It is virtually a certainty that J. Cole’s The Off-Season will be the #1 album in America next week. The only real question is whether the Dreamville Records boss can secure the largest sales week of 2021.
According to HitsDailyDouble, J. Cole’s The Off-Season is projected to open with 280,000-310,000 first-week sales units. He is now on pace to pass Taylor Swift’s re-recorded Fearless album which debuted with 291,000 units in April.
The Off-Season was released on May 14, and the studio LP has dominated the major streaming service ever since. J. Cole’s latest body of work earned the biggest streaming album debut on Spotify in 2021 with 59 million streams.
Songs from The Off-Season occupy most of the Top 10 for Spotify’s daily Top 200 chart and Apple Music’s daily Top 100 chart in the US. Currently, “My Life” featuring 21 Savage and Morray leads both the Spotify and Apple Music rankings.
“Interlude” was the first offering from J. Cole’s new collection. The official YouTube audio for that song has amassed more than 8 million plays since it arrived on the platform on May 7. It trended on YouTube for several days.
The Off-Season is set to become J. Cole’s sixth #1 album. 2011’s Cole World: The Sideline Story (218,000), 2013’s Born Sinner (297,000), 2014’s 2014 Forest Hills Drive (371,000), 2016’s 4 Your Eyez Only (492,000), and 2018’s KOD (397,000) each broke the 200K mark for first-week units.
A Gangsta’s Pain collected another 61,000 units for the latest track week of the Billboard 200 chart. Moneybagg Yo’s fourth studio LP debuted at #1 with 110,000 units on the rankings dated May 8 before dropping to #2 a week ago.
Last week, DJ Khaled opened at #1 on the Billboard 200 when his new album Khaled Khaled topped the tally. This week, it slipped to #3behind Morgan Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album at #2.
Rod Wave’s SoulFly remained in the Top 10 by holding onto the #6 position. Young Thug & YSL’s Slime Language fell two spots to #7. Pop Smoke’s Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon stayed steady at #8, and The Weeknd’s After Hours continued at #9.
A Gangsta’s Pain became the first Hip Hop album to spend at least two weeks at #1 in 2021. Playboi Carti’s Whole Lotta Red, Rod Wave’s SoulFly, Young Thug & YSL’s Slime Language 2, and DJ Khaled’s Khaled Khaled each spent a single week at the top.
“In Route To #1 Again @billboard 🤯🔥 MANEEE WTF!!!! I’m Beyond Bless God The Greatest 🤲🏾 [Let’]s Keep Running It Up !! #AGangstasPain #AlbumOfTheYear🏆 #PlatiumTiming💿,” wrote Moneybagg Yo on Instagram last week.
The Memphis native is also celebrating several brand new certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America, including the single “Said Sum” going 2x-Platinum. Plus, Moneybagg Yo picked up an RIAA Platinum plaque for his 2020 album Time Served.
It’s Spring in New York and the ladies are coming out not just with pretty dresses and sandals.
All May, new music has dropped from your favorite rap, R&B, and dance hall queens from the Big Apple, reminding fans exactly where the Mecca of Hip-Hop culture truly is.
Let’s Go, Girls … Show them How New York Do It!
NICKI MINAJ
Nicki Minaj, the Queen from Queens, popped up on Friday with hardly any fanfare. She started by alluding to music during the week on her social media — directing them to Friday, May 14. Leave it to the “Barbie Tingz” rapper to skip the line of all the other releases, boss up against J. Cole and Kodak Black and unpack a release of Beam Me Up Scotty. BMUS is a re-issue of her third mixtape from 2009 with a few new tracks on it. The move optimizes one of the star’s projects’ availability, placing it on streaming services for fans. It also features new songs like the recently debuted, “Seeing Green” with Lil Wayne and Drake, “Fractions,” and “Crocodile Teeth.”
Lady London is more than just a female rapper. At 25, the Howard graduate has a Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine and Master of Science in Global Medicine from the University of Southern California. She’s not only incredibly bright but talented. Even Cardi B sees it. The Bronx GRAMMY-winner reposted her LL’s new song, “ Money Over .” She reposted the love on IG and captioned, “Bardiiiiiiiiiiiii 😍😍😍 now u knowwww I loveeeee youuuu !!! Thank you queeeennnnn @iamcardib♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽”
YOUNG M.A.
Young M.A. is releasing a new album called Off the Yak and it is slated to drop on May 21. This will be the first full-length project since she debuted in 2019 with Herstory in the Making.
The record knocks with production from NY Bangers, Benjamin Lasnier, Mike Zombie, and others. Because so many people love her, she also has features that help her deliver a quality project: Fivio Foreign, Rubi Rose, May Yb, and Wap5tar are representing heavy.
East New York’s budding legend, Young Devyn can actually sing, rap, create reggae, dance hall, and Soca music and does all it well.
