YFN Lucci accepted a plea deal in his Georgia RICO case on Tuesday (January 23). He pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act.
Prosecutors dropped multiple charges, including felony murder, as part of the plea deal. The embattled rapper faced a life sentence without parole if convicted of murder.
YFN Lucci, whose real name is Rayshawn Bennett, received a 20-year sentence after accepting the plea deal. He was ordered to serve 10 years in custody and the rest on probation. YFN Lucci received credit for three years of time served. He is eligible for parole in three and a half months.
“After three years of pretrial litigation, more than two weeks of jury selection and three years of incarceration waiting for his jury trial, today, the prosecution finally relented and dismissed the murder and RICO charges against Rayshawn Bennett,” his lawyers told ABC News. “As he has maintained for three years now, Mr. Bennett will NOT cooperate in any other case.”
Prosecutors claimed YFN Lucci was the driver in a gang-related drive-by shooting that left one of his passengers dead in 2020. He apologized to the victim’s family at his sentencing.
YFN Lucci was arrested for his alleged role in the shooting in 2021. That same year, he was one of a dozen men named in a sweeping RICO indictment targeting alleged Bloods gang members. He was charged with racketeering, felony murder, violating Georgia’s anti-gang law, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
If granted parole, YFN Lucci will be released later this year. He has remained in jail since 2021. According to WSB-TV’s Michael Seiden, prosecutors had no plans to object to his release. YFN Lucci’s legal team was “very confident” he’d be released in a matter of months.
André 3000 is taking his polarizing instrumental album, New Blue Sun, on tour. The intimate live shows will include multi-instrumentalist Carlos Niño, Nate Mercereau, Surya Botofasina, Deantoni Parks, Diego Gaeta, Matthewdavid, V.C.R, Diego Gaeta, Jesse Peterson and Mia Doi Todd.
The tour kicks off on January 29 in Brooklyn and is followed by a three-night residency at the legendary Blue Note Jazz Club in Manhattan, where André and his collaborators will play two shows per night. They’ll make stops in Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta and San Francisco before finishing with a five-night stint at The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever, a cemetery in Los Angeles.
The Outkast legend is a busy man. Earlier this month, he teamed up with IMAX to give fans a unique way to experience New Blue Sun, with select movie theaters presenting “an album listening cinematic experience” and live Q&A on January 23.
As for the album, Outkast fans were devastated to learn he wouldn’t be rapping on the album, something he acknowledged with the title of the first song: “I Swear, I Really Wanted To Make A ‘Rap’ Album But This Is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time.” Other titles include: “The Slang Word P (*)ssy Rolls Off The Tongue With Far Better Ease Than The Proper Word V#####. Do You Agree?” and “Dreams Once Buried Beneath The Dungeon Floor Slowly Sprout Into Undying Gardens.”
As for the intro to the album, André 3000 explained why he opted to release a bar-less album, saying, “There’s this misconception that I just won’t do it. I think people feel like I’m sitting around on rap albums, or sitting around and I’m just not putting them out in that way. And no it’s not like that… In my mind, I really would like to make a rap album. So maybe that happens one day, but I got to find a way to say what I want to say in an interesting way that’s appealing to me at this age.”
Tickets for the upcoming tour go on sale Wednesday (January 24) at 10 a.m. here. Find all dates below.
With great wealth comes a greater urge for thrilling entertainment. And if there is something with loads of thrill, it is gambling. Rappers, on the other hand, are known to be wealthy, especially those at the top of the chain. So, it is no surprise that some of them engage in high-stakes gambling. They don’t necessarily do it for the money; it is simply fun and entertaining for them.
Now, the good thing about gambling is that everyone is on the same playing field. Yes, your favorite rapper may have a lot of money to spare, but they play the same games as you. So, irrespective of the part of the world you are located in, you can tune in and have a share of the entertainment. This all-round availability can be attributed to brands that provide their services to the nooks and crannies of the globe.
Take, for example, Serbia; since online gambling became legal in the country in 2011, players there have top brands like bet365 to give them good gambling services. That said, do you want to know which of your favorite rappers enjoy gambling? If yes, stay around as we explore some big Rappers who are also gamblers.
Drake
The Canadian hip-hop artist, Drake, is not secretive about his gambling adventures. He is a fan of both casino games and sports betting. Unlike several other rappers who gamble, Drake is open about the sides he supports. So, it is not uncommon to find screenshots of stakes he makes on his social media pages. In fact, sports fans have associated Drake with always betting on the eventual losing side, calling it the ‘Drake curse.’
The Drake curse suggests that any team or athlete the rapper backs are always going to lose. While this curse is continually reinforced with each bet he makes, it is only a harmless ideology that you should not take too seriously. After all, it is the same Drake that cashed out $17 million in a roulette game.
