Miguel took things to another level during a concert in Los Angeles last week. As he performed the new song “Rope,” the 37-year-old vocalist hung from the ceiling by hooks inserted into his body.
“Initially it was a bit of, ‘What is the most extreme way to push outside of what’s expected?’” explained Miguel in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.
He also added, “How far can I go in demonstrating how far I’m willing to go for art, for conversation? I couldn’t have known how committed I was to the real purpose of this s### until I had hooks in my back.”
After images and footage of the body suspension spread across the internet, people reacted to the stunt. Some social media users claimed Miguel just needed a viral moment to promote his upcoming Viscera album.
Miguel has now shown the aftermath of his performance at LA’s Sony Studios. The music industry veteran uploaded a photo of his pierced back on his Instagram page. Additionally, he took a picture of a bloody white tank top.
“What is your relationship to pain? What is your relationship to change?” wrote Miguel in the Instagram carousel’s caption. Many of the commenters shared negative responses to the post.
One person pleaded, “We just want the R&B music, Miguel.” Someone else asked, “Blood rituals. Why do celebrities do devil s###?” Another individual joked, “Oh, ok… Imma just keep listening to Kaleidoscope and mind my business 😂.”
Miguel’s album discography includes 2012’s critically acclaimed Kaleidoscope Dream. That project hosted “Adorn” which became a Top 20 single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. “Sure Thing” peaked at No. 11 in June of this year.
The Idol, HBO’s controversial drama series co-created by R&B/pop star The Weeknd, will not return to the network for a second season.
According to Deadline, HBO decided to cancel The Idol. Many entertainment industry insiders expected that move to happen after the overwhelmingly negative reactions to the show.
The Weeknd and co-creator Sam Levinson announced The Idol to widespread fanfare. However, many critics and viewers quickly turned on the program after it debuted on the Max streaming service in June.
The Idol premiered its first two episodes at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in May. At the time, reports suggested behind-the-scenes turmoil hampered the production throughout filming.
As the controversy surrounding The Idol grew, the buzz for the series also helped generate good viewership numbers for the premiere episode. The Idol featured The Weeknd playing a nightclub owner/cult leader, while Lily-Rose Depp portrayed the titular music star.
“Can we create somebody who is trying to find themselves, using my experiences, using his experiences, using Lily’s experiences on creating something special, daring and exciting, and fun that will make people laugh and p### some people off?” The Weeknd said at the Cannes Film Festival.
Sam Levinson also stated, “We know we’re making a show that is provocative. It’s not lost on us.” The son of Oscar-winning filmmaker Barry Levinson previously worked with HBO to produce the hit series Euphoria.
Although he can’t decide whether she is his “white Diamond,” or a “lil hot Cheeto,” one thing is certain, Plies loves him some Britney Spears.
The Florida-bred rapper has recently been gushing over the newly separated pop star’s dance videos, and her latest one was no exception. On Monday (August 28), Plies shared a video of himself going crazy over the new Britney Spears clip.
In the video, Spears, dressed in a cheetah print bodysuit with exposed bra and knee-high white boots, performs some racy choreography to Kelis’s#### song, “Milkshake.” Her outfit inspired a new moniker, with Plies branding Britney Spears after a popular snack.
“There she go! She got them ta-tas out,” Plies declared in his reaction video. “Look at my little cheetah, look at my lil hot Cheeto.”
He continued to giggle and squeal while losing his mind to the video. “She made it jiggle!” He added. “I went and got a milkshake to watch this s###!” Check out the clip below.
“At this point, I’m convinced she’s doing this just for Plies,” one person wrote in the comments section. “I just want y’all to meet at this point,” added another.
This isn’t the first time Plies has lusted over Britney Spears and her dance moves. Earlier this month, the 47-year-old rapper shared his reaction to the singer’s pole dancing. “My White Diamond Bih,” he wrote in the caption, referring to a character from the iconic 1998 movie The Players Club.
Lil Wayne has fans praising his latest musical effort, but the Hip-Hop icon revealed his only mission was to impress Skip Bayless with his new version of the Undisputed theme song.
The revamped intro debuted on Monday’s episode (August 28), which also featured Lil Wayne in his new slot alongside co-host Skip Bayless. After unveiling the song, which replaces “No Mercy,” Weezy revealed he’d been considering a remake for a couple of years.
