Priscilla Rainey, a former contestant on The Game’s reality show “She Got Game,” continues to seek payment of a $7.1 million judgment against the rap star.
Legal issues arose in 2015 when Rainey accused The Game of groping her while they were shooting the show. Though no criminal charges were filed, Rainey launched a lawsuit against the rapper.
Initially, The Game was found liable for $1.3 million in damages but due to his “disrespect” toward the court, a judge increased the punitive damages six-fold, leading to the total judgment amount of roughly $7.1 million. The Game’s attempt to appeal the judgment was unsuccessful, leaving Rainey free to enforce it.
In Rainey’s latest move, she’s turned her attention to The Game’s cryptocurrency assets. As of June 20, the judgment—including interest—remains largely unsatisfied, with Rainey having collected approximately $402,365.20 from Game’s assets, approximately 5.65% of the judgment’s principal.
Through her post-judgment discovery efforts, Rainey has obtained information that cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase holds funds for Game. Game has been engaged in crypto recently, showing particular interest in non-fungible tokens (NFTs), a relatively new form of crypto asset.
In October 2021, he launched his debut NFT collection titled “Genesis” with OneOf, a green marketplace designed for the music industry. The collection, priced at $25, included two unreleased tracks for his fans. Following the “Genesis” collection, Game launched a second series titled “Elevate the Game,” which offered fans access to two gold NFT cards and a chance to receive a platinum NFT card for $99. Shortly after, he debuted “Master The Game,” a pack valued at $299.
Because of these powerful business moves, Rainey believes Game is hiding assets, which has made it nearly impossible to satisfy the judgment. Rainey has continued to pursue aggressive legal actions to collect on the judgment.
Lil Dicky intends to release his first project in eight years by the end of this summer. The rapper-turned-TV star announced he’s working on a soundtrack for his FX series Dave in an interview with Variety. The album will feature music heard in the first three seasons of Dave.
“I realized this year, as I took a step back and looked at all the different music that’s made it into the first three seasons of the show, there’s enough here, a great body of work and a project that I can put out as a soundtrack,” Lil Dicky explained. “I think this is such a better representation of Lil Dicky the musical artist than, honestly, my first album even was. People are always like, ‘When can I get that song?’ I think this will be a cool thing for fans who have watched the show. And for people who have never even seen the show, I think they’ll enjoy listening to this as like a body of music.”
I hear you, I love you, this is only the beginning. Several Lil Dicky projects coming your way. Up first, the DAVE soundtrack.
Lil Dicky didn’t set a release date for the soundtrack but said, “The sooner the better.” He enlisted the help of producer Benny Blanco to complete the project, which will include 15 to 20 songs.
“Some of these things you’ve seen in the show are 30 seconds,” he noted. “That’s a little too short. It’s not as simple as ‘they all exist and I can just put them on a thing and boom, I can come out tomorrow.’ I want to do it the right way. And again, none of these songs were even mixed or mastered. But I’ll be working on it as fast as I can.”
The third season of Lil Dicky’s show finished airing in May. Every episode of Dave is available to stream on Hulu.
Rick Ross donated more than $30,000 to a free clinic in Fayette County, Georgia to prevent it from closing.
The Maybach Music Group boss presented the Fayette C.A.R.E. Clinic with a check for $30,179 on Monday (June 19). Rick Ross’ donation allowed the clinic to continue providing free health services to patients in need in Fayette County.
“A clinic like this means a lot to me,” Rick Ross said, per WSB-TV. “I lost my father at an early age and I felt like one of the reasons I lost him so early is because of his lack of healthcare.”
Fayette C.A.R.E. Clinic was struggling to raise enough funds to stay afloat before Rozay’s donation. The clinic managed to collect $19,000, but its goal was $50,000.
The clinic’s executive director Geneva Weaver said Rick Ross made the largest individual donation in its history. Fayette C.A.R.E. Clinic relies on donations, fundraising and grants to stay open.
Rick Ross vowed to help as much as possible. His financial assistance made a difference since the clinic is the only access to medical care for many of its patients.
“The patients that come to this clinic, all of them, their income level is 200% below the poverty level,” Weaver said.
Russell Simmons was a trending Twitter topic on Monday (June 19) after his daughter, Aoki Lee Simmons, made some scathing allegations against him. Through tears, the 20-year-old Harvard University graduate accused her father of verbal abuse and harassment. She also shared a muted FaceTime call of the Def Jam Recordings legend visibly heated.
