Yung Polo and Selfmade Tru are back at it again with a duo album “Trap Twinz II”. Starting the year off with smash records such as “School Buses” and “Livin’ Fast” which also has a music video that dropped the same day as the project. TN has been making a lot of noise lately and with this project, we can definitely see why! Go click play and see what all the hype is about.
Just before the NFC Championship game against the 49ers, lost in the moment, Christopher Bruce, a longtime fan, thought of Philadelphia and a few things that make the area great – cheesesteaks, pretzels, Italian water ice, and Philly’s oldest icon; The Liberty Bell – the one thing that rings out louder than anything else.
Nothing says Philly More than the Liberty Bell. And… it’s cracked – we like it like that.
Bruce said, “The run the Birds have been on has been historic, and with the city and team embracing the motto ‘It’s A Philly Thing’ I was inspired to write a song that captured the spirit of Philadelphia and this team. When thinking on what Philly was all about and its identity, the line ‘Our Bell Might Be Cracked, But We Like It Like That’ just came to me, and we were off and running.”
“Seriously…what is more Philly than that?!? It kind of says it all.”
Christopher Bruce, Owner of King Creative, took the idea to Herb Middleton and pushed the idea. The two came together and pulled Jae Focus and The Philly Sports Guy in to collaborate on the track.
Herb Middleton, who also worked with Usher, Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, Nas, Will Smith, Total feat Biggie Smalls, Phylis Hyman, Glenn Jones, Kenny Latimore, All Nesby, Al Green, Melba Moore, and others, was just the right guy to bring the vision to life.
“I think we embodied the spirit of the Philadelphia Eagles musically with this track and can’t wait for the fans to embrace it as their own.” ~ Herb Middleton
Jae Focus brought just the right energy to the track gifting us with his flow and style. Focus was birthed into a legacy of musicality and lyricism; Jae found himself naturally inclined to create music and has been featured on BET, MTV & every major hip-hop blog, including allhiphop.com.
If you are a Philly Sports Fan, you know of and have seen The Philly Sports Guy at almost every major Philly Sports event over the past few years. This guy brings it every play of every game like no one before him.
Interviews with the team are available on a limited basis (pre-game prep), to discuss the video, the inspirations behind the song, and how Philly fans, in spite of a semi-earned reputation, are the best in the world.
Kanye West may not be paying attention to the details of all of his business dealings, allowing the maintenance of certain brands and properties to fall between the cracks.
One in particular, according to the Daily Mail, is his $2.2 million 1.25 acres Los Angeles ranch, made popular as the location for his Sunday Service religious concert series.
Sources say the place is now scraggly, with trash littered all over the place. Also, the walls that used to surround the property have now been taken down, replaced with wire fences.
According to reports, Ye used to live there with ex-girlfriend Irina Shayk after he broke up with his former wife Kim Kardashian. Kardashian never called the place home, opting to stay in their $60 million mansion in Calabasas with their four children.
The insider says there is a 4×4 tank near the broken partition and a barbecue smoker parked on the lot.
The location was also where he used to have his Donda Academy administrative work. He also has school props, such as drums and trikes, left over from the school days.
What in the Black History Month are we doing here!
The British Broadcasting Corporation News outlet had to issue an apology after tweeting out what should have been a celebratory congrats for an historic Grammy win to one Black queen but posting the photograph of another.
In a post, “Beyonce’s big night,” shouting our Bey Knowles-Carter the First and Only for breaking history with the most Grammy wins ever in history. She has now won, after the last ceremony, an outstanding 32 trophies over her stellar career. BBC posted a picture of actress Viola Davis instead of the Destiny’s Child lead.
Just know, Carter G. Woodson is turning in his grave— but they won’t break our soul!
After getting stung by the beehive, BBC News issued an apology, “We apologise for the mistake last night when our news channels briefly showed a photograph of Viola Davis from January’s Golden Globes alongside a headline about Beyoncé at yesterday’s Grammys. This fell below the BBC’s usual standards.”
We apologise for the mistake last night when our news channels briefly showed a photograph of Viola Davis from January’s Golden Globes alongside a headline about Beyoncé at yesterday’s Grammys. This fell below the BBC’s usual standards.
