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Why Jay-Z’s Lyrics Are Plastered Over The Brooklyn Libary

Jay-Z’s iconic lyrics have become the centerpiece of a grand exhibition displayed in front of the Central Library of the Brooklyn Public Library (BPL). A recent online video revealed the installation process, showing workers placing the lyrics on the library’s exterior. But what is really going on? Let’s go through some of the facts and then answer the rumors.

This project showcases selected verses from Jay-Z’s extensive catalog, featuring bars from popular songs such as “Hovi Baby,” “Sweet,” “Encore,” and “Justify My Thug,” among others. People have guessed that this thing is just BPL honoring the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop. Even Jay-Z’s mother, Dr. Gloria Carter has been a part of the past celebration in BK. But what about this?

The rumors are a bit more basic. Sources say that the building is closed because The Roc is back in the building. First of all, sections of the library were already off-limits, including the iconic promenade at the front entrance due to this installation. They are saying that this whole thing is an ode to Jay, where a part of the entire library has been blocked off and built out to celebrate Jay-Z or Roc Nation’s contributions to the culture. Formally the library had this to say, “Central Library will close at 6 pm on Wednesday, July 12. Central Library will be closed on Thursday, July 13, in preparation for a special event. IDNYC and Passport offices are open by appointment.”

Roc Nation is not talking, but something special is going down on Friday. The wild thing is that top-level decision-makers within all of this include Linda E. Johnson, the current president and CEO of the BPL, who is married to Bruce Ratner. Who is Bruce? Well, he is Jay-Z’s long-time business partner in real estate. There’s not a lot more about this to tell, but it definitely looks swanky and cool.

Not everybody is happy because they are acting like folks are REALLY in the library like that during the summer. I call cap! Rumor also has it that Jay-Z and company also declined the option of hosting the exhibit at the Marcy Library branch of the BPL. Word is: there is a recreated Baseline Studios in this thing. They gotta have Guru there!

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50 Cent’s View On Los Angeles’ Bail Policy Is “Refreshing” Prosecutor Says

50 Cent expressed his concerns about the detrimental impact of implementing the policy of eliminating bail in Los Angeles just days ago. It appears several prominent lawyers in the state have echoed his sentiments.

“LA is finished watch how bad it gets out there. SMH,” he wrote on his Instagram, posting a video featuring L.A. Deputy District Attorney John McKinney.

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McKinney heard about 50 Cent’s outrage and agreed there was reason to be concerned.

“I thought it was refreshing to have a celebrity, from whatever walk of life, to have the courage to speak against the trend of anti-law enforcement rhetoric that we hear,” the prosecutor said in an interview with the NY Post. “Hearing the litany of crime after crime that’s taking place in our streets was shocking to people… Social media is flooded with [examples of] battery after battery but our policies are moving in the opposite direction to what is playing out in our streets and what people are seeing on their television.”

The decision was made when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020 and Los Angeles was dealing with their jails being packed beyond reason. To fix that, they introduced a no-bail policy.

The new policy stated that if someone was arrested for a nonviolent crime, they didn’t have to pay any money to get out of jail before their court hearing. After the pandemic, things went back to normal.

Normally, judges in California decide bail based on how serious the crime is and the person’s criminal history. But this policy changed all that. In May, Judge Lawrence Riff from the Los Angeles County Superior Court ruled in favor of a group of activists who took the county to court, saying the cash bail system was unfair. Subsequently, the no-bail policy was brought back.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer shared the same view as 50 Cent about the rise in crime due to the no-bail policy.

“His advice is at least worth $1, but my question is where has he been this whole time,” he said to Fox News. “I’m not a listener of 50 Cent but he has a lot of influence and a lot of followers, and it’s about time the music industry and the Hollywood elite get their arms around this problem and start to speak out.”

More Controversy For Ja Morant: His Best Friend Is A Wanted Man

The off-court drama surrounding Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant continues to escalate as his best friend, Davonte Pack, [is now a wanted man. ](https://wreg.com/news/local/warrant-issued-for-davonte-pack-ja-morants-longtime-friend/ “‌”‌

A state warrant was issued on Monday charging Pack with Assault-Bodily Harm.

