Summer Walker has put Jess Hilarious on blast after the comic referred to her boyfriend Lil Meech as ‘smelly,’ and encouraged him to keep cheating on her.
Month: June 2023
Dominic Fike Shows Off His Eclecticism On The Trippy New Single ‘Mama’s Boy’
Dominic Fike recently announced his sophomore album Sunburn arriving next month. So far, the singles “Dancing In The Courthouse” and “Ant Pile” are out, and now he’s back with “Mama’s Boy.”
At less than three minutes, the track is an off-kilter, sputtering journey that offers an immersive atmosphere. This track also follows the release of “Mona Lisa,” his song for the deluxe version of the Across The Spider-Verse soundtrack.
Shortly after the unveiling of his new record, he’ll be hitting the road on the Don’t Stare At The Sun Tour, which kicks off in Indianapolis and stops by Philadelphia, New York City, Boston, Baltimore, Austin, and more.
Fike is most known for his role as Elliot in Euphoria, though he flaunted his musicianship on the season finale with a five-minute song on an acoustic guitar that left watchers bewildered. “The last year and a half was kind of a rollercoaster, in a weird way,” he said in October. “A lot happened in my personal life, I think. I took a break from music and whatnot. And eventually, I kind of hopped back on … and started working again.”
Listen to “Mama’s Boy” above.
Sunburn is out 7/7 via Columbia. Find more information here.
Stormzy’s Moody New Video Discerns His ‘Toxic Trait’ Using Art To Reflect Life
Stormzy‘s new video for “Toxic Trait” uses art to reflect life, taking references and design cues from modern art museums to depict his struggles for self-improvement. However, he doesn’t sound like he regrets these traits so much as he confronts and accepts them, so let’s just call it “self-effacement” for now. Among the attributes he describes in the new song are an abhorrence for seeing people in the same jewelry (so much so, he’ll stash his away forever), an affinity for cannabis, and an unfortunately large carbon footprint.
Fellow rapper Fredo appears on the second verse does much the same, listing his materialism, ambition, and self-reliance as his own toxic traits (which they can be in excess). “She wanna link up, tell her, ‘Not today,’” he muses. “‘Cause I’m on the block till late (Late), still got this guap to make.” The beat is a skittering drill production crafted by Dave, who recently released a slick joint EP with Central Cee, Split Decision.
“Toxic Trait” is the second single from Stormzy’s upcoming, as-yet-untitled fourth album. It may take a while to arrive; he’s just eight months removed from his third album, This Is What I Mean, which he released in November last year.
Watch Stormzy’s “Toxic Trait” video above.
Kanye West’s Response To Donda Academy Teachers’ Lawsuit
From April to June of this year, three former teachers at Donda Academy sued Kanye West on various grounds. First, two fired educators, and Black women, claimed that they were let go due to racial bias and called the institution “dystopian” and designed to please the artist’s “idiosyncrasies.” Moreover, the lawsuit also came against the school as a whole and three directors of it. In addition, they claimed that the firing came after they reported health code, education, and safety violations at the academy. Even though they raised issues to directors, Chekarey Byers and Cecilia Haley claim, they did nothing to resolve these issues.
Also, they alleged that teachers and students were barred from sitting in chairs, that students were forced to wear black head-to-toe, and based from wearing Nike or Adidas products. According to their suit, students could not leave the premises until the school day was completely over. “Throughout the entirety of Plaintiffs’ employment, the only lunch available for students was sushi, every single day,” the suit read. “Students were not allowed to bring any outside food or anything other than water. It was widely known that Defendant West spends $10,000 a week on sushi.” Another lawsuit from teacher Timanii Meeks claims that the school fired her after reporting that the school was unsafe.
Read More: Kanye West Reportedly Going To Craigslist For Yeezy Interns
Kanye West At Paris Fashion Week 2022
Furthermore, Kanye West denied all allegations and accused wrongdoing, and wants to see the case dismissed. “The truth is, Ye has nothing to do with Donda’s policies, practices, and procedures relating to employee pay and wage statements,” court documents state. “Surely, Plaintiffs know that. But- as unfortunately is commonly the case for Ye, a famous artist and businessperson- in the present action, Plaintiffs have haphazardly tossed a meritless and barebones guilt-by-association theory into their complaint to garner press attention and the resulting settlement pressure that comes with it.
