Markuann Smith was born and raised in Queens and Harlem, but his impact has extended far beyond the five boroughs of New York City. He has been on The Dave Chappelle Show, cult Hip-Hop classics like Juice and Poetic Justice, among other roles. He’s also the executive producer and one of the key creatives of popular drama Godfather of Harlem, which stars the incomparable Forest Whitaker. The show just started season three and continues to chronicle the life and times of infamous gangster Bumpy Johnson. Markuann plays Junie Byrd, one of Johnson’s heavies. The show expounds on the relationship between Malcolm X, Adam Clayton Powell Jr., Bumpy as well as the Mafia.
In an exclusive interview with Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur, Markuann delves into the nuance of season three. But, he goes farther. Smith reveals he used to rap, one of the few artists signed to Whitney Houston’s record label and talks about the experience. He also discuss working with Swizz Beatz on the soundtrack of Godfather of Harlem and what they have in store musically with Jadakiss. Most importantly, Markuann shares how his story is one of resilience, perseverance and relentless pursuit of dreams.
Eminem publicly offered his well-wishes to Boldy James, who suffered serious injuries in a car accident.
“Sending out best wishes for a quick recovery for The D’s own @boldyjames!!!,” Eminem wrote on Twitter.
Boldy James was involved in a car crash in the Detroit area on January 9. The accident left him in critical condition with broken vertebrae in his neck and orthopedic injuries.
A rep for Boldy James announced he underwent surgery on his neck. He’s currently in stable condition.
“Boldy and his family would like to express their gratitude to the incredible doctors and nurses that are taking care of him, and also to the communities’ emergency medical personnel and first responders,” his rep said in a statement.
Eminem joined a long list of rappers and producers wishing Boldy James well after the accident. The Alchemist and Westside Gunn were among the notable artists showing support for the Griselda Records emcee.
“Please keep my brother in y’all prayers,” Westside Gunn wrote on Twitter. “He’s a strong soul and fighter he’s still talking bout GXFR x 227 forever!!! Just hearing them words broke me down but GOD IS THE GREATEST and BO gonna be better than ever.”
Boldy James joined Griselda Records in 2020. He released several projects, including Fair Exchange No Robbery with Nicholas Craven, in 2022.
Funkmaster Flex declared he’s lifting his ban on Tekashi 6ix9ine’s music.
The longtime radio host revealed he’s now willing to play 6ix9ine’s songs on Hot 97 in an Instagram post on Monday (January 16). Funk Flex said many artists “cooperate with law enforcement,” which made him reconsider his 6ix9ine ban.
“IM NO LONGER NOT ‘NOT’ PLAYING 6IX 9INE MUSIC ANYMORE! (SPEAKING FOR MYSELF ONLY),” Funk Flex wrote. “OBVIOUSLY ACCORDING TO REPORTS… THE TREND AMONGST ALOT OF CURRENT RAPPERS (SINCE AND BEFORE 6IX 9INE) CONSIST OF COOPERATING AND TESTIFYING!”
The veteran DJ shared his thoughts a month after Gunna accepted a plea deal in the YSL RICO case. 6ix9ine recently trolled Gunna, who was released from jail while Young Thug and 13 co-defendants await trial.
Funk Flex praised Young Thug, Bobby Shmurda and several other rappers for being the “last of that stand-up tradition.” The Hot 97 host later added Jim Jones’ perspective on unbanning 6ix9ine in an update.
“[Jim Jones] EXPRESSED THAT FOR HIM THERE WILL NEVER BE ANY TOLERANCE FOR TESTIFYING AND COOPERATING!” Funk Flex wrote. “IN TODAYS ERA… JONES AND I MAY DISAGREE ON THE WHY OR WHY NOT THE MUSIC SHOULD PLAY OF PEOPLE WHO COOPERATE BUT WE BOTH AGREE THAT TIMES MIGHT OF CHANGED AND INTEGRITY IS FULLY LOST!”
Rumors were saying that the odd Hollywood couple Taye Diggs and Apryl Jones, aka Omarion’s baby mother and Lil Fizz’s ex-live-in girlfriend, have broken up. But Love and Hip Hop’s Helen of Troy says nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the two are working on a movie together.
According to movie producer and screenwriter J. Carter, he has cast the two in an upcoming movie.
He posted on IG, “I’ve been holding on to this one for a while, y’all. Look. At. This. Cast. #TheComebackMovie is coming soon. Written and Executive Produced by yours truly.”
Casted for the production is Diggs, who will play Jeff Murray. Murray is married to a woman named Tisa (played by Jones), who allegedly had an affair with his ex-girlfriend named Melanie (played by newcomer Judi Johnson).
What sparked the rumors was when both individuals unfollowed each other on social media.
But the couple was just seen together on the red carpet for “The Best Man,” the series on Peacock and she actually wished him a Happy Birthday two weeks ago.
“Happy Born Day to you my love! I love you to pieces. ❤️”
Also, just days ago, we think we hear Diggs in the background whispering to “do it,” as Jones sings with her and O’s daughter some late 90s N’SYNC, “Tearin’ Up My Heart.”
Listen close.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CnXCxfIoAsf/
Also … listen to what the 97 chart-topper was supposed to sound like.
Bow Wow called for Hip-Hop to unionize over the weekend, clearly unaware a Hip-Hop union already exists. He likely thought he was coming up with an innovative idea when he valiantly tweeted: “Hip Hop needs a board! No different than the NBA w/ the players association. A committee. That can set rules and keep things in control and protect this thing we call Hip-Hop! And have a retirement plan for the og rappers. I hate seeing my heros liquor’d out no money just washed.”