Bayless admitted he was initially against the idea, branding Wayne’s original song “one of the best things,” he ever recorded. However, after hearing the remake, he branded “Good Morning” as “true greatness.” Check out the track below.
My brother, Lil Wayne wrote a brand new intro for the all-new Undisputed. It just might be his best yet:pic.twitter.com/boCrAUMvXV
“What I love about this is you get me as well, maybe even better than anyone gets me and you just nail these lyrics,” Skip Bayless told Lil Wayne during the show. “And I hear ’em and I say, ‘That’s it.’ That’s the essence of Undisputed.”
The Young Money Records founder revealed that he treated the song like a test he had to ace.
“I would hope so, I try to make everything I do better than the last thing I did,” Lil Wayne continued. “Just to impress you just because I know how much you love ‘No Mercy.’ Just to capitalize on what you done. It’s not complicated. It’s not hard. I love the challenge of it anyway. I attacked it like an SAT exam, like if I don’t pass this, I can’t get in.”
He also gushed over his co-host, revealing their mutual love of sports made the songwriting process a breeze.
“The lyrics are so natural because our relationship, because our love for sports and because the love you have for this. It’s so easy to talk about a great person. It’s too easy,” he added.
Nicki Minaj took a walk down memory lane with Diddy’s son Justin “Prince” Combs, reminiscing about the time the Hip-Hop superstar was his sweet 16 date.
The “Pound Town 2” hitmaker was chatting with fans on Instagram Live Monday (August 28) about her upcoming single when Combs appeared in the comments. “I went to your sweet 16 with you,” she recalled. While Combs recalled, “it was a movie,” Nicki Minaj revealed the date left his parents heated because she turned up so late.
“I know I was mad late,” she said. “I just knew that Puffy and Misa was so mad at me. Like, I really could feel it.”
However, Nicki Minaj added that she was “so mad at myself,” explaining her lateness was down to her outfits.
“All of the dresses that I had been trying on that day, I hated every single one,” she said. “I felt horrible y’all, I felt really horrible.”
Not only was she his date, but Nicki Minaj also performed at Justin Comb’s 16th birthday in New York back in 2010. The “Prince of New York”-themed bash was filmed for MTV’s “My Super Sweet 16” and also featured Lil Kim, Trey Songz, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, Fabolous and other celebs.
“I had a great time,” Minaj added. “He was so fun and funny and very cute too, you know what I’m saying.”
She also questioned who Combs’ girlfriend was and what she made of their date.“I know she probably was really mad. Why he do that?” she asked. “Why he ain’t take her on his sweet 16? That’s a memorable time.”
Nicki Minaj Previews New Single
Elsewhere on Monday (August 28), Nicki Minaj announced a release date for her new single “Last Time I Saw You.” The highly anticipated song arrives on Friday, September 1. Listen to a snippet below.
Kanye West and wife Bianca Censori have continued to ruffle feathers amid their adventures in Italy. While Censori’s risqué outfits have caused complaints amongst conservative locals, this time it was the Hip-Hop star who was accused of indecency. Censori has worn a range of nude catsuits during their outings in the country, angering some Italians who called for her arrest for indecent exposure.
However, a recent boat trip in Venice had locals calling for both of them to be reprimanded. On Monday (August 28), photos surfaced of the couple during their canal excursion, with West exposing his bare behind while cradling Censori’s head in full view of onlookers.
The suggestive footage led to some online accusing them of “public indecency,” per the Daily Mail.
“Italian authorities need to arrest them for indecency doing that lewd and disgusting behaviour in public. There are clearly crowds, kids probably saw,” one person reportedly wrote.
Another added, ”I wish the police would arrest these two for their ignorant behaviour. They are making a mockery of the country.”
Other social media users complained the couple’s antics are “disrespectful” to conservative Catholic citizens.
Kanye West is reportedly working on the follow-up to 2022’s DONDA 2 while in Italy. Sources claim he’s been in the studio and “new music is imminent.”
Boosie Badazz has thanked medical professionals for helping him deal with a recent health scare. The Baton Rouge native landed in a hospital but said it wasn’t due to COVID-19 or diabetic ketoacidosis.
