Dave Chappelle has been at the center of controversy for the last several days. His latest stand-up special, The Closer, was met with criticism from LGBTQ groups such as the National Black Justice Coalition.
According to Variety, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos sent a memo to the company’s employees following a quarterly business review. Sarandos defended Dave Chappelle’s comedy.
“Chappelle is one of the most popular stand-up comedians today, and we have a long-standing deal with him. His last special Sticks & Stones, also controversial, is our most-watched, stickiest, and most award-winning stand-up special to date,” wrote Ted Sarandos.
He added, “As with our other talent, we work hard to support their creative freedom — even though this means there will always be content on Netflix some people believe is harmful.”
Netflix reportedly suspended three employees, including a transgender woman, for crashing the executive meeting. An investigation into the matter is said to be pending.
I work at @netflix. Yesterday we launched another Chappelle special where he attacks the trans community, and the very validity of transness – all while trying to pit us against other marginalized groups. You're going to hear a lot of talk about "offense".
We are not offended 🧵
— Terra Field is 🏳️⚧️ Visibly P##### 🏳️⚧️ (@RainofTerra) October 7, 2021
The Closer is currently the #3 most-watched program on Netflix in the United States. It only trails Squid Game and Maid in viewership at the moment. 2019’s Sticks & Stones won a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album and three Primetime Emmy Awards.
Nicki Minaj and Jesy Nelson dropped the video for their song “Bad Boyz” on Friday (October 8) and since then the pair have been caught up in a storm about Blackfishing.
The Queens rapper weighed in on the debate and hopped on Instagram Live with Jesy. When the conversation turned to the British singer’s ex Little Mix bandmate, Nicki called her “a big jealous bozo.”
This weekend screenshots were leaked, allegedly between Instagram user @nohun_ and Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock. The singer appears to suggest influencer @nohun_ make a video about Jesy “Blackfishing.” She also claims Jeys blocked her former bandmates calling Jesy a “horrible person.”
DMs allegedly shared by Leigh-Anne Pinnock and @nohun_. CREDIT: @nohun_/Instagram
“Sweetheart, take them text messages and shove it up your f###### ass,” Nicki said. “When you do clown s###, I gotta treat you and talk to you like you a clown.”
Nicki continued and implied that Leigh-Anne’s timing is suspect because she was “in this woman’s roof and you ain’t talk about this s### for 10 years.” Questioning her motivation, she continued:
But Nicki was not done there. Later on Monday evening, she posted a series of videos to her Instagram which were deleted a few hours later.
In the videos the “Starships” rapper suggests people are being selective with their backlash:
“Black people get on this s### every day and praise Kylie Jenner and Kim and all the girls in their family. And if you pull up a before and after of Kylie her shade is probably like 20 shades darker from how she looked as a kid. She has bigger lips now. She hangs out with black people. Is she blackfishing? No. I still commend her and compliment her and tell her ‘You that b####.’”
Referring to Leigh-Anne, Nicki questions why “shorty in the group” and critics in the U.S and U.K are only now voicing their outrage when Jesy has been selling millions of records over the last decade.
She also wonders if the outrage is centered around her and not Jesy Nelson as rapper/singer BIA was called out for Blackfishing when they put out a song together but not when she worked with Ross.
Whispering intently into the camera she said, “I don’t care, ok. You can’t steal my joy, that’s why y’all are really mad.”
She further questions which forms of cultural appropriation are acceptable, citing various examples where people seem to get a pass.
Watch Nicki Minaj and Jesy Nelson on instagram live below.
Tyga is being accused of domestic violence by his former girlfriend. He allegedly got into an altercation with Camaryn Swanson at his California home early Monday morning (October 11).
TMZ reports Camaryn showed up at Tyga’s house in the middle of the night, shouting and screaming. The situation turned physical, resulting in her now making accusations of domestic violence against him.
According to TMZ, they’ve heard from someone very close to Tyga that the rapper told his ex not to come to his home. She showed up anyway at 3 am “shouting at the top of her lungs” outside his front door.
The source reports that Tyga felt Camaryn was the influence. Some relatives who were over at his house also came to the same conclusion. According to the source, Tyga allowed her inside to talk and she continued raising her voice.
Camaryn called the cops after being collected by her mother. TMZ has reportedly spoken to law enforcement who say Tyga’s ex filed a report claiming he put his hands on her. Officers at the scene report seeing “visible marks” and took a report for felony domestic violence.
Camaryn has since posted a video of her alleged injuries saying she is “embarrassed and ashamed” things have gone this far but she is standing up for herself. She also posted text messages purportedly between her and Tyga showing him sending a car for her at 3 AM, refuting claims he asked her not to come over.
Police went to speak to Tyga Monday morning but he didn’t want to speak to them, instead making arrangements to go to LAPD Tuesday morning to make a statement. He was not arrested.
