Police arrested G Herbo for gun possession in Chicago on Sunday (July 9). According to the Chicago Sun-Times and TMZ, cops found a gun during a traffic stop on Sunday evening.
G Herbo didn’t have a license to carry a gun. He was charged with misdemeanor unlawful use of a weapon.
The rapper, whose real name is Herbert Wright, was released from custody after posting $5,000 bail. The gun charge added to his legal troubles as he’s still dealing with a fraud case.
Earlier this year, AllHipHop reported on G Herbo’s attempt to negotiate a plea deal and avoid prison time for fraud. Prosecutors confirmed they were working on a potential deal with the rapper after accusing him of participating in a $1.5 million fraud scheme.
G Herbo and several others were indicted for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in 2020. The Chicago-bred artist pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The defendants allegedly conspired to defraud various businesses and individuals with stolen credit cards. Prosecutors claimed the defendants purchased private jet charters, exotic car rentals, luxury hotel accommodations, limousine services and more as part of the fraud scheme, which ran from March 2016 to December 2020.
King Von’s estate has announced the release of his posthumous album, Grandson, set to debut on July 14.
The album, a testament to Von’s legacy as a vital storyteller and a Chicago rap icon, is a collaborative effort by those who knew him best, including his mother, Tasha.
The album cover features his son, Dayvon Bennett Jr., and the title is a nod to Von’s first mixtape, “Grandson, Vol. 1,” and his nickname.
The album is expected to feature guest appearances from some of Von’s street rap peers, continuing the intense street stories that attracted his dedicated fanbase and marked him as a rising force in the rap industry.
This will be Von’s second posthumous album, following last year’s What It Means To Be King, which debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200.
Along with the album announcement, Von’s estate also released “Heartless,” a new collaboration between Von and Detroit’s own Tee Grizzley.
The song, set to a Chopsquad DJ beat, sees both artists reflecting on the remorseless mentality they had to adopt to survive in their environments. “Heartless” is the second single after Von’s recent crime drama-inspired video single “Robberies.”
King Von was tragically shot outside an Atlanta nightclub on November 6, 2020, following an altercation with Quando Rondo, a 21-year-old artist signed to NBA Youngboy.
A witness made several people laugh during the YNW Melly murder trial on Monday (July 10).
Producer Treveon Glass took the stand on Monday as the trial resumed after a week-long break. Glass, who worked with the YNW collective, faced questions about his marijuana usage. The defense team asked Glass if he smoked weed before testifying, leading to a humorous response.
“I did not,” Glass said. “I should’ve.”
Glass’ comment generated laughter in the courtroom. His remark added a moment of levity to the grim realities of the double murder trial.
YNW Melly is on trial for the murders of YNW Juvy and YNW Sakchaser. Prosecutors accuse the rapper of shooting and killing his friends in 2018.
Prosecutors called Glass as a witness since he was in a studio with YNW Melly, YNW Juvy and YNW Sakchaser on the night of the murders. YNW Juvy and YNW Sakchaser were shot in a vehicle after the studio session ended. Prosecutors claim YNW Melly killed both men before staging a drive-by shooting with the help of YNW Bortlen.
Glass said they were supposed to be in the studio for a 12-hour session, but multiple people felt sleepy, so they cut it short. Glass left the studio and went to sleep. When he woke up, he learned about the shooting. Glass confirmed YNW Melly was wearing different clothes when they saw each other later that night.
YNW Melly pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges. He faces the death penalty if convicted. His alleged accomplice YNW Bortlen will be tried separately for the murders in October.
You may recognize Apollo Liberace as the frontman of the group Minus Gravity, best known for their unique sound, style, and swag that blends the genres of hip-hop, rock, and R&B. But now, he’s excited more than ever to be focused on his own solo artistry.
Born in Maryland but having lived all over the world, including in Japan, South Korea, Atlanta, Texas, and now Los Angeles, Apollo draws influences from a wide variety of melting pots, and his vibrant energy shines through in his music and fashion style.
He wants his fans to be inspired by his passion and drive for music. “If you have passion for something, nothing should stop you or steer you off your course,” Apollo told All Hip-Hop. “Keep doing what you love, especially if you’re able to do what you love every day. Because there’s not much to this life. If you’re doing what you love, you want to be happy and remember that there’s people that aren’t that fortunate.”
This year on his birthday (Feb. 27), Apollo unveiled his self-titled project Apollo Liberace – a 12-track output that offers a window into his headspace when creating and exploring new sounds. He also has a forthcoming single, “Mondrian High”, with Tyla Yaweh, and multiple records produced by Bankroll Got It.
AllHipHop caught up with Apollo virtually, who just moved into his new spot in Los Angeles. Read below as we discuss his transition into being solo, his favorite artists, the new project, love for fashion, friendship with Tyla Yaweh, and more!
AllHipHop: The first time I met you, I interviewed you as a group. What happened to Minus Gravity?
