Rapper Tekashi 69 ran into some troubles in Miami yesterday (January 19th).
The rapper was at a paintball range, where he was involved in some sort of altercation. According to various reports, Tekashi 69 became irked when a man incessantly harassed him and labeled him a rat.
An altercation broke out and the name-caller was slugged in the face and knocked to the ground. He was also stomped on for good measure.
Fox News talk show host Andy Slater broke the news that the cops were involved in the situation.
UPDATE: After an investigation, the alleged victim made up most of his story, police sources tell me.
The incident, which did involve Tekashi69, took place at a paintball shooting range in Miami.
The original report labeled the incident a strong-armed robbery, but Slayter later confirmed Tekashi 69 was cleared of any wrongdoing after the “victim made up most of his story.”
The rapper is still serving out five years’ worth of probation over the crimes he committed with the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods. Tekashi 69 is also still on probation for a 2015 sexual assault conviction.
In the final hours of his presidency, Donald Trump announced a flurry of last-minute pardons and commutations. Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was among the individuals granted clemency by the outgoing POTUS.
President Trump commuted the sentence of the former Mayor of Detroit, Kwame Malik Kilpatrick. This commutation is strongly supported by prominent members of the Detroit community, Alveda King, Alice Johnson, Diamond and Silk, Pastor Paula White, Peter Karmanos, Representative Sherry Gay-Dagnogo of the Michigan House of Representatives, Representative Karen Whitsett of the Michigan House of Representatives, and more than 30 faith leaders. Mr. Kilpatrick has served approximately 7 years in prison for his role in a racketeering and bribery scheme while he held public office. During his incarceration, Mr. Kilpatrick has taught public speaking classes and has led Bible Study groups with his fellow inmates.
“My position on the disgraced former mayor of Detroit has not changed. Kwame Kilpatrick has earned every day he served in federal prison for the horrible crimes he committed against the people of Detroit,” said United States Attorney Matthew Schneider. “He is a notorious and unrepentant criminal.”
Jazmine Sullivan’s musical comeback has been exceptional. Following a six-year hiatus, she let loose the critically-acclaimed Heaux Tales on January 8, and the EP became the highest-charting project of the singer’s career.
This week also saw two songs from Heaux Tales debut on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart. “Pick Up Your Feelings” landed at #95 while “Girl Like Me” featuring H.E.R. opened at #97. The R&B songstress’s last Hot 100 entry was “Holding You Down (Goin In Circles)” in 2010.
The prosperous Jazmine Sullivan resurgence will also include an appearance at Super Bowl LV next month. The National Football League announced the Grammy-nominated Sullivan and Country singer Eric Church will perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the big game in Florida.
Sullivan’s “Girl Like Me” collaborator H.E.R. will sing “America the Beautiful.” Canadian superstar The Weeknd is headlining the Super Bowl LV halftime show. The XO label leader will hit the stage a year after Shakira and Jennifer Lopez’s Emmy-winning Super Bowl LIV mid-game performance.
Super Bowl LV is scheduled to be played on February 7 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The game will air live on CBS. The NFC will be represented by either the Green Bay Packers or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The AFC will be represented by either the Buffalo Bills or the Kansas City Chiefs.
Erica Banks’s “Buss It” is one of the hottest songs on TikTok at the moment. The Nelly-sampling rap record is the soundtrack for the viral #BussItChallenge craze.
This week, “Buss It” went from online hit to Billboard hit. The publication’s latest Hot 100 chart features the 1501 Certified Entertainment/Warner Records release.
Banks found her name at #100 on the week’s Hot 100. “Buss It” is her first entry to make the rankings of the most popular songs in America. In response to the achievement, she tweeted, “Omg I love y’all. [pleading face emojis].”
The Texas native likely also loves the fact that the internet made “Buss It” one of the top trends on social media over the last several weeks. After initially dropping in 2020, the song took off in January of this year as influencers and celebrities began taking part in the challenge.
Recently, Nelly was asked about the success of the #BussItChallenge which is partially centered around a snippet of his 2002 classic “Hot In Herre.” The Hip Hop veteran said, “Yeah, it’s dope. Keep doing it. Obviously, I had to clear the record. But, yo, keep doing it, definitely. I see the numbers adding up for me. It’s awesome.”
“Good Days” by SZA has become a streaming juggernaut. The R&B track currently sits at #2 on both Apple Music’s Top 100: USA chart and Spotify’s Top 200 United States chart.
That success on those streaming platforms helped SZA jumped into the Top 10 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart. “Good Days” climbed from #23 to #10 on the most recent tally. This is SZA’s first solo Top Ten entry.
