Missy Elliott received a gift from her hometown of Portsmouth, Virginia.
According to localoutlets, the Portsmouth City Council voted to rename a portion of McLean Street in her honor on Tuesday (August 9). Councilmembers unanimously approved changing a section of the street’s name to Missy Elliott Boulevard.
The Hip Hop legend expressed her gratitude on Twitter.
“I am so Humbly Grateful,” she wrote. “#757 VA 2 up 2 down. i been through many ups & downs & times I wanted to give up but Gods plan was different! & all I can do is say Thank you. & Thank you to everyone on the City Counsel I am so GRATEFUL for EVERYTHING.”
A Portsmouth resident named Erin Carter requested the name change to celebrate Missy Elliott as a hometown hero.
“It’s time for her hometown to honor her accomplishments as a music icon,” Carter said. “It will be a testament (of) our city greatness that Portsmouth was the place that launched her career.”
Missy Elliott was born and raised in Portsmouth. She graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School, which is now known as Manor High School. The Grammy winner donated $25,000 to her old school in 2019.
Last year, Missy Elliott secured a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She also joined the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2019.
Fredo Murphy also known as Frederick Murphy Jr is an American music artist, music manager, model, and pro athlete born in Shreveport, Louisiana. The now Los Angeles-based upcoming star spent a lot of his time in Atlanta, Ga, and other major cities such as New York City, Miami, Houston, and more growing up. The ability to travel helped in building the young star’s brand to what it is today!
Not too many individuals can successfully maintain multiple talents as well as manage another person’s talents on a professional level! Fredo Murphy says that he has a lot of art to display for fans of the hip hop & R&B music community from music artists that he currently manages. According to sources within the young star’s camp, we can expect music from Fredo Murphy himself by the end of the year.
When we spoke with Fredo Murphy, he said that music was always in his interest and that he knew one day he would get more involved with the music side of the entertainment business. Despite Fredo Murphy being mostly known for his athletic skills on the basketball court and love for fashion, the 6-foot 3-inch young star says his passion for music has always been with him.
“Growing up, I had friends who would record music and play video games and stuff like that. After my basketball practices would be over or even me leaving from playing at the little recreation center we had in my neighborhood, I would go from there and meet up with my friends and we would be inside one of our houses recording music on a phone or cheap mic and playing video games. I got inspired to use myself to help them get to where they wanted to be career-wise. When I got older I got into learning how to build a brand and marketing so that I could get them the attention they needed just so they could win in the fields they wanted to be in.” said, Fredo Murphy.
Fredo Murphy believes that him being an artist is the simplest way to describe himself despite being a multi-talented face in the entertainment business. The young star has done fashion collaborations with New York Rapper Dave East, NBA Champion Nick Young, NBA Champion Serge Ibaka, and NBA veteran and long-time friend, Troy Williams amongst other notable figures in the entertainment industry. The young star has been seen in numerous music videos, and cameos for films and now says he will be expanding his journey even more soon.
Before ending our meeting with Fredo Murphy, he constantly reminded us that nothing is possible for him without his supporters. He says he has much more to come when the time is right. The multi-talented artist says he always invests time and shows authentic love to those who are supporting him along his life journey. Are you joining Fredo Murphy’s journey? For more on the young star Fredo Murphy, be sure to stay tuned here at AllHipHop!
On Tuesday, August 9th, Louisville native and rapper EST Gee donated approximately $50,000 worth of new shoes and school supplies in the Highlands at the OneNess Sneaker Boutique on Bardstown Road.
The back-to-school shoe giveaway helped over 300 local families as they prepared for the upcoming school year, blessing them with some footwear, iPads, and bags stuffed with books, pencils, etc.
The packages were given out on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Reports from WLKY stated that people waited for several hours before they could walk away with a gift.
Long lines turned into mobs, but this fun-loving community activation sparked no violence.
Jefferson County Public School 9th grader Essence Smith said, “I’m really happy because now I got shoes to go with some outfits.”
