Today Yellowland Records artist JimmyBoltreleased the music video for his new song “Funplex.” The song and video release were accompanied by a COVID-safe release party that featured heavy smoke, lots of women and overflowing drinks. His latest release “Funplex” is an ode to the Houston indoor entertainment complex with hundreds of games and attractions so it’s got an upbeat vibe on this one.
Raised in a musical family, JimmyBoltis a natural when it comes to creating and visualizing the feel to his music and the industry has taken notice after his collaborations with Lil Keed, SSG Splurge and co-signs from OG Louie the XIII, Rubi Rose, Gunna, Lil Baby, Trippie Redd and more.
Today ATL rap veteran OG KV, CEO of Big Play Entertainment, delivers new music for the streets in the form of a new single “Down” that will be featured on his accompanying project OG Music. The song “Down” tackles the issues of police brutality and all that goes into the police using their badge to do anything and everything but protect and serve the people. The single comes on the heels of the anniversary of George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis that gripped the world.
Famed for discovering “Racks on Racks” hitmaker YC and developing underground Atlanta legend Young Dose, this industry OG has been around since the mid 90’s but has always remained true to the music, despite what may have happened throughout the process of getting artists signed and managing their musical careers.
“Being a CEO, and being with the rappers, I really had developed the passion to do music too, but I really wasn’t focused on my music because I was trying to get my artists out there. Soa started doing that, being in the studio where I started doing music and setting myself up to become an artist also,” OG KV said.
While many rap fans are in the early years of their lives OG KV noted that some of Hip-Hop’s first and earliest fans are now in their 50’s an 60’s looking for something to listen to because they can’t relate to the new trapped out and auto-tuned generation of music.
“Everybody that’s 50 grew up they are hip hop babies, so it’s people that’s older that still love hip hop, but they can’t relate to the new young artists, so they’re like, ‘Put out your music.’ When I look at it and think about it from an artist standpoint, say like Aretha Franklin, James Brown was alive, they would still be doing music no matter how old they were. So even though I’m older now I’m still going to do my music because I still always had a passion for it,” OG KV said. “So being older, I’m using the OG brand, the music that’s more like talking to the youngsters, just spitting game. Talking about the streets, the reality of being in the streets and what comes with it; both sides of it, not just the good. Because many people just nowadays they just talk about the balling part, balling and stunting, and as we both it’s not all balling and stunting. Everybody is not balling and stunting. It’s more people going through the struggle, and that’s what my music is geared to. From my past and what I went through being incarcerated, just going through my trials and tribulations, and so a lot of people feel that.”
Thriving with an OG sound that pays homage to the legendary greats of Southern rap music OG KV brings everything full circle with this project.
“If it catches fire, hey, let’s do it, let’s go. You know, like I said, it wasn’t really about the money at this age because I done have everything. I had all the cars, beautiful women, the houses, travel, I’m seasoned, so it is not about getting the money and getting rich. Of course, I would love for that to happen, but I just want to see what it’s going to do, see what it’s going to do, see what kind of impact I can make. Because like the cloth I’m cut from, like the UGK, MJG, the Scarface, the stuff I grew up on listening to.”
Aliaune Akon Thiam was the victim of a carjacking, according to the Atlanta Police Department. The “I Wanna Love You” singer, known professionally as Akon, saw someone else drive off with his white Range Rover early Tuesday morning.
The alleged offense took place at a QuikTrip gas station in the Buckhead neighborhood. The APD claims Akon was pumping gas on the passenger’s side of his vehicle at the time of the robbery.
“A Black male jumped into [Akon’s] vehicle – he left it running – and drove off,” Atlanta Police Captain Dorian Graham told Fox 5. “It only takes a second for someone to jump in your vehicle and take off.”
Reports say Akon was not injured as a result of the incident that took place on the 700 block of Sydney Marcus Boulevard. As of press time, the 48-year-old musician/entrepreneur has not publicly addressed the matter of his SUV being stolen.
Atlanta Councilwoman Natalyn Archibong recently proposed legislation that would mandate all service stations in the city mount 24-hour cameras on their fuel pumps. Archibong expressed, “It is a common occurrence. It is not an anomaly. It is a significant enough crime and a consistent enough crime that it warrants this intervention.”
Car thefts and other serious felonies, including homicides, have been on the rise in Atlanta in recent months. The spike in crime is part of the reason some Buckhead residents want to split from Atlanta in order to form a new municipality.
A lot of public pressure has been placed on the Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to curtail the growing crime numbers. On May 6, Bottoms announced she will not seek a second term causing some observers to believe the rising lawlessness was the catalyst for her decision.
At one point, Bottoms was seen as a star on the rise in the Democratic Party. She was routinely named as a possible running mate for 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. However, California Senator Kamala Harris was selected for the position. Bottoms did serve as the co-chair of the 2020 Democratic National Convention.
Earlier this month, Saturday Night Live announced Lil Nas X would be the musical guest on the NBC series’ season 46 finale. The performance took place this past weekend, and it quickly became a trending topic on the internet.
Lil Nas X’s SNL set garnered a lot of attention due to its use of provocative dance moves, fashion, and subject matter. However, it was a “wardrobe malfunction” during the “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” performance that went super viral.
“At first I was afraid to even perform. Then we rehearsed for 2 weeks, then all of the dancers got removed because one had [COVID-19] and new ones had to learn the routine in 24 hours, and then I ended up ripping my pants and couldn’t finish. Everything happens for a reason tho lol,” tweeted Lil Nas X on the morning after his SNL apperance.
