Lifetime’s Surviving R. Kelly documentary exposed a lot of viewers to the idea of a celebrity potentially leading what was described as a sex cult. R&B singer R. Kelly was eventually charged with multiple state and federal sex-related crimes.
Recently, social media users began questioning if Blueface was following in Kelly’s alleged footsteps by cultivating his own group of women to worship him. Footage posted online by the “Thotiana” rapper sparked concern.
In the clip, Blueface asked several women if they had gotten his signature “Benjamin Franklin” tattoo on the spot. Other women were seen sleeping in at least three sets of bunk beds set up in one room.
The video is apparently connected to the 24-year-old Cash Money West artist’s Blue Girls Club. Blueface went on Twitter to respond to the allegations that he is a controlling cult leader who is causing women physical and psychological harm.
“Wtf is a cult?” tweeted Blueface. He added, “For those who are curious my show is a 3-week series. I move women in from all over the US, fly them out to Cali, put them under one roof. I own 2 homes. I don’t stay there. I take care of all [their] financial needs while they are here. I promote [their] brands etc. We film all day. Tune in.”
Blueface also made sure to address allegations that sexual misconduct could be taking place at the location. “We don’t tolerate any sexual conduct between men and women, so the women do tend to grow interest in each other because of this, but they are adults at the end of the day. It’s only so much I can control, so what they do with each other is [a part] of the show. Subscribe [right now] to see more.”
The Find the Beat album creator even promoted upcoming tryouts for the next installment of his Blue Girls Club content, by writing, “Season 2 is wrapping up if you are interested in being a contestant on season 3 follow my Instagram @bluefasebleedem to see when auditions start.”
For those who are curious my show is a 3 week series I move women in from all over the US fly them out to cali put them under one roof I own 2 homes I don’t stay there I take care of all there financial needs while they are here i promote there brands etc we film all day tune in
we don’t tolerate any sexual conduct between men and women so the women do tend to grow interest in each other because of this but they are adults at the end of the day it’s only so much I can control so what they do with each other is apart of the show subscribe rn to see more
They have tried over and over to tarnish the reputation of one Micheal Jackson. MJ s one of my favorite artists of all times and he holds the record for the greatest selling album of all time – THRILLER. F#ck the Eagles and their greatest hits. They keep trying to bring that up to unseat the true King of Pop.
Today, the accusers took yet another L.
WADE ROBSON TRIED IT!
A court in California has tossed out his sexual abuse lawsuit, but he’s already looking for an appeal. MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures Monday came through with the win as a judge again dismissed Robson’s sexual abuse lawsuit. This is something that Robson has continued to push. He refiled the suit in 2020, only to get bad news today.
The judge said that there was no way for them to control how MJ acting around the kids nor should the bear the fiscal burden from something that happened in the 1990s. These guys have been trying to get to the money for a number of years and failed. They also pushed out that documentary to sway the sea of bad fortune in their favor. It did not work.
The Jackson family really celebrated, especially Taj Jackson who’s been the mouthpiece for the family. I ain’t mad at them. This defamation of their family name has to SUCK!
We’ve been ridiculed, vilified and marginalized. Yet we still stood strong and never wavered. We withstood all peer and public pressure, because we knew the truth. Armed with passion and the facts, we never backed down. All for MJ. I’m so proud of us. 🙌🏾 👇🏾#MJInnocent
Authorities believe that they have found the man that took the life of Chicago rapper Tray Savage, an artist signed to Chief Keef and the late Fredo Santana’s Glory Boyz Entertainment.
According to the Chicago Tribune the 20-year-old man in question’s name is Demitri Jackson, and he has recently been extradited from Texas to Cook County to stand before a judge regarding the rapper’s death.
He has been identified as the shooter.
On Sunday, April 25th, Jackson had a virtual bail hearing where he was denied the opportunity to post a bond. The Hon. David R. Navarro, the presiding judge, also mandated that he be back in court this week, Friday (April 30).
Tray Savage, whose real name is Kentray Young, was only 27 at the time of his death.
He was murdered last summer, June 19th in the morning. Authorities state that the incident occurred around 11 am on the 8100 block of South Evans Avenue in Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood.
Authorities further connected both Tray Savage and Jackson through their rumored gang affiliation.
They allege that the two were members of the same street gang but do not assert why the conflict (resulting in one death) transpired. Still, they detailed what they’ve pieced together about that day.
First, they said that Tray Savage and Jackson had some sort of conflict while out in the street. The two reportedly went about their ways, but Jackson returned around 15 minutes later and parked his white Mazda SUV on the street where they argued.
