In light of the recent Homeland Security investigations into Diddy’s personal life, Philadelphia rapper E. Ness shared his insights and personal experiences with the music mogul during an exclusive interview with AllHipHop.com.
The raids, which targeted Diddy’s residences across Los Angeles, New York, and Miami, were reportedly triggered by a suite of serious allegations, ranging from sexual trafficking to the distribution of drugs and weapons, all swirling in the wake of several civil lawsuits, including a highly publicized one from Cassie and accusations by Lil Rod.
In a previous interview, E. Ness, the battle rapper turned entrepreneur, labeled the allegations as part of a “smear campaign” aimed at defaming Diddy’s character and legacy within the music industry.
E. Ness, who rose to prominence through his involvement in the reality show “Making the Band,” which was masterminded by Diddy himself, was quick to clarify his stance on the matter.
Despite the severe nature of the accusations, E. Ness emphasized his lack of direct exposure to Diddy’s alleged misconduct.
“Just let me reiterate I never said that the allegations wasn’t true or false I just said I never was exposed and [was a witness] to it,” he stated clearly, indicating the complexity and his personal conflict regarding the unfolding situation.
“The way it’s looking is looking real bad and we going to see as it unfolds, the truth behind all of it. I’m sitting at the edge of my seat just like everybody else.”
E. Ness expressed concern not just for Diddy and his alleged victims but for the potential impact of these allegations on Diddy’s family, especially his young children.
“I’m just thinking about the kids and the impact it has on his younger children,” E. Ness remarked, speaking on the familial ripple effects of such high-profile accusations.
Addressing the serious allegations head-on, especially those raised by Cassie, E. Ness acknowledged the gravity of the situation while also emphasizing the importance of substantiated evidence before passing judgment.
“I have daughters, so I would never stand by sexual abuse or any of that. You know what I’m saying? That’s just wrong, and it’s right, but you can never condemn a man until you have cold, hard facts,” he elucidated.
The controversy surrounding Diddy has sparked a wide array of reactions from the Hip-Hop community. The contrasting opinions were even found in E. Ness himself.
He questioned the timing of the lawsuits filed against Diddy following his settlement with Cassie, 24 hours after she leveled explosive allegations against her ex-boyfriend.
“Even Cassie…shorty you’ve been with this man for 10 years. You was with it at some degree he was with it at some degree. If you really wanted to get missing to get off the grid everybody knows how to go off the grid. Ten years I know everybody knows how to go off the grid,” E. Ness said of the timing of Cassie’s allegations.
“You don’t stand around for sexual abuse for that long for a decade plus then get remarried and have children and think about it and say I was wrongly done 15 years ago,” E. Ness reasoned.
So far, Diddy has yet to be charged with a crime connected to the raids, and he vehemently denied the allegations in the lawsuits, and he blasted Homeland Security over their use of force in connection with the raids of his homes.
President Joe Biden awarded Hip-Hop icons KRS-One and Kurtis Blow the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
President Joe Biden recently honored Hip-Hop pioneers KRS-One and Kurtis Blow with Lifetime Achievement Awards at the National Hip-Hop Museum in Washington DC.
The ceremony, hosted at the RIAA Headquarters, celebrated the artists’ contributions to the music genre and their dedication to uplifting communities through volunteer work.
During the event, which saw an attendance of around 300 people, Rev. Dr. George Holmes delivered a moving speech that lauded the resilience and leadership of the two honorees.
Drawing a powerful analogy, Holmes compared KRS-One and Kurtis Blow to steadfast oak trees, suggesting that, like these mighty trees, the artists have remained unyielding in their principles regardless of external pressures.
He commended them for setting a positive tone both nationally and globally, using their platforms to advocate for meaningful change.
“There are two ways for a leader to go through life: as a thermometer or as a thermostat. The thermometer merely measures the climate, but the thermostat sets the tone and creates it. That’s who you are, KRS-One and Kurtis Blow,” Holmes proclaimed to the crowd that was full of other legends.
DJ Hurricane, Roxanne Shante, The Fat Boys (Kool Rock Ski), MC Sha Rock, Sweet G, The B-Boys (Donald D), and Queen Lisa Lee, all recognized by the National Hip-Hop Museum.
The award ceremony served as an acknowledgment of KRS-One and Kurtis Blow’s immense volunteer efforts and their role in sculpting a stronger nation.
In letters to the artists, President Biden expressed his gratitude for their service and encouraged them to persist in their endeavors.
“As it is with Kurtis Blow, as it is with you, America’s story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us. On behalf of the American people, President Biden extends his heartfelt appreciation to you for your volunteer leadership, and he encourages you to continue to answer the call to serve. The country is still counting on you,” President Joseph Biden said in a letter to KRS-One and Kurtis Blow.
By bestowing the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award on KRS-One and Kurtis Blow, the event underscored the power of Hip-Hop as a force for societal good, celebrating these icons not only for their musical contributions but for their unwavering commitment to community service and leadership.
The two guys who have previously accused the late pop icon Michael Jackson of sexual abuse have requested access to controversial nude photos taken of Jackson by the police.
The plaintiffs’ legal team issued a subpoena in March for access to “photographs of Michael Jackson’s genitalia and naked body taken by police,” which continue to be under a protective order by the Santa Barbara Superior Court.
