Tennis players at the U.S. Open are complaining about the smell of weed on one of the courts, likening it to hanging out at cannabis connoisseur Snoop Dogg’s home.
Court 17 has become somewhat notorious for its unmistakable odor over the years. Last year, Nick Kyrgios protested about the smell of weed, insisting he was struggling to breathe while playing on the court.
After winning his opening match Tuesday (August 29), Alexander Zverev, the tournament’s 12th-seeded man, addressed the aroma. “Court 17 definitely smells like Snoop Dogg’s living room,” he said. “Oh my God, it’s everywhere. The whole court smells like weed.”
On Monday (August 28), world No. 8 Maria Sakkari complained about the smell of weed on Court 17 during her first-round loss to Rebeka Masarova.
“The smell, oh my gosh. I think it’s from the park,” she said, advising the umpire about the scent of weed.
Despite the complaint, she did not blame her straight-set loss on the weed smell lingering over the U.S. Open.
“We were practicing here yesterday, and it was the same,” she said in her post-match news conference. “It wasn’t the smell that affected the scoring. It was just a comment because it was smelling quite a lot, but it has nothing to do with the match.”
She continued, “Sometimes you smell food, sometimes you smell cigarettes, sometimes you smell weed. I mean, it´s something we cannot control, because we’re in an open space. There’s a park behind. People can do whatever they want.”
United States Tennis Association officials reviewed video of the match and found “no evidence” of anybody smoking weed on Court 17. Like Sakkari, officials speculated the smell may have wafted over from Corona Park, which lies just outside the gates of Court 17.
Tory Lanez’s lawyers have filed a motion to get him out of jail on bail while he appeals his 10-year sentence for shooting Megan Thee Stallion.
The latest filing was reported by legal affairs journalist Meghann Cuniff, who has followed the case from the outset. According to Cuniff, the motion will be heard by Judge David Herriford at a hearing on Tuesday, September 5.
Ask and ye shall receive: Tory Lanez's lawyers appear to have filed a motion to bail him out of jail as he appeals his judgment and sentence for shooting Megan Thee Stallion. I don't have a copy yet, but there's a docket entry yesterday in the case file. Hearing is Sept. 5. pic.twitter.com/dPUaDgep5n
The reporter also referenced her post last week. In it, she noted more than two weeks had passed since Lanez’s lawyer indicated a motion for bail was forthcoming.
“No motion has been filed,” she wrote last Friday (August 25). “I’m not sure how much of a priority it is for Baez: He’s posting Instagram stories from Italy.”
2+ weeks since Tory Lanez's lawyer Jose Baez said he'd file a motion to bail Lanez out of jail as he appeals his convictions and 10-year prison sentence. No motion has been filed, and I'm not sure how much of a priority it is for Baez: He's posting Instagram stories from Italy. pic.twitter.com/U8jFVUoDB1
However, Baez issued an update the following day, claiming he was “way ahead of schedule” in the appeals process. He also said that the delay in filing the motion was due to unfinished transcripts and clarified his Italian trip.
“It has been brought to my attention that a blogger has claimed that Tory Lanez is not a priority because I’m allegedly in Italy,” Baez wrote on his Instagram Stories. “For the record I travel to Italy 2 to 4 times a year. I have both business interests as well as clients who have business in Italy. It is a beautiful country and a privilege to visit.”
He also addressed Meghann Cuniff, branding her a biased “blogger” who lacks knowledge of legal affairs.
“This blogger has had a clear bias against Tory and has attacked everyone associated with him as well as made numerous inaccurate assumptions,” he added. “In fairness to her, she has no legal training and has never worked in the court system, so her opinions have little to no merit whatsoever.”
Tory Lanez was found guilty of assault with an automatic firearm, carrying an unregistered loaded firearm in a vehicle, and discharge of a firearm with gross negligence. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison on August 8. He’ll likely only have to serve 85 percent of his sentence under California law.
Yung Miami may be a famous rapper, but that isn’t stopping her from upping her business acumen.
Any City Girl worth her salt knows that getting to the bag is key, and Yung Miami is no exception. However, while many believe your average City Girl hunts down wealthy men to splash the cash on them, Caresha is turning the tables and heading back to school to learn business and finance.
On Tuesday (August 29) Saucy Santana praised his friend for embarking on a new journey to boost her business savvy.
“I’m so proud of Caresha!” Santana shared on X (formerly Twitter). “She studying finance & things involving her business.”
However, while he is full of praise and encouragement, the “Material Girl,” hitmaker said she needs to find a new study partner.