Meanwhile, his ex-wife, Kimora Lee Simmons, went on Instagram Live and claimed he was threatening her children’s lives. The family strife appears to have been sparked after their oldest daughter, Ming, wished Kimora a “Happy Father’s Day” instead of Russell. In response, he shared an Instagram Story that appeared to target Kimora, writing, “Stop telling fathers they should have fought harder to see their children & start asking mothers why he had to fight at all.” While Russell has since publicly apologized to Aoki for losing his temper, there’s more to the story.
In 2016, Kimora and Kimora’s then-husband, Tim Leissner, joined Russell’s investment company, Nu Horizons. Together with Asia’s richest man, Li Ka Shing, they invested $15.95 million into the energy drink company, Celsius Holdings. But Russell began to get suspicious when he noticed something off about his shares.
In 2021, Russell wound up suing Kimora and Leissner, alleging the two conspired to fraudulently transfer millions of shares of Celsius to pay Leissner’s legal fees and bail after he was convicted of money laundering in 2018. The problem is the nearly $44 million they agreed to fork over to the government still belonged to Russell.
In court docs obtained by AllHipHop, Russell and Nu Horizons explain the accusations in acute detail. It reads: “In or about June 2018, Defendant Tim Leissner was arrested on a Complaint. Defendant Leissner was released upon a bond shortly after his arrest. On information and belief, the bond was secured by approximately 3,972,659 shares shares of stock in Celsius Holdings, Inc. held in brokerage account number ending in ‘7002’ in the name of Kimora Lee Simmons. This included the Celsius Shares that the Government seeks to forfeit. Defendant Leissner pled guilty on August 28, 2018. When he pled guilty, he had an agreement with the government to forfeit $43.7 million.
“The government agreed to apply the full value of the Celsius Shares to Defendant Leissner’s $43.7 million obligation if the government was able to successfully forfeit the Celsius Shares. On August 28, 2018, the total value of the Celsius Shares, based on the market closing price of $4.20 per share was $13,968,956.41.”
Essentially, Russell alleges Kimora and Leissner used his stocks to pay off the government, something they were never authorized to do. The docs continue, “Unbenownst to Petitioner Simmons, while Kimora Lee purported to negotiate the purchase of Simmons’s interest in Nu Horizons, Defendant Leissner and Kimora Lee were secretly conspiring to sell Petitioner Simmons’s interest in Nu Horizons behind his back.”
Needless to say, the last two years have been complicated for the Simmons family. In the muted video of Russell, he appears to shout, “I’m broke. She stole all my money!” Aoki, however, shared a screenshot disputing the claim, telling her father, “No you LOST it.”
Whatever the case, Russell feels he was wronged enough to take the matters to litigation. In November 2022, Kimora was awarded $100,000 in legal fees as part of the ongoing case after defeating a breach of contract claim. But the case is still pending. As of May, which was when the docs were filed, Russell is still asking the Court to declare Nu Horizons has right title and interest to 49% of the Celsius Shares and to return them to his possession. Finally, he wants the Court to “exclude the Celsius Shares from any final order of forfeiture this Court may issue or, in the alternative, exclude 49% of the Celsius Shares from any final order of forfeiture this Court may issue.”
Daryl Campbell, also known as the podcaster Taxstone, has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for his role in the 2016 shooting at Irving Plaza that resulted in the death of Ronald McPhatter, the bodyguard of rapper Troy Ave. The announcement was made on June 20 following a trial that spanned several weeks.
The shooting occurred at a T.I. concert in Irving Plaza, New York City, in May of 2016. What began as a confrontation between Campbell and Troy Ave escalated into a shooting that left McPhatter dead and several others injured, including Troy Ave himself. The prosecution linked Campbell to the crime through DNA evidence and eyewitness accounts, leading to a guilty verdict on March 23.
Campbell was initially arrested in January 2017 and charged with multiple offenses, including illegally possessing a firearm and second-degree murder. While he pled guilty to the federal gun charges in June 2017, he maintained his innocence in the murder charge until his trial.
Troy Ave was also arrested following the incident and faced charges including attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon. He later testified against Campbell during the trial in exchange for a reduced sentence. Following the testimony, Troy took to social media to rebuff accusations of being a “snitch.”
District Attorney Alvin Bragg stated following the verdict, “Daryl Campbell was convicted of killing a man and shooting three others during a tragic and deadly confrontation in a packed New York City music venue. We will vigorously prosecute anyone who commits this type of deadly violence.”
After the sentencing, Campbell placed the blame on Collins.
#Taxstone gave a defiant statement during the hearing. His final words were, “Half the stuff that was told on the stand by Troy Ave is a complete lie to protect himself from going to jail.”
Boosie Badazz received a break from a judge amid his recent legal troubles.
