Team Roc, the social justice division of Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter’s Roc Nation company, is demanding the United States Department of Justice thoroughly investigate the Kansas City Kansas Police Department.
This week, Roc Nation uploaded a video titled “We See You” to the brand’s official YouTube channel. The public service announcement includes victims’ families recounting several reported incidents of sexual and physical abuse by KCKPD officers.
In addition, Team Roc started a Change.org petition calling for the Justice Department to open a pattern-or-practice investigation into the Kansas City Kansas Police Department. The Midwest Innocence Project and Team Roc also issued a second letter to U.S. Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta.
The new open letter reads:
Associate Attorney General Gupta,
TEAM ROC and the Midwest Innocence Project demand that the Department of Justice (DOJ) intensify its investigation into vast claims of corruption, coercion, rape, and murder committed or facilitated by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department (KCKPD).
We are committed to holding these so-called public servants accountable for alleged rampant acts of brutality and exploitation and request a meeting with the DOJ to discuss our findings—findings we hope will move you to act. These allegations require the urgency that the Kansas City, Kansas community deserves.
This is a critical time in and for our nation. The DOJ’s continued inaction tells targeted minority communities held hostage to the whims of the carceral state that justice does not exist for them, that their lives do not matter.
In the 8 FBI investigations that were conducted in the early 1990s, there is significant evidence of depraved acts by KCKPD. In the documents we procured via FOIA, and available for the public on https://kckcorruption.info/, the FBI’s recommendations concluded with a powerful message: “Until this office does convict several police officers and hopefully gain the cooperation of some of these police officers, the situation in Kansas City, Kansas, will only deteriorate.” The DOJ’s inaction since the FBI’s warning 30 years ago proves that the DOJ has harbored the practices and patterns of crimes and discrimination committed by KCKPD.
Local organizers and journalists have sounded the alarm about KCKPD’s systemic misconduct for years. As John Baldwin once posited: “How much time do you want for your progress?” We ask the DOJ similar questions now: How long must Black and brown Kansas Citians be denied justice?
How long will their calls for freedom be met with apathy? How long will KCKPD—a police department that, for decades, has allegedly misused every ounce of its power to protect those in its ranks accused of false arrests, murder, sex-trafficking, and rape—be allowed to terrorize Kansas City’s most vulnerable? How long will KCKPD be allowed to hide behind the promise that it will fairly, fully, or vigorously “investigate” itself? Or that the DOJ will seek justice for the children in Kansas City, Kansas?
On December 20, 2021, attorney Alex Spiro, acting on behalf of Team Roc, sent a letter to Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, urging the DOJ to open a pattern-or-practice investigation of the KCKPD, and to date, there has been no response from the DOJ to the letter. There is no excuse that can justify the DOJ’s silence. This is not a select group of bad apples within KCKPD.
To be silent is to admit to victims and survivors of pervasive police violence in Kansas City, Kansas, and across this nation that the entire system is guilty. Sincerely,
Brittany Renner’s takedown of Myron Gaines and Walter Weekes was so scathing it flipped the script. For once, the hosts of the “Fresh & Fit” podcast gained attention for being on the receiving end of a tongue-lashing, rather than the other way around!
Their controversial takes on women have garnered lots of attention and they frequently clash with the female guests on their podcasts. Joe Budden recently spoke out against the pair, issuing a lengthy statement after Asian Doll’s viral appearance on the podcast. Budden also addressed Gains’ resurfaced remarks disparaging Black women.
Britanny Renner is one of the many women in the industry Gaines and Weekes have criticized in the past. The model and author addressed them head-on during an episode of DJ Akademiks “Off The Record” podcast.
“You said you warn guys about girls like me, so tell me about girls like me,” said Renner. Gaines responded with, “Just women in general…” However, Brittany Renner wanted him to be direct. “Don’t ‘women in general’ ’cause you literally, specifically said before we got on here, you did say that you warn guys about girls like me. So, now that we’re face to face, what kind of girl am I?”
Gaines responded. “You’re not special. You’re like other girls.” Renner then asked Gaines what made him special and continued when he didn’t have a reply for her. She questioned what he gets from telling girls they’re not special. “How does that make you feel?” she asked. “ ‘Cause if I say, ‘You’re a b*tch ass n*gga,’ that does something for me, right?”
“If I insult you or if I tell you you’re not special, you’re forgettable, what does that do for me?” Renner went on. Her clap back continued as she told them she turned down their podcast with its “underwhelming” name because it was “forgettable.”