While many of Lil Nas X’s fans expressed support for the 22-year-old entertainer, there were some skeptics that believed the incident was purposely staged for publicity. LNX addressed the PR stunt speculation while on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
The late-night program’s host played a clip from Lil Nas X’s Saturday Night Live dress rehearsal where he was able to complete his planned pole dance routine. The 7 EP creator told Fallon, “I want everybody who thought it was a publicity stunt to see that. It was not. I would never rip my pants in public on purpose.”
Some viewers questioned whether Lil Nas X set up the headline-grabbing moment because of his history on social media. A teenage Montero Hill reportedly spent years trolling celebrities via his now-deleted @NasMaraj Twitter account. Plus, the music star seemed to intentionally want to enrage his critics by selling “Satan Shoes” and presenting controversial content.
In addition to performing the former #1 Hot 100 single “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” on SNL, Lil Nas X also ran through his new song titled “Sun Goes Down.” Both tracks are expected to live on LNX’s forthcoming debut studio album Montero.
Everybody wants to sit down at the unattended piano and wow the room, but few actually can. It’s not impossible to kickstart those fantasies and open yourself up to an endless world of musical creation, ideation, and history. Diving into the world of piano is as within reach as ever with this special deal on a Skoove Premium Piano Lessons: Lifetime Subscription. Typically retailing for $299, this deep catalog of knowledge can be yours for just $149.99.
An App Store Editors choice with 4.5 out of 5 stars, and featured by Apple, Forbes, The Guardian, and Wired — Skoove can help players of all levels work on piano skills, play songs, and have fun with interactive lessons, training exercises, and envelope-pushing technology.
Skoove Premium Piano Lessons prompt you to play your way, using artificial intelligence to recognize notes you play and offer tips on how to improve. You can learn your weaknesses and hone them with Skoove’s vast library of over 400 lessons and thousands of instructional videos, which the app tailors to your learning.
By using Skoove, users can explore and learn how to play songs by the iconic musicians, bands, and composers who have shaped music over the course of the last century, and from even further back in time.
Learn how to amplify your favorite tunes, and dazzle friends with chart hits from the likes of John Legend, The Beatles, Coldplay, and Adele, For those who have an ear for the refined, and music lovers of all walks, you can also learn classical pieces by Bach, Beethoven, Debussy, and Mozart. Reaching beyond these oft sought-after standards, Skoove also features lessons on improvisation — learning to compose melodies on the fly — and playing by ear through recognizing notes.
You can take advantage of the many lessons and songs available throughout this acclaimed app with ease, as it works with all pianos and keyboards — USB/MIDI or acoustic. All you have to do is click through and treat yourself to a 50% discount on Skoove Premium Piano Lessons: Lifetime Subscription, which comes to $149.99 (reg. $299).
Skoove Premium Piano Lessons: Lifetime Subscription – $149.99
J. Cole already earned the #1 album in the country when The Off-Season launched atop the Billboard 200. The Dreamville captain’s sixth BB200 leader left a mark on the Hot 100 chart as well.
“My Life” with 21 Savage and Morray opened at #2 on the Hot 100 behind the debuting track “Good 4 U” by Olivia Rodrigo. A No. 2 ranking is the highest placement in J. Cole’s career. “Middle Child” peaked at #4 in 2019.
Several other tracks from The Off-Season also made their way into the Top 10 this week. “Amari” bows at #5. “Pride Is the Devil” with Lil Baby came in at #7. “95 South” landed at #8.
J. Cole is now just the fourth artist in history to score four Top 10 debuts at the same time. The Roc Nation emcee joins fellow Hip Hop acts Drake (2018), Lil Wayne (2018), and Juice WRLD (2020) on that very exclusive list.
With “Interlude” breaking into the Top 10 last week, The Off-Season already hosts five Top 10 records. J. Cole’s career total in the region now stands at 10 entries. 58 songs from his catalog have reached the Hot 100 since he premiered on the chart in 2010.
Twelve songs from The Off-Season charted on the latest Hot 100. J. Cole also picked up his first Number Ones on Billboard‘s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs chart. The 36-year-old lyricist’s “My Life” currently leads both of the tallies.
#2, My Life #5, Amari #7, Pride Is The Devil #8, 95 South #13, Applying Pressure #14, 100 Mil' #17, Interlude #19, Let Go My Hand #20, Punchin' The Clock #25, The Climb Back (re-entry) #28, Hunger On Hillside #33, Close
— billboard charts (@billboardcharts) May 24, 2021
This week’s Hot 100 chart also features Dua Lipa and DaBaby’s “Levitating” sitting at #3. Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, collectively known as Silk Sonic, saw their former #1 “Leave the Door Open” slip to #4.
Justin Bieber, Daniel Caesar, and Giveon’s one-time chart-topper “Peaches” dropped three notches to #6. The Weeknd and Ariana Grande’s “Save Your Tears” experienced a five-spot dive to #9.
Doja Cat and SZA’s “Kiss Me More” also fell five spots. The collaboration closes out the present Top 10 at #10. Nicki Minaj, Drake, and Lil Wayne’s new song “Seeing Green” off Minaj’s re-packaged Beam Me Up Scotty mixtape barely missed a Top 10 opening by starting at #12.
Back in 2013, Solange launched Saint Heron as a hub for music, arts, and cultural conversations. The singer-songwriter/businesswoman is now presenting the next “evolutionary phase” of the brand.
“Worldmaking has been a huge part of my practice,” says Solange. “The idea of leaving behind cities, meccas, and universes that were occupied and celebrated by bodies, voices, celebrations, and rituals to be discovered down the line.”
