Kim Kardashian has found herself in a legal tug-of-war over a lawsuit filed by the Donald Judd Foundation.
The foundation, dedicated to the legacy of influential artist Donald Judd, has taken legal action against Kardashian and Clements Design for what it claims is misrepresenting and promoting counterfeits of Judd’s furniture pieces.
The lawsuit emerged after Kardashian showcased her SKKN office in a YouTube video in 2022.
In the clip, she highlighted minimalist tables she attributed to Donald Judd, lauding them for their seamless integration with the office’s aesthetic.
“These Donald Judd tables are really amazing,” Kardashian remarked in the now-deleted video, “and totally blend in with the seats.”
However, the Judd Foundation asserts that the tables Kardashian referred to are not authentic pieces by Donald Judd but imitations created by Clements Design.
The legal complaint targets Kim Kardashian for allegedly false endorsement and Clements Design for trademark and copyright infringement.
The lawsuit, filed on March 27, accuses Kim Kardashian of “trademark infringement, copyright infringement, unfair competition, false advertising, and false endorsement” predicated on the promotion and sale of these ‘knockoff’ versions as genuine Judd creations.
Clements Design, caught at the center of this controversy, has defended itself against the foundation’s claims.
In an official statement, the company clarified, “It is simply not true that Clements Design commissioned imitation Donald Judd tables. They are different tables with different designs.”
Kenan Thompson has taken a stand by urging Nickolodeon to delve deeper into the allegations brought up by the ‘Quiet on Set” docuseries, emphasizing the essential need for a safe workspace for children in the entertainment industry.
During a discussion on “The Tamron Hall Show,” Thompson, a veteran of beloved Nickelodeon series such as “All That” and “Kenan & Kel,” expressed both his shock and concern over the claims outlined in the documentary, which highlights a darker undercurrent within children’s television programming.
“Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” has brought to light accusations against former Nickelodeon producer Dan Schneider, suggesting inappropriate behavior and a harmful work environment.
Moreover, it also sheds light on actor Drake Bell’s experience as a victim of Brian Peck, a former dialogue coach and convicted sex offender.
The series has sparked extensive conversation around the practices within child-centered productions and the accountability of those in charge.
Thompson, who has since carved out a successful career with “Saturday Night Live,” finds the revelations particularly disheartening, considering his positive memories associated with his time at Nickelodeon.
“Well, investigate more! I mean because it’s like, it’s supposed to be a safe place you know? It’s supposed to be a safe place for kids and to hear all about that it’s just like, ‘How dare you?'” Kenan Thompson said.
Reflecting on his reaction to the documentary, Thompson acknowledged the importance of such exposés for ensuring accountability, albeit struggling with the personal toll it takes on him and others with fond recollections of their experiences at Nickelodeon.
“I think it’s a good thing that the doc is out and is putting things on display that need to be – stories that need to be told for accountability’s sake but it’s definitely tough to watch because I have fond memories of that place,” Kenan Thompason confessed. “And I have fond memories of my co-stars and stuff like that, so, to hear that they’ve gone through terrible things like that, it’s just, it’s really tough.”
He added, “my heart goes out to anybody that’s been victimized or their families,” showing a deep empathy for those affected.
Nickelodeon, in response to the uproar, has reiterated its commitment to investigating all allegations thoroughly, yet the calls from Thompson and the public demand a more robust and transparent investigation process.
A former prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney’s Office who works specifically on human trafficking offered up a grim prediction about Diddy’s possible future.
During an insightful yet alarming discussion, Neama Rahmani, now president and co-founder of West Coast Trial Lawyers, shed light on the precarious legal situation currently entangling music mogul Diddy.
The conversation, centered around the recent lawsuit by Cassie against Diddy, has opened up a Pandora’s Box of legal woes for the Bad Boy founder, including alarming allegations of sex trafficking.
These accusations have kicked off an investigation led by prosecutors from the formidable Southern District of New York.
“Cassie was with Diddy for a decade and she knew where the bodies were buried and she spilled it all out, and that encouraged other victims to come forward,” Rahmani said of the initial lawsuit that kicked off a flurry of civil suits against the mogul.
With his years of legal expertise and experience prosecuting similar cases on the U.S.-Mexico border, Rahmani is uniquely qualified to weigh in on Diddy’s situation.
His background as a Persian-American attorney who graduated from Harvard Law School at 22 before taking on human trafficking cases at the U.S. Attorney’s Office grants him a nuanced understanding of the intricacies of such high-profile cases.
Rahmani hinted at a possible grim future for Diddy akin to that of R. Kelly.
“Under federal law, if someone is convicted of even one count of sex trafficking, it carries a 10 or 15-year prison sentence minimum; the judge can’t go any lower for each count depending on the age of the victim..I wouldn’t be surprised if this is another Jeffery Epstein, R. Kelly type of case.”
Rahmani’s statement stresses the rigorous nature of the justice system in handling sex trafficking offenses.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Diddy is arrested in the coming days or weeks. He’s going to have to face these charges. There’s no possible plea that is going to get him off with a slap on the wrist or probation. If prosecutors are successful, and they want to prove it, he may end up dying in prison,” Rahmani said.
Will Smith’s career may have been able to withstand the fallout of the infamous slap around the world, but the same cannot be said for his charitable organization with Jada Pinkett Smith.
The Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation, established by the powerhouse couple in 1996, is ceasing operations in the wake of the controversial moment at the 2022 Oscars that saw Smith slap comedian Chris Rock on stage.
