A “Jeopardy” contestant confused the politically charged Public Enemy with Marky Mark’s 80s group, the Funky Bunch. Fans immediately dragged the Nancy Drew-haired white woman for her caucasity.
The woman speedily buzzed in and said, “Ahh … what is the Funky Bunch?”
The host, actor-turned-neuroscientist Mayim Bialik dryly said, “No.”
The correct answer would have been “What is Public Enemy?” which was given by another contestant.
Still, the mistake was unimaginable as PE is one of the most recognizable musical brands of the last 30 years, prompting the young woman Halley Ryherd, to take to Twitter to diffuse some of the reprimands with humor.
She said the mix-up sent her to her therapist.
Well it gives me hope to hear from another person who survived a mix up on national TV!
— Halley Ryherd (she/her) (@Halley_BuzzesIn) June 30, 2022
While fans didn’t give her a break, the lead rapper from the group was a bit more gracious.
Chuck D chimed in on the critics angry with her and in his own way “shut ‘em down.”
When @pjtourkid tweeted, “This person on #Jeopardy just thought Chuck D was in the funky bunch. She should get credit for being the most wrong she could possibly be. S### was amazing.
The six-time Grammy-nominated rapper replied, “Everybody don’t know everything… it’s why I introduce myself wherever I go and whoever I talk to … it’s just courtesy. But the sad thing is not knowing those other Chuck Ds.”
Everybody don’t know everything… it’s why I introduce myself wherever I go and whoever I talk to … it’s just courtesy. But the sad thing is not knowing those other Chuck Ds pic.twitter.com/gxLnyVmxCp
Tavares Lamont Taylor appears to be back behind bars once again. Harris County, Texas law enforcement arrested the rapper better known as Lil Reese earlier this year.
According to reports, authorities booked Lil Reese in the county jail on May 19. The charge is listed as aggravated assault against a family member.
Apparently, local authorities also booked Reese on a second count of aggravated assault against a family member on May 25. He was denied bond on the first charge.
Harris County Jail records show a $60,000 bond amount for the May 25 arrest. Lil Reese’s next court date is currently set for August 16. He has not posted on Twitter or Instagram since May 16.
Throughout his career as a recording artist, Lil Reese has had numerous legal issues. In May 2010, Reese pled guilty to burglary charges. He also faced other assault, battery, and marijuana possession arrests over the years.
In June 2021, Lil Reese had to deal with domestic violence charges. His girlfriend at the time reportedly called 911, accusing the self-described Supa Savage of hitting her in the face.
Reese has also been the victim of gun violence on multiple occasions. In May 2021, a shootout in a Chicago parking garage caused Reese and two other men to be hospitalized.
“I’m not blind or s###. Don’t believe what you see on [the] internet. I don’t even know where [the f###] they getting all these fake ass stories from,” stated Lil Reese in response to the 2021 shooting. Rumors suggested he possibly suffered blindness from the gunfire.
British recording artist Stormzy has signed a new deal with WME in all areas. Stormzy continues to be represented by #Merky co-founder Tobe Onwuka.
WME originally formed in 1898. The company refers to itself as the “longest-running talent agency.” After William Morris Agency and Endeavor merged in 2009, WME acquired IMG five years later.
Stormzy comes off the release of his 2019 album Heavy Is the Head. That studio LP received widespread critical acclaim and spawned several popular singles. “Audacity,” “Crown,” and “Vossi Bop” live on the album.
2017’s Gang Signs & Prayer also garnered praise and commercial success. Gang Signs & Prayer became the first Grime project to reach #1 on the UK Albums Chart. The project hosts the hits “Big for Your Boots” and “Cold.”
Additionally, Gang Signs & Prayer earned a Mercury Prize nomination. The studio LP also won the 2018 BET Award for Best International Artist and the Brit Award for British Album Of The Year. A third Stormzy album is reportedly on the way.
Stormzy Joins A WME Roster Of Hip Hop Stars
Stormzy: Road to the Pyramid Stage premiered last week on BBC One. The documentary covers the London-born rhymer’s journey to being the first Black British solo artist to headline the Glastonbury Festival in 2019.
Apple Music 1’sLeading Vibe Radio with Temsrecently caught up with Stormzy for an interview. During the conversation, Stormy explained why he famously deleted his Twitter and Instagram accounts in 2020.
“Whether that be noise on the internet, whether that be noise in reality, whether that be noise in events. I’ll just make active decisions to not be around noise. Because I feel that noise doesn’t allow me to be normal,” stated Stormzy.
The WME music roster also includes 24kGoldn, 6LACK, Action Bronson, D Smoke, Danny Brown, Ella Mai, Future, Giveon, Gunna, Isaiah Rashad, Jazmine Sullivan, Kehlani, Nas, Nicki Minaj, OutKast, Pharrell Williams, Rick Ross, Roddy Ricch, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Summer Walker, Travis Scott, Tyler The Creator, Usher, Vince Staples, Willow, and Wiz Khalifa.
Vince Staples will once again show off his acting chops. The 28-year-old Californian will be part of the upcoming television version of the coming-of-age film The Wood.
According to Variety, the Showtime network chose Vince Staples for The Wood pilot. The cast also features Xavier Mills, Karen Obilom, Melvin Gregg, and Essence Renae.
Richard T. Jones returns as Slim and Tamala Jones returns as Tanya for the TV version of The Wood. Both actors appeared in the original motion picture as the same characters.
Additionally, Rick Famuyiwa will direct and executive produce the Showtime pilot. Famuyiwa directed and co-wrote The Wood movie which starred Richard T. Jones, Omar Epps, and Taye Diggs.
