Aw shoot! Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer ain’t messing around, folks. He’s calling out YouTube stars Logan Paul and KSI for their energy drink shenanigans. Schumer aka Killah Chuck hit the FDA to investigate their drink PRIME Energy, claiming it’s loaded with an “eye-popping” amount of caffeine and targeting kids with social media marketing.
Let’s break it down. This PRIME Energy drink packs a whopping 200 milligrams of caffeine. That’s like chugging down more than two cups of joe or slamming back about six cans of Coca-Cola, or even 2.5 cans of Red Bull. Dr. Ran Goldman, a pediatrician and professor of pediatrics at the University of British Columbia, says that’s way too much for a child. In fact, kids shouldn’t be touching caffeine, period.
Why? Well, even a tiny dose of caffeine can wreak havoc on a kid’s system. It can unleash anxiety, make them jittery, kill their appetite, and mess with their heart rate and blood pressure. Too much caffeine can lead to a full-blown overdose. Overdosing equals seizures, messes up heart rhythms, and sends them to a coma or the grave.
Now, let’s talk about Paul and KSI! They are the masterminds behind this PRIME madness! First of all, I am writing about this so this is what that want: PRESS! Secondly, I thought they were rivals! These dudes dropped their beverage brand last year and started off with PRIME Hydration, a sports drink sans caffeine. Respect, fellas. But then, in January, they unleashed PRIME Energy on the unsuspecting masses. And guess what? It’s packing roughly the same caffeine punch as other popular energy drinks like 5-hour Energy.
Schumer is calling out the marketing tactics of Paul and KSI, saying it’s directly aimed at kids under 18. Stay woke, my friends!
Jack Harlow recently added another feather to his cap. His wax figure now stands proudly in Madame Tussauds, the world-renowned wax museum in Las Vegas.
The figure is a testament to Harlow’s growing stature in the entertainment world, mirroring his look from the “Churchill Downs” music video featuring Drake.
The figure sports a custom suit, reminiscent of the one Harlow wore in the music video, which was shot at the 2022 Kentucky Derby. The suit, an elegant shade of ivory, is a creation of Musika New York under the creative direction of Aleks Musika.
The figure also features a necklace with a pendant shaped like Kentucky, a tribute to Harlow’s roots.
Jack Harlow’s New Madame Tussauds Figure – Key Lime Photography
The unveiling was a private event Harlow’s close family and friends attended. Following the event, Harlow performed at Zouk Nightclub.
Linsey Stiglic, Marketing Manager for Madame Tussauds Las Vegas, expressed her excitement about the new addition, stating, “Jack Harlow’s new figure is a perfect addition to our museum. His confidence, humor, and of course, music is admired by all, and we’re so thrilled to welcome him to our Las Vegas attraction.”
The creation of Harlow’s figure involved a team of 20 studio artists and took approximately six months to complete. Visitors to the museum can now interact with the figure, echoing Harlow’s famous catchphrase, “WHATS POPPIN.
Harlow, a Kentucky native, has made significant strides in his music career. His third studio album, Jackman, was released in April, following the success of his previous albums, Thats What They All Say in 2020 and Come Home the Kids Miss You in 2022.
Both albums received critical acclaim, with C_ome Home the Kids Miss You_ earning a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album in 2023. The album also achieved impressive first-week sales, projected to be between 110,000 and 135,000 units.
His ventures complement Harlow’s music career into acting, with two movies on the horizon
Nicki Minaj gave her stamp of approval to the Barbie movie on Monday (July 10).
The diamond-selling rapper shared her initial thoughts on the film via Twitter. Nicki Minaj praised the Barbie movie after attending the premiere in Hollywood.
“The entire cast of this movie nailed it,” she wrote. “The film is so visually stimulating. The actors can actually act & the comedic timing is actually on time. Bravo. I’ll see it again & give my final analysis around the 21st. Will Ferrell, I [love] U.”
She’s strikingly gorgeous in person. Btw, the entire cast of this movie nailed it. The film is so visually stimulating. The actors can actually act, & the comedic timing is actually on time. Bravo. I’ll see it again & give my final analysis around the 21st. Will Ferrell, I💖U https://t.co/SY9E4sXg6W
Minaj posted her brief review in reaction to a gif of her posing with Margot Robbie, who plays Barbie in the film. The Republic Records artist said the actress was “strikingly gorgeous in person.”
Robbie enjoyed connecting with Minaj on the red carpet. The Barbie star admitted she was a bit star-struck when they posed together.
“That was iconic,” she told Variety. “I’m dying. I’m gonna have to take a minute later to be like, ‘Wow, I actually just got a picture with Nicki Minaj.’ It was amazing.”
The Barbie movie is scheduled to hit theaters on July 21. Greta Gerwig directed the film.
Minaj contributed to the movie’s soundtrack. She teamed up with Ice Spice for a song titled “Barbie World,” which samples Aqua’s#### single “Barbie Girl.”
Songs generated entirely by AI won’t be eligible to win Grammys.
The Recording Academy established new rules for the 2024 Grammy Awards in response to the rise of AI music. The Recording Academy allowed AI-assisted songs to be eligible for Grammys but stressed the need for human contributions.
“A work that contains no human authorship is not eligible in any category,” the Recording Academy proclaimed.
Grammys CEO Harvey Mason Jr. elaborated on the AI rules in an interview with the Associated Press.
“Here’s the super easy, headline statement: AI or music that contains AI-created elements is absolutely eligible for entry and for consideration for Grammy nomination,” he said. “What’s not going to happen is we are not going to give a Grammy or Grammy nomination to the AI portion.”
He added, “As long as the human is contributing in a more than de minimis amount, which to us means a meaningful way, they are and will always be considered for a nomination or a win. We don’t want to see technology replace human creativity. We want to make sure technology is enhancing, embellishing, or additive to human creativity. So that’s why we took this particular stand in this award cycle.”
Mason noted how a song with AI-generated vocals is not eligible for performance categories, but the track is eligible for songwriting categories if a person wrote the lyrics.
The next Grammys are scheduled to take place on February 4, 2024. The ceremony will be held at Cryto.com Arena in Los Angeles and air live on CBS.
