I’m hoping and praying that they aren’t telling the truth! But there is a mean, horrific rumor that is saying that A$AP Rocky and Rihanna have broken up! Now looking for verification will be tough. But as I scour the Internet, there is quite a bit of smoke.
The big bad rumor is that A$AP Rocky was caught cheating on his billionaire girlfriend! There apparently is a shoe designer name Amina who is popular or something.
She’s definitely not more popular than Rihanna! However as I look on the Internet and see what she looks like she’s another one of these socialite people. To make matters worse Rihanna even hired this chick a couple years ago to wear her shoes! She’s a designer for Fenty!
As you can imagine the Internet is going crazy! Social media is going crazy! People cannot believe that it’s possible that A$AP Rocky fumbled the bag and the babe of all babes! There is no way that he ruin this and I refuse to believe it until we have some serious proof!
But it seems like this is totally breaking right now as we speak! More information on this later but here’s some stuff from social media.
Benzino addressed recent allegations about him being romantically involved with a transgender woman.
In a livestream with QueenzFlip, Benzino discussed his connection to a transgender woman named Shauna Brooks. The veteran rapper said he starred in a movie that also featured Brooks, but he’s never actually met her. Despite never meeting, Benzino’s ex Althea Heart assumed something was going on with Brooks.
“Me and Shauna Brooks had a couple conversations on the phone,” he explained. “I guess Althea heard about it and tried to insinuate I was f###### with a transgender. So, of course, [that’s] the very thing that I was talking about as far I don’t want to be looked upon as messing with a transgender. Because I don’t have to argue that point. I’ve always messed with women. I love [his current girlfriend] Ashley very, very dearly. She’s beautiful. She’s a woman. I’ve always loved women.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CcS943HD4dk/
Earlier this week, Benzino’s conversation with Brooks surfaced on social media. He claimed it’s been edited to make him look bad.
“I don’t know what happened, but when Althea had try to say something, Shauna must’ve taped the conversation and put the conversation out,” he noted. “When I heard the conversation, you could tell the conversation’s been chopped up.”
He continued, “That Shauna Brooks thing was like three years ago. Now, let’s just have common sense, right? If I was f###### with a transgender and I was on the phone with ‘em, don’t you think that conversation would all nasty as f###? Don’t you think you would’ve heard something outta me that insinuated some type of sexual [stuff]? When I’m talking to her is after when Althea made a thing about it.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CcVb36Pjfly/
Benzino expressed frustration over the situation, including 50 Cent joking about it on social media.
“It was a conversation that people are hearing now, and I’m saying that lifestyle, I’m not used to,” he told QueenzFlip. “I’m not used to talking to a transgender. I’m not used to communicating, exactly. Not saying I’m not used to dealing with her because I’ve never even met her in person. Never met her in person!”
He added, “When you listen to the tape, there’s nothing of me saying any type of sexual relationship that you would think that. But people are gonna try to take s###, try to smear my name.”
Benzino also recalled his history with 50 Cent, questioning the G-Unit rapper’s trolling on Instagram.
When most people think about Rap music, many look to California for the next up-and-coming rapper. Over the past few years, the California scene has produced huge names such as: Yg, Nipsey Hustle, and Blueface which have seen success outside of America and brought attention to the city. Most people may not consider California to be the next burgeoning rap scene in America, but Jonnathan Malagon could be a name to change that perception.
The young LA native has begun to make a name for himself over the past year with songs like “I Wish,” “Sneaky Link,” and “Cabo” – racking up big numbers and creating buzz around his name. He brings a unique story and sound to the scene and creates heartfelt songs that are capable of getting stuck in your head.
STREAM Jonnathanmalagon’s newest hits on all music platforms.
Floyd Mayweather’s daughter has pled guilty to stabbing one of her boyfriend’s baby’s mothers.
Iyanna “Yaya” Mayweather has been in a volatile relationship with the controversial rapper, YoungBoy Never Broke Again for years. However, on April 3rf, 2020, the young woman stabbed a female inside the chart-topper’s home.
According to court documents, the 21-year-old has fessed up to the second-degree felony. She also copped to the Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon charge in a Harris County Court for the incident that happened over two years ago.
Yaya waived her right to appeal, and she admitted to “unlawfully, intentionally, and unknowingly” inflicting “bodily injury to Lapattra Jacobs” with a knife.
Mayweather faces up to 2 to 20 years of incarceration. However, prosecutors are not recommending jail time. They believe six years of deferred adjunction and 40 hours of community service are enough for her crime.
She must comply with a court order of protection not to harass, threaten or contact Jacobs.
Mooski began to focus on his music career after serving four years in the Marines. The Alabama native grew up listening to Michael Jackson and Drake, just a few of the artists that have infuenced his style.
Maybe it’s those influences that make it hard to define Mooski as a musical act. Earlier this month, Mooski dropped his new album MelodicTherapy 4 The Broken.
The album shows off the musical range and uniqueness of Mooski’s sound. While speaking with our correspondent Slops, Mooski revealed when he knew “Track Star” was going to take off, how his time in the military keeps him disciplined with his music, his reaction to going viral, and when he decided to start combining singing and rapping.
The family of Atlanta rapper Archie Eversole has announced that the artist died at the top of April at the age of 37.