According to ABC 10 in San Diego, Judge Allison Goddard granted bail to Boosie in his federal gun case. Last week, federal agents arrested the rapper after he appeared in a San Diego court to face state gun charges.
San Diego police arrested Boosie for being a felon in possession of a firearm following a traffic stop in May. The state gun case was dismissed on June 14.
The feds quickly apprehended Boosie after the dismissal, accusing him of illegally carrying a pistol during a music video shoot in May. Federal agents allegedly spotted Boosie with the gun on Instagram Live.
Boosie’s lawyer Meghan Blanco criticized authorities for going too far in a felon in possession of a firearm case. She believed the feds were harassing her client.
“It is outrageous that the government decided to swoop on the day that he was going to enter a plea for probation, pull him in federally, detain him and then announce an inability to move forward with their detention hearing, knowing what he had scheduled the following weekend,” Blanco said.
Boosie will not be allowed to travel outside of the United States while out on bail. His next court date is scheduled for June 29.
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers created a new award to acknowledge Dr. Dre’s impact on Hip-Hop.
ASCAP announced Dr. Dre as the first recipient of the association’s Hip-Hop Icon Award on Tuesday (June 20). The inaugural Hip-Hop Icon Award will be presented to Dr. Dre at the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards Celebration of 50 Years of Hip-Hop in Los Angeles on Thursday (June 22).
“Dr. Dre’s groundbreaking early work laid a foundation for Hip-Hop as we know it today,” ASCAP Chairman of the Board and President Paul Williams said. “As a champion for some of today’s biggest artists and a successful entrepreneur, he changed the culture around Hip-Hop. Dre continues to be a pivotal figure in the music industry and we are thrilled to recognize him with the inaugural ASCAP Hip-Hop Icon Award as we mark 50 years of Hip-Hop.”
ASCAP previously bestowed its Founders Award to Dr. Dre in 2010. The award is ASCAP’s “most prestigious honor.”
The association will also host the sold-out ASCAP Experience in Los Angeles on Wednesday (June 21). Legendary rapper Big Daddy Kane and producer Easy Mo Bee will participate in the Celebrating 50 Years of Hip-Hop panel at the event, which features Timbaland as a keynote speaker.
Federal authorities are preparing for the sentencing of Casanova, who”s been described as a “magnet” for gang violence due to his high-profile role within the Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation. The rapper faces up to 60 years in prison and is among the 18 individuals charged in a comprehensive RICO case that emerged in December 2020.
The charges include racketeering conspiracy, drug trafficking and firearms offenses. Casanova initially pleaded not guilty to all charges, arguing that his high-profile status and connections made him a target for authorities.
However, he later admitted to several violent acts. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to conduct and participate in the affairs of a criminal enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity and one count of conspiracy to distribute over 100 kilograms of marijuana.
In one incident cited by the Feds, in July 2020, Casanova and other gang members traveled to Miami for a birthday celebration. An altercation over a gambling dispute led to Casanova discharging a firearm at a rival gang member of the Mac Ballers, hitting two individuals.
Evidence from social media and text messages placed him with other Gorilla Stone members at the time of the shooting, and he later admitted that this shooting took place as part of the racketeering activity to which he pleaded guilty.
Surveillance footage was used as evidence for this incident.
In October 2020, during an event outside a Florida strip club, a fellow gang member, Jarrett Crisler, Jr., shot two rival gang members to protect Casanova after a dispute over gang signs. The incident was detailed in encrypted Signal messages from Crisler.
In the words of United States Attorney Damian Williams, Casanova was not a half-hearted gang member or a mere brand ambassador.
“Unfortunately, he walked the walk. Senior’s offense conduct is not about a few song lyrics or how he marketed his music. Rather, he carried out an array of violent activity and significant narcotics trafficking that benefited some of the gang’s most violent and impactful members. His active role and deeply enmeshed conduct increased the stature of an out-of-control, brutally dangerous gang and brought in a generation of new members,” said United States Attorney Damian Williams.
The Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation, the gang with which Casanova is associated, is accused of various crimes, including drug trafficking, violent assaults, and the murder of a 15-year-old boy in Upstate New York.
In this case, the evidence includes the defendants’ own words, writings, and recorded criminal acts obtained through various sources such as social media warrants, cellphone extractions, prison calls, surveillance video, and cellphone location data.
Prison authorities said the rap star was drenched in his own blood after another inmate slashed his face, resulting in a wild melee that also left the rap star’s attacker wounded.
The government is expected to provide more information about this incident before sentencing. Prosecutors are seeking a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 19 years.