‌Pack’s legal troubles stem from an incident last summer at Morant’s home in Eads, Tennessee, where he and Morant are accused of assaulting 18-year-old Joshua Holloway during a pick-up basketball game.

The teen filed a lawsuit against the pair in September 2022.

This is not the first time Pack has been in the spotlight. Earlier this year, a courtside incident involving Pack led to his suspension from the FedExForum for the remainder of the Grizzlies season.

The incident involved a verbal altercation with Indiana Pacers players, which resulted in Pack being removed from his seat. Later that evening, several Pacers players claimed a red laser beam from a gun was trained upon them.

Adding to the controversy, a video streamed by Pack showed Morant in the passenger seat of a vehicle, briefly appearing to display a handgun.

This incident marked the second time Morant was seen brandishing a gun on social media, leading to a 25-game suspension by the NBA. The suspension, which will cost Morant more than $7.6 million, will see him miss the start of the 2023-2024 NBA season.

In a statement, Morant apologized for his actions, promising to work on his mental health and decision-making.

“I’ve had time to reflect, and I realize how much hurt I’ve caused,” Morant said. “I want to apologize to the NBA, the Grizzlies, my teammates, and the city of Memphis… I promise I’m going to be better.”

Despite Morant’s apology, the controversy surrounding him and Pack casts a shadow over the Grizzlies’ off-season.‌

As of now, it is unclear whether Pack is in police custody.

Coolio Drops Posthumous Visual “A Star Is Born” With Treach & DJ Wino

Coolio’s estate has released the second single to the posthumous album, Long Live Coolio. Titled “A Star Is Born,” the track features vocals from Treach of Naughty by Nature, MC Shan and DJ Wino, his longtime producer and collaborator.

“A Star Is Born” tells the story of Coolio’s rise to fame with its blissful West Coast production. In addition to the single, the Ken Francis and Niknotti-directed music video includes Treach, MC Shan and DJ Wino, as well as behind-the-scenes photos and videos commemorating the late rapper.

Artis Leon Ivey Jr. known professionally as Coolio, rose to fame as a member of the gangsta rap group WC and the Maad Circle. Coolio achieved mainstream success as a solo artist in the 1990s with his albums It Takes a Thief (1994), Gangsta’s Paradise (1995) and My Soul (1997). He’ best known for his 1995 Grammy Award–winning hit single “Gangsta’s Paradise” as well as other singles “Fantastic Voyage” (1994), “1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New)” (1996) and “C U When U Get There” (1997).

From 1996 on, Coolio released albums independently, and provided the opening track “Aw, Here It Goes!” for the 1996 Nickelodeon television series Kenan & Kel. He created the web series Cookin’ with Coolio and released a cookbook.

“From Underground to Mainstream: GALI Emerges as a Rising Rap Sensation”

In a realm where artists often shy away from naming their past flames, GALI fearlessly defies convention on his latest single, “21,” recounting a tumultuous relationship with the unforgettable Ashley. Except, the name Ashley is used to symbolize a person who anyone has ever loved. 

Within the enchanting soundscape of “21,” GALI’s signature immersive atmosphere and adaptive lyricism converge, carrying listeners on a melodic odyssey through his journey with the name “Ashley”. Set against a backdrop of chill, lo-fi beats, the verses exude raw emotion and an unwavering sense of purpose, inviting audiences to feel every nuance and meaning woven into the fabric of his words.

Hailing from the center of Chinese hip-hop music, Shanghai, GALI has rapidly ascended to stardom in China, leaving an indelible mark after claiming the third spot on the esteemed 2020 show, “Rap of China.” Standing shoulder to shoulder with renowned Chinese rap luminaries like MC HotDog and Lexie Liu, GALI captivated audiences with his performance of “70%,” which garnered over 3.5 million views on YouTube, can be seen here.

Since then, the hip-hop heavyweight has remained committed to creating music that showcases his profound rap prowess, seamlessly infusing remnants of his past life into his music, building bridges between his artistry and personal experiences.

“21” finds its place within the revolutionary music collective, D.N.A., curated by Lay Zhang (LAY), which endeavors to propel talented Chinese artists, like GALI, onto the global stage. Lay has experimented in the rap realm with his hit album “莲 (Lit)” back in 2020, which has been his most dominating track and equally cinematic music video with over 26 million views to date. LAY’s role as executive producer adds a touch of seasoned expertise to the track.

