RZA is seeking to protect the integrity of the Wu-Tang Clan brand.
According to documents obtained by AllHipHop, RZA has sued various bootleggers for selling merchandise featuring the Wu-Tang Clan logo. The defendants are believed to be operating out of China or other foreign jurisdictions with lax trademark enforcement.
RZA is targeting e-commerce store operators for allegedly using Wu-Tang’s trademarks to make their online operations seem legitimate. The lawsuit accuses the bootleggers of trademark infringement, counterfeiting and false designation of origin.
“Many Defendants also deceive unknowing consumers by using the Wu-Tang Clan Trademarks without authorization within the content, text, and/or meta tags of their e-commerce stores to attract various search engines crawling the Internet looking for e-commerce stores relevant to consumer searches for Wu-Tang Clan products,” the lawsuit notes. “Other e-commerce stores operating under the Seller Aliases omit using the Wu-Tang Clan Trademarks in the item title to evade enforcement efforts while using strategic item titles and descriptions that will trigger their listings when consumers are searching for Wu-Tang Clan products.”
The legal action aims to prevent the bootleggers from selling any more reproductions, counterfeit copies or colorable imitations of Wu-Tang products. RZA’s asking online marketplace platforms such as Amazon, eBay and AliExpress to take down advertisements for these unauthorized sellers.
RZA is seeking all profits from the bootleg Wu-Tang merch and damages for trademark infringement. As an alternative, he’s asked to be awarded $2,000,000 for “each and every use” of the Wu-Tang trademarks.
Paul Wall shared harrowing information about his family during an appearance on the FAQ Podcast.
The platinum-selling rapper opened up about his biological father, disclosing some horrific details. In a shocking revelation, Paul Wall said his dad is a child molester.
“Growing up, he left us when I was about 5 or 6 years old and I never knew what happened other than my mom would always have me and my sister paranoid that we were ’bout to get kidnapped,” Paul Wall recalled. “Like, what’s going on? I didn’t know anything about him … But then later on in life, I asked my mom one day like, ‘Whatever happened? Whatever happened to him?’ And that’s when I found out horrible things. Man, I can’t believe this stuff. My biological father, he was a child molester. A serial child molester.”
According to Paul Wall, his father once kidnapped a girl and ran away with her to Canada. When they returned to the United States, the victim killed herself.
“He ended up kidnapping a girl,” Paul Wall explained. “He started a ‘relationship’ with her when she was 12 years old, 13 years old. Then when she became 14 or 15, he ‘married’ her and they went to Canada. And that’s the last time I’ve seen him. Next thing you know, they come back. She ended up killing herself when they came back. He went to jail for a little bit. That’s when he lost all custodial rights to me and my sister.”
Paul Wall admitted he struggles with the reality of knowing his father is still on the loose. He learned his dad became a youth pastor, which made him worry about the man hurting more kids.
“One time my sister was just curious, looking him up, Googling him,” he said. “Come to find out he’s a youth pastor at a church. These things actually keep me up at night knowing that he’s a serial child molester. And also, he did these things at a time when you didn’t have to register as a sex offender. I struggle with this a lot of what should I do … I can’t sleep at night sometimes. I think about this all the time. It bothers me. What if he’s doing something right now and I’m just afraid to confront it?”
Listen to Paul Wall’s entire story below. The discussion about his father begins a little over three minutes into the episode.
The Los Angeles Police Department is always in the middle of something.
It seems that the Southern California law enforcement outfit is in the news for inappropriately targeting … yup … rap stars … again.
According to The Guardian, deceased rapper Nipsey Hussle the focus of an LAPD program called Operation Laser (Los Angeles Strategic Extraction and Restoration), which attempted to use predictive policing technology to identify “chronic offenders” and specific locations linked to gun violence and gangs.
The police investigation looked at the “Double Up” rapper’s lifestyle and basically a lot of money in following his moves, his gang life, and “policing Hussle’s street corner and his store, Marathon Clothing.”
Michael Safi, an American reporter for The Guardian, identified the 77th division of the LAPD as the ones that locked in Nipsey Hussle, canvasing his family, his associates, and his businesses.
He said, “Nipsey and his family and friends, all had frequent contact with LAPD. LAPD had a lot of interest in Nipsey and his business efforts from the very start.”
“His brother Sam told me how they used to sell stuff on the street corner. How LAPD would come over and hassle them.”
Blacc Sam, Nip’s brother says in a tape, “We were selling shirts, socks, clothing, and shoes across the street from the Louisiana Fried Chicken. They would come and arrest us, cuff us, and take all of our stuff. We would be looking up as all of that happened like ‘Damn, we just lost thousands of dollars of merchandise. Y’all not doing this to nobody else. We trying to be legit.’”
“‘Nah, Y’all not legit until y’all pay taxes, like everybody else. You got to pay rent’,” Sam says the cops would say to them.
So with that advice, the brothers worked hard to open up legitimate businesses. Their store was originally called “Slauson Tees.” This store sold the brand, “Marathon Clothing.”
The success of the store, brand, and Nipsey’s career was unexpected and under suspect by the LAPD. In 2017, the two brothers opened their flagship store.
“Finally, we were able to open up the flagship store of the Marathon Clothing. The City Councilmen came. All the people in the community came. They were saying ‘We know where you guys started from. We so proud of you,’” Sam recalls.
It was even proclaimed “the biggest grand-opening in Southern California” up until that day. However, the LAPD was not happy.
“Their whole goal was just to shut us down,” Sam said. “Even though positive things were happening in the store.”
The police presence actually went up, even though the store was positive and totally legal. Allegedly, even when out-of-state off-duty officers would come in to support the business (as fans of Nipsey), they would be interrogated by the beat cops focused on finding a crack in the new business.
The brothers were considering moving to a different area, to free themselves from the harassment of the police. However, Nipsey’s commitment to the neighborhood wouldn’t let him leave.
