(AllHipHop News) Some social media users began questioning if SoundCloud suspiciously switched its audio quality from 28 kbps MP3 to 64 kbps Opus. A representative for the company informed Billboard the actions were actually part of regular tests which are conducted by other streaming services as well.

“We always appreciate feedback, but these reports are inaccurate,” stated a spokesperson. “SoundCloud has not altered its approach to audio quality. We have been using the Opus codec (among others) since 2016, and we regularly test different combinations of encoding and streaming to offer listeners a quality experience on any device.”

The rep continued, “Furthermore, we store all content from creators at its originally uploaded quality level so we can continually adapt to advances in encoding and playback.”

Twitter posts from New Jersey producer Direct played a part in the public scrutiny directed at SoundCloud. His January 3 tweet was retweeted over 2,000 times and received more than 4,000 likes.

“Soundcloud recently changed their streaming format from 128kbps MP3 to 64kbps Opus. This drastically reduces the audio quality and can introduce strange artifacts,” wrote Direct.

He later posted, “I want to avoid spreading misinformation as much as possible. Opus 1.2 at 64kbps should sound equal or better than mp3 at 128kbps, but on Soundcloud it does not. Leading me to believe it is an older version of the codec. This could be addressed in the future.”

SoundCloud recently launched a new “home experience” that consists of curated recommendations and personalized playlists. Hip Hop Supreme, The Upload, SoundCloud Next Wave, and The SoundCloud Playback are among the playlists available on the platform.

(AllHipHop News) Will Kevin Gates finally be home next week? After being sentenced to 30 months in prison for pleading guilty to a gun charge, the Baton Rouge native is reportedly scheduled to be released in the coming days.

TMZ claims Lindsey Hess of the Illinois Department of Corrections confirmed Gates is getting out on parole on Wednesday, January 10. His release conditions supposedly include mandatory supervision and being banned from possessing firearms.

Gates also served 5 months in a Florida prison for kicking a female fan at his concert in 2015. The Islah album creator was scheduled to be released on that charge last March, but he was immediately re-arrested for an outstanding warrant related to a 2013 weapons incident in Illinois.

(AllHipHop News) An esteemed music business insider could be parting ways with one of the biggest companies connected to the record industry. Billboard reports Jimmy Iovine is leaving Apple Inc in August.

Iovine has been working with Apple in an undefined capacity since 2014 after he and Dr. Dre sold Beats Electronics to the tech giant. The deal included the Beats Music streaming service which was eventually replaced by Apple Music.

Before his turn at the brand-Steve-Job-built, Iovine was the co-founder of Interscope Records. The label has been the home to Hip Hop stars such as Dr. Dre, 2Pac, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar, Jadakiss, French Montana, Pharrell Williams, and others.

“In 2003, I met Steve Jobs, and I felt about Steve Jobs the way I felt about the music industry when I first got into it,” said Iovine in a 2017 interview with OTHERtone. “I got into the music business because I wasn’t cool and I wanted to be cool. So I figured I could at least get close to cool. When I saw Steve Jobs, I said, ‘Uh oh, the party’s at Steve’s house.’ They were the cool thing now. At that moment, I aimed my car outside the record business.”

It’s not clear what the Brooklyn-born entrepreneur plans to do after exiting Apple. He did tell Billboard in September that the music business is not in his future.

“Not a chance. I can help from here. I can’t help from there. Let them make the music exciting and interesting. We will try to do everything that we can to create content around it, and make the delivery of it as exciting as possible,” said Iovine about his efforts at Apple.

He added, “I’m 64 years old. I have no idea [what I’m doing next]. There’s just a problem here that needs some sort of solution, and I want to ­contribute to it.”

Iovine’s life and career was chronicled in an HBO documentary titled The Defiant Ones. The four-part film also covered his long-standing relationship with Dr. Dre.

UPDATE:

Jimmy Iovine has responded to rumors he is leaving Apple. He claims he is committed to getting streaming right.

Variety quoted him saying, “My contract is up in August, but the funny thing is, I don’t have a contract. I have a deal, and certain things happen along that deal. The bottom line is I’m loyal to the guys at Apple. I love Apple, and I really love musicians. That’s why those articles annoyed me, because it had nothing to do with reality. It made it out to be all about money.”

(AllHipHop News) Bruno Mars teamed up with Cardi B for a remix to the 24K Magic cut “Finesse.” A video for the new version hit the internet this week, and the visuals were highly influenced by the classic 1990s sketch comedy series In Living Color.

“This video is dedicated to one [of] my favorite T.V. shows of all time,” tweeted Mars on Wednesday night. “Shout out to the people over at Fox Studios and a very special thank you to [Keenen Ivory Wayans].”

Members of Keenen’s family returned the love for Bruno’s take on the former Fox program. Damon Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Kim Wayans, and Damien Dante Wayans shared their positive reactions via social media.

“Dope video! [Shout out] my brother [Keenen Ivory Wayans,] [Bruno Mars,] and [Cardi B],” wrote Damon on Instagram.

