Rihanna has been criticized for using a song that contained a narration of the Islamic Hadith during her Savage X Fenty show.
The singer and style queen unveiled the latest looks from her clothing line on Friday during an Amazon Prime fashion show, and during the showcase, rapper Rico Nasty was introduced as a song, called “Doom,” played.
The track, created by London-based producer Coucou Chloe, featured sacred texts from the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, and upset Muslims, who felt their religion was being exploited.
as a muslim, no words can describe how disappointed i am with Rihanna for letting her models dance to hadith. Hadith are the sacred words of our prophet, you can't just use it for your lingerie show. disgusting and extremely disrespectful
“i feel like islamaphobia is so normalized to the point where people are calling us dramatic for being mad when our religion gets disrespected?” a Twitter user wrote. “hadith are sacred words of the prophet, they’re used to guide muslims & are second to only the Quran. rihanna should know better.”
One follower went on to suggest the diverse show, which featured a range of stars like Lizzo, Paris Hilton, Bella Hadid, Big Sean, and Indya Moore, was supposed to highlight diversity, but “alienated Muslims.”
Rihanna, who was previously applauded by Muslim fans for featuring a hijab-wearing model in ads for Fenty makeup items, issued a heartfelt apology for “honest, yet careless mistake.”
“I do not play with any kind of disrespect toward God or any religion and therefore the use of the song in our project was completely irresponsible,” Rihanna said.
When D Smoke won the top prize on the first season of Rhythm + Flow, many believed that it was a no-brainer for him to get a hot track with Snoop Dogg, one of the show’s hosts, and Kendrick Lamar, someone that fans have constantly compared him to.
The joint with Snoop dropped and it was as culturally textured as both of those emcees are comfortable in any setting.
The blending of Cali street politics and the slick consciousness of both of the super-intelligent men came off like cream in the coffee, peanut butter, and jelly and most appropriately like a low-rider on Crenshaw to fans delight.
However, the joint with the To Pimp a Butterfly maverick has not manifested … at least not yet.
AllHipHop sat down with D Smoke and asked him flatly … “What’s up with the K. Dot banger?” His responses will leave true fans of West Coast lyricism hopeful. Smoke shares that he spoke with Kendrick Lamar after winning on the Netflix talent search series.
“I spoke with K-Dot after Rhythm and Flow,” D Smoke told AllHipHop.com. “SIR performed with K-Dot at a date in Vegas. And so we chopped it up, you know, I was backstage chilling, and he had done a whole show for a couple hour set.”
In full story mode, the bilingual musical genius continued, “And then once he kind of got his rest and came out, he was about to jet. And then he looked over and saw me was like ‘holddd up.’
“And then he walked up and he’s like ‘Smoke, n####,'” the rapper said.
The twelve-time GRAMMY winning-artist was no stranger to D. Smoke, whose real name is Daniel Anthony Farris. The two have had history.
“We had met on tour before when SiR was on the Redemption Tour, with all of TDE,” revealing that they have connected like bros in and outside of music. “We had hit workouts and s### together, being competitive, everybody hitting push-ups and pull-ups and talk our s###. And I’m really over there for SiR. TDE they’re a close-knit circle.”
SiR Darryl Farris is D Smoke’s new actual brother and the two of them were songwriters in a crew WoodWorks together, before SiR signed to Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) in 2006. Once in the TDE family, he became part of that “close-knit circle.”
Despite being “family,” D Smoke never inserted himself into that situation. He chose to earn it on his own merit.
“So, after Rhythm and Flow, he’s like, ‘N#### … you did your s###!’ and he was like ‘to get that off on a television network, amidst what I know what he knows television to be?’ He was like, ‘Man, that was impressive.’ He was like, ‘You know, we’re gonna do some special for the coast.’”
D Smoke said that Kendrick Lamar is not someone to just say stuff in vain, believing that they are “going to do something. It’s just a matter of time.”
“I believe in collaborating when it’s mutually beneficial,” D. Smoke told AllHipHop.com. “And I got some strides to make for myself so that when he shows up and makes that moment, it’s not a handout.”
D Smoke is earning his stripes.
He recently was the music director for the short film, 410 Stamped starring See You Yesterday’s Eden Duncan-Smith, American Idol’s Drake McCain, and newbie Jackson Jones.
Recently the film was picked up on the Urban World Film Festival as a part of the Essence’s Black Femme Directors Showcase.
