Hakim Green, fresh off a successful Verzuz battle with comrade KRS-One, has dropped a new song called “The Cypher.” The song serves as a dual role, to teach and to warn. Hakim, who met KRS many moons ago, gives a rundown of an actual rap cypher. But, his Bronx brother serves the ubiquitous sucker MC and the top shelf greats alike. “The goat that steps to KRS is the goat that gets curried,” he spews. One would think perhaps it was directed to a certain rapper. Hakim holds his own and continues with fresh, insightful he’s known for. “The cypher’s so sacred, takes place on hallowed ground,” he says as he gives the rules and history.
In a statement, he reveals his true intention as well as the legendary producer behind the track.
“The MAD IZM Cypher is the place to be. The Cypher is where skills are exhibited and Hip Hop is proven. The mission is to get in THE CYPHER and wreck shop. Hakim is on a journey to catch up with The Teacha to show once and for all why The Mad IZM Cypher is where The Real Hip Hop is. Produced by legendary Hit Man producer Ron “Amen Ra” Lawrence, The Cypher brings us back to that BOOM BAP style of HIP HOP that is predicated on exposing the listener to obscure BREAK BEATS and heavy scratches. This will definitely be a DJ favorite.”
CloutBoy is only 16 years old and already proving why he’s up next in the rap game. Hailing from Memphis, home to some of hip-hop’s greats from Juicy J to Yo Gotti to Moneybagg Yo, the rising star arrives with his own swag, own story, own braggadocious lyrics, and own dreams.
Speaking on his hometown, CloutBoy states, “It’s survivable, if you know what you’re doing.”
While he’s still a teenager, CloutBoy has his eyes set on turning his dreams into a reality. Dropping out of high school to pursue music full-time, the rapper plans on spending his waking hours perfecting his craft, building his fanbase organically and allowing the masses to catch on when they can.
AllHipHop: How would you describe your sound?
Cloutboy: It really depends on how I’m feeling when I write that song or when I’m in the studio. I grew up listening to different artists and different genres of music, but my sound’s mainly hip-hop and rap. If I’m feeling another type of way and I feel like singing or doing rock or pop, I’ll do that.
AllHipHop: How did you get your name?
Cloutboy: One day, I was at the barbershop and it was a trolley coming by with older women in it. They were all riding by, I got the idea to walk up to all of them and touch their butt on the thing. I posted the video, it’s still there, but I needed an internet name for the video. I said “I’ll go with this” because that was the most internet thing I could find to name myself. Then, I forever had the name. I never changed it. If you can find the video, it’s funny. It’s still up.
AllHipHop: What was it like growing up in Memphis?
Cloutboy: I’m used to it, but a lot of people think it’s difficult to be from a place like Memphis. Once you’re born into it, all the things that people would call bad, it actually turn into things that you can counter off of. They turn into good things. Being from Memphis taught me how to survive, how to watch my surroundings. It helps you grow up faster, you’ll become a man faster for sure.
Your parents 9 times out of 10 got a lot of kids, and they don’t have any money for real. They barely got food, barely got somewhere to stay so you have to grow up quicker. It helps you be more aware of what’s going on and makes you want to be something in life. Everybody’s broke, don’t nobody really got anything. It really helped, I can’t say anything bad about Memphis. It helps a lot.
AllHipHop: How did you fall in love with music?
Cloutboy: I got into music over quarantine because when Covid happened, everybody was in the house. I was really in the house, I said “alright, I’m finna try to be a rapper.” I ended up starting to look up beats and making songs. My first song was terrible, but it helped me get to where I am now. It helped me get better. I got freestyles from when I was younger but it wasn’t anything serious, I was just playing around with it.
AllHipHop: What artist were you looking up to?
Cloutboy: I really don’t want to say because how the industry is, they’ll take it back and paint the words around. I’d say Lil Uzi Vert. I got other artists I like, but I really want to keep it to myself. If you listen to my music, you can find out. I’ll say their middle or last name, but I won’t tell you directly because I don’t really want anyone to know. I don’t know why I like to keep it a secret, I like keeping it a secret. If you look at small details, you’ll find out what artists I like a lot a lot a lot.
AllHipHop: What made you drop out of school?
Cloutboy: I stopped going to school in the 10th grade. Out of all the people I hang around, I’m the youngest out of everybody all the time. Most times when I’m around people, the people I be with. I saw all them go to school, finish school and all that, but they’re still doing the same thing. Working regular jobs or still doing the same thing I’m doing, and they went to school and finished school. Instead of going to sit in class for all those hours, I’ll put all my time into my music. Studying the game instead of going to class and sitting here. When I went to school, we wasn’t really doing work. We’re in there chillin’, we were going to pass anyway because no child left behind. Instead of sitting in class and doing nothing, I put all my time into music. That’s when I decided.
AllHipHop: How do your parents feel about the decision?
Cloutboy: My dad died when I was 7. My mama’s the only person I told. If my dad was alive, he would’ve been the only other person. My mom is who I have enough respect for to tell, she’s the one that does everything for me. If I ever needed anything, she’d be the one to come through. No other soul on this earth would come before my mama. It’s really your own decision, but I had enough respect to let my mom know and explain to her why.