Ironically, Davis also made history that night, becoming an EGOT, a little more than 20 years after Whoopi Goldberg became the first Black person to ever achieve the honor. Only five Black people have done this, three Black women and 18 people overall.
Davis, who is a dynamic representation of Black Girl Magic, has an Emmy Award for her work as Annalise Keating on the hit television series, “How to Get Away with Murder,” an Oscar for her role as Rose Maxson from “August Wilson’s Fences (Revival)” on Broadway, two Tonys (both from the August Wilson ten-play cycle plays) for the roles of Tonya in “King Hedley II” and Maxson in “Fences,” and now a Grammy for the audiobook recording of her memoir, “Finding Me.”
She said in her Grammy acceptance speech she “wrote this book to honor the six-year-old Viola. To honor her life, her joy, her trauma, everything. And, it has just been such a journey – I just EGOT”
Here is Beyoncé’s speech for her Best/Dance/Electronic Album for “Renaissance” LP.
Despite the mistake, these are two great Black history moments.
When the government Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) during the height of the pandemic, it was to SBA-backed loan that helped businesses keep paying their workers during the historic slowdown. Some bad actors exploited this federally funded program and used it to pocket money.
The U.S. Department of Justice claimed the Pretty Ricky member attempted to scam the government out of $24 million in loans provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
He was only one of the big-name celebrities who went to jail for PPP fraud.
TMZ reports that he has been released on Tuesday, Feb. 7 from the Federal Correctional Institution Coleman Low in Florida, serving more than 20 months in prison after going into the facility in February 2022.
Twitter went crazy, asking why didn’t they scam the system like Blue.
“I should’ve did me a ppp loan scam 😂 he literally the only mf that went to jail for that s### baby blue mfs know you wasn’t making no 24 million”
I should've did me a ppp loan scam 😂 he literally the only mf that went to jail for that s### baby blue mfs know you wasn't making no 24 million https://t.co/OXBvD6Q01N
Blue is not totally free. He will now be transferred to the Miami Residential Reentry Management Office, an agency that helps inmates transition back to public life. He will remain in some sort of halfway house until Apr. 4 when he officially freed from under the thumb (not the eyes) of corrections. The singer still has three years of supervised release, and still has to pay $1,111,345.23 in restitution as part of his sentence.
Women in Hip Hop have seen a mainstream resurgence over the last five years. Even up-and-coming acts, like GloRilla and Lola Brooke, gained the attention of music fans and media outlets.
GloRilla got the chance to take part in the “50 Years of Hip Hop” celebration at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards. She shared the stage with legends such as LL Cool J, Run-DMC, Salt-N-Pepa, Queen Latifah, Missy Elliott, De La Soul, and Busta Rhymes.
TMZ caught up with Brooklyn’s Lola Brooke at Los Angeles International Airport to get her thoughts on the meteoric rise of GloRilla. The “Don’t Play With It” rapper praised her fellow female Hip Hop rookie for her Grammy Night performance.
“That’s lit! I feel like I won too ’cause she’s winning,” said Lola Brooke about GloRilla. “If she can do it then we all could do it… GloRilla and her friends [are] legendary. They’re all f###### legendary. I f### wit it. I vibe with it.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CoVqBqWvQkA/?hl=en
While the “50 Years of Hip Hop” tribute at the Grammy ceremony included over twenty acts from multiple generations, female rap icon Lil Kim did not take part. Lola Brooke also spoke about that omission from the widely acclaimed set.
“Yo, Kim. Call me,” stated Brooke. “If you need me, I got you. I got your back. Don’t even trip about it. She’s the greatest. She’s the biggest.” The Arista recording artist added, “She don’t need anything. I’ll give her her flowers if she needs them. It’s all good.”
Last month, Lil Kim brought out Lola Brooke at the Harlem Festival Of Culture The Jump Off With Lil Kim And Friends event at NYC’s Apollo Theater. Brooke now heads across the country with Bronx-bred rhymer A Boogie wit da Hoodie for his “Me Vs Myself Tour.”
Hulu will premiere the RapCaviar Presents documentary series on March 30. Before the program debuts on the streaming platform, viewers get a sneak peek clip featuring Tyler, The Creator and Pharrell Williams.
