Kanye Reportedly Planning Concert in Italy for New Album

As of yesterday, Drake’s “IDGAF” ft. Yeat was the most streamed song from For All The Dogs. Which song do you think will debut #1? In other news today:

• Billboard Hot 100 📈 

• Discover new music with The Rap Index 🎵 

• Kanye plans Italy concert & trademarks “YEWS” 🇮🇹 

• Drake slams Joe Budden after FATD critique 🥩 

• Foolio shot for the third time, gives health update 🤕 

• Industry Insights 🔎 

The Billboard Hot 100

The above chart shows Billboard’s Hot 100 ranking for this week. The Hot 100 ranks songs based on a combination of streaming activity, radio airplay audience impressions, and sales data—all measured by Luminate.

Doja Cat and Gunna hold their Top 10 positions at #1 and #8, respectively. Jack Harlow’s collab with K-pop artist Jung Kook debuts at #5.

The Rap Index ft. Drake, J. Cole, Yeat, Earl Sweatshirt, ATL Jacob & More

The Rap Index is a way to follow and discover new music. Divided into 4 categories describing rap subgenres, songs are placed according to their style and sound—giving you a better idea of what songs will appeal to your musical taste. Only releases from the previous New Music Friday are included to help keep you up to date.

RapTV’s Ranking of NMF Songs Featured in the Rap Index

1. “First Person Shooter” by Drake, J. Cole (Listen on Apple Music & Spotify)

2. “Daylight” by Drake, Adonis Graham (Listen on Apple Music & Spotify)

3. “IDGAF” by Drake, Yeat (Listen on Apple Music & Spotify)

4. “What Would Pluto Do” by Drake (Listen on Apple Music & Spotify)

5. “Members Only” by Drake, Partynextdoor (Listen on Apple Music & Spotify)

6. “MF Problem” by ALT Jacob (Listen on Apple Music & Spotify)

7. "Sirius Blac” by Earl Sweatshirt, The Alchemist (Listen on Apple Music & Spotify)

8. “WOO” by Denzel Curry, PlayThatBoiZay, Chief Pound (Listen on Apple Music & Spotify)

Kanye Reportedly Planning Italy Concert & Files Trademark for “Yews”

Kanye’s love affair with Italy continues as the rapper is allegedly planning a concert for 80-100K people in Reggio Emilia. First, Travis Scott’s Circus Maximus performance in Rome, which Kanye performed at, and now this. Has Italy become the unofficial place for rappers to rebirth after being canceled in America? Here’s everything we know about the concert below.

Italian newspaper ReggiOnline first reported that workers had been tasked to construct a stage for an event on October 13, this Friday. They clarified that permits and authorizations from Italian officials had not been granted yet, and preparations didn’t mean the event was confirmed.

There’s speculation that the date could be pushed back to October 20, the following Friday, and the concert will take place at the RCF Arena, but no official announcement has been made. ReggiOnline’s initial article showed photos of trucks and equipment arriving at the arena for set-up.

The more striking similarity between Travis and Kanye’s concerts is their virality based on a “will it or won’t it happen” anxiety. They’re both masters of less information breeds more speculation, which ultimately builds hype.

TMZ also reported that the LLC Ox Paha Inc, whose address is listed as Kanye’s office on Melrose Ave, filed a trademark request for the word “YEWS.”

The docs reveal that “YEWS” may be used for financial services, real estate, clothing, music, and more. It’s unclear whether Kanye filed the trademark, but its close association with the word “Jews” can be controversial given Kanye’s antisemitic remarks in the past.

Drake Slams Joe Budden After ‘FATD’ Review

What For All The Dogs lacked in explicit disses and shots, Drake makes up for in social media feuds. The category is still media personalities after recently dissing Charlamagne, but his new target is Joe Budden.

“I own a 767…he owns a modest house in the 973 and flies first class on special occasions,” is just one of the shots Drake fired. Their beef dates back to 2016, when Budden shared his opinion on Drake’s Views album, and it was Budden’s take on FATD that made things spicy again.

Budden essentially said that Drake is too old to be hanging out with streamers like Kai Cenat or dating 25-year-old girls, and it shows in his music. Drake clapped back by saying Budden failed at his career as a rapper and could only make money by criticizing people who succeeded where he couldn’t.

“This is a man projecting his own self-hate and the fact that I did and continue to do everything he wanted to do for himself,” Drake wrote. The whole exchange can be reviewed below.

Many industry figures, from Birdman and Charlamagne to Budden’s co-host, have weighed in with more opinions, which frankly makes the whole exchange seem more childish. The eight years of back and forth between the two is hilariously recapped in a trailer for Drake vs. Budden, soundtracked by Drake’s “No Friends In The Industry.”

The most thought-provoking comment from the exchange is Drake’s plea for young artists not to take these media opinions seriously. It can be unnecessarily demoralizing to have a Budden-like figure make a mockery of your music online, and for that, Drake makes a good point.

Rapper Foolio Gives Health Update From Hospital After Shooting

News broke on Saturday (October 7) that Julio Foolio had been shot (again) in Jacksonville, Florida. The Dodge Challenger he’d been driving was riddled with bullet holes, and he was transported to a nearby hospital with “severe injuries.” Find out more below.

A gruesome photo of his foot, after being shot, started to circulate online, but he’s since provided an update that he’s okay after undergoing surgery. He reportedly isn't cooperating with law enforcement, and the Sheriff’s Office said it appears the suspect(s) were waiting to ambush him.

The “Voodo” rapper, who now “can’t walk a mile in” his own shoes, has been the target of three shootings. In November 2021, he was shot getting out of his vehicle in Jacksonville and later went live on IG to address the situation.

“I shot back in self-defense,” he said on IG live. “My gun is registered, if I did something illegal, the police would put me in jail. A n***a did miss 100 shots, though. They must have thought I was lackin’ for sure.”

In 2020, he was shot while traveling in Houston, Texas, and similarly addressed it on social media, saying opps took shots but failed in killing him. This time, he shared an update using the lyrics of Ksoo’s “Been Dead” song, shown here.

• Shoreline Mafia reunites at OhGeesy’s show in Los Angeles. The rapper brought out Fenix Flexin, whose departure is what initially ended the group in 2020.

• NLE Choppa hit with a lawsuit for alleged copyright infringement over 2020’s “Who TF In My Trap.” In a new complaint, West Coast rapper Rodney-O alleged that the song copies the 1987 track “Everlasting Bass.”

• Kid Cudi reveals he’s launching a new brand with Human Made founder NIGO, titled WZRD CWBY. Cudi teased a T-shirt with a cartoon graphic alongside the announcement and said it’s “coming soon.”

Like sports? 🏀 🏈 Get up-to-date analysis and unique insight that’s actually interesting to read with the Playmaker Newsletter.