Sean “Diddy” Combs’ son has been slapped with a series of police citations after he was caught riding a jet ski in Miami, Florida on Monday night (January 4th).
Justin Combs was stopped by Miami Beach Police Department Marine Patrol officials at around 8 pm local time for violating the city’s water rules after taking a jet ski out on Biscayne Bay more than 30 minutes after sunset.
He and his two female passengers were also scolded for failing to wear life jackets, landing Justin a handful of citations as he was towed back to land.
According to reports, Justin and his pals were en route to party on board a yacht anchored off Star Island when they ran into legal trouble.
Singer SZA insists she’s not “mad” at losing out on a total of nine Grammy Awards in the last two years.
In an interview with Cosmopolitan, the “Hit Different” hitmaker, real name Solana Imani Rowe, confessed she has no negative feelings after being nominated nine times at the 2018 and 2019 Grammys, and going home empty-handed.
“I’m just a girl from the ‘burbs. I never had dreams of being nominated for a Grammy,” she tells Cosmopolitan for its February issue. “I thought I was going to be a gymnast and a fking business accountant somewhere. Or working at Nike corporate or some st in Portland. Who knows, but something that involved a power suit. So it’s not a heavy burden.”
The 30-year-old singer, who was nominated for best new artist in 2018, and for several songs on her critically acclaimed debut album Ctrl — lost the former prize to Alessia Cara – causing uproar among her fans and widespread criticism of the Grammys.
“Once you’ve been nominated and lost, you’re very much free because you’re not concerned,” she continues. “I passed that threshold years ago—it’s an old energy to me. Why would I be mad?”
SZA, who released the track “Good Days” in December, also opened up what fans can expect from her new album.
“This album is going to be the st that made me feel something in my…here and in here,” she told the outlet, signaling to her stomach and heart. “That’s what’s going to go on the album. I’m making all different types of st every day from different places in my spirit.”
Mixxproduction is exactly what his name embodies. The producer, audio engineer, and songwriter can do it all in the studio.
Sporting 5 Billboard #1’s, 9 Gold and 6 Platinum plaques, real name Baruch Nembhard is considered one of the music industry’s best kept secrets. His extensive catalog includes rappers from Kanye West to Drake to French Montana, and R&B superstars such as The Weeknd and Teyana Taylor.
Without music, Mixx would still be in the streets. He explains, “Music really saved me because growing up, my parents really wanted us to do the right thing: college, lawyer, doctor. My generation was so against the grain where a lot of my other homies ended up in the streets, still trying to get out. Music helped me.”
Since the age of 15, the South Florida-born, Jamaica-raised visionary has been enthralled with the gift of music. With his unique sounds and intricate ear for tones, Mixx continues to work hard daily perfecting his craft and the crafts of those artists who he has the pleasure of collaborating with.
Most recently Mixx landed 4 standout records on French Montana’s critically-acclaimed Coke Boys 5, including “In the Sun” featuring Curren$y, “Brothers” featuring Lil Durk, “Big Cap,” and “You Deserve a Oscar.”
AllHipHop: You’re from South Florida, but raised in Jamaica. How does that play into your life and career?
Mixxproduction: I was born in South Florida then raised in Jamaica, so I got influenced by reggae music at an early age. Came back to Florida and got influenced by hip hop and R&B. My family was heavy on church music. The other side of my family actually started a label. At that time, I started DJing at an early age at 15. Professional DJing in the clubs, getting money, and learning the industry. Me and my homies, we used to record songs and play it at the clubs during my gigs. One of the records blew up locally, so we decided to take it serious.” We slowed down on the DJing and got more focused on music production.
AllHipHop: Did you always want to be a DJ first?
Mixxproduction: When I was young my brothers and friends, they used to DJ. I never wanted to be a DJ, it just happened. I saved up a lot of money as a kid to buy DJ equipment. I fell in love with it, started DJing at small parties. It was my first successful hustle.
How did you learn how to produce? Did you teach yourself?
Mixxproduction: Pretty much. I downloaded FruityLoops when it was free, when the industry looked at it as a toy. I started messing around with it. I had some older cousins real heavy in the game, I used to go down to the studio as a youngin’. I took one of my homies from early high school and started producing, because all my cousins were working with a whole lot of people in the industry. During the free studio time, I’d go in there and start producing with one of my homies. Self-taught really.