“We want to put smiles on kids’ faces and help out parents who can’t necessarily provide the way they need to, especially in these tough times with what everybody has going on now,” Rhyan Moss, a representative from OneNess, said.
The store’s inventory manager Bennett Small said, to WAVE3, “It was very important for us.”
“You know times like this, it’s hard to make something happen that completes everyone and not cause issues with the demand,” Small stated. “So, we’re grateful that we’ve had our help in keeping it safe and we were able to partner with a local rapper that is doing really good in the city, taking care of everyone.”
Chris Patrick is the new hottest artist to come out of New Jersey. Born and raised in East Orange, the rising star prides himself in his diverse catalog, with the ability to sing and rap on par with the greats. In fact, Chris hopes fans will take him out of the “rapper box,” and more into genre-bending sounds. His lyrics are inspired by real-life experiences, as he wears his heart on his sleeve with each release.
In describing himself, Chris states, “Everything innovation, literally the highest form of evolution when it comes to music. Just a person looking to make change through the most authentic way with music.”
Having made music since 2010, Chris has come a long way since his debut project, From The Heart Vol. 2, which unveiled his innate talent in formulating catchy melodies paired with creative storytelling. Fast forward to 2022, Patrick is excited as ever to be releasing his sophomore album titled X-Files, centered on the themes of evolution and self-forgiveness.
AllHipHop caught up with Chris Patrick, who was posted up in Nashville visiting friends. Read below as we discuss his love for his hometown of Jersey, the moment he started taking music seriously, the new project and what it means to him, the inspiration behind “Gang Activity,” his sound, goals, and more!
AllHipHop: Being from East Orange, New Jersey, what was that like growing up?
Chris Patrick: New Jersey is a melting pot, as it always has been. Specifically my county, I’m from Essex County. That’s where East Orange resides. It’s really a melting pot for everything, people from different walks of life. The music that we listen to, the sh*t that we got into, it’s a variety of different things. The diversity, the people and the backgrounds we all came from, really impacted the versatility in my music.
AllHipHop: A lot of big people come out of New Jersey, who influenced you coming up?
Chris Patrick: If we talking about New Jersey, first and foremost Lauryn Hill. She’s going to take precedence over everybody. From a standpoint most recent, a person who revitalized the desire and belief that we can be something in Jersey was FettyWap. When Fetty Wap hit the scene, “Trap Queen,” all that, it was revolutionary for us as artists.
AllHipHop: Your new project X-Files just dropped. What are you most excited for?
Chris Patrick: I’m excited to see the way the people who decide to tune into the project interpret it, and watch the way it attaches to their lives. Obviously, there are so many different productions that we can get from listening to one song. Imagine the amount of narrative that one can build from a whole project’s worth. X-Files means one thing to me, but the biggest thing is the whole project is about self-image and moving through life. Understanding you can’t feel guilty for the mistakes you’ve made.
I want people to understand it’s okay to grow and evolve through all of this, but however they reach that through this body of work, I want it to be special and unique to them.
AllHipHop: Why’d you call it X-Files?
Chris Patrick: X-Files isn’t based on the show, but the show itself is very mysterious. In the process of self-forgiveness, one of the things I really had to forgive myself was understanding how to break the old barriers of what masculinity means to me as a person. The idea of what masculinity meant to us, especially as African American men trying to find our place through all this sh*t, it was really skewed a lot of times.
The process in which I grew up and coming to terms with myself, I had to deal with a lot of unlearning. A lot of things I was grown into because I’m with the homies, you’re going to ride or die for your homies. Having to unlearn a lot of that was one of the most important pieces of tackling masculinity. Now when we talk about masculinity, it’s really one of those things that folks don’t like to talk about, so that’s where that whole mystery element comes from.
AllHipHop: Talk about what brotherhood & self-forgiveness means to you? Both are themes on the project.
Chris Patrick: With each experience with me and my brothers, we’re putting together a more comprehensive guide book that we hope we can pass onto the next line of little homies that come up after us. That’s really the whole thing, trying to make sure that there’s a better means of moving through life then we had before us.
