It’s incredible to see iconic collaborators like Nas and DJ Premier come together again after so many years. Their work on Illmatic is legendary in the Hip-Hop community, and a reunion track instantly generates a lot of excitement among fans.
“Define My Name” is another classic with Nas’s lyrical prowess and DJ Premier’s timeless production skills. The anticipation is high and the wave is growing every second. It’s always exciting to see artists of this caliber continuing to push boundaries and create music that resonates with audiences.
With their track record of creating magic together, there’s no doubt that “Define My Name” will be well-received by fans of both Nas and DJ Premier. It’s a testament to the enduring influence and relevance of their creative partnership. And all of this happens on the 30th anniversary of Nas’s seminal classic, Illmatic.
Nas and DJ Premier produced magic together on the 1994 Hip-Hop classic Illmatic, including the singles “N.Y. State of Mind” and “Represent.”
Thirty years later, the dynamic duo has reunited for another track called “Define My Name.” Preemo announced the news in an Instagram post on Thursday (April 18), writing simply, “New joint at midnight.” He included the single art, a fish-eyed lens photo of the two standing outside somewhere in New York City.
Earlier this week, Nas reflected on the making of Illmatic, which included contributions from several Hip-Hop legends. Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, L.E.S. and, of course, DJ Premier contributed the beats, while AZ was the sole guest feature.
“Grainy pictures for grainy times,” he wrote in an Instagram post. “I had a dream I could get my favorite producers to produce on my debut album. I knew exactly what I wanted and how it should be. But I didn’t know anyone except for Paul, so I asked him would he connect me to them all. The cool soul brother that he is helped me line it up. On April 19th we smashed s###.
“Even tho the album leaked months before the release date we still are apart of music history. Thank you Large Professor (Paul) and Dj Premier who drove into the projects to pick me up a time or two. Qtip , Pete Rock , and my man from The Bridge DJ LES, and my guy AZ who was just coming up himself. And thank you to everyone involved. Friday is the albums 30th. 2 The Listeners- ONE LOVE.”
Both Nas and DJ Premier have continued pumping out incredible bodies of work over the past few decades. Nas, in particular, has had an impressive run with the King’s Disease projects alongside Hit-Boy. In 2021, Nas won his first-ever Grammy Award for the original King’s Disease (2020), a testament to his commitment to the craft. Since then, he’s released five more projects: King’s Disease II (2021), Magic (2021), King’s Disease III (2022), Magic 2 (2023) and Magic 3 (2023).
Body cam footage of GloRilla’s DUI arrest surfaced on Thursday (April 18). The video showed the 24-year-old rapper attempting to use her celebrity status to avoid legal trouble.
“Do you know who I am?” she asked an officer.
GloRilla’s attempt to play up her fame didn’t work. The officer had no clue who she was.
“Never heard of me though?” Glorilla said. “You don’t know who I am?”
The officer told GloRilla to “enlighten” her, but the Memphis-bred rapper decided to drop it.
“No, you still gon’ pick on me,” GloRilla said. “It don’t matter who I am.”
GloRilla, whose real name is Gloria Hallelujah Woods, was arrested in Georgia on Tuesday morning (April 16). Police stopped her vehicle after she tried to make a U-turn at a red light. One officer smelled alcohol on her breath and marijuana from inside the car.
“I asked Woods how much she had consumed and what beverages she had consumed,” the officer wrote in the police report. “However, Woods continued to relay that it does not matter and she was good to drive.”
GloRilla agreed to do field sobriety tests but rejected a breathalyzer test. Police said she spoke in “sentences that were not always making sense.” She asked the cops to let her urinate on the side of the road when she was placed under arrest. The request was denied.
The multi-platinum-selling artist was booked for driving under the influence, having an open container and failing to obey a traffic control device. She spent a few hours in the Gwinnett County Jail before getting released on a $1,956 bond.
