Former rap star Silento is facing a murder charge, for killing his own cousin.
The “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” rapper was taken into custody earlier today (February 1st) in DeKalb County, Georgia.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the 23-year-old, born Ricky Lamar Hawk, shot and killed his 34-year-old cousin named Frederick Rooks on January 21st.
One security camera from a neighbor’s house caught the shooting on camera, while several others in the area captured several cars fleeing the scene.
A DeKalb Police spokesman said a thorough investigation took place, and the evidence pointed to Silento as the gunman.
Cardi B promised her fans she had some big information to reveal earlier today in a sexy Instagram post, and she did not disappoint.
After making fans wait for almost 15 hours, the Bronx rapper revealed the big news. Cardi B unveiled the artwork for her brand new “UP,” which is slated for release this Friday.
The colorful artwork has a burlesque feel and was more than pleasing to the eyes of the Bardi Gang.
It can be nigh-impossible to distinguish who is who in a world convoluted with filters, massive pr machines, algorithms and just-add-lies to social media propaganda. Then there are the others, that take the longer route, backed by talent or the streets or sheer will. SKG , also know as Helecia Choyce, lies in the in many iterations of space, time and the physical. Once signed to Death Row Records, she has worked on 2Pac’s posthumous album Until The End of Time and shared the stage with Crooked I, Kurupt and the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes.
Now, SKG is back – with a ton of history with Suge Knight, Nipsey Hustle and others – as well is a current push that combines all of her sensibilities. Her next album “Unfinished Business” drops this summer with producer Caviar.
AllHipHop: Your upcoming album “Unfinished Business” has features with Anthony Hamilton, Lil Boosie, Juvenile, Beanie Man, Suga Free, Dave East and West Coast royals like Suga Free, Mista F.A.B., G Perico, Compton AV and more. What went in to the decision-making process of who you choose for this project?
SKG: I wanted to have a diverse selection for the album, because I’m a very diverse artist. So I wanted to work with artists that brung out each emotion that I wanted to implement in each song and that’s how the decision making came about for who I wanted to work it.
AllHipHop: Your new song “Tired” is a moving, powerful testimony. What moved you to do it now, when most rap seems to be Tik Tok challenges?
SKG: I wanted Change. I was literally tired of seeing the same thing. I have been a victim of police brutality as well as racial assault and it’s very stressful to deal with. My friend and I was attacked before by seven skinheads just for being Black. And we literally had to fight for our lives, we had to fight to stay alive because we were definitely out numbered. That was one of many reasons behind my song. Because I know how it feel to fight when people have knives on you, calling you n###ers and telling you you’re going to die because you look different.
Another reason is because my thought pattern. See growing up and seeing so many of my family members and friends die from Black-on-Black crime made me angry. I was really angry at my own for a long time, because my family and I have took so many losses at the hands of our own. I watched my grandmother bury her sons because someone that look liked them killed them and caused so much trauma and hurt in my family. So for a long time I would say let’s not talk about police brutality, let’s talk about Black-on-Black crime. I let my anger from my personal experience blind me to the big picture.
Then wanting to protect my kids from the way I grew up I sent them to school in Burbank, California which is a predominantly white school and what happened was kids there was calling them ni##ers, monkeys and more… the principal and the kids were very racist and I seen Black kids at the schools in Burbank cry over racist treatment. The principal would pacify the racist kids and treat our kids like the aggressor. And what that taught me is instead of saying “No, my kids can’t go to schools in my community, I should have volunteered at the school and help create the change I wanted to see.” Because putting my kids in a predominately white school created not only a disconnect, but also a complexion that I had to work years to reverse and show them that we are beautiful no matter who says other wise.
Also, what I realized is there is crime in every race. And you cannot compare police killings to Black-on-Black crime. Because police officers took an oath to protect and serve the community that pays the tax dollars to keep them employed. We shouldn’t justify a police beating or killing by saying first we have to stop killing each other. No, the police needs to stop killing us, we need to have more police officers in our areas that look like us, communicate with us, and want to work with the community to help rebuild And instill trust. Also, we have to work together as a race to protect our future generations as well as cease fire and create the change we want to see.
AllHipHop: How are you faring in these revolutionary and pandemic times?
SKG: I’m staying motivated and I understand we are on borrowed time so everyday we get to open our eyes is a new day and blessing.
AllHipHop: You used to be signed to Death Row Records (Tha Row) after Tupac died, but Death Row nonetheless. What was your experience like with legends like Crooked I, Kurupt and Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes and what do you think of how it all ended.
SKG: If I can be completely honest, none of my label mates liked me. The love be so fake and the hate be so real and I’m ok with that especially at this point in my life. But I was a young teenager and I was dealing with adults who hated on me more than helped me. But at the end of the day I understand the politics and I will just say I’m still working. I wish everyone the best.
AllHipHop: You did appear on Until the End of Time, Pac’s third posthumous album. Did you feel any affinity to him or kinship? Tyrese claims Pac “visited” him.
SKG: No I didn’t. I was always around them as a kid. I just signed later in my teenage years.
AllHipHop: Did you have a relationship with Left Eye? If so, what was she like?
SKG: (Laughs) Me and Left Eye didn’t get along at all. I was always a fan of hers, but she didn’t like me because she thought I was sleeping with Suge. I was a fan of the artist Left Eye. But once I seen her character as Lisa I didn’t like her, which caused us to have a fight in the parking lot of Death Row Records office. She was very disrespectful to Suge and tried to fight him often, but I was young and wild so when she thought she was going to disrespect me I had to turn up on her. You know she’s no longer with us and my personal feelings or interactions have nothing to do with her greatness as a artist. It just taught me at a young age that you can’t idolize people you see on tv because your perception of who you think they are will be totally different from who they actually are.
AllHipHop: How was your experiences with Suge Knight? He once said you were the female version of him!
