AllHipHop

Ex Biggie Estate Publicist Breaks Silence On Alleged Sexual Harassment & Diddy Drug Use

By: Kyle Eustice Updated Category: Exclusives
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The Notorious B.I.G. raps he and Diddy were “close like Starsky and Hutch” on the 1997 single “Hypnotize,” the last song he released before his death. Just one week later, the Hip-Hop legend (born Christopher Wallace) was assassinated at the age of 24 while trailing behind Diddy’s Chevy Suburban.

Nearly 25 years later, publicist Jonathan Hay was hired by Biggie’s son CJ Wallace to reproduce some of the late MC’s biggest hits for the family’s estate. But according to Hays, their business arrangement took a dark turn. He alleges a member of Biggie’s team made sexual advances toward him.

“My experiences with the Biggie Smalls team turned abominable to say the least,” Hays tells AllHipHop. “Similar to Diddy’s alleged practices, The Notorious B.I.G. estate refused to acknowledge my sexual harassment complaints when I awkwardly came forward. I wouldn’t participate in phone sex, nor would I watch one of the representatives of The Notorious B.I.G estate pleasure himself on a video chat during the pandemic.

“For two years after the disgusting incidents, I lived with regret that I didn’t ‘go along’ with all that freaky ass weirdness, as I was instantly shunned and they terminated the project. I lost a significant amount of money and almost two years of exclusive Biggie work.”

Hays says Diddy was still a partner in The Estate of Christopher Wallace publishing fortune, which included musical assets featuring JAY-Z. He only got the courage to disclose what had happened to him in the wake of Diddy’s RICO arrest.

“I have strong resources, but in no way could I go up against the estate of The Notorious B.I.G., Diddy and JAY-Z,” he admits. “It’s only now that I can speak out about this because so many strong women have come forward with lawsuits and alleged criminal complaints against the former Bad Boy mogul.”

In another incident, Hays claims he was on a Zoom call with Diddy, King Combs and two members of the Estate shortly after the release of Hays and Frank White’s “Big Poppa (House Mix).” As Diddy complained about the song not being “good enough,” Hays says he observed him sniffing what he assumed to be either ketamine or cocaine.

“Diddy said that I needed to make house music with ketamine, as that’s how all the ravers would hear it at places like Burning Man and Miami Ultra Music Fest,” Hays continues. “While on this bizarre pep talk call from Diddy, he was also sniffing Ketamine or cocaine, which was so crazy to me at the time. I was flabbergasted he was sniffing, especially with this kid being on the Zoom too.”

After the deal fell apart, Hays, who’d relocated to Brooklyn by this time, made a “last ditch effort” and contacted Faith Evans through her manager.

“I let them know that a representative of The Notorious B.I.G estate had made extremely unwanted sexual advances toward me,” he explained. “I also attached the gross mp3 [heard by AllHipHop] of Biggie’s rep singing repeatedly that he loved me in a very weird way. Faith Evans ex-husband and the active stepfather of Biggie’s son, Todd Russaw, sent me an email acknowledging that it was ‘disturbing’ and that he would follow up… but he never did.

“It became somewhat concerning when I started receiving random texts of threats from Diddy’s associates and those associated with Biggie’s estate. For almost a year I stayed low-key with my girlfriend in Washington Heights, Manhattan after we temporarily moved to Texas to get out of Brooklyn.”

Hays was eventually sent a cease-and-desist letter over the Biggie project. It read in part, “Our client informed us that you are threatening to release the above-referenced album without its authorization. The album and all the master recordings embodied therein shall be individually and collectively referred to hereinafter in this letter as the ‘Album.’

“Particularly, you stated the following in an email to Christopher J. Wallace and Willie Mack on July 2, 2021: ‘I can release it [the Album] on my own, without any affiliation of anything involving Think Big, Frank White, Biggie’s Estate, etc.’ Your statement is unequivocally false.”

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The letter also suggested Hays might have violated a non-disclosure agreement. It went on, “Our client has shared some of your correspondence with its team members and third parties implying you may have breached the Non-Disclosure Agreement you signed on April 14, 2020 (the ‘NDA’). Our investigation continues, and we hereby reserve all of our client’s rights regarding this matter. We encourage you to review the NDA and make sure that you do not intentionally or inadvertently violate it going forward.”

Needless to say, the project never fully materialized. Hays had primarily put the incident behind him but felt compelled to speak up after more and more people came forward with their alleged Diddy horror stories. The unsealed indictment claims that between 2008 and the present, Diddy abused, threatened and coerced women and others, and led a racketeering conspiracy that engaged in sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice, among other crimes. Diddy remains in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

It was all a dream…until it wasn’t.

Kool & The Gang Put Someone On “Sample Patrol” In Early Hip-Hop Days

By: Kyle Eustice Updated Category: Exclusives
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The 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony invaded the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland on October 19.

Par for the course, the annual ceremony brought out some of the biggest names in music, including this year’s inductees Kool & the Gang, Cher, A Tribe Called Quest, Peter Frampton, Ozzy Osbourne, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner and Mary J. Blige, and a slew of notable presenters.

Backstage in the press room, Method Man, Chuck D, The Who’s Roger Daltrey, Keith Urban, Cher, Blige, Jennifer Hudson, Dua Lipa and Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello were some of the many who agreed to be grilled by hungry reporters. AllHipHop had a chance to not only meet Kool & the Gang’s namesake, Robert “Kool” Bell, and fellow member J.T. Taylor but also got to ask them about sampling.

Starting in 1972 with The Jimmy Castor Bunch single “It’s Just Begun,” Kool & the Gang’s music has been sampled by numerous Hip-Hop artists—from DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince (“Summertime”) and N.W.A (“Real N*ggaz”) to Eric B. & Rakim (“Don’t Sweat the Technique”) and EPMD (“You Gots to Chill”).

“When they were sampling our music, a lot of things we didn’t know,” Bell admitted. Taylor jumped in with, “We just heard it like, ‘Wait a minute.’ That was ‘Jungle Boogie, that was this.”

Bell continued, “I put somebody on sample patrol to catch our licks, catch that drumbeat [laughs].”

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Still, Kool & the Gang appreciated that Hip-Hop music was exposing their catalog to a whole new audience. As Taylor explained, they also realized just how many lawsuits were piling up as sampling became the norm.

“I remember in the beginning people were getting sued all over the place, big money suing, so the labels I think they told the artists, ‘Listen you have to let us know. You have to get the license for this stuff,'” he said. “We still got our credit and royalties and everything like that. It’s a testament to just how popular these songs were.