The Grammy winner continues, “As we transition to an institution, the answer and the vision become abundantly clear. We are creating a legacy where we not only continue the work we have already built, but preserve collections of creators with the urgency they deserve.”
Saint Heron is set to explore the career of sculptor/novelist/poet Barbara Chase-Riboud through a conversation with author/educator Ilyasah Shabazz. Interviews with other artists such as Shala Monroque, Cassi Namoda, Helga Davis, and Okwui Okpokwasili are on the horizon as well.
The newly-formed Saint Heron Dossier will present literary and visual retrospectives for 7 to 10 days. Artist-in-residence programs, permanent collections, experimental art films, and musical projects (such as the 2013 Saint Heron compilation featuring Sampha and Jhené Aiko) are expected to be part of the digital dossier in the future.
Plus, the Small Matter Gallery will host architectural objects, furniture collections, lighting designs, garments, and more. Some of those works will be designed by Solange as well as other collaborators like architect-designer Jerome Byron and Saint Heron’s Product Development Consultant Mark Grattan.
“Together we want to create an archive of stories, and works we deem valuable,” Solange says. “We want to open up these works publicly, and make them accessible to students, and our communities for research, engagement, and consumption so that the works are integrated into our collective story and belong and grow with us.”
She adds, “We are creating an embodiment of living testaments to the glory of expression, and how that recharges and reaffirms the reverence we hold for our own cultural and artistic worth. We look forward to furthering the pursuit of authenticity that empowers the stories of our people.”
In addition, Saint Heron is planning to extend its activism work with the Saint Heron Holism Project. The advocacy initiative’s mission is to bring holistic therapeutic healing and support to women, girls, and communities of color.
Last year, Roc Nation and Long Island University joined forces to create the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment. This week, the Jay-Z-founded company and LIU announced Patrick “9th Wonder” Douthit is joining the New York institution’s faculty.
9th Wonder will serve as a visiting professor and artist in residence. The North Carolina-bred record producer is set to teach courses in Hip Hop history and the making of an album beginning the Fall 2021 semester.
“The Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment will welcome its inaugural class of exceptional students this fall who will be taught by world-renowned artists and educators, giving them practical insight and real-world, hands-on experience,” states Long Island University President Kimberly R. Cline.
9th Wonder will bring a wealth of music industry knowledge to the classroom. Throughout his career, The Wonder Years album creator produced tracks for Little Brother, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Destiny’s Child, Drake, Chris Brown, Rapsody, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Big Boi, Mary J. Blige, and many more.
Previously, 9th Wonder taught at Duke University and Harvard University. He is currently working with the Loeb Library at Harvard University to chronicle the top 200 Hip Hop albums of all time. 9th also served as an artist in residence at North Carolina Central University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Virginia.
“Music changed my life and opened doors for me in ways that I never could have imagined, so it’s only right that we impart our knowledge to help the next generation of ambitious leaders,” says 9th Wonder. “I’m truly honored to teach at the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment and look forward to equipping these students with the tools to break barriers in their own lives and careers.”
9th Wonder will be joined at the Roc Nation School by soprano saxophonist Sam Newsome and baritone vocalist Colin Levin. Newsome has served as a professor in the Music Department at Long Island University for 14 years. Levin formerly instructed students at Rowan University, Concord Academy, the International Summer Opera Festival, and the Mason Gross School of Music at Rutgers University.
“We’re thrilled to welcome such an esteemed group of musicians to serve as lecturers at the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment,” says Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez. “Their collective wisdom and versatility will be essential to ensuring that the students receive a well-rounded education.”
Rapper, community leader and activist Trae Tha Truth has always been a force to be reckoned with from his music to his humanitarian and philanthropic efforts.
The Houston native was even awarded with the Billboard Music Awards’ Change Maker Award last night at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards.
His music is often inspired by the experiences of the disenfranchised, his journey, community outreach, and his pain.
While putting out music that discusses a multitude of relatable life topics, Trae has also dedicated his life to restoring, rebuilding, and revitalizing neighborhoods, businesses, schools, families and individuals through his Angel By Nature (ABN) and Relief Gang non-profit organizations.
Earlier this year, Trae joined forces with fellow change-maker and rapper Mysonne for an advocacy-focused album titled, ‘If You’re Scared Stay Inside.’ The social justice-inspired collaboration drew from occurrences such as the tragic murders of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd.
Trae and Mysonne sought to use their talents to capture the momentum of the movement through a collection of protest-motivated anthems.
Trae Tha Truth and Mysonne even travelled to Kentucky to protest Taylor’s murder. The two were wrongfully arrested twice while peacefully protesting.
The project was recorded with the intent to keep reform top of mind, be voices for the unheard and underrepresented, and remove barriers surrounding race, human rights and more.
Despite fighting a nearly decade-long local radio ban, Trae continues to release music that is introspective, brutally honest, and socially conscious. His lyrics speak to working to change the social and economic conditions of impoverished communities.
In the last few years, Trae has donated to COVID-19 relief funds, held voter registration drives, provided essential items for natural disaster victims, planned a peaceful march of over 80,000 people for George Floyd, and spearheaded a Juneteeth ride for justice.
AllHipHop had the opportunity to speak with Trae and discuss his new music, activism, philanthropy, losing Nipsey Hussle, collaborating with Beyoncé, his nearly decade-long local radio ban, being nominated for CNN Heroes, and much more.
Travis Scott has avoided a messy legal war with a top gaming company, over claims he ripped off their designs for joysticks. KontrolFreek sued the world-famous rapper in September of 2020.