This incident sparked widespread discussion about the actor’s conduct and, as a result, has had a profound impact on the foundation’s ability to operate.
According to tax records reviewed by Variety, the charity experienced a dramatic decline in contributions following the Oscars incident.
From an impressive revenue of $1,760,000 in 2020, the foundation saw donations plummet by 83% in 2022.
Notably, several high-profile donors such as American Airlines and CAA, which previously provided significant financial support, withdrew their donations after the Oscars slap.
This withdrawal by major contributors led to a decrease in the foundation’s capacity to support its various charitable endeavors.
Among the initiatives impacted are contributions to esteemed organizations such as the American Film Institute and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Despite these challenges, the foundation has also supported smaller entities like Rebecoming and World Rebirth Foundation, organizations focused on healing, community empowerment, and life skill development.
These contributions highlight the diverse range of interests and causes that the foundation aimed to support.
In light of the financial difficulties and decreased contributions, the Smith Family Foundation incurred operational challenges, including accumulating bank overdrawn fees.
Moreover, its online presence has remained static since 2020, signaling a reduced engagement in public philanthropic activity.
A source familiar with the foundation’s operations stated that the decision to conclude the foundation’s work predates the Oscars incident, indicating a shift in the couple’s philanthropic strategy towards more private avenues of contribution.
Azealia Banks was predictably unimpressed with Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter album. Banks said the country album made her fall asleep in a review posted on Instagram Stories.
“Themes r redundant,” Banks wrote. “The lyrics are really forced. Album is too long… Plus who is this imaginary adversary sis think still wants to hump on [Jay-Z] in 2024? She’s gotta find new content. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY think he’s even remotely attractive.”
She added, “Def should have had Taylor Swift & Kacey Musgraves on there … It’s what the ppl wanted…. I personally would have jumped out of my seat for a KT Tunstall appearance… a strong dr. Luke power ballad was missing … like ‘Low’ …. Skip skip … I really don’t like rapyonce…. Dozed off again and now I’m going to sleep.”
Bank didn’t stop with the write-up as she continued to discuss Beyoncé’s latest album in audio clips. Banks criticized Post Malone’s appearance on Cowboy Carter, saying it should’ve been a John Mayer collaboration.
“And sidebar Bianca, why the f### would you put Post Malone on the g###### record?” Banks asked. “Girl, that was supposed to be a John Mayer moment! Ugh. Beyoncé and John Mayer! Girl, I’ve been waiting for that since my f###### Starbucks days!”
Banks thought Beyoncé was simply going through the motions on Cowboy Carter. The polarizing rapper suggested retirement for the music superstar.
“Beyoncé, if you want to retire, just retire,” Banks said. “Just f###### retire ‘cause you supposed to be getting better and you’re just like—I don’t know. You submitting to some other s###. I fell asleep on the s### last night.”
Banks previously criticized Beyoncé’s pivot to country music in a lengthy rant on social media. Banks also accused Beyoncé and Roc Nation of participating in payola for radio play on country music stations.
One of Diddy’s former lawyers has offered his thoughts on Monday’s (March 25) raids on his residences in Los Angeles and Miami.
High powered attorney Mark Geragos has suggested the federal raids on Diddy’s properties aim to instigate witness cooperation.
Geragos suggested that the raids were more than just an investigative step.
“Well, I think clearly the feds have taken notice of the kind of raft of lawsuits that have been filed; they’re using those as a roadmap.
“The cynic in me, would say that they aren’t getting witnesses cooperating the way they want and so this is a great way to kind of deliver a shock and awe message to anybody connected with Sean that…we’re serious and we’re coming after him and you better cooperate or you’re going to be left in the wake,” Geragos stated.
According to law enforcement sources, the operation led by Homeland Security agents, including teams from HSI New York, Los Angeles, and Miami, marks a pivotal turn in the ongoing probe linked to allegations of sex trafficking.
Despite the high-profile nature of these raids, Diddy has not been explicitly named as the investigation’s primary target.
During the operation, Combs’ sons were detained temporarily, highlighting the seriousness with which federal authorities are pursuing this case.
This incident unfolds amid a series of legal challenges for Combs, including previous settlements regarding accusations of sexual assault and harassment.
The federal inquiry is believed to be galvanized by these allegations, suggesting a determined effort by authorities to delve deeper into the accusations surrounding Combs.
Highlighting the strategic underpinnings of the raids, Geragos further summarized that Homeland Security is at the forefront of these allegations, closely examining the lawsuits as a “roadmap” for their investigation.
“I don’t think that there’s any doubt in my mind, at least, that their Homeland Security is leading the charge here and that the allegations would seem to mirror exactly what has been alleged in a couple of these lawsuits.”
In response to the raids and their purported implications, a legal representative for Diddy criticized the aggressive nature of the searches, while steadfastly maintaining Combs’ innocence in the face of the allegations.
Lizzo had a message for her 12.2 million Instagram followers on Friday (March 29). In an emotionally-charged post, the “Truth Hurts” singer suggested she was going to walk away from her career due to the public’s constant scrutiny.
“I’m getting tired of putting up with being dragged by everyone in my life and on the internet,” she wrote. “All I want is to make music and make people happy and help the world be a little better than how I found it. But I’m starting to feel like the world doesn’t want me in it. I’m constantly up against lies being told about me for clout & views… being the butt of the joke every single time because of how I look… my character being picked apart by people who don’t know me and disrespecting my name. I didn’t sign up for this s— — I QUIT [peace out emoji].”
