Authorities have arrested Texas rapper 2G.Kaash in Grand Prairie for murder charges connected to the killing of Khurram Ali in the city of Dallas.
According to the Dallas Morning News, the 33-year-old was shot on Jan. 19 and taken to the hospital to have his injuries treated. Unfortunately, Ali did not survive the assault and since then law enforcement has been building their case to detain the suspect.
An investigation into the shooting had testimony from two security guards that saw Ali engaged in some sort of exchange with the 20-year-old rapper. One guard said he saw Ali drop a trash bag out of his car and others come to pick it up before things went left. Surveillance footage obtained by a detective also shows the shooting.
Moreover, detectives, after searching Ali’s vehicle, discovered two cell phones with texts to someone with a CashApp profile of $Kaash2G. When the officers check Ali’s CashApp account he says that $Kaash2G had given him $60 for an Uber ride in December of 2022.
According to the affidavit, the two were texting each other about meeting up (time and location) and exchanging pictures of “what appear to be illegal narcotics.”
It also said the last text from that same number to the victim was received at 10:53 p.m. That message read, “You gone try to runoff on me?”
Detectives confirmed that the location in the text message was the same place he was killed and discovered from a friend he was meeting up with the rapper to cop some weed.
To further implicate the rapper in the death, handprints from the car matched 2G.Kaash, based on a national database.
2G.Kaash, whose real name is Ghazi Harris and is signed to Atlantic Records under Kodak Black’s Sniper Gang Records, was snatched up by the U.S. Marshals and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive for the murder during a concert at the Texas Trust CU Theatre on Friday, Feb. 24.
He has been denied bond.
This will also be the second time that 2G.Kaash has faced murder charges. Two years ago, he was arrested in February for the death of another man named Keenon Culver. A grand jury declined to indict him and so he never stood trial for this death.
A dude found a way to use artificial intelligence to mimic Kendrick Lamar’s magnificent voice. And it immediately caused concern. In particular, Young Guru said at some point, we won’t be able to tell who is who and what is real! Here is his entire statement.
This has dominated my Howard group chat for a couple days. Ok I’m at the point where I can voice my concerns with our current state of AI. I have followed as many versions of what AI could do for some years now. I remember being at MIT and students showing me a project where they were actively feeding a computer “All” the jazz records that ever existed. So that AI could analyze and create music in any style of any musician. I didn’t think we would get here this fast with the voice. Of course my mind goes to the ethical and legal aspects of what can be done with programs like Tacotron 2. You add that to the power of ChatGPT and you realize we are in a very groundbreaking but dangerous moment. It’s not the tech, it’s the evil that men do with the tech. There are legal aspects because at this present moment you can’t copyright a voice. (Midler v. Ford Motor Co.) You can copyright a song, or a speech but not the voice itself!!! You can literally create a song or an album in the voice of your favorite musician. And this is just music. The ability to create a Manchurian Candidate scares me.
Think about that in every industry. There are still states that don’t even have a law against revenge p###. I’m sorry to go there but imagine the repercussion on our kids when 5 years from now some high school kid gets mad at his ex girlfriend and creates a whole “deep fake” that sounds and looks real. Imagine the political landscape where we can’t believe anything we hear because someone will claim they didn’t say it. “It’s a Deep Fake”, will be the same as saying “I got hacked”. I don’t even want to continue giving examples for fear that someone will go out and do it. The law has to change to protect everyone not just Public Figures. And the super scary part is that we are just getting started, we feed the beast constantly everyday with more and more content to be studied. Maybe the Luddites had a point. The book by Gavin Mueller “Breaking Things At Work” starts to take on a way more urgent role!!
Second of all, listen to the “song” this dude did.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpGPjOuLnZN/
Don’t hate me, but that song is dope! LOL! Now, I do not agree that we should be listening to a non-artist through AI. But what if we did that with dang Andre 3000? Maybe that would like a fire under him to create!
For a large portion of Drake’s career, the Canadian mentioned women he dated in his music. Apparently, the OVO Sound founder now has mixed feelings about referring to past partners by name.
Drake appeared on A Moody Conversation with fellow rap star Lil Yachty in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The FUTUREMOOD conversation included the two entertainers discussing Drizzy’s tendency to name-drop his exes.
“Sometimes when I’ve said girls’ names in songs, maybe those are the two things that I look back on, and I’m like, ‘Maybe I could’ve done without s####### on people for age or disrupting somebody’s life,” admitted the 36-year-old hitmaker. “The lyrics are never with ill intent.”
Drake added, “But I had somebody one time be like, ‘It’s not necessarily what you’re saying about me, it’s the fact that you said it… You don’t know who my boyfriend is at the time or you don’t know what my family knows and doesn’t know. And if you express any form of discontent for me in a song and call me by name, then all of a sudden I’m left to pick up the pieces of my own life that I’ve tried to build up for myself.'”
The Toronto native also talked about the balance between being honest in his music and not hurting people. He called it a “push and pull.” Plus, Drake told Lil Yachty he does not believe he ever made up women’s names in his lyrics.
Keke Palmer Poked Fun At Drake On SNL
Last December,Saturday Night Live presented a sketch titled “Drake PSA” with Keke Palmer. The segment featured the Nope actress and other women jokingly complaining about the Her Loss album creator alluding to them on his projects.
