Illness prevented the YNW Melly murder trial from moving forward on Wednesday (July 12).
YNW Melly’s lawyer Raven Ramona Liberty got sick during Wednesday’s lunch break, putting the trial on hold. The Florida trial is scheduled to resume on Monday (July 17).
“There’s nothing anybody can do about it,” Judge John Murphy told the jury, per the Sun Sentinel. “You’re sick, you’re sick.”
YNW Melly was charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of his friends YNW Juvy and YNW Sakchaser. Prosecutors accuse the rapper of shooting and killing the victims after a studio session in 2018.
The rapper, whose real name is Jamell Demons, pleaded not guilty to the murder charges. He faces the death penalty if convicted. He has remained in jail since his 2019 arrest.
YNW Melly’s trial began on June 12. His alleged accomplice YNW Bortlen will be tried separately in October.
Prosecutors claim YNW Melly and YNW Bortlen tried to cover up the murders by staging a drive-by shooting. One of the prosecution’s witnesses was a crime scene reconstruction expert, who said the shooter was inside the same vehicle as the victims.
The first few weeks of the trial featured testimony from detectives, medical examiners and YNW Juvy’s mother. The trial was in recess during the first week of July.
Nolay and Trillary Banks have resurrected their long-standing feud with another fresh pair of diss tracks.
The friction between the two British MCs has existed for some time, with the pair sending shots at each other in several rounds of diss tracks. The feud began simmering again earlier this year when the Leicester-based rapper claimed the U.K. lacked talented female rappers.
In an April interview, Trillary named some women who can rap but struggled to name her top five women MCs. She insisted that the game became “meedy,” meaning tapped after slowing down her output.
The interview went viral as fans debated the talents of U.K. female rappers like Little Simz, Stefflon Don, and naturally, Trillary’s longtime rival, grime veteran Nolay.
Fellow Midlands rapper Brixx took offense and began trading online shots with Trillary Banks. Trillary teased a diss track, but in an unexpected twist, the pair stunned fans by going back-to-back on joint single, “#MEEDY BRIXX VS TRILLARY BANKS.” On the song, both women take aim at their female peers, including Stefflon Don and Nolay.
However, the drama took another turn when the Top Boy actress revealed Banks and Brixx faked their social media back and forth to promote the single. She busted the scam in a video just hours before the single was released on June 30.
While fans eagerly awaited a response, Nolay said she wasn’t going to reply. Nonetheless, just a couple of days later, Nolay teased her response before dropping “Rent Free,” the lead single from her upcoming EP, on July 10.
The video opens with a clip of a Facetime call with Stefflon Don as Nolay raps, “I told Steff and then we laughed at this mess.” Watch the clip below and check out both diss tracks at the end of the page.
Kid Cudi scored an Emmy nomination for his animated special Entergalactic on Wednesday (July 12).
The Netflix release was nominated for Outstanding Animated Program. The other nominees included Bob’s Burgers, Primal, Rick & Morty and The Simpsons.
Kid Cudi was overjoyed to receive the Emmy nomination. He expressed his excitement in several Twitter posts.
“ENTERGALATIC IS EMMY NOMINATED!!!!” he wrote. “YES YES YESSSSSSSSS!!! OMG WTF THIS IS INSANE!!!!! THANK U GOD.”
He added, “THIS IS HUGE!!! CONGRATS TO THE WHOLE TEAM WHO BUSTED THEIR A#### FOR 3 YEARS AND BROUGHT THIS BAD BOY TO LIFE!! @netflix #entergalactic. Now, the big question: What to wear??”
Kid Cudi shouted out various members of the Entergalactic team, thanking them for helping make his “dream come to life.” He also retweeted a post from November 2022 in which he complained about music award shows ignoring him.
Kenya Barris, Elizabeth Porter, Mike Moon, Mike Penketh, Fletch Moules, Maurice Williams, Ian Edelman, Karina Manashil, Dennis Cummings. This is the Entergalactic team behind the scenes that made my dream come to life and I am so thankful for each and everyone of these amazing…
Jay-Z, Rihanna and Donald Glover were among the notable names who received nominations for the 2023 Emmy Awards. Jay-Z and Rihanna secured nominations for the Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show. Glover earned a nod for his Amazon Prime series Swarm.
