Alabama native Yung Bleu became the center of online attention in recent days after drama in his personal life became public.
The ordeal surrounding Yung Bleu’s relationship apparently began making the rounds on social media after a TikToker claimed the rapper flew her out to meet him.
A TikTok user named Tenom shared a video claiming she spent time with a “weirdo-ass celebrity.” She then exposed Yung Bleu as the person who allegedly slid into her DMs and flew her to New York.
Then Yung Bleu’s wife, Tiemeria, reportedly posted that she kicked her husband out of the house. In addition, Tiemeria is quoted saying, “I need the best divorce lawyer in Georgia.”
Yung Bleu has addressed the accusations of cheating on his spouse with Tenom. The “Beautiful Lies” performer went on the X platform to respond to the trendy gossip.
“I let [you] be a tag along [for] the day true. But [you] went back home in [an] Uber with hunger pains cuz you was loud and hygiene wasn’t up to my standards,” wrote Blue in a now-deleted tweet.
The 29-year-old Love Scars II album creator also added, “Had a lil smell that engulfed the plane. Nails dirty, shoes 2 sizes [too] big with a lil dust on em.”
“So yea. [You] was a link-up that turned to a sidekick that day cuz I was being respectful and ain’t wanna send you back and hurt ya feelings. Ain’t get no dick or no vibes tho. Hope [you] enjoyed ya stay tho lil mama,” Yung Bleu concluded.
The Love Scars II studio LP by Yung Bleu dropped on April 14, 2023. Last year saw Bleu team up with Hip Hop superstar Nicki Minaj for the “Love in the Way” duet. He also worked with Drake on 2020’s “You’re Mines Still” collaboration.
VickTuff (@VickTuff) is back with another dope visual. This time, he’s coming with the heat for the music video “Uhh,” which is from his latest EP ‘No Huddle Vick. Known for his unparalleled energy and genuine artistry, this music video shows how VickTuff is not here to play any games, consistently delivering infectious flows over melodic beats.
The “Uhh” music video, shot by 9Nine, showcases how Vick is continuing to level up. With each release, he gets more fierce and more confident in his sound. His potential is clear and his fans agree.
His most recent EP ‘No Huddle Vixk’ is a game-changing project that expands on his unique sound and dedication to his craft. Composed of 12-tracks, the project is some of VickTuff’s best work and is a testament to his commitment to growth as an artist.
With roots in Belle Glade and West Palm Beach, VickTuff’s real name, Ja’Kevious Vickers, tells a story of resilience and determination. His artist name, VickTuff, is a reflection of his belief in being “built for anything.” As he describes, “Tuff equals built for anything.”
‘No Huddle Vick is not just an EP; When asked about the theme behind the release, VickTuff exclaimed, “It’s all gas no breaks right now. There’s no stopping.” This sentiment is reflected in the high-energy tracks that make up the EP.
The heart of the EP lies in its authenticity. VickTuff shared, “It’s about the tape that I’m putting the most promotion behind to kick the door down.” He’s breaking barriers by emphasizing that every track on the EP is a freestyle, highlighting his ability to effortlessly blend creativity and raw talent.
VickTuff’s sound is in a league of its own, with influences from iconic artists like Lil Wayne, NoCap, Kodak, and Moneybagg Yo. He proudly asserts, “I have my own sound. I haven’t mimicked anyone in the rap game. It’s original.” For first-time listeners, he recommends starting with his track “LSU,” a perfect introduction to his captivating style.
With a powerful message woven into his music, VickTuff hopes his fans take away the lesson of self-belief. “That no matter what, believe in yourself and you can make it happen,” he emphasizes.
Check out the video for “Uhh,” below.
VickTuff’s EP ‘No Huddle Vick’ is now available on major streaming platforms. Brace yourself for an electrifying musical experience that showcases VickTuff’s relentless spirit and unmatched talent.
Check out the EP below:
Connect with VickTuff on social media to stay updated on his journey:
Doja Cat’s harrowing new single “Demons” has arrived, sparking an onslaught of conversations on social media—with the majority of them seemingly rooted in fan theories that the Planet Her vocalist stole sauce from Baby Keem.
The single appeared to be trending toward success, following the premiere of the cinematic music video—which captures Doja Cat in a number of fictitiously possessed roles, including a sleep paralysis demon who terrorizes actress Christina Ricci.
However, after garnering well over one million views in less than 15 hours, a situation similar to her album cover debacle seemingly arose and social media users took the opportunity to rake Doja Cat over the coals. For anyone catching up, Doja Cat actually reworked the album artwork for her upcoming Scarlet project after fans pointed out similarities between the cover she presented and the cover of an album released by the German band Chaver’s Of The Gloom.