Vince Staples will play an aspiring photographer named Jamal in The Wood. Previously, Staples had a role in the Rick Famuyiwa-directed Dope. That 2015 dramedy featured Shameik Moore, Chanel Iman, Tyga, Zoë Kravitz, and A$AP Rocky as well.
Besides working as an actor, Vince Staples also released numerous albums. The Long Beach native’s discography contains 2015’s Summertime ’06, 2017’s Big Fish Theory, 2018’s FM!, 2021’s Vince Staples, and 2022’s Ramona Park Broke My Heart.
The Wood generated over $25 million at the domestic box office in 1999. Many theatergoers of a certain generation view the movie as a cult classic. The Wood is often placed in the late 1990s-era pantheon of Black comedies such as A Thin Line Between Love and Hate and The Best Man.
Four-time NBA Champion Steph Curry will serve as the master of ceremonies for this year’s ESPY Awards. The sports-centered presentation will air live from Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 20 at 8 pm ET on ABC.
Steph Curry is fresh off winning the 2022 NBA Finals with his fellow Golden State Warriors teammates. The former Davidson College standout also won NBA Finals MVP. Plus, he was the first NBA Western Conference Finals MVP this season.
“I’ve had the pleasure of attending The ESPYS but never imagined I’d have the privilege of hosting this special event,” states Curry. “As someone who loves the intersection of sports and entertainment, I look forward to delivering an exciting show for the fans while we celebrate the athletes who created the top moments of the year.”
The ESPY Awards celebrate major sports achievements and top performances. Steph Curry joins a list of previous hosts that include Samuel L. Jackson, Jamie Foxx, LeBron James, Jimmy Kimmel, Justin Timberlake, John Cena, Peyton Manning, and Anthony Mackie.
Steph Curry Earned Multiple ESPY Award Nominations
“Steph has long been one of the brightest stars in the sports constellation, and we’re thrilled to have him share his passion for sports, his wit, and his boundless talent with The ESPYS,” said Rob King, Executive Editor-At-Large ESPN Content.
Rob King continues, ”Whether shining on the court, engaging with fans on social platforms, or demonstrating a commitment to communities through varied philanthropic acts, he’s a singular performer who’ll undoubtedly add luster to our celebration of some of this year’s most compelling moments.”
Steph Curry earned ESPY nominations for Best Athlete-Men’s Sports and Best NBA Player. He is also up for Best Record-Breaking Performance (passes Ray Allen for most 3-pointers made in NBA history). To see the full list of nominations and vote for the winners of the 2022 ESPY Awards visit espn.com.
Belcalis “Cardi B” Almánzar will release her next lead single this Friday, July 1. “Hot S###” features Chicago-bred rappers Kanye “Ye” West” and Lil Durk.
In preparation for “Hot S###” hitting DSPs tonight at 12 pm ET, Cardi B shared a snippet of the song on social media. The 16-second clip went viral on Wednesday night.
The Twitter version of the snippet amassed over 600,000 views and 30,000 likes. Over on Instagram, Cardi’s “Hot S###” collected more than 11 million views and 1.5 million likes.
Additionally, Cardi B earned a co-sign from another female rap star. Gangsta Boo of the Hip Hop group Three 6 Mafia tweeted lyrics from “Hot S###”. She posted, “Still might slide on [an] opp, ‘IT’S ELECTRIC’ hating didn’t work so they lied -Cardi.”
The Invasion of Privacy album creator later responded to Gangsta Boo on Twitter. Cardi quote-tweeted the Memphis representative and added, “Ommgggg Gangsta Boo?!!!! Omggg I’m geeked!!”
Earlier this week, Lil Durk teased “Hot S###” by promising the track will shake the world. Cardi B replied to the “Voice of the Heroes” hitmaker by praising Durk’s contribution to the record. He then returned the favor, tweeting, “You got the hardest verse we all can agree.”
“Hot S###” will be Cardi B’s first lead single since the chart-topping “Up” dropped in February 2021. The Bronx native also featured on Normani’s “Wild Side,” Lizzo’s “Rumors,” and Summer Walker’s “No Love (Extended Version)” over the last year.
Usher has announced plans to give fans the “Ultimate On Stage Experience” at his Las Vegas residency – a seat with him onstage during the show.
Vegas! We just released my Ultimate On Stage Experience tickets for purchase for the Vegas Residency. Get up close and personal with the ultimate, intimate concert experience MY WAY! https://t.co/H2hX2W8Jm2pic.twitter.com/oJ4E7S01eq
For each show, 14 lucky concert-goers will form part of the show’s cast as they sit on guest tables onstage while Usher performs. Proceeds of the ticket sales will benefit his Usher’s New Look organization.
Fans will also have the opportunity to meet the R&B star before the show and will be granted VIP access, making them feel like a cast member. Click here for more information and tickets.
Usher founded his non-profit organization with his mother Jonetta Patton in 1999. They were inspired to launch Usher’s New Look after witnessing failures in Atlanta’s criminal justice system. The organization tackles systemic barriers preventing teens from graduating high school and college in both Atlanta and Brooklyn. “To date, we’ve touched the lives of more than 50,000 youth!” the website proudly proclaims.
Meanwhile, Usher is gearing up for the release of his new single, “Good Love,” featuring City Girls. The song is accompanied by a roller-skating-themed video that arrives on Friday (Jul. 1). He took to Twitter to share a snippet of the visuals for the upbeat R&B track. Take a look at the clip below.
