{{short description|American hip hop music website}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2016}} {{Infobox website | name = 2DopeBoyz | logo = 2DOPEBOYZ Logo.svg | logo_size = 220 | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | screenshot = | screenshot_size = | screenshot_alt = | caption = | url = {{URL|2dopeboyz.com}} | commercial = Yes | type = Music website | registration = Optional | language = English | num_users = | content_license = | owners = Meka Udoh, Joel Zela | editor = | launch_date = {{start date and age|2007|||df=yes}} | revenue = | current_status = Online | footnotes = }}
'''''2DopeBoyz''''' is an online hip hop music review, news and criticism website launched in 2007 by Meka Udoh and Joel "Shake" Zela, who were former editors at HipHopDX.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.blackenterprise.com/technology/black-blogger-month-2dopeboyz/|title=Black Blogger Month: 2DopeBoyz, Business Never Personal|work=Black Enterprise|last=Rhett|first=Starrenn|date=16 May 2011|accessdate=14 January 2016|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304105630/http://www.blackenterprise.com/technology/black-blogger-month-2dopeboyz/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://hiphopdx.com/interviews/id.2551/title.dx15-meka-recalls-creating-2dopeboyz-com-beginning-of-blog-era|title=#DX15: Meka Recalls Creating 2DopeBoyz.com, Beginning Of "Blog Era"|work=HipHopDX|last=Hunte|first=Justin|date=4 September 2014|accessdate=14 January 2016|archive-date=July 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729070858/http://hiphopdx.com/interviews/id.2551/title.dx15-meka-recalls-creating-2dopeboyz-com-beginning-of-blog-era|url-status=live}}</ref> The website played a central role in hip hop's blog era of the mid-2000s and early 2010s, a period of growth for non-mainstream outlets as music media transitioned from primarily print and radio-based to online outlets and social media.<ref name=DJBooth>{{cite web|url=https://djbooth.net/features/2018-04-25-blog-era-raised-me-eulogy|title=A Eulogy for the Blog Era That Raised Me|first=Yoh|last=Phillips|work=DJBooth|date=April 25, 2018|access-date=November 15, 2021|archive-date=November 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115210434/https://djbooth.net/features/2018-04-25-blog-era-raised-me-eulogy|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Complex2>{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/pigeons-and-planes/2020/08/music-blogs|title=The Blog Era Was Perfectly Imperfect|first=Tim|last=Larew|work=Pigeons & Planes|date=August 28, 2020|access-date=November 15, 2021|archive-date=November 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115210434/https://www.complex.com/pigeons-and-planes/2020/08/music-blogs|url-status=live}}</ref> 2DOPEBOYZ and other blogs like it helped promote unsigned and unknown rappers to notoriety, launching the careers of many of the star artists of the period.<ref name=Complex>{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2016/03/how-the-new-music-cartel-redefined-the-music-industry|title=How the New Music Cartel Redefined the Music Industry|first=David|last=Drake|work=Complex|date=March 9, 2016|access-date=November 15, 2021|archive-date=November 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115210434/https://www.complex.com/music/2016/03/how-the-new-music-cartel-redefined-the-music-industry|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Mic>{{cite web|url=https://www.mic.com/p/on-the-off-season-j-cole-proves-hes-about-growth-not-just-being-one-of-the-greats-79175067|title=On 'The Off-Season,' J Cole proves he's about growth, not just being one of the greats|first=Paul|last=Thompson|work=Mic|date=May 19, 2021|access-date=November 15, 2021|archive-date=November 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115210436/https://www.mic.com/p/on-the-off-season-j-cole-proves-hes-about-growth-not-just-being-one-of-the-greats-79175067|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=DJBooth />
==History== Udoh and Zela started the blog as a hobby with a focus on the West Coast.<ref name=Complex /> In 2008, 2DopeBoyz joined other blogs including OnSMASH, Miss Info's eponymous blog, and Nah Right to form the New Music Cartel, a loose professional collective created to help the defining blogs of Hip Hop's blog era compete with larger print, radio, and technology companies.<ref name=Complex /><ref name=DJBooth2>{{cite web|url=https://djbooth.net/features/2019-09-30-three-strains-of-internet-rap-lil-nas-x-teejayx6-jpegmafia|title=A Guide to the 3 Strains of "Internet Rap"|first=Dylan|last=Green|date=September 30, 2019|access-date=November 15, 2021|work=DJBooth|archive-date=November 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115210435/https://djbooth.net/features/2019-09-30-three-strains-of-internet-rap-lil-nas-x-teejayx6-jpegmafia|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2012, 2DopeBoyz was nominated in the "Best Hip Hop Online Site" category at the 2012 Bet Hip Hop Awards.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://2dopeboyz.com/2012/09/13/2dopeboyz-nominated-for-best-hip-hop-online-site-on-2012-bet-hip-hop-awards/|title=2DopeBoyz Nominated for "Best Hip Hop Online Site" on BET Hip Hop Awards|work=2DOPEBOYZ|date=13 September 2012|accessdate=14 January 2016|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304105831/http://2dopeboyz.com/2012/09/13/2dopeboyz-nominated-for-best-hip-hop-online-site-on-2012-bet-hip-hop-awards/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In June 2017, 2DopeBoyz was one of several music websites and blogs who had their Twitter accounts suspended over copyright claims from major labels like Viacom and Atlantic Records.<ref name=Verge>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/27/15880232/the-fader-pigsandplans-suspended-twitter|title=Twitter suspends accounts of The Fader and other popular music sites|first=Kaitlyn|last=Tiffany|date=June 27, 2017|access-date=November 15, 2021|work=The Verge|archive-date=November 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115210434/https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/27/15880232/the-fader-pigsandplans-suspended-twitter|url-status=live}}</ref>
