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IDK & No Label Announce No Label Academy At Harvard

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: News
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Jason “IDK” Mills and No Label have joined forces for the No Label Academy. The music business program is launching with a 10-day course that will bring primarily BIPOC students from around the country to Harvard’s campus for an immersive experience focusing on providing essential skills needed to establish a sustainable career in the music industry.

The No Label organization was co-founded by Marcelo HD and Miles Weddle in 2018. The No Label Academy was conceived in February 2020 after IDK spoke about criminal justice reform for a No Label event at Harvard. More details about the academy’s selective application process will be divulged in 2021.

IDK, Marcelo HD, and Miles Weddle with friends for Criminal Justice Reform event at Harvard [Credit: Cody Tu]
Marcelo HD and Miles Weddle state:

We are thrilled to be partnering with IDK to create No Label Academy. At the core of No Label is the idea that education should empower individuals to break down societal labels and barriers. So often, creators are discouraged from pursuing a career in the arts because it is either deemed too risky or not lucrative enough, ultimately depriving the world of their creative potential. We believe No Label Academy’s innovative curriculum will equip the next generation with creative inspiration and the business acumen they need to make their dreams in the arts a reality. We are thrilled to be partnering with IDK to create No Label Academy. At the core of No Label is the idea that education should empower individuals to break down societal labels and barriers.

The 28-year-old Maryland native formerly known as Jay IDK (Ignorantly Delivering Knowledge) emerged on the Hip Hop scene in 2014 with his Sex, Drugs & Homework mixtape. IDK went on to release other projects such as SubTrap, Empty Bank, IWasVeryBad, and Is He Real. The Warner recording artist has collaborated with Masego, CJ Fly, Deniro Farrar, Denzel Curry, Rico Nasty, Wale, Juicy J, PnB Rock, Saba, A$AP Ferg, and other Hip Hop acts.

Ice-T Declares 50 Cent & Bobby Shmurda As The Last Real Gangster Rappers

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: News
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For many Hip Hop historians and fans, Ice-T is considered one of the godfathers of the popular subgenre known as gangster rap. His 30-year career in entertainment includes the emcee releasing impactful albums such as Rhyme Pays, Power, and O.G. Original Gangster.

Unique Access caught up with Ice-T and the outlet asked the 62-year-old musician/actor about the current state of gangster rap music. During the interview, the co-founder of the heavy metal band Body Count gave a shout out to one of New York City’s most successful rap stars.

“To me, the last gangster rapper was 50 Cent,” offered Ice-T. “Because he basically embodied that image of ‘I don’t give a f###.’ 50 Cent had you really believe you didn’t wanna f### with him. I heard 50 Cent when he was beefing with Fat Joe and he was like, ‘Fat Joe, I’m right down the street. It’s real hard to find a n#### when you know he got a gun. Ain’t it?'”

The “Colors” rhymer continued, “I think 50 was the last one who did it that I believe. I think now, the new trap rappers, they convinced me they can get high, they convinced me maybe that they can sell a little drugs, but they don’t scare me. I think a gangster rapper has to scare you a little bit. I don’t think there’s no new people that do it.”

Ice-T also spoke about Top Dawg Entertainment’s Kendrick Lamar keeping a “hood edge” in his content which reminds listeners that he is from Compton, California. He also mentioned The Game’s time as part of 50 Cent’s G-Unit crew and Chicago’s Drill music scene. Ice-T then turned his attention to the currently incarcerated creator of the hit song “Hot N####.”

“You know who the last real gangster rapper was? Bobby Shmurda. But that’s when keeping it real goes wrong. Them GS9 Boys… When I saw them, I said, ‘These little n##### is probably the business. These little n##### look wild like that.’ But they were bar-for-bar snitching on themselves,” said the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit cast member.

In 2016, Ackquille “Bobby Shmurda” Pollard and other individuals associated with the GS9 collective pled guilty to federal conspiracy in the fourth degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the second-degree charges. Shmurda was sentenced to seven years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision.

J. Cole Reveals New RS-Dreamer Ebony And Ivory Puma Sneakers

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: News
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Back in February, Puma announced the athletic brand had officially entered into a multi-year partnership with Dreamville Records co-founder J. Cole. The cooperative venture eventually led to the release of the RS-Dreamer signature basketball sneaker.

On Wednesday, Cole tweeted a new “Ebony and Ivory” edition of the RS-Dreamer line. The new version will be available for purchase beginning on Friday, December 4 at 10 am ET. The shoes retail for $125 on puma.com.

“[Cole] is going to be a key player in many of the things we do at PUMA moving forward and we’re excited to work with him not only on a product level but even more importantly as one of our athletes. Cole sits at the intersection of music and sport and represents everything that PUMA stands for as a brand,” stated Adam Petrick, Global Director of Brand & Marketing at PUMA earlier this year.

