I won’t lie. Doechii was dope, then she went crazy and then she went dope again. Last year was “again.” As is the case with most creatives, they have a crazy past that gets dissected and analyzed. This is the game.
Doechii, apparently in content creator mode, made a shocking video of her boyfriend with an automatic firearm to her head. She tells him to do it and that she trusts him. And he pulls the trigger. Of course, she is still here, but the past act has the internet talking.
Some say the man was in the wrong and the video was an example of violence against women. Others say it was “bird behavior” on her part. I think young people do some stupid stuff and post it. I used to do stuff that was way out of pocket, but I was lucky. Social media either didn’t exist or was very new. I think she’s a savvy, younger artists who was trying to get attention—and she got it.
Who else remembers this video? Yes, the name is “Crazy,” which is what she can be.
Here’s a bonus: Doe allegedly taking a sniff before rapping on TikTok. I recall when Doechii did this and felt she had gone a bit too left. Also, she toned it down a bit and was embraced greatly. Either way, we are so happy for the Tampa rapper.
Outkast—the iconic Southern Hip-Hop duo of André 3000 and Big Boi—released their fourth studio album, Stankonia, in 2000.
The 24-track effort included the single “So Fresh So Clean,” which was produced by Organized Noize, the Grammy Award-nominated production trio of Sleepy Brown, Ray Murray and the late Rico Wade. The track peaked at No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in October 2020.
But “So Fresh So Clean” almost didn’t happen. Speaking toSPIN, Sleepy Brown, who also contributed vocals to the track, revealed 3 Stacks initially didn’t feel inclined to rap on it.
“The funny thing is André didn’t really like it at first,” Brown said. “André didn’t like that record. It wasn’t like he didn’t think it was good—it just wasn’t matching where he was. We really just did it for Big [Boi]. We knew André was moving to something else, but we knew on that album it needed that hood theme. When Big heard it, he loved it. We thought Dre was going to be happy with it at first, but he really wasn’t.”
Then bassist Preston Crump changed André’s mind.
“[André] was cool, but he didn’t really like it until Preston, our bass player, played a cold line on that song,” Brown continued. “When Dre heard that, he got excited and came up with ‘the coolest motherfunkers on the planet’ part. He was following that line he heard. Thanks to Preston, that’s the reason why Dre even got on that record.”
Big Boi, however, immediately wrote his own verse to the beat.
“The song started with me because I heard the melody, and when I went over to Rico’s house, I started playing it for him on the Rhodes,” Brown remembered. “Then he threw a beat on it. So I played that little part, went in and just hummed the melody, and then put all the strings on it.
“It’s a very simple record. It’s not cluttered [and doesn’t have] a lot of sounds. It’s just basically bass, drums, keys and a little lead on it. I wanted Rico to write it because I love the way he flipped words and did wordplay. Once Big Boi heard the hook, he just came with it.”
Sleepy Brown also concluded the song made an enormous impact on his own life.
“It completely changed my career,” he said. “‘So Fresh, So Clean’ gave everybody a chance to put the face with that voice. And you know, for a lot of people, it was just like, ‘OK, that’s who that is.’ So that opened the door to ‘The Way You Move’ and all these other records that I’ve done with them. And the true, true fans knew who I was.”
Drake is back in the spotlight with his latest drop, “Fighting Irish Freestyle.” The track follows Drake pushing legal moves after his rap battle. The track is hot, but a debate has ensued over it. Before we get to that, let us break down this song just a bit. The rest can be handled in the comment (by you).
You can hear Drake simmering. He still has to get some things off his chest in a freestyle full of cryptic innuendos. Drake avoids naming names, but everybody—fans and critics—are dissecting every bar. They want to know the targets of these subliminal shots.
Public reaction has been mixed. Some fans have praised the track as a return to form for the Canadian. Others weren’t as impressed. But one person who was impressed was Mickey Factz, a rapper who now teaches rap. He said, “Drake is dead nice when it’s time to be.”
The question now is, who—or what—is Drake aiming at this time? Hip-Hop is watching closely.
Mike Jones, the Houston rapper who got famous for basically (and, let’s be honest, cleverly) shouting his name over and over again in the early 2000s, is being accused of faking a text to show just how much money he’s pulling in these days.
