Rapper YG was honored by the Mayor of Los Angeles, for his TeleHealth Van business.
The rapper was celebrated at the private home of Mayor Eric Garcetti for his company TeleHealth Van. TeleHealth Van was founded by YG, Dion Rambo and Todd Gurley.
The company operates a fleet of customized 5G-enabled vans that drive into low income and homeless communities. TeleHealth Van allows families to step inside their vehicles and and meet with doctors, therapists, and caseworkers.
The meetings are virtual and the patrons never have to leave their neighborhood. Mayor Eric Garcetti invited YG and his team into his private home, where they shared their personal missions, obstacles, and encouragement.
The company received the Official Congratulatory Award from City of L.A. for completing 5,000-visits in one year, an official award from Councilman Curren D. Price, Council District 9 and a Community Award from GLAAAC.
Other notable guests on hand to honor YG and his team included Commissioner Aura Garcia (VP, Public Works), “Sweet” Alice Harris (Parents of Watts), Victor Parker (SBA Director), Kecia Washington (Director, LADWP), Dr. Jack Barbour (Founder, SCHARP), Denise Shook (Exec. Dir., BHS), and others.
Take a look at some of the pictures from the event:
New court documents obtained by AllHipHop reveal Lydia High told a grand jury Ronald “Tinard” Washington was one of the gunmen who was buzzed into Jay’s Jamaica, Queens recording studio on October 30, 2002.
Washington allegedly ordered High to lay on the floor as another gunman, whom the Feds believe was Karl “Lil D” Jordan, fired multiple rounds.
One bullet struck Jam Master Jay in the head and killed him instantly, while another man, Uriel “Pretty Tony” Rincon, was struck in the leg.
Now, Washington’s lawyers are after the transcripts of High’s grand jury testimony, thinking it could help his client.
His lawyer Ezra Spilke wants to know why Washington was not arrested for the murder before August 2020 when murder charges were formally filed against him and Jordan.
“Law enforcement officers notified Mr. Washington – including during an interview on April 16, 2019 – that Lydia High had positively identified him as having held her down at gunpoint in the studio during the murder of Jason Mizell,” Ezra Spilke said. “Upon information and belief, Ms. High testified before a grand jury about that murder, including in late 2005/early 2006. As you are well aware, Mr. Washington was first charged with the murder by an indictment filed in August 2020, some fourteen to fifteen years after Ms. High testified before the grand jury.”
So, Spilke wants to know if:
Ms. High attempted to implicate Mr. Washington, but the grand jury found Ms. High incredible and rejected her testimony
Ms. High did not implicate Mr. Washington; or
Ms. High exculpated Mr. Washington.
Lydia High Identified Ronald “Tinard” Washington As Jam Master Jay Gunman
Spilke is also after any and all of the notes of interviews Ms. High conducted with law enforcement, and any Grand Jury testimony she may have given that called her implication of Washington into question.
The Feds claim Jam Master Jay was murdered over 10 kilos of cocaine after he supposedly cut both men out of a lucrative deal.
“What we’ve alleged in that indictment, is that on October 30th, 2002 nearly 20 years ago, Mr. Jordan and Mr. Washington walked into a music studio in Queens, where Mr. Mizell and others were working, essentially hanging out, and they walked in and they murdered him in cold blood,” U.S. Attorney Seth DuCharme said.
A source told the New York Daily News that the charges were only filed against the pair in 2020 because an informant provided a new, key piece of evidence needed to bring charges against both men.
Both Washington and Jordan – who could face the death penalty – have pleaded innocent to charges which include drug-related homicide and use of a firearm in connection to that offense.’
Rap star Yo Gotti just plunked down over $7 million for a brand new mansion.
The CMG boss is the new owner of a huge, luxurious Westlake Village Tuscan-style mansion. According to dirt.com, Yo Gotti purchased his new home from Bruce Kanter, the former CFO of Westwood One.
The 10,000 foot gated property sits on 3 acres of lush greens, overlooking a golf course as well as a man-made lake.
The rap stars house has six bedrooms and six bathrooms, one of which, the master, has its own fireplace! Yo Gotti’s new crib also has a full size children’s playground out back, and a formal garden fit for one of rap”s kings.
The resort style the mansion is rounded out by a tennis court, and an l-shaped infinity pool, which offers up sweeping panoramic views of the mountains surrounding Yo Gotti’s property.
According to dirt.com, Yo Gotti paid $100,000 over the listing price, bringing the total of the purchase to $7,600,000.
In January of 2020, Yo Gotti revealed he had been in the real estate game for years, and at one point he was buying one house a month!
“I bought a house early in my career, and in my head, it was like, ‘If everything goes wrong, I own this one house, you know?’ … As I started doing concerts and more concerts, I started buying more houses. I would buy a house, and try to buy a house every month,” the rap star told Yahoo Finance.
“I didn’t have education or information about real estate at the time. I learned after I bought a few houses, and then I kind of fell in love with the rehabbing of the houses and fixing them up and just the whole process and turned it into a business.”
The news comes on the heels of Yo Gotti re-upping his label deal with Interscope Records. This year, Yo Gotti’s CMG label has released chart topping albums from Moneybagg Yo, and 42 Dugg.
When it comes to West Coast hip-hop, look no further than Glasses Malone.
Hailing from Watts, the West Coast spitter prides himself in creating real deal hip-hop, injecting storytelling in his lyrics with bars inspired directly by real-life experiences of being a Crip in the streets of Los Angeles.
From his mom getting a 20-year prison sentence to his own encounters with drugs and violence, Glasses is here to speak his truth — in turn inspiring others to speak theirs as well.
Feeding off the momentum of his viral music video for “2Pac Must Die,” where Malone is seen telling the story of Tupac’s death from the POV of Compton Crip gang member Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson (whom many believe to have killed Tupac), Glasses has been studying the art of creating records and the behind-the-scenes process of marketing these songs once they release.
His most recent release, “6 ’N the Mornin’ (GMX),” reworks the original record from Ice-T, even getting the West Coast Legend to cut a verse alongside Snoop Dogg and Ty Dolla $ign.
