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Blueface’s Mother Blasts The Rapper After He Calls Her “Weird” & “Strange”

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: News
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The family feud involving Johnathan “Blueface” Porter and his mother continues to play out in public.

Blueface and Karlissa Saffold have clashed several times on social media. In particular, Saffold has been critical of her son’s relationship with Chrisean Rock. The latest round in their personal beef played out on Instagram last night.

Saffold shared a clip on her Instagram Story from Blueface’s recent interview with RapTV. During the sitdown, the “Thotiana” rapper made it clear he is not on good terms with his mom.

“F### that lady. I don’t have a mom. She’s weird. She’s strange. I don’t know what her motive is, her angle. I don’t know what she’s trying to accomplish with her outreaches,” said Blueface.

In addition to sharing a video of Blueface’s comments, Karlissa Saffold posted a series of messages denouncing her son. Those Instagram Stories of her essentially excommunicating the 26-year-old entertainer went viral on social media blogs.

“He said F his own son’s birthday and I’m strange, 😭,” wrote Saffold about Blueface. “Boy, I’m not even praying for you no more. Get someone else to do it.”

She then added, “[Blueface] don’t have a dad. He don’t have a BM. He don’t have a brother. He don’t have a sister. He don’t have a granny. He don’t have a friend. He don’t have a God. But I’m weird. Everyone else [is] the problem but you.”

Karlissa Saffold also posted, “This ninja said F everyone but the people who [are] leaching off him. You are the world’s biggest weirdo. When [they’re] done with you, I pray you ask God for forgiveness.”

Questlove, Halle Berry & More Demand Justice For Ralph Yarl  

By: London Jennn Updated Category: News
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Multiple celebrities have joined the demands for justice for 16-year-old Ralph Yarl, who was shot in the head after knocking on the wrong door by mistake. 

84-year-old white man Andrew Lester Yarl pleaded not guilty during a hearing Wednesday, per Associated Press. He was freed after posting a $20,000 bond.  

Yarl was shot at point-blank range in the head and once in the arm after ringing Lester’s doorbell. He was picking up his younger twin brothers but arrived at the wrong address.

The Yarl family attorney is urging the Department of Justice to charge Lester with a hate crime. Lee Merritt said Yarl “was armed only with his Black skin.” 

In the criminal Complaint, Lester said he did not want to shoot the Black teen but claimed: “He was ‘scared to death’ due to the male’s size.” The homeowner stated that Ralph Yarl was a “Black male approximately 6 feet tall,” several inches off Yarl’s actual height of 5 foot 8. 

Prosecutors charged Lester with first-degree felony assault and first-degree armed criminal action. He faces life in prison if convicted.  

Despite his injuries, the brave teenager is recovering after being released from the hospital Saturday. His attorney says it’s a “miracle” that the bullet in his head did not cause more extensive damage.”  

Celebrities Demand Justice For Ralph Yarl

The shooting has caused widespread outrage across the nation, reigniting the national debate surrounding gun laws. Many Black parents around the country fear their child being perceived as older and a threat.  

Talib Kweli took to Instagram to share his support for Ralph Yarl and pointed to the fears Black parents endure.  

“This is what Black parents have to teach our children to watch out for and they still try to tell us we are lying about our experiences with racism. They still chastise us for saying our lives matter,” he penned in the caption of a video about the teen’s shooting a miraculous recovery.  

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CrHvFDcAjyZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Questlove said the incident ‘hit a lil too close to home,’ for him and shared a comic strip about the tragic shooting.  

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Meanwhile, hundreds of Staley High School students walked out of school for a march in support of their classmate.  

Halle Berry and Justin Timberlake also joined the demands for action, taking to Twitter to urge the public to contact prosecutors.  

“This innocent child is now fighting for his life,’ wrote the Oscar-winning actress. This could be your child. This should NOT happen. Please do something today!” 

Marques Houston Slammed By Former Bandmate Over Comments About Women 

By: London Jennn Updated Category: News
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Marques Houston has come under fire over a number of interviews he gave discussing his teen wife. 

