Usher had a surprising reveal that he shared during a recent appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast. As it turns out, he was almost part of a supergroup of sorts many years ago — but things didn’t wind up taking shape. Instead, the other planned members like Jay-Z and Pharrell continued their solo careers.
“Jay-Z, Pharrell, Diddy, and me were supposed to be a group,” Usher said. “Yeah, that’s crazy. I didn’t say ‘No.’ I didn’t say ‘Yeah.’ I think that we just got caught up. I think we all got caught up in the moment.”
“We was talking about it and having secret meetings about it,” he added. “We were talking about music and how we gon’ flip it and the business of it. And somehow, man, we just got distracted and it never happened.”
He also pointed out that while it didn’t happen, he sometimes still wishes that it had.
However, Usher is still immensely successful, supergroup or not. He is gearing up to drop his new album, Coming Home. Then, two days after its release, he will take the stage at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium to perform the Super Bowl Halftime Show. To make things even more full circle, Jay-Z was the one who asked Usher if he would be interested, as he serves as a producer and consultant for the NFL’s Halftime performances.
Check out Usher talking about the group that never was above.
Nicki Minaj has been a hot topic in the news for the past few days, mostly due to her dramatic reaction to Megan Thee Stallion’s “HISS” single. The Queen of Rap has been busy liking tweets slandering the Houston native and others supporting her, while The Barbz stand behind their favourite femcee. Minaj’s fanbase went so far as to doxx the information for Thee Stallion’s late mother’s gravesite, leading Cardi B’s fans to step up in the “Big Ole Freak” hitmaker’s defense, doing the same with Nicki’s dad’s cemetery location. With so much tension in the air, social media users have been carefully selecting which songs and audio snippets they use in their posts, so as not to take sides. Interestingly, 10-year-old North West used a soundbite of Minaj in one of her most recent TikToks, which now has the internet talking.
“I don’t think you understand, I’m obsessed,” the tween mouths along with the “Barbie Dreams” artist in the video below. Seeing as her mother, Kim Kardashian, is something of a makeup mogul, it’s not surprising to see Miss Westie already following in her footsteps. However, instead of perfecting a smokey eye and nude lip like the reality starlet, North is channeling her inner Alien Superstar.
Kimye’s eldest covered her face and neck in hot pink facepaint while experimenting, also making her eyebrows stand out with a darker shade of the same colour. Her lips were a beautiful ombre with various shades of purple, and subtle false lashes helped her brown eyes stand out.
Even if Ye doesn’t fully approve, his firstborn continues to express herself and her various talents on TikTok for the world to see. Speaking of Yeezy, he shocked fans by reuniting with ex-wife Kim Kardashian for a night out with North West and her friends last month. Read more about that at the link below, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
Earlier this week, Justin Timberlake stopped in New York City for a performance, and a comment he made has countless fans up in arms. At one point in the show, he claimed that he wanted to take the opportunity to apologize. He paused momentarily before adding, “to absolutely f***ing nobody.” The remark managed to get fans thinking, and some of them theorize that the comment was aimed at Britney Spears.
Just after the remark, Timberlake rolled into “Cry Me A River,” a song about Spears. She also had plenty to say about him in her memoir The Woman In Me, which she later apologized for. The pop icon even shouted out his track “Selfish,” calling it “soo good.”
Unfortunately, however, it looks like Spears caught wind of Timberlake’s rumored diss. She recently took to Instagram to share what appears to be a response, making it known that she doesn’t have anything to apologize for either. “Someone told me someone was talking s*** about me on the streets !!!” she captioned a photo of a basketball hoop. “Do you want to bring it to the court or will you go home crying to your mom like you did last time??? I’m not sorry!!!” Last year, Spears threw some shade at Timberlake on Instagram over his allegedly lackluster basketball skills, making the post seem like a direct shot.