As GALI embarks on his current ATLANTIS tour, he aims to deliver an unforgettable experience to his devoted fans. With crafted music like “21,” the rapper aspires to transcend boundaries and propel the Chinese hip-hop industry into the global spotlight.

Fearless, relentless, and unapologetic, GALI emerges as a force to be reckoned with, using his music as a conduit to reshape the landscape of contemporary Chinese hip-hop and leave an indelible mark on the hearts of his listeners.

The track is also produced by Sool Got Hits who is a producer of the D.N.A Music Alliance. He is known for helming hits such as Quavo’s “Workin Me” and Nicki Minaj’s “Miami” plus a winner of the GRAMMY Award for Best R&B Song. This release follows a string of singles out of the new music collective which includes LAY as executive producer. Just last month, “Break My Heart” was released with GALI, Vinida and LAY while Vinida, a rising superstar in her own right, released her own standout track called, “What She Said,” earlier this month.

“21” is available on all streaming services, here. A captivating futuristic lyric video is available on D.N.A YouTube channel can be seen here. Follow GALI on Instagram here, D.N.A team on Instagram here and LAY on Instagram here.

YouTube lyric video:

Photo credit for LAY photo: Zhang Yixing Studio

Photo credit for GALI: GALI Studio

Buy link: http://dnaxgali.lnk.to/21DNAxGALI

Omen44 – “The Package” Ft. Boot Camp Clik (Smif-N-Wessun, Rock, Ruste Juxx) P###. DJ Munari, Prawduk

Omen44 and Dj Munari teamed up to summon Brooklyn’s own Hip-Hop Gods “Boot Camp Clik”.

This is the first single off Omen44’s upcoming album “Year Of The Dragon” as Roy Ayers has stated “The war has just begun”. This is just the beginning of the introduction to his next album, and he has prepared tracks with Kool Keith, Richie Spice and more, which will definitely blow your mind to another dimension.

Omen44 raps about his experience as a drug smuggler, combining that with his political view as an Asian American talking about Executive Order 9066 which stripped people of Japanese descent of their civil rights, this is the story of Omen44 surviving the harsh conditions of New York and rising with his fellow Asian Dj Munari!

Omen44

Omen 44 originally from Kobe, evolved into a seasoned and respected Hip Hop artist since claiming NY as home and placing his stake in the music scene. His music’s quick buzz and notoriety resulted in shared global stages and collaborations with the likes of such heavyweights as Sizzla, Marley Marl, Statik Selektah, and more. 44 offers fans a lengthy catalog of albums, mixtapes, and EPs all of which incorporate a mixture of sounds and beats from Jazz to Funk over his lyrical imagery.

Boot Camp Clik

Boot Camp Clik is an American Hip-Hop supergroup from Brooklyn, New York City, which is composed of Buckshot (of Black Moon), Smif-N-Wessun (Tek and Steele), Heltah Skeltah (Rock and Sean Price) and O.G.C. (Starang Wondah, Top Dog, and Louieville Sluggah) adding Ruste Juxx as a new member. Most of the members are from Brownsville, but Buckshot is from Crown Heights and Tek is from Bedford-Stuyvesant.

DJ MUNARI

DJ MUNARI is one of the most sought-after talents in today’s Japanese underground Hip Hop scene. As a DJ, producer, and entrepreneur, he currently strives to bridge the gap between Tokyo and New York. His Family Vlog, and Youtube channel “Tokyo Meets Brooklyn” has reached 86.5K subscribers, and his own music channel has 21.7K subscribers.

Third Murder Suspect In Jam Master Jay’s Death Seeks Separate Trial

It’s been more than 20 years since Jam Master Jay was murdered, but the Run-DMC legend and his family still hasn’t received any justice for the crime. That’s partially because the hood doesn’t talk and only recently have there been any suspects indicted for his death.

Ronald “Tinard” Washington and Karl Jordan Jr. were the first men arrested and charged with Jam Master Jay’s October 30, 2002 death. Both men are currently scheduled to go on trial in January 2024.