SKG: I will always have love for Suge, because he took a chance on me when no one else would. Suge gave me the game, the platform and taught me a lot about this industry especially the business side. We had our ups and downs, but at the end of the day, I’m grateful I was able to have the experience of being signed to one of the greatest labels of all times.
AllHipHop: You know Death Row is now owned by Hasbro the toy giant? Maybe we can get you made into a doll or action figure.
SKG: Yes I heard they do own Death Row now. And that would be dope!
AllHipHop: What do you think of the state of the rap game now? Also, the influx of woman dominating Hip-Hop – thoughts?
SKG: I think we have to remember that the world is always changing. Music is always changing and music influences the world. And we have to adjust to change and learn how to embrace it. That’s what we see in Hip-Hop. Also, I think it’s great to see so many talented ladies dominating the rap game right now. It’s inspiring on so many levels.
AllHipHop: And, of course we gotta talk about the West Coast. How do you feel about the coast? It seems like people are getting their flowers.
SKG: You know being from the West I always loved our cultural especially our Hip-Hop Culture. I think we are evolving as more rappers are coming out. For so long we had a dark cloud over us and I just feel like now we are starting to see new barriers being broken and I’m excited to work with the new artist that’s coming out the west as well as our legends.
AllHipHop: We are seeing rappers die a lot now, unlike when Pac and Biggie were murdered. One of the biggest was Nipsey Hussle. I feel that to this day. Can you talk about your experience with him?
SKG: So many people ask me about Nipsey and sometimes it’s hard to talk about because it’s so much deeper than rap. Nip and I we are from the same neighborhood. Growing up you see a lot of your friends / family / peers go through the trials and tribulations of either being a product of our environment or being a person that is there to better our environment and Nip was actually both.
See, I was with Nip from the beginning when he first did Slauson Boys and Bullets Ain’t Got No Name. I was working at 93.5 Kday under the managing partner Roy Laughlin. This was 2007-2008 And I brought Nip and most of the people from my neighborhood that rapped up to Kday. At first everyone was saying Nip was too hard core, they were very intimidated by him. They wasn’t use to really seeing a new rapper so determined but so authentically unapologetically hood. I worked and made my bosses play his music on the radio. I did that because I believed in him from the beginning. It’s easy for people to jump on the band wagon once you made it but to believe in someone when everyone is saying it or they will never work shows you the ones that seen the greatness in you when few wanted to believe or see it for themselves.
While I was working his project Nip and I got into it over a personal matter that I just chose not to discuss, but I was very upset at him. I mean extremely upset and angry which caused us to have a argument in person and on Twitter and I didn’t speak with him for almost 8 years. But we have a generational family from our neighborhood so him and my older brother remained friends throughout the years. B\ut I still admired his work from afar because from the beginning I knew he was one of the dopest artist and I was still happy to see him reach his potential of who he was destined to be even if I wasn’t apart of his journey.
After 8 years I was in our neighborhood and pulled up on him at his tshirt store. When I jumped out the car he turned around and we both start smiling and hugged and he said “ cuz yo crazy ass hold a long ass grudge” and as long as the grudge was held in that moment it was gone. We embraced and talked our situation out. I was happy We made up a few years before he passed away. But I’m still sad behind his situation because he was a person that loved and I mean loved his neighborhood, his friends, his community and sometimes people can hate you just by the way other people love you. We have lost so many people over in our area. I lost 3 uncles and My Older Brother and anytime someone you grew up with lose their life it’s a shared feeling of sadness. The whole situation is heartbreaking but I’m happy that GOD gave nip the right team to carry his legacy for generations to come.
AllHipHop: With “I’m Tired,” you take a responsible and conscious approach, but on “Break Em,” you have a sexy, raw approach. How important is it to show these different sides?
SKG: It’s very important to show different sides because that’s part of who I am. Those are my feelings. That’s how I feel At times. I have different emotions, different thoughts and some days I might feel one way and want to express myself in a certain manner and other days I might feel another way. That’s apart of expressing who I am artistically.
AllHipHop: What director did you work with on this ” I’m Tired “video? How was it working with them?
SKG: I worked with Rasheeda Wallace on this video. It was such an honor working with Rasheeda. She wears many, many hats. She had a vision for this video and she delivered tremendously. I can’t wait to work with her ok my other videos. Her vision and creative work is unmatched.
AllHipHop: What keeps you motivated to push forward after such a lengthy tenure in the game?
SKG: Honestly, it’s the people that send me messages. You know I been in the game for a long time and sometimes no matter what you did, or how much work you put in people especially your peers will discredit you. But I have supporters that I don’t even know sending me messages telling me to keep going and I don’t think they understand how motivating that is. Also, my kids. They help me keep up with the new trends and rappers as well. (Laughs)
AllHipHop: What’s next for you?
SKG: To continue dropping music and producing movies. I’m working with (comedian / actor) Miguel Nunez right now to produce the film “Juwanna Mann Two.” I’m also working on the Raz B documentary and I have a few other projects on the film side I’m working on. Later this year, I’ll be back in the studio working on my second album so I’m just focused and staying humble and determined.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want to get across to people?
SKG: I just want to Thank Everyone for supporting me. All the artist that I have features with. The fans, blogs, anyone I ever worked with and anyone that share my music and videos I just want to say Thank You so much and I truly appreciate everyone.
The COVID-19 crisis has been a “blessing” in disguise for rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs because it’s allowed him to spend much-needed quality time with his family.
The Hip-Hop star admits he hasn’t always been as present as he needed to be for his children over the years, but when the coronavirus shutdown occurred last March, he realized what an opportunity he had been given to try and make it up to his brood – particularly after the shock 2018 death of his ex, Kim Porter, the mother of three of his six biological kids.
Diddy opened up about life during the pandemic in a virtual chat with music industry icon Clive Davis on Saturday, for part one of two pre-Grammys fundraisers.
“For me, my life got better because I was running myself into the ground and I wasn’t taking enough time for my family and for myself. It’s really been a blessing,” the rapper shared.