“SHO[U]T OUT TO THE NURSES N DOCTORS AT BAPTIST MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOR GETTING MY BLOOD SUGARS DOWN N GETTING ME N OUT!” he wrote in an Instagram post dated Monday (August 28). “NO COVID, NO DKA, JUST HAD TO GET SOME BAGS OF FLUIDS (BEEN TO 6 STATES N 4 DAYS) DOC SAY I NEED REST I AGREE. HEADED BACK HOME THANKS TO THIS BIG ASS BED N I HEARD ITS GO BE RAINING N THE a #goodsleep.”
Boosie didn’t seem willing to rest for too long even though he agreed with the doctor’s advice. Hours later, the rapper was promoting a topless pool party scheduled for Friday (September 1).
The past few months have been hectic for Boosie, who faces gun charges in San Diego. Police arrested him following a traffic stop in May. He was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Boosie’s state gun case was dismissed in mid-June, but federal agents arrested him on the same charge after his court hearing in San Diego. Prosecutors tried to convince a judge to keep him in jail. He was eventually released on a $100,000 bond in late June.
Earlier this month, a judge rejected Boosie’s request to dismiss his federal gun charge. He remains free on bond.
Future secured a victory in a legal battle over his song “When I Think About It.” An Illinois judge granted the rapper’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit accusing of him copying Virginia rapper Gutta’s track “When U Think About It.”
Gutta, whose real name is DaQuan Robinson, sued for copyright infringement in 2021. Robinson claimed “When I Think About” ripped off his song, which he sent to Future’s artist Doe Boy and producer Zaytoven in 2017.
Future released the Zaytoven-produced “When I Think About” in 2018. The track appeared on the Beast Mode 2mixtape.
Judge Martha Pacold acknowledged some similarities between Future and Robinson’s songs. But the judge determined the elements were too commonplace to fall under copyright protection.
“The similarities identified do not constitute a plausible allegation of substantial similarity,” Judge Pacold wrote in her decision.
Judge Pacold said the phrases “when I think about it” and “when you think about it” to be “commonplace and ubiquitous.” The judge also rejected the notion of Future stealing thematic content from Robinson. She cited the works of Wu-Tang Clan, Kanye West and The Notorious B.I.G. as examples of music with similar themes.
The judge dismissed Robinson’s case with prejudice. The decision prevents him from refiling his complaint against Future.
Pharrell Williams has revealed he’s working on new N.E.R.D music. Speaking to Tyler, The Creator for an interview with GQ, the “Happy” singer shared he has been working on “12 N.E.R.D records” while in Paris.
“They’re big choruses, but you know, out of nowhere, I’ll just come out of nowhere with the three-bar, crazy-nuts chords that go three-bar to four-bar to eight-bar,” he told Tyler. “It’s good bro, it’s good.
“This is like that feeling that I felt when we made In Search Of… I won’t sit here and tell you that they were hits. I knew it was different, and I knew there won’t be nothing out there like this. But I’m talking about the feeling. I wanted to do everything. I wanted feelings. I wanted the motherf##kin’ great composition.”
Williams also noted that recording the new N.E.R.D material has seen him experimenting with “chords I never used before.”
N.E.R.D was originally formed in 1999 and has three members: Pharrell, Chad Hugo and Shay Haley. The band released their latest studio album, No One Ever Really Dies. in 2017.
Williams has not confirmed a release date for the new collection of N.E.R.D music.
Eminem stopped a Republican presidential candidate from using his music on the campaign trail. The Shady Records boss contacted BMI to remove his songs from the music rights organization’s deal with GOP hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy, who once rapped under the stage name “Da Vek.”
Earlier this month, Ramaswamy infamously performed Slim Shady’s song “Lose Yourself” at the Iowa State Fair. According to a letter obtained by the Daily Mail U.K, BMI sent a cease and desist to Ramaswamy on August 23.
“BMI has received a communication from Marshall B. Mathers III, professionally known as Eminem, objecting to the Vivek Ramaswamy campaign’s use of Eminem’s musical compositions and requesting that BMI remove all Eminem Works from the agreement,” a BMI lawyer informed Ramaswamy’s campaign. “This letter serves as notice that the Eminem Works are excluded from the agreement effectively immediately.”
The letter continued, “BMI will consider any performance of the Eminem Works by the Vivek 2024 campaign from this date forward to be a material breach of the agreement for which BMI reserves all rights and remedies with respect thereto.”
