Chance The Rapper has come under fire from fans online shocked at his behavior at Jamaica Carnival over the weekend.
The Chicago rapper celebrated a milestone birthday this year and headed over to Jamaica to celebrate at their annual carnival. However, many fans are questioning how things are at home with his wife, Kirsten Corley-Bennett, after several videos surfaced online of Chance grinding on some scantily clad booties during his 30th birthday celebrations.
One viral video sees Chance getting into the carnival spirit with some of the island’s dancers. The Coloring Book creator had to be held up by his entourage as he danced behind Trinidadian model and influencer Mela Mizz. He even playfully slapped her derriere a couple of times during the dance. Check out Chance winning on the costumed dancers in the clip below.
While Chance the Rapper appeared to have a great time during his Jamaica Carnival birthday celebrations, people online called him out for cheating on his wife. Some also questioned whether his actions were in contrast with his Christian beliefs.
“Hold up didnt he mess his career up with his i love my wife raps now this??? 🤦🏽♂️” wrote one person in the AllHipHop.com Instagram comments section.
“Never trust him again always thought he was Shystie,” said one, while another added, ”Isn’t he married and Christian?’ One commenter objected to the dancer’s outfit, or lack thereof: “And she’s almost nude no??”
Nonetheless, some fans were fully supportive of Chance the Rapper, claiming he was just having a good time.
“They’re mad at Chance the Rapper for “cheating on his wife” y’all 😂💀,” read one supportive tweet. “Don’t bring that European nonsense to this ethnic household and let that man enjoy Caribbean culture.”
They’re mad at Chance the Rapper for “cheating on his wife” y’all 😂💀 Don’t bring that European nonsense to this ethnic household and let that man enjoy Caribbean culture pic.twitter.com/9flOjCoD7y
A woman who starred in the Kanye West documentary jeen-yuhs has filed a lawsuit against Netflix and the movie’s directors, claiming she was exploited by the project’s release.
Filmmakers Coodie Simmons and Chike Ozah followed the G.O.O.D. Music founder for over two decades for the documentary, which debuted on Netflix last February. The film features early footage of the rapper and follows him throughout his career.
However, according to TMZ, a Chicago woman who appears in the documentary claims she’s changed her life in the 18 years since working with Ye, and the movie has dredged up a past she’s long moved on from.
In legal documents seen by the outlet, Cynthia Love claims she made a cameo in Kanye’s 2003 music video “Through the Wire.” She stated she was paid $20 for her appearance in the Coodie and Chike-directed visuals which begin with Love dancing in a restaurant.
However, in the lawsuit filed Monday (Apr. 17), Love told the court she was in an “altered state and not capable of providing consent” at the time of filming.
Furthermore, she claims the extended cut of the restaurant scene has triggered memories of a dark past. Love claims she has turned her life around in the year since and has been sober for nearly 18 years. According to Love, many of her friends and family were unaware of her background and jeen-yuhs, forcing her to confront her past.
In addition, Love told the court Coodie informed her son via text message that he assumed she had died and therefore never tried to locate her ahead of the documentary’s release.
In the suit, Love said the movie’s release has caused emotional distress and adversely impacted her reputation. She is seeking a minimum of $30K in damages.
I love Saw as one of the dopest, prettiest ladies in rap! Men want her, but only one man has her now. That man is YG! Quavo is way in the past now! Recently, it has been made new news that YG holds the key to her heart. And we hear he is smitten!
At a recent performance at Coachella, our spies captured the big homie YG in the crowd. What was he doing? He was watching his baby perform! Our spies said he was so excited to see her rock the crowd out there in Cali. This is a great thing.
What’s even greater is the rumor about how much he’s giving her to uphold her lifestyle. Rumor has it, YG basically gives her a blank “check” every month for her to spend as much as she wants. She is living lavishly! I hope he’s not going broke because his nose is open like that! But he apparently has a black card with a ridiculously high credit limit. She’s not there for his money, supposedly. I hope she isn’t too!
