One thing that Canadian rapper Drake and American businessman and founder of Amazon Jeff Bezos have in common is mutual admiration for hard work and the success it yields.
On Wednesday, July 6th, the chart-topper posted two pictures on his social media with the caption, “start somewhere.”
One of the photos was of Drake when he was younger, standing in front of the apartment where he used to live in Toronto. The apartment has sentimental value and professional historicity.
The 15 Fort York apartment, which is mentioned in his song “Know Yourself,” is where he and his boy Noah “40” Shebib recorded the majority of So Far Gone, his 2009 break-out mixtape.
The other picture Drake posted was a famous image of Jeff Bezos at his Amazon desk back in the day, circa 1999.
Jeff Bezos hopped in Drake’s comment section and quoted the Champagne Papi, writing, “Started from the bottom now we’re here.”
Bezos, worth $139 billion, and Drake, sitting on a fortune estimated at $250 million, have business ties too. Both men were part of an $80 million raise for sports-media company Overtime Inc.
Projects by two Hip Hop heavyweights were among the top-certified albums of 2022 so far. Future and Lil Durk earned Mid-Year Awards from the Recording Industry Association of America.
The RIAA released its report on Gold and Platinum certifications for the first half of the year. Future’s I Never Liked You and Lil Durk’s 7220 both reached Gold status.
I Never Liked You and 7220 are two of only three albums to secure Gold certification. Country singer Walker Hayes’s Country Stuff The Album also crossed the 500,000 unit threshold.
In addition, Future’s “Wait for U” featuring Drake and Tems is the only song to receive a Platinum Award from the RIAA in 2022. “Wait for U” also debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Future obtained a Gold Award for his “Puffin on Zootiez” track as well. Plus, Lil Durk picked up Gold plaques for “AHHH HA” and “What Happened to Virgil” featuring Gunna.
I Never Liked Youdebuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Future’s ninth studio LP amassed 222,000 first-week units. It is the Atlanta-bred rapper’s eighth Number One.
RIAA also announced Gold Awards for “City of Gods” (Fivio Foreign, Kanye West & Alicia Keys), “Rumors” (Gucci Mane), “Pushin P” (Gunna, Future & Young Thug), “Do We Have a Problem?” (Nicki Minaj & Lil Baby), and “Freaky Deaky” (Tyga & Doja Cat).
The judge overseeing the criminal case of Young Thug has asked the lawyers defending the 28 people indicted as alleged members of the Young Slime Life gang not to leak information regarding any witnesses against their clients.
According to FOX 5, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville issued the temporary order because of “numerous threats to kill or harm witnesses.”
This “history of intimidating witnesses,” the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office contends, includes a plot to kill two Atlanta police officers and threaten to cause harm to witnesses and their family members.
Brian Steel, Young Thug’s defense lawyer, says that’s not true. He also believes his client is innocent of all charges.
The state of Georgia is treating this case the same way the federal Department of Justice treats more traditional forms of criminal enterprises like Mafia families and drug cartels.
In Young Thug’s case, the prosecutor claims he is the co-founder of YSL. They claim to have connected him to many violent crimes committed by group members, using the rapper’s social media posts and rap lyrics.
Judge Glanville denied the chart-topper bond in June. The court also shut down a house arrest plan submitted by his legal team, believing the artist was a flight risk and a danger to society.
One might ask, how did the judge come to that assessment?
Judge Glanville cited an alleged statement Young Thug made in 2015 that is now perceived as a threat and not just banter. The Atlanta native is quoted as saying, “Anybody goes into courtroom and tells the God’s honest truth, they’ll be f###### killed.”
If Young Thug is convicted of a RICO charge, he could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
First things first: I am hearing that there is going to be a GloRilla / Megan Thee Stallion collaboration coming soon! Are you all ready for that “FNF” remix with Megan Thee Stallion? And maybe somebody else? This is the rumor. But, it works out, because Megan has already seen her fair share of “f##k n#ggas” and so it works perfectly. I am thinking Cardi B might go in there too, but I have not exactly heard that as a rumor.
