entertainment blog
Kevin McCarthy’s House Speaker Bid Thwarted Five Times*, And Counting
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Tom Williams / Getty In an astonishing display, Kevin McCarthy’s bid to become the Speaker of the House was thwarted three times – by members of his own Republican Party. The House of Representatives convened Tuesday (Jan. 3) to open the 118th Congress, with Republicans having a slim majority after the midterm elections last November. As the first vote to elect the Speaker of the House unfolded, the congressman from California fell short as he received 203 votes with 19 voting for Jim Jordan, the GOP representative from Ohio. The second vote bore out the same results, and the third and final vote in the chamber actually saw McCarthy lose a vote, making the tally 202 to Jordan’s 20. Related Stories The failed bids marked the first time since 1923 that an e...
Angela Simmons Confirms Relationship With Yo Gotti, She’s “Happier Than I Ever Been”
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty In the ultimate lesson in the power of manifestation, Yo Gotti and Angela Simmons are officially a couple. After declaring their new relationship with a black-tie photoshoot, Angela Simmons recently wrote in an Instagram Story that she is “Happier than I ever been,” adding a flurrying heart emoji, per Complex. Both Simmons and Gotti shared the romantic images on New Year’s Eve igniting social media who recounted the couple’s origins with Gotti’s hit single, “Down in the DM,” where he declared his affection for the fashionista. “And I just followed Angela (Simmons) / Boy, I got a crush on Angela Simmons / They like, ‘Damn Gotti, you bold’ / F**k it, I’m gon’ let the world know (goals),” he rapped. The CMG label boss a...
Waka Flocka Flame Talks YSL & TakeOff With Shannon Sharpe
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Paras Griffin / Getty Waka Flocka Flame opens up about the shooting death of TakeOff as well as his thoughts on YSL in an interview with Shannon Sharpe. The veteran rapper sat down as a guest on the latest episode of the Club Shay Shay podcast hosted by the former National Football League Hall of Famer and spoke about his career and success. The conversation soon turned to the allegations of Gunna accepting a plea deal to be released from jail in relation to the case of racketeering brought against Young Thug and his YSL crew. Related Stories “We see Gunna is gonna get released, he pled to racketeering, gang charges. People say he snitched,” Sharpe began. That led Waka to shrug his shoulders and respond, “I don’t know.” Sharpe said, “but you know the feds...
Elon Musk’s Twitter Will Relax Ban On Political Ads
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: NurPhoto / Getty / Twitter Elon Musk continues to make Twitter unbearable and annoying to use. Twitter will begin relaxing its ban on political ads, a policy it has upheld for a long time, the company announced Tuesday, Jan. 3. “We believe that cause-based advertising can facilitate public conversation around important topics,” the company tweeted. “Moving forward, we will align our advertising policy with that of TV and other media outlets.” Related Stories What that now means is that lobby groups and elected officials will once again be able to flood your feeds with political ads. Twitter banned the practice in 2019, before Musk, unfortunately, took over the country. The 2019 policy insists candidates earn political influence and do not buy it, gaining ...
The Hold Steady Announce New Album, Share Song: Listen
The Hold Steady have announced a new album. The Price of Progress arrives March 31 via the band’s Positive Jams label and Thirty Tigers and is led by the single “Sideways Skull.” The band, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, will also hit the road starting January 28 in Brooklyn, New York, for a series of special event concerts. See the tour dates, tracklist, and cover art and listen to “Sideways Skull” below. The Price of Progress is the follow-up to 2021’s Open Door Policy. The band recorded its ninth LP in Rhinebeck, New York, with production by Bonny Light Horseman’s Josh Kaufman and mixing by D. James Goodwin. “These are some of the most cinematic songs in the Hold Steady catalog, and the record was a joy to make,” vocalist and guitarist Craig Finn wrote in a statement. “I feel...
Marilyn Manson Sexual Assault Lawsuit Dismissed
Note: This article contains descriptions of alleged sexual assault and sexual battery. A California court has dismissed without prejudice a 2021 lawsuit accusing Brian Warner—also known as Marilyn Manson—of sexual assault, as the Los Angeles Times reports and Pitchfork can confirm. Model and entertainer Ashley Morgan Smithline sued the musician for sexual assault, sexual battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, unlawful imprisonment, and more. Warner has denied the allegations. In October, Jay Ellwanger withdrew as Smithline’s attorney; she did not meet a deadline by December to acquire new representation or represent herself, leading to the court’s most recent decision. Smithline is able to re-file the case with new representation. “We thank and commend Ashley Smithlin...