“She keep asking me about a cost of goods! Gross & net profit,” Santana said before declaring, “Baby, I sell cat!!! Idk! Get somebody else to do it.”
Nonetheless, Young Miami remained grateful for the help. “Thanks for helping me study trick,” she replied.
Meanwhile, earlier this week, Yung Miami told fans to back off her dad after she shared a clip of him dancing. The video led to inquiries about her father’s relationship status, which Caresha quickly shut down.
“Y’all still inquiring about my dad because then I’m finna have to be cussing y’all hoes out, and doing all that,” she said in a video. “I don’t have to be doing all that with you, hoes. So just leave my daddy alone. Y’all don’t like older men anyway, ain’t it?”
Paris Jackson has shed light on why she did not post her father Michael Jackson on social media on what would have been his 65th birthday.
In the years since her father’s death, the 25-year-old has received backlash for not paying tribute to her famous father on social media for his birthday. She addressed the criticism in an Instagram video on Tuesday (August 30th).
“Social media is apparently how you express your love and affection these days,” Paris Jackson declared. She revealed that if she doesn’t acknowledge Michael Jackson on his birthday, “People lose their f###### minds and tell me to kill myself.”
She added, “They’re basically measuring my love for my own father based on what I post on Instagram.”
Paris Jackson explained that The King of Pop “used to hate” celebrating his birthday and wouldn’t even tell his kids when it was to avoid them throwing him parties.
However, the American Horror Story actor encouraged fans wanting to “pay homage” to donate to a cause in Michael Jackson’s honor.
“If you wanna do something that he would have loved,” she said. “My suggestion would be raising awareness for climate change. Doing stuff for the environment, animal rights activism. These were things that he loved and was very interested in.”
Jackson also shared a video from her performance earlier in the day, where she paid tribute to her father.
“It’s also my dad’s birthday, and he would have been 65 years old today,” she said onstage. “And he put 50 years of blood, sweat, tears, love and passion into doing what he did so that I could stand on stage in front of you to scream into a microphone. So I owe everything to him.”
Bigi Jackson (formerly known as Blanket), and Prince Jackson also celebrated their father’s special day. The brothers made a rare public appearance in Las Vegas for Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson ONE show, per People.
In 2023, Lil Yachty has had a highly productive year. In January, he ventured beyond the boundaries of Hip-Hop with his fifth studio album, “Let’s Start Here.” This 14-track project featured collaborations with notable artists such as Diana Gordon, Teezo Touchdown, Justine Skye, Fousheé, Ant Clemons, Daniel Caesar, and more. Since then, the talented artist from Atlanta has maintained his creative momentum, dropping tracks like “Strike (Holster),” “Satellite,” “SOLO STEPPIN CRETE BOY,” and “SLIDE.”
Lil Boat made a triumphant return with a fresh single titled “TESLA.” Following in the vein of his recent work, the song, produced by MitchGoneMad and WessGoneMad, is brimming with carefree, but confident verses about life, luxurious living, and other randomness.
Accompanying the release of “TESLA” is the music video directed by Cole Bennett of Lyrical Lemonade fame. The visual showcases Lil Yachty sporting stylish ensembles against a backdrop of vividly colored settings.
In September, he will start the “The Field Trip Tour,” which spans North America initially and then overseas in November.
Chrisean Rock revealed she’s having a baby boy. The reality TV star unveiled the gender of her unborn child in a pregnancy photoshoot on Tuesday (August 29).
“The last pregnancy dump befor[e] my Baby Boy comes,” she wrote on Instagram.
Chrisean Rock’s gender reveal hit social media after the premiere of a new episode of her Zeus show Crazy in Love. The episode showed the moment when her ex-boyfriend Blueface saw DNA results, which confirmed he’s the father of her child.
Earlier this month, Chrisean Rock said she would not allow Blueface to attend the birth of their baby boy. She was fine with him being involved in the child’s life after she gave birth.
“I’m setting boundaries,” she declared on Instagram Live. “No, no, you cannot be there when I’m pushing the baby out. Sorry. That s### is intentional. That s### is intense. I need love, real love. I don’t need a n#### ready to whip his camera out because his career is dying.”
Blueface is currently recovering from an injury he suffered during an altercation at a boxing gym. Last week, a man confronted the rapper at the gym and stabbed him in the leg.
Police arrested a 36-year-old suspect named Brandon Henry Snell for the stabbing. He was charged with felony assault.
Vivek Ramaswamy agreed to stop using Eminem’s music on the campaign trail after receiving a cease and desist letter. The Republican presidential candidate was disappointed with his rap idol, explaining how he thought Slim Shady changed in an interview with MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell.
