A little birdie told me there may be an epic Verzuz on deck: T.I. and Lil Wayne! YEP! That is exactly what I was told. Wouldn’t that be amazing? T.I. was looking for a Verzuz with a few people. They had him locked in with Jeezy and then they found a way to get Gucci on it. The Kang had to let that go. Then Tip basically made fun of Busta for wanting to Verzuz with him. Remember how hard Rick Ross laughed?
That sh#t was HEE-LAR-EE-US!!
Anyway, I was looking at the epic Three 6 Mafia and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Verzuz and out came Lil Wayne! That was pretty refreshing and unexpected. Three 6 was not playing NO GAMES! They did not seem to care about those Tupac and Biggie features! Anyway, a day or so later, I got the word that there’s a T.I. and Lil Wayne Verzuz on deck! How dope would that be? They are “even keeeeeeeled” in the words of Rick Ross! And I think it would be very competitive. There’s just one issue…
It ain’t happening! Before this could hit the rumor page, my people here at AllHipHop decided to check in with Tip’s people. Those folks shot this rumor down fast! They did say that they wished it was true. At some point, they are going to get somebody for Busta, Tip, Wayne, Missy and others deserving of a Verzuz! Verzuz was a big highlight of 2021!
IF T.I. and WEEZY battled…who do you think would win!?
P.S. I am still hearing stuff about Kim and Foxy…by the way.
Regardless of its style, age, or artist, exceptional music has one unifying and universal factor that transcends language barriers, cultures, and generations to speak to something in our very souls. And that elusive and mysterious factor is pure, unbridled emotion.
Artists need to channel their emotions to renew their talent and become prominent at some point in their careers––this is something that seasoned recording artist JXHN PVUL has been tackling. These past few years, commitment and heartfelt devotion are what you’ll discover at the crux of his artistry.
JXHN is a visionary, dream chaser, and zealous about utilizing his God-given abilities for the greater good. Because of this mantle of responsibility, he’s no stranger to the nuances of well-executed craftsmanship. While wearing many hats, it’s evident that he’s accomplished much more than most artists in the industry––at this pace, we expect more from him in the public eye, nationally, and worldwide.
If you’re tuned in at all to 50 Cent’s new TV show, BMF, then you’re probably familiar with Myles Truitt.
Based in Atlanta, the actor, producer, and philanthropist plays the standout role of B-Mickie, a main character who is vital to the overall story.
Not only does Myles play the third OG in Big Meech and Terry’s drug crew, but it’s his boldness in standing up for himself that causes friction amongst the Flenory family.
Myles describes himself as “wise and inspiring.” He states, “I’m just motivating, because I motivate myself a lot. I channel energy that I don’t really get back, so I want to reciprocate it back onto me.”
Growing up in Georgia, a young Truitt decided to try out theater and immediately felt at home on the stage, as he fine-tuned his skill sets for his fruitful career to follow.
After joining the Youth Ensemble of Atlanta, he was handpicked by casting director Robi Reed to play Little Ronnie DeVoe on BET’s The New Edition Story, showcasing his talents on the small screen to audiences all around the world.
Regardless, it’s his passion, work ethic, and intuitiveness that leads him to these highly-coveted roles.
Plus, fans can expect to see Myles in the new season of Stranger Things on Netflix.
AllHipHop: What was a young Myles like growing up in Atlanta?
Myles Truitt: I’m from the Eastside. I was doing theater as a kid. When I was 11 or 12 years old, I was going to different theater programs and camps. That’s when I was learning the basics and inner-workings of acting. Once I learned that I can make it a job and get paid for it, I continued and stayed consistent in it. Here I am.
AllHipHop: Who made you act? Were there people that you looked up to?
Myles Truitt: I can’t say I didn’t watch people as a kid, because as a kid, who wouldn’t? My mom was really the most inspiring person because she was the one that put me into acting and convinced me that “hey, your options are to go to work with your grandma this summer, or you can go to this theater camp.” I was like “ooh, I’ll go.” That’s when I learned to find out I loved it and enjoyed being there.
AllHipHop: Do you remember your first big break?
Myles Truitt: My first big break was The New Edition Story playing Ronnie DeVoe in the BET miniseries. 24 million views in 3 nights, their biggest TV show they ever put out. To be a part of it alongside legends filming and going through the process for the first time, that was one of my best experiences.
AllHipHop: Someone said you have one of the most iconic lines. What line is that?
Myles Truitt: “Love you to boo.” [laughs] I know exactly what they’re talking about.
AllHipHop: How was that whole experience on set? Was their pressure given it’s such a legendary group?
Myles Truitt: I wouldn’t say it was too much pressure for me because me growing up, going through the experiences, going through the process of performing on stage and being in front of large audiences, the filming process was different. Being in front of a camera provided a way more comfortable environment than performing in front of people LIVE. I honed in more on the acting aspect, learned and educated myself rather than being nervous in front of people and worrying about messing up. I could make mistakes in the film world, they could say “cut.” A director can come to me and give me some notes that I need to pick up on. But in theater, you only get one take. I went through theater for two to four years, going through stage process, doing different performances, and I only get one chance. So it was easier for me going to the film world and being in front of the camera, because I knew I had a more opportunities to get it right.