Earlier this month, the Sister, Sister actor addressed the nearly 20-year age gap after marrying his wife when she was 19 and he was 38. Marques Houston says he met Miya Dickey when she was just 17 years. However, he claims the pair had “no real connection until, you know, she was of age.” 

Following the interview, Marques Houston faced accusations of grooming the then-teenager. He then garnered further criticism when he attempted to address the backlash head-on.  

In a follow-up interview, Marques Houston called single mothers a “red flag,” who often come with “baggage.” The 41-year-old also said he doesn’t like “women with funky attitudes,” and said most women his age are “very independent,” whereas he prefers to “provide for my wife.” 

On Wednesday, Jerome Jones, aka “Romeo” of Immature fame, condemned his former bandmate’s remarks. He began by explaining he felt compelled to address the issue despite mourning the loss of his brother. Romeo apologized for the “insensitive statements,” saying, “It is never ok to degrade one group of women in order to praise another.” 

He continued, declaring, “We were raised by a tribe of strong independent women,” before addressing the struggles and hardships women face. He also spoke on the specific pressures Black women encounter and pointed to “colorism in the entertainment industry.” 

Romeo also highlighted the support of loyal Immature fans, “some who happen to now be hardworking single mothers.” He concluded by distancing himself from Marques Houston’s remarks: “His views do not reflect those of the group.” 

Read his statement in full below.  

Instagram: Romeo

Frank Ocean Cancels Upcoming Coachella Headline Set After “Chaotic” First Show 

By: London Jennn Updated Category: News
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Frank Ocean will not return to the Coachella stage this weekend after receiving backlash over his first show, which was plagued with mishaps. 

Critics and fans alike widely panned the Grammy Award-winner’s headline set on Sunday (Apr. 16) at the 2023 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.  

The R&B singer’s agency shared a statement confirming his withdrawal on Wednesday.  

“Frank Ocean will not be performing at weekend 2 of Coachella,” Huxley confirmed, per NME.  

The announcement confirmed reports that the original stage production featured an ice rink and skaters. The plan was supposedly canceled after Frank Ocean suffered an injury. Huxley’s statement backs up the speculation and says Frank scrapped his second set on doctor’s orders.  

“After suffering an injury to his leg on festival grounds in the week leading up to weekend 1. Frank Ocean was unable to perform the intended show but was still intent on performing, and in 72 hours, the show was reworked out of necessity. On doctor’s advice, Frank Ocean is not able to perform weekend 2 due to two fractures and a sprain in his left leg. 

Frank Ocean also shared his own statement, acknowledging the failings of last Sunday’s Coachella set.  

“It was chaotic,’ he said before adding, “There is some beauty in chaos. It isn’t what I intended to show but I did enjoy being out there and I’ll see you soon.” 

Coachella is yet to announce a replacement headliner, but sources suggest Blink-182 will step in.  

Meanwhile, earlier this week, Justin Bieber defended Frank Ocean, saying he was “blown away” buhs Coachella set.

Jonathan Majors Accuses Cops Of “Clearly Coaching” Girlfriend, Claims Video Will Clear Him Of Assault 

By: London Jennn Updated Category: News
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Johnathan Majors claims he has video evidence and a witness that will clear him of assaulting his girlfriend amid reports that other alleged victims will testify against him.  

The actor also claims that cops “coached” the woman into making the claim that Majors “grabbed her by the throat,” and that she went out clubbing after the alleged altercation, and video evidence will prove she was not injured.  

TMZ reports Jonathan Majors’ attorney Priya Chaudhry says the driver of the vehicle where the altercation took place saw the alleged victim assault Majors “while she was attempting to steal his phone.”  

In new court documents filed on Wednesday (Apr. 19), Jonathan Majors’ attorney says the driver will testify to seeing the woman “hitting, scratching, and attacking” Jonathan Majors and claims the actor never attacked her “in any way at any time.” He will also state Jonathan Majors never “even raised his voice” and asked the driver to stop the car so he could get away from the woman.  

The alleged victim claims she suffered a broken finger and a laceration behind her ear during the incident. The lawyer says evidence will show that is a “complete lie.” 

