Snoop Dogg just got blocked from owning one of hip-hop’s most iconic catchphrases.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rejected his bid to trademark “Smoke Weed Everyday” this week, and the reasons are pretty straightforward.
The feds said no for two main reasons. First, marijuana’s still federally illegal, so you can’t trademark something tied to unlawful goods.
Second, the phrase is too famous now. It’s everywhere. It’s on t-shirts, mugs, stickers, Amazon listings. Consumers don’t see it as Snoop’s brand, they see it as just a thing people say.
The phrase comes from Dr. Dre‘s 1999 classic 2001. Nate Dogg sang that unforgettable hook on “The Next Episode,” and it became one of the most quoted lines in hip-hop history.
Snoop Dogg was featured on the track too, alongside Kurupt. That one line turned into a cultural moment that lasted decades.
The USPTO specifically noted that the phrase functions as an “informational social, political, religious, or similar kind of message” rather than a trademark. It’s basically become public property at this point.
Snoop’ Dogg is still building his cannabis empire regardless.
He’s got the S.W.E.D. brand selling hemp products online, a dispensary in Los Angeles, and even a coffeeshop in Amsterdam.
The trademark rejection doesn’t stop any of that. It just means he can’t exclusively own the phrase legally. The USPTO did mention that hemp-related terms could potentially get trademarked since hemp was legalized federally in 2018.
But CBD and other cannabinoids are still blocked from being marketed as food or dietary supplements because the FDA hasn’t approved them. So the legal landscape around cannabis branding remains messy.
Josh Gerben, a trademark attorney, noted on his firm’s blog that Snoop could appeal, but the federal legality issue makes it an uphill battle.
The rejection affects the trademark registration only, not the actual business operations. Snoop’s been a fixture in cannabis culture for decades.
He’s talked openly about smoking 81 blunts a day, hired someone to roll blunts for him, and even had a staffer make sure people don’t get too high when smoking with him.
He’s advocated for NBA players to use cannabis instead of opioids. He’s done it all. The catchphrase lives on though, trademark or not.
Afroman walked into an Adams County courtroom Monday with his freedom of speech on the line.
Seven sheriff’s deputies are suing the Cincinnati rapper over his use of raid footage in the viral “Lemon Pound Cake” music video, and jury selection kicked off to determine if he owes them damages.
The rapper went nuclear on the judge after the first day and labeled the cops pedophiles.
“If you watched my trial today, you could clearly see that judge jackass jonathan help the pedophile police. Hines is clearly biased, cutting off my attorney. Every time he attempted to speak, and after my attorney spoke, he would try to brainwash the jury in favor of the pedophile plaintiffs,” Afroman fumed.
He grabbed his security camera recordings and turned them into art. The video went viral. Millions of people watched deputies break down his door with rifles drawn.
The deputies claim they got humiliated and death threats and now they want money for it.
The raid caused significant damage to Afroman’s home. He also claimed $400 went missing from the cash the deputies seized. The sheriff’s office said it was just miscounted and an outside investigation agreed.
Afroman filed his own lawsuit for the property damage, but a judge dismissed it in February. Now he’s fighting back against the deputies’ claims, arguing that the video is protected speech.
The case raises real questions about where the line sits between an artist’s right to tell their story and a person’s right to privacy.
The rapper isn’t done with the cops either. He just released a new song, “Randy Walters Is A Son Of A B####” and unfortunately for the cop, it’s a serious bop.
The Durham rapper took bullets in a shooting that left two people dead and one injured on March 14, 2026. He was signed to Rich The Kid and part of the crew that made “No Cap” blow up back in 2018.
What we know is that YBT was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Police found three people in a car who had been shot.
YTB and the other man died at the scene, while a woman in the car was rushed to the hospital and is expected to survive.
83 Babies came up during the mid-2010s as part of the North Carolina rap wave. They had momentum, they had co-signs from bigger names like Rich The Kid, and they seemed like they were about to break through nationally after“No Cap” blew up.
But the streets don’t care about potential or promise. They take who they want, when they want.
YBT’s death adds to the growing list of young rappers lost to gun violence.
The 83 Babies legacy will live on through their music, but the loss of YBT is a stark reminder of how fragile life can be in these communities.
Rest in peace to everyone affected by this senseless violence.
The original March 29 date got axed because of rising tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran. Things escalated fast after the US and Israel took out Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in what they called a preemptive strike.
Iran fired back hard, attacking US bases across the Middle East and launching hypersonic missiles at Tel Aviv. The whole region’s on edge right now.