On Saturday (January 4), Jones shared a screenshot of a text to his Instagram that reads, “Is 100,000$ enough to get you to perform for my son’s barmizfa?” to which Jones supposedly replies, “What’s the date of the event and we can make that happen for the $100,000.”
He explained in the caption, “The Power of this 281-330-8004 , see some of yall might a thought it was a gimmick but most of my supporters understood and understands why I gave out the # in the first place!!
“For a lot of reasons 1) was to keep yall from dealing with janky promoter who promote fake shows & 2) I wanted to be accessible n hands on with my fans n supporters and here in 2025 , they hitting the 281-330-8004 # for a bar mitzvah so yea we doing that! So if yall only see 5 or 50 people there lol that’s what that’s for lmao #PaidVacations even when nobody there lol.”
But fans were immediately suspicious. One person pointed out bar mitzvah wasn’t spelled correctly with, “Misspelling bar mitzvah that badly is a [red flag],” while another wondered, “How that’s the number you got but they texting you?”
Another fan suggested he should delete the post altogether, saying, “Your number is at the top. Who texting who? You still got time to delete this big dawg. Even if the fan screenshotted it, still seems a bit off.” Someone else begged Jones not to tarnish his reputation.
“I’m not saying that it is but when you post stuff like this it feels like cap, just to create a perception so others will tap in and you can over charge them,” they wrote. “If u really making money why share this and why care if people don’t get why you give out your number. Plz don’t ruin your legendary status cuz u need to get money.”
But the real kicker: “lol mane spelled barmizfa in the text the same way in the caption,” leading many to believe Jones actually did text himself.
Whatever the case, Jones seems perfectly content performing for a small crowd. He shared another screenshot of an offer to perform on February 7.
“lol while yall trying to be funny & make fun of when the shows be light,” he wrote. just know rather it’s 1 person or 8,000 people, that price don’t CHANGE!! In facts it’s going up!!! Yall post ONLY the shows that’s light but overlook MAJORITY of the shows that be lit & packed so it’s cool cuz it shows me that yall some journalists trolls .
“I would love to see what yall make per show per event per anything!! so I can get the laugh last!! Just kno every time u post the private light shows, just kno I still got paid. we in 2025 and u see the offers!!”
YouTube creator and rapperCoreySSG is facing serious criminal charges after being accused of abducting two women during a high-speed incident in Houston, Texas.
CoreySSG, born Corey Pritchett, has a digital presence that boasts over 1 million YouTube subscribers and over 15 million social media followers across platforms.
He has been charged with one count of aggravated kidnapping.
According to court records, the alleged events began on November 23, 2024, when the women joined CoreySSG for a day of planned activities, including ATV riding, bowling, and a workout session.
The influencer allegedly drove at speeds surpassing 100 mph while brandishing a gold-colored handgun, which he waved through the sunroof before firing several shots out the window.
The women claim he made threatening remarks, confiscated their cell phones, and left them stranded on the roadside near Sealy, Texas.
Investigators pieced together the timeline and route of the incident using GPS data from a Life 360 mobile app linked to one of the women’s phones.
Screenshots obtained during the investigation included timestamps and location evidence aligned with their accounts.
Authorities also noted that CoreySSG allegedly made a video call during the drive to someone listed as “Future Wife,” reportedly asking for advice about harming the women.
On December 9, 2024, weeks after the alleged kidnapping, CoreySSG flew to Qatar on a one-way ticket.
Efforts to contact him were unsuccessful, as his phone was disconnected. Authorities are now working to facilitate his extradition back to the United States.
Pritchett addressed the situation via Instagram, stating, “I will address all accusations in the Court of Law.”
DJ Quik has crowned his “Dummy of the Week”—and it’s a good one. The West Coast rap icon shared a video clip to his Instagram account on Saturday (January 4), highlighting the crazy incident.
During an interview with the “1 on 1 W/ Mike D” podcast, rapper OG 2 Low accidentally shoots himself in the leg midway through their conversation. When the gun goes off, host Mike D asks, “Who shot who? Somebody got shot?” as the man winces in obvious pain.
Someone shouts from off-screen, “You good?” to which the man says, “I hope.”
The live footage quickly went viral, with many comparing the incident to similar situation involving NFL player Plaxico Burress. In 2008, Burress accidentally shot himself in the thigh while at a nightclub.
