The Big Grrrls official social media accounts praised the Truth Hurts singer for “(creating) a platform where we have been able to parallel our Passion with a purpose.”
“We had the time of our lives on The Special Tour. We have been so honored to share the stage with such amazing talent,” they continued. “The commitment to character and culture taking precedence over every movement and moment has been one of the Greatest lessons and Blessings that we could possibly could ask for.”
They also thanked Lizzo for “shattering limitations and kicking in the doorway for the Big Grrrl & Big Boiii Dancers to do what we love… Not only for Us, but for Women and All people breaking barriers.”
“So Grateful that the standards and existence of Beauty in THIS team goes beyond the surface!” they added. “We are a unit of unicorns, undeniably resilient and SPECIAL AF.”
The 35-year-old singer, real name Melissa Jefferson, issued a statement on Instagram earlier this month, insisting she was “not the villain” she had been portrayed as by her former employees.
The Special Tour ran from September 2022 to July 2023.
T.I. and Tiny Harris’ son King went viral this week following a recent dental procedure. On Friday (August 18), the teen boy took to social media to show off his new set of chompers but was mercilessly dragged for the size of them. Many believed they were way too big for his mouth. But Tiny begged to differ and pointed out they’ve always been that way.
As she explained on Instagram, “Would like to thank @drmariomontoya for giving @the_next_king10 a #BillionDollarSmile. Had to post slide 2 for the #BigTeethPatrol to show his smile been asf before; they’re just white now. Either way, he loves them and that’s all that matters! Regardless to what he does, everyone always seem to have their personal perspective of him, which is fine. -But y’all don’t really know him frfr, truth is real. fwh and the ladies love ‘em!”
T.I. was also asked about King’s viral video while speaking to DJ Diamond Kuts on iHeartRadio. He said he “respects the actual process” his son went through to get them done. But as the group of people were laughing about King’s purported new nickname, “Chief Teeth,” T.I. and Tiny’s 6-year-old daughter, Heiress Harris, is heard off-camera saying, “Don’t talk about my brother like that!” The comment, of course, elicited even more laughter from the spirited guests.
DJ Diamond Kuts later shared the clip to her Instagram page and made sure to say something kind in the caption: “My guys pulled up on me today. make sure you check em out tonight at Helium. Full interview dropping on my youtube tonight and King ya teeth are beautiful.”
Lil Tay’s mother has spoken up about the erroneous claim two of her children had died. As previously reported, the teen rapper’s alleged death was determined to be a hoax.
A lawyer working with the family posted an official statement on Lil Tay’s Instagram, attempting to explain what was going on in the family (but not the alleged hoax), saying it was something the media exploited.
“Lorne MacLean K.C and Fraser MacLean from MacLean Law are lawyers from Vancouver, Canada. They’re helping Tay Tian’s mom, Angela Tian, with some family stuff in court,” the post starts off stating, adding “There’s been some mixed-up info in the media, so they want to set things straight about what’s happening with the family in court.”
“But, because it’s important to keep kids’ info private, they’re only giving a quick update from what went down in the British Columbia Supreme Court,” the lawyer continued.
According to the post, the law firm helped the mother secure retroactive child support from their father dating back to 2014, which is around $275,000. Each child would also get child support every month and additional expenses that might incur.
The mother would be in charge of Lil Tay’s career, signing all of her contracts and maintaining physical custody until she is of age to move out.
Speaking of moving, the lawyers got an entitlement for Lil Tay and her mother to “relocate outside of Vancouver.”
Social media responded with confusion and some overall advice. One person wrote, what many thought, “girl i thought u was dead,” while another said, “I honestly just think this girl needs to be taken off social media and given a proper childhood.”
If she gets off social media, she’ll not be able to send messages to her fans like the one on her YouTube. Lil Tay posted “help me” in her channel’s description.
Artists like CeeLo are a rarity. Not only can he rap, he can also sing and by sing, he can really sing. That coupled with his showmanship and undeniably unique voice, it’s no wonder he cut through all the noise to become a Grammy Award-winning rapper/singer. On August 11, a day recognized by many as Hip-Hop’s official birthday, CeeLo was in Ontario doing what he does best—performing.
“August 11 was definitely a day and an event worth celebrating,” he tells AllHipHop in a recent interview. “Hip-Hop has inspired and changed so many lives completely, mine included. I’m honored to be counted and to have come from its origin—the atmosphere, community, cosmic quality of hip-hop music is undeniable. I was doing my own crossover brand of Hip-Hop. I’ve been jazz and rock and punk.
“I’m just a renaissance of music at the end of the day and, ultimately, that’s probably the only classification that would suit me. I am inspired by so much music, and I incorporate so much that it can only be classified as fusion but with Hip-Hop definitely being the base paint.”
An Atlanta native, CeeLo came up as part of the Dungeon Family, the musical collective of local artists like Outkast, Big Rube, Organized Noize, Killer Mike and, of course, Goodie Mob. Together, the defined an era and truly put Southern Hip-Hop on the map, blazing a path for other Atlanta rappers to follow.
“I think that’s definitely our contribution to the culture and to community—being able to spearhead and set into motion the rise and reign of Southern Hip-Hop,” he says, confidently. “We fought those first wars, and we fought for the civil rights and the equality of Hip-Hop. And with that equality, we gave the sentiment and the sound a certain kind of quality. There was an accountability here of where we wanted to do it pridefully, effectively and successfully. It was very important to have integrity as a curriculum as we taught it to be as it flowed through and was passed down as an inheritance to the ones who wave that banner today.”