“My name is Keke Palmer. And that ‘Kiki do you love me?’ song ruined my damn life!” quipped the “Bottoms Up 2.0” singer. “That man had the whole internet asking if I was the Kiki. Well, yes I am the Keke, just not that Kiki. It was my name first. Stop acting like we smashed. And give me my damn $6 million.”
Darius Jackson and Keke Palmer are now parents of a newborn named Leodis Andrellton Jackson. Palmer introduced the baby in an Instagram post shared on February 27.
“Born during Black History Month, with a name to match 😄! LEODIS ANDRELLTON JACKSON, welcome to the world baby Leo,” wrote the Nope film star on the social media platform.
While many of Keke Palmer’s followers supported the new mother, some social media users took the opportunity to make fun of the infant’s name. The 29-year-old actress took the jokes in stride.
“That name [sounds] like it led a civil rights march,” tweeted one person on Monday evening. Keke Palmer quote-tweeted @_DocLee and added, “It’s giving I marched with Martin, purrrr.”
The Emmy Award winner publicly announced her pregnancy in a comedic way. During the December 3, 2022 episode of Saturday Night Live, Keke Palmer revealed a baby bump as part of her opening monologue.
“There are some rumors going around. People have been in my comments saying, ‘Keke’s having a baby, Keke’s pregnant.’ And I want to set the record straight… I am!” declared Palmer on SNL to loud applause from the studio audience. “I gotta say, though, it is bad when people on the internet spread rumors about you, y’all, but it’s even worse when they’re correct.”
She continued, “I was trying so hard to keep it on the down low, ’cause I got a lot of stuff going on. People kept coming up to me, ‘Congratulations.’ I’m like, ‘Shhh! Can y’all stop? I got a liquor sponsorship on the line. Let the check clear then we can get to the damn baby shower.’ But honestly, this has been the biggest blessing, and I am so excited.”
Nau’Jour “Toosii” Grainger has been releasing music professionally for over five years. The 23-year-old rapper/singer has scored his first song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week.
“Damn this brought tears to my eyes… I prayed every night and I waited on this. This gotta be a prank or something man!” tweeted Toosii in response to the news of his Hot 100 breakthrough.
TikTok played an important role in the success of “Favorite Song.” Different versions of the track have been used in over 400,000 clips on the platform which pushed users to stream the record 9.7 million times in the United States.
Damn this brought tears to my eyes… I prayed every night and I waited on this. This gotta be a prank or something man! https://t.co/u1S5uQDFZY
“Favorite Song” has racked up nearly 4 million global streams on Spotify since arriving on the DSP eleven days ago. The track’s official audio on YouTube has already totaled 1.6 million worldwide plays.
Toosii previously charted on the Billboard 200. Three of his projects achieved spots on those weekly album rankings. 2020’s Platinum Heart mixtape peaked at No. 196. That same year the Poetic Pain LP went Top 20 by opening at No. 17.
The aptly-titled Thank You for Believing mixtape plateaued at No. 25 in 2021. Toosii’s “Favorite Song” also gave the North Carolina representative his first Top 10 entry on the Hot Rap Songs chart at No. 8. “Favorite Song” currently sits at No. 17 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart as well.
R&B icon Usher Raymond IV is experiencing a career rejuvenation. That revival is partly due to the buzz surrounding his “My Way – The Las Vegas Residency” at the Park MGM.
Usher also continues to secure brand deals. For example, the My Way album creator stars in the new Uber Reserve campaign from the San Francisco-based ridesharing company.
“Between life as a father of four, rehearsals, and adding even more shows to my Las Vegas residency, I understand the importance of planning ahead to make sure things go ‘My Way,'” states Usher.
The 44-year-old music industry veteran adds, “Using Uber Reserve to book my rides ahead of time gives me one less thing to worry about. It’s the perfect harmony of ‘Usher’ and ‘Uber.'”
Usher will also be in Las Vegas for the Lovers & Friends Festival on May 6. The show’s lineup includes fellow legendary performers Mariah Carey, Missy Elliott, Christina Aguilera, Boyz II Men, Busta Rhymes, and more.
Throughout his four-decade career, Usher released eight studio LPs as a solo act. The illustrious musical run began with his self-titled album in 1994. Ten years later he dropped Confessions which went on to earn Diamond certification from the RIAA.
Usher is a 27-time Billboard Music Award winner, 8-time Grammy Award winner, 8-time American Music Award winner, 4-time BET Award winner, and 3-time NAACP Image Award winner. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2016.
Last year, Usher landed his 52nd entry on the Billboard Hot 100 as a feature on “Good Love” by City Girls. The Atlanta-based entertainer has nine No. 1 singles on the Hot 100 and four No. 1 projects on the Billboard 200.
The great and the good of the battle rap world came together last weekend to celebrate the life of Pat Stay with an epic fundraiser for the Sucker Free Boss.
King Of The Dot rounded up some of battle rap’s most iconic artists for “Stay Forever’ weekend in Toronto. The card was impressively stacked with heavyweight battles, including Dumbfounded vs. Rone, The Saurus vs. Kid Twist, Real Deal vs. Loso, and Madflex vs. Mike P.