Apollo Liberace: We were together for 10-plus years, and people grew apart. People try to separate you, get in each other’s ears. If you’re a unit, divide and conquer shouldn’t really work well. Sometimes it does. People grow, have different opinions. They wanted to do different things. I’m still working, keeping it going.
AllHipHop: Do you feel signing to a major label took a toll on the group?
Apollo Liberace: No, not really. Because our business was so good that it really wasn’t even a big change to be honest. I don’t want to say some people don’t have the same drive, but it’s hard to keep moving at a pace, and keep people at the same pace as you want them to move sometimes. You can’t really expect that from people either, so I just gotta keep it going.
AllHipHop: How has it been going solo? Because being in a group for 10 plus years must have been a transition for you.
Apollo Liberace: For sure, a big transition. It was really hard at first, to be real. But I have my family around me and people I care about to remind me I gotta keep going. I had no vision of stopping, but having family and people around you to keep pushing you makes all the difference… especially on days you feel tired, they give you that extra push in the back.
AllHipHop: Talk about growing up in Maryland. When did you fall in love with music?
Apollo Liberace: To be honest, I don’t even remember growing up in Maryland because my mom was in the military. I traveled to a new school probably every year. I went to elementary school in Japan, I went to high school in Korea. I was all over to be honest. The longest I’ve been somewhere is honestly LA, I’ve been here 10 years now.
I started doing music at the church, singing in the church. Around the time I was 10, I started writing raps. I recorded a rap song when I was 10 years old, and have been doing it every day ever since. The love has always been there. My sister started it before me so that’s where I picked it up from, haven’t stopped since.
AllHipHop: Were there certain artists that made you want to be an artist?
Apollo Liberace: Lil Wayne definitely made me want to rap, for sure. Wayne was my favorite rapper – still is. My favorite album was Tha Carter II at the time, which is crazy because my second day in LA, I had met this guy. We had a video on top of Worldstar [Hip-Hop] at the time. He came up to us like “Hey wassup, what y’all do? Y’all outfits is cool.” I’m like, we just dropped some s### right now. He said “okay cool.” Checked it out, he’s like “hey, this s### is fire. Let’s go to the bar.”
We went to Skybar, had a few drinks. He said “I’ma come back, I’ma pick y’all up and we gon’ go to a party.” We know how the industry is, so yeah whatever n*gga. He pulls back up, we go to Mr. Chow. We pull up, we get out of the car and it’s paparazzi flashing already. We go in, I thought we’re going to a party. The restaurant’s empty, but it’s two security guys in the back. He’s like, “let me talk to them real quick, then I’ma come grab y’all.”
He comes back, the security guard let us us in. The first person I see is Birdman…it’s not that many people in a room. My second day in LA, I’m at the dinner for the 10th anniversary of Tha Carter II. My favorite album, that’s crazy. I was originally supposed to be in LA for two days, but that was a sign. I ain’t left since.
AllHipHop: Where were you living at the time?
Apollo Liberace: I was in Atlanta. I was in Atlanta for two years. Then, I’m like Atlanta’s cool, but I wanted to go to LA just to see the difference. After the Carter II event, I felt that was a sign…my favorite album, I’m smoking blunts with Wayne. I know he won’t remember me, but I remember that s### for sure…I was the only person in the room you wouldn’t know, it was only celebrities. That night was a subtle change in the course of my life for sure.
AllHipHop: How would you say your sound has evolved, from now to your new album?
Apollo Liberace: Oh, a lot. I’ve been experimenting. I’ve been producing everything I do now, so that’s a big difference from the ground up. Mostly live instruments. When I’m not in the studio having fun with a different producer, I like to sit down, get my friends that play instruments, and try to build something special from the ground.
AllHipHop: Definitely talk about your new album Apollo Liberace.
Apollo Liberace: It’s really a compilation of all the music I’ve had over the last two years. I wanted to put all my sounds on one project, just to get it out of my system. This is me, this is who I am. This is all of my sounds before I keep it moving. My album dropped about four months ago. It’s going crazy still, streams going crazy. I’m blessed, just ready to start dropping this new s###.
AllHipHop: Why did you name it Apollo Liberace?
Apollo Liberace: I went from Minus Gravity and I changed my name to Apollo Liberace, so I decided to self-title it. Minus Gravity records is now my record label.
AllHipHop: Why Liberace?
Apollo Liberace: Liberace, he’s a legendary artist. Mostly known for his crazy style. Flamboyant, in your face style. He would have diamond cars embroidered, all kinds of crazy stuff like that. Liberace means to me, in your face like all the time.
AllHipHop: Can you explain the cover art to Apollo Liberace?
Apollo Liberace: Perfect, of course. The first half of my name is after Apollo, the Greek god. That’s the most famous statue that he’s in, it’s called Apollo Bathing. I had this girl, she’s a really good artist. She hand drew that cover in pointillism style, which a lot of people see – but don’t know it takes a lot of time to create. It’s all dots. It took her days and weeks to do that cover art, she drew it by hand. Put my face basically where Apollo’s face is on the statue. That’s the cover art I went with.
