J. Cole dropped a surprise project on Thursday night (April 4) that quickly became the talk of social media thanks to a not-so-subtle diss aimed at Kendrick Lamar. But the buzz helped propel the album to the top. According to HITS Daily Double, the 12-track set is expected to debut at No. 1 on next week’s Billboard 200 chart, with roughly 140,000-160,000 total album equivalent units moved in its first week.
The album’s final single, “7 Minute Drill,” finds the Dreamville Records boss firing back at Kendrick Lamar, who dissed J. Cole and Drake on the recent Future and Metro Boomin’ track “Like That.” As part of his verse, J. Cole commends Lamar on his debut album, 2011’s Section.80, and 2015’s To Pimp a Butterfly but trashes his latest effort, 2022’s Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers.
He also suggests good kid, m.A.A.d city didn’t deserves the accolades it received upon its release. He raps, “Your first sh## was classic/Your last sh## was tragic/Your 2nd s### put n###s to sleep but they gassed it/Your 3rd s### was massive hit that was your prime/I was trailing right behind, but I just now hit mine.”
J. Cole’s previous project, The Off-Season, arrived in 2021. Executive produced by Cole, Ibrahim Hamad and T-Minus, the project featured guest vocals from Morray, 21 Savage, Lil Baby, Bas and 6LACK. It sold more than 282,000 units in its opening week, leading to another No. 1 debut. His previous effort, 2018’s KOD, was also another No. 1 debut, with more than 497,000 units sold upon opening.
Both Ice-T and Ice Spice have provided their explanations for the cause of the rare earthquake that recently struck New York—and their responses likely won’t shock their fans.
In case you haven’t already heard, a 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck New Jersey on April 5, jolting neighboring New York City as well. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, an earthquake is “any sudden shaking of the ground caused by the passage of seismic waves through Earth’s rocks.”
Additionally, the cause of an earthquake is described as the result of the phenomena of “seismic waves produced when some form of energy stored in Earth’s crust is suddenly released, usually when masses of rock straining against one another suddenly fracture and ‘slip’.”
But f##k all that, literally! According to Ice-T, there’s a more practical, and x-rated explanation for the #2024JerzQuake.
“ATTENTION,” he wrote in the tweet reposted to his Instagram. “That was not an Earthquake in NJ… I just like to get a little Morning Sex now and then… Everyone relax and get back normal. My fault,” to which Ludacris replied in the comments “Bruh.”
I’m not sure what’s more out of pocket, the fact that Ice-T is still bragging about morning sex at 66 or the fact he’s implying he was clapping his wife 45-year-old wife Coco’s cheeks hard enough to elicit seismic waves capable of causing an earthquake. Not to mention if what Coco said is true about showering once a week. Man, nevermind!
In a another raunchy tweet, Ice Spice detailed what supposedly caused the earthquake, writing, “My bad for the earthquake yall u kno this a## be clappin.”
However, in the same breath, I have to say I’m not quite as disgusted by Ice Spice’s hypothesis as I am Ice-T’s, and that’s probably something that could get me canceled. But I’m not going to sit here and act like I didn’t see her performance in the Betty Boop costume during at the iHeart Powerhouse 105.1 concert last year. Because she surely shook up the world then, which makes her explanation seem that much more plausible.
my bad for the earthquake yall u kno this ass be clappin
Sexyy Red may have gotten the last laugh on Joe Budden following his recent comments about the legitimacy of their relationship as artists. It appears as though the chemistry between Red and Drizzy is as real and dynamic in real life as it was portrayed in the recent music video for her smash hit, “Get It Sexyy.”
During a recent date apart of Drake and J. Cole’s It’s All A Blur Tour, the “Rich Baby Daddy” rapper got cozy on stage and danced like no one was watching in front of everyone. Not only is it the way Big Sexyy threw it back on Drake as the record seamlessly entered her “shake that a## b###h, hands on ya knees,” bridge, it’s how the 6 God put his back into it. Bro was really delivering pum-pum pelvic thrusts to Red’s backside on stage. And of course, Red rubbed the moment in Budden’s face—much like Drake was rubbing up on her—by sharing the moment on Twitter (X).
“Tell @JoeBudden dis what drake like,” Red tweeted along with the video clip.
As if it weren’t already apparent that Drake is really the equivalent to her music industry “Boyfriend Number 2” no Pretty Ricky or Pleasure P. In all seriousness, though, we are talking about the same woman who literally just had a baby less than three months ago and posed with her a## in her unnamed baby daddy’s face at the baby shower. We are also talking about Drake, the certified cake robber, accused of stealing the fabled Princess Diana away from Metro Boomin and/or Future. Maybe that wasn’t the best example, but there is somewhat of a track record for Drake being a home wrecker (i.e. his rumored affair with the first lady of OVO Naomi Sharon, which reportedly almost ruined her eight-year relationship).
All in all, the pattern is consistent when it comes to Drake. Bro is gonna be around whoever he genuinely feels some type of way for regardless of the circumstances. And, respectfully, this moment made it be known to the world. But most exclusively to Budden, who claimed Drake was being paid to be there, rather than actually wanting to be.
“It sounds like a n###a that could rap at that level that gets paid off of everybody’s deal trying to rap. That’s what is sounds like to me,” Budden told his podcast co-hosts about Drake’s relationship with Red.
Boosie Badazz may have just gained some traction in his standoff with Kanye West in regard to who could be more responsible for influencing rap throughout the last two decades.
