Finesse2Tymes is opening up about his relationship with Moneybagg Yo, revealing he would love to work with him again, but he believes the trust is gone.
The Memphis natives have had a turbulent history, with Moneybagg Yo signing Finesse2Tymes to his Bread Gang label years after a public feud.
Finesse2Tymes takes full responsibility for the breakdown of their working relationship and wants to collaborate with Moneybagg Yo again. He believes they would light up the City of Memphis with a joint project.
During a recent livestream conversation, the “Back End” hitmaker confirmed that although he’s not signed to Moneybagg, there’s no bad blood between them.
“We ain’t leave on bad terms or nothing,” he explained. “It just ran its course. Somewhere down the line, I just got the word that it was a rap.”
Nonetheless, Finesse2Tymes has regrets, admitting, “I wish we could have still been in business though.”
He continued referencing their joint single. “Look at our one song, ‘Black Visa,’” he added. “Just look at it. I don’t think bro know how much it would mean to the industry for us to do a tape together, a EP. I don’t think bro know that.”
However, Finesse2Tymes conceded that Moneybagg Yo is likely reluctant to work with him again because of their last falling out.
“I believe bro be more focused on me as a person, my mental, like,” he said. “And he traumatized also because we done already been through a situation too and he probably think I still would get on that type of time.”
Finesse2Tymes insisted Moneybagg would be the one person he would never treat badly. “No matter how frustrated I got with him, no matter how frustrated he got with me, I’d never do that again,” he shared.
Finesse2Tymes Regrets Falling Out With Moneybagg Yo
Finesse2Tymes accepted complete accountability for “everything” that went wrong with Moneybagg Yo during a 2022 interview with “Big Facts.”
“No matter what we went through, when I sat back and analyzed… I was like ‘Damn, I was wrong,'” he said. “But time had to show me that I was wrong because I didn’t understand.”
Moneybagg Yo and Finesse2Tymes watch a clip from the interview at the end of the “Black Visa” music video. Check it out below.
Kendrick Lamar dominated the Hip-Hop conversation in 2024, but he’s crowning another MC the “hardest” in the game.
On Thursday (October 17), Lamar dedicated a rare social media post to show love to Doechii, the first female rapper signed to his former label, Top Dawg Entertainment.
He took to his Instagram Stories to share the artwork for Doechii’s latest project, the critically acclaimed mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal.
“the hardest out,” he wrote before adding an alligator emoji.
Doechii graciously received Kendrick Lamar’s praise, resharing his post and returning the favor. “Thank you Dot,” she wrote. “You the greatest.”
Despite the Kendrick Lamar co-sign, Doechii believes there’s work to be done before she can hop on a track with the PgLang co-founder.
During an appearance on the “Joe Budden Podcast” last month, Budden asked Doechii if she “expected” Kendrick Lamar to appear on her recent mixtape.
Doechii admitted that she would love to collaborate with K. Dot in the future, but she’s not quite ready for the opportunity.
“I’ma say this,” she replied. “I don’t assume anything and I also don’t feel entitled to a Kendrick feature but I would absolutely love that. That’s the goal. I’m sure that like, for my debut project, eventually I’m gonna ask Top if he could ask Kendrick, or ask Kendrick myself and see what comes from that.”
However, Doechii added, “But I’ma be real. I don’t think I have the record right now for that opportunity. I think I would have to come a certain way and I don’t think I’m ready for it.”
King Harris is assuring his fans that he’s okay following his arrest earlier this week after almost crashing into a cop car.
The 19-year-old son of T.I. and Tiny Harris had an outstanding warrant in Pickens County over his 2022 traffic violation charges. Following his arrest, King Harris was sent to Dekalb County Jail but was released to Pickens County on Tuesday (October 16).
On Thursday (October 18), King Harris posted a video on Instagram letting his fans know he was released. Judging from his reaction, his notifications have been blowing up.
“I’m a free man. Stop g######, I’m not locked up,” he announced. “I was, but I’m back. I’m straight.”
He also seemingly addressed the viral reaction to his mugshot in another video. Social media users cracked jokes, comparing him to Ice Spice and even Sesame Street characters Bert and Ernie.
King Harris was arrested in Georgia on a failure to appear warrant.
He was pulled over and when officers checked his records, they found a warrant and took him into custody. 🚨 pic.twitter.com/2uz5DE5uCo
“Bro Looking like garlic knot,” one person shared on X (Twitter). “ATL Ice spice bout to learn some hard lessons, TI warned his ahh,” added another.
“When I be looking f##### up, it’s ‘cuz I’m allergic to my dogs,” he explained on Instagram. “Look how f##### up my allergies is, man. I’ve got dogs that’s hairy as f###, I got huskies. And I’m allergic. F###### myself up.”
King Harris was reportedly arrested in Dunwoody, Georgia, after nearly crashing his BMW into a police cruiser. The outstanding warrant was for failure to appear in court to face charges of speeding, driving a vehicle with a suspended license, and operating under the influence of drugs from an arrest in August 2022.
Meanwhile, King Harris is preparing to welcome his first child. The rapper is expecting a son with girlfriend J’Nijah “Nana” Epps.
Dame Dash is “setting the records straight” about why he appeared in the music video for R. Kelly’s “Fiesta (Remix),” despite his former girlfriend Aaliyah telling him that the R&B singer assaulted her.
