Police bodycam shows that a Columbus, Ohio, police officer fatally shot an unarmed young man of color while lying in his bed.
The shooting of the 20-year-old, whose name is Donovan Lewis, happened on Tuesday, August 30th, around 2 a.m. He was shot by Police Officer Ricky Anderson, according to a police statement, a 30-year veteran who has served on the Columbus Division of Police.
Anderson was assigned to the department’s K9 unit. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is looking into the occurrence and has placed Anderson on leave.
Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryan said in a press conference that they know that “the officers knocked on the door for several minutes … acknowledging themselves as Columbus Police officers.”
Bodycam shows the cop called out to Donovan several times. They arrested several other men when they came in and approached his bedroom.
The officers saw a man on the bed, identified as Lewis. Anderson shot his gun off, hitting Lewis. Officers handcuffed the injured man and took him to a nearby hospital.
Lewis was pronounced dead at 3:19 a.m.
CNN reported that the lawyer for the young man’s family, Rex Elliott said in a news conference yesterday (September 1st), that he believes there was no justification for the shooting.
Elliott said, “Donovan was unarmed, and he was abiding by police commands to come out of his room when he was shot in cold blood by Officer Anderson.”
The attorney said this at a conference while standing with Lewis’ parents, siblings, grandmother, aunt, and family friends.
He added that these were “just a few of the many people that have had their lives altered forever because of the events of early Tuesday morning.”
According to court documents obtained by The Daily Beast, the two comedians are being accused of grooming a 14-year-old girl and her seven-year-old brother.
Jane is the plaintiff both individually and on behalf of her younger brother. The lawsuit alleged that Haddish, “a longtime family friend” of the siblings’ mother, approached Jane in 2013 for “a perfect role” in a commercial.
According to the suit, neither Jane nor her mother was aware of the commercial’s plot, but Haddish and Spears were. The shoot for the commercial allegedly involved Haddish teaching Jane how to mimic f####### while eating a sandwich.
One year later, Haddish allegedly reached out to the siblings’ mother to enlist John for a Nickelodeon sizzle reel.
The suit claimed that the then-seven-year-old was molested by Haddish and Spears for a skit posted on Funny or Die titled “Through a Pedophile’s Eyes.”
The comedians are being sued for intentional infliction of emotional distress, gross negligence, sexual battery, sexual harassment and sexual abuse of a minor. The accusers seek a reward for “past, present, and future general damages.”
Fans of both comedians have been dogging them out on social media, because neither of them have yet to directly address the heineous allegations.
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Lawyers for Haddish and Spears called the legal action a “shakedown.”
“Plaintiff’s mother, Trizah Morris, has been trying to assert these bogus claims against Ms. Haddish for several years,” the actress’ lawyer Andrew Brettler said in a statement. “Every attorney who has initially taken on her case – and there were several – ultimately dropped the matter once it became clear that the claims were meritless and Ms. Haddish would not be shaken down.”
Reps for Funny or Die called the video uploaded to their platform “absolutely disgusting” and insisted they would never produce such content.
It was removed in 2018 as soon as they became “aware of its existence.”
There is a skit called “Mind of a Pedophile” or “Through a Pedophile’s Eyes,” which eventually Funny or Die posted. I have not seen, but apparently Aries Spears is the star of it. I have not heard Funny or Die in a long minute, but that’s another story. Now, before we continue, Aries and Tiffany Haddish have a pretty storied history as comedians. And they often pushed the comic meter to the limit. But those were the times and they had plenty of inspirations in real life. People like Cosby and R. Kelly were accused of some pretty heinous stuff.
Second of all, we have to ask ourselves what in the world was Aries Spears and Tiffany Haddish thinking? Take the legal situation out of it…that mess was crazy and if you read the accusations, even crazier. According to this new lawsuit, which is civil in nature – not criminal – suggests that they were thinking straight inappropriate, nasty and disgusting thoughts as it regards to two kids. The skit in question has been completely removed from the Internet. Nobody I know has been able to find the skit. However, there are people that have seen it and there’s plenty of records on social media of peoples reactions to the video. Because the video was 10 years or so ago there is no screen saving or supremely viral distribution of the video that would keep it out there.
However, that only has added to the mystery of it all. Those that are following the lawsuits have shared the video with the media in private. Obviously, the disgusting nature of it all has caused it to still be under lock and key. I am pretty sure it will come out though.
The lawsuit presents Tiffany Haddish as the ringleader in all of this, which is really interesting. I don’t think Negrodamus looked into this year and saw that one of the most popular comedians would be accused of such a horrible act. And then, to be regarded as the one trying to GROOM young people into lewd sexual acts is even crazier. By the way, Tiffany Haddish has asserted that she is innocent of all of these charges.