Eminem shut down Ramaswamy a few weeks after adding a new rapper to the Shady Records roster. The diamond-selling artist signed Ez Mil as part of a joint deal with Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment.
Check out AllHipHop’s interview with Ez Mil below.
Police identified a suspect in the murder of Blac Youngsta’s brother Tomanuel Benson. The Memphis Police Department issued a warrant for the arrest of Randy Ewing on Monday (August 28).
Blac Youngsta’s brother was shot and killed in Memphis on August 18. Last week, the MPD released a picture of a person of interest in the murder case. The crystal-clear image helped police secure a warrant for Ewing.
“During the investigation, Randy Ewing was identified as the person responsible for the homicide,” the MPD announced. “Randy Ewing is currently wanted for 2nd Degree Murder and two counts of Criminal Attempt 2nd Degree Murder.”
Police urged anyone with information about Ewing to contact Crime Stoppers at 901-528-CASH. Tipsters could receive up to $4,000 for information that leads to Ewing’s arrest.
Blac Youngsta vowed to seek vengeance for his brother’s death. He said his “life will never be the same” in a series of Instagram Stories posts.
“I love [you] baby brother,” he wrote. “Rest up. I’m gone make the world pay. I swear to God. Nobody safe. Standing over everybody.”`
He added, “I’m ready for whatever come with this s###. It’s OK. Don’t feel sorry for me. I’m not gone feel sorry for nobody. Only God knows.”
Blac Youngsta previously lost two other siblings to gun violence. The latest death isn’t stopping him from releasing his Blac Sheep 2 project, which is scheduled to drop on Tuesday (August 29).
M Dot Taylor may have just released his biggest song to date: “Biggest Fan” featuring Jim Jones and Maino. Not only did he enlist two heavyweights in the rap game, but he showcases his standout vocals and ability to make a hit record.
The official music video for “Biggest Fan” sees all three artists bringing the song to life, alongside beautiful females, jewelry, and a whole lotta money. The song is produced by legendary producer Zaytoven.
Originally from Detroit, Michigan, but now residing in sunny Los Angeles, M Dot Taylor is a former military veteran, who now shifts his entire focus on his music career. Whether he’s rapping, singing, or songwriter, the rising star puts his best foot forward with each release.
When it comes to his sound, M Dot Taylor calls it “Gangster Harmony, because I’m a rapper but I do enjoying singing as well. I created a fusion of both genres to give off an authentic vibe of music that really represents my lifestyle and culture.”
AllHipHop spoke with M Dot Taylor to discuss his background, biggest influences, the making of “Biggest Fan,” losing both parents, goals, and more!
AllHipHop: Being from Detroit, how does that play into your life and career?
M Dot Taylor: Being from Detroit, I was blessed with the opportunity of being raised by stand up hustlers who made sure we had everything we needed all year round. I watched them not only shine in the summer, but grind in the winter with the temperatures being below zero at times. Still no matter what: if you don’t work, you don’t eat. You don’t grind, you don’t shine.
AllHipHop: Biggest influences?
M Dot Taylor: My biggest influences were my parents/grandparents before they passed away. They always kept it a buck with me and prepared me at a very young age to be a leader and to be there for my youth. Rest in peace to all of them.
AllHipHop: At what point did you realize this music thing was real?
M Dot Taylor: After my manager Hen Gee locked me in with Ice T and Dr Dre, I knew I was here to stay! Whenever you get the opportunity to meet not one, but two ICONIC figures in multiple industries, you can’t do anything but soak up game, apply it, and feel different. Shout out to Ice, Dre, and Hen. I got the coldest OGs in the game.
AllHipHop: What was the inspiration behind your name?
M Dot Taylor: The inspiration behind my artist name came from one of the Chiefs in the U.S Navy. When I was in the military, we grew accustomed to calling everyone by their last names. At this particular command I was at during the time (USS Harpers Ferry LSD 49), there were 5 other sailors with the same last name and same pay grade, so our uniforms would get mixed up in Laundry Call from time to time. I went to the uniform shop and got special name tags put on my uniforms with my first initial, a period, then my last name which read M.Taylor. The very next day, we had a uniform inspection and my chief noticed the change I made and immediately called me out, in a way and stated “We have a new sailer that wants to stand out, his name is M Dot Taylor.” Everyone laughed and started calling me M Dot or M Dot Taylor, so I just went with it.
