Ludacris is gearing up to release his first album in over eight years.
While the “Area Codes” hitmaker hasn’t released an album since 2015’s Ludaversal, he has busied himself with his many other projects, including acting roles and raising his budding entrepreneur children. Nonetheless, he has recently dropped a few new fresh freestyles, reminding his fans he still does this.
The Grammy-Award-winning rapper opened up about his return to music during an upcoming appearance on The Tamron Hall Show. In a sneak peek, Ludacris confirmed a new album is coming, slated to arrive in 2024. However, fans won’t have to wait long for music, with a new single due to arrive later this year.
“We’re definitely gonna get some music before the end of this year,” he revealed. “I would say an album, probably next year.”
When the veteran journalist asked about the holdup, Ludacris blamed the success of the Fast & Furious franchise.
“They keep shooting more movies. What am I supposed to do?” he joked. Luda also revealed his passion for rapping never waned, and he’s “hungry” to get back in the studio.
“When I was young, I feel like some of my favourite rappers, once they get to a certain point, it’s almost like you wish that they were still kind of hungry and you feel like they don’t have it necessarily like they used to,” he explained. “I never wanted to be that. So it’s extremely important for me to prove to people that even though I’m doing all this other stuff, make no mistake, I still got it, and I’m still as hungry as ever.”
Watch the clip below and check out Ludacris’ 4/20 freestyle at the end of the page.
Timbaland has opened up about some of the darkest times in his life, including his struggles with addiction, revealing how much JAY-Z and Drake helped him through one of his toughest times.
The Grammy Award-winning producer shared how both superstar rappers were there for him during his battle with addiction. He stopped by the Club Shay Shay podcast with Shannon Sharpe earlier this week (May 15) and explained how he spiraled into OxyContin addiction, taking up to 160 milligrams daily.
“Everybody that I know who done that have died, so I think I even died at one point in time,” Timbaland recalled. “I had an out-of-body experience where I was laying in the bed, and I saw myself laying in the bed. From that point on, God has changed my mind, and I didn’t go to a doctor. I did it cold turkey.”
Timbaland Says JAY-Z And Drake Stepped Up
Before he kicked the drugs, friends started noticing the former “introvert” began acting differently and stepped in. JAY-Z advised Timbaland to take a break from interviews while Drake reached out to “check” him on how he behaved in public. Reflecting on those dark times, the super producer admitted, “those guys are special to the world.”
“JAY-Z is a prophet,” Timbaland declared. “God sent him. I ain’t never seen nobody like him. Hov actually raised me, and he don’t even know it. He raised me in the music business. He was so prolific, so wise beyond his age, that I was just amazed at just watching him. That’s why I had a different bond with Jay when it comes to my music. We was rewriting the Bible, in a way.”
He continued: “Even Drake told me. That’s why I’m like, these guys are special to the world. Now, once they give you the information, it’s up to you to use it. I didn’t come out until the darkness, man, and that’s why I say, it’s all love with these guys. They helped me during my darkest moment.”
Lovers of rap and hip-hop, get ready to jump, dance, and sing along to your favorite artists! We’ve curated a list of the 10 hottest hip-hip concerts to see this year, featuring some of the biggest hitting names at the moment to the more obscure. Get your concert tickets, and don’t miss out on these once-in-a-lifetime performances.
Lizzo
Having already completed a few dates for her Special tour last year and two dates in London this March, Lizzo will continue promoting this hit album on tour starting in Knoxville, Tennessee, and ending on June 2 in Palm Desert, California. Her North American shows will include Latto as the opening act.
Lil Wayne
With his latest album being Funeral (2020), Lil Wayne’s Welcome to Tha Carter Tour will kick off in Minneapolis and go through various North American cities, concluding in Los Angeles.
Mavi
Mavi, from Charlotte, North Carolina, released his much-anticipated latest album, Laughing So Hard It Hurts, last fall. He will be taking it on tour across North America and Europe this summer, promising his fans spectacularly shows.
Redveil
Behind his 2022 release of the Learn 2 Swim album on his 18th birthday, Redveil will be heading out on tour across North America this year, promising to enthrall fans as he weaves through various subgenres of rap while incorporating synth, the piano, and other live instruments.
