Skip to content

Straight Bars: music and culture

Eminem performing at the 2014 Concert for Valor in Washington, D.C.; this file photo is unrelated to the campaign video.

MUSIC & RAP

Eminem’s “Not Afraid” appears in El-Sayed’s Election Day video

Complex says a Slim Shady representative told the outlet the campaign had made no outreach about using the track; the report does not establish whether another licensing route was used.

2 Chainz performs with a microphone in Orange County in 2013.

GOSSIP

2 Chainz apologizes after Keith Lee restaurant debate

He says the two spoke after their Den of Kings conversation about celebrity perks and restaurant reviews.

Usher speaks during a Sister Circle TV interview in 2020.

MUSIC & RAP

Usher teases a remix of Drake and Loe Shimmy’s “I’m Spent”

Complex reports he previewed a new take on Instagram Live, but no official release date has been announced.

Release calendar

FRESH artwork uses a collage of Lil Baby childhood and current portraits, with a Parental Advisory label.

Lil Baby

FRESH

Upcoming · Album · Nov 6

Save date Details

Video artwork: Skepta feat. Suggs and Chase & Status - Innocent Smile

Skepta

The Fork and Knife

Upcoming · Album · Nov 6

Save date Details

Statik Selektah’s Expensive Taste album artwork: a decorative plate on a red table surrounded by dice, cards and jewelry.

Statik Selektah

Expensive Taste

Upcoming · Album · Nov 6

Save date Details

Black-and-white portrait of Jack Harlow wearing glasses and a white T-shirt, with a Parental Advisory label in the lower-right corner.

Jack Harlow

Sweet Action II

Upcoming · EP · Nov 6

Save date Details

Original video cover: 2hollis - Sex

2hollis

Pirouette

Upcoming · Album · Nov 11

Save date Details

Black-and-white Playaz Only Live Once artwork shows 2 Chainz in sunglasses, the album title and a large numeral 2.

2 Chainz

Playaz Only Live Once

Upcoming · Album · Dec 4

Save date Details

A hand-painted cityscape of sketched towers and rooftops in pale blue, gray, pink, black and yellow.

fats'e

RIB VAULTS

Out now · Album · Nov 4

TREASURE

SHOCK

Out now · Single · Nov 2

Four repeated close-up portraits on dark cover artwork for “LITE (remix).”

BigXthaPlug, Lil Wayne & Belly Gang Kushington

LITE (remix)

Out now · Single · Nov 1

Snoop Dogg & Kurupt

The Hollow

Out now · Album · Oct 31

Hand-drawn EVILSLIME 2 artwork features ghostlike figures and a parental advisory label.

evilgiane & Slimesito

EVILSLIME 2

Out now · Album · Oct 30

BKTHERULA wears a jeweled crown and feathered coat against a purple backdrop on the N5ON cover.

BKTHERULA

N5ON

Out now · Album · Oct 30

Kaliii appears in a white look against a hot-pink background on the Wit 3 iii’s cover.

Kaliii

Wit 3 iii’s

Out now · EP · Oct 30

Hand-drawn skeleton sits among pumpkins and orange vines on the Virginia Creeper cover.

Nettspend

Virginia Creeper - EP

Out now · EP · Oct 30

Official GTA VI: The Album artwork with Lucia and Jason beside a car at sunset

GTA 6 · Music

Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album

9 singles out now · 34 tracks arrive November 19, 2026

Six radio stations revealed · Music and podcasts on foot

Listen to the singles

Independent coverage by Straight Bars. Not affiliated with Rockstar Games or Atlantic Records. Artwork: Rockstar Games / Take-Two Interactive (new tab)

Latest

Kool DJ Red Alert at Club 595 in Atlanta in 2007.

MUSIC & RAP

Kool DJ Red Alert sets his final radio show for Nov. 30

Ja Rule speaks onstage at Web Summit in 2016.

GOSSIP

Ja Rule says Alicia Keys’ Clive Davis tribute changed how he views slowing down

Chance the Rapper performs with a microphone at Stir Cove in October 2026.

