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Best In The Bay: Bay Area Hip Hop Archives Announces 2024 Inductees

By: Kyle EusticeCategory: News

The Bay Area Hip Hop Archives has announced its 2024 Class of Inductees. Described as a “cultural repository for Bay Area Hip Hop artists, activists and educators who’ve made a 20 year or more significant contribution to the community and world via Hip Hop culture,” the Oakland-based organization takes great care when selecting each inductee.

“We have The Council, who are a group of OGs from the Bay Area artist community that helps guide the decisions of inductees,” Jahi, curator/founder of the Bay Area Archives, tells AllHipHop. “Also, I do make personal choices of under-seen, under-valued and under-appreciated folks in our culture and community, who deserve to be preserved.”

This year’s class includes:

• Danyel Smith – an Oakland native, award-winning journalist and host of Black Girl Songbook, who is one of the most prolific music writers of our time.

• Gentleman of Production – a legendary dance group from Oakland.

• KPOO 89.5 FM – a Black owned, community radio station in San Francisco.

• Ant Banks– an Oakland Hip Hop pioneer, rapper and legendary producer.

• Silk-E– a generational talent as a rapper, singer, and live performer.

• Rocky Rivera– a veteran rapper, journalist and author from San Francisco.

• Malik Seneferu– an award-winning, self taught painter, muralist, and illustrator.

• Karen Seneferu– an illustrious visual artist, educator and revolutionary artist.

• Black (DJ)- an esteemed DJ/producer representing the LGBTQ+ community. Sean Kennedy- an accomplished videographer, and creative marketing icon.

• T-Kash– a politically conscious rapper, radio host, and community activist.

• DJ Edaboss – a multifaceted artist, DJ, and music producer.

• Greg Bridges – an honored radio host, photographer and podcast producer.

• Rickey Vincent– a legendary author, Funk historian, and radio host.

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Jahi easily points out what they all have in common, saying, “They all have over 20 years or more of receipts of active participation of Hip-Hop culture in their own ways from murals, to writings, to songs, to providing platforms for voices to speak truth to power. They all have deep roots in the Bay Area. And, they all have incredible artifacts to go with their rich, historical narratives.”

Over the next three to five years, each inductee will build their own “Special Collection” of interviews, artifacts and other ephemera as a preservation plan for future generations, creating a place for people to appreciate the contributions from Bay Area creatives.

“It’s one of many ways to ensure that 50 years from now we are not erased,” Jahi says. “Our contributions to the culture will have a chance to inspire future generations and when you want to learn about the contributions of these culture keepers, you get to hear it from them as a primary source, which I think is vital. If you think about ancient times when people excavated old cities looking for life, it’s normally the cultural production of the people that gives clues on what the city was like. This is the work.”

On a persona level, Jahi believes the Bay Area Hip Hop Archives is integral to preserving Hip-Hop culture—and not necessarily just in the Bay Area.

“It’s important to me to activate and continue the Bay Area Hip Hop Archives, even in inches and increments because it’s about legacy,” he says.” It matters to me that these culture keepers are preserved, and that we didn’t have to wait for anyone’s permission or funding to start. It’s important to me because the way culture moves forward is by preserving it. It’s important to me because 50 years from now I want to know that my contribution to the culture and community can be seen to inspire the next eight generations forward.”

Find more information here.

EXCLUSIVE: MC Lyte Confirms New Album Coming In August—First In Nearly A Decade

By: Kyle EusticeCategory: News

MC Lyte dropped some news on MC Sha-Rock and Grandmaster Caz during a recent episode of their Rock The Bells show, “That’s The Joint.” The Lyte as a Rock MC appeared on the show Friday (May 10) and casually mentioned her first album in nearly a decade will be released this summer.

“I got a new record,” Lyte said. “I’m working on it right now. The new single is out. It’s ‘Woman.’ The new record is coming. We’ll have another single coming in June for Black Music Month, which is going to be spectacular. Of course, I’ve got some winning folks on this album, now I gotta talk to Major.”

MC Sha-Rock asked for clarification after assuming she was just talking about a single here and there. MC Lyte then confirmed, “The album comes out August 9 and the next single comes out June 9.”

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The forthcoming album will serve as the follow-up to 2015’s Legend and MC Lyte’s ninth studio album overall. The Brooklyn native began her career in 1988 with the release of Lyte as a Rock, which included production from Audio Two, Prince Paul, King of Chill and Alliance. The project—the first full-length from a female MC—debuted at No. 63 on the Top Black Albums chart and peaked at No. 50, spending more than 16 weeks on the chart.

Singles included “I Cram to Understand U,” “10% Dis,” “Paper Thin” and the title track. Her second album,  Eyes On This, made history in 1989, when it became the first by a female solo rapper to appear on the Billboard 200.

Since then, MC Lyte’s career has blossomed into her own enterprise. She’s not only an artist but also an actress, businesses woman, DJ, speaker and philanthropist. In a recent interview with AllHipHop, she talked about how Nas and LL COOL J challenged her to make new music, including “Woman.”

“It was so big brotherly,” she said. “It was like, ‘Stop being scared, put out some new music.’ And I don’t know that I was scared so much as worried about the right timing. Because I don’t want to do it just to do it. I want to have some skin in the game and really have something to say. And you want to be heard and you don’t care who hears it.”

