Nick Cannon told PEOPLE he’s content with being the father of 12 children – for now. The entertainer said he had no intentions of welcoming a 13th baby to the bunch any time soon.
“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?”
Cannon shares two kids with Mariah Carey, three with Brittany Bell, three with Abby De La Rosa, two with Alyssa Scott (including their late son Zen), one with LaNisha Cole and one with Bre Tiesi. Five of Cannon’s children were born in 2022.
“It’s love, man” Cannon told AllHipHop in 2023. “I just operate on the highest frequency I’m allowed to, man, and be moving on that 528 hertz at all times, man. I think the way it’s positioned, people are fascinated, but it’s my life. This is how I move. It’s all positive and love. The whole gang. My 12 constellations, they all rocking.
Cannon didn’t rule out the possibility of adding to his family in the coming years. He referred to 13 as a “lucky number” in his chat with PEOPLE.
The multihyphenate’s family arrangement baffled many observers, but Cannon appreciated his role as a father of 12. He cited one simple phrase as the most rewarding part of being a dad.
“Just hearing your kids say, ‘I love you, daddy,’” he said. “You know what I mean? The first time they say it, whether they’re 1 year old or 18 months, to hearing it from your kids that are on the brink of being teenagers, there’s nothing better than that.”
Cannon acknowledged the humor of his large, blended family in a new advertisement for Buffalo Wild Wings.
Lupe Fiasco went on a social media tirade in response to Kid Cudi discussing their beef in an Apple Music interview. Lupe unleashed a flurry of insults and mentioned his desire to fight Cudi on Friday (January 19).
“Kid Cudi is a b####,” Lupe wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). “And continues to be a b####. Ain’t nobody finna bring up he used to work at the Bape Store to diss his b#### ass for having a regular job before he was a famous b#### with a cool job.”
He added, “I honestly caught wind of [the interview] scrolling through fan comments. And I’m like what the f### is this b#### talking about now with my name… He hid from me in the bape store back in day because he didn’t want me to use it against him when he got famous??? WHAT?!! Like a job shame? I wanna beat this n#### up so bad I’m getting a migraine…”
Lupe recalled his history with Cudi in a series of posts. The lyricist explained how his issues with Cudi developed.
“Aight…this all facts,” Lupe wrote. “Back in the day Cudi was going through a lot of s###. Industry s###, personal s###. I have a habit of reaching out to artists on the low to make sure they cool. I did that with Cudi. Just like words of encouragement and your peers got your back type s###. Fast forward…he mentions that in an interview. Everytime I see Cudi I ask if he good etc. plus I’m a fan of this n#### so I’m happy to see him rise. Time passes. The next time I see him is at a show in LA. It’s me, ASAP Rocky and a few other n#####. Again same energy. Show love.”
He continued, “Now follow this next part carefully. Fast forward I’m on Twitter offering my fans a personal verse for like $500. You pick the beat, the concept, I rap it, make the dope 1of1 art package for it. No copies just the one you own. People vibing with it. Boom… Cudi tweets me out of nowhere and asks ‘what you gonna do with the money from those verses?’ I’m taken aback and Im thinking he playing so I respond with “what you gonna do with the money from those $1500 Zannoti collabs?’ He had just did a collab them around the same time. Then it’s silence but I’m not really thinking about. Then after a few minutes I get a bunch of spam tweets talking about I’m a thief and a swindler. So I’m like WTF is this! I go to Cudi page and this b#### is on his feed talking about Lupe robbing his fans and he’d never do that.”
Lupe claimed he tried to mend fences with Cudi to no avail. Lupe accused Cudi of avoiding every attempt to settle their differences.
“So I’m like is this n#### serious?” Lupe wrote. “I’m like why would he do that? Me and cudi had the same security so I reach out to him and like give me cudi number, he like he changed it but he got his mgmt number. But nobody can seem to get Cudi on the phone. Even though they right next to him. Till this day this b#### won’t get on the phone and even when we at the same festivals they won’t allow me to go to his stage. He ducks calls, face to faces. All I wanted was an explanation at the least a my bad. Cuz I’ve never done anything to him except support. Now it’s f### him 4 life and keep my name out your mouth b####…”
Lupe told fans he was not jealous of Cudi or trying to be a bully. Lupe said he felt slighted and “doesn’t play about his name in the streets or the industry.”