I was wondering what might make him spend so freely and then Saweetie posted the following:
Mike Tyson is one of the greatest boxers of all times. But you knew this already. We are beginning to find out that he may also be one of the great smokers of all time, too! The champ has recently made a startling proclamation. That should get a lot of people rethinking their attraction to cannabis. Iron Mike recently revealed that he smokes $40,000 worth of weed every single month. That is a lot of weed!
Mike Tyson made the crazy reveal in a recent podcast with rapper Wiz Khalifa. We know, both of these guys smoke a ton of reefer, but we had no idea that we were hitting this epidemic level. More importantly, Iron Mike said that weed is going to destroy people. What? Here is the exact quote he said on the latest episode of “Hotboxin With Mike Tyson.”
“We can’t stop it. It’s gonna run all over us. It’s gonna destroy us”
Wiz Khalifa didn’t exactly disagreed with iron Mike, but he also said that you have to know when to say when.
“I think it’s all good in the right amounts, because even if you smoke too much pot, you can get freaked out and have a crazy experience, but either you’re gonna learn how to handle that certain amount by trying more and more, or you just learn what is appropriate and what’s not,” he said.
Weed has been a serious topic recently, because not only is it being normalized, it’s being legalized. Mike uses it as a therapeutic drug, to help him manage his emotions. Now, the drug is legalized in 21 states in the US of A. There’s also been a lot of conversation about how many people are currently in jail based on weed and drug charges that are now antiquated. There’s also some scientific evidence that says that excessive use of cannabis can impact the brain necessary, particularly memory.
Any think you are doing too much of anything it is never going to be a good thing. What’s crazy is Wiz often uses psychoactive substances and that is different than regular weed. Hopefully they are being healthy overall and doing the right thing so that they can continue to be with us for a long time. As far as I’m concerned though Wiz is in great shape and Iron Mike is too!
Ali Alexander, a prominent pro-Trump activist known for his involvement in the “Stop the Steal” campaign, has recently come under fire after being accused of soliciting sexual images from teenage boys.
According to The Daily Beast, Alexander apologized, admitted to sending inappropriate messages, and regretted not verifying the identities of those he engaged with in flirtatious conversations.
“I apologize for any inappropriate messages sent over the years. When I’ve flirted or others have flirted with me, I’ve flexed my credentials or dropped corny pick up lines. Other times, I’ve been careless and should’ve qualified those coming up to me’s (sic) identities during flirtatious banter at the start,” Alexander said.
This news comes as Kanye West’s political aspirations continue to make headlines. Ye has reportedly backed out of the 2024 election after a significant falling out with far-right advocate Milo Yiannopoulos, who was fired from the campaign.
Yiannopoulos and other fringe leaders like Nick Fuentes had been instrumental in pushing West further into politics. The dispute occurred after West’s business suffered due to his promotion of a Nazi ideology.
In an interview with Kanye West, Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes revealed that West had hired Ali Alexander, an organizer of the January 6 events, to lead his political operation following his split with Yiannopoulos, as reported by RawStory.com.
However, McInnes later clarified that this information was only a “theory” and not a confirmed fact.
The association between Alexander and West raised eyebrows. Alexander and Fuentes were present during West’s controversial appearance on Infowars. During the livestream, West made a series of anti-Semitic comments, praising Nazi Germany and Adolf Hitler.
This latest development involving Alexander has stirred up controversy within the Maga Nation as critics of the far-right wing movement in the United States have a ball with the scandal.
And I thought I had heard it all today. And then, I logged into my Twitter account. And I found out that #AliAlexander has been soliciting boys for dic pics. Not pics of Dick Van D###. Nor Dick Cheney or Dick Clark. Just Dic.🫢🫨😬 Boy dic’s. America has a perversion sickness.
In a provocative move, Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) has proposed a new vaccine bill named “The Minaj Act” after rapper Nicki Minaj.
According to reports, the bill aims to establish a development period for new vaccines to boost public confidence.
Ahem.
Rep. George Santos just dropped seven bills in the hopper. Among them, The Minaj Act, named for — yes, you guessed it — rapper Nikki Minaj that establishes a development period for new vaccines in order to generate public confidence.
