In a very emotional clip, premiering on tonight’s episode of “Growing Up Hip Hop,” Angela Simmons talks about having to explain the death of his father Sutton Tennyson, her ex-fiancé.
Sutton died in 2018 after being shot 13 times right outside of his Atlanta home. Simmons and Sutton welcomed their baby boy in September 2016 before their engagement a few months earlier in April, but split in December 2017.
While having a conversation with her life coach, Chenoa Maxwell, Simmons can’t hold back tears as she discusses her son asking her about his dad and if he is alive.
She reveals how hard it was having to talk to him about it at such a young age, especially while still grieving herself.
(AllHipHop News) Two popular figures in hip-hop are scheduled to square-off in court this March, as another high-profile trial involving rap feuds and murder looms.
Current New York State Discovery laws went into effect on January 1, 2020. As a result, the trial will commence on March 5, 2020.
The new date provides the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office sufficient time to be in “full compliance” with the laws, according to Taxstone’s counsel, Kenneth Montgomery.
The Feds say Taxstone, born Daryl Campbell, murdered Ronald “Banga” McPhatter during the fight and subsequent shootout in the green room of Irving Plaza.
Taxstone and Troy Ave had been beefing for months during interviews and on social media when the two crossed paths on May 25th, 2016, in the green room just before a show featuring acclaimed Atlanta rapper T.I.
A scuffle broke out and shooting exploded with dozens of people backstage, including rappers Maino, Uncle Murda, and Casanova.
Security cameras caught the tail-end of the fight, as Troy Ave pursued Taxstone out of the greenroom and fired shots at him in the middle of the packed concert venue.
Troy Ave, real name Roland Collins, maintains he wrestled the gun away from Taxstone, who was allegedly the shooter.
“S##t, everybody knows what happened. It ain’t even nothing to argue. It’s right there, the proof is in the pudding. The proof is in black and white paperwork, in the FBI paperwork. I don’t even have to argue anything, it’s there,” Troy Ave told AllHipHop.com.
“They see that it’s not my gun, I never brought no gun in the club. DNA evidence proves that, so where’d I get it from? I got it from the assailant [Taxstone]. I didn’t make this up, we didn’t splice the genetics on the one gun. They should just free Troy Ave,” Troy Ave continued.
“If this were to happen somewhere else, I would have been a hero. Because if you look at it, I saved mad people from getting shot. There’s three other victims, more people could have died. If I didn’t do what I did, fought the gun away and wrestled — it’s fight or flight. I chose to fight,” the rapper said.
(AllHipHop News) Lizzo has credited regular therapy sessions for giving her the “courage to be vulnerable as a vocalist.”
The “Good As Hell” star suffered an emotional breakdown while on tour in 2018 and decided afterward to start seeing a therapist.
While the hitmaker described the move as “really scary,” Lizzo told Rolling Stone that “being vulnerable with someone I didn’t know, then learning how to be vulnerable with people that I do know, gave me the courage to be vulnerable as a vocalist.”
Shortly before heading out on the road for her 2018 jaunt, the 31-year-old, real name Melissa Jefferson, split from her boyfriend – whose identity she has never revealed.
And while the split was a difficult time for the star, it’s one she knows she needed to go through.
“As f##ked up as it sounds, I needed that heartbreak experience,” she explained. “I’m not sad, because I use the pain so constructively. It’s inevitable. The pain is human experience.”
With the help of her therapist and a new outlook, Lizzo is working on various aspects of her life, such as her “relationship with my family” and opening herself “up to friendships.”
“I open myself up to the idea of children, which is big for me, ’cause my albums are my babies,” she added.
The trio then worked Bobb-Semple’s sampled vocals into The Kids See Ghost track “Freeee (Ghost Town, Pt. 2),” with no permission on the album, which debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 chart.
“If you got a good woman please let her know,” he posted. “Tell her as soon as you can. Make sure she knows. Make sure she feels it. HONOR HER. CHERISH HER. Cause the special ones are RARE and FEW. And everyone doesn’t get a second chance. LET THE ONE YOU LOVE KNOW TODAY. RIGHT NOW!!!!”
Porter passed away from pneumonia at her Los Angeles home in November 2018. The former couple dated on and off from 1994 to 2007, but Diddy and Kim remained close until her death.
“Florida A&M University, congratulations on winning the HBCU Hot Challenge. You guys won $25,000. That’s very, very, very great. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there, but I want you guys to stay good in school. Keep making good grades,” said Thugger in a video posted to FAMU’s Marching 100 Instagram account.
The $25K donation will go to the 132-year-old Tallahassee institution’s music department and band program. 300 Entertainment CEO/former Morgan State University student Kevin Liles visited Florida A&M to present Director Dr. Shelby R. Chipman and the FAMU undergraduates with a giant check.
