However, 42 Dugg took to social media to apologize to his followers for not being able to perform on Sunday. He posted his message to Twitter around 1:14 pm local time.
“I wanna apologize to all my fans in LA who came to see me today but for reasons out of my control and Rolling Loud’s but I will not be performing today,” tweeted 42 Dugg.
The 26-year-old Free Dem Boyz mixtape creator continued, “Ima take this time to reflect on my bad decision making and hopefully I’ll see y’all soon!!!!!!”
I wanna apologize to all my fans in la who came to see me today but for reasons out of my control and rolling louds but I will not be performing today ima take this time to reflect on my bad decision making and hopefully I’ll see y’all soon‼️‼️‼️
42 Dugg did not clarify the “bad decision making” that apparently played a role in him missing the Rolling Loud California event. He later tweeted, “The minute I stop having fun with it.”
On the flip side, this year also saw 42 Dugg make it onto the 2021 XXL Freshman Class cover. The Interscope recording artist also scored multiple Hot 100 chart entries, such as “4 Da Gang” with Roddy Ricch and “Maybach” with Future, as well.
Doja Cat revealed she has tested positive for COVID-19 and has pulled out of all remaining stops on the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour.
“As most of you probably heard earlier,” she wrote in the caption. “A few members on my production team tested positive for Covid 19 and I had to cancel a couple of my upcoming performances as a safety precaution.”
She continued: “Unfortunately, I’m sad to share that I just tested positive as well and will no longer be able to perform on the rest of the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour.”
While Doja Cat had already performed at three of the shows on the tour in Dallas, Los Angeles, and Chicago, she is unable to continue.
“While my spirits are down since I can’t be there to celebrate the holiday with my fans in Philly, DC, Atlanta and Miami, I’m doing ok and look forward to recovering and getting back out there as soon as I can! The rest of the tour stops have some really great lineups, wish I could be there. Much love XO.”
Doja Cat is Getting Some Rest
Shortly after making the announcement, Doja shared her new regimen with her Twitter followers. “Turmeric ginger water sleep repeat x500,” she Tweeted.
Meanwhile, Lil Nas X joined Doja Cat and also withdrew from his performance at “Jingle Bell Ball 2021 with Barclaycard” in London this weekend. The “Montero” rapper had to pull out of the show at the last minute after crew members tested positive for COVID-19.
“Sadly we have to announce that Coldplay and Lil Nas X have had to pull out of performing at this weekend’s Jingle Bell Ball with Barclaycard,” Capital said in a statement. “Both acts have had members of their teams test positive for Covid-19 and therefore are not able to perform.”
“We’d like to wish the very best and a speedy recovery to Coldplay, Lil Nas X and their teams,” the statement continued. “Of course, everyone at Capital is absolutely gutted, but the show must go on…”
Justin Bieber will be playing an extended set at Capital's Jingle Bell Ball as Lil Nas X and Coldplay have pulled out due to members of their teams testing positive for Covid-19. pic.twitter.com/MEz70z8TIH
Young Dolph was honored by some of his closest friends in the industry with a tribute at Rolling Loud this weekend.
Members of the Paper Route Empire joined O.T Genasis to perform a homage to the fallen rapper during the festival in Los Angeles on Saturday (Dec. 11). Paper Route Woo and Snupe Bandz kicked off the celebration by performing a few songs in honor of Dolph. His blood cousin, Key Glock then took to the stage with O.T Genasis and had the crowd singing along to every word of “Preach.”
Rolling Loud also paid tribute to Young Dolph with a post on their official Instagram page. They posted a picture of the “Major” hitmaker with the simple caption, “LONG LIVE YOUNG DOLPH 🙏.”
Young Dolph was a regular feature on the Rolling Loud stage performing there serval times in the past few years. Filmmaker Jordan Spencer shared a reel of Young Dolph from one of those sets.
“I’ll Never will forget this day at Rolling Loud!” He wrote. “Dolph had a legendary set. I still can’t believe you gone bruh, we got so many memories mane fr 🕊@YoungDolph SparklesVideo camera #LLD #PRE”
I’ll Never will forget this day at Rolling Loud! Dolph had a legendary set 🐬💙 I still can’t believe you gone bruh, we got so many memories mane fr 🕊😢 @YoungDolph ✨📹 #LLD#PREpic.twitter.com/vqfTV7Abn5
Young Dolph was shot and killed in his hometown of Memphis last month while visiting a cookie store. Last week (Dec. 7), Memphis City Council voted to have an honorary street named after the rapper whose real name is Adolph Robert Thornton. While the official name of the street will remain, signs will be erected designating it in Young Dolph’s honor.
Though the designated street is yet to be announced, a public ceremony unveiling the honorary street name will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, at 1 p.m. at Dunn Ave. and Airways Blvd. Notably, Makeda’s Homemade Butter Cookies, where Dolph was shot and killed, is situated on Airways Blvd.
