Mystikal sought to prevent people involved in his rape case from discussing it with members of the media.
According to The Advocate, the rapper’s new lawyer Tiffany Myles Crosby filed a request for a gag order in Louisiana on Thursday (March 16). Mystikal hired Crosby after ditching defense attorneys Joel Pearce and Timothy Yazbeck, who represented him in a past rape case that was dismissed.
Mystikal asked for a gag order due to an “inordinate amount of publicity.” He is scheduled to appear in court on Monday (March 20).
Last year, Mystikal was arrested for allegedly raping a woman at his home in July 2022. Authorities claimed he strangled the woman, threatened her with scissors and forced her to give him $150.
The 52-year-old rap star was indicted on multiple charges, including first-degree rape and false imprisonment. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Mystikal, whose real name is Michael Tyler, has remained in jail since his arrest. His trial is expected to begin this summer.
The former No Limit Records artist previously pleaded guilty to sexual battery and extortion in 2003. He spent six years in prison.
Mystikal was also charged with first-degree rape and second-degree kidnapping in 2017. The charges were dropped in 2020.
DJ Drama found a way to repair his relationship with his artist Lil Uzi Vert.
The Generation Now co-founder discussed their past feud in an interview with Bootleg Kev. DJ Drama said he’s now on great terms with Lil Uzi Vert.
“We got over the hump,” DJ Drama told Bootleg Kev. “We’re back in a great working space, in a great personal space … Families bicker. Sometimes, it plays out in the public. Sometimes, it doesn’t.”
He added, “His success is our success. So, even at a space and time where we may differ or I don’t agree or have another opinion on it, it’s a rock and a hard place. It’s kind of like you just gotta roll with punches and keep putting that work in.”
Lil Uzi Vert complained about Generation Now in recent years, which bothered DJ Drama. The two publicly clashed at times, but the veteran DJ believed time helped resolve their problems.
“Just coming back, and I guess after a couple of years of things kind of like letting it play out, we got back in a good space,” DJ Drama said. “And again, we were moving and grooving.”
Lil Uzi Vert is preparing to drop a new project titled The Pink Tape via Generation Now. A release date hasn’t been announced.
Jurors finished their seventh day of deliberations with no verdict in the XXXTentacion murder trial.
The Florida jury was sent home for a few days on Thursday afternoon (March 16). Judge Michael Usan granted the jury’s request for a day off, allowing jurors to resume deliberations on Monday (March 20).
Michael Boatwright, Dedrick Williams and Trayvon Newsome were charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of XXXTentacion. They face life in prison if convicted.
The trio’s murder trial began in February. Last week, the jury started the deliberation process.
Prosecutors accused Boatwright, Williams and Newsome of targeting XXXTentacion in a deadly robbery. A fourth man, Robert Allen, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for his role in the late rapper’s death.
Allen testified against Boatwright, Williams and Newsome. Allen identified Boatwright as the man who shot XXXTentacion and Newsome as the one who grabbed a Louis Vuitton bag containing $50,000 in cash.
Prosecutors played surveillance footage of the violent robbery, which showed two masked men confronting XXXTentacion before the fatal shots were fired. Allen said Williams served as the getaway driver.
XXXTentacion, whose real name was Jahseh Onfroy, was shot and killed outside of a Florida dealership in June 2018. He was 20.
While a lot of the culture is focused on battle rap, there are some DJ battle competitions that have taken Hip Hop by storm and attracting some true—heavy hitters.
One example is DJ Pretty Lou and his “DJ Pretty Lou Presents The Turn The Tables,” a competition series that hosted its semi-finals and championship round tournament for his upcoming YouTube.TV show.
The semi-finals and championship DJ battles were held at Barcode in Elizabeth, NJ, and hosted the following celebrity judges, DJ Enuff, Mister Cee and DJ DooWop.
Going head-to-head in the tournament were DJ Ric Roc vs DJ Chicago Rambo (first round) and DJ Jay Smooth vs DJ Drop (second round). All four DJs are competing to win $10,000.
The competition lines the DJs up, asking them to complete seven-minute sets with a surprise “Monkey Wrench.” A Monkey Wrench is to test your music library and what one might have in their stash.
An example is if the set was all Roc-a-fella artist songs (and not songs they were featured on) and the surprise Monkey Wrench, created mostly by DJ Clark Kent, would be something like Queens “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
For Mr. Cee and DJ Enuff, the competition really lifts the need for rap music education in the DJ community, both saying, it is a must for DJs to learn the music (tracking over 50 years) that feeds their art form.
“DJ Pretty Lou Presents The Turn The Tables” debuts on Wednesday, April 12, and is sponsored by DEF JAM, Avenue Motors, Trinity, and Bell Mitsubishi.
The good brother was in Austin this week and there were several sightings of him. He was moving about the town and ended up at a party last night. But this was no ordinary party. This was a show that was hosted by Just Blaze and featured a bunch of people like Redman, Beanie Sigel, Talib Kweli, Freeway, Bun B and more. It was amazing! But when Dave hit the scene, things went to the next level! Dave eventually got on the mic and immediately paid homage to the last Bobby Caldwell. Caldwell passed away at the age of 71 this week. And we are in pain! God bless his soul. Dave started singing “What You Won’t Do For Love” and the DJ began to mix in the actual song. And, of course, there is the crowd. I do not have video, but hit me up if you see anything online, or drop it in the comments!
Rest in Peace, Brother Bobby! Here’s the song once again!
Honestly, I never knew Quando Rondo was in the game in a way that would result in being blackballed. I guess if whatever social circle you exist in decides to give you the boot, you can be expunged from anything. As far as I am concerned, he was never at industry events, parties, awards shows or anything else for that matter. God bless.
He recently did an interview and claimed to be out of the game against his wishes.
He looks good (as in not based out), he seems to have his clothing and jewels. What’s the issue?