But this time, instead of accusing her of copying artistic aesthetic, folks outright assert Doja Cat stole Baby Keem’s whole f##### flow, no Soulja Boy, no Draaaaaake. Like, remember when Drake fans jumped on Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar’s neck back in July when they released their collab “The Hillbillies” and said they stole Drizzy’s “Sticky” flow for the record? Yeah, that’s how they coming at Doja Cat right now.
One X user wrote, “Who the F### wasted this Great Beat on Doja Cat, Baby Keem would’ve put up a Masterclass on this Beat,” while another one added, “New doja cat is just demonic baby keem and i like it im sorry.”
new doja cat is just demonic baby keem and i like it im sorry
To keep it all the way one hundred, the majority of the critiques are highly negative and the result of opportunistic trolls seizing the moment. But on a more macro level, this is kind of exactly what Doja Cat wanted when she said she was a rapper and wanted to be taken seriously as one on her upcoming album back in May. Not to mention she’s being compared to one of the hottest rap artists in the game right now off of one singular release.
A win is a win, as they say. Check out the full video for “Demons” below and be the judge for yourself.
Yesterday (August 31st) Southeast San Diego-bred rapper KT Foreign dropped his new single “Traficano,” an ode to the growth and friendships that exist between the Black and Brown communities, especially in the San Diego neighborhood where his roots were established.
“It’s really like a shout-out, like Black and Brown love. I’m shouting out my Mexicans, my Paisas. I shot the music video in Tijuana, and you know we’re right there so I got a view of Tijuana,” KT Foreign said. “I was talking about shooting the video or doing the song for like 2 months and then one of my Mexican friends was giving me some ideas about it, and we just wanted to show love and think outside the box.”
Unveiling brief clips and visuals for the new music video on Instagram,KT Foreign once again delivers with his calculated West-Coast flow, flexing with his ability to go back and forth across the border to Tijuana, along with his ties to Mexican homies in his own Southeast San Diego hood he calls home.
“Traficano” follows up the success of this last project Footed Up Golitiks featuring a host of talent including Mike Sherm, Gee El, Yung X, Zoe Osama, lou deezi and G Bang.
Prior to that, KT Foreign broke through with Foot Hop which was widely popular on the West Coast and online, featuring Bino Rideaux, Kalan FrFr, Nef The Pharoah, Suga Free, OSHEA, DABOII, SieteGangYabbie, Darreon Keys, Yhung TO, BigSa.d1900 and MW1.
“The response is dope, they say it’s like the best albums I’ve put out. They thought Foot Hop was a versatile project, it had some R&B, but also had my own style, and that was different. It was more relatable for a lot of people than what a lot of people are putting out.”
Connecting with people has been part of KT Foreign’s growth since an early age, getting a glimpse of the lives of the wealthy, the poor, and everything in between alongside the touristy areas of San Diego packed beaches with vacationers.
Bringing something different to the rap game with his cadence, timing, and tone, KT Foreign has been in demand the past few months for live shows and appearances that bring his music to life.
Continuing to get booked regionally, opening up on major shows KT Foreign has a busy Fall planned with shows across the region and music videos for already released material. From Vegas to Fresno, to San Diego, and back again KT Foreign is coming to a city near you.
Doja Cat debunked speculation about her dissing Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion and other female rappers on Friday (September 1). The RCA Records artist insisted she never targets rappers in a series of since-deleted Instagram Stories posts.
“People don’t wanna accept I’m dissing them so they try to pin it on Cardi, Nicki and Meg and every other female rapper,” Doja Cat wrote. “I don’t diss rappers, I diss critics. Stay bored. Stay reaching.”
She added, “I don’t diss people I’m inspired by I don’t diss people I look up to, I don’t diss people who don’t attack and harass me every day. Y’ALL do. SHE doesn’t. THEY don’t. Y’all are the problem.”
Doja Cat emphasized her point by making sure it was abundantly clear who she disses. The multi-platinum-selling rapper/singer said she directs her venom at her social media followers.
“TO BE 100% CLEAR because I know you all need me to talk REEEEEAL SLOOOOOW for you; I’m not dissing anyone but the f##### phonies in my comment sections,” she explained.
Doja Cat is preparing to release her Scarlet album on September 22. She dropped a new single titled “Demons” on Friday. Watch the music video for “Demons” below.
One of Donald Trump’s co-defendants cited Young Thug’s slow-moving RICO case in a motion requesting a separate trial. According to the documents obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Trump’s co-defendant Ray Smith pushed for a separate trial in the Georgia election interference case on Thursday (August 31).
Smith’s attorneys claimed it would be too complicated for jurors to try him alongside Trump and 17 other co-defendants. Smith’s lawyers argued for severing the defendants into “manageable groups” to avoid the same problems faced in Young Thug’s YSL RICO case.