It is unclear when Tyga and Camaryn split but it is thought to be prior to Monday’s incident. The pair have not been a couple for very long, they reportedly began dating in early 2021.
Jay-Z’s social justice outfit, Team Roc has garnered donations amounting to $1 million for the Midwest Innocence Project to fund investigations into wrongful convictions in Wyandotte County.
The group works in five states, including Kansas, where Jay-Z has filed a lawsuit against the police department. According to executive director Tricia Rojo Bushnell, the $1 million Team Roc sourced from donors amounts to their entire annual budget.
“It’s a huge investment,” Rojo Bushnell said: “The ability to look at these cases … is really going to continue to shine a light on what we need to do to actually provide a just criminal legal system in Wyandotte County.”
The Midwest Innocence Project has received about 40 applications from people convicted in Wyandotte County seeking review of their cases.
One of these injustices is the case of Lamonte McIntyre, wrongfully convicted for murder in Kansas City, Kansas. He spent 23 years in prison after being convicted of two murders he did not commit. A more recent case is that of Olin “Pete” Coones Jr. He spent 12 years in prison for a murder in Wyandotte County before being exonerated. He died 108 days from cancer after being granted his freedom. His cancer went undiagnosed during his time behind bars.
Last week, Jay-Z’s philanthropic organization took out a full-page advertisement in the Washington Post asking the Department of Justice to intervene.
“The police and eyewitness reports of criminal behavior perpetrated by members of the Kansas City, Kansas police department, over the past several decades, are staggering,” it said. “They detail graphic accounts of rape, murder, sex trafficking and corruption so rampant and so blatant, it would be shocking if even a single allegation were true.”
A group affiliated with Jay-Z took out a full page ad in Tuesday’s Washington Post calling for the Department of Justice to investigate the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.https://t.co/tvKekbBQzr
Just in time for National Coming Out Day comes the revelation that the new Superman — Jonathan Kent — will be coming out as bisexual.
The news comes courtesy of ComicBook.com, which revealed that the news will be revealed in the upcoming Superman: Son of Kal-El #5 comic book.
Prior to the new Superman coming out as bisexual, Tim Drake — better known as Robin — also had a coming out story of his own.
“I’ve always said everyone needs heroes and everyone deserves to see themselves in their heroes and I’m very grateful DC and Warner Bros. share this idea,” said Tom Taylor, the writer for the comic. “Superman’s symbol has always stood for hope, for truth, and for justice. Today, that symbol represents something more. Today, more people can see themselves in the most powerful superhero in comics.”
“I’m incredibly honored to be working beside Tom on the Superman: Son of Kal-El series showing Jon Kent tackling his complex modern life, while also saving the world from its greatest threats, villains, and menaces,” said theartist John Timms, in a statement given to ComicBook.com about the new series.
One of the variant covers also features Supes leaning in for a kiss from a man, so this is a great day for representation, to be sure.
Kanye West is looking to selling his ranch in Wyoming.
Yeezy has put his ranch on the market for $11 million, which is $3 million less than the asking price when he bought it in 2019. The massive property is located just outside of Cody, Wyoming.
Kanye West owns 4,500 acres of the property. However, a Zillow listing for the ranch says it’s 3,888 acres. According to the Daily Mail, another 4,500 acres are leased from the federal government.
The property features two freshwater lakes that provide ample opportunities to fish for trout. It includes eight lodging units, a go-cart track, its own restaurant, equipment sheds, livestock corrals and much more.
Earlier this month, Kanye West put seven of his commercial properties in Cody, Wyoming up for sale. They were listed on the market for more than $3.2 million.
Kanye West has also been making purchases outside of Wyoming as of late. In September, he bought a lavish home designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando in Malibu for $57.3 million. He was rumored to have picked up an apartment in Belgium too.
The spree of real estate moves occurred after Yeezy finally released his Donda album in August. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, becoming his 10th album to reach the top of the chart.
Netflix has suspended three people, including a transgender employee who publicly criticized Dave Chappelle.
Terra Field, a senior software engineer, condemned Dave Chappelle’s Netflix special The Closer in a Twitter thread on October 6. She said the comedian “attacks the trans community, and the very validity of transness – all while trying to pit us against other marginalized groups.”
Field’s Twitter thread went viral, generating thousands of retweets and likes on the social media platform. Less than a week later, Field was suspended by Netflix.
I work at @netflix. Yesterday we launched another Chappelle special where he attacks the trans community, and the very validity of transness – all while trying to pit us against other marginalized groups. You're going to hear a lot of talk about "offense".
We are not offended 🧵
— Terra Field is 🏳️⚧️ Visibly P##### 🏳️⚧️ (@RainofTerra) October 7, 2021
The Verge was the first to report on the suspension. Netflix claims Field isn’t being punished for the tweets about Dave Chappelle.
“It is absolutely untrue to say that we have suspended any employees for tweeting about this show,” Netflix said in a statement. “Our employees are encouraged to disagree openly, and we support their right to do so.”