Beyond that, Glasses is working on a reimagined version of his classic 2012 “Glasshouse mixtape,” which includes the song “Gangsta Boogie” with The Game.
AllHipHop: How you been holding up with everything in the pandemic?
Glasses Malone: It was good for me, I really can’t complain. I was able to reset, get a lot of things done, focus, really able to bring together all my efforts and aim them in one direction. That ended up working out really well. Except people have been dying, that’s been really f##### up.
AllHipHop: What direction were you trying to put everything in?
Glasses Malone: I’ve been making a ton of music. Over the last 8 years, I’ve been studying records, hip-hop, and marketing. It took me so much time. I couldn’t release music and content at the same time consistently because I was learning so much. To be making so much music and not be able to release it was tough. Sacrificing years and years of releasing music was tough, but it was all worth it. I gave it all up for the right cause.
Now I’m in a situation where I know exactly what I’m doing, I just don’t know the ceiling of it. I don’t know how big it could be, but I know the point’s going to come across. That’s really been my focus, really organizing my brand. My brand’s been fragmented for years. There’s been a lot of confusion on my brand, not on my marketing. If you know who I am, you know what I’m about. But if you saw my name or heard of my name in crossing, there was too much confusion so I really want to clear that up. That’s my goal with the next 3 or 4 album releases.
AllHipHop: Your new single “6 N’ The Mornin’” is doing great. Talk about paying homage to Ice-T, then getting the West Coast legends Snoop and Ty Dolla $ign on the record.
Glasses Malone: We worked on that song when I first put out “Glasshouse,” This was right before I was going through this phase of learning. I was right at the beginning of it all. I was starting to figure out records, starting to understand what it was, the science of it not just the art of it. I still didn’t really get it so I was trying to do it at the same time, that’s exactly one of the reasons I slowed down.
Initially, it had Kurupt, Joe Moses, and Ty$. I always knew that song specifically, I thought it’d be dope to have Ice-T on it because that’s the origin of all West Coast hip-hop. That’s his signature song. That’s the first West Coast recognizable song globally, so it made a lot of sense. To get him on it took me a lot of time, took me some years. I really didn’t realize how close we were because certain people around me really messed with dude. At that time, I was so much of a loner about it. I felt there wasn’t enough camaraderie on the West to reach out to people, so I didn’t try to.
AllHipHop: Really?
Glasses Malone: Yeah because our whole journey into this business ain’t that real great. It’s tough. A lot of people didn’t help, so it took me a lot longer when I realized there’s somebody right next to me that knew him. Tracking him down was a journey in itself. Shout out to AD, used to run KDAY because he got us some backstage passes to a concert he’s doing. Ice-T was performing, I asked him for backstage passes for the concert and I saw him finally. I’d reached out to some of his managers and they were running me around, it was wack. I said “I’ma get in cuz face myself.” I called him backstage and me with his whole entourage, I said “Ice, what’s up? I’m Glasses.” He said “I know who you is Loc.”
Damn, I was trippin’. He’s a Crip, for him to have that feel was dope. I said “I’ve been trying to get with you. I want you to get on this song.” He said “you want me to feature on a song?” I said “yeah, I want you to rap on this song, I’ve got the perfect song for you.” He said “alright, come with me to my dressing room.” I’m following him and his entourage to the dressing room, I get there and it’s a room full of legendary older Crip nggas. Some from the hood in Compton, some from 60’s in LA, some were PJ Crip nggas from Watts, just different OG n*ggas. He walks in, they like “Ice, what up?” Ice knew them all, I thought that was crazy.
When I walk in, they see me “Glasses, what up ngga? What’s up?” They talking to me, I seen Ice look over. I really thought it was a test. He looked over and he seen all these street nggas who had nothing to do with the industry, knew me. For a minute he saw some of himself in what I was doing. He said “man, I gotchu”. It was that simple. He gave me his number, came to the studio 2 weeks later. Drove himself, wrote his own s###. Knocked that s### out, easy. Damn, that’s crazy. Somebody can be rapping for 30, 40 years and still that good and fluent with the pen.
AllHipHop: What was the highlight from that session?
Glasses Malone: Him cuzin me, I thought that was dope. “What up cuz?” That was really special to me. Ice T never forgot who he was. All this success in film since the 80’s, success in music and Grammys from Rock n Roll band, TV shows on Channel 4, but this ngga still Tracy from the streets. Ice T from the streets. It gave me courage that a street ngga can make it first. You’ve seen Snoop Dogg from the first part, but Snoop’s success has been different. He’s been the biggest rapper. Ice is this successful actor. He’s been in a rock band, f###### doing shows with white folks talking about crime.
He’s talking and I can tell that’s his normal jargon, so that was really special to me. That meant a lot to me. It really made me believe because when you come from our background, it’s a tough road. To watch somebody go that far and still be true to himself, that s### meant everything to be honest. I never really tripped off of that as much as I do when I think about it now.
AllHipHop: You’re also doing a revamped version of Glasshouse. What can we expect?
Glasses Malone: Well me and Tommy were working on Glass House, I didn’t know nothing about records. I knew how to rap and I knew what I was saying was real, and I knew how to be clever. Tommy knew more about records than me, but I didn’t know. He’d let me do my project and we’d come out with some stuff. That particular project, I started to understand. That’s the project that “That Good” was on. I knew a little bit and we’re able to get my most famous record from it.
The project itself was decent, it wasn’t great. Now that I’m so invested in the science of records, yo let me fix this project and deliver it to DSPs, because it never was on DSPs. I fixed it, I added songs, I remixed songs. Kept some cool songs and made this dope body of work that’s a great representation of gangsta rap, of West Coast hip hop. Instead of going with all the dudes that are my generation and younger like I normally do, I went to all the legends: Ice T, Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, the Eastsidaz, Goldie, 40, $hort, Coolio, Cypress Hill. Obviously there’s Ty Dolla $ign, Kid Ink, Schoolboy Q, there’s certain homies that are permanent I’m never going to get away from, but I did more legends this project. That was really important to me. I wanted to get into the essence, the beginning of it all. It worked out, it came out really good. I’m really proud. Raphael Saadiq, Game. Like with “6 ‘N the Mornin’,” we took it back to the beginning of West Coast hip hop. The next song, I want to take it back to the beginning of my career and that’s with Game. That’s how I started.
