Beginning on July 25, DaBaby became a national headline regular for days after he made offensive comments during his Rolling Loud Miami set. The “Rockstar” rapper was widely condemned for what he had to say about the LGBTQ community.
“If you didn’t show up today with HIV, AIDS, or any of [those] deadly sexually transmitted diseases, that’ll make you die in two to three weeks, then put your cellphone lighter up,” DaBaby told the Rolling Loud Miami crowd.
The Blame It on Baby album creator continued, “Ladies, if your p#### smell like water, put your cellphone lighter up. Fellas, if you ain’t sucking a n####’s d### in the parking lot, put your cellphone lighter up.”
Those statements led to DaBaby losing multiple festival gigs and getting dropped as an endorsement partner with the BoohooMan fashion brand. Numerous people shared their thoughts on DaBaby’s fall from grace, and now Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has spoken publicly about the matter as well.
boohooMAN condemn the use of homophobic language and confirm we will no longer be working with DaBaby.
Diversity and inclusion are part of the boohoo Groups DNA and we pride ourselves on representing the diverse customers we serve across the globe.
50 Cent recently made an appearance on the E! News program Nightly Pop. The Hip Hop mogul was asked what advice he would give to DaBaby as he deals with the fallout from the Rolling Loud Miami controversy.
“He’s a really talented, special artist, and he just transitioned from being in that pool that everyone’s in as a rap artist, they didn’t notify him that he’s turning into a superstar,” said 50 Cent about DaBaby. “There’s nobody that tells you, ‘Now you’re being held to these mainstream standards. You can’t say and do these different things.'”
The G-Unit leader added, “He didn’t have a publicist involved. That’s why the response took so long. Even his apologies… the first apology attempt at it is what made it worse.” 50 Cent went on to talk about how some modern-day acts do not have access to artist development, A&R support, or media training.
Nearly a dozen HIV/AIDS-related/LGBT-related organizations presented an open letter about DaBaby’s homophobic rhetoric. They requested a “private, off-the-record, virtual discussion” with the North Carolina-bred performer.
Earlier this year, DaBaby admitted that he has been “studying” 50 Cent and receiving guidance from the entertainment industry veteran. 50 Cent responded to DaBaby accepting his mentorship by commenting, “I’m a teach him all the mistakes I made, so he can be better than me. THIS IS HIP HOP!”
2021 has been nothing short of victorious for AJDAGURU – and he’s just getting started. Following the release of visuals for Love Yourself, the hit single is now charting at no. 93 on Spotify’s USA Daily Top 200 Chart. Clearly a fan favorite, AJ has wheeled in millions of listeners worldwide with a feel-good song focused solely on self-love. In addition, Love Yourself has also surpassed 1 million streams on Spotify.
In the music video for Love Yourself, videographer Kid Avid captures AJ bonding with beautiful animals at an exotic ranch. The Texas crooner sings, “You are not alone / Just keep on fighting stay strong / I’m here to help you love yourself, help you love yourself / Be happy, not sad, you can be yourself / Don’t you worry at all, you got lots of help.”
Love Yourself serves as the second pre-release track from AJ’s debut studio album, A Different Side Of Me. The first single, Seen It All, allowed fans to get to know him better as he opened up about some of the most trying times in his life. The song did exceptionally well, leaving #GURUGANG anxiously waiting for more.
A Different Side Of Me is slated to arrive at the end of 2021, but will absolutely be worth the wait. Compiled of at least 10 solid tracks that have been composed and produced entirely by AJ, the album will not feature any guest appearances.
Guru says his music doesn’t represent any specific genre and looks forward to fans embracing it. He previously stated, “I belong in no genre. I am a musician creating music that feels right, whether it be singing or rapping. A Difference Side Of Me will most definitely display all of that.”
As an independent artist, AJDAGURU continues to achieve the impossible.
But he probably was not talking about when it came down to his own business.
He definitely didn’t think that his own cousin, Briant Biggs, would “hustle” over a million dollars from someone and then loop it to his famed Roc Nation business.
But that’s what it looks like happened. According to the Daily News, Biggs is being accused of working with a group that was out fundraising $1.5 million for a new subsidiary division of Roc Nation called Unanimous Games that focused on eSports and the video game industry.
Collision says he dropped $250,000 in March 2018, with the hopes of getting back on their investment. According to a Manhattan Federal Court, the company says that they have never got a dime from Roc Nation.
The suit also says that Biggs spoke directly to the team, after getting more time to pay their debt to Blueprint, and said that he was waiting for Unanimous/Roc Nation to get an influx of $5 million and from that pot, he would ante up.
