Dunkin’ Donuts Teams Up With Ice Spice
Dunkin’ Donuts debuted a new partnership this week with hip-hop star Ice Spice. Accompanied by a commercial starring both Ice Spice and Dunkin’ enthusiast, Ben Affleck, the Ice Spice MUNCHKINS Drink is now available.
What exactly is this elaborate-sounding creation? “The Ice Spice MUNCHKINS Drink blends its smooth, creamy Frozen Coffee with Pumpkin MUNCHKINS Donut Hole Treats, topped with whipped cream and caramel drizzle,” Dunkin’ Donuts explains in their press release.
The commercial officially debuted during the MTV VMA Awards on Wednesday evening. To produce this commercial, another partnership was forged. Affleck and the advertising arm of Actors Equity collaborated on this entertaining announcement that was also directed and produced by Affleck.
Ice Spice = A Dunkin’ Girl
“Collaborating with Dunkin’ and Ben Affleck on this spot was a dream. The drink has a fun twist, a little something in the name for my fans, too. I can’t wait for everyone to try it,” Ice Spice said, while describing her fandom.
Ice Spice has had quite an eventful year. Her single “Barbie World” with Nicki Minaj was hit on The Barbie Movie soundtrack. In July, she released her latest single, entitled “Deli.” Most recently, Ice Spice won the award for Best New Artist at the MTW VMA awards.
Starting on October 31, Ice Spice will embark on a North American arena tour in support of Doja Cat. It kicks off in San Francisco, however Ice Spice will first join in Miami on November 21. This will then run through December 13, concluding in Chicago.
In The Meantime, Grab an Ice Spice Munchkins Drink
The Ice Spice MUNCHKINS Drink is the first time the Massachusetts brand has combined some of its specialties into one tasty item. Joining this item on the Dunkin’ seasonal menu are some other pumpkin favorites. Dunkin’s fan-favorite Spice Latte, pumpkin MUNCHKINS, pumpkin donuts, and a pumpkin muffin are available now.
“Pumpkin spice season has gotten a bit predictable lately, so we sought help from our friends Ben Affleck and Ice Spice to create a new pumpkin obsession that only Dunkin’ can offer,” said Jill McVicar Nelson, Chief Marketing Officer at Dunkin’.
You can watch the full Dunkin’ Donuts commercial featuring Ice Spice (and Ben Affleck) here.
The Best Hip-Hop and R&B Songs of 2023 (So Far)
Original Publish Date: 7/3/23
Last Update: 11/30/23
——————————————————————————————————-
UPDATE: (July 31) Lil Uzi Vert was able to take the first No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 for hip-hop this year with Pink Tape.
——————————————————————————————————
Hip-Hop has been fighting to get a No. 1 hit single on the Billboard Hot 100 all year. We have not yet topped the charts this year – which is 50th anniversary of the genre. But that doesn’t mean that there have not been great songs this year.
Hip-Hop has had several features from Ice Spice, Nicki Minaj, J. Cole, this year. Ice Spice released her debut EP Like..? in January. It had one feature from fellow Bronx emcee Lil Tjay on “Gangsta Boo.” The six-track EP also contained “Princess Diana,” “Bikini Bottom,” “In Ha Mood,” “Actin a Smoochie,” and her breakout hit “Munch (Feelin’ U).” Nicki Minaj also hopped on “Princess Diana” with Ice Spice in April. The two linked up again to release “Barbie World” together in June for the Barbie film soundtrack.
As for Nicki, she’s released two solo songs this year “Red Ruby Da Sleeze” and “Last Time I Saw You” but she has stayed in the studio. Besides her feature on “Princess Diana,” she has also hopped on Kim Petras’ “Alone,” Sexyy Red’s “Poundtown Remix,” YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s “WTF,” and Machel Montano and Destra’s “Shake The Place.”
The latest has been her feature on Uzi’s “Endless Fashion,” and Young Thug’s “Money” with the late Juice WRLD.