According to prosecutors, Washington and Jordan allegedly took the life of JMJ as a retaliatory act after they were allegedly excluded from a 10-kilogram cocaine transaction. In May, investigators identified another person, Jay Bryant, as one of the killers.

According to federal prosecutors, Bryant was seen entering JMJ’S Queens studio, and his DNA was found on a piece of clothing left at the scene.

He also allegedly admitted to shooting JMJ, which is contrary to what the feds believe actually happened. In their scenario of the formerly cold case, Jordan was the one that shot the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer in the head at close range.

Bryant’s lawyer says that the confusion is too much, and he believes the best outcome for his client will be if he goes to trial by himself and not be tried with the other men.

“Both of the other defendants will be pointing at us. They may be pointing at each other,” said Cesar de Castro, Bryant’s lawyer, according to the Daily News.

Even though his client said he shot JMJ, he maintains he’s not the killer. He believes Washington and Jordan will say he was the triggerman.

Is Boxer Jermall Charlo On “That Stuff”? Talks Canelo Alvarez Fight On Live

What is going on with Jermall Charlo!?

Jermall Charlo, in a video shared on social media, appeared to be slurring his words and expressed his intention to let his twin brother Jermell fight Canelo Alvarez before him, stressing they wanted to maximize their earnings. Uhm, ok. But it did not stop there.

However, Jermall’s current state doesn’t seem suitable for facing formidable opponents like Canelo or even fighters in his own division. Canelo and Premier Boxing Champions should carefully consider whether it’s wise to involve him in a fight at all after seeing these videos. While such a match could generate revenue if the priority is solely financial, it is expected that Canelo would easily defeat an impaired Jermall. And what about Jermall’s situation? Where are his true friends!?

In the video, Jermall’s speech was slurred, and he appeared unfocused and disoriented. It’s unclear what exactly is afflicting him, but he doesn’t seem ready to face any opponent, let alone the undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo. In the video, Jermall mentioned “psychedelics,” a term historically associated with LSD or Acid.

It’s unclear whether he was referring to that particular substance or using the term in slang.

Look at this mess!

At least in this video, somebody told him to get off live.

I hope he can do this again:

Rolling Loud Miami 2023 Festival To Stream Live On Amazon Music

The installment in the 2023 Rolling Loud festival returns to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on July 21-23. Fans around the world will be able to watch the performances via Amazon Music.

This year’s Rolling Loud Miami will stream live on Prime Video as well as the Amazon Music and Rolling Loud Twitch channels starting at 4:00 pm ET each day.

“We are excited to team up with Amazon Music to bring Rolling Loud Miami to the masses,” said Matt Zingler and Tariq Cherif, Rolling Loud Festival co-founders.

Matt Zingler and Tariq Cherif added, “Miami is our flagship festival and Hip-Hop’s biggest stage, and with the help of Amazon Music, we can show millions of people what Rolling Loud is all about.”

Travis Scott, A$AP Rocky, and Playboi Carti will headline Rolling Loud Miami 2023. The lineup also features Lil Durk, Lil Yachty, Ice Spice, Trippie Redd, GloRilla, Coi Leray, Don Toliver, Offset, Latto, Central Cee, and more.

Florida’s own Kodak Black will be Friday night’s special guest. Atlanta-raised rapper 21 Savage takes on the special guest spot for the Saturday show. Philadelphia native Lil Uzi Vert is Sunday’s scheduled special guest.

Matt Zingler and Tariq Cherif started Rolling Loud as a one-day Miami concert. Since its inception in 2015, the brand has expanded to present shows in California and New York. Festivalgoers in overseas locations such as Portugal, Germany, and Thailand have also experienced the Hip Hop event.

YK Osiris Drops “Dear Fans” Music Video Following Sukihana Controversy

YK Osiris has officially turned his attention back to his music following a media firestorm last month. The singer/songwriter returned this week with the “Dear Fans” single.

Many social media users had a lot to say after footage of YK Osiris forcibly kissing Love & Hip Hop: Miami star Sukihana went viral. Following significant backlash, Osiris publicly apologized to Suki and she accepted his apology.