“To me, the Hip-Hop genre gets a lot of flack. When you try to take a little sample, a little audio file and splice it up to a way you can make a brand new thing, that’s creative too. It wasn’t the original thing, but they make something original from it. So it’s like give and take, is it a copy? Is it not? It’s humbling at the same time. When you have the original piece, you gotta pay up guys. I think they do now.”

Bell used DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince classic “Summertime” as an example. The 1991 cut, taken from the duo’s fourth studio album, Homebase, relied heavily on Kool & the Gang’s 1974 smash “Summer Madness.”

“We did ‘Summer Madness ‘ and Will Smith called it ‘Summertime,'” he said. “He didn’t do too much sampling, he just rapped over the whole song. We got paid though. The No. 1 record, double platinum and he went on to becomes a movie star.”

The celebration continued with a joint Kool & the Gang-A Tribe Called Quest afterparty at the Cleveland House of Blues. Kool DJ Red Alert manned the decks as Blige, Method Man, Chuck D, Q-Tip, Jarobi and many others flooded the venue.

Kool & the Gang was formed in 1964 by Bell and his brother Ronald Bell. The band rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s with hits that became anthems of the disco and funk eras. Some of their most iconic songs include “Celebration,” “Get Down On It,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Ladies’ Night” and “Cherish.”

Initially a jazz band, Kool & the Gang evolved over the years, incorporating funk and R&B influences that led to massive commercial success. The group has won multiple Grammy Awards and is also a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, although several of the original members are no longer here. Co-founder/drummer George “Funky” Brown died of lung cancer in November 2023, Ronald Bell passed in 2020 and saxophonist Dennis “D.T.” Thomas died the following year.

All photos by Kyle Eustice

No, Tory Lanez Wasn’t Declared “Innocent” By Appellate Court In Megan Thee Stallion Shooting

By: Kyle Eustice Updated Category: News
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A rumor suggesting an appellate court accepted a claim of innocence from Tory Lanez in the Megan Thee Stallion shooting case has been proven false.

Court reporter Meghann Cuniff, who’s been following the case closely since the beginning, took to Twitter on Saturday night (October 26) to rip various reports apart. She began, “Just got home from the World Series and learned some people spent their Friday night spreading lies about Tory Lanez’s appeal for shooting Megan Thee Stallion. No, the appellate court has not declared Lanez ‘innocent.’ Not even close.”

Cuniff went on to explain in the comment section, “All the court did was consolidate Lanez’s habeas petition and his actual appeal. They haven’t ruled on anything yet and it’s pathetic that this trash website amplifies outright lies, even when the court document is right there staring everyone in the face.”

She continued, “Oh I just realized something! This is an entirely new habeas petition. He has one in from last year about the driver’s statement, but according to the docket his lawyers filed another one this week. Which makes the idea that the court somehow granted it even stupider. AG hasn’t.”

Cuniff believes the rumor started with Unite the People, the same group that falsely reported the appellate court had freed Lanez from prison. She added, “The group seems to struggle with correctly interpreting court actions for the public, and we should keep that in mind moving forward. We don’t know what’s in Lanez’s new petition because Unite the People hasn’t released it, but the AG’s office already responded to his main appeal, and here’s how they described a main piece of evidence against Lanez, his phone call from jail.”

Tory Lanez was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion. The incident, which took place after a Hollywood party, involved an argument in an SUV that escalated, leading to Lanez shooting Megan in her feet as she attempted to exit the vehicle.

Megan later revealed the details of the traumatic event in interviews and court testimonies, describing the physical and emotional toll it had taken on her. Lanez faced serious backlash from the music industry and fans, with many speaking out in support of Megan as she publicly navigated the assault’s aftermath.

During the trial, the jury found Lanez guilty on several charges, including assault with a semiautomatic firearm, carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle and discharging a firearm with gross negligence. Despite pleas from his supporters for leniency, the judge imposed the decade-long sentence, noting the severity of his actions and the lasting impact on Megan Thee Stallion’s life and career.

The Attorney General’s office already responded to Lanez’s primary appeal motion. They once again called to attention a main piece of evidence against him: his phone call to Kelsey Harris from jail on July 12, 2020 after the incident. Stay tuned.

Ice Cube Fires Up Dodgers Stadium For World Series Game 2

By: Kyle Eustice Updated Category: News
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Ice Cube was a trending Twitter (X) topic on Saturday (October 26). The West Coast gangsta rap pioneer was a special guest as Game 2 of the 2024 World Series got underway at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles.

Rocking a blue Dodgers hat, jersey, jacket and matching Nikes, Cube got the crowd riled up shortly before his beloved hometown team took on the New York Yankees. Once he took the field, he shouted his signature “yay-uh-yay” catchphrase before he went into a performance of the 1996 single “Bow Down” by Westside Connection, which he dedicated to the Yankees.

“The world is mine, n**** get back,” he raps. “Don’t f### with my stack the gauge is racked/About to drop the bomb, I’m the m###########’ don/Big fish in a small pond/Now the feds tryna throw they book at the crook/But I shook they worm and they hook/Guppies hold they breath, they wanna miss me when I’m tipsy.”

Cube slightly changed the lyrics to “bow down to a team that’s greater than you, when you come to our town, y’all, when you’re westward bound y’all” as the Yankees looked on.” Cube then elated the crowd with a live rendition of “It Was A Good Day.” He added at the end, “It’s time for Dodgers baseball, baby!” before dropping the mic in the dirt.

The 2024 World Series is off to an exciting start at Dodger Stadium. The matchup brings together the top seeds from both leagues, with each team finishing the regular season with dominant performances. The Dodgers, playing on home turf for Game 1 and 2, brought a roster bolstered by stars like Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani. On the Yankees’ side, heavy hitters include Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, making this a battle of powerhouse lineups.

The Dodgers clutched the win on the opening night, finishing with a 6-3 score capped off by Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam in extra innings. Despite a strong early performance from Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton, who launched a two-run homer to secure an initial lead, the Dodgers steadily responded.

Ohtani contributed key moments, tying the game on a sacrifice fly from Mookie Betts, which set up a tense late-game scenario. Finally, with two outs in the bottom of the 10th, Freeman’s powerful slam electrified the crowd at Dodger Stadium, sealing the win and setting the tone for the series ahead. Needless to say, it was a good day for L.A.

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Lizzo’s Halloween Costume Clowns Infamous “South Park” Ozempic Episode

By: Kyle Eustice Updated Category: News
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Lizzo shared a photo of her Halloween costume to Instagram on Saturday (October 26)—much to the amusement of her 11.7 million followers.

The costume plays off the infamous South Park episode “The End of Obesity” that aired in May.

In the photo, Lizzo is dressed as a fictional weight loss drug called simply “Lizzo,” which is intended to mimic Ozempic. It includes the taglines, “Need Self Love? Try Lizzo! Lose Guilt. Gain Confidence” and a warning label that read, “Side effects include: a smile on your face and a pep in your step.”