DJ Quik was one of many reacting to the clip, calling him “dummy of the week” in his Instagram caption.
Mike D and OG 2 Low later addressed the sobering moment. “Right now, man, we’re just being grateful that everyone is safe, everyone is good,” OG 2 LOW said, while Mike D added, “We had to take a small break. We had a pop, a moment, you know what I’m saying? It’s never happened on ‘1 on 1 with Mike D.’
“But tonight, with my brother Tulo, every time we get together, we make history. So, I guess we just made history, y’all.”
Snippets of the interview flooded social media, sparking a flurry of memes and criticism. Some were relieved that the injury was not life-threatening, but others chastised OG 2 Low for carrying a gun during an interview.
The incident has also led to more conversations about proper gun ownership, especially in public and at work. Even though OG 2 Low wasn’t terribly hurt, similar accidents have had serious repercussions in the past. In Burress’s instance, he was subject to legal action and a stint in jail. Burress ultimately became an advocate for appropriate licensing and knowledge of weapons rules.
Despite the snafu, OG 2 Low later shared the clip to his own Instagram, calling the episode a “legendary one.”
It’s your boy illseed and we were hit with the twist today. So, word on the internet streets is that Benzino is about to be a grandfather, courtesy of his daughter, rapper Coi Leray. But if you think this is about to be a heartwarming story, you’re way off.
Coi Leray dropped the baby bomb on our timeline, letting the world know she’s expecting a little bundle of joy. She and fellow rapper Trippie Redd (who was almost a father last year) are about to be parents of a baby. 2025 is off to the races.
Apparently, Benzino found out about the baby at the same time as the rest of us—straight from Instagram. Yup, no personal heads-up, no text—nothing.
Now, let’s not act brand new here. Benzino and Coi Leray haven’t exactly been Father of the Year and Daddy’s Girl lately. Word is, they don’t even talk anymore. Benzino is out here putting on a happy face, but he’s probably feeling the weight of that broken father-daughter relationship. Imagine knowing your grandkids are out there, growing up and you might never get to see them. Heavy stuff, man.
Now, what caused the real fallout between Benzino and Coi Leray? Nobody really knows for sure. All we can do is speculate. But let’s be real, this man’s track record isn’t exactly squeaky clean when it comes to keeping it together. I hope he doesn’t crash out again.
Flavor Flav shocked the crowd at the Bank of America Stadium as he revealed himself as Duke’s mascot, Tubby, during the 2025 Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
The rap legend and Public Enemy co-founder was unmasked after the Minnesota Golden Gophers’ 24-10 victory over Virginia Tech.
The reveal came during the post-game tradition fans have come to love—the infamous mayo dump. Taking center stage, Flavor Flav doused Gophers coach P.J. Fleck with nearly five gallons of Duke’s Mayonnaise.
“I brought the hype to Tubby, the coolest, creamiest mascot in the game. Cause we’re spreading the love, Duke’s-style!” Flavor Flav said.
Flavor Flav is no stranger to making headlines. With a career spanning nearly four decades, six Grammy nominations, and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, his cultural impact is undeniable.
“When we started thinking about how to bring this to life, Flavor Flav just felt right,” said Rebecca Lupesco, Duke’s Brand Director. “His energy is unmatched, and when he said he has an unhealthy love of mayo, that was icing on the cake.”
This partnership also reflects Duke’s admiration for Flav’s philanthropic efforts, including his sponsorship of the U.S. Women’s Polo Team at the 2024 Paris Olympics and his ongoing support for women’s sports.
Is SZA serious about leaving the music industry to become a farmer?
Fans are wrestling with that question after the Grammy-winning R&B artist revealed her unconventional plans for the future.
Sharing her vision on social media, SZA stated she wants to complete her final two album commitments by creating “peaceful children’s music” before stepping away from the spotlight entirely.
‘To fulfill my last 2 album requirements I think I just wanna make peaceful children’s music n get outta here . Then go be a farmer n donate the produce to underserved communities,’ SZA stated.
To fulfill my last 2 album requirements I think I just wanna make peaceful children’s music n get outta here . Then go be a farmer n donate the produce to underserved communities.
SZA may be serious because her comment comes after she confirmed her split from Terrence “Punch” Henderson, the president of Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) and her longtime manager.