According to a swiftly deleted Instagram Story post, West just realized Boosie’s “Wipe Me Down” came out in 2007 during the period he claims to have created all music styles. West roasted Boosie over the track, joking that he had nothing to do with that genre of music.
Now before I get into the segway of how Boosie’s 2007 hit “Wipe Me Down” takes a literal step past Kanye West in their current spat, we have to take a quick visit to the year 2008, when the GS Boys delivered “Stanky Leg.” Not only did the record take the country by storm, it has become a colloquial remnant of shared pup cultural universals throughout modern times.
And in a way, it’s become somewhat of a staple in dance and rap culture at large. Evidence of this theory manifest in the recent Instagram post comedian Mike Epps recently shared, which captures his interaction with one of the fans in attendance in the live audience of his sitcom The Upshaws. In summary, the brother in the audience, who appeared to be an amputee, got up and did a one-legged stanky leg for Epps and literally stole the whole show. And then Epps stole the brother’s leg.
It should be obvious that I am clearly aware of the fact that the GS Boys created the song and Boosie doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with it in that regard. However, had it not been for “Wipe Me Down” in 2007, songs such as “Stanky Leg” and even the Baton Rouge rapper’s subsequent 2009 banger “Loose As A Goose” could never be. And in a sense, we wouldn’t have such a strong sense of dance culture apparent in the new generation of rap. Like seriously, think for a second about whether or not Lil Uzi’s “Futsal Shuffle” would’ve been as big as it was had there not been any number of the aforementioned records released in the decades before the 2021 banger arrived.
Not only that, the genre itself, which he describes as “Boosie Music” coupled with the emergence of Soulja Boy’s “Crank Dat” in 2007, helped form the bedrock of what we see today in music marketing trends on social media platforms such as TikTok, which are dominated by dance trends.
Maybe I am preaching to the chior here, but if that’s the case, the gospel here is that Ye’s music could never have the type of effect both Boosie’s and the GS Boy’s did. Or maybe I’m reaching hella badly?
Akon offered his thoughts on the tumultuous situations engulfing business mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs amidst the swirling allegations he is facing in multiple civil suits for sexual assault.
Diddy is also reportedly being investigated by Homeland Security for sexual trafficking. Last month, agents with HSI raided Diddy’s mansions in New York, Miami and Los Angeles.
Akon said he wasn’t involved with the active party scene, indicating his limited direct knowledge of Diddy’s personal strife.
“I don’t really party much, so I couldn’t really speak much on it, but I would like to say, you know, just pray for the man,” Akon stated, providing a tempered perspective on the realities of fame and public scrutiny.
Even though Diddy has not been charged with a crime as of press time, he has pretty much been convicted on social media as people debate his innocence or guilt, something Akon lamented.
Akon remarked, “It is very unfortunate that things in this business are always being exposed in certain ways, and I think things could be done differently.”
Highlighting the role of divine intervention and the inevitable unveiling of truth, Akon expressed a philosophical take on the unfolding situations.
“All I can do is say, you know, I hope things work out for all the for everybody… it’s a God’s plan. I think you just got to allow this process to just play itself out,” he reflected, touching on the notion that the ultimate resolution lies beyond human control.
Akon is not the only artist who has looked to the Lord in support of Diddy’s plight. Fat Joe recently vocalized his prayers for Diddy during an emotional time.
“I stood up last night maybe 4 hours praying for [Diddy] and his kids,” Fat Joe shared.
Any folks who believe Travis Scott is a fair-weather Caitlin Clark fan has been sipping the Kool-Aid, or in this case, too many Cactis, according to celebrity and NBA trainer Chris Brickley.
In a recent Instagram post, Brickley revealed that La Flame actually was the first person to reach out to him about Iowa’s all-time leading scorer. Apparently, Scott has been watching Clark ball at Iowa University for years and even went as far as referring her to Brickley for her initial training session with him. Keep in mind, Brickley trains NBA stars such as LeBron James, Paolo Banchero and countless others. Earlier this year, the pair linked up at one of Clarks home games with the Hawkeyes and even flicked up during the occasion, so you know it’s real.
And ahead of the Final Four match up between U-Conn and Iowa, Brickley cleared the air whilst also giving his blessing to both athletes, who presumably have major WNBA careers ahead of them.
“I’ve seen people calling @travisscott a bandwagon @caitlinclark22 fan,” he wrote in part in the caption. “Well in 2021, he was the first person to ever text me or bring her up to me. He’s really been a day 1 Caitlin Clark Fan. Also S/O my Brodie for his new college apparel line with @lids @fanatics & @mitchellandness ‼️ It’s too fire!!! I’m def a big @caitlinclark22 fan and I’m excited to get in the gym with her but I’m also a big @paigebueckers fan, we’ve been grinding for years!!! TONIGHT GONNA BE A GREAT ONE!!”
So what y’all think? Should Travis Scott follow up his recent Mitchell and Ness college collaboration with Lids and Fanatics with an actual partnership with Texas Longhorns to scout women’s talent?
In light of the recent Homeland Security investigations into Diddy’s personal life, Philadelphia rapper E. Ness shared his insights and personal experiences with the music mogul during an exclusive interview with AllHipHop.com.
The raids, which targeted Diddy’s residences across Los Angeles, New York, and Miami, were reportedly triggered by a suite of serious allegations, ranging from sexual trafficking to the distribution of drugs and weapons, all swirling in the wake of several civil lawsuits, including a highly publicized one from Cassie and accusations by Lil Rod.