Watch Brittany Renner Confront The “Fresh & Fit” Hosts Below
Brittany Renner pulled up to that podcast and them dudes couldn’t keep the same energy 😭 They got bullied in HS and black girls didn’t like them and it still hurts
Back in 2014, DeJ Loaf scored a hit record with the Gold-certified “Try Me.” The Detroit-bred entertainer earned more RIAA plaques, but her impact on the culture diminished in recent years.
Rising rapper Coi Leray showed up over the last two years with her own hits like “No More Parties (Remix)” featuring Lil Durk. Apparently, there are some people that believe Leray has very similar characteristics as Loaf.
“I f### with her but clearly @coi_leray bit @DeJLoaf style right?” tweeted @deezdollaz315. That Twitter user added, “Just was giving it some time thought she’d switch it up but you right.”
Coi Leray eventually responded to @deezdollaz315. The Boston native tweeted, “Maybe it’s the tomboy stud vibe we have in common… but we do not sound alike… From [‘No More Parties’] to [‘Big Purr (Prrdd)’] and [‘Twinnem’] n#### you cannot tell me we sound alike.”
“Big Purr (Prrdd)” featuring Pooh Shiesty became Coi Leray’s second Hot 100 chart entry. The music video for “Twinnem” has collected over 21 million views on YouTube. “Twinnem (Remix)” with DaBaby has totaled more than 8.6 million Spotify streams.
DeJ Loaf released Sell Sole II in 2020. Big Sean, Gunna, 42 Dugg, Sada Baby, Benny The Butcher, Boldy James, Conway The Machine, Lil Uzi Vert, and 6lack appeared on that studio album. Plus, Loaf’s No Saint EP arrived in 2020.
Maybe it’s the tomboy stud vibe we have in common.., but we do not sound alike.. From no more parties to big Prrdd and twinnem n#### you cannot tell me we sound alike https://t.co/AeDlDYe23F
Jahseh “XXXTentacion” Onfroy’s ? is still charting four years after its release in 2018. The 3x-Platinum album remains on the Billboard 200 to this day.
In fact, ? has now spent a total of 200 weeks on the Billboard 200 rankings. XXXTentacion’s second studio LP is currently placed at #76 on the latest chart.
? hosts the singles “Moonlight,” “Changes,” and “Sad!” The latter track peaked at #1 on the Hot 100 chart and earned Diamond certification from the RIAA.
XXXTentacion’s ? debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 with 131,000 first-week units. The album includes features by Joey Badass, Travis Barker, PnB Rock, and Matt Ox.
2018’s posthumous XXXTentacion project Skins also opened at #1. The Florida native’s discography also contains 2017’s 17 and 2019’s Bad Vibes Forever.
XXXTentacion was murdered on June 18, 2018, in Deerfield Beach, Florida. Prior to his passing, the controversial rapper broke out on a national level with his “Look At Me!” single.
DeAndre “Soulja Boy” Way is giving his followers a look into his life once again. The reality television show veteran will present The Life of Draco.
The six-episode docuseries is set to premiere this week. Viewers get to see Soulja Boy’s daily experiences as he visits Chicago, Nashville, Cincinnati, and Miami for the 2021 Millennium Tour.
“We’re going into the year with all positive energy. I ain’t got no beef with nobody. I ain’t got no smoke, no problems, no nothing. All I’m doing is TV shows and movies. I’m an actor now,” said Soulja Boy earlier this month.
Soulja Boy is using The Life of Draco to showcase backstage access, shopping sprees, and other moments from his life. The show is expected to feature cameos by Justin Bieber, Bow Wow, T.I, Rich The Kid, DJ Akademiks, and more celebrities.
Besides his upcoming streaming program, Soulja Boy is also still creating music. The “Crank That” hitmaker recently released new tracks such as “She Make It Clap,” “Rick & Morty” featuring Rich The Kid,” and “Pop My Sh*t.”
The Life of Dracowill debut on Friday, January 21 at 5 pm ET exclusively on the Revolt app. The full season will also be available to stream.
Soulja Boy has a range of business interests and assets and has been a pioneer of digital hip hop since emerging onto the scene in 2007 with “Crank That.”
Known for his many claims of “I did it first,” Soulja detailed some of the moves he made throughout his career during an interview with Black Enterprise.
The innovative rapper likes “to set trends.” says SouljaGame, the console he designed and trademarked earned him millions last year. According to him, the game is so successful, he received an offer in excess of $100 million to sell it.
“I’m the first rapper to release a video game console in history,” Soulja Boy said. “You got Xbox, you got PlayStation, [and] you got Nintendo. Other than that, there’s no video game console that ever existed in the history of history.”
