AllHipHop caught up with Westside Gunn to reflect on the evolution of Griselda Records.
Westside Gunn noted the familial ties of Griselda’s core members before explaining how things have changed. For those unaware, Conway The Machine is his brother and Benny The Butcher is his cousin.
“The original is my blood family,” he said. “That’s really blood. We grew up our whole life together. So, when we started rapping, we started rapping together. So, that’s the difference of me growing with people. We do what we do.”
Westside Gunn then discussed the expansion of the Griselda team. He mentioned how the dynamics shifted with the signings of Boldy James, Armani Caesar and Rome Streetz, among others.
“Now, it’s like I’m starting with a whole new team that already had they s### going,” he told AllHipHop. “But it’s just I’m bringing my art to it, and we just combining forces. We about to kill ‘em. The s### we already done made is legendary. I can’t wait for everybody to hear it.”
Westside Gunn has still found time to make music while bolstering the Griselda Records roster. The Buffalo native is planning to drop a project titled Michelle Records, but he hasn’t announced a release date for it.
Theaters are starting to receive the promotional materials for the Black Panther sequel.
Last week, a video surfaced of a Black Panther: Wakanda Forever banner appearing at a Cinemark theater. The highly anticipated film is scheduled to premiere on November 11.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is directed by Ryan Coogler, who helmed the first film. Marvel decided to not recast T’Challa a.k.a. Black Panther, who was portrayed by the late Chadwick Boseman. Instead, Letitia Wright’s character Shuri will have a more significant role in the sequel.
“It is an incredible honor for Chadwick Boseman, it’s jam packed with exciting stuff,” Wright told Variety in May. “We honored him by committing ourselves to the story that he started, the legacy that he started with this franchise.”
She continued, “And we just committed every day to working hard, no matter what circumstances we faced. And we faced a lot of circumstances, a lot of difficult situations. But we came together as a team, and we poured everything into this movie. So, I’m excited for you to see it.”
Marvel’s original Black Panther movie debuted in 2018. The film became the first Marvel Cinematic Universe release to win an Academy Award in 2019.
Theaters are now starting to receive #BlackPanther: Wakanda Forever promotional materials!
Saucy Santana has been dragged through and through over his disrespect of Queen Bey. Beyonce is doing nothing, but minding her business and yet this MF comes for Blue Ivy (the past) and now her royal highness. Beyonce is clearly not thinking about Saucy, but we are. Nobody comes for Beyonce and lives. The BeyHive is all on it.
So, where are we today? Beyonce has released her already game-changing song “Break My Soul,” which may mark a change in the way dance music is received. Drake has to be feeling a way, but that is a different story. Anyway, Saucy had some stuff to say about Jay-Z and Beyonce’s firstborn and Kanye ad Kim Kardashian’s first.
Saucy reported said the disparaging remarks when he was “young, broke, and dusty.” But the moment Beyonce drops her new song, which is clearly dance/house music, Saucy Santana decides to lend her support behind the notorious troll Azealia Banks.
See, Banksy does dance music pretty readily now. I didn’t think she had any ownership over it or anything, but maybe The Sauce looks at it like Beyonce is taking her swag away. I do not think of Banks as a pioneer in anyway. Anyway, Sauce Monet didn’t stop there.
We all know Madonna was in the clubs in the 80s. So were a lot of people. Nothing to see here, but the BeyHive is going ham in the comments. Others are saying “just ignore it,” but that ain’t how things go. Saucy apparently has a song also called “Material Girl,” but I ain’t heard it.
I do not think Beyonce cares about this. That’s amazing. Just in case, she should know that I love her and Kelly.
It requires a great deal of tenacity to work in a creative or artistic field, and the music industry is no exception. All suffer setbacks from time to time, be it as musicians, managers, agents, or promoters. Many give up and few make it through. A key to achieving your goals is to learn how to deal with disappointment and keep moving forward.
Timothy D’evon Daniels better known as Timpmo is one who tops the field of endurance. He is an American Rapper and Vocalist originally born in Birmingham, Alabama. During his early days, he had to navigate the tough streets of the state.
The situation for an emerging artist was not always the same. However, he remained steadfast in the face of obstacles. Having always been fascinated with music, the artist felt compelled to make a positive impact on the industry through his work. The Timpmo started admiring and following popular artists of the era at a very young age. He eventually recorded his own songs. Sadly, his luck turned against him and let him see the negative side of things.
But, what he is best known for is that he never gave up and he polished his skills to no end to make the most of his abilities. I am sure you will be more than surprised to know Timpmo has just released a new documentary titled (Relentless) which is a warmup for Timpmo’s new album that will be dropped on 4th July, titled “Timothy D’Evon Daniels”.”.
As one of the savviest critics, he is narrating a story about a young king battling and ultimately beating the odds despite difficulties and relationships. Throughout the album, he discusses childhood adversity, striving for greatness, strategizing his goals, and navigating the struggles of being a young black man in a culture that is unwelcoming to him.
