Rapper YNW Melly will have his day in a Broward County court in a couple of weeks.
The South Florida rapper, whose big song was “Murder on My Mind,” will face charges for the double murder of his former friends Anthony “YNW Sackchaser” Williams and Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas Jr. in Oct. 2018, according to Local 10.
Cortlen Henry, 24, is also being charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the two men’s killings.
As AllHipHop.com reported, YNW Melly was 19, when he allegedly killed YNW Sackchaser (21) and YNW Juvy (19) five years ago.
Henry was 19 also at the time of the killings.
Pictures emerged at the top of the month, showing the rapper all smiles in the courtroom— even though he is accused of killing his besties.
YNW Melly appears to be in good spirits as his trial where he’s facing double murder charges officially began 🙏 pic.twitter.com/HkpwTB0qmT
The court was conducting jury selection started on April 11, according to TCPalm.com, but was temporarily stop it for an undisclosed reason. Selecting those jurors that will serve on this case will resume on June 5.
Prosecutors are going for the ultimate penalty should they get a conviction. They are seeking the death penalty.
The death penalty is new in Florida. Ron DeSantis signed it into law on April 20 this year.
His lawyers tried to fight against it saying, “Applying the new law on a retroactive basis would be changing the rules after the game has begun, thereby violating (Demons’) right to procedural due process.”
Still, the prosecution is not distracted on its goals.
The actual trial, provided 12 jurors are selected, should begin as early as June 7.
“Thee BEST crypto-punk rapper alive,” Spottie WiFi says after wrapping up an interview with AllHipHop. About 40 minutes before this moment, he walked into WonWorld studios solo, after a bout with New York City Traffic. Unaffected by Times Square’s madness, he’s cooler than one would expect. And yet, in 2023, he’s exactly what one would expect from a rapper rooted in technology.
Spottie has garnered widespread support as enthusiasts rally behind him, particularly in the world of tech. His latest album, The King’s Alpha, changes his sphere of influence. The opus has earned him the endorsement of prominent figures in the world of Hip-Hop.
With his new project, Spottie WiFi has gained the support of influential names like Snoop Dogg, Jim Jones and Bun B, among others, who proudly champion his music. The album boasts exciting collaborations with other artists such as Gold-Rilla, DJ Mal-Ski, Champ Medici, October London, We$, Alan Kingdom, Alec King, Bart Oatmeal, and Psalm One.
It was all a dream in the meta verse. In 2021, Spottie WiFi sold 2,000 NFT albums in less than a minute, generating an impressive $192K. This feat solidified his status as an independent artist with a strong following. It was only right that he took his brand and the messaging to the masses. Spottie pushes the convergence of rap and cryptocurrency, a focal point for for the Florida-based emcee.
Bun B, in one of the tracks, delivers a powerful verse where he shares his perspective on NFTs, boldly stating, “To me, an NFT means Nobody F#####’ Triller.” Dope bars aside, Spottie also shares his own financial ventures within the cryptocurrency realm. The album is educational but never corny. Jim Jones could never involve himself with anything wack. “Buy The Dips” is not Spottie trying to purchase the Harlem collective. To find out more, check out this interesting, introspective conversation between Spottie and Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur. He talks his strategic moves and how his virtual base is more solid that some rappers’ foundation in the concrete.
The former dirty cop, who resigned because he was under investigation after being suspected of making warrants go away for street guys, will spend the next decade in jail for his role in a crime against a local Atlanta rapper.
Earlier in the month, Justin Mikale Thorne, 26, pled guilty to multiple felony charges related to the 2019-armed robbery of rapper Bankroll Freddie (Freddie Gladney III).
According to WSB-TV, Thorne once alleged the reason why he was wrangled into the robbery was because someone had threatened his family.
The robbery took place on the morning of Oct. 17, 2019, at the Comfort Inn and Suites, near The Battery in Cobb County. Thorne is seen on surveillance parking at the motel and at some point, talking to two men inside of a Toyota Camry.
An investigation into the robbery discovered damning evidence, such as surveillance photos and videos of Thorne in his Atlanta Police Department uniform playing lookout for the same men from earlier— who eventually rob Bankroll Freddie and his cousin.
Before the robbery, the ex-cop was rocking his badge and his gun and appeared to be patrolling the fourth floor.
This was enough to secure an indictment, which led to the ex-APD officer admitting to his role in the crime.
