On Thursday, Feb. 23, in a fireside chat with LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, Dapper Dan talked about the intersection of Black History Month and the celebration of Hip-Hop’s 50th Anniversary. One of the conversations he talked about is the comments made by Kanye West and his position on his relevancy in fashion.
The fashion icon did not sugarcoat anything but did not throw the controversial creative under the bus, according to WWD.
“I think there’s a lot of confusion with a lot of the information coming from Kanye,” he said.
“Now, some of the things he said I totally don’t agree with, but there’s glimpses of what he says that are true,” he continued.
“One of the things that I don’t think people understand about Kanye is that with all of his money, he couldn’t launch a brand successfully,” Dap said referring to the GAP deal. “A lot of people couldn’t understand why that is. They tell designers all the time, ‘why don’t you get your own brand?’ as if we can go put it in the toaster and pop it out. It’s not like that. Kanye tried to point that out to people.”
“He just couldn’t articulate it right,” the Harlem native added. “There are certain messages that Kanye had that made sense, but there’s the other side to it.”
The next day, Dapper Dan joined April Walker, Karl Kani, the founders of FUBU, Shirt Kings, Special Ed and the Lo Life Crew, Haus of Swag, Riche Threads, Malik Dupri, and Pepper Jacques at Ralph McDaniels’ and Video Music Box’s “DRIP” Phat Fashion Show, sponsored by the City of New York and the Universal Hip Hop Museum.
It was the very first activation of the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop in New York City.
SZA “deeply applauds” Taylor Swift for re-recording her albums following a dispute over her masters.
The singer-songwriter, real name Solána Imani Rowe, and the “Shake It Off” star are often competing for top spots on the music charts.
But in an interview for Billboard, SZA named Taylor as one of the women in the music industry whom she looks up to the most.
“Even Taylor letting that whole situation go with her masters and then selling all of those f**king records. That’s the biggest ‘f**k you’ to the establishment I’ve ever seen in my life, and I deeply applaud that s**t,” she revealed.
In 2019, Taylor became embroiled in a dispute with Big Machine Records’ Scott Borchetta and record executive Scooter Braun over the master recordings of her first six albums.
Following a highly publicized conflict, the star began re-recording her music, releasing Fearless (Taylor’s Version) and Red (Taylor’s Version) to critical acclaim in 2021.
Elsewhere in the conversation, SZA listed Lizzo, Beyoncé, Kehlani, and Chloe Bailey as other women in the entertainment industry she respects.
The “SOS” hitmaker conducted the interview to celebrate being recognized as Billboard’s Woman of the Year.
However, SZA confessed she feels a lot of responsibility to use her platform in a positive way.
“It really scares me. But I really want to do something with my time in the sun right now,” the 33-year-old noted. “There’s so much I want to do for other people. I need to do something to deserve that in a way that has nothing to do with me, something that’s selfless and uplifts other women, people, period.”
Nick Cannon is already the father to 12 children (although Zen Cannon died in December 2021). He’s been the butt of endless jokes and has fielded all kinds of invasive questions about his sex life—but, he’s still not ready for that vasectomy. During a recent interview withEntertainment Tonight, the multi-hyphenate left it up to a higher power.
“God decides when we’re done, but I definitely got my hands full,” he said. “And I’m so focused. I’m locked in. But, when I’m 85, you never know I might [have more].”
Cannon shares 11-year-old twins Monroe and Morocco with ex-wife Mariah Carey. He’s also father to Rise, Powerful and Golden with Brittany Bell; Beautiful, Zion and Zillion with Abby De La Rosa; Halo and the late Zen with Alyssa Scott; Legendary with Bre Tiesi and Onyx with LaNisha Cole.
When it comes to juggling them all, he said, “Everybody thinks it’s time management. It’s energy management. [Because] once we’re all aligned, the flow is a lot easier. If there’s any kind of low frequencies or dissension in there that’s what messes up the scheduling. As long as we’re all on the same page and we all got the same goal—to be the best parents we could possibly be—that works and then the scheduling is the scheduling.”
Despite the constant ribbing he receives on social media, he calls his brood of children a “blessing.” He continued, “Hopefully because of what I am able to do, my kids can do whatever they want to do, to be able to be in a position that if they want to be a nuclear physicist, I know somebody at an Ivy League school that I could [hit up]. If they want to go into the military, if they want to be artists, if they want to be actors, it’s a thing where we have the capability. Let’s start talking about it now so we can help your dreams come true.”