According to Variety and NBC News, Field and two others were suspended for trying to attend a quarterly meeting for Netflix executives. The identities of the other two employees haven’t been revealed.
Dave Chappelle’s The Closer has come under fire for being transphobic. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos defended the special in a leaked email.
“Several of you have also asked where we draw the line on hate,” he wrote. “We don’t allow titles on Netflix that are designed to incite hate or violence, and we don’t believe The Closer crosses that line.”
He added, “I recognize, however, that distinguishing between commentary and harm is hard, especially with stand-up comedy which exists to push boundaries. Some people find the art of stand-up to be mean spirited but our members enjoy it, and it’s an important part of our content offering.”
Sarandos also warned staff that some talent may join “third parties” in calling for the removal of Dave Chappelle’s special. He insisted Netflix would not remove The Closer from its streaming services.
Blac Chyna ranted about the COVID-19 vaccine at an airport, but she happened to be in favor of vaccinations.
Although airlines have experienced lots of anti-mask disruptions during the pandemic, Blac Chyna was pro-protection in her tirade at Miami International Airport. During a confrontation at an airport terminal, the socialite yelled at someone to get vaccinated.
“Go getcha f###### vaccine and stop being stupid, hoe,” she shouted in a clip from the scene.
According to TMZ, a woman with a baby asked Blac Chyna for a photo. This apparently set the reality television star off as she inquired if the mother was vaccinated.
Blac Chyna’s rant seemingly went off the rails as she started talking about flying around the country. In the clip, she mentioned traveling from Washington, D.C. to Miami to Los Angeles.
Police weren’t called on Tyga and Rob Kardashian’s ex since the situation never escalated beyond a loud argument. But she did have plenty of travelers staring at her while airing out the woman in public.
Blac Chyna has been an advocate for vaccination, even going so far as to get her COVID-19 vaccine live on Instagram. After receiving the shot, she encouraged all of her followers to do the same if they hadn’t gotten it already.
View the rant above and watch footage of her receiving the COVID-19 vaccine below.
Comedian Dave Chapelle has been facing enormous backlash from some members of the LGBTQ+ community after his last Netflix comedy special that talked about his complicated relationship with the Trans community.
Family members of Daphne Dorman, the late transgender comedian who was a dear friend to Chapelle, say that their loved one adored him and considered him an LGBTQ ally.
One of Dorman’s sisters, Becky, exclusively told The Daily Beast, “Daphne was in awe of Dave’s graciousness.”
“She did not find his jokes rude, crude, off-coloring, off-putting, anything. She thought his jokes were funny. Daphne understood humor and comedy—she was not offended. Why would her family be offended?” she continued.
Her other sister, Brandy offered, “Dave loved my sister and is an LGBTQ ally. His entire set was begging to end this very situation.”
Brandy also shared with Facebook the following in defense of the comedian.
“At this point, I feel like he poured his heart out in that special and no one noticed.”
The post continued, “What he’s saying to the LGBTQ family is, ‘I see you. Do you see me? I’m mourning my friend in the best way I know-how. Can you see me? Can you allow me that?’… This was a call to come together, that two oppressed factions of our nation put down their keyboards and make peace. How sad that this message was lost in translation.”
Dorman’s death deeply impacted Chapelle. He mentioned her in his 2019 Netflix special, “Sticks & Stones.” She posted about it on her social media.
“Yeah, you know, it’s just that moment when you realize that after Dave Chappelle talks about meeting you in the secret ending of his new Netflix special, you see your photo appears immediately after Barack Obama’s photo in the credits. #sticksandstones #davechappelle#netflix #imthatdaphne #funnygirl#standup #comedy #notabrittlespirit#itsgettinreal”
She also posted on Twitter, “Punching down requires you to consider yourself superior to another group. @DaveChappelle doesn’t consider himself better than me in any way. He isn’t punching up or punching down. He’s punching lines. That’s his job and he’s a master of his craft. #SticksAndStones #imthatdaphne”
Punching down requires you to consider yourself superior to another group. @DaveChappelle doesn't consider himself better than me in any way. He isn't punching up or punching down. He's punching lines. That's his job and he's a master of his craft. #SticksAndStones#imthatdaphne
In “The Closer,” he mentioned that Dorman stood up for him against those who went against him in the LGBT community by referencing the aforementioned tweet.
He also mentioned that within a week after doing so, she died from suicide after being cyberbullied by the same community that called him transphobic.
“I don’t know what the trans community did for her,” Chappelle said, “but I don’t care, because I feel like she wasn’t their tribe. She was mine. She was a comedian in her soul.”
He further declared that he would make sure that Dorman’s children are taken care of by giving them a gift when they turned 21 years old.
