Month: June 2022

Drake’s motto as of late seems to be work hard, play harder. The father of one has been celebrating big like only he can after successfully dropping off a surprise dance album, Honestly, Nevermind earlier this month, which has since gone on to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.

The 14-track effort’s lone collaboration – Jimmy Cooks featuring 21 Savage – also earned the number one spot, and Champagne Papi has announced two fan favourites, “Sticky” and “Massive” as the first singles.

So far, the only music video we’ve received is for “Falling Back,” in which the Canadian marries over 20 women with NBA star and fellow Toronto native Tristan Thompson acting as his best man, but it looks like another one is on the way soon, according to clips that surfaced online earlier this week.

On Monday, a video of Drake linking up with Philadelphia-based rapper and social media dancer, 2Rare hit the internet, showing the two facing off in a dance battle where the 35-year-old did his best to reenact his competitor’s signature moves but was ultimately washed.

@2raree

Who won yall?? 😂😂😂👀👀

♬ original sound – 2RARE

Fans thought the moment was completely random, and that it proved just how hilarious and fun-loving the Scorpion hitmaker really is, though 2Rare later confirmed in his TikTok comments that it was filmed on the set of the “Sticky” music video.

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Elsewhere in the news, Drizzy’s doppelganger, Izzy Drake, is hoping to challenge Champagne Papi to a celebrity boxing match in exchange for a name change if real Drake wins, and an OVO deal and $1M if he wins – read more about that here, and tap back in with HNHH later for any updates on the “Sticky” music video.

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Ben Simmons was one of the biggest stories of the entire NBA last season and not for any good reasons. He decided to sit out his entire time with the Philadelphia 76ers and once he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets, things did not get any better. He continued to suffer from various injuries, and it ultimately left him in a bad spot where he couldn’t help the team in the playoffs.

Since that time, there has been a lot of speculation surrounding the Nets. This includes whether or not Kyrie Irving would come back, as well as whether or not Kevin Durant would leave in the event of a Kyrie exodus.

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Now, both of those players are confirmed to be staying which is obviously good news for Ben Simmons. In fact, things are getting even better for Ben as it was confirmed by Shams Charania today that Simmons is playing a lot of basketball right now. As he told Pat McAfee, Simmons is playing better right now and he is ramping up his activities. Simply put, there is a very good chance Simmons is available in time for the start of the Nets’ season.

Simmons was supposed to play in Game 4 of the first round against the Boston Celtics this past postseason, however, that never came to fruition. Now, he will have a second chance to prove he is actually interested in playing basketball.

Stay tuned to HNHH for more updates from around the NBA.

It’s becoming apparent that New York City and its surrounding areas are trying to crack down on hip-hop. Roddy Ricch is the latest rapper to be targeted by politicians due to his recent appearance at Summer Jam. The rapper took the stage shortly after he was released from NYPD’s custody on gun charges and led the crowd to chant, “Fuck NYPD.”

Unfortunately, it seems like one Nassau County Executive doesn’t believe in Roddy Ricch’s first amendment right to free speech. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman told the New York Post that he wants Roddy Ricch banned from performing in New York this fall due to his stage antics at Summer Jam.

“The last thing these officers need is some ‘celebrity’ inciting violence and hate against them,” Blakeman said. “As violence against police is on the rise, and woke politicians fan the flames of the defund the police movement, we should be showing more support for our police, not less.”

Roddy Ricch is expected to perform in Long Island in September as part of Post Malone’s forthcoming tour but Blakeman wants to put a stop to the California rapper’s performance. “On behalf of the 1.4 million residents of Nassau County, I strongly condemn [Ricch’s] rhetoric in the strongest possible terms,” Blakeman said. “The Nassau County Police Department works closely with the NYPD every day to keep communities safe across Nassau County.”

We’ll keep you posted on anymore updates on the matter. 

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Babyface is gearing up to release a new album titled, Girls’ Night Out, and has signed with Capitol Records to do so. Announcing the project in a press release on Tuesday, Babyface revealed that the project will feature Ella Mai, Queen Naija, Ari Lennox, Kehlani, Doechii, and more.

Girls’ Night Out will be produced by Babyface himself as well as Rika Tischendorf.

Mark Davis / Getty Images

“I am extremely honored and humbled to be signing to a legacy label like Capitol. They have welcomed me with open arms and treat me like family. And, in the end, that is what it’s all about – doing what you love with people who have the same love for music as you do,” said Babyface. “I am very excited about the upcoming album and everyone on it. The process for it reminded me of when I did Waiting to Exhale and I’m excited for the world to hear.”

Michelle Jubelirer, Chair & CEO, Capitol Music Group, said, “Babyface’s return to the studio is long overdue, and I couldn’t be happier that he’s chosen Capitol as the home for such a wonderful new album. To hear his one-of-a-kind voice paired with some of music’s most impressive female artists is a joy that we can’t wait to share.”

Babyface shared the first single from his new album earlier this month, “Keeps On Fallin’.” The track sees the veteran singer team up with Ella Mai.

Girls’ Night Out is scheduled to be released on October 29.

Earlier this week, reports surfaced online spreading rumours about Johnny Depp’s potential return to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise as the beloved (albeit troublesome) lead, Jack Sparrow. While on the stand in the midst of his defamation trial with ex-wife Amber Heard, the 59-year-old testified that he wouldn’t work with Disney again, even for a $300M payday, though the recent gossip was that they won him over with more than that.

Sadly for fans of Depp, though, a rep for the Edward Scissorhands star has denied the news to PEOPLE, dubbing it “false.”

Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images

Though the father of two may not return, producer Jerry Bruckheimer confirmed to The Times that his team has been hard at work on “two Pirates scripts” for the inevitable follow-up to the saga’s 2017 release – “one with [Margot Robbie], one without.”

At the same time, Bruckheimer hinted at the possibility of Depp’s return, saying it wasn’t happening “at this point, [though] the future is yet to be decided.”

Sources all across Hollywood appear to have different opinions on the matter. A former executive told PEOPLE, “I absolutely believe post-verdict that Pirates is primed for rebooting with Johnny as Capt. Jack back on board. There is just too much potential box-office treasure for a beloved character deeply embedded in the Disney culture.”

The same insider noted the success that Bruckheimer has had following the Top Gun: Maverick film with Tom Cruise. “There is a huge appetite for bringing back bankable Hollywood stars in massively popular franchises,” they pointed out.

Another past Pirates employee disagreed, however. “[It’s] not very likely [he’ll] come back as a star,” the source said. “They’d probably make Pirates 6 with Margot Robbie or someone similar,” though the film probably won’t arrive until 2025.

@johnnydepp

To all of my most treasured, loyal and unwavering supporters. We’ve been everywhere together, we have seen everything together. We have walked the same road together. We did the right thing together, all because you cared. And now, we will all move forward together. You are, as always, my employers and once again I am whittled down to no way to say thank you, other than just by saying thank you. So, thank you. My love & respect, JD

♬ Stranger – Love Joys

As for Amber Heard, she was most recently photographed out bargain shopping at TJ Maxx with her sister after being ordered to pay Johnny Depp $8M – read more about that here, and tap back in with HNHH later for more pop culture news updates.

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