T.I. will be performing as comedian Tip Harris in the annual April Fools Comedy Jam next month with co-stars and fellow comics Nick Cannon, Eddie Griffin, HaHa Davis, B. Simone, Bruce Bruceand host Rip Micheals.
Micheals who also acts as the show’s producer, said he cannot wait to see how the legendary rapper fairs as a comedian in front of a Brooklyn crowd.
“I booked T.I. on the Wild N Out tour to close out the show as a musical guest and I am super excited to be the first one to bring him to New York to perform as a comedian,” he told AllHipHop. “I’ve been seeing the posts of his comedy performances in Atlanta and he did a good job at Shaq’s All-Star Comedy Jam in LA. I can’t wait to see him perform live at Barclays Center…and you know the BK audience don’t play.”
In the last few months, T.I. has emerged as a funny man as videos of him performing stand-up in clubs emerged.
Lil Kim will perform in front of her hometown to further strengthen the hood ties.
The comedy show had been postponed for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but Michaels brought it back as restrictions have been eased dramatically nation-wide.
The April 9, 2022 even is a part of Rip Micheals’s “Did I Go Too Far” Comedy Tour. For more on tickets, fans can go to www.aprilfoolscomedyjam.com.
With the success of the two-time Oscar-nominated King Richard movie and the critically acclaimed Bel-Air series on Peacock, one might think that actor-turned-producer Will Smith would be slowing down.
That doesn’t seem to be the case.
According to Deadline, the West Philadelphia/ Wynnefield native is gearing up to film another production — one that fans have been asking over a decade for.
The trade states that Warner Bros. studios are investing crazy into the new I Am Legend film, pairing the original’s lead actor with Michael B. Jordan, one of the most popular movie stars of his generation.
Smith made a cool tease on Instagram. He posted on social media a picture from the actual movie. Jazzy Jeff hopped in the comments and said, “Wait…WHAT?????”
The two are making cinema history as this will be the first time the blockbuster-must-haves have worked together on a film. If their past projects, that combined have grossed $12.3 billion worldwide, this upcoming collab will be a sure win for the studio.
Especially since the original film opened to a whopping $77.2 million its first weekend and later hit $256.4 million domestically.
The global gross for I Am Legend tallied in at over half a billion ($585.4 million).
Both Smith (Westbrook Studios) and Jordan (Outliers Society) will be producers. James Lassiter will serve as the executive producer.
[Editorial Note: This article has been updated to reflect certain truths about this case. The writer editorialized in theoriginal article two things: a suggestion that the artist might have faced jail time and a suggestion that the settlement was compensatory. The writer used a Miami sentencing gauge in her copy, to estimate a penalty for a rape conviction in the state of Florida. The writer also, erroneously assumed, that a settlement equated to a financial agreement between parties. The writer was wrong to do so. AllHipHop.com offers our apologies to French Montana for the confusion.]
French Montana has settled a sexual assault lawsuit with a woman who claimed he attacked her in his home during COVID.
According to Radar Online, the celebrity rapper will not have to go to trial to face sexual assault charges after his accuser settled with his team for her emotional duress.
The anonymous accuser sued the “Famous” chart-topper over claims he drugged and then raped her in his domicile after making music during a recording session.
Jane Doe sued the artist, his business partner, and his label, Coke Boy Records.
Additional accusations against the three parties were filed on March 28th, 2018, for assault and battery, sexual battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligence for the alleged incident.
Jane Doe alleged that French invited her to his home in Hidden Hills, California. While there, the young lady, at the urging of his entourage, started drinking alcohol before blacking out.
She said afterward, she remembered “several men coming in and out of the bedroom” and that she knew who raped her. The Jane Doe accuser identified French Montana as “was one of the men who entered the room and sexually assaulted her.”
The outlet reported that the court documents have been filed revealing that the rapper settled the lawsuit with the woman after two years of the incident being in question, a week before they were set for trial on March 14th.
The documents suggest that the charges will be officially dismissed within the next week. The documents did not give any details about the settlement.
