The comedian and actress first sparked romance rumours when they were spotted together at a baseball game in St. Louis last month.
Chris and Lake appear to be going strong, and in photos obtained by TMZ, were seen dining out in Santa Monica, California on two separate occasions over the weekend.
A member of the public also told editors at Page Six that the Hollywood stars sat at the Giorgio Baldi restaurant on Saturday night for around two hours and were holding hands as they departed the venue.
Representatives for Chris and Lake have not yet commented on the dating speculation.
The former “Saturday Night Live” star was married to Malaak Compton-Rock from 1996 until 2016, with the former couple sharing two daughters.
Meanwhile, Lake split from her husband and the father of her daughter and son, Scott Campbell, in October 2020.
K!NG KONG GOTCHA! is from Virginia Beach, Virginia the home to some very important names in Hip-Hop History.
He himself is a Virginia legend on a few different levels… DJ’ing for some of the biggest names in the game in addition to rapping, not to mention he is 1/3rd of the supergroup The Opiod Era, which as dropped 9 projects to date.
Gotcha! just dropped a solo project in April of 2022 called THE LOOSE DIAMONDS PROJECT, which is available everywhere. The street’s response has been amazing.
Now he is dropping a video titled “BLAC NARCO,” which was shot in Medellin, Colombia at Pablo Escobar’s mansion in Comuna 13, Pablo’s old neighborhood.
The approach of the record/video is there are a million stories of narcos but not too many of color. So when he speaks of Big Meech or Frank Matthews, he is paying homage to the Blac Narcos of America.
bleulilbaby is a whole vibe, and it’s hard to miss that bright, electric blue hair anytime she walks into the room. Born in New Jersey and based in Philadelphia, bleulilbaby is the newest recording artist via Mass Appeal Records, and she’s here to take over the music industry with her undeniable talents.
bleulilbaby states, “I’m a lot of things. I think my music describes me as a lot of things. I shake a lot of ass, I have a great time, but I also am a Leo. I’m a very emotional person. If I had to describe myself, I’d say I’m a work in progress. [laughs]”
Building an organic buzz and following on social media, garnering over 1.4 million followers on TikTok alone, the rising star shined bright and quickly shifted her focus to her first true love: music. bleulilbaby has been singing ever since she can remember, whether it’s talent shows reciting Mariah Carey lyrics, to joining the girl group Good Girl, which even competed on America’s Got Talent. Soon, she would be discovered by Starr Island Group music executives Donnie Meadows and Chase Fairbanks.
Fast forward to today, bleulilbaby has officially unveiled her highly-anticipated debut single, “Pride,” tapping Bay Area rapper Symba. The song is the perfect soundtrack to your summer romance, reminding folks to let go of their pride and let love in.
AllHipHop caught up with bleulilbaby to discuss her sound, roots in Philly, being vegan, going solo, how she got her name, how “Pride” came to be, signing to Mass Appeal, and more!
AllHipHop: How would you describe your sound?
bleulilbaby: Honestly, it feels like rejuvenatingly sad, if that makes sense. It’s a mix of PARTYNEXTDOOR and Mary J. Blige vibes, you know? If you can put them together, that’s what it feels like.
AllHipHop: What was it like growing up in Philly and how does that play into your art/music?
bleulilbaby: I’m originally from Jersey, I didn’t move to Philly until I was 13, 14. I grew up with my mom, she raised me by herself for a long time so it was just me and her. A lot of my music represents women who’ve been doing things on their own. It expresses the energy of figuring life out as a woman, as a black girl by yourself. Working through traumas, working through heartbreaks… because we tend to go from heartbroken to heartbreaker, that’s the system that we all go through.
AllHipHop: What’s your favorite cheesesteak spot?
bleulilbaby: Well, I’m going to say it’s Max’s. I know a lot of people are going to try and say it’s Ishkabibble’s, but my personal favorite is Max’s. I can’t really get down with Ishkabibble’s, it’s too expensive. The seasoning is not the same, and the grease is not the same. Of course I’m vegan now so it’s different for me, but I dream of a cheesesteak sometimes. [laughs]
AllHipHop: How long have you been vegan now?
bleulilbaby: Almost 3 years.
AllHipHop: How do you feel?
bleulilbaby: I feel amazing! I used to really lag in energy, I had a sinus infection almost once every two months. At the time I thought I had an allergy to dairy, because I’d be f###### up some cheesesteaks, macaroni and pizza. But as soon as I cut all that stuff out, my body was like thanks! S###, I gotta keep it that way.
AllHipHop: You were a part of a girl group, Good Girl. How was that experience?
bleulilbaby: It was a lot of fun! I’m an only child so I’ve never had siblings. It was really an experience of being sisters and growing up together, because we knew each other prior to the group. Growing up together and going through life together, it was an exciting time for us. We went through a lot of heartbreaks together, dealt with a lot of family deaths together. It was a relationship that ended, but it was an amazing time for all of us honestly. It was a really good time.
AllHipHop: How was it going solo?
bleulilbaby: Honestly I feel like I’m still lowkey transitioning. [laughs] I’m still getting used to traveling by myself, even doing interviews by myself, being in the studio without them. It’s one of those things like when you’ve been in a relationship a long time with somebody, because we were together for 7 years. Then you break up, you’re used to that person being there so you have to get used to it. I’m still going through those motions, but it’s been cool.
