DJ Ronniegg is a very busy person. Working full time in finance, the creative sometimes finds it hard to balance her professional life with her dream life. The struggle has only gotten more complicated recently as DJ Ronniegg’s music has started to take off around the world. So far her tracks have been heard by more than 30,000 people to date.
For as long as she can remember, DJ Ronniegg has been involved with music in some way. The creative is well versed in being able to play instruments including the guitar. DJ Ronniegg has plans to release even more music soon.
Lauren London commemorated her boyfriend Nipsey Hussle on the third anniversary of his death.
The actress honored Nipsey Hussle in an Instagram post on Thursday (March 31). Lauren London declared she’d forever love the late rapper, who is the father of her son Kross.
“Loving You,” she wrote. “Here. There. Then. Now. Forever and After. Long Live The King Ermias Asghedom. Hussle Man.”
Lauren London also shared more Nipsey Hussle tributes on her Instagram Stories. One featured a heartfelt message about his presence remaining with her even in death.
“I may not see you but I feel you in the moon and the stars and the seasons always changing,” the message read. “Telling me though I may seem alone that you never really left.”
Last year, Lauren London opened up about losing Nipsey Hussle in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. Since his death, she’s been on a “quest for peace.”
“I lost what I would say is the love of my life, so I had to go so deep within myself,” she explained. “I was so in a dark space and it was just like, ‘What is this? Who am I? God, please show me.’ When you’re facing God face-on, you’re asking real questions and you want real answers. It wasn’t for play. I really wanted to know what was going on.”
Nipsey Hussle was shot and killed in 2019. His alleged killer Eric Holder is still awaiting trial for murder.
Looking at the music industry today, it is hard to believe that music is a calling since it has become heavily commercialized. However, Phillionaire remains true to his calling, echoing that music is a path that has called to him his whole life. His natural inclination to music has seen him break out into a star who has superhits like “iWanna” to his credit and whose music provides more than just a distraction for his listeners. Music is a calling, according to Phillionaire.
It requires time, commitment, sacrifice, and talent to make your mark in this highly competitive industry. Yet if you do have a natural inclination to music, you have a great head start. And once you feel that pull to this particular craft, it is hard to break out of its enigma. For Phillionaire, he had no desire to escape this creative grip. Upon realizing that music was the only path he would love to tread on, Phillionaire was determined to do whatever was necessary to make this a reality. It was a calling, and there was no other way to describe it. This innate passion became even more intense, an effective motivator for the young artist.
Even with this passion and motivation, Phillionaire admits the road to success was a difficult one. He had to put forth a lot of self-discipline to focus on the mindset of “work before play” and always remembered why he chose music as a career. Phillionaire shares when he weighed out other career options, the thought of being unhappy for a lifetime always got him back on track.“I couldn’t see myself doing anything else,” Phillionaire reflects.
“It was music or nothing; that’s how strong the calling was.” This natural propensity generated a drive that could not have come from any other source, and Phillionaire is very grateful for it. He realizes the inclination was critical in preparing for this demanding career and is determined to continue focusing on it for future success. There is an adage that your destiny is what you make of it. Phillionaire didn’t just have the talent for a successful music career; he was born with an inclination for this craft that provided the other essential elements. A calling guided the hard work and sacrifices as Phillionaire used his penchant for music to make the right turns on an impressive career path.
Ever since he was a young man growing up in Long Island, New York, Wizard Lee always dreamed of becoming a major influence on the music culture. He was infatuated by the production side of music and when he was in high school, he bought his own equipment so he could teach himself the art form. He would later go on to graduate from university with a degree in sound recording. After graduation, Wizard Lee set up an at-home studio and began cultivating his craft in order to become a world-class producer. Currently, Wizard Lee is an independent artist. He just recently dropped the biggest project of his career, “No Matter the Weather”.
This project contains twenty-five songs and hits a variety of musical genres. Wizard Lee created a docu-series attached to the project that you can watch on his YouTube channel. He will be releasing a new episode every Friday until its completion, as well as a plethora of music videos. In the past, Wizard Lee has worked with world-renowned artists YE, Tory Lanez, Akon, and A Boogie. The first award he received was a gold placard for his production work on “Gummo” by 6ix9ine and has since gone on to create multiple platinum records as well. When listening to his music Wizard Lee intends for his fans to create their own meaning to his music.
He hopes he can help inspire others and gets great enjoyment out of releasing his music to the public. In the future, Wizard Lee looks to continue doing what he loves and expand his reach within the music industry. The artist he inspires to work with most is 2kBaby. He believes that 2kBaby’s unique sound and his production work would create timeless music for multiple generations to enjoy. You can stream “No Matter the Weather’’ on Spotify and be sure to follow Wizard Lee’s Instagram for all announcements regarding future projects.
