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Ja Rule’s ICONN Live App To Debut On Apple TV

Jeffrey “Ja Rule” Atkins’s live streaming entertainment marketplace ICONN Live will release never-before-seen content on Apple TV.

“Adding Apple TV to the equation is going to take ICONN to the next level!” says Hip Hop veteran Ja Rule. “ICONN allows fans to access these iconic artists so intimately.”

The 46-year-old rapper continues, “With the app now being available on Apple TV, ICONN will allow even more fans to join the experience as well as introduce a whole new generation to the legends I grew up loving!”

Legendary Hip Hop artist Rakim will headline the upcoming VIBES Concert on the ICONN Live app. Viewers will witness the emcee run through tracks off the classic 1987 album Paid in Full by Eric B. & Rakim.

Paid in Full hosts the singles “I Ain’t No Joke”, “I Know You Got Soul”, and “Eric B. Is President.” Rolling Stone magazine ranked the LP’s title track at #132 on the publication’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Past performances from the VIBES Concert Series, including “An Intimate Evening with Ja Rule Pain is Love – 20 Year Anniversary” at Sony Hall, will stream on the ICONN Live app and Apple TV. Plus, ICONN Media will release additional original content under ICONN Originals in the future.  

Pain Is Love is the third studio album by Ja Rule. That 2001 Murder Inc./Def Jam-backed project earned a Best Rap Album nomination at the 44th Grammy Awards. The Pain Is Love single “Always on Time” featuring Ashanti peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

ATL Jacob Has No Idea How Or When He Will Be Paid For Kanye West’s ‘Donda 2’

Kanye “Ye” West’s 2021 album Donda debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and earned an Album Of The Year nomination at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards. In contrast, the sequel mostly flew under the radar.

West released Donda 2 exclusively on the Stem Player device. Many fans did not get to hear the project which included production work by Ye, DJ Premier, Hit-Boy, and others.

Apparently, at least one of the Donda 2 producers did not get paid. ATL Jacob sat down with VladTV. The conversation included the “Pablo” and “Louie Bags” beatmaker discussing the financial fallout from his time working with Kanye West.

“Everybody was confused like, ‘How we get paid?'” said ATL Jacob. DJ Vlad then asked Jacob if he was confused about the situation. The 808 Mafia affiliate replied, “Hell yeah. I’m still confused. If he’s banned from Stem Player, then how we get paid?”

Kanye West lost several lucrative business deals after the Chicago native went on conspiracy theory-laden rants about the Jewish community. However, reports claim Stem Player chose not to cut ties with the controversial entertainer.

As for ATL Jacob’s lack of knowledge about Donda 2 payouts, he does not seem upset about not getting compensated for his labor. Jacob said, “I ain’t tripping though, because I learned a lot just working on [Donda 2].”

In addition to making music with Kanye West for Donda 2, ATL Jacob has also produced for Future, Lil Baby, Lil Durk, Roddy Ricch, Nav, and more. Jacob’s contribution to Kodak Black’s “Super Gremlin” helped the single peak at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2022.

Drake Ties Jay-Z For Most No. 1s On The Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart

Drake and Jay-Z are arguably the two greatest Hip Hop stars of their respective generations. Both rappers racked up album sales, industry awards, and critical praise as they etched their names in music history.

This week, Drake earned another No 1. on the Billboard 200 chart when Her Loss debuted atop the tally with 404,000 units. That joint effort with 21 Savage also leads the latest Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums rankings.

Drake now has 14 career Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart-toppers. The 36-year-old recording artist pulled into a tie with Jay-Z for the most all-time Number Ones on that specific weekly tally.

In addition, Drake draws closer to Jay-Z’s record for the most No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 chart for a solo artist. Jay currently has 14 projects that have led the Billboard 200. Drake is right behind him with 12 projects.

Her Loss became 21 Savage’s third No. 1 album. 2019’s I Am > I Was was the Slaughter Gang captain’s first Billboard 200 topper. Savage has three Number Ones on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart as well.

As Drake continues to match some of Jay-Z’s chart records, Beyoncé recently cemented her name in the Grammys record book next to her husband. Both Beyoncé and Jay-Z now have 88 career Grammy nominations, the most for any act in history.

Drake presently has 47 career Grammy nominations with 4 wins in his career. Jay-Z has 24 Grammy victories. He is tied with Kanye West for the most Grammy wins by a Hip Hop artist. Beyoncé has 28 Grammys, the second-most of all time and the most for a female act.

Michael Rapaport Blasts 21 Savage For Saying Nas Is Not Relevant

21 Savage has been on the defense against some Hip Hop purists after his comments about a Hip Hop icon. During a conversation on Clubhouse, Savage shared his thoughts on Nas.

“I don’t feel like he’s relevant,” said 21 Savage. “He’s not relevant. He just has a loyal ass fanbase. He just has a loyal fanbase, and he still makes good-ass music.”

After his remarks about Nas went viral, Savage hoped on Twitter to clarify his point. The London-born rapper tweeted, “I would never disrespect Nas or any legend who paved the way for me y’all be tryna take stuff and run with it 🤦🏾‍♂️.”

Actor/filmmaker Michael Rapaport took issue with what 21 Savage had to say about the Illmatic album creator. The Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest director blasted Savage on his podcast.

“Why, me, Michael Rapaport, gets so offended? Because number one, 21 Savage, I guaranteed if I walked around the streets of New York, and I asked people to quote your best line, it would be hard for me to find somebody that would be able to quote a quotable line,” said Rapaport.

The 52-year-old New Yorker went on to say Nas’s verse on Main Source’s “Live at the Barbeque” track is better than 21 Savage’s entire catalog. Michael Rapaport also called out DJ Akademiks for saying some Hip Hop pioneers are now “dusty.”