AllHipHop: Talk about when you picked up the name bleulilbaby and what inspired the blue hair.
bleulilbaby: Okay so, I had changed my hair color a lot. Especially in the group. My hair’s been fuchsia, I had been blonde, I had been green, I had been silver. Blue was just another color, because I get bored so quickly. Blue was one of them colors on a stop to another color. I remember, I forget who it was but somebody said “yo, we gotta figure out what your color’s going to be, because you can’t be a thousand colors.”
I said “Well I guess since I’m already blue right now, I might as well keep the damn color.” Because people like it, they’re like “oh it looks good with your skin.” I’m like okay cool, so I stuck with the color. My manager was the first one to start calling me bleu, so people got attached to the name. I added the ‘lilbaby’ to the end because I used to walk down the street all the time, and you know how when guys try to talk to you? They call you a thousand things, but it was always “what’s up shawty? what’s up lilbaby?” I said ‘”oh that’s cute,” so I just put that s### together.
AllHipHop: Are you always going to have blue hair now, or…?
bleulilbaby: You know, I don’t think so… because I’m really tempted to switch it up. bleulilbaby is a spirit, I don’t think it has to be attached to a particular color. It just so happens that my hair is blue, but it’s more of an energy thing for me. It expresses me becoming who I am on a day to day basis. The color blue is just me, it expresses who I am really well. I’m a switch it up at some point.
AllHipHop: You just released “Pride,” your debut solo single. How does it feel?
bleulilbaby: I’m excited about it. It’s always a little nerve-racking when you put something out that’s so close to your heart. Because songwriting especially for me, I wrote on all these songs. I’m really talking about my life in this music, so it’s hard sometimes to want to be that vulnerable and want to be okay with people. Because of course you put it out there for people to criticize, to love or hate which is cool, but it’s your heart still. I am really sensitive about my s###. I’m just excited people are getting the opportunity to get to know me, because people don’t really know. They see me having a good time or they see me singing some sad s###, but they don’t really know who I am. I’m more so excited to share that with people.
AllHipHop: Why did you decide to put “Pride” as your first single?
bleulilbaby: [sighs] Being in relationships, I feel it was a good conversation starter, especially as far as who I am. Just because I know a lot of my shortcomings in relationships have come from me having too much pride or me having not enough of letting go and feeling safe enough to let somebody love me. It was a good way to start the conversation of the chaos of a relationship or the beauty in a relationship. I thought it was a really good starting point.
bleulilbaby: Oh yeah, Symba’s the homie. We’re signed to the same production company, so it was only a matter of time that we did music together. I’ve been pulling up to Symba sessions forever, at the Trap. [laughs] I appreciate him for getting on the record. He really helped make the song, just because I wanted that girl/guy dynamic, I wanted to express myself, I wanted the other person to express themselves as far as how we see the situation when we’re fighting with somebody. Or in a relationship when you’re trying to figure s### out, trying to figure out how to love each other. He really did a great job.
AllHipHop: What can we expect from the music video?
bleulilbaby: I don’t want to give too much away, but it’s a vibe. That’s all I can really say, it’s vibey. The song is a segue into more of who I am and the video’s going to be a segway into more of who I am, allowing people to see me and understand me. Get a feel for how I felt in the moment of writing it.
AllHipHop: Have you written for any major artists?
bleulilbaby: I haven’t, but I can’t wait to. I’m excited to start. I know people talk about writer’s block a lot, but my writer’s block was really intense. It had lasted for years and years. “Pride” was the first song that I wrote coming out of that, last summer. After that, I was able to get into a flow. I’m just excited to work. I’m excited to work with producers, I’m excited to work with writers. I’m excited to get in the flow of being creative, sharing stories and experiences with people and making that s### go.
AllHipHop: What do you want fans to get out of your story?
bleulilbaby: More than anything, I want people to love themselves, accept who they are, and be okay with growing. Even if other people are not okay with them growing. Because we get stuck caring about what other people think, to the point where we build our life around it. Everything is dependent on how other people feel about what we’re doing, what we’re saying, how we’re feeling. It’s important to be accountable, because I understand. I spent a lot of time not being accountable. This first project is me trying to do that, because these are the first steps to self-love, growth, all that type of stuff. I want to help people grow and be better for themselves, not anybody else.
AllHipHop: How did you find your way to Mass Appeal Records?
bleulilbaby: Honestly, me and my team have known a lot of people at Mass Appeal for a while. You know when you’re an artist, you see people. You meet people. I’ve met certain people at the label, like Celeste [Marketing Director] before actually signing. We’ve had a back and forth prior to me signing last year. It seemed like the perfect place for me, and my team. We all love everybody there.
AllHipHop: Did you have any conversations with Nas?
bleulilbaby: Not yet, but I heard that he loves the project. [laughs] Which is fire!
AllHipHop: What’re you most excited for next?
bleulilbaby: Man, it’s gonna be a really busy year. A lot of work goes into the success of your music and your success as an artist. It’s a lot of work once you’ve put something out, or once you continue to put something out. I’m just really excited for the work part, then getting in front of people and being able to perform live. I can’t wait to perform in Philly. That’s going to be so fire and exciting for me, I can’t wait.
