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Lil Nas X Claps Back At Reporter Who Called Him An Untalented “Little Fool”

By: London Jennn Updated Category: News
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Lil Nas X fired back at a reporter who questioned the “decency” of his Grammy night attire. 

Greg Kelly, a reporter for cable TV channel Newsmax TV, took to Twitter on Monday night (Apr. 4) with a warning for the country. “‘Lil NAS has a BIG PROBLEM (And so does America)—-knock yourself out NAS,” the reporter penned. “You’re a little FOOL with zero talent!!!!” 

Lil Nas X characteristically responded to Kelly. “Damn greg,” he wrote. “All i did was wear a crop top this time 😭😭” 

Kelly, who refers to himself as an “Anti-Fake News Conservative Phenomenon” in his Twitter bio felt the need to clarify his earlier tweet.  

“It’s not the shirt NAS—it was the PUBLIC LEWDNESS,” he advised Lil Nas X. “You know there are LAWS about that in certain “jurisdictions”—but then again you were in VEGAS so who the hell knows. Bottom line: SING AND DANCE but no public self GROPING. DECENCY!” 

The “Industry Baby” artist’s response was a curt one. “Apologies,” he wrote. “Have a great night.” 

However, Kelly was not done and continued to reply. “I didn’t like the performance. That shouldn’t have been on prime time television. BUT, I can’t deny you have real talent,” Kelly conceded. “And it’s not nice to Call anyone a fool!,” he added, although he just called Lil Nas X exactly that. “You called me out in a “good natured” way. NP. Good luck, continued success, just tone it down a notch Next year !” 

Nonetheless, Lil Nas X, who wore a whopping seven theatrical Balmain fits during the Grammys, remains comfortable in his style, retweeting a fan’s post celebrating his fashion sense.  

Lil Nas X Promises To Go “Even Harder”

“Last night was my favorite performance yet,” Lil Nas said of his Grammy night set. “We lost all our grammies but that just mean it’s time to go even harder! love y’all. ♥️”  

Earlier on Monday, Lil Nas X playfully trolled the organization with a freestyle “crying” about his lack of awards despite five nominations this year.  

https://twitter.com/Saunburner/status/1510855154173685761?s=20&t=YTo3zO6uOCCAtZKeRWqyWA

The Game Dropping Eminem Diss Song According To Wack 100: “The Black Slim Shady Is Coming”

By: London Jennn Updated Category: News
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The Game “is coming for Eminem” on his next single, according to his manager Wack 100, who says the Compton rapper has a diss song ready to drop on the Detroit rap legend. 

“This n-gga finna start another fire,” Wack 100 said of The Game during a recent Clubhouse conversation. “We starting a fire. The Black Slim Shady is coming. [Eminem] better be ready because this n-gga done went crazy … If [Eminem] responded to Machine Gun Kelly and Nick Cannon, boy… it is what it is.” 

He continued and pointed out how disrespectful Em gets on a track, questioning how far he would go with The Game.  

“That n-gga Em is a disrespectful n-gga, man,” he added. “He disrespected his own momma, n-gga! S###, he disrespected himself. That n-gga talked about killing his baby momma, putting her in the trunk, f##### my own momma … If he ain’t mind doing that to himself, ain’t no limits to where he gonna go with another muthafucka.” 

Wack 100 says a showdown between the disrespectful pair would be ground-breaking. He also revealed that Game has a response ready for when Em fires back.  

“You got two crafty n-ggas, two disrespectful, two rappin’-ass n-ggas, two creative n-ggas … [Eminem] better get to whippin’ it up because one thing about Game, he already got a response because the first one gonna f### the world up.” Watch the clip below.

Wack 100 On The Game Versus Eminem

The Game began his campaign against Slim Shady during an appearance on Drink Champs last month. 

“Eminem, Eminem is Eminem,” he told N.O.R.E and DJ Effen. “I like Eminem, he’s one of the f###### good emcees, great emcees. I used to think Eminem was better than me. He not. He not. He’s not. Ay, challenge it. It’s not drama!… Swizz [Beatz] and Timbaland know that it’s bigger than Verzuz. I’m not saying I want smoke with Eminem, I’m saying I want smoke with Eminem, him, and him, whoever.”  

Days after the show aired, he doubled down on his remarks. “Is Eminem better than me? Nah he’s not, bro,” he declared. “Let’s rap,” The Game added, calling him out. An online backlash ensued, with many challenging his claims.  

However, The Game said the only thing Em has over him is record sales, but only because of his industry ties. 

“For those of you who don’t know how major record companies do business: it’s a machine designed to work for the artists who PLAY NICE in m####’s house,” he wrote in one tweet. “I was TOO REAL, TOO UNAPOLOGETICALLY BLACK & cut the puppet strings early on in my career n decided to rebel.”  

While Wack 100 kept tight-lipped on when the track will drop, The Game is busy working on his upcoming album, Drillmatic. 

Nicki Minaj Shares Sweet Message Congratulating Doja Cat For Grammy Win

By: London Jennn Updated Category: News
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Nicki Minaj showed love to fellow female artist Doja Cat after she secured her first Grammy win on Sunday night (Apr. 3). 

