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.
Bandman Kevo considered suing Gunna to recoup the money spent on a planned collaboration.
Gunna allegedly received $250,000 to do a feature for Bandman Kevo. The song never came to fruition due to the YSL RICO case.
Last December, Gunna was released from jail after pleading guilty to a racketeering conspiracy charge. He developed a reputation as a snitch based on the plea deal, which made Bandman Kevo unwilling to work with the 300 Entertainment rapper.
“I paid gunna last year for a feature 250k,” Bandman Kevo wrote via Twitter. “And months later he got a caught case which put my feature and everything else got put on hold , just for him to get released and snitch. I can’t do a song with dude I need my bread back asap and if they cap im going big lawsuit.”
Gunna wasn’t the only notable name to accept a plea deal in the YSL RICO case. Lil Duke, Slimelife Shawty and Young Thug’s brother Unfoonk also avoided trial by taking plea deals.
A total of 28 people were named in the RICO indictment against YSL members. Young Thug and 13 co-defendants await trial, which has been stuck in the jury selection process for several weeks.
Everyone on earth knows R. Kelly had a romantic relationship with a teenaged Aaliyah in the 1990s. In fact, the embattled R&B star married her when she was just 15 years old. Then 26, the now-incarcerated singer knew better. Period. After the marriage was annulled in 1995, Kelly continued to ascend in the music business, while Aaliyah blossomed into a superstar. Her life was cut tragically short in 2001 when she was killed in a plane crash.
On Tuesday (February 7), a woman claiming to be the “secret” daughter of Aaliyah and R. Kelly posted a video online telling her “truth” (or so she says). Willie D scooped it up and shared it to his own Instagram page. Despite there being NO photos of Aaliyah looking pregnant at anytime before her death, she’s adamant the “Rock The Boat” singer is her mother.
“My name is LOVE, and I am the biological daughter of Aaliyah Haughton and Robert Kelly, R. Kelly,” she says in the clip. “And I just wanted to tell my truth and my mother’s truth because I feel like it’s time and it’s needed.” She goes on to say she’s had to keep her identity secret for years because of the “industry.” She then claims she’s an “extension” of her mother, Aaliyah Haughton.
The comments are absolutely brutal. But, in all fairness, the woman bares zero resemblance to either of her alleged famous “parents.” And Aaliyah would have had to stay out of the spotlight for months to keep this a secret.
But as one kind stranger pointed out: “She may be a foster child and attached herself to the reality that Aaliyah and R. Kelly are her parents. Traumatic experiences in life make people do some odd things. This is definitely one of them. And no doubt after this public outcry, we may need to do a wellness check up on her. I’m sure the public response hit like a hammer.”
Whatever the case, the woman seems convinced. Watch the full video below.
Willie D shared a video to his Instagram account on Sunday night (February 5) as the Grammys were wrapping up, blasting the Recording Academy for only including Scarface. The video has been shared across the internet since it was initially posted.
Face, who also works with his Houston comrade on a podcast, went on to perform the seminal group’s biggest hit “Mind Playing Tricks on Me.” The 1991 was a smash for the group, which at that time comprised of Bushwick Bill, Scarface and Willie D. Bushwick Bill passed away in June 2019 due to cancer.
“A reminder to the Grammys and all the rest of y’all out there trying to hustle the Geto Boys brand by only including Scarface, who had a stellar solo career,” D said. “How in the hell are you gonna have a 50-year tribute to Hip Hop and not include Geto Boys the group?”
“If you forgot, the group includes Scarface and Willie D,” he explained. “How you gonna use a performance that includes a song that I co-wrote but not even have the decency, the respect to reach out to me and ask me if I wanted to participate? Y’all are some clowns for that. All the way out of pocket. Whoever made the call, y’all some clowns… No more talk.”
Bushwick Bill was also one of the original members, but he passed away in June 2019 due to cancer.
He added in the caption, “Disrespectful Mofos! No mo’ talk!”
Willie D is not the only artist to chide the Recording Academy, which has fought steadfastly to be more inclusive. The 50th Celebration was curated by QuestLove of The Roots. He has recently addressed some of the speculation and controversy, noting that he had roughly 14 minutes to celebrate 50 years of Hip-Hop.
A number of artists felt they should have been in the historic celebration and some fans felt it could have been more inclusive of the West Coast Hip-Hop. Overall, however, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive for the star-studded show.