The film has been picked up as a part of the Hollyshorts Film Festival as an official selection. As the music director, he helped the actors with their vocals and secured music for this teen flick.
Additional reporting by Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur @chuckcreekmur
Gino Haze has always had his eyes set on being a rapper, being born to teenage parents in Inglewood, California. When it comes to his sound, he prides himself in his diversity, being able to go from soulful melodies to relentless bars and lyrics. With each release, he injects honesty and authenticity, always upholding his stature as a hustler and a gentleman.
With his mother from Chicago and his parents divorcing at age 9, he moved to Chicago and quickly fell in love with hip-hop. After watching and collecting Smack DVD videos, he went on to record his first song at age 12. Moving back to Los Angeles for high school and living with his father, he returned to Chicago for college where he met some of the hottest rappers from The Chi today.
Gino’s first album named Confident saw features from Casey Veggies and Dom Kennedy, showcasing his ability to not only spit but put on for his city. Fast forward to 2020, he continues to prove his worth as an MC, releasing his newest single and visual for “I Try.”
AllHipHop: You’re from Inglewood, what were you seeing growing up?
Gino Haze: Inglewood was beautiful. As a kid, I played at the YMCA with the kids from Crenshaw so I didn’t really see the gangbanging aspect of it. I lived in the Avenue, yeah there’s Bloods but we’re able to ride our bikes. We weren’t getting pressed. It’s war zones on the other side but where I grew up was a beautiful little section in Inglewood. I’m always appreciative of my parents for raising me in that area. Definitely the gang influence, you see the tags and all that, but you’re focused. People know the energy you’re bringing.
AllHipHop: Biggest influences growing up?
Gino Haze: Man, Chicago and LA played a huge part in my musical knowledge. Of course Kanye, DJ Quik, huge fan of Snoop. Snoop’s always Top 5 of all time. I love Twista, Crucial Conflict, Lupe Fiasco, No I.D., just the real. From my generation, we’d call it the Golden Era of hip-hop from 2003 to 2009. Anything in that pocket between LA and Chicago, I was definitely on. I remember when DJ Quik dropped “Do I Love Her?” Chicago was dope, people were doing step dances to it. The beat was that dope. Shout out to C-Sick too, my brothers from Chicago. Definitely my favorite producer in the world.
AllHipHop: At what point did you realize you wanted to do music for a living?
Gino Haze: To be honest, when I was 12. I asked my uncle if I could record, he’s working at KGLA at the time. He put me in the little studio he had, I recorded something. I didn’t try again till I was 16. I went to school with a lot of Odd Future kids, I was around Casey Veggies and all them. They were poppin’, they’re making s### seem impossible. I didn’t want to step out and try to figure it out, so I went to Chicago and did my own thing. I met Chance The Rapper, Smino, a lot of people from Jeremih’s camp.
AllHipHop: How’d you meet all them?
Gino Haze: There’s a school called Columbia, which is a music school. Everyone from the Midwest who wants to do music goes there. Smino from St. Louis, he went there. Chance from the Southside of Chicago, he went there. I’m from LA, I went there. People who went to the school all networked with each other. There wasn’t sports, it was smoking weed and making music.
AllHipHop: You just released your visual for “I Try,” who or what inspired this?
Gino Haze: “I Try” was inspired by my move back to Los Angeles. I moved back officially as an adult in 2018, and my only income at the time was driving Uber. I was dating a girl, I felt my bag wasn’t right for the type of woman I had and I had to understand that. It was a freestyle. Shoutout to BLXST, BLXST and Bino had the #SavageChallenge. There’s a kid named Kyree Sterling who sang on the challenge, he didn’t win but I loved his sound and music. I reached out to him, we made the song. He brought a certain pain that I couldn’t bring. “I Try” was a freestyle voice memo inspired by the relationship I was in, understanding that Uber wasn’t paying my rent. It wasn’t making sense, I’m f###### trying! [laughs]
AllHipHop: You say “everyday you’re working,” what’s the reality of the independent grind?
Gino Haze: Stack you some dough so you don’t have to look at music to make you some dough. As a young kid, I was 18 and put all my money into the mixtape and had no money for promo. I didn’t know PR. I’m seeing Chance The Rapper and Rockie Fresh running laps around me because they got $15K promo, they got PRs. I don’t have anything. I thought if I was a good rapper, it’d work. Kids, stack your dough and get your own studio so you don’t have to depend on music to make you some money.
