Lakeyah Enjoys Being ‘Young & Ratchet’ In Her Confident New Video

Milwaukee rapper Lakeyah signed to Quality Control last summer, which made her the latest act on the label’s growing roster of talent. She joined such big names like Lil Baby, City Girls, and Lil Yachty, as well as newer faces like Duke Deuce and Bankroll Freddie. She quickly made her mark on the label with her debut project, In Due Time, which she released in April. Now, nearly two months later, Lakeyah has dropped a brand new video for the track “Young & Ratchet.”

The Quality Control rapper takes her talents to a tennis court, where she and a trio of women dance to the track as it plays in the background. The ladies are also accompanied by a pair of cigar-smoking old men who seem entertained by their presence.

In Due Time is a mostly solo effort from Lakeyah, aside from a pair of features from Gucci Mane and Yung Bleu. While the project has only been out for a short amount of time, its maker is already planning for the future. “The next tape is going to be called Perfect Timing,” she said during an interview with Uproxx. “I just feel like everything is going to fall into place. I’m just working my ass off right now being super consistent. It’s all about timing.”

You can watch the “Young & Ratchet” video above.

In Due Time is out now via Quality Contol Music. Get it here.

J. Prince Reveals Nephew’s Murder: “This Is Weak Sh*t NOT Gangsta”

A Hip Hop icon is grieving the loss of a loved one and the streets are being called on. J. Prince has been a legend in the Rap industry since founding Rap-A-Lot Records in the late 1980s, and whenever there is someone in need, especially in Texas, it’s well-known that people can call on J. Prince for help. He often flies under the radar and doesn’t get involved in the he-say-she-say that artists are often entangled in, but he came forward on Tuesday (June 1) to share tragic news about his nephew’s murder.

Prince took to Instagram to share both grief and ire. “Houston We Have A Problem To Solve!” he penned in the caption of a photo of himself with his nephew. “There are a few renegade young punks, who went into one of my boys’ garage and shot my unarmed nephew in his heart and killed him.”

“These clowns have no principles, with an ‘anybody can get it’ type of attitude,” he continued. “I wish I could go back to the western days and put a ‘WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE- MILLION DOLLAR REWARD’ on them but that’s illegal, so I won’t do that. To all the real ones in every hood in H-Town, let’s not wait on the police to solve every problem for us. We have legal rights that need to be exercised to protect.”

Prince added that he has “NO respect” for anyone “around the world” who has given themselves the title of “gangstas” but acts in this behavior. “Killing unarmed, innocent people at nightclubs, homes, schools, malls, restaurants, churches or wherever!” He did call on “real n*ggas around the world” to unify in order “to deal with these bad apples.”

“This is weak sh*t NOT gangsta!… Reap what you sow!” Read through his message in full below. We send our sincerest condolences to J. Prince and his loved ones during this difficult time.

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YFN Lucci Denied Bond In Racketeering Case: Report

After enjoying a short taste of freedom, YFN Lucci was back behind bars. Earlier this year, the Georgia rapper was arrested in connection with a murder that occurred in Atlanta, and after posting bond under strict conditions, Lucci was re-arrested in mid-May. For the case, Lucci was named in a 105-count indictment involving alleged gang activity, felony murder, and racketeering. His attorney has denied all accusations of gang association.

“He’s not a gang member,” said attorney Drew Findling at the time. “What he is is an internationally recognized musical artist that is a triple platinum winner, that has performed all over the United States and all over the world.”

YFN Lucci, Arrest, Bond
Paras Griffin / Stringer / Getty Images

Hours ago, WSBTV reported that YFN Lucci has been denied bond by a Fulton County judge. “My client is, your honor, an incredibly successful artist that is very well known nationally and even internationally,” Finding reportedly said in court on Tuesday (June 1). The judge stated, “The defendant will remain in a no-bond status at this time. Additionally, this court revokes any bonds previously issued in this case.”

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis reportedly revealed that a YouTube music video that the rapper appears in will be used as evidence in the case against him. It’s said that 11 others have also been named. 

yfn lucci, gangs, arrest, bond
Cassidy Sparrow / Stringer / Getty Images

“We think it sends of very strong message to the public that no matter who you are, you have to follow the law and the rules, and you will be evaluated the same,” Willis said. “We’re working this case so hard because, as you know, I have taken a very strong stance against gangs. It’s causing a great deal of violence in our community.”

