Did Jay-Z just sign a classic Hip-Hop super lyricist? That’s the rumor! Let me back up a bit. My dude Jay-Z has been quietly putting out a lot of artists, but more than just the regular artists like The LOX, Fat Joe and others in his management portfolio. The billionaire mogul signed Jaz-O to a distribution deal a few years ago. That album didn’t go crazy, but it was dope. Big Jaz came through. (By the way, we interviewed him recently. Peep it.)
So, anyway. Jay-Z has embraced a proverbial who’s who in the underworld of rap. Of course, we know about Griselda, but there are others such as Rock Marciano who are now down with Roc Nation. You know he’s one of the underground greats. There’s a full assortment of artists that were either on the verge of falling off or completely marginalized that Jay-Z has helped to resuscitate. That’s amazing.
I cannot say the name of artist that is reportedly signing with Jay-Z in a distribution capacity, but I can tell you that world wants this to happen. This artist has been underrated for so long that it’s time he got some flowers. What I can tell you is he’s a super lyrical MC that came out in the late 1980s. Jay-Z reveres him as one of the best to ever have done it. He’s even mentioned him in song. And that’s all I’ll say for now, but you can best believe that will be breaking news as soon as we’re able to say more.
Keke Palmer now has sole physical and legal custody over her eight-month son, whom she shares with the fitness instructor Darius Jackson.
The 30-year-old actress was reportedly presented with the opportunity to share custody with Jackson but chose not to. In the petition for sole custody, the Hustlers star stated she would pay for the “reasonable expenses” from pregnancy and birth. However, she maintained that both parties should be responsible for their own legal fees.
Court documents added that the court “may make orders” for child support and “issue an earnings assignment without further notice to either party.”
Jackson has no custody of his son and must stay 100 yards away from Keke Palmer. Palmer’s filing followed soon after Jackson posted a series of cryptic messages via Twitter..
“Just thank God & keep it pushing,” he posted on November 2. He then reposted an earlier message that read, “Being betrayed by someone you loved really changes your mindset.” He added, “Nobody apologized for how they treated me, they just blamed me for how I reacted.”
being betrayed by someone you loved really changes your mindset
Palmer and Jackson’s relationship issues first became public in July, when Jackson called the actress out on social media for wearing a fitted, sheer dress to an Usher concert in Las Vegas.
The Recording Academy unveiled the 2024 Grammy Award nominees on Friday (November 10). SZA landed nine nods, including Album of the Year for SOS and “Kill Bill” for Record of the Year.
Other top nominees include Victoria Monét, Phoebe Bridgers (six of those for her work with boygenius) and mixing engineer Serban Ghenea, all of whom received seven nominations each.
Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Miley Cyrus, Brandy Clark, Jon Batiste and Jack Antonoff followed closely with six nods each. Swift received her sixth nomination for Album of the Year, which has put her in a tie for most Album of the Year nominations by a female artist against Hollywood icon Barbara Streisand. Swift also received nods for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance, all of which are for her song “Anti Hero.”
The Grammy Awards will take place at the Crypto.com Arena on February 4 in Los Angeles.
Album of the Year boygenius – The Record Janelle Monáe – The Age of Pleasure Jon Batiste – World Music Radio Lana Del Rey – Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd Miley Cyrus – Endless Summer Vacation Olivia Rodrigo – GUTS SZA – SOS Taylor Swift – Midnights
Record of the Year Billie Eilish – “What Was I Made For?” Boygenius – “Not Strong Enough” Jon Batiste – “Worship” Miley Cyrus – “Flowers” Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire” SZA – “Kill Bill” Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” Victoria Monét – “On My Mama”
Song of the Year: Billie Eilish – “What Was I Made For?” Dua Lipa – “Dance the Night” Jon Batiste – “Butterfly” Lana Del Rey – “A&W” Miley Cyrus – “Flowers” Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire” SZA – “Kill Bill” Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero”
Best New Artist: Coco Jones Gracie Abrams Fred Again.. Ice Spice Jelly Roll Noah Kahan Victoria Monét The War and Treaty
Best Pop Solo Performance: Billie Eilish – “What Was I Made For?” Doja Cat – “Paint the Town Red” Miley Cyrus – “Flowers” Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire” Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero”
Best Pop Dance Recording: Bebe Rexha & David Guetta – “One in a Million” Calvin Harris Featuring Ellie Goulding – “Miracle” David Guetta, Anne-Marie & Coi Leray – “Baby Don’t Hurt Me” Kylie Minogue – “Padam Padam” Troye Sivan – “Rush”
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: Labrinth Featuring Billie Eilish – “Never Felt So Alone” Lana Del Rey Featuring Jon Batiste – “Candy Necklace” Miley Cyrus Featuring Brandi Carlile – “Thousand Miles” SZA Featuring Phoebe Bridgers – “Ghost in the Machine” Taylor Swift Featuring Ice Spice – “Karma”
Best R&B Album: Babyface – Girls Night Out Coco Jones – What I Didn’t Tell You Emily King – Special Occasion Summer Walker – Clear 2: Soft Life EP Victoria Monét – Jaguar II
Best R&B Performance: Chris Brown – “Summer Too Hot” Coco Jones – “ICU” Robert Glasper featuring Sir & Alex Isley – “Back to Love” SZA – “Kill Bill” Victoria Monét – “How Does It Make You Feel”
Best Rap Song: Doja Cat – “Attention” Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice featuring Aqua – “Barbie World” Lil Uzi Vert – “Just Wanna Rock” Drake & 21 Savage – “Rich Flex” Killer Mike featuring André 3000, Future, and Eryn Allen Kane – “Scientists & Engineers”
Best Rap Album: Drake & 21 Savage – Her Loss Killer Mike – Michael Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains Nas – King’s Disease 3 Travis Scott – UTOPIA
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Daniel Nigro Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II Hit-Boy Jack Antonoff Metro Boomin
Dee-1 stirred up trouble by calling out Jim Jones, Rick Ross and Meek Mill for glorifying violence in their music. Jones defended himself and ridiculed Dee-1 when asked about the criticism in an interview with Sway Calloway.