GloRilla and her crew are about to break out like never before. We’ve had a lot of female rappers come through Hip-Hop, but we have rarely seen a group of them. I believe this may change with GloRilla and her ratchet a$$ friends.
Before GloRilla struck gold with “FNF,” she was just a rapper like everybody else. But now, if you hated her, brace yourself, because she has a bunch of chicks behind her that are going to continue to push the narrative. Check this out.
I told y’all Glorilla and her ratchet ass friends what the game been missing! pic.twitter.com/yTIPTEm5Fc
— The Neighborhood Publicist (@nhoodpublicist) July 6, 2022
I’ll find it interesting to see how it all develops because Yo Gotti signed one artist – Glo. And there were about six of them getting on that private jet. To me, this means at least one of them is going to be angry and walk away, pursuing her own career. Do you agree? I think it’s a law of averages. This ain’t the Wu-Tang Clan era where everybody sits put and waits for a deal to come up to them.
We’ll see though. Yo Gotti is throwing around a lot of money which means someone else will be throwing around a lot of money too. I’m thinking somebody is going to scoop up one of these chicks and put her on. Probably pit her against Glo and make it actionable in the commercial marketplace.
Brittney Griner, the two-time US Olympic gold medalist, has pleaded guilty to drug charges inside of a Russian courtroom.
The basketball star now faces 10 years in prison for the conviction. She left the court room after pleading guilty, without saying a word to reporters, according to CNN.
Griner was arrested and charged last February after Russian authorities found cannabis oil in her luggage. She typically plays basketball in the off-season when the WNBA is not playing. Some regard her as the “LeBron James of the WNBA.”
Griner has been the topic of much discussion, and those that support her have pleaded for her release. Many feel she is presently being used as political leverage against the United States and Joe Biden by the Russians, particularly in their positioning in the war.
Others have noted that Russians officials may try to trade Griner for accused Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, named the “Merchant of Death.” Bout maintains his innocence to this day. He is set to be released in roughly 5 years.
A rep for Biden has reportedly said he is “doing everything possible” to bring Griner home.
Griner’s wife was wrought with emotions in a press conference.
“I’m frustrated that 140 days have passed since my wife has been able to speak to me, to our family and to our friends, ” Cherelle Griner said from the Griner’s home of Houston. “I’m frustrated that my wife is not going to get justice.”
Skepta has been admitted to hospital with a mystery illness, taking to his Instagram Stories on Monday (Jul. 4) to share a snap from his hospital bed.
THE U.K. grime legend quoted the famous Aretha Franklin song, requesting fans “Say a little prayer for me.” Skepta did not reveal the reason for his hospital visit and gave no further details surrounding his condition.
The “Shutdown” rapper is currently in the middle of a European tour and is due to perform at Rolling Loud Portugal on Thursday.
He is still on the festival’s official setlist alongside A$AP Rocky, Playboi Carti, Baby Keem Coi Leray, D Block Europe, and others. His brother, Boy Better Know partner and rapper/producer JME is also on Thursday’s line-up.
Frequent collaborator A$AP Rocky debuted a new unreleased track featuring the grime star during his performance at Germany’s Splash! Festival last week. The Harlem rapper also brought out Skepta to join him on stage to premiere the new track. The pair also performed their song “Praise The Lord.”
NEW: (Unreleased) Asap Rocky & Skepta Produced by Novelist
Last month Skepta looked well as he joined the likes of Lil Wayne, Jack Harlow, Kid Cudi, and Coi Leray at the Governor’s Ball in New York. He and fellow U.K. rap icon Giggs also took a tour of the city’s hotspots, hitting up a famous NYC late-night eatery. The pair also posed for pics at a Hip-Hop jewelry mecca Popular Jewelry.
Boris Johnson has resigned as Britain’s Prime Minister following months of turmoil surrounding his leadership.
The Conservative leader has faced constant calls to resign since December after reports emerged of parties being held by politicians and government officials while the country faced strict Covid lockdown restrictions.
