Month: July 2022

Things are looking up for 31-year-old Brittney Griner, who just may get to return to the United States in the near future as her home country approaches a deal with Russia, according to Congressman Colin Allred.

The WNBA athlete has been imprisoned overseas since mid-February after authorities declared that she had hashish oil in her luggage at a Moscow airport. In the months since, Griner has pled guilty to the charges and is currently facing a sentence of up to 10 years behind bars.

Brittney Griner playing at a WNBA game in 2021 — Christian Petersen/Getty Images 

Allred told TMZ “The ball is entirely in the Russians’ court,” while out on Capitol Hill on Friday (July 29) morning. “I think prospects, in my opinion, look better now than they have really at any point since she was taken,” he added.

If you haven’t heard, just a few days ago it was reported that the Biden Administration has suggested swapping Griner for a Russian arms dealer who’s currently in U.S. custody, and it seems that POTUS’ potential deal has been received as “a very good offer.”

Allred wasn’t able to confirm any specifics about the trade, though he did say that he feels “the proposed swap is exactly what the foreign country is looking for in a deal for Griner.”

However, this doesn’t mean that the Houston native will be getting off scot-free. The congressman is under the impression that the Phoenix Mercury center will have a sentence imposed upon her before any deals are finalized.

“I think it’s a matter of time,” Allred noted, “but I think it’s going to get done.”

Brittney Griner’s trial is due to continue with another hearing next week – tap back in with HNHH later for any updates.

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Earlier this month, footage from Polo G’s arrest in 2021 surfaced on the internet. Several clips showed Polo, whose real name is Taurus Tremani Bartlett, heckling officers, yelling at them repeatedly and making accusations that they were not wealthy. While charges against him have since been dropped, more videos of the incident have been found.

Obtained by TMZ, the clip showed Polo getting into a scuffle with the officers as they attempted to detain him. Someone tried to intervene but was demanded to stop by a cop at the scene. 

Further into the footage, the Columbia Records recording artist was seen handcuffed while sitting in a squad car. Once a member of authority approached him to get more details about what went on, Polo urged, “I’m finna die back here, they’re [trying to] kill me.” He further went on to compare his situation to that of George Floyd, the unarmed black man who was murdered at the hands of police back in 2020.

In an effort to better get his message across, the Hall of Fame 2.0 rapper stood up from the car and stated, “They’re trying to lynch me back here.” He continued by letting it be known that he wasn’t trying to resist arrest– in fact, he admitted to being calm. Nonetheless, he still accused them of police brutality, claiming that he told the officers multiple times that he could not breathe as well as that the cuffs on his wrists were cutting off his circulation.

Check out the entire clip below.

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It’s been nearly two decades since Marshall Mathers delivered his Curtain Call: The Hits compilation album back in December of 2005, so it’s safe to say fans are more than excited to hear the follow-up, which is due out next weekend, on August 5th. 

In a similar style as its predecessor, Curtain Call 2 will mostly consist of titles plucked from Eminem’s most recent albums following his comeback, although it’s worth noting that the project also boasts three newer songs (two of which have already been released).

Eminem, 50 Cent, and Dr. Dre in 2004 — Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

Up until today (July 30), it remained unclear what the third, unknown new track would be, but now, thanks to Target’s website, we now know it’s an unreleased collaboration with 50 Cent that dates all the way back to 2009.

A sticker placed on the 2LP vinyl that’s set to be for sale following Curtain Call 2‘s release reveals that Dr. Dre was the producer on “Is This Love,” making it even more exciting and impressive to fans, despite the fact that the song was actually curated long ago.

Seeing as fans have been eagerly awaiting another joint track from Fif and Em (classics like “Peep Show,” “Hail Mary,” and “Crack A Bottle” just aren’t cutting it anymore), the news is sure to send even more streams flying the Detriot native’s way.

Other songs to be included on Curtain Call 2 include Slim Shady’s collaboration with CeeLo Green on “The King & I” from Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis film, as well as “From The D 2 The LBC” with Snoop Dogg. 