“On behalf of our families to yours we would like to congratulate the @marching100 band of #famu for winning the #hothbcuchallenge Thank u for your commitment to excellence and good luck in Atlanta at the Honda Battle of the bands… we felt at home today… to all the faculty and staff continue to believe in our next generation of leaders…,” posted Liles on IG.
(AllHipHop News) Last week, South Florida recording artist Bill “Kodak Black” Kapri posted messages on Instagram about the alleged troubling treatment inside the correctional facility where he was being housed. The “No Flockin” rhymer accused prison officials of abusing their authority, and he told the story of an inmate that apparently committed suicide because of a lack of medical attention.
Kodak Black’s mother, Marcelene Simmons, has now hired famed attorney Benjamin Crump to address the rapper’s allegations of civil rights violations. Another problem is that it seems to be unclear exactly where Kodak Black is placed at the moment.
According to local Fox affiliate WSVN, Simmons and Crump scheduled a welfare check for Kodak Black on Wednesday, but they were supposedly told he was put on a bus to a Kentucky prison before the meeting in Miami could take place. However, the Federal Bureau of Prisons website has a 22-year-old, black male named Bill Kapri currently located at Federal Transfer Center in Oklahoma City.
“We believe they intentionally moved him, so he couldn’t meet with his attorneys,” stated Crump. Simmons said, “I want to make sure they don’t kill my son. If they kill my son, if my son dies, I’m going to kill myself too. My son, after God, my son is life to me. My son is everything for me.”
Kodak Black was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison on weapons charges after he agreed to a plea bargain. His legal team, which also includes Devon Jacob and Sue-Ann Robinson, is said to be considering filing a lawsuit against the Federal Bureau of Prisons on the behalf of Kapri and other incarcerated individuals.
“They knew we were coming out here, they knew we were doing this today,” said Jacob about the planned visit to see Kodak this week, according to the Miami Herald. “Their refusal to let him see his counsel is, in and of itself, a constitutional violation.”
(AllHipHop News) Is Lil Wayne close to dropping a new music project? The Hip Hop superstar, also known as Lil Tunechi, teased the release of something titled Funeral with his 35 million Twitter followers.
“Soon!! ⚰️” is all the Young Money leader tweeted along with a 6-second video that featured a symbiotogram ofthe words “funeral” and “lil wayne.” There have been reports for months that the “Lollipop” hitmaker was working on a new body of work.
Wayne’s last studio LP was 2018’s Tha Carter V. That effort debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart with 480,000 album-equivalent units. As of press time, Weezy has four No. 1 albums in his career.
(AllHipHop News) Montero “Lil Nas X” Lamar Hill is going into Grammy night on Sunday with 6 nominations. He is up for Best New Artist, Record Of The Year, Best Rap/Sung Performance, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best Music Video, and Album Of The Year.
Lil Nas X’s breakout year in 2019 was mostly due to the record-breaking “Old Town Road (Remix)” featuring Country legend Billy Ray Cyrus. The Georgia native also made headlines by coming out as gay in LGBT Pride Month while his smash hit was the #1 record in the country.
LNX has discussed his father’s reaction to learning about his sexuality, but he has not been as open about his mom. The 7 EP creator finally addressed his relationship with his mother in a new interview with Variety.
“I never really talk about my mom. She’s an addict so we don’t have the closest relationship. Even trying to get her better — things didn’t quite work out. But there’s still love,” revealed Lil Nas.
The 20-year-old Columbia recording artist also talked about the impact the death of his grandmother had on him. Apparently, he began self-medicating by heavily smoking marijuana.
“You know, drugs and murders. And my grandmother passing [in 2018]- she was the first person close to me who died. It was devastating. And it made me a hypochondriac: I’d wake up, heart racing. It was scary,” said Lil Nas. “But then I started feeling more connected with the universe, and taking everything as a sign.”
(AllHipHop News) The National Football League unveiled a public service announcement about Botham Jean. He was the unarmed 26-year-old black man that was fatally shot by a white off-duty Dallas police officer on September 6, 2018. Jean’s mother Allison Jean, father Bertrum Jean, and sister Allisa Findley narrate the video.
“I’m thankful that the NFL created this PSA to honor Botham’s legacy and deliver an important message about empathy and unity. I truly hope that our society learns from Botham’s story – and the stories of many others – so we can make a lasting change in this world. Together, we must all set a better example for future generations and leaders,” said Allisa Findley in a statement.
This is the third PSA from The Responsibility Program which is a joint initiative between the NFL and Jay-Z’s Roc Nation entertainment company. The program also provides educational grants to families that have been affected by social injustices across America.
Previously, The Responsibility Program teamed with The Players Coalition for a PSA about Danroy “DJ” Henry. The former Pace University football player was killed by a police officer in 2010 in Mount Pleasant, New York.
