Month: July 2022

Patti LaBelle says that she learned how to crip walk after hearing 2Pac’s hit song, “California Love.” The legendary singer discussed 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. while reflecting on his relationship with hip-hop more broadly, during her recent appearance on Drink Champs.

When asked for her earliest memories of listening to hip-hop, she called back to 2Pac and Big Daddy Kane.

“I started moving to ‘California Love,’” LaBelle told hosts N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN. “That’s when I started to Crip Walk.”

Paul Morigi / Getty Images

As for Biggie Smalls, LaBelle referenced his 1994 single “Dreams (Just Playing),” but admitted that the two were never lucky enough to meet.

“I never met Biggie, no but Biggie had a song about Patti!” she said. “He sure did, I was shocked.”

Elsewhere in the interview, LaBelle also discussed her relationship with Jazmine Sullivan, admitting that she thought the singer hated her. 

“I thought Jazmine Sullivan hated me. Let me say something, last week, she made my heart pound, hard. She called me,” said LaBelle. “The same gentleman, Marquese, who made this outfit and the outfit that I wore for Essence last couple weeks ago, he’s good friends with Jazmine. And so, he said ‘Jazmine and I always used to talk about who’s coming to Patti LaBelle’s party first? You or me?’”

Check out LaBelle’s appearance on Drink Champs below.

[Via]

Former President Barack Obama responded to the death of Bill Russell on Twitter, Sunday, comparing the late NBA legend to Dr. Martin Luther King and Muhammad Ali. Obama had previously honored Russell with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011, during his first term in the Oval Office.

“Today, we lost a giant. As tall as Bill Russell stood, his legacy rises far higher—both as a player and as a person,” Obama began a series of tweets about Russell.

Alex Wong / Getty Images

He added: “Perhaps more than anyone else, Bill knew what it took to win and what it took to lead. On the court, he was the greatest champion in basketball history. Off of it, he was a civil rights trailblazer—marching with Dr. King and standing with Muhammad Ali.

“For decades, Bill endured insults and vandalism, but never let it stop him from speaking up for what’s right. I learned so much from the way he played, the way he coached, and the way he lived his life. Michelle and I send our love to Bill’s family, and everyone who admired him.”

Russell passed away at 88 years old on Sunday with his wife by his side, his family announced on social media. The 11-time NBA champion is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He played with the Boston Celtics from 1956 to 1969. Throughout his career, he won five MVP awards and was selected to 12 All-Star teams.

Russell was also the first Black head coach in the major American sports leagues.

Check out Obama’s posts on Twitter below.

[Via]

Ne-Yo’s wife, Crystal Renay, came forward on Instagram, Saturday, alleging that the singer has cheated on her throughout their eight-year-long relationship. Ne-Yo responded to the accusation on Twitter a day later.

“8 years of life and deception. 8 years of unknowingly sharing my life and husband with numerous women who sell their bodies to him unprotected … every last one of them,” Renay said in her post. “To say I’m heartbroken and disgusted is [an] understatement. To ask me to stay and accept it is absolutely insane. The mentality of a narcissist.”

Rick Diamond / Getty Images

She went on to say that she’s grateful to have gained her “3 beautiful children” from the relationship, but she hasn’t gotten anything else out of it.

“I am not a victim,” she added. “I’m choosing to stand tall with my head held high. If someone can’t love you the way you deserve then it’s up to you to love yourself. With no hate in my heart, I wish him nothing but the best.”

On Sunday, Ne-Yo responded to the accusations by sharing a statement on his Twitter page: “For the sake of our children, my family and I will work through our challenges behind closed doors. Personal matters are not meant to be addressed and dissected in public forums. I simply ask that you please respect me and my family’s privacy at this time.”

Ne-Yo and Renay were married in 2016. They share three kids together, the most recent of whom, Isabella Rose Smith, was born in June 2021. The couple had previously announced their intention to end their marriage in February 2020 but reconciled soon afterward.