Additionally, a Celebration of Life event is slated to be held at the FedExForum in Memphis on the same day. The family of Young Dolph said they will honor his “life as a rapper, businessman, philanthropist, and family man.” The event is open to the public and will include performances, words from his family, and his Paper Route Empire team.
Official plans announced for #YoungDolph memorial…
“…will include performances, words from his family, his Paper Route Empire team, and reminisces from philanthropy recipients Dolph gave to…”
Dennis Rodman is a legend in his own right, and his accolades extend far beyond the basketball court. The former professional basketball player is best known for his savage defense stance and undeniable rebounding abilities, which earned him the nickname “The Worm.”
Having played on NBA teams Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, and Dallas Mavericks, the 5x NBA Champion and Hall of Famer inspires young basketball players all around the world that if he can do it, they can too. Now, he’s back in the spotlight to unveil a new collaboration with global streetwear retailer, Culture Kings.
Rodman is excited about his newest venture with this exclusive collaboration with Culture Kings, the world famous streetwear destination that stands at the crossroads of music, fashion, and sports. Boasting an international presence, Culture Kings is now the premier destination for officially licensed Dennis Rodman apparel, showcasing his legacy through fashion and culture in the most iconic way.
Speaking on the new collab, Rodman states, “Guess what… this is cool as f###.”
Culture Kings teamed up with Dennis Rodman to create the campaign lookbook video that highlights the energetic, punk rock-inspired vibe of the collection.
The Culture Kings x Dennis Rodman collaboration features a range of premium dark-washed, vintage hoodie and t-shirt styles complete with bold graphics and retro lettering. Custom artwork captures iconic moments of Rodman’s life and reinvents them with high-quality cotton, stylized cracked graphics, neon accents, and a vintage wash. Key pieces from the collection include styles like the ‘Garage Premium’ tee, ‘Pinhead Vintage’ tee, and ‘Rodman Tattoo’ long sleeve.
Isaac Metekingi, Creative Director of Culture Kings, states, “Dennis Rodman’s unconventional ways and fearlessness have earned him a reputation as one of the most interesting people in the world, which aligns perfectly with the Culture Kings brand. With the design process, we really wanted to stay true to Rodman as a living icon and capture his out of this world persona and key iconic career moments through easy, wearable pieces that fans can incorporate into their everyday style.”
The collection is now available exclusively on CultureKings.com.
According to GQ, a representative confirmed: “While proceeds from ticket sales for the concert will reportedly benefit a number of criminal justice reform groups, profits from merch sales are not being earmarked for charity.”
Kanye West and Drake ended their long standing beef and reconciled last Thursday (Dec. 9) for the Amazon-sponsored “Free Larry Hoover” benefit concert. Proceeds from the ticket sales will aid legal reform and community advocacy groups, including Ex-Cons for Community and Social Change, Hustle 2.0, and Uptown People’s Law Center.
A limited-edition range of merchandise was released in collaboration with Balenciaga designer Demna and Amazon Fashion. Demna has been kitting out Kanye West for much of 2021. Ye was spotted wearing Balenciaga for much of his “DONDA” album cycle.
Kanye West x Drake “Free Hoover” Merch
The #FreeHoover capsule “engineered by Balenciaga” went on sale on Friday (Dec. 10) for 72 hours. Fans can pre order items from the collection, including a $200 hoodie and $100 tee. Also on offer are a $160 baseball tee, $60 hat, $360 jumpsuit, and $400 jeans.
On December 10, GQ reporter Eileen Cartter linked her story in a Tweet that has seen Kanye West and Drake receive some backlash. Cartter wrote:
“a scoop for today: a rep confirmed none of the proceeds from the Ye x Drake x Demna x Amazon Fashion merch for last night’s Larry Hoover benefit concert will go to criminal justice orgs.”
One user pointed out that merch was on sale despite not providing any context as to who Larry Hoover is or the movement to free him.
“i’ve bought a lot of s### merch at concerts but imagine seeing people walking around with “Free Hoover” on their back with no context”
i’ve bought a lot of s### merch at concerts but imagine seeing people walking around with “Free Hoover” on their back with no context https://t.co/Xp1kbmqky2
Another added, “Yall acting like like thousands of people spent money on $300 clothing from the merch. The money from the ticket sales is where the numbers count. People love reaching at hating smh”
Yall acting like like thousands of people spent money on $300 clothing from the merch. The money from the ticket sales is where the numbers count. People love reaching at hating smh https://t.co/ENhRAF8oGe
After releasing the audio, D.C. wordsmith, Marc 2Ray taps MC Bravado and Allison Balanc once again for a Shaquille Pariag and Ashley Littlese-directed accompanying visual.
Titled “True Craft,” the CPSL0CK-produced track from the trio strips down the standard semantics found in mainstream rap music and returns the basics.
MC Bravado follows Marc’s lead, showcasing his lyrical prowess with hard-hitting punchlines over the boom-bap inspired instrumentation which channels the golden era of 90’s Hip Hop.
Vocalist Allison Balanc provides the perfect amount of soul with her soothing voice on the chorus.