In 2020, there’s a lot of ways to make money. Please don’t limit yourself. All the music I made, I only had 3 paid shows even worth talking about to where it adds up to something respectable to say. Oh, I got paid $1500 for this. I got flown out to D.C. to perform at Howard Homecoming. Other than that, I haven’t been making the money that everyone thinks you’re making. This project, the rollout is a lot better because I sat my ass down and stacked my bread. I reached out and talked to different people, tried to get PR and somebody who can help you get on some playlists. You need dough and to know connections or you’re done. Don’t even try, period.
AllHipHop: What do you want out of this music business?
Gino Haze: I want to be the best rapper for myself. I know how good I am and I’m committed to getting better. I want to be the best musician for myself. I have a different sound, especially coming from Los Angeles. It’s not really your typical LA sound right now, something a little less. With this new project, people are going to be able to gravitate towards something different in the city, especially if we push it the right way.
AllHipHop: How was recording “Quarantine Flow” during quarantine?
Gino Haze: “Quarantine Flow” was cool. I wanted to do something more jazzy and myself, bar up a bit. We’re in the house on the rooftop playing video games, kicking it with the dogs. I wanted to let n*ggas know the bars are still up, we’re here. I know we’re quarantining but let’s continue to still work.
AllHipHop: What can we expect from your self-titled EP, dropping in October?
Gino Haze: I want to give them the base. I named it the Gino Haze EP after the Kendrick Lamar EP, which is my favorite Kendrick Lamar project. I was introduced to that in high school, that was a great introduction to him from where he’s about to start and go. A great place for me to hear him start his journey. This is a great start for me, for people to catch on and understand where I’m about to take my journey. Ride with me, it’s a great introduction to me. Straight up Gino Haze, let’s get to it.
AllHipHop: Who’s in your Top 5?
Gino Haze: Lil Wayne, Jay Z, Ye, Wiz, Nip. Honorary members are Snoop Dogg and Rick Ross.
AllHipHop: Favorite Nipsey song?
Gino Haze: Damn, I played “Rap Music” when bro died. When he played that song, I thought of myself as a rapper. If you hear the lyrics in the hook, he says “now my face on TV, mama so proud of me.” He said “I’m so happy I made it, this rap s### saved me.” That s###’s so powerful bro, I bang that s### so much. Real Nip fan on this side, shout out June Summers on the hook.
AllHipHop: How did Nip influence you being from Inglewood?
Gino Haze: I went to Westchester. When you at Westchester, you got the 60’s, the Bloods, all that, but then you got the cool kids. You got the Tyler the Creator’s, the Lionel Boyce from The Jellies! You didn’t have to be a gangbanger. For me, it was dope to see somebody tangible. I met Nip twice: once in 7/11 and he did a shoot. He had on all red, I remember. He came up to me, we asked for a picture. I remember he asked the homie, “you got some kush I could buy?” [laughs] I’ll always remember that. It was dope to see this guy’s posters and understand what he stood for.
AllHipHop: Who’s your dream collab?
Gino Haze: Charlie Wilson. “Car #85” is so cold. Nas and Hit-Boy killed “Car#85.” When they threw him on that hook, wow. Charlie Wilson’s adlibs alone took this song out of here.
AllHipHop: 3 things you need in the studio?
Gino Haze: Tequila. Marjuana. Damn bro, I don’t even eat junk food like that. I like Vitamin Water a lot, the blueberry pomegranate s###.
AllHipHop: Goals yourself as an artist at this point of your career?
Gino Haze: To get this Gino Haze EP out and get some notoriety, pick some steam up from it. I don’t want to knock it out of the park, I just want to land on base. That’s the main goal.
It’s been an incredibly arduous journey to success for Mr. White Dogg, but the Los Angeles rapper is reaping the benefits of his persistence and artistry.After facing multiple tragedies, including the loss of his brother and cousin to gang violence, as well as 4 years in federal prison, White Dogg has left his former struggles behind by honing in on his rap talents.As we dive into the latter part of an eventful 2020, the Harbor City native is dropping off a full project for his fans.Mr. White Dogg and producer N3 have finally released their anticipated collaborative ‘Pressure’ EP. The two California natives originally came together back in 2012 when they crossed paths doing music promotion services, and now they’re delivering a 6-track project that puts their musical chemistry to the test.With features from Deuce Biggs and Pookie F’n Rude, ‘Pressure’ follows in the footsteps of their previous joint effort, “Stern Up,” featuring TeeFlii, which came from White Dogg’s 2014 mixtape, ‘Tunnel Vision.’Produced entirely by N3, ‘Pressure’ also serves as another major accomplishment on his list of current ventures. The California producer currently helps support independent artists through his media platform, LA on Lock, when he’s not working with them in the studio.\Take a listen to ‘Pressure’ below.