“I don’t care about what [Dee-1] said,” Jones said. “That boy don’t know me. I know his trick. He using my name for fame. It’s all good … I do more in one month for people than he’ll ever do in his whole life. I really give back to the people. I don’t care about none of the rhetoric he talking about.”
He added, “In real life, I do a lot for the people. Let’s line up the statistics. You talking or you doing? You talk a good one. What have you done?”
Jones repeatedly belittled Dee-1, dismissing the New Orleans native’s work despite pushback from Calloway. The Dipset rapper also issued a warning to Dee-1, hinting a potential violence.
“I don’t like to hear people mention my name, especially when you don’t know me,” Jones said. “Because that’s very touchy. You gotta watch whose names you mentioning out here. Because my little cousin might not like how you mentioned my name. And then he might want to slap a dread out your head just ‘cause he don’t understand that you using my name for fame … I’m not promoting violence. I’m just saying that when you do certain things, there’s a reaction for every action.”
Dee-1 reacted to Jones’ interview in an Instagram post on Friday (November 10).
“Jim Jones responded,” he wrote. “This is serious. Watch in full. These are some of the highlights, possible threats, warnings, insults, and other things spoken on. Once again, this is a PIVOTAL MOMENT in Hip-Hop history and we need to make sure we come out better because of it. I’ll be back shortly…..”
Lil Pump’s support for Donald Trump—both past and present—has earned the rapper a shoutout at a campaign rally in Florida. The former president acknowledged Lil Pump as “one of the few” artists who publicly backed the twice-impeached politician in a speech on Wednesday (November 8).
The ex-president looked at the crowd and spotted Lil Pump, who stood up and showed off his MAGA attire. Lil Pump attended the rally after recently leading his fans in a “we want Trump” chant at a show in Mississippi.
Lil Pump previously pledged his support for Trump in 2020. The two shared the stage at a campaign rally in Michigan. Trump mistakenly called Lil Pump “Lil Pimp” before inviting the rapper to speak at the event.
“I appreciate everything you’ve done for our country,” Lil Pump said at the 2020 rally. “You brought the troops home and you’re doing the right thing.”
Trump lost the 2020 presidential race, but he’s running for president again in 2024. He remains on the campaign trail despite getting indicted four times this year.
Two of the cases are related to Trump’s efforts to interfere in the 2020 presidential election. He faces 91 criminal charges, which include a violation of Georgia’s RICO Act.
Desto Dubb might boast one of the most compelling stories in Hip-Hop, one that inspires, motivates, and reminds the masses that they too can make their wildest dreams come true.
Coming from Watts, Desto Dubb started out as a hustler and hype man before stepping into entrepreneurship. He’s best known for his extremely popular streetwear brand called That’s A Awful Lot of Cough Syrup, which gained momentum during the pandemic. Within a few months, Desto went from selling hoodies out of his van in a parking lot in downtown Los Angeles to now owning two retail stores across the city.
This crossover Desto has been able to build across both Hip-Hop and high-fashion/streetwear culture is definitely one that does not go unnoticed. Every big rapper has rocked his brand from Young Thug to Lil Uzi to the late Drakeo The Ruler, leading to his successful debut of his brand at NYFW and LAFW this year!
Somehow, Desto still finds time to be a rapper himself. Most recently, he unveiled his new song “Dead Homies,” in collaboration with Veeze.
AllHipHop spoke with Desto Dubb to discuss the growing success of his clothing brand, new release with Veeze, relationship with Mariah The Scientist, an update on Thug, and more!
AllHipHop: Congrats on 5 years of your clothing brand That’s A Awful Lot Of Cough Syrup. Did you ever think you’d have this thriving clothing brand?
Desto Dubb: Oh no. When I was younger, I used to think being successful was having a couple of thousand in your bank account. I now own 12 cars and three houses. I’m feeling good right now.
AllHipHop: 12?! How do you even park them all?
Desto Dubb: I bought a few of my cars from West Coast Customs. I keep five cars up there and four at home and a few others at my locations. I allow my team to use a car too, if need be.
