During an interview with Elle, SZA, real name Solána Imani Rowe, explained why she decided to have a Brazilian butt lift (BBL).
“I treat my butt like a purse,” the 33-year-old told the magazine. “It’s just there to enhance whatever else. And that’s why I paid for it, because it works all by itself.”
The “Kill Bill” singer stated that she went under the knife for herself rather than because of “industry pressure.”
“I always wanted a really fat ass with less gym time. I didn’t succumb to industry pressure. I succumbed to my own eyes in the mirror and being like, No, I need more ass,” she added.
SZA, who recently starred in a SKIMS campaign, sparked speculation about the cosmetic procedure when she released her sophomore album SOS in December.
In the title track, she sings, “So classic, that ass so fat, it look natural, it’s not.”
SZA kicked off the European leg of her SOS Tour in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on Thursday night.
The trek, which began in February, will wrap up in Phoenix, Arizona on October 29.
Waka Flocka recently took over Nashville with a concert at Brooklyn Bowl and a keynote speech at Tennessee State University.
Waka started the day as the keynote speaker at the second annual Music Business Accelerator Program at TSU, presented in partnership with the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC), Nashville Music Equality, the Recording Industry Association of America, and Wasserman Music.
Waka and Prophet, Co-Founder / Co-Chair of BMAC dropped gems of industry wisdom in their words to TSU Students in attendance at the East Iris Studios in Nashville.
Waka chose one lucky TSU student, Mille Manny, to open his show that night at the Brooklyn Bowl. An emerging artist from Memphis, TN, Mille Manny made the most of his opportunity. During his opening performance,Mille Manny performed 4 songs, “All In”, “Foreign Lover,” “Trumpets and Trophies,” and “Peace in You.”
Wakaclosed the night for a sold out audience with hits like “No Hands,” “Hard in Da Paint,” “Grove St. Party,” and “Wild Boy.”
In attendance were students from the 2023 and 2022 editions of the Music Business Accelerator Program from TSU. The Music Business Accelerator Program, powered by Amazon Music, offers Black college students in Tennessee career resources to help them break into the music industry.
With an emphasis on mentorship, the Coalition brings in executives and artists to guest lecture throughout the program. This year’s program is sponsored by Primary Wave’s BMAC-James Brown Education Fund, a fund announced at BMAC’s second Music In Action Awards Gala, that will grow annually and will cover the costs for 30 students to take this elective class for free.
The 2023 Maymester Music Accelerator follows in the footsteps of last year’s successful inaugural program, which placed students in opportune internships across multiple music industry companies, including Wasserman Music, Warner Music Nashville, and LVRN. The program included speakers from various sectors of the music business, including recording artists BRELAND, Blanco Brown and Joy Oladokun, team members for artists like Post Malone and Mary J. Blige, plus representatives from companies like Wasserman Music, YouTube Music, Goldenvoice, BMG, and EMPIRE.
The program concluded with guest lectures from super producer Dallas Austin and recording artist Sir The Baptist, both of whom received an honorary doctorate in music from TSU that month. The last class was held at the National Museum of African American Music, where each student was surprised with their very own gold plaque from the RIAA.
This year’s program aims to continue last year’s wide-ranging curriculum and impressive list of guest speakers, while instilling a strong sense of social responsibilities.
Stay tuned for many more announcements from BMAC about the program.
Despite recent legal hurdles and public criticism, the Hot 97 Summer Jam concert will proceed as planned on Sunday, inside and outside the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.
The event features Cardi B, Travis Scott, and Chris Brown as the primary headliners.
However, Nassau County officials had attempted to cancel the outdoor portion of the event, citing concerns over public safety and previous incidents of criminal behavior at Summer Jam concerts in 2015 and 2017.
The complaint cited previous incidents at Summer Jam events, such as the 2015 concert at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where 60 arrests were made due to riot-like behavior.
At the 2022 Summer Jam at Madison Square Garden, Roddy Ricch provoked the cops when he led a “f### the police” chant after being busted on gun charges the day before his performance.
Critics, including Democratic Legislator Carrie Solages, accused Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman of using racially charged language to target the predominantly Black and brown audience of Hip-Hop events.
But, as Democratic Legislator Carrie Solages pointed out, Republican County Executive Bruce Blakeman had no problem promoting a Joan Jett concert despite past violence at her shows.
“This last minute political stunt may cause tension and a crisis rather than prevent one,” Solages said. “He had no problem promoting a Joan Jett concert despite past violence at her concerts. Why is he targeting hip hop [sic] and criminalizing our culture?”
Thankfully, despite the controversy, a deal has been reached, allowing the concert to proceed, but the agreement includes increased security measures: an additional 80 police officers will be present at the event, funded by the event organizers and not taxpayers.
In addition to these established stars, the festival will present performances from diverse artists, including Ice Spice, Coi Leray, GloRilla, Lola Brooke, French Montana, Fivio Foreign, and Lil TJay.
The LOX will also be making an appearance as part of a celebration commemorating 50 years of Hip-Hop, further enhancing the event’s appeal to fans of the genre.
The City of Angels is set to witness the inception of an exciting new summer basketball league, thanks to the collaborative efforts of renowned Hip-Hop artists The Game and Dom Kennedy.
This initiative is named the “Real Run College Basketball Summer League” and will serve as a platform for college basketball players to demonstrate their talents, according to TMZ. The league is scheduled to commence on June 17 and will continue until August 13, hosting both women’s and men’s basketball teams.
This initiative is not only about showcasing basketball skills; it also aims to bridge the gap between sports and music culture. This is reflected in the involvement of rappers like Game, Dom Kennedy, and G PERICO who will be managing the teams.
The Game, born as Jayceon Terrell Taylor, is a Compton native who attended Compton High School and later community colleges Antelope Valley College, Harbor Community College, and Cerritos College. His experience in the field of basketball dates back to his time in college.
On the other hand, Dom Kennedy, born as Dominic Ross Hunn, has been engaged with basketball from an early age, playing the sport every day from the age of five until he turned 16.