Of course, she didn’t really want me to drop out. She’s older and that’s what they believe in: going to school and getting your education. This new day and era, you can get money off the internet. You don’t really have to go to school anymore. They ain’t really teaching me nothing at my school about what businesses I wanted to get into. They were teaching me stuff about being a doctor, school, social studies, etc. I ain’t really trying to get into that field of work. This field that I’m in, they weren’t teaching me a thing about it. I decided to stop going to school, put my all my time into learning about this. My mama, she didn’t really like it. But it was my decision at the end of the day, so she went with it.
AllHipHop: How’s the independent grind?
Cloutboy: It’s pretty rough. I see a lot of artists out making music in the beginning, they go back to doing nothing. When nobody’s invested in you, nobody’s helping you with it, it gets rough. You don’t know where the money’s going to come from to invest back into the music. For me, I’m taking it day by day and step by step. Whenever I can get some money to go back to the studio, that’s what I do. I see that’s why a lot of artists stop making music, because there’s nobody’s helping and pushing them. Even though they probably are good at music, nobody’s helping them so it can be hard at times.
AllHipHop: Who or what inspired the record “All In?”
Cloutboy: The actual title is saying I’m “All In” for the music. Everything’s going to be invested in the music. All my time, money, and everything I got, I’m all in. Everything in me is for the music now. The record was another song that I made, another piece of my art and a piece of the journey. I really named it that because I’m “All In,” I have nothing else to fall back on. I don’t have a plan B, it’s one dream.
AllHipHop: Who’s on the cover art?
Cloutboy: That’s the neighborhood. I’m from Foote homes, but as I got older I went to Fowler homes. That’s two different neighborhoods, they’re right down the street from each other. That’s in South Memphis. On the cover art, they’re people from the neighborhood. Real close friends, I grew up with them. I ended up in the neighborhood that day to shoot the video. We ended up taking a picture, and I used the picture for the cover art. They’re kids, my friends’ little brothers in the cover picture.
AllHipHop: What do you want people to take away from your project, The Start?
Cloutboy: That was the beginning of my music journey. The start of it, that’s why I named it that. You can listen to it for your own opinion on it but I’m a totally different artist from there now. I’m still the same artist, but it was just the beginning of what I was making. It was leading me onto this, that’s why I named it The Start. It was all the music I had at the beginning, I released it and called it The Start. Now, we’re keeping it going. We’re in the middle of it.
AllHipHop: Where are you distributing through?
Cloutboy: Right now, the only thing I could find to distribute through is a company called Distrokid. That’s who I could find since I’m independent.
AllHipHop: How do you record? Do you write or freestyle?
Cloutboy: I actually write. I’ll get into freestyling and punching in a lot — the more money I get, the more time I can get going in the studio. Right now, I’m writing it. If you don’t have money to waste and you’re going into the studio freestyling it’s a bad idea. You’re wasting time, and that’s not a good idea. Right now, I write, then go in the studio and lay it down. I can get more songs done like that instead of going to the studio, freestyling a full song. I’ll get into that when I get more money. When I can go to the studio whenever I feel like it.
AllHipHop: How did your fathers death affect you?
Cloutboy: It’s really what my whole life is based off of. My father was in jail the first 6 years of my life. When I turned 7, I really only spent one year with him. He was my best friend for that one year for real. He used to come and get me every weekend. How it affected me, it really changed my perspective on everything. I can’t really say, but he had a huge impact. A lot of things changed. It got hard, everything was different when he left. You don’t have a dad to fall back on. Your dad teaches you how to grow up and be a man, but when you don’t have a dad, the streets teach you how to be a man. That’s the hard way but it’s happening, I’m getting through it. I’m using my brain to get through it, getting through it the best I can. It was tough for me, and still is to this day.
AllHipHop: How did he pass? I’m so sorry.
Cloutboy: Normal Memphis activity, he got shot.
AllHipHop: What rappers do you look up to from Memphis?
Cloutboy: Memphis is so small that most of the Memphis artists that come out and pop, I’ve already known them before they were rapping and before they got big. I took a lot of stuff from all of them. Different small stuff, they don’t know they gave it to me. I’ve been knowing them before they were rapping and they did certain things a certain way, so I knew what to do and what not to do when I got into that position. Right now Memphis, it’s a warzone going against each other. I look at everybody, take small details from them and use it for myself.
AllHipHop: What message do you want to give people through your music?
Cloutboy: It really isn’t a certain message I’m giving you, I’m just telling my story. You can take whatever message you want to take from it, I’m telling the story of how my life went, going and still going. You take what you take from it.
AllHipHop: What can we expect next from you?
Cloutboy: I’m really doing it as I go. I’ve been really working on a lot of music. You can expect more videos, more songs. I really want to drop a mixtape or an album whenever I’m able to. Just more music and more of the story.
AllHipHop: Any goals for yourself?
Cloutboy: Corleone Marciano Tuggle. I want to be the biggest I can be. I’m not competing with anyone but me. For me, I want to be the biggest that I can be and go as far I can go with it, until I can’t go anymore. If I fail at this, I failed because I’ve put everything into this. That’s a big one for me.
Bianca Banks is here to inspire the masses that if she can do it, you can too.
Hailing from Los Angeles, California, Banks stands for all things women empowerment, with a mission to positively impact the world any chance she can. First exploding onto the scene as a main cast member on Bravo’s reality television series Invite Only Cabo in 2017 alongside famous celebrity hairstylist Larry Sims, Banks has since moved into her #1 passion: journalism.
Describing herself as “a jack of all trades,” Bianca states, “It’s hard to say because I know I do so many things. When people say ‘what do you do?’ I guess I’m an influencer, maybe not really. Philanthropist, business person, I really wouldn’t wear one hat.”