“I didn’t have a father. I didn’t have a big brother, I didn’t have a cousin. So as a kid, since ten or eleven, Pharrell is who I looked at,” says Tyler in the First-Look video posted to YouTube.
Pharrell Williams states, “Through that, we just developed a friendship where he would ask me for advice on certain things. Tyler was talking about where he was and feeling low. He wants that respect.”
The two Grammy-winning Hip Hop artists worked together on the 2022 single “Cash In Cash Out” which also featured Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage. Prior to that, Pharrell inspired Tyler to make purpose-oriented music.
“Okay, no more being silly,” recalled Tyler, The Creator in the RapCaviar Presents docuseries. “Music first. And at that moment, we went home. I just wanted to change everything. I just wanted to switch, and the switch f###### happened.”
Since 2017, Tyler, The Creator released the Flower Boy, Igor, and Call Me If You Get Lost studio LPs. All three albums garnered widespread critical acclaim. The latter two projects peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.
Hulu’s RapCaviar Presents will also include interviews with Jack Harlow, Coi Leray, Polo G, Roddy Ricch, and other Hip Hop figures. Based on Spotify’s flagship rap music playlist, RapCaviar Presents will air seven episodes.
Has Texas blocked residents from using the TikTok social networking platform? No, but Texas Governor Greg Abbott is planning to prevent the use of the video hosting service on state-issued devices.
Earlier this week, Abbott announced his plan to issue network-based restrictions on TikTok in the state. The Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Department of Information Resources developed the model.
“The security risks associated with the use of TikTok on devices used to conduct the important business of our state must not be underestimated or ignored,” said Governor Abbott. “Owned by a Chinese company that employs Chinese Communist Party members, TikTok harvests significant amounts of data from a user’s device, including details about a user’s internet activity.
He continued, “Other prohibited technologies listed in the statewide model plan also produce a similar threat to the security of Texans. It is critical that state agencies and employees are protected from the vulnerabilities presented by the use of this app and other prohibited technologies as they work on behalf of their fellow Texans.”
Other States & Federal Agencies Issued Similar Bans
“I thank the Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Department of Information Resources for their hard work helping safeguard the state’s sensitive information and critical infrastructure from potential threats posed by hostile foreign actors,” concluded Abbott in a press release.
TikTok Claims The Bans Will Hinder The Ability To Build Online Communities
“We’re sorry to see the unintended consequences of these rushed TikTok bans – policies that will do nothing to advance cybersecurity – beginning to impact universities’ ability to share information, recruit students, and build communities around athletic teams, student groups, campus publications, and more,” a TikTok spokesperson told The Hill.
TikTok has an estimated 1 billion monthly active users. That total places the company among the Top 10 most popular social media apps in the world. Facebook (2.9 million MAUs), YouTube (2.2 billion MAUs), WhatsApp (2 billion MUAs), and Instagram (2 billion MAUs) lead the pack.
LeBron James scored the 38,388th point of his career with a stepback jumper in a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday. Several music industry celebrities and NBA legends congratulated James on camera.
Hip Hop stars Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and Snoop Dogg took part in the special video package. R&B/Pop diva Rihanna also shared her thoughts. Plus, LeBron’s NBA contemporaries like Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, and Carmelo Anthony praised the 4-time MVP.
“I am so grateful to witness this moment in history,” said Rihanna. She later stated, “My favorite thing about being a LeBron James fan is just watching you prove yourself, over and over again, against all odds and all doubt.”
"This is one of the greatest accomplishments in sports history."
“Thank you to the Laker faithful. You guys are one of a kind. To be able to be in the presence of such a legend and great as Kareem means so much to me. It’s very humbling,” said LeBron James during a speech to the hometown crowd.
The 38-year-old Ohio native added, “To my beautiful wife, my daughter, my two boys, my friend, my boys, my family, my mother, everybody that’s ever been a part of this run with me the last twenty-plus years, I just want to say thank you so much because I wouldn’t be me without y’all.”
Did Offset and Quavo get into a fight at the 2023 Grammy Awards? According to reports, the two family members argued backstage at the ceremony before Offset’s wife, Cardi B, got involved.
