The Popular Stranger Brodie Fresh drops off his new single “Forgive & Forget” featuring Maka Sound’s own Chrishan. The Yonni-produced record takes you through some of the hardships & uncertainty of an upcoming artist.
“The record was inspired by my life. Between me doubting myself and allowing others doubt to weigh on me, I had to forgive myself and others to move forward in life,” Brodie Fresh told AllHipHop.com. “I allowed what I was going through to slow me down from getting to where I’m going. I want the people to forgive themselves, and forgive anyone who’s ever doubted, hurt, against them, etc., and go for it. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Walk in your purpose. Love Yourself and hold tight the ones who love you.”
Brodie is set to drop his album lost & found in Spring 2021. Stay tuned!!
Rap star Bobby Shmurda completed a lengthy prison sentence and is back home. Bobby Shmurda, born Ackquille Pollard, was released from the Clinton Correctional Facility in New York today (February 23rd).
“There are no words to explain the JOY in my ❤ God knows the way I Love my boys and I Thank him for bringing them both back to me in one piece the same way they left,” Bobby’s mom Leslie Pollard said. “I am so overwhelmed and in 6 years 2 months and 5 days and 5.5hrs, I finally feel like myself again. God is so good and we are truly BLESSED!!!!”
Rowdy Rebel served a six-year bid. Rowdy was released want December 15th, 2020, and immediately got back to work.
His song “RE-ROUTE” featuring Funkmaster Flex dropped to critical acclaim and has racked up over 7 million views since its release.
Bobby Shmurda served a total of 7 years in prison. He’s not in the clear yet. Bobby will remain on parole until 2026. According to reports, Bobby will celebrate his freedom with his family during an intimate dinner tonight.
Bobby Shmurda is also planning to hop back into the studio immediately where he is supposed to start working on a new album.
Yesterday, Durk continued his social media declarations of greatness by comparing himself to one of the greatest emcees ever. This time, he let his 8.7 million followers know he feels he should be viewed as the midwest version of billionaire Hip Hop mogul Shawn Carter.
“Durkio. I’m the Chicago Jay-Z [goat emoji],” posted Lil Durk on Instagram. The IG caption was accompanied by one photo of the OTF leader holding five Armand de Brignac bottles and another photo of the Roc Nation boss holding six of the gold bottles.
While clearly a proclamation that he sees himself as the king of his city, Durk was also likely using the IG post to shout out Jay-Z for the recent news that LVMH acquired 50% of the Brooklyn native’s Armand de Brignac (aka the “Ace of Spades” champagne brand).
Last week, Cardi B made history when her new single “Up” debuted at #2 on the Hot 100 chart. This week, Cardi made history when her album Invasion of Privacy crossed a major milestone on the Billboard 200 chart.
Invasion of Privacy currently sits at #100 on the most recent rankings of America’s top-selling projects for the week. So far, it has spent a total of 150 weeks on the Billboard 200 after opening at #1 with 255,000 first-week units in April 2018.
Cardi’s debut studio LP is the first album released by a female rapper to appear on the Billboard 200 at least 150 times. IOP also achieved numerous other accolades since it arrived three years ago. Most famously, it was the first solo project by a female rapper to win the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.
Plus, all thirteen tracks from the LP have been certified Gold, Platinum, or higher by the Recording Industry Association of America which made Cardi B the first woman to ever accomplish that feat. IOP was also named the most-streamed female rap album in Spotify history.
The RIAA certified Invasion of Privacy as 3x-Platinum. Cardi’s introductory LP hosts the two Hot 100 #1 singles “Bodak Yellow” and “I Like It” with Bad Bunny and J Balvin. Both of those tracks have crossed the 9x-Platinum mark, making the Bronx native the only female rapper to have two tracks with over 9 million sales.
In August 2020, she dropped the #1 single “WAP” featuring Megan Thee Stallion which was followed by “Up” in February 2021. A year ago, when asked about the possible premiere of her sophomore studio album, the Hip Hop superstar stated, “I’m not sure. I can never put a date on it. When you feel like you got those songs, that’s when it’s gonna come out. I cannot put a date on my ears. When I feel like I have it, that’s when.”
Daniel “Tekashi 6ix9ine” Hernandez recently released a new song, so the 24-year-old lightning rod is back to his old ways online. The Nine Trey Gangsters affiliate-turned-government informant’s Instagram page is filled with videos and posts of him trolling other rappers like Meek Mill, Lil Durk, 600 Breezy, and even the deceased King Von.