“I lost (Kim), the mother of my children (in 2018) and the time that (my kids and I) were sequestered together, it helped me to make up for all those years I was on tour and to get closer to my family.
“For me, it’s been a blessing but really using the time to become a better father and a better person.”
Diddy, who also took Kim’s eldest son, Quincy, under his wing during their years-long on/off romance, is now keen to make a chart return after previously taking a step back from making music.
“When I turned 50 (in 2019)… I knew something was missing and what was missing was music…,” he said. “I don’t have a big splashy announcement. I can just say I’m back orchestrating and I’m excited to see what the future holds.”
Lil Wayne’s pardon has officially been filed and registered by the Office of the Pardon Attorney, and his upcoming court dates related to his gun charge are off the calendar.
Wayne was supposed to head into court on March 4th 2021, after was caught with a gold plated .45 handgun on his private jet when he landed at the Opa-Locka Executive Airport in Miami in December of 2019.
In a shrewd move, Wayne pleaded guilty to the charges on December 20th, 2020, gambling that his buddy, President Donald Trump would grant him a pardon.
Tiffany Haddish and boyfriend Common have made their relationship TikTok official, by getting hot and heavy during the Silhouette Challenge.
The “Girls Trip” star shared a video on the social media site on Sunday, as the pair took part in the viral challenge. The challenge involves a person appearing head to toe in clothing to start with, with the video then cutting to the same person in barely any clothes, striking a sexy silhouetted pose.
Tiffany kicked off her video in a red trench coat, before the tune of Paul Anka’s “Put Your Head On My Shoulder” changed into Doja Cat’s “Streets,” and things began heating up.
In what appeared to be a black bikini, Tiffany writhed against a wall, before her other half made a cameo appearance and the pair started kissing and grinding against each other.
The video concludes with Common accidentally pulling Tiffany’s wig off during a particularly intimate moment, with both the actress and rapper shrugging and laughing at the mishap.
Tiffany and Common started dating early last year, with their romance apparently going from strength to strength.
Caught on camera, a Rochester police officer pepper-sprayed a 9-year-old girl who was already in the cop’s car and handcuffed.
The incident happened on Wednesday, January 27th, after law enforcement received a call that there was some sort of “family trouble.”
The girl was allegedly suicidal and wanted to also kill her mother. However, questions arise after she was assaulted by the grown-ups with badges and blue uniforms.
One question which is obvious: “Why did they spray her after she was already constrained?”
Police assert that they were overwhelmed and under-resourced and so they had to subdue the child. Still, two body camera videos of the incident were released five days later on Sunday, January 31, showing the girl clearly cuffed and screaming for her father.
She was in the vehicle and despite her being understandably upset, kicking, and crying— considering she is in the 4th or 5th grade — the multiple officers did seem in control. The spray was some extra sh*t.
Second question: Where was the unit organized to address mental health and social welfare concerns?
Crickets.
The city and the police have responded in a mixture of damage control and justification.
Interim Rochester Police Chief Cynthia Herriott-Sullivan said that the way the girl was handled was flat-out wrong.
“I’m not going to stand here and tell you that for a 9-year-old to have to be pepper-sprayed is OK. It’s not,” she remarked. “I don’t see that as who we are as a department, and we’re going to do the work we have to do to ensure that these kinds of things don’t happen.”
The mayor, Lovely Warren echoed that.
“I have a 10-year-old daughter. So she’s a child; she’s a baby. And I can tell you that this video, as a mother, is not anything that you want to see. It’s not,” the mayor said. “We have to understand compassion, empathy. When you have a child that is suffering in this way and calling out for her dad, I saw my baby’s face in her face.”
Rochester Deputy Police Chief Andre Anderson tried to shed light on why his officers responded as they did. This ought to be good.
“It didn’t appear as if she was resisting the officers, she was trying not to be restrained to go to the hospital,” Anderson said as if we were not listening to how crazy that just sounded.
“As the officers made numerous attempts to try to get her in the car, an officer sprayed the young child with OC spray to get her in the car.”
The video shows her in the car … actually sitting with the handcuffs on … she was screaming and crying and trying to move but she was in the car until she fell out after being sprayed.
He then says that as a department they are “not making any excuses for what transpired” But it kinda sounds like that.
The Rochester Police Union Chief, Joshua Potash weighed in.
You listen and decide.
The Rochester police union chief responded to the pepper spraying of a handcuffed 9 year-old girl by defending the cops. The whole barrel is rotten.
A cop said to her, “You’re acting like a child,” and the girl reminded her “I am a child!”
A female officer speaks at one point (there were a lot of cops there) and threatens the less than a decade old child, “This is your last chance, otherwise pepper spray’s going in your eyeballs.”
Then another voice says, “Just spray her at this point.”
Hopefully, this family will be brought to justice. If the child was suicidal, this surely will add to her distress.
Rochester Police Accountability Board statement on the handcuffed minor who was subjected to an irritant by an RPD officer: “Our community needs to see exactly what happened on Avenue B.” #roc@DandCpic.twitter.com/apRudECccF
The Rochester Police Accountability Board put several suggestions on resolving this matter.
The PAB is asking the RPD to follow the law and provide our agency with all information regarding the Harris Street incident. pic.twitter.com/GMDvccoAIX
— Rochester Police Accountability Board (@RochesterPAB) January 31, 2021
The PAB is asking that Chief Herriott-Sullivan provide written answers to questions about the Harris Street Incident, including those questions listed below. pic.twitter.com/zYwrUISJ2c
— Rochester Police Accountability Board (@RochesterPAB) January 31, 2021
The biggest voice so far that has come out against the Rochester Police Department was New York State Attorney General Letitia James and Congressman Joe Morelle.
What happened in Rochester on Friday is deeply disturbing and wholly unacceptable. Such use of force and pepper spray should never be deployed against a child, period.
