Mulatto has plenty of people talking online. The Atlanta rapper born Alyssa Michelle Stephens dropped her version of SpotemGottem’s “BeatBox.” The Twitterverse lit up in response.
Big Latto’s “Beatbox Freestyle” caused the artist’s name to trend on Twitter. As of press time, “Mulatto” has garnered more than 20,000 tweets on the platform. Her tweet with the video has over 29,000 likes.
The Rap Game season one winner gained a lot of attention in 2020. Last year, Mulatto was selected as one of the XXL Freshman class members, and she released her debut studio albumQueen of Da Souf in August.
Additionally, Big Latto appeared on songs with Chloe x Halle, G-Eazy, Gucci Mane, Queen Naija, 2 Chainz, and more. Her breakout mainstream moment came when she showed up as a cameo in Cardi B’s “WAP” music video.
The world had hoped that the dissolve of Kimye would not be messy or petty. Well, people in hell want ice.
Reports are currently saying that Kanye is done with Kim, and not talking to her outside of raising their four children: North, Psalm, Saint, and Chicago.
Page Six says that Yeezy changed his phone numbers (a little before the actual divorce was made public) and is now requiring his soon-to-be ex-wife to go through his security detail.
“Even before Kim filed for divorce, Kanye changed his numbers and said, ‘You can contact me through my security,’” one source leaked to the news outlet. “Despite this, she trusts him around the kids. He loves them and is seeing a lot of them.”
“She leaves the house and he arrives and hangs out with the kids. They have an army of nannies so the transition is easy.”
People who have followed Kanye’s turbulent relationships remember how coldly he split with Amber Rose. After dating for two years, he broke up in 2010 with her while he was recording his album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
In 2012, Amber called the Kardashian a “homewrecker,” saying that her relationship was destroyed by Kim and Kanye cheating with each other.
Just as messy as you get it … honey chile you’re gonna lose him.
Baltimore rapper Young Moose has filed a lawsuit against the BPD for employing wicked officers on their force. His lawyers specifically mention that one detective named Daniel Hersl allegedly planted evidence on him and falsely arresting him back in 2012.
YM, whose real name is Kevron Evans, recounts via his attorneys the experience with these members of law enforcement.
The rapper says that once while he and his friend were leaving a bar, three cops stepped to them without cause on the North and Collington Avenues. Both men were stopped even as they were not dirty (having anything illegal on her).
According to the attorneys, Hersl had the officers frisk them again. This time the rapper was hot because allegedly the detective put something into his pocket.
Young Moose was hit with drug felonies and was held for $2 million bail. Lawyers further allege that after YM was locked up, the detective still harassed him and lied about the artist violating his probation.
Young Moose contends that these arrests have hit his pockets substantially, causing him to lose his record labels and damaged his reputation.
Hersl’s lawyer said, “Regarding the Young Moose case, there has been news articles about it for years and now they decide to file suit, I don’t quite understand that.”
Hersl is already locked, serving an 18-year sentence. The crooked cop was tracked by the Feds in a 2018 racketeering charge.
“Detective Hersl still maintains he’s innocent of all charges and never planted evidence or violated any constitutional rights,” his attorney says.
Ain’t nobody believing that … and if he could break the law once, he could do it again.
Young Moose might have a case and is asking for a cool million.
Los Angeles rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer, SMILEZ drops the visual for his debut solo single “Head Shoulders.”
Draped head-to-toe in yellow and serving up bars as bold, b####, and bright as his favorite color, the vibrant beat bounces between slippery flute as he lifts up lurid bars with unapologetic energy. The track ultimately flips the old school rhyme “Head, Shoulders, Knees, Toes” on its head as a raunchy club banger.
SMILEZ states, “The craziest moment shooting this video was climbing onto the billboard and painting that s### yellow. We didn’t have any permits and it could’ve ended really bad. Thankfully, the s### went perfect. We got a few performance shots out of it, it was a let’s takeover the world moment,” SMILEZ explained.
