(AllHipHop News) The world lost Ermias “Nipsey Hussle” Asghedom on March 31, 2019. However, the Los Angeles emcee/entrepreneur’s legacy lives on through his music, activism, an upcoming monument on W. Slauson Ave, and now a 19-piece apparel collection.
PUMA x TMC features a marathon-themed MCS tracksuit and two different colorways of the California sneaker. Nipsey Hussle helped design the items and the Grammy-nominated musician’s body was used for measurements before his passing,
All of the pieces include elements created to represent PUMA’s signature imagery as well as Nipsey’s “The Marathon Continues” messaging. PUMA is donating 100% of the net proceeds from the sales of the collection to the Neighborhood “Nip” Foundation.
The PUMA x TMC debut collection will be available in-stores and online beginning September 5.
(AllHipHop News) In his latest comedy special for Netflix, Dave Chappelle presented jokes about the LGBT community, white school shooters, the #MeToo Movement, and Michael Jackson. A section of Sticks & Stones also tackled Surviving R. Kelly.
Executive Producer Dream Hampton’s Emmy-nominated docuseries covered the sexual, physical, and mental abuse allegations against R&B singer R. Kelly over the last three decades. According to Chappelle, Hampton asked him to be part of the program but he turned down being in the documentary because he did not have any personal interactions with the accused pedophile.
The back-and-forth over Surviving R. Kelly went from Netflix to Twitter. Hampton responded to Chappelle in a series of tweets that referenced the classic Chappelle’s Show skit “P### On You” which depicted Chappelle performing as R. Kelly in a music video.
Hampton tweeted:
Quick fact check: I didn’t personally (or casually) invite Chappelle to be interviewed for the doc. The producer responsible for celeb outreach officially asked him, more than once. I haven’t seen or talked to him in about 8 years. Weird he told his joke that way. I also, obviously, didn’t need Chapelle to talk about R. Kelly personally. I wanted him to talk about the two pieces of cultural criticism he produced about R. Kelly for the Chapelle show. I also have never in my life said the words “too hot for tv”, because, B####, that’s not how I sound. There is nothing more radical—or necessary, than comedy that takes on power. An actual brave and brilliant comic can collapse regimes and shift culture in ways nothing and no one else can. I hope someone emerges… No, I wasn’t trying to just invite “anybody” that “would possibly say something bad about R Kelly” I asked our producer T. Farris to invite him on because [Dave Chappelle] already “said” this [link to Comedy Central’s “P### On You” YouTube video] This really isn’t rocket science… I a) care about Black girls b) don’t think abusing as many Black girls as R Kelly did happens without many, many people refusing to speak up about it. If that’s hilarious, then awesome, thanks for coming to my Netflix special.
Back in January, Dream Hampton also had a public spat with Neo-Soul songstress Erykah Badu over Surviving R. Kelly. Hampton claimed she asked a producer to contact Badu about appearing in the program. Badu denied rejecting a request to be in the Lifetime docuseries, and she demanded Hampton apologize for wrongfully suggesting she was approached about Surviving R. Kelly.
Hampton replied, “Apologize? Are you kidding? Again, you PUBLICLY said he did more for black people than anyone? If you want to apologize for that, fine, apology accepted, on behalf of Harriet and the whole crew. What you meant by calling him your brother from the stage, I’ll never know..”
(AllHipHop News) Robert “Meek Mill” Williams is no longer under the supervision of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Yesterday, news broke that the Philadelphia-raised rapper pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor firearms gun possession charge, ending an 11-year legal battle.
Meek had been on probation since being convicted in 2008. In July, the Pennsylvania Superior Court overturned the felony conviction and ordered a new trial in the drug and gun possession case.
I really put that s### behind me today ….. I beat the streets 👌🏾
The “Stay Woke” spitter addressed his newfound freedom on Twitter. Meek told his 8.2 million followers, “I really put that sh*t behind me today ….. I beat the streets.”
Since being released from state prison in 2018 for a probation violation, Meek Mill has become an advocate for criminal justice reform. He joined with Roc Nation founder Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, Philadelphia 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, CNN political contributor Van Jones, and others to launch the REFORM Alliance.
(AllHipHop News) Kevin Hart just took a pretty big loss in a breach of lawsuit contract filed by his former business partners.
