Hip-Hop pioneer Grandmaster Flash made a surprise appearance on the ‘Masked Singer’ on the Wednesday, Mar. 1 episode. He performed disguised as a blinged-out Polar Bear.
During his performance, the costumed bear performed Blondie’s#### song “Rapture.”
What makes this song so apropos is the fact that both artists (Flash and Debbie Harry from Blondie) were key in the popularization of the music. Harry also name-drops Flash in the 1980 track.
According to Flash, after she did that, he was introduced to a different crowd than just those folk from The Bronx.
“So now …white people and people of other colors were, ‘Who is Flash?’ So she tremendously opened the door,” he said in the Daily News.
When the judges had to share who they thought the Polar Bear was names like Jazzy Jeff, Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, and Flavor Flav came up. However, Nicole Scherzinger knew it all along. She called it from the jump.
Polar Bear (who we know to be the turntablist) had to go up against two other singers, Medusa, and the California Roll.
Alas, his vocal talents on the show did not make him a winner and he had to reveal himself to the audience.
When asked by host Nick Cannon why did he do the show, he said it was because it made him laugh and the world needs laughter.
“In the world today, there’s a lot of sadness. And when I’ve seen this show, on a rough day I have for business, I was laughing,” he said. “It actually had me laughing and it allows you to let your guard down and just have fun. It’s a great show.”
Grandmaster Flash is an icon.
He and his crew the Furious Five, the first rap group inducted into the Rock Hall in 2007, celebrating the impact their music made on American culture.
Raynell Warren jr, better known by his stage name BOSSMAN RW or simply BOSSMAN, is an American West Coast Artist. Bossman was born May 18th 1990 in Compton CA, then grew up in Watts CA, in the notorious neighborhood known for Drugs,Poverty,Gunplay. He proved his ability to persevere with real life stories. No longer having his brother was another challenge, but things began moving in a positive direction when Bossman immersed himself in music ,fashion & football.
It looked like it could be his ticket into college, but getting involved in gang activities & losing peers made him refocus on pursuing music & completing school. He became a member of Klout Squad Business & remain obtaining a solo career since 2015-2022 with the release of his debut album A BOSS ALREADY.
There is always life after recording for rappers— just ask former Cash Money Records star, Juvenile. In addition to touring and making appearances, the “Back That Thang Up” chart-topper is making deals to further push his brand.
According to WGNO, Juvenile will be collaborating with Urban South, a local brewery, to bring to his fans “Juvie Juice,” a hard version of an Arnold Palmer, a drink that mixes lemonade and iced tea.
The announcement was made on Urban South’s Instagram.
“Back That Thang Up all the way to the taproom to grab yourself some Juvie Juice, available now! We close at 4 pm today, but we’ll have plenty of Juvie Juice available all weekend,” the caption read, while a video of Juvie shouting “Woooo” plays.
“We collaborated with @juviethegreat himself on crafting the PERFECT hard iced tea with lemonade for sipping on along the parade route,” the post read. “Sweet and balanced, you’re not gonna want to miss the chance to sip on Juvie’s favorite drink as soon as you can!”
As a promotion of the new beverage, Juvenile autographed dozens of can labels on the production line before they hit the market.
The promotion is that anyone who is lucky enough to get an autographed “Juvie Juice” and tag Urban South on social media, can receive a variety of prizes. The caveat is that they have to be able to bring the can into the actual store to collect the prize.
Jacob Landry, Founder and President of Urban South Brewery talked about the partnership in a press release.
He said, “We are really excited about our collaboration with Juvenile. ‘Juvie Juice’ is inspired by his favorite drink an Arnold Palmer.”
“This is also the brewery’s first time releasing a hard iced tea, and we are excited about how the formula turned out,” Landry added.
Juvenile is also excited about the product, saying, “Juvie Juice came out so good that everyone is gonna want it in their life.”
It seems like people are liking it.
On Feb. 17, he posted, “I had a ball yesterday at @urbansouthbeer !! And Y’all bought out all the 12oz cans at the brewery! But don’t sweat it’s on tap there still right now and FREE (while it lasts) at #JuvieTuesdays on Mardi Gras day @thetremehideaway !! And yes everywhere else y’all want it in New Orleans be it store or bar or festival just tell us where and I got you and I’m gonna pass thru bunch of the places that carry #JuvieJuice so we can toast to that!! Happy Mardi Gras!! And thank you to JD at @gopro for the new camera !!”
Texas rapper Travis Scott will soon turn himself into the New York Police Department for his part in an altercation in a Midtown Manhattan nightclub on Wednesday, Mar. 1.
According to the New York Daily News, the chart-topper is in hot water after he assaulted a 52-year-old sound engineer, ripped out his video monitor and broke his speaker. The damages, according to sources, ranged up to $12,000.
The two were in Club Nebula and got into a spat that resulted in the early morning fight.
Scott is no longer in the Big Apple but left for California after the fight. A spokesperson for him said his team is working with authorities to arrange for him to come back in a week and be questioned by detectives.
Should charges be pressed, he will face one count of criminal mischief and another of misdemeanor assault.