This is the third-year anniversary of Nipsey Hussle’s death. Tina “Slauson Girl” Sampay examines the complexities and similarities between Nip and Black Panther Bunchy Carter.
The murder of Nipsey Hussle hauntingly mirrors the murder of not only Bunchy Carter, but the entire dismantling of Los Angeles Black Panther Party. His 2019 slaying also mirrors how the vision of community progress for Blacks in South Central was disrupted during the 1960s.
Follow me for a few.
It has now been three years since Nipsey Hussle (born Ermias Asghedom) was gunned down in front of his flagship clothing store on the corner of Crenshaw and Slauson Ave. His father migrated to the U.S from Eritrea and his mother is a Black woman of Creole descent but Nipsey Hussle was a child of L.A’s inner city, also known as “South Central.”
While many in the South Central/ South Los Angeles community continue to build upon Nipsey Hussle’s foundation of community investment and staying rooted locally, his death continues to represent a serious loss and has left a huge void in the community.
The inner-city communities of South Central, Watts and Compton in L.A. County have become highly popularized thanks to gangster rap, mainstream media, and Hollywood films. On a micro level, those forced to live within the confines of inner-city L.A. are dealing with the harsh realities of trying to survive, when they have been systemically and economically locked out.
Jan. 17. 2022 also marked 53 years since Alprentice “Bunchy” Carter (October 12, 1942 – January 17, 1969) was gunned down on the campus of UCLA, along with fellow Black Panther John Huggins.
At only 26 years old, Bunchy Carter was a larger than life figure in South Central L.A, often referred to as “Mayor of the Ghetto” or “that N*** from the Slausons.”
Carter was leader of the “Renegade” set of the Slausons which, unlike street gangs of today, were formed by Black men to protect Black communities from the racial violence of white groups in L.A. like the S#### Hunters.
Carter was also a member of the Fruit of Islam. He was paroled from prison in 1967 and would become a founding member of the Los Angeles Black Panther Party, where he served as Minister of Defense. He even recruited Tupac’s Godfather, Geronimo Ji Jaga Pratt, as a member when they were both enrolled at UCLA in 1968. One of Carter’s main focuses was organizing groups of men to observe the actions of the LAPD in South Central.
Early Nipsey Hussle songs could be considered “gangster rap” but you can trace his evolution as not only an artist, but a man seeking knowledge of self and someone who was eager to share that with those in the ghetto he grew up in.
The deaths of Huggins and Carter came after a disagreement with another Black nationalist group also at UCLA’s campus, the US organization. Much like the “street politics” that are rumored to have led to the death of Nipsey Hussle, both Huggins and Carter would lose their lives allegedly by another Black man.
Many will focus only on what is indeed a form of Black on Black crime, with less focus on the ways these Black men were knowingly, or unknowingly, pawns on the chessboard system of white supremacy. A system that seeks to undermine and destroy any real aspirations of Black liberation and self-determination.
Poverty and racism is a driving force of inner-city violence. When our Black male leaders and brightest minds continue to be stolen from Black communities, it severely handicaps our ability to escape these barriers.
Eric Holder has yet to have a trial for Nipsey’s murder despite several court appearances throughout the years. Delays are expected in the administration of justice for Black lives deemed as threats or disposable to the system.
Like Nipsey Hussle, Bunchy Carter was charismatic and embodied leadership qualities that allowed them to easily appeal to Black men in South Central. Their words evoked action and reflected the depth of their understanding of the world around them.
A&E greenlighted a documentary about the Wu-Tang Clan’s Ol’ Dirty Bastard.
The network announced a two-hour documentary tentatively titled Biography: Ol’ Dirty Bastard on Thursday (March 31). A&E’s upcoming project includes never-before-seen shots from the personal archive of the late rapper’s widow Icelene Jones.
“I am thrilled to tell the full story of my husband,” Jones said in a press release. “With this documentary, the world will learn about the son, the husband, the father, and the artist. I’m proud of the team that we built, including Pulse, my producing partners Nicole Beckett and Messiah Jacobs at Four Screens, and our directing team, the Pollards.”
Emmy Award winner Sam Pollard and his son Jason Pollard will direct the documentary. Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s estate and Four Screens serve as producers alongside Pulse Films. Pulse previously produced Spike Jonze’s Beastie Boys Storyand Beyoncé’s Lemonade.
