Hip-Hop
Jennifer Hudson Recalls Final Conversation With Aretha Franklin
That includes Hudson, who was personally selected by Franklin to play her. The two began conversations years ago, shortly after Hudson won an Oscar for her star-making turn in Dreamgirls in 2007. They stayed in touch and became longtime friends that would speak on a near-weekly basis. During a brief conversation with THR on the carpet, Hudson recalled her last conversation with Franklin, a chat that happened days before her passing at age 76 on Aug. 16, 2018. “The last time I heard her voice was August 8,” she explained. “It’s odd that here we are again, on August 8, three years later. Right after we spoke, they told me she was no longer competent enough to speak but she sang to me on our call and we talked about my son and his cooking. She loves to cook and so does he. I sent her a video ...
R. Kelly Trial Begins With Jury Selection: On the Scene at NYC Courthouse
After the potential jurors filed into the courtroom gallery, Judge Ann M. Donnelly addressed the group, emphasizing the anonymity of selected jurors. Donnelly explained that U.S. marshals would accompany jurors to and from the courthouse each day, in response to the onslaught of media attention and high-profile status of the case. In August 2020, charges were filed against associates of Kelly for witness tampering, another factor playing into the decision for a partially sequestered and anonymous jury. “Nobody knows what your names are,” Donnelly reassured. “I don’t want anyone…trying to get your take on [the trial].” Donnelly questioned potential jurors, inquiring about their hobbies, jobs, experiences with law enforcement and views on same-sex relation...
DaBaby Retracts Apology for Homophobic Rant
DaBaby has retracted his apology to the LGBTQ+ community which he made in response to the growing controversy over his homophobic rant at last month’s Rolling Loud Festival. Amidst public outcry, the rapper posted the apology to Instagram on August 2nd. “Social media moves so fast that people want to demolish you before you even have the opportunity to grow, educate, and learn from your mistakes,” DaBaby wrote. “As a man who has had to make his own way from very difficult circumstances, having people I know publicly working against me– knowing that what I needed was education on these topics and guidance– has been challenging. I appreciate the many people who came to me with kindness, who reached out to me privately to offer wisdom, education, and resources. That’s what I needed and it was...
DaBaby’s Apology for Homophobic Comments Has Been Removed From His Instagram Account
In the post, the rapper had said, “I want to apologize to the LGBTQ+ community for the hurtful and triggering comments I made. Again, I apologize for my misinformed comments about HIV/AIDS and I know education on this is important. Love to all. God bless.” “Social media moves so fast that people want to demolish you before you even have the opportunity to grow, educate, and learn from your mistakes,” he wrote in the now-removed note. “As a man who has had to make his own way from very difficult circumstances, having people I know publicly working against me— knowing that what I needed was education on these topics and guidance— has been challenging. I appreciate the many people who came to me with kindness, who reached out to me privately to offer ...
Jessie J Apologizes to Nicki Minaj Over ‘Bang Bang’ Mixup Seven Years After the Song’s Release
But according to Minaj, who responded to Jessie J’s quotes on Thursday with a correction, “I didn’t hear the song & ask 2get on it.” “The label asked me2get on it & paid me,” Minaj tweeted. “How would I have heard the song? Chiiille what am I the damn song monitor? Snoopin around for songs chile? This was said by another artist recently as well. Yall gotta stop. LoveU.” For what it’s worth, Minaj did want to get on Jessie J’s “Do It Like a Dude” after catching it on the radio. “but the worst part about this no1EVER asked me,” she tweeted with laughing face emojis. “I have been obsessed with that song since the min I heard it.” On Friday, Jessie apologized to Minaj over the confusion about how ...
Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion Celebrate One Year of ‘WAP’ by Contemplating Another Collab
“Happy WAPIVERSARY,” Megan replied. “Thank you for having me.” And while there has been no word on whether this will actually happen, she teased (much to the delight of fans), “I think the people deserve another collab.” “WAP” arrived on Aug. 7, 2020, racking up a massive 93 million streams in just its first week of release and blasting onto the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart at No. 1. See their tweets and watch the “WAP” music video below. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to meet Beautiful people, chat and make money in the process. Earn rewards by chatting, sharing photos, blogging and help give users back thei...
