Lil Uzi Vert Denies Violently Assaulting Man Suing Him & Floyd Mayweather

A 60-year-old man sued Lil Uzi Vert and boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. for an alleged assault in New York. According to court documents obtained by The Daily Beast, Abdullah Ali claimed the rapper and Mayweather’s Money Team beat up Ali for looking at a Rolls-Royce in June 2023.

“Defendants …. without provocation attacked, assaulted and/or battered plaintiff Abdullah Ali while he was observing a Rolls Royce vehicle that was parked in a Money Team LLC labeled trailer,” Ali’s lawsuit contended.

Ali’s lawyers insisted he was “lawfully present” on a public street when the attack occurred. Lil Uzi Vert, Mayweather, their LLCs and 12 John Does were listed as defendants in the civil case. Six of the unknown defendants were Money Team members.

“Contrary to popular belief the streets of New York City are not a boxing ring,” Ali’s attorney Matthew Blit told The Daily Beast. “There are ramifications for laying your hands on a person. Our client was helpless that night, but he has chosen wisely to level the playing field and challenge the champ and musician in court with us in his corner.”

Ali sued Lil Uzi Vert and others for assault, battery, negligence and infliction of emotional distress. A publicist for the Atlantic Records artist denied any wrongdoing.

“Lil Uzi Vert doesn’t know Floyd Mayweather or have any form of affiliation with Mayweather’s Money Team and was not at the site of the alleged incident,” the publicist said.

Ali was the second plaintiff to sue Lil Uzi Vert in June. Last week, a production company filed a breach of contract and unjust enrichment lawsuit.

M99 Studios accused Lil Uzi Vert, whose real name is Symere Woods, of not paying for the company’s contributions to a European tour and festival performances. M99 pursued legal action to collect more than $533,000.

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Jermaine Dupri Reveals Why Encounter With Independent Rapper Left Him “F###ed Up”

Jermaine Dupri appeared to have a change of heart after initially denying a rapper’s request to commission some of his time in order to present his music.

The So So Def Recordings label boss is no stranger to eager artists vying for a moment of his time. However, a recent encounter at Lenox Square Mall left the seasoned producer both intrigued and taken aback based on his exchange with an artist. In a tweet that has since gone viral, Dupri recounted a striking interaction with rapper EHeard from Alabama, whom he claims initially approached him ready to spend real money straight from his pocket in order to align with the producer.

“I just met a new rapper at Lenox and he asked what he had to do to get beside people like myself,” Dupri wrote. “He offered me 10k to listen to his music and right then and there I knew he wasn’t from Atlanta.”

He continued, revealing that at this point, the conversation took a morbid turn.

“I asked him where he was from, he said Alabama,” he said. “I said you gotta go turn your city up, he said in these lil small towns they’ll kill you if you look like we look, and that kinda f##### me up.”

This isn’t the first time Dupri has encountered talent in unexpected places. In fact, Dupri says a chance meeting in a shopping mall led to the creation of Kriss Kross’ hit single, “Jump.” Speaking at the Grammy Museum, he said the duo caught his attention with their unique style while peddling their music in a hand-to-hand marketing operation.

“You gotta understand people out there, Kris Kross weren’t rappers,” he said in part. “They weren’t kids walking around with demos. They weren’t trying to be rappers. They weren’t trying to be singers. When I met them I said, ‘What do y’all do?’ [they said] ‘We just cool.’ I was like, ‘Damn. Get these guys a record fast.'”

Though Dupri maintains he didn’t and would never take money from an artist simply to listen to their music, it appears as though EHeard’s harrowing testimony got through to him. Dupri actually ended up sharing a clip of the Alabama rapper’s recent live performance on Twitter (X) hours after tweeting about the encounter.

Check out the tweet featuring Dupri’s plug of the artist below.

Ty Dolla $ign Ignores Kanye West’s Controversial Antics: “One Of The Best People I’ve Ever Met”

Ty Dolla $ign dismissed anyone questioning him for working with Kanye West after brands cut ties with Ye over antisemitism and other controversial remarks. The West Coast singer defended Kanye in a Billboard cover story published on Thursday (June 20).

“Ye is the best artist of this generation, besides me, and I don’t give a f### about what people were talking about,” Ty Dolla $ign said. “I know my n####. He’s one of the best people I’ve ever met.”

Ty Dolla $ign claimed he never worried about Kanye’s reputation affecting their Vulture 1 album’s commercial performance.

“Just with my analysis of how it goes with him, he goes all the way to the top,” he noted. “And something may happen and he’ll say [something people find offensive] — and then people [get] right back, you know. Because this s### is undeniable.”