While his consistent feuding on social media has not seemed to help “Zaza” climb up the Spotify, Apple Music, or iTunes charts, Tekashi’s antics may have put his own child in danger. Sara Molina, the mother of 6ix9ine’s 5-year-old daughter Saraiyah, claimed she is allegedly receiving serious threats because of Tekashi.
“I’ve been harassed and threatened because of his actions,” wrote Molina on Instagram. “I have every right to speak on the situation and protect my daughter and myself from [whatever] harm he might put us through with his wreckless beefs that he’s taking on and provoking with people he has no business playing with.”
Additionally, Molina accused Tekashi of not having a relationship with his daughter. She stated that 6ix9ine has not spoken to Saraiyah in several months. In an Instagram video, Molina suggested 6ix9ine does not care for his own life, forecasted that he is on a road to self-destruction, and called his combative online behavior “disgusting.”
Molina also told TMZ that she can not afford to hire private security like 6ix9ine. She pleaded with the father of her child to stop provoking possible violence that could affect Saraiyah. In response, Tekashi’s attorney, Lance Lazzaro, said Molina’s comments are “all BS” and his client is “sharp as can be.”
Throughout his career, 6ix9ine has been involved in numerous violent encounters, including shootouts that have reportedly left innocent bystanders injured. In 2019, Hernandez was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison after testifying against his Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods co-defendants. The following year, he was granted an early release.
A clip from the 1990 movie King of New York was recently posted on the @realbobbyshmurdags9 page, and it already amassed more than 4 million views and over 1 million likes. The IG video’s caption read, “How the fucc y’all forget about me [face with one eyebrow raised emoji]?”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CLlhq16HmeJ/
Plus, Shmurda wrote a message to his followers that was posted on the @realbobbyshmurdags9’s Instagram Story. The 26-year-old GS9 collective member wrote:
My team created this Instagram page after my original page was hacked but thanks to my dedicated fans I manage to get my page verified and also 1 [million] followers without ever being active on this page. Thank you for remaining loyal and for riding this six year sentence out with me. I love you all and look forward to seeing you soon.
Sincerely, Bod boy Bobby [shushing face emoji] ah ahh ahhh.
In 2016, Bobby Shmurda (born Ackquille Jean Pollard) pled guilty to conspiracy and weapons charges. He was originally sentenced to seven years. Pollard reportedly agreed to more time in state prison in exchange for his longtime friend/co-defendant, Rowdy “Chad Marshall” Rebel, receiving a reduced sentence in his own plea deal.
Around the time Vanessa was posting her reaction to the unreleased record on Instagram, Meek was over on Twitter posting his thoughts. Many Twitter users assumed the 33-year-old rapper was responding to Vanessa with his series of tweets.
“I’m going back savage in this s### … f#%k ya feelings!” tweeted Meek right before midnight ET. The “Going Bad” performer later posted, “Head taps for n#%ga tryna pull my card!” His name became a top trending topic on the platform.
Around 2 am, Meek then added, “I don’t think we on the same signal y’all… I don’t see what y’all see… I be looking at the net laughing like I did whet. I say random s### all day on social… It becomes a trend to hate on me every once in a while but I feed off that s### ima beast literally.”
In addition, Meek confuse people even further when he retweeted a random response to one of his tweets. The commenter posted, “No way this is how you respond to a widow who said your lyrics were disrespectful to her husband.”
All of those tweets by Meek only fueled more online backlash as Twitter users continued to call out the Founding Partner/Co-Chair of the Reform Alliance. At 3:26 am, Meek returned to Twitter to let his followers and his detractors know that he apparently reached out to Vanessa Bryant.
“I apologized to her in private earlier today not to the public… Nothing I say on my page directed to [an] internet viral moment or the family of a grieving woman! If you care about someone grieving change the subject!” tweeted Meek.
As of press time, Vanessa Bryant has not confirmed that she received a private apology from Meek Mill. After calling out Meek for his bars about Kobe, Vanessa has spent the last several hours reposting positive messages about her family on her Instagram Story.
Meek Mill appears to be Public Enemy No. 1 for a lot of people on social media at the moment. Large sections of the internet are still slamming the Philadelphia-raised rapper over leaked lyrics about the late Kobe Bryant.
