Mathew Knowles published a memoir titled Racism From the Eyes of a Child in 2017. The father of Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Solange Knowles secured a deal for screen adaptations of his autobiography.
According to reports, Knowles has partnered with the Say Unkel Entertainment production company to create a feature film and a limited series based on Racism From the Eyes of a Child.
The motion picture version will cover the first half of the book. That section focused on Mathew Knowles growing up in Alabama during the racial tensions of the 1960s.
Racism From the Eyes of a Child highlighted Civil Rights icons like Martin Luther King Jr. and Ralph Abernathy. Mathew Knowles told Variety, “These are the men who made me proud and women who taught me to fight back.”
After founding Music World Entertainment in 1992, Knowles began managing the Houston-based girl group Destiny’s Child. His daughter, Beyoncé, was the lead singer of the R&B act.
Mathew Knowles secured Destiny’s Child a label deal with Columbia Records and led them to multiple Grammy Award wins. Beyoncé eventually went solo and severed professional ties with her father.
In 2016, Beyoncé released the song “Daddy Lessons” as part of her sixth studio album Lemonade. The country track featured Queen Bey reflecting on her relationship with Mathew Knowles.
There is no doubt that hip-hop is one of the most popular genres of music out there with a huge following ever since it originated in the 1970s. In fact, like many music genres, hip-hop addresses a range of themes which keep the songs appealing to a modern audience. As many hip-hop songs touch on exciting themes such as gambling and casinos, it is worth exploring the various hip-hop tracks that you might have known relate to these activities.
Firstly, it is important to note that gambling is one of those themes that dominate the hip-hop industry. This is partially because gambling has become such a popular practice around the world. With the increased competition, many popular Irish online casinos offer slot games based on hip hop such as Wild Beast, a slot featuring a soundtrack rap fans will love and Hip Hop Panda which amusingly features a rapping panda. They’ve done this to attract as many players with different interests to their site. Gambling is also a popular theme in the entertainment sector inspiring music, TV and film and games with many video games now incorporating casino themed mini games.
One song that highlights gambling themes is “Mo Money Mo Problems” by The Notorious B.I.G. Featuring Puff Daddy & Ma$e. This track is the second single from the hit album Life After Death. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks back in July 1997 It is one of the most noteworthy hits in hip-hop past. With guest vocals from Puff Daddy and Ma$e, it also has instrumental samples from the Diana Ross song “I’m Coming Out”. The reason why this song has been successful with both casino fans and music fans is because it has a feel-good vibe that makes you feel just as you would in a casino.
Furthermore, released in 2011, Vegas by Kendrick Lamar is known as one of the most famous gambling themed songs in the hip-hop genre. One of the most sung lines in this song is ““If Gambling’s A Sin, Then I’m Rollin’ Dice With Lucifer To Make Sure I Ain’t Losin’ You”. The song exposes how Lamar fuses the thrill that comes with gambling and casinos to the way he feels about a woman. With many references to gambling woven throughout the song, not only does it get listeners excited to gamble but it also gets them thinking about their own love life. Listeners will also be pleased to hear a variety of casino games mentioned in the song such as blackjack, poker, craps and slots.
Moreover, a more recent song release in the hip-hop genre is Vegas by Doja Cat which came out onto the charts in 2022. Not only is Doja Cat one of the best female rap artists around today, but her song touches on gambling themes as it is based around Las Vegas which is known as casino central. Also touching on relationship issues, this song has helped to firmly cement Doja Cat as an incredibly successful artist whilst demonstrating her vocal range and her talent.
Of course, “Life is a Gamble” by Big K.R.I.T. is another great song relating to gambling released in 2013. This rapper and producer was very successful with this song as it touches on deeper themes relating to life while still having a catchy beat. Just like gambling, the song discusses the risks that we take in life and reflects on how they can pay off. One of the lines that resonates most with listeners is “They say life (is a gamble), so be careful when you shake ’em up.” Not only does this song give every listener advice on how to move forward with their lives, but it also inspires them to remain positive.