Now, Bianca steps into her newest, most exciting venture: co-host of her own podcast titled The MND Show alongside her daughter, Jasmine Shannon. An acronym for The Mother N Daughter Show, the podcast series raises the bar when it comes to meaningful topics of discussion, covering everything from politics to parenting to relationships and everything in between.
Having her daughter at a very young age, Banks is here to break down the stigma of the limitations that come with being a single mom, giving hope to the masses that the show doesn’t stop when you have a child.
AllHipHop: What was a young Bianca like coming up in LA?
I love it. You know what? Before you called, I was just thinking about oh my God, I’m from here. I love it, and why do I love it? And I do, it’s just home. Growing up here was a great experience as far as making me aware and well-rounded: with the industry, with the arts and creatives. I had a little advantage because of that, because I never really meet people that are from here.
AllHipHop: Biggest influences coming up?
Bianca Banks: Wow, I probably had different people for different things. Business-wise or as a journalist, of course Oprah Winfrey. Because it’s Oprah. [laughs] I’ve always aspired to be like her. She started off in journalism as a newscaster, then she went over into hosting and moderating. Eventually developing into her own show, then her own network. She’s one of my biggest influences because I really feel like my heart is in journalism and she broke all barriers as a woman of color. I’ve done so many different things and now, this is the niche that I love..it just feels right.
AllHipHop: How did you fall into journalism?
Bianca Banks: Well, I’ve always liked talking to people. It’s easy for me. I like getting to know people and understanding stories. You know how when you talk to people, you’re like “okay this is fake” or You talk to people and you’re like “okay, this is real.” I always have something in me that wants to know about people and talk to people. People feel like it’s easy for me to talk to them.. A realness.. too so they end up telling me things that they wouldn’t share with other people. It’s a level of being comfortable. This process enhanced my personality and who I am in so many different ways. A lot of times previously, I was shy a lot. Now, I’m just me. Not shy, I’m all “okay, let’s talk.”
AllHipHop: Where did you start out writing?
Bianca Banks: Basically, I always wanted to launch my own podcast and my own radio show..moderate, have panel discussions. I want to have people and I ask all the questions. I want to be the interviewer. [laughs] During the pandemic, it was the perfect time to hone in on that because things had slowed down so much. It allowed me to tap into all the things that I wanted to do, but I couldn’t do because of time management.
AllHipHop: What’s the meaning behind The MND Show?
Bianca Banks: I’m so glad you asked that. So many people now have asked me, even people that have been on the show. It stands for Mother N Daughter. A lot of people ask “is it The Mind Show? What is it?” I just had one of my closest friends on, B SCOTT who asked “what is it? I always wanted to ask you.” I’m like “Why didn’t you ask me?”
Me and my daughter, we always had a really good chemistry. I had her when I was super young so we’d always talk, it’s so interesting. Again, it’s my natural thing of wanting to know how people feel. People would say “oh my God, is that you’re daughter? You guys are having these super intense conversations.” I’m like “yeah.” From that, it was always in my mind because people always were so fascinated with our relationship. I said “well, let’s do it together.” That’s how we birthed the baby.
AllHipHop: How does it feel to have a show with her? That’s amazing and unique.
Bianca Banks: Really? The thing is yes, it is unique. Obviously we can talk about anything, but it’s generational perspectives too. It’s a mother daughter perspective. It is challenging us in different ways however, because we are in business together. Sometimes my ideas and her ideas don’t marry..but it’s also making us stronger. It is interesting navigating through our relationship now she’s a young adult.
AllHipHop: How old is she?
Bianca Banks: She’s 26.
Bianca Banks: Photo cred: @jessyjphoto
AllHipHop: Who have been your favorite guests so far?
Bianca Banks: [gasps] Oh my gosh. My best friend Larry Sims, he was great because we just naturally have fantastic chemistry. I had a senator on, he was really good. That was really good because it was during all the political stuff we’re going through, and still going through. It was when we were having all the riots..really globally. It was good to hear different people’s perspectives, especially people that are really entrenched in politics daily. We’ve had hip-hop artists. I don’t know, everybody’s my favorite!
AllHipHop: What does Black excellence mean to you?
Bianca Banks: You know what, I was somewhere today and I was the only person of color. I was looking at every person in there, thinking I wonder how it feels to be them. Their stories and how they perceive themselves. There was a Caucasian person, then a Hispanic person. I thought, I love being in my skin too. Excellence for me is never muting yourself. Never muting your blackness, and just to stay proud.
AllHipHop: What do you have going on philanthropy-wise?
Bianca Banks: We have a family foundation. We choose a student every year to give a scholarship to. Now I really want to expound on that and start my own foundations for creatives, or people that are like me. I’m in the medical field, I’m a health care provider, then I totally launched into entertainment. Maybe have something like a scholarship that helps the youth or whoever really facilitates a way, a bridge into transitioning from one career to the next.
I know a lot of people too that were in corporate, and they decided to follow their dream or their passion just like me. They’re super, super successful. I don’t know how I want to box that up yet, but basically continue to support the creatives. My philanthropy is really geared towards the youth in whatever way that I can assist growth!
AllHipHop: What were you doing in the medical field?
