Boosie Badazz has weighed in on Snoop Dogg’s claim he’s quitting “smoke” and shared his journey after stopping his own marijuana use.
Snoop Dogg, renowned as a cannabis aficionado, surprised fans when he announced on Instagram his alleged intention to give up smoking. He explained that the decision came after “much consideration & conversation with my family” and requested privacy “during this time.”
Boosie’s decision to quit, on the other hand, was influenced by his probation terms, which required him to wear an ankle monitor and abstain from weed. He noted a significant change in his health and mindset.
“I mean, he [Snoop Dogg] know what he need better than anybody,” Boosie said in a post. “I know you’re gonna gain weight. You’re gonna think better. Since I don’t smoke, I don’t get mad as I used to get mad. I think better. I was smoking an ounce a day. Since I don’t smoke my temper is controlled.”
Boosie shares his experience on quitting weed like Snoop Dogg did: 💪
“I was smoking an ounce a day, since I don’t smoke I don’t get mad as I use to get mad, I think better, my temper controlled” pic.twitter.com/rwa9xrQ0N6
The scientific community corroborates Boosie Badazz’s experiences.
Studies have shown that cessation from long-term and regular cannabis helps with memory, improved breathing, a healthier respiratory and cardiovascular system and a more positive, balanced mood.
Boosie’s transformation reflects the broader impacts of quitting marijuana, underscoring the benefits of a difficult but rewarding journey.
Snoop briefly quit smoking weed in 2016 to improve his performance as a youth football coach, motivated by a comment from one of his players.
Ice-T is credited as one of the forefathers of gangsta rap, producing several albums that put the genre on the map. From 1987’s Rhyme Pays and 1991’s O.G. Original Gangster to his most recent work with Body Count, the prolific rapper/actor has penned some of the most hardcore lyrics the music community has ever heard.
In fact, Body Count’s controversial 1992 single “Cop Killer” caught the attention of then-President of the United States George H. W. Bush as well as Vice President Dan Quayle. Shortly after its release, CLEAT (Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas) called for a boycott of all Time Warner products in order to secure the removal of the song and album from stores. Just a week later, they were joined by police organizations across the U.S. Senators Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Lloyd Bentsen and Al D’Amato protested Warner Bros. Records’s release of the song by cancelling their planned cameo appearances in the 1993 Warner Bros. Pictures political film Dave.
Dennis R. Martin (Former President, National Association of Chiefs of Police) argued,” The misuse of the First Amendment is graphically illustrated in Time Warner’s attempt to insert into the mainstream culture the vile and dangerous lyrics of the Ice-T song entitled ‘Cop Killer.’ The Body Count album containing ‘Cop Killer’ was shipped throughout the United States in miniature body bags. Only days before distribution of the album was voluntarily suspended, Time Warner flooded the record market with a half million copies. The ‘Cop Killer’ song has been implicated in at least two shooting incidents and has inflamed racial tensions in cities across the country.
“Those who work closely with the families and friends of slain officers volunteering for the American Police Hall of Fame and Museum are outraged by the message of ‘Cop Killer.’ It is an affront to the officers—144 in 1992 alone—who have been killed in the line of duty while the police was upholding the laws of our society and protecting all its citizens.”
Needless to say, Ice-T knows how to ruffle some feathers. So it comes as no surprise he names one of his own lyrics as the most iconic opening rap line. A poll going around on Twitter (X) over the weekend posed that very question: “What is the most iconic opening rap line ever?” Ice-T retweeted the question and wrote: “6 in the mornin’ police at my door.” It’s a line taken from his seminal hit, “6 ‘N The Morning” off the aforementioned Rhyme Pays album.
The song, considered one of gangsta rap’s defining tracks, tells the tale of Ice-T’s house getting raided due to illicit street activities. After he escapes out of a back window, the “self-made monster of the city streets remotely controlled by hard hip hop beats,” reflects, “Just livin’ in the city is a serious task/Didn’t know what the cops wanted/Didn’t have the time to ask.”
“Midnight,” from O.G. Original Gangster, serves as a prequel to “6 N The Mornin’.” It ends with “looked at my watch, it was six in the morning,” while “6 ‘N The Mornin'” opens with “Six in the morning, police at my door.” Revisit it below.
Issa Rae has revealed that she lost a project amid the SAG-AFTRA strike.
During an interview with Marie Claire for the Power Issue, she revealed how the recent actors’ strike impacted her career as an actress, writer and producer.
“The strike was devastating,” Issa said candidly. “I’ve been building (a project) for five years and now it’s gone.”
The actress continued, “On the (entertainment) business side, we lost some employees. That really, really sucks. But this industry is changing so much.”
The SAG-AFTRA strike, which began on July 14, ended on November 9 after the union approved a tentative agreement with Hollywood studios.
Elsewhere in the interview, the 38-year-old stated that she is trying to adapt to the constantly changing dynamics of the entertainment industry.
“For me, it’s like, ‘Okay, but what now?’ I know that executives and networks aren’t going to be as receptive as they were to Black-focused content,” Issa explained. “I’m not pivoting, but I’m just trying to be more strategic in terms of the stories that I tell and maximizing our impact.”
