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The Game’s Absence From Kendrick Lamar Concert Causes Online Stir 

By: London JennnCategory: News

The Game is trending after fans reacted to his absence from Kendrick Lamar’s Juneteenth concert. On Wednesday evening (June 19) K. Dot put on a dazzling show at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum. The anticipation was high for “The Pop Out: Ken & Friends” concert, but Lamar exceeded expectations with a show that left fans claiming K. Dot “unified” the West Coast. 

Lamar put on for his region after Drake taunted him with AI verses from West Coast legends Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur. The OVO boss even claimed to “get more love in the city that you from” in his “Push Ups” freestyle. However, Lamar shut down that talk at his concert. 

“Oh, so y’all ain’t gone let nobody disrespect the West Coast, huh?” K. Dot said to the crowd before launching into another “Not Like Us” performance. “Y’all aint gone let anybody mock or imitate our legends, huh?” 

The Game Fans React

However, with all the West Coast representatives on hand, The Game’s fans were left wondering why he wasn’t involved in Kendrick Lamar’s celebrations.  

“How does The Game seemingly always end up on the outside looking in of big West Coast moments?” one person questioned.  

“The Game being left out of these major west coast moments should be a lesson for a lot of folks about the energy they put in the world,” another user remarked. 

Although The Game hasn’t said anything about The Pop Out — Ken & Friends apparent snub, he was vocal about being left out of the West Coast celebration that was the 2022 Super Bowl Halftime Show.  

“The real reason I wasn’t on the Super Bowl is because I’m not a ‘safe’ artist,” he said. “You don’t know what Game gon’ do when he get up there.”   

Nonetheless, his absence from the Ken & Friends concert caused a stir. Check out some other reactions below. 

Drake’s Cryptic Post After Kendrick Lamar Concert Leaves Fans Guessing 

By: London JennnCategory: News

Drake fans were licking their wounds after Kendrick Lamar cemented his battle win and another place in the Hip-Hop history books with his epic The Pop Out — Ken & Friends concert. 

On Wednesday evening (June 19) K. Dot performed for the first time since his beef with the OVO boss. The electrifying Juneteenth concert dominated social media, with Kendrick Lamar overtaking the trending topics. 

While his fans were busy sharing memes and reactions to the concert, Drake was trending for all the wrong reasons. Nonetheless, fans waited with bated breath, hoping Drizzy would do something to steal the thunder.  

However, when he did pop out on Instagram, his post left fans confused. Drake took to his Instagram Story hours after Kendrick Lamar’s show with a mirror selfie. He wore a Cleveland jersey and wrote “Summer League” on his post, leaving fans puzzled. 

Instagram/Drake

Some thought the “Summer League” caption referenced LeBron James, who attended K. Dot’s concert. Footage captured the NBA legend singing along to Lamar’s scathing Drake diss “Not Like Us.” 

LeBron spent 11 seasons with the Cavs, leading them to their only NBA championship in 2016. He left two years later but could shock the sports world with a return if he opts out of his Los Angeles Lakers contract and becomes a free agent this summer. 

“He’s wearing a Cleveland jersey. Is he trolling LeBron?!!” one person asked. 

Others thought Drake was having a dig at Russell Westbrook, who was also spotted onstage with Kendrick Lamar Wednesday night.  

“I think Drake was trying to say Westbrook ass might have to compete in the summer league for a roster spot this year,” another person said. 

Meanwhile, other optimistic fans hoped Drake could turn things around with a summer banger. Check out some other reactions below.  

Remy Ma Speaks Out Following Son’s Murder Charges: “We Stand By JaySon’s Innocence” 

By: London JennnCategory: News

Remy Ma has broken her silence following the arrest of her son Jayson Scott on first-degree murder charges. 

“We stand by JaySon’s innocence and pray that the NYPD will conduct a complete and thorough investigation to reveal the truth. This is undoubtedly a difficult time for my family and me,” Remy Ma said in a statement to TMZ. “While we sincerely appreciate the love and support we have received from all of you, we kindly ask for privacy as our legal team works to prove JaySon’s innocence.” 

Celebrity lawyer Dawn Flori represents Jayson Scott. Florio is no stranger to the family. She represented Remy Ma after the rapper was charged with attacking a Love & Hip-Hop castmate in 2019. Florio also represented flashy Brooklyn preacher Lamor Whitehead, who was recently sentenced to nine years on fraud charges.  