During a recent interview on his America Nu Network, the Roc-A-Fella co-founder explained why he appeared in the video “considering what the entire industry” knew about R. Kelly.
“I didn’t want any part of it, and I told them I don’t want a dollar from it,” he said, claiming Aaliyah was aware he was in the visuals but didn’t want to cause conflict.
“Her exact words to me were, ‘I don’t want to start any trouble. I just want to heal and get as far away from it as possible,’” he added. “She asked me not to be in any scenes with [R. Kelly] or take any pictures with him, and I respected that.”
He continued, “I did my shots with Jay, but I wasn’t in any scenes with R. Kelly,” he said. “You’ll never see me in a picture with him.”
“I’ve answered this before, but here it is again,” Dame captioned an Instagram clip of the interview. “When Jay chose to keep working with R. Kelly, I told Aaliyah. Her response was clear—she just wanted to heal, avoid any drama, and move forward in peace. So when it came to the Fiesta video, I made sure I wasn’t in any scenes or photos with R. Kelly. I stayed in the trailer unless my shots with Jay were being filmed. That’s the truth.”
The question stemmed from a previous conversation on America Nu, during which Dame claimed Hov’s decision to team up with R. Kelly on the collaborative album The Best of Both Worlds contributed to the breakdown of his relationship with JAY-Z.
Big Meech may have been released from prison to a halfway house, but it will be several years before he’s free from legal restrictions.
Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory, founder of the notorious street organization and record label Black Mafia Family (BMF), was transferred to a halfway house where he will serve the remainder of his sentence, reportedly set to end on January 27, 2026.
However, once he completes his sentence, Big Meech will be subject to a five-year supervised release, TMZ reports. Among the conditions, Big Meech will have to participate in a substance abuse program. It’s uncertain whether he will be required to undergo drug and alcohol testing.
LiL Meech Reacts To Father’s Release
Big Meech’s son, Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory Jr., who plays his father in 50 Cent’s STARZ series BMF, is yet to speak on the news. However, he shared a throwback photo of his father on his Instagram Story alongside a PSA about loyalty and betrayal.
“We don’t lose friends, We learn who our real ones are,” he wrote. “Real isn’t about what you have. It’s what you stand for. Some people become loners because they were betrayed by every person they ever trusted.”
Meanwhile, Rick Ross, who saluted the Black Mafia Family founder on his 2010 single, “B.M.F. (Blowin Money Fast),” welcomed him back with a shout-out on Instagram before performing the track at the club.
“The streets back. Meech home,” he said. “Meech welcome back.”
Lebron James also reacted to the news, tweeting “Welcome home Big Meech!!” but faced backlash from fans condemning him for celebrating the former kingpin.
Big Meech was sentenced to 30 years in prison for drug trafficking and money laundering in 2008 and spent nearly twenty years behind bars.
“He used his time in prison to focus on personal growth and transformation,” his attorney Brittany K. Barnett said in a statement. “Now he has the opportunity to begin a new chapter.”
Nicki Minaj faced backlash from Lil Kim fans after making a bold claim about being rap’s originator of fan armies.
During her talk at Vogue’s Forces of Fashion event in New York City on Wednesday (October 16), Minaj touched on the topic of her ardent fanbase, known as the Barbz.
According to Nicki Minaj, no other rappers were naming their fan armies until she came on the scene, but now the phenomenon has spread worldwide.
“Before l had a record deal, my fans were making a moment for themselves on Twitter,” she began. “I had already given them a name. In fact, do you know that all these artists that give their fans names now, when I started calling my fans the Barbz, there were no rappers naming their fans.”
Minaj claimed that outside of rap music, artists like Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga had already coined names for their supporters, the Beliebers and Little Monsters.
“That was it,” she added. “Now every single human being that becomes an artist gives their fans a name. Even artists in other countries.”
Minaj continued, “I didn’t think it was something that would spread to the Hip-Hop community at all. But it doesn’t matter, because the Barbz are still superior.”
Nicki Minaj speaks about how the Barbz, Beliebers (Justin Bieber fans), and the Little Monsters (Lady Gaga fans) spearheaded stan culture on Twitter. pic.twitter.com/uppRMOGued
However, her comments caused a stir on X (Twitter), particularly among Lil Kim fans, with many referencing her La Bella Mafia album. Kim released the project in 2003, which included a track titled “Tha Beehive” featuring the lyric, “Rappers better run and hide ’cause here comes the Beehive.”
“Maturing is realizing Nicki Minaj’s number one goal is to take credit for EVERYTHING Lil’ Kim contributed to the game,” one user replied. “KIM WAS THE FIRST RAPPER to name their fan base (BEEHIVE) in early 2000s (That’s 20+ years ago!) sorry nicki the fan base names existed BEFORE the internet.”
Maturing is realizing Nicki Minaj’s number one goal is to take credit for EVERYTHING Lil’ Kim contributed to the game… KIM WAS THE FIRST RAPPER to name their fan base (BEEHIVE) in early 2000s (That’s 20+ years ago!) sorry nicki the fan base names existed BEFORE the internet 🐝 pic.twitter.com/R3KzPWwoWg
“She’s so delusional,” added another. “Like Lil Kim aint been callin her Fans The Beehive since La Bella Mafia dropped in 2003.”