Netflix released Entergalactic in 2022. The cast featured Kid Cudi, Jaden Smith, 070 Shake, Ty Dolla $ign, Jessica Williams, Timothée Chalamet and more.
Tory Lanez hired a new attorney named Ronda Renee Dixon ahead of his sentencing for shooting Megan Thee Stallion.
Dixon criticized Tory Lanez’s lawyers Jose Baez and Matthew Barhoma in an interview published in Meghann Cuniff’s Legal Affairs and Trials newsletter on Wednesday (July 12). Lanez signed off on a substitution of counsel in June as he sought to replace Barhoma with Dixon.
“These guys are just taking advantage of [Lanez],” Dixon told Cuniff. “They’ve had him sign powers of attorneys. They’re acting on his behalf … They’re not really asking him what he wants.”
Dixon claimed Barhoma charged Lanez $90,000 for an “asinine” attempt to get Judge David Herriford removed from the case. An appellate court denied the motion to disqualify the judge.
“What he’s paid his attorneys so far is unreal,” Dixon said. “It’s unimaginable. They were only concerned about getting paid.”
Dixon accused Baez and Barhoma of lying to their client. She said they blamed the judge to “cover up their own ineptitude.”
Barhoma denied any wrongdoing. Baez did not respond to Cuniff’s request for comment.
A jury convicted Lanez of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, discharging a firearm with gross negligence and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle in December 2022. His sentencing has been delayed several times.
Prosecutors asked Judge Herriford to sentence Lanez to 13 years in prison. Lanez is scheduled to be sentenced on August 7.
Dixon wanted to secure bail for Lanez, who has remained in jail since his conviction. She expressed concerns about his well-being since he was held in isolation.
“He told me he hadn’t seen daylight in four months, that they didn’t take him to the day yard at all,” Dixon told Cuniff. “That’s doing something to his psyche.”
Dixon described Lanez as “totally despondent.”
“He told me he wanted to go to state prison,” she said. “I said, ‘You want to go to state prison? Why?’ He said, ‘At least I’ll be able to go out in the yard and talk to people.’ That upset me. I don’t think he’s guilty.”
Lanez intended to have Dixon work under Baez, but his new attorney admitted the lawyers “have some serious issues.” Judge Herriford must approve the substitution of Dixon for Barhoma before she can officially join the case.
Bun B is the latest rapper to have a run-in with pop princess Taylor Swift—and he’s all too happy to talk about it. On Wednesday (July 12), the UGK legend shared a photo of himself chopping it up with the Republic Records superstar and explained how he wound meeting her. According to Bun, he was having dinner somewhere in New York City when he got a call from a friend who invited him to a Questlove party.
“About last night..got a call in the middle of dinner to meet Matt from @astorclubnyc at an Uno game,” he wrote in the caption. “Random. Turns out it’s @questlove party with food from cannabis chef/educator @thechefnikki which was amazing. Quest calls @jazzbeezy who I hadn’t sent in years. On my way out he says ‘I have to have a picture with you and Taylor.’ Who turns out to be THE Taylor.
“As in @taylorswift who couldn’t have been more kind and personable. I’ve only ever met 2 other people who make you feel this seen and heard in an interaction before and that’s @barackobama and @beyonce. My question is does this make me a Swiftie?”
— Taylor Swift Updates 🩶 (@swifferupdates) July 12, 2023
Bun B’s sentiments echo those of Flavor Flav, who attended Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Detroit last month. In a social media post, Flavor Flav talked about his first encounter with Swift at the iHeartRadio Awards in March.
“Before I met Taylor Swift, I’ve always been a big fan of her music anyway, though,” he said. “Just like I’m a big fan of Christina Aguilera, or Gwen Stefani, or I love me some Miley Cyrus. You know what I’m sayin’? You’ll find me at their concerts, too. And a lot of people thought it was kind of weird seeing me at a Taylor Swift concert, I guess because of my age… But, you know, when it comes down to music, it has no age. Music don’t have no age.”