AllHipHop: How was it debuting your clothing brand at New York Fashion Week?
Desto Dubb: NYFW was crazy, it was a learning experience. I went out there and I learned a lot. It was a whole new thing. I’ve been swimming in the pool my whole life, I finally jumped in the ocean. It’s a lot of different sharks and fishes out there than what we’re used to.
AllHipHop: What was the biggest learning lesson?
Desto Dubb: I’m a hustler so when I think of clothes, I’m thinking about what I can sell. I enjoy making something I can ultimately sell in the market. In New York, most designers make stuff they don’t want to sell. They don’t want you to have their clothes. I met so many different designers that don’t even have their own clothing line, they’re just designing stuff. With this mindset, who are you doing it for?
To me, as a great designer and stylist, whatever you sell has to be appealing to the general population or majority of the people that want to buy. Now, if you’re making something for yourself and don’t plan to sell it, then ask yourself what is the MO? Why are you making it? You don’t always have to design clothes for people. You can make it for you, but this shouldn’t be the main focus of your brand. This is the biggest learning experience I’ve come across lately.
AllHipHop: That’s what you did for Thug though, right? You made him custom pieces.
Desto Dubb: Yeah. But again, I made it so he can wear it. That was the MO: I have this brand, I have this artist. He only wants to wear stuff that’s custom to him, so that’s what I’m making it for. These people are sitting up in their houses, making clothes that probably won’t ever be seen on other people like Thug.
AllHipHop: No Jumper is opening a flagship store next to yours on Melrose Ave. Can you touch on that?
Desto Dubb: I have a shoe store, That’s A Awful Lot Of Kicks. It was a little bit too much for me. I would have $4K shoes and ended up selling them for a low price. It really didn’t make sense to me. I overheard Adam talking about how he’d love to be back on the block. I told him hey, I got a spot for you. You can rent it and be right next to me. My store is already located on one of the biggest blocks on Melrose, it’s like putting Shaq and Kobe on the same team. Make it even bigger.
AllHipHop: Y’all are doing a podcast too, right?
Desto Dubb: Yes, I’m a co-host with Adam22 on NoJumper! We’re gonna be streaming here and there from the store. It’s really a gift shop for their fans to come to a hub and connect with the people that’s behind the scenes.
AllHipHop: Your day is probably really hectic. How do you still find the time to do music?
Desto Dubb: The music part is honestly super simple. It depends on the day. If I have a busy business day, I’m not recording. If I have a big day as an artist — then yes recording makes sense. The other day, I was with Fenix and Bravo. I met with my other homie from Houston, Lil Jairmy. Having motion like this, oh I gotta get in the studio because I have a crazy day to rap about.
Most of the time, towards the weekend when business lines cut off, I crave out time to be creative. Do I want to be creative and create some pieces for my clothing line? Do I want to create content for my Instagram? Do I want to be creative and make a song? I’m always creating something
For me, music is really about the vibe. I could go inside the studio and make five songs. If I’m not vibed out, I’m not gon’ really think the songs are fire. It‘s based on deposits, people wearing my brand or the energy I’m around. I can either create some fire pieces, or I can use my energy to make a fire song.
https://foundation-media.ffm.to/deadhomies
AllHipHop: What were you on recording “Dead Homies”? What’s your relationship with Veeze?
Desto Dubb: One day, Veeze came by my old apartment to chill before he had to do something later. Producer Thank You Fizzle was with us, making some beats. Veeze was doing some freestyling in his head. We’re like man, you gotta hop on it. He came up with the hook first. He did the verse and we went crazy from there. Right within that moment, we made two of the hardest songs we have ever done.
I’ve known Veeze for a long time, around five years. It’s great seeing him getting his flowers for the hard work he’s put in.
AllHipHop: What inspired the song?
Desto Dubb: “Dead Homies’ is a west coast banger. Everybody be on some pay to play. Trick daddy this, tricky that. My homies and I are like, I’ll never love someone over the dead homies. Dead homies is the ending of the sentence, a catchy phrase you hear tossed around the streets. For instance, I’ll never go broke on the dead homies or I’ll never love a trick girl over the dead homies, and so forth.
AllHipHop: Best memory from “Bankteller” featuring Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Pump, Smokepurpp, and O3 Greedo?
I invited Greedo over one day because I was hanging out with Lil Pump at the time and he wanted to meet him. It was the last day before Greedo went to jail. I called him like, ‘hey Greedo, what you on? Pull up, we in Beverly Hills. We got a 3-story mansion. I got the McLaren and the Ghost.’
When Greedo pulled up, he’s like “man, I just got off the phone with Lil Uzi. He wants to pull up too.” We ended up recording the song. I knew my role. I’m not someone who jumps on every song but this was different. Pump did a verse, then Greedo did one. Uzi eventually pulled up and hopped on the track with a verse too. The rest was history from there.
AllHipHop: Did you feel pressure?
