Alfonso Ribeiro is someone who has been very honest and up-front about what he has experienced throughout his career. Overall, most fans know him as Carlton from The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air. As Ribeiro states, he was typecast for the majority of his career. Numerous casting directors would try to get him into roles that were identical to Carlton’s. Although outsiders may think these are great opportunities, for an actor, they are insulting. Ribeiro knew he could do other roles, but they simply were not being offered.
In the aftermath of his most recent comments about his career, Ribeiro has been hit with lots of unsolicited advice. Recently, on Twitter, one fan came out and claimed that Ribeiro’s career could be revitalized by Tyler Perry. However, Ribeiro did not like that suggestion one bit. In fact, he replied to the fan’s comment, saying “I don’t need or ever want that man to do anything for me.” Overall, it was a pretty sternly worded reply, and fans were curious as to whether or not there was some sort of animosity at play.
In the replies over at The Shade Room, there were numerous calls for Ribeiro to sit down with Shannon Sharpe on Club Shay Shay. Of course, this would be an incredible conversation. Sharpe is known for having great interviews, even if it is the guest who mostly makes it work. If Ribeiro were to go on Club Shay Shay and put it all out there, it would most certainly go viral. That said, it remains to be seen whether or not Ribeiro would even be interested in such a thing.
Let us know what you think about all of this, in the comments section down below. Do you believe that Ribeiro should go on Club Shay Shay? Do you believe that Shannon Sharpe would be able to get a good interview considering the subject matter? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming projects.
Nicki Minaj, who is currently on the road for her Pink Friday 2 World Tour, has threatened to relieve her DJ of his duties if he keeps signing fans’ breasts.
Lollapalooza has a loaded lineup for the 2024 festival, featuring Tyler The Creator, SZA, Hozier, Future x Metro Boomin, Stray Kids, The Killers, Blink-182, Skrillex, and plenty more. Chicago is set to be bustling outside of the core festival, too: Today (May 28), Coachella organizers announced the lineup for the official late-night aftershows.
Artists set to perform at various venues in the city include Benson Boone, Blondshell, Blu DeTiger, Chappell Roan, d4vd, Dillon Francis x Valentino Khan, Ethel Cain, Faye Webster, Geese, The Japanese House, Kesha, Kevin Abstract, Killer Mike, Labrinth, The Last Dinner Party, Militarie Gun, Raye, Tate McRae, Teezo Touchdown, Two Door Cinema Club, Tyla, and Vince Staples, among others.
$1 from every ticket will go to the Lollapalooza Arts Education Fund, supporting Chicago Public Schools with the least access to arts education. pic.twitter.com/RE3Kw63IfH
The shows all run between July 30 and August 4. Tickets for the events go on sale starting on May 31 (this Friday) at 10 a.m. CT. Find more information about that on the Lollapalooza website.
Lollapalooza is set to go down from August 1 to 4 at Chicago’s Grant Park. Tickets went on sale a while ago now, but some are still available. The festival website currently lists 1-day general admission tickets starting $149, 2-day general admission tickets for $318, 4-day general admission tickets for $409, and other tiers of tickets are other price points. Check out the website for more information.
Shams Charania of The Athletic reported on Tuesday that approximately ten teams have sent workout invitations to USC guard Bronny James since he announced his candidacy for the NBA draft in April. After a stellar combine and pro day, Bronny’s draft stock has risen expeditiously. His performance has had several teams reach out for individual workouts. Nevertheless, Bronny and his camp have declined all offers except to. Brony will work for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns ahead of the draft. He has now narrowed down the teams he wishes to play for.
“I’m told he’s only going to visit a couple of those, and that’s going to include the [Los Angeles] Lakers and the Phoenix Suns,” Charania said on Run It Back. According to Charania, James’s final destination can be determined by the “development plan” and “guaranteed money” that the teams provide. The Lakers have been the odds-on favorite to draft Bronny since before the combine. Bronny getting drafted is more of a possibility now than it was a month ago.
