Donald Trump and 18 others have been hit with a sweeping 41- felony count indictment by a Georgia grand jury, accused of plotting to illegally overturn his 2020 election loss in the state.
Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani and a Trump administration Justice Department official, Jeffrey Clark are among the 18 co-defendants named in the indictment issued Monday night (Aug 14).
“Trump and the other Defendants charged in this Indictment refused to accept that Trump lost, and they knowingly and willfully joined conspiracy to unlawfully change the outcome of the election in favor of Trump,” the indictment issued Monday night by the office of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis reads in part.
In a press conference following the release of the indictment, Willis announced a grand jury authorized arrest warrants for all the defendants, including Donald Trump. The defendants have until noon on Friday, August 25 to “voluntarily surrender” to authorities in Fulton County.
D.A. Fani Willis tells Trump and other defendants they have until Friday, August 25th to “voluntarily surrender” after “arrest warrants” were issued pic.twitter.com/4SNjFnNxh5
Willis also stated she intends to try all 19 defendants together within the next six months. She denied accusations the charges are politically motivated. “I make decisions in this office based on facts and the law,” Willis stated at the press conference.
The Fulton County indictment marks the fourth criminal case to be brought against Donald Trump.
Donald Trump Responds To Indictment
In a statement posted on Truth Social following news of the indictment, Trump disparaged the prosecutors bringing “bogus indictments“against him. He accused Willis of stalling her investigation “to try and maximally interfere with the 2024 presidential race and damage the dominant Trump campaign.”
He also called out the “corrupt” Democrats and accused a “biased prosecutor” of fabricating the charges and betraying the trust of the American people. Read his statement in full below.
R&B singer Ginuwine has paid tribute to rapper Magoo following reports of his death on Sunday. Magoo, best known for his work as one half of rap duo Timbaland & Magoo, passed away aged 50, it was reported on Sunday.
The “Pony” singer paid tribute to Magoo on Instagram alongside a black-and-white portrait of the hip-hop star.
“This dude, always pushed me… I will mis you maganooo that’s what we called him ….. totally one of the best ever in my eyes always pressing forward I know we didn’t talk alot but the love was and will be always there my brotha, I will see you soon bro we all have our date and I’m expecting the bro hug when I get there (sic),” he wrote in the caption.
The 52-year-old told his followers he was in “pain” following the death of three friends within the space of a month.
“I hate going through this and losing people we love sometimes it makes you feel like you dont wanna feel the pain so you wanna be gone also …pain hurts ..man oh man blessings to the family all of my condolences (sic),” he concluded.
In an earlier post, Ginuwine told his fans that he had “just heard some news” he hoped wasn’t true and added, “I just want everyone to know that time is short love who you love and make sure they know it.”
Ginuwine worked with Timbaland and Magoo on his 1996 debut album.
Elsewhere, R&B artist Digital Black, from the group Playa, wrote on Instagram, “Man can’t believe this RIP Magoo damn big bro wasnt ready for this at all #superfriends (sic).”
Timbaland & Magoo released three albums – 1997’s Welcome to Our World, 2001’s Indecent Proposal, and 2003’s Under Construction, Part II – and were known for hits such as “Up Jumps da Boogie” and “Luv 2 Luv Ya.”
Missy Elliott reflected on the loss of her collaborator and friend Magoo, who died over the weekend in Virginia. The acclaimed rapper/producer reminisced about her history with Magoo in an Instagram post on Monday (August 14).
“These are the kind of post I don’t wish on any,” Missy Elliott wrote. “at 1st I was in shock & the more I sit the reality kicks in so many emotions. I remember when we 1st met as teenagers & you said hey my name Melvin & I laughed so hard & I said wait you really talk like that? and you said yuuuup & I kept laughing & I said what you do you said I rap & you kicked 8 bars & I said you remind me of Qtip & you said he one of my favorite emcees but your flow was VA I loved it!”
Missy Elliott’s post included a clip of Magoo’s “Beep Me 911” verse. She also reminded fans he christened her with her “Misdemeanor” nickname.
“From that day we became so cool you supported me from day 1 & you said I’m going to call you Misdemeanor because it’s a crime to have that many talents,” she wrote. “So those who don’t know Magoo gave me the name Misdemeanor. When we did this song Beep Me 911 & I asked Magoo to get on it & I played this verse over and over & posting this is just heartbreaking I am so lost for words…”
Magoo, whose real name was Melvin Barcliff, was 50. No cause of death has been revealed.
We recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop and it’s important we recognize the greats. From the West Coast to the East Coast to Down South, endless rappers from all over the country have made a significant impact on the genre as a whole — and continue to do so in this day and age.
E.D.I. Mean, who is an original member of Tupac’s group The Outlawz, originally hails from from New York. He befriended Tupac’s cousin Kastro in high school, who later introduced him to the late great Tupac Shakur.
From there, the rest is history.
You may recognize E.D.I Mean’s name featured on a slew of records with Tupac, but the most notable would have to be “Hit ‘Em Up.” E.D.I. Mean actually reveals that they had made several records that day, with “Good Life” being his personal favorite.
Most recently, E.D.I. Mean has been working overtime on his own artistry, releasing two projects in one day: OG3: LA BELLA VITA and The Hope Dealer, Pt. 3. He always had the pleasure of being part of the Tupac docuseries titled Dear Mama, and even celebrated Tupac’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame with Pac’s immediate family.
AllHiphop spoke with E.D.I Mean in downtown Los Angeles to discuss his new projects, relationship with Tupac’s family, love for Hip-Hop, his new app Recordian, the Outlawz documentary, and more!
AllHipHop: How you feeling?
E.D.I Mean: I feel great, life is good. La Bella Vita, it’s the name of my new album.
AllHipHop: How is it dropping two albums in one day?
E.D.I Mean: Man, it’s a lot of hard work. Because you gotta do twice the promotion, twice the work. But it’s worth it. It’s something that I had inspiration to do, and I’m proud of myself for getting it done.