.@sza now has three career top 10 hits on the #Hot100:
Previously, the Top Dawg Entertainment vocalist reached the Top 10 as a feature on Maroon 5’s “What Lovers Do” as well as the Oscar-nominated “All the Stars” with Kendrick Lamar off Black Panther: The Album.
“Good Days” accumulated 20.1 million streams in the latest tracking week. SZA’s single climbed one spot to #2 on the Streaming Songs chart. It also reached a new high of #38 on the Digital Song Sales chart (3,000 units).
“Listen to me .. I’m so f###### speechless I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR TAKING US TO THE TOP F###### TEN I DONT UNDERSTAND HOW WE GOT HERE BUT GOD IS ACTUALLY WYLING. LMAO Wow THANK YOU SO MUCH I LOVE YOU!! BEYOND THE INNANNETS!! GOOD DAYS VIDEO COMING SOON AFFFF,” tweeted SZA on Monday afternoon
Listen to me .. I’m so f###### speechless I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR TAKING US TO THE TOP F###### TEN I DONT UNDERSTAND HOW WE GOT HERE BUT GOD IS ACTUALLY WYLING . LMAO Wow THANK YOU SO MUCH I LOVE YOU!! BEYOND THE INNANNETS😤🥺😩!! GOOD DAYS VIDEO COMING SOON AFFFF🗣🤝 pic.twitter.com/3lExQH1rF7
Throughout his career in entertainment, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges released chart-topping albums, won numerous industry awards, and starred in blockbuster movies such as The Fate of the Furious. He is now headed to Discovery+ for Luda Can’t Cook.
The one-hour Luda Can’t Cook special, from established Hollywood producer Will Packer (Think Like a Man, Straight Outta Compton, The Photograph) will run on the new subscription streaming service. James Beard Award-nominated Chef Meherwan Irani will school Ludacris in the kitchen for the program.
“I absolutely love food and have always appreciated the art of cooking, but I can’t lie – I have no idea what I’m doing in the kitchen,” says Ludacris. “I’m on a mission to change that and master one cuisine at a time – it’s going to be delicious.”
The Atlanta-based rapper/actor will have to cook and serve a menu of Indian dishes to a group of VIPs, including his mother Roberta Shields. Packer adds, “The juxtaposition of a uniquely talented megastar like Luda against a backdrop that he has no real knowledge or skill set in makes for some highly entertaining shenanigans!”
Luda Can’t Cook is scheduled to begin streaming Thursday, February 25 exclusively on discovery+. The platform will also host 55,000 episodes from over 2,500 shows that are part of Discovery’s portfolio of networks, including HGTV, Food Network, TLC, ID, OWN, Travel Channel, Discovery Channel, and Animal Planet.
“We have been working methodically the past two years to bring all of our strategic advantages to the launch of discovery+, including distribution and advertising partnerships around the world, a world-class offering of quality brands, authentic personalities, and the largest content library at launch, as well as a broad slate of exclusive programming,” comments David Zaslav, President and CEO of Discovery, Inc.
Is A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie responsible for over $250,000 in damages to a $3.3 million New Jersey home? Dr. Lawrence Guarino and Carol Guarino are accusing the Bronx-raised rapper of wrecking their Mahwah mansion while renting the house in 2017 and 2018.
AllHipHop.com obtained documents revealing A Boogie (born Artist Julius Dubose) is being sued for allegedly leaving the bathroom toilets “clogged and overrun by sewerage material.” The couple claims the human waste penetrated through the floors and ruined the ceilings below.
Guarino also noted landscape damage, water damage, wall damage, carpet damage, and more. The plaintiffs allege the tenants abandoned the home “in a condition that left it unable to be leased until extensive repairs were conducted.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ6e_C_h1No/
A Boogie and High Bridge The Label founder Quincy Acheampong reportedly signed a 12-month lease agreement for the property. The Guarinos are seeking $263,592 in compensation. The lawsuit was filed in Hackensack Superior Court.
Over the last four years, A Boogie has released three studio LPs – 2017’s The Bigger Artist, 2018’s Hoodie SZN, and 2020’s Artist 2.0. Each of those projects reached Gold-certified status. His first two albums, as well as 2016’s Artist mixtape, earned Platinum plaques.
The COO of Roc Nation, Desiree Perez was on the list of notables that received a pardon from outgoing President Donald Trump.
Perez was arrested in 1994 for possession of 35 kilos of cocaine and eventually became a cooperating witness for the DEA. Her work managed to break up several significant drug deals.
She has gone on to be an asset to the Roc Nation team, as well as a major force in the music industry. In 2019, she was the “Women In Music Executive of the Year” for Billboard magazine. Now, the Bronx native runs Roc Nation with Jay-Z, CEO Jay Brown, Ty Ty Smith, who is the president of A&R, as well as her spouse and head of Roc Nation Sports Juan Perez.
