Beyonce narrated an NBC ad paying tribute to gymnast Simone Biles, who had three gold medals in the 2024 Olympics as of Sunday (August 4).
In the ad, Beyonce’s voice sets the stage as footage of the 27-year-old gymnast fills the screen.
“Let’s talk about power,” she begins. “Because, really, that’s what this story’s about. Physical power: its beauty, its wonder. The way it never stops amazing you. Then there’s spiritual power, the kind that really matters. The power you can’t see, only sense. The power you need in those moments when life goes a little sideways on you. And, of course, lasting power. Only a select few know what it feels like to get to the top and stay there. And, somehow, keep getting better.”
The narrative reflects on Biles’ struggles with the “twisties” during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which led to her withdrawal from several events.
Beyonce continues, “Simone Biles inspires me and I’m pretty sure she inspires you too. Such confidence in her strength, such beauty in her power, such a great lesson in her story. Brilliance, it doesn’t come easy. Gold can be a hell of a journey. And the greatest of all time is willing to put that title on the line every time she walks out there. Take your best shot, world. She’s ready for you.”
The ad is accompanied by Beyonce’s track “Just for Fun” from her latest album, Cowboy Carter.
Reflecting on her latest victory, Biles shared, “It is crazy I’m in the conversation of greatest of all athletes because I’m just Simone Biles from Spring in Texas.” She added, “Three years ago I never thought I’d step on a gymnastic court again, but I worked hard, mentally and physically, even saw my therapist this morning, just making sure I’m mentally well.”
Gunna and Young Thug were arrested in May 2022, two of the 28 people associated with YSL Records who were charged in a 56-count RICO Act indictment filed by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
In December 2022, Gunna pleaded guilty to a single charge of racketeering and was sentenced to five years in prison, with one year commuted to time served and the rest of the sentence suspended subject to probation conditions, including 500 hours of community service. He was released from jail the same day.
Young Thug, however, remains in prison, which led many to label Gunna a “snitch.” But according to YSL co-founder Fremondo Crenshaw, he simply caved. Taking to his Instagram Stories on Sunday (August 4), Crenshaw—also known as YSL Mondo—provided his perspective and expressed regret over calling Gunna “a rat.”
“I’m man enough to say I should’ve never spoke about the Gunna situation cause technically he didn’t rat he just kinda folded under pressure & should’ve just stayed down with his mans til everything was over.
“All the originals know he ain’t did nothing, wasn’t even around from the beginning so he wasn’t gone do no real time regardless I feel bad cause now a n#### who literally is a real live rat is running round the city getting glorified & smiling like he didn’t just send multiple n##### to jail.”
He continued, “I was so mad and hurt at the same time that my brother going through this s### after he turned a lot of n##### up who should’ never been allowed in our circle. He can’t speak up so I felt I’m the only one who can & should be speaking up.
“That’s the only reason I started talking about Gunna but I’m a real n#### in real life. Ain’t no mystery in my history. I’m not afraid to say when I was wrong & saying Gunna is a rat was dead ass wrong but I can’t take nothing back. I just got to stand on whaat I said & take whatever comes with it.”
Young Thug’s RICO trial experienced another hiccup last week, when defense attorneys learned of a second secret meeting between Judge Ural Glanville and the prosecution. The case’s former judge and prosecutors disparaged attorney Jonathan Melnick, who represented key witness Kenneth Copeland, in the meeting.
The defense received a transcript of the June meeting. Douglas Weinstein, the lawyer of Young Thug’s co-defendant Yak Gotti, sought a mistrial on Wednesday (July 31).
“It is not a fair trial when in an ex parte meeting Glanville, Love, and Hylton assassinate the character of attorney Melnick and attack his integrity, alleging that he is not acting in the best interest of his client, Copeland,” Weinstein argued.
He added, “Every time a piece of pasted-up wallpaper is removed, more rot is found hidden underneath. No herculean effort by the present court can fix the due process violations of the last judge. This house must be torn down. A mistrial should be declared and retrial barred due to prosecutorial and judicial misconduct.”
Judge Glanville was ousted from the trial over another secret meeting with prosecutors. One of Young Thug’s lawyers, Brian Steel, challenged the judge about the first known meeting in June. The courtroom fireworks completely derailed the trial until Judge Glanville’s recusal last month.
Defense attorneys claimed Judge Glanville presumed the guilt of all the defendants in the case. The revelation of a second secret meeting heightened their demands for a mistrial. Judge Paige Reese Whitaker, who took over Young Thug’s trial, understood their concerns.
“The transcript will reflect what was actually said in there,” she said. “And there are some allegations that if I were an attorney and they were levied against me … I would be a little hot under the collar as well.”
Judge Whitaker has yet to rule on Yak Gotti’s motion for mistrial but dismissed a motion to dismiss Young Thug’s entire case on August 1 and his request for bond just days earlier.
Dionne Warwick commented on the current music industry and revealed her perspectives on the evolution of talent and showmanship since her rise to fame in the 1960s.
At 83, the seasoned singer opened up about her views during a recent interview with Us Weekly, expressing that she feels today’s pop and R&B landscape is driven more by image than talent.
Warwick remarked, “It’s a youth-oriented industry today – which doesn’t surprise me because when I was coming through, it was a youth-oriented industry.”
She continued, “I find it quite interesting that talent is not the precedence. It’s how little you can wear, how much you can shake your body, how different you have chosen to look. It’s another industry altogether.”
Her reflections are particularly poignant in the context of her storied career, filled with timeless hits like “Do You Know the Way to San Jose.”
Notably, last year, the music icon discovered that rapper Doja Cat had sampled her 1963 classic “Walk on By” in the 2023 track “Paint The Town Red.”