The parties could not agree on a deal after Travis Scott and his team asked KontrolFreek to manufacture his products at no cost.
So, Travis and his team made up their designs – blatantly inspired by products created by KontrolFreek.
The lawsuit said Travis and his design team simply ripped off KontrolFreek’s designs for thumbstick covers and offered them for sale during his Fortnite event, which attracted over 12 million people.
According to the most recent round of court filings, Travis and KontrolFreek have managed to settle. Both parties had been in intense negotiations to squash the lawsuit to avoid the legal costs of going to court – and Travis almost blew it in April.
Travis and KontrolFreek were close to settling, when the rapper went radio silent, causing the gaming company to threaten to re-file their lawsuit.
However, last week, a settlement was reached for an undisclosed amount, and KontrolFreek is asking the judge to dismiss the lawsuit with prejudice – meaning it cannot be filed again.
Brother Love, our very own P. Diddy, was about to experience some serious hate as trash reporter and conspiracy spreader Martin Bashir marked him as the subject for one of his projects.
Puffy’s former publicist Rob Shuter, host of the podcast “Naughty But Nice with Rob” told OK Magazine that Bashir, after tearing down Princess Diana by showing a fake abortion “receipt” and dragging Michael Jackson, wanted to target the Bad Boy executive.
“I had an encounter with Martin Bashir that I’ve never talked about,” Shuter said. “So after Martin did his Princess Diana interview, his next bombshell was Michael Jackson. He did the huge Michael Jackson interview and within months, Martin called me himself to meet me to do Diddy. He wanted Diddy, Puff Daddy, to be the next one in the trilogy.
“He took me to dinner at The Soho House. He worked me and worked me. He flirted with me. He emailed me. He played and he giggled all to get Diddy. As a publicist, you present a lot of opportunities to your clients, but you don’t get the final say,” Shuter continued. “So, I spoke to Puff and was like, ‘Martin Bashir wants to do you next after Michael Jackson.’ Puff was like, ‘Hell no! I’m not sitting down with him.’”
In related news, Michael Jackson’s relatives are reportedly considering legal action against Bashir, accusing him of using “manipulated footage” in his 2003 documentary about the late King of Pop.
The “Thriller” hitmaker’s brother Tito and his son Taj – Michael’s nephew – called out Bashir after he was found to have used deceptive practices to secure his controversial BBC interview with Princess Diana back in 1995.
The Jacksons are outraged by the findings and have turned the spotlight on the reporter’s work in the “Living with Michael Jackson” documentary, which took fans behind the scenes of the pop icon’s life at his Neverland Ranch in California and focused on his close relationships with young boys amid allegations of child molestation.
In the documentary, Michael was shown holding hands with 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo, with whom he would also share his bed, but the musician defended his actions, telling Bashir, “Why can’t you share your bed? That’s the most loving thing to do, to share your bed with someone.”
The film footage prompted prosecutors to investigate the controversial relationship, and the singer, who had previously denied child sexual abuse claims in 1993, was subsequently charged with multiple accusations of molestation but was cleared of all counts in a 2005 trial.
Now Tito and Taj insist the tragic superstar also fell foul of Bashir’s shady tactics.
Taj told Britain’s Sunday Mirror: “Bashir’s manipulated footage and unethically journalism is one of the main reasons my uncle Michael is not here today.
“That 2005 trial broke him. Shame on those who provided cover for Bashir. Shame on those who rewarded him. My family deserves an investigation and apology too.”
And Tito added, “Both Michael and Diana were victims of Bashir’s dark ambitions and dirty tricks and he is finally paying a price.”
Michael’s ex-bodyguard, Matt Fiddes, claims the Jackson family is currently weighing up its legal options. The King of Pop died from a cardiac arrest in 2009 following a fatal mixture of prescription drugs. He was 50.
Rapper Jay-Z will appear on LeBron James’ hit HBO Sports series, “THE SHOP: UNINTERRUPTED.”
The star-studded premiere episode of its fourth season, hosted by the Los Angeles Laker and influencer Maverick Carter, will welcome 23-time GRAMMY winner and 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Jay-Z; Puerto Rican chart-topper and GRAMMY winner Bad Bunny; WNBA superstar Nneka Ogwumike; and marketing executive Paul Rivera to talk about their careers and their epic takes on pop culture.
The announcement was made earlier on the UNINTERRUPTED Twitter profile. The post simply stated, “We’re back in business!”
According to an HBO Sports press release, the conversation bounces all over the place (which you might expect with the diversity of the guests) and topics include stage presence, confidence that is required to be on big stages in any industry, parenthood, and WrestleMania.
Created by Paul Rivera and Randy Mims, “THE SHOP: UNINTERRUPTED” is presented by HBO Sports and UNINTERRUPTED.
The show blends sports and entertainment and has featured Drake, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Diddy, Lil Nas X, Will Smith, Kevin Hart, and most recently, the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama.
James and Carter share the executive producer titles with Jamal Henderson, Devin Johnson, and Philip Byron.
The episode is set to air on Friday, May 28 at 9:30 pm on HBO Max.
The Ultimate Madness 3 Semi-Finals ended with two of the West Coast’s greatest emcees emerging as victors.
Every F**ckin’ Bar, a collective that includes Compton’s Geechi Gotti and Arizona’s Rum Nitty, were merciless as they performed flawless performances. Both rappers justly received undeniable 3-0s after annihilating their opponents, opponents that had given their all to get to this top spot of the competition.
Still, Geechi who went against the Tiny Titan from Texas Casey Jay was exceptional.