Now, Spears is another person. I think dude has had a really long stretch of history in comedy, but he hasn’t always gotten his respect. I am not sure if that has made him cranky or deviant, but he has periodically gone at Black women and become a source of dislike from a lot of people. At any rate, when that “mind of a pedophile” video came out it was disgusting. There was a contingency of people that felt like it was funny, but most people that commented on it, when it dropped in 2013. regarded it with disdain. If so, what kind of mind repeatedly does skits that deal with pedophilia or rape?
I don’t know! I am simply asking the question. By the way, Aries Spears has also asserted that he is innocent through lawyers. They have regarded this as a shakedown in an attempt to extort money from them. All of this begs the question “how will this impact their careers?” That is to be seen. Tiffany Haddish seems to have the most to lose because she is aa mega star. Most recently, I saw her in The Unbearable Weight of Massive TalentReally and she was great.
More on this…
Also, I present hat time Aries Spears got bombed on. I hope he does not go to jail!
While the world is watching Kanye West publicly blast (again) his parenting issues with his wife and her family The Kardashians, the father of four, is also sharing his suspicions about some of his business partners.
Some people ask if this recent unraveling is the beginning of the end of The Gap and Adidas’ partnerships with the rapper-turned-mogul.
Over the last few days, a dispute has erupted surrounding the kids attending his Donda school and the pushback from their maternal guardian.
The “Jesus is King” emcee posted a series of Instagram posts (that have since been deleted, revealing personal text messages and accusing the family of driving him crazy, keeping him from his kids, and pathway-ing the children to p### by letting them be provocative on the internet.
Now, he is expressing his issues with business partners Gap and Adidas, suggesting they are also trying to manipulate or disrespect him.
In a new post this morning (Sept. 2), Kanye posted a meme that read, “Here is the through line … Gap having meetings about me without me. Adidas releasing old shoes and coloring my shoes like I’m dead me not having a say on where my children go to school.”
“Call me whatever names you want,” he continued. He ended the message by saying, “If you don’t understand why I will not back down on my businesses, my brands, and my children, then you’re the ones who are crazy.”
Ye also posted a text exchange with a person where he accused GAP of biting Yeezy GAP Engineered by Balenciaga’s designs on one of their standard GAP T-shirt.
Kris Jenner urged Kanye West to “stop mentioning (her) name” after he went on an Instagram spree about the Kardashian-Jenner family on Thursday.
The “Stronger” rapper reignited his Instagram feud with his ex-wife Kim Kardashian on Thursday to show his disapproval of where she sends their four children to school.
“Don’t let Kris make you do playboy like she made (Kylie) and Kim do,” he wrote beside a photo of Victoria Villarroel, Kylie’s former assistant. “Hollywood is a giant brothel Pornography destroyed my family I deal with the addiction instagram promotes it Not gonna let it happen to (his daughters) Northy and Chicago.”
He also shared a screengrab of a text message – presumably from Kim – in which she pleaded with him to stop, and he replied, “No, we need to talk in person, you don’t have a say so of where the kids go to school. Why you get say say? Cause you half white (sic)?”
In another grab, Kim seemingly delivers a message on behalf of her “mom” Kris, which reads, “Tell him to please stop mentioning my name. I’m almost 67 years old and I don’t always feel great and this stresses me to no end.”
“Y’all don’t have so so over my black children and where they go to school (sic),” he replied. “They will not do playboy and sex tapes. Tell your Clinton friends to come get me. I’m here.”
Kanye has been feuding with Hillary Clinton since at least 2016 after she decided to run for president against Donald Trump.
Kanye is a starch MAGA supporter. Since then, he’s claimed the Clintons are involved in a conspiracy with Kris Jenner to destroy him
Last week, the Clintons’ daughter Chelsea dissed Kanye, scrubbed him from her playlists – and then publicly called him out.
“I’ve had to let go of Kanye, because it’s just, I can’t,” Chelsea Clinton told Entertainment Weekly.
Elsewhere in his prolific posting spree, Kanye gave a shout-out to Scott Disick, Travis Scott, and Tristan Thompson – who also have children with a Kardashian-Jenner – as his “fellow c## donors” but noted that he’s the “only one I’ve ever seen stand up to Kris though.”
Kanye also threw shade at Kim’s rumored ex-boyfriend Pete Davidson by writing, “Ask Pete how those tattoos of my kids doing in the trauma unit,” in reference to Pete getting Kim and her kids’ initials etched on his neck.
All of the rapper’s posts have been deleted, but here they are.
Kevin Liles is best known as a music executive and co-founder of 300 Entertainment. The 54-year-old industry insider also serves as executive producer for the forthcoming the Girl You Know It’s True movie.
Girl You Know It’s True tells the story of 1980s-era Pop/R&B duo Milli Vanilli (Robert Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan). The German group became infamous for lip-syncing to the voices of other artists on their songs.
Tijan Njie (Pilatus) and Elan Ben Ali (Morvan) will portray the lead characters in Girl You Know It’s True. Matthias Schweighöfer plays German music producer Frank Farian, the man who formulated Milli Vanilli.
In addition to Kevin Liles, Girl You Know It’s True is co-produced by Simon Verhoeven, Frank Farian, and Stefan Gärtner. Simon Verhoeven is also the motion picture’s writer and director.
“Girl You Know It’s True is captivating on so many levels. It not only tells the spectacular rise of two underdogs making it to the zenith of showbiz within one summer,” says Simon Verhoeven.
He continues, “It also gives a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of that illusory world of fame and its sometimes tragic and unscrupulous machinations. Personally, I think Rob and Fab did not deserve to become the sole scapegoats of this scandal.”
Milli Vanilli scored three Number Ones on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart in the United States. The Girl You Know It’s True studio LP spent seven weeks atop the Billboard 200 album chart in 1989. The RIAA certified Milli Vanilli’s North American debut as 6x-Platinum.
LEONINE Studios and Wiedemann & Berg Film produced the Girl You Know It’s True movie. Principal photography takes place in Munich, Berlin, Capetown, and Los Angeles. Filming will wrap up in December 2022.
“Girl You Know It’s True comes from the heart of a decade when MTV planted its flag on the moon and we were able to see music, not just listen to it,” states Quirin Berg, Chief Creative Officer and Chief Production Officer of LEONINE Studios. “Our film celebrates Rob and Fab and what they achieved with Milli Vanilli and at the same time Simon’s fantastic screenplay also captures the complexity and ultimately tragic dimension that came with it.”
Quirin Berg added, “[Simon Verhoeven] offers not just an immensely entertaining take on the story but also a layer of critical reflection that asks many questions which seem more relevant today than ever. It took many years to secure the music rights and it’s a huge milestone to see this project in production now.”
Dreamville recording artist JID delivered The Forever Story on August 26, 2022. The studio LP hosts the “Kody Blu 31” track.
“Kody Blu 31” includes audio from the funeral of JID’s grandmother. Apple Music’s Ebro Darden spoke to the Atlanta-bred rapper about his decision to add the burial ceremony on his album.
“The way it starts is actually at my grandma’s funeral. I have the actual footage. I’m sitting there crying, holding the phone, recording this because I know it’s a big moment,” explains JID. “A couple of years before that we lost my other grandma on my mother’s side. This is my dad’s mother we lost.”
The Spillage Village member also said, “Recording this, my dad is singing his heart out on this recording. At the beginning of the song, if you listen to it, the first 15, 20 seconds, you could hear my whole family singing.”
JID continued, “You could hear my mama say, ‘Thank you, Lord.’ It’s super powerful, and it’s just literally about keep pushing through. The song is saying, ‘Swing on, swing on.’ It’s a choir-type feel. My family is all over the album.”
The Forever Story features guest appearances from Kenny Mason, EarthGang, 21 Savage, Baby Tate, Lil Durk, Ari Lennox, Yasiin Bey, Lil Wayne, Johntá Austin, Ravyn Lenae, and Eryn Allen Kane. JID’s album discography also includes 2017’s The Never Story and 2018’s DiCaprio 2.
The 31-year-old emcee contributed to Dreamville’s Platinum-certifiedThe Revenge of the Dreamers IIIcompilation as well. Earlier this year, JID scored his highest-charting entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with “Enemy” (#5), a collaboration with Rock band Imagine Dragons.
There have been a lot of conversations about what has become known as Toxic R&B. Several music acts, such as DVSN, have embraced the male-dominated, sub-genre. Rapper/singer Vory offered his own version of Toxic R&B.
Vory released his Lost Souls album on June 3. The project hosts a song titled “Happy Birthday 2U.” An official music video for the track arrived on YouTube this week.
Loris Russier directed the “Happy Birthday 2U” visuals. The song and video focus on Vory admitting infidelity. The 25-year-old Texas/Kentucky native’s character in “Happy Birthday 2U” even admits to sleeping with his girlfriend’s best friend.
“Hope you didn’t think you’ll find me where you left me, I know. Hope you never thought I loved you how you loved me, I don’t. I was falling for your best friend, she does all the things you won’t. She’s everything that you’re not for me,” croons Vory on “Happy Birthday 2U.”
The Dream Chasers recording artist also sings, “We took a trip on your birthday and I f##### your best friend and you never knew it. Til now, it’s hard to digest, I guess. Yeah, wasn’t gonna say it, but it is whatever, your best friend’s p#### is wetter and better.”
Lost Souls features appearances by Kanye “Ye” West, Bleu, Nav, Wallo267, and more. Vory also worked with Ye on “Jonah,” “God Breathed,” and “No Child Left Behind” off the billionaire musician’s Donda album in 2021.
The accomplished songwriter won a Grammy Award for the Everything Is Love collaborative project by The Carters (Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter & Beyoncé Knowles-Carter). Vory recently appeared on “Grateful” which lives on DJ Khaled’s God Did studio LP.
Hip Hop veteran Cam’ron will drop a brand new project on September 23rd via Empire. The Harlem, New York representative teams with producer A-Trak for U Wasn’t There.
Cam’ron and A-Trak originally became friends after meeting through Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder Damon Dash in 2014. The duo’s early demos became Federal Reserve, an EP that never got released.
Federal Reserve was supposed to host the “Dipsh*ts” single. An official music video for the song did make it to YouTube eight years ago. “Dipsh*ts” will now live on U Wasn’t There as a bonus track.
https://youtu.be/qgfZgBpDzPM
U Wasn’t There will feature Conway The Machine, Jim Jones, Popcaan, Styles P, and Juelz Santana. Production will also be provided by Just Blaze, DJ Khalil, Lakim, !llmind, and more. Damon Dash appears on the album as well.
A-Trak, Beautiful Lou, and G Koop produced “All I Really Wanted” which serves as the lead single for U Wasn’t There. On the Harlem anthem, Cam’ron recalls his teenage years as a basketball player and growing up with fallen friends Big L and Bloodshed.
Cam’ron and A-Trak recorded U Wasn’t There in Las Vegas, New York, and Los Angeles. In addition, A-Trak commissioned original artwork by New York City-bred visual artist Kunle Martins for the forthcoming body of work.
The history between William “Ray J” Norwood and the Kardashian-Jenner family is very complicated. A case could be made that Ray J’s infamous sex tape with Kim Kardashian launched the billion-dollar Kardashian-Jenner empire.
Earlier this year, supposed unreleased footage from the Kim Kardashian, Superstar adult movie became a topic on The Kardashians reality show. Kim Kardashian claimed her estranged husband, Kanye “Ye” West, retrieved the tape from Ray J.
In response, Ray J accused Kim Kardashian of lying. It appears the R&B singer still has some animosity towards the Kardashian-Jenner clan. Ray got involved in a blowup between Kanye West and family matriarch Kris Jenner.
Kanye West shared a supposed text message exchange with one of Kris Jenner’s children that included a request for Ye to stop publicly mentioning Jenner because it causes the 66-year-old woman unnecessary stress. The Shade Room re-posted West’s Instagram post. Ray J then jumped into the comment section.
“What about my mom, Kris?” wrote Ray J. “[You’re] telling people false stories about me, making the Black man look horrible, for your gain, you introduced me to Steve HIRSH, you masterminded everything [for] your family, and tried to ruin mine at the same time smh.”
The Love & Hip Hop reality show star continued, “You don’t think all mothers get stressed? Or you special huh? – I know it’s old and I don’t care — this makes me sick – but God had my back and still does.”
The music industry is challenging, but Jake Silva has made it his mission to rise through the ranks. After just one year in the business, he’s playing at some of the top nightclubs in New York City, New Jersey, and Miami. How did he do it? It was all about an all-consuming work ethic and commitment to rise above the noise.
“I would wake up at 4 am to make music until 6 am every day before I started my day job in construction,” Silva shares. As an engineer by training, Silva believes there is a direct relationship between his studies and his music career. “I can think outside the box to solve real-world problems that would also apply to my music,” he says. This passion developed in childhood.
Silva learned music from his uncle, a former top DJ in Portugal and Spain. As an old-school performer, Silva’s uncle swore by vinyl, which he used to teach Silva. It taught him how to mix by ear, a skill that gives him an edge over DJs who look at the beat grid to mix.
Silva has been producing music for 5 years but is always willing to learn and adapt to the changing times. However, his music still retains its authenticity and charm.
“No one else has the exact edit, bootleg, or remix since I produce the music myself and most of the time don’t put it out,” Silva shares. “Often, I have DJs asking me, ‘Where’d you get your music from, and how can I get that track?’”
The artist has already accomplished important goals, like getting signed by Sony Music on his first track release. Some of Silva’s other dreams are to play the main stage at the biggest festivals worldwide, including Ultra, Tomorrowland, and Ezoo.
We already know the rising star of the music industry who is known by the name J J. He is known for the music he creates and the thought process he has applied to everything he has ever created.
We are fortunate to have had the opportunity to interview this talented young man. He is so down to earth and has also revealed many secrets behind his fame and shining career. He also shared advice he wants to give to young people planning to start a career in music. J J is an artist who debuted his first single at the beginning of January 2020.
J J’s project “My Way” is very dear and dear to his heart project. He has managed to move out of the shell and focus on himself and eventually did all the things that made him happy. He makes music after analyzing the storyline. The beat is based on emotions, giving him the vibe, and then he jumps right into the chorus, which is related to the plot of the story. He has been an introvert throughout his life and uses his music to convey his story to people.
Establishing a brand is not a one-day thing. One has to be consistent throughout. It takes a lot of patience and precision to establish a kingdom for yourself where you rule similarly in the musical industry. One has to build oneself so that one can rule over it.
Family and Friends are his biggest support system who have helped him in every phase of his career and he can’t thank them enough. During his free time, J J prefers to hang out with his Friends. Most of his friends have helped him launch the most important projects in his career.
“Outside of the accolades and physical results, I’m most proud of the person I’ve grown into. I have grown so much as an artist and it has affected not only my music but the type of person I am in a positive way. Whether it’s working on a project or carrying out my daily routine, music has played a big role in my life.”, J J quotes.
You can find his music on all streaming platforms but if you want the most immersive experience
When it comes to the music industry, it’s often easy for things to fall into an expected routine, and this can leave us struggling to find the most appropriate style for our own preferences. This is something that has always resonated particularly strongly with Ashley Francois, who has always dreamed of doing things a little differently.
Born April 9, 1996, is a professional rapper, singer & songwriter in Sarasota, FL.
Rather than just fitting in with the crowd, Ashley Francois has worked tirelessly to develop his skills, working at every opportunity to further his knowledge and follow a unique path. This can often seem like a challenge, but it shouldn’t necessarily have to be this way – which is why, at every opportunity, he works to bolster his repertoire and learn new things.
One of four brothers raised by a single mother in his early childhood living in Brooklyn N.Y.
After graduating from high school, he then transitions to the University of Central Florida. He then soon realized that basketball wasn’t in the plans anymore and soon dropped out of college.
For Ashely, just fitting in isn’t the right way to take things. Instead, he works tirelessly to ensure that he works for new heights – not for an audience, but for himself, personally. After all, it’s not about attention; it’s a dream and a goal to reach his full potential.
Ashley Francois takes inspiration in his music from numerous different artists, incorporating sounds from Chris Bronw, XXXtentacion, 2Pac, Travis Scot, Drake, and Pop Smoke to create a sound that’s both delightfully familiar and yet undeniably his own. After all, no matter what goal he sets his mind to, be it for his music or personal development, he has always worked to reach new heights.
He was featured on a SoundCloud contest to create a hit record in under eight hours. His debut album Don’t Feel Entitled won the Independent Music Awards for best hip hop album and also achieved a noble prize credited on the John Lennon Songwriting Contest.
Everything is done with unwavering passion – and that’s why, along with his brothers King Chad and Young Knight, Ashley Francois dreams not to fit in but to make his mark on the music industry and reach new heights. This is his path, after all – and he’ll be paving his own way rather than following in someone else’s footsteps.
While some people believe that drill music is on its way out, there are others with their ear to the street and finger of its pulse, that scoff at it. Drill isn’t over … it’s simply reinventing itself with a new feeling and a new voice.
Leading that charge is South Bronx native and Warner Music Group recording artist, Sha EK. The teen phenom has burst on everyone’s radar with chest-pounding confidence and an understanding of his art that rappers, specifically from the Boogie Down, the birthplace of Hip-Hop, usually have.
They create lanes … one of those lanes is being ready to pop off with anyone that wants smoke. Just ask Kodak Black. He and the new artist have been on fire for the last couple of days.
Still, that’s not distracting the one people say is up next. With his debut album, “Face of the What,” AllHipHop.com sat with the artist, on the eve of his big day, for an exclusive interview. Sha EK was filled with smiles bubbling with expectation. Even with the beef with Kodak brewing, the teen star seems cool, focused on his future, and is showing not one sign of anxiety.
AHH: There are a few people saying your name and saying you are one of the brightest stars to come out of the drill movement in a couple of years. So, what’s going on with you?
Sha EK: Thank you. I’m chilling. Just going up and taking everything day by day.
AHH: How long have you been rapping?
Sha EK: 2 years.