Tray Savage also returned and they met up.
Jackson positioned his truck in a way to block the street off from traffic and then started with the gunplay striking Young’s car.
They say that Tray Savage was trying to drive away, but was hit in his neck. The bullet traveled to his shoulders and ultimately caused his death.
Jackson fled and his SUV was found the next day burning in an alley.
Surveillance from a local convenience store helped the police identify Jackson, who had had previous run-ins with the police a few years earlier.
Jackson is now facing sentencing of his natural life in prison should be convicted of Young’s murder.
Can you believe that a pair of Kanye West’s sneakers went for the price of someone’s house?
It has been reported that he sold a pair of Nike Air Yeezy 1, the joints he rocked during his tribute to his mother at the 50th GRAMMY Awards in 2008, for $1.8 million.
The auction company Sotheby’s said that it brokered the 7-figure deal in a private sale to a sneaker investment marketplace.
This particular sale made history as the most expensive pair of sneakers ever sold in the world, shattering the previous record made by NBA Hall of Famer, Michael Jordan.
The “Jesus is King” rapper designed the shows with Mark Smith. Size 12, black leather, and dumb gummy sole, these shoes are a collector’s dream.
In addition to a small Nike swoosh on the side, there is a Yeezy forefoot strap right below a bright pink “Y” medallion lace lock.
What makes this so crazy is that Nike don’t even make Yeezys anymore. In 2013, he started partnering with Adidas to drop his signature kicks.
Nike as a brand just keeps winning. They have been a part of this historical auction game in very real ways that can’t be denied.
The first deal was with Jordan, the first major collab partnership that the company ever made, and in 2020, the former Bull sold a pair of his Nike Air Jordan 1s (worn during a preseason game in Italy where he broke the backboard while dunking) for a little over half a million (Reuters says that the sneaks went for $560K and TMZ says $615).
This recent sale is part of the reason why Bloomberg has been gagging on Ye’s business savvy. They estimate that this year alone, he will be worth $3.2 billion and $4.7 billion.
Now more than ever we need some good tunes to chill and just vibe to. And that’s exactly what we’ve got for you. Easily one of the most appealing releases of this year comes at you from Phat Boi Records, delivered by the inimitable Mr. 1204.
The rapper and hip-hop artist known for his style, both in music and in fashion, has delivered another flawless production that just gets inside your head. Mr. 1204’s sound is discreet and fairly low-key, making this new release, “What to Tell You”, perfect for when you just want some background music, but also something meaningful. A song of unexpected emotional depth, “What to Tell You” gently inspires and pushes you forward, encouraging the listener to focus on that hustle.
In other words, it’s the perfect song for 2021, what with all the stress most of us are going through right now.
“What to Tell You” practically glides out of the speakers flawlessly. It’s charming and full of energy, but not the sort of song that will get on your nerves. Quite the contrary, in fact, “What to Tell You” is the sort of song you can listen to over and over, and still find something new to appreciate about it. It’s a low-key kind of classic in the hip-hop industry, and we honestly expect Mr. 1204 to go far with this brand new release of his.
And as if it needed anything more to recommend it, aside from the clever lyrics and Mr. 1204’s attitude-filled, delightful voice, “What to Tell You” also charms through its accompanying music video. Directed by the uber-talented Sean Lott Films, the video for “What to Tell You” feels like the perfect visual for this highly catchy song. It sets a fascinatingly low-key atmosphere, which jives perfectly with the mood set by the song itself. Largely, the video features the artist himself rapping and putting his truth before you. Of course, he is joined by the delightful model and star Kendra Kouture who beautifully compliments Mr. 1204’s sense of style and overall charm.
“What to Tell You” is the song you’ll love to obsess over, and we urge you to check it out on streaming platforms right now.
Atlanta rappers Young Thug and Gunna have activated their social justice lens.
Over the weekend, the two chart-toppers supported low-level offenders by posting their bail so that they might be able to return home and spend time with their families.
According to Atlanta news station WSB-TV they posted the bonds for 30 inmates to spring them from the Fulton County Jail, believing that poverty should not be the reason why they are denied the luxury of waiting in their own homes until their trial — like those with resources often do.
Thug said, “This is where we are from.”
“We just woke up and went to the jail with the lawyer and you know DA’s and the prosecutors, you know, the bonding companies and just got as many people as we can out,” he continued.