“As an alumni of #inlivingcolor i must say this was doooope as f-ck,” posted Marlon on IG.

“Huge [shout out] to [Bruno Mars] & [Cardi B] for this In living Color tribute it was hot and we appreciate the love,” tweeted Shawn.

The “Finesse (Remix)” video has collected over 13 million views on YouTube in two days. The record currently sits at #1 on the iTunes Songs Chart for all genres.

(AllHipHop News) Just days after popular YouTuber Logan Paul was heavily criticized for posting a video featuring the body of a Japanese suicide victim, footage of his sibling using the word “n-gga” has surfaced. TMZ uploaded a clip of 20-year-old Team 10 founder Jake Paul rapping to Rae Sremmurd’s “Throw Sum Mo” beat.

The freestyle includes Jake saying “little ass n-ggas” and “I whip it like my n-gga Richie Vetter, he make the p-ssy so wet it gets wetter.” A source told TMZ that the onetime star of Disney Channel’s Bizaardvark has supposedly matured since the video was shot 8 months ago.

Previously, former Team 10 members Ivan and Emilio Martinez accused Jake Paul of bullying the Spanish speakers because of their difficulty with the English language. Jake eventually apologized to the Martinez Twins.

Jake Paul is just as famous on YouTube as his brother Logan. The Teen Choice Award winner has over 12 million subscribers and 3 billion total views on the platform.

21 million of those views are for Jake’s “It’s Everyday Bro (Remix)” featuring Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane. The video is also one of the most disliked uploads on YouTube with more than 640,000 down votes.

Jake Paul also made an appearance on Power 105.1’s The Breakfast Club in December. The video for that interview has an 8,000 like to 19,000 dislike ratio on YouTube.

“Eight to fifteen years old is my core audience,” stated Paul on the radio show. “I’m making music for that younger generation. I’m trying to not talk about gnarly stuff that rappers normally talk about. I’m trying not to swear as much.”

He added, “I also want to be a good role model.”

https://www.google.com/sorry/index?continue=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q56bEQ6tJ7g&q=EgQs6lVwGJGVg_kFIhkA8aeDSyfFBUO-ork6pPcKRh5VAnAsaWXbMgFy

(AllHipHop News) Donald “Childish Gambino” Glover will hit the stage at this year’s Grammys. The 34-year-old singer is part of the first round of announced entertainers for the annual musical event.

Viewers will also get to see Pop stars Lady Gaga and P!nk on the televised show. Other scheduled performers include Little Big Town, Patti LuPone, and Ben Platt.

Gambino is nominated for five Grammys this year. The Atlanta native is up for Album Of The Year and Best Urban Contemporary Album for Awaken, My Love! as well as Record Of The Year, Best R&B Song, and Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Redbone.”

The 60th Annual Grammy Awards will air Sunday, January 28 on CBS at 7:30 pm ET/4:30 pm PT. ​

(AllHipHop News) The Queen of Hip Hop Soul is being immortalized in Los Angeles for her music career. Mary J. Blige will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Variety reports the ceremony is scheduled for January 11 at 6201 Hollywood Blvd. MJB’s longtime associate Sean “Diddy” Combs will help unveil the star.

“Mary J. Blige is one of the most popular singers of our generation. Fans will be thrilled to see her star on the Boulevard as her career milestones are celebrated on this very famous sidewalk,” said Ana Martinez, producer of the Walk of Fame ceremonies.

The 9-time Grammy winner was recently honored with the Icon Award at Billboard’s Women In Music event. Last month, Blige also earned Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Song for her contributions to Mudbound.

(AllHipHop News) Mary J. Blige’s estranged husband Martin ‘Kendu’ Isaacs has blamed the stress of their contentious divorce for landing him in hospital.

The R&B superstar has been fighting Isaacs, her former manager, over finances ever since filing court papers to end their 12-year marriage in July, 2016.

Last summer, Blige was ordered to pay her ex $30,000 a month in temporary spousal support, but Isaacs has been trying to get the figure bumped up to $65,000 since October, claiming he is close to becoming “destitute” after failing to find work since their separation.

He also accused the “No More Drama” hitmaker of making things worse for him by singing about their marital breakdown on recent tracks like “Love Yourself” and “Set Me Free” from her album Strength of a Woman.

The judge overseeing the former couple’s case shot down Isaacs’ bid for more cash in the autumn and in new legal documents, the businessman alleges the court clash has taken its toll on his health.

His lawyer writes, “(Isaacs) has experienced physical manifestations of stress and emotional distress from this matter, which has caused him to become hospitalized.”

It’s not known when Isaacs received the medical attention, but in the new filing, his lawyer reiterates the struggle his client has had finding a new job, insisting he is “unemployable”, which has made it “impossible” for him to keep up with rent payments without Blige’s financial help.

The divorce battle is set to go to trial in March.