I really can’t wait to get back on stage, it’s been a minute. 2020 swallowed up everybody’s life, so I’m trying to come out with a bang. I really love meeting and connecting with people. Intimate spaces are my favorite, talking to people is my favorite thing to do. I’m excited to get out there and get s### going.
AllHipHop: What does your tattoo say?
bleulilbaby: Self-love! It’s everyday, you know?
AllHipHop: What would you say is your favorite thing to do for self-care?
bleulilbaby: You know what, I’m not the best at it, but I have started to take time to just be by myself. I’m not really a spa-y kind of person, massage-y kind of person. I’m really ticklish so that’s not a real thing for me. I love going to the beach though, it’s my favorite place. As much as I can, I want to be by the water, by the ocean. Sun and salt, just feeling peaceful and connected.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want to let the people know?
bleulilbaby: Follow me on everything @bleulilbaby. “Pride” is everywhere now, and the video will be out soon! I can’t wait for everybody to hear my music, I hope you guys love it. I hope you’re ready for me, because I’m coming b####!
Rapper Nuke Bizzle has decided to throw in the towel in a fight against federal prosecutors, who charged him with scamming the government out of millions of dollars of unemployment benefits.
In one video, unbelievably titled “EDD,” banes held up stacks of cash and money-filled envelopes sent to him by the California Unemployment Development Department (EDD).
An investigation revealed that Nuke Bizzle, born Fontrell Antonio Baines, exploited the Pandemic Unemployment Assistant provisions of the CARES Act from July 2020 to September 2020.
The rapper would use phony identities and addresses of people in California to defraud the government.
He filed 92 applications and received debit cards preloaded with the EDD unemployment benefits.
Nuke Bizzle was finally arrested in October of 2020 at his residence in the Hollywood Hills after raking in over $1,256,108 in bogus claims.
He was also busted with a semi-automatic pistol and 14 rounds of ammunition. Nuke Bizzle was prohibited from possessing the firearm due to previous felony convictions in his home state of Tennessee and another in Nevada.
Nuke Bizzle is expected to enter his guilty plea this week. He faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison and another ten years for possessing the semi-automatic pistol.
The family of slain rapper Nipsey Hussle has finally found justice in a courtroom.
Today (July 6th), Eric Holder Jr. Was found guilty of the rap stars murder.
Eric Holder Jr. shot and killed Nipsey Hussle, 33, in front of his Marathon closing store on March 31st, 2019.
Both men were members of the Rollin 60s set of the Crips. Holder became enraged after Nipsey Hussle accused him of being a “snitch.”
The allegations enraged Holder, who returned minutes later and shot Nipsey Hussle 11 times with two different guns and kicked him in the head before fleeing in a nearby vehicle, which was driven by a woman with whom he was romantically involved.
Two other men were also wounded, but fortunately, they survived.
Eric Holder Jr.’s lawyer, Aaron Jansen, tried to persuade jurors that Nipsey Hussle’s murder was done in a fit of rage to have him convicted of the lesser charge of manslaughter.
However, jurors did not buy it after two days of deliberations.
They agreed with LA County Deputy District Attorney John McKinney that the murder was premeditated and that Holder had plenty of time to think about his actions.
After the snitching allegations, he returned to the car he was a passenger in, ate some french fries, loaded his gun, and returned to kill the rap star, born Ermias Asghedom.
Nipsey Hussle was laid to rest during a tremendous memorial service on April 12th, 2019, in Los Angeles at The Staples Center.
Stevie Wonder, Jhene Aiko, Marsha Ambrosius, and Anthony Hamilton performed tributes to the rapper, while guests like Snoop Dogg, YG, and Nipsey’s father Dawit Asghedom and his brother Blacc Sam were amongst those who gave emotional tributes.
Even former President Barack Obama paid his respects to Nipsey in a letter sent to the slain rapper’s family.
After the memorial, a funeral procession traveled 25 miles through South Los Angeles.
Nipsey left behind two children – a daughter named Emani and a son named Kross, which acclaimed actress Lauren London.
According to reports, Eric Holder Jr. showed no emotion when the verdict was returned. He faces a life sentence in prison for the crime.
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), July 4th has been named the most dangerous U.S. holiday primarily due to the combination of extra travel, alcohol, and fireworks.
Rapper Chief Keef learned the hard way after having an awful experience with fireworks over the holiday weekend.
A video of the chart-topper’s explosive situation was posted by his 43B artist Lil Gnar.
Lil Gnar captions his post, “Sosa almost blew da crib up.”
The footage shows everyone hanging out and lighting the sparklers. Everything seemed cool as the colorful blasts decorated the sky, but then on the ground, all hell broke loose.
As the sparks dashed out at their legs and feet, the bystanders scattered in a rush to escape getting burned. The “Earned It” rapper also ran from the danger and joined others as they ducked behind cars.
The two previously worked on a song titled “New Bugatti.”
Keef has partnered with RBC Records and BMG Rights Management to start a new record company. Rocking with RBC, to which 43B will be a subsidiary, is no coincidence. He has a working relationship with the company that started in 2014.
“43B has been a passion project of mine for over a year, and I’m ready to give artists that are changing the game a label where they can really succeed,” Chief Keef said. “I’ve been independent for almost 10 years, so I want to pass on my knowledge of the industry to artists who are shifting the culture so they can make it to the top.”
While the business is set, let’s hope Chief Keef doesn’t burn himself up before the new label can release real fire … the kind folk can listen to.