The Ultimate Rap League also lent talent to King of the Dot’s effort to raise funds for Pat Stay’s family. Real Sikh and Lu Castro took on the pairing of DNA and Charlie Clips in an epic clash of the eras double team matchup.
Dizaster Takes On Hollohan In Surprise Clash
However, while the scheduled lineup of talent was impressive, KOTD pulled out all the stops with some special surprises. West Coast titan Dizaster refused to let a torn ACL prevent him from honoring his friend. He fought through injury to take on Hollohan, who made his comeback to pay tribute to Pat Stay.
Both emcees kept the slain battle rapper close to their hearts throughout their clash with their choice of attire. Dizaster recreated the fit he sported during his title match against the Canadian legend while Hollohan donned the vest Pat Stay, known for his love of outlandish outfits, wore during his matchup against K-Shine.
Diz wore all black wit the KOTD title chain, when him and Pat battled at Blackout for their title match 😢 Hollohan got the same vest Pat had on in the Shine battle 😥 #LLPSpic.twitter.com/PcCJeqljgA
As if a battle between Hollow da Don and Charron wasn’t iconic enough, their clash was interrupted by a long-awaited mega match that left event goers feeling like they were immersed in a fever dream.
Check out the epic moment, captured by 15MinsOfFame, where Hollow stunned the crowd by introducing Illmac as his “backup” before Charron revealed, “I got so much pull; I can bring Jin back.”
When a fan questioned, “how did KOTD finally make Jin vs. Illmac happen?!” the 7- time BET “Freestyle Friday” champion replied, “Two words. PAT. STAY.”
After the battle, Jin took to Twitter to share an emotional freestyle explaining why he returned after 17 years. “Sometimes you just need to pour it all out on the track. #StayForever 💐❤️🥲” he penned in the caption.
“The fact pat brought this out of u is the most beautiful s### ive ever seen in this culture,” Dizaster replied in the comments section before adding Jin’s bars made him “tear up a bit on the ending.”
KOTD and the battle rap community raised more than $140,000 for Pat Stay’s family. A VOD is available for the event, with proceeds adding to the cause. Click here to order.
Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye is having a historic week. The R&B/Pop global megastar earned a major accolade on the Spotify streaming platform.
According to Spotify, The Weeknd became the first act to reach 100 million monthly listeners on the service. Tesfaye currently leads the second-place artist, Pop singer Miley Cyrus, by more than 17 million listeners.
“Blinding Lights” has 3.4 billion Spotify streams at the moment. Other songs like “Starboy” (2.2 billion), “The Hills” (1.7 billion), “Save Your Tears” (1.4 billion), and “Call Out My Name” (1.3 billion) also crossed the streamer’s billion-stream mark.
The Weeknd’s Beauty Behind the Madness studio LP from 2015 features the Diamond Award-winning “Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey),” “The Hills,” and “Can’t Feel My Face.” The RIAA certified Beauty Behind the Madness as 6x-Platinum in December 2022.
In addition to a setting Spotify record this week, The Weeknd presented his Live At SoFi Stadium HBO concert special on February 25. The Los Angeles-set show included the XO Records founder performing songs from his After Hours and Dawn FM projects.
The Weeknd also released “Die for You (Remix)” featuring Ariana Grande on February 24. Industry forecasters predict the new version of the Starboy album track will reach No. 1 on next week’s Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The Emmy winner and her boyfriend, Darius Jackson, welcomed their baby son, who they have named Leodis Andrellton Jackson.
The proud mother took to Instagram to share sweet photos of their new arrival on Monday (Feb. 27), introducing her first child “Born during Black History Month, with a name to match.”
“Hey Son!!!!” Keke Palmer captioned the post before adding the first selfie of the couple was taken after “48hrs of being parents.”
She also opened up about her relationship with her son’s father, revealing, “Darius always made me playlists when we first started dating. According to Keke Palmer, “’Someone’ by El Debarge was a favorite. We became each other’s someone and made a someone, look at God! 😆”
Her fans and famous friends flooded the comments section with congratulatory messages. “Congratulations 😍😍😍,” wrote Jhené Aiko while her long-time partner Big Sean added, “Big Congrats!!! Welcome to the club 🤲🏾✨”
Viola Davis celebrated their “Beautiful baby” while Taraji P. Henson sent love and prayers. Check out the post below.
“There’s some rumors going around, people have been in my comments saying, ‘Keke’s having a baby, Keke’s pregnant,’ and I wanna set the record straight—I am!” she said before unbuttoning her coat to unveil her growing bump. “I gotta say, though, it is bad when people on the internet spread rumors about you y’all, but it’s even worse when they’re correct.”
The Emmy Award winner added, “I mean, like, I was trying so hard to keep it on the down low, cause I got a lot of stuff going on, you know? But honestly this has been the biggest blessing, and I am so excited. Guys, I’m going to be a mom.”
Nas made sure to honor his mother during his sold-out King’s Disease Trilogy Show At Madison Square Garden at the weekend. The NYC icon choked up a little as he reflected on his mother’s hard work but joked that his street cred remains intact.
“My mother worked across the street at that post office,” Nas announced to the audience as the band played in the background.
“And she’s here with me tonight! I love you, Mom!” he declared, his voice hoarse, before adding, Got emotional in this s###! Don’t get it f##### up, I’m still a real n####! Aye, ma’, we did it! Every project n####, we made it!” Check out the moving clip below.
