Retail sports company Adidas has ended its partnership with Kanye West, after a slew of antisemitic comments were made by the billionaire rap artist.
The German-based company said that it has severed all ties with Ye. Adidas said it estimates losing $246.5 million this year alone for discontinuing their business relationship with the artist.
“Ye’s recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous, and they violate the company’s values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness,” the company said in a statement.
Adidas will end the partnership, all production of Yeezy branded products, and even stop payment to all of his companies immediately.
Adidas shares had slumped almost 5%, a low since 2016.
The partnership between the sports merchandise company and the artist was already strained, prior to the antisemitic comments. However, public scrutiny and criticism took its toll.
The rumored rivalry taking place in the Quality Control Music camp could be bubbling over to the public. Several pictures, songs, and interviews have entangled Lil Baby, Quavo, Offset, Saweetie, and Cardi B into a web of cheating speculation.
A photo posted last year by Saweetie had the internet questioning if the “My Type” performer left her relationship with Quavo to link up with his labelmate Lil Baby. Then Quavo hinted at the situation on the Only Built for Infinity Links album with Takeoff.
“I said, Caresha please, ’cause she too messy. B#### f##### my dawg behind my back, but I ain’t stressing. You wanted the gang, you shoulda just said it, we would have blessed it,” raps Quavo on the “Messy” track.
At first, there was speculation that Quavo’s bars were about his Migos groupmate and Cardi B’s husband Offset. Migos seemingly parted ways before Only Built for Infinity Links dropped which had a lot of people wondering what led to the split.
However, there was also evidence to suggest Quavo penned those “Messy” lines about Lil Baby, not Quavo. For example, Quavo used the phrase “my dawg” in the song. Previously, he appeared on the remix of “My Dawg” by Lil Baby.
In November 2021, Saweetie shared a photo of herself sitting on a man’s lap. Social media users began pointing out that the guy in the picture had on a very similar outfit to Lil Baby. Then Baby released his It’s Only Me album and the rumor mill lit up again.
It’s Only Me‘s “Stand On It” features Lil Baby rapping, “I don’t want your b####, we can’t swap out.” That message from Baby appeared to be a response to Quavo’s Instagram Story post in 2021. At the time, the Georgia native wrote, “Ain’t tripping. We can swap it out! #QCTheLabel.”
Someone has now directly questioned Lil Baby about the Saweetie situation. In a preview for an upcoming interview with the Big Facts podcast, Big Bank asked Baby if he was the man in that viral picture with Saweetie.
“Nah,” answered Lil Baby before laughing with the Big Facts hosts. Big Bank also suggested it must be hard living Lil Baby’s lifestyle because of rumors being connected to his name. The Grammy winner replied, “I do have to like, move a certain way because of that, and I be trying my best.”
Has Kanye “Ye” West’s recent scorched-earth media run been a reaction to losing his wife? Social justice advocate Tamika Mallory suggests the Donda album creator is acting out over Kim Kardashian.
The 45-year-old billionaire falsely implied unarmed African-American George Floyd died from a fentanyl overdose and not from a police officer’s excessive force. Ye also threatened to go “death con 3” on the Jewish community.
Tamika Mallory made an appearance on Brutally Honest with Jasmine Brand. The Fox Soul show included Mallory sharing her thoughts on the controversy surrounding Kanye West at the moment.
“I think that Kanye is upset because he lost his woman. He’s trying to weaponize other communities to help him fight his personal battle,” Tamika Mallory told celebrity blogger Jasmine Brand.
Mallory continued, “In one of the clips from the recent interview he did on Drink Champs he said, ‘If y’all don’t want me to wear White Lives Matter t-shirt, then the culture should get behind me, when they take my child, the culture should get behind me.’”
The 2017 Women’s March co-chair added, “So now you’re saying that we should be involved in your custody issues, your family business. How many Black men has Kanye helped that can’t see their children? What is he involved in?”
After getting married in 2014, Kanye West and reality television star Kim Kardashian publicly separated in 2021. Kardashian began dating comedian Pete Davidson in November 2021 before breaking up in August of this year.
AJ Tracey is putting his resources into addressing “historic underrepresentation” among Black students at Oxford University.
