Month: August 2021

Diddy says that the throwback photo of himself and Jennifer Lopez, which he posted on Instagram in the wake of Lopez’s split with Alex Rodriguez, was uploaded with “no trolling involved.” He also explained that the two are just friends and nothing more.

In a new cover story for Vanity Fair, he explained that the photo was just a “throwback post from a great time in his life.”

“It wasn’t no trolling involved, that’s just my friend,” he added. “And I don’t have nothing to say about her relationship or her life.”

Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images

Diddy and Lopez dated from approximately 1999 to 2001 during an off period with his ex and mother of three of his kids, Kim Porter.

The rap legend explains in the interview that if he was ever going to get married, it would’ve been to Porter: “And so, you know, I had to start to deal with it when I lost Kim. ‘Cause I was like, man, you had it. I’m not saying I would do any of it differently. God willing—I would have had more time. I look at my life as, ‘I got a second chance.’ I’m on my second mountain.”

Later in the interview, Diddy also spoke about “coming back into music” in anticipation of his next project, Off the Grid Vol. 1, which is releasing in September.

[Via]

Sometimes you end up paying way more on the backend for trying to cut corners on the frontend, and two Canadian airline passengers recently found that out the hard way. When leaving the United States and entering Canada, the travelers submitted fabricated COVID-19 vaccination cards and COVID-19 test results, and they also failed to follow the Canadian government’s requirement of utilizing government-authorized accommodations. As a result, they were hit with massive fines that they may very well struggle to pay.

According to Complex, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has punished the Canadian citizens for being “non-compliant with entry requirements” by dishing out four fines for each traveler. As a result, both of them will have to individually cough up a total of $19,720 (roughly $16,000 USD).

Nathan Howard/Getty Images

As wild as it may seem, however, it looks like the two previously mentioned airline travelers actually got off with a light punishment. According to the PHAC’s press release on the matter, “a person who submits false information on vaccination status could be subject to a fine of up to $750,000 or six months imprisonment or both, under the Quarantine Act, or prosecution under the Criminal Code for forgery.”

[via][via]

DaBaby’s fall from grace has been hard and swift. After telling fans who “didn’t show up with HIV/AIDS or any of them deadly sexually transmitted diseases that’ll make you die in two to three weeks” and fans who “ain’t suck a n*gga d*ck in the parking lot” to put their cell phone lights in the air, DaBaby ultimately sealed his fate for the remainder of the first music festival season since 2019. His harmful, homophobic, and misinformed comments about HIV/AIDS and the LGBTQ+ community have led to him being dropped from several huge music festivals, including Lollapalooza, Governor’s Ball, and Parklife Festival.

Although he originally attempted to take a stance against cancel culture with a lackluster apology, DaBaby doubled back on Monday and released a more serious response to the controversy that he brought upon himself. “Again, I apologize for my misinformed comments about HIV/AIDS and I know education on this is important. Love to all. God bless,” he said at the conclusion of his most recent apology. However, it appears that his latest statement was a little too late because DaBaby has now also been dropped from his headlining slot at the Austin City Limits Music Festival.

Noel Vasquez/Getty Images

“DaBaby will no longer be performing at ACL Music Festival — lineup update coming soon,” Austin City Limits Music Festival revealed in a statement made via social media. 

At this time, it’s not clear who will be replacing the “Giving What It’s Supposed To Give” rapper as the second Sunday headliner at the Austin City Limits Music Festival, but several fans have so far been requesting for the festival to replace DaBaby with a prominent LGBTQ+ artist, offering suggestions like Tyler, the Creator and Lil Nas X. Other fans have requested Dua Lipa to replace her “Levitating” collaborator, but fans will have to stay tuned to see who ACL Festival officially decides on.

With another festival appearance canceled for DaBaby, what are your latest thoughts on the industry’s response to the KIRK rapper‘s Rolling Loud comments?

Having taken on the celestial title of “6ix God,” it’s no surprise that Drake has become a key figure in the Toronto Raptor’s organization. As the team’s global ambassador, Drizzy has long been a vocal champion of the 2019 championship winners, frequently popping up courtside and engaging with various players off the court. 

With next season on the horizon, the Raptors recently welcomed a few new players into the mix — including new draft picks Scott Barnes and Dalano Banton. Barnes, the fourth overall pick, was selected from Florida State, while the Toronto-born Banton — and 46th overall pick — made franchise history as the first Canadian-born player to be drafted by the Raptors. 

Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images

In order to give the pair a warm welcome, Drake made sure to connect with the prospects over the weekend — on Barnes’ twentieth birthday, at that. It’s a solid gesture that should go a long way in forging an exciting connection with the team, and it’s likely that this sort of engagement is exactly the sort of behavior the Raptor higher-ups love to see from their megastar global ambassador. 

One has to wonder if the newly-drafted Raptors prospects were able to receive any intel on the upcoming Certified Lover Boy album, which was recently confirmed to be finished and dropping “soon.” Look for more news on that front, as well as any of his Toronto Raptor-related endeavors, right here. Do you think Barnes and Banton will find themselves benefitting from the so-called Drake Stimulus Package? 

Trae Young and the Hawks have agreed to a designated rookie maximum extension worth up to $207 million that will keep the star point guard in Atlanta for five more years. Young’s agent, Omar Wilkes of Klutch Sports, detailed the contract to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Monday.

The contract has a base of $172 million but includes a 30% escalator clause should Young hit on one of the three All-NBA teams during his tenure. The deal will begin in the 2022-23 season and run through 2026-27.

Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images

After he landed the new deal, Young tweeted “Never let ANYBODY tell you, you can’t do something,” and “Another Day, Another Opportunity.”

Young solidified his warranting of a max extension after the 2021 NBA Playoffs, during which he averaged 28.8 points and 9.5 assists per game while leading Atlanta on an impressive run that took them to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Young is the latest to pick up a huge deal this offseason. Mavs star Luka Doncic is expected to sign a similar deal as he is eligible for a massive 4-year, $202 million contract. Marc Stein reports that his deal likely won’t be solidified until after he is done competing in the Olympics.

Check out Young’s first comments after agreeing on the deal below.

[Via]

Not long after taking home the Grammy for Best Rap Album, the legendary Nas shocked fans with the spontaneous announcement of King’s Disease II. With the project due out for release this coming Friday, executive-producer Hit-Boy has come through to share a glimpse at the project’s stacked tracklist, which happens to feature a few unexpected surprises. 

Clocking in at fifteen tracks — with production assumed to be handled once again by Hit-Boy — King’s Disease II features a few intriguing guest appearances. Though the bulk of the album finds Nas flying solo, the album also features guest appearances from Eminem, Lauryn Hill, EPMD, Blxst, Charlie Wilson, Hit-Boy, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, and YG. 

Ross Gilmore/Redferns via Getty Images 

Off the bat, many were drawn to “EPMD 2,” featuring Eminem and EPMD. The track marks the first time Nas and Em have collaborated on wax as emcees, having previously connected on God’s Son highlight “The Cross.” The album also brings a welcome reunion between Nas and Ms. Lauryn Hill, who previously crafted a classic together with “If I Ruled The World” — it should be interesting to see if they pick up where they left off.

Ever the hype-man, Hit-Boy slid into his own comment section with unapologetic excitement. “Wow Eminem and NAS first time rapping on a song together!” he notes. “Lauryn hill!! Death Row East!” Let it be known that his enthusiasm for the unexpected Nas sequel mirrors our own, and we look forward to hearing King’s Disease II in full when it drops in full this coming Friday, August 6th. 

Check out the full tracklist below, courtesy of Hit-Boy.