Remy Ma explained Florio “strongly advised” her “not to say anything” regarding her son’s case as is standard in active cases despite her desire to “address this situation personally.”   

Police arrested Jayson Scott and another man for a 2021 murder in New York on Tuesday (June 18). Cops charged Scott, 23, and Richard Swygert, 22, with first-degree murder for their alleged roles in the fatal shooting of Darius Guillebeaux.  

The pair also faced weapon possession and reckless endangerment charges. Cops hit Scott with an additional second-degree murder charge. Police are reportedly investigating the possibility that it was a murder-for-hire plot.  

Kendrick Lamar’s “Gangchella” Sets Social Media Ablaze

By: London JennnCategory: News

The epic Kendrick Lamar and Drake battle captivated Hip-Hop heads, producing a plethora of diss tracks and dominating the headlines, but if anybody thought the enthusiasm for the beef had died down, The Pop Out — Ken & Friends concert at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum proved them woefully wrong. 

Wednesday’s Juneteenth concert marked K. Dot’s first live performance since the Drizzy beef and the Compton native did not disappoint, setting the internet ablaze. K. Dot occupied most of the Top. 10 trending spots on X (Twitter) as fans reacted to the electrifying show.  

Lamar opened with the live debut of “Euphoria,” before bringing out a host of guest performers, it was his final song that brought the house down. Fittingly, Lamar closed out the concert with his final diss in the Drake beef, “Not Like Us.” 

He performed the track a whopping five times sending the audience at home and in the venue into overdrive. On the fourth go-round, NBA stars Russell Westbrook and DeMar DeRozan joined K. Dot onstage alongside his fellow Compton native, YG.  

One person dubbed the show “Gangchella,” sparking a flurry of memes and reactions.  

Lamar’s manager Dave Free was trending with Witney Alford, the rapper’s finacée. In the feud, Drake claimed the pair were having an affair and even suggested Lamar was raising Free’s kids. However, Alford was at the show supporting K. Dot, and Dave Free was listed in the credits as one of the show’s producers and creative directors.  

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Other highlights were the guest appearances, which included Westside Boogie, Jay Rock, Tyler, The Creator, YG, Baby Keem, ScHoolBoy Q, Mustard and Roddy Rich.  

Check out some reactions to Kendrick Lamar’s The Pop Out — Ken & Friends concert below.  

Kendrick Lamar Tells Drake To Give 2Pac’s Ring Back: “I Might Give You A Lil’ Respect”

By: Kyle EusticeCategory: News

The Kia Forum in Los Angeles was bursting with electric energy on Juneteenth (June 19), when Kendrick Lamar hit the stage for “The Pop Out: Ken & Friends” concert.

The stacked bill included a surprise performance by Dr. Dre as well as appearances from Westside Boogie, Jay Rock, Tyler, The Creator, YG, Baby Keem, ScHoolBoy Q, Mustard, Roddy Rich and more. Within hours, Kendrick was a trending Twitter (X) topic after he changed some of the lyrics to his now-infamous Drake diss “euphoria.” On the original, K. Dot raps about Drake buying one of 2Pac’s rings, but on the altered version, he says, “Give me 2Pac’s ring back and I might give you a lil respect.”

Whether in person, watching live on Amazon Music or simply catching clips online, fans were elated that Kendrick was still taking shots at his current foe. Making the moment even more monumental was the fact Kendrick was wearing the same type of outfit 2Pac wore to the 1994 Source Awards: a red sweatshirt, white t-shirt, cross pendant and baggy blue jeans.

Of course, the jokes were flowing, too. There were several people who predicted Kendrick would bring 2Pac or “2Pac’s ghost” out to perform “California Love.” Instead, Dr. Dre joined Kendrick for the 1995 track and Kendrick rapped 2Pac’s lyrics much to the crowd’s excitement.

Drake purchased 2Pac’s iconic gold, ruby and diamond crown ring on in July 2023 at a Sotheby’s auction for $1 million. 2Pac fashioned the rubies and diamonds set in gold after the crowns of the medieval kings of Europe in ‘an act of self-coronation,’” according to 2Pac’s godmother, Yaasmyn Fula. The design was also a nod to Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince, which 2Pac read in prison.

As for the Kendrick connection, the former TDE rapper made it a point to address Drake’s use of artificial intelligence to emulate 2Pac’s voice for “Taylor Made Freestyle,” one of multiple diss tracks traded between the two. As he rapped on “Not Like Us” last month: “You think the Bay gon’ let you disrespect Pac, n####?/I think that Oakland show gon’ be your last stop, n####.”