Desto Dubb: For sure, but I’m the bench player. You waiting for that one call.. [knocks] Ooh, I can’t wait to go out and show what I can do. [knocks] Oh, you want me? Let’s go! I did that verse. Purp came over, he did the verse. However, the biggest moment came year or so later. Uzi called me like, “Hey, what up? Remember that song we did? You want to drop it?” Hell yeah I want to drop it! “Okay, we gon’ send it to you. Just drop it.” The song was a hit.
AllHipHop: You got a favorite collab you’ve done musically?
Desto Dubb: I love the songs I have with Ralfy The Plug. Me and Ralfy make good music together. I have a lot of songs with him because we used to work together so much. I would relisten to the old mixtapes and discover collabs I didn’t realize we did. Like, I didn’t know he put Greedo on this, or Drakeo on that. This is how Ralfy is. We used to just go to the studio. When he called me, I’m at the studio. There was a time when I was heavy in the studio. My plan was to make money during the day selling clothes, and go to the studio every night. They knew if they called me, they could get a verse or two in. We went to whatever studio we had access to, and created chemistry for hours.
AllHipHop: 3 things you need in the studio at all times?
Desto Dubb: Loose Leaf, water, and gas. If I don’t have those three, I won’t even have a mic. Of course, there’s other things that’s needed. If I pull up to the studio and I don’t have nothing to roll up with or nothing to roll, or if there’s no water, I’m not going to be my best.
AllHipHop: I ran into you at Mariah The Scientist’s album listening. What’s your relationship with her?
Desto Dubb: Slime’s my best friend. Anytime Mariah comes to LA, he calls me and says, “Hey, make sure she’s straight.” It’s what I’ve always done. This was before he went to jail. When she was out here, he’d always call me like, “Whatever you need.” I’ll say let me know, I’ll do it for you. Even after he went to jail, we kept the relationship. Mariah’s good friends with my wife and she knows my daughter. She personally invited us to her album listening party. My wife loves her, but I look at her like a sister.
AllHipHop: How’s Thug doing?
Desto Dubb: He’s in good spirits. He’s been working out and getting in shape.
AllHipHop: Best part of fatherhood?
Desto Dubb: Getting my daughter dressed every morning. I’m starting to see her pick up her own style. She wants to wear what she wants. Recently, she has been into girly clothes, like blouses. I’m like what you’re doing? I’m over here getting her the Bape sweets and Chrome Hearts but she wants to wear a little Fashionnova two-piece.
AllHipHop: Anything else you’re excited for? Any goals?
Desto Dubb: I’m excited to end this year strong. I’m excited for the growth of my team. Next year, I want to open up a new store. I’m excited for No Jumper being on the Melrose Ave block. I’m not trying to get any happier, I’m not trying to get any more sad. I’ll be right here creating and I want to go into the next year with all of my friends, employees, and family.
Sometimes you can have too much fun and next thing you know, it’s all over. I have a lot of exciting new projects and exclusive drops coming! The hustle never ends.
Jay Rock has shut down fan speculation about animosity within Top Dawg Entertainment a year after Kendrick Lamar’s departure from the label. The TDE stalwart said all is well with his labelmates in a recent interview with DJ Whoo Kid.
“People love starting rumors and spreading all types of—I call it bad ink,” Jay Rock said. “Sometimes, people like to write bad ink, especially on blog sites and different little internet things of that nature. But my man, we all good though. The family—the TDE family—despite what everybody saying, the breakup: everybody is all good.”
DJ Whoo Kid specifically questioned Jay Rock about Kendrick Lamar, asking if everything was still cool between the two. The West Coast rapper said the longtime collaborators remain close even though K. Dot left TDE in 2022.
“That’s my little brother,” Jay Rock said. “Hollered at me the other day. That’s still bro. Ain’t nothing change.”
Kendrick Lamar exited TDE following the release of his Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers album. He turned his attention to pgLang, a company he co-founded with former TDE executive Dave Free in 2020.
Jay Rock, who hasn’t dropped an album since 2018, reemerged this summer with a single titled “Eastside.” He teamed up with fellow TDE artist Ab-Soul for the track “Blowfly” in October.
Killer Mike was among the many rap artists who snagged a Grammy Award nomination on Friday morning (November 10). In fact, he landed three: Best Rap Album for Michael, Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for “Scientists & Engineers” featuring André 3000, Future and Eryn Allen Kane.
“I am so humbled, honored and grateful for this nom,” Killer Mike tells AllHipHop. “Now I wanna win and I ain’t gonna lie or be shy about it. I wanna bring trophies home for Atlanta, for Hip-Hop, for my Granny, Miss Bettie and her daughter and my beloved and beautiful mother, Denise.”
Michael arrived in June with contributions from CeeLo Green, Mozzy, Young Thug, 6lack, Eryn Allen Kane, Jagged Edge, André 3000, Future, Curren$y, 2 Chainz, Kaash Paige, Blxst, Fabo and his Run The Jewels partner-in-crime, El-P. His sixth solo album, the project dove into highly personal topics including the passing of his mother.