Listen to “Woman” featuring Big Daddy Kane, Salt and Raheem DeVaughn below.

 

Mother’s Day: Lil Meech Takes His Mom To Strip Club, Diddy Mourns Kim Porter

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: News

Stars including Diddy, Rich The Kid, Rick Ross, Kim Kardashian and Snow Tha Product have been celebrating Mother’s Day.

Diddy paid tribute to all the special females in his life in a touching social media post on Sunday. In one post, Diddy expressed his love for Kim Porter, the mother of his King Combs, Jessie James, D’Lila Combs and Quincy Brown.

“HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY KIM! We miss you! We love you! And today we celebrate you! Love you!” Diddy wrote.

In another post, Diddy celebrated Sarah Chapman, who gave birth to his kid Chance Combs. He also gave some love to Misa Hylton, the mother of Justin Combs as well as his own mother, Janice Combs.

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Rick Ross took some time out from dragging Drake and beefing with Game to show some love to the woman who brought him into the world. “My one and only,” he wrote under a photograph of his mother.

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Rich The Kid was feeling generous and offered up some cash to any single mothers in need with a cash giveaway with, “Any single Mother’s in need on this Mother’s Day DM me your cash app!! Band Man got you!”

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BMF actor Lil Meech took his mom and some of her friends to a strip club to celebrate the big day.  Everyone seemed to have a great time sipping and smoking while tossing dollars toward the scantily clad strippers.

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Kim Kardashian, who has four children with ex-husband Kanye West, wasted no time showing her appreciation for Kris Jenner under her mom’s social media post celebrating her children.

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Five months after becoming a mother for the first time, The Little Mermaid actress Halle Bailey shared a series of short clips featuring her and her son Halo, whom she shares with rapper DDG.

“My first Mother’s Day. The greatest love I’ve ever known,” she captioned the post.

Find Bailey’s post and a few others below. Oh, and make sure to hug your mother (if you are still blessed enough to have her).

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A post shared by Halle Bailey (@hallebailey)

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A post shared by SNOW THA PRODUCT (@snowthaproduct)

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Hip-Hop Artists and Their Affinity for High-Stakes Gambling

By: Staff WriterCategory: Uncategorized

Hip hop and high stakes gambling share an intriguing connection. Many artists in the genre participate in gambling activities and glamorize them in their music and lifestyle.

“Gambling symbolizes risk-taking, a common theme in hip-hop music and culture, reflecting the artists’ backgrounds and aspirations. For many hip-hop artists, gambling is not just a pastime but a significant aspect of their identity, representing both the struggles and the success they embody in their music.”

James J. Hetrick

Although celebrities are most often seen in real money games, such as poker or sports betting, they may play slots for fun. The online casino market has a lot of offers and Booongo slots stand out from the crowd. Don’t miss your chance to try these exciting games. As for the favorite games of hip-hop stars covered in the media, we will tell you about them below. Keep reading!

Favorite Gambling Ventures of Hip-Hop Artists

Jay-Z

Beyond his music empire, Jay-Z is known for his poker skills. He’s often spotted at high-stakes tables, participating in games that require as much strategy as his business ventures. His affinity for poker reflects not only his competitive nature but also his analytical thinking, both of which are key elements in his broader entrepreneurial success. 

50 Cent

50 Cent is one of the well-known hip-hop gamblers and has famously wagered hundreds of thousands of dollars on sports events, reflecting his confidence and high-risk, high-reward mentality that also appears in his business ventures. His betting history includes a well-publicized bet of $500,000 on a football game, which he won, enhancing his reputation for having as much game off the field as on it.

Drake

Drake’s gambling habits are well-documented through social media, where he often shares clips of himself engaging in late-night casino runs and playing high-stakes games like blackjack and roulette. His penchant for games of chance is part of his larger-than-life persona that encompasses luxury, spontaneity, and the thrill of the unknown. This behavior not only highlights his lavish lifestyle but also connects with his fans on a level that goes beyond music.

Impact of Gambling on Their Public Image

Positive Impacts:

  • Enhancement of Persona: Gambling successes often augment their persona, adding to their image as successful and fearless individuals.
  • Media Attention: High-stakes gambling stories frequently make headlines, keeping the artists relevant in public discourse.

Negative Impacts:

  • Potential for Financial Loss: High stakes mean high risks, and losses can be substantial, which might reflect poorly on their financial wisdom.
  • Addiction Concerns: Regular high-stakes gambling can lead to concerns about potential gambling addiction, which could impact fans’ perceptions.

Memorable Gambling Stories

Jay-Z’s Massive Poker Win

Jay-Z’s prowess in the world of poker is perhaps best exemplified by a legendary night where he reportedly took home $500,000. This massive win occurred during a high-stakes game in Las Vegas, attended by other celebrities and seasoned poker players. 

50 Cent’s $500,000 Bet on Football

50 Cent, a known aficionado of sports betting, once placed a daring $500,000 bet on a football game, confident in his chosen team’s victory. When the team clinched the win, 50 Cent took to social media to celebrate his large payout, sharing his excitement and his knack for high-stakes gambles with his followers.