Cannon is kicking off his 24-date Future Superstar Tour on Saturday (February 25) at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles. Among the many performing are Symba, 24kGoldn, Big Boss Vette, Hitman Holla, JD McCrary, Traetwothree, Klondike Blonde, DW Flame and POP MONEY.
The late Young Dolph didn’t make Key Glock jump through any hoops to sign with Paper Route EMPIRE.
Key Glock revealed the simple process of getting signed by Young Dolph in an interview with Esquire. The Memphis-bred rapper said the deal came about due to his family connection.
“It really just happened out of the blue,” he explained. “It wasn’t even a plan. I got into some trouble. I got incarcerated. And then close to the time for me to come home, my auntie was married to Young Dolph’s uncle. She told him, ‘You know, Key doing his thing… He just reached out to me and it went from there.”
Key Glock appreciated the freedom he enjoys at Paper Route EMPIRE. He followed in the footsteps of Young Dolph, who stayed committed to being independent.
“They always let me do me, let me be me,” Key Glock noted. “No matter what it was. Music or just everything in life. I go by my rules. You know, I don’t mean to disrespect anybody. It’s just how I move. Play by my own rules.”
Key Glock released his new album Glockoma 2 via Paper Route EMPIRE on Friday (February 24).
Zaya Wade has officially changed her gender from male to female, according to a new report. Dwyane Wade’s 15-year-old transgender daughter has been living as a girl for several years.
TMZ claims a Los Angeles County judge ruled Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade’s legal name and gender change could go forward. Zaya was born Zion Malachi Airamis Wade in 2007 before coming out as trans in 2020.
Dwyane Wade and his current wife, Bring It On actress Gabrielle Union, have been supportive of Zaya Wade’s transition. However, the retired NBA star’s ex-wife, Siohvaughn Funches-Wade, attempted to block the gender change.
“He’s so preoccupied,” Gabrielle Union told Jemele Hill in response to Boosie Badazz’s repeated critical takes about Zaya. “It’s almost like ‘thou doth protest too much Lil Boose’. You got a lot of dick on your mind.”
Boosie then tweeted, “THE WHOLE WORLD [KNOWS] I LOVE WOMEN [AND] THE WORLD [KNOWS] YOUR HUSBAND [LOVES] DICK!! I HOPE U DON’T THINK BLACKS LOOK AT YALL LIKE A POWER COUPLE.😀THEY DON’T!!”
The 40-year-old Baton Rouge native also wrote, “I HAD REFUSED TO TALK ABOUT Y’ALL IN INTERVIEWS [AND] HEAR YOU GO!! GO BANG HIM WITH THAT D#### [AND] WAIT ON A SCRIPT U LIL WHITE GIRL💁♀️.”
Ogcrains does his world tremendous justice with a confessional cadence by laying it all out for his audience. Glorification of the party days and what it means to move past that feels joyous. There is this hard-fought sense of peace that seems to frame each one of his tracks. Melodies waver throughout; bonding with the g gives it the proper understanding of power about it.
Sheer muscle propels the pieces forward, and his vocals seem to drift on into the Southern California sky. Now based out of North Carolina, it is fascinating to see what a little bit of nostalgia can do for the past, of how it can color things in an entirely different hue.
“West Coast Vibes” perhaps best embodies what makes Ogcrains style so refreshingly unique. He has the positive attributes to what that moment meant, the mysticism of that tiny glimpse of something grand. It feels like a celebration, a homage to what life was and will be. Nods to other tropical paradises, like the Maldives, further add to this calmness that he has discovered.
On this one, his latest release, he spans both the past and present, doing it in a way that does feel uniquely earned. Lyrics reflect the sense of peace that the arrangement conveys, with his tender tone feeling particularly warranted given all his growth.
It looks like Lil Wayne is mounting a comeback. A lot of people are calling for it after he showed out on “Kant Nobody,” his latest song. The dude is a phenomenal artist and really should be at the top of these lists in a way that commemorates his greatness!
Give it a listen and let me know if you think this is an indication that Carter VI is on the way,
Latto considered herself a Nicki Minaj fan, which made it all the more frustrating when the two feuded in 2022.
