While fans are going crazy waiting for J Hus to finally drop his highly anticipated third studio album, the East London rapper announced he’s now working on a movie script.
The “Did You See Me” hitmaker had fans hungry for the follow-up to his U.K. No. 1 album, Big Conspiracy, after teasing the project for tears.
Although he promised a summer release last month, J Hus surprised his fans Wednesday (Feb. 1), announcing he will spend the next 12 months working on a movie.
“I wrote a mad movie script,” J Hus wrote on his Instagram Story. He didn’t mention his upcoming offering but said he plans to take over the U.K. film industry.
“I’m gonna spend another year putting it together,” he added. “Watch the way I take over the uk with this one.”
J Hus took to social media last month to tell fans to expect the long-awaited third LP this summer, thanks to the women around him.
“The women in my life remove the confusion,” he wrote on the second day of the year. “They tell me f### the p#### s### & let them have it. Go Insane on dem. KDA. Album out mid year & visuals. I’M BACK!!!”
However, J Hus has teased the arrival of the project for some time. “I’m back in the studio on March 1,” he wrote in 2021, before adding that he’s hopeful the record will be ready “by August.”
In January last year, British-Gambian rapper’s longtime collaborator JAE5 announced a release date, folding to pressure from fans begging for new music.
“U know what f### it. Hus album dropping on the 15th of Jan. now u guys know u can free me !!!” he tweeted on Jan. 11.
U know what f### it. Hus album dropping on the 15th of Jan. now u guys know u can free me !!! https://t.co/ynbcVQDezy
While Cam’ron was “cool” with Drake wearing his iconic pink fur coat while performing alongside Dipset at legendary Harlem venue The Apollo last month, it still belongs to Cam, and he recently revealed he once turned down a $300,000 offer to buy it.
The Harlem native became an instant fashion icon after debuting the baby pink fur in 2022 during New York Fashion Week. His head-to-toe pink fit, including a matching pink fur headband, spawned countless replicas, and many tried to get their hands on the original item. However, Cam’ron insists he won’t sell it to just anybody, not even for $300,000.
“The people who offered it to me, I didn’t feel they deserved it,” Cam said during an appearance on Kevin Durant’s Boardroom platform. “It was more of a stat to them like, ‘I bought Cam’s jacket.’ It wasn’t really like they appreciated where that jacket came from.”
However, Cam’ron would consider selling to somebody that values the jacket’s history.
“If it makes sense to sell it to somebody who would appreciate it or put it where it’s gonna be seen and be stored that people know it’s my jacket, cool.
He added: “You got rich suburban kids who be like, ‘Hey Cam, my girlfriend really loves your pink jacket. I don’t really know too much about it but I’ll buy it for her. How much do you want for it?’ That type s###.
“These are booster babies. Their parents come from generational money to where they probably don’t know much about Hip Hop at all anyway, but they dealing with people who do.”
Cam’Ron Says The Pink Fur Is A Museum Piece
Cam’ron explained that he rarely wears the jacket and has only done so “maybe three” times. He “put it away” after all the attention it received when he debuted the fur at Fashion Week.
“The coat got its own personality — people wanna put it in museums,” he added. “So, the fur comes out once in a while if it make sense. But you know, for the Drake show being at the Apollo, I thought it would be cool to bring out.”
The Canadian superstar paid tribute to Dipset during his show, recognizing the Harlem rapper’s impact on him in the 1990s.
“These guys right here from Harlem made us dress different, talk different, walk different, rap different — all the way in Canada,” Drake said after performing with the group.
Dr. Dre is celebrating the 30th anniversary of The Chronic with a re-release of his pioneering gangsta rap album.
The West Coast icon’s highly acclaimed debut studio album reached the three-decade milestone last month. On Wednesday, The Chronic will return to streaming services after its removal last year.
In a statement, Dr. Dre said he’s “thrilled to bring the Chronic home to its original distribution partner, Interscope Records.” The music industry mogul added, “Working alongside my longtime colleagues, Steve Berman and John Janick, to re-release the album and make it available to fans all over the world is a full circle moment for me.”