Nas lost his beloved mother in April 2002 following a three-year battle with cancer. The Grammy Award winner abandoned his concert mid-performance to be with his mother when he discovered she was losing her fight with the disease.
“When she first told me she had been diagnosed, man I was floored. I was done,” Nas revealed During a Behind the Music VH1 TV special in 2012.
He continued, “I just saw her as the bravest person I had ever meet (sic) in my life… I was like, ‘This is not supposed to be happening… Why is this happening to her? Not this lady, this is the sweetest lady I’ve ever met in my life.'”
He opened up about her final moments, adding, “I seen (sic) the tear come down her eye and I knew she was waiting for me to get there before she left. It was heavy. It took a lot of thinking on my part: ‘What happens now?'”
The single “By Any Means” by Sir Will is produced by Drumma Boy and features heavy bass undercurrents, intense beats, and thunderous vocals. Will’s relentless, tenacious persona is highlighted in the single, which discusses his unyielding grit and “by any means necessary” attitude.
Drumma Boy’s collaboration with Sir Will on “By Any Means” stands out among his collaborations with famous artists.
Drumma Boy admits, “It’s always dope working with new artists and taking them to the next level. I get a kick out of assisting people to make their dreams possible! Sir Will brings a new and fresh energy of real rap to the game complimented with great beat selection and delivery! ‘By Any Means’ is an example of determination to accomplish all the goals we set for ourselves. 💯🙏🏽”
The visuals for “By Any Means” follows Sir Will on an enticing saga through the streets of Atlanta to meet Drumma Boy at the recording studio. As Sir Will’s last single “Moment of Truth” reached over 180,000 streams on YouTube.
Missy Elliott and Timbaland are teasing the return of one of the most creative duos in Hip-Hop history.
The pair have returned to the studio more than 25 years after making magic on the Virgina native’s iconic debut Supa Dupa Fly in 1997.
The first hint of the upcoming project came by way of a not-so-cryptic IG Story post on Sunday (Feb. 26). “It’s go time,” Missy Elliott wrote, while tagging Timbaland. She also shared a series of emojis to let fans know the hitmakers are about to make a movie and quite possibly leave earth.
The super producer also put fans on notice with his own post a day later. “Watch👀👀👀,” he wrote alongside a screenshot of Missy’s IG Story. “Time for us to press that go button.”
Timbaland also hyped the fans, announcing he and Missy Eliott are “[in] our bag like always,” before wishing his 3.9 million followers ‘Happy Monday!!!!”
As reported by AllHipHop.com, Missy Elliott recently reflected on her special partnership with Timbaland, who worked on the “Work It” hitmaker’s first five studio-albums.
“My 1st album was stress free because I didn’t have any expectations. My label told me they would give me my own label if I did 1 album,” she shared in December. “So me & @timbaland completed this album in 2 weeks not knowing this would be the beginning of many more to come.”
Her “hardest” and “least favourite” project to complete was her sophomore offering, Da Real World. The success of her debut meant Missy was “so hard” on herself, and it took “until years later” for her to realize the “MASTERPIECE” Da Real World is.
“Each time we took a risk sonically,” Missy Elliott recalled of her partnership with Timbaland.
Imitation is often considered flattery in any field. In the Hip-Hop field, it is often hard to distinguish imitation and plagiarism. Hip-hop composition is complex because it involves a variety of elements. Composers need to spend time and learn the rules of composition and plagiarism.
Just like language, music has syntax, but it is not spoken but sung. Composers and audiences cannot ignore a person’s natural gifts. Nevertheless, the fundamentals of creating Hip-hop must be considered. When composers learn the rules, they focus on creativity and eliminate imitation.
Original sounds are rarer in the Hip-hop world
Modern hip-hop blends the new and old. Composers often adapt pre-existing content and add a few lines of new content. They perfectly time when their audiences are ready to receive improved content. The lyrics often become a hit and are treated as new music. In 2020, Krishna Kaul, a rapper based in Delhi, launched a plagiarism case. He accused the Indian Premier League of plagiarizing his song “Dekh Kaun Aaya Wapas” lyrics.
In 2022, a California court dismissed a music plagiarism case. Rapper Flame had accused singer Katy Perry of stealing his lyrics. Jay-Z had faced similar accusations, plus many other hip-hop composers. This shows how thin the line is between inspiration and plagiarism. Today, composers seek to create simpler lyrics to increase a song’s success rate. Research shows very few composers create original lyrics today. The line is becoming thinner daily.
Creativity in the music industry is dwindling as time passes by. Today, there are more court battles involving copyright issues. A lot of singers and composers accuse others of plagiarism. Music writers must stick to originality. However, it is not enough to follow inspiration only. It is easy to copy another composer’s lyrics unintentionally. To be safer, use the plagiarism checker with percentage on FixGerald. If there is no plagiarism in your composition, it shows it is 100% unique. If there is, it shows the percentage of content that has been plagiarized.
The thin line between inspiration and plagiarism
Hip-hop composers mostly write about their real-life experiences. Unfortunately, many other artists have gone through the same experiences. Each goes through similar experiences at different times. It is not surprising to see composers who wrote ten years apart have similar lyrics.