50 Cent
50 Cent is another famous rapper that is no stranger to casinos. The controversial rapper is a familiar figure at Las Vegas casinos and is a frequent name in poker tournaments. In fact, rumor has it that 50 Cent used to take serious poker lessons from veteran gamblers and pro players to stand a better chance at excelling in tournaments.
The American rapper is also fond of high stakes in the sports industry. Sometimes in 2015, 50 Cent stakes $1.6 million on ‘The Fight of the Century’, the bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao. The bet went in his favor and he was reported to win up to $2.3 million on the stake.
Nelly
Nelly, the popular American rapper is also another name in the gambling industry. We say so because he is actually good at it. Rapper Nelly is a big poker fan, and he is not always hesitant to put his skills to the test in high-stakes competitions. In fact, it is almost like a habit for him.
A notable example would be when he clinched gold in Rolling Stone’s 40th anniversary, a celebrity poker tournament. In the end, Nelly came out on top, and interestingly, he donated all the winnings to charity.
It is not also uncommon to see rapper Nelly in the World Series of Poker competitions, where he puts himself in the spotlight against players from all over the world. For someone who is not a full-time gambler, we must say that Nelly is quite good at it.
P. Diddy
Puff Daddy, popularly called P. Diddy is one huge casino lover. He is a huge fan of blackjack and poker, and he doesn’t hesitate to splash the cash on what he loves. It is why he takes regular trips to Las Vegas. Diddy is also surprisingly a big winner; he has reportedly won up to $2m in one night. Being a generous tipper, it was also reported that a casino employee of the same casino was on the receiving end of a $250,000 tip.
Other notable mentions for rappers that gamble well are:
21 Savage kicked off 2024 with a major accomplishment, joining an exclusive list of acts who’ve made Billboard Hot 100 chart history.
This week saw 14 songs from 21 Savage’s American Dream album debut on the Hot 100, bringing his career total to 103. He is now just one entry behind NBA YoungBoy and two behind Jay-Z.
21 Savage also became only the 16th act to have at least 100 tracks make it onto the weekly rankings of the most popular records in America. Drake leads the all-time list with 328 hits.
“Redrum” is the highest-charting 21 Savage song on the latest Hot 100. The London On Da Track-produced single opened at No. 5, while “Née-nah” with Travis Scott and Metro Boomin launched at No. 10.
So far, 21 Savage has two No. 1 singles in his discography. He made it to the top spot in 2017 as a feature on Post Malone’s “Rockstar.” That single led the Hot 100 for eight weeks.
Drake’s “Jimmy Cooks” featuring 21 Savage spent one week at the pinnacle of the Hot 100 in 2022. 21 Savage currently has 17 Top 10 entries, including multiple Drake collaborations like “Rich Flex” (No. 2) and “Mr. Right Now” (No. 10).
21 Savage and Drake formally joined forces for 2022’s Her Loss album which peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. American Dream also launched at No. 1 on this week’s Billboard 200 with more than 133,000 first-week units.
Artists With The Most Career Billboard Hot 100 Entries:
Drake – 328 Taylor Swift – 232 Glee Cast – 207 Lil Wayne – 186 Future – 168 Nicki Minaj – 147 Kanye West – 141 Lil Baby – 138 Chris Brown – 116 Travis Scott -113 Elvis Presley – 109 Lil Uzi Vert – 108 Justin Bieber – 105 Jay-Z – 105 YoungBoy Never Broke Again – 104 21 Savage – 103
Cam’ron has successfully made the transition from Hip-Hop recording artist to sports media personality. The Harlem native has gone viral once again for something he said on his It Is What It Is show.
At one point, It Is What It Is co-host Ma$e asked Cam’ron, “What happened? Did Ben Simmons run down on you?” Cam attended the Brooklyn Nets versus Los Angeles Lakers game on Friday (January 19).
“I forgot Ben Simmons plays basketball. I was bugging. I was like, ‘Damn, I forgot this n####’s still in the NBA,” Cam’ron told Ma$e. Apparently, Cam and Simmons ran into each other after the game near the locker room area.
Cam’ron went on to say he and the Brooklyn Nets guard exchanged looks from a distance. The Killa Season album creator then offered a warning to Ben Simmons.
“Those ain’t the games to play and live in New York at the same time. They’re just not, and that’s not a threat. That’s the wrong game. I’ll buy every damn ticket behind the Nets f###### bench,” Cam forewarned.
The 47-year-old podcaster also said, “Listen, Ben Simmons, in case we see each other again, just say you don’t like what I’m saying so I can say I don’t give a f###. And then we can keep it moving.”