Goodie Mob released six studio albums, including their 1995 debut, Soul Food. Along with Outkast’s Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, the gold-certified album is credited with introducing Southern Hip-Hop to a mainstream audience. CeeLo would ultimately find astronomical success with Gnarls Barkley, his duo with producer Danger Mouse. In 2007, he won a Grammy for the single “Crazy,” which has sold more than four million copies in the U.S. alone. His 2010 solo single, “F### You,” brought further critical acclaim, this time selling more than seven million copies.
But it seems a career in music was always on the menu. CeeLo says he was aware of his pipes “pretty early.” As he explains, “A lot of my sheer ability [to sing] stems from not taking myself too seriously. And I’m kind of in fan mode in that, so when I love something, there’s a pride. There’s a there’s a shamelessness. And I’m saying that shines through. As a kid coming up in those households like mine—almost my entire family stayed in one house at one point so we would have a ton of talent shows in the den area, which was a garage converted—that kind of got the jitters out, being supported by your family. My mom was one of those type of people who would egg me on. I might be asleep and she’d wake me up out the bed to sing. Sometimes I enjoyed it, other times it was torture.”
Whatever the case, it worked. While he’s had ups and downs in his career, CeeLo always manages to land on his feet.
“I’m on all sides of the spectrum,” he says. “I’m doing it all. I’m doing it my way. Jack Flash and CeeLo Green—we are The Pink. Look out for Soul Assassins Part III: Death Valley. I just did the first single with DJ Muggs called “Jokers Wild.” I”m rapping and singing. I’m being my usual charming, charismatic self.”
Check out “Serious” by The Pink below and find Goodie Mob’s iconic gladiator suit up for auction here, one of many Hip-Hop collectables available via eBay and KIRPA celebrity auction house.
Hernandez Govan, the individual accused of masterminding the murder of rapper Young Dolph, recently sought to have some of his bond restrictions relaxed.
However, a judge firmly denied his request, citing concerns for Govan’s safety and the extensive publicity the case has garnered.
“You’re on those restrictions for a reason, and part of those reasons [is] for your own safety,” the judge stated during a hearing. He went on to emphasize the dangers Govan might face, noting, “Memphis Shelby County, Tennessee is the first most violent metropolitan area in the country. This case has generated a substantial amount of publicity, and if you’re running around free… somebody might be trying to kill you.”
The judge’s stern words came in response to Govan’s requests to go shopping, work full-time, and travel without restrictions.
The backstory of Govan’s involvement in Young Dolph’s murder is a complex one.
According to an article from AllHipHop.com, Govan is believed to have orchestrated the fatal shooting of Young Dolph, which took place at a Memphis bakery in November 2021.
Following his arrest in November 2022, Govan spent several months in jail without bond. It was only recently that his bond was set at $90,000, and he was placed under house arrest while awaiting trial.
Prosecutors allege that Govan ordered the hit on Young Dolph, leading to charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder against him.
Two other individuals, Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith, are accused of executing the murder.
They face charges that include first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Additionally, a fourth individual, Jermarcus Johnson, has been charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, believed to have provided payments to the gunmen.
Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy commented on the case, stating, “Our focus is on what’s going to happen to best put the case forward and make sure that justice is done.”
He further mentioned that new information regarding Govan’s role and medical conditions influenced their decisions in the case.
For more details on the hearing and the judge’s remarks, you can watch the full coverage on FOX13 Memphis’s YouTube channel.
Major figures a part of both the artist roster and label side of Top Dawg Entertainment were allegedly absent from Reason’s album release party—but he says the dust-up with TDE President Moosa isn’t to blame.
For anybody who’s late to the cookout, Reason was interrupted by Moosa while promoting his Porsches album during a live stream days before it was scheduled to drop.
Essentially, Moosa called into the live stream after Reason expressed his frustrations with his album rollout—culminating in Reason calling Moosa out for being manipulative. Moosa responded and sparked a viral exchange, questioning, “Can you name 10 Reason songs?”
It doesn’t help either that following the nearly 30-minute exchange Reason had with Moosa that he appeared on yet another media platform and dropped his hot take opinion that J. Cole will go down in history with the edge over Kendrick Lamar as an MC due to his upcoming album The Fall Off.
Assuming his notifications were blowing up on nuclear timing after the clip went viral, Reason even had to issue a statement on the matter where he essentially walked back the statement.
I genuinely hope that anybody that dives into the drake vs Kendrick vs Cole debates are only having these debates for fun. All 3 of these n##### are F##### INCREDIBLE and have provided soundtracks for our lives. Yes it’s a fun debate, but I hope y’all give y’all selves a chance…
And now, the 32-year-old rapper is claiming that not one person showed up from TDE to support him at his album release party this past week.
“Well that was what I thought would be the weirdest part,” Reason said in part about having the release party following his argument with Moosa. “But it ended up not being as bad. I had a release party—nobody showed up from the label.”
Reason continued, remarking that the only artist who actually showed up was his labelmate Ray Vaughn—however, he also says he wasn’t affected by it because it’s not as deep as you’d think.
“My bad, Ray Vaughn showed up,” he said. “Shout out to Ray Vaughn—he’s the only person from TDE that showed up. I took it as, you know, maybe n####s was just giving me space because they know how I am.”
