It looks like we have some trouble in paradise! The word on the street is that Roc Nation purchased 30 million streams for Megan Thee Stallion‘s new album. How did this happen?
Well, let’s discuss it. First of all, she burst onto the scene with her latest project titled Megan, which had roughly 71 million streams globally. On the Fourth of July, it had the biggest debut of all her albums with just two days of tracking. But, those numbers did not hold up!
There was some sort of filtering on the streams, removing upwards of 30 million. This put her album back to the number 30 spot! They are saying that all of these streams were faked to boost her numbers. I like Megan! I really do! But, I hope this is not what’s happening. However, there are quite a few reports that suggest that’s what’s occurring.
Look at what I found and you tell me what you think.
Megan Thee Stallion’s self titled album “MEGAN” had nearly 30 MILLION streams filtered on Global Spotify, based on its position.
— In 6 days, the album accumulated 60 Million streams, but was near albums doing ~30 Million Streams on the chart.
Spotify basically filtered half of Megan’s streams on their weekly album chart 😭😭 Do yall know how badly streams were botted for this to happen? 💀😭 pic.twitter.com/TMavvWHM5h
Eddie Murphy has expressed his hopes for his family’s future as his son Eric, dating Jasmin Page—the daughter of fellow comedian Martin Lawrence—could potentially expand the family tree.
The seasoned actor and comedian, now 63, shared his thoughts about the prospective grandchild during an interview on CBS Mornings, highlighting the intertwined legacies of two comedy icons.
“They’re both beautiful, they look amazing together,” Eddie Murphy said of the couple, emphasizing the excitement surrounding Eric’s relationship with Jasmin.
He humorously speculated on the possibility of a future grandchild inheriting comedic genes from both families.
“And it’s funny, everybody’s like, ‘What is that baby gonna be funny?’ Our gene pool is gonna make this funny baby,” Eddie Murphy joked.
Eddie Murphy, who has ten children and one grandchild, is no stranger to expanding family dynamics.
https://youtu.be/KH862gmK0WI?si=FnecA6OKz4kUtHs7
His lineage includes son Eric with former girlfriend Paulette McNeely, son Christian with ex-girlfriend Tamara Hood, daughters Bella, Zola, Shayne, and Bria, and son Myles with ex-wife Nicole Mitchell Murphy.
Additionally, he shares daughter Angel with Spice Girl Mel B and two children—son Max and daughter Izzy—with fiancée Paige Butcher.
In 2019, Murphy experienced the joys of grandparenthood for the first time when Myles welcomed a daughter, Evie Isla.
Now, he sees the potential for another grandchild, this time with intriguing connections to the comedic world.
Jasmin, daughter of Martin Lawrence and his ex-wife, producer Patricia Southall, has found herself in the spotlight with Eric, creating a media buzz around their relationship.
Murphy added, “If they ever get married and have a child, I am expecting the child to be funny.”
Busta Rhymes shook the stage up, literally, at the 30th anniversary ESSENCE Fest concert in New Orleans earlier this weekend.
In addition to hosting the reunion of Cash Money’s Hot Boys, ESSENCE Fest also brought out the New York MC for his inaugural appearance at the weekend-long event. At one point during his set, Busta stopped the music and addressed the crowd, demanding everyone rise to their feet and even directly calling concertgoers out for sitting down.
“Hey, yo, f##k them camera phones too,” Busta Rhymes said.
“Let’s get back to interacting like humans. Put them weird ass devices down. I ain’t from that era. Them s##ts don’t control the soul. F##k your phone. Excuse me gentlemen. Thank you very much. I won’t point every last one of y’all out until y’all ass is up.”
He continued, “Thirty three years of doing this s##t. I ain’t used to. N###as sitting down at my show, I don’t give a f##k. All age groups. Get your ass up! I see you beautiful queen. Get up too.”
As Busta continued, he remarked on what he described as his “zero tolerance” policy for lack luster energy.
“F##k going on. Everybody up Top too, get your big head a#### up,” he said. “Look, the reason why there will be zero tolerance for b####### energy in here is because this is my first time in New Orleans at the f###ing 30 years anniversary of Essence Fest. This is my first time. This is my brother first time, and it’s my other brother. First time. That’s right. Make me feel like we home.”
Video of Busta’s outburst to the crowd quickly generated traction on social media, with a version of the video circulation on Twitter attracting well over a million views essentially overnight. Additionally, the reactions from his fans and viewers of the ESSENCE Fest stream poured in as the video began going viral.
Many users sided with Busta, citing the crowd’s mid energy as the source of his frustration.
“I been to well over 100 rap shows. Busta and Red/Meth are the greatest hip-hop performers living. Sad to see this new generation not appreciate their greatness the way others genre’s do for their legends,” a Twitter user remarked in a tweet.
However, some users suggested the artist is to blame for a low vibrational crowd.