AllHipHop: I was watching the video for “Gang Activity,” what inspired this record?
Chris Patrick: One of the biggest things I did with this project was make sure that through all the experiences, especially in the visual for “Gang Activity,” we didn’t miss any pieces of what life was like. I don’t really hold anything over my homies’ heads. Obviously we work to be better, but I understand the situation that a lot of us came from and a lot of things that folks had to do to get through the days.
The biggest thing about that video was making sure we included every side of how things were growing up. Whether it was subtle, blatantly put in there, just a little undertone you look at and be like “oh word, we did that sh*t to! That’s cool.” I wanted to make sure everybody was included with that.
AllHipHop: What do you want fans to take away from the project?
Chris Patrick: With growth comes patience, and love for yourself. It’s one thing to have self-love, but you have to understand that with self-love, you have to be patient. You gotta be willing to watch yourself change as time goes on.
AllHipHop: Any goals for yourself at this point in your career?
Chris Patrick: There’s obviously pressure of being better and reaching that higher level, but one of the coolest things about pressure that comes with it is that it demands me to grow. The more I’m exposed to more things, the more that I have to grow as a person. I’m in love with growth. My goal is to keep growing with the music, keep growing with the fans, and hopefully more people tune in and watch.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want us to know?
Chris Patrick: Make sure everybody outside is being safe, because monkeypox is going crazy! [laughs]
Kenan Thompson is set to host the 74th Emmy Awards.
Executives from NBC and the Television Academy announced on Tuesday that the Saturday Night Live star will helm the live telecast to be staged at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on September 12th.
“Being a part of this incredible evening where we honor the best of the television community is ridiculously exciting, and to do it on NBC – my longtime network family – makes it even more special,” the 44-year-old said. “Like all TV fans, I can’t wait to see the stars from my favorite shows.”
And Jen Neal, executive vice president of Live Events for NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, is thrilled to have Kenan onboard.
“Kenan is well-regarded as one of funniest, likeable, and accomplished performers of the last two decades, and his tenure on Saturday Night Live speaks for itself. We know he’ll bring an excitement and professionalism to the Emmy Awards that a show of this stature deserves,” she added.
A six-time Emmy Award nominee, Kenan received two nominations last year for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his comedy series Kenan and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for SNL.
The nominees for the 2022 Emmy Awards were announced last month, with HBO series Succession landing a whopping 25 nods.
Anything that Irv Gotti says is recently headline-grabbing – especially if she is talking about if he is talking about singer and songwriter Ashanti.
In his recent interview on N.O.R.E.’s “Drink Champs” show, Irv revealed Ashanti crushed his heart – while he was married – after she started her relationship with Nelly.
During an interview with PageSix, Irv said that while most people think he is not over the R&B Princess, he is distraught because she turned her back on the Murder Inc. family.
“When the feds hit, she ran like the cockroaches when you turn the lights on,” Irv Gotti said of the singer.
The producer said he felt betrayed after she abandoned the crew when the feds wrongfully accused Murder Inc. of money laundering for Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff’s drug crew, The Supreme Team.
Sources say that Ashanti attended the court hearings. But the closer the law got to sniffing around people involved, Gotti said the “Baby” chart-topper skedaddled.
“She was ready to get the f### off of the Murder Inc. label and she was ready to abandon me, the person who made her. And yes I can say I made her. How do you know I can say that firmly? The minute I stop making her records…She has not made a hit since.”
Gotti eventually was exonerated.
AllHipHop.com reported that Gotti might seem like a wild boy, but he knows how to make hits, get money, and sell a story, which people will see in this upcoming film based on the rise and fall of one of Hip-Hop’s most talented labels.
Details of this time in his life will appear on the new “Murder Inc Story,” a 5-part documentary on BET that started on Tuesday, August 9th.
The time of clear frames and boundaries in the variety of musical genres and subgenres is over. To date, the ratings are led by experimenters who do not accept restrictions. Music at the intersection of genres is gaining popularity, and performers invariably win over the audience.