Drake’s Roulette Stream

In a thrilling display of chance and showmanship, Drake once turned a live-streamed session of online roulette into a suspense-filled spectacle for his fans. Betting large amounts, he managed to win over $200,000 in just a few minutes, capturing the attention of viewers worldwide. This moment was not only a testament to the swings of fortune in gambling but also highlighted Drake’s love for the drama and excitement of the game.

Favorite Games of Hip-Hop Artists

ArtistFavorite GameNotable Win
Jay-ZPokerWon $500,000
50 CentSports BettingWon $500,000 on football
DrakeRouletteWon $215,000 on a live-streamed roulette game

Wrapping Up

Gambling reflects a significant aspect of the hip-hop lifestyle, mirroring the risks and rewards of the music industry. While it can enhance an artist’s brand and appeal, it also comes with its pitfalls, such as potential financial losses and the dangers of addiction. Nonetheless, for many hip-hop artists, the allure of gambling remains a potent element of their public and private lives, illustrating their continued fascination with risk and reward dynamics.

EXCLUSIVE: BMF Co-Founder Southwest T Unmasked As Jam Master Jay’s Cocaine Supplier

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: Exclusives

Court documents filed by the government have unmasked Terry “Southwest T” Flenory, co-founder of the notorious Black Mafia Family (BMF), as the drug supplier of the late Hip-Hop legend Jam Master Jay.

The information came to light as the government opposed Karl Jordan and Ronald Washington’s attempt to secure a new trial after being convicted of Jam Master Jay’s murder. ​

Southwest T founded BMF with his brother, Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory. They operated the notorious drug trafficking organization operation in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Southwest T was a significant part of the narcotics conspiracy that ultimately led to Jam Master Jay’s untimely demise.

Jam Master Jay, whose real name is Jason Mizell, had become embroiled in the cocaine business in the early ’90s to supplement his earnings with Run-DMC.

Jay acted as a middleman between his supplier, Southwest T and various distributors.

AllHipHop.com’s “Grouchy” Greg Watkins broke the news in 2003 that yes, Southwest T—only known as “Uncle” at the time—supplied Jam Master Jay with cocaine on consignment. 

Jam Master Jay would then distribute the drugs to others for further distribution, including Karl Jordan and Ronald Washington, who were later convicted of his murder. ​

Jam Master Jay, Jordan and Washington had plans to distribute 10 kilograms of cocaine in Baltimore with the assistance of a man known as Yakim, a trusted associate of JMJ.

Yakim was a major player in the trade. At the time, he moved about 40 kilos a week and operated a crew of as many as 25 people. However, Yakim wanted to avoid working with Washington due to his unpredictable nature. 

“He [Jam Master Jay] wanted me to involve another guy I grew up with named Tinard [Washington],” Yakim explained. “We both grew up with Tinard. He wanted me to work with Tinard and I told him no. He was a problem.”

Yakim despised Washington so much that he threatened to kill him on sight if he caught him with Jam Master Jay. Tensions arose between Washington and Yakim, leading to the cancelation of their drug deal partnership. ​

Jam Master Jay continued with his plans despite the setback with Yakim. He met Southwest T at Wyndham Hotel in August 2002 to discuss the terms of their drug deal. 

Southwest T allegedly gav them several options. If they received the drugs in Washington, D.C., it would cost $18,000 per kilo. If they went to Texas to get the drugs, the price would drop to $12,000 per kilo. And finally, if they made the trip to Mexico, they could get the cocaine for $8,000 per kilo. 

They decided to get the drugs in Washington, D.C. There was no evidence that Jordan and Washington withdrew from the ongoing narcotics conspiracy with Jam Master Jay and Flenory. ​

However, Jam Master Jay eventually cut Jordan and Washington from being involved in the scheme, which led to the legendary DJ’s murder. Witnesses Uriel Rincon and Lydia High identified Washington as the gunman guarding the studio exit during the murder, while Rincon identified Jordan as the shooter. ​

The jury also heard testimony from witnesses who recounted how Jordan and Washington admitted to committing the murder. ​Physical evidence, including ballistics reports and DNA evidence, also supported the eyewitness testimony and identifications. ​

The revelation of Flenory’s involvement as Jam Master Jay’s drug cocaine supplier adds another layer of complexity to the case.  It was Jam Master Jay who discovered a young 50 Cent, who’s now telling the life stories of Southwest T and Big Meech on the series BMF.

TikTok is Key For Recordcore, Justin Muen Jin’s new WMG Label

By: Brxton LeeCategory: Music News

There was a time when young aspiring artists shared one goal: sign a deal with a major record label.

Now, with TikTok shifting the structure of the music business, some industry iconoclasts are sidestepping the music giants and inventing new ways for artists to make and market their music without ever signing a traditional recording contract.

The latest effort comes from Justin Muen Jin, founder of youth media conglomerate Poybo Media Group. His new venture, called Recordcore, which was announced this month, will look to invest in new and rising young artists who are not signed to record deals and then help them create their own direct links to audiences over the Internet.

Recordcore and similar new ventures are symptomatic of shifts in the music business. Major labels like Sony Music and Universal no longer have such a firm grip on creating and selling music and minting internet hits. A large chunk of these are sped-up remixes, which are often paired with TikTok edits.