Doja Cat collected the Grammy for Best Pop Duo or Group Performance along with SZA for their song, “Kiss Me More.” She was overjoyed with the win and broke down during an emotional acceptance speech. 

She began crying and was almost rendered speechless but managed to squeeze out a few words in between tears. “I like to downplay a lot of s###, but this is a big deal,” Doja Cat told the audience. “Damn… thank you, everybody. Be safe.” 

Among the congratulatory messages was one from female rap icon, her “Say So” (Remix) collaborator, Nicki Minaj. She took to her Instagram Stories to share the sweet congratulatory message she sent to Doja Cat. “Congratulations on your Grammy mama. You really really really really really really really fkng deserve it [pink bow emoji].” 

Doja Wants To Work With Nicki Again

Nicki also shared a clip of Doja Cat being interviewed on the red carpet by Entertainment Tonight. When asked who is on her bucket list to work with, the Planet Her hitmaker responded, “Who do I wanna work with? Well, everybody knows it’s Nicki, it’s all the time,” she said. “It’s Nicki.” 

Though the pair have already worked together on the Billboard No. 1 “Say So” (remix) Doja Cat asked Nicki Minaj to appear on “Get Into It (Yuh).” However, the “Barbie Tingz” rapper turned down the offer as she wasn’t feeling the song. “I didn’t love that song because I didn’t think I could bring anything to it,” she revealed last year. “So I asked them to send me something else, I think that was the second song they sent me. But I asked them to send me something else and they didn’t send me anything else,” she added.  

As the pair seem keen to work together, it’s only a matter of time before fans get another offering from them. In the meantime, the Barbz and the Kittens can replay the “Say So” remix to their heart’s content. Listen to it below. 

Doja Cat – Say So ft. Nicki Minaj

 

Trae Tha Truth Tracks Down Elderly Woman After Armed Attack Outside Her Home

By: London Jennn Updated Category: News
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Trae Tha Truth made a public appeal to find an elder woman who was robbed in an armed attack. 

Dubbed Houston’s Hometown Hero, Trae Tha Truth has a history of fighting for social justice in his community. When he saw a video of an unidentified woman being attacked, he sprang into action using his platform to track down the woman.  

In the clip, an elder woman is seen walking on a path approaching a property when an armed gunman jumps out of a car alongside her. He runs up to her, and she immediately throws everything she has in her arms at him in surrender and begins pleading with him. He then grabs on to her while she tells him she has no money, directing him to her discarded items on the floor, including her purse. The attacker gathers her belongings before running back into the car and speeding off.  

Trae shared the video with a request for his followers to put him in touch with the woman.  

“Maan… This S### Aint Cool At All, Women And Kids Dont Go…. What if this was one Of Our Momma Or Grandma,” Trae question in the caption. “Real Ones Cant Cosign This… Yall Get Me Her Info…… This Aint The Code At All….. Yall Get Me To Her…” 

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Trae Tha Truth Goes Looking For The Woman

Then, Trae shared a video of himself explaining the situation to the camera, denouncing the actions of the man in the video.”Nothing about that is street. How we came up, you don’t touch women, you don’t touch kids.” Trae said. “You don’t prey on the weak, that’s not how we move,” he added. 

He said he would be going to visit the woman to “let her know she ain’t alone and there’s real ones that’s gone stand here for her,” and other vulnerable people.  

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Ultimately, Trae ThaTruth located the woman, sharing a photo of the pair together on Instagram. “I Made It To Her,” he penned. “I Made Sure She know That Real Ones Dont Stand By Or Approve What Happen To Her…. And Also Blessed Her… 🙏🏿💙 Protect Our Own…. I Told Her She Should Create Her Own personal Go fund because a lot of people want to help her…” 

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50 Cent Clowns Starz Over Female Content Strategy

By: Kershaw St. Jawnson Updated Category: News
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No one is off-limits to the fire when 50 Cent feels like blasting people on social media. 

He got smoke for artists, executives, friends, family members, workers, and even the network where he has made a career as a filmmaker.

A perfect example can be seen in a recent post on Instagram.

The Queens native and Houston resident wrote in his caption, “This is STARZ and its premium women’s mandate. Falling flat on its face and acting like they don’t see it’s not working. #bransoncognac #lecheminduroi.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb6uYEwuJB6/

50 is talking about a 2019 mandate the network put into play to include more women in the programming. When Starz’s Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Hirsch announced the new direction, he said he wanted to target women 24 to 54, believing the fanbase was “more loyal.”

Hirsch said, “We’ve done a lot of research around that and figured out that women are twice as likely to buy apps that are under $10; they’re more loyal; their lifetime value on a digital side is much longer.”

“Whether we were smart enough to figure that out or we backed into it, we’ve seen it and are now leaning into it in a big way,” Hirsch continued.

One of the moves the network touted three years ago to the Hollywood reporter was Mary J. Blige’s casting in “Power Book II: Ghost.” They said they wanted to be “female-centric” without competing with other networks like Lifetime.