Reports from Dekalb county police say, the “We Ready” chart-topper was shot and killed by his brother. The actual assault is said to have happened on March 25th on Golf Vista Circle at a Chevron gas station on Snapfinger Woods Drive.
Police arrived on the scene and saw Eversole wounded by a firearm. However, he did not die there. The entertainer passed days later – while being treated in a local hospital.
Detectives have identified Eversole’s brother, Alexander Krause, as the triggerman, initially arresting him with an aggravated assault charge. After the anthem writer died, those charges were upgraded to murder.
His song, “We Ready,” was widely used during sporting matches, becoming a pre-match war cry for the Atlanta United soccer team.
“We are heartbroken to hear of the tragic passing of Archie Eversole. A staple in the Atlanta hip-hop scene, Archie adopted Atlanta United before our first season and continued to be one of our club’s most fervent supporters. In addition to his decorated musical career, his voice will long live in our supporters’ minds as ‘We Ready’ billows through the speakers for kick-off at Atlanta United matches. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends.”
NFL star Robert Griffin III took to Twitter to celebrate the hit the young man made at only 17.
“The man who gave us ‘We Ready,’ the greatest Game Day anthem ever, has passed away at 37 years old. Rest In Peace Archie Eversole. Prayers up to his family and loved ones,” Griffin said.
The man who gave us “We Ready, the greatest Game Day anthem ever, has passed away at 37 years old. Rest In Peace Archie Eversole. Prayers up to his family and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/Y4q55WzgWt
Langston is here to make his mark, one fire record at a time. Hailing from New Orleans, the rising star creates his own sound, fusing the worlds of soul, pop, and R&B into one. Growing up in a musical household and singing in his father’s church choir, the singer-songwriter’s 4-octave range and ability to play the piano did not go unnoticed.
Soon after, Langston took his talents to New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) where he began classical vocal training. Years later, Langston earned a full scholarship to Berklee College of Music, where he graduated with a BA in Music Business Management. His long list of credits include writing for films such as Instant Family, Hustlers, Shaft, Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase, and more.
Langston describes himself as “driven, passionate, and charismatic, with a unique approach to his blend of Soul and Pop. His sound is all about connecting with the listeners through high-energy release, uplifting melodies, and striking vocal performances, delivering a falsetto vocal in the likes of Prince, Smokey Robinson and El DeBarge.”
AllHipHop: Being from New Orleans, what was that like growing up?
Langston: Growing up in New Orleans was like no other. I always say there are 3 unique places in the United States which are New York, San Francisco and New Orleans. The culture is so rich and I am blessed to be from the birthplace of Jazz. Growing up in New Orleans, you could find the local mailman blowing the trumpet like Louis Armstrong. I also had the pleasure to attend N.O.C.C.A, which was one of the top art schools where I was able to receive classical vocal training. I grew up under many music legends who shaped me into the artist I am today, in which you can hear some of their influence in “No Cream.”
AllHipHop: When did you fall in love with music?
Langston: I fell in love with music at the age of 5. I credit my parents for pushing me to explore my early love for musicianship. Growing up, my Father was a pastor of a church with a sufficient congregation. On weekdays, my sister Logan and I would roleplay as if we were leading the songs in the church. Performing was always in me as I felt it was my duty to make people feel good through music. I had the advantage of discovering and developing my music ability in the church where being nervous was not an option. I started off banging on the drums as it was my first love. My Uncle Troy often tells me he knew music was in me by the way I’d play the drums. I later developed a love for both piano and organ as I often imitated Stevie Wonder, Jamie Foxx and John Legend.
AllHipHop: What’s the biggest takeaway from your time at Berklee?
Langston: Berklee shaped me into the artist I am today. I was awarded a full scholarship from Berklee City Music as it was my dream school. I had the pleasure of studying with some of the best professors who have worked with major artists such as James Taylor, Stevie Wonder and many more. It was such a humbling experience as every musician played at an advanced level. I had the pleasure of graduating with a B.A. in Music Business Management in 2 years from one of the top music schools.
AllHipHop: Bring us back to when you recorded “No Cream“
Langston: The story of “No Cream” is definitely one for the books. I remember being in my room and praying to God for a hit record that would change the world. Within five minutes the words “Don’t want no cream in my coffee” immediately came out of my mouth. This record was created from divine inspiration. From there, the emotions took over and every phrase and melody was so natural as I was singing from a place of admiration.
AllHipHop: What do you want fans to take away from this record?
Langston: I want fans to know they are loved and true beauty comes from within. Oftentimes melanated women, or as I call “Brown Sugar” are underrepresented when it comes to societal standards of beauty. They, too, deserve recognition for the beauty they possess. No matter what color or ethnicity, I want fans to be able to look in the mirror and see the queen or king within themselves.
AllHipHop: What can we expect next?
Langston: I’m most excited to showcase my versatility and present Langston to the world. Breathing life into the Pop-Soul genre one song at a time.
The Lyricist Lounge, the premier destination for New York’s underground rap cultural expression, is celebrating its 30th anniversary. The most recent stop in this yearlong celebration that started at the Kennedy Center in 2021, is the historic Apollo Theater in the heart of Harlem, on 125th street on Saturday, Apr. 16 at 8:00 pm.