Soulja Boy says the tech industry is where the money is at. “My company’s evaluated for multi-millions. My net worth is $30 million,” he said. “I made a lot of millions in music, but how it’s going right now, I’m making more money off the video game console than the rap game.”
While his net worth is unknown, he did make it to Forbes’ Hip-Hop Cash Kings list in 2010 after earning a reported $6 million that year. Nonetheless, the publication also challenged Soulja Boy’s wild claims of a $400 million deal with World Poker Fund Holdings, a company worth around $50 million at the time!
His Beef With Kanye West
On the subject of his recent public spat with Kanye West, he says they resolved their issues after Kanye removed Soulja’s verse from his “DONDA” album. Ye admitted he was wrong for not consulting Soulja Boy about his decision, and the two made amends.
“Brothers argue sometimes, partners fight sometimes and they gotta get over it,” he said. “Y’all ain’t real homes, real partners [if] y’all can’t have a disagreement and talk it out and work it out again,” he said. “We’re straight. I’m in my own little world.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Soulja Boy discussed his upcoming new docuseries, “The Life of Draco” on REVOLT. He said his online persona makes him appear “all fun,” though that’s not the case. “If you watch certain interviews, you can see how intellectual I am, how far it goes for the business. But, if you’re watching me going off on Instagram and you never heard of me before or you’re a new fan, you’re gonna have different perceptions,” he admits.
The docuseries is a chance for Soulja to give fans a chance to see the real him.
“You’re going to get to see the real Soulja behind the scenes, behind everything. You’re going to get to see why I act the way I act, how I move the way I move.”
Silk Sonic are taking their show on the road… the first stop, Las Vegas!
Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak are going on a 13-date residency at the Park MGM in Las Vegas beginning on Feb. 25. The pair formed the duo at the start of 2021 and rapidly gained popularity, their 2021 Grammy performance fueling calls for a tour. Their joint project, “An Evening With Silk Sonic,” arrived in November while a surge in COVID-19 cases and new variants made tour plans impossible.
The duo announced their Las Vegas show via their socials on Wednesday (Jan. 19).
“It’s happening! The sexiest party of the year! Them Silk Sonic Boyz are performing Live in Las Vegas! Pre-sale tickets on sale today. General on sale Friday. Ticket link in bio.”
.Paak doubled down on the excitement with a separate post promising an unforgettable show.
“THE TERMS ARE LOCKED AND VEGAS MIGHT NOT EVER BE THE SAME JACK!! YOU’RE INVITED TO THE HOTTEST SHOW IN SIN CITY! HIT THE LINK IN BIO AND GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!!! 🕺🏽💃🏼 🎰”
Meanwhile, earlier this week, the pair had reason to celebrate after scoring four nominations at the NAACP image awards. They received nods for Outstanding Duo, Outstanding Album, Outstanding Music Video & Outstanding Soul/R&B Song.
In a recent in-depth interview with The New York Post, Fresh shared some tales of his humble beginnings and discussed his relationships with his peers, including Slick Rick and Biz Markie.
He explained the origins of his moniker, the Human Beatbox, given to him by DJ Barry B from the Get Fresh Crew. He recalled Barry’s mother’s surprise hearing what she thought was “a nice beat,” as he was beatboxing at Barry’s apartment one day.
“Then that’s when Barry said, ‘You should [be] the Human Beatbox. And you should call it that.’” His revolutionary style of recreating a beat using only sounds from his body was highlighted on his iconic 1980s collaborations with former crew member Slick Rick, “The Show ‘ and “La Di Da Di.”
Doug E. Fresh remained diplomatic while discussing their split. “[We were] creating new styles that never existed,” he said. “So what happened? … I think personally that we were young.” Noting that their egos got in the way he added, “We were two different entities who needed room to breathe.”
However, there is no bad blood between the pair now and maturity has brought them to an understanding of each other. “We still family,” Doug E. Fresh explained. “We have grown, and we close.”
Doug E. Fresh on His Bond With Biz Markie
The Hip-Hop trailblazer also detailed his close relationship with the late Biz Markie, dating back to 1982. The pair grew so close after their first meeting at a Long Island club the “Just A Friend” rapper would chill at home with his family when Fresh was not home.
“He’s in the house with my mother and my grandmother … And then my grandma was like, ‘Yeah, I just sent him to the store to go get me some cigarettes’ … I was like, ‘Yo, how did you get so in the family that quick?’ After that, I could not shake him.”
Earlier this week, to honor The Ruler on his birthday Doug E. Fresh posted a performance from New Year’s Eve 2013 where he and Slick Rick were rocking the stage with their 1985 classic, “La Di Da Di.”
Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox decided to share their engagement news on social media to “control the narrative.”
The 31-year-old rocker popped the question last week, a year and a half after the two met on the set of the thriller Midnight in the Switchgrass.
In a new interview with Vogue, the Beyond the Lights star said the couple “released it to control the narrative” instead of allowing “someone just catching a weird cell phone picture of a ring on our hand and being like, ‘whoa!'”
“But yeah, I didn’t expect it. I just recorded it on my cell phone,” he recalled. “And it wasn’t like we had photographers or anything. It was just like me setting my phone against a cup.”
The rocker also shared more details about Fox’s custom emerald and diamond engagement ring, which he created with British jewelry designer Stephen Webster to mirror their “twin flame” energy.
“It was just carved into the teardrop, straight out of the mine. The concept is that the ring can come apart to make two rings. When it’s together, it’s held in place by a magnet,” he revealed. “And then it forms an obscure heart. And you see this right here? The bands are actually thorns. So if she tries to take it off, it hurts.”
Artist on the rise, Pierre Bless, has influencers all over Instagram sharing their zodiac sign. He has recently released his dope viral hit titled, “What’s Your Sign”. The catchy tune has gotten the attention of many powerful women influencers such as Amara La Negra and Jai Nice. “What’s Ya Sign” has gotten exposure from The Breakfast Club, On-Air with Ryan Seacrest, The Steve Harvey Morning Show, and The Sheryl Underwood Radio Morning Show.
Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, the inspiring Hip-Hop artist started rapping in the seventh grade. Pierre began taking music seriously when he won a talent show at the age of 15 and used the prize money to buy studio equipment. From there, he has only continued to blossom into a successful up-and-coming musician.
Pierre Bless has dedicated a lot to his craft, getting influence from rap icons such as Nas, Rick Ross, and Jay-Z. He says, “I’m inspired by Nas’s lyrical ability and Jay-Z’s beat selection.” Pierre hopes to one day become an icon himself, stating “I want to become a multi-platinum selling artist…I want to use my music to spread positive energy to all of my fans. I want to impact the world.”
Pierre is an artist that’s all about promoting good energy and the Law of Attraction through his “Spread Love Life” brand. Pierre wants to motivate people to spread love everywhere. When asked about what motivates him, he said, “My Daughter Zuri is my number one motivation. I want to make millions, billions even to create a clear pathway of success for her and her future siblings. I also just enjoy the process of growth. Experiencing myself mold into something greater over time is very gratifying.”
The North Carolinian is in the final leg of a national tour and has been on a regional tour, and a HBCU college tour in 2021. He’s been on main stages at SXSW and has opened up for Jacquees, Key Glock, Asian Doll and Toosii. He has accomplished all of this as an independent artist, signed to a Management deal with PTE’s CEO Miami Mike and Quality Control’s marketing manager, Mr. Too Official.
Look out for his upcoming project, Vision Board set to release in 2022.
Make sure you follow him on all social media @PierreBless and you can listen to his music on all streaming services.
Raekwon has partnered with Diadora and Foot Locker to launch his “Community Linx” initiative.
The “Community Linx” collaboration includes the release of Diadora sneakers connected to local communities. In addition to offering shoes, the Wu-Tang Clan rapper’s initiative aims to help aspiring musicians.
“I concepted Community Linx because I wanted to bring music and sneaker culture together in a meaningful way,” Raekwon said in a statement. “I’m thankful that Diadora and Foot Locker, Inc. believed in my vision. Together, we aim to inspire the next generation of music talent by providing them with tools and resources to hone their craft.”
Raekwon continued, “I can’t wait to hear their work. Every sneaker capsule represents the hustle of each city and hopefully serves as a reminder to keep chasing your dreams.”
The first “Community Linx” sneakers represent New York by featuring the colors of the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets. Starting on January 27, the shoes will be sold exclusively in men’s sizes at Foot Locker and Champs Sports.
Raekwon, Diadora and Foot Locker also selected 16 musicians from New York for a special program hosted by Scram Jones. The invite-only, four-week course gives the aspiring artists a chance to learn about the beat-making process.
The up-and-coming musicians will then get an opportunity to present their beats to Raekwon and special guest Dave East at a private event in New York. They will receive feedback from industry veterans, participate in a Q&A and take home a pair of the Diadora sneakers.
“Our latest collaboration with Raekwon is built on a shared commitment to community and passion for music and sport,” Diadora CEO Claudio Bora said. “We’re excited to provide young musicians with an opportunity to gain experience from some of the best artists in the business and each city with a sneaker that celebrates its unique qualities.”