The photos in question stem from a 1993 police investigation during which allegations of sexual abuse were made against Jackson by a 13-year-old boy.
Wade Robson and James Safechuck’s legal action has sparked a heated response from legal representatives of Michael Jackson’s estate, who argue that revealing the photos would be both inappropriate and a violation of privacy.
The lawyers representing Jackson’s estate have termed the request by Robson and Safechuck as “an egregious violation” and argue that the photos are highly sensitive.
In a statement, they said, “The photographs Plaintiffs seek were not taken willingly by Mr. Jackson; they were the result of a court-ordered search based on a false statement in what became a discredited criminal investigation.”
They further express concern over the potential exploitation of these photos, suggesting that such an act would constitute a “second defilement” following the controversial and contested circumstances under which they were originally taken.
Wade Robson and James Safechuck brought forth allegations against Jackson in 2013 and 2014, respectively, claiming that they were sexually abused by the singer during their childhood.
Their lawsuits, now targeting Jackson’s companies, argue that these entities are culpable for the alleged abuse, as they facilitated Jackson’s proximity to young children.
The request to unseal the records containing the nude photos of Jackson is part of these ongoing legal proceedings.
This legal battle brings to the forefront issues of privacy, the sensitivity of evidence obtained during criminal investigations, and the potential for misuse of such evidence in civil litigation.
The judge presiding over Young Thug’s RICO case has expressed concerns over lawyers’ predictions that the rap star’s trial could extend for years, potentially becoming Georgia’s longest trial.
In an attempt to reign in the timeline, the judge has taken a firm stance on managing the court’s schedule more strictly.
As a result, Judge Ural Glanville is threatening to hold court on weekends to speed up the proceedings.
This move signifies the court’s growing impatience with the trial’s slow pace, which has been bogged down by numerous delays and interruptions.
If necessary, a court would be held on Saturday and Sunday. Judge Glanville informed prosecutors and defense attorneys.
The trial has already seen its share of drama and unexpected developments.
Among these developments was the stabbing of co-defendant Shannon Stillwell in the Fulton County Jail in December 2023, causing a significant delay.
Illnesses among attorneys and the judge have further prolonged the trial, testing the patience of all parties involved.
Four months into the proceedings, with roughly 40 witnesses having testified, the prosecution’s list includes over 100 additional names, raising concerns about the trial’s potential extension well into 2024, 2025, 2026, or even as far as 2027.
In light of these challenges, Judge Glanville has requested that attorneys make themselves available earlier on certain days, emphasizing the need to expedite the trial without compromising its integrity.
Young Thug has been locked up for almost two years. He was ordered to be held without bond in May of 2022 and has lost four attempts at getting out of prison.
Lily Allen has thrown shade at Beyoncé’s cover of country classic Jolene, calling it “weird.” The singer critiqued Beyoncé’s new music on her “Miss Me?” podcast.
When her cohost Miquita Oliver asked whether she’d listened to Beyoncé’s new country-influenced album Country Carter, Lily didn’t hold back.
First, though, she admitted she had not heard the entire record. “I’ve heard a few bits,” Lily, 38, said. “I listened to the Miley Cyrus one and I listened to the “Blackbird” one, which is the Beatles cover.
“I have to listen to the whole thing from start to finish, because I haven’t done a deep dive on it yet.”
She went on to say she found it “weird” that Beyoncé, 42, had included a cover of Dolly Parton’s classic “Jolene.”
Shocking that a British woman #lilyallen is hating on Cowboy Carter..the album wasn’t made for you mind, way to miss the entire point! But it’s predictable when she’s gonna cosplay as an American on her upcoming country album.
“It’s very weird,” she said, “that you’d cover the most successful songs in that genre.”
“It’s quite an interesting to do, when you’re trying to, like, tackle a genre and you just choose the biggest song in that genre to cover. I mean, you do you, Beyoncé – and she literally is doing her, but why is she doing Dolly?” Lily Allen asked.
Lily also said she had enjoyed a scathing quote from rapper Azealia Banks about Beyoncé’s husband, Jay-Z.
“I read a comment from Azealia Banks where she was like ‘and stop talking about Jay Z as if anyone wants to f**k him’,” Lily laughed.
“Literally no one’s even looked at him for about 10 years, relax,” Lily Allen added, saying she did not find Jay physically attractive.
Oddly enough, Lily Allen has admitted to having dreams about Jay-Z and beyoncé in her house. She revealed her bizarre fantasy involving her own husband and the power couple in a 2014 tweet.
That same year, Lily Allen has worked with Jay z in the past. They recorded a song together called “Truth” in 2014.
#lilyallen needs to sit down. #Beyoncé is an AMERICAN. She knows #country . Lily, how would you feel about some Yanks rolling in to a tea shop for some haggis, and Guinness? #Bey is a local, and she knows her range 💅
DMV rapper Gerreddi has teamed up with the renowned Boosie Badazz to release a gripping new music video for their latest collaborative track “Risk My Life.”
This street anthem delves into Gerreddi’s raw experiences and the risks he’s embraced to ascend to new heights in the world of Hip-Hop.
Notably, “Risk My Life” features Boosie Badazz, bringing a touch of Down South legacy into the urban landscapes of Washington DC, with the artistic direction provided by Vibes Media.