Run the Jewels
In celebration of their 10th anniversary, acclaimed hip-hop duo Killer Mike and El-P, known as Run the Jewels, are embarking on a special tour. With multiple shows, including New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, each night will feature a unique set showcasing their entire discography, accompanied by special guests and exciting surprises.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
While this band may not tick all the boxes for a hip-hop concert, they infuse rap with prog, funk, and indie. With accompanying acts including Iggy Pop, the Mars Volta, and City and Color, this giant North American tour promises to blow lovers of rap’s minds.
Flo Rida
From May to September this year, rapper Flo Rida will be performing dates across the United States, starting in Iowa and ending in Illinois.
Pitbull
With 11 studio albums to his name, Pitbull is embarking on a North American tour this year from May to August. Two of his dates are performed outdoors at the Koka Booth Amphitheater in North Carolina and the St. Augustine Amphitheater in Florida. These promise to be great dates for the summer!
Post Malone
Post Malone is taking his Twelve Carat Tour to the UK and Europe this year and will be touring through England, Ireland, and several European cities. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t get your Post Malone fix! He will complete his tour with a North American show at BottleRock Nappa Valley in Napa County, California, on May 26.
Rico Nasty
Last but not least, Rico Nasty is on her Outbreak Tour this year, with performances seeing her snake across North America from Ontario to New York, California, Utah, Ohio, Philadelphia, and Illinois.
There you have it, folks—the 10 hottest rap and hip-hop concerts this year. For the best prices on concert tickets, head over to Cheapo Ticketing. With safe and secure transactions, a 100% money-back guarantee, professional customer service, and unbeatable deals, Cheapo Ticketing will be your next best friend as you follow your favorite artists worldwide.
The high-profile Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) case against the Young Slime Life (YSL) gang, which includes superstar rapper Young Thug, continues to make headlines for various strange events.
In April, Angela D’Williams, a public defender for Rodalius Ryan, one of the remaining nine defendants, employed controversial tactics to receive higher compensation.
D’Williams, Eric Johnson, Justin Hill, and Suri Chadha Jimenez filed a motion to withdraw from the case, citing an “egregiously low” salary of $15,000 for a case predicted to last a year. D’Williams humorously suggested she could earn more by starting an OnlyFans page.
This claim stirred a debate, shedding light on public defenders’ financial struggles. D’Williams, in her plea, insisted, “I can’t take any new cases. I can’t close any cases. I need something to survive off of.”
The GPDC fired back in April, accusing D’Williams of exploiting her position unethically.
They pointed to a text message D’Williams sent to a group of 19 people, in which she admitted to using her withdrawal motion as leverage to secure higher pay.
The text, which fell into the hands of GPDC official Natalie Glaser, read:
“Just in case I didn’t tell you, I filed my motion to withdraw as a way to force GPDC to pay me more money. Please do not help the judge grant my motion. The goal is to have the judge deny my motion, and perhaps have the director come in and testify she’s not paying me more. If the press asks, please do not say you hope the judge grants my motion. I just wanted to bring attention to the issue of GPDC being shady.”
Glaser, the Chief Legal Officer for the Georgia Public Defender Council, accused D’Williams of “attempting to extort payment and using this subpoena as a threat to embarrass the Director and the Agency in the press.”
Today (March 15), the story took another unexpected turn when D’Williams requested the court to withdraw her initial motion. The GPDC caved in and introduced a new policy addressing the issue of compensation for public defenders in prolonged trials.
According to reports, The GPDC has upped the lawyers’ pay with a cap of $55,000 for the year. This development led D’Williams to rescind her previous motion, stating it was now moot.
This legal turmoil adds another bizarre layer to the ongoing YSL RICO case – specifically surrounding the lawyers.
Suri Chadha Jimenez was almost thrown in jail for being late to the trial. He had two options – write a term paper for Judge Ural Glanville, or buy the other attorneys lunch.
Jimenez settled his issue by purchasing the lawyers Lemon Pepper chicken wings from the famed Atlanta strip club Magic City.