Nipsey was murdered in that store lot, the area that was constantly swarming with officers. Still, their presence did not stop his death. At Nipsey Hussle’s funeral, Sam spoke about the harassment from the LAPD and how the force hit them with a “Nuisance Probe.” The police tried to get the landlords to evict them, but because of the economic and sociological transformation the shopping strip had undergone, the owners would not shut them out. Instead, they sold them the property.
The harassment was actually sanctioned by Operation Laser, the secret police ran program founded seven years prior to his death.
Johana Bhuiyan said that the idea was that “if police used historical crime data, they could extract offenders as well as a potential crime with the precision of a doctor using laser surgery to remove a tumor.” They equate people in the hood, who had committed crimes and those who did not commit crimes but were in a relationship with past offenders with tumors.
They believed that the area around Nipsey’s store would attract crime and they actively looked for criminal activity there, despite there being no major crimes on the premises.
The program used artificial intelligence to “predict” crimes and suspects for those crimes, using broad and sweeping generalizations. This was a classic case of profiling based on race, community, social class, affiliation, and gender.
Black Sam said, up until recently, he had no idea that this was happening.
Now defunct, it seems that the lasting effects of the campaign lead rappers to be racially profiled and harassed.
Kanye West and Julia Fox made their red carpet debut in matching denim outfits over the weekend. And they are rocking the same outfit again, only this time in leather.
The couple made their first official appearance together at the Kenzo fall/winter 2022 show held as part of Paris Fashion Week on Sunday, with stars including Pharrell Williams and Pusha T also in attendance.
Kanye West, who now goes by the name Ye, opted to wear an oversized denim jacket and jeans, as well as black boots.
Meanwhile, Fox chose a cropped denim jacket and matching jeans from Schiaparelli designer Daniel Roseberry. She accessorised the look with gold drop earrings and heavy eye make-up.
The couple also popped up at the Schiaparelli Couture fashion show. For this outing, they rocked black head-to-toe mathing leather outfits. The rapper also donned a black face mask and his trademark leather boots.
However, some fans weren’t so sure about the pair’s matching outfits, and made comparisons to Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake’s iconic denim-on-denim looks for the 2001 American Music Awards.
“JuliYe TAKE PARIS! Ye and Julia Fox attend the @kenzo fashion show at Paris Fashion Week together…looking like a 2022 version of the Britney and Justin denim outfit (sic),” one follower wrote, while another added: “Kanye West and his new girlfriend in head-to-toe denim. Nice try, but it’s been done.”
West is currently going through divorce proceedings with estranged wife Kim Kardashian, with whom he shares four children – North, eight, Saint, six, Chicago, four, and Psalm, two.
Fox welcomed a son in February 2021 with Peter Artemiev, whom she married in 2018.
Rapper Gunna has shared why Drake, one of the biggest stars in the world, almost didn’t get placed on his new project DS4EVER.
The College Park native shared the reason why their collaborative song “P Power’ was not included on the Jan. 7 release of the new album was because of clearance issues. The song, originally titled “P#### Power” contained a sample from a classic 70s record from one of the era’s most recognizable voices, Donna Summer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6EhtE77a6c
The disco smash “Could It Be Magic” was used by Metro Boomin and captured the genre-specific orchestration and the moans/ purring that made Summers hotter than any female artist of her times (and maybe now).
“I originally sampled Donna Summer,” Gunna shared. “I don’t even know her, because I’m so young. But she was a legend and her estate couldn’t get back in time for my album.”
Clearance approval was complete after the album went out and was added to the album sequence on Jan. 13, the last day of the tracking week.
DS4EVER, the last installation of the artist’s Drip Season four-part album series, debuted at the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart. The project featured other top-notch artists like Young Thug, 21 Savage, and Chlöe Bailey.
Damien Escobar is one of the world’s most well-respected violinists, and his love, passion, and dedication to his craft bleeds into his everyday life. Ever since the young age of 8 years old, the Jamaica, Queens, New York native fell in love with the instrument, even making history as the youngest Juilliard School of Music graduate at the time at just 12 years old… but the road was never easy.
Coming from true humble beginnings, Escobar went from being homeless and playing violin in the subways of New York City to taking home a NAACP nomination and two Emmy wins, to appearances on the Today Show and multiple sold-out nationwide tours.
And Damien isn’t just a musician, he has his hands in all aspects of the business. Coming up as a member of the world-famous duo Nuttin But Stringz, who came in third place on America’s Got Talent, Damien also stepped into the management role of the group — turning them from a local sensation to a multi-million dollar brand. To date, they’ve partnered with elite companies such as McDonald’s, Nike, Coca-Cola, ADIDAS, Yamaha, and more.
Now two decades in, Damien has performed for everyone from President Obama and President Bush to Diddy and Oprah Winfrey. Fast forward to today, Damien has lit yet another fire up under him, ready to unleash his own original music which he hasn’t done in over 5 years. Additionally, he stays busy with his own booking agency LCM Entertainment, while heading the music department at one of the largest ad agencies, Arnold Worldwide.
AllHipHop: You got sick at the tail-end of your tour, what happened?
Damien Escobar: I had something weird happen to me. I got inflammation around my heart and I’ve never had that before. It was crazy, we were in Maryland. This was the last couple of days before the tour ended. I was having chest pains. I wasn’t feeling well and I was having heart palpitations. I went to the hospital in Jersey before I went to Maryland. The hospital in Jersey, they’re so inundated with COVID that they didn’t really take care of me.
I thought “okay, something ain’t feel right,” so I made a cardiologist appointment in Maryland. “Let me make sure I’m good.” I get there and they said “you have inflammation around your heart, you can’t perform. You gotta go to the ER.” So that’s when they sent me to the ER, it was crazy yo. It was some crazy s###. I recovered and I’m thankful. I’m grateful.
AllHipHop: How does something like that happen?