AllHipHop: How does it feel to be such a great series such as BMF? Shout out to 50 Cent, the GOAT.
Myles Truitt: Man, it’s amazing. I think it still hasn’t hit me yet. The fact that we’re going into season two, it’s amazing as well. I think that’s when it hit me: when we started filming and going through the process. I get to see everybody’s faces again after season one and the premiere that we just did, knowing that we’ll be back together. It’s an honor. It’s a classic. Kids 20 years from now, 30 years from now, are going to be able to look back and educate themselves on who these people are and what they did to gain the caliber and power that they did. People in the culture.
AllHipHop: You play the ruthless B-Mickie, how vital is your character to the show?
Myles Truitt: B-Mickie is the right-hand man, and the left-hand man when it comes to any situation or problem that needs to be handled. When it comes to Meech, Terry, and The 50 Boys, he’s insane, but then sane as well. He’s got the yin yang, that lover boy with that killer inside of him. Him keeping the world behind him, having that love secrecy with Kato and that character. Keeping that behind Meech’s back and him not knowing. On top of that, Lamar. It was fun being that character!
AllHipHop: How was the casting process? How did you end up in the role?
Myles Truitt: Man, I told my agents through the audition process in the past couple years that I want to be part of a project that is able to illustrate a true story that hasn’t been told yet. I got to read over the dialogue in the script and understand the characters, while learning their true backstories. This made me want to be a part of it even more. Once I got to filming it, being a part of the project, meeting Lil Meech and hearing Meech’s voice, meeting Terry and meeting all the real people that we’re going to be illustrating on film, I was educating myself even more through the process of it. It was cool. Rather than watching videos and reading different articles, I was just there. I went to Detroit. I went to the house, I was on the streets that they walked. I got that feeling, and I got to pour into it when it came to that camera.
AllHipHop: What is your relationship with Lil Meech? Before and after?
Myles Truitt: Lil Meech is a character, man, for sure. He’s very monotone but at the end of the day, he’s charismatic. Very genuine. Got that little sinister smile when he looks at ya, but he’s a cool cat. I have so much respect for him, because of how I saw him elevate through the process and so on. And not only that, I got to see him work through it. Him doing them 3 years of acting, then coming to this environment that was made for him and do it so precisely to a tee — a challenge for most, but he did it. Illustrating his father and imaging so perfectly, it was amazing to see. Shout out to that man right there.
AllHipHop: How did you prepare for the role?
Myles Truitt: I didn’t really know too much about BMF before I got the part. I was born in 2000. Really honestly, I feel like I should’ve been born in ‘94, ‘95. I got a real old spirit. When it came to the project, “oh well cool, I get to go back in time. Cool, let’s do it.” When I was reading over the dialogue and the script, I had to analyze and understand the trials and tribulations that they went through. Not only Meech and Terry, but the family. Their little sister, the mother, Monique. Just a lot of the characters, they had so many stories and dynamics that were chained to the story, that I had to understand and pour into B-Mickie’s character as well. His mom being sick, him coming back to us and giving people drugs, on top of that trying to balance his love with this other character that has this evil side to her, and he’s not even all mentally there. It’s a lot for an actor and a real person to maintain, hold in through the process and try to illustrate it perfectly. It’s a process for sure.
AllHipHop: The season finale just dropped, how does it feel to close out season one?
Myles Truitt: Man, like I told you it hasn’t hit me yet. It feels like we just got done filming and I’m waiting for the season to be over with, and that’s a good thing. It’s the fact that I’m hearing BMF, BMF, BMF so much in people’s mouths, and not just on screen. I’m hearing Black people saying BMF. It’s defining Black, Mafia, Family. My Black culture, my people. It’s just a start. To get some representation in the world, then to be seen and heard, it’s a start though. The fact that this man is able to tell his story from a jail cell, at the exact same time having a story being illustrated on camera, on film — a TV series at that, not a movie. At the same exact time that he’s incarcerated in jail, that’s crazy. No one else has done that, no one.
Any mafia person is either dead and they had to pick from different false sources, different true sources at that. But this man is on the phone talking to his son, saying “hey, this is what happened. This is what I did.” Terry from Detroit, talking to Da’Vinchi saying “this is what I did. This is what happened.” Talking to the writers in the writers room, saying “this is what happened.” The real people. There’s a TV series happening at the exact same real time that they’re telling it, and they’re alive till this day. It hasn’t happened yet. It hasn’t been done. The fact that I got to do this, man thank God.
AllHipHop: I love the positive reception, everyone’s saying you played your part so well. How does it feel to have everyone praise your talents in such a big moment?
Myles Truitt: It’s good. At the end of the day, I see what I do as an artform. A craft. I wouldn’t be satisfied at the end of the day, I wouldn’t have settled. The fact that you guys are saying you love what we did, I knew I was satisfied with what I put out. I didn’t settle, and that proves that. So thank you guys, I appreciate that.