Prosecutors claim that Lucci drove his Maybach SUV along with two associates who are allegedly gang members into rival gang territory. A “gun battle” reportedly occurred and a James Adams was shot and killed. Authorities stated that Adams’s body was “dumped from the Maybach” not far from the scene.

“There are individuals outside gathered at the back of a car playing chess, holding a baby,” Fulton County Deputy District Attorney Cara Convery said. Check out a clip from Lucci’s hearing below.

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Gucci Mane Explains Feeling Like a First-Time Father: “I Love It”

Just two days before Christmas, Gucci Mane and Keyshia Ka’Oir welcomed their baby boy, Ice Davis, into the world. This is the first child for the happy couple and they’ve taken to social media to share adorable images of their little boy. However, this isn’t Gucci’s only child, as the proud father also has a 14-year-old son. The rapper recently chatted with Billboard about parenthood and detailed why Baby Ice feels as if he’s a first-time dad.

Gucci explained that he found out about his eldest son when the boy was just one year old. “Me and the mother were kind of like strangers,” he said. “I never knew how much attention you got to pay to a baby. It’s not easy.”

“It’s a great thing and I love it, but it’s definitely challenging to be a parent.” Gucci’s artistry will also reflect the changes in his life, especially as a father. “I always want my music to talk about what was going on in my life, and the most important thing in my life now is my son.”

Keyshia added, “For maybe the first four weeks, [Gucci] put him to sleep every night on his chest by himself. He’s a great dad.” Check out a few adorable shots of Baby Ice Davis below.

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Moneybagg Yo’s ‘Rookie Of The Year’ Shines A Light On Fellow Memphis Native Ja Morant

One of the most popular musical acts out of Memphis right now is Moneybagg Yo, especially after the success of his fourth album, A Gangsta’s Pain. Recently he teamed with Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant — himself one of the big stars of the NBA right now — for his latest single, “Rookie Of The Year.”

The new song will appear in Morant’s upcoming documentary, Promiseland, which premieres on June 3rd on Crackle. On the track, Moneybagg makes his support for the basketballer quite clear. “Love the game, it relate to me best / Work better under pressure when I’m put to the test,” he raps. “Strategic how I move, I just treat it like chess / Team Morant, the Grizzlies on my Mitchell & Ness (Straight from Memphis).” The song’s title is named after the award Morant won last year following his first season in the NBA.

Promiseland is directed by Dexton Deboree and the upcoming documentary also features a number of celebrities who will help contribute to the story of Morant’s rise to stardom.

Prior to the single, Moneybagg Yo’s A Gangsta’s Pain spent its second non-consecutive week atop the Billboard album charts. The project also appears on Uproxx‘s Best Albums Of 2021 So Far list.

You can listen to the new song and watch the Promiseland trailer above.

Diddy Doubles Down On Disputed Oscar Claim W/ Proof

Hip-hop mogul Diddy brought receipts to clear the air on his disputed Academy Awards claim. After Two Distant Strangers won Hollywood’s most coveted trophy for Best Live-Action Short in April, Diddy announced it was his second Oscar victory as a producer, which was challenged by fact-checkers. Diddy Poses With Academy Award For ‘Two Distant Strangers’ […]

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Former Hillsong Pastor Carl Lentz Denies Sexual Abuse Accusations

Just when he thought his church scandal had subsided, Carl Lentz is back in the headlines. The disgraced pastor was once the leader of the famed global celebrity-favorite megachurch Hillsong New York, but after it was revealed that he’d been carrying on a monthslong affair, Lentz was fired from his position. The woman would later come forward to detail her romance with Lentz, including that they loved one another, but in the end, Lentz publicly apologized to his wife and children for his behavior and is back to rebuilding his relationship.

A woman named Leona Kimes claims she worked as a nanny for the Lentz family for seven years after moving from Australia to help build Hillsong NYC. In an article the now-Hillson Boston pastor shared on Monday (May 31), she wrote, “During the years I spent serving them, I was subjected to manipulation, control, bullying, abuse of power, and sexual abuse. Having told almost no one before this, I am just now able to share what I experienced in their home as the result of intense therapy.”

Kimes accused the Lentz’s of overworking both her and her husband, little by little increasing both their hours and their workloads. “They made fun of me constantly, even calling me Cinderella, which they said was their way of loving me,” wrote Kimes. “My husband was frequently criticized as a group sport. Gossip was constant. If I didn’t join in or if I disagreed, I was the odd one out. Classic bullying.”

