Talking bout this is so hard. But with Bryson next to me and being my supporter, this has helped me more. Losing our Son is so hard for me, I couldn’t function. But he has has pulled me through and I’m thankful to have you by my side and with me along this journey. There’s a lot of women who suffer the things I suffer and go through the same things I go through. So this also help to open up and let other women know that they aren’t alone. Thank you for all the kind words we truly appreciate it. Thank you Seven, for helping mommy grow more into a better person, pushing me into being more healthier and being the reason for me to continue to fight. I love you and I truly do appreciate the time we spent growing together and bonding. You have truly gave mommy more hope. We love you baby 💜 Seven Da’Shun Potts #Forever7 👼🏼🕊
@mxrvssa Instagram
In memory of Seven, NLE Choppa released “The Gender Reveal Song” on Friday (March 11). The 19-year-old Memphis-bred rapper used the SethInTheKitchen-produced track to reflect on the importance of fatherhood.
Previously, NLE Choppa dropped the Me vs. Me mixtape in January. That project featured Young Thug, Polo G, G Herbo, and Moneybagg Yo. Choppa’s catalog also contains 2019’s Cottonwood, 2020’s Top Shotta, and 2020’s From Dark to Light.
Benny The Butcher is back with his latest body of work. Tana Talk 4hit DSPs today (March 11) via Griselda Records/Empire.
The fourth installment in the Tana Talk series follows 2018’s Tana Talk 3, 2019’s The Plugs I Met, 2020’s Burden Of Proof with Hit-Boy, 2021’s The Plugs I Met 2 with Harry Fraud, and 2021’s Pyrex Picasso.
“I love Tana Talk 3, it’s what got me familiar with the people. It’s the real me, who I was then. It’s my baby, my firstborn” says Benny The Butcher. “It brought me here and made me.”
Daringer and The Alchemist handled all of the production for Tana Talk 4. The album hosts guest features by Boldy James, Diddy, Conway The Machine, 38 Spesh, and Westside Gunn. “Johnny P’s Caddy” with J. Cole became Benny The Butcher’s first career entry on the Hot 100 chart.
“With Tana Talk 4 I have a chip on my shoulder. No one thinks I can recreate that energy. I’m not trying to create the same energy, but TT3 was who I was then, what I was going through. The things you hear me talking about on Tana Talk 4, is me now and who I’ve become,” states Benny.
He continues, “It’s special to me because I get to talk about things that I would never talk about on any other project. Tana Talk is the series where you get me, my deepest, darkest feelings. I’m sure people are going to be surprised at the things I’m saying on TT4, but they are also going to get an inside look at things.”
Besides making music, Benny The Butcher was busy over the last several years in other fields. The Buffalo representative founded his BSF imprint, started his own sports marketing firm, starred in his first motion picture Conflicted, and became a spokesperson for his hometown Buffalo Bills football team.
However, there is some good news for Pete Davidson this week. Deadline reports the 28-year-old Staten Island native will star in his own sitcom tentatively titled Bupkis.
According to the publication, Davidson is set to play a fictionalized version of himself on the show. Bupkis is produced by Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels’s Broadway Video studio and Comcast’s Universal Television company.
Previously, Pete Davidson starred in 2020’s semi-biographical The King of Staten Island. The motion picture featured elements taken from Davidson’s real-life story, such as the main character losing his firefighter father.
Davison’s filmography also includes 2015’s Trainwreck, 2019’s The Dirt, and 2021’s The Suicide Squad. He is currently filming the horror thriller The Home by director James DeMonaco.
Pete Davidson also released Alive From New York in 2020. The stand-up comedian filmed his first Netflix original comedy special at the Gramercy Theatre in Manhattan.
Former Empire actor Jussie Smollett learned his fate following his conviction of lying to police about a staged attack. A judge sentenced Smollett to 150 days in jail.
In 2019, the 39-year-old entertainer claimed he was attacked by racist/homophobic Donald Trump’s supporters. Smollett was found guilty of five of the six counts on December 9, 2021.
