Kanye West once again took over social media last night with his “Donda Experience Performance” in Miami. The live concert served as a global listening session for the Hip Hop superstar’s Donda 2.
Fans of Ye can now listen to Donda 2 exclusively on the billionaire mogul’s new Stem Player streaming device. According to West, the album will not be available on DSPs such as Apple Music and Spotify.
The Stem Player is on sale for $200 at kanyewest.com and stemplayer.com. In addition to being able to play Kanye West’s Donda 2, Stem Player also allows users to customize any song.
Yeezy Tech Stem Player
Plus, the device includes vocal controls, beat samples, real-time loop, speed control, the ability to save, playback and download mixes, and more. The front of the Stem Player has four-touch sensitive “light sliders” that control the vocals, drums, bass, and samples.
Other features include Bluetooth support, a 97db speaker, a headphone jack, a USB-C power and data port, and 8GB of storage. Stem Player is a collaboration between Kanye West’s Yeezy Tech and the Kano electronics company.
Kanye West tapped Atlanta rapper Future to executive produce Donda 2. The Game, Pusha T, Migos, Jack Harlow, Fivio Foreign, Alicia Keys, Playboy Carti, DaBaby, and Marilyn Manson made appearances on the “Donda Experience Performance” livestream.
Ozwald Boateng returned to London Fashion Week after a 12-year hiatus with a stunning display of Black British talent.
Idris Elba stole the show, sauntering down the runway for the grand finale wearing a dapper black suit. Earlier in the week, he hinted at leaving acting for a full-time music career. However, after this most recent display, he may want to add modeling to his new plans.
The show is being dubbed as the ultimate celebration of Black British excellence, with many talented artists and musicians also donning Ozwald Boateng designs down the runway. Musicians Dizzee Rascal, Goldie, PA Salieu, Kojey Radical and Unknown T, rapper and filmmaker Rapman, and Top Boy actor Nicholas Pinnock were among the famous models.
Ozwald Boateng incorporated traditional African prints into his colorful designs adorning the models while they stalked the runway to an eclectic soundtrack. Speakers blasted a mixture of Afrobeats and classic hip hop and soul during the show. A musical highlight was the gospel choir’s rendition of Soul II Soul’s classic, “Back To Life (However Do You Want Me).”
The show paid homage to modern British African changemakers, which was important for Ozwald Boateng to highlight. The first Black tailor to set up shop on Savile Row spoke to the Evening Standard about the progression in the industry.
“I did my first catwalk show in 1994, but I’ve been designing since the early Eighties, and the transformation is interesting,” Boateng said. “When I grew up in the Eighties, being black was not easy. You know, I’d get chased down the street.”
However, he says things have changed since then. “There are more people of color in the industry now then I have ever known before. I was always the only Black person in the room, for decades, and I’ve been to I don’t know how many events — like the Fashion Awards. Now it’s a wholly different experience. It’s actually quite mind boggling for me, and also exciting and great to see how the business has shifted and changed.”
Both Dr. Dre and Eminem experienced huge chart jumps thanks to their headlining performances at the Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show. That February 13 showcase caused fans to revisit the two rappers’ music catalog.
Dr. Dre’s “The Next Episode” featuring Snoop Dogg off the 2001 album returned to Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart this week. The collaboration from 1999 climbed back to #37 on the latest rankings.
Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” soared to #40 on the most recent Hot 100. The Academy Award-winning single originally arrived on 2002’s 8 Mile: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture.
“The Next Episode” peaked at #23 on the Hot 100 in July 2000. “Lose Yourself” spent twelve weeks at #1 in 2002 and 2003. It also won Grammy Awards for Best Male Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Song.
Dr. Dre’s 1992 studio LP, The Chronic, also re-entered the Billboard 200 at #91. Eminem currently has four projects charting on the Billboard 200 (Curtain Call: The Hits – #8, Music To Be Murdered By – #100, Recovery – #160, and The Eminem Show – #177).
Wendy Williams has spoken out to deny she authorized anyone to speak on her behalf regarding the ending of her talk show.