MUSIC & RAP

Chance the Rapper’s SocialWorks opens its ninth Warmest Winter drive

File photo: Eminem performs at the Concert for Valor in 2014, not in footage from “Heal My Faith.”

INDUSTRY

Kid Rock says AI made the choir on Eminem collab “Heal My Faith”

MUSIC & RAP

TREASURE connects “SHOCK” to 1TYM’s “Hot” by interpolation

Black-and-white portrait of Jack Harlow wearing glasses and a white T-shirt, with a Parental Advisory label in the lower-right corner.

MUSIC & RAP

Jack Harlow’s “Sweet Action II” set for Nov. 6 with Babyface

Gossip

For the group chat

2 Chainz performs with a microphone in Orange County in 2013.

2 Chainz & Keith Lee

2 Chainz apologizes after Keith Lee restaurant debate

Complex · November 3, 2026

Ja Rule speaks onstage at Web Summit in 2016.

Ja Rule

Ja Rule says Alicia Keys’ Clive Davis tribute changed how he views slowing down

AllHipHop · November 3, 2026; Jerusalem Post interview · November 2, 2026

2 Chainz performs with a microphone in Orange County in 2013.

Keith Lee & 2 Chainz

Keith Lee and 2 Chainz disagree on what restaurant reviews should rate

Complex · November 2, 2026

Straight Beat · samples, beatmakers & DJ flips

Hear the craft.

Open Straight Beat

On our radar

Black-and-white portrait of Jack Harlow wearing glasses and a white T-shirt, with a Parental Advisory label in the lower-right corner.

Jack Harlow & Babyface

Jack Harlow’s “Sweet Action II” set for Nov. 6 with Babyface

2 Chainz performs with a microphone in Orange County in 2013.

Keith Lee & 2 Chainz

Keith Lee and 2 Chainz disagree on what restaurant reviews should rate

TREASURE

TREASURE connects “SHOCK” to 1TYM’s “Hot” by interpolation

LATINX

Rap, reggaetón & the connections between.

Explore Latin music

Official video cover: Ryan Castro - LA SAPIÓ (Video Oficial)

Ryan Castro

Ryan Castro’s “La Sapió” previews his next album

Wisin performs with a microphone at a concert in 2008.

Wisin

Wisin brings his upcoming La Base releases to Sony Music Latin

Four members of Grupo Menos É Mais appear in front of a concert crowd on the Pra Chegar Cantando cover.

Grupo Menos É Mais

Menos É Mais close Pra Chegar Cantando with five medleys

Explore

Music & Rap

Eminem’s “Not Afraid” appears in El-Sayed’s Election Day video

fats’e releases 17-track fifth solo album “RIB VAULTS”

Pop Culture

2 Chainz apologizes after Keith Lee restaurant debate

Ja Rule says Alicia Keys’ Clive Davis tribute changed how he views slowing down

Industry

Kid Rock says AI made the choir on Eminem collab “Heal My Faith”

Timbaland’s lawyer alleges payment discrepancies in manager dispute

Rap Guides

How to build a rap verse that goes somewhere

How rappers connect their verses on the same track

PRESS PLAY.

File photo: GloRilla smiling during a 2023 HOTSPOTATL YouTube interview, holding a microphone.

Kirk Franklin & GloRilla

Original video cover: BigXthaPlug feat. Belly Gang Kushington - LITE (Official Music Video) | NEW ALBUM OCT 30

BigXthaPlug

Looze Cannon appears beside another person on the title thumbnail for his TikTok MJ Parody Live episode.

Looze Cannon

Official video artwork for Yung Miami’s “2008,” a track from Watch Dis.

Yung Miami

Pooh Shiesty raises a diamond pendant in the official video for FDO.

Pooh Shiesty

Ovrkast., Samara Cyn and MAVI in an outdoor scene from the official KNOCK video.

Ovrkast. says working on Drake’s Iceman helped him see his impact

Official video cover for Anderson .Paak and Cordae’s “A Good Day.”

Anderson .Paak & Cordae

BloodHound Q50 gestures toward the camera in a frame from his official Hobby video.

BloodHound Q50