In April, Johnson was fined for attending a surprise birthday party held in his honor during the first lockdown in 2020.
Johnson saw off a vote of no confidence called by his own Members of Parliament (MPs) last month.
However, he bowed to pressure to resign on Thursday after more than 50 government ministers, including Chancellor Rishi Sunak, resigned from office following claims he and his team misled them over whether he knew of sexual harassment allegations against his Deputy Chief Whip, Chris Pincher, before appointing him.
In a statement delivered outside of Number 10 Downing Street, Johnson said: “It is clearly now the will of the parliamentary Conservative Party that there should be a new leader of that party and so a new Prime Minister.
“The process of choosing that new leader should begin now.”
He went on to state that he will serve in his role “until a new leader is in place,” although this is uncertain as the Leader of the Opposition, Keir Starmer, has threatened to hold a vote of no confidence in the government should Johnson not depart immediately in favor of an interim leader.
Johnson leaves office fewer than three years after winning the 2019 General Election.
He has been a controversial figure; popular with some as the Prime Minister who led Britain out of the European Union and took charge during the Covid-19 pandemic, but deeply unpopular with others due to his campaign to leave the EU, allegations of personal impropriety, the ‘partygate’ revelations, and a cost of living crisis.
The Hip Hop world lost Jamal “Capital STEEZ” Dewar Jr. on December 23, 2012. Members of the Pro Era collective, such as Joey Bada$$, had personal connections with the late Brooklynite.
Joey Bada$$ uses his new song “Survivors Guilt” to reflect on his close friend and collaborator. The Rahki-produced, Young Guru-mixed track arrived on DSPs today (July 7).
“Steezy told mе, ‘Get ’em,’ so I got ’em. Now my n####’s gone, he will never be forgotten. Ever since he left, I’ve just been struggling without him,” says Joey Bada$$ on the record.
The emcee/actor also raps, “Now I’m rich and rotten. Every day I think about him. It’s survivors’ guilt. Wishing I coulda stopped him, let alone just know how he feel.”
Joey Bada$$ went on to talk about how mental health was still viewed as a taboo topic in 2012. The 27-year-old entertainer admits to finally feeling comfortable addressing STEEZ’s emotional, psychological, and spiritual struggles at the time.
Capital Steez took his own life by jumping off the roof of the Cinematic Music Group building in Manhattan. Around 9 pm ET that night, the 19-year-old up-and-comer simply tweeted, “The end.”
Prior to his death, Capital STEEZ played an instrumental role in the rise of Joey Bada$$, Pro Era, and New York City’s Beast Coast movement. Joey’s breakout mixtape, 2012’s 1999, featured STEEZ on multiple songs.
Previously, Joey Bada$$ dropped the B4.Da.$$ and All-Amerikkkan Badass LPs. His mixtape catalog consists of 1999, Rejex, and Summer Knights. Plus, Pro Era has presented compilations such as The Secc$ TaP.E. as well as Escape from New York with Flatbush Zombies and The Underachievers.
At this point, the general public knows YNW Melly more for his pending first-degree murder case than his music. The “Murder on My Mind” rapper could deal with serious consequences in Broward County, Florida.
However, YNW Melly will not face capital punishment. According to Melly’s mother, the death penalty is off the table as a sentence for his double homicide trial.
Jamie King took to her Instagram page to share the news about her currently incarcerated son. She posted, “Death penalty has officially been removed from @ynwmelly case. Thank you, Jesus. #FreeMelly2022.”
Prosecutors claim Jamell “YNW Melly” Demons and Cortlen “YNW Bortlen” Henry conspired to kill their friends, Anthony “YNW Sakchaser” Williams and Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas Jr.
According to law enforcement, Demons and Henry shot the victims and then drove around with their dead bodies in the vehicle. Authorities accuse the suspects of trying to make the crime appear to be a drive-by shooting by other individuals.
YNW Melly pled not guilty to the October 2018 homicides of YNW Sakchaser and YNW Juvy. His defense team worked to avoid the death penalty in case their client is found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder.