The Wendy Williams Show distributor Debmar-Mercury confirmed on Tuesday (Feb. 22) that the show will come to an end after 14 seasons. Sherri Shepherd, one of the show’s guest hosts during Wendy’s absence, will debut her new show, “Sherri” in the fall.
However, Wendy Williams denies giving her rep, Howard Bergman, permission to speak on her behalf.
Wendy Williams Speaks
“Mr. Bragman although I appreciate your concerns and respect you immensely,” she began via her new Instagram page. “I have not authorized you to make any statements on my behalf regarding my current status with Debmar Mercury. Again thanks for your continuing concern and support.”
Bergman has now issued a statement of his own, questioning whether Wendy Williams actually wrote the Instagram message.
“I’m not honestly convinced of the source of that social media post,” Bergman told PEOPLE. “So when my old friend Wendy FaceTimes me personally and we alone have a chance to discuss recent events, together we can figure out the best path forward.”
Wendy was objecting to Bergman’s prior statement to PEOPLE, given earlier on Tuesday.
“It’s been a challenging time for Wendy as she deals with her health issues. She is incredibly grateful to Debmar-Mercury, to Sherri and everybody else who has supported the show through this time,” Bragman said in Tuesday’s statement. He also said Wendy understands “you can’t go to the marketplace and sell a show that’s the ‘Maybe Wendy Show.’”
Bergman also confirmed Debmar-Mercury “assured” Wendy Williams that “she would be back on TV,” if she returns to good health.
Meanwhile, during Tuesday’s episode of The Wendy Williams Show, Sherri Shepherd paid tribute to the original host as she announced her new venture.
Sherri Shepherd praises Wendy Williams while announcing her new talk show coming in September pic.twitter.com/OIgv6K2iDP
First, Lil Durk dropped “AHHH HA,” on Tuesday and appeared to aim some bars at Youngboy and his ex-girlfriend.
“N##### actin’ like they really like that since my brodie died (Von) / Just got out the feds, you bring up murders with your police ass,” raps Durk. This could refer to NBA YoungBoy, who was released from prison in October.
It is also speculated that the line, “I told Von to leave that b#### alone, she post on OnlyFans,” is a shot at Jania Meshell, YoungBoy’s ex-girlfriend, who was romantically tied to King Von.
Lil Durk – “AHHH HA”
Later on Tuesday, NBA YoungBoy responded with a diss song of his own. He released “I Hate Youngboy,” which includes bars aimed at Durk, his fiancée India, Gucci Mane, King Von, and other artists and industry players.
NBA Youngboy done dissed on this one song… Lil Durk, India (durk gf), Durk dad, King Von, 21 Savage, Gucci Mane, Boosie, Apple, Youtube Streamers, Chinese Kitty, The Whole Industry … wow..
NBA YoungBoy name-drops King Von’s alleged murderer Quando Rondo and Lil Durk’s fiancée, India. He also raps about O Bock in Southside Chicago.
‘Quando got no filter, and he say that, they gon’ f### with ‘em/ Clean up on aisle O, youngin let that chop blow/ Ayy, my brother let that stick blow, n#### know that’s my smoke/ He called me a b####, that’s India, that be your ho,” Youngboy raps at the beginning of the song, name-dropping King Von’s alleged murderer Quando Rondo, O block in Southside Chicago, and Durk’s fiancée, India.
“Used to f### with Gucci ‘til I seen he like them p#### n#####,” is directed at Gucci Mane, and the ending of the song see YoungBoy aim for a variety of people and brands.
“Feel like Boosie don’t even like me, b####, don’t call my phone (F### you)/ Tell Apple I said, “F### ‘em,” they promote his song (Say, ten, f### you)/They be hatin’ on Tim and Quando, they act like they wrong (F### you)/ YouTube streamers, they be dick-ridin’, don’t react no more (F### you)/ You f### with them, don’t f### with me and that’s just how that go,” YoungBoy raps to close out the song.