It looks like Guap (aka Guapdad 4000) is on the wrong side of the Gap Inc. corporation. According to the rapper, the clothing retailer wants him to cease and desist.
Gap reportedly believes Guapdad 4000’s latest Guap Arch merchandise too closely resembles the company’s trademarked logo. On June 29, Guap posted a 33-second spot promoting his new tee-shirts, hoodies, and hats.
Apparently, Guap caught the attention of lawyers working for Gap Inc. Yesterday, the 29-year-old Dior Deposits album creator shared what appeared to be a cautionary legal letter from the billion-dollar public company.
Guap wrote on Instagram:
HOW SIMILAR IS TOO SIMILAR? PRAY FOR ME✅ GOING LIVE LATER TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. UNTIL THEN COP AS MUCH “ILLEGAL” MERCH WHILE IT’S STILL AVAILABLE on GUAPDAD4000.com.
As far as Guapdad 4000, the Oakland representative born Akeem Hayes officially shortened his stage name to Guap earlier this year. He released the “Black Iverson” single in April. The music video for “Pose” featuring Wiz Khalifa and Curren$y arrived last month.
R. Kelly fans have lost it! As you know R. Kelly has been incarcerated and sentenced for 30 years in prison. They have hit him with the Rico! He ran a criminal enterprise there in slaved black women and girls sexually. That’s very bad! And there’s nothing that’s going to save him at this point. He has a couple other court dates that will add on to his jail term, most likely. However, he has a Fanbase that is like no other, save Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj. He even has a friend in Lil Boosie.
Despite all of his crimes against women and girls, his fanbase is looking to get him a music program that will allow him to continue to make music. This intrigues me. First of all, what kind of music is R. Kelly going to make from prison? Will it be about being a slave in jail? Will it be about prison food, prison life, working out in the yard? Or will it be about what he was talking about when he was out in the world? I have so many questions! At any rate, they have started a full petition that they hope will be enacted to allow him to make music while in jail.
Now, there’s no way he’s going to financially benefit from this. But, some say that if he makes money, it could actually go to a worthy cause. On top of that, maybe he just puts old good music. I don’t know! I actually think that this type of situation only could result in more pain and anguish from the victims, their families, and also sets a precedent for other criminals to find creative ways to lessen their own suffering.
I think dude needs to pay the price and there should be very little leniency, if any. When you look at the details of this petition, it really has no details to it it’s extremely sparse and does not plead any real substantial case for R. Kelly.
Allow R&B singer R.KELLY to be included in a Prison music Program
Why is this important?
R.kelly can continue to make music for his fans tell his story behind bars
Brooklyn-bred rapper Ackquille “Bobby Shmurda” Pollard has been very open about his love of sex. So how did the “Hot N####” rhymer deal with the need for sexual pleasure while locked up?
Bobby Shmurda spoke toVariety about some of his “craziest moments” in prison. The conversation included Shmurda recalling receiving erotic gratification during his stint inside New York’s Clinton Correctional Facility.
“I don’t know if it’s the riots or the sex on the visits. I got oral sex, didn’t get sex sex. I’m too big to be doing all that other s###, ya understand?” admitted the 27-year-old native New Yorker.
When asked if anyone caught him getting oral sex, Bobby Shmurda also stated, “Some of them wouldn’t care, they’d be like[shrugs]. Some would be like, ‘Ackquille Pollard! Chill, hold it down, son! What the f### you doing?! This girl right here, both of y’all get the f### out!'”
Bobby Shmurda Is Now An Independent Artist
Last November, The Shmurda She Wrote EP creator tweeted about possibly needed treatment for sex addiction. Shmurda wrote at the time, “I need [sex] therapy #Baddd 🥺 I need to be stopped lol. [For real, for real] tho on the set.”
New York law enforcement officials arrested Bobby Shmurda and other GS9 affiliates in 2014. Shmurda pled guilty to one count of third-degree conspiracy and one count of weapons possession. He served six years in prison.
“It feels good dropping [music] anytime I want to. I’m about to release an EP with a company. Still building the team out,” Bobby Shmurda told Variety‘s Shirley Ju. Shmurda also teased the release of his upcoming Bad Boy EP and Ready to Live album.
Kid Cudi is ready to gift his fans a new compilation project. The rapper/actor revealed The Boy Who Flew to the Moon, Vol. 1 will land on DSPs soon.
The Boy Who Flew to the Moon, Vol. 1 will arrive on July 8. Additionally, Cudi revealed he will add his classic A Kid Named Cudi mixtape to streaming services on July 15.
“I’m [going] for 2022 MVP,” tweeted Cudi on July 4. He later added, “A Kid Named Cudi dropped July 17th, 2008. This official release is 2 days shy of the 14th anniversary. I am so damn excited u all get to enjoy it again, remastered, [with] all the jams that made people fans from jump. Also, did a new intro. 😌”
Yesterday, Cudder posted the official The Boy Who Flew to the Moon, Vol. 1 artwork. The Cleveland, Ohio native promised to share the project’s tracklist sometime today (July 6).
Kid Cudi Reportedly Has A Studio LP On The Way Too
A Kid Named Cudi originally dropped in 2008. Cudi’s 17-track mixtape featured guest appearances by Wale and Chip Tha Ripper. The Top 5 hit “Day ‘n’ Nite” lives on A Kid Named Cudi.