“In an attempt to be playful, I misread the moment and violated Sukihana’s boundaries. I understand the importance of consent and I am embarrassed by my behavior. I have the utmost admiration for Sukihana and it was never my intention to disrespect her,” posted YK Osiris.

Two weeks ago, Osiris teased a new record on his Instagram page. The Jacksonville native let loose that track and its video on July 11. JakeTheShooter directed the visuals for “Dear Fans” with Osiris serving as a creative director.

The “Dear Fans” video opens with YK Osiris portraying a therapist speaking to another version of the 24-year-old entertainer. In the clip, he asks himself, “Outside of social media, how can people get to know the real Osiris?”

In response, the patient version of YK Osiris offers, “Honestly, I’ve been trying to figure that out myself. I’m still learning who I am. But I think I got an idea… I should write a letter to my fans. I think it’s time to keep it real.”

Osiris’s “Dear Fans” joins a single discography that includes the Platinum-certified “Valentine” as well as the 3x-Platinum-certified “Worth It.” Both of those records live on the former Def Jam artist’s debut studio LP, 2019’s The Golden Child.

Faith Evans, Lil Kim & More To Appear In C.J. Wallace’s Notorious B.I.G. Documentary

Christopher “The Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace’s son, C.J. Wallace, was only five months old when the rap star lost his life to gun violence in March 1997. The younger Wallace is now looking to learn more about his legendary father.

TIME Studios announced the production of a new documentary titled Understanding Christopher Wallace. The Vikram Gandhi-directed film will present a narrative that navigates between the lives of Christopher Jr. and Sr. 

“It’s an honor to document CJ’s personal odyssey to understand his father and to create a deeper and more definitive film about the man behind the persona Notorious B.I.G., Christopher Wallace,” said Vikram Gandhi.  

Understanding Christopher Wallace will allow C. J. Wallace to uncover new revelations behind his dad’s life story. The documentary includes C.J. questioning Biggie’s associates/loved ones like his mother Faith Evans. In addition, he spoke to frequent Biggie collaborators Jadakiss, Lil Kim, and Lil Cease.

“Over the past few years, I realized my personal journey is connected to understanding who Christopher George Latore Wallace was outside of his big rap persona,” C. J. Wallace stated.

C. J. Wallace (Photo Credit: Eduardo Donoso)

Understanding Christopher Wallace Is A Film About Fatherhood, Loss & Love

C.J. also added, “I am on a journey to fully understand the world he lived in and the massive impact he had on American and Black history, and by doing so, I can ensure that I honor his hopes and dreams while I build and create my own legacy for future generations of Wallaces.” 

Executive producers on Understanding Christopher Wallace include TIME Studios’ Loren Hammonds, Alexa Conway, Mike Beck, and Lynne Benioff and Frank White’s Wayne Barrow, Elliot Osagie, and Doug DeLuca. Additionally, Frank White’s Willie Mack and Tiffany Persons and Director Vikram Gandhi serve as producers for the project.

“The Notorious B.I.G. had such an immense impact on not only music but also on popular culture as a whole. But this film is about so much more than that,” said Loren Hammonds, Head of Documentary at TIME Studios.

Hammonds continued, “It’s about fatherhood, loss, and love. It’s incredibly special to be able to let audiences learn about the man behind the myth through C. J.’s eyes, and we’re very proud to play a part in carrying on Christopher Wallace’s inimitable legacy.” 

Blxst Wants To Carry On The Legacy Of Dr. Dre & Ice Cube

N.W.A. members Dr. Dre and Ice Cube cemented themselves as two of the most successful Hip Hop artists to emerge from California. Blxst is looking to follow in those West Coast legends’ footsteps.

After growing up in South Central Los Angeles, Blxst went on to earn a Gold plaque for his “Overrated” single. The performer/producer also scored a Platinum plaque for “Chosen” featuring Ty Dolla $ign and Tyga.

Blxst dropped a new song titled “child of GOD.” Los Angeles-bred rapper Remble appears on the track as well. Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe recently spoke to Blxst about the “child of GOD” collaboration and L.A.’s musical legacy.

“I just love the collaboration journey in general. Even Remble, for example, the dichotomy between him and me, it’s just like good and evil. People love to see those things meshed together,” Blxst told Zane Lowe.

