Kanye “Ye” West was not the only person to catch heat for his “White Lives Matter” shirt. Selah Marley, the daughter of Lauryn Hill and Rohan Marley, also faced significant online backlash.
On Tuesday, Selah Marley addressed the controversy on her Instagram Story. The 23-year-old granddaughter of Reggae legend Bob Marley stated she would not allow people on the internet to bully her.
“The past 24 hours has allowed me to realize that most of yall are stuck in a hive mentality,” posted Selah Marley. “You do what the group tells you to do and think what the group tells you to think. Witnessing someone break free from ‘the agenda’ sends you all into such a panic that you will do whatever it takes to force them back into the box that you feel they should exist in.”
She continued, “You cannot bully me, manipulate me, or coax me into silence. Nor will you bully me into being who I don’t want to be. I don’t care how many tweets you make, DMs you send, or articles you write.”
Selah Marley concluded her IG statement by writing, “Throughout all the chaos, I have yet to speak on my experience. If you know me, you know that nothing I do is without deep thought and intention. Wait til you hear what I have to say.”
In addition, Selah Marley shared a text she apparently sent to Kanye West. The message included Selah seemingly asking Ye to help her to continue the conversation about the “White Lives Matter” apparel in order to show the “depth” and “purity” of the decision.
The negative reactions to Kanye West’s “White Lives Matter” shirts mostly stem from the belief that the phrase is a reactionary talking point used by white supremacists, white nationalists, and the Alt-Right. West also upset some people by downplaying the Black Lives Matter movement in response to the critiques.
Vevo’s “Official Live Performance” series has also included videos by Doja Cat, Justin Beiber, Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Camila Cabello, and Demi Lovato.
“We’ve been looking forward to collaborating with Future again since we last worked together back in 2019,” says JP Evangelista, Vevo’s SVP of Content, Programming & Marketing. “He’s an icon in every sense of the word, from his fashion to his visuals to his lyrics, and we were so thrilled to have the opportunity to harness that energy into these incredible performances.”
JP Evangelista continues, “It’s important for an artist to be fully present and involved with our Official Live Performances, and Future was incredibly intentional, prepared with a clear creative vision that he came ready to translate onto the screen for his fans. We’re so excited to finally be able to share these with everyone!”
Compton-bred emcee Kendrick Lamar was the big winner at this year’s BET Hip Hop Awards.
Kendrick Lamar won six awards, including Artist Of The Year, Lyricist Of The Year, Best Live Performer, and Album Of The Year (Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers). He also won Best Hip Hop Video for “Family Ties” with Baby Keem and Video Director Of The Year with Dave Free.
Drake went into the night with the most nominations. The OVO leader went on to win Best Collaboration for “Wait For U” with Future and Tems. He also tied himself for Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse with “Wait For U” and Jack Harlow’s “Churchill Downs.”
In addition, GloRilla won Best Breakthrough Hip Hop Artist. EarthGang won Best Duo or Group. Latto won Song Of The Year for “Big Energy.” Lizzo won Impact Track for “About Damn Time.” Hitmaka won Producer Of The Year, and DJ Drama won DJ Of The Year.
U.K. rapper Chris Kaba was not a suspect nor was he being chased by cops, but was being followed by an unmarked police car without lights and sirens when he was fatally shot by a police officer, an inquest into his death has been told.
The unarmed father-to-be was killed on September 5 by a single shot to the head. An unidentified firearms officer, referred to in the investigation as officer NX121, fired the round. Chris Kaba was 24 years old.
Despite London’s Metropolitan Police initially reporting that Kaba was shot “after a vehicle pursuit,” the police watchdog made no mention of this in their statement to Southwark coroner’s court on Tuesday (Oct. 4).
Police Watchdog Speak At Inquest Into The Death of Chris Kaba
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the shooting of Kaba, a member of U.K. drill rap group 67. Their lead investigator, Dean Brown, read a summary of the incident at the inquest.
He confirmed Chris Kaba was not a suspect when cops followed him without deploying lights or sirens. While officers had been briefed earlier that night to look out for the Audi, potentially associated with a firearm incident from the previous day, “Mr Kaba’s name was not included in this briefing.”
After being followed for approximately 15 minutes, cops decided to” perform an inline extraction.” Then, armed police exited their vehicles and approached the Audi driven by Chris Kaba.
“The evidence suggests that contact was made between the Audi driven by Mr. Kaba and the police vehicles.
“The evidence further suggests that officer NX121 was standing to the front of Mr Kaba’s vehicle. A single shot was fired by officer NX121 piercing the front windscreen of the vehicle Mr Kaba was driving.”
Cops at the scene provided first aid, but Chris Kaba sadly died later that night in hospital.
The IOPC confirmed officer NX121 has been suspended from duty and is under criminal investigation for murder. No one has been charged with homicide at this time. The “extensive and ongoing” investigation is expected to take six to nine months to complete.
Kaba’s cousin Jefferson Bosela spoke outside the inquest on Tuesday. “Officers must be interviewed under caution immediately. We have been told that after nearly a month, neither the officer who killed Chris or any of the other officers involved have been interviewed under caution.”
He also called on the Crown Prosecution Service to urgently make a charging decision. Bosela said a swift decision is “critical for this family,” and others “to have faith in the system that is supposed to bring them justice.”
