Joe Budden is giving major props to Megan Thee Stallion’s latest single, “Cobra,” and says anybody who disagrees with him is a hater.
Although he wasn’t a fan of the H-Town Hottie’s collab with Cardi B, “Bongos,” the rapper turned podcaster is giving Meg her flowers following her latest offering.
“Meg, yo! I ain’t gon’ lie to you. You absolutely went crazy on this,” he said on the latest episode of The Joe Budden Podcast.”
According to Joe Budden, not even the naysayers can deny giving Megan Thee Stallion her credit for “Cobra.”
“A n#### hate on this, he hatin’” he declared. “If you don’t like this you hatin’.” Check out the clip below.
Megan Thee Stallion sent fans into a frenzy after sharing the visuals for the new track last Friday (November 3). Within a day of release, ”Cobra” broke records after amassing a whopping 2.15 million views on YouTube. The video became the most-watched debut by a solo female rap artist within 24 hours. As of Sunday (November 5), the video had garnered over 4.2 million views.
On Saturday, the Grammy-Award-Winner celebrated the song’s success before teasing a follow-up.
“Im so happy all the hotties are happy !” she penned. “#COBRA is the introduction of ACT ONE and y’all are already so excited… I just can’t wait until y’all see everything.”
Im so happy all the hotties are happy ! #COBRA is the introduction of ACT ONE and y’all are already so excited… I just can’t wait until y’all see everything
She also acknowledged the significance of the track, the first under her own label, Hot Girl Productions, following her split from 1501 Certified Entertainment.
Rick Ross has fired back after Dee-1 recently criticized him for glorifying violence in his lyrics.
The New Orleans native recently called out The MMG honcho alongside Meek Mill and Jim Jones during a recent appearance on Sway In The Morning.
However, Rick Ross claims Dee-1 is only talking about them in the hopes of going viral. According to Rozay, Dee-1 needs to “shut up” and go viral by giving back to the community.
He took to his Instagram Story over the weekend to address the criticism while mocking Dee-1.
“Lil’ man, whoever you is, until you feed the kids where you’re from for 20 years straight, don’t question Rozay,” he said after mimicking him. “Wait until you buy 10,000 bikes.”
He continued, “You heard me, lil’ man? Get that basket off your head, so you could think clear, lil’ man. You going viral for speaking on n##### names. Not ‘cause of your talent, not ‘cause of your gift. Since you wanna go viral, I’m gonna show you how to go viral, lil’ man.”
Rick Ross said Dee-1 should be going viral for “feeding them kids in your hood,” and “giving them bikes away,” before addressing his remarks to the Dipset member. “Don’t be sayin’, ‘Jim Jones,’” he added. “Jim Jones just gave away g###### six figures worth of clothes in his hood. And you a n#### who talkin’.”
Dee-1 said although he loves both Rick Ross and Meek Mill, he believes they need to do better.
“Oh, you the face of prison reform?” he questioned on Sway In The Morning. “Or are you sitting here on your new song with Ross talking about getting somebody murked, and shot at the red light? Which one is it, bro?”
Meek Mill also responded to Dee-1 last week. “I was rapping this way when I became the face of reform,” he said before adding, “That’s how I got there, y’all forgot that fast.”
Joe Budden is speaking out after the internet was ablaze with rumors he got jumped over the weekend.
The rapper-turned-podcaster was trending after whispers of an alleged altercation surfaced online. Rumors spread that he was jumped at a NYC strip club, but Joe Budden denied the gossip.
However, he did admit that he took a blow to the face. He set the record straight during an Instagram Live chat with his The Joe Budden Podcast co-host Queenzflip.
“Never believe the internet rumors,” Budden said, rejecting claims he got “stomped out” during the incident. “N#### cocked back and socked me one good time—Bow!”
He continued, “But that’s all he’s going to get. I keep telling y’all I eat a punch well. Now we got to get it on. Now we got to go.”
Joe Budden speaks on fight rumors: "Socked me one good time, but that’s all you gonna get"
According to Joe Budden, his assailant was saved by a slippery floor. Both men lost their footing during the struggle, but Budden said he got to his feet first.
“Wet floor saved that boy life,” he added. “He wasn’t big enough or strong enough. Can’t send no n#### like that at me. It’s gonna end bad. When the floor is wet, it’s about who gets up first.”
Ultimately, Budden brushed off the incident but said he came out on top. “They should have jumped me,” he said. Check out the clip below.
Nicki Minaj has had enough of the drama on social media and is urging her most zealous fans, collectively known as The Barbz, not to make any threats on her behalf and to focus on her upcoming album.
The NYC icon took to Instagram on Sunday (October 5) with a PSA for her loyal fanbase. Like many fanbases in the internet age, The Barbz are active in their support on social media. Some of the most loyal supporters engage in fierce online spats with rival fanbases. Although she did not indicate what prompted her message, the intention was clear.