In celebration of his latest project, The L.I.B.R.A (The Legend Is Back Running Atlanta) out on October 16, Atlanta rap icon, Tip “T.I.” Harris is doing his part to stimulate public intrigue with a record promotion that rewards those fans who really know why he is the King of the South.
Starting today, October 6, the Grand Hustle mogul has partnered with AllHipHop.com on The L.I.B.R.A. Stimulus Package challenge, a ten-day cash giveaway that will leave 10 lucky participants with $1,200.
Rules of engagement are simple. To enter the contest those who have been down with the hustle for almost 20 years have to prove it by posting one of their favorite songs from each of his ten chart-topping albums, starting with his 2001 debut release, I’m Serious.
Each day, a random person will be selected and take home that daily prize.
The release of The L.I.B.R.A. is kinda a birthday gift from the “Whatever You Like” rapper.
On September 25, he turned 40 — a milestone for the man that statistics once predicted by 21 he would be dead or in jail. He has proved the naysayers wrong by exceeding all expectations. He is a business owner and jumped head-first into social activism and political discourse.
As an artist, T.I. is an actor, a producer, and has made an impact in Hip-Hop in a way that few have ever thought of (he is the Godfather of Trap).
Finally, he is a family man that publicly defies the stereotype that Black men aren’t good fathers.
If his latest single, “Ring” featuring Young Thug is any evidence of what is to come, his new project, like so many of the endeavors that he has touched, is pure gold.
Tip worked with Phillyglyboy to directed the fun video that captures just where this grown man is in his life:
“When sh*t get wrong, it can’t go right
Now I’ve been known to get s### blown
Up out of proportion, bomb on site
Be careful with your body, put that on ice
I’m not gon’ tweet, I’m not gon’ type
Whatever you say, okay, alright
You pick your fate, you pay your price
Just know I do not play, alright, alright”
The L.I.B.R.A. Stimulus Package contest is definitely fate you get to pick that will be advantageous, a word we know Tip co-signs, be the right price to pay.
The Contest ends on October 16 with the release of his 11th studio album of the same name which will feature John Legend, Lil Baby, Rick Ross, Snoop Dogg, and more.
Boosie Badazz has scolded his nephew for wrecking his one-of-a-kind 2021 Jaguar vehicle.
The rapper took to Instagram to share footage of the white car, saying over the clip, “My nephew’s stupid a*s wrecked my Jag.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CF9_eDfBFVj/
In the footage, the hitmaker shows off damage including a big dent and scratches over the front driver’s side wheel well.
Now, it appears the star, real name Torrence Ivy Hatch, Jr., wants rid of the vehicle, penning in the caption “$75k right now 2,000 miles… fk this st man. 2021 Jag.”
He doesn’t say how much he paid for the ride or which model it is, with the extent of his discount unknown. He also doesn’t seem to know the full scope of the car’s damage.
Boosie added that, if he can’t find a buyer soon, he’s going to trade in the Jaguar for something else.
Aiming high with every bit of energy and infectious sound design as any of the big Hip-Hop anthems from the past 24 months, The Real Simba rides the wave with confidence and style.
“Bounce” offers precisely the rhythm and simple optimism its title implies, proving an easy go to for volume and carefree high energy.
Pouring through with a uniquely recognizable leading riff, a little nineties-esque in its character and simplicity, “Bounce” goes on to utilize vocal rhythm and personality, multiple layers of voice, to make up the bulk of this concise two-minute outburst.
The whole thing hits with impact and a decidedly professional finish, which allows those high volumes to really bring through the style and energy in an immersive way.
For the contemporary Hip-Hop fan, The Real Simba ticks a lot of boxes. The clarity of his vocal sound is also pretty refreshing right about now. A worthy contender for 2020’s growing playlists.
Offset is working with bosses at gaming and events company Axis Replay to develop new ways for artists to connect with fans.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, live shows remain off the cards, with acts heading online for livestream concerts to keep fans entertained during the crisis.
The format has become the new normal for stars and their followers worldwide and, speaking to Forbes, Offset, real name Kiari Kendrell Cephus, insists he’s determined to push the concept to the next level with his latest venture.