The collaboration between Gerreddi and Boosie Badazz is a significant milestone, showcasing a blend of Gerreddi’s relentless pursuit of success and Boosie’s established street credibility.
The music video for “Risk My Life” depicts both artists navigating through the trenches of DC, highlighting the authenticity and grit of their journey.
This convergence of talent not only enhances the impact of the song but also bridges different regions’ Hip-Hop scenes, from the DMV to Down South.
Gerreddi’s journey in the Hip-Hop industry is marked by a series of accomplishments that testify to his dedication and skill.
He has a history of engaging audiences through high-profile performances, winning rap battles and showcases that have spotlighted his lyrical prowess.
His ability to convey compelling stories through music has earned him recognition and respect within the Hip-Hop community.
The rapper’s extensive resume is further adorned with notable collaborations that span across the Hip-Hop spectrum.
Having worked with his Uncle, Freeway Rick Ross, Gerreddi has been immersed in the culture from a young age.
His collaborations extend to prominent figures such as Raheem DeVaughn, Bigg Tigger, DJ Drama, KaySlay, Mysonne, Devin the Dude, Scarface, and Grafh from the “Love & Hip Hop” franchise, showcasing his versatility and ability to connect with varied audiences.
Fans can follow Gerreddi’s journey and stay updated on his latest projects by connecting with him on social media (@gerreddi across all platforms).
Saigon pulls no punches. The New York heavy hitter, cares and wonders why racism and inner turmoil seem to tear Hip-Hop apart at the seams. The current Diddy situation has sparked a deeper conversation around waning conscious rap, the lack of leadership in Hip-Hop, and the declining moral compass in the culture. He viscously blasts the capitalistic, materialistic mindstate of many influential figures in the industry. At the same time, he continues to share his voice with a looming albumJordan Era coming May 3.
Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur: We had a nice conversation last night. That was dope. I don’t know if you remember this, but we both went to Baltimore a long time ago. I was doing a thing called “City for Change.” And I took you to Baltimore to talk to the youth and everything.
Saigon: Yeah. That was probably 2001 or ’02. Very early.
DJ Thoro: One thing about you man, as long as I’ve known you that I highly respect about you is that you what I call you never pushed poison or glorified violence in your music. Nowadays people, they rap about the s### they did or going to do or doing, but there are no records about the consequences of that.
Saigon: Where are those records at? That was always my thing. I used to be like, “Bro, don’t send these kids to the graveyard or to the penitentiary man. Because we see how influenced we was by music. Right When I was growing up, Onyx and them m############ was coming out.
DJ Thoro: “Throw Your Gunz In The Air”
Saigon: I went and picked up a gun like oh yeah, some s###. “What’s cool? [Quoting “Shook Ones”] “To all the killers in the hundred dollar billas.” I remember hearing that at 14, 13 years old. I’m about to go clap something. And the music has that kind of, it’s almost like you ever make love to a woman with no music and then you put music on some slow songs and start performing? The music has power, bro.
DJ Thoro: And that’s why it keeps going because the kids see gets rewarded so they want to keep doing it.
Saigon: That s### hindered my career so much. And you know what I respect about Blaze? When I went into the studio and we started making The Greatest Story Never Told, and he started to see the direction I was going. And he told me, “he said, sir, “I’m going to keep it real with you. They’re not going to push this.” He knew from experience, he said, “But I’m going to stick by you if this the way you want to go. More positive. Yeah, more positive.” He was like, “I’m with it and I’m going to make it sound amazing.” And I was like, “Let’s do it.”
And we made a crazy album that sat on the shelf for seven years because Julie Greenwald, I’ll never forget, told me one time she was like, “We like you Saigon here at Atlantic Records and you can bust your artistic nut on the rest of your album. But I need my three singles to push.” Pretty much saying I need three of them bulls##t records and then whatever else is on your album, who cares?
DJ Thoro: How does that make you feel knowing that she wouldn’t tell her own to do that? I keep it a hundred.
Saigon: Because I was in prison and I had experienced racism at a close until you’ve never been called ni##er – hard – “er” – you see a hatred in a m###########’s eyes because them cos up north when you are up in prison, Buffalo will lose a football game and they won’t feed you. They walk around with tattoos of Black babies and nooses. They don’t hide the racism. They don’t hide it so you get to see it. A lot of black people, especially growing up in New York City where it’s diverse, we don’t see that s### blatant.
So when I had that experience, so when I got into this game I kind of knew what I was dealing with. I was like, “Oh you one of them.”
DJ Thoro: We’ve always had that, but there was also an alternative to that.
Saigon: And another thing because it’s funny because I just seen myself on HipHopDX. I put out a tweet and then the next thing you know it’s all the blogs. If you look it up right now, it says “Saigon blames Diddy.”
Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur: Of course we saw it. Everybody saw it.
Saigon: So what I was trying to say was, because I said I think Diddy was the change between conscious rap and just money rap. What conscious rap ever came from Bad Boy Records?
DJ Thoro: Nobody conscious came from Bad Boy. It was mostly party rap.
Saigon: Party. Money and materialism. Materialism. It was materialism. Materialism. Diddy knew about the business before everybody. Everybody he signed was kids. Diddy had a $10 million deal with Clive Davis. He had already did Mary J. Blige and Uptown Records. So he understood the power of music by time he signed you got to The Lox and BIG. It was kids.