Outside of the robbery, Bankroll Freddie seems to keep finding himself in the news.
In February, the father was allegedly overheard on wiretaps discussing drugs and guns with three of his sons and arranging drug sales through a daughter.
Dante Ross, the trailblazing former A&R for Tommy Boy Records, helped launch the careers of numerous Hip-Hop legends, including De La Soul, Queen Latifah and Digital Underground. At Elektra Records, where he became the company’s first Hip-Hop A&R, he worked closely with MF DOOM (KMD), Del The Funky Homosapien, Busta Rhymes, Ol’ Dirty Bastard and Pete Rock & CL Smooth, to name few. Simply put, he was living the life.
But as Ross’s career continued to soar, so did his alcohol consumption. It took the 2011 death of his father to realize he needed to put the bottle down and stop the destructive behavior that was beginning to take its toll. With meticulous detail, Ross explores his relationship with his parents, tumultuous childhood, storied career, addiction and much more in his first memoir, Son of the City, which was released on Tuesday (May 23).
Speaking to AllHipHop in a recent interview, Ross opened up about what led to his decision to take a different route. His father—who inspired the book—was a big part of that.
“I always knew I was an alcoholic,” Ross said. “I just didn’t stop drinking until 2011 when my dad passed away. I was just super depressed the entire time. When he was dying in 2010, I spent a lot of time with him, and it was took a lot outta me. Drinking was no longer fun. You know, it’s fun until it’s not fun anymore, right? It works until it doesn’t work. Well, it wasn’t working anymore. I would just get more depressed, inactive and antisocial. I wouldn’t even wanna be around people anymore. I felt my world getting very small.”
It wasn’t until he was doing what he called a “victory lap of memorial services” for his father that he got the wake up call he so desperately needed.
“I was hammered the entire time and my sister was like, ‘You might wanna do something about that,'” he remembers. “As soon as I did a eulogy, I’d go get hammered. It was pretty apparent to me that I probably always had a problem ’cause all the dumbest s### I’d ever done was done while drinking, particularly when I was younger. As I got older, I did less stupid s### because I became a ‘better drinker.’ But I was probably genetically predisposed to be an alcoholic. I was relatively aware I was an alcoholic when I was pretty young.”
Ross ultimately cleaned up his act a few months later and has been sober ever since. In fact, he just celebrated 12 years on May 9. The fact Ross was able to juggle such an impressive career while battling his own demons was a feat in itself. But there was a method to his madness.
“I didn’t drink during the day,” he said. “I drank on my own time, if that makes sense. I think I substituted my bad behavior with alcohol for relatively detached behavior with weed. I smoked a ton of weed. I smoked so much weed. I was legendary for how much weed I smoked. I was never not high.”
Ross admitted giving up weed was way more difficult than quitting alcohol. He continued, “The detrimental factors aren’t as apparent. You don’t get a hangover, you lose your keys. You don’t get in fist fights, you sit on your couch and watch bad T.V. or you hang out with dudes who talk about nothing all day and just smoke. It makes you lazy and kinda slow, but I never punched anyone in the nose because I smoked too many blunts.”
Ross himself even seemed surprised by his old behavior. Even before big meetings with the president of Sony Music, he’d get high. Looking back, it sounds ludicrous: “I don’t know what the f### I was thinking.”
Despite Ross’s extracurricular activities, he managed to get a lot of work done. One of his crowning achievements is introducing De La Soul to the world.
“I had never heard anything that sounded like it before,” he said. “It was like totally unique and original and just super cool, almost psychedelic.”
Ross was among the many who attended the celebration for Trugoy The Dove at Webster Hall in New York City on March 3, the same day De La Soul’s first six albums were finally uploaded to streaming services. The event was bittersweet and doubled as a memorial for Trugoy who died unexpectedly just weeks prior. But it’s a night Ross will never forget.
“It was life-affirming and emotional for me,” he said. “I didn’t go to college. I went to the School of Hip-Hop, so it was kind of like my college reunion, but I liked everyone who was there. I saw people I hadn’t seen forever. I saw Monie Love, who I hadn’t seen in forever. I met some people like Common. I got to see Pete Rock and Lord Jamar, who are like family to me because we did so much together. I hung out with Pete Nice. It was really beautiful.”