Bosela added: “We need answers. Not just this family, but the whole of London – the whole of the country – needs to know how something like this could occur? How can a young man, sitting in a car, unarmed, be shot in the head by police in London in 2022? This should never have happened. It must never happen again. We must never accept this as normal. Someone must be held accountable.”
He concluded: “We will not rest until the people responsible for Chris’s death are held fully accountable.” Watch his remarks in full below.
AllHipHop.com stands with the family of Chris Kaba as they seek justice for their loved one, and against any senseless police-involved violence, specifically against Black and Brown people.
Hitman Holla says things are heating up in the Bag$ And Bodies mansion, the home of the Wild N’ Out star’s battle rap reality TV show.
Earlier this year, the St Louis artist announced plans for the $100,00 competition and has now selected the rappers who will battle for the prize. Half of the contestants were chosen from auditions across four cities last month. The remaining hopefuls faced off last week for the final slots. Those battles will drop on YouTube as promo for the first season.
The battlers have entered the house, where they will compete in a series of challenges over the next six weeks. If the first two days are anything to go by, the show will make for compelling viewing.
Hitman Holla shared a clip from the Bag$ And Bodies mansion showing an altercation between two of the battlers. Harlem’s Snake Eyez and North Carolina’s Bad Newz almost came to blows, and things got tense.
“They tryna separate the boys from the men in the house,” Hitman tweeted. “It’s a war every night #BagsAndBodies!!!”
Despite having to keep on his toes, Hitman Holla says the show is already promising to be classic television. “They driving me crazy already lol,” he tweeted. “This tv show is GOLD.”
Bag$ And Bodies began taping this weekend and will be available on Hulu, Roku, and Apple TV once the TV deal is finalized.
Some contestants have been posting behind-the-scenes videos from the Bag$ And Bodies mansion. Viewers can expect smoky altercations, laughs, and tense moments in between the battles when the emcees will showcase their writing skills and rapping ability. Check the clips below.
Rihanna has finally spoken about her upcoming highly-anticipated performance at the Super Bowl Halftime Show next year, revealing she has a case of the butterflies.
Fans of the Bajan songstress rejoiced last month when The National Football League announced the news. Rihanna has remained tight-lipped about the show, giving very little away.
However, TMZ caught up with her while grocery shopping in L.A. on Monday. When asked how she’s feeling about the event, Rihanna admitted she’s “nervous” but “excited” to perform. Check out her comments below.
Rihanna has something in common with Dr. Dre, who was extremely anxious when he rocked the stage at the 2022 Halftime show. He admitted, “I don’t know if I’ve ever been that nervous before,” performing at the event alongside Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, and surprise guests 50 Cent and Anderson .Paak.
Dr. Dre is expecting an epic performance from Rihanna. “She has the opportunity to really blow us away,” he explained. “I know we set the bar extremely high.” He also shared that the nine-time Grammy Award winner should ensure she has “the right creative people,” around her in preparation for the show. Ultimately, he said, “have fun.”
“Rihanna is a generational talent, a woman of humble beginnings who has surpassed expectations at every turn. A person born on the small island of Barbados who became one of the most prominent artists ever. Self-made in business and entertainment,” said Jay Z in a press statement.
While Rihanna hasn’t spoken about the other performers who will join her for the Super Bowl Halftime Show, fans believe her “Run This Town” collaborator Kanye West dropped a hint that he might be one. Ye took to Instagram to share a Daily Mail article suggesting he is being considered as a guest performer.
N.O.R.E. ended his self-imposed awards show ban to attend the 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards where he was named the co-winner of the Best Hip Hop Platform award for his Drink Champs series.
The NYC-raised rapper revealed he was inspired to attend after he received a message from the late Big Pun.
While his Drink Champs co-host DJ EFN kept his comments brief, shouting out his family and thanking their production crew, N.O.R.E. didn’t hold back. “I’m a little more cocky with mine,” he began as the audience cheered him on.
He then explained that he hasn’t attended any awards shows since Big Pun died in February 2000. “Me and Pun sat at these seats over there somewhere,” N.O.R.E. explained, pointing into the auditorium, “and Silkk the Shocker beat us in every category there was.”
After that, the rapper turned podcaster decided that would be his last ever awards ceremony. “I promised to never come to another awards show again because I didn’t want to be embarrassed.” He added, “Because hood n##### get embarrassed too, y’all.”
However, N.O.R.E. says he came tonight because Big Pun told him to come to represent for kids who also struggled with their schooling. “Pun told me to come. He said Fat Joe was hosting, he said Mobb Deep is gonna be there.
N.O.R.E. continued, “He said, ‘You got to come tonight with your wife, your beautiful wife, and accept this award on every hood n#### that cut school and was in the resource room.” He continued noting, ”I was in special education,” and “I’m not sure if I know how to read. But I’m here.” Watch his speech in full below.
N.O.R.E. Bet Hip Hop Awards Acceptance Speech
N.O.R.E. also performed on the night alongside Armani White, who delivered his viral TikTok song “Billie Eilish.” He treated the audience to an energetic rendition of his 2012 hit “Nothin’,” which is sampled on “Billie Eilish.” Check out the unlikely pairing rock the stage below.
Yung Miami was the other winner in the BET Awards Best Hip Hop Platform category. She copped the win for her new Revolt show, Caresha Please.
Joey Bada$$ delivered a powerful performance at the BET Hip Hop Awards 2022, paying tribute to fallen rappers that lost their lives to violence.
