Boosie Badazz recently raced another driver while he was broadcasting to his Instagram Live audience. The clip begins with Boosie taunting the other driver, and telling him, “Take off!” “This do 150 [miles per hour], b**ch!” he yells. “You a little boy!” He continued, “You a little boy! You a little boy! Whoa, I gotta slow this b**ch down.” He later goes on to call the other driver “chicken gristle.”
This isn’t the first funny Boosie Badazz clip circulating as of late. Earlier this month, Boosie took to Instagram Live to share his feelings on McDonald’s employees being “stingy with the jelly.” He also revealed how he went off on store employees after they asked him for ID to buy cigars. “I cursed the lady behind the thing out, the man who was working at the store, and the janitor,” he told his Instagram Live.
Last week, Boosie advised his audience to avoid becoming gangsters. “Never become no street n***a,” he told them. “Don’t ever become no gangster, bro. Always gotta have n***as with you, always gotta be trying to protect yourself, looking over your shoulder. S**t don’t even be worth it, bro. You get older you be like, ‘Damn, man.’ Lotta s**t come with this s**t. It’s the only thing that matter, bruh, staying alive,” he continued. The artist went on to tell his fans, “This ain’t the life you want, though, dog. All y’all young n***as out there, this ain’t the life you want.”
Boosie also recently shared his thoughts on DJ Vlad getting called “the police” by various disgruntled fans on a podcast. He explained that he believes it’s not DJ Vlad’s fault if guests come on his podcast and end up incriminating themselves. “I’ve never incriminated nobody on there. I’ve never said nothing to start a beef on there,” he said. After the podcast’s host said that Boosie knew how to “handle himself” during his appearances, he responded, “Yes, and you should know how too if you’re a criminal or you’re a rapper.” Boosie added, “Sometimes rappers go on [VladTV] and forget they are criminals. You can’t blame him! What the f**k? How the f**k he the police if he ain’t send me to jail?”
It can be a bit hard to take the outlandish personality of Bow Wow seriously. Named Shad Moss, he is almost always associated with memes when his legacy pops up on online forums. That isn’t to say that his ridiculous reputation isn’t deserved. From posting fake private jets to alleged photoshopped images of stacks of money, Moss has faced public scrutiny. However, it’s easy to forget that Bow Wow’s career solidified him as one of the most influential people in hip-hop. He has a vast collection of Gold and multi-Platinum selling albums, chart-topping hits, and various successful acting roles. Bow Wow sat on a shared throne with contemporaries such as Snoop Dogg as the biggest name in music.
However, people within the hip-hop industry still remember how influential Bow Wow was. It’s why Diddy pulled the 36-year-old aside at a party. The business tycoon gave him tough love, stating, “You better understand your brand and get out here and go to work.” Drake put it plainly over Instagram Live, saying, “If it wasn’t for you, there wouldn’t be no me.” California native Vince Staples went on The Breakfast Club and added, “Bow Wow was hard. I’m tired of n***as acting like Bow Wow wasn’t hard.” The point is, MCs who grew up with Bow Wow on the radio know how influential he was to modern-day hip-hop and R&B. He was truly a one of kind creative.
Bow Wow Was A Teenage Sensation
Portrait of American rapper Lil’ Bow Wow (born Shad Gregory Moss, and later known as Bow Wow), New York, New York, 2002. (Photo by Anthony Barboza/Getty Images)
Bow Wow fell in love with rap at a young age. He was inspired by the burgeoning wave of West Coast rap spearheaded by Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre. As a kid, he adopted the name Kid Gangsta and began freestyling over beats in the solace of his childhood home. When The Chronic Tour was announced with Snoop and Dr. Dre, a six-year-old Shad knew he had to see the duo live. During Dr. Dre’s tour, Shad managed to get on stage with the two icons and deliver a rap verse. The moment would change the course of his life for good. Snoop Dogg was immediately impressed with his uncompromising energy and skill for his age. Now dubbed Lil Bow Wow by Snoop, the duo decided to bring him on for the remainder of their summer tour.
After a successful tour of The Chronic, concert-goers were leaving venues wondering who the heck the flamboyant kid was. A logical next step, it wouldn’t be long before he began recording music in a studio setting. Bow Wow quickly changed the game surrounding age in the music industry. He proved that confidence was half of the battle, waltzing around the stage as if he was the biggest artist in the world. That kid-like swagger garnered a massive audience. Over a week, Bow Wow sold over 100,000 copies of his debut studio album Beware of Dog. By the age of 13, Bow was global. Tracks such as “Bounce With Me” and “Puppy Love” soared to the top of the charts.