Though he hasn’t released a new album since Hard II Love in 2016, Usher revealed last year that a new project is on the way. And not just any project, but the highly anticipated sequel to his classic 2004 album Confessions. However, the deadline he gave himself has now passed. “I’m letting you know that the album is officially coming this year,” he said in May 2001.
Releasing your first album is a daunting prospect for any artist, and in the modern era, musicians have to cope with fans’ demands for a steady stream of releases. Not so for Saweetie, who revealed she’s taking her time with her first major body of work.
The “Icy Bae” took to her Instagram Stories on the last day of June to inform her followers of the news. Saweetie explained she’s grown a lot over the past few years and now has reached a place of understanding.
“I have realized my purpose with the platform God has given me,” she wrote. “Which is why I have taken my time with releasing music this time around.”
Saweetie added, “Through hours of self-reflection I have realized that Pretty B#### Music is not an album.” She went on to describe it as “a movement,” “culture,” “language,” and “a lifestyle.”
As such, Saweetie is in no hurry and will share the project when she’s ready. “We not rushing art, we taking our time!” She added. This ain’t no microwave s###! It’s baking & will definitely be worth the taste.”
Back in November 2021, Saweetie claimed the project would be “dropping soon.” She doubled down in February, confessing, “I’ve put my foot down. I’m going to finally lock in to record this album,” before announcing Pretty B#### Music will arrive “definitely before the summer.” Read her statement in full below.
Instagram: Saweetie
In the meantime, Saweetie has remained busy with music and other ventures. Last month the Icy Baby Foundation she founded with her grandmother launched a financial literacy program for underserved youth.
A Kanye West fan was recently forced to remove his restaurant menu and logo after the rapper’s lawyers threatened legal action.
According to Mark Elkhouri who owns a burger eatery in Melbourne inspired by Kanye West, he’s had to undergo a thorough redesign following a cease-and-desist letter from Ye’s attorneys. The Yeezy mural inside the store has now been painted over, while the teddy bear logo is covered with a sign. The notice reads,” Insert logo here. OK thanks bye.”
Instagram: College Dropout Burgers
College Dropout Burgers is named after Kanye West’s debut album. The store’s burgers named after the rapper’s songs will have to be renamed.
“It’s pretty hard being a Kanye West fan with this situation, we have to respect his wishes and move forward,” Elkhouri said. The store owner believed “he was a fan of us.”
The name College Dropout Burgers will remain, but the meals will now be named after other famous college dropouts. However, Elkhouri remains undeterred in his fandom for the Donda hitmaker, who he labeled “the biggest artist of our time.”
He added, “I have to still support him,” and acknowledged a silver lining in the situation. “Moving forward, I feel like it is a bit of a blessing in disguise,” Elkhouri said. “Because let’s face it, not everyone is a Kanye West fan.”
Machine Gun Kelly got a little wild on stage on Tuesday night (Jun. 28) following his show at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
After the MSG gig, the rapper turned rocker turned up with his fans during the afterparty at Catch. Machine Gun Kelly took to his Instagram Story to share some of the night’s highlights.
In one, the musician is on stage with a champagne flute in one hand and a microphone in the other. He yells to the jam-packed room, “I don’t give a f###, bro. I don’t give a s###,” before smashing the glass into his face. “And this is when things turned…” MGK explained in the caption. Take a look at the clips below.
However, though covered in blood, he continued to perform. Machine Gun Kelly posted a gruesome photo of his injuries with others showing his bloodstained hands and clothing.
Machine Gun Kelly Documents Suicide Attempt In New Hulu Documentary
The new MGK documentary “Life in Pink debuted on Hulu earlier this week. One of the most talked-about moments from the movie came from Machine Gun Kelly revealing a suicide attempt. He recalled being on the phone with his fiancée, Megan Fox, as he grieved the loss of his father.
“I called Megan. I was like, ‘You aren’t here for me.’ I’m in my room and I’m, like, freaking out on her. Dude, I put the shotgun in my mouth. And I’m yelling on the phone and like the barrel’s in my mouth. And I go to c### the shotgun and the bullet, as it comes back up, the shell just gets jammed. Megan’s like dead silent.”
However, Machine Gun Kelly admitted earlier this week that he didn’t want that clip in the doc. “I didn’t want to include that part,” he explained to Billboard. “Though the whole point of this is to be more raw and more vulnerable than an artist who is pushed by a machine, or something that just seems catered to making them look great. I think I’m an experiment of what it can be when an artist is just human.”
The co-CEO of Luda’s Disturbing Tha Peace Records was leaving a Bankhead restaurant with his daughter on Sunday night (Jun. 12) when he was shot. According to TMZ, surveillance footage shows Chaka Zulu walking through the parking lot with his daughter and a friend before being approached by another man.
According to sources who viewed the footage, Chaka and the man begin exchanging words. The conversation soon escalates, with the interaction visibly intensifying. The other man allegedly kept his hand near his waistband throughout the incident.
The outlet reports that a female then steps in and pushes the other man away from Chaka Zula, but he doesn’t back down. He approaches the man, who then appears to bump Chaka before Chaka grabs him by the collar.
The situation then intensifies as another group of three or four men becomes involved. They allegedly rush Chaka and knock him to the ground before kicking and stomping on him.
Then, one of the men pulls out a gun and lets off at least two shots. Sources say Chaka Zulu got back on his feet and fired at least one shot in return.
TMZ reports a source close to Chaka Zulu claims he was shot at least once with the bullet coming close to his heart. They add that he’s currently in critical condition.