In addition, as the title hints at, “The Gambler” by Xzibit is one of the best songs in the hip-hop genre relating to casino activities. Released in 2002, this song is part of his album “Man vs. Machine”. A part of what makes this song so interesting to listen to is how honest Xzibit is when conveying his emotions. Alluding to the world of gambling, the streets and the rap realm, this song will certainly go down in history and will remain on many people’s playlists for years to come.
Ultimately, there are a huge number of hip-hop songs that linking to gambling and casinos that inspire people to reflect on their own lives. In the future, as more online casinos come out onto the market, it is likely that there will be even more songs in the hip-hop genre that resonates and links to gambling. So, why not add a few songs to your hip-hop playlist that relates to gambling or even play them while you are gambling to get you in the perfect mood?
Toosii has reason to celebrate this holiday season. The rapper/singer’s viral smash “Favorite Song” earned the distinction of being America’s most-watched music video of 2023.
According to Vevo’s year-end statistics, Toosii’s “Favorite Song” totaled 101.8 million views in the United States this year. Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” came in second place with 97.9 million views.
Hip-Hop stars Ice Spice and Nicki Minaj also made the U.S. Top 5. Their “Princess Diana” collaboration amassed 52.3 million views for fourth place behind the 84.1 million views for KAROL G and Shakira’s “TQG.”
Taylor Swift is Vevo’s “Most Watched Artist” in the U.S. for 2023. The singer/songwriter amassed 649.5 million total views. Atlanta rapper Lil Baby landed in the runner-up position with 612.7 million views.
Billboard listed “Favorite Song” at No. 21 on the 2023 Hot 100 Year-End chart. Additionally, Toosie’s biggest hit took the No. 6 spot on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Year-End chart.
Jodeci will be the latest R&B act to take their talents to Las Vegas, Nevada. “The Party, The After Party, The Vegas Residency” will premiere at the House of Blues Music Hall at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.
Fan pre-sale tickets for the show will be available beginning today (December 13) at 10 am PT. General tickets for the first ten shows go on sale Saturday (December 16) at 10 am PT.
“The Party, The After Party, The Vegas Residency” kicks off on March 15. A second run begins on July 5. The series of performances drew its name from Jodeci’s 1995 album The Show, the After Party, the Hotel.
Additionally, the highly influential group released 1991’s Forever My Lady, 1993’s Diary of a Mad Band and 2015’s The Past, The Present, The Future. The RIAA certified Forever My Lady as 3x-Platinum.
Jodeci also collected a 2x-Platinum plaque from the RIAA for Diary of a Mad Band. In addition, The Show, the After Party, the Hotel reached Platinum certification.
DeVanté Swing, Mr. Dalvin, K-Ci, and JoJo became one of the standout R&B acts of the 1990s. The foursome scored five No. 1 songs on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Jodeci heads to Las Vegas as another legendary R&B performer just ended his residency there. Usher’s headline-generating My Way The Vegas Residency at Park MGM led to the Atlanta native receiving a Key to the City.
Casandra “Cassie” Ventura’s decision to file a sexual assault lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs became the first damaging domino to drop against the Bad Boy Entertainment founder. Apparently, the R&B singer is ready to move on and restart her music career.
During an interview with TMZ, Cassie’s other ex-boyfriend/collaborator, Ryan Leslie, spoke about his former partner. Leslie implied that the 37-year-old Connecticut native will make a comeback in the near future.
“I think that was much further past after our working relationship,” Leslie answered when asked if he was aware of the alleged abuse by Diddy. He also stated, “The last conversation we had, she’s planning for a tour.”
Ryan Leslie signed Cassie to his NextSelection Lifestyle Group in 2005. The Harvard University graduate also wrote and produced Cassie’s debut single “Me & U” which lives on her self-titled studio album.