“To be considered a Hip Hop artist, you must be true to the craft,” said the DMV native in a statement to the press.
Marc 2Ray is not only a Hip Hop artist, but an educator. With a background working as a therapist for children on the autism spectrum, Marc has gotten his music to be used in curricula at multiple schools such as St. Petersburg College.
Coming from a family of Armenian Genocide survivors and Holocaust rescuers, this inspired him to create songs such as “1915,” which led to worldwide renown and live performances in Times Square, outside The White House, and The March For Justice in front of thousands.
Marc has also opened for rap legends such as Inspectah Deck and Cappadonna of the Wu-Tang Clan, Scarface, and Smif-N-Wessun among others.
Back in August, 3ohBlack collaborator and fellow DMV native Big Solo returned to the small screen in the music video for “Back At It,” which served as a celebratory cut following his release from jail.
Today, the Real Road Runners frontman unloads his first commercial release of the year with help from Motor City MVP Teejayx6.
Appropriately titled “Who You Know,” the colorful collaboration finds the pair trading verses about the lavish lifestyle they are able to live by working equally smarter and harder than most.
Speaking on how the song came together, Solo states:
“I was wearing a $30K Cartier watch and was feeling myself. When you are in that mood, this is the type of record you get. It’s literally an account of my day-to-day life. When I first heard the record it instantly reminded me of Detroit and who better than Teejayx6 to help take things to the next level.”
However, Cardi B revealed that she has been suffering issues with her gut health and wants to make a change in her diet.
“I had a stomach virus not so long ago and I feel like my digestive system haven’t been the same.I been drinking probiotics and I don’t see a change much,” She wrote. “I be lookin at raw food pages a lot but that will be a huge change for me to do that.”
I had a stomach virus not so long ago and I feel like my digestive system haven’t been the same.I been drinking probiotics and I don’t see a change much.I be lookin at raw food pages a lot but that will be a huge change for me to do that. https://t.co/MstvdNijbt
Is Cardi B Following Nicki Minaj Haters On Social Media?
Meanwhile, Cardi B was a trending topic on Twitter Sunday night (Dec. 12) after being accused of following social media accounts said to harass Nicki Minaj.
Cardi B is currently under fire after fans discover that she follows accounts that diss Nicki Minaj despite their feud being years old. pic.twitter.com/49Q5vdduPF
“So riddle me this , a fanbase that repeatedly declares they aren’t obsessed with Cardi , spent hours looking through the 3000 individuals that Cardi follows and took time out their day to whip up some delusion .”
So riddle me this , a fanbase that repeatedly declares they aren’t obsessed with Cardi , spent hours looking through the 3000 individuals that Cardi follows and took time out their day to whip up some delusion . pic.twitter.com/LF7FuxX1zA
Cardi B did not respond directly but voiced her feelings on the matter with a couple of retweets.
“y’all depth of delusion will never fail to amaze me. the fact that you guys will make a hundred conspiracies about OME of the 3301 pages she follows like she controls these people is LITERALLY CRAZY”
“Lmao cardi follows over 3 thousand people on ig….how u don’t like her but you spending your free time going through every person she follows just looking for something to say…mfs is weird”
A little over 2 weeks removed from the release of his third studio LP ‘Far From Gaz,’ A.CHAL delivers the live performance music video for “Selena.”
Shot on location at Chadano Hills 5 Acre Open StudioinCalifornia, the Jayoh & Matt Zolly-directed clip captures the NYC native roaming around the low-lit peer space while reciting the song’s lyrics, facing a bottle of Don Julio 1942.
Expressing all the emotions he experienced navigating an unequally yoked record deal, the latest project from the Peruvian Hip-Pop artist features standouts “Dirty Dancin,” “High Horse,” “TAPPD’N,” and “Nobody Like Me.”
Serving as the final installment in his “GAZI” series, which includes his debut ‘Welcome To Gazi’ (2016) and ‘On Gaz’ (2017), ‘Far From Gaz’ finds A.CHAL baring his soul again in what most would agree is his most vulnerable project yet.
“The reasons I made music changed. I felt like I was chasing something, like I was making music to feed my ego. I had lost control. I was frustrated and the fans kept asking where the music was,” said A.CHAL in a statement to the press.
Born in Lima, Peru as a descendant of the Quechua people, A.CHAL was raised between the cities of Trujillo, Peru and Queens, New York.
Because of his multiculturalism, A.CHAL developed a unique sound punctuated with a fusion of indigenous Peruvian sounds, modern trap-soul sonics, and the sounds he consumed growing up on the east coast of the U.S., where he admired icons such as DMX, The Diplomats, Lil Wayne, and Pharrell.
RMG / EMPIRE recording artist Canon enlists instrumentalist PoetiCS for their joint EP ‘We Made It.’
Comprised of the duo’s Kmo Shamaal-assisted collaboration “Narcoleptik” as well as “I Made It” featuring Xay Hill, the 7-track body of work also includes intro “Bricks,” “Salt,” “Wrist,” “Magic,” and “Loco.”