AllHipHop: Talk about calling out Mase on his comments on gangbanging.
Glasses Malone: Mase disappointed me. I’ve been supportive of that brother’s career my whole life, from the first time I heard him on the 112 song. I was buying dude’s records, I was all in. Fast forward 25 years later, I’m not no kid. Damn, to hear him talking about gangbanging in a way… I get it. I get the negative stigma that comes with the culture itself, but if you’re ignorant to it and you don’t know, you probably shouldn’t be speaking on it because then you look stupid. In my mind, I know I spoke with respect when I talked about it, but I let him know that I was really discontent with his statements because it was vested in ignorance. It didn’t make sense, there’s no oath you take when you become a gang member. Really you’re sticking up for your friends, that’s the whole oath. There’s no oath you take. You like your friends, you stand up with them till it’s all said and done.
It’s confusion that it’s about a street sign or bandana when it’s not. It’s really about your friends, the guys y’all grew up starving with, ate the worst meals with, ate the best meals with. All you’ve got is each other, so y’all fight and protect each other at all costs. It’s not bad to me. I wouldn’t tell some kid to join. I disagree with a lot of people joining gangs now. If you didn’t grow up with the people that you claiming to bang with, what’s the bond that makes you die over? Or makes me want to kill or die? I know my homeboy Ron Ron’s moms. I know his father, I know his brothers, I know his grandmother. That’s what’s propelling such passion in you, any type of action over something that happens to him is that type of bond. I don’t know what n*ggas is fighting for if it’s a street sign, it’s a bunch of strangers.
AllHipHop: What does West Coast gangsta rap mean to you? How can you continue to push it in the most positive light?
Glasses Malone: It’s only positive because it represents a few people. In ‘87 when N.W.A. dropped “F### Tha Police,” 98% of the world didn’t look at that song as a positive song. That song was the representation of a very small select group, so people didn’t look at it in a positive light. The few people it represented, that meant everything to us and our culture. To keep pushing gangsta rap forward, it requires me to keep being transparent and honest for what I witness everyday. What I’ve seen in the past or what I’ma see tomorrow, not really care how the 99% of the other people feel about me telling the truth.
That’s what makes West Coast hip-hop great, this unwavering sense of honesty and not give a f###-ness. “I don’t care how y’all feel about the truth, I’ma tell it.” As long as I still have my thorns and a willingness to deal with whatever consequence comes, I’ma keep telling the truth. It’s gonna work out for me and that’s how you prepare gangsta rap. You keep speaking that real truth and be okay with offending the other 99% of the population.
AllHipHop: What are your thoughts on everything happening in the news right now? You’ve got a song called “2Pac Must Die.”
Glasses Malone: I always thought that’s how it happened. That’s a tough situation man, that dude took Pac under his wing. A bad situation and it got worse. This gang s###, there’s different levels of loyalty. Vengeance and justice is a lot different. There’s no trials, nobody else to convict you. One person can be the court, judge, jury, and executioner. I pray he gets out of prison. He’s in there right now and I pray he’s figuring it out, finding peace. I always felt like pops was never at peace.
Suge was never at peace. Even when I’d talk to him, he never seemed at peace. I hope he makes it through the stretch and he finds peace, find a way to celebrate what he’s accomplished and where he’s going next. Not so much try and attach himself to what had happened before. I told him, I always felt he spent too much time trying to connect to what he did versus going to his next journey. Him trying to keep connecting to what he did ended up costing him his freedom.
AllHipHop: What do you think needs to happen for him to find peace? I recently interviewed Freeway Rick Ross who said he enjoyed his 20 years in jail.
Glasses Malone: You know what’s funny, jail ain’t as bad as people think. I never wanted to be a gangbanger. It is not my thing because as I got older, I got away from liking people. I don’t really f### with people because they be disappointing you. So I didn’t think I’d be a good gang member. I didn’t smoke, I didn’t drink, I read books. I didn’t think I’d be a good criminal or a good gang member, to say the least. I didn’t really realize I was going to be good at it, to be able to survive or even thrive in it until I went to jail.
AllHipHop: How long did you go for?
Glasses Malone: It was only a week. I was fighting a case and it was a DA reject, but it doesn’t take much for you to figure it out. It’s not a long stretch thing, it’s going to break you the first day or the second day. It doesn’t take you 10 years to break you, it breaks you instantly because the adjustment is so fast and swift. Somebody tells you what to do, you’re running into nggas, you might have to fight these nggas. Just a whole different mindstate. I didn’t really realize I was going to be okay at it until I went to jail. The first time I went and I got into a fight, I won the fight. I was running into homies and I wasn’t even worried, I didn’t even worry about going to jail anymore. It was nothing.
AllHipHop: Talk about the record you have with Game coming up, called “Gangsta Boogie.”
Glasses Malone: It’s everything you should get when you get 2 people from that third or fourth generation of West Coast hip hop. As soon as you hear it, you know it’s that situation going down. It’s straight-forward. It’s exactly what it’s supposed to be if you like West Coast culture. You f### with what’s happening or you’re a part of it, this is perfect for you. It represents you. I’m proud of it. Game helped me start my career. His older brother Fase was really instrumental in me having an opportunity to change my life. He picked the first song I ever got real props for outside of the project. Fase picked the first song. He wanted me to rap to that beat, I didn’t even like the beat.
G-Ride did all my marketing. Game gave me his platform. He jumped on songs at the time he for sure was super hot in the game. He didn’t have to. I owe Game a lot. I don’t give a f### what other people feel about him, I owe dude a lot period. I go to him to this day. It’s always gratitude I have with him and he knows, so he shows me a ton of love. I wanted to bring it back to him full circle. I wanted to take everybody back like they were there. From what I’m saying, I want to bring you back to how I started. That dude did a lot for me, he didn’t have to do none of the s### he did. I wanted to present that again to everybody, I wanted to bring that energy.