“And if I ever lack, I’m going out with my choppa. It’ll be another Kobe,” spit Meek on a snippet of an unreleased track by him and Atlanta’s Lil Baby. Those bars were met with widespread criticism because the NBA icon’s 2020 death from a helicopter crash was still traumatic for many of his fans and loved ones.
Kobe Bryant’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, has now offered her thoughts on the controversial song. She posted a message on her Instagram Story that directly addresses the lyrics about her deceased spouse. Meek Mill was tagged in the post.
“Dear @meekmill, I find this line to be extremely insensitive and disrespectful. Period. I am not familiar with any of your music, but I believe you can do better than this. If you are a fan, fine, there’s a better way to show your admiration for my husband. This lacks respect and tact,” wrote Vanessa.
Another rap star is having marital difficulties, adding to the list of legends who are going through a divorce.
Xzibit’s relationship with his wife is imploded because she just filed documents to divorce the West Coast MC. Xzibit and his wife Krista Joiner have been together for over two decades.
Now Krista Joiner is the one in a rush – to get out of her marriage to the “Pimp My Ride” star. According to TMZ.com, earlier today (February 22nd), Krista filed a divorce petition in Los Angeles Superior Court, to end their marriage.
The couple had two children together. Their son Xavier died two weeks after his birth in May of 2008. The other son Gatlyn is 10-years-old.
Xzibit is the latest rapper keeping the California divorce court busy as they head to splitsville.
Dr. Dre hopped on a track with KXNG Crooked and told the world how he really feels about his wife Nicole Young, their divorce, and how she was moving when he was hospitalized for a brain aneurysm.
DJ Silk dropped the preview of a song on his Instagram Live. The billionaire multi-hyphenate laid it all on the line.
B#### tyna kill me with them lies and that perjury, ICU/I see you tryna f### me while I’m in surgery
KXNG Crooked also goes back and forth with darts dipped in all kinds of venom targeted at Nicole Young, Dre’s estranged wife.
Fans have been anticipating the music ever since January.
Last month, a picture was leaked showing Dre in the studio. Dem Jointz posted a simple caption, “And We Back!! #Detox21.”
While no one knows if that means this song will appear on the fabled Detox project, what is clear is that he is heated about the many moves she made while he was infirmed.
He posted on his Instagram a day after being admitted to express his thanks.
“Thanks to my family, friends, and fans for their interest and well wishes. I’m doing great and getting excellent care from my medical team. I will be out of the hospital and back home soon. Shout out to all the great medical professionals at Cedars. One Love!!”
But behind the scenes, Nicole Young was making legal moves (which are referenced in the snippet).
While Dre recovered from the aneurysm, he agreed to halt the divorce proceeding and to pay her $2 million to cover her expenses related to her Malibu and Pacific Palisades homes, and a private security detail until a support hearing set on April 14th.
“Andre shall maintain the financial status quo,” the stipulated agreement states. “Andre shall advance the sum of $2 million to Nicole on or before January 11, 2021.”
The great poet Kenneth Rogers once said, “You’ve got to know when to hold ’em/Know when to fold ’em/Know when to walk away/And know when to run/You never count your money/When you’re sittin’ at the table/There’ll be time enough for countin’/When the dealin’s done…”
And that is exactly what Jay-Z is doing. Counting that money…
The billionaire boy from Brooklyn has just announced he sold half of his high-end champagne company Armand de Brignac aka Ace of Spades to Moët Hennessy LVMH’s wine and spirits division, believing that the company will take the brand to “the next level of taste and distribution.”
His history with Ace of Spades has been a progressive gold mind. In 2006, he initially bought a 50% stake in the brand and became the sole owner in 2014.
This happened right around the time that Jay called for a boycott of another champagne brand, Cristal, for statements made by the parent company’s managing director Frédéric Rouzaud.
Back then, he told a special edition of The Economist they viewed rap’s infatuation with Cristal ‘with curiosity and serenity.’
Then Rouzaud snarkily said when asked if Hip-Hop’s connection with the brand will harm it, “That’s a good question, but what can we do? We can’t forbid people from buying it. I’m sure Dom Pérignon or Krug would be delighted to have their business.”
Back then the Roc-Nation head honcho and owner of the successful 40/40 sports club franchise resolved, “It has come to my attention that the managing director of Cristal, Frédéric Rouzaud, views the ‘Hip-Hop’ culture as ‘unwelcome attention.’ I view his comments as racist and will no longer support any of his products through any of my various brands, including the 40/40 Club, nor in my personal life.”