We hear you, Shad. But Kurtis Blow, KRS-One and Chuck D are way ahead of you. As co-founders of the Hip Hop Alliance, the trailblazing MCs have been addressing the “needs and concerns of the Hip Hop and R&B workforce through advocacy, information and service” for years. Their primary goal is to improve “the working lives of creators.”
The fact Bow Wow hasn’t heard of it is a problem, and here’s why. Two things: One, media continues to dismiss the contributions of Hip-Hop’s forefathers. Only because 2023 is Hip Hop 50 are we seeing an uptick in coverage of Hip-Hop’s classic artists in recent weeks. Prior to this year, most rap publications would rather cover Lil Xan “overdosing” on Flamin’ Hot Cheetos than bring awareness to something like the Hip-Hop Alliance.
Two, rappers like Bow Wow think they have nowhere to turn for help navigating the music business, but that simply isn’t true. Kurtis Blow, Chuck D and KRS-One are working diligently to improve conditions for all those involved. They’ve erected a whole team comprised of people like Doug E. Fresh, President of the CT NAACP Scot X. Esdaile and social impact strategist Tara L. Martin to join their initiative.
Oh and Bow Wow’s assertion the “OGs” are drunk laying in a gutter somewhere is also horribly inaccurate. There are a plethora of pioneers who refuse to rest on their laurels and are having incredible careers RIGHT NOW. Just ask MC Lyte or Queen Latifah; LL COOL J; Ice-T; Grandmaster Flash; Slick Rick; even Snoop Dogg FFS. Need I say more?
For more information on the Hip Hop Alliance, head here.
Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes infamously torched the $1.3 million home of former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Andre Rison in 1994. The two had been entangled in a toxic relationship that included multiple domestic violence arrests, and she evidently had enough that day.
#ThisDayInGAHistory in 1994 Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes set fire to her boyfriend’s, Atlanta Falcons WR Andre Rison, house in the Country Club of the South near Alpharetta. pic.twitter.com/AbjDNkihSv
— Today In GA History (@2DayInGAHistory) June 9, 2019
In a recent interview with The Art of Dialogue, Rison added an extra layer to the story. Rison admits to having several women inside the home at some point. When Left Eye, who was already intoxicated, showed up later that night, she was ready for a fight. And as the saying goes, “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” But Left Eye had an escape plan—and it apparently involved 2Pac. Rison claims the All Eyez On Me legend came to Left Eye’s rescue the night she committed felony arson.
“I assumed that was already planned,” Rison said. “I just looked outside and there was a limo outside. She was getting in the limo and the door cracked. When the door cracked, it was obvious. There were other people outside, too. Everybody seen everything, but it was all good. I was already disengaging.”
It’s no secret Left Eye and 2Pac had a close friendship, but it supposedly never went any further. Still, Rison wasn’t convinced. Rison said his boys confirmed Left Eye was talking to 2Pac while on tour with TLC. After 2Pac picked her up that night, he never looked at him the same again.
“I drew the line ’cause I had partners like that before, but this was a unique situation,” he added. “Coming up and you’re the guy, it’s hard to cheat. It’s hard to be in the public eye and have a different chick on your hip every week. A lot of guys don’t. A lot of guys go the mistress route. But the tables is turned just as much. What you do to a woman, a woman can do to you just as fast—or even quicker.”
Rison, who dated Left Eye off and on between 1994 and 2001, says neither one of them had “stepped out” at that point, but once 2Pac showed up in that limo, that “solidified” his suspicions.
Speaking to VladTV, Outlawz rapper EDI Mean confirmed Left Eye had a unique bond with 2Pac, which perhaps led to some jealous feelings on Rison’s side.
“Pac and Left Eye had a special friendship, they did,” he said. “I’ve always heard that Left Eye was a firecracker herself, another Gemini. Everybody that I know always said they could see why they were attracted to each other because they were kind of like two peas in a pod and Left Eye spoke about Pac publicly and said that she felt like he was her soul mate.”
Shortly after Rison and Left Eye broke up, her life took a tragic turn in 2002 when she was killed in a car crash while visiting Honduras. Rison, on the other hand, went on to marry Lisa Rison.
Janelle Monáe spoke out for those who feel marginalized or outcast while accepting the SeeHer Award at the Critics Choice Awards Sunday night (Jan. 15)
The singer and Glass Onion actress opened by clarifying her pronouns. “I’m Janelle Monáe,” they began, “and my pronouns are she/her/they/them… and free-ass m###########.”
Janelle Monáe explained the importance of representation and said she hopes the characters she’s “had the honor of playing,” allow people to feel seen.
“I try to make an effort in my work … to highlight the ones who have been pushed to the margins of society, who’ve been outcast or relegated to ‘the other,’ ” she continued. “This is a deeply personal choice for me because I grew up to working-class parents. My mother was a janitor, my father was a trash man, and my grandmother was a sharecropper in Aberdeen, Mississippi.”
The Dirty Computer creator added, “and it’s personal because I am non-binary. I am queer, and my identity influences my decisions and my work.”
The Critics Choice Awards present the SeeHer Award to a person who “advocates for gender equality, portrays characters with authenticity, defies stereotypes and pushes boundaries.”
Janelle Monáe shared she hopes to inspire audiences to be more “empathetic,” and “kind,” with “less judgment.”
“There were so many times in my life, y’all, where I did not see me. I couldn’t see my light. I couldn’t see past my circumstances. If you know my story, I wasn’t supposed to make it out of Kansas City, Kansas, to be here tonight,” said Monáe.
“I didn’t see the vision clearly for myself,” she said before adding, “I couldn’t see my gift. I couldn’t see what my purpose was supposed to be at that time. But thank you, God, so many other people did. They didn’t give up on me, and they gave me opportunities despite my own lack of confidence. I was fakin’ it till I made it.”
