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NBA YoungBoy Launches New Louisiana-Inspired Clothing Line

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.”

Nicki Minaj Calls Out Twitch Over Kai Cenat Ban: “Let The Boy Live” 

Nicki Minaj is backing streamer Kai Cenat after Twitch banned him from their platform despite him earning the title of the most-subscribed Twitch streamer of all time last month.  

The Queens icon recently shared her admiration for the 21-year-old content creator, posting him on his Instagram story. Nicki Minaj shared a clip of Kai Cenat reacting to her “Princess Diana” remix with Ice Spice. Kai was so blown away by the attention that he called his mother to share the news.  

https://twitter.com/celebslovenicki/status/1647255595974549505?s=20

Kai also revealed that Barbz flooded his DMs to inform him that the “queen’ followed him on Instagram. However, Nicki Minaj isn’t just a fan of Kai Cenat. She also wants to help the young creative.  

“Why would they do that?” she said in response to the ban during her latest episode of Queen Radio. “Like, why would they do that? Like, let the boy live. Let the boy rock. Stop, oh my…” 

When she learned that Twitch had slapped Kai Cent with his second ban, Nicki Minaj offered to hop on a live stream with him. 

“Alright, I’ma get cute. I’ma dress up nice and cute and I’ma go on live for him and speak with him if that’s cool with him. You know what I’m saying?” the “Red Ruby Da Sleeze” hitmaker. “First, let me reach out to him ‘c## I really like him. I really like him a lot, you know like…” 

Fans speculated why the streaming platform handed out the ban, which is expected to be temporary like his previous 30-day suspension. Kai Cenat Some pointed to a recent stunt where he drove a motorbike inside his home. Others suggested Twitch were unhappy with Kai’s gift unboxing stream from rival platform Kick. 

However, the streaming service reportedly banned Kai Cenat for “repeated explicit simulated sexual activity in GTA.” 

Latto “Laughing All The Way To The Bank” Amid Claims She Photoshopped Coachella Crowd 

Latto was trending online following her impressive performance at the weekend for her 2023 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival set where she brought out several rising star female rappers.  

However, the “Big Energy” hitmaker was trending for all the wrong reasons as fans reacted to an image Latto shared of the festival crowd. Eagle-eyed followers speculated she edited the photo after noticing multiple people replicated in the crowd. Many concert goers also had warped hands, indicating somebody digitally altered the photo.  

“Nicki said “Photoshop the sales/streams” and Latto went on to photoshop her crowd😭,” read one tweet. “I’ll be waiting for a Nicki bar on this one-” 

https://twitter.com/compensatenicki/status/1648330996918386689?s=20

Another Twitter user replied to Latto, saying, “you gotta photoshop crowds now … those “fans” are edited 😭” 

Latto Denies Altering Image Of Coachella Crowd

However, Latto is laughing off the speculation and took to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday (Apr. 18) to reject and claims she photoshopped the Coachella crowd.  

“Never photoshopped a crowd lmao I expanded it so it would fit in my Instagram swipe without getting cut off but it was clearly [f#####] up so I didn’t end up using it & just posted the wrong version by accident on Twitter babes,” Latto wrote.  

In another IG Story post, she said she quoted her song “Do It” saying she is “laughing all the way to the bank.” 

Instagram: Latto

In a final word to her haters, Latto also shared a video of her performing her hit “Another Nasty Song” at Coachella.  

“Haters will say it’s photoshopped :/” she captioned the post.  

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

Saweetie joined Latto on the Coachella stage to perform “Bi— From Da Souf (Remix),” as did Lola Brooke, who ran across the stage to deliver her hit, “Don’t Play Wit It.”  

TiaCorine and Latto also performed their unreleased “Freaky T” remix, due out later this week.  

Snoop Dogg Praises NBA For New Weed Testing Policy; Touts “Health Benefits” To Players 

Snoop Dogg is heaping praise on the NBA after the announcement players will no longer be tested for weed under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. 

The move will end the huge fines and lengthy suspensions the NBA has dished out to players testing positive for weed over the years. Cannabis entrepreneur and advocate Snoop Dogg backed the move during a recent appearance on “Stephen A’s World.” 

The West Coast icon hailed the medicinal benefits of cannabis and said it could supplement conventional medicine.  