In law, composers have a right to defend their originality. Lawyers have a right to defend their clients whose content rights have been breached. This is the point where challenges arise. Both writers claim originality, but the way to prove it is harder.
Often, the writer who wrote the lyrics first wins the case. The hip-hop culture is evolving fast. The current generation is engaged in reproductions and imitation. At the societal level, reproduction is widely accepted and is the norm. In law, it is plagiarism and is not acceptable.
It cannot be denied that there is a thin line between stealing and inspiration. The lyrics may seem similar, but they might not be coincidental. Both artists wrote about their personal stories, yet they lived many years apart. Determining who holds the rights is harder, even in law.
Why it is important to find a balance between inspiration and plagiarism in hip-hop
Plagiarism in hip-hop means closely imitating another artist’s music. The imitation can be in terms of sampling or musical ideas. Music copyright laws give a further definition. It says plagiarism includes inspiration, sampling, and pilferage. What makes hip-hop unique are the beats, poetry/spoken word, and rap.
In the 1980s, sampling became common in hip-hop’s inception phase. Young artists would sample lyrics but omit instruments. As they grew up, they became experienced rappers but continued with sampling. The problems found deep roots in modern society. No matter how deep the roots are, there is still space for inspiration. Composers need to begin research, practice writing and stay original.
They need to understand the seriousness of plagiarism and avoid it. Society cannot deny that the line is thin. However, the law follows a different course. Composers might find themselves on the receiving end, and they suffer long-term repercussions. The important thing is to find a balance between inspiration and plagiarism. When they do, hip-hop composers will not find themselves being challenged in court.
Conclusion
Hip-hop composition involves elements such as poetry, beats, and rapping. In its inception in the 1980s, originality was highly regarded. Sampling quickly took root, which led to massive plagiarism cases. Today, there is a thin line between inspiration and plagiarism in hip-hop. Composers need to keep a balance between the two and create original hip-hop.
Author’s Bio
Percy J. Bunnell is the popular choice for many when it is about handing over an assignment to a professional writer. He advises students on ways to complete essays and theses in a perfect manner. His approach is goal-oriented, and he tries to help students to score maximum marks in whatever they do – whether it is exams or a college assignment.
The year has just gotten started and the wave of new music has as well. Our favorite streaming services have presented listeners an impressive list of new artists on the rise, otherwise labeled the “new generation” of music. Entertainment industry leaders have collaborated and discovered a list of artists to be recognized. In alphabetical order, here are must-listen-to musicians along with their latest releases. Make sure you add these new songs to your playlists and keep an eye on these artists in 2023! Read more on Loading Mag and Lyric Select.
Being Frank – Rising artist Being Frank just released a new album titled “In God We Trust Five”. His new album talks about the deeper depths of active addiction and recovery. Make sure you check it out now and follow him on social media for his new music. | IG: @BeingFrank86
Cadillac Rah – Brooklyn raised Cadillac Rah drops a hot new single “What She Wants” ft. Diop’s Chord. These two artists came up with the concept of the song based off of past relationships. Incorporating their pain into vocals and instruments, helped allow their audience to connect to the song. The concept of the song talks about the struggle of trying to maintain a relationship with a person that you’re involved with. | IG: @CadillacRah_
Ciz Ho – Ciz Ho just dropped a hot new single titled “The Ghetto”. His new release is inspired by the daily things going on in the world. He calls it the “fun side of the ghetto”. Make sure you check it out now along with his live performance for “Hotel”. | IG: @CizHoMania
C-Sharp – Coming out of the 714, knocking up the chart and putting dents in the music scene is C-sharp. He’s been banging new sounds, hooks and lyrics that catch your attention. Hailing from Orange County, CA, C-Sharp is known for his hit single “No Games” ft. The Game”. Now he’s back with his new alias Yowdergod and hit single “Cocaine Bear”.| IG: @CSharp714
Czo Da Monsta – Czo Da Monsta aka Poloboizo is a rising artist from NC. After his teenage years of playing football, he became focused on his music. Czo says, “Music became my peace of mind especially when my big brother was away. I would sit around just freestyling about any and everything for hours”. He gives all thanks to God and his father, who inspired him to be the best he can for his family. Check out his new video “She Bad”. | IG: @CzoMonsta
D1C3 – New York based artist D1C3 just released a hot new album titled “Thirteen”. His new project was released on his birthday, January 13th, which is also the day his son was born. D1C3’s new album is actually a re-mastered compilation of various songs from his previous albums as well as several new records. Check it out now!| IG: @D1C3official
Dan Molloy – Daniel Malloy, better known by his stage name Dan Molloy, is an American hip hop recording artist based in Brooklyn, NY. Dan Molloy decided to pursue music after getting expelled from the ivy league and landing in the # 1 party school.| IG: @SirrFecal
Era$mo G – Rising artist Era$mo G just dropped a hot new single titled “Count Up” ft. Brick Wolfpack (P.R.E). This is one of the hottest joints of 2023! Make sure you check it out now and follow him on IG for his latest releases. Era$mo G is up next!| IG: @ErasmoG254
Frandie – Brooklyn born with Dominican roots, songwriter/rapper/producer Frandie reveals his wide scope of musical influences through his art. Emotionally transparent and sonically expressive, the self-taught musician effortlessly blends storytelling and smooth hip-hop rhythms with sounds not commonly found in the genre, while masterfully transitioning between English and Spanish lyrics. In his latest single “Dreams”, Frandie explores what his subconscious is repeatedly trying to tell him about the pursuit of his goals. Accompanied by a stunning visual, Frandie takes listeners on a journey to break down the roadblocks presented to him, realizing along the way that sometimes, we are our own worst enemy.| IG: @Frandie_
