Jonathan Majors is reportedly denying any involvement in fresh abuse allegations. The 33-year-old actor was arrested in Manhattan in March and charged with assault and aggravated harassment in relation to an alleged domestic dispute with a 30-year-old woman.
He has always maintained his innocence.
Rolling Stone published a bombshell report involving more than 40 sources who have allegedly known the “Creed III” star. In the report, several sources alleged he’d been abusive in two prior relationships. They claimed he allegedly strangled one woman he was dating and was mentally and emotionally abusive during their time together.
The second woman allegedly described her relationship with Majors to friends as “emotional torture.” He was also accused of abusive behavior toward crew members on his sets and colleagues during his time at Yale’s David Geffen School of Drama.
Responding to the claims, Majors’ attorney Dustin A. Pusch said, “Jonathan Majors vehemently denies Rolling Stone’s false allegations that he physically, verbally, or emotionally abused anyone, let alone any of his past romantic partners.
“These allegations are based entirely on hearsay because neither of the romantic partners referenced were willing to engage with Rolling Stone for the article—demonstrating their outright falsity.”
The Weeknd considers The Idol to be “almost educational” about the price of fame. The HBO drama, which the singer co-created, follows a troubled pop star named Jocelyn, played by Lily-Rose Depp, who becomes seduced and brainwashed by a nightclub owner and cult leader called Tedros.
The Weeknd, who plays Tedros, admitted to Variety that working on the show has made him look at fame differently, and he hopes it will open people’s eyes to what the experience is actually like.
“Well, my goal was for people to feel that way when they watch it, you know, and that they’ll reassess (fame),” he said. “It’s almost educational that this is what comes with being incredibly famous. You’re surrounded by people who you’re not sure what their true intentions are, even if it seems like they’re good. You just never know.”
Noting how his situation is different from Jocelyn’s, he added, “I’ve been very fortunate to have people around me that I’ve known almost my entire life, which is important and is a gift.”
In the show, Jocelyn is surrounded by yes-people, except for Jane Adams’ brutally honest record executive Nikki Katz.
“Nothing is worse than a yes-man, especially when you have a bunch of yes-men around you. And when you see a character like Nikki, who’s not a yes-man, she might seem like a bad person, but then you kind of like her for being honest,” he stated.
”The Idol” has received many negative reviews—with some calling it “hot garbage”—over the course of its broadcast, but the Canadian singer insisted the reaction was “very much expected.”
There’s a new sub-genre of rap music being birthed out of Memphis, a combination of both Hip-Hop and blues. Al Kapone, who’s behind the “Whoop That Trick,” is working magic in the studio by combining both genres of music to come up with something fresh for his new album. Not only is he introducing a new flow of music but also his new name, Big Al.
“You know you got Al Kapone, Al Kapeezy, oh boy, now we gone add Big Al,” Al Kapone said when trying to explain it, adding, “The only thing that makes it different is Hip-Hop is bass heavy, the drums and of course, you’re rapping. Blues is more instrumentation and a lot more singing.”
Big Al says he has been polishing this sound since 2020, believing he’s the first one who is “fully locked into it.” In 2020, there was one effort to merge the two sounds out of the Mississippi Delta.
Fat Possum/Epitaph put out an album called New Beats From The Delta featuring Hip-Hop versions of songs by Junior Kimbrough, CeDell Davis, T-Model Ford and Johnny Farmer. Hip-Hop producers like Organized Noize, Big Oomp and Tha Go were tapped for this project.
Big Al said he’s going to change the game and influence others, per Action News 5.
“Any young artist out there that gets a dose of what I’m doing, I would say that I’m definitely laying the blueprint out where they can take it and take it to the next level,” Big Al said. “That’s why I’ve been taking my time to really make sure it sounds the way it wants to be heard. And to respect the blues and respect the Memphis Hip-Hop fusion that makes sure I’m giving them both their love and respect.”
Big Al hopes his new untitled project will be released in September.
Drake and 21 Savage released their joint album Her Loss last November. The following March, the duo announced they were hitting the road as part of It’s All A Blur Tour. The run was originally scheduled to begin on June 29 in Memphis, but Drake delayed the kick-off until August.
The announcement arrived earlier this week and, of course, some of his fans were disappointed. But evidently, Drake doesn’t want to hear any 21 Savage slander.
On Saturday (July 1), Drake shared an old clip of himself to his Instagram Stories pretending to shoot a gun during what looks like an audition. He wrote at the top, “If anyone got beef with Savage on tour this is how I’m coming. Be warned.”
Drake is receiving from blow back for the tour delay, but his team is working diligently to reschedule everything. The June 29 show will now take place on August 6, while the July 1 show in Columbus, Ohio will go down on October 9. Based on the new arrangements of dates, the tour begins on July 5 in Chicago, a week later than expected.
Drake nor 21 Savage have explained why the delays are happening. The tour has already been pushed back once in April, from June 16 to the July 29. This isn’t the first time Drake has pulled a last-minute delay. In 2018, Drake delayed his tour with Migos for two weeks.