In July, J. Cole said, “Over the years, basketball shoes have progressed greatly in their level of technology and comfort but have strayed too far away from designs stylish enough for cultural relevancy. The Dreamer hopes to change that reality. The highest level of on-court performance meets the highest level of aesthetic design for daily wear. Once again, you can hoop in the same shoes you wore outside.”

The North Carolina native also co-directed The Dreamer short film which aired during February’s NBA All-Star game on TNT. Additionally, Percy “Master P” Miller narrated a 30-second Puma ad where the southern Hip Hop legend hinted that J. Cole was considering taking his talents to the NBA. The Detroit Pistons responded to that video by telling Cole to “hit us up for that tryout.”

Snoop Dogg Set To Launch The Fight Club Boxing League With Triller

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: News
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While Nate Robinson getting knocked out by Jake Paul was the most viral in-ring moment from the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. pay-per-view on November 28, Snoop Dogg was crowned the real winner by a lot of viewers. The Hip Hop legend’s commentary was repeatedly referred to as the highlight of the night.

“Saturday’s event broke the internet, with the fight taking over the top 1 through 8 most-tweeted-about topics and leading FITE TV to the number one app in the App Store,” said Mike Lu, CEO Of Triller. The video-sharing platform presented the Tyson-Jones fight.

Snoop (born Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.) is now partnering with Triller to start a new boxing league. The Fight Club will feature the D-O-Double-G taking on the roles of celebrity host and announcer. Plus, he will help select the fighters and musical acts. Proxima will be the production partner, promotor, and marketing partner.

“Up until this weekend, boxing was about the experience of one small group of elite individuals who attended the fight in person,” said Ryan Kavanaugh, Principal of Proxima and co-founder of The Fight Club.

He added, “What we wanted to create with the Tyson vs. Jones event was an experience for all of the viewers at home, combining the highest-end production and lighting and a production quality never before brought to a fight. Today marks a paradigm shift as Triller and Proxima’s The Fight Club dedicates itself to delivering top-notch immersive experiences in the comfort of your home.”

According to a press release, The Fight Club bouts will follow professional boxing rules and feature various sources of entertainment. Saturday’s Tyson vs Jones event showcased live performances by Snoop, Ne-Yo, YG, French Montana, SAINt JHN, and Wiz Khalifa. The league is expected to have five to eight events per year.

“I have been involved in many events across many platforms. Saturday night, which marked the launch of Proxima’s The Fight Club league, was in the top 5 of my entire career,” said Snoop. “We are changing the entire game; boxing will never be the same and the audiences expect a new standard now. The Fight Club is that standard.”

The Los Angeles-based rapper continued, “Ryan and I have worked together for over a decade on many things, but this takes the cake. It was like watching a Tarantino film, the Super Bowl, Rocky, and Woodstock all in one.”  Wiz Khalifa declared, “I feel like I was part of history, something that everyone will remember. Thanks to Triller and The Fight Club for having me.”

Ben Silverman’s Propogate administered the foreign distribution of Tyson versus Jones. The company will be handling foreign distribution for The Fight Club’s future events.  

“We are excited to continue growing our partnership with Proxima and Triller as they expand and change boxing for diehard fans as well as bringing the sport to an entire new generation of fans. We look forward to bringing The Fight Club events to our partners around the globe as we did with Tyson v Jones Jr. from Australia to the UK,” said Cyrus Farrokh, President, Distribution at Propagate Content.

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G Herbo’s Management Responds To Federal Fraud Indictment

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: News
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25-year-old Herbert Randall Wright III is having a rollercoaster week. The Chicago-raised rapper, better known as G Herbo, was riding high when his name was included on Forbes magazine’s 30 Under 30 list for 2020.

However, this week also included Herbo and members of his music team being charged in a federal fraud case in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts. The PTSD album creator is accused of taking part in illegal schemes to charter private jets, purchase designer puppies, rent out luxury hotel rooms, and other actions by using stolen credit card information.

Wright III, Antonio Strong, Joseph Williams, Steven Hayes, Jr., Demario Sorrells, and Terrance Bender were all named in the 14-count indictment. The alleged co-conspirators are facing conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and aiding and abetting. Strong was also charged with wire fraud.

Pitchfork received a comment from G Herbo’s management. Machine Entertainment Group is quoted stating, “G Herbo has been charged with several offenses in Massachusetts, however, he maintains his innocence and looks forward to establishing his innocence in court.”

Machine Entertainment Group confirmed that Herbo is being represented in Massachusetts by the Prince Lobel law firm. His legal team reportedly contacted the U.S. Attorney’s office in Massachusetts in order to make arrangements for Wright to make an appearance either live or via Zoom.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CIRXkpNjNgt/

Roddy Ricch’s “The Box” Leads Apple Music’s 2020 Year-End Global Chart

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: News
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Roddy Ricch had the most-streamed song on Apple Music for the year. The Compton rapper’s “The Box” single topped the streaming service’s Top 100 Songs of 2020: Global list with 455 million worldwide streams.

“Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd landed at #2. Tones And I’s “Dance Monkey” was #3, DaBaby’s “ROCKSTAR” featuring Roddy Ricch was #4, and Future’s “Life is Good” featuring Drake was #5.

In addition, Ricch’s Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial was the most streamed album of the year on Apple Music. Lil Baby’s album My Turn was the second most-streamed album this year.

Pop Smoke’s Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon was Apple Music’s third most-streamed album. Lil Uzi Vert’s Eternal Atake – LUV vs. the World 2 came in at #4, and Summer Walker’s Over It came in at #5.

Apple Music also released Top 100 2020: Most-Read Lyrics. Those rankings were topped by Cardi B’s “WAP” featuring Megan Thee Stallion (372,000 hours). “The Box” made it to #3 with “Blinding Lights” securing the #6 position.

Nicki Minaj’s Spouse’s Rape Victim Is Talking And…It’s A LOT, A LOT.

By: illseed Updated Category: Rumors
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SOOOOOOOOOO…Nicki Minaj is a mother now. She is married now. She seems to be happy now. I am wondering if she is going to ever find some real peace in this world, because every time it is time to “move on,” something brings back the drama. Now, we already know the mainstream doesn’t care about Black women. So, do not expect this to make headlines like countless others. We all have our relationships, so I get it. But right now, the woman that was raped by Nicki’s spouse is apparently talking.

Now, for those that don’t know, when Kenneth Petty was a teen in 1995, he was found guilty of raping a woman. He had a knife on a woman…well let me let her tell it. I have not verified the authenticity of this audio but the person is either telling the truth of one HELL OF AN ACTOR.

The other part of this whole thing…is she says “goons” have been harassing her and her family. This is crazy! The woman has adult kids. She said they want her to recant her story totally so that dude can get his charges reversed. This is nuts!

She also says that Nicki Minaj tried to pay her off to completely say she lied. The woman refuses to do that and basically says just leave me alone.

Here is what a lawyer had to say:

Disclaimer: I do not practice in federal court or New York or California. However, I am familiar with the overall criminal appeals process and interstate SO register compacts.

The point I was trying to make is that you typically cannot defend a failure to register allegation by attacking the original conviction. If she recants now, it won’t do anything to help him beat this failure to register case. Its a valid requirement because regardless of his actual factual guilt, he was convicted — because he pled — of an offense that imposed that requirement. “SEE — I shouldve never been on the register!” is not a defense to that charge.

Attacking the original conviction is going to be tricky. He pled so typically ways to attack the conviction are few. Maybe he could argue it was an involuntary plea because he had a bad lawyer, maybe, but I think the state would raise an objection called “laches” which is where the other party says “you lose because you waited too long to say something”. And I’m not sure that her recantation would help an involuntary plea attack. Maaaaybe he could say his lawyer shouldve investigated the case more. Thats a reach imo.

Lastly, regardless of the amount of coercion Petty did or didn’t use or how much she may have “participated’ in the offense — she was too young to consent to that. so for her to give a statement that would clear him of all guilt shed essentially have to say nothing at all happened ever. The version Petty’s supporters put out multiple times that they “were dating” still makes what she said took place a crime.

I have no opinion abt the witness’ credibility. She may very well be telling the truth. All I’m saying is her recanting now will probably do little for Petty in his defense of the registry case or in overturning his conviction.

This is all rumors…until proven otherwise.

Paris Returns Fire With “Walk Like A Panther”

By: AllHipHop Staff Updated Category: Music
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As the latest video installment off of Paris‘ brand-new full-length effort Safe Space Invader, “Walk Like a Panther” continues Paris’ legacy of brutally aggressive, message-infused hip-hop. Born and raised in San Francisco, Paris, who still lives in Northern California, has experienced firsthand the region’s passion for the activism that gave birth to the Black Panther Party and created organizations and awareness that have instilled pride in countless people around the world.

Focusing on a blend of examples of community activism across generations, this beautifully crafted video follows his previous singles, “Nobody Move,” “Turned the Key,” and “Baby Man Hands.” To date, they have collectively garnered over 2 million views and thousands of fans’ praises on Paris’ Guerrilla Funk YouTube channel.

Self Space Invader is entirely self-produced and is available globally via Paris’ own Guerrilla Funk Recordings imprint. The ten-track project is a brutal commentary on Black life in 2020 America, touching on police brutality, racism, gentrification, economic inequality, and cancel culture, among other things.

Paris hails from the San Francisco Bay Area and was catapulted onto the national hip-hop scene with his hit single and album The Devil Made Me Do It, after earning a degree in economics from the University of California at Davis. He’s garnered sales above 4 million units throughout his career, amassing a considerable catalog of anti-establishment anthems in the process. He has cemented his place in hip-hop history as one of the few artists consistently unapologetic in his delivery and assessment of issues pertaining to social justice.

Safe Space Invader is available on all streaming platforms and at major digital and physical retailers.