I think his so-called blackballing has less to do with being cut out the game and more to do with being a liability everywhere he goes. After Von died, and he was closely related to Lul Timm, that’s a big a$$ albatross around the neck. They never lead with talent and skill so why do it now?
In an ongoing RICO trial, rapper Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, is fighting to redact a controversial video while seeking information on an informant known as K.C.
The video in question dates back to April 14, 2015, and allegedly shows Young Thug threatening fellow rapper Lil Wayne.
The prosecution seeks to introduce the video as evidence, arguing that it demonstrates Young Thug’s involvement in running the street gang Young Slime Life.
The prosecution believes the video is essential due to the 2015 conviction of Jimmy Carlton Winfrey, also known as Peewee Roscoe, who was sentenced to ten years for shooting at Lil Wayne’s tour bus.
Winfrey, an associate of both Young Thug and Bryan “Birdman” Williams, was indicted on RICO charges alongside 27 other members of Young Slime Life, including Young Thug, on various charges.
Additionally, Young Thug is searching for information on an individual known as “K.C.,” who has reportedly been cooperating with the police since 2015.
The defense believes that “K.C.’s” background and history as an informant may be crucial to their case.
On January 8, 2015, T.I.G. Studios became the target of a drive-by shooting. The State’s discovery process enabled law enforcement officers to obtain statements identifying the perpetrator of this incident.
The shooter was identified as “K.C.,” a State witness in the ongoing case.
The prosecution has not provided any reports, statements, 911 calls, videos, notes, body camera footage, or other evidence related to the drive-by shooting.
T.I.G., short for “Think Its A Game,” was home to artists like Trinidad Jame$, Rich Homie Quan, and most importantly, YFN. Lucci.
The YSL/YFN feud escalated dramatically seven years ago after the murder of Donavan “Big Nut” Thomas, who played a pivotal role in discovering several Atlanta-based rappers, including YFN Lucci.
Moments after taking the stand in the controversial Taxstone trial about the murder of his friend and bodyguard Ronald “Banga” McPhatter, Brooklyn rapper Troy Ave has dropped a diss track against his enemy.
The new song hit the internet on Monday, March 13, and is called “Black Church.” Many people are referring to it as the “Taxstone Diss.”
A video has also been released where Troy Ave, dressed in a hoodie, is spitting in front of an actual church in the night— so it looks black. The rhyme seems to defend or at the very least says he’s good with his decision to cooperate with the courts.
As reported by AllHipHop.com, Troy Ave cooperated with the government to ensure the Taxstone gets locked up.
In a matter of two days, the video has amassed approximately 50,000 views.
One person wrote, “Man you killed them last two drops. Belly of The Beast & Black Church 🔥🔥 That’s the Troy Ave we want. #TopTierBars.”
Man you killed them last two drops. Belly of The Beast & Black Church 🔥🔥 That's the Troy Ave we want. #TopTierBars
Another wrote, “I ain’t even get to tell you but that White Xmas needed that Black Church on it. My s### on the album is once upon a time and Blue Chanel.”
I ain’t even get to tell you but that White Xmas needed that Black Church on it. My s### on the album is once upon a time and Blue Chanel
Eric André has insisted everything Chet Hanks said about him in his Instagram rant is a “bold-faced lie.”
The feud between the comedian and Tom Hanks’s son began earlier this week when Eric claimed in an interview with Rolling Stone that Chet “broke” the crew of his sketch series, “The Eric André Show,” with his “dangerous” behavior and called him “emotionally disturbed.”
The actor/musician responded in a video on his Instagram Stories on Wednesday night, claiming Eric is badmouthing him because he “outshined” the funnyman and made him “shook” on the set of his own show.
“There’s a lot of f###### weirdos in Hollywood, but I didn’t think you were one of them,” he continued. “I thought you were funny and cool, but turns out you’re just a p####, dude.”
https://youtu.be/IqWs8o7bGnM
The stand-up star reposted the video on his Instagram Stories and promoted the upcoming series of the show with laughing emojis. However, a few hours later, he returned and recorded his own video.
“Guys, everything Chet Hanks just said about me is a f###### bold-faced lie. He’s a f###### liar. And I dare him to take a f###### DNA test and prove that Tom Hanks is his f###### father,” he angrily stated.
He tagged Chet in the post alongside a middle finger emoji.
In the original interview, Eric alleged, “He stole a motorcycle and rode it around. He almost knocked a bunch of grips and gaffers off their ladders. It was very dangerous. He tried to prank us back, but we edited out all his bulls**t! He’s not well. How did (Chet’s half-brother) Colin Hanks come out so good and Chet Hanks come out so bad?”
In his Instagram video, Chet confirmed he picked up a dirt bike and started riding it around the set, but he got off after the crew expressed concern.
Troubled Fugees founder Pras Michel is set to go on trial at the end of March, and reports regarding how he is raising money for his defense are starting to leak.
As the Grammy Award-winning artist moves toward his federal charges to conspire with fugitive Malaysian financier Jho Low to persuade the Obama and Trump administrations with financial donations, Reuters says he is now offering to break off some investors with some loot if they add to his defense fund.
As the trial approaches, money to fight the feds is getting tight for the Haitian American. To defer the costs of the approximately $2.6 million needed for the trial, he and his litigation finance broker, Peter Petyt from 4 Rivers Services Inc., are looking for an investor to front them the money.
The pitch was made on Tuesday, March 14 in the Litigation Finance Insider, a popular email newsletter.
The investor will receive from Pras a share of approximately $75 million, monies the artist had to hand over to the government during the investigation and the upcoming trial when he is exonerated in the case.
Another proposal pushed by the broker is to offer an investor “a stake in Michel’s future earnings as a performer.”
Petyt confirmed the money is “tight” for the rapper. He also believes it’s going to be a challenge to get the money, saying, “It’s going to be difficult to finance because it’s so different from the usual case [that he deals with .”