Son of the City (Rare Bird Books) is currently available here. A description on the Amazon website reads, “Dante Ross, born and raised by political activists on New York’s pre-gentrified Lower East Side, would play a pivotal role in the golden age of hip-hop. Named as one of Complex Magazine’s Top 25 Greatest Hip-Hop A&Rs, Ross got his start at Tommy Boy Records, where he would sign and handle the careers of De La Soul and Queen Latifah. At Elektra Records, he would go on to sign Brand Nubian, Grand Puba, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, KMD, Busta Rhymes and Ol’ Dirty Bastard.
As a producer, he has worked on a range of hit records by artists such as 3rd Bass, Del the Funky Homosapien, Run-DMC and Everlast—including the multi-platinum album Whitey Ford Sings the Blues and the gold follow-up, Eat at Whitey’s. Ross earned a Grammy in 1999 for his production work on Carlos Santana’s Supernatural and also produced and co-wrote two songs featuring Macy Gray and Young Z for the soundtrack to Eminem’s 8 Mile. In this highly entertaining memoir, Ross pulls no punches as he details his chaotic childhood, his life in Hip-Hop, and all the hard lessons he learned growing up in New York as a true son of the city.”
Yesterday, the Breakfast Club host dressed in a correction officer uniform— mocking Rozay’s former job and questioning whether or not he is a real boss.
This was quickly followed up with the Maybach Music executive offering DJ Envy’s father a job working for him.
In a video clip, he said, “having a beautiful time today, and of course, we just having a good time with DJ Envious.”
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7ag3r1hrRxo
Then he said, “I want to offer his pop’s a job. His father is a retired police officer and I want to give him a big opportunity, actually. [He can] work at my front gate at the Promise Land. Controlling the front gate.”
Adding, “I’m gonna take you to step further. I’m going to let you practice my signature, so when all the clothes I order online come, you sign for me. How ‘bout that? Then you can escort my things up to the door. I’ll pay better than you ever been paid.”
The UK is not feeling Breezy! Chris Brown has been prohibited from entering the United Kingdom. Any attempt by him to set foot in the UK will result in his immediate arrest and assault charges, according to reports. Well, I have to say it is really polite of them to give him a warning.
For those that do not know, Chris was initially banned from the UK for a duration of 10 years due to his assault on his former girlfriend, Rihanna. They sure know how to hold a grudge that wasn’t even on their soil. Oddly, he was granted entry into the country in 2020 and managed to organize his first tour there this year. They flipped the script on him after another alleged assault!
A music producer claimed that Breezy repeatedly hit him on the head with a bottle after he was annoyed with loud music at a nightclub. Excuse me? Chris actually promised to be a good boy and stay on his own behavior like a professional jockey riding a horse. They still denied him. They also said that he would face both arrest and charges if he dares to set foot on British soil again. This all happened in March. I am sure the rumors of an Usher assault has not helped.
I am wondering why they didn’t just arrest him and make him do the perp walk. The UK does not move that way, like American cops. Sources cited by The Sun suggest that British authorities might feel “embarrassed” about apprehending the singer, given the government’s decision to allow his reentry. The Metropolitan Police stated, “Two individuals were scheduled to voluntarily appear at a police station on March 29 but failed to attend. Ongoing inquiries are being made to locate them.”
By the way, that producer seeks financial compensation from Chris. Instead of paying, Chris decided not to go back into the UK.
But, another rapper has done something that is probably just as dumb if not dumber. This rapper, who happens to be from Louisiana, has blown out FOUR candles on his birthday. The only thing is, he is not 4-years old and it has nothing to do with his age. He blew out four candles to represent the four people that he has allegedly sent back to God. And, he – seemingly – openly admits to this. Is this what we are doing now?
The crazy thing is this guy is adjacent to Cash Money Records, and has taken pictures with both Baby and Slim. At this rate, he will be the next rapper in the headlines because if there’s any sort of law enforcement watching his social media, it is almost certain that they are fully vested in seeing if what he is saying is true. He is not very famous, and he is certainly not apturing a huge audience on social media. But this is the way clout works. It’s addictive and it will have you doing things you would not otherwise do in order to get recognition.
Well, for his sake, I hope he gets that recognition. I also hope he smartens up and realizes that social media is probably the number one way of catching criminals in 2023.
Recording artist Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye co-created the upcoming television series The Idol. The drama will premiere on HBO and the Max streaming platform on June 4 at 9 pm ET/PT.