“This solution will also reduce the amount of time any jury will be required to be empaneled,” Smith’s legal team wrote. “The experience learned by this Court in the YSL gang trial – jury selection that lasted (and is still in progress) over eight months, and a trial that is expected to last another eight months (at least) – is a lesson learned that should inform any Court about the dangers of pursuing a joint trial for over a dozen defendants.”
The lawyers added, “The prosecution, no doubt, will protest that the defendants were part of a nationwide enterprise. The defense will vigorously contest this at trial, but the argument is irrelevant to the issue of severance. The prosecution cannot dictate the length of trial, and the prejudice suffered by the defendants (and the judge, and the jury, and the judicial system in general) simply by overcharging a case and exaggerating the scope of its enterprise.”
Smith’s attorney Don Samuel represented Gunna in the YSL RICO case. Gunna accepted a plea deal while Young Thug and others await trial in Fulton County.
Trump, Smith and their co-defendants also face RICO charges in Fulton County. Prosecutors accuse the former president and his allies of trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.
Smith was charged with violating Georgia’s RICO Act, conspiracy to commit impersonating a public officer, conspiracy to commit filing false documents, conspiracy to commit forgery, conspiracy to commit false statements and writings, making false statements and writings and solicitation of violation of oath by a public officer. He was released on a $50,000 bond in August.
Tory Lanez attempted to downplay his connection to his home country in his latest attempt to regain his freedom. The Canadian artist insisted he will stay in Los Angeles if he’s released from prison, according to a bail motion obtained by reporter Meghann Cuniff.
“Although the Peterson family originally hails from Canada, they do not have strong ties to this location,” his lawyers argued. “Mr. Peterson does have a close friend who is like family that he helps provide for her child, despite this not being his biological child. Additionally, a couple of Mr. Peterson’s siblings live in Canada but frequent the Los Angeles area to join their family. The converse is not true, as Mr. Peterson does not visit his home country often. When he does, it is for employment and at this time he will visit his friends and family.”
Tory Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting Megan Thee Stallion. His legal team asked for a lighter sentence of probation. Instead, Judge David Herriford sent the rapper/singer to prison with 305 days of credit for time served.
Prosecutors said Tory Lanez may get deported after serving his prison sentence. His attorneys filed a motion for bail as they appeal his conviction.
Tory Lanez was convicted of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, discharging a firearm with gross negligence and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle. He maintains his innocence.
Playboi Carti has pushed back the dates for the U.S. leg of the Antagonist Tour. Fans will now have to wait until 2024. Initially, the Whole Lotta Red rapper was scheduled to begin on September 6 in Denver. Playboi Carti shifted his plans and will now start a European tour on November 19 beginning in Dublin and carrying on to London, Amsterdam, Milan, Berlin, Paris and Copenhagen, according to USA Today.
As previously reported by AllHipHop.com, the upcoming trek will be Playboi Carti’s first headlining tour since 2021 on the “King Vamp Tour” in 2021. Ken Carson, Destroy Lonely and Homixide Gang join the 26-year-old rapper as Antagonist Tour openers.
When Playboi Carti does lock in for his rescheduled U.S. dates in January 2024, he’ll hit cities such as Salt Lake City, Houston, Miami, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Chicago and Los Angeles before wrapping up at Indianapolis’ Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Playboi Carti is gearing up to release a highly anticipated new album later this year. His previous studio LP, Whole Lotta Red, made a powerful debut in 2020, soaring to the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart with an impressive 100,000 first-week units sold and 126 million streams.
Now that Diddy is preparing to release his first album in over 15 years, it appears The Weeknd—this generation’s biggest pop and R&B enigma—will fade to black following their upcoming collaboration.
In case you didn’t already know, Diddy—also known as Brother Love—will join forces with The Weeknd for their collaboration, “Another One Of Me,” which will appear on the Bad Boy CEO’s upcoming project, THE LOVE ALBUM : OFF THE GRID. Set to arrive on September 15, the album will include features from stars such as Mary J. Blige, Justin Bieber, H.E.R, Summer Walker, Babyface, John Legend, Teyana Taylor and many more.
However, in the process of promoting the project, Diddy seemingly made the incredulous claim that The Weeknd’s appearance on the LP would be the OVO vocalist’s final collaborative outing of his career.
“IT’S OFFICIAL @THEWEEKND’S LAST COLLAB OF HIS CAREER WILL BE ON…. THE LOVE ALBUM : OFF THE GRID,” Diddy exclaimed in the caption of a YouTube short teasing the record. “‘ANOTHER ONE OF ME.’ SEPTEMBER 15TH WELCOME TO THE LOVE ERA. THELOVEALBUM #OTG.”
Of course, the shock value of that statement alone would shake any fan of The Weeknd to their core. But instead of taking it at face value, I’ve decided to look at the possible silver lining of it all. In short, even if this is indeed The Weeknd’s last collab, it won’t be the last his fans ever hear of him.