SZA excited fans by previewing a remix of Flo Milli’s song “Never Lose Me” on social media. The Top Dawg Entertainment singer briefly shared lyrics she wrote for the track on X (formerly known as Twitter) before deleting the post.
“He speed inna jeep w his hand on my booty he touchin on me I get goofy from the burbs so I’m actin so bougie from the burbs but I suck it like suki,” she wrote.
Flo Mill confirmed a remix was in the works on Friday (January 19). The RCA Records rapper posted a screenshot of her texts with SZA on X and Instagram.
“Lmao I deleted but we getting somewhereeeeee,” SZA wrote to Flo Milli. “It sounds cute!”
Flo Milli responded, “Lmaooo ur a f###### genius. Pure mastery. The girls aren’t ready TRUST!!!”
The original “Never Lose Me” dropped in December 2023. Flo Milli also released alternated versions of the track featuring Bryson Tiller and Lil Yachty.
“Never Lose Me” was Flo Milli’s first song to crack the Billboard Hot 100 chart, debuting at No. 84. It reached No. 1 on Billboard’s TikTok Top 50 chart in January.
SZA teased her remix of Flo Milli’s “Never Lose Me” a few weeks after venting frustrations with people leaking her music. SZA called out leakers, threatening to pursue legal action against them.
“LEAKING MY MUSIC IS STEALING,” she wrote on X. “THIS IS MY JOB. THIS IS MY LIFE AND MY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. YOU ARE A F###### THIEF AND I PROMISE TO PUT MAXIMUM ENERGY INTO HOLDING EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW. I AM TIRED.”
SZA previously complained about the leaks in a 2023 interview with Variety. She called leakers “selfish,” noting how they ruined her songs and sent her into “a weird space creatively.”
Between the fusion of stylistic textures and OTH€LLO’s infusion of scintillatingly evocative soul that spills right from the source, his debut album, Miss Mayotte, has firmly established him as a decadently distinctive voice in the modern hip-hop and Afro-fusion arena. The LP is a testament to his journey from the bustling streets of Montreal to the pulsating energy of the Bay Area, marking his evolution from a street performer to a hip-hop marvel.
Miss Mayotte begins with Her Soul Speaks, a track that masterfully fuses jazzy neo-pop with R&B. It sets the tone for an album that not only engages in a deep conversation with the soul but also offers a rich musical odyssey. Each of the eight tracks unfolds a new chapter in OTH€LLO’s narrative, challenging societal conventions and boldly asserting his personal growth.
The album showcases OTH€LLO’s skill in lyrical introspection, weaving stories with a voice as smooth as honey, set against mellow, resonant instrumental backdrops. The production quality is profound, creating an array of exhilarating sounds that are both comforting and invigorating.
Afterglow, the album’s second single, mixes provocative imagery with sweet melodies, all set to the rhythm of afro-fusion beats that reshape the soundscape. The album reaches a high point with its title track, Miss Mayotte, a potent anthem addressing misogynoir while celebrating the strength and grace of the often-unseen queen. OTH€LLO’s transition from scepticism to a belief in the true essence of love is tangible in every melody, positioning Miss Mayotte as a beacon of hope and resilience.
OTH€LLO’s music resonates with his Congolese roots, incorporating elements from gospel and secular soukous music. His musical journey, from performing in musicals in a conservative Edmonton high school to refining his art in Toronto’s streets and church choirs, has endowed his music with a uniquely authentic flavour.
With his debut single SZA 4 NGAZ amassing over 84,000 streams on Spotify, and accolades from The Source and This is 50, OTH€LLO is more than an artist to watch – he’s an artist to be experienced. Released on November 24th, Miss Mayotte is a celebration of music’s ability to transform, inspire, and transcend.
Rick Ross believes the next step in his evolution as a boss is to join the wave of high-profile individuals building doomsday bunkers. Rozay recently shared an Instagram Story detailing a conversation he had with an acquaintance of his regarding their next big moves. Based on his statement in the video, Ross is apparently already well underway in the planning stages of building his own doomsday bunker.
”I’m having a boss conversation with one of my homies and he said, ‘what’s one of the bossest moves you pulling off,’ and I said, matter of fact I haven’t said this yet, but I wan’t to give a salute to Catapillar,” he said. ” We breaking ground—I’m excavating. It’s going down. Y’all know how I love real estate and I usually like to build and go up—we going underground now.”