Canon’s newest album is the perfect reflection of the growth that he has seen in himself as an artist.
Taking the lessons from his trials and tribulations, Canon has put those experiences into this project and is sharing with the world what he has learned.
She also posted a sweet video of her excitedly receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in health administration from university officials.
“Meg Thee Graduate. I know my parents are looking down on me so proud. Thank you everyone for all the love today,” the 26-year-old wrote in the caption.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXW9zQIPtVT/
In response, a number of Megan’s celebrity friends sent her congratulatory messages.
Ayeeeee congratulations,” wrote Lizzo, while Jasmine Sanders commented, “Congratulations!! Love seeing you shine!!”
And La La Anthony added: “Congrats my love!!!! So proud of u!! Love u!!!”
Last year, Megan opened up about she was inspired to complete her degree by her mother Holly Thomas, who died in 2019, as well as her late grandmother.
“I want my big mama to be proud. She saw me going to school before she passed,” she told People. “My grandmother that’s still alive used to be a teacher, so she’s on my butt about finishing school. I’m doing it for me, but I’m also doing it for the women in my family who made me who I am today.”
Described as a “genderless” nail polish collection, the range includes an assortment of 10 colors and five topcoats.
“I don’t like to just stop at clothes when it comes to expressing who I am. Nail polish serves as a true vessel of self-expression – I can express myself one way today and do it all again tomorrow with something different,” Machine Gun Kelly explained. “When I do my nails, that’s me wearing my own thoughts and making a statement. To me, polish is not just a color, it’s an intention. Every color has a purpose.”
In addition to the individual shades, the UN/DN LAQR collection includes eight curated trio sets and three polish kits.
And Unlisted Brand Lab Founder and chief executive officer Candy Harris said Machine Gun Kelly was way ahead of the curve on a new fashion trend for men. She appears to be correct, since the rapper’s nail polish line has already sold out.
“It’s been an honor to work with Machine Gun Kelly to transcend the nail polish category and foster a cultural shift that has been a long time coming,” she praised. “This is just the beginning, we are setting out to bring a new voice to beauty with a lifestyle brand that will spark a conversation well beyond the color drops.”
Rap star YG is facing a lawsuit over claims he stole his hit song “Go Loko” featuring Tyga and Jon Z.
Tyrone Simmons, who raps under the moniker Young Caliber, claims he released his song “LoCo” in July of 2015.
Young Caliber says he marketed his song “LoCo” on major social media platforms when he released his version. The rapper says he was shocked to hear YG’s song “Go Loko,” which was released in May of 2019.
According to Young Caliber, YG’s song “Go Loko,” which was produced by DJ Mustard, has a nearly identical instrumental to his version of “LoCo.”
The budding rapper also claims “Go Loko” has similar lyrical aspects to “LoCo.” Young Caliber believes the theft of his music powered YG’s song “Go Loko” to become an international hit.
The track was released as the second single from YG’s album 4Real 4Real, and has sold over 2 million copies worldwide.
Young Caliber’s track only has 16,000 views on YouTube, compared to YG’s 200 million. Nevertheless, the rapper maintains that YG could have swiped his song since it was released four years before his hit song with Tyga and Jon Z.
Young Caliber is suing YG, Def Jam, for copyright infringement and unjust enrichment.
During a previous interview, YG said DJ Mustard played the beat for “Go Loko” in the studio, and at first, he did not believe it could be a hit record.
“We were in the studio chilling, and Mustard played that beat for us, like, ‘Bro, I think this is a hit!’,” YG told Variety during an interview in 2019. “Tyga’s, like, ‘huh?’ We were trying to figure out what Mustard heard because we weren’t hearing it. Tyga and I thought Mustard was tripping — like something’s wrong with him. We couldn’t figure out how to make a song to that beat.”
So far, DJ Mustard has yet to be named in the complaint. However, Young Caliber asked the judge for permission to amend the lawsuit in the future, to include other defendants.
Curly J is the self-proclaimed “King of Melodies,” per his Instagram bio.
A fresh face out of Long Island, New York, the rising star is here to take over the music industry with his undeniable talent and unforgettable lyricism, straddling the genres of rap and R&B while making it into his own.
In describing himself, Curly states he’s “a melodic rapper that utilizes a lot of melodies, but mixes in a lot of bars as well that you’d typically hear. I want to go for J Cole type bars but in a more fun, melodic way.”
Exploding onto the scene with his smash hit “Bag Different,” which organically went viral on SoundCloud summer of 2019, Curly J has since taken matters into his own hands, doing whatever it takes to perfect his craft and turn his dreams into a reality.
After dropping out of school and promising his mom that he’d be on his way to superstardom, Curly let his actions speak for themselves… inking a major label deal with Warner Records.
Fast forward to December, 2021, Curly J reveals his two-song On The Moon bundle: “Who Ride” and “Moonlight” with new videos for each. A sonic evolution in the rapid rising trajectory of New York’s emerging star.
