Missy Elliott is back!

The female rap pioneer trumpets her return with ‘ICONOLOGY’ – a project she announced a few short hours ago.

Now upon us, the EP serves as the icon’s first body of work since 2005’s ‘The Cookbook.’

The set arrives as Elliott – who, earlier this summer was inducted into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame – gears up to perform at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards, where she’ll also receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard honor.

What are you waiting for? Give new Missy a spin after the jump!

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‘I’ma snatch they wigs, til I see their scalps,’ Missy Elliott proclaims in the brand spankin’ new video, ‘Throw It Back.’

Launched as the leading single from Elliott’s recently announced EP, ‘ICONOLOGY’ (click here to listen), ‘Throw’ – which makes its premiere just days before the rapper receives the Video Vanguard Award at this year’s MTV VMAs – comes as a fitting ode to self.

Even featuring a scene of the 48-year-old dressed as a moonman, the visual is chock full of self-references to toast to her game-changing 25+ year career.  If ever you needed a reminder why she is a leader among visual artists and has consistently pushed the medium’s needle forward, it awaits you inside:

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It’s here! Taylor Swift has unleashed new LP, ‘Lover.’

Issued as the Pop titan’s seventh studio album, the highly anticipated effort serves as the first fruit of her new pact with Republic Records (one which sees the release also become the first she owns the masters to). Ownership has been a hot topic in TaylorVille of late, following a much-publicized spat with Scooter Braun. As we reported here, Braun dominated headlines thanks to a dramatized purchase of her back-catalogue as part of a broader acquisition of her former label Big Machine. Swift has adamantly maintained she wasn’t given the opportunity to bid on her own life’s work.  And, while she’s hit the newswire after sharing her combat plan, the entire episode has upped the stakes for ‘Lover’ – which is preceded by singles ‘ME!,’ ‘You Need To Calm Down,’ and its title track – with the key question being if it can match the slay of its predecessors (most of which premiered with sales of a million plus domestically).

Strategically, Swift has mounted a titan-sized campaign to ensure the album delivers (including partnerships with Target, Amazon, and Spotify).  But, as ever, it’s the music that’s the core component.

Give it a spin below and let us know if it hits the mark…

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Jidenna has returned and he has a story to tell.

His sophomore LP, ’85 To Africa,’ sees the Hip Hop star (who at the project’s inception found himself evicted from his Atlanta home by no fault of his own), journey to the Motherland where he stayed for almost sixth months.

A longtime advocate for all things Afrobeats, the Nigerian-American infuses the sound heavily into the new project – which serves as the follow-up to 2017’s ‘The Chief.’

Head below to listen to ‘The Classic Man’ tell his tale via his new album…

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Damon Dash – the Hip Hop mogul who co-founded the defunct Roc-A-Fella Records with Jay-Z – has made no secret of his disdain for the ‘Big Pimpin’ performer since their joint business ventures failed.

But, just in case you forgot, Dash reiterated said distaste recently when he was quizzed on this thoughts about Jay’s recently unveiled dealings with the NFL.  The controversy around the deal not only stems from the league’s heavily reported mistreatment of players of colors (and disregard for issues important to them), but Jay’s longstanding public slamming of the organization. His change of tune certainly hit a sour note with Dash who, during a recent interview, said the Roc Nation leader was a backstabber and ultimately wasn’t ‘sh*t’ for making the move.

Harsh words.  Hear what else he said inside:

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Taylor Swift is unwrapping her new album ‘Lover’ in a matter of hours and to signal its impending arrival, she’s debuted the video for its title track.

The whimsical visual is follows the clips for lead single ‘ME!’ and ‘You Need To Calm Down,’ and is being worked as the project’s third official single.

Having covered many a base with physical units, will the video help turbo-charge the singer’s streaming push for the LP?

Watch below and let us know…

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With just days to go before Missy Elliott receives the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard honor at the 2019 VMAs, the music visionary has sprung a surprise on fans.

Because their years of patience will be rewarded at the strike of midnight with the release a brand new project christened ‘Iconology’!

Full story below…

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Aaliyah was a once in a lifetime talent and now she’s being honored as such. Because, a brand new wax figure of the late legend has been unveiled at Madame Tussauds. 

Full story below…

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Young Thug is fed up of the rumors.

Ever one to march to the beat of his own drum, the rapper made headlines the world over when he rocked a dress a-front of his ‘Jeffery’ album.

Despite being in a liberal age of artistic expression, this saw some question his sexual orientation. A discourse which continues to this day.

Looking to control, alt, delete any doubt, he has addressed the matter head on.

His words below…

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Taylor Swift took over Central Park today as part of the Good Morning America Summer Concert Series.

The showing comes on the eve of the release of her brand new album ‘Lover,’ which functions as the first offering from a fresh pact with Republic Records.

As well as performing songs from the LP together with some of her biggest hits, Swift sat down with GMA’s Robin Roberts and seized the opportunity to address a number of pressing topics. Most notable the drama surrounding her back-catalogue.

Widely reported is Scooter Braun‘s acquisition of the singer’s pre-Lover material, which occurred as part of a broader purchase of her former label Big Machine.

Swift has publicly voiced her disgust and just yesterday revealed that she planned to re-record her material so as to own and licence those masters (a la JoJo, TLC, and Prince).

What quickly followed was weigh-ins from analysts pointing out the legal technicalities that could make it difficult for Swift to proceed as outlined.

Well, she’s clapped back in an emphatic way.

Details below…

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As polarizing as news surrounding Jay-Z‘s recently announced dealings with the NFL has been, the reports that link legendary Urban producer Jermaine Dupri to the story have only increased criticism aimed the way of Hov.

Last week we reported songwriter/producer Bryan Michael Cox took to radio to confirm Jay convinced Dupri to decline the very deal he would later accept (click here to read more).  Cox’s tale was corroborated by Funk Flex who claims JD told him personally the reports were true (click here to read more).

Now, in a surprising twist, Dupri has come forward to speak on his own behalf and says the stories surrounding his NFL conversation with Jay Z have all been misrepresented.  Additionally Bryan – who initially broke this story – is now claiming he was “inebriated” at the time he made the announcement.  Ay yi yi!

Taking to our friends at V-103’s ‘Big Tigger Show,’ hear Dupri and Cox attempt to clear up the mess:

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It’s a ‘Hot Girl Summer’ on the Hot 100!

Preceded with buzz as one of the most highly anticipated songs of the season, Megan Thee Stallion‘s ‘Summer’ – which features Nicki Minaj and Ty Dolla $ign – shot to the top of iTunes just hours after its release (as we reported here).  The favorable response on digital outlets was mirrored on streaming platforms over the course of the tune’s inaugural sales tracking week. Billboard reports:

“The single starts…with 24,000 downloads sold in the week ending Aug. 15, according to Nielsen Music. It also kicks off…with 25.4 million U.S. [streams] in the same period.

Radio airplay, similarly, has ignited at a rapid pace. “Summer” shoots 10.2 million in audience in the week ending Aug. 18, according to Nielsen Music.”

The result?  Stallion’s ridden to the first top 20 hit of her career.  Zooming past her previous personal best as a leading act, ‘Cash Sh*t (ft. Da Baby)’ (which peaked at #39), ‘Summer’ debuted at #11.  And, with its anxiously awaited music video set to premiere soon, the song is a shoo-in for the top 10 in the coming weeks.

Could Megan and Minaj be riding to their first chart-topping hit? Time will tell. Until then, look inside to see who joins them in the top 25 of this week’s ‘TGJ Chart Check:  Hot 100.’

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