In a previous interview, E. Ness, the battle rapper turned entrepreneur, labeled the allegations as part of a “smear campaign” aimed at defaming Diddy’s character and legacy within the music industry.
E. Ness, who rose to prominence through his involvement in the reality show “Making the Band,” which was masterminded by Diddy himself, was quick to clarify his stance on the matter.
Despite the severe nature of the accusations, E. Ness emphasized his lack of direct exposure to Diddy’s alleged misconduct.
“Just let me reiterate I never said that the allegations wasn’t true or false I just said I never was exposed and [was a witness] to it,” he stated clearly, indicating the complexity and his personal conflict regarding the unfolding situation.
“The way it’s looking is looking real bad and we going to see as it unfolds, the truth behind all of it. I’m sitting at the edge of my seat just like everybody else.”
E. Ness expressed concern not just for Diddy and his alleged victims but for the potential impact of these allegations on Diddy’s family, especially his young children.
“I’m just thinking about the kids and the impact it has on his younger children,” E. Ness remarked, speaking on the familial ripple effects of such high-profile accusations.
Addressing the serious allegations head-on, especially those raised by Cassie, E. Ness acknowledged the gravity of the situation while also emphasizing the importance of substantiated evidence before passing judgment.
“I have daughters, so I would never stand by sexual abuse or any of that. You know what I’m saying? That’s just wrong, and it’s right, but you can never condemn a man until you have cold, hard facts,” he elucidated.
The controversy surrounding Diddy has sparked a wide array of reactions from the Hip-Hop community. The contrasting opinions were even found in E. Ness himself.
He questioned the timing of the lawsuits filed against Diddy following his settlement with Cassie, 24 hours after she leveled explosive allegations against her ex-boyfriend.
“Even Cassie…shorty you’ve been with this man for 10 years. You was with it at some degree he was with it at some degree. If you really wanted to get missing to get off the grid everybody knows how to go off the grid. Ten years I know everybody knows how to go off the grid,” E. Ness said of the timing of Cassie’s allegations.
“You don’t stand around for sexual abuse for that long for a decade plus then get remarried and have children and think about it and say I was wrongly done 15 years ago,” E. Ness reasoned.
So far, Diddy has yet to be charged with a crime connected to the raids, and he vehemently denied the allegations in the lawsuits, and he blasted Homeland Security over their use of force in connection with the raids of his homes.
President Joe Biden awarded Hip-Hop icons KRS-One and Kurtis Blow the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
President Joe Biden recently honored Hip-Hop pioneers KRS-One and Kurtis Blow with Lifetime Achievement Awards at the National Hip-Hop Museum in Washington DC.
The ceremony, hosted at the RIAA Headquarters, celebrated the artists’ contributions to the music genre and their dedication to uplifting communities through volunteer work.
During the event, which saw an attendance of around 300 people, Rev. Dr. George Holmes delivered a moving speech that lauded the resilience and leadership of the two honorees.
Drawing a powerful analogy, Holmes compared KRS-One and Kurtis Blow to steadfast oak trees, suggesting that, like these mighty trees, the artists have remained unyielding in their principles regardless of external pressures.
He commended them for setting a positive tone both nationally and globally, using their platforms to advocate for meaningful change.
“There are two ways for a leader to go through life: as a thermometer or as a thermostat. The thermometer merely measures the climate, but the thermostat sets the tone and creates it. That’s who you are, KRS-One and Kurtis Blow,” Holmes proclaimed to the crowd that was full of other legends.
DJ Hurricane, Roxanne Shante, The Fat Boys (Kool Rock Ski), MC Sha Rock, Sweet G, The B-Boys (Donald D), and Queen Lisa Lee, all recognized by the National Hip-Hop Museum.
The award ceremony served as an acknowledgment of KRS-One and Kurtis Blow’s immense volunteer efforts and their role in sculpting a stronger nation.
In letters to the artists, President Biden expressed his gratitude for their service and encouraged them to persist in their endeavors.
“As it is with Kurtis Blow, as it is with you, America’s story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us. On behalf of the American people, President Biden extends his heartfelt appreciation to you for your volunteer leadership, and he encourages you to continue to answer the call to serve. The country is still counting on you,” President Joseph Biden said in a letter to KRS-One and Kurtis Blow.
By bestowing the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award on KRS-One and Kurtis Blow, the event underscored the power of Hip-Hop as a force for societal good, celebrating these icons not only for their musical contributions but for their unwavering commitment to community service and leadership.
The two guys who have previously accused the late pop icon Michael Jackson of sexual abuse have requested access to controversial nude photos taken of Jackson by the police.
The plaintiffs’ legal team issued a subpoena in March for access to “photographs of Michael Jackson’s genitalia and naked body taken by police,” which continue to be under a protective order by the Santa Barbara Superior Court.
The photos in question stem from a 1993 police investigation during which allegations of sexual abuse were made against Jackson by a 13-year-old boy.
Wade Robson and James Safechuck’s legal action has sparked a heated response from legal representatives of Michael Jackson’s estate, who argue that revealing the photos would be both inappropriate and a violation of privacy.
The lawyers representing Jackson’s estate have termed the request by Robson and Safechuck as “an egregious violation” and argue that the photos are highly sensitive.
In a statement, they said, “The photographs Plaintiffs seek were not taken willingly by Mr. Jackson; they were the result of a court-ordered search based on a false statement in what became a discredited criminal investigation.”