Much of this has to do with the rise of the social media platform as a means of promoting and distributing music. Mindful of these changes, in the last few years young people have created their own labels, such as Syryn Records, and reaped significant rewards by taking advantage of their digital-savvy nature.

Under the Recordcore model, artists that receive investments from the firm will operate like start-ups, producing their own music. Instead of receiving an advance and possibly reaping royalties later if they have a hit, artists will share in all the profits from their music. In another departure from tradition in the music business, they will also maintain partial ownership of their own copyrights and master recordings.

According to social media announcements, Recordcore plans to invest $1,000 in each young artist, with some help from WMG. The company will then guide artists to services like Distrokid, a company that distributes music to online services like Apple Music and Spotify.

At 17, he built the world’s largest teen-dependent media company. 

Artists who take the Recordcore route, media analyst Paul Dergarabedian said, will likely need to have entrepreneurial energy.

Soulja Boy Threatens Metro Boomin Over Old Tweet—Gets Into It With 21 Savage

By: Kyle EusticeCategory: News

Soulja Boy is evidently bothered by a years-old tweet from Metro Boomin and demanding it be deleted. The tweet, posted in 2012, read: “My phone rings to come to the studio with Jeezy. Yours rings to send Soulja Boy a pack of beats. Sit down.”

The tone of the tweet didn’t sit well with Soulja Boy, who went off on the producer in an Instagram video. Referencing his chart-topping hit “Crank Dat,” he said in part, “That was 2007. I had a No. 1. The f### you talkin’ about, Metro Groomin? You was lit about going to the studio with Jeezy’s b#### ass. Stop playin’ with me. I had a No. 1 in 2007 when I was 17. You was still in elementary school, b#### ass boy. You was in middle school.

“The f### you hype about going to the studio with Jeezy for? What the f### you hype about going to the studio with Jeezy for, Metro Groomin? F### is you talkin’ about? B#### ass, I was making beats for Gucci. I don’t give a f### about no Jeezy. I was in the studio with Guwop at 18.”

He then tells Metro Boomin, “Go delete that tweet… I don’t give a f### if it was three years old, I don’t give a f### if it was 20 years old.” He added in the caption, “He got 24 hours to delete that tweet,” to which 21 Savage replied, “Or what.”

That wasn’t the end of it, though. Upon seeing 21 Savage’s retort, Soulja Boy took to his Instagram Stories with a message that read: “Boy you a b#### you not from the A, you from the UK. I really will slap the s### out of you.” He proceeded to snap on him in another Instagram video, threatening to “beat the f###” out of him. He also berated 21 Savage for “talking crazy” to him as he flexed his street cred.

He also called out 21 Savage for staying silent amid the Kendrick Lamar and Drake feud, especially when Drake told Metro Boomin to “shut your ho ass up and make some drums” on the single “Push Ups.”

At this point, Soulja Boy is just doing a whole lot of talking, while 21 Savage has yet to reply to his latest rant. Stay tuned.

Drake Posts Cryptic “Summer Vibes” Post Amid Fizzling Kendrick Lamar Feud

By: Kyle EusticeCategory: News

Drake has let his foot off the gas in the unprecedented beef with Kendrick Lamar. Instead, he appears to have a new focus—”summer vibes.”

The OVO Sound co-founder shared a post to his Instagram Stories in the wee hours of Sunday morning (May 12), letting his 147 million followers know he’s putting it behind him. At the same time, he seems to suggest he knew how ugly it got. The post included a drawing of hundreds of knights with their swords in the air on one side and a singular knight on the other with a sword at his side.

He wrote, “Good times. Summer vibes up next.”

Drake waved the white flag in his last diss track installment, “The Heart Part 6,” when he rapped, “I don’t wanna diss you anymore, this really got me second-guessing” and “You could drop a hundred more records, I’ll see you later/Yeah, maybe when you meet your maker/I don’t wanna fight with a woman beater, it feeds your nature.”

Meanwhile, Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith, the CEO of Kendrick Lamar’s former label Top Dawg Entertainment, declared it had unequivocally come to an end.

“This battle is over,” he tweeted on Friday (May 10). “A win for the culture, while keeping it all on wax. Especially when these publications try to make it something else. We proved them wrong. That’s a victory within itself. On another note, it’s time to wrap up this TDE anniversary compilation.”

Of course, public opinion was all over the place, but the predominant consensus was that Kendrick Lamar won. Drake simply couldn’t out-rap him no matter how hard he tried. The contentious battle essentially included nine tracks: Kendrick’s verse on “Like That,” “euphoria,” 6:16 in LA,” “meet the grahams” and “Not Like Us” and Drake’s “Push Ups (Drop & Give Me 50),” “Taylor Made Freestyle,” “Family Matters” and “The Heart Part 6.”

Kid Cudi’s Foot Is Screwed—Literally

By: AllHipHop StaffCategory: News

Kid Cudi has shared that he is on the “road to recovery” weeks after breaking his foot.

The rapper took to Instagram to share an update on his foot, almost three weeks after he broke it when he jumped off the stage during his Coachella set in April.

“Got my boot! The road to recovery has begun,” Kid Cudi, real name Scott Mescudi, wrote alongside a photo of him wearing a medical boot and two X-rays showing several screws in his foot.

The 40-year-old continued in the post, “Heres some xrays after the surgery, I wanted yall to see how real this s**t was. Im a cyborg now.”