50 Cent suffered a major legal loss this week. On Friday (June 30), U.S. District Judge Vanessa Bryant threw out the mogul’s $32 million malpractice lawsuit against U.S. law firm Reed Smith and its former partner Peter Raymond. He argued Smith lifted an “uninformed” legal strategy in a legal matter that wound up costing him $7 million, Reuters reports.
The Queens native said the lawyers’ loyalties were divided because one of the potential witnesses in the case was Rick Ross, someone one of them had represented in the past.
The attorneys worked with 50 Cent when he was sued for releasing a sex tape on social media as a part of his beef with the Maybach Music Group executive.
50 Cent believed the conflict of interest may have been the reason that Ross never testified in the case. As a result, he fired the lawyers in March 2015. In July of that year, he lost and was mandated to pay $7 million in damages.
A ripple effect happened after the case fell through. Three days after the ruling, 50 Cent filed for bankruptcy in Connecticut, and Reed Smith filed a claim against the “Get Rich or Die Tryin’” recording artist for unpaid fees to the firm.
Bryant said her decision was based on 50’s inability to prove or express how these divided loyalties led to him losing at trial.
“Without more, the court cannot conclude the conflict of interest impacted counsel’s discovery strategy, or that the conflict caused Jackson to lose at trial,” the federal judge said.
Michael “Killer Mike” Render released his self-titled Michael album on June 16. Anthony Fantano reviewed the project on his TheNeedleDrop YouTube page.
Anthony Fantano gave Michael a 6/10 score. At one point in his video review, the Connecticut native essentially accused Killer Mike of being a hypocrite for rapping about progressive politics while also chastising people who disagree with him politically for being poor.
“If you’re familiar with Killer Mike, you know he’s no stranger to throwing political views out there. On previous records, I feel like that mostly worked in his favor,” said Fantano. “But on Michael, I’m kinda scratching my head because I feel like a lot of it isn’t fully lining up.”
Fantano later added, “Are you 12 years old? Are you literally a 12-year-old boy? If you took these lyrics and you showed them to me and told me they were some kinda MAGA rapper from the internet, I would have to believe you.”
In addition, Anthony Fantano took issue with Killer Mike mentioning that he is a landlord on the “Spaceship Views” track featuring Curren$y, 2 Chainz, and Kaash Paige. The 37-year-old commentator also said, “Mike seems especially at odds with himself sometimes and it’s a little confusing.”
One social media user called out Anthony Fantano for his critique of Michael and his 6/10 rating. The @da_yout_Idyllik Twitter account tagged Killer Mike and Fantano in a tweet that defended Mike presenting “braggadocious rap” on his new LP.
“His opinion on a life and culture [he] cannot possibly understand is laughable and shows you the arrogance of the outsider or colonizer. I encourage all to listen and feel something special. #MICHAEL a truly Black Southern American experience,” tweeted Killer Mike about Fantano.
Michael received a 79/100 critics score on Metacritic.com which signifies generally favorable reviews. Killer Mike’s sixth studio LP debuted at No. 58 on the Billboard 200 chart. Michael also landed at No. 18 on the Billboard Top Rap Albums chart.
Previously, Killer Mike achieved a personal best on the Billboard 200 when 2003’s Monster peaked at No. 10. He also has another No. 10-peaking entry with 2020’s RTJ4 as part of Run The Jewels with producer/rapper El-P. The duo averages an 85/100 Metacritic score. Mike averages 81/100.
His Opinion on a life and culture cannot possibly understand is laughable and shows you the arrogance of the outsider or colonizer. I encourage all to listen and feel something special. #MICHAEL a truly Black Southern American experience
We interviewed Boosie last month and he made it seem like he and Tip were all good. He did not exactly shoot down their collaboration, but he said they were moving forward. They are in a good space. We fans want this album! For the record, the interview is great.
So, a few things have happened since this interview, most notably Boosie getting arrested. He is now out on bail and seems to be confident he will beat the gun charges levied against him. ANYWAY… let’s move on to why you are here. I certainly did not put Tip or Boosie in the headline!
Young Thug put out that he wants the collaboration album between the two southern Kings. Remember they got in a tiff over snitching and Boosie admittedly got it wrong. But, now I am hearing that Tip no longer wants to do it. They are working on a reality TV situation that Boosie talks about in our interview, and that seems to be the most important. Peep what Thugger had to say below.
Currently incarcerated rapper Young Thug dropped his third studio LP, Business Is Business, on June 23. The project includes beats by Metro Boomin, Wheezy, London on da Track, Dr. Luke, Southside, and more.
According to Southside, Business Is Business came together rather quickly. The member of the Atlanta-based 808 Mafia production team recently spoke to TMZ about Young Thug’s latest album.
“A short time, a week, two weeks,” answered Southside when asked how long it took Thug to make Business Is Business. He continued, “You know we move quick. We work real fast. Shout out to Metro.”
Southside and Metro Boomin co-produced the Business Is Business track “Hoodie” featuring BSlime and Lil Gotit. In addition, Business Is Business (Metro’s Version) contained bonus tracks not on the original edition.