J. Cole has since released “Procrastination (Broke)” and has hopped on Summer Walker’s “To Summer From Cole (audio hug)” from her Clear 2: Soft Life EP as well as Lil Durk’s “All My Life.”
R&B, however, has had a better chart record this year as SZA’s SOS hit “Kill Bill” stayed on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for 16 weeks. It beat Mary J. Blige’s “Be Without You” as the longest-running No. 1 single by a solo female artist prior to SZA’s “Kill Bill.”
Take a look at the best hip-hop and R&B songs that have been released this year so far:
"Put It On Da Floor Again" - Latto ft. Cardi B
"Area Codes" - Kali
Kali dropped “Area Codes” in March where she received her first top 10 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The rapper also scored her first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 when the song debuted at No. 54. The song interpolates the 2001 song of the same name by Ludacris featuring Nate Dogg.
"Favorite Song Remix" - Toosie ft. Khalid
Toosie brought Khalid in for the remix of “Favorite Song.” The record is found on his album NAUJOUR which was released back in June. Future also joined Toosie with another remake of the song titled “Favorite Song (Toxic Version).” Toosie earned his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs chart with “Favorite Song.”
"Lipstick Lover" - Janelle Monáe
"Kill Bill Remix" - SZA ft. Doja Cat
Doja Cat made her first appearance of 2023 with her feature on SZA’s SOS hit “Kill Bill Remix.” The original “Kill Bill” from SZA’s SOS made history by staying on top the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for 16 weeks. Mary J. Blige’s “Be WIthout You” was the longest-running No. 1 single by a solo female artist prior to SZA’s “Kill Bill.” The song title references Quentin Tarantino’s 2003 film, starring Uma Thurman of the same name.
"Dogtooth" - Tyler, The Creator
“Dogtooth” is from Tyler, The Creator’s CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST: The Estate Sale. The deluxe edition of the album arrived on March 27, 2023. The songs added to the project never got a chance “see the light of day” Tyler noted on
— T (@tylerthecreator) March 27, 2023?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter on the day of the release."Act Bad" - Diddy ft. City Girls and Fabulous
"Sittin On Top of the World" - Burna Boy ft. 21 Savage
Burna Boy enlisted 21 Savage for “Sitting On Top of the World” which was released in June. In the music video, the two are enjoying life’s pleasures as they go out and partying on a rooftop, taking cute pics in a photo booth, and literally performing “on top of the world” with some futuristic effects. This is the first time the two have collaborated on a project together.
"K-POP" - Travis Scott, Bad Bunny, The Weeknd
Travis Scott, Bad Bunny, and The Weeknd linked together for “K-POP.” The music video features all three artists switching from scenes at a soccer field, a club, and then a house party with breathtaking views. There are also cameos by Pharrell and SZA. This is the first time all three artists have worked on a song together.
"Paint The Town Red" - Doja Cat
“Paint The Town Red” is Doja Cat’s second single leading into her album Scarlet. The song debuted at number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100 but the singer got her first No. 1 in the U.K. with the track. “Paint The Town Red” follows Doja’s lead single “Attention” which was released in June.
"Thanks" - Burna Boy ft. J. Cole
Burna Boy and J. Cole linked up for “Thanks” off of the Afrobeat star’s album I Told Them… This is the first time the two artists have worked together on a song. This is not the only rapper the Nigerian artist has worked with on his latest album. Burna Boy also linked up with 21 Savage on “Sittin’ On Top of the World.”
"Turn Yo Clic Up" - Quavo ft. Future
Quavo enlisted Future for “Turn Yo Clic Up” off of his album Rocket Power. The album was released in July and pays tribute to his late nephew and Migos member Takeoff. Takeoff was shot and killed on Nov. 1, 2022 in Houston. This is the fourth time Quavo and Future have worked together. They have previously collabed on DJ Khaled’s “Iced Out My Arms” in 2017, Pop Smoke’s “Snitching” (2020), and Migos’ “Picasso” (2021).