Swift is one of the biggest musical acts in the world. Her latest project, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), arrived last week and is projected to land at No. 1 with a first-week total near 700,000. It will mark the biggest yet of her re-recorded albums.
Jeffrey Bush, a friend of Cardi B, awaits sentencing for crimes committed as the “visible leader” of the 5-9 Brims gang.
According to the New York Daily News, Bush pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy in February. The 38-year-old gang member was scheduled to be sentenced in New York on Wednesday (July 12), but his sentencing was delayed.
Prosecutors want a judge to sentence Bush to more than 17 years in prison. The prosecution said Bush “oversaw violent gang assaults, the distribution of vast amounts of drugs and the use of stolen identities and other fraudulent means to enhance the financial status of the gang and its members.”
Bush’s lawyer Lisa Scolari claimed he only rose to the top ranks of the gang due to his friendship with Cardi B. Bush attended Cardi B’s baby shower, made an appearance in her “Red Barz” music video and dated one of the rapper’s friends.
“He neither engaged in violence himself nor directed or condoned it,” Scolari contended. “He became a leader — at one point the ‘high’ — not by virtue of violence but via his social status and earning capacity.”
Scolari continued, “Jeffery was friendly with the rap star Cardi B and as a result, he and his friends were invited to events. He wrote rhymes, made videos and promoted parties that brought him money and recognition. Those activities, which were more lucrative than the bank fraud or drug dealing he engaged in, were the reason he was granted ‘status.’”
Prosecutors urged a judge to not be lenient. They argued Bush “contributed to the addiction, poverty and violence created by the drug trade” ahead of his sentencing.
Jay-Z’s iconic lyrics have become the centerpiece of a grand exhibition displayed in front of the Central Library of the Brooklyn Public Library (BPL). A recent online video revealed the installation process, showing workers placing the lyrics on the library’s exterior. But what is really going on? Let’s go through some of the facts and then answer the rumors.
This project showcases selected verses from Jay-Z’s extensive catalog, featuring bars from popular songs such as “Hovi Baby,” “Sweet,” “Encore,” and “Justify My Thug,” among others. People have guessed that this thing is just BPL honoring the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop. Even Jay-Z’s mother, Dr. Gloria Carter has been a part of the past celebration in BK. But what about this?
The rumors are a bit more basic. Sources say that the building is closed because The Roc is back in the building. First of all, sections of the library were already off-limits, including the iconic promenade at the front entrance due to this installation. They are saying that this whole thing is an ode to Jay, where a part of the entire library has been blocked off and built out to celebrate Jay-Z or Roc Nation’s contributions to the culture. Formally the library had this to say, “Central Library will close at 6 pm on Wednesday, July 12. Central Library will be closed on Thursday, July 13, in preparation for a special event. IDNYC and Passport offices are open by appointment.”
Roc Nation is not talking, but something special is going down on Friday. The wild thing is that top-level decision-makers within all of this include Linda E. Johnson, the current president and CEO of the BPL, who is married to Bruce Ratner. Who is Bruce? Well, he is Jay-Z’s long-time business partner in real estate. There’s not a lot more about this to tell, but it definitely looks swanky and cool.
Not everybody is happy because they are acting like folks are REALLY in the library like that during the summer. I call cap! Rumor also has it that Jay-Z and company also declined the option of hosting the exhibit at the Marcy Library branch of the BPL. Word is: there is a recreated Baseline Studios in this thing. They gotta have Guru there!
50 Cent expressed his concerns about the detrimental impact of implementing the policy of eliminating bail in Los Angeles just days ago. It appears several prominent lawyers in the state have echoed his sentiments.
“LA is finished watch how bad it gets out there. SMH,” he wrote on his Instagram, posting a video featuring L.A. Deputy District Attorney John McKinney.
McKinney heard about 50 Cent’s outrage and agreed there was reason to be concerned.
“I thought it was refreshing to have a celebrity, from whatever walk of life, to have the courage to speak against the trend of anti-law enforcement rhetoric that we hear,” the prosecutor said in an interview with the NY Post. “Hearing the litany of crime after crime that’s taking place in our streets was shocking to people… Social media is flooded with [examples of] battery after battery but our policies are moving in the opposite direction to what is playing out in our streets and what people are seeing on their television.”