Geechi vs. Casey Jay UM3 (NDS)
It might be her fault.
For weeks, she has been asking for her opps to come with their best pen game and fully prepared. Welp, BayBay did. He didn’t target her sexuality in the traditional way, sizing the sexy shorty up and telling her what she can do for him. Instead, he took the “Bill Collector against Yoshi G” approach that critiqued her sexual behavior outside of the ring and tied it to the popular rumor that she has a male ghostwriter. Battle Rap is about exploiting rumors and hearsay, exaggerating truths, attempting to embarrass people for what could be perceived as flaws.
Unfortunately, intragender battle rap competitions lean too much on social identity constructs and the crowd propensity to believe that a woman can’t do something unless she is doing this or that a woman who owns her sexuality is not as valuable as a business person, a mother, a community stake-holder or as a battler. Terms like sneak-d*cking, polyamorous relationships, same-gender-loving and s###-shaming are norms in the culture and used in battles often to win — while claiming to uplift and is a tired strategy (even as it is effective).
It’s tired … because everyone likes sex — so what.
But Geechi did not end it there, he spoke about her talent and flow. He spoke about her appearance/ looks, something extremely important to her (and most women), and her parenting. He also attacked her mother (who was actually in the audience). It was brutal, but again, she asked for it.
Geechi vs. Casey Jay UM3 (NDS)
Casey Jay, to her credit, was not a punching bag. She was cooking and showcased lyrically one of her best performances yet. A performance that many were distracted by because of the biased West Coast crowd that overwhelmingly responded to her opponents’ bars.
That "part ya s### better than the b#### that do your braids!" bar from CASEY was fire!!!
— BattleRapStats: bars.battlerapstats.com (@BattleRapStats) May 23, 2021
Casey actually cooking right now
— BattleRapStats: bars.battlerapstats.com (@BattleRapStats) May 23, 2021
— BattleRapStats: bars.battlerapstats.com (@BattleRapStats) May 23, 2021
It leaves this for us to question, “How come no women or representatives from the battle rap league that gave her celebration, Queen of The Ring, were standing behind her?” “Where were her Bardashian sisters?” It was weird not seeing them behind her, especially after she has represented the group so beautifully by adding value as an elite artist, always looking like a sophisticated dime piece, and a representing as a real class act.
Surely, that would have made it appear a little less one-sided if she wasn’t standing there on stage alone.
Lyrically, she punched Geechi in the face. His first real battle against a woman (yes, he battled RX but that was play-play for a gender reveal party … no matter if she took her shot seriously) was no walk in the park. She was scratching with her setups and drawing blood with her delivery. It’s been noted before, when the bright-eyed vixen gets in her bag and she lurches over and starts swaying from side to side, she looks possessed by the rhymes in her head.
If Jaz the Rapper is Kitty Pryde and O’fficial is Storm then surely Kylie Penner is Jean Grey (with them grey eyes). She is a force of intergalactic nature as a battle emcee and deserves the crown of top girl RIGHT NOW.
Geechi just was Geechi and was the Plan Omega that male battlers needed to defeat her.
Rum Nitty vs. Cortez UM3 (NDS)
Rum Nitty, Geechi’s partner in rhyme, battled Brooklyn’s own Cortez in the semi-finals, beating him in a heart-wrenching (but honorable) defeat.
He is the master of punching and many believe that Nitty’s Mayweather-esque approach to battling is not as well-rounded as it needed to be the veteran Murda Ave rep. He seemed pretty well-rounded and viciously talented on Saturday’s Caffeine broadcast.
With almost ten years in the game, he has earned every bit of honor that he is currently experiencing and absorbing the lessons learned from his very formidable opponents. People have accused Rum of taking too many battles, but maybe his high activity develops something that more traditional “I-battle-every-eight-month” rappers could really benefit from — a pen that is unf*ckwithable and discipline of mind that is so intensive that he could battle every other day if he wanted to.
People also hate a winner.
Since being #1 on the URL App, he has experienced some backlash — probably from fans that are personality-driven versus appreciating his unique art and skill. One has to be impressed by his wordplay and brilliance. One is only fooling themselves when they trick themselves into thinking he is not as fire as he actually is. Whether Cor messed up or not, Rum would have come out (this repeat battle) as the victor. He has simply mastered digging out of a hole.
Just as much as people hate a winner, they hate vets.
Cor is a vet and sometimes, just because he has years of experience, they want to say he is washed. This competition season not only proved that he remains a force in the culture, but it also afforded him the platform to show how his technical wordplay could be compacted in a two-minute round performance.
He not only reversed people’s opinions of him but also how they have assessed his resume. Once thought of as the vault king, now people are thinking maybe the bias is so great that we as newer battle rap fans (immersed in his only post his Grindtime career) have been swayed by commentary from larger microphones and more popular battlers.
Rum Nitty vs. Cortez UM3 (NDS)
The “Cor” that we got during this season was awe-inspiring and should quickly push him up in ranking, get him more bread and moreover get him more battles (which are not always progressions that are guaranteed).
During the battle, he choked in ways that the win just could go to him. But also, despite his powerful content (and he was saying some sh*t), he was overpowered by a focus Nitty that needed that personal win for his own legacy.
People would take away credit from Cortez for beating O’fficial because she choked And disregard his good material.
And in the same breath, they will praise Rum Nitty for beating a choking Cortez because of his good material.
If you hate Cortez that much, just say that.