Bianca Banks: I’m in pharmacy. My dad, he was a pharmacist too. He started his own pharmacies here in Los Angeles. I went to school for that. I said “I don’t really know if I want to do this,” then I went into pre-med/sociology. Once I graduated, my dad said “well, come back and learn the businesses. Run the businesses,” so that’s what I did. That’s still what I do every day. I’m remote, I can just do it. I fine-tuned it now. A lot of the grunt work, I worked so, so hard. Being a young single mom too, you really have to be focused. That’s what I did, and that’s still what I do. I’m trying to flex it a little bit.
AllHipHop: How does it feel to be a single mom doing all that you do? Any advice for single moms out there?
Bianca Banks: I wouldn’t say it’s easier, but there’s a little bit more societal support as far as single parents. For example, the Kardashians. People really bash them, they’re really hard on them, but I like them. They’re showing that their dad started something, but their mom took off with it. It’s really important that women have a sounding board. These women have shown everybody that they can be successful out of the traditional box.
For me when I had my daughter, being a single parent was still looked down upon.. I had to say “nope, let me march forward. Let me put my head up.” Because I know who I am and I’m proud of who I am, and I’m proud of my child. Make it into a positive thing for you, it doesn’t have to be negative would be my advice!
AllHipHop: How did COVID affect your work?
Bianca Banks: Well like I mentioned, I’m able to work remotely now, thank God. But when Covid hit, I had to really be on the frontlines and not leave my staff in the dark. For me, it was working regular, rigorous arduous hours at the hospital every single day. Again, I’m a single mom and now I have a little one. He’s 10. My mom’s here. My mom’s in a high-risk group because she’s elderly. We had no nanny, so we had to move in with my mom. Luckily that was good because he could stay with her and do the schooling when I was at work all the time.
Also I was engaged at the time, so I had to sacrifice that. I said “Okay, we have to be home here with my mom.” My mom is super old school, you can’t come over there and just chill. Be there. In my house, that’s my house I can do whatever I want. So that was challenging as well.
AllHipHop: What goals do you have for the platform?
Bianca Banks: I was thinking about that this morning. Everything that you’re asking me, I was thinking that. Sometimes you get into a little slump. “Should I be feeling like this?” I want to go on tour with it. I want to be able to go to different cities and interview people. I know because of Covid, I wasn’t really able to do that. I’m hoping we can launch even a small 8-city tour, where we go and we interview. We film and we can do the show live, that’s where I see myself going. The sky’s the limit. I don’t really have an area where “oh, we can do that or can’t do that. I want to take it as far as I can go.
AllHipHop: Can you talk about your time on Invite Only Cabo?
Bianca Banks: It’s crazy because I can’t believe it’s already been 4.5 years. People are still asking for this show. We’re discussing some things with the network now, but it was great. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Definitely now, I feel like I’d be more prepared to deal with that type of platform and that type of exposure. Then because you’re new to it, you’re like “okay what do we do now?” We didn’t have agents, we didn’t have management. Now, I’d be able to handle what comes with it and prosper from it a little bit better. But it was remarkable!
AllHipHop: What are you most excited for next?
Bianca Banks: I want to get into book writing. I want to write about my life because there’s so much of it that I don’t really talk about. My life and my story would be really encouraging to others that have faced the same challenges I have. It’s dope for women to know about other women’s stories. As women, we carry so much on our back.
The Weeknd fans will have to wait a little longer to see him tour again.
Just a few months before the After Hours World Tour was scheduled to begin, The Weeknd postponed the events until summer 2022. He announced the delay via social media, revealing new plans to move the shows from arenas to stadiums.
“The tour dates are moving and will commence in the summer of 2022,” he wrote on Instagram. “Due to constraints of arenas and the demand for more shows I want to do something bigger and special for you which requires stadiums.”
He added, “Current tickets will be refunded automatically and all ticket holders will be given priority to buy tickets for the stadium shows when they go on sale. New dates forthcoming.”
The Weeknd’s tour was supposed to kick off in 2020, but it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was rescheduled for June 2021 but got delayed a second time in February 2021.
After getting pushed back twice, The Weeknd’s tour was set to start in January 2022. His first show was scheduled to take place in Vancouver, British Columbia on January 14.
The Weeknd’s third postponement of the tour has come with some changes in its scope. It has been renamed the After Hours Til Dawn Tour and expanded to more locations.
North America and Europe were the only continents booked for the original iteration of the tour. The Weeknd now intends to perform in South America, Africa, Australia, the Middle East and Australia too.
According to Deadline and TMZ, Kanye West has legally changed his name to Ye. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michelle Williams Court approved his request on Monday.
The 44-year-old rapper filed a motion to change his name in August. He cited “personal reasons” for the switch.
The newly christened Ye is legally mononymous. No middle or last names are listed in the court documents.
Ye has been one of Kanye West’s nicknames for years, and it became one of his album titles in 2018. He flirted with the idea of changing his name to Ye a few months after that LP dropped.
“The being formally known as Kanye West,” he wrote on Twitter. “I am YE.”
That same year, the G.O.O.D. Music founder explained what “Ye” meant to him in an interview with veteran radio personality Big Boy.
“I believe ‘ye’ is the most commonly used word in the Bible, and in the Bible, it means ‘you,’” he told Big Boy. “So, I’m you, I’m us, it’s us. It went from Kanye, which means the only one, to just Ye – just being a reflection of our good, our bad, our confused, everything.”
Kanye West legally changing his name to Ye comes after he’s made a spree of real estate moves. He recently bought a Malibu home for $57.3 million and put his Wyoming ranch on the market for $11 million.