“I only have a foresight of what isn’t going to be,” the “Insecure” star noted. “There’s certain things that I want to take advantage of outside of the industry just because I feel like (the industry) doesn’t know what it wants to be, it’s in flux. And there are no innovators anymore… I want to be able to have control of my own destiny.”
Issa, real name Jo-Issa Rae Diop, also discussed her role as a “storyteller.”
“I’m a storyteller at the end of the day and if there is a story bursting out of me, somebody’s going to hear it,” she stated. “I’m fortunate enough to be able to have a platform where they mostly can. And I like the challenge of getting an audience invested in a story.”
Pardison Fontaine just dropped a scathing diss track aimed at his ex-girlfriend, Megan Thee Stallion, in response to allegations of infidelity she made in her song “Cobra.”
The accusation led to Fontaine’s musical counterattack with “THEE PERSON,” where he directly addresses Megan Thee Stallion, challenging her allegations and reflecting on the end of their relationship.
The roots of this conflict lay in the release of Megan’s “Cobra,” where she accuses an unnamed ex of cheating in a strikingly personal manner.
The lyric, “Pulled up, caught him cheatin’, gettin’ his dick sucked in the same spot I’m sleepin’,” suggests a deep betrayal, igniting speculation among fans about Pardison’s role in the narrative.
Countering these claims, Pardison Fontaine’s “THEE PERSON” paints a different picture of their relationship. He mentions Megan’s past associations and implies she might have been untruthful about her romantic history.
Pardison Fontaine dropped some strong bars aimed at Megan Thee Stallion, mentioning her dead mother, while claiming that his ex-lover had liposuction and was lying to her fans by posting gym pictures and talking about her workout routine.
“I asked you to your face did you f### them n####s/And you swore on your mother/I knew from then, I couldn’t trust her/More lies from the lips of a lover,” Paridson Fontaine raps.
“Be for real/you ain’t even realistic/Got lipo then you started posting gym pics/The things that you’re doing is sadistic/Spent four hours doin’ glam, not a blemish/But your foundation is off, you need to fix it/Clean up your spirit and not just your image,” he spits in another barbed bar.
The song appears to be Fontaine’s way of sharing his perspective on their breakup and the accusations against him. He suggests Megan Thee Stallion was seeking attention and clicks and said he hoped she gets “the help” she needs.
The relationship between Megan Thee Stallion and Pardison Fontaine began in October 2020 and turned public in February 2021. Once a celebrated part of rap culture, their connection has now devolved into the pair trading subliminal disses.
The new rap contrasts his last lyrics dedicated to Megan, which came as a poem during a performance at Da Poetry Lounge in Los Angeles in May 2023.
In that performance, the then love-struck Pardi gushed:
“You’re a survivor but not a victim/somewhere in between God forgive him and I gotta get him/That’s why you don’t ever let these b###### get you out your rhythm.”
So far, Megan has yet to reply to the diss track, which is the first single from Pardison Fontaine’s upcoming mixtape, Ex T8pe, which will drop on December 12.
“That’s crazy cause she didn’t mention names at all… this just goes to show a hit dog gonna holla… this wild,” one user exclaimed, while another person said, “she didn’t say in her house or bed, she said, in the spot that she slept in; her pen is definitely better.”
You see the stuff Pardi saying ? He said you cheated on him first and got lipo, if you ain’t heard yet
No one's said it, so I will….. Meg, NOT disclosing her past relationships w #Pardi was the best decision she's ever made. She and her past were never safe w him. Never. And she knew it because look what's happening now that he knows. Chatting like an unsafe space, smh. pic.twitter.com/2IcXgnIxFY
Timbaland has undergone quite a remarkable transformation over the past few years. Not only has he dropped a significant amount of weight and added muscle, he’s also changed his entire diet and kicked a gnarly pill addiction. Now, the illustrious producer is showing off his latest upgrade—a hair transplant. The journey appeared to begin around September, when he visited Dr. Harold “Mr. Edges” Siegel’s Natural Transplant Hair Restoration Clinic in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
In an Instagram video posted to Siegel’s account, Timbaland reveals why he decided to to enlist Siegel’s team for help. As he explains, “They shut it down just for me. Working out, changing your body, I can put the work in. This one, I have to go get work. It’s no getting around it. I started seeing this just getting lighter, and I’m like, ‘You know what? Let me do it early rather than later.”
Timbaland appears in a pair of follow-up posts, where he’s seen getting the actual transplant done. In one, Dr. Seigel notes, “My favorite part of the day is connecting with my patients!” According to the clinic’s website, the doctors practice the HUE method or “High-Yield Unit Extraction.”
“This cutting edge procedure was developed by our Chief Medical Director, Dr. Matt Huebner and is exclusively used by the team of doctors at Natural Transplants Hair Restoration Clinics to produce unsurpassed results and maximum density,” it reads. “The concept is simple–to extract and move the MOST hairs possible in a single session. This is achieved by a highly-skilled doctors and highly efficient technicians, meticulously trained to maximize the donor tissue by limiting transected donor hairs.”
Timbaland is apparently pleased with the results. On November 18, he shared a photo of his head to his Instagram Stories with his hair looking noticeably fuller. He wrote, “You see @dr_haroldseigel work. Don’t say I didn’t tell you.” He added a couple exploding head emojis for emphasis.
Timbaland opened up about his weight loss journey in 2020 during an interview with Men’s Health. He walked into the gym weighing 350 pounds but has since lost more than 100. He said, “God has me under construction, which I’m still under. I don’t feel like I’m complete. I don’t want to ever feel like I’m complete, ’cause my mind would probably get idle. God needed me to be clear so I could see what is needed, not what I want.”
In a CBS interview with Gayle King, Jay-Z recalled his advanced reading level in primary school.
“Miss Loudon was my sixth-grade teacher. In the sixth grade, I was reading on a 12th-grade level,” remembered the 53-year-old musician. “That excited me. ‘Cause everyone was excited. And Miss Loudon, she was excited. It felt like me riding my bike at 4, the way people reacted to that.”
“I think what matters most, today, is being a beacon and helping out… my culture,” the hitmaker shared in an earlier trailer. “Like making music earlier was, like, my first love… And I think now, you know, the idea of, of taking that platform and, you know, reproducing it for others or doing something like Reform (Alliance, Jay’s non-profit)… I think I derive the most joy from that.”
“My dad pulled Kourtney and me out of school,” the SKIMS founder remembered in an interview with GQ. “He said, ‘I want you girls to witness a piece of history and what a trial is like.’ We walked in and saw my mom sitting on the other side. She said, ‘You’re supposed to be in school. What are you doing here?’ Kourtney and I didn’t even look at her.”
“That was really tough for our family,” Kim continued of the trial, noting that her father was a friend of O.J.’s, while her mother, Kris Jenner, had been a friend of Nicole Brown Simpson, whom O.J. had been accused of murdering.
Elsewhere in the interview, Kim Kardashian recalled one of the final conversations she had with her father before he died.
The reality star has recalled that her dad instructed her to “take care” of their family before he passed away aged 59 in September 2003.
“I know you’re going to be okay,” Kim recalled her father telling her. “It’s almost like I can see ahead. I know you’re going to be okay, but just take care of your siblings for me. Just make sure you take care of them.”
Kim shared that Robert’s words had changed her outlook on life.
“I took what he said to mean that I was going to be okay in life,” she told the publication. “But it made me make decisions differently.”
Robert and Kris, who share children Kourtney, Kim, Khloé and Rob, tied the knot in 1978 but divorced in 1991. Kris then went on to marry Caitlyn Jenner later the same year.
Leonardo DiCaprio has revealed his current taste in music.
The “Killers of the Flower Moon” star celebrated his 49th birthday last weekend with a star-studded Beverly Hills bash attended by Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne, JAY-Z, Beyoncé and many others.
In a video of the party Leonardo DiCaprio was seen dancing to a Hip-Hop song, before grabbing a microphone to rap along to the track.
Addressing his party antics in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, he admitted, “That is true.”
The actor shared that he’s looking forward to his next milestone birthday before revealing his eclectic music tastes.
“Got to always think about 50,” he said. “But you know what, I have a range of musical love that goes back to our stuff from the ’20s, ’30s and ’40s with jazz and blues and things of that nature. And then hip-hop, too.”
Elsewhere in the interview, DiCaprio praised his “Killers of the Flower” Moon collaborators – director Martin Scorsese and veteran actor Robert De Niro.
“It’s hard to articulate in a short time other than saying he’s been very much a cinematic father figure to me, much like Mr. De Niro has,” the actor told the outlet. “I’ve looked up to them as the great duo of my generation as far as cinematic achievements are concerned.”
Since its release on October 20, “Killers of the Flower Moon” has grossed over $120 million at the global box office.
Kanye West’s return to the music industry is already marked by controversy after his new song, “Vultures,” leaked online. The track features startling lyrics that have reignited discussions about his past behavior, particularly his targeting of Jewish people.
In “Vultures,” West not only addresses his previous antisemitic remarks but also explicitly claims he had sex with Scooter Braun’s ex-wife, Yael.
“How I’m anti-Semitic/I just f##### a Jewish b####/I just f#####/Scooter’s b####/We ran up like Olympics/Got pregnant in the threesome, so whose baby is it.”
Kanye West and Scooter Braun officially parted ways in April 2018 after working together for two years.
Braun and Yael have three children. The most recent child they had was a baby girl named Hart Violet Braun, born in 2018. The couple finalized their divorce in September 2022.
West has been embroiled in controversy due to his comments multiple times. Over the past two years, he has repeatedly targeted Jewish people, leading to serious repercussions in his professional life and West’s antagonistic behavior toward Jewish people has been a recurring theme.
His continued antisemitic remarks eventually led adidas to sever its ties with him in 2022, following his outrageous language about George Floyd, Jewish people and his admiration for Adolf Hitler. He also reportedly advised a Jewish adidas manager to kiss a picture of Hitler every day.
West’s behavior and comments have had significant consequences, affecting his business relationships and public image. The termination of his deal with adidas, particularly, was a major financial blow, as it was one of his most lucrative partnerships, costing him billions.
The story of Bass Reeves, a Black lawman who was one the most famous U.S. marshals to ever enter the lore of legend, has only recently come to light. Those of us raised by a floor model behemoth of a TV, the Lone Ranger series was all we knew of Bass Reeves but didn’t know that this white man in a mask, his stereotypical “Indian” sidekick and his white stallion named Trigger were silly facsimilies of the life of a man whose story is even wilder than fiction.
Bass Reeves escaped from slavery, was forced to fight in the Confederate Army, deserted and would later become the greatest lawman the South ever saw. But he would eventually pass into the fog of history and be all but forgotten—until now.
AllHipHop.com recently attended a Q&A promoting the new series Lawmen: Bass Reeves alongside showrunner Damian Marcano and legendary production designer Wynn Thomas in New York City.
“So how does it feel to want to have finished this crazy bit of work? Tired,” Marcano quipped. “No, I usually correct actors saying lines and if they have questions when they say those lines and the meaning of those lines. What does the space that Wynn put them in mean? What does it mean for their character, right?
“But, as you can see in this one, the actors were doing that, and they were riding these magnificent beasts that we had on set every day. And they were shooting while doing it. So, I’m feeling pretty accomplished to be a part of that. And on top of it? The story just means very exciting.”
The term legend is thrown around quite a lot in Hollywood. In fact, we’ve mentioned it more than a few times in this article thus far. However, sometimes the term is apropos.
Wynn Thomas has designed the set for more than 40 film and television productions. From She’s Gotta Have It to Hidden Figures and now, Lawmen: Bass Reeves, the acumen of this obscure genius has always been right in front of our faces.
“Right. I mean, it’s great,” Thomas said of the Bass Reeves project. “I think we’re both honored to be able to tell the Bass Reeves story. But making this project was really hard on a lot of people and on almost every department. It takes a vast effort to put all these sequences together to stage all these scenes we have. And so I think we’re all kind of relieved to see it finished and to see it from this point of view. I think the story is intriguing, and because we do we work this hard so that we’re telling interesting stories. And I think we succeeded in doing that.”
For some, it’s a foregone conclusion to research the subject matter before engaging in a creative endeavor. With a history and lore the likes of Bass Reeves, it was a necessity. Nonetheless, Marcano told the gathering that he did not do any research beforehand.
“Didn’t do research before I took this project,” he explained. “I just got sent a script that I really liked. I think I actually got sent the script for the first episode and there was even a period that we didn’t know whether or not we would actually get out to Texas to actually make the show. But in that time, you had all these decisions that were being made. I had several things sent to me. And for some reason, this man reminded me a little bit of my own spirit. As well as him being a husband, a father and somebody that was spiritual.
“Again, so I wanted to kind of live on this side a little bit and I think that’s the specialness of this project for me. That’s what kept me going. I think that’s what you know on top of just the brilliant people that we had. I told Wynn the other day, before I ever met this man, he was responsible for all the places I saw.”
Wynn was responsible for a lot of the stuff I saw my people in, in major motion pictures. He did Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X. He agreed that some rasta from a rock in the middle of the sea could have a chance to come and be in the same room with him. It is an amazing experience. I am grateful that he pushed me every bit of the way. So, I really owe him a lot for what you see on the screen.”
Wynn Thomas was filled with history and perspective about promoting oft-ignored narratives of Black, brown and female-led subject matters.
“I think there’s a ton of stories out there from our community that need to be told and fortunately I think we’re in a time now where there is an opportunity to tell these stories that have not been told,” he said. “What I want to say to that now that these stories are being told it’s very important for all of us to support these stories and to see them and make sure they reach as wide an audience as possible.
“So it is all of our responsibility to call up everyone that we know and say, you’ve got to see this series because if people see it, and if the numbers are good, they’ll make more and we have in our community a ton of stories that need to be told.”
Lawmen: Bass Reeves is currently airing on Paramount+. While it features a robust cast led by David Oyelowo, Dennis Quaid, Donald Sutherland, Lauren E. Banks, the scenery and cinematography are the biggest stars.
Diddy was sued by former girlfriend Cassie Ventura in a Manhattan federal court on Thursday (November 16) and the former couple settled less than 24 hours later. The bombshell allegations and swift resolution has been the talk of social media since the news initially broke. Diddy has left a series of women in his wake—from Jennifer Lopez and Cassie Ventura to Kim Porter and stylist Misa Hylton. Some relationships were more significant than others and at least two of them produced children.
All the chatter has dredged up a claim Porter’s ex and father of her son Quincy, Al B. Sure, made in 2020, nearly two years after Porter died from lobar pneumonia. As he wrote in a since-deleted Instagram post, “The morning of the @soultrainawards @BET pre production @jessecollinsent #AlBeez around the [world] I just found this footage from the morning I learned of @LadyKP’s aka #KimPorters murder and how it ripped the soul from my physical body. I was on my way to film the pre show packages for the #BETAwards with @tishacampbellmartin & @tichinaarnold when I receive a call from PR icon #QueenieDonaldson asking me if I was ok and did I hear the news.
“I had no clue. I do know very clearly that #Kimberly didn’t just check out all of a sudden over neumonía. That’s some b########. Really? This is where I get in trouble. We just celebrated our son @Quincy’s new deal and Christmas special with @Netflix, and she was in fantastic health as well laughing seeing me and @Diddy’s mutual exchange at the theater. I’m going to leave it here.”
Al B. Sure never explained what led him to that conclusion, but the court of public opinion has its theories. As someone tweeted, “But when Al B sure was saying something happened to Kim porter nobody wanted to listen then he got sick suddenly… y’all should’ve listened…. They rekindled before she passed.”
But when Al B sure was saying something happened to Kim porter nobody wanted to listen then he got sick suddenly… y’all should’ve listened…. They rekindled before she passed pic.twitter.com/aWFBRpgDdQ
Another pointed out, “Kim Porter was writing a tell all book then magically died and computer misplaced, Al B sure got violently sick after blaming her death on Diddy and then Kid Cudi’s car got blown up for dating Cassie when they broke up but y’all saying ‘why is she just now speaking up.'”
Yet another added, “Al B. Sure was saying it and then he mysteriously had a stroke.”
Kim Porter went into cardiac arrest at her Los Angeles home in November 2018 after battling pneumonia. The coroner later confirmed Porter had succumbed to lobar pneumonia, an inflammation of an entire lobe of the lungs. During Porter’s private funeral in her hometown of Columbus, Georgia, Diddy said, “God broke the mold when he made Kim. There was truly no other woman like her.”
In a joint statement, Diddy and Porter’s families added, “Although her time here on earth was far too short, she lived a life full of purpose and meaning. She was a loving mother and devoted friend. She was the epitome of kindness and grace. There wasn’t a person she met [whose] soul she did not touch. Kim was the type of woman who changed lives for the better.”
Not long after Al. B Sure made the allegation, Diddy returned to Instagram to post about Porter. He wrote: “Cherish what you have. Love on them. Kiss on them. Hug on them. Spoil them. Listen to them. Because tomorrow is not promised.”
Ventura’s lawsuit painted a drastically different portrait of Diddy, accusing him of rape, physical abuse, forcing her to have sex with male prostitutes and blowing up Kid Cudi’s car after he learned they were dating. Now people are wondering if Al. B Sure was on to something all along. As for Al B. Sure, his health journey has been incredibly rough. On Friday (November 17), he reflected on the horrors he faced in 2022 in a somewhat cryptic Instagram post.
“I don’t know where to start, or if you’re truly ready to hear from me yet,” he wrote. “You’ve witnessed only a small portion of my journey. My faith has been shaken but never shook; and my humble spirit of discernment has taught me the definition of what ‘sacrifice in silence’ truly means. Just know that We forgive you but never to forget. Including all who assisted along the way.”
In the exhilarating world of music and entertainment, Ray Daniels, the brainchild behind “The GAUDS Show,” stands as an industry veteran with a remarkable legacy. His new YouTube channel and audio podcasts delve into the realm of living legends, unveiling untold stories of transition from the Underdog to the unrivaled Goat.
Meet the Minds Behind the Show
Ray Daniels, revered as the “Culture Referee,” stands tall as the CEO of R.A.Y.D.A.R. With a Grammy Award under his belt and stints as former SVP A&R at Warner and VP A&R at Interscope, Daniels commands unparalleled expertise and insight.
His co-hosts, Tamira Smith, fondly known as “The Girl from Harlem,” and Julian McLean, aka “Your Cousin Juju,” bring a diverse blend of experience and perspective to the table. Tamira’s journalist flair and Juju’s industry insights perfectly complement Ray’s wealth of knowledge. Together, they ignite raw and unfiltered discussions, offering a fresh and compelling take on the music landscape.
Insights into “The GAUDS Show”
With nearly 3 million monthly viewers and a staggering engagement rate, “The GAUDS Show” captivates audiences on YouTube, drawing 9.8 million views and clocking 18.8 million minutes watched. The show boasts a solid subscriber base of 56,598 and resonates strongly with audiences aged 25-54, particularly in top locations like New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, and Los Angeles.
A Journey through Ray Daniels’ Expertise
Ray Daniels’ legacy in the music industry spans over two decades, marked by unparalleled success and strategic maneuvering. As the current VP of A&R at Epic Records, his influence is evident in catapulting careers and reshaping the Hip-Hop scene. Under his leadership, Epic Records signed Future, Rick Ross, and DJ Khaled, cementing its place at the forefront of the industry.
Daniels’ prowess extends beyond label management. He’s helmed R.A.Y.D.A.R. Management, nurturing talents like The Jugganauts, The Hipnotiks, Verse Simmons, and Jarren Benton. His keen eye for talent transformed the Grammy-award-winning group Rock City, securing them deals with Akon’s Konlive Live Distribution and later Interscope Records.
Navigating the Music Industry with Ray Daniels
With diverse roles across labels like Universal, Interscope, Motown, and Epic Records, Daniels holds a wealth of experience in managing, publishing, A&R, and distribution. His guiding principle, “This game is easy, once you learn it and adapt all you gotta do is walk into a room and stand out,” encapsulates his approach to success.
What to Expect from “The GAUDS Show”
Ray Daniels and his panel of hosts don’t just share stories; they provide a roadmap for aspiring talents. From invaluable advice to industry insights, the show offers a treasure trove of tips, tricks, and strategies to navigate the intricate music landscape.
In the midst of ever-evolving music trends and industry dynamics, “The GAUDS Show” stands as a beacon of inspiration and a reservoir of knowledge, promising viewers an unforgettable journey through the highs and lows of the music business.