Brandy posted, “After she committed suicide, all I saw all over social media was Dave-Chappelle-bashing … I commented on so many posts, which is something I do not do. I commented to defend Dave … Dave was the biggest bright spot for Daphne; She was enamored for the first time. Blaming Dave is beyond the wrong thing to do. He helped her and let her be comfortable while talking with him. She had many demons; Dave Chappelle was not one of them.”
“The man loved my sister and felt empathy towards her human experience … As often as Dave stands up for Daphne, we will be there for Dave. This man is our tribe, and we mourn alongside him.”
Kodak Black baffled and disturbed social media users who saw him grab his own mother’s butt.
In a viral clip, Kodak Black was seen gripping his mom’s buttocks while the two danced. The video showed him laughing as he touched her backside multiple times.
The footage began with the controversial artist cupping his mother’s butt cheek as someone shouted, “Ohhh!” off-camera. After fondling her, he attempted to kiss her on the mouth before resuming their dance.
Somehow, the video got even more awkward as it progressed. About a minute into their dance, Kodak Black’s mom appeared to be walking away from him. While she was turned around, her son put his hand on her behind again.
When the Atlantic Records rapper’s mother took a few steps away from him, he reached out and grabbed her butt once more. But this time, he squeezed her rear. His mother quickly spun around and playfully slapped at him as he laughed.
The clip of Kodak Black getting handsy with his mom emerged after he scared fans with some concerning Twitter posts. He claimed he was thinking about killing himself before deactivating his account.
Kodak Black later insisted he wasn’t a danger to himself in an update on Instagram. He apologized for worrying people, thanked those that checked in on him and said he just need a vacation.
“I’m not suicidal and have no plans on harming myself,” he insisted.
Check out some of the reactions to the viral video of Kodak Black’s odd behavior below.
I’m actually uncomfortable with Kodak Black touching his moms ass like that 😕 kid keeps getting weird and weirder every single day. I can see why Jackboy like him from a distance .
Jesy Nelson wasn’t bothered by Nicki Minaj’s controversial comments about the COVID-19 vaccine.
The pair collaborated on Jesy’s debut solo single “Boyz,” which dropped weeks after the rapper voiced her fears about the COVID-19 vaccine, including suggesting it could lead to impotency.
However, Jesy insisted that Nicki’s recent comments, never made her question having the global superstar appear on the single.
When asked by Vulture, “Given this is such a big moment for you and you will want things to go well, does the backlash to her vaccine hesitancy make you anxious about having her on your song?”, Jesy replied: “Not at all. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion.
“If Nicki feels like she hasn’t done her full research and she wants to know more about the vaccination, then that’s her opinion. She’s there to be on my song, to do her part.
“She’s literally made my song even better. That’s nothing to do with my song and what we’re doing together.”
Jesy also revealed she has loved Nicki since the rapper worked with Little Mix on “Woman Like Me” in 2018.
She said: “We performed with her at the (MTV Europe Music Awards), and I loved her from there. She’s so real, and I’m big on that. It’s weird to find that in this industry. And she’s the best.
“I thought, There’s no one more perfect for this song. I screamed when I heard (her verse)! I always knew I wanted her on it, because she’s the queen. I just love her so much.”
Nicki first admitted her concerns about the jab when she explained one of the reasons why she wouldn’t be at the Met Gala last month was the vaccine mandate for attendees.
Nicki – who has more than 22 million followers on Twitter – wrote on the micro-blogging platform: “My cousin in Trinidad won’t get the vaccine cuz his friend got it & became impotent. His testicles became swollen. His friend was weeks away from getting married, now the girl called off the wedding.
“So just pray on it & make sure you’re comfortable with ur decision, not bullied. (sic)”
Meek Mill has earned the seventh Top 10 album of his career.
The Maybach Music Group rapper’s Expensive Pain debuted at No. 3 on the latest Billboard 200. Meek Mill’s new LP sold 95,000 album equivalent units in the week ending October 7.
Meek Mill missed out on his third No. 1 album thanks to Taylor Swift and Drake. Swift’s Fearless (Taylor’s Version) returned to the top spot with 152,000 album equivalent units sold. Drake’s Certified Lover Boy remained at No. 2 for the second week in a row with 110,000 album equivalent units sold.
Expensive Pain moved 10,000 copies in terms of pure album sales. The bulk of Meek Mill’s first-week numbers came from streaming as he racked up 110.53 million on-demand streams. That amounts to 82,000 units sold in terms of streaming equivalent albums (SEA). An additional 3,000 units came from track equivalent albums (TEA).
Meek Mill’s latest project is his sixth album to crack the Top 5 of the Billboard 200. 2015’s Dreams Worth More Than Money and 2018’s Championships are his highest-charting LPs, both reaching No. 1.
Expensive Pain joins 2016’s DC4 and 2017’s Wins & Losses in hitting No. 3 on the Billboard 200. Meek Mill’s debut studio album Dreams & Nightmares, which dropped in 2012, peaked at No. 2. His 2018 EP Legends of the Summer cracked the Top 10 at No. 9.