GQue (short for GetEm Q) Is a songwriter/rap artist, born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He has been writing and singing music since he was 9 years old. When he was 11 years old he wrote and recorded his first song with a musical instrument “Jay-Z – Anything” entitled: “Tha Skool” and played it at a talent show at his school. . His first musical release was in 2011 a mixtape that was badly publicized in an area titled: “Climbing Trees” at the age of 17. He is now a Businessman, Restaurant Owner, Landlord, and father of two children. Since the latest GQueTv still pushes the envelope and loves art, dropping new music, videos, and online content to become the next big thing in the music industry!
GQueTv’s latest project titled “Nice Try, Wrong Guy ” has a surreal focus on overall music and powerful songs, amazing delivery, and funny but ear-catching lyrics, GQueTv has made us new listeners with this album. The intro track is hilarious and witty. Then there is the Stared showcasing the bendable delivery of GQueTv. The subtlety of his flow is very remarkable. Another notable song is Fumble the bag.
Digging in the Depths of his song “Black Fathers Matter” shows us that being conscious in rap has a place in this field. A message with a message, music with content can influence and adapt to everything that is going on in music today.
In the BFM track, the producer compliments the voice of artist GQueTv and sets the tone as if he were talking to an audience. The presence of Obama is powerful and impactful, Which helps push the message forward.
My personal favorite record by the artist is Bag A Lot. The way he smoothly transitions through flows with confidence makes the song that much greater. He is a clear lyrical poetic genius in the making with an amazing vibe. All in all, GQueTv has a different way of using its voice. Soon I feel he’ll take the whole industry by storm. His Songs are currently streaming at all major music streaming services.
Follow the artist on YouTube, Website and Spotify for updates about future releases.
The legendary rapper recently celebrated the release of his new album titled Saturday Afternoon Kung Fu Theater by hosting an exclusive, intimate listening party in Los Angeles.
Taking over a private mansion in the Hollywood Hills, the Wu-Tang member teamed up with DJ Scratch, who produced the album, to debut the new project amongst friends and family.
The evening was welcomed with live music, fire show dancers, and a martial arts performance while their song “Fate of the World” played in the background.
Guests were welcomed to the event by cocktail waitresses in Wu-Tang branded martial arts uniforms, and they sipped on RZA’s own’ Vuelo tequila.
Additionally, a beautiful projection of the album cover was seen in the swimming pool in the middle of the front yard.
The event was produced by The Alyi V Experience and live-streamed exclusively to fans through Cinema Giants. Take a look at some pictures of the event below!
She has since removed “West” from her name on her social media accounts, further cementing her split from the *Donda* rap star.
She is now dating comedian Pete Davidson, while Kanye has been linked to model Chaney Jones.
Kanye is still an emotional wreck over their divorce despite their parting ways. Last night, the rapper posted an image to his 15 million followers which featured a new poem he penned titled “Divorce.”
According to Kanye, the divorce feels like he is “receiving a spiritual beating every evening.”
“Divorce feels like you worked overtime all week and you aint allowed off for the weekend,” Kanye West opined while comparing the feeling to “Halloween” demon Michael Myers.
Kanye also compared the pain to a “funeral a miscarriage and a broken leg.”
As Ye writhes in pain, his now legally single ex-wife Kim Kardashian seems to be having a ball without him.
Kim flaunted her assets in another picture, covered by nothing but a towel, which sent her 290 million followers into a frenzy.
Another series of snaps showcased Kim and her sisters Khloe and Kendall having a ball, smiling and laughing.
Ye’s somber poem and Kim’s happy pictures come just days after she was declared legally single by a judge, as their divorce winds through family court.
The feud between rappers 50 Cent and Game could be on the verge of heating back up. The two rap stars went through a violent rivalry in 2005 after Game was kicked out of G-Unit.
Earlier this week, 50 Cent reacted to Game’s “Drink Champs” interview. He asserted Kanye West had done more for his career in two weeks than Dr. Dre ever did after the pair recorded their collaboration record “Eazy.”
Although 50’s comment was brief, he wrote: “Hun, what happen here?” along with an older picture of Game and 50 Cent.
The Compton, California rapper got wind of the comment and issued a solid warning to 50 Cent.
“Last time you did this with me, G-Unit clothing got put in a casket wit the entire group & you went into television,” Game snarled. “I like Power n s###…. leave it alone. I’m back outside.”
The back and forth between the two men come on the heels of a recent Clubhouse interview Game did with Wack 100.