SRT Big Shugg was born thirty-miles south of Chicago, Illinois under the name of Romerio Bounds in a two-parent household. His mother is an educator and his father is a retired production line supervisor. He has a brother, Paul, a sister-in-law DeShanna, a sister Kelly, and two nephews Carter and PJ whom he loves dearly. SRT Big Shugg went to O. W. Huth middle school and then later graduated from Rich Central high school at the age of seventeen and enlisted into the U.S. Army as a supply specialist. After serving in the military SRT did several semesters at Chicago State University majoring in Finance/Accounting.
The school wasn’t really cut out for SRT Big Shugg even though college was for his parents. Not because he couldn’t keep up academically but because his heart was not there. Since he was in O.W. Huth middle school he found joy as a sound engineer for his friends.
“It feels like yesterday when Frank Vibes and SRT Kazzy would come to my home after school to be recorded on substandard equipment. So, when my homie Justin moved to California it only made sense to follow my dreams. I recall telling my mom, I had to leave Chicago to pursue my ambitions in the music industry. I can honestly say it was the right move for me. Since being in Cali I’ve made phenomenal musical connections.”
SRT Big Shugga has worked with the following producers (Chase Davis, Southsidee, Steve J., b1onthat, and 1blua); artists (Lil Mouse, Pablo, Rio Da Yung Og, BG Lonnie Bands, BabyFace Ray, SRT Kazzy, MP, SRT General, Pablo, Big Grind); engineers (David A., Ari, Marcus Porter, Leo Carpenter, Will a Fool); production companies (Azae Productions, Jimmy Whisperz, Film Barrel Studios).
As a result, his music has been heard worldwide across multiple demographic ages. For example, “Lil N####”, “DaRaq”, “Overkill” are songs for individuals between the ages of 18-34 years old. For those more seasoned, 35 years and older he has “Pride”, “Loose Ends”, “Rain”, and “Impatient”.
Be sure to check out the new EP which drops July 18th pre-sales start July 4th!
The growing popularity of social media has unlocked several opportunities for budding artists to showcase their talent. Artists are no longer dependent on producers or labels to find an audience. On the flip side, social media also brings loads of criticism to artists just when they think their career has started taking off. Rising music artist and producerDarien Joseph has been there too. He overcame ugly criticism to prove his talent is original and gifted.
Darien has loved listening to different genres of music since childhood, but only during the pandemic-related lockdowns did Darien discover his true passion for music. Besides pursuing a degree in finance, Darien used to work as a part-time DJ at a local club in NYC. With clubs and pubs shut down, Darien desperately sought a job to support his family. The idle time took a toll on him because Darien was pressured to financially support his mother and younger siblings. During this time, Darien sought solace in music and knew he would pursue it as a full-time career.
Depression was not the only thingDarien overcame at the start his career in music. In March 2021, Darien dropped his first instrumental on his YouTube channel, which went viral almost overnight. Within a week, the video had earned more than 800K views, but this limelight was short-lived. A well-known music band on the platform red-flagged his video as plagiarized. Darien faced allegations of being a fake artist who copies music from others to find an audience. This ordeal went on for a while, and the platform deleted Darien’s debut release due to the outrage.
Within a few weeks, Darien could see his subscriber base going down, and his social media account was flooded with hateful comments. As a budding artist, it was not easy for Darien to recover from such a traumatic situation, especially when his creation was indeed his own. He eventually moved on from the situation as a better musician and began honing his craft. Darien was determined to become a one-man-band where he would not need anyone to create music.
Over the next 6 months, Darien became a powerhouse of talent. He wrote songs, composed music, sang, and even produced them. By the end of 2021, Darien dropped his first single, “Sunshine,” which exploded on the internet. The song ushered in a fresh wave of unique and cutting-edge music. It showcased Darien’s original talent as an artist, shutting down all online criticism.
Today,Darien is counted among the top rising pop artists on social media. He has a huge fan following on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. With an average of 5K monthly listeners on Spotify, Darien is set to take the music scene by storm. His recent release, “Autumn,” which dropped in May 2022, became a huge hit on digital streaming platforms. The song went viral as social media influencers started recreating dance covers and even used the music as a background score in their content.
In an industry dominated by young talent,Darien has managed to stand out as an artist with a purpose. His real-life experiences have changed his perspective on life; now, he wants others to experience the same with his music. Darien wants to create music that leaves the listeners with a ray of hope or sense of positivity.
The great and powerful Grammy-nominated Marcus ‘Churchboi’ Askew is making his mark on the industry and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. For quite some time now, Churchboi has been putting in the work to develop and perfect his craft, helping him to stand out from the rest.
Throughout his career, Churchboi has had the opportunity to work with other Grammy-nominated musicians and writers as a composer, artist, and pianists. Plus, he has recorded and collaborated with other Grammy award-winning musicians and writers. From this robust roster of experience, it’s clear that Churchboi has become a significant player in the industry.
He knows that all of his recognition and success is more than just luck–he’s put in the work to get where he’s at today. Some of the major highlights of his career have been ghost-producing two Grammy-nominated albums with Urban Rockstarz, which gave him the confidence to move to Los Angeles to continue pursuing his career in the music world.
Growing his platform largely through word-of-mouth referrals, his innate talents in music production, song composition, and piano technique speak for themselves through his long list of accomplishments and impressive collaborations.
To hear more from Marcus ‘Churchboi’ Askew and stay up-to-date with his latest projects, you can check him out at the following links:
Ray Rich FMG is no stranger to the music industry. He has been making music for the last 10 years and has released hit singles such as his most recent track, “LiT” which has earned him a lot of recognition. “LiT” has been praised as a high-spirited song and has gained over 500,000 streams in less than two months. The track has also opened room for more opportunities in Ray Rich’s music career — the latest one being a worldwide distribution deal with Foundation Media.