Cudi’s update comes a week after he announced that he had been forced to cancel his 43-date “Insano” world tour, which was due to kick off in Austin, Texas, on June 28, due to his injury.

“Guys, so, I have a broken calcaneus,” the Day’ n’ Nite hitmaker wrote on Instagram at the time. “I’m headed to surgery now, and there’s gonna be a long recovery time. We have to cancel the tour so I can focus on getting better to be out there in top shape to rage with you all. Theres just no way I can bounce back in time to give 100%.”

He added, “Im really disappointed as I’m sure you guys are too, but I will be back. Thats a promise. Im ok, just a lil soreness, but I’m in good spirits.”

North West Ready To Roar At “The Lion King” Concert Event

By: AllHipHop StaffCategory: News

North West has joined the “The Lion King” cast at the Hollywood Bowl.

Organizers announced that Kim Kardashian and Ye’s 10-year-old daughter had joined the cast of Disney’s upcoming concert event.

It was also announced that Broadway’s Heather Headley and Grammy winner Lebo M. have been added to the cast.

North West and the pair will join previously announced cast members Jennifer Hudson, Nathan Lane, Jeremy Irons, Billy Eichner, Jason Weaver, Bradley Gibson and Ernie Sabella in the show.

The two-night event will take place at the Hollywood Bowl on May 24 and 25 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of “The Lion King.”

The live shows, featuring a live orchestra performing Hans Zimmer’s Oscar-winning score from the original 1994 film and the 2019 remake, will be filmed and later released as a special on Disney+.

The star-studded cast will perform songs and numbers using costumes, puppetry and sets from the Broadway show.

This is the second time North has tried her hand at acting.

She landed a role in the 2023 animated film “Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie,” in which she voices a dog named Mini alongside Hollywood stars Taraji P. Henson, Kristen Bell, Chris Rock, and James Marsden.

North’s role in the musical concert has yet to be revealed.

Rumors: Kendrick & J. Cole Have Talked

By: Houston WilliamsCategory: Rumors

Wow. Just Wow.

There’s way too much stuff coming out, but this is breaking news as far as I’m concerned. The rumor is that J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar have already talked, this is according to one of Dot’s presumed close friends. There aren’t many new developments, but the source said that J. Cole and Kendrick did, in fact, talk.

Apparently, that means they’re cool, but there’s a twist. Apparently, Kendrick Lamar was upset that J. Cole apologized. I’m not sure if he was angry because he wanted to get it on lyrically with J. Cole, or if he didn’t think an apology was necessary at all.

What we thought was true ended up being true. Those 17 days or so that Kendrick Lamar wasn’t responding to Drake, he was recording an arsenal of songs aimed at his adversary. Furthermore, he was making adjustments, as we saw, and then releasing the content, just in case Drake decided to return to the beef. Kendrick is apparently fully ready with at least five new songs to blast off.

Last but not least, it seems like Kendrick Lamar and his lady, Whitney, are in New York City with the kids. Meanwhile, she hasn’t said a word. Also, Kendrick has never directly addressed the allegations or rumors that Drake brought up. Iit seems like whatever is going on, all is well and blessed with Kendrick Lamar.

Again, these are all rumors.

Now look at what is being said on the internet below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdzLIYXWagU

T.I. Honors Fallen Soldiers With “LLOGCLAY” Single Featuring NBA YoungBoy

By: AllHipHop StaffCategory: Music

T.I. has released “LLOGCLAY,” a new single featuring NBA YoungBoy, from his upcoming final album, Kill The King. The song is a tribute to his late brother, manager, mentor and friend Clay Evans, who died last year and had a significant influence on T.I.’s decades-long career.

In memory of Clay, a mural was installed at T.I.’s Trap City Cafe in Bankhead, Atlanta last month. T.I. recently expressed on social media, “What we built as a crew, will never be erased.”

It’s been an eventful week for the multifaceted artist as he balances roles as a rapper, comedian and entrepreneur. His week began with a performance at Netflix’s “Netflix Is A Joke Comedy Fest,” and on Wednesday (May 8), he received an ASCAP Pop Award for his contribution to Drake and 21 Savage’s “Rich Flex,” which samples T.I.’s “24s.” He wrapped up the week with a performance at the LA County Fair and will soon head to Kazakhstan for an arena show next week.

Expect more music, movies and entertainment from T.I., the King of the South, throughout the year. As Tip puts it, “U DIGGG.”

For more, head here.

The Game Promises To Deliver “Ass Whoopin” To Rick Ross Amid Mounting Beef

By: Devon JeffersonCategory: News

The Game continues to antagonize Rick Ross following the release of his “Freeway’s Revenge” diss track. On Saturday (May 11), the West Coast rap veteran jumped on Instagram to address the fact that Rozay has yet to respond.

The Game alleged Ross, who clout shamed him in a series of social media posts, had gotten cold feet about releasing a diss he recorded.

“The cereal killer [duck’n] this real smoke,” The Game wrote in the caption of the post. “Scared to drop that nursery rhyme you recorded the other night I see lol… F### it, a quick W for the home team & some real rap for the fans playlist. Posting very attainable cereal bowls, bottled up dog p### & crouching by cars like that’s gone get you outta this ass whoopin’. IT AINT !!!”

