5.5.20 Chris Brown & Young Thug

hip hop's new daily operation

TheMotto returns.

I’m Elliott Wilson, and I’ve been covering hip hop on a pretty-much 24-hour basis via my social feeds since 2008. TheMotto brings it all together in one place — the most important stories and moments of our culture. Anyone who follows me knows how passionate I am about documenting this fast-paced world— and it’s time to share more of my personal stories and thoughts. This is our second issue, and the response so far has been overwhelming, embracing and humbling. Thank you all! Especially those who reached out to me directly. Please send me more advice, continue to tell your friends about this space — and subscribe to TheMotto.

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top shottas:

Word to The Scotts, here’s another superhero duo we didn’t know we needed. Celebrating his 31st trip around the sun, Chris Brown dropped a new collabo mixtape with the incomparable Young Thug. SMH these f*ckers even had the nerve to give Soundcloud and DatPiff the early midnight drop last night! Listen on #TIDAL now.

Speaking of Thugger, I still can’t believe he sat down with me for CRWN last summer at NYC’s 40/40 Club. Both the insightful convo and the behind-the-scenes chaos were epic. Ha! Watch it again here, and once again — love to Future’s bestie Ebonie Ward for the endless boss moves. Looking forward to Gunna’s May release.

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back to business

Do you know what today is? The Migos ring in Cinco De Mayo with “Taco Tuesday.” You like that, Bron Bron?

Rap Snacks and the stock market connect (HipHopDX)

How do you celebrate a top 5 song debut? Bring Beyonce’s bars to life: If you don’t jump to put jeans on / Baby / You don’t feel my pain — damn, Stallion.

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Kudos to Kehlani on the creative album art. It Was Good Until It Wasn’t — this Friday.

Sacramento, Sacramento, where ya at? Had to do a #TIDALCheckIn with the fella fella Mozzy. My favorite joint on his new Beyond Bulletproof is “The Homies Wanna Know”. Check it out along with 49 other joints I keep in rotation on the freshly-updated Thoro.

Come clean: Lil Nas X finally acknowledges his early Nicki Minaj connection ⬇️

nope @LilNasX

life is too short to pretend you’re not a barb

Great Bulls doc on ESPN, and the music is killer too. Listen.

Growing out of Drake? David Dennis Jr. dissects the superstar’s artistic direction. Folks have views ⬇️

Sylvia @SylviaObell

@DavidDTSS I fell in love w/ Drake b/c he was a hopeless romantic who was vulnerable about his feelings in a way many men weren’t in college. But at 30, I dnt want a man who is still wrestling w/ the same toxic feelings. The flip side: There are plenty of men Drake’s age that still do too.

Boogie Bousins @bansky

To say drake doesn’t take risks is to ignore how much people hated things like find your love... or hotline bling... or marvin’s room.... or how no other rapper would dare make 1 dance... or too good... or flip a Lauryn sample into bounce.. and put big Frieda on there...

A virgin?! Abel creates new song for American Dad. (Variety)

Where the cash at? Killer Mike and El-P’s visual will get you hyped for #RTJ4.

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unsung:

Long time coming: Big K.R.I.T.’s classic mixtape will hit DSPs on May 29.

Give him his flowers! SAINt JHN’s “Roses” makes international breakthrough.

“Lottery” winner: K Camp on his pen game

Issa Rae stars in Rhythm + Flow champion D Smoke’s new video ⏬

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outro

i’m gonna read up on: Sessions, Pandora founder’s new venture.

🤔Carter conundrum! (The Shade Room)

what more can i say:

Once again, the support so far has been amazing. Truly this is needed. When the world gets scary, I believe in betting on the culture and a core crew. Take chances. Live with the results. Learn from the losses. I got a good feeling about this one. Ha!

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team.motto

Elliott Wilson

Danyel Smith