Plus, Southside confirmed Young Thug recorded some of his vocals for Business Is Business over the phone. The veteran record producer, also known as Sizzle, said he prays Thugger secures a No. 1 single off the album.
Previously, Thug peaked at No. 1 on three different occasions. Two of his solo efforts – 2019’sSo Much Funand 2021’s Punk – each spent one week atop the chart. TheSlime Language 2 compilation from YSL Records also remained at No. 1 for a week.
Business Is Business has guest appearances by Drake, Future, 21 Savage, Travis Scott, Lil Uzi Vert, and others. Nicki Minaj and the late Juice Wrld show up on the extended Metro Boomin version of the 300 Entertainment-backed album.
Vandes Jackson has released the dynamic new single “Genius” featuring Malawi native SouthEast! The duo teams up in the studio for a rockstar state of mind.
Back in February of this year, Los Angeles artist Vandes Jackson dropped his I Apologize project featuring Killah Priest, Sean Kingston and more. Today, hepremieres his new video for “Genius” featuring Malawi native SouthEast! With a collaboration project on the way, we’re looking forward to hearing more of this unique sound.
Directed by Jamie Richards, the video commences with a thunderous drop of an exclusive Vandes Jackson production with an anthemic chord progression. The catchy beat is followed by a verse of enlightenment into the atmospheric space of Vandes’ ambition and creative approach to life.
SouthEast! follows up with an incredible performance encompassing the polyrhythms with guided adlibs, and a gifted approach. “These are my typical studio sessions. The body sculpture is a true work of art. Rockstar Trap Music II is on the way this fall. All of this could only be crafted by a true Genius” said Vandes. We’re looking forward to hearing more from the multi-faceted prodigy.
The boxing exhibition trend keeps rolling on and we can only hope the hill stops this boulder.
Tonight we got Roy Jones, Jr. stepping into the ring against this 240-pound bodybuilder – NDO Champ. NDO is swole but his boxing skills are limited, and Roy is a hall-of-fame boxer. People wondered if the younger man would be able to beat the former pound-for-pound world champ! Keep reading!
This fight was supposed to be historic because it took place in a virtual ring using some fancy-schmancy technology. What was not historic was that it was a pay-per-view scrap that cost $19.99! WORD? I checked it out and I was saddened for a number of reasons! Keep reading!
It was a circus. I have to keep it a buck: it is sad to see the once untouchable and brilliant Jones stoop to this. Secondly the visuals in the metaverse looked cartoonish, like a video game from 15 years ago and there was a fake audience with the cheers. Thirdly, the fight ended in a stoppage. The stoppage came after a quick flurry of punches from Jones that seemed to hit like a feather duster. NDO was not in any danger whatsoever. It should be noted that the “referee” was Montell Griffin. Big boxing fans will remember that Griffin “beat” Roy in another fiasco of a fight where the champ was disqualified. Roy would demolish him in a rematch. Griffin immediately started to promote himself in a NEW fight with Roy rather than explain what he was on to render a stoppage at a time when the fight was just getting slightly interesting. This was a travesty. Keep reading!
Who else remembers when Roy and Mike Tyson did their exhibition a couple of years back? That one pulled in some serious numbers and resembled a competitive fight between a pair of older men. But this was a rapidly aging 54-year-old former champ fighting a social media influencer and bodybuilder. This was probably the most embarrassing exhibition in boxing history. I take nothing from NDO or Roy as individuals, but this should never happen again. Keep reading!
Anyway, we helped promote this thing. Get to know NDO because he is a great guy! He was disappointed at the end, as he should have been.
So, here’s the deal: Earlier in the week Cam’ron entered into the Jim Jones vs. Pusha T beef. He made it clear that he’s not going against his fam, Jimmy. But, what promptyed this? We’ll get into it.
Cam’ron went on to say that they shouldn’t bring up what he has said about Jim in the past and weaponize it. He told Pusha T to step into the recording booth and get busy. He acknowledged that Pusha T is talented, but he believes Jones is winning. BUT…
It seems like Cam’ron might have been confused by an AI-generated diss song that’s been making the rounds on social media. In that song – which to me is clearly AI – tears into Jim by a robotic-sounding Pusha T. According to our sources, Jim has laughed off the AI, but it now makes sense why Cam commented in the first place. Sheesh…this game is getting crazier and crazier! I kind of hate it!
Now, let’s talk about what started all this. Last week, Pusha T and his God-fearing brother, No Malice, walked the runway at Pharrell Williams’ Louis Vuitton fashion show in Paris. They played an unreleased song that seemed to take aim at Jimmy. The track called “Chains ‘n Whips” accused Jones of trying to get a feature with Drake, Pusha’s nemesis. Capo fired back with his own diss track called “Summer Collection.”
To add to the mix, Jones also appeared on The Joe Budden Podcast and referred to Pusha T as “a worker” and No Malice as “a preacher who works at Walmart.” He made it clear that this whole thing is just a rap battle.
This isn’t beef. This is shiitake mushrooms!