“Fans and artists have been very patient during this long break,” he explained. “As we are all figuring out ways to get back into a normal way of life, we deserve to experience those great live moments we love.
“Music is a universal language. It allows us to connect with one another on a happier level. Right now, we can all use that.”
The joint venture – which is operating under a new production company called AXSD Media – features ongoing virtual performances, as part of the AXR+EXP Concert Series, aimed at spotlighting emerging artists.
The series’ next event, slated for October 16th, will feature up-and-coming stars like Duke Deuce and YRN Mango, as well as Offset himself.
“Being an artist myself, the stage is home,” the Migos star added. “It was a must that I became a part of an initiative that would not only bring one of a kind live concert experiences but also allow emerging artists to participate, perform and make money. Axis Replay ensured that vision came to life.”
Legendary rapper Willie D of the Geto Boys is still one of the most outspoken people in the game. He is consistently hitting us with information, even stuff that we didn’t know about. Case in point, the death of Jonathan Price! First things first, I didn’t even know who Jonathan Price was until Willie D came into the picture, but he is a man that was killed by the cops in Texas. He is the latest black person to be killed by the cops, tragically. But he is a special case because he was very outspoken about Black Lives Matter and feeling as if a lot of this police brutality stuff was all inflated and exaggerated.
Willie D does not go easy on Price, even in death, because he went so hard at relieving the cops of their responsibility in Black death. Also, it looks as if a lot of people are speaking out in similar ways but it hasn’t stopped the protest from starting even if Price would’ve certainly not supported the death of another Black person. Even his friend said, “Oh no…this one is different…this is racism!” AS IF THE OTHERS WERE NOT.
Jonathan sadly didn’t really understand the reality of life in America. And I think perhaps his demeanor was because he was a football player. Now I know that sounds crazy but if you’ve ever seen the documentary about O.J. Simpson, you’ll have a little bit of a perspective from where I’m coming from. Football players, entertainers like Lil Wayne and Kanye West, come up a bit different after they have been brought into the welcoming arms of white America. They do not experience racism in the same man manner as your average everyday person. In fact, they may not experience it at all! I don’t know this guy priced all that well but it seems like he had views contingent on his own personal experience and not taking into account thousands of other people that have experienced otherwise.
Price tried to intervene in a dispute between a man and a woman (probably a white man and white woman, but we don’t know). He jumped in, the situation was resolved, but when the cops got on the scene an officer tased and then shot Jonathan. DEAD. That officer has since been arrested so you know it was an egregious act. He must’ve done something really bad to be arrested that quickly and charged!
Well Willie D lets it be known that this 31-year-old Price will not get the same sympathy as people like Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, basically because he was ignorant to the realities. Now he’s DEAD. Sad.
A former associate of rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine has been ordered to return to a New York prison after violating social-distancing regulations by partying during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kintea McKenzie, known as Kooda B, was being held in custody in relation to a 2018 shooting incident, aimed at taking out Tekashi’s rival rapper Chief Keef in Times Square.
McKenzie was released from the city’s Metropolitan Correctional Center in April amid concerns he would be at a higher risk of the coronavirus behind bars as he is asthmatic.
However, McKenzie was caught on camera hosting a party with a group of pals at his Brooklyn apartment shortly after regaining his freedom, and now the celebration has landed him back in prison.
During a federal court hearing on Monday, Judge Paul Engelmayer slammed McKenzie for the “astonishing stunt” insisting he put himself at greater risk of COVID-19 exposure at the bash than he would ever have encountered locked up.
“Mr. McKenzie in my mind has squandered the right to claim concern of catching COVID… his conduct puts the lie to that,” Judge Engelmayer said.
McKenzie must now surrender to U.S. Marshals at the Manhattan courthouse on October 15 and remain behind bars until his sentencing in November.
He faces around four or five years in prison after pleading guilty to a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering as part of a 2019 deal with prosecutors.
Drake made the 14th birthday of a young fan one to remember by sending him a video message while he was in the hospital.
Zelek Murray, also from Drake’s hometown of Toronto, Canada, was stunned when he received a special message from the “God’s Plan” star – who told him he’d been alerted to his story by Mustafa the Poet.
“We both thought it would be a great thing if I got to send you some love and some admiration and some respect. I can’t imagine how tough you have to be and Mustafa let me know that you’re a fan of mine. Well, I’m a fan of you,” Drake tells Zelek, who was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer at the age of nine, in the video.