The alleged altercation may have been fallout from a disagreement between Offset and Quavo after fellow Migos rapper Takeoff passed away last year. Quavo took part in a special performance dedicated to Takeoff at the televised show.
Entertainment Tonight released audio of Cardi B yelling at someone off-camera. The “Bodak Yellow” hitmaker can be heard saying, “Both of y’all [are] wrong. Both of y’all. This is not right. No b####, shut the f### up ’cause you shouldn’t have been talking.”
The audible clip of Cardi B spread across the internet. Social media users speculated what really happened behind the scenes that night. Offset denied getting into a physical fight with Quavo, but it appears the two cousins do have some bad blood at the moment.
Cardi later paid tribute to Takeoff by posting a photo of the deceased The Last Rocket album creator on her Instagram Story. Previously, the Bronx-bred rapstress shared a lengthy, heartfelt message about the late rap star.
Cardi B’s Instagram Story
“Takeoff your untimely passing has brought a great deal of pain and sorrow to so many lives,” wrote Cardi B. “The impact you had in this world was so considerable and we have struggled to grasp this tragedy. I am heartbroken but I am grateful for all the precious memories we got to share while you were here.”
She added, “This has truly been a nightmare and the pain is incomparable. The emptiness your brothers are feeling is unbearable and I pray that you give Offset, Quavo, and your friends and family the strength to keep going as they are trying to cope with this loss.”
50 Cent has responded to Jim Jones’ claim that Dipset started the rap group mixtape wave rather than G-Unit.
Capo made his remarks during a lengthy discussion on the Flip Da Script podcast. He claimed that while many Hip-Hop fans believe 50 Cent’s crew kicked off the mixtape movement of the early 2000s, it’s not true.
“Let’s get this right and I’m going to keep it all the way a buck,” Jones told host QueenzFlip. “We started the mixtape movement, right? And it wasn’t a crew mixtape. We were making real albums and putting them out as mixtapes. G-Unit was doing replays of other people’s beats and making mixtapes.”
The NYC icon continued, saying, “It was a big difference. We was using our mixtapes as albums to promote our real albums, and off those mixtapes, we were taking singles that the people started loving and started putting them on our real albums.”
After sharing what he sees as the distinction between the two collectives, Jim Jones insisted Dipset went first.
“But even in that, we put the Dipset mixtape out first before G-Unit put their mixtape out. Now go Google it.” Check out the clip below and watch the full interview at the end of the page.
Meanwhile, 50 Cent joined the debate after a clip of the discussion circulated online, responding in the comments section of blog page The Hip-Hop Wolf. “👏👏👏😆he lying LOL,” Fiddy penned on Wednesday.
While the debate continued in the comments section, both crews dropped their first mixtapes in 2002. Diplomats Volume 1 came out shortly before G-Unit’s 50 Cent is the Future was released in the summer. Both tapes sparked the careers of future rap legends, propelling Cam’ron and 50 Cent into the mainstream.
While Dispet may have released first, G-Unit has dropped significantly more mixtapes. The Diplomats dropped eight mixtapes, while G-Unit released a total of 33 mixtapes.
Recently Florida rapper Playa Pat brought out Rob49 just weeks after the New Orleans sensation’s nearly fatal shooting. Performing in front of a sold-out crowd, Playa Pat and Rob49 entertained the fans from across the Emerald Coast in what was Playa Pat’s breakout hometown show.
Playa Pat hosted his sold-out concert just days ahead of the release of his own debut single and video release, “Trap Blessed.” Pat has made a name for himself in the streets of Pensacola after he’s been seen stunting through the streets in a bright green Lamborghini.
“Ain’t nobody really famous from here in the rap industry. You have athletes like Emmitt Smith, WWE’s Roman Reigns and the boxer Roy Jones, but they’re kinda it. There’s some new ones that went in the NFL, but I’m the first one in history to bring a Lamborghini to the city.”
You can’t tell Playa Pat anything right now, his buzz in his state is growing well beyond what he had imagined as a kid growing up, listening to rap music.
“I’ve been liking music since the jit, like since real young type s###. Even before since I was a teenager I used to be listing to s###,” Playa Pat said. “I used to listen to Lil Boosie and sh*t from New Orleans and Texas. Then it graduated to Future and listening to other stuff.”