“Plaintiffs misleadingly depict the Donda Academy as a dystopian institution designed to satisfy Ye’s idiosyncrasies,” it continued. “None of it is true and the allegations do a disservice to the Donda Academy’s current staff and students and their parents who will attest to their positive experience as this case proceeds.” The same law firm represents all plaintiffs, and believes their dismissals to be “retaliatory.” For more updates and the latest news on Kanye West, log back into HNHH.
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Five Incredible White Sneakers For The Summer
The summer is upon us which means everyone is going to be breaking out their finest white sneakers. Although these kicks are known for getting dirty, those who keep them clean are an impressive bunch. Even though the dirt-potential is high with white shows, they are still perfect for these warmer months. As a result, we have decided to take a look at five incredible white sneakers that are available for purchase over at Stadium Goods.
This post contains affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
New Balance 550 “White-Grey”
One of the best silhouettes on the market right now has to be the New Balance 550. Overall, the resurgence of this silhouette has been a breath of fresh air. It is perfect for the lifestyle crowd and for some, it has replaced the Nike Air Force 1 Low. Moreover, this white and grey color scheme is just perfect for those summer months. If you want to wear something that pairs well with shorts and pants, then these are for you. (Image via Stadium Goods)
Air Jordan 11 Low “White Cement”
The Air Jordan 11 Low is an amazing silhouette. Sure, it may not be as popular as the high-top version, but it still has its merits. Additionally, this “White Cement” color scheme is perfect for the warm weather. With the white upper and grey patent leather wrapped around the silhouette, you end up with something truly special. Not to mention, that icy blue outsole puts the icing on the cake here. (Image via Stadium Goods)
Adidas Samba “White-Black”
You can’t talk about summer without mentioning the Adidas Samba. As it stands, this sneaker is “the moment” right now. New colorways are constantly being released, however, the white and black colorway is the true classic. Wearing these will make a statement, and they also show that you have fantastic taste in sneakers. This will be a shoe you see a lot of this year. (Image via Stadium Goods)
Air Jordan 4 “White Oreo”
The second Air Jordan 4 on this list is the “White Oreo” model up above. Firstly, this shoe is wrapped in a nice white leather. Secondly, the midsole here is grey with black speckles. This works out nicely and if you are a person who tends to favor Air Jordan, this is a great summer option. In fact, this is a shoe that we would recommend all-year long. They’re that good. (Image via Stadium Goods)
New Balance 610 “Nimbus Cloud”
Lastly, we have added another New Balance to this list. However, this time it is in the form of the New Balance 610. Overall, this is a great casual sneaker that has the dad shoe aesthetic NB is known for. Furthermore, this “Nimbus Cloud” colorway is truly perfect for all of you neutral-tone lovers out there. From the white upper to the beige midsole, this shoe will get you some compliments this summer. (Image via Stadium Goods)
Let us know which of these kicks are your favorite, in the comments section down below.
The post Five Incredible White Sneakers For The Summer appeared first on HotNewHipHop.
Who Is Kelsey Nicole? Megan Thee Stallion’s Ex-BFF
While Megan Thee Stallion and Tory Lanez are the main parties in their ongoing trial, a third party, Kelsey Nicole, is also involved. In fact, Lanez’s defense attorney has previously argued that it was Kelsey who shot Megan. Regardless, the trio continues to make headlines for their involvement in what is one of the most popular Hip Hop scandals in recent times. As more information unfolds, it’s important to note that Tory Lanez has already been found guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
Kelsey Nicole, born Kelsey Harris, was once attached to the hip with Megan. The pair, who were best friends once upon a time, have had a public fallout in the media. Since the infamous shooting incident, there have been instances of online antagonizing, diss tracks, retracted testimonies, and much more. It’s also safe to bet that there’s no coming back from their parting. Both women have begun to move on with their respective lives without each other.