The artist’s team made it clear that getting fans, crew, and the artist safely to India matters more than sticking to the original timeline.
This isn’t Kanye’s only major show coming up. He’s got concerts locked in for April 1 and April 3 at SoFi Stadium in LA, tied to his new album, Bully, dropping on March 27.
Gunna is bringing his fitness movement across the Atlantic this month with the Wunna Run 5K landing in London on March 25.
The community-focused race marks the only European stop on his tour, and it’s about way more than just running.
This isn’t just another celebrity fitness flex. The whole operation is built around giving back, with proceeds going straight to Gunna’s Great Giveaway, his non-profit that supports families and communities in Atlanta.
But here’s the thing that makes this different: a portion of the money also benefits UK-based organizations doing similar work in local communities.
The run kicks off on the morning of his first London show, and it’s already got major backing from Warner Music UK and other partners.
Registered participants get a medal, t-shirt, and access to on-site activations that’ll make the whole experience feel like an event, not just a workout.
Gunna’s been locked in on this wellness thing for real. He’s been building momentum with his running club across multiple cities, turning it into something that actually connects with people beyond just his music.
New York, Johannesburg, Miami, Atlanta, Brooklyn, and now London. The man’s literally running a global movement.
His music’s been moving too. “The Last Wun” dropped last year and hit the Top 10, and the “wgft” single with Burna Boy became a viral moment that’s still getting play everywhere.
But the Wunna Run shows there’s more to what he’s building than just chart positions.
Tickets are now live on the official Wunna Run site. The run happens March 25 at 10 A.M. local time, the same morning as his first of two London shows that week.
Teyana Taylor wasn’t having it when a security guard tried to physically stop her from returning to the Oscars stage. The moment went down seconds after the 2026 ceremony wrapped at the Dolby Theatre, and it got tense fast.
Taylor was heading back onstage with her “One Battle After Another” castmates for the Best Picture photo when the guard blocked the stairs. He used his body to stop her, then put his hands on her to keep her from moving past him.
That’s when things escalated. Video captured Taylor confronting him directly. She told him straight up not to put his hands on a woman.
“He literally shoved me,” she said to people nearby. The whole exchange was caught on camera, and Taylor made it clear that the guard’s behavior was out of line and disrespectful.
According to TMZ, the guard kept trying to control who could access the stage area. At one point, he even asked Taylor to apologize during the confrontation.
Security at major events like the Oscars carefully manages crowd flow, but this guard’s approach crossed a line.
Taylor wasn’t backing down. She stood her ground and called out what happened in real time. The incident happened right after her film won Best Picture, making the backstage drama even more visible to everyone around.
Per the New York Post, the confrontation drew attention from nearby attendees who witnessed the exchange firsthand. The video evidence made it impossible to ignore what happened.
Lizzo just announced her new children’s book, “Little Lizzo Meets Sasha B. Flute,” and she’s bringing a whole message about self-confidence and finding your voice to the next generation.
Sitting down with Gayle King, Lizzo talked about why she decided to write for kids.
The book centers on her flute, Sasha B. Flute, which has a Beyoncé-like character who helps young readers understand the importance of trusting themselves and speaking up.
It’s personal for her. She’s not just slapping her name on something and calling it a day. This is about legacy and impact.
“This is a story about finding your voice. And the only way to find your voice is by being yourself and trusting yourself. It doesn’t matter where you are, who you know, at the end of the day, it’s always going to be about you,” Lizzo said.
What makes this move interesting is the timing. Lizzo’s been through a lot in the public eye over the past few years.
She’s faced criticism, legal battles, and all the noise that comes with being in the spotlight.
Now she’s channeling that into something meaningful for kids. The book isn’t just entertainment. It’s a tool for young people to learn that their voices matter and that being different is a strength, not a weakness.
Gayle King asked her about the inspiration, and Lizzo was real about it. She talked about how important it is for kids to see themselves represented in stories.
She wants young readers to know they can be themselves without apology.
Lizzo made it clear that this book is just the beginning of what she wants to do for young readers.
Atlanta’s New Generation Speaks: BDifferent Discusses Lil Baby Support, JID Co-Signs And The T.I. vs. 50 Cent Fallout
The relationship between basketball and Hip-Hop has always been symbiotic. From Shaquille O’Neal grabbing a platinum plaque to Damian Lillard becoming a respected lyricist, the connection between the hardwood and the microphone continues to evolve. Today, that intersection is visible in Atlanta rapper BDifferent, who is building his own music career while also being the older brother of Minnesota Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards.