AllHipHop: Definitely want to talk about the Tupac star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Why’d it take so long, first of all?
E.D.I Mean: Aw man, your guess is as good as mine. I don’t know, but better late than never is one of my mottos in life. Better late than never. It was an incredible day. It was an incredible day for his fans. His family, his sister had a chance to get up there and represent for our brother. It was a lot of positive vibes man, great day all around.
AllHipHop: I really enjoyed the Dear Mama docuseries. You said you didn’t want to be part of it initially.
E.D.I Mean: At the time, I was just tired of doing interviews. Really tired of talking about the past. The past is one of my least favorite subjects to talk about. But when they broke down how they wanted to do it and the inspiration behind it, it swayed me a little bit to want to be involved. I’m happy I’m involved. It’s nominated for two Emmys and widely loved by the people, they really appreciate it.
AllHipHop: What was your favorite part? Aside from being in it…
E.D.I Mean: Man, just seeing some of Pac’s family up there talk about him, especially his aunt Glo. She’s one of the best storytellers ever. She killed it.
AllHipHop: Glo was actually at the premiere in Los Angeles. What’s your relationship with her?
E.D.I Mean: She’s always been like my second mother. Her and my mother had been friends for over 40 plus years, her and my dad were friends before I was even born. She’s always been a part of my life. She’s the reason why I know the Shakur’s, because of her friendship with my dad and my mother. She’s like my second mom, I love her to death.
AllHipHop: What do you want people to get from your music now?
E.D.I Mean: I want people to see the growth that can happen when you decide to live a positive life. When you come from tragedy, that there’s life after death. No pun intended, it is life after death. My music hopefully reflects that and inspires people to want to continue living, despite the b####### that life throws at you. Because you’re not going to get out of here without dealing with b#######.
AllHipHop: How much did Pac support you and encourage you to do the rap thing?
E.D.I Mean: Man, he was one of the first people to believe in my art and believe in my music. I sent him my music as a teenager. He immediately gravitated towards it. He immediately was encouraging. Not only that, he gave me an opportunity to have a career, so I’m always, always thankful and grateful for that. His generosity, truly was a very generous human being.
AllHipHop: Do you think you would have been rapping if it wasn’t for Pac?
E.D.I Mean: I was gonna do this regardless, because this is all I ever wanted to do. This is the only thing that made sense to me growing up. Coming from Brooklyn, New York, it’s the 50th year anniversary for Hip-Hop. I’m literally 49 years old, I grew up with Hip-Hop year for year. So I was gonna do this regardless.
AllHipHop: What was the moment you fell in love with Hip-Hop?
E.D.I Mean: S###, the moment I fell in love with Hip-Hop is when I went to my first parties in the park, in the streets. Because in New York at the time, Hip-Hop was very much in the streets before it was on the radio. I heard it in the streets before I heard it on the radio, that’s when that’s when I fell in love with it.
AllHipHop: Do you remember the first person you heard?
E.D.I Mean: I’m not really sure because at the time, it was just a DJ in a park rocking. It was the culture of it, it’s people out there with the DJ rocking. But the first MC that I was like yo, he’s dope. I want to be able to do what he does, Run-DMC.
AllHipHop: What can we expect from The Outlawz documentary?
E.D.I Mean: The Outlawz documentary will definitely give our story, how we came together. How we all were interconnected before we actually knew each other. Our perspective of the whole ride, that encompasses the life and times of Tupac Shakur. Our story is pretty f###### amazing, outside of his story as well. So you’ll get his story, then you’ll get all our stories man. Kadafi, Hussein Fatal, Napoleon, Kastro, E.D.I. Mean.
AllHipHop: Is it hard to track everyone down nowadays?
E.D.I Mean: Well the ones who are still living, we all keep in contact with each other. We’re all reachable. We can all reach each other whenever we want to.
AllHipHop: Talk about your app, Recordian. What is the premise?
E.D.I Mean: It’s a game changer. Again, I gotta reference 50 years of Hip-Hop because it’s timely. From everything Hip-Hop has given me, this is my gift back to Hip-Hop, with people that love Hip-Hop. But it’s not just specific for Hip-Hop, it’s a music streaming app. An artist will be able to upload his own profile, upload his own music. You will not need the middleman, and we’re going to give you a bigger piece of the pie. Go to recordianmusic.com.
AllHipHop: It’s already launched?
E.D.I Mean: The app itself will not be available until the end of August, but you can go to our website and you can get previews in the app. You’ll see what it looks like. You’ll see what we’re doing, what we got coming up. We’ll keep you up to date with everything we got coming up. Follow us: @recordianmusic on Twitter and Instagram.
AllHipHop: What was the process behind that?
E.D.I Mean: Well, it’s been a two year process. It started during the pandemic. A friend of mine by the name of FOS, he’s from Frisco. He’s out of the Bay where a lot of the great tech stuff comes from. He had this idea. He was talking about crypto and all this crypto s###. I’m like bruh, I’m not into that s###. I don’t even know what the f### that is. What s a crypto? What is an NF? T? Slowly but surely, because I was interested in the idea about the app, I began to do my own research and learn about crypto. What an NFt is, and why does she mean so much to the younger generation.
I went to a house full of crypto millionaires. All they was doing was getting to the money. They were all in his big ass mansion in the hills. The guy that introduced me to him was like “oh yeah, he’s worth $20 million. He’s worth $20 million. He just made $8 million last night.” I’m like, get the f### out of here. It definitely got my interest because I like large sums of money. [laughs]
Aside from that, the Recordian helps an artist with what’s going on in the music industry. Because I’m sure everybody heard Snoop talk about it: who’s coming up with these streaming numbers? Why do you have to stream so much just to make a couple of dollars? The Recordian is going to answer those questions. Not only answer the questions, solve the problem.