She's so delusional 🙄 –like Lil Kim aint been callin her Fans The Beehive since La Bella Mafia dropped in 2003. I seriously hope Kim drops 1 more album before it's all said & done cuz B###### really need that Reminder… https://t.co/Pav1KQfg2Y
It wasn’t just Lil Kim fans responding to Nicki Minaj’s claims. Another person claimed Foxy Brown had a name for her fans while the “Fallin 4 U hitmaker was still in high school.
“Foxy Brown calling her fanbase Na Na’s in 1996,” they wrote. “It’s really not that serious, Nicki was talking about the internet era.”
Nicki Minaj wasn’t the first female rapper to start naming her fanbase. Before social media and Stan culture were a thing, Lil’ Kim named her fans the Beehive. No disrespect to NM, but she didn’t start that. pic.twitter.com/ArbTEpnkkM
now y’all mad because nicki told the truth and said that barbz were one of the first introductions to artist naming their fanbases online… pic.twitter.com/9m8u7KvBjb
grown ass ✨men✨ are writing entire thinkpieces because nicki didn't acknowledge fanbase names that were created two decades ago lmao. imagine being so chronically online that you get offended by that dumb ass s###. pic.twitter.com/KiZGCflsRG
Even though J. Cole apparently went ghost on Toosii, the “Favorite Song” vocalist says his encounter with the Dreamviller MC as a teenager was an unforgettable experience and left a mark on him.
In a recent interview with radio host Big Boy, Toosii opened up about how pivotal of a moment it was for him in his early years as an aspiring artist to meet his fellow North Carolina-bred idol. Reflecting on the encounter, during which he says he was 16 years old, he recalled how it was a premeditated incident that he planned in order to give his music directly to J. Cole. He says he can still remember the entire scenario vividly, even after all these years.
“I remember when I first met J. Cole and I gave J. Cole my CD,” Toosii started off. “The fact that he even let me meet him and give him my CD, that’s one moment that I would never forget. I still remember what I had on and everything. I remember what he had on.”
Toosii then described how he strategically planned the meeting, knowing that J. Cole often played basketball at the Boys and Girls Club in Raleigh.
“I knew he had a game there one day, so I pulled up to his game and watched him play,” he said.
After the game, Toosii approached Cole, presenting him with his CD, which included a handwritten letter.
“I pulled up to the game after he played, I gave him my CD and I was like, ‘Yo, my name is Toosii, nice to meet you, bro. I want to give you my CD and I hope you like it,'” Toosii said.
Toosii was blown away when Cole not only took the CD but also stopped to take a photo with him, despite not taking pictures with anyone else.
“He stopped, he took the picture, and he hopped in his van and he popped the CD in,” he said. “This is one moment that I’ll never forget, ever in my life.”
Despite this impactful meeting, Toosii has not crossed paths with J. Cole again since that day.
“I’ve never seen Cole ever since then,” he noted.
Comparing their careers, there is quite some time between when the pair of artists emerged into the mainstream limelight. A decade, in fact, almost! J. Cole released his debut album, Cole World: The Sideline Story, in 2011, while Toosii dropped his first album, Poetic Pain, in 2020.
In sort of a full-circle moment, both artists also delivered projects this year, via J. Cole’s Might Delete Later project and Toosii’s recent album JADED. Despite the years between their beginnings, the connection they share through North Carolina’s music scene remains a powerful motivation for Toosii.
Ice Spice has drawn a frenzy of criticism from social media users who apparently aren’t pleased with her new look.
The “Deli” rapper drew a great deal of attention on social media after debuting her new look at the recent Victoria’s Secret fashion show, which was highlighted by the return of supermodel Tyra Banks. Along with launching her hair color change, Ice Spice showed off her seemingly newly pierced assets in the eye-popping carousel post she shared on Instagram showcasing the fit she wore to the event.
While the shots from the fashion show appeared to do well on Instagram, Twitter users were particularly critical of the photos, and took Ice Spice to task in a torrent of reactionary tweets, slamming her decision to free the nipple.
“The nipple of desperation,” one user wrote, while another said, “nips out=streams are low.”
Another user trolled Ice Spice over the nipple shots, writing, “Got dat chocolate chip nip mf.”
Aside from the overflow of remarks about that specific body part, multiple users criticized Ice Spice for the revealing look itself, suggesting there’s a more calculated motive behind her sharing the images.
“You know you are losing relevance when you are slowly revealing your whole body,” one user wrote.
Another user claimed Ice Spice was falling off and that money was to blame for her decline.
“Nah yo falloff is so crazy it don’t make no sense how you get rich and weaker,” the user wrote.
Other users attacked her overall appearance, picking on Ice Spice for her recent weight loss and drumming up novelty nicknames for her in the process.
“She quit winning when she started thinning,” one user wrote.
Remarking on her hairstyle switch-up, a user compared Ice Spice to the popular car air freshener scent in a backhanded compliment.
“Cleopatra said she needed tht style back so this b#### moved on to shopping at Spirit Halloween,” the user tweeted.
In another jab, a user foreshadowed the post as sort of a “soft launch” for Ice Spice, who they predicted will announcer her career change soon, despite the fact that she just delivered her debut album this year.
“It’s going to be funny when she realises her career is over and she rotates into OF. Subconsciously she knows this and hence the ‘soft launch’,” the user wrote.