Cam’ron continued, “All these eye games, that’s not it, B. Especially when you 6’10”. I’m going for your knees, pause. And then I’m buying season tickets to the Nets game. That’s that.”
Lil Nas X’s new release didn’t land with the same commercial success as his previous lead single. In fact, “J Christ” failed to even crack the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in its debut week.
Lil Nas X took the low entry for “J Christ” in stride. On Monday (January 22), the Georgia-bred musician tweeted, “We did it boys! We reached the funny number. Be very proud of yourselves. This is our moment!”
we did it boys! we reached the funny number. be very proud of yourselves. this is our moment! https://t.co/lI9FkdTspb
While Lil Nas X seemingly joked about the No. 69 chart placement, other social media users took the opportunity to make fun of the lower-than-expected start. Many detractors had an issue with the Grammy Award winner incorporating Christian imagery into his rollout.
Celebrities such as Boosie Badazz, Lecrae and Kai Cenat called out Lil Nas X for dressing up as Jesus Christ in promotional clips and in the “J Christ” music video. Lil Nas eventually offered an apology for his antics, specifically parodying the Holy Communion.
“I do want my Christian fans to know that I am not against you. I was put on this Earth to bring people closer together and promote love. That’s who I am. I’m not like some evil, demon guy trying to destroy everybody’s values,” Lil Nas X stated on January 15.
Lil Nas X previously blasted his critics. On January 8, he tweeted, “I’m not making fun of s###. Y’all just gotta stop trying to gatekeep a religion that was here before any of us were even born. [Shut the f### up].”
the crazy thing is nowhere in the picture is a mockery of jesus. Jesus’s image is used throughout history in people’s art all over the world. I’m not making fun of s###. yall just gotta stop trying to gatekeep a religion that was here before any of us were even born. s###
Xzibit served as the host of Pimp My Ride for six seasons. Saturday Night Live recently spoofed the popular series in a cut-for-time segment featuring the veteran rapper.
Although the “Please Don’t Destroy – Pimp My Ride” sketch didn’t make it onto Saturday’s (January 20) episode, the NBC-produced program’s YouTube channel published the three-minute comedy skit on Monday (January 22).
Saltburn actor Jacob Elordi plays a janitor looking to get his vehicle upgraded, and Xzibit makes a cameo appearance. The clip has now become a trending YouTube video.
Pimp My Ride debuted on the MTV network in March 2004 and ran until 2007. The American, Xzibit-led version inspired international spinoffs such as Pimp My Ride UK, Pimp My Ride France and Pimp My Ride Brasil.
In addition to becoming a TV star for the Millennial generation from Pimp My Ride, Xzibit began his entertainment career as a rapper. The West Coast artist released albums such as 2000’s Restless and 2002’s Man vs. Machine. He also contributed to Dr. Dre’s 1999 album, 2001.
Is Ice Spice carrying a child? Some social media users questioned if the “Munch (Feelin’ U)” hitmaker is pregnant. The rumors about Spice’s alleged pregnancy began swirling after she shared a photo of herself on Twitter (X), and many of the replies to the January 22 post centered around her body.
Ice Spice returned to the social media platform to shut down the speculation. In response to the online chatter, the 24-year-old Bronx native tweeted, “Nobody pregnant n#### just phat.”
Meanwhile, Ice Spice has spent several days promoting a new upcoming single. A snippet of the song went viral on TikTok for its polarizing opening line.
“Think you the s###, b####? You not even the fart,” Spice raps on the RIOTUSA-produced track. Those lyrics have excited the rapper’s fans while also alienating her critics.
Ice Spice experienced a breakout year in 2023. Her meteoric rise in the music industry led to four Grammy Award nominations, including Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (“Karma” with Taylor Swift).
The Capitol Records artist released her debut EP, Like..?, in January 2023. The six-track project hosted the singles “Munch (Feelin’ U),” “Bikini Bottom” and “In Ha Mood.”
Ice Spice also teamed up with Nicki Minaj for “Princess Diana” and “Barbie World.” The latter earned Grammy nominations for Best Song Written for Visual Media and Best Rap Song.
Known by his stage name, iTzMag, he emerged from the vibrant heartbeat of the city’s hip-hop scene. Chicago, a city notorious for its challenges, became the crucible that forged the gritty lyricist. Growing up surrounded by the rhythm of the streets, iTzMag’s journey into the world of hip-hop began at a mere seven years old. The pulse of the city, with its diverse influences from artists like Twista, Kanye West, and Common, became the backdrop against which iTzMag would craft his distinctive flow.