“I thought about the medical side of it,” Snoop Dogg explained to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith and Jalen Rose. He raised “the health benefits,” suggesting weed “could actually help ease the opioids and the pills that they’ve been given and injections.” 

He continued, “I thought about that side and how certain players have been able to have a beautiful life after sports because of the fact that they’ve been able to treat themselves with that.”  

Snoop Dogg Says NBA Players Should Be Able To “Heal” Themselves Using Weed

The NBA’s new deal with the National Basketball Players Association reflects many states across America that have relaxed their weed laws. Snoop Dogg also noted the move is in line with other major sporting organizations.  

“And now that the NBA is being lenient just like the NHL and just like Major League Baseball, it’s all the same thing. As long as it doesn’t enhance your skills to make you play better or to give you an advantage, you should be able to treat yourself and to heal yourself,” he added. 

Watch the clip below.  

Meanwhile, the Laker’s late-season push into the Play-In Tournament had super-fan Snoop Dogg hopeful for a play-off run. He took to Instagram after his beloved team scored a 128-112 victory over the Grizzlies in Game 1.  

“The f### y’all say about my Lakers? We in here now, it’s a series. You gotta beat us four m############ times. United Nations over here. We got Asians, white boys, n#####, boy we cold, the Lakers got a cold squad baby. We on it like we want it. Lakers in six.” – Snoop Dogg 

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Fake Drake, The Weeknd AI Song Pulled From Platforms After Millions Of Plays 

While AI-generated songs are all the rage on social media, streaming services and other platforms are heeding the call from artists and record labels to block artificial intelligence from accessing copyrighted works. 

On Sunday, an AI-voiced song that uses technology to replicate Drake and The Weeknd’s voices went viral. An anonymous creator who uses the name ghostwriter shared “heart on my sleeve,” which features vocals that sound like the Canadian artists. It also includes Metro Boomin’s signature producer tag. 

The song was widely shared across social media and streaming platforms, racking up millions of plays. One clip uploaded to Twitter that has since been disabled after garnering over 20 million views. “heart on my sleeve,” was reportedly also streamed 600,000 times on Spotify before removal. 

However, multiple streamers have removed the AI track following a complaint from Universal Music Group (UMG).  

Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud, Amazon, YouTube, and Tidal all removed “heart on my sleeve” as of Tuesday.  

Many of the links now come with the message: “This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Universal Music Group.” Some versions are still available online. 

Ghostwriter claims he wrote the fake Drake and The Weeknd AI song after penning for industry artists while getting paid peanuts.  

“i was a ghostwriter for years and got paid close to nothing just for major labels to profit,” the artist, who appears as a cloaked ghost, wrote on TikTok.  

Drake Responds To AI Songs Using His Voice

Drake weighed in on the discussion in response to an AI-generated song using his voice to cover Ice Spice’s “Munch.” “This is the final straw AI,” Drake wrote on his Instagram Stories.  

UMG also slammed the use of AI and distanced their prized artists from it, as reported by AllHipHop.com. They commented on the legalities of AI and questioned “which side of history” music industry “stakeholders” want to be on.  

NLE Choppa On-Off GF Claims She’s Pregnant With Baby Rapper Paid For After He Shoots His Shot At Meagan Good – Again 

Despite Meagan Good politely rejecting his affections the first time, NLE Choppa tried to shoot at the actress once again, much to the rage of his on-off girlfriend, who claims she’s pregnant with a baby the Memphis rapper paid for. 

On Tuesday, NLE Choppa took to social media to say, “Hey Ms. Good,” after asking her for a date last month during his appearance on The Jason Lee Show. He also followed up via his Instagram Story, saying Meagan is “tripping” for passing up on “this young season grilled vegan chicken.”  

However, despite their public break-up last year, Marissa DaNae took to Instagram to blast NLE Choppa for “constantly trying to holla at folks,” instead of supporting her through a pregnancy he wanted and “paid for.” Her posts imply she underwent IVF treatment to become pregnant.  

Marissa DaNae Slams NLE Choppa For Chasing Meagan Good

She shared NLE’s tweet to Meagan Good on her Instagram story. “I really wish you was this active and supportive,” she began before following up with a lengthy post.  