Cassie later began dating Diddy. They remained together for over a decade. On November 16 of this year, Cassie sued Diddy under New York’s Adult Survivors Act. She accused the 54-year-old mogul of rape, sex trafficking and abuse.
One day after filing the lawsuit, Cassie agreed to an out-of-court settlement with Diddy for an undisclosed amount. Several additional women then accused Diddy of sexual misconduct. The Love Album: Off the Grid creator has denied all allegations against him.
Pardison Fontaine has been closely aligned with two of the biggest female Hip Hop stars. The Newburgh, New York rapper has been professionally connected with Cardi B and personally connected with Megan Thee Stallion.
Many of Cardi B’s most popular songs, like “Bodak Yellow” and “WAP” featuring Megan Thee Stallion, were co-written by Pardison Fontaine. In addition, Fontaine dated Megan before the couple reportedly split up earlier this year.
TMZ recently spoke to Pardison Fontaine. The celebrity news outlet asked the “Backin’ It Up” hitmaker to name female rappers that he enjoys. However, Fontaine did not mention Cardi B or Megan Thee Stallion.
“A lot of them. Doja Cat is dope. Latto is doing her thing. Glo. Female rappers are killing this s### right now,” Fontaine responded. He also admitted to listening to the new album by Nicki Minaj, a longtime rival of Cardi B.
Pardison Fontaine also tapped Sexyy Red for a guest feature on his newly-released SEXT8PE EP. The St. Louis-bred female rapper appears on a song titled “Sexyy & Conceited.”
Furthermore, an official music video for “That’s Cute” arrived this week. The Sage English-directed visuals include cameos by female rappers Rubi Rose and Sukihana as well as Fontaine’s current girlfriend, Jada Kingdom.
“SEXT8PE is an audio mashup of the creative I become,” Pardison Fontaine says about his latest body of work. “A brief overview of who I’ve grown to be as an artist and a person.”
He also adds, “Inspired by love, heartbreak, and all the highs and lows of these things we call relationships. A wide spectrum of emotions and texture, a taste of what is yet to come.”
A U.K. drill artist who boasted about killing a rival gang member in a music video has been convicted of murder.
25-year-old rapper Kammar Henry-Richards, who uses the stage name Kay-O, and three others were convicted of the murder of Kacey Boothe. A jury at London’s Old Bailey also found them guilty of plotting to kill Khalid Samante, who was their intended target.
Boothe was shot on August 13 last year outside an East London community centre where Samante was hosting a birthday party for his one-year-old child. The 25-year-old was taken to hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
During the trial, the court heard evidence the men were associated with rival gangs, and the shooting took place “against a background of violent incidents.”
Jurors were told the gun used in the murder was fired on seven occasions, including the 2020 non-fatal shooting of Boothe’s older brother, Kyle Boothe.
Kay-O Rapped About The Shooting In A Music Video
Prosecutors claimed Henry-Richards bragged about both shootings in a rap video called “Kay-O – Laughing Stock.”
“A boast was being made that the same ‘Sig’ (gun) had been used to shoot both Kacey Boothe and his elder brother Kyle Boothe,” Prosecutor Anthony Orchard KC told jurors in September, per BBC News.
“This fact was known only to those involved in the shootings and not to the police at that time,” he added.
The lyrics read: “Big Boothe and Little got hit, same sig, that’s a sour family/Both got slapped at functions, neck and head, handguns come handy.”
After a week’s deliberation, the jury convicted Henry-Richards, Kamani Brightly-Donaldson, 24, Jeffrey Gyimah, 21, and Joao Pateco-Te, 27 of murder.
The men were also found guilty of conspiracy to murder Samanter and conspiracy to possess a firearm or firearms with intent to endanger life.
Meek Mill has raised eyebrows after commenting about the legitimacy of prosecutors using Young Thug and YFN Lucci’s lyrics as evidence in their ongoing trials.