— Let’s Talk Battle Rap (@LTBRpodcast) May 24, 2021
Geechi and Rum Nitty will face each other again at NOME (Night of Main Events) 11 for the cash prize of $100,000 sponsored by the chart-topping Toronto artist and battle rap fan, Drake. This competition will be exclusively aired on Caffeine.TV on June 12.
NOME 11’s card was released and with that, the Ultimate Rap League is pushing a new narrative of legacy, sustainability, and embracing the future.
The trailer shows all of the stars that they have made over the first 10 years of their existence— and presents their continued ability to create new stars in the next decade.
Ice Cube is being sued by Sir Jinx for being shady with the books and not paying him what he is owed.
While Ice Cube is advocating for the government and white folk to do right by Black people, he allegedly seems an example of the pot calling the kettle black.
According to a recent court filing, Sir Jinx is saying that Ice Cube, his long-time musical collaborator, has not totally paid him for royalties from production that he did on 28 tracks dating back to the 1990s.
Some of those songs include the following jams, that defined his new image as an artist post leaving Eazy E’s group: “No Vaseline,” “True to the Game,” “The Bomb,” “It’s a Man’s World,” “The Funeral,” and “Who Got the Camera?”
Sir Jinx asserts that in 2019, he became aware that he is owed more money and the NWA founder, whose real name is O’Shea Jackson, refused to pay him because he has given money in the past.
Sir Jinx is asking for a judge to place an accounting of Cube’s books. He is also asking him to review the signed contracts between the rapper and producer to see what is legally owed.
Reports now contend that Ice Cube is reviewing the filing, but wants the world to know that he has loaned Jinx money that has not been paid back.
Seems like he wants to talk “that” before he even considers unpaid royalties.
Sir Jinx, born Anthony Wheaton, is Dr. Dre’s cousin. His relationship with Ice Cube goes back to the mid-80s, when they were part of a group called Stereo Crew.
He became an accomplished producer and outside of Ice Cube, Sir Jinx has produced for Yo Yo, George Clinton, Too Short, Isaac Hayes, CeCe Peniston and others.
It’s crazy to think YungManny is only 17-years-old, and he’s already on his way to becoming a household name.
Hailing from the DMV, the rising star recently released “Clap For ‘Em,” tapping two of rap’s most buzzing artists: Flo Milli and Sada Baby. The song accumulated over 300K streams within one day of its release and currently has over 2.4 million views on TikTok alone.
YungManny arrives with his own unique sound and style, exploding with energy and equipped with endless melodies, bars, and pride for his hometown of Lagos, Nigeria.
In fact, he shot the “The One” visual in Lagos, bringing to life his braggadocious bars while performing in the heart of the city. But don’t get it twisted, YungManny is actually classically trained in piano, incredibly smart, and has a huge passion for giving back.
Now, it seems the sky’s the limit for the young recording artist.
AllHipHop: It’s crazy how young you are, do you feel like you’re 17?
YungManny: I mean, I know I am. But I’m the GOAT, so I know what that comes with. All the GOATs are recognized. Michael Jackson was 5 years old, so I know what I’m trying to achieve.
AllHipHop: What’re you trying to achieve?
YungManny: To be recognized as the best to ever stand behind a microphone, ever. I got Michael Jackson on my sleeve [shows tattoo] so on the pedestal, I could look down on him. ‘Cause ain’t nobody better than Michael.
AllHipHop: That’s facts, but he’s more pop no?
YungManny: Nah, I’m talking about greatest of all time! When you talking about the greatest of all time, you can’t put nobody with Michael.
AllHipHop: What’s your favorite Michael Jackson song?
YungManny: I got a couple, but I can say my favorite video is the “Remember the Time” joint. I look at him for videos. Videos are how they really see the artists. I don’t be playing about my videos. The energy gotta be there because that’s how they can mess with a song or not mess with a song, literally off the video. Every video he had looked like a movie, from “Smooth Criminal” to the one with Chris Tucker to the one with the Egyptian pyramids to the ones where he was in jail. Everything was a movie, there wasn’t no bland video. I take after that because that’s what made his music as influential as it is.
AllHipHop: How much of a creative hand do you have in your visuals?
YungManny: I love to give my ideas every time. Every time I make a song, I’m thinking about everything: the concerts, the videos, all of the above. It’s important that gets across because I know what I’m trying to convey to the world and let the world to see. It’s way better when s### is aligned. I know what I’m doing.
AllHipHop: You got on at age 15, what happened then?
YungManny: I had a song that blew up, it was Moana. I released it on my mixtape, but I didn’t really focus on that. I had another song that I thought was better, so I was focusing on that.
AllHipHop: Damn, it be the ones that you don’t expect right?
YungManny: Yeah, I learned that. But I know I make good music, especially now. I got better. I’m just about putting good music into the air. I don’t really care too much about numbers. As long as I put forth my full effort into the studio and in that video, everything that comes out with that song — whether it gets a million first day or 10 views first day, I know it’s in the air. One day whether it’s today or tomorrow, they gon’ catch it.
AllHipHop: When did you learn how to play the piano?
YungManny: My father forced me to learn when I was 10 or 11. I’d be playing in the church every weekend. He wasn’t trying to pay nobody every week to play the piano, so he invested into my lessons. Although I hated it when he was forcing it on me, me becoming a musician came full circle.
AllHipHop: How was it growing up in the DMV?
YungManny: It’s a cool area. It’s where I’m from so I’ll never forget that. It shaped me into who I am. It taught me lessons. The winning and losing, all the above. For me, that’s what that place is.
AllHipHop: How’d you get your name? When did you want to go by YungManny?