Ye was joined by a host of performers to deliver the DONDA 2 Experience at LoanDepot park in Miami. However, not everything went off without a hitch.
The stage was set, and the visuals looked spectacular. Kanye and his performers rocked a set with the now-familiar house at the center and the new addition of a flooded stage. The first half of the DONDA 2 show seemed to go according to plan, but the second was another story. The audio issues affecting the latter half of the show were so bad, Kanye threw his mic away at one point!
Like other Kanye West listening events, Ye did not perform on all the songs. Instead, he danced around the stage as a backing track delivered the verses. When Ye performed “Hurricane,” from the first DONDA project, he picked up a mic and began rapping along to his verse. However, for some reason, he kept losing his place on the track. While some suggested a problem with Kanye’s in-ear monitor, others said he simply forgot the lyrics.
During his performance of “Jail” with Marilyn Manson and DaBaby, the issues got so bad, Ye threw away his microphone in frustration. He then spent the remainder of the DONDA 2 show mic-less.
only the n#### kanye could throw a malfunctioning mic amd still have it be on beat 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/iy5uauf47Z
Meanwhile, viewers took to Twitter to roast Yeezy and the DONDA 2 sound team, with many joking the sound team is about to be fired! Watch the show and check out the reactions below.
Kanye West delivered the highly anticipated DONDA 2 to a packed stadium in Miami on Tuesday night (Feb. 22).
Watch The DONDA 2 Listening Experience
Yeezy performed DONDA 2 at LoanDepot Park with a host of guest features from the album. Accused rapist Marilyn Manson and the previously “cancelled” DaBaby returned to the stage alongside Ye after appearing at the first DONDA album listening event.
His appearance with Marilyn Manson on “Jail” caused controversy, with some Kanye West fans expressing their disappointment that Ye continues to work with the performers.
DONDA 2 Guest Appearances
Fivio Foreign and Alicia Keys joined Kanye to perform “City of Gods,” and Pusha T rocked the stage with Ye on “Diet Coke,” released earlier this month. Future, Travis Scott, 2 Chainz, Migos, Baby Keem, The Game Jack Harlow, and Playboi Carti were among the other DONDA 2 performers on the night.
Kanye West and his DONDA 2 guest performers were all kitted out in Ye’s favorite Balenciaga boots.
Kanye West got the BOOTS on deck & stage ready ahead of tonight’s Donda 2 experience 👀🔥👌🏽 Will y’all be watching? • 📹: thomasoles (IG), 📸: Getty Images pic.twitter.com/am6dzSwtjL
Despite the stunning visuals, the show was beset with audio issues. Fans complained that performers were out of sync with their backing tracks, among other problems.
Quavo leaked the DONDA 2 setlist earlier in the night via his Instagram Story, and interestingly DaBaby’s name was crossed out, although he did appear.
Kanye West opened the show with “True Love,” which included a posthumous verse from XXXTentacion. Vice President Kamala Harris also made a surprise feature as Ye reportedly sampled her infamous “We did it, Joe,” sample.
He also sampled his estranged wife Kim Kardashian’s Saturday Night Live monologue. She was heard saying, “I married the best rapper of all time/Not only that, he’s the richest Black man in America/A talented, legit genius who gave me four incredible kids,” on one DONDA 2 track.
In addition to the hate crime, they mean also faced “one count of interference of Arbery’s civil rights, plus attempted kidnapping. The McMichaels were also charged with using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.”
Prosecutors also presented racist messages from the defendants.
They looked at Travis McMichael and his propensity to use inflammatory and racialized language that put whites against Blacks.
Trae Tha Truth vents about his struggle to see his daughter on the new single “Hope It Don’t Change You.”
The Othello Beats-produced track features Trae Tha Truth expressing frustration over the custody of his child. He worries about missing out on quality time with his 2-year-old daughter but wants to make sure she knows he loves her.
“All I know is me and you, we got a different bond/Getting calls from different people trying to keep me calm/They know how I feel about you and it hurt/Deep inside I gotta make it work, you my baby girl,” he raps.
