Month: June 2021

Fourteen years removed from the black screen groaned at from across the world, the late James Gandolfini’s spitting image of a son has filled his shoes as none other than Tony Soprano himself. Michael Gandolfini plays the role of an adolescent Anthony, gradually learning how to make his mark on the city of Newark with the help of his uncle, Dickie Moltisanti.

The trailer eases in with a voiceover of Tony from the original show, lamenting, “When I was a kid, guys like me were brought up to follow codes.” Within two seconds, a young Soprano is wailing on a leather-clad teenager. In all fairness, the guy called him a jerk-off, so not for nothin’, though, T.

His neurotic mother also makes an appearance, instilling even more context as to why Tony grew to be such a nervous wreck. In a private conversation with his principal, who tells her that he boasts an incredible IQ, she responds with a begrudging eye-roll and constant shaming, “You can’t prove it by me. He’s got a D+ average.” God, this woman has simply always been the fucking worst.

Even in these two minutes and some odd seconds, we learn a whole lot about where the eventual capo’s head truly used to be. With hopes of going to college, his uncle surely managed to steer him into a different direction, ultimately going to show exactly why Tony had Christopher Moltisanti’s back all those years throughout the show. Until, you know.

And, of course, what better way to fade out of the preview than playing the classic theme song at a hauntingly faint decibel level.

After a pair of setbacks, The Many Saints of Newark, is set to release on October 6.

Ne-Yo has shared the first look at he and his wife Crystal Renay’s baby daughter, Isabella Rose Smith. The Grammy-winning artist introduced his baby girl, born June 25th, to his followers on Instagram, Monday.

“LADIES N’ GENTS. Introducing the newest member of the Smith Clan ISABELLA ROSE SMITH,” he captioned a video of Isabella. “Welcome to the world lil’ mama. And know that I got you thru when, where and whatever. Now and forever.”

He continued, “You got 3 big brothers and a big sister that all love you and got your back too. Not to mention a whole tribe of friends and family @itscrystalsmith we did that Lovely, yes we did. Thank you for this gift of a little princess. I LOVE YOU.”

Greg Doherty / Getty Images

Ne-Yo announced that Crystal was pregnant in February with an Instagram post confirming Isabella would be their final child. Isabella is the couple’s fifth child. Ne-Yo and Crystal revealed that they were engaged and expecting their first child back in 2015.

The husband and wife had planned to divorce prior to the COVID-19 pandemic but settled their issues while inside together for quarantine, Ne-Yo revealed in an episode on The Talk.

Check out Ne-Yo’s post below.

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Lloyd Banks emerged with the release of The Course Of The Inevitable, boasting appearances alongside Freddie Gibbs, Benny The Butcher, Styles P, and more. The album comes just as more and more artists are announcing their return to the stage and it looks like Lloyd Banks will be following suit this summer.

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images 

The Rotten Apple rapper took to Instagram where he announced The Course Of The Inevitable tour this summer. The rapper’s 12-date tour kicks off this summer but there seems to be room for more bookings available. “Ok! It’s time,” Banks wrote on Instagram. “More shows to be added!! Leave the city I should come to in the comments!! Promoters..still excepting offers!”

The rapper’s upcoming tour will be kicking off In Atlanta on August 10 and tentatively ends in Los Angeles on Sept. 3rd. Banks will also be touching down in Philadelphia, Boston, Detroit, Chicago, Minneapolis, and more.

Hopefully, these upcoming dates that Banks has planned aren’t the last for him. More and more artists have been revealing plans to hit the road now that the COVID-19 numbers are significantly decreasing and vaccine numbers are going up.

Check out our review of the rapper’s latest album here and peep the dates below for Lloyd Banks’ upcoming The Course Of The Inevitable tour. Will you be heading to Lloyd Banks’ upcoming tour? Let us know in the comments below.  

Young Thug is widely considered to be an influential innovator within his generation, with his music going on to impact the modern sound of hip-hop and trap music today. Following his commercial breakthrough in 2014 after independently releasing a string of mixtapes, Thugger has only been on an upward incline. 

He released his chart-topping debut studio project So Much Fun in 2019, and has been taking his time with his forthcoming second studio album Punk. In the meantime, however, Thugger is tapping into his acting bag. The acclaimed rapper is slated to star in and serve as executive producer for the upcoming musical dramedy Throw It Back.

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Thug will star alongside Tiffany Haddish and Shahadi Wright Joseph and will also supervise the film’s soundtrack, which is set to feature southern-style hip-hip and HBCU collegiate band tempos.

A press release for the film describes it as a “dance-filled musical” that “follows Wytrell, a high school senior who has never stood out from the crowd. After a controversial superstar Miami rapper decides to feature the renowned dance team from her high school in his latest music video, it throws the school into chaos, and Wytrell battles for a spot on the squad and her final chance to be in the spotlight.”

Directed by Shadae Lamar Smith, the film was written by Smith and Rochée Jeffrey and will be produced by Haddish’s She Read productions and Feigco Entertainment. Geoff Ogunlesi and Lynne Hedvig will join as executive producers. 

Thug’s certainly been a busy guy. The news arrives after his successful Slime Language 2 compilation album, which debuted at the summit of the charts. The 23-track project was completed with a star-studded feature lineup that included Drake, Travis Scott, Lil Uzi Vert, Kid Cudi, Skepta, Future, Coi Leray, Big Sean, Rowdy Rebel, Yung Bleu, and more. 

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

There’s no word yet on when Throw It Back is expected to arrive. 

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Rolling Ray called out all the female nominees at the 2021 BET Awards who he’s had beef with in the past year, including the City Girls, Coi Leray,  and more. Ray says their hairlines, braids, and outfits were all a mess during the ceremony.

“All the girls who opposed me this year didn’t win the award last night, and the hairlines, braids, and outfits were messed up!” Ray tweeted. “I got too much money, but gave it, and I know my house was on fire. The table changed last night.”

He added: “You could never say I rolled out a house that looked crazy.”

Bennett Raglin / Getty Images

Ray also called out Coi Leray in particular, for losing the Best New Artist award: “Best new artist my mfn ass, Wanna be big purrr soo fucking bad & took that type energy to the awards only to lose & let them use you for ratings damn dummy.”

Earlier this year, Leray clapped back about Ray, who had criticized her for stealing his “Big Purr” catchphrase.

“This boy is obsessed,” she wrote in a tweet in May. “I would never talk about somebody’s disability. I wouldn’t even wish bad on my worst enemy. Let’s Us Pray.”

In another tweet, she added, “I feel bad more than being upset. You just have to let go and let GOD fr! Devil will try you!! Outsmart him !!!”

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