AllHipHop: “Biggest Fan” featuring Jim Jones & Maino, how did this collab come about?
M Dot Taylor: The “Biggest Fan” collab came about all because I wanted to work with Zaytoven, so I reached out to him and he made me a custom track with the exact vibe I requested. After he sent me the track I wanted to go to Atlanta to let him hear what I did right away. After he heard it, we talked about some more business moves that I got coming down the pipeline in the near future, then I tapped in with my Dipset family in NYC. I let them hear the track, and the Lobby Boyz told me to pull up to New York and let’s make it a movie. The rest was history. Shout out Jim, Maino, Zaytoven, Pone730, and my brother Will C.
AllHipHop: What do you like about both artists?
M Dot Taylor: What I like about Jim, Maino, and Zaytoven is they’re all attached to greatness and longevity, and they keep finding ways to stay on top of the game while maintaining the respect from their peers in the industry. It’s a lot of one hit wonders out there, but those 3 catalogs combined is crazy.
AllHipHop: What was the creative vision with the music video?
M Dot Taylor: Since it was my first time in NYC, I left all the creative concepts to Will C of Street Heat. He’s shot some of the biggest artists in the world and I completely trusted his vision. He gave us the authentic NY Bodega, front porch in the neighborhood vibes, along with some dope futuristic graphics.
AllHipHop: Best memory from the music video shoot?
M Dot Taylor: The best memory I have from the video shoot is looking around ,watching everyone have a good time. There were kids there, beautiful ladies, a lot of good energy from everyone there. That’s the vibe I always want to have whenever I’m involved.
AllHipHop: What do you want fans to take away from the “Biggest Fan” visual/single?
M Dot Taylor: That it’s okay to spoil the ones that adore you the most. Sometimes it’s not about you, it’s about paying it forward to those that ALWAYS hold you down.
AllHipHop: You lost both your parents, how is music a coping mechanism for you?
M Dot Taylor: Losing both of my parents right before Christmas both times was catastrophic for me early on. My mom died from AIDS on WORLD AIDS DAY 12/1/1999, and my father passed 12/19/2010 by going to sleep and not waking up. I was able to prepare myself for losing my mom, but my father’s death was unexpected, which made it even more tragic for me and my family. That’s the reason I left the military, and I pursued music because it offered me a safe space to talk about things that were hard for me to discuss with others, and it helped me heal.
AllHipHop: How did serving in the Navy make you into the person you are today?
M Dot Taylor: Serving in the Navy made me the person I am today because it gave me an incredible sense of time management and organization. I’m able to organize my days, plan properly, and I’m a master at thinking critically, and team building.
AllHipHop: 3 things you need in the studio?
M Dot Taylor: 1- My Engineer
2- Mary Jane
3- Food/Drinks
AllHipHop: Goals yourself as an artist at this point of your career?
M Dot Taylor: My only goal is to make a better version of myself each and every day, and I can achieve that as long as God wakes me up each day.
Future is in a whole different mode right now—but whatever mode that is, it doesn’t appear to be facing the direction of a new album.
In fact, the I NEVER LIKED YOU lyricist appears to be deep in his fashion icon bag and doing any and everything in his power to protect his energy whilst stylistically evolving. For starters, one of the ways Future is maintaining his status as the “Drip God” is by actually switching up his wardrobe at a feverish rate. How fast might one ask? He claims he’s changing outfits multiple times per day.
“This my fourth time changing clothes,” Future said in a video shared to his Instagram account. “I gotta change this s###—I got so much of this s### I gotta change five or six times a day.”
And apparently, another one of Future’s tactics at preserving the intensity of his looks is by completely omitting them from his Instagram page all together these days. Why? Simply because he’s tired of folks mocking swag.
“I ain’t been posting fits on my Gram because I don’t want y’all to know what I’m wearing because y’all gonna steal my style,” he said.
When you really think about it, this type of dedication to up-keeping the drippiest lifestyle in the rap game is actually somewhat commendable. It also makes me think Future could have another three-consecutive No. 1 album if he wanted to—and or was as focused on the music as he is the drip.
Anyways, it looks like it’s quiet for both new music from Future and style inspo from HNDRXX for the time being.
