Atlanta-based Migos member Quavo has been rumored to be romantically involved with several high-profile women, including singer/actress Chlöe Bailey of Chloe x Halle.
Chlöe Bailey is the first guest on Atlanta rapper Latto’s new Apple Music 1 podcast titled 777 Radio. Latto asked Bailey about the talk of her being Quavo’s current love interest.
“The tea was that you was talking to Quavo,” suggested Latto. Chlöe responded, “Uh oh, well, we’re doing a movie together.” The Grown-ish sitcom star from Georgia was referring to the upcoming Praise Thisfilm.
Prepare for takeoff ✈️ Get ready for the first episode of 777 Radio on Apple Music this Thursday!! @chloebailey is my first guest!!! 👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/PMmAYcsoTC
Latto pressed the issue a little further on 777 Radio by questioning if Chlöe and Quavo really are just working together. Bailey told the “Big Energy” hitmaker, “Yes, working. He’s a really nice guy. Yeah, he’s nice… I like his locs.”
In addition to coming together for 777 Radio, Latto and Chlöe Bailey teamed up on the “For the Night” collaboration in 2022. Bailey will let loose her debut studio album, In Pieces, this Friday, March 31. The project features Chris Brown, Missy Elliott, and Future.
Beginning June 15, viewers will get to follow Gabrielle Union and her family in the My Journey To 50 documentary on BET+.
My Journey To 50 is a two-part, two-hour streaming special celebrating Gabrielle Union’s 50th birthday. The program is Union’s first project with BET+ as part of the I’ll Have Another Productions founder’s overall deal with the network.
For My Journey To 50, Gabrielle Union takes her loved ones on an expedition through Ghana, South Africa, and other African nations. Part of the purpose of the trip is for Union to rediscover and reconnect with her heritage.
Jesse Collins Entertainment Produced My Journey To 50
“I’ve always had a lifelong thirst for knowledge. Connecting with the birthplace of civilization and my own ancestry helped me inch closer to my true self,” states Union. “There was no other place I wanted to spend my 50th birthday. It was an experience I’ll never forget and I’m excited for audiences to join me on the journey.”
Gabrielle Union’s I’ll Have Another and Jesse Collins Entertainment executive produced My Journey To 50. Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon, Madison Merritt, Elaine Metaxas, Sergio Alfaro, Tiffany Mills, Gabrielle Union-Wade, Kian Gass, and Erin Beaurem serve as credited executive producers.
“Jesse Collins Entertainment has had an amazing working relationship with Gabrielle over the years, so when given the opportunity to document this life-changing moment for her, we were thrilled to come on board,” says Dionne Harmon, President of Jesse Collins Entertainment. “It was an honor to be a part of her milestone birthday and to witness the transformative power of reconnecting with one’s ancestral roots.”
Basketball Legend Dwyane Wade Traveled With Gabrielle Union To Africa
Dwyane Wade, 13-time NBA All-Star and Gabrielle Union’s husband, will appear in My Journey To 50. Gabrielle also recruited her mother Theresa Union, aunt Katie Union, niece Chelsea Union, sister Tracy Union, legendary radio personality Angie Martinez, and others for the BET+ series.
“It’s a privilege to have Gabrielle as part of the BET family. We’re delighted to debut one of her first overall deal projects on BET+,” says Scott Mills, President and Chief Executive Officer of BET Media Group.
Mills continues, “In this two-part special, Gabrielle takes us on a journey that is both heartfelt and heart-wrenching. We’re honored to bring this story to our audience and to serve as a home for complex black stories that celebrate and give voice to our shared experiences, heritage, and culture.”
Rapper/singer/producer Tyler, The Creator is one of the main subjects highlighted on Hulu’s RapCaviar Presents documentary series.
The streaming network released a clip from Tyler, The Creator’s “Breaking The Mold” episode. In the 77-second preview, the 32-year-old Californian talked about why he appreciates being a Hip Hop artist.
“I’m a rapper. I love that s###. It’s a beautiful thing,” stated Tyler. “We’re good with words. We’re good with rhythm. We know pockets. We hear a collection of sounds in one thing and say, ‘I know what could go over this.’ That takes a skill.”
The founding member of the Odd Future collective added, “Hey, we know narrative. I know what you’re feeling. I know how to put those in words where you can understand yourself better. Being a rapper is awesome… We’re great storytellers. Being a rapper is awesome.”
Previously, Hulu published a YouTube video from RapCaviar Presents which featured Tyler, The Creator and his musical mentor Pharrell Williams. In the vid, Tyler said, “I didn’t have a father. I didn’t have a big brother, I didn’t have a cousin. So as a kid, since ten or eleven, Pharrell is who I looked at.”
In addition to Tyler’s “Breaking The Mold” installment, RapCaviar Presents also covers City Girls, Polo G, Roddy Ricch, and Coi Leray. The “Rhyme and Punishment” episode includes industry insiders discussing law enforcement agencies targeting rappers and prosecutors using rap lyrics as evidence.