AllHipHop: What was your first big placement?
Mixxproduction: First placement I got in the industry was a song called “In The Air” by Teyana Taylor. It was on her first album when she signed to Def Jam.
AllHipHop: How did you tap in with her?
Mixxproduction: I really tapped in with a studio in South Beach called South Beach Studio, I used to bring them a lot of work. It was my own work, I used to bring clients there. The owner respected that, so he started giving me clients too. It started out with street rappers. Word went around town and he started giving me major acts, Teyana was one of them.
AllHipHop: What was the energy in the studio with Teyana?
Mixxproduction: It was great. She’s real dope and real creative. She really knows what she wants. Working on the album was a full process, but overall it was great.
AllHipHop: Bring us back to the session for Teyana Taylor’s “Issues.”
Mixxproduction: It’s a crazy story behind that song. It wasn’t hard doing that record because Kanye had got some really dope writers that came in and laced it for us. We did that song in an hour. It’s crazy because that song’s called “Issues,” I remember my hard drive crashed and that was the only song that wasn’t backed up. I was freaking out. I was dreading the day I had to tell Kanye I didn’t have this song. It happened, I had to tell him. We ended up figuring it out, re-recorded some parts.
AllHipHop: Saw you were at Teyana’s The Album release party in Beverly Hills, I was there too!
Mixxproduction: That was fun. I had to drink a lot of champagne that night to celebrate all the hard work we’d been putting in through these years. It was fun and exciting, appreciating the moment.
AllHipHop: How did it feel when you received your first plaque?
Mixxproduction: Again, it goes back to Teyana. The first plaque was really the #1 Billboard plaque for her first album, VII. I was excited. It made me feel like if I did this one, I could get more. Continue the process. It was fun, definitely popped a lot of champagne bottles.
AllHipHop: Talk about producing 4 records on French Montana’s Coke Boys 5. How’d you guys link initially?
Mixxproduction: French, we linked through a couple of my homies. It was in the same studio, South Beach back in the day. One of my homies was producing with them and he brought me in. I did a few tracks on his mixtape, Coke Zoo. I produced a song on there, mixed a couple songs, mastered a whole tape. He moved to LA first. I was still in Florida and when I finally got out here, I linked back up with him through one of my other homies. We ended up working on the MONTANA album, then we just did Coke Boys 5.
AllHipHop: What was the vibe for the Coke Boys 5 album?
Mixxproduction: It was different from doing the MONTANA album because the CB5 album we were all more focused. We were more efficient working on the Coke Boys 5 project and the upcoming album we’re working on right now. We did some in Vegas, some in Miami, and some in his crib in LA.
AllHipHop: Talk about producing “In the Sun” featuring Curren$y and “Brothers” featuring Lil Durk.
Mixxproduction: Made the beat, French hopped on it, then he went and chilled with Durk and recorded that. Curren$y also recorded separately. It was dope having Curren$y because I grew up listening to Curren$y, so it’s exciting having a legend hop on one of my beats. You know Durk, he’s always dope. He’s a dope rapper. He killed “Brothers.” When I listen to it, he really brought that track alive. He’s doing his thing.
AllHipHop: What’s your favorite song you did with French?
Mixxproduction: “Salam Alaykum” and “Brothers” so far are my personal favorites. It’s the feeling of it. “Salam Alaykum” as soon as you press play, you feel something. It’s so smooth. I made that and it ended up being a fan favorite.
AllHipHop: Creatively, how did you come up with the beat for “Slide” by French Montana?
Mixxproduction: Man, I made that beat so fast. We made that beat in 10 minutes. I was running through beats because I didn’t think he’d pick that beat. He heard it and said “yo bruh, nah go back.” I’m like what? Because to me, it was a playful beat. He hopped on it, doing a street song. It wasn’t “Slide” at first. We sat on that for a while, then one day Lil Tjay came over. French said “yo, that beat I did that song to.” Played it, French hopped in the booth, came up with the concept of “Slide.” Tjay hopped in the booth after and slayed it, killed it. French went in and finished his part. Two weeks later, he had Blueface come over. Blueface hopped in the booth, did his verse. That record we all created together in-person. It was really fun creating that, had everybody sliding in the studio. [laughs]
AllHipHop: Talk about working on Polo G’s breakout single, “Finer Things.”