AllHipHop: Where do you view the current state of Hip-Hop? compared to back in the day…
E.D.I Mean: Everything changes, everything evolves. Music is evolving all the time. Hip-Hop evolves at a rapid rate. You always got some new trends, some new fad that people are going crazy over. It’s always been like that. Now with social media, cell phones, everything, these gatchets we got can go viral very quickly. But it can also fade very quickly. A lot of stuff that we was loving two or three years ago, you’d be like yo, where’s such and such at? Because the content doesn’t stick to your ribs like good music does.
I’m not here to point the finger at anybody. I’m just saying if you notice, s### is changing and it’s changing rapidly. Artists are not having as long careers as they did before, because the content y’all putting out ain’t really sticking. You make an artist like myself, I appreciate it. Because the more they can’t get what they want from y’all, they’re gonna go back and get it from who was giving it. That’s what’s happening now, slowly but surely. Generational artists, classic artists, careers are getting longer and longer, because the music ain’t up there.
You definitely got some guys who are doing great numbers, they getting real hot and they getting to the bag. But like I said, two or three years from now, you’re not really seeing a lot of these artists. It’s only a few that’ll last.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want to let us know?
E.D.I Mean: Man, be on the lookout for the Recordian. I got a best of both worlds type album coming out with Mars, called Greatness. We’re gonna drop that in the fall. It’s strictly for the ladies and the fellas that still like ladies.
Fat Joe loved his time at Hip-Hop 50 Live at Yankee Stadium. The Bronx native described the euphoric experience in an interview with AllHipHop’s Chuck Creekmur.
“It’s unbelievable, it’s unreal,” Fat Joe told AllHipHop. “It’s like heaven. You died and woke up in heaven. What was best about [the event] was young boys with they own speakers outside it. [They were outside] Yankee Stadium rapping, freestyling. Then you had bands out there playing … We in the middle of the street having fun.”
Fat Joe’s appreciation for Hip-Hop 50 was the total opposite of Willie D’s views on the anniversary celebration. Last week, the Geto Boys member explained why he disliked the festivities during an appearance on the AllHipHop podcast.
“S###’s wack,” Willie D said. “Because a lot of it is being put on and presented by gatekeepers who don’t have the best interest of the culture at heart. And it’s a money grab for them. They’re picking and choosing who they think should receive praise, who should receive accolades.”
Fat Joe, Run-DMC, Nas, Lauryn Hill, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, Slick Rick, EPMD, several Wu-Tang Clan members, and many other artists performed at the Yankee Stadium show. A livestream of the event allowed fans around the world to watch the performances on YouTube.
Zeus Network founder and CEO Lemuel Plummer shut down a rumor about Chrisean Rock allegedly assaulting social media personality Woah Vicky. Plummer responded to the allegations via Instagram Stories on Monday (August 14).
“Chrisean Rock has NOT gotten into a physical altercation with ANYONE on set during the filming of Baddies East,” he wrote. “Anyone claiming otherwise is ALL [cap emoji].”
The rumor claimed Woah Vicky pressed charges against Chrisean Rock after a clash during the taping of the reality TV series Baddies East. Blueface helped the rumor spread by referencing the charges in a since-deleted Twitter post.
“Smh I told her not to go on that show,” he wrote of his ex-girlfriend. “free my son.”
Chrisean Rock, who is pregnant with Blueface’s child, reposted Plummer’s rumor denial on her Instagram Stories. She and Blueface co-star in the Zeus reality TV series Crazy in Love.
Earlier this month, Chrisean Rock said she did not want Blueface to be present for the birth of their child. The baby is due in September.
“No, [Blueface] cannot be there when I’m pushing the baby out,” she said. “Sorry. That s### is intentional. That s### is intense. I need love, real love. I don’t need a n#### ready to whip his camera out because his career is dying. I just need real love.”
Chrisean Rock also accused Blueface of threatening to kick her in the stomach when she was five or six months pregnant. The former couple’s relationship often concerned observers with several examples of domestic violence surfacing in past years.
It’s been said deaths always happen in threes—and sadly, it looks like the rap community has just suffered another loss. On the heels of losing “The Black Godfather” Clarence Avant and Timbaland’s longtime rhyming partner, Magoo, on Sunday (August 13), Hip-Hop is also mourning the death of Junior Mafia affiliate Chico Del Vec.
Hip-Hop legend Special Ed posted the news on his social media, writing, “Just got a call. Rest in Peace Chico Del Vec. Junior Mafia.” When reached for comment, Special Ed told AllHipHop, “I don’t have much details other than they found him in his room.”
Junior M.A.F.I.A. was formed in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn by The Notorious B.I.G. The backronym M.A.F.I.A. stands for “Masters At Finding Intelligent Attitudes.” In 1995, they released their debut album, Conspiracy, which was bolstered by the success of “Player’s Anthem” (which landed at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100) and “Get Money” (No. 17). It ultimately helped launch the career of Lil’ Kim as a solo artist.
The group disbanded shortly after the 1997 murder of The Notorious B.I.G., but Lil’ Kim and Lil’ Cease deciding to continue on with their solo careers. In 2005, three of the members released a second album under the Junior M.A.F.I.A. name as a remembrance of the group.
Chico Del Vec. appeared in a 2012 episode of VH1’s Behind The Music about Biggie. In 2014, he made headlines for suggesting Biggie’s son, Christopher Wallace Jr., was gay. At the time, he said he came to that particular conclusion after coming across a picture of Wallace hugging another man from behind at his high school graduation ceremony. He was heavily criticized for his comments but defended them, saying, “I was talking the truth about n####s. I said something about CJ, Big’s son. He gay. N#### gay…After I seen this little footage s###, I was mad.”
Pointing at the photo in question, Chico added, “Look at this, man. What that look like to you, man? Is that suspect? Talking about ‘Biggie kid not gay.’ Look at this s###. If that was my son I’d whoop his a##. I’m not gon’ hug—My son not gon’ hug you from the back talking about ‘Graduation happy.’ Look at this s###? Look. Do this look suspect, man or what…That’s gay. That’s gay all the way.”