Saigon: God is coming back for these m############. We ain’t even got to trash ’em. We can sit right here and talk about Super Mario Brothers. Them n##### are still going to get they fate.
Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur: This is probably not going to land, right? But Hip-Hop’s a young culture in the eighties, seventies, eighties, nineties. It was still young. And then we started getting money in the nineties. Is it possible that they were as ignorant as we were but on a different level? You know what I’m saying?
Saigon: We was talking about last night, every revolution starts with young people. The Panthers were 18 and 19, 20 years old. Young people are fearless. Now, we are using our fearlessness and it’s going in the wrong direction. That’s why you got gang bangers. That’s why gang bangers ain’t scared to die. They’re not scared to go to jail.
But it takes older people to go channel that energy. It’s almost like the army, right? The general’s going to be an old guy. The private on the front lines going to be a 19, 18-year-old kid. But it’s up to the general to tell him what to do and how to move.
Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur: We don’t have generals anymore.
Saigon: The elder statesmen became all about get a dollar. Right? It’s the money that f##### us up. I think it’s starting to happen with athletes now. Right now too. I don’t think it’s a good idea to start giving if you give these people all this money, right? Where’s my incentive to go hard now?
Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur: Who do you like out here?
Saigon: Now? Oh, nowadays. Yeah. There’s this new kid from Philly named Kur. J. Cole of course. I like Lar Russell. I just think he’s himself. He is not trying to be like anybody. He remind me of a Ye in a way. There’s not too many doing nothing too innovative. I like innovative s###. Know what I’m saying?
DJ Thoro: Do you think Hip-Hop has reached its creative peak?
Saigon: Nah. Nah.
DJ Thoro: Do you think there’s something that hasn’t been done yet? That we haven’t seen?
Saigon: I wouldn’t say I think it’s been done, but you could always make something better. Make it better. I think we’re going to have to go back to meaningful s###. Meaningful s###.Because we can’t keep sending these babies to the jail, to the strip club or to the f###### graveyard.
Joey Bada$$ reminded me fans he wasn’t afraid to battle Kendrick Lamar. The Pro Era rapper shared his old song “Killuminati Pt. 2” after J. Cole released the K. Dot diss “7 Minute Drill” on Friday (April 5).
“Never forget,” Joey Bada$$ wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).
The New York native released “Killuminati Pt. 2” in response to Kendrick’s famous “Control” verse in 2013.
“My set told me light you up so this that propane/It’s nathan all I gotta do is just spit a flame/No escaping, you in a swimming pool of champagne/You set yourself up for that one mane/The king of New York? Ha! we ain’t just gon’ let that one hang/Last n#### got dethroned and you ain’t from my zone/The rest of the real n##### is dead and gone,” Joey rapped.
Last month, Kendrick took shots at Drake and J. Cole on Future and Metro Boomin’s song “Like That.” J. Cole responded with “7 Minute Drill.”
“I came up in the ‘Ville, so I’m good when it’s tension/He still doing shows but fell off like The Simpsons/Your first s### was classic, your last s### was tragic/Your second s### put n##### to sleep, but they gassed it/Your third s### was massive and that was your prime/I was trailing right behind and I just now hit mine/Now I’m front of the line with a comfortable lead/How ironic, soon as I got it, now he want something with me/Well, he caught me at the perfect time, jump up and see,” J. Cole rapped.
He added, “He averaging one hard verse like every thirty months or something/If he wasn’t dissing, then we wouldn’t be discussing him/Lord, don’t make me have to smoke this n#### ’cause I f### with him/But push come to shove, on this mic, I will humble him.”
“7 Minute Drill” appeared on J. Cole’s surprise releaseMight Delete Later.
JT and GloRilla are currently trading shots on Twitter (X), with the City Girls rapper slamming GloRilla’s appearance. The online spat started on Friday (April 5) after an old rumor suggesting the CMG artist slapped JT at an awards show was dredged up. The initial fan tweet read: “Do anybody know why glo slapped her at that award show?”
JT fired back, “I been said she didn’t! She the one went radio silent! Played into, released a song about slapping rap b###### now it’s female unity?? CORNY!!!!!”
I been said she didn’t! She the one went radio silent! Played into, released a song about slapping rap b###### now it’s female unity?? CORNY!!!!! https://t.co/lL5iGBgVff
When a fan accused JT of “subbing” GloRilla, she said, “NO TF I WASNT! I don’t know these girls like that to have problems with them & I always wish them the best FIRST!” As the questions continued to pour in, she grew increasingly more aggressive, saying things like, “I guess she was waiting on her tape to address & who gone clear up going viral for slapping someone when the whole hood believed it! It was on brand!”
GloRilla began responding to JT but quickly deleted her tweets. At one point, JT tweeted her, “Ugly shouldn’t leave your mouth ever Joe you look like you was born feet first P#### ass hoe DONT mention me! Secret animosity? WHY?” Glo then accused her of wearing wigs in another since-deleted tweet that read: “H## shut yo dumb a## up & fix dem ugla## wigs I said it ain’t no beef ho you da one with da secret animosity,” to which JT replied, “Ugly wigs? B### is you dumb hoe? you’ll NEVER in your life be this raw hoe I been had fake tittys off care credit, I been that b#### you just getting training wheels! B#### you said MY name! Air mattress brain!!!!!!”