The “Get Rich or Die Tryin” rapper is probably cracking up since his original “Power” Universe continues to drive amazing viewership numbers for Starz. 

In February, “Power Book IV: Force” was the most-watched premiere in Starz history, raking in 3.3 million viewers in the United States alone. Fif broke his record to top it all off. 

Before “Force,” season 2’s finale of “Power Book II: Ghost” was the most-watched show in Starz’s history.

Donald Trump Never Pardoned James Rosemond, Feds Claim

By: Justin Ivey Updated Category: Exclusives
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James Rosemond a.k.a. Jimmy Henchman won’t be getting out of prison if the U.S. Attorney’s Office gets its wish.

According to court documents obtained by AllHipHop, the feds say Donald Trump never pardoned the incarcerated music executive. James Rosemond contends the former president granted him clemency by simply mentioning it, but prosecutors dismiss his claims.

“The former President’s statements were not publicly communicated,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a court filing. “A verbal commutation made to two liaisons of the Petitioner and unidentified individuals present with the President cannot be considered ‘public’ for the purposes of commutation, nor is it otherwise a reliable indicator of the President’s intent.”

Prosecutors added, The Petitioner asserts without analysis that the ‘verbal commutation’ by former President Trump was a public statement, but the nature of the communication and the three identified participants on the call make clear that the ‘verbal commutation’ was not public. Under the Petitioner’s own allegations, Mr. James Brown and Mrs. Monique Brown were on the phone with former President Trump and ‘people in the room with him [former President Trump]’ during the alleged commutation. However, even if this statement was made to limited members of former President Trump’s staff along with the Browns, this is not sufficient to make this ‘verbal commutation’ public.”

James and Monique Brown signed affidavits saying Donald Trump proclaimed he’d commute James Rosemond’s sentence in December 2020. But the former president never sent a record of commutation for Jimmy Henchman before leaving office in January 2021.

According to James Rosemond and his legal team, Donald Trump’s pardon became legally binding once the ex-president shared his intentions with others. The U.S. Attorney’s Office rejects this argument.

“If the Petitioner’s position that a commutation need only be made to one person were correct, then any convicted individual could claim he or she had a one-on-one conversation with the President wherein clemency was granted, and courts would be required to evaluate those facts,” the feds noted.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office insists Donald Trump’s words were too vague to justifiably warrant clemency. The feds believe the former president never clarified the extent of any pardon for James Rosemond, who’s serving multiple life sentences.

“’I want to do this’ and ‘Let’s get this guy home for Christmas’ have no legal effect and do not convey with any specificity or clarity that the President intended to grant clemency to Petitioner,” prosecutors declared. “The statements are not only ambiguous but also do not direct any person or entity, including the Bureau of Prisons, to take any action whatsoever.”

The feds continued, “Petitioner is currently serving eight (8) consecutive life sentences for numerous convictions in two separate Federal criminal cases. Again, the alleged statements by the former President do not specify which sentence(s) was to be commuted; how the sentence(s) was to be commuted, i.e., to time served or to a set number of years to be served; and/or whether any terms or conditions were to be placed on the grant of clemency.”

James Rosemond remains behind bars for running for a drug trafficking organization and ordering the murder of 50 Cent associate Lowell Fletcher. The U.S. Attorney’s Office asked the court to dismiss his petition for a writ of habeas corpus and keep him imprisoned.

Cardi B Wins Again As Judge Forces Tasha K To Delete Defamatory Posts

By: Justin Ivey Updated Category: News
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Tasha K must delete all of her YouTube and social media posts that defame Cardi B.

According to TMZ, a judge granted Cardi B’s request for an injunction forcing Tasha K to remove all of the defamatory posts. The judge gave the vlogger five days to complete the task.

Earlier this year, a Georgia jury awarded $4 million to Cardi B in her lawsuit against Tasha K. The Billboard chart-topping rapper sued the vlogger for defamation, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

“After almost four years of repeated libel and slander against me, being able to walk away from this victorious brings me great happiness,” Cardi B said in January. “I appreciate Judge Ray for conducting a fair and impartial trial. I am grateful for the jury and their careful deliberation over the past two weeks.”

Tasha K, whose real name is Latasha Kebe, spread salacious allegations about Cardi B online. The accusations included claims about the Atlantic Records artist being involved in prostitution and having herpes.

Although a judge ordered Tasha K to delete her defamatory posts, she could repost all of the accusations if she wins her appeal. The vlogger and her legal team appealed the defamation lawsuit in March.

Bliss Nightclub Apologizes For Showcasing Goonew’s Body At Party

By: Justin Ivey Updated Category: News
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A Washington, D.C. nightclub issued an apology for hosting a party involving the corpse of the late Goonew.

The deceased rapper’s lifeless body was propped up for an unusual viewing at the Bliss Nightclub on Sunday (April 3). The venue apologized for its role in the shocking display after footage of the event circulated on social media.