I want some real bars! I want to see a pair of silverbacks go at it!
Oakland’s own rap royalty, J Stalin, has issued a chilling ultimatum to the heartless carjackers who targeted his brother on East 12th Street. On a night that was supposed to be all about cruising in style, the evening took a terrifying turn as a gleaming Jaguar, the pride of Stalin’s collection, was forcibly taken while his brother was behind the wheel.
Stalin took to social media to express his outrage, dropping a metaphorical “green light” on the culprits.
“N##### CAR JACKED MY BROTHER LAST NIGHT IN FUNK TOWN….IF U SEE THIS CAR ITS A GREEN LIGHT ON IT IF I AINT DRIVEN……DROP A 100 SHOTS ON THAT MUTHAFUCKA,” he wrote, sending a clear message that he is not to be trifled with.
A “green light,” for those not fluent in street parlance, means an open call for retribution. In other words, J Stalin is not taking this crime lightly. He’s made it clear that if he’s not behind the wheel, anyone spotting the Jaguar is, in his eyes, free to take action against those responsible.
The rapper and his brother have offered the thieves a chance to right their wrongs, stating they could return the car unharmed to Cypress Street. But J Stalin’s brother warned that if the carjackers don’t take this opportunity to make things right, the situation could go very “left” – a warning that things could turn ugly, fast.
There’s been no word yet on whether the thieves have taken this chance for redemption or if they’ve decided to play a dangerous game with one of Oakland’s most respected artists.
What’s clear is that J Stalin is not standing by while his family is threatened and his property stolen. Let’s hope for a peaceful resolution, but it seems clear that the rapper is prepared to protect his own, by any means necessary.
If you see a Jaguar prowling the streets of Oakland, you might just be looking at the car at the heart of this dramatic tale.
Meanwhile, the rapper’s fans begged him to take the post down. They did not want him in trouble with the law if something did happen to the car-jacking duo.
“Not a smart post AT ALL. Basically put a hit out on the internet, smfh. Bruh was not thinking,” one fan wrote while another added “Offering a reward would’ve worked better honestly…”
Nowadays, you have to stand out in the music industry, especially given the influx of new artists releasing music every single day. InsertD4M $loan, who arrives on the scene with his own unique sound, style, swag, and distinctive raspy voice — that’s quickly turned into a viral phenomenon on social media (specifically TikTok).
If you’ve heard his signature “rrruuuhhh,” you already know it’s a D4M $loan record. His ability to go from hard-hitting and aggressive to that bouncy Jersey Club style is one that’s not overlooked, and day-one fans can appreciate his diversity the most. In fact, D4M $loan and his rap partner Skiano who passed away reignited the Philly/Jersey Club house music scene for rappers in Philly when they released their song produced by Dj Tizz “Baby Shark” music video via youtube on Valentines Day 2020 in his hometown of Philly.
This was way before Lil Uzi Vert dropped “I Just Wanna Rock,” but D4M $loan humbly states he doesn’t need credit. Recently, he had the rare opportunity to chat with Uzi at the Roots Picnic… and Uzi knew exactly who he was.
At only 22 years old, D4M $loan describes himself as “one of the most unique creatives in the world. I ain’t going to say artist. Creative all around. Anything you could think of: music, fashion, lingo, business ideas, everything.”
With the virality of “Swagg Talk,” which even caught the attention of Lil Uzi Vert, and
“Drive Who Crazy” which caught the attention of Meek Mill, D4M $loan is excited as ever to release his highly-anticipated debut album titled I Couldn’t Decide releasing July 28th. Beyond the music, $loan also made his acting debut in Peacock’s “Bel-Air” and will be featured in the upcoming movie Old Heads.
AllHipHop spoke with D4M $loan in downtown Los Angeles, just one day after the BET Awards, which he attended. Read below as we discuss his roots in Philly, his sound, his name, going viral on TikTok, acting, his love for boxing, and more!
AllHipHop: When did you first discover your sound?
D4M $loan: My sound, the rrruuuhhh or the Jersey Club?
AllHipHop: Oh, are they two separate ones?
D4M $loan: Yeah basically. Even with my upcoming album titled “I Couldn’t Decide”. You get the dark me, “make me wanna get up!” [raspy voice] Or the Jersey Club, “gang gang gang.” [snaps] It came along just being in the studio creating. You want to be as different as possible. What’s something nobody never did before?
AllHipHop: Talk about reigniting the Philly, Jersey Club house music scene.
D4M $loan: See, I’m one of the humblest people when it comes to that. A lot of people feel like I should be like, “yo, they’re not giving me credit!” Credit is cool, but it ain’t everything. I see everybody winning, and I knew I played a major part in it. That means a lot to me to know I contributed. It was the 50th year anniversary of Hip-Hop, these past four years, I contributed to it. Heavy, too, major. A lot of people probably don’t understand that. For those who do, I deeply appreciate it. Gangsta. [laughs] And people hearing it, it makes them ask, “damn, who are you?”
AllHipHop: Do you have to put effort into making your voice like that? The rrrruuuhhh.