Phora is one of those artists that lets the music speak for itself. Go to any of his live shows, and you’ll see exactly what I mean. The Anaheim, California native boasts one of the most dedicated fanbases of our generation, selling out every and any show he puts on — regardless of location.
In fact, he recently shut down stages all across the country, putting on FREE shows as a thank you gift to his fans for supporting him all these years.
Phora’s story is not one to be overlooked. At 28 years old, Phora has been through his own share of traumatic hardships, including being stabbed at age 15 and even shot on the freeway at age 21. Regardless of what he’s going through, Phora always pours his heart and soul into the music…and it’s his vulnerability that fans gravitate towards most.
On a happier tip, Phora is a gentleman and hopeless romantic, which turns his love songs into long-lasting memories and soundtracks. His current girlfriend, Skye, is featured on two songs from his newest project titled The Butterfly Effect, and you can hear the love within both records.
On the 49th episode of Shirley’s Temple, I sat with Phora to discuss his new project, touring with G-Eazy and Trippie Redd, doing tattoos, mental health struggles, checking himself into rehab, how he met his girlfriend Skye, and more!
AllHipHop: You just dropped The Butterfly Effect album, how are you feeling?
Phora: I’m feeling great. Dropping these albums and these songs, it’s a lot easier independent. Most importantly, I just have a lot more creativity to do what I want to do, and not do what I don’t want to do. When I do these interviews, I can pick who I want to do the interviews with. [laughs]
A lot of artists, dropping an album for them is stressful, because they have to do a bunch of s### they don’t want to do. For me, look. Let’s put the music, let’s go with the flow and make everything natural. Let’s make sure we work hard, but we don’t do things we’re against. It makes me comfortable, it makes me have a lot of respect for myself. It makes me have respect for my team. I just feel like me, to be honest.
AllHipHop: Was it inspired by the movie?
Phora: I seen the movie a long time ago, I love the movie. It’s more of The Butterfly Effect as a meaning in itself, as a phrase. Every little thing you do can have a huge impact.
AllHipHop: You just did an appreciation tour, doing free shows all over the country.
Phora: Those were crazy!
AllHipHop: What prompted you to do this? Because even $5 tickets, you could make some revenue.
Phora: I do it because I’m a fan of music too. If someone has a free show for me, I think to even before I started making music. Someone had a free show, I’m going! Especially these days, shows are $35, $50 a ticket. You might not want to go. You gotta drive there, you can’t go alone. You gotta bring two or three friends, it starts to get expensive.
You know what, let’s do it free. Let’s give people an experience where “yo, I had an amazing time at this free show, more than I had at shows I paid for. Festivals I went to.” I really wanted to do something, I didn’t think about making money or anything. I just wanted to be out there, outside in the easiest way possible. Putting up ticket links and all that, I didn’t even want people to go through that. I just want them to show up, have a great time.
I envisioned in my head one day, then it was super crazy.
AllHipHop: I feel like that always happens at your shows!
Phora: Because it’s a lot of young people, a lot of females going crazy. It’s more of a cult following thing where they go crazy and they’re so excited. It’s fun.
AllHipHop: When did you realize you had such an international fanbase, beyond SoCal?
Phora: Ever since I started doing shows outside, like Texas, Atlanta shows a lot of love. I’ve got a lot of love from Florida, New York too. A lot of the East Coast. It started happening slowly. It wasn’t really a time where I’m like whoa, what’s going on? It’s a brick by brick kind of thing.
AllHipHop: I was a fan of your music first, but when I witnessed your show in LA, wow! You pack it out, the fans know every single word.
Phora: It’s a beautiful thing. Especially doing those songs, performing for an hour, there’s people who know every single song. Man, how do you guys know? I barely know all these songs! I’m sure I could do 20 more songs and they would know them. How do you guys know all these songs? I could barely remember the words, but they know them word for word.
AllHipHop: I had G-Eazy on my show, you went on tour with him and Trippie Redd. Wildest city?
Phora: I think maybe because it’s where G-Eazy’s from, shout out to the Bay. Y’all got some of the most loyal, amazing, dedicated people. The Bay really has a culture, they have love and respect for the people that came out of the Bay. When you do a show and perform in the Bay, if they f### with you, they f### with you. If they don’t f### with you, they don’t f### with you.
I love the Bay, one of the most memorable cities. That tour was crazy, I learned so much. It was my only support tour I ever went on. G-Eazy said “yeah f### it, come on tour with me. Let’s go.” Then I found out Trippie was going to be on the tour, which was even better. It’s pretty much a tour with all homies, instead of being on tour with someone random. It was pretty dope, I have so many memories.
AllHipHop: G-Eazy simmered down a lot. He doesn’t really party now, but I know he used to.
Phora: Yeah, he’s wild!
AllHipHop: Were y’all partying after the shows?
Phora: Of course. They had the Stillhouse little thing. In every venue, they set up a bar. You got the show, then you got a club inside the venue. It would be dim lights, red lights, alcohol everywhere. Industry people, but also girls, guys. Just a bunch of stuff going on. Every night was an all night partying kind of night, but it was fun. It was more good vibes.
I can’t even remember anything weird happening on that tour. It was straight through, straight shot tour. Everyone had fun. Everyone turned up. We didn’t even really have to go to the outside clubs. The internal, inside of the tour was one f###### traveling club. [laughs] It was cool, I had a great time.
AllHipHop: “Love Is Hell” is one of my favorite songs of yours, that video was so perfect. That and “To The Moon,” obviously.
Phora: Thank you. Both of those videos, I really put in a lot of thinking. I wanted those videos to be really colorful and just different from the stereotypical. I like a lot of my videos to be like that.
AllHipHop: How’d you and Trippie link up? Did he reach out to you to work?
Phora: No, G-Eazy hit me up. He was one of the first people ever in my career, that was a superstar to hit me up. Me and Trippie had met somewhere, we exchanged numbers. I asked him to be on the song.
AllHipHop: He sounds so good on it!