Since beginning his professional rap career, Tyler, The Creator has dropped the Bastard mixtape as well as six solo studio LPs. He won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album in 2020 (IGOR) and in 2022 (Call Me If You Get Lost). Tyler recently announced Call Me If You Get Lost: The Estate Sale will drop on March 31.
GloRilla is one of the hottest rising acts in Hip Hop at the moment. The “Tomorrow 2” hitmaker likely has a lot of admirers. It appears Baton Rouge’s Fredo Bang is among the men interested in Big Glo.
Fredo Bang did not hold back his thoughts on GloRilla. Early Wednesday morning, the Def Jam Recordings-backed rapper publicly shared his thirst for the Grammy-nominated rapstress via Twitter.
“I Wonder How @GloTheofficial Taste…,” posted Fredo Bang around 2:43 am ET. That tweet amassed more than 375 replies, 1000 retweets, 2,500 likes, and 500,000 views on the platform.
As of press time, GloRilla has not responded to Fredo Bang’s public display of fascination with her personal flavor. However, Bang may have a behind-the-scenes way of connecting with his apparent crush.
Fredo Bang has worked extensively with Memphis-bred rapper Moneybag Yo. The two rhymers collaborated on songs such as “Spin On Em,” and “Bag Talk.” Moneybagg also executive produced Bang’s Most Hated album.
Fellow Memphis native GloRilla signed with Yo Gotti’s Collective Music Group in 2022. The CMG label also releases music by Moneybagg Yo, including the “On Wat U On” collaboration with GloRilla. Plus, Moneybagg Yo gave Glo a new chain during a recent concert stop on her tour.
Last December, a California jury convicted Daystar “Tory Lanez” Peterson of assault with a semiautomatic handgun, having a loaded and unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and gross negligence in discharging his firearm.
The court case stemmed from a July 2020 shooting that injured Hip Hop star Megan Thee Stallion. Tory Lanez consistently maintained his innocence, but the guilty verdict has the singer/rapper facing up to 22 years in prison.
Lanez’s legal team recently filed a motion for a new trial. The defense attorneys argue that the court deprived their client of a fair trial due to disputed evidence and questionable tactics by the prosecution, including using a social media comment shared by Lanez’s personal Instagram account.
The motion claims Lanez’s content creator, Joshua Farias, was the person who wrote “that’s not true” in The Shade Room‘s comment section under a post about Megan’s then-friend, Kelsey Harris, possibly being the shooter.
“The court erred on numerous questions of law in allowing the People to introduce this post, depriving defendant of a fair trial,” read a portion of Tory Lanez’s new filings. “The only acceptable remedy for this miscarriage of justice is a new trial.”
In addition, the Sorry 4 What album creator released a statement via his legal representation. The Baez Law Firm’s verified Instagram page posted a message from Tory Lanez to the firm’s Instagram Story on Wednesday.
“I am happy to announce to all of those interested in justice, that today my attorneys Jose Baez and Matthew Barhoma filed my motion for a new trial,” read @baezlawfirm’s Instagram Story note credited to Tory Lanez.
The 30-year-old Canadian continued, “Additionally, due to a scheduling conflict, David Kenner will no longer be a part of my defense team. I would like to thank Mr. Kenner for his hard work and wise counsel. Jose Baez will continue to represent me as first chair and Matthew Barhoma as second chair.”
Uncle Luke’s son Luther Campbell Jr. was arrested Tuesday (Mar. 7) on Miami’s South Beach after allegedly approaching two women with a knife.
According to multiplereports, Campbell is facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and resisting an officer without violence. He appeared before Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Mindy S. Glazer on Wednesday.
Authorities claim Campbell was armed with a knife when he aggressively approached the victims, asking them, “What did you say?! What did you say?!” The women reportedly sheltered behind a car in fear for their lives before Campbell fled the scene. They later identified him as the person who approached them.
Cops caught up with Campbell, but he ran off before they could subdue him. They eventually arrested him and claimed they found the knife in his pocket.
The judge issued a bond for both charges to the tune of $6,000. However, WSVN 7 News Miami reports Campbell is currently on probation for an older case and will remain in jail until Tuesday, when he is due to appear before a judge in that case. He must also stay away from the women he confronted and not have contact directly or indirectly with them.
Cambell’s arrest comes after Uncle Luke recently voiced his criticism of the City of Miami Beach leadership. He called out “the mismanagement of government” in an Instagram video earlier this month.
Uncle Luke accused various city officials of using Black people gathering for Spring Break as political pawns.
“They’re using African-American kids as pawns in the game,” Uncle Luke declared. “City leaders have an agenda and they’re trying to shut down Ocean Drive, make it a six o’clock town for their businesses.” Check out the video below.
Teyana Taylor is opening up about the hype surrounding her new film A Thousand and One.
The talented multihyphenate has earned rave reviews for her role as Inez, a single mother fresh out of prison who tries to rebuild her relationship with her young son Terry. After finding him with a head injury, she takes him out of foster care without the permission of the authorities. Check out the moving trailer at the end of the page.