The already well-known model and insta-blogger Varvara Vlasova in the media world were able to earn a reputation as a talented and creative person. Her openness, charm, and beauty have attracted thousands of fans to her pages on social networks, and their number is growing every day. Having already acquired a large army of fans, @varvarakrasavica decided to expand her creative range and try her hand at music.
Varvara Vlasova believes that harmony and the ability to both work and rest are very important in a person. Therefore, she adheres to proper nutrition, and regular exercise is part of her life. The cheerful musician loves to travel, she is fond of equestrian sports, loves skiing, and loves shopping. Her energy, perseverance, and talent make it possible to achieve success in all endeavors, but the artist herself claims that behind all this is hard work and the inability to sit still. @varvarakrasavica is the experimenter who, at the junction of many genres, creates unique and inimitable music that captivates listeners.
Varvara Vlasova loved music since childhood and dreamed of becoming a star. But she set herself a serious goal to succeed in the music industry relatively recently. And immediately set to work. In a very short time, the artist was able to find her unique style, create several singles and get into the Miami and Apple music charts.
Fans are looking forward to each new track, and the musician’s work is invariably highly appreciated. The songs of @varvarakrasavica are posted on the most prestigious Internet platforms, and working on new tracks does not stop. And the single “My vibe” became one of the most beloved by numerous fans of Varvara’s music.
With this single, Varvara urges you not to forget your dreams, not to put off your desires for later and motivates you not to be afraid of change and fight for your happiness. In the end, it depends only on us what our life will be like.
In the future, as many fans hope, the musician will continue to delight them with new singles and, possibly, will present a new album. Fans and not only them would really like it because the artist has more and more listeners every day.
Madonna has shared the admiring note she received from Beyoncé after the release of a new track featuring one of her most famous songs.
“Break My Soul (The Queens Remix)” mixes elements of Madonna’s “Vogue” and Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul.”
On Tuesday, Madonna took to her Instagram Stories with a snap of a flower bouquet and a note from 40-year-old Beyoncé.
“Thank you Queen, I’m so grateful for you,” the note began. “You have opened so many doors for so many women. You are masterpiece genius.
“Thank you for allowing me to sing in your song and thank you for naming the remix… Love always and forever, B.”
The 63-year-old wrote back on her Instagram: “Thank you!! From one queen to another, I love the re-mix!”
The original ‘Break My Soul” features on Beyoncé’s latest album, Renaissance.
Murda Murphy has released a new tune called “Diverse.” The song has amassed a considerable internet following since its release. When it was first published, it rapidly went viral. Galen’s excellent music, along with the song’s catchiness, has produced a masterpiece.
Murda Murphy is new to the music industry, but he is not inexperienced. Murda Murphy has five singles released this year. You can hear the depth of feeling he has tried to inculcate in them when you listen to them. A notable example of this is the song “Diverse.” It’s catchy music that people of all ages will like.
“Diverse” soundtrack gives the appearance of being able to be played continuously without becoming tedious. Whatever it is about the music that makes you want to listen to it again and over again, regardless of how many times you have heard it. This obviously demonstrates Murda Murphy’s abilities.
Peter Jackson once considered using hypnotherapy to help him forget working on “The Lord of the Rings” movies.
During an appearance on The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, the director revealed that he had once investigated the technique in a bid to try and block out the grueling production process so that he could experience watching the films as a fan.
“When we did ‘The Lord of the Rings’ movies, I always felt I was the unlucky person who never got to see as a coming-out-of-the-blue film,” he explained. “By the time there were screenings, I was immersed in it for five or six years. It was such a loss for me not to be able to see them like everyone else.”
The New Zealand-based filmmaker even spoke to British mentalist Derren Brown at one point, but he never went through with the process.
“I actually did seriously consider going to some hypnotherapy guy to hypnotize me to make me forget about the films and the work I had done over the last six or seven years so I could sit and enjoy them,” the 60-year-old continued.