Bronny James Will Only Workout For Lakers And Suns
Bronny James was scheduled for 10 workouts with NBA teams, but he’s declined all of them except two: Lakers and Suns, per @ShamsCharania on @RunItBackFDTV.
Given the numerous allegations that have surfaced over the last almost two months claiming that Bronny James is connected to his father LeBron James’s squad, the Lakers aren’t a major surprise. The father-son team has indicated a strong desire to play in the NBA together. In the NBA draft, which starts on Wednesday, June 26, the Suns are drafting with the number 22 pick. A number of players are in the running for the choice. According to Charania, James may be selected early in the second round or late first round.
We know Bronny’s agent, Rich Paul, has adamantly stated his client will not be signing a two-way contract. Given the tremendous degree of interest in his potential, someone will most likely select him in June, even if a two-way contract is no longer an option. Lakers fans have expressed their desire for the team to choose Bronny, and since the draft class of this year is thought to be among the poorest in recent memory, it would not be a terrible idea to take a risk on your star player’s kid.
Drake is in the news this morning and it has nothing to do with his beef with Kendrick Lamar. Instead, he is currently being talked about thanks to the reference track that leaked last night. Overall, the reference track in question was for the song “Mob Ties” off of his 2018 album Scorpion. The artist on the reference track is none other than Vory, who can be heard on multiple songs on Donda. As you can imagine, this new reference track has caused a bit of an uproar, with fans calling this a huge issue for Drake’s legacy.
Throughout the day, fans have been debating the overall use of reference tracks and whether or not it is a bad thing. However, it seems as though there is another issue when it comes to “Mob Ties” specifically. In the clip below, you can see an old episode of The Shop in which Drake spoke about Scorpion to Maverick Carter and LeBron James. In this clip, he talks about how the Pusha T beef re-energized him to make music. It was here where he subsequently goes on to say that “Mob Ties” was one of his favorite tracks from the album.
Needless to say, Drake is catching a lot of flack right now. From his verse on the new Sexyy Red track to his ill-advised bars on “The Heart Part 6,” it seems like Drizzy just cannot catch a break at the moment. Of course, that could certainly change. However, fans are starting to come through with some hot takes the likes of which Drake has mostly avoided throughout his career. Only time will tell what happens next for him.
Let us know what you think of this situation involving Drake and Vory, in the comments section down below. Do you believe that this reference track is that big of a deal? How do you feel about the use of reference tracks and ghostwriters in hip-hop? Will this disqualify Drake from GOAT status? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming projects.
It’s been six years since Drake dropped his album Scorpion. The record contains some of his biggest hits like “God’s Plan,” “Nice For What,” “Nonstop,” and “In My Feelings.” The two-disc album spanned 90 full minutes split across 25 tracks and represented a shift in Drizzy’s studio albums towards longer tracklists. As a result, the album spawned plenty of deep cuts that didn’t get the same attention as some of the rapper’s biggest songs. Among them though, “Ratchet Happy Birthday” stands out. The R&B-flavored cut pops up on the records second disc and features some pretty memorable lyrics, for better or for worse.
Now fans are expressing a renewed interest in the song after a new leak has added context to its creation. The original reference track for the song leaked and it’s sung by Drake’s fellow OVO artist PARTYNEXTDOOR. PND is fresh off the release of his new album PND4 but back in 2018, he was helping in the assembly of Scorpion. Part of that help included recording his own version of what would eventually become “Ratchet Happy Birthday” for reference. As with many reference track leaks, fans couldn’t help but debate whether it was actually better than the original. Check out the newly leaked version side by side with the original below.
— Pusha Thanos !!! (new acc) (@PushaThanos__) May 28, 2024
This isn’t even the first of Drake’s reference tracks to go viral this week. The original version of “Mob Ties” performed by Vory is also still making the rounds online. That led fans to dig up a hilarious old video of DJ Akademiks professing his own disbelief for idea that Vory was the writer and original artist on the song. The reference tracks have caused fans to debate Drizzy’s legacy as a rapper and the way he puts out so much material.