GetMoney Dro – GetMoney Dro is back with another hit! The talented Philly artist just released “True 2 Da Game” ft. Rick Ross. He is signed to BC Records and has worked with Jadakiss, Fat Joe, Murda Mook and more. He’s also performed with Meek Mill, Lil Durk, Sim Santana and many others. We expect big things from him in 2023! | IG: @GetMoneyDro215
Grainz North – Grainz and Rowdy Rebel dropped the visual for “Different Language”. It’s a Toronto and New York city link up. Check out this dope joint now!| IG: @GrainzNorth
G Smith – Rising artist G Smith just dropped a hot new single titled “Customs” ft. Dame Mac. Make sure you check it out now and follow him on IG for his latest releases. | IG: @GSmithS
IamSnap – Rockabye is a hard hitting track by Australian Billboard charting rapper IamSnap. This song is about being at the end of your rope, pushing so hard with all odds against you, then coming to a point of exhaustion and feeling the urge to end it all.| IG: @IamSnapMusic
Killa Caine – Killa Caine is back with the final installment to his meal plan series “The To-Go Box”. This project has both a down South and Midwest bet selection with different flows. North Carolina camp DJ’s also stepped in bringing DJ Gxxdmuzic for that fire sound. Make sure you check out the South’s hottest tape of the first quarter out now!| IG: @Official_Killa60Caine
Mary K – Mary K and Sweet Maria is an internationally renowned singer and songwriter. The multi-talented artist has performed around the world and received numerous awards for her achievements including the Best International Award at the African Entertainment Awards and best artist in Toronto at the Kilimandjaro Awards, amongst others. Mary K has also headlined at several music festivals including Afrofest, where she was one of the mainstream artists. Check out her latest release “Mr. Criminal” out now. | IG: @MaryKWorld
MAVE – MAVE is an emerging r&b/hip-hop artist, singer, producer, and songwriter from Virginia and raised in North Carolina. The talented musician is poised to make waves in the scene with his unparalleled sound and style. Through his emotion-filled vocal performances, MAVE radiates raw emotion through explosive instrumentation. Cat 5 is a high-energy hip-hop song with a rage-style flow that will have you nodding your head along to the beat. The song opens with siren riffs that sound like it should be in an 80s action movie. Lupe meets Beastie Boys over deep pocket drums by Weatherman Dan. The rest is history! | IG: @Mave910
Neutron The God – Neutron The God is an American musician from Illinois. Perhaps best known originally for his blue and green hair, musical versatility, sharp lyrics, and animated flow. Check out his hit single “Work Your Body” ft. Will Peters. | IG: @NeutronTheGod
PacSlim – Dem doors has opened dat dey can’t close, so I walk through. Elks Lodge Winter Capital #427 p.s.p my rites of passage. Getting to know me is not the problem…Managing to know me is the factor…Raised by an EasternStar 01 “your perception is what it’s gone be” 6yf NOLA Tk6 (aka PacSlim) 3rd album SweetShop as an independent artist working his craft with an 18 single roll out & surprising bonus; key lime cookies stay calling. | IG: @Tk6yf_15
Preis Buck – Preis Buck returns with a new single titled “Own 2”. His release is about a man battling through adversity, sticking to his guts, grinding and getting it on his own, a man taking a risk to get it until he becomes self-made. Check out this dope joint now! | IG: @Preis_Buck
Renzo D – Renzo D is back with his 6th smash single “Don’t Worry” off his Bumblebee Tuna project. The talented artist continues to make a name for himself after being discovered by hip hop legends Fat Joe and Jadakiss. We expect big things for him in 2023! | IG: @RenzodDon
Shaun Solo – “On Everything” is Shaun Solo’s latest release. The artist describes his new single as “the sincerity behind every emotion in my outlet of expression from the frustration, irritation, disappointment, triumph and passion behind what goes into my music and life experiences. The only difference is it’s all combined into one track versus me having a specific track for a specific experience. This time I’m going to do it like my last time and I’m coming for everything I deserve and I put that on everything”. Check it out now! | IG: @ShaunSolo_
Sun Down Charlie – Sun Down Charlie is back feeling like a “Boss”. The Bay’s finest @hidef_official and Lagos soultry sound @new_maryjane make sure to Boss up your game with another classic. Start to finish it’s a vibe that will keep you locked in on getting to the bag. Production from Lagos native @vikwyn_vikii Another hit! | IG: @SunDownCharlieMusic
$windlaaa – $windlaaa’s flow and a deep sense of melody have helped the young rapper position himself as a rising star. He begins black history month with back-to-back releases. His “On The Radar’‘ Live Performance shows how he can String together braggadocious bars and unfazed flexes with his unshakably elastic flow. He then surprises his fans with a second release, “Top Slutty”. The beat is built around the bouncy piano rolls, and $windlaaa exudes easy confidence and is packed with off-beat wordplay. | IG: @Swindlaaa
Terrell Fure’ – American Dancehall/Reggae artist Terrel Fure’ just released a hot new single titled “Best Friends”. The rising artist showcases his latest and versatility in his latest release. Make sure you check it out now and follow him on IG for his new music.| IG: @TerrellFure Young Miller – The music industry is about to shake things up in a major way with highly-anticipated new projects from Young Miller on the horizon. Entertainment flows through the veins of his family’s success and notoriety, and Young Miller is ready to step up to the plate and take the reins. Young Miller has often said he owes his music career to his relative Master P. We expect big things from this talented superstar in 2023!| IG: @YoungMillerDmg
Whitenoise is the alias for James Joseph Dickens II from Toledo, Ohio. For the last seven years, James has dedicated this time to establishing his brand. Finally, after a long-awaited legal battle, He trademarked his own artist name without the help of a lawyer and now his mark is set to be completely registered in late February 2023.