The West Londoner is donating £40,000 annually ($45K approx.) to assist ethnic minority students at the world-class university. The AJ Tracey Fund also aims to support research into Black histories and experiences.
He took to social media last week (Oc. 18), sharing a series of images from a dinner he hosted at St Peter’s College.
“A big thank you to @UniofOxford & @SPC_Oxford for allowing me to hold a dinner and meet some of the brightest young people last night,” AJ Tracey Penned in the caption. It was an honour to speak at the union and I look forward to our continued work and partnership going forward 📚🧠
a big thank you to @UniofOxford & @SPC_Oxford for allowing me to hold a dinner and meet some of the brightest young people last night. It was an honour to speak at the union and I look forward to our continued work and partnership going forward 📚🧠 pic.twitter.com/SmtA4V8BAK
The “Thiago Silva” rapper said he’s working to “level the playing field” for Black Oxford students.
“I think, in general, for anyone who doesn’t understand why Black people who have managed to become successful want to help Black kids, it should be self-explanatory,” AJ Tracey told The Guardian. “The whole country is catered towards white people and we’re just trying to level the playing field by helping Black kids.”
“It’s crazy,” AJ Tracey said in response. “At the end of the day, a large portion of the population is always going to have a very uneducated and misguided view on these kinds of happenings. Even if I were to say, ‘Yeah, I want to help every student, not just Black or ethnic students’, they’ll just say it’s a PR stunt.”
Candace Owens is threatening to sue the family of George Floyd after their attorney revealed they are considering a $250 million lawsuit against Kanye West after he claimed Floyd’s death was caused by a drug overdose.
Earlier this month, the rapper attended the premier of the controversial conservative commentator’s new documentary “The Greatest Lie Ever Sold: George Floyd,” and later cited the film during his controversial Drink Champs interview.
Ye incorrectly claimed Floyd died from a Fentanyl overdose despite two separate autopsies concluding his death was caused by asphyxiation caused by police officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on his neck for nine minutes.
Did you watch the documentary? I mean how ignorant are we going to be? Kanye is accurately referring to the trial— everything was clarified in the George Floyd trial where they showed the full arrest tape from different angles.
Candace Owens Brands George Floyd Family’s Lawsuit A “PR Stunt”
After the family cited emotional distress as a motivating factor in the lawsuit, Candace Owens defended Kanye West. She said the suit is causing her “a ton of distress,” calling it “a PR stunt,” before threatening her own legal proceedings.
“I’m also sick of frivolous lawsuits,” she said on her podcast. “You know, if this is actually considered credible, if you can sue somebody because you’re feeling ’emotionally distressed’ because of them going out and saying things, well then I think that I have grounds to sue George Floyd’s estate.”
She continued, “I have grounds to sue George Floyd’s family for doing this little PR stunt. It’s causing me a ton of distress. I feel angry and I feel upset with the fact that I am fighting for Black America to be freed from the lies while these people are fighting to keep them in the dark!”
Candace Owens then doubled down, saying, “This is unacceptable. I’m really — I’m serious. I’m going to go out and I’m going to ask lawyers ‘If this is legitimate, can I sue George Floyd’s family?’ Because I should be able to.”
Earlier this month, Kanye West and Candace Owens reunited at the Yeezy designers Paris Fashion Week Show. The pair were widely criticized for wearing Ye’s “White Lives Matter” shirts during the event.
However, Ye said their recent split was inevitable as Pete is not her type.
“I mean I knew there was no way she could love this dude,” Kanye West said during an appearance on the Lex Fridman Podcast. “Not just because he’s ugly, he’s not Black. She likes Black guys.”
Furthermore, Kanye West said Kim Kardashian’s “type” is even more specific. “Every guy that she is with looks exactly the same,” Ye continued. “Ray J, Reggie Bush, at that time Kanye West. She has a type just like how I have a type. A lot of my girls look kind of similar to her.” Check out the clip below and the interview at the end of the page.
Elsewhere during the interview posted on Monday (Oct. 24), Ye described the mother of his four children as “My favourite of all time.” When asked about his love for Kim Kardashian, Kanye explained it’s down to her biology.
“It’s just, the DNA is like … she a mix of Rob and Kris,” Ye said, referring to Kim’s parents, Robert Kardashian and Kris Jenner. “That’s a really high pool right there. Those are like two geniuses.”
