The beef between Soulja Boy and 21 Savage continues to heat up. The two Atlanta-based recording artists have been sending shots at each other on social media.
Soulja Boy’s ongoing feud with 21 Savage began after he called out Savage’s longtime production partner, Metro Boomin. That disrespect directed at the St. Louis-bred beatmaker turned extremely personal.
21 Savage fired back at Soulja Boy in several now-deleted tweets. The Slaughter Gang leader also tweeted, “Speaking on a n#### mama like s### a game you gone s### on yourself when I see you boy.”
On Monday (May 13), Soulja returned to the X platform to add more fuel to the growing fire. In addition, the 33-year-old internet personality threatened to get physical with 21 Savage.
Soulja Boy quote-tweeted Savage on Monday morning. The “Turn My Swag On” rapper then added, “F### [you] and his mama lil boy. Nah umma swing on [you] when I see you lame.”
Chief Keef rose from a local Chicago rapper to a national figure with his 2012 album Finally Rich. The LP included a track titled “Hate Bein’ Sober” featuring 50 Cent and Wiz Khalifa.
Fast Forward to 2024, Chief Keef is now celebrating sobriety. The 28-year-old Midwesterner took to his Instagram Story to let his followers know that he has not drunk codeine/promethazine syrup for at least twelve weeks.
“Been clean of lean for 3-4 months now! CHAMPION [kissing face with smiling eyes emoji] [clapping hands emoji] [leaves emoji],” Chief Keef wrote on his Instagram Story.
Chief Keef has faced several legal issues related to drug use. In 2011, police charged a teenage Keith Cozart with the manufacture and delivery of heroin near a school, public housing building or park.
Additionally, Keef served a 20-day jail sentence in 2013 for a probation violation after testing positive for marijuana. He also had a driving under the influence of marijuana case in 2014 and a possession of a controlled substance case in 2017.
Following the release of Finally Rich, Chief Keef put out other studio LPs such as 2015’s Bang 3 and 2021’s 4NEM. He dropped the Almighty So 2 album on May 10, 2024. Almighty So 2 features G Herbo, Lil Gnar, Tierra Whack, Sexyy Red and Quavo.
Metro Boomin and 21 Savage have been longtime colleagues, so Savage jumped into the fight to defend his musical partner. Soulja Boy took it to a personal level by mentioning Metro’s deceased mother on Mother’s Day.
“You sacrificed your own mom @MetroBoomin you a puppet,” Soulja Boy tweeted on Sunday (May 12). The “Crank That” hitmaker also wrote, “Dig that n#### mama up and throw her back in that b####.”
21 Savage addressed Soulja Boy in a series of tweets on Monday morning (May 13). The American Dream album creator repeatedly referred to Soulja as a drug abuser.
“Crackhead ass n#### went to jail for having bullets [face with tears of joy emojis.] I ain’t even know they had a bullet charge,” Savage posted about Soulja Boy in a now-deleted tweet.
Additionally, Savage tweet-and-deleted, “Yall j ass n##### better find somebody to play with Airbnb living ass lil boy. Sit yo musty ass down somewhere. Don’t nobody buy ringtones no more.”
21 Savage also reacted to Soulja Boy disrespecting Metro Boomin’s late mother. The London-born, Atlanta-raised rap star tweeted, “Speaking on a n#### mama like s### a game, you gone s### on yourself when I see you boy.”
Stormzy continues to make waves in the soccer world, launching a new boot in collaboration with Adidas.
On Monday morning (May 12), the U.K. grime legend unveiled his new boot, a limited-edition version of the iconic Adidas Predator boot. The black and yellow shoe features the Merky FC logo across the tongue and on the outsole.
Stormzy shared a trailer announcing the new Adidas Merky FC boot with an homage to South London’s soccer heroes.
“From our glittering past, we look to the future,” he said before describing the boot. “Bright, powerful, clinical. Destined to become an icon.” Adidas revealed the Merky FC Predator goes on sale May 14.
The new boot arrives hot on the heels of the launch of Merky FC HQ, a multi-purpose center in Croydon, South London. The facility, a stone’s throw from where Stormzy grew up, provides opportunities for Londoners across football, music and gaming.
Along with the Adidas Merky FC boot and new headquarters, Stormzy had another sporting achievement to celebrate. His hometown soccer team, AFC Croydon Athletic, secured promotion after a playoff win. The victory came less than a year after Stormzy took control of the club.