The parties included Big Boi of OutKast, LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes with Spliff Star, De La Soul, DJ Drama, Queen Latifah, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Missy Elliott, Future, GloRilla, Grandmaster Flash, Grandmaster Mele Mel & Scorpio/Ethiopian King, Ice-T, Lil Baby, Lil Wayne, The Lox, Method Man, Nelly, Public Enemy, Rahiem, Rakim, RUN-DMC, Spinderella, Scarface, Swizz Beatz and Too $hort.
LL Cool J suggested in the live ceremony that the ground-breaking performance was merely a first step.
Wendy Williams has had a really rough time over the last few years. Most notably, her long-running, popular talk show is gone. Her health has failed her recently as well. And she and her gangsta papi ex-spouse is apparently still trying to get her…in her pockets!
The presiding judge in the divorce has decided to dismiss the latest demand that she pay Kevin Hunter more alimony. So, Wendy will be able to save a couple of her coins. There’s a slight catch. If she starts getting crazy money again, he’s going to be able to re-file at a later day. Nevertheless, this has to be a heavy blow for him. He did a lot for her but at the same time, he always seemed to be taking advantage of her. They were a team and he held her down for a long time. He kept the wolves off her. Real talk.
They may take this to mediation, which means they will negotiate how much she pays. “The parties are to participate in binding arbitration,” the judge said in The Sun’s report. “The issues surrounding the severance payments, and the QDRO [Qualified Domestic Relations Order] are disputed and therefore need to be mediated.”
Something tells me she will be paying at some point.
Wendy is a hard figure to reconcile at times, because her gossip hurt people. But, overall she was a force that added to the game.
I am a fan of Orlando Brown and his crazy way of doing things. I believe him. But there are levels to crazy and amazingly he appears to have crossed the line into criminality. When that happens you have a few options. Orlando is accused of wielding a knife on his family members. And the way his defense is set up, he may be going with an insanity plea. First of all, look at this mug shot and tell me he doesn’t have a chance.
According to legal docs obtained by TMZ, Brown’s attorney is asking for a mental evaluation to see if the disgraced actor is mentally fit for trial.
Orlando’s charged with aggravated menacing, a first-degree misdemeanor in Ohio, for his December arrest. The former Disney star previously pled not guilty, but the results of the evaluation could lead to Orlando changing that plea to not guilty by reason of insanity.
In the meantime, Orlando’s on house arrest … he was released from custody Friday after posting bond of about $25,000.
I am looking at that mug and I think he may get some time. I don’t know but I believe he thinks he’s the Black Joker. Sorry, I am just being really random and nonsensical right now. Sort of like Orlando Brown.
Brownie accused his own brother of raping his wife. OK. And he employed a broken off knife and a hammer. He did not use them, but he still caught a case. I find it hard to believe this brother is the dude from That’s So Raven.
Orlando Brown was staying with his brother, because he’s homeless. Now he’s really homeless, but he may have a cell to lay in. And that can become home if this does not go his way.
Rican Da Menace is a whole vibe, and she’s here to let people know she is not playing when it comes to the music. Hailing from Baltimore but now residing in sunny Los Angeles, the rising star stands for all things female empowerment, exuding confidence, vitality, and one hell of a personality.
And when it comes to the bars, expect nothing less than hard-hitting bars, punchlines, and storytelling in her lyrics. Rican states, “My sound is very assertive. When I’m rapping, you’re gonna feel what I’m saying. I’m not gonna sound unsure about s### that I’m saying.”
The craziest part? Rican Da Menace got signed to Columbia Records with NO music out. Most recently, Rican unveiled the single and visual for “Uh Ohh”, fresh off the heels of her singles “I Admit It” and debut ”Ain’t Going Back.”
AllHipHop spoke with Rican Da Menace in downtown Los Angeles, who brought all the vibes along with a bottle of Don Julio. Read below as we discuss her roots in Baltimore, her favorite artists, what it meant for Foxy Brown to reach out, surviving a gunshot, and more!
AllHipHop: What does it mean to be from Baltimore?
Rican Da Menace: Coming from Baltimore, first of all, like many other cities, it’s hard to get support until they actually see some steam coming behind you. We know those people who gotta see everybody else on you, supporting you, then they’re going to hop on the wave later. Sometimes there are moments where it’s genuine early on, but sometimes it’s not. Until they see, okay, she might actually make it. You gotta make them a believer. Once they see it, they’re going to believe and you’ll get the support you need. But I definitely got the support I need, I ain’t gon’ lie.
AllHipHop: When did you fall in love with music?