Ex-NBA player Pooh Jeter, who is collaborating with Real Run founder Deanthony Langston, expressed hope that this initiative will transform countless lives. Jeter further elaborated that this league could change the game, providing an amazing opportunity for the community.
The league has already attracted college basketball stars such as Boogie Ellis and JuJu Watkins, with the hope of inspiring other musicians to join the cause.
“I would love for Diddy and Snoop or whoever!” said Jeter, “If you from L.A., show up, and let’s do something amazing for our community.”
The players participating in this league will also have the opportunity to partake in a nine-week virtual learning program aimed at helping them expand their knowledge in various fields such as mental health, finance, media, fashion, music, real estate, and marketing, among others.
This initiative is seen as a holistic approach toward the development of these athletes, helping them grow both on and off the court. It’s clear that the Real Run College Basketball Summer League is more than just a sports league.
It’s a beacon of hope for the community, a testament to the power of collaboration and the undeniable bond between sports and music culture.
The Game and Dom Kennedy, with their basketball backgrounds and love for their city, are not just creating a league; they are creating a movement.
Ice Cube and Kanye West were photographed hugging over the weekend. Paparazzi snapped two photos of the rap giants embracing and smiling at Cube’s Los Angeles compound, appearing to confirm they’ve moved past 2022’s antisemitism controversy.
Last October, Kanye West was a guest on Drink Champs where he claimed his antisemitic posts were inspired by Ice Cube. But the N.W.A legend fired back, “I didn’t put the batteries in his back. Please leave my name out of all the antisemitic talk. I’m not antisemitic and never have been.”
During the inflammatory episode, West suggested George Floyd wasn’t killed by Minneapolis police and instead, died of a fentanyl overdose. West’s comments sparked public outrage while Floyd’s family threatened legal action. Drink Champs ultimately pulled the episode. Speaking to AllHipHop last month, co-host N.O.R.E. reflected on the incident and admitted West left some dark energy behind.
“God bless the brother Kanye,” N.O.R.E. said. “But Kanye kind of gave us a black cloud. And to be honest with you, we didn’t know what to do. Our heart was in the right place. We’re not about the controversy. That’s not what we’re about. And what we’re also not about is editing. What we should have did was just let it be, but we wanted to take a positive approach.
“We wanted to say, ‘You know what? We don’t want to benefit off of this. If anybody is offended by this, we don’t want to benefit so we took it down. We probably should have thought a little bit more about it. This is me—and I’m being vulnerable right now—but it was like a black cloud almost.”
It was only until months later when Wiz Khalifa was a special guest on the show that N.O.R.E. felt the cloud lift.
“Wiz sat down, I finished my hair cut, wiped all the hair off of me and then I gave Wiz a hug,” he added. “When Wiz gave me that hug, I felt like the black cloud just got lifted. I feel like Wiz lifted that black cloud because he came with so much positive energy. What I’m trying to say is I know he’s a god. I know he’s the god of positive energy. Because from that day on, I felt like the black cloud was lifted.”
Ice Cube has been accused of being antisemitic in the past. In June 2020, Cube posted an onslaught of memes, one of which is allegedly anti-Semitic propaganda branded by a fake Russian media property.
According to the Daily Beast, the meme was created by “Black Matters,” a website and Facebook page claiming to be a non-profit news resource for Black people. However, it was supposedly outed as a “Russian-run propaganda tool to manipulate Americans” years ago.
Ice Cube is melting down… Sharing anti-Semitic imagery is helpful because?
Work together to lift everyone up; don't turn your hurt on someone else. https://t.co/IkB3lR4AtB
Honestly furious with the anti-Semitism from Ice Cube. If he keeps it up, the Vast Jewish Global Conspiracy's Committee for Weather and Climate Affairs is going to make it rain over his house for a year. https://t.co/vXnilESPpv
In another meme, Ice Cube appeared to share an antisemitic conspiracy theory involving the image of the Black Cube of Saturn within the Star of David. The Black Cube of Saturn reportedly refers to a cult of Satan worshippers. After the Daily Beast article ran, Ice Cube issued a warning to the publication, tweeting, “MESSAGE TO THE BEAST: if you attack any of my family or seeds, i will attack your family and seeds.”
Some Ice Cube fans thought he’d been hacked, while others weren’t surprised. As Cool Kids’ Chuck Inglish tweeted at the time: Folks mad at Ice Cube for saying the same s### he been saying for 30 years?”
Whatever the case, Ice Cube and Kanye West have clearly moved on. Check out the photos above.
NBA YoungBoy is facing a lawsuit over an incident that occurred during a 2019 concert in St. Louis County. The plaintiff, Cayden Rutherford, alleges she was thrown from the stage during the performance, resulting in significant injuries that continue to impact her daily life, according to the lawsuit obtained by STLToday.
This incident isn’t the first of its kind involving the rapper. The lawsuit goes on to detail three previous instances where either NBA YoungBoy engaged in altercations with fans, or a fan was thrown from the stage at his concerts in different states.
Given these prior occurrences, the suit says there should’ve been more supervision provided by the venue, The Ambassador, the concert promoter Major Entertainment LLC and the security company, Elite Security, Protection & Services LLC.
Rutherford is seeking monetary damages from NBA YoungBoy (whose legal name is Kentrell Deshawn Gaulden) the venue, promoter and security company. As of now, no attorneys have been listed for any of the defendants and attempts to reach out to NBA YoungBoy, The Ambassador, Major Entertainment and Elite Security have so far been unanswered.
This lawsuit comes as a setback for NBA YoungBoy, who has recently been riding a wave of success with his latest album. The 33-track collection, I Rest My Case, is set for a Top 5 debut, moving between 60,000 and 65,000 total album-equivalent units in the first week. It will mark his 14th Top 10 Billboard 200 release. The album features Mariah the Scientist, Nicki Minaj, Post Malone and The Kid LAROI, among others.
Despite his musical success, NBA YoungBoy continues to grapple with legal issues. He’s been living under house arrest since October 2021, following his arrest on a prior gun charge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Recently, however, a judge modified the conditions of his house arrest, making it less restrictive and allowing him to have more than three visitors at his home without a curfew.