The Atlantic Records artist’s pre-release expectations proved to be correct. Vultures 1 debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart in February.

A sequel, Vultures 2, was originally scheduled to drop in March. Kanye and Ty Dolla $ign delayed the project because they were still figuring out how to release it.

“We got all the songs,” Ty Dolla $ign said. “Basically, it’s just like, ‘How can we get it there? How can we go bigger than the first album?’”

Rumors suggested Ye wanted to avoid streaming services and arrange a direct-to-consumer release for Vultures 2. Ty Dolla $ign confirmed the strategy was a legitimate consideration for the upcoming album.

“Why not?” he said. “Switch it up. [Kanye’s] always got something up his sleeve. I always got some[thing] up my sleeve.”

Vultures 2 is meant to be the second album in a trilogy. But Kanye’s unpredictability makes it hard to believe anything he’s involved in will go according to plan.

Tyler, The Creator Bails On Festival Gigs After Kendrick Lamar Pop Out Performance

Tyler, the Creator canceled two festival bookings less than 24 hours after performing at Kendrick Lamar’s The Pop Out concert. Tyler told fans he was dropping out of Lollapalooza in Chicago and the Outside Lands Music Festival in San Francisco on Thursday (June 20).

“I hate saying this but I have to cancel lollapalooza and outside lands,” he wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). “I made a commitment that i can no longer keep, and that bums me out knowing how excited folks were. that is not sexy at all. please please forgive me or call me names when you see me in person. love.”

Tyler was supposed to headline both festivals. He did not disclose the reason for canceling the gigs.

Megan the Stallion replaced Tyler on the Lollapalooza lineup. Outside Lands enlisted Sabrina Carpenter as its new headliner.

Tyler was one of the many stars who appeared at Kendrick’s epic event in Inglewood, California on Wednesday (June 19). The Odd Future member reflected on the show before announcing his exit from Lollapalooza and Outside Lands.

“It was beautiful to see the whole city come together last night,” Tyler wrote on social media. “my first raps were written at home off crenshaw dr and 82nd, right down the street from the fourm. thank you. shoutout FREE LUNCH.”

The Pop Out proved to be a victory lap for Kendrick in his much-discussed battle against Drake. K. Dot brought out his fellow Black Hippy members, Dr. Dre, YG, DJ Mustard, NBA stars and more in a display of West Coast unity.

Kendrick also added insult to injury by performing his Drake disses in front of a sold-out crowd at the Kia Forum. Amazon livestreamed the concert, allowing a wider audience to witness K. Dot’s memorable set – including repeated performances of the hit single “Not Like Us.”

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K Carbon Talks New EP, GloRilla, Pooh Shiesty & Making Her Own Way

Memphis-born artist K Carbon is on a rocket-like trajectory up. An Atlanta resident now, she is hustling on several levels, including her own hair bundle business. She is set to drop an EP titled “Diary of a Hustler” and has the New Memphis over it. Big GloRilla, Glossup and others show up. Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur taps in with K Carbon and she heads for the stars.

AllHipHop: So talk to me a little bit about yourself, your music and you know who is K. Carbon?

K Carbon: You know, I’m K Car, I blew up iHop Boo, big Carbon. Don’t call me Kim, ho. Be doing my music thing. I be doing my hair thing. Okay. I’m an entrepreneur. I own a business in Memphis. Well, it originated in Memphis, so let me not say that, but I got my store in Memphis. I see hair basically like wigs and bundles like this is my hair. Okay. It’s been curled out, don’t even know it’s fine. And I rap. Of course, I’m finna drop an EP, a hard-ass EP. “Diary of a Hustler.” It’s dropping on the 21st.

AllHipHop: Who’s going to be on there?

K Carbon: I got YTB Fatt, I got GloRilla, GlossUp, Aslimeelsa, Big30, Melo Buckzz. But I really didn’t plan on making it an EP at first. I was kind of building up some songs. I was going to drop the singles, but then I thought about it. I have never done a project, I haven’t done a project. So that’s what made me be like, oh, let me construct a lot of this work that I’ve been doing with a lot of my new stuff. Let me make a project.

AllHipHop: Oh, why not a full album?

K Carbon: Well, because I’ve never even done a regular project. So it’s kind of like I want to tease ’em first, get ’em ready for me and then on that.

AllHipHop: So how was it like seeing Glorilla and GlossUp blow up?

K Carbon: It’s great. I learned a lot. We experienced a lot, and had a lot of fun. Just a lot. Experiencing it together was like we all learned what we learned together. So it’s fun. It’s a learning experience.

AllHipHop: Is that something you want to follow in their footsteps or be your own person in terms of being an artist or a star?