The decision was made when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020 and Los Angeles was dealing with their jails being packed beyond reason. To fix that, they introduced a no-bail policy.
The new policy stated that if someone was arrested for a nonviolent crime, they didn’t have to pay any money to get out of jail before their court hearing. After the pandemic, things went back to normal.
Normally, judges in California decide bail based on how serious the crime is and the person’s criminal history. But this policy changed all that. In May, Judge Lawrence Riff from the Los Angeles County Superior Court ruled in favor of a group of activists who took the county to court, saying the cash bail system was unfair. Subsequently, the no-bail policy was brought back.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer shared the same view as 50 Cent about the rise in crime due to the no-bail policy.
“His advice is at least worth $1, but my question is where has he been this whole time,” he said to Fox News. “I’m not a listener of 50 Cent but he has a lot of influence and a lot of followers, and it’s about time the music industry and the Hollywood elite get their arms around this problem and start to speak out.”
The off-court drama surrounding Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant continues to escalate as his best friend, Davonte Pack, [is now a wanted man. ](https://wreg.com/news/local/warrant-issued-for-davonte-pack-ja-morants-longtime-friend/ “”
A state warrant was issued on Monday charging Pack with Assault-Bodily Harm.
Pack’s legal troubles stem from an incident last summer at Morant’s home in Eads, Tennessee, where he and Morant are accused of assaulting 18-year-old Joshua Holloway during a pick-up basketball game.
The teen filed a lawsuit against the pair in September 2022.
This is not the first time Pack has been in the spotlight. Earlier this year, a courtside incident involving Pack led to his suspension from the FedExForum for the remainder of the Grizzlies season.
The incident involved a verbal altercation with Indiana Pacers players, which resulted in Pack being removed from his seat. Later that evening, several Pacers players claimed a red laser beam from a gun was trained upon them.
Adding to the controversy, a video streamed by Pack showed Morant in the passenger seat of a vehicle, briefly appearing to display a handgun.
This incident marked the second time Morant was seen brandishing a gun on social media, leading to a 25-game suspension by the NBA. The suspension, which will cost Morant more than $7.6 million, will see him miss the start of the 2023-2024 NBA season.
In a statement, Morant apologized for his actions, promising to work on his mental health and decision-making.
“I’ve had time to reflect, and I realize how much hurt I’ve caused,” Morant said. “I want to apologize to the NBA, the Grizzlies, my teammates, and the city of Memphis… I promise I’m going to be better.”
Despite Morant’s apology, the controversy surrounding him and Pack casts a shadow over the Grizzlies’ off-season.
As of now, it is unclear whether Pack is in police custody.
Coolio’s estate has released the second single to the posthumous album, Long Live Coolio. Titled “A Star Is Born,” the track features vocals from Treach of Naughty by Nature, MC Shan and DJ Wino, his longtime producer and collaborator.
“A Star Is Born” tells the story of Coolio’s rise to fame with its blissful West Coast production. In addition to the single, the Ken Francis and Niknotti-directed music video includes Treach, MC Shan and DJ Wino, as well as behind-the-scenes photos and videos commemorating the late rapper.
Artis Leon Ivey Jr. known professionally as Coolio, rose to fame as a member of the gangsta rap group WC and the Maad Circle. Coolio achieved mainstream success as a solo artist in the 1990s with his albums It Takes a Thief (1994), Gangsta’s Paradise (1995) and My Soul (1997). He’ best known for his 1995 Grammy Award–winning hit single “Gangsta’s Paradise” as well as other singles “Fantastic Voyage” (1994), “1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New)” (1996) and “C U When U Get There” (1997).
From 1996 on, Coolio released albums independently, and provided the opening track “Aw, Here It Goes!” for the 1996 Nickelodeon television series Kenan & Kel. He created the web series Cookin’ with Coolio and released a cookbook.
In a realm where artists often shy away from naming their past flames, GALI fearlessly defies convention on his latest single, “21,” recounting a tumultuous relationship with the unforgettable Ashley. Except, the name Ashley is used to symbolize a person who anyone has ever loved.