AllHipHop: Three decades later, what inspires you to keep making music?
Glasses Malone: I don’t feel that boxed in still. I mean, I’m starting to feel more boxed in everyday. My story’s still spitting music, but they’re outgrowing. “2 Pac Must Die” is a perfect example where my ideas and my stories are outgrowing music. Now, they’re starting to be so visually-driven that I need to start writing films or TV shows because what I’m doing is too big. There’s so much that needs to be presented to the world, I’ve still got a mission and I’ve still got my thorns. I don’t give a f### still. The day I start giving a f###, it’s over. Because I still don’t give a f###, I’m still putting out music.
The rapper was accused of shooting a security guard in the ankle, after he allegedly lost $40,000 in cash after his appearance.
Footage of the rapper walking through brandishing a gun went viral, and Pooh Shiesty was eventually arrested and charged with aggravated battery, and held without bond.
According to his lawyer Bradford Cohen, the security guard who claims he was shot now says he can’t even remember giving his initial statement to the police.
The security guard named Frivin For, said in a sworn deposition, that he was on the powerful painkiller Dilaudid the night of the shooting.
According to For, he can’t recall Pooh Shiesty aiming, or shooting at him.
The security guard says he does not want to press charges against Pooh Shiesty and he’s apparently refusing the cooperate with Florida authorities.
Although he could still be prosecuted for aggravated battery, Cohen says the new revelation is at least enough to grant Pooh Shiesty bond.
Jay-Z is in a serious legal beef with one of hip-hop’s most well-known photographers – Jonathan Mannion.
According to TMZ.com, Jay-Z is suing Mannion for millions, claiming the shutterbug is using his name and image without the proper permission.
Jay-Z said he warned Mannion before filing the lawsuit, however Mannion and his company Jonathan Mannion Photography LLC demanded tens of millions of dollars.
Jay-Z’s lawsuit claims the photographer thinks that just because he took the pictures, that he has a right to exploit them as he sees fit.
As a result, Mannion continues to exploit Jay-Z’s image, which is being sold on pictures and merchandise on Mannion’s website.
“It is ironic that a photographer would treat the image of a formerly unknown Black teenager, now widely successful, as a piece of property, to be squeezed for every dollar it can produce. It stops today” Jay-Z’s lawyers wrote in the lawsuit.
Over the years, Jonathan Mannion has been the go-to photographer for some of hip-hop’s best-known artists. Rappers like Kendrick Lamar, Nas, Outkast, Dr. Dre, and Nicki Minaj have all worked with Mannion.
And Mannion himself has been known to sue people who illegally exploit the famous images he has snapped.
So far, Jonathan Mannion has yet to reply to Jay-Z’s lawsuit.
Kodak Black has everybody talking again. This time it’s not for some criminal activity or any sort of illegal actions on his behalf. This time is because he wished former, disgrace President Donald Trump a happy birthday. If you remember, Kodak Black was incarcerated for something that I cannot remember at the moment. Nevertheless he was looking to do some time, but at the last minute Donald Trump exonerated him from his crimes and got him freed immediately.
For that, it seems like Kodak Black has a lifetime of indebtedness to the former president. Well he sure showed it in numerous posts on social media, including Twitter and Instagram. The comments were mixed, but along color lines it seemed like most people considered him some sort of a negative racial epithets for someone that betrays the race. On the other side, I am certain there are people who support him for being that type of Negro.
So I’ve argued that Kodak Black should feel positively towards Donald Trump for freeing him from jail but I disagree. At this point, all he has to do is keep his nose clean and try to make some good music. Remember, A$AP Rocky was also freed by Donald Trump, but he was not so easily bought. He didn’t think that Donald at all. And I think that’s how it should be because he intention behind the act was not sure. You pick the right one with Kodak Black because he’s acting like he got freed from slavery or something.
Brand New’ reflects Yung Cassius’s diverse music capabilities and mass appeal. Yung Cassius speaks the language of rap luxury, against all odds, and classic Hip-Hop bravado. ‘Brand New’ provides a ray of light for anyone grinding through the darkness and Illuminates the perfect blueprint for ‘living the life if you’re built to win.
According to his previous statements, Lil Baby looks to Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter as a prototype of what he hopes to accomplish in the entertainment industry. Jay-Z has now tapped Lil Baby to close out his Made In America concert this year.
In March, Lil Baby said, “I’m really not that fond of meeting other celebrities, but Jay-Z is a guy who I look up to, and look up to the way he moves and the things that he’s done. I see myself following in his footsteps.”
Lil Baby will be headlining the Roc Nation-produced Made In America this Labor Day Weekend. Pop superstar Justin Bieber is also set to top the bill for the Philadelphia-based event scheduled for Saturday, September 4 and Sunday, September 5.
The 2021 Made In America lineup also features Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Roddy Ricch, Bobby Shmurda, Baby Keem, Lil Durk, A$AP Ferg, Moneybagg Yo, Freddie Gibbs, Tinashe, Morray, 42 Dugg, and EST Gee. Additional performers will be announced in the coming weeks.
Made In America is making its return this year after being postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s 2-day festival will benefit the ACLU of Pennsylvania as its official charity partner. Plus, a portion of net proceeds will also support The REFORM Alliance.
“We are thrilled to announce Made In America 2021 on the legendary Benjamin Franklin Parkway. This year will be like no other, as Made In America celebrates 10 years of music history-making moments,” stated Jay-Z in a May press release.
The Roc Nation founder added, “The artists’ performances will be even bigger and Cause Village will host a wider range of amazing philanthropic organizations. We look forward to sharing incredible memories with our festival attendees and the city of Philadelphia.”
Chicago’s Polo G is still dealing with being detained in Miami-Dade County on multiple charges. However, that legal situation in Florida has not stopped the 22-year-old rapper from continuing to promote his new Hall of Fame album.
On Monday, Polo G released the official “Painting Pictures” music video. Ryan Lynch directed the new visuals which collected close to 1 million YouTube views in under 15 hours.