K Carbon: Yeah of course. I admire their work always. But when my time comes I got to do my work first.

READ ALSO: BIG30 Proves He’s Still King; Discusses Gucci Mane, Beanie Sigel And Pooh Shiesty

AllHipHop: Now someone told you me that you are cool with Pooh Shiesty. Is that true?

K Carbon: Yeah, that’s my bro.

AllHipHop: How’s your relationship now?

K Carbon: We super close. We still close. We be writing each other and sh#t. He just wrote me and I wish I could just send the music through the mail. He always goes crazy as hell when he hears my music. So recently he heard my songs that I just dropped with Mello Buckzz and 30 and he like you getting harder and harder by the day. He calls me Beno. He was like, “Beno you getting harder and harder by the day.” So I wish I could just send my whole f###### EP through the mail.

K Carbon press picture, used by permission

AllHipHop: I’m glad you’re holding him down. So, what’s your creative process?

K Carbon: I usually like locking in with people that like locking in with me and I think it’s always like that with me. People who I work with, I always admire their work. So that goes from the producers to the features on there. When I hit up producers, I be like, “Yo, send me beats.” I had a few producers come into the studio with me and play beats and I’m like, “Oh that one.” So it was like their relationship with my producers. Sometimes I write, I slick freestyle [some times]. 

I like being in the studio when I’m making my music because I feel like it…it’s more authentic for me. I don’t be distracted. I’m just in the booth and then I do it like that. Then what else is my creative process? That really is it. I always put my videos together and stuff.As soon as I hear my song, it’s like I know how I want to do the video. I be like, “Ooh, I could see this. I could see that.” And then I just make it happen.

AllHipHop: Who influenced you?

K Carbon: I would say my family, my dad. He was the first person that had me rapping. Then after that, I was influenced by talented female artists like Left Eye. She was somebody I really, really liked. When I saw, especially when that movie came out, it made me like Left Eye even more. They rap style was different back in the day, but at the end of the day it was about her style that I fell in love with, her coolness, her whole little thing about herself.

Giggs Reflects On 10-Year Performance Ban Over Alleged Gang Activity 

Giggs went from selling mixtapes on the streets of South London to becoming one of the U.K.’s biggest rap exports and a certified icon of his era. 

While he just wrapped his first-ever U.S. tour after legal issues prevented him from entering the country for over a decade, there was a time when Giggs couldn’t perform in his own country. 

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The Landlord recently opened up about the decade he spent trying to dodge attempts to shut down his concerts and sabotage his music career. In 2003, Giggs served a two-year prison sentence in 2003 for possession of a firearm.  

Since his release, Giggs claimed Operation Trident – a controversial specialist Metropolitan Police unit established to tackle so-called “Black-on-Black” crime in London worked to end his career behind the scenes.  

He discussed the ban and his attempts to get around it during a recent episode of Math Hoffa’s My Expert Opinion.   

“I was banned from shows for like 10 years,” Giggs said, explaining that he was accused of “gang” related activities. “That’s what they said anyway.” 

Nonetheless, Giggs was determined to perform for his fans and would put on “secret shows.” He would bus in coach loads of fans to these private concerts but somehow cops would always get tipped off.  

“That’s how they do it,” Giggs said, adding that cops would often cancel his shows the night before. 

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Earlier this year, Giggs toured America after finally getting his paperwork in order. One of the first things he did on his return was to hit up Jay-Z’s Roc Nation brunch. Hov asked him about his reaction to that infamous shout out on DJ Khaled’s “God Did.” Check out his reaction below.  

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Travis Scott Released On Bond After Arrest For “Disorderly Intoxication & Trespassing” 

Travis Scott is in hot water with the law after getting arrested for disorderly intoxication and trespassing in Miami. The “FEIN” hitmaker was reportedly detained in the early hours of Thursday morning (June 20) after having too much to drink. He was charged with disorderly intoxication and trespassing in Miami, according to multiple reports.  

Cops arrested Travis Scott at the Miami Beach Marina at 12:44 a.m. local time. He was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center around 4:30 a.m. Scott appeared worse for wear in his mugshot and looked bleary-eyed.  

The Mirror reports Scott was released after paying a $650 bond, including $500 for the trespass charge and $150 for disorderly intoxication. Cops arrested Scott for causing a “disturbance” on a charter boat docked at the arena.  

“He was drunk, causing a disturbance and asked to leave multiple times,” Miami Beach Police Department officers said, per the outlet. Cops then hauled Scott off to jail when he refused to do so. 

Travis Scott’s arrest comes just over a week before he’s due to hit the road in Europe for his Circus Maximus tour. The tour kicks off in The Netherlands on June 28. 