“If I did this, then it means that I stuck my fist in the fears of Black Americans in this country for over 400 years and the fears of the LGBTQ community,” said Smollett during his sentencing hearing.
He continued, “Your honor, I respect you and I respect the jury, but I did not do this, and I am not suicidal, and if anything happens to me when I go in there, I did not do it to myself, and you must all know that.”
The verified Jussie Smollett Instagram account also posted a statement about the situation. A caption on the page read, “OUR BROTHER IS INNOCENT AND WE WILL KEEP FIGHTING. #FreeJussie.”
Jussie Smollett’s family members expressed disappointment over the sentencing. His older brother, Jojo Smollett, told reporters, “[Cook County Judge James Linn] doesn’t know the struggles my brother is encountering. He doesn’t know anything that he’s dealing with… He spent all that time shaming him. In 2022, we don’t shame people like this.”
In addition to serving 150 days in county jail, Jussie Smollett was also ordered to pay more than $120,000 in restitution to the city of Chicago and a fine of $25,000. The Sum of My Music album creator received 30 months of felony probation as well.
Young Adz has dropped the visuals for his track, “Money Can’t Buy Heart,” from the D-Block Europe mixtape, Home Alone 2.
The video opens in a London trap house as a news report on “County Lines” and “a wave of violence involving children” plays in the background. Young Adz portrays the boss life as he raps about “making it out the hood,” with his entourage in France. Watch the video below.
Money Can’t Buy Heart – Young Adz (D-Block Europe)
During a recent interview with Capital XTRA Young Adz and Dirtbike LB chopped it up on the progression of D-Block Europe. They talked about the tape and how it differed from the first installment of the series.
“Most of your favorite artists have stages of them. We’re going through stages. You can say already half a decade in, ‘what DBE do you prefer’?” Young Adz explained.
They also discussed the growth in their music and how their lyrical content has evolved.
“Certain tracks man might have thought about in the bando on certain tapes,” Dirtibke LB shared. “Now, we’re in different environments. It’s interesting to see what people think.” He reflected on the shift in U.K. rap music to the drill sound. “It’s different because the whole thing’s changed,” he said. “Drill’s so important now. What everyone’s listening to and what everyone’s taking in, its completely different than before this drill stuff. I feel like we know how to stay afloat,” LB added.
Young Adz interjected, “You need to remember, Pop Smoke was doing U.K. influenced drill. He died and become the biggest thing,” he said. ”UK drill sound now is open to every single door. Whereas we’re just doing the wave, staying cemented in, still running up the numbers.”
They also discussed reaching the point in their careers where they are neither novices nor veterans of the game, saying they’re at the “young O.G” stage. Young Adz also commented on coming from a time when there was no money in the game and noted many of the acts that came up with them are no longer here. “The people that was around popping when we stepped in, they ain’t even really about no more,” he said.
Nick Cannon is never one to shy away from difficult topics, and the cancellation of his talk show was no different.
AllHipHop.combrought you the news yesterday (Mar. 10) that the show was coming to an end. During Thursday’s episode of The Nick Cannon Show, he addressed the subject head-on with Angela Yee. She asked him to clear up the various rumors floating about with people speculating why the show was axed. Low ratings and the introduction of Jennifer Hudson’s new show have been put forward as reasons.
“It’s interesting,” Nick Cannon replied. “This is show business and the biggest word in that is business. I show up each and every day, bright and early to give you a show and I am also a businessman. This has been a dream come true. I want to expand and elevate.”
Nick Cannon Says: “We Ain’t Going Nowhere”
He continued, although he did not directly answer Angela Yee’s question. “We ain’t going nowhere but it’s about broadening my audience,” he explained. “You have become my family. Thank you. We laugh together, we cry together, we pray together. I do what I can and we let God do what I can’t.”
The Nick Cannon Show will continue with the remaining episodes for the season.