Stomrzy marked the victory with an Instagram post sharing his pride over the team’s achievements. “Seemed like a fairytale but here we are!” he wrote in the caption.
Ludacris is confident that he can put his rap skills to the test against some of the greatest rappers to touch a microphone, including Drake, Jay-Z and Lil Wayne.
During the latest episode of Funky Friday with Cam Newton, Luda played a game of “Win, Lose, Draw,” where he had to pick himself or a fellow rapper as the winner in various categories.
After crowning himself the victor in the music video category over DaBaby but conceding to Missy Elliott, Newton pitted Ludacris against Lil Wayne in a freestyle battle.
“I think Wayne, he’s one of the greatest by the way, I think he’s admitted… he don’t freestyle a lot, so I would just say I would win that,” Ludacris said. “He makes songs quick as hell, don’t get me wrong.”
Newton then asked who could create a better verse in under two hours, Ludacris or Jay-Z.
“I would win on that one,” he argued before justifying his position. “That’s a strong statement to say that because again, Hov is definitely one of my favorites as well. Verses, man, I’m just gon’ go in and metaphor and style, in terms of flow, I’ma kill that s###. It’s not to say that Hov is not gon’ kill that s###.”
Luda continued, “I got to, like every f###### word, every line, every style, every flow, every metaphor. I got to go.”
While he acknowledged, “I’m great at hooks,” he gave that category to the OVO honcho. “Drake got Melodies and singing and stuff like that,” Ludacris said. “I give that to Drake, humbly speaking I’ll give him the hooks.”
Check out the podcast below. the “Win, Lose, or Draw conversation begins around the 44:00 minute mark.
Meanwhile, Ludacris fans can expect some a new album after a nine-year hiatus. Last month, Luda revealed he’s working on the follow-up to Ludaversal after taking a “step back” to live life.
21 Savage isn’t taking sides in the beef between Drake and Metro Boomin and believes the warring duo will ultimately settle their differences.
21’s former collaborators have been at odds for some time, but the bad blood only intensified with Metro and Future’s collaborative album We Don’t Trust You. The project featured K. Dot’s Drake diss “Like That,” which kicked off the beef that consumed Hip-Hop for weeks.
However, during an Instagram Live Sunday (May 12) 21 Savage insisted he’s remaining neutral. Furthermore, he thinks Drake and Metro Boomin will squash the beef.
“Don’t keep coming on to my muthafuckin Live talking about no muthafuckin beef,” Savage said. “Metro my brother and Drake my brother. Them n##### going to figure that s### out eventually.”
While he is staying out of Metro Boomin and Drake’s beef, 21 Savage had something to say when Soulja Boy unleashed on the producer over a resurfaced tweet this past weekend.
"Metro my brother and Drake my brother, they gon' figure that sh*t out eventually"
“Go delete that tweet,” Soulja Boy told Metro Boomin in an Instagram video. “I don’t give a f### if it was three years old, I don’t give a f### if it was 20 years old.”
He captioned his post, “He got 24 hours to delete that tweet,” to which 21 Savage replied, “Or what.”
Soulja Boy responded to 21 Savage via his Instagram Stories, threatening to “beat the f###” out of him and clowning him for being British. He also called out 21 Savage for staying clear of Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s feud.
Childish Gambino—the alter ego of Donald Glover—returned with a surprise album, Atavista, on Sunday (May 13). Gambino described the project as, “the finished version of 3.15.20, the album i put out 4 years ago.”
The 11-track album includes features from 21 Savage, Summer Walker, Ariana Grande and more. Atavista arrived with a new video for “Little Foot Big Foot,” which boasts a guest appearance from Yung Nudy.
The visuals, directed by longtime collaborator Hiro Murai, stars Quinta Brunson and others.
Childish Gambino also revealed an upcoming “special vinyl” with visuals for each song. He added, “The all new childish gambino album comes out in the summer.”
ATAVISTA is streaming now.
this album is the finished version of "3.15.20", the album i put out 4 years ago. there's a special vinyl coming soon w/ visuals for each song.
the all new childish gambino album comes out in the summer.
Childish Gambino teased his new album last month and explained its origins, revealing that 3.15.20 was always originally titled Atavista.
“But we put it out quickly, I didn’t master or mix it, I just kind of put it out,” he said. “I was going through a lot, n##### thought everybody was going to die because it was the pandemic. We put it out, we finished it, it’s ‘Atavista,’ we’re putting that out.