Bow Wow is calling for the Hip-Hop community to unite to protect the genre and its artists.
The rapper-turned-actor shared his thoughts online this weekend. He believes Hip-Hop can benefit from unionizing and offered the NBA Players Association as a blueprint.
“Hip hop needs a board!” Bow Wow tweeted on Saturday. No different than the NBA w/ the players association. A committee,” he added.
According to Bow Wow, a union is necessary to gatekeep Hip-Hop stating an association should “set rules and keep things in control and protect this thing we call hip hop!”
Furthermore, he also believes more needs to be done to help rap’s elders in retirement. “And have a retirement plan for the og rappers,” he offered. “I hate seeing my heros liquor’d out no money just washed.”
Bow Wow claims a Hop-Hop association should “set rules and keep things in control and protect this thing we call hip hop!”
While some fans agreed with Bow Wow, others pointed out such an association already exists, founded by some of rap’s pioneers. Chuck D, Kurtis Blow, and Doug E. Fresh founded The Hip Hop Alliance in July 2022 with a team of other rap legends. The three icons serve as president, vice president, and vice chairman, respectively. Fellow pioneer KRS-One takes his place on the Alliance as chairman.
As Chuck D explained exclusively to AllHipHop.com, The Hip Hop Alliance aims to “join forces to promote fair wages and fair royalties. They also want to advocate for “mental health and physical health benefits,” along with retirement benefits.
“And this is all for the artists because the artists nowadays are in a bad way,” “The Breaks” rapper added. “We all know, because of a pandemic, everything is shut down and it is so difficult to make a living. Theaters are shutting down all over the country, concert halls, clubs, what have you. So it is so very difficult to make a living, first and foremost.”
He continued, “Then you have these deals that these artists are in, and they are exploited, and it’s been happening for hundreds of years. So now we are coming together, a group of people, to stand up and say, ‘This is not right. Let’s change the game and create fairness for the artists who are out there giving their all to the community.’”
Tekashi 6ix9ine flashed $1 Million in cash online this weekend, claiming he’s on a solo trip to New York, seemingly urging anybody to try and take it from him.
The notorious internet troll took to Instagram on Sunday (Jan. 15) to flaunt the stack of money. He also made sure to point out he was traveling alone and shared his destination and arrival time.
“On my way to New York. I got a million dollars on me,” said Tekashi 6ix9ine before adding, “and on my mother I’m by myself.” Furthermore, he also announced he would be arriving at Morristown, New Jersey airport at 6:45 p.m., apparently taunting anybody who might try and meet him there to take his stash of cash.
Tekashi 6ix9ine ended his post with a clarification that he wasn’t actually alone: “Well I’m with the kid who recorded this video but he’s like 5’4 140 solid I swear,” he concluded.
The controversial Brooklyn rapper wasn’t done stunting. He also flexed a pair of luxury paint-splattered cars alongside 14 boxes from high-end fashion house Hermès. Check out his post below.
Tekashi 6ix9ine Shows Off $1 Million Cash While Onboard Private Jet
While Tekashi 6ix9ine appears to have no concerns over his safety, he was banned from his Miami apartment last month. The condo managers fear for the safety of their residents because his snitching means people are after him.
They claim there is a “bounty placed on 6ix9ine’s life” following his release from prison “in exchange for information regarding others and the provocative antics of 6ix9ine.”
The complex managers shared a photo of the rainbow-haired artist alongside a description and a warning not to approach him. “If seen on property, do not check-in, do not approach and contact security immediately,’ the notice read in part.
They also claimed residents were left frightened after the rapper’s bodyguards appeared onsite with assault weapons.
While Kanye West and his new bride have remained tight-lipped over their alleged wedding ceremony, his new in-laws have shared their excitement at the latest addition to their family.
The news Ye married Yeezy employee Bianca Censori in a secret ceremony after the new couple were spotted hanging out together in Los Angeles broke on January 13. The pair worked together for several years prior to their nuptials; the Aussie worked as an architectural designer at Yeezy.
Bianca Censori (West) Balenciaga & Kanye Ye West New York Stock Exchange fashion show May 2022 pic.twitter.com/glhkrv1VSW
Although Kanye West is sporting a wedding band on his ring finger, he hasn’t officially re-married. They failed to file for a marriage license with the State of California, therefore their union may be symbolic, but it’s not actually legal.
Ye was wearing a wedding ring this week when he and Bianca arrived at the Waldorf Astoria in Bev Hills — and we're told the ring symbolizes his commitment to her following the ceremony. pic.twitter.com/phlTEizCkq
However, West’s new bride’s family is overjoyed at the news. Censori’s sister Angelina told Aussie paper, The Herald Sun, that the news marks a “very exciting” time for them.
Another family member, Alyssia Censori also chimed in, adding the whole family is “super happy for them both.”
The marriage comes just two months after Ye’s divorce from Kim Kardashian was finalized. Although the SKIMS founder hasn’t directly addressed the father of her children’s new relationship, she shared a pair of cryptic posts on Instagram hours after the news broke.
“Just remember, the black sheep usually turns into a goat,” Kim wrote on her Instagram Story, as per Page Six. “Keep doing you.”
Kim Kardashian recently admitted that although she had been twice married before her wedding to Kanye West, she considered their union her first “real” marriage.
Kim Kardashian is continuing her mission to be an advocate for prison reform.
According to TMZ, the SKIMS founder spent the day at California’s Pelican Bay State Prison last week. A source confirmed to the outlet Kim Kardashian intended to meet inmates in solitary confinement to discuss how the lockup affects their mental health.