A total of 12 tracks will be featured on the album, including tracks by thxfortheslapali,Caseyproduced, p###.trizzy, Dillygotitbumpin, 808visiousbeats, OptiVision, Trapteambeats, sbp.p###, rickkomero, Iam10faces, 1selfdeep, kbndaproducer and Ay29areyoumad. Timpmo intends to chart this album on the Billboards with your help and the label he oversees. This will be his fifth record.
The label he founded, Built2last, was launched in 2014, and it’s worked with many top-notch A&R and DJs, which has made him successful in this industry and with this project. Make sure you keep an eye on the blaze. In comparison with the others, this album has a greater sense of maturity and development. Timpmo writes, “I can speak with peace and vindication, accepting my own imperfections, looking at my insecurities, and still making the most of every moment of life”. And that is what the sign of a person of influence is.
There’s a good chance this album and Documentary will turn into the Bible for the streets and around the globe. Do you want to be a part of it? Follow this never giving up music artists on major social media platforms if you are a true music lover and always looking to stay inspired. You can find him on:-
Making herself known throughout the industry, rising star Steph G releases a powerhouse track Danger Zone right in time for summer. Showcasing her raw and distinct sound, the track highlights exactly why she’s on the rise today and striking such a chord with fans everywhere.
Hailing from Brooklyn, Steph G has already made quite the name for herself in other aspects of her career but is really excited to step out on the scene and take her career as an artist more seriously. She is well-known as BK hood royalty already, but now is making her rap career a priority.
With her killer looks, innate talents, model appearance, and magnetic personality, Steph G takes center stage as one of the top artists to watch this summer. Steph G shows no signs of slowing down soon and will continue to prove she deserves a seat at the table.
Looking ahead, Steph G will continue to put in time in the studio, collaborate with other top artists, and release tracks that push the envelope as a staple female rapper. She truly has what it takes to become a mega star, and has no problems standing out from the crowd. To hear more from Steph G and stay up-to-date on her latest tracks, check her out at the following links:
One of Harlem’s bubbling names in Hip-Hop made a tribute to the fallen basketball star slain in the recent shooting at his event.
A 21-year-old college basketball star named Darius Lee lost his life at the rapper’s Father’s Day Cookout in Harlem River Park, near Harlem River Drive and E. 138th St. (the Harlem River Drive footpath under the Madison Ave. Bridge).
Lee was one of nine people shot after rival gang members came by the event and shot it up. Lee was the only one to succumb to his injuries.
Lee was shot in the chest by the thugs, according to police.
Rich Rhymer placed a picture of Darius Lee in his story and sent his consolations to the family, saying, “My condolences to the family keeping y’all in my prayers. Forever D. Lee.”
According to the Daily News, Lee was considered a “Harlem Angel” and someone who made his community proud. His former coach Chris Williams called him the “greatest kid ever.”
“This is like a Harlem angel,” Williams said. “I want my 5-year-old to be like Darius. I’m not just saying this.”
The young athlete attended Houston Baptist University on full scholarship and played a guard and forward for their basketball team, the Huskies.
His records show he was set to graduate in December and had just come home to Harlem for a summer break a few weeks ago.
Officials from his school also recognized him as Houston Baptist’s male athlete of the year after he led his team in scoring and rebounding during their last season. Lee was such a great athlete, he was ranked sixth in the nation in steals per game.
His dad, Eric Lee, said, “Darius always said he wanted to be on TV. He got his wish. But in a wrong and bad way. He didn’t deserve this.”
Young J $tacks have quickly become one of the most exciting upcoming artists out of Connecticut. Born in a Hispanic household, Young J $tacks were exposed to a wide variety of music growing up which has allowed him to create a diverse catalog of music.
The upcoming artist watched his single mother struggle to raise him and his brother which led him to drop out of school at an early age. Picking up the skill of being a barber, Young J $tacks also turned to the streets to make some quick money.
Fast forward years later, and the hip-hop artist has been doing his best with what he has. In 2010 the MC was shot in the head trying to defend his girlfriend’s sister from her abusive boyfriend. The experience gave Young J $tacks a new perspective on life.
If you had the pleasure of attending one of NLE Choppa’s shows on his latest tour, and you were early enough to catch the openers, then you had the opportunity to watch 10K and White Russian do their thing on stage. When combined, they carry undeniable energy that does not go unnoticed, and their swag and bars speak for themselves.
Welcome to Trap Gurlz Entertainment, the new hottest female label on the scene. Founded in 2019 by 10K, Trap Gurlz is a hub for female rappers to express themselves and of course, get to the bag. Whether it’s shows, hostings, or bookings, Trap Gurlz is all about female empowerment, going after your dreams, and having a damn good time while doing it.
10K states, “It’s the first female label. She [Russian] has her individual project and I have mine, and we collab. We are all under the same thing. Like the CMG, we‘re building an empire.”
Hailing from Memphis, 10K is the definition of a bad b####, someone who owns a multi-million dollar hair salon, has a baby with Moneybagg Yo, and still manages to find time to be a recording artist herself.
Having collaborated with Ice Cream and Celebrity Pinkie from Memphis, 10K has one vision for Trap Gurlz: to become the hottest female label in the world.