Former president Donald Trump’s lawyer believes there is a witch hunt out for his client, claiming Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is reaching with her investigation into whether or not Trump and his allies illegally attempted to have his 2020 electoral defeat in Georgia reversed.
According to Vice.com, Trump’s attorney, Drew Findling, who also represented rappers like Cardi B, Migos, and Gucci Mane, feels like Willis is using parts of his controversial call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (regarding missing ballots in Georgia) the same way she is using lyrics by Young Thug and other rappers— out of context.
“When we look at the full context, that’s when we realize there is no criminal case,” Findling said. “And that’s one of the reasons that we jumped into this case when asked to.”
On the call, Trump said, “So look. All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have because we won the state.”
Findling says 45 was not insinuating that anyone cheat and that the prosecution needs to look at the overall conversation.
“Prosecutors, first of all, don’t know the first thing about lyrics,” Findling said.
Adding, “They’ll take out eight or nine words. They’ll take out something that lasts a few seconds and say, ‘Aha, this is evidence of some wrongdoing.’ In like fashion, no one ever talks about the full 62 minutes. No one ever talks about the surrounding circumstances of those 62 minutes.”
Findling is also claiming, as several of the witnesses he brought to prove the case are being recommended by a grand jury to get hit with perjury indictments, that one juror “poisoned” the rest of them into thinking the defense put up liars, the New York Times reports.
The Georgia investigation is only one crazy legal mess Trump is involved in.
The Manhattan district attorney is investigating if the former president gave hush money payments to a p### star.
Also, special counsel in Washington is investigating the handling of classified documents he had in public spaces and his actions leading up to the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, at the nation’s Capitol.
Florida-native rapper and songwriter TEF XL announces that the second part of his highly acclaimed debut album Code Switch Vol. I: The Prequel is in the works. The Hip Hop artist who premiered the 13-track record back in December, admits that the upcoming chapters are about growth and his “life experiences in volumes.”
Read the full interview below.
First off, congratulations on your grand debut last year! You kicked off your career with the 13-track record Code Switch Vol. I: The Prequel. How did the public and critics perceive your work?
Yes, thank you for the acknowledgment, this release was a milestone for us. We’ve received great feedback from fans and critics both on the quality of production and the lyrical content. I think my message resonates well with so many people, because it comes from a place of authenticity and experience. The biggest compliment I get from most people is that they listen to the entire album.
Anyone from the industry contacted you or shown their support and love? Can you share some of the feedback that has stuck with you and motivated you to work harder on your next releases?
Yes, I’ve received words of encouragement from so many people in the industry – artists, producers, songwriters, and radio. I think releasing an album really allowed people to appreciate my range. I’d say the best piece of advice I received was from Sway Calloway – – he said there’s room for all artists, make music that your core audience identifies with and super feed them that.
The album surely holds a special place in your heart. Can you tell us what it means to you personally and professionally?
Definitely. From a professional perspective I’d say our Code Switch album solidified a few things for me:
Great music inspires people. Great production and great messaging go hand in hand and people will acknowledge you for it.
Incremental success is proven success. We set out in 2022 to build brand awareness and drop the first Code Switch album. We did both and created momentum stepping into 2023.
From a personal perspective, it’s a milestone in my life and I’m thankful for having the ability and opportunity to tell my story through art. It signifies for me once again that anything I put intention behind can be accomplished. I think we forgo pursuing our passions for multiple reasons, however, the most common is self-doubt and insecurity due to the pressures of social norms. I’m proud to be someone who can push through the noise of personal insecurity and self-doubt and inspire others through music.
You’d previously mentioned that Code Switch is a trilogy. Have you started working on Vol. 2? Do you have a specific release date in mind? What kind of songs should fans expect to hear on the anticipated album?
Begin with the end in mind. That simple principle came to me through business, and it stuck with me. We started working on Code Switch Vol. 3 first and then worked our way back to the Prequel. Of course, there are some modifications we will continue to make along the way, but the framework is solid. So, yeah we’ve got most of Vol. 2 complete and anticipate to release in the second or third quarter of this year. As far as songs, I have been working with several different producers to explore diversity in sound that I think listeners will really appreciate.
The Prequel was an introduction to your roots and a tribute to your hometown; Duval County. What will the succeeding chapters be focused on in terms of narrative and style?
The next chapters are about growth and what comes along with it – it’s my life experiences in volumes. You’ve got the same hustle mentality, but a new grind for TEF, you’ve got relationship challenges, challenges of raising a son, the struggles of social justice. As far as style of music we begin to layer in more instrumentation signifying the growth and refinement on TEF’s journey.
You’ve worked with Fedarro, Alonda Rich, Bigga Rankin, WAX, Spinabenz, and many more notable artists. Are there any collaborations in the works right now?
We have some great collaborations on the next album both behind the boards and on the microphone. We will share collaborations once we start our release campaign for each volume, can’t give it all away right now!
We know it’s difficult to choose, but we have to ask! Which one’s your favorite track from the album? And why?
“Serenity” – It’s my personal favorite because it really captures pivotal phases of my life across three verses in a special way. I share about losing someone I love, I speak on the business of the streets and the mindset I had to adapt to survive it, and lastly I speak on the consequences of those decisions and how fortunate few of us are to live and talk about it.