“I’ll respect his wishes,” Ramaswamy told MSNBC. “But I would just say, ‘Will the real Slim Shady please stand up? Eminem in his rise used to be a guy who actually stood up to the establishment and said the things that the establishment didn’t want him to say. I think that the fact that my political viewpoints may differ from his, I think that people change over the course of their lives. But I have hope for him that he will one day rediscover the renegade that made him great. And I’m rooting for that success in his life.”
Eminem contacted the music rights organization BMI to object to Ramaswamy’s use of the hit single “Lose Yourself.” A lawyer for BMI informed the Ramaswamy campaign that Slim Shady’s music was officially off-limits in a letter sent on August 23.
“BMI will consider any performance of the Eminem Works by the Vivek 2024 campaign from this date forward to be a material breach of the agreement,” BMI’s lawyer wrote.
Earlier this month, Ramaswamy rapped Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” at the Iowa State Fair. The presidential candidate’s past interviews revealed he was a longtime fan of Slim Shady.
If you’re JAY-Z, a Beyoncé feature is most likely on the table at any moment. But the truth is, there’s only one Jigga, hence why it’s incredibly hard to get a verse from Queen Bey.
Travis Scott is one of those super rare exceptions where it makes sense for Beyoncé to hop on the record considering the amount of hype it received. It makes total sense she did what she did on “DELRESTO (ECHOES)” and then BOOM, Trav scores the first Hip-Hop album to spend four consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
But again, not everyone is Travis Scott and has a chart-topping album. So what do the artists looking for a Beyoncé feature do to fulfill their creative desires without any access to the Grammy Award-winning vocalist? The answer, my friends, is to “DWDFWD”—aka “Do What Dillion Francis Would Do.”
Apparently, the electronic music producer was having difficulties contacting Beyoncé via Instagram DM in order to set up a collab. So he took it upon himself to pull up to the RENAISSANCE Tour to record field vocals for the record in question. Will he get the record cleared? Your guess is as good as mine. But you gotta respect the ingenuity. To be honest, Dillion might be able to cook under the fair use parameters apart of the Digital Media Copyright Act.
I mean, copping a ticket to the RENAISSANCE Tour is 100 percent cheaper than paying full-price for a Beyoncé feature. The lawyer fees might crack you over the head, though!
Doja Cat taunted fans who were disturbed by her upcoming single “Demons.” The brazen artist defended the horror style of her song’s cover art and teaser on Tuesday (August 29).
“Y’all so bitchmade you probably couldn’t make it through an episode of Goosebumps,” she wrote on Instagram Stories. “F##### p######.”
Doja Cat responded to the backlash over “Demons” after Top Dawg Entertainment’s Terrence “Punch” Henderson recently complained about “demonic influence” becoming more prevalent in the music industry. Punch said his comments weren’t meant to call out Doja Cat.
“Nah not singling out her or anyone but just in general,” he wrote.
Doja Cat often embraces controversy, trolling fans and critics on social media. A few weeks ago, she expressed gratitude after losing thousands of followers on Instagram.
“Seeing all these people unfollow makes me feel like I’ve defeated a large beast that’s been holding me down for so long and it feels like I can reconnect with the people who really matter and love me for who I am and not for who I was,” she wrote. “I feel free.”
Doja Cat is preparing to release a new album titled Scarlet. She is also scheduled to headline the Victoria’s Secret World Tour, which premieres on September 26.
Kanye West’s former publicist Trevian Kutti pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from her alleged role in Donald Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. Kutti waived her right to an arraignment and entered her plea on Tuesday (August 29).
Trump’s former lawyer Sidney Powell also waived her arraignment and pleaded not guilty on Tuesday. Trump, Kutti, Powell and 16 other defendants were indicted on RICO charges, among others, in the election interference case.
Kutti was charged with violating Georgia’s RICO Act, conspiracy to commit solicitation of false statements and writings and influencing witnesses. She surrendered to custody at the Fulton County Jail on August 25. She was granted a $75,000 bond.
Fulton County prosecutors accuse Kutti of harassing an election worker named Ruby Freeman. Kutti and others tried to convince Freeman to confess to voter fraud.
Trump falsely accused Freeman of committing election fraud, calling her “a professional vote scammer.” He claimed Freeman and her daughter wrongfully awarded thousands of votes to Joe Biden while they worked at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta on Election Day 2020.
The Georgia election case is one of four criminal cases against Trump. The former president faces 91 charges in total.