Damien Escobar: I’ve been trying to figure it out. [laughs] We canceled the last leg of the tour, it was one of them things. The cardiologist said it can happen to anybody. Alright, I recovered from it. We may never know. My heart is good, which is a blessing. I’m back to the music. This year means everything to me. I’m telling everyone now, I’m coming for everything that’s mine this year. I got something to prove to myself this year.
When you were coming up, did you ever think you’d be here today?
I say this humbly, yes. When I first started playing when I was 8, I fell in love with the instrument. I thought “yo, I want to do this for the rest of my life.” It was one of those things if you put a basketball in a kid’s hands, they just have it. Looking at this young kid, she’s a young girl from Jersey. She boxes, 8 years old. You can look at her, she knows what she’s gonna do. So I always knew. I said when I grow up, I want to be one of the most celebrated violinists — but not for classical music, for what I do. Crossover. I’m not the best violinist in the world, I’m the best at what I do. I stayed focused on what I do. I’m getting back to what I do!
AllHipHop: As you were learning and being taught, your foundation was the classical stuff right?
Damien Escobar: No doubt, I love classical music. Classical music for me was my first hip hop. It was classical first, then DMX and Dr. Dre second. Bach, Tchaikovsky, Brams and all these other composers, they created the backdrop for me and who I am as an artist. I still love it to this day. Man, folks don’t realize that hip hop, R&B, and classical music run parallel. It’s all storytelling. Music is really subjective to the listener. I fell in love with the melodies.
AllHipHop: Violin is one of the hardest instruments to tackle. How was the learning process for you?
Damien Escobar: Stop asking me questions that’s gonna make me sound arrogant! [laughs] It was easy for me, I loved it. I was this kid that came home and I played 8 hours a day. Everyday, no b#######. I came home at 3pm and I practiced until 11pm every night. They say it takes 10,000 hours to master something and I got really good, really quick. Make me sound more humble.
AllHipHop: I can’t help it! You were the youngest Juilliard School of Music graduate at the time at just 12 years old.
Damien Escobar: It’s a blessing. It’s really been an incredible journey, I give it all up to God. My story was written long before me. I’m just playing out the part. This is everything. Every part of it, highs and lows in my life, it’s all been written. I’m just playing my part.
AllHipHop: How was your time on America’s Got Talent back in 2008?
Damien Escobar: That was mad cool. It was a lot of hard work. It was a dope experience. We definitely should have won, everybody knew that. My brother and I killed it. That’s when I was in a group. It was a lot of fun, week in week out. You never know. My brother and I, we’re really courageous. It’s funny you ask that because I was just watching it with my family here at home over the weekend, us on America’s Got Talent. I haven’t watched it in a decade. I’m sitting here talking to my daughter, you wanna…? The nostalgia, damn! We created something special with how courageous we were. When you’re young, you’re a lot more courageous. You take a lot more risk. Me at 35 now, hmm do I really wanna do that? Nah, let me go back to that 18-year-old, 20-year-old me that said “nah, we’re gonna do this!” It was a great experience, without a doubt. It was a lot of fun.
AllHipHop: What did you learn in that moment when you were part of the group, Nuttin But Stringz?
Damien Escobar: A lot! I learned that I can’t be in a group. [laughs] Again, music is subjective. What’s inspiring to me may not be inspiring to my bandmates. And I play what’s in my heart, period. I’m not doing s### for clout. If I was doing s### for clout, you’d see me online doing all these covers and the big songs. I don’t do stuff for clout, I really do things that resonate with me. That’s where it was in the group. He wanted to do this, I’m like “no, but I want to do this.” I learned: do your thing, I’ma do my thing. No matter what, I’ma do what’s in my heart. What’s true to me and what’s real to me.
AllHipHop: Talk about managing the group as well.
Damien Escobar: I tell artists all the time: it’s one thing to have talent, especially when you have a niche talent. But it’s another thing to know how to monetize that talent. It’s important. I was managing the group back when we’re together in 2008.
AllHipHop: You were a member and you were managing the group?
Damien Escobar: Oh yeah, like Mike Bivins. Mike Bivins did the same thing in New Edition. Because what we did was so unique and different, and no one got it, I had to learn how to do everything. I was a manager, I was an agent, a stylist, and a publicist. It taught me every role. I’m not saying that on a small level. I was doing deals with McDonald’s, I was doing deals with all these people. I discovered the blueprint to success on how to monetize it. Even when I took a break from music as a solo act and the group, I took a little time off but I understood the blueprint, which is how I was able to re-establish my career. Of course it takes talent without a doubt, but I was fortunate enough to apply that same blueprint to other people.
Artists like Mapy, who’s another dope violinist. She’s from Paris. I discovered Mapy in Paris in 2015, I thought she’s a superstar. She’s dope. We’ve been working with her for about 6 years now, she’s doing amazing things.
Painter, his name’s Tyler Gordon. Unbelievable painter. I discovered Tyler a couple years ago. He’s a best-selling author, he has a Nike campaign out. Beyond applying blueprints and understanding how to build brands and build businesses for artists, it’s really about teaching them how to own their own imprint. How to develop an IP, build it and then sell it. Instead of saying “let me go here and work with this company and I’ll get a royalty,” nah f### that. Let’s talk about ownership. Build your IP, retain some of it. You can sell a piece of it if you want, but it’s all about ownership. I’m really big on that with artists. Mentoring artists. Outside of the agency, I’m head of music for one of the largest ad agencies in the world. I head up their music department and that’s been really fun as well. I’m all over the place.
AllHipHop: What’s that company called?
Damien Escobar: That agency is called Arnold Worldwide. It’s been a hell of a ride. It’s been a lot of fun. Activating music for our clients, that’s been amazing. I’ve had an opportunity to bring all my favorite composers to write commercials for me. I’m really out here having fun, to be honest with you. Making music, helping artists establish their careers. Taking my knowledge and what I know, and applying it to other areas and facets of media.
AllHipHop: How does it feel to be able to go on tour and do what you love every night? I think I saw your post when you fell in Atlanta.