Do you have songs that didn’t make the tracklist, but would like to release them as a single or as part of another project?
Absolutely, I’d say we recorded probably north of 50 songs before we landed on the 13 songs we released as Vol. 1. I’m sure we will revisit some of them and drop them along the way. There are some gems in the vault for sure.
“B.O.W.” and “Say Less” came with visuals. Will you be dropping any new videos for your other tracks?
Yes, as a matter of fact we just finished shooting videos for “Pronto” and “Serenity.” I think video representation to cement the story is important.
When do you plan to go on tour? Are there any live performances you would like to share with us?
We’re working on some tour dates for this summer. As soon as we finalize we will definitely get them to you and Team TEF.
DJ Scratch is one of the finest DJ’s Hip-Hop has ever seen. A battle DJ, he has been through so many versions of Hip-Hop and he’s still here today. As a vet, he’s seen it all. Now he talks to Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur aka Jigsaw about all things DJ Scratch. He goes into everything from EPMD’s break-up to Jam Master Jay (watch the video for his full explanation), to his new music and more like his talks with Erick Sermon’s drug addiction reveal.
AllHipHop: First things first, I want to talk about this new single you got with Tiye Phoenix in “I Be The Nicest,” and talk about that record, because it seems like you really taking this lyricism thing, putting it on your back a little bit, and wanting to carry that torch.
DJ Scratch: Yeah, man. Shout-out to all the MCs out there. I’ve always been very picky when it comes to making music and who I work with, and Tiye Phoenix always been one of those hidden gems in hip hop, in the underground. She’s an underground queen, she’s a triple threat, she’s an MC, she’s a singer, she’s a musician, she play keys, but I felt she never got that due, like she should be where we feel Lauryn should be.
AllHipHop: Let’s just zone in on 50 years of hip hop, 50 years of DJing, because the DJ came before even the MC. So, we’re kind of talking about, for us in hip hop, 50 years of DJing.
DJ Scratch: Man, it hasn’t hit me that it’s been 50 years yet. One of the main reasons is that once I entered the game, I’ve been blessed to have success consecutively over 30 years. So, I’m still at the point where I’m still not looking back at my career, all of my accomplishments. So, on a global scale of looking at the whole culture at 50 years, I didn’t even look at it until they started announcing it like, yo, 50 years, this year’s going to make 50, I’m like, damn, 50?
AllHipHop: Did you ever try to rap?
DJ Scratch: Man, listen. Yes. The beginnings of hip hop, when I first started DJing and doing hip hop back in the days, the beginning, I followed the actual pioneers. Back then, you had to know how to rap, it wasn’t partitioned. You was a rapper and you DJ’ed. So, for example, Run from Run-DMC, you have never heard Run DMC call himself an MC.
DJ Scratch: He calls himself DJ Run, to this day. He was a DJ, because he still follows that rule. Grandmaster Caz, who I feel is the GOAT of this s###, everybody started rapping because of him. The styles because of him, he’s the beginning of that s###. He was a DJ, all of the rappers back then, the MCs were DJs, so I’ll followed that, so, I used to DJ and rap at the same time. On the turntable, I had a mic, catch the record, be rapping at the same time while I’m catching the beat, jump on the keyboard, play whatever break I’m playing on the keyboard, I did everything.
AllHipHop: Definitely, a lot of people may not know this, but you toured with Jay-Z and you were his DJ. What was that experience like? Jay-Z by some standards as the goat, he’s at the top of every list somewhere, always in the top five.
DJ Scratch: He’s definitely a goat.
AllHipHop: Yeah, what was your experience like with him?
DJ Scratch: It was fun, man. Shout out to the whole Roc-A-Fella back then. Jay-Z, he likes to laugh, and this is when him and Dame was still together, him, Dame and Biggs, they loved to laugh, they cracked jokes all day long. So it was just jokes all day long, that’s it, all day long. Jay, he was actually receptive to advice, me giving him advice about performing. I don’t know if you’ve seen Jay-Z’s performances before he went through the roof, Jay’s laid back, so he’s just going to sit and just chill and just do his show. And I told him, when we first started doing shows, I was like, yo, you don’t have to move too much because that’s not you, you laid back. I said, but just let the crowd know that you are enjoying your music and they will enjoy you.
AllHipHop: Absolutely, So let’s go back just a little bit, man. Most of us were introduced to you by EPMD, what’s your status with them now? There was a lot of friction a few years ago.
DJ Scratch: Nah, we’re cool, I spoke to Erick yesterday as a matter of fact, we’re cool. We haven’t done any shows yet, we haven’t done any shows since 2015. But we in talks, because it was just all really business, and the reason why I even made the post back then, because promoters were calling me when they see them (EPMD), and I’m not there, but the promoters not knowing that I’m not there. So I didn’t want the promoters to think that I’m not showing up to shows, which is bad business, because these promoters booked me for DJ gigs as well. And just like when anything happens, everybody’s calling your phone, you’re tired of saying the same story, explaining over and over. So I’m like, let me just put this post out here so they’ll know exactly what’s going on. “We’re not doing shows together, this is why I’m not missing shows, they’re doing the shows without me, and it’s cool.”