It feels as though Wendell Pierce has always been a part of our lives, captivating us with his incredible talent as a thespian. From his unforgettable performances in HBO’s “The Wire” to his iconic stature in the cultural landscape, Pierce has consistently delivered excellence throughout his illustrious career. Notably, his roles in acclaimed films such as “Ray,” “Selma,” “Malcolm X,” “Waiting to Exhale” and “Get on the Bus” have solidified his reputation as a versatile and highly skilled actor. His exceptional portrayal in “Clemency” earned him the prestigious Sundance Grand Jury Prize, and his performance in “Burning Cane” garnered him the Best Actor award at the Tribeca Film Festival. However, it’s his role as James Greer in “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” that Pierce intertwines his political views and mastery as an actor, leaving an indelible mark on American culture.
Beyond his remarkable talent on screen, Pierce demonstrates a fierce commitment to social justice and the advancement of Black voices within the entertainment industry through his role as a founding member of Black Theatre United. With his extensive training, unwavering passion and remarkable talent, he continues to captivate audiences worldwide with his unforgettable performances.
In this exclusive interview, Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur engages in a conversation with Mr. Pierce, a self-proclaimed jazzman, delving into his character’s journey, why he loathes Clarence Thomas and his insightful pearls of wisdom for the younger generation.
Read on for the full transcript of our conversation.
AllHipHop: It’s good to see you, Wendell. I met you years ago at the DNC, the first DNC with Obama. Tell us a little bit about this season of “Jack Ryan,” the final season and what can we expect?
Wendell Pierce: For my character James Greer, all of these years while I’ve been doing the show, I had a consultant that I worked with an African-American, retired officer. The one thing he always would remind me was how difficult the work was on your family, holding your family together, and the stresses of that. I shared that with the producers and they were really kind enough to roll that into my final season, the final part of James Greer’s journey. You see that I am trying to salvage and redeem myself as a father. I love that. I love that the most this season. That I’m doing my work, but at the same time, trying to salvage my family.
AllHipHop: Is there any family unit that you guys have formed on set, or are you guys sad that the show is coming to an end?
Wendell Pierce: It’s sad, it’s bittersweet that things are coming to an end, but at the same time, we had a blast, man. Our friendships will go beyond the filming of it. I realize now that we finished almost a year ago, and I keep forgetting that because we’ve been hanging so much since we finished filming. It’s evident that we are going to still have close relationships as friends. We will have the lasting memory of traveling the world, and I mean literally the world, 10 to 20 countries, all over it. We just had a blast, man.
AllHipHop: I have to ask you, playing a CIA agent and considering your philanthropic and political leanings, do you ever feel any personal conflict with the professional role?
Wendell Pierce: No. The great thing about doing this role, and I’ve tried to put it into the role, my consultant, as I said, is an African American retired officer, and I challenged them the first thing. I said, “How can you be a CIA officer knowing what this agency has done in our community?” I was thinking of Malcolm X. I specifically said, “What about Malcolm X?” And he said, “Wendell, we would fight racism, right?” I said, “Yeah.” “We’ll do anything possible to try to stop it?” I said, “Yeah.” He said, “I feel the same way, and I just chose to try to do it inside the CIA, instead of outside of the CIA.” He said, “Now, I hear you call yourself an American, right?” And I said, “Yes.” He said, “Well, how can you call yourself an American knowing what this country’s done to our community?”
He said, “It’s because you know you can have an impact still. That we can still make it a more perfect union. The fact that we haven’t given up on it is because we know we can impact and affect change. And that’s why I felt as though I could do it inside the CIA, than outside the CIA.” And that’s how I think [my character] James Greer is. I tried to put that in the role, when I talk about having to make choices, find my moral compass, there’s a gray area that we deal with, and I teach that to Jack [Ryan]. That’s the difficult place to be, so you have to find a way to be more exact about who you are and what your values are in this work. Don’t live in that gray area. That’s how I reconcile it. It’s not an either/or, and we shouldn’t play in that gray area. Be decisive.
I say to people, “We should never lose the right to be offended.” That’s what I always tell people who may be critical of the choices that I make. “It’s good. I’m glad. Now why? I just want to hear why, and I want to see what are you going to do?” That’s how you affect change. So, the answer my consultant gave to me really clarified playing the role. Then I went to the CIA. And the most surprising thing, Chuck, the most surprising thing of this five year journey is when I walked in the building, it looked like the country.
It looked like the country. I was surprised. I was surprised. I was pleasantly surprised. What he said just became even more clear to me. Yeah, that’s how I do it, bro.
AllHipHop: Moving on to another iconic role of yours, Bunk from “The Wire.” What is it about Bunk that we love so much?
Wendell Pierce: Bunk is an every man. He’s the uncle at the cookout. He’s your father when he gets in your butt, tells you what you need to do. If you don’t have a father, he’s that cat on the playground, the cat on the basketball court, who’s running all the games on Saturday, but say, “Hey man, that was wrong. You know that was a foul.”
AllHipHop: Right!
Wendell Pierce: Right? He’s that guy, that appeals to our heart and our comfort, but appeals to our mind as well, because he’s a straight shooter, and we know so many men like that in the community. That’s why he’s been a lasting impact, having a lasting impact. I’m so thankful that he got that recognition, because those are the men that we seldom give a platform to. Because they don’t need it, they just want to make sure you do right. I’m sure, Chuck, you can look at the men in your life that would bring you to the ownership of your own company, gave you vision, gave you focus, who gives you reminders of how to move forward. That’s why we like Bunk. Because, same time, we know he’s flawed. We know he’s flawed, and he’s not perfect, but Bunk is the one, the guy who wakes up every day and says, “You know something? It’s another day to try to get it right.”
AllHipHop: Do you have any thoughts about Clarence Thomas? You played him as well, and he’s a bit of a scoundrel to Black folks nowadays.
Wendell Pierce: Yeah. When preparing for Clarence Thomas, we were living parallel lives, really. Black, from the South. Grandparents were farmers. Poor. Understood the value of education, the premium value of education. Your first wealth in life is education, before you get any sort of monetary wealth. First wealth is education. Catholic, Black Catholic, from the South, all the similarities. Went to school. Actually, very active in college. Clarence Thomas wanted to be a Black Panther…
AllHipHop: What!?