“Missy Elliot was down bad at the Essence a few years ago. I thought it was the crowd, but Ms. Badu hit the stage, and IT WENT DOWN. It’s the artist, not the audience,” another user wrote in a tweet.
Also, weather apparently played a major factor in the turnout for Busta’s performance, according to concertgoers.
“For context, there was damn near a hurricane outside of the stadium. That is why there were only like 400 people in there 😂 Also, don’t judge a short clip, it was light-hearted, and he put on an amazing set. My section had a ball,” the user tweeted.
Nick Cannon has defended insuring his testicles for a staggering $10 million, igniting waves of reaction among fans and media spectators alike.
Cannon, a father of 12, revealed the unusual insurance policy last month.
He is trying to convince skeptics that his decision is as reasonable as that of other celebrities who insure their prized physical assets.
In an interview with “Entertainment Tonight,” the 43-year-old American TV personality known for hosting “America’s Got Talent” explained, “I had to insure my most valuable assets. Because you hear about all these different celebrities insuring their legs… so I was like, ‘Hey, well, I got to insure my most valuable body part.'”
Nick Cannon’s logic sparked curiosity and amusement across the entertainment world.
He joined a list of famous figures who have taken out exorbitant insurance policies on their bodies, including J. Lo, who reportedly had her bottom insured for $28 million and Tina Turner, who did the same for her legs with a $3.2 millioin policy.
Despite the unusual move, Nick Cannon denied that the insurance policy indicated plans for expanding his already large family.
He emphasized, “(I’m) just making sure nothing goes wrong,” putting to rest rumors that he intended to have more children in the near future.
Nick Cannon’s family life has always been a topic of interest, given his colorful history and the range of women with whom he has had children.
He shares 13-year-old twins Moroccan and Monroe with iconic singer Mariah Carey, his ex-wife.
Bri Tiesi is the mother of his son Legendary, he has three with Brittany Bell, three with Abby De La Rosa, two with Alyssa Scott and one with LaNisha Cole.
In a 2022 interview with People, Cannon expressed his joy in fatherhood, stating, “Every day I just wake up excited as a father. I’m so excited about all my kids. Constantly, from every aspect of it. From them getting citizen of the month awards in the first grade to the birth of the new ones.”
Azealia Banks denied claims she was evicted from her Florida home in an Instagram post on Friday (July 5). After the news started circulating on social media, Banks fired back, “Umm this is a lie. Lmao these miami landlords be deesssepperaaaate. I’ve already moved CXQ HQ to 7995 SW 154th Terrace Palmetto Bay, FL, 33157.
“Lmao why do these tostones grease bathing white wannabes in Miami really think I’m gonna play with them? Pop Tingz better correct that s###. You can search the public record…There is no eviction ordered by any court. The landlord is a drunk with H Pylori who has been menacing me the entire time I lived there. Sis had her husband come in to the house under some guise of fixing broken outlets.”
Banks’ account contradicts what the paperwork says. According to court documents obtained by AllHipHop, Isis Claro asked a Florida court for a final judgment of possession in a complaint against Banks for failure to pay rent on Tuesday (July 2).
“This eviction was filed because Tenant owes Plaintiff’s past due rent,” Claro’s motion read. “Defendant filed an Answer thereby preventing a clerk’s default; however, Defendant failed to deposit rent into the Court Registry. Florida Statutes specifically state that in an action by the landlord for possession of a dwelling unit, if the tenant interposes any defense other than payment, including but not limited to the defense of a defective 3-day notice, the tenant shall pay into the registry of the court the accrued rent as alleged in the complaint.”
The motion continued, “Failure of the tenant to pay the rent into the registry of the court or to file a motion to determine the amount of rent to be paid into the registry within 5 days … after the date of service of process constitutes an absolute waiver of the tenant’s defenses other than payment. And the landlord is entitled to an immediate default judgment for the removal of the tenant.”
Diddy‘s son King Combs stirred up some controversy on Friday (July 5) after posting several sexualized photos of his girlfriend on Instagram.
While there were several positive comments, some wondered why he’d be so daring to share a picture of himself taking an intimate photo of his girlfriend considering the seemingly endless sexual assault allegations against his father. Comments like “if ‘smh’ was a person, “just like your dad smh” and “the camera is wild bold” started littering the post, although they were peppered in between other comments defending him.
The comments were even worse on other social media platforms that re-posted King Combs’ photos. One said, “He objectifies this girl and yall call it goals. I see a lot of his father’s qualities in him,” while another said, “Second picture is very insensitive, especially with everything going on with his family presently!” Yet another added, “The boy is infatuated with the body and uses her physical appearance to boost his ego, the woman on the other hand loves the money and access that comes with being ‘in the family’ they deserve each other.”