Killer Mike first emerged as a guest feature on Outkast’s “The Whole World” off the duo’s first compilation album, Big Boi and Dre Present… Outkast (2001). Written by Outkast and produced by Earthtone III, the track peaked at No. 19 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart. The song won the 2003 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.
Since then, Killer Mike’s career has exploded with the success of Run The Jewels. After working with El-P on Killer Mike’s 2012 solo album, R.A.P. Music, the duo just never stopped. More than a decade later, Run The Jewels has released four studio albums and toured around the world, collecting a loyal legion of fans along the way.
The 66th Annual Grammy Awards take place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on February 4. Find the Rap nominees below.
Best Rap Performance
Baby Keem featuring Kendrick Lamar, “The Hillbillies”
Black Thought, “Love Letter”
Drake & 21 Savage, “Rich Flex”
Killer Mike featuring André 3000, Future & Eryn Allan Kane, “Scientists & Engineers”
Coi Leray, “Players”
Best Melodic Rap Performance
Burna Boy featuring 21 Savage, “Sittin’ On Top of the World”
Doja Cat, “Attention”
Drake & 21 Savage, “Spin Bout U”
Lil Durk f/J. Cole, “All My Life”
SZA, “Low”
Best Rap Song
“Attention”:Rogét Chahayed, Amala Zandile Dlamini & Ari Starace, songwriters (Doja Cat)
“Barbie World” [From Barbie The Album]:Isis Naija Gaston, Ephrem Louis Lopez Jr. & Onika
Maraj, songwriters (Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice featuring Aqua)
“Rich Flex”: Brytavious Chambers, Isaac “Zac” De Boni, Aubrey Graham, J. Gwin, Anderson Hernandez, Michael “Finatik” Mule & Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, songwriters (Drake & 21 Savage)
“Scientists & Engineers”: Andre Benjamin, Paul Beauregard, James Blake, Michael Render, Tim Moore & Dion Wilson, songwriters (Killer Mike featuring André 3000, Future & Eryn Allen Kane)
Best Rap Album
Drake & 21 Savage, Her Loss Metro Boomin, Heroes & Villains Nas, King’s Disease III Travis Scott, UTOPIA Killer Mike, Michael
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical
Hit-Boy
Metro Boomin
Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II
Daniel Nigro
Jack Antonoff
Two members of the Maybach Music Group crew reunited for a new body of work. Rick Ross and Meek Mill are back with Too Good To Be True.
The duo of Meek Mill and Rick Ross let loose the Too Good To Be True album today (November 11). The 17-track project features DJ Khaled, Fabolous, French Montana, Future, Jeremih, Teyana Taylor and Vory.
Additionally, fellow MMG-associated rapper Wale shows up on the “Fine Lines” song along with R&B singer/songwriter The-Dream. NBA All-Stars Shaquille O’Neal and Damian “Dame D.O.L.L.A” Lillard also hopped on the “Shaq & Kobe” remix.
Too Good to Be True arrived on DSPs via Rick Ross’s Maybach Music Group label and Larry Jackson’s gamma creative services company. MMG linked with gamma and Chameleon Entertainment to release Rozay’s music.
“This is a big move for Larry to be in the position he’s in, and for me to be in the position I’m in, it’s only right we come together and make some HISTORIC moves,” stated Ross about the business partnership in October.
Prior to Too Good to Be True, Rick Ross dropped solo studio LPs such as 2006’s Port of Miami, 2010’s Teflon Don and 2021’s Richer Than I Ever Been. Meek Mill’s solo catalog contains albums like 2012’s Dreams and Nightmares, 2017’s Wins & Losses and 2021’s Expensive Pain. Both MCs also contributed to the Self Made compilation series.
A modern-day hitmaker and a legendary vocalist joined forces this holiday season. Hip-Hop superstar Cardi B and R&B icon Patti LaBelle partnered together for a new joint campaign.
Cardi B’s vodka-infused whipped cream brand Whipshots and Patti Labelle’s food/lifestyle brand Patti’s Good Life will present seven sitcom-style episodes showcasing their dessert combinations and family traditions.
“Everyone’s favorite auntie and favorite niece have teamed up for some holiday cheer, and we know that people are going to love the two of them together,” says Good Life co-founder Zuri Edwards.
The first episode of the Cardi & Patti series – titled “The Hug” – hit the internet on Thursday (November 9). The rest of the campaign featuring the two entertaining personalities will roll out throughout the 2023 holiday season.
Cardi B launched Whipshots in 2021 in conjunction with Starco Brands. According to the company, Whipshots has sold over four million cans to date. Both Whipshots and Patti’s Good Life products are available to purchase at Walmart.
“Whipshots and Patti’s Good Life embody the spirit of celebration, and we are thrilled to witness the harmony that Cardi B and Patti LaBelle are creating at their own holiday tables,” says David Dreyer, Chief Marketing Officer of Starco Brands.
Dreyer also adds, “Bringing these two icons, and their amazing products, together just makes sense, especially during the holiday season. Two Grammy Award winners, one new holiday tradition.”
Boosie Badazz knows how to keep the internet talking on a regular basis. A recent viral social media post by the Baton Rouge-bred entertainer let the world know his latest lady of interest.