Snoop Dogg pulled The Chronic from streamers last year, alongside most of the label’s catalog, after he acquired Death Row Records. He made it his first act as owner, stating “those platforms don’t pay,” and announced the music would “live in the metaverse.”
Steve Berman, vice chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M called Dr. Dre one of the most groundbreaking artists in the modern era. He also credited The Chronic as “one of the most celebrated recordings of all time.”
The triple-platinum certified iconic album became a classic, spawning several hits, including “Let Me Ride,” which earned Dr. Dre his first Grammy in 1994. In 2019, the Library of Congress deemed The Chronic as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant,” selecting the release for preservation in the National Recording Registry.
Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg Have A New Album Coming
Meanwhile, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg reunited last year to work on a project to mark the 30th anniversary of Doggystyle. In October, the Doggfather revealed the ionic duo had been in the lab for two months. He said they expected to finish recording in November.
“It’s produced by Dr. Dre.” Snoop declared during an appearance on Stephen A. Smith’s Know Mercy podcast. “It’s our 30th anniversary to ‘Doggystyle.’ And the name of the album is ‘Missionary’.”
Last month, as reported by AllHipHop.com, sources close to Dr. Dre confirmed he is selling the rights to some of his music. The master recordings for The Chronic are included in the sale, comprising two deals pitched for $250 million.
Missy Elliott continues to blaze a trail for women rappers, becoming the first-ever female Hip-Hop artist to be nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in her first year of eligibility.
On Tuesday (Feb. 2), the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation announced that the Hip-Hop icon is one of fourteen potential inductees for the Class of 2023. Missy Elliot took to Twitter to share her gratitude while urging her fans to vote for her to win.
“I’ve cried my eyes out😭” the pioneering rapper/songwriter/producer wrote. “I’ve always dreamed big but to be nominated for this is bigger than I dreamed & I am so Humbly Grateful to @rockhall& to all my fans who helped me get here to please vote https://vote.rockhall.com/en/“
I’ve cried my eyes out😭 I’ve always dreamed big but to be nominated for this is bigger than I dreamed & I am so Humbly Grateful to @rockhall & to all my fans who helped me get here to please vote https://t.co/xmHt8iCIuUpic.twitter.com/jawsGKENhZ
She also acknowledged her role in making history and wants “to open the door” for the women coming up behind her.
“This is so important for us women in Hiphop because there’s never been a female rapper nominated,” Missy added. “Hopefully this nomination will open the door🙏🏾💜”
Missy Elliott Celebrates Hall Of Fame Nod With Stunning Photo Shoot
Shortly after news of the nomination broke, Missy Eliott shared a new video shoot to celebrate, showing fans she’s more “SUPADUPAFLY💋” than ever. The four-time Grammy winner stunned in a series of figure-hugging outfits, concluding with a jaw-dropping look. After flaunting her curves in two monochrome jumpsuits, Missy dazzled in a floor-length sequin gown. Check out the post below.
Missy called the nomination “an incredible honor,” in a statement celebrating the news. “I’m so humbled and grateful to be counted amongst all the incredible honorees.”
I’ve spent my career making the kind of music I love,” she added. “It means so much to know that I have touched others as well.”
The Virginia native aslo reacted to learning she’s the first female Hip-Hop artist to be nominated. Wow!! This one hits extra different as I hope it opens doors for other female emcees to be recognized!”
Drake continues to make history, achieving another Spotify milestone.
The Her Loss creator has become the first artist in history to generate 50 billion total streams on the platform, according to a tweet from Chart Data. Furthermore, Drake is reportedly the first-ever artist to achieve this feat.
.@Drake has now surpassed 75 billion streams on Spotify across all credits. He is the first artist in history to hit this milestone.
Drake took to his Instagram Story to share the accomplishment with his 130 million IG followers. He also suggested that the streaming platform pay artists a bonus for hitting milestones instead of sending them plaques.
“We should get bonuses like athletes to motivate the future artists to be consistent and competitive,” Drake wrote. “So feel free to send me a LeBron sized check [sic],” he wrote before adding, “I have enough dinner plates.”