AllHipHop: What are those convos with 50 Cent?
Myles Truitt: Man 50, he’s a quiet man. He has his cliques, you can’t blame him. He’s 50 Cent at the end of the day. But working with him, it was a pleasure. Down-to-earth man, knows what he wants. It was real cool to see how he was able to jump from the culture in the Hip Hop world, straight into the film and cinematic environment so easily and swiftly. And he’s a rapper, he had no formal film education before the music. The fact that he educated himself and he went from rapper to actor to executive producer and director in a matter of that timespan of years, props to him.
Working with him and seeing his face, dapping him up saying, “thank you man, it’s an honor. I appreciate you.” He told me, “I’ve been seeing you work, keep it up man.” I see him face to face every now and then, at the premieres and on set, but at the end of the day for me, it’s work. I don’t really build too many relationships, because it’s work. These are my co-workers! You feel me? That’s why I see them. When you build the relationship, you build ‘em there. It was a pleasure working with him. Down-to-earth man. So caring, so genuine.
AllHipHop: People want to know if you’re single. [laughs]
Myles Truitt: [laughs] Everybody asks if I’m single. If I say I’m single, people are gonna be in my DMs. You guys want me to say that so you can come in my DMs? ‘Cause then if I say I’m not, they’ll be like, “alright, well…” so here it is…I have a dog (smiles).
AllHipHop: One of your fan pages says you’re not single?
Myles Truitt: Oh, that’s what they know then. Which fan page? There’s so many fan pages. They crack me up. I love them. I’ve had fan pages since New Edition Story. They’re real loyal for sure.
AllHipHop: Talk about joining the cast of Stranger Things on Netflix.
Myles Truitt: Stranger Things comes out Summer of 2022 next year. I’ll be playing the role of Patrick, he’s a basketball all-star that will be a junior at Hawkins High. He’ll be befriending Lucas, which is the character portrayed by Caleb McLaughlin, one of my best friends. What’s crazy is we manifested this s### from New Edition Story, because he played Rickie Bell. He’s one of the first actors that I worked with. It’s full circle now I’m doing Stranger Things with him and we’re friends in the actual film. Summer 2022, hopefully you’ll enjoy it.
AllHipHop: What do you like to do when you’re not working?
Myles Truitt: Man, lots of self-reflection time. Meditation, go play basketball. I got a Y card so I go to the YMCA, shoot some hoops. Play the game. You gotta slow your motor down, your generator down to understand the process that you want to accomplish. I had to realize that you got to slow down and take a breath, at least step back to take a step forward. I spend that time just chillin’ out. ‘Cause when you working man, you filming and it’s all go, go, go, go. Slow the process down for sure.
AllHipHop: What is your favorite movie?
Myles Truitt: I like The Harder They Fall, that movie just came out. There has to be a part two, has to be! You see how she had her hat at the end? Did you peep? She saved Idris out the train, Regina King. Remember when she got hit with the bat, when they were fighting? She wasn’t dead. She wasn’t dead. You saw the hat and the cape. I loved it. Wowww, she didn’t die. I gotta be a part of that, that’s what I’m gonna tell my agents next.
AllHipHop: What are you most excited for next?
Myles Truitt: Stranger Things honestly, and season two of BMF. That’s my main priority right now. Of course I’m still auditioning. It’s all a process, but I’m getting there. Hopefully you guys stay tuned to my career and what I got going on next.
As 2021 comes to a close, music publications are starting to release their annual end-of-the-year lists. Billboard magazine also presented its year-end charts. Hip Hop megastar Drake found his name atop multiple tallies.
Drake came in at #1 on Billboard‘s 2021 Top Artists chart. The Canadian rapper/singer beat out Pop newcomer Olivia Rodrigo (#2), R&B veteran The Weeknd (#3), global superstar Taylor Swift (#4), and Country singer Morgan Wallen (#5).
Previously, Drake landed at #1 on the Top Artists chart in 2018. Not surprisingly,Billboard‘s Artist Of The Decade for the 2010s also made the Top 10 of the Top Artists in 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020.
In addition, the OVO Sound label leader took the #1 spot on the 2021 Top Rap Artists list. Drake was followed by Brooklyn’s Pop Smoke (#2), Atlanta’s Lil Baby (#3), Chicago’s Juice WRLD (#4), and Chicago’s Polo G (#5).
Billboard listed Drake at #1 on the Top Male Artists year-end chart as well. The outlet crowned Olivia Rodrigo as the Top Female Artist, Top New Artist, and Billboard Global 200 Artist for 2021.
Drake also sits atop the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artist, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Male Artist, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Artist, R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs Artists, Top Rap Artists, Hot Rap Songs Artists, Rap Streaming Songs Artists, Hot 100 Male Artists, and Billboard 200 Male Artists rankings.