Another lawyer, Anastasios Manettas, was arrested in court after he was found with unlabeled prescription pills. He was charged with four misdemeanors and a felony. Once at the Fulton County Jail, Manettas was forced to strip naked, squat down, and cough.
As if that were not enough, attorney Eric Johnson was looking at 20 days behind bars for leaving court early. He was forced to write a paper to Judge Glanville titled “the importance of professionalism in the legal field.”
Young Thug and eight others, including D’Williams’ client Rodalius Ryan, still face serious charges under the RICO Act, a federal law designed to combat organized crime across state lines.
Young Thug, born Jeffery Lamar Williams, and his associates are alleged to have conducted a criminal enterprise, including murder, attempted murder, carjackings, drug trafficking, witness intimidation, and other charges.
Boosie Badazz pleaded not guilty to a charge of felon in possession of a firearm on Monday (May 15).
Earlier this month, Boosie and a 28-year-old man named Billy Johnson were arrested during a traffic stop in San Diego. Officers allegedly found two loaded guns while searching the vehicle.
Boosie was booked on charges of felon in possession of a firearm, concealed carry weapon in a vehicle, possession of ammunition by a prohibited person and unlisted owner of a registered firearm on May 6. His bail was $50,000.
Johnson was accused of carrying a concealed firearm and carrying a loaded gun not registered to him. He remains in jail.
Boosie, whose real name is Torrence Hatch, traveled to San Diego to shoot a music video and perform at a club. He appeared at the Phantom Lounge and Nightclub after posting bail. Footage from the event showed him leading the crowd in a “F### San Diego police” chant.
The controversial rapper faces up to three years in prison if convicted on the gun charge. Boosie dealt with various legal troubles over the years, including a murder-for-hire case in his hometown of Baton Rouge. A jury found him not guilty of murder in 2012.
Law enforcement officials arrested Shy Glizzy for an alleged altercation with his girlfriend in the Los Angeles area on Saturday (May 13).
According to TMZ, the rapper was charged with making criminal threats. Authorities said he pulled a gun on his girlfriend. The incident allegedly occurred in public on Saturday morning.
Shy Glizzy was caught later that evening. He reportedly denied threatening his girlfriend but was booked for a felony.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department records show Shy Glizzy posted bond in West Hollywood on Saturday night. His bond was set at $50,000.
Several months ago, model Sky Bri accused Shy Glizzy of sexual misconduct. She claimed he coerced her into taking a pill, pulled out his penis and tried to get her to perform oral sex at his “White Girl” video shoot.
The Glizzy Gang artist allegedly hinted at not paying Ski Bri if she didn’t give him a b######. She recalled never receiving payment for the video, which dropped in December 2022.
“I thankfully am in a position where I didn’t need that,” she explained. “I was able to say, ‘Yeah, I’m not gonna suck your dick. I’m fine with not getting paid.’ I walked away. But I think about other girls that star in music videos or have been in a similar position.”
Dallas rapper Trapboy Freddy pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person on Thursday (May 11).
According to multiplereports, Trapboy Freddy agreed to a plea deal to avoid any additional charges in his gun case. He surrendered a Taurus TCP .380-caliber gun as part of the agreement.
Trapboy Freddy, whose real name is Devarius Dontez Moore, faces up to 10 years in prison. He may be fined up to $250,000.
Last year, Trapboy Freddy was arrested on a federal gun possession warrant in Dallas. The arrest received national attention after law enforcement officials discovered a tiger cub at his home.
Dallas Animal Services took the tiger. Dallas residents are prohibited from housing any animal deemed to be a “dangerous wild animal” by the state of Texas.
Trapboy Freddy’s arrest stirred up social media rumors about a tiger roaming the streets of Dallas. Authorities confirmed the tiger was caged at his home. The rumors still gained enough traction to make the Dallas Zoo address the public.
“We are aware of a rumor that is circulating – we want to assure everyone our tigers are all accounted for and safe here at the Zoo,” the Dallas Zoo announced via Twitter. “We saw messages online and heard from concerned local neighbors and wanted to set minds at ease about your Dallas Zoo!”
Trapboy Freddy sought to reunite with the tiger after his arrest. His aunt claimed he was looking to open an animal business.