“At Pulse Films, we are passionate about making music documentaries that tell intimate, and unique stories about the world’s most iconic artists,” Pulse’s Sam Bridger said. “ODB completely redefined what it meant to be an MC. A genius who lived and breathed his art. We are thrilled to have Sam and Jason Pollard on board, who are the perfect filmmakers to tell this amazing story for the first time. There will never be anyone quite like ODB and we are so grateful to his family and friends of for inviting us into his world.”
Ol’ Dirty Bastard, whose real name was Russell Jones, passed away from a drug overdose in 2004. The legendary artist released two solo LPs during his lifetime in addition to his work with the Wu-Tang Clan.
“Gucci Gang” rapper Lil’ Pump has joined the adult-content pay-per-view site OnlyFans and promises his fans that he will deliver some super explicit content.
Now, fans can see him do freaky things for the low. According to The Blast, he took to his Instagram to announce the news.
The outlet stated that Pump shared an image of himself with a sexy woman in incredibly erotic positions. His account on Instagram has been wiped clean, and now his fans may be forced to sign up to check him out on OnlyFans.
The account is called “Pumps Play House,” and he says he will get to “do whatever the f### I want.”
His rep shared that the rapper is now the latest celebrity to sign with the Unruly Agency, an elite influencer and social media marketing group.
The company believes, “His loyal fanbase will now have exclusive access to never-before-seen content, unreleased music, and the wild, behind-the-scenes life of Lil Pump.”
“Nothing is off-limits as the Miami native takes on this new venture and lets loose in a way he never has before, so fans can prepare for jaw-dropping photos and videos,” the promise.
Currently, Lil Pump is offering a subscription sale for his fans. The “Limited offer” is 65% off for 31 days of his regular $19.99 a month. Fans get to look at his sex-capades for $7. The deal ends on Monday, April 4th.
Soulja Boy throws another wifi temper tantrum. Please, someone give this man his flowers; or, else. Why is he steadily forced to remind the genre of his inherent greatness?
So, this type of consistent dismissal must be aggravating. Him big mad. Of course, it is a given that the established entrepreneur is passionate. Yes, that is part of his overall appeal.
Recently, that intensity was on full display. Of course, the resilient rhymer does not bite his tongue. He has something to express. So, he is saying it with his chest.
As a father-to-be, what does he look like not speaking up? In fact, the industry is being put on notice. Right now, it is Soulja Boy versus everybody.
Above all, the hitmaker has invested over a decade into his art. Throughout the years, his relentless ambition allows him to remain relevant. Perhaps, this comes with his willingness to work with emerging artists.
“I’m always doing a song with n*ggas before they get signed,” claims the rapper. To emphasize his perspective, he closes the distance between himself and the camera’s eye. “Look at me and Lil Durk. I was on Lil Durk’s first mixtape. Look at me and Chief Keef. Look at me and Lil Durk. I do songs with all these n*ggas before they get famous,” Big Draco reminds the masses.
“Then once these n*ggas get famous, I can’t even get a song from these n*ggas no more, that’s crazy,” exclaims the entertainer. “But, when y’all n*ggas was in the ‘hood — and ain’t nobody know who the f*ck y’all was –I was doing songs with you n*ggas,” contends the creative.
Ultimately, Migos, Rich The Kid, Mozzy, Lil B, Riff Raff, Famous Dex, Chief Keef, and Lil Durk and mentioned in this scathing address. Press play, to get the details on which of this individuals are not acting brand new with Draco.
The rap star’s mom donated $20,000 to help get women who are “low level” offenders get out of the Cook County Jail.
According to Fox 32, the inmates they are helping cannot afford the bail bonds on their own.
Mac said on behalf of the group, “It was important for us to see, not repeat offenders — if you will — but people who probably made a mistake and just needed a second chance.”
In an interview with 107.5 WGCI, she spoke with host Keke about why they chose to do this project in March.
“So, I partnered with Ronniesha, Princess (another entrepreneur from Chicago), and Justice Stamps, a community activist from a long line of activists — her mom is the legendary Marion Nzinga Stamps,” she revealed.
“In Women’s History Month, we always focus on those who have made it, if you will, who are making extreme strides, right?” she said. “But you can’t forget those women that need a second chance, that need more assistance.”
“I feel that it takes a village, and once you’re in that position then you give back and you help to elevate those women to the level that they need to be on or the next level.”
Five women she and her colleagues helped to get to the next level were released from jail on Wednesday, March 30th, and more will be free to see their families on Thursday, March 31st.