AllHipHop: Talk about linking with Singer/Songwriter Tish Hyman, that’s my girl.
Apollo Liberace: Tish, that’s my dawg! I was just with her, she had a show at The Peppermint Club. I met her a few months after I got here to be real, so I’ve known her for 10 years. She was at a party I came to, there weren’t that many people there. Andy Milonakis and her were cool, I met him through her. He was part of throwing this event. French Montana performed, Ty Dolla $ign performed. Leonardo DiCaprio was there, a bunch of people. It was the biggest house and the biggest backyard ever, but it was only maybe 30 people there. It was catered by Nobu.
I just went up to Tish, we both had energy. I had got her contract there, she saw us working. Two years after that, one day she said “yo, pull up to my crib. Let’s work.” That was the first time we met, it’s been history ever since. I got 40 songs with Tish, was just at her crib the other night.
That’s probably my closest friend out here, to be real.
AllHipHop: How is it being back independent?
Apollo Liberace: It’s good. I’m building a new team, I got some new stuff coming out. New production, new producers I’m working with it’s really good. I’m excited for the next few months, for sure.
AllHipHop: Talk about your upcoming song called “Luke Cage,” produced by Bankroll Got It.
Apollo Liberace: I got 4 songs dropping with Bankroll Got It. The first one called “Lazy Flow” I’m dropping right now. Right after that, I’ma drop another song that Bankroll produced featuring my bro Tyla Yaweh. My bro Tyla is hard too, that’s my n*gga. I’ve known him for a long time too.
AllHipHop: How’d you and Tyla Yaweh meet?
Apollo Liberace: The funniest s###, I was at Fairfax flea market. Our name was BDS back then, we weren’t even Minus Gravity. He’ hopped out like, “yo, what the f###? Bro, I f### with y’all n*ggas. I heard y’all on SoundCloud. Y’all n*ggas hard.” We were fans of each other …this was a minute ago, 2015 2016. We stayed in contact since then. That’s my dawg, he’s a good dude.
AllHipHop: Do y’all party? Because I know he parties.
Apollo Liberace: Yes. The song is really called “Mondrian,” because we had a crazy f###### night there. He’s like “bro, you remember that night at the Mondrian [Hotel]? Let’s call this s### ‘Mondrian’.” That’s the name of the song, because we got f##### up that day.
AllHipHop: Talk about your love for fashion. What inspires your outfits?
Apollo Liberace: It’s an extension of me. It’s an expression, just like music is. It’s a part of you. People should wear what they feel like embodies them, or embodies their character or style. Even though I don’t feel like that’s the case a lot anymore. We’re at an all-time absurdity level where people are throwing on s### to be extreme and get attention. But style should be who you are. An extension of expression of your art, style, and energy.
AllHipHop: 3 things you need in the studio at all times?
Apollo Liberace: Liquor, good energy, and good beats. Good production. Good energy is the most important.
AllHipHop: Did you ever think you’d be here today, doing this?
Apollo Liberace: Hell yeah. It was my only option, my only choice. I went to Arts Institute. One day in class, this teacher’s like “Yo, you f###### late and s###.” We had a guest teacher, he was a producer on “Goodies” for Ciara. I said, I was in my dorm recording. I’m sorry. He’s like “you record? You think you’re an artist? Play a song.” I pulled up a song in front of the class.
The song went on, he’s like “damn, this s### is a hit. Why are you here?” [laughs] I’m like, you’re right. Why am I here? That weekend, I packed up all my s###. I left college, and that’s when I came to LA. It was never another option, I was going to do what had to do to be out here.
AllHipHop: What were you studying in college?
Apollo Liberace: Music, I was doing engineering.
AllHipHop: Do you mix your own stuff?
Apollo Liberace: I used to a lot. I still do, I just don’t like sitting there. I tell the engineer what to do and what I like. I can, I do a lot of pre-production stuff. But as far as mixing and mastering, I like fresh ears.
AllHipHop: Talk about your friendship with Chanel West Coast, I know y’all are super tight.
Apollo Liberace: That’s a sister to me, that’s my dawg. Chanel is one of those people in the entertainment industry, that doesn’t really give a f### about it. To the extent of, she cares about people in our life. More than all of this fake b#######, because that’s really all it is at the end of the day. That’s what really makes me really f### Chanel the most. If her close friends can’t do something, they’re like “no Chanel, we got you. But your friends…” She won’t be f###### with that, and that’s the type of person she is. She’s a down-to-earth person that really cares about her craft, but is just a good person at the end of the day. That’s my dawg, that’s my sister. She’s a cool person.
AllHipHop: Bring us back to when y’all made “Versace Robe.”