Her friendship with White Russian, who hails from Mississippi, came into fruition in 2015… and the two have been inseparable since! In fact, they call themselves the M&Ms. Their latest single “What I Like” has been taking over clubs and functions all over the country, and they show no plans of slowing down anytime soon.
AllHipHop caught up with both 10K and Russian at The Novo in downtown Los Angeles, moments before their opening set for NLE Choppa on his NLE Tour.
AllHipHop: First off, can you introduce yourselves.
Russian: My name is White Russian, I’m part of Trap Gurlz.
10K: I’m 10K, the CEO don’t play.
Russian: My sis lit as f###! [laughs] She feeling herself, she looking good. Looking like a bag of money and she feels like it, I love it.
AllHipHop: How’s it been opening for NLE Choppa on tour? His performances are so lit!
10K: It is! You know what, this is my first tour. I actually did the Legends Tour, I did one day on that tour. But this is my first real experience being on tour state to state, and it is a wonderful experience. It’s exciting. It’s almost like a high that you keep chasing. We keep on talking about that, it’s a high that you get. The crowd participation, the love they show you, you have real music lovers. You keep chasing it, it just makes you want to perform more and give it your best.
Russian: You just want every city to be better than the next. If we came out last night and they were lit, what are they about to do in this city over here?
AllHipHop: LA is the last show, what are the vibes?
Russian: LA, it’s the last show there’s no doubt in my mind they have to turn up. It’s the last show and I’m super excited because I love LA. I’m excited. If they don’t turn up, I’m going to be sad. But they don’t have no choice but to turn up with us, so I’m not worried about that.
AllHipHop: What’s been the craziest show?
Both: Boston! [laughs]
10K: Boston was the most lit show that we’ve done, Boston is so lit. They had more energy than we did.
Russian: On God they really did.
10K: We had to reciprocate. They were like “yeah b####, turn up some more! More! More! More!”
Russian: You would’ve thought they knew every word to our song, they were so lit. They were recording, they were interacting with us. The engagement was crazy. The energy in the whole building was crazy.
10K: They were performing. We was there as the guests. [laughs] That city, hey Boston lit as f###.
Russian: Shout out to Boston, we coming back!
AllHipHop: How did you guys meet initially?
Russian: We’ve been friends way before.
10K: It was a mutual friend, somebody in Atlanta. Was it a road trip? Or a cross country trip?
Russian: I feel like it was one of your birthday trips. We kind of knew each other before that, but you reached out to me for one of your birthday trips years ago.
10K: No but there was a reason, I’m trying to think. It’s been a long time, probably been since 2015.
Russian: About 6.5 years. I’ve been in Atlanta for 7 years, so I met her shortly after.
AllHipHop: What happened in 2019 that Trap Gurlz became what it is now?
10K: 2019, it was a vision I had. Damn, there’s no female record labels out here that are really dominating the game. B###### not duplicating themselves. It’s no women doing that, it’s a lot of men doing that. You know how Jeezy had CTE? And Dolph had PRE, Gotti had CMG. There’s no girls like that running the hip hop world. S###, f### it. Let me do it. I know some dope b###### like Russian, and I know a couple more. I’m trying to get it all together and she’s the perfect fit. [laughs] B####, let’s run this s###! Trap Gurlz label. Russian has her solo projects coming out, I have my solo projects. We want to tag team and duo off of each other, maybe do collab albums here and there. We’re the first female record label, Trap Gurlz.
Russian: Coming out the m############ gate! [kicks leg]
AllHipHop: What sets your music apart from other female artists?
10K: Basically our music… I’m getting money. Sis getting money too! It’s really about hustling ass women. It’s about dope ass women that’s getting money on their own. Don’t get us wrong now, we ain’t f###### with no broke. [laughs] We gon’ f### with something that’s valuable to us as well. It’s not like we out here, we got it all and don’t need nobody for nothing. But we really don’t need them n*ggas either, but we want them. So you know. [laughs]
Russian: We don’t want to spend our own.
10K: There you go, but we got it if we have to. We can book our flight back home, if it’s a problem.
Both: [laughs]
Russian: Read between the lines, if you picking up what I’m putting down.
AllHipHop: Talk about the record “What I like” going crazy!
10K: Oh yes! They loving “What I Like,” because it’s what we like.
Russian: “What I Like” is the last song we recorded on the project. They’re like nah okay, it’s just a song we gon’ record. Da-da-da. It ended up being now the single that we’re pushing off of the whole project. Off top, when we were really supposed to drop a project. We said “no, let’s go ahead and see what this single’s talking about.”
10K: Some people hated it, some people liked it. It was a bunch of mixed reviews. We’re like f### it, we’re going to ride with it. We played it one time in the club, we had a hosting somewhere. We saw the crowd, ass bumping everywhere! We all looking at each other like this is the one! We just rolled with It.
AllHipHop: What can we expect from the rest of the project?
10K: It’s called Trap Gurlz Reloaded. It’s getting into the lives of the trap girls. How we move, the s### we pack on the way. [laughs] We only book one way, we might not stay the night. We might get up and go. [laughs] We be winging it.
Russian: The true definition of winging it, on God.