Rican Da Menace: I always knew I wanted to do something in music, but it was when I turned 18 around 2020, that I met some people in the industry and guided me in the right direction. It was then when I was like alright, I can take this s### serious. That following year is when I really locked in, was in the studio sun up to sun down grindin sh*t out.
AllHipHop: Did you always want to be a rapper?
Rican Da Menace: Hell nah. I wasn’t one of those people like “When I grow up, I wanna be a rapper.” Personally, I had to go through some things to finally come to the feeling of “Alright, this is what’s best for me and this is what I have to do.” As I kept recording, I started falling in love with it.
AllHipHop: Who’s in your Top 5?
Rican Da Menace: That’s a hard question. I would probably have to say Jadakiss, The Lox, DMX, Eve and Foxy Brown. I love Foxy Brown, she’s definitely one of my top female rappers. Who else? I can’t forget about Nicki Minaj as well.
AllHipHop: When it comes to Baltimore, I think of King Los…
Rican Da Menace: Yeah, King Los is cool too. We have some dope rappers from here like Bandhunta Izzy and Shordie Shordie. But Foxy Brown?! That’s really my b*tch! I f### with Foxy. She showed a lot of love to me. She was one of the first female rappers that really started showing me love, shout outs to Foxy.
AllHipHop: She showed you love?
Rican Da Menace: Hell yeah. She DMed me, sending me my music like ”this s### hard.” She and I speak frequently, I really f*ck with her a lot.
AllHipHop: What’s up with the collab?
Rican Da Menace: That’s what I’m saying! Foxy gon’ pop out when Foxy pops out, you feel me [haha]. But I’m working on it, trying to get a verse out of her. I’ma get it one day, just waiting on the perfect record and timing.
AllHipHop: Most people don’t get signed this quick. How does it feel?
Rican Da Menace: Hell no. It’s so crazy, I feel blessed. I think about it everyday like wow, I really got a signed with no music out. Not one song out, on any platform. People have to have a lot of trust in you in order to sign you for that, because they really don’t know what the f*ck you’re gon’ do after that. Normally, labels sign you based off of what you did already to show potential. But for me, that wasn’t the case at all, I had nothing out and they took the chance on me.
AllHipHop: How did that happen?
Rican Da Menace: My managers knew people in the music industry and they had me in those rooms before I had any music out. Someone from my team was in contact with Leron Roy, the attorney, who’s actually the one who put me in front of Bu. Once we met, it was like history was already set in stone. I can’t name anybody else that got signed with no music out and had people believing in them. I definitely appreciate my team, shout outs to BuVision and Columbia.
AllHipHop: Did the chain come when you got signed?
Rican Da Menace: Hell no! I got my chain before I got signed. When I turned 20, that’s when I got mine.
AllHipHop: I know you survived a gunshot, what happened?
Rican Da Menace: That was in San Francisco, it’s all a blur to me till this day on what exactly happened. I got hit and I remember bouncing back. That incident is what really made me focus on my music more. After it happened, I really locked in because I wasn’t really mobile during that time, I couldn’t walk good. I had to sit down a lot which annoyed me. I hated sitting for so long, not being able to do anything, but this was the perfect time to focus up and work.
That’s when I started learning my voice, trying to get my sound right. It definitely paid off for me though. I was out for like a month, had to have another surgery after that. They had to take a piece of bone from my hip and put it in my finger which messed up my walking even more. Everytime I sat down that whole year, there was a mic in front of me at least 4 hours out the day. For anyone who’s heard my first song, that sh*t sounded a whole mess. I really didn’t know my voice at the time but my hard work paid off for me.
AllHipHop: How much music you sitting on?
Rican Da Menace: Shh.. I have at least 150 tracks on tuck just sitting in my phone since I’ve been recording since 2021. Some songs I love, some that I don’t like and wouldn’t put out. I spend so much of my time recording that at this point, I might as well start dropping music now.
AllHipHop: You released the “I Admit It” freestyle, talk about that record. Were you feeling yourself?
Rican Da Menace: I love that song so much! That’s one of my favorite songs, I always play that when I get in the car. Everybody else loves it too, that s### going up. As more days go on, I keep seeing more and more people posting my song. It’s building its own traction now. That’s the one right there.
[insert link]
AllHipHop: What was the inspo behind “Uhh Ohh”?
Rican Da Menace: “Uh Ohh” is a record for the folks that slept on me for years and played with me. When I was in the booth, all that kept running through my mind was the stupid things people said to discourage me from rapping. You know that feeling of like HA jokes on you, that’s this record for me.