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The Game continued, seemingly addressing the “Champagne Moments” diss Ross released aimed at Drake.

“& for rap fans worldwide,” he wrote. “Thing about most these rap n##### y’all idolize is…. they pick & choose who they diss very carefully. End of the day, ALL the n##### in this s### know what I’m capable of especially when it’s time to go bar for bar. The real “Rick Ross” @freewayricky this one was for you big homie [100 emoji].”

The Game then effectively mocked Ross for his attempts to flex on him by attacking his physical appearance and more.

“& as for chicken legs: you can’t whoop my ass or out rap me so… post all the cars, n fake watches you want to,” he added. “the real fans see through you & that Widebach Music s### !!! You can’t run from this s###. S###, you can’t run period… human capri sun pouch body shaped n#### you. – Chuck Taylor.”

Before this most recent social media post, Ross had claimed the Born 2 Rap MC was “starving for beef” and downplayed the diss.

On the record itself, The Game accuses the MMG honcho of stealing his name. He also mocks Ross’s health issues, claiming, “You 12 lemon pepper wings from a heart attack,” before referencing the K. Dot and Drizzy feud.

“This ain’t the Kendrick beef, my Drake sing songs,” he raps. “My K. Dot s###, I don’t have to turn the beam on.”

He also addresses Ross’s past as a correctional officer before turning up the heat after a beat switch.

“Congratulations, what an imagination/From CO to drug kingpin now this n#### acting Haitian/The stories these n#### tell/He gone’ tell us he got a key for every n#### he locked in a cell,” The Game continued. “He gone tell us he just bought another crib, he living well/But he won’t tell us about his health condition, he sick as hell/He popping pills, they starting to f### with his brain/Seizures off the lean, Balenciaga shorts got s### stains.”

Game closed out the track by warning that he’s the “Compton Grim Reaper,” before advising Ross to “let it go.”

Gillie Da King Laments Swarm Of DMs From Angry Kendrick Lamar Fans

By: Devon JeffersonCategory: Rumors

Like Drake, Gillie Da King is being tormented for things he said about Kendrick Lamar amid the West Coast rapper’s beef with the Toronto rapper.

In case you were unaware, the Million Dollaz Worth Of Game podcast host prematurely declared Drake the winner of the rap beef with Kendrick. Following the release of Drake’s “The Heart Pt 6,” his response to Kendrick’s “Not Like Us,” Gillie gloated on social media, saying Drizzy was the winner of the bout.

“It’s over with!” Gillie said. “Light-skinned n###as won. They took that s##t, man. That s##t over with, man. Kendrick can’t come back.”

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But Gillie’s declaration of victory didn’t age well, as Kendrick is trending toward debuting at the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart with “Not Like Us,” in addition to taking over the top spot on multiple streaming charts in Canada as well. As expected, Gillie has been bombarded by messages from Kendrick fans demanding that he concede defeat. However, in an even more predictable move, Gillie is refusing to retreat and is standing his ground on the matter.

“Say this all you f##king Kendrick Lamar fans, get the f##k out my dm,” Gillie said in another video shared on Instagram.

Gillie claimed he was fair in his analysis of the battle and even went on to say that he even gave credit to Kendrick where credit was due.

“I kept it the f### real,” he said. “The first two diss records was f###ing f##k ehhh. He came with that f###ing mustard joint. I was like ‘Oh yeah, Mustard on the beat,’ that m###########. I gave him all the credit, ‘I said, n####, this one right here,’ f##k wrong with y’all.'”

Gillie later expressed his opinion that the Kendrick records that utilized soul samples just weren’t authentic diss records, by his definition.

“I keep it real, f##k wrong with you,” he said. “You can’t. The first f###ing two, this one of the f###ing diss records was off of f###ing Al Green. ‘I’m so in love with you.’ How the f###k you want this? A n###a off of Al Green? I don’t know what to do. It’s all right. Man the f##k is y’all talking about you can’t diss no f###### n###a off of Al Green a f###ing love song.”

Gillie concluded, “Now that f###ing ‘Mustard on the beat,’ that s##t had me ready to motherf###ing Crip walking. I ain’t going to lie. F##k. Get the f##k up out my DM though. I’m a n###a that keep it real. You n####s don’t keep it f###ing real.”

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Nas Taps In With Legends At Robert De Niro’s Tribeca Film Festival Mini-Convention

By: AllHipHop StaffCategory: News

Robert De Niro will get his own mini-convention at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, with an offshoot of the event named “De Niro Con” featuring Nas.

The Tribeca Film Festival co-founder wanted to honor the Oscar-winning actor.

“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate 80 years of Robert De Niro, my dear friend and co-conspirator for the past 35 years, than by throwing a big bash for his fellow New Yorkers,” Jane Rosenthal, the festival’s CEO, said in a statement.

De Niro Con will take place between June 14 and 16. De Niro will attend screenings and converse with many of his co-stars and directors, including Billy Crystal following a screening of Analyze This and Quentin Tarantino after a screening of Jackie Brown.

There will also be a conversation with Silver Linings Playbook director David O. Russell and an interview with De Niro and famed director Martin Scorsese to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Mean Streets, moderated by Nas.