Statement from @RepJoeMorelle on 9-year-old being pepper-sprayed by Rochester police: "RPD’s response to this young girl lacked empathy, understanding, and basic common-sense — and if that is what 'protocol' looks like, it’s simply unacceptable." #ROCpic.twitter.com/T25y8p0x9b
Saint Lamaar is only 18 years old and already living out his dreams on the daily. Hailing from the East side of Columbus, Ohio and growing up in the church, music has been a part of his life since he can remember. Now currently residing in Atlanta, the rising star has had the pleasure of working with Grammy-nominated producer Willy Will and Grammy-winning producer Wonder Arillo.
Inspired directly by real life experiences, music serves as an outlet for Lamaar, a way to express himself in his most vulnerable state. One thing about him is his relatability to the masses, proving he’s human just like the rest of the world. Doing everything independent and putting in the work to make it to the big leagues, Lamaar released the visual for his newest single titled “Word For The Hood.”
AllHipHop: What was the household like growing up in Columbus, Ohio?
Saint Lamaar: I grew up with both of my parents. I have 6 other siblings, I’m the youngest of 7. Growing up was neat. I wouldn’t say I was babied or anything, but I did get a lot of love. I was babied by my sisters and had older brothers, so it was neat. They all did some sort of music or sports. We were always involved in different things.
AllHipHop: Biggest influences coming up?
Saint Lamaar: I have older parents so I listened to a lot of older music like Funkadelic, Temptations, Earth Wind & Fire. I love Musiq Soulchild, John Legend, those people. I love good music, music that makes you feel stuff.
AllHipHop: You grew up on music in the church, talk about taking the hip-hop route.
Saint Lamaar: I wouldn’t say I went all the way the Hip Hop route. I like to step into R&B, neo soul, modern day funk music. How I’m packaged, the stuff I do and who I’m around definitely looks Hip Hop, but I’m more well-rounded than just Hip Hop.
AllHipHop: At what point did you realize this music thing was forreal?
Saint Lamaar: Leaving high school was when I realizedI could really do it. The love I was getting in high school, it’s a real captive audience in high school. Everyone has to be there. If you’re looking at something, the person next to you is probably going to ask who it is. I figured I could probably do this, I’m getting good looks and people are looking into me.
AllHipHop: When did you move to Atlanta? I know you worked with Willy Will and Wonder Arillo.
Saint Lamaar: I moved to Atlanta 2 months after I got out of high school, so 6 months ago. The plan moving down there was getting a lot of stuff in order, really getting into the studio and creating stuff. Creating and figuring out what I wanted my sound to be, what I had going on, and who I wanted to link with. I linked with Willy Will first. Willy Will made the beat “Word For The Hood” with a producer from Columbus called Young Doe.
We went to a session down there at Triangle Studio in Atlanta, we did a cook up. The beat wasn’t already made so when we got there, we broke it down and figured out what we wanted to do. We wanted to make something fun and faster, so let’s try this. I got in there and that’s what happened. I met with Wonder a month later in Atlanta, Arillo’s a great, Grammy-winning producer. He came to Deep House Studios in downtown Atlanta. Same situation: we figured out the vibe, we cooked up, and it was a great time. It was a great time with both of them, a very transparent level.
AllHipHop: What was the inspiration behind your name?
Saint Lamaar: The Saint came from growing up in church. Growing up, I didn’t really involve myself in a lot of stuff so all my friends called me Saint a lot of times. I didn’t cuss growing up earlier. I’d always bring up bible verses, what God said. I’d always pray before all of my meals so my friends started calling me Saint. My middle name is Lamar so I put it together. Let me see if anyone has this name, no one did so I ran with that.
AllHipHop: Any significance in the two a’s?
Saint Lamaar: No, that’s how my mom spelled it. [laughs] She was trying to be different I guess.
AllHipHop: Who or what inspired “Word For The Hood”?
Saint Lamaar: Fun, I wanted to have fun and make a fun track. The mindset and situation I was in while making it, it was hot outside so I wanted to make a move and have fun. It was the right people involved in it, I went to the studio and it was off the head. Off the top, we created it.
AllHipHop: What about “Round Trip”?
Saint Lamaar: Round Trip was actually made in the same studio session, that’s funny. “Round Trip” was the same situation really. I had the beat before I went into the session. I went in there, it was the first song I recorded when I got into the studio. It was a song I wrote half of prior to the session. I wanted to record this one to see how it sounds, I like how it sounded so I ran with it.
AllHipHop: Your inspiration is life in itself, talk about creating music for other people to relate to.
Saint Lamaar: That’s a big part of music and getting consumers. Grabbing people’s attention and making music that people can relate to or find themselves in is a big part.
AllHipHop: What is it you want fans to get from your story?
Saint Lamaar: Just do it. Almost like Nike, just do it. If you feel like you can and if you feel like you’re different, don’t let anyone tell you what you’re doing and what you like to do is wrong or bad. Just because someone doesn’t like it, doesn’t mean it’s not good. It’s not for that person.
AllHipHop: How important is social media for your career?
Saint Lamaar: Really, it’s a place you can post music for people to listen to, you can engage with people and show a different side. With music, you can only show how you sound. You make a video, you show how you look. You can get on Instagram and talk, you can make posts and repost people stuff that you agree with. That’s instrumental in people finding out and knowing who you are.
AllHipHop: 3 things you need in the studio?
Saint Lamaar: I need water in the studio, I need gummy worms in the studio, and I need a producer in the studio.
AllHipHop: What kind of producers do you like?
Saint Lamaar: I like people who don’t just deal with hip-hop tracks. I like to make ballads, I like R&B stuff. I really do prefer older producers because they sometimes have a different type of soul and have made different types of tracks. They’ve lived in different times where music might’ve been better, with different melodies. I like older music so I usually prefer older producers.
AllHipHop: What would you be doing if you weren’t doing music?
Saint Lamaar: I’d probably be a chef. I’d be trying to be a chef or going to school to be a chef. Or in school for business
AllHipHop: What food do you like to cook?
Saint Lamaar: Anything now, I’m pescatarian. I deal with a lot of seafood like shrimp and salmon. I like pasta a lot too.
