Month: August 2021

Summer Walker Seemingly Accuses Atlanta Tattoo Shop Of Racism

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Tattooists often clamor to have celebrity clients who come in for exclusive work, but the Stygian Gallery didn’t seem interested in accomodating Summer Walker. It is not uncommon to see entertainers from almost every facet of the industry show off their ink while tagging the tattooist in an effort to help boost the artist’s skills, but Summer shared a rejection letter of sorts after reaching out to a shop in Atlanta.

It is unclear what the chart-topping songbird wanted to get, but the Stygian Gallery told her the tattooist she requested “is not able to take on this project and we don’t have another artist who would be a good fit to work with.”

The studio manager added that because of their schedule, Stygian “aren’t able to take on every request that comes in” and couldn’t guarantee they would be available in the future, either. She was encouraged to try again “at a later time,” but Summer wasn’t convinced that availability was the issue.

“I should of known what was up when I seen out of 1000 something pics not one black person had been tatted & it’s Atlanta,” she penned over a screenshot of the shop’s email. A quick browsing of their Instagram page confirms Summer’s complaint, and social media users have concluded that Stygian Gallery either doesn’t want to work with Black clients or they aren’t proficient in tattooing on dark skin. Still, some say it’s plausible that they’re just overbooked.

Check out a few posts below.

Summer Walker, Stygian Gallery
Instagram

Summer Walker, Stygian Gallery
Instagram

Summer Walker, Stygian Gallery
Instagram

Summer Walker, Stygian Gallery
Instagram

 

DaBaby Was Reportedly Dropped From Lollapalooza After He Failed To Share A Promised Apology Video

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Getty Image

DaBaby’s recent homophobic comments brought him a lot more trouble than he might have expected. His insensitive remarks earned him criticism from all over, as well as from fellow artists like Madonna, Dua Lipa, and Elton John. They also got him dropped from a number of festivals, the first being this past weekend’s Lollapalooza. However, according to Billboard, he was given a chance to save himself from being dropped from these festivals, and he failed.

The publication reports that representatives for DaBaby reached out to seven promoters for fall festivals and promised the rapper would share an apology video before he took the stage at Lollapalooza. They specifically said the rapper would share a “heartfelt apology to the LGBTQ+ community.” But he reportedly missed the deadline to share it with festival organizers C3 Presents and Live Nation, which resulted in his removal from Lollapalooza.

In addition to Lollapalooza, DaBaby has been stricken from a number of 2021 festivals, including Governors Ball, Parklife, Day N Vegas, Austin City Limits, and iHeartRadio Music. The new report comes days after the rapper apologized for his “hurtful and triggering comments.”

Dua Lipa is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

T.I. Laughs As He Details Arrest In Amsterdam, Says He’s “Experiencing The Culture”

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If you’ve been curious as to why you haven’t heard T.I. continue to defend DaBaby in recent days, it’s because he has been in Amsterdam living the good life. Following the rise of DaBaby’s Rolling Loud scandal, T.I. immediately jumped in to defend the North Carolina rapper and issued videos where he questioned why DaBaby couldn’t share his views the way Lil Nas X expresses his sexuality creatively. The backlash was swift, but suddenly, T.I. was no longer to be heard.

On Tuesday (August 3), T.I. resurfaced on his Instagram with a video where he told his followers he was arrested in Amsterdam. “So, I’m locked up now,” he said with a laugh. “I’m obviously not supposed to have my phone as I’m biking and because the policeman ran into me and broke his rearview, you know.”

T.I., Arrest
Robin L Marshall / Stringer / Getty Images

“And because I didn’t have my passport on me, I don’t know. It’ll be fine,” he added. T.I. said the officer was “extremely upset” while the rapper was “having a great time.” He was even reportedly arrested without even being handcuffed. “They just opened the door and invited me to the backseat. I obliged,” T.I. said with a laugh.

Because he couldn’t post his bond with cash, T.I. had to make some moves in order to get out of jail.  He laughed throughout his video and stated, “This is great, this is actually experiencing the culture.”

Check it out below.

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Kehlani Quit Smoking Weed Because She “Wasn’t The Most Productive Pothead”

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Hip Hop has been a driving force in shifting cannabis culture into becoming mainstream, and in recent years, we’re seeing more artists either build their own brands or partner with others to develop strains. Kehlani has been a long supporter of cannabis and even would partake herself, but she recently explained why, back in 2018, she decided to part ways with marijuana.

For many artists, weed can help with focus and creativity, but Kehlani revealed that she was smoking so often that it was having an adverse effect. “I used to smoke a lot of weed and now I speak on it in a past tense perspective,” she said in a TikTok video. “People think I’m sh*tting on weed, I’m not.”

Kehlani, Weed
Rich Fury / Staff / Getty Images

“I loved weed when I was involved with it,” said the singer. “It’s a beautiful plant with very nice properties when used correctly. I don’t think that I was using it correctly. I think I was overusing it. I wasn’t the most productive pothead.”