AHH: You made the decision to start rapping over the pandemic?
Sha EK: Yeah.
AHH: What sparked that passion for you?
Sha EK: It was boring. We were on lockdown. All I was doing was recording. At the time I was just doing the autotune, not the drill. But once the drill came in, I saw I could do it too. And it worked.
AHH: So, just like that. You started rapping two years ago and already got a deal with a major label? There are people that have been rapping all of their lives and are still stuck. What’s special about you?
Sha EK: My voice. What’s special about me is that I don’t’ sound like nobody.
AHH: How did you curate your sound? And what feedback have gotten from other artists?
Sha EK: Most artists tell me just to keep working, despite me going up faster than most would think I should. They also tell me that they love my music. I also get that I am going in the right direction.
AHH: And the direction of your wave of drill is different from the previous one. Why do you think it is different or you have evolved the subgenre?
Sha EK: The pain in my music is real. It is not difficult to find it. It is the energy in it, all that adds to it.
AHH: But isn’t it pain in all drill music?
Sha EK: Yes, but I take the pain and I balance it off with some softness.
AHH: You must rap for the ladies.
Sha EK: I do. I rap for them a lot.
AHH: So, what is the advantage you have being a drill rapper, that can rap for the streets and rap for the ladies?
Sha EK: You have to remember who gives you the most plays. Your sh#t gonna stay bumping forever if women are listening. I learned that by listening to females and I, not only like music, but I am learning the science behind it. Women make hits.
AHH: Are you a ladies’ man?
Sha EK: I used to be, but I settled down.
AHH: You’re so young and such a new artist … you’re out the gate letting everyone know you got a girl?
Sha EK: That’s a fact.
AHH: So, what’s the process for how you develop music?
Sha EK: I just go in the booth, when I am mad and just rap. I freestyle so everything on my tracks be off the head. Really, it is however the day is going. That’s what it’s going to be. That’s how I rap.
AHH: So, you’re from the Bronx. What part of the Bronx are you from?
Sha EK: I’m from the South Bronx.
AHH: Oh … where Hip-Hop was born. What is it like to have that type of legacy on your back?
Sha EK: It is exciting. I mean, I am bringing it back. We about the heat up and let people know the Bronx is in motion.
AHH: Have you met any of the O.G. rappers from the borough?
Sha EK: Not yet. I am still new to the game and haven’t met a lot of people yet. But I did a joint to Fat Joe’s “Lean Back.” I hope one day, I get to meet some of them.
AHH: What was it that got people talking about you?
Sha EK: It was organic. I was just talking sh#t. Rapping. Trolling people. It is also my energy. My personality be shining. People really seem to know me, and that relatability got me here today.
AHH: So, how did you get your deal?
Sha EK: My friends encouraged me to rap, and so, after everybody started getting signed, I watched. I learned. I figured it out. I was posting my own music on United Masters, Instagram, Apple, and YouTube.
I was getting millions of streams. On United Masters alone, I had eight million streams. But then my TikTok went crazy. When I dropped “D&D” and people started seeing me, my stock went up.
We dropped “D&D” and three months later, I saw mad people tagging me. It went viral.
Then, I met my son, Noodles and we started looking at labels. Actually, they started looking at us. I just picked Warner Bros. It seemed like the best fit for me. Plus, I can drop whenever I want.
I was getting paid independently, but now that I am signed, the money different.
AHH: How big was your deal with Warner Music Group?
Sha EK: It was a little big, a little bit. Especially for me. I just come out of the trenches. I never had nothing.
AHH: So, I am guessing you’ve moved from the South Bronx.
Sha EK: Yeah, I am in New Jersey now.
Getting signed, I was actually able to do something for my mom, my sister, my brother … everybody. My whole team. Everybody’s lives have been changed.
AHH: Warner Music Group seems to be life-changing. Consider the history. Bruh, Madonna was on Warner. What was it like, the day, when you got signed?
Sha EK: I was dumb-hyped. I was like, it’s over now. My mom was there. My sister was too. My girl.
AHH: With that big check, we hope you got a business manager and is not out here just spending money on gold and platinum (iced out) chains.
Sha EK: I don’t have no chains, but I did get a Cartier watch. I got me a ring and my girlfriend some earrings. I bought clothes. I bought a crib.
AHH: And how old were you?
Sha EK: I was 18 when I signed. I am 19 now.
AHH: Did you graduate from high school?
Sha EK: No … I stopped once I got signed.
AHH: So, COVID hits and you’re a student. So, you put all your energy into making music. You get signed to a big deal. You move out the hood. Why were you picked?
Sha EK: Because I believe. I got faith in God. God be on my side. So, I already know I am going to make it.