AllHipHop: What do you want fans to take from the record?
Rican Da Menace: To never let anyone else’s doubts cloud your judgment in what you want to do in your life and that I’m nothing to play with. [laughs]
AllHipHop: What is it you want people to get from your story?
Rican Da Menace: Keep going, no matter what. I don’t give a f*ck what life throws at you, you can overcome that shi*t no matter what it is. I bounced back from so much stuff because I learned you have to keep going. Some people go through a rough patch and give up after like “f### it, I give up. I’m depressed.” No, you cannot do that, you have to get up every day and push forward,no matter what. Your leg broke, your arm broke, you betta figure out how to do something with that one leg and one arm, no excuses. You gotta get up, never sit on your ass.
AllHipHop: What can we expect next? Do you have a project in the works?
Rican Da Menace: Yes, I got so much music coming. Couple star features on tuck along with some new videos. I have so many videos I’m waiting to drop. Definitely planning on dropping at least two singles this month. We working so I can’t wait for you guys to see what I cooked up. Consistency is my goal for this year when it comes to dropping music. I’m not playing.
AllHipHop: What’s been your favorite part of this whole thing?
Rican Da Menace: I would have to say the recording process and definitely shooting videos. It’s fun especially when I can have all my people with me, friends, family and all. It’s like a movie..
AllHipHop: What would you be doing if you weren’t doing music?
Rican Da Menace: I’d probably still be doing nails. I used to do nails on the side so I’d be selling nail products or owning my own business, trying to do something.
AllHipHop: I saw in an interview, Saweetie said her nails took 8 hours.
Rican Da Menace: For real, them b*tches be taking so long to do! Let me tell you, I used to have this one client. When I knew she was coming. I knew not to book anyone after her because her nails always took me so long to do. She wanted double nails, which is when you attached 2 fake nails to your natural nail, making them extra long. The length had to be like a ruler. She also wanted me to do nail art on them, all types of stuff. Nails can definitely take that long if you let it, but I was fast when I did nails. I worked on 10 people a day at least.
AllHipHop: Do you ever miss it?
Rican Da Menace: Mm, no. I like doing nails because I like to draw. But as far as missing it, no. I like exactly where I’m at right now. [laughs]
AllHipHop: Any goals for yourself as an artist?
Rican Da Menace: Of course! I definitely want to put out music that people can relate to and puts people in a better mood when they aren’t feeling so happy. With my music, I want to let people know my story and show them that anything’s possible. You could do anything you want, no matter who tells you no or what’s in your way.
Anything you put your mind to, you could do it. You can start from the bottom and do whatever, as long as you’re consistent. You can’t think something’s gonna happen just because you want it to, you gotta work towards it. A lot of people have the idea that success happens overnight which is their problem. No, you have to get up and work hard to get s### going.
AllHipHop: Anything else you wanna let us know?
Rican Da Menace: My new single “Uh Ohhh” out now, check out “I Admit It” and “Ain’t Going Back” available on all platforms. Follow me everywhere on socials: @RicanDaMenace.
Mega entertainment company Disney catches backlash after cartoon drops a rap song that claims America was “built on slavery.”
According to the Daily Mail, in a new episode of “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder,” young animated Black children are captured rapping saying, “slaves built this country.” Many people took offense, despite the context of the song.
On the show, the characters discover the town that they live in was built by enslaved Africans. The young people decided to give a presentation in their class to educate their peers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAzGObgdz1I
Another part of the episode where the young people held an action, was when they explained the fact that Abraham Lincoln didn’t really want to end slavery and concluded since he didn’t they wanted to start and a petition to have his statue removed.
Viewers (or people who have heard about the episode) took to social media to say the effort was a weak effort in trying to be super woke, calling it “blatant anti-white propaganda.” People took special objection to a white character standing up in the cartoon saying, “still not atoned.”
Disney says the show is not really all about social commentary but does follow a young Black, who happens to come into her own. In a statement, the Big Mouse said, the series “follows the adventures and misadventures of newly 14-year-old Penny Proud and her Proud Family as they navigate modern life with hilarity and heart.”
Questlove was tasked with curating the Hip-Hop tribute that took place during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards on February 5. Ice-T, Busta Rhymes, Grandmaster Flash, Scorpio, Melle Mel, Rakim and Queen Latifah were among the 27 artists who took the stage. With such a short amount of time, The Roots drummer had to be selective.