Plus, OVO Sound ended the year at #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Imprints chart and Hot Rap Songs Imprints chart. Drake’s Toronto-based record company also reached #4 on the Hot 100 Imprints year-end chart.
Fellow Canadian The Weeknd finished in first place for Top R&B Artists and Top R&B Albums (After Hours). Doja Cat led the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Female Artists chart. Giveon led the Top New R&B/Hip-Hop Artists and Hot R&B Songs Artists charts.
“Leave The Door Open” by Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak) clinched the pole positions of the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot R&B Songs charts. “Mood” by 24kGoldn and Iann Dior concluded 2021 at #1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart.
Migos are #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Duo/Group Artists chart. Late emcee Juice WRLD is #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Artists and Top Rap Albums Artists charts.
Pop Smoke’s Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon is #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Top Rap Albums charts. The deceased Victor Victor Worldwide signee captured the No. 1 slot on the Rhythmic Artists chart as well.
Top Dawg Entertainment’s SZA is ending 2021 with another potential smash record. The St. Louis-born vocalist dropped “I Hate U” on December 3, and the song collected large streaming numbers on its first day of release.
“I Hate U” debuted atop Spotify’s Top 200 United States chart and Apple Music’s Top 100: USA chart. The new song racked up 1,615,102 first-day streams on Spotify.
As of press time, SZA’s latest single is still leading both streaming services’ daily charts. The officially released track collected an additional 1,436,995 Spotify streams on December 4.
In addition, SZA reuploaded “I Hate U” to her verified SoundCloud page last week. The song has amassed more than 402,000 streams and 32,000 likes on the platform since December 3. The YouTube version currently sits at 846,000 plays with the official lyric video sitting around 767,000 plays.
SZA also reached the Top 10 as a feature on Doja Cat’s “Kiss Me More” which peaked at #3 in July. That collaboration has spent over 30 weeks on the Hot 100 rankings and received three Grammy nominations (Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year, and Best Pop Duo/Performance).
Dwayne “Lil Wayne’ Carter’s name is once again connected to a news story about firearms. The Young Money boss was allegedly involved in a violent incident involving an assault rifle.
According to TMZ, a member of Lil Wayne’s security detail accused the rapper of pulling out an AR-15 during a heated dispute at Wayne’s Hidden Hills, California home. The argument supposedly stemmed from Lil Wayne accusing the guard of leaking photos to the press.
However, sources close to Lil Wayne reportedly claimed the situation never took place and the 39-year-old Funeral album creator does not have a gun. Police are still investigating the matter.
The outlet reports:
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ … one of the rapper’s guards told cops he and Wayne got into a fight at Weezy’s Hidden Hills, CA home, and cops say they were told the altercation escalated to physical violence and a brandished firearm. We’re told the guard claims Wayne told him to get outta the house after the initial dispute, but the guard went to the bathroom first and he claims that’s when Wayne dramatically escalated things.
TMZ
Apparently, law enforcement investigators are suspicious of the bodyguard’s account because he did not have any physical injuries from the alleged altercation. He also chose not to immediately press charges against Lil Wayne.
In October 2009, Lil Wayne pled guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon in New York. He was sentenced to one year behind bars. Wayne was released from the Rikers Island Correctional Facility in November 2010 after serving eight months.
Just had a great meeting with @realdonaldtrump@potus besides what he’s done so far with criminal reform, the platinum plan is going to give the community real ownership. He listened to what we had to say today and assured he will and can get it done. 🤙🏾 pic.twitter.com/Q9c5k1yMWf
Shawn Corey Carter celebrated his 52nd birthday on December 4. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, better known as Jay-Z, used the occasion to provide a gift to his fans.
On December 4, Jay-Z’s official Vevo page published several previously released music videos. In total, twelve vids from the Brooklyn native’s career were added to the channel.
“Holy Grail” featuring Justin Timberlake, “On To The Next One” featuring Swizz Beatz, and “Empire State Of Mind” featuring Alicia Keys were among the visuals added to YouTube. A live rendition of “Run This Town” is also available for viewing.
Jay-Z has not released a full-length solo studio album since 2017’s Platinum-certified 4:44. However, Hov partnered with Beyoncé for 2018’s Everything Is Love, and he heavily contributed to Jay Electronica’s Grammy-nominated A Written Testimony in 2020.
CORRECTION: The article’s original title read: “Jay-Z Adds Multiple Music Videos To His Official YouTube Channel.” Any references to YouTube were changed to Vevo because Jay-Z’s Roc Nation specifically structured a deal with the major label-owned video hosting service.
The 2021 holiday season has begun. Of course, music megastar Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is once again taking over the charts.
“All I Want for Christmas Is You” is currently back in the Hot 100’s Top 20. The classic 1994 tune is pulling in over 5 million daily global plays on Spotify as well. In total, the track amassed over 1 billion streams on the platform.
“I’m freaking out!!!! 1 billion!!! ❄️🎁🎄💝 These numbers are incredible, but the love I have for the #lambily is unquantifiable. Eternally grateful and blessed ❤️❤️❤️,” tweeted Mariah Carey on Sunday.