The line-up is neck-bobbing rich with names like Bahamadia, Grand Puba, Mr. Cheeks, Buckshot, CL Smooth, Cru, Large Professor, Rah Digga, Talib Kweli, DJ Trase, Lords of the Underground, and Al Skratch slated to touch the stage. The headliner of the evening is the blast master KRS-One, and the house DJ will be Kid Capri.
AllHipHop.com got a chance to talk to Lyricist Lounge Founders Danny Castro, Anthony Marshall, and rapper Talib Kweli about the legacy of the Lyricist Lounge movement, lessons learned for the future, and some of their favorite moments from those early years.
KERSHAW ST. JAWNSON: Let’s just start. What’s been going on with the Lyricist Lounge?
DANNY CASTRO: We’ve been all over the place. We’ve been grinding, you know. We’ve been working on doing events, a lot of events. We’ve been celebrating our 30th anniversary. We did a really awesome show last year in November at the Kennedy Center. That was just monumental. And we are looking forward to doing this one at the legendary Apollo Theater coming up this Saturday. It’s going to be crazy.
KSJ: What you all created for the culture is worthy of the Kennedy Center honor. For our younger audience who has no idea what the Lyricist Lounge is, can you break that down for us? Talk about some of the big-name artists rocked with your movement?
DC:Basically, the Lyricist Lounge is a Hip-Hop movement that’s been around for 30-plus years now. We started back in 1991. And it started as an open mic session that we would have every week. And it evolved to us doing Hip-Hop showcases. We created a platform for up-and-coming artists. But it also became a forum for unsigned artists and established artists.”
Lyricist Lounge started as a casual get-together for underground MCs, and 30 years later has grown into one of the most recognized platforms for both rising artists and vets of the game.
A lot of artists would come to hang out. And then we started building this whole big movement.
It was just a huge place where folks would come and cultivate, whether you were an artist or you were in the industry, people would just come and hang out.
We did showcases, and national tours and then we started doing mixtapes with Echo Unlimited. That evolved into us doing compilation albums, Lyricist Lounge, Volume One, and Volume Two.
ANTHONY MARSHALL:We have a long history. When you think of 90s Hip-Hop, we think of all that energy that was going on. Our brand was a huge part of that. This was that place where people could go to connect with people, prior to the internet. Prior to social media.
What I’m equally excited about is really also where we’re going. We’re really kind of starting over in a lot of ways. As you know, starting with these beautiful events like the Apollo and the Paramount in the Bay Area in June. But in addition to that, we’ve created our own social token called ‘Bars.’ We’re using all of these different ways, people are paying attention to what’s going on in this world of cryptocurrencies, blockchains, and NFTs. I know, everybody’s heard that word a million times. And that’s been playing out well for us. So, I’m excited about that.
KSJ:Let’s talk about some amazing talents that kind of jumped out of the Lyricist Lounge.
AM:It’s a long list. Obviously, this man right here (directing attention to Talib Kweli). Yasiin Bey. It goes on and on … from The Roots to Common. You name it, it was a huge circle of us, all kind of coming up together at the same time. Some of us even went to high school together. Big Pun! Fat Joe! Eminem! You know we were all just kind of family at that time.
KSJ:It is not hyperbole to say giants of the culture came out of your movement. Now, with the new shows, what kind of impact and significance do you think they will have for the next generation?
AM:It’s really about paying homage. The language we’ve all been using recently is ‘giving each our flowers while we can.’
What we did back in those days, and what we all did as a collective, really set the bar around a certain level of lyricism, and really honoring that pen, it’s a beautiful thing. As we look into the future, the Gen Z crowd and a number of others are getting back to that. We just felt it’s a really good time to, you know, to relaunch the brand to get financial empowerment and cultural freedom.
KSJ:Talib, talk to me about how important the Lyricist Lounge was for your career in those early days?
TALIB KWELI: I mean, for me, it was everything. Danny and Anthony in particular were guys that I knew before I performed at Lyricist Lounge. They challenged me. They didn’t just put me on the stage because I was around. They challenged me to prove myself and if it wasn’t for the culture surrounding Lyricist Lounge—there were a bunch of clubs going on, promoters, dancers, graffiti artists, visual artists, all of us at the same time —it created a place for us to have a home and to meet, and to exchange these ideas.
It is the stewthat I come out ofand is instrumental to what I do.
KSJ: You guys were teenagers when this started. What did you teenagers know about curating art? What were some of the hiccups that you guys bumped into?
AM:You nailed it there. When you talk about how we were, we weren’t old enough to get in the clubs that we were renting… That was a big deal. We are Brooklyn kids. Lower East Side kids. We had to be creative and figure out ways to get in the door. There were real obstacles at that point in our careers. Once, we asked a friend to dress up like our lawyer …we did any and everything just to get in the building. It was great.
DC: Back in the days, we had this white cat, he was a musician, and he was older. So, we just figured out a strategic way to get in the Village Gate in the West Village.
Ant and I were 17, and we had a meeting with the owner of the club. He was like this older white man. Thinking back, it was hilarious. We had this representative, but we were the ones doing all the talking to the owner of the club. Our ‘lawyer’ wasn’t really saying much. At the end of the meeting, we ended up getting a deal with the club. And the owner was like, “Hey guys, look, next time, you don’t have to bring anybody with you. Right? We know that’s not the lawyer. And so, all good, no worries.