It said, “Notably, Unanimous Games did not provide any tax returns, income state
Backlash against rapper DaBaby’s outlandish homophobic and HIV/AIDS comments at Rolling Loud Miami continue to whip the North Carolinian’s career and has no signs of stopping.
Another concert is canceled their contract with the chart-topper, despite the artist rending a public apology.
The Kansas City Azura Amphitheater is the latest to say, “Nah B— we good,” canceling its August 14 concert that was scheduled to have him as a headliner.
A black background stated in bold white letters, “The upcoming DaBaby show at Azura Amphitheater on August 14th has been canceled. Refunds are available at point of purchase.”
The upcoming DaBaby show at Azura Amphitheater on August 14th has been cancelled. Refunds are available at point of purchase. pic.twitter.com/1pCHlRDgxz
It continued with instructions on how to get their money back, “Fans who purchased online via Ticketmaster will be automatically refunded. Fans who purchased at the box office can email in**@**********ic.com for assistance or visit the box office with their tickets during box office hours on Fridays from 10 am — 4 pm.”
No word on how DaBaby is feeling during this time of unexpected rejection. He is no longer clapping back at rap icons who criticized his words, like Questlove from The Roots.
Less than two weeks ago, AllHipHop.com reported that he took to his InstaStory to tell the man who recently produced the documentary “Summer of Soul” that he had no clue who he was, “I ain’t even tryna be funny when I say… I do not know who dis n#### is dawg.”
He continued, “And I do not care bout losing you as a fan my boy lol @questlove. You or any other na who wanna play follow the leader. This superstar was a fan of is stand up na, yeen never seen one of these huh?”
“These n##### really think they gone influence people to stop f##### w/ the INFLUENCE. They go crazy bout what I say not yall. I got da influence AND the nuts n####. Y’all n##### cheerleaders.”
“Y’all extra ass n##### tagging along playing on my top like I’m a n#### you can bully or sumn. Going out y’all way creating art work & s### tryna gain new fans off my situation cuz it’s QUIET for y’all n#####. N##### better hit the studio or sumn.”
After beating up on Bow Wow in Swizz Beatz and Timbaland’s Verzuz series, Soulja Boy is ready to run the fade with Slim Jxmmi from Rae Sremmurd.
The “She Make it Clap” rapper took to social media to call him out. This all started over the weekend when Soulja jumped on Twitter and chose violence in the Hip-Hop game.
“I’ll fight any rapper in the game in a boxing match.”
I’ll fight any rapper in the game in a boxing match 🥊
In response to his challenge, the “Black Beatles” artist hit Soulja with, “Let’s go run it.” Jxmmi even posted it on his Instagram to make sure that the “Kiss Me Through” the phone rapper would see
it.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CSXOopYLnfi/
People took notice — and the band’s brand took the opportunity to make a big play out of the brief exchange. They posted a caption that said “@souljaboy x @Jxmmi” and fans seemed to go bonkers with the
idea.
He said in an interview with Power 106, “He had a studio at his house, so we over there and playing Madden. We just started smoking and we kept smoking and kept smoking. I had my other two homeboys and when he passed me the blunt, I just kept passing it to them. I just looked at Snoop like, ‘I’m high. I quit; I don’t know what’s going on.’ He kept going!”
Dave “refuses” to make too many albums because making music “takes so much out” of him.
The rapper’s first album Psychodrama heavily featured references to his brother Christopher, who is in jail for murder.
His new record We’re All Alone in This Together is inspired by his immigrant mother.
Reflecting on the challenges of pouring so much of himself into his work, Dave explained: “I just play my position. I’m so empathetic. I feel sad about everything. I’m such an emotional guy and that is a skill…
“My stories hurt. Relationships? Painful. They’re not going well. Mum’s story, migration. I can’t do many albums. I can’t. I refuse. It takes so much out of me.”
However, the hitmaker has his sights set on being “a star” so he’s able to be a role model for young people.
He told Observer magazine: “I want to be the soundtrack for kids’ lives. I want them to think, ‘Whatever is going on — he’s here for me.’ “That’s why (the success) of this record is so beautiful. Because I want to transition into being a star. I never wanted to be a star — I’ve always been little brother, low-key.
“But I want to be a star now, because words have a gravitas when you are one. I need to be a living example to the kids.”
Dave’s new song “Heart Attack” is about his life so far and ends with a recording of his Nigerian mother Juliet, a nurse, crying over how she’s been treated in the U.K.
Although the track has been released, the musician admitted he’s still not sure if it was “right” to include the sample.