Youtube Sensation, P2 Signs Up For Disrupt MGMT And New Release 

By: AllHipHop Staff Updated Category: Music
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With over three million subscribers on his YouTube channel, tagged P2isthename, P2 has become a social media sensation by posting interesting content for the entertainment of his teeming followers. 

The Los Angeles, California-based influencer is known for making prank videos that are witty and funny, with themes such as, The Rich Family Gold Digger Experience, Would You Rather Date my Girlfriend or Sommer Ray, and My Duos Partner is a Fortnight Hacker.

Besides his profile as an influencer and entertainer, P2 is also a rising business tycoon and investor, who became a self-made millionaire by investing in stocks during the COVID-19 lockdown.

His growing fan base is expected to grow even more rapidly with this latest move.

The deal between P2 and Disrupt MGMT will see the talent management firm, which specializes in growth in the entertainment industry, promoting the works of P2 and stimulating the growth of his channel across multiple platforms, with the aim of swelling his fanbase and increasing the reach of his content. 

According to the CEO of Disrupt MGMT, Katarina Schwab, the deal will also push P2 and his content deeper into the mainstream entertainment industry, creating more opportunities.

“This is about P2 finally getting into the traditional space after three years of working hard on YouTube,” Schwab said in a statement.

 

EXCLUSIVE: How G Herbo Got Indicted For Using Stolen Credit Cards To Book Jets, Luxury Vacations And Puppies

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: Exclusives
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Chicago Rapper G Herbo has found himself in a world of trouble in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Earlier today (December 2nd), the Feds unsealed an indictment against G Herbo and five other associates, who are accused of various crimes including identity theft, aiding and abetting, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

G Herbo, born Herbert Williams III, his unnamed girlfriend (who is not charged), and associates Antonio Strong aka -“T-Glo,” Joseph Williams AKA “Joe Rodeo,” Steven Hayes, and Demario Sorrells are named in the 14-count indictment.

The Accusations Against G Herbo

G Herbo and his crew are accused of victimizing four private jet companies, two vacation rental companies, a limo company, hotels in Massachusetts, and a luxury pet shop in Michigan.

The Feds claim starting around March 2016 up until last week, G Herbo and his associates defrauded a variety of businesses using stolen credit card account information.

The rapper and his cronies scheduled private jets, yachts, exotic cars, and even booked their own private chefs.

The fraud didn’t end there.

G Herbo also hired security guard services, rented limos, paid for commercial airline flights, bought food, and even ordered two designer puppies using his official Instagram account.

 

How G Herbo’s Alleged Scam Worked

G Herbo and his co-conspirators provided legitimate-looking payment card information, with the actual cardholders’ names, addresses, security codes, and expiration dates.

The cardholders would naturally discover the transactions on their accounts and dispute the charges, resulting in chargebacks to the businesses that suffered major losses.

G Herbo, his girlfriend and their crew would get the information from dark websites on the internet, and then send each other the credit card numbers through text, social media emails, and their cellphones.

The group also managed to get their hands on unauthorized state identifications and driver’s licenses to execute their scams.

G Herbo Indictment

 

G Herbo Allegedly Booked A Jet To SXSW With A Stolen Credit Card, And Chilled In Jamaica

G Herbo would travel under the false name “Herbert Light.” He even may have fleeced Epic Records, the label he calls home, since he would charge some of his bills to “Epic Music.

The rapper is accused of booking a private jet from Chicago to Austin, Texas during SXSW in March 16th, 2017. The band of accused scammers also rented a variety of luxury cars, including a Bentley CGTC, and a Maybach 600 from Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

Later that year, G Herbo and his friends allegedly booked a private Villa in Jamaica in July of 2017 and stayed in a lavish resort from July 7th to July 11th.

G Herbo Allegedly Bought Luxury Puppies With His Own Instagram Account

In November of 2017, Antonio Strong identified himself as G Herbo’s manager and ordered two designer puppies for the rapper, which were charged to a stolen credit card.

The pet company grew suspicious of the order and asked for a direct confirmation message from G Herbo’s official Instagram account.

G Herbo replied to the pet company’s DM and confirmed he was ordering the puppies, and even arranged for a car service to pick them up and deliver them to Chicago.

For the crimes above, G Herbo and his co-conspirators are facing decades in prison.

 

Tote&Carry: Fusing The Worlds Of Hip-Hop & Fashion

By: Shirley Ju Updated Category: Features
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Tote&Carry’s mission statement is to “Travel With Luxury,” and they’re here to change the narrative altogether. The company prides itself in being the go-to, affordable, luxury bag brand specializing in trendy, fashion pieces and travel sets to elevate your look no matter what the occasion. Their most popular product, the Apollo I, unveils eye-catching colors and high quality fabric with a variety of matching colors and sets.

When it comes to celebrities, everyone from Rich Homie Quan to Omarion to T.I. has rocked their bags. “You’ll always stand out when you wear our bags,” says co-founder Tony Rey.

In actuality, Tony is a rapper during his off-days and loves to create music as a hobby (a serious hobby, he clarifies). Having had a huge interest in music since his high school days, it’s this unwavering love and passion that drives him and his success to this day.

