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.”
Recording artist and author Lil Richye is making his mark across multiple industries as an artist, songwriter, entertainer, author, influencer and fashion trendsetter, and the young star has also officially become a brand ambassador for the Charlotte Hornets.
The talented and versatile artist has now returned with his latest single “Rotation.”
“The inspiration behind “Rotation” came from a group of friends and I talking about girls. One friend mentioned that a girl liked me, so I had him give me her number, and I text her “drop your location,” and the song goes from there,” said Lil Richye.
Lil Richye will also be releasing an album titled ‘Lone Wolf’ first quarter 2023.
“My mission on this project was to start by doing what’s necessary, then do what’s possible and suddenly you find yourself doing the impossible. The worst thing I can be in life is the same as everyone else. When I realized this, that’s when I started making all types of music because I may wake up the next day and want to dance, and I make a bounce song or I may be talking to my girl on the phone and make a love song. I just do what I feel now while trying to be the best me that I can, and this will be evident on this project,” said Lil Richye.
The Charlotte, N.C. native is already a performance veteran with over a decade of experience under his designer belt having ignited stages since the early age of 3. The child prodigy was rooted in church and grew up singing in the choir, which is where he developed his voice. Music has always been the family business as his parents founded Let’s Ride Records and ran much of the operation from home. As a result, Lil Richye was exposed to the creative process of the business and also the hard work it took to be successful.
Lil Richye’s appearance on Jermaine Dupri & Lifetime’s The Rap Game certainly served as a launching pad for his success, and now he shows no signs of slowing down.
Shia LaBeouf has been cast in Francis Ford Coppola’s upcoming movie “Megalopolis.”
It was confirmed on Wednesday that the actor would join previously-announced stars Adam Driver, Forest Whitaker, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, and Aubrey Plaza in “The Godfather” director’s long-gestating passion project.
The casting announcement includes five other actors – Coppola’s sister Talia Shire and nephew Jason Schwartzman as well as Grace VanderWaal, Kathryn Hunter, and James Remar were also revealed as newly-cast stars for the film.
According to Variety, the film’s official logline reads: “The fate of Rome haunts a modern world unable to solve its own social problems in this epic story of political ambition, genius, and conflicted love.”
Specific plot details about the movie have not been disclosed.
Coppola is directing from his own script and independently funding his dream film, which has a reported budget of nearly $100 million.
Production on “Megalopolis” is set to begin this autumn.
LaBeouf is currently on the comeback trail after taking almost two years out of the spotlight as a result of his ex-girlfriend FKA Twigs filing a lawsuit accusing him of sexual battery, assault, and intentional infliction of emotional distress in December 2020.
The case goes to trial in April 2023.. The actor returned to the spotlight last week by giving several interviews.
Tyrese Gibson has been ordered to pay his estranged wife Samantha Lee more than $10,000 per month in child support.
A judge ruled in a Georgia court on Tuesday that the “Fast and the Furious” star will now have to pay $10,690 monthly in child support to Lee.
Tyrese and Samantha announced they were divorcing in December 2020 after almost four years of marriage. The pair share a three-year-old daughter Soraya Lee.
The judge also ruled that the two should split childcare, school, and health insurance costs for Soraya equally between them and that Tyrese should maintain a life insurance plan worth $1.9 million with Soraya as the beneficiary and Samantha as the trustee.
While announcing the ruling, the judge insisted the order was made in Soraya’s “best interest,” telling Tyrese they were “leveling the economic playing field.”
The judge continued, “I want you both to love your kid, and I want you both to tell your kid to love the other parent because that’s how we get successful human beings.
“Nobody won here, and nobody lost. The kid lost because she doesn’t have her parents together. Minimize the effects of that loss. Minimize it in every way, shape, and form you can.”
He further emphasized that child support payments are “not a punishment” for Tyrese, saying, “You’re going to see the dividends it pays in your child. Put that money where it belongs – in the child.”
Tyrese and Samantha Lee married in February 2017 and welcomed Soraya in October 2018.
The actor also shares a 15-year-old daughter named Shayla with his first wife Norma.
If you weren’t in New York City this past Saturday, you missed out on DJ Khaled bringing the heat with the release party for his new album “GOD DID”. The all-star party featured celebrities such as Shenseea, Giggs, Offset, Fabolous, Pastor Lamor Whitehead, and more who all came out the night before the VMAs! Dante was definitely in attendance and captured an amazing recap of the whole event like it was a cinematic film. Dante takes you from the streets to the arrival, to the venue, right to the turn-up and it definitely looked like the place to be! The recap is almost at 300k views, having been posted by DJ Khaled himself on his Instagram account.