Jackson’s fantasy epics, based on the novel written by J. R. R. Tolkien, were released between 2001 and 2003.
He also helmed “The Hobbit films,” which were unveiled between 2012 and 2014.
Elsewhere in the conversation, Jackson revealed he was looking forward to viewing Amazon’s upcoming “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” series. The show is scheduled to premiere on September 2nd.
Rapper and Death Row owner Snoop Dogg has filed a motion to be removed from a negligence lawsuit regarding Drakeo the Ruler’s death.
The rising rapper was murdered at the “Once Upon a Time in L.A.” festival in December of 2021. Snoop Dogg claims he should not be held liable for the stabbing that happened in the backstage area of the concert venue.
According to Rolling Stone, Snoop’s lawyer, who is also representing another defendant, Bobby Dee Presents, has filed an objection to his clients being named in the legal action.
Snoop’s legal team says his clients were hired to help promote the festival and should not bear the responsibility as actual producers. Furthermore, they should not owe any punitive damages to the estate of the late rising star.
“Drakeo and his group fought for their lives against insurmountable odds, shocked and horrified at the fact that no security ever materialized to intervene,” the lawsuit states.
It also stated that the concert producers, including Live Nation, did not stop the “ongoing mob attack that lasted up to 15 minutes or more.” Their lack of intervention caused their team “severe physical and emotional harm.”
The lawyers claim, all parties named, including the “Gin and Juice” chart-topper, “had a duty to implement and execute a security plan” to keep attendees, artists, entourage, and guests “safe” and “provide adequate security to detect and prevent violent incidents.”
Attorneys on Snoop’s side argue, “While the allegations surrounding the death of Darrell Caldwell are tragic,” and the circumstances around Drakeo’s death were not “foreseeable.”
“If no similar, third-party criminal conduct is alleged to have previously occurred at the relevant premises during a music festival like the one in this case, demurring defendants had no duty to do more than they are alleged to have already done, regardless of the outcome,” the filings state.
“We’re very confident that we’re going to prevail in opposing the demurrer because our complaint does state several legal bases for them to be liable,” Kellen Davis, the plaintiffs’ lawyer said.
“The parties that are named are the people that we know were involved in creating and promoting the event. It’s our position that this was essentially a joint venture between the various entities that we named, and as such, we believe they were responsible for preventing something like this from happening.”
Idris Elba wrote a poem to get on Jay-Z’s 2007 album American Gangster.
The “Suicide Squad” star appeared on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” to speak about his new film “Beast” when he recalled the process of getting on the record.
He also spoke about securing his spot on Paul McCartney’s 2021 album McCartney III Imagined.
“Both these albums I’m on, and both those artists don’t know I’m on those albums,” the musician and actor revealed. “You know what I mean? I literally hustled my own on to those albums.”
“At the time I hear Jay was about to do an album associated with the film. And I was like, ‘I need to get on that.’ As you do,” the English star said. “You’re like, ‘I’m Idris, I need to be on that Jay-Z album.’ No idea why Jay would be like, ‘Yeah, sure, do it.’”
After connecting with someone who worked with the rapper, Idris wrote a “long poem” that he put to a beat.
“Actually it was a rap, but it didn’t sound good as a rap,” he corrected himself. “So I said, ‘Maybe I should speak this’ because Jay might be a little more accommodating to my speaking voice. And I sent it to him and we got this text back from Jay saying, ‘Um, I don’t love this…I f**king love it.’”
For McCartney’s 2021 album, Idris remixed the artist’s “Long Tailed Winter Bird” for release on the record’s physical version.
Veteran media personality Angela Yee will no longer be a host of The Breakfast Club radio program.
Rumors began circulating online yesterday after Angela Yee teased changes to the long-running Power 105.1 mainstay. On Tuesday, Yee tweeted, “The Breakfast Club as you know it is officially over.”
Yee addressed the speculation on this morning’s episode of The Breakfast Club. The Brooklyn native announced she is parting ways with DJ Envy and Charlamagne Tha God in order to lead her own show in the near future.