“We still have more shows,” Nick confirmed. “This isn’t the last show. We have a month of shows that’s going to be on..This has been a blessing and dream come true. Thank you for letting me come into your homes.”
However, Nick Cannon still has much to look forward to. He returned to hosting Fox’s The Masked Singer for the season premiere on Thursday (Mar. 10.) The multihyphenate also recently extended his Wild ‘N Out brand to the restaurant business. Earlier this month he opened the Wild ‘N Out Sports bar and Arcade in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter.
HipHopIsReal caught up with Nick Cannon and his Wild ‘N Out co-star and legendary battle rapper Hitman Holla at the grand opening event. Watch the video below.
The H-Town Hottie also shared some new stunning images from the visuals. Megan is glad in a full-length figure-hugging fishtail black gown in one and, in complete contrast, clad candy colors in another. Watch the video below.
Megan discussed the different sides of her personality during a recent interview with CR Fashionbook. “So we got Tina Snow, Hot Girl Meg, and Suga,” she said of her alter egos. “Tina Snow is the side of me that’s a little more gangsta and will check you if you’re out of pocket. Hot Girl Meg is carefree and focused on living her best life at all times. Meanwhile, Suga is my more sensitive, sweet, vulnerable side.”
She also shared her thoughts on her sexually explicit lyrics and female sexual empowerment in music. “It’s not just about embracing sex,” Megan Thee Stallion explained. “It’s about embracing the confidence you have in yourself as a woman. Being bold is sexy. Sex is not just one-sided, men should not be the only people who are allowed to speak on sex.”
Megan continued, “Women should be able to control the narrative of how they want to be treated, not only in public but in the bedroom. I’m confident in myself and I try to set an example for all my ladies to embrace their confidence and sexuality.”
After keeping fans waiting for an extra couple of weeks, Lil Durk has finally dropped his new album 7220.
7220’s 17 songs include features from Gunna, Future, and Summer Walker. Durkio delivered “AHHH HA” and “P##### Me Off,” ahead of the album, and Morgan Wallen appears on the previously released “Broadway Girls.”
Lil Durk gifted fans a video for the single “Golden Child,” earlier on Thursday (Mar. 10) and celebrated with a bitcoin giveaway. He asked fans to drop their cash app handles on social media announcing that he plans to give away $7,220 in bitcoin to mark the release. Watch the video below.
Lil Durk – Golden Child
The project comes off the back of one of Lil Durk’s highest chart releases to date – 2020’s The Voice, which peaked at No. 2 on the album chart. 2020’s Just Cause Y’all Waited 2 also reached the No. 2 spot. Stream 7220 below.
Elsewhere this week, Lil Durk received some somber advice from Wallo during an appearance on the Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast. Wallo discussed his brother being killed and how he found the strength to forgive him to help stop the violence. The subject was something Durk could relate to as his brother, Dontay Banks, was shot dead last summer.
“I can name twenty or thirty n##### of my homies that’s dead, but I’m here though,” said Wallo. “I forgave my brother’s killer. I’m saying that to say this: my brother died in my grandma’s arms in the house we grew up in.” He became overwhelmed with emotion and cried at the memory.
“If I didn’t let that s### go, I wouldn’t be right here today for my nieces and nephews, and me and Gillie wouldn’t be doing this,” Wallo added. “Y’all wouldn’t know me.” He told Lil Durk, “I had to let that s### go. When I let that s### go, I started to grow and I started to glow. It was harder than a m##########.”
Wallo Gets Emotional Talking To Lil Durk About Forgiving His Brother’s Killer pic.twitter.com/yaiolroWHx
The highly-anticipated project features 12 songs with guest appearances from Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine, Boldy James, Stove God Cooks, and 38 Spesh. J. Cole features on the previously released “Johnny P’s Caddy,” and Diddy makes a fitting addition on ”10 More Commandments.” He also dropped a video for the song, watch it below.