The pair’s 12-year collaboration, which catapulted SZA to international acclaim with projects like *Ctrl* and *SOS*, officially ended in what she described as the “end of an era.”
“Nothing to celebrate. The end of an era,” she wrote in a candid message to fans, emphasizing the mutual respect between her and Punch. “I love Punch deeply! NO ONE should be attacking him or being cruel on my behalf. Sometimes people grow apart, and that’s okay.”
While the separation appears amicable, fans have speculated on the potential causes. Some pointed to the delays in releasing *SOS Deluxe: LANA*, which reportedly created friction behind the scenes.
The move could also be a natural evolution for SZA to create her own path, like her former TDE labelmate Kendrick Lamar, who left the label in 2022 to focus on his imprint, pgLang.
50 Cent wrapped up his Las Vegas residency over the weekend—but not without controversy.
Last week, a woman made a video calling his Sin City stint “the worst show that’s ever come to Vegas.” She claimed the audio was bad, thought 50 Cent looked “disinterested” in being there and was “disappointed” by the entire experience. The clip went viral and clearly caught 50 Cent’s attention.
During his performance on Saturday (January 4), he addressed the negative review in true 50 Cent fashion—with comedy.
“I saw a review on my show,” he begins. “And they said the audio was bad. I said, ‘B####, you was supposed say something like 50 was doing this s### [waves his arms in the air]. That’s what I’m gonna do. No one said the music was bad. F### all that. What you thought I was gonna do? Be down here rollerblading? I see Chris Brown was flying in Africa. I don’t have records that require me to fly in Africa.”
The woman recently made another video responding to 50 Cent’s comments and stood by her initial critique, although she did note the show seemed to have improved “significantly” since her review.
@vegasstarfish I made a video calling 50 Cent’s residency the worst show to come to Vegas. He responded. I stand by my authentic and honest review, both as someone who is a genuine fan of 50’s work and someone who reviews things by Vegas standards full time. The audio and production did not live up to Vegas standards on opening night and I was disappointed. Subsequent nights looked much better with special guests and clear audio. No disrespect to 50 or his team. #vegas#lasvegas#vegasstarfish#50cent#vegasnews#gunit#vegasreview♬ original sound – VegasStarfish
50 Cent’s longtime foe Ja Rule was, of course, thoroughly entertained by the scathing assessment. He re-shared the woman’s clip and wrote above it “not the worst” followed by several laughing emojis.
When someone fired back, “Where is your residency ? At least he booked, busy and getting paid,” Ja replied, “As usual, I did it first…” and went on to argue that he was a superior performer.
50 Cent launched his six-day Vegas run on December 27 and reportedly earned a staggering $15 million. The residency celebrated his iconic career and features a mix of his biggest hits, including “In Da Club” and “Candy Shop” alongside deeper cuts, all delivered with 50 Cent’s signature “charm.” The residency also highlighted his entrepreneurial spirit, incorporating themes from his ventures in entertainment, film and business.
Blue Ivy’s debut film, Mufasa: The Lion King, roared its way to box office success over the first weekend of 2025, crowning her as a rising star in Hollywood alongside her iconic parents, Jay-Z and Beyoncé.
The Disney prequel, directed by Barry Jenkins, claimed the top spot at the North American box office, pulling in over $150 million domestically.
While the film didn’t match the opening-weekend figures of its predecessor, 2019’s reimagined The Lion King, it nonetheless secured its place among the highest earners of the year
Jenkins, who also directed the Oscar-winning Moonlight, voiced his excitement for casting Blue Ivy, aged 12, as Kiara, a lioness cub, in her first acting role.
Her casting, however, comes with no nepotistic strings attached, according to Jenkins, who made clear her selection was based solely on merit.
“Her parents weren’t involved in her booking this film,” he told People. “You know, she had read this audiobook Hair Love with my friend Matthew Cherry, and I just really loved her voice.”
He complimented her preparation and innate talent. “It was great working with her. She came extremely prepared.”
Jenkins explained what drew him to her audition. “I could just tell that she was going to bring this really wonderful innocence, but also the knowingness of a highly evolved child. The children in the audience, they’re going to see themselves in the character she plays, Kiara. She just brought all the complexity that it demanded.”