A judge has finally ruled in a $1.8 million breach of contract lawsuit filed by his former representatives at a company called iGo Marketing & Entertainment.
Kevin Hart has to fork over a total amount of $700,000 to his former business partners, who emerged victorious in the case.
(AllHipHop News) Lizzo gave herself some liquid courage by sipping tequila onstage at the MTV Video Music Awards on Monday.
The singer/rapper delivered a show-stopping performance of her hit “Truth Hurts” during the show, which included an inflatable booty prop – a nod to the star’s signature twerk.
And speaking shortly after coming off stage, the star revealed what was in the mysterious bedazzled bottle that she sipped from before addressing the audience after her song.
“So this is a bottle of tequila,” the 31-year-old revealed. “Now here’s the tea: I wasn’t allowed to have a full bottle of tequila, so we had one shot. And I took the whole shot on accident right before my speech.
“So I was lit! Whatever I said, I don’t remember.”
In the empowering speech, the “Juice” singer urged fans to ignore the “bulls##t” and learn to love themselves, adding: “It’s so hard trying to love yourself in a world that doesn’t love you back. So I want to take this opportunity to just feel good as hell because you deserve to feel good as hell!”
And Lizzo later said that the whole performance was “a moment,” admitting: “It was a spiritual catharsis for all of us. It was a release. We were feeling good as hell and the whole crowd felt good as hell and hopefully the whole world.
(AllHipHop News) The two men in the cross-hairs of Dave Chappelle’s Michael Jackson jokes have come forward to reply to the funnyman’s wisecracks about their alleged molestation.
The comedy legend’s new stand-up show debuted on Netflix on Monday night and contained explosive material about the allegations James Safechuck and Wade Robson made about Jackson in the HBO documentary “Leaving Neverland” earlier this year.
“I don’t believe these motherf##kers,” Chappelle said of the two accusers, before telling his audience not to watch the two-part film, because it’s “f##king gross.”
I mean, it’s Michael Jackson. I know more than half the people in this room have been molested in their lives, but it wasn’t no g###### Michael Jackson, was it? This kid got his d##k sucked by the King of Pop. All we get is awkward Thanksgivings for the rest of our lives. You know how good it must have felt to go to school the next day after that s##t?” “I’m heartbroken for all those children who look to see how they will be received when they finally find the courage to speak out about their sexual abuse,” James Safechuck said in a statement. ‘I just want to reach out to other survivors and let them know that we can’t let this type of behavior silence us. Together we are strong.”
“It’s unfortunate that he has chosen to use his platform to shame sexual abuse victims, and spread his ignorance of sexual abuse and the way it is perpetrated upon children, in an attempt to resurrect his career,” added Wade Robson’s lawyer Vince Finaldi added.
During his candid set, the 46-year-old also said he was “pretty sure” R. Kelly was guilty of charges relating to the alleged sexual abuse of underage girls.
And added he had been asked to appear in the investigative documentary series “Surviving R. Kelly,” but declined, as he didn’t know the R&B singer.
Ras Kass is one of the dopest lyricist to grace the West Coast, period. In fact, he’s probably your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper on the low.
Ras Kass, real name John Austin IV, has been spitting since the early 2000’s.
He has undeniably solidified his name in the hip-hop space and has never switched up for anyone.
Now, Ras Kass follows up his 1996 debut Soul On Ice (via Priority Records) with a part 2, enlisting a gang of both producers and artists including Diamond D, Pete Rock, Snoop Dogg, Immortal Technique, Justice League, Cee-Lo Green, DJ Green Lantern, Everlast, Styles P and M.O.P.
AllHipHop: What was the inspiration behind your name?
Ras Kass: He’s actually a real person, an Ethiopian king.
AllHipHop: Are you Ethiopian?
Ras Kass: I’m not, I’m Creole. Historically, he and Menelik II were fighting for control over a particular part of Ethiopia. He was Yohannes IV and I’m John the 4th.
AllHipHop: Who’s in your Top 5?
Ras Kass: I don’t got a Top 5. KRS-One is my favorite rapper. He’s my favorite favorite favorite, there aren’t too many after that. He’s my favorite because it was smart and it was gangster.