“I’m still the priest of that home. They want to make it this matriarch society…but I am the priest of that home, and God is alive. I am the living Robert Kardashian,” Ye stated. “And I’m going to stand up for what God would want as a Christian.
Meanwhile, Kim condemned antisemitism in a recent social media post. While she did not mention Kanye by name, she called out hate speech. Kris Jenner and Kim’s sister Khloe Kardashian also shared similar messages.
Will Smith held a star-studded private screening for his upcoming movie Emancipation, attended by an A-List group of friends, including Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, and Dave Chapelle.
The slavery drama marks the actor’s comeback following his now infamous appearance at the 2022 Oscars where he slapped host Chris Rock on stage.
The rapper-turned-Hollywood movie star took to Instagram on Monday night (Oct. 24) to thank his friends for coming. He shared a pair of images from the screening featuring Rihanna, A$AP, Chappelle, Kenya Barris, Tyler Perry, and more.
“EPIC night!! Thanx for coming to see #Emancipation. Hope ya’ll enjoyed!!’ Will Smith penned in the caption.
After seeing the movie, Tyler Perry and Kenya Barris shared their praise for Emancipation via Instagram.
“I’m still haunted by ‘Emancipation,’” Perry wrote. “It’s truly powerful, moving and captivating. And the conversation afterwards with this group was legendary. Thank you, Will Smith, for the preview.”
While Barris added, “Emancipation is true art, power and everything else a film should be. You got one, Will Smith.”
Will Smith stars as a runaway slave in the Antoine Fuqua-directed Emancipation. Based on a true story, the movie follows his character “Whipper Peter” on his escape from a Louisiana plantation to join the Union Army.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences hit Will Smith with a 10-year ban over his actions at the 2022 ceremony. Despite concerns that the project could be shelved, the director, who said Smith was “incredible” in the move, was confident of a release date.
Emancipation premieres in movie theaters on Dec. 2 and begins streaming on Apple TV+ on Dec. 9.
Kanye West and G.O.O.D. Music’s working relationship with Def Jam has reportedly come to an end.
According to a report from the New York Times, a source confirmed Ye and his G.O.O.D Music label are no longer affiliated with Def Jam. Kanye West
While the news comes as numerous brands sever their ties with the rapper over his antisemitic comments, it’s unclear if Ye’s remarks affected his association with his longtime record label. His contact with Def Jam expired following the release of DONDA in 2021, although Def Jam continued to put out G.O.O.D. Music projects, including Pusha T’s It’s Almost Dry.
Kanye West’s Weeks Of Controversy
On Monday (Oct. 24), talent agency CAA became the latest in a long line of business to cut ties with Kanye West. He signed with the agency in 2016 which represented him for touring, but they dropped him over his antisemitic remarks.
Also on Monday, Film Studio MRC announced they won’t be releasing a documentary on Ye, despite recently completing filming. “We cannot support any content that amplifies his platform,” they said in a statement.
Companies and longtime friends have been distancing themselves from Kanye West and his remarks since his controversial Paris Fashion Week show. He received backlash over his “White Lives Matter” designs and association with conservative commentator Candace Owens before being suspended from social media over antisemitic rhetoric.
Since then, Ye’s made a steady stream of media appearances doubling down on his earlier statements while making other controversial remarks and pedaling conspiracy theories. Drink Champs took down their interview with Ye, and N.O.R.E. apologized for not checking Kanye West over his incorrect statements about the death of George Floyd.
However, in his most recent interview aired on Monday, Kanye West revealed he “absolutely” is happy. During an appearance on the Lex Fridman Podcast, he explained that although he has frustrations, “it’s difficult to make me unhappy.” Check out the clip below.
Australia’s College Dropout Burgers faced the legal wrath of Kanye West, who filed a lawsuit against the burger shop.
According to multiplereports, Kanye West pursued legal action over the burger shop’s name and menu. Earlier this year, the restaurant received a cease and desist that led to its owner removing a ‘Ye-inspired logo and menu items referencing the controversial rapper/producer.
The burger shop maintained the College Dropout name despite it being the title of Kanye West’s debut album. Owner Mark Elkhouri said he kept the name because he’s a college dropout.