While King Combs hasn’t been implicated in any crimes related to his famous father, he was seen outside Diddy’s Los Angeles mansion following a raid by Homeland Security agents in March. Both King Combs and his brother Justin were handcuffed and escorted from the property during the raid, which was part of an investigation into alleged sex trafficking activities. The federal agents used significant force, including weapons and helicopters, which reportedly left the entire Combs family “traumatized” by the experience.
The raid resulted in a chaotic scene, with belongings scattered throughout the mansion as agents searched for evidence. Despite the dramatic show of force, no arrests were made at the time. Diddy’s lawyer criticized the raid as an excessive use of military-level force, particularly concerning the treatment of Diddy’s children and household staff.
After the raid, both of Diddy’s son returned briefly to collect their belongings before leaving the property, possibly to avoid further distress. However, Diddy has decided to sell the home. According to reports, he’s seeking roughly $70 million for the Holmby Hills neighborhood estate. The Bad Boy Records founder bought the mansion for $40 million just this year.
The feds targeted his lavish residences as part of a sex trafficking investigation. Diddy’s lawyer Aaron Dyer condemned the raids, saying, “There was a gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs’ residences,” Dyer said. “There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated. Mr. Combs was never detained but spoke to and cooperated with authorities. Despite media speculation, neither Mr. Combs nor any of his family members have been arrested nor has their ability to travel been restricted in any way.”
He continued, “This unprecedented ambush — paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence — leads to a premature rush to judgment of Mr. Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits. There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations. Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name.”
Megan Thee Stallion has taken a crucial step back to safeguard her mental well-being amidst rising fame.
As the spotlight grew brighter, the Hip-Hop sensation realized the importance of setting personal boundaries to balance her public and private life.
“In my earlier come-up days, it was definitely easier to show up as myself because I really didn’t understand being famous,” Megan told L’Officiel USA. “I didn’t understand not giving all of yourself to everybody all the time. I didn’t understand boundaries. I didn’t have any boundaries. I was just living. And as I keep growing, I understand, Okay, y’all don’t need all of this all the time. I could still be me, but there does need to be a respect level that I have for myself.”
Facing the harsh realities of fame, the ‘Savage’ rapper has also been working on caring less about public opinion and more about self-acceptance.
“I don’t even want to care who hates me, really. What I should be focusing on is the love that I do receive,” she emphasized. “That’s what I’m trying to get better about now. Everything is not going to be great all the time. If I’m going to be here for the cheers, I got to be here for the boos.”
She realized juggling the desire to be liked by everyone was an impossible feat.
“You want to be well liked by everyone. You want to be the baddest, you want to be the best, but you want to do it the right way. I did have to learn that there is no right way. Whoever you are, be that,” Megan Thee Stallion reasoned.
Eminem was planning on dropping his next video from The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), “Tobey,” but ran into a delay. On Friday (July 5), he updated those awaiting its arrival with a tweet, writing, “The Tobey video is not completed- new date Monday 7/8. Here’s a peek in the meantime!!! Sorry 4 the delay.”
Directed by frequent collaborator Cole Bennett, the video (or at least the sneak peak) seems like a straightforward affair, much like the song itself. More lyrically-focused than its “Houdini” predecessor, the track puts Big Sean, Babytron and Eminem’s rhyming skills firmly in the spotlight.
The Tobey video is not completed- new date Monday 7/8. Here’s a peek in the meantime!!! Sorry 4 the delay. pic.twitter.com/wM3bttfuyW
Eminem released the audio for “Tobey” on July 2. For Eminem’s verse, he revisits the 2023 controversy involving Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five member Melle Mel.
“Yet here I sit on your list though at five (Hm), which still was fine/But just know inside, to me, that s###’s hilarious, so when I (Haha)/Get dissed though and by a pioneer/Who was one of the reasons why I am here/They tell me I should just let that s### go and slide (Why?)/’Melle Mel shouldn’t get no reply’ (Why?) ‘That man is a legend,’ b####, so am I (Haha, yeah).”
The feud between Melle Mel and Eminem escalated last year, when Em responded to Melle Mel’s previous comments in which he suggested that Slim Shady’s success was largely due to his race. In a scathing verse on the track “Realest” featuring Ez Mil, Eminem addressed these claims head-on, stating that while his skin color has been a topic of discussion, it hasn’t guaranteed his success. He also took a direct jab at Melle Mel, referring to him as a “juice head” whose “brain is half destroyed” due to steroid use.
Melle Mel didn’t take the comments lightly and fired back with his own diss track, but it was met with mixed reviews. Critics and fans alike felt that Melle Mel’s response lacked the punch and creativity needed to effectively counter Eminem’s sharp lyrics. The back-and-forth not only reignited discussions about race and recognition Hip-Hop but also highlighted the generational divide within the genre.
Melle Mel ultimately expressed regret over dissing Eminem. As he wrote in a statement last August, “In light of the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop, my original intention was to contribute an engaging and enjoyable endeavor to enrich the cultural landscape. Regrettably, my response fell short in its execution, and I accept full responsibility for the misjudgment. I acknowledge that my perspective was ill-conceived and I am prepared to take ownership of this oversight.”