“I’m a fan of people with heart, and I can tell that you have a lot of heart. So I just wanna tell you, stay strong, I love you, and I appreciate you.”
Zelek’s mother Temeka Ishmael shared a video of her son receiving the message on Instagram.
“The birthday has touched him in ways I’ll never be able to put into words,” she smiled.
Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, Peter $un takes us on a ride through his hometown in his latest music video for his new single “Wylin.” With this being his third single release of 2020, Peter explains that Southside Richmond is the city that made him, the inspiration behind everything on his forthcoming project set to debut next month.
Virginia is arguably at the forefront of music and innovation, producing some of the industry’s greats: Pharrell, The Clipse, Teddy Riley, Timbaland, and Missy Elliot. In his new music video, Peter $un is speaking for the overlooked part of Virginia. He boasts that his entire creative team behind the new visual is proudly still cemented in Virginia where his roots run deep.
“Richmond isn’t first-of-mind for most folks when they think of Virginia,” explains Peter. “It was important to showcase the diversity and historic identity of the unspoken side of Virginia, which is my hometown in Richmond. From the new incoming million dollar constructs to across the city, you’ve got the Gilpin Projects, one the oldest projects in the country. Richmond was built on a lot of dark history, but it’s inspired me to create music that makes people smile.”
Peter $un’s music combines a feel-good fusion of rap, jazz, and electronica dripping with soulful psychedelic. The new tunes radiate an empowering, upbeat energy that forces you into the present moment. He aims to remedy the big changes we’re all experiencing in this current climate by appreciating the little things, taking it one day at a time.
A self-proclaimed “scumbaby”, Peter $un is all about spreading love and self-expression through his eclectic sound. Over the years, his music has evolved as much as he has. As a father and philanthropist, he’s truly a man of the people and is setting his sights on bringing his brand of hippie sunshine to the masses.
Peep the sneak peak of an unreleased record “Cranberry” off his new project at the end of the video. Single Link –shorturl.at/ikTY8
Punch, the president of TDE, is pretty outspoken. Funny too. To me, he’s the spokesman for the label. That said, with the rumors running rampant that Kendrick Lamar might be leaving the label, he has commented. He was cryptic but seemed to shoot it down.
A rumor gets halfway around the world before the truth get it’s shoes on. Lol
The root of this rumor has some serious facts with it. Earlier this year K-Dot and Dave Free launched pgLang, “a new multi-lingual, at service company.” Anyway, without being too long-winded about this, the company seems like it could spin into a label, considering it has already been artistically linked to Jorja Smith, Kendrick Lamar, and Yara Shahidi. While I do not know, I think this has been misunderstood.
More Punch…
Smh can’t even try to be mysterious and vague in my tweets no more…
The 2020 general election ends on November 3. Millions of people across the United States have already cast their ballots through early voting or mail-in voting. Politicians, activists, citizens, and celebrities are still trying to get the word out about the importance of taking part in the political process through voting.
Sprite is hoping to inspire and educate young Black and multicultural voters to participate in this year’s election. The Coca-Cola Company-owned soft drink brand teamed with Hip Hop artists 2 Chainz and Rapsody as well as Grown-ish actress Yara Shahidi for the “Create Your Future” voter education campaign.
With the non-partisan “Create Your Future” initiative, Sprite is working with six emerging Black artists to create pieces focused on why voting is important to them. Fashion designer BLUBOY, fashion designer Dorothy Lawes, photographer Yvette Glasco, artist Sage Guillory, artist Foremost, and illustrator Neka King were selected for the “Create Your Future” program. Yara Shahidi, 2 Chainz, and Rapsody will take a role in amplifying those creators’ voices and promote their work.
“Our purpose is to help Black and multicultural youth make their mark on culture. And what better way to do so than by voting. ‘Create Your Future’ will use the power of creative expression to showcase how personal and pragmatic our reasons for voting can be and inspire our community to embrace and share their own reasons,” said Aaliyah Shafiq, Sprite brand group director.
“We did not want to make a one-time statement, but instead kick off a series of meaningful, tangible actions to fulfill our commitment to social justice,” said Danielle Henry, integrated marketing & content group director, Coca-Cola North America. “The election and voting are on our community’s minds, so we see ‘Create Your Future’ as an authentic next step.”
Henry added, “We hope to help make voting cool and inspire participation in the electoral process – not just at the top of the ballot during such a historic election year, but for all national, state and local races.”