The Brooklyn rapper took to the stage on Tuesday evening (Oct. 4) with a special rendition of his recent single “Head High.” The tributes included Young Dolph, who was shot and killed last year and PnB Rock, who was also fatally shot last month.
He also memorialized fallen rappers from different generations of rap, including XXXTentacion, King Von, Nipsey Hussle, Scott La Rock, Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G, and Big L.
As the song wound down, Joey Bada$$ sent a message to his fellow artists.
“As rappers we got to stop perpetuating our own genocide. It’s a war going on inside and outside no man is safe from. How y’all rappers call y’allselves real, turn round and tell these kids to kill each other? You see the problem is, we y’all biggest ops. I’m done pointing fingers at the judges and the cops. It’s time to take accountability,” he concluded.
Joey Bada$$ performed flanked by dancers clad in all black with matching ski masks wearing hoodies with each deceased artist’s name on the back. Watch his performance below.
The poignant lyrics on “Head High” include the rapper talking about “livin’ in the moment,” because “you never know when could be your last.” Joey Bada$$ also raps about the “survivor’s guilt” he suffers over losing his friend and fellow artist Capital STEEZ.
Kodak Black also took to the stage at the ceremony with his own tribute to his friend and former collaborator, the late PnB Rock. An image of PnB lit up the stage as Kodak performed “Super Gremlin.”
Word Life aka the King of all Fresh has been working! He recently dropped off the new hit “Magic City” and has earned the respect of Fat Joe and many media outlets. Landing on the top 15 Uk iTunes Charts “Magic City” has been gaining steam by the day.
Word Life provides a next-level visual using Virtual Production with Dallas-based media company First Eye Media. Word Life is one of the most consistent artists and possesses a star power image and it is a matter of time before he is turning down label deals. Check out “Magic City” now.
The city of New York is known for its diversity in the music culture, being the cradle of some of the global music icons. Conversely, Connecticut has always been an underdog in the music industry. CT is a place for live music and presents the world with some of the best venues for music concerts and clubs. Choosing between these two musical realms can be challenging for a true music enthusiast. Dante Tweaks, the popular rapper and music producer, says, why to choose when you can have the best of both worlds? He returns after a hiatus to reclaim his position in the industry with his upcoming project, MADOFF, which blends the musical culture of NYC with the vibe of CT to enthrall the audience.
Dante Tweaks, the artist and rapper, shot to fame with his song “Plug Ran Dry,” featured on BET Jams network and earned immense popularity among audiences for its unique rhythm. “Plug Ran Dry ” was also ranked 69 on UK iTunes Music Charts, paving the way for Dante Tweaks into the closely-knit industry. After this hit, Dante’s career scaled up, and in 2018 he launched one of the best music studios in CT. However, after Dante’s fame and success, he went on a sudden hiatus from the industry for a year. The artist overcame his mental health issues and depression during this time.
Now, Dante is back and fiercer with his music. His upcoming song, MADOFF, proves that the rapper is geared to redefine the music scene. MADOFF is a single, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Dante Tweaks and his team at Howell Records Studios. This song will showcase the multi-faceted skills of the artist as a rapper, producer, composer, and editor. The main attraction of the video is the cameo of the famous social media influencers and music artist SPIDERCUZ with a large music fan base.
MADOFF narrates the story of a Bad boy from a new perspective, one that promises to capture Dante’s very audience listeners will feel connected to the very end. The artist has worked tirelessly to see this project succeed. In the spirit of excellence, he had various shoots across exclusive locales across New York. He believes this move will truly add a visually aesthetic element to the song. Dante as an artist has a keen eye for attention to detail and will never settle for anything less than what he wants. Considering this, the video will be a treat for the sore eyes that will perfectly complement the mood and theme of the song.
Besides the visual and the concept, Dante’s MADOFF will be a melodic masterpiece. The song, as Dante describes, will stand out “with its trippy, almost skit-like effects with a background music that bumps hard.” Going by his words, MADOFF will be a fresh wave of energetic rhythm and electrifying beats that spurs people to groove any time of the day.
MADOFF is set for release on October 11 this year. Dante, a perfectionist, is putting some final touches as he is highly optimistic about this come-back project. He feels MADOFF will set a different standard for him as an artist, not only replicating but surpassing the success of all his previous releases.
Gigi Hadid has criticized Kanye West for “bullying” fashion editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson.
The rapper sparked controversy on Monday when he stepped out at his Yeezy fashion show staged as part of Paris Fashion Week wearing a shirt with the “White Lives Matter” slogan emblazoned across the back.
Following the event, Karefa-Johnson called out West for his “indefensible behavior,” and a short time later, he uploaded a string of posts about the Vogue contributing editor, including one in which he diminished her outfit choices and labeled her “not a fashion person.”
In light of the controversy, Hadid took to Instagram to defend Karefa-Johnson.
“You wish u had a percentage of her intellect. You have no idea haha…. If there’s actually a point to any of your s### she might be the only person that could save u,” she wrote. “As if the ‘honor’ of being invited to your show should keep someone from giving their opinion ..? Lol. You’re a bully and a joke.”
Kanye said he met with Karefa-Johnson earlier today and the pair went out to dinner, the rapper revealed in an all-cap post.