The latest accolade is the most recent in a long line of records Drake has cracked on the streaming platform.
His 2016 single “One Dance” was the first song to earn 1 billion plays on Spotify. The Toronto-born megastar achieved the record the same year he was their most streamed male artist. Drake was also the first to hit 10 billion plays on Spotify, setting another record in 2017.
Champagne Papi was named the king of the 2010s when Spotify released their “A Decade Wrapped” lists in 2019. Drake sat atop the Most-Streamed Artists of the Decade (Global) rankings with more than 28 billion streams, beating Ed Sheeran, Post Malone, Ariana Grande, and Eminem to the title.
In addition, Drizzy was the first artist to break the 50 billion streams barrier on the streamer. Spotify announced Drake hit the milestone in January 2021. In the two years since, he has racked up another 25 billion, according to the latest report.
How did artists such as Brent Faiyaz and Pink Sweat$ explode onto the music scene with catastrophic numbers? Look no further than Human Re Sources. The black-owned company was founded by J. Erving in 2017, and has since been recognized as an independent powerhouse for talent development.
Built at the intersection of culture and technology, Human Re Sources provides digital-distribution for a star-studded roster of artists, including YBN Nahmir, YBN Cordae, Baby Rose, Bren Joy, Damian Lillard, and now, RAYE.
At 25 years old, the British singer-songwriter recently released her single “Escapism” feat. 070 Shake, which has skyrocketed to the #1 most added song on TikTok, #7 on the global charts and #23 on Hot 100 in the United States.
And who better to speak to her success than music publishing mogul, entrepreneur and investor Julius Erving III?
AllHipHop spoke with J Erving about the success of “Escapism,” importance in black leadership, and new talent he’s excited about.
AllHipHop: What’s the latest with Human Resources?
J Erving: We’ve been having an absolute blast working on RAYE’s record “Escapism”. The record has been having an incredible moment across TikTok, the global pop charts, streaming platforms and radio – bringing many firsts for both Human Re Sources and RAYE.
AllHipHop: Talk about the strategy on driving culture and elevating young artists?
J Erving: Driving culture is the main goal of our business and is the essential element of breaking a young artist. The first step with all of that is finding and identifying artists who are making great music, without that substance you can’t drive culture. From there, creating sticky content around that music is where you can begin to see movement. In the age of short form content and all the outlets and noise out there, you have to create things that will resonate.
As an artist in 2023, you need to have a team in place who can work records from many different lenses of tastes in music, subcultures and backgrounds. You never know where a song can take off from. Having the perspectives of young executives on my team allows me to see the world and culture through their lenses and deploy resources to places that might be overlooked.
AllHipHop: How did you find RAYE & what did you see in her?
J Erving: Before we even had a chance to meet, we heard the music and immediately felt she had one of the most prolific pens of this generation. Once I had the opportunity to sit down with her, I was blown away with her drive and her brilliance as a songwriter. She had identified a north star of where she wanted her career to go and it just felt like no one could stop her from getting there. The determination I saw was something of someone who was not going to lose. Our approach at Human Re Sources complimented that north star, the smartest thing we could do was get out of her way and just be there to amplify her vision.
AllHipHop: What did you do for the “escapism” record?
J Erving: We didn’t dictate the vision of how this record would be brought to life. We stayed true to RAYE’s vision and made sure we could support her where she needed support. We worked with RAYE to get the music out in a way that was interactive with fans and made sure we had an infrastructure around the single for when this thing started running and gaining momentum.
AllHipHop: What does Black History Month mean to you?
J Erving: Black History Month is a moment to be reflective. I’ve been blessed to live and breathe black music, it consumes me daily, and doesn’t just come and go in a month for me. I like to take this time to pay homage to the black artists who have led the way and specifically to the black artists in Philadelphia, where I was raised. Being from Philadelphia and being able to see what Teddy Pendergrass, Patti LaBelle and The Roots were able to do was something special. Earlier in my career working with artists like Floetry in the Philadelphia music scene it allowed me to really be surrounded by some very special black talent. The black music lineage is rich and this month is a reminder to always celebrate those that have led the way.