AllHipHop: What makes you want to give back to where you came from?
Saint Lamaar: For sure, that’s big. I want to give back to where I came from. Even if it’s not where I came from, a situation I feel like I came from. That’s instrumental and if you can help in any situation, why not?
AllHipHop: What’s the reality of coming out of Columbus, Ohio?
Saint Lamaar: Columbus is a place where there’s a lot of talent, but Columbus hasn’t really been put on the map as a hub for talent where stuff comes out of. You haven’t really heard “oh yeah, so and so is from Columbus.” There’s not a lot of eyes on Columbus in the music industry. That’s the reason I left Columbus, I had to get in the mix and get around different people. That’s one of the reasons I took off and did what I’ve done so far.
AllHipHop: What goals do you have so far in this point in your career?
Saint Lamaar: I want to be huge. I want to be a household name of course, I want to make music for people to dance in the house to. I want to make music people have to replay, I want to make classics when they come out. I want to make real cinematic videos, not even crazy edits but stuff people want to look at. I want to become larger than life in a way.
AllHipHop: What’s it going to take to get there?
Saint Lamaar: Of course hard work. Getting strategic partnerships, that’s really important especially in the industry. Keeping one foot on their necks and one foot on the gas, that’s going to do it.
AllHipHop: Dream collab?
Saint Lamaar: Pharrell. 100% Pharrell.
AllHipHop: What do you like about Pharrell?
Saint Lamaar: His sound. I love his music when he’s actually in it and being vocal. I love his beats too, they’re crazy. I love music that makes you feel something and he hasn’t missed for me
AllHipHop: What can we expect from you next music-wise?
Saint Lamaar: A crazy visual, an out-of-this-world visual shot by director Cricket and involved with Ambitious day dreams. A project this year in 2021 for sure, crazy out-of-this-world visuals and a kick butt project forreal. That’s what you can expect.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want to let the people know?
Saint Lamaar: Look out! If you don’t, it’s going to hit you in your face.
The cops have arrested a man charged with domestic violence in Brooklyn for another case, a highly publicized and vicious attack on a woman in Harlem. Tyrone Cooper, a 22-year-old African-American male, was taken into custody Sunday on another incident, said NYPD Chief of Detectives Rodney Harris.
According to the report, Cooper assaulted his 20-year-old girlfriend in her East Flatbush apartment, striking her in the face and then choking her. He previously broke her jaw, according to an account told to police.
Cooper will be charged in the Harlem incident as well. No word yet on his cohorts also involved in that vicious Harlem attack as well.
The Harlem assault of a 31-year-old woman not only made headlines, but was a hot topic in social media as well. The woman that was attacked – kicked and punched – said she was “mauled “by the assailants, one of which bit her.
This evening, Tyrone Cooper was apprehended by @NYPD67Pct patrol officers in Brooklyn after responding to a domestic violence radio run. He was also wanted for the brutal assault on a 31-year-old female that occurred on January 18th outside a Harlem liquor store.
“I was mauled, this is more than being bitten. I was mauled – that he didn’t just bite me and like that was it,” she told local New York ABC, “This was a recurring action that he did on my face as if he was trying to literally take my eye. That’s what it felt like.”
” I will never forget that look in his eyes and it’s just being that close to me in my face, and just trying to do that like it’s feeling him biting on me and just his breath on me and just the scent of his clothes,” the victim continued, “He really just needs to be caught, all of them, because I didn’t deserve this, I was minding my business.”
All of this started because she reportedly would not respond to their sexual advances.
In the local community, there was a manhunt for the perps and hundreds of people assembled outside of the bodega where the incident occurred in a show of solidarity. Some supported street justice and community policing in the case and, early rumors suggested, that the men had been dealt with by vigilantes.
Today (February 1) is the first day of Black History Month for the year 2021. To celebrate, Spotify is launching guest-curated playlist takeovers, brand new podcasts, and more exclusive content.
Several notable Black creators helped contribute to the streaming company’s “Black History Is Now” hub. 2 Chainz is curating the “I Love My HBCU” playlist which features tunes such as “Swag Surfin’,” “Back That Azz Up,” and “Poison.”
Ari Lennox and Lucky Daye are co-curating the “Black Love Mixtape” which launches on February 12. Keke Palmer took over the “Queen” playlist with songs by Aaliyah, Whitney Houston, Mary J. Blige, Brandy, SZA, and other R&B singers.
American Jazz artist Keyon Harrold Sr., his son Keyon Harrold Jr., and the Color of Change organization are using the Black Lives Matter playlist to further the conversation about racial justice. Amaarae is presenting Afrofuturism in music with “Black To The Future.”
In addition, Spotify licensed images from seven Black photographers to create cover art for 8 playlists throughout the month of February. Adreinne Waheed, Doug Segars, Adrian Octavious Walker, Black Archives, Andre Wagner, Erica Génécé, and Adreinne Wahee were tapped for the task.
Besides previously presenting original podcasts like Jemele Hill is Unbothered and The Michelle Obama Podcast, Spotify is releasing new podcasts and special guest episodes with Black creators like Danyel Smith, Van Lathan, Rachel Lindsay, and Bakari Sellers. The streamer is also offering new Hip Hop-centered playlists.
Spotify’s newly launched Hip Hop playlists:
New Joints: “Simply put, these are the newest rap songs our editors think fans should know.”
Door Knockers: “A playlist celebrating trailblazing women in hip-hop history.”
Trophy Room: “This mood-based playlist is for anyone who’s feeling celebratory.”
City To City: “This playlist features songs from the Drill scenes of New York, London, and Chicago.”
Three Spotify playlists have adopted new looks and sounds:
Westside Story: “Formerly of the moniker ‘Cali Fire,’ this playlist has expanded its scope beyond California to cover the entirety of the West Coast.”
No Cap: “Previously called ‘The Realest Down South,’ this mix features Southern artists, old and new.”
Out The Mud: “’Off The Strength’ fans can now find street artists on this refreshed playlist.”