We were fortunate to have a mentor at the time. His name is Charles Thompson. He was the one that pretty much educated us on becoming entrepreneurs. He has a nonprofit organization, which he still is running called Sound Business Institute, where he teaches the youth that are in high school, how to become entrepreneurs.
KSJ: You still carry the banner. People may not know about your label, your music, and the many artists you mentor. Talk about being the bridge for two generations, mentoring artists coming up.
TK: Well, I want to be clear that that guy, Charles Thompson, that Danny just talked about, I’ve never had anybody like that in my life. And it just goes to show you the importance of having those types of mentors.
How it impacts the next generation, I wouldn’t put myself even on the level of that dude. Because while I do inspire people, I don’t think I inspire people in that way.
My parents are educators, like academics, but they didn’t know much about money. They are wonderful people, great teachers, great parents, wonderful, wonderful, excellent parents … but they didn’t teach me about money. They didn’t teach me about business or about entrepreneurship. Those are things that I had to be forced to learn. I’m still not excellent at it. I’m good at rapping. My talent takes me far and I’m ambitious. I have a family to feed. So, I’m a hustler. I’m from Brooklyn. So, I do what I got to do.
But even now, I spend long hours on the phone with Anthony and he was opening my mind up in different ways. So, the rappers, people like me, get put in the forefront. Because it’s sexy, it’s easier to sell us. But if it wasn’t for this guy, Charles Thompson, and people like that who are unsung, Danny and Anthony would not have been able to put me in a position to succeed as an emcee.
The people who have signed on my label, like Niko Is and Jessica Care Moore, and other people I’ve worked with, what I promised them is that I can get their music out there because that’s what I know how to do. I’ll be honest, we could use more people like to do that, like the person Danny’s talking about just in general.
KSJ: Tell me about your favorite moment in the Lyricist Lounge.
Rawkus has a historic run. Which of their marquee compilation series did you play more?
TK: Mine is very easy because it’s the moment that really catapulted my career.
No switch that. My favorite Lyricist Lounge moment is me performing with De La Soul at Tramps in 96, I believe.
And I was gonna say that a couple of months before I performed at SOBs with Q-Tip and Rah Digga and that really catapulted me, right? That got people to invest in me. I think I got a deal after that. People got invested in me as an artist. It really convinced me that I could do this for a living.
Danny and Anthony invited me back for the next lounge because that’s how well I did. It was like, ‘Okay, you killed it, you got to come back.’ And the lesson I learned was ‘Okay, you did it once, but can you do it consistently?’ And while I was not wack by any means, with De La, it wasn’t the same energy.
In retrospect, I don’t quite remember what choices I made. I learned that it’s not that easy to capture that magic (like I had at SOBs), and that’s the true test of character as if you could keep doing it consistently. So, I vow after that De La Soul performance to never let that happen again. And so, for me, that was probably that moment.
There was a time when Diddy came to me and Mos Def, but that was a year later. He had more conversations with Yasiin. It wasn’t really a conversation with me, I was in the room. Biggie had just passed away. It was 97. Diddy had come to the lounge, and it was a little awkward because, while Diddy does come from the same community as we do, by that time he was looked at as anti what the lounge was supposed to represent … even though we all represent the same things.
There was a little discrepancy. He was trying to get some clarity on the lyrics for ‘Children’s Story,’ which is a song that ended up coming out on the Blackstar album. He felt like the lyrics were aimed at him, or at least at the type of music he does. He and Yasiin had a conversation. I believe it was at Wetlands.
I knew Diddy from working with Jessica and Funkmaster Flex. He knew me too. This time was before Blackstar had not dropped an album. There was no hype around Blackstar. Diddy was there to see the Lyricist Lounge. He was familiar enough to know what was being said at the Lyricist Lounge, in the wake of the great Notorious B.I.G. passing was very important and he had to be there.
AM:My favorite moment was Latin Quarters in 98. We were trying to be and wanted to work with certain artists. Sometimes that made it hard to get into the club. If you have one bad night, it would just kind of go through all New York that you’re not a good brand to work with.
So, this night, I think we were just thinking about talent. We didn’t think about everything else, and we booked a show hosted by Fat Joe performances by Big Pun, MOP, Hussein Fatal, The Outsiders, and Eminem. That was an amazing night and we made it out without any problems. We had the Bronx next to Brooklyn next to New Jersey and nothing happened.
Atthe end of the day, it was a beautiful night for the culture.
We have a lot of that footage. We got 30 years of archival footage, we’ve never put out, so you know, we’re gonna start doing that the right way. The doc is coming.
DC:We have so many classic moments, but I will mention two really quick. We did the launch party for Bad Boy back in 93. Diddy hosted along with Biggie. So. That just was a classic night.
Biggie performed as well. He did ‘Party and B#######.’
There was a big commotion when he was performing. All of his whole crew was acting like they wanted to fight, and he just did, ‘Can We Just All Get Along,’ and they all just started jumping. And it was just bananas. It was just nuts. That was the first time we ever saw that happen.