Lizzo is currently facing several legal issues. Last month, her request to toss out a lawsuit filed by three of her former dancers was denied, indicating the suit will proceed. Judge Mark H. Epstein ruled in a 34-page decision in Los Angeles County Superior Court that Lizzo’s argument that the case be dismissed under the anti-SLAPP statute didn’t entirely fit the suit. The anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) statute allows defendants to quickly dismiss meritless suits that threaten their right to free speech under the First Amendment. However, Epstein did elect to throw out some of the plaintiffs’ accusations against Lizzo and her team, including that Lizzo fat-shamed one of her dancers.
The original lawsuit, filed by Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez in August, alleged Lizzo created a hostile work environment and sexually harassed her employees. It also named dance captain Shirlene Quigley and Lizzo’s production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc., as defendants.
Lizzo has been vulnerable on social media numerous times over the years. In 2021, the Grammy Award-winning artist debuted the video for “Rumors” featuring Cardi B and was faced with a flood of negative comments targeting her weight. As a result, Lizzo headed to Instagram Live and confessed sometimes the hate penetrates her usual coat of armor. Sitting in her bathroom with tears streaming down her face, Lizzo talked about how all the negativity was affecting her.
“On the days I feel I should be the happiest, I feel so down,” she said. “Like, I hurt so hard. I’ve been working triple time, quadruple time, doing like 12 hours a day of promos and interviews, doing interviews, going to the studio with a f###ing root canal…rehearsal, then filming every single day, shooting a documentary and I’m still writing music.”
She continued, “Sometimes I feel like the world just don’t love me back. It’s like it doesn’t matter how much positive energy you put into the world, you’re still going to have people who have something mean to say about you. And for the most part it doesn’t hurt my feelings; I don’t care. I just think when I’m working this hard, my tolerance gets lower. My patience is lower. I’m more sensitive and it gets to me … People saying s### about me that just doesn’t even make sense. It’s fat-phobic, and it’s racist and it’s hurtful. If you don’t like my music, cool. If you don’t like ‘Rumors’ the song, cool. But a lot of people don’t like me because of the way I look.”
Nicki Minaj has added another historic accolade to her impressive résumé. The Recording Industry Association of America certified the New York City-raised rap superstar’s “Super Bass” as 12x-platinum on Friday (March 29).
In addition, Nicki Minaj earned a platinum plaque for her 2023 album Pink Friday 2 this week. The Pink Friday 2 track “Red Ruby da Sleeze” also received platinum certification from the RIAA.
Nicki Minaj scored her first solo Top 10 entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with “Super Bass.” The record peaked at No. 3 in August 2011 and became the longest-charting song of Minaj’s career (39 weeks).
The song’s Sanaa Hamri-directed music video won Best Hip-Hop Video at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards. Nicki Minaj’s visuals have surpassed 1 billion YouTube views since its premiere on the platform.
Diddy’s legal issues created drama for his ex-girlfriend Yung Miami. The City Girls member lashed out on social media after she was confronted with an old rumor claiming Diddy paid her $250,000 per month while they dated.
“Something the internet made up and yall ran with it!!!” she wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). “N##### don’t even pay that for child support why tf would a n#### ever pay me 250k for. FOR WHAT??”
Yung Miami faced backlash for her relationship with Diddy once multiple women started suing him for sexual assault in November 2023. Her situation became more complicated when producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones sued Diddy, whose real name is Sean Combs.
Lil Rod implicated Yung Miami in his Diddy lawsuit in an amended complaint filed in March. Lil Rod identified her as one of Diddy’s sex workers and mentioned a monthly stipend.
“Defendant Sean Combs bragged about having several women on a monthly stipend,” Lil Rod’s lawyer wrote. “According to Plaintiff Jones, the women who received these payments are Caresha Romeka Brownlee, aka ‘Yung Miami,’ Jade Ramey, aka ‘Jade,’ and Daphne Joy Cervantes Narvaez, aka, ‘Daphne Joy’ who were paid a monthly fee to work as Mr. Combs’ sex workers. Based on information and belief, they received payment via wire transfer from Robin Greenhill. It is unclear if they were provided the appropriate United States federal tax documents for these payments or if they independently declared these payments on their taxes.”
Lil Rod also accused Yung Miami of transporting drugs for Diddy. According to Lil Rod, she traveled from Florida to Virginia to bring pink cocaine to Diddy in April 2023. A TMZ report suggested her team had evidence to debunk Lil Rod’s story.
Diddy is under federal investigation for sex trafficking, among other allegations. Homeland Security raided his Los Angeles and Miami homes but no charges have been filed as of yet.
Former member of A Lighter Side of Brown, Emcee N.I.C.E., a pioneering Hip-Hop recording artist, has achieved another groundbreaking milestone as he takes on the role of vice chancellor at Harvest Christian University’s Compton/Los Angeles Extension Campus.
Emcee N.I.C.E., as he’s widely known, has long been recognized for his trailblazing efforts in music, entrepreneurship and philanthropy. Beginning his illustrious career with the aforementioned Latin rap group, Emcee N.I.C.E. broke barriers and opened doors for Latin music on the Billboard charts. His moniker, which stands for “Novelist is Constantly Evolving,” reflects his relentless pursuit of growth and evolution in all his endeavors.
With numerous platinum-selling records to his name and contributions to iconic albums such as 2Pac’s Better Dayz, Emcee N.I.C.E. left his mark on the music industry. His talents extend beyond music, with notable achievements in film, television and literature.