Missy Elliott started her first headlining tour at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada, where she shared the stage with Busta Rhymes, Ciara, and Timbaland.
Elliott collaborated with celebrity stylist June Ambrose, who has been pivotal in crafting her memorable looks. With her stage costumes, Elliott aimed to push boundaries.
“June and I go way, way, waaay back and we created my most iconic looks together, so who better to collaborate with for this tour?” Elliott told WWD. “She knows me and knows what I expect when it comes to costuming. She understands the way I think and sees fashion through my same lens.”
Ambrose designed nearly 250 outfits for Elliott and her dancers, tailoring the apparel to match four visually distinct acts.
Spectators were treated to various styles, including oversized puffer coats, overalls, baseball jerseys, and heavily bejeweled garments.
Missy Elliott emphasized her intent to marry bold style with comfort, ensuring her focus remained on delivering an electrifying performance.
“On stage I have to be comfortable as I want to focus on my performance and not have to worry about my clothing, but I definitely always push the envelope when it comes to my show looks to come up with costumes that reflect my persona and complement the visuals of the show,” she shared. “I also like to do a lot of costume changes during my shows, so I wear a lot of jumpsuits because they’re easy to get on and off.”
Missy Elliott plans to preserve the outfits in her personal archives after the tour concludes in August and is considering lending some pieces to museums for exhibitions.
Kendrick Lamar delivered his highly anticipated video for his scathing Drake diss track “Not Like Us” on Independence Day (July 4). The cinematic video was directed by pgLang co-founder/producer Dave Free and Lamar, and many of their fans believes Free deserves an Oscar—or at least some kind of recognition—for his work on the visual.
Twitter (X) blew up with reactions to the video as Dave Free, Kendrick Lamar, #TheyNotLikeUs and KDot quickly became trending topics. One person noted, “Dave Free deserves an Oscar I’m not kidding this is f###### phenomenal,” while another said, “Kendrick’s Not Like Us video really is diabolical in the best way +OVO owl (Drake brand) smashing/caging and Push Ups references +Whitney and family dancing +Early image release trolling Drake fans to claim she was unhappy +Dave Free co-directing +YG at shoot +Compton united.”
And that easily summarize the “Not Like Us” visual. Beginning with a black-and-white shot of Kendrick Lamar rapping in a hallway, he knocks at a door, where he’s greeted by a DJ dressed as clown. When asked for the password, Lamar replies, “I see dead people,” the first lyrics from the song. From there, the infectious Mustard beat begins as Kendrick begins his incendiary verses.
Appearances include Kendrick’s fiancée Whitney and their children, Hit-Boy, Mustard and half of Compton. The video has amassed more than 15 million YouTube views since in less than 24 hours. The closing shot, however, appeared to be the most impactful, with Kendrick staring at an owl in a cage. As most of the rap community is well aware, Drake’s OVO Sound logo is an owl. Many of Kendrick’s fans—and even those who aren’t—think the visual is the final nail in Drake’s coffin.
Check out some of the reactions below.
kendrick lamar caught the ovo owl & put it in its cage in the ‘they not like us’ music video😭 pic.twitter.com/TRowdMv7ax
Kendrick Lamar’s whole music video was just him f###### with Drake. He was doing pushups, destroying an owl piñata, crip walking with Whitney, and ends it off with a shot of an owl in a cage, I know Drake mad as hell LMFAO pic.twitter.com/qyACBQ33z3
Boosie Badazz is receiving some flack on social media after a woman claimed she became at odds with him and his security after voicing her concerns about his hygiene.
It all apparently went down on Independence Day at a club the “Wipe Me Down” rapper made an appearance at, which is believed to be King Of Diamonds (KOD). According to the woman in question, she and Boosie had an interaction, during which she claims she told him his breath stinks.
Though the video the woman shared remarking on the incident doesn’t show the alleged interaction, Boosie can be seen seemingly glaring in the woman’s direction shortly before the video abruptly cuts. The next clip features the woman detailing on camera how she was allegedly thrown out of the club by Boosie’s security sometime after their interaction.
“He [Boosie Badazz] got mad, so, he sent security up there,” the woman said. “Where we at? We was at KOD. He sent security up there. They come to get me. I’m like, dang, look y’all, how I’m small. I didn’t even do anything. Your breath was stank. But because I told you your breath was stank, you got me kicked out the club. I’m never going to nothing else.”
Though Boosie Badazz has yet to respond to the allegation, users on Twitter quickly picked up the story and ran with it.
“Know he sent his security to go get him a pack of gum right after that,” one user wrote in a tweet to which another replied, “Bruh probably had some gumbo before the hitting the club.”
Others speculated that the woman wasn’t innocent in her resolve, considering she made a post suggesting she made the trip to the club solely to see Boosie Badazz, only to disparage him after the fact.