“Be sure to never threaten anyone on my behalf,” she began. “Whether on the internet or in person. Whether in jest, or not. I don’t & never have condoned that.”
Nicki Minaj reminded The Barbz: “We have an amazing album right around the corner,” adding,” It feels so surreal & euphoric.” She concluded her note with “blessings on blessings,” to her community.
Despite the delay of the highly anticipated album Pink Friday 2, Nicki Minaj has been blessing fans with new music.
The project was pushed back until her birthday on December 8. However over the weekend Minaj played some songs during multiple Instagram Live sessions. She even hinted at compiling the tracks into an EP.
However, some fans are still not satisfied. The Barbz came to her defence Sunday, urging others not to question her but to appreciate the music. “Nicki you repeating yourself is exhausting,” wrote one sympathizer. “Why can’t we just enjoy the music and get ready for 12.8.”
Minaj agreed, replying with “POW. FKNG POW!!!!!!!!” before threatening to quit the platform.
“I think ima leave this X sh!t for GOOD!” she wrote. “Ima do a spaces right now to cuss everyone out. Then ima go to my rightful home.”
POW. FKNG POW!!!!!!!! You just won a signed cd. I think ima leave this X sh!t for GOOD!
Ima do a spaces right now to cuss everyone out. Then ima go to my rightful home. Barbz y’all can stay if y’all want chi https://t.co/8czdLUvVYg
Missy Elliott has recalled her music comeback after being diagnosed with Graves’ disease in 2008.
The rapper took a break from the music industry after being diagnosed with the autoimmune disorder and made her comeback seven years later as a special guest during Katy Perry’s 2015 Super Bowl Halftime Show.
“Coming off of being sick and having a hiatus, that was like a ‘wow’ moment for me,” the 52-year-old told the New York Post about performing on the iconic stage after her years-long break.
She added, “It was almost like God was saying, ‘I’m gonna show you what I could do for you in three minutes.'”
Missy previously shared that she was diagnosed with the disease after losing a considerable amount of weight.
“It causes hair loss, your eyes bulge,” she had previously explained. “My blood pressure was always up from just overworking.”
In the new interview, Missy Elliott also recalled receiving support from music legend Mary J. Blige early in her career.
“I remember Mary coming up to me, and she was like, ‘You’re a superstar,'” Missy told the publication. “And at the time, I didn’t pay it no mind because I really didn’t think that at all. But she kept telling me that, and me and her became really close.”
Missy and Mary have collaborated on multiple hits, including 2001’s “”Never Been” and 2005’s “My Struggles.”
“She was the first one,” Missy said of her collaborator and friend. “Back then, you didn’t even want to play with Mary! And I personally didn’t think that I fit the mold because, you know, there was a certain look back then.”
Megan Thee Stallion’s latest video, “Cobra,” has made a splash on YouTube, quickly becoming the most-watched debut by a solo female rap artist within 24 hours. Released on November 3, the video racked up more than 2.15 million views by the following day, outpacing hits by artists like Doja Cat and Ice Spice. As of Sunday (November 5), the video was approaching four million views.
The “Cobra” video has sparked widespread discussion, with fans dissecting its lyrics and speculating about potential references to Megan’s personal life and relationships, specifically her involvement with Pardison Fontaine. People immediately assumed he was unfaithful due to Megan’s lines on “Cobra.”
“Pulled up/caught him cheating,” she raps. “Getting his dick sucked/In the same spot I’m sleeping.”
The song has quickly trended on social media and eventually elicited a response from Pardison Fontaine, who posted images of well-known cheaters, Tristan Thompson, and rapper Future.
“Cobra” isn’t just a hit for its views but also for what it represents in Megan Thee Stallion’s evolving career as an artist and entrepreneur. The video’s release marks Megan’s first project under her own label, Hot Girl Productions, following her split from 1501 Certified Entertainment. The move to independence is underscored by her direct investment in her music, with plans to self-fund her future projects.
Taraji P. Henson will “never forget the day,” Oprah Winfrey told her she had booked a role in “The Color Purple” movie musical.
Taraji P. Henson revealed in an interview that she initially didn’t answer the phone when Winfrey, who produced the new movie, called her to announce that she would be playing Shug Avery.
“I saved my recording. I don’t answer calls from numbers that I don’t know, and Oprah’s number comes up unknown,” Taraji P. Henson shared. “Tyler Perry hit me and was like, ‘Are you answering your phone?’ I was like, ‘Why?’ He said, ‘Girl, just answer the phone!’
“I’ll never forget the day. I was so nervous. What do you say to Oprah? I was practicing my, ‘Hi! Hello! Yes, Oprah!’ And finally, she came on the phone and told me, ‘Shug Avery is coming to town!’ It was the best moment ever.”