A judge severed Damone Blalock’s case from the YSL RICO trial, leaving Young Thug as one of the nine remaining defendants.
According to Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Blalock became ill prior to court proceedings on Monday (May 15). The judge opted for severance instead of continuing without Young Thug’s co-defendant.
Prosecutors objected to severing Blalock’s case. Blalock and his lawyer Justin Hill hoped to stay in the YSL RICO trial.
Hill proposed standing in for his ill client for the day. The attorney said it was “bittersweet” to exit several months into jury selection.
“This is a long trial, and I’m trying to run a business at the same time,” he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “It was becoming taxing on me and my business.”
Earlier this month, Judge Ural Glanville severed Jayden Myrick’s case from the YSL RICO trial. Myrick’s severance stemmed from mental health concerns.
Last week, Young Thug missed pre-trial hearings due to his own health issues. He was taken to the hospital twice, adding to the delays in the YSL RICO case.
Young Thug was evaluated for chest pains. His medical troubles occurred a few weeks after he requested bond for the fourth time since his May 2022 arrest.
Jury selection for the YSL RICO trial began in January. No jurors have been seated over the past few months.
Master P has already established himself as a savvy business mogul with No Limit Records and several other entrepreneurial endeavors.
Along with Snoop Dogg, who has his own cereal brand called Snoop Cereal, the two Hip-Hop heavyweights are aiming to take over the grocery market together. In a recent interview with AllHipHop, Master P revealed the new brand will finally land in Walmarts across the country this summer.
“When you talk about Snoop Cereal, this is bigger than just cereal,” Master P says in the clip. “I know a lot of people may ask, they want to talk about the ingredients, how it started. Me and Snoop believed in putting out brands that could feed our culture and feed our people. I grew up eating cereal. I grew up on WIC. We are able to sell at WIC now, and it’s all about adding diversity into the grocery stores.
“We don’t all own brands like this. And it’s so important because we grew up eating these products. But we got to stop the self-hate amongst each other when we talk about African-American-owned brands and give us the opportunity to get on those shelves because Snoop Cereal is bigger. The brand is all about trying to tackle homelessness, give back to a community and a culture, and rebuild and put economic empowerment into our community.”
Master P is particularly excited about Momma Snoop Oatmeal, a new product developed in honor of Snoop Dogg’s late mother, Beverly Tate, who died in October 2021.
“I want to tell y’all why Momma Snoop Oatmeal is so important because we look at Aunt Jemima—that was just a mockery of us,” Master P says in a separate video uploaded to Instagram. “It wasn’t a real person. We changing the game…this is a way for us to make Momma Snoop live on and on. Momma Snoop was a beautiful person that blessed the world.”
Snoop Dogg, who joined Master P in the clip, added, “To see it all coming to light…because we building a brand that’s black-owned and family-based. It’s going to be something that’s gonna be here when we not here. And we just giving y’all information on what to do and how to do it. To be able to be friends after so many years of doing business and then to come back together again, to find ways to continue business. As Black people, we gotta find ways to work together instead of pulling each other down.”
Master P and Snoop Dogg—who seem to be everywhere these days (especially the D-O-DOUBLE-G—) are looking forward to the launch. As Master P explains, “Me and Snoop are the kings of breakfast food because we are fighting for our culture and our people to put brands in the stores. So now we’ll be in Walmart on July 15. We’ll be in Target, Albertson’s, Kroger’s, Ralph’s, and Safeway, all the major stores in June. June 24th, we’ll be on Amazon. So this is a blessing. We’ve come a long way from Hip-Hop.”
To show support, Master P encourages everyone to go to the store and buy a product. Until then, find more information here.
T-Pain, the king of autotune, says there was more to his style of music than just the fake digital manipulation that Usher once said was killing music. According to the Tallahassee native, he also made “simp” music.
During an episode of his podcast “Nappy Boy Radio,” the chart-topping singer talked about his musical style, saying, “I had zero confidence in any of my music. I was always the simp, remember? I was always wishing for a girl.”
If fans look at songs like his bangers “I’m Sprung” and “I’m In Love With A Stripper,” one might see what he is saying he added.