Young Scooterhas cemented himself as a force to be reckoned with in the rap game, someone who overcame the reality of his environment and turned his obstacles into triumphs. Currently signed to Freebandz, real name Kenneth Bailey is best known for his close friendship with Future, whom they grew up together as kids.
Exploding onto the scene during the mixtape days back in 2012, Young Scooter made his mark with the release of Street Lottery, which even achieved Gold status on DatPiff. To date, Young Scooter has worked with all the elites, including Gucci Mane, Future, Waka Flocka Flame, Young Thug, Chief Keef, and many more.
When asked to describe himself, Young Scooter states, “I’m a street artist. I’ve got my own lane of music. It’s hustler music, jugg music. Money-making music.”
Fast forward to today, Young Scooter returns with a string of new releases, including “Trap It Out” and “Hard To Handle” featuring Future. Both hold fans over until the release of his highly-anticipated project titled Streets Krazy, slated to be released in September. The project also serves as his first release since 2020, reeling in all-star features from Future, NoCap, Money Man, Young Nudy, EST Gee, and more.
Read below as we discuss Young Scooter’s relationship with Future, new music, his new project, convos with Young Thug, his love for Kobe Bryant, and more!
AllHipHop: Hip Hop celebrates 50 years this year, what does Hip Hop mean to you?
Young Scooter: Hip Hop means a lot, it’s timeless music. I like Hip Hop. Music is everything. People use music to get through the day.
AllHipHop: Do you remember the moment you fell in love with Hip Hop?
Young Scooter: I’m not even gon’ say I’m in love with it. I’m not really in love with it,I do five or six other things besides music. Music is just one of them for me.
AllHipHop: What are the five or six other things?
Young Scooter: [laughs] One of them is helping get kids to the next level, like sports. I do motivation and sponsor young athletes.
AllHipHop: You’re not in love with music?!
Young Scooter: I mean I love it, but I’m not in love with it. At the end of the day, you gotta think: it’s all entertainment.
AllHipHop: Do you look at it as a hustle?
Young Scooter: Yeah exactly.
AllHipHop: What was the Young Scooter like growing up in Atlanta?
Young Scooter: There’s a lot of ups and downs. It’s a big city, especially to get your music poppin’. If you get your music poppin’ in Atlanta, you can make it anywhere. Because it’s hard to get somebody to like your music.
AllHipHop: What gave you the confidence to rap?
Young Scooter: Just how close me and Future is, being right there gave me confidence to make the music. Seeing his success and how that went, we’re from the same neighborhood.
AllHipHop: What was it like seeing his career take off?
Young Scooter: I love it. Because that’s the person I grew up with and I seen it all from day one. Day zero.
AllHipHop: How’d you get your name?
Young Scooter: I don’t really know. [laughs] I know it came from my mama or somebody, but I don’t really know. My name always been Scooter, so I just chose to use it for rap.
AllHipHop: You just dropped “Trap It Out,” what inspired this record?
Young Scooter: The streets really inspired it. The life I had to live inspired it. Shot the video in the hood. Get money and save it.
AllHipHop: Your new single is “Hard to Handle“ featuring Future, talk about the making of that.
It was mainly Future’s idea, and I just went off of him. We were in the studio in Atlanta. You know, we don’t write the music, so everything really be quick. If you’re not a quick punch in artist or not writing your music, you don’t need to work with Future because that’s how it is. We punching in.
AllHipHop: Are you always with Future when he records?
Young Scooter: Yeah fasho. I’m with him when he records all the time.
AllHipHop: I know he has a crazy recording process, is that inspiring at all?
Young Scooter: Oh yeah fasho. To be real, that’s how I started punching him. Watching him punch in, I’m like damn. I really took notes off that, then punching in.
AllHipHop: What can we expect from “Hard To Handle”?
Young Scooter: Just a lot of energy. A lot of people wanting to make some money. We’re dropping the video too, more some hood vibes. I like it, especially where you come from.
AllHipHop: Talk about linking with EST Gee on “Come Eat With Us.”
Young Scooter: I felt that was a song I really wanted for my own, for my tape. I wanted that to be one of the first songs I wanted to drop, so that’s why I dropped it first. We just linked up, because his music’s moving good in the streets right now too.
AllHipHop: What can we expect from Streets Krazy?
Young Scooter: I feel like it’s going to be one of my classics. It’s a lot of good songs on Streets Krazy. The features, I gotMoney Man on there. Future, Peewee Longway, EST Gee, Young Nudy, and NoCap.
AllHipHop: NoCap is one of my favorite artists, how’d y’all link?
Young Scooter: I’ve been knowing Cap forever. Cap cool, I like his music too.