Abstract Mindstate Return with New Album Dreams Still Inspire Produced by Kanye West: Stream
Abstract Mindstate have unveiled their new album, Dreams Still Inspire. Stream it below on Apple Music and Spotify. Produced by none other than Kanye West and released on his YZY SND imprint, the 14-track collection marks Olskool Ice-Gre and E.P. Da Hellcat’s first full-length studio set since breaking up in 2005, and was preceded by lead single “A Wise Tale.” The LP also contains collaborations with Tony Williams (“Move Yo Body”), Jonquia Rose (“Salutations [Intro]”), Deon Cole (“Voice Mail [Interlude]”), and West himself (“The Brenda Song”), in addition to a pair of skits featuring Luka Sabbat (“YZY SND [Skit]” and “Lambo Truck Podcast [Skit]”). Advertisement Related Video Dreams Still Inspire arrives in conjunction with an accompanying documentary detailing how West talked the Chicago h...
With King’s Disease II, Nas’ Second Reign Is Better Than His First
A good sequel is rare. Every now and then, we get a part two on par or better than the original, but for every Dark Knight, there are 50 Hangover Part IIs. It’s a feat even more challenging in music, because each album is about a particular time in an artist’s life. Asking for a new version of that same thing is basically asking them to hop in a time machine and relive the past. Which, until someone says otherwise, is impossible. Never one to shy away from an impossible task, Nas surprised the world when he announced King’s Disease II, a sequel to his Grammy-winning 13th album, just one week ago. Out today, August 6th, it finds the rapper and producer Hit-Boy continuing their flourishing tag-team partnership. Their first endeavor, released in August 2020, felt designed to make fans fo...
Boldy James and The Alchemist Share New Song “Turpentine/Steel Wool”: Stream
Last month, repeat collaborators Boldy James and The Alchemist shared “First 48 Freestyle,” a teaser for their upcoming album, Bo Jackson. Now, the rapper and producer have unveiled a new video for the songs “Turpentine/Steel Wool,” along with details about the much-anticipated record, which is out August 13th. Bo Jackson includes collaborations from Freddie Gibbs, Earl Sweatshirt, Benny the Butcher, Curren$y, Stovegod Cooks, and Roc Marciano. Notably, “First 48 Freestyle” doesn’t appear on the tracklist; instead, the final song is called “Another 48 Freestyle.” As for “Turpentine/Steel Wool,” it’s a single music video for two Bo Jackson tracks. The first half is a virtuoso display of bars, as Boldy James raps, “She a ballerina, Boy Meets World after Topanga/ Told me sh...
Megan Thee Stallion Sounds Off Against Homophobia In Hip-Hop Says ‘Representation Is Important’
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz83 Despite being more accepting, Hip-Hop still has a homophobia problem. That has been clear thanks to DaBaby’s homophobic Rolling Loud Miami moment and the knee-jerk reactions to Lil Nas X’s brilliant visual for his latest single, “Industry Baby.” The Houston rapper spoke with People Magazine about what she feels is Hip-Hop’s reckoning with homophobia and feels it was a long time coming. “It is about time,” Thee Stallion said. “Representation is important, and it is really crucial for us all to have compassion and acceptance of every human.” The “Big Ole Freak” crafter herself was the subject of some criticism when someone decided to dig up an old tweet from 2019 where she used a gay slur to address a hater. “This lil f****...
Kam-Bu Announces New Album Black on Black, Shares “Stuck”: Stream
South London rapper Kam-Bu has announced his debut album Black on Black. To herald the August 20th release date, he’s now shared the single “Stuck” featuring Rachel Chinouriri. The 10-track effort comes with production from Leon Vynehall, Pullen, Hylnu, Tom Henry, and Knucks, who also contributes vocals to the song “Call Me Back.” Kam conceived Black on Black as an ode to the Windrush generation: those who arrived in the UK between about 1948 and 1971 from Caribbean countries. In 2018, the government threatened many legal citizens with deportation because they had no official paperwork, in an event that has come to be known as the Windrush scandal. As Kam said in a statement about his new album, “It’s a thank you for the risk they took and the culture they brought, which we ...
7 Biggest Moments from Kanye West’s ‘Donda’ Listening Event
At some points Ye was napping, in others he was doing push-ups with people in the room hyping him up. There were even moments where Kanye just stood there in his tiny brick room alone, staring at the camera. It was all very odd and abstract, but it acted as a perfect prelude for the spectacle that Mr. West was preparing to deliver. Even though it was meant to be just an album listening session, Donda’s second event felt like a fusion between live theater and an electrifying hip-hop concert. A thick veil of smoke enveloped the arena as I and thousands of other spectators waited for Kanye to appear. While the artist made the restless full house at the Mercedes Benz Stadium wait an hour and a half before emerging from the shadows, the twin-sized cot that he was likely sleeping on while he fin...