I have to mention when we had like this young lady performed down with The Outsiders. Her name was Rah Digga, and she was pregnant … eight months pregnant.
It was the same show that Kweli performed that SOB and Q-Tip hosted. This was the first time we showcased her, and it was just bananas. Her whole host style, cadence, flow …everything was just so dope. After the show, Q-Tip wanted to sign her to his label but then he passed that on to Busta Rhymes. And that’s how she got down with the Flipmode Squad. Another classic night.
KSJ: You guys created stars!
TK: They gave us the platform and the vehicle. They gave us the space to be ourselves when nobody else would give us that space.
KSJ:Y’all were MySpace … Y’all were Soundcloud before it was Soundcloud!
TK: It is deeper than Soundcloud or MySpace. Those guys come from outside of the culture and just figured out how to capitalize on it. These guys, they were the culture. They were us.
AM: Even when you think about the connections… A lot of the stories we’re still learning because we were on stage and backstage. I remember reading the article where Alicia Keys was talking about meeting Crucial Keys at the Lyricist Lounge. That was way before they even started working together and led to a lot of the music they did on her first album … that got her out there. I have started to appreciate that this was even more than just music and a stage … for so many of us it was a community.
To purchase tickets to the Lyricist Lounge 30th Anniversary at the Apollo and witness Hip-Hop royalty go nuts, get your tickets here.
The Queen of Hip Hop Soul Mary J. Blige will gain another major accolade. The Billboard Music Awards announced Blige will be the recipient of this year’s Icon Award.
“My career has been such an incredible and unexpected journey that has included many turns into avenues I never could have imagined like acting, producing, launching businesses, and now even my own music festival,” said Mary J. Blige.
She continued, “Through it all, I always one way or another gravitated back to my first love, music. To be recognized in this way at this moment, with the Icon Award at the Billboard Music Awards, is an incredible honor and one that I am truly humbled by.”
Mary J. Blige has earned four Number Ones and fourteen Top 10 entries on the Billboard 200 album chart. The R&B singer/songwriter also spent six weeks at the pinnacle of the Hot 100 chart with her “Family Affair” single. Plus, she is a 10-time Billboard Music Awards winner.
Her discography contains several 3x-Platinum albums – 1992’s What’s the 411?, 1994’s My Life, 1997’s Share My World, and 2005’s The Breakthrough. Blige also received nine Grammy Awards from the Recording Academy. The Breakthrough won Best R&B Album. Growing Pains won Best Contemporary R&B Album.
Additionally, Mary J. Blige scored two Academy Award nominations (Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Song) for the Netflix film Mudbound. MJB joins a list of BBMA Icon Award recipients that includes Stevie Wonder, Prince, Jennifer Lopez, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, and others.
The rapper eventually settled with the trustee and agreed to pay $515 a month until a formalized agreement was worked out.
Unfortunately for Young Buck, the trustee in the case still believes he has valuable assets which can help satisfy his debts to creditors, including 50 Cent, the IRS, and the mother of his children.
The Nashville, Tennessee, rap star will have to testify under oath, primarily due to posts on his social media accounts.
Young Buck has been ordered to provide ownership documents for some pricey items he has been flossing by April 29th.
These include gold teeth caps, his “615 Cashville Records” gold and diamond necklace, various gold chains, a Rolls-Royce, a Ford F-150, black truck, a motorcycle, and even the donations he solicited via Cash App.
The trustee is seeking to question Young Buck on May 6th, 2022, at 9:30 am.
Rising rapper Coi Leray was riding high after releasing Trendsetter on April 8. Leray even called out her fellow 2021 Freshman Class members on the day the album dropped. Unfortunately, early reports forecast the initial sales numbers for the project will be below the 20,000 mark.
“Coi Leray ‘Trendsetter’ on pace to sell 11K first week,” tweeted DJ Akademiks on Tuesday evening. Many of the replies to Ak’s tweet suggested that projected sales total was underwhelming for the amount of talent featured on the album.
Trendsetter included contributions by Nicki Minaj, Yung Bleu, Fivio Foreign, Young M.A, G Herbo, H.E.R., Nav, Lil Durk. Polo G, Lil Tecca, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, and Pooh Shiesty. Plus, the Platinum-certified single “No More Parties” lives on Leray’s debut album.
Trendsetter 💖🌎 FRIDAY 4/8 🆑🌎
Thank you to everyone who contributed to this project and thank you for believing in me ❤️🔥 pic.twitter.com/AF3AtggbUL
The supposed 11,000 first-week units for Trendsetter caused a lot of conversation across social media. On Wednesday, Coi Leray began posting messages on Twitter that seemed to be reactions to the negative feedback about the expected low sales.
“God has been the best father to me. I can’t complain about anything. My debut album is amazing and not one song can you say is bad. [It’s] been 5 days. I understand Coi Leray is so viral & works good on blogs headlines but trust me, it’s all part of the game, just ride out and stay [focused],” tweeted Leray.
The 24-year-old Republic recording artist later added, “One thing y’all should know about me, I don’t fold under pressure. This lil body got thick skin baby. Only me can stop me.#trendsetter 🆑🌎💖 ALBUM OUT NOW!!!!”