“Our deepest condolences to Goonew’s family, friends and fans,” the nightclub wrote in a statement. “Bliss was contacted by a local funeral home to rent out our venue for Goonew’s home-going celebration. Bliss was never made aware of what would transpire. We sincerely apologize to all those who may be upset or offended. Please keep Goonew’s family and friends in your prayers at this difficult time.”

Goonew, whose real name was Markelle Morrow, was shot and killed on March 18. He was 24.

Prince George’s County police found him suffering from a gunshot wound in District Heights, Maryland. Authorities transported him to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Police are still investigating the deadly shooting that claimed Goonew’s life. Authorities have offered a $25,000 reward to anyone who can provide information that will lead to an arrest or conviction.

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Kanye West Bails On Coachella 2022

By: Justin Ivey Updated Category: News
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Kanye West won’t be performing at the 2022 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

According to multiple reports, Kanye West pulled out of the festival less than two weeks before it begins. Coachella booked the diamond-selling rapper to be one of this year’s headliners.

A source told CNN the outspoken artist didn’t want to perform amid his divorce battle with Kim Kardashian. Last month, a petition called for Kanye West’s removal from the Coachella lineup.

The online petition was launched in response to Kanye West’s harassment of his ex-wife and her boyfriend Pete Davidson. It generated almost 50,000 signatures as of Monday (April 4).

Earlier this year, Kanye West threatened to drop out of the 2022 Coachella Festival if Billie Eilish didn’t apologize to Travis Scott. The G.O.O.D. Music founder believed Billie Eilish dissed Travis Scott at a concert in wake of the Astroworld tragedy.

“COME ON BILLIE WE LOVE YOU PLEASE APOLOGIZE TO TRAV AND TO THE FAMILIES OF THE PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES NO ONE INTENDED THIS TO HAPPEN,” ‘Ye wrote on Instagram. “TRAV DIDN’T HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING WHEN HE WAS ON STAGE AND WAS VERY HURT BY WHAT HAPPENED. “AND YES TRAV WILL BE WITH ME AT COACHELLA BUT NOW I NEED BILLIE TO APOLOGIZE BEFORE I PERFORM.”

The 2022 Coachella Festival kicks off on April 15. Billie Eilish and Harry Styles are the remaining headliners following Kanye West’s exit.

Denzel Washington Says “Prayer” Only Solution To Will Smith/Chris Rock Slap Controversy

By: AllHipHop Staff Updated Category: News
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Denzel Washington and Tyler Perry prayed with Will Smith at the Academy Awards after he slapped Chris Rock.

During the 2022 Oscars, Smith got up on stage and slapped Rock after he made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith. Shortly after, video footage taken inside the Dolby Theatre showed the actor deep in discussion with Washington and Perry. 

When he accepted his Best Actor Oscar, he told the audience that Denzel Washington warned him: “At your highest moment, be careful. That’s when the devil comes for you.”

Denzel Washington broke his silence about the controversy during an onstage discussion at Bishop T.D. Jakes’ International Leadership Summit on Saturday.

“Well, there’s a saying when the devil ignores you, then you know you’re doing something wrong,” Denzel Washington said in a video of the talk posted on Jakes’ Twitter account. “You know, the devil goes, ‘Oh, no, leave him alone, he’s my favorite. Don’t bother him.’ Conversely, when the devil comes at you, maybe it’s because you’re trying to do something right. And for whatever reason, the devil got a hold of that circumstance that night.”

Directly addressing what happened in the aftermath of the slap, he added, “Fortunately, there were people there, not just me, but others in the gap (commercial break). Tyler Perry came right immediately, right over there with me. Some prayers. I don’t wanna say what we talked about. There but for the grace of God go any of us. Who are we to condemn? I don’t know all the ins and outs of this situation, but I know the only solution was prayer.”

Will Smith apologized for his “inexcusable and unacceptable” behavior after the incident and resigned as a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Friday.

Kanye West Rep Blasts “False Narrative” Being Fed To Media By Kardashians About His Mental Health

By: Kershaw St. Jawnson Updated Category: News
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Hollywood Unlocked’s Jason Lee is disputing the claims his friend Kanye West told Kim Kardashian he was “going away to get help.”

Lee, who is now the head of media and partnerships in Ye’s massive enterprise, told Yahoo! News that those reports are “simply not true.”

“Ye monitors all headlines pertaining to him and his family daily,” he said. “Most all are being fed to media by ‘sources close to the Kardashians,’ which have been creating a false narrative that not only is untrue but further compromises his goal of creating a healthy environment for the beautiful children he shares with Kim.”

As reported by AllHipHop.com, sources close to the Kardashians shared the “DONDA” chart-topper said he was going to go away to someplace to get support to help center some of this outlandish behavior.

The rep “For the sake of the kids, Kanye has told Kim he’s not making any public appearances or inflammatory social media statements, and he will go away somewhere to get better.”

Now that his spokesperson has said the claims are not true, many wonder what his wellness vision for himself is.

Lee offers that instead of paying a lot of attention to drama, “He’s been focused on taking care of himself, being a present and loving father and a creative genius well before all the false headlines we’ve seen as recent.”

The media executive said the best thing for fans and the media is to get it from the horse’s mouth.