AllHipHop: How easy is it for you to hit up your homies and get these features?
Young Scooter: It’s easy for me. I don’t really have no problems with nobody in the hood. You gotta have a good name out here man.
AllHipHop: 3 things you need in the studio at all times?
Young Scooter: Weed, girls, and money. You need money to get in the studio.
AllHipHop: Best encounter with a fan?
Young Scooter: This dude I met one time, before he’ did seven years, he told me listened to my Married To The Streets mixtape. He said “man, it got me through my whole time.” When he got out of jail, he had his people book a private [session]. I thought I had to do a show, but he really wanted to just talk to me. I didn’t even know. I thought I was doing a show, but he really wanted to talk to me with all his family there.
AllHipHop: Have you talked to Young Thug?
Young Scooter: Every day. He’s good, he’s just following the process. It’s just a process at that point.
AllHipHop: Your Instagram pic is Kobe Bryant and Gigi, what is Kobe’s influence on you?
Young Scooter: Man I love Kobe. I ain’t ever going to take it off my Instagram. I had Kobe and Gigi on my Instagram since the day he died, I ain’t ever take it off. Mamba mentality, he’s just one of the GOATS.He played hard, he got a lot of passion and love for the game.
AllHipHop: What’s your biggest passion, if it isn’t music?
Young Scooter: My kids. I got four.
AllHipHop: How’s fatherhood?
Young Scooter: Man, don’t you hear them in the background? They crazy as hell. [laughs] They going crazy in the car.
AllHipHop: Any goals for yourself?
Young Scooter: Yeah, be a billionaire. That’s my only goal.
AllHipHop: What’s it gonna take to get there?
Young Scooter: I’ma figure it out. [laughs]
AllHipHop: Anything else you want to let the people know?
Young Scooter: Streets Krazy on the way man. It’s finna be a classic so pay attention and tune in.
Meek Mill‘s heart was presumably in the right place, but perhaps he didn’t think this one through. On Tuesday (August 29), the Dream Chasers Records rapper fired off a desperate plea for his sick aunt on the Instagram platform Threads. He wrote, “My aunt just called my crying saying she can’t breathe from complications and she not even that old… she need treatment in university of penn her name Tanika Nicholas help her please if you can!!! Til we get her help.”
Within minutes, Meek Mill was back to posting about rap with no mention of what is happening with his aunt. Only one person seemed to find the post bizarre, writing, “If she can’t breath, how did she talk to you, do you have any first aid training?” Meek has yet to reply.
Of course, Meek Mill has been the butt of internet jokes numerous times. In July, Meek went viral after sharing a photo from his Reform Alliance partner Micheal Rubin’s annual Fourth of July white party. After what was apparently a heavy night partying with his friends, Meek posted a photo of himself bent over the toilet bowl with the caption, “Too much liquor smh.” Screenshots of the image were widely shared on social media.
Meek attracted more heat when he randomly shouted out “free Tory Lanez” during his performance at Rolling Loud Portugal earlier this summer. Critics accused Meek of supporting violence against women. But, he quickly defended himself online, writing, “I say free Young Thug… free [YFN Lucci]… free [YNW Melly]. I don’t even know why y’all start dealing with us if yall gone try to smear us… That’s why I stick to the trenches.
“Narrative control starts every Monday lol. Nobody gives a f### what these people talking, [we’re] making real-life change out here every day! If I said free [Mumia Abu-Jamal] a. [I’m] gonna be shamed! He’s allegedly guilty for killing a few male [cops]! I grew up to the Black nation screaming that! Why do y’all think y’all can control us? We got millions and real man influence, not internet tricks!”
Yes, a Sauce Walka album helmed by Daringer of Griselda Records exists and yes, The Alchemist has something to do with it, as does Earl Sweatshirt.
Long story short, Earl is a huge fan of TSF Bidnezz label—more specifically, Sauce Walka is allegedly his favorite rapper. Well, that’s based on what Sauce Walka said in a recent interview about what The Alchemist told him when they linked up earlier this year.
“The Alchemist walked up to me and the first thing I’m asking him, ‘Bruh when we going to get some work in, I do a album with you’,” Sauce Walka said in part.
Apparently, The Alchemist went on to tell Sauce Walka that not only was he a fan of his music, but so were his close collaborators, Earl Sweatshirt and Action Bronson.
“He was like, ‘Man we gone do an album, trust me,’” Sauce Walka said as he recanted The Alchemist’s reply before adding, “Me, Action Bronson, Earl Sweatshirt—you Earl Sweatshirt’s favorite rapper,’ this what The Alchemist telling me and I ended up meeting Earl Sweatshirt later.”