Within the enchanting soundscape of “21,” GALI’s signature immersive atmosphere and adaptive lyricism converge, carrying listeners on a melodic odyssey through his journey with the name “Ashley”. Set against a backdrop of chill, lo-fi beats, the verses exude raw emotion and an unwavering sense of purpose, inviting audiences to feel every nuance and meaning woven into the fabric of his words.
Hailing from the center of Chinese hip-hop music, Shanghai, GALI has rapidly ascended to stardom in China, leaving an indelible mark after claiming the third spot on the esteemed 2020 show, “Rap of China.” Standing shoulder to shoulder with renowned Chinese rap luminaries like MC HotDog and Lexie Liu, GALI captivated audiences with his performance of “70%,” which garnered over 3.5 million views on YouTube, can be seen here.
Since then, the hip-hop heavyweight has remained committed to creating music that showcases his profound rap prowess, seamlessly infusing remnants of his past life into his music, building bridges between his artistry and personal experiences.
“21” finds its place within the revolutionary music collective, D.N.A., curated by Lay Zhang (LAY), which endeavors to propel talented Chinese artists, like GALI, onto the global stage. Lay has experimented in the rap realm with his hit album “莲 (Lit)” back in 2020, which has been his most dominating track and equally cinematic music video with over 26 million views to date. LAY’s role as executive producer adds a touch of seasoned expertise to the track.
As GALI embarks on his current ATLANTIS tour, he aims to deliver an unforgettable experience to his devoted fans. With crafted music like “21,” the rapper aspires to transcend boundaries and propel the Chinese hip-hop industry into the global spotlight.
Fearless, relentless, and unapologetic, GALI emerges as a force to be reckoned with, using his music as a conduit to reshape the landscape of contemporary Chinese hip-hop and leave an indelible mark on the hearts of his listeners.
The track is also produced by Sool Got Hits who is a producer of the D.N.A Music Alliance. He is known for helming hits such as Quavo’s “Workin Me” and Nicki Minaj’s “Miami” plus a winner of the GRAMMY Award for Best R&B Song. This release follows a string of singles out of the new music collective which includes LAY as executive producer. Just last month, “Break My Heart” was released with GALI, Vinida and LAY while Vinida, a rising superstar in her own right, released her own standout track called, “What She Said,” earlier this month.
“21” is available on all streaming services, here. A captivating futuristic lyric video is available on D.N.A YouTube channel can be seen here. Follow GALI on Instagram here, D.N.A team on Instagram here and LAY on Instagram here.
Omen44 and Dj Munari teamed up to summon Brooklyn’s own Hip-Hop Gods “Boot Camp Clik”.
This is the first single off Omen44’s upcoming album “Year Of The Dragon” as Roy Ayers has stated “The war has just begun”. This is just the beginning of the introduction to his next album, and he has prepared tracks with Kool Keith, Richie Spice and more, which will definitely blow your mind to another dimension.
Omen44 raps about his experience as a drug smuggler, combining that with his political view as an Asian American talking about Executive Order 9066 which stripped people of Japanese descent of their civil rights, this is the story of Omen44 surviving the harsh conditions of New York and rising with his fellow Asian Dj Munari!
Omen44
Omen 44 originally from Kobe, evolved into a seasoned and respected Hip Hop artist since claiming NY as home and placing his stake in the music scene. His music’s quick buzz and notoriety resulted in shared global stages and collaborations with the likes of such heavyweights as Sizzla, Marley Marl, Statik Selektah, and more. 44 offers fans a lengthy catalog of albums, mixtapes, and EPs all of which incorporate a mixture of sounds and beats from Jazz to Funk over his lyrical imagery.
Boot Camp Clik
Boot Camp Clik is an American Hip-Hop supergroup from Brooklyn, New York City, which is composed of Buckshot (of Black Moon), Smif-N-Wessun (Tek and Steele), Heltah Skeltah (Rock and Sean Price) and O.G.C. (Starang Wondah, Top Dog, and Louieville Sluggah) adding Ruste Juxx as a new member. Most of the members are from Brownsville, but Buckshot is from Crown Heights and Tek is from Bedford-Stuyvesant.