He also revealed his final project as Childish Gambino will serve as the soundtrack to his film Bando Storm and the New World.
“But then after that, there’s a Childish Gambino album,” he added. “The last Childish Gambino album is a soundtrack to this film, and it is for my fans.”
50 Cent hit back at Diddy’s son, Christian Combs, in response to his new diss track.
On Sunday (May 12), Christian Combs dropped a diss, firing back at everybody who turned on his father following multiple sexual assault lawsuits. He also addressed 50 Cent, who has mocked the Bad Boy Records founder at every turn.
“When all they had was 50 Cent, who put the city on the map?” Christian raps. “Stop lying, pops been hated on by many men and that’s fine. They gone try and stop these M&M’s and they gone die trying.”
50 Cent responded via Instagram with a photo from a lawsuit filed by Grace O’Marcaigh, who is suing Christian for alleged sexual assault, sexual harassment and infliction of emotional distress.
“Damn @kingcombs that what you told Grace O’Marcaigh on that boat huh,” he captioned his post. “Gave her the puffy juice with that special sauce in it. LOL BOY OH BOY! BAD BOY FOR LIFE!”
50 Cent also shared a photo of Diddy and Christian performing while trolling the father-son duo. He also regurgitated the allegations that Diddy had a hand in Tupac’s murder.
“I feel so threatened by the things Christian is saying on his record,” he wrote. “I’m afraid for my life, please don’t hurt me guys. I never mentioned or posted anything about puffy’s kids because KEEFE D said he killed 2Pac LOL.”
“Don’t bust no U-Turns because we ain’t forgetting s###,” Christian raps on the new song. “And to all of y’all that switched suck my dick.”
He also addresses the viral meme that stemmed from his father’s allegations. “I dare one of you n##### scream out ‘no Diddy,’” he adds before calling out the Feds for raiding the Combs’ mansions.
I’ve got some insider information. Things are beginning to get back to normal out here in the world, as the Drake and Kendrick Lamar feud seems to settle like sand in water. Hopefully, no waves rush up to shake things around again.
But I do have a little nugget of information that may interest you all. The word on the street is that Drake is upset with J. Cole. As you already know, Drake and J. Cole were on tour together and doing very well—”big as the Super Bowl” well. They also recorded songs together and were doing great. I mean, seriously, the music they were producing was groundbreaking in that it helped both of them in different aspects of their careers.
However, when that whole fiasco popped off between Drake, Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole, I’m being told there was some expectation of loyalty to Drake. Basically, he expected J. Cole to side with him in the feud.
This is why you hear Drake mention Cole so much in these diss songs toward Kendrick Lamar. “I don’t care what Cole think/That Dot s### was weak as f###,” Drake said on “Push-Ups.” What he may have underestimated was the friendship that Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole have. K. Dot hinted at this when he said, “Did Cole foul, I don’t know why you still pretending” on “Not Like Us.”
Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole go way back and were rumored to be working on a joint album some time ago. From what I understand, they still talk very privately, and even share the music they are working on together. So we may not be getting an album anytime soon, but we certainly know that they are in communication outside of what is made public.
Where does this leave J. Cole and Drake? That part I don’t know. I would imagine the relationship is strained, but since it didn’t end, I bet it can be saved. But you never know. This is a pretty life-changing experience for these guys.
By the way, the word on the street is that Drake canceled his Oakland, California show.
Broski Musiq is releasing an upcoming EP Titled “Neon Dreams” later this year which includes 7 songs and 7 videos.
In “Neon Dreams,” we follow the journey of Broski , a talented musician torn between pursuing his passion for music and his deep love for his partner, Maya. Set in the backdrop of a small, vibrant town, Broski’s story unfolds over seven captivating songs, each representing a pivotal moment in his life.
Broski recently released one single from the Neon Dreams EP “ Money “ and charted at #14 on iTunes R&B and soul genre.
Watch his Instagram page and story for more updates as we get closer to its release!
Kanye West‘s ex-girlfriend Julia Fox wasn’t having sex with the rapper, which might have contributed to their decision to stop seeing each other. Fox made the reveal in a recent comment on social media in which she claimed she’s been celibate for more than two years.