Raekwon’s Community Linx initiative will be coming to Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles and Philadelphia. Each city will have its own unique sneakers as well as showcase events at a local Foot Locker location.
Nas joined venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, Google and others to invest in an African gaming company.
Carry1st, an African mobile games publisher, raised $20 million in funding led by Andreessen Horowitz. The gaming company received investments from Nas, Google, Axie Infinity and Yield Guild Games, among others.
“We are delighted to be making our first investment in an Africa-headquartered company in Carry1st, a next-generation mobile games and fintech platform,” Andreessen Horowitz’s David Haber said in a statement. “We see immense opportunity for the company to mirror outstanding successes we’ve seen in markets like India, China and Southeast Asia.”
Nas is no stranger to investments. Last year, he was one of the celebrities who helped raise $55 million for the NFT platform Royal. Now, Nas has expanded his portfolio as he’s become an investor in Africa’s burgeoning market for gaming.
“We’re excited to partner with this world-class group of investors who, in addition to capital, bring expertise across gaming, fintech and web3,” Carry1st’s co-founder and CEO Cordel Robbin-Coker said. “In 2021, we launched multiple games and digital commerce solutions achieving really strong growth. Together we can accelerate this growth and achieve our goal of becoming the leading consumer internet company in the region.”
Bronx native Cardi B said that she will pay the funeral and burial expenses for the victims of the massive fire that killed 17 people and displaced hundreds. The rapper shared that she doesn’t want anyone to “worry about the costs associated with burying their loved ones.”
According to TMZ, Cardi’s heart is bleeding for those who lost so much during the Jan. 9 fire that ripped through a 120-unit tower in The Bronx.
She said, “I cannot begin to imagine the pain and anguish that the families of the victims are experiencing, but I hope that not having to worry about the costs associated with burying their loved ones will help as they move forward and heal.”
Cardi teamed up with the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City to support the victims, some as young as 2 years old and as old as 50 years old.
New York City’s new mayor, Eric Adams, commented on the GRAMMY Award-winner’s generosity. Adams said, “We are grateful for Cardi B, a real superstar on and off the mic, for granting some critical financial relief to families of the victims.”
“The city will be forever thankful to her and also to the grassroots donors and corporate partners who have been able to offer immediate support for our neighbors in need, to reestablish themselves during this difficult time,”
he continued.
Cardi hopes that her contribution can help them during their time of bereavement. She said, “I send my prayers and condolences to everyone affected by this horrific tragedy.”
Emir Duru has published a new EP with three outstanding songs. “Nightfall,” one of the most well-known tunes, may assist to generate a comfortable atmosphere. The calming rhythms will raise the listener’s mood no matter where they are.
Emir’s most recent EP consists of three tracks. All three tracks capture the listener’s emotions. It’s no wonder that you’ll want to listen to each song again and over again, given the compelling music. You can also detect if an artist’s songs are good by listening to them repeatedly.
Emir’s debut EP was released by Rumor Records. They should be commended for mastering and producing such high-quality music. “Nightfall” will have you up and dancing in no time.
The men who allegedly killed Young Dolph made their first appearance in court on Wednesday (January 19).
Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith were arraigned at the Shelby County Criminal Court in Memphis, Tennessee. Their court hearing was originally scheduled for Tuesday (January 18), but it was pushed back because the case was transferred to a new judge.
The Young Dolph murder suspects did not have lawyers with them at the hearing. Both men declined public defenders, telling the judge they could afford an attorney.
Judge Lee Coffee ordered them to return to court on January 28 to make sure they’ve hired representation.
“This judge wants to make sure these defendants have an attorney sooner rather than later,” Shelby County Assistant District Attorney Paul Hagerman said.
Johnson and Smith are charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, employment of a firearm during a dangerous felony and theft of property over $10,000. Prosecutors could seek the death penalty in the Young Dolph murder case.
“We wouldn’t be here without strong evidence against them,” Hagerman told FOX 13. “We are confident, and y’all saw the video from November 17. We had those people in court today.”
A third man named Shundale Barnett has been charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. Barnett wasn’t involved in the shooting of Young Dolph, but he allegedly helped Johnson evade the law.
Barnett is still in custody in Indiana. According to the District Attorney’s Office, he remains there for security reasons.
LA-based rapper Nazo Bravo picks up his game with an interesting music video for the beloved track “Fadeaway.” The song is produced by GOLDMVN and mixed by Grammy-nominated multi-platinum mix engineer Ariel Chobaz, whose credits include Drake, Nicki Minaj, and DJ Khaled.