The 24-year-old rapper revisited her beef with Nicki Minaj in an interview with Billboard. Latto admitted it was strange to find herself clashing with an artist she admired for many years.
“It’s difficult navigating through situations like that because there’s a disconnect,” she said. “I will look at myself as a fan of someone and they will view [me] in a whole different light. It’s disappointing. You just got to take it to the chin and keep pushing.”
Last year, problems began after Nicki Minaj complained about the Grammys reclassifying her single “Super Freaky Girl” as a pop song. Nicki Minaj wondered why Latto’s “Big Energy” didn’t receive the same treatment, which led to them arguing on social media.
The dispute quickly became heated with both women engaging in name-calling on Twitter. Latto added to the drama by posting clips of a phone conversation she had with Nicki Minaj.
Earlier this year, Latto appeared to throw a jab at Nicki Minaj in a freestyle. Fans assumed the line “it’s still giving coke” was a diss targeted at the 40-year-old artist.
“Creed III” is the newest chapter in the Creed saga, a spinoff franchise of the “Rocky” films made popular by Sylvester Stallone. For this film, Michael B. Jordan has returned to the role of Adonis Creed and has also taken his place behind the camera to make his directorial debut. This film seeks to raise the stakes for Adonis like never before as we find him fighting his most personal battle yet.
Years after finding fame and success through his boxing talents, “Creed III” finds Adonis Creed at a wonderful place in his life. Now, as a husband, father, and facing retirement to become a flourishing boxing promoter, we suddenly witness Adonis confronted with a hidden aspect of his past that he is forced to face. When a childhood friend and boxing talent named Damien Anderson resurfaces after a long prison sentence, his sights are set on Adonis and reclaiming what he feels has been taken from him. When emotions come to a boiling point, Adonis is forced to take a stand and face Damien in a personal fight where more than just titles are at stake.
“Creed III” is an excellent film that completely exceeds expectations! Written by Zach Baylin and Keenan Coogler (with a story credit by Ryan Coogler), this is a sports-drama packed with rich and soulful themes. We delve into a range of emotions like relationships, loss, guilt, forgiveness, and the role that compartmentalized childhood traumas play in our adult lives. The film has a powerful emotional core that really draws viewers into the lives of these characters and keeps you invested throughout. Between the amazing chemistry of the cast, the performances, and poignant storytelling, which even features shocking moments and surprising revelations, “Creed III” absolutely shines and is certainly a worthy entry to the franchise.
Working with talented directors over his 24-year career has clearly influenced Michael B. Jordan and it shows here. “Creed III” looks great, feels cinematic, has beautiful cinematography, and also utilizes a vibrant and vibrant aesthetic for its visual approach. In terms of shot selection, Jordan seamlessly transitions between various camera angles and vantage points to capture either the quiet intimacy or explosive intensity of a scene throughout the film. Additionally, Jordan’s meticulous use of sound design, score, and soundtrack to accentuate certain moments is an effective sensory component to the overall presentation. However, one of the most surprising aspects of Jordan’s direction is how well he captured the amazing boxing scenes showcased in this film.
“Creed III” contains several boxing sequences throughout the film with each feeling completely different from the next. Not only are the fights well-choreographed and edited, but Jordan has taken a unique approach to filming the action. He utilized his love of anime to influence the feel and look of the sequences. That said, utilizing dynamic camerawork that at times gives us a first-person point of view, the fight scenes in “Creed III” now contain a hyper-stylized, kinetic sense of combat that illuminates the brutality and intensity of the action. Additionally, in the film’s final fight, Jordan creatively takes distinct and artistic liberties to visually draw us closer into the personal nature of the battle between Adonis and Damien.
In terms of the cast, each of the returning actors do an amazing job for this third installment. In short, Michael B. Jordan is excellent here and has never been better in the role of “Adonis”. Tessa Thompson is wonderful as “Bianca”, Adonis’s wife, and mother of his daughter (the adorable Mila Davis-Kent). Phylicia Rashad reprises her role as Mary Anne Creed, Adonis’s mother, and delivers a beautiful performance. Wood Harris also returns as Little Duke, Adonis’s trainer, and gives a spirited performance as well. Also returning to the film is Florian Munteanu reprising his role as Viktor Drago from “Creed II”. Lastly, “Creed III” also features several professional boxers, trainers, and sports personalities which all add a further sense of authenticity to the film.