Casanova’s sentencing is scheduled for June 27 at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Papoose—veteran rapper, Remy Ma’s husband and Tunecore’s Head of Hip-Hop—continues to trend following a weekend of speculation. The Brooklyn rapper is rumored to have knocked out battle rapper Eazy The Block Captain at Remy Ma’s Chrome 23 battle rap event. The allegations spread like wildfire after the lackluster event came to a screeching halt.
AllHipHop previously reported the battles ended after headliners 40 BARRS and Yoshi G got into a squabble. Yoshi, the underdog in the contest, threw a water bottle in a hissy fit after she choked on a bar and people in the crowd started to heckle her.
In the middle of the melee, Eazy The Block Captain—a signed URL artist managed by Remy Ma—jumped in to ease the tensions. However, moments later, according to witnesses at the event, Papoose unexpectedly punched the Philadelphia rapper in his face and sent him “night night.”
No video evidence supports the rumors, but the allegations spread quickly along with the outrageous motives as to why a big-time music executive would grind up the popular battler. The rumors of the fight trumped whatever success the event might have had.
Check out the various media outlets and social media posts about the Papoose and Eazy TKO.
What’s this I’m hearing about Eazy The Block Captain getting One Punch Man’d by Papoose?
— Ramona Flowers Stan Account (@Kidd_Hunger) June 20, 2023
Eazy The Block Captain ALLEGEDLY gets TOO CLOSE to REMY MA and gets punched out by PAPOOSE!!!
Even Ms. Hustle, one of the premier artists on Chrome 23, snuck in a jab.
Remy Ma commented on the battles and ensuing rumors, “Can y’all please STOP with the Eazy & Pap Lies.” While she has spoken out, many don’t believe her, alleging she has to keep face because of her affiliation with EBC and her husband’s job at Tunecore.
YNW Melly, who’s currently on trial for the 2018 murders of fellow rappers YNW Juvy and YNW Sakchaser, has faced another setback in court.
A judge denied the defense’s motion for a mistrial despite the defense arguing that the prosecution had “tainted” the jury. The defense’s motion centered around the testimony of Felicia Holmes, a registered nurse whose daughter was in a relationship with Melly.
Defense attorney David Howard called the situation a “prejudicial fiasco” in court, accusing Assistant State Attorney Kristine Bradley of presenting Holmes to read out-of-court statements despite a court’s ruling against it.
Fans of the rapper were hoping he would walk free, and many feel he will beat the case. The prosecution has presented ballistics evidence; however, no murder weapon has been discovered yet. The case’s outcome will rely on other pieces of evidence in an attempt to secure the conviction.
The trial, which has been marred by drama, saw a juror hospitalized due to dehydration, temporarily halting the proceedings.
The rapper’s mother, Jamie Demons-King, claimed to have had a heart attack due to the stress of the trial. She disclosed this information on her Instagram, asserting, “I had 1 heart attack already because of stress. I refuse to let this kill me.”
The trial also brings to light the heartbreak of the victims’ families. Leondra Phillips, the mother of YNW Juvy, expressed her longing for justice, saying, “It’s been a long process it’s almost four years, going on five. I think it’s about time for us to get justice.”
YNW Melly, who grew up in Indian River County’s Gifford community, became a household name when he released his breakout song “Murder on My Mind” via SoundCloud and YouTube in 2017. His experiences as a juvenile defendant and convict fueled his lyrics.
As YNW Melly’s murder trial drags on, a near tragedy has reportedly impacted the Florida rapper’s family. His mother recently claimed on social media she had a heart attack due the stress of the trial.
“I’m deleting the app,” she wrote on her Instagram Stories. “I can’t be crying and making myself upset because of a lying clout chaser who won’t show his face in court but care so much.”
Jamie Demons-King, the single mother who raised the “Murder on My Mind” recording artist, revealed, “I had 1 heart attack already because of stress. I refuse to let this kill me. I try to be peaceful and respectful to all of you. I pray for everyone because I know it’s the right thing to do.”
Last week, Leondra Phillips, the mother of deceased rapper YNW Juvy, spoke out about her son’s death.
“[He was] my firstborn,” Phillips said while showing a picture of him on her cell phone. “He was everything to us. Today is we here for his trial and it’s sad, you know. It’s hurtful.”
Juvy’s mother noted she and YNW Sakchaser’s mother are both taking the incident “to heart,” saying the last five years have seemed long.
“It’s been a long process it’s almost four years, going on five,” she said. “I think it’s about time for us to get justice.”
Juvy’s aunt, Ashley Phillips, added, “This is somebody that we knew. It’s somebody that we loved. It’s somebody that we trusted. Like we watched (Demons) grow up. So, this is a sad case. This is tragic, so we just praying for justice.”