“IT FELT LIKE SHE WAS BEING USED LIKE TREVOR NOAH AND OTHER BLACK PEOPLE TO SPEAK ON MY EXPRESSION SHE EXPRESSED THAT HER COMPANY DID NOT INSTRUCT HER TO SPEAK ON MY T SHIRT EXPRESSION,” Kanye revealed.
“WE APOLOGIZED TO EACH OTHER FOR THE WAY WE MADE EACH OTHER FEEL WE ACTUALLY GOT ALONG AND HAVE BOTH EXPERIENCED THE FIGHT FOR ACCEPTANCE IN A WORLD THAT’S NOT OUR OWN. SHE DISAGREED I DISAGREED WE DISAGREED,” Ye said.
Ye has not yet explained why he chose to wear the top to the Yeezy show, as White Lives Matter is a white supremacist phrase that originated as a racist response to the Black Lives Matter movement.
“It can spread toxic confusion and be used to legitimize violent assaults on Black people,” they commented. “Battling misinformation while continuing to do the hard that liberation requires is nothing new for us.”
Mike Epps and George Lopez will appear in Snoop Dogg’s upcoming movieThe Underdoggs.
According to Deadline, the two comedians joined the cast of the MGM film. Other notable cast members include Tika Sumpter and Andrew Schulz.
Snoop Dogg plays a former NFL star named Jaycen Jenning in the movie. The comedy features Jenning becoming a youth football coach following a run-in with the law.
Charles Stone, known for his work on Paid in Full and Uncle Drew, will direct the film. Black-ish creator Kenya Barris is producing the flick alongside Snoop Dogg and others.
“The Underdoggs is a real personal project for me considering that I’ve been coaching football for 15+ years with the Snoop Youth Football League that I started with my long-time business partner Constance Schwartz-Morini,” Snoop Dogg said. “Giving back to the community through football has taught us so many invaluable life lessons that we’ve been able to share with kids in similar situations like mine when I was growing up. My hope is that this movie will shed light on the realities that kids and adults face in the hood and within the complex world of football.”
Snoop Dogg’s The Underdoggs is scheduled to be released in October 2023. Production is already underway.
Drake will perform at the legendary Apollo Theater for the first time in his career.
The OVO rapper and SiriusXM announced the exclusive event on Tuesday (October 4). Drake’s concert is scheduled to take place at the Apollo Theater in Harlem on November 11.
SiriusXM also launched a contest, giving fans an opportunity to win tickets to the event. Entries are limited to one per person.
“For a chance to win tickets to this event, scan the QR code to listen to Sound 42 (Ch. 42) on the SXM App anytime from now until 11 pm ET on October 26, 2022,” SiriusXM explained. “Then watch for a pop-up message on how to enter.”
SiriusXM provided two options to non-subscribers looking to win the Drake tickets. One involved signing up for a free trial while the other allowed contestants to enter via mail.
“On a postcard or a 3×5 card legibly print your first and last name, complete postal address, phone number and email address and the name and date of the Event you wish to attend if selected as a winner,” SiriusXM noted. “And mail it in an envelope with proper postage to SXM ENTRIES, DRAKE AT THE APOLLO, PO BOX 1948 SOUTH HACKENSACK, NJ 07606. Your mail-in entry must be postmarked by the USPS no later than October 26, 2022 and received by Sponsor no later than five (5) days following the October 26, 2022.”
Contest winners will be part of a relatively small crowd for a Drake concert. The Apollo Theater is a 1,500-capacity venue, making it an intimate setting compared to the arenas where Drake typically performs.
Fat Joe discussed his usage of the n-word in an interview with The Breakfast Club on Tuesday (October 4).
The D.I.T.C. member explained why he’s used the word throughout his life. Fat Joe recalled his childhood and how it influenced his vocabulary.
“My projects is 90 percent – I’ll give you 80 percent – Black still,” Fat Joe said. “My grandmother’s projects is 99.9 percent Black, to be clear. So, I’m Spanish. I knew I was Latino, but the whole time, I thought I was Black anyway.”
He continued, “So, my mom lived there 40 years before I was born, in this project. And I’m born blonde hair, green eyes … This s### crazy. She brings me there, the first thing they go, ‘Oh, look at this little n#### Joey. He got green eyes.’ The minute I’m walking, the guys from the building is like, ‘Yo, look at that little n#### Joe. Little Fat Joe.’ That’s all I knew my whole life.”
Fat Joe didn’t think it was offensive for him to use the n-word. He believed his critics don’t know his history.
“It’s a lot of woke society or something going on these days,” he said. “And Twitter and all that I guess they don’t understand where I come from, where I was born or how I was raised or how I lived my whole entire life. Now we know we use it as love. We know that the record states that this is a negative word. I wish we never used it.”
Fat Joe revealed he’s tried to stop using the word. But he insisted it wasn’t something anyone could pressure him to do.
“I been saying this thing in my DNA,” he said. “It’s hard, bro. I really, seriously, I been trying to stop. But I been saying this since I was born. I tried the greatest level I can to try to understand if I’m offending anybody, that’s cool.”
He added, “But I want them to know no one’s going to pressure Fat Joe into feeling or saying anything that he loves or believes in. No one’s ever going to do that. You get one life and ain’t nobody gonna try to tell me what to say, tell me what to do, tell me what to think. I mean, do I look like a racist?”
Listen to Fat Joe’s explanation below. The topic begins around the 30-minute mark.