Apollo Liberace: We went to Miami. We were staying at the Versace mansion. We were out there shooting another music video. We’re on a boat this day. We said, “let’s go to the studio.” We went to the studio. We’re supposed to be going out to LIV. We got in the studio and said “you know what, f### the club. This song’s hard.” Justin love came and hopped in. It’s my s###.
AllHipHop: Who are your top five artists in rotation?
Apollo Liberace: I always have [Lil] Wayne in my rotation. Always got Ye in my rotation – Kanye. I’m a real big James Blake fan. [Young] Thug dropped, so I’m jamming the new Thug. And myself. [laughs] I always listen to myself like homework, because it’s never good enough. I’m always studying myself, trying to get better.
AllHipHop: Any goals for yourself?
Apollo Liberace: Nothing grandiose, just to build what I’m doing. See a difference month-to-month, year-to-year. Keep growing, because I know how this s### goes. Just keep doing what I do, what I love. As long as I see growth, we good. I keep seeing growth, so I’m still working.
AllHipHop: Anything else people should know about you?
Apollo Liberace: People that don’t listen to me and people that don’t listen to me, just know I work hard. This is what I do every day and this is all I love doing. Got new s### dropping, shout out my boy Tyla. That single is dropping later this month (July 27). I got s### dropping every single month, because I’ve been working. Shout out Bankroll Got It, we got hella s### coming too. Platinum producing Bankroll Got It. I’ma just stay on everybody’s heads.
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have paid tribute to their son Jaden to celebrate his 25th birthday.
The Oscar winner and his wife both took to social media to celebrate the actor/rapper’s big day.
“Happy Birthday, J-Diggy,” the “King Richard” star captioned his “favorite picture” of him and Jaden, a black and white snap of him and Jaden as an adult.
Reality TV personality Momma Dee was shopping when she found herself in an unexpected situation. The mother of Lil Scrappy says she was a victim of an alleged hit-and-run incident that led to her being transported in an ambulance.
According to TMZ, the “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” star was heading to a Sephora store in Atlanta on Wednesday (July 5) when the nightmare occurred.
She explained she parked her car on one of the city’s busy streets. As she was getting out of her vehicle, another driver collided with her parked car.
Momma Dee, who’s known to go to war for her son, described the other vehicle as a black Ford sedan and said after the incident, the driver swiftly drove away from the scene without checking to see if she was ok. Apparently, she wasn’t.
Footage shows Momma Dee receiving medical attention inside an ambulance. Additional photographs detailed her minor injuries, which included bumps, bruises and scratches, as well as the damage to her car.
Law enforcement is currently investigating the incident but haven’t made any mentions of a suspect. In the meantime, people are encouraged to go check out her new podcast, “Church and Street with Momma Dee.”
I used to love Skai Jackson. She was so cute, but now she is 21 years old. Now, in 2023, the one-time Disney star has faced criticism after organizing an online raffle via her social media platforms last weekend. In the raffle, $5 for a chance to win a MacBook Air. This is hilarious to me! First of all, people initially thought it could be an online scam or her account was hacked account. No, it was indeed Skai Jackson. What in the world? A MacBook Air does not even cost $1000!
Skai did reveal the winner’s Instagram handle, so she was not scamming. Nevertheless, many fans expressed their disapproval about the $5 dollar entry fee! He went straight to her cash app! Well, you know Skai, who is a bit feisty, clapped back!
She defended herself in a TikTok Live session, as reported by PopCrave.
Disney Channel star Skai Jackson is being criticized for asking her fans to send her $5 “for a chance to win a MacBook.” pic.twitter.com/6GZ7kEwX5p
Ms. Jackson clarified that she did not need the money personally, but that the funds raised would go towards the prize. Extra monies would be used for a future giveaway. Right. She did not reveal how much she made on the raffel, only that a MacBook Air that would be awarded. “It is not that serious for a damn $5,” she said, “It is called a raffle.”
She continued, “I’m not saying this like I’m a — in a bragging way or anything like that, or in a mean way. I’m just letting you guys know, I do not personally need money. Like I am very fine in my life. I don’t need– I don’t need money.”
Fans expressed confusion about the situation, with some questioning why Skai Jackson was charging for entry if she claimed not to need the money. Others expected a celebrity to purchase the prize themselves, with the funds collected going to a charity. “She claims she doesn’t need the money, so then why is she charging for entry?” asked one person. Another person said, “This not weird to y’all? Guess that Disney check finally ran out.”
50 Cent has expressed his concern about escalating crime in Los Angeles and how officials have voted to address it. He believes their move to create bail reform is going to aid in the ultimate fall of the city.
In an Instagram post, he lamented the city’s problems, saying they will only worsen after a controversial no-bail policy was recently reinstated by a judge.
“LA is finished watch how bad it gets out there. SMH,” he wrote.
The rapper-turned-mogul shared a news clip on the ruling, which explained L.A. has opted to eliminate bail for individuals charged with non-violent felonies or misdemeanors, similar to the contentious reforms in New York. The move was set in motion over the last few years, particularly as the city was ravished by the impact of COVID-19.