During that interview, Game said he was with 50 Cent’s ghostwriter and penned the lyrics to 50 Cent’s#### song “What Up Gangsta” from his groundbreaking debut, Get Rich or Die Tryin.
“I’m going to speak on something Game don’t ever speak on,” Wack 100 said and then recited the hook to the song. “Who you think wrote that? I’m going to leave it alone.”
Female rappers are some of the stylish celebrities around, covering magazines and walking down runways from Milan to Paris to New York. Designers have used them to spit lyrics in a verse or two of their songs or sport their wears for an album cover or press appearance.
Marc Jacobs, a brand that has risen alongside rap music, has tapped one of the culture’s queens to rep him for his new line.
Nicki Minaj has been hired by designer Marc Jacobs in their campaign for the new Spring collection, titled Heaven by Marc Jacobs.
In the campaign, Nicki Minaj is rocking two looks from the collection.
One fit has a white Heaven logo baby tee and the black multi-buckle kiki boot in black. She took to Instagram to promote her new model gig and said, “The Harajuku Barbie Introducing the #Heavn Campaign by #MarcJacobs”
The Spring collection of Heaven by Marc Jacobs is now available online and will be followed up by the second release in April. This version will have the cast from Comedy Central’s Hi Octane.
The third release will drop in May and feature psychedelic graphics by Elliot Shields.
Nicki Minaj has been throwing the world into a frenzy with her fashions for years.
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian are now officially divorced, and it doesn’t seem like the rapper is taking it well.
The 44-year-old took to social media and posted a poem about divorce, presumably that he wrote, that communicate what he may be feeling about a judge declaring he and his wife officially single.
The image he posted on Instagram said in part, “Divorce feels like full blown Covid … feels like your doctor don’t know s### … like you’re walking on glass … like you’re bring bullied in a classroom.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CasosYVuM_G/
“Divorce,” he continues, “feels like your kids were snatched from your control … feels like you’ve been shot and traffic is slow … feels like heavy breathing … feels like grandma never got over that cold … feels like suffocating … Barely breathing.”
The divorce took over a year to be complete. In that time, despite their agreement to keep the details of their marriage’s dissolution out of the media, repeatedly the billionaire recording artist took to his platforms to address changes in the social life of the children, the staff, and his ex-wife.
Both celebrities have dated others. Yeezy has linked to Irina Shayk, Chaney Jones, Vinetria, and Julia Fox, according to Page Six. Kardashian has only been linked to Saturday Night Live comedian, Peter Davidson.
Yung Gwapa is Chicago’s very own talent who is determined to not only advance his music career but also advance the rap game. Yung Gwapa’s latest power move with dropping his single, “Jugg,” successfully broke his 3-year musical hiatus. “Jugg” is a trap anthem that undoubtedly steers his career back in the right direction for this multifaceted businessman. Gwapa is currently acting and writing films, advancing his clothing line titled Richigh The Brand, and managing his label BLACK HEART Music Group, including rising artist GSambo. Yung Gwapa is a certified executive who has plans to grow his career to new heights.
One could compare Yung Gwapa’s inspirations from the accomplishments of P Diddy, Gucci Mane, Nipsey Hustle, and Young Dolph to how he plans to move his career in the future.
Yung Gwapa is currently preparing for an upcoming 25 episode series featuring BLACK HEART Music group artists and his forthcoming album “NO” that is projected to release in late March-early April.
“I used to write poetry in middle school, then I turned my poetry into rap,” expressed Yung Gwapa. “In my music, you can expect growth, hunger, passion, and real authenticity.”
Be sure to follow him on social media and check out his latest track, “Jugg” on Spotify today!
In the last few years, we have seen the dramatic rise of Drill Rap music. The rap artists in New York City have taken the genre that was started in Chicago about a decade ago and adopted it for their own. And part of that is the violent imagery and actual violence that sometimes accompanies the music.
All Drill Rap is not violent-oriented, and often times that is part of the problem. Perception drives reality in a lot of instances. With this genre, we have seen how social media, algorithms, real-life poverty, violence, and technology all collide in one volatile explosion.