Henson had previously turned down an offer to be involved in the Broadway musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s novel because she was scared she was “going to blow out (her) vocal chords” singing every night.
However, she felt “ready” to be a part of the movie musical because she didn’t have to sing as often.
“You go in the studio, you sing the song, and then they play it on the set. So you don’t have to really sing full-out,” she explained. “It’s the difference between singing that one time in the studio (and) singing eight nights in a row on Broadway.”
Winfrey played Sofia in Steven Spielberg’s 1985 film adaptation and has continued “The Color Purple’s” legacy by producing the stage and screen musicals.
Henson stars alongside Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, and Colman Domingo in the feature, which will be released on Christmas Day.
DJ Kay Slay is being honored with the release of the biggest posse cut in Hip-Hop history. Titled “Rolling 200 Deep,” the track is divided into 16 parts spanning 62 minutes and featuring 200 rappers.
Snoop Dogg, Ice-T, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, AZ, Run-DMC, Bun B, Big Daddy Kane, Coke La Rock, Kid Capri, Goodie Mob, B-Real, Memphis Bleek, Twista, E-40, Jim Jones, MC Serch, NEMS and Papoose are among who contributed their voices to the ambitious track. “Rolling 200 Deep” marks the fourth installment in DJ Kay Slay’s Rolling Deep series, which includes Rolling 25 Deep (2005) Rolling 50 Deep (2020) and Rolling 110 Deep (2021).
“I think Papoose oversaw the project once Slay passed,” Big Daddy Kane tells AllHipHop.com. “I’m super glad that someone took this project over and got it out to truly send Kay Slay off with the honor and gratitude he deserves. He has always been a true supporter of authentic Hip-Hop and 200 MCs on the same track is a hell of a way to leave a legacy behind.”
Kid Capri adds, “Slay had ask me to do it, and I shot the video across the street from my house in the park. Then we both got sick at the same time in January. He went in the hospital, I didn’t. When I spoke to him on the phone the next day, he told me, ‘I almost checked out last night kid.’ That was the last time I spoke to him. I kept in touch with his moms all the way until he passed, so I didn’t think the ‘200 Rolling Deep’ was coming out, but I’m glad I did it. He’s getting a lot of praise for it. The song should be out in the Guinness Book of World Records like Daddy O said.”
It’s a fitting tribute to the legendary New York City DJ, who died in April 2022, four months after being hospitalized with COVID-19. Longtime friend and promotor Van Silk said at the time, “Hip Hop lost a real gem. My dear brother is gone. I’ve known him since he was 16 years old. He was my little brother. I introduced him to many and we did a lot of things together. We last talked in December because we were finishing up the ‘200 Rolling Deep’ project. He was gonna do his video part with MC Sha-Rock. From the mixtapes to helping him launch Straight Stuntin‘ magazine and the whole What The Science project, the world not only lost a real dedicated person to the culture of Hip-Hop but a source of bridging the gap in Hip-Hop. I’m gonna miss my little brother.”
DJ Kay Slay was originally a prominent graffiti artist and was featured in the iconic 1983 graffiti documentary, Style Wars. He witnessed the birth of Hip-Hop culture firsthand, including the rise of Grandmaster Flash, Grand Wizzard Theodore and Kool DJ Red Alert. Swept up in the street life, Kay Slay ended up in jail by the late 1980s and was released in 1990 with a new lease on life. He ultimately wound up releasing four successful studio albums: The Streetsweeper, Vol. 1, The Streetsweeper, Vol. 2, The Champions: North Meets South (with Greg Street) and More Than Just a DJ. He later hosted a successful radio show on Hot 97.
The accompanying video for “Rolling 200 Deep,” which arrived on Friday (November 3), was at least partially filmed when DJ Kay Slay was alive as he appears in it alongside Coke La Rock. The clip ends with a graveyard and photos of late MCs like Blackalicious’ Gift of Gab and DMX superimposed on the tombstones.
“‘The Rolling 200 Deep’ is something that we been working on and was supposed to been released in 2021,” Van Silk tells us. “Me and Kay Slay will go over the line up of artists. He went from 50 to 100 and now 200. This is a amazing thing that he did for Hip-Hop. We use to argue about who should be in and not be in at 2 a.m. in the morning. Many may not know I have know this man since he was 15-year-old graffiti writer. Me and Kay Slay created many things that many have no clue about. #Dez. I miss by brother and this was his last project he was working on. I have to give all the credit to Jarrod ‘The General’ Whittaker because without him, none of this would be happening.”
Watch “Rolling 200 Deep” above and find some of the participants’ posts below.
One time for the legend DJ Kay Slay and the “rolling 200 deep” cipher. Thanks for having me on it OG. Your legacy lives forever ✊🏽👑🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/IRLbIVXZfE
Lil Uzi Vert recently popped out with a head full of 360 waves, but his fans aren’t convinced he put in the brushwork to generate real seasick-inducing waves.