Damien Escobar: See, why you gotta bring that s### up. [laughs] Let me tell you something. 20 years, I’ve never bust my ass on stage. Atlanta out of all nights, in Atlanta I bust my ass. That’s one of my biggest markets, sold out. Oh my God, and I loved it. It feels good to be back on stage, especially after the pandemic. And we’re still very much in the pandemic. I just found out that one of my shows this month is canceled. Most probably will get canceled too. Let me talk to my artists, it’s important to diversify. You understand what I’m saying?
AllHipHop: What do you mean by that?
Damien Escobar: You can’t put all your eggs in one basket. Touring is really big for artists, this is how we earn the bulk of our income. Once that’s taken away, I just hope artists really learned in the pandemic that you need to really diversify.
AllHipHop: You mean have more streams of income type s###?
Damien Escobar: Hell yeah, without a doubt. You have to. Especially if you’re taking care of yourself, you’re taking care of your family, one thing that we learned during the pandemic is you have to diversify. Without a doubt.
AllHipHop: What other projects are you working on?
Damien Escobar: A lot, this is the year of the music. I was talking to my manager, shout out to David Britz. I was telling him I got a lot to prove to myself this year. This is my year of music. I’m back to the music this year. I haven’t dropped a record for 5 years. I dropped a Christmas album, but I haven’t dropped a record. What’s holding me back from releasing music? It’s fear. Without a doubt. It’s that sophomore fear that artists have with second records. Damn, will people still like what I do? I didn’t realize that until I had to do some soul searching. Damn, what is it? It’s fear. Nope. Once I recognized that it’s fear there, I kicked the door down and I get around that s###. New music 2022, the vibes are back. Expect everything.
AllHipHop: When can we expect the first release?
Damien Escobar: Probably in February I’ll release something. I’m just gonna keep going. Once I get one out, that’s it. Over.
AllHipHop: How was it performing on Oprah’s The Life You Want Tour?
Damien Escobar: Oprah’s dope. Oprah’s auntie. She’s so sweet, she’s mad cool man. I was on her The Life You Want Tour in 2013/14. She took a liking to me, invited me out to perform at — it wasn’t OWN at that point, that’s when she was still Harpo. At the Christmas party, this was back in ‘14 when I was still ascending. I remember, it was so dope, she was just Oprah sitting down. Chillin’, looking like everybody’s aunt. Just vibing. She said, “come sit here and talk to me,” and we just talked. I feel like I was talking to my aunt. It was crazy. This is the thing: everybody’s a human being. Oprah’s a human being. She’s Oprah, but she’s also a human being at the end of the day. She’s an amazing woman. She’s an amazing person.
AllHipHop: How’d it feel to be nominated for a NAACP Image Award? You also have two Emmys.
Damien Escobar: Yeah two Emmys, the Emmy Awards were pretty dope. The Image Award nomination meant a lot, especially because it’s an award by African Americans. My biggest thing as an artist, I didn’t feel like I’ve ever gotten my flowers from my people. When I say that, I’m talking about in the media form: BET, Essence, etc. It always hit me so hard. If you come to my concerts, my concerts are 90% Black folks. That’s why it’s so weird to me. Why am I not getting the recognition from Black media, but I’m getting all this recognition from traditional formats of media? It’s something that was tough for me so when I did get the Image Award nomination, it felt good. It was back in 2017. After that, I didn’t really care as far as who acknowledges me and who doesn’t. It’s a growth process you go through. Some artists, that thing for them are the Grammys. And the Grammys are the worst, everybody knows it’s b#######. But for artists, that’s validation for them. Every artist has that thing.
Damien Escobar: That’s everything. I’m a father first. I take pride in being a great dad. I got a new little baby. My son Kairo, he’s amazing. He’s turning 5 months, still hasn’t figured out quite how to sleep through the night and kicking everybody’s ass nonetheless. It’s so much joy. I have 4 kids altogether, I love my kids more than you can imagine. It makes everything worth it.
AllHipHop: Are they going to be little musical prodigies?
Damien Escobar: Oh, without a doubt. My oldest daughter plays two instruments. She plays piano and guitar, she’s amazing. My son plays straight video games. [laughs] He loves drama, acting, etc. My youngest daughter, she’s incredible as well. All these kids are talented. They’re amazing kids. With your kids, you introduce them to things and expose them. Let them figure out what they want to do.
AllHipHop: Best encounter you had with a fan?
Damien Escobar: I can tell you the worst. [laughs] All my encounters with my fans 99% of the time are amazing. Just recently in LA, it was crazy. This was in December, I had a fan come to my hotel room and was knocking on the door: “please let me in, please let me in.” It scared the s### out of me. In LA, that’s never happened before.
AllHipHop: How did they find your hotel room?
Damien Escobar: I have no idea! Just creepy. It scared the hell out of me. But typically, my encounters with my fans are always amazing. Especially when folks come up to me and say “you helped me get through chemotherapy.” I get messages from people saying, “I was suicidal and your song saved me.” That means so much to me because I really do it for the people. I do it for people, which is why the pandemic hit me so hard. I don’t want to do virtual concerts, it’s not real for me. It makes me feel like I’m doing it for money, that’s not why I get on stage.
It feels so good to have such a positive reaction from my audience. It’s been nothing but love. My audience really, really loves me and I love them. You come to my concert and you’ll be like “yo, did Drake just get on stage?” [laughs] It’s like that, and it still shocks me. I go to Detroit, 6,000 people come out to my concert. It’s overwhelming, and that’s around the world. I love them back. As long as they love me, I’ma keep on showing out and making great music and great experiences for them.
AllHipHop: Talk about your love for hip hop. Who are your favorite artists and how did they inspire you to create music?