Warwick recalled her reaction.
“Some of her music is not for my ears. But it was quite interesting because I had no idea of this yet, the idea to use ‘Walk On By’ in one of her songs,” Dionne Warwick explained.
“My grandchild calls me: ‘Grammy. Grammy, do you know who you’re on a recording with?’ I said, ‘Doja, who? No, I don’t know Doja Cat.’ She’s not the only one that’s taken my music. But it was quite surprising, first of all, that these kids know who I am. So being current and being someone that apparently has inspired some of these children musically is an important thing as well.”
Warwick shared her admiration for a few contemporary artists despite her critical take.
“There are a few artists that I find quite entertaining. Some of the things that Justin Bieber has done are very inspiring,” she mentioned. “Justin Timberlake, he’s a real artist. He sings his little behind off.”
Dionne Warwick also praised other notable figures like Beyoncé and Alicia Keys, recognizing their growth and positivity.
“Beyoncé’s growth has been just tremendous. I’m very proud of her. Alicia Keys, she’s very, very talented and very positive.”
Cardi B has addressed rumors about her estranged husband, Offset, amid their impending divorce and her third pregnancy.
On Instagram, the Grammy-winning artist responded to a report by People magazine suggesting she filed for divorce because Offset was “more of a distraction than support.”
Cardi B took to Instagram to refute the allegations when the story started to gain traction.
“OK this is getting weird cause I can say he helps me a lot with my business and the kids,” Cardi commented on one such post.
Cardi B expressed her disbelief over the purported unnamed source, stating, “Never in my career, no matter what I went through, I had friends or family go to the media, sooo I don’t know who is this damn source going to People magazine.”
She clarified her position regarding child support, saying, “Even with my filing, I’m not asking for child support. My claim is for him to only pay for the bills he already pays on the kids and the new one.”
The former couple is expecting their third child together. They already share a six-year-old daughter, Kulture, and a two-year-old son, Wave.
Cardi B announced her pregnancy on August 1, just one day after initiating the divorce process from Offset, a member of the Hip-Hop group Migos.
Their relationship was marred by public breakups and reconciliations.
Cardi initially filed for divorce back in September 2020, only to retract that decision two months later.
Kanye West has successfully found a buyer for the Malibu beachfront property he had gutted despite the need for significant renovations.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jason Oppenheim of the Oppenheim Group is handling the house sale, which is under contract and currently in escrow as the deal moves forward.
The sale came more than six months after the Hip-Hop artist, also known as “Ye,” initially listed the residence for $53 million.
In April, he lowered the price to $39 million in an effort to attract potential buyers.
The property, which sits on the breathtaking Malibu coastline, was initially designed by acclaimed architect Tadao Ando and purchased by Kanye in 2021.
Following the acquisition, he stripped the home of its interior, necessitating considerable investment from any new owner to make it liveable once again.
“The interiors need to be replaced,” Oppenheim explained to The Hollywood Reporter when the property first hit the market in December. “The house has remarkable architectural integrity, especially in its substantial concrete work, which contributes to its value.”
Legal issues also clouded the sale. Kanye faced a lawsuit over unpaid work on the property, with a contractor claiming he was owed more than $1 million.
However, these legal hurdles have been resolved, clearing the way for the transaction.
The four-bedroom, 4,000-square-foot house boasts panoramic Pacific Ocean views from every room, amplifying its allure despite its current state.
In a recent development in the legal saga of Corey Miller, also known as C-Murder, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has denied his most recent attempt to appeal his second-degree murder conviction.
The charge has been a focal point of legal battles and appeals for years. The legal saga is related to a club shooting in 2002 when 16-year-old Steve Thomas was shot and killed inside a Harvey, Lousiana nightclub.
C-Murder has vehemently maintained his innocence throughout two trials and subsequent appeals, claiming that he was wrongly convicted.
One key aspect of his appeal was the assertion that he was innocent of the crime he was convicted of in 2009.
Additionally, C-Murder argued that his due process rights were violated during the trial, pointing to issues such as a juror allegedly voting to convict to expedite jury deliberations.
Another significant part of the appeal focused on the prosecution’s alleged failure to disclose exculpatory evidence and the use of false testimony without a proper evidentiary hearing.
He also relied on the recantations of two key witnesses, Darnell Jordan and Kenneth Jordan, to be “suspect and not reliable” due to contradictions and falsities in their affidavits.
Unfortunately for C-Murder, a trio of Circuit Judges with the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Judge Vance’s 2023 ruling.
Despite his efforts to secure a Certificate of Appealability (COA) by demonstrating a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right, the court found his arguments insufficient to meet this standard.
“To satisfy this standard, the petitioner must demonstrate ‘that jurists of reason could disagree with the district court’s resolution of his constitutional claims or that jurists could conclude the issues presented are adequate to deserve encouragement to proceed further.’ Miller has not made such a showing. Accordingly, his motion for a COA is DENIED,” the judges ruled.
The rap star’s legal battle, marked by multiple appeals and challenges, has reached a significant juncture with the denial of his recent appeal.
C-Murder had the powerful backing of aspiring lawyer Kim Kardashian, who helped secure the freedom of Alice Marie Johnson in 2020.
I wanted to shed some light on a case that I’ve been working on for years…
Corey Miller has spent 21 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, and his conviction is based entirely on the testimony of two men, whom the State dragged to trial just on material witness…
In August of 2023, Kim Kardashian revealed she was “working” on his case because she believed he was innocent.
“Corey Miller deserves a day in court to test the veracity of the recanted statements and to prove that he did not shoot Steve Thomas,” Kim Kardashian said.