Megan Thee Stallion & Kelsey Nicole’s Friendship
The two Houston natives met at Prairie View A&M University and established a close bond. Together, they became well-known on campus for their outgoing personalities and sisterhood. Kelsey Nicole eventually worked as Megan’s assistant after the latter achieved mainstream success. What seemed like an unbreakable friendship would later crumble after a harrowing event on July 12, 2020.
The Infamous Shooting Incident
.@theestallion shares her story of the 2020 incident when she was shot in her feet, allegedly by Tory Lanez.
She says she initially told police she stepped on glass, because she feared for her life: “I was just trying to protect all of us because I didn’t want them to kill us.” pic.twitter.com/qd4MJ1yN2w
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) April 25, 2022
Megan and Kelsey usually went to parties and events together. As Megan’s assistant, Kelsey was right by her friend’s side in public and on social media. Following a party at Kylie Jenner’s house, Megan was shot in the foot following an argument with Tory Lanez while inside a vehicle with him and Kelsey. The “HER” rapper crawled to a neighboring house, and the authorities were called to the scene. Megan has gone on record to admit that she, at first, sought to protect Lanez. When the police arrived, she claimed she had stepped on some glass. However, after the doctor’s report revealed bullet fragments in her foot, she decided to come clean.
She further stated that indeed, Tory Lanez was initially remorseful about the shooting. However, she was upset that he allegedly offered her and Kelsey a million dollars to keep hush about the ordeal. In an interview with Gayle King, Megan explained that she feared Lanez was aggravated and she began to fear for her life as he kept firing shots. Later in 2022, Megan reported that while she received treatment at the hospital, Kelsey Nicole paid Tory Lanez a visit. Their meeting understandably left her dumbfounded.
“I’m like, ‘Kelsey, as my best friend, why would you meet up with the person you saw shoot your best friend,’” she said. Kelsey’s response was that she wanted to hear Lanez’s version of events. Allegedly, the “Broke In A Minute” rapper called Kelsey over to apologize. Worse yet, he allegedly promised to fund her business ventures if she stayed quiet.
Kelsey Nicole’s Responses
After Megan shared information about her ex-best friend allegedly meeting up with Lanez, Kelsey took to social media to respond. On Instagram, she accused Megan of playing “social media games.” Furthermore, she said she would break everything down ”when it was her turn to speak.” Fans of Megan Thee Stallion have since revisited the infamous video response, calling Kelsey out as a falsifier.
On November 20, 2020, Megan The Stallion released “Shots Fired,” the first track off her debut album, Good News. The single was in response to Lanez’s album Daystar, in which he mocked Megan severally while referencing the shooting. Kelsey later joined in on the mix, releasing the diss track “Bussin Back.” On the track, she mocked Megan, accusing her former friend of betraying her.
A Shocking Twist In Court
“You should also be aware that Alex Spiro, Megan’s lawyer, and/or counsel for @RocNation have launched an investigation into Kelsey having being “compromised” (bribed or threatened).”
⁃ Shawn Holley when she quit as Tory Lanez’s lawyer https://t.co/VRNzHmbej5 pic.twitter.com/IUiMXFSzG7— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) June 19, 2023
In December 2022, Kelsey Nicole was slated to testify about her version of events during the shooting. On the third day of Lanez’s criminal trial, Kelsey shocked the world by staying silent. In addition to this, she altered her detailed statement made in September, three months earlier. While in court, Kelsey invoked her Fifth Amendment rights and blamed her memory loss on being “under the influence.” She also blamed postpartum issues, grief, and anxiety for her mixed testimony. Deputy District Attorney, Kathy Ta, asked if Lanez offered her a million dollars to keep hush. Kelsey simply replied, “That’s not the exact wording. He mentioned the million, but again it’s a blur.”
Judge David Herriford, who presides over the case, granted Kelsey immunity. Even though she was told there was no plan to prosecute her, she maintained her silence.