Apparently, Boosie has a thing for singer/actress Chloe Bailey. The 40-year-old rapper shared video and photos of the 25-year-old Swarm cast member with his Instagram followers.
“NO MORE [Rihanna]. MY NEW CELEBRITY CRUSH IS [Chloe Bailey]. WTF DID MY EYES JUST SEE!!🔥” Boosie Badazz wrote in the IG caption.
Before going solo, Georgia-born Chloe Bailey became a Grammy-nominated R&B performer as one-half of the Chloe x Halle duo with her sister Halle Bailey. Chloe’s debut album, In Pieces, dropped in March of this year.
Boosie Badazz scored hits in the mid-2000s with “Zoom” featuring Yung Joc as well as “Wipe Me Down” featuring Foxx and Webbie. Over the last several years, Boosie has become more well-known for his social media activity and interviews than his music.
Terrell Davis, better known as the rapper Ralo, became a free man once again. After spending close to six years in federal prison, the Atlanta native made his musical comeback this week.
Today (November 10), Ralo released the “First Day Out” single via 300 Entertainment. The Famerica Records founder will also premiere an official music video for the song.
“I’ve seen since I’ve been incarcerated nearly 6 years everybody choosing sides and becoming allies with one another, and I just wanted to acknowledge that fact that I chose to love over it all,” Ralo stated.
He also added, “I chose to love over the streets. I chose to love over everything that has happened in the world. So I wanted to highlight that because there’s a lot of wickedness going on.”
“A lot of people trying to sabotage one another and trying to knock each other down so they can stand over the next man,” said Ralo. “I just wanted the world to know I’m satisfied, I’m humble.”
The 28-year-old rhymer continued, “I’m appreciative, and I’m grateful for what I got. I’m happy with everything I’ve accomplished thus far and I hope to keep continuing to build.”
Giggs is paying tribute to Diddy following their electrifying One Night Only event in London earlier this week.
The Hip-Hop icons from opposing sides of the Atlantic were joined onstage by an all-star lineup, including Shyne, who reunited with the Bad Boy Records boss to perform “Bad Boyz” and “Bonnie & Shyne,” from the Belize City rapper’s eponymously named debut album.
Diddy and Giggs wowed the crowd with their debut performance of the collab single, “Mandam,” alongside their respective hits at the sold-out charity show. The pair were also joined onstage by their sons King Combs and ML.
Before the show, Diddy revealed he wanted a bigger venue until Giggs convinced him otherwise.
“It was my idea,” he told The Voice. “I’d never done a show at the London O2 so I wanted to do it there then Giggs was like, no, let’s do something more intimate, just me and you and I liked that way better because it could be an all charity event.
“This was a way for me to get out here and touch the people,” he added. “Show my appreciation and also promote my new album.”
Nicki Minaj is opening up about her surgery regrets, revealing having her son helped her rediscover her natural beauty.
The NYC rap icon addressed her body modifications during an interview on The Run-Through with Vogue podcast to celebrate her cover for the magazine.
“I guarantee you, if you change anything on your body and do anything surgical and all this, you’re going to — more than likely, not definitely, more than likely — look back one day and say, ‘I was fine just the way I was,'” Nicki Minaj explained.
“And that’s what happened to me,” she added. “I could not believe even some of the photos that I didn’t love.”
The “Barbie World” hitmaker also admitted she shuns old photos of herself because “I didn’t like the way I looked.”
She continued, “I didn’t like being skinny, having a flat butt, you know. Having boobs that didn’t sit high enough. It was a lot of things.”
However, Nicki Minaj seeing herself in her 3-year-old son, affectionately known as “Papa Bear,” reminded her of her natural beauty.
“I think pregnancy could’ve played a role because seeing my son did remind me of myself so much. My real self. And it made me think why didn’t I like this? So weird,” she recalled. “But seeing old photos, being able to look at old photos again made me realize, ‘These old photos are beautiful.’”
Nicki Minaj denied undergoing surgery but confessed to having “ass shots” during an appearance on The Joe Budden Podcast in March 2022. She confessed to feeling self-conscious over her appearance after seeing Lil Wayne and the Young Money roster constantly surrounded by voluptuous women.
Meanwhile, earlier this year, Nicki Minaj revealed she had breast reduction surgery after becoming frustrated by her bust size following the birth of her son.
Keke Palmer’s mom is speaking out to defend the actress after her daughter reportedly filed a restraining order against her ex-boyfriend Darius Jackson, promoting his brother to come after her.
In court documents, the 30-year-old actress alleged Jackson abused her multiple times during their two-year relationship, per Us Weekly. She claims he was mentally and physically abusive and would hit her in front of their 8-month-old son. Palmer is also seeking sole custody of their son.
Sarunas Jackson Drags Keke Palmer On Social Media
After reports of the restraining order surfaced online, Jackson’s brother, ‘Insecure’ actor Sarunas Jackson, slammed Palmer on social media.