Kendrick Lamar has consistently expressed the immense respect he has for 2Pac, which was more than evident during the “Pop Out.” Drake? Not so much. He performed “Not Like Us” five times in a row.

Was Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” Drake Diss Boosted By Streaming Bots?

By: Devon JeffersonCategory: Rumors

Kendrick Lamar is now facing allegations that he utilized illegitimate streaming methods to achieve the success of his “Not Like Us” Drake diss.

An underage young man, who identified himself as Anthony Saleh claims Kendrick’s record label hired him to use streaming bots to promote “Not Like Us” during a live stream conversation with Akademics. Saleh claims he handled the promotion and via his management firm which is allegedly called Emagen Entertainment group.

Saleh was reportedly paid a $2500 down payment to provide 30 million streams. Saleh also went on to claim that he’s received threats from parties connected to Kendrick and has not been paid the full fee that was agreed upon for his services in promoting the record.

And in an effort to prove the credibility of his claims, Saleh reportedly released ohoto evidence of payment receipts between his company and Kendrick’s label which serves as compensation for the botting services he provided for the single. Saleh also reportedly created a fake Instagram account to which he flooded over 160,000 followers in yet another effort to back up the validity of his claims.

Since the theory emerged Drake fans have been contributing to the discourse surrounding the allegations by forging connections between the performance of the diss records themselves and the context surrounding them. A user on Twitter (X) rehashed a tweet shared last month in which they appeared to discover Kendrick’s team was using bots on the platform to spread the pedophilia allegations that were being perpetuated in the West Coast rapper’s diss tracks aimed at Drake.

Akademiks also reposted an early theory claiming Drake’s releases were being booted with dislikes after the YouTube videos for his releases such as “Family Matters” and “The Heart Part 6” along with his feature on Sexyy Red’s “U My Everything” attracted hundreds of thousands of dislikes. Fans also asserted Drizzy may have known about the botting activity all along, and even referenced it in “Family Matters” in the bar: “Anthony set up the plays/Kojo be chargin’ you double for nothin’.”

Clipse On “Coke Rap” Label: “You Don’t Listen To Music Well At All”

By: Justin IveyCategory: News

The Clipse rejected the “coke rap” label in an interview with Vulture. Pusha T and Malice explained their beef with the description as they prepared for their comeback album.

“We went through all the ‘cocaine rap’ complaints, the stigma of, ‘All they talk about is coke,’” Pusha T said. “You get tired of it. Then you realize the people who only look at it that way aren’t even listening to the music correctly. You can’t even take their opinion as anything. I believe that through all of the years, if that’s what your gripe is, then you are not a Clipse fan and you don’t listen to music well at all.”

Malice noted, “There’s no way that you can listen to that level of storytelling and experience and just walk away just saying, ‘That’s coke rap.’”

Pusha called coke rap a “very cheap way of describing” their music.

“We just told our story,” Malice said. “It was the absolute truth. You take away from it what you want to take from it, but if you just want to say that it’s just crack rap, then you can’t even assess what’s really being said or what’s going on.”

The Clipse debuted a new song titled “Birds Don’t Sing” at a Louis Vuitton fashion show in Paris. The duo plans to release an album within the next year.

“I think the album shows the supreme maturation of a rap duo,” Pusha T said. “I think this is where you get the difference between taste and filler. This music is curated. This is a high taste-level piece of work. You can only have that level of taste when you have the fundamentals down to a science. I think it’s been definitely missing. Then there’s the competitive aspect.”

Malice added, “It’s what rap should look like if you’re real about your craft, real about your experience, real about your storytelling. It’s bringing the fans along to see the growth, not trying to fit in or fabricate. It just seems like in other genres of music, they have the luxury of growing. For some reason, we act like we’re not supposed to evolve. This is what the true evolution of the Clipse looks like. It’s just good to be able to show that and still have high-level raps.”

The Clipse’s last album, Till the Casket Drops, was released in 2009. Their upcoming project will be entirely produced by Pharrell.

B.G. Legal Drama Casts Doubt On Cash Money Millionaires Reunion

By: Justin IveyCategory: News

B.G. pushed back against efforts to restrict his lyrical content at a court hearing in New Orleans on Tuesday (June 18). The 43-year-old rapper pleaded his case to Judge Susie Morgan, explaining why he should not be subjected to a condition forcing him to “refrain from promoting and glamorizing gun violence and murder” in his music.

“I just feel like Christopher Dorsey and ‘BG’ are two different people,” he told the judge, per The Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate. “It’s basically like telling Robert De Niro he can’t make any mob movies.”

He added, “I just did a hard 12 and a half years … In no way am I glorifying. I’m just being creative from coming up in a messed-up environment. I’m just rapping about what I know.”

B.G.’s lyrics faced scrutiny after he was arrested for a probation violation in March. He remained on supervised release for gun and witness tampering charges following his 2023 release from prison.

Prosecutors wanted to modify the terms of his supervised release to regulate his lyrical content. B.G. objected to proposed constraints on his music.

“It is respectfully submitted that this request is overly broad and violates the First Amendment and due process,” his attorneys argued.

B.G. avoided revocation of his probation by agreeing to modified conditions. The new terms included turning over his lyrics to the government. But prosecutors and defense attorneys could not settle the matter of B.G.’s lyrical content, leaving it in Judge Morgan’s hands.

“I don’t think it’s too much to ask for a limited period for him to stop saying certain things,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurice Landrieu contended at Tuesday’s hearing. “I don’t think Mr. Dorsey should be revoked. I like Mr. Dorsey, personally. I just want him to use that talent to lift us.”

Judge Morgan has yet to make her ruling on potential lyrical restrictions. Any limitations on B.G.’s lyrics could disrupt plans for the Cash Money Millionaires reunion at the 2024 Essence Festival in July. He was expected to perform at the event celebrating 30 years of Cash Money Records.

Kehlani Thinks Her Political Views Have Caused Collaborators To “Ghost” Her

By: Devon JeffersonCategory: News

Kehlani believes she’s being blackballed by her peers over her political views while working on her forthcoming album.

On Tuesday (June 18), video clips of Kehlani’s recent Instagram Live discussing her CRASH album, set to release on June 21, began circulating on social media apps. In addition to announcing her plans for a tour and answering fan questions, the It Was Good Until It Wasn’t vocalist sounded off on her would-be collaborators for allegedly sidestepping her feature requests in light of her recent support of the liberation of Palestine.

“Oh one day I’ll tell you about how because of my political stance I couldn’t get any features,” Kehlani said in part. “But I guess I’ll save that for an interview. Cuz everybody fronted on me. Every single person was like, ‘Yeah,’ and then just ghosted me or was like ‘nah’.”

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Kehlani has been outspoken and recently shared a number of pro-Palestine posts and described the country’s struggles for an independent state as being “interconnected” with America. Additionally, last month, Kehlani raised over $555,000 in aid for Gaza, Sudan and Congo from the proceeds of the merch sold in promotion of the new single.

“This song is about protection, something that institutions have failed to do for the people of Palestine, Congo, and Sudan,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “No one got us the way we got each other. Me & my team feel overwhelmed with gratitude for yall showing out for this fundraiser.”

Despite running into issues finding willing collaborators, Kehlani has enjoyed significant commercial success throughout her career as a solo artist. She initially gained widespread attention with her debut You Should Be Here mixtape in 2015, which peaked at No. 5 on the US Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop chart and earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album.

Her debut studio album, SweetSexySavage, debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in 2017. Not to mention her fan-favorite 2020 LP, It Was Good Until It Wasn’t, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Her latest album, Blue Water Road, included collaborations with Cardi B and Justin Bieber, among others.

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50 Cent Accused Of Dodging Deposition Over Microphone Throwing Incident

By: Justin IveyCategory: News

Power 106 host Bryhana Monegain asked a California court to make 50 Cent sit for a deposition after she sued him for throwing a microphone at her. According to court documents obtained by In Touch Weekly, Monegain sought the court’s help due to multiple failed attempts to depose him.

“Due to the pendency of the August 5, 2024 mediation date, an Order compelling [50 Cent] to sit for deposition and provide testimony must be made forthwith,” her lawyers argued.

Monegain’s legal team previously scheduled a deposition for June 13 but never got to question 50 Cent. She requested $5,000 in sanctions.

50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, launched a microphone into the crowd at an August 2023 concert in Los Angeles. The microphone hit Monegain in the face.

“My client Curtis would never intentionally strike anyone with a microphone,” the rapper’s attorney said in 2023. “Anyone saying something different doesn’t have all the facts and is misinformed.”

The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office declined to file criminal charges against 50 Cent. Monegan sued him for negligence in January.