“The sexual abuse started small, too,” she continued. “My pastor would look at me and say, ‘Gurl, you’re looking good. You’ve been in the gym?’ There was a lot of flirty teasing like this. I had been around long enough to know that’s just how he was with women. But after a while, the comments started to escalate. I remember being told, ‘after you have kids, we’ll buy you a boob job.’ Looking back, I know I felt embarrassed, but I didn’t know it was wrong then.”

She claims Lentz took photos of her without consent, even cropping out his wife in one of the images. He allegedly would continue with flirtatious behavior, ask her to rub his feet when he got home, ask to accompany her on errands alone, and make physical advances toward her. Kimes also claims that before she was fired, Lentz admitted that his behavior was inappropriate. Lentz’s wife, Laura, issued a statement to PEOPLE saying that they “vehemently deny the allegations and, in addition to that, have irrefutable proof the events did not happen as they are being described.”

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Lil Loaded’s Death Confirmed As Suicide

lil-loade

Dallas rapper Lil Loaded was just 20 years old when he took his own life on Monday, as confirmed by his attorney on Tuesday. The rising star, born name Dashawn Robertson, was facing manslaughter charges at the time of his death, but it’s believed his fatal decision was driven more by a failed relationship. Lil […]

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Mary J. Blige Shares The Trailer For Her Upcoming Documentary ‘My Life’

Nowadays, Mary J. Blige is heavily focused on her career as an actor. A few months ago she completed her first season as Monet on the 50 Cent-led show Power Book II: Ghost. She also contributed to films like Trolls World Tour, The Violent Heart, and Body Cam. The newly-inducted Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer’s next screen gig finds her looking back at one of the highlights of her career. Later this month, Blige will share her new documentary, My Life, which will examine the time period around her classic 1994 album of the same title, and today, she shared the trailer.

“I’m so excited to share the trailer for my new documentary,” she captioned the preview. “Get ready to learn the story behind one of the most inspiring albums of all time in.” The film’s synopsis reveals that viewers will see Blige speak about “the demons and blessings” behind the album’s songs. “My Life is probably my darkest album at one of the darkest times I’ve had,” she says in the trailer. “Most of the time, I was just depressed and didn’t want to live. I had it all inside and I was able to sing it and write it, and I didn’t know that so many people felt the same way.”

The documentary will be available on June 25 through Amazon Prime. Blige will also perform the album live for the first time ever to celebrate the film’s release.

You can watch the trailer above.

Swizz Beatz Called Out Justin Timberlake For Not Yet Partaking In A ‘Verzuz’ Battle

Swizz Beatz and Timbaland earned acclaim by launching the series Verzuz during the pandemic, giving musicians a chance to square off while social distancing. But on Saturday they came full circle, doing one of their own. While the battle went well, there was one moment that caught the attention of many viewers as it came when Swizz called out Justin Timberlake for not partaking in a battle.

When Timbaland played Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake’s “Holy Grail,” which he produced, Swizz took a direct shot at the singer. “Until you can get Justin Timberlake on Verzuz, I don’t really wanna hear those vocals,” he said, according to Vulture. Later on, when Verzuz entered overtime, which occurs after both participants play 20 songs each, Timbaland played a pair of songs by Timberlake: “Cry Me a River” and “SexyBack.” That sparked another response from Swizz. “Until Justin let the world know that he —”, he started saying. But Timbaland cut him off, adding, “Justin gotta come out, he’s coming out.”

However, Swizz wasn’t done. “He gotta admit that he love the Black culture and he gotta be on this stage,” Swizz said. “You took from the Black culture, you give to the Black culture. Come to Verzuz and be a part of the Black culture.”

Later on, during a recap of the battle which they held on Instagram Live, Timbaland told Swizz he “went a little hard on my brother JT.” Swizz then gave his reasoning. “Look, man, I had to go hard,” he said. “Did you hear how them songs were sounding on that stage? You and JT, it was like JT was in the building. I was like, man!” Swizz added that he “was just having fun” and “don’t got no problem with JT.”

He then invited the singer to partake in a future battle. “Shout-out to JT,” he said. “We can’t wait to get you onstage having fun, ’cause you deserve it too.”