According to Trae Tha Truth, he hasn’t been allowed to see his daughter in over four months. The veteran rapper says he’s flown to Los Angeles to visit her as part of a court-ordered custody schedule, yet his plane rides from Houston are all for naught.
“I believe the courts are designed to side with the mother, and it’s unfortunate because a father’s bond is just as important,” he said in a press release. “Above everything else, being a father comes before everything to me and I’ll continue to fight to be in my daughter’s life just as I am active in my son’s life.”
Listen to Trae Tha Truth’s “Hope It Don’t Change You” below.
Wendy Williams says she didn’t approve any statements issued on her behalf about Sherri Shepherd taking over her talk show.
Howard Bragman, a rep for Wendy Williams, provided a diplomatic statement to multiple outlets running stories about her talk show ending. But his client publicly refuted his words, suggesting she’s not so gracious about Debmar-Mercury replacing her with Sherri Shepherd.
“Mr. Bragman although I appreciate your concerns and respect you immensely I have not authorized you to make any statements on my behalf regarding my current status with Debmar Mercury,” Wendy Williams wrote on her Instagram Stories. “Again thanks for your continuing concern and support.”
Wendy Williams set the record straight after articles described her as being “grateful” to Debmar-Mercury, which produces and distributes her talk show.
“It’s been a challenging time for Wendy as she deals with her health issues,” Bragman said in his press statement. “She is incredibly grateful to Debmar-Mercury, to Sherri and everybody else who has supported the show through this time.”
He continued, “She, more than anyone, understands the reality of syndicated television — you can’t go to the marketplace and sell a show that’s the ‘Maybe Wendy Show.’ She understands why this decision was made from a business point of view, and she has been assured by Debmar-Mercury that should her health get to a point where she can host again and should her desire be that she hosts again that she would be back on TV at that time.”
Wendy Williams last taped her show in July 2021. Health issues have prevented her from hosting the show since it returned this past fall.
Debmar-Mercury decided to end the show over Wendy Williams’ health-related absence. Sherri Shepherd, who filled in as a guest host, was selected to front a new show in the same timeslot.
“Since Wendy is still not available to host the show as she continues on her road to recovery, we believe it is best for our fans, stations and advertising partners to start making this transition now,” the company’s co-presidents Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein said. “We hope to be able to work with Wendy again in the future, and continue to wish her a speedy and full recovery.”
Snoop Dogg and Miley Cyrus have been tapped to front Gucci’s new Love Parade campaign.
Promoting creative director Alessandro Michele’s latest collection for the Italian luxury fashion houses, which was unveiled during a star-studded presentation staged on Hollywood Boulevard last November, the footage was captured by photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott.
The clip begins with the celebrities dancing and eating at a boisterous banquet within a Los Angeles restaurant, with The Velvet Underground’s “Venus in Furs” serving as the soundtrack.
Snoop is seen sitting at a table and posing in a mint green satin suit, accessorized with a white shirt and burgundy velvet neck bow. The rapper complemented the look with black glasses and a matching cowboy hat.
Elsewhere, Miley crowd surfs in a black lace bra with Gucci monogram, tights, and a white faux fur skirt, while Jared Leto is seen pouring sugar into his mouth while wearing a retro-style pale pink suit and white ruffled shirt.
In addition, the commercial features appearances from Beanie Feldstein, Deng Lun, Jungjae Lee, and Liu Wen.
Reflecting on the eclectic concept, Michele explained that he was inspired by the mythologies of Ancient Greece and Hollywood cinema.
“I thought about how my mother raised me as a devout worshipper of beauty. About the gift of dreaming, which I cannot go without. About the aura of cinema, which generates mythologies,” he commented. “The stars celebrate the ritual of the banquet, giving themselves to a liberating symposium that slides into the Dionysiac ritual of dancing.”
Megan Thee Stallion aired out 1501 Certified Entertainment owner Carl Crawford over her deal with his label.