“My love for music and Hip Hop is what drives me.” Tony reveals, “There’s a lot of inspiration in the design, the lifestyle. It’s my life.” 

Beyond that, Tony has found a way to persevere as a minority in the industry, proving that no dream is too big when it comes to success and doing what you love. 

AllHipHop: What artists did you listen to growing up?

Tony: Nas was a very inspirational artist in my life, Lil Wayne was a big inspiration. Biggie Smalls, Tupac. In Asia, Jay Chou. Jay Chou’s a big inspiration in my life. Who else? I wouldn’t say Drake or J. Cole, but Nas was one of the biggest influences in my life.

AllHipHop: What’s your favorite Nas song & why?

Tony: This one’s hard, there’s a few tracks. “Affirmative Action,” “The Message,” “Take It In Blood,” “Halftime.” Just lyrical content, the realness, and life relevance. “Life’s a b####, but God forbid the b#### divorce me. I’ll be flooded with ice, so hell fire can’t scorch me.”

AllHipHop: How does being an Asian rapper influence the American hip hop market? 

Tony: Asian rappers, we’re not really on the scene like that. It’s not very influential yet. Overseas in Asia, we do have our own little market. We have our own little shows, our own communities. We’re still finding a way to get our own little fanbase, our own little community, and make our own impact. The Asian hip-hop community isn’t too big in the U.S., but definitely overseas we do a lot of shows. A lot of stuff is happening overseas.

AllHipHop: Who influenced you to become a rapper?

Tony: That’s a deep one. It just happened.

AllHipHop: Where do you see the crossover in music and fashion?

Tony: I see designing fashion like writing a song, recording and producing music. It’s the same thing to be honest, you have to create. The crossover is you always want to look fly when you’re doing music, you always want to have something different. Of course, the lifestyle goes hand in hand. 

AllHipHop: What’s the reality of running a fashion brand?

Tony: Hard work, sacrifices, challenging, mind-blowing, exciting, puzzling, lifestyle, risk-taking, leadership, innovation.

AllHipHop: What makes your merchandise appeal to hip-hop culture?

Tony: We love what the rappers do, we love the rapper s###. I’m sure that rappers like the fashion, the “drip”. Of course, the ball players. When we’re doing a Tote&Carry bags, we don’t want to be like the rest, the norm, we want to stand out. That’s where it crosses over, it’s about having something unique and different.

AllHipHop: What sets your bags apart from other designer bags?

Tony: Originality, influence from the streets. The culture, price point, minority-owned, fabric selection, timeless bags.

AllHipHop: You had Omarion and T.I. rock your bags in their music videos organically, how?

Tony: Certain stylists probably put the pieces on them. We didn’t pay for it, I’m sure they paid for it full price, that’s the best part about it. [laughs] They paid full price for it.

AllHipHop: Do you think Tote&Carry is a Hip-Hop brand?

Tony: I wouldn’t say it’s a hip hop brand, because a lot of Tote&Carry customers are really average people. Some of them are older like 40 or 45 years old, some of them have some swag. A lot of them are conservative too, they don’t like the super loud designs. They’re working professionals, they have a nice career. Some of them are lawyers, some of them are nurses. We have doctors that spend $1000 with us, it’s for the consumer that wants a little something “fly”. For the hip-hop culture and community, I’d love for it to have more influence because it drives fashion forward. Tote&Carry is everybody’s bag.

AllHipHop: Has Tote&Carry tapped into the Asian hip-hop community in the States? 

Tony: Tote & Carry hasn’t really tapped in there yet, but it will pretty soon. It’s coming up. Personally, I have a lot of relationships with certain celebrities and rappers in Asia. We might do a few music festivals in Asia once it opens up. We might have our own little tour, our own little music festivals, sponsors. On TV shows, we’re getting placements and sponsors. The Asian people want to see somebody out here doing well, I’m sure it’s something they can wear proudly.

AllHipHop: Are you still making music as well?

Tony: Yeah, I was in the studio last night. I had to take a break this whole entire year because it’s been crazy. Now that we’re moving into the holidays towards the end of the year, I felt like it was good therapy for me to get back and do a little bit of music. Get back to doing music in the studio, get ready for some shows in 2021 when things open up. 

AllHipHop: Any rappers you’d like to work with?

Tony: Ty Dolla $ign, Justin Bieber, he’s not a hip hop artist though. Chris Brown, but they’re not rappers. J. Cole’s a good rapper, Nav’s been dropping some hot s###. Young Thug, Gunna, the whole ATL been lit. 

AllHipHop: Anything else you want to let us know?

Tony: We’re trying to get more rappers involved. We want an upcoming rapper to make a Tote&Carry bag song. We want rappers to put Tote&Carry in their rap music. We want to do a contest too, a Secure The Bag challenge. Tote&Carry wants to put out a mixtape of all the hottest upcoming rappers and put on all major platforms.