What do you think of PARTYNEXTDOOR’s version of Drake’s Scorpion deep cut “Ratchet Happy Birthday?” Do you think the R&B singer’s version of the song is even better than the original track? Let us know in the comment section below.
Rapper Ice Spice shared an image on Instagram showing herself, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift having fun at an event. With an apparent reference to Swift’s song’s modified lyrics and maybe a celebration of the couple’s public relationship announcement, the story’s caption reads, “Happy Karma Day.” From the perspective of fans and the media, Ice Spice’s new photo is a noteworthy public affirmation of their relationship, solidifying their bond. The trio’s depiction of having fun together at a party shows that they are a close-knit bunch, with Ice Spice appearing to be celebrating their pleasure.
This linguistic alteration occurred during Swift’s global “Eras” tour, sparking rumors regarding her connection with Kelce. When this occurred, Kelce was there to support her, having flown to South America during Kansas City’s bye week. His expression showed amazement, delight, and embarrassment. Ice Spice is really solidifying her relationship with Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. Spice and Swift seem to be cooking up more collabs as well as just generally hanging out together.
Ice Spice’s “Karma (Remix)” collaborator Taylor Swift was seen supporting her from the audience during her Coachella performance. She attended the show with her Travis Kelce, and the two had a great time. While they were working on “Karma” in the studio together, Ice Spice claims that Taylor Swift gave her some wise counsel that she will never forget. In a recent interview with Billboard, she shared the lessons the legendary singer taught her. Spice and T-Swift are fast friends and have performed together as well as had fun at the Super Bowl together.
“When I was in the studio with Taylor, like, I’ll never forget that. She told me, ‘No matter what, just keep making music, and everything’s going to be fine.,” Spice recalled. It seems Ice and Swift have been linked at the hip. Their relationship appears to have sprung up after Taylor Swift’s last boyfriend, Matt Healy, made insensitive and racist remarks toward Ice in an interview. Overall, it’s good PR, and Ice Spice is sure to benefit significantly from the relationship.
“It’s not that deep” might be one of Vince Staples’ favorite sentiments, whether in his recent Apple Music interview or when responding to overzealous fans online. The West Coast native has a beloved reputation for his upfront, earnest, and unfiltered perspective on hip-hop, commercialization, and the Black experience that is often perceived more comically than it should. What he says is not for shock value or nihilistic validation, but just a clear-cut explanation of why he views the world more cynically and skeptically than most. Vince always crystallizes reasons for this approach into his music, especially on his new album Dark Times.
This LP also serves as a bit of a sonic, emotive, and structural continuation of the ideas he championed in his last two solo studio albums. Vince Staples’ self-titled record was a moody deconstruction of his personal woes, beliefs, and demeanor whereas Ramona Park Broke My Heart nostalgically reflected on how the blessings and stresses of his upbringing in Long Beach shaped him. With Dark Times, he combines those two narratives to craft a more holistic, complete, and broad statement on history, temptation, and struggle as stormy clouds that are hard to strike light through in his life. Despite the sheer weight of this approach, the 30-year-old engages with it calmly and compellingly across a gorgeous sonic pallet that says much more in 35 minutes than most rap projects do in 70.
Brevity and tightness are a staple of Vince’s recent catalog, and while Dark Times is not the most extreme example of this, it’s the most fully realized. Thanks to seamless song transitions, consistently watery and soulful instrumentals with wondrous sample selection, and a very consistent emotional temperature, this album feels carefully constructed and assembled in a no-frills, minimal way that makes it clear that this deliberation is the result of a focused mindset at the moment, not meticulous and over-explanatory planning. As far as the sound, even the “Liars” interlude holds some dreamy woodwinds and tender piano, a beauty which other moments like the subtle bass on “Shame On The Devil” reinforce. Even if the album can sound ominous, the guitar licks and peppy percussion on cuts like “Children’s Song” embody the blue skies in Ramona Park.