Ice Spice’s debut album, Y2K!, sold roughly 28,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, debuting at No. 18 on the Billboard 200 chart. While the album didn’t break into the Top 10, Ice Spice expressed gratitude, highlighting that the sales nearly doubled those of her previous EP Like..?, which sold around 15,000 units in its first week. No matter the case, Ice Spice still appears to be ultra popular with her fanbase, who’ve been showing up for her Y2K! World Tour.
Method Man voiced his frustration with the trend of fake collabs and remakes in his most recent Instagram post.
On Thursday (October 17), the Wu-Tang Clan MC directly called out DJ Skandalous over a YouTube video he called an “unauthorized remake.” Method Man shared a screenshot of the aforementioned collab, entitled “Built For This,” which has accumulated well over 260 million views since its release in 2017.
The original track, produced by RZA, served as the soundtrack backdrop for the post criticizing the remix version, which includes versus from the late 2Pac, Ice Cube and Freddie Gibbs. However, Method Man alleges that not only is the track demonstratively inauthentic, it also steals the thunder of the original releases which the versus stolen from.
“I don’t know why this is a thing,” Method Man wrote in the lengthy caption. “But I hate the fact that ppl do these unauthorized remakes of records with fake collabs.”
Method Man already addressed the situation with Rivera, but alleges he ignored his request as he continued to vent about the situation.
“This guy I asked him a long time ago to take this trash down as it takes views away from the original content,” he wrote. “And he still has yet to do so.. over 200 mil views and not one penny to the creators.. no one takes into account the time and effort it takes to even make these records let along get these records, put out into the public for someone to come and do half the work and get twice if not quadruple the views of the original content.. whatever happened to IP rights..?”
Method Man continued, remarking on his approach to using the work of other artists and questioning why content meant for platforms such a YouTube isn’t subjected to the same process.
“Whenever I sample a record I have to inform the original creators and ask for permission to do so,” he wrote. “What makes YouTube any different? I am pretty sure you guys have seen a lot of these fake remixes but a lot of people don’t know they’re fake.”
Method Man went on to stress how these remakes compromise his artistry and jeopardize the reputation he’s handcrafted throughout his illustrious tenor as one of Hip-Hop’s most influential and successful lyricists ever. In doing so, he called out a host of other perpetrators directly in his address.
“I’ve heard my voice on beats I would never rhyme to and a lot of times the verses are offbeat,” he wrote. “This is what we call hack s##t and I don’t respect it .. the main culprits are south central channel , golden age hip hop , and New Yorks finest to name a few.. and the person responsible for this piece of work Dj Skandalous actually reached out to make things right.. my reply was take the video down.. as you can see the video was never taken down.. he informed me though that he makes no money off of the video. My reply is then you should have no problem taking it down… but I guess it looks like he does..”
Method Man concluded his fiery statement with a call to action for his fans and supporters to chime in on the situation and let him know whether or not he’s overreacting to the situation.
“So I’ll just leave this here and let the fans be the judge,” he wrote. “Am I wrong for standing up or should I just sit down and shut the f*** up? FYI the song playing is the original song produced by Rza for the man with the iron fist sdtk..”
Method Man isn’t alone here, as there has been a spike in similar issues occurring as a result of the boom in the use of ai-generated music as of late. Earlier this year, Tupac Shakur’s estate issued a cease-and-desist letter to Drake and threatened to sue Drizzy if he did not take down his Kendrick Lamar diss track “Taylor Made Freestyle,” which featured AI-generated Tupac vocals.
Icewear Vezzo met with Vice President Kamala Harris, asking her to address concerns about Democratic candidates only reaching out to Black men during election cycles at a town hall. The Detroit-bred rapper touted himself as a free thinker and addressed criticisms regarding his past meeting with Donald Trump on Thursday (October 17).
“I’ve sat down and personally met with three U.S. presidential candidates just in this election cycle alone, one of whom is the current Vice President of the United States,” Icewear Vezzo wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). “I allowed all three to speak with no biases—a fair conversation—because I believe in free thinking, free speech and the right to independent research. I also brought Robert Kennedy Jr. to the hood; we sat in Zorba’s and ate chili fries and chicken pitas. (Pause.)”
He continued, “My point is, I’m from the trenches, one of the worst neighborhoods in Detroit. I have no formal education; I dropped out in the 9th grade. I have six felonies on my record, one of which is federal. I made a lot of mistakes, then picked myself up and changed for the better. I even bought my mom a house. I’m not bragging; I’m just saying this to emphasize that you should never let anyone tell you what isn’t possible and always strive to do the impossible.”
Earlier this year, Icewear Vezzo and other rappers faced backlash for cozying up to Trump during a campaign stop in Detroit. Amanda Seales was one of the most vocal critics, leading to Icewear Vezzo lashing out at her. He called her “fake woke” and accused her of “lying on Black men” before apologizing to her.
“I talked to Amanda it’s all love,” he wrote. “She’s a woman I should’ve never went that hard on her … I just want us to stop thinking the [worst] about each other before having a conversation and also learn to respectfully disagree. We are all one and we can teach on another instead [of] tearing each other down because we disagree on something.”
Icewear Vezzo spoke with Vice President Harris a few weeks before Election Day (November 5). Early voting has already begun in some states.
LeBron James generated controversy just a few days before the 2024-2025 NBA regular season begins. The basketball superstar faced backlash for celebrating Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory’s prison release on Thursday (October 17).
“Welcome home Big Meech!!” LeBron James wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Big Meech, the co-founder of the notorious Black Mafia Family, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for drug trafficking and money laundering in 2008. He was released this week to finish serving his sentence at a halfway house in Florida.