The “Drip Too Hard” rapper added, “You never know what somebody been through. There was people sitting out three or four years and couldn’t get out on a bond.”
“If they did the crime, then they can do the time, then it’s all right,” Gunna further stated. “But it’s like you’re giving them a bond higher than what they stole.”
This is a larger conversation that speaks to the justice inequity for poor people and the industrialization of America’s prison system.
According to a Prison Policy report, there needs to be a “more informed discussion about whether requiring thousands of dollars in bail bonds makes sense given the widespread poverty of the people held in the criminal justice system and the high fiscal and social costs of incarceration.”
The report further reveals that “most people who are unable to meet bail fall within the poorest third of society. Using Bureau of Justice Statistics data, we find that, in 2015 dollars, people in jail had a median annual income of $15,109 prior to their incarceration, which is less than half (48%) of the median for non-incarcerated people of similar ages. People in jail are even poorer than people in prison and are drastically poorer than their non-incarcerated counterparts.”
The news report documented that this particular facility, Fulton County Jail, actually needed for some of the inmates to be released.
In February, the jail had 2,900 inmates, which is 400 overcapacity.
Thug and Gunna not only helped the people but helped the city out. With COVID-19 running rampant, Atlanta doesn’t need an outbreak in their county jails.
This is only a start for the YSL Records labelmates.
They plan to do more work like this in the future and hope that they will inspire other influencers to tap in and to join their efforts. But for now, they are happy to relieve some of the stress that these Black and brown families are facing.
“It feels so food to the point where you start feeling that’s why God put me here. He put me here to do this,” Thug said.
Rob $tone just released his newest single titled “All 9 Innings,” which is the official San Diego Padres anthem! As you know, Rob puts on for his city of San Diego any chance he can. Having come up as a kid playing baseball and grinding to where he is now in the rap game, this is a completely full circle moment — what he calls “a dream come true.”
Speaking on the Richie Louie-produced record, Rob states, “This song is special and was exciting for me to write because I really had to take myself back to when I played baseball as a kid to get the vibe! Connecting with the San Diego Padres for this anthem is a dream come true for me. I’m just happy the organization and all of the fans love the record! It’s a banger fasho. Much love.”
A banger in its own right, “All 9 Innings” has that West Coast bounce and sees Rob flexing braggadocious bars over a hard-hitting beat. Listen above and get ready to attend baseball games all summer!
DatBoiiPolo has the Juice, and he’s ready to spread that energy to the masses all around the world. Hailing out of Orange County, California, aka The Juice, the rising rapper puts on for his city in the most positive light, any chance he can.
“Being from the Juice means something because there’s a lot of guys out there that be grinding. A lot of talent comes out of the Juice that’s slept on,” says DatBoiiPolo on his hometown.
Polo has come a long way from sleeping on floors, with a hustler mentality ingrained in him to always go out there and get it. On top of his music, which his last single “What’s Really Hannin” being released last year, DatBoiiPolo has his own merch line titled Polo N Gxng.
And with summer on the horizon, you can expect his new records to be all straight bangers.
AllHipHop: Well, what part of Orange County are you from?
DatBoiiPolo: I’m up in Anaheim area, just about. I be roughly around the Disneyland area. It’s called the Juice ’cause this is Orange County. It’s a nickname that everybody done picked up over time. We got a couple of platforms out there called Juice Unlocked. It’s a pretty big name, it’s pretty around. Orange County, it’s the place to be. It’s a vibe, honestly.
AllHipHop: What was the household like growing up?
DatBoiiPolo: I grew up in a struggle. Moms and pops was trying to put food on the table, going in and out. I ain’t never really been in music growing up, I’ve always been in basketball. Student athlete, always [uncl.] did there. That’s all I’d really been into. I stayed away from everything else outside the mix. Just been church and basketball really, and my family.
AllHipHop: Who are your biggest influences?
DatBoiiPolo: Everything they went through is everything I went through. Instead of getting on me about things I mess up on, they taught me things that a lot of people around me wouldn’t teach me. Those are the only people really close to me in my life. I got into my moms and everybody else my whole life, but I love them to death. But my cousin and my dad, those were the only dudes that really trained me to be me. See life for reality ‘cause it’s a pretty Google world nowadays.
AllHipHop: Music-wise, who are you bumping?
DatBoiiPolo: My uncle Joe Moses. Then my step-pop, Crooked I. He’s been in the industry for a cool minute. That’s what I really been around growing up honestly. My biological father does music himself, all through with my uncle Joe Moses and all them to N.W.B.