When asked about his sound and how he’s putting together new music Playa Pat explained he has lots of music on deck including three new songs with Metro Boomin set to be featured on his upcoming project Spot Boomin.
“Me and my boy Dollah Dae are trying to put it together and there’s a bunch of stuff that I’m ready to put out and shoot.” Playa Pat said. “I get a good response, people say I’m turnt and I go hard, but I had this lil Birthday bash that I put together and it was completely sold out, that showed me they know whats up.”
Bringing a motivational sound that resonates with the streets and hustlers across the world, Playa Pat knows his audience and what they want to hear.
“It’s a lot that separates me from everyone else,” Playa Pat said. “This music gonna motivate you, this gonna motivate you to go get some s### you want in life. Motivational, like coming from where I’m from, and seeing like n#### like I told you coming you actually motivate me, lil artists that turnt right now. They make me want to go harder to keep the motivation.”
Just based off his look and charisma alone, locals, friends, and families have urged Playa Pat to rap for years. Carrying a “playa” vibe that earned him his moniker when he was just 10 years old, Playa Pat has always had a quiet confidence that gained him attention and notoriety.
“Playa just ain’t bout the females, you just gotta have you the playa ways type s###. Certain types of situations I call that playa. I’m gonna teach them about that definition,” Playa Pat said.
The Pretty Ricky member pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison last February. He was accused of attempting to scam the government out of $24 million in loans provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
However, according to TMZ, Diamond “Baby Blue” Smith will have to reside in either home detention or a halfway house until his official release from custody on Apr. 4. He will also have another three years of supervised release and owes over $1 million in restitution as part of his sentence.
Baby Blue Announces Name Change
In a post-release statement, Baby Blue revealed his plans to change his name to “Bigg Money Blue.” He also teased a new album and book.
“I appreciate all the love and support from my family, friends and fans!,” he stated. “New album dropping soon! Wrote a book too! Might call that b#### ‘How To Hustle’ or ‘Blue Magic.’ Officially changing my name to BIGG MONEY BLUE! Shoutout to my n-ggas at Coleman Prison! I’m bout to get back to the MONEY! LET’S GO!”
Baby Blue also urged everybody to support their incarcerated loved ones.
“I met a lot of REAL n##### in the feds,” he added. “A lot of good street n##### doing time in this f##### up system just for hustling and getting money to support they families. Anybody out there that got a loved one behind them walls, make sure y’all show love. Y’all all they got and that commissary expensive than a b####!”
Doja Cat said she delights in engaging with fans online over rumors that she’s part of the Illuminati.
The RCA Records artist took to Twitter to explain why she entertains “people’s ignorance and stupidity” over the bizarre conspiracy theory.
“This illuminati s### is so funny to me,” she wrote on Monday evening (Feb. 6). Furthermore, Doja Cat said she had no plans of ignoring fan’s comments about the rumors.
“I’m gonna keep doing deliberate weird ass s### just to make those people uncomfortable. I’ve fr found a new outlet of joy,” she added.
When a fan offered the singer/rapper’s Eyes Wide Shut-themed birthday party as some sort of proof of her involvement with the Illuminati,” Doja Cat said she simply loves the 1999 film. “I know cuz that movie rocks,” she replied before adding, “and its the best party theme ever.”
During an interview with Variety earlier this month, the Planet Her creator explained why she loves confronting online trolls.
“A lot of people think I’m not good at handling trolls because I respond to them,’ she stated. “But that’s the art of it: I love to go to f###### war with trolls. That’s just what I’ve grown up with; I’ve been on the internet for 1,000 f###### years and it’s just part of me: that I need to respond. People think, ‘Oh, if you’re defending yourself, you’re weak.’ But I always rest on ‘Everyone can suck my dick from the back.’”
Meanwhile, Doja Cat is considering a new tattoo to further inflame those Illuminati whispers.
Fat Joe shared his belief that the Grammys deliberately snub a few deserving artists each year in order to be provocative.
On Tuesday evening, Fat Joe took to Instagram Live to discuss his thoughts on the 2023 winners. He began by discussing Song of the Year, which went to Bonnie Raitt’s “Just Like That.”