Crawford irritated Hot Girl Meg by sharing an article about her dismissing a lawsuit against 1501 Certified. The former MLB outfielder declared, “Now tell em to run my bread dating all the way back from 2018,” in an Instagram post.
In response, Megan Thee Stallion clarified her legal battle with Crawford. Although one lawsuit was dismissed, she’s still suing 1501 Certified in a separate case.
According to Megan Thee Stallion, 1501 Certified has never paid her. She accused Crawford of being a bully.
“This dude never know wtf is going on with his business,” she wrote in a since-deleted Instagram post. “The case that Was dismissed against you was from when you wasn’t trying to let me drop music … you and 300 signed off and let me drop music so there is no case no more… we are most definitely STILL IN COURT and YOU STILL GETTING SUED BC YOU OWE ME MONEY!!! I AINT NEVER BEEN PAID FROM 1501 IN MY LIFE ! I make money bc im MEGAN THEE STALLION !”
She continued, “Grown ass men wanna bully me and eat off my name and paint me out as a villain online bc they know these bandwagon ass haters gone eat that s### up ! I dont even be saying s### to you lame ass n##### bc the TRUTH always comes out.”
Megan Thee Stallion calls out Carl Crawford/1501 for misrepresenting the status of their court battle. 🐎
“Wanna paint me out as a villain bc they know these bandwagon ass haters gone eat that up” pic.twitter.com/ErS7civKU2
Megan Thee Stallion also vented about Crawford on her Instagram Stories. She claimed he hasn’t done anything for her career in years.
“This mf got my accomplishments in that bio and ain’t contributed to s### SINCE 2018,” she wrote. “NOT STUDIO TIME, NOT A MUSIC VIDEO NOT A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT, s### not even a flight !!! But you trying to eat off me AND PICK WITH ME ONLINE.”
Megan Thee Stallion is signed to 1501 Certified and 300 Entertainment. She is managed by Roc Nation.
Law enforcement has apprehended one of the new suspects accused of gunning down critically acclaimed rapper Young Dolph.
According to WREG, Devin Burns has been arrested and locked up in the Shelby County Jail on several counts of aggravated assault and a count of theft of property.
Burns, 26, and Joshua Taylor, 26, were two new suspects connected to the death of the trap rapper. Both men, along with three other suspects, Justin Johnson, 23, Shundale Barnett, 27, and Cornelius Smith, 32, are key suspects in the highly publicized murder.
Police believe Barnett helped Justin Johnson, aka Straight Drop, escape to Indiana as U.S. Marshals attempted to haul him in for his alleged involvement in the November 17th, 2021 slaying of Young Dolph.
As for Burns, his charges have stacked up over the years.
On June 5th, 2021, he was charged after officers alleged that he stole a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee from Watkins Automotive. Burns’ fingerprints were found in the vehicle when cops picked it up on June 30th.
Police arrested him on four counts of aggravated assault from an incident on January 5th, 2022, at the Poise Salon and Five Star Taxes, where he threatened to kill everyone.
According to reports, two children, one five years old and the other 12, were inside the establishment when Burns fired off shots in the salon’s direction.
There is still no word on how Burns or Taylor are connected to the rapper’s November 2021 death.
Actor Kadeem Hardison might have seemed like the man as Dwayne Wayne on the hit television sitcom “A Different World,” but when Tupac Shakur appeared on the set, the rapper struck a nerve with the actor.
On the latest episode of the “Allison Interviews” podcast with host Allison Kugel, the entertainment journalist got a chance to talk to Hardison about his illustrious career.
One of the things that he revealed is that he was jealous of Tupac Shakur when he guest-starred on the show.
Pac’s role, Piccolo, on the HBCU-inspired show was a former love interest of Lena (played by his Baltimore bestie Jada Pinkett Smith). The 1993 episode was directed by Hardison and was called “Homey, Don’t Know Me.”
“It was fantastic. They had a seamless chemistry,” Kadeem Hardison marveled, noting how the two played off each other.