AllHipHop: When did you discover this melodic sound of yours?
Curly J: Sheesh. To be honest, I think I was in fourth grade. This is when Justin Bieber popped off with the song “Baby.” I remember I’d be singing and humming it, some girls overheard me in class and said “Whoa, you can sing.” From then on, I always loved melodies. I listened to a bunch of stuff, from hip-hop all the way to Justin Bieber, Replay, a lot of different stuff. I always took a liking to melodies. Drake’s my favorite artist, he does it really well.
AllHipHop: What’s your favorite Drake song?
Curly J: That’s tough. It changes depending on time and whatnot, but as of right now my favorite Drake song is “Can’t Have Everything.” It’s the album that has his father on the cover (More Life). It’s underrated too because it wasn’t one of the main focus songs of the project, but that song’s hard. “Can’t Have Everything” is hard.
AllHipHop: Being from Long Island, what was a young Curly J like growing up?
Curly J: Man, I was playing a lot of basketball. Running around the hood, going to the park all the time shooting hoops. Getting into a bunch of s### I shouldn’t have been getting into with people I was running around with. It was good times, luckily I was safe. I didn’t personally have too many crazy encounters. I know a lot of people that did, but being into basketball and music helped keep me grounded and not get into too much trouble. I only had one incident with the cops once, but I was young so nothing was on my record. I was playing a lot of basketball. At first I wanted to go to the NBA, that didn’t work out. But music was another passion of mine and that did.
AllHipHop: What was the turning point in your music career?
Curly J: When I was 14 or 15, I said “you know what, I’ma really start trying to make songs.” I remember I watched a Speaker Knockerz music video, it looked like he was having so much fun. I said “I can do this, this looks fun as hell.” So I started working, my songs were ass at first. I just put them on SoundCloud, they were garbage. I was so consistent with it though, I was putting out 3 songs a day on SoundCloud. I was going crazy. When it really got serious, I was in college. I only spent one year in college. The last couple months of college, I said, “You know what, I don’t really want to do anything that college has to offer. It’s not for me. I’ma use these last few months of having my dorm,” because they don’t kick you out unless you start failing classes. That’s not until the semester is over.
I said “f### going to class. I’m not going to any classes, I’m going to stay in my dorm and work on music for the rest of the time I have.” And it worked. I just locked in, was recording anywhere from 6 to 18 hours a day. Going crazy and really working on my craft. It worked. Once I put out songs after all that time of putting in work, they started going crazy. Millions of plays on SoundCloud, a bunch of fans started coming in from all platforms. I stayed consistent with it at that point because now I had a little bit of money coming in from there. I said “Okay, I know if I could start generating something and keep at it, it’ll multiply.” And that’s exactly what happened. I started getting label attention. Freshman year of college is when I took it really serious, and it was a wrap.
AllHipHop: When did “Bag Different” go viral?
Curly J: That was literally two weeks after I dropped out of college. That’s the song that I spent two months working on. Because everyone said, “I want to make a hit record,” but I needed to make my version of a hit record. It doesn’t have to be like anyone else’s, it needs to be my version. So I did a bunch of research, I looked at hit songs from different time periods. I’m really methodical. It was 2019 so I was looking at hit songs for that year. I was looking at s### from 2012, 2005, old school. I was looking at what they all had in common. I said, “Okay, how can I make my version of that?” What came out was “Bag Different” and it went crazy.
AllHipHop: How did you get your name?
Curly J: I was just Josh with the curly hair. My name’s Josh so girls would say “Josh with the curly hair.” I said Curly J, it was simple.
Curly J: I’m wrapping up 2021 with the release of “On The Moon”, giving the fans an effortless vibe-setting melody with “Moonlight” and an addicting rap song with “Who Ride.” These 2 songs help continue to showcase my stubborn effort to become as well-rounded as any rapper doing it.
AllHipHop: Why are you “One of The Best”?
Curly J: Out of all of the up and coming artists right now, I think I’m one of the best. Definitely really underrated because my ability to sing and rap… I’m not sitting here comparing myself to Lil Baby and Drake just yet. But in terms of the up and coming guys, I can sing with all of them and I can rap with all of them. That’s why I see myself as one of the best, and I know that the rest of the world will see it too.
AllHipHop: What is the reality of the grind?
Curly J: It’s perseverance really. In the song, I have a part where I say, “Please, do not dap me like one of your people.” Then I said “Remember they treated me like I was see through.” When you first start on certain goals or on certain things, people don’t give you the time of day. It’s really typical for people to not really believe, especially if it sounds far-fetched. But once results start coming in and they see a little limelight or a little something, oh s###! Now they want to hang out with you. Now they want to f### with you. Now all of a sudden they believe. It’s how it goes, you gotta believe in yourself before anyone else does. I’m talking about that in a cool way.
AllHipHop: Where was the video shot?
Curly J: In LA. I was on a trip out there, met with the label and had a listening session. Listening to records, recorded. I was recording like crazy. I was doing 12-hour sessions in the studio every day when I was out there, it was dope. I practically finished a whole project when I was out there for that week, pretty dope.