Meanwhile, Scott made headlines after brawling with Tyga and his crew at a Cannes Film Festival afterparty last month. The rapper and 808 Mafia’s Southside clashed with Tyga’s pal Alexander “AE” Edwards.

Edwards, who also happens to be Cher’s boyfriend, later spoke about the fight, describing it as a “healthy fade.” 

Edwards said there’s “no hard feelings,” between them, adding, “It is what it is, it went how it went.” 

Boosie Badazz Slams Rappers For “Playing Gay” On New “Letter To The Gays” Album 

Boosie Badazz is teasing a new song from his upcoming album Letter to the Gays, addressing his past controversies over remarks about the LGBTQ community. 

Although the Baton Rouge native has come under fire for his previous remarks, he doubled down on the new single, “Russia.” The song sees Boosie call out rappers for “playing gay,” claiming any male rapper painting their nails or wearing purses is pandering to the LGBTQ community.  

On Wednesday evening (June 19), while Hip-Hop heads were engrossed in K. Dot’s epic LA concert, Boosie took to X (Twitter) to preview his new single, “Russia.”  

“Rappers paint their nails and toes, that’s what women do,” Boosie raps. “Playing gay so y’all support ‘em, they pimpin you.” Using a homophobic slur, Boosie suggests rappers are “gay chasing” and should be slapped “on they ass” to test them.   

In another snippet, Boosie references his previous remarks about Dwayne Wade’s daughter and repeats his stance on transgender athletes. “Don’t fix your heart to hate me,” Boosie sings on the hook. “They the ones you should be mad at.” 

Elsewhere on “Russia,” Boosie opines, “I’m just a real person who speaks his mind. Sorry if I offended anybody. What you mad at?” 

Boosie revealed his Letter To The Gays album arrives June 25.  

Last year, Boosie admitted his staunch views about homosexuality and gender identity cost him a small fortune.  

“Companies don’t wanna mess with me for the things I speak about,” he said during an interview with The Danza Project. “I’ve been offered a quarter-million to go to perform at LGBT community things, big money. I told them I have nothing against it at all, but that’s not what I push and that’s not what I believe in.” 

Sexyy Red Reacts To Chief Keef Flirting With King Von’s Sister 

Sexyy Red raised eyebrows earlier this month after cosying up to Chief Keef, sparking rumors the pair are dating. However, Sosa’s recent internet activity indicates he’s set his sights on somebody else, the late King Von’s sister Kayla. 

Although Sexyy Red insists Chief Keef is like a brother to her, their flirty interaction suggests otherwise. Fans in the comment section refused to believe they were just good friends, with one writing, “My brother ain’t never played patty cake with my azzz.” 

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Meanwhile, Chief Keef recently made his return to Chicago for his first live performance after more than a decade. He marked the occasion with an Instagram post that caught the attention of Kayla. She dropped off a couple of emojis under his post, licking lips and heart eyes, sparking rumors she’s got something going on with the Chicago rapper. 

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Chief Keef did little to downplay the speculation, in fact, he further intensified it by letting everybody know the feeling is mutual.  

Earlier this week, Kayla posted a series of images of her wearing a cute pink little number. “My boo,” Chief Keef wrote in Kayla’s comments. 

It appears Sexyy Red caught wind of Chief Keef’s antics, and she was not amused. The St. Louis native shared a video of herself jokingly singing along to NBA YoungBoy’s “Preach.” Sending a message to Sosa, she switched the lyrics to “Yo’ n#### gone cheat on you for nothing, so I’m done with these n#####.” 

The Game’s Absence From Kendrick Lamar Concert Causes Online Stir 

The Game is trending after fans reacted to his absence from Kendrick Lamar’s Juneteenth concert. On Wednesday evening (June 19) K. Dot put on a dazzling show at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum. The anticipation was high for “The Pop Out: Ken & Friends” concert, but Lamar exceeded expectations with a show that left fans claiming K. Dot “unified” the West Coast. 

Lamar put on for his region after Drake taunted him with AI verses from West Coast legends Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur. The OVO boss even claimed to “get more love in the city that you from” in his “Push Ups” freestyle. However, Lamar shut down that talk at his concert. 

“Oh, so y’all ain’t gone let nobody disrespect the West Coast, huh?” K. Dot said to the crowd before launching into another “Not Like Us” performance. “Y’all aint gone let anybody mock or imitate our legends, huh?” 

The Game Fans React

However, with all the West Coast representatives on hand, The Game’s fans were left wondering why he wasn’t involved in Kendrick Lamar’s celebrations.  

“How does The Game seemingly always end up on the outside looking in of big West Coast moments?” one person questioned.  