The Weeknd, Lily-Rose Depp, and Troye Sivan make up The Idol‘s lead cast. According to Deadline, Tesfaye and co-creator Sam Levinson (Euphoria) spoke about The Idol during a press conference at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival in France.
“We Initially wanted to make a dark, twisted fairy tale with the music industry and everything I know about it and heighten it, and take inspirations from films that both me and Sam love – it was really our love for music,” explained The Weeknd.
The 4-time Grammy winner added, “When I found out how much Sam is involved in the music in Euphoria and getting to work with him on the music on the show, that’s when it unlocked it for us. Can we create our own popstar?”
He continued, “Can we create somebody who is trying to find themselves, using my experiences, using his experiences, using Lily’s experiences on creating something special, daring and exciting, and fun that will make people laugh and p### some people off?”
Levinson Believes Controversy Will Set Up ‘The Idol’ To Be The Biggest Show Of The Summer
Rolling Stone ran an article where a source claimed The Idol was a “shitshow.” Insiders reportedly told the publication that Levinson scrapped the nearly-finished project to reshoot the entire series. Plus, one production member allegedly described Levinson’s version as a “rape fantasy.”
“We know we’re making a show that is provocative. It’s not lost on us,” stated Sam Levinson. “When my wife read me the [Rolling Stone] article, I looked at her and I just said, ‘I think we’re about to have the biggest show of the summer.'”
Levinson also added, “In terms of what was in [the Rolling Stone article], it felt completely foreign to me… They’re free to write whatever they want. My only slight or grievance was that they intentionally omitted anything that didn’t fit their narrative. But I think we’ve seen a lot of that lately.”
Sam Levinson says that when he first saw reports of controversy on ‘The Idol’ set, he realized he had ‘the biggest show of the summer’ #Cannespic.twitter.com/BaOXnbcs0x
A video of Chicago rapper G Herbo dancing to YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s “Fresh Prince Of Utah” made its way across the internet.
The Neighborhood Talk re-posted G Herbo’s on-screen dance which had people pointing out the similarities to NBA YoungBoy’s known moves. Apparently, the “Raining” rhymer showed off his steps at a recent outdoor party.
However, YoungBoy Never Broke Again previously seemed to laugh off G Herbo imitating him on social media a few years ago. Additionally, the former Lil Herb praised NBA YoungBoy on The Bootleg Kev Podcast last October when speaking about artists allegedly being blackballed.
“If the industry blackballs you and the internet f### with you, you’re gonna still win. That’s why YoungBoy’s still winning. Period. People gotta f### with you,” stated G Herbo at the time. “That’s the most anti-industry n#### ever. You gotta give a n#### their credit.”
YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Lil Durk, and G Herbo all contributed to the newly released Fast X: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. Herb collaborated with 24kGoldn and Kane Brown for the “My City” track. The Fast X album also hosts “Won’t Back Down” with NBA YoungBoy and “Spinnin'” with Durk.
Four-time Grammy winner and Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland will take on the role of judge for a new audio program premiering on June 1. Audible’s Breakthroughis described as the first-ever singing competition series developed exclusively as a podcast.
“I am so happy to be a part of this series that highlights and gives a voice to emerging artists,” says Kelly Rowland. “Audible is an ideal space for this and Breakthrough is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to up-and-coming musicians. I’m rooting for them all!”
Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles will also serve as a judge on Breakthrough alongside Kelly Rowland. Both women will mentor the contestants and provide artistic development throughout the season.
“I am so thrilled to be joining this group of wildly talented people for Breakthrough!” states Sara Bareilles. “I love that the creative team are on the same journey as our audience – getting to know these artists without seeing them – developing a sense of their artistry through only their music and storytelling.”
Bareilles continues, “These five incredible souls showed up to each challenge with courage and vulnerability that invited us all into a remarkably intimate space, and I learned so much from them. No matter where you are in your career it is always inspiring to witness someone reach for the deepest parts of themselves and be willing to share that tender space.”
Audible Also Taps ‘Hamilton’ Star Daveed Diggs For ‘Breakthrough’
In addition, Grammy Award winner/Tony Award winner Daveed Diggs will host Breakthrough. Over nine episodes, competitors have the chance to win mid-season prizes, including additional vocal coaching sessions, studio recording time, and recording equipment.
“With our long-standing, highly popular Words + Music series and our newer Origins series, Audible has created a unique auditory experience for our listeners. Breakthrough pushes the boundaries of audio even further and invites music lovers to participate in the first of its kind, audio-only singing competition,” says Zola Mashariki, Head of Audible Studios.