It all started over Halloween weekend amid Uzi’s performance at Powerhouse 23 in Philadelphia, where he debuted his new cut following a wild summer hairstyle saga that included braids, liberty spikes and an undercut. Oh yeah, bro had the perm too, which is low-key a major key in these hairstyle shenanigans. Allegedly speaking, that is.
Lil Uzi Vert dropped an Instagram Stories tutorial on how he achieves his 360 drip texture, citing the “shampoo method” and Cantu products that are fiercely debated as his go-to maintenance methods. And now, fans are criticizing his routine, claiming that there is no way he was able to cultivate the texture and style of waves he currently rocking without cheating and using the “kit” shortcut. “I know a relaxer when I see one ni###,” on Twitter user wrote in a quoted reply to a tweet about Uzi’s routine.
Other folks still seem to be in disbelief about the hairstyle switch-up, with another Twitter user writing “Thought ni#### were lying to me when they said he had waves now,” in response to photos of Uzi’s defined waves. “This ni### gonna get his dreads back in a week,” another user wrote.
Mariah Carey has been tapped to star in Victoria’s Secret 2023 holiday campaign.
Mariah, affectionately known as the “Queen of Christmas,” is the latest star to be the face of the lingerie brand’s annual holiday campaign.
The collection, released earlier this week, features several seasonally-inspired pieces, including a candy cane satin bow corset top, a gold sequinned floral embroidery low-cut Demi bra, and a red balconette bra.
“It was so fun seeing the new collection and their creative vision come to life,” Mariah Carey told Vogue in a new interview. “From the seasonal colors to the vibrant glam – I definitely felt the holiday spirit all around me.”
The campaign, which captures the festive mood with red backdrops and a snowy scene, was shot by Ethan James Green and styled by Gabriella Karefa-Johnson.
The photographs show Mariah posing in various clothing pieces in front of the festive backgrounds.
“I like that the different pieces I wore have different vibes to them – some are cozy and festive, and others are more sexy and playful,” Mariah said of the collection. “One of my favorite looks was the gold set with these beautiful, intricate embellishments. It really felt like holiday glamour when I put it on.”
In several of the images, the artist is joined by her two Jack Russell terriers, who sported their own crystal collars.
Karega Bailey and Jonny Gold have once again joined forces to deliver an exceptional collaboration. After their successful release of “Legacy Talk Only” in March 2023, this dynamic duo is back with a fresh single and an accompanying music video titled “Free The God.” Check it out!
Lauryn Hill performed in Los Angeles on Saturday night (November 4) as part of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 25th Anniversary Tour. Par for the course, she showed up a bit late but wasn’t afraid to address her tardiness head on. In a clip making the rounds online, Hill spoke passionately about why her fans should be grateful she shows up at all.
“I hear, ‘She’s late. She’s late a lot,'” she said. “Yo, you’re lucky I make it on this stage every night. I don’t do it because they let me. I do it because I stand here in the name of God. God is the one who allows me to do it, who surrounded me with family and community when there was no support, when the album sold so many records and nobody showed up and said, ‘Hey, would you like to make another one?’ So I went around the world and played the same album over and over and over and over again. Because we’re survivors. We’re not just the survivors, we’re the thrivers.”
Of course, Hill was talking about her one and only solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, which was released in 1998. The project arrived two years after the monumental success of the Fugees’ hit record, The Score, and was a commercial dynamo. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling more than 422,000 copies in its first week, a record for first-week sales by a female artist. It earned 1o Grammy Award nominations and won five, making Hill the first woman to receive that many nominations and awards in one night. In 2021, the album was certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), again making Hill the first female artist to accomplish such a feat.
Hill’s latest tour has been plagued by vocal issues. Last week, she was forced to cancel shows in Texas and Philadelphia. She explained on social media, “As you may know, I’ve been doing my best to overcome a serious case of vocal strain/injury over the past week or so. I fought through the last couple shows, pushing my voice, and masking the injury with medication. This isn’t safe or sustainable. I woke up this morning hoping to have enough voice to get through tonight, but I can barely talk let alone sing or rap.”
It’s been years since Azealia Banks has made headlines for her music—instead, she’s made a career out of regularly makes disparaging comments about other artists. And, as anyone remotely paying attention, nobody is off limits. On Saturday (November 4), Banks set her sights on Busta Rhymes while apologizing the Lizzo. Banks made the statements on her Instagram Stories and made it abundantly clear just how much disdain she has for Bus-A-Bus.