“The Game being left out of these major west coast moments should be a lesson for a lot of folks about the energy they put in the world,” another user remarked. 

Although The Game hasn’t said anything about The Pop Out — Ken & Friends apparent snub, he was vocal about being left out of the West Coast celebration that was the 2022 Super Bowl Halftime Show.  

“The real reason I wasn’t on the Super Bowl is because I’m not a ‘safe’ artist,” he said. “You don’t know what Game gon’ do when he get up there.”   

Nonetheless, his absence from the Ken & Friends concert caused a stir. Check out some other reactions below. 

Drake’s Cryptic Post After Kendrick Lamar Concert Leaves Fans Guessing 

Drake fans were licking their wounds after Kendrick Lamar cemented his battle win and another place in the Hip-Hop history books with his epic The Pop Out — Ken & Friends concert. 

On Wednesday evening (June 19) K. Dot performed for the first time since his beef with the OVO boss. The electrifying Juneteenth concert dominated social media, with Kendrick Lamar overtaking the trending topics. 

While his fans were busy sharing memes and reactions to the concert, Drake was trending for all the wrong reasons. Nonetheless, fans waited with bated breath, hoping Drizzy would do something to steal the thunder.  

However, when he did pop out on Instagram, his post left fans confused. Drake took to his Instagram Story hours after Kendrick Lamar’s show with a mirror selfie. He wore a Cleveland jersey and wrote “Summer League” on his post, leaving fans puzzled. 

Instagram/Drake

Some thought the “Summer League” caption referenced LeBron James, who attended K. Dot’s concert. Footage captured the NBA legend singing along to Lamar’s scathing Drake diss “Not Like Us.” 

LeBron spent 11 seasons with the Cavs, leading them to their only NBA championship in 2016. He left two years later but could shock the sports world with a return if he opts out of his Los Angeles Lakers contract and becomes a free agent this summer. 

“He’s wearing a Cleveland jersey. Is he trolling LeBron?!!” one person asked. 

Others thought Drake was having a dig at Russell Westbrook, who was also spotted onstage with Kendrick Lamar Wednesday night.  

“I think Drake was trying to say Westbrook ass might have to compete in the summer league for a roster spot this year,” another person said. 

Meanwhile, other optimistic fans hoped Drake could turn things around with a summer banger. Check out some other reactions below.  

Remy Ma Speaks Out Following Son’s Murder Charges: “We Stand By JaySon’s Innocence” 

Remy Ma has broken her silence following the arrest of her son Jayson Scott on first-degree murder charges. 

“We stand by JaySon’s innocence and pray that the NYPD will conduct a complete and thorough investigation to reveal the truth. This is undoubtedly a difficult time for my family and me,” Remy Ma said in a statement to TMZ. “While we sincerely appreciate the love and support we have received from all of you, we kindly ask for privacy as our legal team works to prove JaySon’s innocence.” 

Celebrity lawyer Dawn Flori represents Jayson Scott. Florio is no stranger to the family. She represented Remy Ma after the rapper was charged with attacking a Love & Hip-Hop castmate in 2019. Florio also represented flashy Brooklyn preacher Lamor Whitehead, who was recently sentenced to nine years on fraud charges.  

Remy Ma explained Florio “strongly advised” her “not to say anything” regarding her son’s case as is standard in active cases despite her desire to “address this situation personally.”   

Police arrested Jayson Scott and another man for a 2021 murder in New York on Tuesday (June 18). Cops charged Scott, 23, and Richard Swygert, 22, with first-degree murder for their alleged roles in the fatal shooting of Darius Guillebeaux.  

The pair also faced weapon possession and reckless endangerment charges. Cops hit Scott with an additional second-degree murder charge. Police are reportedly investigating the possibility that it was a murder-for-hire plot.  

Kendrick Lamar’s “Gangchella” Sets Social Media Ablaze

The epic Kendrick Lamar and Drake battle captivated Hip-Hop heads, producing a plethora of diss tracks and dominating the headlines, but if anybody thought the enthusiasm for the beef had died down, The Pop Out — Ken & Friends concert at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum proved them woefully wrong. 

Wednesday’s Juneteenth concert marked K. Dot’s first live performance since the Drizzy beef and the Compton native did not disappoint, setting the internet ablaze. K. Dot occupied most of the Top. 10 trending spots on X (Twitter) as fans reacted to the electrifying show.  

Lamar opened with the live debut of “Euphoria,” before bringing out a host of guest performers, it was his final song that brought the house down. Fittingly, Lamar closed out the concert with his final diss in the Drake beef, “Not Like Us.” 