21 Savage recently teamed up with OVO Sound frontman Drake for the Her Loss collaborative project. Her Loss debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart with the highest first-week sales for a Hip Hop album in 2022.

Nas once again partnered with producer Hit-Boy for King’s Disease III which dropped on November 11. The third installment in the album series arrived after 2020’s Grammy-winning King’s Disease and 2021’s King’s Disease II. They also created Magic in 2021.

“And we see why you would think Nas is irrelevant, 21 Savage, because when we listen to your music it shows that you’re not a big Nas fan… I hear it in your work… You’re like Cat in the Hat. That’s the kind of s### you’re on… There’s nothing positive in your s###,” said Michael Rapaport.

GloRilla’s ‘Anyways, Life’s Great…’ EP Projected To Debut In The Top 10

It has been a big week for GloRilla. The Memphis-bred rapper earned her first Grammy nomination on Tuesday, and her latest project is on pace to open in the Billboard 200’s Top 10.

According to HitsDailyDouble, GloRilla’s Anyways, Life’s Great… EP will likely debut with 28,000 first-week units. That total could be enough to land Glo among the ten best-selling projects of the week.

Anyways, Life’s Great… is expected to barely edge out the first-week sales for Nas’s King’s Disease III. Forecasters estimate the Hip Hop legend’s sixteenth studio album to debut with 27,500 units.

GloRilla released Anyways, Life’s Great… on November 11. The 9-track EP includes the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 single “Tomorrow 2” with Cardi B and the Grammy-nominated “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” with Hitkidd.

“The same song they was clowning me & my friends about saying we was Ugly & Dusty just got nominated for a Grammy!!!!!!!!! WHEN GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE YOU CANNOT FAIL 🔥🏆,” tweeted GloRilla.

“F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” earned a Best Rap Performance nomination at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards. GloRilla is up against “God Did” by DJ Khaled, “Vegas” by Doja Cat, “Pushin P” by Gunna & Future, and “The Heart Part 5” by Kendrick Lamar.

In addition, Glo made it into the Favorite Female Hip-Hop Artist category at the 2022 American Music Awards. She will also perform at the televised event taking place on Sunday, November 20 at 8 pm EST/PST.

Central Cee Talks Cracking The U.S., Reflects On ”Doja” Impact

Central Cee is not content with being at the top of the U.K. drill scene and plans to keep working until he achieves the same success across the Atlantic.  

The West London rapper made significant inroads earlier this year with his viral hit “Doja.” A snippet of the song scored over a million TikTok views before the single was officially released. The video was given a significant boost when it dropped on Lyrical Lemonade, racking up 73 million views in three months.  

While he expected his homage to Doja Cat to do well, he couldn’t appreciate how big of a hit it became until he performed the song at a show. 

“Although I was getting so big, it didn’t feel like it ‘cause it was just numbers on the screen,” Central Cee admitted. “So then, when I went outside and actually got to do a show and see real-life people singing my lyrics, it was an indescribable feeling.”  

Central Cee – Doja

However, Central Cee acknowledges that he’s “back at square one… almost.”  

“I’m where I was two years ago in the U.K., [but] in America,” he explained during an in-depth interview with HotNewHipHop. “I understand that I need to do that whole process again, and go through that whole process again — which I’m excited to do,” he says. 

Furthermore, Central Cee says he’s got the work ethic to keep going. “No matter how long the days get in this music thing. I’ve worked harder in the streets for a lot less P’s. That hustle won’t die in me. I just work hard and don’t complain,” he said.  

Elsewhere in the interview, Cench discussed his recent LA Leakers Freestyle. He wanted to “bridge the gap,” and break down some of the differences between U.S. and U.K. lingo.  

“Like, I’m on an American platform. I’m from the U.K. I know the stigma a lot of American people have and — I don’t know. I just thought it would be a good idea,” he explained,” before adding “I understood the assignment.” Check out the freestyle below.  

21 Savage Admits To Constant Paranoia: “I’m Scared Of Everybody” 

21 Savage revealed his past near-death experience led him to live his life in such a way that he operates in constant fear of somebody causing him harm. 

During a recent interview with Akademiks, 21 Savage admitted, “I’m scared of everybody n####,” before adding, “I’m not f###### Rambo. I’m scared of everybody.” 

The Her Loss hitmaker reflected on the murder of his friend who was shot in his car while sitting next to 21 Savage.  

“I’m scared of anybody. N#### I move scared, hell yeah I’m scared. Scared n##### stay alive. ‘Cause I done seen it. It ain’t like, it’s just like, I’m not one of them n##### who just – n#### I been shot n####,” 21 explained. “I seen my friend die, in my face, on my birthday. In the car too. It ain’t like it’s like oh we just standing on the block and a drive by happen. I’m talking bout right here n####. He in the drivers seat, I’m in the passenger seat. Type s###.” 

Such traumatic experiences caused 21 Savage to suffer from constant paranoia and a feeling he’s always being followed.  

“So I know like this s### get wicked fast, like that. You know what I’m sayin’? So it’s like I’m just paranoid always 24/7 n####. I think somebody following me. I’m spinnin’ the block a couple of times before I go in the house.” Check out the clip below. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by DJ Akademiks (@akademiks)

Meanwhile, 21 Savage and Drake shared the visuals for “Rich Flex” from their new Her Loss album. Drizzy turned filmaker for the video, filming much of the footage using an old fashioned camcorder. Watch the video below. 

Ice Spice & Lil Tjay Give Back To The Bronx With Turkey Drive  

Ice Spice and Lil Tjay brought some much-needed holiday cheer to the Bronx, giving back to their hometown with a Turkey Drive

With Thanksgiving approaching next week, the famous pair were right on time to lend a helping hand to those less fortunate. According to local news outlet, News12 The Bronx, ice Spice and Lil Tjay donated turkeys to around 150 local Bronx families. 