A statement from the White House read:
Desiree Perez – President Trump granted a full pardon to Desiree Perez. Ms. Perez was involved in a conspiracy to distribute narcotics. Since her conviction, Ms. Perez has taken full accountability for her actions and has turned her life around. She has been gainfully employed and has been an advocate for criminal justice reform in her community.
Perez has more than earned her respect as a consummate business person that transcended circumstances that could have derailed her entire career.
Lil Wayne’s decision to cozy up to President Donald Trump may have cost him some fans, but the move has gained the rap star his freedom.
President Trump dropped his list of 100 people he is pardoning, and Lil Wayne is on that list.
The rapper was due in court this March to be sentenced for possessing a gold-plated .45 handgun on his private jet when it landed at the Miami Opa-Locka Executive Airport, in December of 2019.
Deion Sanders wrote in support of the rapper’s pardon and called Wayne “a provider for his family, a friend to many, a man of faith, a natural giver to the less fortunate, a waymaker, [and] a game changer.”
Thanks to Sanders and Brett Berish of Sovereign Brands, who advocated for the pardon, the gun charge against Lil Wayne will be wiped from his record, and he will avoid prison altogether.
“Mr. Carter has exhibited this generosity through commitment to a variety of charities, including donations to research hospitals and a host of foodbanks,” The White House said in a statement.
Just had a great meeting with @realdonaldtrump@potus besides what he’s done so far with criminal reform, the platinum plan is going to give the community real ownership. He listened to what we had to say today and assured he will and can get it done. 🤙🏾 pic.twitter.com/Q9c5k1yMWf
In October of 2020, Lil Wayne backed Trump’s “Platinum Plan” and his losing bid to be re-elected as President of the United States.
“Just had a great meeting with @realdonaldtrump @potus besides what he’s done so far with criminal reform, the platinum plan is going to give the community real ownership. He listened to what we had to say. Today and assured he will and can get it done,” Lil Wayne said.
Kodak Black will be coming home soon, and he can thank President Trump for getting him out of prison.
Kodak was one of 100 people President Trump pardoned on his final day in office today as President of the United States.
The Pompano Beach, Florida raised rapper pled guilty to lying on a federal application to obtain firearms. One of those weapons was found at the scene of a shooting in his hometown. Kodak Black had a rough time behind the walls from the start of his incarceration.
A number of people supported Kodak’s release, including Pastor Darrell Scott and Rabbi Schneur Kaplan, Bernie Kerik, Hunter Pollack, Gucci Mane, Lil Pump, Lil Yachty, Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens, Jack Brewer formerly of the National Football League, and numerous other notable community leaders.
REUTERS: Trump grants clemency to rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black
Trump viewed these actions favorability, because now Kodak’s legal issues are a thing of the past and he will be out on the street again.
“Before his conviction and after reaching success as a recording artist, Kodak Black became deeply involved in numerous philanthropic efforts,” The White House said in a statement. “In fact, he has committed to supporting a variety of charitable efforts, such as providing educational resources to students and families of fallen law enforcement officers and the underprivileged.”
“Most recently while still incarcerated, Kodak Black donated $50,000 to David Portnoy’s Barstool Fund, which provides funds to small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Kodak Black’s only request was that his donation go toward restaurants in his hometown,” The White House said.
Cash Money Records rapper 9lokkNine is in a world of trouble for allegedly attempting to strong-arm control of the Orlando rap business.
Earlier this week, Monique Worrell was sworn in as the new state attorney for Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit in Orlando. The first thing she is doing is working to get 9lokkNine and his counterparts off the streets.
The rapper, born Jacquavius Dennard Smith, has just been hit with five counts of attempted murder, over a spate of violence that took place in the city last year.
According to the FBI, 9lokkNine is allegedly part of the All Family No Friends Gang aka The Army.
Investigators say the gang has been at war with another rising rapper from Orlando named Hotboii, who supposedly associates with the 438 gang.
The feud between the gangs took at least five lives during 2020, including a local high school football star, a 14-year-old, and a 3-year-old, all of whom were caught in the crossfire.
Rapper Ice-T’s visitors are always shocked to find a giant aquarium in his living room because they expect people hanging “off meat hooks”.
The original gangsta rapper, real name Tracy Lauren Marrow, is a longtime fish fan but he’s taken his love of ocean creatures to the next step and now boasts a gigantic “living coral” tank at home.
“I’ve had aquariums my whole life,” he told Live with Kelly and Ryan in a virtual chat with his pride and joy behind him. “Back in the day, people know I had a shark tank. This is a living coral tank right in the middle of my living room, so it’s the focal point.