Like a turned-up Hip-Hop superhero waiting in the wings, SMILEZ has been making noise and big moves, touring with superstars, Juice WRLD, Lil Pump, and Trippie Redd across North America. He also opened for Tekashi 6ix9ine in Europe.
Dizzee Rascal ensures he spends most of his time investing his time into making music, rather than dabbling in the stock market
The “Bonkers” star insists the “main thing” he is always working on is his music career, rather than “investing” in any other elements and businesses.
Asked what’s on his to-do list, he said: “Just making music as always. That’s the main thing I’m always trying to work on. I’m not the dude who is trying to find all this other stuff to get stuck into, to invest in. People throw that word around a lot now – invest, invest. Maybe I should be but I feel this is the time to throw yourself into what you actually know that you’re good at.”
And Dizzie finds that he is always “competing with himself” rather than other artists.
The “Dance Wiv Me” hitmaker added: “It’s a bit of both. You see artists doing stuff and you want to get involved but in the end, it is you just competing with yourself. You’ve got a different fan base and people are into you for different reasons.
“Social media can definitely bring a lot of unnecessary distraction. You see what other people are doing and you think that’s what you need to do.”
He continued: “My main thing is I definitely like working with other artists. I’ve been doing that a bit more recently. Social media is good for linking up with other people.”
The 36-year-old rapper is “looking forward” to when live shows will be returning.
Dizzee told the Metro newspaper: “Not as much as maybe I thought I would be. Not like, ‘Oh God, I really need to get out and do a show.’ I haven’t really felt like that. I don’t know what that’s about. I’m just waiting for the world to get normal again in general. I’m looking forward to shows but I haven’t been sad that I haven’t had any … I’m taking it easy with the fact that there might not even be any this year.”
Reggaeton star Arcangel has apologized to former collaborator Anitta after suggesting women who show off their butts in music videos aren’t ladies.
The star upset female fans and followers in an ill-advised Instagram post on Tuesday – just a day after International Women’s Day, in which he offered up his thoughts about what makes a woman respectable.
“You want to be respected as a woman blah blah blah! But you spend your time showing your ass on social media for likes,” he wrote in the since-deleted post. “Women who behave distinguish themselves and are categorized as ladies.”
Anitta was quick to clap back at Arcangel, posting a sexy bikini shot of herself, and adding: “This is me showing my ass on my Instagram. You use women’s butts in your videos and sing explicit lyrics to get views but at the same time, you say that women who show their own butts on social media don’t deserve respect? I’m confused.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CMM9Um0AiAs/
The post to her 52 million followers prompted Arcangel to offer up a public apology, stating: “To the educated, hard-working, and responsible woman that felt offended, I’m sorry. I was referring to a certain type of woman but it’s true, in the end, all women deserve respect.
“Unfortunately, there are many women who use social media to prostitute themselves and demand a certain respect from men that, no matter how womanly they make themselves, if they don’t behave like one, they don’t deserve it.”
Anitta returned to social media to reveal Arcangel had called her personally to offer his apologies, and she spent two hours educating him on women’s issues.
“I always knew this post wasn’t about me but if it affects women in general, it’s my duty to do something about it,” she said. “To the men who agree with Arcangel, please know that women are free to do whatever they want with their lives and bodies.
“I want to sing about being a wild woman and get the respect that men get for singing about the same thing. I don’t need to depend on a stable relationship or having a boyfriend so that people think I’m a respected lady. I’m respected because I work, I go to school, I have my family, I speak Spanish, English, Italian, French, Portuguese, and if I want to show my ass, I will.”
Arcangel also reached out to Argentinian singer Cazzu, who also took offense to what he wrote, stating: “It hurts me. I feel betrayed and have mixed feelings. He asks for forgiveness but in a weird way. He says sorry to the well-behaved women but to other women, no. It’s crazy for men to have to decide which type of women should be respected. Stop thinking that you have any rights over us. Stop commenting about our body. I decide my own actions and what I do with my body.”