Benny The Butcher – 10 More Commandments (feat. Diddy)
As part of his rollout, Benny The Butcher sat down with Ebro Darden on Apple Music 1. He discussed “10 More Commandments” (feat. Diddy) based on Notorious B.I.G.’s “10 Crack Commandments,” which Benny says he would never touch. Instead, he covered 11-20 “the things he [Biggie] couldn’t cover,” like social media posting, which didn’t exist before his death.
Benny says he got Diddy “speaking his peace on the record,” because he wanted the song to be authentic. He also sought out the blessing of DJ Premiere, who produced the original Biggie track. In addition to giving his stamp of approval, Preemo makes an appearance in the video. “If I wouldn’t have got their blessing on it, you wouldn’t have heard this record,” Benny confirmed. “None of you rappers try to recreate no Biggie stuff, leave it up to the real guys,” he added.
Benny also clarified who exactly owns Griselda. “West is the sole owner of that,” Benny said of Westside Gunn. “I think that’s one of the big misconceptions is that they own it together. But that’s West’s baby. Like Conway tell you if West own a building, he did the construction type of thing.”
With little known about the bounce scene and bounce music outside of New Orleans, only a select few are familiar with “King of Bounce” HaSizzle, and his latest single “Getcha Sum”, is about to change all of that for the NOLA native. The Big Easy entertainer is not only known in his hometown but has been internationally recognized for his on-stage antics in Germany and France.
His previous hits like “Bounce It Biggity Bounce It” positioned Sizzle to drop “Getcha Sum”, a smash with a catchy hook and viral “Getcha Sum” dance. Collaborations with the likes of Drake, Megan Thee Stallion, and 2 Chainz ensure that more hits are on the horizon for HaSizzle.
From a young age, Ttaya has been in love with music. Over the years, she explored the art of music and grew her passion. And last year, she had the courage to take her music online so she can share her passion with others.
Here’s how her story goes:
Growing a Childhood Passion
“Since I was little I loved music. My dad used to play violin and I loved it, it always filled me up with joy! When I was five or six years old, that’s when I started to explore singing. Since then I was always intrigued by music and that is where my passion started to grow,” Ttaya Day shared.
Although she enjoys it, Ttaya Day never had plans to put out her music. But this changed when she was nine years old.
“I wanted to put my music out there because I figured out I loved musical theatre. That is when I fell in love with performing. I have officially started putting myself out online in mid-November 2019. This is where my music career started turning around,” Ttaya said.
By working with music at a very young age, Ttaya believes she has a great understanding of music and this has helped her with singing and understanding the craft on a different level. She now has a clear view of her goals and what she wants to do as if it’s second nature to her.
“I want to share my story and get people to connect with my music and hear a story they can connect with and not just think it’s just another song,” Ttaya said.
Overcoming a Pressing Obstacle
Although Ttaya has decided to put her music out, she had to face setbacks because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It pushed my brand and my new music seven months back. The first music album was supposed to be recorded in March, but it was pushed away due to COVID delays,” the artist said.
Ttaya and her team also had problems creating a music brand and taking it online. They had a rough process to get her music and brand known online.
But despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic, Ttaya managed to connect more with others. She now finds comfort in surrounding herself with positive people who support her, and help her grow as an artist
How wonderful are those stories about facing numerous challenges but never losing hope and giving all to reach the desired success? More and more people, especially youths, have been showing their A-game in their chosen industries and inspiring others to listen to what their hearts seek and make constant efforts towards turning their dreams into a beautiful reality.
These young artists think that only with a positive mental attitude can they crush the many hurdles and roadblocks on their path and pave their way to success to reach the desired status in their careers and endeavors. This has over the years been proven right, as all those triumph stories that we hear about today are made of passion, pure love for work, insane commitment, and strength. Among the many such top names across the music world is one young and upcoming musical star named Alfredo Barulli, swaying people to his songs and incredible voice in multiple ways.
Wondering who is Alfredo Barulli? Let us tell you that this musical talent is a new singing sensation. We all know that artists have no boundaries. He searched for the right opportunities to build his career in music production.