But BDifferent is not simply riding proximity to fame. The Atlanta artist has been quietly developing relationships within the city’s competitive rap ecosystem, working alongside artists connected to the new generation like JID, Kenny Mason and Hunxho while developing his own sound and reputation.
Despite the national spotlight that comes with his family name, BDifferent appears focused on separating identity from celebrity adjacency, determined to create his own lane through consistency and authenticity. In this conversation with AllHipHop, BDifferent discusses the support he’s received from Atlanta artists, his perspective on the city’s collaborative energy, and his reaction to the recent lyrical back-and-forth involving T.I., 50 Cent and the Harris family.
Devon Jefferson checks in with a future Atlanta heavyweight.
AllHipHop: I want to piggyback off Atlanta. I feel like you represent that new generation coming out of the city. We’ve seen support from people like JID. Who have you really been locked in with and what has that support been like?
BDifferent: Oh man, it’s a lot of love in the city. Especially recently. And that really just comes from continuing to work.
You named JID, so big shouts out to JID. He’s one of the ones that’s been showing me love for a little minute now. Ken been showing love too. A lot of folks, man.
Lil Baby done showed me love. I performed and opened up. That was big.
Marco Plus been showing love heavy lately. I’m actually a fan of him too. I tapped into his whole project. Marco Plus is one of my favorite artists right now, especially from the city. He’s one of them ones.
AllHipHop: Do you feel like Atlanta does a good job supporting its next generation?
BDifferent: Yeah, for sure. The love really comes from putting the work in. People see it when you serious.
AllHipHop: You mentioned Deani too. I feel like we gotta see something crazy from y’all at some point.
But I also want to ask about what’s been happening with T.I., 50 Cent, and the Harris family jumping into the conversation. King Harris especially made noise, then Domani dropped something people were talking about heavy.
BDifferent: Boy…King went crazy.
AllHipHop: King went YN times a thousand.
BDifferent: King went crazy.
AllHipHop: But Domani approached it different. Almost like a Kendrick type of approach. Did you hear that record?
BDifferent: My favorite song out of that whole situation…I only heard like three songs.
AllHipHop: So you didn’t hear the one Domani dropped last night?
BDifferent: Yeah, I heard that one. That’s my favorite one. “Miss Jackson.” That’s my favorite song out the whole situation.
AllHipHop: That record is crazy.
BDifferent: Yeah, that joint crazy. I played it back like four times. I listened to it in the car. The concept is wild.
At first though, I didn’t even know what was going on. When I first heard it, I just thought it was a dope song. It sounded good. He was talking crazy on it.
I wasn’t even thinking about no 50 situation. I didn’t even know 50 had posted nothing. I didn’t know what was going on.
AllHipHop: So you just heard it as a fan first.
BDifferent: Exactly. I just thought it was a good song. Then I got around my homies and they started talking about it. Then I started seeing stuff and I was like hold on…is this about something?
I started putting two and two together. Then I went back and listened again.
When I heard it again with the context, I was like oh yeah…this crazy. This snap.
Crazy as hell.
AllHipHop: That’s interesting because sometimes context changes the record completely.
BDifferent: For sure. Once you know what somebody talking about, it hit different.
AllHipHop: I gotta give you your flowers too. If I could give you imaginary flowers right now, this me giving you your flowers. You snapped.
BDifferent: Respect. I appreciate that.
AllHipHop: The way you approached things feels aggressive but controlled. Almost ferocious but still calculated.
BDifferent: Yeah.
AllHipHop: It felt competitive but still respectful.
BDifferent: Respectful too. Definitely.
AllHipHop: That’s a hard balance to strike.
BDifferent: For sure.
AllHipHop: It feels like more people are starting to tap in with you now too.
BDifferent: Yeah, a lot of people been tapping in lately, man. Just staying consistent.
Childish Gambino just locked in another legal victory that’s gonna cost his accuser serious money.
A federal appeals court upheld a $286,475 attorney fee bill against rapper Kidd Wes, who tried to claim that “This Is America” was a bite of his 2016 track “Made in America.”
An appeals panel wasn’t having it.
The issues started back in 2021 when Kidd Wes filed suit, three years after “This Is America” went viral and swept the Grammys. That timing alone made the courts side-eye the whole situation.
The judge said the timing of the lawsuit, filed in 2021, years after “This Is America” went viral, swept the Grammys, and generated major commercial success, made the whole thing look “opportunistic.”