"Good Good "- Usher ft. 21 Savage and Summer Walker
Usher teamed up with 21 Savage and Summer Walker for “Good Good.” The track is about leaving a relationship but still wanting for the other person to be okay at the end of the day. “I hate that we didn’t make it to forever/Probably ain’t gettin’ back together/But that don’t mean that I can’t wish you better/We ain’t good good, but we still good,” Usher sings in the chorus. This collaboration is the first time all three artists have worked together on a record.
"Supposed To Be Loved" - DJ Khaled
DJ Khaled joined forces with Lil Baby, Future, and Lil Uzi Vert for his new single “Supposed To Be Loved.” DJ Khaled has worked with both Lil Baby and Future in the past but this is the first time he has worked with Lil Uzi Vert.
With the announcement of the new record, he also told fans that he would be dropping his 14th studio album Til Next Time in the near future. “This ain’t goodbye…it’s TIL NEXT TIME. Next chapter. Next blessing. Next level. Onward. This is my biggest album. I feel it,” he said in the trailer.
"RIOT (Rowdy Pipe’n)" - A$AP Rocky
"There I Go" - Gucci Mane ft. J. Cole & Mike WiLL Made-It
J. Cole has been racking up his features this year as he joined Gucci Mane and superstar producer Mike WiLL Made-It on “There I Go.” In the song, both rappers talk about the luxuries they enjoy in life and how their careers have provided them this success. This is the first time the two have worked together. The song is expected to land on Gucci’s Breath of Fresh Air, which is set to arrive Oct. 13.
"Angel" - Halle Bailey
Halle Bailey made her solo debut in August with “Angel.” The song is an uplifting ode to Black womanhood and Halle hits it right on the mark with this single. “Black girl here, black girl with the black girl hair/
Took a little sunkiss just to look like this/ God sent, you’re an angel (angel),” she sings on the song. This is the singer’s first song without her sister Chlöe Bailey who started her solo career last year."Demons" - Doja Cat
“Demons” is the third single from Doja Cat’s Scarlet. In the music video, Doja is dressed as a demon and is terrorizing Christina Ricci. Ricci is best known for portraying Wednesday Adams in the 1991 cult classic The Addams Family. She performed the song for the first time at the VMAs along with “Attention,” and “Paint The Town Red.”
"Last Time I Saw You" - Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj dropped her second solo song of the year, “Last Time I Saw You.” Unlike most of her songs, Nicki raps over an R&B beat and becomes more vulnerable with her lyrics.
“Handwritten letter, you pеnned it/Them nights we wish never ended/Those rules that we wish we bended/Heartbreak that we never mended/Those messages we unsended,” she raps in the first verse.
She performed “Last Time I Saw You” at the 2023 VMAs where she was the host for the second year in a row.
"Bongos" - Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion
Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion are at it again with “Bongos.” The colorful music video came just right at the end of summer, where the two rappers are seen twerking on the beach while they take turn spitting playful bars. They performed together at the 2023 VMAs. It’s Megan’s first song since the the 2022 sentencing of Tory Lanez for the 2020 shooting.
"You" - Lola Brooke ft. Bryson Tiller
Lola Brooke enlisted Bryson Tiller for “You.” Lola Brooke, who hails from Brooklyn, sampled another Brooklyn emcee Foxy Brown. Lola used “Get Me Home” by Brown and R&B group Blackstreet. The track appeared on Brown’s 1996 debut album Ill Na Na. This also marks the first time Lola has worked with Bryson.
"Agora Hills" - Doja Cat
Doja Cat’s singles leading up to Scarlet already had us in a chokehold. And she’s done it again with “Agora Hills.” The artist uses her ability to both sing and rap over a soft dreamy beat which is represented in her cinematic music video for the record. It takes place in a teenage bedroom, which makes sense since the title of the song is a misspelling of a Los Angeles suburb Agoura Hills, where she grew up.