The struggles of life in Chicago, navigating through the systemic barriers of poverty, crime, and limited access to quality education, shaped iTzMag’s narrative. The lyrics penned by his hand became a raw and unfiltered reflection of the streets he called home. In 2020, iTzMag stepped into the realm of entrepreneurship, bringing his musical vision to life beyond the mic. His business venture, selling merchandise ranging from streetwear to accessories, wasn’t just about fashion – it was about making a tangible impact on the lives of those who resonated with his story.
The influence of hip-hop mogul 50 Cent looms large in iTzMag’s entrepreneurial vision. Much like his idol, iTzMag strives to transcend the boundaries of music and establish himself as a force to be reckoned with in the business world. When it comes to getting results for iTzMag, it’s a mix between inspiration and execution. From the initial spark of an idea to the final release and promotion, each step is a carefully calculated move in the chess game of the music industry.
As the story of iTzMag unfolds, one thing becomes clear – this isn’t just a rapper; this is a storyteller weaving tales from the streets, a visionary poised to reshape the landscape of hip-hop. The countdown has begun, and the revolution is on the horizon. Stay tuned as iTzMag’s Chicago odyssey continues to echo through the alleys and avenues, leaving an indelible mark on the city and beyond.
Nick Cannon has paid tribute to his son Zen two years after his death. The 43-year-old took to Instagram on Sunday (January 21) to share a heartfelt tribute to his and Alyssa Scott’s son, who passed away at five months old after a battle with brain cancer.
“Zen’s Light and presence shining over little miss Halo and Mommy and Daddy,” the TV host/rapper wrote alongside a clip of Scott and their daughter, Halo, on the beach. The Masked Singer host continued, “What a beautiful day to remind us all that there is a higher power and God’s Energy and frequency to keep us all going under his grace and mercy even in the midst of challenges.”
Scott also took to Instagram over the weekend to share a clip from the beach trip, writing, “Dreams really do come true, mommy & daddy love you.”
Zen was born in July 2021 and died after being diagnosed with a high-grade glioma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer. Cannon and Alyssa welcomed Halo in December 2022. Cannon has welcomed 12 children with six women. In addition to Halo and Zen, he has twins with ex-wife Mariah Carey, three children with Brittany Bell, three with Abby De La Rosa, one with Bre Tiesi and one with LaNisha Cole.
Cannon recently told PEOPLE he was done having children, saying, “I’m chilling right now,” he maintained. “There’s no plans on the horizon as of yet. It’s so funny, everybody’s always trying to get me to have more kids. It’s like, 12 ain’t enough?”
Chris Brown didn’t mince words when addressing his seat next to Quavo amid their years-long feud. On Monday (January 22), Brown addressed the viral footage of he and the Migos’ rapper sitting next to each other in the front row at the Rhude Menswear Fall/Winter ’24 runway presentation on January 21.
Even though there was no dust-up between the pair of recording artists, Brown evidently felt the need to clear the air regarding the status of their strained relationship. In a comment on a social media post re-sharing the footage, Brown suggested reconciliation wasn’t actually on the table but rather a large check was—hence his demeanor.
“Can’t pick who u sit by,” he wrote. “F##k all that growth s##t. N###a not finna fumble my bag for little n###as.”
Both Brown and Huncho have connections to model and actress Karrueche Tran, who has been cited as the source of the souring of their relationship in the past. In 2017, Brown and Quavo reportedly were involved in an altercation at the BET Awards.
Check out the footage of their tense high-fashion standoff below.
Chris Brown has responded to people commenting about a video of him sitting next to Quavo at a recent fashion show despite their past beef. pic.twitter.com/JUsaj35tyb
A rare 2Pac memento (that Digital Underground is also a part of) from well over 30 years ago is set to go up for auction later this month. On Monday (January 22), Nate D. Sanders Auctions announced they’ll be offering a concert ticket autographed by the late Hip-Hop icon in January 1992—just two months after the release of his debut album, 2Pacalypse Now. According to the press release announcing the auction, the ticket was signed on the verso in blue ballpoint pen and includes a personalized message that reads, ”PEACE 2U 2PAC.”
The concert ticket is from a live show date in 1992 featuring Digital Underground at the Warfield in San Francisco. The unique artifact will officially head to auction on January 26.
The rare opportunity for individuals to own an artifact from 2Pac’s early career and legacy could prove to be extremely lucrative based on the money generated from his previously auctioned items. A ring designed and worn by 2Pac during his final public appearance blew initial estimates through the roof after selling for a whopping $1.02 million at a Sotheby’s auction last year.
50 Cent has become the talk of social media after fan feedback on his recent selfie became critical of his appearance. The music-turned-television mogul’s latest fit pic has seemingly caused a stir among his fans, who belief 50 Cent has lost an astonishing amount of weight fairly quickly. Pictured in a black suede (or possibly velvet) blazer, t-shirt and jeans, the “Magic Stick” rapper stands rather stoic and healthy. Fans couldn’t help themselves and unleashed a torrent of remarks about the photo.