YungManny: My big brother was rapping with his friends for fun and his name was YungKeeK, so I’m like YungManny!
AllHipHop: “Clap for ‘Em” out now, going crazy! How you feeling?
YungManny: S###, it’s a blessing. I’m grateful, came a long way. I got the hottest record out right now. Like I said, this is what’s supposed to happen, from the jump.
AllHipHop: How did that collab with Flo Milli and Sada Baby come about?
YungManny: Flo my dog, Sada I met through that record. My folks know his folks. I f### with his music so I told him “let’s get in touch. Let’s knock a record out.” He was with it, got that s### sent it back like this. [snaps]
AllHipHop: How did your friendship start with Flo?
YungManny: We were in the studio together, just 2 hungry m############. We clicked as soon as we met each other. She’s always been real cool, even through the stardom and the fame that’s continuing to grow for her daily. She’s never changed, never acted different. Never acted like nothing else but what she acted like on the first day, I respect her for that.
AllHipHop: How was the song made? Did you send it?
YungManny: I sent it to her, but I let her know as soon as I made it. I knew who I wanted on it before I even finished my verse. I saw it and it’s funny because that’s the part that’s going viral on TikTok. I knew what it was, my intuition ain’t a shaky intuition. I give glory to God, it ain’t me. God gave me the mind that I have and the wisdom to do what I do, but I know what I’m doing.
AllHipHop: 2.4 million videos on TikTok, that’s wild! How does it feel to see the song go up like that?
YungManny: I didn’t even know it’s at 2.4 million, I haven’t checked it. These past couple weeks have been busy, I be working daily. I gotta get better at multitasking. Once I’m doing something, I be focused on that. When I’m recording, I don’t do s### but record. Sometimes when I’m on TikTok mode, I don’t do nothing but be on Tik Tok. My ole girl would be mad, I used to hang up every 5 seconds because I had a new idea for a TikTok.
AllHipHop: That’s hilarious! I’m sure it’s fun to be yourself on the platform, right?
YungManny: Hell yeah, I’m the funniest guy in the world. I be doing me, it ain’t nothing but that. I guess TikTok’s the perfect app for me, I got a funny personality.
AllHipHop: Why are you “The One”?
YungManny: If you observe me, you’ll get the answer for yourself.
AllHipHop: How was it shooting the video in Lagos? I’m guessing you’re Nigerian.
YungManny: Yeah, I’m Nigerian. I’m from the Motherland. It was cool, my second time back home. It was definitely nice to be in the community and capture the beauty of my country. People think it’s all huts and s### like that, but it’s way more than that.
AllHipHop: Best memory from shooting back home?
YungManny: Just capturing what back home really is. It’s beautiful, and that’s rare people don’t get to see s### like that out here. I wanted my friends, the community, and everybody in America to really see what was going on.
AllHipHop: Being 17, what do you like to do for fun?
YungManny: Make music. Nothing else, that’s all. I got a goal, tunnel vision to be the greatest. But I’m already the greatest, it’s just for the world to find out.
AllHipHop: What do you need in the studio to record?
YungManny: I need nggas to be quiet. Nggas to shut up and let me do me, that’s it.
AllHipHop: You don’t like a packed studio?
YungManny: No, ‘cause ngga’s energy be off. Nggas just be coming to come, I hate that s###.
AllHipHop: What does moms think? How does family feel?
YungManny: It’s a blessing. They still over protective and what not, but it’s a great opportunity to do something. They believe in me, they know I can change the world. I express my feelings about it deeply, as much as I can. I’m not over my head with this s###, but at the end of the day they’re my parents. My safety and my well-being comes first, that’s how they feel about this s###.
AllHipHop: What can we expect next?
YungManny: Everything I drop! Because I’m coming with it every song. Whether it’s a rap song or a singing song, it’s a #1 hit regardless.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want to let us know?
YungManny: Everybody gotta stay tuned in. Tap in, endless records coming this year. Probably 30 more records coming soon. Features, singles, albums, all of the above. No song is dull. No song ain’t capable of being on the billboard. Let’s get ready, I told you first!
Gray eventually exited the house, and was charged with aggravated assault, assault and disorderly conduct. And now, Gray will face the music for his actions.
The actor pleaded guilty to felony aggravated assault. He was sentenced to 10 days in a county jail, as well as three years of probation.
The terms of Gray’s probation include refraining from drugs and alcohol, and he’s banned from possessing stun guns or firearms. Gray is also barred from associating with anyone with a criminal record, unless he has written permission from the police.
T.I. and Tiny‘s youngest son, King Harris, is a chip off the old block! In a recent post that has now gone viral, King Harris gets into a confrontation with a man of sizable stature. That means dude was big! Well, King is not a really big guy but we’re here lacks in size, he has a little bit a heart with them. The kid isn’t dumb. He went straight for the bag with something in it, but what was in it?
Now? What do you make of this situation? I see you potentially grown man intentionally bullying a very young man (16 years old), definitely smaller. We don’t know what happened before, but we see what happened after. The bag in question was relatively small so there wasn’t a long shotgun in the bag, but some are speculating that there may have been a fireman the way people backed off it seem like they knew dude might start dumping on him them. And and dude definitely chilled out quickly. Some of the initial posts I saw said this was an instance of bullying so that could be the case. It also could be the case that dude knows that if King Harris gets hurt, he’s going to hurt even more…the Kang is around the way somewhere.
By the way, some people have suggested that King is scared to fight. Not the case.