Kelsey Nicole’s Personal Life
(@itskelseynicole_)Regardless of the drama from the shooting, Kelsey Nicole seems to be thriving in her personal and professional life. She is the founder of KN Management, a talent booking agency. She is also into real estate, offering clients short-term stays through her company, AirBnChill.
Kelsey Nicole is also a mother, as her son Drayven was born in May 2022. She shares the one-year-old with Darien Smith, popularly known as D Boy No Sleep. Smith is an executive at the label 1501 Certified Entertainment. Smith has been caught up in the legal war between Megan and 1501. It was reported that Alongside her other business ventures, Kelsey Nicole owns The Royals nightclub in Victoria, Texas.
[via]
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Savage X Fenty: Rihanna Steps Down As CEO After 5 Years
While the Navy isn’t exactly happy with the lack of new music we’ve heard from Rihanna since 2016’s ANTI, they’ve been able to forgive her thanks to her hard work in other industries. She shared impressive designs from LVMH’s Fenty brand for several years, and though that was shut down, she’s also given us Fenty Beauty, Skin, and her tantalizing Savage X Fenty lingerie collection which was launched back in 2018. Over the years we’ve seen Rihanna model countless pieces for us. That’s likely to continue down the road, however, on Friday (June 23), we found out that she’ll be stepping down as CEO.
The news comes as the Barbadian creative nears closer to welcoming her and ASAP Rocky’s second child together. Their firstborn, RZA, turned one in the spring, and Rihanna has spoken candidly about how special the experience of motherhood has been for her. With two little ones soon to be running around, it only makes sense that she wants to free up her schedule so she can witness as much of their growth as possible. According to Vogue, the Bad Gal has found a very capable person to step into her shoes.
Read More: Rihanna’s Sultry Savage X Fenty Selfie Streak Continues
It’s the End of an Era for Rihanna
Hillary Super, the former CEO of Anthropologie Group, has been tasked with the job. Of course, Rihanna won’t be stepping out of the picture entirely. Instead, she’ll take on the role of executive chair. “It’s been beautiful to see our vision for Savage X Fenty impact the industry at such an incredible magnitude over the last five years. This is just the beginning for us, and we’re going to continue to expand in ways that always connect with the consumer,” she shared in a statement.
Elsewhere in the world of fashion, Rihanna kept her streak of noteworthy maternity looks going with an appearance at Pharrell’s Louis Vuitton debut earlier this week. She and ASAP Rocky perfectly coordinated in denim outfits, and as per usual, her baby bump was on full display. See for yourself at the link below, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
Read More: Rihanna & ASAP Rocky Coordinate In All-Blue Denim Outfits For Pharrell’s Paris Fashion Show
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Boosie Badazz Says He Was Granted Another Bond
Boosie Badazz recently took to social media to let fans know he’ll be out of jail soon. He was arrested earlier this month following a court appearance for a gun case. The court approved his $50,000 bond this week, however, prosecution was dead set on keeping the rapper behind bars.
Yesterday, Boosie Tweeted an update to his fans. He wrote, “Just got another bond. Be out soon!!!” On Wednesday, Boosie Tweeted about prosecutor Michael Wheat, who appealed the judge’s previous bond decision. He accused him of being racist, claiming that he has evil intentions. “After the judge has granted me a bond, and I paid my full cash amount the prosecution refuse to respect the judges decision to let me go,” he explained. “The prosecutor Mr. wheat looked at me singing Wipe Me Down, wiped his shoulders and shook his head with a look of evil in his eyes. This is total misconduct from a prosecutor,” Boosie claimed. He went on to say Wheat “is racist and has evil intentions.”
Read More: Boosie Badazz’ Arrest Was A Result Of Instagram Live
Boosie Says He’ll Be Out Soon
The gun case Boosie faced in court was initially dropped, however, he was later arrested for the same charges. Federal paperwork indicates that Boosie was seen on Instagram Live with a gun allegedly tucked into his pants. Officers pulled him over the evening of the Live and found a gun in the vehicle, which he claimed wasn’t his. Feds were later able to match the gun found in the car to the one they claimed to see in the Instagram Live.