So when New York’s Hot 97 gave the exclusive that the “Straight to It” artist was releasing a song with DJ Drewski and Legendary Keyzz entitled “Act Bad,” people already knew it was going to be hot. The video is slated to drop soon, but until then check out the fire.
TORI DOE
Tori Doe Twitter
Harlem is represented by rapper Tori Doe who also previewed her highly-anticipated mixtape, NoTORIous Vol. II. The pint-size fashion plate keeps fans on their toes with complicated rhyme schemes, that slick uptown talking, and swag that is undeniable. While she has given no date for the full project — that Doe Nation is on high alert in anticipation of her new release.
Anyone that knows anything about Hip-Hop knows that the roots of the culture are from the “big island.” So, including a new dance hall queen (who is intimately connected to rap music) is a no-brainer. The Jamaican-born and Bronx-raised Hoodcelebrityy brings her Caribbean flair to the market with her new release, “Champagne.”
She describes the song that features Sukihana, Maliibu Mitch, and R&B sensation Josh X, as “a record about relishing at the moment and enjoying life. So, it’s a toast to success, toast to achievement, toast to love, taking time to celebrate loved ones, especially all the Walking Trophies. We deal with so much; I always want to make music to big up women & let them know I see them and to keep doing great things.”
KIYANNE
After Queens rapper Kiyanne left the cast of Love & Hip Hop, people thought she was a wrap. But her resilience has shown through over the last few years and now her upcoming release reminds us how dope she really is. Her new single, “Now or Never” has just been released and people are about to gag!
Also representing Brooklyn is Lola Brooke with her new song, “Don’t Play With It” featuring Billy B. The banger is produced by Dizzy Banko, a beatmaker that has created hits from Pop Smoke, Dream Doll, and Pardison Fontaine. The song received a push from her last hit jam “Back 2 Business,” from its success on TikTok and from people like Snoop Dogg reposting.
Another Brooklynite that is spitting fire on the mic is a femcee named COKAH. She took to IG after Lola Brooke and Billy B’s song dropped and let people know that she too has new music coming soon.
The end of his life, a few people took care of BR, one of them was Cricket aka 1BAD AZZ DRUMMER, a celebrity drummer than was booked for a show with the legendary Bad Boy Records rapper. As fate would have it, Cricket ended up taking care of Black Rob and helping give the star an opportunity to get back on his feet. He literally took the rap super star into his home, feed him, got his hair cuts and, more importantly, got him much needed medical attention. Moreover, he responds to the assertion that Black Rob was addicted to drugs or over-consuming alcohol.
This provocative interview, lead by Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur is revealing and debunks much of the speculation surrounding the death of a bright star know as Black Rob.
The rapper came off the bench in the first quarter during a matchup between the Patriots and the Nigeria Rivers Hoopers at the newly built Kigali Arena in Rwanda.
The The 6-foot-3 rapper played a total of 17 minutes, scored three points, pulled down three rebounds and dished off two assists.
J. Cole also provided some highlight reel material, with an amazing no-look, behind the back pass to his teammate, Brandon Costner. J Cole’s put in a solid debut for the Rwanda Patriots, who crushed Nigeria Rivers Hoopers by over 20 points with a 83-60 victory.
The Basketball Africa League is backed by the NBA and FIBA. The BAL launched on May 16th with a 26-game tournament that ends on May 30th.
J Cole’s debut as a professional basketball player caps off a busy week for the rap star.
Speaking of debuts, recently released his newest album The Off-Season, which is expected to move up to 300,000 units, making the album the biggest debut of 2021 on the charts so far.
The conflict between Palestine and Israel is at an all-time high and many entertainers are starting to feel the pressure and believe that their advocacy work through the arts may put them in danger.
Tamer Nafar, an Israeli citizen and Palestinian emcee, is amongst that group. A pioneer in Palestinian Hip-Hop as a member of the revered group DAM, he spoke to ABC News and posted on IG.
Therein the interview, he conveyed that he is afraid for his life and calling on the international powers to step in and save him and his
people.
“As a citizen of the most democratic country in the Middle East, I called the cops,” Nafar shared as he is located in Lod, Israel where much of the violence is being experienced. “At the same time, I’m seeing a lot of settlers coming from … all over … and they are equipped with short Uzis and with weapons.
“I’m seeing me, having two kids in my house unarmed — as I said, my only weapon is my microphone — and I’m being locked in my house and I have armed people being protected by police,” he continued. “So she gave me the supervisor of the police and the supervisor of the police told me, ‘Sir, I don’t owe you any answer,’ and then she hung up. And this is how we feel unprotected.
“So, as somebody who is scared for his life, the only solution is that somebody, any organization, [like] the U.N. … since the Israeli police is … not protecting me, I’m asking for protection,” he added. “Me and another 1.6 million Palestinians held hostages inside of Israel.”
The conflict in the country that is supposed to be one of the holiest places in the world is between Israeli forces and Hamas. There has been an ongoing socio-political uprising since 2014 when the Palestinian militant group ruling over the Gaza Strip.