AHH: So, who are your “Top Five Rappers?”
Sha EK: Lil Durk, Chief Keef, NBA Youngboy, Roddy Ricch, and Lil Baby. I f### with them because they never stopped. They keep going and pushing through obstacles. So, I feel like I’m the same way.
AHH: No New York artists?
Sha EK: Lil TJay. I grew up with him.
AHH: What was Lil TJay like?
Sha EK: He was bad, running around, fighting all types of people. But he also helped me. Bro, helped me get to where I am today. Shout out to him and we hope he feels better.
AHH: What can we expect from you and your new project, “Facer of the What?”
Sha EK: Greatness. Expect Greatness. I am turning up and it is never going to stop. I’m about to change the world.
G. Simone is a well respected figure in Hip-Hop, in part for her close affiliation with KRS-One. In an era of figures in Hip-Hop, there is an aspect that that is missing. The spirituality is not readily present in music these days, especially on a commercial level. The other side of G. Simone is her own phenomenal singing ability. That talent rings out as she belts out “Hallelujah” on her latest song. The video, set in black and white, is a sobering reminder that there’s still some soul in R&B.
Kanye West has chosen violence! I don’t know what it is about September 1, but the Louis Vuitton Don has opted to cause chaos on our social media feeds.
First of all, Kanye has not posted anything on Twitter recently. So you must go to Instagram in order to see exactly what the hell is going on. As I write this, I am going to his social media.
And what do I see?! Violence!
First of all, this tirade starts off with a condemnation of Kim Kardashian. Basically, he says that his kids are going to his school named after his mother, Donda. Apparently he objects to the curriculum of the school that they are going to now and then name-checked Kwanzaa.
But this is all about the kids! Kanye West is at war with the Kardashians! He insists he is not crazy. He does admit he “was driven crazy before.”
Tiffany Haddish and Aries Spears have been accused of coercing minors to perform sexually suggestive acts in comedy sketches.
According to multiplereports, two siblings sued the comedians for alleged abuse. Tiffany Haddish and Aries Spears face allegations of intentional infliction of emotional distress, gross negligence, sexual battery, sexual harassment and sexual abuse of a minor.
The siblings, identified as 22-year-old Jane Doe and 15-year-old John Doe, said they were traumatized by videos filmed when they were younger. The lawsuit claims Tiffany Haddish recruited a then 14-year-old Jane Doe to mimic oral sex for a skit. Aries Spears allegedly molested a then 7-year-old John Doe for a video called “Through a Pedophile’s Eyes.’
Tiffany Haddish was a friend of the siblings’ mother, the lawsuit notes. The mother didn’t know what the comic was filming at the time but trusted her friend with the children.
“All the trauma, all the memories, all the anxiety and depression and guilt and shame and fear—I feel like all of those emotions were triggered when this video situation came to a head,” the mom told The Daily Beast. “To find out that she had violated such a sacred trust — I trusted her with my children. That is what pushed me over the edge.”
The siblings said their experiences with Tiffany Haddish and Aries Spears still affect them to this day. Jane Doe detailed a lasting impact on her love life while John Doe closed himself off from the world.
“I don’t got no friends,” John Doe revealed. “I don’t trust nobody. I’m scared of adults, I refuse to be recorded or take pictures because I am scared of weird-ass adults trying to do nasty stuff to me again. I spend all of my time in my room and do not go anywhere because I don’t trust anybody.”
The lawsuit was filed by Jane Doe on behalf of herself and her brother. Tiffany Haddish’s lawyer Andrew Brettler said the lawsuit is an attempt to extort his client. He accused the plaintiff’s mother of trying to push false claims for years.
“Plaintiff’s mother has been trying to assert these bogus claims against Ms. Haddish for several years,” Brettler told TMZ. “Every attorney who has initially taken on her case — and there were several — ultimately dropped the matter once it became clear that the claims were meritless and Ms. Haddish would not be shaken down. Now, [the mother] has her adult daughter representing herself in this lawsuit. The two of them will together face the consequences of pursuing this frivolous action.”
Kendrick Lamar released a short film for his song “We Cry Together” on Thursday (September 1).
The video stars Kendrick Lamar and actress Taylour Paige as the two reprise their roles from the memorable song. The short film depicts a couple involved in a domestic dispute, providing a visual component to the story of “We Cry Together.”
Kendrick Lamar directed the video with Dave Free and Jake Schreier. The short film was shot in March 2020.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, “We Cry Together” is eligible for an Academy Award. The short film screened at a Los Angeles theater in June, allowing it to qualify for the Best Live Action Short category.