AllHipHop: Did you feel pressure?
DatBoiiPolo: It was very random to be honest because I moved back from school in 2019. I was originally throwing parties, but my party group ended up getting into the music scene. I made one song and from there, it went a far way that whole month. I stuck with it ever since then. Then Covid hit so “alright, we’ll stick to the music. I can’t play.” So I stuck with it right there.
AllHipHop: But you did have hoop dreams?
DatBoiiPolo: Oh yeah, high hoop dreams. I was getting ready to do my NBA Drew League week stuff, start advancing overseas. I had a lot of coaches and agents looking at me, but that’s been on hold for a little bit.
AllHipHop: You used to sleep on the floor, talk about your hustle to make it out.
DatBoiiPolo: My moms had it rough her whole life and my dad’s had it rough his whole life. It’s been a lot of bouncing around and really trying to get consistent, but can’t get consistent at the moment. Many years of sacrificing eating, having to help my mom and my parents out with my little brothers. Growing up, I ended up having two little brothers at the time and two little sisters. Managing all that but I’m growing and going to an all-boys catholic high school, doing that was all a huge change. I really had to humble myself and say, “yo life started. Being 21 now, technically you better start getting after it.” If you gon’ apply pressure to music, don’t half-ass it. Do it.”
AllHipHop: How would you describe your music?
It’s a vibe honestly. That’s the only way you could put it. I’m a character around my people. Everybody in my city knows me for me, without the music. They know me as a regular person. It’s a vibe and an energy. I got energy to give off so I can only explain it as a vibe.
AllHipHop: What’s the latest with your merch/clothing line?
DatBoiiPolo: I’m working on a couple of things with the merch. I’m finna lay out a couple of crazy designs today. I’m working on a couple of things down the Champion route, networking with a few other companies and plotting on merchandise. I plan on making a full launch in a month from now, so working on plotting that whole process together. It’s one thing when you do merch, but it’s one thing when you do merch and you’re really different and organic to the foundation that you fully set. I’m really focusing on making sure I got all the right pieces in order. When I drop, it’s all hell from there. [laughs]
https://www.instagram.com/p/CGN3d5LHTlk/
AllHipHop: What is your merch called?
DatBoiiPolo: It’s POLO and GXNG. On my shirts, it says “DatBoiiGang.” It was going to say “DatBoiiPolo,” but I didn’t necessarily want to make a shirt just about me. I want to have it for everybody around me, that supports me and doing music with me at the time. We slowly branching out and collabing with other brands as well, but we’ve only been up for about a year or so now.
AllHipHop: Talk about working on your own weed as well.
DatBoiiPolo: The strands are being breeded right now. I got my own strand coming out. I plan on collabing with a couple of companies as well, that’s pushing through Weedmaps. I’ve been working on that for about 3 months now, there’s about another two months in process before I fully kick it off.
AllHipHop: 3 things you need in the studio?
DatBoiiPolo: S### gotta have the gas. I need to have a Powerade. I need to have the blue Powerade. I don’t know what it is but something about the blue Powerade. I don’t know if it’s a lucky drink or what, but it makes me feel good. Third thing, probably a PuffCo bar because it sobers you up. Hotbox a room like that sobers me up quick. I need to have at least one family member with me, that can tell me “yo that s### sucks” or “you got a banger.” You feel me? I don’t like “oh you can do this and change up.” I like people to be straightforward with me like “that s###’s not it.” Tell me, I’m not going to get hurt. It’s only gonna make me better so I know where I need to go, what I need to elevate to and what else I need to do.
AllHipHop: Bring us back to when you created “What’s Really Hannin.”
DatBoiiPolo: That’s the one that really blew me up, I ain’t gon’ lie. I dropped my first song in August 28th, 2019. What’s really happening came around early March 2020, maybe a little before that. When I did that song, that’s when I really knew I found my groove, and I really wanted to take music seriously. It was a song that I put out and I had a bunch of verified people hitting me before I even dropped the video, started doing other network before it was even presented. It’s cool. I thought this is where I’m at” so I need to master this sound, see how I could create other sounds out of this sound. Be consistent from there ’cause it’s so easy to fall off. “What’s Really Hannin” really gave me my motivation to keep going.
AllHipHop: What’s special about The Juice?
DatBoiiPolo: It’s a lot of talent out there. I’ll recommend anybody in the industry, labels, A&Rs, anybody, go look at some talent in the Juice. There’s some guys that can really do some things out there. Don’t sleep on Orange County.