B.B. King’s Estate Invites Lil Wayne, Drake And Dj Khaled To Collaborate With Late Blues Legend

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: News
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Lil Wayne’s new mixtape “No Ceilings 3” could land the rapper and his star artist Drake an unexpected collaboration.

One of the standout songs on “No Ceilings 3” is the “B.B. King Freestyle,” the pair’s first collaboration since 2017.

The estate of the late B.B. King caught wind of the song, and invited the superstar rappers to collaborate on an upcoming Hip-Hop album as a companion to the Blues legend’s highly-anticipated biopic “B.B. King: The King Of The Blues.”

Reps for B.B. King’s estate confirmed they are working on a Hip-Hop album that would sample his music, and they invited Lil Wayne, Drake, and DJ Khaled to be a part of the project. 

“When I heard ‘B.B. King Freestyle,’ I was shocked, as this is exactly what we wanted,” said B.B. King’s estate manager Vassal Benford. “For DJ Khaled, Lil Wayne, and Drake to show love makes a big statement on behalf of the music world regarding B.B. King and the significance of Blues. We would like to thank them on behalf of the family members and the B.B. King estate, and welcome all three artists to the project in whatever capacity.”

According to Variety, there will also be tributes to B.B. King from Country, EDM, and traditional Blues artists.  

“B.B. King: The King Of The Blues” is slated to start pre-production in 2021.

Tekashi 6ix9ine Associate Gets 4.5 Years In Prison For Trying To Kill Chief Keef

By: Mike Winslow Updated Category: News
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The guy who tried to kill Chief Keef in Times Square in New York for Tekashi 6ix9ine is heading off to prison. 

Judge Paul Engelmayer sentenced Kintea “Kooda B” McKenzie to 4.5 years in prison yesterday, for trying to kill the Chicago for Tekashi 6ix9ine and the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods. 

Kooda knew this day was coming. 6ix9ine testified against the gang and admitted he paid Kooda $10,000 out of a $20,000 bounty to try and kill Chief Keef. In 2019, Kooda struck a deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering. 

He caught a break in April, when Judge Engelmayer released him from the city’s Metropolitan Correctional Center in April, due to the spread of the coronavirus. 

But Kooda ran afoul of the court after he was caught on tape drinking, smoking, and partying with alleged gang members. Kooda B claimed he was charmed into the shooting because 6ix9ine after made a song named after him. 

“I allowed myself to look up to and listen to someone with more success and fame. That was not the right thing to do,” Kooda explained to Judge Engelmayer. “I regret it and it won’t happen again. I thought he was a good friend. I was excited that he named a song after me.”

 

Gucci Reportedly Regrets Playing Diss “Truth” In Jeezy Verzuz Battle

By: illseed Updated Category: Rumors
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The Jeezy / Gucci Mane battle was one of the biggest “battles” and marked the second season of the Swizz Beatz / Timbaland-helmed Verzuz battle. These days they aren’t really regarded as actual battles, but more of a celebration! There is a clear competitive spirit in the air, but they are not going at each other, just playing songs and stuff. It seems like in the negotiations, Gucci wanted to include “Truth,” a scathing diss song that details – among other things – how he killed Jeezy’s homeboy. The legend is that Jeezy sent some boys to kill/rob Gucci and in an act of self-defense, he blasted the man back to his maker. That’s the legend. There’s another rumor for that…but this is the new rumor.

Word is: Gucci regrets playing that song. How did this come to pass? Well, there is this new app called Clubhouse, which currently invite-only. It is not that exclusive though, but there are a bunch of stars on it, causing the thirsty people to actually PAY for an invite! Anyway, one of the Quality Control guys admitted on Clubhouse that Gucci almost immediately regretted that move. I am sure he also regrets saying “Smoking that Pookie Loc” too, but he didn’t say all that.

He should do a new interview and atone for it and make a plea for peace. It seems like a kid is getting “smoked” every day. They are killing US…we are killing US! When is someone respected like Gucci going to step up? Oh wait, Jeezy did that. Anyway, I know Gucci talks to a different group of fans! Tell ’em chill, Wop!!

Questlove Announces Multi-Year Partnership With The Balvenie Whisky

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: News
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Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and the Scotland-based The Balvenie whisky company have announced a new partnership. The multi-year collaboration will produce the creation of a Questlove-hosted digital series, titled Quest for Craft, which is set to premiere in Fall 2021.

“I have always been curious about what drives people creatively, and have used that curiosity in my own creative process,” said Questlove. “From my youth touring with my parents, to my many conversations and collaborations with diverse creatives over the years, and writing a book on the subject, there are endless stories of creativity still to be discovered. I’m excited to take this journey with The Balvenie to tell these important stories of makers and their creative processes.”

The Balvenie Distillery

Leading up to the premiere of Quest for Craft, The Balvenie and Questlove will showcase “the beautiful convergence of craft and creativity” through original events, collaborations, and activations. For example, the partners will offer limited-edition holiday gift items sold exclusively on Goldbelly.com beginning December 7.