As Rozay continued, he appeared to challenge Tesla automaker Elon Musk to a battle of the bunkers, adding, “One time for all of my doomsday prepper. Elon Musk I see you, I saw your ground plans. I’m impressed but guess what? My bunker going to have a garage. My bunker going have wings. HUH!? Yeah we breaking ground. Huge excavations.”
As if a garage and wings weren’t enough, Rozay concluded the clip by further flossing the amenities he’s planning to offer in his bunker. “You gotta have your fluids—I got a water maker. Something that can make a—a machine that can make water outta H20. I got a water maker, we got our canned goods. So if you thinking the brothas ain’t ready, we ready!” he said.
Y’all think Mark Zuckerberg gonna have a garage in his bunker in Hawaii? Check out the full video below.
Lil Nas X (born Montero Lamar Hill) will let viewers get a glimpse into his life with a new documentary. Long Live Montero premieres on HBO and the Max streaming service on January 27 at 8 pm ET/PT.
An official trailer for Long Live Montero arrived on Thursday (January 18). The two-minute teaser features Lil Nas X discussing some of the public perceptions about him.
“Some people think my music is dope. Some people see me as this like satanic devil,” the openly gay artist pondered in the video. He also said, ” When I was a kid, my sexuality was just like the elephant in the room.”
Lil Nas X came out as gay in June 2019 after his 2018 single “Old Town Road” became a chart-topping hit in America. “Old Town Road” remained at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for a record-breaking 19 weeks in 2019.
Since revealing being part of the LGBTQ community, Lil Nas X has faced ridicule and condemnation. For example, Boosie Badazz became one of the Georgia native’s most outspoken critics. The Baton Rouge-raised rapper called Lil Nas a “f#####” and suggested the Grammy winner should take his own life.
Boosie also joined other celebrities in denouncing Lil Nas X’s rollout for his new “J Christ” song. Lil Nas faced significant backlash for supposedly mocking Jesus Christ. The negative reactions to his antics eventually caused the 24-year-old entertainer to offer an apology to his Christian fans.
Lil Nas X’s Long Live Montero joins an HBO Max music documentary library that also features Juice WRLD’s Juice WRLD: Into the Abyss and Lizzo’s Love, Lizzo. Carlos López Estrada and Zac Manuel directed Long Live Montero. Members of Hill’s family as well as recording artist Saucy Santana make appearances in the doc.
ATL Jacob and Tems may have just ironed out a misunderstanding regarding recent comments made about the collaborative hit they worked on with Drake and Future.
On Thursday (January 18), Jacob appeared to respond to a report from TMZ in which Tems’ manager refutes his claim he needed Drake to clear “Wait For You” from Future’s I NEVER LIKED YOU LP. In his initial remark, Jacob directly addressed Tems in an attempt to reconcile.
“I gave my side of the story about me creating a HIT song after being INSPIRED by the song i sampled,” he wrote. “Someone reacting so Negatively to a subject that meant no harm SHOWS A LOT. Out of all the good s### i said about you @temsbaby over the years this the only reaction i get?”
I gave my side of the story about me creating a HIT song after being INSPIRED by the song i sampled .. someone reacting so Negatively to a subject that meant no harm SHOWS A LOT Out of all the good s### i said about you @temsbaby over the years this the only reaction i get?
In a reply to Jacob’s initial message, Tems attempted to diffuse the situation by writing, “I LOVE THIS STORY. Look at the phrasing. Magnificent..”
Though Jacob replied “I LOVE YOU TEMS,” the conversation appeared to go south. In a follow-up tweet, Jacob offered to use money to thwart the “negativity” coming his way regarding this issue.
“All this negativity coming to me … I got a $100,000 Wire transfer for Tems and her team to find me 1 time I Spoke Negatively about her …” he wrote.
Tems swiftly replied, imploring Jacob to simply refrain from further dragging the situation out. She wrote, “Its not about saying anything negative STOP TELLING LIES. I’ll give you 1 million.”
By this point, Tems manager jumped into the mix and cited Jacob’s Grammy’s speech as evidence that he’d taken his “opinion” too far, saying, “You lied about us not wanting to clear the record. You also lied that Drake had to call us to clear the record. You then lied and said you spoke to Tems saying ‘No need to thank me’ at the Grammys. This is literally recorded in HD. What exactly is wrong with you???”
In the end, Jacob made it clear there are no hard feelings toward Tems or her team. He concluded, “No beef.. all love on my end, I would never beef with a Woman I love all the Queens out here.”