Many people STILL regard Rakim as the best rapper of all time. Personally, I think he is one of the greats, but I wouldn’t necessarily say he’s the best of all-time at this point. But, that’s not the point! He is the best of all time to some and to others he is not! That is Hip-Hop! And that is where these Verzuz battles come into play. At least recently, they have helped establish who is at the top of the pile. One thing is for sure, the fans are the biggest winners of all in all of this. I mean no shade to anyone with what I am about to see next.
It appears that Rakim decided not to battle Big Daddy Kane at the very last minute. Last night, Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur went on IG live and it was crazy! The live produced a bunch of celebrities including Swizzzz aka Mr. Zone Zone Zone Beatz, DJ Wiz from Kid-N-Play, Crazy Legs from the Rocksteady Crew (he performed last night at Verzuz), and others as well. One of them was Charlie Mack, Will Smith’s former bodyguard, and an overall VIP. Charlie Mack is an interesting figure and he plays a critical role in Hip-Hop. Much of his role is behind the scenes. And this was no different! In the IG live, Charlie stated that he had been working steadfastly to get Rakim and Big Daddy Kane in that “ring” together. And, before Kane and KRS-One were announced, Rakim was all but confirmed. At the last minute, a mere two weeks from the announcement, the God of Rap pulled out of the Verzuz with Kane!
How could this happen!? The money was there and they could have easily made it more song for song than battle-orientated. I heard that Rakim recently said that he’s not a battle emcee like that. I agree, but he certainly is a lyricist. I can’t help but be a little bit disappointing because these guys really were two of the alpha male rappers that people pitted against each other. Now, that might be the reason why Rakim didn’t want to do it. But, we can’t act like he wasn’t one of the competitive stallions in Rap at that time. Kane and Ra were really the gold standards at that time.
No, I do not know who Rakim can go against if the offer even presents itself again. Wow.
Here is the live…go to the 1-hour, 18-minute mark for Charlie Mack’s part.
Jay-Z is expected to take to the witness stand in a breach of contract lawsuit over an allegedly reneged perfume deal.
The rapper is accused of breaching a contract with bosses at Parlux, who claim he failed to promote Gold Jay-Z, a men’s fragrance he launched with them in 2016.
Although the music mogul has already given a video deposition in the case, Judge Andrew Borrok ruled in a hearing earlier this monthParlux should “do this the old-fashioned way” by calling Jay as a live witness.
“This should be sorted out pretty quickly now given the fact that Mr. Viola (Parlux attorney Anthony Viola) knows that I’m encouraging him to call the artist and the artist’s business manager,” the judge added. “So, the artist might be our first witness in the case if that’s what Mr. Viola chooses.”
It’s unclear exactly when Jay is to take the stand and his attorney Alex Spiro has declined to comment.
Love & Hip Hopstar Sidney Starr — best known for being the first trans star of the franchise — has confirmed she has a new man.
In an Instagram post, Sidney Starr revealed that her new man was none other than Darius “Eddie Winslow” McCrary. McCrary is best known for his role on Family Matters, and for infamously dating Karrine “Superhead” Steffans.
“We both are just built special!!!!! 2 hard working celebrities in the industry!!!!!!! Eddie Winslow, we love you!!!! @dariusmccrary! We hear ya’ll talking!!! #transisbeautiful #familymatters” she wrote in the caption.
Check out the Instagram post, and video of the two of them together, below.
We’re not sure if this is just another storyline for Love & Hip-Hop fans to watch, or if this is a real relationship. But either way, good luck to the both of them.
For what it’s worth, both of them have messy relationship histories. In addition to dating Superhead, McCrary was best known for getting thrown in jail back in 2015 for failing to pay child support.
Sidney Starr, meanwhile, previously dated “Right Thurr” rapper Chingy (though she later claimed it was a lie, and she only claimed to be dating him for clout). That “clout,” though, got her some starring roles in Lifetime’s Atlanta Plastic, E!’s Botched, and VH1’s Black Ink Crew: Chicago.
The battle with KRS-One and Big Daddy Kane was as epic as advertised! I was not there, but I saw the whole thing with my own two bad eyes! The rumors I heard before the battle was that Big Daddy Kane was going to come out and bring the whole Juice Crew. I heard a lot of stuff actually, but one thing I heard for SURE was that DJ/producer Marley Marl and legendary emcee Kool G Rap would be there! These are rumors people! Those two didn’t show up to the epic event at the Barclays in Brooklyn.
From the stage, Kool G Rap ran down a number of rappers, including Slick Rick, Rakim, and Kool G Rap. He stated that the Kool Genius Of Rap “declined” the appearance that had hundreds of thousands of viewers on multiple platforms. Why would such a dope emcee pass on such a big look? Simply put: Kool G Rap has found God. I do not know all the details, but he apparently passed on Verzuz for “religious reasons.”
This has been the word for quite some time. I think that is commendable of him because a lot of people would have no issue with taking the money for spitting a few bars. Of course, maybe the money was short! Who knows!? One thing is for sure, a lot of people were looking for Kool G Rap and he became more of a topic in absence than being there. That may have been the first time I saw “The Symphony” performed without all the members. WOW.
At any rate, G Rap was missed. I guess I hope he is doing well and happy with his life at this point.
In a leaked text chain, the new mom appeared to suggest Jesy had darkened her skin and changed her hair to appear more black in the promo for her debut solo single “Boyz.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CVLI7lAospa/
Her collaborator Nicki Minaj, who appears alongside Sean “Love” Combs in the video, attacked the Little Mix singer for her comments towards Jesy and for allegedly commenting on her friend Gabrielle Nikita’s private Instagram page when she faced similar allegations last year.