The film also managed to surpass Sonic the Hedgehog 3, which slid into a close second place after dominating in previous weeks, inching toward a $190 million domestic total.
Other notable contenders included Nosferatu in third, Moana 2 in fourth, and Better Man, Robbie Williams’ musical biopic, rounding out the top five.
Nicki Minaj and her husband Kenneth Petty seem to be doing just fine, despite what the haters have to say. Let’s be real—most people condemned their relationship from the start and thought it wouldn’t last longer than a TikTok trend. Yet here we are, years later, and they’re still going strong.
What I find hilarious is that these two are actually funny. Recently, Nicki went live with her hubby and it was a comedic moment for the books.
Nicki, known for her iconic lyrics, bodacious body and ahem blooming backside, got caught in a funny exchange. During the live, a fan asked them about “clapping.” Now, Nicki being Nicki, assumed they meant firearms. Or was playing along…but hold up—it turns out the fan was referring to something else entirely. Watch how it all goes down below—trust me, it’s worth the laugh.
Now, I know there was probably a little editing involved in this clip, but it was still hilarious. My question is: were they being for real or were they just trolling the fan? Honestly, the whole thing felt like a skit straight out of Seinfeld. Lowkey, “Nicki and Kenny” could make for a pretty entertaining show. Would I watch it? Absolutely.
But back to Nicki—what’s she up to musically? It’s been a minute since she’s dropped something major. With artists like Doechii making waves and the female rap scene dominating in 2024, the queen has been pretty quiet. So, what’s the move, Nicki?
Nicki Minaj could be facing criminal charges over an alleged assault that took place last April.
Law enforcement sources reportedly said the Detroit Police have sent a warrant request to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. Once it’s thoroughly reviewed, they’ll decide whether criminal charges will be filed. The prosecutor will ultimately make the final call.
As previously reported by AllHipHop, Minaj’s latest legal issue stem from Brandon Garrett, who says he was the rapper’s manager during the Pink Friday 2 World Tour last year. He’s suing Minaj for assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
According to legal documents obtained by TMZ and filed by attorney Thomas Feher, Garrett said Minaj sent him on an errand after a Detroit concert. When he came back, Garrett says she became furious when she found out Garrett once sent someone else to pick up her prescriptions.
“Are you f###### crazy having him pick up my prescription?” she allegedly screamed at him. “You have lost your f###### mind and if my husband were here, he would knock out your f###### teeth. You’re a dead man walking. You just f##### up your whole life and you will never be anyone, I’ll make sure of it.”
Garrett says she then smacked him on the face, causing his head to swing backward. Minaj then told allegedly told him to “get the f### out,” so he locked himself inside a restroom “for hours” at Little Caesars Arena out of fear.
Minaj’s attorney, Judd Burstein, denies they’ve even seen the lawsuit.
“At this time, no complaint has been served upon [Nicki Minaj] and therefore, we are unaware of the specific allegations,” Burstein said in a statement. “However, if the lawsuit is as reported by TMZ, it is completely false and frivolous. We are confident that the matter brought by this ex assistant will be resolved swiftly in [Nicki Minaj’s] favor.”
Sean “Diddy” Combs faces renewed scrutiny as a new documentary, Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy, recounts allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse while delving into his sprawling Hip-Hop legacy.
The highly anticipated film, set to premiere January 14 on Peacock, presents damning accusations from former associates and legal representatives, painting a chilling portrait of the storied music mogul’s private life amid ongoing legal battles.
The 55-year-old producer and entrepreneur, who has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and prostitution-related offenses, currently remains in custody following his September arrest in New York.
His trial is scheduled to begin in May. As legal challenges mount, the documentary casts an unflinching spotlight on allegations of misconduct from within Combs’ inner circle.
Interviewees include a former bodyguard, a childhood confidant, and others linked to his meteoric rise in the Hip-Hop industry.
In the documentary’s trailer, attorney Lisa Bloom, who represents accuser Dawn Richards in civil proceedings, levels sharp criticism at Combs.
“Sean Combs is a monster,” Bloom states.
Elsewhere in the film, an unidentified insider recounts contentious moments involving the artist.
“I’ve been with Sean for quite a while, and I’ve captured a lot of moments. Anytime a studio or any rooms is [lit with red lighting], he’s making love, sex,” they claimed. They went on to allege, “Some of the girls who were in the room, for sure, they were underage.”