AllHipHop: Why is it important to celebrate black leaders? How can we build black leaders?
J Erving: We build the black leaders of tomorrow by giving them the chances and opportunities to succeed. My team at Human Re Sources is 100 percent people of color. I don’t think all talent needs to have that prestigious internship or college degree, the next superstars of tomorrow just need to have drive, passion and guidance. I don’t look at resumes when I am hiring talent, I want to meet them and see if they are in and of the culture and have the passion to bring 100 percent each day. As a senior black executive, I believe it is a duty to support and build up the people coming up under us.
AllHipHop: What are the big picture trends you see in hip-hop + R&B?
J Erving: The most obvious is the tools that these young artists have at their disposal to build their profile and create music. These artists now have the chance to learn how to make, write and distribute music all from their cellphones. The access to technology has been huge for young folks – no longer do they need to rely on these old way gatekeepers. We are getting way more music and content as a result of this and that is a win for music fans, the industry and these artists.
AllHipHop: How do you view music distribution nowadays?
J Erving: The fact that these young people have these tools is awesome, because it provides a great opportunity to offer distribution WITH services. Having a distribution based deal and partners who have additional power to market, create and get the music out there.
Not too long ago, It was always about getting a record deal first as the way to get their music out there. With that came some downsides and the inability to own their music. Nowadays, young people are thinking more about independence and ownership and how they can maintain that – we are entirely supportive of that and empower the artists we work with to own their work. That has been a big reason why artists like Brent Faiyaz, Pink Sweat$ and RAYE have wanted to work with us.
AllHipHop: What are you most excited for next?
J Erving: Breaking more artists – Kelz from Brooklyn is one in the R&B space that we are very excited about. We also are seeing a lot of great rap music in Atlanta – Rico Cash just released a fantastic new record and has the Atlanta scene on lock – this has us really looking forward to all the new music we will be distributing that is based out of that city.
DJ Mustard agreed to pay $18,342 per month in temporary child support to his ex-wife Chanel Thierry.
According to Radar Online, the former couple mutually decided to delay a hearing regarding child support. DJ Mustard’s ex-wife was seeking $82,628 per month.
DJ Mustard and Thierry will attempt to sort out their financial dispute in a voluntary settlement conference. The two agreed to joint custody of their three children.
Earlier this year, Thierry called on her ex-husband to “true up his support payments from June 1, 2022 to present” based on the terms of their prenup. DJ Mustard, who filed for divorce in May 2022, allegedly owed her $35,000 per month in spousal support.
DJ Mustard accused Thierry of lying about him on social media. He claimed he never “starved her out financially.”
“From the time Chanel and I separated in May 2022, I continued to uphold my obligation to support her and the children,” he contended. “I continued to pay all of Chanel’s living expenses, including all of her credit card bills. I also continued paying Chanel’s housing costs and the children’s expenses including private school tuition.”
DJ Mustard added, “Along with the voluntary child support, I also have continued paying for 100% of our children’s educational, medical and extra-curricular expenses. Finally, I have also paid 100% of our agreed-upon spousal support buy-out of $315,000 in accordance with the terms of the Premarital Agreement.”
The producer married Thierry in 2020. He cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for their divorce.
Yung Bleu announced a sequel to his Love Scars: The 5 Stages of Emotions EP on Wednesday (February 1).
The Alabama-bred rapper/singer will drop Love Scars 2 on April 14. The project serves as the follow-up to his 2022 album TANTRA.
“Love Scars is a story, a rollercoaster,” Yung Bleu told AllHipHop. “One of my most popular EP series that I’ve worked on. Fans love R&B Bleu!”
Yung Bleu released the original Love Scars EP in 2020. The project featured the hit single “You’re Mines Still,” which Drake remixed.
The Drake-assisted version of “You’re Mines Still” spent 23 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. The track peaked at No. 18 in 2021.
Last year, Yung Bleu faced backlash for sampling DMX’s single “How It’s Goin’ Down” on a song titled “What Type of Games.” The 28-year-old artist defended his track, which appeared on his TANTRA album.