In recognition of his remarkable contributions, Emcee N.I.C.E. (real name Dr. Aulsondro Hamilton) has received prestigious honors, including resolutions from Senator Cesar Blanco of Texas and Mayor Eric Adams of New York. President Joe Biden also bestowed upon him the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, acknowledging his exceptional creativity and philanthropy.
In a recent interview with AllHipHop, Emcee N.I.C.E. discussed his journey into gospel music, groundbreaking work on the first Black animated series on Netflix and plans for the future, including a new festival in Los Angeles. His unwavering dedication to his craft and his commitment to empowering communities continue to inspire and uplift audiences worldwide.
AllHipHop: You went from rapping to doing Christian music. What was the switch?
N.I.C.E.: [Laughs] There was no switch, just a change in subject matter, the transition happened in 2017. Prior to that, A Lighter Shade of Brown had already put out a Greatest Hits album with me on it. Then I went on to co-produce 2Pac and Nas’s song called “Thugz Mansion.” Did eight motion picture soundtracks, became associated with an Oscar for the movie Crash, was on the DVD and soundtrack. Another notable was Mr. & Mrs. Smith (International Soundtrack). As I transitioned in 2017, I had a different calling on my life. God came in and I followed, even though I was elevating. I had done a record with an actress named Stacey Dash cosigned by Russell Simmons. My career was on the verge, when her comments on Obama happened, it stopped momentum, then Black Twitter happened and everybody thought it was her record, but it was actually mine. I stepped back, then came back eight months later and hit the Billboard charts with a single called “Tonight” (featuring Suhana Machete) that spent 13 weeks on the Hot Singles sales chart, and that’s when God said, “I need you over in Christian rap, your roots.”
AllHipHop: Was there a certain incident or did something happen that made you switch?
N.I.C.E.: No. I started in faith-based Hip-Hop. The church at the time wasn’t receptive and I ended up doing secular music for 20+ years. No incident, but my life itself is its own situation. Over the past 20 years, I’ve lost family members. I lost my mother two years ago and countless others. I’m here for a reason, fulfilling my purpose. For me, it’s a matter of staying the course. In the midst of every storm, I was making history. Especially with the Netflix animated series coming out, then my book. When I came into Christian Hip-Hop in 2017, I had five #1 records on the Billboard charts, including #1 gospel album as an independent artist for my album Praise. Nobody was doing that I then became one of seven Christian Hip-Hop artists to ever do it. I was able to utilize what I learned in the ’90s when it came to marketing and promoting. Back then, we had street teams, now they have digital street teams, so I combined the analog thinking with digital evolution. I’m in the faith based Hip-Hop world, the question going in was, how do I help move a genre that doesn’t have the notoriety it should? I was a VP over at Headstart Music Group, which was on Universal then Warner Bros. There, I learned how the industry truly works. I learned how marketing works and how to move units. So my thing was, how do I level the playing field? We normally break artists at the record companies through college tours and college radio, and I was like believers buy records.
So I showed up at different universities that were faith-based. I wasn’t on Twitter like, “Yo, I’m at Liberty University!” Nah, I walked up to some of the popular sections like, “Hey, what’s up? I’m Emcee N.I.C.E. and I want to bless you with a song.” I didn’t ask them for anything. I gave them something and in return, they then reciprocated by spreading the word and buying the music. That’s how I was able to sell units.
Normally back in the day, people used to run up and shout, “Please listen to my demo!” Back then, the CDs would cost you 90 cents to $1. Here, I’m giving you a download with a code, data capturing to later service the album with little to no overhead. I still had them CDs though for the old school heads. So now, I gave you my record. I got the data and at the same time, I didn’t lose money. I was able to run it up. Once I did that, I caught a lot of attention from industry executives that weren’t happy. “Who’s this dude coming in, using our system?” Who they didn’t know and wasn’t getting their share.
AllHipHop: Talk about starting the first African-American animated music series formerly on Netflix.
N.I.C.E.: It’s called Da Jammies, it came out on August 31, 2015. My birthday to be exact, so that made it even more monumental for me. Right now, It’s on the Kartoon Channel on Amazon Prime and Hulu now. I’m one of the creators. It stars myself, Darius McCrary, Kel Mitchell, Alisa Reyes, Kurtis Blow, William Chapman II, Anderson Johnson Jr., Yo-Yo, Buddy Lewis, Dorien Wilson, James Avery and Tiny Lister. Both Avery and Lister recorded this before they both passed away. We wanted a cartoon that reflected our culture in the modern day time. In fact, I had to teach Tiny how to rap the parts for the rap battle in the episode called “3:10” It was an epic battle too. It’s our Hip-Hop spin inspired by Three O’Clock High, are you familiar with that movie? On a last note, Da Jammies was the first animated cartoon to have an original mixtape released by AllHipHop and Datpiff.
AllHipHop: I’m not.
N.I.C.E.: Three O’Clock High was this movie where this nerd gets himself in trouble with the new bully, who challenges him to fight on the grounds of their high school at 3 p.m. Translation, “Yo, at three o’clock, I’m going to beat you down!” The dudes in school the whole time watching the clock, trying to figure out, “How do I get out of school?” So we turn that into a comedy called 3:10. The whole day, I’m trying to figure out how am I gonna get out of school from having to fight Deebo? In the end we battle rapped to settle the issue.
How was that?
N.I.C.E.: It was fire! Because I come from LA rap, even though I was raised in El Paso, Texas. I was born in Los Angeles. If you’re familiar with a docu-movie called This Is The Life, Produced an d dDirected by Ava DuVernay, a prolific rapper before director, she was one half of the rap duo Figures of Speech. Her first movie was about the rap club that we belonged to in LA called The Good Life. My uncle, the legendary DJ Fat Jack, was also a producer there, I came from that. There was also Project Blowed by my brother Abstract Rude and we all belonged to the Mass Men founded by Minister 2 Bad and Prodigy Twice D.