Even under house arrest, NBA YoungBoy has managed to maintain a positive outlook. In a recent interview with Billboard, he described the experience as his “best” and noted that it had changed his perspective on life and music.
Chika is never one to hold back how she’s feeling, but a recent incident prompted her to lock her Twitter. On a recent red-eye flight, the Warner Music Group artist was seeing red after she was abruptly woken up by a pair of screaming toddlers.
According to Chika, she was peacefully asleep in first-class when they allegedly started crying. Rather than tolerate it, she hopped on Twitter to rant about the situation.
“The lady next to me who thought it would be a good idea to buy yourself and your twin infants first class seats on a red eye flight, who just woke me up by bringing your screaming bastard to OUR seats to soothe her, I just bought $34 wifi at 4am to call you a stupid b####,” she wrote.
“P.S. I hate you and hope you get a paper cut between each finger tomorrow, you senseless w####. Like are you literally mentally delayed? What makes you think a 1 y/o will shut their b#### ass up on a 7 hour flight that takes off at ONE F###### AYE EM. You ALREADY had them up past bedtime. Idc the circumstance. Take yo ass to economy at LEAST.”
wait I’m in tearssss not chika boo was mad my child was cutting up in first class😭😭😭😭 you should of just sat there and been mad babe..she sky priority af🤭 pic.twitter.com/PJpGE3zRUU
The woman clarified the two children were actually her 4-year-old daughter and 2-year-old niece fired back on social media.
It was also revealed one of the women involved was Zonnique, the daughter of rapper T.I. and Tiny—meaning one of the kids was also the famous couple’s grandchild.
“It was me her dumb ass was sitting next to and let me enlighten the situation, they weren’t twin 1 year olds it was my baby a 4 year old and my niece a 2year old who slept most of the flight but she woke up out her sleep and cried for three mins as I picked her up and calmed her down being it was pitch black and she was startled so I needed her to know I was right there to hold her tightly,” the woman explained.
“Crazy s### is this bih wasn’t even In her right damn seat she switched seats with someone else and brought her funky fat ass next to me while whispering ‘oh those are some really good girls’ you a fake ass to than go ‘vent’ about your true thoughts while paying for some Wi-Fi which is also another lie cause it was free. You talk all this mental health s### than on your disrespectful ass rants but I’m the b#### you referring to and that bastard was my niece. Can’t wait to run into your ass in first class again Pooh.”
Chika initially believed she handled the situation correctly. She tweeted, “I extended grace by not giving her a hard time while she was having to quiet a belligerent baby. talking about it in a vacuum doesn’t mean i treated her poorly.”
Chika ultimately issued an apology before she locked her account. She wrote: “Posting because I think it’s important & because I understand that people who actually do want to support me were also offended by my inflammatory thread yesterday. I’m sorry cuz it was triggering/infuriating to many. I just don’t like being seen as someone I’m not.”
Chika also included several text messages explaining her side of the story. But the woman, Zonnique and Tiny evidently doesn’t want to hear it. She added: “wait I’m in tears not chika boo was mad my child was cutting it up in first class. you should have just sat there and been mad babe. she sky priority AF.”
Chika just released her first single since 2021 titled “Requiem For A Dream.” Find it here.
Jam Master Jay, real name Jason Mizell, was shot in the head in his studio in Queens, New York, on 30 October 2002 at the age of 37.
According to the indictment, Bryant was already in custody awaiting trial on unrelated federal drugs charges.
In 2020, two other men, Ronald Washington, and Karl Jordan Jr., were charged with the musician’s murder. They previously pleaded not guilty and are scheduled to stand trial in January 2024.
Bryant’s lawyer César de Castro said that his client would also plead not guilty.
“Securing an indictment in a secret grand jury, applying an extremely low burden of proof, is one thing,” he said. “Proving it at trial is another matter.”
Back in 2020, prosecutors alleged that Jay was killed over a soured drug deal. In a letter filed with the court on Tuesday, they claimed that Bryant, Washington, and Jordan Jr. entered the recording studio that evening and fled after the shooting.
Prosecutors stated that Bryant was spotted going into the building, and his DNA was recovered at the scene of the crime.
Run-DMC, also featuring Joseph ‘Run’ Simmons and Darryl ‘DMC’ McDaniels, disbanded after Jay’s death.
Trey Songz is facing more legal trouble from an alleged 2013 incident. According toTMZ, the singer is being sued for sexual assault for allegedly exposing a woman’s breast at a pool party outside of a Connecticut casino. The woman, who filed under Jane Doe, names Songz, 300 Entertainment CEO Kevin Liles, Atlantic Records and his production company as defendants.
But Songz’s attorney, Michael Freedman, believes it’s ludicrous to drudge up a 10-year-old case.
“This is yet another example of decade-old allegations being repurposed into a federal case to take advantage of California’s constitutionally questionable new look back window,” Freedman said. “We look forward to vindicating Trey on the merits in court.”
Doe made the allegations last year, sending a demand letter claiming the he pulled her breast out of her bikini top without consent. Consequently, her breast was exposed to the large crowd at his “Foxwoods Liquid Sundays with Trey Songz” event. She also had video evidence.
The docs say the multiple defendants should’ve known about his “sexual proclivities” and are therefore responsible for failing to keep Songz under control.
Attorneys claim she was “humiliated” and suffered emotional distress as a result. She abandoned a “promising career” a few months later due to the “embarrassment.”
As to why she brought it up 10 years later, she said Songz’s 2021 Vegas sexual assault case—which was dropped weeks before the demand letter was sent—gave her the courage to seek justice. She initially gave Songz and his legal team weeks to respond before moving forward with legal action. Now, she’s asking for at least $10 million in damages.
Erykah Badu has made her feelings about Blueface crystal clear. On Friday (June 2), the controversial rapper shared a clip of himself in a hot tub with several pregnant women for one of his latest videos.
He wrote in the caption, “I’m in n out bih life. I’m not Oscar proud.” Badu, who’s a practicing doula, evidently didn’t find it entertaining. She commented, “He’s trash. Universe do your thing.”
