Hip Hop Week In Review: Travis Scott's "Astroworld" Arrives

HipHopDX – This week in Hip Hop, Travis Scott’s long-awaited album Astroworld was finally released. Also, a mysterious post appeared on Rich The Kid’s Instagram and lastly, Kendrick Lamar popped up at the same tattoo shop in Japan as Post Malone.

Travis Scott’s Astroworld Is Here

On Friday (August 3), Travis Scott released his third solo album Astroworld.

Its release was promoted with gold, oversized Scott heads popping up in various places, including Amoeba Music in Hollywood. When the cover art for Astroworld was released with the recognizable golden head, it all made sense.

After the cover art debuted, transgender model Amanda Lepore noticed she was removed from the final cut, which was shot by photographer David LaChappelle. This spurred accusations Scott being transphobic. However, he wasn’t the reason Lepore was removed. LaChappelle reps revealed Scott wasn’t even aware  the album cover’s original version.

Stream Travis Scott’s Astroworld here.

R.I.P. Rich The Kid?

Rich The Kid had all his fans worried when a cryptic post reading “R.I.P. Rich The Kid” appeared on his Instagram this week.

Apparently, it was the work hackers who gained control the “Plug Walk” rapper’s account and allegedly demanded $750,000 to return the account.

Read about Rich The Kid’s hacking incident here.

Kendrick Lamar & Post Malone Get Tattoos

What are the odds two Hip Hop stars end up at that same tattoo shop on their respective travels overseas? Kendrick Lamar and Post Malone both stopped by Three Tides Tattoo in Tokyo, Japan this week and exchanged pleasantries after running into each other.

Read more about Kendrick Lamar and Post Malone getting tattoos in Japan here.

DX Reviews

– Tre Capital — Hero

– Young Buck — 10 Plugs

– B.o.B. — NAGA

– N.O.R.E. — 5E

– YFN Lucci & Yung Bleu — Lucci Vandross

– Kool G Rap & 38 Spesh — Son Of G Rap

– Jaden Smith — SYRE: The Electric Album 

– Denzel Curry — TA13OO

– The Internet — Hive Mind

– Wiz Khalifa — Rolling Papers II

– Jay Park — Ask About Me

– Yung Bans — Yung Bans, Vol. 5

DXclusives: Black Star, Will Smith, Diggy Simmons & Masta Ace

6 Best Moments From Nas & Black Star’s Show That Resurrected ’90s Hip Hop Nostalgia

HipHopDX’s Kyle Eustice saw Nas and Black Star’s show out in Colorado and shared the six best moments from the event, including Mos Def’s performance “UMI Says.”

Experience the other six best moments from Nas and Black Star’s show here.

Not Up For Debate: Will Smith Has The Greatest Instagram Ever

Ever since Will Smith revved up his Instagram account, no other content creator has been able to compare. It’s obvious, he has the best Instagram ever.

Read how Will Smith came to dominate Instagram here.

Diggy Simmons Initially Shied Away From Rap Because Of His Famous Hip Hop Family

Diggy Simmons released his first mixtape in 2009 and explains his long musical hiatus in an exclusive interview with HipHopDX.

“I always could rap and always liked to rap, but I strayed away from it completely,” Diggy says. “I didn’t want people thinking I was doing this just because my family.”

Read the full interview with Diggy Simmons here.

Masta Ace Explains How His “SlaughtaHouse” LP Impacted Eminem

Masta Ace’s SlaughtaHouse holds a special spot in Eminem’s heart. Masta Ace explains to DX’s Kyle Eustice what SlaughtaHouse means to Em in an exclusive interview.

“He Eminem] told me that my album SlaughtaHouse was a very important album for him and his crew the guys,” Ace explains. “He was running with D-12. He said that’s the album they used to play all day driving around in a beat-up car. So, that album has a special place for him because the time, you know, simpler times.”

Read the full interview with Masta Ace here.