I can rap, rap. Even though you’re scaling back when you’re doing commercial records. Only the true heads are into that, but the true heads aren’t paying the bills. Every now and then I dig in the crates and flash on them when it’s time to.
AllHipHop: Talk about co-producing on the acoustic version of 2Pac’s “Thugz Mansion.”
N.I.C.E.: That song blew up, it was on Nas and 2Pac’s albums. In fact, I just got the triple Platinum plaque for it for 2Pac and the Nas platinum plaque for God’s Son as well. It’s a good feeling to be a part of history with two of the greatest rappers of all time. It was right when 2Pac died, Interscope records had us do the album in Modesto, California. Do you know where Modesto is? I think Jeremy Renner is from there, they had us hidden from all of the drama due to Pac’s death and the intrigue surrounding his music catalog.
AllHipHop: How does it feel to be honored by President Joe Biden, Senator Cesar Blanco of El Paso, New York Mayor Eric Adams and Compton Mayor Emma Sharif ?
N.I.C.E.: I am honored to have received President Biden’s Lifetime Achievement Award, shout out to Egypt and Hidden Gemstones along with VZ Vonzell Washington for making it happen. Then to be recognized by the Mayor of New York Eric Adams with a Citation for my contribution to the genre of Hip-Hop alongside some legends like Kurtis Blow, Special ED, DJ Kid Capri, DJ Chuck Chillout, Doug E. Fresh, 50 Cent and more. Then from Texas Senator Cesar J. Blanco from El Paso, Texas, who also recognized me for my career and community achievements in Hip Hop followed by Mayor Emma Sharif of Compton’s recognition..
When I think about my life, I’ve been in the music business since ‘94 professionally, I’m still here. I co-own the largest faith based Hip Hop station in the world called God’s House of Hip Hop, where we’re partnered with Dash Radio now Litt Live. We became the first “Hip-Hop” station in the history of gospel to win a Stellar Award, which is equivalent to the Grammys.
When you think about that achievement it spawned other stations. Now, Sirius XM has a station that’s faith-based. My other achievements include the First African-American animated music series on a major digital streaming platform, a best-selling author, and I sit on the board as President of two foundations: The iTL Foundation (Information, Technology & Literacy) with executive directors Chantal Grayson and Connie Young Williams, and Urbanomics 101 with executive director Jzhamael Kebulon Ashantee.
AllHipHop: Tell us about God’s House of Hip-Hop Radio.
N.I.C.E.: We are the first station in the history of Gospel to win a Stellar Award for “Best Gospel Hip-Hop Radio Station of the Year” and with that we became the first station in the history of (Dash) now LittLive to win a major radio award. Keep in mind, LittLive has over the 80 plus stations, which includes Cube, Snoop, Young Money, Odd Future, Kylie Jenner and more..
AllHipHop: What was it like performing in front of 500,000 people?
N.I.C.E.: Definitely the highlight of my career, not to mention it was in Los Angeles at the 2023 Taste of Soul on the KJLH main stage. Me, Canton Jones and Shari Demby-Ravenell made a bit of Kingdom Hip-Hop history by being the first to do that for the culture. Shout out to Aundrae Russell for making that happen. On top of that, I got to link back up with my sis Tiffany Haddish, October London, Papoose. Taking pictures with the mayors. It was a whole vibe.
AllHipHop: Talk about Hip Hop in Academia.
N.I.C.E.: The “educational empowerment movement” is emerging. Hip Hop’s role in education has expanded significantly and showcases the diverse ways in which Hip Hop intersects with education, reflecting a commitment to empowering the next generation through both music and academia. Programs and initiatives dedicated to Hip-Hop education will empower the upcoming generation of artists, producers and industry professionals. To me, this educational integration is pivotal for preserving and elevating the cultural significance of Hip-Hop. A testament to this ongoing shift is my appointment to Vice-Chancellor at Harvest Christian University Compton/LA’s Extension Campus and receiving a Ph.D. (Honoris Causa) for Music Business and Entrepreneurship. and becoming Dr. Aulsondro “Emcee N.I.C.E.” Hamilton. Then there are figures like rapper Dee-1, who now serves as a professor at Tufts University. Mia X, a professor in Hip-Hop at Loyola University, New Orleans. Professor Lupe Fiasco teaches at Yale, 9th Wonder, he’s lectured at institutions such as Harvard University and Duke University. KRS-One: Known for his contributions to Hip-Hop’s golden age, KRS-One has lectured at universities. GZA: As a founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan, GZA has collaborated with universities to promote science education and awareness.
AllHipHop: Tell us about Dream Flights International and goals for yourself?
N.I.C.E.: Joining the advisory board of Dream Flights International (DFI) allows me to contribute to the evolution of urban luxury jet travel. DFI private jet service that utilizes a network of 4,000 pre-qualified aircraft adhering to safety requirements higher than those of the FAA [Federal Aviation Administration]; and charter out of 2,000 airports worldwide. In addition, we offer ground transportation [in 70 countries] and Executive Protection services. You really don’t find African Americans and Latinos in this space. It’s a new day.
Now, one of my goals is to be a multi-billionaire in the next five to 10 years. I don’t want to do it for the purposes of the money. I want to do it for the purposes of being able to build performing arts facilities around the United States. Starting in El Paso, Texas, I’ve made the announcement that I’m going to create performing arts schools independent of state funding, so they don’t get shut down.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want to let the people know?