Lizzo added in the caption, “Ok Halloween, you can start now.”

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South Park: The End of Obesity took aim at the hype surrounding Ozempic and brought Lizzo into the mix, blending their characteristic satire with the current cultural obsession with weight loss. The show depicted characters debating the drug’s popularity and its use by celebrities, with a caricature of Lizzo woven into the plot to highlight societal pressures on body image and celebrity health fads.

The episode explored how the public and media often scrutinize celebrities like Lizzo, particularly for their body positivity messages, while simultaneously promoting quick-fix solutions like Ozempic. South Park didn’t hold back in exaggerating the absurdity of Hollywood’s latest trends, showing how the obsession with weight loss often contradicts messages of self-acceptance, ultimately calling out the contradictory messages society sends about beauty, health and worth.

Lizzo shared several other photos of her costume and fans seemingly couldn’t get enough. Comments like, “She took the joke and ran with it… She has a sense of humor” and “Lollllllllll I love it South Park can dish it and you can dish it right back” littered the comment sections.

In the final post, she dances with someone dressed up as Cartman to the new single “APT.” by BLACKPINK’s ROSÉ featuring Bruno Mars.

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Lizzo’s original reaction to South Park: The End of Obesity was more or less positive. Right after it aired, she dropped a video on Instagram, saying, “I just feel like, damn, I’m really that b####. I really showed the world how to love yourself and not give a f###, to the point where these men in Colorado know who I am and put it on their cartoon that’s been around for 25 years.”

Shyne Documentary To Highlight Urbanworld Film Festival

By: Chuck Creekmur (@ChuckCreekmur) Updated Category: News
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The Urbanworld Film Festival and Innovation Summit will present the powerful documentary The Honorable Shyne as the highlight and finale of the annual event.

The film captures the extraordinary, unusual transformation of Moses “Shyne” Barrow, the Grammy Award-winning artist who from rap star to a respected politician. Barrow’s story will be told in an exclusive Q&A following the screening.

The festival returns to New York City from November 13-17 and will continue a tradition of celebrating diverse voices and unique narratives. HBO will also celebrate 28 years as a founding partner.

Regal Union Square will host screenings from international filmmakers, while the Urbanworld Innovation Summit will kick off the festival on opening day at Lincoln Center’s Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center.

The summit provides a space for creators to explore the changing landscape of digital content delivery, narrative art, and emerging technology.

“We are honored to present films and projects from over 15 countries, reflecting the diversity and depth of human experience,” Karen McMullen, Urbanworld Film Festival director, said.

Additional highlights include the screenings of Albany Road, starring Lynn Whitfield and Renée Elise Goldsberry, and Brand New, Denzel Whitaker’s directorial debut with co-director Yuki Maekawa-Ledbetter. Directors Coodie and Chike will also lead a “Clips and Conversation” session, offering insights into their cultural influence as filmmakers.

The five-day festival offers screenings, discussions, and even live performances. ESPN Films will present a breaking showcase.

For more, go to UrbanWorld: urbanworld.org

Below is the full slate of UrbanWorld 2024:

CONFIRMED PARTNERS: 

Founding Partner: HBO  

Prestige Partner: Warner Bros. Discovery  

Supporting: Comcast NBCUniversal, MoviePass, The New York State Council on the Arts  

Industry: Motion Picture Association, Roku, The Handy Foundation, Walt Disney Studios, ESPN Films, Andscape, Hulu, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Amazon MGM Studios

2024 URBANWORLD FILM FESTIVAL SLATE: 

SPOTLIGHT FEATURES:  

  • Unstoppable (Amazon MGM Studios) starring Jharrel Jerome, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Peña, Mykelti Williamson with Don Cheadle, and Jennifer Lopez
  • It Was All a Dream, Directed by Dream Hampton, following the early days of hip-hop and featuring Biggie Smalls, Method Man, and Ice-T  
  • Breakin’ on the One (ESPN Films)

SHORT FILM HIGHLIGHTS:  

  • Fannie, starring Aunjanue Ellis, re-creating Fannie Lou Hammer’s famous speech
  • Criminal, Directed by Robe Imbriano, with a live music performance by the film’s collaborators Stew & Heidi  
  • It Just Happened, starring Denzel Whitaker, a short comedic film  
  • The Brown Dog, an animated short featuring the voice talents of the late Michael K. Williams and Steve Buscemi, Directed by Nadia Hallgren and Jamie-James Medina  

CLIPS AND CONVERSATION: 

  • Coodie & Chike, award-winning filmmakers, and directors are known for their compelling documentaries and music videos, including the critically acclaimed Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy 

US NARRATIVE FEATURES: 

  • Albany Road, Director, Michael Swanson                                                    
  • Freight, Director, J. Alphonse Nicholson

WORLD NARRATIVE FEATURES: 

  • Hello Spring (China) Director, Lanjua Ma
  • The Battle (Brazil) Director, Vera Egito
  • To a Land Unknown (UK), Director, Mahdi Fleifel

DOCUMENTARY FEATURES:

  • Family Tree Director, Jennifer MacArthur 
  • Paint Me a Road Out of Here Director, Catherine Gund
  • Singing Back the Buffalo Director, Tasha Hubbard
  • Songs from the Hole Director, Contessa Gayles

US SHORT NARRATIVE FILMS:

  • At Night, Director, Zoe Simone
  • August & Ebony, Director, Sunyin Zhang
  • Bloomed In The Water, Director, Joanne Mony Park
  • Border Hopper, Director, Nico Casavechia
  • Brand New, Co-Directors, Quincy Ledbetter and Denzel Whitaker
  • Chimera, Director, Kryzz Gautier
  • Chocolate with Sprinkles, Director, Huriyyah Muhammad
  • drawn, Director, Claro de los Reyes
  • Echoes of Pomegranate, Director, Alex Bijan Zandi
  • Fannie, Director, Christine Swanson
  • In the Fold, Director, Manuel Del Valle
  • It Just Happened Director, Steven Bennett
  • Jamila, Director,  Julia Freij
  • Last Hoorah at G-Baby’s, Director,  DeeDee Casmir
  • Leave On High, Director, Javier Ortega, Andrew Slane
  • Marcel’s Piñata, Director, Adrian B. Herrera
  • Nwa (Black), Director, Hans Augustave
  • Rites of Passage, Director, Grant Housley
  • Side Roads, Director, Alvaro Nunez Sechi
  • Tender Thoughts, Anndi Jinelle Liggett
  • Terminally Ill, Director, Chris Cole
  • The Adventures of Robin Hood, Director, Monica Moore-Suriyage
  • Thomasville, Director, Alex Woodruff
  • Trending, Director, Felix Martiz
  • When Winter Comes, Director, Yuan Yuan