AllHipHop: I love Orange County, I’m always down there.
DatBoiiPolo: It’s cool out there, but it could get pretty active out there too. Don’t take nobody light because it’s Disneyland. You’d be shocked on the people you meet out there honestly. You wouldn’t expect it to be honest, but I love the Juice. I recommend anybody if they’re coming from out of state, Orange County is the place to go to.
AllHipHop: What can we expect next music-wise?
DatBoiiPolo: This whole month I’m about to be dropping. I got two videos coming out this month. I have about four songs dropping on top of that this month, then I’ll have an EP in the middle of summer. Probably the end of June.
AllHipHop: What is your favorite song you created?
DatBoiiPolo: Oof, I got a song coming out called “Bet She Like It.” That and “What’s Really Hannin” were my favorite songs to record because both of those songs gave me the same energy. It’s motivation to keep on going.
AllHipHop: What’s that one song with that dude who’s dancing? You had a fire gun.
DatBoiiPolo: Oh, “Gang” with Frenchie Babyy from America’s Got Talent. I brought out a flamethrower and had Frenchie Babyy from America’s Got Talent. That video went viral in LA, that’s what got me noticed out here. I networked my way in and people was hitting me up randomly. I found out there was a couple of people in the industry doing things today that was my actual blood relatives, my actual family. It’s different. There’s hella songs, I can’t even really tell you which ones my favorite. I be high as f### as it is. [laughs]
AllHipHop: Do you have any goals for yourself?
DatBoiiPolo: My goal is to honestly by the end of summer finish building the whole in-house team, hope to start seeking some more interests from labels and whatnot. The biggest goal is really getting my little brother started up, Polo Mo. He’s an artist as well, but he’s a different 14-year-old. Never heard a 14-year-old… How do you explain Polo Mo?
[When you hear you Polo Mo, when the beat drops and everything, his rapping and his flow goes crazy. Especially for a 14-year-old, he’ll be the next coming up. In the summer, all the plugs and everything’s finna come in.]
He’s 14, but he’s real-life 21. It’s crazy. That’s my main focus though because I really want to get behind the scenes of music. Get into the directing, managing and all that because that’s what I do for my guys in the Juice. Mainly with this music, I really want to push my little brother because he could make millions in this world with ease.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want to let us know?
DatBoiiPolo: Shoot, pack your dreams. Gas up whenever you can. [laughs]
In the clip, the rapper is seen walking through a home with several young women in bunk beds, asking if they will be getting their tattoos today.
“We’re getting tattoos today,” he states, before walking up to one young woman and asking “You ready to get tatted?” When he asks where she will get it, she points to her neck.
Blueface then turns the camera on another young woman, who turns away and doesn’t answer when he asks, “You getting your tattoo today?”
He then insists: “Tattoo or go home? Which one is it?”
The star then approaches another young woman, who indicates she’ll get her tattoo on the top of her hand, and the video ends with a shot of another of his guests’ finished tattoos.
It’s unclear where the video was posted since the star was banned from Instagram after posting live videos featuring nearly nude strippers at a strip club, but the footage was taken by Blueface himself, holding a phone as he walks through a house.
The young women are part of what is known as the Blue Girls Club (BGC).
The video was met with strong reactions on social media, with fans calling the star “the next R. Kelly,” who is accused of grooming young women as sex slaves.
“‘Get tatted or Go Home’… that Surviving Blueface Doc gon be crazy. (sic)” wrote one user, while another added: “OK soooo…. lets talk more about how Blueface is basically running a cult.”
Was Chadwick Boseman robbed? The Black Panther, James Brown, Jackie Robinson, classic man actor was up for an Oscar last night. In fact it was the only opportunity the late, great actor would have to win an Oscar since he has not won one in his lifetime. So this was an opportunity for the Academy to bestow this man with that ultimate honor.
And he did not win. In fact, the honor went to Anthony Hopkins, another great actor who apparently went to great lengths to pave the way for Chadwick. This is what the streets are saying. Anthony Hopkins did not go to the Oscars, did not do a video to for Oscars, did not do a zoom in to the Oscars and he just was out doing his thing. He was drinking, I think! The rumor is, he wanted to pave a way to remove himself out of contention so that Chadwick Boseman could win the Oscar.