Actor Tobey Maguire and movie producer Scott Budnick joined Kim on the trip. The trio was also said to have a camera crew with them, reportedly to film a documentary.
While he may be best known for executive producing “The Hangover” film franchise, Budnick also shares a passion for criminal justice reform with Kim Kardashian. He is the founder of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), a non-profit organization providing support for the formerly incarcerated.
Kim Kardashian Wants To “Make A Difference”
He featured in a May 2022 episode of “The Kardashians,” meeting with Kim to discuss how she can “make a difference” concerning prison reform in the U.S.
“I think it would be cool to start a firm that does just justice reform and hires formerly incarcerated people to run it and work there,” she said. “I really invest in the people I work with, especially on death row cases.”
She added, “The system is so broken. I think my goal is just sharing the process so that people can see what our system is really like, and how inhumane the death penalty really is.”
Kim Kardashian has been a vocal advocate for prison reform, campaigning for the release of many inmates. In 2018 she successfully lobbied President Donald Trump to pardon Alice Marie Johnson. The 63-year-old grandmother was serving a life sentence without parole for a non-violent drug offense.
She also helped secure clemency for Cyntoia Brown, charged with murdering a man when she was a 16-year-old prostitute. She was released in Aug. 2019 after serving 13 years in prison.
Some people consider old age as a barrier in the pursuit of their dreams; however, what if they change their perspective on success? According to studies, having a specific goal to work increases our happiness, and those with more ambitious goals are happier than those with low expectations. Furthermore, it’s a fact that a person spends nearly half of his waking hours daydreaming, which includes imagining new possibilities.
If you believe you’re too young to make a difference (Mozart was five when he learned to play the violin) or too old to pursue your dreams (Ronald Reagan was 69 when he was sworn in as president), remember that where there’s a will, there’s a way. History has a list of successful people, who were late bloomers. Suzanne Collins, for example, was 46 when she published The Hunger Games. Oprah Winfrey was 32 when she launched her first talk show, and Ray Croc was 52 when he purchased the McDonald’s franchise and transformed it into what we know today. Many people use age as an excuse when pursuing their dreams, but there are numerous examples of famous people who have achieved enormous success in the earlier or later phase of their lives.
Witnessing all these examples, we can say that the truth is that there is no age limit to success. We can all start something new at any point in our lives and that is what Dylan Joseph Feszko did at the age of 13.
Born on July 19, 2002, in Bristol, Pennsylvania, Dylan Joseph Feszko also known as DJ Milkway is a DJ/MC, music producer, artist, and entrepreneur. He is also recognized as ddjmilkyway and DJ Milkyway. He went to Walter Miller Elementary School and participated in a number of sports including basketball, soccer, and baseball. He then attended Carl Sandburg Middle School, where he concentrated on his grades. During middle school, he discovered a new hobby that would later become his passion. At the age of 13, he decided to become a DJ and refined his MC skills. His first major event took place at Carl Sandburg Middle School, where he performed as a DJ/MC at his middle school graduation with the help of his teachers and peers.
In high school, ddjmilkyway took music theory and music, production classes. He was an important part of the morning announcements at Neshaminy High School as the news anchor. This event helped him improve his social skills as well as his confidence while performing live on camera. Feszko graduated from Neshaminy High School in 2021. He decided not to attend college after graduation and instead pursued his passion in the music industry by establishing his own entertainment company. In his senior year, he completed the Dual Enrollment program at Neshaminy High School while also attending Bucks County Community College.
When he was 13, ddjmilkyway, beating all odds, founded the entertainment company Milkyway Music Enterprise (MME) LLC with the help of his parents. Milkyway Music Enterprise LLC is an entertainment company that offers DJ/MC services, photo booths, photographers, and videographers, as well as EFX enhancements for school events, weddings, and private parties. The company organizes various types of events for its clients and provides professional DJs for clients’ events. Aspiring to be an Indie Rock musician, on November 30, 2022, ddjmilkyway entered the music industry and released his first single, “Golden Flas,” a song about alternative/indie music.
It’s one thing to plan an event, but finding the right experts to help you create a safe environment for your guests to let loose on the dance floor takes a special skill. Booking MME as your entertainment coordinator will be one of the simplest parts of planning your next wedding, party, or event. MME is a full-service entertainment company that operates all year! It takes pride in creating memorable and immersive experiences for its clients and guests, no matter the occasion. The company possesses a large number of satisfied customers hailing from Pennsylvania to Delaware, New Jersey, and New York. It is also fully insured and has a State Tax ID# for non-profit organizations.
MME’s mission is to provide the highest level of service at a reasonable price by creating healthy environments for partygoers and utilizing talents and experienced professionals as it allows them to create experiences that exceed the average expectation. Due to ddjmilkyway’s continuous drive, he was the youngest recruit to graduate from the Police Youth Academy in New Jersey in 2015. Undoubtedly, his passion has proved to the world that success is not restricted by any age limit, and if people are passionate enough to achieve their dreams, nothing can stop them.
Online Media Distributor, Big Top Entertainment L.L.C. (BTOPENT) has entered the comic book space, with “Decasi The Lost World”. The animated story follows the life of four Decasian siblings who are displaced after their parents risk their lives to transport them to an unknown planet inhabited by the rejects of this world. To help create the right sound for the theme song, 90’s rap legend Keith Murray was brought in to tell the Decasi story in the best way he knows how lyrical storytelling.
The verse starts with Keith’s lyrical storytelling style”The story goes three brothers’ one sister, sent from their planet Decasi by their parents as embryos”. These types of rhyme schemes fit the edginess of the comic book and allow the listener to fall in love with the story. Under a hard-hitting beat that gives you that head nod and screw face. “I have always loved comic books dating back to the late 80’s” states creator, Curtis Johnson.