“2.5 years of celibacy and never been better tbh,” she wrote. Her comment was in response to a TikTok post about a new Bumble ad claiming celibacy’s not the answer, which many women apparently found offensive. Her decision follows a stint as a dominatrix in which she was paid hundreds of dollars to dominate men.
West reportedly wanted to be one of them. During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen in January 2023, Cohen asked the Uncut Gems actress if she was ever “Kanye’s dominatrix,” to which she said no. But she added, “I think he would have liked that, but it just never got there.” She also pointed out she and West were only together for a “minute” and that he probably didn’t even know her entire name.
Fox and West started dating in early January 2022 and it was over by February of that year. In an article published by The Cut shortly after the breakup was announced, Fox indicated West’s schedule wasn’t sustainable for her.
“When I’m with Ye… but even when I’m with my son, it’s also very difficult,” Fox said. “It feels like you’re just going with the flow, but the flow is very hectic if that makes sense. It’s a lot of last-minute decisions or deciding to go somewhere at the last minute and activating when needed.”
Fox also revealed she was gobsmacked by Kanye West’s level of fame and grappled with the concept of celebrity.
“I’ve never been operating at the level that Ye is,” she continued. “I never wanted to be super-mega-famous. It’s a life-ender for some celebrities. They become reclusive and paranoid and hide. I refuse to not live authentically.”
The Bay Area Hip Hop Archives has announced its 2024 Class of Inductees. Described as a “cultural repository for Bay Area Hip Hop artists, activists and educators who’ve made a 20 year or more significant contribution to the community and world via Hip Hop culture,” the Oakland-based organization takes great care when selecting each inductee.
“We have The Council, who are a group of OGs from the Bay Area artist community that helps guide the decisions of inductees,” Jahi, curator/founder of the Bay Area Archives, tells AllHipHop. “Also, I do make personal choices of under-seen, under-valued and under-appreciated folks in our culture and community, who deserve to be preserved.”
This year’s class includes:
• Danyel Smith – an Oakland native, award-winning journalist and host of Black Girl Songbook, who is one of the most prolific music writers of our time.
• Gentleman of Production – a legendary dance group from Oakland.
• KPOO 89.5 FM – a Black owned, community radio station in San Francisco.
• Ant Banks– an Oakland Hip Hop pioneer, rapper and legendary producer.
• Silk-E– a generational talent as a rapper, singer, and live performer.
• Rocky Rivera– a veteran rapper, journalist and author from San Francisco.
• Malik Seneferu– an award-winning, self taught painter, muralist, and illustrator.
• Karen Seneferu– an illustrious visual artist, educator and revolutionary artist.
• Black (DJ)- an esteemed DJ/producer representing the LGBTQ+ community. Sean Kennedy- an accomplished videographer, and creative marketing icon.
• T-Kash– a politically conscious rapper, radio host, and community activist.
• DJ Edaboss – a multifaceted artist, DJ, and music producer.
• Greg Bridges – an honored radio host, photographer and podcast producer.
• Rickey Vincent– a legendary author, Funk historian, and radio host.
Jahi easily points out what they all have in common, saying, “They all have over 20 years or more of receipts of active participation of Hip-Hop culture in their own ways from murals, to writings, to songs, to providing platforms for voices to speak truth to power. They all have deep roots in the Bay Area. And, they all have incredible artifacts to go with their rich, historical narratives.”
Over the next three to five years, each inductee will build their own “Special Collection” of interviews, artifacts and other ephemera as a preservation plan for future generations, creating a place for people to appreciate the contributions from Bay Area creatives.
“It’s one of many ways to ensure that 50 years from now we are not erased,” Jahi says. “Our contributions to the culture will have a chance to inspire future generations and when you want to learn about the contributions of these culture keepers, you get to hear it from them as a primary source, which I think is vital. If you think about ancient times when people excavated old cities looking for life, it’s normally the cultural production of the people that gives clues on what the city was like. This is the work.”
On a persona level, Jahi believes the Bay Area Hip Hop Archives is integral to preserving Hip-Hop culture—and not necessarily just in the Bay Area.
“It’s important to me to activate and continue the Bay Area Hip Hop Archives, even in inches and increments because it’s about legacy,” he says.” It matters to me that these culture keepers are preserved, and that we didn’t have to wait for anyone’s permission or funding to start. It’s important to me because the way culture moves forward is by preserving it. It’s important to me because 50 years from now I want to know that my contribution to the culture and community can be seen to inspire the next eight generations forward.”