Previously, Polo G released videos for the Hall of Fame tracks “Rapstar,”“Gang Gang” featuring Lil Wayne, and “No Return” featuring the Kid Laroi and Lil Durk. The former Hot 100 #1 single “Rapstar” has over 85 million on YouTube. “No Return” is currently the #1 trending music video on the platform.
Polo G’s “Rapstar” also resides in the Top 5 of Spotify’s daily Top 200 United States chart. The song presently sits at #3 on Apple Music’s most recent Top 100: USA chart too. Last week, the Columbia recording artist performed “Rapstar” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Polo G (born Taurus Tremani Bartlett) was charged with battery on a police officer, threatening a public servant, resisting an officer with violence, resisting an officer without violence, and criminal mischief. He was released on bond.
They playin foul in Miami & dat s### been like that for a minute
“1 of the officers told us they [were] on us since we got off our jet…” tweeted Polo G on Sunday morning. “They [playing] foul in Miami and [that] s### been like that for a minute.”
Polo G’s 16-year-old brother was reportedly taken into custody by Miami police officers as well. Their mother, Stacia Mac, claimed her children were profiled by law enforcement for “driving while Black.” Mac is also Polo’s manager.
Back in 2003, Hip Hop star Busta Rhymes and R&B star Mariah Carey joined forces for “I Know What You Want” featuring Flipmode Squad. Busta is commemorating the It Ain’t Safe No More… song’s legacy with a new short film.
DIVINE: The 18 Year Anniversary Celebration was published on YouTube this week. The 21-minute documentary shines a spotlight on the influence “I Know What You Want” had on R&B and Hip Hop.
Filmmaker Chris Robinson and actor Michael Jai White as well as rappers Spliff Star, Rah Digga, Rampage, Baby Sham, and Trippie Redd were interviewed for DIVINE.
“This is classic… make a record that will last you 10 years, 15 years, and if you ever chose to remake that record again on your own, you can because remember, the first time you did it it was the s###,” said Spliff Star.
“I Know What You Want” peaked at #3 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart. The collaboration also made it into the Top 5 of Billboard‘s Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs, Hot Rap Songs, R&B/Hip Hop Airplay, and Rhythmic Airplay charts.
In addition, Busta Rhymes and Mariah Carey’s Gold-certified hit spent 21 weeks in the Hot 100’s Top 40. It was ranked #17 on the Hot 100 year-end chart for 2003.
The official “I Know What You Want” music video has over 197 million views on YouTube. Plus, “I Know What You Want” has garnered over 500 million streams to date. Spotify users have played the Rick Rock-produced record more than 17 million times.
“We took [the song] up another notch without compromising what the legacy of the original was. That’s important to me – don’t touch the classic if you can’t make it just as dope, if not better,” stated Busta Rhymes.
AllHipHop broke the news that a judge agreed to reduce Black Mafia Family co-founder Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory’s prison sentence. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson celebrated Big Meech coming home three years earlier than expected.
50 Cent posted a screenshot of the AllHipHop headline on his Instagram page. The Queens-bred entertainment mogul wrote in the caption, “YES 😆 Now you know this BMF show is gonna 💣💨Blow everything off the f###### TV, the real s### different! 🚦Green Light Gang.”
The Starz network greenlit a drama series about Big Meech’s Black Mafia Family. 50 Cent (Power, Power Book II: Ghost, For Life) is executive producing the forthcoming program which began filming in Atlanta and Detroit earlier this year.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQH9VmfNhjQ/
“I’m gonna raise the bar with this one, good is not good enough. It has to be great!” declared 50 Cent about Black Mafia Family in January. The show’s cast includes Michole Briana White, Ajiona Alexus, Eric Kofi-Abrefa, Myles Truitt, Russell Hornsby, Steve Harris, and Kash Doll.
Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory Jr. will portray his father Big Meech in Starz’s Black Mafia Family. The younger Flenory revealed he took an acting class to prepare for the role.
“He always wanted me to play him. He always told me he wanted a TV show,” stated Lil Meech about his father. “He wanted me to play him, so yes I’m looking forward to it.”
Lil Meech also said, “My dad’s a very good guy. He’s not like [how] people portray him as a bad guy. He’s always a family provider.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQF4nX5LHwI/
The drug trafficking network known as the Black Mafia Family was founded in 1989 by Detroit-raised brothers Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory. B.M.F. was also connected to Hip Hop artists such as Fabolous, Young Jeezy, and Bleu DaVinci.
Members of B.M.F. were indicted on cocaine distribution conspiracy and other charges in several cities during the mid-to-late 2000s. Big Meech and Southwest T were eventually sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for being identified as the leaders of the illegal narcotics enterprise.
In April 2020, Southwest T was granted the chance to serve his remaining time on house arrest due to the COVID-19 pandemic spreading in penitentiaries. Big Meech’s request for a COVID-related release was denied multiple times.
This week, U.S. District Judge David M. Lawson shortened Big Meech’s prison sentence from 360 months to 324 months. Meech was eligible for a sentence reduction because of new sentencing guidelines for drug offenses.
Lil Baby continues to back up many modern-day Hip Hop fans’ opinions that he is the top rapper of his generation. The Atlanta-raised rhymer just joined an impressive list for the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Sixteen songs from Lil Baby and Lil Durk’s The Voice Of The Heroes album made it onto this week’s Hot 100. Baby now has 90 career Hot 100 entries, making him just the eighth rapper to cross that milestone.
The Quality Control Music recording artist is only behind Drake (233), Lil Wayne (173), Future (123), Nicki Minaj (118), Kanye West (109), Jay-Z (102), and Eminem (91). Since 2018, seven of Lil Baby’s Hot 100 hits have peaked in the Top 10.
Lil Durk and Lil Baby’s “Hats Off” with Travis Scott landed in the highest position on the most recent Hot 100 rankings. The Voice Of The Heroes track debuted at #16. Three other songs are also currently in the Top 40.