This past week the ante has been upped as Israeli airstrikes have murdered, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, 122 Palestinians, including 31 children, and at least 900 have been injured.
The Israel Defense Forces have submitted that they have incurred losses also, noting that eight Israelis have died and more than 523 have been
wounded.
The root of this conflict dates back to biblical times and has extraordinary racist and xenophobic overtones.
The “Ya Reit” rapper further shared that his people, who have been living in Israel well before the nation was recognized in the 1940s, have been since treated as “second class citizens.”
This is why he connects with not just the music of Hip-Hop, but its culture, community, and political voice.
“As somebody who grew up on Hip-Hop, I can say that I’m very inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. … I owe the African American culture a lot,” he shared. “I can see a resemblance to the African American struggles, but I’m not comparing struggles. I’m being inspired by other struggles.”
This is all happening after Muslims, Christians and Jews are coming out of their high holy seasons. #PrayforPeace
Reese was grazed in the eye, a 20-year-old was shot in the knee and a 27-year-old man was shot multiple times, and rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition.
Video circulating shows the aftermath of the gunfight show Lil Reese bleeding profusely from his wound as a man in the background proclaims “p#### tried to steal my car,” which was actually a Dodge Durango.
While locals were shocked and dismayed at the broad daylight shootout, Reese’s rival Tekashi69 thought the incident was worthy of jokes.
Tekashi69 hit up Instagram to clown Lil Reese.
“Pray for him, he stole the wrong person’s car today,” Tekashi69 wrote sarcastically on his Instagram stories feed.
Tekashi69 followed that message with an image of a GoFundMe he admitted to starting to raising money to “help Reese buy a car” with a $2,000 goal to buy a beat-up 1999 Impala – an obvious jab at reports the Chicago rapper was attempting to steal the SUV in question.
Tekashi69 Starts Fundraiser for Lil Reese
People are actually donating to the GoFundMe for Lil Reese. So far, over $600 has been raised of the $2,000 goal.
Meanwhile, residents in the area where the gunfire erupted did not find any humor in the situation at all.
“It’s sad. It’s also sad that we don’t think about it as much anymore because it seems more common,” one local woman said. “It’s definitely driving people out of the city.”
The police are still investigating the shooting. Reps for Lil Reese have denied he was involved in a carjacking attempt.
Rapper Saweetie is jumping into the sex industry on her quest to become hip-hop’s newest billionaire.
The “Icy Girl” is heating things up for “Masturbation May” via a new deal with adult company Bellesaco. Saweetie is offering her fans a utilizing deal to celebrate the holiday with a shopping spree for sex toys.
“I’m hooking y’all up with free sex toys this Masturbation May! @bellesaco and are sending out free vibrators, gift cards, and free shopping sprees for sex toys and more,” Saweetie revealed.
If you are doubting, Masturbation May is a real thing. According to planned Parenthood, 7 out of 10 males masturbate, while 5 out of 10 women pleasure themselves regularly.
“Masturbation is a normal and healthy part of sexuality,” explained Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, Chief Medical Officer at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “It can enhance our physical, mental, and sexual health and the health of our sexual relationships. Learning about what feels good to you can help increase sexual pleasure with sex partners. And when you know what you like and are comfortable with your body, your satisfaction with sex increases.”
Saweetie’s deal to get free sex toys is running until the end of May.
Chicago native Lil Reese’s team is asking fans to keep the “Come Outside” rapper in prayer after a video has been circulated with blood streaming from his head.
This is not his first time being shot, and this time does not seem as dangerous as the December 2018 assault. One year and a half ago, the rapper took to social media to explain that he was shot in his neck.
“Can’t believe i was just in hospital could’ve die from gettin shot in neck I’m just bless to be here around this time Biggest Blessin Gift to still be here with my family fans all people who love me cant wait til my 🗣 fully back thats my gift 🙏🏽”
According to his team, the most recent bullet grazed his face — skimming his eye. Rumors are circulating that he had tried to steal someone’s car and they were not having it at all. In fact, took offense to the attempted carjacking and followed him to square up.
The video that shows him bleeding, will surely be used in this case should it go to trial and someone is held accountable for the shooting. One man on it is denying that he tried to steal the car. People are saying the rapper’s name. The clip also shows emergency first-responders trying to help him at the scene of the crime.
Chicago PD has shared that two other people were shot. There was one 20-year-old that was shot in the knee and a 27-year-old shot in critical condition after being excessively shot in his body.
His team has asked fans via the manager’s private social media account to keep him lifted.
50 Cent is looking for a new home for his TV show “For Life,” after ABC canceled the drama after two seasons yesterday.
“For Life” was inspired by the life of Isaac Wright Jr, who successfully fought a life sentence on his own and had the verdict overturned. The hit show was one of several series to get the ax by ABC, due to overall low ratings on the network.