The queue trailed around the block as the local stars participated in the giveaway at Fordham University, with some residents waiting in line for up to three hours. 

One resident said she was “beyond grateful” to be part of a community where locals are “supporting everybody,” especially during the holiday period when working families are still feeling the effects of the pandemic.  

Alongside the Turkey Drive Ice Spice and Lil Tjay showed love to the community taking time out for their fans. The two rappers smiled and waved as they climbed atop vehicles to address the crowd. Fans took pictures with some ready to risk it all over the “Munch” rapper.  

Lil Tjay continues his successful return since he was shot seven times in June. He followed up his comeback single “Beat The Odds” with the soulful offering “Give You What You Want.” 

Meanwhile, Ice Spice revealed she has new music on the way. “I’m about to put out an EP,” she said during an appearance on The RapCaviar Podcast. “It’s about to be like six songs. ‘Bikini Bottom’ is on there, and then there’s some that people haven’t heard. It’s about to be a vibe. Visuals coming with it, too. Yeah, a bunch of content around it. It’s lit.” 

Drake Gets Behind The Camera For ‘Rich Flex’ Visuals With 21 Savage  

Drake and 21 Savage have shared the unique visuals for “Rich Flex,” the opening track of their recent joint album, Her Loss

The Toronto rap superstar was the butt of many an internet joke after he was spotted filming various events with an old fashioned camcorder.  

Fans began taking note back in October, with one questioning, “who gave drake this damn camcorder he taking that s### everywhere 😭😭” 

“Drake Brought His Camcorder To The Raptor’s Game,” another fan tweeted, showing Drake courtside.  

https://twitter.com/PsBaretta_/status/1579549575912001536?s=20&t=kMe8gCv_ixh-yfblxOe5og

While another caught Drake filming Jack Harlow at his Toronto show, “Looking Like A Proud Father 😂.” 

However, some fans began suspecting Drake was up to something and guessed his camcorder footage would be used for something epic. “The way drake is carrying this camcorder i know he’s bout to drop some classic s###,” read one tweet. 

Another fan added, “Drake better be walking around with that camcorder for documentary purposes only.” 

On Wednesday, Drizzy finally revealed exactly what he was up to with his camcorder – he was filming a music video. The Her Loss duo dropped the “Rich Flex” visuals featuring Drake’s behind-the-scenes footage.  

As well as his shots of Jack Harlow and the Raptors, Drake also shared clips of his celeb pals partying, including scenes recorded at the strip club. The video includes cameos from Lil Wayne, Busta Rhymes, Fivio Foreign, Jim Jones, and many more. There are even scenes from Drake and 21 Savage’s spoof Vogue shoot, currently the subject of a $4 million lawsuit.

The “Rich Flex” video ends with a scene filmed inside Champagne Papi’s luxury jet. Lil Yachty sits alongside Drake on a plush sofa while flexing his iced-out OVO chain. Check out the video below.  

Drake 21 Savage – Rich Flex Her Loss Recap

Blueface Expected To Be Released On $50,000 Bail 

Blueface is expected to regain his freedom after bail was set following his arrest earlier this week for attempted murder

The “Thotiana” rapper appeared in court Wednesday (Nov. 16), where a judge set bail at $50,000, calling the figure a “reasonable sum,” based on the “quite serious” allegations. 

The judge ordered Blueface to comply with the conditions of his release, including having no contact with the alleged victim in the case. He must also stay out of trouble and keep in contact with his attorneys. 

When asked if he understood the conditions of his release, Blueface replied, “Yes.”  

https://youtu.be/qsMkPRty3FM

During the hearing, the judge mentioned the presence of Blueface’s fiancee and his manager, Wack 100, although not by name. However, earlier on Wednesday, Chrisean Rock took to Instagram with Wack, who stated: “The lawyer threw gloves on and we beat another case.” 

The reality tv star also wrote in the caption, “His family here is we got him Daddy coming home.” 

Chrisean also got into a back-and-forth with Jaidyn Alexis, Blueface’s ex-girlfriend and the mother of his child. When Jaidyn shared screenshots of Wack 100 calling her several times, Chrisean Rock clapped back in another Instagram video.  

The “Vibe” hitmaker claimed she didn’t need Wack 100 to call to tell her to show up to court. “I should have seen you today,” she said before adding that some Blueface fans attended the bail hearing.  

Meanwhile, a video of the October 8 incident surfaced, allegedly showing Blueface shooting at a vehicle. The rapper reportedly got into an altercation with a man inside a Las Vegas club before later allegedly firing multiple shots at the man when he got into his truck.  

SZA Wonders If “Chasing After Superstardom” Is Sustainable

SZA discussed her struggles with the music industry in an interview with Billboard.

The TDE singer contemplated her longevity ahead of her new album S.O.S, which is scheduled to drop in December. SZA felt “emotionally [and] energetically unequipped” for the demands of a pop artist.

“I feel like music, in this capacity, I don’t see longevity,” she told Billboard. “I like to create, I like to write, I like to sing, and I like to share. But I don’t know if chasing after superstardom or whatever I’m supposed to be doing right now is sustainable for me or for anybody. I’ma take a good swing at it, and I’ma give ’em my absolute best.”

SZA vented about the stress and “red tape” involved in releasing her S.O.S. album. She also pictured what life might be like after music.

“I could be a biologist and I’ma discover a creature that didn’t exist before,” she suggested. “I could be a farmer tomorrow and create my own strain of asparagus.”

She added, “I know that I am that girl where I will figure it out. Just like before I was an artist.”

S.O.S. will be SZA’s first album since her 2017 debut Ctrl. She released a new single titled “Shirt” in October.