This particular objective kept him on his toes, helped him grind each day, and most notably, developed the attitude of never giving up, which he thinks helped him thrust forward in the industry. After entering the music industry and disbursing a year in it, he decided to take things to the next level and give all his time to the music. This motivated him to learn new tools and music theory and sharpen his singing and writing skills for himself and many other artists.
Alfredo Barulli’s excellence can be told with his versatility. He has shown so far in his career and musical craft and has explored different music genres. His tunes and mesmerizing voice take people into an altogether different world, which has helped him become a rising name in the industry today.
Have some good time by listening to his tunes by connecting to his Spotify:
Everyone dreams of being successful in life, but only a few are willing to pay the price. Success cannot be achieved overnight. It requires monk-like devotion towards your goal. Rapper and musicianSeth Sheridan has proved this with his life. Coming from the streets of Nevada, Seth overcame a series of challenges in his life to reach the position he is today. The award-winning singer is listed in the America Book of Records for live streaming 30 songs in 24 hours on his YouTube channel. His passion for music, especially jazz, is unparalleled compared to any contemporary artist of this genre, which fuelled his efforts to accomplish his dreams.
Seth was born in a low-income family in Nevada. His father was a factory worker, and his mother was a local church choir singer. Seth inherited his love for music from his mother. Growing up, Seth witnessed his parents struggling financially to make ends meet. At times, the family would only manage to survive on one meal a day. This profoundly impacted Seth as a child who wanted to end this financial struggle when he grew up.
At 15, Seth decided to drop out of school because he realized the faults in the education system. He wanted to do something to discover a shortcut to financial freedom. From then, Seth moved from one job to another, each time failing to find a fulfilling career. During this time, one of his friends offered him a job as a Foley artist at a local studio. Although he was new to it, Seth loved learning the art and enjoyed being at the studio, and he never looked back.
At 19, Seth moved to Los Angeles to work as a Foley artist at the famous Henson Recording Studios. He started earning enough to pay his bills, but Seth wanted more from life. He consistently experimented with sounds for several years just for the love of it, and before he knew it, Seth became a self-taught composer. He has a unique and refined sense of composing that he realized could be the next trend in the industry. When Seth approached his recording manager to showcase his skills, he was rejected. This prompted him to start something of his own.
In 2020 when the pandemic hit the world, leading to the closing down of clubs, studios, and live shows, Seth became unemployed almost overnight. Fearing he might starve to death, Seth started his own YouTube channel, “Bossy Beats.” He recorded videos with only a guitar to accompany him and soon enough gained towering views. This motivated him to start live streaming, engaging with his audience and inspiring them through his music. Seth amassed over a million subscribers on his channel in less than a year.
To celebrate this feat, he conducted a 24-hour live stream making a world record. Seth sang 30 songs in 24 hours and also interacted with his fans. It was later published in renowned online and print publications across the country, further scaling up his fan base. Today, Seth is an online music sensation creating music the way he always loved and enthralling millions of fans. He can be seen in collaboration videos with popular DJs and producers. With such incredible progress in a short period, Seth is set to enter the mainstream music scene in the U.S. in the coming year.
Tons of people in this world are born with numerous talents, but how they decide to utilize and optimize them defines success for them. Saying all of this is somewhat easier than getting it executed; however, a few talented beings learn what they truly have as professionals in their fields from a young age. Hence, they go ahead in creating an early momentum in their areas.
Dan Dasilva has done that and how, showing the world his prowess and greatness in music, especially with his latest single titled “Fall.” He has specific natural positivity energy in him, which flows through his voice in the song.
He is coming from a different background jumping into the Jungle of numerous talents who have already worked for years and making a place that needs exceptional talent. Dan Dasilva’s life started with a different profession, but his love for music took him to an absolute path. He is now on the way to success, which leaves no hurdles.