“I Really been trying to hold it down and keep it together. But I’m honestly just fed tf up. You constantly trying to holla at folks, take folks on dates and etc but you have failed to show up for your child! That YOU PAID FOR ME TO HAVE!” She claimed. “You think because you may pay a doctor bill or send a few dollars for certain sh*t that changes the fact that you’re absent as f###.”  

She also claimed she’s only seen him twice during her pregnancy and blasted NLE Choppa for not doing his part. In a series of posts Marissa shared ultrasound images and a video of NLE Choppa injecting her in her stomach. In addition, she said they faked a public split to keep their relationship under wraps.  

“We never broke up,’ she penned. “Only said that to the public so y’all would stop sending s### to me and nobody would be in his business anymore. It’s more to the story but I let him paint his picture.” 

Biz Markie Documentary To Premiere At Tribeca Film Festival

The 2023 Tribeca Film Festival announced its lineup, which includes a new documentary about Hip-Hop legend Biz Markie.

All Up in the Biz makes its world premiere at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, which begins on June 7. Ego Trip co-founder Sacha Jenkins directed the documentary.

Jenkins’ documentary uses animation, interviews, reenactments and more to tell the story of Biz Markie. The film features Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Fat Joe, Nick Cannon and Doug E. Fresh, among others.

Prince Paul provided the score for All Up in the Biz. Last month, the acclaimed producer spoke about his work on the documentary in an interview with Variety.

“I just finished scoring a documentary for Biz Markie,” Prince Paul said. “Just finished that, and watching it and then scoring it was so tough because I’d known him since I was a kid, so it was bittersweet. There were things about him I didn’t even know. And another part that made it bittersweet is it was the first thing I ever scored without my friend [Don] Newkirk, who passed in November. That was way different for me. He’s been there ever since I’ve started making music.”

Biz Markie passed away in 2021. He was 57.

Chrisean Rock Sets The Net On Fire With New Tooth

Chrisean Rock got her teeth fixed, much to the delight of her fans.

The reality TV star unveiled her new smile in an Instagram post. She thanked Dr. Trevor J. Thomas for his work on teeth.

“I got my smile back thank you @teethbytrev dr_trevthomas,” she wrote.

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A post shared by DaBigBabyChrisean (@chrisean)

Chrisean Rock lost her front tooth in a fight. She embraced the gap in her teeth for several years.

Blueface’s on-again, off-again girlfriend received her dental implant a few months after announcing her pregnancy. Blueface didn’t comment on Chrisean Rock’s new smile but appeared to suggest he might leave her.

“I don’t plan on being with a famous female or female in the Industry fr,” he wrote on Twitter. “I’ll f### em all day long but I like me a regular chick fr it’s a different mind set.”

Chrisean Rock’s Instagram followers expected Blueface to negatively react to her improved teeth. The couple’s toxic relationship continued to play out in the public eye.

The two frequently made headlines for verbal and physical abuse in recent years. They also starred in a reality TV series titled Blueface and Chrisean: Crazy in Love, which aired on the Zeus Network.

Check out some of the reactions to Chrisean Rock’s teeth below.

https://twitter.com/iCause_JEALOUSY/status/1648408629425340420
https://twitter.com/xotickior/status/1648422573804523521
https://twitter.com/aubibae/status/1648406432310788097

SIGNS: Angry Man Cusses Out Crying Toddler On Packed Flight To Florida

In yet another installment of Signs The World Is Coming To And End, society continues to prove just how dysfunctional it truly is. On a recent Southwest Airlines flight to Florida, a man was filmed screaming over a crying toddler. The now-viral clip, which has racked up more than 134,000 TikTok views, shows the man yelling at a flight attendant who he believes should be responsible for the crying baby. For three minutes, a fellow passenger records the man’s temper tantrum directed toward two flight attendants. The unidentified man uses profanity more than 20 times toward Southwest crew and fellow passengers.

“You’re yelling,” one flight attendant says to the man, to which he says, “So is the baby!”

Par for the course, opinions on the incident are split on social media. One person wrote, “I am not part of the community that believes children/babies shouldn’t fly HOWEVER, I do believe certain communities do not properly manage their children in public and I understand why that might drive someone to lose their mind.

“The crying baby (which sounds more like a toddler than a baby-baby) magically stops crying halfway through this man’s rant which leads me to believe the people they were traveling with could’ve done more to meet whatever need they were expressing. 40-45 minutes is excessive.”