Bow Wow’s Early Career Success Was A Blessing & A Curse
He wasn’t only doing it big on the top charts. Bow Wow was looking to leverage his success into a career in the acting world. Of course, he was able to achieve so with flying colors. There was an aura of invisibility about Bow Wow at the time, seeming as if he could not fail. He would appear in several blockbuster Hollywood films, such as Roll Bounce and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. In fact, he later stated that the real motivation behind his music career, beyond financial gain, was to set himself up for placements in the acting world.
By 2005, Bow Wow was everywhere. No longer a kid, he had grown into a composed and parading teenager who continued putting out hits like clockwork. Projects such as Wanted would see Platinum-selling success. However, his image was starting to change. Much of his appeal had been his youthfulness and vitality when he entered the scene. Now approaching adulthood, issues were beginning to rise to the surface. In some ways, his highlight success had set him up for failure later in life. On The Breakfast Club, he stated, “Sometimes I just question life. Like damn, what else is even there for me to do?”
Bow Wow’s Career Is No Longer Only In Hip-Hop
ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 06: Rapper Bow Wow performs onstage during The Millennium Tour at State Farm Arena on November 6, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)
It was later revealed how careless Bow Wow was with his finances as a teenager. Sporting a $2 million mansion and a car collection that included a Lamborghini, his money began to run dry when his hip-hop career began to slow down. He was reportedly on a salary of merely $4,000 per month at Cash Money Records, later getting out of his deal after claiming that the label wasn’t releasing his album. This isn’t to say that Bow Wow’s career has completely fallen off the map since the late 2000s. He appeared in 2021’s The Fast and The Furious: The Fast Saga. In 2022, he tweeted that he wanted to release his last album under Snoop Dogg’s Death Row Records. As he put it, “I’m tryna do the D Wade and come home and close it out.” However, we haven’t heard news of a new album since.
Even if Bow Wow’s hip-hop career hasn’t sustained itself beyond his young adult years, there’s no denying that he made a lasting impression on the scene. Rapping alongside mentor Snoop, younger generations were inspired to begin creating hip-hop at an earlier age. It’s why the likes of Drake and Diddy want to see the teenage icon become a modern-day legend. However, Bow Wow seems to be focused on revitalizing his career in the film or the boardroom rather than in music.
Rapper Offset recently took his three sons to see the new film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. He joined them at the premiere last night, where they all wore coordinating red and black outfits. He took his 13-year-old and 8-year-old sons, Jordan Cephus and Kody Cephus, as well as 20-month-old Wave, who he had with his wife Cardi B. Offset stood out in a bold, red and black number while his kids sported mostly black, with red and leather details. Angela White, AKA Blac Chyna, also attended the premiere, along with Metro Boomin and several collaborators on the film’s soundtrack.
Offset is no stranger to going all out with his children for movie premieres. Earlier this month, he accompanied his two daughters at the premiere of The Little Mermaid. Offset wore a formal white jacket with gloves, while his daughters each wore extravagant, princess-inspired ball gowns.
The artist shared their looks on Instagram, and fans couldn’t get over the adorable father-son photos. “Awwww” one fan wrote. “Look at little Wave!!” another user said alongside heart-eyed emojis, “beautiful sons!!” Another commenter added, “Yes king family over everything.” Earlier this week, Offset showed off another new look on the internet. He wore an unreleased Chrome Hearts outfit in a clip filmed by Cardi B and shared to social media.
Last week, Offset further explained how much his family means to him when he shared that his wife, Cardi B, inspired him to quit lean. “I put down lean. I was drinking my whole career,” he told Variety in an interview. He went on to say, “It opened my mind up, but I never thought it helped me create. I feel like getting past that, cleaning up, and putting that message out.” The artist went on to call Cardi his “bestie!,” revealing that “She always got my back, right or wrong. We both are on the same mission to make each other better.”
Lil Uzi Vert has faced more satanic backlash after posing in a bloody photo shoot for 032c Magazine that involved an upside-down cross painted on his head.
Future gifted Freebandz artist Lil Double 0 stacks of cash. an icy watch and new chain upon being released from jail following a drug and gun arrest earlier this year.
Lil Uzi Vert changed their pronouns to they/them in July 2022. At first, the “Just Wanna Rock” artist subtly indicated the change by updating their Instagram bio, and then it was confirmed to Pitchfork by their spokesperson. As noted by XXLand Complex, On Tuesday, May 30, Uzi was revealed as a cover star for the summer issue of 032c, and they opened up about the decision to change their pronouns in the accompanying.
“No, I never hesitated,” Lil Uzi Vert said. “But I did take my time to learn as much as I could about this before I was able to proceed. Taking the time to figure out who you are is a big part of what it means to be alive. Once you figure out whether you’re here with it, there with it, or both, you’re not alone anymore.”
They continued, “This community offers access to a certain kind of support that you might not have had [previously during] your entire life because you weren’t raised that way. I come from a household where it’s not okay to be ‘non’ anything.”