Reason continued, further making it clear that he sincerely believes the lack of his fellow TDE member’s presence was more so a show of respect. “That’s how I took it, that’s how I genuinely took it,” he said. “I felt like it was one of those situations where, n###s kinda know me up there, I think that they kind of give me my space when I’m kind of on fire and s### like that. And that was how I took it.”
Blac Youngsta is currently mourning as his younger brother was fatally shot in Memphis at a Valero BP gas station on the South Side.
Responding officers, according to sources, say the rapper’s brother was killed shot at approximately 9:30 am in the morning and died when emergency workers arrived at the scene but are tight-lipped about why he was shot and who he was shot by.
Witnesses say that he was killed by someone driving by in a passing vehicle.
S#### TV identified the brother as Tomanuel Benson.
This is the third brother the recording artist is going to lay to rest. His brother HeavyChampTD was also killed in 2019, UrbanIslandz reported.
Another brother died in 2016. He made a tribute on his page around that time, writing, “I miss you so much lil brother. I swear to god when you died, I thought about killing myself no lie.”
Adding, “Sometimes I just wish god would have took me and not you lil brother, I just wish we could trade places. My life will never be the same without you in this s***. Just don’t feel right.”
“I change my life around lil brother. I don’t rob or sell dope no more. I’m an importing person now I don’t work for food no more little brother. I work for myself and I got our other two baby brothers out (of) the streets, and grandma and mommy not struggling no more cause I’m rich now. Baby brother, you’ll never be forgotten. As long as I’m living, you living,” Youngsta wrote.
An outpouring of prayers have been offered for the rapper and his family.
One post summed everything up in a few words.
“BlacYoungsta’s 3 younger brothers have all passed away. What a sad situation,” one person wrote.
BlacYoungsta’s 3 younger brothers have all passed away. What a sad situation 😞
The members of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony were honored with a street-naming ceremony in Cleveland on August 11. Proudly displayed at the intersection of E. 99th Street and St. Clair Avenue, the three “Bone Thugs-n-Harmony Way” street signs solidified the seismic impact the group has had on their hometown. But evidently, someone keeps stealing the signs—and now, all three are gone.
Speaking to AllHipHop, Layzie Bone admits he wasn’t exactly surprised when they started disappearing. As he explains, “To be honest, when I saw the signs going up I felt like they were coming down. They were so well put together with the name and then the group picture on the actual sign, too. I saw fans salivating to have one of their own. It felt like a piece of Bone memorabilia. Like a piece of history.”
As for who’s behind the disrespectful act—a fan or hater—Layzie Bone has his own theory. He says, “I believe the culprit or culprits behind the theft could’ve been haters or fans, but I’m leaning more toward the fans because Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s love in the city far outweigh the hate. My city is rough and tough, ‘thuggish ruggish’ even. The vibrations in the hood is low from poverty, so kids do whatever they can do to get the things they desire, and Bone memorabilia is one of those things. Those signs are probably hanging on somebody’s bedroom wall. We have work to do to uplift our community.”
According to News 5 Cleveland, the first Bone Thugs-n-Harmony Way sign was stolen on Sunday (August 13), the second on Tuesday (August 15) and the third on Thursday (August 17)—less than a week after they were put up. However, one has already been replaced. As for the solution to the problem, Layzie Bone suggests even bolting them into the pole won’t stop their rabid fanbase.
“Bolting the signs in is a temporary fix,” he says. “Bone fans are some of the most dedicated fans in the world for 30+ years. The naming of the street was just the beginning of our commitment to make a difference. Our part of the city is unfortunately the red lines part (if you know what that means). Heavy poverty causes heavy crime and la ack of opportunity, which decreases the morale. Like I said, we have work to do.
“Now that we’re established pillars in the ‘hood, we’re getting active to motivate and inspire our communities for greatness. My non-profit for helping the youth is called the In The H.O.O.D foundation. The H.O.O.D acronym stands for ‘Helping Others Overcome Differences.’ R.I.P. to our founder, Rob J. McQueen. Shout out to Krayzie Bone’s Spread the Love Foundation as well.”
T.I. is commemorating the musical embodiment of Trap Music. As a trailblazer in his own league, T.I. originated a term that evolved into a music genre embraced by the realm of Hip-Hop, particularly within his hometown of Atlanta. His second studio album, “Trap Muzik,” which dropped on August 19, 2003, marked a collaborative effort between Atlantic Records and his newly established Grand Hustle record label. During this conversation at WonWorld Studios, hosted by Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur and DJ Thoro, T.I. delves into the genesis of his contribution to the musical landscape, his discovery of camaraderie within the trap community, the role of Jeezy in defining the genre, and the commonality of all trap stars as “war on drugs” survivors. T.I. provides ample insights and context into this artistic phenomenon that is undoubtedly captivating.
T.I. also offered his Mt. Rushmore of Trap Music:
Trap Music originated in the Southern United States, particularly in the city of Atlanta, Georgia, during the early 2000s. The genre takes its name from “trap,” which refers to the environment in which illicit activities like drug dealing take (or took) place.
Trap Music is typically characterized by its use of heavy, aggressive beats, prominent hi-hats, and deep basslines. The genre often features elements of traditional Hip-Hop that often leans into use of electronic synthesizers. The beats in Trap Music are usually slower in tempo compared to traditional electronic rap music.