But, nonetheless, he was met with a healthy amount of backlash for who he didn’t include. On Monday (February 6), Questlove addressed the chatter in a detailed Twitter thread and explained why certain artists were missing.
“General ?s answered about last night: (some are asking if we are playing erasure games so uh…yeah I don’t that so—in answering the questions of ‘why wasn’t dada there?). 1. Already booked 2. declined our offer straight up. 3. Or a third option I’m not gonna get into.”
He continued: “Pr we made a decision to wait for the 2 hour August taping. wWe decided to eschew those who passed away & give flowers to the living. For starters, I learned with VH1 Honors not all rappers are good MCs and bad karaoke is a danger slope. And WAY too many legends passed so someone’s estate was gonna be heated.
“This went through a crazy evolution. All my suggestions were 20 min presentations with Breakbeats/Graf Legends/Dancers/DJ/Beatboxers. You’ll be shocked how fast 25-40 secs goes by and you don’t even get the halfway mark of 1995. l remember 1973 to 2023 was the goal.”
general ?s answered about last night: (some are asking if we are playing erasure games so uh….yeah I don't play that so—in answering the questions of "why wasn't dada there?)
1. already booked 2. declined our offer straight up 3. or a third option im not gonna get into
Naturally, there were a litany of complaints about the segment from people on Twitter. From those wondering why André 3000 didn’t join Big Boi for a proper Outkast reunion to others pointing out many of the performers once snubbed the Grammys, the social media platform lit up with negative reactions. But, as Questlove explained, there was a certain criteria he wanted to follow.
“This is NOT leading to a tired narrative that women don’t get along because there MORE concerns on the men side of things too (happiest moment seeing LL & Ice T just chillin—),” he continued. “But yeah the most asked question was ‘who all gone be there?’ which is understandable.
“We had a criteria we wanted to follow: alive? harmonizing? turntablism? fighting shape? NYC? LA? BAY? ATL? NAWLINS? HOUSTON? MIDWEST born before 1960? born after 1995? Super lyrical? Stylistic? Original? generally known by at least 2 generations?
Questlove concluded: “Now granted they might not be your favorite (and there were 2 crucial 11th hour—more like 10 mins before taping—cancellations that mighta made it look like we were biased in our choices. but just understand we literally tried to SQUEEEEEEEZE everyone in.”
It’s clear Questlove tried his best to acknowledge as many groundbreaking Hip-Hop artists as possible by including a myriad of names on a screen behind the stage. Many of them, including Egyptian Lover, J.J. Fad, MURS, Evidence and Sage Francis, celebrated the mention on social media. Check out the reactions below.
Two suspects have been arrested after shooting up a Fredo Bang rap concert in Newport, Arkansas, early Sunday morning.
ABC 7 reports Richard McGee, 31, and Aaron Warren, 28, were arrested as suspects.
Police believe there is probable cause to have the two men in custody, but neither of them have been charged. Law enforcement has them being held in Jackson County Jail.
The Feb. 5 shooting, according to Newport Police Department Police Chief Larry Dulaney and Lt. Mark Harmon, had one fatality and four people injured.
The person who lost her life was a 19-year-old woman.
At the time of publishing, the status of the four victims was not known, however, sources say one of them was flown to a hospital to receive additional treatment for his injuries.
More people are expected to be arrested in relation to the concert shooting. They are asking the public to help them identify others possibly connected to the incident.
Those with information or video of the shooting are asked to contact the Newport Police Department at 870-523-2722.
AllHipHop.com extends our condolences to the family of the woman whose life was lost in this incident.
The bodies of three men, two of whom were rappers, were discovered frozen in an abandoned Highland Park apartment building. The cause of death seems to be from multiple gunshots and police believe their executions were not random.
According to Atlanta Black Star, rappers Armani “Marley Whoop” Kelly, 38, and Dante “B12” Wicker, 31, along with friend Montoya Givens, 31, had been missing for nearly two weeks, after their set at a popular club, Lounge 31, was canceled.
On February 2, the Warren Police confirmed they’d located Kelly’s 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. They found a 15-year-old boy with it and took him into custody.
Warren Police Commissioner William Dwyer said his office brought the teen “into the Warren police headquarters” but didn’t share if he was arrested, particularly since “there was no blood or anything of a nature that would lead us to believe they were either transported or murdered in that particular vehicle.”
Later, Michigan State Police posted on Twitter, “Members of the Homicide Task Force, Metro South Post, and the MSP Forensic lab are currently at an abandoned apartment complex on the corner of McNichols and Log Cabin in Highland Park on a death investigation.”