They further express concern over the potential exploitation of these photos, suggesting that such an act would constitute a “second defilement” following the controversial and contested circumstances under which they were originally taken.
Wade Robson and James Safechuck brought forth allegations against Jackson in 2013 and 2014, respectively, claiming that they were sexually abused by the singer during their childhood.
Their lawsuits, now targeting Jackson’s companies, argue that these entities are culpable for the alleged abuse, as they facilitated Jackson’s proximity to young children.
The request to unseal the records containing the nude photos of Jackson is part of these ongoing legal proceedings.
This legal battle brings to the forefront issues of privacy, the sensitivity of evidence obtained during criminal investigations, and the potential for misuse of such evidence in civil litigation.
The judge presiding over Young Thug’s RICO case has expressed concerns over lawyers’ predictions that the rap star’s trial could extend for years, potentially becoming Georgia’s longest trial.
In an attempt to reign in the timeline, the judge has taken a firm stance on managing the court’s schedule more strictly.
As a result, Judge Ural Glanville is threatening to hold court on weekends to speed up the proceedings.
This move signifies the court’s growing impatience with the trial’s slow pace, which has been bogged down by numerous delays and interruptions.
If necessary, a court would be held on Saturday and Sunday. Judge Glanville informed prosecutors and defense attorneys.
The trial has already seen its share of drama and unexpected developments.
Among these developments was the stabbing of co-defendant Shannon Stillwell in the Fulton County Jail in December 2023, causing a significant delay.
Illnesses among attorneys and the judge have further prolonged the trial, testing the patience of all parties involved.
Four months into the proceedings, with roughly 40 witnesses having testified, the prosecution’s list includes over 100 additional names, raising concerns about the trial’s potential extension well into 2024, 2025, 2026, or even as far as 2027.
In light of these challenges, Judge Glanville has requested that attorneys make themselves available earlier on certain days, emphasizing the need to expedite the trial without compromising its integrity.
Young Thug has been locked up for almost two years. He was ordered to be held without bond in May of 2022 and has lost four attempts at getting out of prison.
Lily Allen has thrown shade at Beyoncé’s cover of country classic Jolene, calling it “weird.” The singer critiqued Beyoncé’s new music on her “Miss Me?” podcast.
When her cohost Miquita Oliver asked whether she’d listened to Beyoncé’s new country-influenced album Country Carter, Lily didn’t hold back.
First, though, she admitted she had not heard the entire record. “I’ve heard a few bits,” Lily, 38, said. “I listened to the Miley Cyrus one and I listened to the “Blackbird” one, which is the Beatles cover.
“I have to listen to the whole thing from start to finish, because I haven’t done a deep dive on it yet.”
She went on to say she found it “weird” that Beyoncé, 42, had included a cover of Dolly Parton’s classic “Jolene.”
Shocking that a British woman #lilyallen is hating on Cowboy Carter..the album wasn’t made for you mind, way to miss the entire point! But it’s predictable when she’s gonna cosplay as an American on her upcoming country album.
“It’s very weird,” she said, “that you’d cover the most successful songs in that genre.”
“It’s quite an interesting to do, when you’re trying to, like, tackle a genre and you just choose the biggest song in that genre to cover. I mean, you do you, Beyoncé – and she literally is doing her, but why is she doing Dolly?” Lily Allen asked.
Lily also said she had enjoyed a scathing quote from rapper Azealia Banks about Beyoncé’s husband, Jay-Z.
“I read a comment from Azealia Banks where she was like ‘and stop talking about Jay Z as if anyone wants to f**k him’,” Lily laughed.
“Literally no one’s even looked at him for about 10 years, relax,” Lily Allen added, saying she did not find Jay physically attractive.
Oddly enough, Lily Allen has admitted to having dreams about Jay-Z and beyoncé in her house. She revealed her bizarre fantasy involving her own husband and the power couple in a 2014 tweet.
That same year, Lily Allen has worked with Jay z in the past. They recorded a song together called “Truth” in 2014.
#lilyallen needs to sit down. #Beyoncé is an AMERICAN. She knows #country . Lily, how would you feel about some Yanks rolling in to a tea shop for some haggis, and Guinness? #Bey is a local, and she knows her range 💅
DMV rapper Gerreddi has teamed up with the renowned Boosie Badazz to release a gripping new music video for their latest collaborative track “Risk My Life.”
This street anthem delves into Gerreddi’s raw experiences and the risks he’s embraced to ascend to new heights in the world of Hip-Hop.
Notably, “Risk My Life” features Boosie Badazz, bringing a touch of Down South legacy into the urban landscapes of Washington DC, with the artistic direction provided by Vibes Media.
The collaboration between Gerreddi and Boosie Badazz is a significant milestone, showcasing a blend of Gerreddi’s relentless pursuit of success and Boosie’s established street credibility.
The music video for “Risk My Life” depicts both artists navigating through the trenches of DC, highlighting the authenticity and grit of their journey.
This convergence of talent not only enhances the impact of the song but also bridges different regions’ Hip-Hop scenes, from the DMV to Down South.
Gerreddi’s journey in the Hip-Hop industry is marked by a series of accomplishments that testify to his dedication and skill.
He has a history of engaging audiences through high-profile performances, winning rap battles and showcases that have spotlighted his lyrical prowess.
His ability to convey compelling stories through music has earned him recognition and respect within the Hip-Hop community.
The rapper’s extensive resume is further adorned with notable collaborations that span across the Hip-Hop spectrum.