In addition to federal charges, Combs also faces accusations from more than 100 individuals alleging involuntary drugging, physical abuse, and sexual assault.
As of now, the “I’ll Be Missing You” performer has categorically denied all claims, calling the accusations baseless.
Lil Baby has set the bar high for 2025 with the release of his fourth studio album, WHAM (Who Hard As Me). Dropped on January 3, the 15-track project blends the Atlanta native’s signature sound with a roster of A-list collaborators. Young Thug, Future, Travis Scott, Rod Wave, GloRilla, 21 Savage and more show up.
Lil Baby isn’t playing.
Based on a first listen, WHAM feels like an overt move to cement Baby’s dominance in the current rap landscape. Tracks like “F U 2X” immediately stand out, bringing back the grit we know the ATL reps for. The album definitely showcases Baby’s versatility and growth as an artist.
Another highlight is “Dum, Dumb, and Dumber,” which reunites Future and Young Thug. For Thugger, it’s more than just a feature—it’s a triumphant return to the booth. He reflects on his time behind bars. He says, “Yeah, n###a, King Spider back/I don’t even believe I was locked up, for real, for real/I was havin’ my way the whole time, fool, you know what I’m saying.”
The track marks Young Thug’s first verse since his release from jail in October 2024. He pleaded out in the now-infamous YSL RICO case. Future shows off his normal swagger, making the song an instant standout. GloRilla and Rod Wave add some depth to WHAM, and thus Lil Baby’s profile is raised.
But he’s not letting up. Lil Baby confirmed that a deluxe edition of WHAM will drop on January 7.
New Jersey’s music scene has a new name to watch—TheRealEli. An independent artist with an undeniable drive, Eli has been making steady moves in the industry over the past three years. Known for his relatable storytelling and raw talent, he’s proving that hard work and dedication pay off.
“My goal is simple,” Eli says. “I want to grow as an artist, stay true to myself, and eventually be one of the biggest names in the game.”
Eli’s music dives deep into emotions we’ve all felt—love, betrayal, growth. His latest single, “Love Hurts,” captures the raw reality of how love can leave scars, weaving a story that hits home for anyone who’s been through it. Listen to “Love Hurts” on Spotify:
“When people listen to my music, I want them to feel it,” Eli shares. “I want them to see their own stories in mine.” His hustle isn’t just about music—it’s a way of life. Inspired by his family, friends, city, and most of all, his son, Eli is grinding nonstop. Whether he’s writing, recording, or planning his next move, he’s fully committed to leveling up. “This is a 24/7 grind for me,” he says. “I’m always pushing to be better.” Eli has already collaborated with artists like Dre Miller and SevenLateNights and isn’t slowing down. As an independent artist, he’s carving his own lane, and fans can look forward to more music on the way. “Love Hurts” is just the beginning.
Eli’s story isn’t just about music—it’s about resilience, passion, and the grind to turn dreams into reality. With every track, he’s proving that he’s not just another name in the industry—he’s one to remember
Stay connected with TheRealEli and follow his journey:
R&B singer Emanny—known for collaborations with Joe Budden, Rick Ross and Jadakiss—is candidly speaking out about the challenges artists face in the music industry.
Emanny, who recently released Before H3r (Before Her 3), shed light on the predatory practices that continue to plague the music business. His proposed, bold solution: a union for artists.
“The business is never not going to be predatory unless we find a way to at least create some level of union and have a standard for how we are treated within the business,” Emanny said. “There is no business without the art. We have to make that clear.”
In 2021, KRS-One, Public Enemy’s Chuck D and Kurtis Blow founded the Hip Hop Alliance. The organization addresses the “needs and concerns of the Hip Hop and R&B workforce through advocacy, information and service.” It functions similarly to a union but falls shy of being a formal union.
The New York-born singer emphasized the importance of prioritizing and protecting the creators of music. He acknowledged the role of record labels and their financial investment, but he insisted that the art itself is the foundation.
“I get it. Everyone’s like, ‘Yeah, but there’s no business without the labels who push with the money.’ Cool. To me, that’s secondary. You have nothing to push if you don’t have actual art first. So let’s protect that first. And then we’ll figure out the business,” he stated.