“‘I’m Sprung’ — that was about me simping to hell. First real simp joint,” he said. “‘I’m In Love With A Stripper’ — never said I ever got her. Just said I liked her a bunch. ‘Bartender’ — never took her anywhere. She was just a bartender. Never said we f##### or anything. Just me simping from afar.”
When asked if he thinks the culture needs him to come back and hold the torch for simping in 2023, he said there has been someone to lift his mantle, heartthrob Drake.
“I think Drake got it covered,” he said to his guest Rob Markman.
Many believe T-Pain might be on to something.
Simping, according to the streets, is when a person goes overboard in expressing his or her romantic love or obsession for someone else. Usually, this state happens when the person is moved out of their normal state of being because they are so open off their interest— usually doing things others would consider stupid or not in one’s best interest.
With this definition, fans might point to some of Drake’s biggest songs that could be associated to women he was in love with.
Songs like “In My Feelings” for his ex-love interest Keshia Chanté or “Club Paradise” about Rose Mary and Leanne Sealey are good EX-amples of his.
But don’t count on the Champagne Papi making more songs about ladies. It seems like he doesn’t enjoy being labeled “love soft.”
On an inaugural episode of “A Moody Conversation,” he told Lil Yachty he wishes he wouldn’t have been so personal about his private life in the public space.
“The lyrics are never with ill intent, but I had somebody tell me one time, ‘You know, it’s not necessarily what you’re saying about me, it’s the fact that you said it,'” he said.
Morant was suspended for eight games without pay. Police concluded their investigation and ended up not charging Morant with a crime. The NBA also did an investigation but could not prove the gun belonged to Morant nor prove he brought it into any of the establishments he went into during that night out.
White too to social media, saying the 23-year-old is faking like a gangster or thug online.
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) May 15, 2023
“This is what I see in the Jason Morant boy …He never got to be a thug. He never got to be a gangster because he was so good at basketball,” White said. “But there’s an innate desire inside of him that wants to live out this kind of lifestyle. I think he’s a wannabe gangster.”
He also said the athlete should be in jail or shot.
According to White, Morant is probably not as tough as he thinks he is and would not last “60 days in lock up,” admitting that he, himself, couldn’t have lasted 30 days.
The controversial country pundit said he believes the baller needs to “be shot in the leg at a club on his knee where he can’t jump high and play basketball and run fast down the court no more.”
White’s video progressively got darker, as he called the player more names and punctuated his thoughts with curse words.
“I think the boy stupid, I think the boy is ill inform and I think he is a closet homosexual … he battling with coming out or staying in so he’s just playing with guns,” White said.
“I don’t think he really want to hurt nobody,” the OG added. “I think the boy got displaced anger issues because he’s sheltered and entitled.”
White believes that Morant has never had to struggle and the façade of gangsterism is a way to associate with the rappers and cool kids he never got to be with.
Comedically, he blends sports references (as a satirical way to indicate his disdain for athletes and say he cares nothing about the sporting world).
After saying he wants him to be kicked out of the league, he adds with a snicker he is glad he has a college degree because at least he can go and teach.
He said, “You’re going to make for a good PE teacher … walking out to teach them boys how to shoot them free throws and snap they wrist.”
Lastly, White said, speaking directly to Morant, “I hope they take everything.”
These guys have a bunch of different rules than we do. I remember when Pac and Biggie died, we all mourned in one way or another. At the time, there were rules. These days, artists celebrate death like they are birthdays. I like Lil Durk. And I know he has evolved a lot into an ambassador looking to help his Chicago community. But in the not too distant past, he made a song – that bangs – and sampled Quando Rondo’s voiced when he was screaming in anguish.
That is next level! Check it out here and tell me what you think?
Lil Durk Sampled the "Nooooo" Quando Rondo Said when He lost his Homie in LA & Used it in his (UNRELEASED) Song 😳🔥 pic.twitter.com/VsGqQwVe3h
Some people liked it. Some felt it was out of pocket and others suggested it was AI. I know that song is too real to be anybody’s AI. Anyway, a lot of people say this song is incriminating as hell. Durk definitely says a lot and whoever leaked it might be the feds. Now that I think about it, both Durk and Quando are in different places in life. Hopefully this does not start anything up again.