Compton, California is one of the capitals of Hip Hop culture. The city produced rap stars like Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, DJ Quik, MC Eiht, Kendrick Lamar, YG, Roddy Ricch, The Game, and others.
With a long list of successful representatives, it may be hard for some people to name the all-time greatest rapper to emerge from Compton. That conversation just happened to take place on the Clubhouse app this weekend.
“Can’t nobody in Compton out rap Game, n####. Can’t nobody in Compton out rap me,” said The Game in a CH room that also included West Coasters Crooked I and Glasses Malone. Of course, Pulitzer Prize-winning emcee Kendrick Lamar was brought up.
“Kendrick my n####. Kendrick do his s###. I love that n#### to death. N####, I flew past Kendrick when that n#### was on foot in a Range Rover and showed him how to do this s###. Don’t play. Don’t play with Game’s name. Hardest n#### in Compton, rapping, lyricist – me. Any n#### that says any different, I’ll body him and any n#### he f### with.”
The man born Jayceon Taylor later named Lamar, MC Ren, and DJ Quik as his personal Top 3 rappers from his hometown. The Game and Kendrick Lamar have appeared on tracks together. For example, Top Dawg Entertainment’s flagship act was a guest feature on Game’s “The City” in 2012 and “On Me” in 2015.
Bad Bunny is the latest celebrity to show up at a World Wrestling Entertainment event. The Puerto Rican rapper/singer performed his El Último Tour Del Mundo track “Booker T” at the Royal Rumble on Sunday.
Retired wrestling great Robert “Booker T” Huffman was part of Bunny’s Spanish-language performance. That was not the only time the recording artist made an appearance on the pay-per-view.
Later in the night, Bad Bunny actually entered the wrestling ring as part of the Men’s Royal Rumble match. The 26-year-old chart-topper confronted The Miz and John Morrison which eventually led to Bunny climbing the top rope and delivering a flying splash to the heels.
“Yeah, it definitely affects the other person, because it’s a long relationship with somebody, and you definitely… When the internet plays a part into it, it just turns into a different type of mess,” said Rich The Kid when asked about his recent falling out with his Rich Forever Music artist Jay Critch.
The two began feuding publicly over business arrangements with Critch seemingly accusing Rich of not allowing him to leave the label. Zane Lowe of Apple Music’s New Music Daily caught up with RTK to discuss his new Lucky 7 project and the current situation with Jay Critch.
“Pro’s is, I guess, people get to hear your side of what’s going on, and you get to put out a statement, but the cons are it’s just too many mixed emotions and too many opinions, and your business gets out there,” offered Rich.
He continued, “So I feel like when it comes to business, you really need to just keep it in house. But sometimes when your emotions gets mixed up into the business, that’s when s### goes bad. That’s what I’m really learning as I grow up, and being a better boss and better person to just – Yeah. We’ve been friends forever, so definitely. We’ve spoke on the phone. I talked to him yesterday.”
Before Lucky 7 arrived in January 2020, RTK dropped the Boss Man studio LP in March 2020. That album did not perform as well commercially as 2018’s The World Is Yours and 2019’s The World Is Yours 2. Rich spoke about his Boss Man era and what he has coming next.
“I got to show my maturity in every album. I feel like my last album, I dropped in the middle of the quarantine, so I didn’t get to really capitalize off it like I really wanted to,” said Rich. “And it was like right in the beginning of the quarantine, so it was a really weird time for music and a weird time for everything. So I’m just living and learning.”
He continued, “I got some exciting projects that I got coming out this year that I just can’t talk about yet… No, I ain’t got a release date. It’s going to come out definitely around the summertime, more before the summertime or right before the summer. But it’s going to definitely show my elevation and growth in it, because that’s really what it’s about for me right now, is showing my growth and everything.”
Late last month, Rich The Kid teamed with rising female rappers Mulatto, Rubi Rose, and Flo Milli for the new single “Nasty.” A week later, he released the Lucky 7 EP which hosts “Nasty” as well as “Laughin” featuring DaBaby and “Boom Boom” featuring Lil Mosey.
Shamele “Papoose” Mackie says he is ready to call it quits from the rap game. Before he walks away from dropping bars for good, Papoose will release 12 projects over the next 12 months.
“I’ve made the decision that 2021 will be my last year rapping, so I am announcing my retirement. It was a decision that I’ve wrestled with internally, but I’ve decided to move on with my life, and focus on my family and investments,” explains Papoose.
‘January’ Album Cover
The Love & Hip Hop: New York star starts off his retirement run with a surprise release titled January. The 8-track effort features contributions by Wiz Khalifa, Statik Selektah, Cool & Dre, and Brady Watt.
“To show my humble and sincere appreciation to all of my supporters and fans, I’ve decided to release a new project every month in 2021; with each project being titled after the current month,” states Papoose. “This is something I’ve never done before, but I’m excited.”
Tray Chaney is best known for playing Poot in HBO’s The Wire. He recently took on the role of director for the movie Truthless. Chaney says, “Truthless is my first short film directorial debut project that I produced and starred in coming from my company Chaney Vision Entertainment.”
He continues, “I partnered with Mars3045, PowellFul Productions, and Klosa Productions to introduce this character Omar Green aka OG who’s the leader of the most feared drug organization in North East Florida and after he takes out a rival drug crew he starts to experience betrayal and disloyalty within his own organization which causes him to question who’s really loyal.”
After years of being in front of the camera, Chaney being behind the camera is a new experience. He reveals he has a new appreciation for other filmmakers that take on the important task of leading the ship during a production.
“Man, I would be lying if I said it was easy! It was definitely a serious role/task for me to step into because I was in front of the camera and behind it but it turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life just to see my vision working with the actors and watching all the shots in each scene come to life,” says Chaney.
The star of Bounce TV’s Saints & Sinners adds, “I don’t take any directors for granted because this is a serious job. I wasn’t just showing up to work knocking my scenes out & leaving I was there from beginning to end.”