The “Find Her Way Bail Bond Project” supporters are hoping to get more female inmates freed on bond by Mother’s Day.
Why did Mozzy get hit up by Yo Gotti and other C.M.G. artists? Well, the time has come; it is official. So now, he is definitely part of the infamous team. In fact, he was recently gifted a blinged out C.M.G. chain.
Thus far, Hip-Hop seems to champion the organic ascent of the Sacramento spitter. Of course, it is only natural that he continues to evolve. So, this relates to both his maturity as a man and the maturation of Rap career.
Back in February, Yo Gotti broke the news. Actually, he was chopping it up with journalist, Carl Lamarre. In other word he did not hesitate to drop the big news. Yes, the reflective MC was joining the Collective.
“After years of having big conversations, running into each other, and sharing ideas,” Gotti starts off. “We come here tonight, to let you know, that we’re proudly in partnership to bring our dawg Mozzy into CMG,” he shares.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CbtEnMcJ8cN/
Without a doubt, the identifying accoutrements are to follow. It is only right that Mr. Tax Free dons his C.M.G. chain. By all means, it is a gleaming materialization of his hard work.
Along with, Yo Gotti, an array of the lyricist’s peers are present. For instance, Blac Youngsta can be heard saying, “Welcome to the f*cking team, man!”
The music industry is growing so fast that the competition is extreme. Our readers wanted to know if Playlist-Promotion.com works, so I decided to try their music promotion services. In this article, you will learn about this company’s YouTube promotion, organic Spotify promotion, and radio promotion services. Their high-quality services gave me so much more than I expected, such as more than 300,000 views on YouTube, plays on more than 80 radio stations, an increased number of listeners every month on Spotify, more than 2,000 followers, and more than 100,000 Spotify streams.
The pros are numerous, and they include the following:
– Their customer support is fast and extremely helpful.
– They provided us with reports so that we could get the details about their promotional activities.
– They got our music played on the radio and were able to monetize those plays.
– Their radio airplay promotion and real playlists promoted our music organically.
As far as we could see, there is only one con. If you want to purchase a YouTube promotion campaign, it will cost you a minimum of $250. For a radio promotion campaign, it will set you back $1,500, and this would only be the beginning. Lastly, an organic Spotify promotion campaign starts at $350.
Know What You Want to Accomplish Before You Embark on a Campaign.
To test this service, I decided to use radio distribution, Spotify playlist promotion, and YouTube music video promotion. Specifically, I chose the 250,000 views with the YouTube package, the radio promotion package that cost $1,500, and the Spotify package that gives you 500,000 followers reach. Playlist-Promotion.com made sure that we understood what we were buying before we bought it, but they also made sure that they understood what we wanted to accomplish. After I made the purchase, an executive contacted me so that he could find out more about the music and what I wanted written in my press release.
Who Will Be Listening to the Music?
I let Playlist-Promotion.com know that it was important to me to have my music played on different media. Then, they set out to determine the people they were going to target. After they identified the target audience, they created targeted playlist submissions, but they also wrote a press release all about my music and my inspiration, vision, and background.
Playlist-Promotion.com identifies your target audience by separating them into segments, such as EDM, Hip-Hop, and Rock. They match people to these different segments by determining the submissions they receive, the social media platforms they prefer, their personality types, their genders, and their ages. This is a very complete way of categorizing each listener.
Over the years, Playlist-Promotion.com put together an audience made up of Spotify curators, YouTube influencers, radio stations, and music magazines and portals. These people are always searching for new musicians and their music.
How Do They Execute the Campaign?
Playlist-Promotion.com developed a strategy to launch a campaign on Spotify and the radio, and what happened next was absolutely fantastic! After they launched the campaign, they always kept me up to date with what they were doing. Even though I had a limited budget, they were still able to submit my press release to Fox, CBS, and other major news organizations.
The Bottom Line.
My music is reaching a huge audience because of Playlist-Promotion.com’s music promotion services. After they launched the campaign, my songs were streamed 100,000 times, and 2,000 new fans started to follow me. This proved to me that their methods of promotion were worth the price. I was getting a lot of reposts, likes, and plays on popular music channels, so I am extremely happy with the way that Playlist-Promotion.com markets the music. I recommend that every aspiring musician hire this company for their music promotion and remain with them for as long as possible.
Yes, the Insecure creative is definitely celebrated for her perspective. In fact, she recently used her point-of-view to pop off against an onslaught of unsolicited criticism. So, Issa Rae blasts nosy body shamers saying, “Let a b*tch eat.”