For Emanny, the issue isn’t about greed, just fairness.
“We ain’t greedy,” he said. “We just want a fair shake and a fair hand at the table.”
The singer also warned of an increasingly dire future for artists if systemic and technological issues go unchecked.
“If you think it’s bad now, just imagine how much worse it’s gonna be in the next 10 years when the technology gets even better with [AI], and the [label] situations are even more dire,” Emanny cautioned.
He recounted a story of an artist and friend who secured a record deal. The person released great music, only to be dropped shortly after with no meaningful gain.
“It’s a predatory industry, a predatory situation, period. And it’s going to get even worse if we don’t have some level of understanding—yo, we have to work together to get this better,” Emanny said.
Raekwon has revealed that Wu-Tang Clan was on the verge of working on a feature film chronicling the group’s story with none other than Leonardo DiCaprio at one point in his recent interview.
During a compelling appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, the Wu-Tang Clan revealed his ambitious vision for a full-scale Wu-Tang Clan movie after Rogan suggested none other than Quentin Tarantino as the ideal director. The rapper spoke passionately about what such a film could mean for fans and the group’s legacy, contrasting the concept with Hulu’s series, Wu-Tang: An American Saga.
At first, he expressed confidence in Tarantino’s ability to bring the gritty, authentic vibe necessary to capture the crew’s journey after Rogan laid out a synopsis of how the film could start. “Tell Quentin [Tarantino] to holla at me,” Raekwon said.
The rapper’s dream took an intriguing turn as he recounted a past meeting with DiCaprio to discuss the idea. Believe it or not, A Tribe Called Quest frontman Q-Tip also played a major roll in the early motion of the brainstorming stages of the project. “Q-Tip, a good friend of mine, he had me and Leonardo [DiCaprio] sit down,” he said. We met at this small pizza shop in Brooklyn, one of his favorite spots.”
Raekwon continued, revealing DiCaprio was a longtime Wu-Tang fan and showed immense enthusiasm for the project. “He was like, ‘Yo, Chef, what we got to do, yo, who do we need to talk to?’”
Raekwon took the idea to RZA, Wu-Tang’s de facto leader, and attempted to convince him to pivot from the Hulu series toward a full-length feature film. “I told RZA, ‘Before we do this Hulu thing, I think we need to make a realistic, real-life movie of us’,” he said. “It shouldn’t be nothing that we should play with because people need to know our real story.”
Despite RZA’s interest in the concept, he had already committed to Hulu’s project, which Raekwon admitted he was some what disappointed at the time, but still remains hopeful. “At the end of the day, the Clan is the best,” he said. “But one day, maybe I might get a chance to show my version of it.”
Raekwon concluded by giving fans a taste of what his creative palette is salivating over when it comes to the the full-fledged meat and potatoes of the plot for a Wu-Tang Clan film. His vision for the film is grand, describing it as a mix of an Italian mobster flick and with a classic 90s era Black crime thriller feature. “It would be like a slash of Goodfellas and Menace II Society mixed in one,” he explained. The rapper believes a movie would offer a raw, unfiltered look at Wu-Tang’s rise to greatness, something he feels has yet to be fully captured. “It can still be made,” he said. “Just because there’s a Hulu series, that doesn’t mean s###.”
Joe Rogan wants Quentin Tarantino to make a movie about Wu-Tang Clan
"I know Tarantino… he wants to do 1 more movie, how about he does a f*cking Wu Tang movie…"
Raekwon says he already spoke to Leonardo DiCaprio about making one, before RZA released their Hulu show pic.twitter.com/gLK1UStraL
This isn’t the first time Raekwon has addressed the Wu-Tang Clan film project with DiCaprio. In 2021 Rolling Stone published an excerpt from Raekwon’s memoir “From Staircase To Stage: The Story Of Raekwon And Wu-Tang Clan” in which the New York native recalls being inspired by the success of N.W.A.’s “Straight Outta Compton.” He wanted to make a similar movie for Wu-Tang Clan while RZA wanted a scripted series.
“I was against the deal because I didn’t like the terms, the money, any of it.,” Raekwon said of RZA’s plan for a Wu-Tang series. “I kept telling RZA to look at Straight Outta Compton, which made $200 million dollars worldwide and was the highest-grossing movie by a black director in history. It made no sense to me to sell our story for a TV series where nobody would walk away with real money. Everybody except RZA, that is, because he was getting more on the deal — as an executive producer, writer, creator, composer, and I’m sure a few other ways we’ll never know about.”