I'm freaking out!!!! 1 billion!!! ❄️🎁🎄💝 These numbers are incredible, but the love I have for the #lambily is unquantifiable. Eternally grateful and blessed ❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/Q4EZhDnmEV
“All I Want for Christmas Is You” originally came out on Mariah Carey’s Merry Christmas holiday album. The song’s popularity continued to grow over the three decades since its release.
On December 3, the Recording Industry Association of America certified “All I Want for Christmas is You” as Diamond (10 million units). The record is widely considered a Christmas standard.
Reality star/producer Stevie J is ready to tap Faith Evans’ pockets as they divorce.
According to leaked court documents, Stevie J wants Faith to pay him each month while blocking her from gaining any money from him.
The former Bad Boy Records staff producer turned “Love & Hip Hop” star is also demanding that Faith pay all of his legal bills as they divorce, according to court papers obtained by Radar.
The amount Faith might have to pay has not been determined yet, since Stevie is “unaware of the nature and extent of his separated property assets and debts.”
Faith and Stevie J were married in June of 2018. However, the pair separated, citing irreconcilable differences in October 2021 after a tumultuous marriage.
Faith was arrested in May of 2020 after being accused of attacking Stevie in their Los Angeles home.
Faith followed up by posting a video of her dancing for Stevie J in a black bikini.
Nevertheless, the most recent court documents show that the divorce is full steam ahead. The marriage/divorce is the first for Stevie J and the third time for Faith.
She was famously married to Christopher “The Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace and talent manager/music producer Todd Russaw.
Rapper Roddy Ricch is moving straight out of Compton and setting up camp in Beverly…Hills, that is…swimming pools…movie stars!
According to Yahoo! Life, Nipsey Hussle’s protégé, who sat atop the Billboard Hot 100 for 11 weeks in 2020 with the song, “The Box,” has just purchased a multi-million dollar home in one the swankiest neighborhoods in the nation.
It is reported that Roddy Ricch spent $5.6 million on the compound after making $20 million during the global pandemic.
At 23, the GRAMMY Award-winner is among one of the most successful artists in his field and rightfully enjoying the fruits of his labor.
The home was built in 1960 and takes up almost 3,500 square feet.
Modestly, his new home only has two bedrooms — but they ain’t like the one’s he might have grown up living in back in Compton. Instead, these bedrooms have spa-like bathrooms and bespoke closets.
One unique feature of the home is that it is decorated in muted tones of grey and white and has glass accordion doors in all of the rooms that open up to his new patio areas.
Recently, the artist took to social media to thank his fans for their support.
More than ever, he recognizes that they have placed him in a beautiful home on the same block that the late Rock & Roll legend Eddie Van Halen used to live on.
Rapper Jack Harlow was honored during Variety’s Hitmaker Brunch in Los Angeles yesterday (December 5th).
The Louisville, Kentucky rapper was named Hitmaker of Tomorrow for collaborating with Lil Nas X on their hit single “Industry Baby.”
Jack Harlow explained how reading “Harry Potter” when he was in the second grade made him the great rapper he is today.
During his acceptance speech, Jack Harlow said he entered into a competitive reading competition and trounced everyone in his school by reading Harry Potter books.
The second-grader was credited the most points for digging into the Harry Potter books.
“I want you to imagine this little second grader, buzz cut, eyeglasses, crooked teeth. Walking down the bleachers on stage to accept this trophy. And before today, that’s the only time in my life I’ve gotten up in front of a crowd and won an award…
“To be honest, all the ingredients were there. It was a competition and it brought out the competitor in me, which is a big part of the genre I’m in. All that reading is what made me the writer I am now, and I’m pretty sure it’s going to make me the ‘hitmaker maker of tomorrow’.”
The Hitmaker of Tomorrow Award is the latest accolade for the Grammy-nominated rapper.
“This year took a lot of mental strength for me just to even continue to keep pushing. My debut was such a high place. I reached such a high place so quickly. It was very scary to try to follow up and keep it going. I came out. I was myself. I did what I needed to do. I put effort into every single part of my career,” Lil Nas X told the crowd.
Polo G took home the Rising Star Award, although he was not present to accept his accolade since he missed his flight.
Instead, his mother, Stacia Mac, accepted the award.
Super producer Mike Dean was named Producer of the Year, while the City Girls were awarded the Future of Female award.
Celebrity photographer Kevin Wong hosted his first photo gallery in Miami inside the Rudolf Budja Gallery, presented by Rémy Martin, showing photos of artists like Drake, The Weeknd, Adele, Kanye West, Chris Brown, and more. Since his first shoot with The Game, Kevin has earned the loyalty and respect of some of the biggest names in music, who constantly welcome him in both their personal moments and public ones.
That’s not something that every photographer can say. It takes a certain level of trust for celebrities to open up in front of a camera and somehow, Kevin Wong has been able to achieve that.
An art exhibit during Miami Art Basel is definitely next level for Kevin, so AllHipHop caught up with him to see how it all went down.