“It really really messed with my vocal cords and it really took a lot of energy from my day. I stopped to regulate my body and myself,” she continued. “I got to a point where I couldn’t eat, sleep, or be at a social gathering. I couldn’t kick it without smoking weed and I just didn’t want it to have that hold on my life anymore.”

“And also my throat and lungs were tired of me,” she added. “But I’m not judging the weed smokers!” Kehlani has previously spoken about quitting smoking after her doctor alerted her that if she stayed on the path she was on, she would only have a few more years in her singing career. The singer reportedly quit that day.

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Dimitri McDowell Drops “Contact” Remix Ft. BEAM

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Rising New York City star Dimitri McDowell has a song of the summer on his hands. Back in May, he unveiled his single, “Contact” which has continued to maintain steady circulation across playlists and DJ sets. The breezy, laidback island feel and infectious melodies transformed the record into an immediate smash, though it appears that McDowell is preparing to keep that momentum high in the weeks to come.

This week, Dimitri McDowell unveiled the official remix to the song. Though much of the original composition is left intact, McDowell enlists BEAM to help boost the vibe a bit more.

BEAM is fresh off of his appearance on Pop Smoke’s FAITH where he teamed up alongside Pusha T and Travi for the record, “Top Shotta.”

Peep Dimitri McDowell’s remix of “Contact High” below.

Quotable Lyrics
She see me pull up in a Phantom, yeah
Her body movin’ like she want some, yeah
What we doin’ ain’t nobody else business
Ain’t no man ah give it to you like this

Trouble Defends DaBaby In Angry Rant Against Cancel Culture

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As DaBaby continues to face consequences for his Rolling Loud Miami remarks as well as his controversial apologies that subsequently followed, his supporters have vocalized their ire. After penning an apology yesterday (August 2) where he called out people who would rather criticize than educate, DaBaby was removed from the iHeartRadio Music Festival and Midtown Music Fest, in addition to several others. 

Rapper Trouble has come forward to defend DaBaby’s right to express himself while also condemning Cancel Culture. “All this sh*t just fake as f*ck!” Trouble said in a video he uploaded to Instagram. He angrily questioned how people, who were just lifting DaBaby up could be calling for him to be punished.

“One motherf*ckin’ mistake ’bout sh*t and you actin’ like a n*gga just went on this b*tch and said, ‘F*ck all gays,'” he continued. Trouble recalled DaBaby’s Rolling Loud moment and said if he was there, he would have followed suit and just put his light in the air. He also called out rappers, as well, for remaining silent during times of controversy.

“You wanna do songs when it’s beneficial, get on a n*gga’s sh*t, ride a n*gga’ d*ck, but you don’t got sh*t to say when that sh*t taken away from a n*gga or a n*gga in jail. Come on, man.” Watch Trouble vent his frustrations below.

Sarkodie Taps Wale, Vic Mensa & Giggs For “No Pressure” Project

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Sarkodie has kept fans anticipating new music, and finally, he’s back with a new boy of work. The rapper unveiled his new project No Pressure on Friday which does not disappoint. Stacked with 15 songs in total, the Ghanian rapper’s latest body of work boasts some prominent features across its tracklists. American names like Wale and Vic Mensa make appearances while Sarkodie also connects with Giggs on “Round 2.” Other features on the project include Kwasi Arthur, DarkoVibes, Medikal, and more.

“Some people sell out who they are to try and be accepted in different places. I know who I am and what my sound is, and that’s something I try not to lose because my authenticity is my power,” said Sarkodie of his follow-up to 2019’s Black Love.

Peep the project below. 

Here’s 5 Snapshots Of DaBaby On His Daddy Duties

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Charlotte rapper DaBaby has apologized for his controversial comments, and is back to being the the guy we all know – the man after the money. In all honesty, though, Baby is a family man and loving father. When he’s not grinding music, he’s with his son (although he isn’t his biological father) and daughter […]

Popp Hunna’s Management Speak Out Following Self-Harm Video

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North Philly rapper Pop Hunna left fans in a state of concern on Monday following an incredibly alarming Instagram Live stream. The rapper shared a post on his Instagram page that suggested he was contemplating self-harm. “20 years old wit no purpose in life,” he wrote on Monday. “Allah call me home. I’m ready. I gave it my all.”

Fans immediately expressed their concern over the post and an Instagram Live stream where he spoke on harming himself. During Instagram Live, he revealed his strained relationship with his father. “My dad was like, ‘I wish you weren’t even alive,'” Popp Hunna said before leaving the bathroom where he was filming and returning with a belt around his neck.

Popp Hunna’s management team has since issued a response following the Instagram Live session where they asked for prayers and support for the rapper. “In regards to yesterday’s live, we are asking for prayers and positivity right now for Popp Hunna,” the message posted to the rapper’s Instagram page reads. “If you have someone you love and care for who is dealing with suicidal thoughts don’t overlook it get them help immediately!!!”

Pop Hunna became a viral sensation earlier this year following the success of his single, “Adderall (Corvette Corvette)” which became a TikTok hit before Lil Uzi Vert hopped on the remix.