Damien Escobar: My favorite artists? Damn. S###, we could be here forever. Let me give you a couple. I’d say for hip hop, I’m a huge fan of Kendrick, Jay, Nas. I love 50, he’s from Queens. I’m a big R&B guy, I love R&B. I love classic Chaka, Marvin, Al, Teddy, Michael, Prince, Sade. You name it, I love it. I love these new artists. I love Lucky Daye, there’s so many dope artists. Sabrina Claudio is dope. There’s so many really cool artists out right now. I really love where R&B music is right now. It makes you feel again. Talking about music, we lost that feeling over the 2000’s that we had in the ‘90s. I feel like that’s coming back, tremendously. I love where music is right now.
AllHipHop: Dream person to play with?
Damien Escobar: I’d love to do something with Kanye. That’s my Gemini brother. I don’t care about politics, I don’t care whatever that man believes in. When it comes to music, Kanye’s one of my favorite artists in the world. Kanye West, he’s brilliant. Pharrell, I love producers. Those would definitely be my favorite.
AllHipHop: How’s it feel to have the cosign from Stevie Wonder?
Damien Escobar: That’s dope. It was shocking. I did his Toys For Tots event back in LA, this was a few years ago. I was performing and he walked up to me and said “let me get your bow.” I’m like what? He goes “you just killed it, can I have your bow?” That blew my mind. I can die now. [laughs]
AllHipHop: You just gave it to him?
Damien Escobar: Of course, c’mon. Of course. He asked for my bow, I would’ve given Stevie my violin. Straight up, if he wanted it.
AllHipHop: Goals yourself as an artist at this point of your career?
Damien Escobar: I’m most excited to prove things to myself, that’s it. Last year was an incredible year for me on the professional side. A lot of this year is about personal development for me. Finding new inspiration, getting back to the music and creating music that makes people feel. I’m gonna drop that and I can’t wait. Shout out to every other violinist that is killing things and walking in their path. I’m here to contribute. That’s what 2022 is about.
Atlanta-raised rapper Alyssa “Latto” Stephens is entering the augmented reality world. The “Big Energy” performer partnered with Sprite and the Atlanta Hawks to launch a series of immersive, high-tech appearances.
Latto will be presented virtually inside the State Farm Arena on Friday, January 28. Fans in attendance at that Atlanta Hawks basketball game against the Boston Celtics will live through a grand finale surprise as well.
One of the Hawks’ “Forever 404” nights will follow the January 28th sporting event. The special showcase pays homage to the past, present, and future of Atlanta’s culture.
“As an Atlanta Hawks fan, it is a huge honor for me to support my team and my city during the next ‘Forever 404’ night,” said Latto. “We have created an unforgettable experience for fans by using innovative technology that is, without a doubt, the future of entertainment.”
Metro Atlanta residents will also have the ability to access Latto’s virtual performance through AR by scanning Sprite products. Additionally, any Sprite product purchased in the area can be scanned at sprite.com to automatically unlock prizes such as an exclusive meet-and-greet with Latto, jerseys, and tickets to the January 28 game.
“We are thrilled to team up with Sprite to engage all Hawks’ fans in attendance for an immersive virtual performance at Friday night’s game,” said Andrew Saltzman, Hawks’ EVP and Chief Revenue Officer. “As we continue to find innovative ways to enhance our in-game fan experience at State Farm Arena, we believe this night will be memorable for all.”
The Atlanta-based You Are Here (YAH) agency produced the unique tech components for the Latto/Sprite/Hawks campaign by teaming up with Georgia State University’s Creative Media Industries Institute. Plus, fans will be able to watch a bonus video that captures Latto’s volumetric scans the day after the game.
“We have seen firsthand how uniting sports and entertainment engages people through shared passions,” says Ryan Duffy, President, Creative & Strategy, YAH. “Augmented reality is one of the most valuable and exciting tech trends right now – and for good reason. We’re excited to marry our commitment to our clients with ground-breaking technology.”
Ryan Duffy continues, “This unique fusion of sports, entertainment, and technology is truly a reflection of and tribute to our great city of Atlanta. This ‘Forever 404’ night is particularly special, and it has all come together thanks to the generous support from Sprite.”
There could be specific reasons why Kanye West wants to be in charge of how he is presented in jeen-yuhs. The 280-minute-long portrait of Ye debuted at the Sundance Film Festival on January 23, and it appears the final half-hour of the doc shows West spiraling downward.
Entertainment reporters were able to screen the jeen-yuhs at Sundance, and a few early reviews have already been published. According to multiple reports, there are scenes in the film that may not paint Ye in the best light.
The Daily Beast‘s Senior Entertainment Editor Marlow Stern writes:
At various points, the filmmakers even opt to stop filming West as he starts to spiral in order to preserve their friend’s reputation—e.g. a surreal sequence in the Dominican Republic where, during a clandestine meeting with a pair of shady-looking real estate developers, West keeps bringing the conversation back to his 5150 psychiatric hold. They decide to put the camera down after he randomly compares the blowback in the wake of the Taylor Swift incident to being pulled apart by horses.
USA Today‘s National Music Writer Melissa Ruggieri writes:
It’s apparent as the film rolls on that Ye’s medications have slowed his speech – his voice sounds deeper and more deliberate – and [director Clarence Simmons] is aware and respectful of his friend’s challenges. A 2020 meeting with real estate friends in the Dominican Republic turns into a diatribe, even though Ye tells them, “I took bipolar medication last night to have a normal conversation.” But the rapper’s discourse becomes so scattered, Simmons stops filming.
In conversation with a group of real estate investors, West says, “I (took) bipolar medication last night to have a normal conversation and turn alien into English. I cannot communicate in a way that people understand in public because it’s just truth and we’re in a world of lies.” Moments later, Simmons admits he was disturbed enough, as a friend, to turn off the camera.
Jeen-yuhs filmmakers Clarence “Coodie” Simmons and Chike Ozah spoke to Variety about editing 330 hours of Kanye West footage into a three-part documentary. The longtime directorial partners admitted West had not seen the doc at the time of their Variety interview.
“[Kanye West] has no control over [jeen-yuhs]. He trusts us. We’re not making a biased film. We’re not trying to make a commercial for Kanye,” said Chike Ozah.