Veteran producer Blockhead has released a new album called The Aux. But rather than his intricate instrumentals he’s been pumping out since 2004’s The Music Scene, this one has bars—and lots of them. Guest vocals include Danny Brown, Aesop Rock, Hieroglyphics’ Casual, Armand Hammer, billy woods, Creaturenomics (of Rebelmatic fame) and Quelle Chris, a glimpse into Blockhead’s taste in MCs. While it’s not his first rap album, it’s one he’s been wanting to make for decades.
“This is an album I’ve been wanting to make since the late 90s,” Blockhead tells AllHipHop.”I made Free Sweatpants a few years ago, dipping my toes in the waters, but it felt like I could finally achieve the project now with the help of billy woods executive producing and aiding me in getting together this pool of talent. I wanted this album to cover a lot of ground musically with rappers I grew up listening to, rappers that are my contemporaries and rappers that I think are the future.”
The resulting 15-track offering delivers Blockhead’s pristine production topped with the wordplay wizardry of his peers. Aesop Rock, who enlisted Blockhead for a good chunk of his 2007 solo album, None Shall Pass, and has continuously been working with him since the late ’90s, contributes to two songs on the album: “Mississippi” and “Ponzu Sauce” featuring Breeze Brewin. Both are exemplary of their effortless chemistry and a welcomed reunion between the longtime friends.
The album closes with “Now That’s What I Call A Posse Cut, Vol. 56” with Brusier Wolf, Danny Brown, billy woods and Despot swapping bars over a funky, piano-tinged beat. Brown, in particular, crushes his verse with his unconventional voice, but each MC provides balance to the entire five-minute cut.
Blockhead, a Manhattan native, has released 16 studio albums over the course of his career, a handful of compilation albums and several EPs. He’s produced beats for Murs, Illogic, Vordul Mega, Cage and many other underground rappers. The Aux serves as his follow-up to 2021’s Garbology with Aesop Rock, the duo’s first full-length project together.
Saturday Night Live alum Leslie Jones had a lot to say on the topic of André 3000’s new instrumental album, New Blue Sun. The comedic actress, who’s now host of The Daily Show, went ballistic on Thursday’s (November 16) episode after learning the legendary Outkast MC wouldn’t be rapping on his debut solo project.
Co-host Jordan Klepper began the segment saying, “You know, this is a beautiful, fascinating experiment in—” Jones screamed, “No! No it’s not!” She continued, “I’ve got to say something. This man is one of the greatest rappers of all time. We have been waiting 17 years for this m########### to release a new album. And it’s all flute? I’m going to kill somebody. This is how you know white people are winning. Y’all done turned André 3000 into Jethro Tull!”
Klepper disagreed, calling it a “brave” move by André 3000. Jones fired back, “Yeah it’s brave. ‘Cause if you play that s### in the hood, you gon’ get your a## beat!”
André 3000 described New Blue Sun as “an entirely instrumental album centered around woodwinds; a celebratory piece of work in the form of a living, breathing, aural organism.” He addressed the inevitable backlash 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.”
Reactions to the project have been mixed. The musicians, fellow artists and Hip-Hop producers (including Pete Rock) have embraced the 87-minute woodwind project, but Outkast fans have been up in arms, bemoaning the fact they didn’t get to hear Three Stacks’ voice for even a split second.
“Now im a producer, and what i hear on this album is amazing,” Rock wrote on Instagram. “Some of y’all ears been lost but as a producer what i hear? Sounds INCREDIBLE!!! Sometimes embracing a different side of a person isn’t a bad thing. In this business when you been doing the same thing forever you can get tired of it and wanna go left, nothing wrong with that. We all need that support sometimes.
“We had jazz musicians put albums out like this, why not except when 3 stacks do it? I mean i hear amazing samples on this album. BEATS!!! I listen to his last raps on that kanye joint all the time. One of the souths greatest MC’s. But i copped this album and im listening to it and you know what? I like it do far. Congratulations on this new journey and i believe real musicians will like this.”
Other people weren’t so sure. The jokes were plentiful on Twitter and many echoed Jones’s sentiments. But no matter how one feels about André 3000, there seems to be one thing we can collectively agree on—he’s doing him, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. As he explained to GQ, “I’ve worked with some of the newest, freshest, youngest, and old-school producers. I get beats all the time. I try to write all the time.” But rap is not what comes. “Even now people think, Oh, man, he’s just sitting on raps, or he’s just holding these raps hostage.
“I ain’t got no raps like that. It actually feels…sometimes it feels inauthentic for me to rap because I don’t have anything to talk about in that way. I’m 48 years old. And not to say that age is a thing that dictates what you rap about, but in a way it does. And things that happen in my life, like, what are you talking about? ‘I got to go get a colonoscopy.’ What are you rapping about? ‘My eyesight is going bad.’ You can find cool ways to say it, but…”
Cassie Ventura sued her ex-boyfriend Diddy in a Manhattan federal court on Thursday (November 16), alleging rape and years of physical abuse. Less than 24 hours later, attorneys on both sides announced the former couple had settled out of court, sending a shockwave through social media. Needless to say, it was a swift and shocking end to what looked like would be a dragged out, complicated case.
Unsurprisingly, hashtags like #SurvivingDiddy and #Diddy started to trend on Saturday morning (November 18) as people woke up to the news. But the vast majority are siding with Ventura, applauding her for following through with her promise to expose the Bad Boy Records mogul if he didn’t cough up $30 million to stop her tell-all book from coming out. Many are also taking the settlement as a sign of guilt, which has led to an explosion of memes related to the topic.
