For nearly 30 years, much of Los Angeles rap has been shaped by the same hand. Listing regional stars who’ve worked with Dr. Dre — Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Warren G, Nate Dogg, 2Pac, Kurupt, Xzibit, The Game, Kendrick Lamar — essentially serves as the CliffsNotes for the city’s rap history from 1987 onward. The endorsement of the producer-rapper turned tech billionaire still holds so much weight that nascent artists such as King Mez and Anderson .Paak gained national notoriety after appearing on Dre’s 2015 album, Compton. Read more…

While performing as the headliner for Spotify House’s Monday SXSW event, Miguel surprised the audience with a cover of Rihanna’s “Kiss It Better.” However, this one wasn’t quite as slick as a studio session — the ‘Wildheart’ singer needed just a little bit of help from his phone for the effort. Check out some clips of the performance HERE with Hypetrak. Enjoy!

At 22, Tinashe has already released four mixtapes of dreamy R&B, some of it self-produced and nearly all of it recorded in her bedroom; one critically acclaimed album, 2014’s ‘Aquarius’ and another, Joyride,’ on the way. But the lithe young woman with the perfect pout and keen eyes still lives at home, something interviewers like to joke about. What about boys? Where do you smoke?—that sort of thing. Read more…

Last night at Bardot in Hollywood, Los Angeles, Miguel became the latest musician to cover one of the classics from David Bowie. Check it out above and make you listen to his new project ‘Wildheart’ if you already haven’t. Enjoy!

Three years ago this 20-year-old singer was living couch to couch. Now she’s a major label’s brightest hope, learning how to lead while taking care of herself. Inside, Kehlani’s place looks like any typical 20-year-old’s starter home. There’s a small sectional couch and no TV; empty Hennessy bottles decorate the top of the kitchen cabinets. A bag from a trip to the Louis Vuitton store sits in the corner like furniture, proud and out of place. Read more…

In continuation with her #TuneInTuesdays series, Candice is returns with new material in tow. This time, an official cover video to NE-YO’s song “Everybody Loves”–from his most recent album, Non-Fiction. On the song, Candice croons on about the users in the world who only seek friendship when it’s convenient for them, or it benefits them. The video shows the antithesis of that, with it’s deliberate display of Candice’s nonchalant and carefree demeanor, as she records the song, while simply enjoying life. 

Without blinking, Kendrick Lamar took on everyone from Drake to J. Cole to A$AP Rocky with his gauntlet-throwing verse on Big Sean’s “Control.” But that was in 2013 — and on wax. When the Compton MC spoke with Gavin Edwards for Billboard’s latest cover story, he wasn’t looking to knock any other rappers in casual conversation. Even Iggy Azalea — who has become a popular punching bag for Azealia Banks, J. Cole and Twitter in general — gets a pass from K. Dot.[more…]

“She’s doing her thing,” Lamar tells Billboard. “Let her. People have to go through trials and tribulations to get where they at. Do your thing, continue to rock it, because obviously God wants you here.”