While it’s not the first time he’s spoken against the practice, this time, the Philly rapper got social media talking for another reason. According to Meek Mill, it should be legally “impossible” to use rappers’ lyrics against them because somebody else could have written them.
“It should be impossible to charge thug and lucci for lyrics,” he wrote on X Tuesday (December 12). “Because in the studio we all give eachother lines and don’t remember who said what after a high night in the studio.’
Furthermore, Meek Mill cast doubt on the reliability of bringing Thugger and Lucci’s lyrics into the courtroom because he’s actually exchanged lines with them.
“I have done it with both of them,” he added. They both gave me lyrics b4… we all do this!”
However, his followers were quick to point out that Meek Mill called out Drake for using a ghostwriter in 2015, sparking their highly publicized feud.
“This is hip-hop/You ain’t write it, don’t record it,” Meek rapped on his Drake diss, “All The Way Up Remix.”
“lol you’ll accused Drake for using a ghostwriter,” one person responded. “Wait..but you threw a fit about this when drake did it?” added another.
Somebody else shared a screenshot of Meek Mill calling Drake for not penning his lyrics.
“Stop comparing drake to me too…. He don’t write his own raps! That’s why he ain’t tweet my album because we found out!” Meek Mill tweeted back in 2015. “The whole game know forreal they scared to tell the truth! I can’t wait tok these guys and sit back and act like they don’t know!”
Summer Walker has given herself two years to produce three more babies, and while she’s not pregnant, she plans to start trying right after she completes her tour.
“Hoping and praying I have twin boys again after tour,” she told her followers during a recent Instagram Live. “That would really make my life.”
Comparing herself to mom of 11, Keke Wyatt, Walker also revealed she wants to add three more sons to her brood of three before turning 30 in 2026.
“I’m not having no more kids after 30” she explained. “I got two years to get it crackin’.”
Elsewhere during the IG Live, Walker said she found it “crazy” that people comment on her having kids with multiple men and suggest she got pregnant by mistake.
“People just talk about me having kids like they were accidents,” she said. “They were never accidents; they were all on purpose. Any time I get pregnant it’s on purpose. I have enough money to not have a baby if I didn’t want it.”
The “White Tee” hitmaker also addressed pregnancy rumors amid recent speculation she’s having Lil Meech’s child. Whispers began after a video of the BMF actor surfaced online recently.
“I got one on the way right now,” Meech said in the clip. “My girl pregnant. Say congratulations.”
While Walker denied she was the “girl” in question, the rumors persisted.
“I’m not pregnant,” she said on her IG Live before showing off her flat stomach. “I feel kinda offended ‘cause I been in the gym and everything.”
Walker already has a set of twin boys with ex-boyfriend Larry Williams. She also shares a daughter with ex London On Da Track.
Kodak Black was not in possession of cocaine during his arrest last week, but Percocet, according to his attorney.
Broward County cops reportedly found Yak with a mouth full of white power after discovering him asleep at the wheel of a black Bentley SUV on Wednesday (December 7). They found “white rock-like substances” on the ground after cuffing the rapper and a clear plastic baggie in his pocket, which was tested and also confirmed to be cocaine, per CBS News.
However, during an Instagram live Monday (December 12), Kodak Black insisted that while he does have substance abuse issues, he doesn’t use cocaine. He admitted to using legally prescribed Percocet and said he’s working on getting clean.
In a statement, Black’s attorney, Bradford Cohen, backed his client’s claims. He said the “rock” found by cops was not thoroughly tested.
“The test they do is a presumptive test for illegal substances. It just turns blue,” Cohen told TMZ Tuesday (December 12). “My belief is that the ‘rock’ this officer found when tested will be a Percocet, not cocaine.”
Cohen also addressed Kodak Black’s substance abuse issues, including his Percocet dependency.
“There will be a couple of different phases of this treatment in order for him to get better,” he added. “You have to treat the root problem of the dependency and that’s what is going to happen. We are going to alleviate dependency.”