Will Luenell be the next comedian to break the internet with an interview on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay? The Arkansas-born entertainer made a play to appear on the podcast.
“Hey @clubshayshay, I like private planes too. Lemme [know if you want] a lil mid-air kitty kat (meow). Oh well, we can talk about it when I come on the show one day,” Luenell posted on Instagram.
Additionally, Luenell asked her followers to support her mission of making it onto Club Shay Shay. She wrote in the Instagram caption, “@clubshayshay @shannonsharpe84 #LueNatiks tag him & let him know I stand on BUSINESS.”
Club Shay Shay became a weeks-long trending topic after Katt Williams went scorched-earth on other celebrities during an appearance on the show. In particular, Williams blasted Kevin Hart, Rickey Smiley and Ludacris.
Both Ludacris and Luenell showed up in the Katt Williams: American Hustle comedy film. Additionally, Luenell starred in movies such as Think Like a Man, Dolemite Is My Name and Coming 2 America.
The full Club Shay Shay episode featuring Katt Williams has amassed more than 50 million views on YouTube. Additional clips racked up millions of plays on the platform as well.
Ja Rule scored some of the biggest hits of his career with Ashanti. The Murder Inc. Records alumni helped the label top the Billboard charts.
In addition to making music with Ja Rule in the early 2000s, Ashanti began a relationship with Nelly in 2003. The couple broke up before rekindling their romance two decades later.
Ja Rule made an appearance on The Tamron Hall Show this week. The Pain Is Love album creator shared his thoughts on Ashanti and Nelly reuniting after a ten-year split.
“You can tell sometimes when women – they want that old thing back. I don’t want to blow sis up. But the chemistry was there,” Ja Rule told Tamron Hall.
He continued, “And I think for both of them it came back quick. So I think they missed each other. It had to be that way because of the way they just clicked and came back so fast.”
Ja Rule’s “Always On Time” featuring Ashanti peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2002. The frequent collaborators also scored Top 10 entries with “Mesmerize,” “Down 4 U” and “Wonderful.”
Nelly attained Billboard success in his own right. The Country Grammar album creator has four No. 1 songs on the Hot 100, including “Dilemma” featuring Kelly Rowland spending four weeks in the top spot.
Kid Cudi dropped his ninth studio album, Insano, on January 12. The Cleveland native promoted the 21-track project by appearing on Apple Music 1.
Zane Lowe traveled to Kid Cudi’s home for the nearly hour-long interview. At one point, Cudi talked about working at the BAPE Store in New York six years ago.
“Lupe Fiasco came to the store one day. He was in the store, I was in the back and they were like, ‘Yo, Lupe’s here.’ I was like, ‘Oh, s###,’ Stayed downstairs, waited till he left,” Kid Cudi recalled.
The 39-year-old musician/actor told a co-worker, “I was like, ‘Yo, bro, if I get famous one day, I don’t ever want this n##### saying, “You sold me clothes, you my son.” We can’t have that.’”
“This was my explanation, and when you think about it, he hates me to this day. He hates me. So it’s like I was right. I was on to something. I sensed something in the universe,” Cudi stated.
Kid Cudi Wants Fans To Debate If Insano Is The Best Album Of 2023
According to HitsDailyDouble, Kid Cudi’s Insano will debut around No. 12 on the next Billboard 200 chart. The album is on pace to open with 38,000 first-week units.
Insano joins a studio LP discography that includes the 2009 classic Man on the Moon: The End of Day. 2022’s Entergalactic was Cudi’s most recent full-length body of work.
“I feel like all these years I’ve kind of been exploring as an artist, and I’ve been on a quest, a quest to acquire my powers to be able to compete one day, and that was one of the goals I had going into this,” Cudi told Zane Lowe.
The Grammy winner added, “I want people to arguably have the debate about my s### being one of the best albums of the year. I didn’t want to have any doubts. I wanted to make something that was completely undeniable.”
Katt Williams’s podcast run continues. The headline-generating comedian recently spoke to Suge Knight for the incarcerated felon’s Collect Call. Episode nine of the show featured Williams returning fire at Ludacris.
Luda hit back at the Primetime Emmy Award winner with a freestyle over Kanye West’s “Devil in a New Dress” beat. He denied being in the Illuminati. In response, Katt Williams took time during his conversation with Suge Knight to preview a diss track directed at the Fast & Furious star.