Meek Mill released his Expensive Pain album on October 1. The 18-track LP features collaborations with Lil Baby, Lil Durk, Lil Uzi Vert, Kehlani, Young Thug, Moneybagg Yo, Brent Faiyaz, A$AP Ferg, Vory and Giggs.
Stream the project and view its full tracklist below.
RJ Payne is rapidly on the rise as a legendary artist in a time where legends don’t necessarily rap rap. On his latest series “If Cocaine Could Talk Volume 7,” he employs the services of Ice-T, an icon that believes in the Philly rapper’s movement. In this exclusive interview, Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur talks to RJ Payne & Ice-T about a myriad of topics including ICCT7, Nino Brown as an iconic drug kingpin, super lyricism, and more. Ice-T even reveals how he plans to get RJ & Dr. Dre in the studio together.
Ice explained how he got to know RJ and what drove him to work with the younger artist. “A lot of rappers that rap like him have an arrogant attitude about them like “Yeah, yeah…now you’re on my d##k now.” Not [RJ Payne], he was the opposite,” the West Coast don continued. He said that he’s not formally working with Payne, but keeps working with him as an informal advisor. “Hustling is hustling, no matter what you are selling. He’s doing crack music. He’s doing coke music. And people are getting ‘high’ off it because its dope. Its dame near like what I was saying with ‘I’m Your Pusher.’ Its just fun to be involved with somebody that’s so promising.”
You don’t want to miss this meeting of the minds.
Over the course of about 5 years, RJ Payne has been on a tear that easily rivals the likes of Griselda. In 2017 alone, he dropped seven albums, with four being tributes to the late rappers, Big L, Big Pun, Prodigy of Mobb Deep, and Sean Price. All of the tracks were contructed by PA Dre at the time. He would soon take to Instagram with the “Murder in Less Than 60 Seconds” mixtape of his IG freestyles. It worked.
In 2018, fans and celebrities were in accord with Payne. He released “Murder In Less Than 60 Seconds Vol 2” crafted songs with legendary DJ Doowop, “Dear Amerikkka” with Lord Jamar of Brand Nubian, “Death of Mumble Rap” with Reed Dollaz, and 777, an album Jay-Z inspired him to create. There is so much more, but If Cocaine Could Talk Volume 7 (the last in the series) is destined to be a classic. The audio movie is set to drop late October 2021.
It’s crazy to think YTB Trenchhas only been making music for less than a year, but he’s quickly proving his talents in the rap game.
Hailing from Cincinnati, the rising star was discovered by his manager with no music out, and now he joins the famed Young Stoner Life Records spearheaded by Young Thug.
What sets Trench apart from the rest is his standout, unique, raspy voice, and ability to spit and sing in ways that melodic rappers could only wish they could. Describing himself as merely a “musician,” Trench is the definition of a storyteller, not only through his lyrics but through his visuals.
It was his song “My City” that caught the attention of Young Thug himself, who hopped on the remix and went on to feature it on YSL’s compilation album Slime Language 2.
Additionally, Trench was featured on the song “Paid The Fine” alongside Lil Baby, Young Thug, and Gunna, which went viral after the artists came together to pay off the bonds of inmates within Atlanta’s Fulton County Jail.
Most recently, he released his critically acclaimed music video for “Toxicity,” teaming up with Lyrical Lemonade’s Cole Bennett to deliver a remarkable, cinematic visual that brings the record to life and shows the superstar YTB Trench is destined to be. The song is taken from his standout mixtape titled “Versatalien,” which highlights his versatility to the fullest.
AllHipHop: How would you describe your sound? It’s very unique.
YTB Trench: I don’t know how to describe it forreal. It’s a part of me. It’s unique. but to a certain extent. I work for it. Probably from y’all perspective, it’s like “Whoa, this is crazy.” But for me, it’s really a part of my craft. Another way to keep working, play around with the sound. That’s all it is.
AllHipHop: Do you remember when you discovered that sound?
YTB Trench: It’s almost been a year now since I’ve been doing music so… there’s really no particular date. It came with the growth.
AllHipHop: It’s only been a year since you’ve been doing music?
YTB Trench: Yeah, it just hit a year. It was actually about 8 or 9 months from “My City.”
AllHipHop: What were you doing before that?
YTB Trench: I was in school. I had scholarships for college, University of Akron, but I started missing school to pursue music.
AllHipHop: What were you studying in school?
YTB Trench: I wasn’t studying nothing, I was playing basketball. I was doing sports.
AllHipHop: Did you have hoop dreams?
YTB Trench: Nah, I was just good at what I did forreal. That’s really what it is, I was good.
AllHipHop: What was the young YTB Trench like growing up in Cincinnati?
YTB Trench: On the block. [laughs] You know, it ain’t no different. Same situations everyday: poverty, the fugazi cop s###, junkies. Different stuff happens everyday. As far as growing up and learning, I was by myself. I didn’t really have nobody to follow or copy from, no role models. Just little s### to help with my craft, my growth, and my mindset. I really had to mold myself.