D4M $loan: See, it kind of stuck with me. When I laugh, “Haha.” [deep voice] It’s soothing. I’m not real loud, like “whatchu mean….” [deep voice] No. “Whatchu mean make me wanna get up…” [softer voice] So it really comes effortless.
AllHipHop: When did you fall in love with music?
D4M $loan: Seeing and hearing about Biggie and Tupac. I was seeing their feud going on on YouTube and TV. The channel they got the Notorious documentary going on. Then my mom had a CD collection. She had Tupac, Biggie, DMX, Teddy Pendergrass. She had Lil Wayne in there, a few different ones. I always paid attention to it, but I didn’t pay attention too hard until one day I seen the Lil Wayne “Lollipop” video. I said I want to do that. That right there, with the limousines riding around with shining chains on, I want to do that. That made me fall in love with it.
AllHipHop: Are you on TikTok?
D4M $loan: Yeah, I just got on TikTok. One thing I say about me it’s good that I blew up before TikTok. I blew up off YouTube, and that’s hard. I blew up off Youtube and Instagram. Millions and millions of views off Instagram and YouTube. Just them two alone, nothing else. No other platform, no other streaming. No Apple Music, no Spotify. Youtube and Instagram, and SoundCloud too. Now that they got TikTok, that just adds fuel to the fire.
AllHipHop: How do you get your name?
D4M $loan: D4M $loan means “do it for Mir.” That’s my brother who passed away, I started rapping with him. He drowned when he was 14, my best friend. My real name is Sloan. Making my rap name, I didn’t want to be Lil Sloan. Now it’s crazy, a lot of rappers got three-word abbreviations in their name. You got EST Gee, PNB Rock, YNW Melly, NBA Youngboy. It’s crazy too. Dang, I still fell in line. [laughs] I wanted to make my real name. Nobody knows, that’s my real name Sloan. You never hear that name, it’s a unique name. Especially in my city.
AllHipHop: Talk about the mini-doc you have coming out.
D4M $loan: The mini-doc that’ll really explain a lot of the impact I had. It’ll explain a lot in a short time. It explains my life. It explains coming up, even what my teachers in school told us. It damn near made me cry a little bit watching it.
AllHipHop: When is it dropping?
D4M $loan: July 28th, it’s dropping with the album.
AllHipHop: What’s the album called?
D4M $loan: I Couldn’t Decide. I couldn’t decide the name of the album, what type of tracks I wanted to put on there. What side, the club side? I couldn’t decide how many songs to put on there, what samples to use.
AllHipHop: Your first big project?
D4M $loan: My first big project, debut project. First album forreal. I’m excited about this one in particular because it’s my best body of work so far. First real body of work, I did my best. I did my thing
AllHipHop: What can the fans expect?
D4M $loan: Fans can expect different vibes every song, a little bit of what everybody wants to hear. I read the comments so much, I know each fan be expecting or wanting from me. Some fans say “make another song like ‘’Drive Who Crazy’. Make another song like ‘Wolf N Demon’.“ Different songs that they hear. I’m gonna give you something in them categories and vibes. I got bars, rap, swag, kids, the ladies.
I be seeing the ladies say, “dang, I just want him say that in my ear. He don’t gotta rap. Can you make a whole song saying ‘rrruuuhhh’ in my ear?” I made a song like “tat tat ma ma, uhhh. Right there mama. It’s fat fat ma ma. Throw that back ma ma like uhh. Do that do that.” The ladies ate that up on TikTok. [shows TikTok]23K people liked that comment: “you be talking them through it don’t you?”
AllHipHop: That’s hilarious. What song is that?
D4M $loan: It’s called “Tat Tat Ma Ma.” produced by Dj Slink. It’s supposed to go on the album, but we need the Miguel sample cleared… “Girl With The Tattoo.” His team just don’t want to clear it. I might have to try different things, like get someone else to sing on it. I can do that, but something may still interfere with the release.
AllHipHop: That’s the worst!
D4M $loan: The worst. It’s like damn, that’s something really going good for me too. I can still drop it on YouTube, because everything isn’t about streaming and the money for me. It’s still going to be beneficial to my career and give the fans a record that they love and have been impatiently waiting for by dropping it for free on YouTube. If he don’t support, I don’t have no choice.
AllHipHop: That sucks though, because you want it to be part of the project right?
D4M $loan: I want it to be on the project. It’d be good, it’d be great for the project. I’m thinking right now, you got me reminiscing.
AllHipHop: 3 things you need in the studio at all times?
D4M $loan: Essentia water bottle, a homie with some weed. A dark studio, but I’ll say some candy. Lifesaver Gummies, the mixed flavors. I can eat all of them.
AllHipHop: Loved seeing you act in Bel-Air. Did you know how to act?
D4M $loan: No, it’s crazy. Because even talking to some of the cast, people who were extras, they went to acting school. They’re asking me, “how long you been acting? How’d you get the role?” Bruh, this my first time in this environment. I don’t know nothing.
AllHipHop: Isn’t it nice? They take care of you on set.