New Filing Claims Jonathan Majors’ Accuser Went Clubbing After Alleged Attack

Included in the new filing are CCTV screenshots of the alleged victim. Chaudhry says the images show the woman drunk while out partying after the alleged attack. The attorney claims the woman uses her hand throughout the night and appears uninjured.  

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They claim the woman texted Jonathan Majors during her night out, accusing him of being unfaithful and threatening suicide. The attorney says the alleged victim let herself into the actor’s apartment after she ended her night out. He was not home, and she called him over 30 times and sent him several angry texts.  

According to the court filings, the woman does not accuse Jonathan Majors of assaulting her in any of the messages. She also does not mention any alleged injuries.  

 Chaudhry says Majors returned home shortly after 11 A.M. the following morning when he found her in his walk-in closet. The actor called paramedics. When they arrived, the woman allegedly stated she did not know what happened to her.  

The attorney also states body cam footage of her police interview shows cops “clearly coaching her to say that Mr. Majors grabbed her by the throat.” According to the legal docs, this was the first time the alleged victim made that claim.  

Jonathan Majors’ legal team also issued a statement following a report that more alleged abuse victims have come forward and are cooperating with the D.A. 

“Jonathan Majors is innocent and has not abused anyone. We have provided irrefutable evidence to the District Attorney that the charges are false. We are confident that he will be fully exonerated,” Chaudhry stated, per People. 

Jonathan Majors Has More Alleged Victims, New Report Says

By: Houston Williams Updated Category: News
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It looks like Jonathan Majors will have more compelling evidence against him when he appears in court on May 8. Multiple alleged abuse victims are preparing to come forward to speak out against the superstar actor as he faces charges that he assaulted his girlfriend, according to a new report.

Sources with Variety magazine say that there are a number of previous alleged victims that are cooperating with the Manhattan district attorneys office.

The district attorney did not comment for this breaking story and Jonathan Majors did not comment on the record. Disney reps have not commented either.

Majors was arrested on March 25th in Manhattan and charged with multiple counts of assault and harassment allegedly involving a 30-year-old woman, presumed to be his girlfriend. 

His lawyer has steadfastly denied the allegations against Majors.

The “Creed III” star has either been dropped or parted ways from a number of entities including Entertainment 360, his management team. The actor’s personal behavior was the reported reason for the severance and the recent case was not specified.

The Lede Company, his PR firm, has dropped him as well. Italian fashion house Valentino disinvited him to the glamorous Met Gala on May 1st.

New Fake Drake Songs Are Getting The RIAA’s Attention!

By: illseed Updated Category: Rumors
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The AI movement is not slowing down and the songs are getting better and better. Clearly, there are actual humans behind these records, but there is a clear shift, I think. It seems to me that the fans are down with this. Check these two NEW songs out. Remember, these are not the new era Goat, Drizzy Drake.

AI can’t do this:

https://twitter.com/realhiphopfan__/status/1648847095254663180?s=20

Nevertheless, people online are loving the AI Drake, but the RIAA is not about to let you people start creating hit records for Drake and they not get a cut. They have started removing songs already. One of them hit me with this message.

Next the FBI is going to be raiding MFers momma’s basements and taking laptops.

The Weeknd Drake song in AI had put up incredible numbers.

now has 20m streams in under 48 hours.

TikTok: 13m

Twitter: 5.3m

Spotify: 254k (<24 hours)

Youtube: 144k

Soundcloud: 84k

And those are from the other day.

Thoughts?

GloRilla Sued By New Orleans Rap OG Over “Tomorrow” Sample

By: Justin Ivey Updated Category: News
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GloRilla faces a lawsuit accusing her of jacking a ‘90s New Orleans rap song for her hit single “Tomorrow.”

According to TMZ, Ivory “Mobo Joe” Paynes sued GloRilla for sampling Dog House Posse’s track “Street of the Westbank” without permission. Mobo Joe claimed “Tomorrow” features key parts of the Dog House Posse song.

Mobo Joe is best known as the founder of the New Orleans Hip-Hop label Mobo Records. Dog House Posse released their album Dope Gets No Heavier on Mobo Records in 1994.

GloRilla dropped the original version of “Tomorrow” in July 2022. It was featured on the Collective Music Group compilation Gangsta Art. Cardi B appeared on a remix titled “Tomorrow 2,” which arrived in September 2022.