“I was having a conversation last night and realized that I owe @lizzobeeating a huge apology for popping so much s###,” she wrote. “If hip hop will allow a 55+ severely overweight @bustarhymes who exhibits major signs of anabolic steroid abuse, adrenal gland failure, and constipation, and will also allow him to have a face full of blackheads and acne from what appears to be testosterone shot abuse ALL whilst drinking molly water in 2023 and wearing cartoon-like Neon yellow fake gold slick Rick chains……We have absolutely no right to be trying to skewer a YOUNG black woman – for anything.”
While Banks admits to criticizing Lizzo over the years, she’s also defended her before. In 2022, Banks slammed Kanye West for criticizing Lizzo’s weight, saying at the time, “[Kanye] can’t be trying to lollipop off the 4 year old discussion about Lizzo’s health and weight when he has an entire McDonald’s commercial.”
But just three years earlier, Banks made fun of Lizzo’s perceived “fake a## body positivity.” She added, “The fact that the public and the media has been keeping this fat girl joke going for so long is honestly peak boredom. This song is not good nor is the dumpy fat girl spectacle live set she does. Saddest bit is that the girl is legit talented and truly only being allowed to shine so long as she allows herself to be this millennial mammy of sorts.”
It’s unclear why Banks targeted Busta Rhymes this time. After all, they’ve collaborated in the past. But amid the pandemic in 2020, she went off on Busta for supposedly not clearing a song.
“When this quarantine is over, I’mma f### a lot of y’all n####s summers up,” she said. “Everybody getting violated. I got a long list of n####s who bout to get a surprise. Y’all never seen how evil this s### gets. I’m not talking about music. I’m coming to SEE you n####s. Each and every last one of you.
“[Busta Rhymes], you first n####. Clear the record before I expose you. Don’t act stupid. Call @elis and @chepope and get it done in the next five days.” She also said she wasn’t “f###ng around” and told him he has four days” before adding, “Fat steroid neck son of a b####. That wasn’t fair. But you still ugly. Ha.”
Last week, the jury selection process in Young Thug’s high-profile RICO trial concluded when twelve people were seated after ten months of legal wranglings and mishaps.
Prosecutors in Fulton County, Georgia, allege that Young Thug is the head of the Young Slime Life (YSL) gang that orchestrated a crime wave across Georgia, encompassing murder, drug trafficking, assaults, and carjackings.
Young Thug contends that YSL, an acronym for Young Stoner Life, is merely a record label and not a criminal enterprise.
Throughout the lengthy jury selection process, local authorities have consistently voiced concerns over the safety of potential witnesses.
Earlier this year, Judge Ural Glanville’s court issued a temporary order barring the disclosure of witness information following “numerous threats to kill or harm witnesses,” signaling a history of witness intimidation that includes plots against law enforcement and threats to witnesses and their families.
These concerns have now extended to the jurors, prompting Judge Ural Glanville to take the extraordinary step of keeping the identities of the jurors and six alternates confidential to ensure their protection, according to information obtained exclusively by AllHipHop.com.
“No person shall videotape, photograph, draw in a realistic or otherwise identifiable manner, or otherwise record images, statements, or conversations of jurors/prospective jurors, whether inside or outside the courtroom,” Judge Ural Glanville said. “Jurors shall be identified by number only in court filings or in open court during the pendency of trial. No party shall disclose during the pendency of the trial any juror/prospective juror information that would reveal a juror’s/prospective juror’s identity, including names, addresses, telephone numbers, identifying employment information, physical descriptions, or membership affiliations.”
This backdrop of potential danger to witnesses and jurors alike highlights the importance of maintaining juror anonymity in the trial.
Despite his claims of innocence, the Fulton County District Attorney’s office has successfully negotiated numerous plea deals with dozens of his co-defendants, including rappers Gunna and Young Thug’s brother Unfoonk.
Eight defendants remain to face trial, including Young Thug himself. Young Thug’s trial is set to commence on November 27.
Big Boi hit a small snag during an appearance at Kennesaw State University in Georgia last week. The Outkast MC was invited to attend the school’s football game on October 28 and decided to bring one of his pet owls on stage with him. In a clip shared by TMZ, the owl immediately gets spooked and attempts to fly away. Fortunately for Big Boi, the bird doesn’t get too far because it’s tied to his right hand. But Big Boi still struggles momentarily as he tries to wrangle the owl while rapping “Sucka Free” with Sleepy Brown. A handler eventually intervenes and gets the bird to safety.
Big Boi owns four owls named Tula, Simon, Whodini and Hootie. He seemingly brought the owl to the event as a nod to Kennesaw State University’s owl mascot, Scrappy. He later posted an Instagram video of himself at the stadium with an owl with the caption, “Owl hugs. Saturdaze wit Babies and Birds.”
Big Boi has had a busy week. On Friday (November 3), he flew to New York City, where he inducted Kate Bush into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. During the introduction, Big Boi explained why he was up there to honor the British singer, who opted not to attend the ceremony in person.