Sheff G Says Parole Board Denied His Early Release

Sheff G’s bid to get out of prison was unsuccessful.

The 24-year-old rapper revealed his request for an early release was denied by a parole board on Wednesday (November 16). Sheff G thanked his fans for their support while he remains behind bars.

“Damn parole denied me my early release,” he wrote on Instagram Stories. “Shout out to all the fans. I love y’all #FreeMe #FreeAllTheGuys.”

Sheff G pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree in 2021. He was sentenced to two years in prison.

A few months ago, fellow Brooklyn drill rapper 22Gz accused Sheff G of getting extorted in prison. 22Gz made the claim on Twitter but later deleted the post.

Sheff G responded to the allegations in an Instagram post. He denied the extortion accusations and bragged about his reputation in prison.

“I done hurd I turn this and that,” he wrote in August. “Done hurd im getting extorted and allat lies and rumors that the broke dirty and worthless has made up Imao, whats next?”

Sheff G added, “N##### better ask anyone they kno up in these upstate prisons about me ! , million dollar n#### chilling in general population never been disrespected without the boomerang effect, all yu got is ya name and ya word .. and my name would never be tainted, my reputation speaks for itself.”

Check out the entire post below.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Godfather… (@sheff_g)

The Notorious B.I.G. Enters The Metaverse With VR Concert Featuring Diddy, The Lox & More

The estate of The Notorious B.I.G. teamed up with Facebook’s parent company Meta to stage a virtual reality concert.

A “hyperrealistic” avatar of Biggie Smalls will perform his classic songs on Meta’s VR and Facebook platforms. The Notorious B.I.G. Sky’s The Limit: A VR Concert Experience is scheduled to premiere on December 16.

Fans will see a recreation of ‘90s Brooklyn called “The Brook” and follow a day in the life of The Notorious B.I.G. Veteran journalist Touré wrote and voiced the narrative journey.

Biggie’s VR concert will feature performances by Diddy, The Lox, Lil Cease, Latto and Nardo Wick. The metaverse event will also include a DJ set by Clark Kent.

“Having the ability to create a variance of new opportunity to showcase my son Christopher’s music through the advancement of technology is hard for me to grasp at times,” Biggie’s mother Voletta Wallace said. “However, I’ve found so much excitement in the process of developing his avatar, understanding the value added for fans to experience him in ways unattainable until now. Thank you to all who have contributed to bringing this project to fruition.”

Meta Quest VR headset owners can watch the concert in the Venues section of Meta Horizon Worlds. A 2D version will be available to view on The Notorious B.I.G.’s official Facebook page.

Video Of Alleged Shooting Surfaces Following Blueface’s Arrest

Footage of Blueface allegedly shooting at a truck emerged online after he was arrested for attempted murder in Las Vegas.

TMZ obtained video of the incident, which took place on October 8. The footage allegedly showed Blueface pulling out a weapon and firing multiple shots at a driver who confronted him outside of a Las Vegas club.

According to TMZ’s sources, Blueface’s crew got into an altercation with the driver inside the club. The unidentified driver purportedly went to his truck after getting attacked, which led to the encounter seen in the video.

Las Vegas police arrested Blueface, whose real name is Johnathan Porter, in connection to the shooting on Tuesday (November 15). He was charged with attempted murder with a deadly weapon and discharging a firearm at/into an occupied structure.

Blueface was booked into the Clark County Detention Center. A preliminary hearing in his case is scheduled for January 24, 2023.

The 25-year-old rapper’s girlfriend Chrisean Rock affirmed her loyalty to Blueface following his arrest. She dismissed calls to leave him and promoted their reality show Crazy in Love, which will air on the Zeus streaming service.

“He never left me when I went [behind bars],” she said. “He coming home.”

The Man Blueface Allegedly Shot SPEAKS! Is He Snitching?

It looks like law-abiding citizens are not having it. Remember, snitching only applies to those that don’t live within the confines of the law. And, that is most people. So when you do something crazy or you act violent or you harm someone in some form or fashion, you may pay repercussions and consequences.

Blueface is one of the most popular rappers out today. He stays in the headlines, not for his music, but for his toxic relationship. Yesterday he was arrested and charged with attempted murder. This is something that we knew was outstanding, but we didn’t exactly know what was going on.

Now we do!

You see that? That man jumped right on Twitter, and let it be known what happened to him. He didn’t hesitate, and he didn’t mince words. He made it super clear that he was shot by Blueface. What does that mean for Blueface? That means he is screwed. These situations always have surveillance cameras (there is) and other things and, since it happened at a nightclub, there are certain to be witnesses to corroborate the situation.

here is the caveat. Apparently the guy said that if Blueface gave him a large sum of money, he would change his account of things. This all happened last month, on October 8, so apparently Blueface refused to pay up. I don’t know how he could change the story if it’s on video, but that’s another story all together.

You can see what he said below.

At any rate, this is all going to trial and Blueface is charged with attempted murder, and other things in association with this case. I’m not sure if he’s gonna be able to get out of this one, because this guy seems to have it out for the rapper. By the way, he says he’s never been a rat. So, that seems a little odd, considering he’s literally ratting. Weird times!!!

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Xzibit Wants The Court To Make His Ex-Wife Get A Job Instead Of Life Time Support

West coast rapper Xzibit seems to be following in his mentor Dr. Dre’s footsteps, divorcing his longtime partner and grimacing at how much money she is costing them during the separation.

The story is deja vu, except, X is asking his estranged wife Krista Joiner to get a job.

According to RadarOnline, which has the actual court documents, the former “Pimp My Ride” host petitioned a judge to order Krista to undergo a vocational evaluation with a court-appointed official.

This person will determine if Joiner can work, “as well as her available employment options.” Only after this will the courts determine how much spousal support she should receive.