Check out Ne-Yo and Renay’s posts below.

[Via]

It’s been a rough few months for Amber Heard. After losing to Johnny Depp in a widely-followed defamation suit, the actress has emphasized her financial troubles and seems to be on the cusp of requesting a mistrial.

Now, it looks like Heard is trying to get some cash together in order to be able to afford the massive sum of money she has to fork over to Johnny. According to Zillow property records, the Aquaman actor sold her home in Yucca Valley for $1,050,000 with a July 18 closing date. Heard had purchased the property back in 2019 through an anonymous trust for the price tag of $570,000.

TMZ confirmed the house was in fact Heard’s after contacting the new owner, who said he had been in contact with her people, though never with her directly. The actor’s investment in the property has certainly paid off– the value has nearly doubled and she’s profiting about $480,000. That said, it’s still a long way from the $15 million Depp is owed.

Heard has spoken about her disappointment with the verdict. In a statement after the decision was announced, she wrote, “The disappointment I feel today is beyond words. I’m heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence, and sway of my ex-husband.” She continued by describing the potential repercussions of the verdict, writing, “I’m even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women. It is a setback. It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated. It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously.”

[via]

In the past, Iggy Azaela has kept her and Playboi Carti’s song, Onyx, off of social media. “I want to keep his life private but wanted to make it clear he is not a secret & I love him beyond words,” she wrote on social media a while back. However, as of lately, she’s been eager to share images of him with the world.

A few days ago, on July 26, the “Fancy” rapper shared a picture of the curly-haired toddler. As he stood in front of a body of water, he stuck his index finger up and smiled widely at the camera. Iggy captioned the picture, “Onyx is such a cute. I can’t handle it.”

Yesterday, she continued showing off her bundle of joy by posting him on her Instagram page for her 16.5 million followers to see. While she sat in a makeup chair, her 2-year-old sat on her lap. The two threw up peace signs and stuck their tongue out for the camera as it snapped their pictures. The Australian native wrote, “Me & my bestie go everywhere together. Never not with me.”

The post has garnered over 250,000 likes and she pinned a comment from a fan that said, “Name a more powerful duo? I’ll wait [fire emoji.”

Iggy’s love for her son doesn’t just stop at sharing photos. Earlier this year, the 32-year-old got her son inked on her. The sketch showed her child as an angel with a bow and arrow and wings. It also had him wearing a sash with his name on it.

The Star Trek community is mourning the loss of a hero today (July 31) – 89-year-old Nichelle Nichols, who passed away this weekend due to natural causes, according to her son.

In a statement shared on Sunday, Kyle Johnson wrote, “I regret to inform you that a great light in the firmament no longer shines for us as it has for so many years.”

Nichelle Nichols in 2021 — Chelsea Guglielmino/Getty Images

“Last night, my mother, Nichelle Nichols, succumbed to natural causes and passed away. Her light, however, like the ancient galaxies now being seen for the first time, will remain for us and future generations to enjoy, learn from, and draw inspiration. Hers was a life well lived and as such a model for us all.”

Concluding his message, Kyle said to readers, “I, and the rest of our family, would appreciate your patience and forbearance as we grieve her loss until we can recover sufficiently to speak further. Her services will be for family members and the closest of her friends and we request that her and our privacy be respected.”

Nichols was best known for playing the role of Lt. Uhura, and she made history in doing so by becoming one of the first Black actors to play a major role on television.

On top of that, she and co-star William Shatner broke boundaries as the first Black female and white male Americans to share a kiss on TV.

Aside from her time spent filming beyond the Galactic Barrier, Nichols contributed her voice acting skills to titles like The Simpsons, Futurama, and Batman: The Animated Series. She also appeared in The Young and the Restless, Heroes, Are We There Yet? and Snow Dogs, among other projects.

RIP Nichelle Nichols.

[Via]