“I WANNA TAKE THIS TIME TO APOLOGIZE TO MY KIDS, IM SORRY AND I LOVE YALL FOREVER,” the rapper wrote on Twitter following the arrest. Boosie’s team also shared a statement amid his legal battle. “Boosie asks for prayers as he deals with this unfortunate circumstance in his life,” it reads. “He hopes that he can rejoin his family soon and knows that God got him.”
Read More: Boosie Badazz Blasts Prosecutor As “Racist” Amid Their Bond Appeal
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Young Thug’s Leaked Calls To Lil Baby & Lil Durk To Diss Gunna Are Fake, His Sister Says
This beef isn’t getting any easier to navigate for fans, even with a whole new album from Young Thug to look in for answers. Moreover, Wack 100 shared an alleged leaked call from Thug to Lil Baby (another to Lil Durk also surfaced) telling them to respond to Gunna’s alleged subliminal disses, which came on his new album‘s single “bread & butter,” on BUSINESS IS BUSINESS. Of course, people went wild over it, but many raised eyebrows because neither MC appears on the final tracklist. Now, the Atlanta trap pioneer’s sister Dolly White came through on Instagram and said that these alleged calls are actually AI-generated and not real.
Regardless, this didn’t stop tensions from rising between these artists- at least on social media and song snippets. Gunna unfollowed Lil Baby and Lil Durk on Instagram, Baby seemingly dissed him on a teased track, and Smurk outright blasted Wunna for taking a plea deal and being a “rat.” Considering Young Thug’s allusions to snitching on tracks like “Jonesboro” from his new album, many assumed he referred to his YSL collaborator. However, it’s quite the grey area, as YSL promoted a Gift & a Curse and the College Park rhymer reposted Thugger’s countdown to the album on social media.
Read More: Young Thug & Lil Durk Computer Meme: Rappers Have Vowed Not To “Snitch” On Story Behind Photo
Young Thug’s Sister Speaks Out
Young thug’s sister is saying it’s A.I
pic.twitter.com/T9IpuKneik
— HorizonHipHop (@HorizonHiphop) June 23, 2023
Overall, it seems like the only true confirmed tensions in this whole whirlwind are between Gunna and other rappers. Still, his relationship with Young Thug remains unclear, and many inconsistencies add up to murkiness. For example, the Slime Season innovator recently posted a link to the Drip Season crooner’s music on his Instagram bio, but deleted it shortly after. In addition, Wunna actively shared pro-Thugger messaging in his songs and music videos throughout a Gift & a Curse‘s rollout. However, there’s also the recent development of Thug’s other sister, Dora Williams, who seemingly suggested that streaming Gunna’s album is paying the family’s bills, so maybe their promotion of it is more of a means to an end.
Dora Williams Seems To React To People Commenting On Their Promotion Of Gunna
Young Thug’s sister HiDoraah says she wants people to stream Gunna album so she can get paid
pic.twitter.com/52sCXrI9x5
— STRAPPED! | Hip-Hop/Rap News (@STRAPPEDUS) June 16, 2023
While many see this as a one-way street of love from Thug to Gun’, they clearly know something the public doesn’t. As such, it’s hard to really make a judgement call on the things we do know, especially if people much closer to the YSL leader than everyone debating it on Twitter pronounced the calls as fake. Considering the YSL RICO case and the sensitive nature of these relationships in the industry, it will probably be a while before we get true answers. On that note, keep checking in with HNHH for the latest news and updates on Young Thug, the YSL case, and the other artists involved in this mystery feud.
Read More: Young Thug Challenges Evidence In RICO Trial
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Public Enemy’s “It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back” Turns 35
It’s been thirty-five years since the second studio album from Public Enemy, It Takes a Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back, hit shelves. Its legacy and influence on rap music are simply immeasurable. The album was a battle cry that revolutionized hip-hop and endures as an iconic landmark in the annals of music history.