“I understand that’s such a great song and it will never be duplicated no Matter what by any artist!” he wrote via Twitter. “Classic! I’m paying homage! and mainly bringing more income to his estate at that! that’s what matter to me long Live x we talked on the phone 2 weeks before his passing.”
A funeral service was held for Tyre Nichols at the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis on Wednesday (February 1).
Memphis police officers brutalized Tyre Nichols on January 7. The 29-year-old Black man died from his injuries on January 10.
Vice President Kamala Harris and the Rev. Al Sharpton attended Nichols’ funeral. Nichols’ mother RowVaughn Wells was among the family members who spoke at the service.
“Tyre was a beautiful person,” Wells said. “And for this to happen to him was just unimaginable. I promise you the only thing that’s keeping me going is the fact that I really truly believe my son was sent here on an assignment from God.”
Wells called on Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. The bill aims to address racial bias and the use of excessive force.
“We need to get that bill passed because if we don’t, that blood—that next child that dies, that blood is going to be on their hands,” Wells said.
Nichols’ stepfather Rodney Wells also urged legislators to take action to combat police brutality. He looked forward to getting justice for Nichols and other victims.
“This is a continuous fight that we have to fight for,” he said. “We have to fight for justice. We cannot continue to let these people brutalize our kids.”
Five cops were fired and charged with second-degree murder for their roles in Nichols’ death. Two other officers were suspended.
The Memphis Fire Department fired three people for their response to the police beating Nichols. Shelby County Sheriff’s Office put two deputies on leave for their conduct.
NBA YoungBoy found religion during his time in Utah.
The Motown Records rapper revealed how he got involved with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a Billboard interview. NBA YoungBoy recalled letting Mormon missionaries into his house after initially rejecting their door-to-door visit.
“I wanted help very badly,” he said. “I needed a friend. And it hit me.”
NBA YoungBoy enjoyed his conversations with the Mormon missionaries. He continued welcoming them into his home to discuss the Book of Mormon and a potential baptism.
“It was just cool to see someone with a different mindset that had nothing to do with business or money — just these wonderful souls,” he explained.
NBA YoungBoy intends to get baptized after his house arrest ends. He noted the Mormon missionaries are making sure his “heart is in the right space” before he officially joins the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Baton Rouge native’s religious turn coincided with a change in his music. He recently made a conscious effort to reduce the gunplay in his lyrics.
“I will not be provoked, I will not be broken and I’m not going back to who I used to be,” he said. “Accept it or not — I ain’t going back.”
NBA YoungBoy dropped a new project titled I Rest My Case on January 6. The project was his first release for Motown. It debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard 200.
Superstar Beyonce has announced that she will be going on tour, and her fans will not have to wait very long before they get to see her rock the stage.
Ms. Knowles-Carter may be coming to a venue in your town this summer.
She took to her social media, on the first day of Black History Month, to make the announcement. She dropped art that featured her on a silver sequence horse, a rhinestone teddy, and a sparkly cowboy hat.
The caption was simple, “RENAISSANCE. WORLD TOUR 2023.”
“If theres white people who get Beyonce tickets and didnt give it to the Black folks on black history month….. I know what you are,” another person added.
and if theres white people who get Beyonce tickets and didnt give it to the Black folks on black history month….. I know what you are.
Beyoncé’s world tour kicks off in May and ends in September. Cities that will host the tour include Nashville, Louisville, Chicago, Detroit, New York, Boston, Miami, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and many more. She will literally be working the entire summer to bring her fans one of the greatest shows of her career, based on the album that had people debating if dance music and house music were the same things.
Rapper Lil Wayne went to visit Deion Sanders at his new home at the University of Colorado.
A video of him entering in the university’s football team’s locker room has hit the internet and captures the rapper being shocked at the fact that it is huge.
As he walks in with Primetime, he gets sidetracked and asks, “Wait … Is this the f##king locker room?”
Once he gets clarity, he says, “Come on, Man … It’s gonna be hard for them to feel bad after a loss, up in her. I am sorry.”