There are guest vocalists on here like Baby Rose, María Real, Maddy Davis, and Kilo Kish that add more color, harmony, and ethereal vibes to already pristine productions. As far as the personnel behind the board, LeKen Taylor and Tyler Page take over most of the beats, with Cardo, Jay Versace, Michael Uzowuru, and more also being big players. Yet the extensive production roster doesn’t dampen the cohesive flow of Dark Times, nor does it render its warm, cavernous sound redundant. Songs such as “Étouffée” give the album a welcome bounce to keep the energies afloat, while the pots-and-pans drums and wintery keys on “Nothing Matters” bring us back to concrete. In fact, even sparse, staccato notes on “Black&Blue” combine with organs to really make bare elements sound all the more lush, and the dreary but lyrically triumphant “Freeman” solidifies this “less is more” belief.
Over these beats, Vince Staples delivers sharp, relatable, blunt, and sometimes brutal bars on all the topics his catalog tackles. The lyrical matter (in this case, not directly from his pen) comments on systemic paradoxes and conflicting experiences, such as the short intro’s breezy wind chimes leading into lynching imagery: “To live is to be, like the n***a in the tree.” But it also invokes vast pop culture knowledge and boasts cheeky lines like, “I don’t need your flowers, I’m living / First time I seen a million dollars, I squinted.” Vince also flexes some storytelling muscles through the disillusionment of cheating on “Justin” and a conversation with an incarcerated friend on “Government Cheese.” The ode to music’s apologetic power on “‘Radio’” and the more positive and hopeful “Little Homies” flesh out the overall character portrait through specific periods of growth.
All in all, Vince Staples talks a lot about duality and misleading behaviors in Dark Times. Whether it’s his commentary on how disposable people treat romantic partnerships, or his thoughts on the cyclical violence and combative frame of mind that white institutions exploit, his skepticism is overt. Most interestingly, though, the “SAMO” spitter seems to flip the idea of “making it out” on its head. Whereas this would be a grateful escape for someone of his background, he actually can’t fathom how his fame wouldn’t make him more sensitive and hyper-aware of his hardships. But it’s also not as hopeless of a conclusion as you might expect. Rather than use the light to forget the dark times, this album appreciates and savors those sunny days while acknowledging there is always something murky and much more real and urgent underneath.
Empathy is a dangerous quality in Dark Times. It can falsely equate rich people’s problems to prison time, blind one to insincere romantic advances, and serve as a crutch for guilt, separation, and evolution. Vince Staples faces these contradictions with his head held high and an unflinching gaze. Still, through deepening that empathy and understanding of the less green grass he came from, someone of his stature and lived experience can characterize it. Much like the grounded selflessness and removal of ego that this comes from, the lyricism and sonic pallet here are easy to comprehend, but difficult to fully reckon with if you don’t share that 20/20 hindsight. Most importantly, they portray a man who “longs for loving and affection,” but chooses to value simplicity and familiarity in the face of once again placing misguided trust in justice, love, or safety.
Dark Times as an album is fulfilling despite its short runtime, and the somber but occasionally bright production and well-paced, measured writing go a long way to impress and evoke. But it’s also somewhat of a summary and acknowledgment of everything Vince Staples has waxed poetically about since his Def Jam debut over a decade ago. The “Blue Suede” synth returns here, and the closing bird chirps and background noise on the Santigold-assisted outro, “Why Won’t The Sun Come Out?,” bleeds perfectly back into the project’s opener, “Close Your Eyes And Swing.” This thematic distinction and journey is not a loop that Vince feels stuck in: it’s one that he’s just been patient with unpacking. It resulted in an amazing artistic run that, while “not that deep,” speaks volumes to the need to understand our world for ourselves, and ourselves alone.
Gunna’s status as a top five rapper right now is debated by Elliott Wilson, DJ Hed and Jeremy Hecht in the latest episode of HipHopDX’s ‘The Bigger Picture.’
On sale Friday, 5/31 at 10am CT on 
(@thecookebook)