That is how I Don’t Know has achieved much praise on the musical charts and pouring sites and has been increasingly loved by so many music lovers. With FALL, Dan Dasilva puts the DIFFERENT side of his in front of the audience by letting people know that sometimes we do not get the solutions we seek in life, but walking our paths anyway is what stands essential.
FALL has infused many conspiracies in listeners who want to know more about the thought process that Dan Dasilva had while registering for this unique track. The song takes people into a different world made by the young singer and musical talent.
It has been providing people mystical experiences every time a listener chooses to sway to its tunes, creating a clear image of Dan Dasilva in the senses and hearts of listeners. This has helped Dan Dasilva get ahead of many others and create a unique place in the field.
Have some good time by listening to his tunes by connecting to his Spotify:
The way several young budding talents are flourishing in their respective fields has been simply remarkable. The knowledge they perceive to master their art helps them to explore widely. When we glance at the young talent of the music industry, the skill, creativity, and perfect implementation they enhance in their work are inspirational.
The music industry is a huge ocean where massive artist have set their benchmark and to survive between them successfully is a tricky job. Only pure artists like Nour Atta can do it with panache. The young talent is creating a huge buzz with his music craft and mesmerizing voice texture.
Grew up with the only desire of being a singer, he started working on his dream at a tender age and polish his music craft with long hours of practice, daily gaining knowledge of music. His own experience inbuilt the correct sense of each beat and rhythm which has been the most important factor of music.
His all-recent tracks like – Stars, Mentality, Go on, On Me, Feelin and many more are majorly successful. Millions of audiences have appreciated his music craft and the melodious voice he is blessed with. The stupendous success of his tracks gave him recognition in the industry and in the millions of listeners’ hearts.
Nour Atta is an artist which makes his listener’s hearts smile and minds happy. His journey of being a music artist was not a walk in the park. The self-made man made it possible with his strong desire, dedication, and consistent performances.
Today he is a renowned name of the music world and has a sound fan following on social domains. Along with music artist, he is also a Founder of @stockhours, @cryptohours, @tradelikenour, and @iaexotics. These enhance his unique skills and creative mind which is exploring astonishing in each field. The journey Nour Atta is truly inspiring – ‘nothing is impossible if you have a strong desire, passion, and patience to pursue your dream.’
It’s just a beginning much more endeavor is on the way. Stay tuned! Do follow him on Instagram @nourtrades and listen to his songs on Spotify @
So, the one thing that has always been on the rise among varied endeavors of the world is the growth of youngsters, especially in the world of music. The music space has always been accommodating enough to young minds and hearts, which bleed a different musical vibe and love, showing them the road to success. We came to learn about one such young man named AaydanCheong, who, with his recent song titled “Don’t tell me,” is on his way to seeing success in the ever-so-competitive music industry.
Donte tell me by Aaydan Cheong is already making a buzz in the music space, thanks to the intensity and madness this young musical talent has shown and the kind of enthusiasm he has been working in the industry each day. Don’t tell me showcases how well a singer and performer Aaydan Cheong is and how competent he is in attaining much more speed in the coming years in the industry. With Don’t tell me, Guillaume Louvet wants people to know that they too can find their comfort and sense of joy and pleasure through their journeys, just as he found via music.
The musical beats of the young singer have showcased in this particular song have permitted him to make his strong company in the industry known for many other growing singers and talented beings. He is sure that the buzz will only grow more for this song and more and more people would feel forced to listen to the track continuously. Aaydan Cheong has proved he can stay and make many more successes with this song.
You can also follow his Spotify to know about him and his songs. Here’s Aaydan Cheong Spotify link:
“Come and Go,” Folabi Clement Solanke’s newest hit is shattering streaming records all around the world. The song went on to become an immediate hit, propelling Folabi’s career to new heights. He and his great music have attracted fans from all around the world.
Folabi has been connected with music since he was a child, having been born in the heart of house music. He’s seen the flow of music expand and develop over the years he’s been in the business. As a result, he has a thorough understanding of how music works and influences people. This is expressed to the fullest extent feasible through his music.