“Day ‘n’ Nite” is also part of the tracklist for Man on the Moon: The End of Day studio LP. The Kid Cudi catalog contains other albums such as 2010’s Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager, 2013’s Indicud, 2016’s Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin’, and 2020’s Man on the Moon III: The Chosen.
Cudi’s upcoming Entergalactic album is rumored to come out on September 30. The LP is the music component of the forthcoming Netflix adult animated series of the same name. Kenya Barris (Black-ish, BlackAF) serves as an executive producer for the Entergalactic show.
In addition, Kid Cudi will present the Moon’s Landing Event on September 17. The festival’s lineup includes Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Pusha T, Playboi Carti, Don Toliver, Jaden, Chip Tha Ripper, and more. Cudi also recruited Don Toliver, Denzel Curry, 070 Shake, and Strick for the “To The Moon World Tour.”
July 8th "The Boy Who Flew To The Moon Vol. 1" (Best of)
"A Kid Named Cudi" dropped July 17th 2008. This official release is 2 days shy of the 14th anniversary. I am so damn excited u all get to enjoy it again, remastered, w all the jams that made people fans from jump. Also, did a new intro. 😌
Forbes has named singer Rihanna, 34, the youngest self-made billionaire in the United States, pushing Kim Kardashian to the number two spot.
The annual list, which identifies America’s richest self-made women, has placed her in the rankings for the third year in the row in the 21st spot with a net worth of $1.4 billion.
Kim Kardashian, who is 41 years old, comes in in the second spot with a net worth of $1.8 billion.
A couple of years ago, many thought Kardashian’s sister, Kylie Jenner was the youngest billionaire at 24. That title was stripped from her because in 2018, it was discovered in a recalculation that her net worth didn’t hit the 10-figure designation like big sis or her former brother-in-law, Kanye West.
Now, her net worth is assessed at $600 million.
How did Rihanna quietly creep up into this most exclusive club? The girl works hard.
The New York Post reports that she is the top-selling digital artist of all time. When she tours, she makes a gang of money. Consider her Anti album made $22.3 million in 2016. The tour alongside the music brought in $110 million for the Bajan beauty.
And then there is her beauty, make-up, and clothing line. All things Fenty are winning.
Savage X Fenty, a lingerie company, has an estimated value of $3 billion (and she owns 30% of that). Fenty Beauty, which she owns 50% of and LVMH owns the other, is valued at $2.8 billion.
Basically, Ri Ri is shining like a diamond with all her endeavors, earning her another distinction as the only one on the list under 40 years old.
The state of male R&B was in shambles for several days. A nearly universally panned Verzuz featuring some of the top names of the 2000s left the genre reeling. That June 23 edition of the hits-for-hits battle series included Omarion, Mario, Sammie, Pleasure P, Bobby V, and Ray J.
While Mario earned newfound respect from many Verzuz viewers, the rest of the lineup ended the night with social media users dragging them. Specifically, Ray J caught a lot of the heat.
The “One Wish” singer wants to let his fans know that he plans to rise from the ashes of that Verzuz show as a better live performer. He provided an update on his vocal improvement journey.
Ray J wrote on Instagram:
I have a very long way to go I know- This is a different type of vocal warm up- it’s called “The Rayvival Warm Ups” – you gotta have fun wit it – Im playing around wit it a lil bit for the vibe!! Feel me – let me say this again – I know I need work – that’s why I’m working it out – bare with me – Im enjoying the journey in this mission to sing great! – Everyday I’m putting in more work to get better and give you a great show! I want my vocal team to be proud of me in the end. One day at a time. – “RUNNING TO YOU.” I’m a big Gap Band fan! Also Stevie Wonder!! – wanna hear it – here it goes ✊🏾🙏🏽✊🏽 🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥🟥
That Instagram declaration from Ray J came after he addressed the poorly received Los Angeles concert on The Joe Budden Podcast. Ray told Budden, “What’s crazy is people tell me it was a successful night. But, I wanted to do something vocally that really woke people up.”
According to Verzuz, the Omarion vs Mario headlining matchup brought in big numbers. Bobby V & Ray J vs Sammie & Pleasure P was the preshow presentation. The company reports over 5 million people watched the music faceoffs across multiple digital platforms.
Ray’s music career contains five Top 40 hits on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart. Singles such as “Wait a Minute” featuring Lil Kim and “Sexy Can I” featuring Yung Berg became signature Ray J songs. 2008’s All I Feel is his only Top 10 album on the Billboard 200. The project peaked at #7.
Rhode Island State Senator Tiara Mack made national news this week. Mack celebrated the July 4 holiday weekend by posting a video of herself twerking on the beach.
The 8-second TikTok clip ended with the Democratic Party member telling her followers, “Vote for Senator Mack.” Apparently, Tiara Mack’s dancing upset some other people online.
Numerous right-wing outlets, pundits, and politicians accused Tiara Mack of degrading herself and her office in front of the world. Mack fired back at her critics using Twitter and TikTok.
“Damn. Twerking upside down really makes the conservative, unhinged internet accounts pop off on a Monday 🥴,” tweeted Mack earlier this week. That tweet amassed over 2,300 likes and 4,500 replies.
Tiara Mack went on to point out that despite embracing twerking, she is still a graduate of the Ivy League school Brown University and a sitting state senator. The 28-year-old District 6 representative then turned her attention to the media.