Having worked with his Uncle, Freeway Rick Ross, Gerreddi has been immersed in the culture from a young age.
His collaborations extend to prominent figures such as Raheem DeVaughn, Bigg Tigger, DJ Drama, KaySlay, Mysonne, Devin the Dude, Scarface, and Grafh from the “Love & Hip Hop” franchise, showcasing his versatility and ability to connect with varied audiences.
Fans can follow Gerreddi’s journey and stay updated on his latest projects by connecting with him on social media (@gerreddi across all platforms).
Saigon pulls no punches. The New York heavy hitter, cares and wonders why racism and inner turmoil seem to tear Hip-Hop apart at the seams. The current Diddy situation has sparked a deeper conversation around waning conscious rap, the lack of leadership in Hip-Hop, and the declining moral compass in the culture. He viscously blasts the capitalistic, materialistic mindstate of many influential figures in the industry. At the same time, he continues to share his voice with a looming albumJordan Era coming May 3.
Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur: We had a nice conversation last night. That was dope. I don’t know if you remember this, but we both went to Baltimore a long time ago. I was doing a thing called “City for Change.” And I took you to Baltimore to talk to the youth and everything.
Saigon: Yeah. That was probably 2001 or ’02. Very early.
DJ Thoro: One thing about you man, as long as I’ve known you that I highly respect about you is that you what I call you never pushed poison or glorified violence in your music. Nowadays people, they rap about the s### they did or going to do or doing, but there are no records about the consequences of that.
Saigon: Where are those records at? That was always my thing. I used to be like, “Bro, don’t send these kids to the graveyard or to the penitentiary man. Because we see how influenced we was by music. Right When I was growing up, Onyx and them m############ was coming out.
DJ Thoro: “Throw Your Gunz In The Air”
Saigon: I went and picked up a gun like oh yeah, some s###. “What’s cool? [Quoting “Shook Ones”] “To all the killers in the hundred dollar billas.” I remember hearing that at 14, 13 years old. I’m about to go clap something. And the music has that kind of, it’s almost like you ever make love to a woman with no music and then you put music on some slow songs and start performing? The music has power, bro.
DJ Thoro: And that’s why it keeps going because the kids see gets rewarded so they want to keep doing it.
Saigon: That s### hindered my career so much. And you know what I respect about Blaze? When I went into the studio and we started making The Greatest Story Never Told, and he started to see the direction I was going. And he told me, “he said, sir, “I’m going to keep it real with you. They’re not going to push this.” He knew from experience, he said, “But I’m going to stick by you if this the way you want to go. More positive. Yeah, more positive.” He was like, “I’m with it and I’m going to make it sound amazing.” And I was like, “Let’s do it.”
And we made a crazy album that sat on the shelf for seven years because Julie Greenwald, I’ll never forget, told me one time she was like, “We like you Saigon here at Atlantic Records and you can bust your artistic nut on the rest of your album. But I need my three singles to push.” Pretty much saying I need three of them bulls##t records and then whatever else is on your album, who cares?
DJ Thoro: How does that make you feel knowing that she wouldn’t tell her own to do that? I keep it a hundred.
Saigon: Because I was in prison and I had experienced racism at a close until you’ve never been called ni##er – hard – “er” – you see a hatred in a m###########’s eyes because them cos up north when you are up in prison, Buffalo will lose a football game and they won’t feed you. They walk around with tattoos of Black babies and nooses. They don’t hide the racism. They don’t hide it so you get to see it. A lot of black people, especially growing up in New York City where it’s diverse, we don’t see that s### blatant.
So when I had that experience, so when I got into this game I kind of knew what I was dealing with. I was like, “Oh you one of them.”
DJ Thoro: We’ve always had that, but there was also an alternative to that.
Saigon: And another thing because it’s funny because I just seen myself on HipHopDX. I put out a tweet and then the next thing you know it’s all the blogs. If you look it up right now, it says “Saigon blames Diddy.”
Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur: Of course we saw it. Everybody saw it.
Saigon: So what I was trying to say was, because I said I think Diddy was the change between conscious rap and just money rap. What conscious rap ever came from Bad Boy Records?
DJ Thoro: Nobody conscious came from Bad Boy. It was mostly party rap.
Saigon: Party. Money and materialism. Materialism. It was materialism. Materialism. Diddy knew about the business before everybody. Everybody he signed was kids. Diddy had a $10 million deal with Clive Davis. He had already did Mary J. Blige and Uptown Records. So he understood the power of music by time he signed you got to The Lox and BIG. It was kids.
Saigon: God is coming back for these m############. We ain’t even got to trash ’em. We can sit right here and talk about Super Mario Brothers. Them n##### are still going to get they fate.
Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur: This is probably not going to land, right? But Hip-Hop’s a young culture in the eighties, seventies, eighties, nineties. It was still young. And then we started getting money in the nineties. Is it possible that they were as ignorant as we were but on a different level? You know what I’m saying?
Saigon: We was talking about last night, every revolution starts with young people. The Panthers were 18 and 19, 20 years old. Young people are fearless. Now, we are using our fearlessness and it’s going in the wrong direction. That’s why you got gang bangers. That’s why gang bangers ain’t scared to die. They’re not scared to go to jail.
But it takes older people to go channel that energy. It’s almost like the army, right? The general’s going to be an old guy. The private on the front lines going to be a 19, 18-year-old kid. But it’s up to the general to tell him what to do and how to move.
Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur: We don’t have generals anymore.