According to Ray Rich, this new chapter will help him concentrate more on music-making as it has lifted the burden of the distribution process.
“Working under Foundation Media is a great opportunity, and it will allow me to share my story with the rest of the world and introduce my sound to people outside of the US. Having a strategic partner in marketing and distribution is key in today’s streaming business and having a distribution partner to pitch the DSP’s editorial teams gives me the best chance at reaching the audience my music deserves to be in front of” says Ray Rich.
As a youth, Ray Rich focuses on writing music with a soulful and insightful message, and this has gained him a loyal fanbase. Ray Rich is creating a safe space in the music world, and just like music has always been his second home, he is providing his audience with a place to call home.
He has also been sharing his journey through music as a way to encourage young artists to do the same. Ray Rich uncovered his passion for music at a young age. The lessons he learned from watching his father now help Ray Rich write unique and timeless tracks that redefine modern hip-hop. A fine demonstration of this is the fact that Ray is one of the first artists to focus on making more commercially viable drill music. He has mixed Chicago drill with NY drill to bring a new twist to the sub-genre available to the world through Foundation Media.
While his journey toward this new chapter has not been easy, Ray hopes to inspire other artists to redefine music and fight for their dreams. Challenges are part of life, and to unlock the next chapter, these are hurdles you must pass through, says Ray.
In the last ten years, Ray has encountered numerous obstacles. He has had so many doors closed on his face, lost money, and even had to deal with a lot of hate comments from his critics. Despite all these, he has not given up on his passion for music. Ray has chosen to focus on the positive and to believe in his talent as he works hard, which has earned him a top spot in the US rap scene.
In an industry that is brutally competitive and overly crowded, Ray Rich has continued to capture the public’s attention with his unique sound. However, this doesn’t distract Ray from the real prize. The worldwide distribution deal between him and Foundation Media definitely furthers his career, but more importantly, it furthers his cause to introduce this new brand of music to the world.
Over the years, DJs have grown to become key stakeholders in the music industry. Their influence is beyond entertainment as they can also drive agendas. DJs play the music that appeals to the audience but also use their influence to introduce new sounds or artists. But also, DJs have proved to be multi-talented artists transitioning from disk jockeying to the booth. There are notable DJs, including the celebrated DJ Khaled, who started as a DJ and has now become an artist and producer. This paved the path for other multi-talented individuals, including Ryan Vandal, to pursue their dreams.
Ryan Vandal is a talented DJ and producer turned artist. He is notable for his exceptional music production and DJing skills. He discovered his talent at a young age and worked hard to bring his dream to life. Over the years, Ryan nurtured their passion to become among the top celebrated DJs in the country.
He has achieved numerous career highlights, including being the DJ on Apple TV series, We Crashed, starring Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway. One of his proudest moments includes spinning for notable personalities such as Richard Branson. He has also worked with top music talent, including Jay Z, Chris Brown, Leonardo Dicaprio, Kat Graham, and many others. Additionally, Ryan was featured as a resident DJ on Starz PowerBook II: Ghost.
Recently, Ryan made headlines after successfully launching his career as an artist. The experienced DJ has proven to be a highly-talented artist outshining many widely-celebrated musical names. His unique lyrics are perfectly complemented with catchy and thrilling beats, enabling him to stake his formidable presence in the music scene.
Though breaking early into the music scene provided many advantages, Ryan says success came with its own challenges. His major obstacles were was to stay positive, consistent, and focused on his dream despite the negativity and challenges he faced.
“When I was born, I was a pound and 6 ounces. I was horrible at sports and got made fun of throughout school. When I started to DJ and promote for events, that all changed. Being in the industry at such a young age and going against what most kids were doing at that age, I kept my head down and stayed consistent,” Ryan explains.
A self-made success story, Ryan’s biggest lesson is the power of never giving up. He solidly believes in trusting your potential and working to realize your dreams no matter how big they might be or what other people say to bring you down. When you take a career path different from most, you are bound to get some criticism or hate. “Keep doing your thing and keep pushing. The best investment is in yourself at the end of the day,” Ryan says.
Ryan now wants to release his music and have more global tours.
The “I Believe I Can Fly” hitmaker, real name Robert Sylvester Kelly, was found guilty last September of one count of racketeering and eight counts of violating an anti-sex trafficking law known as the Mann Act for leading a scheme to recruit women as well as underage girls and boys, for sex.
In Brooklyn federal court on Wednesday, Judge Ann M. Donnelly handed the musician the jail term of 30 years in addition to a $100,000 fine and five years of supervised probation if the singer makes it through his sentence.
R. Kelly will be 85 years old when he finishes his prison sentence. Judge Donnelly stated, “the public has to be protected from behaviors like this.”
Judge Donnelly spent time outlining instances of abuse and violence documented during the trial and addressed R. Kelly directly, saying: “These crimes were calculated and carefully planned and regularly executed for almost 25 years… You taught them that love is enslavement and violence.”
Federal prosecutors had urged the judge to impose a sentence “in excess of 25 years,” while his lawyer, Jennifer Bonjean, called for a sentence of under ten years before the hearing.
Bonjean said R. Kelly would appeal the verdict.
“Mr. Kelly is fine. We are excited about this appeal that we are bringing. Obviously, you know it was a hard day. He has been sentenced to a serious sentence. But we are confident in our arguments that we raised in our post-trial motions, that although they didn’t persuade the district court judge that they will persuade the court of appeals. We’ve always believed in those arguments and we believe that this enterprise was overcharged,” Bonjean said after the singer’s sentence was announced.