As Special Ed noted, no cause of death has been revealed. This is a developing story.
Georgia prosecutors may slap Donald Trump with RICO charges, much like Young Thug. According to Reuters, the Fulton County court website posted then deleted a document featuring a list of possible charges against the disgraced ex-president on Monday (August 14).
The felony charges included a violation of the Georgia RICO Act. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis began presenting her election interference case against Trump to a grand jury on Monday.
Fulton County prosecutors have not officially filed any charges against Trump yet. Willis and her office infamously charged Young Thug and other members with RICO charges in 2022.
Trump lashed out at Willis over the 2020 election case on his Truth Social platform. If he is indicted, it will be his fourth indictment of 2023.
“WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE TELL THE FULTON COUNTY GRAND JURY THAT I DID NOT TAMPER WITH THE ELECTION,” Trump wrote. “THE PEOPLE THAT TAMPERED WITH IT WERE THE ONES THAT RIGGED IT, AND SADLY, PHONEY FANI WILLIS, WHO HAS SHOCKINGLY ALLOWED ATLANTA TO BECOME ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS CITIES ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, HAS NO INTEREST IN SEEING THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE AVAILABLE, OR FINDING OUT WHO THESE PEOPLE THAT COMMITTED THIS CRIME ARE. SHE ONLY WANTS TO ‘GET TRUMP.’ I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SHOW THIS INFO TO THE G.J.”
Trump was previously indicted for plotting to overturn the 2020 presidential election, mishandling classified documents and a scheme to pay hush money to an adult film star. He denied any wrongdoing. The former president complained about his indictments on Monday.
“I just hope Republicans, and the people of our now failing Nation, see what is happening to our Democracy and Freedom,” he wrote on Truth Social. “A sitting President has INDICTED, in many different forms and locals, his political opponent, who is substantially leading him in the Polls. NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED BEFORE. OUR COUNTRY CAN NEVER LET THIS STAND!”
View the document posted on the Fulton County court’s website here.
In an industry characterized by constant evolution and shifting trends, keeping pace with change can be challenging. Kat Nova, acclaimed DJ, and producer, has faced these dynamics head-on, navigating the music industry’s capricious nature while maintaining her unique artistic identity.
One of the primary challenges Nova encountered was the music industry’s continuous transformation. With genres rising and falling in popularity, staying relevant while staying true to one’s style requires a delicate balance. Kat, however, managed to master this balance by continuously evolving her sound, merging house music with various genres to create a unique vibe that resonates with her audience.
In addition, being a woman in the traditionally male-centric music industry presented unique challenges. However, Nova, far from being deterred, leveraged these as opportunities for growth. She stood her ground with confidence and determination, transforming these challenges into a platform for progress. Her unyielding resolve not only solidified her standing in the industry but also served as an empowering beacon for other aspiring female artists.
Kat Nova’s story is one of passion, resilience, and evolution. It serves as a testament to her strength and dedication, painting a picture of an artist who is unafraid to take on challenges and transform them into opportunities for growth. As Kat continues to create and inspire, her journey reminds us that obstacles can indeed be the path to success.
The impending debut of Triller on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is poised to rewrite the narrative of the digital world. As the stage is set for Triller’s grand entrance, a star-studded lineup of celebrity investors including Swizz Beatz, Ashanti, T-Pain, Russell Westbrook, Troy Carter, The Weeknd, and Lil Wayne underscores its credibility and momentum.
At the heart of Triller’s allure lies its formidable AI technology, Amplify. This AI engine has become the industry standard for innovation, adopted by industry giants such as Verizon, Nike, and Activision. The underpinning value of Triller, however, isn’t solely derived from its high-profile backers, but rather from the seamless fusion of celebrity influence and strategic brand partnerships.
While superficially likened to social media contenders like TikTok, Triller’s significance cuts deeper. It signifies the embodiment of a digital paradigm shift, where technology, entertainment, and influencer culture intertwine to create a revolutionary platform. The bedrock of Triller’s advancement is Amplify AI, which effortlessly integrates into major social networks—Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat—with the finesse of a well-practiced dance. This integration unfolds within native messaging apps, resulting in an impact that reverberates through engagement rates that surge as high as 70%, dwarfing the performance of conventional digital advertising campaigns.
The brilliance of this integration is the enhancement of user experiences and the simultaneous provision of a powerful medium for businesses to effectively engage their target audience. Amplify, often dubbed “ChatGPT for brands,” boasts an illustrious array of partner brands that include Verizon, Nike, Activision, Hulu, DAZN, Nissan, L’Oreal, NYX, Comedy Central, Universal, WWE, Pepsi, P&G, Mini, SBI Bank, HBO Max, Glamnetic, Walmart, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Neutrogena, Disney, Puma, Google, Lange Beauty, HINT, TIVO, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Victoria Beer, CBS, Logitech, Dr. Pepper, Paramount, Sony Playstation, and many more.
Amplify AI: The Backbone of Triller’s Power
Triller’s most valuable asset resides in its AI system, a crown jewel acquired and rebranded as Amplify.AI. This transformative technology has rewritten the digital playbook, revolutionizing the way social media marketing, advertising, and user experiences are conceived. Amplify’s adaptive nature and exceptional self-learning capabilities enable it to orchestrate interactions across behemoths such as Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, and YouTube. With the force of a technological titan, it powers over 750 million interactions per quarter, paving the way for revenue-generating opportunities while heightening user engagement. In an astonishing parallel to industry leader OpenAI, Amplify’s meteoric rise mirrors a valuation reminiscent of OpenAI’s monumental $23 billion benchmark.