However, Kardashian has reportedly put her pursuit of a legal career on hold as she focuses on her businesses and her four children with rapper Kanye West.
The 2024 Paris Olympics are in full swing in the French capital, and the United States currently leads the medal count at 64. The track and field segment began over the weekend and all eyes were on U.S. favorites Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson.
On Sunday (August 4), however, Lyles became a trending Twitter (X) topic for all the wrong reasons. Leading up to the 100-meter race, Lyles maintained his signature bravado, convinced he’d take first. But during Saturday’s (August 3) prelims, British sprinter Louie Hinchliffe beat Lyles, placing him in second. Hinchliffe ran a 9.98, followed closely by Lyles’ 10.04, although both advanced to the men’s 100-meter semifinals.
Shortly after, some comments Lyles made in 2023 following his win at the world championships resurfaced online. Speaking about the NBA, he said, “I have to watch the NBA Finals, and they have world champion on their head. World champion of what? The United States? Don’t get me wrong. I love the U.S. at times, but that ain’t the world. That is not the world.”
Those words came back to haunt him as thousands of people criticized Lyles for losing to a Brit, still angry about his NBA commentary.
Lyles is scheduled to run again on Sunday alongside Marcell Jacobs, Oblique Seville and Akani Simbine, who also advanced.
I just saw what Noah Lyles said about the NBA and then saw he didn’t win his first race …
Bruh you can’t be saying 💩 like that Dog then not winning, they are about to roast you into oblivion you might as well stay over there in Paris and apply for citizenship #Olympic2024… pic.twitter.com/4QuCYtePcY
Noah Lyles biggest f### up was talking about the NBA. NBA Twitter will be on his ass the rest of his life so he better win every race because these n##### got unlimited memes & agendas
Kid Capri shared a somber message with his Instagram followers on Saturday (August 4), revealing M.O.P. affiliate Foxx had died.
The veteran New York City DJ mentioned he’d just visited her at the hospital and she had decided to be removed from life support on Friday (August 2), indicating she’d lost her 15-year battle with an autoimmune disease called scleroderma. She was roughly 55 years old.
“I went to the hospital to see you last night, what I saw had me walking out the room crying, a week ago or so. you requested that people come see you before Aug 2, that’s when you wanted to be taking off of the respirator,” Kid Capri began. “Yesterday was Aug 2nd, I would have had so much regret if I didn’t make it there, because today your gone, you was holding on last night after they took you off the machine, it was very hard to leave you behind in that hospital room to go home, knowing I will never see you again, but my memory of you will last forever.”
Kid Capri went on to reflect on their childhood in the Bronx, saying, “We grew up together a block away from each other, Kingsbridge terrace and Sedgwick ave, Home of hip hop! The Bx! I remember when I started my girl group, Sly, slick and wicked, later on we added a girl named lethal, and that was you, I had fun making you, Kim, Georgia and @qtpepsi rehearse the routines I was writing, after that, you was influenced by music for real.”
He then summed up her journey to M.O.P., the Brooklyn-bred duo comprised of Billy Danze and Lil’ Fame.
“Years after that, you linked up with @famem.o.p @billydanzem.o.p the great hip hop group M.O.P. who I got a lot of love and respect for,” Capri continued. “Not only because of how dope they are, but taking you around the world so that you can see things you never seen before, you was on records and in videos, you got the chance to know what it is to make people happy that you didn’t even know, a chance to do what others haven’t.
“You’ve always had an incredible personality and we all gonna miss you very much,, you go ahead and rest up, you did your job, we got the rest! God bless you prayers to you and your family! Sharitha cook! Big Foxx!! Love you forever!”
DJ Premier, who frequently collaborated with M.O.P. back in the day, said in the comment section he also made a trip to the hospital to see Foxx before she died. He added, “Saw her Tuesday at the hospital. She wrote ‘I LOVE YOU’ on a piece of paper. I’m framing it. She’s a tough loss to our lives. Love You Foxx Forever.”
Fat Joe chimed in with, “Nah she’s family god bless I’m so sorry,” as did longtime Bone Thugs-n-Harmony manager Steve Lobel, who said, “Dammm RIp big Foxx I worked with her in the 90s when I worked at relativity and she was with MOP my condolences ”
Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder Kareem Burke, Vast Aire, DJ Eclipse, Shyheim and DJ COOL V, DJ EFN, Percee P and DJ Clue were among the many others expressing their condolences.
Prince Po, one-half of Organized Konfusion, also shared some thoughts on Foxx. As he wrote on Facebook, “Been up all night… reflecting on lots….grateful for plenty things .. tryna stay calm….Foxx was solid as a rock…til the end…man…God bless her soul…Love, condolences and prayers upon her son, family and the entire m.o.p. posse.”
Foxx previously worked as M.O.P.’s tour manager but was an artist, too.
Speaking to Vice in 2004, she explained, “M.O.P. wouldn’t get nowhere if it wasn’t for me. I’m like their Mother Goose. They don’t got no mothers, no fathers, none of that s###. I can put them in check, and I’m probably the only one that can do that, partly because I’m older than them. I won’t say how old, but let me put it to you like this: I used to open up for Salt ‘N’ Pepa and Kid ‘N’ Play back in the days. I was rhyming with Kid Capri. He had a group called Sly Slick Wicked and Lethal, and I was Lethal.
“I was like the Flava Flav of the group. We had a song called ‘Extensions Out.’ That was when extensions had just came out. People used to have fights, extensions be on the floor and s###, so I had the bad part in the song, I’d be like, “Uh-oh, one of your extensions is missing!” Then the lights would come on, an extension would be on the floor, and a b#### would get mad and want to kick my ass after the show.”