JT, again, responded to another of GloRilla’s since-deleted tweets and suggested she is actually a big fan of hers: “OMG you are a liarrrr! B####. you didn’t hit me with s### FANNED out a## b### you approach me sounding like an old beat up box Chevy ‘WHAT UP GANG.'”
She continued, “I honestly thought glo was a real b#### man but she not she caused all that s### with FNF remix too! Came in the game messy & phony ready to switch on your homies too had to jump back on the roof!”
Ugly wigs? B#### is you dumb hoe? you’ll NEVER in your life be this raw hoe I been had fake tittys off care credit, I been that b#### you just getting training wheels!
JT continued her rant, going as far as sharing a string of GloRilla’s apparent mugshots. She kept going too, adding, “fake a## street b#### always bringing up jail but was just crying bout how you ain’t have a bed until you was 15years old & sleeping in hotels I’m confused are you street or just poor???”
As GloRilla’s tweets vanished, JT took it to another level when she said, “B#### your UGLY NO sex appeal got dragged for trying to be seductive at the awards crying to your label cause you was tired of crump dancing! You are a Glock toating pit pull that need to stay in her G fazos your not a Cinderella hell your not even a step sister, b####!”
B#### your UGLY NO sex appeal got dragged for trying to be seductive at the awards crying to your label cause you was tired of crump dancing! You are a Glock toating pit pull that need to stay in her G fazos your not a Cinderella hell your not even a step sister, b####!
GloRilla did leave one tweet up that read: “Yo comebacks weak just stop boo it’s ok I won.” JT responded, “I thought you won? I stopped I was being generous letting you promote that WACK a### project that nobody give af about & nobody asked for! You just be doing s### ! Work on your craft soften your voice. Everything ain’t gotta be hard like your life. Y’all hoes jealous cause I do my own thing. And I bet not catch y’all hoes [City Girls] trying to do club tours since it’s so beneath y’all. I swear this been the most fun I had In my career in a while!”
As of 11 p.m. ET, the contentious back-and-forth was seemingly coming to a close. JT’s last tweet read: “Y’all hoes are weak a## hypocrites!”
The controversy started at the MTV VMAs last October with the rumored fight. JT responded to the claims, denouncing any truth to the rumors, but GloRilla remained silent—until she released her latest project, Ehhhthang Ehhhthang. On the song “Aite” featuring Kenny Muney, she raps, “Me and JT ain’t the best of friends but we ain’t beefin’.”
Business mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs returned to the social media stage on Friday (April 5), sharing the music video for “Victory,” a track featuring The Notorious B.I.G. and Busta Rhymes.
The move marks Diddy’s first public statement since his properties across New York, Los Angeles, and Miami were raided in connection with a purported Homeland Security Investigation into allegations of sex trafficking.
The choice of “Victory” – a song that emerged from Diddy’s 1998 album No Way Out and is notable for its dark, operatic undertones – appears to be a calculated one, coming just one day after he was named in a sexual assault lawsuit with his son Christian.
Diddy accompanied the video with the caption, “Bad Boy For Life,” capped with a black power fist.
The decision to broadcast this specific song and message has drawn mixed reactions online.
Following a period of silence on his social media commenting functions stemming from a lawsuit filed by Cassie in November 2023, the floodgates opened to a barrage of both support and criticism from the public.
While the support from industry contemporaries like Ty Dolla $ign, Game, and producer Timbaland was evident, other celebrity reactions from Diddy’s 20 million appeared measured considering his A-list.
Furthermore, Pusha T’s fire emoji comment attracted its own controversy, highlighting the tension surrounding Diddy’s current public image.
While some supporters viewed Diddy’s post as a declaration of innocence and resilience, others interpreted it as a provocative gesture towards the authorities involved in the ongoing investigation.
As investigations continue, the music mogul’s choice to leverage a song associated with triumph and struggle seems to encapsulate his current predicament – caught between a storied past and an uncertain future.
Whether this move will sway public opinion or further complicate his image remains to be seen. What’s clear is that Diddy, despite the controversies, is not ready to retreat from the limelight or the narrative shaping his legacy.
Xscape’s Tamika Scott, Kandi Burruss and Tiny Harris pushed forward with their Queens of R&B Tour with SWV. The group responded to rumors of fellow member LaTocha Scott threatening to take legal action against the trio and the tour’s co-promoter Mona Scott-Young on Friday (April 5).
“Despite All The Rumors, Xscape SWV The Queens Of R&B Tour Is Definitely Still On!!” Xscaped declared on social media. “Get Your Tickets Now And Come Kick It With Us! We Love Our Fans🥰❤️❤️! We Can’t Wait To See You There.”
Xscape’s post included a message aimed at LaTocha regarding their rights to use the group’s name without her.
“A co-owner of a trademark is unable to maintain an infringement action against another co-owner of the same trademark,” they noted. “Each co-owner has the right to exercise its trademark rights, including granting licenses to third parties (i.e. Live Nation and Monami Entertainment). ‘A valid licensee of one co-owner of a trademark cannot be liable to another co-owner for infringement.’”