Mixxproduction: I mixed on most of Polo G’s album, Die A Legend. I got a lot of plaques from that album. While mixing the album, I had no idea it was going to do this well. Because I work on a lot of dope music that really don’t go where it deserves to go, you never know sometimes. Working on the album I knew the music was dope, but to see it reach places where it deserved to go was exciting. It brought in 6 of my plaques, something crazy.
AllHipHop: What’s your relationship with Polo in the studio?
Mixxproduction: It was a few times, he was real chill. I know these kids get hype, but at the time he was real chill. He was cool, laidback, and he knows what he wants.
AllHipHop: What is it that you want fans to get from your story?
Mixxproduction: To be honest, pick something that you’re good at, that you really love and stick with it. Because that’s what I did. Be 100 straight through, whoever you work with or whatever you do. You’re going to go through a lot of challenges but be the best at what you do.
AllHipHop: Do’s and Don’ts when it comes to the studio?
Mixxproduction: Don’t come in there and talk the whole session because you won’t get any work done. I worked with people that did both sides. I worked with people that came in there and played their career away, didn’t make nothing out of it. I worked with people who took it mad serious, come in the studio and get work done. Really create.
AllHipHop: What inspires you the most?
Mixxproduction: Back in the day, I didn’t even need to be inspired to work on music. My grind was so heavy at the moment. Even when I was uninspired, I still worked. Nowadays, I need to be inspired. Different things. It could be a new sound and I get inspired. It could be something I’m going through in life. It depends on the moment, I get inspired by different things and then I create.
AllHipHop: What can we look forward to next?
Mixxproduction: Follow my Instagram at @mixxproduction. I have a few singles coming out and I’m starting a record label. I’ve got a couple joints with Chris Brown coming out. I have some tracks with The Weeknd, Quavo, and a few up-and-coming artists. It’s about to pop off because I’m working with a lot of up-and-coming artists now. I want to work with the youth. DDG, Qua from Philly. CJ, he popped off in New York. I’m looking to sign new artists to my label. I’ma stamp it and the streets will see it.
Taraji P. Henson broke down while recalling the heartbreaking conversation she had with her son after his father was murdered.
The “Empire” star has opened up about the drama for the latest episode of her Facebook Watch show, “Peace of Mind with Taraji,” revealing her son Marcell, now 26, was just nine when his dad was “stabbed to death” and she initially told him his father had died “in an accident,” because she didn’t know how to tell him the truth.
During the show, Taraji explained, “Later on in life he found out and he came back to me and was like, ‘Why didn’t you tell me my daddy was murdered?’ And so then we had to get therapy.
“I didn’t have the balls – it wouldn’t come out. It was in the paper and I didn’t know how to tell him. He was stabbed to death. It was the worst way you could die. I just didn’t have the words. I didn’t know how to tell a nine-year-old.”
Taraji then asked guest and therapist Sierra Hillsman for her advice on breaking devastating news to a young child.
Sierra said, “I would definitely say use age-appropriate language, explaining sometimes there are situations where people do evil things to other people – in this situation, somebody killed your father.”
Henson launched her Facebook Watch show to discuss mental health issues, particularly those impacting the black community. It airs every Monday and Wednesday.
Kim Kardashian has kicked off 2021 with a $200 million windfall after selling off 20% of her KKW Beauty brand to Coty executives.
The move comes a year after her sister Kylie Jenner sold 51% of her Kylie Cosmetics and Kylie Skin brands to the company for $600 million, becoming the highest-paid celebrity of 2020 in the process.
Announcing the big sale on Tuesday (January 5th) Kim said: “I’m so proud of how the KKW brand has grown over the past four years, and I look forward to working with Coty for the next phase of innovation, advancement, and the ability to bring new launches to customers all around the world.
“This relationship will allow me to lead the development of the creative elements that I specialize in while benefiting from the incredible resources of an established company like Coty.”
Coty CEO Sue Y. Nabi added: “Kim shares our true passion for beauty products, and this acquisition allows us to leverage our respective strengths for mutual benefit and value creation… Kim brings a huge global following and unparalleled influence over consumer choice.”
Rapper G Herbo is expecting a baby with his new fiancee.