Lyrically, Trap Music often reflects the realities of hood life, including partying, hustling, and personal struggles. Sometimes they lyrics appear to glamorize the gritty lifestyle, but, more often than not, the artists provide insight into the challenges of these settings.
Trap Music continued to soar in popularity well into the 2010s and influenced various music genres, fashion, and even pop culture. While its roots are in the Southern United States, Trap Music has become a global phenomenon with artists and producers from all around the world creating their own interpretations of the genre. Salute.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued a warning, saying California will be hit by its first-ever tropical storm. The storm prompted a storm warning that extended from Los Angeles to the Golden State’s most Southern region.
According to CNN, the tropical storm was birthed out of the ferocious Hurricane Hilary, the first of its kind since 1939. The NHC said the storm is expected to unleash heavy rainfall and cause flooding in the Southwest, beginning on Saturday (August 19). The stronger core winds of Hilary could hit on Sunday morning (August 20), accompanied by potentially hazardous rainfall.
Southern California and Nevada might witness three to six inches of rain, with some areas getting up to 10 inches, as per the center. Other regions are predicted to receive one to three inches. The NHC cautioned that Hilary’s impactful core aside, strong winds and rain will start well before its arrival.
Many people are using this as an opportunity to address climate change.
“It would be nice if we had a pro-science president that declared a climate emergency day-1,” one person tweeted. “We also have an ongoing insurance crisis. Be ready: A significant, dangerous flash flood event could unfold in Southern California by Sunday/Monday as Hurricane Hilary approaches.”
It would be nice if we had a pro-science president that declared a climate emergency day-1. We also have an ongoing insurance crisis. Be ready: A significant, dangerous flash flood event could unfold in Southern California by Sunday/Monday as Hurricane Hilary approaches. #cawxpic.twitter.com/c4gajIPrTe
Others are giving updates. As one explained, “Here are the 8 PM PDT Friday Key Messages for Hurricane #Hilary. Life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flooding likely over much of Baja California and the Southwestern United States this weekend and early next week.”
Here are the 8 PM PDT Friday Key Messages for Hurricane #Hilary. Life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flooding likely over much of Baja California and the Southwestern United States this weekend and early next week. pic.twitter.com/PeB2WbvI9F
Beastie Boys exploded onto the Hip-Hop scene in 1986 with their one and only Def Jam Recordings release, Licensed To Ill. The album was a massive success and put King Ad-Rock, Mike D and MCA on the map. And while Licensed To Ill was full of party anthems and irreverence, ensuing albums Paul’s Boutique (1989), Check Your Head (1992) and Ill Communication (1994) established the group as serious musicians.
The Beasties took a break from recording for a few years but re-emerged with Hello Nasty in 1998 and a new DJ—Mix Master Mike. Once again, the Beasties had another hit on their hands, and Hello Nasty was certified 3x-platinum just two months after its release. Two additional albums—To the 5 Boroughs (2004) and The Mix-Up (2007)—followed, but in 2009, as the Beastie Boys were getting ready to release Hot Sauce Committee Part 1, MCA was diagnosed with cancer in his left salivary gland.
“I just need to take a little time to get this in check, and then we’ll release the record and play some shows,” he said in a written statement at the time. “It’s a pain in the neck (sorry had to say it) because I was really looking forward to playing these shows, but the doctors have made it clear that this is not the kind of thing that can be put aside to deal with later.”
It was the beginning of the end. In April 2012, right before the release of Hot Sauce Committee Part Two, MCA was forced to sit out their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It was a sign of what was to come. MCA died a month later. Needless to say, Mix Master Mike, Mike D and Ad-Rock really didn’t want to go to the Rock Hall ceremony. It didn’t feel right.
“During that time, I knew he wasn’t doing so well,” Mix Master Mike tells AllHipHop. “So at the moment, we’re on standby. We were like, ‘Oh, s###. When’s that day going to come?’ It was actually got to a point where it’s like, there’s nothing they could do. We were all in this weird space. And being at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was a weird space. I really didn’t care. Like none of us really cared about it. We were just going with it.
“And actually, the boys were gangster about that situation. They were asked to be part of the Rock Hall of Fame two or three years prior, and they denied it. I’m just like, ‘Wow, you guys are probably the only dudes that’s denied the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honor.’ Yeah, that was f###ing gangster.”
At that point, they felt like an induction signaled the end, and they had more to do. While Beastie Boys were ultimately inducted by LL COOL J and Chuck D, MCA’s absence was overwhelming. His death just a few weeks later was paralyzing.
As Mike D, Ad-Rock, Mix Master Mike and all those who loved him grieved, it was unclear how the Beasties would move forward. Understandably, they didn’t. Unlike De La Soul—who lost Trugoy the Dove in February—Mike D and Ad-Rock didn’t continue performing under the Beastie Boys name. They didn’t put out any music nor did they promise an eventual reunion.
“It was just a weird, weird time,” Mike adds. “But yeah, it happened and we were devastated. We just had to adapt to that reality of him being gone.”
While the Beastie Boys career came to an abrupt end, Mix Master Mike wasn’t ready to give up. In July 2021, he had an idea. As he explains, “I pushed to make something happen—and this is something that people don’t know. I actually reached out to Eminem. I called him and Paul [Rosenberg], and I pushed for a song. I had the beat made and everything. It was gonna be Beastie Boys, Eminem and a Mix Master Mike track. Eminem was like, ‘Let’s f###### go.’ I was spearheading this, so I brought it to Mike and Ad-Rock’s attention.”