Mashariki adds, “We are excited to have the immensely talented Kelly Rowland, Sara Bareilles, and Daveed Diggs guide the contestants as they hone their musical abilities and learn from some of the top artists in the music business.”
Previously, Audible announced Hip Hop 50 Audible Originals in celebration of Hip Hop culture’s 50th anniversary in 2023. Legendary Hip Hop figures such as Snoop Dogg, Lil Kim, and DJ Drama contributed content to those special Audible presentations.
The 2023 version of White Men Can’t Jump landed on the Hulu streaming platform on May 19. Charles “Calmatic” Kidd II directed the sports comedy movie starring Sinqua Walls and Jack Harlow.
White Men Can’t Jump served as Jack Harlow’s feature film debut. The Louisville-raised rapper took on the lead role after releasing music projects such as Thats What They All Say, Come Home the Kids Miss You, and Jackman.
Calmatic stopped by Hot 97’s Ebro In The Morning radio show to discuss White Men Can’t Jump. The longtime music video director talked about working with Jack Harlow on the Kenya Barris-written motion picture.
“To be honest, we were trying to find our white man. It was just no one out there,” said Calmatic. “It was so many actors that were great but they couldn’t hoop. Some people that could hoop but they couldn’t act.”
The LA-bred filmmaker added, “I think one of Kenya’s interns one day just said like, ‘What about Jack Harlow?’ It was one of those moments where everybody was like, ‘Oh s###, this actually might work.’ So we hit him up. He came in to audition. He killed it.”
Calmatic went on to say Jack Harlow’s basketball audition “wasn’t pretty” but it was “efficient.” Previously, Harlow played for Team Nique at the 2022 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game. When asked if the “Tyler Herro” hitmaker can hoop, Calmatic responded, “Kinda.”
Additionally, Calmatic mentioned that he considered Lil Dicky for White Men Can’t Jump but the Dave actor did not fit the part of Jeremy. Calmatic also suggested Jack Harlow could end up having a Hollywood career similar to fellow rapper-turned-actor Mark Wahlberg, aka Marky Mark.
“I joke around with him like, ‘Bro, he’s gonna be like the next Marky Mark.’ I know as a real rapper he doesn’t want to hear that,” said Calmatic. “I think ten years from now, kids are gonna be like, ‘Yo, Jack Harlow, the actor, not the rapper.’ Or both.”
Jack Harlow’s Jackman dropped on April 28. The 10-track project peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 chart with 35,500 first-week streaming-equivalent album units. It became the rhymer’s first No. 1 on the Top Rap Albums chart.
Chicago-bred rapper Lil Durk will release his 21-track Almost Healed album on May 26. The 30-year-old Only the Family frontman has revealed the songs for the project.
Almost Healed joins an album discography that includes the Billboard 200 chart-topping 7220. Durk and Lil Baby’s The Voice of the Heroes collaborative effort made it to No. 1 as well.
Previously, Lil Durk dropped the Almost Healed single “All My Life” featuring J. Cole. The studio LP also features Future, 21 Savage, Kodak Black, Morgan Wallen, the late Juice WRLD, and other acts.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CskFymiLay4/?hl=en
Lil Durk teamed up with Country star Morgan Wallen for “Broadway Girls” in 2021. That collaboration came after footage of Wallen calling someone a n##### spread across the internet.
“Nah, he ain’t no racist,” said Durk in defense of Morgan Wallen. “That’s my boy. Also, we had a long talk. He had his public situation. We had it behind closed doors. I vouch for him and he’s good.”
Lil Durk’s “All My Life” with J. Cole debuted at No. 2 on this week’s Billboard Hot 100 chart behind Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night.” The Dr. Luke-produced single racked up 30.9 million streams in its first week of release.
“All My Life” topped both the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and the Hot Rap Songs chart. Durk now has three career Number Ones on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs rankings. He scored his second Hot Rap Songs leader.
Chris Brown could find himself in hot water with the British authorities if he returns to the U.K. after he was accused of assault during his last trip to London.
The R&B singer was also allegedly involved in another altercation during the Lovers Lovers & Friends Festival earlier this month, despite attempts to shed his “bad boy” image. Now, he’s reportedly facing arrest upon his return to the U.K. following an alleged assault on Feb. 19.