The music video opens up with a nostalgic drive through a tunnel. The visuals push his artistic views right in front of the camera. Spiraling from dark moods to the artist spilling his addictive verses, the song is truly emitting its best performance through the music video.
The artist is not so camera shy though. He plays a crucial character in the cast of The Family Business on BET. He is seriously reinventing his musical approach to be more of a rapper than an MC.
The music video for “Fadeaway” has been extremely well received by both fans and music critics, totaling a whopping 300K plays with Spotify and YouTube combined.
Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars announced a Vegas residency named after their debut album An Evening with Silk Sonic on Tuesday (January 18). The duo will be performing at the Park MGM’s Dolby Live theater in Las Vegas.
“THE TERMS ARE LOCKED AND VEGAS MIGHT NOT EVER BE THE SAME JACK!!” Anderson .Paak wrote on Instagram. “YOU’RE INVITED TO THE HOTTEST SHOW IN SIN CITY! HIT THE LINK IN BIO AND GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!!!”
Bruno Mars added, “Its happening! The sexiest party of the year! Them Silk Sonic Boyz are performing Live in Las Vegas!”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CY5rdbrut9k/
Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars’ residency is scheduled to begin on February 25. Silk Sonic is booked for 13 shows in Las Vegas with their final performance taking place on April 2, the night before the 2022 Grammy Awards.
The timing works out well for Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars since the 2022 Grammy Awards have been moved to Las Vegas. Silk Sonic has received Grammy nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song.
Tickets for the residency go on sale to the general public on Friday (January 20). Presales are available now via Ticketmaster.
SuperDope Q has been putting in that work, and he’s excited as ever to be releasing his own hair color line called Hair Dope, which has been in the works for almost 3 years.
From styling everyone including Keke Palmer, Jaquees, Latto, and the Migos, Q knows a thing about fashion and beauty… and the fact that hair can be the accessory to take any outfit to new heights. With his vegan, cruelty-free products, you can color your hair daily with either makeup or a semi-permanent version that lasts for days.
A true multi-hyphenate, SuperDope Q embodies what his name states. Hailing from Milwaukee but now based in Atlanta, Q is the definition of a hustler, most notably known for his role on VH1’s Black Ink Crew, going from personal assistant to cast member. Now stepping into the entrepreneur role, SuperDope Q doesn’t just work hard, but he looks good while doing it.
With his Hair Dope line, costumers can purchase hair brightener, pre-shampoo, Hair Juice, and Hair Sauce.
On the music tip, Q just unleashed his most recent single “Don’t Play.” AllHipHop caught up with SuperDope Q virtually, who was in high spirits back to the grind after the holidays.
AllHipHop: How you been since the last time we chatted?
SuperDope Q: I’m good, I can’t complain, I’m working, working. We gotta get back to it, we gotta get back to the grind. It’s the top of the year. I’ve been focusing on my new product line and working on Hair Dope.
AllHipHop: I feel like last time we chatted, you were telling me about this.
SuperDope Q: Yes, I was telling you that I have something coming and it was Hair Dope. It’s been 2.5 years, long ass time.
AllHipHop: Do you have Hair Dope in your hair now?
SuperDope Q: I have a little bit of the bleach. I’m lifting my hair right now with the brightner. My hair was black yesterday, I just started putting it in. It went orange from the brightener. I’m gonna lift it one more time later tonight so it’ll go blonde, then I’ll dye it silver.
AllHipHop: I love how cute the products are, they’re so handy. What does it mean to finally have this out?
SuperDope Q: It feels so good because it’s been in the works for almost 3 years. It was stuck in customs when it first happened during quarantine so we couldn’t get products out to people. There were a lot of things going on. I’m so ecstatic about Hair Dope because not only is it my own, but I’m also the first black-owned hair dye company here. I linked with Cre8or Global to create this awesome product. We’ve been going back and forth testing the hair colors, it’s been a long process. I thought it was going to be something quick: I can just slap the label on but I couldn’t. We’re vegan, we’re a vegan product.
AllHipHop: Are you vegan?
SuperDope Q: I’m not vegan, but I love vegan food. I’m not against it, I could be vegan. I’m super excited for it to be here. Hair Dope is my treasure, my baby. This is something I cherish.
AllHipHop: Hair Dope products are vegan, cruelty-free, salt-free, paraben-free, ammonia-free, hydrogen peroxide free. Why is that important to you?