New York City’s Mayor Eric Adams made headlines last month when he decided that Drill Rap should be banned from the radio and social media. Also, DJ Drewski of Hot 97 (who helped break Pop Smoke) proclaimed he would no longer play drill wraps that involved dissing other artists or gangs in order to prevent more deaths. This garnered quick pushback from artists, fans, and others that said these moves were distractions from the reality of the streets. Maino lead the charge with a meeting attended by Fivio Foreign and the Mayor too.
Journalist Lisa Evers and her Fox5 NYC show “Street Soldiers” delves deep into this topic with a myriad of people to discuss the problem and the solutions as well.
February started off strong for the music industry, with various artists releasing some dope tracks that have now turned into trending sounds on different social media platforms. This includes “Do We Have a Problem” by Nicki Minaj and “It Will Be Okay,” among others. As we come to the end of the month, fast-rising artist Kid Heat is setting the bar higher and ending the month on a high note.
The talented singer and songwriter is set to release his long-awaited song “Pretty Girls Never Listen” by the end of the month. According to Kid Heat, this is by far one of the best projects he’s worked on, and he believes it will have a huge impact on his listeners. He says writing the song was quite an experience for him as it is a bit different from his usual sound, but that is what makes the song even better.
Just like all his songs, his goal with “Pretty Girls Never Listen” is to empower, encourage others, and above all, leave a long-lasting impact on the lives of his audience. Music is instrumental to Kid Heat. Growing up listening to various genres, he came to love music and found refuge in it. He says his main aim in writing music is to create a safe space for everyone and show people that giving up is never an option. Kid Heat is using his talent to share his story with the rest of the world, encouraging them to fight for their goals.
“Not everything in life will work in your favor,” says Kid Heat, “However, you should never let your current circumstances stop you from reaching your goals.” Kid Heat had to watch his mother struggle to make money to cater to their basic needs. He was raised by a single mother, and by seeing all the sacrifices she had to make to give him a better life, his goal in life was to become successful and help his mother.
Kid Heat invested in his career, perfecting his skills as a musician and songwriter, and with time, he cemented his place in the global music scene. His songs have gained thousands of views across the various streaming platforms, with his unique sound setting him apart.
Kid Heat is Native American with a little bit of Japanese in his background. Growing up exposed to different cultures, he has incorporated this into his music, something that is helping him create a unique and timeless sound. The smooth flow of lyrics, his impeccable voice, and quality production allow him to deliver his message perfectly, as evidenced in his soon-to-be-released song “Pretty Girls Never Listen.”
As he prepares to release the song “Pretty Girls Never Listen,” Kid Heat is also working on other projects. He says he is looking to drop some more tracks in collaboration with other artists in the industry. He is also using his journey to encourage others. “When you believe in yourself and put in the work, nothing is impossible,” says Kid Heat.
A man pleaded guilty to the murder of Jacqueline Avant, who was the wife of legendary music executive Clarence Avant.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced 30-year-old Aariel Maynor’s guilty plea on Thursday (March 3).
Maynor pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, attempted murder, possession of a firearm by a felon and two counts of first-degree residential burglary with a person present.
“This crime continues to shock the conscience,” Gascón said in a press statement. “Mrs. Avant’s death was a tragic loss felt by our entire community. In this case, the defendant is facing 170 years to life in prison and is ineligible for elderly parole. Our Bureau of Victim Services will continue to be in contact with the family and their representatives to offer trauma-informed services.”
Maynor, who’s previously been convicted of robbery and grand theft, was released on parole a few months before Jacqueline Avant’s shooting death. Maynor originally pleaded not guilty to murder following his arrest in December.
Jacqueline Avant was fatally shot during a robbery at her Beverly Hills home on December 1, 2021. Maynor was also accused of firing shots at a security guard, who was not injured.
According to Radar Online, the controversial artist has been hit with a foreclosure lawsuit. A company called BH 4908 LLC sued him for allegedly failing to make a mortgage payment.
Tory Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, purchased a Miami condo for $1.8 million in 2018. BH 4908 gave him a $1.26 million loan to buy the property.
The Canadian rapper/singer agreed to monthly mortgage payments of $11,057.40. He was also supposed to make a balloon payment for over $1 million in December 2021.
BH 4908 claims Tory Lanez failed to pay the $1,237,456.06 balloon note. As a result, the company’s asked the court for permission to foreclose on the condo.