“Tomorrow” was GloRilla’s first song to crack the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at No. 9 on the chart. The single earned a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America in November 2022.

Mobo Joe’s lawsuit named GloRilla, producer Macaroni Toni, Collective Music Group, Warner Chappell Music and Sony/ATV Music as defendants. Cardi B wasn’t named in the complaint.

Listen to Mobo Joe discuss his career and New Orleans rap history on the Donnie Houston Podcast below.

R. Kelly Blames Biased Jury & Bad Evidence For Sex Crimes Conviction In New York

By: Justin Ivey Updated Category: News
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R. Kelly appealed his conviction for sex trafficking and racketeering in New York.

According to court documents obtained by AllHipHop, R. Kelly’s lawyer Jennifer Bonjean argued her client didn’t receive a fair trial in his appeal. The attorney cited several examples of how the disgraced singer was allegedly wronged by the government.

Bonjean claimed the jury wasn’t impartial. The lawyer said at least four jurors were unfit to serve in R. Kelly’s trial.

“Defendant is entitled to a new trial where the record shows that at a minimum, four of the seated jurors (Jurors 3, 4, 5, & 12) were not qualified to serve,” Bonjean wrote. “Two of them had watched the inflammatory, tabloid docuseries Surviving R. Kelly.”

She added, “Trial counsel’s performance was objectively unreasonable when he failed to move to disqualify patently unqualified jurors and failed to conduct any meaningful voir dire of prospective jurors who expressed their prejudgment of the case. Defendant was prejudiced by his counsel’s substandard performance where it resulted in the seating of at least four jurors who were actually biased and could not act with impartiality.”

Bonjean suggested much of the evidence against R. Kelly was insufficient. She also criticized the court for allowing “bad character evidence” to be presented at the trial.

“Defendant’s trial was engulfed by irrelevant and excessive bad character evidence that added little to the jury’s assessment of whether Defendant committed the charged offenses,” Bonjean wrote. “Indeed, the six-week trial was comprised overwhelmingly of uncharged bad act evidence that served no legitimate evidentiary purpose. With the court’s blessing, the government smuggled in a mass of repugnant conduct under the guise that the evidence demonstrated the ‘means and method’ of a non-existent enterprise.

She continued, “This case was not about an enterprise; it was about the conduct of one man who the government sought to punish for his alleged history of mistreating women. As such, the mountain of bad act evidence offered in this prosecution was nothing more than inadmissible and unduly prejudicial propensity evidence. Because Defendant was forced to defend against dozens of uncharged claims of abusive and sexual misbehavior – much of it lawful albeit unpalatable for some – Defendant was stripped of the presumption of innocence and denied a fair trial.”

A New York judge sentenced R. Kelly to 30 years in prison for his sex crimes. His appeal seeks to overturn his conviction or grant him a new trial.

Yung Miami Calls It Quits With Diddy & Flushes “Pee Diddy” Jokes Down The Drain

By: Justin Ivey Updated Category: News
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Yung Miami officially ended her romance with Diddy.

The City Girls rapper revealed their breakup in an interview with The Cut. Yung Miami remained friends with Diddy but insisted they’re single now.

“That’s not my man,” she said. “We had our own situation. I’m not gonna put a title on it. We were f###### with each other hard. We were together every day at one point. He supported me, I supported him. I’ll let the internet call it whatever they want to call it.”

Yung Miami also addressed the “Pee Diddy” talk, which became a social media topic after she admitted to enjoying golden showers in January. The Quality Control Music artist noted she never claimed Diddy urinated on her.

“I never said he was the one I did that with,” she said. “Sex is a part of life. I’m grown, and maybe I talk about it too much, but everybody’s got their personal experiences. Some people get s###### on. Some people live life on the edge, some people boring as f###. I watch a lot of p###, b###### get peed on. If we grown and we in the house just chilling and want to talk about sex, what’s wrong with that?”

Rumors about Diddy dating Yung Miami first surfaced in 2021. They confirmed their relationship on an episode of the Caresha Please podcast in 2022.