“I’ve been doing so much… Zooming and stuff like that (during the COVID pandemic), and I said, ‘Well this is a cool (Zoom) background – better than just sitting up against a wall.”
And the “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit” star, who is famous for his X-rated rap songs like “Cop Killer,” insists guests at his house are always surprised by the “tranquil” atmosphere he has created.
“The funny thing is people… knowing my music, knowing my work of being so hardcore and aggressive, they expect to come to my house and I’ve got people hanging off meat hooks,” he laughs.
“Then they come to my house and they’re like, ‘Wow, so much water, so tranquil’. I’ve always tried to have a spa-like environment… You spend money and go on vacations to have that tranquility so I try to make it in my house – when the dogs aren’t barking and (daughter) Chanel’s not going crazy.”
Stevie Wonder marked America’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 18th) by calling on the incoming President, Joe Biden, to launch a commission on inequality.
The soul veteran posted a video online and told fans he was using the holiday to call on the Biden administration to help America move forward by tackling diversity issues.
Stevie, who met King as a teenager, said meeting his “true hero” inspired him to “push the needle of love and inequality forward” through his music.
“It is painful to know that needle has not moved one iota,” Wonder said. “You would not believe the lack of progress. It makes me physically sick. I am sick that truth is struggling to be heard and defended. Those who promote lies and false truth must be held accountable. It is the only way we can move forward.”
Calling on Biden to launch a truth commission on inequality, he added: “Without truth, we cannot have accountability. Without accountability, we cannot have forgiveness. Without forgiveness, we cannot heal…
“On this day, a day in your honor, I pledge to have the courage to say what I see and acknowledge what I hear. In your spirit, I call on all those in the Senate to speak truth to what they know, they can physically see. And begin the steps of accountability, forgiveness, and then healing.”
Biden will officially be sworn in as the new President on Wednesday.
Toxxx returns with the official anthem for “2021.”Following the rollercoaster of 2020, the rising star out of Bronx, New York reminds the masses that it’s time to go out there and get it. Released via his own indie label titled ToxxxicView, “2021” is chock full of relentless bars, clever punchlines, and impeccable wordplay that aspiring rappers have no choice but to respect.
Toxxx states, “The bar is set. If you don’t know why Toxxx should be in mentions for one of the best lyricists by now, then check out ‘2021’. Toxxx showcases an unparalleled level of lyricm in some unique and unconventional ways, that will surely grasp the majority into giving him Top 10 candidacy respectfully.”Fans may recognize Toxxx’ name from his standout singles “Ol Skool” and “Side B####,” and now “2021.” Regardless, the East Coast spitter is hungry and here for the long haul.
Pairing his standout vocals with equally powerful lyrics and laying them down over energetic, up-tempo beats, this international recording artist holds nothing back when it comes to the studio.
Describing himself as “a brother from a third world country who moved to the projects,” 2K Ponce Juno is merely trying to find a way for himself and everybody around him. He explains, “I figured if I could succeed, then everyone around me will succeed.”
2k Ponce Juno was introduced to music at the young age of 13. He became intrigued to understand the story behind an artist, their name, the lyrics of a song, and the message the song was delivering. 2k Ponce Juno knew he was destined to be in the music industry when he found out his father played 11 instruments.
Releasing his smash single “Go Pretty Girl” last year, 2K Ponce Juno returns with the ultimate remix (collaboration with Beenie Man and Double K).
AllHipHop: How was it growing up in Staten Island?
2K Ponce Juno: I was born in Antigua and moved to Staten Island. I grew up in Park Hill Projects, the same place where Wu-Tang is from. Growing up in the hood made me very humble. I saw police everywhere, people always dying, friends getting locked up, friends getting shot, family members in jail, there was always something going on in the projects.
AllHipHop: Biggest influences coming up?
2K Ponce Juno: Jay-Z, Biggie Smalls, a little bit of Master P, and Beenie Man were all influences in my life. I’m West Indian so when I was young, their music was around for me. Those artists created a new era of music in my opinion and people that helped pave the way for artists like myself.
AllHipHop: At what point did you realize this music thing was for real?
2K Ponce Juno: In 2011, I threw a little party for myself and played one of my tracks. It was an old track, something I did in the house. My homeboy bought a system and we recorded some music over some beats. I played two of my tracks but no one ever knew the song. It was my party so people were asking me “who’s song is this? That’s hard.” I’m telling them and everybody said “yo man, you should do music.” So, I pursued that. Me and my buddy went to a club and I performed one of my songs, the crowd was very responsive. I thought to myself, oh you know what, maybe I could make some money with this thing. I decided to take it seriously and found a good management team and it has been all uphill since then.
AllHipHop: What does Jamaica mean to you?