The movie has garnered rave reviews and was awarded the prestigious grand jury prize at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Teyana Taylor has been widely praised for her role, described as “a fierce, career-defining performance” by the Washington Post.
CBS News claimed “Teyana Taylor is already part of the Oscars conversation,” for which she’s humbled.
“To go from just sitting at home watching the Oscars to being in Oscar-type conversations, of course, is an honor. I would be grateful even with just a nomination. That’s big,” she explained to the outlet.
During a red-carpet interview with Hollywood Unlocked, Teyana Taylor expressed her gratitude for all the support.
“I honestly get so shy when people say that. But I love the manifestation, I love that we’re claiming it.” She added, “honestly it feels really good because you guys are like my family, y’all been following my career for a long time and know that I’ve had a lot of highs and lows and known that I’ve been through a lot. So to once, at one point to feel unheard, unseen, and almost invisible, and unappreciated; you know getting so much love and support it feels good.”
Teyana Taylor revealed she now plans to take her directing skills from music videos to movies.
“I’ve realized all the work that I’ve done as a director with music videos, it’s always been narrative based,” she explained to CBS. “I’m ready to tell a story. I’ve been telling these stories [in music videos] in three minutes. Now I’m ready for my full feature. I’m excited.”
Erykah Badu has addressed the hi-jacking of the term “woke” by the right-wing, claiming it’s being used as a euphemism for “Black.”
The term is said to date back to the early 20th century when it was used to describe Black people becoming woken up or sensitized to racial oppression. Harlem novelist William Melvin Kelley used the term 1960s essay, while the Oxford English Dictionary credits American playwright Barry Beckham with coining the term in a 1971 play.
However, “woke” entered the mainstream via Erykah Badu’s 2008 song “Master Teacher” from her album, New Amerykah Part One (4th World War).
As the songstress explained during an interview for MSNBC with Ari Melba, “’Stay woke’ was introduced to the world by way of this album.” Ari noted some on the political right wing are “hijacking” the term before showing Erykah Badu a series of clips highlighting the evolution of “woke”.
“I think they mean ‘Black.’ Yeah. That’s just another way to say ‘thug,’ or something else, right?” Erykah Badu declared.
Erykah Badu Defines “Woke”
She added: “It is what it is, it doesn’t belong to us anymore. And once something goes out into the world, it takes a life of its own. It has an energy of its own. I can tell you what ‘woke’ means. It just means being aware, being in alignment with nature.
According to Erykah, “It’s not only in the political arena. That means with your health, that means in your relationships, that means in your home, that means in your car, that means in your sleep.”
Check out the clip below and watch the interview at the end of the page.
Meanwhile, an “anti-woke” author went viral recently after failing to define the term in an interview. She struggled with the term, despite dedicating an entire chapter of her book to defining what “woke” means.
"So, I mean, woke is, sort of the idea that, um….uh, I….this is going to be one of those moments that goes viral, I mean, woke is something that's very hard to define."
Megan Thee Stallion has been engaged in a bitter contract dispute with her record label, 1501 Certified Entertainment which saw the rapper and Carl Crawford embroiled in a nasty public feud.
The pair hurled insults at each other online as the beef spilled outside the courtroom. The former MLB star accused Megan Thee Stallion of doing drugs while she alleged Carl Crawford likes his women on the younger side and implied 1501 leaked her Traumazine album.
However, in recent weeks, Carl Crawford appears to have had a change of heart. He expressed his regret over the “unfortunate” online back and forth and vowed to stop bashing her publicly.
On Wednesday (Mar. 29), the 1501 CEO put on a public show of support for the Houston native ahead of her upcoming hometown show. He showered Megan with praise in a lengthy Instagram statement welcoming her home to Texas.
Carl Crawford begins the note by referring to Megan Thee Stallion as “Queen of the Hotties and one of the most iconic female artists of our time.” He encouraged “the entire Community of Texas,” to support her headlining performance at the AT&T Block Party Friday, Mar. 31.
1501 Promise “New ALBUM, New WORLD TOUR”
He also revealed the “Plan B” hitmaker is working on a new project and will be touring soon.
“IF YOU THINK YOU SAW MEG PERFORM BEFORE, THINK AGAIN!,” he declared. “Wait till you see her tear down the stage on Friday as she’s gearing up for this New ALBUM, New WORLD TOUR, and New MOTION!”
Carl Crawford added: “We look forward to continuing to support our 1501 artist, Megan Thee Stallion, in all of her future endeavors. The 1501 staff is dedicated to a successful and exciting launch of this new project!”
He concluded by offering “full support” to “Megan and the Hotties,” and promised a “HOT GIRL SPRING & SUMMER 2.0.”
Carl Crawford Vows To Stop Bashing Megan Thee Stallion
Meanwhile, last month, Carl Crawford told TMZ he hasn’t spoken to Megan Thee Stallion since 2019. “We’ve been going through, I guess, what you guys see online,” he explained. “It’s unfortunate because I never wanted to have a situation where I was, you know, going back and forth with her on the internet.”