The “PTSD” star and Taina Williams shared their happy news via social media, as the mother-to-be posted footage from her maternity shoot, in which Herbo is featured cradling and kissing her growing baby belly.
She captioned the Instagram video, “Sometimes the greatest things in life are worth hiding for a bigger sacrifice. Happiness is an understatement for the joy that we feel and the light that you’ve already brung upon us.
“God knows I prayed for you…The journey is never easy but the story is always amazing to tell .. this feeling is indescribable.. you were made with so much love no one else will ever know the strength of my love for you already… 2020 was hard but you gave me hope for 2021. We love you & cannot wait to meet you my sweet baby… happy new year”.
Meanwhile, Herbo celebrated the news on Twitter, writing, “GOTTA BE 1 OF GODS FAVORITE CUZ MY LIFE JUST KEEP GETTING BETTER!! AS LONG AS MY LESSONS BRING MORE BLESSINGS IM STR8 4EVER (straight forever) HAPPY NEW YEAR!”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CJfaadCDFty/
The couple began dating in early 2019 and became engaged in December.
Taina is the 22-year-old daughter of “Love & Hip Hop: New York” star Emily Bustamante, who has been dating hip-hop star Fabolous on and off for years.
They recently welcomed a baby girl named Journey in October, a little sister for their two older sons Johan, 12, and Jonas, five.
Herbo’s baby news emerges weeks after he was arrested on federal charges of fraud. He pleaded not guilty to the counts in early December.
He is already a dad to a young son from a previous relationship.
The Weeknd has stunned fans again with another drastic makeover for his latest music video.
The “Blinding Lights” star has debuted his new extreme Botox look in the new video for “Save Your Tears.”
In the video he boasts prosthetics that make it look as if he has undergone radical plastic surgery on his face as he performs to a variety club crowd, inviting one guest to join him onstage and end his life by holding a pistol to his head.
In the video, The Weeknd shocks his audience by holding the gun to his head and pulling the trigger – shooting out a stream of confetti.
It’s not the first time the Canadian hitmaker has drastically changed his look – he appeared at the 2020 American Music Awards with his face all bandaged up and he looked like he’d taken a beating in his “Blinding Lights” video, sporting lacerations and bruises on his face.
Jim Jones joins The Library with Tim Einenkel this week to discuss his latest album, El Capo (Deluxe), the impact of church and reggae music on him as an artist, working with Cam’Ron, Fat Joe, T.I., Conway the Machine and Bun B.
Jim also reveals his pick if Lil Kim goes head to head with Foxy Brown in a Verzuz battle and the ending of his beef with French Montana. The Harlem native also tackles the question of how he handles keeping the course with the Tekashi 69s out there in the world.
Cardi B has defended her decision not to let her two-year-old daughter listen to her controversial 2020 hit “WAP.”
Trolls aimed at the rapper after a video of her turning off the raunchy track as Kulture entered the room went viral over the weekend.
Some suggested there was a double standard at play and Cardi should not have released the track she recorded with Megan Thee Stallion if she wasn’t comfortable putting it on around the house.
Cardi B took to social media on Monday to fire back at critics and defend her parenting choices.
Ya needs to stop with this already ! I’m not jojosiwa ! I don’t make music for kids I make music for adults.Parents are responsible on what their children listen too or see.I I’m a very sexual person but not around my child just like every other parent should be. https://t.co/LRH3APdp9A
“Ya needs to stop with this already…!” she posted. “I don’t make music for kids I make music for adults. Parents are responsible on what their children listen too or see… I’m a very sexual person but not around my child just like every other parent should be.”
The former erotic dancer added: “There’s moms who are strippers. Pop p####, twerk all night for entertainment does that mean they do it around their kids? No! Stop makin this a debate. (It’s) pretty much common sense.”
There’s moms who are strippers.Pop p#### ,twerk all night for entertainment does that mean they do it around their kids ? No! Stop makin this a debate.Its pretty much common sense. https://t.co/JqZaUKbjNo
Some scumbags tried to take advantage of Dr. Dre early this morning, after learning the producer was in the hospital recovering from a brain aneurysm.