(AllHipHop News) DMV representative Wale recently linked up with NPR Music to take part in the media organization’s Tiny Desk concert series. The performance was part of the four-night,live-streamed Tiny Desk Fest in Washington, DC.
“I was talking to J. Cole about me doing this,” Wale expressed to NPR’s Bobby Carter. “He told me to just do my thing, but I wish I had more time to work this set out.”
The artist born Olubowale Victor Akintimehin opened the show with the 2011 Top 40 single “Lotus Flower Bomb.” That song was certified Platinum and received a nomination for Best Rap Song at the 55th Grammy Awards.
Wale closed out the concert with a Go-Go version of his latest hit “On Chill.” The record appears on the 2019 studio album Wow… That’s Crazy which debuted at #7 on Billboard‘s Top 200.
(AllHipHop News) Wrestling legend R-Truth is currently one of the WWE’s most exciting champions and now he’s embarking on a brand new career – as a rapper.
The 20-year veteran of the sport has announced the release date for his first official solo single, “Set It Off,” which he has been teasing on his social media accounts.
The 33-time 24/7 Championship belt holder insists he is different from the many professional athletes who have tried their hand at rapping.
According to R-Truth, born Ron Killings, he started as a hip-hop dancer.
R-Truth was lucky enough to perform with artists like the late Tupac Shakur, Mya, Tech 9 and Joey Badazz, even as he was wrestling for TNA as a member of the “3Live Kru.”
He’s already seen some success with his WWE intro “Wassup,” which has over 10 million views on YouTube.
“Set It Off” is slated to be released on Friday, February 14, 2020.
(AllHipHop News) Rap star Flo Rida is aiming to corner the South Florida market for craft vodka with his new brand, Victor George Vodka (VG Vodka).
Flo Rida has partnered with entrepreneur Victor G. Harvey Sr., and the two are aiming to build VG Vodka into the largest craft Vodka in the region.
Flo Rida and Victor G. Harvey are also building a 13,000-square foot facility to house a brand new cigar bar, wine bar, lounge and restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to sell the brand.
Additionally, the building will house a distillery to make small batches of VG crafted by a master chef using all-natural ingredients.
“Super excited to join the VG Family as an equity owner and brand ambassador,” said Flo Rida. “I have known Mr. Harvey for years and I’ve seen his grind, hard work, and enthusiasm in building his brand. I look forward to introducing VG Vodka to the world, developing new products through the construction of a distillery in historic Sistrunk and empowering the community.”
Flo Rida is planning to launch VG Vodka with a series of events throughout Super Bowl Wee to promote the gluten-free, American made vodka, which promises no hangovers, headaches or burn.
“Flo is an amazing businessman and I watched him build his company from the ground up,” said Victor G. Harvey. “I knew it was only a matter of time before we did something together and VG Vodka seemed like the perfect fit.”
The restaurant and distillery are expected to open in late 2020 or early 2021.
After rumors circulating that Apryl Jones and Lil Fizz have called it quits, it seems like the Love & Hip Hop reality star may have her eyes on Compton rapper, The Game.
During her chit chat with Tiffany Pollard on her show Breakfast With Tiffany, she talks about how people would always try to increase her body count and accuse her of f*ckin around with different celebrities.
If you can’t beat em, join em and in Apryl fashion, she just agreed with what they were saying.
Apryl did reveal that she should have slept with Game when she had the opportunity. She also said she passed up a lot of good d*ck.
She also claimed RiFF RAFF stole a bag of money she earned at the brother and forced her to have sex with him to get her cash back.
RiFF RAFF immediately denied the allegations. and claimed he was being extorted for $1 million to make the civil suit disappear.
The rap star beat the case, his lawyers have confirmed.
“Having this dark cloud, which has hung over him for the last 5 years, dissipate, RiFF RAFF is ready to take his career to the next level and cement his name as one of the most exciting and innovative entertainers of modern times,” a representative for RiFF RAFF told AllHipHop.com.
“Having this episode placed firm behind him, RiFF RAFF now can redress the imbalance and set the record straight in that there are no lawsuits, or claims, regarding any sexual assault or sexual misconduct against the entertainer.”
(AllHipHop News) Actor Shia Labeouf is working on turning rapper Kevin Abstract’s childhood into the subject of a new movie.
The “Transformers” star recently received high praise for “Honey Boy,” the semi-autobiographical film he wrote about his difficult relationship with his alcoholic father.
Now he’s focused on digging into the Brockhampton co-founder’s past for his next venture.
Titled “Minor Modifications,” the script is a work of fiction but is inspired by Abstract’s troubled youth, during which the Texas native ran away from his mom’s home at 15 and eventually moved to Georgia to live with his sister.