The alleged incident occurred while Breezy was in London for the European leg of his tour. A producer accused Chris Brown of smashing a bottle over his head following a fight at the city’s Tape nightclub.
The man was also allegedly kicked and punched during the altercation. He was treated in hospital for non-life threatening injuries. Police were given assurances that Chris Brown would hand himself in for questioning immediately after his U.K. tour ended on Mar. 29.
However, the “Go Crazy” hitmaker is believed to have left the country immediately after he wrapped his last show.
A source told British tabloid The Sun: “Chris knows he will be arrested if he goes back to the U.K. but is still doing everything he can to avoid it.” The insider also claimed Chris Brown worries that he could be compelled to return to Britain to face the law. They added, “But he is also concerned he could potentially be picked up in any country with an extradition treaty with Great Britain.”
The source claimed, “There was some speculation in the Brown camp that the British might be too embarrassed to arrest Chris because the Government had let him back in” after British authorities lifted the ban on Brown entering the U.K. in 2020.
However, they added, “But the police are still after him.”
Kodak Black has upped his Pistols & Pearls rollout, teasing his short film The Don, due to be released with the upcoming project later this week.
The “Super Gremlin” hitmaker shared a suspense-filled preview on Instagram Monday (May 22) announcing the short. He also gave fans a chance to attend a private screening ahead of the official release on Friday (May 26).
“Sign up now with the link for your chance to catch the Exclusive Screening For My Feature Short Film “The Don” in MIAMI, NY, ATL, & LA…” Kodak Black penned in the caption. “Official Release This Friday 5/26 www.officialkodakblack.com.” Watch the trailer below.
Kodak Black seemingly wants to close this latest chapter in his musical journey with an impactful exit. Earlier this week, he hinted at his apparent departure from Atlantic Records while announcing Pistols & Pearls.
“THANX to EVERYONE THATS BEEN ON THIS JOURNEY WITH ME LUVIN & THUGGIN ! I COULDNT FIND PEACE WITHOUT ALL THE VIOLENCE @atlanticrecords It’s Been Well !!! Nothing But Gratitude & The Utmost Respect,” he shared on Instagram.
Pistols & Pearls is Kodak’s fifth studio album and follows his 2022 offering Back for Everything, which debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart.
Meanwhile, Kodak Black tried his hand (or feet, rather) at getting sturdy last week during an interview with the gifted 13-year-old journalist Jazzy. The viral star of Jazzy’s World TV asked the rapper about his favorite childhood dances before getting him to show off his footwork, or lack thereof.
“A lot of dances passed, but round my area, we wouldn’t do all that crazy stuff, all that crazy looking stuff,” he recalled. “We’d Jook, we’d Jook till we dead. We gonna Jook and stick till we dead. Like you pulling out a choppa with somebody and you dance like this, you dance like you shooting somebody. Not saying that’s a good thing, but it’s just a dance.”
After a quick demonstration of how to get sturdy from Jazzy, Kodak Black admitted. “Oh I can’t do all that.” However, he did give the dance craze a go but quickly conceded defeat. Check out the video below.
Janelle Monáe broke the internet earlier this month as clips hit the net of the singer letting loose during a record release party for her new album and video.
The sultry soulstress promised to have her “T###### out for the next 15 years. 😝” following her half-naked Met Gala after-party performance. She drove fans even further into a frenzy with the age-restricted video for her latest hit single, “Lipstick Lover.”
While longtime fans of Janelle Monáe know she’s never been afraid to express her sensuality in a new interview, the singer revealed she’s happiest when she’s baring her breasts.
“I’m much happier when my t###### are out and I can run around free,” she explained to Rolling Stone. Janelle Monáe also featured on the magazine’s cover, wearing a dazzling gold headdress and nothing else. She delicately covered her nipples with her fingertips for the shoot, leaving little to the imagination.
The talented singer and actress, who uses the pronouns she/her, they/them, and “free-ass m###########,” also opened up about her upcoming album, The Age Of Pleasure.
“It was inspired by all of my friends, my community of folks who are from South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, the Caribbean, Atlanta, L.A., Chicago,” she revealed.
“Seeing all of us together in our Blackness, in the love that we had in our eyes for each other. People from the continent f### around with trap from Atlanta. You know what I’m saying? I love how the diaspora — we talk to each other,” Janelle Monáe continued.
Meanwhile, earlier this week, TDE artist Ransom reached out to Janelle Monáe “in the most endearing respectful way,” to ask “if I could borrow your t###### for my rollout.”