Fans will also be able to get real or temporary tattoos from the makeshift prison tattoo parlor from Cape Fear, view Travis Bickle’s bedroom from Taxi Driver and take Jack Byrnes’ infamous polygraph test from Meet The Parents.

Drake’s Toronto Mansion Under Siege: Third Intruder Tackled By Armed Security

By: Kyle EusticeCategory: News

Drake’s Toronto home has once again been hit by another intruder. According to TMZ, security for the OVO Sound boss was forced to take down a man who tried to infiltrate the expansive property.

An eyewitness said he was riding his bike by Drake’s home on Saturday (May 11), when he saw two of rapper’s security guards tackle a guy to the ground and placing a knee in the center of his back to prevent him from getting up. One of the security members reportedly jumped on the radio while the other helped wrestle him to the ground, although there wasn’t much of a fight.

Meanwhile, Drake is clearly growing tired of all the chaos taking place at his house. Taking to his Instagram Stories, he asked a local news affiliate to stop sending helicopters to surveil his property. As he wrote, “@cp24breakingnews can we discuss the chopper flight times over the house cause I won’t lie I’m trying to sleep. anytime after 3pm works great for me.”

The latest intrusion marks the third in a week. It started on Tuesday (May 7), when one of Drake’s security guards was shot in the chest and rushed to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Police are staying quiet about the possible connection to the ongoing Kendrick Lamar feud. Other conspiracy theories link the incident to The Weeknd.

Police returned to Drake’s Toronto home a day later after another intruder attempted to break into the Canadian star’s house. The unidentified trespasser allegedly got into an altercation with security at the gates of Drake’s home. Security subdued the man and held him until police arrived. Cops took the man into custody under the Mental Health Act. The intruder allegedly said he was “here to see Drake.”

It’s difficult not to connect all of the unsettling activity to the Kendrick Lamar feud, especially when OVO stores are being vandalized with K. Dot lyrics and all of this ramped up following the contentious back-and-forth. But so far, police haven’t confirmed that to be the case.

EXCLUSIVE: Nicki Minaj Gets Aggressive With Cocaine Abuse Accuser

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: News

Nicki Minaj has escalated her legal battle against blogger Marley Green, also known as Nosey Heaux. ​

The lawsuit, filed by Nicki Minaj, stems from a tweet made by Green regarding Minaj’s newborn baby And allegations the rapper was using cocaine.

The lawsuit alleges that Green made a defamatory statement in a video posted on Twitter, falsely claiming that Nicki Minaj is a “cokehead” who is “shoving all this cocaine up her nose.” 

The ongoing feud between the two has taken a more aggressive turn, with Nicki Minaj seeking legal action to protect her privacy and reputation.

In a letter addressed to Judge Buchwald, Minaj’s attorney, Judd Burstein, provided an update on the case and proposed a schedule for the future.

According to the document, Minaj’s legal team had previously sent a letter to the court on March 25, 2024, providing a status update and a proposal for the case.

In response, counsel for Green requested an extension to respond to the letter until April 23, 2024. ​

However, as of May 8, 2024, Green failed to respond to Minaj’s letter, leading Minaj to argue that she had waived any objections to the relief sought. ​

Nicki Minaj’s request to the court includes various actions against Green for her alleged failure to comply with discovery requests and respond to certain communications.

These requests include precluding the defendants from seeking any further discovery, preventing them from offering any evidence in opposition to Nicki Minaj’s anticipated motion for summary judgment or at any hearing or trial, and banning them from interposing any objections to the discovery requests. ​

Additionally, the rapper requests that the court direct Green to provide complete answers to Minaj’s amended set of interrogatories. ​

Failure to comply with these requests could result in the court striking the Green’s answer to the lawsuit. ​

Nicki Minaj is also trying to get her hands on various documents and communications related to Green’s statements about Nicki Minaj’s alleged drug use and the number of views and comments on a video posted on the Nosey Heaux’s’ social media platforms in an attempt to quantify the actual damages to the rap star’s reputation.

Nicki Minaj is seeking damages of at least $75,000 from Green and her company for the defamatory statements.

Macklemore’s Pro-Palestine Anthem Is Antisemitic Jewish Rapper Matisyahu Says

By: Kyle EusticeCategory: News

Macklemore has been relatively quiet in 2024 but decided to drop a pro-Palestine anthem called “Hinds Hall” in the middle of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef.

While many saw the song as opportunistic, others found it to be brave and exactly what people needed to hear in the midst of such a meritless topic—at least when it comes to global issues.

But veteran Jewish rapper Matisyahu, who’s been proudly waving the Israeli flag throughout his career, thinks the song causes more trouble.

Paparazzi caught up with Matisyahu in Los Angeles, where he gave his opinion on the entire situation. He says, “Hinds Hall” isn’t what it appears to be on the surface. He also reminded people Macklemore is the same person who had to issue an apology for perpetuating Jewish stereotypes by wearing a big prosthetic nose.

“It’s not about freeing Palestine, it’s actually the opposite,” he said. “It’s going to keep people not at peace with each other. It’s going to keep people fighting, because it’s riddled with antisemitic tropes. Again, it’s not about freeing Palestine. Let’s not forget for a second this is a guy who wore a prosthetic nose and had to make a public apology for putting on ‘Jew face.’ He’s obviously not about necessarily freeing Palestine but again, he has this concept that he perpetrates, which is like Jews run the world.