And the Black businessman turned this complaint into an empire — bet you Cristal is hanging their heads in disgust now.
About his new deal with Moët Hennessy, he went on to say, “We want the brand to outlast all of us… We don’t cut corners or lean on fame to sell the product. We’ve built it through passion and integrity.”
The brand probably will if Moët Hennessy’s chief executive Philippe Schaus has something to do with it.
The company is simply forward-thinking, growing with interesting campaigns like they’ve done over the last few years.
Moët Hennessy has taken a step further, not only working with rappers but putting up money to support the communities that have kept them popping in these streets. Just last year, they pledged to give at least $250K to support Black, Asian and Latinx small businesses through their Unfinished Business Initiative — and have graduated three cohorts in their Hennessy Fellows initiative with HBCUs.
Even a few weeks ago, during the Asian Lunar New Year, Hennessy X.O hosted the X.O OX Experience with Henry Golding, Eddie Huang, AtomicMari, Jay Park, Dumbfoundead, MILCK, and the Kinjaz to celebrate the Year of the OX. They simply are tapped in.
The partnership makes sense considering how involved Mr. Carter is with social justice, diversity & inclusion, and connecting that to straight-up luxury lifestyle brands.
Schaus also noted that the company as a whole has the chops to expand the “in the coming years, we can increase the volumes given Moët Hennessy’s 1,600 hectares of vineyards to supply grapes in the Champagne region.”
Take that muscle and mix it with Jay’s celebrity and cool factor, how he came into the champagne space almost 20 years ago and basically “disrupted” the industry by opening up his fanbase “to a new market,” and both of the company’s commitment to the people of color (including hiring Jasmin Allen, as the SVP of Hennessy USA), and one can see that this really seems to be a brand made in heaven.
Nick Cannon will return to his Nick Cannon Mornings radio show next Thursday.
The 40-year-old presenter took time away from his KPWR-FM radio show last year after he made anti-Semitic remarks during an episode of his podcast.
Nick subsequently apologized and held meetings with prominent members of the Jewish community in a bid to learn from his mistakes.
Seven months after the scandal, Nick has confirmed he will be back to host his regular morning show from next Thursday.
In a statement, he said: “Los Angeles, I am back and ready to lift you up in the mornings and bring joy at the crack of dawn with original comedy and candid conversation. Tough times don’t last, but tough people do – and I am grateful for my supporters, friends, and loved ones who have guided me through this journey these past few months. We grow through challenges and lessons together, but emerge better on the other side.”
Nick will be re-joined on his show by his usual co-hosts, Teddy Mora, Melissa Rios, and DJ Carisma.
An MTV Entertainment Group spokesperson said: “Nick has not only apologized and taken responsibility for his comments, but he has also worked to educate himself and others through engagement with Jewish leaders and on his platforms.
“Those efforts are of the utmost importance and that’s why we have invited him to re-join our team.”
Nick previously insisted he never meant to spread “hate and propaganda” against Jewish people.
He said: “I know how you could have taken many of the things that I said as hate and propaganda, but that was never my heart and intentions, I was talking about how amazing Black people were, but it hurt so many people that weren’t a part of that community while I was trying to encourage and uplift my own community.”
The “Masked Singer” U.S. host extended his “deepest and most sincere apologies” following the backlash over his comments when he admitted to being ignorant and uneducated on the subject of anti-Semitism.
In a lengthy social media statement, he said: “First and foremost I extend my deepest and most sincere apologies to my Jewish sisters and brothers for the hurtful and divisive words that came out of my mouth during my interview with Richard Griffin.
“They reinforced the worst stereotypes of a proud and magnificent people and I feel ashamed of the uninformed and naive place that these words came from. The video of this interview has since been removed.
“I am committed to deeper connections, more profound learning, and strengthening the bond between our two cultures today and every day going forward.”
What does a Nigerian social media bandit with over 2.5 million followers on Instagram do to stay popping in these streets?
Invest in crypto-currency? Nah. Dance off with Omarion on a TikTok-inspired video? Hmmm… nope.
Help the North Korean government steal over $1.3 billion from banks and companies all around the world? Ding … Ding… Ding…
Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, also known as Ray Hushpuppi, was under investigation for helping three North Korean hackers siphon big moolah from various businesses internationally, according to the Justice Department.