In May during an interview with W Magazine, The Weeknd hinted at nearing a point of drastic evolution within his career where he could soon experiment with eliminating his stage name as we know it.
“I’m going through a cathartic path right now,” The Weeknd, born Abel Tesfaye, said. “It’s getting to a place and a time where I’m getting ready to close the Weeknd chapter. I’ll still make music, maybe as Abel, maybe as The Weeknd. But I still want to kill The Weeknd. And I will. Eventually. I’m definitely trying to shed that skin and be reborn.”
But if there is anything I might add that makes me believe The Weeknd isn’t going anywhere, that one last thing would be cold hard cash—which The Weeknd is making a lot of right now. Earlier this year we reported that The Weeknd’s project The Highlightshas reportedly generated nearly $9.2 million and garnered well over 23 million streams this year alone—based on the pay-per-stream (PPS) rate of $0.004. Who walks away from easy money like that? I don’t think the Starboy does!
Wan Billz comes from The Bronx, the same place Hip-Hop was birthed. And if there’s one thing about his story, it’s the fact that rap saved and changed his life for the better.
Deeming himself “The Voice of Monterrey,” Wan Billz hails from the Bronx’s Monterey Housing Projects. Beginning at the age of 16, the rising star was kicked out of his home, dropped out of high school, and even welcomed his first daughter. Of course, the trials and tribulations are what made him into the man he is today, with his music being a real-life testimony of his come up from the streets to now signing a major label deal with Def Jam.
In describing himself, Wan Billz states he’s “a kind, genuine person. Born and raised in the Bronx. I’m just a good vibe, a good person just trying to live in my purpose. That’s Wan Billz right there, just a good person.”
Fast forward to today, Wan Billz releases his long-awaited debut album titled Blacc Sheep, speaking volumes to his current state of mind. The 12-track project features guest appearances from B-Lovee, Ron Suno, Lil Poppa, and more. However, Wan is already on and ready to drop the rest of the fire he has in the vault, with a goal of eventually reaching a billion dollars to his name.
AllHipHop spoke with Wan Billz who was in high spirits in his hometown of the Bronx. Read below as we discuss how he got into music, his sound, the new project, collaborating with B-Lovee and Ron Suno, goals, and more!
AllHipHop: The Bronx is where Hip-Hop was birthed. What was it like growing up there?
Wan Billz: I ain’t gon’ lie, it’s everything. See I’m doing music, that’s where it pretty much came from. It has everything to do with what I’m doing now. Everything’s familiar to the ears. It’s in my blood, I was born to do it.
AllHipHop: Bring us back to when you fell in love with Hip Hop.
Wan Billz: I first fell in love with Hip Hop because my pops was a recording artist and my uncle was signed to Def Jam. They’ll play their records when I was two years old, so it was around that age. Two to four.
AllHipHop: Do you remember the first artist you listened to?
Wan Billz: It might have been Kanye West, to be honest. He had this album [College Dropout] that was going crazy. “Through The Wire, I was 10 years old when that came out. I just fell in love with that song.
AllHipHop: How would you describe your sound? What separates you from other artists?
Wan Billz: I have a darker tone, it’s a different feeling. If I’m expressing a sad feeling in a song, you gon’ definitely feel it. My sound takes you to a whole nother level. I can’t really explain it in words, but it’s more so a feeling. It’s a different feeling. It’s a whole different feeling, compared to what we got going on now. Because if you turn on a regular drill song right now, it might be the same. But my sound is a whole different vibe, a whole different wave.
AllHipHop: When did you realize you could do music for a living?
Wan Billz: To be honest, it had to be when I was 16. I started going to the studio at 16, so definitely 16.
How’d you get your name?
Wan Billz: My name is Wan. Billz, I’ve been chasing a billion dollars my whole life. That’s where the Billz comes from, chasing a billion dollars. Wan Billz, I put that together when I was 16. It just came together.
AllHipHop: Congrats on the release of your debut project, Blacc Sheep. black sheep? How are you feeling?
Wan Billz: It’s my debut album, my first ever project. I feel good about it. It’s the first project I ever put out, the first project I put together with a label. We got situated. Ain’t gon’ lie, I’m bittersweet about it, because I’m ready to drop more. It’s a good feeling though.
AllHipHop: Why bittersweet?
Wan Billz: Because it’s my first album, but damn. I don’t want to say I could’ve done better or more,
but I want to show them more. I’m ready to give them everything. I can’t explain it, but I want to give them everything.
Why are you the Blacc Sheep?
Wan Billz: Because all my family, everybody got their own little things going on. When it came to my plans, when I come to the family table like “yo, this what we doing. This my dream.” They always say, “That s### not gon’ work.” I felt like the Blacc Sheep my whole life. Even in school, that’s been with me my whole life. Once I came to the definition, I’m like yeah, I need to use that one day in an album.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRcm7In_Rxw
AllHipHop: Love that you linked with B-Lovee, how did “Killa” come about?