This isn’t a first for Dante; a Bronx native, who continues to get booked to shoot some of the most exclusive events in entertainment. A brief glance at Dante’s Instagram or website and you’ll see big names like Micheal Rubin, Jay Z, Meek Mill, Lil Baby, Drake, and Mariah Carey, and the list continues on and on. The way Dante captures these videos makes you feel like you were there like you were actually a part of the experience and I believe that’s why he continues to get booked. His site’s tagline says “creating content that inspires emotion” and I can definitely say that he is delivering on that statement. Especially after his recaps of Michael Rubin’s star-studded 4th of July All White Party which has over 1 million views on Instagram.
Having recently covered the VMAs for Essence Magazine, and doing work for VH1, Reform, and Roc Nation, it’s pretty evident that Dante’s have a great 2022. He currently shoots music videos, commercials, recap videos, interviews, and more, but he has his sights set on the realm of feature films and tv in the coming year. He’s stated previously that he has films that he plans on starting production on soon, one being a horror film and the other being a teen drama.
I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what those will entail and I’m sure many of his followers and supporters feel the same. That’s just one of Dante’s goals, he also stated that he wants to eventually own his own film studio like the likes of Tyler Perry; whom Dante stated is a big inspiration in terms of using your craft to build your own empire. I think that if he stays on this path and continues to deliver like he’s been, then he’ll definitely see that dream become his reality sooner than he thinks.
If you want to stay locked in with Dante and updated with his content, or if you’re interested in booking him; you can follow him on Instagram at @DanteFilmz, he also has a website located at TeamElitephoto.com, and you can subscribe to him on Youtube at Youtube.com/c/TeamEliteProductionsLLC.
Since its inception, Hip-Hop has been an industry dominated by men, where misogyny is rife, and women have to fight for equal footing.
None of that matters to Kelz, the petite yet powerhouse battle rap league owner, manager, talent scout, and all-around connoisseur of the culture.
Putting On For The DMV
Her DMV-based league OSBL (Our Society Battle League) has quickly established itself as the premier league in the region, while Kelz has made a name for herself as the no-nonsense honcho of a loyal roster of talented rappers, many of whom have been with her from the ground up.
Armed with a plan and a vision to develop unique local wordsmiths, Kelz recently celebrated her third year as a league owner. In that short time, OSBL has thrown countless successful events, pitting her squad against some of the best lyricists in the genre. Her most recent card, Double Dragons, saw stars like Chilla Jones, Jaz The Rapper, Lu Castro, Drugz, and Jakkboy Maine square off against the top names and up-and-comers on her league.
Not only is Kelz also a scout for URL (Ultimate Rap League), the NBA of battle rap, she’s one of the most successful ones from their talent-seeking The Crucible series. She has a keen eye for raw talent, and some of her picks have gone on to star in URL’s big money, big stage tournaments, the Ultimate Madness series battling for prizes of up to $100,000.
In addition to recruiting and developing many of the culture’s rising stars, Kelz also manages some of the most electrifying names in the scene, guiding their careers to success within the upper echelons of battle rap.
Kelz Murda Management
One of her earliest signings to KMM Kelz Murda Management was Maryland rapper Ace Amin. Once he stepped into the scene, his intricate wordplay and commanding stage presence caught the eye of URL. His captivating introductory battle against Fuse Da General impressed the league, and he would soon become a regular feature on URL cards and one of the rising stars of their “New Era” battlers.
Another of her clients, Sheed Happens, is one of the hottest new talents in the scene following a turn in URL’s UM5 tournament earlier this year. His win against fan favorite Nunn Nunn in a close rematch was labeled a robbery and made controversial due to some ambiguous judged decisions which had the culture in an uproar.
While the judges were impressed by his unorthodox style and unique delivery, it was his second-round win over Tru Foe (who had just knocked 3x Champion of the Year Geechi Gotti out of the competition), that swung the battle rap pendulum back in his favor ahead of his semi-finals clash with vet JC. He ultimately lost out to the Pontiac veteran, one of the best pens in the culture who would eventually win the tournament.
The Future For Kelz & OSBL
OSBL continues to be one of the most prolific local leagues throwing events most months, sometimes bi-monthly. Her next card, Active Duty, on September 9, sees the boss challenge her staff alongside her roster of battlers. Kelz and three staff members play team captains and pick three rookies to join their squad. The newbies must craft a universal round to spit at a random opponent. The team captains are responsible for helping develop and mold their team to ultimate victory.