Allegedly, he started the thievery in early 2019 (around February).
Assistant Attorney General John Demers of the Justice Department’s National Security Division said in a statement last week, “North Korea’s operatives, using keyboards rather than guns, stealing digital wallets of cryptocurrency instead of sacks of cash, are the world’s leading bank robbers.”
The 37-year-old was working with a Canadian man named, Ghaleb Alaumary to launder millions in Pakistan, India, and the United States by using ATMs and banks.
Alaumary agreed to plead guilty to the charge, which was filed in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Nov. 17, 2020. Alaumary was a prolific money launderer for hackers engaged in ATM cash-out schemes, cyber-enabled bank heists, business email compromise (BEC) schemes, and other online fraud schemes.
Alaumary is also being prosecuted for his involvement in a separate BEC scheme by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.
Concerning the North Korean co-conspirators’ activities, Alaumary organized teams of co-conspirators in the United States and Canada to launder millions of dollars obtained through ATM cash-out operations, including from BankIslami and a bank in India in 2018.
Alaumary also conspired with Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, aka “Ray Hushpuppi,” and others to launder funds from a North Korean-perpetrated cyber-enabled heist from a Maltese bank in February 2019.”
But if that wasn’t enough, there are reports that in July he was arrested for some other shady dealings.
“Abbas was arrested last month by UAE law enforcement officials. FBI special agents earlier this week obtained custody of Abbas and brought him to the United States to face a charge of conspiring to engage in money laundering that is alleged in a criminal complaint filed on June 25 by federal prosecutors in Los Angeles.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8i9lnQpilS/
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Abbas maintains social media accounts that frequently showed him in designer clothes, wearing expensive watches, and posing in or with luxury cars and charter jets.
“The FBI’s investigation has revealed that Abbas finances this opulent lifestyle through crime and that he is one of the leaders of a transnational network that facilitates computer intrusions, fraudulent schemes (including BEC schemes), and money laundering, targeting victims around the world in schemes designed to steal hundreds of millions of dollars,” according to the affidavit.”
Ray Hushpuppi was charged in Los Angeles for these crimes (including schemes targeting a US law firm, a foreign bank, and an English Premier League soccer club), and brought from his residence in Dubai to face the fire.
Up until his arrest, homie was lit on the gram, showing off all his fancy cars, designer clothes, jet trips, and escapades.
He even was spotted with Blac Chyna on Valentine’s Day in 2020 in Dubai. No surprise, the vixen was trending as Nigerians blamed her for his demise (and not the shady people he was stealing money with).
Bruh… some of them even quoted the bible.
COVID-19 did not stop his criminal enterprise at all. It didn’t stop the U.S. and North Korea from nabbing this IG super flosser either.
Atlanta Rapper Killer Mike’s barbershop was caught in the crossfires of some heavy street violence.
The gunplay resulted in several of the SWAG shop’s windows being shattered delaying his relaunch plans, just days before customers were filmed getting “right.”
And while he is disappointed in the damage to his property and the business’ setback, he is grateful that no one was hurt. The former Morehouse student took to Instagram to detail the ordeal.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CLkDJMnHcfI/
“Last night at 1 am (non biz hours) while I was in the booth I got a call “Mike the OG Store windows where shot out”. It was not a personal attack but it was black men who cud not shoot for s### shooting at one another. I am not upset as property can be replaced. I am sorry to my customers as this will continue pause the re launch of the OG SWAG Shop barber Shop & store.”
He shared a message to the shooters, “Please consider what would have happened if one of y’all actually hit one another. The jail, the lawyer fees, the funeral cost, and two Black families loss.”
“I’m glad y’all cud not hit the side of a barn with a shot gun cuz this am y’all all are alive,” the activist jested.
He continued, ” Being a biz owner connected to the community this one hurt as no body else’s (meaning non black) was affected and simply becuz of tempers and poor decisions our biz is being stifled. 💈💈💈💈💈💈💈💈💈As we planned on opening back up this month we will now take a LiL longer but to College Park, Union City, City of South Fulton, and the Red Oak Community we love and respect y’all and will be back ASAP.”
It is stifled for a minute.
Because he has shown love to the community, the community has shown love to him. He thanked the police, his employees, and other folk for coming out to help clean up the mess.
Rapper Roddy Ricch narrowly escaped injury after gunshots broke out on the set of his music video on Sunday (February 21st).