However, one of the biggest surprises of “Creed III” is the addition of Jonathan Majors as the film’s antagonist, Damien Anderson. Despite Damien’s hardened demeanor, his actual plight in the story makes him a sympathetic antagonist you can also care about. The excellent writing for the character is even further accentuated by the screen presence and phenomenal acting pedigree that Jonathan Majors brings to the role. Majors is sensational and brings a sense of rawness & realism while also having the charisma, look, physicality, and athleticism to be the perfect foil to Jordan’s Adonis Creed. Majors brings such a nuanced approach to the role through his mannerisms, facial expressions, and body language that it’s simply hard for him not to steal every scene he’s in. Jonathan Majors is an absolute force here!
One character that unfortunately isn’t present in “Creed III” is Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa. Between Stallone, the producers and the filmmakers being at odds over multiple issues regarding the Rocky character and the direction of the Creed franchise, Stallone sadly does not appear in the movie. Despite his absence, the story in “Creed III” still functions very effectively while only “referencing” Rocky at moments. However, there is one particular scene in the film where Rocky’s physical absence was truly felt the most. No spoilers though. It is simply hard to imagine Rocky’s lack of presence during a key moment in the movie.
If I had any criticism of the film, it would be that the 3rd act of the film feels slightly rushed. This particular story is so engaging and the performances are so great that you actually want to spend even more time with these characters. Clocking in at a brisk 2 hours, the film could have benefitted even more from having a slightly longer runtime. Despite that critique, “Creed III” still excels by ultimately showcasing genuine character progression, excellent storytelling, and both a grounded and relatable family dynamic throughout.
If you’re a fan of the previous films in this franchise, I highly recommended seeing this when it releases in theatres everywhere on 3/3/23.
A judge sentenced Crème, a member of the rap duo Deuces Wild, to several years in prison for tax fraud.
Crème, whose real name is Sameerah Marrell, received four and a half years in prison. The judge also ordered her to pay $7,979,041.71 in restitution.
The Detroit area rapper pleaded guilty to mail fraud, wire fraud and committing an offense while on bond in January. Crème fled from authorities after she failed to show up for a guilty plea hearing in October 2022. She was caught in Memphis in December 2022.
Crème stole $8.5 million as part of a tax fraud scheme that ran from 2014 through early 2022. The Deuces Wild member and her accomplices targeted the Internal Revenue Service and state agencies.
The 42-year-old woman and her accomplices filed more than 120 false income tax returns for estates and trusts in an attempt to claim $13,690,341 from the IRS. They also falsified state income tax returns, seeking $14,730,365 from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland and Minnesota.
“Ms. Marrell committed an astonishing amount of fraud against federal and state agencies,” Charles Miller of the IRS said in a press release. “She also proved herself incorrigible, continuing her scams even after her initial arrest. We hope that today’s sentence will deter both Ms. Marrell and anyone else who seeks to steal public funds for private gain.”
Crème must serve three years on supervised release after her prison sentence. Her restitution was slightly reduced based on cars, jewelry and money seized by the government during its investigation.
A judge shut down a lawyer’s attempts to drag Drake into the XXXTentacion murder trial.
Judge Michael Usan allowed Drake to avoid a deposition in the trial on Friday (February 24). Defense attorney Mauricio Padilla repeatedly sought to question Drake, suggesting the OVO star played a role in XXXTentacion’s murder.
Padilla, who’s representing XXXTentacion murder suspect Dedrick Williams, insisted he needed to question Drake to defend Williams. The judge found Padilla’s arguments to be unconvincing.
“What does that have to do with someone who you have no evidence of being involved other than hearsay and innuendo?” Judge Usan asked at one point. “You are now trying to just drag somebody in who’s a celebrity who does not want to be associated with this. And the harm to that individual is not inconsequential.”
NEW: Judge in #XXXTentacion trial rules in favor of @Drake and he will not have to sit for a deposition.
Judge: " …no evidence of (Drake) being involved other than hearsay and innuendo. You are now trying to just drag somebody in who's a celebrity…" pic.twitter.com/7pwXHaHcdN
Judge Usan believed Padilla was harassing Drake in order to orchestrate a straw man defense. The judge said Padilla’s efforts wouldn’t even help the three men on trial for XXXTentacion’s murder trial.
