Month: March 2021

We’re not sure how much longer we’ll have to wait for the next Kendrick Lamar album, but the Los Angeles rapper seems to be taking his time. The Top Dawg Entertainment star last released Damn back in 2017, and the critically-acclaimed project still has fans talking today. K-Dot is an artist who stays out of the spotlight and minds his business, amassing respect from his millions of fans and fellow artists alike. Rapper E-40 sang Kendrick’s praises as he took a walk down memory lane and revisited touring with Lamar over a decade ago.

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“Everybody you can name. We was all one big—two and a half months,” E-40 told HipHopDX. “Just every day, I would open up the studio after I performed or before and after. I have a portable studio so I have it on my tour bus or I have it in the room. I get a suite. Kendrick could hang out with me, him and Jay Rock, all of us. We really hung, real tough. And this is 2010, feel me?”

“This how you know they some real dudes. Kendrick was opening up, not opening up, but being Jay Rock’s support,” he added. “We all knew Kendrick was raw, but he was his support. And he never hated, he was right there on stage with him. Never hated. To see Kendrick blossom and now Jay Rock not hating on him, then next thing you know, Jay Rock end up getting him a big one [with ‘Win’].”

E-40 emphasized how the TDE artists are “teamwork make the dream work”-orientated while praising the evolution of the Los Angeles-based label. When asked if he saw K-Dot as a star back in those days, E-40 said there were “no ifs, ands, or buts,” about the rapper’s star power. “I knew it.”

“He might seem quiet, but that’s a little—that mothaf*cka got hella character to him. He know how to act and all that. You seen him on Power,” said 40. Check out the Bay Area legend’s clip below and let us know if you think the Kendrick Lamar praise is well-deserved.

Netflix often features profound films that affect viewers so deeply that not only are they moved by the cinematic performances, but the stories stay with them, as well. In 2017, Mary J. Blige starred in the critically-acclaimed film Mudbound as Florence Jackson, the wife and mother of sharecroppers in America’s South. Racial tensions run high in the Mississippi setting as Black and White World War II veterans return home and adjust to life while struggling with PTSD. 

Mary J. Blige was widely applauded for her inclusion in the 2017 film, even earning the R&B legend two Academy Award-nominations. While it has been some time since the movie was first released, it seems to have quite the impact on former One Direction singer, Zayn Malik. Yesterday (March 1), Zayn sent out a tweet to the Queen of Hip Hop-Soul to tell her just what he thought of the film.

“@maryjblige obviously my humble opinion means nothing but you were incredible in mudbound ,I cried the whole way through [sad crying emoji],” he wrote. It doesn’t look like Mary J. has seen his tweet just yet, but we’re sure she’d appreciate it. Check out Zayn’s tweet and the trailer for Mudbound below. What did you think of the film?

The legal troubles involving DaBaby and a Los Angeles homeowner were first reported just over a week ago, and now more information about their encounter has surfaced, including a video. The Daily Mail got their hands on court documents filed by 64-year-old Gary Pagar, owner of the Runyon Canyon property that DaBaby and his crew reportedly rented for almost $44K. It’s stated that Pagar was under the impression that the rapper and nine friends were staying at the property for a “private vacation.” However, he learned that they were shooting a music video with upwards of 40 people and a film crew, and when Pagar interrupted them on set at his home, he was reportedly accosted.

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In a brief video released by the outlet, Pagar is seen confronting DaBaby and his team before a member of the rapper’s entourage pushes him to the ground. Stunna 4 Vegas quickly jumps in and pushes the unnamed man off of Pagar as the homeowner finds his footing. DaBaby isn’t seen touching anyone because he’s inside of a vehicle at the time with Jake Paul, but Pagar accuses the rapper of getting out of the car to “taunt, threaten and punch” him—incidents that allegedly weren’t captured on film.

Pagar also claimed that DaBaby “sucker punched” him and knocked out his tooth, took his cell phone, and issued threats against him if Pagar called the police. Pagar reportedly called DaBaby’s bluff and contacted the authorities. The homeowner said that DaBaby and his crew fled the scene and left behind broken and defaced property. He’s suing for $117,910.48. Check out the clip of the incident below.

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There is a lot going on in Texas. The winter storm devastated the unprepared state as their energy grid was shut down and millions of residents froze without water, heat, and oftentimes, food. People took to social media apps by the thousands to give visual updates to their harrowing experiences as pipes leaked from ceilings and wet floors were frozen solid due to blistering temperatures. Senator Ted Cruz took a hit after he and his family were photographed making a swift exit out of the state and down to sunny Mexico, and on Tuesday (March 2), it’s being reported that Texas is now planning to remove mask mandates as they prepare to fully reopen the state.

This decision has, unsurprisingly, ruffled a few feathers because vaccines have yet to be distributed to all citizens and technically, we’re still in the midst of a pandemic. Rapper Bun B is known to hold down his home state with pride, however, this latest bit of news has rubbed him the wrong way.

On Instagram, Bun B shared a post of Texas governor Greg Abbott making the announcement. “This is bat sh*t crazy @govabbott and you know it. As if you didn’t already have enough blood on your hands. SMFH.” It’s been suggested that Gov. Abbott is acting impulsively to regain his following after recent events. Check out Bun’s post below and let us know if you think it’s time that other states follow in Texas’s footsteps.