SuperDope Q: Especially in the black community, they say a lot of products damage our hair. People in general, all types of races, don’t like to dye their hair because they feel like it’s gonna damage their hair. The first thing a person says is “I don’t wanna dye my hair!”, but it’s safe. It’s a safe thing, you don’t have to damage your hair. It’s cruelty-free, it’s ammonia-free. It’s everything. You can use it on your dog, that’s what I like too.
AllHipHop: What’s the reality behind getting the company off the ground? How’d you know it was ready?
SuperDope Q: I knew it was ready when we finally did the packaging and I saw the line sheet. I tested out a lot of different colors. People don’t know we had different tubes of color I tried, like purple, blue. We tried different colors, and I picked the first 4 sets that I wanted to drop. We had to see how long it would last: how long would it stay in my hair, how many times I needed to rinse it. I had to really go through a process of learning these products to be able to sell it to the next person to let them know my experiences. Also when you bleach or dye your hair, you can lose hair. But with Hair Dope, my hair stays healthy, stays thick. That’s one thing that I love about the product, it doesn’t damage my hair at all. Getting Hair Dope off the ground is just crazy.
AllHipHop: What does it mean to collab with Cre8or Global?
SuperDope Q: Cre8or Global came to me with this amazing idea, they helped me launch this off the ground. They’ve been working with me going on to 2 to 3 years on this project. If it wasn’t for Cre8or, I wouldn’t know what would happen with these products because they’re pushing me to the limit. We have plenty of Zoom calls every morning. Every week we talk, everyday. “We have to try this, we have to do this.” We’ve been sampling and doing s### from the drawing board back and forth. My team, I love them. I love everyone who is a part of Hair Dope because they’re making me take this to the next level, to be at the top of the market with all other top hair products.
AllHipHop: How does it feel to have your product on Amazon? That’s huge!
SuperDope Q: Having it on Amazon, listen I was stomping in the car when they called. “Wait wait, lit!!” I was stomping around and dancing. I’m super ecstatic. This right here, Hair Dope is my billion dollar ticket. Excited!
AllHipHop: How’s the reception?
SuperDope Q: They love it. I have men, I have people buying it for their children. I have people buying it that just want to try the color. I have a wax that you could put on your hair and rinse it out later. You don’t have to choose the semi-permanent if you don’t want to go that route. The reaction is crazy, the support is crazy, I didn’t even know the support was going to be like this. Especially since I’m selling hair dye, but a lot of people love color so they have people they can buy it for. People they know who wear color, things like that. It’s super lit! I’m ecstatic.
AllHipHop: Being a celebrity stylist, how does it play into your work in fashion?
SuperDope Q: I switch it up with my looks, with my style. It draws attention to people. When I go somewhere: “who did your hair? What color?” Yo I did it, it’s my color. You can do it yourself at home, you got my color. You don’t need to have anybody dye your hair. You can do it yourself with these products. You can try different colors. If you want to try a look for a date: 24 hours, one hour, you can rinse it out. It’s something dope for people to try, people to get the experience, who wanted to step out of the box. You have people who are scared as hell: “I want to try this, but my husband will kill me.” Some people say “she wouldn’t like this.” Look, try it. See if she likes it. If she doesn’t, rinse it out.
AllHipHop: Most proud celebrity you’ve styled in your career?
SuperDope Q: I have a couple of people. I was most proud of styling Mulatto, I was proud of that. I love Mulatto, love her. My cousin Jacob Latimore, shout out to Jacob. The Migos, proud of them. They’re on a whole other fashion level rockstar. That s###’s crazy, to see them say “what’s up! I see you.” It’s just organic.
AllHipHop: Are you excited about any new clients?
SuperDope Q: Yeah, I’m excited about a couple different artists I’ve been seeing. I’m also trying to tap into the athlete world. I’m trying to get some NBA players, football players, and different clients.
AllHipHop: Talk about your new single “Don’t Play.”
SuperDope Q: I just dropped a little track called “Don’t Play,” something light. I didn’t drop a song all last year, I’ve been so busy working with Hair Dope. On the top of the year, I’m going hard at the music, at the style, and with the products. It’s all tied in one. I dropped this single called “Don’t Play,” everybody check it out on platforms. It’s lit, let’s go!
AllHipHop: Any goals for the new year?
SuperDope Q: I have a goal to get Hair Dope in stores this year, get everything out. That’s the main goal, take Hair Dope to the next level. To see my face everywhere on billboards and the cover of Forbes, take over with this Hair Dope. I’m really tapping into this entrepreneurship with hair and hair products, because nobody’s really tapped into hair color. I’m trying to become a colorist. I’m trying to take this on tour right now where people could talk about products in different states and pop-up shops. I’m pushing for this right now.