10K: Definitely. It’s a lot of female independency on the album.
AllHipHop: How does it feel being independent?
10K: You know what, it’s a lot of money being spent. I have my mixed feelings about it, but it feels good. Anything that’s worth having won’t come easy. It’s a lot of sacrifice, it’s a lot of grinding. It’s a lot of faith. But when you get it back, it’s all yours.
AllHipHop: 10K, talk about owning a multi-million dollar hair salon in Memphis.
10K: I like to tell people: I didn’t choose the beauty industry, the beauty industry chose me. It’s something I’ve been in all my life, ever since I was a little girl. Little little girl, I’m talking about 6 or 7 years old. I’ve always done hair, did everyone’s hair in my family. My mom, my sisters, my cousins, the neighborhood friend girls, all of that. I even used to do the basketball team’s hair. [laughs] I was a good braider.
I’ve always been a hustler too. I’ve always been into sales. I sold clothes, I sold cars, I sold furniture. Anything I felt was lucrative and I could sell it, I would sell that s###. I ended up coming across hair extensions one day a long time ago. I was selling the hair and putting them in their hair, I started making bank. I ended up being one of the first females in Memphis with a storefront, that you could pull up and purchase the hair extensions. This was back in 2013 when I opened, you could pull up. You don’t have to order or anything. You can see it, you can touch the product, and you can get it. That’s what brought my success in.
I moved to Atlanta in 2014, I was one or two years in business. I’m over there calculating the rent I’m paying. Damn, I could be paying this kind of money to own my own stuff. I had some plans drawn up. I ended up going to a bank, trying to get approved. Of course, I hadn’t been in business that long. I kept getting denied, then decided to take my talents to Atlanta. I ended up meeting Jordan out there. When I got out to Atlanta, I was thinking I’ve been in music all my life. This guy named Mr. Ian was out there as well. He’s real well-known in music, one of Memphis’ legends. He said “10, you need to rap. You really need to rap, you got it!” So I started rapping while I was in Atlanta.
In 2016, f### it I’ma buy some land. I bought the land in Memphis while I was living in Atlanta, and I opened up a salon in Atlanta. I’ve always been simultaneously doing both: music here, and the money. Trap doesn’t specifically mean for us selling drugs, it’s doing whatever you have to do to get it done. You’re turning nothing into something you gonna make it happen. I don’t give a damn if you doing facials, maybe you don’t have a towel warmer. B#### wet your towels up and put them in a warmer case or bag. Get it done, you trappin’. I’m moving around and getting s### done, that’s what it means by all means.
AllHipHop: Russian, what’s your story?
Russian: Whew, my story. I’m just a small town girl from Mississippi. I moved to Atlanta 7.5 years ago, I was 19. Started dancing in the club, I’ve been dancing now for 7 years. I met 10. I’ve been doing music on and off for 4 years. But really taking it serious serious, the last year and a half. Really investing in myself and taking the extra steps that I need to take to get where I want to be.
Me and 10, we’ve been friends before this. We the turn up friends. We used to really party together: birthday, out the country, having a good time. She caught on that I was doing music so of course, she came to me like “well s###, what you trying to do? We trying to do Trap Gurlz Reloaded project. We’re laying this on the table, what you wanna do?” So we agreed to do the project together, and…
10K: We are here. And it’s working! It’s really working. Russian is a real team player. She’s a real performer, she’s hard working. Music for her is not just “oh I wanna do something.” She’s really devoted and dedicated to It. That’s a really big thing for me because I love women that are dedicated and devoted to s###, and she’s like that.
Russian: I’m ready, I’m hungry. It’s time. It’s on, we aren’t getting any younger. Let’s go!
AllHipHop: Artists wish they can open up for a big artist like Choppa. How’d this opportunity present itself?
10K: Man, it is everything! It’s such a blessing that Choppa really believes in us, our music and our whole movement. It was a big blessing. I said “wassup, let a girl open up for you.” He’s like “you want to do this forreal?” I said “yes!” he said “come on!” Russian, b#### pack your bags. We outta here! We ain’t got no outfits.
Russian: We got the call the day before we left for our first show. You know how we were scrambling? That’s why I said the real definition of winging s###, because we haven’t had no rehearsal, no soundcheck, no nothing. We literally were going out there, feeding off of each other.
10K: But we deadass get cursed out every night by Johnnie Cabbel. He’s like “no,” hated it. He’s a gift and a curse. He’s gonna critique something every time. Some people are like “Johnnie, you’re too hard on them.” “No! 10, you ain’t really bouncing around. Russian, you’re doing all this cute s### on stage.” We’re like what the f###? So we get to bouncing around, we jumping and everything. He’s like “y’all ain’t talking to the crowd! You ain’t talking to the DJ.” So we bouncing around, jump around. Do backflips, backbends. Holla at the DJ. We do all of that and he says “y’all doing too much talking and not enough rapping!”
Russian: It’s so crazy because at the same time he’s telling us all this, there are people steady coming up to us like “man, y’all did a good job. Y’all were lit. Y’all got the crowd…” People steady coming up to us giving up compliments, we looking at Johnny like…
10K: And he still has something to say! He’s still like “who are you gonna listen to? Me or them!” Both: [laughs]
Russian: The people who gon’ download our s###, that’s who we gon’ listen to.