Nicki encouraged her fans to pray and make decisions based on their comfort levels, emphasizing the importance of informed choices in such intimate matters.
Her comments came at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic after Biden issued an executive order requiring businesses with over 100 workers to enforce mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations or weekly testing.
Nicki’s comments led to what was labeled #ballgate and were lauded by various Republican leaders, Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens and anti-vaxxers around the U.S.
My cousin in Trinidad won’t get the vaccine cuz his friend got it & became impotent. His testicles became swollen. His friend was weeks away from getting married, now the girl called off the wedding. So just pray on it & make sure you’re comfortable with ur decision, not bullied
In related news, Rep. George Santos, currently entangled in his own web of controversies, announced his re-election bid on Monday.
His first term included accusations of lying about his personal biography, investigations by federal, state, and congressional officials, and calls from fellow Republicans for his resignation.
In his announcement, Santos did not address these issues but focused on his background, stating, “I grew up poor with a single mom, and thanks to the American dream, a poor boy of immigrant parents in Queens can grow up to serve his community in the halls of Congress.”
Born and raised in New Orleans, LA, Bruce Carter, also known as Lil Pottna, has had a tumultuous journey in life that eventually led to his rise in the music industry. With his catchy singles, genuine passion for music, and eagerness to collaborate with industry professionals, Lil Pottna’s story serves as a poignant example of resilience and dedication to one’s craft.
At just 11 years old, Lil Pottna found himself involved in juvenile detention and repeatedly struggled with life’s challenges, falling in and out of troubles. His passion for music eventually emerged, and he finally started pursuing it at the age of 18. Now 33, the musician has spent over a decade honing his talent and creating music that his fans can connect with.
Currently, Lil Pottna is making waves with his single, “TOUGH,” which is available on all music streaming platforms. Garnering impressive streams and reaching an ever-growing audience, he continues to consistently push his creative boundaries and deliver fresh content.
Despite early adversity, Lil Pottna’s perseverance pays off. At 31 years old, he faced an unimaginable ordeal – being shot five times. This harrowing experience was the turning point that inspired him to put full-throttle effort in his music career. With a newfound perspective on life, he began taking his career more seriously than ever before, realizing the power of music to heal and to bring solace in difficult times.
Now, more determined than ever, Lil Pottna does not hesitate to branch out in his music. In addition to delivering raw, powerful tracks reflective of his life experiences, he has a knack for penning love songs and ghostwriting for other artists in need of inspiration.
Lil Pottna’s openness to collaborate and eagerness to learn has him on the lookout for dedicated journalists, A/R representatives, and producers who recognize his undeniable talent and unique backstory. With a burning desire to grow and succeed, Lil Pottna’s story is one of overcoming the odds, turning adversity into triumph, and harnessing these experiences into powerful, resonant music.
Nick Cannon has defended fathering 12 children with six different mothers.
While speaking to People for an interview published on Saturday, the TV personality opened up about his unconventional family dynamic.
“I understand that my lifestyle isn’t typical to society and can be viewed as unorthodox in some ways,” he told the outlet. “But my goal in life is just to love my kids and be there for my kids and provide for them. Like I always say, I just love with abundance.”
Nick argued that despite the “narratives out there about me and my life,” he remains confident in his decisions as a parent.
The star shares 11-year-old twins Moroccan and Monroe with ex-wife Mariah Carey, son Golden, daughter Powerful Queen and baby Rise with Brittany Bell, twins Zion and Zillion, and infant Beautiful with Abby De La Rosa, baby Legendary Love with Bre Tiesi, baby Onyx with LaNisha Cole, and baby Halo Marie with Alyssa Scott.
Nick and Alyssa’s son Zen sadly died at the age of five months following a battle with brain cancer in December 2021.
Explaining that he believed he was “put on this planet” to “guide and usher in” his children, Nick gushed, “So fatherhood is my number one and first priority when I open my eyes when I get up every morning. Career and work and all of that, take second.”
Chicago White Sox pitcher Mike Clevinger dodged a question about his usage of Kanye West’s song “Gold Digger.”