At its core, OSBL is all about finding and building local talent at the grassroots level, grooming them for the biggest stages in the culture. It’s evident with Kelz and her loyal staff at the helm, OSBL will continue to make a substantial impact in the DMV and beyond.
2K Sports announced the inclusion of J. Cole as a character in the NBA 2K23 video game.
The 37-year-old rapper appears in NBA 2K23’s MyCAREER mode along with Dreamville artists Bas and Elite. J. Cole was also named cover star of the NBA 2K23 Dreamer Edition, which will be released on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
“NBA 2K has long been a place to discover new musical talent through their game and continues to be a gold standard for showcasing all things basketball culture,” J. Cole said. “It’s been an amazing journey to not only appear on a cover of this year’s game, but to be part of the MyCAREER storyline, soundtrack and bring the DREAMER brand into NBA 2K. There’s also more to come, so watch out for all things Dreamville and DREAMER brand drops during Seasons and for Bas and Elite in this year’s MyCAREER story.”
2K Sports’ Vice President of Global Marketing Strategy Alfie Brody added, “The sheer scale, depth and talent featured in this year’s MyCAREER creates an unparalleled experience within NBA 2K23. At the top of that list of talent is our first cover star who truly sits at the intersection of basketball and music. Bringing a visionary like J. Cole and DREAMER into the creative process for both the game and the soundtrack showcases the pillar of culture that NBA 2K23 has become.”
NBA 2K23 launches on September 9. The Dreamer Edition drops as a GameStop exclusive in the fall.
When it comes to the intersection of hip-hop and cannabis, no one’s doing it like The Smoker’s Club. Founded in New York by Jonny Shipes, Smoke DZA and Bubz.
The Smoker’s Club is a lifestyle brand that came to life via an epic smoke session at Shipes’ crib in early 2010. Later that year in March, they had their first show at SXSW with an epic lineup: Curren$y, Kendrick Lamar, Devin The Dude, Big K.R.I.T.. Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock, Smoke DZA.
Suddenly, the demand for a Smoker’s Club show skyrocketed… and folks all across the country were asking for a Smoker’s Club show in their cities.
And with the legalization of cannabis across the States, Bubz knew he had to shift his focus from music to cannabis. You may recognize Bubz from his time mobbing with Jim Jones and The Diplomats during the “Purple City” era, but after a visit to California in 2009, Bubz encountered multiple grow facilities and knew he had to enter the game himself.
Bubz states, We matured into something else, something legal. Not just smoking in the crib with a bunch of artists, because we all were in the music industry. Most of our friends are artists, producers, engineers, or someone affiliated with the music industry. To a person who’s not involved in that, it seems like a pretty cool scene. We took our whole scene we had going on with that and made it a tour first.”
Every year since its inception, Smoker’s Club has gone on tour, covering over 100 cities in the states and over 20 countries worldwide. And according to Bubz, the ship has not slowed down in the slightest.
AllHipHop: I know Curren$y performed at Smoker’s Club’s first tour, you were recently with him at Rolling Loud.
Shiest Bubz: Yes, that’s bro for life. In this cannabis field of doing festivals and transitioning the audience, he’s one of the pioneers for that. Having him part of The Smoker’s Club movement helped us transition from just being a sesh and some hood s### to being more diverse. Then of course, Wiz Khalifa. He’s another person who added super value to the whole culture of doing festivals, cannabis-based.
AllHipHop: How did you and Shipes meet?
Shiest Bubz: Me and Shipes met through a weed deal, a pound sale. [laughs] It happened to be in the studio, so that’s how we met. He’s like, “yo, you got it? It’s a cool studio, that’s wassup.” I had a studio at the time too. We met up again, two years later. On some cool s###, we hit it off. “Yo, come work on these projects with me,” s### like that. From there, s### started taking off.
AllHipHop: How was cannabis back when you guys started, compared to now?
Shiest Bubz: That’s like asking “how was the last month to how is it this month?” It’s that new. It’s really that new to transition. Back then, it was the same thing, just with a stigma on it. Of course, police. Getting arrested for a small blunt could have a whole hundred inmates in one jail cell. Like the Brittney Grimer story: the same thing that she’s going through in Russia is the same thing that was happening every day here in uptown Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. For a crumb of marijuana in your pocket, you are going to jail.
AllHipHop: How’d you get your name?
Shiest Bubz: It was a series of events that led up to me naming myself. My name evolved in a three year period. First, my name is Shiest. Off rip, people think that means “he’s shiesty, he’s a shiester,” this and that. I can be what I want to, but that’s not what my name represents. It represents me being a shiest detective. It’s me seeing through the b#######, that’s what it really means. It’s me detecting all the shiest behavior.