Even though “For Life” over-indexed and was the most-watched show by African-Americans on the network, it was 86ed along with shows like “Mixed-ish,” “Call Your Mother,” and “Rebel,” according to Deadline.
The lukewarm reception to “For Life” from ABC’s general audience was a stark contrast to Hulu, where the episodes also aired. “For Life” proved to be valuable to Hulu, by helping the streaming platform grab new African-Americans viewers.
50 took to Instagram to reveal “For Life” is being shopped around to other networks, and a deal would be announced soon.
“Tell you where you can tune in to see FOR LIFE shortly,” 50 Cent said. “Check out my new show ( Family Affair) on ABC coming soon!”
“Family Affair” centers around an R&B musician who is suddenly forced to take on a new parental role to raise his sister’s four children. The project is written by Devon and Ranada Shepard, who will also serve as executive producers with Mary J. Blige and 50 Cent.
Rapper Ice Cube is more than ready to tax Robinhood, for allegedly stealing his image and likeness.
Ice Cube is seeking millions from the stock trading app, for allegedly stealing his catchphrase “Check Yo Self, Before You Wreck Yo Self,” and used his image in a promotional email sent to the company’s user-base.
The beef between Ice Cube and Robinhood started on March 8, 2021, when the company sent out an email titled “Why are tech stock falling?”
The email featured a superimposed image of Cube taken from the movie “Are We There Yet?” along with the quote: a line from his hit song “Check Yo Self” which read: “Correct yourself before you wreck yourself.”
Robinhood swears Ice Cube is simply clout chasing, since the phrase “Check Yo Self, Before You Wreck Yo Self” has been co-opted many times over the years and should be considered in the public domain widespread use in sayings like: “Text Yo’self Beefo You Wreck Yo’self” and “Czech Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself.”
However, Cube’s high-powered lawyer Michael A. Taitelman just fired back at Robinhood’s attempt to dismiss the rapper’s complaint and it looks like the legal battle is going to be nasty.
Ice Cube Reply To Robinhood
[Robinhood] now seeks to evade responsibility for their misconduct by filing a blunderbuss motion that misses the mark,” Taitelman snapped. [Robinhood’s use of [Ice Cube’s] image and likeness is pure commercialization, executed without the consent of [Ice Cube] and [Robinhood’s efforts to hide behind the Constitution are in vain.”
Ice Cube says his name is a registered trademark, and Robinhood’s use of his image and likeness resulted in false advertising, which is not protected by the constitution.
“[Ice Cube] has alleged that [Robinhood] have misappropriated the business and goodwill value of [Ice Cube’s] celebrity persona and, as a result of [Robinhood’s] actions, he has “suffered and will continue to suffer substantial monetary damage to his business in the form of diversion of trade, loss of profits, and a dilution in the value of his rights and reputation,” Taitelman said.
Ice Cube Reply To Robinhood
Michael A. Taitelman also shot back against Robinhood’s argument that the phrase Check Yo Self, Before You Wreck Yo Self” should be considered part of the public domain, since Robinhood used the slogan to promote a commercial product, Robinhood Snacks.
Taitelman pointed to an eight-point factor test courts have used in the past, to determine whether there is a likelihood of confusion.
1. The level of recognition that the plaintiff has among the segment of society for whom the defendant’s product is intended.
2. The relatedness of the fame or success of the plaintiff to the defendant’s product.
3. The similarity of the likeness used by the defendant to the actual plaintiff.
4. Evidence of actual confusion.
5. Marketing channels used.
6. Likely degree of purchaser care.
7. Defendant’s intent on selecting the plaintiff.
8. Likelihood of expansion of the product lines.
“[Ice Cube] specifically alleges that his signature catchphrase has become an indelible part of his public persona, and that the public has come to understand that if Plaintiff uses his signature catchphrase, he “means business” and is serious,” Taitelman argued. “The Advertisement is ‘commercial speech,’ which is rarely, if ever, protected by the First Amendment…protection for noncommercial publication of matters in the public interest is associated with ‘freedom of the press.”
Taitelman also dismissed Robinhood’s assertion that Ice Cube didn’t own the copyright to the photo used in the newsletter, stating: “The basis of [Ice Cube’s] right of publicity claims under California law is the contention that [Robinhood] misappropriated [Ice Cube’s] persona for [Robinhood’s own commercial gain.”
Ice Cube says executives at Robinhood are simply out for revenge against the rap star’s business partner Jeff Kwatinetz, who has a separate class-action lawsuit against Robinhood.
On June 3rd, Judge Laurel Beeler will decide as to whether or not Ice Cube’s lawsuit will proceed or be tossed.
Journey Christine is only 7-years-old and already living out her wildest dreams. Oftentimes we ask the question: “what should we watch on Netflix?!”
