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Ryan Tedder’s Studio Review: Writing Three Songs From Scratch

January 16, 2023

Ryan Tedder is a highly accomplished and sought-after music producer and songwriter. He is known for his work with a wide range of artists including: Adele, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and OneRepublic...

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Quentin Miller only got paid $30,000 for writing 6 Drake songs.

January 6, 2022

Drake's ghostwriter controversy has been a topic of conversation since the rapper's feud with Meek Mill in 2015. Quentin Miller, a lesser-known rapper from Atlanta, was named as the ghostwriter....

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Timbaland’s Beatmaking Masterclass Review: A Class on Feeling the Flow

December 28, 2022

Many artists are using their personal brand and influence to educate artists, from beginners to fellow professionals. Timbaland has partnered with Masterclass to teach musicians how to make unique...

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Rina Sawyama -- The Voice of a Genre-Spanning Pop Star

December 7, 2022

Rina Sawayama has burst into the consciousness of queer music listeners in recent years. My first time listening to her work was Cherry, a track that is bubbly ...

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YouTube Announces New “Creator Music” Platform

October 4, 2022

In the wake of Tiktok’s rapid expansion and growing dominance in the short-form video market, YouTube has felt the pressure to adapt to keep up with the shifting demands of its audience...

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Deep Dive: How Conan Gray Writes His Songs

October 5, 2022

Conan Gray is an American YouTuber turned singer-songwriter, most well-known for his songs about heartbreak and unrequited love. Throughout his career, Conan has written songs like “Crush Culture”...

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Phoebe Bridgers: A Deep Dive into Songwriting

October 17, 2022

Phoebe Bridgers is an American songwriter, singer, and producer who has, in recent years, gained mainstream recognition with the release of her sophomore album “Punisher” in 2020...

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How Steve Lacy Makes the Most with Less

October 18, 2022

Steve Lacy is a singer, songwriter, record producer, and living proof that you don’t need the most advanced or high-tech studio equipment to create music that listeners will love...

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Has the Pandemic Changed the World of Live Music?

August 31, 2022

For the last two years, there has been something missing in the lives of music lovers around the world—live music. The advent of a global pandemic meant the absence of concerts, festivals........

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Like the Early Days of Hip-Hop: The Future of Blockchain in the Music Industry

August 19, 2022

One of the biggest questions many spaces face today is how blockchain technology may overhaul industry norms, and the music industry is no exception. In particular...

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Snapchat Announces a $100,000 Monthly Grant for Artists

August 19, 2022

Snapchat has recently announced Snapchat Sounds Creator Fund, a monthly grant program of up to $100,000 awarded to independent artists distributing music on the platform...

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TikTok Plans to Introduce a New Music Streaming App

August 15, 2022

Over the past few years, TikTok’s popularity has significantly increased resulting in 1 billion global daily users by early 2022. The app has also become extremely influential in the current music....

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Anticipating Lil Durk's Deep Thoughts: A Deep Dive into His Upcoming Album

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The Chicago rapper Lil Durk is out with his ninth studio album Deep Thoughts on 22nd November 2024. This album is a follow-up to his album Almost Healed (2023) and will have no shortage of eager listeners and critics. 

Album Announcement and Singles  

On October 3, 2024, Deep Thoughts was announced with Lil Durk posting the album title, release date and artwork to Instagram. On the cover, a beautiful black-and-white picture of Durk sailing on the ocean surface above a crescent moon was placed for deep thought and contemplation. 

To hype up, Durk dropped two singles from the album, "Turn Up a Notch" on 25 September 2024, and "Monitoring Me" on 4 October 2024. Both are his trademark songwriting blend of hooks and dirty narratives. Turn Up a Notch (with its guitar-driven, haunting beat courtesy of Southside and Smart Sertified) and Monitoring Me (with its confident lyrics over threatening, piano-backed production). 

Tracklist and Collaborations  

Though not yet announced, Deep Thoughts’ entire track list should include the above singles. Fans also hope Durk will make another effort with Drake since he’s shown us a track by streamer Adin Ross. 

Legal Challenges  

Until Late October 2024, when Lil Durk hit the legal stage after he was arrested in Florida on murder-for-hire charges. He is in jail on bond at Broward County Jail. This has left questions on what effect it might have on the album’s release and promotion. 

Conclusion  

Even after recent legal troubles, Deep Thoughts is still one of the most awaited hip-hop albums of 2024. Lil Durk's brand of raw emotion and real narrative is still taking hold of listeners and the album is set to only add to his standing in rap. Fans are waiting for the album to arrive in time, on November 22, 2024, so that they can witness Durk’s newest musical venture.