Empowering Brands and Influencers: Triller’s Unrivalled Role
The numbers speak for themselves—Triller’s community boasts over 2.2 million creators and partnerships with a staggering 25,000 brands. The platform has successfully streamed more than 3000 events. However, the crux of Triller’s prowess lies in its exceptional ability to foster brand engagement and forge connections. Its identity as a unique brand tool is further bolstered by an engagement rate that soars above 41%, an opt-in rate exceeding 36%, and an average message open rate that stands tall at 85%. The click-through rate paints a similarly impressive picture at 24%.
In the domain of influencer marketing, Triller’s meteoric rise is undeniable. Its dominance in this realm is underscored by partnerships with top-tier influencers on a global scale. In the constellation of its achievements is Julius—a potent marketing platform facilitating collaborations between celebrity stakeholders and a sprawling network of over 2.2 million influencers. Boasting the stature of a virtual marketplace, Julius upends the traditional influencer-brand dynamic, solidifying Triller’s status as an industry frontrunner.
Triller’s reach extends far beyond its social media footprint, stretching its arms into the realm of combat sports and beyond. The watershed moment was the 2019 Tyson VS Jones Pay-per-View event—an event that resonated as the most successful digital PPV in history. But Triller’s ambitions don’t halt there. The acquisition of BKFC and fight.tv underscores its audacious goals. In fact, BKFC is poised to match the formidable valuation of the UFC, standing at an impressive $10 billion. Additionally, fight.tv challenges the status quo of platforms like DAZN, boasting a valuation exceeding $4 billion.
Triller: Redefining the Landscape of Engagement
Triller’s unique approach is a testament to its innovation. Rather than setting out to eclipse social media giants like Instagram and Twitter, Triller enhances their worth. The company’s modus operandi centers on “onboarding” users—550 million registered users, to be exact—onto its platform, while simultaneously encouraging them to maintain their routine activities across other social networks. Here, Triller’s AI comes to the fore, seamlessly bridging brands and customers across diverse platforms. Rather than locking users within its walled garden, Triller’s AI flourishes by collaborating with other social networks, allowing it to unleash its full potential.
Valuation Insights: Unearthing the Potential
In the realm of valuation, Triller’s potential offers an intriguing saga. The acclaimed AI-based tool ChatGPT commands a market valuation of $28 billion, a testament to its widespread adoption. Likewise, Amplify, the “ChatGPT for brands,” shares the same potential. Triller’s impending public offering assumes a position of grandeur, drawing parallels to giants such as UFC ($10 billion) and DAZN ($3.5 billion).
A Vision Beyond Horizon: Triller’s Odyssey
Triller’s aspirations transcend the confines of social media and combat sports. The company’s shrewd understanding of the influencer landscape cements its position as a torchbearer in the digital age.
In essence, Triller is the vanguard of the future of digital interaction, harmonizing sports, entertainment, influencer marketing, and AI-driven technology. As the platform takes center stage with its NYSE debut, the magnitude of its endorsements, strategic acquisitions, and financial projections point to a trajectory that promises to redefine the very fabric of the digital universe.
Food has a historic culture. It’s our history. It has a story and it can be very transformational. Food is always an adventure with a mouth-watering combustion of savory flavors. It is no surprise that everyone loves food; *tasting it, feeling it, and just the smell of it can stop you in your tracks. The food looks so good that you have to take pictures of each plate; share it on social media, and above all else, experience it and talk about it!
The owner, Dr. Lance London, received the 2022 President Joe Biden Presidential Award and was honored at the Power Networking Conference as “Entrepreneur of the Year” 2022. Dr. London is no stranger to success and knows his way around a kitchen. Presently operating multiple successful Carlina Kitchen restaurants in the DMV, Dr. London is currently underway with the expansion of seven additional restaurants throughout Maryland and D.C. The Carolina Kitchen currently serves over 1.3 million patrons annually.
The Carolina Kitchen has a reputation and savoir-faire for inclusive atmospheres, and decadent southern cuisine beckons some of the most notable people in the world – stars like Hip-Hop icons, Lil Baby, Future, Meek Mill, Wale, Jamie Foxx, and T.I. are amongst regular patrons that frequent Carolina Kitchen for an experience that is good for the stomach and great for the soul – the fusion of culture and culinary satiation speaks to an impeccable dining experience. Just ask a few of your fave Hip-Hop stars, and they’ll tell you that Carolina Kitchen is at the top of their list, right up there with Spotify’s coveted Rap Caviar.
Happiness is great food and great company. The Carolina Kitchen is the culinary embodiment of this philosophy.
Stay tuned, Stay connected and I’ll see you at the Carolina Kitchen where you get your chicken and much much more.
@cook4soul
@carolinakitchen
Recent Developments
Summer 2023
– Dr. Lance London’s popular restaurant chain “The Carolina Kitchen” – will be the culinary experience of choice for a notable women’s organization.
– Dr. Lance London will be one of two celebrity experts to judge a cooking competition against the Police and Fire departments of Prince George’s County, Maryland. The event will boast attendees such as Marylands Governor Wes Moore and other important public figures, politicians, and dignitaries to a crowd of approximately five thousand people.
Accompanied by his huge crew, Dr. London is relocating the warehouse for NéVetica, an innovative concept in pet care inspired by the tragic loss of his beloved dog “Rocky”- Dr. Lance London turned tragedy into a triumphant experience with a successful pet brand that is the ultimate white glove experience for pets. The decision to move to a new location was necessary to accommodate NéVetica’s flourishing sales. “Stay tuned, Stay connected and I’ll see you at the Carolina Kitchen where you get your chicken and much much more”
Nicki Minaj and the Barbz are winning amid the worldwide Barbie movie-fueled pink out—but Kanye West still gets the last laugh.
While the seemingly misunderstood and manic YEEZY mastermind continues to live his best life in Italy with two women, the self-proclaimed Black Barbie appears to be lamenting over collaborations past behind AI filters on TikTok live. Given the aforementioned scene, with the added context that Minaj also hopped on the dystopian NPC social media trend, it all seems like a sad existence for Minaj. SIKE! It’s all for promo.