MC Lyte dropped some news on MC Sha-Rock and Grandmaster Caz during a recent episode of their Rock The Bells show, “That’s The Joint.” The Lyte as a Rock MC appeared on the show Friday (May 10) and casually mentioned her first album in nearly a decade will be released this summer.
“I got a new record,” Lyte said. “I’m working on it right now. The new single is out. It’s ‘Woman.’ The new record is coming. We’ll have another single coming in June for Black Music Month, which is going to be spectacular. Of course, I’ve got some winning folks on this album, now I gotta talk to Major.”
MC Sha-Rock asked for clarification after assuming she was just talking about a single here and there. MC Lyte then confirmed, “The album comes out August 9 and the next single comes out June 9.”
The forthcoming album will serve as the follow-up to 2015’s Legend and MC Lyte’s ninth studio album overall. The Brooklyn native began her career in 1988 with the release of Lyte as a Rock, which included production from Audio Two, Prince Paul, King of Chill and Alliance. The project—the first full-length from a female MC—debuted at No. 63 on the Top Black Albums chart and peaked at No. 50, spending more than 16 weeks on the chart.
Singles included “I Cram to Understand U,” “10% Dis,” “Paper Thin” and the title track. Her second album, Eyes On This, made history in 1989, when it became the first by a female solo rapper to appear on the Billboard 200.
Since then, MC Lyte’s career has blossomed into her own enterprise. She’s not only an artist but also an actress, businesses woman, DJ, speaker and philanthropist. In a recent interview with AllHipHop, she talked about how Nas and LL COOL J challenged her to make new music, including “Woman.”
“It was so big brotherly,” she said. “It was like, ‘Stop being scared, put out some new music.’ And I don’t know that I was scared so much as worried about the right timing. Because I don’t want to do it just to do it. I want to have some skin in the game and really have something to say. And you want to be heard and you don’t care who hears it.”
Listen to “Woman” featuring Big Daddy Kane, Salt and Raheem DeVaughn below.
Stars including Diddy, Rich The Kid, Rick Ross, Kim Kardashian and Snow Tha Product have been celebrating Mother’s Day.
Diddy paid tribute to all the special females in his life in a touching social media post on Sunday. In one post, Diddy expressed his love for Kim Porter, the mother of his King Combs, Jessie James, D’Lila Combs and Quincy Brown.
“HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY KIM! We miss you! We love you! And today we celebrate you! Love you!” Diddy wrote.
In another post, Diddy celebrated Sarah Chapman, who gave birth to his kid Chance Combs. He also gave some love to Misa Hylton, the mother of Justin Combs as well as his own mother, Janice Combs.
Rick Ross took some time out from dragging Drake and beefing with Game to show some love to the woman who brought him into the world. “My one and only,” he wrote under a photograph of his mother.
Rich The Kid was feeling generous and offered up some cash to any single mothers in need with a cash giveaway with, “Any single Mother’s in need on this Mother’s Day DM me your cash app!! Band Man got you!”
BMF actor Lil Meech took his mom and some of her friends to a strip club to celebrate the big day. Everyone seemed to have a great time sipping and smoking while tossing dollars toward the scantily clad strippers.
Kim Kardashian, who has four children with ex-husband Kanye West, wasted no time showing her appreciation for Kris Jenner under her mom’s social media post celebrating her children.
Five months after becoming a mother for the first time, The Little Mermaid actress Halle Bailey shared a series of short clips featuring her and her son Halo, whom she shares with rapper DDG.
“My first Mother’s Day. The greatest love I’ve ever known,” she captioned the post.
Find Bailey’s post and a few others below. Oh, and make sure to hug your mother (if you are still blessed enough to have her).
Hip hop and high stakes gambling share an intriguing connection. Many artists in the genre participate in gambling activities and glamorize them in their music and lifestyle.
“Gambling symbolizes risk-taking, a common theme in hip-hop music and culture, reflecting the artists’ backgrounds and aspirations. For many hip-hop artists, gambling is not just a pastime but a significant aspect of their identity, representing both the struggles and the success they embody in their music.”
James J. Hetrick
Although celebrities are most often seen in real money games, such as poker or sports betting, they may play slots for fun. The online casino market has a lot of offers and Booongo slots stand out from the crowd. Don’t miss your chance to try these exciting games. As for the favorite games of hip-hop stars covered in the media, we will tell you about them below. Keep reading!