“Plaintiff was transported by ambulance to the Los Angeles General Medical Center emergency department for treatment of injuries, including but not limited to, a concussion, laceration over her forehead and pain in her left wrist,” her attorneys wrote. “Plaintiff complained of dizziness, headaches, light and sound sensitivity and nausea [and] continues to suffer from here severe injuries and emotional distress.”

Monegain’s lawyers believed she had a strong case.

“No matter who the assailant is, this alleged act of negligence and violence is unacceptable, and we will hold 50 Cent and his co-defendants accountable for their alleged actions,” her legal team said in a press statement. “Mr. Jackson has himself previously said that ‘If the talk ain’t [a]bout money, homie, I ain’t concerned,’ so we are confident our client will be fairly and justly compensated for the injuries she suffered.”

Monegain sought an undisclosed amount in damages. She wanted 50 Cent to cover her medical expenses and legal fees.

Missy Elliott Moves Forward With Historic Tour Despite Graves’ Disease Struggles

By: Justin IveyCategory: News

Missy Elliott’s battle with Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder, won’t stop her from hitting the road for the first headlining tour of her career. The hitmaker provided a positive update on her health, telling PEOPLE she’s successfully managing the disease with medication.

“Every day I wake, I’m blessed to be here and in good health,” she said. “I’m feeling so much better now. That was a run. Every now and then you get a little ache in the leg or the knee, but outside of that, I feel good.”

Missy was diagnosed with Graves’ disease in 2008. She stayed out of the limelight for years due to her struggles with the autoimmune disorder and severe anxiety.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer is doing much better as she prepares to perform across North America. Out of This World – The Missy Elliott Experience Tour begins in Vancouver on July 4. Missy plans to put on an elaborate show for her fans.

“Every morning my regimen is I get up, wash my face, brush my teeth and walk,” she said. “I say my prayers as I’m walking, and then all of these ideas start coming to mind. I’ll call everybody like, ‘I want to swing from this,’ and they’re like, ‘Do you know how much that costs?’”

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Busta Rhymes, Ciara and Missy’s longtime collaborator Timbaland will join the legendary artist on her Out of This World tour. Missy teased new music after announcing the concerts.

“I probably have at least six albums worth of music at this point,” she told Variety. “I believe that it’ll be a day that everybody’s going on about their way and then you just look online and see an album date from me. So yeah, I think that’ll happen sooner than later.”

Missy hasn’t released an album since 2005’s The Cookbook.

Remy Ma’s Son Arrested For First-Degree Murder

By: Justin IveyCategory: News

Police arrested Remy Ma’s son Jayson Scott and another man for a 2021 murder in New York on Tuesday (June 18). Scott, 23, and Richard Swygert, 22, were charged with first-degree murder for their alleged roles in the fatal shooting of Darius Guillebeaux.

According to FOX 5 New York, Scott and Swygert also faced weapon possession and reckless endangerment charges. Scott was hit with an additional charge of second-degree murder. Both men were expected to be arraigned on Wednesday (June 19).

Guillebeaux, 47, was gunned down in broad daylight in Queens in June 2021. Authorities investigated the shooting as a potential murder-for-fire.

The victim had been arrested 13 times and spent three terms behind bars. He served time twice for drug charges and once for robbery. Guillebeaux’s last prison stint ended when he was released on parole in 2017.

Two men, believed to be Scott and Swygert, confronted Guillebeaux on June 7, 2021. Authorities said he was seen arguing with his assailants before they opened fire.

Police found an unresponsive Guillebeaux suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his head and chest. He was rushed to a local hospital. Guillebeaux was pronounced dead at the Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.

Remy Ma’s son is destined for prison if convicted of Guillebeaux’s murder. Remy Ma was no stranger to prison. The Terror Squad rapper spent six years behind bars for shooting a woman in 2007.

Scott’s arrest added to the drama in Remy Ma’s life over the past year. She was accused of cheating on her husband Papoose, who is not Scott’s father. Remy Ma allegedly had an affair with Eazy the Block Captain.

Geechi Gotti exposed Remy Ma’s infidelity during a rap battle against Eazy the Block Captain in 2023. Rumors of Papoose knocking out Eazy spread online. Remy Ma denied the allegations.

Ashanti & Nelly Aren’t Just Expecting Their First Child—They’re Already Married

By: Kyle EusticeCategory: News

Ashanti and Nelly have been hiding a secret for the past six months—and no, not the baby. According to public records, the couple tied the knot six months ago on December 27, 2023. The paperwork states the marriage became official in St. Louis County, so it’s safe to conclude the ceremony took place in Nelly’s hometown of St. Louis, Missouri.