A great choice would be “The Upshaws,” the new comedic sitcom centered around a modern-day family in Indiana. Created by Regina Y. Hicks and the legendary Wanda Sykes, the new series stars the hilarious Mike Epps, the incredible Kim Fields, and Wanda Sykes herself.
Journey’s adorableness and beauty do not go unnoticed, as she proudly steps into the role of the 6-year-old Maya Upshaw, Bennie Upshaw’s (Mike Epps) youngest daughter. The series showcases the dynamics we all experience within our families, paired with endless humor that will have you keep coming back.
AllHipHop: How does it feel to be here today at the Netflix “The Upshaws?”
Journey Christine: It feels amazing to really watch myself on TV, couple episodes and I’m so excited to watch it. It’s a blessing I get to be on this type of show with lots of famous people. Legends! Wow, this is crazy.
AllHipHop: Are you even familiar with these legends?
Journey Christine: Well, I didn’t know about them until now. My mom told me all about them. Wow, I’m really on a TV show with these super famous, legendary people. I’m so happy now.
AllHipHop: Greatest memory on set working with Mike Epps, Wanda Sykes, Kim Fields?
Journey Christine: They’re all super funny. They all make jokes in between the scenes. All their characters are so funny. We’re a working-class family, everyone’s trying to be a normal family. Sometimes it goes wrong, sometimes it goes bad. Just normal problems.
AllHipHop: What’s your favorite part about filming “The Upshaws?”
Journey Christine: My favorite part was when I said “mom, I’m a gymnast now!” And I fell. I said, “well this is my life now!” I ran back up and fell on the stairs. I said, “I’m okay!” It was so much fun. It’s so fun being with them.
AllHipHop: Did it hurt?
Journey Christine: No, that’s what I was supposed to do because they have a little pad. I stopped, then I went “I’m okay!” It was so funny because everybody thought I actually fell, but it was pretend.
AllHipHop: What can your fans look forward to watching this show?
Journey Christine: It’s on Netflix, you guys can check it out. I have some very good memories about it. I don’t even know what to say, it’s so amazing. It’s a blessing to have this happen to me. I wasn’t booking anything first, then my mom said “something bigger is gonna come.” And poof! Look at this.
The cast of Netflix show ‘The Upshaws’ attend the a party in Los Angeles, California Featuring: Journey Christine, Page Kennedy/Credit: Guillermo Proano/WENN
AllHipHop: Is this your first big break?
Journey Christine: Yes, this is my very first big, huge thing. Usually, it’s a normal movie. Now it’s a legendary show with lots of big famous people in it. Wow, this is amazing.
AllHipHop: What was your reaction when you booked the show?
Journey Christine: We live in this apartment. I was so happy that I tried to jump on the bed but I couldn’t because it was a top bunk and a bottom bunk. I was on the bottom so I couldn’t jump or else I would’ve banged my head. I jumped on the pillow and I started screaming, “yayyyyy!” [laughs]
AllHipHop: What do you like to do for fun?
Journey Christine: I like playing with my brothers. I like swimming, but that doesn’t really happen all the time because I only get to go in the summer when it’s super bright outside and sunny. I like to color sometimes, I like to write. I really like hanging out with my brothers.
AllHipHop: What are you most excited about this year?
Journey Christine: Now that the world’s opening back up, well I’m still going to wear my mask. I’m still going to do all this, this, and that. I’m going to stay regular.
One of Hip-Hop’s favorite couples, Ludacris and Eudoxie Bridges, is expecting their second child!
The great news was revealed on the “What’s Your Fantasy” rapper’s Instagram on Friday to celebrate the proud momma’s 35th Birthday. The images in the post featured the Gabonese beauty rocking a full-length nude dress that compliments her perfect butterscotch complexion, basking in all her maternal glow.
“How is it YOUR Birthday & Your Giving Me The Greatest Gift? Joyeux Anniversaire Mrs Bridges 👼🏽”
The two have been married since 2014 during the Christmas holiday after the Fast and Furious proposed to her on a private plane. Talk about fast and furious, he asked; she said “yes;” they got married the same day!
The love birds were so thrilled that they posted the occasion on their respective Instagrams.
“She didn’t say yes. She said HELL YES! #milehighproposal.”
The new baby will complete the Disturbing the Peace artist’s familiar quartet. As a couple, they have a 5-year-old daughter named Cadence. The #GirlDad has another daughter, stair-stepping at 6-year-old named Cai, and a 13-year-old named Karma.
After receiving so much bad news this Spring, this is just the right news to make everyone smile.
Tamika Mallory, one of the greatest voices of civic engagement and civil rights activism over the last ten years is releasing her first book entitled “STATE OF EMERGENCY.”
The renowned activist’s first book is being released via Black Privilege Publishing, Charlamagne Tha God’s new imprint through Atria Books at Simon & Schuster.
— Tamika D. Mallory (@TamikaDMallory) May 11, 2021
From her grassroots early beginning under the watchful mentorship of Rev. Al Sharpton to her substantial contribution to the Women’s March at the dawn of Donald J. Trump’s presidency, Tamika Mallory has impacted how Hip-Hop sees itself.