Kali Uchis, Residente, and Alejandro Sanz also took aim at Arcangel for his remarks.
Every generation of music has its standout artist, the one that shines above the crowd. For the modern era, Sha-Bengez embodies the essence of its greatness.
The Bronx, New York native have been taking over the hip hop scene with his potent lyricism and versatile flows that has made him a respected vocalist and rapper. Born Sharod Alleyne, he has transformed to the artist that is Sha-Bengez. Time and life were his teacher, beginning lessons at the early age of 10 where he stumbled upon music and began making it himself. By the time he was 13, he recorded his first song in a home studio. From then forward, music was tied to his destiny. Sha-Bengez would take the years following to further develop and improve his flow and wordplay. His dedication to the craft earned him recognition and much deserved reputation for his skills.
While his music thrived in the club, radio, and the street scene, Sha-Bengez wanted his music to speak his story and from then forward, became something of greater passion and substance. Through the course of his journey, Sha-Bengez stepped away from his musical career for a 3-year period before making his return to the thing that stole his heart when he was 10. Music was a part of Sha-Bengez and with the acceptance of that fate, his evolution became even more profound with his return to the industry. His style and sound were telling of the growth Sha-Bengez has achieved in his creativity and talent. Accompanied by his signature sound and style of transparent, daring, and expressive songwriting, Sha-Bengez delivered music full of hope, reflective of his experiences, thoughts, and ambitions. His studio sessions were the result of his life lessons, and his purpose was rooted in overcoming his pain.
With influences like Jay-Z, Jadakiss, Fabolous, Dipset, and Meek Mill, Sha-Bengez elevated himself further, founding his record label Chasing Bengez LLC. Chasing Bengez is the next step in him creating music that motivates listeners to stay focused and chase their dreams. His catalog of songs has already inspired a musical experience that is enjoyable, easy going and fun, yet still thought provocative. Soon, Sha-Bengez aims to continue that trend with the release of his upcoming Ep, “BENGEZ VISION 3D” and mixtape, “IN DUE TIME.” Both projects promise a uniquely constructed piece of musical artistry, bringing to the table Sha-Bengez’s versatility and vocal prowess. These traits have been the source of his witty lyricism and confidence in his journey of self-expression through his musical ideas and artistic craft and will surely continue to uplift his reputation.
Sha-Bengez continues to break barriers, and shatter ceilings, bringing to fans music that will push the boundaries of perception and inspire passion and introspective conversations. His music is a legacy not unto self but to humanity. His music may not change the world, but can change the people in the world.
Lena Waithe has teamed up with Def Jam Recordings to launch a new record label aimed at developing underrepresented artists.
The actor and writer is launching Hillman Grad Records and said in a statement that she feels “music and storytelling” go hand in hand.
“And I think that’s because musicians are the storytellers we love the most,” Lena explained. “They can take complex emotions and simplify it in four minutes, the same artist can sing about the revolution and falling in love. Music is a part of us. It’s so often connected to our fondest and sometimes our darkest memories. Musicians tell our story.”
“At Hillman Grad Productions we believe in identifying and amplifying new talent, and we want to continue to do that in the music industry. (Interim Def Jam Recordings CEO) Jeff Harleston and his phenomenal team at Def Jam have given us their trust and their resources to help develop artists that not only have potential but staying power. We look forward to the journey ahead.”
Waithe’s team also includes music executives Tebs Maqubela, who previously worked at Columbia Records and Albert Cooke – formerly of Island Def Jam and SoundCloud.
“Directing has always been an aspiration, but the timing had to be right,” the Creed star said. “Creed III is that moment – a time in my life where I’ve grown more sure of who I am, holding agency in my own story, maturing personally, growing professionally, and learning from the Greats like Ryan Coogler, most recently Denzel Washington, and other top tier directors I respect. All of which sets the table for this moment.
“This franchise and in particular the themes of Creed III are deeply personal to me. I look forward to sharing the next chapter of Adonis Creed’s story with the awesome responsibility of being its director and namesake.”