“I was having a conversation with my mom in my house,” he mused. “And I was recording it, because I was looking for inspiration for this album. She just started crying. Sometimes I wonder if it was right to include it.
“But that pain? My mom is a good person. A nurse. She don’t trouble nobody. People need to hear it, because it’s deeper than rap. All the different things behind a simple sentence like, ‘Go back to your country’? This is how it affects real people.”
Beyoncé doesn’t have a problem with getting older.
Fans may have more difficulty accepting her as a quadragenarian than she does because so many have watched her grow up right before our eyes.
But while fans were caught up in “Is that the teenager from that girl’s group?” or “How much older is her husband, Jay-Z?” she was learning life.
During a recent Harper’s Bazaar interview, the “Put a Ring on It” singer talked about her life, her faith, her journey, and what it looks like to turn 40.
Check out the major lessons she pulled from each generation (including what she does to help her achy 39-year-old bones).
The first thing that Bey shared was that her priorities have shifted and that so much of her younger years were about getting to the top of her industry.
“My 20s were about building a strong foundation for my career and establishing my legacy. I was focused on commercial success and number ones and being a visionary no matter how many barriers I had to break through,” she shared to the iconic women’s magazine. “I was pushed to my limits. I learned the power of saying no. I took control of my independence at 27 and started Parkwood Entertainment. At the time, there wasn’t a company that did what I needed it to do or ran the way I wanted it run. So, I created this multipurpose badass conglomerate that was a creative agency, record label, production company, and management company to produce and work on projects that meant the most to me.”
By the time she hit her 30s, family emerged as the most important sphere of influence in her life.
In addition to being a wife and a mother, the Houston native shared that her 30s were healing “generational trauma” and turning her “broken heart into art that would help move culture forward and hopefully live far beyond me.”
She contends that this period in her life was “about digging deeper,” and so she started using her resources to help others. Through her BeyGood program, she has supported hurricane relief, scholarships for higher education, started a fellowship program in South Africa, advocated for women’s rights, support of minority businesses, helped families dealing with housing insecurity, water crises, pediatric health care, and pandemic relief.
But even now, with her edging the big 4-0, her body is just not the same as when she was dancing so crazy on songs “Survivor” or “Bootylicious.”
“I think like many women, I have felt the pressure of being the backbone of my family and my company and didn’t realize how much that takes a toll on my mental and physical well-being. I have not always made myself a priority,” she shared. “I’ve personally struggled with insomnia from touring for more than half of my life. Years of wear and tear on my muscles from dancing in heels. The stress on my hair and skin, from sprays and dyes to the heat of a curling iron and wearing heavy makeup while sweating on stage.”
She also said she has worked to push through she has “picked up many secrets and techniques over the years to look my best for every show. But I know that to give the best of me, I have to take care of myself and listen to my body.”
The multi-GRAMMY award-winner says she does that by practicing some ancient and homeopathic rituals, easily connected to her recent connection to African spirituality, and is even passing it on to her daughter.
“During quarantine, I went from overindulgences to creating positive rituals drawing from past generations and putting my own spin on things,” she explained. “I discovered CBD on my last tour, and I’ve experienced its benefits for soreness and inflammation. It helped with my restless nights and the agitation that comes from not being able to fall asleep. I found healing properties in honey that benefit me and my children.”
But not Beyoncé, she is making her own foray into that industry. The Gen-Xer is now also taking her new interest and creating some businesses for health and wellness.
“I’m building a hemp and a honey farm,” she told Harper’s Bazaar. “I’ve even got hives on my roof! And I’m so happy that my daughters will have the example of those rituals from me.
“One of my most satisfying moments as a mom is when I found Blue one day soaking in the bath with her eyes closed, using blends I created, and taking time for herself to decompress and be at peace. I have so much to share…and there’s more to come soon!” she concluded.
Jor’Dan Armstrong is here to redefine what it means to be a Christian artist, bringing a modern-day approach to gospel music that audiences around the world can’t deny.
The extremely talented singer, songwriter, producer, actor, and husband hails from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, here to make his mark on the music industry in the most positive light — while changing the narrative or stigma of who a “Christian” is.
Describing himself as “God-fearing,” Jor’dan wants his message to be of inspiration, positivity, also fly.
He states, “I’m a fly guy. I love nice things too. I really want people to know you can still know who God is but still be a fly person. I do like the way that the world’s changing now with Christians like me, like us. It’s not the old traditional way anymore, but the music’s still a bit traditional. I always want to make sure I’m being used to change the sound or the perception.”