According to the cops, four men tried to break into Dr. Dre’s Pacific Palisades mansion after learning he was at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Security guards spotted the guys on Dre’s property but the would-be burglars attempted to flee the scene. The cops arrived and chased the four bandits down and arrested them.
The four men have been charged with attempted burglary and are currently in custody according to TMZ.com.
Meanwhile, Dr. Dre has assured fans he is “doing great” after suffering a brain aneurysm. The Hip-Hop icon remained optimistic he’ll be “back home soon” after receiving treatment.
Dre wrote on Instagram: “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!!”
Dre was rushed to hospital by ambulance and taken to intensive care to receive treatment after suffering a brain aneurysm on Monday (January 4th). Several stars posted get well messages on social media after the news broke, including Snoop Dogg, who wrote: “Get well Dr. Dre. We need you cuz.”
“Prayers up for Dr. Dre and his family for healing and strength over his mind & body,” Missy Elliot added, while Ice Cube shared: “Send your love and prayers to the homie Dr. Dre.”
Dre, whose real name is Andre Young, has won seven Grammys throughout an illustrious career, which has also seen him produce huge tracks for the likes of Eminem, Tupac, Snoop Dogg, and many more.
He first burst into the hip-hop scene as a co-founding member of N.W.A. and produced some of the iconic group’s influential 1988 debut album, Straight Outta Compton.
Plus, wrestling fans Westside Gunn, Smoke DZA, and Wale teamed up for “The Hurt Business” single. The collaboration off the forthcoming Conflicted original motion picture soundtrack is named after a WWE faction made up of MVP, Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, and Cedric Alexander.
However, WWE is no longer the only North American wrestling promotion drawing considerable ratings. Tony Khan’s All Elite Wrestling launched in 2019, and the company’s weekly Dynamite show is the first viable cable network alternative to the WWE product since World Championship Wrestling (WCW) folded in 2001.
Tonight’s “New Year’s Smash: Night 1” episode of Dynamite called on a pop-culture megastar to make an appearance. Hip Hop icon Snoop Dogg will join AEW stars like Chris Jericho, Cody Rhodes, Sting, Jon Moxley, Hikaru Shida, and The Young Bucks for the TNT program scheduled to air at 8 pm ET.
This will not be the first time a non-wrestling celebrity was brought in to work with AEW. In 2020, boxing legend Mike Tyson was featured on Dynamite as well as the Double or Nothing pay-per-view event where he presented the TNT Championship to Cody Rhodes.
Additionally, renowned music video director Julien “Director X” Lutz (Jay-Z, Drake, Rihanna) was behind the camera for All Elite’s The History Of A Revolution campaign. In December, basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal took part in a Dynamite segment with AEW Chief Brand Officer/on-air talent Brandi Rhodes and commentator Tony Schiavone.
Calvin “Snoop Dogg” Broadus Jr. is also getting set for his own talent competition series to debut on TNT’s sister network TBS. The Go-Big Show premieres on Friday, January 7 at 9 pm ET/8 pm CT. AEW wrestler Cody Rhodes, Top Five actress Rosario Dawson, and Country singer Jennifer Nettles will serve as judges along with the D-O-Double-G.
In celebration of the @GoBigShowTBS premiering on Thursday, January 7th on @TBSNetwork. One of the panel judges, hip-hop & cultural icon @SnoopDogg will appear LIVE during Night 1 of our New Year's Smash!
#AEWDynamite LIVE 8p Tomorrow on TNT -AEW Title Kenny Omega v Rey Fénix –@JonMoxley returns -Chris Jericho commentates -Cody v Sydal –@Sting appears -Women’s Title Shida v Abadon -GoBigShow’s @SnoopDogg appears -Bucks/SCU v Acclaimed/TH2 -Hager v Wardlow -Darby v Cage weigh-in pic.twitter.com/ofeqNW3PTy
Reverend Raphael Warnock is now the projected Senator-Elect from Georgia. The senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta – which was once led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – defeated Kelly Loeffler in a special run-off election for the U.S. Senate.
Tuesday’s race was called for Warnick after midnight. The 51-year-old Morehouse College graduate will become the first Black senator from the state of Georgia and the first Black Democrat to represent a southern state.
Fair Fight Action founder Stacey Abrams is getting widespread praise for her role in helping to organize voter registration and voter turnout efforts throughout the Peach State. The 2018 Democratic Georgia gubernatorial candidate also reached out to Hip Hop fans by appearing at the record-breaking Gucci Mane vs Jeezy Verzuz event in November.