He added: “You not gon’ hear me mention Megan Thee Stallion name in the media unless I’m doing something like this. You not gon’ see me texting or making a post or doing any of that stuff that would cause social media to go crazy.”
Flo Rida‘s six-year-old son is in Intensive Care after suffering “severe” injuries in a fall from a fifth-floor apartment window earlier this month.
The little boy is a special needs child and has reportedly been diagnosed with autism and a brain condition. As a result of the fall, he suffered a shattered pelvis, left metatarsal fractures, a Grade 3 liver laceration, internal bleeding, and collapsed lungs.
According to variousreports, Zohar Dillard’s mother, Alexis Adams, has taken legal action against Jersey City. In a lawsuit filed on Mar. 27 by attorney Steven P. Haddad, Adams claims the building has “windows that posed a hazardous condition.”
She also alleged the apartment building’s management was “negligent and careless and did not install size guards on the window,” which led to her son falling onto the concrete pavement below. News 12 New Jersey reports Adams said repeated requests to have window guards were ignored.
The fall was reportedly three weeks ago. Zohar remained in intensive care as of Mar. 29, according to Haddad.
“As a single mom to a special needs child, this feels like a nightmare. My heart is broken into a million pieces. I am devastated, angry and struggling to come to terms with the fact that my only child has suffered severe injuries due to willful negligence of our landlord and others involved in failing to take necessary safety measures,” Adams wrote in a statement. “It is devastating to see my child go through such pain and trauma knowing that this could’ve been avoided.”
On Monday night, Lil Uzi Vert was booked to perform his hit song, “Just Wanna Rock” on the NBC late-night talk show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Little did fans know that while he was killing the stage, all hell had broke loose for his camp.
According to the New York Post, the rapper’s bodyguard got arrested on Monday evening in NYC for allegedly carrying an illegal firearm and claiming to be an officer of the law.
The NYPD alleges Kevin Nelson was riding in the passenger seat of a Ford F-450 when the vehicle was pulled over on 100 Barclays Street around 5:30 p.m.
When cops approached the vehicle, he to them he was a fellow peace officer.
Once it was verified, he was not actually a cop, they charged him with criminal possession of a weapon, a loaded semi-automatic, and criminal impersonation.
The rapper was not present when the arrest took place. He probably was preparing for Fallon.
“Just Wanna Rock” also served as the unofficial anthem for the Philadelphia Eagles during the NFL team’s playoff run to Super Bowl LVII. Some backers of Lil Uzi Vert even argued “Just Wanna Rock” became more closely associated with the city than Meek Mill’s classic “Dreams and Nightmares.”
“I don’t think so,” said Uzi when asked about “Just Wanna Rock” replacing “Dreams and Nightmares” in his hometown. “That song’s been around for a very long time, and that song is still hitting exactly the same way. I’m just gonna have to see, in a couple of years, or a decade or whatever.”
Tory Lanez filed an appeal months after he was convicted of shooting Megan Thee Stallion.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, defense lawyer Jose Baez claimed prosecutors used irrelevant evidence to convict Tory Lanez. Baez cited one example of a shirtless photo that possibly convinced jurors his client was willing to use a weapon.
The appeal raised concerns over several pieces of evidence, including an Instagram post and a statement by Megan Thee Stallion. Tory Lanez took issue with Megan Thee Stallion telling cops he said, “Please don’t say anything because I’m on probation.”
Baez also complained about jurors hearing Kelsey Harris’ September 2022 interview with prosecutors during the trial. Harris, a former friend of Megan Thee Stallion, changed her story on the stand when she testified in the December 2022 trial.
A jury found Tory Lanez guilty of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, carrying a loaded unregistered firearm in a vehicle and discharging a firearm with gross negligence. He faces up to 22 years and eight months in prison.
Tory Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, is scheduled to be sentenced on April 10. He has remained in jail since he was found guilty of shooting Megan Thee Stallion.
Tyga believes Nicki Minaj is in a league of her own.
The West Coast artist declared Nicki Minaj the best female rapper in Hip-Hop history on Wednesday (March 29). Tyga explained why he ranked her above other women in a Twitter post.
“Nicki is the best female rapper of all time no one comes close!” he wrote. “World play, punchlines, delivery, pockets, beat selection, creativity. Inflictions.”
He quickly followed up his opinion with a compliment for Doja Cat, who is another one of his collaborators.
“Doja is a really good rapper too,” he wrote.
Nicki Minaj and Tyga’s ties date back to their days as labelmates on Lil Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment. The two reunited for a track titled “Dip” in 2018.
Tyga shared his thoughts on Nicki Minaj a week after praising Lil Wayne and Eminem. Tyga called Lil Wayne and Eminem the best rappers of all time on March 23.
“Lil Wayne & Eminem are the best rappers of all time!” he wrote via Twitter. “Lyrical wordplay, delivery, flow, pockets, originality, raw, intentional, clarity, generational influence.”
Tyga recently made headlines for starting a romance with singer Avril Lavigne. The couple’s relationship was confirmed when cameras caught them kissing during Paris Fashion Week.