God has been the best father to me. I can’t complain about anything. My debut album is amazing and not one song can you say is bad. It been 5 days. I understand Coi Leray is so viral & works good on blogs headlines but trust me,it’s all part of the game just ride out andstayfocus
One thing y’all should know about me, I don’t fold under pressure. This lil body got thick skin baby. Only me can stop me.#trendsetter 🆑🌎💖 ALBUM OUT NOW !!!!
In addition, Memphis-bred rapper NLE Choppa offered support for Coi Leray and downplayed the importance of first-week sales. Choppa also shouted out New York City’s Fivio Foreign whose B.I.B.L.E. album is looking to open with around 29,000 first-week units.
“First week numbers [don’t] determine if [an] album [is] good or not. Literally says ‘FIRST WEEK.’ I’ve yet to have [an] album that just goes crazy [the] first week but I’m sitting on 2 gold projects and another one working towards that. @FivioForeign @coi_leray y’all craft is beyond perfect‼️” NLE Choppa tweeted yesterday.
First week numbers doesn’t determine if a album good or not. Literally says “FIRST WEEK” I’ve yet to have a album that just goes crazy first week but I’m sitting on 2 gold projects and another one working towards that. @FivioForeign@coi_leray y’all craft is beyond perfect ‼️
Nowadays, it seems there’s a new podcast that pops up on the Internet every day. But what about a digital TV show that focuses on cannabis, chart-topping music videos, and guest celebrity interviews in a Top 5, countdown format?
Introducing: 106 & Spark, the newest 20-minute talk show executive produced by Los Angeles’s own Grammy-nominated rapper, Problem. The first of six episodes premiered Sunday on ALTRD.TV, where audiences can stream in to watch from households all around the world.
Problem is the definition of a multi-hyphenate, someone who conquered the rap world and is now taking over the cannabis industry.
First exploding onto the scene with his smash hit “Function” with E-40 back in 2012, the rapper, real name Jason Martin, followed it up with even bigger records such as “Like Whaaat” and “Tights Off.”
When it comes to West Coast hip-hop, Problem paved the way as someone who took over the nightlife scene and provided the soundtrack to endless functions.
Fast forward to last year, Problem unveiled his Coffee & Kush Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 mixtapes, and even wrote and produced his own short film titled A Compton Story, released exclusively on Tidal.
Now, he uses that experience in launching his own TV series called 106 & Spark. The show is hosted by emerging on-camera talent, Tammy “Cannabis Cutie” Pettigrew and Spoon Mafia. Together, Tammy and Spoon Mafia count down the Top 5 best of cannabis brands, strains, and culture icons, mixing their picks with new music, Black culture, and more.
AllHipHop: What does it mean to be releasing this episode?
Problem: Exciting times. My mission is to make cannabis cool again, this show is exactly that. It’s informative, fresh, and sexy. We blend entertainment, culture, and music with cannabis. Nobody else is doing it like that!
AllHipHop: Was it intentional to do it right before 4/20?
Problem: Actually, no. It just happened to fall into place like that.
AllHipHop: What can fans expect from the show?
Problem: More fly s###. More cool s###. Tammy and Spoon are superstars!
AllHipHop: What does it mean to be releasing this episode?
Tammy “Cannabis Cutie” Pettigrew: Releasing this episode feels like cannabis conversations can finally go beyond “sativa” and “indica” and into a more realistic view of the world of cannabis. The cross between entertainment and cannabis on the show feels like we have the opportunity to effect real change and shift conversations about this plant.
AllHipHop: Was it intentional to do it right before 4/20?
Tammy “Cannabis Cutie” Pettigrew: I truly believe in the divinity of timing, and the odds that this project was finalized and ready for release around the holidaze doesn’t feel like a coincidence.
AllHipHop: What can fans expect from the show?
Tammy “Cannabis Cutie” Pettigrew: Fans should expect to learn something new about cannabis in every
episode. Our countdowns cover everything from dope brands to the best of cannabis culture, and strains. On top of that, they’ll meet some of the show’s most respected friends and celebs who stop by to dish on all things new music, cannabis, and culture.
AllHipHop: What does it mean to be releasing this episode?
Spoon Mafia: Releasing this show is important for the cannabis community and more importantly the Black and Brown people in the community, who are too often underrepresented. 106 & Spark gives a voice to the culture.
AllHipHop: Was it intentional to do it right before 4/20?
Spoon Mafia: The release date near 4/20 was a great idea, but it wasn’t mine. Production takes care of all those types of things so it probably was intentional.
AllHipHop: What can fans expect from the show?
Spoon Mafia: Fans can expect something new and exciting that they didn’t even know they needed. Expect to be informed and educated in an entertaining way, from our favorite music videos to cannabis countdowns.
Before releasing her 777 album last month, Latto spoke about a male rapper allegedly giving her a hard time over securing a feature. The initial online speculation focused on Kodak Black, but an industry insider is now pointing the finger at Lil Wayne.
“I’m clearing my album right now and it’s been difficult to deal with these men,” said Latto back in March. “I’m just keeping it 100. It’s a feature on my album that it was difficult to clear, and they like trying to drop their nuts on me because I won’t respond to a DM.”
Latto also stated, “Man, these folks be trying to drop nuts on female rappers. I’m not gonna shut up about it.” Fans of the Atlanta native began trying to figure out which rapper allegedly sexually harassed Latto over a verse request.