The breakfast club as you know it is officially over 🫶🏽
“Way Up with Angela Yee will feature the iconic personality in a fast-paced, listener-interactive show, as she connects directly with listeners on the kinds of hot and timely topics in which she’s garnered trust over her decades on air – from relationships to Hip Hop and R&B, headline news topics, and overall culture, both in and out of the music industry. The show will be fun, entertaining, inspiring, and will include celebrity interviews and special guests,” reads a statement from Power 105.1.
The Breakfast Club launched in 2010 as a morning-drive radio show in the New York City area. Three years later, the station began syndicating The Breakfast Club nationwide in markets such as Houston, Atlanta, Miami, and Detroit.
Angela Yee presents daily segments on The Breakfast Club known as “The Rumor Report” and “Front Page News.” The Gracie Award winner also hosts the Lip Service podcast where she discusses sex and relationships with celebrities such as Cardi B, Nick Cannon, and DVSN.
According to Yee, she will remain on The Breakfast Club until the details of the syndicated Way Up are finalized. The Radio Hall of Fame inductee expects her new show to begin airing later this fall. She has already started planning segments for Way Up with Angela Yee.
Pulitzer Prize-winning emcee Kendrick Lamar was not shy about embracing Kodak Black for his 2022 album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers.
Kendrick Lamar tapped Kodak Black for a feature on the “Silent Hill” track. The pgLang co-founder also had Black make uncredited appearances on “Worldwide Steppers,” “Rich (Interlude),” and “Mirror.”
Speedy Morman recently spoke to Kodak Black for Spotify’s Rap Caviar. The conversation included the Florida-raised rapper discussing his musical union with Kendrick Lamar.
“Me and Kendrick, we got a lot of little things in common that people probably don’t wanna understand,” Kodak Black told Morman. “Both of us, we Geminis. Both of us [are] Hebrew Israelites.”
The 25-year-old rhymer added, “We can talk and [Kendrick Lamar] understands me beyond the internet theories. He got a different perception of me, and he ain’t cap. Like, he says we gonna do something, we do it… Kendrick from the streets for real, too… I f### with that boy. I got a lot of love for him.”
“[Kendrick Lamar] genuinely wanna see a n#### win, for sure,” said Kodak. “We could have just did the song and it never came out, but he went as far as having me speak on the intro, the interludes, and all this other stuff, having me do a poem on [Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers]. He already knows where my intellect goes.”
Kendrick Lamar’s “Silent Hill” with Kodak Black peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May. Kodak also made it into the Hot 100’s Top 10 region this year with “Super Gremlin” from his Back for Everything LP. “Super Gremlin” made it all the way to #3 on the Hot 100.
Later this month, the VH1 network will begin airing new episodes of the My True Crime Storydocuseries. Hip Hop recording artist Reminisce “Remy Ma” Mackie returns as the show’s host.
Season two of My True Crime Story will run for eight episodes. Remy Ma narrates the program which tells the tales of individuals who were heavily involved in illegal activities.
“I’m so excited for the return of My True Crime Story because we get another opportunity to share first-hand experiences as well as stories of redemption,” states the Bronx-bred emcee.
Remy Ma adds, “I’m looking forward for viewers to be able to relate, learn and grow as they watch this new season.” My True Crime Story will cover criminal offenses such as drug trafficking, steroid production, counterfeiting, and jewelry theft.
Prior to My True Crime Story, Remy Ma served as a regular panelist on the State of the Culture talk show. The “All the Way Up” hitmaker also starred on VH1’s Love & Hip Hop: New York and Remy & Papoose: Meet the Mackies reality shows.
Remy Ma’s There’s Something About Remy: Based on a True Story album dropped in 2006. The New Yorker partnered with Fat Joe for 2017’s Plata O Plomo collaborative project. Remy Ma scored her only #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with Terror Squad’s “Lean Back” in 2004.