The name Bubz came from a breakdown of two things. First, it was some 90’s rap s### with the two-part name: Shiest Bubbler. Because I get money, I’m bubbling. Street talk. I had this fascination with an addiction to Moet champagne, it’s cold and bubbly. I got that from the OGs. We were drinking champagne every night for damn near a decade, so they started calling me Bubbly. When I started rapping and getting to the music, I put a Bub-z like Jay-Z.
AllHipHop: Smoker’s Club has such a strong presence when it comes to the intersection of music and cannabis. Can you touch on that?
Shiest Bubz: DZA is another major factor into our trifecta, between me, Shipes, and DZA. Me being — I wouldn’t say retired, but off the scene as a rapper. And he’s younger than me, so he’s the one we put our energy into. Here you go, you take the course with that and you become the focal point of Smoker’s Club when it comes to being an artist and being a socialist. He’s had projects with Curren$y, everyone we love. I’m the face, DZA’s the voice, and Shipes is the brains over there.
AllHipHop: How often are you smoking?
Shiest Bubz: I smoke before meetings, during meetings, after meetings. If I can’t have it that way, I’m off.
AllHipHop: How does cannabis improve your life?
Shiest Bubz: Cannabis improves my life in many ways. Because without cannabis, when I’m straight sober — I haven’t been that in a long time. When I used to be straight sober sometimes, I’m very serious, very strict, and very judgmental. When I consume cannabis, it takes me to a place where I let those things go. I’m more laidback, I’m not as strict, and I’m not judgmental at all. Be yourself. I’m more than to be yourself at this point. Also cannabis helps me with my creativity aspect.
AllHipHop: I feel like that all the time!
Shiest Bubz: But it’s tricky though, because it’s not “oh I smoke and I get these creative ideas.” It’s that I smoke and I get a bunch of ideas. A lot of them be dumb as hell. A lot of them really be “damn I was high as hell, I was thinking the stupidest s### in the world.” But some of that s### is good.
It gives me the space to at least create a bunch of b#######, and take what I want out of it. The most consistent things that I feel are good or creative, that people can relate to and adapt to. That will be received well by my peers and young people, old people, old generations. Weed don’t really have an age limit on it. Once you’re past 16… you know?
AllHipHop: When did you start smoking?
Shiest Bubz: A little bit before that. I started at the bad boy age, which is 13. Most of us pot-dealing legacy operators started smoking at a young age. It wasn’t like I started smoking and I was smoking every day after that. I was experimenting with it.
AllHipHop: How much would you say you smoke daily?
Shiest Bubz: About an ounce, like 21 grams. If I had a movie, it’d be called 21 Grams: A Day In The Life.
AllHipHop: That’s more than the rappers I interview!
Shiest Bubz: I’m not a rapper. Listen, let me tell you something about rappers. Rappers are like advertisements. They don’t roll the weed, they don’t really got the weed. They just know what good weed is so they can advertise it. Try to say, “I got good weed.” A lot of them don’t even really smoke like that. There are a lot of them that do smoke heavy though. They smoke a lot, where I’m like “damn, you smoke a lot boy! You roll big blunts.” My blunts are usually about half an eighth.
AllHipHop: Talk about the Smoker’s Club festival this year in Orange County.
Shiest Bubz: It was in San Bernardino, 38,000 people. It was insane, I’m not going to lie, it was crazy. It was a good reflection of where our audience is, per market. It’s cool. This seems about right. We’re trying to make this festival tighter though, to where it’s not so spread out. Because walking from stage to stage, s### is rough on your legs. It’s dusty out there, so we’re trying to make it a little tighter. Keep it so people can see all the shows.
What else are you working on?
The podcast Heavy Smoke I launch every week, usually on Fridays. My guest tomorrow is Backpack Boyz, that’s going to be a good one. We have another festival coming up. We have merchandise dropping every month. DZA dropping new project after new project, he’s back outside.
AllHipHop: You and DZA have your own personal podcasts, right?
Shiest Bubz: Yes, DZA has his Personal Party podcast that’s now picked up on REVOLT. You can pick up that audio anytime you want. I’m just keeping all the legacy operators in a place where they can at least still have a voice in this cannabis industry. Because with this big highway that they’re making over this industry, which I call the little yellow brick road, we can get lost in that.
So my job being in the game for a long time, and if I do have any power in cannabis, it is to at least let my voice be heard and be the voice for others that are in the same position that I was. Maybe not now, but in the past, of trying to find their way and how to transition from selling weed to legally selling cannabis.