“If you don’t hear it from his mouth, read it from his social media, or get it from a press release he approved it’s simply false.”

Over the weekend, Kimye was back in effect in their co-parenting roles, cheering for their son Saint at his game in Los Angeles.

Ralfy The Plug- ‘Pastor Ralfy 2’ Deluxe

By: AllHipHop Staff Updated Category: Music
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Following in the footsteps of his brother the late, great Hip Hop star Drakeo the Ruler, Ralfy The Plug is rapidly establishing his presence in Hip Hop while laying the foundation for a career that will be nothing short of amazing.

Boasting several successful albums and singles that rival the most prominent Hip Hop artists, the California native’s ascendancy to the pinnacle of the Hip Hop movement is a literal movie in the making.

Along with notable high-end collaborations, charting hit records, and countless streams globally, Ralfy The Plug, is inarguably one of the greatest new success stories in Hip Hop.

In the span of just a few short years, Ralfy The Plug is becoming a global music phenomenon whose popularity continues to rise.

Ralfy’s ‘Pastor Ralfy 2’ reflects key moments of vulnerability paired with his familiar bravado that speaks authentically to his lyrical aptitude and opulent drip.

Take a listen below.

SZA Crutches And Wheelchair At Grammys Explained – “Bony Ankles” To Blame

By: AllHipHop Staff Updated Category: News
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SZA was on crutches at the 2022 Grammy Awards on Sunday because she injured her ankle shortly before the ceremony.

The hitmaker managed to pose for photos on the red carpet at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas without assistance on Sunday. 

However, SZA needed to use crutches as she walked to the stage to collect the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance Grammy for “Kiss Me More,” her collaboration with Doja Cat.

SZA later explained to reporters in the press room. 

“It’s very funny because I fell out of bed right before it was time to like leave and get ready for this, like the day before. Everything awesome in my life has also come with something very random,” SZA revealed. 

The 32-year-old didn’t explain exactly what injury she sustained in the fall at the event, but she later shared a close-up photo of her right ankle wrapped in a bandage on Instagram. 

In the caption, she wrote, “Thank u @dojacat for having me on this song n letting me to whatever I wanted ! Eff my weak ass bony ankles lol.”

The series of snaps show her and Doja posing with their awards as well as Lil Nas X pushing her around in a wheelchair outside the venue. On her Stories, SZA wrote, “Done w press straight to the doctor” with a crying emoji.

Footage from the broadcast showed Lady Gaga helping SZA with the train of her dress as she tried to get up the steps to accept the award. 

As SZA made it to the microphone, Doja rushed from the bathroom straight onto the stage and joked, “I have never taken such a fast p### in my whole life” before rearranging her dress.

Red Bull Batalla’s Yartzi & Reverse Discuss 2022 Freestyle Competition

By: Chuck Creekmur (@ChuckCreekmur) Updated Category: Features
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Red Bull Batalla is back. Last year, Reverse took the championship stateside and the year before, the winner was Yartzi. Both men are fierce competitors that have their sights on winning again in 2022. However, their hopes and dreams extend beyond the illustrious competition. An international affair, Batalla represents the single most important Spanish-language freestyle battle.

Last year, US Red Bull Batalla hit an apex when 16 freestyle of the Latino Hip-Hop diaspora, from all over the nation, duked it out lyrically. Reverse ( @reverse_tcr ), an Orlando, Floridian of Cuban descent, emerged victoriously. He went on to Chilé to compete in the international finals. Yartzi (@yartzirial) is a 2x Red Bull Batalla Champion that is no slouch on the freestyle side.

Both men talk to Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur to explain how this year’s competition can be the best yet. For more, head over to the official Red Bull Batalla site.

AllHipHop: So how do each of you feel about going back into this, really competitive, lyrical battlefield again?

Reverse: It’s always, every year is a different challenge, different places, different faces, different strategies, different circumstances. So it’s always a new, a new challenge. It’s always a new platform for us to get better. For us to try new things. So it’s always a new experience. I’m always looking forward to it. Battling is something that’s in our blood. We always have that competitive spirit and we’re always looking forward to that challenge. So I think personally for me, I’m just waiting for the moment, for this year in Batalla or out of Batalla, but this is going to be a year of a lot of battles, a lot of motivation, and hopefully, we can get a few wins this year.

Yartzi: For me this year is trying to show the best version of me that I have ever shown. I think the last year I could show kind of that version, but I wasn’t able to show it to the maximum. My goal for this season if you want to call it like that, is to get the next level, the light that I know that I’m ready to get, and show it to people because I know I have it, but I haven’t shown it yet.

AllHipHop: How competitive are you guys? Each of you has won this battle and it seems like you’re cool and everything, but how fierce is your rivalry? If there is one.

Yartzi: Between us?

AllHipHop: Yeah.

Yartzi: I mean…

Reverse: I don’t have none.