2K Ponce Juno: Oh man, even though the people down there are really oppressed by a lot of things the government does, but because I’m not from there, when I go to Jamaica I feel free. It’s open: the breeze, the people, the food, the music, the environment, the atmosphere. It reminds me of my country, it’s the same thing if you ask me. I feel more at home when I go to Jamaica.
AllHipHop: What was the inspiration behind your name?
2K Ponce Juno: I was out in Cleveland, Ohio in a thunderstorm. My homeboy used to play on the Cleveland Browns football team and I went there to watch a game. When I was leaving back home, there was a blizzard and my car got stuck on the road. This guy came, helped me out, and took me to his garage. I slept on his couch and in the morning, he started to fix my car. I had an old Camry and the engine block needed to be fixed. It costed $1700 and some change and I told myself from now on, I need to make sure I have at least $2K in my pocket.
The 2k Ponce Juno part is funny. My friends in the neighborhood used to call me “Pimp” years ago. That was the little street name they gave me, my name was “Pimp Juice”. It came from a song that Nelly did back in the 2000’s. I never really liked the name so I asked them to shorten it and called me PJ. One morning I woke up while I was doing music and Ponce Juno came to my head.
I called my manager and said: “no more PJ, it’s Ponce Juno now.” 2K came a week later when I thought about this situation I had. I was looking up Ponce on the internet and there were a bunch of them, and I thought to myself, how am I going to separate myself from everybody else? I remembered the story about my car and then decided to put 2K in front of Ponce Juno. I researched it some more, and found that Ponce actually means pimp in French. It’s crazy how it all came together but it is unique and different and something I like.
AllHipHop: Bring us back to when you made the original “Go Pretty Girl.”
2K Ponce Juno: I had a whole bunch of rap tracks and a whole bunch of R&B tracks, but I didn’t have a track that represents who I am being a West Indian. I’m was doing more hip-hop stuff and my engineer says “I want you to hear this beat my producer did.” It was a reggae beat, he said “you don’t have any reggae in your playlist for your music.” I said “you know what, I don’t.” I heard the beat, “yeah I’ll try something.”
I needed a song that represented me being West Indian because I didn’t have one. It came from out the blue, I actually freestyled that song. I freestyled the hook, I freestyled my first verse because I didn’t know what I was going to do. I decided to put the beat on and I’ll let the lyrics come to me. It turned out that the first take was my take, so my verse you hear was a freestyle I cleaned it up a little bit. I freestyled about 90% of it. The energy for “Go Pretty Girl” was 100% pure, it was the beat and me saying what was on my mind.
AllHipHop: How’d the remix come about with Beenie Man and Double K?
2K Ponce Juno: I was in Home Depot trying to buy a water heater and this Jamaican brother helped me out. I asked “how much is this one at the top?” He says “that’s the most expensive one in here.” I said “this the most expensive one so it’s probably the best one, let me get that one.” As he’s putting it down, he’s asking me “what do you do for a living?” I said “I do music.” He asked me where I’m from, I told him. He said “I have family, my cousin, and she does a lot of stuff with artists from Jamaica, maybe you guys can do something?” I said “Get her on the phone and I’ll talk with her right now.”
He called his cousin Sophie, she is the one who connects everyone in Jamaica. There’d be no Beenie Man or Double K if it wasn’t for Sophie. Sophie’s a truck driver and we started to talk about my music. I told her that I wanted artists to be on my song and I had this “Go Pretty Girl” song, but needed a remix version. She said “who do you have in mind, I know a lot of people in Jamaica?” She starts running off the list: Vybz Kartel, Spice etc., I said “you can get all these people?” She said “yeah I can make a phone call.” Out of all those artists, there’s only one artist who always talks about women. That’s Beenie Man, how can I not ask for him?
She said “okay I’ll get back to you,” and she took my phone number. A week later, I was on a 3-way call with this guy who’s Beenie’s right-hand man. I found out Beenie Man doesn’t have a phone because he doesn’t believe in phones. It took me 2 weeks to even talk to Beenie Man. We sent them a song, he heard it and instantly said “I like this, I’m going to get on the track.” Double K was in the studio, another artist in Jamaica who’s coming out through Beenie Man, and when she heard the song, she liked it. I said “you wanna get on it, I don’t care.” It’s music. I know I want Beenie Man but if you get on it too, that’s a bonus. How horrible can you really be? [laughs] I looked at it like that. It was a blessing, it was awesome.
AllHipHop: How was shooting the video?
2K Ponce Juno: From the time I spoke to them to when I shot the video and finished the project, it’s was a 5-month process. I went to Jamaica twice in between then. I never met Beenie Man before, so I took a flight down to Jamaica to go pay my respects since he is one of my favorite artists. I flew to Jamaica for a week, I hung out with them for 2 days, got a whole bunch of pictures, and came back home. It was a good thing.