Major League Baseball investigated Clevinger after Olivia Finestead, the mother of one of his kids, accused him of abusing her and their child in January. MLB chose not to suspend Clevinger, who walked out to “Gold Digger” in his home debut for the White Sox on Friday (April 14).
Clevinger didn’t explain why he used Kanye’s track after the game. It was speculated to be a jab at Finestead.
“Are you a music producer?” Clevinger responded when asked about the Ye song. “No? OK. Well if you have a baseball question, I’m here for you.”
Finestead claimed Clevinger strangled her and threw an iPad at her when she was pregnant. She also accused him of child abuse and drug use.
“You really deserve hell,” she wrote on Instagram. “I’ve kept quiet for almost a year and you continue to covertly abuse your infant, withhold ALL of her belongings, we have none of our stuff, still not even her birth certificate or her car seat attachment. He’s made sure to do everything he can to keep control.”
MLB opened an investigation into the allegations. The league announced it wouldn’t discipline Clevinger in March. He agreed to submit to evaluations by treatment boards for domestic violence and drug abuse.
“I am pleased that Major League Baseball has concluded its investigation,” Clevinger said in a statement. “I had nothing to hide and cooperated fully with MLB. This situation has been stressful for my family, and I thank them for their strength and support. I asked everyone not to rush to judgment until MLB’s investigation was concluded, and I appreciate everyone who had faith in me, including the White Sox organization and my teammates.”
Soulja Boy’s ex-girlfriend Kayla Myers testified against him after suing him over an alleged attack at a 2019 party.
According to Radar Online, Myers took the stand in her lawsuit against Soulja Boy on April 11 and 12. She sued her ex and Tevin Anderson for allegedly abusing her.
Myers’ lawyers presented photos of her injuries to the jury. They also shared hospital records and Instagram messages sent by Soula Boy.
Myers claimed she got into an altercation with her ex’s female friend while trying to leave a party in February 2019. The friend allegedly knocked her to the ground before Soulja Boy attacked.
The rapper allegedly beat Myers with a gun and punched her. She accused Anderson of tying her to a chair with extension chords and holding her hostage for six hours.
Myers said Anderson agreed to let her go if she performed a sexual act on him. She acquiesced to his demand and fled the scene to call the police.
The woman allegedly suffered three fractured ribs, but Soulja Boy never faced criminal charges for assault. Cops found weapons in his home, which led to a probation violation.
Soulja Boy denied assaulting Myers, blaming a third party for her injuries. He is expected to testify in the ongoing civil trial.
With a co-sign from Suge Knight and Kendrick Lamar, King Lil G is clearly in his own lane. With over 100 million streams from his hit, ‘Hopeless Boy,’ to maintaining 7 million monthly listeners as an independent artist, King Lil G is on his way to becoming one of the most successful Mexican rappers in the U.S.
Born in Mexico, but raised in LA, King Lil G’s stage name is derived from the Los Angeles Kings. With a unique sound that incorporates rap, hip-hop, and Spanish, the rapper was most influenced by Tupac and aims to bring back the 90s rap sound. With over 11 projects to date, King Lil G also has 11 Billboard plaques that reflect his work ethic and relationship with his loyal fan base. With his work being praised by XXL, Vibe, and Vice, King Lil G who is a high school dropout, wants others to use his life as motivation to succeed.
After being negatively impacted by contracts, King Lil G took it upon himself to go independent and start his own label. Now, as he continues to reach the pinnacles of success, he wants to sign street talent and give them a platform to be heard. With a new album approaching, King Lil G is ready for this new chapter in his music career.
Most recently he released a freestyle on YouTube titled “Disrespectful Freestyle” that has gained over 1.4 million views and counting. In the freestyle he blends his rap style with a little bit of English and Spanish and throws some slight shots at rappers in the game. Check out the freestyle video below.
Jazz legend Ahmad Jamal passed away in Massachusetts on Sunday (April 16).
The influential pianist, who was born Frederick Russell Jones, died of complications from prostate cancer. He was 92.
Jazz icon Miles Davis famously said, “All my inspiration comes from Ahmad Jamal.” The late pianist also inspired countless Hip-Hop artists who sampled his music.