“Man what,” one user wrote in disbelief while another wrote, “How did 50 Cent get so skinny in like a week. I hope that brother is ok.”
And while most fans appeared truly concerned about Fifty’s health, others took a page out of his social media book and utilized the moment to troll him.
”50 cent lost weight and a n#### commented on his pic talking about he just a quarter now… people are crazy,” a user wrote.
We are well aware the G-Unit boss has taken on the challenge to drastically lose weight for cinematic roles in the past, which would lead someone like me to believe this could be the case. However, some users are insinuating there could be something more in the mix.
Check out the side-by-side comparison along with the wide array of responses below.
In the ever-evolving landscape of Hip-Hop, few groups stand out with the distinctive flair of CZARFACE. This supergroup, blending the talents of Wu-Tang Clan’s Inspectah Deck and Boston’s 7L & Esoteric, returns to the spotlight with their latest album, CZARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
This release is more than just an album; it’s an odyssey through cosmic Hip-Hop and vibrant comic book culture.
Known for their high-profile collaborations with icons like MF Doom and Ghostface Killah, CZARFACE elevates their game in CZARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE by bringing on board artists such as Logic, Kool Keith, Nems, and Frankie Pulitzer.
Accompanying the album’s release is a series of innovative lyric videos on the CZARFACE YouTube channel, enhancing the listening experience with a visual exploration of each track. The group’s recent single, “Czarchimedes’ Death Ray,” features exclusive artwork by Lamour Supreme and two bonus tracks, further expanding the CZARFACE universe.
An exclusive Q&A with Esoteric on AllHipHop.com offers deep insights into the creation of CZARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
Esoteric, pivotal in the group’s creative journey, discusses the artistic vision behind the album, the dynamics of their collaborations, and how CZARFACE continues to push the boundaries of Hip-Hop.
AllHipHop: So we’re here to talk about the new project. First of all, for our audience who may not be familiar with Czarface, share a little bit about the group, what you guys stand for, and who is your target audience?
Esoteric: Czarface is a group consisting of me, Inspectah Deck from Wu-Tang Clan and 7L who is the producer. So me and Inspectah Deck handle a lot of the rhymes and 7L is doing the bulk of the production. Sometimes I help out a little bit. I think our target audience is just fans of lyrical Hip-Hop, really, that are into wordplay and punch lines and fly talk, just stuff that we really grew up on and helped shape the music that we make and why we continue to do it today.
AllHipHop: What was it like for you guys to connect with Deck to make this? You guys are not Wu-Tang, but you guys are Wu-Tang affiliates, like an extension of the Clan. So what was it like for you to connect with Deck to create Czarface?
Esoteric: It was a real honor. I am the 935th member of the Wu-Tang, so set the record straight [laughs]. We made our first record in ’98 together, and that was just a single. It was a single off of a 7L & Esoteric record, Deck was a feature, and we kept in touch since then. Then, around 2011, we came up with the idea of making an album together, and Deck was down.
Then, we needed something to bridge the gap between Staten Island and Boston and share some of our interests and mutual connections, and we came up with Czarface. Czarface is intended to represent the group’s goal in restoring… it’s like a superhero to save Hip-Hop in a sense, in a really broad aspect. But it extends to a world of comic books and action figures and things of that nature, so it’s a little bit wider.
AllHipHop: This is the thing, folk don’t know how deep Boston is in Hip-Hop. There’s such a heavy and historical concentration of Hip-Hop in Boston that folk don’t know. As we celebrate the 50th year of Hip-Hop, talk about Boston’s contribution to the culture.
Esoteric: Oh, yeah. Boston really helped shape the way I look at Hip-Hop. I grew up looking up to artists like Guru from Gang Starr, Ed O.G., Top Choice Clique, TDS Mobb, RSO. There’s a lot of groups that paved the way for artists like myself and artists that have come after us too. You know what I mean? So I think just being about 3 1/2 to 4 hours away from New York, that influence is going to shine on Boston too. So I think we’re all pretty East Coast focused with our music.That comes out with the Czarface stuff too. So I think there’s a lot of mutual ground between us and New York. That’s why I think the way that we connect with Deck is a natural fit.
AllHipHop: The stuff that you guys do, people always just focus on Griselda, but there are other people carrying that Wu-Tang, Mobb Deep, that late ’90s, mid-’90s type of authentic urban, when they say urban, really street rhyming.