“College Dropout Burgers has respectfully removed all references to Ye, establishing a new direction, theme and brand identity,” Mark Elkhouri told 3AW in Australia. “I can’t understand what would motivate a major artist to sue a small humble burger restaurant on the other side of the world.”
Kanye West’s lawyers claim College Dropout Burgers still references ‘Ye in multiple ways. Although the restaurant got rid of a Dropout Bear logo, lawyers insist there are still items on the menu linked to ‘Ye.
Attorneys are seeking a permanent injunction against Mark Elkhouri. Lawyers also asked the College Dropout Burgers owner to withdraw a trademark application and get rid of any materials referencing Kanye West.
Westside Gunn took notice of Drake’s choice for a release date.
The Griselda Records rapper suggested Drake was trying to overshadow Westside Gunn’s Hitler Wears Hermes 10 project, which drops on October 28. Drake recently announcedHer Loss, a collaborative album with 21 Savage due out on the same day.
“2yrs in a Row @Drake I’m on to you,” Westside Gunn wrote with laughing emojis on Twitter. “10/28.”
Although Westside Gunn will be fighting for listeners’ attention on October 28, he doesn’t seem fazed by the high-profile competition. He championed himself while promoting Hitler Wears Hermes 10 on Monday (October 24).
“I’m a be honest with y’all CANT NOBODY F### WITH ME,” he declared via Twitter. “This s### in me not on me, why I have to be the illest rapper when I’m the Illest N…., ya Fav rapper wish he was me, oh yea and my albums still better than everybody’s hahahahah #FLYGOD TEN 10/28 @griseldarecords #GXFR.”
Westside Gunn released the first Hitler Wears Hermes in 2012. He planned for last year’s two-parter Hitler Wears Hermes 9 to be the final entry, but the Buffalo-bred artist decided to drop one more project in the long-running series.
I’m a be honest with y’all CANT NOBODY F### WITH ME, this s### in me not on me, why I have to be the illest rapper when I’m the Illest N…., ya Fav rapper wish he was me, oh yea and my albums still better than everybody’s hahahahah #FLYGOD
Video blogger Tasha K continues to target high-profile rappers with gossip and the sharing of information about their personal lives. This time she is aiming at Houston’s own Megan Thee Stallion, claiming on an Instagram Live with Nicki Minaj that the “Hottie” star damaged singer and influencer Teyana Taylor’s home.
While the “Savage” rapper didn’t go blow for blow with the YouTuber, she did let her rebuttal be known in a very casual way. She liked a tweet from another blogger named Ken Barbie who shared the house Tasha K was talking about. This was not the same house that was jacked of $300K to $400K in jewelry, cash, and electronics during a burglary.
Ken Barbie wrote, “Meg rented from Teyana from a very short period in 2019 and left very early 2020. Teyana just sold the home nearly a month ago, it is not the same home of Meg’s that was recently burglarized. Tasha also raised false allegations on Meg’s fall out with her former stylist EJ King.”
Tasha K jumped into the comments and said, “And tell your minion blogger. He got the story wrong… ain’t nobody say nothing about Teyana selling that home because of you. What I said was is that she is selling the home@she let you rent & damaged! And now that your home was burglarized, she don’t care cause Karma is a b****! Is what I said!”
Adding, “You damaged that lady house. She had to run you down for her bread. Ej suggested you rent out one of her homes to that lady. On top of of trying to skip out on damages and back rent. Ej had to run you down for his 80k in work he did for you! Meg please! Yeah you rented the home then, but they both had to run you down for the bread you owed them… Ej!!😱😱.”
One fan wrote something so many have been thinking, “Tasha ain’t learned her lesson yet??”
Lil Yachty and Tyrese Gibson star in the upcoming action filmThe System, which hits theaters on October 28.
Ahead of the movie’s release, AllHipHop brings our readers an exclusive clip from The System. The scene features Joker (played by Lil Yachty) issuing a warning to Terry Savage (played by Tyrese Gibson) in prison.
The System also stars Terrence Howard and Jeremy Piven. Dallas Jackson wrote and directed the film, which tells the story of a retired Marine who goes on an undercover mission in prison.
“When a young soldier (Tyrese Gibson), newly returned from war, gets caught up in a drug bust, he is recruited by the authorities to go undercover in a notoriously dangerous prison to investigate what is really going on behind the scenes,” the film’s official description reads. “When he discovers an underground prisoner fighting ring, the warden forces him to compete. In order to win his freedom, he must fight to stay alive as well as take down the warden’s corrupt system.”