With its multi-layered production and socio-political messaging, the album galvanized Public Enemy’s status as one of the most iconic and confrontational rap groups ever. Countless acts have tried to ape the ferocity of It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, but few have been able to fully rise to the occasion. Spawning several iconic singles, the album remains the gold standard for protest rap, even three and a half decades after its release.
Read More: Who Was In Public Enemy?
The Voice Of The Restless
The beating heart of It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back is its fierce, politically-charged lyrics. Throughout its runtime, Chuck D raps with a militant cadence as he addresses issues of racial inequality, social injustices, and systematic oppression. His words are more than lyrics on an album sleeve. They are rallying cries for marginalized communities.
Chuck D’s fierce rhetoric is perfectly counterbalanced by hype man, Flavor Flav’s madcap ad-libs, and surreal lyricism. The most prominent example of Flav’s unique lyrical gymnastics is on full display on the track “Cold Lampin’ With Flavor.” Flav’s rhymes tumble out of him like a torrent of staccato fits of word association on the track.
Read More: Public Enemy’s Chuck D Says Popularizing Rap In The UK Was “Our British Invasion”
The Criticism
To address the elephant in the room: Some of Public Enemy’s lyrical allusions have been challenged by critics as potentially containing antisemitic underpinnings. This became even more prevalent with the controversy surrounding comments by collaborator Professor Griff, who parted ways with Public Enemy. However, the album’s lyrical content still holds a strong underlying message of social change.
Despite what some might see as the group’s misdirected anger, the album’s lyrics remain universal in their broad stance on speaking truth to power. The album is sadly still relevant, three and a half decades after its release. From drug abuse plaguing poor communities to predatory capitalism, the album takes aim at myriad issues that affect most people in the country, even now.
Read More: The LOX Bodies Classic Public Enemy Production On “Terminator LOX”
The Sound And The Fury
Sonically speaking, It Takes a Nation A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back is built to push musical boundaries. It blends intricate beats from the production team, The Bomb Squad with dynamic chop and screwed turntable work from Terminator X. From the opening blast of “Bring The Noise” to the raucous energy of “Rebel Without A Pause,” the album’s sonic tapestry is consistently proactive.
It Takes A Nation… reveals more sonic nuance over the course of its 16 tracks with each repeat listen. The album’s ability to warrant frequent revisits stems from its use of dense and eclectic sampling. The use of works comes from a diverse range of sources like James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Slayer, and Malcolm X. And each sample is intricately woven together, creating a wholly original sound. It’s a perfect pot of musical gumbo that never goes stale.
The musical impact of It Takes a Nation… remains a high watermark in hip-hop production and sampling. However. the issue of sampling would continue to be a controversial talking point regarding copyright violations. However, the album argues rap artists are in the right for myriad reasons.
In the song “Caught, Can We Get a Witness?” Public Enemy directly addresses this topic. Chuck raps, “…I’m giving it a new name, what you hear is mine” on the track, stating his position. The album ultimately posits the notion that previous beats and musical accompaniments are part of the zeitgeist. So, this should allow them to be reused to construct new musical compositions. It’s an argument still raging out in court cases and lawsuits to this day.
Read More: Madlib Says Today’s Music Should Sound More Like Public Enemy, “But It’s Just Not There”
A Lasting Legacy
The impact It Takes a Nation… made on music is nigh immeasurable. Countless acts from all genres of music have cited the album as an influence. Bikini Kill singer and activist, Kathleen Hanna cited the album as a “go-to” while touring. Rap acts such as Beastie Boys and Game have sampled the album. Even Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain cited It Takes a Nation… as one of his 50 favorite albums in his published personal journals.
In terms of broad appeal, the album spawned six singles and reached number 42 on Billboard’s Top LPs list. It also landed number 1 on their Top Black Albums chart and reached Platinum status. It also appears on Rolling Stone‘s list of The 5000 Greatest Albums Of All Time, holding the number 27 position as of 2012. Music publication NME called It Takes a Nation… “the greatest hip-hop album ever” at the time of its release. That claim still holds true for many fans and critics thirty-five years later.
Read More: Public Enemy Are Back With “What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down?”
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