10K: But no, I really learned a lot. I got better with crowd engagement and entertaining. He helped us out a lot with this.
Russian: It’s definitely a learning experience. Shout out to DJ Toon, walking in!
AllHipHop: What can we expect next?
10K: We about to drop our video to “What I Like.” We shot it in Miami. The whole song is based in Miami.
Both: [sings lyrics] “Prime 112 when it’s time to eat dinner, I like shaking my ass like a stripper. LIV on Sunday when I feel religious, church!”
10K: We definitely had to take the M&Ms from Atlanta to Miami. We had to live up to our s###, because that’s what we like.
On Friday, June 17th, rapper Isaiah Rashad has received the key to his hometown from the Chattanooga mayor, Tim Kelly.
According to Times Free Press, Kelly presented the artist with the accolade on stage at Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, after he performed in front of a massive crowd on the Which Stage.
He proclaimed the day of the ceremony, “Isaiah Rashad Day,” saying, “You’ve made Chattanooga proud.”
As a young Tennessean, Isaiah Rashad was privileged to tour with artists like Juicy J and Joey Bada$$, eventually signing to Top Dawg Entertainment in 2013. He has been blazing a trail for himself ever since.
The festival dropped a shout of on their social media. The caption said, “Ain’t nothin’ but a good day with @isaiahrashad Congrats on receiving the key to the city of Chattanooga!”
The rapper is booked and busy this summer. He recently announced being included on two major festivals.
He will be rocking out at the Afropunk Festival from Saturday, September 10th to Sunday, September 11th and the Firefly Festival from Thursday, September 22nd to Sunday September 25th.
A late-night shooting outside of a popular recording studio in Atlanta has some people buzzing.
Atlanta Police received a call about a person being shot early on Monday morning.
The police arrived at Super Sounds Studios, near Trabert Avenue in the Northwest section of the city, sometime between 3:30 am and 4:00 a.m. to check on the victim and see if he wanted to file a report about the incident.
According to 11 Alive, the victim told the cops he was in his car when another vehicle rolled by. He further said two men hopped out of the vehicle and began shooting up his car, leaving him grazed by a bullet.
After shooting at him, the men fled the scene of the crime.
Emergency medical professionals took the man to the hospital to treat his injuries. The John Doe is listed in stable condition.
The shooting is under investigation by members of the Atlanta Police Department.
Super Sounds Studio, according to its website, is owned by Mr. Grand Hustle, Clifford “T.I.” Harris, an Atlanta native.
Some of the people who have recorded in the studio, once called Silent Sound, are Justin Bieber, Skrillex, Jennifer Hudson, and Young Thug.
T.I. or his team have yet to publicly comments on the shooting.
A woman who dated Eric Holder, Jr., the man who is accused of fatally shooting Nipsey Hussle, testified on Monday, June 20th in a Los Angeles Superior Court.
Bryannita Nicholson said she saw the suspect load bullets into his gun before his altercation with the rapper in front of the Marathon store.
Nicholson said she and Holder, whom she was intimate with during this time, drove to get him some food and stopped in the shopping center where the late rapper was killed.
She said when they saw Nip, she remembers being excited to see him.
“I saw him as soon as I turned into the parking lot and I said, ‘Oh, there goes Nipsey! He’s fine! … Eric (Holder) was not wearing a shirt when he got out and he went to Nipsey,” she remembers saying, the NY Post reports.
But her guy was not as hyped. He jumped out of the car and asked Nipsey, “Did you say I snitched?”
Then he left the rapper and the two other men who were with him.
While on the stand, Senior Deputy District Attorney John McKinney asked her if she thought this was the beginning of a fight. She responded, “No, it didn’t occur to me at all.”
In fact, she took a picture with the “Victory Lap” rapper before returning to the car after her ex, Holder, picked up the food he wanted.
Holder then told Nicholson to spin the block, she said on the stand. When they returned to The Marathon store parking lot, she observed the defendant loading his gun.
She said, “Once we came around the block, that’s when I seen (sic) him put bullets into the automatic gun. It was the black one… When he was doing it, I said, ‘What are you doing?! You aren’t going to shoot that out my car!’ Then he put it away.”
Nicholson testified Holder then told her to turn onto Crenshaw Boulevard and park the car in an alleyway.
The woman said she watched Holder take two additional bites of his chili cheese fries before exiting the car, noting aside from him loading the gun, at no point did he seem upset as he walked down the alleyway.
She thought, “I just thought he was going to get a shirt or something.” But then she heard the gunshots… and out of concern she worried about her boyfriend.
Her concern from him shifted, after he returned with a black semi-automatic weapon and chrome revolver and told her to drive away from the alleyway.
The witness said he put the guns in a bag, and confessed, “I wasn’t even thinking that he would use it.”
Nicholson admitted though she was intimate with Holder, she was never his girl and considered him “a homeboy.”
They had only met about a month before the shooting.
She also said she didn’t connect Nipsey’s death with Holder until the next day, after seeing a news report about the rap star dying.