The co-director of West’s “Through the Wire” music video added, “It’s more just like celebrating and showing this relationship between these two men [West and Simmons]. It is not meant to skew you in one direction or not.”
Kanye West previously revealed he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and that he battled with opioid addiction as well as body dysmorphia. The cover of his 2018 studio album, Ye, included the wording: “I hate being bi-polar its [sic] awesome.”
Coodie Simmons told Variety, “There’s a lot that happens [in jeen-yuhs] both good and bad that he had to come to terms with and it’s going [to] be powerful when he finally sees the films.”
The U.K’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is following in the footsteps of the U.S and considering the use of drill music as evidence in criminal trials. Jay-Z was among the artists who recently signed a letter asking U.S lawmakers to pass the “Rap Music on Trial” bill. The signatories are seeking legislation that would make it more difficult for prosecutors to use lyrics as evidence in criminal trials.
The move in the U.K comes after a BBC study of prosecutions across the U.K. Defense lawyers and academics raised concerns that using rap lyrics as evidence can prevent defendants – the majority of whom were young black men – from getting a fair trial.
The CPS said it is not aware of any cases where drill music was incorrectly used to prosecute a defendant in the past. However, they are listening to the concerns. The BBC claims their research shows drill music is being increasingly used as evidence, alleging it incites gang rivalries.
They give the example of the murder of Lyrico Steede in Nottingham. During the trial, the court heard that a dispute between Steed and his killer had been fuelled by them insulting and threatening each other in drill music videos.
The CPS said drill music should only be used in specific instances. Claire Lindley, a chief crown prosecutor said:
“When we’re deciding whether to use any piece of evidence in a criminal case we have to decide whether it’s probative evidence and not unduly prejudicial to the defendant. When it comes to drill music we will obviously apply the same rules.
While the BBC’s report found that young black men are overrepresented in the figures, Lindley said, “We’re really, really keen to make sure that our prosecutors don’t use any kind of stereotypes or anything of that nature.”
However, Eithne Quinn, an academic and rap expert in court cases for over a decade disagrees. She welcomes “any new guidance to prosecutors that restricts the flow of rap into our courtrooms.”
“Gang discourses are already so racially charged, producing serious racial disparities in criminal justice outcomes, as has been widely recognised.”
The BBC examined nearly 70 U.K trials from 2005 where rap lyrics were used in evidence. Often rappers were on trial. Many featured allegations of murder, and the vast majority of the defendants were young black men and boys.
Quinn would like to see changes like what Jay-Z and others are proposing. “We need something like that here,” she said.
“There needs to be a really good reason to allow rap videos and lyrics before a jury. It’s wide open to unfair and racist misreading.”
Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy would have turned 24 years old on January 23 of this year. The Florida rapper, better known as XXXTentacion, was murdered on June 18, 2018, at the age of 20.
The Estate of Jahseh Onfroy is now preparing to release a new single by the late award-winning performer. XXXTentacion’s “Vice City” will arrive on DSPs this Friday, January 28.
A statement from the Jahseh Onfroy Estate reads:
We continue to be amazed at the love and support that X’s fans show on a daily basis. We know how much his music means to all of you, and his impact continues to be as powerful as it’s ever been.
It is important to us to continue to honor Jah’s legacy, and in that spirit we are planning an exciting 2022. One of our first initiatives is to get as much of X’s music from his earliest days as an artist up on all DSPs. We have been working diligently to clear as much of it as possible, and we are excited to announce our first release this Friday with “vice city” hitting all streaming services for the first time. We will continue to release music as we clear it, and are making sure we do it in a way that stays true to how X released each song originally.
Visit www.makeouthill.com now to sign up and stay up to date with X-related news, and be the first to be notified as the site evolves. Follow @makeouthill on Twitter for more updates.
Beyond the music, we know X’s fans have been waiting patiently for the documentary and we will be sharing updates on it soon.
Thank you again for your support and for continuing to honor and celebrate the life of Jah
Beyond the music, we know X’s fans have been waiting patiently for the documentary and we will be sharing updates on it soon.
Thank you again for your support and for continuing to honor and celebrate the life of Jah.
The Estate of Jahseh Onfroy
Prior to his death, XXXTentacion released two official studio albums – 17 in 2017 and ? in 2018. The latter project recently crossed the 200-week mark on the Billboard 200 chart. Both LPs are certified Multi-Platinum in the United States.
Additionally, 2018’s Skins became XXXTentacion’s second #1 album after ? topped the rankings eight months earlier. Bad Vibes Forever peaked at #5 in 2019. “Sad!” is presently XXX’s only credited #1 single on the Hot 100 chart.
Social media has been flooded with the Money Challenge in recent days. Celebrities and non-celebrities are uploading photos of themselves writing different words and phrases using cash.
Some people like NBA Youngboy and Lil Durk generated thousands of likes for their Money Challenge posts. In contrast, Fivio Foreign drew some backlash for spelling out “FUCC CHILD SUPPORT.”
Meanwhile, Pittsburgh-bred rapper Wiz Khalifa delivered a different message to his followers. The “Black and Yellow” hitmaker offered a warning about the trendy Money Challenge.
“Don’t go broke tryna count that money on tha floor,” tweeted Wiz Khalifa on Sunday evening. As of press time, that tweet has collected over 6,500 likes.
Don't go broke tryna count that money on tha floor
As far as the Money Challenge, it does not appear to be slowing down at the moment. Both 50 Cent and Soulja Boy recently took credit for creating the meme over five years ago.
Soulja Boy claimed he was the “first to do it” in his 2016 music video for the title track of the Stacks On Deck mixtape. 50 Cent reminded his followers that he spelled out “BROKE” with $100 bills on Instagram in October of 2015.
The first part of Kanye West’s epic three-part Netflix documentary, “Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy,” debuted at the Sundance Film Festival on Sunday (Jan. 23).