“So can the media also cover when I won a national championship in May and named MVP of the match?” posted Tiara Mack on Tuesday morning. She added, “Can the media cover any policy wins had by the youngest Black state senator in Rhode Island?”
The rugby player answered her own questions. Mack also tweeted, “As a Black, queer woman you all should know the answer. It’s no. Let’s them carry on their narrative. Me? I’m going to be joyful, free, and unbothered.”
Last year, Lizzo presented a TED Talk about the history of twerking and its connection to the Black community. The “Truth Hurts” hitmaker discussed how the decades-old dance empowered her to embrace her own body.
Damn. Twerking upside down really makes the conservative, unhinged internet accounts pop off on a Monday 🥴
As a Black, queer woman you all should know the answer. It’s no. Let’s them carry on their narrative. Me? I’m going to be joyful, free, and unbothered.
The Starz network’sP-Valley has become one of the most-talked-about television series of the year in certain online circles. For example, Los Angeles-based rapper The Game shared his thoughts about a recent episode of the program.
Joseline Hernandez made a cameo on Sunday’s edition of P-Valley. The former exotic dancer and Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta reality star apparently left an impression on The Game.
“@MsJoseline on P-Valley was giving ThEBadDesTPutaPuErToRiCANpRINCesS & needs to have a re-occurring role… how do y’all say it?? She was giving #MainCharacterEnergy #Okuuuuuurrrrtttttt. Oh, I’m daytime drunk. Mind yours,” tweeted The Game on Tuesday.
The main cast for P-Valley features Nicco Annan, Elarica Johnson, Brandee Evans, Shannon Thornton, Parker Sawyers, and J. Alphonse Nicholson. Creator Katori Hall’s drama set in Chucalissa, Mississippi started its second season on June 3.
“Katori and the entire P-Valley team have done an amazing job bringing audiences a second season that has delivered record-setting viewer performance and subscription growth, and through its incredible storytelling has continued driving cultural conversation and critical acclaim,” stated Alison Hoffman, President, Domestic Networks at STARZ.
Lil Duval Wants A “Super Gay Advisory” For P-Valley
While viewers like The Game seem to be pleased with P-Valley this season, the show did receive some backlash for its depictions of male homosexual acts. Co-executive producer Patrik-Ian Polk addressed critics, like comedian Lil Duval, who took issue with the show’s explicit LGBTQ content.
“Yea P-Valley lost me. They need a super gay advisory on movies like they got for everything else. Cuz That’s a lot to see if u not used to it,” expressed Lil Duval after seeing the P-Valley episode that premiered on June 26.
Patrik-Ian Polk tweeted in response, “As a writer and producer of P-Valley, specifically a writer of this episode, I encourage you to step away from Chucalissa. This show is not for you. Go watch something else. Cuz the gay ain’t goin’ nowhere.”
As a writer and producer of P Valley, specifically a writer of this episode, I encourage you to step away from Chucalissa. This show is not for you. Go watch something else. Cuz the gay ain’t goin’ nowhere. #pvalleyhttps://t.co/1Wwx1kHEdA
There are some rumors going around the internet about Nick Cannon and Kel Mitchell. The ex-wife of Mitchell, Tyisha Hampton, made shocking accusations about the former Nickelodeon child stars.
Tyisha Hampton apparently took to TikTok to share some tea. According toBaller Alert, Hampton posted a “story-time” on the social media platform. She suggested Nick Cannon and Kel Mitchell were possibly intimate with each other.
“Remembering when I came home early #NickCannon wearing my full cheerleading uniform (including the briefs) doing cheers on the bed for my ex-husband #KelMitchell to cheer him up because he cheated on me,” read the TikTok caption.
In addition, the TikTok video included Tyisha Hampton adding, “You can definitely be blinded by love.“ Beyoncé’s “Drunk In Love” featuring Jay-Z played in the background of the clip.
After the cheerleading outfit allegations went viral across the internet, Nick Cannon decided to address the speculation by leaving a comment on Baller Alert‘s Instagram page. The 41-year-old comedian gave a tongue-in-cheek reaction.
“😂😂😂😂😂 Yep!! [We probably] had the big ear of corn, a bunch of orange soda, and a couple of Kids Choice Awards up our ass too! 🤣🤣🤣🤣,” wrote Cannon. That response featured references to skits from the sketch comedy television series All That. Nick Cannon and Kel Mitchell were cast members of that show.
Kel Mitchell and Tyisha Hampton divorced in 2005 following six years of marriage. They have two grown children together. Hampton also accused Mitchell of abuse during their marriage. Plus, she insisted he owes her back child support. Mitchell implied his ex-wife was lying.
Belcalis admitted she had seen the reaction to the No. 16 placement of her debut album, which ranked her above several other classic Hip-Hop albums, including Nas‘ Illmatic. Cardi discussed the criticism during a recent appearance on Angela Yee’s Lip Service podcast.
“They was dragging me like, ‘How dare them put Cardi before Nas,” she said. “I was like, oh my goodness. I just woke up and I’m getting my ass dragged.” She added, “I didn’t even ask for this.”
She continued, and while she acknowledged the impact of projects like Illmatic, she said she wasn’t responsible for the list. “I do understand how people will feel sentimental about things,” Cardi B explained. “I understand that but it’s like, b####, I ain’t m############ ask for it.”