But Mike D and Ad-Rock had some reservations. He continues, “They were like, ‘It’s kind of weird we don’t have Yauch anymore, so we feel a way that out of respect of Adam that we don’t do it.’ I’m like, ‘What are you talking about? Adam would love this.’ I was really trying to push this. It would have been f###ing insane. I was like, ‘Mike just give me 32 bars. Just rap.’ But I respected their wish to not do it. Our captain is not here anymore. But maybe if I push it again, who knows?
“I was in the process of getting bars from Eminem. He was so pumped cause these are his heroes. I was kind of fulfilling his dream. I’m the gatekeeper of his dream. I felt that was a responsibility on my behalf to present that to him. The great white hopes of Hip-Hop [laughs].”
In the meantime, Mix Master Mike is focused on his upcoming documentary, an audiobook, a book and touring with Godsmack, Ad-Rock is “low-key” scoring films and Mike D is helming The Echo Chamber on Apple Music. If all else fails, Mix Master Mike jokes he has a plan B.
“I had a plot that I would go and kidnap Adam [Ad-Rock],” he says with a chuckle. “I was kind of plotting it like a Grand Theft Auto thing. I was gonna kidnap Adam and bring him to my studio and not bring him home. Like, ‘We’re making music. That’s what we’re doing. I’ll feed you, you have a shower, you have everything you need [laughs].'”
In April, Ad-Rock did tease the possibility of sharing some unreleased Beastie Boys music during an interview with Kreative Kontrol. When asked about the status of Hot Sauce Committee Part One, he said, “We actually have a whole full album. I’m not even kidding.” When pressed for further details, he admitted, “That I can’t disclose, but I can tell you, with all honesty, there is a whole other album.” For now, we’ll just have to wait and see.
So So Def label founder Jermaine Dupri becomes the latest Hip-Hop veteran to express complaints about the culture’s 50th-anniversary celebrations.
Fans, performers, and media figures from around the world commemorated the day widely recognized as Hip-Hop’s birthday – August, 11. However, Jermaine Dupri indicated he expected more corporate-sponsored activities in his hometown.
“Just for the record! No brands have done any dinners or get-togethers in Atlanta celebrating the 50 anniversary of Hip-Hop. That’s Crazy!!!” posted Dupri on the X platform.
Jermaine Dupri also reposted a social media user who wrote, “It is truly insane how Coke doesn’t take advantage of things like this when it comes to Atlanta. They’re right here.”
Just for the record! no brands have done any dinners or get togethers in Atlanta celebrating the 50 anniversary of HipHop That’s Crazy!!!
The City of Atlanta did offer several Hip-Hop 50 events during the month of August. For example, Atlanta officials partnered with the Coca-Cola Company-owned Sprite to present the free “ATL 50 Hip Hop: Yesterday, Today and (404)ever Concert” on the 13th.
Jermaine Dupri took part in “ATL 50 Hip-Hop” performances at the Lakewood Amphitheater. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens hosted the show which also featured T.I., Goodie Mob, Crime Mob and other local legends.
According to atl50hiphop.com, Atlanta also partnered with Amazon, Mercedes Benz and more brands to sponsor the “ATL 50 Hip-Hop” campaign. Mayor Dickens stated, “It’s only fitting the City of Atlanta joins our community in celebrating the industry and culture we helped shape and helped shape us.”
Shad “Bow Wow” Moss asked a judge to throw out a lawsuit, which accused him of fleecing a child rapper for $3,000. According to Radar Online, Moss denied any involvement in the scam in a court filing in Georgia.
Last month, a man named Steven Roberson sued Bow Wow. Roberson claimed he paid Moss to record a verse for the plaintiff’s daughter’s song “Daddy’s Girl.”
Roberson sent $3,000 to someone he assumed was Bow Wow via Cash App in 2021. No verse was ever sent back, prompting Roberson to file a lawsuit.
Bow Wow insisted he never dealt with Roberson when the allegations surfaced in July. Moss said he didn’t even have a Cash App account. He assumed someone used his name to scam Roberson.
“I don’t conduct business on apps,” Bow Wow wrote on Twitter. “I do NOT use or have cash app. So if you ain’t call management and send a wire .. you def was NOT dealing w me. Be careful who y’all send y’all’s money to online. This happens everyday to folks. This the 3rd time somebody acting like me catfishing people.”
Roberson sought $15,000 in damages. Bow Wow wanted the claims against him dismissed, but he intended to cover his own legal fees.
Darius Jackson denied approving any press statement about the status of his relationship with Keke Palmer on Friday (August 18). Jackson spoke out after reports claiming he “moved on” surfaced this week.
“I haven’t spoken to anyone about anything or gave permission to anyone to speak for me,” he wrote on Twitter. “So all these sites & post about me making any type of statement is false.”
People and Radar Online were among the websites citing sources saying Jackson “moved on” from Keke Palmer, who gave birth to their first child in February. The couple’s relationship has been under scrutiny since he publicly criticized her for wearing a revealing outfit to an Usher show in July.
“It’s the outfit tho,” he wrote in reaction to a clip of Usher serenading her. “You a mom.”