During the six-week trial, nine women and two men made allegations of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse against the 55-year-old, with some testifying that they were minors when the encounters began. Several women gave victim impact statements before the sentence was handed down on Wednesday.
The #MeToo movement, a BuzzFeed investigation into parents’ claims he was mistreating their daughters, and the 2019 documentary series “Surviving R. Kelly” sparked a renewed interest in the allegations.
In addition to the New York case, Kelly is due to stand trial on August 1st in Chicago on federal charges of child pornography and obstruction of justice. He is also facing charges of soliciting a minor and prostitution in Minnesota.
Before sentencing on Wednesday, R. Kelly declined to make a statement due to the other pending cases.
Y'all need to stop playing with r Kelly's life all them little hoes wanted to sit up his butt and collect all that money right books uses credit card go and do documentaries #FreeRKelly
Calboy deserves all his flowers, and he might just be one of the most slept-on artists in the music industry. Born and raised in the South Side of Chicago, Calboy, real name Calvin Woods, creates music from the soul, wearing his heart on his sleeve with each release.
Inspired directly by his surroundings growing up in the hood, from gun violence to overdoses to poverty, it was music that ultimately saved Calboy from being a product of his environment.
Exploding onto the scene with his viral single “Envy Me,” which garnered over 226 million views on Youtube and counting, Calboy would soon declare his place in the rap game, arriving as a breath of fresh air and creating his own lane in melodic hip hop. The song is currently 3x Platinum, peaking at #31 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Fast forward to 2022, Calboy has been vocal about the struggles with his record label, RCA Records. He even surprised released his Black Heart project on his birthday, with features from Joey Badass, Fredro Bang, and Jackboy — only for the label to take it down from all streaming platforms.
Regardless, Calboy keeps his head up and keeps it pushing, creating music for the love of it above all else.
AllHipHop: Who’s your favorite artist to collaborate with? You got some fire ass features.
Calboy: Man, I don’t know off bat. I can say Go Grizzly on the producer side, that’s my favorite producer. Go Grizz did a lot for me. A lot of unreleased. He did a lot on Long Live The Kings. Artists: Polo G or Lil Tjay. They always got good energy. They do their thing.
AllHipHop: Did you listen to them coming up too?
Calboy: Yeah, we all support each other. They still support me, I was in the studio with Lil Tjay a week ago. They still support me, I still support them.
AllHipHop: Bring us back when you were Kidd Cal.
Calboy: Kidd Cal was different. Kidd Cal was experiencing a lot of new experiences, guided by his father. He was the beginning of the Calboy. I’m him still, but it was a lot of vulnerability in that music. I connected with my family members off that music. I couldn’t express how I was feeling, they heard them songs and understood. That was the beginning of Calboy.
AllHipHop: I know you love movies. I was watching the “Black Heart” music video, you were lowkey acting!
Calboy: [laughs] That was my idea, because I got this really bad anxiety thing. When it comes to cameras, I’m like “I don’t know how I look” or “I’m super ugly.” I really get like that sometimes. I’m trying to break that ice because I want to get into the acting. I gotta break that. I’m forever in the mirror, I’m taking little classes.
AllHipHop: I have so much respect for people who take acting classes!
Calboy: Yeah, I’m not trying to be out here not knowing what I’m doing. Coach me. I got the drive for it, you can’t tell me I can’t do nothing. I can do whatever I put my mind to. As long as I keep that passion and that drive in my heart, I can do whatever. But I know what it takes. It’ll take a few classes. It takes some coaching sometimes.
AllHipHop: What makes you strive for greatness?
Calboy: Pain, I’m fueled off pain. A lot of artists are fueled off pain, I was inspired by those artists. I’m definitely fueled off pain. My auntie will tell you what she went through, pulling up to those institutions and all those psychiatric wards. I really went through it. Getting arrested, they gotta come pick me up. I went through all of that. Luckily, I didn’t go through it on a severe type of level, where I had to give years of my life to the system. But it could have been, because I was going through a lot. I used that as fuel to make great music, put my soul into everything I do. That’s why I like to sing, because you gotta come from the gut when you sing. Even though I’m not the most talented singer, it feels better because it’s an outlet. I’m actually letting out my soul when I sing.
Calboy: I was thinking about doing that. On Wesley’s grave, I was thinking of going to a vocal coach, because I really want to blow. Sometimes, I be wanting to blow and get there. But nah, my voice don’t allow me to do that. So I do it to the best of my ability. I’m still a talented individual so I can make a lot of stuff sound good, but I be wanting to get there sometimes.
AllHipHop: He said it has a lot to do with your breathing.
Calboy: Yeah, I’ll YouTube some s### fast. Real life: go on YouTube, type in “singing tips, playing the piano.” I’m teaching myself the guitar. I do a lot of stuff. [snaps] I’m a crazy creative, so it’s nothing I can’t learn. I might drop my sophomore album, or drop a project in the later years… blowing! Everybody’s like “Cal really doing that. He said he was going to do it.” I’m on that type of time.
AllHipHop: You’re drinking tea already!
Calboy: [laughs] I fell in love with tea when I was young, because I was going through panic attacks. I used to wake up in the middle of the night, shirt soaking wet. [pants] Panicking, don’t even know why I’m panicking. I got to the root of the source over the years, but I started going through a lot. Drinking a little chamomile, drinking a little tea, getting into that tranquil space really helped me. I really come from a dark space, drinking tea helped me! That sounds crazy. I started dialing into other cultures, it really helped me.
AllHipHop: Talk about making “Pressure” with Kodie Shane.