D4M $loan: That was a blessing, they do. Food, sitting in the trailer all day long. It was a different experience for me. You everbeen in class in school, everybody gets a character. You read, you read, you read. That’s how it is. You just gotta remember your lines, and keep your face straight for TV. Try to act it out, really be in character.
I was nervous, I ain’t nervous for nothing. But right there, I don’t want to keep messing up. It’s a thousand camera crew, everybody got a different job. Hold the water, hold the microphone. Hold that camera, hold this camera, hold that angle. Give them fake sweat, sweep the floor when you’re done. Different stuff.
AllHipHop: I interview a lot of artists. Some who have been rapping for over 10 years, they always want to act. So for you to do it so early in your career, that’s dope.
D4M $loan: Yeah, it’s a blessing. Somebody said “damn, I’ve been acting for da-da-da.” But I gotta realize, even though I haven’t been acting, I’ve been building my name up for a long time. As much as you’ve been acting, I’ve been building my brand up and really putting in work, which brought this blessing to me too. I’m eligible to do more roles, I could do a main role right now. But I didn’t want to do auditions yet, I’ve been so focused on the music. But after the album drops, I’m pursuing everything.
AllHipHop: What about Oldhead?
D4M $loan: I have a starring role as the villain in the Oldhead movie, created/directed by filmmaker Tony Chennault. Oldhead is dropping July 28th on APEX streaming platform the same day as my album drops.
AllHipHop: What’s your love for boxing and training?
D4M $loan: Boxing, that’s something I love to do. Since a kid,I used to get in the gym and box. I got hit by a car so I stopped boxing. That’s why I really pursued rapping.
AllHipHop: How bad was it?
D4M $loan: This ankle, I broke my ankle. It was hanging out like that. [points to ankle] I had to wear a cast. I was 17, which made me start rapping more. I used to love boxing, I’d probably be pro right now if I kept going. It’s crazy, because as a kid, I never even liked training. I just love boxing. Sparring in the gym with pros, people who were better than me. I like sparring with them. That got me sharper, that got me better. I love boxing. Still to this day, I want to do celebrity boxing soon.
AllHipHop: You got favorite boxers?
D4M $loan: I like Canelo. Errol Spence Jr. Floyd. Older boxers too, Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali.
AllHipHop: Top artists in rotation?
D4M $loan: I listen to Lil Poppa a lot. I like Lil Poppa a lot, that’s one of my favorite artists. I don’t even want to do no song with him, I just f### with his music. I f### with him as an artist, as a person. We got the same life damn near. I love his music. I like NBA Youngboy, Drake, A Boogie. Really, I only listen to Lil Poppa a lot. I’m not even going to say all the names, the only person I listen to is Lil Poppa. if we get in the car right now, I’ma play 5 Lil Poppa songs. Then I’ma get tired and stop playing music. And my brother Skiano who passed away. He one of the greatest artists in the world. He raps just like me. See how I rap? He raps just like that. He prolly thinks I’m nice, but I think he’s nice. We rap the same exact way, sometimes people can’t even tell we’re different. He got the louder “rrruuuhhh,” I got the smoother “rrruuuhhh.”
AllHipHop: Talk about being mobbed by fans when you move around the city.
D4M $loan: I will never get used to that. I’m used to it, but the feeling I get even performing, I get the same thing every time. Getting mobbed by fans, that be crazy. Then we got different fans. I had a group of friends that mobbed me one time at a Lil Tecca show, and they all had Snapchat. But in Philly, nobody in Philly really uses Snapchat. [shows videos]
AllHipHop: Where was it? You had that many people?
D4M $loan: TLA, South Street. Yeah, stuff like this really gave me chills every time. This was at East Stroudsburg University, they sing the songs word for word every time. I don’t even know how to explain it, pure love. You really feel love.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want to let the people know?
D4M $loan: Album dropping July 28th, that’s it. Tune in.
Boosie Badazz responded to Atlanta’s Omeretta after she took a jab at him on her remix of Latto’s “Put It On Da Floor.”
Omeretta called out Boosie on the song, telling him to stop commenting on drama involving Atlanta rappers. The Baton Rouge native reacted to Omeretta’s track via Twitter on Friday (June 30).
Boosie defended his tendency to condemn artists accused of snitching. He misspelled Omeretta’s name and claimed she was upset with the wrong person.
“OMERTÀ get mad at what yo city doing dont get mad at me lol,” he wrote alongside a rat emoji.
OMERTÀ get mad at what yo city doing 🐀 dont get mad at me lol
Boosie Badazz labeled Omeretta a clout chaser in a follow-up post. He believed she was attempting to curry favor with someone he criticized, such as Gunna or Ralo.
“I see the play,” he wrote. “N who you trying to get a feature with. SMH #Cloutchasin Just keep rapping hopefully your time coming.”
Omeretta dropped her version of “Put It On Da Floor” on Thursday (June 29). She mentioned Lil Baby, Lil Durk, Boosie and more on the track.