“At best, that would be adding an unindicted co-conspirator, if you will,” Judge Usan noted. “But that’s not a defense to the individuals that are here.”
Williams, Michael Boatwright and Trayvon Newsome are on trial for first-degree murder. A fourth man, Robert Allen, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and testified against the three suspects.
XXXTentacion died in a fatal shooting in 2018. He was 20.
‘Addicted’ is a new track produced by Luna from Boston artist EastLaRoca that showcases his deep-seated trauma from his love life. It’s almost as if LaRoca is in a hazy trance as he posts up singing and crooning to the audience with a somber mood, almost just going through the motions and emotions of twisted love that leaves him frozen.
TyVision’s simplistic yet clean edits keep us engrossed frame for frame as the combination of clean musical direction and soothing addiction-laden sounds hook the listener’s ears for an emotional rollercoaster.
Bronx bombshell Card B is just finishing up 15 days of community service as a part of her plea deal for a 2018 fight at a strip club.
On Tuesday, Feb. 21, the Grammy award-winner took to Twitter to share with her fans what she was going to look like when she heads out for her mandated service work, popping off a week of dope fits and proving you can be fly while you are giving back.
She tweeted out to her millions of followers, “Day whatever the f—k of community service……….Obey the law !!!!”
The “WAP” chart-topper looked simple but fashionable. The mom of two had on a tight Black top and stylized leggings. The pieces are from her Cardi B X Reebok collection. On her head, she was rocking a Chanel beanie and, on her feet, some Maison Margiela Tabi Boots.
The next day, she tweeted another pic on her— again rocking some Chanel, a pink bomber jacket, and pink Tabis.
“On my way to serve some community service time …..DONT COMMIT CRIMES!” she tweeted.
On Thursday, Feb. 23, she killed her looks again, tweeting out, “Community service ….I have to do a lot of hours today and I’m very sleepy ……..YOU DO THE CRIME YOU DO THE TIME!!!!!”
Community service ….I have to do a lot of hours today and I’m very sleepy ……..YOU DO THE CRIME YOU DO THE TIME!!!!! pic.twitter.com/IIqR3vB12y
On Friday, she revealed that after she finishes her community service, she has been going to the studio to record music.
“My brains are burning from waking up early ,community service then studio….but I did the crime ‘I only have myself to blame’” Bardi wrote.
My brains are burning from waking up early ,community service then studio….but I did the crime “I only have myself to blame” pic.twitter.com/YFbMbwm1xd
At the time, she said, “Part of growing up and maturing is being accountable for your actions. As a mother, it’s a practice that I am trying to instill in my children, but the example starts with me. I’ve made some bad decisions in my past that I am not afraid to face and own up to. These moments don’t define me and they are not reflective of who I am now.”
She was unable to complete any of the community service assignments and the judge extended the deadline.
Her lawyer Drew Findling said, “Personally and professionally, Cardi is dedicated to community service and charitable endeavors. She, therefore, appreciates the court giving her until March 1st to complete her community service commitment in Queens, New York.”
After going hard in the paint to promote his upcoming project, an album that will be executively produced by Q-Tip, rapper-turned-mogul LL Cool J shot out a series of tweets that said the new music would not be coming.
Turns out, the Ladies Love was just kidding.
He addressed it in a new video on Instagram. He captioned the post, “Explanation behind my choice to not release my album.”
Then said in the clip, “Yo … ok… so everybody’s been asking me about the new record and my decision. I was considering not putting the record out because it’s too f##king good!”
https://www.instagram.com/p/Co-oWPVPU3V/
“Q-tip, you a genius baby. Yo, this is my favorite album I ever made. I can’t wait for y’all to hear this,” he continued.
He then said that the date and track listing will be released soon.
While talking about the project around Grammy time, he said, “The album I think is really, really special. I think it’s something it’s modern without chasing. It’s a whole new thing. I can’t wait for the people to see it.”
The legend, that many consider to be the G.O.A.T., also said, “I think honestly and sincerely that Q-Tip as a producer is unbelievable and what he did on this record for me, I think is amazing. So the world will decide.”