N.I.C.E.: There’s so many things. I am an accomplished #1 best-selling author with my book Music Release University – The Indies Guide to Releasing Music, where I teach independent artists how to release music. It’s a book that’s going to help you release your music, but also help you in life. I apply one thing called SWOT analysis: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. When it comes to an investor, they want to know if you understand your company. If I’m gonna give you some money, do you understand the SWOT analysis of your company? What are the strengths of your company? The weaknesses and whatnot.
I say make that applicable to everyday life. What are your strengths personally? Analyze self and be honest with self. If you’re selling this product, what is the strength of that versus your competitor? What are the weaknesses? What’re opportunities that you can take advantage of, but may have missed? What‘re the threats you pose or posed against you? When you can have these questions answered, you have a successful business.
I’ve been in the music business since 1994, almost 30 years. I understood how to maneuver and I’m still maneuvering. Two things. One is for any great achievement, someone has to be the first to do it. Why not you? Another one is to, “Strive for perfection, so that you limit your mistakes.” We’re not perfect people. We’re always gonna have some mistakes, but if you’re striving to be the best you that you can be, then you will limit those mistakes.
And get my new seasoning N.I.C.E. Blend, N.I.C.E. & Savory and now N.I.C.E. Black Pepper Sea Salt. Yes, your boy can cook. Look out for my new TV Show, The Hip-Hop Cookhouse, with Emcee N.I.C.E. Follow me on all social media platforms at @emceenicela on twitter and instagram.
Snoop Dogg and DJ Premier have convened for a new single called “Can You Dig That?” The track arrived Friday (March 29) just hours after the duo teased the single on social media. Backed by Preemo’s signature jazz-infused production, Snoop easily glides over the beat as he reflects on his life on the West Coast.
“The lights, the glimmer,” he raps in the first verse. “Shooting stars and beautiful women (Wow)/Dice games and dominoes/Presidential Obama flows (Flows)/Rivers drip with tadpoles (What?)/Night clubs with bad hoes (Ooh)/Neighborhoods with liquor stores/And foes and baggy clothes/I gotta get this dope sold (Yeah, what?)/Bang, bang the lifestyle (Bang)/Too bright, we might turn your lights down.”
From there, Snoop goes on to list some of the Hip-Hop luminaries who’ve defined West Coast rap, including Ice Cube, Eazy-E, E-40, Ice-T, 2Pac and DJ Quik.
Speaking to AllHipHop, DJ Premier said, “Every record that Snoop and I have been a part of together never misses. He always delivers what I expect.”
Snoop Dogg and DJ Premier have worked together numerous times, dating back to the early 2000s. In 2003, Snoop appeared on Gang Starr’s sixth studio album, The Ownerz, and Premier later produced two songs on Snoop’s 2002 effort, Paid Tha Cost To Be Da Boss. Preemo also contributed to “Unfucwitable” featuring The Lady Of Rage from Snoop’s Doggy Style Allstars Vol. 1. More recently, Premier and Snoop helped craft Russ’s new single, “Free” with Big K.R.I.T.
“Can U Dig That?” marks their first collaboration under DJ Premier and Ian Schwartzman’s independent imprint, TTT (To The Top). “Can U Dig That?” Premier adds, “My manager and I launched our label TTT (To The Top), and we decided to call Snoop as one of my first album collaborations. Snoop recorded a demo of the song, and it went into my vaults unfinished. Fast forward, our initial plan for an album changed, and we decided to just release singles. Snoop updated his lyrics and now it’s ready for our audience to ride out to.”
Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell expressed serious interest in running for Florida’s 20th Congressional District. The 2 Live Crew member envisioned clashing with Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump and other members of the Republican Party in a potential congressional bid.
“I’m living my ideal,” Uncle Luke told The Bulwark. “I have the opportunity to bring something back to the community. And I get to fight these motherf###ers: Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump and all these crazy-a## Republicans who want to divide us.”
Uncle Luke established a political committee called Don’t Stop Get It Get It in January with eyes on the Democratic primary. If the 63-year-old rapper runs for office, he will face off against incumbent Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick in August.
“I’m gonna be as nasty as I wanna be,” he said, referencing 2 Live Crew’s historic album As Nasty as They Wanna Be.
The Southern Hip-Hop pioneer said he would decide on entering the Democratic race before April 26, the filing deadline for candidates in Florida. The primary is scheduled for August 20.
Uncle Luke’s congressional bid would not be his first foray into politics. He previously ran for Miami-Dade County mayor in 2011, finishing in fourth place with 11 percent of the vote.
Stanley Campbell, Uncle Luke’s older brother, already entered the 2024 election race in Florida. The elder Campbell is running for the U.S. Senate, facing former Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel Powell in the primary. The winner will try to defeat Republican Sen. Rick Scott in November’s general election.
Uncle Luke’s political aspirations surfaced one week after his documentary Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told premiered on Hulu. He served as one of the documentary’s executive producers along with Jermaine Dupri and 21 Savage.
Inayah & Donovan Concierge, which provides luxury transportation services, sued Kodak Black for breach of contract and additional claims in New York on Wednesday (March 27). The company accused the controversial rapper and Sniper Gang Touring of refusing to pay six figures in unpaid bills. The New York Daily News was the first to report the lawsuit.
According to court documents obtained by AllHipHop, Kodak began using Inayah & Donovan Concierge’s services in 2018. The company said he racked up charges of “approximately $150,000 to $200,000 per month” from September 2018 to December 2023.