AllHipHop: Who were you listening to?
YTB Trench: Honestly, it was instruments. It wasn’t even a person. Instruments made me want to do music, hearing different waves and beats. Hearing the beat and being able to move to it, that’s really all it was. That’s when I started really wanting to learn about music: who does it, who’s poppin’ and who ain’t. Be educated with it, then I started doing it myself and here we are.
AllHipHop: Do you play instruments also?
YTB Trench: Yeah a few, not too many though. I play a couple instruments. I’m good at piano. I’m decent at guitar, I could be better. Real s###. [laughs]
AllHipHop: Your manager discovered you with no music out, talk about that experience.
YTB Trench: It was unexpected forreal. This whole story, it was crazy. He hit me up late one night, told me “we’re going to fly you out tomorrow, then we gon’ talk business.” He already informed me that he heard my music, he was liking it or whatnot. I’ve got somebody I know poppin’ that messed with me a long time. If he ever put me in a position, I ain’t gon’ disappoint him. That’s what it was: “alright, this what’s gon’ happen. How you feeling?” That’s where we ran with it.
AllHipHop: How did you get your name, YTB Trench?
YTB Trench: That wasn’t even my name at first. [laughs] I got that name 4 or 5 months in. What I was known by, it was so fluent so we ran with it. Everybody called me Trench. Everybody knew me by Trench so that’s what it was, we ran with that s###.
AllHipHop: Who or what inspired “Toxicity”? Bring us back to when you created this record.
YTB Trench: I’m 20 years old right now, I made this record when I was 18. It’s an old record. I was full of ideas when I was young so I can’t even lie, I don’t remember. [laughs] Let me explain it this way: all my music, each song’s got a story. Once I drop it, I don’t even listen to it anymore. It’s a part of the past, I leave it in the past. That was one of them songs. Once I recorded it, it was what it was. Most of these songs that y’all hear, they’ve been done.
AllHipHop: How do you know when to release it? Why was now the time to release “Toxicity”?
YTB Trench: It wasn’t even like that. “Toxicity” wasn’t even like “Oh this record hard, so we gon’ do this with this…” It was “Okay this a hard record, we gon’ use it whenever we use it. Whenever the time comes.” That’s how it is with me, I work too fast. My management tells me I work too fast, extremely too fast. I get too many songs. It’s crazy, we can’t keep track. We keep working, keep going. Keep perfecting your craft. I kept shooting out songs, kept shooting out different varieties of music. It’s like “Bro, what are we gon’ do with this kid?”
AllHipHop: So early in your career and already collaborating with one of the biggest videographers Lyrical Lemonade. How’d that happen?
YTB Trench: I’ma be honest, I don’t know the background. I just know he hit me up on Instagram. He gave me his number, then my manager put us in a group chat and we were all talking about it.
AllHipHop: What was the best memory? Where did you guys shoot it?
YTB Trench: We shot it in Chicago, the whole time was exciting forreal. Being 19 and being able to shoot with one with one of the best directors in the world, it was lit. There’s a video on Youtube behind-the-scenes, y’all go watch that.
AllHipHop: You went to Chicago from Cincinnati?
YTB Trench: I was in Florida actually, that’s where my manager lives. I don’t even live in my city, I’m based in Atlanta. I’m just out here right now, this the first time I’ve been in my city in a while. I’ve been out here for about a month.
AllHipHop: How’s your hometown presence compared to elsewhere?
YTB Trench: Being honest, I get more love elsewhere.
AllHipHop: Why do you think that is?
YTB Trench: No idea, that’s how it was before I blew up too.
AllHipHop: In the music video, you get arrested. Was that inspired by a real life incident?
YTB Trench: I got arrested a couple times. Shoot. Being honest, I was just really the creative genius behind the music. The whole videographer thing, that was Cole. He brought that to life. That’s the vision he had for the song.
AllHipHop: How’d it feel to get Thugger on “My City”?
YTB Trench: It was lit. I ain’t gon’ lie, I didn’t even know he was gon’ hop on that song. That was his favorite record. He signed me off that song, he fell in love with that song. He texted me on Instagram.
AllHipHop: Just like that?
YTB Trench: Just like that. He texted me off Instagram saying “I want to sign you lil bro.” I didn’t text back right away because I couldn’t believe it was him, first off. After that, I just hit him. I said “What we doing? Let’s do it.” The rest is history. I went to Florida with my management to go over the contract, and after that I went to LA.
AllHipHop: Was Thugger one of your favorite artists? What did that mean for you?
YTB Trench: Thugger was big time. You’ve got categories of prospects you want to do in life, right? Mine was “okay, I want to do this with me and get to that.” This was something I saw years to come, but damn that s### happened overnight. I talk to myself more than anybody, so now it’s really replanning and it’s a different journey. It ain’t what I planned, but it’s what I plan now.