AllHipHop: What were the vibes in LA compared to where you usually record at?
Curly J: The vibes were dope. I’m not gonna lie though, I don’t f### with the hills. Every time I opened the car door, that s### was scratching on the street. Hell nah! Besides that, the vibes were dope for sure. Creatively, making music, it was really, really dope.
AllHipHop: What is it that you want fans to get from your story?
Curly J: I want them to understand that it’s possible for anyone to do it really. As a kid, you see certain celebrities or entertainers, you’d look up to these people like damn. Especially when you don’t really come from much, you think it’s not a possibility for you. It’s like those people were born into that, you can’t replicate it. With hard work, I know from experience now, because at first it’s tough. You’ll be working your ass off and you don’t know if anything will ever happen from it.
Now I was able to experience it and make something happen, okay I know for sure it’s possible. Anyone can do it with the work of putting that time in. Those two months I stopped going to class was a big sacrifice. That was me betting on myself. I wasn’t even going to the cafeteria to eat anymore, I was literally eating out of the vending machine for two months. I didn’t even I didn’t even want to leave my dorm’s building. It was there, and I’m right back to working on the music. That’s what I want people to understand. Now, I understand the difference between someone who wants something and someone who really wants something.
AllHipHop: You mentioned labels calling earlier. How did you land at Warner Records?
Curly J: At first, you know you want to pop off immediately. With “Bag Different” then I dropped the record “Kappa” after that, and that went crazy as well — I thought “oh, the labels should be running in any minute.” And it didn’t quite happen like that. It took a little while, about a year after “Bag Different” dropped. I stayed consistent though. I dropped almost a record every month, they were all performing great.
It wasn’t until about 8 months after “Bag Different” when labels started to trickle in. It started off slow but then once I did more, it went crazy. I was meeting with everybody. I took a bunch of meetings. After talking with Warner then I’m also with Blueprint, I really liked what they’re about. It was a good fit for the vision that I see for my career and the vision they had as well. It was the right spot for me.
AllHipHop: How did it feel to be part of the Madden game?
Curly J: That was really really dope. I’ve been playing Madden since Madden 07. I was asking for Madden every year for Christmas, that was a part of my life. It’s not even like “Oh cool, a game I don’t play.” Nah, I f### with Madden. I play that game that I’m on. [laughs] It’s really dope. Even if I wasn’t on it, I would’ve been playing it this year anyway so it’s dope. Hopefully 2K coming next.
AllHipHop: 3 things you need in the studio at all times?
Curly J: Water, warm cookies, and good beats. That’s it.
AllHipHop: How would you describe your fashion sense?
Curly J: I like to match with my shoes. My shoes are always going to match with the fit. If I have a crazy graphic T-shirt, then I keep the pants pretty simplistic, then the shoes matching with it. Or if I have some crazy pants and the shirt’s simplistic, just basic, nice color scheme.
AllHipHop: You’re only 21, what do you like to do for fun when you’re not working?
Curly J: Besides video games I f### with streamers. I don’t really stream, but I’m friends with a lot of streamers and YouTubers. I like to travel. I f### with amusement parks. I like Six Flags. I know a lot of people are scared of big ass rides, but that s### is fun as hell. I love amusement parks. I love traveling, beaches, going out. Going out to get a drink, you know city life. I’m a city boy at heart.
AllHipHop: Who are your top artists in rotation now? Anyone you want to work with?
Curly J: I don’t listen to a lot of different artists if I’m being honest with you. I f### with pretty much all genres but going out of my way to go pull up specific artists, there’s really not that many. Drake, Lil Baby… I don’t know, it’s heavy on that right now. Some Future, that’s it. A little while back it was a bigger rotation, but right now rotation is pretty tight. I definitely shrink it when I’m in project mode, I don’t listen to as much. My routine really is a lot of Drake. Before studio sessions, I listen to a bunch of Drake, all his albums. From the very beginning all the way to present, just a lot.
It’s not even about the hit records, a lot of the sleepers on the projects. It doesn’t matter if it’s not the hit record, he put that type of game plan around that song anyway. There’s so much to learn from his records. Not even “oh I want to sound like him, but “oh, he formatted the hook here. He did this here. He put this ad-lib in the back right here like this.” It’s really really dope. Besides Drake of course, that’s everyone’s dream, guys like Lil Tjay. I’d love to work with Lil Tjay out of New York. Kid Laroi is someone I definitely want to work with. Polo G, J.I. too. Some dudes that aren’t quite as big as them, YXNG K.A out a PA is going crazy. Stunna Gambino is dope. I’m in talks with Lil Baby’s team a little bit. Lil Baby would be dope, Rylo Rodriguez over there with 4PF too.
AllHipHop: What’re you most excited for next?