Despite being locked up since 2019, YNW Melly scored a hit song in the United States with “Murder On My Mind.” The 2018 single peaked at #14 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart. The RIAA also certified the track as 6x-Platinum in January 2022.
Westside Boogie is one of the rappers presently signed to Eminem’s Shady Records label. Being part of the Shady camp likely gives Boogie the opportunity to pick the brain of the Hip Hop legend.
Raquel Harper recently spoke to Westside Boogie for herIt’s Tricky podcast. The longtime TMZ personality asked the Compton native about the “best gift” he has received from Eminem.
“Performace-wise, he told me to stop stage-diving, because I can get sued,” said Westside Boogie. “I just like jumping into the crowd. It’s my thing. So I don’t know if that’s necessarily good advice, but advice he gave me.”
Since signing with Shady Records in 2017, Boogie released Everythings for Sale in 2019 and MORE BLACK SUPERHEROES in 2022. His discography also includes mixtapes such as 2014’s Thirst 48 and 2016’s Thirst 48, Pt. II.
Westside Boogie and Eminem joined forces for “Rainy Days” from the Everythings for Sale LP. That project also featured J.I.D., 6LACK, Snoh Aalegra, Christian Scott, and Shaé Universe.
MORE BLACK SUPERHEROES dropped in June of this year. Boogie’s 12-track studio album contains contributions from Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em, Shelley FKA DRAM, Snoop Dogg, and other acts.
Eminem recently linked up with Goodie Mob member CeeLo Green for a song on the Elvis (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) project. “The King and I” hit digital platforms on June 16.
Apparently, Nicki Minaj wants the world to know she is unbothered about the breaking news connected to her household. This week, Minaj’s husband, Kenneth Petty, found out his sentence for failing to register as a sex offender in California.
As social media users began discussing Petty’s case, Nicki Minaj hopped on Instagram to share some photos of her family. The images included Kenneth Petty and the couple’s son.
Prior to tying the knot with the superstar, then-New York resident Kenneth Petty was convicted of attempted rape in 1995. Jennifer Hough accused Petty of assaulting her in 1994 when she was 16 years old.
In March 2021, authorities charged Kenneth Petty with failure to register as a sex offender after moving into Nicki Minaj’s California home. Petty pled guilty to the charge later that year.
Nicki Minaj may be dealing with some personal issues at the moment, but the New York City native is still staying active with her music career. After hitting the stage at the 2022 Essence Music Festival, the leader of the Barbz will head to the United Kingdom for the Wireless Festival on July 10.
DJ Khaled also shared a short teaser for his God Did project. The 1-minute video featured appearances by Jay-Z, Drake, Kanye West, Lil Baby, Future, Lil Durk, and other Hip Hop stars.
For his previous albums, DJ Khaled would recruit some of the top names in the music industry to contribute to those bodies of work. 2021’s Khaled Khaled was no exception.
Khaled Khaled included tracks with Lil Wayne, Cardi B, H.E.R., Justin Bieber, 21 Savage, Nas, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Drake, and more. That collection debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart with 93,000 first-week units.
DJ Khaled presently has three #1 albums in his career. 2016’s Major Key and 2017’s Grateful also reached the top of the Billboard 200. Father of Asahd peaked at #2 in 2019. The RIAA certified Khaled’s last four LPs as Platinum.
Jersey City’s hidden secret, Seymore Dough, has arrived with serious bars! From showcases to major studio sessions with top industry names, Seymore Dough has been blessing the locals with his ridiculous wordplay! His Debut Song Mix & Mastered by 7x Grammy Award Winner *Pat Viala* titled “Independence Day,” will be released to the public on July 4th, 2022! Along with other projects set to release soon after, Seymore Dough credits one of his mentors Ceas *Founder of Desertstormradio.com* as one of the prominent people to stick by him and support him through all times.