Esoteric: Yeah. Well, thank you. Yeah, thank you. That’s the goal, and that’s what we love making and really won’t compromise. We won’t change our sound. When we signed the Virgin. A lot of people thought we were going to change our sound up and get Pitbull on the remix and stuff like that, but we kept it true to our formula. You know what I mean? The stuff we love.
AllHipHop: Wait, why won’t you get Pitbull on the remix?
Esoteric: I want to tell you something. I would love to. Pitbull is one of my favorites. I always boggle people’s minds when I tell them he’s one of my favorite entertainers. I love Pitbull, but you know it doesn’t really mix with our sound. You know what I mean?
AllHipHop: Now, it’s important that you said that because that shows that you have an intimate understanding of music and what music is and what kind of music works in different spaces. Is that something that you were able to develop as an indie artist, and is that still respected being signed to a major?
Esoteric: Yeah, I think so because there are a lot of groups in our vein that are continuing to push the envelope in the other direction. You know what I mean? For every artist that is leaning towards a trap atmosphere or drill at those soundscapes, other artists are following in a Wu-Tang footstep and pushing it that way. So there’s a good balance. I think Thanos, he wants a balance, and this is a balance of sound within the Hip-Hop landscape.
AllHipHop: Who are your top five comic book characters and superheroes?
Esoteric: Okay. I like Wolverine. I like Silver Surfer, Galactus, Dr. Doom. I know I got to say Spider-Man ’cause he’s obviously an icon. But I can’t front, Spider-Man, Venom, Batman, I could go on forever. There’s too many, Magneto.
AllHipHop: Spider-Man was going to be there. What is it about Spider-Man that attracts you so much? Have you pulled from any of his spider senses for your MCing abilities?
Esoteric: That’s a great question. We can all relate to Peter Parker in a sense, because he’s just an everyday kid with his issues that a lot of kids deal with. My son is in high school now, he’s 15. When you picture Peter Parker, you picture him going through high school, you know what I mean? Having an eye on a girl, av a bully, figuring outo do better in school, and maybe making sommaking
Then you are all of a sudden blessed with these powers from a radioactive spider, and then you get to do everything you really want to do and things that the bullies can’t do and jump from building to building and swing around town and stuff. So I think he’s just an action-packed character, really. Same with Miles Morales, and they got a unique thing that attracts, I think, the casual fan, the obsessive fan. Everyone can get into Spidey. Some other people like Daredevil might be an acquired taste, but Spidey is probably my top guy.
AllHipHop: How did you guys come up with a concept for this video to be really a comic book, a virtual comic book?
Esoteric: Yeah. We’ve always wanted to incorporate a lot more animation into our videos, into the music, and so forth because every album cover, the identity of a lot of the albums, is the artwork of Czarface. Whether he is in some situation in peril or he’s flying through the sky or he is victorious, or he was losing, the comic books from back in the day, everyone would see the cover, and that’s what make you pull the trigger and buy the book first. You know what I mean? ‘Cause you’re not looking through the book, you’re just looking at the spinner rack and you’re like, “Oh, okay, Black Panther, boom. That’s a dope cover. Jack Kirby drew it. You want to get that.”
I think the heavy comic book influence with Czarface made it a no-brainer to tell a story in the video that runs concurrently with the song. The conclusion is there’s a girl who is actually being created herself and using an old comic book with some corny heroes and changing the whole thing by being creative, cutting out little pieces of Czarface from different elements and making her own collage with Czarface being victorious in the book. So there’s a few themes that are running along in it, and we’re really happy with how it came out. The best thing about it is that you didn’t have to look at my face throughout the whole thing.
AllHipHop: Oh, here you go. What I love about it is that you guys are bringing back the thinking element of Hip-Hop. You don’t have to be critical of younger artists or artists who’ve adopted different styles of MC, and it doesn’t require a lot of pensive activity, but you guys, you make people think. It’s really artsy. It’s an artistic expression. How important is it for you guys to be a thinking woman’s cup of tea?
Esoteric: I think what’s important is that we love what we do, and I think that that’s what tickles our brains really, is to try to come up with something clever, play on words, maybe an intricate rhyme scheme, something that’s challenging. That’s the way that our brains probably work, and that’s what appeals to us. If you take Inspectah Deck’s verse from Triumph, which everyone hails as one of the greatest verses of all time, you look at some of the wordplay and the multi-syllabic structures, that’s a blueprint for you get all these visuals that he’s throwing out there when he’s rhyming and it stimulates your brain.
Whereas, I think there’s also a place for non-lyrical Hip-Hop, I guess, because the focus would be the melodies. There are a lot of rock songs, and I guess all songs that I don’t even really hear the lyrics, but I catch a vibe from, and they mean a lot to me. Sunflower, that song I love ’cause I associate it with my daughter. She loves it, but I just know a couple words from it. But I know it when I hear it, and I enjoy it, and it puts me somewhere. So there’s a place for something like that, but the stuff that we do is more trying to chop your head off with the mic.