Whitenoise is the owner of the most nostalgic record label company in his hometown, Glass City Records. He has helped countless artists with their music business by showing them how to establish their online presence, making Whitenoise the most prominent Hip Hop artist locally in Toledo. Whitenoise emerged from the SoundCloud rap era but was able to maintain a golden age of hip-hop style throughout this period.
Giving us metaphoric punchlines and a 90s hip-hop vibe with his music, trying to veer audiences away from the mumble rap scene. James takes pride in doing his own cover artwork and logo designs. He goes so far in depth about designing his own image that he even created his own website. One conversation with him and you will be questioning why this artist hasn’t blown up yet. Whitenoise has struggled over the years to get his music discovered because the name
White Noise is widely used across the world for different purposes. James was asked what success meant for him. His response was “I can’t compete with both views or plays. These major labels buy their own artists’ music to push them on the charts. For an independent artist like me. All I can do is be the best version of myself and hopefully, at the end of it all they can search up my name and listen to my music when I’m gone.”
He is a truly unique artist with a set of skills that could ultimately lead him to make it on his own. To establish his brand, James had to contact each individual music company to correct his music pages, used his trademark to gain the username @whitenoise on every major platform, and made himself notable enough to be verified on social media. To see an artist do this on their own without a major label is nothing less than impressive. His career has just started and there will be more to come from the American rapper Whitenoise.
Connecticut-based rapper Dante Tweaks is making waves in the industry with his unique blend of up-tempo trap beats and hard-hitting lyrics. He has just announced that he has signed a new distribution deal with EMPIRE, a major label in the music industry. This is a big deal for Tweaks, who has been working hard to make a name for himself in the music world.
One of the things that makes this new deal so exciting is that Tweaks’ latest release, “Why Can’t I Fall In love?” was crafted entirely in his own recording studio, Howell Records Studios, in Downtown New Britain, CT. This shows that you don’t need to be in a big, fancy recording studio to create great music. All you need is talent, dedication, and some know-how.
Speaking of know-how, Tweaks has been working closely with his producer, Ayo. Sev, to ensure his latest single is his best work yet. With careful attention paid to every detail, from the beats to the lyrics to the overall vibe of the album, Tweaks and Sev have created a masterpiece that will appeal to fans of all kinds of music.
Of course, it takes more than just great music to make it in the music industry – you also need to get your music out there and in front of as many people as possible. That’s where the distribution deal with EMPIRE comes in. As one of the industry’s biggest and most influential labels, EMPIRE has the resources and connections needed to help Tweaks reach a wider audience than ever before.
This is especially important for Tweaks, who has worked hard to establish himself in the Connecticut music scene. While the music scene in the state is just starting to boom, Tweaks has already made a name for himself with notable performances and collaborations, including a recent single release with famous influencer SPIDERCUZ called “MADOFF”. This kind of buzz and momentum caught EMPIRE’s attention, which is what will help Tweaks take his career to the next level.
One of the things that Tweaks is most proud of is that he owns his own recording studio, which takes clients from all over Connecticut. This shows how dedicated he is to his craft and how committed he is to helping other artists achieve their dreams. Tweaks know that the music industry is a business and approaches it with full intentions and heart. However, he never gives up, always stays true to himself, and has found a team that he can lock in with to achieve his goals.
That team includes not just his producer but also his fans and supporters, who have been with him every step of the way. They helped him get to where he is today, and he knows he wouldn’t be there without them. That’s why he’s so excited about this new distribution deal with EMPIRE: it’s a chance for him to reach even more people with his music and to share his message of love, hope, and resilience with the world. So for now, fans can look forward to the release of Tweaks’ new single, Why Can’t I Fall In Love?, which drops on February 25th.
Latto found herself defending her celebrations after she was trolled for marking the success of her new pop single, “Lottery.”
The “Big Energy” hitmaker took to Twitter on Monday (Feb. 27) to share her success with her fans after “Lottery” entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 83. Her collaborator Congolese-Canadian singer/songwriter LU KALA also joined the celebrations. “This is my 1st time ever charting, I’m crying rn🥹😭🙏🏾🧡 Wow!” she penned.
Latto – Lottery Ft. LU KALA
However, not everybody was pleased for the duo, with some dragging Latto for her chart position.