Lil Wayne couldn’t believe how big the university of Colorado football locker room was 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/Jh2d78o2AI
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) February 1, 2023
“I’m a let you know that now … before you start dealing with them … it is gonna be so hard to feel bad after a loss.”
The space is huge.
And on the walls are lightboxes with branded posters, just showing you the difference between the humble accommodations of Jackson State University, the has been sponsored by Pepsi Cola and designed by the Durrell Design Group and this high luxury facility that got an over $156 million rehaul in 2014.
There is a very clear difference and Lil Wayne could not contain himself.
The Blastmaster KRS-One has been honored in New York City as a part of the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop culture. This street mural is more than beautiful art but drops a piece of history on trivia buffs.
Everyone knows the “Philosopher” represents the Boogie Down Bronx, but did you know at one point, the L.E.S. (the Lower East Side) was his stomping grounds?
Mr. Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone dropped the bomb on FOX 5 News, telling them he lived in this area when he was unsheltered, right before his epic rise in rap pioneer-ship.
“I grew up here,” he said. “KRS-One grew up in this neighborhood and was less than every single person here. I was homeless. I might have slept right there.”
Upon seeing the recognition, painted by Italian street artist Jorit, he exclaimed “Wow! Wow!” The emcee later said, “There is no award that is above this.”
But why did Jorit make the mural in the first place?
Well, KRS-One is an international hero and impacted the artist with music that transcends race, culture, and nationality.
Jorit said, “KRS-One is aggressive but he always looked to unite the aggressiveness and force of rap with positive messages.”
If you are interested in checking out the mural for yourself, it is on the side of a building on 2nd St. near 1st Ave. on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
Two legendary Hip Hop acts are in contention for Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame inductions this year. Missy Elliott and A Tribe Called Quest made the latest shortlist of nominees.
Today (February 1), The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation announced fourteen potential inductees for the Class of 2023. Eight of the nominees are on the ballot for the first time in their careers.
Missy Elliott scored a nomination in her first year of eligibility. To be eligible for a Rock Hall nomination, the artist or group must have released its first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination.
Missy Elliott Is Already A Songwriters Hall Of Famer
The Supa Dupa Fly debut album by Missy Elliott came out in 1996. Elliott went on to release additional bodies of work such as 1999’s Da Real World, 2001’s Miss E… So Addictive, 2005’s The Cookbook, and 2019’s Iconology.
Missy Elliott became the first female rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The Virginia native also received MTV’s Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. Additionally, Berklee College of Music presented her with an honorary Doctor of Music degree.
A Tribe Called Quest Released Several Stellar Projects
Many Hip Hop heads consider A Tribe Called Quest one of the greatest rap groups of all time. Between 1990-1993, the NYC-bred collective released the classic albums People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, The Low End Theory, and Midnight Marauders.
Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Jarobi White, and the late Phife Dawg formed A Tribe Called Quest in the 1980s. The Native Tongues representatives launched a music career that lasted four decades, culminating with the #1 album We Got It from Here… Thank You 4 Your Service in 2016.
Fans Can Vote For Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Nominations
The 2023 list of Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame nominees also includes Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Cyndi Lauper, George Michael, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine, Soundgarden, The Spinners, The White Stripes, and Warren Zevon.
“This remarkable list of nominees reflects the diverse artists and music that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame honors and celebrates,” states John Sykes, Chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. “These artists have created their own sounds that have impacted generations and influenced countless others that have followed in their footsteps.”
An international voting body of more than 1,000 artists, historians, and members of the music industry will get to cast ballots for the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Class of 2023. Fans can also vote online every day at vote.rockhall.com. Inductees will be announced in May.
Kanye “Ye” West’s weeks-long antisemitic tirades cost the former billionaire several lucrative deals and even led to the Republican National Committee rebuking him. However, Hip Hop legend Carlton “Chuck D” Ridenhour, is not willing to publicly bash Ye.
“I don’t look at Kanye as being any different than Salvador Dalí,” he said. “I’m gonna keep it to your art and go no further. I’m not in the business of making Black people or Black art look bad.”