Mary J. Blige let eligible bachelors know she’s off the dating market in an Audacy Check In interview with V-103’s Big Tigger. The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul disclosed her relationship status when Big Tigger asked if she was single.
“No, I’m not single,” she told him. “I’m happily doing what I’m doing.”
Blige did not reveal her current partner’s identity. She was married to her ex-husband Kendu Isaacs for more than a decade before filing for divorce in 2016. Their divorce was finalized in 2018.
The Grammy-winning singer confirmed she’s working on a new album, which she expected to drop this summer, and discussed plans to release her own line of boots in her talk with Big Tigger. Blige reiterated her desire to play Nina Simone in a movie when the conversation shifted to her acting career.
“If it was a dream role, it would be something like Nina Simone,” she said when asked if she had a dream role. “Because I wanna learn how to play the classical piano and I just love her. I love her songs. I love her story. I did a lot of research on her.”
Blige also reflected on her legacy in music during the chat with Big Tigger. The hitmaking artist championed herself as someone who paved the way for other women in the industry.
“I gave a lot, I gave so much,” she said. “I gave my life, my life story. Yeah, I gave a lot. I was a giver. I opened the doors. What I’ve done since 1991 when I came in has—I mean, from generation to generation to generation, it still exists. Hip-Hop Soul is super important. I’ve given women a voice. Every woman wants to tell their story now because I told mine.”
Kanye West and his wife Bianca Censori were accosted by a homeless man in Los Angeles over the weekend. On Sunday (January 21), TMZ revealed West and Censori were involved in an altercation with an unidentified male during a shopping trip at trendy hotspot Melrose Place. According to the report, the aggressor targeted the couple as they were walking through a parking lot to their Range Rover. Based on the video footage of the encounter, the man involved in the incident appeared to initiate the verbal assault by criticizing Ye for being inauthentic to his race.
”Guess what?” he said in part. “I am the real homie. You got no chance. Look at you trying to copy the white boy so f###ing bad. You ain’t s##t boy just know that.”
As the man continued to verbally attack the couple, he also takes a shot at Ye’s close collaborator Playboi Carti.
“He think he so smart, so new, so nifty! You ain’t s##t boy. Playboi Carti too, that’s a lil f### boi. I am a God homie. Lucifer homie.”
The gentleman proceeded to walk in front of Ye’s SUV and block his path as he continued to shout and direct Satanic slurs toward the couple’s direction before retreating on his own. At one point, he said he’d been homeless for 12 years. Watch the clip above.
Ludacris confirmed he’s working on a TV series based on his early career as a radio DJ. The actor/rapper teased his show on social media after The Hollywood Reporter published a story about the project’s development on Monday (January 22).
“Inspired By My Real Life Journey Coming Up In The Competitive Music Scene In Atlanta as Radio Personality Chris Lova Lova,” Ludacris wrote on Instagram. “Stay tuned.”
The untitled show is being developed as a half-hour dramedy for the Paramount-owned streaming service BET Plus. Larry Wilmore, the co-creator of Insecure and creator of The Bernie Mac Show, joined Ludacris as an executive producer of the upcoming series.
BET Plus said the show will follow “the misadventures of a sharply drawn ensemble who are willing to do anything and everything to bolster ratings at their Hip-Hop radio station.” Noah Gardenswartz, who wrote for Amazon Prime Video’s award-winning series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, was on board to write the script.
Ludacris’ latest TV project was revealed just a few days after he was announced as one of the new judges for Netflix’s Rhythm + Flow. Luda, Latto and DJ Khaled replaced Cardi B, Chance the Rapper and T.I. as judges for the show’s second season. Eminem will appear as a special guest judge.
The Fast & Furious star remained busy in Hollywood at a time when he faced wild accusations from comedian Katt Williams. Earlier this month, Williams claimed Ludacris joined the Illuminati during an appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast. The interview went viral.
Ludacris responded by denying the allegations in a freestyle. Williams fired back by calling Luda a fraud in a diss track previewed on Suge Knight’s Collect Call podcast. Williams’ diss included allegations of Luda sleeping with legendary producer Quincy Jones.
Kodak Black’s lawyer Bradford Cohen filed a motion asking a Florida judge to dismiss the embattled rapper’s drug case. According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Cohen contested the legitimacy of Kodak Black’s drug possession charge.
Cohen claimed prosecutors wrongfully charged Kodak with possession of oxycodone. Cohen said Kodak had a prescription for oxycodone and urged a judge to throw out the charge.
