Hip Hop News
Careless Biting: Tory Lanez Hit With Allegations Of Illegal Sampling, Again
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Chelsea Guglielmino / Getty Tory Lanez has been hit with another accusation of illegally sampling an ‘80s musical great – this time, after his initial request to do so was denied. According to reports, the estate of the late George Michael has taken action to have a song from the rapper’s Alone At Prom album removed from streaming services, which was inspired by music from the 80s and was widely released last year. The estate claims that “Enchanted Waterfall” interpolated the melody and the chorus from the Wham! hit single “Careless Whisper”, which Michael singer wrote with bandmate Andrew Ridgeley and was released in 1984. In a statement that was sent to Variety, the estate alleges that “requested permission for this use had been declined in June 2021 so...
Sir Mix-A-Lot Creates Cheeky NFTs For A Worthy Cause
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Tim Mosenfelder / Getty If you thought the world of NFTs and cryptocurrency lacked a little spice, veteran rapper Sir Mix-A-Lot is here to change that – and just in time to celebrate an anniversary and do some good to boot. The “Baby Got Back” rapper is reportedly marking the 30th anniversary of his hit number one single by putting out a series of non-fungible tokens, or NFTs. Sir Mix-A-Lot is partnering with a developer, META-X Studios to create the NFTs in a series that will be called “Bit Butts”. The collection of digitally-crafted cabooses will first be hand-drawn, colored, and assembled by animation artists commissioned for the project, with the Seattle, Washington rapper himself contributing personal designs for some of the more rare NFTs. The “Bit ...
Russian Hip-Hop Artist Oxxxymiron Organizes Anti-War Concert Series To Help Ukrainians
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV / Gettynews The Russian invasion of Ukraine is now in its third week, and the majority of the world has decried the action including Russian citizens. Now, one notable Russian rapper is organizing a concert series to condemn the war. According to reports, the rapper Oxxxymiron has put together a concert series that will be a show of protest against his country’s invasion of Ukraine. “Today my nose is red from the cold, I’m cheerful but very angry. I’m angry because sh*t’s still f*cked up, because the war in Ukraine has been going on for more than two weeks. And yet there are tens of millions of Russians who categorically disagree with this war. And I think this should be said as loudly as possible,” Oxxxymiron said in a video shared to ...
Kendrick Lamar & Dave Free’s pgLang Partner With Def Jam, Sign Tanna Leone
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Jason LaVeris / Getty Kendrick Lamar is investing in the future of Hip-Hop through his company, which has signed an up-and-coming artist and is now partnered with Def Jam as part of the deal. According to reporting that was released on Wednesday (March 9th), Los Angeles-based artist Tanna Leone is officially signed to pgLang, the production company founded by Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free. The 23-year old joins the “King Kunta” rapper as the only artist repping pgLang along with Baby Keem. The signing also becomes the start of a partnership deal between pgLang and Def Jam Recordings. “We’re excited to welcome Tanna Leone and pgLang to the Def Jam family as valued partners,” Def Jam’s new CEO Tunji Balogun said in a statement announcing the news. “I’m lucky...
Evidence In NBA YoungBoy Fed Case Thrown Out, Trial Date Set
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Gary Miller / Getty Rapper NBA YoungBoy now has a trial date for his federal firearms case, and new confidence in how he and his team will handle proceedings after a ruling by the judge in his favor. According to reporting from Rolling Stone, the date for Young Boy Never Broke Again’s trial is set for May 16th after an appearance in a Baton Rouge, Louisiana federal court on Monday (March 7th). The news comes a week after the rapper, whose real name is Kentrell Gaulden, and his defense team received a ruling in their favor from U.S. District Court Judge Shelly Dick. The judge ruled that video evidence presented by the prosecution allegedly showing the rapper in possession of one or more firearms that was retrieved during a search on SD memory cards came as...
Travis Scott Announces $5 Million Investment in Initiative To Benefit HBCUs, Creatives
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Shareif Ziyadat / Getty HBCUs, along with other groups, are getting a major boost from Travis Scott thanks to a newly formed initiative. On Tuesday (March 8th), the rapper announced the formation of Project HEAL in a press release. Project HEAL is a multi-tiered initiative with a focus on philanthropy to community-based groups including investments. Scott has pledged $5 million towards these efforts. The initiative’s first project is the Waymon Webster Scholarship Fund, named after the artist’s grandfather who was an educator at Prairie View A&M University. The fund offers $1 million in pledged scholarships to students at HBCUs who have demonstrated academic excellence by earning a GPA of 3.5 or higher and are in need of financial assistance in the se...