“He used his time in prison to focus on personal growth and transformation, and now he has the opportunity to begin a new chapter,” Big Meech’s attorney Brittany K. Barnett said in a statement. “He’s out, but millions more remain trapped inside — there’s still so much work to be done. We need to push for real change, for a justice system that recognizes the dignity and potential for redemption in every individual.”
Big Meech and the Black Mafia Family were well-known for their Hip-Hop ties during their heyday. More recently, 50 Cent exposed Big Meech’s life story to a wider audience by producing the STARZ series BMF. Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory Jr. portrayed his father in the show.
According to federal records, Big Meech’s sentence is scheduled to end on January 27, 2026. His brother Terry “Southwest T” Flenory’s release date is August 17, 2025.
NBA rookie Bronny James should be studying his father’s rapper homie Drake, rather than LeBron James’ championship-winning game, according to Ma$e and Cam’ron.
Following the Lakers preseason loss to the Golden State Warriors, during which Bronny scored just two points, a number of sports broadcasters and critics have expressed their concern for the rookie ahead of the regular season.
During a recent episode of It Is What It Is, Ma$e also dropped some unconventional advice for Bronny as he prepares for the next step in his basketball career. Surprisingly enough, both Cam’ron and Ma$e encouraged Bronny to adopt a persona reminiscent of rap superstar Drake to aid his transition from college ball to the NBA.
“Every night is kill or be killed,” Ma$e passionately advised Bronny, emphasizing the importance of his mindset.
Ma$e then suggested Bronny rock braids, change his number to six and wear the iconic red LeBron sneakers for just “one game” to see the results.
“I guarantee you you’re going to have about six, eight, and then you’re going to say, ‘Wait a minute, that n###a may know what he talking about,'” he said. “You know how like when you’re from the suburbs but you look like you a little gangsta? Then you start tricking yourself into thinking you’re gangsta. Then before you know it, you a full-blown gangsta n###a. You the Six God n###a.”
Ma$e continued to point to Drake as a model for Bronny, highlighting how he transformed his own image to gain respect in the rap industry after breaking away from his early beginnings as a Young Money signee.
“That n##a Drake said ‘I got enemies,’ n###a,” he said. “He started talking crazy. Even though people try to say he’s from this type of culture and this type of background, the way he started talking and the way he started approaching it made people look at him in a different light.”
Cam’ron, backing up his co-host, praised Drake’s slick talk, noting how his bravado has set him apart despite any preconceptions about his background.
“Drake is one of the slickest talkers ever in rap,” Cam’ron emphasized. “People always overlooked that because he’s light-skinned or he could sing too, or he’s from Toronto or whatever. That n###a slick talk is ridiculous.”
Cam and Ma$e’s comments come at a pivotal time as Bronny prepares to make his mark in the league for his first-ever regular season of competition. After recovering from a health scare earlier in July of 2023 while attending USC, the young guard has shown glimpses of his potential. During the NBA Summer League and preseason, Bronny averaged 12.5 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists per game, proving he’s more than capable of stepping up. However, he’s only scored four points on a less-than-average shooting percentage throughout the preseason thus far.
Keefe D’s son, Duane Davis Jr., provided an update on the Tupac Shakur murder suspect’s life in jail on Wednesday (October 16). Davis insisted his father hasn’t been attacked behind bars in an interview with Richard Bond, director of the documentary series Tupac: Cover Up.
“He’s good,” Davis said. “He’s good. He’s up in there getting fat from all that eating and s###. It ain’t been no big deal, no problems, no big problems for him. He good. He’s not in no type of [protective custody] unit or anything. So, he’s good. I know a lot of people claim that he got beat up three, four times.”
Davis added, “Nobody touched him. No, he didn’t get beat up by anybody. He had a problem with an officer over a mattress, an extra mattress … That would’ve been another reason [to punish him] if he would’ve reacted.”
Keefe D was arrested for his alleged role in Shakur’s 1996 murder in September 2023. The former gang leader implicated himself in past interviews and his memoir. He remains in custody.
Earlier this year, a judge refused to release Keefe D over concerns about who was paying his $750,000 bail. His son said his family is still working on securing his release from jail.
“We gonna do it the right way and get him out,” Davis told Bond. “So, be expecting a court date very soon. I would say in the next couple weeks, to be honest.”
Keefe D’s trial is scheduled to begin in March 2025. He claimed his confessions were fabricated, but prosecutors disagreed. Keefe D’s son encouraged the public to watch Tupac: Cover Up, which alleges police coercion.
“Look through the b#######,” Davis said. “Look through it! It’s obvious. Just look through it and go check out this new doc. And I promise you, it’ll be—vision will be clear as heck.”
Federal prosecutors asked an appeals court to uphold a judge’s decision to deny Sean “Diddy” Combs bail in a filing on Wednesday (October 16). The prosecution said Judge Andrew Carter’s ruling was supported by “clear and convincing evidence” of why Diddy must remain in jail.
“In arguing that evidence of obstruction was ‘thin’ and that the Government ‘provided no basis to believe’ that Combs tampered with witnesses, Combs primarily quibbles with the strength of the Government’s evidence that Combs made inappropriate contact with Government witnesses,” prosecutors wrote in their opposition. “But Combs ignores altogether the serious and substantial allegations of obstruction, bribery and witness tampering charged in the Indictment as part Combs’ pattern of racketeering activity that amply supported Judge Carter’s determination … Combs’ longstanding and sophisticated methods of obstructing justice and silencing witnesses more than established his dangerousness.”