WORLD SHORT NARRATIVE FILMS:

  • Dawn Every Day,(Egypt) Director, Amir Youssef
  • Doris, (Ghana) Director, Edem Dotse
  • Ebb & Flow, (Lebanon) Director, Nay Tabbara
  • F**k Sisterhood, (France) Director, Gael Barboza
  • Future is Panorama, (Syrian Arab Republic) Director, Muschirf Shekh Zeyn
  • If We Met Now, (Canada) Director, Halen King
  • My Son Went Quiet, (Canada) Director, Ian Singh Bawa
  • Son, (Iran) Director, Sama Hosseinpuor
  • The Backway, (UK) Director, Cherno Jagne
  • The Cascade, (Mexico) Director, Pablo Delgado Sanchez

SHORT DOCUMENTARY FILMS:

  • A Family Portrait, Queens, Director, Billy Silva
  • A Race in the Sun, Director, K. Nicole Mills
  • Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight, Director, Kyle Provencio Reingold
  • Complexion, Director, Toko Shiki
  • Criminal, Director, Robe Imbriano
  • El Regresso (The Return) Director, Samantha Ramirez
  • Fenice, Director, Sterling Hampton IV
  • Forget-Me-Not, Director, Tamika R. Guyishard
  • Simi, Director, Maria Mayo
  • The Afro Mexpats, Director, Ebony Marie Bailey
  • The Archive: Queer Nigerians, Director, Simisolaoluwa Akande
  • The Can Mas Eshtete, Director, Laura Chechoway
  • What Were You Meant For, Director, Kevin Anthony Brooks
  • When There Are No Words, Director,  Gabriella Canal

ANIMATION:

  • Baigal Nuur – Lake Baikal, Director, Alisi Telengut
  • Dodo, Director, Yi Luo
  • Pacemaker, Directors,  Brian Vincent Rhodes, Christopher Lennertz
  • Tehran is Ours, Director, Hamideh Azimi
  • The Brown Dog, Director, Nadia Hallgren, Jamie-James Median

YOUNG CREATORS:

  • Ayo, Check Up! Director, Natan Xia
  • Frog Jumping, Director, Ian Linn
  • Goodbye Train Director, Chioma Ejimofo
  • Moon in the Water, Director, Jingwen Fang
  • Primero, Sueño Director, Andrés Lira
  • Sunday in August, Director, Troy Charbonnet

SCREENPLAYS:

  • En Root, writer Rashmi Singh
  • Fuego (2024), writer Edwin FrankO
  • If I Die in America, writer Ward Kamel
  • Kevin writers Carmus Johnson, Shannon Walsh & Jack Gorman
  • Spitting Fire, writer Angie Comer  

50 Cent Reveals He Was Only Making $17K Per Episode During Early “Power” Seasons

By: Devon Jefferson Updated Category: Rumors
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50 Cent has revealed that he initially took on multiple roles related to the production of the hit series Power during the early seasons of the show.

During his recent interview with Steve Stoute at UnitedMasters’ SelectConNYC event, the G-Unit rap mogul and television powerhouse dropped a bombshell about his early earnings on the hit STARZ series Power. Despite wearing multiple hats on the show, 50 Cent told attendees that he was only pulling in a modest $17,000 per episode.

“In the Power series, I was receiving $17,000 to be an executive producer, to be a reoccurring character, to be almost a music supervisor, to create the theme song for the show,” 50 Cent said.

When Steve Stoute pressed for confirmation, 50 Cent further peeled back the layers, revealing the major pay discrepancy between his walk-thru fees for appearances versus what he was making for his significant roles within the production of the series.

“$17,000 per episode — I get paid more to go to the nightclub and wave,” he said.

50 Cent then explained that his vision extended beyond the paycheck and was driven by his determination to prove the value of his brainchild.

“I just wanted them [STARZ] to get pregnant with the idea that we have to have this baby,” he said. Stoute dug deeper, questioning what drove Jackson to work on the series for a rate so far below his usual earnings.

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“I wanted to make the show,” 50 Cent said, adding that his determination wasn’t just about personal gain but about telling a story that resonated with his culture.

“No one in our culture has made any television and produced what they wanted to make,” he concluded.

Today, Power is far more than a cult classic, considering the franchise has cemented itself in TV history. The original series attracted over 2 million viewers per episode at its peak and generated hundreds of millions in revenue for STARZ.

Throughout six seasons and numerous spinoffs—including Power Book II: Ghost and Power Book III: Raising Kanan—the franchise has received critical acclaim and several NAACP Image Awards, solidifying 50 Cent’s gamble as one of the best of his career. Not to mention that 50 Cent also won a $1 billion lawsuit in August over the series after defeating ex-drug kingpin Cory “Ghost” Holland in a court battle after he claimed the entertainment mogul stole his life story to create Power.

The rap star defeated three legal actions brought against him by Holland in connection to the lawsuit filed in 2021 against 50 Cent, Courtney Kemp, Starz and Lionsgate, asserting that Power unlawfully reflected Holland’s life without consent.

Funk Flex Threatens Shyne Over Diddy “Fall Guy” Claims: “I’m Going To Expose You”

By: Kyle Eustice Updated Category: News
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Funkmaster Flex went off on former Bad Boy Records artist Shyne over comments he made about the infamous 1999 Manhattan nightclub shooting involving Diddy.

An audio clip making the rounds online finds the veteran radio personality slamming Shyne for saying he was the “fall guy” for Diddy. Not only does Funk Flex insist Shyne isn’t telling the truth, he also calls him a handful of derogatory names.

“When somebody tries to say they the scapegoat or they was used… it’s been bothering me,” he begins. “And I’m gonna keep it a buck. Shyne, I love you bro, and I know what you’ve been though—no I don’t—but you’re a liar. You’re a stone-cold faced liar, Shyne. 

“First of all, you remember when D-Rock had to beat you up in that studio ‘cause you were feeling yourself? You lucky you signed to Bad Boy ‘cause if you did not sign to Bad Boy and you signed to Def Jam or anywhere else they were gonna pound you out like the day they beat you up at that studio.”

Funk Flex goes on to suggest Shyne is nothing more than a hypocrite, saying he was on site the day Diddy was honored with New York’s Key to the City.

“You can’t lie with me around, bruh,” he continues. “And I’m gonna tell you something else Shyne. If you hated Puff so much, when he got the key to the city, you were in the trailer, sucker. You’re a sucker. I can’t stand you. You got no guts. You went to jail ‘cause you took out your guns ‘cause you were scared to get punched in the face by some dudes that you knew that was your people that you jerked.