During his IG Live Monday, Black claimed he’s spent $350,000 on rehab “to get clean and get better.”
A day after unleashing her collab with 50 Cent, Nicki Minaj has dropped another Pink Friday 2 banger, “Love Me Enough” featuring Monica and Keisha Cole.
The NYC icon is on pace to top the charts with her latest album, projected to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with almost 200,000 total album-equivalent units moved in its opening week. However, the Pink Friday 2 tracks keep coming, with Minaj delivering on her promise to drop several unreleased tracks this week.
On Tuesday (December 12), the “Last Time I Saw You” hitmaker took to social media to tease her collaborators, revealing they will “help me make a very important statement. Through music.”
Shortly after, Nicki Minaj announced her new “very, very important song” featuring R&B songstresses Monica and Keisha Cole.
She also shared a lyric from the song and revealed the “liberating” track, which she penned about four years ago, is for anybody healing from relationship trauma.
Nicki Minaj opened up about her relationship with Monica who she called “one of my biggest inspirations,” and Keisha Cole, saying they got to know each other after moving to California.
The trio have recently been able to “come together in a room and talk, which Minaj found hugely beneficial.
“It’s crazy how much that is needed sometimes,” she added. “Because so many times women are going through the same things, but they don’t have a safe place to discuss it.”
Teyana Taylor might need to join forces with Janelle Monáe and Victoria Monèt to give fans the R&B-reloaded version of “WAP” we never knew we needed.
Along with the commotion Kanye West caused with his Vultures album listening event, Taylor and a legion of her closest friends and fans descended upon Miami to celebrate her birthday. Based on the numerous stacks of ones present in the videos circulating online, it appears Taylor and company opted to celebrate at a strip club.
Considering the party was presumably taking place at the booty club, it seems almost natural that the woman of the hour would partake in the festivities herself. Following a performance of her hit single “On My Mama” and a celebratory shot, Monèt appeared to be on the receiving end of a sultry lap dance from Taylor, which Monáe rewarded by throwing cash on the pair.
Judging by the looks of the winding and grinding being done in the video, I would be somewhere punching the air if I were Iman Shumpert.
Check out more clips of the trip celebrating Taylor’s birthday in Miami below.
Janelle Monáe showering Victoria Monét and Teyana Taylor grinding I mean THE WHOLE BISEXUAL TRINITY HERE??? Oh my gays oh my gaysssss
Nicki Minaj is set to hit a new career milestone based on the first-week sales projections for Pink Friday 2. According to projections from Hits Daily Double, Minaj is headed for the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200, with nearly 200,000 total album-equivalent units moved in its opening week. It serves as one of the largest debuts of Minaj’s career. The last time she did similar numbers was in 2014 upon the release of her fan-favorite album, The Pink Print.
PF2 has spent five days at the top spot on Apple Music’s worldwide albums chart and six of the songs from the set, including “Needle” featuring Drake and the J. Cole-assisted “Let Me Calm Down,” appeared on Spotify’s Top Songs Debut chart dated December 8-10.
Minaj has also egged on the hype surrounding the project by promising fans additional versions of PF2 in the coming weeks. In a tweet replying to a fan on Twitter (X), Minaj told the user there will be more than one “deluxe” version of the LP while hinting at yet another surprise guest feature.
“Y’all def getting 3 more don’t get on my nerves,” Minaj wrote in part. “And y’all will only get that final #GagCity complete package with y’all friend y’all been asking for IF & WHEN y’all gag the live chi. As for today & tmrw tho…We will certainly roll out the pink carpet for our visitors.”
Y’all def getting 3 more don’t get on my nerves😩. And y’all will only get that final #GagCity complete package with y’all friend y’all been asking for IF & WHEN y’all gag the live chi.
Rubi Rose has seemingly found herself on common ground with her Brookly-bred rap peer Fivio Foreign.