As the Queens native readies for her upcoming Pink Friday 2 LP, which she recently pushed back to November, she’s been walking down memory lane reliving moments from the creative process of the album’s predecessor. In the process of remarking on key collaborations like “Blazin,” Minaj says Ye actually wanted to hop on “Right Thru Me” instead—but she blocked West’s attempts.
“I don’t know if you guys have heard this story about ‘Blazin’ but.. I wanted Kanye to be on ‘Blazin’ and he wanted to be on ‘Right Thru Me’,” Minaj started off before concluding, “Dumbest f###### decision I ever made.”
It’s clear West had a true affinity with pop-tinged rap anthems of the 2000s era—and what’s even clearer is that Minaj feels she missed out on her opportunity for a radio hit like Ye and Keri Hilson’s “Love Lockdown” in 2008. She probably could’ve even gotten the baby My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy visual treatment for the “Right Thru Me” music video had the collab actually came to fruition.
Alas, even though “Blazin” is still no slouch, this is clearly one of those “oh, what could’ve been” moments. Its also definitely a mythical moment in Hip-Hop history, so to speak, considering this may be one of the first documented instances where it appears West was out-bullied by someone in the studio—and just took it on the chin.
I’ll remind all of you that Ye literally put “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” out after Jeezy basically passed on the record because Ye completely deviated creatively from the theme of the track while The Snowman was up against a tight album deadline.
I guess now the big question is whether Minaj and West can, and will, match each other’s creative zeal, and disobedience, again in 2023 on Pink Friday 2?
Watch the clip in full below.
Nicki Minai revealed on TikTok Live today that Kanye initially wanted to be on 'Right Thru Me' from 'Pink Friday':
"I don't know if you guys have heard this story about 'Blazin' but.. I wanted Kanye to be on 'Blazin' and he wanted to be on 'Right Thru Me'…..dumbest f######… pic.twitter.com/OKmH3DXI48
MSNBC host Joe Scarborough got lost when Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy started spitting verses from Eminem’s#### record “Lose Yourself” while on stage at the Iowa State Fair.
For the talking head, it was apparently too much to bear and he eventually asked him (or his show’s producers) to “please stop.”
On Monday (August 14), Scarborough and his wife/co-host, Mika Brzezinski, talked about the GOP gathering on their broadcast. Brzezinski eventually addressed Ramaswamy’s suspected ploy to attract younger voters.
“The headline out of Iowa, Iowa State Fair this weekend, Vivek Ramaswamy rapping to Eminem’s ‘Lose Yourself,'” she began per The Messenger. “The song was played after his fair-side chat with the Iowa governor, and Ramaswamy went with it. Rapping several bars of the Oscar-winning song.”
But Scarborough wasn’t having it and repeatedly asked her to stop.
“Yeah. In the words of Gene Wilder in ‘Willy Wonka Factory,’ ‘Please, don’t, stop,’” the former Florida congressman said.
The performance was an early highlight on Saturday morning.
MC RAM SWAM finished up a fireside chat with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds at JR’s South Pork Ranch inside the Iowa State Fairgrounds and decided to bust out in rhyme, the Des Moines Register reported.
It had to be planned because he grabbed a red cap and let the beat drop. Once the tuned-up song pulsated, MC RAM SWAM started to go crazy rapping the rap god’s lyrics.
Ramaswamy is 38 years old, making him the youngest candidate running for the Republican nomination. He’s going up against Donald Trump, the former president who is pushing 77.
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony celebrated 50 years of Hip-Hop with a street-naming ceremony in their hometown of Cleveland. The dedication took place at the intersection of E. 99 Street and St. Clair Avenue on Friday (August 11) with Bizzy, Krayzie, Flesh, Layzie and Wish in tow. But somebody apparently wanted more than memories—they wanted something tangible.
On Sunday (August 13), Flesh hopped on Instagram and revealed the sign had been stolen. He wrote in the caption: “Now! Which one of y’all did this s###? SMH #bonethugsnharmonyway.”
Bone Thugs’ former manager Steve Lobel—who attended the ceremony—said it perfectly, “Wow that’s f###ed up!” But fortunately for the legendary group, there was more than one. Speaking to AllHipHop, Krayzie Bone addressed the situation and was pleased to inform his fans it’s not as bad as it looks.
“That’s Cleveland,” he tells AllHipHop with a laugh. “They put up three signs up—one at both ends of the street and one in the middle of the street. I guess someone stole the one in the middle, thinking it wouldn’t be noticed, but left the other two. It’s all good though, no worries. All love.”
Krayzie Bone spoke to AllHipHop in July about the lack of respect for Hip-Hop’s pioneers and architects.
“With Hip-Hop, I’ve been blessed to be here,” he said at the time. “To be here at the beginning, to watch and see every phase that it’s went through, I’m excited to see what the next 50 years is going to bring. Hip-Hop is definitely here to stay as a music genre, but it’s still so young.
“I just want to see Hip-Hop mature and be more kind and respectful to the artists that carry this genre. I want to see a balance between artists and corporations. It’s still young, but it needs to mature a lot. We need to realize and understand how to treat all legends like other genres of music.”
Hip-Hop was being celebrated all over the world on August 11, and the street-naming ceremony was just one of many events Bone Thugs attended over the historic weekend. On Saturday (August 12), Bone Thugs headed over to the Rocket Mortgage Field House to perform alongside a roster of Hip-Hop legends as part of The F.O.R.C.E. Tour, LL Cool J’s first tour in years. Performers included The Roots, DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Z-Trip, Common, Method Man, Redman, Jadakiss and MC Lyte.
Clarance Avant reportedly died at his Los Angeles home on Sunday (August 13) at the age of 92. Members of Avant’s family— son Alex Avant, daughter Nicole Avant and son-in-law Ted Sarandos—made the announcement on Monday (August 14).
