Entertainment
Wazupnaija – Naija Entertainment blogs & Forums – Entertainment
Artists Are Blasting an NFT Auction Platform After Their Music Appeared Without Their Knowledge
A controversial NFT marketplace has drawn the ire of many in the music industry and creator economy at large. Legions of musicians are taking to social media to condemn HitPiece, a platform allegedly minting and selling music NFTs without artists’ knowledge. According to HitPiece’s website, the marketplace “lets fans collect NFTs of your favorite songs.” However, it’s unclear whether or not the company has acquired the rights to the songs and gone through the necessary channels to publicly list them on its platform. Per its website, HitPiece also claims to remit a royalty to artists whose music NFTs are purchased or sold, but suggests the rights-holder must create an account to receive payments. “Each time an artist’s NFT is purchased or sold, a royalty ...
Wale Pulls Out of Broccoli City Festival 2022 Lineup
Wale announced that he is pulling out of the Broccoli City Festival 2022 lineup just hours after organizers unveiled the list of performers. The Folarin II rapper took to Twitter to announce his exit from the festival, stating “respect” as the reason behind his decision. Wale did not fully share the details, but he did clarify that his decision to pull out was not because he was not a headliner. “I’m not mad at all,” he said in response to a fan. “I wish people would ask Face with tears of joy I’m sure the festival will be amazing all the artist are fire. I don’t think I’ll be missed and I never cared about headlining. This ain’t that. If u gon judge me at least know what’s on my mind my guy.” He also replied to a fan reminding him of the money involved in performing at the festival, but t...
Youtuber Says Nintendo Issued 1,300 Copyright Blocks on Their Content
Verified YouTube creator GilvaSunner said that “over 1,300 copyright blocks” have been issued to them for the unauthorized usage of Nintendo soundtrack music. In a recent Twitter post, the creator listed a range of Nintendo game titles that have been called into question, including Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Super Smash Bros., Super Mario Land, Luigi’s Mansion and many others. Sharing screenshots of the highlighted games – from 2019 and December 2020 – GilvaSunner commented: “I do not monetize videos and do not profit from them.” “I do realize that doesn’t justify uploading the content,” they added, noting that this isn’t the first time Nintendo has issued a cease-and-desist notification. Over 1300 copyright blocks on the YT channel today. Here are all the soundtracks Nintendo ha...
R.I.P. Jon Zazula, Megaforce Records Founder Who Helped Launch Metallica’s Career Dies at 69
Jon Zazula, the legendary founder of Megaforce Records, has died at age 69. Sadly, his passing comes just one year after the death of his wife, Marsha, who co-founded the iconic metal label with her husband. According to Variety, a rep for Megaforce confirmed that Jon Zazula passed away on Tuesday (February 1st) in Florida, where he was surrounded by his brother, daughters, and granddaughters, as well as a number of friends and associates. Known as “Jonny Z,” Zazula was a major force in the metal world, helping to launch the careers of Metallica, Anthrax, and many other bands. He and Marsha essentially founded Megaforce in order to sign Metallica to their first record deal, releasing the band’s groundbreaking 1983 debut album, Kill ‘Em All. The thrash titans stuck with Megaforce for their ...
David Letterman Launches YouTube Channel Full of Late Show Clips
You know when you’re trying to relive David Letterman’s turn as a Taco Bell employee or rewatch all of Robin Williams’ insane Late Show appearances, but you can only find grainy VHS rips of the segments? Letterman is here to smoothen your trips down the YouTube rabbit hole. To coincide with the 40th anniversary of Late Night with David Letterman’s premiere on NBC, the legendary comedian launched an official YouTube channel full of HD clips of his finest moments on NBC’s Late Night and CBS’ Late Show. Letterman’s YouTube page currently has about 125 videos split up into “Letterman Originals,” “Dave’s Best Celebrity Interviews,” “Stupid Pet and Human Tricks,” “Top Ten,” “Comedians,” and “Human Interest Guests” playlists. Among the uploads, highlights include Martin S...
Failure Pull Music from Spotify, Citing Business Model and Joe Rogan Controversy
Failure are the latest band to pull their music from Spotify, citing the platform’s business model and the spread of COVID vaccine misinformation. The cult alternative rockers join a growing number of other artists who’ve followed Neil Young’s lead and removed their music from the streaming service. Young and others have objected to Spotify hosting Joe Rogan’s podcast, which has been criticized for proliferating misinformation and falsities about COVID vaccines. Failure released a lengthy statement on Facebook decrying Spotify’s response to the Rogan controversy and the company’s business model in general: “Failure have wrestled with the question of Spotify and whether to have our newest music, which we control, on the platform. Until now, our ambivalence about Spotify has been based on th...