Last Friday (March 25), a celebratory video of the writer quickly took a negative turn. As a matter of fact, the short clip was shot in Washington D.C. Hoorae — her production company — was hosting a festival. Accordingly, the extended shindig worked to champion “the talent of Black creatives.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXbxF62jx-W/
Although, all this may be true, just what did the footage show? Well, the clip displays the cultural favorite and fellow actress, Yvonne Orji. Of course, these two are smartly dressed and too excited to see one another.
Moreover, it is the unabashed excitement that makes the moment. Truly, Issa Rae is all smiles. Both engulfing hugs and Megan knees ensure. Be that as it may, folks on social media begin candidly to push a pregnancy narrative.
Nevertheless, the cultural favorite is not with the foolishness. Somehow, she finds the time and curtly checks any misinformed individual. “I am not pregnant, f*ckyouverymuch,” reads the emphatic message. By all means, she has more to convey.
Additionally, she includes, “LET A B*TCH EAT DRINK AND BE MERRY.” Well, with these two sentences she effectively shuts down these unfounded rumors.
A couple of months ago, an organization I work with decided we were going to do something unique and special this year. So, I passionately began to helm the Raising Kings program of One Village of Alliance, based in Wilmington Delaware. This is my 10th year involved and it’s also the 10th year Raising Kings has existed.
One of the events in the program is a screening and subsequent panel discussion of “King Richard,” the award-winning movie that tells the story of Richard Williams and his raising of two tennis queens Venus and Serena. The story is an amazing testimony of struggle, discipline, and fatherhood, among other things. So it was a perfect discussion piece for Raising Kings, which is rooted in rearing young African-American boys into adulthood.
But the story of Richard Williams was so powerful that we decided to use it above all other movies and TV shows as exemplary documentation and representation of what a lot of men go through these days. The movie stars Will Smith who would go on to win the academy award, but you know this. And you also know that he now infamously and tragically assaulted Chris rock at the Academy Awards shortly before taking home the coveted best actor honor.
The last thing we need now is another think piece on what happened between Will and Chris. But, there is an undeniable relatability and it’s an unquestionable conversation piece. So, join us today March 31, 2022, on AllHipHop‘s YouTube page as we talk about the themes and issues raised in “King Richard.” Naturally, We’ll also discuss, within context of course, Will slapping Chris. This is grown man talk – not gossip.
I found relatability in three people involved. One is Will Smith. The other Chris Rock. And then there’s Jaden Smith, the youngest son of Will.
WILL.
I am not about to pretend like I understand what it is truly like to be Will Smith. He lives a very public life under constant scrutiny, with the last few years looking rather hellish from afar. His personal business, his family’s business, and the intimate details of his marriage have been revealed for all to see, pontificate about, and opinion-hate on. He and Jada are at least partially responsible for that. They or their camp has willingly divulged and have owned a great portion of what we talk about.
I am relatively private, but there is an aspect to this I understand. I consider myself a pretty nice guy (sometimes standoffish, introverted, and anti-social at times, but nice), but I do know what it’s like to be pushed to the brink. I know what it’s like to be coerced by circumstance into explosion. Unfortunately, these situations happen a lot, because men are not readily taught how to properly process their feelings. Or those emotions – those true emotions – are repressed. Or hidden under the mask of conformity. And suddenly said man strikes a tipping point where he (sometimes she) can no longer hold it and that rage is directed at someone or something.
In this instance, it was Chris Rock. I am not here to analyze Will Smith as a person or his personal views on a joke said by a comedian at Hollywood’s most prestigious event. But I am here to say that it was truly unacceptable how he expressed himself. He said it himself: he was wrong. When I lost it, I had to deal with the consequences of those actions as well. And so will Will. He’ll still be rich beyond measure, but there will undoubtedly be consequences and repercussions. He and The Smith Family are considered royalty by many. And his family unit is exceptional. Hell, Jaden even compared them to the X-Men once. I felt that.
JADEN.
Last year, I interviewed the great rapper MURS and I told him a story about my father. In that story, I shared with him that I got into a squabble with some boys in the neighborhood. These boys happened to be white. I can’t remember exactly what happened between us, but my dad came out and all the problems dissipated. Those boys decided they wanted to go get their dad. And my dad waited in the middle of the street for them to get him, but their father never showed up. My dad did not have to use violence, but I was a proud kid.
In fact, I was extremely appreciative that my dad was tougher than their weak patriarch. And, I still am, if I am being honest. I would have to have been at their dinner table that day. My pops had a stature that was forced most men (and us kids) to stand down. He never had to resort to violence, because it was a losing proposition. So, when Jaden Smith decides to tweet “And That’s How We Do It” with pride, it remains problematic.