Jackson’s comment sparked outrage on social media. He defended his remarks amid the backlash.
“We live in a generation where a man of the family doesn’t want the wife & mother to his kids to showcase booty cheeks to please others & he gets told how much of a hater he is,” he wrote. “This is my family & my representation. I have standards & morals to what I believe. I rest my case.”
Keke Palmer embraced the controversy by selling merchandise with the phrase “I’m a motha” on it. She also starred in the music video for Usher’s new single “Boyfriend.”
A singer-songwriter sued French Montana for allegedly failing to pay her for a sample. According to Billboard, Skylar Gudasz claimed the rapper released his song “Blue Chills” with an unlicensed sample of her track “Femme Fatale.”
The lawsuit said French Montana agreed to compensate Gudasz for the sample but never did. Clearance specialist Deborah Mannis-Gardner contacted the singer-songwriter to clear the sample in May 2022.
Gudasz and her lawyer worked out a deal where she would be paid more than $7,000 in upfront fees, .08 percent of master royalties and 50 percent of the copyright for “Blue Chills.” French Montana allegedly dropped the song before the deal was finalized.
“Despite repeated promises from defendants …. no signed agreement, fees, royalties, licensing agreements or monies have ever been sent to plaintiff,” the lawsuit contended.
Gudasz contacted Mannis-Gardner at one point to rectify the situation. The music industry executive said she would touch base with French Montana’s attorney, but the matter was never settled.
“The unauthorized and infringing use by defendants of the song ‘Femme Fatale’ has caused irreparable harm, damage and injury,” attorneys argued in the lawsuit. “Plaintiff has been deprived of the rightful experience of benefitting and enjoying the fruits of her labor.”
French Montana’s “Blue Chills” appeared on his 2022 album Montega. Harry Fraud produced the entire project.
The Donda Academy continues to face legal drama. The former assistant principal is reportedly fixed on seeing Kanye West in court for breach of contract. The administrator is also vowing to fight to the end, and his lawyers aren’t backing down to any pressure from Ye’s attorneys.
According to Patch, the first tactic Ye’s team tried to play was to have the judge dismiss Isaiah Meadow’s lawsuit. They argue the case should be thrown out because the complaint is actually outside of the statute of limitations.
Meadows and his lawyers disagree. They say their lawsuit addresses Ye and the Donda Academy’s breach of contract and state Labor Code violations. One complaint was about the very peculiar ways of the “College Dropout” rapper.
As noted in the lawsuit, Kanye didn’t like glass and allegedly refused to fix a broken skylight. Consequently, rain soaked the floor and hit exposed electrical and telephone wires.
Meadows says Yeezy told him to lease a $60,000 home in Calabasas and he would reimburse him. He reneged on this paying the educator’s rent— leaving him with the bill. While West has a heavy-hitting legal team, so does Meadows.
Spearheading Meadow’s defense is Ronald Zambrano, who’s also representing three ex-dancers from Lizzo’s camp. These dancers have leveled allegations of sexual harassment and the establishment of an unfriendly work environment against the musician.
“We are aware of the response to Mr. Meadows’ lawsuit filed by Ye and his attorneys this week,” Zambrano said in a statement. “It changes nothing. We stand by our case and the allegations contained in the complaint and are looking forward to taking this to trial.”
Carson City’s TRUF is ready to release his latest single, “When The Last Time” featuring the legendary Suga Free,. TRUF knew he had to come correct on this collaboration, so his production team created a beat tailored specifically for Suga Free’s one-of-a-kind style.
Suga did his thing, and TRUF came up with the catchy hook on the spot, no pen and paper needed. And the end result is a true West Coast classic-in-the-making with BIG PIMP ENERGY.
As TRUF explained in a recent interview, “I was in Puerto Rico the next week and they called me and said that the song was done. I was like, ‘Wow. Crazy. I got the real Suga Free, the Suga Free that I grew up to.’ When you do features with an artist, you never know what type of verse they’re gonna give you, but he gave me an official OG West Coast Suga Free Pomona verse. He killed it.”
After their chemistry on the track, the dynamic duo linked up to shoot a music video set in a luxury car rental spot with fly whips and a bevy of models as car saleswomen.
TRUF is an artist on his own grind with a powerful vision for his new project, and the fire of “When The Last Time” is just the beginning. His album Undeniable has been in the works for four long years. He’s cooked up more than 200 tracks, honing his skills and perfecting his craft.
When the opportunity came to sign a record deal with Compound Interest alongside signees like DJ Quik and produce his final version, he had to choose the cream of the crop, the top 15 tracks that would make his album a classic.
This is no ordinary drop-and-forget album. TRUF is here to change the game, to make music that stands the test of time.
With impressive features from The Game, Suga Free and Boosie Badazz, he’s put his heart and soul into this project, and he’s ready to show the world what he’s made of.
As the artist explains, “I want everybody to know that they are not alone, because I know it’s millions of people that think hip-hop sucks now. I know it. I want them to know that I’m coming. I’m coming to save the day like f**king Batman. I am here to do real music, I’m here to go against the grain, none of my songs are going to sound like these other songs that are out right now. I’m just in a whole other lane.”
Here are the top 10 services for Spotify submission
One Submit
Playlistpump
MySphera
Indiemono
TuneMunk
MusicVertising
Soave Records
Playlist push
Independent Music Promotions
Cyber PR
With more than 345 million monthly active users globally, Spotify is the biggest music streaming platform. Spotify has more than 155 million paid users and it offers a catalog of over 70 million tracks across a wide range of music genres.