Wendell Pierce: He was marching and had his beret. It’s very interesting that Affirmative Action is the linchpin, because he benefited from Affirmative Action. He had no problem with it, until he returns home to Savannah, Georgia, and he wants to join one of the established law firms there. And here he is with his Yale degree, from the community, smart as can be, and they wouldn’t accept him. He could not get hired at a law firm in Savannah, Georgia. It shows you the insidious nature of racism. The most racist, discriminatory practice, of a Black man with a Yale law degree not being able to get a job. That wouldn’t even get him a job. He was denied his job. And the insidious trauma of that, in Clarence Thomas’ head, turns it into, well, it’s not because they don’t like my Black ass, it’s because they don’t think my degree is valuable because I got it with affirmative action.
AllHipHop: Mm-hmm.
Wendell Pierce: That’s the nexus in his life, where you see us part ways.
AllHipHop: Right.
Wendell Pierce: Where he didn’t see that this, the slightest attempt, Affirmative Action is at rectifying centuries of disparity, brutal violence, prohibition of denying us the right to education. You would be killed if they caught you reading in your shack, and you don’t understand the connection with that, when we are only two generations from slavery? My mother’s grandfather was a slave. I damn near met him. So, for him to think that way, I realized that the abhorrent way that he thinks, that has turned to some sort of self-hatred really, shows you the depth of the trauma of racist practices.
AllHipHop: Yeah. Definitely.
Wendell Pierce: Racism destroyed Clarence Thomas back then. And the only person that could get him a job was this senator from Kansas. $11,000 a year. He drove out there and he started. The one thing about Conservatives, while we differ in opinion, I wish we had this in our playbook: loyalty.
Clarence came on board and it was just like, if a Black Conservative was told, “You’re going to make it. We’re going to put you here and here and here, you’re on track,” then you’re definitely going to make it. They live up to it, “If you just stick to our principles…” not even principles, “our playbook,” really.
“You tell the same lies, say I’m sorry for it.” Now, here’s the interesting thing. For that, I don’t hate Clarence Thomas. You know why I hate Clarence Thomas?
AllHipHop: Why?
Wendel Pierce: Clarence Thomas is a part of a cabal of men who were paid lobbyists by the apartheid South African government. Black men in America who were being paid by the apartheid government to lobby Congress in their behalf to make sure that they didn’t divest, that they wouldn’t come against apartheid. He was a part of that group. For that is inexcusable, and I hate him. His sickness of just being self hating and destroying Affirmative Action, that’s a trauma that happened a long time ago, but when you are actually fighting to ensure that Black people are killed and enslaved the way they were in apartheid South Africa, and you took that blood money with no problem, for that, there’s a special place in hell for you.
AllHipHop: That’s wild. I didn’t know about his connection to the apartheid government. It’s disheartening. On a different note, do you have any pearls of wisdom for people who might feel discouraged in the entertainment industry or the world in general?
Wendell Pierce: Well, listen, in entertainment, we have a great power. We have the greatest power in the world. We have the platform and the attention of the world. That’s the role of art. That’s why I don’t even call it entertainment. Entertainment is a byproduct of what we do. We are artists, and what artists do is, we are to the world what thoughts are to the individual, the place where you reflect on who you are, decide what your values are, and then go and act out on. That’s what we do as artists, to try to have an impact on people’s hearts and minds and make them collectively come to a value system that we all agree on and go out and act on those values, fight for those values.
We can move people, even people we disagree with. Ronald Reagan was an actor who moved people of a Conservative generation. Like [L###]Wałęsa in Poland, a poet can move people in solidarity movement in Poland, so that they can have their democracy. Martin Luther King and all the artists of that time. Martin Luther King was a poet. He wrote, he’s a writer. He was a great writer, besides a minister, theologian, and then a political leader. Political leader was almost third, tertiary. He was the one. So you have a great power, and right now, don’t squander that power, young people.
I don’t know if you were in New Orleans this weekend? I don’t know when this is going to come out for [The Essence Festival].
AllHipHop: I wasn’t. That’s too much trouble. But yeah.
Wendell Pierce: Jill Scott said it in her set, “When did we become b######? When did we just always become b######? I’m a bad b####. I’m a smart b####. I’m a sexy b####. I’m that b####. What happened to the sisterhood?” We always have to celebrate thuggery.
I’m not a Hip-Hop head. I’m a Jazz man. The three of us did Jazz. I remember Guru. I met Guru, man, God rest his[soul]… He spoke truth, man. Chuck D and all of those. Where are those cats? Right now it’s all about thuggery. We celebrate as if that’s the best of our community…”I’m going to crush you. I’m going to carry around big bags of cash because that’s how I roll.” I always tell youngbloods, I say, “Here’s a pearl of wisdom for you. Rich men, they seldom see cash. The richest men and women in the world seldom sees cash. They go, “Make this digital movement and we just paid $5 billion,'” or something.
You see documents and you see computers, you seldom see cash. We’re now getting to that place where you can walk in the store, get your stuff and walk out, and just look at your phone and go, “Okay, yeah. They got everything.” I say that to say we have a great power, and nothing challenging us today could ever compare to what our ancestors went through.
AllHipHop: Absolutely. Absolutely.
Wendell Pierce: How dare we step back from the challenge. How dare we say “It’s tough,” when right now we have so much power, more power than we’ve ever had. So while it’s challenging, we’ve been here before, and here’s the smartest thing you’ll ever realize. With every generation, you have to fight and win the battle for your rights. We always make the mistake of going, “Oh, that’s taken care of, been there, done that.” Or, “Man, we’re still going through it.” Yes, because it’s a chronic disease. It’s something that every generation should look at the past generations as a wonderful, wonderful blueprint of how to fight. Now, I’m taking on my battle and I’m ready to fight now. All right.
AllHipHop: Thanks a lot. I appreciate you.
The Final Season of Tom Clancy’s “Jack Ryan” is now streaming on Prime.
Travis Scott is planning to captivate audiences with a monumental performance in front of the Egyptian Pyramids on July 28. The announcement comes ahead of his highly anticipated album, Utopia.