AllHipHop: How’s Erick’s health? I know he recently announced an addiction to opioids and has been clean for a while. Did you have to deal with that?
DJ Scratch: Yeah.
AllHipHop: Okay, so was that a problem for the business? Or even personal, forget the business.
DJ Scratch: It wasn’t a problem business wise, Erick got up and did his job. It was just you worried about his health. Just like anybody else that you know that’s dealing with an addiction, you’re worried about their health. But there was never a business problem with him dealing with that.
AllHipHop: That’s one of the biggest things people don’t understand is, like, “Yo, why didn’t somebody do something? Why didn’t somebody say something?” Because they got to come to that moment on their own.
DJ Scratch: Because you could take somebody and drop them off in rehab, but it’s still on them to do it. I know a couple of friends, just personal friends who went through alcohol addiction, and they have to go to rehab. You can talk to them until you blue in the face, but at the end of the day, it’s up to them to actually do it. And you got to put in that work and do it. And Erick, when he posted it, I was like, “Oh s###.” I commented, I’m like, “Yo, I’m proud of you, you finally went and got help, I’m proud of you.” But yeah, Erick is good, he’s good, man.
AllHipHop: What happens if The Hit Squad (Powerful collective of rappers – EPMD, Das EFX, Redman, K-Solo, Knucklehedz) doesn’t break up?
DJ Scratch: We’d be like Wu-Tang. I would say Redman, Solo… And we would’ve actually build on and bring more artists in as well. Because it was the same formula that RZA and Divine used for Wu-Tang. Get artists, put them on different labels and just run the industry. So I think we would be where Wu-Tang is right now.
AllHipHop: And competitively, Raekwon says it a lot, they were looking at the Hit Squad. All right, we got somebody for him, we got somebody for him.
AllHipHop: I think we need a EPMD movie, man.
DJ Scratch: Oh, absolutely, a biopic, definitely.
AllHipHop: We had a few years of good movies, and then once “Straight Outta Compton” happened, it was like, all right, we’re done, that was the pinnacle. We had a couple on Lifetime stuff like that, nothing that was really big budget.
DJ Scratch: And that’s why the Wu-Tang show is so special. Even though we lost Ol’ Dirty, but most of the group is still here to actually tell their story. But yeah, definitely, there should be a EPMD movie.
AllHipHop: Yeah, Run DMC too.
DJ Scratch: Yeah, Absolutely, Run DMC. Before we lose anybody else. And I think because Hip-Hop is only in its 50th year, and I think what maybe 25 of that, we started actually learning the business. So I think we should start telling our own stories. We don’t have to do it the way Hollywood usually does s###, when the person is gone. We can actually do this s### while they’re still alive, so we can tell the story the way, the right way like Ray Charles. Ray Charles was alive when that movie was being made, that’s why it came out so great. Why can’t we do that with Hip-Hop?
AllHipHop: We definitely can, who would you have play you?
DJ Scratch: Who would I have played me? I would have Rusty Juxx play me, because everybody say he looks like a younger me. So I would have Rusty Juxx, so you got to learn how to DJ and s###. But I would have Rusty Juxx play me.
AllHipHop: Dope MC, all right. So he got to start learning how to DJ. You can go to the Scratch Academy for that.
When he purchased the home in 2018, he spent $16.75 million on it. Listing agent Cyril Matz of Douglas Elliman said this waterfront home was sold in 2023 for $22.583 million, earning him almost a $6 million gain.
The house was almost new when he moved in. Matz says the house, located on Allison Island in Biscayne Bay, was built a year before he purchased it. It has a water frontage and dock that is about 110 feet and the seven-bedroom home itself is roughly 10,600 square feet.
Some of the amenities are a home theater with suede wall coverings, mahogany wood entranceways, and a huge swimming pool in the backyard.
The Young Money executive, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., was hoping to sell the property for more. When he originally placed the property on the market in September 2022, he listed it for $29.5 million. When he didn’t get any takers, he dropped it down to $28 million.
The rapper actually did well with the sale. According to the Miami Herald, home sales in South Florida are on the decline. According to a report released by the Miami Association of Realtors, home sales plummeted by 47% in January 2023.
That means there were only 1,402 transactions (homes being sold) which is a drop from the same time in 2022 when 2,645 properties were sold.
Just selling to break even is rare in this climate.
Recording artist BBA Trigga represents the soul of Eastside Atlanta. Being a leading voice inside Generation Z rap culture BBA Trigga illuminates the future of Hip-Hop. Growing up with the Phil Jackson of Hip-Hop’ Russell “Block” Spencer, BBA Trigga bloodline is infused with Championship DNA. BBA Trigga’s latest commercial release ‘Bankroll’ has social media ringing from the Eastside of Atlanta to Watts, California.
The brand of BBA Trigga has created an organic movement fueled by harsh realities of life, social injustice, Black American Hustle, self-education, and empowerment. Listening to BBA Trigga’s music in real-time feels like you’re watching an episode of Oz, Snowfall, and Belly simultaneously. Understanding yourself and walking in your purpose is the key to securing destiny. BBA Trigga emits an ultra-beam light of inspiration for aspiring dream chasers worldwide.