AllHipHop sends our condolences to Foxx’s family and friends.
Denzel Curry is both ready and determined to craft a collaborative project opposite J.I.D, which could somehow arrive before the joint effort release the Atlanta-bred rapper has yet to drop with Metro Boomin.
That’s purely speculative, however, in the rap world, where collaborations between top tier artists can set the industry ablaze, it wouldn’t be surprising if the pair of lyricists fast-tracked an effort to satisfy fan demand and generate buzz. Because that’s exactly what’s happening with J.I.D and Metro Boomin’s highly anticipated project. When Metro Boomin announced that he and J.I.D were working on a joint album on Twitter (X) in March 2023, fans were sent into a frenzy.
“Got a lot of new music coming but when me and @JIDsv drop,” Metro tweeted, igniting speculation and excitement across the rap community.
Fast forward to now J.I.D has consistently assured fans that the project is still underway despite any traces of the music from the record. No matter the case, in a recent interview, he doubled-down, “We’re working on that project every single day… We have so much music, it’s just about making it right… It’s happening for sure,” J.I.D said.
Despite the assurances, the exact release date remains uncertain, especially with Metro Boomin also hinting at another project with NAV. Given these factors, the likelihood of the J.I.D-Metro Boomin album dropping in late 2024 or early 2025 seems high.
However, amid this excitement, another potential collaborative project between J.I.D and Denzel Curry has fans buzzing. In a recent interview with Apple Music, Denzel Curry expressed his enthusiasm for working with J.I.D. When asked about a potential collab album, Curry was quick to name J.I.D as his preferred partner.
“That’s the only person I’m like, I would do a collab album with,” Curry stated. “He’ll make me a better rapper. I always look for somebody to challenge me to make me a better MC at the end of the day, because rap is also a sport.”
Curry’s comments have sparked speculation about whether a J.I.D and Denzel Curry project could materialize before the J.I.D and Metro Boomin album. Both J.I.D and Curry have a reputation for their lyrical prowess and dynamic performances, making the prospect of their collaboration tantalizing for fans who crave complex bars and innovative flows. That level of lyrical precision was another point Curry cited when explain how he feels working with J.I.D would provide him with a competitive edge.
“Your lyrical skills still sharpens steel… like a sword sharpens the other sword,” he suggested.
Comparatively, both J.I.D and Metro Boomin have enjoyed considerable commercial success, though their paths have differed. Metro Boomin’s projects consistently dominate the charts, with SAVAGE MODE II debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and HEROES & VILLAINS also seeing significant success.
On the other hand, JID’s The Forever Story has been praised as one of the most complete rap albums in recent years, though his chart performance hasn’t matched Metro Boomin’s. J.I.D’s strength lies in his critical acclaim and loyal fanbase, which values his intricate lyricism and storytelling.
At this point, a project with Denzel Curry could blend these strengths, offering the commercial viability of J.I.D’s growing fanbase and Curry’s energetic and competitive style.
NLE Choppa’s latest interview is a reminder to his fans and social media following that both he and notable figures such as Bobbi Althoff are just human beings at the end of the day.
In a recent emotional and revealing episode of podcaster Bobbi Althoff’s series, NLE Choppa opened up about his own struggles with mental health while addressing deep personal topics that resonated with both of them. Despite their drastically different upbringings, the conversation took a serious turn and struck a chord simultaneously for the pair as Bobbi began sharing her own experience with suicidal thoughts during her teenage years.
“I was just in high school,” she said. “I just started high school. Yeah, I was going to school. Oh. I tried to kill myself when I was 14.”
Althoff admitted she felt somewhat anxious about sharing her harrowing experience, but that all changed as the “S### Me Out 2” rapper consoled her and set the stage for a raw and honest discussion, responding with empathy and understanding.
“It is a safe space with me,” NLE Choppa said. “I ain’t going to judge you. I try to kill myself before too.”
As the conversation continued, NLE Choppa took a moment to reflect on the importance of their survival.
“I’m so glad you didn’t do that,” he told her. “Because look at you now. You wouldn’t know me now. But look at you now. Just imagine what your 14-year-old self saying to your current self.”
The discussion then shifted to broader issues of appreciation and perspective. NLE Choppa passionately addressed the shared struggles many face, regardless of their background.
“In our community, we always looking at what we don’t got and we look at what other people got and be like, damn, I want to get there one day,” he said. “But we looking at them…when they going through the same s##t.”
He then took a moment to defend Bobbi Althoff against the racially divisive criticism she has been receiving on social media. And in doing so, NLE Choppa’s defense of Althoff was heartfelt and earnest, reminding fans that we’re all on the same level playing field in this game of life.
“A lot of Black people love you, Bobbi,” he said. “Like 90 percent of it. I see. They love to see you, but it’s like a short 10 percent that always got something to say because different races is doing what different races supposed to do. Did you just hear how she a human before anything before color, before sex, before any f###### thing. She’s a human. The girl wanted to off herself at 14.”
The interview ended on a poignant note, with Althoff expressing her gratitude for NLE Choppa’s support. “This is making me emotional. I didn’t expect that,” she said.
NLE Choppa’s thoughtful remarks about Bobbi arrive after the media personality has shouldered the brunt of the blows dealt to her from cultural critics and media professionals alike in the aftermath of her viral Drake interview. Plies weighed in on the months-long discussion surrounding Bobbi Althoff last October, claiming that she “Needs To Use The Culture To Appear Lost” because “That’s Her Cash Out!”
Sports journalist Jemele Hill is also among the people who take issue with Althoff interviewing prominent rap figures like Offset. In September 2023, the former ESPN contributor voiced her concerns on the X platform, alluding to her thoughts that content creators such as Bobbi are the reason “real Hip-Hop journalism” has been erased.