“The most disgusting, vile, abusive, manipulative person I have EVER encountered in my entire life,” he wrote on X. “Abuses almost everyone. Y’all will see.. Just send positive energy to the babies… Any child in the middle of something like this does not deserve it AT ALL. Wow. So damn sad.”
The post was quickly deleted, but not before being reposted by Darius Jackson.
Keke Palmer’s mom, Sharon, caught wind of his remarks and dragged Sarunas in a video defending her daughter.
“I’ve never done anything like this,” she began. “For Sarunas Jackson to post on his Twitter the ridiculous stuff that he’s posting, when he knew his brother was abusive… I went to Sarunas over a year ago and told him that his brother was abusive to my daughter, and he said, ‘Oh, well, I used to be like that too.’ What?!”
She continued, “We know he’s the biggest f### boy in Hollywood, he’s disrespectful to women, just like his little brother. He taught his brother how to be abusive. So, he don’t get to act like he’s this special guy. No, you’re a f### boy, and you’re a part of the problem!”
Check out her video below.
Sarunas Jackson responded on Instagram to deny he had ever “been abusive to any of the women I ever been involved with.” He also alleged Sharon had made threats to his family that will soon come to light.
Keke Palmer has leveled serious accusations against Darius Jackson and is reportedly seeking a restraining order against him and filing for sole custody of their 8-month-old son, Leodis.
The 30-year-old actress claimed Jackson abused her multiple times during their two-year relationship and alleges he hit her in front of their son, per court documents obtained by Us Weekly.
According to the filing, the relationship “finally ended for good” in early October “primarily due to the physical and emotional abuse inflicted” on Palmer by the father of her son.
Keke Palmer alleges Darius Jackson “trespassed into my home without my knowledge or consent” on November 5. She claims he “threatened” her before “lunging for my neck, striking me, throwing me over the couch and stealing my phone.”
Palmer claims she has footage of the incident. Several still images surfaced online, purportedly of the alleged incident referred to in court documents.
CANDID CAMERA 📸 | Photos from Keke Palmer's security camera footage showing Darius Jackson's abuse surface after being submitted as part of restraining order petition. pic.twitter.com/TQILOB1lqT
Keke Palmer Details Abuse Allegations In Restraining Order
Palmer alleges that there were “many instances of physical violence” in her relationship with Jackson. She accuses him of “destroying my personal property, including diaries and prescription eyeglasses, throwing my belongings into the street, throwing my car keys to prevent me from driving away, hitting [me] in front of our son, spewing profanities about me to our son, threatening to kill himself with a gun if I left him, harassment, and other physical and emotional abuse.”
The former couple made headlines this summer after Darius Jackson publicly chastised Keke Palmer over the outfit she wore to Usher’s Las Vegas residency.
The speculation over their relationship status continued for months. In September, Palmer attempted to shut down the rumors, saying, “mind y’all’s business.”
As reports of the restraining order emerged, Darius Jackson shared a photo of his son with Keke Palmer. “I love you, son. See you soon,” he wrote on X alongside the image.
Rick Ross can work at a high level almost anywhere and Meek Mill is typically right by his side. During their recent interview with Apple Music, Meek and Ross discussed their upcoming collaborative album, Too Good To Be True. In addition to detailing the creative process of the album’s sample heavy records such as “Go to Hell,” the dynamic duo also revealed what the atmosphere is like when they are both in the studio together.
And apparently, Rozay actually turns into the “strictest boss” rather than the biggest when it comes to managing the workflow during sessions.
“When we get in the studio, that s### gets serious,” Meek Mill said in part. “Ross getting into serious mode. He trying to knock that s### out and get to work.” On the other hand, Mike Mill appears to suggest that his energy level is as high, if not higher than Ross’ when they link up. In fact, by the way he answered the question, it makes me think he’s as turnt in the booth as he frequently is backstage in the arena at 76ers games when he’s doing front flips in somersaults off of the halftime mascot’s trick trampolines.
“And you know me, he giving me that gas, I’m going run, I’m going to run jumping out that window a hundred miles an hour. But we joke all the time. You’re going to see a lot of that throughout the content and all that. And it’s organic too.
Meek continued, “We came up with this idea and we got around each other, built, vibed out and then got in the studio. It don’t matter where we’re recording at, we could be in the closet, Rozay going to get this s### done.
Check out the recent video single for the project below.
Jack Harlow is preparing to begin a new chapter in his career following the success of his recent album, Jackman. On Thursday (November 9), Harlow jumped on Twitter to tease the pivot while also plugging his upcoming single, “Lovin On Me,” and detailing his recent movements throughout the summer—which included a reversion back to his native hometown of Kentucky and more.
“Thank u for allowing me to reset this year,” Harlow wrote in part in the tweet. “I moved back to Kentucky and gave u an album I could not have made on the road.”
Harlow continued, alluding to what he has in store on the horizon, “Surrounded by family & childhood friends this has been one of the happiest years of my life. But now…a new era begins. Lovin On Me at midnight EST.”