BBA Trigga’s team Block Entertainment engineered marketing brilliance by merging two powerful brands for one common goal: Winning Championships. The iconic Jordan brand popularized and revolutionized Nike and pop culture. Every kid wakes up knowing two things: McDonald’s & Air Jordan. Celebrating the release and success of his single ‘Bankroll,’ Team BBA Trigga is giving away a pair of UNC Retro Jordan 5 on Saturday, March 4th, via Instagram Live.
Everyone who reposts BBA Trigga’s Instagram post and shares it on social media to a minimum of 50 people qualifies for the Jordan giveaway. Social media followers of BBA Trigga are ecstatic about the opportunity, and engagement is incredibly high. Block Entertainment continues to elevate and push the culture forward of Hip-Hop. To maximize the campaign, BBA Trigga partnered with RSG Agency. Dasha Ware is regarded as one of the most respected marketing executives in the music industry.
Kirb’s collaboration with Stitches on his first project “No Snitching Is My Statement” established his production skills immediately, as he produced the majority of the songs on the project, including “I’m Just A Gangsta” featuring Compton Menace, “All I Know,” and “F### Yo Boyfriend.” Kirb’s exceptional production abilities were further highlighted by the viral hit single “Brick In Yo Face,” which he produced.
The success of the song was remarkable, given that other songs on the project were produced by industry legends like Scott Storch and Southside of 808 Mafia, but Kirb had the viral hit. This accomplishment adds to his impressive catalog of hits, demonstrating his talent and innovation.
Kirb continued to work with Stitches following the success of “Brick In Yo Face,” and their collaboration resulted in hit songs like “Molly Cyrus,” “Kilos in My Bag,” and “Mexico,” which featured Kevin Gates. Kirb’s dedication to his craft and talent as a music producer is evident in every song he produces, leading to the two artists developing a close friendship.
Kirb’s musical abilities extend beyond his work with Stitches. He has worked with Mykelonthebeat on Lil Boosie’s Savage Holidays album “Track Life Forever,” produced “Camron” for Lil Mouse’s “Mouse Trap 3” album, and created “Dear Mr. President” for Mistah Fab, among many others, as seen on his Instagram. Kirb’s diverse body of work demonstrates his versatility as a producer and his ability to collaborate with artists from various genres.
“Family Ties,” the latest project by Kirb & Stitches, is now available. It is an album entirely produced and engineered by Kirb and his Supply & Demand team. Every song on the album features both artists, including the single “Bout Me,” which Kirb produced and is currently promoting. Kirb and Stitches’ chemistry shines through on every track, and it’s clear that their collaboration is here to stay.
Kirb has made a name for himself in the music industry, and his success has led to collaborations with other hip-hop artists such as Lil Boosie, NBA Youngboy, and Fat Trel. His future plans include collaboration albums with Fat Trel & the Slutty Boys (P Wild & Killa) and Lil Rue. Kirb’s dedication to fairness and transparency in the music industry prompted him to establish the Publishing Administration Company, Supply & Demand Worldwide Publishing, to assist music creators in receiving the royalties they are entitled to. He also founded Luxury Living Music, a music production company, after purchasing Supply & Demand Productions’ catalog.
Kirb is a rising star in the music industry due to his dedication to his craft and passion for fairness and transparency in the industry. Hear the album & single on apple music or any other streaming platform.
Power 105.1’s The Breakfast Club will go down as one of the most influential programs in Hip Hop history. For twelve years, co-hosts DJ Envy, Charlamagne Tha God, and Angele Yee played an important role in prompting conversation in the culture.
Angela Yee took part in an exclusive interview on the March 1 edition of the Emmy-winning The Tamron Hall Show. The Wesleyan University graduate discussed her decision to leave The Breakfast Club with the former MSNBC anchor.
“My contract had been up in December, and so I was already trying to figure out, ‘Am I staying here? Am I going somewhere else?’ And I just wanted to keep all of my options open. I never want to feel like I’m stuck somewhere,” explained Yee.
Tamron Hall also asked Angela Yee about being the only regular female host on The Breakfast Club at the time. Some listeners/viewers insisted Yee should be held accountable for any controversial actions or comments by her male counterparts.
“Sometimes I would feel like I got it harder than [Charlamagne Tha God] did for some things that he said. And so I also want to make it clear that we’re all three individuals. You say what you say, feel how you feel, and I do too. But it’s hard because people affiliate you with the whole group,” stated Yee.
The Radio Hall of Famer continued, “That was part of why I really wanted to have my own show because now what happens, I’m accountable for that. But when you have three different people with three different opinions or three different viewpoints and completely different personalities – we’re all individuals but sometimes it’s hard for people to separate that.”
Over a decade ago, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis churned out hit after hit. For example, the now-Diamond-certified “Thrift Shop” featuring Wanz spent six weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The chart-topping “Can’t Hold Us” featuring Ray Dalton also earned a Diamond Award (10 million units) from the RIAA. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis won three Grammys in 2014, including an award for Best Rap Album for The Heist.