In our conversation with Raising Kings, I am hopeful that we will be able to put some of this into perspective. No matter how you slice it, violence is not the answer. Most of us don’t have the safeguard of the pristine, largely white, Hollywood Academy Awards as a refuge.
I hate that the world was watching. I hate that the kids were watching. I hate the idea of masculinity – purported toxic masculinity – changes, morphs, and maligns according to the situation.
To me, there was one person that needed protection.
CHRIS.
Chris Rock literally needed protection, as he was assaulted.
When I say, in the headline, that “I’ve never been Chris Rock,” that is not an insult. Chris Rock has been open about being bullied ruthlessly in his younger years. Nearly every fight or altercation I have ever gotten into was defending somebody, oftentimes a weaker person from a bully. So, I feel awful for Chris Rock. And the more I think about it, it’s nauseating how folks are celebrating and justifying this attack.
It is my instinct to applaud him for his restraint, for not fighting back, and for staying with the program. We really can’t say what was going on in his mind and he has already stated that he’s still processing it. I can say though, I have never been attacked physically in a way that I was unable to defend myself or lash out even. I have been assaulted in other non-physical ways and was helpless, but that is another story. One of my elders told me, “Never be violent, but if somebody puts their hands on you, you try to kill ’em.”
Straight like that.
But, this is not that kind of matter. I see a lot of people talking about what they would do in that situation – if Will Smith slapped them. And I find it hilarious that everyone knows just, right-and-exact, what they would do. First, Will ain’t slapping your crazy a###! You are a layperson sir and have nothing to lose, sir. Quite frankly, based on how Chris Rock has presented himself in film, TV, and in his comedy specials, he is not a tough guy in any way. And that is ok.
People, typically Black women, speak about the need to protect Jada Pinkett Smith, but it is Chris Rock that “suffers” from a condition similar to Asperger’s. NVLD is a non-verbal learning disability that results in strained social skills and also learning difficulty. He was tested long before this assault. Chris Rock needed help, support, and security that night. And he didn’t get it. In fact, little is said about how he’s doing. It almost seems like nobody cares that a 57-year-old man was brazenly assaulted in front of the world and nobody did anything. The memes like “Pursuit of Slappyness” are also a form of ambush. He even apologized for messing up the night for the hosts.
Reportedly, Will Smith declined or refused to leave the award ceremony after being asked. They asked. He declined. And he still won the award. That’s an amazing level of privilege and power. I am almost jealous. In the streets, a fistfight or a slap can get you murdered. Security in the clubs I frequented would beat rabble-rousers from inside the club all the way to the street. And dump you. These are not the streets and this is barely real life.
All in all, I find the whole situation to be tragic.
I like each and every one of these individuals, but understand I know them exclusively through their work and projected personas. Including Jaden. I think he is an incredible artist and I wish he would do more rapping. I reminisced on interviewing Jada in college with a former classmate recently I feel like Will Smith is our Hip-Hop Denzel Washington.
And Chris Rock? I hope just he is well. Everybody does not hate Chris. We love Chris.
We are allowed to make mistakes. A lot of our greatest moments come after the mistake. At our lowest points, it yields the opportunity to make right what was wrong. It has happened to the best of them, including myself.
But it is critical that we learn collectively. It is critical that our kids process this properly. And it is critical that we continue the dialogue and continue to sculpt out what masculinity is and really looks like. Especially when it is on display in front of the world. And this is why Raising Kings is “changing the image and expectations of Black men and boys.”
Instead of writing a think piece, next time, I might just think peace.
Fans of the Dreamville Records roster will soon get new music from the J. Cole-led label. Dreamville connected with Generation Now’s DJ Drama for the D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz mixtape.
Dreamville officially announced the upcoming project on Wednesday night. D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz will arrive later today (March 31) at 7 pm ET/4 pm PT.
The official Dreamville Twitter and Instagram accounts also uploaded a 25-second trailer for D-Day. Both posts mentioned Dreamville Records acts J. Cole, Ari Lennox, J.I.D, Bas, EarthGang, Cozz, Lute, and Omen.
Since its launch, Dreamville Records released three compilations – 2014’s Revenge of the Dreamers, 2015’s Revenge of the Dreamers II, and 2019’s Revenge of the Dreamers III. The latter project debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Revenge of the Dreamers III also earned Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. The ROD3 songs “Under the Sun” and “Costa Rica” picked up Platinum plaques too. Cole’s ROD3 track “Middle Child” is 7x-Platinum.