Sauce Walka continued, remarking on how The Alchemist obliged his collab request—but on one condition only.
“‘We listen to you everyday at the studio or whatever whoop-whoop-whoop, but the way you and Darringer sound together we are just stuck on that—so please give me an album of that and then after you give me a whole album of this, then me and you can do an album,’” Sauce Walka said of his conversation with The Alchemist.
For frame of reference, Sauce Walka’s “Without” collaboration with Darringer was apparently the source on inspiration for The Alchemist’s upcoming collaboration with the TSF general and Earl.
While there’s no telling when the recording process will begin for The Alchemist and Sauce Walka’s collab album, his new album, Dat Boy Den, dropped on August 25 and includes features from Peezy, BIG30, Peso Peso and more. Sauce Walka also alluded to an upcoming collaboration with Swizz Beatz during the interview as well.
Check out the full clip below.
Sauce Walka tells BDot and Elliott Wilson how he has solo album called Dat Boy Den dropping this week and collab albums with Daringer, Alchemist and Swizz Beatz on the way
Run-DMC legend Darryl “DMC” McDaniels watched Lionel Messi make his Major League Soccer debut against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday (August 26). At some point during the game, DMC spoke to reporters about Messi’s ability to unify all walks of life through sports. In an effort to make a point, he said he was “running for president starting today,” but he now believes his words were taken out of context. OutKick, described as an “American right-wing and conservative sports news website,” ran wild with the quote and took it as fact.
Speaking to AllHipHop, DMC laughed at the thought and emphatically denied he was doing anything of the sort. As he explained, “That’s so funny [laughs]! That’s why media today is a joke. They just run with anything before even confirming it. I would never run for president. I get more done as a representative of all people. The point I was trying to make is the arts succeed where politics and religion fails.
“The real world is when people who are from different races and cultures can come together at concerts, museums, plays, sporting events, restaurants and comic cons. This shows the unique diverse but universally connected world we live in. Politics and religion are used divisively, but events with art and performance bring us together.”
DMC has already had a busy month. After Run-DMC performed at LL COOL J’s Rock The Bells Festival on August, they reunited again for the “Hip-Hop 50 Live” concert at Yankee Stadium the following week to celebrate Hip-Hop’s 50th birthday. Billed as “The Ninth Inning…The Walk Off,” the performance served as Run-DMC’s last. DMC is now focused on his upcoming solo album, America, which will feature some of the biggest names in Hip-Hop and rock.
“So far, I got Joan Jett, Sammy Hagar [Van Halen], Blacktop Mojo, Mick Mars from Mötley Crew, Duff McKagan from Guns N’ Roses, Travis Barker [blink-182] on drums, Sebastian Bach from Skid Row, my own band DMC & The Hell Raisers, Chuck D and Ice-T,” DMC told Rock The Bells in May. “It’s gonna be sick.”
As Republicans continued to mock millennial presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy for being young and inexperienced, he kept finding new ways to show that experience isn’t as important as people think.
On August 28, Ramaswamy took to Twitter (X) and posted an old clip of himself talking to Rev. Al Sharpton when he ran for president in 2004.
“I’ll give the 18-year-old version of myself a pat-on-the-back for eliciting the most sensible words ever to come from that man’s mouth,” he posted. “20 years later, it’s funny how the tables have turned.”
I’ll give the 18-year-old version of myself a pat-on-the-back for eliciting the most sensible words ever to come from that man’s mouth. 20 years later, it’s funny how the tables have turned. 😄 pic.twitter.com/PfehQRXSvz
Ramaswamy asked the civil rights leader why he should vote for the Democratic candidate who had “the least experience.” Sharpton responded that he indeed had the “most experience.”
Ramaswamy is the youngest candidate running in the 2024 presidential election.
As previously reported, the candidate has been using Eminem’s song, “Lose Yourself” while he’s on the campaign trail. Consequently, Eminem’s legal team fired off a cease and desist to prevent Ramaswamy from using it again.
50 Cent has been forced to postpone his Phoenix show due to extreme heat.
The 48-year-old rapper took to Twitter, also known as X, on Monday night to announce that he has postponed tonight’s concert in Phoenix, Arizona, due to an excessive heat warning.
“Due to extreme heat, the show tomorrow in Phoenix, AZ is being postponed,” 50, real name Curtis Jackson III, wrote.
The “In Da Club” rapper added, “For anyone who would like a refund, please go to point of purchase for instructions. I’ll be back in Arizona soon! 116 degrees is dangerous for everyone.”