He performed the track a whopping five times sending the audience at home and in the venue into overdrive. On the fourth go-round, NBA stars Russell Westbrook and DeMar DeRozan joined K. Dot onstage alongside his fellow Compton native, YG.  

One person dubbed the show “Gangchella,” sparking a flurry of memes and reactions.  

Lamar’s manager Dave Free was trending with Witney Alford, the rapper’s finacée. In the feud, Drake claimed the pair were having an affair and even suggested Lamar was raising Free’s kids. However, Alford was at the show supporting K. Dot, and Dave Free was listed in the credits as one of the show’s producers and creative directors.  

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Other highlights were the guest appearances, which included Westside Boogie, Jay Rock, Tyler, The Creator, YG, Baby Keem, ScHoolBoy Q, Mustard and Roddy Rich.  

Check out some reactions to Kendrick Lamar’s The Pop Out — Ken & Friends concert below.  

Kendrick Lamar Tells Drake To Give 2Pac’s Ring Back: “I Might Give You A Lil’ Respect”

The Kia Forum in Los Angeles was bursting with electric energy on Juneteenth (June 19), when Kendrick Lamar hit the stage for “The Pop Out: Ken & Friends” concert.

The stacked bill included a surprise performance by Dr. Dre as well as appearances from Westside Boogie, Jay Rock, Tyler, The Creator, YG, Baby Keem, ScHoolBoy Q, Mustard, Roddy Rich and more. Within hours, Kendrick was a trending Twitter (X) topic after he changed some of the lyrics to his now-infamous Drake diss “euphoria.” On the original, K. Dot raps about Drake buying one of 2Pac’s rings, but on the altered version, he says, “Give me 2Pac’s ring back and I might give you a lil respect.”

Whether in person, watching live on Amazon Music or simply catching clips online, fans were elated that Kendrick was still taking shots at his current foe. Making the moment even more monumental was the fact Kendrick was wearing the same type of outfit 2Pac wore to the 1994 Source Awards: a red sweatshirt, white t-shirt, cross pendant and baggy blue jeans.

Of course, the jokes were flowing, too. There were several people who predicted Kendrick would bring 2Pac or “2Pac’s ghost” out to perform “California Love.” Instead, Dr. Dre joined Kendrick for the 1995 track and Kendrick rapped 2Pac’s lyrics much to the crowd’s excitement.

Drake purchased 2Pac’s iconic gold, ruby and diamond crown ring on in July 2023 at a Sotheby’s auction for $1 million. 2Pac fashioned the rubies and diamonds set in gold after the crowns of the medieval kings of Europe in ‘an act of self-coronation,’” according to 2Pac’s godmother, Yaasmyn Fula. The design was also a nod to Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince, which 2Pac read in prison.

As for the Kendrick connection, the former TDE rapper made it a point to address Drake’s use of artificial intelligence to emulate 2Pac’s voice for “Taylor Made Freestyle,” one of multiple diss tracks traded between the two. As he rapped on “Not Like Us” last month: “You think the Bay gon’ let you disrespect Pac, n####?/I think that Oakland show gon’ be your last stop, n####.”

Kendrick Lamar has consistently expressed the immense respect he has for 2Pac, which was more than evident during the “Pop Out.” Drake? Not so much. He performed “Not Like Us” five times in a row.

Was Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” Drake Diss Boosted By Streaming Bots?

Kendrick Lamar is now facing allegations that he utilized illegitimate streaming methods to achieve the success of his “Not Like Us” Drake diss.

An underage young man, who identified himself as Anthony Saleh claims Kendrick’s record label hired him to use streaming bots to promote “Not Like Us” during a live stream conversation with Akademics. Saleh claims he handled the promotion and via his management firm which is allegedly called Emagen Entertainment group.

Saleh was reportedly paid a $2500 down payment to provide 30 million streams. Saleh also went on to claim that he’s received threats from parties connected to Kendrick and has not been paid the full fee that was agreed upon for his services in promoting the record.

And in an effort to prove the credibility of his claims, Saleh reportedly released ohoto evidence of payment receipts between his company and Kendrick’s label which serves as compensation for the botting services he provided for the single. Saleh also reportedly created a fake Instagram account to which he flooded over 160,000 followers in yet another effort to back up the validity of his claims.

Since the theory emerged Drake fans have been contributing to the discourse surrounding the allegations by forging connections between the performance of the diss records themselves and the context surrounding them. A user on Twitter (X) rehashed a tweet shared last month in which they appeared to discover Kendrick’s team was using bots on the platform to spread the pedophilia allegations that were being perpetuated in the West Coast rapper’s diss tracks aimed at Drake.