AllHipHop: You’re on “Paid the Fine” with Lil Baby, Young Thug, and Gunna. How did that come about?
YTB Trench: I was in LA for about a month or 2, I was with Slime. We were chillin’ for real. They’re doing an album and I didn’t even know I was going to be on it. I was in the studio recording and they brought the song back there, wasn’t nobody on it but Lil Baby. They told me “Yo, Lil Baby on here. Hop on here and express your everything.” They told me “Don’t hold yourself back, express what you’re feeling on this particular beat” and I ran with it. After that, they put Thug and Gunna on it. “Paid the Fine”!
AllHipHop: What was your reaction when you heard it back?
YTB Trench: Different. That’s what we were going for, different. That’s how, different. [laughs] I heard it and I knew it was gon’ be one sound on it. It was going to be rapping, continuous flows of rapping and different hip-hop. I’m like “Alright, somebody gotta do something.” I did what I did.
AllHipHop: Why do you have the 3’s for B’s?
YTB Trench: [laughs] That’s my favorite number, that’s all.
AllHipHop: 3 things you need in the studio at all times?
YTB Trench: I ain’t gon’ lie, gotta have something to eat. I get real hungry in the studio because I’m a workaholic. I’ll be in that b#### all day and starve myself, so I need something to regenerate the body. Being honest, I don’t need nothing. I can go into the studio with nothing and produce, that’s it.
AllHipHop: You produce your own s###?
YTB Trench: Music, beats-wise? Not everything. I’ve got some songs I’ve tried, but I ain’t gonna drop it. Because I’ve gotta get better, perfection.
AllHipHop: What can we look forward to next?
YTB Trench: Shoot, really wrapping up this project. My fans have been showing crazy love with the Versatalien mixtape. We really gonna finish up this project and keep working for the fans. Keep growing, show them how we coming.
AllHipHop: Anyone you want to collab with that you haven’t?
YTB Trench: Honestly, that’s something that I’m looking to, but I have not given that any thought. I’m not really looking to collab. I’m open to it, but I’m not looking for it. I’m really focused on myself right now because I’m not comfortable. I’ve got a lot to prove to myself.
AllHipHop: What is comfortable to you?
YTB Trench: It’s more I can repeat continuously without interruption. First off, my drops aren’t continuous, but that’s off rip right there. I’ve got to get better with dropping continuously, because my fans do love the music. It’s really a life switch really. It went from me not taking it seriously to okay, now this is really happening. It’s really a mind thing. I’ve got to really adapt to it and really transition.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want to let the people know?
YTB Trench: Not really, just grow with me. YT3, Versatalien out now. I love y’all.
Now the star, real name Abel Tesfaye, will use his platform to raise awareness of world hunger.
He said in a statement: “The U.N. World Food Program is doing urgent and important work to change and save lives on a daily basis and I feel passionately about addressing world hunger and helping people in need. Our partnership is an authentic extension of all our efforts and intentions to help those in need and bring an end to so much suffering.”
Last year, The Weeknd donated $300,000 to victims of the devastating explosion in Beirut, Lebanon.
The Weeknd’s funds helped people who were injured, people whose loved ones died, and people who were left homeless by the tragic explosion, and were split between the World Food Program, the Lebanese Red Cross and the country’s Children’s Center.
The singer’s manager, Wassim ‘Sal’ Slaiby, and his wife, Rima Fakih, led the charge to get relief for the people in Lebanon, which prompted the Canadian star to get in touch with Global Aid to make the generous donation.
The “Take My Breath” hitmaker was among the honorees at the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC)’s event in West Hollywood in recognition of the fact he’s donated several million dollars to various good causes since the coronavirus pandemic began.
Other organizations helped by the Earned It singer are Black Lives Matter Global Network, the Colin Kaepernick Know Your Rights Camp Legal Defense Initiative, and National Bail Out, as well as COVID-19 relief campaigns for MusiCares, in his hometown of Scarborough, Ontario.
And so when someone suggested that Drake was comparable to the King of Pop … well, let’s just say that the young Jackson disagreed.
The Canadian-born rapper Drake topped Michael Jackson’s record for having the most “Billboard Top 10 Hits” on the same album. Jackson held the record since 1983 when his album Thriller dominated the charts for years.
As fans started to compare the two, Prince shared that while he celebrates Drake’s achievements, he will probably never reach his dad’s heights.
During an interview with TooFab, Prince Jackson said, “I mean everybody has their own definition of great, and all respect to Drake and everything that he does … but what my father and my family accomplished, in the time that they did it, is very unlikely to ever be matched again.”
He is not the only one to think it is a huge leap for Drake fans to sit him next to the “Billie Jean” singer.
“There are only 2 artist that we can mildly compare to Michael Jackson. Drake is not one of them,” one Twitter user said.