If ever there was a street anthem for 2023, it would be Young Scooter’s “Come Eat with Us” featuring Est Gee. Scooter dropped the single this past month, but the record continues to soar and grow. The single is a get money motivational song. It’s a high-speed chase record but something girls can work out to. The song’s energy feels like a mixture of Rick Ross’ BMF and Future’s Trap N#####. It’s the kind of record that could start a riot in the yard. From influencers to Hustlers, “Come Eat with Us” resonates with every audience and has become trendy on tik tok.
Young Scooter has always been one of the most impactful artists out of Atlanta. He stormed onto the scene in 2012-2013 with hits such as “Julio” featuring Future and “Colombia,” which included a remix with Rick Ross, Birdman, and Gucci Mane. The East Atlanta native has consistently provided music for the streets. He is a narrator through his music and has lived the life that some rappers only imagine on paper and fantasies. Scooter is comfortable being underground and authentic, yet he continues to influence mainstream culture. From language to slang and even fashion, the Kirkwood native and his Freebandz family have had a massive impact on hip-hop and beyond. They’ve coined terms and started trends that crossed over to pop culture. Over the years, Scooter has consistently resonated with his core audience. There’s nothing manufactured about his journey, and therefore he is embraced and respected.
Scooter sat down with All Hip Hop for an exclusive interview.:
This new record, “Come Eat with Us,” is being highly received. Why do you think it’s so impactful right now?
My music has always been impactful in the streets and real hip hop. We started a lot of trends. Freebandz started a lot of trends: Jugg music, specific slang, and things rappers say and do. Whether or not it’s acknowledged or credited, the impact is obvious. But I think this record is getting a lot of love because it’s motivational, and so many people can relate to the lyrics and message.” I feel like the streets are dry, and things are crazy. A lot is going on, and many people feel empty and lost. So I wanted to deliver that missing piece in hip hop right now. I want to give the streets the energy that they’re craving. My music is making money, countin’ money music. But I also give insight on the struggle and what people are going through with all these changes right now,” Scooter shared exclusively.
Do you think hip-hop is in a good place right now?
Yeah, but I think there’s a void that the streets were craving, and this record is feeding the streets.
What’s next for you? What can we expect?
There’s a lot coming up. New music, new videos. Find me on Future and Friends, One Big Party Tour too. Connect and keep up on my Instagram.
The Gullah Geechee Artist Preps for Late March Show at Famed Venue, The Virgil in Hollywood
Recently LA-based and South Carolina-bred rapper Tek-Neek released his new single, “Play Some Tek-Neek” which swindles Siri with a command to play his new single at the top of the track.
Hoping to infiltrate phone after phone, Tek-Neek hangs on to words and themes he found as a youth reading comic books and diving into the world of superhuman characters of anime. In releasing this song Tek-Neek hopes to set off every Apple phone within earshot of the DJ spinning his record almost like an anime supervillain taking over people’s phones.
“You know, Play Some Tek-Neek is a crazy song because first and foremost, the song starts off, like, ‘Hey Siri, play some Tek-Neek.” I’m hoping that when the song plays, everybody who has an Apple phone will immediately see their phone go off with the command. And it kind of like, it’s my way of hacking Apple, you know what I mean? But I’m the first to do it. I’m doing it as an artist almost like an anime villain would do, you know what I mean?”
Growing up in South Carolina, Tek-Neek comes from humble beginnings as his rap career started off with nothing more than a Casio keyboard and a vision that he wanted to make music with and for his friends.
Extremely proud of his roots in South Carolina and the Gullah Geechee way of life, Tek-Neek hopes to help people find their own roots by discovering his music as he seamlessly incorporates the Gullah culture in his music.
“Gullah Geechhee is where, my people basically come from. We are all from places like Sierra Leone, the Congo, Angola, you know, and the islands were like a mixture of all of that into one. When we were brought into slavery, it was either that we were born into slavery or we were brought into it. So, if you were brought into it, you know, you still stuck to your roots, your heritage, the way you talk and everything. So, us Gullah people, we’re the remnants, we are exactly, what it was when we got here, how we talk, how we eat, how we carry ourselves, our culture, everything,” Tek-Neek said.
Also influenced by his mother’s work in the church playing for the gospel choir, Tek-Neek grew up around 80’s R&B, gospel and soul music which you can hear permeating through his music to this day.
“If I wanted to listen to music, I was listening to it on record. So I was listening to Billie Holiday records, you know, the Herbie Hancock records, the gospel records, that was first and foremost for me. Then my mother, she played piano in the church, so when she wasn’t there I was always playing on it and learning my way on the keys. But the music I was really influenced by was eighties music, really heavy. You can definitely hear that in my sound.”
Bringing everything full circle and aside from the trickery of “Play Some Tek-Neek,” this Gullah Geechee artist is more than 2500 miles away from home with a passionate vision to live out his dreams of musical success while also sharing his cultural roots which have clearly and rightfully made him proud to be who he is, Tek-Neek.