“Michael’s vision for Creed III is incredibly exciting and will undoubtedly be an important contribution to the cannon of this storied franchise,” MGM’s Film Group chairman and president Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy write in a joint statement, obtained by Deadline. “We are thrilled to bring his directorial debut, and share this next chapter in the Creed story, to theaters next year.”
The film, which is scheduled to hit cinema screens at the end of 2022, will be Jordan’s first as a director.
Dr. Dre’s wife claims the hit-making producer is blatantly threatening her didn’t hold up in court in the latest round of legal wrangling between the soon-to-be-divorced couple.
Young claimed her life was in danger after hearing the track and tried to get a restrainer order against Dr. Dre, who recorded the track a few weeks after he was released from the hospital.
According to TMZ.com, Nicole Young said the diss was part of an ongoing pattern of mental and physical abuse she suffered during her 24-year marriage to Dr. Dre, born Andre Young.
A judge shot down Nicole’s request due to insufficient evidence. Dre’s lawyer scoffed at the notion that he is any type of threat, saying he’s only spoken to Nicole one time the divorce war started – when she visited him in the hospital.
The rap group responsible for creating one of hip-hop’s most enduring samples claims they have been getting jerked for years.
Rappers Bugs Can Can and Triggerman aka The Showboys recorded for legendary Hip-Hop label Profile Records, in the early ’80s.
In 1985, the group signed a deal with Profile and the label’s publishing company Protoons.
The deal called for Protoons to collect and receive any and all monies derived from the exploitation of the music The Showboys recorded for Profile and pay them 50% of the sums actually received by Protoons in the United States with respect to the exploitation and use of their music.
Between 1985 and 1986, The Showboys recorded a batch of records for Profile, but the ones that were released commercially were “Cold
Frontin’ Composition”, “Drag Rap,” “That’s What I Want For Christmas”, and “The Ten Laws of Rap.”
Out of all of the records, the 6-minute song “Drag Rap” was an instant hit in New York and throughout the South when it was released in 1986. The record is credited with being the foundation for the Bounce rap genre that emerged in New Orleans and Memphis in the early 1990s.
The record went on to have a life of its own. “Drag Rap” has been sampled in at least 175 different by various artists including Three 6 Mafia, Lil
Jon, Lil Wayne, T.I., Drake, Chris Brown, Gucci Mane, Megan Thee Stallion, and others.
And “Drag Rap” is still being sampled. Chris Brown and Young Thug sampled a portion of it in their smash single “Go Crazy” and they graciously gave The Showboy’s writing credit.
The Showboys just filed a lawsuit seeking at least $1 million, claiming Protoons has been filing lawsuits against artists who have sampled “Drag Rap,” and cutting them out of their portion of the settlements, which includes publishing interests in other, popular songs.
“Protoons has also failed and refused to provide copies of any other sample licensing agreements or settlement agreements that Protoons entered into in connection with the Recorded Compositions. Upon information and belief, Protoons has acquired copyright interests in other works in a similar manner,” a complaint reads.
Some of the big records they have not received payment for include Drake’s smash “In My Feelings” and “Go Crazy” by Chris Brown and Young Thug.
And, The Showboys claim Protoons has banked good money licensing the song to TV shows like “P-Valley” and the Netflix series “The Evolution of Hip-Hop,” but the company never bothered to tell them – or share the proceeds.
“Despite the longevity and widespread use of their works and the Recorded Compositions, The Showboys never received the money rightfully due to them from Protoons. Protoons was obligated to
provide Plaintiffs with accurate semi-annual royalty statements relating to the Recorded Compositions. Protoons has failed to do so.”
The Showboys say Protoons deliberately underreported the royalty statements and when they protested, the publishing company threatened them by vowing to withhold all of the payments due to them.
Thankfully, the copyright to “Drag Rap” will revert to the group in May of 2021, when the legendary record turns 35. But even then, The Showboys claim Protoons is attempting to strong-arm them into re-upping on their agreement.
The Showboys are suing Protoons for at least $1 million for breach of contract.