“I asked him about it again … he didn’t say too much and he went to the balcony, smoked marijuana, and he went to sleep. That was it,” Nicholson testified.
Nicholson will resume her testimony today (June 21st).
Rebienn has been making waves with his underground hip-hop sound and totally freestyled verses.
The artist decided it was time to slow down on his newest song ‘Judge Me’. Wrapping up the release of his newest EP ‘Hold It Down’, ‘Judge Me’ features melodic, heartfelt vocals over a smooth gliding beat:
“It was something new and different,” explained Rebienn.
The legendary band of Hip-Hop, Stetsasonic, is back and they have another incredible song to profess their greatness audibly. It has been roughly 30 years since we last heard from Stetsasonic which is really crazy because their influence can be seen all around us. Most people regard The Roots as the Hip-Hop band of note, but that’s not really true at all. Stetsasonic was a Hip-Hop band through and through and they pre-dated The Roots by several years. Brooklyn born and raised, the crew was highly impactful back in the day and they were even thought leaders on a number of levels.
Daddy-O was the lead rapper, in my opinion at least, and he seem to be the spokesperson as well. I am not fully sure, but I think that he pushed this reunion. Daddy-O has never been one to bite his tongue and he has always been active in Hip Hop. The others, notably Principal, have been active as well in different degrees. Anyway, I know why you’re here.
There is a new song by Stetsasonic called “Here We Go Again.” It’s a smooth jam that will likely be played at cookouts a lot if they promote it properly. I really like this song and it truly shows a return to form for the OG‘s of Hip Hop. But, hard-core Stetsasonic fans like myself are looking at the lineup and it is missing one person. Frukwan. Now, Frukwan is actually a really dope MC. You may remember that he was a part of the iconic group the Gravediggaz with the RZA Wu-Tang Clan and his Stet brother Prince Paul. He maintained a life in Hip-Hop after Stetsasonic became defunct. And still does since they have reunited.
So, here we go again. Last year, and I don’t know all the details, but an incident happened. Stetsasonic was scheduled to perform in Brooklyn and frukwan assaulted Daddy-O. It wasn’t like he beat him down or anything, but it was a physical confrontation. It is my understanding that that confrontation resulted in a permanent expungement of Frukwan. I don’t know if that status has changed, but we have noted that he is not present on any of the new material from Stetsasonic. I think if there was some vocals, they were removed.
Things happen folks! There was some other friction before that happened but those hands was the end. I hope they get it back together but if not, time moves on.
Frukwan addressed it briefly in the comments of one of his social media posts.
Hopefully we continue to see the Older Gods (OGs) cranking out dope music and really pushing the line to allow people to understand that rap is not only for young people, just because it is a relatively young art form.
And shout out to Stetsasonic for making that grand return with incredibly good music.
By the way, this is my favorite song of their comeback. This goes hard.
Here’s a couple refresher songs.
They were also on the front lines of those dissing Hip-Hop.
They did this in honor of Basquiat!
Lastly, they participated in the Stop The Violence Movement, led by KRS-1 and Boogie Down Productions.
“Hot Girl Summer” went on to enter the Top 20 of Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart. The track also won Best Power Anthem at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards. Fast forward to 2022, Lanez has now dropped his own summer-themed single.
“This whole video was shot in HOUSTON TX 🌎🇺🇸…. S/O the real lemon pepper stepper @jprincejr 🍋🌶🥾and all the other ratchet s### we had going on,” tweeted Tory Lanez on Monday afternoon ET.
With the ongoing legal issues involving the two rappers, some observers believe Tory Lanez used the “City Boy Summer” title and the Houston-set video to troll Megan Thee Stallion. Critics have also accused Lanez of using those types of agitating tactics in the past.
DaBaby bringing out Tory Lanez during his set at the 2021 Rolling Loud Miami festival similarly drew raised eyebrows from Megan Thee Stallion supporters. Meg had just finished performing at the same event, and she was a frequent song collaborator with DaBaby.
Tory Lanez consistently denies shooting Megan Thee Stallion on July 12, 2020. However, prosecutors charged the Canadian performer (born Daystar Peterson) with several felonies. He faces counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, personal use of a firearm, and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle.
Jeffery “Young Thug” Williams and Sergio “Gunna” Kitchens are among over two dozen YSL affiliates facing criminal charges in Fulton County, Georgia. The multiple arrests became one of the biggest stories in Hip Hop this year.
Young Thug’s Slime & B project collaborator Chris Brown recently sat down for an interview with well-known radio personality Big Boy. During the conversation, Big Boy asked Breezy about the ongoing RICO cases involving Thugger and Gunna.
“S### is f##### up,” said Chris Brown. “As bad as I want to help him, it’s like I’ve done been through that too. When you go through that, you’re in there. S###, all I can do is send my love. [They’re] my brothers. Free them.”
Chris Brown dealt with his own legal issues throughout his career. In 2009, he pled guilty to one count of assault with the intent of doing great bodily injury in connection to a physical altercation involving his then-girlfriend Rihanna.