She wrote on her Instagram Story: “Stop using this fake selective outrage when you guys have personal vendettas against people.”
Leigh-Anne seemed to address the scandal in her birthday speech as she told guests: “I’m 30 years old. I know my character, you know my character, anyone that meets me knows my f###### character – and that’s all I care about.
“I’m so proud of everything I’ve achieved. The most beautiful fiance, who I’m still obsessed with even after five years. I love you. And the two most beautiful, perfect babies…everything I stand for, everything I’m fighting for, it’s for them (the twins). I will never stop. I have found my voice now and I will continue to use it. Tonight we celebrate life, best friends and amazing family. I love you all.”
Leigh-Anne’s fiance Andre Gray also defended her at the party, saying: “You can put this on Instagram or whatever and if you’ve anything to say, come and find me. She’s my baby mother, my wife. If you’re going to try and disrespect my baby mother, my wife, my fiancée and my children, there’s gonna be a problem. That’s how it is. All I want to do is support you three. Everyone in here knows their names. When they grow up, I hope they’re just like you.”
DJ T. Lewis A&R’s the Track and Reflects on Being Lil Wayne’s Official DJ
DJ T. Lewis has built a name for himself in the DJ world, but he has the ear and connections to facilitate top-tier plays. Starting out in the marching band, he always had a love for music and it grew from there.
After that, he built momentum and started to learn how to actually DJ and command the crowds he rocked in front of across the country. Seeing the potential early on and with such a great wave of responses, DJ T. Lewis realized that he could do this for a career.
Basing a lot of his success on his ability to network and build relationships, now DJ T. Lewis is the official DJ for the legendary Cash Money Hot Boy, Lil Wayne.
“I went to school with Cortez Bryant at Jackson State University and he was there before I was and he kinda saw me coming up in the city and he would call me to just do different gigs, filling in with Drake for different gigs and the overall goal with to DJ with Wayne and in 2014 Wayne had the Sorry for the Wait club run and from then on Wayne liked me and I’ve been there ever since,” DJ T. Lewis said.
But the road to this success has not been easy and clean-cut. Seeing how he could differentiate himself from other DJ’s, Lewis pushed himself to become an unofficial A&R. Piecing together records and showing he’s not just a face behind the turntables.
“The whole objective of me putting this single out is,of getting into production was trying not to sound like anybody else, but to really be able to create my own sound which I feel like we have together,” DJ T. Lewis explained.
His newest effort, “Nasty Dealer” featuring Skull-E is an electric whirlwind of flavors. Not only does Skull-E float with precision, this one will tear up the strip club. This is all leading up to T’s newest project, Don’t Sleep, slated to drop in mid-October. His focus is bringing quality music to the table, throughout his seasoned tenure in the game.
DJ T. Lewis is one of those names that if you know, you really know, but he’s never satisfied with his legacy. Pushing himself and these up and comers like Skull-E, we see the difference between vultures and a man who is truly here to push the culture forward. Stream “Nasty Dealer” below.
A lawyer representing the sole adult suspect charged with killing rapper Pop Smoke has asked the judge to dismiss his client’s murder count, insisting he told his teenage gang mates not to shoot anyone.
The 20-year-old was in court on Friday, when his lawyer, Christopher Darden, pointed out his client was so upset one of his co-defendants opened fire, he “assaulted” the gunman.
“It is clear from the evidence that he (Walker) did not enter the house, was not armed, and did not personally kill the victim,” the defense lawyer said. “Moreover, the evidence is clear that the defendant did not share the actual killer’s intent to kill… He did not plan this crime.”
Calling his client “the driver, who remained outside,” Darden added, “The defendant was aware that a weapon was being used”, but told his co-defendants “to use a flower vase rather than shoot someone.”
“It was only after the robbers exited the house and re-entered the vehicle that he (Walker) learned of the shooting. In response, he assaulted the shooter,” Darden argued.
The judge set a hearing on the new motion for December 3.
Prosecutors claim Walker and four others were responsible for the armed robbery that turned deadly.
Aubrey Drake Graham just added another monumental career accolade to his ever-growing inventory of accomplishments in the music business. Drake’s 2011 studio LP, Take Care, joined an extremely exclusive list this week.
Take Care is currently charting at #88 on the latest Billboard 200 album chart. The project has spent a total of 450 cumulative weeks on the Billboard 200.
Only two other Hip Hop albums charted for at least that amount of time. Eminem’s Curtain Call: The Hits spent 550 weeks on the Billboard 200 so far, the fifth most combined weeks in history.
Since Curtain Call: The Hits is labeled as a compilation, Drake’s Take Care became just the second studio Hip Hop album to make it into the 450-week club after Good Kid, M.A.A.D City.
Last year, Drake’s 2013 studio LP, Nothing Was The Same, spent its 350th week on the Billboard 200 chart. Only Eminem has more albums remain on the tally for at least 300 weeks – Curtain Call: The Hits, The Eminem Show, and Recovery.
Drake’s Take Care debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart in 2011 with 631,000 first-week copies sold. The Grammy-winning album contained features by Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, Rihanna, Birdman, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, and André 3000.
The Atlanta Braves took a 2-0 lead in the National League Championship Series on Sunday night. The NL East division champs won with a walk-off single that cemented a 5-4 comeback win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
While sports drama was playing out between the two teams at Truist Park in Georgia, there was also social drama playing out between the two teams on Twitter. Both franchises used words by members of the legendary Atlanta-bred Hip Hop group OutKast in the online feud.