While some are convinced that his comment was directed at Spears, others note that the anniversary of his infamous Janet Jackson breast-exposing incident is today. For obvious reasons, plenty of people were upset about the Super Bowl halftime show catastrophe, which he also later apologized for. What do you think of Justin Timberlake claiming he has nobody to apologize to during a recent show? Do you think he was dissing Britney Spears or Janet Jackson, or are social media users overreacting? What about Britney’s apparent IG shade? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
It was only a few years ago when it seemed as if Benny The Butcher was the third man to the duo of Westside and Conway. As the Hall N Nash collaborators became the frontline of Griselda, Benny was right behind them, studying and plotting for his time in the limelight. Following WWCD, West carved out the next generation of Griselda while Conway launched Drumwork and Benny began building the B$F empire. However, after making such pronounced strides independently, Benny’s major label debut, Everybody Can’t Go, feels like a natural progression into the big leagues.
Everybody Can’t Go vividly represents the culmination of work that led to this milestone in his career, from incarceration to rap stardom and the hardships and near-fatal experiences in between. Although most rappers could fall flat on a major label debut, finding themselves navigating the murky waters of radio play, streaming services, and social media frenzies, Benny The Butcher harnesses his strengths and delivers a fierce entry in his catalog that attempts to live up to the legacy of the label’s flagship artists.
Hit-Boy & The Alchemist Come Through With The Assist
Before it even landed a release date, Everybody Can’t Go looked like an Album Of The Year contender on paper. With Hit-Boy and The Alchemist behind the boards, Benny formulated a recipe for success alongside two renowned producers with whom he’s built a strong rapport. Hit-Boy previously locked in with Benny on Burden Of Proof while The Alchemist played a significant role on Tana Talk 4. But on Everybody Can’t Go, Hit-Boy and The Alchemist work in tandem to effectively bring out a concise body of work that encapsulates the divide in Benny’s aura: the bleak mafioso stories that have become a foundation to his rags-to-riches tale and the stunning accomplishments that have gained the faith of OGs like Jay-Z and Snoop Dogg to carry the torch. Whereas The Alchemist allows Benny to bask in vivid flashbacks of childhood trauma, the Buffalo-born rapper sounds victorious as ever on Hit-Boy’s beats.
It’s as evident on “Jermaine’s Graduation,” the intro track produced by The Alchemist. The icy piano-laden production dishes a rush of nostalgia as Benny delves into the perennial cycle of addiction from a firsthand account. “… Teary-eyed and gullible/ I lived with a mother who struggled through/ Addiction, I know every side to drug abuse,” he raps with gruff delivery. In many ways, it’s the foreword to a hustler’s memoir, where personal anecdotes often serve to unpack the degrees of separation between the addicts and corner boys and the plugs and bosses. These revelations are a launching pad for some of his most compelling storytelling, as well as braggadocious sh*t talking.
It’s The Alchemist’s production that often catalyzes Benny’s emotionally potent moments on the album. “TMVTL” is another highlight with stellar production from The Alchemist. The famed producer concocts his signature hazy and hypnotic soundscape for the first two stories; the first finds Benny divulging prison stories involving a woman named Jasmine Dickens who smuggles contraband for an inmate; the second, a fatal falling out between two brothers over a woman. The third verse strikes a more personal note as Benny alludes to the infamous Wal-Mart shooting in Houston and evokes a gruesome image of the retribution inflicted on the perpetrator over a sinister beat switch.
However, these grim moments are few and far between. The Alchemist’s production often welcomes cameos from Griselda’s mainstays, such as “Griselda Express” which reunites Westside Gunn and Conway, along with a verse from Rick Hyde. Then, Armani Caesar, the First Lady Of Griselda, brings a fun and sexy offering on “Buffalo Kitchen Club.”
Hit-Boy’s Golden Touch
As Benny explained, Everybody Can’t Go describes the reality that not everything is for everyone; the rarity of bypassing the inevitable outcome of the streets and eventually, maneuvering away from it. Or, on a more surface level, the ability to achieve success without compromise. On that note, Hit-Boy has undoubtedly helped shape Benny’s trajectory since they first linked up. On Everybody Can’t Go, Hit-Boy helps highlight the career highs of the past few years. Songs like “Big Dog,” despite its relatively lazy hook, further establish the rapport between Benny and Lil Wayne, whose Dedication mixtape served as inspiration for the B$F Gangsta Grillz mixtape. Then, on songs like “Bron” and “One Foot In” with Stove God Cooks, Benny puffs his chest, asserting his dominance in the game. Benny persistently reminds spectators that consistency and longevity are the major keys to success.