“They talking ‘bout Baby making disses, I guess he picking a side/But this Atlanta business, somebody tell Boosie be quiet/I heard that Durk all on the Gram tryna boost up his pride/He sending disses at lil Gunna when lil Y be outside,” she rapped.
Black Music Month wrapped up in a major way with the premiere of Juvenile’s Tiny Desk Concert.
NPR released Juvenile’s highly anticipated performance via its website and YouTube channel on Friday (June 30). The set featured the beloved rapper performing alongside longtime collaborator Mannie Fresh and a few notable musicians from their hometown of New Orleans.
Jon Batiste, Trombone Shorty, Alvin Ford and members of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra joined Juvenile and Mannie Fresh for the performance. The Tiny Desk Concert was taped in the NPR offices in Washington, D.C.
Juvenile and his guests revisited some of his biggest hits for the set. The Cash Money Records star performed “Back That Azz Up,” “Ha,” “Set It Off,” “Slow Motion” and more.
The Tiny Desk Concert’s release capped off an entertaining journey to get Juvenile on the stage. It all started when a Twitter user campaigned for the hitmaker to appear on NPR’s signature concert series in April.
Juvenile said he had no clue what Tiny Desk Concert was and dismissed the idea, which made fans rally around the idea and convince him to do it. NPR booked him for the show after seeing the overwhelming demand for his performance.
Fans were not disappointed by the final product. Viewers praised Juvenile’s Tiny Desk Concert on various social media platforms.
Check out some of the Twitter reactions below.
This Juvenile: Tiny Desk Concert, is golden!😩🙌🏾 Add it to the Tiny Desk hall of fame, NOW! pic.twitter.com/EluG8Bi6Xc
LEGENDARY s### right here!!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Those that don’t know me like that probably don’t know that it 2Pac and then Juvenile for me growing up! Man this gave me chills! Happy to see this!https://t.co/kwMqcgEl9i
— Mic Capes (Myke-Kaypes) (@MicCapesRaps) June 30, 2023
JUVENILE DOING TINY DESK TO END BLACK MUSIC MONTH IS EVERYTHING I NEEDED & MORE ON THIS GOOD FRIDAY! 😎😎😎 BACK THAT ASS UP SHOUTS TO MANNIE FRESH CASH MONEY 🤑 pic.twitter.com/Hz7HCpUUry
YNW Bortlen, the man accused of helping YNW Melly cover up a double murder, appeared in a Florida court on Friday (June 30).
Law & Crime shared footage of the hearing, which revealed YNW Bortlen’s trial will begin on October 2. YNW Bortlen will be tried separately from his co-defendant, who is currently on trial in Broward County.
YNW Bortlen’s lawyer asked Judge John Murphy to lift certain house arrest restrictions at Friday’s hearing. The judge denied the request.
Prosecutors claim YNW Melly and YNW Bortlen staged a drive-by shooting to cover up the 2018 murders of their friends YNW Juvy and YNW Sakchaser. YNW Melly allegedly shot and killed the victims while they were all inside the same vehicle.
Both defendants were charged with two counts of first-degree murder. YNW Bortlen faced two additional counts of accessory after the fact.
YNW Melly’s trial began on June 12. He pleaded not guilty to murder charges.
Detectives, medical examiners and YNW Juvy’s mother testified in the first three weeks of the trial. Court adjourned on Thursday (June 29). The trial will not resume until July 10.
YNW Melly has remained in jail since his 2019 arrest. He faces the death penalty if convicted.
Lil Xan is making a comeback and reintroducing himself to his fans with the release of his latest single, “NODA” (Not On Drugs Anymore). The song represents a significant shift in his music style and personal life since his break from the spotlight. Through “NODA,” Lil Xan announces his newfound sobriety and showcases how his emo and mournful sound has evolved during his hiatus.
The rapper recently signed with CAA and is eager to establish a fresh connection with his fans. According to Xan, “NODA” carries a broad message about personal improvement and growth by rejecting drugs, guns and anything that brings negativity. He now encourages his fans to work toward a better society, which is a departure from his previous glorification of the “fast life.”
During his self-imposed musical break, Lil Xan embarked on a healing journey, experiencing personal growth and maturity. He hopes by sharing his own journey, he can inspire and assist others in their own paths. In his own words, he expresses, “Every Darkness has its own bright. I’ve been someone who has been in dark places, I thought there was no possible way out of it. That it can only get worse but even if it does seem like it is getting worse time heals all wounds it sounds crazy but you just might have to endure for a little bit, but just know things get better.”
“NODA” is produced by Kinfolk Jon X Purps and will be released under Xanarchy Militia Music, a newly formed joint venture label with Sony Music’s The Orchard. The single will officially be available on June 30th and will be promoted on various pop, rhythmic, and urban radio stations. Fans can also look forward to seeing Lil Xan perform “NODA” live on July 9th at 1720 in Los Angeles, California.
To listen to “NODA,” fans can check it out on their preferred music streaming platforms.
While many fans were pushing Sports Analyst Stephen A. Smith to ask for more money when he goes in to renegotiate his $12 million contract with ESPN in 2025, it might not be the right time. The sports media company is looking to shave its budget drastically and will be letting some talent go.