If you’re at a party in Los Angeles, chances are you’ll see Kevin Wong there right next to your favorite celebrity, capturing all the best and priceless moments.
AllHipHop: You just hosted your first gallery exhibit in Miami Art Basel. How do you feel?
Kevin Wong: I’m truly honored and thankful for the opportunity to have been able to present in Miami Art Basel. It’s truly a privilege to have the chance to showcase and not often one can say they did their first showing in Miami Art Basel.
AllHipHop: Rémy Martin partnered with you to produce this exhibit, was this your first time working with the brand?
Kevin Wong: This is my first time working in this capacity with Remy Martin. As a photographer, I was able to capture Cash Day for music manager Cash (The Weeknd, Nav, Metro Boomin).
AllHipHop: What was the selection process for the photos?
Kevin Wong: The selection process was incredibly hard because there were so many beautiful moments to choose from, but I went with what I felt was right for Art Basel. Photos like The Weeknd dressed as The Joker for Halloween, I felt it would give people a nice mix of emotions figuring who it was. It’s not often you get to see The Weeknd dressed As The Joker.
AllHipHop: You have shot so many artists over the years, who’s your favorite artist to photograph?
Kevin Wong: That’s a pretty tough one to answer because all of them are my favorites. The fact that many amazing artists allow me the privilege to capture them in their moment: from their studio, to close environments is an honor. If I had to choose one, it would be The Game because he gave me the first opportunity back in 2014. He had seen my work before and invited me to shoot his birthday the following week.
After that, he asked me to document him recording at Chalice Studios in 2015, capturing moments with artists like Young Jeezy, Future, Travis Barker, Diddy, Busta Rhymes and so many more. He’s the reason I got the chance to shoot Drake for the first time in Compton during the “100” music video shoot, and he’s also how I met SpiffTV who invited me to shoot French Montana for the “One Hell of A Night” tour with Chris Brown. He gave me the first opportunity that led to so many other opportunities that I could have never imagined.
AllHipHop: Tell us about your most memorable experience from an event or photographing an artist.
Kevin Wong: Most memorable experience would be shooting Dr. Dre in 2015 when I was documenting The Game recording in different studios. I didn’t know where we were going and we ended up at Dr. Dre’s studio. That same day I had also met Ice Cube earlier, so it was quite an unforgettable experience for me, especially the opportunity to capture Dre in his own element.
AllHipHop: Favorite moment from the exhibit?
Kevin Wong: I loved seeing people’s reactions and them taking selfies with the photos. Someone even said “No way you shot all of these people and moments.” That’d have to be my favorite part.
AllHipHop: What are some artists or celebrities you are hoping to work with in the future?
Kevin Wong: I really do hope I can get the chance to work with Adele or Billie Eilish in the future.
AllHipHop: What’s next for Kevin Wong?
Kevin Wong: Heading into Miami Art Basel, I told myself to learn from this experience so I can grow onto the next. I’d love to do a gallery in my hometown of Los Angeles and of course work with people I haven’t worked with before. —
The former owner of the nightclub at the center of a deadly shooting with Jack Harlow present is being sued.
According to court documents the family of Kasmira Nash is suing Allen Evans, the previous owner of Vibes Restaurant and Ultra Lounge.
Evans was in charge of the business on May 1st, 2021, when his venue hosted the 2021 Derby Weekend Kickoff during the Kentucky Derby.
Local celebrity Jack Harlow was in attendance at the party, where his DJ, Ronnie Lucciano, was spinning. According to Nash’s family’s lawsuit, Evans allowed certain attendees to enter the nightclub without searching them.
As a result, Ronnie Lucciano was able to sneak a gun into the nightclub.
An arrest warrant was issued for the DJ on May 1st, and he finally surrendered to police on May 11th when he was charged with murder and tampering with physical evidence.
Ronnie Lucciano has pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released after posting 10% of a $500,000 bond.
“My heart is broken by the events that occurred over Derby weekend. My heart breaks for Kasmira, her children, and everyone else touched by this tragic death,” Jack Harlow said. “My heart breaks for my city, a place that’s been through too much pain already. I’ve been in touch with Kasmira’s family during this unimaginably painful time, and I’m grateful to them for keeping the lines of communication open. Nothing can reverse what happened. Too many lives have been changed forever. My life will remain committed to making Louisville a better place.”
The club’s owner is being sued for attorney fees, and funeral expenses her family incurred after the deadly event.
For some reason, even after they came to amicable agreements on the divorce terms in 2016, the paperwork has never been submitted to the courts for processing.
Now, five years later, the “Make ‘Em Say ‘Ugh” rapper wants this done already — and he is pulling his legal eagles out to make sure it is completed, according to TMZ.
The technical term for this process is called the Bifurcation of Marital Status.
According to Talkov Law, in a California Rule of Court,“Rule 5.390 allows for the separate trial of 13 different family law issues if the resolution of a particular issue in the case will help move proceedings along. Some of those baker’s dozen issues that might apply to their case are the date of their separation, validity of postnuptial or prenuptial agreements, and the termination of their marital status or domestic partnership status.”