The track was nominated alongside hits including Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul,” Kendrick Lamar’s “The Heart Part 5,” DJ Khaled’s “God Did,” Lizzo’s “About Damn Time,” Adele’s “Easy on Me,” and Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well.”
“The thing that does really bug me out is when a woman that I don’t really know wins Song of the Year,” Fat Joe said of the 13-time Grammy Award-winning artist. “The Grammys do that s### on purpose. She’s a jazz singer but she won over the biggest records and the biggest artists we know.”
He continued, “And they always do it. This is consistently they do this, this is a trademark.” Check out the clip below and watch the IG Live at the end of the page.
According to the NYC rapper, every year, the Recording Academy decides, “We’re gonna jerk at least two or three people that should win.” Fat Joe compared this to his use of “provocative lines,” in his songs to make people think he’s crazy. “I think they do that with the Grammys,” he added.
Despite being unhappy with some of the winners, Fat Joe mentioned some highlights from the awards show, including Quavo’s tribute to Takeoff during the In Memoriam segment. He also noted Beyoncé’s record-breaking accomplishment, scooping four awards, making her the most decorated artist in Grammys history.
“It was just a beautiful night for music,” he declared.
LeBron James has broken the long-running NBA scoring record record, once held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
James broke the almost 40-year record with a 14-foot fade-away jump shot with in the last seconds of the third quarter of a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Lakers would go on to lose the game, but it was momentarily stopped to celebrate James’ accomplishment.
James’ wife, three children and others took the floor for a brief ceremony that climaxed with Abdul-Jabbar passing him the “torch” – the game ball.
“I just want to say, thank you to the Laker faithful. You guys are one of a kind,” James said to the crowd. “To be able to be in the presence of such a legend as great as Kareem, it’s very humbling. Please give a standing ovation to the Captain, please. I thank you guys so much for allowing me to be a part of something I’ve always dreamed about.”
NBA commissioner Adam Silver was also on hand at center-court saying, “A record that has stood for nearly 40 years. Many people thought it would never be broken. LeBron, you are the NBA’s all-time scoring leader. Congratulations.”
Jurors in the XXXTentacion murder trial heard testimony from a family friend of the rapper who was with him during the fatal shooting. He broke down as he described an ambush by armed robbers before the rapper’s slaying.
Kerr was one of the witnesses testifying on the opening day of the trial of the three men accused of the 2018 shooting of XXXTentacion outside a Florida motorcycle store. Kerr stated that he and XXXTentacion, whose real name is Jahseh Onfroy, were sitting inside the rapper’s BMW which had been blocked in by an SUV, as per an AP report.
They were ambushed by two men who jumped out of the vehicle carrying guns. Kerr was told to get out of the car by the taller man, who aimed his gun at him while the other man attempted to take the rapper’s chain from around his neck.
Kerr pushed the emergency button to open the door, fleeing the car and the armed men. He looked behind him and saw the taller man with his gun pointed at XXXTentacion and then heard at least two loud bangs. According to Kerr’s testimony, both men then escaped in the SUV, taking the $50,000 the rapper was carrying in his designer bag.
The state accuses 28-year-old Michael Boatwright of being the shooter, and 24-year-old Trayon Newsome, the other armed man. The third man on trial is 26-year-old Dedrick Williams, who prosecutors say was the driver. All three men are facing life sentences if convicted of first-degree murder. They also are charged with armed robbery.
26-year-old Robert Allen pleaded guilty last year to second-degree murder charges. Prosecutors say he was also in the SUV with his former friends whom he is set to testify against.
Defense Argue Drake Might Be Involved
Jurors heard two very different stories during opening statements, with the state claiming the slaying was a robbery gone wrong and the defense suggesting detectives caught the wrong men because they failed to investigate other potential suspects, including Drake.
In his opening statement, Williams’ attorney Mauricio Padilla argued that detectives should have questioned Drake in the aftermath of the killing because of his alleged feud with XXXTentacion.
“Before X died, he said if anybody kills me it’s Drake,” the attorney told the jury, referring to a tweet the rapper sent before his death, although he later retracted the statement.
Lil Yachty’s new album Let’s Start Here made it to the top of three Billboard charts.