The four-and-a-half-hour movie begins in 1999 at the start of his career in the music industry. The first section covers the period 1999-2001 when Ye signed to Roc-A-Fella Records. The second part continues to 2005 when he released his second studio album “Late Registration” and his double Grammy win. The final part swiftly takes the viewer through the next 16 years of Kanye West’s life, covering the Trump era and the death of his beloved mother Donda West in 2007.
The project is due to be released on Netflix on three successive Wednesdays, commencing Feb. 16. However, like many of Kanye’s projects, he doesn’t want the world to see it until he’s completely satisfied.
Watch The Trailer For “Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy” Below
“I’m going to say this kindly for the last time. I must get final edit and approval on this doc before it releases on Netflix. Open the edit room immediately so I can be in charge of my own image. Thank you in advance.”
Days before ‘jeens-yuh: a Kanye trilogy’ premieres at #Sundance, Kanye West has said that “I must get final edit and approval on this doc before it releases on Netflix. Open the edit room immediately so I can be in charge of my own image.” pic.twitter.com/HVZLO3koyY
Meanwhile, Kanye West made his first official appearance with his new girlfriend, Julia Fox, at the Kenzo fashion show during Paris Men’s Fashion Week on Sunday. The pair debuted matching outfits throughout their time in France’s capital, wearing double-denim and all-black leather at various stops throughout their trip.
“It’s funny cause I’m getting all of this attention, but I really couldn’t care,” she said. “People are like, ‘Oh, you’re only in it for the fame, you’re in it for the clout, you’re in it for the money.’ Honey, I’ve dated billionaires my entire adult life, let’s keep it real.”
Earlier this month, NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown shocked the sports world when he decided to walk off the field in the middle of the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New York Jets.
The astonishing move left many football pundits and fans questioning Antonio Brown’s state of mind. The seven-time Pro Bowl player was eventually removed from the Buccaneers roster.
While AB’s time with the Bucs was over, the franchise headed into the playoffs as the #2 seed in the National Football Conference. However, Tampa Bay’s dreams of a Super Bowl repeat came to an end on Sunday after falling 30-27 to the Los Angeles Rams.
Antonio Brown took the opportunity to throw a social media jab at his former team. The athlete/rapper used his Instagram Story to let his followers know the Buccaneers’ 2022 postseason run was over. He also promoted his latest song.
Last night, AB posted a meme of himself holding an edited sign that read, “Buccs eliminated.” In addition, “Pit Not The Palace” played in the background as lyrics from the single scrolled on the screen.
There was a lot of speculation about what caused Antonio Brown to abandon his teammates on January 2. AB later claimed that his coach pressured him to play injured that day.
“Despite the pain, I suited up, the staff injected me with what I now know was a powerful and sometimes dangerous painkiller that the NFLPA has warned against using, and gave it all for the team,” wrote Brown.
The 33-year-old Miami native added, “I played until it was clear that I could not use my ankle to safely perform my playing responsibilities. On top of that, the pain was extreme.”
Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady was quoted saying, “We all love [Antonio Brown]. We care about him deeply. We want to see him be his best, and unfortunately, he won’t be with our team. But we have a lot of friendships that will last… I think everyone should be very compassionate and empathetic towards some very difficult things that are happening.”
Could Eminem finally be coming to the Verzuz stage?
Dr. Dre got fans of the Detroit rapper buzzing on Sunday (Jan. 24) when he took to social media and asked a simple question. However, the legendary producer is well aware of the implications of asking “Marshall Mathers vs Who???!!”
The comments section on Instagram included replies suggesting Eminem has no equal, “Nobody don’t want these problems,” was one response while, others agreed, suggesting, “Vs no one. Period” and “vs nobody.”
However, it was a different story on Twitter, with fans quick to suggest potential matchups for Slim Shady.
Hm. I'd love to see him and Busta. Funny that ppl slamming Em try to slam him with people he's produced for, featured with or who simply give him his flowers.
“Can’t nobody stand on that stage with me. I’m just telling y’all the real,” Jay said during a Twitter Spaces talk with Alicia Keys to promote her “Keys” album. “You gotta stand in front of the “Grammy Family” verse performed live? I never even performed that live. Let’s move on from Verzuz.”
Though reactions were mixed, Onyx rapper Fredro Starr gave his opinion on the matchup and said Jay-Z takes it. “Jay-Z is more agreeable to the culture,” he told Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson. “I think Eminem when he first came in, he kind of faded & started doing records that wasn’t representing the culture. But his records with Dr. Dre are CLASSICS.”
Jay-Z would beat Eminem in Verzuz says @Fredro_Starr on @BovadaOfficial: "Jay-Z is more agreeable to the culture. I think Eminen when he first came in, he kind of faded & started doing records that wasn’t representing the culture. But his records with Dr. Dre are CLASSICS." pic.twitter.com/gXPYLgFpln
Meanwhile, both Eminem and Dr. Dre will be hitting the Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show on Sunday, Feb. 13. Pepsi dropped the trailer for the show promising, “The most epic, star-studded Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show trailer.”
People all over social media have been using banknotes to spell out various words and phrases. However, according to both 50 Cent and Soulja Boy, they did it first!
The “Crank Dat” rapper shared an image of the video for “Stacks on Deck” which opens with Soulja Boy spelling out phrases in cash. He noted in the caption, ”I was the first to do it ☝🏾😂😂”
The G Unit rapper took a different approach, praising the new versions of the money challenge and claiming to originate the craze. He took to Instagram to share an old post of himself sitting on the floor with the word “BROKE” spelled out in notes.
“👀when i look back at some of the s### that i did, I be bugging out. 😆,” 50 Cent wrote in the caption. “I see all these new versions i like all of them. 🤷🏽♂️ @bransoncognac @lecheminduroi.”
Fiddy’s post dates back to October 2015, while Soulja Boy’s music video came out in March 2016. So, this time perhaps he wasn’t the first to do it after all!
Meanwhile, 50 Cent was concerned with chasing Teairra Mari On Thursday (Jan. 20) for the $50.000 she still owes him from their 2018 revenge p### lawsuit.