“In real life, I’m fast and furious. In real life, n####, you bi-curious,” rapped Williams. The creator of the World War III comedy special also said, “Ludacris, you must be out your rabid-ass mind. Made a rap song, but, n####, you ain’t say I’m f###### lying.”
Later in the verse, Katt Williams suggested Ludacris had sex with a music industry icon. The 52-year-old Cincinnati native rapped, “One last point and I’m gonna leave it alone. I’ve never personally been with Quincy Jones. But you, that was your girl-girl, boy-boy.”
Ludacris has not publicly confirmed being gay or bisexual. The 46-year-old former radio DJ married female model Eudoxie Mbouguiengue in 2014. The couple have two daughters together.
Wiz Khalifa laughed off the controversy over a clip of him pranking a sleeping friend by blowing smoke in his face.
Social media users roasted the cannabis connoisseur after the clip surfaced online on Thursday (January 18). The video shows Compton rapper AD soundly sleeping in a chair in the studio before Wiz blows an enormous cloud of smoke in his face.
“Oh my God,” someone remarks off camera, noting smoke was streaming out of AD’s eyes as Wiz Khalifa returned with another smoke blast.
A confused AD woke up a few seconds later as Wiz and his friends laughed.
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) January 18, 2024
Fans shared the clip online, with many clowning Wiz for getting so close to another man.
Wiz Khalifa caught wind of the comments but insisted, “I’m just being myself.”
In a video shared Thursday, the “Love to Smoke” hitmaker said the backlash is actually a confidence booster.
“Because I’m not doing anything on purpose but y’all keep talking about me,” he told fans. “Y’all s### don’t exist unless y’all talking about me.
“I don’t even got no shape up, I got a little thing on my head,” Wiz Khalifa said adding he still looks and feels great.
“I can still do whatever the hell I want, and I don’t need any of that extra stuff that everybody else needs to be themselves,” he explained. “I’m clearly just being myself. Clearly just enjoying myself and having a good time and y’all’s day revolves around that. Good look. Shout out to me.”
Blueface is firing back at Soulja Boy as the feuding duo continues to trade insults despite the MILF Music founder serving time in jail.
In his first behind-bars update, Blue took a jab at Soulja, who fired back on Instagram Live, threatening to pay an inmate to rape the “BDD” hitmaker. He also claimed Blue has gone broke while flashing his stacks of cash, claiming he’s going to pay Blue’s baby mamas for sexual favors.
Bluefaced clapped back in a recording circulating on social media, insinuating Soulja Boy is the type of person to snitch and sharing a rumor that the “Crank That” hitmaker spent time in PC (protective custody) when he was in jail.
“I don’t know Soulja Boy still popping it,” Blueface said on the recording. Any n#### happy a n#### in jail, he the type of n#### to tell. We already heard cuz was in here on PC, in a yellow jumpsuit eating applesauce.”
Blue’s manager, Wack 100, also responded to Soulja Boy, claiming he’s not keeping the same energy.
“@souljaboy you look like a real, real coward. YOU DIDN’T HAVE THIS ENERGY WHEN @bluefasebabyy was out. IT’S NOT LONG. “I’M STILL HERE, HE’S STILL HERE,” he wrote on his Instagram Story.
“We talked to your baby mama,” he said, referring to Blueface claiming he slept with the mother of Soulja Boy’s child. “She said you called her and asked her about being hit. And you haven’t answered her calls since… you’re not gone, just pick this up. “Go the other way first.”
Tems and her manager are accusing ATL Jacob of lying repeatedly after the producer claimed the Nigerian singer-songwriter was reluctant to clear a sample for “WAIT FOR U.”
The spat began on Thursday (January 18) after the Atlanta-based beatmaker said Tems initially refused to clear a sample of her song “High” used in the hook of Future’s 2002 banger featuring Drake and Tems.
“Tems wouldn’t clear the song,” ATL Jacob said during an appearance on The Baller Alert Show. He claimed he had to call on Future to get Drake to reach out to Tems and urge her to approve the sample. He also shared his belief that Tems was “irritated” with the song.
However, Tems’ manager, Muyiwa Awoniyi, hit back against the producer in a post on X. Sharing a clip of the interview, he insisted there was no truth to the claims and accused ATL Jacob of inventing the whole story.