Favorite Gambling Ventures of Hip-Hop Artists
Jay-Z
Beyond his music empire, Jay-Z is known for his poker skills. He’s often spotted at high-stakes tables, participating in games that require as much strategy as his business ventures. His affinity for poker reflects not only his competitive nature but also his analytical thinking, both of which are key elements in his broader entrepreneurial success.
50 Cent
50 Cent is one of the well-known hip-hop gamblers and has famously wagered hundreds of thousands of dollars on sports events, reflecting his confidence and high-risk, high-reward mentality that also appears in his business ventures. His betting history includes a well-publicized bet of $500,000 on a football game, which he won, enhancing his reputation for having as much game off the field as on it.
Drake
Drake’s gambling habits are well-documented through social media, where he often shares clips of himself engaging in late-night casino runs and playing high-stakes games like blackjack and roulette. His penchant for games of chance is part of his larger-than-life persona that encompasses luxury, spontaneity, and the thrill of the unknown. This behavior not only highlights his lavish lifestyle but also connects with his fans on a level that goes beyond music.
Impact of Gambling on Their Public Image
Positive Impacts:
Enhancement of Persona: Gambling successes often augment their persona, adding to their image as successful and fearless individuals.
Media Attention: High-stakes gambling stories frequently make headlines, keeping the artists relevant in public discourse.
Negative Impacts:
Potential for Financial Loss: High stakes mean high risks, and losses can be substantial, which might reflect poorly on their financial wisdom.
Addiction Concerns: Regular high-stakes gambling can lead to concerns about potential gambling addiction, which could impact fans’ perceptions.
Memorable Gambling Stories
Jay-Z’s Massive Poker Win
Jay-Z’s prowess in the world of poker is perhaps best exemplified by a legendary night where he reportedly took home $500,000. This massive win occurred during a high-stakes game in Las Vegas, attended by other celebrities and seasoned poker players.
50 Cent’s $500,000 Bet on Football
50 Cent, a known aficionado of sports betting, once placed a daring $500,000 bet on a football game, confident in his chosen team’s victory. When the team clinched the win, 50 Cent took to social media to celebrate his large payout, sharing his excitement and his knack for high-stakes gambles with his followers.
Drake’s Roulette Stream
In a thrilling display of chance and showmanship, Drake once turned a live-streamed session of online roulette into a suspense-filled spectacle for his fans. Betting large amounts, he managed to win over $200,000 in just a few minutes, capturing the attention of viewers worldwide. This moment was not only a testament to the swings of fortune in gambling but also highlighted Drake’s love for the drama and excitement of the game.
Favorite Games of Hip-Hop Artists
Artist
Favorite Game
Notable Win
Jay-Z
Poker
Won $500,000
50 Cent
Sports Betting
Won $500,000 on football
Drake
Roulette
Won $215,000 on a live-streamed roulette game
Wrapping Up
Gambling reflects a significant aspect of the hip-hop lifestyle, mirroring the risks and rewards of the music industry. While it can enhance an artist’s brand and appeal, it also comes with its pitfalls, such as potential financial losses and the dangers of addiction. Nonetheless, for many hip-hop artists, the allure of gambling remains a potent element of their public and private lives, illustrating their continued fascination with risk and reward dynamics.
Court documents filed by the government have unmasked Terry “Southwest T” Flenory, co-founder of the notorious Black Mafia Family (BMF), as the drug supplier of the late Hip-Hop legend Jam Master Jay.
The information came to light as the government opposed Karl Jordan and Ronald Washington’s attempt to secure a new trial after being convicted of Jam Master Jay’s murder.
Southwest T founded BMF with his brother, Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory. They operated the notorious drug trafficking organization operation in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Southwest T was a significant part of the narcotics conspiracy that ultimately led to Jam Master Jay’s untimely demise.
Jam Master Jay, whose real name is Jason Mizell, had become embroiled in the cocaine business in the early ’90s to supplement his earnings with Run-DMC.
Jay acted as a middleman between his supplier, Southwest T and various distributors.
Jam Master Jay would then distribute the drugs to others for further distribution, including Karl Jordan and Ronald Washington, who were later convicted of his murder.
Jam Master Jay, Jordan and Washington had plans to distribute 10 kilograms of cocaine in Baltimore with the assistance of a man known as Yakim, a trusted associate of JMJ.