The Pittsburgh native’s work helped to create classic songs by Nas, Jay-Z, De La Soul and many more. Various members of the Hip-Hop community paid their respects to the jazz great after learning of his death.
Ahmad Jamal was perhaps best known as a pioneer of “cool jazz.” His 1958 album At the Pershing: But Not for Me brought him into the national spotlight.
The album spent more than two years on the Billboard 200 chart, which is rare for a jazz release. The project featured his renowned rendition of the song “Poinciana.”
Ahmad Jamal released his final album Ballades in 2019. It added to his immense discography, which features dozens of albums.
The Recording Academy honored Ahmad Jamal with its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. He also received the Kennedy Center Legend Award.
View some of the Hip-Hop artists who mourned the loss of the acclaimed musician below.
Rest in power Ahmad Jamal! 💔😢🙏🏾💙🕊 He gave music (especially hip hop) so many jewels. Alot of the records that influenced me sampled this man. True musical king. pic.twitter.com/K1ykd70HDc
DaBaby has proven that he knows how to win a fight, both on the streets and in the courtroom.
After emerging victorious in a lawsuit against concert promoter Kenneth Carey, the rapper is now cashing in on legal costs, as Carey has been ordered to pay the rapper over $10,000.
This legal saga began with DaBaby and his crew being accused of beating and robbing Carey and his friend over a botched booking for $20,000 in January 2020.
Despite the unfavorable odds, DaBaby managed to turn the tables in his favor.
Criminal charges against DaBaby were dropped, and more than two years later, his lawyers successfully defended him in the civil trial. The win cleared the DaBaby’s name and had financial implications for Carey and Steve Anyadike, the other promoter who sued the rapper.
In a court decision issued today (April 17th), Judge Jacqueline Becerra has ordered Carey and Anyadike to pay DaBaby’s legal expenses.
The pair have been ordered to fork over $10,551.23 in costs. This ruling puts the final nail in the coffin of this long legal battle, wrapping it up with a win for the rapper – if Carey and Anyadike let the ruling stand.
They have 14 days to file written objections. Failure to do so will “constitute a waiver of a party’s right to challenge on appeal the district court’s order based on un-objected to factual and legal conclusions.”
A judge opted to wait until May to rule on Tory Lanez’s motion for a new trial.
According to multiplereports, the Canadian rapper/singer faced another sentencing delay in court on Monday (April 17). Judge David J. Herriford added to months of holdups in the case, scheduling a May 8 hearing for his decision on the new trial motion.
Defense lawyers plan to file a supplemental motion on May 1. If the motion for a new trial is denied, Judge Herriford is expected to sentence Tory Lanez within 30 days.
Last December, Tory Lanez was convicted of shooting Megan Thee Stallion. A jury found him guilty of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, discharging a firearm with gross negligence and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle.
“We want to make sure that Megan gets closure as quickly as possible,” Deputy District Attorney Alexander Bott said on Monday. “She wants to put an end to this chapter of her life.”
Megan Thee Stallion testified in the December 2022 trial. She spent several months out of the public eye before re-emerging in March.
Tory Lanez has remained in jail since his conviction. He faces up to 22 years and eight months in prison.
According to reports, the “We Ready” chart-topper was shot and killed by his brother. The actual assault is said to have happened on March 25th on Golf Vista Circle at a Chevron gas station on Snapfinger Woods Drive.
Police arrived on the scene and saw Eversole wounded by a firearm. However, he did not die there. The entertainer passed days later – while being treated in a local hospital.
The rapper behind the popular sports pre-game anthem was only 37 at the time of his premature demise.
The indictment came a year after his death on April 4th.
“We are heartbroken to hear of the tragic passing of Archie Eversole. A staple in the Atlanta hip-hop scene, Archie adopted Atlanta United before our first season and continued to be one of our club’s most fervent supporters. In addition to his decorated musical career, his voice will long live in our supporters’ minds as ‘We Ready’ billows through the speakers for kick-off at Atlanta United matches. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends.”
No statements have been made from the family regarding the indictment.