Akademiks also reposted an early theory claiming Drake’s releases were being booted with dislikes after the YouTube videos for his releases such as “Family Matters” and “The Heart Part 6” along with his feature on Sexyy Red’s “U My Everything” attracted hundreds of thousands of dislikes. Fans also asserted Drizzy may have known about the botting activity all along, and even referenced it in “Family Matters” in the bar: “Anthony set up the plays/Kojo be chargin’ you double for nothin’.”

Clipse On “Coke Rap” Label: “You Don’t Listen To Music Well At All”

The Clipse rejected the “coke rap” label in an interview with Vulture. Pusha T and Malice explained their beef with the description as they prepared for their comeback album.

“We went through all the ‘cocaine rap’ complaints, the stigma of, ‘All they talk about is coke,’” Pusha T said. “You get tired of it. Then you realize the people who only look at it that way aren’t even listening to the music correctly. You can’t even take their opinion as anything. I believe that through all of the years, if that’s what your gripe is, then you are not a Clipse fan and you don’t listen to music well at all.”

Malice noted, “There’s no way that you can listen to that level of storytelling and experience and just walk away just saying, ‘That’s coke rap.’”

Pusha called coke rap a “very cheap way of describing” their music.

“We just told our story,” Malice said. “It was the absolute truth. You take away from it what you want to take from it, but if you just want to say that it’s just crack rap, then you can’t even assess what’s really being said or what’s going on.”

The Clipse debuted a new song titled “Birds Don’t Sing” at a Louis Vuitton fashion show in Paris. The duo plans to release an album within the next year.

“I think the album shows the supreme maturation of a rap duo,” Pusha T said. “I think this is where you get the difference between taste and filler. This music is curated. This is a high taste-level piece of work. You can only have that level of taste when you have the fundamentals down to a science. I think it’s been definitely missing. Then there’s the competitive aspect.”

Malice added, “It’s what rap should look like if you’re real about your craft, real about your experience, real about your storytelling. It’s bringing the fans along to see the growth, not trying to fit in or fabricate. It just seems like in other genres of music, they have the luxury of growing. For some reason, we act like we’re not supposed to evolve. This is what the true evolution of the Clipse looks like. It’s just good to be able to show that and still have high-level raps.”

The Clipse’s last album, Till the Casket Drops, was released in 2009. Their upcoming project will be entirely produced by Pharrell.

B.G. Legal Drama Casts Doubt On Cash Money Millionaires Reunion

B.G. pushed back against efforts to restrict his lyrical content at a court hearing in New Orleans on Tuesday (June 18). The 43-year-old rapper pleaded his case to Judge Susie Morgan, explaining why he should not be subjected to a condition forcing him to “refrain from promoting and glamorizing gun violence and murder” in his music.

“I just feel like Christopher Dorsey and ‘BG’ are two different people,” he told the judge, per The Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate. “It’s basically like telling Robert De Niro he can’t make any mob movies.”

He added, “I just did a hard 12 and a half years … In no way am I glorifying. I’m just being creative from coming up in a messed-up environment. I’m just rapping about what I know.”

B.G.’s lyrics faced scrutiny after he was arrested for a probation violation in March. He remained on supervised release for gun and witness tampering charges following his 2023 release from prison.

Prosecutors wanted to modify the terms of his supervised release to regulate his lyrical content. B.G. objected to proposed constraints on his music.

“It is respectfully submitted that this request is overly broad and violates the First Amendment and due process,” his attorneys argued.

B.G. avoided revocation of his probation by agreeing to modified conditions. The new terms included turning over his lyrics to the government. But prosecutors and defense attorneys could not settle the matter of B.G.’s lyrical content, leaving it in Judge Morgan’s hands.

“I don’t think it’s too much to ask for a limited period for him to stop saying certain things,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurice Landrieu contended at Tuesday’s hearing. “I don’t think Mr. Dorsey should be revoked. I like Mr. Dorsey, personally. I just want him to use that talent to lift us.”

Judge Morgan has yet to make her ruling on potential lyrical restrictions. Any limitations on B.G.’s lyrics could disrupt plans for the Cash Money Millionaires reunion at the 2024 Essence Festival in July. He was expected to perform at the event celebrating 30 years of Cash Money Records.

Kehlani Thinks Her Political Views Have Caused Collaborators To “Ghost” Her

Kehlani believes she’s being blackballed by her peers over her political views while working on her forthcoming album.

On Tuesday (June 18), video clips of Kehlani’s recent Instagram Live discussing her CRASH album, set to release on June 21, began circulating on social media apps. In addition to announcing her plans for a tour and answering fan questions, the It Was Good Until It Wasn’t vocalist sounded off on her would-be collaborators for allegedly sidestepping her feature requests in light of her recent support of the liberation of Palestine.