The project features on The Black List, which notes the industry’s top, unproduced screenplays, but LaBeouf is working hard to perfect the script by spending quality time with 23-year-old Abstract, real name Clifford Ian Simpson, even holding weekly group therapy sessions to further understand the complexities of his friend’s life.
“I’m trying to get as close to my subject as I am to myself, so I’ve been forced to be more social and go to his house all the time and so much so that we started like, a therapy group at his house,” LaBeouf recently explained on the podcast 3rd & Fairfax.
“It’s called Friday Therapy. We invite friends and it’s a little bit of a party, but also forced connection, where everybody gets 10 minutes to sort of unveil themselves, and because he’s a very closeted person personally, he exhibits a lot in these moments…
“Me and him have gotten very close over the last year and I’ve been writing his 12-year-old story as well, to right around where he’s 17. We’ve just been looking at this chapter of his life.”
Further details about LaBeouf’s plans for the movie have yet to be revealed.
(AllHipHop Rumors) According to Orlando Brown, he and Nick Cannon had something going on.
A video surfaced on the internet of Brown claiming Cannon gave him oral sex. Yikes!
“You want me to let everybody know. Okay fine. Nick, I let you suck my d*ck. Fine, I’ll say it. I let Nick suck my d*ck. And I liked it. It was okay. Nick you sucked my d*ck. Everybody knows you did it as a female… I didn’t want to say that, you know. Nick been sucking d*ck.”
We all know Brown has been open about his drug abuse and mental health issues. He has also claimed to have had a relationship with actress Raven Symone. This accusation is actually not surprising coming from Brown. This wouldn’t be the first outburst he has had and won’t be the last unless he gets the help he needs.
(AllHipHop News) Lizzo and Beyonce lead the nominees for the 2020 Shorty Awards with double honors.
The “Juice” hitmaker landed a nod in the Music – Arts & Entertainment category, where she’ll go up against AJR, Anderson .Paak, Billie Eilish, Blanco Brown, Brandi Carlile, Celine Dion, J Balvin, Lil Nas X, Mike Posner, Missy Elliott and Twice at the prizegiving, which celebrates social media content.
She also scored a nomination on the Instagram of the Year – Content shortlist, where Beyonce also appears.
“Lizzo post AMAs” and “Beyonce on shoes” will go up against “John Mayer’s bottle cap kick” and “Will Smith getting to 50m followers” for the award.
Beyonce also appears on the Celebrity – Arts & Entertainment shortlist. She joins Zendaya, Paula Abdul, Keke Palmer, Adam Sandler, Blake Griffin, David Beckham, Jonathan Van Ness, Michael Strahan, Demi Lovato, Jennifer Aniston and Tessa Thompson competing for the prize.
Khalid and Lady Gaga also appear in the nominations, with The Khalid Happy Dance and Lady Gaga Eye Roll both receiving nods in the GIF of the Year – Content category.
Meanwhile, it was TikTok stars who impressed this year, landing nominations outside of the TikTokker of the Year prize, including Food & Drink, Meme of the Year, Weird and Beauty.
The social media platform enjoyed a successful year, prompting several viral challenges and crazes, and propelling “Old Town Road” hitmaker Lil Nas X to international stardom.
The 12th annual Shorty Awards will be held on May 3 at 1515 Broadway Theater in New York City. The prizegiving can be viewed via live stream online.
(AllHipHop News) Model Lori Harvey has pleaded not guilty to hit-and-run charges relating to a car accident in Los Angeles in October.
The stepdaughter of comedian Steve Harvey was arraigned in court on Tuesday on misdemeanor counts of resisting/delaying/obstructing a peace officer, and hit-and-run resulting in property damage.
She stands accused of crashing her Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon into a parked car while driving through Beverly Hills, and leaving the scene of the incident before police could arrive to investigate – even though the force of the collision was enough to flip her vehicle on its side.
The beauty, who was only officially charged earlier this month is due to attend a preliminary hearing in February.
Harvey’s court appearance comes days after she and rapper Future went public with their romance while on vacation in Jamaica to celebrate her 23rd birthday.
(AllHipHop News) New dad DJ Khaled, John Legend and Meek Mill will lead a tribute to slain rapper Nipsey Hussle at the Grammy Awards on Sunday.
The three-time Grammy nominee will also be honored by Kirk Franklin, Roddy Ricch and YG during the ceremony at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
They all join previously announced performers Aerosmith, Camila Cabello, Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, H.E.R., the Jonas Brothers, Lizzo, and Demi Lovato, among others.
“An activist, entrepreneur and rapper, Nipsey Hussle had a lasting impact on not just his community, but also the culture at large,” said Ken Ehrlich, the Grammys’ executive producer. “There is no denying the influence he had and his legacy will be felt for generations to come.
“We are honored to bring together this amazing group of artists to celebrate Nipsey’s life and pay tribute to his many contributions to music. It’s sure to be a memorable performance.”