“I know what [Young Thug and Gunna] are going through. I think we always got a spotlight on us anyway,” Chris Brown told Big Boy. “We got a lot of power and responsibility, but also people don’t like that influence as well. So that also put targets on our backs.”
Young Thug & Gunna Plead Not Guilty
Prosecutors charged Young Thug with Conspiracy to Violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and Participation in Criminal Street Gang Activity. Authorities accuse the “Go Crazy” hitmaker of drug distribution and weapons possession as well. Gunna was also indicted on RICO charges.
“As the District Attorney of Fulton County my number one focus is targeting gangs, and there’s a reason for that, they are committing conservatively 75% to 80% of all of the violent crime that we are seeing within our community and so they have to be rooted out of our community,” stated Fulton County D.A. Fani Willis.
“Mr. Williams has committed no violation of law, whatsoever. We will fight this case ethically, legally, and zealously. Mr. Williams will be cleared,” stated Thug’s defense attorney, Brian Steel. “I’ll tell you the response to any allegation; Mr. Williams committed no crime whatsoever, and we will fight to my last drop of blood to clear him.”
Young Thug and Gunna maintain their innocence. Both Atlanta-bred rappers are currently incarcerated after being denied bond. Meanwhile, Chris Brown is out on the road with another Atlanta resident. His “One Of Them Ones” tour with Lil Baby kicked off earlier this month.
The debates over Drake’s new album continue to play out online. While Honestly, Nevermind is likely the OVO Sound leader’s most polarizing project to date, people like DJ Akademiks defend Drizzy’s latest body of work.
“Btw… Let’s be Real… Honestly, Nevermind is a Drake mixtape… He’s only calling it [an] album because of the new deal he got where it counts as one. It’s in the realm of Dark Lane Demos, IYRITL, More Life… experimental and literally no rollout. Album still fye tho,” tweeted Akademiks on June 18.
Several hours later, he added, “I ain’t gonna lie… [Drake’s] album is definitely Jersey Club inspired… shouts to all my Jersey Club producers. Wish 1 of yall were on this album. So many elements here that reminded me of what yall have built over 15+ yrs. Jersey Club [is] the backbone of Bronx Drill [and] this Drake album.”
Btw… Lets be Real… 'Honestly, Nevermind' is a Drake mixtape ….he's only calling it a album because of the new deal he got where it counts as one. Its in the realm of Dark Lane Demos, IYRITL, More Life.. experimental and literally no rollout. Album still fye tho..
I aint gonna lie… Drake album is definitely Jersey Club inspired.. Shouts to all my Jersey Club producers. Wish 1 of yall were on this album. So many elements here that reminded me of what yall have built over 15+ yrs. Jersey Club the backbone of Bronx Drill n this Drake album
Ugly God & Akademiks Go Back And Forth On Instagram
One rapper seemed to take issue with those DJ Akademiks takes about Honestly, Nevermind. The Booty Tape creator Ugly God shared Ak’s tweet on his Instagram Story with a not-so-complimentary response.
“Man, y’all make all these excuses for me [too] if I drop something y’all don’t enjoy. I need all my supporters to be like this n#### 😂,” wrote Ugly God. Then Ak reposted the 2017 XXL Freshman Class member’s IG statement.
Akademiks captioned the post, “They [are] not excuses tho 🤣. Imma have a qualitative discussion on Twitch bout [Drake’s] album. This [is] some art that we gotta digest for a bit. Matter of fact, pull up to Twitch [right now]. I’m finna break this down like a pound of weed.”
Honestly, Nevermind Is Garnering Praise From Some Of Drake’s Rap Peers
Ugly God also left a comment on Ak’s Instagram page. The 25-year-old Texan wrote, “Adin Ross said the same exact thing you [are saying] in this tweet but under your [Ski Mask the Slump God] post about his album a while back. He spoke on it not having proper rollout/promotion and it being experimental and [you weren’t] going 😂.”
Showtime will air a three-part limited documentary series about the notorious 1980s-era, Queens-based crime syndicate known as the Supreme Team.
Hip Hop icon Nasir “Nas” Jones and Peter J. Scalettar directed Supreme Team for Mass Appeal. The program premiered at the Tribeca Festival in New York City on June 19.
Supreme Team will make its television debut on Sunday, July 10 at 10 pm ET/PT. All three parts will be available on streaming and on-demand for all Showtime subscribers beginning July 8 at 12 am ET/July 7 at 9 pm PT.
The documentary tells the story of Supreme Team leaders Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff and Gerald “Prince” Miller. The series spans six decades, starting with Prince and Supreme’s younger days in the 1970s.
Hip Hop legend LL Cool J, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, MSNBC host Joy Reid, veteran singer Ashanti, and Murder Inc. Records co-founder Irv Gotti provide commentary for Supreme Team. Nasir “Nas” Jones is also among the doc’s executive producers.
Supreme Team is part of Showtime and Mass Appeal’s Hip Hop 50 franchise. Hip Hop 50 features original programming celebrating Hip Hop culture’s 50-year-anniversary. After launching in 2021, Hip Hop 50 will run through 2023.