“How do you direct De Niro and Pacino? You just kind of stand back and let them go. You hope that the cameras are in focus,” Kadeem Hardison explained. “I didn’t really have to tell him much. I didn’t have to tell her hardly anything. It was a joy to watch. It was probably the easiest directing job,” he confessed.
He said that he had to “tweak” the fight scene, but once he called, “Action, the scene took on a life of its own.”
“It felt like a real brawl, and that was Pac. That was him going in, like, ‘I’m going to whoop this sucker.’ It was awesome to direct the two of them. They were good buds, and I kept asking her, ‘Is he going to show up? Because I have lots of rapper friends and I knew that [being on] time is not their friend? She said, ‘Yes, he’s coming. He’s on his way,'” he recalls.
Hardison told Kugel that Tupac Shakur was not just timely but a brilliant actor. Tupac Shakur was so talented that it left him a little jealous.
In a moment of sheer honesty, Kadeem Hardison said, “I always felt like I loved Tupac as a rapper, but I was jealous of him as an actor because I just thought he had such range.”
“He could touch places that I didn’t know if I could go. I just wanted to watch,” he continued. “But it wasn’t Macbeth, you know what I mean? He’s playing the neighborhood cat that comes in full of bravado to claim the girl he thinks is his. He was like, ‘Yeah, I can do that.’ (laugh). [Jada] was playing the girl who was trying to get away from that life.”
“There were no real notes for them … Everything they did was magic,” he concluded.
Allison Krugel’s interview with Kadeem Hardison covers his relationships with the entire cast of “A Different World”and what it was like to transition into a Disney actor, playing Zendaya’s dad, on the show “K.C. Undercover.”
His new show, an AMC television series, “Moonhaven,” takes place 100 years in the future in a utopian society set on a 500 square mile Garden of Eden built on the moon.
Queen Latifah has broken her silence about her “The Equalizer” co-star Chris Noth being fired from the show amid allegations of sexual assault.
Shortly after two women came forward with sexual assault claims against the “Sex and the City” star in December, CBS officials announced he had been dropped from the TV show, which is currently in its second season.
Addressing his dismissal for the first time on “People (The TV Show!), ” Latifah admitted that it’s a “delicate situation” and she wants “the right things to be done.”
“It’s still surreal. It is such a dicey, delicate situation that requires a great deal of respect,” she said. “That’s a personal thing that he’s going to have to deal with.
“Chris’ character’s obviously a big part of the show and it was amazing chemistry, amazing chemistry. And my feeling is justice has to prevail regardless. I just want the right things to be done, you know?”
The “Chicago” actress, who plays former CIA operative Robyn McCall on the show, added that the team is still trying to figure out “how we’re going to deal with” writing off Noth’s character, former CIA director William Bishop.
Noth denied the sexual assault allegations in a statement in December, calling them “categorically false.”
He added, “These stories could’ve been from 30 years ago or 30 days ago – no always means no – that is a line I did not cross… I don’t know for certain why they are surfacing now, but I do know this: I did not assault these women.”
Two further women have come forward with allegations about Noth following the initial story by The Hollywood Reporter.
Olu and WowGr8 will release their second Dreamville Records-backed album, Ghetto Gods, this Friday. The Atlanta-raised duo, collectively known as EarthGang, played a few tracks from the project for their Instagram followers.
One of those Ghetto Gods songs features Dreamville Records head honcho J. Cole. Fellow Dreamville artist, Spillage Village member, and Atlanta native J.I.D. appears on the posse cut as well.
“They only respect when you’re talking your s###. I ain’t really that n#### to toot his own horn, but today, look, I’m honking this b####. No more off-season. It’s capital B on my car season,” raps Cole on the collaboration.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CaQJHgSFPVE/
EarthGang, J. Cole, and J.I.D. previously worked together on Dreamville’s Revenge of the Dreamers III compilation. All four emcees contributed to “Down Bad and “1993.” Cole, Olu, and WowGr8 were also on the closing ROD3 track “Sacrifices.”