Hot Snakes Media produced My True Crime Story. Eric Evangelista, Shannon Evangelista, and David Erickson served as executive producers. Season two of My True Crime Story is scheduled to debut on Monday, August 29 at 10 PM ET/PT.
Blue Ivy Carter is the oldest daughter of two of the most successful recording artists of the last four decades. Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s 10-year-old child has followed in her famous parents’ footsteps.
Beyoncé presented Blue Ivy as a featured artist on tracks such as “Blue” off the Beyoncé album. Blue Ivy appeared on “Brown Skin Girl” from The Lion King: The Gift soundtrack as well.
The Recording Industry Association of America recently certified “Blue” and “Brown Skin Girl” as Gold (500,000 units). As a result, Blue Ivy earned her first two Gold Awards from the industry organization.
Even though she has not even reached high school age yet, Blue Ivy Carter is already a Grammy winner. Beyoncé’s “Brown Skin Girl” won Best Music Video at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony in 2021.
Blue Ivy actually made her official debut on Jay-Z’s “Glory” single. Jay credited the newborn as B.I.C. on the 2012 track. “Glory” came out two days after Beyoncé gave birth to Blue Ivy, making the baby the youngest person in history to chart on Billboard.
In addition, the RIAA announced more than five dozen new certifications for Beyoncé. Both “Halo” and “Singles Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” reached 9x-Platinum status. Dangerously In Love and I Am… Sasha Fierce are now 6x-Platinum-certified albums.
Beyoncé’s critically-acclaimed seventh studio LP is her seventh to open at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The Houston-bred singer is the only woman to have all her albums debut at the top of the chart. Renaissance also peaked at #1 in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Australia, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand, South Africa, and Brazil.
Long Beach, California native Snoop Dogg and Golden State Warriors player Steph Curry joined forces to refurbish a basketball court at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach in Martin Luther King, Jr. Park.
Steph Curry’s Curry Brand, powered by Under Armour, helped unveil the new court on Tuesday. Comic book artist Damion Scott played a role in redesigning the basketball court. Local youth also contributed to the “Find Your Inner Superhero” murals at the location.
“This is the place where I learned how to play basketball, play football, be active in the community, and build relationships. It’s where I learned how to rap, talk, and just be me basically – in this park right here,” said Snoop Dogg.
The Doggystyle album creator continued, “To come back and see the kids doing different things, trying to be better than we were – that’s what it’s all about. For us to give these kids more opportunities than we had – that’s what it’s really about.
Young people in the LBC community engaged in hands-on skills programming by taking the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach court for the first time in more than a month. Around 200 residents utilize the facility and programming every week.
“We want to provide a space where you can come enjoy yourself and get lost in the fun, lost in the competition, invest in yourselves, and be around a lot of amazing coaches and programs,” stated Stephen Curry.
The 4-time NBA Champion added, “This is the beginning of hopefully an amazing journey, not just in sports but in life. Sports teach you so much about life and building great character, being a part of teams, and believing in yourself. We want to be able to provide that for you guys through Curry Brand, and we’re really excited about that.”
In a new Instagram post, the North London rapper shared his daily struggles with his followers and sought advice from anyone who could help. Despite remaining positive, Skepta admitted to battling “crippling waves of pain” regularly.
Skepta Details His Health Struggles
“Through song lyrics or word of mouth some of you know I have suffered from IBS/stomach ulcers/problems since my early twenties,” he began writing on his Instagram Stories.
“Apart from me not being able to maintain a steady weight, depression, short term memory loss, it also controls my moods, which has ultimately steered my life,” Skepta continued.
The rapper then explained that while he previously had an endoscopy, “nothing was found” during the examination. He still endures “crippling waves of pain” and said the next step is an MRI scan to investigate further.
‘If anybody has any experience or advice about this kind of thing I would love to talk still’, he wrote. He then ended on an uplifting note, sharing some words of encouragement. ‘Sending strength to anybody that has had to deal with stomach problems kmt smh,” he concluded. “The internal fights, the mood swings, losing things etc. are normal symptoms, just don’t let it ruin your life.” Check out his post in full below.
