The last Creative Weekly for the month of July features news stories from Kanye West, Biz Markie, and Drake.
Kanye West is returning to Mercedes Benz stadium for another “Donda” album release event, Biz Markie’s life to be celebrated this Monday and Drake announces ‘Certified Lover Boy’ is finished. Dig in.
Kanye West Announces Second ‘Donda’ Listening Event
Kanye West has announced that he will be hosting another listening event for his upcoming album, Donda in Atalanta on August 5.
The event will once again take place at the Mercedes-Benz arena, where Ye had been living in for the past two weeks.
Kanye West and his team are reportedly brainstorming ideas to make the second event different. CAA and Live Nation are also applying pressure because they don’t think it will be as easy to sell tickets if it’s a repeat of the first experience. Some possible ideas include a new stage design or musical arrangement.
Donda was originally slated to arrive last week, but was pushed back to August 6 for unknown reasons. During last week’s sold-out listening event, Ye debuted tracks from the album including songs featuring Lil Baby, Lil Durk, Pusha T, Travis Scott, and Roddy Ricch, as well as a surprise collaboration with JAY-Z.
The DONDA livestream was a huge hit, breaking the Apple Music record with 3.3 million viewers.
Tickets are priced between $30 and $75 and go on sale Monday, Aug. 2 at 10 a.m. ET.
Biz Markie’s Celebration Of Life Date Fixed
The late Biz Markie’s legacy will be honored by his friends and family at a special celebration of life on Monday in New York.
Sources tell TMZ, civil rights activist Al Sharpton will deliver the eulogy and celebs like Fat Joe, LL Cool J, Papoose, Big Daddy Kane, Al B. Sure! and Leland Robinson will be front and center to pay their respects to the trailblazing rapper.
Biz will reportedly have an open casket and will be dressed in a custom outfit designed by Harlem fashion icon Dapper Dan. Biz was one of Dapper Dan’s biggest supporters when their careers were both getting off the ground.
There’s a private family viewing set for Monday from 11 AM to 1 PM ET and the funeral service is scheduled to begin at 1:30 PM and run until 3:30 PM.
TMZ and BET will be live streaming the celebration of life starting at 2 PM.
Biz Markie died earlier this month following a series of complications from diabetes.
Drake Says His New Album Is Finished
It’s almost lover boy season. During a recent appearance on this week’s Fry Yiy Friday, Drake updated listeners on the progress of his long-awaited album “Certified Lover Boy.”
“Album’s ready, happy birthday Noel. More life, he said. “Album’s cooked, looking forward to delivering it to you. I hope everybody in the world is blessed, I hope everybody has their drinks, everyone’s locked in with good vibes and great energy for this weekend.”
He continued “Certified Lover Boy on the way and that’s for anyone in the way.”
Could Drake be possibly planning on releasing CLB on the same day as Kanye West’s Donda? If he does that would be crazy and special at the same time because Nas will also be releasing his new album King’s Disease II on the same day.
Drake originally planned to release “Certified Lover Boy” in January, before deciding to postpone it indefinitely so as to have enough time to recover from his surgery.
“I was planning to release my album this month,” he wrote on Instagram, “but between surgery and rehab my energy has been dedicated to recovery.
“I’m blessed to be back on my feet, feeling great and focused on the album,” he continued, “but CLB won’t be dropping in January.”