In the court’s words, Kidd Wes’s claim was “without merit on its face,” and a fee award was necessary to discourage similarly weak cases while not scaring off “close or novel” copyright claims.
The real problem? Kidd Wes never registered a copyright for the musical composition he said was stolen. That’s a basic requirement under copyright law, and it killed his case before it even got going.
The district court originally asked for $934,000 in legal fees, but the judge knocked it down to $286,000, saying that amount would still deter weak lawsuits without crushing an individual artist financially.
Kidd Wes appealed, arguing the fee was too much. The Second Circuit wasn’t moved.
The court emphasized that Kidd Wes had been warned about the registration problem but kept pushing anyway.
The court’s message was simple: don’t file lawsuits unless you have taken all the proper steps to defend your claim.
Kidd Wes is now on the hook for nearly $300,000 to the team behind one of the biggest songs of the decade.
Stunna Girl went live on social media to call out Ahna Mac for allegedly jumping Zeus Network CEO Lemuel Plummer with her boyfriend, then turned the tables on the entire “Baddies” cast for their pattern of threatening to expose him.
The Sacramento rapper didn’t hold back, questioning why Mac has been threatening to drop dirt on Plummer for three years straight while using it as leverage to negotiate bigger checks.
“Every time y’all get mad you bust the n-word out of hold something over his head. Y’all all do the same s###,” Stunna said in her rant. “I’m confused, that’s the same b-tch that’s been saying she was gonna bust out Lemmy for like three years now. That weak ass tea that she just put out, I’m just confused. You’ve been saying you’re gonna bust out Lemmy for three years. Now, b####, we’re waiting. You’ve been holding it over the man’s head to get a bigger check, we’re waiting.”
She continued her assault, directly addressing Plummer and asking him to compare her behavior to Mac’s.
“You and your n-word just jumped Lemmy, but I’m disrespectful? Lemmy, have I ever beat on you? Lemmy, have I ever jumped you with my n-word? Like, have I ever done any of these things to you except cuss you the f-ck out?” The comments came after Mac allegedly labeled Stunna as disrespectful in recent exchanges.
Last year, Mac made serious allegations that Stunna sent a group of men to rob her, escalating their already hostile relationship. The drama continues to spiral, with new accusations flying from both sides.
The situation highlights how messy the “Baddies” universe has become, with cast members constantly at war with each other and the network’s leadership caught in the crossfire.
Young Buck ain’t backing down from 50 Cent’s Instagram games and he made that crystal clear on video.
The G-Unit vet fired back at 50 Cent, calling him gay and a “punk,” by telling 50 to walk through his own neighborhood without security and see what happens.
Buck’s message was simple: stop playing jokes and face reality.
“When n##### started trolling, I do s### that a n#### wish he could do,” Buck said in his response. “Walk through your hood first. You wanna play all these gay ass jokes and s###. Walk through your neighborhood and let’s see how the folks treat you with no security. I ain’t got nothing to say to you. I’m getting money in my hood. You ain’t even funny no more. We all know you’re a joke.”
50 didn’t let that slide. He reposted Buck’s video on his own Instagram and went harder, calling him a “punk ass” and a “broke boy.” Tony Yayo jumped in the comments too, flexing that they’re always in the Southside.
But Buck’s beef with 50 is just one piece of a bigger picture.
50’s been going at multiple artists lately. Maino caught heat after his podcast crew criticized 50’s Netflix doc, and he fired back with a diss track called “Bleed Like Us.”
T.I. and his whole family got dragged into it, too, after claiming 50 sabotaged a potential Verzuz battle between them, and he’s currently feuding with Papoose and Claressa Shields as well.
The tension between these artists keeps building every week with new shots and responses. Buck’s latest move shows he’s not about to let 50 have the last word anymore.
Fivio Foreign is stepping the heat. A simple question got everything buzzing. Why does 50 Cent seem quicker to spar with New York rappers than to fully engage with T.I. when things get musical?
Over the weekend, the Brooklyn drill rapper jumped into the fray with a blunt Twitter post that did not exactly come for peace. Instead, it came with the kind of raw commentary that reminds you Fivio is still very much a street narrator at heart.
50 p#### for coming at the old YN’s when TI old illiterate country ass on his heels. Ain’t no changing subjects n#####. & I hate how NY didn’t stand together bout that s### but f### it.
“50 p**sy for coming at the old YN’s when TI old illiterate country ass on his heels. Ain’t no changing subjects n*as,” he wrote on Sunday (March 15).