AllHipHop: Do you have a favorite memory? Maybe an epic story about a Smoker’s Club event in the past?
Shiest Bubz: Yeah, this was one of the first tours too. This is tour number one. This is me, Smoke DZA, and Big KRIT. We’re hungry as hell. We’re in some little town. I don’t remember what town it is because what happened after our event, would make it something I wouldn’t remember. What happened was we were hungry as hell. It was late night, so we had to get something to eat. We’re from New York, so we said “what’s Krystal?”
I don’t know if you’re familiar with Krystal, but Krystal is the South White Castle. If you know anything about a White Castle burger, you know that’s a murder burger. We’re hungry, we said “f### it, let’s just go there.” We order all types of dumb s###: wings, burgers and s###. We eat this s###. When I tell you: Burning Butts the group, yo! From there, we confirmed that fast food has been taken out of our regime..
AllHipHop: You all were on tour?
Shiest Bubz: On tour with the burning butts. Straight up, bad news. We had that story for the next week. Every time we see a Krystal, we said “no, keep going!” We didn’t even want to see the sign. It felt like Krystal was coming out of our organs.
AllHipHop: Obviously, cannabis is a hot button political issue in many states, countries. Does The Smoker’s Club plan on using its reputation and platform to get involved?
Shiest Bubz:In our eyes, we’re from the music industry. That’s like saying “are you going to the major label? Are you going to do this?” We represent freedom and independence, so we’re in the independent lane. We don’t play politics. Even though there’s always politics. Let me tell you something: I do not play politics. I do not have favorites, I just love who I love. And it’s most people, I deal with that first.
Sometimes people want to work with you, but the timing of the universe doesn’t allow it at the time when you want it. One thing about cannabis that helps me with is patience, and being patient for the right time, for the right thing. To everyone out there, be patient. Be patient with your business. Be patient with yourself. Be patient with people you love, because s### can end right now. Bad things happen all the time, so you gotta be humble.
I’m not trying to say “oh, this is right. This is wrong.” We’re going to always do what’s right, because we represent the culture and that’s all we have. It’s not something that we’re going to document and paper and say,
“I’m going to do this.” It’s about being honest with yourself and living the
right way.
AllHipHop: Shout out to Marvin Bing who as a perennial creative activist always brings us into social impact campaigns, I know you guys just did CannabisInCommon.org with Benny The Butcher, Al Harrington, Hitboy, and others – Why is it important to stand up and raise our voices?
Shiest Bubz: So many people are still incarcerated right now for cannabis crimes, which is insane. It doesn’t even make sense. The question arises when we’re getting into a space where it’s not federally legal, so there’s still factors that are going to hold us back from being successful in the cannabis space, that we’re never going to be able to bring.
It’s going to have to come to a time where it’s going to have to pass federally, so everyone who’s incarcerated for cannabis can get the hell out of jail. How can you watch someone make millions of dollars off of something that someone is sitting in jail for way less? Doesn’t even make sense, it’s crazy. It makes you not even happy, it makes you sad. The guilt is still there. You don’t want us to succeed, people are locked up and you’re out here living your best life.
AllHipHop: Where do you see the future of cannabis?
Shiest Bubz: I’ve been able to thus far see the future of it, but at this point, it’s been co-op. It’s not in the hands of the spirit realm, it’s in the hands of the lawmakers. Being that I don’t really participate in politics on that level, it’s hard for me to forecast where I see cannabis. But I tell you this, it’s a God-given tool. In the long run, it’s always going to come back to what it originally was. You can put the price on it. You can put it on our backs, make us work and show you the blueprint. Rip it away from us and take it, try to make it a cash cow for trust fund babies to spend their money back, invest their money in.
We don’t have the privilege of that, to be trust fund kids. Most neighborhoods in this country, not just any neighborhood that’s local. The future of cannabis: I can’t speak for the whole country, but I can because
I’m saying that I feel like it should be passed federally. With federal, it’s a whole new ball game. I’d be happy to be here to witness that happen, whether I’m involved in it or not. That’s my perspective.
AllHipHop: What’re you most excited for next?
Shiest Bubz: I’m just keeping it pumping every day, keeping the blunts rolling. Staying focused on our ideas that we’ve been manifesting for a very long time, and keep rolling out the red carpet everywhere we go.