As reported by AllHipHop.com, after eight years of marriage, a judge ruled the chart-topper has to pay both spousal and child support, totaling $6K a month.

As of Monday, August 1st, he will have to pay Joiner $2,239 a month in child support for the care of their 10-year-old son Gatlyn for the next eight years.

This is a role reversal, after July a judge ordered him to compensate Joiner $50,000 for the forensic accountant to audit his finances and $125,000 for her legal bills.

Xzibit has long felt his wife was playing him out. He claims that Krista and her new man are shacked up in their $3 million home with her new boyfriend without permission after filing for divorce in 2021.

In her lawsuit against the rapper, Joiner said they had an “oral agreement” he would give her “lifelong” support if she became a stay-at-home mom, contending, he would “provide for all of her financial support and need for the rest of her life in the same style and manner that was established during the parties’ relationship.”

“In the event the parties’ relationship ended, all of the property acquired, or entities or businesses established, or which property or entities/businesses increased in value, during their relationship as a result of (Xzibit’s) skills, efforts, labor, and earnings, regardless of how the title was formally held, would be divided equally between them,” she added.

Krista claims Xzibit is loaded. In previous court documents, she claimed the rapper was worth over $20 million and that he had hidden all of his money vaults scattered around California.

This is getting messy.

Mehgan James Talks Soulja Boy Feature & Executive Producing “The Real Side Chicks of LA”

You may recognize Mehgan James from television, best known for her standout roles on both “Basketball Wives” and “Bad Girls Club,” but her talents go far beyond the small screen. 

Her personality is contagious, her energy is unmatched, and she holds nothing back when it comes to getting to the bag.

In describing herself, she states, “I’m a boss b*tch. Honestly, I’m a really, really down-to-earth person. I love to be around people, I’m a people person.”

Hailing from Houston, Texas, even graduating from the University of Houston with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Mehgan is an actress, model, entrepreneur, social media personality… and now recording artist. And for her first ever, debut single called ‘Playbook’ she got a feature from one of the biggest artists of our generation, Soulja Boy, Mehgan James once again shows the world what she’s capable of.

Mehgan also has her own podcast called “The Hollywood Group Chat,” where she spills all the tea and drama that takes place behind the scenes in Hollywood. Her recent episode with Blueface’s baby mother Jaidyn Alexxis hit over 100K in less than a day.

AllHipHop spoke with Mehgan James in downtown Los Angeles to discuss her time on “Bad Girls Club,” getting a degree for her mom, executive producing her own show, releasing her own music, performing and more!

AllHipHop: How was it growing up in Houston? There’s a huge nightlife scene out there.

Mehgan James: Houston is a lit ass city. It was like the guy that I never got to see in high school, then blew up. That’s how it is, Houston is a lit ass city. But as far as entertainment, there’s no real entertainment scene, music scene, fashion scene in Houston. They need to fix that. [laughs]

AllHipHop: What was the biggest takeaway from “Bad Girls Club?”

Mehgan James: I don’t really have a takeaway from “Bad Girls Club,” but those b###### had a takeaway not to f### with me. Don’t, because I’m not the one, the two, or the three. They had a takeaway, I didn’t really get a takeaway. Bad Girl Club was like jail. You had a wake up time, a lights out time. We had one bathroom, seven b######.

AllHipHop: One bathroom on purpose?

Mehgan James: Yes. No internet, no cable, no electronics and a fridge full of alcohol. We filmed for three months, so it was literal hell.

AllHipHop: Do you feel like it did what it needed to to boost your name?

Mehgan James: I think it did what it needed to do for me, but I did a lot of that myself. I just made sure to continue to stay relevant throughout the years. Get myself on new TV shows, new opportunities. To where I’ve fallen on today, you know?

AllHipHop: What’d you want to be growing up?

Mehgan James: I wanted to be the president. [laughs] On God. Growing up, I always wanted to be on TV. I manifested that. But if I had to pick a real job, I wanted to be the president when I was a kid.

AllHipHop: Are you into politics now?

Mehgan James: Not really, I just wanted to run the world. [laughs] For real.

AllHipHop: You went to college and got your degree in Communications. What did you want to do with that?

Mehgan James: I went to college for my mom. I never really wanted to go to college. I was like, “please here b*tch, take this degree and leave me alone.” Because I’ve always been an artsy black sheep, creative out of my family. Everyone else has real jobs. All my friends from back home have real jobs. I was never that person and I knew I didn’t want to work for anybody. I got my degree for my mom like “here b*tch, now leave me alone.” [laughs]

AllHipHop: How proud is she now?

Mehgan James: She’s really proud, but it’s so crazy because she doesn’t understand my career. They grew up in the old school days where we didn’t have social media. She’ll call me like, “so what’s this little TV show that you’re producing?” B*tch it’s not a little TV show, I almost died 15 times. But okay bye. This sh*t p##### me off so much because my brother, he plays in the NFL. My closest brother, she’s always like, “oh, go Brian. La la la.” But you can physically see my brother’s job: he goes to work every day. He goes to practice, all that stuff. With my job, she has no idea what I do. She thinks it’s a game.

AllHipHop: Producing a television show… that’s a big deal! 

Mehgan James: Yeah, it really is.

AllHipHop: Can you touch on that? 

Mehgan James: I’ve been on reality TV since I was 18, and I wanted to get behind the camera to see the experience behind the camera. It’s way harder! It’s way harder than being in front of the camera. You have to deal with scheduling, the b######, their attitudes. Their makeup, the hair, the budget. The damages! The damages from b*tches fighting in the house. It’s a headache honestly, but I wouldn’t take the experience back. It was a great experience and I’m glad that I was able to do that.

AllHipHop: How did you end up producing “Real Sidechicks of LA?”