To commemorate the album’s release, Travis Scott has unveiled five distinct artworks and opened pre-orders for the Utopia vinyl, CD and merchandise box set.
According to a press release, Scott chose the backdrop of the Pyramids of Egypt, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, as a way to transport his fans into the realm of Utopia.Tickets are available at www.ticketsmarche.com, but the show is already sold out.
In other news, Travis Scott recently learned a Texas grand jury declined to indict him on criminal charges related to the tragic events at the Astroworld Festival.
Despite the grand jury’s decision, Travis Scott still faces multiple lawsuits filed by the families of the deceased and other injured individuals, naming him, Live Nation and other parties involved in the event.
Live Nation previously reached settlements with the families of Axel Acosta and Brianna Rodriguez, victims of the Astroworld tragedy. Travis Scott’s legal team didn’t participate in those settlement discussions.
Police arrested G Herbo for gun possession in Chicago on Sunday (July 9). According to the Chicago Sun-Times and TMZ, cops found a gun during a traffic stop on Sunday evening.
G Herbo didn’t have a license to carry a gun. He was charged with misdemeanor unlawful use of a weapon.
The rapper, whose real name is Herbert Wright, was released from custody after posting $5,000 bail. The gun charge added to his legal troubles as he’s still dealing with a fraud case.
Earlier this year, AllHipHop reported on G Herbo’s attempt to negotiate a plea deal and avoid prison time for fraud. Prosecutors confirmed they were working on a potential deal with the rapper after accusing him of participating in a $1.5 million fraud scheme.
G Herbo and several others were indicted for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in 2020. The Chicago-bred artist pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The defendants allegedly conspired to defraud various businesses and individuals with stolen credit cards. Prosecutors claimed the defendants purchased private jet charters, exotic car rentals, luxury hotel accommodations, limousine services and more as part of the fraud scheme, which ran from March 2016 to December 2020.
King Von’s estate has announced the release of his posthumous album, Grandson, set to debut on July 14.
The album, a testament to Von’s legacy as a vital storyteller and a Chicago rap icon, is a collaborative effort by those who knew him best, including his mother, Tasha.
The album cover features his son, Dayvon Bennett Jr., and the title is a nod to Von’s first mixtape, “Grandson, Vol. 1,” and his nickname.
The album is expected to feature guest appearances from some of Von’s street rap peers, continuing the intense street stories that attracted his dedicated fanbase and marked him as a rising force in the rap industry.
This will be Von’s second posthumous album, following last year’s What It Means To Be King, which debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200.
Along with the album announcement, Von’s estate also released “Heartless,” a new collaboration between Von and Detroit’s own Tee Grizzley.
The song, set to a Chopsquad DJ beat, sees both artists reflecting on the remorseless mentality they had to adopt to survive in their environments. “Heartless” is the second single after Von’s recent crime drama-inspired video single “Robberies.”
King Von was tragically shot outside an Atlanta nightclub on November 6, 2020, following an altercation with Quando Rondo, a 21-year-old artist signed to NBA Youngboy.
A witness made several people laugh during the YNW Melly murder trial on Monday (July 10).
Producer Treveon Glass took the stand on Monday as the trial resumed after a week-long break. Glass, who worked with the YNW collective, faced questions about his marijuana usage. The defense team asked Glass if he smoked weed before testifying, leading to a humorous response.
“I did not,” Glass said. “I should’ve.”
Glass’ comment generated laughter in the courtroom. His remark added a moment of levity to the grim realities of the double murder trial.
YNW Melly is on trial for the murders of YNW Juvy and YNW Sakchaser. Prosecutors accuse the rapper of shooting and killing his friends in 2018.
Prosecutors called Glass as a witness since he was in a studio with YNW Melly, YNW Juvy and YNW Sakchaser on the night of the murders. YNW Juvy and YNW Sakchaser were shot in a vehicle after the studio session ended. Prosecutors claim YNW Melly killed both men before staging a drive-by shooting with the help of YNW Bortlen.
Glass said they were supposed to be in the studio for a 12-hour session, but multiple people felt sleepy, so they cut it short. Glass left the studio and went to sleep. When he woke up, he learned about the shooting. Glass confirmed YNW Melly was wearing different clothes when they saw each other later that night.
YNW Melly pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges. He faces the death penalty if convicted. His alleged accomplice YNW Bortlen will be tried separately for the murders in October.
You may recognize Apollo Liberace as the frontman of the group Minus Gravity, best known for their unique sound, style, and swag that blends the genres of hip-hop, rock, and R&B. But now, he’s excited more than ever to be focused on his own solo artistry.
Born in Maryland but having lived all over the world, including in Japan, South Korea, Atlanta, Texas, and now Los Angeles, Apollo draws influences from a wide variety of melting pots, and his vibrant energy shines through in his music and fashion style.
He wants his fans to be inspired by his passion and drive for music. “If you have passion for something, nothing should stop you or steer you off your course,” Apollo told All Hip-Hop. “Keep doing what you love, especially if you’re able to do what you love every day. Because there’s not much to this life. If you’re doing what you love, you want to be happy and remember that there’s people that aren’t that fortunate.”
This year on his birthday (Feb. 27), Apollo unveiled his self-titled project Apollo Liberace – a 12-track output that offers a window into his headspace when creating and exploring new sounds. He also has a forthcoming single, “Mondrian High”, with Tyla Yaweh, and multiple records produced by Bankroll Got It.
AllHipHop caught up with Apollo virtually, who just moved into his new spot in Los Angeles. Read below as we discuss his transition into being solo, his favorite artists, the new project, love for fashion, friendship with Tyla Yaweh, and more!
AllHipHop: The first time I met you, I interviewed you as a group. What happened to Minus Gravity?
Apollo Liberace: We were together for 10-plus years, and people grew apart. People try to separate you, get in each other’s ears. If you’re a unit, divide and conquer shouldn’t really work well. Sometimes it does. People grow, have different opinions. They wanted to do different things. I’m still working, keeping it going.
AllHipHop: Do you feel signing to a major label took a toll on the group?
Apollo Liberace: No, not really. Because our business was so good that it really wasn’t even a big change to be honest. I don’t want to say some people don’t have the same drive, but it’s hard to keep moving at a pace, and keep people at the same pace as you want them to move sometimes. You can’t really expect that from people either, so I just gotta keep it going.
AllHipHop: How has it been going solo? Because being in a group for 10 plus years must have been a transition for you.
Apollo Liberace: For sure, a big transition. It was really hard at first, to be real. But I have my family around me and people I care about to remind me I gotta keep going. I had no vision of stopping, but having family and people around you to keep pushing you makes all the difference… especially on days you feel tired, they give you that extra push in the back.
AllHipHop: Talk about growing up in Maryland. When did you fall in love with music?
Apollo Liberace: To be honest, I don’t even remember growing up in Maryland because my mom was in the military. I traveled to a new school probably every year. I went to elementary school in Japan, I went to high school in Korea. I was all over to be honest. The longest I’ve been somewhere is honestly LA, I’ve been here 10 years now.
I started doing music at the church, singing in the church. Around the time I was 10, I started writing raps. I recorded a rap song when I was 10 years old, and have been doing it every day ever since. The love has always been there. My sister started it before me so that’s where I picked it up from, haven’t stopped since.
AllHipHop: Were there certain artists that made you want to be an artist?
Apollo Liberace: Lil Wayne definitely made me want to rap, for sure. Wayne was my favorite rapper – still is. My favorite album was Tha Carter II at the time, which is crazy because my second day in LA, I had met this guy. We had a video on top of Worldstar [Hip-Hop] at the time. He came up to us like “Hey wassup, what y’all do? Y’all outfits is cool.” I’m like, we just dropped some s### right now. He said “okay cool.” Checked it out, he’s like “hey, this s### is fire. Let’s go to the bar.”
We went to Skybar, had a few drinks. He said “I’ma come back, I’ma pick y’all up and we gon’ go to a party.” We know how the industry is, so yeah whatever n*gga. He pulls back up, we go to Mr. Chow. We pull up, we get out of the car and it’s paparazzi flashing already. We go in, I thought we’re going to a party. The restaurant’s empty, but it’s two security guys in the back. He’s like, “let me talk to them real quick, then I’ma come grab y’all.”
He comes back, the security guard let us us in. The first person I see is Birdman…it’s not that many people in a room. My second day in LA, I’m at the dinner for the 10th anniversary of Tha Carter II. My favorite album, that’s crazy. I was originally supposed to be in LA for two days, but that was a sign. I ain’t left since.
AllHipHop: Where were you living at the time?
Apollo Liberace: I was in Atlanta. I was in Atlanta for two years. Then, I’m like Atlanta’s cool, but I wanted to go to LA just to see the difference. After the Carter II event, I felt that was a sign…my favorite album, I’m smoking blunts with Wayne. I know he won’t remember me, but I remember that s### for sure…I was the only person in the room you wouldn’t know, it was only celebrities. That night was a subtle change in the course of my life for sure.
AllHipHop: How would you say your sound has evolved, from now to your new album?
Apollo Liberace: Oh, a lot. I’ve been experimenting. I’ve been producing everything I do now, so that’s a big difference from the ground up. Mostly live instruments. When I’m not in the studio having fun with a different producer, I like to sit down, get my friends that play instruments, and try to build something special from the ground.
AllHipHop: Definitely talk about your new album Apollo Liberace.
Apollo Liberace: It’s really a compilation of all the music I’ve had over the last two years. I wanted to put all my sounds on one project, just to get it out of my system. This is me, this is who I am. This is all of my sounds before I keep it moving. My album dropped about four months ago. It’s going crazy still, streams going crazy. I’m blessed, just ready to start dropping this new s###.
AllHipHop: Why did you name it Apollo Liberace?
Apollo Liberace: I went from Minus Gravity and I changed my name to Apollo Liberace, so I decided to self-title it. Minus Gravity records is now my record label.
AllHipHop: Why Liberace?
Apollo Liberace: Liberace, he’s a legendary artist. Mostly known for his crazy style. Flamboyant, in your face style. He would have diamond cars embroidered, all kinds of crazy stuff like that. Liberace means to me, in your face like all the time.
AllHipHop: Can you explain the cover art to Apollo Liberace?
Apollo Liberace: Perfect, of course. The first half of my name is after Apollo, the Greek god. That’s the most famous statue that he’s in, it’s called Apollo Bathing. I had this girl, she’s a really good artist. She hand drew that cover in pointillism style, which a lot of people see – but don’t know it takes a lot of time to create. It’s all dots. It took her days and weeks to do that cover art, she drew it by hand. Put my face basically where Apollo’s face is on the statue. That’s the cover art I went with.
AllHipHop: Talk about linking with Singer/Songwriter Tish Hyman, that’s my girl.
Apollo Liberace: Tish, that’s my dawg! I was just with her, she had a show at The Peppermint Club. I met her a few months after I got here to be real, so I’ve known her for 10 years. She was at a party I came to, there weren’t that many people there. Andy Milonakis and her were cool, I met him through her. He was part of throwing this event. French Montana performed, Ty Dolla $ign performed. Leonardo DiCaprio was there, a bunch of people. It was the biggest house and the biggest backyard ever, but it was only maybe 30 people there. It was catered by Nobu.
I just went up to Tish, we both had energy. I had got her contract there, she saw us working. Two years after that, one day she said “yo, pull up to my crib. Let’s work.” That was the first time we met, it’s been history ever since. I got 40 songs with Tish, was just at her crib the other night.
That’s probably my closest friend out here, to be real.
AllHipHop: How is it being back independent?
Apollo Liberace: It’s good. I’m building a new team, I got some new stuff coming out. New production, new producers I’m working with it’s really good. I’m excited for the next few months, for sure.
AllHipHop: Talk about your upcoming song called “Luke Cage,” produced by Bankroll Got It.
Apollo Liberace: I got 4 songs dropping with Bankroll Got It. The first one called “Lazy Flow” I’m dropping right now. Right after that, I’ma drop another song that Bankroll produced featuring my bro Tyla Yaweh. My bro Tyla is hard too, that’s my n*gga. I’ve known him for a long time too.
AllHipHop: How’d you and Tyla Yaweh meet?