Chaney’s future includes another season of Saints & Sinners as well as a Saints & Sinners movie in 2021. He also has the Jamal Hill-directed Secret Society with Vivica Fox, Erica Pinkett, Reyna Love, and Jeremy Meeks coming soon too.
Double K, of People Under the Stairs fame, died yesterday. He was 43.
As a member of the group, Double K was an important member of the West Coast’s vibrant underground rap scene, along with his production partner adn group mate Thes One.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner said that the rapper died Friday January 30, in his home, and close friends said he passed away peacefully in his sleep. A cause of death has not been determined.
People Under the Stairs emerged in the year 1997 and continued to be a self contained unit for the duration of their tenure. Their debut opus, The Next Step, emerged in 1998, which lead to 2000’s Question in the Form of an Answer and then the critically acclaimed O.S.T. in 2002.
People Under the Stairs maintained a 22 year career until they disbanded in 2019 with their final opus, Sincereley, The P.
T.I. did an excellent job defending himself in the allegations of, lets say, “numerous stuff.” There was quite a lot. Sabrina Peterson, the woman that accused Tip of putting a gun to her head, has now taken a lie detector test, paying a full $650 to show she is not being “deceptive.” She said a lot like “stop victim shaming,” but…I don’t know about this. She has now challenged Tip, but I don’t see why he needs to do this. He has nothing to gain, nothing to lose at this point. What do you think so far? There’s more below!
This is about to fly over a lot of yawls head. Atlanta was instrumental in flipping the whole state of Georgia blue. If you don’t think Tip was helpful, you are a damn fool. Tip WAS A BIG PART of that bold political move. If you think the Republicans are going to take this lying down, you are mistaken. They are already working hard to shape things for the mid-term elections in 2022. Black people are going to be taking random L’s all over the place to discredit them. T.I. was powerful. He was boots on the ground, steadfastly against Donald Trump (he flat out turned Trump DOWN….unlike Ice Cube, Lil Wayne and Lil Pump) and has used his many platforms in a political capacity. This is a bold, stealthy chess move by “the others side,” sources are telling me on multiple fronts. Do you all know how much stuff goes on in the world? Just look at Euphoria! Only time will truly tell, but they are looking to sully T.I. and therefore sully the Democratic Party. These people don’t care about Black women they way they pretend to care!
There’s a lot more to this, all of which I cannot report just yet, but…I have no doubt it will come out like a gay person seeking total liberation.
Benny Gives Tekashi The Buffalo Stuff Arm!
Benny The Butcher has emerged as one of the premiere rappers of the current era. He’s a spitter that happens to have some serious street ties. Those ties got him shot down south, even though he wasn’t seriously injured.
Well Benny has revealed something we sort of knew: Tekashi is desperate for somebody with credibility to work with him. In the past, Nicki Minaj continued to fk with him, even though he was a known snitch at that time. A couple of days ago, Benny posted the following.
Tekashi Manager hit me up and ask me was interested in doin a song with his client…what u think I said ?
Rapper turned punk-rock heartthrob Machine Gun Kelly made his debut on “Saturday Night Live.”
MGK was the first performer for the legendary show’s 2021 season.
The rapper performed two of his big hits: “My Ex’s Best Friend,” and an emotional rendition of his song “Lonely,” which is about his late father. MGK was visibly emotional during his performance of “Lonely,” which is understandable.
He also had to overcome some last-minute technical difficulties before his performance. In the end, everything worked out great for the Cleveland rap star.
10 seconds before we played “lonely” on SNL, they came up and said the whole lighting board and set up we had for the performance crashed. so we just had a spot light and the music, that was the best thing that could’ve happened.
“10 seconds before we played “lonely” on SNL, they came up and said the whole lighting board and set up we had for the performance crashed. so we just had a spot light and the music, that was the best thing that could’ve happened,” Machine Gun Kelly revealed.
MGK’s father died in July of 2020, on the one-year anniversary of his big album Hotel Diablo.
“i had plans for the one year anniversary of Hotel Diablo today. that album was everything i wanted to say and i know it’s close to my fans,” MGK tweeted when his dad died. “But my father took his last breath this morning, and i’ve never felt a pain this deep in my life.”
i had plans for the one year anniversary of Hotel Diablo today.
that album was everything i wanted to say and i know it’s close to my fans…
but my father took his last breath this morning, and ive never felt a pain this deep in my life.
After his father’s passing, MGK said he regretted the strained relationship he had with his dad, for almost 25 years.
Hopefully, MGK will find some healing after the performance of “Lonely” on “SNL.” And his dad would be proud of his son’s growth since his passing in July of 2020.
The “Blonde Don” has kicked his drug habits. curtailed his drinking and is close to settling down with actress Megan Fox.
Last week, the celebrity couple sparked rumors they were already married when Fox was photographed wearing a ring on her left finger. Unfortunately, Megan was sporting a ring that read “f### you,” although the couple is planning to win as soon as she finalizes her divorce from her ex-husband Brian Austin Green.
Take a look at MGK’s performance on “SNL” last night.
Rap star T.I. has doubled down on his denial of some wild claims being made against the rap star and his wife Tiny.
Last week, a former family friend named Sabrina Peterson who claimed T.I. once put a gun to her head, after she became embroiled in a dispute with one of Tiny’s assistants.
Things only got worse, when former “T.I. and Tiny: The Family Hustle” cast member Shekinah Anderson claimed Peterson was having consensual sex with both of the Harrises.
She also claimed Peterson was involved in recruiting women for threesomes and foursomes with T.I. and Tiny.
“Mr. and Mrs. Harris want to be on record and more importantly want the public to know they emphatically deny in the strongest way possible the egregiously appalling allegations being made against them by Sabrina Peterson,” the couple said in a joint statement. “The Harrises have had difficulty with this woman for well over a decade. They are taking this matter very seriously, and if these allegations don’t end, they will take appropriate legal action.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CKp1Q3kgqto/
Then, Sabrina Peterson started posting statements from unidentified women who were contacting her through direct messages on Instagram.