Chucky Trill Killer Hit With Life In Prison For Rapper’s Murder

By: Justin Ivey Updated Category: News
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A judge sentenced James Thomas to life in prison for the murder of Texas rapper Chucky Trill.

According to multiple reports, Thomas received a life sentence without the possibility of parole. He was convicted of malice murder, aggravated assault and using a firearm during the commission of a crime.

“The jury found that the defendant’s ‘digital fingerprints’ and threats against [Chucky Trill] established the guilt of the defendant,” the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office said, per The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Chucky Trill, whose real name was Corey Detiege, was shot and killed during NBA All-Star Weekend in Atlanta in March 2021. The 33-year-old artist was driving when his killer fired multiple shots from another vehicle on the interstate.

Police identified the shooter’s vehicle with the help of traffic cameras and license plate scanners. Authorities arrested Thomas in December 2021.

Chucky Trill’s wife told police about the link between her husband and Thomas. The later rapper’s wife said Thomas resented her husband over a 2020 drug deal in Houston.

“Mrs. Detiege stated that the defendant was nicknamed ‘Legz’ because he had previously lost both legs below the knees in a train accident,” the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office said, per Fox 5 Atlanta. “The suspect vehicle was registered to James Thomas, who also had a driver’s license restriction of ‘prosthetics required.’”

Chucky Trill’s murder case was featured in an episode of the A&E series The First 48. The episode premiered in 2022.

Young Thug’s Lawyer Gets Threatened With Jail Time By Trial Judge

By: Kershaw St. Jawnson Updated Category: News
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Tensions were running high in the Superior Fulton County court where rapper Young Thug is currently fighting a monumental RICO charge.

He and his other co-defendants might not be the only ones behind bars. According to a tweet by Law & Crime, the judge overseeing the trial has threatened to send his lawyer to “20 days in jail if he doesn’t complete the 17-page essay he was assigned after being held in contempt of court. “

The paper that the lawyer, Mr. Johnson, has to write is on “The Importance of Professionalism in the Legal Field and  Treating One’s Opponents with Civility.”

Judge Ural Glanville asked about the status of the paper, clearly instructing the lawyer not to have his assistant write it. Thug’s lawyer said, “I haven’t started.”

Johnson then asked about paying a “$250 fine,” but the judge gave it back to him saying “That wasn’t offered to you.”

Glanville said, “You already asked me, ‘could I pay the $1000’ and I told you, ‘no.’”

The paper has to be done on April 28th at noon and must be a scholarly work that could be published in a legal review. The judge asked for 10 primary and 10 secondary sources.

When the lawyer says he has never been published, stating how hard it would be for him to complete the assignment, the judge didn’t care.

If the paper isn’t in, Thug’s lawyer might be sharing a bunk.

African Rapper Obrafour Demands $10 Million From Drake Over Theft Claim

By: Kershaw St. Jawnson Updated Category: News
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Rapper Drake is being sued again.

This time it is by Ghanaian rapper Michael Eliot Kwabena Okyere Darko, also known as Obrafour. Obrafour is suing Drake, OVO Sound, Republic Records, and the Universal Music Group for no less than $10 million in damages.

According to Modernghana News, the Canadian chart-topper sampled his “Oye Ohene (Remix)” without permission, prompting this recent copyright infringement lawsuit.

Court records say Drake’s lawyers did try and get clearance on June 8 and again on June 13 of last year, saying only “Hi confirming you received this email thanks [sic]’”

However, the elements of the song he wanted to use in his song “Calling My Name” were not cleared.

On June 17th, even without getting the blessing from the artist and his label to use the sample, the song appeared on the Grammy Award-winner’s seventh studio album “Honestly Nevermind.”

AllHipHop.com reported that around the same time as this song was released, Drake was sued by another African artist for copyright infringement.

In court documents obtained by our platform, Micheldeangelou Perfvwaybelayou—who goes by the rap moniker Angelou Skywalker—accused Drake of stealing his song “Reach For Skies” for “Way 2 Sexy.”

He claimed Drake’s label, Universal Music Group, had access to his song when he uploaded it to the UMG-owned site, Spinnup.

In December, a judge determined there weren’t enough similarities between the two songs to warrant a victory. 