Apollo Liberace: The funniest s###, I was at Fairfax flea market. Our name was BDS back then, we weren’t even Minus Gravity. He’ hopped out like, “yo, what the f###? Bro, I f### with y’all n*ggas. I heard y’all on SoundCloud. Y’all n*ggas hard.” We were fans of each other …this was a minute ago, 2015 2016. We stayed in contact since then. That’s my dawg, he’s a good dude.
AllHipHop: Do y’all party? Because I know he parties.
Apollo Liberace: Yes. The song is really called “Mondrian,” because we had a crazy f###### night there. He’s like “bro, you remember that night at the Mondrian [Hotel]? Let’s call this s### ‘Mondrian’.” That’s the name of the song, because we got f##### up that day.
AllHipHop: Talk about your love for fashion. What inspires your outfits?
Apollo Liberace: It’s an extension of me. It’s an expression, just like music is. It’s a part of you. People should wear what they feel like embodies them, or embodies their character or style. Even though I don’t feel like that’s the case a lot anymore. We’re at an all-time absurdity level where people are throwing on s### to be extreme and get attention. But style should be who you are. An extension of expression of your art, style, and energy.
AllHipHop: 3 things you need in the studio at all times?
Apollo Liberace: Liquor, good energy, and good beats. Good production. Good energy is the most important.
AllHipHop: Did you ever think you’d be here today, doing this?
Apollo Liberace: Hell yeah. It was my only option, my only choice. I went to Arts Institute. One day in class, this teacher’s like “Yo, you f###### late and s###.” We had a guest teacher, he was a producer on “Goodies” for Ciara. I said, I was in my dorm recording. I’m sorry. He’s like “you record? You think you’re an artist? Play a song.” I pulled up a song in front of the class.
The song went on, he’s like “damn, this s### is a hit. Why are you here?” [laughs] I’m like, you’re right. Why am I here? That weekend, I packed up all my s###. I left college, and that’s when I came to LA. It was never another option, I was going to do what had to do to be out here.
AllHipHop: What were you studying in college?
Apollo Liberace: Music, I was doing engineering.
AllHipHop: Do you mix your own stuff?
Apollo Liberace: I used to a lot. I still do, I just don’t like sitting there. I tell the engineer what to do and what I like. I can, I do a lot of pre-production stuff. But as far as mixing and mastering, I like fresh ears.
AllHipHop: Talk about your friendship with Chanel West Coast, I know y’all are super tight.
Apollo Liberace: That’s a sister to me, that’s my dawg. Chanel is one of those people in the entertainment industry, that doesn’t really give a f### about it. To the extent of, she cares about people in our life. More than all of this fake b#######, because that’s really all it is at the end of the day. That’s what really makes me really f### Chanel the most. If her close friends can’t do something, they’re like “no Chanel, we got you. But your friends…” She won’t be f###### with that, and that’s the type of person she is. She’s a down-to-earth person that really cares about her craft, but is just a good person at the end of the day. That’s my dawg, that’s my sister. She’s a cool person.
AllHipHop: Bring us back to when y’all made “Versace Robe.”
Apollo Liberace: We went to Miami. We were staying at the Versace mansion. We were out there shooting another music video. We’re on a boat this day. We said, “let’s go to the studio.” We went to the studio. We’re supposed to be going out to LIV. We got in the studio and said “you know what, f### the club. This song’s hard.” Justin love came and hopped in. It’s my s###.
AllHipHop: Who are your top five artists in rotation?
Apollo Liberace: I always have [Lil] Wayne in my rotation. Always got Ye in my rotation – Kanye. I’m a real big James Blake fan. [Young] Thug dropped, so I’m jamming the new Thug. And myself. [laughs] I always listen to myself like homework, because it’s never good enough. I’m always studying myself, trying to get better.
AllHipHop: Any goals for yourself?
Apollo Liberace: Nothing grandiose, just to build what I’m doing. See a difference month-to-month, year-to-year. Keep growing, because I know how this s### goes. Just keep doing what I do, what I love. As long as I see growth, we good. I keep seeing growth, so I’m still working.
AllHipHop: Anything else people should know about you?
Apollo Liberace: People that don’t listen to me and people that don’t listen to me, just know I work hard. This is what I do every day and this is all I love doing. Got new s### dropping, shout out my boy Tyla. That single is dropping later this month (July 27). I got s### dropping every single month, because I’ve been working. Shout out Bankroll Got It, we got hella s### coming too. Platinum producing Bankroll Got It. I’ma just stay on everybody’s heads.
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have paid tribute to their son Jaden to celebrate his 25th birthday.
The Oscar winner and his wife both took to social media to celebrate the actor/rapper’s big day.
“Happy Birthday, J-Diggy,” the “King Richard” star captioned his “favorite picture” of him and Jaden, a black and white snap of him and Jaden as an adult.
Reality TV personality Momma Dee was shopping when she found herself in an unexpected situation. The mother of Lil Scrappy says she was a victim of an alleged hit-and-run incident that led to her being transported in an ambulance.
According to TMZ, the “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” star was heading to a Sephora store in Atlanta on Wednesday (July 5) when the nightmare occurred.
She explained she parked her car on one of the city’s busy streets. As she was getting out of her vehicle, another driver collided with her parked car.
Momma Dee, who’s known to go to war for her son, described the other vehicle as a black Ford sedan and said after the incident, the driver swiftly drove away from the scene without checking to see if she was ok. Apparently, she wasn’t.
Footage shows Momma Dee receiving medical attention inside an ambulance. Additional photographs detailed her minor injuries, which included bumps, bruises and scratches, as well as the damage to her car.
Law enforcement is currently investigating the incident but haven’t made any mentions of a suspect. In the meantime, people are encouraged to go check out her new podcast, “Church and Street with Momma Dee.”
I used to love Skai Jackson. She was so cute, but now she is 21 years old. Now, in 2023, the one-time Disney star has faced criticism after organizing an online raffle via her social media platforms last weekend. In the raffle, $5 for a chance to win a MacBook Air. This is hilarious to me! First of all, people initially thought it could be an online scam or her account was hacked account. No, it was indeed Skai Jackson. What in the world? A MacBook Air does not even cost $1000!