Watch the clip from the interview in the post above.
It’s no secret Eminem and Machine Gun Kelly don’t like each other. Their long-running feud stretches back to 2012, when Kelly called Em’s then 16-year-old daughter Hailie “hot as f###.”
Over the years, they’ve exchanged multiple diss tracks, culminating with Slim Shady’s 2018 single “Killshot.” But if rapper-turned-country star Jelly Roll gets his way, they will mend their relationship in 2025. During a recent appearance on Andrew Schulz’s Flagrant podcast, Jelly Roll revealed his dream is to sit them down together and show them how similar they are.
“My heart is always to bring them together one day,” Jelly Roll said. “I see so much more of them in each other than they know.”
Jelly Roll added that he has yet to broach the topic with Eminem considering they don’t know each other that well. As he explained, “I’m just still kinda glad that I’m in that circumference to be able to have them conversations.”
“My heart is always to bring them (Eminem & MGK) together one day. I see so much more of them in each other than they know…”
Jelly Roll, who’s known Machine Gun Kelly much longer than he’s known Eminem, also he said that Shady mentioning MGK was more of an honor than a diss.
“If you got mentioned in an Eminem song, it was like getting mentioned in a comedy special,” he said. “You couldn’t be hotter if you got mentioned in an Eminem [song].”
As for Eminem and MGK, the beef intensified in 2015, when MGK started suggesting in interviews that Eminem had him blacklisted from certain platforms and opportunities in the music industry, allegedly because of the tweet about Hailie. MGK framed himself as the underdog being targeted by the rap giant.
The feud got even worse when Eminem released the Kamikaze album in 2018, where he dissed MGK on the track “Not Alike.” Eminem criticized MGK’s career, rap skills and past comments about Hailie. In response, MGK dropped the diss track “Rap Devil,” a play on Eminem’s song “Rap God” in which he mocked Eminem’s age, relevance and personality, calling him bitter and out of touch.
Eminem responded with the aforementioned “Killshot,” a scathing diss track targeting MGK’s persona, career and credibility. The track became one of Eminem’s most-streamed singles, overshadowing MGK’s efforts in the beef.
Following the back-and-forth, MGK claimed he “won” the battle, but the rap community widely credited Eminem with the upper hand due to his lyrical prowess. MGK later shifted his focus to pop-punk music, reinventing himself with the album Tickets to My Downfall (2020), which marked a significant departure from his rap roots.
Jelly Roll and Eminem collaborated on the 2024 single “Somebody Save Me” from the diamond-selling MC’s latest album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce). They performed the song live at the MTV Video Music Awards last September.
Stormzy has been barred from driving for nine months after being caught using a mobile phone behind the wheel of his luxury car in London.
The grime star pleaded guilty to the offense, leading to a fine and additional points on his driving record. Stormzy faced the sentencing earlier this week at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court.
An off-duty officer had spotted Stormzy using a phone while driving his Rolls-Royce Wraith in West Kensington on March 7, 2024.
The officer approached the vehicle, tapped on the tinted windows, and reportedly told the rapper, “Get rid of your tints and get off your phone.”
The 31-year-old artist did not appear in court but admitted to the violation through a written plea.
Along with his driving ban, Stormzy received a $2,490 fine, six more points on his license, and criticism from District Judge Andrew Sweet for what he described as “dangerous and irresponsible” conduct.
The court detailed that the chart-topping rapper already had six points on his license due to previous speeding offenses.
In the hearing, it was also mentioned that Stormzy had earlier been caught driving a Lamborghini Urus with illegally tinted windows that blocked out all but 4% of light—violating the legal requirement to allow 70% of light through.
After being warned, the rapper eventually removed the tinted windows.
Peter Csemiczky, Stormzy’s legal representative, addressed the court on his client’s behalf, acknowledging the actions and offering an apology. “He accepts full responsibility for what occurred,” said Csemiczky.
Known for hits such as “Vossi Bop” and “Shut Up,” the rapper has built a reputation as one of Britain’s most prominent figures in Hip-Hop.