“There are so many more stories. I’m opening up with this, but Hip Hop 50 is a multi-tier initiative, created by Mass Appeal [in partnership with CBS Viacom], and we built this platform to ensure the anniversary of Hip Hop is celebrated in a real iconic way, and that everybody should be involved with this,” stated Nas.
According to Tidal, Big Freedia is credited as a composer, lyricist, and vocalist for “Break My Soul.” The performer born Freddie Ross Jr. previously appeared on Beyoncé’s “Formation” in 2016.
Bey’s “Break My Soul” hit the internet early Tuesday morning. Many people took to social media to share their thoughts on the song. Big Freedia also posted about the record on Twitter.
“It feels surreal to be on the track with the Queen Beyoncé once again I’m so honored to be [a part] of this special moment I’m forever grateful lord 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾❤️❤️❤️❤️🔥🔥🔥🔥Someone please catch me 🤩 #beyonce #bigfreedia #BreakMySoul,” tweeted New Orleans native.
It feels surreal to be on the track with the Queen Beyonce once again I’m so honored to be apart of this special moment I’m forever grateful lord 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾❤️❤️❤️❤️🔥🔥🔥🔥someone please catch me 🤩 #beyonce#bigfreedia#BreakMySoulpic.twitter.com/AL8jn5lX6J
“Break My Soul” is the first single from the forthcoming Beyoncé album Renaissance. That studio LP is the follow-up to Lemonade which came out in April 2016.
Beyoncé also released Homecoming: The Live Album in 2019 and The Lion King: The Gift in 2019. The Houston-raised entertainer also partnered with her husband, Jay-Z, for the Everything Is Love collaborative album.
Big Freedia’s catalog includes 2014’s Just Be Free LP. The star of Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce also dropped several mixtapes and EPs, including Queen Diva and The Bounce Back with Hip Hop producer Mannie Fresh.
Octavian has announced he is going to be a father to a baby girl with a reflective social media post.
The French-British rapper was touted as one of the rising stars of the U.K. rap scene before he was accused of “physical, verbal and psychological abuse” by his ex-girlfriend in November 2020.
Despite announcing his retirement in 2021, Octavian returned with his debut studio album Alpha earlier this year.
“With my daughter on the way, I have realized a lot,” Octavian admitted in a note shared on Instagram. “I have been defensive, because I know my heart,” he added.
However, the “Papi Chulo” acknowledged that he “should not blame” anybody but “own and demonstrate accountability,” instead.
Octavian Offered His “Deepest Apologies” For His Past Actions
While Octavian did not name anyone individually, he offered his “deepest apologies” to anyone he “hurt or disrespected” in the past. He accepts his “rude, irrational, arrogant, self-destructive, and disrespectful’” behavior following the death of his mother. He also claimed his mother’s passing caused him to abuse drugs which took over his life.
“I am thankful of my Karma, and that God opened my eyes to recognise my errors,” the note continued. “I am grateful to be alive to improve, and follow a righteous path.”
Octavian wants to teach his daughter about “truth and accountability,” to help guide her to becoming her best self. Check out his post below.
The London-based rapper dropped a single with Gunna and SAINt JHN in August 2020 and was due to release his debut album Alpha in November that year. However, the label to pulled the plug on it after Octavian’s former partner made her allegations a day before the project was set to drop.
She claimed she was “frequently kicked, punched, strangled,” by Octavian throughout their three-year relationship. The incidents were “often prompted by his cocaine use.” He strenuously denied the claims and labeled the allegations “the biggest defamation of character in history.”
Octavian went on to release his debut album on May 6 this year. Check it out below.
The rapper and activist said Thug used a career in music to lift him out of life on the streets of Atlanta, where he grew up. The experience is one Killer Mike can relate to as he hails from the same city and can relate to his circumstances.
“[Young Thug] came out of a very desperate situation,” Killer Mike explained during an interview with ABC News. “The side of town he comes from — Cleveland Avenue, southeast Atlanta — has been wrought with poverty forever … he managed to escape the streets using rap lyrics, and he’s managed to help people change their lives.”
According to the Run The Jewels rapper, “These lyrics are no more than braggadocio rap lyrics. It is no more than Killer Mike saying I’m a killer on the mic.”
Furthermore, Killer Mike called for empathy for the rapper. “Young Thug — that’s a character that Jeffery Williams created … but Jeffery Williams is a father,” Killer Mike said. “He’s a human being that’s capable of love, care and compassion.”
Young Thug And Gunna Await Trial
Young Thug and Gunna are currently behind bars while awaiting a RICO trial next January. The pair were denied bail after being charged with racketeering, alongside more than two dozen other individuals, by authorities last month.
As reported by AllHipHop, Thugger’s nephew and YSL signee recently shared an update from the rapper. He spit a freestyle and admitted to having suicidal thoughts while locked up. Check out the clip below.
Last month, it was revealed prosecutors are using the rapper’s lyrics and social media interactions to paint him as a violent gang figure.
Earlier this month, Kevin Liles condemned the use of rap lyrics in criminal trials. He created the “Rap Music on Trial: Protect Black Art” petition on Change.org in support of Young Thug and Gunna.