A number of Twitter/X users took to the comments section to praise the performer for considering the health of his fans.
Due to extreme heat, the show tomorrow in Phoenix, AZ is being postponed. For anyone who would like a refund, please go to point of purchase for instructions. I’ll be back in Arizona soon! 116 degrees is dangerous for everyone 🤷🏽♂️ #bransoncognac#lecheminduroipic.twitter.com/c9qcjmOJvI
One fan wrote, “This man cares about his fans,” while another wrote, “Smart move. The risk is way too high.”
Last week, 16 people were hospitalized for heat-related illnesses during a Snoop Dogg concert in Houston, Arizona, where temperatures reached 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Hip-Hop 50 celebrations are still in full swing. New York City, in particular, erupted with events aimed at celebrating the culture the weekend of August 11, the same day in 1973 when DJ Kool Herc and Cindy Campbell threw their iconic “Back To School” jam at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx.
Hip-Hop’s designated birthplace also hosted Live Nation x Mass Appeal’s ambitious Hip Hop 50 Live concert at Yankee Stadium. Meanwhile, the site of the Universal Hip-Hop Museum (UHHM) was flooded with legendary rap figures, including Public Enemy’s Chuck D and Flavor Flav, Melle Mel and Scorpio of the Furious Five, Def Jam Recordings’ first president Bill Stephney, MC Shan, famed fashion designer April Walker and iconic photographers Martha Cooper, Glen E. Friedman, Vikki Tobak and Ernie Paniccioli.
On deck for the UHHM celebration was MC Sha-Rock, the first female MC and member of the Funky 4+1. As someone who helped shape the culture, MC Sha-Rock has witnessed Hip-Hop’s evolution from what many suspected would be “just a fad” to the billion dollar business it is today. But, like many of her peers and predecessors, she sees something fundamentally wrong with how the architects are being treated.
“I would like for all corporations around the world who have benefited monetarily from the the foundational elements of Hip-Hop culture to give back to its founding members as well as provide safe places and programs that will uplift the youths in underprivileged communities,” she tells AllHipHop.com. “The culture of Hip-Hop and its core elements has saved me and others from going down the wrong path.
“It was and still remains as an outlet for many of us in cities, states and countries. Hip-Hop culture has brought us together globally, unlike any genre of music and culture. Peace, unity and fun is what it was built on. Respect to all.”
MC Sha-Rock expounded on her thoughts in an Instagram post uploaded on Monday (August 27). She not only called for a sit-down with the politicians who’ve used Hip-Hop culture as a “footnote,” she also emphasized how important it is to give back to underprivileged communities.
“Since this is the #50thanniversaryofhiphopculture 1970 circa and a founding member of the mc/rap culture I @iammcsharock #thefirstfemalemcofhiphopstreetculture is going to #washingtondc The culture of Hip-Hop was built on peace unity and fun, which became a global phenomenon. I’m requesting to have a meeting with all of the senators, congressmen and all other representatives who uses #HipHopCulture as their footnote. And to all, who says that they respect the contributions of the founding members of this billion dollar business we call #HipHop.”
“Not only are my concerns for all who have contributed to the Culture of Hip Hop and it’s core elements, but to all of you whom have contributed throughout the years by way of your voices, that have echoed throughout the 50th years that were and are still rocking on the radio. Something has got to change. If I, we or all don’t stand for something, we’ll continue to fall for anything. The culture of Hip-Hop is not for sale, it was always inclusive.”
MC Sha-Rock ended her caption with a call-to-action, asking Hip-Hop enthusiasts who are “down for the cause” to contact her. She says “everyone has always been invited to have a seat at the table. No one should be left behind. If money can trickle down to other facets of areas throughout the world, then we would like to see where it has trickle back into our communities. I’m sending my Global respects to all of you.”
She concluded, “Respect to all media outlets and magazines who have interviewed me or covered me throughout the years.”
Sean Anderson, professionally known as Big Sean, received his flowers from his hometown NBA squad.
The Detroit Pistons named Anderson as a central figure in the success of the franchise’s 2022-23 “Different by Design” campaign. He was recognized with an Emmy Award during his Detroit’s On Now (DON) Weekend.
Footage of the presentation by the Pistons made its way to the internet. Big Sean reposted the 21-second video to his own 13.8 million followers on the X social media platform.
.@BigSean can add Emmy Award Winner to his resume 🏆
Hall of Fame celebrated its 10-year anniversary on August 27. Big Sean’s label, Def Jam Recordings, commemorated the occasion by acknowledging the project’s accolades like earning Gold certification from the RIAA.