Most recently, Jor’Dan released his critically-acclaimed new single titled “My God,” even tapping the one and only Lil Yachty for the song’s official music video.
AllHipHop: How was it growing up in Baton Rouge?
Jor’Dan: Living in Baton Rouge for myself was a crazy experience. I lived in all the terrible neighborhoods. I lived in all the hoods in the ghetto. During that time, my mom kept me in church. I was in church a lot so I got the best of both worlds. I got the positive lifestyle, but also lived in the negative areas. I was able to know the lingo of the streets, but have the positivity and the foundation of God. It’s weird I came up like that because now, I use that in my music. Now, I know what the streets are talking about. I know the slang, I know how they feel. I know how it feels to open the fridge and have no food. I went through the struggle, but I also know God. That’s one of the key things about me, something I got from growing up there.
AllHipHop: Biggest influences coming up? I know you like gospel music.
Jor’Dan: Honestly, it wasn’t a lot of gospel people. My foundation has always been that, but I was influenced by a lot of people. Of course Kirk Franklin and stuff like that, but I was influenced a lot by R&B music and hip-hop in the 90s. I’m a 90’s baby, grew up in the 90’s. I grew up listening to Jodeci and Boyz II Men. For hip hop, I’d say No Limit, Cash Money. I was around all of this stuff, especially being from Louisiana. Those are really a lot of my influences, then put a Christian message over it. That’s where my sound comes from.
AllHipHop: You come from the struggle, how does it feel to be able to make a living off music?
Jor’Dan: It feels great because I’m doing something I love. This is something I’d do even if I wasn’t living off it. I’d be trying to hurry up and clock out of my job to go home and work on music. That’s really dope I get to do this for a living, it helps create a lifestyle for me. It’s fortunately my lifestyle, and I’ll never retire. [laughs]
AllHipHop: “My God” out now, how are you feeling?
Jor’Dan: I feel great man, “My God” was a great record. I love the fact that everybody loves the record. I love the message of the record of course, but I always love to see the response. It’s really dope we’re reaching people outside of gospel and Christian music. This record is something that everybody can relate to, whether you’re in it or out. That’s really dope, and I had a lot of fun making it.
AllHipHop: In the intro of the video, you talk about wanting to make a banger for the summer. What was the energy in making the song?
Jor’Dan: I recorded it at my house. I have an extra bedroom, I flipped to a little studio. I wanted the energy to feel high. I wanted it to feel like the sun, bright, palm trees, top down. I wanted that feeling, but I also wanted it to feel inspirational too, to where somebody will hear this record and feel like “Man, I guess I never thought about God. It’s really got me straight.” I wanted that feeling too, also it’s a song about glorifying how dope God is to me. How it takes care of me, how it supports me and my family, how I made it this far. I couldn’t have done it without Him.
AllHipHop: How’d you tap Lil Yachty in the video? What’s your guys’ relationship?
Jor’Dan: One of my partners who I’ve been working with, he works with Yachty a lot. He came up with the idea and thought it’d be really dope to have Yachty be a part of the video. I knew it’d be perfect for Yachty because Yachty’s a character, he’s gonna do something crazy. We came up with the idea of having him basically act as my car salesman, sell me a car. We just said “Action,” and Yachty did his thing man. It’s so many good takes we didn’t use, he was actually hilarious. It was really dope working with Yachty. It’s cool to have artists like myself have the opportunity to work with artists like him because we’re on 2 different sides, but we both have the same foundation too. Sometimes I noticed too, you’d be surprised: just because people are doing certain things, doesn’t mean that they’re going to know who God is. I want to change that too.
AllHipHop: Best memory from the video shoot?
Jor’Dan: Working with Yachty, just having him a part was a big deal. Just the fact that he took the time out to come to be a part of what we had going on. The conversation we had afterwards about him talking about his foundation in God too, we had a connection.
AllHipHop: Can you talk about your latest single “Can’t”?
Jor’Dan: Yeah! New record “Can’t” man, I’m super excited. It’s a record that everybody’s gonna feel, definitely a joint that talks about how I can’t live without God. It’s impossible. A lot of my records are straight and to the point. It’s really not many metaphors, but it’s a record that you could definitely ride to as well. This time when you’re riding, you got the top down and you’re riding at night. I used to love night rides, so this one is a record for that.
AllHipHop: How would you describe your fashion sense?