Run-DMC legend Darryl “DMC” McDaniels has already established himself as the King of Rock, but now he reportedly wants to be the President of the United States.
According to Outkick.com, the “Down with the King” recording artist announced he’s running for president in the 2024 election cycle. He made the announcement at Lionel Messi’s Major League Soccer debut at the Red Bull Arena in New York City last week.
“I am running for president starting today, because in a beautiful place like this… what better place to announce it?” DMC declared. “But it’s all about togetherness and people coming together.”
The interview was originally about how Messi brings people together through sports.
“The whole beauty of everything that’s going on, Messi being here, soccer, MLS, everything that’s going on, this is what the world is all about,” DMC said. “We see so much division, but if we go to a soccer game or concert or museum, where the sports and art is, it’s a true representation of how great this world is. Not can be, is.”
Of course, there are other rappers with political aspirations. Kanye West is reportedly thinking of throwing his hat in the ring again. He unsuccessfully ran in the 2020 election as a Republican.
A recent club brawl involving several members of the Love & Hip-Hop franchise’ cast has proven life really does imitates art or vice versa.
According to Channel 2 Action News, Erica Mena, Rodney Shaw (A.K.A. Zellswag), Addie Richardson (A.K.A. Bambi Richardson) and an Atlanta man named Kareem Cadet were involved in a drag-out fight Lucca Lounge in Atlanta over the weekend.
An investigation into what transpired reveals the security detail attempted to kick the group—which included Zellswag, Lil Scrappy’s baby mother Bambi and Erica Mena—out of the club. However, they refused to leave.
Detectives noted they engaged in “physically aggressive” behavior toward both the bouncers and one of the arriving police officers. Mena was reported to have bitten one of the police officers.
All four were arrested, photographed and booked into the Fulton County Jail. Each was charged with willful obstruction of a law enforcement officer. Mena and Zellswag were also charged with simple battery. Meanwhile, Mena was the only party charged with simple battery against a police officer.
Sean “Diddy” Combs attended the 2023 Invest Fest in Atlanta. While in the southern city, the Harlem native announced a huge philanthropic contribution on behalf of the Sean Combs Foundation.
During the kickoff for the Cricket MEAC-SWAC Challenge, Diddy’s presented a $1 million check to Jackson State University’s football program. The former HBCU student addressed the seven-figure donation to the Mississippi institution of higher learning.
“As someone who went to Howard University and understands the invaluable experience of attending historically Black colleges and universities, it’s important that we all do our part to protect and preserve their legacy,” says Diddy.
He continues, “This contribution to Jackson State isn’t just about making a financial donation, it’s about giving back to a part of our culture that has changed countless lives and assuring HBCUs receive the support they deserve.”
Thomas “T. C.” Taylor, a former New England Patriots player, serves as the first-year football coach for Jackson State. He replaced Pro Football Hall of Famer/College Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders at the helm for the JSU Tigers.
“We are extremely appreciative of the gift that Diddy has provided for Jackson State football,” said T. C. Taylor. “For someone of the global magnitude of Sean Combs to believe in Jackson State is legendary. His investment will help the continued elevation of JSU Football to the next level of greatness.”
Taylor added, “For him to come to Atlanta to visit with and inspire our team prior to kickoff was an incredible moment for our players. For them to see up close and personal one of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs was significantly impactful for our program.
Earlier this year, there was a lot of conversation about the fact that no Hip Hop album made it to No. 1 in 2023. Houston-raised rapper Travis Scott has now dominated the chart for a month.
Travis Scott’s Utopia spent a fourth week atop the Billboard 200. The 73-minute project remained at No. 1 on the latest rankings by amassing another 161,000 units over the most recent tracking period.
That feat makes Utopia the first Hip-Hop album to lead the Billboard 200 for its first four weeks since Drake’s Scorpion in 2018. Drake did manage to secure five nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 with 2021’s Certified Lover Boy.
Travis Scott tapped Drake for Utopia. The Canadian superstar appears as a guest feature on “Meltdown” which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. They previously collaborated on the chart-topping “Sicko Mode” off Astroworld.
“Sicko Mode” spent one week in the Hot 100’s pole position in 2018. Astroworld topped the Billboard 200 chart for three weeks that same year. Scott also scored a Number One with 2016’s Birds In The Trap Sing McKnight.