“You jerked them ‘cause you were signed to them first. You were signed to those dudes first! I am going to expose you Shyne ‘cause you’re a liar. You can fool your country on who you are, but you ain’t fooling me.”

Funk Flex was trigged by a recent trailer for Shyne’s forthcoming Hulu documentary, The Honorable Shyne. The teaser begins with Shyne recalling being rap’s hottest new prospect. “Everybody that heard me wanted to sign me,” he says before revealing he became a millionaire at Bad Boy.

But then the shooting happened. Both Diddy and Shyne were arrested following the incident, but Diddy was acquitted of all charges. Shyne declares in the trailer, “I was absolutely set up to be the fall guy.” He adds, “I spent 10 years in prison, but I was able to move on. There’s a time to pivot, there’s a time to transition.”

Shyne served more than 10 years in prison for the shooting but maintains his innocence. He’s currently focused on his political career. In both June 2021 and February 2022, he was appointed the Opposition Leader in the House of Representatives and the leader of the Belize United Democratic Party.

He returned to the United States for a state visit in August 2021, meeting with several U.S. politicians. In August 2021, the Atlanta City Council dесlаrеd the 20th Ѕhуnе Ваrrоw Dау “fоr hіѕ dеdісаtіоn, соmmіtmеnt аnd ѕеrvісе tо the grеаt реорlе оf Веlіzе.” He hopes to be elected Belize’s next prime minister in 2025.

DaBaby Says Fans Can’t Bait Him Into More Megan Thee Stallion Controversy

By: Justin Ivey Updated Category: News
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DaBaby swore he wanted no drama with Megan Thee Stallion fans on Friday (October 25). The Interscope Records artist clarified himself after discussing her in a recent Drink Champs interview.

“Them days of baiting me into the b####### OVER WIT,” he wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). “I ain’t got nothing for ya but good music and entertainment. controversy & violence done cost me enough.”

He added, “I understand your perspective but honestly I just wanted to avoid putting one of the ladies above the other and give love & respect to both of em,” he wrote. “I know the drama n s### more entertaining, but I done learned that if ima say anything ima make sure it’s sumn positive. Don’t overthink it world.”

DaBaby and Megan collaborated in the past but haven’t worked together in a few years. He expressed interest in working with her again on Drink Champs.

“I got love for Meg,” he said. “Me and Meg did some dope s### together. And it’s good to see her rise amongst the obstacles. I’m manifesting a song with Glo[Rilla] and Meg together and Baby. I think that’s the way me and Meg should pop back out. Because I feel like ain’t none of these n##### — and no disrespect — that y’all are making music with can really embody that.”

Fans were not amused since DaBaby aligned with Tory Lanez, who was convicted of shooting Megan. DaBaby also rapped about sleeping with her on the 2022 track “Boogeyman.”

“You played with me, that s### was childish/The day before she said that Tory Lanez shot her, I was f###### on Megan Thee Stallion/Waited to say that s### on my next album/Hit it the day before too/But I kept it player, I ain’t say nothing ’bout it/Had her pretty boy, boyfriend tweeting me, ready to die ’bout the b#### like a coward,” he rapped.

Megan released an expanded version of her self-titled album on Friday. DaBaby dropped his latest project How TF Is This a Mixtape? in September.

The Game, Pete Rock, DJ Premier, Chuck D & Other Hip-Hop Royalty Mourn DJ Clark Kent

By: Kyle Eustice Updated Category: News
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The number of people paying tribute to the late DJ Clark Kent on social media is truly staggering.

Shortly after his family announced the legendary New York City DJ had died, Instagram and Twitter exploded with tributes to the bona fide sneaker head/producer. From DJ Premier and Pete Rock to Dame Dash and Grandmaster Flash, there was no shortage of condolences pouring in for DJ Clark Kent.

“DJ Clark Kent was my brother, my longtime friend, and so much more to so many people,” Doug E. Fresh wrote. “He will always be very special to me – one of the greatest DJ’s and producers IN THE WORLD!, but most of all a great person! You did well, my brother. I love you!!!!”

Loud Records founder Steve Rifkind added, “Man I just heard I remember when we first met. We always spoke mostly about music and sneakers especially when you heard I was consulting Nike. Then when I signed Wu Tang and the music convention New Music Seminar you called and said let’s throw the party of all party’s which we did. RIP my friend my condolences to you and your family going to miss you I’m here for your family.”

DJ Premier, meanwhile, made him a promise, writing, “So so so many gigs we’ve done together for the love of music in pure form for 35 years. You were always so bold and so Brooklyn. Love You Clark. We’re gonna miss you King. We will keep repping for the true DJ’s. Rest Easy. Condolences to your entire family.”

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Eric B. was among the first to break the news on social media, but Clark Kent’s family soon confirmed his death with an Instagram post of their own.

“IT IS WITH DEEP SADNESS THAT WE SHARE THE PASSING OF BELOVED RODOLFO A. FRANKLIN, KNOWN TO THE WORLD AS DJ CLARK KENT,” the post read. CLARK PASSED AWAY THURSDAY EVENING SURROUNDED BY HIS WIFE KESHA DAUGHTER KABRIAH AND SON ANTONIO.

They also revealed his cause of death was colon cancer, which he fought “quietly and valiantly” for three years.

Check out some of the tributes from The Game, Chuck D, Rakim, Rapsody, Pete Nice and many many more below.

Illustration: Chuck D

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Diddy’s Team Denies “Outlandish Allegations” About Jamie Foxx’s Involvement In His Arrest

By: AllHipHop Staff Updated Category: Exclusives
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Diddy’s team is firing back at recent allegations made by Choke No Joke and Big Homie CC.

In an email sent to AllHipHop, Diddy’s reps called them “outlandish, ridiculous and baseless.” They also claim Foxx’s team denied any connection to Diddy’s case and subsequent arrest.

It all stemmed from a story Page Six ran earlier this week. According to the publication, several people who attended Foxx’s recent one-man show in Atlanta claim he addressed the Diddy controversy in his upcoming Netflix special, What Had Happened Was. Some sources suggested Foxx may have blamed Diddy for his mysterious hospitalization last year.

The rumors started after videographer/producer Choke No Joke attended two of Foxx’s shows in early October at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre. Choke said Foxx, using a “serious tone,” claimed he was the one who reported Diddy to the FBI.

Choke elaborated on his experience in an interview with Comedy Hype, insisting what he heard came directly from Foxx.

“Jamie has a special coming out on Netflix, and I went to the taping,” Choke said. “He said, ‘Diddy did something to me, and I’m the one who called the feds on him.’”

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Meanwhile, celebrity bodyguard Big Homie CC told Cam Capone News he was aware of an alleged incident in which Diddy attempted to harm Foxx prior to his health scare.