Phora: You know where we met at? We met at Day N Night Festival in Anaheim. Me and Trippie, we’re homies. I went to his house, he’s been to my house.
AllHipHop: Growing up, what were you envisioning for yourself then? When you were in that one bedroom apartment.
Phora: Getting the f### out. Getting out, getting out of that whole environment. Getting out of everywhere. I had a vision of me on a beach somewhere far, far away, and not having to deal with all the s### I was dealing with when I was a kid. I know so many people out there feel the same way they feel.
I felt trapped. I felt confined. I felt like I was in this box, and there were all these other people out there living these lives that they love and they’re so happy with. Man, my biggest vision was getting out and being free. Finding myself and being me, that pushed me for so many years. It still pushes me to this day. I still think back to that kid, how would he feel?
AllHipHop: You were tattooing, making $1,500 a week?
Phora: More than that, it depends on how it went. I was 14, 15 years old, doing tattoos. $40, $50 tattoos, but all day, all night. Till 3am, 4am. It was a hustle. I just love and respect art. I started out drawing Dragon Ball Z and Pokemon characters when I was 5, 6, 7. I’ve always loved art, started getting into that. Doing tattoos and stuff like that.
AllHipHop: What was your first tattoo ever?
Phora: This California outline right here, just the outline. I got it when I was 13. Back then, getting a tattoo was the craziest thing ever. [laughs] People were not tatted up.
AllHipHop: I just remember listening to Wiz Khalifa’s “Ink My Whole Body.”
Phora: He was the first rapper that was all tatted. Everyone’s like, “this is insane!” This dude has so many tattoos. Wiz Khalifa, ink my whole body I don’t give a m#########! It was the coolest thing. Even Wiz inspired me. Dude, this is so cool. It’s so artistic. It looks dope. I’m sure behind all his tattoos, he has his stories. Some obviously mean more than others, but it’s lit.
AllHipHop: Do you have a most meaningful tattoo?
Phora: I have a lot. On my hand says “forgive me mother,” that was a special one.
AllHipHop: How did she receive that?
Phora: She loves it. I’ve put my mom through a lot, especially as a teenager. It’s a small thing to always remind myself too, how much my mom has done for me and how much I owe her for having my back and showing me so much love growing up. That’s a special one. I have a lot of special ones, but they all have stories.
AllHipHop: A huge part of the show is mental health. How are you doing?
Phora: That’s a good question, how am I doing? I think I need a new therapist. I’m good. I put a lot of my pain, a lot of the stuff that I go through into music. A lot of people could say, “yeah, a lot of your songs are sad.” But making those sad songs makes me not so sad anymore, because I get it out. It’s like talking to someone about your problems.
When I don’t have someone to talk to, I write it down and that helps me a lot. As of right now, one thing that stresses me out is I don’t have too much time for music. I’m handling a lot of personal stuff, life stuff, family stuff. Getting back into music is very important for me, mental health-wise.
Having something or doing something that you love is important for mental health, so you’re not basking in your sadness and your depression all day in your room. I’ve been there before. I sat there for days and days and days on end, not knowing where to go, not knowing what to do.
Having someone you love, having something you love, anything you love, finding a hobby that you’re passionate about, that you could put that negative energy and f###### turn that into positive energy, it’s super important. Thank God, because that’s what music is for me. Music for me is not just I get on the mic and make a hot track. That’s not what it is for me, it’s something much deeper for myself.
AllHipHop: My photographer was saying earlier: “man, his music’s deep!”
Phora: [laughs] I don’t have a problem with being vulnerable and open, showing what I go through. That’s me, that’s who I am. Just like I wear these tattoos on my arms, I wear my f###### heart on my sleeve and my music. I don’t have a problem with it.
A lot of people who can’t talk about s### and aren’t open, when they listen to that music, I know a lot of m############ who connect with that s###. Out in the open, out in public, they’re some of the toughest, coolest m############. They pull me to the side like “look man, your music helped…” You would have never guessed, you would never think, but I’ve been pulled to the side a million times.
AllHipHop: The amount of times… you probably lost count.
Phora: It’s a beautiful thing because it’s bigger than me. It’s bigger than music. It’s about people being able to relate and people knowing we’re all human. We go through s###. I could get super deep. [laughs] That’s an important part of music, it’s supposed to make you feel something. Music is also supposed to make you feel happy, too. Music is supposed to make you feel happy, but I have my purpose in this music thing and I found it.
AllHipHop: What happened that led you to rehab?
Phora: We were talking two days ago about this, in Vegas drunk as hell. [laughs] Rehab came up, funny enough. We all go through our things and at that time, I was going through a lot. I was going through a public break up, I had internal things and then music things I was stressed about. I really was doing all the wrong things to help fix those things, it all made it worse.
You go into a downward spiral. I had a vision of where I’m going, because I’m a forward thinker, and I had a vision of me being dead. Yeah, that’s not what I’m trying to do. That’s not where I’m trying to go, so I need to stop making these choices. I need to do something that I don’t want to do, to help myself be where I want to be. It was a lot of bad stuff, but it’s all in the music.
I don’t have anything to hide, but rehab helped me. I’m a different person since then, in certain aspects of my life. It was very eye-opening and very helpful.
AllHipHop: Do you mind if I ask where you went?
Phora: I forgot what the name of it was, but it was in Santa Monica. I was there for less than 30 days.
AllHipHop: I was going to ask if it was nearby home or away, because they tell you not to be by home.
Phora: It was here, it was close. I was there for less than 30 days, I ended up bouncing out. [laughs] I ended up running away, but I had learned a lot. I paid for it myself.
AllHipHop: That s### is expensive!
Phora: I know, my insurance didn’t cover anything. Look, if I’m spending this much money, I gotta leave with some newer knowledge of myself and of life. I have to learn something at least, so I felt like I did. I met a lot of people, I listened. The one thing that really helped me was I listened to a lot of people’s stories in there, and they didn’t know who the f### I was.