DJ MUNARI
DJ MUNARI is one of the most sought-after talents in today’s Japanese underground Hip Hop scene. As a DJ, producer, and entrepreneur, he currently strives to bridge the gap between Tokyo and New York. His Family Vlog, and Youtube channel “Tokyo Meets Brooklyn” has reached 86.5K subscribers, and his own music channel has 21.7K subscribers.
It’s been more than 20 years since Jam Master Jay was murdered, but the Run-DMC legend and his family still hasn’t received any justice for the crime. That’s partially because the hood doesn’t talk and only recently have there been any suspects indicted for his death.
Ronald “Tinard” Washington and Karl Jordan Jr. were the first men arrested and charged with Jam Master Jay’s October 30, 2002 death. Both men are currently scheduled to go on trial in January 2024.
According to prosecutors, Washington and Jordan allegedly took the life of JMJ as a retaliatory act after they were allegedly excluded from a 10-kilogram cocaine transaction. In May, investigators identified another person, Jay Bryant, as one of the killers.
According to federal prosecutors, Bryant was seen entering JMJ’S Queens studio, and his DNA was found on a piece of clothing left at the scene.
He also allegedly admitted to shooting JMJ, which is contrary to what the feds believe actually happened. In their scenario of the formerly cold case, Jordan was the one that shot the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer in the head at close range.
Bryant’s lawyer says that the confusion is too much, and he believes the best outcome for his client will be if he goes to trial by himself and not be tried with the other men.
“Both of the other defendants will be pointing at us. They may be pointing at each other,” said Cesar de Castro, Bryant’s lawyer, according to the Daily News.
Even though his client said he shot JMJ, he maintains he’s not the killer. He believes Washington and Jordan will say he was the triggerman.
Jermall Charlo, in a video shared on social media, appeared to be slurring his words and expressed his intention to let his twin brother Jermell fight Canelo Alvarez before him, stressing they wanted to maximize their earnings. Uhm, ok. But it did not stop there.
However, Jermall’s current state doesn’t seem suitable for facing formidable opponents like Canelo or even fighters in his own division. Canelo and Premier Boxing Champions should carefully consider whether it’s wise to involve him in a fight at all after seeing these videos. While such a match could generate revenue if the priority is solely financial, it is expected that Canelo would easily defeat an impaired Jermall. And what about Jermall’s situation? Where are his true friends!?
In the video, Jermall’s speech was slurred, and he appeared unfocused and disoriented. It’s unclear what exactly is afflicting him, but he doesn’t seem ready to face any opponent, let alone the undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo. In the video, Jermall mentioned “psychedelics,” a term historically associated with LSD or Acid.
It’s unclear whether he was referring to that particular substance or using the term in slang.
Look at this mess!
At least in this video, somebody told him to get off live.
The installment in the 2023 Rolling Loud festival returns to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on July 21-23. Fans around the world will be able to watch the performances via Amazon Music.
This year’s Rolling Loud Miami will stream live on Prime Video as well as the Amazon Music and Rolling Loud Twitch channels starting at 4:00 pm ET each day.
“We are excited to team up with Amazon Music to bring Rolling Loud Miami to the masses,” said Matt Zingler and Tariq Cherif, Rolling Loud Festival co-founders.
Matt Zingler and Tariq Cherif added, “Miami is our flagship festival and Hip-Hop’s biggest stage, and with the help of Amazon Music, we can show millions of people what Rolling Loud is all about.”
Travis Scott, A$AP Rocky, and Playboi Carti will headline Rolling Loud Miami 2023. The lineup also features Lil Durk, Lil Yachty, Ice Spice, Trippie Redd, GloRilla, Coi Leray, Don Toliver, Offset, Latto, Central Cee, and more.
Florida’s own Kodak Black will be Friday night’s special guest. Atlanta-raised rapper 21 Savage takes on the special guest spot for the Saturday show. Philadelphia native Lil Uzi Vert is Sunday’s scheduled special guest.