“Yes, what a time in my life! ‘Beware,’ ‘Guap,’ ‘Nothing Is Stopping You,’ etc. Thank you,” wrote Sean on his Instagram Story. The RIAA certified the “Beware” single featuring Lil Wayne and Jhené Aiko as 3x-Platinum.
Big Sean’s Hall of Fame peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. The 35-year-old entertainer made it to the top of the Billboard 200 with 2015’s Dark Sky Paradise, 2017’s I Decided, and 2020’s Detroit 2.
.@BigSean’s second studio album 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐞 dropped ten years ago today!
🏆 RIAA Certified Gold 🏆 Debuted #3 on Billboard 200 🏆 3x Platinum single “Beware”
Top Dawg Entertainment president Terrence “Punch” Henderson ignited a heated conversation online earlier this month. His comments about the music industry generated a lot of feedback and blowback.
“Where is the inspiration?” he began. “Where are the [artists]?? This thing is shifting. It’s a dark cloud looming over the business. Who is the last artist that really spoke to you??”
Ten days later, Punch returned to Twitter (X) to add, “The demonic influence is getting more and more blatant in this thing. The gradualism was numbing, now it’s just out loud.”
That August 27 post sparked responses from other social media users. One person suggested that many Hip-Hop songs glorify violence and addiction. Punch responded, “This whole system is wicked.”
Someone else argued that former TDE star Kendrick Lamar wearing a crown of thorns, à la Jesus Christ, was “demonic.” Punch replied, “I’m not here to speak on what anyone should or shouldn’t be doing. Everyone [has] their personal beliefs and so do I.”
Other users expressed Punch’s attention should be less on demons or spirits and more on capitalism or anti-Blackness. He offered, “You think any of those things you mentioned aren’t of demonic influence??????? The way I see it, capitalism is a result of human imperfection. And that doesn’t get better. Sheesh I sound morbid.”
Punch Directly Responds To Posts About Doja Cat & DMX
Certain imagery presented by recording artists like Doja Cat and the late DMX came up as well.
“[People] are upset with Doja? And nah, I personally wasn’t into what X was doing with that,” Punch admitted in response to a tweet about DMX’s classic 1998 album, It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot.
“Nah, not singling out her or anyone but just in general. And also I’ve read her next joint is called ‘Demon,’ right?” he said about Doja Cat’s upcoming single.
In addition, a Twitter user named Nate Miller posted, “Looking forward to the day that Christianity doesn’t have this grip on the Black community.” Punch then asked, “Well, what is it that [has] a grip on you, my brother Nate?”
After several back-and-forth exchanges with other people on the app, Punch conceded that artists likely engage in “demonic” imagery as a way to trigger people like himself. That outrage can possibly lead to social media engagement and mainstream attention.
Furthermore, Punch addressed the topic by posting, “Wait… is demonic like one of them words you can’t say? I didn’t know that was off the table for discussion. My fault.” He also expressed, “It’s more than the music business. It’s everywhere.”
As president of Top Dawg Entertainment, Terrence “Punch” Henderson played a role in the careers of Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Jay Rock, Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, Isaiah Rashad, Doechii, Reason and others. Henderson is also a member of the aroomfullofmirrors collective.
Where is the inspiration? Where are the artist?? This thing is shifting. It’s a dark cloud looming over the business. Who is the last artist that really spoke to you??
After joining forces with Ice Spice on a couple of Top 10 hits, Nicki Minaj is ready to release her next effort. Her followers will not have to wait long to hear what the New Yorker created.
“Last Time I Saw You” will arrive on DSPs this Friday (September 1). Last night, Nicki Minaj excited her über-loyal Barbz fanbase by simply tweeting, “9/1/23.”
“Last Time I Saw You” will be Nicki Minaj’s first official solo single since “Red Ruby da Sleeze” came out in March. That track peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Minaj then broke into the Hot 100’s Top 10 with “Princess Diana” (No. 4) and “Barbie World” (No. 7). Fellow New York City-bred female rapper Ice Spice appears on both of those collaborations.
“Last Time I Saw You” could likely live on the forthcoming Pink Friday 2 album. The fifth studio LP by Nicki Minaj currently has a release date of November 17, 2023.
Pink Friday 2 serves as the sequel to Minaj’s debut album, 2010’s Pink Friday. She also released Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded in 2012. Pink Friday and Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded peaked at No. 1.
Nick Minaj also scored two No. 2 projects with The Pinkprint in 2014 and Queen in 2018. In addition, the Lil Wayne protégé presented the greatest hits compilation Queen Radio: Volume 1 in 2022.