Jor’Dan: I can go trendy. I’m not a big, big label plaster across the clothing type person. I really like the centerpieces, I’m really big on that. But I definitely love the big brands: Prada, Gucci, Louis. I’m wearing Prada today. I’m a big fan of the stuff Yeezy does, Kanye does. I love Virgil’s stuff as well, I’m really big into that. I also have my own line, my wife has a line. We live and breathe fashion, that’s what we do.
AllHipHop: 3 things you need in the studio?
Jor’Dan: My wife, plenty of water, and a microphone.
AllHipHop: What can we expect from your forthcoming album?
Jor’Dan: Some incredible music, this is one of the best times of my career. I’m really there. Mentally, I’ve learned so much about the industry. Making music since 2009, it’s been over 10 years. It’s no greater time than now because of all that I’ve learned throughout this time: being
self-sufficient, recording my own music, writing my own stuff. It’s really dope I was able to hook up with a great team last year, we’re really gonna go crazy. I’m so excited about this year man, it’s fire.
AllHipHop: Goals for yourself as an artist at this point of your career?
Jor’Dan: One of my goals is to change the perception of who a Christian is, also what Christian music sounds like. I’d love to be the voice of that. I‘d love to be the face, the image of the change. I want to lead that. That’s my legacy, something I’d like to leave here. Jor’Dan Armstrong coined this genre, coined this sound. That’s my ultimate goal, again to bring people to God.
AllHipHop: I think of someone like Lecrae, is that someone that you follow?
Jor’Dan: Absolutely, Lecrae does a great job of that. He even did what he did: he coined a sound. He coined a lane, and I’d love to do the same. I think we’re on the right track to do that.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want to let us know?
Jor’Dan: Everybody follow me on everywhere. New music is out all the time. By the time somebody hears this, there might be something else new out. Stay tuned. Follow me on Instagram if you’re trying to reach me really quick, that’s @wheresJor_dan.
“That’s who it’s featuring y’all, period,” she said, before revealing her sleepy-looking pal with the joke: “It’s Harry Styles!”
Lizzo captioned the video, “GUESS WHOS HOPPIN ON ‘RUMORS’ W/ ME?!?” Lizzo first hinted at the track last week with an Instagram post proclaiming, “NEW ERA B####. ‘RUMORS’. 8/13.”
A crooked cop linked to rap star Tekashi 69 who helped the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods sell heroin will learn her fate next month.
Former NYPD Sergeant Arlicia Robinson admitted to helping the gang sell at least 100 grams of heroin in the Bronx, in July of 2018.
The Feds caught Robinson in a “reverse sting,” which captured her dealing drugs with the gang on video.
She was arrested on November 19, 2018, the same day Tekashi 69, his manager Kifano “Shotti” Jordan, and the gang’s alleged Godfather Mel “Murda” Jones were rounded up by the Feds and charged with racketeering.
Robinson’s role in the heroin smuggling ring also came up during Aljermiah “Nuke” Mack and Anthony Harv Ellison’s trial, when Tekashi 69 testified against his former gang in October of 2019.
Kristian “CEO Kris” Cruz, was a “Five Star General” with the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods. Like Tekashi 69, he decided to cooperate with the gang to get a lighter sentence.
Cruz said Robinson was the girlfriend of one of his associates. He hired her to transport the drugs because he believed she would attract less attention.
Robinson worked for a division of the Housing Bureau. Her unit was responsible for policing 22 projects throughout Brooklyn.
Actor and TV personality Nick Cannon insists it’s no one’s business he has seven children with four women, including ex-wife Mariah Carey.
During an appearance on radio show The Breakfast Club, Nick was quizzed about his growing family, and confessed he doesn’t understand why it’s such a big story.
“Why do people question it?” he said. “(Monogamy is) a Eurocentric concept when you think about the ideas… that you’re supposed to have this one person for the rest of your life. The idea that a man should have one woman… we shouldn’t have anything. I have no ownership over this person. It’s about what exchange we can create together. So, I’ve never really subscribed to that mentality.”
In December, Nick Cannon became dad to daughter Powerful Queen with beauty pageant winner Brittany Bell.
They are also parents to four-year-old son Golden. And he also shares 10-year-old twins, Moroccan and Monroe, with Mariah, his wife from 2008 to 2016.
“I understand the institution of marriage but if we go back to what that’s about, that was to classify property,” he said. “One father gave another man his daughter for land. I don’t want ownership over anybody. I don’t have ownership over any of the mothers. We created a beautiful entity.
“I don’t subscribe to (the idea of owning another person). Those women, all women, are the ones that open themselves up and say, ‘I would like to allow this man in my world. And I will birth this child’. It ain’t my decision. I’m following suit. Every woman that I deal with or dealt with, they know how I feel.”