“I want to be 1% better than I was yesterday. That’s, that’s my goal for every day, every single day.”
Continuing forward, Tek-Neek has plans to perform at The Virgil, a popular venue in Hollywood at the end of the month, culminating with a month-long promotional push to fill up the venue.
“Between rehearsal and selling these tickets, I’ve been super busy. We got DJ Pia B, DJ Ash D and a bunch of very special guests so I’m expecting a great turnout and attendance for the show,” he explained.
For more information about Tek-Neek and his movement check out his social media pages below and be sure to check out his show on March 31st in Los Angeles. Tickets are available via TicketWeb here.
Veteran rapper Trick Trick offered $5,000 to anyone with information about a suspect who sexually assaulted an 80-year-old woman in Detroit.
The suspect allegedly raped the elderly woman during a home invasion on Sunday (March 26). Police claimed the man walked into the victim’s unlocked home and demanded money. When she refused, he dragged her outside and sexually assaulted her.
Trick Trick was outraged when he learned about the attack. He issued a warning to the assailant via Instagram on Monday (March 27).
“Whoever this NI66XX IS, COUNT YOUR DAYS YOU DEMON!!!” he wrote. “WE ON YASS!!!! I GOT A BAG FOR ANY INFORMATION LEADING TO THE CAPTURE AND HANDLING OF THIS WASTEofFLESH!!! PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER 1!!!”
The Hip-Hop artist also posted a video offering a $5,000 reward to track down the suspect. He urged anyone with information to message him on social media.
“I’ve got $5,000 for any information leading to this suspect,” he said. “This suspect must be dealt with accordingly and fast.”
Trick Trick emphasized his desire to find the attacker in an interview with an ABC affiliate in Detroit.
“If I have to offer $10,000, I want his ass,” he said. “My grandma [is] 90 years old. If somebody do this to my grandma, you ain’t seen hell yet.”
Police asked anyone with information to contact the Detroit Police Sex Crimes Unit at 313-596-1950 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SpeakUp.
Marcus Ex has one question: “why be a billionaire in five years if you can do it in one?”
Hailing from East Austin, Texas, Marcus Ex is a jack of all trades: An executive, recording artist, producer, author, and fashion designer all in one. His brand is called #Weallwegot-Marcus Ex and his story is one of admiration and resilience. To sum it up, Marcus Ex went “from the penitentiary to Columbia University”… and it’s his unwavering love and passion for music that has gotten him this far.
Marcus Ex views himself as a “Hip-Hop anomaly.” He explains, “I started out on my big brother’s Pioneer turntable, learning how to mix and scratch and ended up getting a scholarship to Columbia University. As well, that same journey led me to teaching myself the piano, and around that time, I found myself surrounded by hip-hop legends, including DJ Clark Kent and Chucky Thompson. I had to figure out how to play the piano from a hip-hop perspective because a lot of pianists back then weren’t hip-hop enough. Hip-hop is different, it’s not just regular R&B.”
Sonically, his sound can be described as “Chucky Thompson (of Bad Boy) mixed with El DeBarge, spiced with some Michael McDonald from the blue-eyed soul era.” And he credits Lionel Richie for getting him on the keys.
Now, Marcus is excited as ever to be releasing his forthcoming album titled #weallwegot-Marcus Ex, the same name as his clothing line. The project is spearheaded by the lead single “Let’s Be Love,” produced and sung by Marcus Ex himself.
AllHipHop spoke virtually with Marcus Ex, who was enjoying his time at SXSW in Texas. Read below as we discuss his background, how he got locked up, how he bounced back and attended Howard and Columbia University, “Let’s Be Love,” his recording process, interning at Bad Boy and Motown records, the new project, and more!
AllHipHop: Do you represent Austin, Texas?
Marcus Ex: I represent East Austin, Texas, for sure. East Austin is different from Austin. East Austin is predominately black, and at one point in time, whites couldn’t come there without getting robbed or beat up. It was very segregated. They would have advisories for UT (University of Texas) students not to come to East Austin, it wasn’t safe. So while Austin was segregated with Black Austin then. Two very different realities back then.
AllHipHop: When did you fall in love with music?
Marcus Ex: I remember my mom playing the Quincy Jones-produced The Brother Johnson’s records. I knew I wanted to play the piano ‘cause I was mesmerized looking at Lionel Richie sitting by the piano on a Commodores album cover. Because that’s what our ‘hood was listening to at that time. My mom and nem. As a kid you pretty much just wanted to copy what the grown folks was on.
AllHipHop: Talk about going from the penitentiary to Columbia University and that journey.
Marcus Ex: You know, I came up a little fast. I was a young professional player. Basically, I was 17. I was in 11th grade, and this girl was a white freshman in a predominantly Black school. I refused to have intercourse with her because she was white and chubby and after she moisturized my presentation (gave him head) she flipped the script by crying in in front of her friends later, people assumed because I was I was Black and thuggin, there had to be foul play on my end. The system did the rest.They waited until I was 18 and they filed a form of statutory rape, even though at the time of contact we were only two grades apart. This is how white folks weaponize their whiteness against the Black youth.