To help establish the aesthetic look designers Jay Johnson and Daryll Wright were instrumental in creating the uniqueness in the character’s design”We wanted the characters to have abilities we could expand on in future issues” states Jay. Accompanying the comic is an animated video that shows Keith’s character commanding a ship with the Decasi crew in tow which contributes to the hip-hop identity and feel of the project. Decasi the Lost World will be released via BTOPENT’s distribution partner, Sony Music Entertainments The Orchard, and the comic book is available exclusively on their site Spotify Apple. https://www.btopent.com/comics
First of all, I cannot bring myself to hate this Super Bowl event coming up. Rihanna has not dropped a hit on use in a very long time, but she has hits. Anyway, they are running commercials now, so you know its about to be super lit! Anyway, I am hoping that she does break out a new song or announces a new album.
Jay knows all the heavy hitters! BUT, is Saweetie one of them? I never knew that relationship was so solid. The rumor on the streets is that she’s going to play some role in the Super Bowl. As you know, the big game is the biggest in the USA and one of the biggest in the world. That said…we know that Saweetie’s last album bricked. I ain’t a hater so I did not make fun it it. The reality is, I could have sold more records than the Cali rapper.
I wonder if she is plugged into Roc Nation somehow now? It sure makes sense. She’s a super star. And she’s got a lot in the tank. With Jay-Z and Roc Nation behind her, she cannot be beat! Look at what they did with Megan Thee Stallion! This is just talk, but I am glad to see this rumor.
James Cameron has dismissed the claim that O.J. Simpson was originally cast as The Terminator.
During an appearance on “Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace,” the filmmaker addressed Arnold Schwarzenegger’s previous claim that before he got the titular role in Cameron’s 1984 sci-fi action movie, Cameron had cast the former American football star.
The “Avatar” director refuted Schwarzenegger’s comments and recalled how Simpson was briefly in the conversation.
“Very early on, a highly placed person at one of the two studios that funded that film had a brilliant idea and called me up and said, ‘Are you sitting down?’ I said, ‘Well, no, I’m not,'” the director recounted. “He said, ‘Are you sitting? OJ Simpson for the Terminator!’ I said, ‘I actually think that’s a bad idea’… It go anywhere.”
Schwarzenegger had told “The Independent” in a 2019 interview, “It was actually OJ Simpson that was the first-cast Terminator… Somehow (Cameron) felt that he was not as believable for a killing machine. So then they hired me. That’s really what happened.”
LL COOL J has apparently been in the studio cooking up a new album, his first in 10 years. The ROCK THE BELLS founder, who has 13 studio albums under his belt, made the announcement via Twitter on Saturday (January 14).
“I’m competing with myself on this new album,” LL COOL J wrote. “Wait til you hear this MF. This year B. It’s coming.”
I’m competing with myself on this new album. Wait til you hear this MF. 🎶 This year B. It’s coming.
LL COOL J’s rap career began its ascent in 1985 with the Def Jam Recordings/Columbia Records release, Radio. Produced by Def Jam co-founder Rick Rubin, the project became a Billboard hit and sold more than 500,000 copies within its first five months of release. “Rock The Bells,” “I Can’t Live Without My Radio” and “You’ll Rock” served as its three singles.
LL COOL J followed up with 1987’s Bigger & Deffer, which produced one of rap’s first love ballads, “I Need Your Love,” and the single “I’m Bad.” Another commercial success, the album peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart.
The Queens native continued his string of successes with subsequent releases such as Walking With A Panther and Mama Said Knock you Out. Since then, LL COOL J has pivoted to acting, starring in both movies and television. His latest album release, Authentic, arrived in 2013. In between time, he’s been focused on building his ROCK THE BELLS brand, which is launching Hip-Hop’s first-ever cruise in November 2023.
If you’re a fan of the television show BMF, then you’re probably excited as ever as Season 2 is officially underway. The series is inspired by the true story of two brothers, Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory, who rose to become two of the biggest drug lords in the history of the United States.
Currently two episodes deep, this season sees a much larger role from La La Anthony, who plays Markisha Taylor, wife to a flamboyant drug dealer. This time, women are at the center of the storyline… and who better to call on for the part? La La Anthony has come a long way since she was a VJ on MTV, and her enormous platform continues to inspire and motivate females all across the world.
BMF is 50 Cent’s newest passion project, following the success of Power — in which 50 also casted La La in a major role as Lakeisha Grant. In fact, La La recalls hearing about the BMF story when she was in high school and Atlanta. Talk about full circle!
AllHipHop spoke with La La via Zoom, the same day Episode 2 aired. Read below as we discuss her excitement for BMF, knowing 50 Cent for over 17 years, producing a film with Issa Rae, love for hip-hop, dating, averaging 4 hours of sleep a night, and more!
AllHipHop: How is your day going?
La La: Good, I’m just wrapping up the day. I had an early early start today, I was on the TODAY show this morning. I got started at 5am so I’m dwindling down, but I’m good.
AllHipHop:BMF out now, episode 2 just dropped. How are you feeling, now that the show has kicked off?
La La: I’m so excited. The feedback has been amazing, people love the story of Meech and Terry and BMF. The first season was incredible. The first episode, people went crazy for us. Everybody’s locked in now, watching the episodes and getting more invested in the story. This is the first season where you see my character a lot. You see that relationship between my character and Terry really start to form and everything that comes out of that relationship. It’s a very complicated, toxic at times, interesting relationship that all women could probably relate to, in some sense. It’s a good ride that these two take the audience on, for sure.
AllHipHop:How do you prepare for a role like that?
