Hip-Hop
Judge Upholds Cardi B’s Win in Back Tattoo “Misappropriation” Trial
A California judge has upheld Cardi B’s win at a recent trial where jurors found her not liable for using a portion of plaintiff Kevin Brophy’s back tattoo on the cover of her 2016 mixtape Gangsta Bitch Music Vol. 1, Rolling Stone reports. Brophy, a model, sued Cardi for $5 million in 2017, claiming the cover of the mixtape — which depicts a man apparently performing oral sex on the rapper — misappropriated his likeness by using an image of his tattoo, and that he was suffering “distress and humiliation” because of it. Brophy asked the court to toss their October 21st, 2022 verdict, which found Cardi not liable. U.S. District Judge Cormac J. Carney ruled Wednesday that Brophy’s request to toss that ruling had come too late and lacked merit, and subsequently ordered him to pay Cardi’s legal...
5 Things to Know About Tobe Nwigwe, Best New Artist Nominee at 2023 Grammys
With an already-extensive catalog under his belt since starting out in 2016, rapper and singer Tobe Nwigwe is one of the more established entries in the Best New Artist category at the 2023 Grammy Awards. Also up for the Big Four award are Anitta, Domi & JD Beck, Latto, Omar Apollo, Samara Joy, Muni Long, Tobe Måneskin, Molly Tuttle, and Wet Leg. Hailing from Houston, Nwigwe has released a series of acclaimed projects over the years. 2022 saw the artist drop a live album, numerous singles, and his latest full-length, moMINTs. Nwigwe has also collaborated with artists like Duckwrth, Big K.R.I.T., Black Thought, and Royce Da 5’9″, and counts Erykah Badu, Beyoncé, and Michelle Obama as fans. Here are five things to know about Tobe Nwigwe ahead of Music’s Biggest Night on February 5th, 202...
Theophilus London Reported Missing
The family of Theophilus London has filed a missing persons report with the Los Angeles Police Department, saying the 35-year-old rapper and singer hasn’t been seen since July 2022. “Over the last few weeks, friends and family of Theophilus London have been working together to piece together his whereabouts,” his representatives wrote in a statement, noting that he was last reported in Los Angeles. “On December 27th, family members of Theophilus London traveled to Los Angeles to file a missing persons report with the LAPD. They are now seeking the public’s help with any information as to London’s whereabouts.” Lary Moses London, the artist’s father, wrote, “Theo, your Dad loves you, son. We miss you. And all your friends and relatives are searching for you. Wherever you are send ...
Tory Lanez Found Guilty of Shooting Megan Thee Stallion
Tory Lanez has been found guilty of shooting Megan Thee Stallion, the New York Times reports. The jury found him guilty on all three counts: assault with a semiautomatic handgun, carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence. Lanez, who was born in Canada, may face deportation and up to 23 years in prison. During their opening statements, prosecutors alleged Lanez shot Megan in the foot while shouting, “Dance, bitch, dance!” in the midst of an argument after a pool party they attended in the Hollywood Hills during the early morning hours of July 12th, 2020. Lanez was initially charged with one count of assault with a firearm and another gun possession charge in October 2020. Just before the trial began on December ...
Barack Obama Reveals His Favorite Songs of 2022
Barack Obama is getting in on the fun of list season by sharing his favorite songs of 2022. Some one may have taken a peak at our own top songs list (hi, Obama!), as the former president included five of our favorites: SZA’s “Shirt,” Ethel Cain’s “American Teenager,” Danger Mouse and Black Thought’s “Belize” featuring MF DOOM, Plains’ “Problem With It,” and Zach Bryan’s “Something in the Orange.” Sadly, our favorite song of the year — Paramore’s “This Is Why” — did not make Obama’s list. #JusticeForParamore. Obama’s list also includes songs like Lizzo’s “About Damn Time,” Rosalía’s “SAOKO,” Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul,” Bad Bunny’s “Tití Me Preguntó,” Maggie Rogers’ “That’s Where I Am,” Burna Boy’s “Last Last,” NxWorries’ “Where I Go” featuring H.E.R., and Kendrick Lamar’s non-album hype trac...
Megan Thee Stallion’s Boyfriend Pardison Fontaine Shares Message in Support of Women Amid Tory Lanez Trial
As jurors decide whether Tory Lanez shot Megan Thee Stallion in the foot two years ago, Megan’s boyfriend, Pardison Fontaine, is publicly sharing some thoughts on social media. “To any woman especially ones of color that has suffered an injustice I feel for you.. when you do find the courage to speak up.. it seems you will be ridiculed.. your credibility will [be] questioned.. your entire past will be held under a magnifying glass.. in an instant you can go from victim to defendant in the eyes of the public,” Pardi wrote in an Instagram Story Thursday evening (Dec. 22). He continued, “To any one with a daughter sister mother niece or aunt.. I pray for their protection.. I pray for their covering.. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.” Megan and Pardi celebrated their second anniversary in Octob...