AllHipHop: What can we expect from the video?
2K Ponce Juno: It looks exotic, it makes you want to keep watching it. It is the best video I have ever done. The way we had the models, the way the scenery was, the place I chose to do the video, it was all worth it!
AllHipHop: Talk about your belief in women rights.
2K Ponce Juno: I was raised with 4 sisters and a mom. I only had an older brother but he went to the military at 18 and never really came back, so I was raised with my sisters. I’m so happy that these days women have a much greater voice, they’re respected a little bit more. They are now CEO’s and Vice Presidents of companies. I always thought my sisters and my mom were awesome, so to have more women even half of that is a good thing. Women have different perspectives and must be respected. Women bring a lot to the table and help balance out conversations amongst other males and females. Women have a different type of swagger, a different type of idea, a different way to move.
I’ve been around men and sometimes their pride and ego can get in the way. I noticed in business, women aren’t really like that and they want to get things done; they’re so professional. Maybe it’s the energy in the universe, but 95% of the things I do in my life — all the way down to paying my light bill, there’s a woman involved. It’s cool. Me being surrounded by women on my team, my staff, I know we’re going to be alright.
AllHipHop: How do you feel about domestic violence?
2K Ponce Juno: If my dad or my mom knew If I ever hit a woman right now, they’ll probably kill me. It should never happen in my opinion. Hold on though, it’s the other way around too. Some women get very disgruntled. Nobody should be putting their hands on another person to get their point or feelings across, or to explain how they want to do things. You don’t have to hit someone, nor mentally or verbally abuse someone. Domestic violence as a whole isn’t necessary. People need to grow up and have a conversation with each other, you can clear a lot of issues easier this way.
AllHipHop: 3 things you need in the studio?
2K Ponce Juno: Patience, a good engineer, and a good support team. I know you need patience because you have to go over your stuff and rewrite it to make it sound good. A quality engineer is important because they will teach you things you don’t know like formulating the lyrics to the beat. A good support team is important because as an artist, you’re your own guy. A truthful support team is important, not people who’ll just say “that’s good, that’s good.” You people on your team to tell you the truth even if the song does not sound right.
AllHipHop: What can we expect from your next single, “This Life”?
2K Ponce Juno: “This Life” is awesome. It’s an easy song, I freestyled it. It talks about my life, currently right now. I look and smell like money, my team looks like money, my clothes look like money, my car looks like money, my house looks like money. Everything looks like money, this life is all I know. It’s real simple, it’s a party song. It’s a track to listen to and feel good about yourself; get up every day and work. This life is all I know, wake up in the morning get dope. Everybody that wakes up and gets money can relate. If you’re a bum, you can relate on your level. If it’s getting a dollar here, 50 cents here, that money does something for you. It gets you a bagel, it gets you a juice. I made that song for that reason, it’s for people to feel good about themselves. If you’re a not money chaser or a life-chaser, if you don’t feel good about yourself, then I’m sorry this song is not for you.
AllHipHop: Goals for yourself as an artist at this point of your career?
2K Ponce Juno: I want to be on TV. I don’t mean on a music video, but TV. I’ve always felt my personality and who I am around people, places I go; I belong on TV! In my mind, that’s the ultimate because I’m already a celebrity in my circle. My nieces, my nephews, my mom, my sisters, my friends, my coworkers, I’m already famous in my circle. For me, it’s doing more and taking my career to another level.
I already own a business, have money, I’ve already travelled and have done a whole bunch. To me, those are not goals, or part of my bucket list, this is just life. My goal is to be on TV and help as many people as I can. People are going to see me and understand where I’m coming from, know what to expect from me and what I stand for. When I get there, I bet it’s going to be a lot easier for me to help people. Right now, I really can’t do what I want to do, but with more money and publicity, I will be able to do a lot! There are so many people that need help and I can help a little bit. I am not trying to help a nation, but a couple hundred people would be alright. I can’t do it without money, especially in America, you can’t really do much without fame. I already have everything I need: nice cars, a whole family, so everything I am building is for everybody else to be honest.
AllHipHop: Talk about your love for kids.
2K Ponce Juno: I have daughters, have nieces, I have nephews, I’m their favorite uncle. Every time I get around a baby, even if it’s the first time I see them, they always smile and try to grab me to pick them up. I love the kids.
AllHipHop: What else you’d like to let us know?
2K Ponce Juno: Stay tuned for all the artists I’m going to sign in the future. I’m looking for the next Justin Bieber, the next Janet Jackson. Ellipse Group Records Global is about to be the next big record label in New York!
AllHipHop: Any shoutouts?