While the prosecution presented the ballistics evidence, no murder weapon has been discovered. They’ll have to use other evidence to attempt to secure the conviction.
Doja Cat was spotted vaping at the Met Gala 2023 and the backlash has at least some people wondering whether it will be the last time she receives an invitation to the annual star-studded fundraising gala.
The American rapper who has worked alongside such artists as The Weeknd, SZA, Ariana Grande, and Post Malone was seen vaping not once but multiple times during the gala, which is widely considered to be among the world’s most prestigious social gatherings.
The Met Gala typically hosts hundreds of attendees, including those perceived as culturally relevant, such as famous musicians like Doja Cat, whose real name is Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini.
The 27-year-old “Kiss Me More” singer may have made quite the faux pas in the eyes of Anna Wintour, the host of the Met Gala and Vogue’s editor-in-chief, when she puffed on her vape during the celebrity gala. Not long before the night of the gala, Wintour appeared alongside Andrew Bolton, the Met Museum Costume Institute’s curator-in-charge, in an interview with CBS’ Gayle King in which the two noted that smoking inside of the gallery and touching the art were among the best ways never to be invited back to the star-packed fashion event.
While Doja might not have touched the art or smoked in the gallery, she most definitely took some puffs from her vape. Whether or not that’s enough to have her Met Gala pass revoked is unclear. If she’s not invited back next year, perhaps we will all know why.
For those wondering if Doja seriously hit a vape at the Met Gala, the answer is definitely yes. The Los Angeles-born rapper, who brought her stage name to life at the gala with the help of cat ears and facial prosthetics that gave her the appearance of an actual cat, was spotted blowing out a cloud of vapor during the Vogue livestream.
In response to her vape use at the glamorous event, in which she was clearly one of the night’s stars, some fans took to Twitter to question her vape use and speculate on whether she’d be invited to return. One such Twitter user wrote that Doja was “never being invited back” after she was spotted vaping. Another wrote that “hitting her vape on the red carpet is so on brand” for Doja.
DailyMail.com reported that it had reached out to reps for the “Need To Know” singer and that her reps had indicated that the vape she was spotted using throughout the event did not contain nicotine and that it was only filled with flavored water.
While Doja may have been the only attendee to make headlines for vaping at this year’s Met Gala, she’s far from the only celebrity to have been spotted vaping. Other celebrity vapers that have been spotted vaping include “My Prerogative” singer Bobby Brown, who is widely credited for being one of the pioneers behind the hip-hop and R&B fusion that is new jack swing, and then there’s Snoop Dogg, who literally has his own vaporizer brand, and Wiz Khalifa, whose team partnered with vape manufacturer Grenco Science to release a Taylor Gang line of portable vapes.
The 2023 Met Gala’s theme was Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty. The controversial German fashion designer served as Chanel’s long-running creative director. He died in 2019 at the age of 85.
Doja Cat’s costume inspiration was derived from the late German fashion designer’s cat, Choupette Lagerfeld. The blue-cream tortie Birman cat has its own Instagram profile where it has over a quarter-million followers.
In order for Doja to achieve her look for the night, she utilized prosthetics that gave her nose, mouth, and upper eyes an appearance similar to those of a feline.
Despite her vape use, Doja certainly made an effort to play the part, channeling her inner-cat by continually meowing at a journalist while they attempted to question her during the red-carpet chat.
And yet, it feels as though the holiday has only served to further underscore the issues we have. The harsh reality is many of us are still ensnared in the clutches of oppression. I am speaking both mental, spiritual, physical and systemic oppression. From what I have gathered, another day off, parades, BBQs and performances are…another day off, parades, BBQs and performances.
Some of the very artists performing at these celebrations have made a mint actively advocating for the destruction of the Black community. Many more are not party to the Juneteenth activities but are celebrated figures in our community, as I pontificate about being free-ish. And, I’m not here for judgement, because if it was up to me, no less than half of all rappers would be so-called conscious. I am saying we – internally – have to realize we can’t have it both ways. It is like a rapper claiming both the streets and their music career. It does not work: these calls for freedom alongside of works that are counter-community.
With Juneteenth, I find myself grappling with conflicting emotions. While in the past, this day held immense significance for me, this year feels different. What exactly are we celebrating? The progress made since our ancestors realize they were free-ish, seems to be eroding. This plight has many layers, but let us break some of them down.