“Every single word uttered here is untrue,” he wrote. “You even made up scenarios that never happened. It is shocking how someone can be so bold yet so wrong. Highly disappointing , do better.”
In a follow-up post, ATL Jacob said “I gave my side of the story,” and said the negative reaction was revealing. “Out of all the good s### i said about you @temsbaby over the years this the only reaction i get?” he added.
Tems Claps Back At ATL Jacob
Tems responded to ATL Jacob directly, quoting his post alongside a message of her own
“I LOVE THIS STORY,’ she replied. “Look at the phrasing. Magnificent.”
When ATL Jacob offered to wire “Tems and her team” $100,000 to find a single instance of him speaking negatively about her, Tems upped the ante with a counteroffer.
“Its not about saying anything negative STOP TELLING LIES,” she added. “I’ll give you 1 million.”
ATL Jacob insisted he was sharing his “opinion” and questioned, “where is the lie about how i felt?” c
Tems reposted Awoniyi’s reply to ATL Jacob detailing his alleged lies.
“You lied about us not wanting to clear the record,” he said, adding that the producer also lied about Drake having to intervene. “You then lied and said you spoke to Tems saying “No need to thank me” at the Grammys. This is literally recorded in HD. What exactly is wrong with you???” Awoniyi wrote.
Ultimately it appears Tems and ATL Jacob squashed the issue.
“It is well,” she wrote a few hours after the exchange began.
Doja Cat’s brother is denying abusing his famous sister or their mother, and said there is no restraining order against him amid reports the “Demons” hitmaker’s mom sought court-ordered protection from him.
A judge reportedly granted Deborah Elizabeth Sawyer a temporary restraining order against her son Raman Dalithando Dlamini. She accused the 30-year-old of physical and verbal abuse and said Dlamini knocked out Doja Cats’ teeth.
Meanwhile, Dlamini says there’s no truth to his mother’s allegations, and he’s not in touch with her nor his sister. Paparazzi caught up with Dlamini while he was taking a stroll in the park on Thursday (January 18). He initially denied he is Doja Cat’s brother before saying he had “no comment” on the accusations.
However, he eventually offered up a few words but said there was no restraining order. Dlamini also said he hasn’t “seen anybody in years.”
TSR Exclusive: Doja Cat's brother, Raman, denies the abuse allegations by his mother in a recent restraining order. pic.twitter.com/QY26lhWqas
In her application, Sawyer said her verbally abusive son talks to Doja Cat “in a very degrading and demeaning manor [sic].” Consequently, Doja feels “unsafe and traumatized.”
The judge did not make any order concerning Doja Cat and said she would have to file herself. Sawyer accused her son of physically abusing her on multiple occasions, including one incident within the last month. She was granted temporary protection pending a hearing for a permanent restraining order.
Doja Cat has not spoken publicly about the filing or her brother’s alleged abuse.
First of all, what is Baphomet? According to a site, “Baphomet is the name of a false god associated in times past with the Knights Templar and today with Satanism and the occult.”
Now, based on some of the stuff that I know about Ed, I happen to believe I know who he is talking about. But, do you know who he’s talking about? The first thought was LL Cool J. LL is the on that coined the term the “G.O.A.T.” and others have adopted it. But then I started looking at some of the comments in the post and thought maybe there’s more to it than that. LL has never been associated with Satan! What do you think?
I know one thing: Ed marks a new era of outspokenness from artists (see Dee-1) that object to certain parts of the culture. This is largely based on a chasm that has grown size between those that proclaim themselves to be Hip-Hop culture and others that are more like capitalist and opportunists in the culture. I believe you can be Hip-Hop AND capitalistic. By the way, I am not insinuating that that is LL Cool J or others. I do believe, however, that folks have more to say than they actually say. Basically, they are talking around it, but not naming names.
So, Special Ed, I would ask you to simply mention the names of exactly who you’re talking to! Don’t leave us in suspense like this. I will say one thing, calling somebody, the devil is strong language to use, especially because most of us came from the mud in Hip-Hop.
If you want to know more about where Ed is coming from, check out our interview. He had PLENTY to say about the 50 years of Hip-Hop celebrations.
As we stride toward the 51st year of Hip-Hop, there’s a curious twist: people are finally giving MC Hammer his due while simultaneously throwing shade at Drake, dubbing him more “pop” than “Hip-Hop.” Let’s dive in. The whole debate sparked from a chat on The Cutting Room Floor, where Mos Def (Yasiin Bey) labeled Drake as “pop.” He said, “Drake is pop to me, in the sense like if I was in a Target in Houston. It just feels like a lot of his music is compatible with shopping.”