Lil Yachty and Tyrese Gibson’s The System drops digitally soon after its theatrical release. The movie will be available on-demand on November 4.
Check out the exclusive clip of Lil Yachty and Tyrese Gibson in The System below.
J Young MDK is back with his newest single and visual, titled “Misconceptions.”
The mood of the song will take you to a time when old school rap was the move, and the visual sees J Young MDK giving us a freestyle as he cruises along a busy city.
The track is currently rumored to be a hit on his upcoming album that will be released later this year.
He’s already known by the masses as his hard work, and friendly demeanor has provided him with an incredible reputation.
In 2020 alone, he made music history by debuting two albums of two different genres on the same day! After releasing a third that same year, fans were sold on the staying power surrounding J Young MDK.
His most recent move includes creating a hip-hop track for Netflix’s #1 movie this summer, “Day Shift.” Young, his mentor Jamie Foxx, Snoop Dogg, and Sam Harmonix manifested the single “(Bud) Mowing Down Vamps” in honor of the smash film.
No stranger to featuring films, J Young MDK has had his own luck in the acting field. In 2022, a film he had been diligently working on, “Mixed Girl,” dropped.
Young humbly played his heart out as the lead role, giving him a nomination for “Outstanding Actor in a Short Film.” The Micheaux Film Festival in L.A also nominated him for “Outstanding Dramatic Actor in a Short Film.”
Back on the music end, he has quite a year, performing beside Latto during her nationwide Monster Outbreak Presents: Latto 777 Tour. He also released an infectious single, “Slow Motion,” in the spring. Looks like it now has some stiff competition with “Misconceptions!”
AllHipHop: What’s the inspiration behind your new single “Misconceptions?”
J Young MDK: “Misconceptions” is about people who really don’t know me ,but they think they know me via social media or the outside looking in. Some think they know how I grew up and others think they know what it took for me to get where I’m at. Essentially, I created this song to give a little more insight of who I am.
AllHipHop: As a solo artist, if you could collaborate with any artist, who would that be?
J Young MDK: I’m a fan of a lot of artists and I would love to work with too many to name. However, to name a few, Drake, André 3000, Rick Ross, Adele, Jay Z, and WizKid.
AllHipHop: Do you have anything else you want to share?
J Young MDK: I just want to tell the fans that I have a lot more music coming out soon as well as film projects that I’m excited to share soon. We’re also giving back tremendously this holiday season. I have some projects coming up with the American Diabetes Association as well as the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention’s “Out of Darkness Walks” slated for November.
For more information about J Young MDK, follow him on social media @jyoungmdk.
CAA cut ties with Kanye West in wake of his antisemitic remarks.
The talent agency represented Kanye West for his touring. He signed with CAA in 2016.
CAA joined the growing list of businesses dropping Kanye West over his antisemitism. Last week, the Balenciaga fashion house ended its relationship with ‘Ye. Film studio MRC shelved a recently completed documentary about the controversial rapper.
“We cannot support any content that amplifies his platform,” MRC said in a statement on Monday (October 24).
Kanye West’s ex-wife Kim Kardashian also addressed his antisemitism on Monday. The reality TV star didn’t mention her ex-husband by name but condemned hate speech on social media.
“Hate speech is never OK or excusable,” she wrote. “I stand together with the Jewish community and call on the terrible violence and hateful rhetoric towards them to come to an immediate end.”
Earlier this month, Instagram and Twitter locked Kanye West’s accounts over his antisemitic posts. He continued to make antisemitic comments in subsequent interviews, including a since-deleted episode of Drink Champs.
The Drink Champs interview included false claims about the late George Floyd, who was murdered by police in 2020. George Floyd’s family filed a $250 million lawsuit against ‘Ye for defamation and emotional distress.
Halle explained why she became emotional after the release and reaction to the trailer for the new version of “The Little Mermaid.”
Halle Bailey gushed over audiences’ responses to “The Little Mermaid’s” trailer.
The actress, who plays Ariel in the upcoming Disney live-action remake of the 1989 classic, spoke to ET Canada about the new movie. In her chat, she reacted to videos circulating online of Black girls watching the trailer for the first time.