Tory Lanez allegedly owes $1,237,456.06 plus interest on the loan. BH 4908 wants to sell the home to the highest bidder. It also wants the multi-platinum selling artist to pay the difference between the amount the condo’s sold for and the amount he owes.
The foreclosure lawsuit is another problem for Tory Lanez, who is awaiting trial in an assault case. He’s been accused of shooting Megan Thee Stallion in 2020.
A pre-trial hearing for the assault case is scheduled to take place in April.
Kissie Lee is here to bring back that soulful R&B we all know and love. Hailing from Denver, Colorado, but now calling Atlanta home, the rising star writes honest lyrics inspired by real life experiences from the past, touching on the topics of love, relationships, and everything in between.
In describing herself, she states, “Kissie Lee is the girl next door, your round away girl. Every girl’s best friend, really cool with the guys too. Everybody comes to me with the relationship drama. [laughs] I try to talk them through because I’m the same.”
Her strong pen alone has led her to collaborate with artists such as Jacquees, Tiny Harris, and Keke Wyatt, creating that vibe that has music-lovers coming back for more. Now, she shifts her focus to her own artistry, creating her own personal bops with catchy hooks that immediately reel you in upon hearing.
Most recently, Kissie unleashed the official music video for “Always Something,” an uplifting record that stands for female empowerment and knowing your worth in a relationship. Flipping the nostalgic Jagged Edge’s “Let’s Get Married,” the song serves as the standout single for her newly-dropped EP titled My Toxic Love.
AllHipHop: How would you describe your sound?
Kissie Lee: My sound is definitely R&B, it’s strictly R&B. I wouldn’t say strictly but I really love that 2000/90’s feel, so that’s always what I go for creatively. It’s definitely a lot of relationship music, but I do fun songs still. I don’t know if you heard anything yet, but I did a mixtape with DJ Five Venoms. My “Only Fans” and “Pop Out,” I’ll do fun club songs like that. Because when we’re able to. I am outside. [laughs]
AllHipHop: I love Five Venoms! How do you know him?
Kissie Lee: Yes! DJ Five Venoms, I did the Rolling Loud set with him. That was my first ever Rolling Loud. I did Rolling Loud, California.
AllHipHop: What was the best memory from that?
Kissie Lee: Oh my gosh, everything honestly. Really being on that stage and looking out in the crowd, it was really fans. Certain festivals, I’ll go to maybe SXSW and things like that, it’s a lot of artists in the audience. But Rolling Loud, you’re really getting your music straight to the fans.
AllHipHop: How’s Atlanta treating you?
Kissie Lee: I’m in Atlanta. I love Atlanta, they adopted me. [laughs]
AllHipHop: Where are you from originally?
Kissie Lee: Denver, Colorado. I think anyone in California would agree Denver is like a mini-LA, so I’m a West Coast girl basically the way we grew up. They think it’s a small town, but we’re a big small town.
AllHipHop: When did you fall in love with music?
Kissie Lee: I fell in love with music when I was 6 years old. I went to this theater improv thing, it looks like a birthday party. I went home and told my mom, “Oh mommy, I want to do this. That looks cute!” At 6 years old, she put me in it. I had to learn a song and learn monologues. I really started off acting onstage, that’s how they found out I could sing because I had to learn in order to get accepted. “Oh my God, she can sing!” It started at a young age. I’ve been in the studio since the fifth grade.
AllHipHop: Who were you listening to that made you want to do music?
Kissie Lee: My parents are really soulful. Even though I grew up in Colorado because I’m an Army brat, they’re from the South Side of Chicago and North Philly. They play anything from Bobby Blue Bland, whatever my dad listens to down to Aretha, Patti, all the 90’s. It was cookout central. So we was hearing Keyshia Cole, Mary J. Blige, Monica, we were hearing some of everything. Off my parents musical taste is when I started loving — that’s how I want my sound.
AllHipHop: When did you realize you could do music for a living? Was there a turning point?