Wan Billz: That’s crazy, B-Lovee is one of my childhood friends. I’ve known him since I was nine years old, we grew up together. We’re around from the same neighborhood, so that song was genuine. One day, we was in the studio listening to beats. He comes, plays the beat. I went crazy on it and he went crazy on it. It came together. Every song you see with me and B-Lovee, it’s genuine. It’s a genuine connection.
AllHipHop: How’d you find your way to Def Jam?
Wan Billz: It’s a long story, but I’ma cut it short. One of my bros, his name is O Gates. I signed to him, he got Demon Time on the label. He did what he had to do. He had me develop and we went to Def Jam. That’s the short story right there: I met a man named O, that’s my brother right there. Signed to his label, and we went to Def Jam.
AllHipHop: Did you always want to get signed?
Wan Billz: Hell yeah. That’s crazy, because I wanted to get signed to Def Jam or a label that’s based in New York City. That’s where my uncle was signed to, so I always wanted to get signed. I always had dreams of getting signed to a major label, I wasn’t doing it just to do it.
AllHipHop: What is it you want to get from your story?
Wan Billz: Pretty much, I’m the black sheep. I could do it, you could do it. I’ve been on my own since I was 16 years old. I had my daughter at 17, 18. I want them to understand that I’m a kid, but I’ve been through a lot. It wasn’t that I woke up one day and made this album, I’ve been doing this for eight years for me. If I could do it, you could do it.
AllHipHop: How has fatherhood changed your life?
Wan Billz: It made me mature, quicker than I wanted to. I was 17, I wasn’t ready. I just dropped out of school, I was being an a######. I wasn’t ready to grow up, but it made me grow up though. To be honest, quicker than I wanted to.
AllHipHop: Why’d you drop out of school?
Wan Billz: I was rapping. I believe in myself 100%. I asked my teacher how much he made, he said $75K. Damn, I can make that in one show. Forreal, I can make that in one show. It’s not gon’ make sense. Then I’ma have to go to college and pay off the loans? Nah.
AllHipHop: Are you getting $75K for a show?
Wan Billz: Nah, not at the moment. We’ll soon be there though. Gonna manifest it, we’ll soon be there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl5i_Mp–Pw
AllHipHop: Talk about linking with Ron Suno, he’s hilarious.
Wan Billz: What‘s crazy, his manager used to be my manager. That was genuine too. I met him one day, he was a funny vibe. I’m like, I like this kid.I want to do a song with him. I did a song with him, the rest was history. He’s a good vibe, he’s genuine. He wasn’t on no too tough s###, it was genuine. So it made sense.
AllHipHop: What’re you most excited for next?
Wan Billz: To be honest, I’m about to drop the deluxe. We just dropped the album, so I’m dropping the deluxe. I’m working on that every day. We working, we outside. Hitting different radio stations, different DJs, different clubs. I’m excited to drop this deluxe and the new project. I’m just working, I’m ready to work. Ain’t really got too much to say.
AllHipHop: Any goals for yourself at this point of your career?
Wan Billz: Hell yeah, I want to be one of the greatest artists in the world. After that, I want to make a billion dollars. I want to invest into real estate, I want to invest in my own label. I want to own some type of equity in a company that’s growing. I want to do something that’s important too, to give back. It want to do a lot, it’s a lot I got planned.
AllHipHop: One thing may not fans may not know about you?
Wan Billz: I used to live in Texas, I got a scholarship to play basketball one time. I was in Dallas, Texas to play basketball. Not a scholarship, but they invited me to their school. One of the coaches, he paid my tuition. I was in that school, I made the basketball team. That’s before things went left though.
AllHipHop: What went left?
Wan Billz: I started smoking weed, hanging out with the wrong crowd. Just getting influenced by the wrong things. I met my baby moms, had my daughter. That’s when I knew, it was time to get right.
AllHipHop: Do you feel like rap saved everything?
Wan Billz: Definitely, this is my savior right here. Rap and God, I owe all things to God and rap. They saved me. It saved my life in ways I didn’t even think was possible. It saved me, I’ll leave it at that.
The Wilkes-Barre Township Police Department mistakenly identified Lil Uzi Vert as a dog thief. On Thursday (August 31), the department’s posted his picture alongside little puppy and the alleged get-away vehicle to Facebook.
Evidently, a ruby-colored Cavalier King Charles Spaniel from the Brookside Pups store went missing, and alert went up around 2 p.m. local time. Law enforcement said they believed an SUV spotted leaving the store and riding up the Turnpike toward Philly was owned by the suspect. But instead, the police posted a picture of Lil Uzi Vert.
