As the vibrant week in music draws to a close, Hypebeast meticulously curates a comprehensive digest of the most compelling and notable developments across the global soundscape. This essential weekly roundup encompasses groundbreaking new music releases, electrifying live performances, coveted merchandise drops, and pivotal fashion and footwear collaborations that continue to shape the cultural zeitgeist.
A significant highlight this week was the official launch of Project 3, the ambitious global creative agency spearheaded by the influential duo Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free’s pgLang. Drawing its name from the fundamental three-part structure of a story – beginning, middle, and end – Project 3 Agency embodies the core “Project Language” ethos, aiming to significantly expand creative resources for both established corporate entities and burgeoning independent businesses within the pgLang ecosystem. Their comprehensive service offerings span creative direction, meticulous brand design, strategic planning, captivating content creation, and meticulous event planning and production services.
In a fascinating cross-industry collaboration, global music sensation Bad Bunny teamed up with luxury automotive giant Mercedes-AMG and sportswear icon adidas Originals. This unprecedented trio is poised to ignite the motorsport scene in Puerto Rico, with a highly anticipated demo run of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS’ F1 car across the iconic Puente Dos Hermanos on August 2. This collaboration seamlessly merges high fashion, elite performance, and popular culture, marking a truly unique moment.
After years of anticipation, Chance the Rapper finally confirmed the official release date for his long-awaited seventh longform studio LP, now simply titled “Star Line.” Originally teased in the spring of 2022 as the “Star Line Gallery,” this monumental project is set to drop on August 15. Fans have been eagerly awaiting this release, with “Tree,” featuring the distinctive talents of Lil Wayne and Smino, being the only confirmed track revealed thus far, building immense anticipation for the full album.
Pop superstar Justin Bieber has emphatically re-entered the fashion arena, dedicating his focus to perfecting his game through his new label, SKYLRK, following the release of “SWAG.” His latest strategic move appears to be a bold foray into the athletic footwear space, as he recently offered a tantalizing preview on his Instagram page of two innovative, cleat-like sneakers presented in striking pastel pink and pristine all-white colorways. These designs suggest a potential blend of high fashion with sports functionality.
Fashion continues to play a pivotal role in the music world, exemplified by Kendrick Lamar’s striking custom looks during his Grand National Tour. This week, Lamar showcased yet another bespoke creation from renowned designer Martine Rose – a distinctive black leather jacket adorned with a prominent patch featuring a hand of face cards. This particular piece echoes a similar custom Martine Rose ensemble he famously donned for his Super Bowl Halftime performance, underscoring his consistent and impactful fashion choices.
Adding depth to the week’s music narrative, Tyler, The Creator engaged in a raw, hour-and-a-half-long interview on Hot 97, just before concluding his extensive CHROMAKOPIA tour. During the candid discussion, the influential rapper delved into various compelling topics, including his collaborative process with Clipse on the track “POV,” the intriguing backstory behind “Don’t Tap The Glass” – originally envisioned as his duo name with A$AP Rocky – and his memorable presence at Kendrick Lamar’s “Pop Out Los Angeles” show, offering rare insights into his creative world.
The sneaker world also saw significant movement, with Lil Yachty teasing a vibrant new iteration of the highly sought-after Cactus Plant Flea Market x Nike Swamp Sponge Dunk. Shared across his social media platforms, Boat provided an initial glimpse at an array of fresh colorways, each boasting a lively palette complemented by diverse textures including mesh, corduroy, and fluffy hair, promising a unique aesthetic. Simultaneously, 2hollis captivated audiences with the official “Flash” music video, lifted from his album “star,” a visually arresting piece directed by Noah Dillon, characterized by its intense strobe lights and dynamic effects.
Rounding out the week’s notable multimedia expansions, Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist released an “Alfredo 2” video game, a week after the highly acclaimed album’s launch. This new interactive component joins the existing fashion collaborations and a short Tokyo crime saga film, making the game freely accessible online for fans to explore. Furthermore, during her London “Hit Me Hard And Soft” shows, Billie Eilish discreetly previewed a potential new collaboration with Air Jordan 4s, hinting at an exciting forthcoming release in the popular sneaker line, details of which remain eagerly anticipated.