Apple Music’s Zane Lowe recently interviewed Macklemore (born Benjamin Haggert) as promotion for his upcoming Ben album. The interview also included the 39-year-old rapper reflecting on the time period when “Thrift Shop” became a success.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Only Charted On The Hot 100 Once After 2013
“Yeah, it was dark. It was a dark, very challenging era. That era was tough, man. It was all the criticism, all the expectations, all the accolades, all the love, all the hate, everything at once. And I spent my entire life being an underground rapper. All of a sudden that changed,” stated Macklemore.
He continued, “And there was an era in that period where it was like, ‘Wait, hold on. You guys remember what I’ve done? You guys remember where I came from?’ And it was like, ‘No, my little sister likes your music now. This is wack.’ And in that moment, it was really intense.”
The Seattle native never made it onto the Hot 100 chart before “Thrift Shop” in 2012. “Downtown” is the only Macklemore & Ryan Lewis song to chart since 2013. Mack did score Hot 100 entries as a soloist with “Good Old Days” in 2017, “Glorious” in 2017, and “Summer Days” in 2019.
Macklemore Struggles With Mental Health Issues & Addiction
“You’re up for judgment from the world, and no one tells you how to handle that. And here we are at the top of the world and I have no idea what the f### I am doing. And you don’t say. ‘No.’ You just say, ‘Yes.’ You do the next show. There’s another bag to chase. There’s another cover, there’s whatever,” Macklemore told Lowe.
He added, “And you’re just going and you’re not stopping. And as that’s happening, as you’re not sleeping, as your mental health, as relapses happening, as I’m trying to hide, that all of that’s happening, the rest of the world is talking about you and it was a dark period. It’s like, okay, you work your entire life for this moment. Now you got the ball. What are you going to do? Do not go out of bounds. Do not call a timeout. There is no two-minute warning. You’re just going to go. And that’s what we did.”
Macklemore will release Ben on Friday, March 3. The studio LP joins a catalog that contains The Language of My World from 2005 and Gemini from 2017. Additionally, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis dropped This Unruly Mess I’ve Made. That 2016 project hosted “Downtown” featuring Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, and Grandmaster Caz.
Destiny’s Child member Beyoncé is one of the most beloved entertainers on the planet. Apparently, even members of the United States House of Representatives are part of the BeyHive fanbase.
In celebration of Black History Month and Women’s History Month, California representative Robert Garcia honored Beyoncé on the floor of the lower chamber of the U.S. Congress. His speech went viral on social media.
“She’s an icon, she’s a legend, and she’s now and forever the moment,” said Congressman Garcia while standing next to the cover art for Homecoming: The Live Album. He went on to call Beyoncé the “undisputed queen of Pop and R&B.”
Garcia also talked about the first time he saw Destiny’s Child perform. The Democratic politician proclaimed, “It was life-changing for me and the way I experienced music. I became an instant fan then and have been a huge fan ever since.”
She’s an icon, a legend, and is now and forever the moment. Congratulations to @Beyonce on making Grammy history. pic.twitter.com/TV7SwGnlF3
— Congressman Robert Garcia (@RepRobertGarcia) March 1, 2023
Rep. Garcia Also Acknowledges Beyoncé For Supporting Marginalized Communities
TMZ caught up with Robert Garcia to get more details on why he chose to praise Beyoncé as part of a Black History Month and Women’s History Month commemoration in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“She’s a global superstar. In my opinion, she’s the Queen of Pop/R&B. Period. The best of all time. But she’s also an incredible activist and leader. She’s stood up for voting rights, for feminism, for women and girls, for the LGBTQ+ community, being an openly gay person in Congress,” Garcia told the outlet.
The former mayor of Long Beach continued, “She’s always stood up for everybody, and I respect that immensely. I think there are a lot of us that want to recognize her body of work. Not just the Grammy wins, but the kind person that she is.”
Yesterday (March 1), Latto again had something to say about a negative narrative spreading across Twitter. A tweet by gossip blogger Armon Wiggins led to a heated back-and-forth with the RCA recording artist.
“I thought y’all said this was the one! It didn’t even break Top 50! Let alone Top 20, Top 10, Top 5, Top 3, NUMBER 1… I was wondering why it was soo quiet. 😂😂😂 But like I always say, anything in the Top 100 is a hit! 😌🙄🫢,” tweeted Wiggins, responding to “Lottery” debuting at No. 83 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Latto fired back, “What have [you] done in life besides talk about what everybody else doing [with] theirs? I’m really sick of y’all LOW LIFE GROWN ASS MEN speaking on me! P####! [M############] ain’t doing HALF of what I’m doing but want me to be ashamed of my accomplishments? 🍆🚴♀️🚴♀️🚴♀️🚴♀️🚴♀️.”
As the online feud started to go viral, Latto posted, “I quit! For I catch a case! I’m finna start a family! 🥰.” Then Armon Wiggins posted a quote-tweet that read, “Don’t catch a case catch a HIT! Instead of worrying about me worry about how ICE SPICE CAME and ATE YOU UP!!”
Armon Wiggins Claims He’s A Fan Of Latto
Some of Latto’s followers began pointing out that Wiggins has flip-flopped on his views of the 777 album creator. They shared previous tweets showing the YouTuber praising Latto. In response, Wiggins claimed he is a supporter of the rapper.