Calboy: Kodie sent me a record and I loved it, so I did my thing. I got into the mode. She had a show out in the A, I pulled up and we performed it for the first time. We turned up. I got love for Kodie Shane. Before I was who I was, I was a supporter of Kodie Shane’s. I’m a supporter of the music of the culture. I understand that it’s enough money for all of us. I understand that at the end of the day, where we come from, it’s us versus them.
In any type of situation, you can apply that too. I support everybody that’s working hard, got a flow and got sold to what they’re doing. You know the ones that just started, woke up and decided to be a rapper. Then you know the ones that’s really putting their heart and soul into it, regardless of if they’re good or not. I appreciate the heart, I appreciate the soul. Kodie Shane’s hard though, always been hard.
AllHipHop: It’s so crazy because I had Trippie Redd on my show. He said she low key put him on, took him on his first tour.
Calboy: Yeah? I got a record with Trippie Redd. Well, I was on the record. You know how it goes with me and records. I don’t know if everybody thinks, “I don’t rock with Cal like that,” you feel me? But it’s a thing where I get on the record: “Yo, I want you on this song!” I get on the song and I do my thing, then they put the song out and take me off. Trippie Redd got the record, “MOON WALKER.” “Big bro pulled up, gave me blue cheese.” [sings lyrics]
I don’t remember how the song goes. He stopped by the session and said, “Yo, you fire bro.”
He got a feel of the records I was cooking up. He’s like “I got this record, put your verse on that. That’s hard.” Then he came back in the studio like “that’s hard. I’ve been shooting a video, but if you stay a couple of days, we can shoot your verse into the video.” I stayed a couple of days, he sent me off!
I said “aw they playing with me.” I stayed a couple of days in LA, the man never answered the phone. I thought “okay, they think Cal the victim. They think it’s that type of time,” so now I don’t f### with n*ggas. I really don’t care to be around rappers. N*gga spoiled that for everybody.
AllHipHop: What if he was hella high and forgot?
Calboy: Even if that’s the case, I don’t be wanting to hear… I always felt like that, but nah let me give it a chance. Maybe it’s the Chicago mentality, don’t rock with people. Let me step out of that. Then I stepped out of that, it was the same thing. Nah, we were molded this way for a reason. I don’t rock with nobody. If I rock with you, I genuinely love you. I want to see you win. I want to see you do your thing in real life. I don’t wish no harm, no weapon formed against you. Other than that, I don’t care about what they feel.
AllHipHop: You were also left off Pop Smoke’s album, even though you guys were in the studio together cooking it from scratch.
Calboy: My manager at the time was on some “yo that’s a sensitive subject, maybe we should…” What’s sensitive about that? Me and Pop had a real vibe going on, our energy connected. We shot “100K on the Coupe” video, the song that’s on GTA. You do the heist on GTA V, you gon’ hear Calboy and Pop Smoke on that joint.
We did the video, we was racing their cars. It was a McLaren and something else, we’re racing each other in the video. It was dope, we caught a vibe then. We pulled out the foreigns on the block. We were shooting a video and this was not planned. The kids peep, jump off the school bus and crowd in the parking lot. That’s the viral video of me and Pop Smoke that be going around Instagram. The picture when I was in the blue denim jacket, we had the matching Gucci shoes. That wasn’t planned either. We was clicking in so many different ways, it’s crazy. I rock with dude.
When I rock with people like that, I send them prayers. I send them positive messages. I wish nothing but the best for them, because I’ve lost a lot of people in this. It was sad when we lost Pop, but it was a very emotional moment when I wasn’t on the album. It wasn’t even about me being on the album, to where it’d be a thing “oh, he was chasing the clout. He wanted to be on the album.” If I wasn’t going to be on that album, that song shouldn’t have been on there.
They put the song there, then put my ad libs.
AllHipHop: They didn’t credit you?
Calboy: No, didn’t credit me or none of that. We didn’t talk about that. I made a tweet fussing about it, you know how I play on the Internet. I don’t take nothing serious, but I know other people do so I play like that. Y’all think it’s that? Alright, let me tell these folks what’s going on. I’ll make it viral. I don’t be on that all the time, but I had to because I felt some type of way. I rock with bro. They fixed it for me, but I don’t even feel that.
AllHipHop: Really?
Calboy: I don’t really feel that. Because we made changes for the deluxe, so here’s the deluxe. I was OG on that b####, don’t play me like that. That’s a personal feeling. I took a couple shots, I’m a tell you my personal feelings. I don’t always tell. [laughs]
AllHipHop: We gotta talk about “Diana,” that’s such a fire record for the females.
Calboy: He said “Yo, I’m trying to do something for the females and try to still keep it my flavor.” His flavor is that bouncy flow, that flow you can do that dance to. You can Woo to. He came up with that, I said “yeah, you’re going in that direction. That’s it right there.”
We had did “100K on the Coupe” the same day. He said “yo, let’s glide on this.” Bro had a different type of energy. He was almost like Von, they guys had the energy to shake the whole room. A lot of artists don’t have the energy. Well, not to me at least them dudes. They come in the room and you know they’re there. They don’t even gotta be talking, just something on your shoulder says turn around and they over there. It’s a few artists I know that’s still living that has that type of energy.
AllHipHop: Who would you say?
Calboy: Lil Tjay. Polo G of course, Lil Zay Osama got that energy. B Bandz, he’s from the East side of Chicago. One of my brothers, he got that energy. You might not know who he is, but you look at him like what’s going on over there? He got that star power, that star energy. He gon’ come to the club, he gon’ make his own show. He’ll say “I am the superstar.”
AllHipHop: You feel like you got that?
Calboy: Of course. That’s why I gravitate to people that got that.
