Month: June 2021

Serena Williams is already a four-time Olympic gold medalist. However, the super athlete, businesswoman, and mother has decided to opt-out of the global competition this year. The Tokyo Olympics were initially set for 2020, but the pandemic forced things to be pushed back until 2021. Williams is currently looking to secure her 8th Wimbledon trophy. She will face Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus Tuesday. While at Wimbledon, Williams revealed that she would not be traveling to Tokyo. However, her reasons remain unclear.

“I’m actually not on the Olympic list, not that I’m aware of,” she said. “If so, then I shouldn’t be on it,” she added. The icon continued on to state, “there’s a lot of reasons that I made my Olympic decision. I don’t really want to. I don’t feel like going into them today. Maybe another day. Sorry.”

Although she doesn’t seem impressed with the global competition, she did reveal that she did at least once love it. “I have not thought about it. In the past [the Olympics] has been a wonderful place for me. I really haven’t thought about it, so I’m going to keep not thinking about it,” Williams concluded. Naomi Osaka, who famously withdrew from Wimbledon, will compete in the Olympics this year.  

Verzuz still isn’t losing steam by any means. In fact, the showdowns are getting even better since live audiences can now join the festivities. Last night, Soulja Boy and Bow Wow faced off against each other for an epic battle of the mid-2000s where the two rappers played their biggest hits. Bow Wow even hit the Harlem Shake one time, and it seems that alone was enough for some to deem him the winner of the evening.

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Last night’s Verzuz was a reminder of both artists’ contributions to the culture on a larger scale. Even Drake was in the comments last night tuning into the madness. The Canadian rapper made sure to pay homage to Soulja Boy’s iconic “DRAAAAAKE?!?” moment before revealing that he would’ve shown face at the event. “He shoulda hit me I woulda popped out for this on god,” wrote Drake during the evening.

 Of course, Drake became a component of the battle, even if he wasn’t physically present. Despite Drake’s praise for Bow Wow earlier in the year, Soulja Boy quickly reminded his opponent that he never had a song with Drake then proceeded to perform “We Made It.”

It was a celebratory moment for all but Drake did take a moment to pay his respect to both Soulja Boy and Bow Wow with a throwback flick to the three rappers, along with Trey Songz. It was reposted by Elliott Wilson who found Drake in the comments explaining the origin story and vouching that Big Draco was truly the first to do everything. 

“Soulja was showing us how to use U Stream,” Drake commented.

Check out our recent interview with Soulja Boy who discusses his relationship with both Drake and Bow Wow here.Who do you think won Verzuz last night? Sound off in the comments below

Former Bad Boy rapper Shyne has been heavily involved in politics in Belize. Last year, he was elected in the nation’s House of Representatives. Now, he has ascended to a party leader. Shyne shared on his Instagram that he just became the leader of the Opposition Party.

“Officially Sworn in as Leader of the Opposition for Belize,” he wrote as the caption to an image of him signing documents. “Thank Gd for the perseverance and iron will to continue on to this point despite all challenges and difficulties,” he continued. 

Shyne got his shot at the top position when a video surfaced of former Leader of the Opposition, Patrick Faber, charging toward the mother of his 2-year-old daughter. Faber was removed from the position.

“It is not a matter of, well the video is not incriminating to the extent of filing criminal charges,” Shyne said of the video. “It is clear what we saw in that video, there was a violent, there was a back and forth and a contemplation, then a violent surge towards a mother and her child. So we as an institution have to make a decision, do we protect Patrick Faber or do we protect the institution and our credibility and our quest to re-engage the public and to restore their trust and confidence in us so that we can be the alternative to what is happening now.”

It looks like Nicki Minaj may be getting ready to drop off some unreleased music soon. On Saturday night, the Queen Barb took to her IG story to preview an old song for fans that she reportedly recorded over 4 years ago. From what we can hear, London On Da Track is responsible for the production, meanwhile Future maybe a guest feature on it according to Genius.