Cardi B confirmed her estranged husband Offset is the father of her third child in court documents obtained by the Associated Press on Friday (August 2). The hitmaking rapper announced her pregnancy and filed for divorce on Thursday (August 1).
“With every ending comes a new beginning!” Cardi B wrote on Instagram. “I am so grateful to have shared this season with you, you have brought me more love, more life and most of all renewed my power! Reminded me that I can have it all! You’ve reminded me that I never have to choose between life, love, and my passion! I love you so much and can not wait for you to witness what you helped me accomplish, what you pushed me to do! It’s so much easier taking life’s twists, turns and test laying down, but you, your brother and your sister have shown me why it’s worth it to push through!”
Cardi B cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for divorcing Offset in her court filing. She sought primary custody of their children.
“There is no reasonable prospect of reconciliation between the parties,” her divorce filing noted.
Offset faced allegations of infidelity throughout his marriage. He most recently denied a cheating rumor in July.
“People really need to do the research,” he wrote on Instagram. “I’m at a public place gambling at a casino with a married 8-month pregnant women wtf I look like being outside publicly cheating SMD!!!”
A rep for Cardi B told the Associated Press, “This is not based on any one particular incident. It has been a long time coming and is amicable.”
Cardi B married Offset in 2017. Their daughter Kulture was born in 2018. They welcomed their son Wave in 2021.
The couple separated in late 2023. Attempts to save their marriage were unsuccessful.
Cardi B previously filed for divorce in 2020. She withdrew her first divorce attempt within a few months.
Future fans are making some bold claims about the “Like That” rapper following his recent tour stop with Metro Boomin.
Future has been the subject of much speculation after a video went viral showing him seemingly emotional while performing “Wait For You,” a track featuring Drake and Tems, during the opening night of the WE TRUST YOU Tour in Kansas City.
The video, which has been circulating widely on social media, shows Future appearing to choke up while delivering his verses. Some fans believe they even spotted tears, prompting a flurry of comments. Fans have been abuzz, theorizing whether Future’s visible emotions and voice cracks during the performance indicate a longing for his once-close friendship with Drake.
“Future crying on stage while performing ‘Wait For You’ has to mean something,” a fan tweeted while reposting the video. “You can hear the pain in his voice,” another Twitter (X) user added.
Future and Drake have had a storied history of collaborations, producing numerous hits together that have dominated the charts. Their joint mixtape, 2015’s What a Time to Be Alive, was a commercial success, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
Prior to any rumored beef, Drake helped Future secure his first Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 with the track “Way 2 Sexy,” a milestone in Future’s career. Not to mention Future scored his first chart-topper as a lead artist alongside Drake and Tems with their aforementioned anthem in 2023.
Drake even famously rapped about the apparent rift between he and Future taking its toll on him via his Kendrick Lamar diss track “Family Matters.”
“Pluto s### make me sick to my stomach, we ain’t never really been through it/Leland Wayne, he a f#####’ lame, so I know he had to be an influence,” Drake raps on the song essentially accusing Metro Boomin of souring their relationship.
While neither artist has publicly addressed the current state of their friendship, the viral video has reignited conversations about their dynamic.
Whether Future’s emotional performance was a genuine display of missing his former collaborator or simply an artist lost in the moment, it has undoubtedly reminded fans of the powerful music they created together. As the WE TRUST YOU tour continues, all eyes will be on Future, watching for any further signs that might reveal the true nature of his feelings toward Drake.
Uncle Luke has slammed Donald Trump over his remarks about Vice President Kamala Harris following his appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention.
Even though the event occurred earlier this week, the Hip-Hop legend was still enraged by the interview and vented his frustrations with the situation in a fiery social media post.
Uncle Luke didn’t mince his words in his response to Trump’s recent remarks about Harris when questioned whether Vice President Kamala Harris “could be” a DEI hire and disputed her Blackness. The outspoken artist passionately defended Harris’s Blackness and condemned those who have tried to undermine her identity since the former president’s interview with the NABJ.
“Hold on, hold on,” Uncle Luck started off. “I’m getting sick and tired of you m############ Negroes who’s out here trying to take the blackness away from Kamala Harris, our VP, and soon to be president because your daddy, Donald Trump gives you these talking messages, so you repeat the dumb s##t.”
The 2 Live Crew hitmaker addressed the claims questioning Harris’s Black identity head-on.
“Oh, she’s an Indian,” he said in mocking tone. “She’s Black on occasions. Really? Make that s##t make sense. Black. HBCU pledge in one of the most prestigious Black sororities, AKA. Member of the Black Caucus, born and raised in Black Oakland.”
He continued to highlight Harris’s deep connections to the black community and her contributions over the years, despite her travels and advocacy in other realms.
“Yes, she went abroad like a lot of us go abroad into Canada and stay for a few years,” he said. “Come back, go to college. State attorney prosecutor. Member of the Black Caucus staying up in the Senate for black issues time and time again.”
Uncle Luke’s impassioned defense culminated with a dismissive note to those doubting Harris’s blackness. “In the words of Chad Johnson, ‘Child, please.'”
This outspoken defense of Kamala Harris by Uncle Luke adds to the growing voices within the community standing against the narrative pushed by Trump and his supporters. Plies also called out Donald Trump’s Black supporters after the former President’s appearance at the Convention in Chicago.
“I’m just trying to muthafuckin see why everybody’s so g###### quiet,” he began. “Where are all the g###### people at? The Trump for Black folks? Where the f### is y’all? ‘Cause somebody needs to kick y’all right in y’all smelly a####, right muthafuckin now. All of a sudden today, y’all are so muthafuckin quiet today.”