Mehgan James: This network called For Us By Us, it’s owned by that clothing brand FUBU. They reached out to me like, “hey, we’re looking for a female executive producer for this project. Would you be interested?” I said yeah of course. They handed me the job and I feel like I did a really good job at it.

AllHipHop: What goes down on “The Real Side Chicks of LA?”

Mehgan James: Girl, what didn’t go down? There was fights, threesomes, damages. There was some yoga, people’s Instagrams got deleted. It was crazy. The drama is still going on. Y’all, we stopped filming. We wrapped 10 days ago, why is there still drama?

AllHipHop: Because being the side chick isn’t fun…

Mehgan James: I disagree. I would so much rather be the side chick than the main chick.

AllHipHop: Why?

Mehgan James: You ain’t gotta deal with the headache. We do what we do when we do it, and I ain’t gotta deal with you for the rest of the week. Go back to your girlfriend, bye.

AllHipHop: But what if you want to be his main chick? 

Mehgan James: See, you don’t get involved with the n*ggas that you want to be their main chick. You have to get an understanding from the beginning. If we gon’ do this, what are the benefits? That’s that. 

AllHipHop: Congrats on your new podcast, “The Hollywood Group Chat.” Do you have guests lined up that you’re excited for?

Mehgan James: We have King Von’s sister next week, Kayla. I love her, that’s my girl. We’re gonna do a group chat of industry women and we’re gonna talk about dating in the industry. I don’t want them all to be messy interviews, I want some of them to be insightful and I also want to get some guys on the show.

AllHipHop: Are you dating? Are you single?

Mehgan James: I’m single as f###, as a m############ Pringle b*tch. Because these guys in LA, I can’t do it. It’s trash. It’s really bad, I can’t do it. Especially like guys from LA, that’s out. All these guys are out. You want a girlfriend? [laughs] Because I’m gonna try that next.

AllHipHop: I saw you were at 21 Savage’s FreakNik, how was that?

Mehgan James: Yes, it was so fun. FreakNik was fun. I really wish LA would have stuff like that. I feel like LA has no culture. There’s not really any culture. Every other major city around America like New York, they have the Jamaican spots. The Haitian spots. They have people there like “oh, I’m Jamaican. I’m from Africa. La la la.” In LA, everyone’s so American. So boring, but FreakNik was lit.

AllHipHop: What was the best memory?

Mehgan James: Probably whenever Drake and 21 performed, it was cool. It was a vibe, because it was like a black Coachella. Everybody was just in their costumes, vibing, smoking, chillin’. It was a good vibe.

AllHipHop: Is there something fans may not know about you?

Mehgan James: Girl, all my businesses is online. Everybody knows everything about me. Okay my favorite color is black, bet y’all know that. Everybody knows my whole life, so no. [laughs]

AllHipHop: Can we talk about your music?!

Mehgan James: I literally just started doing music… last year? I think it was last year. Soulja Boy was my very first song. That’s so cool right? To have a legend as your very first feature.

AllHipHop: How’d that happen?

Mehgan James: I’ve been friends with him since I was 18 and he really just did me a solid. We paid for it. We paid for the verse, but he didn’t have to hop on my song. He’s one of the most solid n*ggas I’ve ever met in my life. I’ve dropped a couple songs post that song. I just signed a publishing deal with APG, which is cool. For my first year music to get a publishing deal, is really really big.

AllHipHop: Are you talking your s###? Are you singing? 

Mehgan James: I’m talking my s###, a little rap. I’m like a rap singy. I have a mentor, her name is Adella. She’s married to the Streetrunner. Streetrunner’s one of biggest producers out of 2000’s. He worked on Lil Wayne, he worked on DJ Khaled. They’re really deep into the music industry and his wife is my mentor, but she got me into sync music. Which is basically the music you hear behind TV shows, video games. That’s where the real money is. It’s bread there, so that’s my focus right now.

AllHipHop: What can we expect music wise? Are you going to drop something?

Mehgan James: I’m really working on my sync sh*t, you feel me. I kinda want a Lil Baby feature, if I have that extra $150K. I’m trying to go to Rolling Loud. I need that performance experience. The LA one. So if you know anybody sis, plug me in. But yeah, I’m really just trying to work on my sync sh*t because there’s a big bag behind that. I’m here for the money and not the fame. I don’t give a f*ck about being famous. Pay me b*tch. [claps]

The C Mayja Story You Didn’t Know!

Today we want to tell you about C Mayja. The charting music artist and actor made his acting Debut in “Sacred” this year and his debut EP “Love Wars Vol 1 “ was released and his single “Better than Me “ charted on VevaPlay to 50. But, Today we focus on who he is NOT. Recently it was discovered that a fake only fans account and a dating profile were made using his identity as well as fake Instagram accounts that were used to trick other artists into paying for collaborations and beats but they never got those because they never were dealing with the real C Mayja.

The account had an extra underscore in the name with the exact same bio and pics.
As far as the only fans, C Mayja says he does not have an only fans account nor is he using any
dating sites. “I’m an 80’s baby. I like face-to-face interactions with people .“ That didn’t stop the fake accounts from popping up. They convinced many women they were C Mayja. Many of them shared intimate pictures and videos with the poser and some even developed feelings of believing they’d someday meet the r&b sensation in person.

“People have no chill. I can’t fathom someone posing as me in an attempt to get women to share
pictures of their bodies. It upsets me that they are using me as a tool in their scheme. It’s not right.
They took photos of me from my social media accounts and made fake pages “ It’s something that happens more often than not. There really isn’t a way to prevent but there a
safety measures available Number one.