The song is tentatively called “Big Barbie” and finds Nicki referencing the term “big barbie” and name dropping Playboi Carti in the process, rapping: “In the space coupe, finna meet Marty/ Big Barbie, in a pink ‘Rari/ A milli on the rock, Playboy Carti/ Billion dollar pussy, put it out in Saudi.” Check out the preview (below) and let us know what you think.

In other news, Nicki is coming off the release of a new Polo G-assisted record called “For The Love Of New York,” as well as her 2009 mixtape Beam Up Scotty mixtape which she re-released few weeks ago with 3 new songs, including “Seeing Green” with Drake and Wayne. Stream that right here if you haven’t done so already and keep you eyes peeled for more Nicki on the way. 

Jamie McCarthy/ Getty Image

Tyler, The Creator is fresh off of his latest body of work, Call Me If You Get Lost. Once again, Tyler, The Creator delivered a whole new sound that focuses just as much on his bars as it does his production. That being said, it was also an excellent display of how brilliant Tyler is as a producer, especially when working with artists outside of his immediate circle. 42 Dugg appears on the song “LEMONHEAD,” a collaboration that seems surprising but shouldn’t be, considering how much love Tyler had for Lil Baby’s “We Paid” featuring the Detroit rapper.

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Ahead of the album’s release, Tyler, The Creator shared short snippets of records from the project. “WUSYANAME” didn’t include the NBA Youngboy verse that’s now on the album version but copyright takedowns revealed that the “Make No Sense” rapper appeared on the track with Ty Dolla $ign. 

On Twitter, Tyler fielded questions from fans regarding the album including some insight into the collab with NBA Youngboy. A fan asked how Tyler managed to secure that verse. The OF frontman didn’t provide a response for that but he did praise NBA Youngboy. “hes a sweet heart man, sending love to youngboy, such an interesting person,” he wrote.

Tyler later added that NBA Youngboy’s verse was among the highlights on the project for him, specifically, “when nba says ‘think soooo.'”

Check Tyler’s tweets out below. 

Former No Limit artist Mac has been released from prison after serving 21 years for a murder he says he didn’t commit. Earlier this week, Mac, whose real name is McKinley Phipps Jr., was granted parole after receiving a unanimous vote from the board, and now he’s already home 5 days later.

Former No-Limit rapper Silkk The Shocker revealed the first post-prison picture of Mac when they linked up Friday in New Orleans. “Welcome home Mac,” Silkk’s caption read as the two posed for the camera on a couch.

Meanwhile, the boss man, Master P, also P congratulated his former artist, writing “Welcome home soldier!” @macphippsofficial Let God guide you on this next chapter.”

According to Mac’s parole terms, the rapper has a 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. curfew and cannot enter establishments that serve alcohol. He also required to complete six hours of community service, every month, with at-risk youth.

“We feel blessed to have McKinley home after such a long fight for his freedom,” his wife, Angelique, said in a statement Wednesday. “We look forward to this new chapter of life.”

The rapper had nine years left on his 30-year sentence at the time of receiving the news. Welcome home Mac!

[Via]

If you missed it this week, Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack company partnered up with Dior at Paris Fashion Week and launched an exclusive Dior collection, including a new shirt which payed homage to the late rapper Pop Smoke, who loved the brand Dior and rapped about often. The shirt featured Pop’s face on the front and lyrics from his popular song on the back (see below).

Well following the exclusive shirt release, Pop Smoke’s family is speaking out and thankful for the collab, believing it could be the first of more to come. Pop Smoke’s brother, Obasi Jackson, spoke with TMZ recently and said him and his mother were appreciative for the love he showed.

“Me personally, I definitely appreciate the love he’s trying to give and create around Pop with his new music coming out.” He later continued, “thank you so much for being a part of his legacy, continuing to support and love. We appreciate the sentiment that Travis Scott put out with his t-shirt and that he put his creative essence together to put a Pop Smoke shirt with Dior.” Watch the clip (below) and cop the shirt right here.

In other related news, Pop Smoke’s estate is gearing up to release another album from the late rapper on July 16th. The first posthumous album Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon can be streamed right here. 

R.I.P. Pop Smoke.