That alone would have been enough to get people talking, but Fivio did not stop there. He also seemed disappointed in his own city, suggesting New York should have been more unified when things started heating up between 50 Cent and some hometown names.
“& I hate how NY didn’t stand together bout that s### but f*ck it,” he added.
Now, let us unpack this a bit. The “old YNs” he referenced appears to point toward the Let’s Rap About It podcast crew, which includes Maino, Jim Jones, Fabolous and Dave East. That collective caught Fif’s attention after they questioned his decision to release the Netflix documentary Sean Combs: The Reckoning during one of the lowest public moments of Diddy’s life. Since then, 50 has treated the commentary like bulletin board material.
Still, the bigger elephant in the room remains his long running friction with T.I. What started as competitive talk about a Verzuz battle escalated into something far more personal. T.I. went where rappers traditionally go when they feel overlooked. He went to the booth. Songs like “Let ‘Em Know,” “The Right One,” “Bully,” and “Lessons” all seemed aimed directly at the G Unit general.
Meanwhile, 50 Cent has stayed mostly on his home turf. His trolling has gone viral as usual, but there has not been a direct musical response to Tip’s records. At least not yet.
So now the rumor mill is asking a new question. Is 50 Cent picking his battles strategically, or is he simply playing a different kind of chess while everybody else is playing checkers? Either way, when somebody like Fivio Foreign speaks up, people tend to listen.
One thing is certain. Nobody involved seems ready to wave a white flag.
A Las Vegas bartender sparks debate after observing a trend among women who have men buy their drinks.
On Feb. 8, bartender @martiii_soulll posted a TikTok sharing an observation that doesn’t sit right with her. “You know what drives me crazy?” she asks.
What Did the Bartender Observe?
She says that when a man offers to buy a woman a drink, she notices that women often reach for the most expensive options available, as opposed to their usual choices. “They don’t wanna order, like, the basic stuff,” she says. “They want ultra, ultra premium.”
What the bartender is specifically calling out is the lack of consistency in their supposed taste level. “That same girl’s gonna come back, and when she’s buying her own drink, she’s gonna ask for a house, maybe mid-grade spirits,” she says.
Instead of premium brands, she says customers suddenly opt for more affordable options. “Maybe she’ll splurge for Tito’s,” the bartender says. “But she’s never buying, like, Chopin, Grey Goose, ultra-premium spirits.”
She adds that often, customers will even lie to get the more expensive selections. “But the minute someone else is buying it, she’s like, ‘That’s all I drink. That’s all I like. Everything else makes me sick.’”
While many commenters agreed with the bartender, others chimed in by asking why this is even an issue. “Why does it bother you, though?” asked one commenter.
“Not you pocket checking,” added another.
How Common Is It for Men to Buy Women Drinks?
In nightlife culture, offering to buy someone a drink has long been one of the most common ways people initiate conversations at bars or clubs. A survey of nightlife behavior by Eventbrite showed that many men go out specifically hoping to meet someone, which often includes paying for drinks as a social icebreaker. This survey found that 30% of men reported going out intending to meet someone, compared with 22% of women.
As the bartender observed, this trend can add up financially. Research on bar spending shows that men consistently spend more on alcohol than women when going out. One report estimated men spend about $44 per week on alcohol on average, compared with roughly $27 for women.
In bar environments specifically, men also report higher tabs overall. Approximately 44% of Gen Z men report spending $30 or more on a night out, compared to just 29% of women.
AllHipHop reached out to @martiii_soull for comment via TikTok direct message and comment. We will update this story if she responds.
Snoop Dogg isn’t just buying into Swansea City. He’s buying into a vision that transforms a working-class Welsh city into Europe’s answer to Las Vegas.
The 54-year-old rap icon holds a minority stake in the Championship club and he’s got a decade-long blueprint to make it happen.
His strategy goes way beyond football. He’s talking world-class hotels, premium dining, live entertainment venues, and a 20,000-seat stadium that’ll pull the biggest artists on the planet.
“I got the connections to get the best chefs,” he told the Mirror. “I got connections with businessmen who can finance world class hotels and clubs.”
This is a calculated business move from someone who’s already proven he can operate at the highest levels of entertainment and sports.
What makes Swansea attractive for this kind of development?
The city’s got infrastructure, a growing digital economy, and regulatory frameworks that support entertainment venues. Wales has been quietly building its gaming and hospitality sectors.