Following the release of Nicki Minaj’s highly-anticipated Pink Friday 2 album, a number of the star-studded standout tracks have begun trending on social media, including her Lil Uzi Vert-assisted dance-friendly collaboration, “Everybody.” As the majority of listeners have created videos to the audio of the song performing the popular throwing hips dance, Fivio Foreign jumped on TikTok to flex what he believed to be a shout-out from Minaj on the song.
“When Nicki say ‘Fivi’ in her new song,” Fivio wrote in the caption of a clip he shared on TikTok dancing to the snippet. In all actuality, it wasn’t a shoutout and was clearly just a chopped-up portion of Michael Jackson’s vocals from The Jackson 5 sample of “Everybody.” Considering Rose is familiar with the type of situation, she remarked on Fivio’s blunder on Twitter (X)—making herself the butt of the joke in the process.
“He just like me,” Rose wrote in a quoted reply of a tweet reposting Fivio’s video. Another user in the comments of her retort capped the entire interaction off with an archived clip of Rose’s infamous reaction in 2018 to bars she thought Drake dedicated to her on his Scorpion album.
Megan Thee Stallion has found a new distributor after getting out of her contract with 1501 Certified Entertainment. According to Billboard, the Texas-bred rapper signed a distribution deal with Warner Music Group.
The agreement will allow Megan to technically remain independent while receiving support from WMG. She expressed her desire to stay independent when discussing her next studio album via Instagram Live in October.
“I’m so excited to be doing something for the first time independent since it was just me and my momma,” she said. “I’m so excited ‘cause it’s really just me this go round.”
The WMG deal marks a new chapter for Megan following her messy split from 1501. She was embroiled in a lengthy legal battle with her former label until both sides settled the contract dispute in October.
“Megan Thee Stallion and 1501 Certified Entertainment are pleased to announce that they have mutually reached a confidential settlement to resolve their legal differences,” a rep for 1501 said. “As part of the arrangement, both parties have agreed to amicably part ways. Both Megan and 1501 are pleased to put this matter behind them and move forward with the next chapter of their respective businesses. All of us at 1501 wish Megan the very best in her life and career.”
The multi-platinum-selling rapper’s last album for 1501, Traumazine, dropped in 2022. It peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, becoming the second-highest charting album of her career.
Megan released “Cobra,” her first single since returning to the independent scene, in November. She told fans the song was “the introduction of act one” with more to come.
“Cobra” debuted at No. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song’s music video generated more than 13 million YouTube views on as of Tuesday (December 12)/
Quando Rondo pleaded not guilty to federal drug charges in Savannah, Georgia on Tuesday (December 12). The 24-year-old rapper appeared in court after he was taken into custody by the FBI this past weekend.
The Atlantic Records artist remains in jail awaiting a bond hearing. He is expected to return to court on Thursday (December 14).
Rondo was charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Federal prosecutors accused Rondo and others of conspiring to distribute cocaine, fentanyl, marijuana and methamphetamine.
Bradley Thompson, the Assistant U.S. District Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, said Rondo’s co-defendants Donald “Lil D” Davis and Ty’sean “Stro” Davis were arraigned in the case two weeks ago. According to WJCL, a fourth co-conspirator named Laron “Hollywood” Thompson was arrested on Tuesday. Several other names were not released as they’ve yet to be arrested.
Rondo, whose real name is Tyquian Bowman, was arrested by the feds while out on bond in a state case. Earlier this year, he was indicted as the alleged leader of a street gang. He was accused of conspiring to sell marijuana and purchase hydrocodone pills.
Last month, Rondo suggested someone snitched in the drug and gang case.
“I ain’t fw with nobody right now!” Quando Rondo wrote on Instagram Stories. “I don’t want nobody with my number right now! I got one of the best lawyers and private investigators on my team. This discovery [and] paperwork done [opened] my eyes one of y’all n##### in the circle been talking that’s why I cut all ties. I’m innocent!”