Just as the Louisville-bred rapper is planning to initiate yet another major shift in his career, he’s still enjoying the fruits of his labor from the past year. In September Harlow snatched Society of European Stage Authors and Composers’ (SEASAC) Songwriter of The Year award for the third year in a row, in addition to taking home the Song of the Year award for “First Class.” On top of all that, his Come Home the Kids Miss You album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart after moving roughly 113,000 first-week units, while his LP Jackman posted a strong appearance at No. 8 on the chart.
Check out the tweet below.
Thank u for allowing me to reset this year. I moved back to Kentucky and gave u an album I could not have made on the road. Surrounded by family & childhood friends this has been one of the happiest years of my life.
Nicki Minaj revealed she was once addicted to Percocet in a Vogue cover story published on Thursday (November 9). The diamond-selling artist recalled getting hooked on the drug after it was prescribed to her for menstrual cramping.
“No one told me that this was a narcotic and this was addictive,” she said. “Luckily I was able to ground myself. But—once an addict, always an addict. I feel like if you’ve ever experienced addiction to anything, which I have, you always have to think twice and three times about the choices that you make.”
Nicki Minaj, who has been accused of drug use in the past, did not disclose how long she struggled with her Percocet addiction. She believed celebrities are at high risk for substance abuse due to the public scrutiny they face.
“They eventually either get laughed out of wanting to go outside anymore, like Michael Jackson, or criticized, like Whitney Houston, or they fight silent battles, like Prince,” she said. “These are some of the greatest of all time. And one day they decided, ‘You know what? I’d rather self-medicate and be in my own world.’”
Nicki Minaj is currently promoting her Pink Friday 2 album, which drops on December 8. The project’s release coincides with her 41st birthday.
Nia DaCosta has been having quite a run over the past five years. From the critically-acclaimed short film Little Woods to the reimagined cult classic Candyman, this sister from Brooklyn, New York is now the first Black woman to direct a film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as she brings The Marvels to the big screen.
AllHipHop was in the cut like Neosporin at the Urbanworld Film Festival as DaCosta spoke of how fast the last five years have passed, the different mindsets that come with being an independent director compared to a big studio director and dealing with harsh criticism from fans of the MCU, one of the most rabid fanbases in pop cultural history.
“When you’re a filmmaker, it’s like you’re a freelancer,” she said. “You’re a hustler. You’re always like ‘Yes, yes, yes!’ You’re really grasping and grabbing at every opportunity. And I work all the time. That work ethic, plus great agents plus luck plus happening to be in the right place when projects I’m really interested in come up. That’s I went from Little Woods to this.”
“When I first heard about Candyman the studio was like, ‘Oh, we think Jordan [Peele] might direct it,'” she continued. “OK, cool. Let me know, I’m gonna do some other stuff while you figure that out. And then eventually I was on the list of people pitching for it.”
It was a similar situation for The Marvels. She continues, “And they chose me and the same thing for The Marvels. I had done Candyman, I had done Top Boy, and before these movies, there were other movies that I was going to do.
“For both Candyman and this movie, I had other movies I was going to do with them. Then I was like, ‘Oh, I’m going to have to do these movies instead. I’m a huge fan of Jordan Peele and the original Candyman, and I’ve been a fan of Marvel since I was 12 and saw Sam Rami’s Spider-Man in terms of films. So, yeah, great agent, work a lot and definitely being passionate about those things.”
For some directors, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a no-go zone, one that’s filled with too many moving parts and weighed down by big studio expectations. DaCosta told the gathering that gave her pause, albeit briefly.
“The Marvels was something I had to think about,” she admitted. “I didn’t think about in talking to a lot of my friends who’s in the universe, whether it’s actors or directors, because going from an independent studio where you are the creative center of the film…it’s like with my first film, I spent so much time trying to get that film made, it’s just so intensely yours. When you’re working on a studio project it’s completely different, even if it’s authored.”
She continued, “You’re combatting layers and there’s kind of more to work through, but you also get a lot more money and a lot more support. So, it’s like a give and take, and then it’s even more extreme you go into the Marvel Universe. Not just because it’s a bigger movie but the 33rd film within a universe. So, there was a so much negotiation, creatively.
“I knew this wasn’t going to be like Little Woods. I’m not going to be the person calling all the shots, but will I still have a good time? That was really important to me.”
Inevitably, there are going to be rabid critics of any Marvel movies. However, when combining the fact that it’s a film about three female superheroines, two of whom are women of color, and is helmed by Black woman director [DaCosta], disingenuous, gender-based critique kinda comes with territory.
“I was a fan of many fandoms when I was young like Marvel, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Sailor Moon. So, I’m very use to that energy. About fandom, as a fan, people want what they want. But that doesn’t have much to do with me. I just have to finish the movie. I have another film that I am making literally as soon as the strike is over. I try to focus on the work and not the response. It’s immensely healthier that way.”
She concluded, “But obviously this is a medium in which audience matters. It’s very important that they have fun. That’s why it was very important to me that this was fun, entertaining and also heartfelt. That’s what we aim for. And then the reaction and all that stuff, I try to keep myself separate from, because once you finished the film you kind of give it to the world and they what they make of it.”