“I’m sorry Mr. Jackson, Chris is for real,” tweeted the verified Dodgers Twitter account in response to Chris Taylor hitting a double off Braves pitcher Luke Jackson. The timely hit gave Taylor’s squad a two-run lead in the top of the seventh.
The Dodgers’ tweet referenced OutKast’s No. 1 Hot 100 hit “Ms. Jackson” off the 2000 album Stankonia. However, André 3000 and Big Boi’s hometown team would not be outdone on the field or on Twitter by the end of the night.
The Braves Send Their Fans Home Happy Following Game 2 Of The NLCS
The Braves Twitter account quote-tweeted the Dodgers’ “Mr. Jackson” tweet and added one of André 3000’s most famous quotes. After OutKast was presented the Best New Rap Group trophy at the 1995 Source Awards, Dre told the disapproving New York City crowd in attendance, “The South’s got something to say.”
Los Angeles will get the chance to pick up a victory in the 2021 National League Championship Series on Tuesday. The Dodgers host the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium for Game 3. Walker Buehler of the Dodgers will pitch against Charlie Morton of theBraves.
“Speaking for myself, I’m totally moved on in regard to that. I don’t even think about it. Where Rory and I stand now, looking back, it was the best thing that happened. I don’t have any reservations or any hard feelings toward anybody,” said Mal about parting ways with Joe Budden’s long-running show during an interview with Vulture.
Rory added, “I kinda wish it didn’t have to play out publicly. I thought that was a little corny. I thought we were all better than that, but you know, it is what it is. It made for good entertainment, I guess.”
According to reports, Joe Budden posted a statement on his Instagram Story this weekend that appeared to be a response to his former co-hosts. The message read, “They’ll question your character once you stop taking care of them.”
On October 15, a Twitter user tagged Joe Budden and mentioned that Rory and Mal “came up” since leaving The Joe Budden Podcast. Budden replied, “Isn’t it great!!???”
The New Jersey native did not actually take legal action against his estranged friends. During the Vulture Q&A, Rory and Mal were also asked about Joe Budden threatening to file a lawsuit against them over the New Rory & Mal podcast which launched in June.
Mal responded, “Yeah no, it’s not an issue for us. That’s something you would probably have to ask him, but it would be very funny — and a lot would be exposed — if he decided to do that.” Rory stated, “That’s not a route he would want to go. I can assure you that.”
As the back-and-forth between the two camps continues to play out in the media, Rory and Mal are planning to embark on their first live tour as New Rory & Mal podcasters. They will be in New York City on November 11 and Los Angeles on November 14.
KRS-One and Big Daddy Kane had their epic Verzuz showdown last night (October 17) as the two legendary figures went head-to-head at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn. The night featured appearances from Roxanne Shanté, Eric B, Mad Lion, Das EFX, and more.
🚨 Roxanne Shante 🚨 Masta Ace 🚨 Eric B 🚨 Das EFX 🚨 Craig G 🚨 Crazy Legs 🚨 Smooth B 🚨 Greg Nice 🚨 Mad Lion 🚨 Kool DJ Red Alert 🚨 Buckshot 🚨 Nice & Smooth
I think Kane at his best is a better lyricist and technician and smooth perfect delivery.. BUT KRS has a way bigger catalog and his stage presence and high energy is going to be trouble for Kane’s laid back style. I think BUSTA vs KRS and RAKIM vs KANE could’ve made more sense https://t.co/XcYq4WssiW
At one point last year it looked as though Timbaland and Swizz would be able to get Rakim in a Verzuz with one of the emcees he’s been most compared to throughout his career.
“You know, me and Kane go way back. Ever since 86, 87 after Kane came out, everybody kind of compared us to each other,” he recalled before stating why it has not happened yet. “If I wake up one day, and feel like it’s important to me and my career. I don’t know how Kane feels about it. You make decisions in your career and you try to stick to that.”
However, perhaps there was a disconnect as when Chuck spoke to Big Danny Kane in June he said although others wanted the Rakim Verzuz and he was down to do it, Rakim did not. Watch the full interview here.
Nevertheless, Rakim received his flowers in another form earlier this week as he was among those honored by the Hip Hop Museum of Washington DC. The 18th Letter was joined by rappers Kool Moe Dee, Kid Capri, Nice and Smooth, Pete Rock, Rakim, and more at a grand induction ceremony at the Ivy City Smoke House.
Will Young Thug add another #1 album to his résumé? The Atlanta-raised rhymer dropped his Punkalbum on October 15, and industry forecasters crunched the numbers in order to project how well Thugger did commercially.
According to HitsDailyDouble, Young Thug’s Punk is on pace to move 85,000-95,000 units in its opening week. Previously, the YSL frontman moved 131,000 first-week units for 2019’s chart-topping So Much Fun.
Besides So Much Fun, Young Thug also reached the pinnacle of the Billboard 200 chart earlier this year with the YSL compilation projectSlime Language 2. Thug has six career Top 10 entries.
The 30-year-old recording artist currently finds his name in the Top 10 of the Hot 100 chart. Young Thug’s contribution to Drake’s “Way 2 Sexy” earned the southerner his second #1 single on the Hot 100 before the collaboration slipped to #4.