The posts, which have not been substantiated, include allegations of sexual abuse, illicit drug use, and other sensational claims.
Over the weeknd, Peterson posted results of what she claimed was a lie detector test, to prove she was telling the truth about the gun incident, and other allegations.
The latest round of allegations from Peterson’s Instagram account are so salacious – and serious – that T.I. had to issue a second statement to address Sabrina Peterson’s claims.
Hey, so as yall can probably guess, or imagine it’s been extremely difficult for me to remain quiet in light of all the things that have transpired. And all of the egregious allegations that’s been tossed around about me and my wife. But there’s a reason for that. And I don’t mind sharing it.
You see if a person does not have any right to criminally or civilly have you in court, they have no right, the best thing they could do is get you for defamation. A defamation suit. Drag you in court, make you pay they legal bill, but get you in court.
I mean, at this point man this is the point where that don’t even matter. Okay. But that’s the motive. That’s the strategy. That’s the intention, Say a whole bunch of false stuff about you that get people to believe and make them come out and say, “they’re a liar, they’re a liar, they’re a liar.” And then, they can say “see they called me a liar, it’s defamation.” Then they drag you in court get you under oath and all that.
Because unfortunately, right now, it doesn’t matter as much what they can prove you did. It matters what you can prove you didn’t. You know, what I mean? And that’s just an unfortunate place that our society has made it to. But I want to be clear about one thing.
Women who have been victimized deserve to be heard. Women, black women, in particular, should be supported, protected, defended, and uplifted.
However, evil has no gender. People with evil intentions have no gender. A threat comes in all shapes and sizes. I would never, I mean, I would never, treat a woman the same way I would treat a threat. All right. So I think that has to be distinguished.
First and foremost, I want to say, my wife? My wife is a beautiful person with an amazing spirit and a kind heart. She’s a devoted mother and she has a humble soul. She don’t deserve this. She don’t deserve this.
Now, what we’re not gonna do, is open up the door to my bedroom, as you shouldn’t have to either. Open the door to my bedroom for everybody to come in and chime in and make their opinions about what we do and don’t do it should or shouldn’t do. But I will say this.
Whatever we ever have done, has been done with consensual adults, who into what we into and like what we like. If we want something we know exactly where to go to get it. We ain’t never forced nobody, we never drugged nobody against they will, we never held nobody against they will, we never made nobody do anything. We ain’t never trafficked anything. Well, sexually trafficked anything. I ain’t never raped nobody, never raped nobody. Also, I’m gonna tell you what’s factual.
There have been fake stories put up that blog sites anonymously sent to this person. Blog sites anonymous sent fake stories to this person and the person posted it as though it was a victim, that they were sure that was a victim and it had been victimized. And what does what this does, is it dismantles the mechanism that women have created for themselves. You can’t weaponize something with baseless claims.
These are not stories of actual events. They not. And I have proof of that. And that’s why I said it. I have proof of that. I have proof of people who have gone on live with this person and they later said “man I just wanted some clout. I can’t believe they actually posted the s###, I just wanted some clout.”
So this it what we dealing with man. This is what we’re dealing with. Also, I pose you a question. How you gonna be a victim and an attacker at the same time? How you been victimized if you are violently attacking someone?
Women who have been victimized deserve to be heard. They deserve to feel comfortable, confident. They deserve to feel supported. And that’s supposed to get them to a place where they can show they face and say “this is what happened to me, this is who did it,” so the necessary steps can follow.
This is not that. This is not that.
Also, I want you to know its evil at play. I’m talking about evil, I’m talking about, you know, evil. And there’s been a history, we’ve had a history in dealing with the particular individual in question. We had a history of it man, had a history of it. And there is a record of pattern behavior like this. A record, a history of harassment.
Listen, this is not my opinion. I’m just saying what’s on record. A history of violence, on record. And we can’t just, you know, weaponize social media to take down people who have families and who communities depend on, you know what I’m saying? I’m talking about who have done everything that they can to uplift and help to evolve our communities. We can’t tear our people down like that.
And this has taught me a lot. Its taught me a lot.
But one thing I know man, I will not be bullied. I am not afraid. I am not ashamed. And the truth will be revealed, man. But until then man, hey, listen, man, any woman out there who’s going through things who have gone through things, you have a story, you should come forward. But don’t lie cause that tears the whole vehicle down.
Don’t lie, don’t lie. The truth is what needs to be heard. The truth. And I can deal with the truth all day. But at some point, man, there has to be something that happens if you come and make baseless claims that are false about somebody, that have a negative impact on them, they livelihood, or they freedom. Something got to be done about that.
But I was built for this, I was born to be in the position. I was born to be in the position, to face pressure and sit in the fire. So it benefits others in the future. I was born to be in this position. God put me here for this. So whatever evil has been conjured up to come against me? No weapon formed, no weapon formed against me shall prosper.
Look man I got a lot of love for everybody who been calling me and who been in support and my wife. S### man, we’ll be back doing us man, sooner than later. You dig what I’m saying? Love and respect.
Mel Murda got caught up in a racketeering case involving 11 other gang members, including Brooklyn rapper Tekashi 69. The Nine Trey Gangster Bloods were accused of various shootings, robberies, and assaults in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
The gang, including Tekashi 69, enriched themselves by selling drugs, including heroin, fentanyl MDMA, and marijuana.
The RICO case was unveiled against the gang in November of 2018. The day after the charges were announced, Tekashi 69 agreed to cooperate with the Feds and testify against the Nine Trey. As a result of 69’s cooperation, Mel Murda accepted a plea deal in April of 2019. In October of 2019, Mel Murda was sentenced to 11 years in prison.
Mel Murda recently tried to appeal his sentence with the United States Court Of Appeals, but his attempt was thrown out of court.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that Mel Murda’s appeal was barred because he waived his right to an appeal in his original plea agreement.