Are you eager to hear what 50 Cent and Eminem have in store for us next Friday? Sound off in the comments below, and tap back in with HNHH later for more hip-hop news updates.

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Perhaps one of the most heavily debated topics in the United States, besides abortion and civil rights, has been gun control. After years of experiencing traumatic events in which hundreds of innocent people have lost their lives, it seems that some members of Congress are ready to further resolve the problem.

On Friday (July 29), the House of Representatives voted to ban assault-style weapons. The first vote of its sort in decades, it is aimed straight toward the firearms that are mostly used in carrying out mass shootings. This wouldn’t be the first time that the law took place, though. This ban was applied back in 1994 but ended ten years later in 2004. 

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With the final tally being 217-213, the bill is now headed to the Senate for them to have the final say on whether it will pass– according to CNN, that is not likely.

In an effort to defend her vote, Nancy Pelosi, the House’s speaker, told her caucus, “Today, our Democratic Majority will take up and pass the Assault Weapons Ban legislation: a crucial step in our ongoing fight against the deadly epidemic of gun violence in our nation.”

Earlier this year, congress passed a bipartisan bill that spoke to the tragedy of gun violence. As a result, millions of dollars were spent on mental health, crisis intervention programs, school safety, and other incentives that could have an affiliation with mass shootings.

HNHH will make updates on the bill as it is progressed. Do you think it will make it past the Senate? Sound off in the comments.

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The lead-up to the release of Calvin Harris’s anticipated Funk Wav. Bounces Vol. 2 has been a long journey, but the project will reportedly hit streaming services next week. The globally-acclaimed DJ-songwriter-producer has been piecing together this collection of tracks with precision, and this week, we finally received the tracklist after Harris shared the star-studded features to Instagram.

We’ve already reported on singles including “Potion” with Young Thug and Dua Lipa, “New Money” featuring 21 Savage, and “New To You,” Harris’s latest that was released today (July 29) that included Normani, Offset, and Tinashe.

Mike Coppola / Staff / Getty Images

Other artists who have lent their talents to Funk Wav. Bounce Vol. 2 include Pusha T, Busta Rhymes, Justin Timberlake, Halsey, 6LACK, Snoop Dogg, Pharrell Williams, Lil Durk, Jorja Smith, Coi Leray, Chlöe, and more. When speaking with Zane Lowe on New Music Day for Apple 1 recently, Harris revealed why he decided to add on to his Funk Wav. Bounces collection.

“I wanted to just make this again and really go for it and know that I can get these amazing artists on this music that no one else is going to give them,” he said. “And you know, just f*cking do it, man. Honestly, it is a record that I still can’t believe that it exists. I’m not just saying that. And it’s the next single, there’s something that I do not know how I pulled it off, or how we pulled it off. Not only has it got someone that, someone in a song where they shouldn’t be in this song, but they sound perfect for it.”

“And then it’s got another person that’s an absolute legend and then another person who’s an absolute legend, and it’s just like, ‘Wow, this doesn’t feel real.'” Check out the tracklist below.

Tracklist

1. Intro
2. New Money ft. 21 Savage
3. Potion ft. Du aLipa, Young Thug
4. Woman of the Year ft. Stefflon Don, Chlöe, Coi Leray
5. Obsessed ft. Charlie Puth, Shenseea
6. New To You ft. Offset, Tinashe, Normani
7. Ready Or Not ft. Busta Rhymes
8. Stay With Me ft. Justin Timberlake, Halsey, Pharrell
9. Stay with Me (Part 2) ft. Justin Timberlake, Halsey, Pharrell
10. Somebody Else ft. Jorja Smith, Lil Durk
11. Nothing More To Say ft. 6LACK, Donae’o
12. Live My Best Life ft. Snoop Dogg, Latto
13. Lean On Me ft. Swae Lee
14. Day One ft. Pharrell, Pusha T