Ashten, from the sun-soaked state of California, is causing a stir with her freakishly similar looks to the iconic American socialite and reality TV star Kim Kardashian.
As a spitting image of Kim K, this curvaceous brunette rakes in $6000 every time she struts her stuff as a Kim Kardashian clone but admitted her Kardashian-esque appearance comes with a hefty price tag.
Ashten shells out a whopping $3000 every month on fillers, botox, and other “essentials” to keep up with her Kardashian facade. Not only that but she’s also spent a whopping $30,000 on surgeries like breast augmentation and butt lift to enhance her jaw-dropping features.
To maintain her coveted curves, Ashten has to sacrifice her cravings and stick to a strict diet. She even squeezes into waist trainers to keep her silhouette in check.
Despite the sacrifices and financial toll, Ashten is still living her best life as a Kim K doppelganger. And with everyone mistaking her for the real deal wherever she goes (including the paparazzi!), who can blame her for loving the glam life?
The influencer, who has 73.3K followers on TikTok and 562k followers on Instagram, shared she had been a dead ringer for the reality queen for years.
Still, it wasn’t until she caught the eye of a Clint Eastwood lookalike that she saw the money-making potential in her looks. The stars aligned, and Clint’s doppelganger urged Ashten to contact his agency.
“Since my late teenage years, people have been telling me that I bear a striking resemblance to Kim Kardashian,” Ashten recalled. “It’s a comparison I hear almost every day when I’m out in public. And the truth is, if you look at our baby or teen pictures, we share many similarities. Our parents also come from similar ethnic backgrounds, which could explain our resemblances.”
Ashten started out as a fitness model, but around seven years ago, a talent agency approached her to do some double work for Kim. This involved celebrity impersonation, event appearances, and other related gigs. But when the Covid-19 global pandemic hit, everything came to a halt.
Credit: @ashtens_empire/Cover Images
“I took this as an opportunity to pursue my own look, which was bigger boobs and a bigger butt, going beyond what Kim has done. So, the money I spend on maintaining my looks or achieving my look is not to look like Kim but to look different,” she explained. Ashten revealed she had undergone two major surgeries: a breast augmentation cost $15,000, and a rhinoplasty cost the same amount.
However, she denied rumors she had ribs removed and claimed her tiny waist is “100% natura.l” She also disclosed her breast size is 34E, which varies depending on the bra brand and style.
When asked if she had butt implants, Ashten insisted she has always had a “big natural butt” with a tiny waist. However, she wanted even more projection, so she added some fillers.
As with fillers, she needs constant upkeep. Ashten acknowledged that she looked like Kim K but said she looked almost identical to Kim K before her cosmetic procedures.
She said looking like Kim K gave her the initial jump into the social media online world. However, her fans kept asking her to create her own brand and pursue her ideal look. She desired to look more extreme and be herself, regardless of what anyone else thought and what was considered the norm.
“I believe that the Kim K aesthetic represented my natural appearance before any cosmetic enhancements, and it played a pivotal role in propelling me to success in the realm of social media,” she remarked.
Credit: @ashtens_empire/Cover Images
“During the initial stages of my online presence, this awesome lady named Dot from Mirror Images helped me create my online identity in the celebrity lookalike industry. But then COVID came and messed everything up. As I gained more followers, they asked me to start my own brand. I was dead set on going after the look I wanted and staying true to myself, even if that meant being a bit more out there than what’s considered normal. I didn’t care what other people thought. I just wanted to be me. Move on from the Kim K lookalike label and build my own Empire of fans; hence the internet name of @Ashtens_Empire.”
As an international television, print, and fashion/bikini model, Ashten had many exciting experiences. However, the Hooked on the Look episode stands out because of how viral it went.
“The shoot was an extensive process, encompassing interviews and footage, but it opened so many doors for me,” she admitted. “I’m so lucky to have had the opportunity to travel worldwide, all expenses covered, to promote lavish resorts, exquisite eateries, and captivating events. I could never have anticipated receiving invitations via email to publicize a high-end resort located across the globe, a Greek restaurant, or host events at Formula 1 racing venues scattered throughout the world.”