Hip Hop legend Nasir “Nas” Jones once again grabbed the attention of rap fans with his latest body of work titledKing’s Disease II. The sequel to his Grammy-winning 2020 album hit the top of the iTunes all-genre chart and the Apple Music chart.
As Nas continues to show that he is still one of the top emcees on the planet, the 47-year-old Queens native is also working on providing aid to people in his hometown dealing with food insecurity. Nas is set to headline the “Concert to Feed NYC” on September 23.
Proceeds from the “Concert to Feed NYC” at the Forest Hills Stadium in Queens will benefit City Harvest. New York City’s first and largest food rescue organization partnered with Nas for the charity showcase.
”I am looking forward to returning to the stage for a performance in my hometown – especially since it supports a cause a care deeply about,” said Nas. The “Concert to Feed NYC” will be the multi-Platinum artist’s first live show in New York City in nearly three years.
According to reports, the need for food in New York City jumped 41% among all residents and 53% among children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning in March 2020, City Harvest delivered more than 190 million pounds of food to hundreds of soup kitchens and food pantries across the five boroughs of NYC.
“The Concert to Feed NYC will help us rescue and deliver more food for the many New Yorkers who are struggling to put meals on their tables because of the pandemic, many for the first time,” said Jilly Stephens, CEO of City Harvest. “We are so grateful to have a dedicated and passionate friend in Nas who will create such a special evening to support our work. Together, we can feed our city.”
Rob Pohly, the founder of Samlyn Capital, is underwriting all venue-related expenses for the “Concert to Feed NYC.” He stated, “I’m a huge Nas fan and a big believer in the important work City Harvest does. I’m excited to be a part of this incredible evening of awesome music, all to help feed New Yorkers in need.”
“The Concert to Feed NYC” will be an exclusive event for only 4,000 people, featuring Speakeasy suites, mini-lounges, and lounge-style seating. Tickets are scheduled to go on sale on Friday, August 13 at foresthillsstadium.com. More information about the event will be presented in the coming weeks.
Griselda emcee Benny The Butcher is dropping an NFT series to commemorate the release of The Plugs I Met. The 7-track EP originally came out in 2019.
Benny The Butcher’s The Plugs I Met 2nd Anniversary Edition NFT will be available in an online auction on the UREEQA Marketplace website. The limited-edition collectibles include:
Exclusive video from Benny the Butcher detailing the making of “The Plugs I Met“
Autographed “The Plugs I Met” CD (digipack) with personalized message from Benny the Butcher
Attendance at one (1) Concert from “The Burden of the Plugs Tour” via live Zoom feed recorded from the side of the stage (Concert date and venue to be determined)
A personal Zoom call with Benny
One lucky winner will win two (2) all access passes to attend a Benny the Butcher concert (to be selected from the final routing of “The Burden of the Plugs Tour”) and a private meet and greet with Benny
“This NFT collection is a chance to give back to the fans that have been down with me since day one,” said Benny The Butcher. “I wanted to do something that would be exclusive to my core fans and connect with them in a way that hasn’t been possible until now.”
Benny The Butcher is the latest recording artist to produce special NFT offers. Tory Lanez, Curren$y, Doja Cat, Jeezy, and other Hip Hop musicians have also offered items as non-fungible tokens.
“As an icon in the New York and global rap scene, we knew UREEQA was a perfect fit for Benny the Butcher to host his NFT collection,” said Harsch Khandelwal, CEO of UREEQA.
Khandelwal continued, “Privacy and copyrights have historically been a major issue in the music industry. We’re working to prevent copyright infringement for artists like Benny the Butcher, and create an infrastructure that moves NFTs from trendy to trusted.”
Indigenous Australian Charlton “The Kid LAROI” Howard currently has the #1 song in the United States. “Stay” with Justin Bieber climbed to the top spot on Billboard‘s latest Hot 100 chart.
The Kid LAROI took the opportunity to celebrate earning his first Number One on his verified Instagram account. The 17-year-old Lil Bibby protégé wrote:
WOAH. number f###### 1!!! first of all, thank you to every single one of you mfs for streaming, buying and supporting the fuuuuck out of this record & thank you to my brother @justinbieber for being apart of this and going so hard for me constantly. this is not only a big moment for me, but a really big moment for Australia. growing up all I ever wanted to do was “make it big” in America and show everyone what we have to offer. it’s been a while since I’ve been back home because of COVID but truuust me I been there in spirit lol. I wanna take this moment to give a shoutout to a couple of other upcoming Australian artists and put you all in tune — they’re next!!!! @sadboysahxl @blessedtunes @onefour_official @youngnlipz I LOVE YOU I LOVE I LOVE YOU ALL FAM AND AGAIN THANK YOU SO F##### MUCH. NONE OF WHAT I DO IS POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOU!!!!😭😭🖤
@thekidlaroi Instagram
“Stay” pulled in 30.9 million streams in the most recent tracking week. The single has now spent a third non-consecutive week at #1 on the Streaming Songs chart. “Stay” is also in the Top 5 on the Digital Song Sale chart (14,400 downloads).