Halle, who has been subjected to racism because of her casting as the famous mermaid, shared that watching the videos made her cry.
“It’s been really crazy, really overwhelming. I’ve been so emotional when I see all the babies,” Halle, 22, told ET. “So, I’m just really honored and just pinching myself.”
She also spoke on the wait for the movie to hit theatres in 2023.
“I’m so excited for the release. I feel like I’ve been waiting for so long – we’ve been talking about it for a long time, but now that the rollout’s starting, I’m really grateful that everyone’s gonna get to see,” she said. “I hope everyone likes it. We’ll see.”
“The Little Mermaid,” which has been scored by Lin-Manuel Miranda and original composer Alan Menken, will be released in May next year.
Khloé Kardashian subtly addressed her former brother-in-law Kanye West’s antisemitism controversy.
The “Stronger” rapper, who used to be married to Khloé’s sister Kim, has been hitting the headlines this month by making controversial and offensive remarks about Jewish people on social media and in a series of interviews.
On Sunday, Khloé became the first member of the Kardashian-Jenner family to address Kanye’s antisemitic comments on her Instagram Stories.
She reshared a post by author and philanthropist Jessica Seinfeld, which reads, “I support my Jewish friends and the Jewish people.”
Actress Reese Witherspoon also voiced her support for the Jewish community on Sunday by tweeting, “Anti-semitism in any form is deplorable. In person. Online. Doesn’t matter where. It’s hate and it’s unacceptable. Completely understand why my Jewish friends/ colleagues are frightened for their families. This is a very scary time.”
They join Amy Schumer, who condemned Kanye’s behavior in an interview with Extra last week.
“Kanye West is an anti-Semite and hating Jewish people and spreading hate speech. These social media outlets, they need to embrace their own rules. They need to enforce their own rules. I found out 84 per cent of hateful tweets they are just allowed to continue. They don’t take them down… We can’t allow that, it’s harmful,” she said.
On Friday, luxury fashion house Balenciaga cut ties with Kanye over his comments, and a spokesperson for U.S. Vogue confirmed that neither the magazine nor its editor-in-chief Anna Wintour intends to work with the rapper again.
There is also an ongoing campaign calling for sportswear giant Adidas to sever its partnership with Kanye.
Rapper Kanye West continues to receive backlash in the fashion industry after spewing antisemitic speech about Jewish people, wearing (and promoting) a White Lives Matter shirt, and picking public fights with major influencers in that space.
According to Page Six, Vogue magazine has joined the list of people publicly blacklisting the controversial artist.
The Bible of Couture and its editor-in-chief Anna Wintour have said they will not be working with Ye ever again, severing a 13-year personal relationship between the fashion icon and the troubled star.
The two met in 2009 at the annual Met Gala and five years later featured his wedding to now-ex-wife Kim Kardashian on one of Vogue’s covers in 2014.
Wintour even rocked Ye’s shades to help him launch his fledgling brand.
At the top of the month, Anna Wintour was instrumental in trying to heal the Yeezy-inflicted wound between West and one of her editors, Gabriella Karefa-Johnson.
So far, Vic Mensa has only released one official studio album. The well-received The Autobiography came out in 2017. After five years, Mensa appears to be ready to release his sophomore set.
Vic Mensa spoke about the plans for an upcoming body of work during an interview withL’Officiel Fashion Book Australia. The magazine selected the Roc Nation emcee and fellow Chicago-raised rhymer Chance The Rapper to grace the cover of the October 2022 issue.
“Yes. My album is complete,” confirmed Mensa. “At this point, I’m just waiting on a couple of feature verses and tweaking the mixes, but the creation of the album is complete. This is my second full-length album. My first one being [in] 2017 is The Autobiography.”
He continued, “This is my second full-length album and is inspired by everything from African Highlife music to ’90s Hip Hop and Punk, and Rock and Roll, and all the things that inspire me. I’m like a smorgasbord of influences. They all exist within this album and the conceptual direction is themed around redemption and follows my own personal growth in the last year.”