Additionally, Lil Uzi Vert emphasized that they don’t feel “brave at all” for changing to they/them, and they offered their perspective the United States of America’s general acceptance of non-binary people.
“America is slowly getting there,” they said, per XXL. “I don’t think it’s right for everyone, everywhere, to change at the same rate. There are a lot of places that have been untouched by certain influences, and I think that’s beautiful and perfect in its own way. Everything has a gift and a curse.”
“What we are trying to do now over time is sell parts of this inventory and donate money to the organizations that are helping us and that were also hurt by Kanye’s statements,” Gulden told investors, as relayed by Complex at the time.
That plan came to fruition today, May 31. Adidas’ official website is headlined by Yeezy, advertising that “some of the remaining inventory” of his products are available on the brand’s app, Confirmed, and promising that a “portion from the sale of these items will be donated in support of the fight against discrimination, hate, racism, and antisemitism.”
An accompanying press release details that the benefiting organizations include the Anti-Defamation League and the Philonise & Keeta Floyd Institute for Social Change.
“The release will mark the first time that products have been available to consumers since adidas terminated the Yeezy partnership in October 2022,” the press release explains. “The products will be existing designs and designs initiated in 2022 for sale in 2023. Additional releases of existing inventory are currently under consideration, but timing is yet to be determined. Today’s announcement has no immediate impact on the company’s current financial guidance for 2023.”
“After careful consideration, we have decided to begin releasing some of the remaining Adidas Yeezy products,” Gulden said in a statement. “Selling and donating was the preferred option among all organizations and stakeholders we spoke to. We believe this is the best solution as it respects the created designs and produced shoes, it works for our people, resolves an inventory problem, and will have a positive impact in our communities. There is no place in sport or society for hate of any kind and we remain committed to fighting against it.”
The May 31 Yeezy drop comes one day after Billboardreported that Adidas’ request for an emergency order re-freezing of the $75 million held by Yeezy was denied by a federal judge.
Moneybagg Yo is gearing up for the release of his new mixtape titled Hard to Love. Earlier today, he unveiled the tracklist for the project, which reveals exciting collaborations with artists like Future and Lil Durk. The mixtape is set to contain a total of 20 songs and is scheduled to drop this Friday (June 2). As if features from Future and Lil Durk weren’t enough, Hard to Love will also include appearances from GloRilla, Fridayy, YTB Fatt, and Shot Off.
Originally, Moneybagg Yo had planned to release Hard to Love last Friday (May 26). However, he delayed it only hours before the release. The rapper mentioned that he had to delay the release due to his love of Taylor Swift. The pop star released the deluxe edition of her latest album, titled “Midnight (The Til Dawn Edition).” Nonetheless, fans can now look forward to the upcoming release of Hard to Love: Heartless Edition on Friday. It serves as a follow-up to Moneybagg’s successful 2021 album, A Gangsta’s Pain. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and featured hit singles like “Said Sum” and “Wockesha.”
In anticipation of the mixtape’s release, Moneybagg Yo will be engaging in an in-depth interview with radio legend Angie Martinez on Wednesday night. This interview is expected to provide fans with an intimate and honest glimpse into Moneybagg Yo’s life and career. It will be available for viewing on YouTube starting at 8 p.m. ET. A preview clip of the interview shows Moneybagg Yo opening up about the personal hardships he has faced.
Moneybagg’s trying times show how strong he is. From the sounds of the things he went through, many might have felt like giving up. However, the rapper pushed forward, even given his consecutive losses. In the interview, he opens up about a miscarriage, the mistakes he has made in life, and the losses he has endured. “A miscarriage, I lost my baby momma,” Bagg said. “I lost my day one, left hand to the feds, my right hand to the streets. I’m talking about back-to-back.”
Top Dawg Entertainment’s run to the top of hip-hop will forever be enshrined in the genre’s history. Rising out of Carson, California, the label went from Los Angeles’s impoverished streets to selling out world tours. The label’s rise mirrored what Death Row could do decades earlier—with less chaos. However, Ab-Soul’s name was rarely mentioned in the context of Top Dawg Entertainment’s mainstream success. The Carson MC is more so an under-spoken and patient verse creator compared to his contemporaries. However, he’s meticulously compiled an impressive resume over the past decade.
Ab-Soul wrote his first rap verse at 12, scheming over Twista’s “Emotions.” A self-described nerd and outcast in school, he contracted Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, which is the reason for his light-sensitive eyes and trademark black shades. Severely teased at school for his condition, he began utilizing rapping as an outlet. By the early 2000s, he started recording songs before he met the president of TDE. After signing with Top Dawg Entertainment in 2007, he joined the West Coast hip-hop group Black Hippy. The collective consisted of Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, and Schoolboy Q.