Skai did reveal the winner’s Instagram handle, so she was not scamming. Nevertheless, many fans expressed their disapproval about the $5 dollar entry fee! He went straight to her cash app! Well, you know Skai, who is a bit feisty, clapped back!
She defended herself in a TikTok Live session, as reported by PopCrave.
Disney Channel star Skai Jackson is being criticized for asking her fans to send her $5 “for a chance to win a MacBook.” pic.twitter.com/6GZ7kEwX5p
Ms. Jackson clarified that she did not need the money personally, but that the funds raised would go towards the prize. Extra monies would be used for a future giveaway. Right. She did not reveal how much she made on the raffel, only that a MacBook Air that would be awarded. “It is not that serious for a damn $5,” she said, “It is called a raffle.”
She continued, “I’m not saying this like I’m a — in a bragging way or anything like that, or in a mean way. I’m just letting you guys know, I do not personally need money. Like I am very fine in my life. I don’t need– I don’t need money.”
Fans expressed confusion about the situation, with some questioning why Skai Jackson was charging for entry if she claimed not to need the money. Others expected a celebrity to purchase the prize themselves, with the funds collected going to a charity. “She claims she doesn’t need the money, so then why is she charging for entry?” asked one person. Another person said, “This not weird to y’all? Guess that Disney check finally ran out.”
50 Cent has expressed his concern about escalating crime in Los Angeles and how officials have voted to address it. He believes their move to create bail reform is going to aid in the ultimate fall of the city.
In an Instagram post, he lamented the city’s problems, saying they will only worsen after a controversial no-bail policy was recently reinstated by a judge.
“LA is finished watch how bad it gets out there. SMH,” he wrote.
The rapper-turned-mogul shared a news clip on the ruling, which explained L.A. has opted to eliminate bail for individuals charged with non-violent felonies or misdemeanors, similar to the contentious reforms in New York. The move was set in motion over the last few years, particularly as the city was ravished by the impact of COVID-19.
During the pandemic shutdown, L.A. officials implemented the no-bail policy to alleviate the strain on overcrowded city jails. They also ordered the release of inmates already detained for offenses like shoplifting, vandalism and drug possession. Although the policy expired in July 2022, Judge Lawrence Riff declared the cash bail system unconstitutional and reinstated the order in May.
According to the clip, Riff invited city prosecutors and law enforcement officials to present their arguments in favor of the cash bail system before making his decision, but no one appeared at the hearing.
“Hey I understand why Deadline is reporting my opinion. I’m a big deal, but why did they write I had run in’s with the law Im a born again Christian!” he captioned.
Lil Duval has had enough of Hip-Hop fans lambasting artists they believe are snitches. On Saturday (July 8), the comedian took to social media to argue the concern about people telling has reached new heights.
“Y’all really infatuated with who y’all think snitching this year,” he tweeted. “The funny part about trying to expose somebody for snitching, it never f#### up they career. It’s really free promo.”
Y’all really infatuated wit who y’all think snitching this year
Lil Duval might be talking about the public’s outrage regarding Gunna, who recently was named in a massive RICO case that swept up dozens of YSL affiliates, including Young Thug.
In this case, Gunna took a plea deal and confessed to the courts that he never considered YSL an actual gang, a point at the core of the RICO case. But people thought he said the opposite or shouldn’t have said anything.
A transcription of his statement follows:
“When I became affiliated with YSL in 2016, I did not consider it a ‘gang;’ more like a group of people from metro Atlanta who had common interests and artistic aspirations.
“My focus of YSL was entertainment – rap artists who wrote and performed music that exaggerated and ‘glorified’ urban life in the Black community.
“While I have agreed to always be truthful, I want to make it perfectly clear that I have NOT made any statements, have NOT been interviewed, have NOT cooperated, have NOT agreed to testify or be a witness for or against any party in the case and have absolutely NO intention of being involved in the trial process in any way.
“I have chosen to end my own RICO case with an Alford plea and end my personal ordeal by publicly acknowledging my association with YSL. An Alford plea in my case is the entry of a guilty plea to the one charge against me, which is in my best interest, while at the same time maintaining my innocence toward the same charge. I love and cherish my association with YSL music, and always will. I look at this as an opportunity to give back to my community and educate young men and women that ‘gangs’ and violence only lead to destruction.”
People thought he “ratted” when the Gunna tried to go to the mall after being released from prison. According to several reports, he was walking through a mall with security on a shopping spree. The group started to generate attention and a crowd formed around them. Some individuals in the mall started to scream obscenities at them, mostly calling him a rat and a snitch. At one point, the scene looked like it could turn violent but never did.
Jamie Foxx was spotted in public for the first time since his hospitalization in April. In a video obtained by TMZ, the actor/singer is all smiles as he cruises in a boat on the Chicago River Sunday afternoon (July 9). Another boat rides by and greets Foxx, who promptly waves back. In a second clip, Foxx further engages with his fans as they cheer him on.
Jamie Foxx was rushed to the emergency room due to an undisclosed “medical complication.” An Instagram statement from Foxx’s daughter Corrine at the time read: “We wanted to share that, my father, Jamie Foxx, experienced a medical complication yesterday. Luckily, due to quick action and great care, he is already on his way to recovery. We know how beloved he is and appreciate your prayers. The family asks for privacy during this time.”
Since then, there’s been a lot of speculation on Foxx’s condition. Some “sources” claimed he was learning how to walk again, while others suggested the end was imminent. Foxx’s family was forced to confront some of the chatter directly.
“Update from the family: Sad to see how the media runs wild,” an Instagram Story from Corrine read. “My Dad has been out of the hospital for weeks, recuperating. In fact, he was playing pickleball yesterday! Thanks for everyone’s prayers and support! We have an exciting work announcement coming next week too!”
Despite her claims, Foxx still failed to surface in public—until now.
There appears to be some tension involving “Buss It” rapper Erica Banks and 1501 Certified Entertainment founder, Carl Crawford.
Late last month, Banks took to social media to announce she has seemingly parted ways with 1501 Certified Entertainment after joining the Houston-based label in 2019.
In addition to signing with 1501, Banks also finalized a deal with Warner Records two years ago. She released her 2022 studio album, Diary of the Flow Queen, via 1501 Entertainment under an exclusive license to Warner.