He could do entertainment and tell you history dates, he was beating cats and throwing them off stage. Album covers with 9mm’s. Everything else… there’s too many. I probably couldn’t get a top 50. There are really dope amazing MCs and some aren’t as popular as the others.
AllHipHop: Any new guys?
Ras Kass: Lots of them. I named Ab-Soul, there’s a lot of dope people. It’s unfair to do that unless… I had this idea: every 4 years, it’s almost like going for President. There should be this Olympics, all the proceeds go to a charity. You take whoever thinks you’re nasty, the people vote. 5 topics, you have 16 bars and you have an hour. No one gets to talk before, they draw ‘em out and put you in a room with no cell phone, no sidekick. Everyone gets the same beat at the same time. You can watch it, livestream it.
Whoever smokes it, you get to lay your version. You get to hear the next person. All 50, let’s see who can write on the spot. You have to mention these 5 topics that the world voted for, and you’ll find out that half these n##gas are trash. [chuckles] And not that smart.
I don’t want to not mention people, so many dope people and it might be the dude we haven’t heard of. Little dude that’s 14 from Ireland you don’t know, it’s dope people everywhere.
AllHipHop: How has the state of hip-hop changed?
Ras Kass: The state of hip-hop is the same. Now there’s a predominant form, the popular one that girls like.
Whatever the girls like is what the guys like, that would be trap music basically. That’s fine, it can all exist. Aesthetically, I like trap beats.
AllHipHop: Talk about linking with Styles P & Lil Fame on “Guns N Roses.”
Ras Kass: I’ve been acquainted with those brothers individually for years. Actually me and The Lox had the same management for a while, so I’d always see Fame out with Statik Selektah at different clubs and bars in New York.
I was on a song with him back in the day with M.O.P for Big Jaz-O who Jay Z just signed. That’s Hov’s big homie, so I used to be in the studio with them and he put me on record.
I heard the beat and felt “this could be sick.” It was really dope to be able to reach out to both of them, they nailed it for me. I’m a big Lox fan and M.O.P fan.
AllHipHop: 3 things you need in the studio?
Ras Kass: Cigarettes. I roll my own little buglers, I need that. A little bit of Jameson, or coffee. A little water, little Jameson, a little coffee. That’s when I first go in because I like to work early. I work at noon. Some kind of snacks.
AllHipHop: What kind of snacks do you like?
Ras Kass: Louise’s Trattoria: chicken fettuccine alfredo. It’s this spot on Hollywood, they have a few of them. They have the sun-dried tomatoes that’s fire.
AllHipHop: Anything you want to let us know?
Ras Kass: The lyric book (for Soul On Ice 2) is available with Patchwerk in Atlanta, we partnered up. This is the prototype. It’s a companion piece to the album. The album will be dropping September 6th.
(AllHipHop News) Azealia Banks stays in some drama. The “212” rapper ran into some problems when she was trying to leave Stockholm, Sweden.
Azealia Banks maintains she was racially profiled on her Scandinavian Airlines flight to Los Angeles today (August 27).
Azealia took to her Twitter account, where she posted footage of an encounter with a woman.
Apparently, the woman thought the rapper and her boyfriend were having sex on the flight.
The dispute escalated when Azealia Banks claimed one of the crew members on the flight assaulted her.
So far, no one has been charged, but a rep for Scandinavian Airlines released a statement.
“We can confirm that there was an incident on the flight to Los Angeles from Arlanda,” a rep told The Blast in a statement. “A passenger’s behavior toward other passengers and flight staff caused the legal authorities to be contacted, and they were present when the aircraft landed in Los Angeles. We cannot provide any further information surrounding our passengers onboard.”.
(AllHipHop News) Rap star French Montana had an unfortunate altercation just after the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards.
French was in New York, for an after-party for the VMA’s, where an all-star cast of rappers, including Queen Latifah, Redman and Cardi B., honored Missy Elliott with the Video Vanguard Award.
Meek’s parole has also been vacated and now he is no longer in the clutches of the justice system, in an amazing turn of events in favor of the rap star.
(AllHipHop News) Young Thug very rarely gives interviews. However, the Atlanta-bred rapper born Jeffery Williams has a lot to talk about these days.