La La: The great thing is BMF is inspired by a true story. It’s about the Flenory brothers, Meech and Terry. We were able to talk to people in their family. Obviously, Lil Meech is playing his dad, so you can ask him all the questions about his dad. Everything we needed was right there with us.
For a lot of BMF, we shot in Detroit, which is where the BMF story started. We got to meet the family, we filmed in the house that Terry and Meech grew up in. To go back to their house that they grew up in was crazy, to be able to film there. It’s great when it is based on a true story because you have the resources you need all around you.
AllHipHop:How was it filming in Detroit? Was it cold?
La La: It was cold, but it was fun. Detroit is such an incredible city, and just going as a cast. We hung out together, had dinners together. There’s casinos in Detroit, so we were able to have fun. We really made it a great experience. Being able to see the places that Meech and Terry grew up at, the places they used to hang out at. The places where certain memorable moments happened at. To be able to be there and film in these places and see that was such an incredible moment. It adds to the authenticity of the show.
AllHipHop:Do you have a favorite scene or standout memory from filming?
La La: Definitely. In Markisha’s marriage, because she’s married, she’s dealing with domestic violence. Domestic abuse. I wanted to handle that really carefully and safely for women out there who have been through that, just honor women who have been through that and made it out. Women who are going through that, support them. There was an episode where we dealt with that. That was really hard for me, but I just hope I handled it in the right way. Really took some time to give love and support to women who have made it out of those situations and women that are still in those situations.
AllHipHop:Coming up in Atlanta in high school, hearing about BMF. Did you ever think you’d be here now playing in the actual TV show?
La La: Definitely that thought never crossed my mind. To be able to be a part of it and be a part of anything that 50 is involved in is something I’m always so excited about. I’m always ready to go. Coming off of Power, which was such an incredible show, and now being on BMF is a dream come true for me. I don’t have any complaints on this side. I’m definitely super excited. We’re about to start filming another season of BMF, which is exciting as well. It’s great that we’re able to keep it going.
AllHipHop:What was your initial reaction when 50 Cent came to you with this?
La La: I was like, this is incredible. We love working together. I’ve learned so much from 50. He’s such a mentor for me, he’s such a smart person. When he said it’s time to rock and roll on the BMF side, I said tell me when you need me and I’m there! We just got it going. It’s been an amazing experience.
Image: Starz
AllHipHop:Talk about the bond that you and 50 Cent share.
La La: We’ve known each other for 17 plus years from the Get Rich or Die Tryin’ days, when I was a young MTV VJ and he was a new rapper promoting his stuff. We hit it off then and we’ve stayed friends through all these years. We always said when it made sense to collab on something or do something together, we would do that. We did Power, BMF, and we’re producing some content together. We’re keeping it going.
Just great to have people in your network that are smart, are successful, can help you with opportunities, things that you guys can do together. That’s how people continue to grow and build. Most importantly, continue to make opportunities for other people that are coming up in the game.
AllHipHop:You said you’re producing, do you have any ambitions of doing more in the film industry?
La La: For sure, producing is it. It’s amazing to be able to identify content that you feel is important and bring it out to the world. I have a movie I’m producing with Issa Rae called Juju. 50 and I have a couple of projects together. Producing is another incredible way to get stories told that need to be told, and that are important to us as a culture. I’m happy to be on the producing side as well, and acting is my passion and what I love to do.
AllHipHop:How did you and Issa Rae come together to work on a film? That’s epic.
La La: We had been friends. I told her I had this idea, we sat down for dinner one day. I said this idea would be great, she loved it. We partnered up and the name of the film is Juju. We’re in the works now to get that into production, hopefully really soon.
AllHipHop:Can you give me a teaser on what Juju is about?
La La: Juju is like Mean Girls meets The Craft, so it’s really cool. It’s set in New Orleans, high school kids that want to be cool. Want to fit in. Whether it’s through social media, all the things that people use now to feel like they’re cool. They start dibbling and dabbling in witchcraft and realize that things don’t always go as planned. But also realizing that it’s better to be a leader than a follower. Embrace your flaws, embrace what makes you different. It’s such a powerful message, especially for younger teens out there that are dealing with self-esteem issues and issues of fitting in. It touches on all of that, so I’m super excited about it.
AllHipHop:You’re a mother, you do so much with your career.How do you balance everything?
La La: Well, I never sleep. I’ve realized, I never sleep. That’s the way I balance it all, I don’t sleep. And that’s not a good thing,I need to sleep more. But I’m blessed with incredible family and friends that helped me to be able to do it all. Every mom says that about their kid, but my son is the most incredible human and he makes my job of being a mom so easy. I love him so much. We all band together as a family and we figure out ways to make it work, to where everyone feels supported. Feels loved. They say it takes a village, we all gotta work together.
AllHipHop:Kiyan had some basketball scholarship offers, how does that feel? Just following in..
La La: His dad’s footsteps, it makes me really proud of him. He works so hard. I’ve never seen someone so dedicated when it comes to being in the gym and working out, staying so focused. Still paying attention to his grades as well, he’s just on it. He deserves everything that comes his way, he works really really hard for it. We’re going to continue to support him. If it’s God’s will for him to go far in the NBA, we’ll be right there cheering him on. If it’s not, whatever he decides to do, we’ll still be there cheering him on.
AllHipHop:You’ve stated that men in their 20’s are DMing you, what is it like dating in your 40’s?
La La: [laughs] Listen, whatever God and the universe has for me is for me and I’ma leave it at that. I’m enjoying this new chapter in my life, this phase of my life, just having a good time. Whatever’s meant to be will be.
AllHipHop:How do you stay so snatched?