The merch is available on thesmokersclub.com. You can find that anytime. Make sure you tap into our Instagram too, because unfortunately, that’s where we do a lot of our promotions at. We have another festival coming up this fall in October, look forward to that. It’s going to be a scary one, Spooky season has returned! It will be in the Sunshine State. It’s going to be warm. Pack your shorts, pack your short sleeves. Pack your bikinis, your thongs. Alright!
Becoming a very well-known personality or professional in any sector today can never be a walk in the park for anyone across the world. To be one, people have had to surrender to their dreams and utilize their utmost energy and potential to chase their goals and achieve them one by one. With tons of talented beings emerging from almost every part of the world, industries today offer competition the most, but all those who utilize their skills and optimize the many opportunities in front of them while also creating new ones go ahead in creating a unique niche for themselves. NASHEW (Nicky Taschew), the German rapper and music artist, has done that and gone even beyond constantly innovating in music as an ace musical talent.
People are already going crazy with the crazy tunes, lyrics, and singing by NASHEW for the latest rap song Money Monopoly, feat Prince Arija. They have made sure to create a foot-tapping song that can become the go-to favorite track for many music lovers out there. NASHEW is one of those rare rappers from Germany in the music scene who has never failed to take risks in the industry to come up with songs that can truly stand distinctive and help him stand unique in the music realm. This has also become his USP, to try new things and new beats and collaborate with incredible musical talents to create songs that can instantly strike a chord with the hearts of listeners.
Money Monopoly, feat Prince Arija with NASHEW, just like other songs of his, is gradually becoming one of the most loved songs of his career, thanks to his pure intent to touch the souls of people and make them feel compelled to keep listening to the same.
His other songs Hardcore Gang Member, Shadows, Dreams, and H### Jetzt Ab have attained so much love on streaming platforms, which has also turned NASHEW into a verified musical artist on Spotify:
Keep following him on Instagram @nickytaschew for more updates.
From “If We Never Met to Shelter” and now “Changes”, Jurgen Masati has given us some of the most impressive top tracks this year. These two songs received massive attention in and out of the UK, with many praising Jurgen’s musical talents. But his journey in the music scene is just getting started.
The young artist has written and released more than five songs since his debut, with “Changes” becoming a global track. Jurgen’s unique music writing style, impeccable voice, and ability to express emotions through smooth, lyrical flows are helping Jurgen cement his spot in the brutally competitive space as an independent artist.
Jurgen has taken a unique approach to create his music. He has not confined himself to one genre or specific style but instead focuses on writing music that best tells the intended message. His song “Changes” is the perfect example of this.
“Changes” has a different vibe altogether. The track brings to light Jurgen’s strong vocals, power, and potential to surge through the music scene in multiple ways.
According to Jurgen, one of his goals is to change how people view and consume music by bringing more timeless songs to the industry. He is creating music that reflects everyday life and many issues in today’s society. He also uses his platforms and music to inspire young creators, especially independent artists.
The global music scene is highly crowded, and reaching the top can be challenging. These include everything from lack of proper resources to high marketing and promotional costs. It is even harder when you are an independent artist because you must handle everything from show bookings to studios and music promotion.
While it is difficult, it does not mean you can’t reach the top. By sharing his story as an independent artist who built a loyal fan base and is now making headlines, Jurgen hopes to inspire other independent artists, especially those getting started.
His brand perfectly represents what years of hard work, resilience, and skills can get you. Jurgen managed to create the right impact right after entering the scene. He worked on his music skills and believed in his passion. Today, his songs are getting maximum plays despite him being an independent artist.
His advice to other independent artists is to invest in their brands, as it is the biggest part of your story. Your brand is a representation of yourself as an artist, and how you carry yourself online and offline can affect your success, says Jurgen. He also adds the importance of working hard and having your own distinctive style as an artist.
There are so many artists in the industry, and to convince people to buy your product/service, you must stand out from the rest. This doesn’t mean you should try to please others and “fake it till you make it,” adds Jurgen. You just have to be true to yourself, and your fan base will find you.
In an effort to curb violent confrontations among young teens in the Chicago area, veteran music executive Stan Sheppard is going on a public relations campaign to ask the two major radio stations in the city of Chicago, WGCI-FM & 92.3-FM, to curtail playing new songs which may promote gang violence, drug dealing, and manufacturing during daily school hours.
Stan Sheppard estimates that the out-of-control gang violence in and around Chicago has taken over 400 people’s lives this year alone and can be expected to top 650 murders by year’s end given the current trend.
Sheppard is not advocating for music censorship, he is only asking if the major radio stations could consider holding off on playing songs that call for Black-on-Black violence while the young teenagers are heading to-and-from school.