“or maybe it was because she was in his section fanned out with a phone just recording him while he was tryna vibe? cause he look irritated ash,” the user wrote. Another user added, “It’s all in his face he spotted her ass talking bout it with friends.”
While the full details of the incident are still unconfirmed, this wouldn’t be the first occurrence of Boosie Badazz booting a fan from the function. A drunk woman was caught on video being removed from the Baton Rouge rapper’s pool party before being slammed on the ground.
Stefflon Don discussed her feud with Jada Kingdom during an appearance on GRM Daily’s Thoughts In A Culli. Stefflon accused Jada of clout chasing in their beef, which stemmed from their romantic history with Burna Boy.
“If you really felt a way, you could just address that personally, but you don’t want to do that,” Stefflon said. “You wanted the clout. So, I thought it was the right day. I’m not gonna lie. My engineer was in the studio. We was already cooking stuff. The song I posted that she thought was about her, I think I wrote that two or three days before.”
Stefflon claimed her song “Dat a Dat” wasn’t originally aimed at Jada. The British rapper updated the track after the two clashed online.
“I don’t really like doing the back-and-forth online, so I thought, ‘Let’s just do this in music,” Stefflon said.
Stefflon told GRM Daily she was never upset about Jada’s alleged entanglement with Burna Boy.
“We used to be cool,” Stefflon said regarding Jada. “And the situation that happened, I wasn’t even with [Burna]. I don’t even care what he’s doing. She’s selling, he’s buying. What’s the problem?”
But Stefflon said she and Jada “were never friends.”
“It’s not like that was my homegirl,” Stefflon said. “We linked once or twice … There isn’t nothing to rekindle. We stopped talking anyway because she asked me to jump on a tune and I took long or something … But even after that, just before the situation with my man, she messaged me and then she unsent it. She said, ‘I’m in London. Link up.’ And I saw it. She thinks I didn’t see it.”
Months after trading disses, Stefflon insisted she was ready to move on from the quarrel.
“I wish [Jada] the best in her career and stuff because I feel like she’s a dope artist,” she said. “And it’s really not that deep.”
The most outspoken of the three victims of a shooting involving music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs and rapper Shyne has come forward with claims that the District Attorney’s office relocated her due to threats on her life.
Natania Reuben, who survived a gunshot wound to the face, spoke out in a recent interview, detailing her harrowing experience and the long-lasting impact it has had on her life.Reuben recounted how the ordeal began after she was shot during an altercation in a New York nightclub in 1999.
Reuben claimed a well-known Brooklyn drug dealer, Matthew “Scar” Allen, sparked off the dispute after an altercation with Diddy and his crew before the shooting incident. Reuben said Diddy and Shyne pulled guns from their waistbands and began firing indiscriminately inside the club.
Diddy eventually settled a $130 million civil lawsuit that Reuben and the other victims filed. He paid Reuben an estimated $1.8 million, while the other two victims received $500,000 and $50,000, respectively.
But Reuben has been adamant that Diddy was the one who shot her. She claimed she had to flee Brooklyn because there was a “bag” on her head – meaning a contract to kill her.
“I’m a Brooklyn girl; I was born and raised in Brooklyn,” toldThe Art of Dialogue in a new interview. “When the District Attorney’s office gets information from one of their confidential informant sources saying that there’s a bag on my head…I had businesses; I was a business owner. Why would I pick up and just leave everything I knew but for the fact that my life depended on it?” Reuben questioned.
Reuben claimed that relocation was a necessary step to ensure her safety.
Faced with the imminent danger, Reuben had no choice but to leave Brooklyn, a place she never intended to abandon. Reuben said Scar was also marked for death.
Diddy’s lawyer Benjamin Brafman told a judge that his client supposedly received a phone call at his office detailing a plot to kill his life. In another incident, an associate of Scar’s was allegedly spotted in front of the courthouse with a walkie-talking describing Diddy’s security movements.
In the same meeting with the judge, prosecutor Matthew Bogdanos claimed a former employee of the Bad Boy boss wanted to bribe Scar with the offer of a $250,000 payment but planned to kill him when he went to collect the money.
Bogdanos said Scar refused to testify out of fear of retaliation. Scar was shot and killed in front of a Brooklyn nightclub in December 2011.
“Scar was on the run after a while because he learned that they had a bag on his head. He eventually got arrested and not too long after he got out of jail, they took him out,” Reuben recounted.
While sensational, Diddy has absolutely nothing to do with Scar’s murder, sources confirmed to AllHipHop. Scar’s murder was ordered by a rival large-scale drug dealer named Roger “Luchie” Key.
“I was standing outside the front entrance of my Brooklyn apartment. Dressed in jeans, black Timberland boots and a hoodie, I thought I was alone. With the hoodie pulled up, my face was obscured as I found my key and stuck it in the lock. It was then when eight shots were suddenly fired. The bullets pierced the metal door, the concrete walls and my soft flesh,” Gonzalez said, recounting the incident with CrimeReads.