Rapper Lil Uzi Vert was mistakenly identified as a puppy thief by Pennsylvania police due to the real suspect’s social media photo.
Fans immediately noticed that the person being accused of stealing the dog was Lil Uzi Vert—not the actual suspect.
TMZreported that the pet store provided the police with a social media profile picture of the individual who allegedly snatched the puppy. The problem is the profile photograph was of the rapper and not the person.
The notice was later updated around 3:15 p.m. local time and they admitted they posted the wrong person. Now, police believe the person who nabbed the dog is named “Demetrius. His accomplice is supposedly named “Armand.”
“The original photo of the male provided by the establishment was not the correct male,” the updated post read. “This current photo is the actor in question. We apologize for the error and any confusion.”
Chance The Rapper recently announced special Acid Rap shows in his hometown of Chicago, New York City and Los Angeles to commemorate the project’s 10-year anniversary.
Apple Music 1’s Ebro Darden recently spoke to Chance about his groundbreakingmixtape. The Voice coach revealed the most difficult issue he had to deal with during that time period around 2013.
“The toughest challenge I ever experienced was [when] I went on tour with Macklemore,” Chance said. “Macklemore is an amazing, amazing person and helped me out tremendously as well. But his shows, it was in Europe and it was, I think 38 dates, all 20,000 capacity rooms, all like off markets too, like Poland and Dusseldorf.”
Chance continued, “These people didn’t speak English at all. And not only did they not speak English, he sold out all these shows before I was announced on the ticket. So it’s really bad when you go to a show and there’s an opener that you don’t want to see. It’s way worse when it’s a surprise opener that you don’t want to see. That’s speaking a different language and Black, a lot of negatives on top of each other for the Swedish crowds.”
Macklemore became an international star in the early 2010s. His musical output with producer Ryan Lewis included “Can’t Hold Us” featuring Ray Dalton and “Thrift Shop” featuring Wanz. Both records peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and earned diamond certification from the RIAA.
Many Hip-Hop fans view Chance The Rapper’s Acid Rap as the midwesterner’s breakout mixtape. That 2013 effort features appearances by BJ the Chicago Kid, Vic Mensa, Twista, Noname, Saba, Childish Gambino, Action Bronson, Ab-Soul and more.
Following Acid Rap, Chance dropped Coloring Book in 2016. The 57-minute mixtape was the first streaming-only project to win a Grammy Award when it took home the Best Rap Album trophy at the 2017 ceremony.
Special Ed was truly one of the first young rap stars and he knew it. His debut album, Youngest in Charge, was released in 1989 when he was only 17. It was recorded when he was even younger and yielded the hit record “I Got It Made” and “I’m The Magnificent” while solidifying his place in the culture.
Behind his good looks and dope raps was so much more than met the eye, largely seen through teen rap mags and rap shows. Ed, a Brooklyn native, came up in an era where only talented MCs got record deals. He had a distinctive voice, clever wordplay and a charismatic delivery that set him apart in the rap scene of his time. He also came up in a rough period where you had to be respected in your ‘hood too—not just on wax.
Special Ed is no longer a teenager and he’s evolved into an outspoken, active elder statesman of Hip-Hop culture. He’s got a perspective on everything—from his past, the difficult middle periods of his career and the present where he’s actively giving back to young people.
Check out this engaging, riveting interview with Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur and DJ Thoro conducted at WonWorld Studios in New York City.
Special Ed’s success continued after Youngest In Charge, with his subsequent albums, including Legal released in 1990 and Revelations in 1995. Though the 1990s were a far more competitive period, he maintained a dedicated fan base and continued to release music that showcased his lyrical prowess and creativity.
Ed was also a member of the supergroup Crooklyn Dodgers. The initial lineup consisted of Buckshot, Masta Ace, and Special Ed. Together, they released their sole record titled “Crooklyn,” which was expertly produced by Q-Tip from the celebrated group A Tribe Called Quest. This track found its place in the soundtrack of the 1994 film “Crooklyn,” capturing the essence of the era. The accompanying music video even showcased appearances by two iconic athletes hailing from Brooklyn, namely Michael Jordan and Mike Tyson.
Throughout his career, Special Ed’s music often explored themes of self-confidence, personal growth and the realities of urban life. He was admired for his ability to blend insightful lyrics with catchy beats, compliments of super producer Hitman Howie Tee early in his career. Special Ed’s impact can be heard in the work of many artists and “I Got It Made” continues to get sampled to this day.
News broke last week that Pras, Wyclef and Lauryn Hill have come back together for a tour. One of those Fugees members claims to have learned about the reunion via the internet.
“I ain’t even know this tour was happening until last week to be honest with you,” Pras told the cameraperson. “I heard about it through the media… I’m going, obviously, I just heard about it last week.”