Blueface caught wind of Badu’s comment and replied, “W promo. Thank you universe.” But fans are telling Blueface to hold up. As one person wrote, “I would be horrified if I was blueface, outta all people that can say this thee Erykah Badu was the one to say it. Words are powerful.”
Others are convinced Badu just put a curse on Blueface and he’ll be seeing the repercussions soon enough.
“Erykah Badu posted a pic of Blueface & said ‘he’s trash, universe do yo thing.’ this n-gga bouta go threw it watch what I tell you,” one person wrote, while another said, “Erykah Badu called out Blueface and she don’t speak on s###. I’m waiting on him to say something stupid so she can finish him.”
Other comments include, “Erykah Badu is a real one calling blueface out. Cause he is definitely trash. Welp we know Erykah isn’t to be played with” and “Erykah Badu definitely is a clairvoyant cuz Divine Feminine gonna get Blueface ass.”
Blueface’s mother hopped on social media to defend her son, writing, “Girl you was just calling Tyrone and paying his cousins and homeboys way don’t and ain’t nobody said nothing to you.”
Erykah Badu called out Blueface and she don’t speak on s###. I’m waiting on him to say something stupid so she can finish him. pic.twitter.com/eYKgRMnOm9
Kanye West, the renowned rapper and producer, experienced considerable transformations throughout his marriage to Kim Kardashian, leading to a shift in their relationship dynamics and, ultimately, their divorce.
In an episode of ‘The Kardashians,” Kim Kardashian recounted the challenging aspects of her marriage to Kanye West, noting how his public demeanor had changed drastically over the years.
The controversies that stemmed from Kanye’s public outbursts placed her in a difficult position as she grappled with the need to protect their four children – North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm – from the public eye.
The time she spent rectifying the aftermath of these controversies was taxing, causing her to feel “stuck” with this situation due to their shared responsibilities as parents.
Kanye’s transformation, according to Kim, was significant enough that it felt like witnessing a loved one turn into a completely different person.
“It’s the hardest feeling to watch someone you really loved, and you have a family with just be so different than who you knew.”
Kanye, known for his hit “Flashing Lights,” stirred controversy with his online attacks on Kim and her family and his making of antisemitic comments, which garnered intense backlash.
Throughout their marital issues, Kim emphasized the importance of shielding their children from the controversies surrounding their father.
She reiterated her commitment to this protective stance despite the complexities of their situation.
“I just still feel the need to not talk about it and protect it for my kids,” Kim explained. “I always will feel that way. But God, if people knew. I just would never do that to my kids. But it’s really crazy.”
Regarding Kanye’s perspective on their relationship, it’s clear that he also experienced significant changes during their marriage.
A series of public controversies, including his 2020 presidential campaign announcement and controversial remarks at the same event, served as pivotal moments that highlighted his transformation.
Kim and Kanye wed in 2014, and after a period of discord marked by public controversies and personal challenges, their divorce was finalized in 2022.
Kanye West has since entered into a new marital bond with Australian architect Bianca Censori.
The couple met when Censori joined West’s Yeezy clothing brand as head of architecture in November 2020.
West and Censori have been spotted together around Los Angeles, with West even hinting at their romance in a song he released in December.
Rap legend Masta Ace has evolved into a playwright. The Juice Crew alumni has developed a play called The Falling Season, which made an informal debut this week in the form of a reading. It all happened in front of about 150 fans, family and industry titans such as DJ Mister Cee, Datwon Thomas, Marco Polo and me—Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur—at Theatre Fiave at Theatre Row in Manhattan.
In conjunction with theater collective Rhymes Over Beats, Ace is currently refining the already captivating rendition of the Hip-Hop play. This production musical draws inspiration from three of Masta Ace’s most notable albums: Disposable Arts, A Long Hot Summer and The Falling Season. It also stars rapper NEMS, battle rapper Duchess, Calvin Thompson, Angella Katherine, Leschea and Jeremiah Packer as the lead, “Avis.”
The Falling Season chronicles the arduous journey of a young man (Avis) striving to shape his desired identity amidst the challenges prevalent in his Brooklyn neighborhood, all while navigating through a series of tumultuous relationships. Set in the summer of 1988, just before his final year of high school, Avis aspires to become the first member of his family to attend college—Morehouse. However, unforeseen circumstances suddenly threaten to undermine all his hopes and dreams for a better future.
The musical transitions between four primary settings that symbolize distinct aspects of Avis’s life: a classroom, bodega, his grandma’s living room and, of course, the stoop. Through Avis’s perspective, we encounter the diverse array of individuals inhabiting the neighborhood—both virtuous (good influences) and malevolent (street)—who inadvertently influence Avis’s behavior, forcing him to adopt a persona he vehemently rejects. Amidst a backdrop of potential romances, complicated friendships and the allure of risks and rewards, Avis finds himself in a place where everything can be lost in a New York minute.
Avis’s unwavering and loyal companion is his best friend, FATS (played by NEMS), a high school dropout who recognizes and safeguards Avis’s potential. Additionally, there’s June, a young woman whose future is as bright as Avis’s. The juxtaposition between Avis’s determination to remain focused on his future and his struggle against the adverse effects of his neighborhood permeates the entire musical. No character is entirely good or evil. Take, for instance, Rock and Gunna, the dreaded drug dealer and his loyal henchman that give Nino and G-Money vibes (a good thing). On stage, the pair are a lethal combination, but there is so much more to them than their intimidating facade. Without giving away too much, Duchess as the temptress “Lisa” gout a rousing applause from the audience on numerous occasions. For Avis, this long, scorching summer blurs the boundaries between the classroom and the streets.
Masta Ace in the music world is renowned for his exceptional lyricism and masterful storytelling. Having written 11 critically acclaimed studio albums, Ace and Rhymes Over Beats adapt his ability to seamlessly weave together compelling narratives and bring them to the stage. Previously, he said: “I’m so excited about this new chapter in my writing career. And I’m really just appreciative of a company like Rhymes Over Beats that’s giving people like myself—other artists, writers, talent—the opportunity to realize a dream, realize something that they maybe never thought they’d be able to do. I’m working with Cate right now on what will be my first stage play. This is an exciting time—I’m looking forward to seeing what this turns into.”