“Oh one day I’ll tell you about how because of my political stance I couldn’t get any features,” Kehlani said in part. “But I guess I’ll save that for an interview. Cuz everybody fronted on me. Every single person was like, ‘Yeah,’ and then just ghosted me or was like ‘nah’.”

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Kehlani has been outspoken and recently shared a number of pro-Palestine posts and described the country’s struggles for an independent state as being “interconnected” with America. Additionally, last month, Kehlani raised over $555,000 in aid for Gaza, Sudan and Congo from the proceeds of the merch sold in promotion of the new single.

“This song is about protection, something that institutions have failed to do for the people of Palestine, Congo, and Sudan,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “No one got us the way we got each other. Me & my team feel overwhelmed with gratitude for yall showing out for this fundraiser.”

Despite running into issues finding willing collaborators, Kehlani has enjoyed significant commercial success throughout her career as a solo artist. She initially gained widespread attention with her debut You Should Be Here mixtape in 2015, which peaked at No. 5 on the US Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop chart and earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album.

Her debut studio album, SweetSexySavage, debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in 2017. Not to mention her fan-favorite 2020 LP, It Was Good Until It Wasn’t, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Her latest album, Blue Water Road, included collaborations with Cardi B and Justin Bieber, among others.

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50 Cent Accused Of Dodging Deposition Over Microphone Throwing Incident

Power 106 host Bryhana Monegain asked a California court to make 50 Cent sit for a deposition after she sued him for throwing a microphone at her. According to court documents obtained by In Touch Weekly, Monegain sought the court’s help due to multiple failed attempts to depose him.

“Due to the pendency of the August 5, 2024 mediation date, an Order compelling [50 Cent] to sit for deposition and provide testimony must be made forthwith,” her lawyers argued.

Monegain’s legal team previously scheduled a deposition for June 13 but never got to question 50 Cent. She requested $5,000 in sanctions.

50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, launched a microphone into the crowd at an August 2023 concert in Los Angeles. The microphone hit Monegain in the face.

“My client Curtis would never intentionally strike anyone with a microphone,” the rapper’s attorney said in 2023. “Anyone saying something different doesn’t have all the facts and is misinformed.”

The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office declined to file criminal charges against 50 Cent. Monegan sued him for negligence in January.

“Plaintiff was transported by ambulance to the Los Angeles General Medical Center emergency department for treatment of injuries, including but not limited to, a concussion, laceration over her forehead and pain in her left wrist,” her attorneys wrote. “Plaintiff complained of dizziness, headaches, light and sound sensitivity and nausea [and] continues to suffer from here severe injuries and emotional distress.”

Monegain’s lawyers believed she had a strong case.

“No matter who the assailant is, this alleged act of negligence and violence is unacceptable, and we will hold 50 Cent and his co-defendants accountable for their alleged actions,” her legal team said in a press statement. “Mr. Jackson has himself previously said that ‘If the talk ain’t [a]bout money, homie, I ain’t concerned,’ so we are confident our client will be fairly and justly compensated for the injuries she suffered.”

Monegain sought an undisclosed amount in damages. She wanted 50 Cent to cover her medical expenses and legal fees.

Missy Elliott Moves Forward With Historic Tour Despite Graves’ Disease Struggles

Missy Elliott’s battle with Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder, won’t stop her from hitting the road for the first headlining tour of her career. The hitmaker provided a positive update on her health, telling PEOPLE she’s successfully managing the disease with medication.

“Every day I wake, I’m blessed to be here and in good health,” she said. “I’m feeling so much better now. That was a run. Every now and then you get a little ache in the leg or the knee, but outside of that, I feel good.”

Missy was diagnosed with Graves’ disease in 2008. She stayed out of the limelight for years due to her struggles with the autoimmune disorder and severe anxiety.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer is doing much better as she prepares to perform across North America. Out of This World – The Missy Elliott Experience Tour begins in Vancouver on July 4. Missy plans to put on an elaborate show for her fans.

“Every morning my regimen is I get up, wash my face, brush my teeth and walk,” she said. “I say my prayers as I’m walking, and then all of these ideas start coming to mind. I’ll call everybody like, ‘I want to swing from this,’ and they’re like, ‘Do you know how much that costs?’”

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Busta Rhymes, Ciara and Missy’s longtime collaborator Timbaland will join the legendary artist on her Out of This World tour. Missy teased new music after announcing the concerts.

“I probably have at least six albums worth of music at this point,” she told Variety. “I believe that it’ll be a day that everybody’s going on about their way and then you just look online and see an album date from me. So yeah, I think that’ll happen sooner than later.”

Missy hasn’t released an album since 2005’s The Cookbook.