2K Ponce Juno: I want to thank Plugstar for plugging me into opportunities. Also, a big shout out to all my fans I couldn’t do it without you guys. A big shout out to my whole team, I really have the best staff in showbiz. Also, a big shot out to my family, my friends, and everyone that helped me to get where I am right now. I’m truly thankful for your support.
Rap veteran Snoop Dogg is refusing to speak ill of Eminem in public following the “Stan” star’s recent diss song, insisting it’s “family business”.
The old friends hit headlines last month when Eminem dropped his reissued album, Music to Be Murdered By, and included new track “Zeus,” which called out Snoop for apparently disrespecting him.
The lines in question read: “As far as squashin’ beef, I’m used to people knockin’ me/But, just not in my camp/I’m diplomatic ’cause I’m tryna be/Last thing I need is Snoop doggin’ me/Man, dog, you was like a damn god to me/Man, not really/I had ‘dog’ backwards.”
He didn’t explain the reason behind the lyrical jab, but many suspected it was related to his omission from Snoop’s Top 10 list of best rappers of all time, with the “Gin and Juice” hitmaker suggesting Eminem owed his success to his affiliation with his mutual friend and collaborator Dr. Dre.
Snoop recently brushed off the apparent fall out, claiming they’re “good,” and in an appearance on “Watch What Happens Live” talk show, he made it clear he still respects Eminem, indicating they will hash out any differences privately.
“We’re still friends,” he insisted. “I think that’s family business and I don’t wanna make it more than it is. He said what he said, I respect that, and we just gon’ keep it right there.”
Rapper Megan Thee Stallion has reluctantly cleared out all the junk food from her home as she embarks on her healthy eating “bootcamp.”
The “Savage” hitmaker enjoyed her “last cheat meal” over the weekend. She documented her struggles as she was forced to rid her pantry and refrigerator of any unhealthy snacks and treats.
“Throwing out thee junk food,” she captioned footage of the task. “Today I cleaned out the fridge to the best of my abilities…”
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Megan assured her Instagram followers she was donating any “untouched food” to those in need, and she received some words of support from actress Taraji P. Henson, who appeared in the rapper’s recent Body video.
“OUR BODYODY BOUT TO BE NUCKIN FUTZ!!!!!” the “Empire” star remarked.
Megan previously revealed Christmas with her family was going to be a big feast ahead of her 2021 slimdown, but has since insisted the diet plan she is about to start isn’t all about losing weight.
“So Hottie Bootcamp in my house is officially starting!” she posted. “It’s not necessarily a weight loss journey but a health journey… Y’all will be experiencing this with me every step of the way… real healthy girl s###…”
50 Cent has kicked off the first day of shooting for his highly anticipated BMF TV drama.
The rapper serves as executive producer of the series, which is based on the story of the infamous Black Mafia Family. At its height, the gang operated a coast-to-coast $270 million drug enterprise.
50, who executive produced the hit series “Power” for Starz, and “For Life” which aired on ABC, vowed to outdo his previous body of work with the “BMF” series.
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“This is gonna blow you away, rapper 50 Cent said from the set of the “BMF” series. “I’m gonna raise the bar with this one, good is not good enough it has to be great!”
So far, 50 has yet to reveal an air date for “BMF,” which is being written by Randy Huggins from “Power.” The first episode is being shot by Tasha Smith, who starred as “Carol” in “Empire,” and Jarita J. in three episodes of “Power.”
Smith also directed two episodes of “Tales,” which was produced by 50’s nemesis, Irv Gotti.
Snoop Dogg and others in the fight for social justice have convened around Death Row Records founder Harry-O to help him get a last minute pardon from embattled, outgoing President Donald Trump. The former Los Angeles drug kingpin was scheduled to be released on Oct. 2028, but will now immediately be released from prison.
Michael “Harry-O” Harris, 58, has been fighting to get out of prison for years, but recently there has been a relentless push for his release after contracting Covid-19. He has also been stricken with an ailment called Guillain-Barré Syndrome, that attacks the immune system and nerves. Harris has been jailed over 30 years after he was convicted of trafficking cocaine and attempted murder.
Rap producer-turned-activist Weldon Angelos talked exclusively to AllHipHop.com to explain how a concerted effort, which included Snoop Dogg, prison reform activist Alice Marie Johnson and others like Michael “Hollis” Goldstein, managed to get a pardon for Harris. Weldon Angelos, after serving over a decade of time for selling a small amount of weed in the early 2000’s, received a pardon as well in December.
Angelos said, “I knew about Harry-O and one of my partners had reached out to him about a year ago, asking if he needed help. [Harry-O] never got that letter…I knew Snoop wanted our help. Snoop called me like 2:30 in the morning on December 27th, wanting to get on with me and Hollis and (other members of the group) to talk about Harry-O. And we set up a call with Alice Johnson. Alice Johnson is my good friend who has President Trump’s ear. President Trump has given Alice the opportunity to provide cases that he will grant if she signs off on it. I have worked with the White House closely and gotten commutations through President Trump. Really Alice Johnson is the on that got this done.”