Swansea specifically sits in a sweet spot. It’s got the stadium, the fan base, and now it’s got Snoop’s star power and connections.
Snoop’s already proven his business acumen beyond music. He’s been pushing into sports ownership and broadcasting, building media deals, and creating content across multiple platforms.
His involvement with Swansea isn’t a vanity project. It’s part of a larger portfolio strategy in which he’s leveraging his brand to generate revenue streams across entertainment, sports, and hospitality.
His ten-year plan officially kicks into high gear this summer with the first phase of venue development.
OMB Bloodbath faces a second federal trial after prosecutors refused to accept a hung jury in her 2017 Third Ward murder case.
The Houston rapper was back in court last week for her arraignment on a superseding indictment that adds serious charges to an already heavy case.
The new indictment alleges she “knowingly and intentionally” participated in the killing of 53-year-old Samuel Johnson, an innocent bystander caught in gang crossfire.
This is different from the first trial, where prosecutors had to prove she ordered the hit. Now they’re saying she was directly involved. That’s a major shift.
According to the Houston Chronicle, the charges include murder in aid of racketeering and firearm use during a violent crime resulting in death. Both carry mandatory life sentences. She’s been locked up since 2023, waiting for this moment.
Prosecutors showed jailhouse recordings, thousands of text messages, and even one of her rap videos to prove she led the 100% Third Ward gang.
The defense argued the evidence didn’t prove she ordered anything. One of the actual shooters, Marquis Erskin, testified he acted on his own.
But prosecutors weren’t buying it. They claimed Erskin was protecting her.
He later pleaded guilty and got 285 months in federal prison. That’s nearly 24 years on top of a 37-year state sentence. The feds weren’t playing around.
The shooting happened on October 16, 2017, on London Street in south Houston.
Four gang members drove a stolen car and opened fire on a rival from the Young Scott Block. Johnson wasn’t even part of the beef. He just happened to be there.
The gang war between 100% Third Ward and Young Scott Block allegedly killed dozens over a decade.
The new trial is scheduled for May 2026. This time, prosecutors are coming harder with that direct participation charge.
The jury’s got to decide if she was just a gang leader or if she had her hands in the actual murder. Either way, life is on the table.
A California-based man is calling out a Petaluma restaurant’s tipping practices after noticing the restaurant implemented a mandatory service fee.
On March 6, @techiesc2 posted a TikTok about a local restaurant, BiJou, which recently implemented a 5% service charge. “The question is, why aren’t you paying your workers more to begin with?” he asks of restaurants generally. “And why is it the responsibility of customers to tip more to pay wages?”
Why Did This Particular Restaurant Stand Out?
While recounting a recent trip to Petaluma, he came across coverage of another nearby restaurant that advertises relatively affordable brunch prices, which included a $16 eggs Benedict.
The TikToker mentioned that the restaurant recently drew criticism in a Reddit thread he found for reportedly adding a 5% service charge intended to help fund employee wages. “Why isn’t the dish $16.80 or $17?” he reads from the Reddit thread. “Why surprise us at the end with the extra fee?”
He said diners already expect to pay higher prices for brunch in Northern California, and he’d rather see restaurants raise menu prices upfront instead of adding additional charges later on the receipt.
“I’m willing to pay the price that you put on your menu,” he says. “But if you lure me in with a certain price and then say, ‘Hey, we gotta pay our workers, so we’re tacking on 5% to your bill,’ no. Just no.”
Overwhelmingly, the comments echoed the TikToker’s frustration with the mandatory service fee. “If you can’t afford to pay employees a fair, livable wage, you don’t have a viable business model,” wrote one user.
“Extra charges like that are SOOO tacky!!” added another.
“I’m not willing to pay extra for anything unless it’s worth it,” wrote a third. “I’m tipping based on the service, not the price of the meal. Further, I am the customer, I should not be directly tied to any operating expense unless I’m getting ownership and I can see the books.”
How Common Are Service Fees at Restaurants?
Mandatory service fees like the one the TikToker described have become increasingly common in the restaurant industry in recent years. Traditionally, automatic charges were mostly reserved for large parties, but many restaurants have begun applying service fees to all customers regardless of party size since the COVID-19 pandemic.
In fact, the practice is widespread enough that a 2023 report by the National Restaurant Association noted that roughly 15% of U.S. restaurants now add some type of surcharge or service fee to customer bills.
Why Are More Restaurants Implementing Service Fees?