Atlanta-bred recording artist Gunna will be the latest rapper to hit the stage for Saturday Night Live. The late-night NBC sketch comedy show returns on April 2 with Gunna as the musical guest.
Gunna’s upcoming set on Saturday Night Live follows his YSL Records label head Young Thug appearing on the program last October. Fellow rap star Saweetie also performed on SNL in November.
Jerrod Carmichael will serve as the host for the forthcoming 16th episode of SNL‘s season 47. The stand-up comedian is best known for his short-running semi-biographical NBC sitcom The Carmichael Show.
This year also saw Gunna team up with YouTuber-turned-rapper DDG for the “Elon Musk” collaboration. The 28-year-old rhymer provided features for Cordae’s From a Birds Eye View and Lil Durk’s 7220 as well.
For days, people around the globe have been waiting to hear what Chris Rock would say about getting slapped By Will Smith at the 94th Academy Awards. The stand-up comedian finally spoke about the viral moment.
According to Variety, Chris Rock addressed the infamous face smack during a show in Boston. After a lengthy standing ovation from the Wilbur Theater audience, the 57-year-old Hollywood veteran finally began his hour-long set.
“I don’t have a bunch of s### about what happened, so if you came to hear that, I have a whole show I wrote before this weekend. I’m still kind of processing what happened. So, at some point, I’ll talk about that s###. And it will be serious and funny,” Chris Rock told the crowd.
Chris Rock just addressed the Will Smith #Oscars slap for the first time during a sold-out stand-up show in Boston. https://t.co/Keka0MVhSd
Multiple outlets reported ticket prices for Chris Rock’s “Ego Death Tour” began soaring after Will Smith slapped the Saturday Night Live alumnus in the face on Sunday. All six shows in Boston sold out with secondary ticket sellers apparently seeing a 641% increase in value.
“We sold more tickets to see Chris Rock overnight than we did in the past month combined,” read a March 28 tweet from the online ticket marketplace TickPick. Additionally, the VividSeats website lists tickets for an April 1st show at $508 or higher.
We sold more tickets to see Chris Rock overnight than we did in the past month combined.
Will Smith eventually apologized to Chris Rock for attacking him on stage at the Oscars. The incident was the fallout from Rock telling a bald joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. The Girls Trip actress has been open about dealing with the autoimmune condition known as alopecia.
While Will Smith offered a mea culpa for his actions, at least one member of the Rock family did not accept the apology. Tony Rock made it clear his older brother and Smith have not made amends despite Sean “Diddy” Combs claiming the two entertainers reconciled.
Onlookers can likely expect Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith to give their side of the story in the near future. The celebrity couple reportedly plans to speak about the “slap seen ’round the world” on an upcoming episode of Jada’s Red Table Talk.
A jury ruled against Damon “Dame” Dash in a copyright infringement and defamation lawsuit on Wednesday. The Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder must pay a total of $805,000 to director Josh Webber and Muddy Water Pictures.
The plaintiffs sued Dame Dash for allegedly trying to promote himself as a producer for the Dear Frank motion picture after he was removed from the project. Supposedly, Dash even changed the film’s title to The List.
Back in 2016, Muddy Water Pictures hired Dame Dash to co-direct Dear Frank. Two years later, the company fired Dash for allegedly being high on the set. The filmmakers filed the lawsuit in 2019.
Dear Frank stars Brian White, Claudia Jordan, Columbus Short, Nicholas Turturro, Torrei Hart, and Kearia Schroeder. Hip Hop recording artist Lil Durk appears in the movie as well.
Dame Dash has now responded to losing in court. The 50-year-old entrepreneur posted about the legal defeat on his verified Instagram page.
“You have to lose some battles to win a war… stay tuned #fatliars #youllneverbeme. Don’t ever say you Directed MY movie,” wrote Dash in the IG caption.
JOsh Webber also reacted to the news of his legal victory over Dame Dash on his Instagram account. The former New York Film Academy student posted, “Case closed. 🤡 @duskopoppington #dearfrankmovie.”
The jury awarded Muddy Water Pictures $30,000 for copyright infringement and $125,000 in punitive damages. Webber won $400,000 in compensatory damages for defamation and $250,000 in punitive damages.
Some people on the internet are still pushing the Cardi B vs Nicki Minaj narrative. Both Hip Hop superstars were in New York City this week to shoot separate videos, and Minaj fans claimed Cardi copied the Queens native.
Social media users accused Cardi B of stealing from Nicki Minaj’s aesthetic because the “MotorSport” collaborators both recorded music videos in NYC surrounded by local residents. However, Cardi took to Instagram to dispel the rumors.