It’s one thing listening to someone’s story, them looking at you and talking to you like “your music helped me so much.” It’s another thing being there, not really existing to this person. It’s two different experiences, they’re both important. I heard so many people’s stories and so much of what they went through, wow. I learned how selfish I was, how ungrateful I was.
AllHipHop: Everyone’s journey is different, but I feel you.
Phora: I learned how much I did have, versus crying and complaining about how much I didn’t have. I learned a lot of things about myself that helped me with who I am now. I try to look at things: what I’m grateful for now, instead of what I’m so stressed about what I don’t have. I learned so much, it was super helpful.
AllHipHop: Did you check yourself in?
Phora: Yeah.
AllHipHop: A lot of people be doing interventions…
Phora: It was getting there. Especially with artists, people don’t want to step on toes and pull artists to the side. It could be an offensive thing. You never know how someone’s going to react. You never know if I’m going to be like f### you guys, you’re all fired! It never got to that point, it was me having a self-realization.
AllHipHop: People who experience a shooting are likely to be affected by long term psychological effects of the traumatic event, typically experiencing intense feelings of helplessness, anxiety and fear. You were stabbed at 15, what was your living environment like?
Phora: I was just out a lot, didn’t want to be home. Trying to figure something out. I had a lot of lost, hopelessness feeling. I hung around older people. I didn’t really get along with the people that were in high school and in sports, more of an outcast. Hated being home for other reasons. I was out, doing s###, lost. Trying to f###### figure out who I was.
AllHipHop: You were shot too. How did you process these and how did you cope?
Phora: It’s really weird to be honest. That question still now till this day, I don’t even really know. A lot of it is subconscious stuff that happens naturally. You do good things and bad things because of certain things that have happened in the past. A lot of times, you do them without noticing that you’re doing them. Like coping mechanisms, how to cope with certain traumas from the past.
A lot of us have trauma, I’m not the only one. But coping mechanisms are a big thing. Whether it’s freaking out, hiding in your bedroom for weeks at a time. Whether it’s drinking, hating everyone and not ever trusting anyone, we all have different ways to cope. I don’t know how I deal with this. Music helps. Listening to music helps, writing music helps. That helps me with almost everything. It’s hard to deal with it, some people live with it for the rest of their lives.
AllHipHop: I was going to commend you, because a lot of people that would have gone through that couldn’t do what you’re doing today.
Phora: It’s a blessing. I thank God for where I’m at. Even being able to breathe and walk, I realized how ungrateful I’ve been in the past. Being able to walk is a blessing. Not everyone has that blessing. Being able to talk to people, communicate is a blessing. Some people don’t have that. For everything that I do have and everything that comes is a bonus, bonus, bonus. I’m already living on bonus time anyways. Every day that I get to live is an extra day that I’ve been blessed with above.
AllHipHop: I saw you were diagnosed with depression, anxiety. Did they prescribe you anything?
Phora: Oh yeah, but I don’t like medications. I have, but for some people it works really well for them. For some people, it doesn’t. The problem with me is that I like to feel pain sometimes. It’s good. Pain, stress, it motivates me to push harder. It motivates me to push to be better. I don’t want to feel numb to everything. There’s times where yeah, I can’t take this s###. I do want to feel numb, but I don’t want to feel numb completely.
I still want that pain. I still want that frustration. I could put it into music, it’s bigger than me. If I’m numb all the time, can’t really write songs. Can’t really write music, just so I feel better? I put into my music things that would help people. I don’t want to take that away from myself, but I have before. I just didn’t like it. At the end of the day, I don’t feel happy with myself. I’d rather go through it, get through it. But I’m in the middle.
AllHipHop: I’ve been on Zoloft. In those down bad moments, those rock bottoms, do you think that medication would have made a difference?
Phora: It would have helped for sure, but everyone’s different. That’s why you talk to therapists, that’s why you talk to a doctor. That’s why you talk to people that love you. At the end of the day, you make that decision for yourself, obviously.
AllHipHop: I saw you say therapy didn’t work for you.
Phora: You’re talking to someone that may or may not get who the f### you are, what the f### you’re going through. A lot of times, they’re a lot older than you. They come from a whole different background, a whole different time in history. You might get what I’m saying, but I don’t think you get in here. [taps heart] Sometimes they give you the look in the face like, “yeah, I don’t get what you’re saying.”
No one’s going to understand having millions of dollars and wanting to not be here anymore. No one’s going to understand having the whole world say how much they love you and how much you’ve done so much for them, you being like, f###, I don’t feel like I’ve done anything with my life. Once you start getting down deep into it, they’re like “oh, but you got all these people that follow you.” Only because they’re trying to understand.
It might be a wiring in the brain or something. I know a lot of people out there could probably relate. Sometimes, you think you got your brains wired a little bit wrong. I feel like that. Dude, you should be happy right now. Especially in certain times, big moments in my life. I’ve had huge album releases where my album just came out. I’m having this crazy party, so many people are here. Everyone’s praising me, everyone loves me.
I just don’t want to be here. I don’t want to do this. I don’t know why I feel like this. I don’t know why I’m on the brink of flipping out, walking down the street without anyone. Being in the dark and sitting on a random f###### sidewalk behind a car, but that’s what I feel like doing right now. There’s no explanation. I’ve been there, never had no explanation for it. F###, maybe my brain is wired a little f##### up, and that’s okay. I know a lot of people out there feel like that.
AllHipHop: I definitely think part of it is the trauma that you’ve had to endure throughout the years.
Phora: Yeah, part of it. But we all have some sort of trauma, that might be part of it. I remind myself that it’s okay. Sometimes, I felt bad. I felt guilty for not being grateful. I tell myself to be grateful, then I’m like f###! It’s a constant battle, but life is good though.