I also got caught up in another incident. Somebody in my crew jacked somebody’s chain. They finally found the guy, but because I didn’t cooperate, they gave me the felony too. That’s how they was moving . So, as a senior in high school I had two felonies. At some point I cut a deal with the judge to give me two years instead of 10 years probation. He agreed. I did my time and never lived in Austin again. [laughs] I got the f### out of there.
AllHipHop: How did you push forward? Did music help?
Marcus Ex: Yeah, I had read an article where Teddy Riley said that if you become a piano player, you’ll have work for the rest of your life. My whole thing was to integrate hard Hip Hop with gospel like R&B chords, like Teddy was doing. He was mixing a gospel, R&B sound over Hip Hop beats. Especially coming up, me and my brother would listen to a lot of DeBarge. El DeBarge really was a perfect mix of R&B and gospel. The DeBarge sound over a Hip Hop beat was my goal in life.
By the time I got out of jail, I had already decided I wanted to be somebody. Before jail I had already started changing my friends in high school. One of my high school friends, Cliff Mcbean said, “Come to college with me. You’re gonna get killed out here, so just come to college with me.” He practically made me come to Houston and follow him wherever he went on campus. He was in a fraternity, the Sigmas. They had a little meeting, they decided I was too talented to be just hanging around. They made me enroll in school. From there, I did good and ended up going to Howard University.
AllHipHop: What did you study?
Marcus Ex: I studied, of course, music. R&B and jazz piano, and legal communications. I was going to be a lawyer and get my felonies taken off since they were such a fluke.
AllHipHop: Is Marcus Ex your real name?
Marcus Ex: My government name is Doctor. My first name is Doctor, my middle name is Marcus, my last name is Truth. So either one of them are animated sounding, but they call me Marcus Ex. A spoof off of Malcolm X, because my Aunt Shirley had me listening to Minister Farrakhan and reading Malcom X as early as my sophomore year in high school.You can only imagine how militant I was – I was hyper-militant. My ignorance as friends would call me “Marcus Ex con.” [laughs] But then it just became Marcus Ex, that’s why it’s spelled with an “ex.”
AllHipHop: Talk about “Let’s Be Love,” you sang and produced that one, right?
Marcus Ex: The record is interesting. A small melody came to my head….a small riff that I felt El [Debarge] would have loved. It just came to my head, so I got on the piano and I played it out. I let Quincy Phillips hear it over the phone and he sent me this dope drum pattern. I ended up trying to do the best version of the beat. That’s how the composition part started at least. Lyrics were a whole different thing.
AllHipHop: Talk about writing your own music.
Marcus Ex: “Let’s Be Love,” if you listen to the lyrics close enough, it goes…“let’s not talk about love, let’s just “be it” with one another”, that’s how we can make our communities better. A lot of good relationships, mixed with raising good kids, makes a good community. Of course, “#weallwegot.” There’s some sprinkles of consciousness in dat record.
One of the best song writers that ever existed was Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire. I just like the mellowness of Maurice White, how him and Philip Bailey (of Earth, Wind & Fire) would do their vocal stuff. In sum, I heard a Marvin type riff in my head, and mixed it with some Maurice White on the vocal arrangements. I did my very best version of that.
AllHipHop: What about your recording process? What do you need in the studio?
Marcus Ex: My process is interesting. I generally like to get a producer to engineer the session. Basically I’ll hear something, but in the studio, I’m making everybody mad because I want it better than what I heard in my head. [laughs] I’m always trying to get people that are greater than me in the studio when I’m recording. Because no matter how great I hear a song, somebody around me can make it better.
I try to always position myself around somebody who’s a better player and ironically I found music lovers who are less musical than me as well. Because a lot of times, people who are not as musician-centered, can hear the way the record is supposed to go and keep us musicians from going too crazy. I try to get a person with a DJ’s ear. They hear just right, and they don’t have all this extra stuff going through their head.
AllHipHop: What did you learn from interning at Bad Boy and working at Motown?
Marcus Ex: I was interning in the financial department of Bad Boy. That’s the first time I saw a $100K check. Ten checks $100K or better, nothing under $80K. I’m looking through each check, seeing the actual producer’s names on it. It let me know that this music s### is real. It made me take it [music] serious. [laughs]
I really realized I love the music too much to even care about the pay. I promise you, I never really thought about what it could pay. I just wanted to be good at it. I never really thought about the money aspect before Damon Eden had me at Bad Boy. I was lost in the melody. When I saw those checks I was like Gottdamn- People really buy houses from this music s###.
AllHipHop: What are you working on music-wise?
Marcus Ex: I have a whole completed album. I’m going back to Philadelphia to finish it. If I’m not working on it in East Austin, it’s Philly. I feel comfortable working from those places.
Philly has been a place that I’ve always marveled at, even going back to the fact that Gamble & Huff and his crew started disco. DJ Jazzy Jeff popularized the “transformer” scratch in Philadelphia, so it’s hard for me not to honor that town.