A Georgia judge granted a $100,000 bond to Rondo in the state case in June. Prosecutors asked the judge to revoke his bond, but the request was denied in July. Months later, Judge Tammy Stokes rejected the prosecution’s bid to modify Rondo’s bond.
King Yella has issued a statement in response to allegations that he snitched on multiple artists.
On December 11, Yella was accused of snitching on rappers such as Offset, Snap Dogg and 600 Breezy, based on paperwork obtained by a rap-police blogger. According to the alleged paperwork, Yella confirmed alleged gang involvement of the aforementioned artists, allegedly identifying Offset’s affiliation with the GD’s (Gangster Disciples) in addition to purportedly implicating naming names such as Lil Durk, among others, in ongoing cases.
Yella has already shared a response video of his own in which he defends his character and vehemently denies the snitching allegations while also highlighting his unfortunately lengthy prison record.
“Y’all would consider anything rat—a rat is what these n###s is doing. I went to prison for four years gang!” Yella said in part on Instagram Live.
He continued, essentially claiming that Offset was responsible for his prison stint in 2018.“Is it bogus? Yeah but that’s what they asked me—and guess what? They the reason I am in there, the whole Offset and Cardi B s##t is the reason they snatched me up,” Yella said.
Check out the details of the alleged paperwork seized below.
Wu-Tang Clan announced a Las Vegas residency on Tuesday (December 12). The legendary group will set up shop at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas for “The Saga Continues” residency in 2024.
The Hip-Hop legends kick off their run in Sin City during Super Bowl weekend, starting with shows on February 9 and 10. Two more shows are scheduled for March 22 and 23.
“We are honored to welcome Wu-Tang Clan to The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas for their historic, first-ever Las Vegas residency,” AEG Presents Las Vegas senior vice president Bobby Reynolds told Rolling Stone. “This is a groundbreaking moment not only for this venue but for Las Vegas as a whole.”
RZA discussed his excitement for the residency in an interview with the New York Times. He envisioned more Hip-Hop greats joining the Wu-Tang Clan in Las Vegas.
“I’m in that spirit of loving where there’s a hub of art and then loving that I — in my talent and the Wu-Tang brothers — can add to that hub and of course eventually invite more Hip-Hop artists to come and play in this sandbox with us,” RZA said.
RZA noted how the “art form has evolved” when explaining his interest in the residency.
“Hip-Hop is rich in its content and what it offers creatively to an audience,” he told the New York Times. “Hip-Hop can go where any other art form has gone before.”
According to RZA, the Wu-Tang Clan had been in talks about doing a Vegas residency for five years. The group finally secured the gig after celebrating the 30th anniversary of their classic debut Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) in November.
Tickets for “The Saga Continues” residency officially go on sale this Friday (December 15). Pre-sales are available now using the code CREAM.
Paul Wall and Termanology released their second joint album, Start To Finish Repeat, on November 3, a continuation of the unexpected chemistry they displayed on 2022’s Start To Finish. During a recent interview with SPIN, the duo spoke about the making of the album, the respect they have for Bun B (who appears numerous times throughout the project) and the initial shock people felt when they first teamed up. After all, Wall is a Houston rap legend while Term hails from the East Coast and has a penchant for boom bap beats—not the chopped and screwed style so prevalent in the South.
At one point during the conversation, Wall opened up about his relationship with former collaborative partner Chamillionaire. In 2002, they joined forces for the album Get Ya Mind Correct, which went on to sell more than 150,000 copies. But their relationship went awry just two years later when Wall and his entourage allegedly attacked Chamillionaire’s younger brother, Rasaq Seriki. Although they ultimately squashed their beef in 2010, they had a little help behind the scenes from people who refused to let it escalate—namely E-40 and the late Pimp C.
“I remember Pimp C and E-40, both of them being the only two people in the world that would come to me and come to him and say, ‘Y’all trippin’. There’s way too much money out there,'” Wall explained. “The opportunity is here now and y’all guys grew up together. You guys need to figure that s### out. Don’t put that s### on wax. Keep it to yourself. Keep it player.’ They both told us that. When Pimp C got out of jail, that was the first thing he said: “What’s up with you and Chamillionaire.” I’d tell him something, and he’d be like, “You’re trippin’. I told him the same thing: ‘Y’all’s beef is over.'”