AllHipHop: Is Atlanta your biggest market?
SuperDope Q: Atlanta, Milwaukee, New York.
AllHipHop: Favorite product from the line?
SuperDope Q: My favorite products in the line are Hot and Spicy, the red, and the shampoo. The pre-shampoo is great if you need to refresh your hair. It’s tingly and it feels good. It keeps it silky and looks fresh. It keeps your hair fresh and non-dry.
AllHipHop: From a girl’s perspective, it’s hella expensive to get your hair done. How does Hair Dope help that?
SuperDope Q: My products help that because it’s an easier tube. It’s a portable tube: you can throw it in your purse, throw it in your bag. It’s a fashion fun size. You can do it at home easily, do it yourself. It doesn’t damage your hair so it doesn’t matter how long it takes. Someone who’s scared, you can rinse it out. You can try the wax and don’t worry about it over-processing your hair. You don’t have to worry about these products over-processing your hair at all.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want to let us know?
SuperDope Q: I want people to know to follow Hair Dope @hairdope_dye on Instagram. www.hairdope.com. Follow me on instagram @superdope_q. Support, repost, show love, I appreciate all the love, from small and big. The comments, I see them. Let’s go. What city do you want me to come to? I’m there, let’s get it. I want to thank you for having me on here, it’s lit.
When people look at present-day artists, they are looking for something more than just talent. They need to have a common understanding with the person before they are invested in their music. Joilson Melo is one such person people really like listening to, full of passions, talent, and an unwavering effort to do his best. By profession, he is not only a hip-hop, rock, and indie artist but also a lawyer based in Sinop-MT Brazil.
Recently, Joilson Melo shared how wonderful of an experience it was to record these tracks, come up with them and go through the entire process of piecing together the entire album. “Music is a very important part of my life, and I say this not because I am a musical artist, but because it has impacted my life in general. So many Brazilians will feel the same, which is one of the main reasons why I am motivated every day to face any challenge. It is my belief that I can create music that can make everyone vibrate in positive energy. Whether it is at the beginning of the day, or as it is about to end, everyone deserves to feel relaxed. My music is meant for this exact purpose. I want to share my experience of music with everyone else, and help them accomplish greater things”
It is not easy being a multi-talented individual, people often assume life becomes automatically convenient when a person is investing their time in two or more things. Although difficult in practicality, Joilson Melo has mastered the art of dividing his time to prioritize the need of the hour and work accordingly. To sum it down, it is not always possible for him to divide his time definitely because music does not come at his pacified time, instead it must be natural to be really a work of art. This is why Joilson Melo has dedicated a lot of his time to producing music albums, never backing down on his dream, despite working constantly and consistently towards his professional law career too.
Joilson Melo has worked extremely hard in the past year to come up with 13 unique tracks from the album genesis mystery. With great enthusiasm, Joilson Melo had made a lot of effort in the year 2021, however, the release had been postponed due to the pandemic situation. Even in these difficult times, Joilson Melo has managed to keep his spirits up and keep working for what he has always dreamed of. Releasing in January without any further delays, music lovers finally get to experience the true beauty of unparalleled talent. One of the only artists managing to pull off electronic music flawlessly, this album genesis mystery is going to become a phenomenal hit among Brazilians, as is deserved. You must tune in to join the audience who have been waiting for this breakthrough in electronic music!
NBA YoungBoy has come out the box (no jail pun intended) with a new song that targets several rappers, living and deceased.
I can’t lie. There is a ton of tension there is going on between these new rappers. NBA YoungBoy is one of the most popular rappers of the current day. As you know! And his fanbase is crazy. Louisiana is not playing with their homey. They love him! Remember, just the other day some dude allegedly attacked NLE Choppa in the name of NBA Youngboy.
So, NBA is now in Utah sequestered away from most of us. He is on strict house arrest for a number of pending legal matters that he must face this year. He has gun charges in both Louisiana and Los Angeles, but he was still granted bond. His house arrest terms are pretty strict as he faces illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition charges. This house arrest is 24 hours!
So, while he’s on house arrest, they have a studio for him to keep working on music. He’ll also be monitored by authorities so he can move around and he must restrict his visitors to three. That is what closely resembles a prison schedule.
At any rate, he has a new song that is dissing NLE Choppa, Lil Durk, Fredo Bang, 21 Savage, and others. He has a whole beef with O-Block in Chicago! He has a whole beef! Luckily, nobody will see each other in real life. So this song, “Know Like I Know”,” is all we have now.