Damian Lillard’s estranged wife trolled GloRilla over the arrest on Wednesday (April 17). GloRilla memorably expressed interest in dating Lillard after meeting him during the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend. Lillard filed for divorce in 2023.
“Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver” serves as the direct continuation to Zack Snyder’s two-part Sci-Fi saga distributed through Netflix. This film seamlessly picks up where the first left off, with our band of heroes returning to their village home on the planet of “Veldt,” now a refuge for those who suffered under the sinister reign of the Motherworld.
After the bold stand of “Kora” (Sophia Boutella) and her warriors in the finale of Part One, “Admiral Noble” returns with his Imperium Legion to crush this brave rebellion. To prepare for the imminent attack, “Kora” and her allies must unite, confront their pasts, and train the villagers of Veldt to defend their lives and the future of their planet.
I found “Rebel Moon: Part Two” highly entertaining, serving as a compelling follow-up to the first film. Snyder’s vision of both parts as a cohesive story, filmed concurrently, ensures seamless continuity. “Scargiver” proves to be the more exhilarating installment, offering satisfying payoffs to the groundwork laid in the previous film.
Addressing criticisms of Part One, “Scargiver” delves deeper into character exposition, forges stronger bonds, and delivers ample action in the finale. The performances of the returning cast are notably stronger, with standout portrayals by Sophia Boutella, Djimon Honsou, and Ed Skrein.
Visually, the VFX and production design are impressive given the constraints of Netflix’s budget. The editing, particularly in action scenes, is more efficient than in Part One, enhancing the viewing experience.
While “Scargiver” deviates from the traditional three-act structure, its two halves offer a balanced blend of exposition, character development, and explosive action. The finale showcases Snyder’s visual flair, with intense combat sequences flowing seamlessly from one to another.
Though the PG-13 rating may limit the depiction of violence, the Director’s Cut promises a more intense experience. Overall, “Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver” is a cohesive and action-packed film, with potential for further exploration should Netflix greenlight a third installment.
While Snyder’s films may not appeal to all tastes, fans of “Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire” are likely to find “The Scargiver” a worthy sequel. Enjoy streaming on Netflix tomorrow!
NBA YoungBoy’s latest arrest resulted in his return to federal custody on Thursday (April 18). According to court documents obtained by AllHipHop, Judge Shelly Dick granted a motion to detain him until a bond revocation hearing can be scheduled in his gun case.
The 24-year-old rapper, whose real name is Kentrell Gaulden, was arrested on drug and weapon charges in Utah on Tuesday (April 16). He was on house arrest in Utah while awaiting trial in Louisiana. Federal prosecutors asked Judge Dick to revoke his pretrial release following Tuesday’s arrest.
“Considering the United States’ Motion to Arrest the Defendant and Revoke Release, it is hereby ordered that a warrant will issue directing a federal law enforcement officer to arrest Kentrell D. Gaulden, the defendant,” the judge ruled. “It is further ordered that following his arrest, a hearing will be set at a date and time to be determined by the Court to determine whether the defendant’s pre-trial release order should be revoked, and the defendant should be detained pending trial.”
NBA YoungBoy’s Louisiana gun case stemmed from a 2020 arrest in his hometown of Baton Rouge. Months before his latest arrest, the Motown Records artist admitted he pictured himself going back to jail.
“I’m kind of set on going to jail right now, so I don’t really think about [the future] too much,” he told Bootleg Kev in January. “I guess that is my life. I don’t let it bother me or no s### like that. You make the bed you lay in.”
The Cache County Sheriff’s Office busted NBA YoungBoy for his involvement in prescription drug fraud on Tuesday. Authorities accused him and his associates of illegally obtaining promethazine with codeine from multiple pharmacies in Utah. The suspects allegedly impersonated physicians and created fake patients to get prescriptions.
Investigators said NBA YoungBoy posed as an elderly woman in the scheme. He was charged with identity fraud, forgery and attempting to procure prescription drugs.