Cardi B wrote on Instagram:
Y’all be trynna play wit my body like I won’t come wit receipts! My bad I had to rehearse for a movie for 2 months, shoot Facebook, go to Europe and close deals MY BAD @dougieb___ and cardi was in LA workin and we finally in NY our home to shoot this 🔥! Don’t play wit me I Move on my timing and I BEEN DONE THIS… talk all y’all s### make sure y’all tune in to TOUCH THE GROWN!!! And FREE F##### KAY FLOCK!!
@iamcardib Instagram
In addition, Cardi B posted a video showing text messages between herself and Kay Flock’s manager from February and earlier this month. That correspondence included Cardi revealing she sent her verse for the new song on March 15.
In the fall of 2021, 22Gz was prohibited from performing at the LIT Lounge in the City of Providence. The Providence Police Department asked the Providence Board of Licenses to present the club with a “cease and desist” order to remove the artist from the show biz because of his violent lyrics and the alleged connection to gang life.
According to a lawsuit reviewed by AllHipHop.com, Hannah Stern, the Policy Associate of the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island and the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island, is suing the City of Providence by and through its Treasurer, James Lombardi, to receive certain records used to substantiate why 22Gz was not allowed to perform.
Before ACLU’s complaint, the City of Providence refused to share the documents.
The lawsuit claims that on October 27th, 2021, the Providence Police Department requested the Providence Board of Licenses issue the proper documents to stop the “LIT Lounge” from letting the chart-topper at their venue on October 30th, 2021.
The cops claimed 22Gz is “a member of Wookie Gang, they call it Gun Gang,” and that “this particular group . . . also has ties to the Crip Gang.”
The police department said the artist “spent five months in jail in 2017 on a second-degree murder charge related to a shooting in Miami in which the charges were later dropped by the victim.”
The police also cited a report from the NYPD from 2019 that said, “if they were allowed to perform, there would be a higher risk of violence.”
The Board of Licenses agreed with the police and sent a “cease and desist” order to the owners of the club.
The language read in part, “Your entertainment scheduled for Saturday, October 30th, ’22 GZ’ has been denied. At the Board of Licenses hearing on October 27th, 2021, the Providence Police Department presented numerous incidents of violence at previous performances of this artist. The Board determined that allowing this artist to perform would pose a significant safety threat to your establishment, your staff, your patrons, and the City as a whole.”
A little over a week later, on November 8th, 2021, the ACLU filed an open records request with the city to get “any documents provided to the Board of Licenses regarding” incidents of violence at any of 22Gz other performances.
They also asked for “any documents which delineate the specific incidents of violence referenced in the Providence Police Department presentation leading to the denial of this event for the applicant.”
However, the city did not.
Instead, they referred them to the City’s Open Meetings Portal, “where you may find documents that have been filed with the Board of Licenses pertaining to Lit Lounge” on November 22nd, 2021.
These documents presented no proof of violence at his previous performances. The ACLU asked again. This time the city referenced news articles, including one from the New York Times.
The lawsuit says the city cited a “copyright law that prevented the city from re-publishing the news articles to plaintiffs in response to the request.”
As a result, the ACLU believes the City of Providence’s “decision to prevent 22Gz from performing at Lit Lounge constitutes a prior restraint on speech, which may have been unconstitutional.”
The ACLU, on behalf of the rapper, is asking for a judge for the records to be released.
The gimmick helped Lil Nas X give almost $500,000 to charity, funding valuable programming for patients living with HIV/AIDS.
According to the Daily News, the pregnancy gag was partnered with a “baby registry” that encouraged his fans to donate money to 16 different charities serving those impacted by the virus but unable to afford care or other forms of support.
In a statement, the Atlanta-area native said, “I’m so thankful to everybody who donated to my baby registry and joined me in helping to transform all of these communities in the South.”
“Together we are giving much-needed resources to those who need it most – especially those impacted by HIV – and also helping inspire the leaders who are constantly fighting for HIV education and awareness.”
Through this campaign, Lil Nas X raised almost $500,000 that will be distributed through the Gilead COMPASS Initiative, an initiative from Gilead Sciences with the mission of eradicating the AIDS/HIV epidemic in the South.
New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state Black people are disproportionately impacted by HIV, in contrast to other demographics.
HIV/AIDs programs were not the only organization to get shine.
Lil Nas X also encouraged fans to donate to The Bail Project, an initiative to end mass incarceration and assist those in need by paying their bail bonds. The Cade Foundation, which helps families struggling with infertility, was also a beneficiary.