The Showboys Sue For Millions In Royalties Earned From Classic Song “Drag Rap”
The Showboys Sue For Millions In Royalties Earned From Classic Song “Drag Rap”
The Showboys Sue For Millions In Royalties Earned From Classic Song “Drag Rap”
The Showboys Sue For Millions In Royalties Earned From Classic Song “Drag Rap”
This was hilarious to me! As I previously have stayed in Benzino and his daughter Coi Leray are busy going at each other on social media. Well, Coi has a fanbase that is growing rapidly and Benzino is their worst enemy. They look at him as if he was holding her back in her career. We know that is not the case! In fact, we’re probably talking about her because she is Zino’s daughter, but that’s beside the point.
Coi has crafted a storyline that makes her a little more interesting I think. And in doing so, look no further than her menacing dad as a person to create it with. I just can’t imagine beefing with my mother or father in such a public way that includes the internets. These people don’t really love us! I mean “them”! Benzino was on “live” and took a video with one of Coi’s fans and it was hilarious.
First of all, Benzino was rolling up weed,d so he was already giggly, but he could have gotten upset at the barrage of jokes being thrown at him. Instead, he just laughed it off. It was funny though and I think he and anybody that looks at it can only see it as such. Benzino also requested to speak to the person‘s father who apparently was in the house that the fan was calling from. I guess I can see this it was pretty clear that the person calling in was gay. It was CLEAR. So that said, he was probably young because he still living at his fathers house.
Benzino laughed it off, but it was cool that he let dude get his sh*t off.
He called Zino “Skrongy.” I think that is going to stick.
Here are more quotables:
“You mind craft character, I’ll make you MS live b####.”
“Don’t pull out the glocky”
“You little hamster.”
“I may not be skrong like you, but I have a Glock 9 in the back.”
“How many push-ups you do a day you BIG ol SKRONG B####! SKRONGY”
Check out this brand new single titled “Fire & Ice,” the debut single off the N.O.G.K. compilation executive produced by the legend himself, Tone The Beat Bully.
Upcoming producer Jof Money is the Beat Bully’s protege, and he over-delivers with this thumping introduction track that showcases NlightenedOne “N.O.” & G.K.’s abilities.
The N.O.G.K. compilation is dropping soon on Judgemental Records a new force to be reckoned with in the Hip-Hop game.
Rising R&B stars Chloe X Halle’s careers have come full circle after becoming the new faces of skincare brand Neutrogena.
The singers, the first sister duo to land the gig, have been using the company’s products since they were kids so they jumped for joy when they were approached about the new partnership.
“We’ve always loved how the products have worked and felt on our skin. So when they came to us, we were so freaking excited,” Chloe Bailey told People.com.
“And to be the first-ever sister duo ambassadors, that just makes it so much cooler, because I get to do this with my best friend. And I’m really grateful that Neutrogena’s standards and morals align with ours. Instead of hiding who you are, and instead of dulling who you are, it just helps us elevate ourselves and shine through even more.”
Added Halle: “We truly feel so honored, because we feel like their messaging has always been just to be authentically you and to let your inner light shine. That is something that my sister and I have been working towards our whole lives, and are still working towards. And getting to show women, and other black women, that Neutrogena has so many inclusive products. I’m just so grateful.”
Beyonce’s protegees are in good company in their new roles – actresses Kerry Washington, Jennifer Garner, and Lana Condor are also ambassadors for the brand.
We now know that Nas is a smart guy. We always knew he was gonna do, but traditional standards suggested maybe he isn’t the smartest guy, because he didn’t finish traditional school institutions. We also know about “they” schools. We have been able to ascertain that NAS is about to be the next billionaire!
It’s been made public for quite some time now that Nas is an investor in many tech companies and has a vast portfolio. That portfolio has resulted in numerous deals, which have lined the rapper’s pockets. So, Nas will invest in a company and the company gets sold, kind of like Tidal or Verzuz, and then those that helped that company get a higher valuation get paid in full.