He continued, “And even on ‘child of GOD,’ that was the constant theme in the song, seeing the good, no matter what evil you’re surrounded by. It opens your mind to seeing things differently. And we had that perfect room, where he just felt like himself, and he floated on there, man, he walked on there.”

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Last month, Blxst informed Apple Music about his appreciation of New York City’s 50 Cent by covering his “21 Questions” for the streamer’s special Juneteenth playlist. However, the Before You Go album creator wants to be the next to step up and extend his hometown’s historic Hip Hop run.

“I think about the level that Dr. Dre set. Thinking about the storytelling that Ice Cube set. And those are the bars that I look at when I’m doing music. So when they pass the torch down, I can’t do nothing but aim that high,” said Blxst.

Snoop Dogg Revealed He Once Had A Dollar Bill-Sized Pet Roach He Dubbed “The G####”  

Snoop Dogg may be known for his love of canines, reportedly having up to 11 dogs in his pack over the years, but he also used to have a pet most people would rather not have in their home. 

The Death Row Records boss recently recalled a hilarious story about his indestructible pet roach. The pest was already living in the apartment when Snoop Dogg moved in, and despite his best attempts, the roach proved impossible to kill. 

He told the story during his latest interview with Canadian media legend Nardwuar the Human Serviette. As he’s known to do, the journalist pulled out a rare piece of artist trivia, this time about a pet cockroach.  

“G#### used to live with me. In my apartment I had a roach that we couldn’t kill.” Snoop Dogg recalled. “We tried to kill that muthafucka when we first moved in, and he wouldn’t die so we called him The G####.” 

However, Snoop said the already large roach “just kept getting bigger and bigger.” During the six months or so that Snoop Dogg lived in the apartment, his pet roach “grew to the size of about a whole dollar bill.” 

However, he also revealed he and his roommates left food out for The G####, so they probably contributed to his size.  

Nardwuar Gifts Snoop Dogg A Piece Of Fan Art From A Classic Interview

Snoop Dogg and Nardwuar’s interactions are so iconic they even have their own fan art. During their eleventh interview, Nardwuar presented the West Coast legend with an image of a recreation of one of their classic interviews created by miniature artist Duane Shoots Toys.  

“Smokefest the small version, that’s gangsta,” Snoop said, checking out the intricate details. “He’s a dope artist. That’s hard as s### cuz.” Check out the clip below and watch the moment Nardwuar gifted Snoop a rare copy of his first movie at the end of the page.  

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Lil Wayne Reveals The Jay-Z-Inspired Change That Led Him To Pen Prison Memoir 

Lil Wayne credits Jay-Z with changing his writing style after he learned that Hov never writes down his lyrics. 

The Young Money Entertainment founder revealed his inspiration to ditch the pen and paper during an appearance on The Pivot Podcast Tuesday (July 11). According to Weezy, once he heard Hov strictly raps freestyle, he never wrote a lyric down again. 

“The moment I heard it I stopped,” Lil Wayne recalled before adding, “I heard that n#### Jay-Z don’t write, I don’t write no more.” 

Furthermore, Wayne was so determined to abandon the notepad and pen that he dumped the last of his written material in one track.  

“We went in the studio and we did ‘10,000 Bars’” he added. “That was the last time I rapped anything off of a paper.” 

Check out a clip below and listen to the 35-minute-long 2002 track at the end of the page. 

https://youtube.com/shorts/DHMY_RZ4QLA?feature=share

Later in the interview, Lil Wayne revealed that the Jay-Z-inspired switch led him to pen his prison memoir, Gone Til November, A Journal of Rikers Island. He wrote the book on the advice of a therapist during his 242-day stint behind bars for gun possession.  

The therapist advised him to write his thoughts down as a “therapy escape” since he didn’t write down his raps. Lil Wayne recalled the exercise was something “to look forward to,” that he treated like “studio time.” He would draw the sheets on his bunk to close himself off at lock-in time.  

Amapiano Controversy: Swae Lee’s Teaser Triggers Twitter War Between South Africans & Nigerians

Swae Lee had South African and Nigerian Twitter users heated after revealing he has a new Amapiano song on the way. On Tuesday (July 11), the “Sunflower” hitmaker tried to drum up some excitement from his fans about his upcoming track. “Wait till y’all hear Swae Lee on Amapiano,” Swae Lee wrote. However, he added the Nigeria flag emoji, leaving many fans convinced Swae misrepresented the genre that originated in South Africa.  