Speaking to Chad Kiser, Sheppard poses a simple question, “Why can’t the radio stations play the more gangster-type of music after 6:00 PM when the teens are off the school grounds?”
He continues by saying, “that the music amps up the young teens during school hours and the aggressive nature of the gang-inspired lyrics could potentially lead directly to confrontations on and off the school sites”.
Stan Sheppard’s musical list of clients he has launched and managed during his career in rap music while selling over 24 million records worldwide since 1994, includes the multi-platinum/gold-selling artists DJ Quik, DJ Battlecat, KoKane, Suga Free, and Mausberg.
Prince’s estate recently shut down Bang Energy’s attempt to trademark the phrase “purple rain.”
A tribunal at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office formally rejected energy drink company Bang’s attempt to trademark the phrase “purple rain” for their brand.
A Bang Energy subsidiary requested the trademark in 2020 for use on their energy drinks, dietary supplements, and sports beverages.
However, the judges decided that the phrase “uniquely and unmistakably” belongs to the late musician Prince, who released his iconic song “Purple Rain” in 1984.
“Consumers encountering applicant’s mark, when used in connection with applicant’s goods, will presume a connection between ‘purple rain’ and Prince,” one judge said during the ruling.
As evidence, the ruling cited a survey that asked respondents “what comes to mind” when hearing the phrase; approximately 63 percent responded with Prince, his album, single, or musical film of the same name.
Attorneys for the Prince estate wrote in their filing to oppose the trademark: “For the great majority of consumers, the only significance the term ‘purple rain’ has is to identify Prince and the image he made famous.”
After the verdict was handed down, Bang Energy CEO Jack Owoc said in a statement that he was a “big fan” of the artist.
He added, “We greatly respect Prince and his estate and will not ‘rain’ on their parade. Maybe we can negotiate a deal in the future that is mutually beneficial to both parties.”
Nico Chiara is no stranger to success in the music industry. Since he was just a child Nico knew he was destined to make music. Drawing inspiration from a variety of influences throughout his life. “I’ve always been known for my modern, yet classical sound. My beats always give the artist and listeners a sense of familiarity.” Nico Chiara when asked about his influences in music.
Chiara adamantly believes in his creative process, and that in order to create the right vibe on a track the surrounding energy must match that mood. “The creative process starts much earlier for me than in the studio, I think a lot about my next session and let my environment, my vibe/mood flow into the music. When I’m in a bad mood I definitely can’t make a happy beat – technically yes, but the beat would be soulless.”
The time and countless hours of work that Nico has put into his craft are evident. He’s never seen any other option but to achieve success in the music industry. So what’s next for Nico?
“ Getting my sound back on the Billboards charts again”. When asked if he could change anything in the industry and Chiara humbly responds, “That young artist has more opportunities to be heard.” Nico signed off with a message to those artists on their way up..
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has reunited with Dr. Dre following their feud.
The hip-hop mogul took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a slideshow of himself and the legendary producer at work in the recording studio.
“Yesterday, one of my biggest dreams finally came true,” he wrote in the caption. “I remember the first time I heard @drdre’s production. It gave me clear direction on the level of Producer that I wanted to be. Last night, I got the chance to work with this man and to see his genius as he coached me through vocals. He reminded me of myself, but with a different style and way more focused. I gotta step my focus up!”
Calling the recording session “a great experience,” Diddy noted that he was thrilled to team up with Dre.
“I hope one day ya’ll get to have the same experience with someone that you always looked up to as a hero,” the 52-year-old added.
The issues led to the murders of both labels, marquee artists Tupac Shakur who was shot and killed in an unsolved murder in 1996, and the notorious big, who was gunned down 7 months later in 1997.
Diddy and Dre’s collaboration also comes eight years after they feuded over Apple’s purchase of the entrepreneur’s headphones brand Beats.
Back in May 2014, Tyrese Gibson shared a video online revealing that Apple bosses were purchasing the brand for $3.2 billion before the deal was finalized.
When Diddy saw the clip, he told Beats co-founder Jimmy Iovine, which led Apple chief executive Tim Cook to drop $200 million from the deal.
However, Diddy denied the pair held any longstanding resentment toward each other when he invited Dre onstage during the final night of the Bad Boys Reunion Tour in 2016
Dua Lipa’s lawyer has insisted she’s “never heard” the tracks she is accused of infringing in a copyright lawsuit about her song “Levitating.”
The singer was sued in March by songwriters L. Russell Brown and Sandy Linzer, who claimed that the singer copied their 1979 song “Wiggle and Giggle All Night” and 1980 tune “Don Diablo.”