Charlamagne Tha God got all the smoke over the weekend, but he has swiftly resolved the matter with Kwame Brown. Kwame Brown, as you know is a veteran NBA player who has retired, but he was a subject of much discussion when commentators decided to remark on his career. First of all the man made over $60 million in roughly 12 years. That’s success even if he didn’t become the next Michael Jordan. So, Charlamagne the God has apologized.
He did the right thing, because there was nothing else to do. After hearing what Kwame Brown said, particularly about his father and the revelations around his father situation, that was the best deal. We didn’t know, and I’m sure that Charlamagne didn’t know that he revealed more about Kwame‘s family then Kwame even knew. And I am sure that is very hurtful, and I have to tip my hat to Charlamagne for acknowledging that he was totally wrong. I mean, we can tell he didn’t mean any harm, but it went left fast.
Meanwhile, I noted noticed that they dropped a bomb at the end of the video. And that seems to be a nod to Funk Flex. Over the weekend Funk Flex went berserk on Charlamagne in a way I have not heard anyone do. Now, we know these guys are long time rivals and they are the spearhead at their respective radio stations. So they are going to be rivals as representatives of a corporate entity. But it was a phenomenal act from Funk Master Flex, even if his intentions were not pure. The whole spectacle of it made it worth listening to.
I think they may want to send him one of those cease and desist letters! He was talking reckless and greasy! It should be noted that, while Jessica Reid says she was raped by C Tha God when she was 15 years old, a rape kit test did not support that. There was no Tha God DNA in that kit. I am not sure who HAD fluids in that kit, but it was not him. Charla eventually had to plead guilty to contributing to the delinquency of a minor – a function of having alcohol at this tragic and fateful party.
Now the question is: what next? That is a very good question. I do think that the smoke will dissipate, I do think the beef will subside. But I think that Kwame brown is looking to get his initiatives in the community funded, and that means money. So I am hoping that Charlamagne and his corporate interests gets the opportunity to make Kwame Brown whole in the way that seems to work for him. Help the kids in the community!
One thing is for sure, we can see that Charlamagne is a highly evolved individual who has changed dramatically from his days back down south, his days with Wendy Williams to the present day. The truth is, I can respect that. I do believe there was very little he could say on this Monday morning in opposition to the smoke he received, but I thought that his apology was thoughtful, sincere, and even classy. So let’s see what happens next.
However, some social media users are attempting to spoil Drake’s triumphant moment by bringing up one of the OVO Sound frontman’s rivals. G.O.O.D Music representative Pusha T began trending on Twitter following the BBMAs on Sunday.
Drake versus Pusha T will go down as one of the most storied Hip Hop battles in history. The years-long feud culminated with Pusha’s 2018 diss track “The Story of Adidon” which exposed that Drake had a son named Adonis with former sex worker Sophie Brussaux.
For perhaps the first time in his career, a large part of the public declared Drake took a definitive loss in his lyrical bout with Pusha T. Unlike the outcome of his back-and-forth with Meek Mill three years earlier, Drake was the person who found his face on countless internet memes in the summer of 2018.
Pusha using an old photo of Drake in blackface for the “Adidon” cover art as well as lines like “you are hiding a child, let that boy come home, deadbeat m########### playing border patrol” caused many unbias observers to give the win to the Virginia emcee over Drizzy.
Drake even acknowledged Pusha T’s “The Story of Adidon” was a strategic victory. During a sit down with the Rap Radar Podcast in 2019, the Scorpion album creator said, “I tip my hat to the chess move. It was a genius play in the game of chess. It definitely warranted my first ‘loss’ in the competitive sport of rapping.”
Unfortunately for Drake, there will likely always be a group of Hip Hop heads that mention his “L” to Pusha T whenever his son Adonis is in the public spotlight. The Billboard Music Awards presentation featuring the three-year-old boy reignited the conversation about some of the more scathing bars on “The Story of Adidon.”
Some Twitter users joked that Drake embracing Adonis during his BBMA Artist Of The Decade speech was the direct result of Pusha T forcing the 34-year-old Canadian to be a father to his son. Other commenters claimed the fact that Pusha was a trending topic last night was further proof he defeated Drake back in 2018.
Drake maintains he was never a “deadbeat” father to a “secret” son. He addressed the topic during an interview on LeBron James’ The Shop talk show as well as on songs such as “March 14” and “Emotionless.” The latter track includes Drake rapping, “I wasn’t hiding my kid from the world. I was hiding the world from my kid.”
After weeks of teasing a possible collaborative project, Lil Baby and Lil Durk officially announced a release date for the duo’s forthcoming V.O.H. album. Both rhymers took to social media to share the news with their followers.
“Album finish 🔥🔥🤯 June 4 V.O.H,” tweeted Lil Baby on Sunday evening. Less than ten minutes later, Lil Durk posted the exact same message on Twitter. The Chicago representative also wrote, “Album finished 🔥🔥🤯 June 4 V.O.H.”
Earlier this month, Lil Baby apparently made the mistake of jumping the gun on the V.O.H. release date. The Atlanta-raised rapper quickly deleted an Instagram caption that read, “How does Voice of the Heroes dropping May 28 sound? @lildurk .”
Then the following week saw Lil Baby publicly discuss the forthcoming joint project with Lil Durk. The 26-year-old hitmaker told MTV News, “It’s gonna be one of the craziest albums to ever come out.”
Lil Durk and Lil Baby reconnected for the “Every Chance I Get” single off DJ Khaled’s #1 album Khaled Khaled. The Tay Keith-produced Baby/Durk collaboration reached the Top 20 of Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart. Its music video is still trending on YouTube after collecting over 16 million views.
@lildurk 