Whoreible Decisions podcaster Mandii B spoke about the situation on her See, The Thing Is… show. While chatting with co-host Bridget Kelly and special guest Tiffany Red, Mandii shared what she heard about Latto’s accusations.
“To be fair, Latto did not confirm that it was actually Kodak,” said Mandii B. “I will say, the tea I got… So I don’t even know if I can share this tea but it’s old now. I actually heard it was Wayne, from someone that knows him.”
Latto declined to publicly name the individual who allegedly tried to exchange a verse for sex. Her 777 project did feature Lil Wayne on a track titled “Sunshine” along with Childish Gambino. As of press time, Wayne has not responded to Mandii B’s comments.
William “Ray J” Norwood Jr. started his own technology companies such as Raytroniks and Raycon. It appears the singer/actor also wants to try his hand at promoting combat sports.
The Will Smith/Chris Rock slapping incident at the 94th Academy Awards on March 27 is still making headlines. For example, TMZ recently ran an article about Chris Rock’s younger brother, Kenny Rock, wanting to take part in a celebrity boxing match against Will Smith.
Subsequently, The Shade Room reposted the Kenny Rock story on Instagram. Ray J then jumped in the celebrity blog’s comment section to propose a boxing match between Chris Rock and Will Smith with a big eight-figure payout for both stars.
“It can only be Will vs Chris, my investors are ready right now – 50M fight no less,” wrote Ray J under The Shade Room‘s Instagram post. The 41-year-old entertainer/entrepreneur later added under another post, “That’s [$50 million] each.”
The Oscars Slap Costs Will Smith His AMPAS Membership
Will Smith, this year’s Best Actor winner, shocked people around the world when he hit Chris Rock in the face during the Oscars ceremony last month. The on-stage assault happened after Rock told a joke about Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith.
Chris Rock made fun of Jada Pinkett Smith’s bald head while presenting the award for Best Documentary Feature. Pinkett Smith had publicly addressed losing her hair because of the medical condition known as alopecia in the past.
Will Smith took offense to Chris Rock’s one-liner and proceeded to smack the stand-up comedian on live television. Following the instant backlash on social media and in the mainstream press, Smith apologized to Rock via Instagram.
Some social media users accused Benzino of clowning Coi Leray. The former Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta star wants the world to know he did not take shots at his own daughter.
Benzino took to Twitter to deny he posted a shady message about reports projecting Coi Leray’s Trendsetter album will move less than 12,000 first-week units. According to the 56-year-old television personality, he no longer runs the @iambenzino Instagram account.
“[To] all u goofy mf in internet land, Instagram took down my ‘@iambenzino’ page a year ago. Then the last 2 months someone else pops up with ‘@iambenzino.’ They’re even clowning me on that page. All you mfs who came at me cause you thought it was me keep that same energy when I see [you],” tweeted Benzino.
He added, “I lost @iambenzino a year ago on IG. I lost 1.3 million followers. They must have shut my page down [and] then put the name back out there. I been reported that page months ago on [@benzinos_legendary] which they just shut down days ago @benzino. Scott is what I’m using now.”
“My legal team is about to go hammer time on anyone who has defamed my name and legacy. You [saw] the Tasha K situation right? Ok, watch this. Have fun now, pay later. Oh, yea and why would I laugh at Coi? She’s one [of] the best things that I am. I [am] very proud of her and her accomplishments,” wrote Benzino on Twitter.
The Museum of London is paying homage to the U.K. grime scene and its contributors in a new exhibition this summer.
Co-curated by one of the genre’s early documentarians, Roony “Risky Roadz Keefe, Grime Stories: From The Corner To The Mainstream honors the scene’s roots, originating on the street corners and housing estates of inner-city east London. The people and places central to the scene are also celebrated in the display, opening June 17.
We're delighted to announce that our new display Grime Stories: from the corner to the mainstream will be launching on 17th June!
The focal point of the exhibit is a series of films featuring icons of U.K. grime music including Jammer, Skepta, and DJ Slimzee. Another of the exhibition’s central features is a tribute to grime pioneer Jammer’s Leytonstone basement “The Dungeon,” the birthplace of U.K. battle platform Lord of the Mics.
U.K. Grime Legend Jammer Says “This One’s For The Culture”
Jammer revealed his anticipation ahead of the exhibition’s unveiling in June. “It’s official, Museum Of London we about to do the Mazza,” he said. “Just know it’s about to be mad, Big up my guy Risky Roadz let’s go. This one’s for the culture!! We really do this.”
Display co-producer Risky Roadz also spoke on the display. “Grime is a culture in itself and uniquely houses London’s attitude and DIY spirit. In two decades, it has given so much back, not only to the city, but to an international audience. Grime’s influence has changed music forever.”
The grime filmmaker continued, “This Museum of London display makes me feel proud to see grime’s legacy acknowledged.” He added, “Knowing how far the scene has come and how essential it is to London’s culture. Grime continues to push boundaries and Grime Stories: from the corner to the mainstream will bring its history and pioneering work to a whole new audience.”
Grime Stories: From The Corner To The Mainstream is free to members of the public, opening on June 17. The museum opens seven days a week (10 am – 5 pm).