Yartzi: It’s a normal rivalry. If there’s with anybody else, anybody else that’s in front of us, it’s like that. I think the rivalry is more of the followers that have like established the rivalry more than even us. But that’s also a good narrative. People like that and people tend to make up the rivalries they want. And they enjoy it because people make up rivalries that are classics to them that are worth it to them. So it’s a good thing. It’s a good thing they see us that way and it also gives a great narrative for the years to come because it’s never good to, at least in my case, it’s never good to always be the favorite one. We always want to have someone that can also get our level that can give us that fight, that’s fighting too for the championship and has the same mentality and the same strength…

Reverse: Same mentality.

Yartzi: The same hunger to win. And it’s always cool. At least personally, I don’t think at least on my side and he also says that his side is the same. We don’t have a rivalry, but if it comes down to that and the people make it that way, then I’m up for it.

Yartzi

Reverse:
I just let people do whatever they want to think about bottles. I don’t decide that I should get up there. My mentality is more about competing against myself. I try to be my best rival. And then there’s other guys that are really good. And when there’s two guys good people are always going to compare, people are always going to just put them together and do that game, but that’s a part of the show. That’s a real thing, that’s a fact.

AllHipHop: Cool, cool. What can predict differently this year in 2022?

Reverse: I think the biggest distance is that there is going to be regional tournaments, which makes everybody that wants to qualify to the national have to win in their own city. You can’t directly classify. That makes a whole difference because that means that yes can get in, for example, but he has to go to a regional tournament and get the place in the national tournament. So that means he has to battle two times. I think that can affect most people, a lot of people that the years before got in the national tournament, just cause they send in a good video, now have to send a good and win the regional tournament to get to the national. So I think that’s going to level up the national competition since the best of each state are going to go for real cause they’re going to win, they’re real too.

Yartzi: Yeah. And also on another perspective, every year the competition gets better because every year the competitors get more experience. Every year they come in with more experience, with more motivation, with different goals, and different strategies. And if the ball keeps rolling, they’re going to keep getting better and better. And hopefully every year the competition is tougher. It’s tougher and we start seeing new faces. We start seeing new levels and hopefully, in the years to come, it’s going to just go up.

AllHipHop: Yeah. Speaking of that, this is obviously a global challenge. It is globally unified through the language. You’re both in Florida, so how difficult is it to take that spirit to the international community? Are there any unique challenges there?

Reverse: There’s a bit of the world. I think you have to think it in a way, winning someone there it’s winning another guy that won all the guys in its country. That’s a big thing.

There’s no bad people in the international. If someone do bad, they probably not bad they just had a bad moment but that’s that. That’s how it is. And I think me and him, we both got to the same place.

Yartzi: Quarterfinal.

Reverse: Quarterfinals. And I think we both have the same sensation as I have heard him talk that, there’s a luck to get in a good position because he went against the champion in 2019, then 2020 was COVID and I was there under a surgical treatment that made me, unable to breathe. I was taking steroids before I went to the stage.

So I think my reason to want to win again this year is trying to go in my perfect condition and my best shape of, and be like “Okay, so this is what I’m capable of.” I think we both have that sensation in international terms.

Yartzi: Yeah. And also in the US scene, I think it’s one of the scenes where the participants go into the competition with the most motivation. Because it’s different in the other places, in the other countries where Batalla is already something that’s established that has a lot of years. And there’s also a lot of competitions weekly in all these countries that keep the participants fresh, keep them like having different opportunities. And since this is the thing that’s basically new in the US, maybe we don’t have like the same opportunities as much as people in other countries.

So the mindset of Latin freestylers living in the US is, well, you get a chance you have to take it or leave it. There’s a pressure that you have to go and do your best and take advantage of it. So over here, the freestylers are conscious of that. And every time they get an opportunity, they go out and give their 200%.

AllHipHop: How did your lives change, if at all, when you became the US champs. Are you local celebs? Are you international celebrities? I’m just curious if the perception around you changed or actual change.

Reverse

Reverse: In my case it did it, it did. It changed my life. First of all, my family never took me seriously with music or anything. Winning the national tournament made them see it another way. My local friends, I live in a town. It’s after I won that, especially after I came back from Chile (everybody noticed). Yeah, it has been different. People see you differently, everybody from my old school they know what I do. They try to contact me back. It does change. But at the same time, it was a set for me. It was like “Okay, so now this is how it should be.” Because I was looking for it. So it’s not in a bad way for me.

Yartzi: Yeah. Red Bull is the most mainstream, like Batalla is the most mainstream competition. So it’s the one that gives you the most exposure. It’s the one that has the most ways to get some real promo on your back. So to let people over there, know what you do. Also when you win in Batalla, it also gives you a chance to become a part of like the Red Bull family overall. And that changes a lot of things because Red Bull has a way to how they say “Give you wings.” That actually is true because once you’re in the family, any idea you have, you present it to them, they follow it up. They help you come through with those ideas. So in that way, it does change your life. The exposure changes your life, the winning it changes your life.

Yartzi: Once you win, it gives you a lot of different opportunities to keep working on what you love. Like anything that’s music wise, things that have to do with Batalla, things that go around it. And yeah it’s a big opportunity. And what comes after it is pretty big.

AllHipHop: Are you preparing anything differently this year?