“The court finds that while Plaintiff does allege ownership of a valid copyright, he does not allege facts to show Defendants’ access to Plaintiff’s song nor substantial similarity,” the docs read. “The court grants defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiff’s complaint in its entirety.”

It continued: “The common short words that Plaintiff emphasizes in both his and Defendants’ songs are not protectable elements of his work. They are similar to––and in some instances, more ubiquitous than––other words and phrases that courts have held not to be protectable. Here, common words like ‘sexy,’ ‘yeah,’ ‘kickin’,’ ‘okay,’ ‘action,’ ‘scenes,’ ‘where,’ ‘been,’ ‘today,’ ‘make,’ and ‘hundreds,’ among others that Plaintiff emphasized, are not protectable, nor is a phrase like ‘wa-pow.’”

Obrafour’s lawsuit seems to be very different. It is clear the artist wanted to use a portion of the original material, email those wishes but jumped the gun and put it out without written permission.

NBA YoungBoy Launches New Louisiana-Inspired Clothing Line

By: Kershaw St. Jawnson Updated Category: News
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Louisiana rapper NBA YoungBoy has launched a new exclusive apparel collection with Westside Merchandising.

A new press release announced the “Outside Today” chart-topper has created his own Never Broke Again Clothing, LLC, and forged its first partnership with Westside Merchandising, one of the top merch and retail apparel manufacturers in the country. In the past, the brand has worked on several notable collaborations with multiple artists and influencers like Mount Westmore, Snoop, Ice-Cube, E-40, and Too Short, as well as The Source Magazine.

“We’re thrilled to be working with NBA YoungBoy on this collection,” said Seth Anderson, Head of Brand Development at Westside. “He’s one of the most talented and influential artists in the game right now, and we’re honored to be able to bring his vision to life through our streetwear.”

The collaboration hopes to capture all that fans have come to love about the rapper and stitch it into the very fabric of the brand.

The first run of the clothing line will include a capsule of graphic t-shirts that give bold cultural nods to his home state and the very aesthetic of his particular kind of southern living.

Later, the team plans on adding to the collection and incorporating hoodies, hats, and other forms of streetwear.

Already, the Spring seems to be heating up for the rapper. He plans to release a new album on Friday, April 21 titled “Don’t Try This At Home.”

On the evening before the project’s release, the troubled artist who is still on house arrest in Utah will host a “record release party” for his fans. It will be livestreamed from the Elevate Lounge in downtown Los Angeles and 50 Cent’s Branson Cognac will serve as a sponsor.

The NBA YoungBoy x Westside Merchandising collection will be available for purchase online at www.neverbrokeagainllc.com and on Instagram at @never_broke_again (Never Broke Again Brand).

Items will also be available in select retailers, Spencer’s, Hot Topic, and Zoomies, as well as on YoungBoy’s own e-commerce store for sales worldwide starting on April 20, 2023.

KRS-One To Launch 50th Anniversary Series At The Birthplace Of Hip-Hop, 1520 Sedgwick

By: Kershaw St. Jawnson Updated Category: News
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The Blastmaster KRS-One is returning to the birthplace of Hip-Hop to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the culture.

On Tuesday, April 25, the lyricist and historian will launch Birthplaceofhiphop.nyc, a website and in-person series featuring multiple community-based programs including a masterclass in Hip Hop curated and hosted by the Bronx native.

All of the events will happen in the exact location with Hip-Hop started, the Community Center at 1520 Sedgwick Ave.

According to a press release, in addition to classes, there will also be popup exhibits that showcase and celebrate the origins of Hip-Hop. Even greater, the rapper whose real name is Lawrence “Kris” Parker, will also teach about the current era of Hip-Hop and how the younger generation expresses the culture.

“The 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop is a global movement that speaks to the grit, voice, and power of how it came to be in the first place – we used our voices when they tried to silence us. We used our creativity when they tried to stifle us,” KRS-One stated.

Adding, “We created the culture because we wanted to stand out and stand up for our artistry. Hip Hop is the people’s movement. I am excited to showcase this to the world in the space where it all began at 1520 Sedgwick in the Community Center. It feels right to be here, where it all began.”