This news comes after the businessman announced his new food-tech venture, an on-demand ice cream machine called “The Ice Cream Shop.”
Master P shared a clip about it on Instagram, captioning, “The ICE CREAM MAN taking over! Our new technology and Ice cream machine @romeomiller When you put God first, nothing is impossible. #TheIceCreamShop We going to take this company public soon. The more we make, the more we give. It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. Trust the process #TheFuture We creating economic empowerment, join the movement.”
The last six months have not been good to rapper JayDaYoungan, who will end 2021 on a sour note.
Yesterday (December 3rd), JayDaYoungan was indicted by the Feds in New Orleans for violating the Federal Gun Control Act.
The indictment stems from an October 29th, 2021 traffic stop in Bogalusa, Louisiana.
Police discovered the rapper was driving a silver-colored Audi with switched license plates from Virginia. JayDaYoungan did not have a license or vehicle registration.
The cops claimed they smelled marijuana emanating from the car, and they also observed a black handgun on the driver’s side floorboard underneath the rapper’s legs.
A vehicle search recovered a loaded Ruger Model Security-9, 9mm pistol. At the time, he was charged with switching license plates, driving without proof of insurance, child desertion, child restraint (second offense), obstruction of justice (evidence tampering), and contempt of court.
Additional charges included the use of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of someone under 17-years-old, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with weapons present, possession of marijuana, and possession of a schedule II narcotic.
Now, he has been charged in a one-count indictment with possession of a firearm while under indictment for a felony, in violation of the Federal Gun Control Act.
The rapper, born Javorius Scott, was already facing felonies for possession of a controlled substance and assault over an incident in Harris County, Texas.
JayDaYoungan could face up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted for violating the Federal Gun Control Act stemming from the October of 2021 arrest.
Though it’s commonly believed that Dr. Dre is hip-hop’s first billionaire, that title actually goes to Jay-Z.
The misconception about Dre’s billionaire status came shortly after the rapper-turned-music producer sold Beats by Dre to Apple. The tech giant snapped up the headphones in a 2014 deal that, at that time, was worth close to $3 billion.
But a subsequent investigation by Forbes refuted the claim — and it was ultimately revealed that while Dre certainly wasn’t on food stamps with an $800 million net worth, he didn’t quite hit billionaire status once all the debts were settled.
“Forbes still doesn’t agree with the assessment made in the wake of Apple’s $3 billion 2014 purchase of his Beats By Dr. Dre headphone line,” they wrote. “The superproducer owned an estimated 20%-25% of the company at the time; of the $2.6 billion Apple paid upfront in cash, another $295 million was earmarked to cover debt payments, leaving Dre with a little over $500 million.”
While Forbes was busy counting Dre’s coins, Jay-Z was making money moves of his own. He first started aiming for billionaire status shortly after he married Beyoncé in 2014. At the time, the couple’s combined net worth was $1 billion, though Jay-Z individually brought $600 million to the table. Again, nothing to sneeze at, but nowhere near the billion-dollar net worth mark.
The game changed completely in 2019.
How Much Is Jay-Z Worth Today?
According to Forbes, Jay-Z is worth $1.4 billion. He became hip-hop’s first billionaire in 2019 thanks to the sale of two very strategic businesses.
First, he sold a majority share of Tidal to ex-Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey (and, more specifically, to his company, Square) for $297 million. Then, he sold half of the company that manufactures the $300-per-bottle Armand de Brignac to LVMH. Freeing up this liquid cash turned Jay-Z into a billionaire, and it’s with this money that he founded Marcy Venture Partners.
Marcy Venture Partners’ last investment was in September 2021, when they invested in the Series A round for MERIT Beauty. In the past, they’ve invested in companies like Wyze, Savage X Fenty, and Misha’s Kind Beauty. According to Crunchbase, the fund has raised more than $97 million across two funds.
Hova has also invested in Black-owned businesses through Roc Nation, which has morphed from a record & entertainment label into a full-service sports management, entertainment management, and investment firm.
Hova By The Numbers
To get a better idea of what Jay-Z and his billion-dollar net worth looks like by the numbers, consider these stats, courtesy of Parade Magazine.
When he actually tours, he makes close to $400 million per tour, and this is *JUST* from the touring — it factors no other numbers into it. This means that after all the expenses are met, Hova’s paycheck has an awful lot of zeros at the end of it all.
His music catalogue is worth over $100 million, and that’s by a conservative estimate. Assuming nothing ever gets licensed out from that catalogue (and, really, how many times has “Empire State of Mind” been licensed out to sell everything from tourism to cream cheese?), it’s worth several hundred million.
While he and Beyoncé are rumored to own billions of dollars in properties, their verifiable real estate portfolio is worth north of $100 million as well. To further break it down by the numbers: the couple’s most expensive piece of property is a $90 million compound in Bel Air, CA. At the time, the couple took out a mortgage worth more than $50 million just to bridge the gap between the cash they put down and the actual price of the compound. Every month, the couple writes a check for more than $250,000 to cover the mortgage just on that property. They also own a home in the Hamptons, NY, and a private island in the Bahamas (which they bought shortly after Blue Ivy was born — and paid a measly $360,000 for).