The song ” Come and Go” was very recently released. The music surprised everyone and defied all expectations. You will feel utterly invigorated after listening to it. It’s amazing how much of a difference a simple restart can make.
Travis Scott’s newly launched Project HEAL initiative faced criticism from the grandparents of an Astroworld victim.
Tericia Blount, the grandmother of 9-year-old victim Ezra Blount, labeled Travis Scott’s Project HEAL a “PR stunt” while speaking to Rolling Stone. She believes the initiative is an attempt to curry favor with potential jurors as the rapper faces lawsuits for the Astroworld tragedy.
“He’s pretty much trying to sway the jurors before they’re even assembled,” Tericia Blount told Rolling Stone. “He’s trying to make himself look good, but it doesn’t look that way to someone with our eyes. What we’re seeing is that he’s done wrong, and now he’s trying to be the good guy and trying to give his own verdict on safety.”
Ezra Blount’s grandfather Bernon Blount added, “Every time he does something like this, it’s an ongoing reminder.”
Travis Scott launched Project HEAL on Wednesday (March 9). He pledged to provide academic scholarships, mental health resources, tech-driven solutions for event safety and more in wake of the Astroworld tragedy.
“While it’s easy for corporations and institutions to stay in the shadows, I feel as a leader in my community, I need to step up in times of need,” he wrote on Instagram. “My team and I created Project HEAL to take much-needed action towards supporting real solutions that make all events the safest spaces they can possibly be. I will always honor the victims of the Astroworld tragedy who remain in my heart forever.”
Last November, Ezra Blount was one of the 10 victims who died from injuries suffered at the 2021 Astroworld Festival. Hundreds more were hurt, resulting in a myriad of lawsuits against Travis Scott and others involved in the event.
Since the murder of rapper Drakeo The Ruler a few months ago, Tianna Purtue has been left with the burden of trying to get their 5-year-old son to understand that his father is never coming back.
Drakeo The Ruler, born Darrell Caldwell, 28, was set to perform at the Once Upon A Time in L.A festival on December 18th, 2021, when he found himself involved and outnumbered in a melee before he could hit the stage.
The incident happened in an alleyway adjacent to the Banc of California Stadium in South Central near the University of Southern California (USC).
Drakeo The Ruler’s murder questions the measures taken by venues to ensure the safety of both talent and patrons at large rap concerts.
Ten people were killed one month before Drakeo’s death after attending Travis Scott’s Astroworld festival in Texas.
His death also highlights the trend of violence that surrounds African-American rappers in the U.S. This energy not only cuts short the lives and artistic expression of these Black rappers – but it also threatens to affect the healthy development of their loved ones who also are traumatized by their murders – especially the children they leave behind.
AllHipHop: How have you been coping during this time?
Tianna Purtue: It has been hard, honestly because I just think of Caiden. My main concern is him. He will see me crying and ask, “Mommy are you ok?” And I don’t want to cry in front of him so I’ll say, “yeah I’m just thinking.” Then he’ll ask me what I was thinking about. When I’m thinking, I’m like, wow, he’s five. How many times am I going to have to repeat this before he actually understands ok, my dad is really not coming back.
AllHipHop: How Did You Meet Drakeo The Ruler?
Tianna Purtue: We met on Instagram and were not together at the time of his death. Before we had Caiden we were together a little over three years, and that is when we brought our beautiful son into the world. I met him when I was getting out of high school. He’s 28, and I’m 26. I know what the public sees, but he really has a sweetheart for his family and loved ones and takes care of what he needs to take care of. He was big on that, making sure everyone who was around him and supported him, they got that in return. That’s how Caiden came to be because the love between us was strong.
He always took care of me, especially since he was older than me. He knew what was going to happen. I do appreciate that, and that is why there will always be love in my heart for him because, at the end of the day, we brought Caiden into this world together.
