KRS-One, Public Enemy’s Chuck D and Kurtis Blow founded the Hip Hop Alliance in 2021. The organization’s mission is to address the “needs and concerns of the Hip Hop and R&B workforce through advocacy, information and service.” Essentially, a union. But on January 14, Bow Wow tweeted how desperately hip-hop needs to “unionize,” unaware the Hip Hop Alliance existed.

So, in response, KRS-One, Chuck D and Kurtis Blow issued a statement to ROCK THE BELLS addressing Bow Wow’s concerns. Simultaneously, they’ve invited everyone—including Bow Wow—to take part in a special Clubhouse conversation on Friday (January 20).

“Like every other aspect of society’s workforce, the artists and creators of Hip Hop need protection, support and advocacy,” the statement reads. “From label disputes to intellectual property retrieval and the need for an overall governing body, the Hip Hop Alliance was established.

“Recent comments this weekend created a unique opportunity to bring forth a conversation that many in Hip-Hop & R&B have been addressing for a long time. The need of a governing body of Hip Hop. The goal of HHA is to empower artists to make informed decisions about their career and ensure that their rights are respected and protected.”

It continued: “As our culture comes together to honor and celebrate the 50th year of the creation of Hip-Hop, now is the time for all of us to come together. In that spirit, we invite our brother Bow Wow to join us this coming Friday (January 20) at 7 p.m. EST on the Clubhouse app and/or our Black History Month online conference on Tuesday (February 25) at 4 p.m. EST on the HHA YouTube page.

“In fact, all of the Hip Hop community is invited to these two informative conversations about the HHA, as we continue to build this organization to advocate, inform and service our brothers and sisters’ needs and concerns throughout the Hip-Hop ecosystem. We welcome all of the Hip Hop culture to roll up their sleeves and join us, as we work to uplift, honor, and protect Hip-Hop, for its past, present and future.”

Bow Wow’s original tweet elicited several responses encouraging people to check out the Hip Hop Alliance. So in the spirit of education, find more information here.

Another victim from the Texas shooting that killed Migos rapper TakeOff s speaking out for the first time.

According to KHOU 11, Sydney Leday, 24, believes it is a miracle that she is alive. But on Wednesday, Jan. 18, she finally opened up and spoke on the night and how she almost lost her life. She shared she was partying at 810 Billiards and Bowling Alley.

“Like any other 24-year-old, I was just out partying and celebrating,” she said before sharing she was dressed as a nun for the holiday season.

“I really never dress up for Halloween and that was something I was excited about,” she said.

She said at one point, she saw Quavo outside getting testy during a dice game around 2:30 .M.

“That’s when I knew something was wrong,” she said.

Leday said the argument quickly escalated and before she knew it, she was in the middle of gunplay.

She remembers falling to the ground and feeling a stinging sensation in the back of her head.

Somehow, her friends got her down an escalator and into her friend’s car. She was then taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital 12 minutes away.

That act saved her life. Check out the rest of her interview below.

Cardi B’s sitdown with Hollywood Unlocked founder Jason Lee has generated several headlines. The nearly 90-minute interview featured the Bronx-bred rapper talking about her “WAP” single with Megan Thee Stallion.

“WAP” is a bona fide international smash. The 2020 song was the first-ever No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart. Cardi and Megan’s collaboration also spent four weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart in America.

While “WAP” became a pop culture phenomenon that broke streaming records and angered conservative pundits, Cardi did not submit the song for Grammy Award consideration. She explained her decision on Revolt’s The Jason Lee Show.

“I need to stop letting the internet control my life. Because I didn’t want to submit ‘WAP’ because I was afraid that if I win… You know what’s so crazy? The internet got me even afraid of winning. That is insane,” said Cardi.

Even though “WAP” was not in contention to win a golden gramophone, the Recording Academy did make Cardi B the first solo female rapper to win Best Rap Album for 2018’s Invasion of Privacy. Cardi has scored a total of nine Grammy nominations during her career.

The Recording Industry Association of America certified “WAP” as 7x-Platinum. The Ayo N Keyz-produced song’s official music video has amassed more than 489 million views on YouTube and 1 billion streams on Spotify. Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion performed “WAP” at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2021.