Chance The Rapper & Vic Mensa Cover L’Officiel Fashion Book Australia
Vic Mensa Went Full Punk Rock Three Years Ago, The Next LP Will Explore His Growth
In 2019, Vic Mensa presented 93Punx which embraced a Punk Rock aesthetic. That side project came after EPs such as 2016’s There’s Alot Going On and 2017’s The Manuscript. The 2014 XXL Freshman broke out as a Hip Hop artist with his Innanetape mixtape in 2013.
Mensa regularly uses his music to tackle serious issues like drug addiction, mental health, racism, homophobia, and transphobia. His next album will supposedly address the last twelve months of the 29-year-old SaveMoney member’s drug-free life.
“I started [the album] about a year ago and I finished writing most of it way earlier this year in about the Spring and it’s following my journey in the last year,” Vic Mensa told L’Officiel Fashion Book Australia. “I’ve been sober a year. I’ve been revolutionizing the way that I think, the way that I act in the world. This album explores many of the pieces of that personal journey of growth.”
Additionally, Vic Mensa and Chance The Rapper joined forces to organize the new Black Star Line Festival in Ghana. The “Wrath” collaborators announced the Marcus Garvey-inspired music event will take place in Accra’s Black Star Square on January 6, 2023.
Dominique “Lil Baby” Jones currently has the most popular album in America. The Atlanta rapper’sIt’s Only Me opened at #1 on this week’s Billboard 200 chart.
It’s Only Me debuted in the top spot with 216,000 units. Lil Baby now has three chart-toppers in his discography following 2020’s My Turn and 2021’s The Voice of the Heroes with Lil Durk.
The 216,000 sales total for It’s Only Me is the highest first-week numbers of Lil Baby’s five-year career. His latest solo body of work also pulled in 289 million on-demand streams, the third-largest streaming week for any album in 2022.
Additionally, Lil Baby made it into the Billboard 200’s Top 5 with 2018’s Street Gossip. That commercial mixtape started at #2 with 88,000 first-week units. Baby’s 2018 also included the Drip Harder mixtape with Gunna collecting 130,000 first-week units for a #4 opening.
The QC Rapper Has No Plans To Release A Deluxe Edition Of It’s Only Me
For It’s Only Me, Lil Baby recruited Nardo Wick, Young Thug, Fridayy, Future, Rylo Rodriguez, Jeremih, EST Gee, and Pooh Shiesty as guest features. The 23-track album hosts the “Heyy” and “California Breeze” singles.
Lil Baby recently explained why his fans should not expect an extended version of It’s Only Me to drop in the future. On October 3, the Quality Control recording artist informed his Twitter followers about his decision to only present a standard edition of the album.
“I’m not going to try to do a deluxe. I’m just going to let that rock out, let that be it. I think I just want to go on and get it out there,” said Baby. He also added, “I had [the fans] waiting so long, I don’t even want to prolong it no more. Go on and knock this whole It’s Only Me out, and come on out with another album.”
Following Kanye West’s weeks-long tirade against BLM and Jewish people, many fellow rappers and corporations distanced themselves from Ye. It appears the superstar’s controversial takes have earned the backing of white supremacists.
According to Vice President of the ADL Center on Extremism, Oren Segal, a group of white supremacists showed support for Ye by hanging signs on a bridge over Interstate 405 in California. A photo also shows the men and women doing a Hitler salute.
On October 23, Oren Segal tweeted, “Yesterday, the head of an antisemitic and white supremacist group (and his supporters) dropped banners over the 405 in Los Angeles. One banner read, ‘Kanye is right about the Jews.'”
Kanye West found himself mostly on the wrong side of public opinion after posting he was “going death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE” in a now-deleted tweet. West then went on a media run where he further spouted blatant antisemitic rhetoric.
Hate in America:
Yesterday, the head of an antisemitic and white supremacist group (and his supporters) dropped banners over the 405 in Los Angeles. One banner read, "Kanye is right about the Jews.” pic.twitter.com/FQBFIm0WLX
Kanye West Has Emboldened White Supremacists Before
White supremacists/white nationalists have used Kanye West’s words as tools for their bigoted cause in the past. Ye’s infamous “slavery is a choice” statement on TMZ became a favorite talking point for far-right recruiters.
West also stated, “I feel like I caused hurt and confusion. And I’m sorry for the families of the people that had nothing to do with the trauma that I have been through and that I used my platform, where you say hurt people hurt people, and I was hurt.”