Pam Grier decided to pick up a new skill for her proposed movie with Cardi B. The legendary actress said she’s learning how to pole dance for a role in the film on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.
“I’m doing presently my biopic as a series,” Grier said when asked about the Cardi B collaboration. “As soon as I finish that, I really wanted to work with her. And it could be in maybe two years at the theater ‘cause I’m now learning how to pole dance. And it’s taking a minute, but it’s a lot of fun. But it’s a wonderful story. I don’t want to give it away, but it’s perfect for her because she’s a great mom.”
Grier told Rolling Stone she was writing a script for herself and Cardi B in 2022. The Foxy Brown star refused to disclose any major details about the movie, but she teased her and Cardi B’s roles on Watch What Happens Live.
“I’m the pole dancer,” Grier said. “And she teaches me.”
Cardi B wasn’t the only rapper mentioned during Grier’s appearance on Watch What Happens Live. Grier also discussed Snoop Dogg passing out when he met her for the first time at an airport.
“He was turning pale and he got up and he wobbled to the men’s room.,” Grier recalled. “I said, ‘Is he OK?’ He went in and fell down on the pissy floor and fainted.”
She added, “I was so upset that they cleaned him up and brought him back out and we sat together. I didn’t know I had that effect on him. He’s such a lovely person, I just couldn’t imagine him lying in urine.”
Grier and Snoop Dogg worked together on the 2001 horror film Bones. Snoop Dogg recounted his fainting story in several interviews.
Deion Sanders has issued a special directive to his daughter Deiondra Sanders in hopes it will make her partner, Cash Money vocalist Jacquees, feel welcomed into the Sanders’ family tree.
On Wednesday (April 17), following Jacquees’ 30th birthday celebration, Coach Prime spoke with Deiondra, who was coincidentally celebrating her birthday as well, via FaceTime while she was shopping with the “Bed” singer and soon-to-be father of her child. During their brief chat, Deion appeared to chastise Deiondra for her wardrobe choice at Jacquees’ birthday event in Atlanta.
“You can’t take no picture when you have on heels, you can’t do that to him,” Deion told Deiondra in part. “Nah straight up, you can’t do the man like that’s my dog. If he in the family we gone take care of him.”
Jacquess promptly responded with a salacious remark in the comment section of the post that appeared to suggest he’s grown accustom to dating women taller than himself.
“YOU KNOW I Grew up climbing trees!!!!,” he wrote. “Love ya OG fasho thank you for creating my WOMAN.”
Last month, Deiondra and Jacquees announced she was pregnant by sharing an image of the sonogram of the developing fetus. Coach Prime confessed that while “not one thing” excites him about becoming a first-time grandfather, he’s still processing the news.
“I haven’t digested that whole thing yet,” Sanders said during an interview with PEOPLE published Wednesday (April 10). “I’m proud of my baby that she’s at least waited until her thirties to give me this gift of life.”
Although Dion said he’s happy Deiondra waited, his priority remains to ensure “she’s straight emotionally and psychologically as well.”
Check out the highlights of Jacquees’ birthday celebration in the post below.
NBA YoungBoy’s accent and pronunciation helped investigators bust him for prescription drug fraud. According to court documents obtained by AllHipHop, an investigator determined the 24-year-old rapper was posing as an elderly woman named “Gwendolyn Cox” to get prescription drugs.
The Cache County Sheriff’s Office accused NBA YoungBoy and his associates of scamming multiple pharmacies to obtain promethazine with codeine in Utah. He was arrested for identity fraud, forgery and attempting to procure prescription drugs on Tuesday (April 16). A Cache County investigator explained how phone calls led to NBA YoungBoy’s arrest.
“During the investigation, I was contacted by Dispatch and informed of a ‘Gwendolyn Cox’ needing to speak with me,” Tyson Hyrum Nielsen wrote in an affidavit. “I contacted Gwendolyn at the phone number that she provided Dispatch … During the conversation with ‘Gwendolyn’ it was very clear that a fake voice was being used. ‘Gwendolyn’ sounded as though she was a much younger male from the southern states.”