Wale Pulls Out of Festival After — Gasp! — Seeing His Name on Line Two of Poster
Wale the Great, Wale the Resplendent, Wale the consensus greatest poet in history, is pulling out of a festival for the unforgivable slight of burying his name on line two of the lineup poster. His Gloriousness Wale revealed his decision on Twitter after the Broccoli City Festival shared its roster. Don’t bother looking for his name — you might tear an eye muscle squinting to find it there on line two, nearly invisible in a slightly-smaller font than line one. “I’m Pullin out this show,” he wrote, randomly capitalizing the ‘P’ as only a genius could. When someone asked, “For why?” he summoned his full majesty for a crushing three-word response: “Respect is why.” Shakespeare — poor, wordy Shakespeare — bumbled his way through a similar sentiment when he wrote, “Mine honour is my life; ...
‘New York Times’ Buys Popular Word Game Wordle
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: NurPhoto / Getty Wordle, the game that has become a social media sensation of late, has just been acquired by the New York Times. The sizeable deal has stoked a conversation online, with some wondering if their access to the game will remain the same. On Monday (January 31st), the New York Times announced that their Games department had acquired the immensely popular word-guessing game, which made its debut last October. In their statement, they revealed that their purchase price was an “undisclosed price in the low seven figures.” Created by Josh Wardle, a software designer who resides in Brooklyn, New York, Wordle is a daily puzzle game in which the player attempts to guess a five-letter word in six tries. Then, players can share their results – which c...
Brave Hearts: Anthony Hamilton & Musiq Soulchild To Battle In Valentine’s Day ‘Verzuz’
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Prince Williams / Getty Ladies and gentlemen get your Moscato and candles ready. Anthony Hamilton and Musiq Soulchild will be going song for song on a Valentine’s Day themed Verzuz. As spotted on The Grio the two crooners have agreed to step on the infamous Verzuz stage. Titled “A Valentine’s Day Special” the event is scheduled for Tuesday, February 15 and will be hosted at the Avalon Hollywood in California. Naturally both performers added to the hype with their own respective posts on social media. “You Asked & We Heard You!” wrote Musiq. “Charlene already asking for tickets 😂” wrote Anthony. The match up is an interesting one as both talents have carved out their lanes with their soulful voices and songs dedicated to love. Related Stor...
Multiple HBCUs Receive Bomb Threats On First Day of Black History Month
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: MANDEL NGAN / Getty This is not the way Black History Month should be kicking off. Per CNN, multiple historically black colleges and universities have received bomb threats resulting in them having to go in lockdown or cancel classes. As of Tuesday (Feb.1), 13 schools have reported receiving bomb threats. One of them, Howard University, has received a threat on Monday (Jan.31) as well. Speaking with CNN, Baltimore’s Coppin State acknowledged someone called the university claiming there was a bomb on campus. A message on the school’s website read, “If you are on campus, please, shelter in place, and wait for further instructions,” the message stated. “Emergency officials are evaluating the campus, and we will provide updates as soon as possible.” Related S...
The Game Claims Interscope Is A “Modern Day Slave Trade” Before Twitter Blocks Him
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Amanda Edwards / Getty The Game had some choice words for his former record label Interscope, stating that they were running a “modern day slave trade” on Twitter before his account got restricted. The Compton, California rapper vented about his former label of 17 years on Friday (January 28th) through his Twitter account. “F—k INTERSCOPE,” he wrote. “I meant it when I said it 17 years ago & I mean it today!!!! They’re runnin a modern day slave trade & they steal from every single artist. Best decision of my life was parting ways. #StayIndependent.” To add to the drama, The Game’s account was then locked by Twitter for violating their media policy as those curious about his latest tweet saw this message: “@thegame’s account is temporarily un...
Bloom Vol 2: The Songs that Support Us
Some say that singing to your flowers can help them grow. When I’m scared in the shadows, withering at the bottom of a valley of my own making, music has been the only thing that sparks a sense of confidence within me. Why? A cruel example of how music empowered people throughout periods of hardship lies within the history of slavery. Work songs grew during slavery when African Americans sought resilience and strength to endure injustice and cruelty. When interviewed by NPR about his novel “Work Songs,” Musician Ted Gioia said of work songs that: “[They] are more than a musical genre; they’re a transformational tool. It made the work less arduous; it made the hours roll by…It allowed them to have some sort of mastery over their work conditions which were often very demeaning ones.” Observi...