Ventura’s lawsuit, which AllHipHop was able to read in full, came with appalling allegations. Ventura’s attorney, Douglas Wigdor, said both parties had spoken before the suit was filed. As he noted, “Mr. Combs offered Ms. Ventura eight figures to silence her and prevent the filing of this lawsuit. She rejected his efforts.”
The suit described Diddy as a violent person who once asked Ventura to carry his gun in her purse and supposedly dangled Ventura’s friend over a 17th-floor hotel balcony.
Cassie, who signed with Bad Boy in 2006, was swept up in the lifestyles of the rich and famous. She claimed, in addition to controlling her career, Diddy paid for her car, apartments and clothing, and had access to her medical records. The results from one particular M.R.I. scan she had for memory loss, which was possibly caused by drug use or a beating she said she suffered from Diddy, went directly to him.
Diddy also allegedly provided Ventura with “copious amounts of drugs,” including ecstasy and ketamine, and urged her to take them. The suit says he often became violent, beating her “multiple times each year.” The suit said Ventura never sought help from the police because she feared it “would merely give Mr. Combs another excuse to hurt her.”
In one incident described in the court docs, Ventura alleges in early 2012, Diddy grew so angry about her dating Kid Cudi that he said he would blow up his car. “Around that time,” the suit says, “Kid Cudi’s car exploded in his driveway.” Through a spokeswoman, Kid Cudi confirmed Ventura’s account. “This is all true,” he said.
That was just the tip of the iceberg. Ventura also alleged Diddy forced her to have sex with male prostitutes while he watched and that he was once ready to shoot Suge Knight after being alerted to his whereabouts.
And while Ventura was meticulously detailed in her account, there are plenty of people who think she’s lying or nothing but a “golddigger.” Par for the course, there are opinions on both sides. Check out some of the reactions below.
Cassie called Diddy’s bluff and he folded like a piece of origami. She deserves every she gorcin the settlement and more for what he did to her. #Cassie#Diddypic.twitter.com/RjUJeOF1mp
Can we talk about how the paper work said #Diddy was hanging people from the 17th floor of buildings like Big Red from The Five Heartbeats?! 🤦🏾♀️ pic.twitter.com/0zlcnnLMKZ
So all that psychotic s### we read in those court documents of what #Diddy did to #Cassie, we’re supposed to ignore now? Diddy settling is basically saying that he’s guilty of everything he did to her.
They say believe women, when you do, this happens. They settle for money. When that money run out, we don’t want to hear s###. You settle in a day? I thought you wanted to empower others? Nah, you wanted the money the whole time. CLOWN#accountability#liar#cassie#diddypic.twitter.com/l9iYg7NZnD
Yeah, #Diddy did that s###. I believe #cassie. Just know that Diddy is high up, and has a team of people that will do anything for him. Let’s hope that she has receipts. Diddy has been doing weird s### for years. Times up! #Accountabilitypic.twitter.com/HeesVvJ3kA
50 Cent wasted no time in seizing the opportunity to clown Diddy over the recent settlement of a lawsuit filed by his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura. His humor-laced criticism follows a consistent pattern where Fif pokes fun at Diddy, especially in light of serious legal matters.
In this latest episode, Ventura accused Diddy of severe misconduct, including sexual assault and physical abuse. The settlement between the former couple was notably quick, occurring just a day after the lawsuit’s filing.
Ventura’s allegations painted a disturbing picture of her relationship with Diddy. Filed in a Manhattan federal court, the suit alleged a long pattern of control and abuse, beginning soon after Ventura met Diddy in 2005.
She claimed Diddy plied her with drugs, physically assaulted her, and forced her into sexual encounters with male prostitutes, which he allegedly filmed.
The most severe accusation was a claim of rape in 2018. Diddy, through his lawyer, vehemently denied these allegations, countering that Ventura had attempted to extort him for $30 million.
In response to the settlement, 50 Cent sarcastically remarked, “LOL He paid that money real quick, should have done that before the sharks 🦈 saw the blood in the water and here they come in 5,4,3,2,1 every woman he put his hand on.”
This comment aligns with his ongoing narrative, which includes relentless skepticism and mockery towards Diddy’s legal and personal issues.
Additionally, 50 Cent has been vocal about Diddy’s alleged involvement in the murder of Tupac Shakur.
50 Cent has used social media to repeatedly implicate Diddy, despite Diddy’s claims of innocence.
This ongoing ridicule, typified by humor, reflects 50 Cent’s characteristic approach to public discourse, especially regarding his peers in the music industry.
Diddy (real name Sean Combs) and his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura have reportedly settled her bombshell lawsuit just one day after she filed. According to multiple reports, they came to an amicable agreement late Friday (November 17). Her attorneys released a statement, explaining, “This evening, Ms. Ventura and Mr. Combs resolved the claims that she filed against him yesterday in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York to their mutual satisfaction. The parties will have no further statements beyond what is provided in this email.”
Ventura provided her own statement as via email, writing, “I have decided to resolve this matter amicably on terms that I have some level of control. I want to thank my family, fans and lawyers for their unwavering support.” Diddy also commented, saying, “We have decided to resolve this matter amicably. I wish Cassie and her family all the best. Love.”