How big is Spotify compared to its competitors? Apple Music has more than 85 million users, while Tidal and Deezer have a few million users each.
Spotify has changed the music industry, and as of today, artists don’t need to be signed to major labels in order to succeed and promote their musical careers.
If you are releasing new music as an independent artist, you cannot afford NOT to be on Spotify, It is also very important to be on the platform as an artist and manage your profile so your music, follow your statistics, understand where your new fans are coming from, and decide how to take future decisions regarding your musical career.
The Power of Spotify Playlists
Spotify’s playlist placement has disrupted the traditional way of promoting music, offering independent artists a way to promote their music, reach out to playlist curators, and grow as artists while staying independent. This wasn’t available for independent artists one decade ago, and that’s a big game changer for the music industry. By the way, Spotify playlist curators can also build a career from managing playlists, gain followers and make an earning from managing their musical assets, but that’s for another article.
Before we share our Top Spotify promotion services, it’s important to explain what kind of playlists are there, which services are legit, and which are not.
So what kinds of playlists are there, and how do I submit music to them?
There are three types of Spotify playlists: playlists created by users, algorithmic, and editorial.
Playlists created by users
These are individually curated playlists that were made by Spotify users.
Every user has the ability to create their own playlists, and they may decide whether to make them public or private.
The majority of users are casual users who organize their playlists by musical style or theme for enjoyment. Some Spotify users make playlists for more business-related purposes; for instance, they create playlists for bars, restaurants, music charts, workouts, various companies, etc.
The more popular the playlists are, the more exposure your music will get when it is included on one of them.
There is a whole ecosystem of Spotify playlisters and curators since these playlists have grown to be in great demand for independent artists over the past several years.
Some of these playlists are natural and authentic, with real followers, while others are built using fake or bot followers.
Algorithmic Playlists
The Spotify algorithm keeps track of every time you like a song, play it repeatedly, follow an artist, or save a song. Spotify makes a customized playlist based on the listener’s musical preferences using the data gathered. Usually, when an artist gets a lot of streams and likes for his new song, Spotify’s algorithm recognizes this and starts to add the song to his algorithmic playlists. This could be good news for the artist who manages to get his song on algorithmic playlists.
There are three kinds of algorithmic playlists: Discover Weekly, Daily Mix and Release Radar.
Editorial Playlists
The playlists that the editorial team at Spotify creates are known as editorial playlists. Since they have the most followers, they are regarded as the top Spotify playlists. Because Spotify placed the most popular playlists there, they are the first options when you search for a playlist. As a result, users’ listening habits prefer to stream these playlists. The majority of the songs on these playlists are big singles, well-liked songs, or brand-new songs by well-known musicians like Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, Tove Lo, or Michael Jackson. Read more on how to get on Spotify editorial playlists.
Most of the playlist promotion platforms on the market offer Spotify promotions for playlists created by users. You might find some services that offer playlist submission to algorithmic playlists, but these are, in most cases, frauds, so stay away from them.
There’s a way to submit music to the Spotify editorial playlist, that can be done throughout your artist dashboard on your Spotify profile, and you can currently submit only your unreleased music. Google about it for more information.
Which services should you avoid at all costs?
You should always avoid any service that offers you guaranteed playlist submissions, streams, or followers. These are bot-based services, and using them could lead to your account being disabled by Spotify.
Think of it this way: If a playlist would add songs based on a client payment and not based on the quality of the song, it is most likely that this playlist would be terrible and no one would like to listen to it. So as a general rule, when choosing a music promotion service, never choose one that guarantees playlist submission in return for payment.
This article is about the top legit music marketing services that offer artists with new music a way to create a playlist promotion campaign.
Here are the top 10 services for Spotify submission
One Submit
One submit is a Spotify promotion service that helps artists submit music for playlist consideration in an easy and efficient way, with the option to submit music to big playlists with more than 50,000 followers.
As well as submitting music to Spotify playlists, the platform also offers music promotion to TikTok influencers, music blogs, YouTube music channels, radio stations, and labels. Your music is sent only to independent curators, and for every music submission, you will receive a written review from the curator. If he likes your music, he will add it to his or her playlist. The platform works in multiple genres, including hip-hop, pop, rock, classic, dance, electronic music, and more.
Playlistpump
is an independent playlist marketing and PR firm with the tools to get you heard. They connect the dots for our artists and curators to optimize visibility and streaming statistics thanks to our enormous partners, access to millions of followers across Spotify playlists, Apple Music playlists, TikTok playlists, and a very broad independent playlist network.
MySphera
is an independent marketing and PR firm with the tools to get you heard. They connect the dots for our artists and curators to optimize visibility and streaming statistics thanks to our enormous partners, access to millions of followers across Spotify playlists, Apple Music playlists, TikTok playlists, and a very broad independent playlist network.
They have different plans for campaigns, from $20 to $135.
Indiemono
A number of genre-specific playlists, such as pop, rock, indie, and electronic music playlists, are available on the well-known Spotify playlist submission website known as Indiemono. They offer a straightforward submission form on their website and accept entries from independent artists.
TuneMunk
A platform for promoting music called Tune Munk offer you to submit your new release to a range of Spotify playlists, including ones for different moods and events as well as playlists that are categorized by genre. They provide independent artists with both free and paid submission options.