Jamie Foxx and his daughter Corinne Foxx have been announced as the hosts of the musical game show “We Are Family” amid his health battle.
On Monday (May 15), executives at the Fox network announced that the father-daughter duo will host a new celebrity competition series in 2024.
Similar to “The Masked Singer,” “We Are Family” is a music guessing game that features non-famous relatives of celebrities performing duets with their hidden famous family members.
The studio audience will comprise 100 contestants competing to win a $100,000 cash prize by correctly guessing the hidden celebrity before they are unveiled.
“We are thrilled to be developing We Are Family with Jeff Apploff and our friends at FOX Entertainment after so much success with six seasons of Beat Shazam,” Jamie and Corinne said in a joint statement. “We hope this show brings as much fun to audiences at home as we’ve had creating it when it premieres next year.”
“Jamie and Corinne are important partners to the Fox Family,” added Allison Wallach, president of unscripted programming for Fox Entertainment. “Their boundless energy and charming interplay with contestants are irresistible, which make them the perfect hosts of We Are Family.”
This will be the second music-based game show they have fronted following “Beat Shazam,” which premiered in 2017.
Nick Cannon and Kelly Osbourne are temporarily filling in for Jamie and Corinne on “Beat Shazam” while the Oscar-winning actor recovers from a “medical complication” he suffered in April.
“Update from the family: Sad to see how the media runs wild,” she wrote in an Instagram Story. “My dad has been out of the hospital for weeks, recuperating. In fact, he was playing pickleball yesterday! Thanks for everyone’s prayers and support!”
She ended her post by teasing “an exciting work announcement coming next week.”
Dave Chappelle made a surprise return to San Francisco on Thursday night, performing at the Masonic Auditorium. However, he dissed the city and let them know he was highly disappointed with the current state of the city.
According to SFGATE, Chappelle asked, “What has happened to this place?” It should be noted that Dave has a long history of performing in San Francisco. During his set, he shared an incident where he witnessed someone taking a sh#t on the sidewalk in front of an Indian restaurant, where he had planned to have dinner. He opted to pass on that.
Dave described the city as a combination of “Glee” (the show) and a zombie movie. He further asserted that the entire city now resembles the restaurant he was going to eat in.
Dave ended, “You n-words need a Batman!” emphasizing the need for someone to bring positive change to the city.
Bobby Shmurda Is Ready….
You guys think Bobby is ready to take the city back? He has a new song in the making and people seem to be feeling it. It does not matter that he’s only doing ad libs! People respect the energy.
According to @ajcnews, attorney Suri Chadha Jimenez was held in contempt last week for showing up to court late. Judge Ural Glanville ordered Jimenez to buy lunch for all the other lawyers in the case. He made a suggestion, but Chadha had thoughts of his own. Jimenez decided decided to order his lawyer colleagues some Magic City wings. You cannot make this up.
Legendary music producers Timothy “Timbaland” Mosley and Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean launched Verzuz in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The hits-for-hits presentations grew from an Instagram Live streaming experience to live performances featuring numerous Hip Hop and R&B acts.
It appeared Verzuz was in an uncertain state of limbo since the summer of 2022. According to Timbaland and Swizz Beatz, more matchups are on the way. The two creators also claimed to own 100% of the company.
Swizz Beatz Teases Quarantine-Era Verzuz Rematches In Front Of Full Live Crowds
“When we come back, which is soon, the way we do it to them this time – season three, the return of the V,” said Swizz Beatz while talking with Timbaland on Instagram Live. The Poison album creator hinted at rematches like Erykah Badu vs Jill Scott in front of a full arena audience.
He added, “Verzuz is still 100 percent Black-owned. 50 percent on the top of your screen, and 50 percent on the bottom of your screen. Tim and Swizz, that’s who own Verzuz. In case you ain’t know… It was built for the people, and it will stay with the people. And we love everybody.”
Fans have been fantasy-booking potential Verzuz battles like Usher vs Chris Brown, Lil Kim vs Nicki Minaj, OutKast vs A Tribe Called Quest, and 50 Cent vs Lil Wayne. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Diddy vs Jermaine Dupri will take place later this year in New York City’s iconic Madison Square Garden.