I have not seen the movie that Anthony Hopkins was nominated for “The Father”, which I heard is really good, but this is a special year. And even though, the Oscars were very respectful to Black people throughout the night…they were just giving awards to everyone! Glenn Close even danced to EU’s Doing Da Butt. BUTT, we did not let the fact that Chadwick Boseman did not win slide. People are upset, p##### even, that he will no longer have an opportunity to win! Now, the Golden Globes did manage to give him what he deserved earlier this year, and that is a wonderful thing! Also we are not necessarily looking to them for any validation because that’s our king regardless. But it would’ve been nice!
The family is not mad at all, according to a report from TMZ. RIP, Chadwick!!!
Lizzo showed off her famous curves in a body-positive new social media clip.
The star made a splash on Instagram as she shared the video, showing the “Juice” singer bent over on a chaise lounge by a pool and twerking in a skimpy bikini.
Behind her, a group of male onlookers sprayed her with several bottles of champagne.
Alongside the post, the “Truth Hurts” hitmaker, who wore a bikini featuring neon green strings, along with bands of knotted bright orange fabric, penned: “1000 DOLLARS TO WHO EVER HAS THE BEST CAPTION.”
Fans rushed to the comments section, including singer Lauren Jauregui, who questioned: “Lmfaoooo tf goin on over here?!?”
Hakim Green is back! The New Jersey OG returns with with another banger and this time he joined forces with his mentor KRS-One, the teacher of Hip-Hop. But aside from being a teacher, KRS is also known to be one of the most ferocious battle rappers known to mankind. He’s known as THE MC and he does not hold his tongue for anybody. Just take a look at the recent interview he’s done with AllHipHop.com and it’s AWESOME in its totality! Anyway, the pair of joined forces again as they have in the past with songs like “Mad-izm.”
But there is a particular line in the song where KRS one seems to be challenging somebody, but we aren’t going to speculate too hard. But we may be able to ascertain who he is talking to through the lyrics.
Now what do you think?
He said:
“THE GOAT THAT STEPS TO KRS IS THE GOAT THATS GETTING CURRIED”
As rap fans we FEEEEEN for the rap battle, and the Verzuz battle is no longer a battle. It is actually just buddies and fans convening around a celebration of talent. But KRS-One is built a little bit differently. He still lives for the battle challenging artist and seeing who is best. That’s what he does. Hakim Green is here STILL and he is joining forces with him but he’s not calling anyone out.
Kanye West has reportedly raised $1 million for late rapper DMX’s family through the sale of designer tribute shirts.
According to sources, West, via his Yeezy brand, commissioned designers at Balenciaga to work on the garment, which sold out within 24 hours over the weekend.
Jay-Z hopes his name will be up there with “Bob Marley and all the greats.”
The rapper has admitted he’s “not beyond ego” and would like to think he will have a place in history like the late reggae icon when he’s left this world.
He told The Sunday Times’ Style magazine: “I’m not beyond ego, right? Hopefully, they speak of me (with) the names of Bob Marley and all the greats. But that’s not for me to say.”
Elsewhere, the “99 Problems” hitmaker also spoke about how “frustrating” it is that racial injustice is still an issue in 2021.
He said: “As a human race we’re still on basic things. We’re still on Stop Asian Hate.
“We can’t sit and cry over spilt milk, but we do have to acknowledge that there’s milk, right? But yes, to answer your question, it’s very frustrating … Are we here today? No. Are we further than 50 years ago? Yes.”
The advert was signed by Jay, the parents of Botham Jean, DJ Henry, and Antwon Rose II – three young black men all killed by police – as well as Van Jones, Charlamagne tha God, and organizations including The Innocence Project and Until Freedom.
Floyd died in May 2020 when cop Derek Chauvin, who was convicted for his murder, knelt on his neck for several minutes, sparking global protests.
Two Distant Strangers may not have gotten the mainstream attention like more high-profile feature films released over the last year, but the 30-minute drama made an impression on the voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Directors Travon Free (Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, The Daily Show) and Desmond Roe (Buzkashi Boys, We are the Champions) won the award for Best Live Action Short Film at the 93rd Oscar ceremony on Sunday night.
After accepting the Academy Award, Free called Sean “Diddy” Combs backstage at the event. Diddy is one of the producers for Two Distant Strangers. NBA All-Star Kevin Durant, media personality Van Lathan, and actor/activist Jesse Williams are also credited as producers.
Two Distant Strangers stars Hip Hop recording artist Joey Bada$$ (Mr. Robot, Boomerang, Wu-Tang: An American Saga, Grown-ish) as an African-American cartoonist named Carter James. The movie centers around James unsuccessfully trying to get home to his dog because of repeated deadly interactions with a white police officer.