He continued, echoing the Harris campaign’s statement that Trump showed “exactly who he is” at the NABJ panel.
“Y’all ain’t got a f##### thing to say today,” Plies added. “All I’mma muthafuckin say is, ‘NABJ.’ That’s all I’ve got to muthafuckin say. That muthafucka got right on that muthafuckin stage and showed y’all how he feels about muthafuckas who don’t look like him. He showed you, right in your muthafuckin face.”
Check out the video of Uncle Luke going off above.
Snoop Dogg’s friendship with Queen Elizabeth II emerged as an endearing highlight when the Hip-Hop icon shared his thoughts on the bond during a candid interview with Capitol FM in London.
The rapper, who fondly referred to the late monarch as “my girl,” revealed his deep respect for her and their historic connection.
During the interview, Snoop Dogg, 52, humored the host by discussing his plans for the United Kingdom and suggesting a casual visit to Buckingham Palace.
“I’ll go by the palace, see if they let me in,” Snoop Dogg quipped.
The conversation took a heartfelt turn when interviewer Jordan North mentioned the incoming king, saying, “Well, I’ve heard the future king, William, is a huge Snoop fan.” The rapper responded with a reflective nod to the late Queen’s affinity.
“Well, the Queen was a fan too. Rest in peace to the Queen, that was my girl. You know what I’m saying?” Snoop Dogg added, emphasizing his admiration and sorrow over her passing.
To their knowledge, a spokesperson for King Charles noted that Snoop had yet to officially visit the royal residence.
However, the rapper’s words reminded fans of a story from 2015, when he recounted an episode in which the Queen came to his defense.
Back in 1994, during a tumultuous period as Snoop faced first and second-degree murder charges—of which he was eventually acquitted—there was a public outcry to ban him from the UK.
“Guess who came to my defense? Just take a guess,” Snoop reminisced during his earlier interview. “The Queen. The Queen said, ‘This man has done nothing in our country. He can come.’ The Queen… bow down… When the Queen speaks, bow down. That’s Harry and William’s grandmother, you dig?”
Public Enemy frontman Chuck D celebrated his 64th birthday on Thursday (August 1) and was flooded with messages on social media, texts, shout-outs and phone calls. The outpouring of birthday wishes is a staunch reminder of Chuck D’s indelible impact on Hip-Hop culture.
The revolutionary MC, whose work with Public Enemy includes the groundbreaking albums Fear of a Black Planet and It Takes A Nation of Millions…To Hold Us Back, not only carries the torch for Hip-Hop but also soul, R&B and classic rock, among many others. Among his favorite artists are Led Zeppelin, Marvin Gaye and The Clash, evidence of his diverse taste in music.
Chuck D continually uplifts other musicians and they return the favor, often in the form of lyrics. Any causal rap fan has probably noticed his name gets mentioned in other artists’ songs—a lot.
In honor of Chuck D’s birthday, we collected a few examples of Chuck D’s name getting thrown in a lyric—from Sir Mix-A-Lot and Kendrick Lamar to Ice Cube and Redman.
A Tribe Called Quest: “Show Business” (1991)
“Aw, shucks! Look what the cat hauled in/It’s Phife Dawg from A Tribe Called Quest, let me begin/Like Chuck D, I got so much trouble on my mind/’Bout these no-talent artists getting signed, they can’t rhyme.”
Ice Cube: “Only One Me” (1991)
“I showed Biggie Smalls how to release his anger/Who came before me? Melle Mel, Ice T/King T, KRS and the homie Chuck D/P.E, DMC, n#### know your history/If Cube ain’t top 3, then you’s a b#### to me.”
“I’m more than another statistic, my n####/This courtesy of Compton (Courtesy of Compton)/Brooklyn go hard, m###########/Love me on the East like I’m Chuck D/Dominicans wish that I was born there/I’m lookin’ to be the god MC.”
Ice-T: “You Played Yourself” (1989)
“To perpetrate, you’re bait, so just wait/Till the press shove a mic in your face/Or you meet Boogie Down or Chuck D/Stetsasonic or the Big Daddy.”
Sir Mix-A-Lot: “Mack Daddy” (1992)
“N I’m callin’ out skirts like Chuck D/Sista we missed ya, get wit’ me/Comin’, runnin, your boyfriends gunnin’/The big boss is so cunnin’/Some of my home boys hate me/They get a microphone, then try to take me/But you ain’t slip, sayin’ what’s up Mix?/Boy I’m hip to your tricks.”
EPMD: “Never Seen Before” (1997)
“EPMD, what? Uh, yeah/Peace to Chuck/Chuck D/Yeah, uh/You’re not telling ’em huh? Yeah.”
RBL Posse: “Bluebird” (1994)
“And I give a f### ’cause you might catch a buck/You f###### with a n#### going crazy like Chuck D/I’m a G tryna stay sucka free.”
Kool Moe Dee: “Rise ‘N Shine” (1991)
“You have no fear/Cause three live brothers are here/We got KRS-One from Boogie Down Productions/Special shout to Melodie/We got my man Chuck D in the house from Public Enemy.”
Redman: “Redman Meets Reggie Noble” (1992)
“Get your gang ’cause I’m fightin’ with more power than Chuck D/Chuck D from Public Enemy?/Yeah, he’s a friend of me/The one that say, “Brother and sister?”
Aesop Rock: “Lazy Eye” (2016)
“Hey peace Aesop uh It’s Chuck D/Yo man, you keep doin’ what you’re doin’ man/Keep rhymin’ through those walls, alright?”