The final numbers for Punk could rise thanks to Young Thug serving as the musical guest on this weekend’s Saturday Night Live. He ran through the Punk tracks “Tick Tock” and “Love You More” for the late-night sketch comedy show.
Punk arrived on DSPs with guest features by Drake, Future, J. Cole, Gunna, Post Malone, A$AP Rocky, Travis Scott, Doja Cat, and others. Additionally, the 300 Entertainment/Atlantic Records release contained vocals by deceased artists Juice WRLD and Mac Miller.
Drakeis back on top of the Billboard 200 chart. The OVO Sound leader’s sixth studio LP,Certified Lover Boy, returned to the pole position for a fourth nonconsecutive week.
Certified Lover Boy brought in another 94,000 equivalent album units over the last tracking period. That total was enough for Drake to overtake last week’s chart-topper Fearless (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift.
Drake led the Billboard 200 for three straight weeks before YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s Sincerely, Kentrell reigned for one week. Certified Lover Boy originally opened with 613,000 first-week units.
1. @Drake Certified Lover Boy (4th week at No. 1) 2. @DonToliver Life of a DON (debut) 3. YoungBoy Never Broke Again, 'Sincerely, Kentrell' 4. @MeekMill Expensive Pain 5. @Olivia_Rodrigo Sour
Elsewhere on this week’s Billboard 200, Don Toliver’s Life of a Don landed at #2. The Travis Scott protégé racked up 68,000 first-week units for his sophomore album. Toliver has the best-selling album of the week with 18,000 pure sales.
2020’s Heaven or Hell opened and peaked at #7 on the Billboard 200 rankings. Don Toliver was able to earn 44,000 first-week units for his debut studio LP.
In addition, YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s Sincerely, Kentrell rose one spot to #3 this week. Meek Mill’s Expensive Pain slipped one position to #4.
Lil Nas X’s Montero also dropped one slot to #6. Doja Cat’s Planet Her stayed at #7. Kanye West’s Donda climbed from #10 to #9. The Kid LAROI’s F*ck Love returned to the Top 10 at #10.
Certified Lover Boy hosts guest appearances by Lil Baby, Lil Durk, Jay-Z, Travis Scott, 21 Savage, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Kid Cudi, and more. The former No. 1 single “Way 2 Sexy” featuring Future and Young Thug remains in the Top 10 of the Hot 100 chart.
Rick Ross has his fingers in many pies. He is the CEO of Maybach Music. He owns more than 20 Wingstop locations and is a franchise owner of Checkers and Rally’s restaurants. Rozay has ventures in the beverages industry with spirits brands Luc Belaire and Bumbu.
He’s picking up bags in the burgeoning male grooming industry with his line of hair and beard care products, RICH by Rick Ross. He has the food sector covered with his Rap Snacks and CTRL and Meal Replacement shakes partnerships.
He also has a foot in the door of the cannabis industry, teaming up with fellow Rap legend, Berner and California Based Lifestyle & Cannabis Brand, COOKIES in 2020.
Now Rick Ross is once again partnering with Rap Snacks’ CEO and Founder James Lindsay to create a line of smokable products, under the name Hemp Hop Smokables, LLC. Also, onboard are San Diego-based hemp manufacturing company Hempacco and together they intend to introduce something new to the smoking industry. The innovative range will include cannabinoid cigarettes and hemp blunt rolling papers.
Rick Ross explained that his health issues drove him to create a more health-conscious product. “Having had my own health scares, and through my healing process, I decided I would develop a line of smokables to help others with the benefits of Hemp cannabinoids,” he wrote in a press statement.
Last month (September 7,) the business mogul published a new book “The Perfect Day To Boss Up: A Hustler’s Guide To Building Your Empire.” The book debuted on both the prestigious New York Times and Amazon’s bestsellers lists.
“From my understanding, the former owner of my estate had 17 people maintaining close to 300 acres. Even though he was very wealthy, the estate ended up going into foreclosure. So, to avoid this, I maintain the bulk of it with my buddies.” he said. “They handle the yard work, and I bought a tractor and I cut the grass. I’m thinking long-term, and hopefully I can get some other people to think this way as well.”
Jay-Z and Beyonce are the owners of many a palatial pad, spanning from coast to coast. Now, their property portfolio has gotten (ever so slightly) smaller with the news that they’re selling off their New Orleans Mansion. This comes just months after it caught fire in an arson attack.
Hip-Hop’s No. 1 super-couple are thought to have purchased the New Orleans church conversion back in 2015 for a reported $2.6 million. The former Presbyterian church, built in 1925, is now listed at $4,450,000.
The 13,000-square-foot property boasts towering 26-foot ceilings and vast windows. The seven-bedroom, eight-bathroom home is said to feature an incredible living green roof; New Orleans’ largest rooftop garden.
The stunning home is located in the Garden District of New Orleans, a stone’s throw from the main Mardi Gras parade route. The property doubles as an events space hosting weddings, salons, and major recording stars and corporate execs.
The Carter’s mansion caught fire back in July and though no one was hurt during the blaze, 22 NOLA firefighters battled for over two hours to combat the flames. An investigation concluded that the cause of the fire was simple arson.
If Jay-Z and Beyonce are experiencing any seller’s remorse then they’re hiding it well. The couple was in Venice this weekend to attend the wedding of Alexandre Arnault, an executive at Tiffany & Co. and the son of luxury brand LVMH’s (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE) Bernard Arnault. His bride is Géraldine Guyot, the founder of French accessory brand founder of D’Estrëe.