Rhymes Over Beats comprises a collective of Hip-Hop and theater artists who seeks to highlight Hip-Hop complex, seldom shown depth. With deep passion, the organization understands the true breadth of Hip-Hop greatness. Founded in 2015 by Patrick Blake, Cate Cammarata and Donna Hart, the collective includes MCs, DJs, producers, actors, playwrights, directors and theater producers from across the United States. Inspired by the successful impact of Hamilton, Rhymes Over Beats strives to bridge the gap between popular music and musical theater, fostering a new generation of theater enthusiasts.
Stay tuned.
Here are some images taken from this sneak peak of a future classic, The Falling Season.
Dedicated to persevering in the battle we call life Alabama-bred rapper Salute delivers his new Summer ready single “25” with the assist from Baton Rouge legend Boosie Badazz.
Emerging from the military a forever-changed man after his service in Operation Iraqi Freedom Special Ops., Salute gives a poignant take on life in the streets as he gives fans an uncensored ode to the ups and downs of street life. The song bravely focuses on maintaining the drive to get better each day, despite the challenges and obstacles individuals face in destitute circumstances.
“I know 25 people that coulda went to the league, I know 25 people that’ll get you anything you need. So that’s kinda like the attitude of people where I’m from. They probably didn’t get all the things wanted to in their life, but they still made the best out of anything that was there, that’s kinda like what I represent.”
Because of his message of appreciation for what you have and his undying passion for the craft, Salute is quickly making a name for himself across the South, earning his peer’s respect and feature records from Texas luminaries like Scarface, Devin the Dude, Slim Thug, and Bun B to name a few.
Inspiring generations of listeners with storytelling skills that impact the fans from a mental and physical standpoint, Salute’s collaboration with Boosie is a story for the streets that will resonate no matter your background and motivations in life. Fans will find that this music is perfect for gym workout and any other mental motivation needed.
Heavily influenced by Southern street legends, Salute grew up listening to the sounds of UGK (Pimp C and Bun B) Outkast, 8Ball & MJG, and others. Now he is working with some of the same artists he looked up to as a youth in Alabama trying to find his way.
“Being from Birmingham, Alabama, you know we get a big influence from southern pioneers like Pimp C and Bun B, Outkast, 8Ball, and MJG. One of my biggest inspirations was definitely Ice Cube too, because he was able to bring it from the music to the film world. They were kind of some of my inspirations coming from Alabama as far as seeing others do it. They showed me a path to do this music thing, and I’m following in their footsteps.”
Blessed with an uncanny ability to flip his words into storytelling masterpieces, Salute acknowledges that he draws inspiration from those around him and the experiences he’s been through.
“I don’t write, it’s kinda like if I hear a beat, it may be two bars, it may be four bars, but it comes from whatever I’m reading, current events or whatever I’m, watching at that time. You know, a lot of my music comes from right then in the moment. So at that time I recorded 25, I was doing a lot of hanging out with people that talk about what they could have done and you know what they doing now.”
Memphis, Tennessee-bred rapper Moneybagg Yo returned this week with his Hard To Love mixtape. The project hosts the “Where Ya Bih @” single.
Moneybagg Yo dropped the official “Where Ya Bih @” music video on the same day Hard To Love arrived on DSPs. The whipalo-directed visual pays homage to the 2005 movie Hustle & Flow.
Academy Award-nominated actor Terrence Howard played DJay in the Hustle & Flow motion picture. The film was also set in Memphis. Bagg takes on a DJ-inspired character in his latest video.
Terrence Howard earned an Oscar nod for his performance in Hustle & Flow. Director Craig Brewer’s drama won the Academy Award for Best Original Song (Three 6 Mafia’s “It’s Hard out Here for a Pimp”).
Hard to Love includes appearances by Future, Fridayy, TB Fatt, Fat Wizza, Lil Durk, and fellow Collective Music Group recording artist GloRilla. “On Wat U On” with Glo charted at No. 56 on the Hot 100.
“This tape, I got real personal! Touched on pain, vulnerability, and substance abuse,” wrote MoneyBagg Yo on Instagram. He added, “This mixtape is The SINGLE to my upcoming album! Trust me, this s### gone set the summer on fye🔥.”
Moneybagg Yo released Hard to Love two years after his A Gangsta’s Pain album. That CMG-backed studio LP debuted atop the Billboard 200 chart with 110,000 first-week album-equivalent units.
In addition, Moneybagg Yo appeared on CMG’s Gangsta Art compilation which came out in 2022. He also collaborated with other rap acts like Offset, YG, 2 Chainz, and DaBaby over the last two years.
Boosie Badazz engaged in a war of words with Ralo on Friday (June 2).
The two traded shots on social media after Boosie accused Ralo of snitching in a Breakfast Club interview. Ralo responded to the allegations in a series of Twitter posts.
“These n##### be acting like some real b######, yawl salon talking ass n#####,” Ralo wrote. “Gossiping grandma, drunk auntie, b#### group chat ass n#####. I hate yawl f### n#####…”
He added, “Ole p#### ass n##### always running they mouth, don’t even be knowing what the f### they be talking about. Idgaf if you don’t f### wit me n####. I was straight waaaaay before I even met yo lame ass…”
The interview dude didn’t even ask him nothing about me, that brother took it upon himself to speak on me. I would’ve never did no s### like that to him… #NEVERhttps://t.co/9zXtmoDiaM
Boosie fired back at Ralo on Twitter. The Baton Rouge native claimed Ralo had a guilty conscience.
“@ralofamgoon U BEING STRAIGHT WITH MONEY BEFORE U MET ME HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT U HAVE DONE‼️” he wrote. “EVERY REAL STREET N#### KNOW WHATS UP. LIKE I TOLD U N OUR TEXT‼️ U CAN RUN THAT S### ON SOMEONE ELSE LOL N U The ONE A LAME ASS N#### COOPERATING WHEN ALL YO N##### BEING SOLID‼️WHAT U SORRY FOR ? uletusdownnitshurtingyouinside.”