Make sure you are dealing with the person you believe. Do a video call abs confirm
their identity? Also only communicate with them on platforms where they can be verified like Instagram,
Facebook, and Twitter. Those platforms offer a sense of comfort by giving verification badges to authenticate accounts . It isn’t C Mayja fault. In fact, he felt if he was properly verified on social media this could have been prevented C Mayja hasn’t been verified .. YET.

“ I just feel like as a person in the entertainment industry as a charting artist and actor, I would have no problem being verified. There’s tons of press, from music to film and even back when I was an active professional MMA fighter.” There is a strong case for the cause with so many using his name and image negatively. Leaving a trail of debris that he has to clean up although it wasn’t his mess. “I have sympathy for those who were fooled. Especially the artists who wanted to work with me.

Now I have to clean up my name. I just want to make sure I do all I can to keep it from happening
again. I just wanna focus on doing what I love and that’s make good music people can relate to and inspire others. It’s hard to do that when someone impersonates you to take advantage of another.
It’s safe to say that verifying C Mayja is in order, to say the least.

PBE Pluto Talks “50 Ball,” Getting Shot In The Head, & Putting On For Mobile, Alabama

More recently, Mobile, Alabama, has birthed some incredible talent, from Yung Bleu to OMB Peezy to Flo Milli to NoCap. 

Now comes PBE Pluto, who’s here to make an impact not just in the music industry but the overall culture. Having gone to the Navy for 4 years, PBE Pluto creates music inspired by real-life experiences, and he’s here to motivate the masses to get up and go after their wildest dreams… just like he did.

At the young age of 10, PBE Pluto was already playing the drums in a live band. By the time he was in high school, he had landed a spot in the second-line band, eventually learning how to freestyle and rap.

PBE Pluto explains, “I started using music as a diary, that’s how I was escaping what I had going on in life. I was able to put what I had going on into the music. That’s how I really fell in love with rapping, but the music’s always been there.”

Doing everything completely independent, PBE is excited as ever to be releasing his newest single titled “50 Ball.” In addition to his own artistry, PBE is the CEO to his own label Parker Boy Entertainment llc, and also has a strong passion for helping other artists elevate their brands.

AllHipHop spoke with PBE Pluto virtually to discuss his roots in Mobile, top 5 artists, “50 Ball,” why being rapper is dangerous, and more!

AllHipHop: What was it like growing up in Mobile, Alabama?

PBE Pluto: Mobile, there weren’t really any big things to do. People were more into sports, you didn’t see a lot of artists pop off. Maybe one artist pops, then 10 years later another one pops. We’ve had artists such as T-Bird with his My Baby Daddy” song, The Last Mr. Bigg, Rich Boy. All of them had their own different time frames, but recently we had a lot of people popping off like Yung Bleu, NoCap, Flo Milli.

AllHipHop: I’m obsessed with NoCap, I listen to him all the time.

PBE Pluto: Oh forreal, yeah NoCap’s from Mobile, Alabama too. We’ve got at least 10 to 15 artists that’s from Mobile, Alabama.

AllHipHop: How does it feel to have your city be put on the map like that?

PBE Pluto: It’s a blessing because I come from the timeframe of when you had to really do guerilla marketing. I came in the cusp of that time frame leading to the internet phase. I seen a lot of artists that we felt was right at the door, they gave up on the motion when the internet came. I seen how a lot of those trees that were cut down and the roads that were paved start paying off with a lot of these artists that’s popping off right now out of the city. It’s a blessing to see it and be a part of the whole movement and motion.

AllHipHop: Who are your Top 5 artists in rotation?

PBE Pluto: Let me see. It’ll be more like Boosie, Lil Baby, Moneybagg Yo, Yo Gotti. Maybe Kodak Black. Of course, all the artists that’s poppin’ from Mobile too, that’s doing their thing also. They automatically in the Top 5, but the main thing is really people that are inspiring all across the country. 

AllHipHop: You just dropped your new song, “50 Ball.” What’re you most excited for? 

PBE Pluto: I’ve been performing that record for months, giving people teases. You couldn’t hear the full record unless you were at one of my shows. I always get people inboxing me, hitting me like “yo, where’s that record where you’re saying ’50’?” I always had a crowd do a whole little hand motion and shoot the bird. When I say “p#### ass n*ggas,” you guys say “I’m sick of y’all.” I tell the crowd, run it! 

People hit me like “yo, what that song was where you’re shooting the bird to? I’ve been trying to find it, I can’t find it.” It ain’t out yet, I’m a drop it Monday. Eventually, people kept getting at me so bad about it, that I said man, I’m a put it out. I was originally gonna drop it on the whole EP that I did with producer Mattazik Muzik, who’s signed to Lil Baby’s 4PF. He produced a lot of big records for Lil Baby, EST Gee, Gotti, Young Thug.” 50 Ball” was the first one I was trying off the EP an, people just grew to love the record. They were learning it off my Instagram, just the little 30 second clips that I post.

AllHipHop: Was there a certain moment where you went viral and got a bunch of followers? Or was it a steady grind?

PBE Pluto: I had records that hit BET Jams, MTV, Shade45, REVOLT TV. I’ve been on a lot of amazing platforms. I’ve always been very active. I’ve been in the military also, so that really helped spread the brand in a lot of different markets. By the time I really got serious, when I really started pumping music back then: I was tapping in, but I was learning a lot about the business. I was already going to different cities, going to all these different summits. 

Say if I wanted to tap in with you, I’ll follow you. I’ll start liking stuff on your page, sharing stuff. I’ll see where you’ll be at. You gon’ be at the summit in Miami, I’m a come to Miami to try to tap in with you. People don’t understand that part of it. Sometimes, you gotta put your investment up and go in to tap in with the people you need to tap in with. I started moving like that and creating a relationship. So when I really was ready to drop, I already had everybody on board. “Oh, you know him? Oh, you know him too? Yeah I know him. I didn’t know you was tapped in.” It was that type of time, it was the connections that was already set in place, well before I really started pushing.