Saigon: The elder statesmen became all about get a dollar. Right? It’s the money that f##### us up. I think it’s starting to happen with athletes now. Right now too. I don’t think it’s a good idea to start giving if you give these people all this money, right? Where’s my incentive to go hard now?
Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur: Who do you like out here?
Saigon: Now? Oh, nowadays. Yeah. There’s this new kid from Philly named Kur. J. Cole of course. I like Lar Russell. I just think he’s himself. He is not trying to be like anybody. He remind me of a Ye in a way. There’s not too many doing nothing too innovative. I like innovative s###. Know what I’m saying?
DJ Thoro: Do you think Hip-Hop has reached its creative peak?
Saigon: Nah. Nah.
DJ Thoro: Do you think there’s something that hasn’t been done yet? That we haven’t seen?
Saigon: I wouldn’t say I think it’s been done, but you could always make something better. Make it better. I think we’re going to have to go back to meaningful s###. Meaningful s###.Because we can’t keep sending these babies to the jail, to the strip club or to the f###### graveyard.
Joey Bada$$ reminded me fans he wasn’t afraid to battle Kendrick Lamar. The Pro Era rapper shared his old song “Killuminati Pt. 2” after J. Cole released the K. Dot diss “7 Minute Drill” on Friday (April 5).
“Never forget,” Joey Bada$$ wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).
The New York native released “Killuminati Pt. 2” in response to Kendrick’s famous “Control” verse in 2013.
“My set told me light you up so this that propane/It’s nathan all I gotta do is just spit a flame/No escaping, you in a swimming pool of champagne/You set yourself up for that one mane/The king of New York? Ha! we ain’t just gon’ let that one hang/Last n#### got dethroned and you ain’t from my zone/The rest of the real n##### is dead and gone,” Joey rapped.
Last month, Kendrick took shots at Drake and J. Cole on Future and Metro Boomin’s song “Like That.” J. Cole responded with “7 Minute Drill.”
“I came up in the ‘Ville, so I’m good when it’s tension/He still doing shows but fell off like The Simpsons/Your first s### was classic, your last s### was tragic/Your second s### put n##### to sleep, but they gassed it/Your third s### was massive and that was your prime/I was trailing right behind and I just now hit mine/Now I’m front of the line with a comfortable lead/How ironic, soon as I got it, now he want something with me/Well, he caught me at the perfect time, jump up and see,” J. Cole rapped.
He added, “He averaging one hard verse like every thirty months or something/If he wasn’t dissing, then we wouldn’t be discussing him/Lord, don’t make me have to smoke this n#### ’cause I f### with him/But push come to shove, on this mic, I will humble him.”
“7 Minute Drill” appeared on J. Cole’s surprise releaseMight Delete Later.
JT and GloRilla are currently trading shots on Twitter (X), with the City Girls rapper slamming GloRilla’s appearance. The online spat started on Friday (April 5) after an old rumor suggesting the CMG artist slapped JT at an awards show was dredged up. The initial fan tweet read: “Do anybody know why glo slapped her at that award show?”
JT fired back, “I been said she didn’t! She the one went radio silent! Played into, released a song about slapping rap b###### now it’s female unity?? CORNY!!!!!”
I been said she didn’t! She the one went radio silent! Played into, released a song about slapping rap b###### now it’s female unity?? CORNY!!!!! https://t.co/lL5iGBgVff
When a fan accused JT of “subbing” GloRilla, she said, “NO TF I WASNT! I don’t know these girls like that to have problems with them & I always wish them the best FIRST!” As the questions continued to pour in, she grew increasingly more aggressive, saying things like, “I guess she was waiting on her tape to address & who gone clear up going viral for slapping someone when the whole hood believed it! It was on brand!”
GloRilla began responding to JT but quickly deleted her tweets. At one point, JT tweeted her, “Ugly shouldn’t leave your mouth ever Joe you look like you was born feet first P#### ass hoe DONT mention me! Secret animosity? WHY?” Glo then accused her of wearing wigs in another since-deleted tweet that read: “H## shut yo dumb a## up & fix dem ugla## wigs I said it ain’t no beef ho you da one with da secret animosity,” to which JT replied, “Ugly wigs? B### is you dumb hoe? you’ll NEVER in your life be this raw hoe I been had fake tittys off care credit, I been that b#### you just getting training wheels! B#### you said MY name! Air mattress brain!!!!!!”
JT, again, responded to another of GloRilla’s since-deleted tweets and suggested she is actually a big fan of hers: “OMG you are a liarrrr! B####. you didn’t hit me with s### FANNED out a## b### you approach me sounding like an old beat up box Chevy ‘WHAT UP GANG.'”
She continued, “I honestly thought glo was a real b#### man but she not she caused all that s### with FNF remix too! Came in the game messy & phony ready to switch on your homies too had to jump back on the roof!”
Ugly wigs? B#### is you dumb hoe? you’ll NEVER in your life be this raw hoe I been had fake tittys off care credit, I been that b#### you just getting training wheels!
JT continued her rant, going as far as sharing a string of GloRilla’s apparent mugshots. She kept going too, adding, “fake a## street b#### always bringing up jail but was just crying bout how you ain’t have a bed until you was 15years old & sleeping in hotels I’m confused are you street or just poor???”
As GloRilla’s tweets vanished, JT took it to another level when she said, “B#### your UGLY NO sex appeal got dragged for trying to be seductive at the awards crying to your label cause you was tired of crump dancing! You are a Glock toating pit pull that need to stay in her G fazos your not a Cinderella hell your not even a step sister, b####!”