Contrasting The Alchemist’s muddy, ethereal beats, Hit-Boy ensures a level of crispness that came across on the aforementioned singles, “Bron” and “One Foot In,” which serve as a testament to Benny’s evolution. On songs like “Back Again,” Benny The Butcher collides with Snoop Dogg for an ode to gangsta rap’s 2000s reign under Dr. Dre’s dominance. Meanwhile, Jadakiss and Babyface Ray bring a distinct East Coast flare to “Pillow Talk & Slander,” which finds the three artists confronting the heightened sense of paranoia that comes with status and how loyalty and trust become an anomaly.
Everybody Can’t Go ultimately opens up a new chapter in Benny’s career from a perspective he was never able to tap into until now. A few years ago, labels might not have looked at an artist like Benny The Butcher as a viable signing and that frustration alone has seemingly put a fire in his belly. “Got the labels calling you/ They fly you out to talk to you, low balling you/ And kinda still doubt if they could market you,” Benny states in “How To Rap.” Though appearing towards the latter half of the album, it serves as a thesis statement to his album.
The album exposes the many battle wounds Benny accumulated, the downfalls, doubts, and obstacles that he faced in his climb to the top. It’s a story that parallels the great Mafia tales, though its ending is an anomaly compared to those that end in death and whose sacrifices become obsolete outside of those who find inspiration in these tales. Benny negated a tragic ending, leaving the streets and applying the same principles from hustling to establish himself as a heavyweight in hip-hop.
Heidi Klum is one of the most famous models in the world. Moreover, she is a tv personality who showcased her judging talents on America’s Got Talent. However, if there is one thing fans truly know her for, it is the fact that she always has the most unique Halloween costumes. Although not every single one of these costumes has hit, they always get people intrigued. They are always very elaborate and you never really know what she is going to do next.
In addition to all of this, Klum is also a free spirit. She has been photographed nude on the beach plenty of times. Moreover, she can frequently be found topless in the comfort of her own home. Klum currently has three kids, aged 19, 18, and 17. Even when they are home, Klum has no issue with being nude around them. However, as Klum explained on Call Her Daddy, she does need a reminder every now and again to put some clothes on. This is especially true whenever her children decide to bring over a friend.
“I mean, I try to be like that with my kids. Obviously, when you know, no one is there. I’m in my garden also, you know, I’m topless,” Klum said. “And they will come, like, ‘You know, my friend is coming over, mom, put your top on.’ And I’m like, ‘When have I ever not had a top on when your friend was coming over? Of course I will.’” Thankfully, she is someone who happily obliges with the request. Otherwise, that would be extremely awkward. As for her oldest daughter Leni, she spoke about her mom during a call on the podcast, and she claimed that her mom’s topless streak can be a bit embarrassing.
Let us know what you think of Klum’s habit, in the comments section below. Additionally, be sure to stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the entertainment world. We will always be sure to keep you informed on your favorite personalities.
Over the weekend Nicki Minaj released her new song “Big Foot.” The track was packed full of disses aimed at Megan Thee Stallion following Megan’s own song “HISS” which dropped a few days earlier. While Megan doesn’t mention Nicki by name in her song, fans were able to read between the lines. In the days that followed Nicki wasn’t afraid to mention Megan by name in dozens of tweets and repeatedly in “Big Foot.” While the song initially soared to a high debut as fans eagerly awaited her response to Megan’s disses, it’s taken a bit of a nosedive on its third day on the charts.
Following it’s high debut on its first tracking day for the Spotify charts, “Big Foot” slipped down to number 23 in its second day. Now on day three it’s plummeted all the way down to #69 earning just 500,977 streams. That’s in contrast to Megan’s song “HISS” which is spending its third day at the top spot adding 1,639,359 new streams yesterday. Additionally, “HISS” is now expected to challenge Jack Harlow’s “Lovin’ On Me” for the number one spot on the Hot 100 in its first tracking week.