So many people have been recently breaking down Nas’s portfolio to determine exactly How much he is worth. And what day are finding out, is that the QB rapper is rapidly approaching $1 billion status and is likely to be the next rap billionaire. Obviously, people mention Jay-Z‘s name in these reports, but it was not in a negative manner. It seems like the peanut gallery believes that Jay Z will celebrate his former arrival in a way befitting of a gentleman. And he’s lyrically rapped about it anyway.
Here is more info on Nas’ rise!
Shortly following the release of his 11th solo album, “Nasir,” rapper found himself apart of another successful investment. Amazon recently announced the $1 billion acquisition of an online pharmacy startup company, “PillPack.” Nas serves as a founding partner of Queensbridge Venture Partners, a capital firm that was an early investor in this newly acquired company.
Nas’ investments in startup companies are nothing new. Since its founding in 2014, the firm has done more than 100 investment deals with Mr. Jones investing up to $500k into small technology-based startup companies. These companies include direct-to-consumer mattress company Casper, ticket reseller SeatGeek, digital media brand Genius, ride-sharing service Lyft, and personal cloud storage service Dropbox to name a few.
QVP also invested in the home-security startup “Ring,” which Amazon acquired for $1.2 billion in February 2018.
We need more Black Kings!
At any rate let’s congratulating Nas for being a great businessman and moving quite silently about it. And keeping his reps pure!
Somehow this crazy chick manage to sneak back into the rumor section! How does she do it? She is not even relevant or interesting anymore! So blame me for putting her back in the section that you love so much!
So, here it is: Azealia Banks has a sex tape. That in and of itself is cause for getting a mention in the rumor section, but there is more. Not only does Azealia Banks have a sex tape, she has a fiancé. I cannot imagine somebody going so far as to marry Azealia Banks, but there is someone that has put a ring on it. Amazing!
But wait, there’s EVEN more!
According to reports, Azealia Banks has a sex tape with her fiancé AND said tape sold for $17 thousand on the block chain! NFT for the win! Are you serious though? Somebody literally paid the amount of a VW Jetta to get a “tape” of one of the ugliest people in the music game having sex? No, I will say I was referring to what’s going on inside of her as representative of attractiveness but make no mistake about it the face of her having intercourse is not something I want to see. At any rate I find this to be fascinating because maybe there’s a world ‘nother out there that I am unaware of that actually thinks that this chick has value. I know I am going hard at Bank-less right now, but some of you may not know that she dissed me in her social media a few years ago and I’ve never gotten over it. In fact, I’m still p##### off about it. She went off on the site as well when we were nothing but nice to her. In addition to reporting the facts about her crazy life! Anyway, let’s move on to the next rumor because this one has dried up quickly.
WAIT…STOP THE PRESSES!!
I just found out that the “tape” is just audio. Back to the beginning: why is this news?
At any rate, this is got to be one of the most perfect storms in the history of room because I just can’t believe so many seemingly all right things happened in succession to result in one massive un-ignorable rumor!
“They see this as a (film) 48 Hours for real, or a ‘Lethal Weapon’ for real,” he told the publication. “It comes from my mouth.”
“Every day was a new adventure. There are a ton of stories I haven’t told.”
Stanulis reveals he has recruited other bodyguards who worked for West, including one who lasted just five minutes with the star, for the tell-all, in which he will also discuss the lawsuits his former boss has thrown at him over the years.
“They threatened to sue me two separate times – once back in the day, and then on a podcast this year,” he said, referring to his appearance on the Hollywood Raw podcast when he called Kanye the “neediest, moodiest” person he’d worked for.
“They threatened to sue me again for $10 million, and my attorney countered and it just went away.”
Last year, the bodyguard threatened to file his own legal action if West and his now-estranged wife Kim Kardashian kept filing suits in a bid to try and shut him up.
“Our client is being bullied here, and we will not stand for that,” Stanulis’ lawyer, Dmitriy Shakhnevich told Page Six, insisting his client had never signed a confidentiality contract.