Questlove curated the collection which includes a special savory and sweet snack selection from his favorite chefs and brands, a set of Glencairn glasses, and a set of coasters and cocktail napkins designed by the Hip Hop star. Each The Balvenie box sold will help provide meals to those most in need this season.

100% of the proceeds are going to America’s Food Fund. That non-profit collective helps provides funding relief to organizations working to feed America’s most vulnerable populations, including children who rely on school lunch programs, low-income families, the elderly, and individuals facing unemployment.

The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old

Additionally, a ReserveBar code can be redeemed for a bottle of The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old. The distilled alcoholic beverage will also come with the ingredients to create the “Best Enjoyed Fireside” signature cocktail from The Balvenie Ambassador Naomi Leslie.

“The Balvenie has been committed to the old-school, hands-on methods of making Scotch whisky for well over a century,” stated Greg Levine, Brand Director for The Balvenie. “That process of making our award-winning whiskies is easy to see, but the intrinsic values and human characteristics that drive our distillery craftspeople every day often escape the spotlight. “It’s these attributes that drive innovation, creativity, and consistency and there’s no better partner to embark on this co-creative journey with than Questlove.”

Swizz Beatz & Timbaland Talk Possible ‘Verzuz’ Battle Featuring Diddy & Dr. Dre

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: News
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Verzuz is coming off its most successful event to date. The Gucci Mane versus Jeezy hits-for-hits celebration reportedly drew over 9 million watchers which is a larger total than the respective viewership numbers for the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards and the 2020 Billboard Music Awards.

How will Verzuz curators Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean and Timothy “Timbaland” Mosley followup such a high-profile and well-received peaceful clash? Both men appeared on TMZ, and they were questioned about potentially having two of the most celebrated Hip Hop producers/artists/moguls take on the Verzuz challenge.

https://twitter.com/Diddy/status/1330186794890039300?s=20

“Now that’s something different,” replied Swizz when asked about possibly booking Sean “Diddy” Combs and Andre “Dr. Dre” Young for a battle. “The way this Verzuz thing works is everybody has these magical wishes that they want. The universe has been bringing these magical wishes, so I can’t even say what’s not going to happen anymore.”

The Poison album creator continued, “Like the last one we’ve seen, everybody said that couldn’t happen. Now we just let the universe naturally make things happen.” When it was pointed out that he did not deny whether Diddy and Dre are already preparing for a Verzuz showdown, Swizz responded, “I’m never going to say no anymore.”

If a Dr. Dre vs Diddy Verzuz is officially announced for season two of the series, fans will likely get to hear classic tracks like Diddy’s “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down” and “It’s All About the Benjamins” as well as Dre’s “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang” and “Forgot About Dre.” Previous Verzuz matchups included Teddy Riley vs Babyface, Erykah Badu vs Jill Scott, DMX vs Snoop Dogg, Brandy vs Monica, Gladys Knight vs Patti LaBelle, and other friendly faceoffs featuring music icons.

Spinrilla Streaming Platform Found Liable For Copyright Infringement Of Users

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: News
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The era of mixtape services being the go-to location for Hip Hop fans to download new music was essentially ended with the streaming takeover by Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. Even though sites like Datpiff, LiveMixtapes, MyMixtapez, and Spinrilla have lost the cultural relevance they once had, music corporations are still keeping an eye on what is being uploaded to those platforms.

In February 2017, the Recording Industry Association of America sued Spinrilla on behalf of Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Bros. Records, Atlantic Recording Corporation, and LaFace Records. The plaintiffs accused Spinrilla and its founder Jeffery Dylan Copeland of being liable for copyright infringement of their sound recordings.

The case centered around the RIAA accusing Spinrilla of allowing its users to stream and download content without properly licensing the material. Copyrighted recordings by major label artists such as Bruno Mars, The Weeknd, Missy Elliot, Common, and Ludacris were mentioned in the suit. 

The RIAA reportedly identified 4,082 total works on Spinrilla – some of which were supposedly promoted, featured, and advertised directly by Copeland – that allegedly infringed the copyright owners. Copeland was also accused of instructing users to modify recordings in order to get past the Audible Magic digital filtering technology.

Spinrilla argued it is a venue where artists and deejays can promote their own work and should not be held liable for copyrighted content uploaded by those users. The defendants attempted to lean on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act’s “Safe Harbor” provision which shields online service providers from claims of copyright infringement if specific conditions are met.

United States District Judge Amy Totenberg for the Northern District of Georgia granted summary judgment in favor of the RIAA on the issue of liability. Totenberg rejected Spinrilla’s “Safe Harbor” defense because the company did not have the required repeat infringer policy or a designated U.S. Copyright Office agent to handle DMCA-related claims until after the lawsuit was filed.

Totenberg ruled, “Even if volitional conduct is required to prove direct infringement, the cases on which Plaintiffs rely have all held that the affirmative act of streaming constitutes direct infringement of the copyright holder’s exclusive right of performance regardless of the fact that the streaming occurs at the request of the user.”