Elsewhere last week it was revealed The “Get Rich Or Die Tryin’” hitmaker is teaming up with Mona Scott-Young for a new show called Hip Hop Homicides.
The song is likely taken from A Bathing Ape founder Nigo’s upcoming album, “I know NIGO,” his first in nearly twenty years. The project will feature artists including Pharrell Williams, A$AP Rocky, Tyler, The Creator, Kid Cudi, Lil Uzi Vert, and Famlay alongside Pusha T.
King Push also shared the song on his official Instagram page. He posted a video of himself rapping along to the lyrics, together with an interesting image.
The picture is of singer Lana Del Ray with her face covered with a small pile of what looks like cocaine.
Fans on Twitter immediately began to speculate that a new album is on the way. Furthermore, some suggested that the Lana Del Rey image could be the cover art.
“If this is the next Pusha T album cover I’m gonna lose my mind,” wrote one user.
Pusha T was spotted recording what appears to be a music video with Kanye West recently, so it looks safe to assume they have something coming. However, any new music could be for “DONDA 2” which Kanye is currently working on, rather than a new Pusha project.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, Kanye West revealed that he would be releasing a song featuring King Push The Game and DJ Premier. However, he did say the song would be out on Friday (Jan. 21), which came and went with no new music.
Will Smith never thought he would make a better film than “The Pursuit of Happyness.”
Will Smith was sure “The Pursuit of Happyness” would be the pinnacle of his career until he made “King Richard.”
In the new biographical drama, the Hollywood star portrays Richard Williams, the father, and coach of tennis players Venus and Serena Williams, who are played by Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton.
Reflecting on the film in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Smith explained that the shoot ended up being a very “special” moment in his career.
“You always hear that cliché, ‘Oh, I laughed, I cried,’ (but) it’s one of those films that really covers a broad spectrum of emotion and ideas, that’s truly rare,” he shared. “I had secretly in my mind felt that I would never make anything better than (2006 movie) ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’, and I never said that out loud, but I felt like I would never make anything better than ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ and then I saw ‘King Richard.'”
‘King Richard,’ which also features Aunjanue Ellis, Jon Bernthal, and Tony Goldwyn, earned six nominations at the Critics Choice Awards and four nods at the Golden Globes, with Smith winning the Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama prize.
Furthermore, the actor noted that it is essential for him to continue making films that make viewers smile.
“I want to tell stories that make me cry, and I want to tell stories about the triumph of the human spirit and the women of the movement, and ‘King Richard’ fit in with that. The amount of time we spend on the set and on these things, I don’t want to ask anybody ever to do anything that they’re not going to be proud of for the rest of their life,” the 53-year-old stated. “I want it to contribute to the evolution and the growth of the consciousness and loving connection between human beings.”
One of the videos titled “Lil Nas X Gives Birth” blew up on YouTube and has been viewed over 15 million times.
According to artist Dana Dentata, LNX stole the entire promotional campaign from her copyrighted video “pantrychrist.”
Dana Dentata says LNX copied the idea for the pregnant prosthetic, a sonogram, and other concepts she originally conceptualized.
Dana Dentata fired off a cease and desist letter to the rapper, ordering him to take down his pregnant promotional material.
The Canadian-born metal rap artist is no clout chaser either. She has already achieved fame as a model for Kim Kardashian’s shapewear line SKIMS.
And, Kim Kardashian’s soon-to-be ex-husband Kanye West asked Dentata to close out the PornHub awards when he served as Creative Director for the event in 2018.
Dana Dentata and her legal team are attempting to settle the issues with Lil Nas X. However, if they cannot agree, a copyright infringement lawsuit is on the horizon for the “Industry Baby” rapper.
A number of rappers, celebrities, and civil rights leaders will be on hand to celebrate the life of Harry Belafonte.
On March 1st, Q-Tip, Doug E. Fresh, John Legend, Danny Glover, and Reverend Al Sharpton will be among those on hand to celebrate Belafonte’s 95th birthday during the inaugural Harry Belafonte Social Justice Awards dubbed “HB95.”
Musicians, actors, elected officials, and others will gather to give musical performances, testimonials, and video tributes to Harry Belafonte.
Harry Belafonte’s work as a political activist championing civil rights will be recognized with musical performances, video tributes, and testimonials by politicians, racial justice leaders, elected officials, musicians, and others.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit Sankofa.org, which will also celebrate its 10th anniversary during the star-studded event.
“I am honored that so many are coming together to celebrate my birthday, life, and legacy,” Harry Belafonte said. “I founded Sankofa.org alongside my daughter Gina and Raoul Roach to create additional space for artists and allies to join force to garner an artistic approach to the needs of our disenfranchised communities to use art as a tool to educate messages of hope and to encourage and energize the public to become engaged. One heart, One mind, One soul.”
The evening will also honor many influential activists, including Angela Davis, Rashad Robinson, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Dr. Cornel West, Darren Walker, Hank Willis Thomas, former Attorney General Eric Holder, and Congresswoman Barbara Lee.
HB95 will be held on March 1st, 2022, at New York City’s The Town Hall Theater at 7:00 PM ET.
Tickets are open to the general public and can be purchased by clicking here.
She has a podcast that she does a lot of talking and she discussed in her most recent one about how she’s no longer an attention seeker. The 31-year-old went so far as to admit that she is very accustomed to dating billionaires.
“It’s funny cause I’m getting all of this attention, but I really couldn’t care,” said Foxy Fox. “People are like, ‘Oh, you’re only in it for the fame, you’re in it for the clout, you’re in it for the money.’ Honey, I’ve dated billionaires my entire adult life, let’s keep it real.” Talk yo’ talk, Queen!
Then says all she cares about is making art. Right.
Kanye is very proud of his new boo and bragged about her in “Easy” with The Game. “”And my new b##ch bad, I know Illuminati mad.” They are pleased, actually.
Anyway, I ain’t saying she a gold digger, but she ain’t fking with no illseed!