The “Step Into a World” artist will also launch on Friday, April 28 at 12:01 a.m. a logo competition for the series to celebrate the 50th Anniversary. The competition will close on May 31st at 11:59 p.m.

The winning design must include the elements of Hip Hop “necessary to both celebrate the 50th Anniversary while inspiring future generations to continue to grow.”

“I’m especially excited about this global logo contest, we’re calling all creatives, designers, graffiti artists to show us their best representation of what Hip Hop is,” KRS-One said. “As Hip Hop marks this historic milestone, we look to this generation of Hip Hop creatives, designers, and enthusiasts, to create the official logo of Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary.”

All of this activity leads up to August 11, 1973, when the world will pause to celebrate the birth of one of the world’s most influential global movements (i.e., Christianity, the transatlantic slave trade, etc.)

The 1520 Sedgwick Avenue Community Center is a historical landmark where the first party started and this series will take place. For those who love the culture, it is considered “sacred ground.”

Alicia Keys To Present “Keys To The Summer Tour” As A 360-Degree Experience

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: News
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This week, Alicia Keys announced a North American summer concert tour beginning June 28 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Alicia Keys will present the Live Nation-produced “Keys To The Summer Tour” as a 360-degree, “in the round” production. The R&B legend plans to perform in more than 20 arenas across the continent.

“The ‘Keys To The Summer Tour’ is going to be completely unforgettable and unmissable!” says Alicia Keys. “I describe it as a celebration of freedom and self-liberation! It’s going to be colorful, magical, and will light up your body, soul, and all of your senses!”

The New York City-bred songstress continues, “This is my first time creating a 360 experience and we’ve made sure it’s like nothing you’ve ever seen! I’m so excited to see y’all this summer!” That leg of the trek closes out in Los Angeles, California on August 2.

Throughout her three-decade career, Alicia Keys scored five No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 chart, including her 2001 debut studio LP Songs in A Minor. Keys also has four No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Additionally, Alicia Keys is one of the winningest music acts in Grammy Award history. She has won a total of 15 Grammys since 2002. The accomplished songwriter currently ties Gospel icon CeCe Winans for fifth place among female artists with the most Grammy wins.

General sale tickets for Alicia Keys’s “Keys To The Summer Tour” will go on sale starting Friday, April 21 at 9 am local time. Pre-sale tickets will run from Tuesday, April 18 – Thursday, April 20. For more ticketing information visit LiveNation.com.

Justin Bieber Praises Frank Ocean’s Polarizing Coachella Performance

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: News
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The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival selected elusive R&B singer Frank Ocean to headline one night of the 2023 event. Ocean’s April 16 set in California garnered negative reactions online.

For example, The Guardian posted “Frank Ocean at Coachella review – a rollercoaster ending in disappointment.” Entertainment Weekly went with “Frank Ocean leaves fans stunned and angry after bizarre Coachella headlining performance.”

Variety ran an article titled, “Why Was Frank Ocean’s Coachella Set Such a Disappointing Mess?” In addition, Buzzfeed News published “Frank Ocean Performed For The First Time In Six Years At Coachella, And Fans Are Disappointed About The Experience.”

While many professional music writers panned Ocean’s Coachella concert, fellow music star Justin Bieber praised the “Novacane” hitmaker. Beiber took to Instagram to share his experience seeing Ocean’s show over the weekend.

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A post shared by Justin Bieber (@justinbieber)

“I was blown away by Frank Ocean’s Coachella performance. His artistry is simply unmatched, his style, his taste, his voice, his attention to detail,” wrote Justin Bieber. “I was deeply moved. It made me want to keep going and get better as an artist. He continues to set the bar high and gave me a night I will never forget! Thanks, Frank.”

According to TMZ, Ocean suffered an ankle injury from a bike accident during rehearsals a few days before the festival. The incident supposedly altered his production. The Odd Future affiliate will return to Indio, California’s Empire Polo Club for Coachella Festival Weekend 2 on April 23.

Frank Ocean gained national attention with his 2011 mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra. His 2012 album, Channel Orange, won the Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album. Ocean also released other full-length projects such as 2016’s Endless and 2016’s Blonde.