Ralo, who’s serving an eight-year prison sentence, denied snitching. He blasted Boosie for spreading gossip.
“YOU ALWAYS GOING ON THE INTERNET AND INTERVIEWS GOSSIPING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT S### LAME,” Ralo wrote. “YOU DONT KNOW S### ABOUT ME RAPPING ASS N####. IF I TOLD I WOULD BE COCKY ENOUGH TO SAY I DID AND EVERY B#### STILL WOULDVE SUCKED MY DICK. I AINT TRYING TO SAVE FACE FOR NONE OF YOU MFS. RALO AINT TOLD ON NOBODY…”
YOU ALWAYS GOING ON THE INTERNET AND INTERVIEWS GOSSIPING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT S### LAME. YOU DONT KNOW S### ABOUT ME RAPPING ASS N####. IF I TOLD I WOULD BE COCKY ENOUGH TO SAY I DID AND EVERY B#### STILL WOULDVE SUCKED MY DICK. I AINT TRYING TO SAVE FACE FOR NONE OF YOU MFS. RALO… https://t.co/95gVuvEE2k
But Boosie insisted Ralo was a rat. The outspoken rapper invoked the name of the late Trouble a.k.a. Skoob in another tweet.
“U know what you did n#### n it’s eating you up inside,” he wrote. “SMH ITS NEVER GO LEAVE U N####‼️THE REAL KNOW u A RAT. ITS OFFICIAL‼️ TAKE YO LICK N TELL THE REAL N##### YOU SORRY LIKE YOU TOLD YOUR CO DEFENDANT you was SORRY‼️ WHAT U THINK SKOOB A SAY BOUT WHAT U DID N####? Ask yourself that question.”
Ralo scoffed at the snitching allegations, suggesting he’d already be out of prison if the claims were. He also challenged Boosie to a fight.
“It’s eating me up cuz I did all these years i prison and lame as n##### like u calling a solid n#### ah rat,” he wrote. “P#### ass n#### if I would’ve told ‘I WOULD BE OUT’ with my daughter. I could’ve made it to the father and daughter dances. I lost all that s### staying solid to this p#### ass code. Why the f### u putting Trouble and the world in our business hoe ass n####??? Set the welcome home Ralo fight up ima beat yo ass #OnGod.”
It’s eating me up cuz I did all these years i prison and lame as n##### like u calling a solid n#### ah rat. P#### ass n#### if I would’ve told “I WOULD BE OUT” with my daughter. I could’ve made it to the father and daughter dances. I lost all that s### staying solid to this… https://t.co/48hwcSEADq
Ralo mocked Boosie in several other posts. The incarcerated artist criticized his former friend for leaving Baton Rouge and moving to Atlanta.
“That p#### ass n#### left his whole city broke and f##### up, tell him go buy back his block and help his people the way I did,” Ralo wrote. “He ran his scared ass from Louisiana wit the killers to get some peace. I don’t respect n##### like that anyway. REAL KINGS MAKE THERE THRONES AT HOME AND SIT ON THEM… ‘LIKE I DID.’”
Ralo concluded his rant by saying he preferred the “old Boosie” not the “new hoe ass Boosie.”
We like the old BOOSIE, don’t nobody listen to this new “HOE ASS BOOSIE”
Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre postponed their Doggystyle 30th anniversary concerts, which were originally scheduled for June 27 and 28.
The West Coast legends rescheduled their orchestra-backed concerts in solidarity with the WGA writers’ strike. Snoop Dogg announced the delay via social media on Friday (June 2).
“DOGGYSTYLE 30th ANNIVERSARY POSTPONEMENT,” he wrote. “Due to the ongoing WGA strike and the DGA and SAG/AFTRA negotiations, we have decided to postpone the shows scheduled for June 27 and June 28 at the Hollywood Bowl. We stand in solidarity with the unions and are hopeful that the AMPTP will negotiate fair deals as soon as possible and everybody can get back to work. New dates are now October 20 and 21, 2023.”
The concerts will be held at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre will team up with conductor Derrick Hodge and the ReCollective Orchestra to perform special renditions of Doggystyle cuts.
Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre also plan to release a new album titled Missionary later this year. Smitty, one of Dr. Dre’s collaborators, told AllHipHop the producer is thrilled to be working on the project.
“I ain’t seen Dre this excited since The Chronic,” Smitty said. “He’s really excited about what we’re doing.”
Tickets for the Doggystyle concerts are on sale here. Previously purchased tickets for shows in June will be honored in October.
Falling in love with music at a young age, Ar’Mon started taking music serious in 2016, by uploading covers of songs by some of his favorite artists, such as Usher and Drake. As part of the duo, Ar’Mon & Trey went on to sign a deal with Warner Bros. Records, eventually dropping his debut EP titled Long Story Short.
Now, Ar’Mon is excited as ever to be unveiling his highly-anticipated new song and visual for “Assignment.” This is an R&B anthem for the grown and sexy, for both day one fans and new fans alike. With summertime coming around, we need that perfect soundtrack for boo thang!
AllHipHop spoke with Ar’mon Warren to discuss the new release, being a solo artist, and more!
AllHipHop: What inspired “Assignment”?
Ar’Mon: “Assignment” was inspired from just a place of me and my alter ego. I’m a humble person so I feel if I do talk my s###, it’ll be in my music. I think this song is Ar’Money. [laughs] My other songs are armon but I feel when I’m in this type of bag this Armoney.
AllHipHop: What was your creative vision with the visual?
Ar’Mon: My creative vision with the music video was just to be sexy, grown. I feel the song, the beat, and the lyrics go hand to hand. I needed the video to give grown and sexy.
AllHipHop: What do you want fans to take away from the song/visual?
Ar’Mon: Just understanding the difference between Ar’Money and Ar’Mon. I think the supporters are going to be a little surprised at some lyrics, but as I said this is grown and sexy.