Westside Gunn disappeared from social media for more than a month—but he’s back. Earlier this week, the self-proclaimed “Super FlyGod” shared a series of photos from his trip overseas. He simultaneously teased his next album, &Then You Pray For Me, alongside photos of Pharrell, Mike Dean and Swizz Beatz.
“40 Days 40 Nights… SUPER FLYGOD has RISEN!!!” he wrote in the caption. “For the past month, I’ve been living overseas learning and building, becoming the best designer I could possibly be, making my new album ‘& THEN U PRAY FOR ME’ and traveling with my son FLYGOD JR.
“I haven’t been on social media. I’ve been living a healthy, sucka free life and I just have a new energy. I wanna thank the fans for there concerns and truthfully I feel better than I ever have… stronger, smarter!!! I can’t wait to show u the new designs, drop the new music, and see the curations I’ve been putting together. GOD IS THE GREATEST. Now it’s ‘SUPER FLYGOD.’ WSGUNN doesn’t even exist anymore more. I LOVE YALL.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/Co8CuDAtna1/
Westside Gunn canceled his European tour last month just hours before it was to begin in Amsterdam. The Griselda Records founder was ecstatic when he initially announced the tour. The 12-date run was expected to make stops in Paris, Vienna, Milan before wrapping up in Lisbon on February 10. He wrote on Instagram at the time: “10 yrs in the making. It’s time for me to see my supporters from all over the world. Y’all supported me for so long, it’s time I come give y’all FLYGOD LIVE!!!! We’ll all be family that night. I promise u you don’t wanna miss this.”
Westside Gunn’s most recent album, 10, arrived last year. It serves as the final installment of the Hitler Wears Hermes series. But, judging by his latest post, he’s not ready to put the mic down.
Adidas has officially credited the downturn of their profits to then severing ties with Kanye West.
According to MarketWatch, on Tuesday, Feb. 21, S&P Global Ratings lowered its long- and short-term debt ratings on the sneaker brand.
In 2021, the Yeezy deal made up 5% of the company’s total sales. This includes sneakers, clothing, and sporting goods. The company had also expected Yeezy to make up 7% of the sales for 2022.
With the severing of ties, the stock dropped more and Adidas knew it.
On Thursday, Feb. 9, Adidas sent out a profit warning saying that 2023’s sales would be in a slump because of the split. The German brand may be in the hole for about $1.3 billion, a fall of about 7% to 9%.
It seems they are reaching out to Yeezy in hopes to restore the deal.
As reported by AllHipHop.com, Kanye West was dropped as a collaborator with Adidas because of his statements against George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement, and various antisemitic comments toward the Jewish Community.
This ending of the relationship substantially impacted West’s net worth, reducing him from billionaire to about $400 millionaire.
Now, people are cracking up and mocking the brand for regretting the haste.
“Adidas HQ crawling back to Kanye after losing billions,” one person wrote.
Hip-Hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa has been almost written out of the culture’s history. And, I have to admit, that’s a shame. The reality is numerous people have accused him of sexual improprieties around young boys. That’s no rumor, even though he’s never been convicted of any crimes. Often times, the statute of limitations has lapsed or the case is never pursued legally.
Nevertheless, several people have talked about it, and others have submitted anonymously to us what has allegedly occurred. Nevertheless, Afrika Bambaataa defended himself publicly in several key interviews. And when the dust settles, he’s still a free man and innocent under the law—the court of public opinion is a different story. As we celebrate 50 years of Hip-Hop music, we don’t hear his name mentioned very much. And the crazy thing is, he’s the founder of the Universal Zulu Nation, which is an international movement started in the Bronx. On top of that, he’s also a pioneering genius musician and one of the pillars of this thing of ours.
We haven’t seen him doing very much outside of being talked about in back door conversations. Is that going to change soon? Outside of the U.S., I would imagine Bam is not as disgraced. I’m getting word he’s now booking shows in other places. I’m not going to promote the place, but I’ve seen the bookings and he’s paired up with other legends. I wonder, as we get close to the 50th, will he “come outside” here in the States?
On another note, The Universal Zulu Nationhas disputed the “birthdate” of Hip-Hop. They basically say they started before that infamous party that Kool Herc and his sister Cindy Campbell held at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx.
Here’s a refresher on Bam and what he’s done for Hip-Hop.