“Y’all pulling up old tweets of me showing #Latto love isn’t doing [anything] BUT PROVING MY POINT… These celebs don’t care about positivity! For the record, I AM A LOTTA [sic] FAN,” tweeted Armon Wiggins on Wednesday afternoon.
Last night, Billboard celebrated Latto by presenting her with the Powerhouse Award at the 2023 Billboard Women In Music Awards. Latto’s “For the Night” collaborator Chlöe presented her with a special plaque before the Columbus-born entertainer gave an acceptance speech inside the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles.
“All the inspiring women who paved the way for me and all the women that there are to come. I’m grateful to be a part of this new wave of female rap and baby, we’re kicking down the door and we ain’t taking no for an answer,” said Latto at the Billboard Women In Music Awards.
I thought Yalll said this was the one! It didn’t even Break top 50! Let alone top 20 Top 10, Top 5, Top 3, NUMBER 1… I was wondering why it was soo quiet 😂😂😂 But like I always say Anything in the Top 100 is a Hit! 😌🙄🫢 pic.twitter.com/PpfbgnEhse
What have u done in life besides talk about what everybody else doing w theirs? I’m really sick of y’all LOW LIFE GROWN ASS MEN speaking on me! P####! Mfs ain’t doing HALF of what I’m doing but want me to be ashamed of my accomplishments? 🍆🚴♀️🚴♀️🚴♀️🚴♀️🚴♀️ https://t.co/Z5d0odRtRW
— Latto Crave | Fan Account (@lattocrave) March 1, 2023
Y’all pulling up old tweets of me showing #Latto love isn’t doing a they thing BUT PROVING MY POINT.. these celebs don’t care about positivity! For the Record I AM A LOTTA FAN..
Creed III actor/director Michael B. Jordan has been immortalized on Hollywood Boulevard. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce honored Jordan with the 2,751st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
“Michael B. Jordan has become a household name thanks to his many roles on the big screen,” stated Ana Martinez, Producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in a press release.
Martinez continued, “To think that this star didn’t grow up with dreams of being an actor! Luckily for us, he changed his mind and now he will be honored with an iconic star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.”
Creed III actor Jonathan Majors and Fruitvale Station filmmaker Ryan Coogler attended the Walk of Fame event on Wednesday. Michael B. Jordan also gave a speech.
“This is probably one of the most unforgettable weeks I’ve had,” declared Jordan. The 36-year-old Newark native added, “I’m extremely humbled and grateful to be here.”
He also said, “I know it’s not a small achievement. It’s not lost on me how special this moment is and what this represents to our community, so from the bottom of my heart, I want to say thank you.”
Michael B. Jordan first gained notoriety as an actor for his performances on television shows such as The Wire, All My Children, and Friday Night Lights. His filmography includes Hardball, Chronicle, Fantastic Four, Black Panther, Just Mercy, and other movies.
Creed III hits American theaters on Friday, March 3. In addition to Michael B. Jordan playing the titular character Adonis Creed, the sports drama’s cast also features Jonathan Majors, Tessa Thompson, Wood Harris, Florian Munteanu, and Phylicia Rashad.
Fans across Europe have been going wild for Chris Brown’s recent tour performances, especially the lucky ladies the singer has pulled from the audience to join him onstage.
Over the past two weeks, clips of Breezy performing intimate dances for the chosen few have gone viral. In each clip, Chris Brown dances around the fan seated onstage before moving on her lap to the tune of his 2007 bedroom smash, “Take You Down.”
If Chris Brown gave me a lap dance! Baybeeeee….I’m glad that lady got her life and kept composure…because me!?! 🤣 pic.twitter.com/LQGsJYRMSn
However, his latest lap dance didn’t go as planned and ended up with Chris Brown hurling the fan’s phone into the audience.
The singer began crooning into the microphone while staring intimately at the seated fan. However, rather than enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime experience, the fan attempted to capture it on her phone. Chris Brown tried to get the fan to put the phone down, gently removing it from her hands and placing it into her lap, encouraging her to live in the moment.
Nonetheless, within seconds, despite the warning, the lucky Breezy enthusiast began recording again. She held the phone in her hand even as Chris Brown sat over her, thrusting and gyrating while the audience cheered.
At this point, the R&B singer decided enough was enough and literally took matters into his own hands. He snatched the phone from her grasp and hurled it into the crowd, much to the fan’s shock. Check out the clip below.
Chris Brown shared a video of the moment on his Instagram Stories, writing, “F### dat phone.” Fortunately for the fan, she apparently got her phone back in the end. Check out the video below.
A GloRilla superfan now shares an unusual bond with the rapper after ending up with a piece of the star following one of her recent shows.
The CMG artist tossed her wig into the crowd during her show in Philadelphia on Sunday (Feb. 26), after fans tried to snatch it off her head while she was crowd surfing. However, one lucky GloRilla enthusiast walked away with the star’s green and black hairpiece.
Since flying through the air, GloRilla’s wig has been on quite a journey, ultimately ending up gracing a fan’s head.
Instagram user Bigboujiela shared a video of the moment GloRilla ripped the wig off and launched it into the air. The clip shows the ensuing melee as fans scramble to get hold of the memento. In another snippet, Bigboujiela can be seen showing off her prized possession while on the way home from the concert.