One user replied, “Amapiano belongs to south Africans fam. This is the second international artiste making this mistake. Give the right people their props.” 

“I didn’t say it belonged to anyone,” Swae Lee replied before adding, “I’m Nigerian that’s why I put it.” 

He also credited South Africans for creating Amapiano and attempted to clarify his previous tweet. “I never said anyone created it in that tweet just said I got amapiano vibes otw and they sound Raw,” he added. “y’all got that one.” 

However, Swae Lee’s comments also sparked a dispute between fans from both nations debating whether non-South African artists can call their music Amapiano. 

In a video response, Swae Lee claimed he didn’t intend to “start division” among the diaspora. He also said he was introduced to Amapiano by Nigerians and gave a nod to his Nigerian heritage.  

“That actually just opened my eyes to a whole other problem that we have,” he said. “What’s up with the division? We need to come together and empower each other.”

Swae Lee added, “Bigs up to the South Africans for creating this beautiful s###.”

Check out his other comments and some of the reactions from Nigeria and South African Twitter users below.  

https://twitter.com/charlie_1249/status/1678842799255437314?s=20

Akon Gifts French Montana New Watch After Fake Timepiece Blunder 

Akon has gifted French Montana a new watch after previously giving the “Lonely” hitmaker a fake Hublot for his birthday. The duo recently linked up overseas in their home continent of Africa, as seen in a video French shared of their meeting.  

“Guess who I ran into,” he asked, panning to Akon and pointing out how “icy’ his friend was looking.  

“That’s the watch, that’s my watch?” French asked before Akon replied, “You ain’t getting a watch this year. You getting something else.” 

However, he was only joking. In another video, Akon presented French Montana with a new timepiece. “The word now is to make sure you get the watch in the box,” the Senegalese artist joked.  

Although he said it’s time to put the joke to bed, French Montana isn’t taking any chances this time, tagging the FakeWatchBuster Instagram account to verify the new piece. 

“Stop asking Akon about the watch,” he penned in the caption of the video. “he just pulled up on me and gave me another watch lol let’s see if he did right this time.” 

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cuk83PmOE8Y/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Akon Addresses French Montana’s Fake Watch On New ‘Drink Champs’ Episode

Meanwhile, Akon recently addressed the fugazi timepiece during the latest episode of Drink Champs

“Me and French got got that day,” Akon said, explaining that he also bought a watch for himself from the same vendor but didn’t realize they were not authentic. “I’m the one that lost money. I bought two new watches — one for me and one for [French].” 

He also claimed, “I didn’t know what a Hublot was,” but liked the look of the watch. When he enquired about the price, the seller told Akon that although it goes for between “$15,000 to $20,000,” he can get a deal. “I got a guy that can get it for us for $5,000,” Akon recalled the vendor saying.  

He did also reveal that he copped the timepiece in New York City’s Canal Street notorious for its knockoffs. N.O.R.E. shared a clip of the episode with Akon discussing the fake French Montana watch. However, his Instagram comments were filled with fans wanting to know where Akon bought his “Drio” jacket. Check out the clip below.  

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Lil Nas X Busted For Joyride Through Oslo Tunnel

Lil Nas X was reportedly stopped by police after he rode through a tunnel in Oslo, Norway on an electric scooter. The 24-year-old Grammy winner was among a group of four Americans who were stopped by police on Monday (July 10). Authorities shut the Festning (Fortress) tunnel down but reopened it shortly after. According to reports, none of the scooter riders were detained or charged.

The four tourists had followed a GPS route that had led them into the 1.1-mile tunnel, police said. The group “used large parts of the roadway,” which resulted in a road traffic center having to close several lanes, the police added.

The Norwegian police department wrote on its official Twitter account, “They apologized. We have escorted them out.”

The Norwegian outlet Dagbladet reported the “Old Town Road” hitmaker was one of the group members in question, but it hasn’t been confirmed by police.