“Invading the industry will be difficult, but my bars speak for themselves, ” stated Seymore. Boom Bap is quickly growing in the industry but working with names such as “Benny The Butcher, Ack Mooga, Stove God Cooks, 38 Spesh,” as well as a shoutout from Newark’s own “Redman,” Seymore realizes the work he needs to put in and is ready to STOMP his way in the industry. Crediting his manager Rob “Duce” Robinson, for staying by his side and always keeping it real, Seymore says he is ready to attack the game and conquer all obstacles.
Peep his latest drop here today!-“Independence Day” Single:
You might have heard about this, but let’s run it down. There have been a number of flair-ups with regard to his decline of the world. But there is a rumor that there is ONE new pandemic that is about to be announced.
DAMN MONKEYPOX IS HERE AND IT IS WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT!
Here is what the CDC is reporting on Monkeypox:
Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. Monkeypox virus is part of the same family of viruses as smallpox. Monkeypox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms, but milder; and monkeypox is rarely fatal. Monkeypox is not related to chickenpox.
Symptoms of monkeypox can include:
Fever
Headache
Muscle aches and backache
Swollen lymph nodes
Chills
Exhaustion
A rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appears on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals, or a###.
The rash goes through different stages before healing completely. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks.
I am hearing that Biden is trying to get people under control again. And guess how? Monkeypox. And other Covid-19 variants. Apparently, EVERYTHING has Biden and them conspiring of how to get the NATION to chill. Well, the way is to SHUT IT DOWN. They are rumored to be using these pandemics to shut it down, calm down the economy, the mass shootings and the overall madness.
Anyway, the country is actually in a recession even though they are not formally stating it. It is on the way! I think Biden is trying to fight it off by making people go back in the house and fight off the failing economy. Interest rates are flying back up. Soon people will not be able to pay off their credit cards and other stuff.
Biden is gonna force yall to save money!
Good luck yall! I do not leave the house anyway so I am already straight.
Macy’s stance that changing “your (body) parts doesn’t make you a woman” caused an instant backlash, and she has now addressed the controversy in a statement to Rolling Stone.
“I have nothing but love for the LGBTQ+ and transgender community and have been a supporter since Day One,” she said. “My statement on Piers Morgan was grossly misunderstood. I don’t hate anyone. I respect everyone’s right to feel comfortable in their bodies and live their own truth.”
During the chat on Monday, the 54-year-old prefaced her comments by telling Piers, “everybody’s gonna hate me”, but she also insisted that she supports trans rights to fairness and equality.
Responding to some of the backlash on Twitter, Macy said in one reply: “I wasn’t defining trans women. Just women. Because I know what it means to be one. I don’t know what it means to be a trans woman and I never said I did. But that goes both ways.”
J. K. Rowling, who has been called a trans-exclusionary radical feminist (TERF), publicly supported Macy in the fallout.
After pleading guilty to the federal charge of not registering as a sex offender in his new city of Los Angeles, rapper Nicki Minaj’s husband Kenneth Petty, has finally been sentenced.
Kenneth Petty, 44, dodged prison and instead was sentenced to one year of home confinement for failing to register as a sex offender after he moved to California with the chart-topping artist after the two were married.
Petty was also fined $55,000 dollars and will serve three years of probation.
Court documents obtained by AllHipHop.com revealed that the government wanted a 15-month prison sentence for Kenneth Petty, so his prison sentence is a major victory.
The two were childhood friends before Petty put a knife to Hough’s stomach and took her to a nearby house, where he sexually assaulted her. Kenneth Petty served four and a half years in prison for the crime.
The current drama for Kenneth Petty stemmed from his 1995 conviction. In November 2019, the Beverly Hills Police Department stopped Kenneth Petty’s vehicle for a minor traffic infraction.
The cops determined Petty’s primary residence was in California with his wife Nicki Minaj and that he had failed to register as a sex offender in the state where he resided.
“Over the course of two decades, he was repeatedly warned that if he moved to another state, it was his responsibility to follow any local, city, state, federal, or international laws regarding registration,” prosecutors said.
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.