The songwriting duo alleged that Levitating is “substantially similar” to “Wiggle and Giggle All Night,” stealing its “signature melody” and “compositional elements.”
Lawyer Christine Lepera, representing Dua and her co-defendants, responded by filing a letter to a federal judge in New York.
In the letter, she insisted that the case should be dismissed immediately as Dua had no access or exposure to the tracks cited in the lawsuit.
“The “Levitating” writers never heard the (plaintiffs’) compositions. The alleged similarities – a descending scale in which each pitch is repeated on evenly spaced notes and a common clave rhythm – are unprotectable, and the result of the coincidental use of basic musical building blocks,” the letter to Hon. Katherine Polk Failla reads, reports Rolling Stone.
Lepera argued that the lawsuit “fails to plausibly allege a particular chain of events leading to access”, meaning there’s no evidence that Dua came into contact with “Wiggle and Giggle All Night.”
“With respect to ‘Wiggle,’ the complaint merely alleges it achieved certain success in the Netherlands four decades ago. This does not establish ‘saturation,’ and there is no allegation that the songwriters of Levitating were in the Netherlands – or, indeed, had even been born – at that time,” she added.
The songwriters’ attorney Jason T Brown said they were preparing to file a “full rebuttal” to the letter later this week.
Dua lipa also faces a separate copyright infringement lawsuit over “Levitating.”
Actor and ex-Fox News commentator who once feverishly supported former President Donald Trump, Stacey Dash, tearfully mourned rapper DMX on TikTok a year and a half after his premature demise.
The controversial influencer gave a heartfelt warning about addiction, including sharing personal details about her own sobriety.
The cousin of Dame Dash, Hip-Hop mogul and founder of Roc-A-Fella Records, at one time, the “Clueless” actor used to rock with rap’s elite and most likely crossed paths with The Dog.
But over the years, as evidenced by her recent appearance on BET’s Celebrity College Hill, she has disassociated with many things Black.
But in a video released on Wednesday, Aug. 31, her inner Tonya, Diane, Lori, Carla, and three times Kim, emerged to mourn an artist, she said was a great guy.
I was strolling through #tiktok and found a #DMX song that has saved me many times. Suddenly it says #RIP i know I am late, i did not know he passed away, he #OD I am heartbroken – he was such a great guy. #devestated#staceydash#fyp#sober
The caption of the video read, “I was strolling through #tiktok and found a #DMX song that has saved me many times. Suddenly it says #RIP i know I am late, i did not know he passed away, he #OD I am heartbroken – he was such a great guy. #devestated#staceydash#fyp#sober”
In the footage, a devastated Dash sobbed, “Ok, y’all. I was shamed. I didn’t know DMX died.”
“I didn’t know [he died] from a cocaine overdose,” she said before revealing that she is now “six years and one month clean.”
In 2021, Dash revealed she had a secret addiction to drugs to Dr. Oz. “It breaks my heart he lost to it … he lost to that demon of addiction,” the New York native said.
Adding a request to others, “Please, please don’t lose.”
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), in 2017, 19.7 million Americans (aged 12 and older) battled some form of substance use disorder. Drug addiction does not indicate that one person is bad, though some bad people are addicts. Genetics account for about 40% to 60% of a person’s risk of addiction, making it a medical condition and not a criminal one.
AllHipHop.com echoes Ms. Dash’s plea for people not to lose to addition.
If you are struggling with abuse, please contact someone for help. One can reach out to the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration’s national hotline at 1-800-662-4357.
It seems that multi-hyphenate Kanye West will not be selling his Wyoming home after all.
Reports are not showing the producer and native Chicagoan took the $11 million ranch off the market earlier in the summer.
According to the NY Post, Yeezy purchased the 3,888-acre compound in 2019, the first of two ranches he has in the state. The property is known as Monster Lake and was originally bought for $8 million. West owns three of the eight parcels on Monster Lake ranch.
On the parcels, Kanye has eight luxury cabins, set up to accommodate 20 guests, a saloon, a restaurant, and meeting spaces. He recently constructed two new luxury cabins on the shoreline.
The parcel, called No. 7, consists of 640 acres and may be used for farming or hunting purposes. After the rapper put his Midas touch on the estate, creating a mystique throughout all the entertainment industry by recording hundreds of songs (some we may never hear), he increased its value.
The other property is 6,700 acres and ran him about $14.5 million and is located an estimated 50 miles away from Monster Lake.
In 2020, he boasted about his love for real estate, and attributed it to his personal maturation, tweeting “We have to evolve … Buy property … Buy land.”