B#### your UGLY NO sex appeal got dragged for trying to be seductive at the awards crying to your label cause you was tired of crump dancing! You are a Glock toating pit pull that need to stay in her G fazos your not a Cinderella hell your not even a step sister, b####!
GloRilla did leave one tweet up that read: “Yo comebacks weak just stop boo it’s ok I won.” JT responded, “I thought you won? I stopped I was being generous letting you promote that WACK a### project that nobody give af about & nobody asked for! You just be doing s### ! Work on your craft soften your voice. Everything ain’t gotta be hard like your life. Y’all hoes jealous cause I do my own thing. And I bet not catch y’all hoes [City Girls] trying to do club tours since it’s so beneath y’all. I swear this been the most fun I had In my career in a while!”
As of 11 p.m. ET, the contentious back-and-forth was seemingly coming to a close. JT’s last tweet read: “Y’all hoes are weak a## hypocrites!”
The controversy started at the MTV VMAs last October with the rumored fight. JT responded to the claims, denouncing any truth to the rumors, but GloRilla remained silent—until she released her latest project, Ehhhthang Ehhhthang. On the song “Aite” featuring Kenny Muney, she raps, “Me and JT ain’t the best of friends but we ain’t beefin’.”
Business mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs returned to the social media stage on Friday (April 5), sharing the music video for “Victory,” a track featuring The Notorious B.I.G. and Busta Rhymes.
The move marks Diddy’s first public statement since his properties across New York, Los Angeles, and Miami were raided in connection with a purported Homeland Security Investigation into allegations of sex trafficking.
The choice of “Victory” – a song that emerged from Diddy’s 1998 album No Way Out and is notable for its dark, operatic undertones – appears to be a calculated one, coming just one day after he was named in a sexual assault lawsuit with his son Christian.
Diddy accompanied the video with the caption, “Bad Boy For Life,” capped with a black power fist.
The decision to broadcast this specific song and message has drawn mixed reactions online.
Following a period of silence on his social media commenting functions stemming from a lawsuit filed by Cassie in November 2023, the floodgates opened to a barrage of both support and criticism from the public.
While the support from industry contemporaries like Ty Dolla $ign, Game, and producer Timbaland was evident, other celebrity reactions from Diddy’s 20 million appeared measured considering his A-list.
Furthermore, Pusha T’s fire emoji comment attracted its own controversy, highlighting the tension surrounding Diddy’s current public image.
While some supporters viewed Diddy’s post as a declaration of innocence and resilience, others interpreted it as a provocative gesture towards the authorities involved in the ongoing investigation.
As investigations continue, the music mogul’s choice to leverage a song associated with triumph and struggle seems to encapsulate his current predicament – caught between a storied past and an uncertain future.
Whether this move will sway public opinion or further complicate his image remains to be seen. What’s clear is that Diddy, despite the controversies, is not ready to retreat from the limelight or the narrative shaping his legacy.
Xscape’s Tamika Scott, Kandi Burruss and Tiny Harris pushed forward with their Queens of R&B Tour with SWV. The group responded to rumors of fellow member LaTocha Scott threatening to take legal action against the trio and the tour’s co-promoter Mona Scott-Young on Friday (April 5).
“Despite All The Rumors, Xscape SWV The Queens Of R&B Tour Is Definitely Still On!!” Xscaped declared on social media. “Get Your Tickets Now And Come Kick It With Us! We Love Our Fans🥰❤️❤️! We Can’t Wait To See You There.”
Xscape’s post included a message aimed at LaTocha regarding their rights to use the group’s name without her.
“A co-owner of a trademark is unable to maintain an infringement action against another co-owner of the same trademark,” they noted. “Each co-owner has the right to exercise its trademark rights, including granting licenses to third parties (i.e. Live Nation and Monami Entertainment). ‘A valid licensee of one co-owner of a trademark cannot be liable to another co-owner for infringement.’”
According to Straight From the A, LaTocha’s lawyer claimed Live Nation and Scott-Young’s Monami Entertainment needed to license Xscape’s trademark from her. Her attorney sent a letter to Live Nation and Monami demanding a response within five days on Tuesday (April 2).
“LaTocha was surprised to learn that Live Nation, whom XSCAPE has contracted to perform on numerous occasions, contracted with individuals and is publicly advertising the XSCAPE Mark to promote a live musical performance for a series of concerts during the Queens of R&B tour without LaTocha’s consent,” the letter read. “In addition to failing to obtain consent, you have also failed to even reach out to LaTocha to agree on financial terms for use of the MARK as well as to discuss her performance.”
Xscape and SWV’s tour is scheduled to begin in June. The groups co-starred in a Bravo reality show in 2023.
Universal Music Group faced a lawsuit over a sample used in Mary J. Blige’s classic song “Real Love.” Tuff City Records, which owns the rights to The Honey Dippers’ heavily sampled track “Impeach the President,” sued UMG for copyright infringement on Thursday (April 4).
Tuff City pursued legal action due to “Real Love” allegedly sampling “Impeach the President” without permission. “Real Love” notably sampled Audio Two’s song “Top Billin,” which featured a sample of “Impeach the President.”