It’s okay, I talk about it a lot in my music. I talk about it with people. When I’m sitting or talking with someone that’s a fan or someone that’s not a fan, have conversations like this. It’s healthy because you start understanding things a lot more. You start understanding pain a lot more. You start understanding heartbreak, hurt a lot more. What happens with this and why these things happen. When you run from it less and embrace things a little bit more, it’s a lot healthier.
AllHipHop: I had Amber Rose on my show, she was saying how being famous or someone with notoriety and going through a breakup or just dating in general, is much harder than someone that isn’t. You mentioned the public breakup. How much more difficult was it?
Phora: Because you gotta answer the people, then people are judging you. You see this and that. People will literally be like “oh, I don’t f### with them anymore because they went through this breakup.” How do you know we ain’t still cool? We just broke up.
People start getting secondary opinions when they have no clue what’s going on. People start treating you different, acting different. I guess you could compare it to a high school break up if you’re the popular [guy], it’s going to be a big thing. It’s more stressful because you have to deal with more stuff. It’s annoying. It’s like dealing with the breakup and already annoyed at that, then being a lot more annoyed with everything else too. It’s a lot more annoying to be honest.
AllHipHop: Is it harder to date when you’re famous? Because that was her struggle.
Phora: No, I’m having a good time. Me and Skye, ever since we’ve been together, we’ve been having the time of our lives. It’s pretty easy. Aside from my personal opinion on it, maybe it’s harder because you don’t know who’s there for what. Who wants to date you or be with you for what. It might be easier not having any money, not even having a car and being like “she must love me for me because you don’t love me for anything else.”
In that sense, it might be easier because I don’t have all these people all over me. I just have this person that likes me for who I am. I live a simple life, and that’s what it is. Versus I’m so paranoid, traumatized, trust issues, because I’ve had experiences in the past where people want a shout out. People want some fame, people want to see if they can come up on some money.
It’s also who you associate yourself with. If you know how to have a conversation with someone, you know how to get information out of people and see where their heads out and see who they are.But it’s tricky, especially out here in LA. It’s real real tricky. Being famous and dating in LA, it’s probably hard.
AllHipHop: How did you guys meet?
Phora: You want the real story? I hit her up on Twitter. She just appeared, and she rejected me. She ghosted me and everything, I’m like damn.
AllHipHop: What did you first say?
Phora: I have a different type of game. My game is just normal. Yo what’s up? What’s poppin’? I like to be cool with people. My game’s not “hey, let’s go out.” I don’t like to be pushy about anything, I like to be cool. If you got some friends, we’re doing this, this, this. Pull up in a public setting with friends. I don’t really like to do all the one on one stuff. My game’s more normal.
AllHipHop: So first date, you’d rather kick it with friends than one on one?
Phora: Yeah, for both party’s sake. You don’t know if I’m a weirdo, I don’t know if you’re a weirdo.
Realistically. I like for them to get their friends’ opinions, and me to get my friends’ opinion. They’re not weird, cool. Let’s go on a date. My game’s more normal, I like to talk and be cool. I don’t like to do all the extra extra stuff. Maybe that’s why she ghosted me, because I was boring. [laughs] We ended up talking again, we met.
AllHipHop: What happened after she rejected you?
Phora: Tried again, tried to hit her up again. She ignored me, whatever. I hit her up again like yo, I’m doing this. What’s good? Just on some normal s###. Not hey, how come you’re not responding? Nothing weird like that, but more a check in courtesy. I do that with friends. I do that with people. Sometimes, people are busy. She’s working in college, she was doing her own thing. Sometimes, people are doing their own s###. You follow up with people.
AllHipHop: How long were you crushing on her before she responded?
Phora: It wasn’t even really a crush thing. I thought she was good-looking, but it’s more about the way someone talks, presents themselves. There’s so much more than that. Once I got to know her, oh s###. She’s very smart, very articulate, carries herself well. She’s been through a lot. She have a lot of the same things that I have, we just related on that.
Tems earned her first Academy Award nomination for co-writing “Lift Me Up” by Rihanna from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. However, certain sections of the internet focused more on the Nigerian singer’s gown at the March 12 ceremony.
The Best Original Song nominee went viral because her Lever Couture dress appeared to block the view of other audience members at the Oscars. Photos of the seating arrangements inside the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles spread across social media.
“Imagine waiting your whole life to be at the Oscars and you end up sitting behind a stratus cloud,” tweeted former CNN contributor Jarrett Bellini. That post collected more than 139,000 likes and 26 million views on the platform.
Imagine waiting your whole life to be at the Oscars and you end up sitting behind a stratus cloud. pic.twitter.com/HQ8lSYQBUV
Rihanna Kept Quiet About The Supposed Online Backlash
TMZ caught Rihanna and her boyfriend, A$AP Rocky, outside the Bottega Louie restaurant in West Hollywood. The outlet asked the couple about Tems supposedly upsetting people for obscuring some Oscar attendees’ view of the stage.
A$AP Rocky responded by simply laughing as he and his pregnant girlfriend entered a waiting vehicle. Meanwhile, 9-time Grammy Award winner Rihanna did not offer any reaction to the question about Tems.
Tems Praised Working With Rihanna For “Lift Me Up”
“After speaking with [Wakanda Forever director Ryan Coogler] and hearing his direction for the film and the song, I wanted to write something that portrays a warm embrace from all the people that I’ve lost in my life,” stated Tems about helping to write the “Lift Me Up” single.
If Orange Was a Place EP creator added, “I tried to imagine what it would feel like if I could sing to them now and express how much I miss them. Rihanna has been an inspiration to me so hearing her convey this song is a great honor.”
“Obviously, [Commissioner Silver] said things I need to be better at, but more of just showing his support towards me. I accepted that, and I also sent my apologies to everybody – the league, myself, my teammates, my family – for putting that negativity towards all of us with a bad decision,” stated Morant.
The 23-year-old All-Star also said, “I realize what I have to lose, and for us as a group, what we have to lose. It’s pretty much just that being more responsible, more smarter, and staying away from all the bad decisions.”