“You’re 83# and you’re celebrating. Girl you’re really ridiculous,” one person tweeted before deleting. “In your place I won’t do that and you dare to say you’re a flourishing rapper.”
However, Latto caught the tweet before the user took it down and clapped back.
“You’re not in my place & never will be b##### leave De-Lu Lu land!” she replied. “Bunch of could nevers tryna make me not proud PLEASE lemme see u do it den s###! U sitting on ur dreams I’m living mine! Beat it!”
You’re not in my place & never will be b##### leave De-Lu Lu land! Bunch of could nevers tryna make me not proud PLEASE lemme see u do it den s###! U sitting on ur dreams I’m living mine! Beat it! https://t.co/5KNviFKtxU
Another individual tried to call Latto out, tweeting, “Your first entry in a year.” Latto again replied, answering with, “Your first — NVM [nevermind].”
Latto then shared a message for anybody else with something to say, posting the Hip-Hop Harry “Who’s next?” gif.
During a recent interview, Latto addressed her online beef with Nicki Minaj. The two rappers went back and forth last year, exchanging insults over tweets with Latto exposing private messages.
“It’s difficult navigating through situations like that because there’s a disconnect. I will look at myself as a fan of someone and they will view [me] in a whole different light,” Latto explained to Billboard. “It’s disappointing. You just got to take it to the chin and keep pushing.”
Moneybagg Yo denied cheating on Ari Fletcher after rumors spread on Monday (February 27).
Various social media users claimed an Instagram Stories photo showed him having sex with another woman. Moneybagg Yo insisted it wasn’t him in the picture.
“Mane stop mentioning me in this picture of somebody getting f##### y’all ppl [weird] bra my whole body tatted s### not me!” he wrote on Twitter.
He added, “People be Slow internet dry y’all need some attention. U lame ass n##### be ready for me to f### up.”
The United States was slammed with severe weather over the weekend. Snow, ice and cold temperatures even hit parts of Los Angeles, unprecedented conditions for The Golden State. It was so bad, in fact, Kelis and her children apparently almost didn’t live to see another day. As they drove through the blizzard, the state’s first since 1989, Kelis’s plans to snowboard at Big Bear were thwarted when her truck got stuck in the snow. In an Instagram video she shared on Sunday (February 26), you can see her vehicle hanging off what looks like a cliff.
“Praise God the tow truck actually made it,” she said. “We’ve been outside for awhile. I’m wearing layers to keep warm … ridiculous … rescue fashion. I’ve got my light on, thank God, because it’s pitch black out here. Silver boots [for] a little reflective action. Things could be worse.”
She explained in the caption, “My plan was to take the kids to the snow, but we almost fell off a cliff! So make the best of what ya got n always be prepared lol #bigbear #blizzard #snowstorm #rescue #fashion #grateful”
Kelis didn’t confirm which one of her three children were in the car. But her son Knight, who she shares with Nas, is 13 and is more than likely the only one willing to hit the slopes. Shepard, her son with the late Mike Mora, is seven while her youngest, a girl, is two.
As Kelis said, it could’ve been worse. At least she’s standing. Someone crushed the slopes at Arapahoe Basin in Colorado on Saturday (February 25) only to slip and fall on the ice in front of their house. Now they can’t walk. Go figure.
Boosie Badazz berated Birdman’s half-brother Terrance “Gangsta” Williams in a series of Twitter posts on Monday (February 27).
Williams faced Boosie’s wrath after commenting on the rapper’s hardline stance on snitching. Boosie ridiculed Williams, who tried to suggest the outspoken artist was a hypocrite.
“YOU A PONK N A CERTIFIED RAT,” he wrote. “YOU WAS N YAZOO GETTING F##### N F###### N#####! LOOK AT YOU ON THIS PIC. BOY YOU B####! U MAKE NEW ORLEANS LOOK BAD LOL.”
He added, “NEW ORLEANS SHOULD BAN THIS DUDE! THIS IS THE WORST KINDA N####! HE A RAT, A FAMILY SNAKE, N A HOMOSEXUAL PLAYIN GANGSTER! WHAT GO ON N THE PEN DONT STAY N THE PEN NO MO CLOWN LOL.”
YOU A PONK N A CERTIFIED RAT 🐀 YOU WAS N YAZOO GETTING F##### N F###### N#####‼️LOOK AT YOU ON THIS PIC.BOY YOU B####‼️U MAKE NEW ORLEANS LOOK BAD LOL pic.twitter.com/ylSbaKBr3b
Williams served more than 20 years in prison but was freed from a life sentence in 2022. Boosie previously criticized Williams for cooperating with the feds in a 2022 interview.
The Baton Rouge native’s gripe with Williams resurfaced this month when Birdman’s half-brother started discussing T.I. and Boosie’s issues. One of Williams’ Instagram posts sparked Monday’s rant.
“DEZ CLOWNS A TRY ANYTHING TO BE BOOSIE!” Boosie wrote. “FAKE GANGSTA TELL THE WORLD HOW U WAS F###### PUNKS N YAZOO CITY N SETTING CEOS UP‼️r HOW U SET UP THEM CRIP N##### OUT NEW YORK UP U WEAR WIRES CLOWN.”