WE TV Greenlights ‘Toya & Reginae’ Reality Series

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: News
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Toya Johnson-Rushing will continue her career as a reality television personality. The WE tv network picked up a new series starring Lil Wayne’s ex-wife and their daughter Reginae Carter.

Variety reports Toya & Reginae is a spinoff of the Growing Up Hip Hop franchise. Both Toya Johnson-Rushing and Reginae Carter appeared in the Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta edition.

“I’m so excited to let viewers back into our lives to see what my family has been up to since you’ve seen us last,” stated Johnson-Rushing. Toya & Reginae will begin airing this fall on WE tv and the ALLBLK streaming platform.

Previously, Toya Johnson-Rushing served as a main cast member for BET’s Tiny and Toya reality show. Tiny and Toya ran for two seasons between 2009-2010. Plus, BET presented Toya: A Family Affair for one season in 2011.

Toya Johnson-Rushing’s reality show résumé also includes a stint on WE tv’s Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars. The New Orleans native and Reginae Carter showed up on VH1’s T.I. & Tiny: Friends & Family Hustle as well.

In addition to creating reality television content, Reginae Carter has several acting performances under her belt. The 24-year-old entertainer played characters in television movies such as Pride & Prejudice: Atlanta and Dear Santa, I Need a Date.

A 15-year-old Toya Johnson gave birth to Reginae Carter on November 29, 1998. Reginae’s father, Hip Hop legend Dwayne “Lil Wayne” Carter, was 16 years old at the time. Toya and Wayne married in 2004 before filing for divorce two years later.

Bills Player Damar Hamlin Cleared To Play After Suffering Cardiac Arrest

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: News
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Sports fans around the world were left concerned after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field during a Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on January 2.

It turns out Damar Hamlin went through cardiac arrest after tackling Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. Nearly four months later, Hamlin will officially return to the National Football League next season. He has been medically cleared.

“This event was life-changing, but it’s not the end of my story,” said Damar Hamlin during a press conference on Tuesday. “So I’m here to announce that I plan on making a comeback to the NFL.”

Damar Hamlin went on to confirm that doctors told him he suffered from a type of cardiac arrest known as commotio cordis. According to the 25-year-old Pennsylvania native, commotio cordis is the leading cause of death for youth athletes across all sports.

“My heart is still in the game. I love the game. It is something I want to prove to myself, not nobody else,” expressed Damar Hamlin. “I just wanna show people that fear is a choice, that you can keep going in something without having the answers and without knowing what’s at the end of the tunnel.”

Damar Hamlin added, “Or you might feel anxious, you might feel any type of way, but you just keep putting that right foot in front of the left one, and you keep going. I want to stand for that.” He also stated, “I died on national TV in front of the whole world. So, I see it from all perspectives.”

Early Bird Tickets For Jay-Z’s 2023 Made In America Festival Go On Sale

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: News
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Made In America returns to Philadelphia on Saturday, September 2 and Sunday, September 3. Roc Nation founder Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter curates the festival.

Early bird tickets and VIP packages are now available on the Miafest website. The annual two-day event scheduled for Labor Day Weekend has reportedly generated over $180 million in economic impact for the city of Philadelphia.

Last year’s Made In America Festival featured Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny and California rapper Tyler, The Creator as headliners. Lil Uzi Vert, Jazmine Sullivan, Burna Boy, and other acts also performed at the 2022 music showcase.

“The Made In America festival has become synonymous with Labor Day Weekend. 2022 was an overwhelming success with our headliners, Bad Bunny and Tyler, the Creator, all the amazing talent on the line-up, and the positive energy from all our attendees,” states Desiree Perez, CEO of Roc Nation.

Desiree Perez continues, “For 2023, we look forward to returning to the City Of Brotherly Love for another record-breaking year on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.” MIA organizers will announce additional information and the talent line-up in the coming weeks.

The initial Made In America Festival took place in September 2012. Jay-Z closed out the event on Saturday, September 1. Legendary Rock band Pearl Jam headlined night 2 on Sunday, September 2. Jay and Pearl Jam also teamed up to perform a live rendition of “99 Problems.”