Yakim was a major player in the trade. At the time, he moved about 40 kilos a week and operated a crew of as many as 25 people. However, Yakim wanted to avoid working with Washington due to his unpredictable nature.
“He [Jam Master Jay] wanted me to involve another guy I grew up with named Tinard [Washington],” Yakim explained. “We both grew up with Tinard. He wanted me to work with Tinard and I told him no. He was a problem.”
Yakim despised Washington so much that he threatened to kill him on sight if he caught him with Jam Master Jay. Tensions arose between Washington and Yakim, leading to the cancelation of their drug deal partnership.
Jam Master Jay continued with his plans despite the setback with Yakim. He met Southwest T at Wyndham Hotel in August 2002 to discuss the terms of their drug deal.
Southwest T allegedly gav them several options. If they received the drugs in Washington, D.C., it would cost $18,000 per kilo. If they went to Texas to get the drugs, the price would drop to $12,000 per kilo. And finally, if they made the trip to Mexico, they could get the cocaine for $8,000 per kilo.
They decided to get the drugs in Washington, D.C. There was no evidence that Jordan and Washington withdrew from the ongoing narcotics conspiracy with Jam Master Jay and Flenory.
However, Jam Master Jay eventually cut Jordan and Washington from being involved in the scheme, which led to the legendary DJ’s murder. Witnesses Uriel Rincon and Lydia High identified Washington as the gunman guarding the studio exit during the murder, while Rincon identified Jordan as the shooter.
The jury also heard testimony from witnesses who recounted how Jordan and Washington admitted to committing the murder. Physical evidence, including ballistics reports and DNA evidence, also supported the eyewitness testimony and identifications.
The revelation of Flenory’s involvement as Jam Master Jay’s drug cocaine supplier adds another layer of complexity to the case. It was Jam Master Jay who discovered a young 50 Cent, who’s now telling the life stories of Southwest T and Big Meech on the seriesBMF.
There was a time when young aspiring artists shared one goal: sign a deal with a major record label.
Now, with TikTok shifting the structure of the music business, some industry iconoclasts are sidestepping the music giants and inventing new ways for artists to make and market their music without ever signing a traditional recording contract.
The latest effort comes from Justin Muen Jin, founder of youth media conglomerate Poybo Media Group. His new venture, called Recordcore, which was announced this month, will look to invest in new and rising young artists who are not signed to record deals and then help them create their own direct links to audiences over the Internet.
Recordcore and similar new ventures are symptomatic of shifts in the music business. Major labels like Sony Music and Universal no longer have such a firm grip on creating and selling music and minting internet hits. A large chunk of these are sped-up remixes, which are often paired with TikTok edits.
Much of this has to do with the rise of the social media platform as a means of promoting and distributing music. Mindful of these changes, in the last few years young people have created their own labels, such as Syryn Records, and reaped significant rewards by taking advantage of their digital-savvy nature.
Under the Recordcore model, artists that receive investments from the firm will operate like start-ups, producing their own music. Instead of receiving an advance and possibly reaping royalties later if they have a hit, artists will share in all the profits from their music. In another departure from tradition in the music business, they will also maintain partial ownership of their own copyrights and master recordings.
According to social media announcements, Recordcore plans to invest $1,000 in each young artist, with some help from WMG. The company will then guide artists to services like Distrokid, a company that distributes music to online services like Apple Music and Spotify.
At 17, he built the world’s largest teen-dependent media company.
Artists who take the Recordcore route, media analyst Paul Dergarabedian said, will likely need to have entrepreneurial energy.
Soulja Boy is evidently bothered by a years-old tweet from Metro Boomin and demanding it be deleted. The tweet, posted in 2012, read: “My phone rings to come to the studio with Jeezy. Yours rings to send Soulja Boy a pack of beats. Sit down.”
The tone of the tweet didn’t sit well with Soulja Boy, who went off on the producer in an Instagram video. Referencing his chart-topping hit “Crank Dat,” he said in part, “That was 2007. I had a No. 1. The f### you talkin’ about, Metro Groomin? You was lit about going to the studio with Jeezy’s b#### ass. Stop playin’ with me. I had a No. 1 in 2007 when I was 17. You was still in elementary school, b#### ass boy. You was in middle school.
“The f### you hype about going to the studio with Jeezy for? What the f### you hype about going to the studio with Jeezy for, Metro Groomin? F### is you talkin’ about? B#### ass, I was making beats for Gucci. I don’t give a f### about no Jeezy. I was in the studio with Guwop at 18.”