Reports of an alleged shooting at DaBaby’s North Carolina home began circulating on Wednesday evening (Apr. 13) detailing an incident that is said to have occurred at 7:45 p.m.
The Troutman Police Department in North Carolina issued a press statement although they did not mention DaBaby by name.
“Officers arrived on the scene where they found one subject suffering from a non-life threatening gunshot wound,” the press release stated. “The subject was transported by Iredell County EMS to a medical facility for treatment.”
“Due to the ongoing nature of this investigation, no information as to the names of those involved or the circumstances can be released at this time,” it continued. “This is an isolated incident and there is no threat to the community at large.”
While the Troutman Police declined to name names, local news platform Iredell Firewire360 claimed to have further details.
“A call came into Iredell County 911 reporting that a subject had been shot on the property of rapper Jonathan ‘DaBaby’ Kirk,” they stated. According to their report, the shooting took place “near the football field on the property.”
They further claim the person who was injured was said to have “trespassed onto the property,” and was receiving medical attention for a “non-life-threatening wound to the lower extremity.”
They also give details about the “very tense 911 call,” with the caller refusing to secure his weapon when instructed to do so for fear of further intruders. The identity of the shooter and the victim remains unconfirmed, DaBaby is yet to comment.
Jack Harlow is a big Eminem fan, calling his fellow white rapper one of his biggest musical influences. He is not here for the new generation’s disrespect towards the Detroit legend.
“These days [he’s] underrated,” Harlow told Pitchfork. “Eminem catching a lot of slander from the new generation. I think they don’t have the context of what he was, truly an icon. When I was nine through 13, that’s really who I wanted to be.”
Jack Harlow Says: “I Don’t Like The New Slander”
He continued, “I used to watch 8 Mile, and I would watch the scene of them in the warehouse and just get off. Like that movie and the freestyles at the end, I knew the lyrics to all of them. I love Eminem, and I don’t like the new slander. I don’t like that it’s the new wave to slander him.”
“We didn’t get to meet, but we had a phone call that meant the world to me,” he told Billboard. “I haven’t shared it with the world yet, but I can’t wait until the world hears it. He gave me a lot of props that any artist would love to get.”
Jack Harlow continued: “Sometimes, the best gem is just somebody you admire, letting you know who you think you are. He let me know, ‘You’re that. You’re dope.’ I’ve waited a decade to hear that. So it was special.”
Meanwhile earlier this week, Jack Harlow gave his fans some details about his upcoming album. He revealed the name of the project, out on May 6, and shared the cover art via Instagram.
“Come Home The Kids Miss You,” he wrote, announcing the title. “Official artwork. Album available on May 6th. New single “First Class” this Friday 😮💨”
Future has been teasing his fans with hints about his upcoming album for some time, name-dropping features, and suggesting the album is on the way.
Now the wait is over as Future confirmed his new album will drop later this month on April 29.
King Pluto took to Instagram with the announcement on Wednesday (Apr. 13), revealing the date of the as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2020’s High Off Life. “Date 4.29 title TBA,” Future wrote.
Then, just a few days later, Further dropped some more info about the album though he gave some specifics this time. He confirmed some of the features on the album, including Kanye West, FKA Twigs, and Babyface Ray.
“Ye on my album fasho,” he wrote. “BABYFACE RAY on my album.” He also confirmed that he tapped producer Wheezy to work on the FKA Twigs feature. “Sum special if @wheezyouttahere put a beat around these FKAtwigs VOCALS,” he wrote.
Future’s last full-length project was released in May 2020. High Off Life went to number one and features Travis Scott, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Young Thug, Lil Uzi Vert, Drake, Lil Durk, Meek Mill, Doe Boy, DaBaby, and Lil Baby.
Maino was blasted online after describing his “disobedient slave” getting “whooped by master” bedroom fantasy which he now claims was just a joke.
During an episode of Angela Yee’s Lip Service podcast that dropped on Tuesday (Apr. 12) the Brooklyn rapper discussed his bedroom behavior. When he admitted to liking role play “with white women,” Angela seemed surprised.
He continued, “I like to be like a runaway slave. I like to play like a disobedient slave with a white woman.” The shocked hosts then pressed him for more details, questioning who would engage in the fantasy with him.
“It’s two of them,” Maino explained further. “It’s like me getting whooped, right? Most of them don’t want to play like that, they say ‘This n***a’s nuts.’ It’s like, ‘Listen, you’re going to act like you’re master’s wife, and I just got whooped by master for eyeballing you. But the whole time, you’ve been really, you know, you liked it. You’ve been eyeballing me.’ It’s some freaky s###.”
He then added even more explicit detail to the scenario, receiving a mixed response from the hosts. When asked how he would react if called “the n-word,” he responded, “See this is where it goes deep,” he said. “I’ll probably be canceled after this,” he added before revealing the second scenario. “Nobody’s ever did it,” he said. “The other fantasy is that they whopping me and they calling me a n#####.”
Maino Says “It Never Happened”
However, after being widely criticized, Maino later clarified his remarks which he says were all in jest. “Y’all n##### can’t take a joke?” he asked during a video taken and posted by Jim Jones. “It never happened!” he said as the pair descended into laughter.