“The Box” hitmaker was filming the video alongside fellow rapper 42 Dugg at a scrapyard in Atlanta, Georgia, when the shots began.
While it was initially reported that three people were victims in the gunfire, it was later confirmed that neither Ricch nor Dugg were hurt.
Two men named Antoine Blake and Vernon Moulder were still in hospital in a “stable condition” after being shot, while another – Peter Cook – had “sustained a laceration from a piece of debris”. It’s also been reported that another person was arrested for drug possession at the scene.
While Ricch has yet to address the shooting himself on his social media pages, his friend DJ A-Tron confirmed that he was unharmed, tweeting that “Roddy good, all the homies good.”
And the situation could have been a “lot worse,” an eyewitness who was working as a medic on the set of the video told Atlanta’s WSB-TV.
“Everyone started running, trying to get out. Or take cover, lot of places to take cover in there,” the witness said. “Anyone that was injured, I laid hands on ‘em to make sure they were OK. Just glad it wasn’t a lot worse then it could have been… could have been worse.”
R&B star Ne-Yo is to become a father for the fifth time.
The “So Sick” hitmaker and his wife Crystal Smith have confirmed they are expecting their third child together – a sibling for Roman, two, and Shaffer, four.
Taking to Instagram, Ne-Yo wrote: “Overjoyed to announce… The family is expanding… #Number5… #5thandFinal… #BlessingsOnBlessings… @itscrystalsmith… You ready baby? Let’s go.!”
The news emerges months after the singer admitted his marriage had been saved by the coronavirus shutdown, because it forced the pair, which had separated in early 2020, to deal with its relationship issues head-on.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CLj1cWSH6UK/
“The whole quarantine thing was kind of a blessing. It allowed me the time to lock back in with (my family),” he shared.
“Before the quarantine happened, we were definitely talking divorce, and the quarantine forced us to sit still, block out the noise from the world – you know the world can get very, very loud, and we tend to let the world’s opinion mean more in certain situations than it should.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CLgiDdJnOGw/
The couple had reached a point in its relationship where Ne-Yo and Crystal found themselves unable to open up to one another in order to work through their problems.
He added: “I don’t know when it happened, but we got to a place where we felt like we couldn’t just say it, you know?
“You’re feeling something – something’s going on, and you know something’s going on, but for whatever reason, you can’t just come out and say it. We got to that place, and that almost broke us… We’re actually stronger now than we were before. Now we feel like we can really talk to each other.”
White John is the White Gurb Mr. FuckLapd, and he’s here to take over the rap game. Born and raised in Los Angeles, the West Coast rapper got his nickname from a few years back when the word Gurb was created in Inglewood, but he’s always been White John.
Mobbing with his fellow LA natives such as Rucci and AzChike, the rising star creates rhymes inspired by real-life experiences, touching on everything from the struggle to the turnup.
It’s crazy to think White John has only been rapping for a year and some change, still shutting down stages all around the city (pre-COVID). Most recently, White John released his highly-anticipated new mixtape “Cases Still Pending,” the follow-up to last year’s Cases Pending. The 6-track project is spearheaded by lead single “Dead Homies” featuring OMB Peezy, a certified fan favorite.
AllHipHop: What was it like growing up in Inglewood?
White John: I’m from the next town right over. It’s a triangle: Westchester, Ladera, and Inglewood. I live at the tip of the triangle. S###, it’s fun. I’ve been White John the White Gurb since I was in middle school. Nobody’s going to f### with White John. Not to sound like I’m famous, but nobody’s going to f### with White John. They gon’ be like “that’s White John, the f### leave him alone.” Ain’t nobody trippin’ on me.
AllHipHop: When did music come into play?
White John: I was in jail and all my cellies, everybody in the jail said “you’re too cool, too poppin’ to not be doing nothing. Just get money, you gotta be bigger.” I’m dead, everybody in the comments: “you know what I mean, you know what I mean.” [laughs] I’ve got a huge problem: I say “you know what I’m saying, you know what I mean” after everything I say.
AllHipHop: Is that your go-to phrase?
White John: Nah, that’s just how I talk. It’s a speech impediment. [laughs]
AllHipHop: Biggest lesson from being behind bars?
White John: That your freedom in America isn’t promised, so you gotta play by them weird rules. That’s my vibe for it, America is not free.