"The Secret Recipe" - Lil Yachty ft. J. Cole
"Luxury Life" - Busta Rhymes ft. Coi Leray
Busta Rhymes and Coi Leray just want the best in life, and they’re gonna get it by any means necessary. In the “Luxury Life” music video the two go back and forth rapping as they simultaneously rob a restaurant. The two match each other’s playful energy as at the end, the hip-hop legend tries to teach Coi some martial arts moves.
"Fan" - Offset
Offset taps in his inner Michael Jackson for his “Fan” video. The Atlanta rapper took inspiration from MJ’s iconic videos such as “Thriller” and “You Rock My World.” The song is a part of his rollout for his upcoming album Set It Off. He recently released “5 4 3 2 1,” “Code,” featuring Moneybagg Yo and “Jealousy,” featuring his wife Cardi B.
"Issa Party" - Latto ft. BabyDrill
Latto recruited fellow ATL native BabyDrill for her latest “Issa Party.” The song interlopes Waka Flocka Flame’s 2010 hit “Grove St. Party” (Waka Flocka is also from the ATL). Flocka responded to a tweet that suggested that he should sue Latto for the use of his song. “Flattery at [its] highest,” the rapper wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter. “Never understood why rob these youngsters for showing us respect plus Lotto from Clayton County.”
"Pretty Girl" - Ice Spice and Rema
Ice Spice and Rema joined forces for their first collaboration “Pretty Girl.” Rema also surprised fans by performing with Ice Spice during Saturday Night Live. It was both artists’ first time performing on the sketch comedy show.
"For All The Barbz" - Nicki Minaj
First Person Shooter - Drake ft. J. Cole
Fans have been waiting years for Drake and J. Cole to collab again. The dream came to fruition when the two linked up for “First Person Shooter” on Drake’s For All The Dogs. The song earned J. Cole his first chart-topper and Drake’s 13th. The Toronto rapper is now tied with Michael Jackson with the fourth most No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits from a male solo artist.
Rich Baby Daddy - Drake ft. Sexxy Red and SZA
Water - Tyla
Tyla dropped “Water” in July but she finally released the music video to accompany the viral song in October. The dance that goes along to “Water” caught the attention of TikTok, and from there, the song gained more popularity. The South African artist is gearing up for her debut album for sometime in November.
"Presha" - 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne
"Evil Ways" - Drake ft. J. Cole
First, it was “First Person Shooter,” and now the duo is coming back with a second collaboration on “Evil Ways.” “Evil Ways” is found on Drake’s For All The Dogs: Scary Hours Edition, a deluxe version of For All The Dogs, which dropped in October. Earlier this month, the pair also announced that they will be hitting the road together in 2024 on the It’s All A Blur Tour: Big As The What?
"Lovin On Me" - Jack Harlow
Besides his surprise album Jackman, Harlow has kept a low profile this year. “Lovin On Me” scored the Kentucky native his third No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. He previously had top charters with his Lil Nas X collab “Industry Baby” (2021) and his solo hit “First Class” (2022).
"Cobra "- Megan Thee Stallion
For her first solo song of the year, Megan Thee Stallion was not coming to play. The Houston Hottie released “Cobra” after taking a small step back from music and answered all of the questions fans wanted to know. One was that it was clear that she and ex-boyfriend Pardison Fontaine were no longer together after unfollowing one another, but in “Cobra,” she gave fans the alleged reason why they parted ways, which was due to an infidelity on his part. He denied the allegation and claimed that Megan also got her body done in “Thee Person.” All in all, Megan got a lot off her chest on “Cobra” and we can’t wait to hear more.
"Go To Hell" - Rick Ross, Meek Mill, Cool & Dre, BEAM
"You Broke My Heart" - Drake