Kissie Lee: I was getting paid for stuff in middle school. When I got to Atlanta, I started songwriting more in Atlanta. I wrote songs just because I needed songs to sing, but I started writing for other artists when I got to Atlanta. Wait, this is a whole career. There’s independent artists that will pay me to come to the studio and write a song? Oh, this is a whole thing. I started getting the royalty checks. I realized oh, this is a whole situation. [laughs]
AllHipHop: What do you like about Atlanta?
Kissie Lee: I like how easy it is to get into the music scene. The studios are not so far apart. Honestly it’s a little cheaper to live here than if I would have moved to New York. Me from being in Atlanta, I’ve met more people in New York. It was easier for me to branch off to work in LA or New York, just from being in Atlanta. It was easy for me to connect with people here.
AllHipHop: Is Kissie Lee your real name?
Kissie Lee: Well my mom came up with it, you can say in a way. She used to order me and my sister These books to read and do schoolwork in the summer before we go outside. One of the poems that I read in this book was titled Kissie Lee. That name always stuck with me in how the character was in the poem. She was always quiet and sweet, the men in her life ran over her. But then one day, her grandma said, “You need to carry a switchblade under your tongue and cut them up.” And I say my tongue is in my sword. Me writing and the songs that I write, just me expressing myself through my music made me stronger and more confident.
AllHipHop: Talk about creating “Always Something,” that’s such an iconic sample.
Kissie Lee: Creating that song, I heard the beat first. It was produced by 6lement and Big Zar. They produce a lot of my project. When I heard the beat, I was like, “Ooh, they already know, they know my style.” When words start coming out of my mouth, when I first hear it, I know it’s a bop. I already got plenty of stuff to talk about as far as my relationships’ past, so it just came out. I talked about a place in my relationship where my friends would always tell me: “Why are you still with him? This guy is crazy, this and that.” You know, you don’t listen to your friends all the time. I wrote it from that place in my relationship where I was stuck basically. I knew he was wrong, but I was still there for some reason.
AllHipHop: Where was the video shot?
Kissie Lee: It was a really dope location, they have a lot of different rooms. I wanted a pink room because I like the soft girly side. That was my vulnerable side of the relationship. You get the fur coat and the black and it’s like “okay, I gotta leave. I gotta be strong” type of vibe. I wanted it to be real simplistic, no extras. I want people to just put whatever relationship or person they’re in, in the place of me having an on screen actor type of thing.
AllHipHop: What was the best memory from shooting?
Kissie Lee: The fact that we shot it in an hour. [laughs] I don’t know what made us be like “oh, we can probably do this in an hour.” We really were crunching. I did have to add on an extra 30 minutes. His name is Juice Bigfellow is the director, he shot all of Calboy’s videos too.
AllHipHop: What a small world!
Kissie Lee: It’s definitely really thin, so Juice shot this video. He shoots a lot of my videos too so we already work well together. It’s gonna be simple, let’s just knock it out. We already know what angles to get, so we did it in an hour.
AllHipHop: Talk about your album, My Toxic Love, out now!
Kissie Lee: I’m excited about My Toxic Love because… I don’t know if I’m toxic, you gotta ask my boyfriend. I’m talking about the toxic stuff that I’ve experienced. What I like to do with my songs, my messages, is always create a vibe and be relatable, but then also give you hope in my songs. Alright, we can make it out of this. Because then it ends on a good note. No matter what, there’s always love out there. There’s over 7 billion people in this world! There’s somebody.
AllHipHop: Do you have any features?
Kissie Lee: No, I didn’t do any features on this one. This was my first time.
AllHipHop: One thing you want fans to take away from the project?
Kissie Lee: The fanbase that I’ve been creating, they’re understanding my sound and I want them to start spreading the word. This was my goal for this one. This is my sound. This is what y’all are going to expect. You can expect me to obviously build on it, but this is the root. I want them to catch the vibe and understand my story, what type of story you’re going to get from me with this sound.
AllHipHop: You’ve written for Jacquees, Tiny Harris, Keke Wyatt, etc. How does it feel to be a well-respected songwriter?
Kissie Lee: Being a songwriter period, I love it just as much as being an artist. Especially when I’m in the studio with a Tiny Harris, she’ll tell me exactly “this how I want to sound, I want to give this era vibe. This is what I want to do.” So I get to jump into their head, I’ve even had artists cry after I write the song. To me, that’s a big accomplishment.