Hood Tali P is here to put on for his hometown of Philly, and he’s baring it all in his music. The rising star arrives as a breath of fresh air on the rap scene, equipped with his own storytelling as he navigates the transition of leaving the streets behind and focusing on his professional rap career.
In describing himself, Hood Tali states, “I’m very outspoken, but I’m a very intelligent individual. I’m probably misunderstood, until you really get around me and talk to me. Because you’ll see, I act a whole different way from what I’m perceived as on the internet.”
When asked how he’s perceived on the internet, he states, “there’s mixed emotions about me. Some emotions be negative, some emotions be positive. That’s all about stirring the pot, keeping the attention drawn to me. It’s not really nothing personal or I’m a bad person. Everything I say, people take it and run with it.”
Fast forward to 2022, Hood Tali P returns with his newest project titled Top Opp, detailing his journey thus far in the rap game. The 15-track project is spearheaded by lead singles Two 40’s & A 9, “Dead Man!”, “Mob Business,” and “Blake Griffin.”
AllHipHop caught up with Hood Tali P via Zoom to discuss his sound, roots in Philly, Meek Mill cosign, the new project, fatherhood, goals, and more!
AllHipHop: How would you describe your sound?
Hood Tali P: I wouldn’t say I’m the hardest lyricist, I’m more so really pop my s### for real for real. I tell stories about real life situations that I’ve been through, with my own little finesse to it.
AllHipHop: What does Philly mean to you?
Hood Tali P: I love Philly, that’s my hometown. That’s where all my people at, but I’m really starting to outgrow Philly. I feel like I did enough for the city to where I’m not really looking for the city validation no more. I’m more so trying to spread my music out more, because I already did everything I had to do in Philly. But I love Philly because without Philly, there wouldn’t be no me.
AllHipHop: When did you realize you could do music for a living? Was there a turning point?
Hood Tali P: When I dropped my first music video for real for real. Alright, I was a regular n*gga in the city doing what I gotta do to get by. Man, we doing a lot of s### right now you feel me? Our everyday activities, we do a lot of s###. Damn, I might as well. At that time, it was a lot of artists from Philly getting a lot of recognition. If they doing it, why can’t I do it?
I didn’t really start getting in the booth until I linked up with my dad. I had stopped being around my dad when I was 5, and I reunited with him when I was 19. I already had a son. I was way ahead of my time, so it wasn’t really nothing for us to do as far as spending time together. My dad used to rap so he always had a studio. That’s where I recorded my first songs at, in the studio my dad went to. He was using that as a way to spend time with me.
I just recorded a couple songs. I was recording, I was recording, I was recording. It took me a couple months to drop my first video. I dropped the “Exotic” February 2020. From October to November 2019, I was already making music. It just wasn’t out, I wasn’t posting it, I just had a bunch of music in my phone. But I really knew that I had to keep going once I dropped my first video, and it did a certain amount. It really confirmed it once I heard a lot of people try to imitate my sound in the city. Damn, I really got influence out here. I gotta keep it going.
AllHipHop: How did Meek Mill catch wind with you, and what’d that mean? That’s huge.
Hood Tali P: We got a lot of people that’s a part of his camp and team. We got mutual respect for each other. I’m cool with a couple of his nephews, a lot of people around him. I really feel like he got wind of me from hearing a couple of people around him hearing my music, then he gravitated to it. Eventually, he showed me love, threw me a little shoutout on Instagram. He followed me.
Every once in a while, he’ll give me words of encouragement to keep going. Shout out to Meek Mill. It’s crazy, that shout out gave me 10K followers. I really appreciate him for that. I had 7500 followers, he gave me a shout out on one of my music videos and that brought me all the way up to 10K. I got my first 10K followers because of Meek.
AllHipHop: That’s crazy! Were you able to thank him at all?
Hood Tali P: Yeah, it’s crazy. That’s why I said through the DM, he always gives me words of encouragement. Keep going, stuff to watch out for.
AllHipHop: He was trying to get y’all to not beef in the city. Can you touch on that?
Hood Tali P: Yeah, he had posted on Twitter: “there’s a lot of talent in the city.” But everybody in the city is really at odds with each other. That’s a part of the reason why it takes a little longer for us to really break out. If you go to other cities, if you go to Los Angeles, they really support some of their artists coming up. Rest in peace to Drakeo The Ruler ,but he had a lot of support from Los Angeles when he came up.
If you look at Atlanta, Young Thug, Lil Baby, they could be beefing with each other about who’s gonna be the top dog, but instead they all came together. They ended up working out better for the city as a whole. That’s what holds us back. I understand people lost people, but I look at it like this: with the people you lost, would they rather you die for them? Or would the people you lost rather you carry their legacy or their name on? Be able to help with their family and stuff like that.
AllHipHop: You just dropped your new project, Top Opp. Why are you the top opp?
Hood Tali P: People misinterpret me as a person because of Instagram. A lot of people don’t like me, I got a lot of haters too. You gotta look at it like this: the way I came through Philly, a lot of the dudes that don’t like me have been rapping for a long time. I’m 22, we’re all in the same age bracket for real for real. A lot of these dudes out there been rapping since I was in 8th grade. For me to come and I’m doing the stuff I’m doing, from me starting to rap by picking up a mic in 2020, I never even did no freestyle before that.