This summer, Sprite launched “The Give Back” program in support of the African-American community and the fight against racial injustice and the COVID-19 pandemic. Sprite also announced a partnership with the Black Lives Matter Global Network and a $500,000 donation to the organization.
For more information on the custom designs rolling out as part of “Create Your Future” and for educational voting resources visitSprite.com/CreateYourFuture. In addition, people are encouraged to share their reasons for voting by tagging @Sprite with #CreateYourFuture on Twitter, Snapchat, and YouTube.
Earlier this year, Jay Electronica dropped his debut studio LP, A Written Testimony, which heavily featured Roc Nation boss Shawn” Jay-Z” Carter. Seven months later, Electronica is back with another body of work.
Act II: The Patents of Nobility (The Turn) is now live exclusively on the Tidal streaming service. The Roc Nation-released project features guest appearances from Jay-Z, The-Dream, Serge Gainsbourg, Charlotte Gainsbourg, The Bullitts, and LaTonya Givens.
Fans of Jay Electronica have been waiting for Act II: The Patents of Nobility (The Turn) for nearly a decade. A tracklist associated with the album first landed on the internet back in 2012. His discography also includes 2007’s Act I: Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge) mixtape.
Over the summer, the Smith family found themselves as the butt of many jokes. R&B singer August Alsina’s decision to share that he was once in a relationship with married actress Jada Pinkett Smith rocked the internet.
Pinkett Smith eventually sat down with her husband, Will Smith, for the Red Table Talk series. That specific episode amassed 36 million views on Facebook Watch and spawned countless online posts making fun of Will’s seemingly sad reaction to hearing his wife admit she was involved with Alsina.
“Jada Brings Herself to the Table” also birthed the “entanglement” explanation. The veteran actress used that word to describe her romantic situation with August Alsina while she was still married to her husband. Apparently, Will and Jada are now able to laugh about the whole ordeal.
Will Smith published his latest YouTube vlog on Monday. The video opens with the couple talking about the fallout from their Red Table Talk discussion, specifically the “Sad Will” memes that flooded the internet after Jada introduced “entanglement” to the pop culture lexicon.
“I’m not sad a lot. I think because I drink so much coffee I get dehydrated and it makes my eyes water. People think I’m crying all the time,” said Will while smiling. Jada then added, “And he’s not. Such a shame.”
They went on to claim that Will was not crying on Red Table Talk. The famous rapper-turned-actor stated, “It was midnight. We were shooting at midnight because we were trying to rush to go to the airport in the morning.” Jada also offered, “I should have stuck to my first gut which was reshoot the whole damn thing… I made it too serious and they thought he was f###### sad.”
Travis Scott now has four career Number Ones on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart. His latest single, “Franchise,” opened in the top spot on the newest tally. Young Thug and M.I.A appear on the song.
AFTER THIS TWEET IMMA THROW MY PHONE. IM TURNT. F### I LOVE YALL SO MUCH. THIS SONG MAKE WE WANNA JUST RUN THREW A WALL AND PUKE !!!!!
“AFTER THIS TWEET IMMA THROW MY PHONE. IM TURNT. F### I LOVE YALL SO MUCH. THIS SONG MAKE WE WANNA JUST RUN THREW A WALL AND PUKE!!!!!” tweeted the Houston native.
Scott became the fastest act to achieve three #1 debuts. In less than a year, “Highest In The Room,” (October 19, 2019), “The Scotts” with Kid Cudi (May 9, 2020), and “Franchise” each launched atop the Hot 100. His “Sicko Mode” record rose to #1 in its 17th week. M.I.A. scored her first #1 single with “Franchise.” Young Thug added his second.
There were some questions online about how Nielsen Music/MRC Data’s calculated the sales/streaming numbers for “Franchise” that allowed it to hit #1 so quickly. The song landed at #2 on the Digital Song Sales chart (40,000 units) and #6 on the Streaming Songs chart (19.4 million streams).
However, Billboard reports Travis Scott sold a cassette single, two CD singles, and an instrumental version of “Franchise” on his website. Approximately 58,000 units of the total 98,000 units sold came from cassette and CD purchases.
BTS’ former #1, “Dynamite,” fell to #2 on the Hot 100 despite clocking a sixth week at #1 on the Digital Song Sales chart (86,000 units). Cardi B’s “WAP” featuring Megan Thee Stallion, which previously spent four weeks at the Hot 100 pinnacle, slipped to #3.