Dizzee Rascal Found Guilty of Assaulting Ex-Girlfriend
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: James Manning – PA Images / Getty Veteran U.K. rapper Dizzee Rascal has been found guilty of assault by beating in court, and faces jail time as a result. According to reports in, the rapper who pioneered the grime genre (whose real name is Dylan Kwabena Mills) was found guilty of assaulting his former partner, Cassandra Jones in the Wimbledon Magistrates Court on Monday (March 7th). The assault took place at Jones’ residence on June 8th, 2021. Prosecutors stated that the reason Mills went there was due to frustration over custody arrangements with her over their two children. The incident, as detailed in court by prosecutors from the reports of the London Metropolitan Police, stated that Mills barged into Jones’ home as he was with his son and began to b...
Scary Hours: Drake Requests Order of Protection From Alleged Stalker
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Cole Burston / Getty One unfortunate part of being famous is the very real threat of people who go out of their way to target you. And Drake is now seeking protection against one of those people who’ve allegedly made threats against him. According to reports, Drake has filed for court-ordered protection against a woman who has allegedly been stalking him for years. In the documents, the Canadian rapper has claimed that Mesha Collins has maintained a pattern of harassment against him by showing up at his home on multiple occasions. There are also claims that Collins has not only made threats on his life but the lives of his family members. As a result, Drake claims in the filing that he is dealing with emotional stress due to being concerned for his and hi...
Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar & Future Headlining Rolling Loud Miami 2022
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Christopher Polk / Getty Outdoor festival season is fast approaching, and the popular Rolling Loud Miami Festival has made a big announcement about its lineup which will boast Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, and Future as the headliners. In a press release, the organizers of the Miami edition of the multi-city music festival announced their full lineup for their 2022 concert, which is set to take place from July 22nd to July 24th at the Hard Rock Stadium. The trifecta of headliners in West, Future, and Lamar stood out in the announcement. Related Stories Ye aka Kanye West will be the main act to close out the show on Friday, Future will headline the festival on Saturday and Kendrick Lamar will close it out on Sunday. For West, this appearance will be the firs...
Talib Kweli Appears To Confirm New Black Star Album
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Gladys Vega / Getty Hip-Hop fans have been waiting with bated breath for the possibility of a new Black Star album for 24 years. And apparently, one-half of the duo has confirmed it’s on the way. Talib Kweli took to social media to share the news in an Instagram post. The post was comprised of a photo of Kweli and Yaasin Bey aka Mos Def, his Black Star counterpart in a relaxed moment. The caption read, “The new Black Star album was recorded in hotel rooms and dressing rooms across the globe. I love how my brother @yasiinbey pushes me musically. #blackstarforever follow @blackstarkeepshining today…” Outside of that, no other details were shared by the “Get By” MC. There has been more in the way of material on their official web page, boasting archival...
Flag On The Field: Snoop Dogg Being Sued For Alleged Sexual Assault
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: VALERIE MACON / Getty On the eve of being part of the highly anticipated halftime show at this weekend’s Super Bowl, Snoop Dogg has been hit with a shocking lawsuit alleging that he committed sexual battery and assault. According to reporting from TMZ, the documents from the lawsuit filed in California’s federal court identify a “Jane Doe” who claims that the “Gin & Juice” rapper and entertainer sexually assaulted her back in 2013. The woman, who in the suit says that she is a model and dancer by profession, claims that it took place after she attended one of his concerts in Anaheim, California on May 29th of that year. The victim relates that Bishop Don “Magic” Juan, an associate of Snoop Dogg, offered her a ride home and she fell asleep on the way, ...
Lil Uzi Vert Pleads No Contest For Assaulting Ex In West Hollywood
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Prince Williams / Getty For Lil Uzi Vert, his latest appearance in headlines is another dubious one as he has reportedly taken a plea deal in response to charges of assaulting his ex-girlfriend in Hollywood last year. According to reports, the popular and eccentric rapper accepted the deal from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office to plead no contest to one felony after being hit with accusations of assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Brittany Byrd last year. He was being charged with three felonies – making criminal threats, domestic violence, and assault with a firearm. There was also a misdemeanor charge of carrying a loaded firearm, which Uzi also pled no contest to. The rapper received a sentence of three years of formal probation, one year of...