Prosecutors said they uncovered how Diddy engaged “methodical and sophisticated means to silence and intimidate witnesses” in their investigation. They insisted Judge Carter correctly determined Diddy was a danger to the community and a threat to witnesses.
“Combs often used loyal intermediaries to accomplish his objectives and wielded violence and blackmail, as well as his substantial wealth and influence relative to his victims and employees, to achieve compliance,” prosecutors contended. “Judge Carter therefore rightly concluded that the proposed conditions were inadequate because they would still permit Combs to ‘obstruct justice and intimidate witnesses’ through ‘employees and other individuals’ and ‘even coded messages.’”
They continued, “[Diddy] asserts that there was ‘not a shred of evidence’ that Combs used coded messages … As only one example, however, Combs tried to ensure a victim’s silence about her ‘sexual trauma’ by telling her that he ‘needed’ her and that if she ‘needed’ Combs too, she ‘ain’t got worry about nothing else,’ alluding to a promise of financial security in exchange for loyalty. While Combs asserts that this incident did not involve an intermediary, Combs then texted an employee to ensure that his financial advisor kept paying the victim’s rent. The evidence therefore supported the conclusion that even if confined to his home, Combs has the means and the influence to evade even seemingly restrictive bail conditions.”
Judge Carter was the second judge to deny Diddy bail after the Hip-Hop mogul was arrested on racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges. A third judge rejected Diddy’s request for immediate release but referred his appeal to a three-judge panel. The appeals court is scheduled to hear his argument for bail on November 4.
Diddy remains in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. His trial is set to begin in May 2025.
Facebook Messenger is an excellent platform for artists to connect with fans and promote their creations. The channel is home to over 1.01 billion users, which makes it ideal for promoting hiphop media. Artists at any level or skill can use this channel to connect with other creators and fans and share their albums.
They can use generic ads to market themselves for free and build a strong following. Artists can wow fans by posting behind-the-scenes activities, latest releases, live performances, and upcoming events. Here are creative ways for artists to connect with fans on Facebook Messenger and do hip hop music marketing.
Why is Facebook Messenger a Popular Social Media for Musicians?
The popularity of Messenger with music social media is due to the easy and fast communication solutions it offers. It lets followers post any media from videos to photos, voice, messages, and video calls. The platform has a simple design and many fan-filled features like GIFs, group chats, and stickers. This makes it easier for hip hop music marketing, allowing artists to quickly connect with large audiences, and get reactions, feedback, and support. It is easy to switch from Messenger to Facebook and vice versa allowing a flawless communication experience. The two platforms provide seamless social media music solutions for musicians.
You might however want to know how to log out of FB Messenger to connect to FB. You only need to open FB settings. Then log out of Facebook Messenger. You might realize that Facebook can’t send requests and wonder did Facebook get hacked or what went wrong. Your FB account can get hacked but what is important is to know what to do if Facebook is hacked. The answer is to change your password immediately. But, can you have Messenger without Facebook? The answer is yes but you must install the app.
The Connection between Hiphop Media and Social Media
Hip Hop media started in the 1970s and has since transformed into a cultural movement impacting all demographics. This music genre connects with fans through regular life events and emotions-evoking lyrics. During its infancy, hip hop artists connected with fans during music concerts. They published performances in magazines and presented on radio shows.
The way artists connect with fans changed in the internet and technology era, with the shift focused on social media channels where millions of fans can be found. Facebook Messenger stands out in this connection due to the personalized and instant communication it offers. It brings audiences and artists closer through more direct and customized communication.
How Building a Large Messenger Following Helps with Hip Hop Promotion
Messenger is a unique platform that lets hip-hop artists build a large base of followers and a supportive community. This community is important to ensuring hip hop music marketingsuccess in the short and long term. They can chat with fans on their page about current entertainment issues.
The artists can post trending tracks, upcoming concerts, and the latest recordings. These chats bind the fans with artists more, which creates a loyal and trustworthy following. Fans feel part of the movement and desire to grow and excel with the artist.
Image Credit: Freepik
Features in Messenger that Hip Hop Music Marketing Possible
Messenger has many unique features that help hip-hop artists reach out to fans and promote music social media. These features are important for connecting fans with creators and enjoying their latest release.
Subscribing to the artist’s page. Fans can subscribe to an artist’s page to receive messages for upcoming performances and music promotions in real-time.
Chats. Artists chat with fans to create excitement before a show. These chats continue during and after the show which helps to keep the stories trending.
Ads. Ads let music creators advertise their albums or tracks and get monetary benefits.
Chatbot. Creators and producers may connect with fans through automated chats and get the latest news, do pre-orders, or purchase music. This is made possible through automated chatbots.
Keeping the Communication Life in Real-time
Messenger provides a platform where hip hop musicians can stay connected with fans 24/7 and keep communication alive in real-time. They can send messages to groups or customize them to individuals. One of the ways they stay connected in music social media marketing is through chats and fan contests. These contests run at specified timeframes and winners receive prizes.
The artists also chat directly with fans through messages, answering questions, and sharing jokes, which creates a personalized touch. They also share their latest releases to receive feedback before launching to the public. These creators share their latest photos, songs, and videos during live chats or after performances. Fans often enjoy receiving exclusive content, especially those who have subscribed to their channel.