La La: I told you, I don’t sleep. [laughs] I should be in the gym a lot more. The thing about me is I haven’t been consistent. I love boxing. I’ll get my modes where I’m super focused, then I fall off. I’m definitely trying to find some consistency in my routine for sure.
AllHipHop:Can you tell us about the Murda Mamis?
La La: Oh my gosh, that was when I was so so young. It was a group of female DJs that band together and looked out for each other. That’s when I was on the radio on Hot 97, we banded together. It was all about female empowerment, supporting females in the communication space and everything. Shout out to them, it was awesome.
AllHipHop:Have you ever tried to rap?
La La: When I was younger, I did. I was younger, I just knew that I was going to be a rapper. Clearly that didn’t work out but that was then, and this is now.
AllHipHop:How serious was it?
La La: It was serious. As a teenager, I really thought that’s what I was going to do. But my career, my life took a lot of different twists and turns. I’m still happy to do what I’m doing and I’m still in the music business. It’s great to still be able to be in the entertainment music business, in a different capacity. I’m such a fan of hip-hop and music, so I get to still be a part of it.
AllHipHop:This year, Hip-Hop celebrates its 50th anniversary. What does Hip-Hop mean to
you?
La La: I always say hip-hop is the soundtrack to my life. I started my career as an intern because I was such a fan of hip hop, that I wanted to be around music all the time. I started interning when I was 16 years old at a radio station, just to be around music and my favorite artists. Just be able to embody that. That’s how I started my entire career, was chasing hip-hop. It’s definitely the soundtrack to my life and the springboard into how I became what I am today.
AllHipHop:Do you have a Top 5 all time?
La La: All time MCs? Oh Nas, everybody knows that. I don’t think there’s anybody — Nas is 1 2 3 4 and 5 for me. When it comes to lyricist and MCs and everything, I’ve been a NAS fan since I was 14, 15 years old.
AllHipHop:Do you like his new record with 21 Savage?
La La: I do. I like how they came together as brothers and got on that track together after people were trying to say different things. It was such a mature way to handle that, definitely a way to show other people in the industry how to handle stuff when the media or the naysayers tryto cause division and beef between people. It was great that they were able to do that.
AllHipHop:It’s 2023, do you have any New Years resolutions?
La La: I just said I want to balance my life a little bit better. Have me time, have time to do more trips. I work a lot, I’m with Kiyan a lot. I could probably balance my schedule and my life a little bit a little bit better, so that’s definitely something I want to work on in 2023.
AllHipHop:You said you don’t get any sleep. How many hours are you averaging per night?
La La: Oh my God, it’s not good. Probably about 4 hours? That’s what I’m working on that too. I had a friend recently tell me I need to get a sound machine. I need to do this, I need to do that, to get myself more relaxed before bed. Look, I’m open to trying anything. So I bought a couple of new things that’ll hopefully get me to sleeping more, so I can keep doing what I’m doing.
AllHipHop:That reminds me of Nick Cannon, he said he doesn’t sleep either.
La La: I know. It’s like our minds are constantly going and constantly thinking about the next day what you need to do. It’s nice to shut down sometimes though. I’m definitely gonna take the advice of a sound machine, a sleeping mask, whatever it takes to zone out and be able to go to sleep.
AllHipHop:Do you have a favorite thing you do for self-care?
La La: Honestly, when people think of self-care, they say “okay that’s me time.” But my self-care, I love being with my son. I love going to his games, that’s actually fun for me. I love being able to step away from what I’m doing, be there for him. Hanging out with my son, to me is my self-care because I enjoy it so much and we have so much fun together.
AllHipHop:What’re you most excited for next?
La La: Definitely BMF, the rest of the season. For people to watch it, see what people’s reactions are. I have a new movie coming out on Netflix at the end of this month with Eddie Murphy, Jonah Hill, Nia Long, Lauren London, so many amazing people. It’s called YOU PEOPLE, Kenya Barris directed it.I’m looking forward to that, some really cool projects coming coming down the line that I’m looking forward to.
AllHipHop:I was with Nia Long at the Missing red carpet premiere. Talk about the synergy on set with so many legendary actors and actresses.
La La: It was amazing! You want to be on a set that feels like family, and that’s how that set felt. We all got really close on that set. Hung out together, had dinners together, did things together. It was it was an incredible experience and that will shine through, even in the film. Because the film’s about two families from completely different backgrounds coming together. You’ll see that family loving vibe, even when you watch the movie. I’m glad we were able to do it and feel that love. I made friends on that set that I’ll have friendships for life, that’s always a great thing.
AllHipHop:Thank you so much La La. Anything else you want to let us know?
La La: Nah, that’s it. Thank you so much for today. Thanks for the interview. I’ve always been a fan of you guys. Thank you so much.
It was March 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic had yet to be identified. DJ Jazzy Jeff was DJing a private party in Idaho, something he’d done countless times before. But this particular event would wind up nearly costing Jazzy Jeff his life.
“I was one of the first people to get sick, and I almost didn’t make it,” Jazzy Jeff tells AllHipHop. “I got sick the day the world shut down. That was the day it hit me. I actually did a ski resort in Ketchum, Idaho, which was the nation’s first hot spot. I came home and realized the world wasn’t right.”
DJ Jazzy Jeff was on to something. He told his wife Lynette they needed to stock up on supplies—and this was before there’d been any official announcements regarding a pandemic.
“There was nobody in the store,” he says. “While we were in the store, we found out they’d shut the NBA down. That was also when Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson came down with it in Australia. We kind of looked at each other like, ‘OK, the store is going to be crazy tomorrow.’ The next words that came out of my mouth was, ‘Babe, I don’t feel good.’ And she was like, ‘What is it?’ I said, ‘I’m just a little achy.’ She said, ‘OK, we have everything we need. Let’s go home and you can take a hot shower.'”