AllHipHop: What sets you apart from other artists?

PBE Pluto: The fact that I want to see everybody win. I’m not a selfish person. I understand the game, I understand the business. I don’t look at it as I’m an artist, I’m a businessman. Being an artist is one of my businesses. I look at it in a different entity than a regular artist would. They’re like “I’m a rap. I do music.” No, rapping is just one thing I do. That’s one of my businesses, I have multiple businesses that I do besides standing around and entertaining.

AllHipHop: Why is being a rapper a dangerous job?

PBE Pluto: We just seen today with Takeoff. That really touched me a lot, because this dude got hit in the head and died. A month and a half ago, I got shot in the head and God spared me. I understand the fact that being a rapper makes you a target, because people gotta see your lifestyle. That’s the crazy part about social media, people want to see what you do on a day to day basis. Whether you’re really doing it or not, they want to see it. They want to see you riding in your car, they want to see how your house looks. They want to see how your shows is, they want to see people networking. It makes you too much of a target. 

If you’re doing too much, then people sit back and hate because they feel like they should be in a position. “Why this ain’t happening for me? I rap better than him.” They don’t understand this is not about the talent, the talent is only 10% of this. It’s the business and the people that understand the business of music, they’re the ones that are successful. 

But the ones that think that it’s about talent, sometimes they get irritated and mad with the people who are winning. That can cause all types of situations when it comes to people talking down on your brand, people making up stories or going by what somebody else told them. Stepping like it’s really the truth when they never had a conversation with you. Your lifestyle being out in the open like that makes you a target, and it makes it more dangerous. You can be blessing somebody, but they can be on the passenger side and they want to be the one driving the car. They waiting on the perfect moment to happen to pull something, to take you out.

AllHipHop: Being shot in the head is awful, I’m so sorry that happened to you.

PBE Pluto: I’ll talk about it just a little bit. I ain’t gonna mention where it happeneed, but it was a situation where people hating. Had something built up on them, I never really had no issues with them beforehand. People feel like you owe them something out of nothing. Or they feel like if somebody else playing, they could play. One thing led to another. 

Ultimately, they caught me with my back turned. They ain’t pulled nothing in my face, they waited till I had my back turned and that’s when they came out. You gotta be watching for people at all times and move strategically. You never know when it’s gonna be a moment, somebody in their feelings. That’s the biggest thing with it.

AllHipHop: Did you get trauma from that? 

PBE Pluto: Well, I’ve been in the military so I already had PTSD. I know how to deal with traumatic situations, that’s why everything was very calm about it. I didn’t overreact to anything. The doctors were very intrigued, they said “how can you be so calm and have such a traumatic situation?” They were more amped up and going crazy than I was. I was chillin’, but I know God. When you move by the spirit, you already know what you know before anything. I felt it coming down the pipeline before it happened. 

I told my brother 2 hours before it happened. I said something is about to happen but everything is gonna be good, God said I’ll be good. Some people wasn’t as fortunate as me with other situations, I still thank God that it wasn’t my time. It’s a matter of knowing how to strategically move, understanding the spirit and knowing what you know. Some people don’t have that spiritual connection with God, so they ain’t gon’ understand it. You can’t always win. Life ain’t just about W’s, sometimes you gotta decrease in order to increase.

AllHipHop: What is it you want fans to take away from your music, your story?

PBE Pluto: This is real life. I try to keep my music very realistic, dictate my lifestyle. I don’t come up with these extravagant things that I haven’t seen, I’m just telling you my life within lyrics. I want people to take that and understand, you could be you. I been through the phase where people are laughing, people are talking down on me. Same people turn around and ask for a job, for the same thing they were laughing at me for doing.

You gotta stand out and stick out, do what you gotta do for you. You can’t be trying to please everybody else when you’re trying to elevate. They either gon’ jump on board or not. Don’t focus on the ones that’s going against you, focus on the ones that is supporting you. Out of million people, if 10 people messing with your brand, just focus on those 10. Because them 10 will turn into 100, that 100 will turn into a 1000, 100 to 10K, that 10K will turn into 100K. That 100K could turn into a million. You gotta focus on who’s banging with you, don’t worry about the ones who aren’t. That’s what I want people to take from me, my brand, and my music. Not who ain’t, just jump on who is.

Gucci Mane Drops Tribute Song To Takeoff

Atlanta rapper Takeoff’s death has touched people in many ways. Boosie has penned a certified hit with “Rocket Man,” and now Gucci Man has dropped his own tribute song and video called “Letter To Takeoff.”

On the song, he talks about his relationship with the Migos member and poses several ontological questions, including “Why do good people die and bad people get to live.”

He raps, “Just left another funeral, I shed a tear (Damn)/ I’m still in disbelief, I can’t believe it’s real/ I think about the memories, it give me chills/ I’m wonderin’ why they left the fake and took the real (Real)/Like, how the f### we gon’ lose Takeoff? Damn, he didn’t deserve it/ We don’t supposed to question God, but, damn, Takeoff was perfect (God).”

The song dropped days after the family hosted a memorial service at the Star Farm Arena.

As reported by AllHipHop.com, rap fans and celebrities gathered on Friday, November 11th to pay their final respects to Atlanta rap star Takeoff, who was shot and killed at the young age of 28.

The deceased became famous in the group with his uncle Quavo and cousin Offset and were primarily raised in the same home in suburban Atlanta by Takeoff’s mother.

Instead of flowers or gifts, the Ball family asked people to make donations to The Rocket Foundation, which was established in Takeoff’s honor and aims to prevent gun violence.

Gucci Mane’s memorial song is available on all streaming platforms. No word if the proceeds got to The Rocket Foundation or solely to Guwop.