Conclusion – What next for Hip-Hop Artists and Social Media?
Messenger is becoming one of the most popular platforms driven by AI and advancing technology. It is an excellent platform for connecting these creators with fans through various features such as chats, subscriptions, uploads, and automated communication. These innovations will help Messenger remain a popular platform for music promotion and marketing and grow larger teams of followers.
Tyler, The Creator announced his Chromakopia album will arrive on October 28, just in time for Halloween. As he wrote on Instagram, “CHROMAKOPIA: October 28th chromakopia.com the 8th album.
The Odd Future co-founder unveiled the release date a day after sharing a Chromakopia teaser. The Grammy Award-winning rapper/producer revealed the title in a video snippet called “St. Chroma.”
Some of Tyler’s music industry peers quickly hyped Chromakopia on social media. Swizz Beatz declared the album a classic ahead of its release.
“It’s already a classic!!!!” he commented on Tyler’s announcement. “Goodnight!!!!!!!!!!!”
Chromakopia will be Tyler’s first album since 2021’s CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It was the second No. 1 album of his career.
The Chromakopia website links to Tyler’s Golf Wang online store, offering fans a variety of box sets to pre-order. Each bundle includes posters, a limited-edition CD and a commemorative mini shipping container box. Tyler’s “St. Chroma” visuals featured a shipping container exploding.
Tyler’s box sets offer different options of hoodies, t-shirts and hats. One bundle comes with a tote bag and keychain. Another variant features a container toy. Tyler is also selling the limited-edition CDs alone for $12.
Uh-Oh! They’re Coming for Us All… or Maybe Just Them?
Alright, gather ’round, fam. We know the damn drama surrounding Sean “Diddy” Combs is just the tip of this big iceberg. Trust me, it’s about to get messier. My sources are telling me that this whole ordeal is about to nab not one, but two major figures. But these are a couple you may not suspect. Some people should be mighty nervous.
Now, our first mystery man has been a staple in the industry for over 40 years. We’re talking certified moguls status, folks. This business figure is very close to some other noted leaders in Hip-Hop. And guess what? It gets worse. There’s allegedly a tape out there and it will blow up his entire legacy if it comes to light. And this is not just of him cheating on his wife or something basic like that. Nah, this is serious. And while I haven’t seen this tape (nor do I want to), I’m told it’s really bad.
My source swears they’ve seen it with their own eyes and it is not AI. If they’ve got it, who else does? Could it be connected to Sean Combs? They won’t tell me. Are the feds somehow in on this too? Or is it some underground league of chaos-makers? I really do not know. What I know is…there’s more.
I wish I could tell you about this. Imagine a “dot connector” whose moves are mostly behind the scenes, but, if busted, could impact stars across music, TV, and film. This person’s got ties to the streets so deep that even mentioning their name could make me disappear faster than a summer breeze in December. I’m not breaking this news. This is serious and the ties run really deep.
Stay tuned, because when these giants go down, I will refer back to this article.
When it comes to online gambling, hip-hop music might not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, since it first burst onto the scene in the 1970s, this genre has transcended the music industry, shaping everything from fashion to sports. It was only a matter of time before its influence was felt in the online gambling world.
Think of it this way: hip-hop has an edgy vibe that resonates with younger generations, a crowd that’s all about digital experiences. Many hip-hop artists grew up in neighbourhoods where games of chance were part of everyday life. Legends like Jay-Z and The Notorious B.I.G. have used gambling as a metaphor for life’s big risks and rewards. For these artists, it’s not just about cash; it’s about hustling, surviving, and reaching for the stars.
The idiosyncratic beats and basslines that define this music genre make it a fantastic fit for online slot games. The excitement players feel creates the perfect atmosphere, especially when certain online casinos give out 100 no deposit free spins—or sometimes even more! But, to benefit from such promotions, you’d need to visit FreeSpinsTracker to view the full top list of casinos offering these deals.
The History
To understand how hip-hop culture and online gambling have become intrinsically intertwined over the years, it’s essential to look back to the beginning. Hip-hop music emerged as an outlet for young individuals in the vibrant streets of the Bronx, New York, offering them an escape from real-life challenges. A significant number of hip-hop artists have faced poverty, with many turning to music as a means to break free from their circumstances and achieve success, often by any means necessary.
This pursuit of financial stability and independence is a recurring theme in their lyrics, where money symbolizes not just wealth but also the hard-fought battles to rise above adversity and realize their dreams. The extravagant displays of wealth in rap lyrics and music videos emphasize the importance of financial success in a genre that celebrates resilience and ambition.
Gambling is often woven into this narrative, serving as a metaphor for the risks and rewards inherent in life. Just as gamblers place bets on uncertain outcomes, many rappers gamble with their lives and careers in pursuit of success. References to high-stakes bets and games of chance illustrate the unpredictable nature of their journeys, where the highs and lows of gambling reflect the struggles of growing up in poverty.
Lucrative Partnerships
Many online casinos have embraced the connection between hip-hop culture and gambling by partnering with wealthy rappers to promote their offerings. The gambling industry has increasingly turned to hip-hop for legitimacy, using rappers—and sometimes rap music itself—as a way to attract potential customers. Drake famously partnered with Stake, one of the world’s leading online crypto casinos, back in 2022, with reports suggesting he was earning $100,000 annually from the collaboration. Given Stake’s remarkable success since then, it’s likely that his compensation has increased by 2024.