Both parties may still have to go to court in order to deal with the Plaintiffs’ claim for damages from the ruling, but mediation could be an option. The RIAA and Spinrilla have until December 16 to decide whether to go to trial or settle the issues of damages in mediation with former discovery Special Master Carlos A. González.

Kenneth L. Doroshow, Chief Legal Officer of the Recording Industry Association of America, released a statement regarding the ruling in the Spinrilla infringement lawsuit. He stated:

We are gratified by the court’s decision, which sends a message that online streaming providers cannot hide behind the actions of their users to avoid their own liability for copyright infringement that occurs through their systems.  The decision also reaffirms that merely characterizing unauthorized copies of sound recordings as ‘mixtapes’ does not make them any less infringing than any other unauthorized uses of copyrighted works.  The court got it exactly right on several key points of copyright law in the digital streaming context, and we hope that it serves as a lodestar for other courts and service providers alike

Slim Thug Discusses COVID-19 Vaccine & Bill Gates Conspiracy Theory

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: News
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Coronavirus is still ravaging America. As of press time, over 14 million people in the United States have contracted COVID-19 and more than 260,000 people have died from the disease.

While most of the nation confronts the medical and financial fallout of the ongoing pandemic, some states are reportedly preparing to administer a vaccine. Healthcare workers will likely get immunized first with the rest of the population having to wait months.

But will most Americans actually take the vaccine once it becomes available? While speaking with Fatman Scoop, Houston-bred rapper Slim Thug was asked if he was open to getting vaccinated for coronavirus.

“I’m gonna take the medicine. I see a lot of people say don’t take medicine. I’m gonna take it because I’m scared of it. I’m not encouraging nobody else to do it,” said Slim Thug.

Later in the interview, he told Fatman Scoop, “More than anything, I want the world to come back to normal. I’m tired of doing the masks everywhere, so if we all got to take a damn vaccine to get back to not wearing masks every day and get back to being normal then I’ll take the damn vaccine.”

The “I Ain’t Heard of That” rhymer also addressed the conspiracy theory that suggests Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates will use the COVID-19 vaccine to implant tracking devices in humans or to depopulate the planet. The billionaire philanthropist has denied those claims.

“I don’t think Bill Gates wants to kill me,” stated Thug. “I think Bill Gates got too much money to be worried about my broke ass. He gives away too much of his fortune to all of a sudden turn into somebody who wants to harm me.”

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Mulatto Addresses Being Accused Of Making Colorism Comments

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: News
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Alyssa “Mulatto” Stephens broke out in 2020. She became an XXL Freshman, made a cameo in Cardi B’s recording-breaking “WAP” music video, earned a Gold plaque for her “B#### from da Souf” single, and dropped her Queen of Da Souf project.

This year also saw Mulatto dealing with some controversial moments. For example, the 21-year-old rapper was recently accused of denying the existence of colorism during a conversation on the private Clubhouse social media platform.

“I WOULD NEVER SAY NO S### LIKE COLORISM DOESN’T EXIST!” tweeted Mulatto on Tuesday afternoon in response to the rumors circulating on Twitter. She later added, “Please stop with the false narrative!”

Mulatto has also faced backlash for her stage name which is an outdated racial term for a light-skinned person of mixed-race ancestry. The Atlanta native has publicly talked about being the child of an African-American father and Caucasian mother.

According to The Rap Game winner, the decision to use Mulatto as her professional moniker was a way to reclaim the slur in order to shift its meaning from something negative to something positive. However, she is said to be considering officially changing her name to Big Latto.

“I would be lying to say it hasn’t crossed my mind before. It is a controversy that I hear and see every day as far as my name goes, so I would be lying to say no I never thought of that. But I can’t say too much right now, because it’s going to be a part of something bigger,” said Mulatto.

Spectacular Smith Addresses Being Arrested For Allegedly Punching A Disney World Employee

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: News
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Overnight, reports began circulating online that Spectacular Blue Smith was arrested on Sunday at Walt Disney World in Orlando. The Pretty Ricky founding member was accused of pretending to sneeze on an employee and saying, “coronavirus.”

According to the alleged victim, Smith also punched the worker twice after he was repeatedly asked to leave the line for a ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. The 34-year-old entertainer/entrepreneur was charged with misdemeanor battery in Orange County and bonded out. He is scheduled for a hearing in January.

Spectacular took to social media to address the situation. The multi-millionaire businessman wrote on his Instagram Story:

The more success you have as a Black man, the bigger target you are. The media will put out a one-sided story even without facts, because they enjoy demonizing our culture and bringing us down. It’s sad. However, when you know you’re rights, you know that you have the right to remain silent and a right to have a lawyer present before giving a statement. With that said, there’s 2 sides to every story and since this story is bigger than me and the color of my skin, I’ll wait till my attorney gives the green light. Thanks for your support. Love. Ps: Y’all know my character.