AllHipHop: How has your sound evolved since you first started as part of a duo?
Ar’Mon: I feel my sound has evolved tremendously, just sonically. I’ve always felt comfortable in the studio, but of course doing it alone now is a little different. My brother would write songs and bring it to the group and vice versa, so working alone is fine. I feel my sound is being birthed right now as we speak and I can see and feel it forreal.
AllHipHop: Detroit has been having a huge wave when it comes to the rap game. How does it feel to be making R&B coming out of the city?
Ar’Mon: Making it out of Detroit as an R&B artist was tough, but fun. I feel our city is full of pretty women and filled with rappers. So when the girls heard me sing, it’ll give me an edge a little. Singing in the city growing up was fun, but it was most definitely out of the norm to sing.
AllHipHop: Top 5 artists in rotation?
Ar’Mon: Micheal Jackson, Jay Z, Beyoncé, Drake, Tupac.
AllHipHop: What inspires you the most?
Ar’Mon: What inspires me the most would have to be of course my daughter Legacy. Just her name has self-inspired me to go after and understand what I’m building, and that’s a legacy so my baby girl inspires me. Also seeing my inspiration in others inspire me to keep doing what I’m doing. And always keep the love for whatever I’m doing, rather it’s a vlog, showing my music process, or something as big as a show.
AllHipHop: What are the pros and cons of going solo?
Ar’Mon: There’s pros and cons everyday. [laughs] Even life, the pro is we get to be here and chase a dream. Some succeed and some don’t, but the con is we ain’t here forever. With music and being solo, of course the cons is you do what you want. It’s your vision. Literally, but the cons for me is the chemistry I had with my brother writing music. Our studio session was always fun, but serious. Now, I have to be serious because when I look to my left or right, it’s just me. So I can’t crack a joke or get off topic for 20 to 30 minutes because it’s just me.
AllHipHop: What’s one thing fans may not know about you?
Ar’Mon: One thing fans may not know about me is, my shoulder was broken at birth and I have two different ears.
AllHipHop: What can we expect next?
Ar’Mon: You all can expect more music, tons of music tons of visuals and just a elevation in the music
Authorities claimed a Fulton County deputy conspired to smuggle contraband for Christian Eppinger, one of Young Thug’s co-defendants in the YSL RICO case.
According to WSB-TV, deputy Akeiba Stanley was arrested for trying to bring contraband to Eppinger in jail. She was charged with violation of oath of office, reckless conduct, conspiracy to commit a felony and hindering apprehension or punishment of a criminal on Friday (June 2).
Authorities said Stanley attempted to sneak items from Eppinger’s relative into jail. Young Thug’s co-defendant allegedly used an illegal cellphone to communicate with Stanley.
Stanley was accused of visiting Eppinger in his jail cell. The two also plotted their smuggling efforts on Instagram.
Earlier this week, Fulton County deputies seized the laptop of Eppinger’s lawyer Eric Johnson. A warrant said Johnson used the laptop to communicate with YSL members who aren’t in custody.
Young Thug, Eppinger and their co-defendants await trial in the YSL RICO case. A jury still hasn’t been seated in the slow-moving selection process.
Jury selection began in January. The process could last through the summer.
Young Thug was one of 28 defendants named in the original RICO indictment against YSL members. He is one of nine remaining defendants facing trial in the highly-publicized case.
On the golf course, Rapper Belly talks with Ebro Darden about the process of making ‘Mumble Rap 2,’ the first album of his final three and 12th mixtape. He tells Apple Music how taking up golf has improved both his mental health and rapping ability, working with Rick Ross, linking with Gucci Mane and what makes him great, how he measures success, how he measures success, getting Gil Scott-Heron on the project, retirement, immigration struggles, his Palestinian heritage, and more.
Belly Tells Apple Music How Taking Up Golf Improved Both His Mental Health and His Rapping Ability…
I didn’t know I needed it until I started golfing. Just having those two, three hours in the morning and by the time I’m done, everyone else is getting to the studio and getting to work. So it’s perfect for me. I could use that. I get out whatever aggression and anger that this place brings out of me. Because it is calming, but at the same time it’s frustrating. And then I get to the studio and I let it all out. So it’s perfect.
Belly Tells Apple Music About Working with Rick Ross…
Legendary. Working with Rosey for me was awesome. Making a song with him, that was the first time. Early on, I would get in debates with people about how nice Rosey’s pen was. I’ve always been such a big fan of what he does lyrically and just his whole aura and demeanor. Honestly, when we got on set, it was just jokes, man. He’s one of the funniest human beings alive. And he’s accidentally funny too. I think he knows, right…Big inspiration for me, for sure.
Belly Tells Apple Music About Linking with Gucci Mane and What Makes Him Great…
I mean, me and Gucci worked together before, probably more than a decade ago. And then now it was just… No, I tell you this all the time. If I hear somebody on a record, I can’t do the second verse. It f***s me up. Because even if I write it, I’m writing it in their cadence and s**t. So I kept hearing Gucci on that one and we were like, “Yo, let’s just reach out. See what he says.” He was like, “Whai, come on, send that through, bro.” He sent that s**t back in two minutes. I was like, “G###### bro.” And it was a fire Gucci verse. Same thing. I’ve been a fan of Gucci for so long. He’s got like 150 projects. No one works harder than Gucci in the world. Super respect for him.
Belly Tells Apple Music How He Measures Success…
That’s a bigger accomplishment for me than sales or numbers or any of that. Having the respect of people that I respect and look up to people that inspired me, circle them back and being like, “Yo, you’re dope.”
Belly Tells Apple Music How He Was Able To Get The Late Gil Scott-Heron on the Project…
We had put Gil Scott-Heron there as a placeholder until I figured out the hooks. I just love his words. His poetic approach to s**t is incredible to me. Even when he just speaks, it’s poetic. So it was just a placeholder in there, kind of just to inspire me to come up with something. And then we were like, “Yo, this sounds perfect for this.” His estate or his people, whoever was graceful enough to let us use it and actually cleared it for us to use it on the album.