Kodak paid Inayah & Donovon Concierge with a credit card, which led to problems when he started disputing charges. He allegedly owed $618,070.11 for using the company’s services throughout 2023. He contested the charges in December 2023 and January 2024, resulting in the company never getting paid for dozens of confirmed orders charged to the card.
“Defendants disputed and objected to the Charges to American Express, fraudulently claiming either that the Services were not received or were cancelled in accordance with Plaintiff’s cancellation policy,” the company’s attorneys wrote. “Neither is true. To date, Plaintiff has not been paid for the Charges based upon Defendants’ false and fraudulent cancellation of the Charges with American Express.”
Inayah & Donovan Concierge sought no less than $618,070.11 plus interest, attorneys’ fees and court costs in the civil case. The company filed its lawsuit a month after Kodak was released from a Florida jail.
A judge sentenced Kodak to time served for a probation violation, allowing him to walk free in February. He secured his release following the dismissal of a drug possession charge, which landed him behind bars in December 2023.
Kodak, whose legal name is Bill Kapri, and his girlfriend welcomed a baby boy to their family soon after his jail release. The couple named their newborn Prince Kapri.
Atlanta police apprehended Key Glock for marijuana possession and an arrest warrant on Thursday (March 28). The 26-year-old rapper, whose real name is Markeyvius Cathey, livestreamed his arrest on Instagram.
“Cathey was arrested on March 28th during a traffic stop at the location of 1960 Piedmont Rd NE regarding an out of jurisdiction arrest warrant and possession of marijuana,” the Atlanta Police Department told AllHipHop. “The report detailing the arrest is still in the process of completion at this time.”
Key Glock managed to keep filming his arrest after he was placed in the back of a police car. An officer explained why he was taken into custody in a clip from the livestream.
“Just ‘cause of the smell of weed,” he said. “There was a little bit of weed in the car in the little bag from wings. But that’s just a ticket. Just a little like 3.5 [grams].”
The officer also informed Key Glock about the warrant.
“It says they’ll pick you up within 50 miles of Sandy Springs,” the cop said. “And we’re within 50 miles. So, they’ll probably want you, man.”
Key Glock’s latest run-in with the law occurred five years after he was arrested for carrying a concealed firearm and marijuana possession in Miami. His 2019 arrest took place while he was in Florida for the Rolling Loud festival.
Last year, Key Glock dropped his Glockoma 2album. The project was his first release since his cousin Young Dolph’s 2021 murder.
Three suspects await trial for the murder of Young Dolph. Prosecutors claim Hernandez Govan was the mastermind behind the deadly shooting. Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith are accused of carrying out the hit.
A fourth man, Jermarcus Johnson, pleaded guilty to three counts of accessory after the fact. Prosecutors dropped a conspiracy charge against him.
Beyoncé dropped her new studio LP, Cowboy Carter, Friday (March 29). The 27-track album features Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Miley Cyrus, Post Malone and Black country artist Reyna Roberts, among others.
After Cowboy Carter hit DSPs at midnight ET, Roberts took to social media to share her thoughts about appearing on Beyoncé’s latest body of work. The “Stompin’ Grounds” performer offered high praise for Queen Bey.
“I am forever in AWE of you!!” she began. “You have always been my biggest inspiration. My voice, music and art has all been shaped by you. Thank you for your greatness.”
Beyoncé’s “Blackbiird” also features country music singer-songwriters Brittney Spencer, Tanner Adell and Tiera Kennedy. The record serves as a cover of 1968’s “Blackbird” by the Beatles.
Cowboy Carter, also known as act ii: Cowboy Carter, is the second installment in a suspected Beyoncé studio LP trilogy following 2022’s act i: Renaissance.
Beyoncé’s seventh album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with more than 332,000 first-week units. It won Best Dance/Electronic Album at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2023.
So, why hasn’t Sean Combs been arrested yet? Well? You guys tell me. There are so many experts on social media and the internet that I would expect one of you to have an answer to this question for me.
I can honestly say there has been so much reckless misinformation, trolling and foolishness that it’s a clusterf### of madness. To top it off, mainstream media has it wrong as much as social media. Obviously, they report the facts, but they also talk to unspecified, anonymous sources that provide no true factual information, only speculation. That’s why we have the rumor section. It may not be the most savvy, journalistic part of the site, but at least we don’t pretend it’s all factual.
Anyway, back to the original question. To my understanding, this is an extremely serious matter. Clearly, by the show of force, it is. It’s been impressed upon me that he has very large properties and searching those properties has been quite the task. Secondly, they have to go through the stuff that they collected to create the evidentiary documents to proceed.
A source (there go those sources) told me the following, “There are lots of moving parts for complicated indictments. Remember when they search these large spaces in different places it all has to be tracked and the administrative process must be accurate so it’s never quick. This is the building the case part and they will build it with precision. That’s why their success rate is almost 100 percent when they prosecute.”
They have not busted a move yet. This has to be tearing the Combs family up. The stress must be unbearable. By the way, Christian Combs was seen walking the dog, seemingly pretty stress free. Also, Diddy took time out to go golfing with his kids. Maybe he’s not stressed after all.
Diddy Hits Top Golf in Miami Amid Sex Trafficking Investigation | Click to read more 👇 https://t.co/gF9WPUyhrR
By the way, the feds tore Diddy’s residences up. His cribs were turned upside down. I understand that they were definitely looking for something specific. And this is just how it goes, but it does seem crazy to look at these expensive layouts in the home, looking like somebody’s project building.