Rappers across the country worked with Abrams, endorsed Warnock, and promoted the former public housing resident to their millions of social media followers. Specifically, Atlanta-area artists were at the forefront of trying to get Warnock – and fellow Democratic U.S. candidate Jon Ossoff – elected to Congress.
With the announcement of Warnock’s victory, a few politically-aware Hip Hop representatives from Georgia took to social media to celebrate the historic win. Michael “Killer Mike” Render was widely recognized for campaigning on Warnock’s behalf.
Congratulations to our next U.S. Senator, @ReverendWarnock. Last January, I endorsed my dear friend in his quest to serve. Soon, he will walk those august halls & cast votes as a leader with courage, justice and integrity.
Killer Mike tweeted, “Thank All GA Voters who got [their] butts to the polls! I appreciate the acknowledgment.” The Run The Jewels member later added, “Georgia’s Black voters did a hell of a job as well! Bravo.”
Grand Hustle Records leader Tip “T.I.” Harris tweeted, “@ReverendWarnock declared victory. Georgia, you did it!!” So So Def Recordings founder Jermaine Dupri posted a photo of himself with Warnock to Twitter. His caption was simply a flexed biceps emoji.
As of press time, the Jon Ossoff (D) versus incumbent Senator David Perdue (R) senate race in Georgia has not been called yet. Ossoff currently leads Perdue by about 16,000 votes with mostly Democratic districts still counting ballots.
Thank All Ga Voters who got there Butts to the polls! I appreciate the acknowledgment https://t.co/oJbRzSzsM1
Ownership of master recordings became a big topic in Hip Hop in recent weeks. Reports claimed that Lil Wayne’s sold his own masters – as well as the masters of Young Money artists Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Tyga – for what many saw as an undervalued $100 million.
For decades, artists have discussed not having control of their original sound recordings and how that impacts their bottom line. In September, Kanye West used his Twitter account to complain about record labels’ longstanding practice of having new artists sign away the rights to their masters.
This is a story that gets recreated over and over in the music industry. Some musicians were fortunate enough to secure the rights to their intellectual property and the financial benefits from those deals. For example, Rich The Kid has been outspoken about having control of his own masters.
Yesterday, Rich (born Dimitri Leslie Roger) took it a step further by calling out other rappers that may not be in the same situation with their master recordings. Specifically, the Rich Forever head /Republic signee had words for some Hip Hop veterans on his Instagram Story.
“You old n##### been rapping 100 years and still don’t own masters. Let that sizzle in ya spirit,” wrote Rich The Kid on the social media platform. Apparently, those comments did not sit well with some people. He returned to IG several hours later to somewhat walk back his bold declaration.
“When I said old n##### I really meant the old n##### who tryna act young but don’t own they s###, not the OG’s! I respect the OG’s that opened doors for me!” stated The Boss Man album creator. “Now I’m tryna promote ownership n##### get mad cause they don’t own they s###… Sad.”
Back in 2011, Aubrey Drake Graham created a dirty macking classic with “Marvins Room.” The 40-produced Take Care record is considered by some as one of Drake’s signature songs.
The OVO superstar serves as an inspiration for a generation of music artists. Brooklyn’s J.I the Prince of N.Y (born Justin Irvin Rivera) appears to be one of those Gen Z rappers that took influence from Drizzy.
J.I is the latest act to take part in the Spotify Singles series. The streaming service is hosting an acoustic version of the 19-year-old’s “Letter 2 U” off his Hood Life Krisis Vol. 3 EP as well as his cover of Drake’s “Marvin’s Room.”
“The reasons why I picked these tracks are because ‘Letter 2 U’ was the first single off HLK V.3and was very well received. I picked to cover Drake because he is a prolific staple for Generation Z. ‘Marvins Room’ is a vibe so recreating this song made sense,” says J.I.
Hood Life Krisis, Vol. 1 and Hood Life Krisis, Vol. 2 both came out in 2019 via G*Starr Entertainment/Interscope/Geffen. J.I’s Hood Life Krisis, Vol. 3 dropped on December 18, 2020 with a guest feature by fellow New Yorker A Boogie wit da Hoodie.