.@lilbaby4PF & @lildurk chart 16 songs from their album 'The Voice of the Heroes' on this week's #Hot100 (1/2):
#16, Hats Off w/ @trvisXX #21, Voice of the Heroes #31, 2040 #34, How It Feels #43, Still Runnin w/ @MeekMill #46, Who I Want #56, Still Hood #58,Okay
Over on the latest Billboard 200 chart, The Voice Of The Heroes opened at #1 with 150,000 first-week units. The project is Lil Baby’s second Number One following 2020’s 3x-Platinum-certified My Turn. Lil Durk scored his first Number One after previously peaking at #2 with Just Cause Y’all Waited 2 in 2020 and The Voice in 2021.
In addition, The Voice Of The Heroes features contributions by Meek Mill, Young Thug, and Rod Wave. Brooklyn Nets player James Harden executive produced the studio LP. Lil Baby recorded music at Harden’s studio.
Before The Voice Of The Heroes was available to the public, Lil Baby insisted the body of work with Lil Durk would leave an impressive mark on listeners. Baby said, “It’s gonna be one of the craziest albums to ever come out.”
The Voice Of The Heroes brought in 198 million on-demand streams in its first week of release. The music videos for “Voice of the Heroes” and “How It Feels” have combined to amassed nearly 20 million views on YouTube.
The “Chronic” rapper shared in a Los Angeles Times interview his thoughts on the scary event.
He said, “It’s a really weird thing. I’ve never had high blood pressure. And I’ve always been a person that has always taken care of my health.
“But there’s something that happens for some reason with Black men and high blood pressure, and I never saw that coming. But I’m taking care of myself,” Dr. Dre continued. “And I think every Black man should just check that out and make sure things are OK with the blood pressure. I’m going to move on and, hopefully, live a long and healthy life,” he assured fans.
Dre then gave the community an update on how he feels currently. Dre said, “I’m feeling fantastic.”
Meech was convicted of running a nationwide Continual Criminal Enterprise, and Conspiracy To Launder Money Instruments which raked in over $270 million in drug proceeds from the late ’90s until the Feds took down B.M.F. in 2007.
Southwest T was released from his 25-year prison sentence to home confinement, due to his elevated risk of catching the coronavirus. Big Meech tried to use the same argument in vain but a judge and an appeals court denied his request four separate times.
However, today’s sentence reduction Big Meech just received had nothing to do with his request for compassionate release.
Big Meech met the criteria for a sentence reduction USSG amendments 782 and 788, which revised the drug quantity and chemical quantity tables for all drug offenses.
Big Meech Gets 3-Year Sentence Reduction
The new sentencing guidelines can be applied to drug cases prior to November 1, 2014, making Meech eligible.
Big Meech has earned his GED, and completed a 24-month special management program, in addition to finishing health awareness, money management, and parenting classes.
The government is asking a judge to keep NBA YoungBoy locked up in prison as he awaits trial for Federal gun possession charges.
NBA YoungBoy, born Kentrell DeSean Gaulden, and his lawyers are trying to free the rapper from jail and put him on house arrest until his trial.
The rapper was taken into custody over a video shoot in Baton Rouge on September 28, 2020.
The police arrested 16 members of the Bottom Boy Gorilla (BBG) and Never Broke Again (NBA) gangs, and confiscated dozens of weapons along with $79,000 in cash.
The rapper was arrested in Los Angeles on March 22, when he was taken into custody by Federal Marshals.
He was hit with more charges, including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm not registered in the national firearms registration and transfer record.
“The decision to blindside him and his counsel was an inexplicable tactical decision by the government. The only evidence of their motivation behind this decision is the title of the operation, “NEVER FREE AGAIN,”, a clear attack on to defendant’s brand “Never Broke Again” and related legal entities,” said NBA YoungBoy’s lead attorney, Drew Findling.
“Rather than contacting Mr. Gaulden’s counsel of record and arranging for a voluntary surrender in the Middle District of Louisiana, the FBI in Baton Rouge contacted their counterparts in Los Angeles 12 days later to orchestrate an arrest of Mr. Gaulden,” Findling said.
During an earlier hearing Andrew Flier, another one of the rap star’s lawyers claimed he was never in possession of the weapons in question.
However, the Feds maintain they have seized footage from the video shoot showing him flashing guns, several of which were loaded.
The Feds claim NBA YoungBoy’s love for guns makes him a danger to the community. And because he is worth millions, the rapper is also a flight risk, so they are asking a judge to keep him put.
“Mr. Gaulden has a history of violence and a history of using firearms. We believe that he poses a danger to the community regardless of any conditions the Court would set,” said one of the United States’ prosecutors, Damare Theriot.
“While he does have financial resources, he attempted to flee in this instant case to avoid arrest, and we have genuine concerns that he would be willing to travel back to Louisiana to face the charges that he is facing here,” Theriot continued.
One of NBA YoungBoy’s lawyers Andrew Flier denied he was a flight risk and said the rapper was willing to wear an ankle monitor and put up several properties to ensure he stays put.
“He will… comply with any terms and conditions. I spoke to him about that,” Flier said. “I just think that, when you have someone that is in the rap entertainment business, that doesn’t mean he gets a pass for anything. Of course not. But when you have someone that’s in that industry — the reason why I bring it up, he is very well-known. He’s not going to go anywhere. That’s what he does. He makes music, he makes music videos, and he’s very successful. He’s not going to leave the United States. He will comply with any term and condition.”
NBA YoungBoy is also willing to put up a substantial real estate portfolio he has been building if he is released on bond.
This includes a $500,000 house in Utah, and another house in Houston, Texas worth $1.2 million, and both houses are completely paid off.
The rapper also has at least seven figures stacked up in his bank account, which he is also willing to put up as collateral in exchange for his freedom.
John Legend’s production company is partnering with Bernie Mac’s estate to develop a biopic about the late comedian.
The deal was announced by Legend’s partner Mike Jackson at a panel discussion during the 2021 Tribeca Festival, as he revealed that the deal “just happened today” and was therefore news to the singer.
“We just partnered with Bernie Mac’s estate to cover Bernie Mac’s story,” Jackson said, to which John replied: “Look at you breaking news over here!”