For me to do that and get the attention I got, now I’m compared to on the same level as y’all and a lot of people don’t like that. I’m an outspoken person. I’m not a go with the flow type of person. If something wrong, I’m gonna speak on it. If there is a flaw, I’m gonna speak on it. I’m not the type to bite my tongue. It tends to be the people that’s not afraid to bite they tongue and speak out, they always get a bad rep from get in line and go with the flow type people. That’s why I’m the top opp, because I go against everything that everybody else wants to do.
AllHipHop: What’s one thing you want people to take away from the project?
Hood Tali P: I don’t necessarily gotta be a drill rapper. I don’t even like being classified as a drill rapper. I’m not no drill rapper, I’m just rapping about my life. This is not no movie, it’s not no facade. It’s not for gang recognition, this is my real life. This is what I’ve really been through. This is all I know, I’ve been dealing with this type lifestyle since I was 16. I’m 22.
Before I thought about a record, this all I knew. Damn, they like it. They interested in it, but I don’t want them to think that’s all I could be boxed into. I could rap about stuff with a certain type of substance, regardless if you want to hear about money or pain. Anything, I could do it. I can switch my beat types too, that’s another thing I want people to really see.
AllHipHop: Do you have a favorite track on the album?
Hood Tali P: “Get A Str8,” because that’s a real story about my life. I had got locked up when I was 17 on a juvenile gun case, but I was lucky enough to get house arrest so I was back home. This was my real life story about a point in time in my life where that time period really molded me. Going through that really molded me, made me a stronger person as a whole.
AllHipHop: I know you’re a father too? How’s that feel?
Hood Tali P: Yes, I got a 3-year-old. It feels great. That made me man up fast. I had to really be responsible, it gave me something to live for. Before I was going on about my days, living for the moment because that’s all I knew. I was a product of my environment. But having him made me be like damn, if something happens to me, how’s he gonna turn out?
He deserves to be able to be whatever he wants to be. He deserves to be able to go to the best schools, be around good people. I don’t want him to grow up in that environment and be around the people that I had to grow up with. Bad influences, bad energy, I don’t want him to have to go through that. It’s my job. It’s my responsibility as his father to make sure he don’t got to worry about nothing. As soon as I had him, that clicked on my head. That opened up a different type of hunger inside of me, to where I gotta get s### right for him.
AllHipHop: I saw your interview about getting shot at at the gender reveal. How’d that affect you?
Hood Tali P: I haven’t been in a situation like that since, I had to change the whole way I moved. In a sense, I’m not glad it happened, but I’m glad it happened because it humbled me. Around that time, I was really moving around like ain’t nothing gon’ happen to me. I used to always argue: nobody gonna do nothing to me, I do what I want. But that showed me you’re not invincible. That quick, you can be gone. It was a blessing I was able to make it out, but it was a real lesson too at the same time.
AllHipHop: I know you love food. What’s your favorite food?
Hood Tali P: Damn that’s hard. This my favorite thing to get from Philly: a 4-piece fried, extra crispy with General Tso’s chicken sauce on the side. That’s my favorite thing to get in the city.
AllHipHop: You be cooking or no?
Hood Tali P: Yeah, I know how to cook real good. I can make anything, honestly. On the grill, on the stove, anything. I know how to cook real good.
AllHipHop: What’s the best encounter you had with a fan?
Hood Tali P: I walked in the gas station. Philly, that’s cool. That’s a given. It really messed my head up when a fan recognized me out in Atlanta. One day, I had walked in the gas station, he’s like “damn, that’s Hood Tali!” He wanted a picture with me. I thought: Damn, this s### could get big. I never had nobody walk up to me from another state and know who I am, that really made me feel good right there. It was 600 miles away from my state, so that was big for me.
AllHipHop: Any goals for yourself at this point in your career?
Hood Tali P: To get where I’m trying to go and really stay away from the trouble and the haters, that’s all. Take care of my family, that’s the main goal. Make sure nobody gotta worry about nothing. My friends don’t gotta worry about something happening to them, my mom don’t gotta worry about if she gotta work. I got a little brother, a little sister, a grandma… I got a lot of family members that really depend on me.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want to let the people know?
Hood Tali P: We gonna keep it going. We about to start flooding with music again, we getting everything ready. Videos, vlogs, we about to put everything in full throttle right now. We gonna end the year out with something nice. 2023, we’re not gonna take no breaks. We go straight, put our foot on the pedal and turn it up even more. Stay tuned for 2023, and my birthday January 22nd. I will be dropping something for my birthday, something special for the fans.
Kanye West faced Tremaine Emory’s wrath after accusing LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault of killing Virgil Abloh on Tuesday (October 4).
‘Ye made the claim after generating controversy with his “White Lives Matter” shirt at Paris Fashion Week. Kanye West blamed Arnault for Abloh’s death in an Instagram rant.
“SPANK MY HAND WITH THE RULER(S),” ‘Ye wrote. “I’LL GO SIT IN THE ‘PRINCIPAL(S)’ OFFICE CAN’T WE TALK ABOUT MORE IMPORTANT THINGS LIKE HOW LATE THE SHOW WAS OR HOW BERNARD ARNAULT KILLED MY BEST FRIEND EVERYONE’S GOT A RIGHT TO AN OPINION RIGHT THERE’S MINE.”
Emory criticized Kanye in a response posted on Instagram. The creative director of Supreme said ‘Ye mistreated Abloh, citing examples of the polarizing rapper’s behavior.