On the lower end, these fees might show up as small surcharges of around 3% to 5%, labeled as “employee benefits,” “kitchen appreciation,” or “living wage.” However, these fees can also manifest as larger automatic service charges of 18% or more that function similarly to a built-in gratuity.
Restaurant owners say that rising operating costs are driving this shift. Higher minimum wages, more expensive ingredients, and increasing rent and insurance costs have squeezed already thin profit margins. Service charges can help restaurants fund wages, employee benefits, and pay increases for kitchen staff, who historically earn less than front-of-house workers who receive tips.
However, the model remains controversial with diners. A survey from the Pew Research Center shows a strong public backlash to the practice, with about 72% of U.S. adults opposing restaurants automatically adding service charges to bills.
AllHipHop reached out to @techiesc2 for comment via TikTok direct message and comment and to BiJou via email. We will update this story if either party responds.
A Miami exotic dancer visits Manhattan for a 10-day work trip. On her first night out, she learns about one club’s “weird” rule. It has her considering not going back.
TikTok creator Caitlin (@caitlinsometimescherry) is an exotic dancer from Miami. She posted a video from her travels to New York City earlier this week. “So, I just got home from my first night travel dancing in Manhattan, and we need to talk,” she says to start the video.
Caitlin explains that she landed in Manhattan around 2:30 p.m. and checked into her hotel. After a shower and a nap, she got ready and went to one particular club that is owned by the same company as the one she works for back home.
How This Miami Dancer Got to a Manhattan Club
“And it’s a Monday, right?” Caitlin says. “Mondays are always hit or miss. Mondays are either you get one guy for six hours in VIP and make a ton of money, or it’s like grasping at straws. Even in Miami. Just anywhere. Tonight was a grasping-at-straws kind of evening.”
But that wasn’t the worst part about the evening. “The weirdest part about this club … honestly, the reason that I don’t want to go back to this club is you were not allowed to have your purse or your cell phone on the floor at all, whatsoever,” she says. “I’ve been dancing for three years. … I’ve probably worked at 10 different clubs. … Never once have I ever heard that rule.”
Caitlin says, “I just went with it, but sitting and just staring at the wall and staring at each other for hours and hours on end was interesting and different tonight.”
She made $620 that evening, which she considers “not really worth” the trip, but she is hopeful that her fortunes will turn around. “I will give this club another try. But there are other clubs in the area that I’m interested in trying,” she says.
Another issue she has with the first club is its low room price, which she said is considerably lower than her normal fee.
“I guess we’ll see,” she says. “I can’t give up just yet.”
Viewers React to the Manhattan Club’s ‘Weird’ Purse and Phone Rule
At the end of the video, Caitlin asks for advice from viewers about where to go next. She says she is considering Spearmint Rhino, Sapphire 60, Sapphire 39, and Flash Dancers Mid or Downtown.
In the comments section of the video, viewers offered advice on the scene and shared their opinions on the “no purse, no phone” rule.
“That’s why I don’t work at this club,” one person says. “Like why can’t I have a purse to hold my money?” Caitlin replied, “Literally spent an hour combined last night dealing with the rubber banded ankle [expletive].”
A second person explained, “No phones so that you don’t exchange contact information with clients.”
Another person said, “New York is not for dancing.”
Based on this Reddit post to r/stripclubs a few weeks ago, the policy could also be intended to prevent the recording of dancers while they work. These policies appear to be dependent on local culture and management at the club.
AllHipHop contacted Caitlin via TikTok comment and direct message for comment. We will update this story if she responds.
Roddy Ricch went viral over the weekend for all the wrong reasons after a hotel video showed him prioritizing his jewelry over basic manners.
The Compton rapper stepped out of his car on March 14 and immediately started playing with his chains instead of helping his girlfriend exit the vehicle.
Social media users wasted no time roasting him, with one X user writing, “Roddy Ricch is all about priorities, chains over chivalry.”
The clip sparked immediate debate online about what actually happened in those few seconds.
Roddy Ricch receives backlash after a video surfaces of him walking over to his car to fix his chains instead of opening the car door for his girl.👀 pic.twitter.com/FF3tNSVOrb
Defenders quickly jumped in to clarify the situation. Multiple users pointed out that his girlfriend had already opened the door herself by the time Ricch reached her side of the vehicle.
Roddy Ricch’s personal life has been under scrutiny before. He shares a daughter named Navy with Timaera, born in 2024, and has a son named Kadence with ex-partner Allie Kay from April 2020.