Ab-Soul Broke Out With 2012’s Control System
Black Hippy quickly gained notoriety throughout Los Angeles, making Ab-Soul’s solo career under TDE a logical next step. While Longterm served as his debut mixtape, 2012’s Control System would become a beloved and gatekept project for alternative rap fans. The album mirrored many of the sonic ideations of Kendrick Lamar’s Section 80, picking from various jazzy beats. Ab-Soul would continue to lean into a darker persona over the next four years, releasing 2014’s These Days and 2016’s Do What Thou Wilt. The latter would become his most critically acclaimed project of the lot, featuring the hit track “The Law” featuring Mac Miller and Rapsody. While Ab-Soul has never reached the mainstream popularity of many of his contemporaries, his ability to stay true to his eclectic nature has garnered a loyal fanbase.
Ab-Soul’s New Album Focuses On Vulnerability
LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 30: Rapper Ab-Soul performs during Day 1 of the Budweiser Made in America festival at Los Angeles Grand Park on August 30, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chelsea Lauren/WireImage)
In 2022, Ab returned after a six-year hiatus for the personal and reinvigorating Herbert. The project saw him motivated for the first time in a long time. The wait wasn’t intended to be that long, as the album was initially slated to release in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic. He told GQ, “The pandemic is probably where it was the roughest, where it was the darkest for me. We all kinda had to sit with ourselves, in solitude.” However, Herbert isn’t as focused on the negativity that Ab-Soul was feeling during the pandemic. Instead, the record focuses on his personal improvements in mental health. The rapper admitted to attempting suicide and detailed his incredible recovery.
The seasoned veteran went on to discuss the album with XXL, stating, “The album Herbert is about getting back to self. I just kinda feel like I was becoming Ab-Soul more than Herbert. So, this album, to say the least, is dedicated to the people that refuse to call me Ab-Soul. That still call me Herbert or Herbie or Herb. It’s about getting back to the roots. Getting back to the foundation, to the source. Getting back to self.” Ab-Soul expressed growth in his musical chops on the project, experimenting more with auto-tune choruses while proving he’s still one of the most intricate writers in Los Angeles’s hip-hop arena.
He’s L.A.’s Underground MC
In essence, Ab-Soul has morphed himself into TDE’s staple underground artist over the years. For fans who resonate less with the booming 808s and larger-than-life production of Kendrick Lamar or Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul’s sound acts as a refreshing detour for Los Angeles loyalist rap fans. He’s heavily contributed to hip-hop’s continued focus on lyricism and emotional vulnerability. As he puts it plainly on Herbert, “I don’t know what to think.” However, Ab-Soul embraces that sense of obscurity through his music, gaining his respect within the industry.
The past calendar year has been a period of change for Ab-Soul. Following up on the success of Herbert, he collaborated with fellow TDE member Zacari on “Motions.” Beyond his music creation, he welcomed a pair of twins to the world in April. However, he’s remained purposefully coy regarding who the mother is. In addition, he is partnering with the Mickey Factz Pendulum Ink Academy, where he’s teaching a class surrounding hip-hop songwriting. He isn’t the first MC to spread his pen game to the rest of the world, with rappers such as Lupe Fiasco and Q-Tip also teaching hip-hop courses. The placement speaks volumes to Ab-Soul’s notoriety and respect within the genre, making him the untold hero of Top Dawg Entertainment.
Boosie Badazz recently shared his thoughts on what’s next for Gunna’s career on a podcast. He told The Big Homies House podcast that he hopes Gunna’s career is over, claiming that he’s “been hurt” in the past. The discussion followed Gunna allegedly snitching on Young Thug during the YSL RICO case.
In the podcast appearance, Boosie is asked if he thinks artists can still have a solid career amid “snitch” labels. Boosie claims he doesn’t think so. “Gunna might be done unless he go to another country,” he explains in the clip. He also cited Wheezyclaiming to be through with Gunna, allegedly calling him a “rat” earlier this month. “Wheezy say he outta here,” Boosie claimed. “I don’t want no rat to excel. I hope he never sell a record again,” he continued. Boosie then went on to reveal that he himself has “been hurt” by alleged snitches in the past.
Lil Durk’s take on the Gunna situation was also mentioned during the podcast. Last week, Durk appeared on DJ Akademiks’ Off the Record podcast, where he shared his thoughts. “Now I don’t sit up here and play games, man,” Lil Durk told the DJ. “That man told. You should have went in there and kept your mouth closed,” he added. The rapper went on to say, “If you a rat, you a rat. If you rewind this clip a little bit, I looked into the camera and told you, if you a rat, I f***ing hate you. Because I love Thug.”
Gunna made his first public appearance after being released from jail earlier this week, attending a basketball game. Earlier today, he shared a clip to social media where he appears to address allegations that he is a “snitch.” “He forgave me for my sins now they mad that I got out,” he raps in the video. Although it is unconfirmed that this has to do with the RICO case, it has led to some fans’ speculation.