This partnership has proven to be immensely fruitful, as seen on Drake’s Instagram page, which boasts over 145 million followers. The handle and website for Stake are prominently displayed at the top of his bio, a prime position that takes precedence over everything else, even his official fan club page.
Stake’s collaboration with Drake has been particularly successful, as the rapper actively uses their online casino, famously documenting both his losses and wins. The “Drake Curse” has become a notorious phenomenon in the sports world, centred around the Canadian rapper’s seemingly unfortunate luck when it comes to supporting teams and athletes. Whenever Drake throws his support behind a particular player or team, it often seems to backfire spectacularly, resulting in unexpected losses or underwhelming performances.
Setting The Tone
Hip-hop has a special ability to set the mood for high-energy environments, making it the perfect soundtrack for online casino players who want to get into the gambling mindset. Kendrick Lamar’s track Vegas is a prime example. In it, he raps about the temptations of gambling and uses casino slang as a metaphor for love, emphasizing his status as a high roller.
The energetic beats, infectious rhythms, and bold lyrics in hip-hop enhance the thrill, giving players a sense of confidence and excitement as they place their bets. Hip-hop’s themes of hustle, ambition, and risk-taking align perfectly with the gambling experience, inspiring players to aim for big wins while staying motivated through the ups and downs of the gaming journey. It’s the ideal musical backdrop for those chasing both the adrenaline and the rewards of betting.
G Herbo is reflecting on his traumatic childhood, revealing that school was so unsafe the dean advised his mother to allow him to drop out to pursue a music case as so many students were getting killed on the streets.
The rapper grew up in an area of Eastside Chicago known by locals as “Terror Town.” G Herbo opened up about his childhood during a livestream conversation about his Swervin’ Through Stress mental health organization.
When he launched Swervin’ Through Stress in late 2018, G Herbo initially intended to provide free therapy sessions for 150 kids, but around 5000 kids signed up within the first few hours.
“That’s when I knew it was something that was needed in the community,” he explained.
“[Violence is] so destigmatized in the community where it’s normal,” he said. “People get shot, people witness murders, people endure so much trauma and then the next day it’s like it never happened. They go back to school; they got to go to basketball practice and they expect them to function on a normal level. People never really get treated for what we feeling.”
G Herbo Witnessed The Effects of Gun Violence From An Early Age
Herbo explained he felt “connected to those children” because of his own experiences as a child. “I got shot when I was 16 years old, I seen my first murder when I was 9 years old,” he said “I thought I was normal in a sense because everybody around me was feeling the same way.”
Recalling his school days, Herbo explained he quit at 16 with the dean’s approval.
“School wasn’t really safe for me at all, I’m not going to lie. That was one of the reasons why I dropped out of school,” he said. “My Dean told my mom, ‘He got potential, I think you should just really let him focus on being an artist because coming here every day really not going to be beneficial to him. I think if he got something good, just let him chase his dreams.’ Because people were dying in my school every other week.”
Nicki Minaj made some cryptic remarks on Instagram Live as her former partner Safaree and his ex-wife Erica Mena levied serious allegations at each other as their bitter public spat over custody issues intensified.
Amid her stint as a guest speaker at Vogue’s Forces of Fashion event in New York City on Wednesday (October 16), Minaj hopped on Instagram Live with a quick PSA.
“I don’t know who needed to hear this, but good for you,” she began before bursting into laughter. “You see, sometimes you need to leave people dem alone.”
Minaj continued, speaking in patois, adding that, sometimes, “when a queen is minding her business,” other women want to get in the “queen convo” and desire the “queen life.”
She added, “And stop f###### lying,” before directing her remarks to those “who don’t go out your way and start harassing people who never said anything about you or to you.”
Minaj then warned, “Be careful what you ask for,” adding, “Be careful what you beg for. Be careful what you want to disrespect other people for having. Hunty I said, I don’t know who needs to hear it, but good for you.”
Safaree & Erica Mena Trade Accusations
Before Nicki Minaj hopped on IG Live, Safaree and Erica Mena’s custody drama played out on social media. The former couple made serious allegations, with Safaree sharing footage of Mena attacking him in front of their two young children. Mena responded with her own allegations, claiming her ex-husband “violated my body,” among other claims.
Minaj and Safare dated for over a decade before splitting in 2014. The “Barbie World” rapper married husband Kenneth Petty in 2019, the same year the Love & Hip Hop star tied the knot with Mena. However, they divorced in 2022.
Earlier this month, Nicki Minaj slammed Safaree after he attended a recent concert. “Everyone knows how to go to watch anything and be incognito,” she said. “I’m a f###### superstar. If I want to go to a concert and be completely incognito, I would know how to do it. I ain’t filming myself and all that s###, doing f###### TikTok’s. Like what the f###.”
Back in 2022, Mena said that Minaj was “great at what she does” but wasn’t a fan, calling her music “cartoony.” She also accused the rapper of “biting” Lil Kim.
Meanwhile, in July, Erica Mena said she was ashamed of her past relationship with Safaree after he admitted his breakup with Nicki Minaj was the biggest struggle he had to overcome.
“I will FOREVER be embarrassed I gave sis these incredible beautiful babies,” she wrote on Instagram. “He don’t even talk or care about his seeds this much online or in real life.”