In addition to preparing to hit the road with Wyclef and Hill next month, Pras Michel also faces serious legal issues. A federal jury found him guilty on multiple criminal counts.
The man born Prakazrel Michel was convicted of conspiracy, concealment of material facts, making false entries in records, witness tamperin and serving as an unregistered agent of a foreign power.
“As proven at trial, the defendant engaged in an extensive conspiracy to use millions of dollars in foreign funds to engage in illegal back-channel lobbying and make unlawful campaign contributions,” stated U.S. Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr.
Pras faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. When asked if the conviction would affect the release of any new music, the 50-year-old New Jersey native said, “You know I can’t talk about my legal situation.”
Pras, Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean released two studio LPs as the Fugees. Blunted on Reality dropped in 1994 followed by the Grammy-winning The Score two years later. Pras’s debut solo album, Ghetto Supastar which hosted the Top 20 title track,came out in 1998.
50 Cent could face legal repercussions. The rap mogul launching a microphone during a recent Los Angeles concert has reportedly led to a Los Angeles Police Department criminal investigation.
On Thursday (August 31), footage of 50 Cent throwing a mic from the stage went viral. Apparently, he injured Power 106 radio host Bryhana Monegain. Photos showed Monegain with a head wound.
According to reports, the 48-year-old businessman was upset that several microphones weren’t working properly. He supposedly hurled the flawed mic in the direction of Bryhana Monegain out of frustration.
“Let’s be very clear, as I told LAPD this afternoon, my client, Curtis [50 Cent], would never intentionally strike anyone with a microphone,” 50’s attorney, Scott Leemon, told Page Six.
50 Cent’s highly-publicized The Final Lap Tour heads to Irvine, California’s FivePoint Amphitheater for a show on Friday (September 1). Upcoming dates include stops in cities such as Seattle, Chicago, Detroit and Toronto.
This year’s MTV Video Music Awards will feature one of the most successful rappers of all time and one of the most popular modern-day artists. Both Lil Wayne and Doja Cat will hit the stage at the event.
Lil Wayne and Doja Cat are part of a VMA lineup that also includes Demi Lovato, Karol G, Måneskin, Stray Kids, Kelsea Ballerini and TOMORROW X TOGETHER. MTV will announce more performers at a later date.
Doja Cat released her new single “Demons” on September 1. That track followed “Paint the Town Red” which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The rapper/singer will release the Scarlet album on September 22.
MTV has rewarded Lil Wayne with Video Music Award trophies in the past. For example, “Lollipop” won Best Hip Hop Video at the 2008 ceremony. Doja Cat has several VMA wins, too, including a Best Collaboration victory in 2021.
In addition, Doja Cat enters the 2023 VMAs with multiple nominations. Her Tanu Muino-directed visuals for “Attention” are up for Video Of The Year. The RCA signee also made it into the Artist Of The Year category.
The 2023 MTV Video Music Awards take place on Tuesday, September 12 at8 pm ET/PT. The show will air live from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey for the third time in five years.
“Awarding Newark as host city for the 2023 VMAs echoes not only our selection by MTV in 2022 and 2019, but also reverberates our city’s historic vibe as a hotbed of musical genius,” said Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka.
50 Cent has brought out a host of special guests to join him on his Final Lap tour, and his Los Angeles stop was no exception, surprising the crowd with an appearance from Nas.
The NYC icon joined Fiddy at L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday night (August 30). 50 Cent joined Nas to perform “Hate Me Now” and “Made You Look.”
After rocking the stage, Nas paid tribute to 50 Cent, crediting him with changing the face of Hip-Hop. He gave major props to Fif’s 2003 debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin’, claiming the rap game hasn’t been the same since.
“When this man dropped, the whole rap game changed,” Nas declared. “Queens in the building, bruh. Shout out to Tony Yayo and Uncle Murda — my brothers. I love you, man.” Check out the clip below.
Nas rocking the stage at 50 Cent's "Final Lap Your" was electrifying! His shoutout to how 50 Cent's arrival changed the whole Rap game is so true. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/6pDEiLBqoS
50 Cent marked his return to the music scene after taking time out to focus on his growing multimedia empire with an appearance on Nas’s Magic 2. The duo joined forces on “Office Hours,” their first collab in over twenty years. They last collaborated in 2002 on 50’s Guess Who’s Back? mixtape cuts “Too Hot” and “Who U Rep With.”
Nas 50 Cent – Office Hours
During a recent XXL interview, the G-unit founder opened up about resuming their working relationship.
“It was cool to get in with him and do something like that,” 50 Cent said of working with Nas. “It’s interesting that the relationship is different because we in two different places now.”
He recalled Nas reaching out to join him on tour following the release of his 1999 breakout diss track, “How to Rob.”
The pair got to hang out during the downtime between shows. Fiddy was surprised to learn the “One Mic” hitmaker was a bookworm.