“We Cry Together” appeared on Kendrick Lamar’s latest album Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers, which dropped in May. The LP was his final project for Top Dawg Entertainment.
Kendrick Lamar’s longtime collaborator Sounwave said the 35-year-old rapper has already begun working on his next album. The producer noted how K. Dot never slows down following the release of a new LP.
“We’re starting on the next one now,” Sounwave said. “That’s never going to change, all the way from the Kendrick Lamar EP. The next day, we started on Section.80. It’s just the ideas never stopped. That’s one of the main reasons I go on tour with him, is to create the next album. We can’t skip a beat. We have to just keep it going. There’s no breaks. There’s no such thing as a vacation when you’re doing what you love.”
One of the things that Hip-Hop does is create viable lanes for Black and Brown people to access the American dream without engaging in illegal activities. Numerous rappers and executives have been able to transform their lives through the culture and are now sitting at the table across from some of the world’s biggest corporate entities.
They get to sit there cause Hip-Hop is big money.
But despite the billions of dollars corporations use Hip-Hop and rap music in their ads and campaign ideation, the white-collar businesses often don’t respect those influencers making them hot.
Chamillionaire, who has recently partnered with CarMax on a new month-long return program, believes deals like these will inspire others to step into their own greatness.
When talking about his deal with business and money bible Forbes, he spoke about the agency it gives his community, “[The partnership with CarMax] is an example of the power of Hip-Hop because a lot of people in our community have to climb up from the bottom.”
“Every time we see one of our own having success,” he continues. “It inspires and motivates all the others that look up to us.”
But he also put on blast companies that will use the music created by these mostly Black artists but will not engage them in endorsement or investment deals. He says this also extends to other Black content creators on social media platforms.
He said, “I believe rap has always had a tight grip on the minds of young people, but now social media amplifies things so much that you can’t miss its impact. I think it’s harder for companies to ignore the power and reach of the Black community and Hip Hop.”
“The trending topics on Twitter, the viral moments on TikTok, and all the slang we see being used daily show the genre’s reach and power,” the D.C. native explained. “I remember the days when they were trying to ban Snoop Dogg’s music, and now you see him in multiple TV commercials every day.”
“Companies are in the business of giving consumers what they want, and the best companies know how to find creative ways to present their offerings,” he said.
The “Ridin’” artist said he also understands why artists and content creators are slow to work with corporations, saying, “As an artist, you always want to make sure you are doing things that are true to your values. We all know what the song “Ridin'” symbolizes, but we can’t ignore the impact that all of the viral content and internet memes have had on the life of the song.”
That’s why he believes his deal with CarMax is special.
The partnership between the artist and the company came out of another business exchange. The company licensed his song “Ridin’” for a commercial. But after talking with executives, there seemed to be a more expansive opportunity.
“I have seen a lot of the great content CarMax released with athletes like Steph Curry and Candace Parker, so it was really about trying to figure out how Ridin’ would fit into a campaign,” Chamillionaire told Forbes. “They told me they wanted me to physically appear in the commercial [and] I felt it was something worthy enough for me to participate in.”
He also believes the collaboration makes sense, stating, “It’s the perfect song to play when you’re riding around in your car, so a CarMax commercial made sense.”
In addition to this commercial, Chamillionaire will help CarMax commemorate its 30-Day Money Back Guarantee, where customers have 30 days and up to 1,500 miles, to decide if they want to keep their new whip based on how it has been incorporated in their lives and budget. If they don’t, they can return the car for a full refund.
Kanye West antagonized Kid Cudi and outgoing Adidas CEO Kasper Rorsted in an Instagram post on Thursday (September 1).
‘Ye poked fun at Kasper Rorsted’s impending departure from Adidas by sharing a mock New York Times headline. The picture included a jab at Kanye West’s friend-turned-foe Kid Cudi.
“Kasper Rorsted Also Dead At 60,” the headline declared.
Kanye West insulted Kid Cudi in smaller print on the fake front page.
“I know what you’re thinking… who is Kasper? But even less importantly who is Kid Cudi?” the subheading read.
Last month, Kanye West posted a similar fake death headline after his ex-wife Kim Kardashian broke up with Pete Davidson. ‘Ye took the opportunity to throw a shot at Kid Cudi in that Instagram post too.
Kanye West, a business partner of Adidas, put the company on blast in 2022. He previously demanded a meeting with Kasper Rorsted, who’s leaving Adidas in 2023. The soon-to-be former CEO announced his exit in August.
“The past years have been marked by several external factors that disrupted our business significantly,” he said. “It required huge efforts to master these challenges. This is why enabling a restart in 2023 is the right thing to do – both for the company and me personally.”