Alyssa “Latto” Stephens can claim to be one of the most successful Hip Hop artists to emerge from reality television. The former Miss Mulatto won season one of Jermaine Dupri’s The Rap Game TV series in 2016.
Since that time, Latto signed with RCA Records and earned a Billboard Hot 100 Top 5 entry with “Big Energy”. Plus, she began hosting Apple Music’s 777 Radio show. Her career trajectory also includes victories at the BET Awards, BET Hip Hop Awards, and iHeartRadio Music Awards.
Some fans have wondered why So So Def label founder Jermaine Dupri did not secure Latto under a record deal after winning The Rap Game. Dupri spoke about the situation during an interview with HipHopDX.
“People keep always saying, ‘Jermaine, you dropped the ball on [Latto].’ But what people don’t understand is, I put Latto’s record out. The deal was, if you win on The Rap Game, you get a single from Jermaine Dupri on So So Def. So that single came out,” explained JD.
The Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee continued, “The problem was that Latto was 16 years old, and the outlets didn’t support it. And nobody was like speaking on it. Nobody talked about it. If you watched the TV show, you saw it. But people didn’t start talking about Latto until she started making more vulgar records, dressing more sexually, and being more adult.”
Latto received her first RIAA Platinum Award in March 2021 for the “B#### from da Souf” single. The 24-year-old rapper’s “Big Energy” obtained a 2x-Platinum plaque in October 2022. “Muwop” featuring Gucci Mane is Platinum as well.
Queen of da Souf peaked at No. 44 on the Billboard 200 album chart. 2022’s 777 made it into the Billboard 200’s Top 20 by debuting at No. 15. Latto recently achieved a major milestone when she crossed the 1 billion streams mark on Spotify.
R&B/Pop legend Usher Raymond earned a Diamond plaque from the RIAA for his 2004 studio LP Confessions. Many of Usher’s fans consider the 10-million-selling album the singer’s magnum opus.
There has been speculation that Usher will reconnect with record producer Jermaine Dupri to create a Confessions sequel. The 8-time Grammy winner spoke with The Shade Room about those whispers of a possible part two.
“It’s just a rumor at this point,” stated Usher when asked if the 20th anniversary of Confessions will include a Confessions II. “But who knows? When we get there, we’ll see next year.”
Usher’s Confessions debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 1.1 million copies in its first week of release. The album remained atop the Billboard 200 for nine non-consecutive weeks in 2004.
Multiple songs from Confessions led the Billboard Hot 100 chart. “Yeah!” featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris controlled the pole position for twelve weeks. “Burn” (8 weeks), “My Boo” with Alicia Keys (6 weeks), and “Confessions Part II” (2 weeks) became chart-toppers as well.
Is Usher The True King Of R&B?
With nine career Number Ones on the Hot 100 and an über-popular Las Vegas residency at the moment, some R&B listeners have crowned Usher Raymond as the king of the genre. He addressed the honorific moniker during his interview.
“I feel like if I confine myself to just being the king of R&B, that would be too shortsighted. I love R&B, but R&B is a segway to many, many, many, many, things,” offered Usher. “If people have given me that title of someone that has consistently done what I’ve done then hey, I’ll take it, but it’s so much more than just being that.”
The 44-year-old music industry icon also joked, “Ain’t Jacquees the King of R&B? I don’t wanna take his role. That’s little bruh… There are many kings.” Jacquees made that declaration on social media and with his 2019 studio album King of R&B. However, the Georgia native received a mixed reaction from the public.
Usher also spoke about the King of R&B title in 2022. At that time, the Atlanta-based musician/actor said, “If you call me that, I’ll definitely carry it. I’m gonna tilt my crown knowing that I’m standing on the shoulders of all of the icons of our time.”
Did all of the online attention on YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s latest project help the Louisiana native move enough units to vie for No. 1 on the album chart?
According to HitsDailyDouble, YoungBoy will compete for a Top 5 entry on the Billboard 200. The Richest Opp mixtape is in a tight race with The Album by the Jonas Brothers for the top debut of the tracking week.