As part of Jay Z's ''4:44'' album rollout, cryptic ads featuring the album name on a peach-colored background were bought on sites including 2DopeBoyz, ''Complex'', and The Undefeated. The ads did not link to anything, but ''Spin'' reported the image's source code included reference to Jay Z's music streaming website Tidal.<ref name=Refinery>{{cite web|url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/jay-z-new-album-444-ad-campaign|title=This Is Why Everyone Thinks Jay Z Is Dropping An Album Today|first=Christopher|last=Luu|work=Refinery29|date=June 6, 2017|access-date=November 15, 2021|archive-date=November 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115210435/https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/jay-z-new-album-444-ad-campaign|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Spin>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2017/06/tidal-444-project-teaser/|title=What Are These Mysterious '4:44' Tidal Ads Promoting?|first=Andy|last=Cush|date=June 6, 2017|work=Spin|access-date=November 15, 2021|archive-date=November 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115210642/https://www.spin.com/2017/06/tidal-444-project-teaser/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2018, when Zela tweeted he was considering shutting the website down, rapper Kendrick Lamar encouraged him not to and said that hip-hop needed 2DopeBoyz. The blog is often credited with playing an early role in the promotion of Lamar's career.<ref name=DJBooth />
===Feud with Tyler, the Creator=== In the title track of Tyler, the Creator's 2009 album ''Bastard'', the first words Tyler says are cursing 2DopeBoyz, NahRight, and other blogs who Tyler viewed as snubbing him early on in his career.<ref name=Ringer1>{{cite web|url=https://www.theringer.com/music/2019/5/18/18630053/tyler-creator-igor-review|title=Who's (Still) Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf Gang?|first=Rob|last=Harvilla|work=The Ringer|date=May 18, 2019|access-date=November 15, 2021|archive-date=November 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115210435/https://www.theringer.com/music/2019/5/18/18630053/tyler-creator-igor-review|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Genius1>{{cite web|url=https://genius.com/Tyler-the-creator-bastard-lyrics|title=Tyler the Creator - Bastard lyrics|access-date=November 15, 2021|work=Genius.com|archive-date=August 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807153913/https://genius.com/Tyler-the-creator-bastard-lyrics|url-status=live}}</ref> On the title track of fellow Odd Future member Earl Sweatshirt's 2010 mixtape, ''Earl'', Earl, Tyler, and Taco Bennett rap about their distaste for 2DOPEBOYZ.<ref name=Genius3>{{cite web|url=https://genius.com/51378|title=Earl Sweatshirt - Earl lyrics|work=Genius.com|access-date=November 15, 2021|archive-date=October 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007164024/https://ads.assemblyexchange.com/doh/ingest?partner=adkernel&uid=3861141e-3508-4663-ba49-8d7a08d7a699&property_id=genius.com&app_version=web_0.0.1&lib_version=web_2.1.3&partner_uid=A5210630167882605348|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2011, Tyler, the Creator announced the release date of his second album ''Goblin'' with a video on his website that flashed the words "Fuck 2DopeBoyz & NahRight".<ref name=MTV>{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1660136/odd-future-tyler-the-creator-goblin-album/|title=TYLER THE CREATOR ANNOUNCES GOBLIN DATE, DISMISSES BLOG HATERS|work=MTV News|date=March 17, 2011|access-date=November 15, 2021|first=Alvin|last=Blanco|archive-date=November 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115210435/https://www.mtv.com/news/1660136/odd-future-tyler-the-creator-goblin-album/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=Ringer2>{{cite web|url=https://www.theringer.com/2021/5/10/22428125/tyler-the-creator-10th-anniversary|title=Walking Paradox: How Tyler, the Creator Grew Into the Rebel He Always Wanted to Be|first=Logan|last=Murdock|work=The Ringer|date=May 10, 2021|access-date=November 15, 2021|archive-date=November 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115210435/https://www.theringer.com/2021/5/10/22428125/tyler-the-creator-10th-anniversary|url-status=live}}</ref> On the song "Sandwitches" off of ''Goblin'', Tyler rapped "Fuck 2DopeBoyz, all them niggas bitches/We don't need y'all, The Fader's who we really fucking with, bitch."<ref name=Genius2>{{cite web|url=https://genius.com/Tyler-the-creator-sandwitches-lyrics|title=Tyler the Creator - Sandwitches lyrics|work=Genius.com|access-date=November 15, 2021|archive-date=November 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115210434/https://genius.com/Tyler-the-creator-sandwitches-lyrics|url-status=live}}</ref>
In a February 17, 2011 post on 2DopeBoyz, Zela and Udoh addressed Tyler's comments, claiming they were not aware of him as an artist until he started insulting them in interviews and on tracks. They said they never received music from Tyler or Odd Future and they would not work with someone who was disrespectful "for absolutely no reason", calling Tyler's outrage a marketing ploy.<ref name=2DOPEBOYZ>{{cite web|url=https://2dopeboyz.com/2011/02/17/sorry-kids/|title=Sorry Kids...|first1=Joel "Shake"|last1=Zela|first2=Meka|last2=Udoh|date=February 17, 2011|work=2DOPEBOYZ|access-date=November 15, 2021}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{official|https://2dopeboyz.com/}}
{{Hip hop websites}}
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Category:American music websites Category:Hip-hop websites Category:Music review websites Category:Magazines established in 2007 Category:Online music magazines published in the United States