“I know Diddy poisoned Jamie Foxx, and Jamie reported him to the FBI because of it,” Big Homie CC said. But actor Dennis L.A. White countered, telling Page Six, “People keep asking me if Diddy was responsible—he was not. If he was, I would’ve been dead.”

White added that Foxx joked about Diddy but didn’t directly accuse him or mention law enforcement.

Diddy was arrested on September 16 on multiple RICO charges, including sex trafficking. He remains locked up at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn after several attempts at bail. He’s pleaded not guilty. His trial is expected to start on May 5, 2025. In the interim, seemingly endless lawsuits have been filed against Diddy, which his legal team is currently fighting.

Lil Durk Was Attempting To Flee Country On Private Jet Hours Before Arrest

By: Kyle Eustice Updated Category: News
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Lil Durk was attempting to flee the country prior to his Thursday (October 24) arrest.

According to the indictment, the rapper booked at least three international flights following the murder-for-hire arrests of five people associated with Only the Family (OTF). The indictment shows law enforcement personnel arrested the 32-year-old upon his arrival at a Miami-area airport.

The FBI learned he’d booked the international flights after Kavon London Grant, Deandre Dontrell Wilson, Keith Jones, David Brian Lindsey and Asa Houston were taken into custody. Prosecutors allege the men all have ties to OTF, which Durk formed in 2010. The five men were indicted on federal charges in Los Angeles for allegedly plotting to kill rapper Quando Rondo, who was involved in King Von’s 2020 murder.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection alerted the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that Lil Durk had booked two one-way flights to Dubai and Switzerland just hours before his apprehension. FBI officials later learned Lil Durk had also booked a private plane to flee to Italy.

Lil Durk faces a single count of murder-for-hire. The charge stems from the August 2022 murder of Saviay’a Robinson, a cousin of fellow rapper Quando Rondo. Robinson was fatally shot at a West Hollywood gas station and authorities allege Lil Durk offered money and “lucrative music opportunities” to anyone willing to kill Quando Rondo. But rather than hit the alleged target, they killed Robinson instead. Prosecutors have presented evidence suggesting the plot was a retaliatory move to avenge King Von’s murder.

Lil Durk’s co-defendants face a range of federal charges, including conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, murder-for-hire involving death and use of a machine gun in a violent crime resulting in death. If convicted, both Lil Durk and his OTF associates could face severe penalties, including life imprisonment or potentially the death penalty. Durk will be arraigned at a later date.

Ralo Says Muslim Faith Led Him To Decision Not To Pick Sides In Lil Durk & Quando Rondo Beef

By: Devon Jefferson Updated Category: Rumors
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Ralo has explained how his faith as a Muslim has influenced his rationale when it comes to his support of both Lil Durk and Quando Rondo amid the Chicago rapper’s arrest in connection to their longstanding feud.

In a heartfelt video shared with fans on Instagram, Ralo opened up about why he refuses to take sides in the ongoing feud between Lil Durk and Quando Rondo. His appeal follows news of Durk’s recent arrest over a murder-for-hire charge in connection with the death of Rondo’s associate Lul Pab. Addressing the tension directly, Ralo emphasized his commitment to his faith as a guiding principle for staying neutral.

“When it comes to [Lil Durk] and [Quando Rondo] beef, I don’t have to choose sides,” Ralo began.

He continued, explaining that his Muslim faith requires him to prioritize peace above all else.

“We as Muslims [are] supposed to put our Lord first,” he said. “First and foremost. I don’t got to choose no side when it comes to my brothers.”

Ralo added on to his statement by stressing his belief in fostering peace, even amidst tragedy striking both Durk and Quando’s camps between the 2021 death of King Von and the 2022 Death of Lul Pab.

“I’m supposed to try to make amends in peace no matter who have died, no matter what problems have occurred, no matter what happened,” he said.

“I know these courthouse[s] is taking us apart, but our Lord going to judge us one day,” he added. “The Prophet Muhammad said a wise man remembers death.”

Ralo concluded his message with conviction, declaring, “I ain’t on that type of time… I ain’t got to keep beef with no [one], being mad. This is what I’m on. I’m on Muslim time and I’m staying on that.”

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In the comments section of another Instagram post re-sharing a statement Ralo made concerning his decision to hire security after reports have determined members of Durk’s security detail team may have been federal informants, the Atlanta rapper doubled down on his belief that his Muslim faith will shed light on this situation and cause people to become more empathetic.

“When one Muslim experiences hardship or suffering, the entire community should feel the pain,” he wrote in the comments section of the post.

Earlier this year, Ralo opted to take a similar stance while explaining his support of incarcerated rappers YFN Lucci and Young Thug, who were both also involved in a substantial feud authorities believe led to violence in the Atlanta area over the years. In an Instagram post he shared on September 16, Ralo addressed the hate he has received, seemingly from Young Thug supporters, when expressing his support for YFN Lucci on social media.

“Why everything I post #FreeLucci ah cornball axx nicca always in my comments telling me to pick sides,” Ralo wrote in part in the post. “We need to be trying to unite our men instead of adding more division. The government seeking to take down every empire we build and use our record labels or tribes to call us Gangs.”

Hear Ralo’s reasoning on the situation with Durk and Quando in the post above.

Drake Goes Rogue With Omarion In Houston — Talks Ludacris Beef & Hands Out 1942

By: Devon Jefferson Updated Category: Rumors
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It appears as though Drake is having himself a little too much fun, at the expense of Ludacris and possibly fueled by top-shelf tequila, while celebrating his 38th birthday.

After hosting a shindig with his close friends and family during a strip club gathering earlier this week, the Toronto native continued his celebratory spree with yet another event in H-Town. However, instead of dancers being the main attraction, Drake and his associates served as the entertainment for the night at the nostalgia party.

The “Family Matters” rapper combed through decades of hits at the event which doubled as a mini-concert. Operating as a live radio station broadcast, dubbed 93.5 Flow Hip-Hop & R&B, the event featured appearances from Drake, former B2K vocalist Omarion and more.

But this wasn’t any ordinary broadcast, considering Drake was on stage both MC’ing and handing out bottles of the expensive tequila brand 1942 to patrons in the crowd while Omarion serenaded onlookers. The throwback vibes were also in full effect as Drake even took a moment to perform his fan-favorite mixtape track “November 18” which he reportedly wrote after becoming obsessed with a stripper he met in Houston early on in his career.

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Seemingly on queue, things got a tad bit messy when the DJ began cycling through early 2000s era hits and landed on Atlanta rap veteran Ludacris’ 2009 anthem “Pimpin’ All Over The World” featuring Bobby V. Rather than sit back and enjoy the immaculate vibes of the song, Drake felt the get some things off his chest. And in doing so, he revealed to attendees that he and Ludacris used to be at odds over, you guessed it, a woman they were apparently both romantically involved with.