The Spotify Singles: Complete Collection also includes songs by Mozzy, Chloe x Halle, SahBabii, Miguel, Giveon, Jessie Reyez, Daniel Caesar, Alicia Keys, and Denzel Curry. With more than 500 tracks, the playlist contains over 250 artists across all genres.
It looks like SZA has a hit record on her hands. “Good Days” entered the Top 5 on Spotify’s Top 200 Daily chart in the United States and sits at #1 on Apple Music’s Top 100 chart in the US.
The track already made it into the Top 40 of Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart. With the early success of the single, SZA’s followers are growing more excited about the vocalist’s upcoming follow-up album to 2017’s Ctrl.
“This album is going to be the s### that made me feel something in my… [heart] and in [my gut],” SZA told Cosmopolitan. “That’s what’s going to go on the album. I’m making all different types of s### every day from different places in my spirit.”
As SZA puts the final touches on her next LP, many of her fans are still upset about how the Top Dawg Entertainment recording artist was treated by the Recording Academy in 2018. She was completely shut out of her five Grammy nominations that year.
“I’m just a girl from the ’burbs. I never had dreams of being nominated for a Grammy,” said SZA. “I thought I was going to be a gymnast and a f###### business accountant somewhere. Or working at Nike corporate or some s### in Portland Who knows, but something that involved a power suit.”
The 30-year-old New Jersey native added, “So it’s not a heavy burden. Once you’ve been nominated and lost, you’re very much free because you’re not concerned. I passed that threshold years ago – it’s an old energy to me. Why would I be mad?”
With just one studio LP in her discography at the moment, the woman born Solána Imani Rowe is likely in the first stages of her career as a musician. Yet, the Oscar-nominated singer-songwriter is already thinking about the impact of her art and what her legacy will be.
“I’m just figuring it out – who I am and what I want that to be,” said SZA. “Before, it was more about letting people know that I was a good writer and that I shouldn’t be counted out. And now it’s more, You have power; you can shape the world based on the things you genuinely care about.”
When Ms. Lauryn Hill dropped her debut solo LP, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, she became a global superstar. The album sold 422,624 copies in its first week, reached 8x-Platinum status, and won the rapper/singer five Grammy Awards including Album of the Year.
Even though the project is considered a Hip Hop masterpiece, Hill never dropped another studio album. Twenty-three years later, fans of the Fugees member still question why she decided not to release an official follow-up.
Hill gave a very rare e-mail interview for Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums podcast to give her thoughts about the classic The Miseducation. The episode is available exclusively on the Amazon Music app.
“The wild thing is no one from my label has ever called me and asked how can we help you make another album, EVER…EVER. Did I say ever? Ever!” stated Hill. “With the Miseducation, there was no precedent. I was, for the most part, free to explore, experiment, and express.”
She continued, “After the Miseducation, there were scores of tentacled obstructionists, politics, repressing agendas, unrealistic expectations, and saboteurs EVERYWHERE. People had included me in their own narratives of THEIR successes as it pertained to my album, and if this contradicted my experience, I was considered an enemy.”
In 2002, Lauryn Hill presented MTV Unplugged No. 2.0. The live album, recorded in 2001 at MTV Studios in Times Square, was met with mixed reviews. That project has since been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Dr. Dre just issued a statement to let everyone know he is doing good, and recovering, after suffering from a brain aneurysm on Monday (January 5th).
The news caused panic throughout the hip-hop industry, as everyone from 2 Chainz to Ice Cube sent out prayers to the man who launched careers of artists ranging from N.W.A. and Snoop Dogg to Eminem and 50 Cent.
“Thanks to my family, friends, and fans for their interest and well wishes,” Dr. Dre said. “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!!
Dre was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance and sent to the ICU at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he is recovering.
He is undergoing a variety of tests in an attempt to determine what caused the bleeding on his brain. Thankfully, Dre is expected to make a full recovery.
According to WebMD, the most common cause of a brain aneurysm is high-blood pressure, or atherosclerosis, which is a buildup of fats, cholesterol, in the artery walls, which can restrict blood flow.
Dre has been under pressure lately, as he divorces Nicole Young, after 24 years of marriage. The couple is fighting over an $850 million fortune.