Producer, rapper, and all-around multi-hyphenate, Sean “Diddy” Combs, is committed to scholastic excellence.
Known for making hit records, stunting crazy as a businessman, and always up for a good time (his IG rocks with his aspirational and inspirational messages), few people are familiar with his outstanding work in education— on the 6 through 12-grade levels.
However, with the same care that he made his empire, he is one of the founders of the Capital Preparatory Harlem Charter Schools and the Capital Preparatory Bronx Charter Schools (both of which have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic).
Diddy shared, “Our students and teachers have done a great job adjusting to remote learning. I’m proud of their resilience and strength, and I’m excited for them to be back in the classroom.”
His partner-in-elevation Dr. Steve Perry, the man that starts the Capital Prep community, shared, “Getting our children back in brick and mortar has always been our number one priority.”
“Our children need to be in school, safely, to mitigate the learning loss COVID-19 has had on our communities,” Perry continued. “Our class schedule replicates the full-time schedule scholars would have experienced pre-closure, including all core subjects, as well as advisory, student all-school assembly, office hours, and access to sports.”
Amy Steele is a London based futuristic soul singer who at 24, has already developed into a talented singer/songwriter. For the last five years Amy has pursued music in tandem with studying for a degree in medicine. Having recently completed her degree, now being Dr Steele, she has fully set her sights on her music. Amy has been working with a wealth of international producers, from Alex Wells (Rizzle Kicks, Paloma Faith), Draper (Lapsley, All Saints) and Babel to create a record that reflects her artistry and who she is musically.
This March, Amy releases the next in a series of covers she has been working on during lockdown. Throughout lockdown Amy has chosen records that move her, and which she feels hold important messages for us this year. Next up is the beautiful ‘Slow Up’ originally by the seminal London Soul singer Jacob Banks. Amy wanted to honor the original, whilst reiterating the powerful message of the song to her growing fan base.
Amy says ‘Slow Up’ is a track to remind us to stay positive and not to let the perception of the world change us or harden us with its prejudice. We’ve had a difficult year of social injustice and seen the way the world can corrupt innocence, but ‘Slow Up’ is a reminder to stay strong and true to who we are. Amy makes ‘Slow Up’ her own, offering a beautifully mournful and emotional interpretation of the well-known classic from Jacob Banks.
When Swizz Beatz and Timbaland sold their coveted company Verzus, most of the world celebrated universally. The pair created a massive success within the confines of a pandemic. They didn’t even see each other at the time of the creation. It was one of the big wins of 2020, one of the worst years in human history. So, you would think that there would be a mass celebration of those that wish them well. And there was, but there was one LONE voice that stood out among all the adulation.
Tariq St. Patrick (aka actor Michael Rainey Jr.) is back! The Power actor that played Tariq spoke out against Swizz Beatz and Timbaland’s business move, calling them “sellouts.” DAMN! Now I’m gonna be real! I know what he saying because I had a similar feeling when it all went down. In the Black community, we have almost no assets and we always sell our companies to white people. The thing is, this is just business. It’s capitalism at its finest and there is not a lot of ways around it. But, part of me understands what he saying because Black owned businesses create Black wealth and Black jobs. If somebody else owns it, we know what happens after that.
Here are his exact words:
“Cool move but these n****s still sellouts. Cant ever jus have something of our own it’s always bout the money.”
Why did Michael Rainey Jr. have to go and say that? On top of it, he called out Jay-Z for the same reason because Jigga-Z recently sold Tidal to Square, which is the company that owns Twitter. So, Jay-Z is raising his personal valuation, but are the artists benefiting as well? Yes! Both of these ventures helped other people too. So all of the artists that made Verzus what it is, got a piece of the new company Triller. And the same for Tidal.
“N I feel the same way about Jay Z selling Tidal so don’t come to me with that argument.”
He said it with his CHEST. Gotta respect it.
Symbolically, however we know now that white man owns two assets that felt like they were Black, even if they really were not! They were owned by individuals that were Black, not the community.