“I used to beef with Ludacris because he dated my first girlfriend,” Drake said to the crowd.

“I swear to God, no cap I used to have beef with Ludacris. Shout out to Ludacris though.”

After dealing another unintelligible shout out, Drake and the DJ let the song rock, but his admission was still clearly on the minds of patrons attending the event. The clip quickly gained hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter and allowed old anecdotes about the two rappers to resurface on the timeline. On user remarked on how Drake told the story of how he once showed a woman he was dating his music and she insisted he play some Ludacris’ songs instead. While its unclear the status of the relationship between Drake and Ludacris is present day, it would be hard to believe there is any smoke between them, considering Luda has been married to his wife Eudoxie Mbouguiengue since 2014. Coincidentally enough, he shared a photo of his wife on his Instagram story around the same time Drake was going off on his brief, retrospective rant.

Check out the clip of Drake cutting up in Houston above.

Beyoncé & Kelly Rowland Endorse Kamala Harris For President At Houston Rally

By: Chuck Creekmur (@ChuckCreekmur) Updated Category: News
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Beyoncé formally endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris for president of the United States of America.

The superstar singer, joined by pal Kelly Rowland, voiced her support for VP Harris at a rally on Friday (October 25) in her hometown of Houston. Texas is largely known for tough abortion laws.

“We are at the brink of a profound transformation,” Beyoncé said before an excited audience. “Your vote is one of the most powerful tools, and we need you.”

READ ALSO: Queen Latifah Explains Why She’s For Kamala Harris Over Donald Trump

The 32x-Grammy Award-winning artist said, “Our moment is now. It’s time for America to sing a new song, a song that began 248 years ago.”

Furthermore, she stressed she spoke as “a mother who cares deeply about the world, my children, and all of our children.” She added, “IImagine our daughters growing up seeing what’s possible with no ceilings, no limitations.”

Harris, a longtime fan, made her entrance to Bey’s “Freedom” as she had at previous rallies. Beyoncé introduced Vice President Harris, saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, please give a big, loud, Texas welcome to the next president of the United States, Vice President Kamala Harris.”

Harris attended a Beyoncé concert during her vice presidency, a fact well known among the “Beyhive” and rally attendees.

Kid Cudi Says Joining “Happy Gilmore 2” Cast With Adam Sandler Is “Dream Come True”

By: Devon Jefferson Updated Category: News
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Kid Cudi continues his epic run in the film industry by joining legendary actor Adam Sandler and the cast for the reboot of his classic late 90s era comedy flick.

On Friday( October 25), Cudi took to both Instagram and Twitter to share the news that he has joined the star-studded cast of the Netflix film Happy Gilmore 2. In addition to expressing excitement for his upcoming role, the Cleveland native explained how landing the opportunity was somewhat of a long time coming for him.

“I’ve been wanting to talk about this for a minute,” Kid Cudi exclaimed in the caption of the post. “This is so f###in HUGE. Its been a long time dream of mine to work w Adam, hes my favorite, and his movies and comedy made up my childhood. Another dream come true. BLESSED!! Get ready, this ones gonna be EPIC.”

While the details of Cudi’s character remain under wraps, the screenshot he shared of the Deadline exclusive announcing the news of his role provided some insight into the structure of the cast currently on board to appear in the film. Both Julie Bowen and Christopher McDonald will reprise their roles as the characters Virginia Venit and Shooter McGavin for the sequel. Additionally, Latin music sensation Bad Bunny is also a part of the cast and Sandler also reportedly “teased” the likelihood of a cameo from NFL Super Bowl champion Travis Kelce in the film.

With his upcoming role in the Netflix production, Cudi adds to his impressive television and filmography résumé, which has exploded throughout the past few years. In addition to starring in the A24-produced horror-thriller X in 2022, Cudi also released his animated series Entergalactic via Netflix last year. He also appeared in the Disney+ sci-fi fil Crater, in addition to the series Knuckles, which is based on characters from the universe of Sonic The Hedgehog.

Check out the video below to get a sneak peek of Happy Gilmore 2.

Diddy Lawyers Accuse Feds Of “Illicit” Relationship With Press

By: Justin Ivey Updated Category: Exclusives
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Diddy’s lawyers reiterated their demands for a gag order in his sex trafficking case after the New York Post published a report about his “Freak Offs” on Friday (October 25). Diddy’s legal team accused the Department of Homeland Security of working with the press to tarnish his reputation in a letter obtained by AllHipHop.

“DHS has formed an illicit partnership with different press outlets, which the agency has used, and will use, to ruin this man’s ability to get a fair trial,” Diddy’s attorneys wrote to Judge Arun Subramanian. “The need for an immediate gag order is clear.”

The Post’s headline read, “Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs mixed star-studded bashes with raucous ‘Freak Off’ sex parties after VMAs and Super Bowl, videos reveal.” It included quotes from a federal law enforcement source. The Post said it reviewed a “trove” of video files and documents for the story.

“These are consistent with the videos we have,” a law enforcement source involved in the Diddy investigation told the Post after hearing descriptions of the videos. “Just about everything you can imagine was happening at his parties. Now our job is to determine whether this was consensual for everyone involved, if anyone has been trafficked, and what laws have been broken.”

The Post reportedly viewed videos from the same archive that included footage of Diddy having sex with a “much younger male A-list star.” Someone is allegedly trying to sell the sex tape.

“It’s sick s###,” the law enforcement source told The Post. “Look, if this were just him having sex parties with a bunch of horny adults, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. That’s perfectly legal. But that’s not what we’re talking about. This man is a predator.”

Diddy’s lawyers said the source’s comments proved an expansive gag order was necessary.

“This latest article underscores the need for the court’s order to be appropriately expansive and to cover any and all agents in a position to have access to videos, evidence, case information or be familiar with the investigation either directly or indirectly,” Diddy’s attorneys argued. “The government’s proposed order would allow this clear misconduct to go unabated and would protect ‘federal agents involved in (their) investigation’ from the ramifications of intentionally violating a defendant’s right to a fair trial, free from false, damaging and intentional statements made to the press. That this conduct is continuing demonstrates disregard for the clear concern this court has shown for this fundamental issue.”

Diddy was arrested for sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution in September. He remains in jail. His trial is scheduled for May 2025.

The Real Trap: Lil Durk, Quando Rondo & Never-Ending Idiocy Of Beef

By: Chuck Creekmur (@ChuckCreekmur) Updated Category: Exclusives
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Opinion: They call it “The Trap” for a reason.

The whole situation between Lil Durk, Quando Rondo and all the chaos surrounding them right now is wild and honestly, a bit heartbreaking. I’ve interviewed Lil Durk and followed his career since the beginning, but if the charges are correct, I was all wrong.