“I freed a thousand slaves I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves,” is a quote falsely attributed to Harriet Tubman, but it feels like somebody today should just offer it up as their own. These days, most people know Black people are simply not a free as Juneteenth suggests. No need to jump into the predatory prison systems, the pipelines that start in school or the ease in which Black youth stumble into those traps. We are fodder and we know it. It feels like the hedonistic lifestyle is the way we choose, but that – in my view – is just another form of slavery.Drinking, smoking, and the sexual free-for-all is the order of the day. Am I wrong? Just look at your screen time and tell me how long can you go without it.
And, this is not me finger wagging. I have checked myself hard recently and reaccessed just about everything from top to bottom.
Black crime rates continue to be alarmingly high. There were numerous shootings at various Juneteenth celebrations. I have not researched them all, but no matter who or why, it is beyond problematic. Gun violence in America is a complex and multifaceted issue. We continue to have one of the highest rates of gun-related deaths among developed countries. While the causes of gun violence are diverse and interconnected, several key factors contribute to its prevalence in American society.
In the U.S. it is fairly easy to get a gun, legally and illegally. We recently posted about a kid that had about 10 guns, all stolen. The accessibility of high-capacity weapons has also contributed to the prevalence of gun violence. Check out the United States compared to similar socio-economic nations.
But I digress. I am not anti-gun, but I am anti-violence. The second amendment says, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” It was written in 1791 when they still used muskets and guns that could fire off a single round at a time. The 15-year old in Atlanta was had semi-automatic pistols equipped with a Glock switch that turned the handgun Ito a machine gun. So what is the point and how does this factor into Juneteenth?
Black America, is it time for a celebration rooted in faux freedom? From high crime rates to fractured family structures and persistent wealth disparities, the issues confronting us are deeply rooted, systemic and unimaginably complex. While it is essential to acknowledge external barriers, it is equally important to address our own internal struggles. We must take responsibility for the choices we make and the actions we take as individuals and as a community. Self-reflection and personal growth are imperative if we are to effect meaningful change.
Another thing: It is crucial that we shift our focus from individual success stories to the collective accomplishments of Black people who are descendants of slaves. We have billionaire success stories like Jay-Z and Byron Allen. When will those stories translate into change within our community, where the “black dollar” reportedly leaves us within six hours. By the way, both of these men and others like them put in the work.
We have a substantial Black elite. There are organizations like 100 Black Men, Links, Masons, Black Greeks, the National Urban League, to the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and many others., their role should be to uplift and empower us. And yet, the hood is the hood is the hood. Scholarship drives, voter registration campaigns, and advocacy efforts help people, but it feels endless. Part of my other life has been devoted to helping kids, but it feels like the lives portrayed on social media, TV, and music undo the work with a constant stream of drivel.
While it is understandable to feel disillusioned and disheartened, completely disengaging from the Black community is not the answer. Instead, we should seek to address the challenges we face collectively, with a renewed commitment to creating a better future for generations to come. Juneteenth MUST serve as a reminder of the struggles endured by our ancestors and as a call to action for us to continue the fight for justice and equality. By working together, supporting one another, and uplifting the voices of those who strive for positive change, we can gradually overcome the obstacles that hinder us. It is within our power to shape a brighter future for Black America, and that is worth celebrating.
And to Hip-Hop: Do Better.
Hip-Hop is 50 years old now and it is high-time to start looking at our legacy going forward. Thus far, it its an amazing ride. I do not absolve the hidden hands stirring the pot, but we’ve got to figure it out. We’ve got to balance it out. And fast. I recently honored Chuck D of Public Enemy and it saddened me that we have clear descendants of N.W.A. in pop culture, but not PE. The energy was once the same, but they extracted the worst of the Ni##az With Attitude and commodified it. The same happened with Lil Kim. Again, this is not to chastise, but to challenge. Do better. For ourselves and for our people.
Jazmine Sullivan was expected to perform during a special Juneteenth concert at Leimert Park in Los Angeles on Monday (June 19). The all-day event was off to a spectacular start, but Sullivan was forced to cancel her set last minute. According to Fox 3 Now, people believed they heard gunshots ring out around 8 p.m. local time, leading to a stampede. As a precaution, Sullivan decided to pull out.
“I hope everyone made it home to their loved ones tonight!” she wrote on her Instagram Stories. “I’m so disappointed we couldn’t come together and celebrate Juneteenth! If you’re still at the park, please leave. The show is canceled.”
But Living Legends rapper Luckyiam is one of many disputing the allegation. He tweeted, “THERE WAS NO SHOOTING IN LEIMERT PARK JUNETEENTH. A VENDOR TENT FELL AND EVERYONE STARTED RUNNING. (Please Stop spreading false narratives).”