During the pandemic shutdown, L.A. officials implemented the no-bail policy to alleviate the strain on overcrowded city jails. They also ordered the release of inmates already detained for offenses like shoplifting, vandalism and drug possession. Although the policy expired in July 2022, Judge Lawrence Riff declared the cash bail system unconstitutional and reinstated the order in May.
According to the clip, Riff invited city prosecutors and law enforcement officials to present their arguments in favor of the cash bail system before making his decision, but no one appeared at the hearing.
“Hey I understand why Deadline is reporting my opinion. I’m a big deal, but why did they write I had run in’s with the law Im a born again Christian!” he captioned.
Lil Duval has had enough of Hip-Hop fans lambasting artists they believe are snitches. On Saturday (July 8), the comedian took to social media to argue the concern about people telling has reached new heights.
“Y’all really infatuated with who y’all think snitching this year,” he tweeted. “The funny part about trying to expose somebody for snitching, it never f#### up they career. It’s really free promo.”
Y’all really infatuated wit who y’all think snitching this year
Lil Duval might be talking about the public’s outrage regarding Gunna, who recently was named in a massive RICO case that swept up dozens of YSL affiliates, including Young Thug.
In this case, Gunna took a plea deal and confessed to the courts that he never considered YSL an actual gang, a point at the core of the RICO case. But people thought he said the opposite or shouldn’t have said anything.
A transcription of his statement follows:
“When I became affiliated with YSL in 2016, I did not consider it a ‘gang;’ more like a group of people from metro Atlanta who had common interests and artistic aspirations.
“My focus of YSL was entertainment – rap artists who wrote and performed music that exaggerated and ‘glorified’ urban life in the Black community.
“While I have agreed to always be truthful, I want to make it perfectly clear that I have NOT made any statements, have NOT been interviewed, have NOT cooperated, have NOT agreed to testify or be a witness for or against any party in the case and have absolutely NO intention of being involved in the trial process in any way.
“I have chosen to end my own RICO case with an Alford plea and end my personal ordeal by publicly acknowledging my association with YSL. An Alford plea in my case is the entry of a guilty plea to the one charge against me, which is in my best interest, while at the same time maintaining my innocence toward the same charge. I love and cherish my association with YSL music, and always will. I look at this as an opportunity to give back to my community and educate young men and women that ‘gangs’ and violence only lead to destruction.”
People thought he “ratted” when the Gunna tried to go to the mall after being released from prison. According to several reports, he was walking through a mall with security on a shopping spree. The group started to generate attention and a crowd formed around them. Some individuals in the mall started to scream obscenities at them, mostly calling him a rat and a snitch. At one point, the scene looked like it could turn violent but never did.
Jamie Foxx was spotted in public for the first time since his hospitalization in April. In a video obtained by TMZ, the actor/singer is all smiles as he cruises in a boat on the Chicago River Sunday afternoon (July 9). Another boat rides by and greets Foxx, who promptly waves back. In a second clip, Foxx further engages with his fans as they cheer him on.
Jamie Foxx was rushed to the emergency room due to an undisclosed “medical complication.” An Instagram statement from Foxx’s daughter Corrine at the time read: “We wanted to share that, my father, Jamie Foxx, experienced a medical complication yesterday. Luckily, due to quick action and great care, he is already on his way to recovery. We know how beloved he is and appreciate your prayers. The family asks for privacy during this time.”
Since then, there’s been a lot of speculation on Foxx’s condition. Some “sources” claimed he was learning how to walk again, while others suggested the end was imminent. Foxx’s family was forced to confront some of the chatter directly.
“Update from the family: Sad to see how the media runs wild,” an Instagram Story from Corrine read. “My Dad has been out of the hospital for weeks, recuperating. In fact, he was playing pickleball yesterday! Thanks for everyone’s prayers and support! We have an exciting work announcement coming next week too!”
Despite her claims, Foxx still failed to surface in public—until now.
There appears to be some tension involving “Buss It” rapper Erica Banks and 1501 Certified Entertainment founder, Carl Crawford.
Late last month, Banks took to social media to announce she has seemingly parted ways with 1501 Certified Entertainment after joining the Houston-based label in 2019.
In addition to signing with 1501, Banks also finalized a deal with Warner Records two years ago. She released her 2022 studio album, Diary of the Flow Queen, via 1501 Entertainment under an exclusive license to Warner.
“I’m not with them anymore,” Banks wrote on Instagram in response to a fan suggesting the 24-year-old recording artist needed to leave Carl Crawford’s company in order to be more successful.
Then Erica Banks released the “Real Rap B#### (Poppin It)” single. That song features the Texas native rapping, “Don’t give a f### about that label, they see me/And they owe me some money, they greedy.”
Carl Crawford has reacted to Erica Banks’s recent comments and lyrics. While speaking with his followers on Instagram Live, Crawford addressed artists lashing out at their labels.