Curly J: The EP I’m coming out with around late October, I can’t wait for people to hear that. It’s so good. It’s so so good. My last EP did really good with my fans, but this next one is head and shoulders above the last one. That’s really what it’s all about: growth. The fans will definitely appreciate that. The people who follow you from the whole story, they’ll say “Damn, he’s grown so much.” I’m going to make a lot of new fans off of this so for them, that’s where the journey will start with me. But for the people that have been there, they’ll be very impressed and surprised at what they hear.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want to let the people know?
Curly J: I’ma have music dropping year round. I’ma have hit records that people will be bumping anyways, so you might as well tune in now.
Yesterday (December 11th), Madonna posted a lengthy rant directed at 50 Cent, who mocked a series of risque snaps of the “Like A Virgin” singer, which showcased her writhing around in bed.
The last photo showed her bottom and legs – clad in fishnet tights – sticking out from underneath the bed.
50 Cent posted a photoshopped image of the still mashed up with a picture from “The Wizard of Oz,” showing Madonna’s legs sticking out from underneath Dorothy’s house, which crushed The Wicked Witch of the East in the film.
Number 1: “It’s not hard to find footage of you and me hanging out,” Madonna said while showing a clip of 50 Cent hanging out backstage with her.
Number 2: “What you should be apologizing for is your misogynistic, sexist, ageist behavior and remarks,” Madonna snarled.
Number 3: “You didn’t hurt my feelings because I don’t take it personally. I could never take it personally cause you’re not coming from an enlightened place,” said an angered Madonna.
Number 4: “You say that you’re not benefiting from it. Of course, you’re benefiting from it. That is what social media is all about. You do understand that, right? We post things about ourselves, and we use Instagram and other forms of social media because we want attention. We want people to buy our products. We want people to invest in our brands. We want people to listen to our music. We want people to go to our concerts. We want people to notice us. We want people to like us. There’s nothing wrong with any of those things but don’t kid yourself if you think you have an Instagram account and you’re not benefiting from it. Shut it down.
“Stop lying to yourself, okay? So you’re reposting somebody else’s low level of consciousness. Postings that are meant to shame and humiliate other people. That’s f##### up. You are trying to put a limit on when women should be able to feel good about themselves,” Madonna said.
Finally, Madonna accepted 50 Cent’s apology. However, the Queens, New York rapper, was at it again after Madonna’s latest post directed at him.
Fif wasted no time posting images from the “#LikeAVirgin63” challenge, which showcases people sticking their bottoms out from under their beds.
“What a positive influence you are,” 50 Cent shot back. “LOL #likeavirgin63 challenge. 🤷🏽♂️ I’m sorry, SORRY DIDN’T WORK ! 😳.”
50 Cent also made a customized movie trailer, clowning Madonna even further.
We had it in the rumors before it dropped! And we knew about it way before then! I’ll just give you a tip: we’ve heard about Dr. Dre‘s new music for months and months. It’s no surprise, or rumor even, that Dr. Dre continually creates. However, he is such a perfectionist that a lot of that music ends up in a vault for no one to hear. He has solo songs, songs with other people, and songs by other people that are just sitting and collecting digital dust. However, it seems like Dr. Dre now has a method of distribution that works for him as well as collaborations that appease his ear.
There is a new track with him and Anderson .Paak that was recently released. And, it exists in the metaverse. Well, the metaverse in this instance is a video game. Grand Theft Auto seems to be the mode of distribution for Dr. Dre in 2021. And these guys are really good! What’s going to be particularly interesting is how they infuse the music and the story within the greater video game. And also, will the songs be released in full on various digital service providers like Spotify and Tidal? Also, how will the songs be portrayed in the upcoming Super Bowl festivities in with Dr. Dre will be anchoring a performance with Snoop Dogg, Mary J Blige, Eminem, and Kendrick Lamar. Furthermore, it looks like Anderson .Paak might be involved since he’s on this featured song.
T.I. and Killer Mike are finally restoring the Bankhead Seafood restaurant they purchased in 2019 and announced they would open in 2020.
This week, the two rappers filed to receive a building permit to rebuild Helen Harden’s eatery, which opened in 1968.
The Run the Jewels artist made the announcement on his Instagram.
“Me and @troubleman31 working hard! Salutes @shaybigga & @krystal_dynasty for getting the deal done! Ya’ll some real leaders!
#WhyRapperHatersNeverMentionThisStuff #WestSidePride it takes a TEAM! #TeamWorkMakeADreamWork Thank @chakacooks & All The Crew from The @bankheadseafood Truck Too. Ya’ll Grunt work has not been overlooked. Ya’ll are appreciated.”
The restaurant, one of the most notable businesses on the city’s Westside for half a century, closed its doors in 2018, causing the chart-toppers to swing into full action with their community re-investment model that they have been promoting for years.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXULBJZg1pS/
Helen Harden shared that despite meaning so much to the community, the business did not have the resources to continue with the same level of quality that it was used to providing.
“I felt like I wasn’t doing my customers a good service when they wait a little longer than they used to have,” Ms. Harden shared with 11 Alive.