AllHipHop: Someone said “this dude’s the Gen Z Eminem.” That’s a compliment.
White John: For sure, I get a lot of compliments.
AllHipHop: Damn!
White John: Not like that Shirley. Just 9 times out of 10, they be on my s###. The fans talk a lot of s###, I ain’t gon’ lie. They be on my ass.
AllHipHop: What is it about White John that fans love?
White John: A lot of my fans, they really know me. They love me because I really am who I am. I really have a big problem with people who are scared to be themselves. My fans f### with me, especially the ones who’ve been following when I only had 3K to 5K followers. They know I’m the same White John. I’m myself, ain’t nobody can tell me I’m nothing different. That’s why they f### with me, because they know I’m genuine.
AllHipHop: Cases Still Pending is out now, how you feeling?
White John: I f### with it. You know the fans love it, they’ve been waiting for it. They love it. They’ve been waiting for that “Dead Homies” forever. I made the snippet a long time ago, maybe a little too early. They were waiting a long time for it.
AllHipHop: Talk about linking with OMB Peezy, I love him!
White John: That’s my dawg. For sure, I’ve been a fan of Peezy for a minute. It was cool to work with bro for sure.
AllHipHop: Favorite songs on the project besides “Dead Homies”?
White John: My favorite songs are “Switch On Me,” “By Yourself,” and “No Phones.” Of course Dead Homies,” that s###’s a bop. I love all the songs on the tape.
AllHipHop: Best memory from the video shoot with Peezy?
White John: S###, me and my brother Nash were sliding around in traffic with the pistols out, acting a fool. SKRT, not giving a f### about nothing. The music video wasn’t really nothing special. That was the funnest part: riding around, sliding around thuggin’.
AllHipHop: How much do you miss shows?
White John: Oh my goodness, why’d you have to break my heart and bring that up? I had 5 shows booked in April and March of last year, I was really going up out here. Left and right, they’re like “oh yeah, we need White John for a show.” I got all the deposits, then next Gurb… Corona, mask up.
AllHipHop: What do you miss most about shows?
White John: Shows are a completely different vibe. It’s still my first year of rapping, I’m not headlining. I started rapping in June 2019, so a year and a half. I was never a headliner until I was starting to get booked for shows before Coronavirus. I was always up opening. If you don’t know, being an opener is hell.
AllHipHop: Really, it’s that bad?
White John: It’s horrible. You up there rapping, you think you’re doing your thing. On God and heaven, everyone in the stand is standing there like [straight face]. ”Where’s Ohgeesy at? Where’s Fenix at?” For real I swear to God, being an opener is really hard. I went on the BravoFlexin Tour, I was the opener right before Bravo and Flexin’. The crowd was actually really f###### with me, they was really going up. Damn, this s### hard. This is rare for an opener to have the crowd’s attention.”
When it’s that vibe, I don’t know if you heard about the Winning Team show with Rucci, 1TakeJay, Kalan.FrFr, I performed there too. It was a gang of people, they’re all like [straight face]. But when Rucci, Chike, Kalan, everybody jumped on, that m########### was rocking! We all on stage rocking out, jamming out, dancing. That’s a whole nother vibe, ain’t nothing like that. Rocking shows, really rocking them too to where the whole Gurb’s going the f### up, there’s no feeling like that.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CKyHbr2g1SO/
AllHipHop: I saw you post recently on your IG Live, the kid was crying?
White John: That s### was by far one of the weirdest Instagram Live experiences. I had looked at his instagram, he had a video of him stabbing himself in the neck on Jackboy’s live. It’s weird. He’s a weird guy, I feel bad for him. He’s definitely nuts, like schizophrenic or something. I’m pretty sure he was crying for clout, but he was crying though. The s### was weird like “f### you White John, you p############!” It was honestly hilarious at the moment, I couldn’t hold it in. One of the funniest s### I’ve ever seen.
AllHipHop: What kind of weed do you like?
White John: I like exotics. On God, I love exotics. My favorite weed is Gelato #41. Real, real, real Gelato, I love it. I can’t get enough of it. I f### with OG, I grew up on OG.
AllHipHop: What’s your favorite thing to do high?
White John: Sleep. When I’m high, I like to play video games and go to sleep. You know what I really like to do when I’m high? I like to get higher. To be completely honest, that’s what I like to do when I’m high. Get as high as I can. I got the little home studio where I’m making some of the most heat, in the natural habitat. Don’t gotta worry about none of that studio pressure or nothing.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CGvzsYHF_0a/
AllHipHop: Talk about your friendship with Earl Sweatshirt.