Known for their on-again, off-again relationship that began in the early 2000s, Ashanti and Nelly shocked fans with the news of their quiet nuptials. The couple initially dated for nearly a decade before parting ways in 2014 and rekindled their romance last year.

After months of speculation from her fans, Ashanti confirmed she was pregnant in April with an Instagram video. At the same time, she announced Nelly had popped the question.

“This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope, and anticipation,” she said in a statement to ESSENCE. “Motherhood is something that I have looked forward to, and sharing this with my family, fiancé, and loyal fans, who have been so supportive of my career, is an amazing experience.”

.Since then, Ashanti has been vocal about her pregnancy and journey into motherhood. Last month, she shared photos of her baby bump for Mother’s Day.

“This Mother’s Day was so special,” she wrote in the caption. “Having our families together as we are about to embark on such an incredible journey was amazing. Wishing all of the amazing Moms and Moms to be a beautiful Mother’s Day/ Pre Mothers Day!!!!! grateful yeah yeah I know I’m late… it was so much food I got distracted. Ps… I only had 1 plate tho.”

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Ashanti also opened up about the proposal. As she told ET Online, “It was just such a beautiful, intimate moment. We were not dressy. “The way it happened was so funny. It’s not really sexy.”  Even so, she said the proposal brought her to tears, and she “FaceTimed everyone I know,” after giving Nelly “the biggest hug and kiss ever.”

Although they’re married on paper, the couple is reportedly planning to tie the knot in a beach ceremony sometime soon.

Swizz Beatz & Timbaland Sign Exclusive Deal With Elon Musk’s X For Verzuz Distribution 

By: London JennnCategory: News

Swizz Beatz and Timbaland are joining forces with Elon Musk to bring Verzuz to X (Twitter), in an exclusive distribution partnership. 

The future of the virtual battle series appeared in the balance after a legal dispute with Triller, who acquired the platform in 2021. However, the super producers sued the platform in 2022, resulting in a $28 million settlement. 

After teasing “Verzuz 3.0” during an interview with AllHipHop.com earlier this year, Swizz and Timbo are ready to unveil the next phase of the platform. 

Swizz and Timbaland will maintain full ownership and creative control in a “mutually beneficial” deal, granting exclusive distribution rights to Musk’s platform with its 550 million active users. 

In a statement, Swizz Beatz said he and Timbaland “are beyond thrilled to have found the best partner for Verzuz.” Together, they intend to “help X build the biggest entertainment company in the world.” 

Timbo added, “Our goal has always been to bring Verzuz to the world which we can now do bigger than ever.” 

The new business partners linked up in Cannes, where Elon Musk is attending the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. The billionaire tech mogul is reportedly trying to win back advertisers after many withdrew their support following a series of controversies, including Musk’s enthusiastic response to an antisemitic tweet in November 2023. 

Elon Musk Addresses Past Controversial Remarks

Swizz Beatz and Timbaland’s Verzuz announcement arrived as Elon Musk faced fresh controversy for amplifying problematic posts on X. Users accused Musk of racism after he seemingly supported a post that falsely compared the rates at which Black Americans murder their white counterparts. 

Musk was asked whether he regrets any of his past comments on X during a discussion at Cannes Lions. 

“I do shoot myself in the foot from time to time,” Musk admitted, per Deadline. “But at least you know it’s genuine, not some sort of PR. If you speak freely, there’ll be times when you are foolish, of course, but if you’re constantly going through a filter, you’re not real, so I guess it’s better to be real than go through a filter.” 

Jim Jones Embraces Puerto Rican Heritage Ahead Of “Broken Spanglish” Album 

By: London JennnCategory: News

Jim Jones is gearing up to take the second half of the year by storm, dropping three projects, including a Latin American language album, Broken Spanglish. 

Originally scheduled for release in summer 2022, the project is a blend of Capo’s Black and Puerto Rican heritage. Broken Spanglish features artists like J Balvin, Arcángel and Nelly Nelz and sees Jim Jones explore a different soundscape, including Spanglish drill, Latine trap, reggaeton and more.  

The Harlem native says making the album tested his linguistic abilities. “I learned more Spanish recording this album than I’ve known my whole life,” he said during an interview for Remezcla. 

