American singer, songwriter and actress Keke Palmer isn’t one to stay quiet when something doesn’t sit well with her. Case in point is her lambasting of  Trey Songz after discovering he filmed her without her permission to use her likeness in his latest music video.

Palmer has been in the spotlight for a long time (she first came to attention in the early 2000s) and has been vocal about representation, sexuality, equality and self-empowerment (her song I Don’t Belong to You and it’s corresponding video in particular, capture that). Over the weekend, she looked to be starring in a new music video, though it was soon revealed that she had no idea she was even being recorded at the time.

In a series of tweets, followed by Instagram videos, the 23-year-old spoke about how she had declined to participate in the video clip for Trey Songz Pick Up The Phone. She spoke about how the singer then attempted to persuade her to participate by giving her food and alcohol before adding the weight of sexual intimidation in an attempt to get her to buckle under. Palmer went on to describe the situation, saying that she hid in a closet because she felt unsafe in her surroundings and that pointed out that even after she declined to be filmed, he disrespected her wishes by secretly filming her: “when you look someone in the face and they say “I understand. You don’t have to feel pressured to do the video” and they STILL put you in it, it is a violation.” The video was brought to her attention by a fan who had seen the clip.

This is preposterous. How am I in this video Trey? After you found me in a closet HIDING because I was so afraid of anymore conflict. Literally my last option was to hide because you all would not listen when I said I did not want to be in the video the FIRST time. Just cause you give someone food and alcohol and throw in a little sexual intimidation doesn’t mean they will buckle. Yet, you still disrespected me as a young women, whom you’ve known since she was TWELVE. YOU STILL, defied my wishes and in turn showed your lack of respect for a brand that took me fourteen years to build and put me in the video against my wishes. Come on bruh, I clearly said no and you said okay, yet I was being secretly filmed when you told me “let me just show you the idea”?? Wow. This is what I’m referring to in my previous post, this is the sexism and misogyny I refer to because if I was a dude, he wouldn’t have even tried me like this. Let this be a lesson to all, I’m not for the bullshit. I’m serious about my business and you will not use my likeness without MY permission. When you in front of a boss you treat them like one, like I treat YOU. NO MEANS NO!!!!!!! People have to listen to women and stop questioning them and their intelligence. Speak up, cause when you look someone in the face and they say “I understand. You don’t have to feel pressured to do the video” and they STILL put you in it, it is a violation. It would be great to be able to handle these things privately but why when they aren’t respected?

A photo posted by Laurennnn Palmer (@kekepalmer) on

While the video has since been taken down, Songz took to Twitter to respond with: “Babygirl buggin. Point blank period. Got my number, coulda called, saw the cameras and the lights, heard action.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfMKmuzaijA

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Imade: Billboard

Hangin’ for some new tunes to get you through the hump day blues? Fear not, for here’s your mid-week rap wrap courtesy of your loyal H&E editor.

Doomtree, Spill Me Up

This track has a sound that is just everything I love to an absolute tee – a heavy, industrial-leaning instrumental with a focus on a heavy bass and paranoid synths, all the while topped with clear verses with incredibly refined, clever lyrics. It’s the perfect blend of old and new. The track features production from Lazerbeak, with rhymes from Sims, Cecil Otter (who provides my favourite rhymes here) and P.O.S. According to Soundcloud, the entire collective are working on their own solo projects, so Doomtree have a lot to look forward to.

Logic, Flexicution

New Logic is always a good thing. Especially when it’s a song that he’s been teasing for so long. It’s a classic slice of braggadocio pie, with Logic showing off a menacing bravado – and for good reason too. His incredibly flow not only gives us reason to believe the hype, but makes for a serious banger. “Flexicution? This is what people said they wanted from the rap god.” Oh, and the female vocalist who comes in at the end? That’s his wife, Jess Andrea. Talk about a power couple.

https://youtu.be/M2NIMHVmGwk

Keke Palmer, Yellow Lights

Here’s a little R&B-pop intermission for you from famed actress and singer Keke Palmer. Keke’s electrifying voice is crystal clear and seductive as hell. Backed by a sparse, woozy beat, it’s the kind of sound that made me love Rihanna’s newest album as opposed to her last few – it’s raw, sensual, and only manufactured just enough that it’s a catchy pop banger – not something unlistenably synthetic. This is a track for a hip-slingin’ slow dance, horizontal or otherwise. She’s got a really clear natural talent and those vocal runs are absolute honey on the ears.

DJ Shadow ft. Run The Jewels, Nobody Speak (lyric video)

Alright so this isn’t new music, it is a new lyric video, but considering this song is easily in my top five tracks of 2016 I couldn’t just leave it unreported, now could I? DJ Shadow and RTJ both have albums coming out this year, and I have no doubt they’re both going to be among the greatest releases in a year already overflowing with musical ambrosia. This track absolutely slays. Every single layer – lyrics, beats, melodic instrumental layers, sampling, fucking everything. I can’t remember the last time I played a song so many times on repeat as I have with this one.

Hip-hop lyric videos can be a wondrous thing, and considering this track contains some of Mike and El’s funniest lyrics, including my personal favourite line about smoking snow cones with the entire cast of Peanuts, this colourful clip is one hell of a ride Not only does it satisfy the rap-loving word nerds, but this is a typographer’s wet dream.

It should also be noted that the track has been released on Conde Nast’s own Youtube opponent The Scene, not YouYube. Read our new feature here to find out whether or not the music industry is boycotting YouTube, and why.

Manu Crook$, Blowin’ Up ft. Miracle (Prod. DOPAMINE & Many Crook$)

For anyone who says they blankly just don’t like, or refuses to listen to hip-hop from Australia, and for anyone who just likes solid tunes and club-ready hip-hop. I got to catch both Crook$ and Miracle in the flesh a couple nights ago in Sydney and their slinky, trap-influenced beats had the crowd heaving. Not only is it crucial to understand and witness just how much the local landscape is expanding and refining, but this is just a damn fine track courtesy of Manu Crook$’s fresh rhymes and DOPAMINE’s production, as wicked as ever.

Image: Facebook / Keke Palmer