Atlanta-bred rapper Offset has been preparing to drop his sophomore solo studio LP for a while. It looks like the project will finally hit DSPs in the near future.
“Albummmmmmm!!!!!! Turned in!!!!!!!” posted Offset on the X social media platform. That August 27 tweet collected more than 5,800 likes and 266,000 views.
Previously, Offset teased his forthcoming project would arrive in about two months. He stated in an interview, “Yeah, we’re coming in October but right now we’re just applying pressure… The rollout started from ‘Jealousy,’ so I’m going to just keep the rollout starting from right then.”
Offset released his first solo effort, Father of 4, in February 2019. That body of work debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart with 89,000 first-week units. Father of 4 featured Cardi B, J. Cole, Travis Scott, 21 Savage, Big Rube, Gunna, CeeLo Green, Quavo, and Gucci Mane.
The Recording Industry Association of America certified Father of 4 as Gold in February 2020. Additionally, Set received a Platinum plaque for his contributions to the Culture album by Migos. Culture II went 2x-Platinum.
Fellow Migos member Quavo released his second solo album Rocket Power on August 18. Both Offset and Quavo’s latest LPs will arrive after the tragic loss of their groupmate, Kirsnick “Takeoff” Ball. The 28-year-old rapper died from gun violence in November 2022.
Award-winning streamer Kai Cenat is back in the news. This time, the 21-year-old internet personality is catching heat for a moment with a Taiwanese fan during his show.
Kai Cenat had a 17-year-old named Ray on his livestream. At one point, a phone call with music producer Benny Blanco took place. Blanco invited the teenager to go to the strip club with him and Cenat.
“Ray, can we take you to the strip club?” asked Benny Blanco. Kai Cenat’s guest answered, “Oh, I’m seventeen.” That response drew laughter from Cenat before telling Blanco, “I’ll be in LA tomorrow, so we’re gonna take Ray to the strip club. But we gotta be lowkey.”
After the clip of the conversation made its way to social media platforms, some users called out Cenat for offering to expose an underage teen to a sexually explicit environment. In contrast, other people expressed the backlash directed at Cenat was overblown.
Earlier this month, Kai Cenat made international headlines after a riot broke out in New York City’s Union Square Park. The NYC native called on his followers to show up at the location for a chance to win special giveaway items like PlayStations.
Several thousand fans reportedly showed up at Union Square Park on August 4. Cenat apparently did not get the proper authorization from the city to host the event. The New York Police Department charged him with first-degree rioting, inciting a riot, and unlawful assembly.
“I am beyond disappointed with anyone who became destructive that day,” stated Cenat in response to the melee. “That s### is not cool. I want people to know that. I don’t condone anything that went on that day. None of that was my intention. I had good intentions for this whole thing.”
Former United States President Donald Trump faces multiple federal and state charges for various alleged crimes. Hip-Hop recording artist YG looks to make some money off Trump’s legal situation.
After indicting Donald Trump on racketeering and related offenses in the state of Georgia, Fulton County prosecutors released the Republican politician’s mugshot. YG’s 4Hunnid brand decided to use the photo for new merchandise.
4Hunnid’s official Instagram page revealed the “F#####” Donald Trump shirts which come in black or white tees. The company’s website sells the two versions of the item for $35 apiece.
YG has expressed not being a fan of Trump for years. The West Coast rapper dropped the “FDT (F### Donald Trump)” protest song in 2016. That track features California native Nipsey Hussle.
“FDT” eventually earned YG and Nipsey Hussle a Gold plaque from the Recording Industry Association of America. The DJ Swish-produced track also topped the iTunes chart following Trump’s loss to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential race.
While YG continues to troll the ex-POTUS, other rap stars have embraced the twice-impeached MAGA leader. For example, Buffalo’s Benny The Butcher recently endorsed Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential campaign.
Hip-Hop superstar Kanye West famously backed Donald Trump throughout his four-year presidency. Both YG and Nipsey Hussle publicly reacted to West having a meeting with then-President-Elect Trump in 2016.
“Aye my n#### [Kanye West,] since you getting [close] to Trump [can] you tell him do something bout this? 2 days ago,” tweeted YG, referring to an alleged police shooting. Nipsey posted, “When people show [you] who they are believe them. Smart move but where ya heart at?”