Furthermore, Cardi B says she doesn’t deserve all the backlash from the naysayers because of the album’s popularity. “I understand that people feel a certain type of way. But don’t try to disrespect me or my work or my album,” she added. “Because your mother was listening to my s###, your b#### was driving, listening to f###### ‘Be Careful.’ All y’all b######, all y’all hoes. So it’s like, don’t even try it.”
However, Cardi B placed the blame on Rolling Stone for “trying to set me up,” adding, “You got my ass dragged on a f###### Tuesday for no reason.”
Nonetheless, the “W.A.P.” hitmaker said Invasion of Privacy is also a classic and said she won’t stand for the hate. “Don’t drag my s###,” declared Cardi B. “Don’t f###### disrespect my craft.” Check out the clip and watch the full episode below.
Music production is an often underappreciated craft within the music industry. Singers often take the lion’s share of the attention, though late things have begun to change as of late. Music producers are becoming more celebrated by the day, and as a result, more hopeful producers have begun to pop up. Among them is IcyDavy, a 16-year-old Dutch music producer who’s been making waves in the music world.
IcyDavy, formally known as David Goversen, was born in Tilburg, Netherlands in the year 2005. Growing up, the fledgling artist would show a keen interest in music. When he was gifted with a keyboard at the age of 13, David would discover his musical talent. Not too soon after, he was already crafting his very own beats in his bedroom, taking inspiration from established producers like Scott Storch.
Steadfast and motivated, IcyDavy has never been one to give up in the face of challenge. The young artist recounts difficulties with establishing his name and brand, from social media all the way to his own school. Even getting his social media tags was a struggle, though he succeeded in overcoming all of these challenges, believing that anything can be achieved with enough effort.
Since then, IcyDavy has been performing where he can, making a name for himself through his work. His skill and talent were acknowledged by Ontario-based rapper Kofi, who claimed IcyDavy would be able to achieve triple platinum by the time he hit 17. All this would eventually lead to him performing his beats live in Amsterdam, a huge moment for the young performer.
All of IcyDavy’s flourishes have also pushed him forward as a recording artist, having released his first album, Euphoria, in February 2022. It’s a deep and introspective project, one that IcyDavy hopes will bring fans a euphoric feeling of joy. It’s a grand showcase of the artist’s experience and works up to this point, and it’s a fantastic piece.
IcyDavy dreams big, and soon, he plans to move to Los Angeles, California. The historical city has always been a hotbed for the hottest music production, and IcyDavy hopes to relocate in an effort to network with more artists. He’s even preparing to release his own brand of merchandise once he’s there, at the behest of his fans.
Above all things, IcyDavy wants to serve as an inspiration for other budding musicians of his age. He’s living proof that even from an early age, you can achieve success in music with the right mindset and enough passion. Just keep improving yourself, hone your skills, and work at it. With time, you’ll find your efforts rewarded, just like IcyDavy himself.
You can follow IcyDavy on his social media accounts in the links below, along with a link to his Spotify page. Listen to his latest album, Euphoria, now!
Travis Scott is not taking any chances when it comes to the safety of his fans following last year’s Astroworld tragedy which resulted in the death of ten people.
The “Sicko Mode” rapper was opening for Meek Mill at Coney Island Walls in Brooklyn on Monday night (Jul. 4) – one of his first shows since his headlining set at Astroworld – when he paused the show over concerns for fan safety.
He spotted some fans who had claimed up a lighting truss during the outdoor performance. One wearing a Spider-Man costume was dangling upside down from the truss by his legs.
Check out the video below, first shared by TMZ, which shows the rapper halting mid-performance to instruct fans to get down from the structure. The fans eventually complied, and Travis Scott continued the show.
Travis Scott Stops Concert Over Fan Safety
In a statement to Pitchfork, a representative for Scott said the rapper “encouraged fans to listen to requests from security.” The rep added Travis Scott wanted to enable everyone “to safely enjoy last night’s performance.” Furthermore, “Travis is committed to doing his part to ensure events are as safe as possible so that fans can have fun.”
The rapper is also reportedly being sued for allegedly causing a stampede at Rolling Loud Miami in 2019. Marchelle Love claimed Travis Scott’s onstage antics led to “multiple stampedes” in the crowd causing injuries to concert-goers.
Meanwhile, the rapper continues to work, debuting a new song at the Billboard Music Awards in May. He was due to headline Day N Vegas in September, but the festival was canceled earlier this month.
Kay Flock is facing murder charges following his arrest last year, in connection with a shooting outside of a New York City barbershop. However, his lawyer said his client acted in “self-defense” after being placed in an impossible situation, and the video evidence supports this.
Criminal defense attorney Jeffrey Lichtman says he will “fight to the death” for his client. He claims he was hired because of his reputation in the industry after representing a number of rappers, including The Game and Fat Joe.
Lichtman confirmed Kay Flock is taking the case to trial, promising “it’s going to be a battle,” during an episode of Allison Kugel’s Allison Interviews.
He says the Bronx drill rapper was confronted by another man while at a barbershop in Upper Manhattan. “It’s all on video,” Lichtman explained before adding that the footage demonstrates Kay Flock “wanted nothing to do with the guy.”