Yartzi: I haven’t started to prepare yet. In a career sense, not so much in a free style shape sense, be ready for changes and having my music ready, having my dates ready, all of that. But once the competition starts to come close, of course, I think this year, the difference that I’m going to take it more professional. I want to prepare more for it since last year I went to it, but I went with no much faith because I, as I told you, I wasn’t in good health, but this year I am. So I will take my fullest to it and try to get it the title two times.

Reverse: Oh there is only so much you can do. The normal thing to prepare is just train and try to freeze out, do some formats, to keep your mind quick. That’s something that always comes in handy and helps you prepare. That’s something that’s easy for us. But I think for me, the most important thing is I get staying ready mentally, going there and being in the best shape I can.

AllHipHop: Do you get unlimited Red Bull to drink?

Reverse: Yeah we do. We do like every second we need a Red Bull, we can have a Red Bull.

Photos: Aldo Chacon / Red Bull Content Pool

Trevor Noah Clowns Will Smith During Grammys Monologue

By: AllHipHop Staff Updated Category: News
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Grammys host Trevor Noah made a joke about Will Smith’s controversial Oscars slap as he opened the ceremony on Sunday.

At the Academy Awards on March 27th, the “King Richard” actor slapped presenter Chris Rock on stage after making a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, and once he returned to his seat, he yelled at Chris to keep his wife’s name out of his mouth.

A week later, talk show host Trevor took to the stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas to host the Grammys and reference the moment dominating the headlines.

“Don’t even think of this as an award show,” he said. “It’s a concert where we are giving out awards, we will be listening to music, dancing, sing, keeping people’s names out of our mouths, and we are going to give people awards all throughout the night. So let’s get straight into it.”

The controversial slap occurred just before Chris presented the Best Documentary Feature prize to “Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised),” directed by The Roots’ Questlove.

The musician addressed the slap and his Oscar win as he presented the Song of the Year Grammy, saying, “All right, I am going to present this award, and I trust that you people will stay 500 feet away from me. As they say, it is far better to give than to receive. Well, I’m not so sure about that because last Sunday it felt pretty good to receive.”

On Friday, Will resigned as a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which organizes the Oscars. 

Academy officials are reviewing the incident and considering taking disciplinary action against the Best Actor winner.

Kanye West And Jay-Z Ties For Rapper With The Most Grammy Wins

By: Kershaw St. Jawnson Updated Category: News
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Kanye West and Jay-Z are tied with the same number of awards after their collaboration, “Jail,” won a Grammy. 

Despite being dis-invited to the ceremony, Ye still came out big with two wins at the Grammys on Sunday. The first win was for “Jail,” a track that appears on the 2021 hit album DONDA.

The song was up for the “Best Rap Song” at the ceremony, going up against other artists nominated in the category like DMX (“Bath Salts”), Saweetie (“Best Friend”), Baby Keem (“Family Ties”), and J. Cole (“My Life”).

Yeezy also won “Best Melodic Rap Performance” for “Hurricane” with The Weeknd and Lil Baby.

Ye and Jay-Z are tied with the same number of Grammy wins, boasting 24 trophies apiece.

Jay-Z can boast of having the greatest number of nominations. He has been nominated 83 times over his career as a rapper and songwriter.

Kanye has been nominated 75 times as an artist, songwriter, and producer. Also, Kanye has won awards in multiple genres, including the gospel/ Christian contemporary categories.

Many artists have boycotted the Grammys this year because some felt slighted, but others believe the Recording Academy fronted on Ye when they rescinded an invitation for him to attend and perform. 

Organizers blamed his erratic behavior.

Dame Dash spoke about it recently and said, Kanye doesn’t care about the Grammys and neither should we. As a culture, Dash said we should “make our own.”

“I’m not trying to fail in somebody else’s system. So, we just create our own, so we ain’t gotta worry about nobody else’s rules,” Damon Dash said.

The Roc-A-Fella founder asked, “What’s the purpose of the money if you gotta worry about people’s rules (as long as you ain’t breaking no laws).”

“It’s not for them to judge who’s ‘hot.’ It’s for us,” Dash stated.

With this recent win, Jay-Z and Kanye both can claim the title of the rapper with the most Grammy wins, even if they never attend the award ceremony again. 

Eminem is third at a distant 15 wins, and then Kendrick Lamar is in fourth place with 14 wins.

LL Cool J Taps Ice Cube, Lil Kim & More For Rock The Bells Festival 2022

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: News
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James “LL Cool J” Smith has announced a new live music experience for his hometown. The Queens, New York native will bring some illustrious Hip Hop talent to his Rock The Bells Festival later this year.

Rock The Bells Festival will feature performances by LL Cool J featuring DJ Z-Trip, Ice Cube, Lil Kim, Rick Ross, Cam’ron, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, Fat Joe, Remy Ma, Jadakiss, Scarface, Trina, N.O.R.E, and Digable Planets. More acts will be revealed at a later date.

Forest Hills Stadium in Queens is set to host Rock The Bells Festival 2022 on Saturday, August 6. The legendary Roxanne Shante will serve as the day-long event’s host. DJ Mister Cee and DJ Scratch will also be at the show.