“It’s just part of the business,” Carl Crawford said. “I come from the sports world where one plus one equals two. In the music business, one plus one don’t equal two.”
Crawford added, “Erica’s not even making no money for me to take… I was just as surprised as y’all [were] to hear we’re greedy and stealing money. I’m still trying to figure that one out because last I checked we’re $500,000 in the hole with Warner. That’s all I know. So who owes who money?”
Additionally, Carl Crawford is involved in a legal battle with Grammy winner Megan Thee Stallion. After rising to international stardom, Megan reportedly requested to renegotiate her contract with 1501 Entertainment. The two sides have since been bogged down in pending lawsuits.
“The only reason why the one’s doing it is because the other one did it, so if the first one hadn’t took this route, the second wouldn’t have took this route,” said Crawford about Erica Banks and Megan Thee Stallion. “They only follow each other.”
Those white parties are generally lit. I think they’re an incredible opportunity to network and rub shoulders with the entertainment elite. Billionaire Michael Rubin has been the main person pushing these white parties these days. If you remember, back in the day, people like Sean “Diddy” Combs and Russell Simmons were the main people pushing white parties in the Hamptons. Those days are long gone now. In fact, some could say they were through with it before these new guys knew what to do with it. But that’s another story.
Anyway, the last white party showed a bunch of interesting images. One of those images had Lil Baby sandwiched between two guys, one of which was Michael Rubin. Based on the body language, he looked extremely uncomfortable. He had that nervous laugh that some of us know. I could be wrong, but that’s the consensus. Regardless, that hasn’t stopped him from hanging out with Michael Rubin. A recent video has Meek Mill and Lil Baby on a private jet with the billionaire consortium. In the video, Rubin promises more drunken hugs. By the way, it looks like Meek and Lil Baby are sharing a gray blanket. Not that anything is wrong with that.
Personally, it just looks like these guys are enjoying the benefits of hanging out with a billionaire. And the billionaire is definitely exerting his personal brand on them. I don’t see anything wrong with it, but of course people are going to talk. What do you think?
George “EST Gee” Stone III is officially stepping into an executive role in the music business. The “Lick Back” rapper announced the launch of his new Young Shiners record label.
EST Gee’s Young Shiners, powered by Sony’s Santa Anna service company, will feature a rap collective that includes EST Lil Zoski, EST Marti, EST DonWon, EST SkiMike, and EST Lu Mike.
“It’s an exciting time,” states Santa Anna founder, Todd Moscowitz. “Propelling the creative potential and success as artists build their own ventures is at the helm of what Santa Anna is.”
Moscowitz also says, “We’re thrilled to be galvanizing that kind of support behind one of hip hop’s leading rappers and the burgeoning artists he’s looking to uplift.”
EST Gee Wants To Help Elevate Louisville-Based Rappers
The Young Shiners crew all represent EST Gee’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. EST Gee has expressed that uplifting the Louisville rap scene is one of his personal missions.
“I feel like it’s my purpose,” says EST Gee. “You get to a point in your life where you just feel like you know what you were put here to do, and I think this is a major part of it.”
The Mad project creator continues, “And for me, that’s giving visibility to people who wouldn’t have had the chance otherwise. I’m grateful that Santa Anna saw the vision I have for us, it’s time for the world to see what we’re made of.”
EST SkiMike Declares Young Shiners Can’t Be Messed With
Young Shiners will release the brand’s debut mixtape, Shiners Are Forever, on July 14 under the new venture. In addition, EST SkiMike recently dropped the project’s debut single “Disrespect.” The song arrived with a music video.
“We can’t be messed with in any shape or form ever,”declares EST SkiMike. “Our whole life the odds have been against us coming out of Louisville and Section 8. Shiners Are Forever and we ain’t ever going to stop shining.”
EST Lu Mike also adds, “It’s deeper than music when it comes to us. We are a true family so trust and believe Shiners Are Forever.” Young Shiners leader EST Gee rose to prominence as an artist signed to Yo Gotti’s Collective Music Group. 2023’s Mad came out via CMG/Interscope Records.
Jermaine Dupri partnered with Cole Brown, Atlanta Hawks co-owner Jami Gertz, and Drake’s DreamCrew Entertainment to present the forthcoming three-part Magic City: An American Fantasy documentary series.
The Atlanta strip club known as Magic City is a cultural landmark in the Georgia capital. The nearly 40-year-old establishment also became well-known around the world thanks to its connection to Hip-Hop artists.
“Magic City is a second home for me. It’s the one place where celebrities, hustlers, politicians, and Atlanta locals all come together. I’ve watched it evolve over the years from a local joint to an internationally recognized spot. It’s about time we tell this story the right way,” says executive producer Jermaine Dupri.
An American Fantasy will explore Magic City’s history. In addition, the series features a look into the club’s founder Michael “Mr. Magic” Barney. It also covers some the women who have worked at the adult entertainment location.