White John: I don’t know if you know Juan from Odd Future, but back when I was a freshman, he was a senior at St. Berns before I got kicked out. I was the only freshman they were f###### with. LJuan used to pick me up to take me to school. Around 10th grade, junior year when OF started poppin’ off, me and my homies would be with them a lot. Skatepark, all types of s###. Me and Earl been knew each other, we just never really talked to each other. I was more cool with Juan, Jasper, Nakel, Kevin Bradley and them. One night, it was weird. I got invited to this kickback by this girl. I walk in the door and Earl’s casually playing the piano. You know the jazz stop or whatever, he did that on the piano. He got up and said “is that the f###### White Gurb? Is my presence really being blessed with the White Gurb at 4:30 in the morning?” It was really 4:45am so me and Earl were getting high all night. We took that picture in the morning, watch we gon’ f### their heads up. They gon’ think we got a music video on the way. [laughs]
AllHipHop: What are you most excited for in the new year?
White John: The success. I know that 2021’s going to be very special and prosperous. I’ve stayed down long enough. Last year was really supposed to be my year, but Corona really f##### s### up. This year, I’m not going to let that Corona be no excuse for nothing. This is my year and I’m coming for the ass. I’m taking it.
On a snowy Monday, February 22, 2021, the borough of his birth (The Bronx) honored him by co-naming the corner of Leggett Ave and Kelly Street after him. From now on, people will also be able to refer to the block as “Frederick “Fred the Godson” Thomas Way.
“Good morning, everybody. I know a lot of people was asking, ‘Why this block? Out of all the neighborhoods we were blessed to be on, why this specific block?’”
“But a fire brought us here.”
“My mother got her independence here … This is where a mother’s love and a father’s protection prevailed and allowed us to live our wildest dreams. This is where a community crunched down on a boy’s talent.”
The ceremony featured several notables such as Fat Joe, Jim Jones, Sway Calloway, Mysonne, DJ Bobby Trends, and Ruben Diaz, Jr. There was also a special performance from Fat Boy Izzo to keep the people warmed-up in the cold.
Mysonne was gracious enough to post a video of the event.
He worked with music royalty like Busta Rhymes, Waka Flocka Flame, and Cam’ron and was a part of the class of emcees that produced names like Kendrick Lamar, Meek Mill, YG, and the late Mac Miller.
His music and family are his greatest legacy. Two ways fans can continue to honor his life are to PURCHASE his music and to support the Fred The Godson Foundation.
FTGF has a mission to inspire, empower, and nourish individuals, children, and families in underserved communities. Initially, their aid is centered around the South Bronx, a place where not only was he born … but so was the entire culture of Hip-Hop.
A lot of people have been beefing with Tekashi69 on the Internet and social media. Lately, it’s almost as if this guy is one of us. You certainly don’t see folks beefing with the true opposition when they go hard in the paint like they do with Tekashi69.
You get on the Internet scream and yell and make threats, but really what are they doing? I don’t see anybody ever getting hurt, all I see is a bunch of JAW jacking. Talking loud. Talking loud and saying nothing! That is what Tekashi69 is supposed to do to you guys! That does not mean you have to respond to everything he does! Have you ever heard of the term agent provocateur? If you haven’t go look it up! Smarten up!
Here’s what my sources are telling me, and I believe this to be true. Tekashi69 is still an active federal witness, a.k.a. an active rat!! He is still beholden to the federal government to give them information as it relates to anybody and anything they need of him at this present time. Like that dude that got Fred Hampton killed and could not get out once he was in! This is all fax! Now, if you think I’m lying go do some research and look it up.
This guy – Tek 1 – is here to disrupt any sort of unity we have, get people arrested, and break up the power that Hip Hop has within itself. Far too many of our younger artists are taking time out of their lives to address this guy and they don’t deal with the real. And they certainly don’t deal with the cops and rampant unchecked police brutality. There is a larger framework that Tekashi is a part of! I hate the way we try to tear down this little fool and don’t try to tackle the larger picture. At any rate, you guys can continue to deal with this dude who has the potential to get you knocked up and put in jail for football numbers but not deal with anything of substance. Elevate your game and maybe- just maybe – people will back you in the way that we have back our past super artists!