According to Straight From the A, LaTocha’s lawyer claimed Live Nation and Scott-Young’s Monami Entertainment needed to license Xscape’s trademark from her. Her attorney sent a letter to Live Nation and Monami demanding a response within five days on Tuesday (April 2).
“LaTocha was surprised to learn that Live Nation, whom XSCAPE has contracted to perform on numerous occasions, contracted with individuals and is publicly advertising the XSCAPE Mark to promote a live musical performance for a series of concerts during the Queens of R&B tour without LaTocha’s consent,” the letter read. “In addition to failing to obtain consent, you have also failed to even reach out to LaTocha to agree on financial terms for use of the MARK as well as to discuss her performance.”
Xscape and SWV’s tour is scheduled to begin in June. The groups co-starred in a Bravo reality show in 2023.
Universal Music Group faced a lawsuit over a sample used in Mary J. Blige’s classic song “Real Love.” Tuff City Records, which owns the rights to The Honey Dippers’ heavily sampled track “Impeach the President,” sued UMG for copyright infringement on Thursday (April 4).
Tuff City pursued legal action due to “Real Love” allegedly sampling “Impeach the President” without permission. “Real Love” notably sampled Audio Two’s song “Top Billin,” which featured a sample of “Impeach the President.”
“Both the ‘Real Love’ sound recording and the ‘Real Love’ musical composition contain an uncleared sample from ‘Impeach the President,’” Tuff City’s legal team wrote. “Plaintiff has advised Defendant repeatedly of the presence of the uncleared sample from ‘Impeach the President’ in ‘Real Love,’ and Defendant has repeatedly refused to engage Plaintiff in substantive negotiations to rectify the foregoing, let alone agreed to compensate Plaintiff for the past infringement or on an ongoing basis. Defendant’s refusal to cooperate with Plaintiff is difficult to reconcile with the fact that Plaintiff reached an agreement with UMG Recordings, Inc. with respect to the presence of the uncleared sample from ‘Impeach the President’ on the master sound recording of ‘Real Love.’”
According to court documents obtained by AllHipHop, Tuff City claimed UMG caused “great and irreparable injury that cannot fully be compensated or measured in money.” Tuff City said UMG ignored warnings sent to the corporation, resulting in the lawsuit.
“Plaintiff repeatedly notified Defendant in writing of Plaintiff’s ownership rights in the musical composition ‘Impeach the President,’ and on February 13, 2024 advised Defendant that if it did not immediately cease and desist from exploiting the musical composition “Impeach the President” by February 23, 2024, Plaintiff would pursue legal action against them,” Tuff City’s attorneys wrote. “Defendant did not respond to Plaintiff by February 23, 2024.”
Tuff City sought undisclosed damages plus preliminary and permanent injunctive relief. TMZ first reported the lawsuit.
If there are social media psychics of the clairvoyant, one Twitter user may have just reveals that 2035 is the year the rap world will be turned upside down due to Cardi B and Nicki Minaj.
In case you missed it, a tweet featuring photos of Cardi B and Ice Spice posing together at a recent awards show set Twitter ablaze, attracting more than 41 million views on the initial tweet. It’s worth mentioning that prior to Cardi B requesting the “Deli” rapper to post the photo, she was engaged in a bitter battle with a social media user, who misrepresented her ethnicity while hurling insults at her. Nevertheless, the virality of the tweet is impossible to ignore.
And with all that in mind, can you imagine how crazy the internet, and the rap world at-large would go if it was Cardi B and Nicki Minaj linking up!? Well, one Twitter user already cooked up the scenario for us ant it’s actually a hypothetical banger. It all goes down during Cardi B’s electrifying performance of one of the last great hits we received from the Migos trio in “Motorsport.” The crowd is hyped, the beats are thumping and Cardi’s spitting fire. But wait—there’s a plot twist! Just when you think you’ve seen it all, the DJ switches things up, and out of the shadows emerges none other than Nicki Minaj herself, ready to drop the bars she allegedly recorded for the song prior to learning Cardi B was featured and subsequently pulling the verse.
The crowd goes wild, losing their collective minds as these two rap queens share the stage. Phones are out, jaws are dropping and people are fainting left and right in disbelief. It’s a moment so epic, so historic, that everyone knows they’re witnessing something truly special.
But hold onto your hats, because the drama doesn’t stop there. Cardi B, ever the gracious hostess, passes the mic to Nicki, who slays her verse. And then, in a move that shocks the world, Cardi gives a shoutout to her fellow New Yorker, Nicki Minaj herself!
And just like that, social media explodes, with fans and critics alike declaring this performance one for the history books. It’s a moment that will be talked about for generations to come, proving once and for all that in the world of rap, anything is possible.
it's 2035, Cardi B is on stage performing Motorsport, she raps her verse like any other time she performs but this time it doesn't stop at her verse… the dj switches it up and all of a sudden the crowd hears "watch your man…." and Nicki Minaj comes out rapping her verse. the…
I think it would be a safe bet to wager the odds that a tweet featuring either photos or video evidence of Cardi B and Nicki Minaj burying the hatchet and posing/performing together would draw more then a few million views. However, that 2035 timeline may be pushed a bit off course, given the fact that now Sexyy Red and the Pink Friday 2 rapper are linking up. And at that, joining forces with each other literal hours after the images of Cardi B and Ice Spice began circulating.