Thug’s So Much Fun album opened at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart with a career-best 131,000 units. He also has 11 entries (9 debuts) on the most recent Hot 100 chart, the most of any act.
The YSL leader will likely discuss his commercial success during an upcoming sit down with TIDAL’s Director of Culture & Content Elliott Wilson. Thugger is the latest artist to take part in the CRWN series.
TIDAL is livestreaming the interview from New York City beginning tonight (August 27) at 8 pm. Non-members can still watch CRWN: A Conversationwith Elliott Wilson & Young Thug thanks to a special free 60-day trial offer.
Previous editions of CRWN involved Meek Mill, Future, 2 Chainz, Jennifer Lopez, DJ Khaled, and Rick Ross. Tidal subscribers can watch past episodes of CRWN at TIDAL.com/CRWN.
So Much Fun wasexecutive produced by Young Thug’s “The London” collaborator J. Cole. Besides the Dreamville Records founder, the studio LP also features Travis Scott, Future, Gunna, Lil Baby, Lil Uzi Vert, 21 Savage, Quavo, Juice WRLD, Machine Gun Kelly, Nav, and more.
Before attending the 2019 VMAs, Lizzo found out she has a #1 song on a couple of Billboard charts. “Truth Hurts” now leads the Hot Rap Songs and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Song rankings.
Previously, Lil Nas X’s juggernaut single “Old Town Road” dominated those tallies for 20 weeks, respectively. The Bill Ray Cyrus-assisted smash hit slipped to #2 on the Hot Rap Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Song charts.
Lizzo also took over the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart from Lil Nas. Over on Billboard‘s Rap Streaming Songs chart, Lil Tecca’s “Ransom” dethroned “Old Town Road.”
Both Lizzo and Lil Tecca continue to do well on the Hot 100 as well. “Truth Hurts” climbed to #3 and “Ransom” rose to #5 on the latest chart.
(AllHipHop News) Last week, a video surfaced that appeared to show Wendy Williams being prevented from entering an event hosted by 50 Cent. In the past, the talk show host and the Hip Hop mogul have exchanged words through the television and social media.
Wendy finally addressed what happened the night of the TYCOON Party. The 55-year-old entertainment veteran appeared on Hollywood Unlocked and claimed she only stopped by the venue so her son could see Snoop Dogg.
“So we pulled up and all we see are cops and ambulances. I’m like, ‘Okay.’ And I was about 10 thick,” explained Williams. “Everyone gets out the car and the truck behind us. Then I get out. [Elizabeth, New Jersey] cops go… They fall down, they throw up, they get up, they hold my hand… Like I knew 50 was going to be there, but I was only there to see Snoop, to say, ‘Look my boy is now 19. Let’s take a selfie.'”
When asked directly about 50 Cent throwing shade at her, Wendy replied, “Girl look, I don’t know what’s up with that girl. I’m done and I’ll explain the rest on September 16.” Season 11 of The Wendy Williams Show premieres on that date.
(AllHipHop News) Bun B is taking over Houston during Labor Day weekend. The Port Arthur-bred emcee is hosting “Bun B Weekend” in H-town beginning Saturday, August 31.
The first official “Bun B Weekend” will include a Trill Brunch with celebrity chef Roblé Ali and a Trill Rolling skating party. On Sunday, attendees can perform songs from Bun and UGK’s catalog at UGKaraoke.
Fans of the Rice University lecturer are also getting a new project titled Bun B Day on August 30. The 5-track EP will have contributions from a handful of guest features.
“I recorded this EP to purposely show support and embrace a new generation of MC’s that are out there setting up high standards. I am talking about folks like Yella Beezy, Maxo Kream, Young Dolph, P.A. Young’n, GP of 4/5, and T.Y. who’s BG’s son,” states Bun B.
Bun B Day Tracklist
1. It Ain’t Easy Being Trill
2. I Am
3. In My Trunk featuring Maxo Kream & Young Dolph
4. I Tried featuring Yella Beezy, GP of 4/5 & P.A. Yung’n
(AllHipHop News) The young guard of the music industry was highly celebrated at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards. For example, Bronx rapper Cardi B took home the Best Hip Hop Moonman for her “Money” video.