Nicki Minaj’s “Big Foot” nosedives in day 3, down 46 spots to #69 on US Spotify with 500,977 streams. @theestallion’s “HISS” spends a 3rd day at #1 with 1,639,359 streams. pic.twitter.com/NaYnPs3c4Y
Following the release of the diss track Nicki Minaj has continued to cause controversy. One moment occurred during a Twitter Spaces conversation with Joe Budden. Minaj made a comment about Megan’s shooting incident with Tory Lanez that fans found extremely insensitive. She claimed that Megan was just looking to have her “Rihanna moment.”
In another controversial move, Nicki tweeted support of Ben Shapiro’s new song. The conservative talk show host recently made his first foray into rap on a new Tom MacDonald song. Nicki’s cosign of the track unsurprisingly didn’t sit well with many of her fans. What do you think of Nicki Minaj’s song “Big Foot” taking a major dip in new streams on day three? Do you think Megan still being at #1 is proof that she’s won the beef so far? Let us know in the comment section below.
Joe Budden has sided with Eminem in his feud with Benzino and mocked the former owner of ‘The Source’ for his alleged relationship with a transgender woman.
If you went into a 20-year coma in 2004 and woke up today, you might be forgiven for thinking that no time at all had passed. The economy is still all topsy-turvy, the US is still embroiled in controversial conflict in the Middle East, and for some reason, Eminem is still beefing with Benzino, despite both men being well into their fifties.
The first salvo in their latest skirmish was fired by Eminem on his song “Doomsday Pt. 2” from Lyrical Lemonade’s new album All Is Yellow.
Benzino responded on Wednesday (January 31) with his new single “Rap Elvis.”
Em has yet to respond, but at this point, you kind of have to expect that he will. The real question you might have is… Why? Why do Eminem and Benzino have beef in the first place, and why haven’t they let it go after nearly 30 years?
The answer to the second question is only known to the two rivals, but as to when their feud began and what started it, here’s a short summary. In 2002, The Source was still largely considered “hip-hop’s Bible,” and then-publisher Benzino refused to allow the magazine to give Eminem’s album The Eminem Show a five-mic rating — at least, according to Eminem and widely accepted hip-hop lore. Em criticized the magazine for what he felt was an unfair rating of his best album (to this day), prompting Benzino to respond with the diss song “Pull Your Skirt Up.”
Benzino’s campaign to undermine Eminem also unearthed old recordings using slurs against Black people that the Detroit rapper made when he was a teenager. Eminem apologized for those recordings, but not the scathing diss tracks he unleashed against Benzino, which included “The Sauce” and “Nail In The Coffin.” Since then, you could say the both men’s paths divereged a bit; while Eminem’s legacy as a “Rap God” has grown over the course of seven more albums (arguably a little too much), Benzino has been known in recent years largely for his role as a cast member on Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta and his fraught relationshp with daughter Coi Leray.
Until this year, the beef was mostly one-sided, with Benzino shading Eminem in interviews and on Twitter throughout the past half-decade or so, and Eminem mostly just ignoring him. That changed with “Doomsday, Pt. 2,” which could mean that 2024 looks like 2004 all over again. Maybe this time, Em and Ben can make sure that the coffin stays closed.
Dua Lipa, The Killers, and Måneskin are set to headline Spain’s Mad Cool Festival this year, as the full lineup was recently finalized. With other prominent acts including Pearl Jam, The Smashing Pumpkins, Jessie Ware, Tyla, Sexyy Red, Janelle Monáe, Bring Me The Horizon, Avril Lavigne, Uproxx cover star Ashnikko, and more, there is truly something for everyone genre-wise.
The festival itself is set to take place in Madrid from July 10 to July 13.
Here’s what to know about getting tickets.
When Do Mad Cool Fest 2024 Tickets Go On Sale?
Since the initial first wave of the lineup was announced in December, tickets for Mad Cool Fest 2024 have already been on sale for a while. Thankfully, there are still passes available. A 4-day General Admission ticket starts at 210€ (about $227). Single-day GA tickets are priced at 89€ (about $96).
Mad Cool also has VIP passes for sale, in case you are looking for an elevated festival experience this summer. For the 4-day VIP ticket, it starts at 482€ (about $522), and a single-day VIP ticket is 187€ (about $202). This will include access to a private area with exclusive stage viewing, access to a bar and catering service, and more perks.
Additional information about Mad Cool 2024, along with buying tickets, can be found on their official website.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