John then added that the biopic about one of the “original kings of comedy” is “the Soul Men reunion you all wanted to see”, after he starred alongside Mac in 2008 movie “Soul Men” – one of three films released after Mac’s death that year.
“He truly just got joy from lighting people’s faces up with laughter,” John said of working with Mac on the film.
Reality star Erica Mena is saying that her estranged husband Safaree Samuels has caused her to go to the hospital during her pregnancy with his drama.
In court documents, her legal team stated that Safaree “failed to be involved in her care or to visit her at the hospital during her most recent stay, where she remained overnight for many days related to her pregnancy.”
Both of the two are stars in the “Love & Hip Hop” franchise. Their love story bloomed amidst controversy and has continued — even through their weddings, first daughter, spin-off shows, and various social media squabbles.
The filing also stated that Safaree is going to the public to get sympathy from fans, stating his petition for shared custody was a full stunt “in hopes of obtaining ‘good publicity’ and painting [Erica] as the instigator, while in actuality, [Erica’s] the only parent ensuring the parties’ children’s safety and acting in their best interest.”
The two have been on a roller coaster ride since they got engaged. Mostly because of the messy overlaps that have been pushed in their storylines.
Erica Mena stopped dating another one of Safaree’s associates’ Rich Dollaz. She also left Cyn for another reality star, Bow Wow. We know how that went.
This story is developing … or might pop up in a different show.
Pharrell Williams will be opening up a school for poor children in Norfolk, Virginia this upcoming fall, Sept. 7.
The producer-turned-rapper-turned-mogul has just revealed that the private school will be located in the historic Ghent District, an area established in the late 1800s.
A grammar school, the institution is an extension of the nonprofit’s decade-long summer camp programming and will be opened to students in the third and fifth grades.
“If the system is fixed and unfair, then it needs to be broken,” Williams said via press release. “We don’t want lockstep learning where so many kids fall behind; we want bespoke learning designed for each child, where the things that make a child different are the same things that will make a child rise up and take flight.”
The school will be called Yellowhab, have a concentration on S.T.E.A.M., start with 40 to 50 students, welcome children from all parts of the city, and will be (at least for the first year) tuition-free and paid for by Williams’ fundraising efforts.
One of the earliest donors is the Walton Family Foundation.
Yellowhab will be in good hands as the executive director Mike McGalliard has experience starting schools.
He founded the Harlem Children’s Zone in New York and several charter schools in Los Angeles.
Families can apply to the school online at www.teamyellow.org/yellowhab until July 1 and students will be picked through a lottery process.
Euro Gotit is here to take over the rap game, and he’s well on his way.
Born and raised on the westside of Atlanta, the rising star comes from a place where crime, drugs and poverty was rampant… but music would be his ticket out.
From being locked up and beating two life sentences to working with artists he grew up respecting —TI and Future — Euro gives his authentic self to the masses at all times, proving that they too can change their life for the better.
Speaking on his name, Euro explains, “I wasn’t ever really into the same things that my other friends were into: Pokémon, Dragon Ball Z, wrestling. That wasn’t my type of thing. I like foreign cars, I like foreign clothes. I like the lifestyle. As far as Gotit, I’m big on manifestation. Every time you say the name Euro, you gotta say Gotit. You gotta know it’s coming. When you say it, you’re manifesting for me too.”
And that’s exactly why Euro is proud to speak motivational words every chance he gets, constantly using his platform to remind folks to go out there and get it while also remaining positive along the way.
Exploding onto the scene with his smash hit “Posse” featuring Lil Baby, Euro continues to reel in collaborations with the greats.
His most recent project 4Reign 4Ever features appearances from Future, Roddy Ricch, Yella Beezy, Da Baby, Money Mu, and of course Lil Baby.
AllHipHop: You have records with everyone from Lil Baby to DaBaby. How’d you get all of those features?
Euro Gotit: Just working. I’m in the music mecca right now. We got everything going so it’s about being in the right place at the right time. Staying consistent with work.
AllHipHop: How was it growing up on the westside of Atlanta?
Euro Gotit: Man, that’s really who founded the culture. Everything really started from the westside. The westside molded me into the individual I am today. I have a lot of respect coming from the westside.
AllHipHop: Biggest influences coming up?
Euro Gotit: Everybody out of Atlanta of course: T.I., Shawty Lo, Jeezy, Future. In Atlanta, we don’t knock nobody. We like everybody, we rock with everybody. If you had a story to tell, I was listening to your music. I was in-tune with everybody out of Atlanta who had a story. That’s why I like for my own music to tell real stories.
AllHipHop: How does It feel to go from listening to Future to now having a song with Future?
Euro Gotit: It really just came into fruition. I’ve always spoken and manifested everything that’s happened to me. I had to stay consistent with my grind of making music and keep believing it would happen. The record we got, “Takeoff” that was produced by Bangladesh, has been my inspiration to keep going; that’s the motivation.
AllHipHop: Bring us back to that studio session for “Take Off,” what was the vibe?
Euro Gotit: I always give a shout out to my dogs YSN, Geezy Escobar and Foogiano. Free Foo! They were on the original and gave me the inspiration to be like “yo, this a hit. Come on now.” I came with my verse and my team was rocking with it so hard that we made the executive decision to make that alignment happen. Two days later, we were in the studio.
AllHipHop: Did you learn anything from recording with Future? (Future was in the session right? unclear)
Euro Gotit: It’s some video footage out there of some of that session; it really highlights the vibe. Lots of energy. But of course, I learned something and more so just from observing his recording process; he’s a beast. But I remember he said I dripped and if he says I’m putting it on, you can’t tell me different now.
AllHipHop: Before the music took off, you were facing serious jail time. How did that motivate you to go harder?
Euro Gotit: In life, sometimes we make a lot of mistakes. It’s learning how to capitalize from those mistakes; turn them into doing something positive for yourself and positive for others. I got my opportunity and I stayed solid. Never told on anybody; I sat and did my time like a man. When I came home, I had to realize “oh, this is it.” I hit the ground running. I was homeless, I worked a regular job 9-5.