On the years that Jay-Z does not tour, he brings home a yearly paycheck of $500 million every year thanks to his investments. And with investments in such companies as Sweetgreen, Oatly, and Perch Credit — plus a branch-out into the cannabis world (as evidenced by his investment in the Josephine & Billie’s cannabis speakeasy in Los Angeles), that number can only go up year-over-year.
Jay-Z is also one of the few Black stars to have an equity stake in a sports team. “Jay-Z bought stakes in the then-New Jersey Nets in 2003, eventually bringing the team back to his hometown of Brooklyn. He also owned stakes in the Barclays Center, the arena where the team holds court. In 2013, to prevent a conflict of interest with his Roc Nation Sports agency venture, he sold all of his stakes in both the team and the arena, netting an estimated $1.5 million,” reports Parade.
So, the next time someone asks you if you want $500,000 or dinner with Jay-Z, we’re here to tell you to take the money. After all, it’s what Hova did — and that’s what made him a billionaire. In 2005 he laid down the now prophetic lyric, “I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man.” And to his undying credit, he lived up to every word of that lyric.
A Bay Area rapper’s own lyrics were used against him as he was indicted on a felony gun charge.
A.B. Milli, whose real name is Albert Collins, was indicted for being a felon in possession of a loaded semi-automatic firearm. Prosecutors brought up some of his old lyrics in an effort to keep him in custody.
According to the Mercury News, prosecutors filed a motion citing the lyrics “A.B. Milli getting guap … I shoot these shells and yeah they hot.” A judge ruled in the prosecution’s favor as the 27-year-old rapper will remain behind bars while his charges are pending.
A.B. Milli was deemed to be a danger to the community if he was released. He has prior felony convictions for grand theft, gun possession and robbery.
On November 2, A.B. Milli was arrested by San Francisco police. Cops learned he was on parole with a warrantless search clause and pulled him over, which allegedly led to him running from police.
Police eventually caught him and placed him in handcuffs. While he was being detained, he allegedly told authorities, “The gun’s in the garbage can.”
Cops found a gun under a parked car. They also found another firearm inside his jeans.
A.B. Milli isn’t allowed to possess a gun due to his past convictions. He’s facing up to 10 years in prison for felony possession of a loaded semi-automatic firearm.
In March of 2018, Blueprint Capital invested $250,000 into Unanimous Games, aiming to bridge the gap between eSports and the entertainment business.
According to the complaint, Blueprint’s CEO Ryan Collision felt safe with the investment because he was promised his investment would be repaid with interest by March of 2021 – at the latest.
Briant Biggs also told Collision that big-name rappers like Yo Gotti and Meek Mill would participate in a $1.5 million raise for the gaming company, which never happened.
In July of 2021, Biggs allegedly told a Blueprint representative that Unanimous Games would be receiving a $5 million investment.
When Unanimous Games provided Blueprint with documents, the company found out Biggs had paid himself tens of thousands of dollars from Unanimous Games in 2019 and 2020.
Now the tangled mess has been sorted out, according to documents obtained by AllHipHop. Yesterday (December 3rd), Roc Nation and Blueprint managed to end the dispute.
Although terms of the agreement have not been released, lawyers for the pair settled for an undisclosed amount.
According to the Stipulation of Discontinuance, Blueprint has dismissed the lawsuit against Roc Nation without prejudice. Blueprint reserves the right to refile the lawsuit should the settlement not be consummated in a timely manner.
The good news comes as Jay-Z, born Shawn Carter, celebrates his 52nd birthday.
Doja Cat is letting fans make alterations to her “Woman” video.
The RCA Records artist has partnered with Girls Who Code to launch an interactive experience designed to inspire interest in technology and computer science. Doja Cat’s DojaCode website allows users to change her “Woman” music video through basic coding languages.
“I am so excited that Girls Who Code has partnered with me to make my ‘Woman’ music video the world’s first codable music video,” Doja Cat said in a press release. “Fans all over the world will get to input code via a microsite and unlock some really cool special features. It’s going to be awesome.”
DojaCode users are introduced to three coding languages and given easy-to-follow instructions for beginners. Fans make their inputs on the site then get to see Doja Cat’s video transform in real time.
“At Girls Who Code, we know firsthand that girls and young women are some of today’s most powerful creators and change-makers,” Girls Who Code CEO Tarika Barrett said. “However, too few know that they can have a career in computer science, and that it can open up an entire future of possibility to nurturing their passions.
Barrett added, “Learning to code enables you to change the world around you, and we’re thrilled to partner with global superstar Doja Cat, beloved by young people everywhere, as we invite girls to experience ‘Planet Her,’ a place where they get to be in control.”
Try DojaCode and put a new spin on the “Woman” video here.