“WAP” continued its reign on the Streaming Songs chart for the seventh week (31.6 million streams). The Hip Hop collaboration also returned to #1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart for a third non-consecutive week after becoming the inaugural leader of those rankings in September.
Trey Songz took to Instagram on Monday night to inform his followers about his current medical condition. The “Can’t Help but Wait” vocalist posted a video explaining that he eventually caught the coronavirus after being tested periodically over the last few months.
“Down but not out! Stay safe y’all! Wear your mask. Wash your hands,” wrote Songz in the Instagram caption. The 35-year-old singer confirmed that he will be self-quarantining in his home while he is contagious.
Other celebrities that have confirmed a positive COVID-19 diagnosis include Tom Hanks, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmunds, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Idris Elba, Kevin Durant, Pink, and Scarface. Over 7 million people in the United States have contracted coronavirus and more than 200,000 have died from the respiratory disease. The global total has surpassed 35 million cases.
If President Donald Trump thought leaving Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in order to return to the White House would garner widespread sympathy and support, he quickly found out that political strategy failed. The public response was mostly anger, confusion, and mockery at Trump likely exposing other people to COVID-19.
I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 P.M. Feeling really good! Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!
For example, #GaspingForAir became a top trending topic on Twitter after a video appeared to show Trump having difficulty breathing as he stood on a White House balcony without a mask. This came after the President’s doctors said he required oxygen treatments and was given an experimental steroid therapy typically used in more severe coronavirus cases.
Last night, actor Ken Jeong (The Hangover, Community) posted a clip of Trump with the caption, “Gasping for air. And credibility.” Hip Hop superstar Cardi B was also among the many social media users that commented on Trump’s suspicious behavior since revealing he tested positive for COVID-19.
Cardi quote-tweeted Jeong’s tweet about Trump to her 15 million Twitter followers. She wrote, “Me when I was a teenager trying not to cough while cyphing blunts.” The “WAP” hitmaker has been an outspoken critic of Donald Trump and a supporter of his 2020 presidential opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden.
Several individuals in Trump’s inner circle have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last few days. First Lady Melania Trump, Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany, Aide to the President Hope Hicks, Trump Campaign Manager Bill Stepien, and RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel were all diagnosed with coronavirus. Three Republican senators also tested positive over the last week.
As @maddow just said … this man does not look well. He definitely looks like he is gasping for air and wincing. And he is spewing virus with every labored breath. https://t.co/bBLs1fIF5A
Retweet if you think it’s time for OSHA to intervene on behalf of the White House staff, to save them from the lunatic patient who escaped from the hospital and was last seen #GaspingForAir
Before Instagram … There were few places where people went to get their celebrity news, information about social justice, and watch one of the most beautiful women in the world (every week).
But for people from the 90s, BET’s Teen Summit was that place — and its host, Ananda Lewis, was the aforementioned goddess. From 1994 – 1998, weekend after weekend, she and her co-host Prince Dajour were responsible for raising a generation of thought-provocative leaders.
Lewis also was a host on MTV and she also her own talk show, the Ananda Lewis Show, where young Black and Brown teens could see themselves on daytime television every day.
And in that same tradition, Lewis has taken to her social media to address her audience and their children about another issue that is literally close to her heart.
October is the National Breast Cancer Month, and while folk are getting their Cam’ron on — rocking pink to promote awareness— Lewis bore her soul. She took to Instagram to talk about her current two-year battle, fighting stage 3 breast cancer.
She captioned: “It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month and I need to share this with you 💜”
“This is tough for me, but if just ONE woman decides to get her mammogram after watching this, what I’m going through will be worth it. 🌸PRACTICE EARLY DETECTION🌸 Share this with a woman you love. These 6 minutes could help save her life. 😌I love you guys😌”
Ananda Lewis started by apologizing to those close to her, like her friends and family, for not telling them sooner.
“That phrase ‘Don’t talk about it be about it,’ that’s been my life for almost two years and honestly there’s nothing any of you could have done so I apologize if you felt like I excluded you. It wasn’t personal, it was just something I needed.”
She says in the video that for many years she refused to get a mammogram and that was a mistake.
“If I had done the mammograms from the time they were recommended when I turned 40, they would’ve caught the tumor in my breast years before I caught it through my own self-exam and thermography. And they would have caught it at a place where it was more manageable. Where the treatment of it would have been a little easier. It’s never easy, but I use that word in comparison to what I’m going through now. Instead, what I’m dealing with is stage 3 breast cancer that is in my lymphs. I need you to get your mammograms.”