By the way, there’s still a ton of confusion. We now know that Diddy was not on the run. We also know that he was in Miami ultimately. I’m still trying to figure out about the Caribbean island, specifically, Antigua, and what was going on with that. The rumor is he flew his twin girls out of the continental U.S. to get them away from the drama. I’m not certain of that, but that is something that has been tossed to me.
If that’s the case, it doesn’t make him out to be the terrible father that some have said he was. We all saw the faces of Christian and Justin Combs, the oldest, in handcuffs. Neither of them has been charged, despite something percolating legally with both. The only person who’s been charged so far is this white guy, who allegedly is a mule for drugs and guns. This guy is also listed in one of the civil suits. There’s also the former CEO of Motown Records, Ethiopia Habtemariam, who’s reportedly willing to testify because she knows “things.” There’s no record of that in any real media. This is so strange yet intriguing, and I would like nothing more than for it to be over.
I’d like to remind you all that we are in an election year, advances by Black people are being erased, and we are truly looking at a rollback to the 1920s or something. We should be focused on the truly important topics and issues that will change our lives. What do you think?
According to reports, Sheck Wes posted a response on Instagram blasting the Chicago native. The “Mo Bamba” hitmaker claimed Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign’s chart-topping single “CARNIVAL” ripped off the G.O.O.D. Music affiliate.
“You stole my whole cadence, flow, beat, tempo to get to #1. [You’re] delusional and [you] ain’t check in [with] the buzzins!! [You] n#### really bugged out!” Sheck Wes commented on Instagram.
Earlier this month, Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign’s “CARNIVAL” featuring Rich The Kid and Playboi Carti climbed to the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it lived for two weeks.
Sheck Wes scored a Top 10 hit when “Mo Bamba” peaked at No. 6 on the Hot 100 in 2018. The single lives on the Mudboy album, which came out via Ye’s G.O.O.D. Music, Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack Records and Interscope Records.
Kanye West caused an online uproar on Thursday (March 29) by posting a message claiming he “washed” Kendrick Lamar on their “No More Parties in LA” collaboration. The 46-year-old provocateur also insisted he “washed” Drake at their joint Free Larry Hoover concert.
Once again, Lil Baby and DJ Akademiks have traded insults online. This long-running feud added another chapter after Ak accused Baby of wearing nail polish in a recent music video.
“Dis n#### ain’t been the same since [those] Michael Rubin parties… I [know] his nails not painted,” Akademiks tweeted in response to a clip of a new Lil Baby visual.
Lil Baby saw what Akademiks had to say and fired back at the live streamer on his Instagram Story. The It’s Only Me album creator also called out other media outlets for supposedly following Ak’s lead.
“Y’all blogs gotta stop just posting anything!!” Baby wrote. “I ain’t painting my [m############] nails!! At this point, y’all gotta see n##### like [Akademiks] got an agenda. Miss me with that weird s###!! (No lol).”
Some Bfb Da Packman fans expected Drake to appear on the Michigan rapper’s new Forget Me Not album. However, the project arrived without the OVO boss on it.
“I couldn’t get it cleared,” Bfb Da Packman tweeted on Friday (March 29) in response to news of the Drake omission. “Kendrick came out with the diss and he put everything on hold.”
I couldn’t get it cleared 🤷🏾♂️ Kendrick came out with the diss and he put everything on hold . FORGET ME NOT OUT NOW 🚀🚀 https://t.co/Be4XgGG8wJ
A Hip-Hop civil war broke out after We Don’t Trust You with “Like That” dropped on March 22. Kendrick Lamar used the song to seemingly call out Drake and J. Cole by referencing the rap stars’ “First Person Shooter” collaboration off For All the Dogs.
“F### sneak dissing, first-person shooter, I hope they came with three switches,” Kendrick raps on the Metro Boomin-produced record. He also said, “’Fore all your dogs getting buried. That’s a K with all these nines, he gon’ see Pet Sematary.”
While Drake does not show up on Bfb Da Packman’s Forget Me Not album, the 28-year-old rhymer did secure other features. The project contains 15 tracks with contributions by Yhung T.O., DDG, Skilla Baby, 03 Greedo and other acts.
Beyoncé has delivered her highly anticipated Cowboy Carter album, and as fans hoped, it includes a much-requested remake of Dolly Parton’s iconic hit song, “Jolene.”
However, the superstar songstress put her own spin on the updated track. Whereas the original sees Parton begging the eponymous other woman not to take her man, Beyoncé warns Jolene, “Don’t come for my man.”
She also declares, “You don’t want no heat with me” before reflecting on her two-decades-long relationship.
“The games you’re playing, nothing new, so you don’t want no heat with me, Jolene,” Beyoncé croons. “We been deep in love for twenty years. I raised that man; I raised his kids. I know my man, better than he knows himself.”
Beyoncé then advises, “You don’t want this smoke,” before urging, “shoot your shot with someone else.
“I’m a big fan of Beyoncé and very excited that she’s done a country album,” she wrote on Instagram. “So congratulations on your Billboard Hot Country number one single.”
Parton also revealed she “can’t wait to hear the full album!”
The record-breaking Grammy Award winner dropped Act II: Cowboy Carter at midnight Friday (March 29). The 27-track project includes features from Post Malone and Miley Cyrus and a cameo from daughter Rumi on “Protector.”
Beyoncé also tapped several Black rising country music stars for the album, including Tanner Adell, Willie Jones and Shaboozey. Stream the album below.