Matt Zingler and Tariq Cherif started Rolling Loud as a one-day Miami concert. Since its inception in 2015, the brand has expanded to present shows in California and New York. Festivalgoers in overseas locations such as Portugal, Germany, and Thailand have also experienced the Hip Hop event.
YK Osiris has officially turned his attention back to his music following a media firestorm last month. The singer/songwriter returned this week with the “Dear Fans” single.
Many social media users had a lot to say after footage of YK Osiris forcibly kissing Love & Hip Hop: Miami star Sukihana went viral. Following significant backlash, Osiris publicly apologized to Suki and she accepted his apology.
“In an attempt to be playful, I misread the moment and violated Sukihana’s boundaries. I understand the importance of consent and I am embarrassed by my behavior. I have the utmost admiration for Sukihana and it was never my intention to disrespect her,” posted YK Osiris.
Two weeks ago, Osiris teased a new record on his Instagram page. The Jacksonville native let loose that track and its video on July 11. JakeTheShooter directed the visuals for “Dear Fans” with Osiris serving as a creative director.
The “Dear Fans” video opens with YK Osiris portraying a therapist speaking to another version of the 24-year-old entertainer. In the clip, he asks himself, “Outside of social media, how can people get to know the real Osiris?”
In response, the patient version of YK Osiris offers, “Honestly, I’ve been trying to figure that out myself. I’m still learning who I am. But I think I got an idea… I should write a letter to my fans. I think it’s time to keep it real.”
Osiris’s “Dear Fans” joins a single discography that includes the Platinum-certified “Valentine” as well as the 3x-Platinum-certified “Worth It.” Both of those records live on the former Def Jam artist’s debut studio LP, 2019’s The Golden Child.
Christopher “The Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace’s son, C.J. Wallace, was only five months old when the rap star lost his life to gun violence in March 1997. The younger Wallace is now looking to learn more about his legendary father.
TIME Studios announced the production of a new documentary titled Understanding Christopher Wallace. The Vikram Gandhi-directed film will present a narrative that navigates between the lives of Christopher Jr. and Sr.
“It’s an honor to document CJ’s personal odyssey to understand his father and to create a deeper and more definitive film about the man behind the persona Notorious B.I.G., Christopher Wallace,” said Vikram Gandhi.
Understanding Christopher Wallace will allow C. J. Wallace to uncover new revelations behind his dad’s life story. The documentary includes C.J. questioning Biggie’s associates/loved ones like his mother Faith Evans. In addition, he spoke to frequent Biggie collaborators Jadakiss, Lil Kim, and Lil Cease.
“Over the past few years, I realized my personal journey is connected to understanding who Christopher George Latore Wallace was outside of his big rap persona,” C. J. Wallace stated.
C. J. Wallace (Photo Credit: Eduardo Donoso)
Understanding Christopher Wallace Is A Film About Fatherhood, Loss & Love
C.J. also added, “I am on a journey to fully understand the world he lived in and the massive impact he had on American and Black history, and by doing so, I can ensure that I honor his hopes and dreams while I build and create my own legacy for future generations of Wallaces.”
Executive producers on Understanding Christopher Wallace include TIME Studios’ Loren Hammonds, Alexa Conway, Mike Beck, and Lynne Benioff and Frank White’s Wayne Barrow, Elliot Osagie, and Doug DeLuca. Additionally, Frank White’s Willie Mack and Tiffany Persons and Director Vikram Gandhi serve as producers for the project.
“The Notorious B.I.G. had such an immense impact on not only music but also on popular culture as a whole. But this film is about so much more than that,” said Loren Hammonds, Head of Documentary at TIME Studios.
Hammonds continued, “It’s about fatherhood, loss, and love. It’s incredibly special to be able to let audiences learn about the man behind the myth through C. J.’s eyes, and we’re very proud to play a part in carrying on Christopher Wallace’s inimitable legacy.”
N.W.A. members Dr. Dre and Ice Cube cemented themselves as two of the most successful Hip Hop artists to emerge from California. Blxst is looking to follow in those West Coast legends’ footsteps.