“This is a unique story of Black entrepreneurship and empire-building in a city that is the beating heart of Black culture,” says series creator Cole Brown. “I’m ecstatic to be working with a team that will give this story the authenticity and platform it deserves.”
An American Fantasywill highlight the connection between Magic City and Hip-Hop stars like Jermaine Dupri, Future, and Migos. The Charles Todd-directed series will also include interviews with celebrities such as 2 Chainz, Nelly, Shaquille O’Neal, Quavo, Killer Mike, and Big Boi.
“The inner workings of Magic City and its prevalence in Hip-Hop are remarkably mysterious – it’s a wonder the story has yet to be told,”states The Neighbors actress and An American Fantasy executive producer Jami Gertz. “Atlanta is my adopted home and a place I’m looking forward to celebrating through this story.”
Drake has had to deal with homosexual jokes and allegations throughout most of his career. One of his latest moves re-ignited those sentiments, with some social media users seriously questioning his sexuality.
Images of Drake with pink-painted nails sparked heated conversations online. Critics called the Canadian superstar “gay,” “feminine,” and “corny” for his colored manicure. Even accused sex trafficker Andrew Tate reacted to Drake’s nail polish.
Lil Yachty has been one of the most high-profile people to weigh in on the fingernails topic. Yachty, a longtime unisex nail paint enthusiast, chose to playfully troll his “Oprah’s Bank Account” collaborator about the situation.
Over the weekend, Drake did a photo dump on Instagram that included pictures from his ongoing tour with 21 Savage. Then Lil Yachty jumped into the comment section to post, “Boy got them heavy hangers in his ear.”
In response, Drake wrote, “@lilyachty GET OUT MY COMMENTS YOU TOLD ME TO PAINT MY NAILS SO [I’D] STOP BITING THEM AND NOW THE WORLD IS BEING HOMOPHOBIC FOR THE 1st TIME SINCE RICH FLEX… which wasn’t that long ago now that I think about it… wait is the world homophobic? Smh.”
The collective internet clowned Drake for his chorus on the “Rich Flex” track off the Her Loss collaborative album alongside 21 Savage. “21, can you do somethin’ for me? Can you hit a lil’ rich flex for me?” became a meme that centered around the “Sassy Drake” character.
Lil Yachty returned to Drake’s Instagram comments. He offered the 5x-Grammy winner some advice by posting, “@champagnepapi woo-sah brother, your not supposed to have these episodes in public, it’s fine. They just don’t get u bro #UDIFFERENTAF‼️”
Philadelphia-bred rap star Meek Mill still seems to be in full support of Tory Lanez. Meek called for the currently incarcerated Canadian’s freedom during his set at Rolling Loud Portugal 2023.
Last December, a California jury found Tory Lanez guilty of assault with a semiautomatic handgun, having a loaded and unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and gross negligence in discharging his firearm. The case stemmed from the July 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion.
Three years ago, Megan Thee Stallion publicly named Tory Lanez as the person who shot her in the feet. Numerous public figures in Hip Hop culture questioned Megan’s story as the trial played out.
Despite Tory Lanez reportedly facing over 20 years in prison and possible deportation, Meek Mill still sides with him. The two men worked together on songs such as “Litty” and “Lord Knows.”
While performing “Litty” at Rolling Loud Portugal, Meek Mill told the crowd, “Free Tory Lanez.” Footage of Meek’s positive declaration sparked some backlash after it spread across social media.
Meek Mill says “Free Tory Lanez” as he performs “Litty Again” for Rolling Loud Portugal. pic.twitter.com/mDU7tIIZPv
Tory Lanez (born Daystar Peterson) still awaits sentencing in Los Angeles County. After the jury’s verdict, Lanez’s family pushed an unproven conspiracy theory as a way to maintain his innocence. His relatives claimed that Megan’s management agency, Roc Nation, somehow manipulated the court and the press.
“I want to start by highlighting the bravery of Megan Pete,” stated Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón in a press release published last December following the court case.
Gascón continued, “You showed incredible courage and vulnerability with your testimony despite repeated and grotesque attacks that you did not deserve. You faced unjust and despicable scrutiny that no woman should ever face and you have been an inspiration to others across LA County and the nation.”
Dave and Central Cee continue to make history, dominating the U.K. charts with their first-ever collaboration, “Sprinter.”
The powerhouse duo released the track as the lead single from their joint EP, Split Decision, on (June 1) and have been racking up the accolades ever since. The British pair broke records when they debuted at No. 1 on the U.K. chart, clinching the biggest opening week of the year so far with 108,200 chart units, including a record-breaking 13.4 million streams.
The track earned the biggest week of streams for a rap song ever in U.K. chart history. “Sprinter” beat out Stormzy’s 2019 hit “Vossi Bop” and Lil Nas X’s viral sensation “Old Town Road” to take the title.
After achieving a fifth week atop the charts, Dave and Central Cee have broken another record, with Santan beating his own feat. “Sprinter” has become the longest reigning No. 1 in U.K. rap, surpassing Dave’s “Starlight” and “Dance Wiv Me” by Dizzee Rascal.