He continued, “Gwendolyn made a statement ‘Well I axed her to and she said that she’ll have you call me.’ This statement was a response to a request that was made to have ‘Gwendolyn’ contact Dispatch and have them transfer her call back through. According to your Affiant’s training and experience and having lived in the Southern United States, the terminology in replacing the work ‘ask’ with ‘axe’ or other variations, is consistent with a southern dialect in states such as Texas, Louisiana, Georgia and other southern states.”
Investigators learned the physicians who supposedly prescribed the drugs to “Gwendolyn Cox” had no records of her being a patient. Two associates of NBA YoungBoy, whose real name is Kentrell Gaulden, were arrested for a prescription fraud incident at a pharmacy in Smithfield, Utah. The suspects were traveling in a vehicle registered to NBA YoungBoy.
A person identified as his business manager tried to contact authorities to retrieve the vehicle from the impound. Nielsen requested to speak with NBA YoungBoy, leading to a conference call.
NBA YoungBoy claimed the women who got arrested were his family. He said they had permission to use his vehicle. The Baton Rouge native allegedly insisted on securing the prescription drugs despite the circumstances. The conference call proved costly as it helped Nielsen conclude “Gwendolyn Cox” was NBA YoungBoy.
“Kentrell Gaulden continued to attempt to further the prescription fraud by talking about the prescription and saying ‘she on the hospital bed,’ referring to the patient ‘Gwendolyn Cox’ from the previous day,” Nielsen wrote. “Also of value to note, Kentrell Gaulden used the word ‘Axe’ instead of ask, this is similar to my conversation with ‘Gwendolyn’ the night before when ‘Gwendolyn’ used the same word. Based on my training and experience and having lived in the Southern United States, using the term ‘Axe’ in place of ask is a common southern dialect. This is also consistent with Kentrell Gaulden being from Louisiana and having lived in Texas as well.”
The prescription fraud added to NBA YoungBoy’s legal troubles. He was already on house arrest awaiting trial in a gun case. A motion was filed to revoke his pre-trial release on Thursday (April 18).
Rick Ross denied a conspiracy theory claiming Drake owned a percentage of Rozay’s publishing on Thursday (April 18). Fans wildly suggested Ross, Kendrick Lamar and others dissed Drake partly due to the Canadian artist securing a portion of their publishing.
“BIG cap,” Ross wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). “Minion’s opinions.”
The conspiracy theory spiraled out of control from comments made by Joe Budden, who believed Drake co-owned former Apple Music executive Larry Jackson’s company Gamma. Ross and his Maybach Music Group partnered with Gamma in 2023.
Theory – Why Drake may own a % of Kendrick’s & other artist’s publishing: (THREAD)
Ross was one of several artists who started feuding with Drake over the past month. The rap war began when Future and Metro Boomin released their album We Don’t Trust You in March. Future took shots at Drake on the album, but Kendrick Lamar sent the most shockwaves when he dissed Drizzy on the song “Like That.”
Future and Metro continued to attack Drake with the follow-up album We Still Don’t Trust You. The project featured A$AP Rocky and The Weeknd joining the battle against Drake.
Ross sided with Future and Metro despite past collaborations with Drake. The decision resulted in Drake dissing Ross and others on the song “Push Ups (Drop & Give Me 50).” Ross responded with the diss track “Champagne Moments.”
“You ain’t never want to be a n#### anyway, n####,” Ross said in the outro. “That’s why you had an operation to make your nose smaller than your father nose, n####. I unfollowed you, n####, ’cause you sent the m############ cease-and-desist to French Montana, n####.You sent the police, n####, hatin’ on my dog project/That wasn’t the same white boy that I seen, n####, when we were makin’ them early records, n####.”
He added, “I know you got your Dockers on with no underwear, white boy. Yeah, you had that surgery, that six-pack gone. That’s why you wearing that funny s### at your show, you can’t hide it, n####.”