It makes sense that customer service and quality were at the front of her mind, especially considering that Bankhead Seafood was the longest-running business in Bankhead and the witness of generations of Atlantans.
“They brought the children here, and they’re eating here,” she said. “That’s grandchildren, children, and parents. So, I must be doing something right.”
One of those families was Killer Mike.
“It’s been a part of my life as long as I’ve been on earth,” the “Reagan” artist said. “If you’re writing a show or a book about Michael Render and his family, (Bankhead Seafood) would definitely be one of the characters.”
According to WSB-TV 2, the childhood friends did not only obtain the building when they acquired the property. They also became the owners of the name, trademark, and the restaurant’s classic recipes (fried fish, hush puppies, etc.).
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7XdjnhnucJ/
The pair have plans to add some things to the menu like grilled and steamed options aimed to offer healthy plates to the dinners. Mike’s aunt and grandmother’s biscuit recipes will be a new side and T.I.’s sweet potato pie will be a plus to their already scrumptious dessert menu.
After consulting with his family, the car brand revealed Project MAYBACH by paying tribute to Abloh by exhibiting the car at the Rubell Museum in Miami, Florida.
The Mercedes-Maybach show car exemplifies the possibilities of future design and is the result of an on-going cooperation with the polymath artist, architect, creative director, fashion designer and philanthropist; driven by a shared passion to enrich the conversation around luxury design.
A statement from the firm reads: “Now opening the world of our collaboration, and Virgil’s unique vision, to the public we want to respectfully celebrate the work of a truly unique design talent, who created endless possibilities for collaboration through his unbridled imagination and inspired all that knew his work.”
The design is unlike anything that has been developed by Mercedes-Benz, with every element of Project MAYBACH has been built from scratch.
Abloh, collaboratively with Gorden Wagener, has interpreted Mercedes-Maybach’s luxury identity with a new design language and pushed the boundaries of function, style, and collaborative creativity.
The 2-seater, battery-electric off-road coupé combines huge Gran Turismo proportions, large off-road wheels, and distinctive attachments.
Under the transparent surface of the show car’s front hood, for instance, solar cells increase the imagined range of the Project MAYBACH – despite the car being almost six meters long and being designed for outdoor adventure.
Up and coming Hip-Hop artist Bella Blaq released her fire new single “IDK”. Packed to the max with a heavy brass sample and dominant 808s, “IDK” is the perfect tune to wake up listeners and turn the volume up. Accompanied by Bellas unique and captivating flow, “IDK” brings forth energy like no other.
Throughout this record maintains your attention from start to finish. Containing themes separating from things that hold you down to live with the choices you make, “IDK” encapsulates the idea of moving forward and not looking back. Reflecting on personal experience, the song follows Bella’s rise to popularity and fake friends she has been exposed to during that rise. The song really speaks to how true relationships should be regardless of fame.
Bella Blaq, an American Rapper is one the most talented and endeared rap artists coming out of Atlanta. Born as Shekira Snipes in Blakely GA, she quickly recognized her talent with words and performance. Since basing her operations out of Atlanta she has achieved the impossible in her music career. For Bella, her family, her music, and her fans are what drive her daily. Her passion and focus led her to work with multi-platinum producer Epikh Pro (Bryson Tiller-Dont, Pardison Fontaine & Cardi B-Backin It up) who is her main goto producer.
Her popularity rose to new heights as her previous release “Booty” went viral on TikTok. During which time she quickly amassed over 1.3 million followers eventually causing “Booty ” to stream over 250 million times on TikTok. This rise allowed her to gain partnership deals with several major companies and magazines.
Some of the companies she’s partnered with are Hallmark, Triller, TikTok, Popeyes, Amazon, Kopri Beauty, and more. Some of the magazines she’s appeared in are The Hype Magazine, ThisIs50, All Hip Hop, and BillBoard Hip Hop to name a few. She recently landed one of the lead roles in the highly dramatic film “Sin” to be released in 2022.
Bella Blaq perfectly embraces her black and beautiful pin-up girl style. With a bubbling career on the rise, and with focus and motivation driving her daily, it’s apparent that Bella Blaq is this industry’s wake-up call to the next big wave in the music game.
Bella Blaq’s “IDK” single is now available on all digital music streaming platforms through TGMG. To stay up to date with Bella Blaq, follow her on all her socials
So many young people in Hip-Hop are in pain. Rappers are no longer super heroes and larger-than-life. They are human af. They are getting shot, overdosing, and suffering from mental health issues. Well, it seems like BlocBoy JB is the latest victim of the scourge of the community. He said he wants to die and go home to Jesus! Drake, help this man! That is how I knew who he was.
All of that is pointless now. BlocBoy JB said numerous things that got people worried about his health. He said, “[I] Wake Up Wanting To Live Go To Sleep Wanting To Die. Goin Thru Depression Is Alot.” He followed with that saying, “Jesus Please Take Da Wheel I’m Ready.”
Sources nearby said that BlocBoy is in a better space today, but I hope he goes on and gets help. Depression can slap you upside the head at any time!