He sent her a voice note over Instagram. Check out his messages below.
The first trailer for Warner Bros.’ upcoming remake of The Color Purple has arrived, and it’s a tearjerker.
Fans have been treated to an emotional first glimpse of the movie musical, an adaptation of Alice Walker’s 1982 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and the Tony-nominated Broadway musical it inspired, due later this year. Warner Bros. Pictures debuted the teaser on Monday (May 22) for the new film, produced by Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg.
The trailer gives a first look at the star-studded cast, including Fantasia in her major motion picture debut. The American Idol winner reprises her Broadway role as Celie while her Broadway co-star Danielle Brooks returns as Sofia.
Starring alongside them are Taraji P. Henson as Shug Avery, H.E.R. as Squeak, and Halle Bailey as Young Nettie. Check out the trailer below.
The Color Purple – Official Trailer
Oprah Winfrey, who also starred in Steven Spielberg’s 1985 movie of The Color Purple, took to Instagram Monday to put fans on notice ahead of the movie’s Christmas Day release. “Y’all have seen the trailer and I’m giving you six months to get your outfit together for opening day. All things purple. What you gon’ wear? Colour purple, hmm hmm,” Oprah said, sifting through racks of clothes in various shades of purple.
The new remake is touted as “A bold new take on the beloved classic,” with Oprah declaring, “This ain’t your mama’s ‘Color Purple.’”
“You are literally working with material that is important to people that you know is a huge part of our culture,” she explained in a Q&A session on Monday. “To this day, families still gather together and watch The Color Purple, even though everybody could recite every line.”
LL Cool J couldn’t leave the NCIS series behind, despite waving goodbye to NCIS: Los Angelesafter 14 seasons.
The rapper and actor surprised fans with a cameo appearance in NCIS: Hawaii during the season 2 finale on Monday night (May 22). The appearance came a day after NCIS: LA ended its 14-season run.
However, LL Cool J said, “Couldn’t keep Sam Hanna off the case for too long!!” and CBS announced that he joins NCIS: Hawaii as a recurring guest star.
Couldn’t keep Sam Hanna off the case for too long!! Starting tonight, Sam Hanna will join forces with the @NCISHawaiiCBS team as a recurring guest star in the upcoming third season. Tune in the season 2 finale of @NCISHawaiiCBS on @CBS at 10 ET/PT or on @paramountplus for live… pic.twitter.com/HxG7bZOriC
“All of us at NCIS: Hawaii have been huge fans of LL Cool J for years and couldn’t be more thrilled or honored to be adding his spectacular talent to our ohana for season 3,” said executive producers Matt Bosack, Jan Nash, and Christopher Silber in a joint statement.
Meanwhile, an eager LL Cool J hopped on Twitter after the news was out: “Let’s do this!!! 💪🏾⚡️🔥” he declared.
His new NCIS: Hawaii co-star (Vanessa Lachey) welcomed LL Cool J to the cast with open arms.
“One of the most beautiful things about working on NCIS: Hawaii is the show’s ability to bring the franchise together. We have had so much fun spreading the aloha to NCIS and NCIS: LA with the triple crossover. Now, we have the amazing opportunity to bring Sam Hanna to Hawai’i to help the island solve some cases and maybe have a few laughs in the process,” Lachey said in a statement. “Welcome to the ohana, Todd! It’s going to be a fun ride!”
Meanwhile, last month, LL Cool J announced his first tour in thirty years to celebrate Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary. He will be joined by a roster of rap legends on the tour which kicks off in Boston on Jun. 25 before wrapping up on Sept. 3 in Los Angeles.
A museum faces backlash for an exhibit allegedly depicting King Tut as a Black man.
The Dutch National Museum of Antiquities opened an exhibit called “Kemet: Egypt in Hip-Hop, Jazz, Soul and Funk.” The exhibit explores the connection between Egyptian culture and Black music.
Media outlet Egypt Independent accused the museum of claiming King Tut was a Black man. The museum also dealt with attacks on social media and a flood of one-star reviews on Google, according to Artnet.
The outrage stemmed from the David Cortes statue I Am Hip-Hop, which is featured in the “Kemet” exhibit. The sculpture was inspired by Nas’ I Am… album cover, which reimagined the rapper in King Tut’s famous mask.