Belly Tells Apple Music Why He Chose Hit-Boy To Executive Produce The Project…
A lot of times it’s hard to get that s**t that makes you want to rap. And I think Hit-Boy, he really be inspiring me with the s**t he plays, man. He hits that play button and it’s on. It was like a no-brainer for me. Like you said earlier, he was the perfect choice to go with. There was some stuff he had already that was perfect. There was other joints that, he would play me a sample or a top line and then we would build it out on the spot. So it was dope. It was the type of creative process, it’s like a dream process for a rapper, you know what I mean?
Belly Tells Apple Music Why He Announced That ‘Mumble Rap 2’ Would Be The First of His Final Three Albums…
Once you see somebody play golf, their retirement is inevitable, at that point. It’s coming. This will inspire you to retire. And really, for me, just creatively, I think it’s time for me to start branching out into other things. I want to feel like it’s ready. Every time I really feel like, okay, this is strong enough to be one of the last two, it’s going to come out.
Belly Tells Apple Music About His Palestinian Heritage…
I’m an actual Palestinian. If you come and wake up in my house and you see me, you’re going to be like, “Oh no, he Palestinian. He’s definitely.” All the traditions are still there for me. So it’s all going to leak out into my music naturally and be that.
Belly Reveals That When He Released His Album ‘Immigrant’, He Didn’t Have Proper Documentation to Be in the Country…
It’s actually funny because the last album I put out was called Immigrant. And then I lost my papers here. I didn’t have any papers. My Canadian Visa, I couldn’t go back because of the pandemic. It ran out. They didn’t go back on any of their rules. They were like, “No, you’ve got to be here.” I was like, “I’m not traveling in the pandemic. It’s not happening.” So I lost my access, really, to here. I was out here for I think two or three years working on my papers. So when I put out Immigrant, I had no papers here. And it was something I wasn’t trying to talk about because it was-It was legal s### going on, it was crazy, man. It really went to lawyers and all that kind of s### before I ended up with my green card and the right to kind of live here. You know what I’m saying? But before that, it was rough. So I got a line on “American Nightmare” where I say, “Put out an album called Immigrant. I’m in the country with no papers,” and that is the realest line. I want to say I got my papers now, but when I wrote that line it was true. So that’s why I want to bring it up. No cap in these raps.
Music festivals are peak Hip-Hop fun. The incredible sound, mesmerizing shows, star-studded lineups, electrifying energy and enthusiastic crowds make for an exhilarating experience. It’s no wonder that more than 32 million people attend music festivals each year, creating unforgettable memories and stories to cherish.
However, not everyone has a great time at these events. We’ve all heard the infamous music festival horror stories (hello, Fyre Festival) or just somebody getting too wasted. To ensure your next music festival adventure becomes a dream come true rather than a living nightmare, here’s an exclusive insider’s guide on how to navigate and survive music festivals.
Prioritize Comfortable Footwear
You’ve probably witnessed the long walks from the parking area to the venue in those viral videos. However, at events like Rolling Loud, you’ll spend hours on your feet without any seating options. Don’t focus on style when choosing shoes; instead, opt for comfort. Trust me, you’ll appreciate it the next morning.
Plan Your Stages in Advance
Some of these events, like AfroPunk, have several stages. You have to make some decisions. Deciding which artists to see can be challenging. It’s possible that two or even three of your favorites will perform simultaneously on different stages. To maximize your experience, my advice is to plan ahead. Oftentimes, they have apps that can help in this. Use the apps! They list the performers and their schedules. Many even include a planner feature to help you choose where you want to be at any given time.
Stay Hydrated
Whether you’re under the scorching Miami sun or experiencing a cool autumn in New York, two things remain constant: you will expend a lot of energy. Make sure to bring plenty of water with you. Liquor removes water from your system, by the way, so go easy. Hydration is key, so come prepared with ample water to keep yourself refreshed throughout the festival. Most times, like in the case with Rock The Bells, water stations are readily available.
Stay Until the End
Missing out on a performance you were eagerly anticipating can be disappointing. A friend of mine experienced this firsthand when Kanye West canceled his set, only for his replacement to receive a hostile reception (Kid Cudi of all people). Later, I discovered he made a surprise appearance on another stage. Stay until the end, even if it means dealing with the traffic and human wreckage. Hey, you can also leave early like when Playboi Cardi started his mess.
Bring Your Own Bud
While this is not the case at all festival, some people believe having weed with you is crucial at festivals like Rolling Loud. It is called “rolling” loud for a reason. You’ll find some available for purchase at the festival, but it’s often overpriced or of mediocre quality. I don’t smoke, but the homies say “bring your own supply discreetly.” As long as you’re careful, security tends to turn a blind eye. Just don’t try to be Snoop Dogg.
Here are the other 5 tips that will keep you enjoying the festival season…
Keep Track of Your Group: Festivals are known for unpredictable crowds, and cellphone reception is often unreliable. These factors can make it challenging to stay connected with your friends. Be vigilant about the people you come with, have a designated meetup spot if anyone gets lost and communicate regularly to ensure everyone stays together.
Bring an External Charger: In those five hours at Rolling Loud, your phone will inevitably run out of battery. From Instagram Stories to texting friends, your phone will be in high demand. Don’t find yourself stranded without power when trying to order a Lyft or locate your parked car. Instead, invest in an external charger. This way, you can charge your phone on the move without having to pay extra for charging lockers.
Carry Spare Cash: While we live in a digital age, unexpected situations can arise at concerts where you may lose your belongings or encounter payment issues. It’s wise to keep a small amount of cash tucked away in a sock, shoe or hat as a backup. You never know when it might come in handy.
Plan Your Exit Strategy: Being prepared means knowing how to leave if things take a turn. With massive crowds, it’s essential to have a designated meeting spot outside the venue in case of emergencies or if you get separated from your friends. Pinpoint a location such as the parking lot or a few blocks away to ensure a smooth rendezvous.
Choose Mosh Pit or VIP: Everyone has their preferences…just go in wherever you are!