Jacquees’ energy was always so much fun. I love music period so whether the song’s me singing it or somebody else, I love the fact that my ideas or my creativity is out in the world. That’s me with songwriting, and plus getting my first #1 on Billboard with the Disney artist Skyler Stecker.
Kissie Lee: She was going back and forth to Atlanta working with Tricky Stewart, he’s a big huge producer legend. He always calls me into the studio to write because he knows I’m really good at pop. They call me in, they’re like “it’s for this Disney artist.” Cool, no pressure. I go and write the song. A couple weeks later, they said “She’s gonna use that as her single. This is about to be really big for her.” Alright cool, I’m not thinking too much of it. It comes out and it ends up being #1 behind Rihanna’s “Wild Thoughts.” That’s big! Then the next week, it beat Rihanna. This is crazy! That’s my first #1 on Billboard.
AllHipHop: Do you see yourself as a songwriter or an artist first?
Kissie Lee: I was both at the same time because growing up in Colorado, I didn’t even know that you could get songwriters, if that makes sense. I knew I wanted to sing and I got to perform at Cinco de Mayo or Juneteenth, so I need a song. I’d write it and people said “oh she sounds cute!” I write my own songs. When I got to Atlanta, I realized, “Oh, this is a whole thing.” [laughs]
AllHipHop: 3 things you need in the studio at all times?
Kissie Lee: I need YouTube on with some vibes playing. Some videos or something, I like colorful stuff on the screen. I need the booth to be dark. I don’t like light and people looking in the booth. [laughs] I need a really dope engineer because it’s different recording a singer versus rap. I need all the sauce.
AllHipHop: Talk about throwing your own release party in Atlanta.
Kissie Lee: Oh, yeah, I’m really excited for this because it’ll be my first time ever headlining something. Basically, it’s all on me. It’s not like “Oh, I’m opening for the great such and such.” Nah, it’s me baby! It’s my first time carrying the whole show, my goal and excitement for it is for it to lead into a tour.
AllHipHop: Do you have a dream collab?
Kissie Lee: Oh yeah, I always say Ty Dolla $ign and Bruno Mars are my two. And I’m gonna have to add in Drake.
AllHipHop: What’re you most excited for next?
Kissie Lee: I’m most excited for seeing how this project does and really taking this show on the road, because it’s definitely tour season. That’s what we’re aiming for, to really build my fanbase all over, in every city.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want the people to know about you?
Kissie Lee: If they want to get in my business, look on YouTub. I post vlogs of my personal life, me cooking or me with my baby. They can subscribe to my Youtube channel and get more in my business, be nosy. [laughs]
Drake is asking the court for protection from an alleged stalker.
According to TMZ, Drake pursued legal action to deal with a woman who’s allegedly been harassing him for years. The music star’s lawyer Larry Stein filed a petition for a temporary restraining order against 29-year-old Mesha Collins.
Drake wants a protective order to prevent Collins from coming within 100 yards of him and his family. He fears for the safety of himself and his family due to Collins’ “obsession.”
In court documents obtained by TMZ, Drake alleges Collins sent him threatening emails. Last month, she purportedly told him to “put a bullet through your head now b####” in one email.
Collins was arrested for trespassing after breaking into the OVO co-founder’s Los Angeles mansion in 2017. He decided not to press charges against her, but his issues with Collins didn’t end there.
Years later, Collins filed a $4 billion lawsuit against Drake accusing him of invasion of privacy. The lawsuit was dismissed in 2021 yet she continued to pursue it.
Last month, a judge denied Collins’ attempt to revive the invasion of privacy lawsuit. Following the second dismissal, Collins asked for her own restraining order against Drake. Her request was denied.
Miley Cyrus thanked Lizzo for her TED Talk about the history of twerking.
The “Truth Hurts” hitmaker gave a TED Talk, which she also called the TED Twerk, in August last year about how the dance’s Black history had been erased by popular culture.
During her talk, Lizzo cited Miley as an example of a white person who brought twerking into the mainstream, after the “Wrecking Ball” star hit headlines for doing the risque move at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards.
Discussing her talk with People, Lizzo revealed that Miley thanked her for the talk when they bumped into each other.