“STATE OF EMERGENCY” breaks down the premise of what many have called “The Speech of a Generation” Mallory delivered last year during the George Floyd protests.
“STATE OF EMERGENCY’s” foreword is written by Angela Davis, who is quite possibly Mallory’s spirit mother in the movement. She says that the book is “a radical manifesto that will help to shape future generations of revolutionary freedom fighters.”
In addition to the 60’s icon, the perfect juxtaposition to the celebrated academic is Cardi B, who also writes a foreword for the book.
Tapping the Bronx rapper is a smart choice for Mallory to have made.
She is visceral, relatable, and not only represents the people that Mallory resonates most powerfully with, but is the kind of person that Mallory walks side-by-side with in the trenches.
Many anticipate it becoming a New York Best-Seller in no time.
Atria Books is working hard to make sure it achieves that goal. They have created a virtual tour for people on the fence (or who need a little more inspiration) to purchase the book.
Rapper Kash Doll is out of a fortune in jewelry after making a costly mistake in Los Angeles.
The rapper claims she left $500,000 worth of jewelry inside of her unlocked car, which ended up being burglarized.
Kash Doll said she was on set shooting a music video in the San Fernando valley when the incident took place. For some reason, the incredibly valuable hall was sitting inside of her car, along with a $50,000 Louis Vuitton box.
The caper was relatively easy to pull off – because Kash Doll forgot to lock her door, according to TMZ.
So far, the cops have no suspects and it’s unclear if her insurance policy – if she has any – will cover the theft.
Over the last year, Los Angeles has seen a massive spike in car break-ins. The thieves usually target rental cars or vehicles with out-of-state license plates.
However, unlike Kash Doll’s situation, most of the time the thieves smash the windows of their targeted vehicles to gain access.
In January, the cops busted a burglary crew from San Francisco and they claimed were responsible for the rise in car break-ins and warned that other gang members were stepping up to take their place.
For months, the cops have been warning tourists and residents to be aware of their surroundings and to lock their car doors.
NBA Youngboy dropped a touching letter to his fans, as he sits behind bars in Baton Rouge on gun charges.
NBA Youngboy has been locked up since March 22, when he was taken into custody by Federal Marshals in Los Angeles. The rapper was hit with federal and state charges for possessing weapons, stemming from a video shoot in Baton Rouge in September of 2020.
The cops raided a house in the city after they were tipped off that a bunch of alleged gang members were inside of a house shooting a video.
The police rounded up 16 members of the Bottom Boy Gorilla (BBG) and Never Broke Again (NBA) gangs, and confiscated a small arsenal weapons.
NBA Youngboy had managed to dodge charges for the better part of a year until he was indicted and taken into custody in a high-profile arrest in Los Angeles, where he tried to evade authorities.
In his open letter, NBA Youngboy revealed how lonely he has felt since becoming famous.
“i have a hard time paying attention i then gave and i then been there for people without having nobody to be there for me even with people i talk to now if they wasnt waiting to receive or been giving something already they wouldnt be here,” NBA YoungBoy wrote.
The one silver lining to NBA Youngboy’s situation comes from the support he is receiving from his most dedicated fans.
NBA Youngboy is hoping to avoid a lengthy prison sentence, so he can fulfill his dream of watching his unborn daughter grow up.
In April of 2021, it was revealed that the 21-year-old rapper is reportedly expecting his eighth child with Jazlyn Mychelle.
“i really just want to be there when my daughter borni want to be in the same house as her while she grow upi never had that experience,” NBA Youngboy said.
Check out the full unedited open letter from NBA YoungBoy below:
i have a hard time paying attention i then gave and i then been there for people without having nobody to be there for me even with people i talk to now if they wasnt waiting to receive or been giving something already they wouldnt be here,
“i have a hard time paying attention i then gave and i then been there for people without having nobody to be there for me even with people i talk to now if they wasnt waiting to receive or been giving something already they wouldnt be here. im a man before anything i had to apologize to myself for not protecting my heart and allowing most of this to happen i read letters from my supporters and find joy inside and yes i said that right (my supporters) yall are not fans we scream FA.N together (f### a n####) LOL but all jokes aside i aint got nothing against nobody i dont want no problem neither just stop speaking on me we dont concern each other i really just want to be there when my daughter borni want to be in the same house as her while she grow upi never had that experience Jaz im sorry (ma’ma) ipromise im sorry for every time i said something to another women for every time they ever gotten the chance to come around ill give you anything for you not to leave anything to have you when its all said and done other than that im chilling im cooling with the ones who feeling like aint nothing to live for that im in the dorm it aint too many im good though love you and the ones who really wish for the best for me too.”
Jaden Smith is set to open a restaurant to help feed the homeless in Los Angeles.