MusicVertising
MusicVertising is an agency offering music promotion for artists, with different services Independent musicians can submit their playlists for free or for a fee using MusicVertising’s playlist submission services. They collaborate with a number of playlist curators and offer a selection of playlists that are particular to various genres, such as hip-hop, rock, and electronic music. Press releases and social media marketing are two other promotional services that MusicVertising provides.
Soave Records
Soave Records has been around for a few years now. it has a vast range of playlists with a nice number of followers and listeners. They have a section for new artists to drop a demo and hopefully get promoted on one of their playlists. They do not accept submissions directly to playlists, but you can submit your song to their label. The service accepts only unreleased tracks.
Playlist push
Playlistpush offers TikTok and Spotify campaigns, they work similar to One Submit. Prices range from $11 per submission, and campaigns are starting at $300, but bear in mind that prices are changing all the time. The service exists since 2017 and it offers playlist submissions to Spotify curators.
Independent Music Promotions
Their services are based on an SEO-oriented strategy. The service promises a variety of written music reviews, interviews, radio additions, music podcast features, shoutouts, social shares, and streaming playlists in each campaign. They represent our clients with an art-first mindset and enjoy curating exciting new music, according to their website. Service is more PR and it is based on pay for consideration.
Cyber PR
Cyber PR is a press agency to promote your music. They offer Spotify promotion and music marketing, and in addition to coaching artists through the modern music industry and managing social media posting and growth strategies, They develop long-term marketing programs dubbed Total Tuneups, help with the musician’s bio, websites, and more. They are not self-service like most of the services we’ve mentioned here, but they have a personal, old-school touch.
Just before creating your campaign
In some cases, when using these legit services, your song will be rejected by the curators. We know it could be disappointing and frustrating, but bear in mind that for most of the services we’ve mentioned in the article, you will receive a review from the curator, If you are willing to take the advice and consider it, this could be very effective feedback for your next song production.
We hope this article was helpful in choosing the right service to submit your music to independent playlist curators. It is important to say that if you have an unreleased track, you’ll need to get it on the different streaming platforms, prior to submitting it to the different music marketing platforms and to the Spotify curators. Be sure your release date isn’t old enough and you are submitting music to playlists that are similar to your music genre.
Sprite has had a relationship with Hip-Hop for years. They’ve tossed endorsement deals left and right and locked in on milestone movements in the culture to show the brand’s alignment. It starts as far back as 1986 with Kurtis Blow and the “Now More Than Ever” campaign.
All one has to do is look at the KRS-One vs. MC Shan “Rhyme For Rhyme” campaign they ran in the ’90s to show the company isn’t new to this but “true to this.”
As previously reported, Sprite presented a campaign called “Icon’s Delight” in honor of Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary earlier this year. As the title suggests, it included a spin on The Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight,” Eric B. & Rakim’s “Don’t Sweat the Technique” and Latto’s “Big Energy.”
Now, the soda company has dropped a 3:44-minute clip of Latto’s tribute to Eric B. & Rakim’s “Don’t Sweat the Technique,” the title track from the duo’s 1992 album. In the promotion, Latto and Rakim sit together to talk about the legendary song. The “God MC” tells Latto he came up with the title of the track as a slick way of getting at his biters.
“So I was new in the game, doing my thing,” he says. “I started realizing everybody was kind of catching on to what I was doing. Some of them seemed to be biting. Like you’re gonna hear a bunch of you know Latto impersonator soon. So, you know I mean that was my little sarcastic remark like ‘don’t sweat my technique,’ don’t sweat what I do.’”
The legend says he would have never thought Latto “would be rhyming on” his hit song. She admits she was “nervous as hell” to be on the song but decided not to imitate anyone else but to talk from her own perspective. As she explains, “You can’t go wrong with you saying your story, you know.”
Doja Cat has recently faced backlash on social media, causing her to lose a ton of followers. It seems like close to 800,000 “fans” have decided to unfollow her. Why? You remember her fans wanted to be called “Kittenz,” but she wasn’t with that. She hated it so much she basically told them to get a life. “My fans don’t get to name themselves s–t,” she said in June. And then she dug in even more. “If you call yourself a ‘Kitten’ or f–king ‘Kittenz’ that means you need to get off your phone and get a job and help your parents with the house,” she stabbed farther.
Doja didn’t apologize nor retract her statements. She has actually doubled down and feels good about it. The singer/rapper believes that shedding these fake fans allows her to be her true self. In a recent Instagram post, she expounded on her position. “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 on Instagram. “I feel free.”
Confident in her genuine supporters, she forges ahead. In an audio clip, she said, “I don’t care if you like my music or not. There’s a lot of people I don’t like who I listen to their music, and there’s a lot of people I don’t know that I listen to their music. If I knew them, I probably wouldn’t like them.”
The situation has sparked conversations about the dynamics between artists and their fans, especially on social media. Doja Cat is truly different and really holds her position even though she has lost a lot of following on social media. She has even demanded her personal life was off limits. But will this really hurt Doja Cat?
A massive social media followings doesn’t always translate into substantial record sales. The number of followers doesn’t even always correlate with genuine engagement or support. Doja Cat seems to make the distinction between nosey followers and dedicated supporters.
Her new song, “Paint The Town Red,” has 11 million views on YouTube alone. Somebody is supporting.