“I gotta draw the line at you using Virgil’s death in your ‘ye’ is the victim campaign in front your sycophant peanut algorithm gallery,” Emory wrote. “Your best friend Virgil, NEGRO PLEASE , this time last year you said Virgil’s designs are a disgrace to the black community infont of all your employees at yeezy -ASK LUCETTE HOLLAND…I GOT ALL THE ‘RECEIPTS’ ( don’t let me get into the things you said about v after his death).”
He continued, “Ye tell the ppl why you didn’t get invited to Virgil’s actual funeral the one before the public one at the museum( and why you weren’t allowed to speak at the public funeral) . You knew Virgil had terminal cancer and you rode on him in group chats, at yeezy, interviews…YOU ARE SO BROKEN. KEEP VIRGIL NAME OUT YOUR MOUTH…KEEP @gabriellak_j NAME OUT YOUR MOUTH…Your not a victim your just an insecure narcissist that’s dying for validation from the fashion world…take care…at least we’ll always have ‘UGANDA.’”
Just after lining up some of the greatest artists and MCs from Brooklyn, NY, and all-over other areas in the US at their past events, entertainment entity, No Days Off Entertainment is back again with another hot spice event dubbed “Go Crazy Festival”.
Happening on October 16, 2022, at 260 Meserole Street, Brooklyn, NY 11206, the Go Crazy Festival is here to highlight some of the fresh and upcoming music artists across genres of Hip Hop, RnB, and pop. This comes as an opportunity for rising artists to perform on the big stage with a greater audience. So many talents have been showcased at the Go Crazy Festival throughout the previous editions, and the October edition is expected to be another pinnacle in the entertainment world.
Some of the artists to expect at Meserole Street include Jasmine Alysha, Tee Diva, JazDaPoet, Tempest Styles, Wan LeAir, Yadi Sixx, KayHunniee, Ciph Boogie, Kitty Snow, TCvsChanze, Bear Milla, and Savina, among others. These are just among the broad lineup of MCs and artists that are set to light up the stage on the 16th of October.
Music at the event will be served by the legendary DJ Dubz from Da Union DJs as the gifted rappers “Gia Giavanni and Q The God” face off on the mic to host this highly anticipated festival.
This not a drill. Sadly, there are a pair of sex videos going on all over the internet. I did not want to see this crap, but when somebody sends you something, you look. And there it is: Chrisean & Blueface and Ice Spice. I cannot post this rated XXX stuff on here for clear and obvious reasons. It is truly graphic. Of course, if you watch p###, it is not totally shocking. This is definitely going to take these ladies to new heights. Attention is money. I am certainly glad I did not come up in an era where I would see a sex tape with Lil Kim or Trina.
So that is that.
By the way, shout out to her. She had a nice presence on the red carpet at the BET Hip-Hop Awards
Uncle Luke has seemingly responded to the fiasco associated with DJ Akademiks. It seemed so long ago, like yesterday. But, AK called some pioneers broke and dusty. The uproar lasted longer than most of the BS that we deal with daily. Recently, big unc pulled up with receipts.
Basically, people are assuming he’s talking about the AK situation, but I am not fully convinced. He could be talking about others, those that have responded to the DJ. I do not know for sure. Either way, he is saying that he out it down for the culture in a way that impacted the way we are today. So salute to him.
Tell me what you think of this statement and even the picture. 2 Black. 2 Strong. 2 Live.
Kanye West shocked fans by wearing a “White Lives Matter” shirt to his surprise Yeezy show on Monday (October 4th) and declared the organization a scam.
BLM has issued a terse response to Ye over the controversial fashion show and his comments that the BLM movement was “over.”
Before the spectacle staged as part of Paris Fashion Week, the rapper/designer addressed the crowd wearing a black sweater with the controversial slogan emblazoned across the back.
The front of the garment featured an image of Pope John Paul II and the words “Seguiremos Tu Ejemplo,” or “We Will Follow Your Example.” Kanye spoke about his struggles within the fashion industry, his exit from his Gap deal, his former manager Scooter Braun, and the robbery of his ex-wife Kim Kardashian’s hotel room back in 2016 during his speech.
“I am Ye, and everyone here knows that I am the leader. You can’t manage me,” he commented in a video circulating online. In addition, conservative commentator Candace Owens posted a photo of herself and the star posing in the same shirt to her Twitter page.
Kanye did not clarify why he chose to wear the top, as White Lives Matter is a white supremacist phrase that originated as a racist response to the Black Lives Matter civil rights movement.
BLM called the “stunt a clear affront to Black Lives Matter, which has been measured as the largest racial justice movement in history.”
“Black models walked the runway wearing the same slogan. ‘All Lives Matter’ and ‘White Lives Matter’ have long served as violent retorts to the Black Lives Matter movement, used by white supremacists and hate groups, including the Ku Klux Klan.”
BLM said they hoped to use Kanye and Candace Owens’ attempt to “kill the Black Lives Matter” movement as a teachable moment and to educate him politically.
“While some may see Kanye and Candace’s stunt as a distraction, we
recognize that it harms thousands of families fighting for justice for their loved ones killed by state sanctioned violence. It can spread toxic confusion and be used to legitimize violent assaults on Black people. Battling misinformation while continuing to do the hard that liberation requires is nothing new for us,” BLM said.