Wall confirmed Pimp C was “absolutely” instrumental in not letting it get out of control. He added, “And E-40 as well. He was one of our first mentors who was there for me and Chamillionaire at early, early stages. Bun B was the other one, but Bun B stayed out of it, though. Pimp C went out of his way to tell us we were trippin’. E-40 went out of his way too and gave us a list of all the rappers and rap groups throughout the years that broke up and got back together, and nobody gave a f### about them. The momentum was gone. He was like, “Is this going to be you or what?”
Wall said he and Chamillionaire are “cool” now and not dissing each other publicly helped repair their fractured friendship, one they’d had since they were little kids.
“When me and Chamillionaire went our separate ways, neither one of us really mentioned each other,” Wall said. “He had his beef with Mike Jones on wax, where they had a rap beef on wax, and I wasn’t really included in that. Neither one of them mentioned my name really or brought me into it, so I didn’t get in it. But even before that, when me and him were having our issues, we always tried to understand each other. I think it was just an unspoken rule.
“We grew up with each other. I’ve known him since I was five years old. We kept our personal thing private. We didn’t put it out publicly. We both understood that fans got a kick out of us having a beef, even though they’re a fan of both of us. It’s like wrestling where you want to see the fight because it’s entertainment to you. But we’re real people, and we had real issues with each other. It wasn’t a joke to us, so we didn’t buy into that when people were trying to rile us up to diss each other. We both kept it private, and I’m really glad that we did. Because when you look at us as a history of MCs, there’s not on wax me talking about him and him talking about me.”
Paul Wall and Termanology have plans for a third collaborative album, although they haven’t announced a release date for the project quite yet.
“The first album we did was such a shock to people,” Wall said. “We felt like we made dope music. We wanted to let our fans know that it was out and let hip-hop fans know that it was out. It was kind of an experiment. So when the fans really took to it, it encouraged us to do it again. We’re already working on the third one.”
Until then, check out Start Finish Repeat above and watch the video for the Statik Selektah-produced single, “Wall Paper (No Chit Chat)” below.
The stabbing of Young Thug’s co-defendant put the YSL RICO trial on hold for the rest of 2023. Judge Ural Glanville announced the Georgia trial will be in recess until 2024 on Tuesday (December 12).
Young Thug’s co-defendant Shannon Stillwell was unable to appear in court for the second straight day after getting stabbed in the Fulton County Jail. Judge Glanville gave jurors an extended holiday break due to the uncertainty regarding Stillwell’s health. The jury was supposed to hear several days of testimony before recessing on Friday (December 15).
“Unfortunately, [Stillwell’s] medical condition still exists,” Judge Glanville told the jury. “And given the length of time that we’re probably gonna have to address that, it might just be more prudent to recess you and give you an early recess instead of recessing you this Friday as the court’s plan was originally. I’m gonna recess you for the holidays today.”
Jurors are scheduled to return to court on January 2, 2024. Judge Glanville told attorneys to use the break to interview any witnesses they haven’t had a chance to speak to yet.
Stillwell was stabbed in the stomach before Day 10 of the YSL RICO trial. He was taken to the Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. Judge Glanville issued an order to keep Stillwell separate from his co-defendants when the stabbing victim returned to jail.
Fulton County Sheriff’s Office identified Stillwell’s alleged attacker as inmate Willie Brown, a murder suspect accused of killing a teen. Brown was charged with aggravated assault and possession of prohibited items for the jailhouse stabbing.
Stillwell and Young Thug are two of the six defendants in the YSL RICO trial, which began in November. Both men face multiple charges. Stillwell’s charges include murder as prosecutors linked him to the 2015 killing of Donovan Thomas.