50 Cent has emerged victorious in a $1 billion lawsuit filed by an ex-drug kingpin who claimed the entertainment mogul stole his life story to create the hit series Power.
The rap star defeated three legal actions brought against him by Cory “Ghost” Holland. In 2021, Holland filed a billion-dollar lawsuit against 50 Cent, Courtney Kemp, Starz and Lionsgate, asserting that Power unlawfully reflected his life without consent.
Holland alleged that the character “Ghost” in the series closely mirrored his own experiences, which he detailed in a 2007 CD titled Blasphemy.
Holland alleged that he sent this CD to the father of series co-creator Courtney Kemp as a plea for help to exit the drug trade legitimately. Holland accused 50 Cent and the show’s creators of exploiting his story for profit without his consent.
50 Cent denied the allegations. The Honorable Judge Analisa Torres sided with 50 and dismissed the claims in each case. In the first case, it was decided that the character “Ghost” in the show Power did not directly refer to Holland, as required for a defamation claim.
Despite similarities in family structure, the court found these to be mere coincidences. In the second lawsuit, Holland accused 50 Cent of sending goons to harass and threaten him.
He said 50 Cent showed up in his neighborhood with an entourage in a fleet of vans and SUVs, who went around the area looking for a man named “Ghost.”
In another incident, people associated with the rapper played a threatening song near his house, which Holland felt was an attempt to send a clear message to him.
The legal battle took a treacherous turn when Holland threatened violence against 50 Cent and his legal team.
Drug Kingpin Threatens 50 Cent’s Life
In a letter obtained by AllHipHop, Holland warned of potentially fatal consequences if 50 Cent or anyone associated with him confronted him again.
50 Cent’s lawyers voiced grave concern over these threats, informed Judge Analisa Torres and notified local authorities. However, Judge Torres also tossed those claims against 50 Cent.
One of Holland’s claims was past the statute of limitations and the assertion that 50 Cent’s associates played a threatening song didn’t hold up in court.
“There is no indication that this conduct constituted a threat, much less an ‘imminent threat of harmful contact’ as required for an assault claim,” Judge Torres explained.
Holland’s third lawsuit claimed Lionsgate should pay $300 million for not controlling the G-Unit boss since the movie studio produces the Power franchise.
The negligent supervision claim against Lionsgate and Starz was booted as Holland failed to demonstrate a duty of care owed to him by the companies. The cases have been closed and judgment has been entered in favor of 50 Cent.
The legal battle has ended, with 50 Cent prevailing against all of the claims brought against him by Cory “Ghost” Holland.
Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign finally released Vultures 2 in the wee hours of Saturday morning (August 3). The project boasts 16 tracks with guest features from Lil Wayne, Future, Kodak Black, Playboi Carti, Don Toliver and Lil Baby, among others.
The album was initially expected to arrive on March 8 but, par for the course, was pushed back several times. On July 30, West tweeted the album would arrive on Friday (August 2) and fans were once again furious when it didn’t drop. But, fortunately for them, they didn’t have to wait much longer for it to materialize.
Vultures 2 marks the second installment in the three-part series. The original volume featured Chris Brown, Playboi Carti, YG, Quavo, Freddie Gibbs, Lil Durk and Travis Scott. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart after moving roughly 148,000 equivalent album sales in its opening week. It remained at the top of the charts for a second consecutive week after moving another 75,000 an d produced the No. 1 single, “Carnival,” featuring Rich The Kid and Playboi Carti.
Kanye West has become an extremely divisive figure over the years—from his antisemitic rhetoric to “400 years sounds like a choice” comment about slavery. But despite his soiled reputation, Ty Dolla $ign felt confident in collaborating with West.
“He is the best artist of this generation, besides me, and I don’t give a f### about what people were talking about,” Ty Dolla $ign told Billboard in June. “I know my n####. He’s one of the best people I’ve ever met. Just with my analysis of how it goes with him, he goes all the way to the top.
“And something may happen and he’ll say [something people find offensive—and then people [get] right back, you know. Because this s### is undeniable.”
50 Cent is mourning the loss of his beloved grandfather, who recently passed away.
Earlier this week, the G-Unit mogul announced the passing of the man who helped raise him after his mother died. He shared a video from his recent The Hollywood Reporterinterview alongside a caption reflecting on the true meaning of life.
“You do know none of this s### really matters,” he wrote. We can’t take it with us. I lost my grandfather last night, now he can go everywhere with me.”
50 Cent also shared a carousel of photos with his grandfather while recalling an amusing encounter with a nurse.
“My old man is tuff act to follow, he sacrificed for all of us,” 50 Cent shared. “He made me smile every time I saw him. The Last time he went to the hospital he was dehydrated so the nurse couldn’t find a vein. I came in, I said pop you alright? He said no, she stick me again and I’m a start shooting. LOL I almost fell out! South Side we out side WTF!”
While 50 Cent didn’t disclose the age of his grandfather, in one nine-year-old video, Fif notes he was 82 at the time, which would make him 91 when he died.
The rapper-turned-entrepreneur shared a close bond with his grandparents, who he went to live after his mother died.
“There were nine of us living on my grandfather’s salary,” 50 Cent told The Guardian in 2009. “You’ve got to pay the bills, so there ain’t much there for you.”
T-Pain literally had to cut his nice guy demeanor while performing down South after rowdy fans pelted him with debris during his set.
The unfortunate and dramatic turn of events occurred at a recent concert in Mississippi. T-Pain actually halted his performance to address the audience directly after repeated incidents of items being thrown on stage. The rapper and singer, who turns 40 in September, didn’t hold back his frustration and disappointment with the crowd, despite expressing his feelings that he wanted the show to go on.