Industry number crunchers project YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s Richest Opp to open with 51,000-58,000 first-week units. Jonas Brothers’ The Album is also on pace to sell 51,000-58,000 units in its first week of release.
YoungBoy has already scored two Top 10 projects on the Billboard 200 chart in 2023. January’s I Rest My Case debuted at No. 9 with 29,000 first-week units. April’s Don’t Try This At Home launched at No. 5 with 60,000 units.
In addition, YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s Lost Files dropped in December 2022. That compilation peaked at No. 45 on the January 7-dated Billboard 200 chart. Lost Files earned 18,095 album-equivalent units in week one.
Plus, many Hip Hop fans thought the 17-track Richest Opp mixtape would come out on the same day as a project by YoungBoy’s longtime rival, Lil Durk. However, Durk announced his Almost Healed album will actually hit DSPs on May 26.
“I’m a minor, sir. I have security guards and they left that in my bag, sir. I did not pack my bag,” Lil Meech told the TSA official at the scene. The 22-year-old son of convicted drug trafficker Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory also said, “Can I call my mom or somebody?”
Ultimately, the Broward County State Attorney’s Office dropped the felony charge against Lil Meech. His bodyguard claimed to be the owner of the firearm found at the Florida airport.
Michael Rainey Jr. and Lil Meech have been taking comical shots at each other on social media for a while. The two Starz network stars made headlines for their head-to-head Instagram battle in February of this year.
Fellow Power franchise actor Gianni Paolo jumped into the crossfire by posting a video of Michael Rainey Jr. at an unknown airport. Rainey was making fun of Lil Meech’s arrest. Paolo’s TikTok clip amassed more than 230,000 likes and 3,500 comments in fifteen hours.
“Bro, don’t search me. I’m a minor. He packed my bag,” said Michael Rainey Jr., mocking Lil Meech.Power Book II: Ghost started its third season on Starz in March. BMF ended its second season that same month. Hip Hop mogul Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson produces both drama series.
Rick Ross says Jay-Z and Drake join him in a club so exclusive only the top two percent of artists qualify.
The Maybach Music Group founder claims less than a handful of his contemporaries can touch him when it comes to selecting a beat and making magic on it. According to Rick Ross, Jay-Z, Drake and Lil Wayne are worth mentioning alongside him, and he reserves heavy praise for the pair.
Rozay opened up about his collaborators during the latest episode of the Drink Champs podcast, aired Saturday (May 13).
“Me and Drizzy, our relationship is most definitely is real close,” Rick Ross began before referencing their many collabs. “We in the two percentile when it comes to writers and creators. It’s called a two percentile. The two percentile — listen, if you not ready for this…. walk out of the room.”
The “Rich Forever” hitmaker elaborated about the exclusive club, saying, “But the two percentile is when you walk into the room, you hear something, a beat or a production that you actually love and can actually create it, write it, and execute it right then. I can’t say I’ve done that with many artists. It’s not even five artists. Drake is in the two percentile,” he said before adding, “Wayne could do it, [and] Jay-Z.”
Rick Ross claims Drake is one of “very few people that’s comfortable enough to listen to a beat, take my direction from it and create something in that moment, record it right then, and stand on it.”
As for Jay-Z, Rick Ross said he realized Hov is “a two percenter” when he came up with his “Free Mason” verse. He recalled pulling up a Madison Square Garden where the Grammy Award-winning rapper was due to perform. While Rozay planned to “just kick it,” Hov “had no idea I had the production, the beat, the record,” and the idea for their collab.
“And so I went to the tour. We backstage. It may be 20 minutes before he go and perform. This the greatest n#### in the game. This Rozay. I’m still halfway broke n####. I want it. I want that motivation.”
Rick Ross approached Jay-Z just moments before Hov went onstage and asked if he could play him the beat.
“I’m expecting him to tell me, ‘Not right now. Not right now.’ And I tried him, straight up,” Rick Ross explained. ‘So I play my verse and the beat from ‘Free Mason.’ He leaning up against the wall before he go on stage. And he just started rapping right there. And what he saying is pertaining to what we talking about. So Hov is a two percenter.” Check out the episode below.