Key was eventually sentenced to life plus 30 years for his drug dealing and murderous ways. Still, the gravity of her experience was further stressed when Reuben discussed the ongoing consequences of not holding Diddy accountable.
“Had anybody listened to me 24 years ago and understood my clear and concise statements that said this man shot me in my face, perhaps Cassie would have never had to endure and all those other people that died under alleged suspicious causes at his hand would not have had to endure,” Natania Reuben fumed.
Diddy is facing multiple lawsuits related to sexual assault claims and other allegations. On Wednesday (July 3), Diddy was sued again by a woman who claimed he sexually trafficked her at his now infamous parties. His empire has crumbled since the lawsuits and a damning 2016 video of him assaulting Cassie was released by CNN in May 2024. And while Homeland Security agents raided his Miami and New York homes, Diddy has yet to be charged with a crime although a grand jury has reportedly convened to investigate his actions.
Despite new video evidence that has surfaced in the investigation of Florida rapper Julio Foolio’s murder, there has been no significant development in the search for the murderer.
However, the footage offers crucial insights into the events leading up to the tragic shooting death of the 24-year-old artist, born Charles Jones, who was gunned down in Jacksonville last month. According to TMZ, The new video, reportedly from a security camera near the scene, captures the moments just before the fatal shots were fired.
Among the clues present in the video is a dark-colored SUV which can be seen following Julio Foolio’s car closely before speeding up and cutting him off. The same vehicle is then seen pulling up alongside Foolio’s car and firing multiple gunshots. All of the evidence present in the new security camera footage had previously been confirmed by local law enforcement.
Additionally, eyewitnesses claim they saw several individuals fleeing from the SUV shortly after the shooting, which police believe was a targeted attack on the rapper.
Detectives believe the video could provide vital clues, including the make and model of the suspect’s vehicle and possibly even identifying some of the perpetrators. According to a report from WJXT, Julio Foolio was shot at least twice in the last few years before he was shot and killed in the Tampa hotel parking lot, which corroborates crime analyst’s theory this fatal incident was a part of a larger beef and not an isolated incident.
“After doing this for so long, I would tend to think this is more of a Jacksonville-based regional kind of beef between two groups, maybe took advantage of a foolish posting saying where he was,” crime analyst Tom Hackney told New Channel 8 West Florida.
(June 23, 2024)-
Surveillance footage of the Julio Foolio🕊️ sh00ting has leaked online! 🎥
In tactical fashion, one sh00ter ran up behind the car and started sh00ting as the other sh00ter waited for Foolio to drive off and blitz him from the front! 🪖 pic.twitter.com/wjVw09taHl
Following Julio Foolio’s untimely death, his social media accounts have become a focal point for both mourning fans and investigators. Foolio, known for his raw and often controversial lyrics, had a substantial following, and his last posts have garnered significant attention.
His final Instagram story, posted just hours before the shooting, showed him in high spirits, hinting at an upcoming project. In the wake of his passing, his accounts have been flooded with tributes, with many fans expressing their grief and disbelief.
On Wednesday (July 3,) the account posted a video with a message stating, “You can NEVER KILL A DEMI GOD,” and “the WORLD will be shocked VERY SOON.” The police are also closely examining his digital footprint for any potential clues, as his social media activity might hold key insights into his recent interactions and possible threats.
The emergence of the new security footage also follows a possible lead developing from an unidentified source, who claims responsibility for the murder of Julio Foolio’s murder after his rival Yungeen Ace put out a $10,000 hit.
One of the culprits in Pop Smoke’s 2020 murder discussed the fatal shooting in an interview published on July 4. Blockstar, who was a juvenile at the time of the murder, said he was not sorry for his role in Pop Smoke’s death.
“I’m not sorry about nothing,” Blockstar declared. “It should’ve never happened, but I ain’t sorry. If I could go back, I’ll go back. But I ain’t sorry. N##### die every day. [Pop Smoke] was rapping about it. All type of s###. So, I ain’t sorry about it. I send my condolences to the family. I wish it never happened. But … I don’t regret nothing.”
He added, “Growing up, I just—my people, my family told me, ‘You ain’t sorry for s###.’ Whatever you did, you did it for a reason and stand on it.’”
Blockstar was one of four people charged in Pop Smoke’s murder. Three of the defendants were minors when the fatal incident occurred. They settled their cases and were sentenced as juveniles. Corey Walker, the only defendant charged as an adult, awaits trial.
Pop Smoke was shot and killed during a robbery at a Hollywood Hills mansion. Blockstar refused to reveal if he or another defendant was the shooter. He insisted the murder wasn’t a setup.
“It was a robbery,” Blockstar said. “Nobody sent us. Nobody did none of that. That’s all false information.”