Throughout their respective careers, J.I.D. and EarthGang have created music together numerous times. For example, “Meditate” hit DSPs last September. Spillage Village also dropped the collaborative projects Bears Like This, Bears Like This Too, Bears Like This Too Much, and Spilligion.
EarthGang will release Ghetto Gods on February 25. The Hip Hop pair initiated this album era by dropping the singles “American Horror Story,” “All Eyes On Me,” and “Amen” featuring Musiq Soulchild. Atlanta rapper 2 Chainz narrated an official trailer for the project.
Is Cardi B a music superstar? Apparently, that was a debate taking place on Twitter yesterday. The Grammy-winning rapper decided to jump into the discussion as well.
According to The Shade Room, Cardi B responded to the online arguments about her star power by sharing text messages from what appears to be her agent. The dollar amounts in the now-deleted post had a lot of people commenting.
Cardi uploaded a screenshot of a conversation from November. The texter was checking to see if Cardi would be interested in doing possible show dates for $1,150,000 per gig. The Bronx native’s last message back simply read, “I guess.”
In the tweet’s caption, Cardi wrote, “Over [a million] a show [with] 1 album. BIG SUPERSTAR. Are you dumb? Waiting on my agent, got like 3 overseas, one for [$2 million].”
Invasion of Privacy is the first project by a female rapper to win the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. It also earned 3x-Platinum status from the RIAA and hosts the Diamond-certified singles “Bodak Yellow” and “I Like It” featuring Bad Bunny and J Balvin. Cardi is the only female rapper to have more than one Diamond song.
After The Shade Room re-posted Cardi B’s tweet about her possible $1 million bookings on Instagram, the29-year-old Being Mary Jane, Hustlers, and F9 actress commented on the IG page, “If anybody [is] lost this was about [a] lil Twitter debate lol.”
Ever since EarthGang emerged on the music scene in the early 2010s, fans and pundits compared the duo to the legendary rap group known as OutKast. Many people viewed Olu and WowGr8 as the rightful successors to fellow Atlanta natives André 3000 and Big Boi.
This week saw the arrival of EarthGang’s new single “Amen” with R&B singer Musiq Soulchild. Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe spoke to Olu and WowGr8 about the song which took inspiration from a classic by UGK and OutKast.
“We watched the ‘International Player’s Anthem’ video before we started making this beat. Shoutout OutKast, UGK… it’s a total vibe, a total love for music and the energy,” said EarthGang.
EarthGang has stated that they listened to OutKast’s Big Boi and Andre 3000 while growing up in the Southwest Atlanta area. AllHipHop asked EarthGang about the Kast comparisons during a 2015 interview for the #ATLRiseUp series.
“Some people give that as a lazy comparison without going through the music. It’s two cats from Atlanta who really got some content, so we’re going to put them in the OutKast lane,” said Olu, aka Johnny Venus, at the time.
He added, “On the flip side of that, it’s still cool when your name is brought up – not on the same level – in relation to people that have done so many things. It’s motivating and ensures you’re on the right path. It’s not a glass ceiling. That’s not how I see it.”
While being founding members of the Spillage Village collective, EarthGang is also part of the Dreamville Records roster. Their 2019 album, Mirrorland, came out via J. Cole’s label. The former Hampton University students are now preparing to release Ghetto Gods on February 25.
“Essentially the concept is, there’s some god in all us, no matter what you believe it. You don’t have to be from a specific hood or area – it’s really about finding it in yourself from a young age,” EarthGang told Zane Lowe about Ghetto Gods.
EarthGang’s catalog already consists of 2013’s Shallow Graves for Toys and 2015’s Strays with Rabies. Plus, Spillage Village came together for multiple compilations. Olu and WowGr8 also contributed to Dreamville’s chart-topping Revenge of the Dreamers III.
Lil Durk became a top trending Twitter topic on Tuesday morning. Social media users were posting a lot of tweets about the Chicago-raised rhymer following an announcement about his upcoming project.