🗣️ THERE WAS NO SHOOTING IN LEIMERT PARK JUNETEENTH. A VENDOR TENT FELL AND EVERYONE STARTED RUNNING. (Please Stop spreading false narratives)
A video of a woman claiming otherwise is currently making the rounds, but Luckyiam called it “cap.” He later shared another video clip of the moment people started to panic, but no gunshots can be heard in the recording.
Too $hort and Wale were also on the bill in celebration of the Juneteenth holiday. For the first time this year, the Los Angeles City County declared Juneteenth a permanent paid holiday for city employees. Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation in America, began in 1865 when Major General Gordon Granger informed the remaining enslaved Black people in Texas of their freedom but wasn’t declared a federal holiday until 2021.
americans have PTSD so when a group of people start running in a crowded social setting, panic ensues. https://t.co/YfcjcCCf7U
One of Kanye West’s long lost show ideas, a Yeezified version of Larry David’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” has popped up on the internet and caused a slight frenzy. According to Yahoo! Life, the music producer tried to pitch the show to HBO in the early 2000s and placed all of his favorite folk at the center of the pilot as his cast.
Names like Don C, GLC, Jeff Garlin, JB Smoove, Kym Whitley and Wyatt Cenac appeared on the pitch episode of what sources say would have been named “A Little Inappropriate.”
Kanye West modeled the show after “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and even had Larry Charles, the director of the hit HBO series, come and help create it. The pilot centered on the “Jesus Walks” recording artist visiting a fan for the Make-A-Wish foundation. Once Ye got to the fan, it turned out the fan was faking being sick and only wanted to meet the star. A few fans commented on the idea.
One said, “His pitch: ‘Hey, I want to make a show like Curb Your Enthusiasm. You know, just not funny or smart. And the main character can’t be likable. I mean, like not even a little bit. So you know I’ll be him.'”
Another said this could have worked, saying, “If he just films himself and doesn’t try to be funny he will have a docuseries hit show for HBO. He is authentically insane and there is tremendous comedic value in that, again he can’t try and be funny.”
Another person added, “Like the movie Ed tv if he is filmed and doesn’t realize it then you have gold. He should sign a contract allowing him to be filmed and then wire his house cars and bodyguards with hidden cameras, also his celebrity friends could wear hidden cameras. Capture him at his daily routine worst then you have a hit show.”
Five party revelers, who came out to see Memphis rapper Finesse2Tymes perform at a birthday afterparty at a Decatur club, were hospitalized after being shot during an altercation around 3 a.m. on Sunday morning (June 19).
On Father’s Day, the crowd at the Cosmopolitan Premier Lounge and Restaurant on Glenwood Road endured a frightful start to the holiday, according to Fox 5.
An argument broke out as people started to let out of the club. An argument ensued and gunfire rang out inside the club while people were still enjoying their night.
Needless to say, everything came to a scary end once the gunplay let off. Check out the melee.
A security guard for the complex where the club is located said he is not shocked because of the space’s history of violence.
“[There is] a lot of crime at this club,” he said. “Several years of different names, different owners, same crime. Every time they open up, same thing, shootings.”
“I was supposed to work there that night, but they didn’t need anybody,” the man continued.
The victims of the shooting are currently recovering and are in stable condition. The DeKalb County police, who are investigating the incident, have not released information regarding the suspect. Authorities are also encouraging people to call if they have tips about the shooting.
People started to tweet that this is why they never go out to Finesse2Tymes concerts.
There’s nothing like traveling down memory lane. What happens when the lanes converge because the memories become a bit hazy? Jeezy recently talked about a $2 Subway habit, and this tidbit of information has Twitter questioning it all. Let’s explore.
Of course, The Snowman is highly respected in Hip-Hop. Some of his incredible contributions have definitely helped to strengthen the genre. Thus far, timelessness is his reward.
In order to establish his artistic legacy, he had to put in the necessary work. As a matter-of-fact, the “Standing Ovation” orator details what it took to realize his Hip-Hop aspirations. Speaking with The Neighborhood Talk in a recent interview, he opened up about his career. He spoke on the early days and the sacrifices he made to save money.
“Every day, for almost two and a half, three years I walked to Subway and got a two dollar meal,” he said. “That’s the only money I spent, two dollars.” Next, Jeezy Hamilton listed what was included with this economical meal.
“I got a drink, a cookie, a bag of chips and a six-inch sub,” he continued. “Every day, for two years, I saved all my money until I was able to grind up and get what I was trying to do. That’s when I was able to take my game to the next level.”
Jeezy hasn’t exactly substantiated this claim. While there are no actual receipts, his word is his bond. However, social media users are either shockingly perplexed or in disbelief. Find some reactions below.