There are only 2 artist that we can mildly compare to Michael Jackson. Drake is not one of them. https://t.co/lHkcPleK4j
“Michael Jackson’s work transcends most artists work… including Drake. He’s legendary. With his magical performances, nobody will be able to connect with an audience the way MJ did. Drake is talented but this comparing apples and oranges.”
Michael Jackson’s work transcends most artists work… including Drake. He’s legendary. With his magical performances, nobody will be able to connect with an audience the way MJ did.
Drake is talented but this comparing apples and oranges.
“YOUTUBE UPDATE! #KingOfPop #MJFam #MichaelJackson VEVO and OFFICIAL CHANNEL both surpassed 10 Billion views. This is an achievement #Drake hasn’t even surpassed yet so when do we stop the comparing?”
Tara Electra has made a name for herself with the release of her brand-new track “Light It Up”. The song became a smashing hit overnight. Fans of the genre all across the Internet are talking about this hit new song. Tara has become a musical sensation with the release of “Light It Up”.
Tara, despite starting out as an influencer, has shown her fans that she knows her way around music. She has released an EP this year that contains three songs. All the songs on her EP are slowly getting more and more popular every day. She is able to leverage her mixed ancestry to create unique music suited to her fans.
Tara has worked closely with Rumor Records to ensure that the production of “Light It Up” was flawless. Both Tara and Rumor Records have done an incredible job in creating this awesome catchy track. Their work truly shines through once you realize that the party is all the better for this song.
Follow the link below to listen to Tara’s music on Spotify:
You may also check out her latest EP. If you want to view more of Tara’s works, go to:
Meek Mill could use a bit of controversy. The rapper has been known to get in a bit of trouble in his past (understatement), but has been living a pretty clean life recently. Nobody has gotten jumped, no rapper girlfriend and absolutely no jail situations!
So, we now have some controversy for the Philadelphia rapper. In promotion of his latest album, the rapper has plastered his album art all over buses in Philadelphia and other regions. And the artistic depiction of women cause in to question hip-hop culture’s infatuation with strippers, money and other vices.
From an artistic point of you, I never really had an issue with the album art. However, in the context of it riding around Philadelphia or other cities, it does seem a bit unnerving. Especially if you have kids. Now, this father, who happens to be white, is purely outraged at the visuals associated with the new album. And he took two social media to let loose all of his rage and anger. I know rage and anger can be considered the same thing, but he seems like he’s about to blow a gasket.
What he does is interesting. He starts out upset about the nudity and calls Black women to the fire about it. But then he spirals down the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories, the illuminati and Satanism. And that’s where the oatmeal gets really thick! I am not one to get into all of that now, because I think we have gone down that road numerous times in the past. But this man claims that Meek Mill is tied to higher forces that are leading people to EVIL. Uh…for the record: This is an original painting by the artist Nina Chanel Abney. A woman. Art.
The man also somehow feels that there is a connectivity between Meek Mill’s album art and vaccines, coronavirus initiatives and other things. And this is where he lost me! He commands people to takeoff their masks and think. Oops! I don’t think so buddy!
And to make matters worse he walks right past a confederate flag and doesn’t bat an eye! Now he may have been so outraged and consumed with Mick Mills naked women that he missed it, But I think it was there for him to see. And he didn’t have a problem with it! Or did he question I don’t think so! (FYI: I have no ideal if this dude has kids.)
“I have felt that pressure and I’ve literally been asked to lose weight… ,” she told plus-size model Hunter McGrady in an interview for Yahoo! Life.
“Luckily, I have people who are like, ‘Yeah, that’s not going to happen. She’s not losing weight for you.’ It made me angry because I felt like I was fine. I’m what (real) people look like,” Queen Latifah said.
Latifah – who didn’t specify the roles she was asked to slim down for – insisted it was important for her not to change so that she can represent other women who aren’t as thin as models.
“You want me to lose weight? Why? So there’s a whole bunch of women out there who won’t have someone to relate to on TV, is that what you’re trying to get at?” she asked Hunter.
“Honestly, I knew by me standing up, I was actually standing up for some other people. Get to know yourself, not just in the mirror, but on the inside.
“So now you have even more power to make decisions about your own body and how you really feel about it.”
Being creative is required to express oneself through any art form. You must be fearless and steadfast in your expression. Tankovitz is one of those artists that doesn’t mind being judged. Her new song, “Elevated,” takes you on a spiritual trip that will help you better express yourself.
Tankovitz has taken numerous chances throughout her career as a fashion designer. She didn’t do it for the sake of fame or power. She did it because she was in the mood. She is able to do so because she is exceptionally gifted at expressing herself. Art is a great way to express oneself. With “Elevated,” she tries to do the same for her followers.
The listeners travel on a spiritual voyage via Tankovitz’s mindscape in “Elevated.” They get a taste of what it’s like to be a rebel and defy conventions by doing what they truly believe in. That is a wonderful feature in a person, and it is one of the reasons why her admirers adore her.