The Only The Family label boss shared the cover art for his 7220 album on Twitter. That tweet also included the date “March 11” which signifies the day fans will be able to hear the entire body of work.
Previously, Lil Durk teased that 7220 would drop today alongside Kanye “Ye” West’s Donda 2. Earlier this month Durk tweeted, “My album drop same day as YE 2/22/22.”
In addition to the reveal of the official release date and pre-order links for 7220, Lil Durk also premiered the music video for his “AHHH HA” single. The Jerry Production-directed visuals quickly jumped into the Top 5 music trends on YouTube.
7220 will arrive after Lil Durk’s Just Cause Y’all Waited 2 and The Voice came out in 2020. The Recording Industry Association of America has certified both of those projects as Gold (500,000 units sold).
Lil Durk earned another Gold plaque for his collaborative album, The Voice of the Heroes, with Lil Baby. That 2021 joint effort became Durk’s first #1 album on the Billboard 200 chart. The Voice of the Heroes opened with 150,000 first-week units.
Friends and family of Jamal Ewards, including Brenda Edwards and artists like Lady Leshurr, turned out in force on Monday evening (Feb. 21) for a candlelit vigil to honor him. They gathered around the mural paying homage to him in his hometown of Acton.
“From the ground up literally. From shooting classic freestyles in ends with me over 12 years ago. To digging into the tape I did with T.I in 2012 & so much more. Ain’t even no words to describe how kind. My heart goes out to ur family bro. RIP Jamal Edwards 💔🕊🌹”
A true pioneer. From the ground up literally. From shooting classic freestyles in ends with me over 12 years ago. To digging into the tape I did with T.I in 2012 & so much more. Ain’t even no words to describe how kind. My heart goes out to ur family bro. RIP Jamal Edwards 💔🕊🌹 pic.twitter.com/91QROgd7xY
While Hardi Caprio spoke about the multiple lives saved by the 31-year-old.
“Saving one life is something to be proud of. Saving multiple is something to be celebrated for. Here is a man who saved all of our lives whether you were watching his vids or an artist he gave opportunity. R.I.P Jamal Edwards. Those good deeds will always follow you.”
Saving one life is something to be proud of. Saving multiple is something to be celebrated for.
Here is a man who saved all of our lives whether you were watching his vids or an artist he gave opportunity.
YouTube also paid tribute to the founder of SBTV, which changed the game for rap music in the U.K.
“We’ve lost a legend today. Jamal Edwards was an inspiration to so many, supporting artists and shaping culture through @SBTVonline. Sending our condolences to Jamal’s family & community ❤️”
We’ve lost a legend today. Jamal Edwards was an inspiration to so many, supporting artists and shaping culture through @SBTVonline. Sending our condolences to Jamal’s family & community ❤️
Actor and director Femi Oyeniran told Channel 4 News struggled “to think of a more important Black British person,” than Jamal Edwards, noting how much he contributed to the careers of thousands of people.
"I'm struggling to think of a more important Black British person."
Actor and director Femi Oyeniran pays tribute to music entrepreneur Jamal Edwards, who has died at the age of 31. pic.twitter.com/y6Q18NGZ7l
Prince Charles also shared his condolences to the former Princes Trust ambassador via the official Clarence House Twitter account.
“Thinking of the family of Jamal Edwards today. His work in music but also as an ambassador for a new generation, including his work for The Prince’s Trust, were an inspiration to so many.”
Thinking of the family of Jamal Edwards today.
His work in music but also as an ambassador for a new generation, including his work for The Prince’s Trust, were an inspiration to so many. https://t.co/upNgux1mxU
Sir Richard Branson, who wrote the forward for Edwards’ 2013 book, “Self Belief: The Vision,” was also among those paying their respects.
“So sad to hear about the passing of Jamal Edwards MBE. What a loss of a truly extraordinary young man who made a huge difference to so many people’s lives.”
So sad to hear about the passing of Jamal Edwards MBE. What a loss of a truly extraordinary young man who made a huge difference to so many people’s lives.