Back in 2008, Jeezy jumped headfirst into the rough political waters. The Georgia-raised Hip-Hop artist gave then-Senator Barack Obama a huge co-sign by releasing his “My President” single.
Jeezy narrated the upcoming Jesse Washington-directed Hip-Hop & The White Housedocumentary. MSNBC host Ari Melber spoke to the Recession album creator about covering politics and supporting Obama’s presidential run.
“I mean with Obama, it was timing, just like this documentary is timing. With Obama, it was culture, meaning this was something that we had never seen before,” Jeezy stated on The Beat. “It was an energy that none of us experienced. It was a movement.”
Jeezy’s “My President” featured New York City rap icon Nas. The collaboration became a Hip-Hop anthem during Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign for the White House. Obama defeated Arizona Senator John McCain to win the ’08 presidential race.
Jeezy Views Barack Obama As A Mentor
“I truly was a believer, I believed that he believed, and I wanted to support him any way I could and what we wanted was a leader that can bring everybody together,” Jeezy told Ari Melber about Barack Obama.
The trap music legend also added, “That’s why I chose to support what he was doing from a grassroots level. That’s why I chose to support him with my art because you’re right, it was a big risk. It’s a big risk. Nobody wanted to hear about politics.”
In addition, Jeezy spoke about how the 44th President of the United States impacted him. The former Boyz n da Hood member said, “On the low, Obama was a mentor of mine and didn’t even know it. He was helping me become a better individual.”
Andscape’s Hip-Hop & The White House debuts April 12 on Hulu. The documentary will focus on how Hip-Hop culture influenced presidential politics in the United States. Common, Bun B and other rap figures make appearances.
“I chose to support him with my art because you’re right, it was a big risk… Obama was a mentor of mine and didn't even know it. You know he was helping me become a better individual.”
Former rapper Jamal “Shyne” Barrow is co-signing new statements supporting his claim that he was the alleged scapegoat in the 1999 Club New York shooting involving Sean “Diddy” Combs and Jennifer Lopez.
“I’ve been saying this all along,” Shyne told Channel 5 Belize. “Everyone knew all along that I was the fall guy…I maintained my innocence all this time. I said I was defending myself. I didn’t get into who did what.”
Diddy, Lopez and their bodyguard, Anthony “Wolf” Jones, were with Shyne when an argument escalated, resulting in three people getting injured. One of the victims, Natania Reuben, was shot in the face.
While Diddy and Jones were acquitted, Shyne was convicted of assault and gun possession in 2001. He served almost nine years in prison and was released in October 2009.
Diddy was acquitted of all charges, but allegations surrounding bribes and witness tampering loomed over the mogul’s head during his trial.
More than two decades later, Shyne stated that he continues to deal with the repercussions of that night, notwithstanding his transition from music to politics as a current member of the Belize House of Representatives.
“I’ve done my best to put it behind me and to move forward, but it certainly reopens the wounds,” he said. “I maintain that I never [shot] nobody. There were other guns there. I always said that that has not changed.”
Shyne’s declaration comes on the heels of victim Natania Reid’s recent vow to hold Diddy accountable for the shooting. Reid, who sued Diddy and received a nearly $2 million settlement, claims Diddy has harassed her since the incident.
Reid came forward as multiple victims accused Diddy of rape, sexual assault and other heinous crimes shortly before the Bad Boy mogul’s Los Angeles, Miami and New York homes were raided by Homeland Security.
Reid recounted the incident, claiming, “I watched him [Diddy] fire the gun. I’ve said it all this time. Everybody knew he did it. Not only did he [shoot] me in the face, he also set off a course of harassment against me for the past 24 years.”
Shyne, who serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the Belize House of Representatives and the Leader of the Belize United Democratic Party, reflected on his past with disdain and mindfulness, striving to focus on his political career and contributions rather than dwell on past grievances.