Ja Morant also addressed flashing the weapon on Instagram. The South Carolina native insisted, “The gun wasn’t mine. That’s not who I am. I don’t condone it or any type of violence, but I take full responsibility for my actions.”
Ex-Indiana Pacer Jalen Rose also asked Ja Morant about several other alleged violent incidents connected to him and his family. The former Murray State University student admitted it was a mistake to put himself in some of those situations.
Ja Maront can return to the Grizzlies as early as March 20 when the team takes on the Dallas Mavericks. He averages 27.1 points a game which currently places him at No. 9 among NBA players for the 2022-2023 season. Maront presently sits at No. 5 on the assists rankings with 8.2 dimes a game.
NOCTA will release a new Nike collection inspired by one of Drake’s favorite vacation spots. The Spring Break Turks And Caicos pack drops this week.
The apparel line will be available on the NOCTA website beginning March 17. Then consumers can purchase the Spring Break Turks And Caicos clothes at select Nike retailers starting March 23.
Drake’s latest NOCTA capsule includes T-shirts, jerseys, shorts, and bucket hats. Previously, the OVO leader teamed up with Nike for a special NOCTA basketball collection featuring shooting sleeves and ninja headbands.
Official campaign image for Drake x Nike’s NOCTA Turks and Caicos collection
Earlier this week, Drake announced the “It’s All A Blur Tour” with his Her Loss collaborator 21 Savage. The arena tour heads to Houston, Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and more North American cities.
Her Loss came out on November 4, 2022, via OVO Sound and Republic Records. Drake and 21 Savage’s first full-length collaborative project debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with 404,000 first-week units.
MC Debbie D is calling for a truce. The move comes after MC Sha-Rock went on Instagram and Facebook Live with a Hip-Hop history lesson. On Wednesday night (March 15), Debbie D posted a typed response to three of Hip-Hop’s earliest female MCs: Lisa Lee, Pebblee Poo and MC Sha-Rock.
“Back in the day, though we were competitive in our crews, we were yet sisters,” she began. “As I preview old interviews online and in books, each of us spoke highly of one another in regard to the long standing work we each contributed to hip hop culture. What happened? How did we ever allow ourselves to get to the place where we yell at one another and twist truths to make ourselves higher than the other. One of the things I love about each of our stories, is that in some way, all of us are firsts.”
Debbie D then goes on to list the individual accomplishments of MC Sha-Rock, affectionately referred to as the “Mother of the Mic,” Lisa Lee and Pebblee Poo.
To Sha-Rock, specifically, she said, “You are Hip-Hop’s first female MC; PERIOD! Not a single one of your Matriarch sisters is denying your place. Your contribution to the culture as the first can never be replaced. In every room I enter, I still speak your name but many times I wonder, when you sit in the room, do you ever speak mine, or any of the Matriarchs without minimizing our contributions and downplaying history.
“For an hour, I listened to you speak on livestream disrespecting each of your Matriarch sisters and never actually getting to the point of explaining what the purpose of the livestream, which was the difference between the first female MC and the first female MC soloist. My sister, you are first, yes, but there is a reason why the four of us are Matriarchs. You did not build the culture alone.”
She concluded by asking for peace as the official 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop, August 11, inches closer. She also suggested they join forces and get “paid” to talk about Hip-Hop history on panels and tours.
“Having said, I’d like to call a truce and ask each of you to join me on a Zoom call,” she added. “Please check your emails. I love you all and pray that very soon the world will see the peace, love, unity and having fun we once had with one another.”
MC Sha-Rock has yet to respond, but AllHipHop has reached out for comment. Watch her Instagram Live video below.
Larenz Tate has appeared in television shows and motion pictures since the 1980s. The 47-year-old actor currently plays Councilman Rashad Tate in Power Book II: Ghost.
The third season of Power Book II: Ghost premieres Friday, March 17 on the STARZ network. Larenz Tate recently sat down with Emmy-winning daytime talk show host Tamron Hall to discuss the upcoming installments in the series.
“[The Power franchise] is something. Like we don’t even have Power fans. We call them the Power family, the Power universe, the Ghost family. I mean it has been such a phenomenon,” stated Tate.
Larenz Tate’s Councilman Rashad Tate is a crooked politician on the program centered around the St. Patrick crime family. The fictional Tate first entered the Power universe as a recurring character in the original Power show which ran from 2014 to 2020.
Larenz Tate Suggests Viewers May Grow To Love Councilman Tate This Season
“And what’s interesting about the Power phenomenon is that our family, they don’t distinguish the actual actors from the characters. So when you are out, they are like, ‘Yo, Rashad! Yo Councilman Tate! What happened to the Queens Tower Project? Did you really steal that money?’” Larenz Tate told Tamron Hall.
Larenz Tate also added, “Councilman Rashad Tate, he’s a person that you either love or you hate, right? And I’m good with that because I don’t want the gray area. I want you to love him or you hate them.”
The Chicago-born entertainer concluded, “But this season, you get a chance to maybe love him a little bit more than you typically would. It’s not a spoiler, but you’re also gonna hate him too. I’m just saying we’re keeping shenanigans going on.”
In addition to Larenz Tate, Power Book II: Ghost stars Michael Rainey Jr., Cliff “Method Man” Smith, Mary J. Blige, Shane Johnson, Lovell Adams-Gray, Gianni Paolo, and Berto Colon. Hip Hop mogul Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson serves as an executive producer.
Memphis-raised rapper GloRilla is the latest addition to Apple Music’s “Up Next”program. The monthly initiative identifies, showcases, and elevates rising talent in the music industry.
GloRilla broke out in 2022 with the viral hit “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” with Hitkidd. The Collective Music Group-backed recording artist also teamed up with Hip Hop superstar Cardi B for the “Tomorrow 2” collaboration.
“F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” peaked at No. 42 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. GloRilla and Cardi B’s “Tomorrow 2” debuted at No. 9 on the Hot 100. Both songs earned Gold certification from the RIAA.