Even when I got signed, I was still working. It’s real life, we ain’t in this for the clout. We ain’t in this to be here today, seen and gone tomorrow. Nah, this is really how the game goes. It’s about being able to keep a good poker face whether you’re up or down, ride that wave until it blows all the way over for you.
AllHipHop: I love the inspirational posts you have on Instagram, why is this important for you?
Euro Gotit: Facts. I like posting relatable messages and being able to merge myself as an artist with my fans and people in general. I let them know I’m still human. I always try to take on the mindset from a fan perspective. Coming up, I always wanted artists I was a fan of to do what I do and build a personal connection with the fans by hearing or seeing them say things like “keep going, you got this. I’ve been where you’ve been. I want to see you win.”
I always want to come from a genuine place. I don’t script none of this. If that’s what I feel at the moment or if it be on my heart, I’ll share it. That’s when I say, “Let me lay a message because someone needs to hear it.” That’s another outlet, even gaining a hardcore personal fan because people feel they can relate with you. It’s genuine. Anytime you’re doing something from a genuine standpoint, you solidify your foundation. That’s all I be trying to do: motivate, encourage people. I want to see everybody win.
AllHipHop:4REIGN 4EVER is out now, how are you feeling?
Euro Gotit: I feel blessed. Every process ain’t rushed, it’s a marathon. As long as those streams are streaming, followers going up, numbers looking good, I’m grateful. I’m moving, working, I don’t have any complaints. When the money stops rolling in, that’s when we have an issue.
AllHipHop: What’s the meaning behind the title?
Euro Gotit: What’s crazy, I came up with that title when I was locked up. I used to take all the double letters, the abbreviations for Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Fendi. I got it from Fendi: 4REIGN 4EVER. I wrote it out a certain way and I liked it. It’s crazy because I never knew it’d end up being the name of my album. The first tape I dropped was called 4REIGN. It’s for the newcomers, people who weren’t on to me in 2018, they got the new perspective as well as the old perspective of Euro; seeing how I evolved as an artist, but it’s all still the same. It’s 4REIGN 4EVER because we’re still the same way we were when we started, just on a bigger platform. On a bigger scale.
AllHipHop: Talk about linking with Roddy on “Cream.” How’d that happen?
Euro Gotit: I think I seen Roddy first, but Roddy hit me up first. It was a couple days after I seen him going crazy, he came down to Atlanta and told me “I’ma hit you when I get to the city.” It was all love. We in Blue Flame together. People knowing both of our songs, but they don’t know we right here in the middle of everyone. They’re listening, throwing money on the song. We’re throwing money on both of each other’s songs. It was a bonded relationship. We went to the studio the next day: worked, knocked out songs. As an upcoming artist, he went back, spread my name, telling all the folks that he knew about me and I was spreading his. It’s a real story behind “Cream.” I really appreciate Roddy being a solid individual, definitely wish him the best with his career too.
AllHipHop: What songs mean the most to you & why?
Euro Gotit: All of my songs really have meaning. There were songs where I definitely got emotional because I reflect back on my life a lot. Everything I say comes from the heart. Even though I can’t expand on different stories, it all pours out from my heart. It’s from my soul so I get emotional. I’d probably say “Bible,” “Complacent” definitely and “Mind Blown.” Honestly it’s a lot of the ones that weren’t really commercial with the features that I like the most.
AllHipHop: What were those convos with Nipsey Hussle like?
Euro Gotit: I was fortunate enough to meet Nip and T.I. the same day. Both have had a huge impact on my career. I’m grateful for the both of them. When I met Nip, he was humble enough to let me know he knew who I was. It wasn’t until his death I realized he was following me on Instagram and I’m beyond grateful for that. That was our second encounter, but the first time we talked and spoke.
Literally right after that, T.I. came up. They dapped up. Me and Tip talked, Tip took me in as a friend and it’s always been love, it’s always been embracing. Ironically T.I invited me to an event one night and that event was the same day in which Nip passed. RIP Nip. He had a big impact on me as far as the legacy he left. Iconic, definitely.
AllHipHop: Talk about your love for jewelry and fashion as well.
Euro Gotit: Anything that brings in the bucks. I like investing. I like anything that’s a crowd-pleaser, that’s what makes the bucks roll in. I’ve always been big on fashion. They [his management] want me to show you [shows rings and grill]. I waited a long time to be able to do this. It’s monumental too. I don’t value materialistic things because I realize it doesn’t change your status as far as inner peace and happiness, but you do have to look at it as a milestone from when you couldn’t afford to do these things. It’s motivation to say “you got this far, keep going. Keep pushing, you can’t stop.”
I use these things to encourage myself in that manner and push myself to keep going. A chain might get me about 6 features, or a watch might get me a little 30. That’s how the game works. I’m learning how to play the game and I’m playing to win.
AllHipHop: Someone said you are the best artist signed to Authentic Empire, how does that make you feel?
Euro Gotit: Everyone has their own opinion. We all go crazy, but I’m thankful for that. I’m trying to be the best artist in the world, share a platform with everybody and not step on anybody’s toes. I am showing who King Gotit, Big Gotit is.
AllHipHop: Goals yourself as an artist at this point of your career?
Euro Gotit: Yes, to see at least $100 million. My goal is to take care of everybody that I rock with and put everybody in a position to win. I just want to be the biggest in my own lane. I want to be Master P on steroids, Jay-Z on steroids. It’s not so much about financial status, but more so putting people in positions where word of mouth gets out. “That’s a real ass ngga. We love that ngga for being real.” Crazy though how people can hate on you for being real, but that’s what it is.
AllHipHop: What are you most excited for next?
Euro Gotit: I got a lot in the works. I’ve tapped into the YouTube world and you can subscribe to my channel to check out what I’m doing. I do the skits and all that. The bag be everywhere. I want people to lock in on me musically, understand music as my main platform but I also believe in expanding your brand; you can’t get locked in on one thing. I’m working with some big Youtubers, growing my skills but also staying true to who I am as a artist. It’s a lot to look forward to, especially in that lane as far as being on the screen. I’m working, tapping into everything. Can’t have a name like gotit and not go get it.