OVO rapper Drake has made such a historical impact on music and culture, it is challenging to see what might be next for the Canadian chart-topper. He was in an interview with Quality Control hitmaker Lil Yachty.
Drake tweeted out a clip of him with Lil Boat talking about his future as a professional musician. He is captured in the video saying, “I think I’m at the point now where I just want to like — I think we talked about this the other day — but I feel like I’m kind of introducing the concept, in my mind, of a graceful exit?”
Many took that to mean Drake too wanted out after having such a successful 16 years, smashing all kinds of records including having more #1 hits than anyone else in music history, according to Billboard.
Lil Yachty previews his interview with Drake for his new sunglass company FUTUREMOOD pic.twitter.com/cijSLO0rri
Another agreed, writing, “This is the same man who said he was retiring at 35 and then a couple of years later said ‘sike.’ He’s not really going anywhere most likely, just slowing down his music output.”
While another said, “I don’t think he’s leaving music anytime soon. If he does he might go the jay z route and do features or drop albums here and there.”
Still, most people believe this idea was horrible, saying, “Welp I guess rap is officially done for if the GOAT leaves.”
Do you think the world is ready to say goodbye to one of its favorite artists?
The 95th Academy Awards will feature some major international star power. Barbadian singer Rihanna will perform “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever at this year’s Oscar ceremony.
“Lift Me Up” scored a 2023 Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. Rihanna, Tems, Ryan Coogler, and Ludwig Göransson are nominated in the category as the record’s songwriters.
Upon its release in October 2022, “Lift Me Up” peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. The Ludwig Göransson-produced track became Rihanna’s 32nd Top 10 entry.
Additionally, “Lift Me Up” made it to No. 3 on the Billboard Global 200 chart and the Billboard Global Excluding US chart. The song’s official music video has collected more than 89 million views on YouTube.
“Applause” from Tell It Like a Woman, “Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick, “Naatu Naatu” from RRR, and “This Is a Life” from Everything Everywhere All at Once are also competing for the next Best Original Song Oscar.
With her upcoming performance at the Academy Awards on March 12, Rihanna will take part in a second high-profile television showcase in 2023. The 35-year-old billionaire headlined the Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show on February 12.
Darryl Dwayne Granberry continues to lean into the online controversy surrounding his relationship status. Overnight, DDG released “Way Too Petty” which addresses his former partner, Rubi Rose.
The YouTuber-turned-recording artist and Rubi Rose have gone back and forth on social media for the last several weeks. On February 11, Rose seemed to throw shade at singer/actress Hailey Bailey, DDG’s girlfriend at the time, with a subliminal tweet.
While rumors about DDG and Halle Bailey breaking up spread across the internet, Rubi Rose exposed alleged direct messages from DDG where the “Moonwalking in Calabasas” rhymer apparently reached out to her following an argument with Bailey.
The two rappers then blasted each other in front of the entire world. DDG called Rose irrelevant in a now-deleted tweet. Rose called him “sassy” in her own now-deleted tweet. This week, DDG decided to put his insults toward his ex on wax.
“Hoes screenshotting, that s### lame. Keep her on the side, she could never be my main. She just wanna make it, she be f###### for the fame. Posting pictures naked, baby, you should be ashamed,” rapped DDG on his “Way Too Petty” song.
“Way Too Petty” References Rubi Rose’s Tweets
DDG also rapped, “Tell them n##### do they research. I could fall off and come right back like it’s rebirth. Don’t believe the internet, it’s not that b####’s t-shirt.” That last line seems to be a clear reference to Rubi Rose’s “having ur b#### where my clothes” tweet.
Later on the track, DDG appears to admit to sending Rubi Rose those DMs. The Epic Records-backed performer says, “I don’t have a baby, but she still gonna call me daddy. When I sent that message, I was arguing with… I don’t give no f####. B####, I ain’t explaining nothing.”
Commenters onThe Shade Room‘s Instagram post about “Way Too Petty” called out DDG for focusing so much attention on Rubi Rose. He jumped in the comments to write, “I don’t want that woman I swear. I explained it all in the song. 🥲 Can y’all stop hating me now? I come in peace.❤️ If [you’re] reading this [you] look beautiful today. Make sure you smile sweet heart 😊.”