AllHipHop: “Envy Me” blew up because people were dancing to it, right?
Calboy: Yeah, Maneski and G Herbo was the beginning of that. That’s why I forever got love for them guys, because they supported my camp when nobody knew who I was. Herbo and Maneksi, they were supportive. Doowop.
Calboy: That’s why I got love for Doowop. Because a lot of people show love privately, them guys show love publicly and helped me grow my own two legs. A lot of people wouldn’t do that. A lot of people like “you fire shorty, keep doing it!” But you ain’t shouting me out on Instagram though, you ain’t said that on Twitter. Them boys said that. “Little CalTheWild in here with us!” They nicknamed me that, CalTheWild comes from Herbo and Doowop. I ran with it. I got merch with it and everything. Them boys deserve a percentage. [laughs] Chance The Rapper is another one.
AllHipHop: Right! You were on Chance The Rapper’s album.
Calboy: Man, Chance the Rapper is a real genuine soul. I wish nothing but the best for Chance The rapper, I pray for that man. I pray for everybody I love, everybody I care about. I’m stating that for real. Chance showed a lot of love. He said “pull up to the studio, do whatever!” I didn’t get booked for a Lollapalooza. He pulled me up like “Yo, let’s do it.” Gang, let’s “Get A Bag.”
They showed love in different ways when they didn’t have to, and they still do to this day. Chance still talks to me. For me, it’s mind-blowing. Real life, because I grew up listening to these guys.
AllHipHop: A big part of the show is mental health. How are you doing? How’s your mental state?
Calboy: I’m great. It’s always going to be a challenge. It’s always going to be a hurdle, that’s what fuels the great music that I drop. That’s what fuels everything I put into this business. I’m not tripping about a hurdle, because the hurdle made me a million dollars. I love the hurdles. I love the pain, I love the challenge. I love the thrill. I learned to embrace everything, take life for what it is. You’re going to deal with it if you ain’t dead.
AllHipHop: What is your outlook on death?
Calboy: I’ve lost friends from all across the world. I started traveling the world when I was young, when I was 16/17. I’m saying that like I’m old. [laughs] I just turned 23. I’ve been traveling between that time, networking, building relationships, and watching certain people fall out. Certain people leave this Earth. It’s been hard. It’s been tough, especially when you build bonds or especially when you grew up from the sandbox with these people. These people talk to you growing up in the streets, then you lose them. It’s tough, but I learned not to be so down. To use every emotion and every feeling as fuel to the fire, to this madness I create. To this music.
AllHipHop: Anxiety is a feeling of fear, dread and uneasiness. It might cause you to sweat, feel restless, intense and have a rapid heartbeat. It can be a normal reaction to stress. Did you get diagnosed? How was that experience?
Calboy: Yeah. Before that, I was dealing with a lot of it by myself. I wasn’t telling nobody and my family was close, so my family probably was looking at me like “this boy crazy. This boy trippin’ out.” Because I wasn’t telling them, and I usually tell them what I go through. They were seeing the explosions, they weren’t seeing the pains. “This boy trippin’, he on edge,” They were seeing those moments, it probably could create a certain type of image in your brain. But I was really dealing with anxiety on my own. When I started to speak and talk about it, it got better.
A lack of updates about Lil Tjay sparked questions about his condition as he recovers from a shooting.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office said he was in “critical but stable condition” on June 23. According to NorthJersey.com, prosecutors haven’t provided any updates since then despite receiving multiple requests.
Lil Tjay’s label Columbia Records is staying mum on his status too. Although Columbia didn’t return any messages inquiring about his health, the label posted an Instagram Stories clip of him as part of its Black Music Month celebration on Wednesday (June 29).
The 21-year-old artist underwent emergency surgery after getting shot on June 22. An affidavit noted Lil Tjay was struck multiple times in his thoracic cavity.
A 27-year-old suspect named Mohamed Konate was arrested for allegedly shooting Lil Tjay. Konate and a 22-year-old man named Antoine Boyd also suffered gunshot wounds.
Konate was charged with three counts of first-degree attempted murder, three counts of first-degree armed robbery, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, second-degree certain persons not to possess a firearm and fourth-degree aggravated assault.
Boyd and Jeffrey Valdez, 24, were arrested for second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon. The two were with Lil Tjay at the time of the shooting. Both men got booked in Bergen County Jail but were later released.
The five men accused of murdering FBG Duck won’t face trial until 2023.
According to WGN-TV, U.S. District Judge Martha Pacold tentatively scheduled the trial for October 2, 2023. The trial is reportedly expected to last four weeks.
“We’re looking at a long trial,” Pacold said. “It is a substantial amount of time no matter how you look at it.”
FBG Duck, whose real name was Carlton Weekly, was shot and killed in August 2020. Prosecutors say five alleged gang members murdered the late rapper in Chicago.
The suspects include Charles Liggins a.k.a. “C Murda,” 30; Kenneth Roberson a.k.a. “Kenny” and “Kenny Mac,” 28; Tacarlos Offerd a.k.a. “Los,” 30; Christopher Thomas a.k.a. “C Thang,” 22; and Marcus Smart a.k.a. “Muwop,” 22.
All five men were charged with committing murder in aid of racketeering. They were also indicted for federal firearm violations and assaults in aid of racketeering.
FBG Duck was affiliated with Fly Boy Gang. Prosecutors claim his alleged killers are members of the rival O-Block gang, which is a faction of the Black Disciples.
Earlier this month, another member of Fly Boy Gang was shot and killed in Chicago. Much like FBG Duck, rapper FBG Cash was murdered in broad daylight on June 10.