Let me break it down for you, starting with a Golden Era icon—MC Hammer. Once upon a time, it seemed like the Bay Area rapper was Hip-Hop’s public enemy number one. Now, before you agree or disagree, let’s back up a bit. Before Hammer’s 17 million album sales in the early ’90s and a Grammy nod for “Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em,” Hip-Hop was still finding its footing. Icons such as Run-DMC, who crossed over using rock ‘n roll and with the massive Aerosmith collaboration, “Walk This Way,” were all about expanding their reach, including drawing in a white audience.
The trend wasn’t unique to them. Artists such as Kid-N-Play, Salt-N-Pepa, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, LL COOL J and others aimed for stardom, seeking mainstream success and record sales. Fast forward to today, MC Hammer is being celebrated, while Drake—who rapped in “First Person Shooter” with J. Cole—one of 2023’s best, in my opinion—laments, “Will they ever give me flowers, of course not.”
Yasiin Bey could’ve argued for Drake’s place in Hip-Hop, even with his pop leanings. After all, “pop” isn’t a dirty word. Michael Jackson, the self-proclaimed “King of Pop,” is still fiercely defended by fans. Pop simply means popular, and in 2024, that translates to streaming success. There’s no comparison if you look up the number of popular rappers now compared to the ’80s, ’90s and even the 2000s. Drake’s response to Mos Def was lukewarm and didn’t quite hit the mark. But here’s the thing: being pop doesn’t negate an artist’s R&B or Hip-Hop credentials—just look at MJ, or even somebody like Coldplay, an alternative rock band that’s also a pop sensation.
Personally, I’m more into hardcore rap, the kind that challenges systems and norms. But I recognize there’s space for everything in Hip-Hop. From Lauryn Hill’s mostly sung masterpiece, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, to Missy Elliott’s pop-infused tracks, they all contribute to the culture’s vibrancy. It’s also a business, after all, and diversity is key.
Toward the end of the interview, Mos Def pondered, “Are we not in some early stage of that at this present hour? Are we seeing like the collapse of the Empire?” Is Hip-Hop facing its downfall? I can’t say for sure. But I do know this: Drake can be both Hip-Hop and pop. They’re not mutually exclusive. Yasiin Bey might not be into Drake’s music, and that’s OK. We all have our preferences. My buddy Jared adores everything Drake does, sparking endless debates. That’s the essence of Hip-Hop.
AtAllHipHop, we strive to cover and embrace the full spectrum, even if some parts aren’t my cup of tea. Honestly, this whole debate just fuels unnecessary division within Hip-Hop.
In the words of Mos Def, “Black people unite, come on, and get down/Gotta have what? Love, peace and understanding…” Lastly, tell the truth…isn’t the eternally beautiful “Umi Says” totally compatible with shopping at Target in 2024? So many SKUs in Hip-Hop…so many SKUs.
Benny The Butcher recently revealed Hit-Boy has helped him reach a level of success he previously hadn’t on his own while responding to social media trolls.
On Thursday (January 18), Benny inadvertently set off on a Twitter (X) rant following fan criticism of latest release, “BRON.” In his initial tweet, the Buffalo-bred MC shared a screenshot of users arguing about Hit-Boy’s talents as a producer in a thread he shared about his upcoming project EVERYBODY CAN’T GO.
“It’s gonna be a whole lotta this 1/26 lol That’s why EVERYBODY CANT GO is the perfect title,” Benny started off in the first tweet.
It’s gonna be a whole lotta this 1/26 lol That’s why EVERYBODY CANT GO is the perfect title pic.twitter.com/1BDlQaatn9
In a follow-up tweet he added, “That’s the reason I call these fools nerds and say they’re opinions ain’t worth dog s###.”
As the user doubled down and suggested that Hit-Boy’s formula as a producer was dated and singularly specific to the 2010s’ era of rap music, Benny spoke otherwise, citing the data as evidence.
“This is where you wrong…Real Benny fans wanna hear [fire emoji] music…boom bap fans wanna hear wat u described…BURDEN OF PROOF…I kno cuz I’m Benny the butcher,” he wrote.
As if his previous retort wasn’t enough, Benny tripled down after the user replied and seemingly claimed the Black Soprano Family lyricist had lost sight of the needs of his fanbase by collaborating with Hit-Boy.