After growing up in South Central Los Angeles, Blxst went on to earn a Gold plaque for his “Overrated” single. The performer/producer also scored a Platinum plaque for “Chosen” featuring Ty Dolla $ign and Tyga.
Blxst dropped a new song titled “child of GOD.” Los Angeles-bred rapper Remble appears on the track as well. Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe recently spoke to Blxst about the “child of GOD” collaboration and L.A.’s musical legacy.
“I just love the collaboration journey in general. Even Remble, for example, the dichotomy between him and me, it’s just like good and evil. People love to see those things meshed together,” Blxst told Zane Lowe.
He continued, “And even on ‘child of GOD,’ that was the constant theme in the song, seeing the good, no matter what evil you’re surrounded by. It opens your mind to seeing things differently. And we had that perfect room, where he just felt like himself, and he floated on there, man, he walked on there.”
“I think about the level that Dr. Dre set. Thinking about the storytelling that Ice Cube set. And those are the bars that I look at when I’m doing music. So when they pass the torch down, I can’t do nothing but aim that high,” said Blxst.
Snoop Dogg may be known for his love of canines, reportedly having up to 11 dogs in his pack over the years, but he also used to have a pet most people would rather not have in their home.
The Death Row Records boss recently recalled a hilarious story about his indestructible pet roach. The pest was already living in the apartment when Snoop Dogg moved in, and despite his best attempts, the roach proved impossible to kill.
He told the story during his latest interview with Canadian media legend Nardwuar the Human Serviette. As he’s known to do, the journalist pulled out a rare piece of artist trivia, this time about a pet cockroach.
“G#### used to live with me. In my apartment I had a roach that we couldn’t kill.” Snoop Dogg recalled. “We tried to kill that muthafucka when we first moved in, and he wouldn’t die so we called him The G####.”
However, Snoop said the already large roach “just kept getting bigger and bigger.” During the six months or so that Snoop Dogg lived in the apartment, his pet roach “grew to the size of about a whole dollar bill.”
However, he also revealed he and his roommates left food out for The G####, so they probably contributed to his size.
Nardwuar Gifts Snoop Dogg A Piece Of Fan Art From A Classic Interview
Snoop Dogg and Nardwuar’s interactions are so iconic they even have their own fan art. During their eleventh interview, Nardwuar presented the West Coast legend with an image of a recreation of one of their classic interviews created by miniature artist Duane Shoots Toys.
“Smokefest the small version, that’s gangsta,” Snoop said, checking out the intricate details. “He’s a dope artist. That’s hard as s### cuz.” Check out the clip below and watch the moment Nardwuar gifted Snoop a rare copy of his first movie at the end of the page.
Lil Wayne credits Jay-Z with changing his writing style after he learned that Hov never writes down his lyrics.
The Young Money Entertainment founder revealed his inspiration to ditch the pen and paper during an appearance on The Pivot Podcast Tuesday (July 11). According to Weezy, once he heard Hov strictly raps freestyle, he never wrote a lyric down again.
“The moment I heard it I stopped,” Lil Wayne recalled before adding, “I heard that n#### Jay-Z don’t write, I don’t write no more.”
Furthermore, Wayne was so determined to abandon the notepad and pen that he dumped the last of his written material in one track.
“We went in the studio and we did ‘10,000 Bars’” he added. “That was the last time I rapped anything off of a paper.”
Check out a clip below and listen to the 35-minute-long 2002 track at the end of the page.
Later in the interview, Lil Wayne revealed that the Jay-Z-inspired switch led him to pen his prison memoir, Gone Til November, A Journal of Rikers Island. He wrote the book on the advice of a therapist during his 242-day stint behind bars for gun possession.
The therapist advised him to write his thoughts down as a “therapy escape” since he didn’t write down his raps. Lil Wayne recalled the exercise was something “to look forward to,” that he treated like “studio time.” He would draw the sheets on his bunk to close himself off at lock-in time.
Lil Wayne was behind bars at Rikers Island for 242 days. @LilTunechi knew nothing could take away his creativity but he needed an outlet during that time to express himself.
He penned letters each day that were eventually released in his original handwriting as a book titled,… pic.twitter.com/BJMNkg3oQD