“The victims are vindicating me,” Shyne said. “Witnesses are vindicating me. But I have moved on. I’m not trying to relive that.”
Ray J turned from a singer/actor to a reality television personality. His time on shows such as For the Love of Ray J, Love & Hip-Hop and College Hill: Celebrity Edition extended his entertainment career.
According to Ray J, the current music industry leans heavily on finding potential stars from unscripted television programming. The 43-year-old entrepreneur addressed the topic in a video posted to social media.
“I love shooting ratchet TV. This ratchet s###, they kept sleeping on us. They kept sleeping on this rachet s###,” Ray J stated. “And now what’s crazy is that you can’t even get a f###### record deal nowadays without being on a reality show. That’s how they’re picking and choosing.”
Ray J expressed interest in working with former Blue Girls Club cast member Chrisean Rock. In addition, the Tronix Network founder teased an upcoming television project featuring “Hood Rats” rapper Sukihana.
“We want a Chrisean show… She gotta hit us up. I’ve been hitting her, no response. I don’t know when it was, but whenever she’s ready, the bag is here,” Ray J announced. He also said, “Suki bout to start her network in three months.”
Reality television has introduced acts like Cardi B, Latto, and Baby Tate to a larger audience. Plus, the Love & Hip-Hop franchise helped established artists such as Joe Budden, Remy Ma and K. Michelle build supporters for other non-TV endeavors.
Polo G uses his album titles, such as The Goat and Hall of Fame, to express his confidence as a recording artist. However, the Chicago native revealed he uses narcotics to shield his distress.
Many of Polo G’s supporters had concerned reactions to a recent tweet by the Columbia recording artist. The “Rapstar” hitmaker shared his current state of mind on the X platform.
“Drugs and liquor help me cope [with] pain but I need better vices,” Polo tweeted. When a fan asked him about supposedly quitting drugs, the rapper replied, “[M###########] I stopped and started again.”
Drugs and liquor help me cope w pain but I need better vices
Another X user posted the lyrics to Polo G’s “21” song which included the 25-year-old rhymer saying he would stop doing Percocets after the death of Jarad “Juice WRLD” Higgins.
“Still to this day I haven’t popped a perc for respect [for] my brotha but it’s a lot of other drugs out [here] gang,” Polo responded. Fellow Chicago-bred performer Juice WRLD passed away in 2019 from oxycodone and codeine intoxication.
Kid Cudi (born Scott Mescudi) is set to officially tie the knot. The rapper/actor announced his engagement with a post on Instagram.
“My [fiancée] Lola and me at the Knuckles premiere. This amazing woman makes me so happy, she is everything to me, and I’m so excited to share this news [with you all],” Kid Cudi wrote.
The Man on the Moon: The End of Day album creator also added, “Life is wild, and right when I felt my future was uncertain, it became crystal clear with Lola. Happy Cud in full effect.”
Kid Cudi plans to marry menswear fashion designer Lola Abecassis Sartore. According to her LinkedIn page, Sartore worked for Louis Vuitton until January 2024.
“I never thought I could love someone this much! So proud to call you my fiancé Scott,” Lola Abecassis Sartore posted on Instagram. “I can’t wait for you all to see this amazing man in the new Knuckles show!”
The Grammy Award-winning Kid Cudi has released ten studio LPs. Insano arrived on January 12, followed by Insano (Nitro Mega) on February 23. Cudi also acted in films like Entourage and Don’t Look Up as well as television series like the upcoming Knuckles.
Law enforcement allegedly smelled marijuana and alcohol in GloRilla’s vehicle after stopping the “Yeah Glo!” rapper for a traffic violation. The authorities took Woods into custody and later released her on a $1,956 bond.
On Wednesday (April 17), Kay’La Lillard posted a headline about GloRilla getting arrested to her Instagram Story. Damian Lillard’s former college sweetheart captioned her post, “Free GloLillard [rolling on the floor laughing emoji] #sisterwife. [person shrugging emoji].”