Credit: @ashtens_empire/Cover Images*
As for her personal life, Ashten has been dating her fiancé, Jimmy, for five years. She considers him her true best friend and the real definition of a soul mate.
Regarding keeping in fantastic shape, Ashten believes that what we intake is essential. She is a pescatarian, which means she only eats fish and no other meats, chicken, sweets, carbs, or alcohol.
She drinks about a gallon of water per day. She does cardio for about an hour daily, 400 “non-weight resisted” sit-ups, lightweight high-rep arm workouts, and usually wears a waist training corset at night.
As for her future plans, Ashten’s goal is to continue growing her fan base and save for the next business opportunity.
“My goal is to get even more fans so that anything I put out there will be a hit. It’s not just about posting pictures and waiting for likes and comments; you gotta turn yourself into a business and use your imagination to make your dreams come true,” she concludes.
Katy Perry brought Ye and Kim Kardashian’s eldest daughter North West on stage during her Las Vegas concert on Saturday night.
Sharing videos on her Instagram Stories on Sunday morning, Kim captured the moment Katy called out nine-year-old North West’s name and invited her onstage during her PLAY residency at Resorts World.
“So the reason I know your name is because I’m a huge fan of your TikTok. I’ve seen a couple of them that you’ve made. You’re a really good dancer and I thought, what better way to be a great dancer (than) to show the world your awesome dance moves?” Katy said.
North asked if her friends could come out with her, to which Katy happily agreed, saying, “Yeah, why not. Come on. She’s got friends, she doesn’t want to do it alone, this is awesome!”
Subsequent videos show North and her three friends joining Katy at the center stage, performing cartwheels and other dance moves while being surrounded by the singer’s dancers.
Additional photos from the evening depict North engaging with the singer backstage and posing for a snap with Katy and Kim.
North has previous experience performing in public.
In 2020, she participated in her father Kanye West’s Yeezy Season 8 fashion show in Paris, where she rapped alongside him and a group of models on the runway.
She has also occasionally showcased her singing and dancing skills at her father’s Sunday Service choir performances in previous years.
Rappers and fans have come out in the defense of Oakland legend E-40 after he was ejected from a recent NBA basketball game.
AllHipHop.com reported on Saturday, April 15, during the Kings versus the Golden State Warriors game, Bay area emcee E-40 was kicked out after getting into an argument with some fans in the audience.
According to E-40, a Caucasian woman heckled him throughout the course of the April 15th sporting event. He claimed Golden 1 Center security guards only removed him from the arena during the fourth quarter.
“Unfortunately, it was yet another reminder that — despite my success and accolades as a musician and entrepreneur — racial bias remains prevalent,” wrote E-40. “Security saw a disagreement between a Black man and a white woman and immediately assumed that I was at fault.”
Now, others from the Hip-Hop community is taking to social media to blast the social politics that seems to have allowed E-Fonzarelli to be treated so disrespectfully … especially since “E-40 don’t mess with nobody.”
Willie D from the Geto Boys wrote on Instagram, “When I Heard E-40 Got Ejected From A Kings-Warriors Game I knew Immediately He Was The Victim because E-40 don’t mess with nobody.”
“Turns out I was right. According to E-40, the Kings fans heckled him the entire game and he held off responding until the fourth quarter. But when security came, they saw him arguing with a White woman, assumed he was the aggressor, then proceeded to escort him out the arena,” he wrote.
Adding, “I didn’t have a dog in the fight but now I hope GS beat the breaks off the Kings. And I will be addressing this tomorrow.”
Influencers jumped in the comment section agreeing with the Texas rapper.
Bronx rapper and businessman Fat Joe called the incident “disgusting.”
Thembisa Mshaka said, “Unbelievable. They KNOW Front Row 40 isn’t EVER that guy. That is complete 🗑.”
Brooklyn rapper Talib Kweli reposted the “Mind Playing Tricks” rapper’s IG post, tacking on, “Weaponized white woman tears is a powerful weapon wielded against black folks. Protect @e40 at ALL costs.”