Elsewhere on this week’s Hot 100 rankings, Dua Lipa’s “Levitating” featuring DaBaby climbed from #5 to #3. Doja Cat’s “Kiss Me More” featuring SZA held steady at #6.
Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow’s “Industry Baby” dropped five positions to #7. Lil Nas X has another Top 10 entry with “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” at #8. The Weeknd and Ariana Grande’s “Save Your Tears” jumps back into the Top 10 at #10.
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Jonathan “DaBaby” Kirk has been one of the most talked-about individuals in the music industry over the last few weeks. The North Carolina-raised entertainer’s on-stage comments at Rolling Loud Miami caused widespread condemnation.
“If you didn’t show up today with HIV, AIDS, or any of [those] deadly sexually transmitted diseases, that’ll make you die in two to three weeks, then put your cellphone lighter up,” DaBaby told the Rolling Loud Miami festival crowd on July 25.
DaBaby also told the audience, “Ladies, if your p#### smell like water, put your cellphone lighter up. Fellas, if you ain’t sucking a n####’s d### in the parking lot, put your cellphone lighter up.” In a separate Instagram video, he also claimed his LGBT supporters are not “nasty gay n##### or junkies.”
While DaBaby lost numerous l festival performances opportunities, other Hip Hop figures like T.I. and Boosie Badazz showed public support for the “Rockstar” hitmaker. Nick Cannon has now offered his own thoughts on the DaBaby controversy as well.
“First of all, I think not only in the Black community – and I’ve experienced it – but definitely just men a lot of times, we have that ego. We believe apologizing is weakness when it actually takes great strength to step up to anyone and say, ‘I was wrong,'” stated Nick Cannon on The Breakfast Club.
DaBaby apologized for his Rolling Loud Miami comments before he began doubling down on the idea that he had the right to say whatever he wants. The 29-year-old southerner later apologized again with an Instagram post, but that remorseful message has since been taken down from DaBaby’s IG page.
“He’s a fighter. We’ve seen his back against the wall. He’s swinging. He’s swinging just so he could get out of it. We all have to accept emotions,” expressed Nick Cannon about DaBaby’s defensive reactions to the criticism directed at him.
Cannon continued, “To say ‘I’m sorry,’ that’s a self-proclamation. To apologize is an action. And to actually repent or atone is actually the next level because now you’re trying to understand. There’s education involved with that. There’s actually community involved with that.”
The star of Drumline and Roll Bounce added, “And that’s the other thing too, where I challenge all these people who actually want to cancel somebody, and even specifically in DaBaby’s situation, let’s use this as an opportunity for education. Because that’s what happened in my scenario.”
The second season of Wu-Tang: An American Saga is set to premiere on September 8 on the Hulu streaming service. A new trailer for the drama made its way to YouTube this week.
Wu-Tang: An American Saga tells the story of how the Wu-Tang Clan came together as a Hip Hop group. De facto Wu leader Robert “The RZA” Diggs co-created the drama along with Superfly screenwriter Alex Tse.
The show stars Ashton Sanders as The RZA, Shameik Moore as Raekwon, Siddiq Saunderson as Ghostface Killah, Dave East as Method Man, TJ Atoms as Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Johnell Xavier Young as GZA, Uyoata Udi as Inspectah Deck, and Julian Damani Sease as U-God.
“American Saga will start airing in September,” said RZA in June. “That story will be complete for the season. Then I’m looking to get back in a director’s chair. I feel like that’s important for me to continue to tell our stories through cinema.”
The 52-year-old New York City native continued, “That’s going to take some time to develop a new script. But I’m having a great time finishing up the new season of American Saga.”
Season 1 of Wu-Tang: An American Saga contained ten episodes featuring direction by Chris Robinson, Norberto Barba, Darren Grant, Craig Zisk, Malcolm D. Lee, and others. The series earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music.
Check out the his new emo-pop rock/rap track “All in my Head” from newcomer Kevin George. It’s the first single from Kevin George’s upcoming EP, as Kevin is now with a fresh label, team, look, and sound. “All In My Head” dives deep into Kevin George’s genre-bending sound, showcasing his inspiration from traditional hip hop, with strong elements of new-age pop.