Museum director Wim Weijland defended the “Kemet” exhibit in response to the King Tut complaints. The director noted the exhibit “does not have an Afrocentric perspective on ancient Egypt” but critically examines ideas presented in Black music.
“The exhibition does not claim the ancient Egyptians were Black, but explores music by Black artists who refer to ancient Egypt and Nubia in their work: music videos, covers of record albums, photos, and contemporary artworks,” Weijland said in a statement. “This music often reflects on the black experience in the West and tells stories about the African diaspora and pre-colonial Africa, including ancient Egypt.”
He added, “The exhibition explains that the representations of ancient Egypt are imaginaries: artistic interpretations of ancient Egypt, not realistic images of ancient Egyptians. For example, the exhibition contains a modern sculpture that represents the musician Nas, modeled after the mask of Tutankhamun. The exhibition explains that it is a contemporary artwork, not a replica. The exhibition explains why and when it was made and clarifies that it is not an ancient Egyptian artifact.”
The museum’s “Kemet” exhibit remains on display through September 3, 2023. Learn more about “Kemet” here.
Conway The Machine has been forced to postpone his Won’t He Do It Tour. According to an Instagram post from the Griselda rapper/founder, he’s in no shape to hit the road. On Monday (May 22), Conway shared a photo of himself in a hospital bed with his leg wrapped up in bandages. As he explained in the caption, he suffered a fractured right tibia and dislocated kneecap. But he was also adamant he had “album of the year.”
He continued, “But In all seriousness tho, anyone that knows me knows there’s nothing I love to do more than bein up on that stage! I can’t lie. I’m super disappointed that I have to postpone the WHDi tour for a little bit, because I was really looking forward to goin on those stages and rocking this WHDI s### for y’all live.
“However I am in good spirits and I’m only looking at it as just a minor lil setback for a MAJOR COMEBACK! No stress!! If u already bought tickets they’ll be honored at the later dates for sure! More updates coming this week. I appreciate all the love and concern for my well-being, love y’all.”
The Instagram post came with an accompanying statement from Drumwork Music Group that read, “It is with great regret Conway The Machine and Drumwork Music Group announce the postponement of the ‘Won’t He Do It’ Tour due to a severe leg injury. He is unable to deliver the ‘live’ show experience that his fans have come to expect and deserve.”
The statement assured Conway’s fans the dates would be rescheduled for a “future date later this year.”
Fellow Griselda member Westside Gunn faced a similar situation in January when he canceled his European tour just hours before it was to begin in Amsterdam. However, it wasn’t an injury that led to its cancelation. He explained partially, “It’s def still a dream and I’m gonna work on it […] but unfortunately this time things weren’t handled right and that’s too far for me to be gone.
“Something isn’t right and I’m somewhere I’ve never been and s### already not right now. I haven’t even been giving deposits so don’t even think I took y’all money. People out of $40 I’m out $50,000 I spent just on plane tickets!!!”
Conway The Machine was looking forward to promoting his latest album, Won’t He Do It, the follow-up to 2022’s God Don’t Make Mistakes. AllHipHop wishes him a speedy recovery.
A$AP Rocky scolded two club patrons for brawling in front of his girlfriend Rihanna.
A video showed the rapper grabbing a microphone to stop a fight in the VIP section of an unidentified club. He mentioned Rihanna was with him and demanded better behavior from the clubgoers.
“Y’all n##### act like gentlemen right now,” he shouted. “I got my lady here. Y’all n##### calm that s### down. Don’t be in this section doing all that. Calm that s### down. Y’all act like gentlemen when y’all in our presence.”
🎥 | A$AP Rocky Checks Club Patrons Fighting In Front Of Rihanna: “I got my lady in here! Act like gentlemen when y’all in our presence.” pic.twitter.com/jJv79lVq4x
The clip of A$AP Rocky protecting Rihanna surfaced on social media roughly two weeks after the public learned the name of the couple’s firstborn child. The two took inspiration from the Wu-Tang Clan and named their baby boy RZA.
“WU TANG IZ 4 DA CHUREN,” A$AP Rocky wrote on Instagram. “HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY TO MY 1st BORN . RZA.”
Rihanna is pregnant with her second child as her family with A$AP Rocky continues to grow. Her pregnancy was revealed at the Super Bowl halftime show in February.
Rumors about A$AP Rocky dating Rihanna began to heat up in 2019. He finally confirmed their relationship in 2021. They welcomed their first child together a year later.