Fan Jolly Good Ginger wrote, “White people in the comments: “why you making it about race?🥴🥴” —- white woman verbally attacks black man, and the black man gets booted. It’s 100% about race. White people will find any reason but the one it is.”
X-Raided submitted a full apology on behalf of his city.
“On behalf of my hometown #Sacramento, California, I apologize to @e40 for the experience he had during game one of the Kings vs Warriors series. We love 40 in The Valley and he knows that publicly and privately. He has done a LOT for Sacramento Hip-hop. Our culture in Northern California is such that if the Kings and Warriors weren’t playing each other, many people would be rooting for both teams. We just happen to be playing one another and it’s a bit of a family feud on public display.
That being said, the @sacramentokings should not be branded as a racist organization due to an experience that occurred during one of the most intense 4th Quarters of these young playoffs. Anyone can buy a ticket to a game. Their behavior is not representative of the TEAM nor is a judgment call made by a single security guard. It would be more appropriate to hold the organization responsible for how they RESPOND to the issue.
After a 17-year drought to return to the playoffs and a spectacular performance from its young players, it would be a TRAVESTY to allow a debate over whether or not E40 was standing up too much to overshadow the fact that the Sacramento Kings gave the World Champs everything they could handle. We have one hell of a series on our hands. We can correct that situation with Uncle 40 and still celebrate the fact that the Kings came to play! Don’t let that incident take away from the outcome and don’t let them use this as fodder to fire up their base to go nuts. There’s levels to these types of mind games.
Put 40 over there by the Warriors’ bench where he belongs and is welcome. They clearly rock with him. Simple fix.
The singer’s set was cut short, marred by last-minute changes, and lacking some of his most famous songs.
According to Festive Owl, the original stage production was planned to feature an ice rink with skaters performing alongside Ocean.
However, he decided at the last minute that he no longer wanted it. Consequently, the festival had to dismantle the previously approved stage, melt the entire ice rink, and reconstruct the stage based on Frank’s new preferences, causing an hour-long delay.
“Frank decided at the last minute that he no longer wanted it at all. All of the people walking around him at the start of the performance were actually ice skaters, had been practicing for weeks, and were supposed to be skating as part of the production,” Festive Owl write. “Coachella had to deconstruct the approved stage (that had been planned and signed off on for months in advance) + melt the entire ice rink and then set it up how Frank decided today with no warning.”
These sudden changes also meant that the ice skaters, who had been practicing for weeks, could not showcase their talents as part of the production.
Frank Ocean’s performance was further impacted by his decision to pull the plug on the livestream at the last second, leaving many people associated with Coachella unhappy.
The 35-year-old artist finally took the stage just before 11 p.m., despite being scheduled to start at 10 p.m., and only managed to perform 14 songs before the show was halted around 12:20 a.m. due to curfew.
From backstage, Ocean addressed the audience, saying, “Guys, I’m being told it’s curfew, so that’s the end of the show. Thank you so much.”
While the set featured new versions of tracks like “Novacane” and “Pink + White,” fans were disappointed he decided not to perform some of his biggest hit records.
“Sounds like the #FrankOcean turned out to be more of a Frank Puddle,” one user wrote, while another said “he people who are defending #FrankOcean are delusional he SCAMMED his fan. people paid thousands of dollars to see him. he was an hour late, had a s##### 30 min set and then dipped. frank ocean isn’t g-d he is just a man who practically stole y’all’s money. stand up.”
This performance was likely an attempt to make up for Ocean’s canceled 2020 Coachella appearance due to the COVID pandemic.
Unfortunately, the mishaps and disappointments during his set left fans and festival organizers feeling less than satisfied.
The relationship between Ocean and Coachella seems to have soured, casting doubt on future collaborations between the artist and the festival.
Frank doesn’t care about us lmaoooo he did whatever the f### he wanted up there. Came an hour late, played a bunch of remixes and ended early🫠 #FrankOcean#Coachella
As a young Asian-American rapper, Star2 envisions a future filled with opportunities for Asian-American rappers. Growing up he was born in a Thai refugee camp and was raised in San Diego where violence plagued him from an early age. In his powerful new EP Different Breed, he explores the intersection between hip-hop and identity.
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