“It is with a heavy heart that the Avant/Sarandos family announce the passing of Clarence Alexander Avant,” the family said. “Through his revolutionary business leadership, Clarence became affectionately known as ‘The Black Godfather’ in the worlds of music, entertainment, politics, and sports. Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come. The joy of his legacy eases the sorrow of our loss.”
Avant founded Sussex Records and Tabu Records in 1970s and ‘80s and was chairman of Motown Records in the’90s. Early in his career, the North Carolina native managed several jazz and blues artists, including Jimmy Smith and Little Willie John before launching one of the first fully Black-owned radio stations, KAGB FM in Los Angeles. As his career evolved, he connected Janet Jackson with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and promoted Michael Jackson’s 1988 Bad tour. Along the way, he became a mentor to budding music executives Sylvia Rhone, L.A. Reid, Babyface, Jheryl Busby, Jon Platt, Irving Azoff, Snoop Dogg and Diddy as well as the aforementioned Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
Rest in paradise Clarence Avant. Thanks for everything you’ve done for me and countless others!
Fellow industry giant Clive Davis said, “Clarence Avant was truly one of a kind. His passing is a great loss of someone who is irreplaceable. Clarence’s extraordinary contribution to music and the barriers he broke throughout his career are unrivaled. He was the mentor to all Black executives in the music industry for decades, providing invaluable guidance and support while always standing up for equal rights. Clarence was humane and fair and inspired love and respect from all who knew him. I personally loved him and will miss him forever.”
For anyone who wants to learn more about Clarence Avant’s impact, PLEASE watch ‘The Black Godfather’ doc on Netflix!
Avant received the Recording Academy’s Trustees Award in 2008, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2016, the Industry Icon Award at the 2019 Grammys and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021. He also received Thurgood Marshall Lifetime Achievement Award, an NAACP Image Awards Hall Of Fame Award and a BET Honors Entrepreneur Award. He earned the nickname “The Black Godfather” due to his revolutionary business leadership and vast connections. In 2019, a documentary about Avant, The Black Godfather, was released on Netflix.
In December 2021, Avant’s wife of 53 years, Jackie Avant, was fatally shot during a home invasion at their Beverly Hills residence, a tragic end to their marriage. Condolences are pouring in on Twitter. Find some of them below.
Maaaan, woke up this morning and couldn’t believe this news!! RIP to The Black Godfather Clarence Avant, thank you for all the wisdom you’ve shared and the path you paved for artists like myself🫡👑💔🕊️ pic.twitter.com/DNQ3KlNFFl
Big salute to a man who lived a full life! Thank you to the undeniable trailblazer Clarence Avant!! You’ve left a formidable blueprint of discipline, strategy & fearlessness that will undoubtedly help guide future generations of visionaries towards their… https://t.co/BluI7jpZ8tpic.twitter.com/YeJxzTPlHA
Clarence Avant isn’t just the “Godfather Of Black Music,” he is our cultural Godfather. Throughout his life, he burst through doors and tore down ceilings, changing lives and providing opportunities for generations. A true pioneer, a mentor and a champion, Clarence Avant is and… pic.twitter.com/nZYc311Wh3
André 3000 of OutKast famously declared “the south got something to say” at the 1995 Source Awards. Nearly 30 years later, Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell is still standing up for Hip Hop acts from the southern state of Florida.
Hip Hop commemorated its 50th anniversary on August 11, 2023. Numerous celebrations took place around the world as rappers, fans, streaming services, networks, and other entities spotlighted the history of the culture.
However, Uncle Luke believes Florida-bred Hip Hop performers did not receive enough attention during the events acknowledging Hip Hop’s longevity and impact. The 2 Live Crew frontman shared a message to other FL residents on Instagram.
“Hip Hop fans from Florida. Don’t be upset they don’t recognize your favorite Floridian artists as part of Hip Hop’s 50th year celebrations,” posted Uncle Luke. “This industry has never considered us as Hip Hop from the time I started Hip Hop in the south.”
He also added, “You can only imagine the names they called us. Country booty music, trash music. I can go on and on [about] the disrespect towards Florida Hip Hop. Still to this day, we fight for our respect, and you have stood behind us every step of the way.”
2 Live Crew’s Uncle Luke Defended Hip Hop & Free Speech In Court
Uncle Luke helped elevate southern rap to the forefront as a member of 2 Live Crew and as a soloist. Additionally, the Miami native won a landmark criminal case in 1990. The state of Florida failed to convict 2 Live Crew of violating obscenity laws for performing the explicit “As Nasty as They Wanna Be.”
Luther Campbell also famously won a 1994 U.S. Supreme Court copyright infringement case filed by Acuff-Rose Music. 2 Live Crew released “Pretty Woman” as a spoof of Roy Orbison’s “Oh, Pretty Woman.” The Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc. decision established that a commercial parody qualifies as fair use.
In conclusion, Uncle Luke’s Instagram statement read, “There will be a day this year where we come together and celebrate Florida Hip Hop [artists] from the top of the state to the bottom. We love you. Thank You for your support.”
Florida has produced some of the most successful rappers in the history of Hip Hop culture. Besides Uncle Luke and 2 Live Crew, the Sunshine State was once the stomping grounds for acts such as City Girls, Denzel Curry, Flo Rida, Kodak Black, Plies, Rick Ross, Rod Wave, Trick Daddy, Trina, XXXTentacion, and many more.
DeAndre “Soulja Boy” Way typically takes credit for being the first rapper to do almost everything. The “Soulja Boy Did It First” meme was mostly taken as light-hearted fun, but the rapper recently took to social media to proclaim his actual importance to Hip Hop culture.
“When I came in the game they said I killed Hip Hop. But really, I birthed the new wave of Hip Hop with internet/streaming. Ahead of my time. #HipHop50,” wrote Soulja Boy on X (formerly Twitter).
He also added, “Now everyone vlogs their career like me. Now everyone uploads their music to the internet. Now everyone goes live for their fans. I started it. Thank me or not. Flowers/Credit or not. #HipHop50.”