The Aftermath/Beats By Dre founder claims he has an iron-clad prenuptial agreement in place, but Nicole says Dre coerced her into signing the agreement.
She’s currently after $2 million in spousal support. The estranged couple was supposed to faceoff in court tomorrow over the issue, but Dre will be hospitalized for the hearing if it even takes place.
A rapper who was 11-years-old when he gained notoriety for dissing SpaceGhostPurrp has passed away.
Lil Shark engaged in one of the most bizarre beefs in rap history back in 2014, after a feud between him and SpaceGhostPurrp attracted headlines.
Issues between the pair started after SpaceGhostPurrp heard some of Lil Shark’s music, and branded the Augusta, Georgia native’s music as being wack. SpaceGhostPurrp asked his fans to help him have the youngster’s music removed from SoundCloud for being so trash.
Lil Shark responded in kind with a diss track to SpaceGhostPurrp. He also managed to hack SpaceGhostPurrp’s website and post the artwork for his mixtape “The Shark Tank.”
According to Lil Shark’s older brother, the rapper, who would have turned 18-years-old on January 20th, 2021, died unexpectedly. An official cause of death was not revealed, but sources said Lil Shark, born Brent Garner, committed suicide on Monday (January 4th).
“Brent was a wonderful son, brother, and friend who touched the lives of everyone around him,” his dad said on a GoFundMe page raising money for Lil Shark’s funeral. “We are all devastated by this loss and were not prepared for the high cost of a funeral service. We want to give Brent the memorial he deserves, to honor his last memory and say our final goodbyes.”
Almost 7 years later, SpaceGhostPurrp still holds a grudge against Lil Shark. The Raider Klan founder got wind of Lil Shark’s death and made fun of his passing in some unsavory tweets.
Some users were obviously offended by SpaceGhostPurrp’s comments, but he did not back down.
UPDATE: Dr. Dre has released a statement through his Instagram account.
“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!!”
Legendary Hip-Hop producer Dr. Dre is in the hospital, with a serious medical condition.
According to reports, the 55-year-old suffered a brain aneurysm On Monday (January 5th). The superstar producer is currently going under a variety of tests at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Sources told TMZ that Dre is stable, but they are still looking to figure out what caused his brain to start bleeding. The news comes in the middle of Dr. Dre’s divorce battle with his estranged wife, Nicole Young.
Nicole claims Dre forced her into signing a prenup which prevents her from getting access to his vast fortune earned from his investments in the music business, and the sale of his company Beats By Dre to Apple in August of 2014 for $3.6 billion in cash and stock.
Dre and Nicole Young were supposed to have another court date over Nicole’s request for $2 million a month in temporary spousal support tomorrow (January 6th). Dr. Dre will not be able to attend.
The mogul had been resisting Nicole’s attempt to get a seven-figure check each month, saying her expenses were actually around $293,306 – which he had been paying since their split. Nicole is also asking for $5 million from Dre to pay for her legal bills, another request he shot down through his lawyer, Laura Wasser.
Their blockbuster divorce has made headlines around the world.
Last month, Dr. Dre’s oldest daughter surfaced, alleging she had not spoken to her dad in over 17 years.
LaTanya Young blasted Dre, claiming he abandoned her and his other kids, Latoya, 36, and Ashley, whom he fathered with an old girlfriend named Lisa Johnson.
She is finished with Kanye West and everything that comes with him! According to multiple sources and multiple news outlets, the pair have tried to reconcile their relationship through marital counseling but the marital counseling led to divorce.
In fact, Kim has already hired a divorce lawyer and they are currently in settlement talks. The 40-year-old and the 43-year-old have not been seen together in quite some time and they haven’t lived together since the dawn of the pandemic. Kim stopped wearing her ring. Kanye has been in the Wyoming ranch whereas Kim has been in California with her family. Both were criticized for having far too many people in their orbit during COVID-19.
In one report by the New York Post they said that Kim has tried resolutely to deal with Kanye and his mental health issues and is now a different person than when they first met. She is actually trying to become a lawyer and even pass the bar (wink, wink). Kanye obviously has been trying to run for president and he has never had a shot at winning. Kim is sick of it!
Remember in July, Kanye said he had been trying to get divorced and that never happened so the writing has been on the wall for some time. I am surprised he made it this far.