“As a muthaf###a that turns 40 this year, I’m not obligated to stay up here while muthaf###as keep disrespecting me,” T-Pain began. “I don’t want to sound like an a######, but you wouldn’t stay up here and you just keep getting disrespected like that because it’s weird. I’m trying my best to ignore the s##t. I’m trying my best to just let it go, but it just, after a while, it’s like I want to keep going. I want keep having fun.”
Fans at the Mississippi Valley Fair wouldn’t stop throwing beer & objects at T-Pain tonight. He went on a 3-minute rant & threatened to leave the stage.
“As a m########### who turns 40 this year, I’m not obligated to stay up here.”
T-Pain made it clear that a few individuals were spoiling the experience for everyone even though the majority of the crowd was supportive. And as his rant continued he moved on to directly calling the few bad apples out in the crowd on their shotty behavior.
“I f##k with the most of y’all,” he said. “It’s only a few pieces of s### out there, you know what I mean?We’re all having f###ing fun. I am not saying that I want to leave. I’m not p##### or anything, but it’s only so much s##t. I’m not a f###ing clown. I’m not going to sit up here and get pies thrown in my face and s##t.”
Despite the interruptions, T-Pain expressed his gratitude to his loyal fans and his reluctance to cut the show short. “I’m f###ing with you. I f##k with you, bro. I f##k with y’all again. I appreciate y’all coming out this muthaf###a, and I don’t want to leave halfway through. I really don’t want to trust me, but I can’t stay up this muthaf###a getting disrespected. That’s all I’m saying. Do y’all want to keep going?”
Though it appears as though the show continued without issue, this incident echoes recent episodes in the music world where artists have faced disrespectful behavior from the audience.
Kid Cudi famously walked off stage after patrons threw items at him, while Nicki Minaj retaliated by throwing a cell phone back at a fan who hurled it on stage during her performance. T-Pain’s confrontation serves as another reminder of the challenges performers face and the importance of mutual respect between artists and their fans.
Suge Knight has revealed his theory for the cause of the rumors swirling that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are getting a divorce, and it centers around disgraced Bad Boy music executive Diddy.
In a recent episode of his podcast, Collect Calls With Suge Knight, the former Death Row CEO made a series of explosive claims, suggesting a bizarre connection between the FBI, Jennifer Lopez and her estranged husband, Ben Affleck. Knight alleged that the FBI handed over tapes incriminating Lopez that were recovered from raids on Diddy’s homes in Miami and Los Angeles to Affleck. Knight says the content on the tapes is potentially causing a rift in Affleck’s marriage with Lopez.
“They go raid Puffy’s house and they get all these videos of J. Lo doing this and JLo doing that,” Knight started off.
Knight rehashed the infamous nightclub shooting incident in 1999 that involved Lopez and Diddy, using it as a reference point to illustrate the erosion of J. Lo’s credibility.
“And they know the fact that JLo lied and said that the gun was Shine’s or whatever and sent that man to prison, destroyed his life and she knew it was Puffy’s,” he said.
He further insinuated that the FBI decided to notify Affleck about the discovery of the alleged tapes due to the potential impact they could cause should they go public—much like the fallout from Diddy’s 2016 hotel assault tape on his ex-girlfriend Cassie.
“I’m quite sure they [FBI] probably called,” he said. “And the FBI gave respect and a courtesy call to Ben Affleck. It’s a white man who got respect in the white world. I’m quite sure they said, ‘We want to show you some things about your wife.’
“When he seen the s##t that her and Puff was doing and who they be doing it with, I’m quite sure that they gave his ass those tapes and I’m quite sure he can never look at her the same.”
He went on to suggest that Affleck would be unable to reconcile his feelings for Lopez based on her past actions after seeing the tapes.
“I’m quite sure they headed for divorce because that’s a man who had a good life,” he said. “Great parents don’t spend a lot of money. Ain’t tripping off paparazzi, he’s living his life. He got his own team. She done brought all tha extra s##t out and now that muthaf###a he want out.”
The raids on Diddy’s Miami and Los Angeles homes were part of an ongoing investigation into various criminal activities. Diddy is currently facing a slew of charges, including drug trafficking, money laundering and connections to organized crime. Though the specifics of what was discovered during these high-profile raids has yet to be fully declassified, many speculate the seizures yielded a treasure trove of evidence, some of which, according to Knight, allegedly implicated Lopez.
The alleged revelation comes at a time when Affleck and Lopez’s marriage has already been under intense public scrutiny. The couple, who first dated from 2002 to 2004 rekindled their romance in 2021 before getting married in 2022. However, since jumping the broom, the couple have had their fair share of ups and downs. Reports have confirmed the spouses have lived apart for quite some time, despite recent appearances out and about together.
On the flipside, both Lopez and Diddy share a deep history, which wouldn’t be extremely surprising if it were causing friction in J. Lo’s marriage. Both Diddy and Lopez were arrested following the infamous nightclub shooting in December 1999. Although Lopez was later cleared of any wrongdoing, the incident cast a long shadow over their relationship, eventually leading to their break-up.
As speculation swirls about the authenticity and implications of these tapes, one thing remains clear— Suge Knight’s latest claims continue to double down on his previous sentiments about Diddy and his ongoing legal situation. Earlier this year in March, the incarcerated music mogul issued an ominous warning, claiming Diddy knows “secrets” that could get him killed, and urged the embattled Hip-Hop mogul to hand himself in.
“I’ll tell you what Puffy,” Knight said in an audio snippet, said to be an outtake from his Collect Call podcast. “Your life’s in danger ‘cause you know the secrets, who’s involved in that little secret room you guys are participating in. So, you know they’re going to get you if they can.”