When I came in the game they said I killed hip hop. But really, I birthed the new wave of hip hop with internet/streaming. Ahead of my time. #HipHop50
Now everyone vlogs their career like me. Now everyone uploads their music to the internet. Now everyone goes live for their fans. I started it. Thank me or not. Flowers/Credit or not. #HipHop50
Soulja Boy Tell’em broke onto the national Hip Hop scene with 2007’s crossover smash “Crank That.” His self-produced track spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. “Crank That” also earned 3x-Platinum certification from the RIAA.
In addition, Soulja Boy scored Top 20 hits with “Kiss Me Thru The Phone” and “Turn My Swag On” in 2009. His initial rise in the industry during the Ringtone Rap Era was met with accusations of him being the genre’s grim reaper.
Fifteen years later, despite many of his Ringtone Era peers no longer commanding attention from fans or the media, Soulja Boy continues to remain relevant. The Mississippi-raised rhymer has released numerous music projects throughout his career. He also appeared on reality TV franchises and starred in his own The Life of Draco docuseries on Revolt.
In addition, Soulja Boy played a huge role in Hip Hop’s digital revolution over the last two decades. Back in 2006, he was one of the earliest rappers to use a burgeoning video-sharing platform called YouTube to present his music and videos. After building an online following, Soulja eventually signed a deal with Interscope Records.
Once again, Utopia is the most popular album in America. Travis Scott’s fourth studio LP remained at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart for a second consecutive week.
After opening with 496,000 first-week units, Utopia brought in 147,000 units in its second week of release. Travis Scott held off Country singer Morgan Wallen from reclaiming the top spot with One Thing at a Time (92,000 units).
Utopia‘s two-week reign makes Travis Scott the first Hip Hop act to hold onto the Billboard 200’s No. 1 position for more than one week in 2023. Philadelphia rapper Lil Uzi Vert’s Pink Tape spent a week at No. 1 in July.
In addition, Utopia is the first Hip Hop album to spend its first two weeks at No. 1 since 2021. Drake’s Certified Lover Boy dominated the Billboard 200 for three straight weeks that year. Certified Lover Boy held the top spot for a total of five weeks.
Tyler, The Creator’s Call Me If You Get Lost debuted at No. 1 in July 2021. The Grammy-winning album returned to the pinnacle of the Billboard 200 chart in April 2022 after its one-week run on top a year earlier.
Travis Scott received mostly favorable reviews for Utopia. The blockbuster release arrived with contributions from Drake, Beyoncé, 21 Savage, The Weeknd, Playboi Carti, Young Thug, Kid Cudi, Bad Bunny, SZA, Future, and more.
Previously, Travis Scott led the Billboard 200 with Birds In The Trap Sing McKnight in 2016 and Astroworld in 2018. Birds In The Trap Sing McKnight controlled the No. 1 spot for one week. Astroworld had a three-week run as the chart leader.
After three years of rampant speculation and gossip, Megan Thee Stallion finally got some legal closure for a 2020 shooting that left her injured. A California jury convicted rapper/singer Tory Lanez of assault and a judge recently sentenced him to 10 years in prison.
Megan Thee Stallion publicly named Tory Lanez (born Daystar Peterson) as the shooter. Lanez was later found guilty of assault with a semiautomatic handgun, having a loaded and unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and gross negligence in discharging his firearm.
While Tory Lanez continued to maintain his innocence, other prominent Hip Hop figures seemingly sided with the Canadian. Podcasters such as DJ Akademiks and Joe Budden expressed doubt that Megan told the truth about the situation.
Even Drake had some bars on the Her Loss album that seemed to question Megan Thee Stallion’s truthfulness. On “Circo Loco,” the Hip Hop superstar rapped, “This b#### lied about getting shots, but she still a stallion.”
Now that Lanez’s criminal trial has ended with a conviction, Megan addressed her doubters at Sunday’s Outside Lands Festival. She told that San Francisco crowd, “I just wanna say… F### all my haters! None of that s### you was doing or saying broke me.”
Megan also thanked her Hotties fanbase for their support. Even though some male rappers/commentators attempted to discredit Meg at certain points, individuals like Bun B, 21 Savage, and Noah “40” Shebib publicly backed the Houston native.
The Traumazine album by Megan Thee Stallion came out in August 2022. That project did include the Roc Nation-endorsed recording artist’s thoughts on dealing with the various trauma in her life. Traumazine featured Key Glock, Latto, Pooh Shiesty, Rico Nasty, Jhené Aiko, Future, Dua Lipa, and more.
Leading 2024 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump may be facing multiple state and federal indictments, but that has not stopped Benny The Butcher from expressing his support for the MAGA leader.
Donald Trump, the former one-term President of the United States, has been a polarizing politician since announcing his presidential campaign in 2015. While becoming a god-like figure for many conservatives, Trump is equally as detested by many liberals and progressives.
“I’m votin’ Trump 2024,” posted Benny The Butcher on the X social media platform. Many of the Buffalo native’s fans began questioning why he chose to back Donald Trump’s latest run for the White House.
One person asked Benny if his Trump endorsement was a roll-out for new music. The 38-year-old rapper responded, “Naw, I’m [just] voting for Trump… never had to do silly [s###] for a roll-out, y’all be aight.”
Another person pointed out Benny The Butcher’s lyrics from his 2016 track “Tom Ford Socks” where he raps, “I hope the Democrats steal the election from Trump.” Benny replied, “Yea, that’s old my boy.”
Another X user asked Benny, “Hov [Jay-Z] never needed a president to make money so why [are] you doing it?” The Tana Talk 4 album creator answered, “Everybody ain’t Hov… it’s not for money, my boy, I’m rich already.”
Benny the Butcher rose to prominence in Hip Hop circles as a member of the Griselda collective alongside Westside Gunn and Conway The Machine. Griselda released several projects, including 2019’s WWCD, which came out via Eminem’s Shady Records.