Afroman Running for President to Be “Pot Head of State”
The artist behind “Because I Got High” is now seeking a higher office: Afroman has announced that he’s running for president in the 2024 US election. “There comes a time in the course of human events when change must be affected,” his campaign manager Jason Savage wrote on Instagram. “That time is now. Americans are suffering, and the status quo is no longer acceptable.” The 48-year-old Afroman, born Jason Foreman, broke out in 2001 with The Good Times, which included the hit songs “Because I Got High,” and “Crazy Rap,” also known as “Colt 45 and 2 Zig-Zags.” He has now released 18 studio albums, most recently 2022’s Lemon Pound Cake. Advertisement Related Video Alongside the announcement, Afroman outlined eight key platforms of his presidential campaign. These include norma...
Bob Dylan Says He’s a Fan of Eminem, Metallica, and Wu-Tang Clan
Bob Dylan likes modern music so much that he literally wrote the book on it — or, at least, a book on it: the contentious The Philosophy of Modern Song. The legendary musician went into further detail about his own personal listening habits, however, in a new Q&A with The Wall Street Journal, revealing that his roster of favorite artists includes Eminem, Metallica, Wu-Tang Clan, The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, and more. Firstly in the interview, Dylan talked about how he first fell in love with music in the 1950s, turning to new-at-the-time sources like the radio, portable turntables, and jukeboxes: “Without postwar technology these songs may have dissipated and been overlooked,” he said. “The recording process brought the right people to the top, the most innovat...
Pusha T Says He’s No Longer Affiliated with Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music
Pusha T has revealed he no longer has any ties to Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music label in a new interview with XXL. When asked if he was still the president of G.O.O.D. Music, Push responded, “No, I’m not” before confirming to the magazine that he wasn’t tied to the label at all. And while G.O.O.D. Music and Def Jam’s partnership ended in 2021, Push has his own 50/50 deal with Def Jam for his solo music and label, Heir Wave Music Group. So in other words, Pusha T’s latest project, It’s Almost Dry — which Consequence named the best album of 2022 — marks his last full-length through G.O.O.D. Music. The rapper signed to the imprint back in September 2010 after Clipse went on hiatus. In 2015, he was named president of G.O.O.D. Music. Advertisement Related Video In an interview with the Los Angele...
Childish Gambino Joins Billie Eilish to Perform “Redbone”: Watch
Billie Eilish kept the surprises coming during the third and final show of her mini-residency at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles on Friday. After welcoming Dave Grohl and Phoebe Bridgers the previous evening, Eilish brought out Donald Glover for a rare live appearance as Childish Gambino. The two teamed up to perform “Redbone.” Watch fan-captured footage below. Following the performance, Glover remained on stage to lead the crowd in wishing Eilish a happy birthday (the pop prodigy turns 21 years old on Sunday). Friday night’s gig at the Forum marked Eilish’s final concert of 2022. However, she’s already lined up several dates in 2023, including headlining slots at Lollapalooza’s Latin American festivals and Osheaga in Montreal. Advertisement Related Video As for Glover, he’s mostly put his mu...
Kendrick Lamar Enlists a Very Famous Therapist in ‘Count Me Out’ Music Video
Kendrick Lamar is known to largely keep his personal life outside of the public eye–except when it comes to his music. On Friday (Dec. 16), he released the music video for his Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers deep cut, “Count Me Out,” depicting the Compton artist in a piano-side therapy session with Oscar award-winning actress Helen Mirren. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Directed by Lamar and pgLang cofounder Dave Free, the video begins with a skit about Lamar taking a woman’s parking spot, before presenting a three-way split screen, showing the “HUMBLE” rapper rattling off his innermost thoughts on one side, Mirren with a steady gaze of empathy on the other, and in the middle, the scenes he describes playing out, including shots of L...
Kendrick Lamar Goes to Therapy with Helen Mirren in “Count Me Out” Music Video: Watch
Kendrick Lamar has a therapy session with Helen Mirren in the new music video for “Count Me Out” from his latest album Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers. The song kicks off Volume 2 of the three-part album, opening with a collage of thoughts including, “Session ten, breakthrough.” The new music video does away with that exposition, instead showing Lamar attempting to plumb his thoughts with the help of Mirren’s therapist. The pair discuss a heated run-in with a white woman in a parking lot before growing more serious. “You texted me at 2:00 in the morning: ‘I feel like I’m fallen,’” Mirren says. “Why do you feel that way?” Advertisement Related Video The lyrics provide the answer, and the visuals, directed by Lamar and Dave Free, display a kaleidoscope of colorful imager...