Happening Now: Members of the Homicide Task Force, Metro South Post and the MSP Forensic lab are currently at an abandoned apartment complex on the corner of McNichols and Log Cabin in Highland Park on a death investigation. 1/ pic.twitter.com/napJZklthP
Officials stated on Tuesday (February 7), “Members of the homicide task force are continuing to make progress on the investigation of the homicide of three men in Highland Park. It has been determined that the cause of death for each of the men was multiple gunshot wounds.”
Triple Homicide Investigation Update: Members of the homicide task force are continuing to make progress on the investigation of the homicide of three men in Highland Park. It has been determined that the cause of death for each of the men was multiple gunshot wounds. 1/ pic.twitter.com/73jTM3rfJZ
The post concluded: “The investigation also has revealed that this was not a random incident. The investigation is continuing and detectives are making progress, and we believe we may have determined a motive. Once more information is developed, we will continue to update here.”
Reports say the rapper, screenwriter, and star of the hit YouTube series “Respect Life,” Boom Pacino aka Boom P has transitioned. The Brooklyn influencer became a cult sensation seven years ago.
Boom P had suffered from mental health issues over the last few years which not only stopped him from appearing on the show but also threw a monkey wrench in the consistent filming of the show.
Cinematic Cartel took to Facebook to confirm his death offering a heartfelt tribute. He wrote, “Thank you for permitting me to be featured on your gift; you only gave me advice on filming a web series titled fly high.”
News started to hit late on Feb. 6. Check out some of the fan tributes.
Rising rap star Armani White earned a co-sign from one of the most recognizable entertainment brands on the planet. The 26-year-old newcomer is MTV’s Global PUSH artist for the month of February.
White began gaining notoriety thanks to his “Billie Eilish” single going viral on TikTok last year. The July Da Producer-produced track eventually made it onto the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 58.
Since its premiere in May 2022, the official “Billie Eilish” music video has amassed over 39 million views on YouTube. Armani White also recently dropped the new “GOATED” collaboration with Florida rapper Denzel Curry.
In addition to appearances by White and Curry, the “GOATED” visuals include a special cameo by professional boxing legend Floyd Mayweather. As of press time, the “GOATED” video has racked up over 1 million YouTube views in three weeks.
“It’s cool to be in this moment where I get to do a lot of things and still just have fun. A record like ‘GOATED’ is us just having fun,” Armani White told MTV. “The video is just us having fun. And it comes out so great because we don’t gotta fake it, fabricate it, put smiles on, we all just enjoying ourselves!”
He joins a list of previous MTV PUSH Artists that includes Latto, Shenseea, Muni Long, and Saucy Santana. The program, curated by MTV’s Music & Talent US & International teams, presents a new music act every month through live performances, interviews, and other exclusive content.
“Tell the Grammy’s f### that 0-for-8 s###,” rapped Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter on “Apeshit” off The Carters’ Everything Is Love album. That line was a response to the Recording Academy snubbing the Brooklyn-bred emcee for every nomination in 2018.
At the time, Jay-Z was coming off the release of his chart-topping thirteenth studio LP 4:44. That project earned the billionaire rapper the most Grammy nominations that year. In particular, he scored nods for Best Rap Album and Album Of The Year.
Jay-Z is now reflecting on Grammy Night 2018. During an interview with the Tidal streaming service, the Roc Nation founder addressed whether going winless at the Grammys five years ago left a lasting impression on him.
“In that moment, I was like, ‘They missed the opportunity,’ because people emulate success. In that moment, that album, 4:44, was a moment for us to say, ‘Hip Hop is viewed as a young man’s sport. Now here is this album that could take us into the next sphere.’ I feel like they missed the moment,” said Jay-Z.
He added, “I didn’t feel bad for myself, because I know it’s the Grammys: I probably won some joints I shouldn’t have won and I probably lost some joints I should’ve won. That’s the way it goes, so I actually had a party. I had a great time, staying out until 6 in the morning.”
Despite going winless in 2018, Shawn Carter is still tied with Kanye West for the most Grammy wins by a Hip Hop artist (24). The Tidal co-owner also holds the record for most Grammy nominations (88) alongside his wife/collaborator Beyoncé.
The 65th Annual Grammy Awards took place on February 5 in Los Angeles. Beyoncé left the ceremony as the most awarded act in Grammy history after winning her 32nd golden gramophone. Jay-Z entered the evening with five nominations but left with zero victories.