In addition to promoting Big Glo as an “Up Next” artist, Apple Music released “GloRilla: Up Next Film” this week. The mini-documentary includes the Grammy-nominated performer reflecting on her upbringing in Tennessee.
Last year saw GloRilla drop the Anyways, Life’s Great… EP. The project hosts “F.N.F. (Let’s Go),” “Tomorrow 2,” “Blessed,” and “Nut Quick.” Earlier this year, Glo partnered with fellow Memphis native Moneybagg Yo for the “On Wat U On” single.
A bonus edition of GloRilla’s Anyways, Life’s Great…(Apple Music Up Next Edition) arrived on Wednesday. Miami rap star Trina shows up on “Nut Quick Remix.” Plus, Chicago’s Lil Durk contributed to “Ex’s (Phatnall Remix).”
After a viral video sparked concerns from fans, Young M.A. has revealed that she recently spent a spell in the hospital where she was treated for “several conditions.”
Footage of the “OOOUUU” hitmaker getting a fresh trim and retwist went viral earlier this week, with worried fans commenting on the post. Her general appearance and yellow-tinged eyes led fans to speculate about her health.
Young M.A. Will Explain “Everything” In Upcoming Music And Documentary
However, on Wednesday, Young M.A. reassured her fans that while she was unwell, she’s working on her health and is “doing better” now.
“As many of my supporters know I’ve been dealing with various personal health issues the last few years. I recently was hospitalized and was successfully treated for several conditions,” Young M.A. wrote on Instagram. “I’m doing better now, will take some time but I’m on the road to recovery and look forward to the future!!!”
The Brooklyn rapper also announced plans for new music and a documentary detailing her experiences.
“Rest assured I’m in good spirits and everything will be explained in the MUSIC … plus a documentary. Love y’all MAB! Don’t worry I’m good!” she added.
Her hairdresser, celebrity barber @fatsdabarber, also came under fire after sharing the video. Fans accused him of posting Young M.A for clout despite her apparent health issues.
“Y’all got so much to say as if I’m trying to embarrass my dawg she reposted my video if she didn’t want me to record she would have told me, “he wrote on his Instagram Story. “Y’all don’t know our bond nor our friendship.”
He urged fans to pray for the rapper and explained that he was helping “bring her haircut back to life” after she went a month without a trim.
Young M.A. shared his post on her IG Story, stating that she hadn’t had a haircut in four months. “We blessed don’t let that get to u blooda,” she wrote. “And I told you it’s was like 4 months.”
Diddy has confirmed his intention to add the BET (Black Entertainment Television) network to his media empire.
Earlier this week, Variety reported the Revolt owner was in the running to acquire a majority stake in BET Media Group. A source stated that Diddy is considering the purchase “as a part of his strategy to build a Black-owned global media powerhouse.”
Then, on Wednesday (Mar. 15), the NYC icon took to Instagram to confirm the reports, announcing he’s assembling a team to “pursue ownership.”
Diddy shared a video explaining BET should move from Paramount Global’s CBS Entertainment Group into the hands of Black owners.
“Media is the most powerful industry in the world,” Diddy began his post. “But it’s the industry where we have the least amount of ownership, influence and control! It’s time for @BET to be Black-owned again so we have the power to tell our own stories, control our own narrative! This is not about me it’s about WE!!!!”
However, the entertainment mogul isn’t the only entrepreneur vying to buy BET. Tyler Perry Studios owner Tyler Perry and Entertainment Studios owner Byron Allen are also said to be in the running.
Diddy revealed he is “building a team of leaders in the culture to pursue ownership in BET together!”
The Billionaire businessman believes unity is needed to achieve a significant transformation in the media. “We have to unify our power and resources to create real change! #THETIMEISNOW,” he concluded. Check out his post below.
The hiatus is well and truly over for Nicki Minaj after she teased the visuals for her new single before promising she is not to be played with this year.
On Wednesday evening (Mar. 15), the Queens-bred rapper took to Instagram to share a teaser for the “Red Ruby Da Sleeze” video. Nicki Minaj left little to the imagination in the sexy video, donning a black one-piece swimsuit and a red kimono barely able to contain her curves.
She kept the caption brief, dropping a few emojis, and was tight-lipped about the release date. Watch the clip and then check out the lyric video for the single below.
Nicki Minaj – Red Ruby Da Sleeze (Official Lyric Video)
However, over on Twitter, Nicki Minaj tweeted up a storm, reminding folks just how nice she is with the pen.
“Photoshop them bars,” she began before adding, ” Photoshop them sales.” She then retweeted a fan’s comment, “Photoshop the flow, delivery, impact, wordplay, rhyme scheme, success, influence, CHECKS 🤑 Oh wait…They never could, can, or will 😝😜🤪”
She continued, “Anytime the 👸🏽 pop out… oh look. Obsession. The 👸🏽 can leave for months. Soon as she pop back out. Oh…look.”
While it was unclear who Nicki Minaj was referring to, she followed with a warning to all of her rivals. The “Super Freaky Girl” hitmaker is turning 40 this year, and neither she nor her alter egos plan on slowing down.
“2023 not the year to play wit ONIKA TANYA MARAJ PETTY RED RUBY DA MF SLEEZE CHUN-Li NICKI MINAJ NICKI DA NINJA NICK DA HARAJUKU BARBIE. 40. Yup. 40’s wit 30 clips. FN’s wit da switch,” she wrote. “Like like…What TF do the group chat be about when I’m on hiatus? S### spooky.”
Meanwhile, after announcing she’s launching a record label earlier this month, Nicki showed love to rising rap star, Ice Spice.
“Gag. The People’s PRINCESS. catch it!!!” she wrote alongside the latest cover of Dazed magazine featuring the “Boy’s a liar Pt. 2.” hitmaker. “Ya heard da QUEEN,” Ice Spice responded.