GloRilla met Damian Lillard during the 2024 NBA All-Star Game Weekend. She later made a move on the ex-Portland Trail Blazer by uploading a photo with Dame to social media.
“Who n#### dis is? Cause I want him #GetEmGlo,” the Anyways, Life’s Great EP creator tweeted at the time. “Whoever she is can’t whoop me, so I really [don’t give a f###].”
Rihanna says she and A$AP Rocky are working on her new album, and they’ve got some hits coming!
Rihanna fans have long awaited the follow-up to her 2016 album Anti, and while Rihanna has been working on the project for several years, it’s unknown when the project will arrive.
Fans have branded the fabled offering “R9,” as it will be Rihanna’s ninth studio album. The superstar singer and business mogul has shared few details about the project save for teasing an experimental new sound.
However, in a recent red carpet interview, Rihanna revealed she’s working on the project with her partner A$AP Rocky and they’re cooking up something “good”. However, it’s not all smooth sailing as the super couple is struggling to divide the hits between them.
“I already got stuff that I feel like I could make hits out of,” RiRi revealed during an ET interview. “Me and Rocky are really trying to figure out who’s gonna use what,” she added. “Because it’s so good.”
Rihanna teases whether or not she plans to include her sons, RZA and Riot Rose, on her upcoming album. 👀 pic.twitter.com/jk2uNaEvgi
While Rihanna was happy to share that album tidbit, she remained tight-lipped over a release date. “I wanna know, too,” Rihanna teased when asked when the album would arrive.
Elsewhere during her appearance at the launch of her FENTY x PUMA Creeper Phatty Earth Tone shoe in London, Rihanna caught up with Nigerian singer and songwriter Arya Starr. The “Rush” hitmaker could barely contain her excitement when Rihanna asked for a feature.
“If you got an extra verse for me, call me,” the Fenty founder asked.
Arya Starr met Rihanna and she comported herself while being excited, unlike some of our a list artiste
Nelly and Ashanti are engaged to be married and having a baby!
Fans have suspected that the longtime sweethearts are having a child together for some time. Ashanti has donned a succession of oversized jerseys to mask her growing baby bum leading to the rumors.
Although we have known for months, the announcement still feels like a dream
If you’ve been a fan of @ashanti, you know much she always wanted to be a mother.
All of us have hoped for this moment and her wish has finally come true
On Wednesday (April 17), after confirming her pregnancy in a cute video teaser, the mom-to-be shared even more good news. Ashanti revealed the happy couple are set to walk down the aisle as she and Nelly are engaged to be married.
In a statement to ESSENCE, Ashanti confirmed the engagement and expressed her joy over expressing her first child.
“This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope, and anticipation,” she exclaimed. “Motherhood is something that I have looked forward to, and sharing this with my family, fiancé, and loyal fans, who have been so supportive of my career, is an amazing experience.”
The outlet also revealed Nelly and Ashanti are going into business together. The couple are co-owners of Proov, a company offering affordable at-home fertility tests.
Meanwhile, Ashanti proudly displayed her blossoming baby bump for the audience at a Miami Beach marketing event following her pregnancy announcement.
The crowd applauded as she laughed and rubbed her stomach before standing up and giving onlookers a look at her pregnant form.
Kanye West’s wife, Bianca Censori, was reportedly “battered and sexually assaulted” before Kanye West allegedly retaliated, punching the man in the face, prompting the LAPD to investigate.
As reported by AllHipHop earlier on Thursday (April 17), the LAPD reportedly named Kanye West as a suspect in an alleged battery. He stands accused of punching a man earlier this week (April 16), per TMZ.
Initial reports suggested the man pushed or grabbed Censori, leading to the alleged altercation and an LAPD battery investigation. However, West’s rep has spoken out to clarify West’s side of the story.
According to Yeezy Chief of Staff Milo Yiannopoulos, the man did much more than “grab” Censori. He called out the initial reports in a statement before shedding light on the alleged incident.
