Month: June 2021

Mad Skillz has quietly built up a reputation as one of the game’s respected lyricists and has since transitioned into the world of Academia by teaching a hip-hop course at the University of Richmond. Now, he’s making headlines following an impressive project, one that highlights the work of one of the game’s brilliant musical minds — the late Detroit legend, J. Dilla.

Taking to Instagram to share his discovery, Mad Skillz confirmed that he had restored a beat tape gifted to him by Dilla, showcasing the results on his IG story highlights. “Yes!!!” he captions, looking appropriately thrilled. “I found the original beat tape that Dilla gave me and fixed the tape so I could digitize it, to hear what I just heard? Go to my story.”

The process that he appears to have undergone is impressive to behold. Showcasing a picture of the tape in its original state — which is to say, having seen better days — Skillz confirmed that a “surgery” of sorts would be necessary. “I just found this,” he states, flashing the tape to his followers. “This is J. Dilla’s handwriting. I know it is cause he always used to spell my name wrong.” 

“I fixed the tape, and started listening to it,” he continues, proceeding to queue up some of the songs and musical fragments included. One such snippet features an eerie vocal sample, prompting Skillz to declare that he always wanted Dilla to make a proper instrumental out of it. Next up is an instrumental version of “The Jam,” which leads into a beat he compares to The Pharcyde’s “Drop.” Also showcased were instrumental versions of “It’s Goin Down” and “Runnin.” 

Fans of the late producer and his work with Mad Skillz would be wise to check out the rapper’s listening session, which doubles as a much-needed reminder of Dilla’s talent. Head over to his IG page and show some love to Skillz and Dilla in the comments below.

WATCH: Mad Skillz Surgically Saves & Previews Dilla Tape

Porsha Williams drew mixed reactions from social media after she confirmed her engagement to her Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member Falynn Guobadia’s estranged husband Simon Guobadia. Many criticized the reality TV star for the romance, particularly because of their speedy courtship. 

Williams, however, seems unbothered by the negative reactions and even got her new beau’s name inked on her skin. Gossip queen Wendy Williams took aim at her fiancé recently, suggesting the millionaire film executive owns a “hut.” He proved her very wrong with a few videos in his story flexing his large property. 

“Now, don’t be impressed. I’ve travelled a lot but you know how land is cheap and houses are cheap and you can say you have a house but really it’s a trailer on one property in one state. A straw hut in another, and a little something with a shared pool by the community in another. So you have ‘houses,'” said Williams on her talk show.

She continued, “I don’t need 3 weddings.” Guobadia tastefully dispelled Wendy’s suggestion in a story post flexing his massive home with the mocking caption, “‘Hut’ living. How you doing’, Porsha?”

He then panned over his amazing view from his decorated balcony that certainly doesn’t appear to be a “hut.” It appears Wendy’s title as Gossip queen still holds some truth.  

Lil Durk has experienced so much loss in the last few years. It’s incredible to witness the 28-year-old superstar rapper continue to ascend to new heights in the face of so much trauma. The Chicago native’s anguish has been well-documented in the news, grieving the deaths of his cousin OTF NuNu, his associate King Von, and most recently, his producer Turn Me Up Josh. Ahead of his collaborative album release with Lil Baby this week, a preview of some high-powered Smurk bars has surfaced online, seemingly including a threat against Quando Rondo, who was present on the night King Von was killed.

Talking his shit on the record, Lil Durk rapped some menacing bars and seemingly took shots at Quando Rondo, Lul Tim, and the late FBG Duck. “And we took L’s for sure, but in Chicago, they know we winning for sure,” sings Durkio on the track. “You do it for what? Better not say that you do it for [gunshots], them n***as be tough, that n***a was fucked, the moment he ran and he knew he ain’t ducked and his ass out of luck. We do it for Von, we don’t wait till it die down, we load and we do it tomorrow.”

Durk appeared to take aim at Quando Rondo, who recently filmed a multi-part interview with Angela Yee inside of his Rolls-Royce. “That Rolls better be bulletproof lil n***a, you know we gon’ shoot at the stars,” he said. While this could be intended for another wealthy opp, many are interpreting this as a diss against Quando.

Listen to the snippet below, courtesy of Akademiks, and stay tuned for new music from Lil Durk and Lil Baby on Friday.

American society has slowly but surely been changing its attitudes towards marijuana use. While it was once severely frowned upon and policed heavily, many states have fully decriminalized possession of the plant and now allow for adults over 21 years of age to legally indulge. 

With the industry predicted to increase in value as more states turn to legalization, many rap moguls have already dipped their feet in the growing industry. To stay in touch with modern times, Amazon is adjusting its company drug testing policy to treat marijuana use the same as alcohol use for positions not regulated by the Department of Transportation. 

Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Dave Clark, Amazon’s CEO of Worldwide Consumer, relayed in a message to the company’s U.S. operations employees that a growing number of states enacting marijuana legalization was a key inspiration for the decision. Marijuana does remain illegal at the federal level, which explains the regulated by the Department of Transportation addendum. 

“In the past, like many employers, we’ve disqualified people from working at Amazon if they tested positive for marijuana use,” Clark said in the message. “However, given where state laws are moving across the U.S., we’ve changed course. We will no longer include marijuana in our comprehensive drug screening program for any positions not regulated by the Department of Transportation, and will instead treat it the same as alcohol use. We will continue to do impairment checks on the job and will test for all drugs and alcohol after any incident.”

In addition, Amazon’s public policy team will also be “actively supporting” the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act of 2021, which was introduced by congressional leaders in May.

Paul Armentano, the deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, noted that Amazon’s decision marks “a reflection of today’s changing cultural landscape.” 

[via]

O.J. Simpson is back with another video message, commenting on Caitlyn Jenner’s run for Governor of California, Bill Cosby refusing to take a course for sexual predators, and Julio Jones’ future in the NFL. The wide-ranging video was posted to the disgraced football star’s social media accounts over the weekend.

He started by discussing Caitlyn Jenner’s run for Governor of California, arguing that she isn’t qualified for the job. Jenner previously stated that her win in the 1976 Olympics gave her the qualifications to run because she “faced down the Russians.” “A gold medal is qualifications to be governor?” laughed O.J. “That means Sugar Ray Leonard [is also eligible], he won a gold medal then. Edward Moses won a gold medal then. Even the late Leon Spinks won a gold medal, and I don’t think he would’ve qualified by winning a gold medal to run for Governor. I’m just saying.”

Dan Mircobich/AFP/Getty Images

He moved on to discuss Bill Cosby being denied parole after he refused to take a course for sexual predators.

“Bill Cosby decided not to take a course, a sexual course in prison, and it probably cost him his parole. So he’s not getting out,” remarked Simpson. “When I was in camp, I took everything, all the courses. I wanted to get home to my kids. I took a victim impact course that was particularly galling to me because I had to get up and apologize to my victims. I got up and said, ‘Guys, I’m sorry I caught you trying to sell my stolen property. I’m sorry I yelled at you and I’m sorry that the state of California ruled it was my property, gave it back to me, and you didn’t get to make any money off my stolen property.’ I would have taken a cooking or sewing class, I would have taken anything to get home and get out of prison.”

He ended his video by sending a message to NFL star Julio Jones, recruiting him to the San Francisco 49ers.

Watch the full video below