Check out the full uncut scenario laid out in the tweet above.
A former Donda Academy and Yeezy employee made working for Kanye West sound like a nightmare in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles on Tuesday (April 2). Trevor Phillips’ lawsuit detailed several disturbing allegations, including one in which Ye allegedly simulated masturbation at a staff meeting.
“While lying flat on the bed and staring up at the ceiling, Kanye began to make slow up and down motions with his hand just above his genitals – as though he was masturbating – while he recounted to Phillips: ‘I used to have orgies every day – at least two to three girls. And now, man, I can’t even lay down without jacking off,’” the plaintiff claimed. “Then, Kanye used his second hand to forcefully and dramatically grab and pull the hand making the masturbation gestures away from his crotch as he said: ‘I got to keep my hand away from my phone to keep me away from looking at p#####.’ Phillips [was] totally shocked and distraught by Kanye’s inappropriate conduct and in particular, his apparent arousal.”
According to Phillips, Ye called a woman via FaceTime after allegedly getting aroused. Phillip said Kanye previously showed nude photos of the woman to the staff.
“Stimulating his sexual arousal more, Kanye then FaceTimed a female friend,” the lawsuit read. “Phillips immediately recognized the female’s name because only a few weeks earlier, while at the Yeezy headquarters, Kanye had flaunted nude pictures of her to many of the Yeezy staff members. The female answered Kanye’s call and he commanded her, ‘Next time I see you, you better make sure you are wearing the lingerie and the shoes I got you.'”
Phillips sued Kanye for discrimination and retaliation, among other claims. The ex-employee accused Ye of threatening to put Donda Academy students in cages and mistreating Black staff members. Phillips sought at least $35,000 in damages.
Cardi B admitted she’s fed up with trolls calling her Mexican. The hitmaker, who has Dominican and Trinidadian roots, discussed her frustrations in a livestream on TikTok.
“A lot of people keep saying damn, why is it I feel offended when people call me Mexican?” she told viewers. “Because I’m not Mexican! I’m not Mexican. My nationalities don’t have the same culture. We speak the same language, we have different dialects. We don’t eat the same food, we don’t eat the same nothing. Call a Nigerian Ghanaian. Call a Haitian Jamaican. Call a Jamaican a Haitian. Call Guyanese a Trini and you tell me how they gonna feel. You tell me how they gonna feel!”
Cardi B demanded respect as she implored people to stop referring to her as a Mexican. She knew social media users were trying to get under her skin, but the trolling bothered her.
“And stop playing with me ‘cause y’all know that I’m not Mexican,” she stated. “Y’all do that s### to irritate me. And not only do you y’all call me a Mexican, y’all call me a dirty Mexican. So, of course, I’m gonna defend myself every single time you guys do it. You’re not gonna keep erasing my nationalities.”
She continued, “You’re not gonna keep erasing who I am … Never in my life growing up did I ever hear anybody call me a f###### Mexican … When I was coming up, y’all wasn’t calling me that. But now y’all do call me that. “
The Atlantic Records artist jokingly said she wished she was Mexican because she wanted the cartel to punish her trolls. She pictured her detractors getting “chopped up” and tossed in a river for upsetting her.
Cardi B released her latest single “Enough (Miami)” in March. Her sophomore album is expected to drop this year.
Sexyy Red planned to talk with students in her hometown of St. Louis. According to the “Get It Sexyy” rapper, school officials prevented her from speaking with the adolescents because of her odor.
While Red’s high school appearance did not occur, she still found a way to entertain the students. The 25-year-old rhymer was later filmed sitting atop a car as kids outside the school chanted her “Get It Sexyy” chorus.
“Get It Sexyy” came out on March 15. Sexyy Red’s latest song became her first solo record to enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart’s Top 40 region, peaking at No. 23 on the weekly rankings.
Nicki Minaj recently teased Sexyy Red will appear on a remix of the Pink Friday 2 track “FTCU.” The two female rap stars previously teamed up for “Pound Town 2” in 2023.
“You got your verse for #FTCU? Finna drop the remix @SexyyRed314_… Left #PoundTown to go #FTCU. A remix for a remix?????” Minaj tweeted on Thursday (April 4). Red responded “Song + Video?”
GloRilla broke onto the mainstream rap scene with her 2022 single “F.N.F. (Let’s Go).” Two platinum songs and a Grammy nomination later, the Memphis native dropped her new Ehhthang Ehhthang mixtape on Friday (March 5).
Before the release of Ehhthang Ehhthang, GloRilla sat down with Shannon Sharpe for an episode of the former NFL star’s Club Shay Shay podcast. Sharpe asked Big Glo to share her personal Mount Rushmore of rappers.
“We’re going who I think is the best and not my favorites,” GloRilla told Shannon Sharpe. The 24-year-old recording artist then named Lil Wayne, Drake, Eminem and JAY-Z for rap’s Mount Rushmore.
Big Glo also shouted out Beyoncé as the top person she wants to work with on music. The rest of the Collective Music Group representative’s list of dream collaborators included Drake, Lil Wayne, Future and Chief Keef.