They fought off Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire” in a tight battle for the top spot this week, which also saw Drake and J-Hus’s collab, “Who Told You,” drop to No. 3.
“Sprinter” retained its position after gaining over eight million streams this week, repeating their feat of having the most-streamed track in the U.K. and becoming one of the biggest songs of the year so far in the country.
Dave and Central Cee performed the track for the first time at the Glastonbury festival last month. The baby from the “Sprinter” visual made a surprise appearance in Cench’s arms onstage.
Jay-Z let loose with his newly married mother at a recent Renaissance show and was filmed doing the Electric Slide while Beyoncé performed.
The show has become quite the family affair, with his and Beyoncé’s daughter Blue Ivy joining the dancers for part of the performance. Jay-Z has been spotted in the crowd across various cities, beaming with pride at his daughter and nodding his head along to his wife’s hits.
Unlike his daughter, Hov rarely busts a move and stays pretty cool and composed during the shows. However, when the crowd began doing the Electric Slide at one tour pit stop, Jay-Z knew he had to follow the rules and get in formation.
The Roc Nation founder held a champagne glass in one hand as he danced next to his mother. While he was happy to dance alongside his mom, he wasn’t pleased at being recorded. When he spotted a fan filming him, Jay-Z raised a finger motioning him to stop.
Not wanting to upset Hov, they stopped recording immediately. The fan shared the clip, adding, “Caught Jay-Z on 4k but then he caught me.”
Although Jay-Z isn’t a dancer and is hardly ever spotted dancing on camera, he made an exception for the Electric Slide.
In 2017, he joined Beyoncé and his in-laws in doing the line dance to the classic “Before I Let You Go” by Maze and Frankie Beverly. Tina Lawson shared a video of the moment on Instagram. “Why at every party even a kid’s party do we have to do 10 versions of the Harlem shuffle,” she penned in the caption. “Electric slide, cupid Shuffle, wobble Shuffle, The Texas shuffle—everything but the kitchen sink Shuffle.”
Winnie Harlow was determined not to cause controversy while attending Usher’s Las Vegas residency show with her NBA star boyfriend Kyle Kuzma over the weekend, following the viral mess Keke Palmer’s baby daddy found himself in recently.
The model was sitting alongside her man when Usher began making the rounds through the crowd looking for a woman to serenade as part of his usual routine. However when he ventured toward Winnie Harlow, she immediately jumped into her boyfriend’s lap.
Usher found the situation amusing, remarking, “Okay, you chose,” as the audience laughed. He continued singing “There Goes My Baby,” while Harlow danced on her man.
Sharing a clip of the moment on her Instagram Stories, Winne Harlow claimed she had the “cheat code” to avoid any Usher-related drama.
The Cay Skin founder also posted the footage on her page, sharing the “secret” with her followers.
“Figured out the secret to the Usher concert.. sit in your mans lap Mamas,” Winnie Harlow penned in the caption. “He said ‘She Chose!!!’ Okayyyy.”
Keke Palmer was trending for days after her boyfriend shamed her for flashing her “booty cheeks” while dancing with Usher at his residency last weekend. “It’s the outfit tho,” he wrote on Twitter. “you a mom.”
The moment went viral, with netizens blasting Darius Jackson for his comments.
Within days, the “Nope” actress turned the tables on the scandal, flipping the controversy into cash. She launched a new merch range with the slogan “I’m a Motha,” referencing Jackson’s tweet.
Drake spared no expense to ensure his Detroit fans got the full It’s All A Blur Tour experience after running overtime this weekend.
Drizzy and 21 Savage kicked off their joint tour last week (July 5) in Chicago and have been performing in packed-out stadiums ever since. However, the shows have been eventful, and not all have run to schedule, as was the case when the duo pulled up to the Motor City Saturday.
The superstar rapper had a hefty fine to pay after running over the time limit. He halted the show mid-song to announce just how much the oversight would set them back.
“It’s $10,000 a minute to stay in this building past curfew,” Drake told the Detroit crowd. However, despite the eye-watering penalty, he didn’t want to disappoint his fans and was determined that the show must go on.
“I don’t give a f###. We’re doing this whole song, let’s go,” he added before getting right back into the number.
According to concert-goers, Drake performed for 23 minutes past curfew, racking up a mammoth $23,000.
Earlier in the show, Drake had fans going crazy after sharing an update about his upcoming project, For All The Dogs. After announcing it last month, the OVO honcho revealed his Young Money collaborator and longtime friend Nicki Minaj will be making a special guest appearance on the album.
“I’m gonna give away one thing for you tonight, because I got a lot of love for Detroit,” Drake teased. “So I’m gonna have to tell you that me and Nicki Minaj did our first song together in, like, a really long time. I got a lot of love for her. Okay. Let me just assess the t###### tonight, and then, we’ll get to the most important part.”