“I’m very delicate with how I mention her (Miley) because, at the end of the day, I didn’t want to have any bias in the way I talked about how she brought twerking to (the) mainstream,” she explained. “The messenger is kind of how this thing spread like it did – seeing her at the VMAs. And I saw her recently and she was like, ‘I watched your TED Talk and I really loved it. Thank you for that.'”
During her talk, Lizzo said,“Everything that Black people create, from fashion to music to the way we talk, is co-opted and appropriated by pop culture. I want to prevent the erasure of Blackness from twerking.”
The 35-year-old told People that she grew up in a family that is “very proud” of their “Blackness” and learned from an early age how America treats Black people, specifically Black women.
Cardi B isn’t done with her legal battle against vlogger Tasha K.
According to multiplereports, Cardi B is seeking a court order to have defamatory claims about her removed from Tasha K’s YouTube channel and social media. The Atlantic Records artist’s attorneys asked a federal judge for a permanent injunction against the vlogger in a filing on Thursday (March 3).
“Not all of the videos and posts containing the defamatory statements have been removed from defendants’ social media accounts,” her legal team noted in the court filing.
Earlier this year, Cardi B was awarded $4 million in a defamation lawsuit against Latasha Kebe a.k.a. Tasha K. Kebe was found liable of defamation, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
But Cardi B and her lawyers want more than money for the trouble caused by Kebe. That’s why they’ve asked the court to step in and make Kebe delete what they describe as “disgusting lies” about the rapper.
“Damages alone are inadequate to address the constant ongoing threat of defendants repeating the defamatory statements,” the court filing argues. “Defendants have explicitly said that they will continue publishing the defamatory statements unless an injunction is issued.”
Kebe has accused Cardi B of having herpes and engaging in prostitution. During the defamation trial, Kebe said she’d only scrub the false allegations from her platforms if the court ordered her to do it.
Directed by Ryan Jordan Thomas, Chance The Rapper-collaborator eGo Jaleel unloads the official music video for his 2020 release “Fontana.”
The small screen interpretation of The 25th Hour-produced song finds the Windy City wordsmith rotating an assortment of Black love interests, all hoping to be his priority partner.
Speaking on the record, eGo states,
“Either it happens then I write it or I write it then it happens. No other way. This time, it happened. Fontana is really about realizing your worth.”
Adam Freeman B.K.A. eGo Jaleel was born and raised in Chicago by his grandparents, who adopted him after his parents went absent. To cope with feelings of abandonment and the harsh realities of growing up in the chaotic city, he began to express himself through music.
He has gained over 1M+ streams over the span of his career and plans to use his talent, drive and ability to become a household name.
Check out the visual for “Fontana” below and stream ‘Over’ on the DSP of your choice.
Samuel L. Jackson believes he should have taken home the Oscar for his role in “Pulp Fiction.”
“The Avengers” actor has been nominated once for an Academy Award – for playing hitman Jules in Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 movie “Pulp Fiction.”
He believes the Best Supporting Actor statuette should have been his instead of “Ed Wood’s” Martin Landau.
“I should have won that one,” he told The Times, adding that he deserved a supporting actor nomination for the 1991 movie “Jungle Fever” as much as Harvey Keitel and Ben Kingsley for the gangster film “Bugsy.”
“My wife and I went to see ‘Bugsy,'” he said. “Damn! They got nominated and I didn’t? I guess Black folk usually win for doing despicable s### on screen. Like Denzel (Washington) for being a horrible cop in ‘Training Day.’ All the great stuff he did in uplifting roles like ‘Malcolm X?’ No – we’ll give it to this m###########. So maybe I should have won one.”
Washington was beaten to the Best Actor award by Al Pacino for “Scent of a Woman” in 1993, the year he was nominated for “Malcolm X.” He eventually won in 2002 for “Training Day.*
However, Jackson noted that Oscars acclaim doesn’t “move the comma on your check” as an actor’s salary is based on their box office takings – and he is the highest-grossing actor of all time.
He added that his blockbuster films are just as valid as awards season fare.
“All movies are valid,” Jackson explained. “Some go to the cinema to be moved dearly. Some like superheroes. If somebody has more butts on seats it just means your audience is not as broad. There are people who have had successful careers but nobody can recite one line of their parts. I’m the guy who says s### that’s on a T-shirt.”