Blockstar claimed he and his co-defendants had no intentions of killing Pop Smoke. Blockstar admitted he didn’t think anybody would be home when they targeted the mansion.
“Nobody [was] intended to get hurt,” he said. “Nobody … We was just kids being kids—being kids from the hood. And [there was] too much movement … Movement from everybody. Too much s### going on. Just too much s### going on. It wasn’t intentional.”
Blockstar only served a few years in jail. He believed his sentence was too light but didn’t suggest a more appropriate punishment.
Safaree announced his departure from the Love & Hip Hopfranchise on the We in Miami podcast. The reality TV star/rapper said he left the series due to its exclusivity demands.
“I walked away,” he said. “They filming. I didn’t even sign back on. I woulda did it again, but these lawyers and everybody, they be wanting to have all these exclusivity rights. And it’s like you can’t have me tied down and say, ‘Okay, only here. You can’t do anything else.’ You gotta pay me to sit.”
The reality TV star expressed his desire to explore new opportunities. He also admitted his frustrations with the show’s viewers.
“With Love & Hip Hop, I just don’t like that there’s people who watch it [and] they really feel like they know me,” he explained. “I be places and people see me and they’ll be like, ‘Behave yourself! Stop!’ What? Get the hell out [of] my face, lady. These people be really holding on to s### they see.”
Safaree appreciated his time on Love & Hip Hop despite his complaints. He credited the reality TV franchise for playing a pivotal role in his career.
“I can’t even front on the amount of doors that it opened up for me and opportunities and the extra eyes,” he said. “At first, I really was not trying to do it. And then when I got on and I kinda felt like I took it over, that s### helped a lot.”
Safaree starred in four iterations of Love & Hip Hop. He was best known for dating Nicki Minaj before becoming a Love & Hip Hop cast member. Safaree and Nicki split in 2014.
A landlord sought the eviction of Azealia Banks from her home in Palmetto Bay, Florida. According to court documents obtained by AllHIpHop, Isis Claro asked a Florida court for a final judgment of possession in a complaint against Banks for failure to pay rent on Tuesday (July 2).
“This eviction was filed because Tenant owes Plaintiff’s past due rent,” Claro’s motion read. “Defendant filed an Answer thereby preventing a clerk’s default; however, Defendant failed to deposit rent into the Court Registry. Florida Statutes specifically state that in an action by the landlord for possession of a dwelling unit, if the tenant interposes any defense other than payment, including but not limited to the defense of a defective 3-day notice, the tenant shall pay into the registry of the court the accrued rent as alleged in the complaint.”
The motion continued, “Failure of the tenant to pay the rent into the registry of the court or to file a motion to determine the amount of rent to be paid into the registry within 5 days … after the date of service of process constitutes an absolute waiver of the tenant’s defenses other than payment. And the landlord is entitled to an immediate default judgment for the removal of the tenant.”
Claro pursued Banks’ eviction over rent in June. The controversial rapper allegedly owed $8,000.
Banks filed a motion claiming she worked out an agreement with her landlord before a month-to-month tenancy term’s expiration. She supposedly agreed to provide $2,950 to cover the month of June and Claro would apply an advanced payment of $7,050 to cover the prior month’s rent.
Claro denied the alleged arrangement. The landlord accused Banks of trying to “delay making the deposit and frustrate the process.” Claro urged the court to strike Banks’ answer and grant the landlord’s default judgment.
T.I. and Tiny Harris asked a California judge to dismiss a lawsuit accusing them of sexual assault and battery. According to court documents obtained by AllHipHop, the couple contested the merits of a civil complaint filed by a woman identified as Jane Doe.
“All the claims asserted in the Complaint are time-barred because the statute of limitations for such claims has long expired over sixteen years ago,” T.I .and Tiny’s lawyers wrote. “Further, notwithstanding the fact that Defendants Clifford Harris (‘Mr. Harris’) and Tameka Harris (‘Mrs. Harris’) (collectively ‘Defendants’ or ‘Harrises’), deny that any of the alleged conduct even occurred, the Complaint fails to allege facts to sufficiently establish any of the claims alleged in the Complaint.”
They added, “Accordingly, Defendants seek to dismiss all the claims in the Complaint … for failure to state a claim upon which any relief can be granted. Because there is no possible remedy for these deficiencies … Defendants seek dismissal of this entire action.”
Jane Doe sued T.I. and Tiny for sexual assault, battery, sexual battery, negligence, false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress in January. The woman said the Harrises drugged and sexually assaulted her on an unspecified date in 2005.
T.I .and Tiny denied the allegations. They claimed the alleged victim tried to extort them before filing the lawsuit.