He added, “Celebrity is a drug of the USA. They try to tell you it’s a drug of the world, but you go other places and they’ll tell you that you’re an entertainer, you have no political voice. They say, play a song, and don’t say anything to the audience.”
Chuck D Also Alludes To Brittney Griner-Viktor Bout Prisoner Swap
“And the No. 1 job of an entertainer is to abide by that law,” he continued. “I learned that with Public Enemy or we would have been Brittney Griner a long time ago. And no one was coming to get a Black male.
Fight The Power: How Hip Hop Changed The World premiered on January 31 on PBS. The four-part program features Grandmaster Caz, Ice-T, Roxanne Shanté, Run DMC, MC Lyte, B-Real, Melle Mel, Fat Joe, Lupe Fiasco and more.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Chuck D developed Fight The Power: How Hip Hop Changed The World with Soul Kitchen Music founder Lorrie Boula. The series was produced in partnership with PBS and BBC Music.
Two of the most celebrated R&B girl groups from the 1990s will take part in a special program for the Bravo network. Viewers will get to see members of SWV and Xscape in the six-part limited series.
Tamara “Taj” George, Cheryl “Coko” Gamble, and Leanne “Lelee” Lyons make up SWV. The Xscape quartet consists of Kandi Burruss, Tameka “Tiny” Cottle, LaTocha Scott-Bivens, and Tamika Scott.
Both Groups Have A History Of Showcasing Their Lives On TV
This will not be any of the seven women’s first foray into the world of reality television. For example, Kandi Burruss is a longtime cast member of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Tameka “Tiny” Cottle starred in Tiny and Toya, T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle, and Weave Trip. All of the Xscape singers also reunited for one season of Xscape Still Kickin’ It which also aired on Bravo.
SWV’s Tamara “Taj” George appeared on Survivor: Tocantins in 2019. In addition, Cheryl “Coko” Gamble, and Leanne “Lelee” Lyons joined Taj for two seasons of WE tv’s SWV Reunited.
Both Xscape & SWV Scored Billboard Hits
Xscape released three studio LPs as a group – Hummin’ Comin’ at ‘Cha, Off the Hook, and Traces of My Lipstick. Plus, Kandi Burruss and Tameka “Tiny” Cottle won Grammy Awards for co-writing “No Scrubs” by TLC.
SWV’s album discography contains It’s About Time, New Beginning, Release Some Tension, I Missed Us, and Still. The RIAA certified It’s About Time as 3x-Platinum. The single “Weak” peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Xscape has sold over 9 million records worldwide and totaled six Top 10 entries on the Hot 100. SWV sold more than 30 million records globally. Additionally, the Sisters with Voices have four Top 10 songs in their catalog.
YouTuber/musician/boxer KSI released Dissimulation in 2020 and All Over the Place in 2021. A third studio LP from the London native is on the way.
KSI recently did an interview with The Rebecca Judd Show on Apple Music 1. The conversation included the Sidemen co-founder discussing his upcoming album.
“I have no idea at the moment if I’m being honest,” said KSI about his next project. “Yes [all the songs are done], but I still want to add to it. I feel like I can improve on a few things, so I definitely want to just do that.”
He added, “It’s scary, isn’t it? Putting your emotions out there into the world. And even with my previous song ‘Summer Is Over,’ putting that into the world, I hardly promoted it. It was one of the things where I did it for me.”
KSI’s “Summer Is Over” dropped in September 2022. The track followed other singles such as “Down Like That” featuring Rick Ross, Lil Baby, and S-X as well as “Wake Up Call” featuring Trippie Redd.
Dissimulation debuted at No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart. All Over the Place became the first chart-topper for KSI when the project debuted at No. 1. Both albums earned Gold certification from the BPI.
In addition to speaking with Apple Music, KSI curated the Music That Moves Me playlist for the streaming platform. The Laid in America star selected songs by Jay-Z, DMX, Lil Baby, Pop Smoke, and more.
The next installment in the Bad Boys film franchise is in pre-production. Lead actors Will Smith and Martin Lawrence announced the news on social media.