“On the surface, obviously our music is very different,” he said. “But in important ways, we’re exactly the same. What I love about Kate’s music is that I never know what sound I’m gonna hear next. She ignores anything that seems like a formula and instead just does whatever she wants to do, like me.
“She challenges me as a listener and expands my ears and my mind. No matter how many times I look to albums like The Dreaming or 50 Words for Snow, they sound fresh and surprise me every time. They fill my head with ideas and expand my ambitions for what music can achieve.”
“On the surface, our music is obviously very different. But in important ways, they’re exactly the same. What I love about Kate’s music is that you never know what sound you’re going to hear next.” – @BigBoi inducting @KateBushMusic.
Stream #RockHall2023 NOW on @DisneyPlus! pic.twitter.com/ScDMp2HkAe
Dwight Howard continues to be the subject of gossip and headlines after an explosive lawsuit. The basketball star is currently caught up in legal drama over claims he allegedly sexually assaulted a man named Stephen Harper. Harper claims he was forced into a threesome with a cross-dressing man only identified as “Kitty,” who has a full beard.
Howard has denied he assaulted anyone and admitted the three men were in his bedroom but only engaged in “consensual kissing.”
All this seemed too much for 50 Cent, who made fun of Howard over the weekend. 50 took to Instagram to post a picture of himself, TDE CEO Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith and Denzel Washington sitting courtside at a Los Angeles Lakers game. Howard stands towering over the three men as 50 Cent looked up with a massive grin on his face.
“@dangerookipawaa gonna say you made eye contact with Dwight Howard. Man me and Denzel thought that mother fvcker was alright man,” 50 Cent wrote.
Howard caught wind of 50 Cent’s jab and replied in the comment section, “Glad I put a smile on your face.” A variety of celebrities weighed in and laughed, but it was the comment section on 50 Cent’s page that had a ball with the back and forth-between the rapper and basketball legend.
“Dwight took ‘many men’ to a whole another level *Pause,*” one user wrote in a post that garnered over 2000 likes. Another user wrote, “Dwight like welcome 2 The candy shop,’ while another remarked, “He was trying to put another quarter in you.”
Howard issued a statement to AllHipHop.com to defend his reputation as the lawsuit works its way through the legal system.
“This is a civil case that was made public for profit,” the statement said. “In this case, the accuser is solely suing Dwight Howard and has refrained from suing the other party in which he claims to be involved. It is important to know that these matters were never about sexual assault. This was merely about money and greed. Such individuals, have made continuous attempts to elicit payment from Dwight. This has resulted in intimidation of not only Dwight, his family and friends have also been targeted as well.
“The accuser took to social media, only after being ignored by Howard. Over the duration of several years the accuser has set out to hire attorneys whom either declined the case or dropped the case after payment from Dwight was denied. Dwight hopes that people spend as much time covering his innocence, his numerous ventures to improve the lives of people through his global initiatives, his efforts to improve the quality of life of all people, despite race, creed, culture, sex, sexual orientation, and others.”
Soulja Boy is a mess sometimes. Clearly he is a genius in some way or another, but he goes off so fast. At 33, he’s a young OG that a lot of people see as a legend in both technology and music. We showed him a lot of love in the past and recently interviewed him backstage at a show.
Cole World did a small interview that has been chopped to bits online by scavengers. In the interview, he talks a bit about SB. J. Cole didn’t mean no harm, but that did not matter to Soulja Boy, who went off over a very small comment. I don’t know if you can hear what he says exactly, but he seemed to suggest that he was not sure where he fit in as the younger rapper gained traction with his brand of Hip-Hop. They both came out around 2007, 2008 and, as you know, are very different.
Cole is just talking about his experience and even calls SB’s first song “classic,” so he was clear that it was not disrespect. That did not stop the “going off” of Big Soulja.
After some time, I think Soulja Boy had time to think about it. He offers so more contemplative thoughts on it in this second video. He defers to Snoop, when he said the young boy was trash. That would scar just about anybody.
Ice-T was among the presenters at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Friday night (November 3). The Original Gangster was on deck to induct Rage Against the Machine, who joined Sheryl Crow, DJ Kool Herc, Link Wray, Al Kooper, Chaka Khan, Missy Elliott, Willie Nelson, The Spinners and Gorge Michael in the 2023 class.
The ceremony was streamed live for the first time in the Rock Hall’s 38-year history thanks to Disney+, which provided for some colorful moments. Beforehand, Rock Hall Chairman John Sykes addressed the media room, which included AllHipHop, and suggested he was slightly nervous about what could go wrong. As it turned out, Sykes did have one thing to worry about—a barrage of cuss words. Throughout the evening, presenters and inductees alike kept letting “f-bombs” and other expletives slip. Ice-T let at least one “muthaf###in” out but kept it pretty tightened up otherwise.