Others took a more empathetic route and questioned what the man was going through that day that made him snap.

“Not making excuses for the rant but has anyone in this thread asked what that man was going through that day or what he was flying for?” another wrote. “I remember being on a flight that I had to take because of some excruciatingly painful news I received and listening to a screaming child while have one of the worst days of my life was beyond maddening. I sobbed the entire flight and didn’t explode but I wanted to. I’d be lying if I said I don’t empathize with this man a little although I feel he could have handled it better.”

But another argued the man should’ve had enough restraint to keep it together. They wrote, “If you can’t handle the sound of a crying baby or toddler, maybe air travel or being in public isn’t for you. Personally, I’d be embarrassed by my inability to cope with something so basic that happens all the time. But I just believe that’s part of being a functioning adult.”

Whatever the case, it’s a sad day when a little baby feels the wrath of a grown adult. The baby DID stop crying…eventually.

Pras Landed $20 Million Payday For Barack Obama Photo

Pras Michel took the stand in his political conspiracy trial on Tuesday (April 18).

The Fugees member said he received $20 million from Malaysian billionaire Jho Low to secure a photo op with Barack Obama in 2012. The veteran rapper claimed Low hired him to be a “celebrity surrogate,” per Bloomberg.

Pras is on trial for conspiring to make illegal campaign contributions using foreign funds, witness tampering and failing to register as a foreign agent of the Chinese government. Prosecutors accuse him of working with Low to illegally funnel money to Obama’s reelection campaign and lobby Donald Trump’s administration.

Low was the alleged mastermind behind a massive fraud scheme known as the 1MDB scandal. He remains an international fugitive with charges awaiting him in Malaysia and the United States.

Pras contended his $20 million payday from Low was legal during Tuesday’s testimony. But he admitted he gave the money to friends to donate to Obama, per Mother Jones reporter Dan Friedman. Prosecutors noted it was illegal to make campaign contributions with someone else’s money.

“At the time, I didn’t know that,” Pras said.

Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions also testified in the trial on Tuesday. Sessions had no recollection of meeting Pras during Trump’s presidency.

Pras faces up to 22 years in prison if convicted.

Marques Houston On Marrying Teen: “I Don’t Like Women With Funky Attitudes”

Marques Houston faced more backlash for marrying a teenager after discussing his love life in an interview with Page Six.

The 41-year-old singer believed most women in his age bracket had too much baggage. Marques Houston specifically mentioned his disinterest in single mothers.

“A red flag to me [was] always with a woman that had a kid,” he said. “Nothing against single women, but single mothers with children are a red flag for me.”

He continued, “I would talk to my dad a lot, and he would always tell me to have your own kids because you never know what the baby daddies are about. So, if you’re gonna have kids, make sure it is with a woman that never had kids. So that was always my red flag … and a woman with an attitude. I don’t like women with funky attitudes.”

Marques Houston married Miya Dickey in 2020. She was 19 years old at the time.

“I’m 41, she is 22,” he told Page Six. “I could’ve married a 44-year-old woman, and it could’ve been disastrous. Women that are my age … they kind of have a different outlook on life. Like a lot of women my age are very independent. They are very like, ‘I don’t need a man to do this for me ’cause I can do it for myself.’ I come from a generation that I love to provide for my wife.”

Marques Houston’s comments sparked outrage on social media.

Check out some of the reactions to his remarks below.

https://twitter.com/PlatformMisses/status/1648321130845859840

Tyler, The Creator Cops Bel-Air Mansion For Eye Watering Amount Of Money

Tyler, The Creator has copped another Bel-Air mansion. This time, the Los Angeles native doled out $13 million for a white stucco and wood-sided structure, $2 million less than the original list price. Originally constructed in the early ’70s, the expansive home was completely rebuilt from the ground up in 2022.

Boasting three levels, four bedrooms and six baths, the living space is spread across 5,000 square feet with custom Brazilian wood floors finished in white oak, high ceilings and steel-case windows throughout. Vast expanses of glass provide sweeping ocean and city lights views from nearly every room.