“This is an antisemitic idea that’s been going on for thousands of years, that we’re somehow this super human race, these puppet masters that you can blame all the world’s problems on. And if you go through that song, you’ll see time after time, where he literally makes references to us being puppet masters and controlling the world.

He goes on, “He continues this idea of antisemitism. When you continue this idea of antisemitism in the world, you don’t get peace, you don’t get rights. What you get is alienation of Jews, more aggression, more anger, more violence. If you really care about peace and coming together, then stop with all the antisemitism because that’s what it is.”

Matisyahu proceeded to bring up Kanye West, who has faced an intense amount of backlash and scrutiny for his loud, antisemitic views.

“It’s interesting that a year ago Kanye was basically canceled for this, saying the same exact things,” he added. “What Macklemore is saying are white supremacists, the KKK and Nazi ideas, but he’s masking it up in this way and in the climate of today’s culture, it’s somehow accepted.”

Matisyahu concluded Macklemore needs to do more research, but he’d be willing to have a conversation with him.

The Seattle-bred rapper, who infamously bested Kendrick Lamar in the Best Rap Album category at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards in 2014, announced the track via social media on Monday (May 6). He promised to donate all proceeds to UNRWA, an independent 501c3 nonprofit organization that provides support for the humanitarian work of the United Nations Agency for Palestine Refugees.

The lyrics and accompanying video highlight the ongoing Israel-Hamas War, which erupted in October 2023. It was apparently inspired by the work of student protesters at Columbia University, who occupied the campus’s Hamilton Hall last week and renamed it “Hind’s Hall.” Throughout the track, Macklemore reiterates there are much more important issues to discuss than the lyrical warfare between two of rap’s most famous names.

“What happened to the artist?” he raps. “What do you got to say?If I was on a label, you could drop me today/I’d be fine with it ’cause the heart fed my page/I want a ceasefire, f### a response from Drake (Woo)/What you willin’ to risk? What you willin’ to give?/What if you were in Gaza? What if those were your kids?/If the West was pretendin’ that you didn’t exist.”

Kim Kardashian Went To Extremes To Cover Her Crotch At Met Gala

By: AllHipHop StaffCategory: News

Kim Kardashian needed to don custom-made underwear for the Met Gala.

The reality star explained that her elaborate dress required a particular pair of underpants to prevent wardrobe mishaps.

The base layer of Kim’s tightly cinched John Galliano for Maison Margiela gown was made of metal like a suit of armor – but from certain angles, it left the possibility of peekaboo gaps.

“The one thing about John is he’ll think of every last detail,” Kim Kardashian, 43, told Vogue.

“So, if you’re standing at the top of the stairs, but the photographers are at the bottom of the stairs, and they’re getting a glimpse up, and the skirt’s made out of metal and there’s little peekaboo holes within that, he wanted to make sure that I’m fully covered in the appropriate places.”

To head off the chance of a bad photo op, Kim wore a specially made pair of Margiela thong underpants featuring a print of the same floral design that appeared on her gown.

Kim Kardashian also explained that she had to walk on the tips of her toes, like a ballerina, for the entire red carpet.

“We really need the height on this look, so we gotta do what we gotta do,” she said.

NLE Choppa Gets Response From NFL Veteran About His “Ugly A##” Duck Boots

By: Devon JeffersonCategory: News

NLE Choppa and former NFL star-turned-rapper LeVeon Bell may have a healthy, high-stakes competition brewing between them.

On Friday (May 10), the Memphis rapper both delivered his new single “Stickin And Movin” in and released his collaborative Duck Boot shoe with Fctry Labs, which he remarked on selling out in a post on Instagram. However, it appears as though not everyone was as excited as Choppa’s fans were about the release of the shoes, considering Bell straight up dissed them in a quoted reply of the $250 kicks on Twitter (X.)

“& ppl boutta buy them ugly ass boots too [Face-palm emoji],” Bell wrote in the tweet.

Choppa immediately took offense and snapped back at Bell in a reply he wrote, “Imma sale more boots then you sold jersey how much u wanna bet ?”

Bell seemingly took Choppa’s tweet seriously and effectively replied by recording a TikTok video formally challenging the “S### Me Out 2” rapper to a sales battle, while also clowning his shoes.

“All right y’all, we have a fried one,” Bell said while laughing. “NLE Choppa is fried. Have y’all seen his boots? Hold on. These are the boots. These are the boots.”

As Bell continued, he appeared to belittle Choppa by throwing his NFL career in his face.

“NLE Choppa, I don’t think you understand, bro. I’ve been doing this for a long time,” he said in part.

“Literally from 2014 to 2017, I was in top five jersey sales at the NFL for like three to four years straight. Then I had free agency and went to a new team with the Jets, and then my Jersey sales went even crazier with a new team. And then after that I went from the Jets to the Kansas City Chiefs.”

Bell continued, concluding that he was like something from the Marvel Universe while Choppa was just some “Freaky” guy.

“Bro, I was the last infinity ring for the gauntlet bro,” he said before adding, “So someone told this freaky guy, this freaky little rapper, whatever you want to put up for the bet we can do. I like me.”

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