Ehhthang Ehhthang contains features by Moneybagg Yo, Megan Thee Stallion, Kevo Muney, Boston Richey and Finesse2tymes. GloRilla has also linked up with several other acts, including Latto, JT, Cardi B, Lil Durk, Ciara, Don Toliver, G Herbo and more.
GloRilla’s Ehhthang Ehhthang hosts the “Yeah Glo!” single. That track peaked at No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming the second Top 40 hit of Glo’s career following “Tomorrow 2” with Cardi B (No. 9).
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’s 26-year-old son Christian Combs has been accused of sexual assault in a new lawsuit.
In another legal blow for the Combs family, Grace O’Marcaigh is suing Christian for alleged sexual assault, sexual harassment and infliction of emotional distress.
The lawsuit, which AllHipHop was the first to report on, was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Thursday, O’Marcaigh claimed Christian drugged and sexually assaulted her while she was employed as a steward on a yacht chartered by Diddy in December 2022.
The “I’ll Be Missing You” rapper, as the person who chartered the boat, was named as a defendant in the lawsuit for premises liability and for aiding and abetting his son in the alleged assault.
“Like father, like son,” attorney Tyrone Blackburn, who is representing O’Marcaigh, said to NBC News about the legal action. “It gives us no joy or pleasure in filing this suit against Christian Combs who has clearly adopted his father’s pattern and practice of depravity.”
O’Marcaigh is seeking unspecified damages.
This marks the first lawsuit to accuse Christian of sexual assault.
His 54-year-old father has been hit with five sexual assault lawsuits since November.
The one filed by his ex-girlfriend Cassie has been settled, but the others remain ongoing.
On March 25, federal agents raided the mogul’s properties in Los Angeles and Miami as part of their investigation into alleged sex trafficking.
Christian was handcuffed during the raids but not arrested, while Diddy was neither detained nor arrested.
After the raids, Diddy’s lawyer Aaron Dyer maintained his client’s innocence and described the operation as “nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits.”
He added in his statement, “There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations. Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name.”
The ongoing war of words between Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole has most of the Hip-Hop world glued to their phones. While Lamar is no longer signed to Top Dawg Entertainment, the label’s co-president, Terrence “Punch” Henderson, came to the rapper’s defense.
On Friday (March 5), J. Cole dropped the Might Delete Later mixtape which features the “7 Minute Drill” track. That record included Cole returning fire at Kendrick Lamar for his internet-breaking verse on “Like That” by Future and Metro Boomin.
“Your first s### was classic, your last s### was tragic. Your second s### put n##### to sleep, but they gassed it. Your third s### was massive and that was your prime,” Cole rapped about Lamar’s album discography on “7 Minute Drill.”
Kendrick Lamar released To Pimp a Butterfly in 2015 as his second official major-label studio album. Punch reacted to J. Cole’s bars about the Grammy Award-winning body of work that came out via TDE/Aftermath/Interscope.
“SMH. I thought To Pimp a Butterfly was pretty good [face with diagonal mouth emoji],” Punch tweeted on Friday. In addition, the music executive/recording artist called out his unspecified peers in the entertainment business for their apparent bias against Kendrick Lamar.
SMH. I thought to pimp a butterfly was pretty good. 🫤
Punch also wrote, “The current rap climate got me realizing a lot of you music industry [people] are [Kendrick Lamar] haters, lol. You telling me you n##### been secretly hating ALL this time! [face with tears of joy emoji].”
The Carson, California native later clarified his comments. He posted, “‘Music industry [people],’ I’m definitely NOT referring to the rappers involved here. I’m talking about the folks that work in music. You n#####.”
The current rap climate got me realizing a lot of you music industry ppl are Kdot haters. lol you telling me you n##### been secretly hating ALL this time! 😂
Boosie Badazz has walked back his racially charged remarks about former LSU student athlete Hailey Van Lith. On Thursday (April 4), Badazz shared a lengthy stream of consciousness in a reel posted to his Instagram page in which he expressed remorse for previous critique of Van Lith’s performance in LSU Women’s basketball team’s loss to Iowa in the elite 8.
Prior to sharing the public apology, Van Lith, who transferred from Louisville to LSU in 2023, entered the NCAA transfer portal for the second time within a year. In his initial remarks, Boosie took full responsibility for allowing his emotions to get the best of him.
“Hey, I want to apologize to Hailey Van Lith,” he said in part. “That’s my bad. I got in my feelings. I really wanted y’all to win, man. I got my feelings.”
As he continued, Boosie appeared to reveal part of his frustration wasn’t even rooted in Van Lith’s effort but rather a large wager he placed on the game.
“I shouldn’t have said what I said,” he said before adding, “I apologized to you and to LSU. I apologize. I mean, that’s all I can say. I got in my feelings. I really wanted y’all to beat Iowa. I just really got my feelings. I had a big o###### on the game. I mean, my bad. OK.”
In a since-deleted video posted on Instagram, Boosie Badazz harshly criticized Van Lith for her performance during LSU’s loss, referring to her as the team’s only “white player” in addition to alluding to the idea she was “scared to death” of Iowa’s all-time leading scorer, Caitlin Clark. Van Lith played 30 minutes and scored nine points to go along with a single assist and single rebound in LSU’s 87-94 loss to Iowa.