“He was smarter than things he was saying on the records,” he added. “Because what he said on the records matched how things felt in the environment not who he was actually [in his head]. We’d be on the tour bus, and he’d be reading books and stuff.”
Meek Mill is rallying the “old heads” of Philly to stand up and take action after the body of a 12-year-old boy with a gunshot wound to the head was found in a dumpster.
An investigation is underway after a sanitation worker discovered the body on August 22, abc News reports. Authorities identified the young victim as Hezekiah Bernard and stated the boy was in the custody of the Department of Human Services at the time of his death.
The “Dreams and Nightmares” hitmaker shared a report of the tragic death on Instagram. He called for the Black community to fight back against a problem that’s only getting worse.
They need to let us fight this s### back,” Meek Mill wrote. “Me and the old heads can clear some of this s### up.”
The Philadelphia native continued: “We need the jails behind us too so it’s no escaping! The wrong women or child get killed I don’t think we will be able to turn back.”
In another post, he claimed, “They playing so ruthless in Philly.” According to Meek Mill, “the self hatred level on 1000 degrees with blacks.”
He concluded: “Can black people still come together besides a rap concert of sports? We looking terrible.”
Meanwhile, Staff Inspector Ernest Ransom, head of the police department’s homicide unit, told ABC News examiners conducted an autopsy on August 24. They discovered a gunshot wound on the right side of Bernard’s head.
“We need the help of the public to identify the offenders in this investigation,” Ransom said. “The focus of this investigation is the swift apprehension of those involved in this senseless death.”
Yung Bleu is in hot water with his wife, who claims she kicked him out of their home amid claims he flew a woman out.
The cheating allegations came from a woman who claims Yung Bleu reached out to her after seeing a viral video of her showing off her extra-long tongue. She said the Alabama-bred rapper/singer flew her out, but she ditched him after discovering he was “a weirdo.”
In a TikTok video, a woman with the username Tenom claims Yung Blue brought her with him on a private jet but never said a word to her during their flight. After landing, they got into a car with five other men. Tenom alleges Bleu maintained his silence and failed to introduce her to anybody in his entourage.
According to the woman, she left when it became clear Yung Bleu flew her out just to hang with him like a “groupie.” As well as sharing her “story time,” Tenom dropped several receipts, including a video, allegedly of Bleu on the private jet with her.
PART 2: time w/ Bleu like i said before these #celebrities are f###### #weird and bleu is the #weirdest man ive ever hung out with in my life… I appreciate the jet and the haor but baby no… now his numer stays on my #blocklist maybe time will heal and we can try again 😂😂😂😂😂 sike never ever again!!!!! worst encounter ever
Shortly after sharing her story, Yung Bleu’s wife Tiemeria caught wind of the cheating allegations. In a video posted to her Instagram Story, she claimed she kicked the “You’re Mines Still” hitmaker out of their home and is seeking a divorce.
Tiemeria exploded on Yung Bleu and said she believed the claims, insisting Tenom’s claims ring true. She claims she confronted her husband, who jumped out of bed and ran out of the house but continued to text her, denying the cheating accusations.
“This b#### is not lying on you at all,” Tiemeria stated in her video. “She got so many muthafuckin’ receipts.”
She then said she would not be chasing after her husband and will not allow him to return to their marital home.
“I hope Boosie come get your muthafuckin’ ass. He ain’t got no car keys he ain’t got no house keys, he can’t get in this muthafucka,” she concluded. “So, he going to be outside tonight unless one of you b###### come get him.”
In another post, Tiemeria added, “I need the best divorce lawyer in Georgia.”
The chart-topping trio from the 2000s is back with a new single and more music on the way as Timbaland announces a joint album with Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado.
After teasing their reunion for the past two months, on Friday (September 1), the trio dropped their first joint offering in over 15 years. Watch the “Keep Going Up” visualizer below or stream the single at the end of the page.
Hours before release, Timbaland also shared a behind-the-scenes video detailing the making of the track.
However, the track isn’t just a one-off collab. According to Timbo, the trio has an entire album coming. In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Tonight, the super producer announced it could happen any day now.
“This [“Keep Going Up”] sets you up for everything JT and Nelly about to do,” Timbaland told the outlet in a new interview. “I went to Justin doing a rehearsal, I said, ‘A fan said we should do album.’ He’s like, ‘You know what, we should.’ And that’s in the works.”
Timbaland revealed he could return to the studio with Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado “ASAP.” He added, “This whole song is sparking off something that I think that’s gonna be incredible.”
Timbo also explained how he fits into the magic-making triad.
“I’m the disruption that comes in when we come together,” he explained. “The pot gonna stir a little bit and I’m gonna know what direction to go when it comes to music. And I think this is what we have.”
Timbaland, Nelly Furtado, Justin Timberlake – Keep Going Up