Blige previously protested having to pay Isaacs temporary spousal support, after accusing him of being unfaithful during their marriage, and she has since even offered to personally cover a massive $11 million debt the pair owes if the judge agrees to end her spousal support payments.

(AllHipHop News) The father of rapper Earl Sweatshirt, South African poet Keorapetse Kgositsile, has died at the age of 79.

The writer and political activist passed away at Johannesburg’s Milpark Hospital on Wednesday morning according to local reports.

Kgositsile began his career at anti-apartheid newspaper New Age and rose to prominence as an outspoken member of the African National Congress liberation movement in the early 1960s.

He subsequently went into exile in Tanzania, before moving to the U.S. to pursue various college degrees, becoming a Master of Fine Arts in poetry at New York’s Columbia University.

His first book of poetry, “Spirits Unchained,” was published in 1969, while his other writings include “Pro/Creation” (for Pharoah Sanders), and “The Gods Wrote.”

Kgositsile was appointed South Africa’s poet laureate in 2006.

During his studies in the U.S., he fell in love with law professor Cheryl Harris, and they went on to have a child together, Thebe Neruda Kgositsile, who was born in 1994.

He has since become more well known as Odd Future star Earl Sweatshirt.

Sweatshirt has referenced his complicated bond with his father in numerous songs, including “Blade” and “Grown Ups.”

The 23-year-old has yet to comment on his dad’s passing.

(AllHipHop News) Migos rapper Offset has scored a small legal victory in his paternity and child support case.

The hip-hop star, who proposed to fellow rapper Cardi B live onstage in October, admitted to fathering a child with Justine Watson in November and she subsequently filed documents seeking to establish Offset, real name Kiari Kendrell Cephus, was the father of her son, Jordan, and to compel him to pay child support.

She is demanding retroactive child support and $15,000 in attorney’s fees.

Offset has won a bid to keep his financial and personal information sealed, and a judge has since granted his request for a “protective and confidentiality order.”

If the order is violated by either party they will be fined.

(AllHipHop News) Rapper Young M.A. is 20 pounds lighter after cutting meat and liquor out of her diet.

The “Ooouuu” hitmaker took to Instagram to show off her new slim physique, revealing she wanted to change her life.

“To all my supporters that keep saying I lost weight… yes it was on purpose lol (laugh out loud) I’ve stop eating meat (beef, pork, chicken, turkey, lamb…),” she writes. “I cut my liquor intake into “occasionally only”… I’ve been in the gym consistently… and I’ve been watching my calorie intake…”

The rapper admits she has wanted to change her lifestyle for a while, but had to do it her own way.

“In 2 months I’ve dropped 20 pounds..,” she continues. “Always wanted to change my diet but wasn’t mentally ready for it at first…

“Honestly, since I’ve changed my diet I’ve been less exhausted… I wake up with full energy… and also mentally I feel good… I just want to say to all my supporters if you are not happy with anything in your life you have the power to change it! Only you! I love you all! God bless! More music on the way btw (by the way)! Let’s get it!”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bddl1tQhv8s/?taken-by=youngma

(AllHipHop News) One of the most exciting romances has come to an end, according to sources.

Nas and Nicki Minaj – also known as Nasika – have decided to go their separate ways and break up as a couple. The pair had been dating since last May or June and recently there were rumors than Nicki was with child.

A source close to the matter revealed the former couples current status, according to a source with TMZ.

“The rappers broke up a few weeks ago after the relationship ran out of steam. They’ve been dating since June 2017, but we’re told living in different cities was just too much.

Both superstars will be getting back to strictly biz, we’re told — Nas focusing on his record label and his chicken and waffles joint, Sweet Chick. Nicki’s also juggling multiple business ventures outside of music.”

Also, the source dispelled the notion that Nicki was pregnant.

RIP Nasika.

(AllHipHop News) Mary J. Blige has added her name to the growing list of leading ladies who will be wearing black to the Golden Globes.

The R&B star, who is nominated for her role in “Mudbound,” has revealed she’ll be joining Gal Gadot, Meryl Streep, and Saoirse Ronan among the actresses taking part in a silent protest about Hollywood’s shocking sexual harassment and misconduct issues at Sunday’s gala.

Paying tribute to the hundreds of women who have spoken out about the abuse they have experienced, Blige told Billboard, “I stand with those women. I champion them.

“I am one of those women (victims), so, you know, I don’t want to go into detail about that and I haven’t, but I am.”

Blige insists the simple all-black protest at the Globes is important because “there’s so many women that don’t get a chance to speak in other industries that are not the film industry, the music industry”.

She adds, “It’s important for us to stand up for them so they can get a chance to speak.”

Fellow nominee Allison Janney believes the black dress protest will be “really powerful,” while “Lady Bird” star Ronan will be hitting the red carpet with a friend, who will also be wearing black for the big night.

The leading ladies behind Hollywood’s new Time’s Up movement are backing the black dress protest calling for women to ditch color and show their support for those who have been sexually harassed.