Weldon Angelos detailed the numerous government officials that he was able to work through to get people released previously. Finally, he said that Snoop, Alice Johnson, Weldon and others had a conference call.
“We just let Snoop give his pitch to Alice on what Harry-O meant to him, you know, how important this person was to him. Alice listened. She was very impressed – not because it was Snoop or that (Harry-O) was the founder of Death Row Records. When she looked through the file that I had sent her, she was impressed that he had done a lot in the time he was in federal prison. He has accomplished a lot through the different programs he was creating and doing on the streets from prison. And his post-release plans.”
Angelos said that Harris thought he would have gotten out soon and he had a host of positive philanthropic efforts lined up to help people outside of the prison walls. “Alice told me, ‘He’s one of us.,'” Angelos said.
Donald Trump, through his various trials with former FBI director James Comey and others, has a purported affinity for people like Harry-O. “He automatically takes the side of the defendant, because he’s been a defendant,” Angelos said of the president. Trump is expected to roll out a long list of more than 100 pardons and commutations today. Lil’ Wayne is among those presumed to receive a pardon. Trump has no plans to pardon himself, as it will present him as guilty of a crime to the nation.
Trump has become a scourge to most people in the Hip-Hop nation and Snoop has been one of the most vocal artists in opposition to the president. However, there would be no getting Harry-O out of his predicament without the historic twice-impeached commander-in-chief.
Roughly, two years ago Snoop Dogg fired a toy gun at a clown that looked at Trump in a rap video, generating a swirl of controversy. Trump fired back on Twitter at the time, “Can you imagine what the outcry would be if @Snoopdogg, failing career and all, had aimed and fired the gun at President Obama? Jail time!”account.
However, it is clear that Snoop is indebted to Harris as one of the founders of the infamous record label that housed the Dogg Father, Dr. Dre, Nate Dogg, Lady of Rage, Kurupt, The D.O.C., RBX, and was run by incarcerated mogul Marion “Suge” Knight. It was Harris that bankrolled the fledgling label with $1.5 million in seed money for a 50 percent stake in the company. Harris and his ex-wife would be embroiled in a legal and financial battle with Knight for years, but were unable to collect on a $107 million victory in court.
Weldon Angelos said that the rapidly aging Harris has been wronged by the system as well.
“He was railroaded, doing his time twice. Doing all this time in the State and then the Fed (afterward), but it wasn’t running concurrent like it was supposed to,” he continued, “And so he had to do all this time over again. This is definitely an injustice they corrected today. Out of all this drama going on with the White House, something good has coming out of this.”
“Harry-O had another 10 years and he may not have made it,” he said, “There’s Covid…its rampant, there’s 40,000 people infected in the federal prison system and 190 deaths and its rising every day.”
“I think President Trump can leave with some good,” Angelos said. “Snoop said, ‘This is a great thing they are doing. And he wasn’t afraid to say it.'”
During the 2016 presidential campaign, the Mic media company published a video titled “23 Ways You Could Be Killed If You Are Black in America” which featured celebrities bringing awareness to the tragic deaths of African-Americans at the hands of police officers such as Sandra Bland, Philando Castile, and Eric Garner.
As Joe Biden is preparing to replace Donald Trump in the White House, musicians are once again presenting a public service announcement focused on racial justice. This time the #breathewithme Revolution and the Black Music Action Coalition are using the presentation to demand the incoming president, as well as Vice-President Elect Kamala Harris, take immediate action on systemic racism.
Alicia Keys, Khalid, Asian Doll, Summer Walker, Ty Dolla $ign, 070 Shake, A$AP Ferg, Mary J. Blige, Offset, Keke Palmer, Quavo, Indy 03, Jay Balency, Tameka “Tiny” Harris, T.I., Vic Mensa, and Rapsody made appearances in the “17 Ways Black People Are Killed in America” vid on the NowThis News YouTube channel. Each person names more people of color that have been unjustly killed in the United States.
Joe Biden’s political success in 2020 was closely connected to the support of African-Americans. Representative Jim Clyburn’s timely endorsement helped galvanized Black support behind Biden in the 2020 South Carolina Democratic primary which saved the then-struggling candidate’s presidential campaign.
Black voters, volunteers, media figures, and activists were also credited with playing a huge role in Biden’s general election win over Trump in November. The Black community also greatly contributed to Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff’s respective victories in Georgia’s 2020-2021 Senate runoff races which put Democrats in charge of the upper chamber of the United States Congress.