“So I was minding my business right?” he began. “And I get a phone call, and my manager said they wanted me to induct somebody into some kind of awards. I’m like, ‘Nah, I’m busy. I’m doing something. I’m playing Call of Duty right now, I ain’t got no time.’ They said it’s Rage Against the Machine into the Hall of Fame. I was like, ‘Are you serious? Yo, I’m there.’ Zach, Tom, Tim and Brad—make some noise for them.”
Ice-T went on to recall how he was first introduced to Rage Against the Machine in the 1990s by Body Count guitarist Ernie C. He continued, “Let me tell you a true story. I ain’t got no teleprompter. We were playing…oh yeah, for some of you youngsters out there, I’ve made a few records in my day. I’m far from a muthaf###in’ cop. Don’t get it twisted—my little band was playing this gig at this place called Madame Wong’s in L.A. with Danzig. And my guitarist Ernie runs into this guy named Tom Morello.”
As the story goes, Ernie C was then invited to check out Rage Against the Machine at a rehearsal and he concluded they didn’t any help refining their sound, so he invited them to play with Body Count.
“Ernie tells me, ‘I found this band in L.A. They’re going to open for us,'” Ice-T explained. “I’m like, ‘Whatever, word.’ I go to soundcheck. Zack jumps five-feet in the air. I’m like, ‘That ain’t no opening band! What are you talking about?’ Right out of the gate, Rage Against the Machine wasn’t a game. In their career, they did things that impressed cats like me. You can’t impress me with normal stuff. You gotta do stuff like suing the U.S. State Department for using their music. Who does that!? Rage Against the Machine does that. How about 1993, pulling up butt naked at Lollapalooza, protesting against the PMRC [Parents Music Resource Center]. Who does that? Rage Against the Machine does. I respect the hell out of this band.”
Tom Morello was the only member from Rage Against the Machine to attend the ceremony. He proceeded to deliver a passionate acceptance speech, which—true to Rage form—challenged the current systems put in place.
“The world is worth fighting for,” he said before adding, “Dream big and don’t settle. Don’t wait for us. Rage is not here, but you are. You’re the ones who must testify.” He ended with, “History is like music—it’s not something that happens, it’s something you make.” Backstage, he posed for photos in true Rage fashion with a sign that read simply, “Cease fire.”
Rapper Tee Grizzley has exemplified the essence of giving back in his hometown of Detroit.
On Friday evening (November 3), the Detroit native transformed L. George’s Coney Island into a beacon of hope and generosity.
The rapper, who has not let fame cloud his sense of home, expressed a profound connection to L. George’s Coney Island, a place he frequented growing up.
His latest album, Tee’s Coney Island, is named after the local eatery and is a nod to his beginnings. As the line snaked out the door, the atmosphere was charged with excitement and gratitude.
Celebrating the release of his fourth album, Tee Grizzley served up hundreds of free meals to the locals, a gesture that resonated deeply with the community he holds dear.
Tee Grizzley’s favorite dishes were on the menu, and his presence inspired the locals.
“I want to spread that good energy and that positivity, and I want to spread that, especially in my community. We can do so much more if we just believe in ourselves and invest in ourselves and give our dreams a chance,” Tee Grizzley said.
The event, which saw fans and residents lining up for hours, was about more than just the food. It was a symbol of Tee Grizzley’s commitment to his roots and his desire to inspire others in the city.
Nikki D, a seasoned Hip-Hop veteran, hails from the Bricks of New Jersey and is renowned for her candidness. In today’s era of heightened social media influence, her voice has the ability to resonate more powerfully than ever before. She has scrutinized the current state of affairs, including a critique of Ice Spice. The outspoken MC recently characterized the present generation of commercial artists as the “prostitution era of rap,” encompassing a multitude of contemporary talents like Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B.
From Nikki’s perspective, her intent is not merely to cast blame but to also protect and guide her younger colleagues in the rap industry. Nikki D indelibly etched her name into the annals of Hip-Hop during the late 1980s and early 1990s, notably as the first woman to be signed by Def Jam. Although she may not enjoy the same level of recognition as some of her illustrious contemporaries such as Queen Latifah, MC Lyte or Salt-N-Pepa, her influence has transcended generations and left an enduring mark on the culture. She has effectively paved the way for future female artists, leaving an indelible legacy in the process. There’s a lot of tough love here. Our full interview is forthcoming.
AllHipHop: You recently made headlines and you got everybody’s attention, including my whole team. We were all passing this this messaging that you had about the “prostitution era” of Hip-Hip.Prostitution all because of a performance by Ice Spice, which goteverybody talking including yourself. Let’s talk about that.
Nikki D: When I call it the prostitution era, it’s simply what I saw with the [Ice Spice] performance, right. I was home chilling sipping on some wine. I saw the the video online and I said “What is this?” I looked at it and shorty’s dress was literally above her butt. And I was like nothing was out but skin a##, like this is not the girl that I remember. I felt like she had kind of pushed herself into a place of no return. Now when you out there it’s like walking outside, butt-necked, what else do we have?