He continued, “He waves him off. He’s walking with a young woman and as shown in the video the guy is walking towards him in a very aggressive manner. He puts his hands in his pockets and Kevin is alleged to have seen the guy walking towards him aggressively with his hands in his pocket.”
The attorney says that’s when Kay Flock “took his gun out and shot the guy and killed him.” He claims the victim had “a loaded gun in his pocket, that his hand was on at the time.”
Kay Flock Acted In “Self-Defense”
Lichtman says, “We consider that to be self-defense,” adding, “It’s a horrific case.” He also claimed the victim was armed with “an illegal loaded weapon, apparently about to shoot” Kay Flock.
The attorney said his client was placed in an impossible situation. “Somebody is walking up to you with a loaded gun and it’s pretty clear he’s going to use it, with a criminal record a mile long. Do you want to get shot, or do you not want to get shot?”
He concluded, “He’s charged with murder. He’s facing life in prison. He’s 19 years old. Just turned 19.” Watch the interview below.
Cops say the incident was gang-related and claim Kay Flock is a member of the Bronx-based Thirdside Gang. At the time, the victim’s family believed the shooting was a case of mistaken identity.
Kay Flock meanwhile has continued to put out music, including his recent collab “Shake It” with Cardi B. The video has amassed over 30 million views on YouTube is the less than three months since release.
Zara616, aka Patrick Mazara, is a staple in the midwest when it comes to music production. His handprints are all over the careers of many top acts from Michigan. He’s worked with well-established acts like Skilla Baby, YN Jay, Jdot Breezy, and QC’s newest signee, Baby Money. His mission was never to become the biggest producer in the game, and he always wanted to become one of the most influential. Although he is growing more and more daily, he always wants to do what he can to give back.
After going through countless social media issues, financially and socially, he knows the ups and downs that many upcoming beat makers go through. That is why he crafted a few steps for young creatives to follow to avoid some of the mishaps he faced initially. As Zara616 continues to rise to prominence outside his region, he is always looking to help the next generation of producers.
Check out these 6-steps handcrafted by Zara616 below!
Step 1: BRAND
Understand that YOU ARE YOUR BRAND. Your producer tag is crucial, especially when starting because it can direct people towards more of your work. When it does, you should ensure your social media accounts reflect you as a producer to maintain their interest. I went about growing mine by providing my audience with authentic content of video edits to my beats that would keep their interest, and later on, I allowed people to put a face to the name by also posting myself. To continue to build your brand, I advise investing in meeting artists in person, advertising yourself and your beats, and finally, staying consistent.
Step 2: Publishing and Beat Store
Get your publishing together by creating a BMI or an ASCAP so that when the more significant placements do come, you’re eligible to sign the paperwork. If you make music, you can still register it, so it works if you also rap/sing. Do keep in mind that PUBLISHING AND ROYALTIES are NOT THE SAME THING. If you produce for artists that are signed to a major label, make sure you should be getting an advance, net artist royalties, and publishing. Do not sign a bad deal but do not be ungrateful, especially if the terms you’ve signed and the advance being given are something you do not have. That especially goes for loop-makers. Lastly, look into creating a beat store such as Airbit and Beatstars so that your audience can both listen to and purchase your beats.
Step 3: Networking
Networking is one of the most crucial steps! Your skill will only get you so far, and if you have no way of hearing it, you won’t get any placements. So network with producers, work with the minor artist in a camp, and soon the more prominent artist will want to work with you because they hear what you’ve provided for them.
Step 4: Genuineness
Stay genuine. When you’re hungry for success, we tend to jump the gun but staying genuine and realizing people are still human is one of the best things you can do. I get tired of people trying to work before even forming a connection, so I know engineers feel the same because people attempt to use them for placements but don’t even form any bond first as well as with A&Rs and managers. Have a respectful approach, don’t blow them up but show you genuinely admire their craft or love their artists’ sound, and your time to work with them will come.
Step 5: Patience
Understand that your time will come. Do not be envious of other producers getting back-to-back placements because they worked just as hard, if not more challenging, to get to where they are. Take your time and develop your sound. I recommend making a single drum kit with all your favorite sounds and only using that one. In a few months, you should be able to play your beats and tell that every moment has some similarity that people can recognize and say you produced it. Step 6: Business
Do not take things personally. You have to understand these people do not know you. They aren’t obligated to respond or rap to your beats. If you blow up and rappers you wanted to work with finally hit you back, do it! You’ll miss out on the opportunity if you decide to be petty because they’re more likely to take you seriously if they come to you.
Step 7: Consistency
Work hard and be consistent. If it were easy, everybody would do it. As long as you’re constantly sending beats out and working with producers, your chance of placement will only keep increasing, so stop just sitting on beats. Send the same ones out until they get placed, have some versatility, so you aren’t confided in a box. Invest in going to studios or even running ads on your posts because you never know who could see them.
Step 8: Manifestation
Manifestation has gotten me a long way and can be a very in-depth topic, but my advice is to believe in yourself and be grateful as if you’ve already accomplished what you want to accomplish down the line. We constantly tell ourselves negative things, and that’s why it happens, but if we flip that around and speak positive affirmations, only say good things, would the good not come to be?
I always tell my peers to be grateful, and even if it isn’t something you have just yet, believe you have it. By having that energy of gratefulness, you increase your frequencies and allow your manifestation to find its way into your life; when it does, you can indeed be grateful.