The cast also includes Andrew Howard (Watchmen, Tenet) as the NYPD cop and Zaria Simone (The Super Pops, Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!) as James’s date. Being awarded the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film was seen as a victory for everyone involved in the Netflix-distributed production. Diddy posted an Instagram video of himself celebrating the Oscar win with his friends and family.
“I’m incredibly blessed to WIN MY SECOND OSCAR as a producer for UNDEFEATED and now @2distantstrangers!! Words can’t describe how I feel right now winning alongside my brothers @JoeyBadass @VanLathan @Travon @nicholas_maye @MartinDesmondRoe @LawrenceBender @ijessewilliams @easymoneysniper. WE DID IT!!! #BlackExcellence #TwoDistantStrangers #OSCARS2021,” posted the Revolt network founder.
https://www.instagram.com/p/COHRQUkHnHt/
Other people involved in the creation of Two Distant Strangers shared their reactions on social media too. When the winner of the category was announced, Van Lathan tweeted, “OMG. What the f###?” He later added, “Covered in Champagne.”
The Best Live Action Short Film win for Two Distant Strangers also led to Kevin Durant tweeting, “Big time!! Congrats @TwoDistantFilm.” Earlier in the day, before the winners were announced, Jesse Williams posted a message on his Instagram page about the movie being nominated for an Academy Award this year.
“It goes down this evening! Thank you to each and every one of you for the sincere, consistent, and growing support for our one of many expressions of art, discipline, and healing,” wrote Williams. “There is no one way through trauma or story, but there is effort and execution. And we’re proud of both today. Whether we win or we win, we’re winning. Keep going.”
OMG. What the f###?
— Van “#1 Voice in Wrestling Media” Lathan Jr (@VanLathan) April 26, 2021
Sent this when we were trying to get money to make it. If you don’t believe no one will. pic.twitter.com/IxMeaJboQp
— Van “#1 Voice in Wrestling Media” Lathan Jr (@VanLathan) April 26, 2021
Covered in Champagne.
— Van “#1 Voice in Wrestling Media” Lathan Jr (@VanLathan) April 26, 2021
There are some Hip Hop fans and pundits that are ready to proclaim Lil Baby as the new King of the South. Over the last three years, the Quality Control Music representative picked up Platinum plaques for bodies of work like 2018’s Harder Than Ever and 2020’s My Turn.
The commercial and critical success of My Turn earned Lil Baby placement on numerous music publication’s best-of-the-year lists. His protest anthem “The Bigger Picture” also received nominations at the Grammy Awards, BET Hip Hop Awards, and MTV Video Music Awards.
With those many achievements, it is understandable why so many people believe the King of the South crown rests comfortably on Lil Baby’s head at the moment. It appears this is not the first time the rap star born Dominique Armani Jones has been considered royalty by others.
This morning, Lil Baby uploaded brief videos to his Instagram Story that featured pictures of a pre-teen Dominique. In one photo, the future three-time Grammy nominee is seen wearing a dark suit, a golden crown, and a blue sash.
Lil Baby’s caption for the clip reads, “Brown Middle School… real Atlanta. I been piped. Y’all n##### wasn’t Mr. 6th Grade!!” Moments later he posted a second throwback pic of himself from his days as a middle school student.
If the product of Southwest Atlanta continues to extend his impressive run as a Hip Hop superstar, his name may be cemented in the conversation about the greatest rappers of this era. Earlier this year, Lil Baby was asked who he thinks will be Hip Hop’s other Most Valuable Players for the 2020 decade.
“For the whole 2020s? Roddy Ricch for sure. DaBaby for sure. You take me out of there, Megan Thee Stallion. Them three is solidified,” said the 26-year-old hitmaker. “There might be three new of them three times before 2030, and with me? That’s four. So there’s gonna be four new of us 2030 the way it’s going. But the way we’ve solidified our spots, we’re here. That little crew, I think we’re the leaders of the new generation.”
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Slime Language 2 is currently the most popular album in America. Young Thug and his Young Stoner Life Records roster linked up with Hip Hop pillars such as Drake, Travis Scott, Future, Meek Mill, Big Sean, Kid Cudi, Lil Baby, Lil Uzi Vert, and Rowdy Rebel for the compilation.
Thanks in part to the star-studded line-up, Slime Language 2 opened at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart. The 23-track project collected 113,000 first-week units with nearly 143 million on-demand streams in the United States.