AllHipHop: What’s your project called?
Marcus Ex: #weallwegot. It just happens to be named after my clothing line: #WeAllWeGot That’s the name of the record.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want the people to know?
Marcus Ex: Being an Executive is how I get paid. I connect labels with producers and Artists, and Vice versa. I have a future movie star, Gatsby Randolph of Peacock’s “The Queen’s Court”. I’m working to get Austin Martin of AME music a Label deal. He’s currently doing music with Tyler Lepley. I get money in all aspects of entertainment. I’ve been in talks with DJ Camper, and a couple other super producers to get them fair price points for their brilliant compositions. I’m connecting the dots in every way.
I’m looking to partner my label with a major label. I’m entertaining a brand partnership with a per se Louis Vuitton. I want this before the brand is super global. I want these corporations to be first and not second. By that I mean, partner before it’s bananas versus jumping on the bandwagon after it’s viral. Be first and not second!
People wait until you’re big already –na, help me get global, put some skin in the game!! I want them to see the movement and move beforehand, not after the fact. I want them to partner with #weallwegot now! Partner before it takes all the way off. If it takes off, I could do what Kylie Jenner did. I can do a billion dollars in a year because I’m already a millionaire with a brand that’s buzzing. Be first whoever you are out there watching us!!
The annual Essence Festival returns to New Orleans this summer with headliners Lauryn Hill and Megan Thee Stallion.
Festival organizers announced plans to celebrate 50 years of Hip-Hop at the upcoming event. The 2023 Essence Festival features Hip-Hop pioneers joining forces for a set curated by Doug E. Fresh.
Lauryn Hill will perform her debut album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill at the 2023 Essence Festival. Jermaine Dupri will take the stage for a performance honoring So So Def’s 30th anniversary.
“As we gear up to celebrate the ‘50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop’, we couldn’t think of a better way to honor the contributions that genre has made on global culture and the impressions that these artists and their deep musical catalogs, which we all know so well, have been ingrained into the fibers of our day to day lives,” Essence Festival vice president Hakeem Holmes said. “This year, we are excited to have everyone join us in celebrating 50 years of musical excellence, experiencing our diverse daytime and nighttime offerings, and in highlighting the importance of Black economic inclusion.”
Wizkid, Monica, Coco Jones and more are scheduled to perform at the festival. The event’s guest DJs include DJ Clark Kent, Kid Capri and DJ Spinderella.
The 2023 Essence Festival takes place at the Superdome in New Orleans during the Fourth of July weekend. Tickets can be purchased here.
It’s been months since Donald Trump had dinner with embattled Kanye West, but it seems that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems to still be upset about it.
In an interview with Piers Morgan, the NY Post reports, Netanyahu weighed in on the meeting calling it “horrible.”
“I thought it was horrible. I think it’s a big mistake. It’s wrong from every point of view. It [antisemitism] should not be countenanced, it should not be accepted, it should be rebuked and condemned and that’s what I do. And I don’t care where it comes from, or from whom,” the Jewish politician said.
Yeezy got into a lot of trouble in 2022 vomiting antisemitic and racist comments. His outlandish remarks got Adidas, Gap, Balenciaga, and others
Trump also has issues with Netanyahu.
He tweeted in 2020, “The first person that congratulated [Biden] was Bibi Netanyahu, the man that I did more for than any other person I dealt with. … Bibi could have stayed quiet. He made a terrible mistake. I haven’t spoken to him since. F—k him.”
Adding, “Bibi could have stayed quiet. He has made a terrible mistake. I liked Bibi. I still like Bibi. But I also like loyalty.”
Suge Knight was sentenced to 28 years in prison for the 2015 hit-and-run death of Terry Carter. The former Death Row CEO has been behind bars ever since but manages to keep his names in headlines. More recently, there was talk of him getting out early after a judge allegedly shaved 15 years off his sentence. Now there’s a possibility he’s primed to tell his life story in a tell-all biopic. He and his brother, Brian Brown, are supposedly working on a TV project that will start filming this summer.
But there’s a lot to go over. Shot in the spirit of Black Family Mafia, the biopic will likely begin with Knight’s Compton origins and his aspirations to be a football coach. But what will really be interesting is if Knight will dive into the night 2Pac was killed. The murder remains unsolved to this day and continues to be a topic of interest among Hip-Hop fans.
2Pac was shot in a drive-by on September 7, 1996 as he and Knight sat at an intersection in Las Vegas waiting for the red light to change. He died six days later at University of Nevada Medical Center. Although Orlando Anderson was named a prime suspect, he was shot and killed before justice was served. Naturally, many questions remain.
Knight certainly plans to include 2Pac in his story—it wouldn’t be complete without him—but it’s unclear how deep he will go. He is reportedly über involved in casting the actors, especially when it comes to 2Pac. If this biopic does indeed come to fruition, let’s hope he tells us something we don’t know. Will he address the alleged Vanilla Ice incident? Snoop Dogg thinking he had 2Pac killed? We’ll have to wait and see.