Last year, during Easter, he posted photos with the Navy but didn’t include Kadence, which led Allie Kay to call him out publicly.
Roddy Ricch responded on Instagram Stories, writing, “YES, I PROVIDE FOR BOTH OF MY KIDS. NO, I DO NOT GIVE A F*CK IF YOU BELIEVE IT.”
On the music side, Ricch’s third album, The Navy Album, remains in limbo. Originally scheduled for December 2024, the project has been delayed multiple times without explanation.
Michael B Jordan took home the Best Actor Oscar at the 98th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, cementing his status as one of Hollywood’s most versatile performers.
The win marks his first Academy Award and follows months of momentum on the awards circuit.
Playing dual roles as identical twin brothers Elijah “Smoke” and Elias “Stack” Moore in Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners,” Jordan made history as the first actor ever to win an Oscar for portraying twins.
The film itself became a major player at the ceremony, with multiple wins across technical categories.
Jordan’s competition was fierce. He beat out Timothée Chalamet for “Marty Supreme,” Ethan Hawke for “Blue Moon,” and Leonardo DiCaprio for “One Battle After Another.”
The 39-year-old’s victory represents a significant moment for representation in Hollywood. He’s now the sixth Black actor to win Best Actor, joining a legacy that includes Forest Whitaker, Denzel Washington, Sidney Poitier, Will Smith, and Jamie Foxx.
On stage, Jordan kept it real. “God is good,” he said, his voice steady. “God is good.”
He then turned to his mother in the audience, shouting out his entire family before pivoting to thank Ryan Coogler, his collaborator on five films.
“I’m so honored to call you a collaborator and a friend,” Jordan said. “Thank you for giving me the opportunity and space to be seen.”
What made this moment even bigger was the context.
“Sinners” itself is a genre-bending epic that defied easy categorization, and Jordan’s dual performance required him to inhabit two completely different characters with distinct personalities and arcs.
Jordan’s acceptance speech reflected gratitude and humility. He thanked everyone who’d supported his career, acknowledging the industry’s faith in him.
“I know you guys want me to do well, and I want to do that because you guys bet on me,” he said. “So thank you for keeping on betting on me.”
He closed with a promise to keep pushing himself. “I’m going to keep stepping up and keep being the best version of myself I can be.”
The win cements Jordan’s place among the elite of his generation. Per Variety, this Oscar victory follows his SAG Award win earlier in the season, making 2026 his year.
The Academy had spoken, and the message was clear: Michael B Jordan is one of the best actors working today.
Jack Harlow just handed Twitter the most unhinged roast material in months, and honestly, the internet’s having the time of its life, tearing him apart.
During an appearance on the New York Times’ “Popcast,” the Louisville rapper said his music “got blacker” while making his new album Monica, and yeah, that landed exactly how you’d think it would.
I blame Black Women for stroking Jack Harlow ego 😆 🤣 😂 Reason why this fool got away with what he get away with. Can we be real about it 🤔 #JackHarlow#Blacker#Monica
The comment sparked an absolute wildfire of jokes, memes, and creative alternative names that have people in stitches.
Jack Harlow was trying to explain how he leaned deeper into R&B and soul music rather than retreating into what he called “safer” territory, like some of his white rap contemporaries.
Twitter didn’t waste a second. People started renaming Jack Harlow with increasingly hilarious alternatives that play off his whiteness and the whole situation.
We’re talking “Talcum X” a play on Malcolm X, “Music, Stole Child,” riffing on Musiq Soulchild, Charlie Kirk Franklin,” mixing the conservative commentator with the gospel singer, “KKKarl Thomas,” “H####! Honki! Honke!” as a play on Tony! Toni! Tone!, “Musiq Rothschild,” “Jew Hill,” “Anthony Scamilton” and “Mos Definetly Not”
Charlie Kirk Franklin Brian McWhite Stevie Wonderbread J’Nilla D’Anglo Arnold Kelly Mos Definitely Not Yakub Kweli Musiq Snowchild Snow Aalegbro De La Soap Remy Sham Vanilla Rice LAY-Z Common Sensible The Weakend A Tribe Called Eh Maxwelp
The creativity was unmatched, and honestly, hopefully, Jack Harlow’s got a sense of humor about it because the internet has been relentless for well over 24 hours.
Now there’s this whole conspiracy theory floating around that he named the album Monica because it sounds like “my n####” when you say it fast.
Whether that’s true or just internet speculation, it’s definitely adding fuel to the fire that is consuming Jack Harlow’s ass.