“No they didn’t…stop makin up stuff to fit your narrative…like it or not BOP with HIT did more for my career than anything solo I dropped before it gang …I kno cuz I’m Benny himself and look at the numbers & responses everyday. Stop mistaking your opinion for everyone else’s gang,” he wrote.
No they didn’t…stop makin up stuff to fit your narrative…like it or not BOP with HIT did more for my career than anything solo I dropped before it gang …I kno cuz I’m Benny himself and look at the numbers & responses everyday. Stop mistaking your opinion for everyone else’s… https://t.co/KRGxmmRz01
Benny’s EVERYBODY CAN’T GO, due out January 26, will serve as both his fourth studio album and debut effort via Def Jam. In addition to including production from Hit-Boy, the LP was also helmed by The Alchemist and is home to Benny’s “Big Dog” single featuring Lil Wayne.
Check out Benny and Hit-Boy’s joint-effort release “BRON” below.
Netflix unveiled a new cast for the second season of its Hip-Hop competition series Rhythm + Flow on Thursday (January 18). The streaming service announced Latto, Ludacris and DJ Khaled as the new judges with Eminem joining as a special guest judge.
“We are taking things up a notch with a new cast of global hitmakers in our judges and a new pool of undiscovered artists,” Netflix Vice President of Nonfiction Series Brandon Riegg said. “Hip-Hop continues to evolve, so it’ll be thrilling to see Ludacris, Latto, and DJ Khaled mentoring contestants during their journeys, along with legendary guest judges like Eminem providing their own brand of insight and advice. We saw this type of life-changing mentorship play out with past contestants whose musical geniuses reached massive audiences across our global platform.”
Latto, Ludacris and DJ Khaled replaced Cardi B, Chance the Rapper and T.I. as the show’s judges. Production for the second season is underway with a premiere slated for later this year.
“In this significant moment for the genre, the focus extends beyond the music alone,” executive producers Jesse Collins and Dionne Harmon said. “We’re seeking unconventional voices and authentic stories that peel back layers and invite fans to immerse themselves in the contestants’ world as we spotlight the continually evolving spirit of Hip-Hop.”
Rhythm + Flow debuted on Netflix in 2019. Grammy Award nominee D Smoke won the show’s first season.
“I was extremely competitive on Rhythm + Flow,” D Smoke told AllHipHop in 2021. “And, you know, a lot of people believed in me from the jump, but from my perspective, it was like, if I didn’t pull out all stops at every point in time, it was anybody’s to take. So, those things definitely played a role in me having this opportunity now to be on a global platform.”
Watch the teaser for Rhythm + Flow’s second season below.
Fredo Bang complained about celebrities not posting sexually explicit content on their OnlyFans pages in an interview with Bootleg Kev. The Def Jam rapper mentioned Cardi B, Rubi Rose, Erica Banks, Alexis Skyy and more as content creators who disappointed him.
“I checked,” Fredo Bang said. “I subscribed to Cardi’s, I subscribed to Rubi Rose’s … I just subscribe to all these m############ … I ain’t gonna lie, the celebrities, they trash. They OnlyFans is trash. It’s horrible … If you on OnlyFans, pop it off, bruh. Don’t come to play.”
Fredo’s beef extended to non-famous OnlyFans creators. The Baton Rouge native demanded to see nudity and much more if he subscribed to someone’s account or paid for a video.
“I’m hating on the OnlyFans catfishes and some of the celebrities that doing it,” he said. “If you doing OnlyFans and I subscribe to your OnlyFans, I am coming to see you fully, full-blown bare with a little bit of play and sexual engagement. If you’re not doing that, you need to get off of OnlyFans. I don’t want to see you in your drawers and when I click the picture—you got the thumbnail of you waving, pulling your drawers down but when I go to the picture, it’s just you talking to me.”
Fredo did not reveal how much money he spends on OnlyFans but noted he “supports our women.” Bootleg Kev joked about Fredo having an OnlyFans addiction during their discussion.
“I ain’t gonna lie – I be on Adderall, I be tripping,” Fredo said. “‘Cause you know you be focused. [I’ll be on OnlyFans] about two, three hours then you get DMing everybody you used to mess with. Soon as you finish, you like, ‘Damn, why’d I text her?’”
Fredo’s new album Yes, I’m Sad drops on Friday (January 19).