“I’m not with them anymore,” Banks wrote on Instagram in response to a fan suggesting the 24-year-old recording artist needed to leave Carl Crawford’s company in order to be more successful.
Then Erica Banks released the “Real Rap B#### (Poppin It)” single. That song features the Texas native rapping, “Don’t give a f### about that label, they see me/And they owe me some money, they greedy.”
Carl Crawford has reacted to Erica Banks’s recent comments and lyrics. While speaking with his followers on Instagram Live, Crawford addressed artists lashing out at their labels.
“It’s just part of the business,” Carl Crawford said. “I come from the sports world where one plus one equals two. In the music business, one plus one don’t equal two.”
Crawford added, “Erica’s not even making no money for me to take… I was just as surprised as y’all [were] to hear we’re greedy and stealing money. I’m still trying to figure that one out because last I checked we’re $500,000 in the hole with Warner. That’s all I know. So who owes who money?”
Additionally, Carl Crawford is involved in a legal battle with Grammy winner Megan Thee Stallion. After rising to international stardom, Megan reportedly requested to renegotiate her contract with 1501 Entertainment. The two sides have since been bogged down in pending lawsuits.
“The only reason why the one’s doing it is because the other one did it, so if the first one hadn’t took this route, the second wouldn’t have took this route,” said Crawford about Erica Banks and Megan Thee Stallion. “They only follow each other.”
Those white parties are generally lit. I think they’re an incredible opportunity to network and rub shoulders with the entertainment elite. Billionaire Michael Rubin has been the main person pushing these white parties these days. If you remember, back in the day, people like Sean “Diddy” Combs and Russell Simmons were the main people pushing white parties in the Hamptons. Those days are long gone now. In fact, some could say they were through with it before these new guys knew what to do with it. But that’s another story.
Anyway, the last white party showed a bunch of interesting images. One of those images had Lil Baby sandwiched between two guys, one of which was Michael Rubin. Based on the body language, he looked extremely uncomfortable. He had that nervous laugh that some of us know. I could be wrong, but that’s the consensus. Regardless, that hasn’t stopped him from hanging out with Michael Rubin. A recent video has Meek Mill and Lil Baby on a private jet with the billionaire consortium. In the video, Rubin promises more drunken hugs. By the way, it looks like Meek and Lil Baby are sharing a gray blanket. Not that anything is wrong with that.
Personally, it just looks like these guys are enjoying the benefits of hanging out with a billionaire. And the billionaire is definitely exerting his personal brand on them. I don’t see anything wrong with it, but of course people are going to talk. What do you think?
George “EST Gee” Stone III is officially stepping into an executive role in the music business. The “Lick Back” rapper announced the launch of his new Young Shiners record label.
EST Gee’s Young Shiners, powered by Sony’s Santa Anna service company, will feature a rap collective that includes EST Lil Zoski, EST Marti, EST DonWon, EST SkiMike, and EST Lu Mike.
“It’s an exciting time,” states Santa Anna founder, Todd Moscowitz. “Propelling the creative potential and success as artists build their own ventures is at the helm of what Santa Anna is.”
Moscowitz also says, “We’re thrilled to be galvanizing that kind of support behind one of hip hop’s leading rappers and the burgeoning artists he’s looking to uplift.”
EST Gee Wants To Help Elevate Louisville-Based Rappers
The Young Shiners crew all represent EST Gee’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. EST Gee has expressed that uplifting the Louisville rap scene is one of his personal missions.
“I feel like it’s my purpose,” says EST Gee. “You get to a point in your life where you just feel like you know what you were put here to do, and I think this is a major part of it.”
The Mad project creator continues, “And for me, that’s giving visibility to people who wouldn’t have had the chance otherwise. I’m grateful that Santa Anna saw the vision I have for us, it’s time for the world to see what we’re made of.”
EST SkiMike Declares Young Shiners Can’t Be Messed With
Young Shiners will release the brand’s debut mixtape, Shiners Are Forever, on July 14 under the new venture. In addition, EST SkiMike recently dropped the project’s debut single “Disrespect.” The song arrived with a music video.
“We can’t be messed with in any shape or form ever,”declares EST SkiMike. “Our whole life the odds have been against us coming out of Louisville and Section 8. Shiners Are Forever and we ain’t ever going to stop shining.”
EST Lu Mike also adds, “It’s deeper than music when it comes to us. We are a true family so trust and believe Shiners Are Forever.” Young Shiners leader EST Gee rose to prominence as an artist signed to Yo Gotti’s Collective Music Group. 2023’s Mad came out via CMG/Interscope Records.
Jermaine Dupri partnered with Cole Brown, Atlanta Hawks co-owner Jami Gertz, and Drake’s DreamCrew Entertainment to present the forthcoming three-part Magic City: An American Fantasy documentary series.
The Atlanta strip club known as Magic City is a cultural landmark in the Georgia capital. The nearly 40-year-old establishment also became well-known around the world thanks to its connection to Hip-Hop artists.
“Magic City is a second home for me. It’s the one place where celebrities, hustlers, politicians, and Atlanta locals all come together. I’ve watched it evolve over the years from a local joint to an internationally recognized spot. It’s about time we tell this story the right way,” says executive producer Jermaine Dupri.
An American Fantasy will explore Magic City’s history. In addition, the series features a look into the club’s founder Michael “Mr. Magic” Barney. It also covers some the women who have worked at the adult entertainment location.
“This is a unique story of Black entrepreneurship and empire-building in a city that is the beating heart of Black culture,” says series creator Cole Brown. “I’m ecstatic to be working with a team that will give this story the authenticity and platform it deserves.”
An American Fantasywill highlight the connection between Magic City and Hip-Hop stars like Jermaine Dupri, Future, and Migos. The Charles Todd-directed series will also include interviews with celebrities such as 2 Chainz, Nelly, Shaquille O’Neal, Quavo, Killer Mike, and Big Boi.
“The inner workings of Magic City and its prevalence in Hip-Hop are remarkably mysterious – it’s a wonder the story has yet to be told,”states The Neighbors actress and An American Fantasy executive producer Jami Gertz. “Atlanta is my adopted home and a place I’m looking forward to celebrating through this story.”