Where’s the surprise? Where’s the mystery? Even Meg [Megan Thee Stallion] for instance. I loved Megan Thee Stallion initially. Meg had bars, used to freestyle…I’m not saying that the only way I could be pleased with you as a female rapper is that you need my approval, that you need to have bars, but at least there was some artistry there. There was some talent. There there was some rhymes. There was something. Because we didn’t ay the bricks for nothing, so you two could come out and turn around showing a##. And then every lyric is my P, my a##, my this my, my that. And they’re raised differently in this generation, just in general just as people, not even as artists. Their skin is not tough. Like you can’t say anything about them. Prime example: Joe Budden. You do a critique on Drake’s album. Drake, you’re a billionaire damn near, but you start crying like crazy when Joe was like I don’t really like the whole thing and then you start to name call.
AllHipHop: He might have been hurt.
Nikki D: It’s OK for people not to like your music. It’s OK for people to have an opinion. It’s not called hate, it’s called I’m an individual and I like what I like. What’s wrong with that? This generation I feel like just toughen up a little bit more.
AllHipHop: To quickly paint the picture for folks because at some point this will be an old headline. So, Ice Spice came out on Halloween weekend at Powerhouse Philly in a red dress, very tight, as Betty Boop. It just didn’t fit. She kind of kept pulling it down and was very uncomfortable looking. She definitely looked uncomfortable and she was actually performing my favorite song from her, which is “Deli.”
Nikki D: That actually goes hard. Yeah “Deli” goes hard.
AllHipHop: It wasn’t her best performance. I don’t know if itwas the venue or the city or just her having an off nigh,t but it definitely wasn’t really her best performance. So now, Gen Z or millennials. That generation is now coming for you.What are they saying?
Nikki D: Well first thing they say is—and I always like to preference my own self with this when y’all come for me—I know I’m old. I know I had one big record. I know they don’t do it the way I used to do it anymore. Go ahead. I know all that so again, I just go back to y’all getting butt hurt. Y’all don’t know how to really take a punch or criticism. I put a little story up yesterday on my Instagram page and I was like they coming for me. They like, “First of all ‘You old’.” I tell you what, you would be so lucky to get the age that I am and you would be so lucky to get royalty checks that I got just two weeks ago in the mail 30 years later from that one song. You would be so lucky to see all those things years later, you feel me? Because what I did was timeless. I didn’t do trendy. I did classic.
AllHipHop (DJ Thoro): The problem is a lot of artists that try to bash start with the agism. They don’t do history so historically speaking when you were out that was going on, but it wasn’t celebrated to the forefront how it is now. So you had groups a lot of people don’t know Easy-E put a group out called H.W.A – Hoez With Attitude. On Rap-A-Lot, there was a rapper called Choice and she was exactly how they’re rapping now. Again, it wasn’t celebrated it. Master P had an artist called Mercedes. You look at the album cover guess what she’s doing…a## out, privates showing.
AllHipHop (Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur): The other side of it is that there was just a healthy balance going on.
Nikki D: There was a balance. That’s the problem. so you take this generation now, what’s the balance of of this? Where’s the Lauryn Hills, where’s the MC Lytes? Here’s the thing, when you talk about that history, right? It was inappropriate [then], even though it was happening. Hence the reason why it never hit the forefront. They weren’t major acts. It wasn’t anything we as a people or we as a culture was celebrating. Put something out there that’s gonna be [a part of your] legacy. Put something out there that’s gonna actually push something off to your people right now we didn’t have.
At the end of the day, you wasn’t going to be on a big stage with that unless those big dogs brought you out, because you wasn’t going to sell records. You couldn’t play nowhere like that. For me it’s the manufactured Black woman.
AllHipHop: Who’s responsible for putting this content out? Because you’re being rewarded. If it’s not rewarded, they won’t do it.
Nikki D: Absolutely. If I’m paying you to be this person, you’re gonna be this person. Programming is everything and people don’t understand that that’s what marketing is. I’m gonna program you to like this image right here. I’m going to program you to be this person How many videos do you see online every day where girls are three, four, five six seven, eight, nine, 10-years old turning around shaking their ass because this is what they see?
Even if their mothers are at work, this image is into their face and it’s so much of it that now this is all we see. So when we have this idea of what the Black woman is today, we just look at the images we see.
Now, do we need to see Michelle Obama [exclusively], no! Do we need to see Sistah Souljah all the time, no! Do we need to see the super righteous [woman], no. But we need balance and we don’t have it. We need to have a Lauryn Hill. We need to have a Queen Latifah. We need to have a Nikki D. We need to have a MC Lyte.