“On the heels of positivity, negativity always rears its ugly head,” T.I. and Tiny told AllHipHop in January. “This plaintiff has been threatening to file this lawsuit for THREE years. For THREE years, we have emphatically and categorically denied these allegations. For THREE years we have maintained our innocence and refused to pay these extortionate demands for things we didn’t do. For THREE years, we’ve maintained the same position while the claims in this story have changed time and time again. Our position is clear… We are innocent of these fake claims, we will not be shaken down, and we look forward to our day in court.”
T.I. and Tiny wanted Jane Doe’s lawsuit dismissed with prejudice, which would prevent the plaintiff from refiling the complaint. In Touch Weekly was the first to report on the motion to dismiss.
Em isn’t talking, but Royce Da 5′ 9″ has something to say.
Let’s dive into this. First, Billboard magazine released a list of the best rappers with the Top 4 rappers being 2Pac, Nas, Kendrick Lamar, and JAY-Z, in that order. Eminem has collaborated with all of them, including a posthumous collaboration with Pac. It’s clear he believes he deserves to be ranked higher. Here’s what he said in his new song “Tobey”:
“Ain’t feeling your top five favorite rappers (Woo) So I know they ’bout to be p##### at me (Why?) But this, to me, is a mystery How rappers I’ve already ripped could be (What?) Higher up on a list than me (Ha)”
So, who could he be talking about? This is quite specific! There are only a few possibilities. At this point, I don’t think Eminem wants to beef with Kendrick, because they are cool. Also, Dot is a monster. Tupac is no longer with us. Nas is super relevant at the moment, but I don’t get the sense that Eminem “ripped” him. By the way, some folks are saying LL smoked Eminem on their new song, but I digress. That leaves us with JAY-Z and “Renegade.”
Most people feel like Eminem outperformed JAY-Z on that song. Personally, I never thought so, but everyone else seems to, and I’m OK with that. I believe that most lists are based on bodies of work and overall legacy, not on a particular song or verse. Eminem is a constant observer of the culture. It’s pretty clear he sees everything that’s going on and took exception to this particular list.
Although Eminem hasn’t said anything directly, his buddy and fellow goat Royce Da 5′ 9″ did. I have to admit it’s time for Eminem to start talking to us directly, and not through his friends. Even though I trust Royce’s views and what he says, he stated online that Eminem is not dissing JAY-Z. It’s not a diss, but it’s pretty clear. It’s a subliminal message to somebody. And when you identify that somebody, it becomes clearer that it’s not a couple of those names. It gets closer to someone regarded as the greatest of all time.
When you talk about the greatest of all time, we have to narrow it down to JAY-Z, who is all but inactive. Again, there is a full denial from someone close to Eminem, so what do I know? I know almost nothing. However, it would be cool to hear from Eminem directly.
I also think culturally, it’s a bad look to diss JAY-Z. For the sake of the culture, he wouldn’t go there. Someone like Grandmaster Melle Mel, who also got some smoke on that song, is a much easier target.
Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” video is littered with subtle hints and easter eggs referencing his battle with Drake, and some fans believe they found one that reveals the date of a new album.
The video is densely packed with imagery alluding to the feud. Lamar dances with his fiancée and their children, does pushups in a room resembling a cell and ends the Dave Free co-directed video by walking away from a caged owl.
Eagle-eyed fans have been combing through the visuals to decode all the symbolism. Some believe Kendrick Lamar announced the date of a new album via a hidden clue.
Fans honed in on the lettering of a jacket Lamar wore in the video, which appeared to be a date: 8/8/2024.
“New Kendrick album August 8th ???” one person shared on X (Twitter) alongside an image of a jacket Lamar wore in the video.
“On Kendrick’s jacket , he has the date 8/8/2024,” another user posted with a similar image. “Do what you want with that info .. it lands on a Thursday. New album 9pm.”
On Kendrick’s jacket , he has the date 8/8/2024 … do what you want with that info .. it lands on a Thursday. New album 9pm . pic.twitter.com/YI6F1x7gdx
However, Lamar wasn’t teasing a new album with his clothing, but it appears to be another jab at Drake. The jacket is from the latest collection by Jamaican-British designer Martine Rose. The “date” actually reads “S/S/2024” and refers to Rose’s Spring/Summer collection.
Lamar also wears Rose’s “Motocross” scarf wrapped around his head in other “Not Like Us” scenes.
The choice of London-based Jamaican designer is an interesting one given that K. Dot accused Drake of being a colonizer who collaborates with other artists to gain “street cred.” He also refers to Drake speaking in multiple accents and even mocks his Jamaican Patois-heavy Toronto slang. Furthermore, Drake has caught heat over the years for adopting a London accent or speaking Patois.
Considering Lamar has layered every part of his production with subtle jabs, the style choice is unlikely a coincidence.
After Lamar effectively ended the battle with “Not Like Us,” Drake fans were hoping he’d finally push the “red button” and return with a track to try and even the score. However, the OVO boss hopped on the remix of Toronto TikTok star Snowd4y’s “Hey There Delilah” parody, “Wah Gwan Delilah.”