Cassie Ventura filed the suit in a Manhattan federal court on Thursday (November 16), alleging sexual assault, physical abuse and forced sex with male prostitutes, among many other things. In the suit, her lawyers alleged Diddy offered her “eight figures”—or somewhere between $10 million and $99.9 million—to keep her from filing her lawsuit. Diddy’s lawyer fired back and said Ventura previously demanded $30 million while threatening to write a book about their relationship.
Following the decision, Ventura’s lawyer, Douglas Wigdor, added, “I am very proud of Ms. Ventura for having the strength to go public with her lawsuit. She ought to be commended for doing so.”
In the suit, Ventura said shortly after she met Diddy in 2005, he began a pattern of control and abuse that included plying her with drugs, beating her and forcing her to have sex with a succession of male prostitutes while he filmed the encounters. In 2018, right around the time they broke up for good, Ventura claims Diddy forced his way into her home and raped her.
“After years in silence and darkness,” Ventura said in a statement, “I am finally ready to tell my story, and to speak up on behalf of myself and for the benefit of other women who face violence and abuse in their relationships.”
Ben Brafman, an attorney for Diddy, said his client “vehemently denies these offensive and outrageous allegations. For the past six months, Mr. Combs has been subjected to Ms. Ventura’s persistent demand of $30 million, under the threat of writing a damaging book about their relationship, which was unequivocally rejected as blatant blackmail. Despite withdrawing her initial threat, Ms. Ventura has now resorted to filing a lawsuit riddled with baseless and outrageous lies, aiming to tarnish Mr. Combs’s reputation and seeking a payday.”
The terms of the settlement weren’t disclosed but presumably she did get some kind of payday.
“In The Morning” collaborators Drake and J. Cole shocked Hip-Hop fans by announcing they plan to head out on the road together for “It’s All A Blur Tour – Big As The What?”
Originally, Drake revealed 22 dates for the upcoming nationwide trek which begins in Denver on January 18, 2024. The For All the Dogs album creator has now added 10 additional shows to the tour itinerary.
The Live Nation-produced “It’s All A Blur Tour – Big As The What?” will also include new shows in San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Tampa, St. Louis, Buffalo, Kansas City, and more.
J. Cole’s Manager Explains Why Some Major Cities Are Not Part Of This Tour Run
Drake recently crisscrossed the North American continent for the “It’s All a Blur Tour” with Atlanta native 21 Savage. The two rappers traveled to several major locales in support of their 2022 joint project Her Loss.
Some people questioned why “It’s All A Blur Tour – Big As The What?” does not include cities such as DC, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago and Toronto. Ibrahim “IB” Hamad, J. Cole’s manager, explained the decision to a disappointed X user.
“I feel your pain 😂,” Hamad tweeted on November 13. He also added, “But this is not a major city run, the run is for the secondary market we don’t get to go to as much and do shows like how we [used] to. All Love to DC though ❤️.”
I feel your pain 😂 but this is not a major city run, the run is for the secondary market we don’t get to go to as much and do shows like how we use to. All Love to DC though ❤️. https://t.co/AzJIfx5cv3
Drake Recruited J. Cole For His Latest Collection Of Tunes
In addition to releasing Her Loss in November 2022, Drake also dropped another Billboard 200 chart-topping album over the last year. For All the Dogs arrived on October 6, 2023.
General tickets for “It’s All A Blur Tour – Big As The What?” became available on November 17 at drakerelated.com. J. Cole is not scheduled to appear at the tour stops between March 14 and March 27.
The Georgia home of rapper Russ was reportedly burglarized, resulting in the theft of firearms, luxury items and a vehicle.
According to TMZ, the Roswell Police Department responded to Russ’s call, which he made after he noticed the burglary taking place from his home security camera. Upon arrival, police observed the open front door and signs of a ransacked property.
Russ, who wasn’t on the premises at the time, assisted the police via FaceTime, confirming the theft of five 9mm firearms, two Chanel purses and his girlfriend’s Mercedes-Benz C-Class AMG.
Surveillance footage revealed at least two individuals entering and exiting the home with stolen goods. They were wearing gloves and jackets when they walked out with multiple backpacks and suitcases.
The investigation continues as police seek to identify the burglars.
Chrisean Rock has provided an update on the status of her newborn son’s health while also debuting the baby’s first custom piece of jewelry.
During an exclusive interview with TMZ, Rock spoke candidly about how she continues to find a balance in her professional life and as a parent after she recently earned her first Billboard chart placement following the release of “Mr. Take Ya B*tch” featuring Lil Mabu.
“I just want to thank god, my team, Mabu and all that,” Rock said in part. (The single appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart at No. 96.)
In addition to remarking on the abundance of money and love she has recently been blessed with, Rock also provided details about her son’s recent medical procedure and his overall health.
“He’s great, he healed well after his hernia surgery and everything is just coming together,” Rock beamed. “I wanted to celebrate my two months of being a mom and you know he deserves it, I fell in love with my son so bad I can’t help it.”
In September, Rock’s baby daddy Blueface nearly landed himself in serious trouble after posting a naked photo of his newborn boy and accusing his mother of “neglecting” his hernia.