Lee Foss’ Repopulate Mars Launches New Sub-Label, North Of Neptune
Repopulate Mars, the flagship record label of house music vet Lee Foss, has revealed the launch of a new sub-label, North Of Neptune. Foss says his new imprint will explore the funkier side of the Repopulate Mars universe. North Of Neptune will release its first record on Friday, January 6th, a two-track EP by Toby Simpson called Come Together. “Further exploration of the repopulate galaxy has unearthed the sound of my brand new sub label @north_of_neptune…a sound that shimmers in the glow of raining liquid diamonds in the coolest, funkiest reaches of the known galactic funk hub,” wrote Foss in an Instagram post. “[It] will bring smiles to all the cool cosmic cats.” Last year, Foss returned to the White Isle at Eden Ibiza for a landmark DJ res...
“I Thought I Ruined the Song”: Skrillex Opens Up About the Production of “Rumble”
Skrillex, Fred again.. and Flowdan have been ready to “Rumble” for years. After releasing their long-awaited collab, the trio opened up about its origins in a BBC Radio 1 interview. And if we take away anything from their discussion, it’s that every song has its own story. According to Fred, he created the original “Rumble” demo with Flowdan—sans Skrillex—roughly five years ago. He says the first time he ever met Skrillex, he played the track for the dubstep icon, who “always remembered it” and eventually asked for its stems. But the stunning and inventive song we’re hearing today didn’t sit right with Skrillex, who says he believed he’d “ruined” the record with his contributions. “I did something and I...
Copyright Royalty Board Approves Industry-Wide Settlement for 15.35% Royalty Increase
The United States’ Copyright Royalty Board has approved new rates amid a long-standing battle between digital service providers and songwriters, recording artists and music publishers. Known as “Phonorecords IV” or “CRB IV,” the settlement will incrementally increase royalties for over the next five years until it reaches 15.35% in 2027, according to the board’s members. On January 1st, 2023, songwriters and music publishers received a rate of 15.1% of a U.S. streaming service’s revenue. In 2024, it will raise to 15.2% In 2025, it will raise to 15.25% In 2026, it will raise to 15.3% In 2027, it will raise to 15.35% Songwriters and music publishers have long received the short end of the stick, but thanks to support from the NMPA as well as va...
After Las Vegas’ Mirage Closes, Fontainebleau Secures $2.2 Billion Investment
The Las Vegas Strip, one of the world’s leading nightlife hubs, is receiving a multi-billion dollar investment. Shortly after Hard Rock International announced its plans to shutter The Mirage and funnel billions of dollars into renovations, Fontainebleau Development has secured a $2.2 billion construction loan in order to complete the company’s ambitious, 67-story hotel and casino in Las Vegas. The Fontainebleau project has been in the works for two decades, according to TheStreet. “This is a milestone for Fontainebleau Las Vegas and stands as a testament to the tremendous dedication of our team and our partners at Koch Real Estate Investments,” said Brett Mufson, President of Fontainebleau Development, in a statement. “We are eager to bring ou...
Skrillex Returns With “Rumble” Featuring Fred again.. and Flowdan
Skrillex has returned with his first track in just over a year, titled “Rumble,” featuring rising DJ and producer Fred again.. and MC Flowdan. Clocking in at just two minutes and 26 seconds, the fresh single leans into its grime and bass while still introducing an experimental sound over a steady beat. With a bridge composed of a high-pitched voice, the track expertly builds to a proper height before dropping to a smooth, vibrating conclusion. “Rumble” arrives after Fred again.. teased the cut during his Boiler Room debut last summer. In tandem with officially releasing the track on Wednesday, Skrillex announced that a new single, featuring PinkPantheress and Trippie Redd, will release on Thursday, January 5. Both tracks will presumably appear on Skrillex’s forthcoming double album, which ...
Mac DeMarco to Release Instrumental LP ‘Five Easy Hot Dogs’ Later This Month
Mac DeMarco will be returning with a new album in just a few weeks. The forthcoming record, entitled Five Easy Hot Dogs, is a collection of instrumental recordings the singer made throughout his time spent traveling across the U.S. and Canada. Each of the 14 songs on Five Easy Hot Dogs is named after the corresponding city in which it was recorded and the tracklist is reflective of the chronological order they were made. DeMarco says that he began his roadtrip in the Bay Area following a concert in January of last year. His plan was essentially to stay in motels, hotels and simply in people’s houses and to record in all of these various settings. The singer said he traveled with his guitar, bass, drum kit, Model D synth, TX7 keyboard, stands and cabling and a few mics. “The plan was to sta...