Additionally, Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus won Song of the Year and Best Direction (Director: Calmatic). Best R&B went to Normani for “Waves” featuring 6lack.
“Hot Girl Summer” by Megan Thee Stallion was awarded Best Power Anthem. In celebration of a legendary career, Hip Hop icon Missy Elliott was honored with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.
The Montana based company says Ice Cube has been selling physical copies of Everythang’s Corrupt as well as streaming it and performing “On Them Pills” on tour, and they want him to pay up.
According to ViralHog, “the videos marketability has been substantially impaired by on them pills,” since most fans now associate the clip with Ice Cube’s song.
ViralHog claims they were cheated out of revenue in international recognition the video clip would have received from being associated with a famous rapper like Ice Cube.
In addition to suing Ice Cube, ViralHog is going after his production company Lench Mob Productions, as well as producer Sparks The Trackman and Interscope.
Ironically, the lawsuit comes just as the first case against big pharma wrapped up.
And now, due to the country’s immigration policies, an entire rap festival is in jeopardy. According to organizers of the Drip World festival, they have had extreme difficulty getting a variety of rappers Visa approved for the big concert.
According to a statement, Drip World fest organizers are warning fans that some of the advertised acts may not be able to make it since most of their applications for visas have not been approved.
“We have waited until the 11th hour, in hopes that we would receive visas for some of the key artists performing on our incredible Drip World line-up and until this morning we have not received those visas,” organizers of Drip World said in a statement. “It has to be noted that we have no doubts that everyone on our line-up will be granted a visa into Australia. However, with delays in getting the submissions through for approval, there is no guarantee that they will all be granted in time for the festival tour starting this weekend.”
Other stops on the tour included Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Perth. But organizers could not guarantee the booked artists would make it due to the delay in approvals, so they have decided to reschedule the entire event.
According to reports, organizers are now looking to plan the Drip Festival for January of 2020.
“We couldn’t risk not to deliver the artists we promised so a decision has been made by the Drip Team with everyone’s support to move the festival from Winter to Summer,” organizers said.
More details on the new re-scheduled dates are expected soon.
(AllHipHop News) Ed Sheeran’s song royalties have been frozen following new allegations he’s ripping off other artists’ tunes.
The “Perfect” singer is currently battling Ed Townsend’s estate officials over claims he lifted “harmonic progressions and rhythmic elements” from Marvin Gaye’s 1973 hit “Let’s Get It On,” which the soul songwriter co-wrote.
Now the Brit is facing a new legal wrangle with Sam Chokri, who has accused Ed of “consciously or subconsciously… appropriating the compositional skill and labor of other songwriters” in new court papers.
Chokri’s complaint is being taken seriously by lawmakers, who have suspended Ed’s royalties pending a court decision.
Sheeran has launched a counterclaim, alleging Chokri has blocked his revenue stream and put his reputation at stake.
Meanwhile, Sheeran’s legal battle with fellow Ed, Townsend, is set to rumble into 2020 after the judge overseeing the “Let’s Get it On” case opted to stall proceedings.
The Townsend estate bosses initially lost their bid to challenge Sheeran, but the matter was revived on appeal.
Sheeran was also involved in a 2017 lawsuit over his song “Photograph.” That matter was settled.
(AllHipHop News) Cardi B has revealed recent cosmetic surgery stopped her from truly “shining” in her new movie, “Hustlers.”
The 26-year-old plays an exotic dancer in the upcoming flick, which tells the story of strippers who turn the tables on their wealthy clients after the financial crisis of the late 2000s.
And speaking to Entertainment Tonight at the film’s Los Angeles press day on Sunday, the “I Like It” rapper shared that her recent surgeries proved problematic when it got to working the stripper pole.
“You know what? I was really mad because let me tell you something – when I did the movie, I just got my t##ties done and I got lipo, right? So I was like, ‘This is my moment to shine, and I can’t shine because I can’t climb!’” she shared. “So I was mad. I was like, ‘G####### it!’”
Back in June, the “Bodak Yellow” rapper vowed never to go under the knife again, after sharing that her extensive procedures caused her ankles to swell every time she flies on a plane.
“I been working out for the past two weeks cause b##ch I ain’t getting (plastic) surgery again,” the star tweeted.