The “Stronger” star has caused controversy with his outfit choices in the past, including the “Make America Great Again,” or MAGA, cap he wore to pledge support to former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2018.
And speaking to Vogue before the show, Kanye hinted at the theme he wanted to explore with the collection.
“There’s just people. From the same planet. And sometimes, in high school, it feels like we don’t fit in. And in a situation like this, we have the opportunity to come together to express who we are,” the 45-year-old added.
Read their complete response to Kanye’s “White Lives Matter” controversy below:
Los Angeles, CA – On Monday, Kanye West and Candace Owens wore shirts emblazoned with the words ‘White Lives Matter’ at the YZY Season 9 Presentation in Paris.
The stunt was a clear affront to Black Lives Matter, which has been measured as the largest racial justice movement in history. Black models walked the runway wearing the same slogan. ‘All Lives Matter’ and ‘White Lives Matter’ have long served as violent retorts to the Black Lives Matter movement, used by white supremacists and hate groups, including the Ku Klux Klan.
In a follow-up statement, Kanye was clear that he intended to kill the Black Lives Matter movement. Black Lives Matter Grassroots sees this as a teachable moment. Political education is core to what we do. While some may see Kanye and Candace’s stunt as a distraction, we recognize that it harms thousands of families fighting for justice for their loved ones killed by statesanctioned violence. It can spread toxic confusion and be used to legitimize violent assaults on Black people.
Battling misinformation while continuing to do the hard that liberation requires is nothing new for us.
Black Lives Matter was birthed in 2013 in response to George Zimmerman’s acquittal for the murder of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. The boots-on-the-ground have always been everyday people committed to ending state-sanctioned violence against Black people. We took to the streets, demanded policy change, shifted narratives, and built a mass movement – then and now – to build a world where all of our people can live and walk freely.
Kanye West and Candace Owens sent a performative dog whistle to millions. Kanye knows very well that ‘white lives’ have never been targeted for oppression. Black folks, in contrast, are at the bottom of virtually every economic, social, and political measure because of centuries of individual and institutional racism. Building a world of Black freedom means upending systems that harm and building new systems of care. Ultimately this benefits everyone. When Black people get free, everybody gets free.
Dr. Melina Abdullah, Director of Black Lives Matter Grassroots, is also a professor of PanAfrican Studies at California State University, Los Angeles. She teaches a free, open, online Black Power class and invited Kanye and Candace to join to deepen their understanding.
“We invite them into courageous conversation on race, racism, and why we say ‘Black Lives Matter.’”
The mission of Black Lives Matter Grassroots (BLMGR) is to support, sustain, and uplift the necessary agitations, mobilizations, community organizing, and initiatives of Black Lives Matter chapters to fulfill our sacred duty to advance Black liberation. #BlackLivesMatter was birthed to end state-sanctioned violence against Black people. Black Lives Matter Grassroots is a collective of 26 chartered chapters globally working on the ground since 2013.
John Taylor Hiskey, better known as J.T. Hiskey, is a musician who found success after his own appearance on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, back on May 1st, 2018. Ever since Hiskey has been using his platform to help contribute to a positive change for our current society, and the world we are currently living in. Currently still residing in his own home state of Utah, he does not plan on stopping anytime soon.
Hiskey helped begin a program many years ago titled Flip The Script, with Salt Lake City council member Charlie Luke, a program to help spread awareness for bullying within high schools and grades younger than that. Hiskey also helped raise money for the movement back in 2020 for diversity, and now he is currently working on raising money for Suicide Prevention, by collecting and donating all the proceeds from his newest song titled “Beverly Hillz” which also features 90’s hip-hop legend Afroman.
We spoke with J.T. Hiskey on why he wants to do this, and how this all came about in the first place.
“Back in 2014, I was only a junior in high school, when I lost one of my closest friends due to suicide. It was one the hardest and worst days of my life.” Hiskey began to tell us. “Devin was his name. He made the biggest, positive impact not only on my life but on anyone he surrounded himself with. He was the most talented, and kind giving human anyone could have known. I still think about him every single day.”
Now, recently releasing a collaboration titled “Beverly Hillz’ with 90’s rapper Afroman, Hiskey wants to make sure all the proceeds are going back to the right cause.
“Devin was a talented musician. He and I always talked about doing a song together, and we never got around to doing it. After doing shows with Afroman again this year, and when he and I made this song together, I knew that I wanted to raise money for this specific cause because Devin would have been so happy about the song coming together. I always wanted to give back to this cause and try to help spread awareness. I had a special show I was going to plan out right before the pandemic hit, to raise money for suicide prevention and awareness, because it is such a serious topic that has affected so many lives.”
That statement is true. Within 2022, the rates of suicides have gone up by 36%, which is one of the highest rates it has ever been.
“This is not about me or Afroman, it is about raising money for the right purpose. I am glad that Afroman and I were able to create this song, but I want all the proceeds to go to this cause” Hiskey added. “I also want anyone who is struggling with this, to know that you are never alone. I still struggle with losing my friend, and it is hard. Please don’t ever forget that you are loved.”
With Beverly Hillz now available on every streaming platform, every single cent will be going to a suicide prevention organization. This includes all iTunes purchases, streams, and even air-play. You can find this song by searching J.T. Hiskey on any of these listed platforms, or by searching the name “Beverly Hillz” with Afroman and J.T. Hiskey.
“Please be kind to each other and be there for others. Thank you so much.”