The 22-year-old actor and singer – the son of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith – will open a new restaurant called I Love You to help feed those living on Los Angeles’ Skid Row, after having previously run the I Love You food truck business.
Jaden’s food trucks have been giving free food to homeless people in L.A. for two years, but the new restaurant will offer a more permanent solution to offering aid to those in need.
The restaurant will offset costs by making those who can afford it pay a higher price to “pay for the person behind you.”
In a statement, Jaden said: “It’s for homeless people to get free food. But if you’re not homeless, not only do you have to pay, but you have to pay for more than the food’s worth so that you can pay for the person behind you.”
As of the time of writing, there is no opening date in place for the restaurant.
The news comes as the latest philanthropic effort from Jaden, who previously co-founded the 501CThree non-profit alongside Drew FitzGerald with the goal of solving problems relating to water, food, shelter, and energy using smart design and engineering.
Jaden and Drew then launched a mobile water filtration device called the Water Box through their charitable company, which in 2019 was used to help the residents of Flint, Michigan, have access to clean water after they spent years battling with a municipal water supply contaminated with lead.
Modern businesses need to approach digital marketing with savvy and intellect, an Instagram is one of the most important spaces for doing so. Crafting an account, posts, and strategy to drive clicks, conversions, and ultimately, sales, is a nuanced and elaborate process.
The 2021 Instagram Growth Marketing Bundle covers the vast world of Instagram and how to use it to your advantage. Valued at $1200, this collection of courses is available now for $19.99. The bundle includes 6 courses, which collectively provide 15 hours of lessons on content marketing, following, monetizing, and more.
Some examples of these courses, which are valued at $200 each, include: Instagram Marketing for Businesses & E-Commerce, How to Turn Instagram into a Business & Monetize a Following, and the Complete Instagram Marketing Course: From 0 to 10,000 Followers. The courses feature up to 8 lectures and an hour of content each, which subscribers will have access to around the clock.
Each course is taught by a different social media or digital marketing expert.
Instagram Marketing for Business & E-Commerce, for example, follows the guidance of instructor, Pouya Eti, who has a 4.4/5-star instructor rating. He is a digital Instagram marketer, author, and entrepreneur who has taught more than 100,000 students from over 180 countries. His expertise includes how to create a business, how to grow in marketing, and how to convince people to buy.
Bryan Guerra teaches How to Turn Instagram Into a Business & Monetize a Following. He is the founder of Invert Media, which is an online education company that specializes in information products that accelerate the success of entrepreneurs. He is also an expert on eCommerce, Online Marketing, and Customer Acquisition.
In a day and age where people look up a company’s social media accounts to learn about them, managing Instagram is key to both maintaining a reputation and building a customer base. Whether you’re a musician who is self-taught and trying to sell an album, an entrepreneur building a business from the ground up by themselves, or even a marketing professional, you don’t want to miss this opportunity.
After dropping her late-night release, Beam Me Up Scotty, Nicki Minaj has finally broken her silence about the tragic death of her father Robert Maraj.
The car never stopped and kept going. Though Maraj was brought to a hospital, he died from the impact of the car.
For months, understandably, she has been quiet and reflective about his killing but recently posted a letter to her heavily trafficked website to express herself on a few topics including his death.
Nicki Minaj described his demise as “the most devastating loss of my life.”
She continued: “I find myself wanting to call him all the time. More so now that he’s gone. Life is funny that way. May his soul rest in paradise. He was very loved & will be very missed.”
Though it was a hit-and-run, a man named Charles Polevich stepped up to take responsibility for the fatal accident. According to Detective Stephen Fitzpatrick, he also admitted to tampering with evidence.
She also shared that she was working on her full album and a documentary.
Check out the full open letter to her fans below:
My darlings, as I complete this album & documentary, I am also obsessing over “The Crown” on Netflix. The great Kenya Barris recommended I watch it & I’ve been hooked ever since. It’s safe to say I’ve watched every single episode of every single season at least 5 times each. Lol. Yikes. I know. 🥴 I can’t get enough of Claire Foy’s perfect face. I want to eat it. It just does the right thing in every single scene. Lmao. I also can’t believe how much I enjoy Gillian Anderson’s portrayal of Margaret Thatcher. Seeing as tho I’m such a Meryl StreepINISTA. I love Helena as Princess Margaret & Josh as Prince Charles, although let’s face it; he’s a tad hunkier than the real Prince ever was— and yes, I just used the word “hunkier”. Olivia Colman as the later Queen… she’s a great actress. I actually enjoyed her portrayal of Mrs. Thatcher’s daughter in the IRON LADY even more than I enjoy her in this role! Go figure. BRAVO to the entire cast, writers & directors.