AllHipHop: The family hired The Cochran Firm to announce the wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of your son. Why is this important to you?
Tianna Purtue: It is important to me because I think of what happened to Darrell and also now our 5-year-old he left behind—and that was not by choice. It was a major tragedy on how this happened and the lack of security at the venue. No one has any answers for his son. I’m sitting here constantly trying to talk to my son and let him know that everything is going to be ok even though you won’t see your dad again. The last things that we have to hold on to are our memories with him and his music which is one of Caiden’s favorite things to listen to all the time. He is always asking to watch his dad on youtube performing.
I have to deal with the fact that he asks me sometimes daily when he is going back to his dad’s house, or is his dad still gone, or is he coming back. He’s not really grasping that his dad is actually gone and he is never going to be able to see him again. It is a big challenge for me and I feel like this is a real big deal for me today. Especially for Caiden because we are going to step up and we are going to let them know that no one is able to bring Darrell back or give him an answer on why his dad is gone and he can’t come back to him.
AllHipHop: How did you feel watching Drakeo The Ruler being railroaded by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office and fighting for his freedom?
Tianna Purtue: If we bring it back to the beginning, the day that I was giving birth to our son he was getting his home invaded by the police and he actually had to miss our son being born. That was really hard. After that he was released, only to be put back in jail, with the D.A’s coming after him.
All I wanted was for him to be there with his son. While they were spending time railroading him, trying to accuse him of things, he is missing out on valuable time with his son. That’s what hurt the most is they didn’t get to really have that connection but we always tried to keep it over the phone or through Darrell’s mom to make sure it never failed just because he was away.
He always took care of Caiden while he was in jail and made sure he got whatever he needed although he wasn’t physically there to give it to him. Before Covid started we would go see him to make sure he had those memories. It was different when his dad was incarcerated because he was still here on this earth.
AllHipHop: What is your biggest hope and wish for your son?
Tianna Purtue: I always pray for him. I pray that he finds peace and the Lord just watches over him and answers all his questions if I feel like I am not answering them correctly. I get repetitive questions daily from him asking can I go back to my dad’s house now? Or is my dad still gone? It hurts and then I start crying because I have to repeat myself like yes, he is not going to be here anymore. But it’s ok because you still have your grandmother, you still have your uncle and cousins.
Caiden still tells me sometimes, I’m going to my grandma’s house and my dad is going to pick me up, because that’s what he is used to. A father and son have the closest bond and I feel that was just ripped away from my child. When he goes to middle school and high school or his first football game he is not going to be able to say my dad is here to support me. It is just going to be me and the rest of the family.
Every son needs his dad and that is a major thing today where the dads are being taken away from their families. It’s really hard. There are things his dad can teach him that I can’t show my son but I will try my best to make sure he is always on the right track.
Kanye West might end up on the witness stand in a Chicago courthouse.
According to the Chicago Tribune, ‘Ye has been subpoenaed to testify in a federal trial involving one of his former employees. Arjun Dhillon faces fraud charges for allegedly trying to scam a philanthropist out of $250,000 by using Kanye West’s name.
Dhillon’s trial begins in a matter of weeks with jury selection scheduled to start on April 4. Dhillon’s attorney Sheldon Zenner admitted ‘Ye hasn’t personally received notice of the subpoena at a hearing on Wednesday (March 9).
Kanye West’s presence at the trial must be settled soon with jury selection quickly approaching. Prospective jurors need to be screened about their perceptions of ‘Ye. Court security also must prepare for the arrival of a high-profile celebrity if he ends up testifying.
Prosecutors claim Dhillon manipulated a philanthropist to wire $250,000 to a bank account supposedly affiliated with Kanye West in 2019. The account belonged to Dhillon, whose bank flagged the transaction.
Dhillon allegedly crafted fake emails to convince the victim of his close ties to Kanye West since he stopped working for ‘Ye in 2018. Dhillon’s scheme failed when the victim alerted a bank to the potential fraud and stopped the money from being transferred.