Other features include an acre of land—protected by gates and a top-notch security system—a smart-home system, state-of-the-art movie theater and step-up cigar lounge. Other highlights include formal living and dining rooms, a kitchen with an eat-in island, top-tier appliances and an accompanying casual dining area. A saltwater pool surrounded by a wood deck, dry sauna, fire-pit, and bar and barbecue setup only sweetens the pot.

Tyler, The Creator sold his last Bel-Air mansion to a pair of New York City-based designers. The Grammy Award-winning artist clearly has some cash to spare.

UMG Slams Fake Drake Song; Says Deep Fakes Denies Artists Their “Due Compensation”

Universal Music Group has commented on the recent distribution of a fake Drake song put out on social media and major streaming platforms. In addition to distancing their prized artist from the song, the company presented to the public the legalities of using artificial intelligence (AI) to duplicate an artist’s voice and talents.

The song uses technology to duplicate Drizzy’s voice to make the song. He had nothing to do with the making of the song. The entertainment giant declared to do so is “a breach of our agreements and a violation of copyright law.”

According to Music Business World, UMG released an official statement to represent their position on the use of AI, specifically regarding the Canadian chart-topper.

“UMG’s success has been, in part, due to embracing new technology and putting it to work for our artists–as we have been doing with our own innovation around AI for some time already,” the statement explained, positioning the company as a pro-tech force in the music industry.

“With that said, however, the training of generative AI using our artists’ music (which represents both a breach of our agreements and a violation of copyright law) as well as the availability of infringing content created with generative AI on DSPs, begs the question as to which side of history all stakeholders in the music ecosystem want to be on: the side of artists, fans and human creative expression, or on the side of deep fakes, fraud and denying artists their due compensation,” it continued.

“These instances demonstrate why platforms have a fundamental legal and ethical responsibility to prevent the use of their services in ways that harm artists,” the lawyers for the musical conglomerate informed, adding, “We’re encouraged by the engagement of our platform partners on these issues–as they recognize they need to be part of the solution.”

The fake Drake song, titled “Heart on My Sleep,” was released on all DSPs and credited to the artist’s ghostwriter. It was fairly successful, garnering 230,000 plays on YouTube and more than 625,000 plays on Spotify.

However, now the following have voluntarily removed the song: Apple Music, Deezer, TIDAL, Spotify, SoundCloud, and YouTube.

Megan Thee Stallion Started Journal To Deal With PTSD After Being Shot By Tory Lanez

In July 2020, the world was shaken by the news that Megan Thee Stallion, a talented and beloved rapper, was shot by fellow artist Tory Lanez. 

The incident left Megan physically and emotionally wounded, becoming a turning point in her life. 

Tory Lanez was ultimately convicted of the shooting in December 2022 and is awaiting sentencing. And Megan has opened up about her journey to healing and coping with anxiety in an open letter for Elle Magazine.

Gun violence is an alarming issue in the United States, with the Giffords Law Center reporting that nearly 40,000 people are killed, and over 71,000 are injured each year due to firearms. 

This widespread issue often leads to long-term mental health consequences for survivors. According to a study published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress, as many as 28% of people who have witnessed or experienced a traumatic event, such as a shooting, develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

Furthermore, the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) states that survivors of gun violence are at a higher risk of developing anxiety, depression, and substance abuse issues.

In her open letter, Megan shared how the incident has affected her, stating, “I’m in a happier place, but I still have anxiety. Talking about being shot still makes me emotional. I’ve started journaling as a way to better process my thoughts, hopes, and fears. Prayer has also played a therapeutic role in my healing because I can have honest and unfiltered conversations with God without any judgment.”

Megan’s journey to recovery has been challenging yet inspiring. 

By finding healthy coping mechanisms such as journaling and prayer, she has been able to confront her trauma and work towards healing. However, she acknowledges that this process is ongoing and involves both moments of fear and blissful realization.

In her letter, Megan also offered support and encouragement to other survivors of violence: 

“For anyone who has survived violence, please know your feelings are valid. You matter. You are not at fault. You are important. You are loved. You are not defined by your trauma. You can continue to write beautiful, new chapters to your life story,” Megan Thee Stallion said.

Megan Thee Stallion’s resilience and determination to heal inspire others struggling with the aftermath of a traumatic event. 

Her openness about her journey is a powerful reminder that no one should be defined by their trauma and that healing is possible with support, love, and understanding.