While we’re on the subject of acting, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom was one of the best pieces of work I’ve had the pleasure of viewing in a really long time. GENIUS!!!! With a capital everything!!!! Just when I thought there was no way I could love Viola Davis any more… I MEAN!!!!! OMG. I LIVE!!!! Every single monologue. Every single one. She brought those words to life in such a way that I truly felt as if she could’ve been speaking about the music industry right now! The writing in the original play was just brilliant but she was able to even add a billion times more to it & I didn’t think that was even possible b/c August Wilson is the TRUTH!!! Chadwick, of course, was just exceptionally layered & riveting. His acting knows no bounds. I can’t believe he was taken from us so soon. The man was on his way to becoming a full-fledged ICON!!! I also really loved the actor playing “Cutler”. Colman Domingo.
FUN FACT: since becoming pregnant I can’t stop eating ice. I’m now up to about 20 cups per day. I eat them out of the red plastic cups. The cups must always be stacked in two. “Double cup love, you the one I lean on”. Lol. It simply doesn’t taste right when I eat it out of one lil flimsy cup.
I’ve also been completely overwhelmed with joy & fulfillment in the world of Papa Bear. Each day creates a new & fascinating, magical memory that I hide far away into a little cute compartment of my heart; vowing never to forget any of it. Like. He’s just a cute liddo marshmallow. I can’t take it. His favorite movie is Madagascar (Escape 2 Africa) 🥴 won’t stop watching it. LOL. He’s so smart, funny, sweet, competitive… it’s kind of crazy how they have a full personality so early on. Yesterday I made him say mama. Even got it on video. Just… Wow.
Tho I can’t really bring myself to discuss the passing of my father as yet; I can say it has been the most devastating loss of my life. I find myself wanting to call him all the time. More so now that he’s gone. Life is funny that way. May his soul rest in paradise. He was very loved & will be very missed.
I can’t wait to share these new vibez wit yall. It’s so important to always go back to basics for me. This world of smoke & mirrors can blind you. Be careful. Always important to step back & just really observe. “I look beyond what people sayin & I see intent. Then I just sit back & decipher what they really meant”. Still applies. But not only in what people say, but in what they do. There has to be more to this. Right?
Anyway, it’s been a min since I wrote a letter & I know how much u guys love them. I love you dearly. Miss you so much. Thank you… for everything.
P.S. The passing of DMX hit me like a ton of bricks. Losing him felt like losing someone I grew up with. I adored him. Blessings to his family.
Rihanna and Halsey have been blasted for wading into the Middle East conflict between Israel and Palestine with “reductive” tweets.
The pop stars have offered their takes on the ongoing war between the two nations, which boiled over again following a series of attacks after Israeli police officials blocked off the Damascus Gate, where Palestinian Arabs were planning to gather for the religious holiday Ramadan.
Rihanna revealed her heart was broken after the deaths of innocent children and she called for a resolution.
“My heart is breaking with the violence I’m seeing displayed between Israel and Palestine!” the singer wrote on Instagram. “I can’t bare (sic) to see it! Innocent Israeli and Palestinian children are hiding in bomb shelters, over 40 lives lost in Gaza alone, at least 13 of whom were also innocent children!
“There needs to be some kind of resolve! We are sadly watching innocent people fall victim to notions perpetuated by government and extremists, and this cycle needs to be broken!”
She was criticized for taking a “neutral stance”, with one commenter stating: “No @rihanna, if you stand with humanity you stand with Palestine.”
Halsey offered: “It is not ‘too complicated to understand’ that brown children are being murdered + people are being displaced under the occupation of one of the most powerful armies in the world. It is willful ignorance to conflate these simple horrors with religion + geopolitics.”
It is not “too complicated to understand” that brown children are being murdered + people are being displaced under the occupation of one of the most powerful armies in the world. It is willful ignorance to conflate these simple horrors with religion + geopolitics. #FreePalestine
The singer was criticized for the tweet and returned to social media to clarify her comments.
“My tweet is for my peers/white Americans who don’t concern themselves with middle eastern crises because they don’t care about what happens to POC, and can afford to act as such by writing it off as ‘too complicated’. I’m sorry I didn’t make the target of the tweet more clear!”
My tweet is for my peers / white Americans who don’t concern themselves with middle eastern crises because they don’t care about what happens to POC, and can afford to act as such by writing it off as “too complicated”. I’m sorry I didn’t make the target of the tweet more clear! https://t.co/KwwiQPKNpA
Israeli actress Gal Gadot also sparked backlash earlier this week after she addressed the latest conflict via Twitter writing: “My heart breaks. My country is at war. I worry for my family, my friends. I worry for my people. This is a vicious cycle that has been going on for far too long.
“Israel deserves to live as a free and safe nation. Our neighbors deserve the same. I pray for the victims and their families. I pray for this unimaginable hostility to end, I pray for our leaders to find the solution so we can live side by side in peace. I pray for better days.”
Journalist Tamoor Hussain was among her critics, writing: “Denying Palestinians even a shred of compassion by refusing to acknowledge them and their suffering is a common tactic employed by their oppressors.”