With a feature from renowned artist and producer Johan Lenox who has worked with Kanye West, Travis Scott, Big Sean, and much more, the elements of Johan’s classical training are clearly present on the track. Production from Void Stryker, who executive produced George’s forthcoming EP “Everybody’s in my Ear”, graces the song as well.
“Social Media, Perception, Opinions. It all got to me.. I had forgotten my real purpose in this s### & for the first time since I was 15 I stopped making music completely for about 4 months. I wanted a fresh start. I hated how I felt about myself, my old team and where I was at. Constantly comparing myself to this person, and that person and being told i should do this.. or i should do that… it jaded me. It made me want to run away. So I did.”
Now back with a clean visual there’s no telling how far Kevin George will go with his creativity and genre warping sounds.
Congratulations are due to Christopher “Ludacris” Bridges and his wife, Eudoxie Mbouguiengue.
The lovely couple have recently welcomed into the world their second child together. The new baby makes the fourth in the Bridges brood.
The baby was born July 28, 2021.
The proud mommy posted pictures of the young angel on Monday, August 9, Instagram.
The caption said, ““Our Chance Oyali Bridges came two weeks early and we are blessed to have another beautiful angel named after my late grandmother. (heart prayer hands emojis) 7/28/2021.”
Luda also posted on social media, “The Movie “Girls, Girls, Girls, Girls” starring Chris Bridges coming soon.. 😂😂😂😂 Chance Oyali Bridges Born 7:57am 7/28/21 🙏🏾“
His other daughters are Cai (who is 7) and Karma (who is 19), making him an ultimate girl dad.
The couple kept the pregnancy under wraps, up until three months ago. In May, the hubby leaked the news that the mocha mommy and former model was having a baby, “How is it YOUR Birthday & You’re Giving Me The Greatest Gift?”
The “Southern Hospitality” artist has taken his love for his daughters and created a business around it.
Recently, his Karma’s World Entertainment (an animated character-based series based on and named after his oldest daughter on Netflix), 9 Story Media and Mattel toys have locked in for a merchandising deal.
Back in the Spring, he posted, “I’m pleased to announce my partnership with @mattel and my new animated series #KarmasWorld coming later this year to @netflix.”
R. Kelly has had an incurable STD for at least 20 years, but that did not stop him from spreading it around, at least that’s what the government contends.
Earlier this week, his lawyers filed a motion in an attempt to have the charges tossed, saying herpes is technically not an STD, according to the New York State Dept. of Health and the World Health Organization.
According to his lawyers, herpes is classified as a virus, not a bacterial venereal disease.
The government replied to the motion today, and released some shocking information – R. Kelly has had herpes since 2003.
Jane Doe #4 claims she contracted herpes from him around 2009, while Jane Doe #5 and Jane Doe #6’s were purposely exposed to herpes in 2015 and 2017-18 due to R. Kelly’s practice of having unprotected sex.
But the smoking gun seems to be coming from Jane Doe # 11.
“She specifically asked the defendant whether he was ‘okay’ prior to having unprotected sex with the defendant – referring to whether he had any STDs…Jane Doe #11’s testimony that she confronted the defendant about both her herpes diagnosis and her belief that she contracted it from him is relevant to show that the defendant was on notice that herpes is an STD and that the defendant had herpes, which is directly relevant to his knowledge and intent for the charged crimes related to his exposing charged victims to herpes,” said Jacquelyn M. Kasulis, acting United States Attorney.
This is the second time R. Kelly has filed a motion relating to the classification of herpes as a virus and not a disease.
“The law does not punish the transmission of herpes, nor does it punish the failure to disclose to another that one has an STD,” Steve Greenberg argued. “Instead, it prohibits anyone who has an STD from having sexual intercourse. It is this wholesale prohibition that the government does not even attempt to address – nor can it…”
R. Kelly’s former lawyer Doug Anton Anton issued a fiery statement after the charges were first brought against the singer in March of 2020.
“These alleged victims are not victims at all, but only women who have been told and instructed, even peer-pressured if you will, years later, that the claimed relationship they freely and voluntarily engaged in, should now, in the #metoo era, be classified as ‘bad’ or ‘abusive,’ and they are continually seeking to add facts, even if not truthful, to their story, to make the alleged events as salacious as humanly possible.”
Jury selection for R. Kelly’s racketeering trial for exploiting underage girls for his sexual benefit, started today (August 9).