Slime Language 2 is just the third Hip Hop album to hold the #1 position on the Billboard 200 in 2021. Playboi Carti’s Whole Lotta Red spent one week at the peak of the tally in January. Rod Wave’s SoulFly was a chart-topper earlier this month as well.
SoulFly slipped one position to #6 on the latest Billboard 200. The Florida-raised rhymer added another 46,000 units to his total this week. The Weeknd’s The Highlights dropped to #8. Pop Smoke’s former #1, Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon, remained in the Top 10 (#10) after over 40 weeks on the chart.
Young Thug’s YSL company now has three Number Ones in its history. Thugger’s critically-acclaimed So Much Fun topped the Billboard 200 in 2019. The label’s other flagship artist, Gunna, reached the pinnacle of the chart with Wunna in 2020.
Following the April 16 release of the Slime Language 2 standard version, a deluxe edition featuring DaBaby, Jim Jones, Don Toliver, Nav, and others was introduced on April 23. Young Thug also recently showed up on Cordae’s Just Until EP which hit DSPs the day before.
The 93rd Oscar ceremony was delayed this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the event finally took place last night (April 25) in Los Angeles. Members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honored some of the best films, filmmakers, actors, actresses, and other film industry artisans.
Nomadland was the top medalist of the night by winning Best Picture, Best Director (Chloé Zhao), and Best Actress (Frances McDormand). Judas and the Black Messiah was one of the seven motion pictures to win multiple Oscars on the night.
Director Shaka King’s biographical drama about FBI informant William O’Neal’s betrayal of Fred Hampton, the chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, earned two trophies. H.E.R.’s “Fight For You” was named Best Original Song, and Daniel Kaluuya won Best Supporting Actor for his turn as Hampton.
Kaluuya gave his acceptance speech as his mother and sister watched on from a socially distanced audience in London. At one point, the 32-year-old British national made an off-the-cuff comment that did not seem to go over well with his mom.
After acknowledging King, his co-star Lakeith Stanfield, The Lucas Brothers, the cast and crew, the Hampton family, and the slain revolutionary he portrayed in Judas, Kaluuya said, “We have to celebrate life. We’re breathing, we’re walking. It’s incredible. My mom met my dad, they had sex. It’s amazing. I’m here. I’m so happy to be alive.”
At that moment in the speech, the camera cut to Kaluuya’s loved ones seated inside the British Film Institute. His mother appeared to be visibly shocked, and his sister instantly put her face into her hands as the crowd laughed at the joke about his parent’s sex life.
Kaluuya was asked about the on-stage quip several times during a backstage interview. The star of other movies like Get Out, Black Panther, and Queen & Slim tried to play down the light-hearted remark and insisted his mother will not be too upset about the viral moment.
He replied, “Is that [speech] going to live on. I think that’s pretty obvious that all our parents had sex. [laughs]… My mom’s probably going to text me some stuff… I’m going to avoid my phone for a bit. I think my mom’s not going to be very happy. But she’s going to be cool. She’s got a sense of humor. We give it to each other.”
Gabriella “H.E.R.” Wilson is now an Oscar winner. Last night, the 23-year-old R&B musician, along with songwriter Tiara Thomas and producer Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II, picked up the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
H.E.R.’s “Fight for You” from Judas and the Black Messiah was selected over “Speak Now” from One Night in Miami…, “Hear My Voice” from The Trial of the Chicago 7, “Husavik” from Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, and “Io sì (Seen)” from The Life Ahead.
With the addition of the Oscar, H.E.R. has two out of the four trophies that make up the prestigious EGOT honor (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony). The RCA recording artist already earned four Grammy Awards throughout her career.
Several Hip Hop and R&B acts were named Best Original Song recipients over the last twenty years. “Lose Yourself” by Eminem won in 2003. Three years later, Three Six Mafia’s Frayser Boy, Juicy J, and DJ Paul won the golden statue for “It’s Hard out Here for a Pimp.”
Rapper Lonnie “Common” Lynn and singer John Legend took home the Best Original Song Oscar for “Glory” at the 2015 ceremony. Music legends such as Stevie Wonder and Lionel Richie have triumphed in that category as well.
The 93rd Annual Academy Awards also saw Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, and Jon Batiste win Best Original Score for Soul. In addition, Judas and the Black Messiah scored another Oscar when Daniel Kaluuya was announced as Best Supporting Actor.
Plus, Travon Free and Martin Desmond Roe’s Two Distant Strangers won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. The 30-minute drama stars Brooklyn-bred Hip Hop star Jo-Vaughn “Joey Bada$$” Scott.