Kodak was originally charged with cocaine possession when a Broward County officer arrested him in December 2023. The officer allegedly discovered a “white chunky substance” while searching Kodak’s vehicle. A field test supposedly came positive for cocaine, but prosecutors did not move forward with the cocaine charge.
Prosecutors officially charged Kodak with oxycodone possession on January 8. His attorney criticized authorities via social media on January 9.
“As stated when this new case first was filed, this was not cocaine and the officer was lying about his observations,” Cohen wrote on Instagram. “We finally got the lab report…its oxycodone that Kodak had a prescription for and not an illegal substance. Knowing that the officer substantially misrepresented his observations, the Broward State Atty Office still filed the charge. Unbelievable and it will not be tolerated. This level of abuse of power by the arresting officer is disgusting. We will be seeking a new bond hearing and addressing these unethical practices by the police department.”
Kodak, whose legal name is Bill Kapri, was placed in federal custody for violating his probation. He remained on probation after former President Donald Trump commuted the rapper’s sentence in a federal gun case in 2021.
Even if Kodak gets out of federal custody, he may quickly find himself back behind bars. Earlier this month, a Broward Circuit Court judge ordered him to be sent to jail if he’s granted his release from a federal detention center.
Jury selection started in the Jam Master Jay murder trial in New York on Monday (January 22). The process began more than three years after his alleged killers Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington were indicted for the DJ’s 2002 murder.
Jordan and Washington were charged with murder while engaged in narcotics trafficking and firearm-related murder in 2020. Authorities arrested Jordan when he allegedly tried to sell drugs to an undercover officer in 2020. Washington was already in federal custody for robbery when he was indicted for Jam Master Jay’s murder.
Both men pleaded not guilty. A third man, Jay Bryant, was charged for his alleged role in the Run-DMC member’s death in 2023. Prosecutors claimed Bryant was with Jordan and Washington on the night of the murder.
“On Wednesday, October 30, 2002, [Jam Master Jay] was present at his recording studio located on Merrick Boulevard in Queens, New York,” U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said. “At approximately 7:30 p.m., Washington, Jordan and Bryant entered the building. Washington pointed his firearm at one of the individuals located inside the studio and demanded that the person lay on the floor. Jordan approached [Jam Master Jay], pointed his firearm at him and fired two shots at close range. One of those shots hit [Jam Master Jay] in the head, killing him. The second shot struck another individual in the leg. All three defendants fled the crime scene.”
According to prosecutors, Bryant admitted to his involvement in the murder. His DNA was found on an article of clothing at the scene of the crime. Bryant will be tried separately for his role in the late DJ’s murder.
Opening statements in Jordan and Washington’s trial are scheduled to begin on January 29. Jam Master Jay’s alleged killers will not face the death penalty if convicted of murder.
Kota the Friend, the illustrious Brooklyn-based artist, is kickstarting the new year with an evocative prelude to his highly anticipated project, ‘Lyrics to Go, Vol. 5.’ His latest offering, “YUMA,” emerges as a spellbinding synthesis of jazz elements and rap, now available for streaming on FLTBYS Music and Entertainment LLC & Venice Music.
“YUMA” unfolds the tale of a relentless nomad, adrift yet undeterred. In this soul-searching track, Kota delves deep into the existential musings of sacrifices unrewarded, echoing the tumult and triumphs inherent in the pursuit of one’s dreams. “The inspiration for ‘YUMA’ came while touring in 2023,” Kota reveals. “It’s a reflection of our journey, a band of inner-city dreamers traversing the nation, and the raw essence of that experience.”
Accompanying the single is a visually arresting music video set in a desolate desert landscape where time is a mere spectator, and the sands sway to Kota’s rhythm. The video is an invitation to experience “YUMA” in a visual format and is available for viewing online.
Recorded during his headline ‘Flowers For My Friends’ tour, “YUMA” is not just a song but a milestone in Kota’s burgeoning career. The tour, in promotion of his critically acclaimed album ‘PROTEA,’ spanned 20 cities, starting in Pittsburgh and culminating in a packed New York venue, marking a triumphant chapter in Kota’s journey.
As the successor to “OREGON,” “YUMA” continues Kota’s artistic penchant for geographically inspired titles and stands as a tantalizing preview of what ‘Lyrics to Go, Vol. 5’ holds. Fans and critics alike are eagerly anticipating the full reveal of the album, scheduled for release on January 25th.
For those captivated by the lyrical prowess and soulful beats of Kota the Friend, “YUMA” is a testament to his evolving artistry and a harbinger of more captivating narratives to come. Stay tuned for the unveiling of ‘Lyrics to Go, Vol. 5’ and immerse yourself in the world of Kota the Friend.
