latest single, “Link Up In Hell.” The DMV-bred rapper/songwriter’s versatility is on full display for his newest single. The ode to his former friends and current foes is a creative way to display just how petty the smitten MC is. His ear for production and airy flow helps him float verse to verse on the 2-minute banger.
Matt McGhee has cemented himself as one of the top acts in his area after receiving a bus stop billboard from Spotify’s Frequency Playlist and multiple placements on various television shows. Coming off the heels of his critically-acclaimed album ‘Everything Starts From Now,’ Matt is preparing to release his next full-length effort. His powerful collaborations with Manny Wellz and LVRN’s newest signee, Alex Vaughn, have accumulated hundreds of thousands of streams across all platforms. There’s no limit to Matt McGhee’s progress, and “Link Up In Hell” is just a taste of the GRAM Intl CEO’s upcoming work.