Meanwhile, Skepta is true to his word and isn’t letting his illness hold him back from doing what he loves. He joined A$AP Rocky at Germany’s Splash! Festival last month where they debuted a new collab. He then performed at Rolling Loud Festival in Portugal just days after he was hospitalized.
Busta Rhymes will be awarded the title of BMI Icon at its 2022 R&B/Hip-Hop Awards on September 7.
The NYC legend will receive the honor at a private event, held at the LIV Nightclub Miami Beach. BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI Vice President, Creative (Atlanta) Catherine Brewton will host.
“As one of the pioneers of Hip Hop, we are excited to honor Busta Rhymes as a BMI Icon,” Brewton said in a press release. “Through his award-winning solo work, countless collaborations and acting, Busta is a true innovator in every sense of the word and has made a dynamic impact on legions of fans and music creators worldwide.
She continued and said Busta Rhymes’ “quick wit and intricate rapping style have made him legendary, inspiring many young performers to follow in his footsteps.”
Brewton added: “We’re also thrilled to be back in person in Miami, celebrating our top music creators behind some of today’s most-performed songs. We’re looking forward to a fantastic night of great music.”
Busta Rhymes Is A True Icon
The BMI Icon Award is presented to songwriters who have distinctly and profoundly influenced the music industry. Honorees must also have left an indelible and unique influence on generations of music makers.
Busta Rhymes certainly fits the bill after a career spanning over three decades. He launched his music career in the 90s with the hip-hop crew Leaders of the New School. He earned his first Grammy Award nomination in 1996 with the Platinum-certified hit “Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check,” his first official solo outing.
He then scored numerous hits throughout the ’90s and 2000s. He became a global superstar and earned a No. 1 album with The Big Bang in 2006. Bus-A-Bus released ELE 2: The Wrath of God, his latest offering, independently in 2020.
With a catalog including the hits “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See,” “Break Ya Neck,” “Dangerous,” “Gimme Some More,” and “What’s It’s Gonna Be?” featuring Janet Jackson, Busta Rhymes is a certified legend.
Meanwhile, Busta Rhymes shows no signs of slowing down. Check out a clip from his set this weekend at LL COOL J’s Rock The Bells Festival in New York.
Nicki Minaj just made a staggering claim about her “very rich” friend Drake and his finances.
The NYC rapper performed with Drake and Lil Wayne at the Young Money reunion in Toronto this weekend. Nicki took to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday (Aug. 9) to share a video of her boarding a plane, presumably to travel back from the concert, courtesy of Drake. According to Nicki Minaj, her “billionaire” Canadian friend fixed it for her.
“Look. This is what happens when you got a rich,” she began before quickly correcting herself. “I’m sorry, a very rich, a very rich, rich, rich, rich, Canadian friend who’s the only billionaire that I know that don’t want people to know he’s a billionaire. I get it, but…” she added but then trailed off. Check out the video below.
https://youtu.be/ADgzYyGGIqA
While Champagne Papi’s exact net worth is uncertain, earlier this year, he laughed off his placement in a Hip-Hop rich list. Former Forbes Senior Editor Zack O’Malley Greenburg released his rankings of the highest-paid Hip Hop artists for 2021, listing Drake in fourth place with earnings of $50 million. In response, Drake added a single laughing emoji, suggesting he may have earned a lot more.
Nicki Minaj Jokes That Drake Is Her Ex
Meanwhile, earlier on Tuesday (Aug. 9), Nicki Minaj shared a snap of her boarding the jet. She also posted a sweet video with Drizzy’s mother, Sandi Graham, referring to her as “my ex-mom-in-law.”
Drake laughs in the background as Nicki jokes, “tell your son don’t speak to me no more.” The pair then carried on the banter in the comments section.
“Barbz I’m gagging,” Drake penned, adding, “It’s the everything for meeeeee…” Nicki Minaj gently teased him in response, writing, “You still didn’t even say it right. Bye MR. CHAMPAGNE,” she wrote