Lil Durk getting arrested, Only The Family (OTF) members facing charges and the violent cycle that’s been circling for years feels like a television show. It’s like we’re watching talented artists and their crews throw it all away over beef. It’s crazy when you think about how the once-positive intentions of Hip-Hop can, in 2024, somehow lead to alleged retaliation, violence and dreams destroyed.

According to reports, Quando Rondo landed in Los Angeles and “tapped in” with local connections, per usual. But doing so apparently tipped off someone with Lil Durk’s crew to his location, causing a domino affect. The streets say Durk’s crew, OTF, were on their way to L.A., booking flights, grabbing weapons and planning to confront Quando Rondo. Quando survived, but his cousin didn’t.

It’s hard not to think about how pointless this all seems.

King Von’s 2020 death clearly left scars, but does trying to get even ever really work out? Killing somebody doesn’t bring him back. Revenge only costs people their lives and freedom. Clearly, it’s not cheap. In fact, in my view, this is a nightmare. King Von is dead and Lil Durk and crew face life or the death penalty.

If anything, the developing story highlights just how destructive the culture has become. Also, it underscores how hood expectations lead to failure. Both Quando Rondo and Lil Durk are successful in their own way, loved by fans in their own way and influential in their own way. But when everything becomes about protecting your reputation or getting back at someone, even if it’s for a lost friend, all of it can disappear. They didn’t even get the person they were allegedly after. Quando lives and others’ lives are ruined.

We, the fans and media too, need to ask ourselves what we’re really supporting here.

This isn’t Drake and Kendrick Lamar or another beef. Lil Durk is one of the most popular rappers living and he’s talented too. I spent crazy money so my daughter and her friends could see him live in concert. (The other parents never paid me back, by the way. Petty of me but worth it for them.) These people could’ve gone down as legends in rap’s ever-expanding universe. Instead, it may be all down the drain. I know Lil Durk was re-positioning his brand, but it seems all for naught.

To anyone looking at this situation and others like it, remember: ego isn’t worth it. At the end of the day, none of this is worth losing everything over, especially freedom. The culture deserves better than this. Do better.

The views and opinions expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of AllHipHop. Any content provided by our bloggers or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign/disparage any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything.

Hip-Hop Legend DJ Clark Kent Dead After Three-Year Battle With Colon Cancer

By: Kyle Eustice Updated Category: Exclusives
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A rumor DJ Clark Kent had died went rampant on social media earlier this month, but it turned out to be false.

But on Friday (October 25), it was confirmed the legendary DJ passed away on Thursday night (October 24). Fellow New York City Hip-Hop vet Eric B. shared the news on Instagram, writing simply, “Rest in Peace.” He also verified it with AllHipHop via text, assuring us he got the information from Clark Kent’s family.

The family soon issued its own statement, writing, “IT IS WITH DEEP SADNESS THAT WE SHARE THE PASSING OF BELOVED RODOLFO A. FRANKLIN, KNOWN TO THE WORLD AS DJ CLARK KENT. CLARK PASSED AWAY THURSDAY EVENING SURROUNDED BY HIS WIFE KESHA DAUGHTER KABRIAH AND SON ANTONIO.”

They went on to reveal his cause of death: colon cancer.

DJ Clark Kent, born Rodolfo Franklin in Panama, played a significant role in shaping the career of JAY-Z and is routinely credited with discovering the Roc-A-Fella co-founder. He also produced tracks on JAY-Z’s debut album, Reasonable Doubt, including the hit “Brooklyn’s Finest” featuring The Notorious B.I.G.

DJ Clark Kent was also a well-known figure in sneaker culture and collaborated with brands like Nike on exclusive shoe releases.

Whispers he had died started prematurely on October 16. EPMD’s DJ Scratch quickly did a little damage control on Instagram, writing in all caps, “DJ CLARK KENT HAS NOT PASSED AWAY. STOP TRAUMATIZING HIS FAMILY POSTING THAT HE PASSED!!”

Radio host Angie Martinez echoed those sentiments, adding, “The article that The Source Mag & others have posted about the passing of Dj Clark Kent is false. Clark is home with his family. Please refrain from sharing any other false information. It is hurtful, deeply irresponsible and untrue.”

Sadly for DJ Clark Kent’s loved ones, it’s true this time. AllHipHop sends our condolences.

This is a developing story. 

Lil Durk’s Murder-For-Hire Arrest Forces Mayor Into Damage Control

By: Justin Ivey Updated Category: News
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Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson revoked Lil Durk’s key to the village after he was arrested for a murder-for-hire plot. The mayor announced the Chicago area village severed ties with the rapper’s Neighborhood Heroes Foundation on Friday (October 25).

“While the American system of justice grants everyone the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law, in the Village of Broadview, the court of public opinion of residents has even higher moral and ethical standards of behavior,” Thompson said. “And our public partners must also reflect the same uncompromising standards demanded by our residents.

“Given the news that ‘Durk Lil Durk’ Banks has been arrested in Florida and charged with murder for hire, the Village of Broadview is withdrawing our honorary ‘key to the village’ granted to Durk and is terminating our partnership agreement with his youth organization, Neighborhood Heroes Foundation. As mayor, protecting Broadview’s interests and upholding the values of residents is job number one.”

Broadview honored Lil Durk with a key to the village on October 18. A week later, he was taken into custody in Florida.

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Lil Durk, whose real name is Durk Banks, was accused of putting a bounty on Quando Rondo in retaliation for the 2020 shooting death of King Von. Lil Durk’s associates Kavon Grant, Deandre Wilson, Keith Jones, David Lindsey and Asa Houston were indicted for the 2022 murder of Quando Rondo’s cousin Lul Pab on October 17.

Lul Pab was killed when shooters opened fire at Quando Rondo’s vehicle at a gas station in Los Angeles. The feds said Lil Durk tried to flee the country after his co-conspirators were indicted.

“Evidence shows that Banks ordered [Quando Rondo’s] murder and that the hitmen used Banks and OTF-related finances to carry out the murder,” Lil Durk’s criminal complaint read. “For example, bank and flight records show that an OTF member and close associate of Banks (Co-Conspirator 3) coordinated and paid for Jones, Lindsey, Wilson, Houston and another OTF member (Co-Conspirator 2) to travel from Chicago to California on the day before the murder (August 18, 2022).

“Co-Conspirator 3 paid for the flights using a credit card linked to Banks and OTF. Around the time that Co-Conspirator 3 purchased the co-conspirators’ flights to California, iCloud records show that a phone number associated with Banks texted Co-Conspirator 3: ‘Don’t book no flights under no names involved wit [sic] me.’”

Lil Durk remains in custody. He will be arraigned at a later date.