“I’m grateful for my heritage and my Puerto Rican people,” Jim Jones added.  “I’ve been to Puerto Rico a few times, but not on the basis of trying to see my family or look where my family is from and things like that.” 

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Nonetheless, Jones is planning to explore his Puerto Rican ancestry in the near future. “I’ll take that excursion pretty soon because it’s well-needed. It’s part of my roots, and I need to learn more about it,” he shared. 

Jim Jones originally intended to release Broken Spanglish in the summer of 2022 after releasing his joint project with Maino, The Lobby Boyz. 

He’s now planning a follow-up to his Maino collab alongside a tour later this year. If that wasn’t enough, Jones reportedly intends to release successors to his debut album, On My Way to Church, and his 2013 mixtape, Vampire Life 3. 

Quavo & Vice President Kamala Harris Tackle Gun Violence On “Takeoff Day” In Atlanta 

By: London JennnCategory: News

Quavo marked his nephew Takeoff’s birthday with a summit against gun violence in collaboration with Vice President Kamala Harris. 

The first Rocket Foundation Summit in Atlanta was held in honor of the late Migos rapper, who would have turned 30 on Tuesday, June 18.  

Quavo joined forces with Vice President Harris and the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention at The Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Takeoff’s mother, Titania Davenport and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens were also on hand, declaring “Takeoff Day” in the city.  

The event also included panel discussions about the importance of community intervention and building youth support systems in preventing gun violence.  

“You have chosen to use your celebrity and the gifts you have as an artist to talk about and actually work on with action. It’s extraordinary. You are an incredible leader. A national leader on this,” Harris told Quavo.  

Last year, Quavo took his mission to end gun violence to Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House. He met with members of Congress in Washington and hopes to continue to build on his progress. 

“It hits hard when it hits home,” he said. “We’re trying to avoid that. Just because it’s next door, you don’t close your door. You can open the door and help your neighborhood. It’s joining hands with the world and making sure this awareness is on a national billboard. That’s my platform.” 

Cam’ron Claims JAY-Z Doesn’t Love Hip-Hop Like Nas: “He Likes Money More” 

By: London JennnCategory: News

Cam’ron has sparked a debate about who “loves” Hip-Hop more between JAY-Z and Nas after claiming Hov cares more about money while Nas is really passionate about it. 

The discussion arose after Antonio Brown criticized Hov for his performance at Tom Brady’s Patriots Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Although Cam’ron credited JAY-Z as a “Hip-Hop” historian, he believes the Roc Nation mogul is more passionate about business.   

“I believe that JAY-Z, to me—my personal opinion—is not in love with Hip-Hop,” Cam said on a recent episode of his sport’s show, It Is What It Is. “I think he likes Hip-Hop a lot, [but] I think he likes money more and opportunities to take his brand to the next level.”

Over the weekend, Antonio Brown called out JAY-Z for not participating in Hip-Hop 50 events last year. He responded to a social media post of Hov’s surprise performance at the ceremony on June 12. 

“Jay didn’t perform at any Hip-Hop 50 concerts last year where the fans would have known every word to his songs, but he makes time to get ignored by rich white folks. Smh,” he wrote. 

However, Cam said some of the Hip-Hop 50 festivities “may not have been up his alley.” Additionally, Cam’ron believes JAY-Z’s appearance was probably connected to his role with the NFL. 

Cam then mentioned Nas saying it was “refreshing to watch” Nas pay homage to the pioneers at Hip-Hop 50 celebrations.

“I don’t think he loves it as much as somebody like Nas loves it. Nas loves Hip-Hop,” he added.  “He’s another money n#### too, but he loves Hip-Hop. Nah threw a Hip-Hop 50 [event] in Yankee stadium. It don’t get more Hip-Hop than that.”

Pusha T & No Malice Dragged For Carrying Purses At Louis Vuitton Paris Fashion Week Show 

By: London JennnCategory: News

Pusha T and No Malice are getting ridiculed online after showing off their designer threads at Paris Fashion Week. 

An Instagram fit-check account caught up with the Clipse duo to get a rundown of their outfits. However, before they could show off their custom-made Louis Vuitton and adidas fit, someone off camera interrupted to tease the brothers over their accessories. “Hold on. What’s up?” they asked, holding up King Push’s bag as everyone laughed wildly.  

Sharing a fashion tip, No Malice said, “Be yourself. Whatever you feel comfortable in is you.” Meanwhile, Pusha T advised, “You always got to feel like you in your pajamas. You ain’t coming like that, then it ain’t you.”  