She also tagged GloRilla, who saw the post featuring her old wig freshly installed on her fan’s head. She shared a photo of Bigboujiela wearing the wig and added her approval. “OK, she caught,” the Memphis native penned on her IG story alongside several heart eyes emojis.
Vic Mensa spent a night sleeping rough on the streets of Chicago to raise money and awareness for the city’s unhoused.
The Chicago-born recording artist joined a group of volunteers giving out meals to the homeless on Tuesday night. He also spent a night sleeping in a tent under the city’s viaduct to experience the harsh conditions individuals without homes face.
Despite the cold, with temperatures into the mid-30s, Vic Mensa was determined to support his friend, the event’s organizer Englewood Barbie. The activist and entrepreneur is raising money to build a shelter for the unhoused. According to TMZ, she’s raised about $126,000 of her $ 1 million goal.
“We outside tonight in Chicago,” Vic Mensa explained to the outlet. “Sleeping underneath the viaduct raising money to help my homegirl Englewood Barbie build her own shelter to provide for the unhoused of Chicago.”
He continued: “It’s cold as f### but it’s wild to think that people have to live outside every night. In the wintertime, people freeze to death so we’re taking this moment to honor that experience and do our part to work to make the city a better place.”
Check out the video below, where Vic Mensa gives fans a glimpse inside his tent.
Meanwhile, earlier this year, Vic Mensa announced his plans to help bring clean water to people in Ghana.
“We’re building 3 boreholes in different communities in Ghana to provide clean drinking water,” Vic Mensa explained in January. “The first being the Asokore Zongo in Koforidua where my family lives, which is already built.”
Mcdonald’s is in hot water with some franchisees concerned that their partnership with Cardi B and Offset doesn’t reflect the company’s values and fails to meet the chain’s “Golden Arches Code” of marketing guidelines.
The famous couple recently linked with the fast-food chain for a Valentine’s Day campaign featuring the company’s first-ever celebrity duo meal.
While the couple’s surprise appearance at the Times Square McDonald’s launch was a hit with fans, the collaboration has drawn criticism from some restaurant owners. Some have even gone so far as to refuse to promote the Cardi B and Offset meal, as per Wall Street Journal.
According to the outlet several franchisees have complained about the partnerships. These store owners fear that the rapper’s lifestyle and often sexually explicit lyrics don’t align with McDonald’s family-friendly values.
However, McDonald’s says the collab has helped drive excitement for the brand, as shown by the crowds at the launch. They added that the partnership with Cardi B and Offset was focused on celebrating love and sharing special moments.
Cardi B & Offset Cause Chaos At McDonald’s Times Square
“Across our marketing, we’re focused on putting McDonald’s at the center of culture,” McDonald’s U.S. Chief Marketing Officer Tariq Hassan said.
Nevertheless, McDonald’s said that their public image remains a priority.
The Cardi B and Offset meal was first revealed during an ad on Super Bowl Sunday. The moment was significant for the couple, as their first date was at the Super Bowl in 2017.
“Every single time that the Super Bowl comes around, I get a little bit emotional,” Cardi B admitted during a Billboard interview. “We do have projects to put out this year, and our careers [are] very important to us… and then balancing things out with our careers and our personal lives, you know what I’m saying? Our children and stuff. We just being grownups. It’s not easy being grownups.”
Joe Budden refused to back down despite receiving backlash after calling Michael B Jordan “corny” over the actor’s viral red-carpet exchange with radio show host Lore’l.
During a recent episode of the Joe Budden Podcast, Joe defended the presenter calling the creed actor “corny.”
“Dawg, you doing that to a girl is some corny-n#### s###,” Joe Budden declared. “You being Michael B. Jordan, today, allegedly sexiest man alive, all of these blockbuster movies, during your highlight week. You’ve probably never been more visible than you are right this second. And that’s what you do to her? And if I bring back those White girl rumors, then it’s gon’ sound even crazier. Why you talking to our sisters like that on the red carpet when you don’t talk to White b###### like that?”
After saying he didn’t want to make it about race, Joe Budden addressed the actor directly.
“Michael B. Jordan, that’s why n##### call you corny. Hey, Creed. In case you was confused, that corny-ass s### you did is why n##### think you corny. In case you were off a little bit.” he added.
However, Joe Budden faced backlash over his remarks, with many fans on social media calling him out. While some brought up his previous bashing of Black women, including his rant last year about Vivica A. Fox, others raised his domestic violence allegations.
Joe Budden Responds To Backlash
Nonetheless, Joe Budden stuck to his guns, responding to the criticism via his Instagram story.
“If any other Black multi millionaire embarrassed a woman working on a red carpet cuz she thought he was corny in 7th grade y’all would call him a lot more than corny,” he penned. “Also I work for me & im not firing myself. I said what I said, get off my dick. Love, management.”
He also hopped on Twitter to admit “I talk too much,” and stated he’s “working on talking less‼️‼️” However, just a few hours later he was back responding to the outcry. Check out some of his tweets and the red-carpet interview that sparked the chatter at the end of the page.
Michael B. Jordan has kept quiet about Joe Budden’s comments, and for good reason. He received a coveted star on the Hollywood Walk of fame on Wednesday.