“IT’S ABOUT THAT TIME!” wrote Will Smith on Instagram as a caption for his announcement video. Martin Lawrence also posted, “IT’S ABOUT THAT TIME!”
Bad Boys 4 will arrive after the release of Bad Boys for Life in 2020. The Adil & Bilall-directed motion picture became the fourth highest-grossing film of that year.
Sony Pictures Entertainment’s buddy cop movie franchise also includes 1995’s Bad Boys and 2003’s Bad Boys II. In all, the three films made over $841 million at the global box office.
“For us to come together and prove that we can deliver, and we can pull people into the box office — that two Black stars, two sitcom stars, could make money at the box office [was huge],” said Martin Lawrence about the original Bad Boys.
There was some concern that Will Smith’s infamous “Oscar Slap” at the 94th Academy Awards could derail the fourth chapter of the series. However, the incident has not stopped plans from moving forward.
According to reports, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah will be back to direct Smith and Lawrence in Bad Boys 4. Chris Bremner wrote the script. All three creators worked on the previous film.
Ice-T is set to receive a coveted star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame after more than three decades in the music business.
The Gangsta rap pioneer and longest-running male actor in a television series will receive the 2,747th star at a ceremony on Feb. 17.
The Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star took to Twitter to celebrate the achievement. Ice-T also took a moment to reflect on the trajectory of his life.
“When I think about how many times I got arrested in Hollywood…. This is a trip. 💎” he penned.
When I think about how many times I got arrested in Hollywood…. This is a trip. 💎 https://t.co/1V29295Vnn
Ana Martinez, producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, said in a press statement: “Ice-T is a cultural icon and a success both in the music and television industries. His fans will be very excited to see their favorite performer placed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.”
She also noted that “Ice’s star will be situated near the stars of music greats such as Thelonius Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Luciano Pavarotti, Mama Cass Elliott, John Denver, Herbie Hancock,” and other legends.
Legendary rapper and Public Enemy founding member Chuck D will join Ice-T for the star unveiling next month.
Walk of Famers and Law and Order alumni, actor Mariska Hargitay and producer Dick Wolf will also join the rap icon at the ceremony.
Ice-T joined the cast of Law & Order: SVU in 2000. Last year, he became the longest-running male actor in a television series. He received his first on-screen break in 1984’s Hip-Hop movie “Breakin,‘ before appearing in the subsequent sequels. He made his major acting debut in New Jack City in 1981 and went on to play a starring role in Surviving The Game in 1994.
“Ice-T not only invented gangster rap, he has lived it,” The Walk Of Fame press statement notes. “He is the original embodiment of L.A. hip-hop and a cultural icon.
NLE Choppa announced his plans to launch the #SkateForTyre Foundation in aid of the family of Tyre Nichols after he was beaten to death by five Memphis cops.
The “Do It Again” hitmaker held a peaceful protest in Memphis last weekend (Jan. 28) and invited everybody to skate in honor of avid skateboarder Tyre Nichols. He now plans to create a foundation around Tyre’s love of skating to raise funds for the murdered man’s family.
NLE Choppa told TMZ that he learned to skate during last week’s protest and has been practicing every day since. He revealed his plans for the Skate For Tyre foundation to raise money for the family Tyre Nichols left behind. He specifically wants to support Tyre’s four-year-old son.
The Memphis native shared his concern for how “traumatizing” it’s likely to be when the little boy views the brutal videos of cops beating his father to death.
He also said the manner in which the bodycam video was released “like it was a Showtime fight night,” caused, “a lot of discomfort to my soul.” He called out the media for broadcasting graphic videos showing the killing of Black people at the hands of the police on primetime television.
Meanwhile, CNN reports that an initial police report filed in the hours following the Tyre Nichols traffic stop contradicts the police bodycam footage. The report suggested Tyre was violent and “started to fight” with officers, even grabbing one of their guns.
Despite the brutal beating witnessed in the bodycam videos, the report “did not mention the officers punching and kicking Nichols.” Tyre Nichols is reportedly identified as a suspect in an aggravated assault, even though the police footage does not appear to back that up.