Fans rushed to the comment section to roast Pusha T and No Malice for carrying a purse.  “Never thought I’d see the day them boys carrying/wearing purses,” one person wrote.

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Another user questioned why the Clipse members need to carry a purse. “Don’t care how much it cost it is what it is…that is a purse it can be 1 of 1, made from whatever it is still a purse. And the funny thing is women have a ton of stuff in those bags men don’t. Why you need a purse for homie.”

The siblings were in the French capital to support Pharrell in unveiling his latest menswear collection for Louis Vuitton. Pusha T and No Malice also debuted an unreleased song at the show for the second consecutive year since Pharrell took over as creative director.  

Elon Musk Under Fire Over Response To “Insanely Racist” Tweet About Black Homicide Rates

By: London JennnCategory: News

Elon Musk is facing backlash after amplifying a tweet with a false claim about Black homicide rates.  

On Monday (June 18), Musk shared a characteristic response to a post claiming there was a significant increase in the number of Black people killing white people in America in the decades since the 1950s.  

“It’s true that things have changed since the 1950s,” a user with the handle eyeslasho shared. “1950s: Blacks killed about 600 more whites each year than whites killed blacks. Now: Blacks kill nearly 1,500 more whites each year than whites kill blacks.” 

Elon Musk expressed his amazement at the post, replying with “!” and highlighting the tweet to his 197 million followers on the platform. 

Elon Musk’s response attracted backlash from angry users, furious he would amplify such a post. “This is so insanely racist,” one person wrote.  

“This kind of stuff is why I’m trading in my Tesla smh. Elon has went full racist.” another person wrote.

“Look what this is in response to,” a third person said, quoting Musk’s post. “If Hitler had a twitter Elon would be under every tweet saying ‘wow very interesting.’” 

Elon Musk failed to clarify the figures, review any sources, consider any possible nuance or perform any other due diligence before responding. Alleged disparities in homicide rates between races are often used and misconstrued by racists to promote the bigoted idea that Black people are violent by nature.  

The tweet Elon Musk responded to reportedly drew from data that doesn’t include information about the race of the perpetrator of a homicide, only of the victim. FBI figures posted at the Bureau of Justice Statistics paint a different picture. 

Figures show most homicides are intraracial, committed by offenders of the same race as victims. In 2022, FBI data showed that 87 percent of white or Black homicide victims killed by a white or Black person were killed by someone of their own race. Additionally, the post failed to account for dramatic changes in population since the 1950s. 

Willie Mays Passes Away Aged 93, Tributes Pour In For MLB & Negro League Icon 

By: London JennnCategory: News

Legendary Hall of Famer, and Negro League icon Willie Mays, has passed away at the age of 93. 

The baseball icon beloved by fans, considered one of the sports’ greatest players and the first African American team captain in MLB history, died peacefully on Tuesday afternoon (June 18).  

“My father has passed away peacefully and among loved ones,” his son Michael Mays said, per San Francisco Chronicle. “I want to thank you all from the bottom of my broken heart for the unwavering love you have shown him over the years. You have been his life’s blood.” 

The MLB mourned his passing with a tribute post to the “24-time All-Star, 12-time Gold Glover, 2-time MVP, World Series champion, Hall of Famer.” 

The legendary slugger, nicknamed “The Say Hey Kid,” for the enthusiasm with which he greeted teammates, began his career in the Negro Leagues. He played with the Black Barons, helping them reach the final Negro Leagues World Series in 1948. 

Mays experienced a culture shock after joining the Giants three years after Jackie Robinson broke the sports’ color barrier. The pioneer spent 21 years with the Giants and is forever immortalized in a 9-foot-tall bronze statue in front of San Francisco’s Oracle Park at 24 Willie Mays Plaza. 

The Giants Mourn Willie Mays

“Today we have lost a true legend,” Giants chairman Greg Johnson said. “In the pantheon of baseball greats, Willie Mays’ combination of tremendous talent, keen intellect, showmanship, and boundless joy set him apart. A 24-time All-Star, the Say Hey Kid is the ultimate Forever Giant. He had a profound influence not only on the game of baseball, but on the fabric of America. He was an inspiration and a hero who will be forever remembered and deeply missed.” 

Mays was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2015. “It’s because of giants like Willie that someone like me could even think about running for president,” Obama said at the ceremony.  

Following his passing, Obama and others paid tribute to the pioneer.