LL Cool J is widely considered one of the greatest rappers of all time. Albums like 1987’s Bigger and Deffer, 1990’s Mama Said Knock You Out, and 2000’s G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) established the Rock The Bells Festival founder as a multi-generational music star.

After jumping into the acting world with television shows such as In the House and NCIS as well as movies such as Any Given Sunday and Deliver Us from Eva, LL Cool J began racking up lifetime achievement accolades. In 2016, LL Cool received a coveted star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.

The following year, LL Cool J became the first Hip Hop artist to be named a Kennedy Center Honors recipient. Additionally, Dr. Dre inducted the entertainer also known as Ladies Love Cool James into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the 2021 ceremony.

Goonew’s Dead Body Propped Up In Club For Final Party

By: Houston Williams Updated Category: Rumors
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Rapper Goonew died last month. We covered his death and we covered his life. Our last interview he said that he is just a regular person who likes to get money off rap. But I beg to differ.

Despite his death, Goonew is now making news again. The celebration of life was like no other. When I saw this video I couldn’t believe what my eyes were looking at. In fact it took me a few moments to register exactly what was going on.

I looked at the visuals. I saw a man standing with skinny jeans on and fresh kicks. But he wasn’t moving. He looked almost as if he was about to get on stage and perform. He just looked over the crowd.

But then, I started to hear the music that was being sung. And then I read some of the comments. And then I realized it was Marilyn Rapper Goonew, who had been murdered late last month. Well, they decided to have a celebration of life for him in club bliss, the infamous club bliss.

As you can imagine, this went viral. I have seen it in numerous posts, including Joe Clair, the former host of Rap City.

Check it out.

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This is creepy!

I have so many thoughts, but I want to know yours! What do you think about this sort of “funeral”? Is it appropriate or just some heathen ritual for clout?

Damon Dash Says Cam’ron Was Shot Over ‘Paid In Full’ Role!

By: Niki Gatewood (@THE_NikiG) Updated Category: Rumors
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What happens when there is no clear distinction from art imitating life? Sometimes the ramifications can become dire. Recently, Damon Dash says that Cam’ron was shot over his role in Paid in Full.

Not long ago, the established entrepreneur visits the All The Smoke podcast. Immediately, he chops it up with hosts Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes. As, the conversing continues, the subject eventually lands on Cam’ron.

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To date, Dame has had a definite hand in helping to cultivate some of Hip-Hop’s biggest stars. The historic ascent of Roc-A-Fella records will forever work to bolster his longevity. During his time with The Roc, he was able to embrace a fruitful foray into the art of Film.

Be that as it may, Paid in Full quickly becomes a cult classic. Of course, the innate hustler goes on to make several more lucrative films. However, the intrinsic magnetism of Paid in Full is like nothing else.

As a matter of fact, Cam’Ron’s beautifully twisted portrayal of Rico is uncanny. Furthermore, his character was loosely based upon the life of Alpo Martinez. Somehow, Damon Dash recognized that Killa Kam would be perfect for it.

Perhaps, this transformation into Alpo was too much for the public. “Cam went through a lot, you know he got shot over that role in Washington,” reveals the record exec. Soon, he expounds upon his insight.

“Yeah, that was over that. He’s never told his story, but there was times I hadn’t really realized what happened I was asking him to do another role once and he was like ‘yo bro I got shot over that role,’ the creative confirms.

Ultimately, Mr. Fresh To Death offers more of his point-of-view. “There was a certain scene where he was like ‘I don’t wanna do that scene.’ So when I found out I felt a little responsible and I didn’t wanna put anybody in that position again. Cause people take this story really serious.

Key Glock Drops “Grammys” Music Video

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: News
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Tennessee rapper Markeyvius “Key Glock” Cathey let loose an aptly-time music video for his song “Grammys.” The visuals for the Yellow Tape 2 (Deluxe) track arrived the same weekend as the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.

Key Glock’s new mini-movie reflects on his earlier life at his grandmother’s house in South Memphis. The Nick Mays-directed video displays Markeyvius as a young child and as a teenager.

“Grammys” is the latest single off the Yellow Tape 2 releases. The standard version of the 2021 project also hosts the songs “Something Bout Me,” “Channel 5,” and “Play For Keeps.”

Yellow Tape 2 joined a Key Glock catalog that also includes other full-length projects such as Whole Lotta Errthang, Glock Season, Glock Bond, Glockoma, and Yellow Tape. The Paper Route Empire rhymer also often collaborated with the late Young Dolph.

Key Glock and Young Dolph united for 2019’s Dum and Dummer and 2021’s Dum and Dummer 2. Dolph (born Adolph Thornton Jr.) was killed in November of last year. In January, Glock paid tribute to his cousin/mentor with a tribute song titled “Proud.”

After the passing of Young Dolph, Key Glock is now preparing to head out on his first solo headlining tour. The “SiriusXM Hip Hop Nation Presents: The Yellow Tape Tour” kicks off tonight (April 4) with a sold-out show in Atlanta, Georgia.