“‘A stranger grabbed Bianca’ is grossly inadequate as a description of what happened. Bianca was physically assaulted last night,” Yiannopoulos stated, per multiple reports.
“The assailant didn’t merely collide into her,” he added. “He put his hands under her dress, directly on her body, he grabbed her waist, he spun her around, and then he blew her kisses. She was battered and sexually assaulted.”
As source claimed West punched the man in the face, although the man wasn’t severely injured and didn’t require treatment.
LAPD intends to speak to West and any potential witnesses as part of their investigation. Kanye West and Bianca Censori left the scene after the alleged altercation. A day after the alleged incident, the couple was seen enjoying themselves at Disneyland.
Nicki Minaj believes she’s been targeted by somebody intent on sabotaging her Pink Friday 2 tour.
On Wednesday evening (April 17), moments before she was due to hit the stage, Minaj took to social media to complain about an alleged conspiracy to prevent her from performing in Montreal.
“Yesterday my flight scheduled for midnight shut their plane down @ 12:58pm,” she began a lengthy post. “Never in 15 years have I heard of anything like that. A 70K G4 and thought we were going to PAY THEM for that flight as well as whatever flight I’d have to get on next. They thought wrong.”
Minaj explained that her team asked if they could depart at 1: P.M. but was told 3 P.M., which was then further delayed to 5 P.M.
“For a 930pm show in Canada. When we got to the plane, they then said they were “STILL FUELING”. At 630pm, they said they were “still fueling” (for an hour & a half flight),” she added.
According to Nicki Minaj, she was given a more intensive search than usual upon arrival in Canada despite time running out ahead of her tour stop. However, ultimately, Minaj made it to her concert in the nick of time.
“The sabotage be real but GOD IS REALER. I’ll be on stage in 15 mins. Barbz, I can’t wait to see you. We’re going to have a magical night. Love you. My apologies. I’m going to get to the bottom of this when I get off stage,” she concluded.
Yesterday my flight scheduled for midnight shut their plane down @ 12:58pm. Never in 15 years have I heard of anything like that. A 70K G4 and thought we were going to PAY THEM for that flight as well as whatever flight I’d have to get on next. They thought wrong.
Nicki Minaj doubled down on sabotage accusations in a Spaces chat on X (formerly Twitter) after her concert.
“The plane had to time out and they wouldn’t be able to start until 6 A.M. The plane has to time out for a less than two-hour flight?” she questioned. “You thought that you were going to be able to scam some money?”
She continued, venting about an unnamed enemy plotting against her due to the success of her tour. “They on they last legs, chile,” she said. “A lot of people, they don’t really have a sure thing anymore. So, that’s why the desperation is starting to kick in.”
Kanye West could find himself in trouble with the law again as cops are reportedly investigating claims he got into an altercation with an unnamed man.
LAPD named Ye as the suspect in an alleged battery, according to TMZ, whose source says cops received a report West punched a man in the face Tuesday night (April 16). Few other details are known, but the man West struck allegedly pushed or grabbed West’s wife, Bianca Censori.
The outlet reports the alleged victim was not severely injured and did not require treatment. While the couple reportedly left after the alleged altercation, law enforcement intend to speak to West as part of their investigation. LAPD is also seeking witnesses to the alleged altercation.
It’s not the first time Kanye West has faced battery accusations. An autograph-seeking fan sued West earlier this year for punching him several times, “severely injuring him.”The autograph hunter filed suit for assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and loss of consortium.
Additionally, in 2023, a paparazzo sued Kanye West for assault, battery, negligence and violation of her civil rights. The woman claimed he reached into her car, took her phone and threw it into the street.
Meanwhile, Kanye West appears in good spirits despite his apparent legal woes. West and Censori were spotted among the visitors at Disneyland on Wednesday (April 17), the day after the alleged battery.
Rapper Yung Lean also joined the couple. A photo surfaced of the group on the Hyperspace Mountain ride, with Ye poking his tongue out.