He then tells Metro Boomin, “Go delete that tweet… I don’t give a f### if it was three years old, I don’t give a f### if it was 20 years old.” He added in the caption, “He got 24 hours to delete that tweet,” to which 21 Savage replied, “Or what.”
21 Savage ran to Metro Boomin’s defense after Soulja boy demands that he (Metro) remove an old tweet. pic.twitter.com/CWabic43rF
That wasn’t the end of it, though. Upon seeing 21 Savage’s retort, Soulja Boy took to his Instagram Stories with a message that read: “Boy you a b#### you not from the A, you from the UK. I really will slap the s### out of you.” He proceeded to snap on him in another Instagram video, threatening to “beat the f###” out of him. He also berated 21 Savage for “talking crazy” to him as he flexed his street cred.
He also called out 21 Savage for staying silent amid the Kendrick Lamar and Drake feud, especially when Drake told Metro Boomin to “shut your ho ass up and make some drums” on the single “Push Ups.”
At this point, Soulja Boy is just doing a whole lot of talking, while 21 Savage has yet to reply to his latest rant. Stay tuned.
Soulja boy tryin mad hard to stay relevant bro 🤦🏽♂️
Drake has let his foot off the gas in the unprecedented beef with Kendrick Lamar. Instead, he appears to have a new focus—”summer vibes.”
The OVO Sound co-founder shared a post to his Instagram Stories in the wee hours of Sunday morning (May 12), letting his 147 million followers know he’s putting it behind him. At the same time, he seems to suggest he knew how ugly it got. The post included a drawing of hundreds of knights with their swords in the air on one side and a singular knight on the other with a sword at his side.
He wrote, “Good times. Summer vibes up next.”
Drake waved the white flag in his last diss track installment, “The Heart Part 6,” when he rapped, “I don’t wanna diss you anymore, this really got me second-guessing” and “You could drop a hundred more records, I’ll see you later/Yeah, maybe when you meet your maker/I don’t wanna fight with a woman beater, it feeds your nature.”
Meanwhile, Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith, the CEO of Kendrick Lamar’s former label Top Dawg Entertainment, declared it had unequivocally come to an end.
“This battle is over,” he tweeted on Friday (May 10). “A win for the culture, while keeping it all on wax. Especially when these publications try to make it something else. We proved them wrong. That’s a victory within itself. On another note, it’s time to wrap up this TDE anniversary compilation.”
Of course, public opinion was all over the place, but the predominant consensus was that Kendrick Lamar won. Drake simply couldn’t out-rap him no matter how hard he tried. The contentious battle essentially included nine tracks: Kendrick’s verse on “Like That,” “euphoria,” 6:16 in LA,” “meet the grahams” and “Not Like Us” and Drake’s “Push Ups (Drop & Give Me 50),” “Taylor Made Freestyle,” “Family Matters” and “The Heart Part 6.”
Kid Cudi has shared that he is on the “road to recovery” weeks after breaking his foot.
The rapper took to Instagram to share an update on his foot, almost three weeks after he broke it when he jumped off the stage during his Coachella set in April.
“Got my boot! The road to recovery has begun,” Kid Cudi, real name Scott Mescudi, wrote alongside a photo of him wearing a medical boot and two X-rays showing several screws in his foot.
The 40-year-old continued in the post, “Heres some xrays after the surgery, I wanted yall to see how real this s**t was. Im a cyborg now.”
Got my boot! The road to recovery has begun. Heres some xrays after the surgery, I wanted yall to see how real this s### was. Im a cyborg now 🤣 ✌🏾 pic.twitter.com/OcCra8ivwY
Cudi’s update comes a week after he announced that he had been forced to cancel his 43-date “Insano” world tour, which was due to kick off in Austin, Texas, on June 28, due to his injury.
“Guys, so, I have a broken calcaneus,” the Day’ n’ Nite hitmaker wrote on Instagram at the time. “I’m headed to surgery now, and there’s gonna be a long recovery time. We have to cancel the tour so I can focus on getting better to be out there in top shape to rage with you all. Theres just no way I can bounce back in time to give 100%.”
He added, “Im really disappointed as I’m sure you guys are too, but I will be back. Thats a promise. Im ok, just a lil soreness, but I’m in good spirits.”