Lil Nas X seemingly posted photos after the incident. Alongside a snap of himself standing in the tunnel, he wrote, “About to go to jail in Norway,” and next to an image of him with cops in front of a police car, he added, “nvm (never mind) they f### wit my music (sic).”‌

The rapper is in Norway’s capital to perform at the Slottsfjell Festival, which will kick off on Wednesday (July 12).

He’s then scheduled to perform in Bern, Switzerland and Lucca, Italy before traveling to Paris, France to perform at Lollapalooza on July 21.

Atlanta Officials Take Action On Use Of Rap Lyrics In Trials

The Atlanta City Council passed a resolution to limit the use of rap lyrics in criminal trials.

District 12 Councilmember Antonio Lewis introduced the legislation to address growing concerns over prosecutors citing lyrics as evidence. The issue gained more attention over the past year due to the use of lyrics in Young Thug’s RICO case.

Young Thug and his co-defendants are waiting for a jury to be seated in their trial. Jury selection began in January.

The Atlanta City Council hopes to convince the Georgia General Assembly to review a statute in the Georgia Code. The council wants Title 17, Chapter 7 to be amended to help protect the constitutional rights of rappers.

“Our resolution is a significant step toward rectifying an issue that has disproportionately affected individuals within marginalized communities,” Lewis said. “We must protect the freedom of artistic expression while ensuring that evidence used in criminal trials is relevant, reliable, and does not perpetuate bias. By urging the Georgia General Assembly to address this matter, we are fostering a more equitable and just criminal justice system for all.”

Atlanta officials seek to “prevent racial bias” with the legislation. The council encouraged the Georgia General Assembly to follow the lead of other lawmakers and distinguish artistic expression from criminal acts.

Ice Cube Champions Himself After Tony Yayo Claims Biggie Is A Better Storyteller

Ice Cube weighed in on a heated debate between Tony Yayo and DJ EFN that grabbed the attention of Hip-Hop heads.

Tony Yayo claimed The Notorious B.I.G. was a better storyteller than Ice Cube on an episode of the Drink Champs podcast. Drink Champs co-host DJ EFN argued in favor of Ice Cube, who reacted to the squabble in an interview with DJ Whoo Kid.

“It’s subjective,” the legendary rapper told Whoo Kid. “Everybody got their favorites. I put my stories up against anybody. And I have a bigger sample size. But at the end of the day, everybody’s gonna have their different opinion. I love Biggie. I’m a fan of Biggie.”

Ice Cube mentioned writing for Eazy-E and N.W.A while advocating for himself in the debate. He also pointed out how his storytelling reached beyond the world of music.

“If we talking about storytelling, we just talking about rhyming?” he asked. “‘Cause I write movies too. So, I’m a hell of a storyteller! I could tell a damn story. Are we just talking about rap? Because that’s only a portion of what I do.”

Ice Cube believed being in the conversation for best storyteller proved he was “winning already.” He compared it to debates over the greatest basketball player of all time.

Check out Whoo Kid’s entire conversation with Ice Cube below. The two discuss Tony Yayo’s argument with DJ EFN around the four-minute mark.

Cordae & Girlfriend Naomi Osaka Welcome Their First Child

Cordae and tennis star Naomi Osaka have welcomed a baby girl to their family. Osaka gave birth to the couple’s first child in Los Angeles, per PEOPLE. Cordae and Osaka didn’t publicize the arrival of their firstborn on social media as of Tuesday (July 11).

Cordae began dating Osaka in 2019. Osaka announced she was pregnant in January 2023.

“I realize that life is so short and I don’t take any moments for granted, every day is a new blessing and adventure,” she wrote on Instagram at the time. “I know that I have so much to look forward to in the future, one thing I’m looking forward to is for my kid to watch one of my matches and tell someone, ‘that’s my mom,’ haha.”

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Osaka informed fans she was expecting a girl in June. The Grand Slam champion shared photos of her and Cordae celebrating the gender reveal on Instagram.

Earlier this year, Osaka spoke to PEOPLE about her and Cordae’s plans for their baby’s name. The two wanted to pick a “unique” name.

“We have been discussing names,” she said. “I would say that we are going for something more unique than traditional.”

AllHipHop sends its best wishes to Cordae and Osaka on the new addition to their family.