The Jeezy food price discussion shows me that the new prices are starting to look so normal that people forgot we used to eat whole fast food meals for less than $5. If it was like 25 years ago… I believe him.
Jack Harlow released his third studio album, Jackman, on April 28. The 25-year-old rapper/actor drew musical inspiration from legendary MCs.
Harlow appeared on a recent episode of the Rap Radar podcast. While speaking with Elliott Wilson and Brian “B. Dot” Miller, the Generation Now recording artist reflected on some of his favorite Hip-Hop projects.
“Late Registration, Aquemini, Nothing Was The Same,” Jack Harlow rattled off. “I love TheBlueprint. You know what album I love? When Fish Ride Bicycles by The Cool Kids…and The Bake Sale by Cool Kids. Cool Kids give me all that bounce and tempo that I like.”
Outkast’s Aquemini arrived in 1998. Three years later saw the release of The Blueprint by JAY-Z. Kanye West dropped Late Registration in 2005. Drake’s Nothing Was The Same made its way to stores in 2013.
The Cool Kids presented their debut studio LP, When Fish Ride Bicycles, in 2011. Illinois native Sir Michael Rocks and Michigan native Chuck Inglish preceded that effort with 2008’s The Bake Sale EP. Both projects made it onto the Billboard 200 chart.
Meanwhile, Harlow’s Jackman debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200. 2020’s platinum-certified Thats What They All Say (No. 5) and 2022’s gold-certified Come Home the Kids Miss You (No. 3) both made it into the Top 10 as well.
“Hoe, rap for what?” she raps. “This p###y pays the bills/A## slapping on his dick, it’s giving Jad and Will/B####, cry for what?/My n##ga’s worth a bill. That n##ga shooting babies in me, put me in his will.”
The Caresha Please podcast host currently dates billionaire Hip-Hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. Yung Miami and Diddy also collaborated on tracks such as “Gotta Move On” and “Act Bad.”
Apparently, some social media users took issue with Yung Miami’s lyrics in the clip. The Quality Control Music signee addressed those negative reactions in a tweet posted on Sunday afternoon (June 18).
“So I said ‘hoe RAP FOR WHAT?” she wrote. “This p#### pay the bills!!!’ cause y’all always saying I can’t rap but I ain’t even gotta rap tho!! LIFE IS GREAT b####, do you see how I’m living??? I ain’t never said I was no lyricist either tho lmaooo.”
After a person on Twitter questioned why Yung Miami felt the need to explain herself, the Florida native responded, “I like talking to the [people] that be talking to me, I’m just having a many Twitter Convo!”
So I said "hoe RAP FOR WHAT? this p#### pay the bills!!! Cause y'all always saying I can't rap but I ain't even gotta rap tho!! LIFE IS GREAT b#### do you see how I'm living??? I ain't never said I was no lyricist either tho lmaooo 😭😭😭😭
Gucci Mane has never had an issue speaking his mind. In fact, on his recent release, “Bluffin'” featuring Lil Baby, he goes for the jugular and fires shots at Wack 100.
Hip-Hop often utilizes an ample amount of poetic license and hyperbole—which is fine. At times, these tools may work to emphasize the art. However, an artist like Gucci Mane challenges the status quo.
I’m dropping a classic 10/13 new album Breath Of Fresh Air presave link in bio pic.twitter.com/41WCLZZGYH
Be that as it may, his candid creativity is always appreciated. Most of the time, Big Guwop can stand on his words. Perhaps, that’s why he’s being rewarded with longevity.
Thus far, Trap God continues to amass an impressive cache of creativity. His upcoming release, Breath Of Fresh Air, is expected to land on October 13.
Gucci Mane promises his 15th studio album is “a classic.” A reflection of divine blessings and asphyxiating grief, the project aptly details his current perspective. One thing is certain, he’s ready for whatever.
“Bluffin'” finds Mr. Zone 6 at his best. He effortlessly transforms Wack 100 into a messy metaphor. “One n***a still think he got one up on me, but his day still comin’ (Wow)/I don’t make threats, no, I promise, I just drop bands like commas,” he raps. “Don’t even ask me ’bout dead folks, ’cause I ain’t got no comment (Yeah)/I want my M’s up to one, two, three, four, five one-hundred (Go)/Ain’t arguin’ on no internet, I’m not Wack 100 (No).”
To Gucci Mane, the storied manager has fired off a personal response. Playfully, he taunts, “You dissed me huh. I heard dat s***. Wack100 Diss track response coming in 2 days. KNOCK OFF GUCCI. IM REALY THE MANE‼️ Sit down nay sayers we’re family Go stream dat s### NOW.”