“Both the ‘Real Love’ sound recording and the ‘Real Love’ musical composition contain an uncleared sample from ‘Impeach the President,’” Tuff City’s legal team wrote. “Plaintiff has advised Defendant repeatedly of the presence of the uncleared sample from ‘Impeach the President’ in ‘Real Love,’ and Defendant has repeatedly refused to engage Plaintiff in substantive negotiations to rectify the foregoing, let alone agreed to compensate Plaintiff for the past infringement or on an ongoing basis. Defendant’s refusal to cooperate with Plaintiff is difficult to reconcile with the fact that Plaintiff reached an agreement with UMG Recordings, Inc. with respect to the presence of the uncleared sample from ‘Impeach the President’ on the master sound recording of ‘Real Love.’”
According to court documents obtained by AllHipHop, Tuff City claimed UMG caused “great and irreparable injury that cannot fully be compensated or measured in money.” Tuff City said UMG ignored warnings sent to the corporation, resulting in the lawsuit.
“Plaintiff repeatedly notified Defendant in writing of Plaintiff’s ownership rights in the musical composition ‘Impeach the President,’ and on February 13, 2024 advised Defendant that if it did not immediately cease and desist from exploiting the musical composition “Impeach the President” by February 23, 2024, Plaintiff would pursue legal action against them,” Tuff City’s attorneys wrote. “Defendant did not respond to Plaintiff by February 23, 2024.”
Tuff City sought undisclosed damages plus preliminary and permanent injunctive relief. TMZ first reported the lawsuit.
If there are social media psychics of the clairvoyant, one Twitter user may have just reveals that 2035 is the year the rap world will be turned upside down due to Cardi B and Nicki Minaj.
In case you missed it, a tweet featuring photos of Cardi B and Ice Spice posing together at a recent awards show set Twitter ablaze, attracting more than 41 million views on the initial tweet. It’s worth mentioning that prior to Cardi B requesting the “Deli” rapper to post the photo, she was engaged in a bitter battle with a social media user, who misrepresented her ethnicity while hurling insults at her. Nevertheless, the virality of the tweet is impossible to ignore.
And with all that in mind, can you imagine how crazy the internet, and the rap world at-large would go if it was Cardi B and Nicki Minaj linking up!? Well, one Twitter user already cooked up the scenario for us ant it’s actually a hypothetical banger. It all goes down during Cardi B’s electrifying performance of one of the last great hits we received from the Migos trio in “Motorsport.” The crowd is hyped, the beats are thumping and Cardi’s spitting fire. But wait—there’s a plot twist! Just when you think you’ve seen it all, the DJ switches things up, and out of the shadows emerges none other than Nicki Minaj herself, ready to drop the bars she allegedly recorded for the song prior to learning Cardi B was featured and subsequently pulling the verse.
The crowd goes wild, losing their collective minds as these two rap queens share the stage. Phones are out, jaws are dropping and people are fainting left and right in disbelief. It’s a moment so epic, so historic, that everyone knows they’re witnessing something truly special.
But hold onto your hats, because the drama doesn’t stop there. Cardi B, ever the gracious hostess, passes the mic to Nicki, who slays her verse. And then, in a move that shocks the world, Cardi gives a shoutout to her fellow New Yorker, Nicki Minaj herself!
And just like that, social media explodes, with fans and critics alike declaring this performance one for the history books. It’s a moment that will be talked about for generations to come, proving once and for all that in the world of rap, anything is possible.
it's 2035, Cardi B is on stage performing Motorsport, she raps her verse like any other time she performs but this time it doesn't stop at her verse… the dj switches it up and all of a sudden the crowd hears "watch your man…." and Nicki Minaj comes out rapping her verse. the…
I think it would be a safe bet to wager the odds that a tweet featuring either photos or video evidence of Cardi B and Nicki Minaj burying the hatchet and posing/performing together would draw more then a few million views. However, that 2035 timeline may be pushed a bit off course, given the fact that now Sexyy Red and the Pink Friday 2 rapper are linking up. And at that, joining forces with each other literal hours after the images of Cardi B and Ice Spice began circulating.
Check out the full uncut scenario laid out in the tweet above.
A former Donda Academy and Yeezy employee made working for Kanye West sound like a nightmare in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles on Tuesday (April 2). Trevor Phillips’ lawsuit detailed several disturbing allegations, including one in which Ye allegedly simulated masturbation at a staff meeting.
“While lying flat on the bed and staring up at the ceiling, Kanye began to make slow up and down motions with his hand just above his genitals – as though he was masturbating – while he recounted to Phillips: ‘I used to have orgies every day – at least two to three girls. And now, man, I can’t even lay down without jacking off,’” the plaintiff claimed. “Then, Kanye used his second hand to forcefully and dramatically grab and pull the hand making the masturbation gestures away from his crotch as he said: ‘I got to keep my hand away from my phone to keep me away from looking at p#####.’ Phillips [was] totally shocked and distraught by Kanye’s inappropriate conduct and in particular, his apparent arousal.”
According to Phillips, Ye called a woman via FaceTime after allegedly getting aroused. Phillip said Kanye previously showed nude photos of the woman to the staff.
“Stimulating his sexual arousal more, Kanye then FaceTimed a female friend,” the lawsuit read. “Phillips immediately recognized the female’s name because only a few weeks earlier, while at the Yeezy headquarters, Kanye had flaunted nude pictures of her to many of the Yeezy staff members. The female answered Kanye’s call and he commanded her, ‘Next time I see you, you better make sure you are wearing the lingerie and the shoes I got you.'”
Phillips sued Kanye for discrimination and retaliation, among other claims. The ex-employee accused Ye of threatening to put Donda Academy students in cages and mistreating Black staff members. Phillips sought at least $35,000 in damages.