The project debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Rock & Alternative Albums, Top Rock Albums and Top Alternative Albums. Let’s Start Here marked a significant departure for Lil Yachty, who ditched his typical rap style to make an alternative rock album.
Let’s Start Here became Lil Yachty’s first release to reach No. 1 on any Billboard album chart. Lil Yachty’s latest work sold 36,000 equivalent album units in its first week. It entered at No. 9 on the Billboard 200, securing the third Top 10 entry of his career.
Lil Yachty’s album received notable co-signs from Drake and Questlove. Drake called Let’s Start Here a “masterpiece” while Questlove said it made him “hyped” for the future of music.
“I really really really really love this @lilyachty record and I love when artists pull off a good departure record (departure albums are when musicians pull a COMPLETE creative left turn),” The Roots drummer wrote on Instagram. “This aptly titled #LetsStartHere lp might be the most surprising transition of any music career I’ve witnessed in a min, especially under the umbrella of Hip-Hop.”
Jurors began hearing witness testimony in the XXXTentacion murder trial on Tuesday (February 7).
The jury saw footage of XXXTentacion visiting a bank prior to his death. The video showed the late rapper obtaining $50,000 in cash and placing it in a Louis Vuitton bag, which his killers stole.
A bank teller named Cecelia Ramos testified about her interaction with XXXTentacion. She said he asked to withdraw $250,000 in cash, but she was only able to give him $50,000 at the time. She informed him that he could pick up the rest of the money at a later date.
XXXTentacion went to RIVA Motorsports after stopping by the bank. Prosecutors said he was considering buying a motorbike. Masked men shot and killed him outside the dealership in June 2018.
Prosecutors accuse Michael Boatwright, Dedrick Williams, Trayvon Newsome and Robert Allen of killing XXXTentacion. Boatwright, Williams and Newsome are on trial for first-degree murder and robbery.
Allen pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in August 2022. He is expected to testify against Boatwright, Williams and Newsome.
According to the prosecution, Boatwright fired the shot that killed XXXTentacion. Boatwright’s attorney Joseph Kimok claimed his client wasn’t present at the time of the fatal shooting.
Ramos told #XXXTentacion they could only give him $50K of the $250K he requested. The bank would "order" the remaining $200K and he could pick it up Friday. He was killed later that day and the killers stole the bag with the $50K. pic.twitter.com/zJm1dYMqFp
50 Cent hopes to end a legal dispute over the design of his Branson cognac bottle.
According to court documents obtained by AllHipHop, 50 Cent’s Sire Spirits company and Remy Martin are discussing a settlement in a copyright infringement lawsuit. A status conference was scheduled for February 3, but both sides wanted more time to possibly reach a deal.
“Sire Spirits and Remy Martin respectfully submit this request for a 30-day stay of this action and an adjournment of the status conference,” 50 Cent’s legal team wrote. “Sire Spirits and Remy Martin make this request to allow the parties time to complete settlement negotiations and will provide the Court with an update on or before Friday, March 3, 2023.”
Remy Martin sued Sire Spirits in 2021, claiming 50 Cent’s company blatantly copied the style of the Centaure de Diamant cognac bottle. Remy Martin said Sire Spirits’ Branson cognac bottle was a “near exact reproduction” of the Centaure de Diamant design.
50 Cent addressed the lawsuit in a since-deleted Instagram post. He suggested Remy Martin was scared of competition.
“They are afraid of me already,” he wrote. “Branson Cognac is the new wave. Remy is #2 behind Henny and worried about Branson Smh. I’m just getting started.”
The G-Unit rapper’s lawyers denied Remy Martin’s copyright infringement claims. Sire Spirits insisted its Branson cognac bottle was modeled after Civil War era canteens as opposed to the Centaure de Diamant design.
“No brand or company has the right to exclude others from making or selling curved bottles for cognac or other alcohol,” 50 Cent attorney Reena Jain contended. “Nonetheless, Remy Martin is on a mission to eliminate Sire Spirits from the cognac market.”
50 Cent accused Remy Martin of trying to ruin the Sire Spirits brand. His legal team argued the lawsuit was part of Remy Martin’s efforts to eliminate competition.