According to the New York Post, the network plans to cut some of its on-air talent to save money. Sources say as many as 20 people you have seen on your screen will be axed. Amongst the names being let go are Jeff Van Gundy and Jalen Rose. An insider said there would be “no sacred cows” when the pink slips start.
In a statement,ESPN says the company is making the drastic change as a part of its “ongoing focus on managing costs when we negotiate individual contract renewals in the months ahead.”
“Given the current environment, ESPN has determined it necessary to identify some additional cost savings in the area of public-facing commentator salaries, and that process has begun,” the statement says. “This is an extremely challenging process, involving individuals who have had tremendous impact on our company. These difficult decisions, based more on overall efficiency than merit, will help us meet our financial targets and ensure future growth.”
ESPNis a part of The Walt Disney Company made headlines earlier in the year with its massive job cuts.
Over the spring, 7,000 people have lost their jobs.
The 2023 BET Awards took place in Los Angeles on Sunday (June 25), but some people in the Hip-Hop community weren’t impressed. On Thursday (June 29), Da Lench Mob rapper J Dee took his thoughts to Instagram, where he blasted Tyler Perry and the BET Network for their exclusion of West Coast rap pioneers in a special Hip-Hop 50 segment.
“F### THE BET AWARDS YOU N####Z STILL ON THAT BULLSHYT,” he wrote alongside a cartoon of Biggie and 2Pac standing next to a tombstone marked with the words “Hip-Hop” on the front. “SO NOW WE SET TRIPPN ON BET OUT WEST. YOU BANNED FROM LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA UNTIL I START SEEING SOME WEST COAST RAP VETERANS GET THE PROPS WE MFN DESERVE.
“F###BET @tylerperry YOU FOUL AS F### FOR THAT. NO MC REN NO ICE CUBE NO ALONZO WILLIAMS NO ONE WHO PAVED THE WAY OUT WEST 40 YEARS AGO.”
J-Dee got a lot of support in the comment section. One person pointed out, “I’m from the East Coast & I didn’t really understand how they did that. You celebrate 50 years of Hip-Hop with no mention of the West Coast pioneers. No real mention of the Southern pioneers. & even when they spoke on the East Coast, it was scattered about. They basically celebrated 50 years of Hip Hop with all the new artists. Man, you only saw Too $hort. He was sitting in the audience watching the show. S### crazy! SMH.”
Among the OGs who appeared at the award ceremony were Big Daddy Kane, Warren G, E-40, Trina, Trick Daddy, Uncle Luke, Redman, Erick Sermon, Keith Murray and MC Lyte. But newer rappers like GloRilla, Chief Keef and Ice Spice also hit the stage to participate in the festivities.
Da Lench Mob—originally comprised of Shorty, T-Bone, J-Dee, Maulkie and Ice Cube—made their debut on Cube’s 1990 solo album, AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted. With Ice Cube as its executive producer, Da Lench Mob released its first album, Guerillas in tha Mist, in 1992. The following year, J-Dee was arrested and charged with murder. He was sentenced to 29 years in prison and released on parole in 2021 after serving 25 years.
TikTok personality/rapper Tray Little has launched a campaign hoping to invest in the Detroit community that raised him. The social media influencer is using his platform to promote homeownership with a play called “Buy the Block.”
In an interview with CBS News, he shared how his grandfather would give him $5 to go to the studio and record his songs when he was younger. The investment paid off and by the time he was 16, he started to tour and perform his music across the nation.
Traveling allowed him to see new things. Once he returned home, the way he saw his community bothered him. But he didn’t sit back and complain. Little came up with a plan that could revitalize a neighborhood he saw in shambles.
“We went back, and I’ve seen a lot of abandonment,” Little recalled. “And I remember it being filled with people, filled with houses, kids running up the block, green grass, and everything. And coming back it was hard to see that a lot of stuff was torn down and abandoned and trash everywhere.”
At the beginning of COVID-19 in 2020, he returned to his childhood home, which was on sale for a mere $1,000. While someone else was able to buy the house faster than he could, he started focusing on the entire block.
He took to social media and mobilized his followers to buy into his dream. In seven short months, his dreams are coming to fruition. Between his 1.5 million TikTok followers and 119,000 Instagram followers, he’s purchased a house and four lots on the street he grew up with.
“I’m thinking about gardens, and I want to renovate this house,” he said. “My goal is not to tear it down but to actually renovate it. I was being held accountable and encouraged by a lot of people, including people from the neighborhood.”
Little added he’s not done and wants people to consider that homeownership is about generational wealth that must be protected.
“When their great-great grandmas passed these houses down, or grandparents, they knew not to give this up,” he said. “So that’s the vision, showing people that them holding on and staying strong was worth it.”
Restoring his community is also not just altruistic, it also makes him feel good. He ended the interview by talking about how proud he is to have made a difference.
“I had a really rough life,” Little said. “So for me to be a part of something that’s bigger than myself is giving me a purpose every day.”