That’s the last thing DJ Jazzy Jeff remembers. For the next 14 days, his condition was touch and go, and he has no recollection of it.
“I was on CNN and everything,” he continues. “That was at a time when no one knew. I didn’t know I had COVID. I went to the doctor and they said I had double pneumonia. They sent me home to sit perfectly still. That was so early, we didn’t know symptoms and things like that. I didn’t know pneumonia was a side effect of COVID. Like, I was really, really bad. It was bad to the point where Lynette started making phone calls.”
DJ Jazzy Jeff and Lynette then got a strange phone call from a journalist with the New York Post. He was calling to see how the veteran turntablist was doing. They both thought that was “odd” considering they hadn’t told anybody Jeff was sick. But the journalist explained the last show DJ Jazzy Jeff did was in the nation’s first hotspot and 15 people who were at the party had died.
“Lynette called back and was like, ‘Wait a minute, what?'” he remembers. “When she told me, that was the first time I was like, ‘Oh s###! This was COVID!?’ You have to understand how spooky it is. I have footage on my phone from that night. To realize that some of the people in this footage are not here is crazy. Long story short, because I was in the first wave of people to get sick, I knew how serious this was very, very early.
“I was like, ‘I know the world is not going to be in a place like we know it for at least two years.’ I knew that in April 2020 just because of how sick I was. I don’t know what we’re doing to do. The world is shut down. This is strange. It’s everywhere and everyone. We can’t move like we used to move. Myself and D-Nice were some of the first people to start streaming, and I started streaming for peace of mind. I wasn’t streaming for money. I was streaming because I played music for people all my life, and I kind of needed to do it for my peace of mind so I don’t go crazy.”
Years later, the pandemic restrictions have loosened up and touring is in full swing. But that experience changed DJ Jazzy Jeff’s life forever.
“What I realized is I am at the age that the people who are in my age group do not go to a club,” he says of streaming his live sets. “It was one of those things where I realized this is what the club is for grown people. Once that clicked for me, I was like, ‘Oh s###. There’s more people at home than in the club. So why don’t I try to become the DJ that plays for people at home?’
“It doesn’t mean I’m not going to go out. I just realized that I actually have the biggest club in the world. I can either go to Saudi Arabia and play for 10,000 people or I can stream tonight for 100,000 people. That turned into everybody wanting corporate streams. It turned into a whole business. Those two years—and I don’t say this a lot—were the best two years of my life. I regained my relationship with my family and kids. You’re gone so much you start missing stuff. I got back into the best creative zone I’ve ever been in my life. It was just re-direction that I realized I wouldn’t have taken if it wasn’t for this.”
Iggy Azalea has everybody hot in the pants and that includes me. The rapper and certified fat booty white girl has erected an only fans page. This is a year-long multimedia project that she’s giving us. There will be a number of verticals in this “Hotter Than Hell” event. The only thing people seem to really care about is the fact that she is going to be on only fans and promises uncensored sexual content.
‘SURPRISE! I’m dropping a mixed media project called ‘Hotter Than Hell’. There’s photographs, visual art collabs, videos, merch & all kinds of aesthetically pleasing, hot as hell things happening this year. You can get first look content + updates on my new OnlyFans account 🔥’
Back in the day, which is just a couple years ago, the Australian rapper said that she would never get on only fans. However, when those checks stop coming as fast, people make decisions in the fly. And in the fly is where a lot of movement is happening. She said that she wants to bring about some “unapologetically hot” content that is also fun. She wants to evoke the image of old-school sexy white women like Pamela Anderson. And Madonna. At any rate, I gotta admit, she’s looking really good, even if she did get some work here and there.
Only Fans is generally for singers and rappers that are giving fans some super sexy stuff – think Cardi B, Bhad Bhabie, Carmen Electra, Blac Chyna, and others. But you know, and I know that this white girl gets everybody a little harder in the pants than the rest. Nevertheless, I’ll get on Only Fans when Nia Long starts giving us that X-rated content.
If you have gotten this far, you should know that Iggy famously said she would never get on OnlyFans.
She once tweeted, “I think onlyfans can be really empowering for people, But I WILL NEVER, EVVVER join. I don’t want to make that type of content & it only f*cks up the bag for ppl on there who really bout that life. Shoutout to the baddies tho!!!!”
Kevin Hart has reflected on reaching a place in his personal life where he has awareness of his “monsters.”
During an interview for the “On Purpose with Jay Shetty” podcast, the “Central Intelligence” star discussed how he has done a lot of work on himself in recent years and is now okay with accepting the man he sees when he looks “in the mirror.”
“My monsters have been masked in disguise in various different ways but I’ve been able to pinpoint them throughout the years because some of those monsters got stronger… developed. You’re talking about the world of an ego,” he said. “The idea of who you think you are versus what you are or the idea of expectations and needs as to what you feel you need and what you have to have.
“That’s a monster that’s feeding that engine of, well, now that I’m making money, this is what I should have, this is how I should look, this is how I’m supposed to be. That’s a monster that you’re feeding because ultimately you’re buying in.”
Kevin has set out the idea in his new self-help audiobook, “Monsters and How to Tame Them: Taking Charge of the Voices in Your Head.”
Elsewhere in the conversation, the comedian claimed that becoming a celebrity offers a “bigger” high than any drug.
“The biggest drug. It’s not cocaine, it’s not heroin, it’s fame. Anything you want, everything you want, it’s a thing,” the 43-year-old continued. “And if you can’t handle this thing, the consequences attached are severe. Do you know you? And are you OK with you? If you are not, it’ll break you.”