A major move has been made by Instagram and many of the social media app’s users are acting like lost kids in the mall. It was back in 2019 when Instagram introduced the concept of deleting the number of “likes” on a post and instead, came up with a strategic way where users could still amass and see who “likes” their posts without a glaring number staring at them. The suggested change was said to help with social media users’ mental health as there have been several conversations in professional circles regarding the effects of prolonged use on apps like Instagram.

After reportedly beta testing in certain areas of the world, on Tuesday (March 2), Instagram users found that the number of “likes” on their posts have been removed. For the average person, this doesn’t seem to be much of an interruption, but its impact on those who have build brands as social media influencers is unclear. The number of visible “likes” is what major and corporate brands look for when partnering with an influencer and we will have to wait for statistics on if the change has a direct effect on the number of double-taps someone receives.

The company also revealed that this latest phase of beta testing was a slip-up and they didn’t mean for everyone’s likes to be removed. “We will make decisions that hurt the business if they help people’s well-being and health,” CEO of Instagram, Adam Mosseri previously told Wired. The change has garnered mixed reactions, so check out a few below.

Will we see the role of Diamond reprised for a new generation? The Players Club is a fan favorite that first premiered back in 1998 as Ice Cube’s directorial debut. It was the rapper’s first time helming the director’s chair as he got another taste of the movie industry, and it was a stepping stone to a Hollywood crossover career that many artists have yet to reach. LisaRaye McCoy was an aspiring actress with big dreams when Cube cast her as Diamond, and recently Draya Michele and Joseline Hernandez traded messages about who would be better fitted for the role of should a remake ever present itself.

“I think, why not? You know what I mean? I do have a problem with some of the sequels sometimes when they’re done so well and it’s the first time you see it, it’s like, let Diamond be Diamond,” LisaRaye told her Cocktails with Queens co-hosts. “Maybe somebody can play Cubic Zirconia or something. But Diamond was done so well but she’s still Diamond, you know what I mean? So, I don’t know what to say.”

“I’ll tell you that I don’t see Joseline in that role, though,” LisaRaye continued. “She got it. She got bod-ody-ody, for real.” She noted that Draya dressed up as Diamond of Halloween. “She did it very well and she hit me like, look. I’m a little you. I’ve actually acted in some things with her as well.” 

The ladies discussed Joseline instead tackling the role of Ronnie while LisaRaye suggested that if there was a sequel, Cube should do what he did the first time around and “get a no name.” Check out the chat below and let us know if you think Draya could star in a The Players Club remake as Diamond.

In three days, we’ll finally receive Coming 2 America over 30 years after the first classic film hit the silver screens. The movie stars Eddie Murphy as Prince Hakeem and his close friend Arsenio Hall as his sidekick and best bud “Semmi,” and the on-screen friendship between the characters is almost a reflection of real life. Murphy and Hall have known each other for decades and during their recent co-interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, they revisited a few career moments that also involved their friendship.

Isaac Brekken / Stringer / Getty Images

After discussing Murphy being interviewed on the Arsenio Hall Show many moons ago and cracking a few jokes about their experiences, Kimmel asked Murphy if he ever watched Hall during his 2012 stint on Celebrity Apprentice. Hall won his season, and while Murphy suggested that he only tuned in for the finale, Kimmel really wanted to know if Arsenio still speaks with Celebrity Apprentice boss and former president, Donald Trump.

The three men laughed as Hall answered, “We don’t talk a lot.” He added, “You know what was weird? He got mad at me once—like, he won’t text you. He got mad at me once because I did an interview and he said I didn’t mention him, but sometimes, people don’t mention everything you say. He took the interview and he wrote in Sharpie, ‘No Trump,’ and he photographed it and emailed it back to me. I think someone in his office did.”

“It was the strangest transmission I’ve ever had.” Kimmel quipped that Trump’s note was “what I wrote on my ballot in November.” Check out the story below along with more about the wholesome, long-lasting friendship between Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall.

In three days, we’ll finally receive Coming 2 America over 30 years after the first classic film hit the silver screens. The movie stars Eddie Murphy as Prince Hakeem and his close friend Arsenio Hall as his sidekick and best bud “Semmi,” and the on-screen friendship between the characters is almost a reflection of real life. Murphy and Hall have known each other for decades and during their recent co-interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, they revisited a few career moments that also involved their friendship.

Isaac Brekken / Stringer / Getty Images

After discussing Murphy being interviewed on the Arsenio Hall Show many moons ago and cracking a few jokes about their experiences, Kimmel asked Murphy if he ever watched Hall during his 2012 stint on Celebrity Apprentice. Hall won his season, and while Murphy suggested that he only tuned in for the finale, Kimmel really wanted to know if Arsenio still speaks with Celebrity Apprentice boss and former president, Donald Trump.

The three men laughed as Hall answered, “We don’t talk a lot.” He added, “You know what was weird? He got mad at me once—like, he won’t text you. He got mad at me once because I did an interview and he said I didn’t mention him, but sometimes, people don’t mention everything you say. He took the interview and he wrote in Sharpie, ‘No Trump,’ and he photographed it and emailed it back to me. I think someone in his office did.”

“It was the strangest transmission I’ve ever had.” Kimmel quipped that Trump’s note was “what I wrote on my ballot in November.” Check out the story below along with more about the wholesome, long-lasting friendship between Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall.