Lil Durk was supposed to drop “Turn Up a Notch” on September 20. The release date came and went with no new material, though. It’s unclear what led to the delay, but the anticipated single is finally here. Lil Durk dropped “Turn Up a Notch” on September 25, and it was well worth the wait. The rapper gives fans a laid back track that goes down smooth despite its grim subject matter. The chorus of the song is going to be what sticks with most listeners. That said, the verses are deceptively potent. Durk reflects on the various struggles he’s dealt with throughout his life.
On the flip side, Lil Durk gives fan glimpses of the successes that have kept him going. It’s all mixed in a hypnotic blend. “Seen my uncle actually reactin’ off coke,” Durk raps. “Won a Grammy, send my picture to bro. Breezy, Wicked and Chucky my woe. Them not the n**gas you send to the store.” The beat is an ideal match to Durk’s dreary, wistful bars. It’s propulsive and slick, but it has a sadness to it. This forlorn quality mostly comes through on the guitar that loops throughout. Love Songs 4 the Streets 3 is set to be Lil Durk’s next album, and if this single is any indicator, it’s going to be excellent.
Let us know what you think of this brand-new track, in the comments section down below. 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.
Maxo Kream and Tyler, The Creator exist in different spaces. Both rappers boast eccentric and distinct voices, but the similarities stop there. Maxo makes unrelenting bangers. Tyler makes experimental and musically lush genre hybrids. Despite these differences, the two rappers link up for an electric banger. “Cracc Era” is manages to play to the strengths of both Maxo Kream and Tyler, The Creator. Maxo gets to sound gritty as ever, while Tyler manages to dig back in his Odd Future bag and play to the darker side of musical palate.
The instrumental is nuts. It sounds like something the Neptunes would have cooked up for Clipse or Slim Thug back in the mid-2000s. The Slim Thug analogy is particularly relevant here, as the combination of Maxo Kream and Tyler, The Creator feels like a modern counterpart to Thug and Pharrell. We digress. It’s great to hear Maxo spit over the sparse, creepy instrumental. Tyler, The Creator is the real scene stealer here, though. It’s been a long time since fans have gotten to hear the OF founder sound so menacing, and we’re here to confirm that he hasn’t lost a step. Maxo and Tyler make for one of the stranger and more satisfying combos of 2024 thus far. Hopefully there’s more collabs in the future.
Let us know what you think of this brand-new track, in the comments section down below. 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.
Running the relay, feel like the 06TK Me and, (Brr), riding ’round, I put white MAGs on my PK That’s a BMX woadie, man I run like recorder I just copped a new onе, Wallace just put in the order
The Diddy prison experience is not improving. In fact, all reports suggest that the disgraced mogul is having an increasingly worse experience with each day. A former inmate at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where Diddy is being held, spoke about the mogul’s increased paranoia. He claims that Diddy is refusing to eat the meals that the prison is preparing for him due to his fear of poisoning. Worse still, the inmate in question alleges that Diddy’s fears are somewhat warranted.
Larry Levine is the inmate, and he shared his alleged insight with News Nation. He told the outlet that Diddy believes he has a target on his back. Furthermore, Levine notes that tampering with an inmate’s food is fairly easy. “If somebody got to one of the correctional officers,” he stated. “This could happen. They don’t make a lot of money and there’s people out there that he’s got stuff on that do have a lot of money.” Levine credits his information to a “source” he has within the Metropolitan Detention Center. He also noted that Diddy’s paranoia is getting worse.
Former federal inmate Larry Levine joins “Banfield” to discuss the reasons why Sean “Diddy” Combs may not be eating in prison. Levine says anxiety and diet could be part of it, but so could fear of being poisoned.
“He’s really, really paranoid,” the former inmate told News Nation. “He’s really, really scared. Doesn’t know what to think, he doesn’t know who to trust or what to believe.” Larry Levine is not the first man who has suggested Diddy is less than safe at the Metropolitan Detention Center. Cameron Lindsay, a former MDC warden, told TMZ that several inmates would view Diddy as having a target on his back. Given how famous Diddy is, an inmate would be able to command a lot of respect for hypothetically taking him out. At least, according to Lindsay. The former warden alleged that many would consider the mogul’s killing a “badge of honor.”
The situation on the outside is no less dire. Diddy’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo, claimed that nothing more could be done with regards to the mogul’s current situation. In court documents obtained by AllHipHop, the attorney made no request that the court “take any action.” For the time being, at least, the man born Sean Combs will be forced to endure his conditions in Brooklyn. Meals or no meals.
A Hip Hop empire has fallen now that Sean “Diddy” Combs has been taken into federal custody. The media mogul rose through the industry’s ranks to become one of the most successful Rap moguls to date, but his career has been fraught with controversy since its inception. Diddy has reigned over his Hip Hop kingdom with precision, floating through each of his monikers at various stages of his development. After helping to put Uptown Records on the map, Combs founded Bad Boy Records, an iconic label that gave us The Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans, Total, The LOX, Craig Mack, 112, Shyne, Cassie, Mase, and many more. During its heyday, there were only a few labels to contend with the megahits rolling out of Bad Boys’ studios, but these days, Diddy’s alleged dirty deeds have placed him in a spotlight that the hitmaker would have rather avoided.
As Diddy faces an onslaught of lawsuits alleging violence and sexual abuse, he’s also looking at the possibility of spending the remainder of his life in prison. Federal authorities reportedly arrested Combs in New York City last week after being charged with racketeering and sex trafficking. Although his legal team hoped he could await his trial in the comforts of his lavish estate, a judge ordered Diddy to remain behind bars until the launch of his trial. This shocking decision, along with the reports of what authorities located in Diddy’s home during their raid, has taken over timelines. Even the mega-mogul’s peers have come forward, some to defend his character, while others share wild, alleged “Diddy Party” stories of their own.
It was Cassie Ventura’s explosive lawsuit against her former lover last year that seemed to propel this current investigation. We’ll get more into that as we go on, but Combs settled that suit out of court just 24 hours after Ventura filed her paperwork. However, hers wasn’t the first allegation of abuse—for over a decade, stories have haunted Puff from the courtroom to the streets. These accusations have surfaced from Wendy Williams to Combs’ former employees to Al. B Sure defending the late Kim Porter to models who have retained their own attorneys. Meanwhile, the internet is walking down memory lane as it revisits some of Diddy’s most controversial moments. The list of rumors and allegations is enough for a miniseries, but we’re gathering just a few of the most discussed from the life of Sean Combs that have kept him in infamy.
Notorious B.I.G.’s Murder
In March 1997, Hip Hop suffered a great loss when Christopher Wallace, better known as The Notorious B.I.G. or Biggie Smalls, was fatally gunned down in Los Angeles. For decades, speculation has circulated in the industry regarding Biggie’s death, and some even named Combs in rumors of a plot. Then, Rolling Stone released an exposé that shook the foundation of the case—they purported Wallace wanted out of his Bad Boy contract and was working on his exit from the label. The publication further stated that Biggie turned to his legal team to gain rights to his publishing, and there was a covert battle between Puff and Big about the concerns.
Upon news of Biggie’s death, RS claimed that Combs capitalized on the tragedy for financial gain. Rolling Stone approached Bad Boy for a magazine cover just months after Big’s murder. However, Kirk Burrowes, who co-founded the label and was acting as president of the company at the time, said that Diddy didn’t want Big on the cover. Instead, Combs graced the August 1997 issue, with Burrowes alleging that Diddy wanted to promote his debut album, No Way Out. Meanwhile, Biggie’s murder officially remains unsolved, although there is still gossip involving Combs, Suge Knight, and a host of characters.
The Assault On Steve Stoute
Mega music executive Steve Stoute also had his name tied up in Diddy’s madness, albeit back in 1998. At that time, Stoute was acting as Nas’ manager, and it was then that he reportedly had a heated altercation with Combs. According to The Los Angeles Times, Stoute recalled he and Diddy exchanging words on the music video set of “Hate Me Now.” As the story goes, the idea for the video was for Combs to be depicted as a crucified Christ. Diddy wanted the scene axed, but somehow, it wasn’t removed. This reportedly angered Combs, who, Stoute said, showed up at his office and went after him with a champagne bottle. Stoute alleged that during the attack, his jaw and arm were broken.
The altercation resulted in Diddy receiving assault charges, but he denied any bones were damaged. Combs would later speak with MTV about the incident, claiming he apologized to Stoute. He also stated he “disappointed myself” as well as the “Hip Hop community.” Combs added, “Because everything I do, I’m trying to be a team player in taking Hip Hop to the next level.” Later, Diddy pleaded guilty to harassment and was ordered to take an anger management course.
This story has resurfaced after famed journalist Touré revisited the tale in a TikTok video. According to the clip, Danyel Smith was an editor at Vibe magazine in 1995 when Diddy graced the cover. She actually previously shared this story with The New York Times, claiming that days following the cover photo shoot, Combs reached out demanding to see the images before they were published. Smith denied the request because it wasn’t Vibe‘s protocol—along with most magazines. After being rejected, Smith stated she heard through the grapevine that Combs planned to visit Vibe‘s offices in an effort to force her hand. Days later, Smith alleged that Diddy showed up irate, requesting to see her immediately while searching for her. Smith remarked she was doing her best to avoid the upset mogul and managed to sneak out of the back door and hail a cab home.
This wasn’t the saga’s end; Puff allegedly called again the next day, wanting to see the pictures. Smith once again said no, and it was then that she claimed he threatened to “see you dead in the trunk of a car.” Combs is also accused of telling her he knew her exact location at that moment, and Smith said she wasn’t taking any chances. She contacted her attorney, resulting in the mega-producer issuing an apology. Again, one would think this is the conclusion of a wild story, but according to Smith, within days, there was another controversy. She stated that when she returned to work, the servers that held all the information for Diddy’s Vibe issue were no longer there. They were purportedly stolen, but despite the setback, the issue was published.
The Club Shooting Which Landed Shyne In Jail
Probably one of the most significant controversies in Combs’ career is tied to Moses “Shyne” Barrow. Shyne was an emerging artist under the Bad Boy umbrella, with his deep, captivating cadence that caught the attention of both fans and the industry. However, a night out at the club in December 1999 would derail Shyne’s career after it turned into a shooting that injured three people. Now, what occurred that evening has been under speculation for years. What is known is there was an altercation that escalated into someone pulling out a firearm—and Shyne was accused of having his finger on the trigger.
Shyne and Diddy faced charges related to the shooting, but the latter was acquitted despite authorities claiming they found weapons in his vehicle. Yet, Shyne wasn’t so lucky and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Since then, he has turned his life around after returning to Belize. Now an activist and politician, Shyne has left his Hip Hop life behind him. However, he has reunited with Diddy on stage at least twice since 2022. After learning of Combs’ recent arrest, Shyne spoke with reporters to share his thoughts. He said this wasn’t someone “who I vacationed with and someone who I enjoyed this great, intimate relationship of brotherhood. This is someone who destroyed my life.”
Drama Over Artists’ Publishing Rights
Over the years, several Bad Boy artists have come forward with complaints over their former label head not budging on giving them their publishing rights. Several of the Golden Era of Hip Hop hitmakers like Mase, members of 112 and Danity Kane, and others reportedly petitioned Combs for control of their publishing, to no avail. Pertaining to Mase, the Harlem World rapper took his grievances to the internet, publicly calling out his former friend. Following much controversy and scandal, Diddy decided to give his former artists their publishing rights in 2023. The move was praised by those who have complained throughout the years, aside from former Danity Kane singer Aubrey O’Day. The Making the Band star has long spoken out against Combs, even stating that in order to receive her publishing, she was allegedly told she needed to agree to no longer speak critically of Puff. In light of his federal charges, O’Day has celebrated his arrest.
Dawn Richard’s Lawsuit
Two weeks ago, Combs was hit with another lawsuit, this time from former Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard. Years ago, during an interview with Hot97, Richard seemingly praised Diddy and spoke about being loyal to him for helping develop her career on Making the Band. However, there were rumors of misdealings and ill feelings behind the scenes, and her recent lawsuit was yet another that stopped the industry in its tracks.
According to Richard’s court documents, she has accused Combs of physical violence and intimidation. She specifically named alleged incidents, including one involving Cassie Ventura. Richard stated she was at a dinner with Jimmy Iovine, Ne-Yo, and Usher, and it was there that Diddy allegedly punched Cassie in front of the guests, and no one moved or came to the singer’s aid. Richard also stated that she witnessed Combs threaten Ventura, choke her, and drag her upstairs. Richard also claimed Diddy locked her in a car for hours, “manipulated her” by threatening her career, and tried to convince her that women in the industry would have to face “abuse and exploitation” to be successful.
Further, Richard’s suit also included mentions of Diddy’s infamous parties, or as the federal authorities have called them, “freak offs.” The singer stated that she witnessed these events with “passed out” women who were alleged victims to Combs and his friends, who “performed sexual acts on them.” Moreover, Richard said she was violated when Combs allegedly grabbed her “bare buttocks” while she was in a changing room, even attempting to “touch her breasts.” When she continued to deny his advances, Richard claimed Diddy stifled her career. The lawsuit is ongoing.
His Relationship With Cassie
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 27: Cassie (L) and recording artist Sean “Diddy” Combs attend the Clive Davis and Recording Academy Pre-GRAMMY Gala and GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Jay-Z on January 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
Last year, Cassie filed a lawsuit against Diddy, unraveling a bevy of allegations of abuse throughout their 11-year relationship. These accusations included rape, physical violence, intimidation, manipulation, and forcing her to engage in sexual acts with male escorts. Additionally, there was a story about an artist whose car was blown up because Diddy supposedly believed he and Cassie were dating after a breakup. Kid Cudi would later come forward to confirm that he was, indeed, the man in question, and the incident did occur. Diddy quickly settled the lawsuit but accused Cassie of previously attempting to blackmail him for millions. Through his lawyer, he denied the allegations.
Then, earlier this year, a video of Diddy and Cassie surfaced, again thrusting them into infamy. The surveillance footage was from a hotel, showing Cassie making her way to an elevator before Combs is seen running after her, dragging her by her hair, punching her, and kicking her while she was on the ground. Cassie further speculated in her lawsuit that Diddy paid off certain hotel workers to suppress the video evidence.
Scandal Over Fight With J. Cole Over Kendrick Lamar
This controversy resurfaced in the thick of Kendrick Lamar’s recent outpouring of diss tracks against Drake. After J. Cole swiftly removed himself from the brewing beef, fans hopped online to revisit the 2013 rumor of Cole and Combs getting into a physical altercation. The alleged event reportedly took place at an afterparty for the MTV Video Music Awards. Combs was said to have been liquored up when he confronted Cole about Lamar dubbing himself the “King of New York” on a track. K. Dot was also at the event, and Diddy allegedly attempted to pour a drink on him before Cole stepped in. Things escalated and became physical, claimed sources, but it was mainly pushing more than fisticuffs.
CCNY Controversy
In 1991, the City College of New York became the scene of a fatal stampede. Diddy was all set for a promoted celebrity basketball game and impending concert in the packed gymnasium with a capacity of 2,730. However, fans stormed the location, and at least 5,000 people were in attendance, according to reports. Things became so out of control that officials stopped letting in guests as there wasn’t enough security to stave off the crowd. Closed doors didn’t stop those on the outside from trying to make their way in, eventually breaking down the barriers. The stampede resulted in over two dozen people being injured and nine others losing their lives. Much like Travis Scott faced at Astroworld, Combs was hit with several lawsuits from victims and family members of the deceased.
Usher’s Comments About Living With Diddy During His Youth
When young artists enter the music industry, many parents allow their children to live with high-profile producers or executives as they are developed. This happened with Bow Wow and Jermaine Dupri, Justin Bieber and Scooter Braun, and Usher with Diddy. Of the latter pair, in 2016, Usher reflected on his time at Diddy’s home when he was 13 and 14 years old. While on The Howard Stern Show, Usher recalled, “There were very curious things taking place.” He spoke about the late-night to early-morning parties Combs would host with his celebrity friends. The Grammy winner also suggested that the women who frequented these events flirted with the rising star.
Diddy Assaulting UCLA Coach Over Son, Justin Combs
Pride was illuminated by the Combs family when Diddy’s son Justin was accepted to the UCLA football team. However, in 2015, it was reported that Diddy got into a physical altercation with the then-assistant football coach, Sal Alosi. It was said that Diddy was less than thrilled when Alosi criticized Justin, leading to an argument later in the coach’s office. The mogul was accused of grabbing Alosi and throwing a kettlebell at another employee. It was rumored that Diddy had to be physically removed from the location, but Combs denied the allegations via his representative. Yet, Diddy was still arrested for assault, but charges were not filed against him. He would later speak on the incident during an interview with The Breakfast Club, which you can watch above.
Diddy accusations have become similar to newspapers, in that there’s seemingly a new one every day. The Bad Boy founder has been abandoned by virtually everyone who was close to him in the industry. Except for his children. They have continued to defend their father in the media. While Diddy sits behind bars, the Combs family have issued a statement dismissing the recent book credited to their late mother, Kim Porter. They claim the book spreads “false rumors,” and does not reflect the experiences or Porter’s opinion of Diddy.
Four of Diddy’s children issued a joint statement on September 24. King Combs, Quincy Brown, and the mogul’s twin daughters, Jessie James and D’Lila Star, were credited. The statement dealt explicitly with the controversial book Kim’s Lost Words: A Journey for Justice. They claimed that nothing stated in the book is accurate, and are offended by the portrait it paints of their family. “Claims that our mother wrote a book are simply untrue,” the family explained. “She did not, and anyone claiming to have a manuscript is misrepresenting themselves.” The Combs children also asserted that anyone speaking on behalf of their late mother should not be trusted.
“Any so-called ‘friend’ speaking on behalf of our mom or her family is not a friend,” they added. This is an extremely important clarification, as several people have come forth and claimed to know Porter’s “true” feelings about Diddy. The Combs family concluded their statement by asking fans to respect the legacy their mother left behind. “We ask that everyone please respect our mother, Kim Porter,” they wrote. “And hold her legacy in high regard.” It’s a heartbreaking statement to read in its entirety. Especially given the context of the man who wrote Porter’s so-called “memoir.”
Chris Todd, born Todd Christopher Guzze, told Rolling Stone he is behind the book. He told the outlet that he believed the facts reported are real. Todd admitted, however, he didn’t know for sure. “If somebody put my feet to the fire and they said, ‘Life or death, is that book real?’ I have to say I don’t know,” he stated. “But it’s real enough to me.” Despite Todd’s uncertainty and the pleas of the Combs family, Kim’s Lost Words is currently number one on Amazon.
The Super Bowl Halftime Show has been more controversial than usual in recent weeks. JAY-Z’s decision to go with Kendrick Lamar over the New Orleans native, Lil Wayne, has fans everywhere riled up. A lot of fans believe JAY did this to slight Wayne and big up Lamar. Especially given the tensions between Lamar and Wayne’s most iconic protege, Drake. Fivio Foreign may be late to the party in terms of discussing the Halftime Show, but he claims to have exclusive info on what will go down. He predicts Lamar will actually bring Weezy and Drake out on stage with him during the Super Bowl.
Fivio Foreign shared his allegedly “exclusive” info on September 24. The rapper took to Instagram Live to share, and was adamant that Wayne is part of K. Dot’s master plan. “I heard that Kendrick is gonna bring out Lil Wayne,” Fivio Foreign asserted. The rapper’s claims only got wilder from there. “Then Lil Wayne is gonna bring out Drake,” he added. “Fivio “Then Kendrick is gonna squash their beef.” Fivio doesn’t give followers any information on his source, or any specific details on the Halftime Show itself. The rapper simply notes that the concept is “fire” while an unseen man hypes him up in the background.
Fivio Foreign has collaborated with Drake in the past. He appeared on the song “Demons” from the 6 God’s Dark Lane Demo Tapes. He’s not completely out of the loop when it comes to the machinations of the biggest rappers in the world. That said, the notion that the biggest music industry story of next year would be spoiled by Fivio is a bit hard to believe. Fivio Foreign doesn’t hail from New Orleans, or Toronto or Compton, so he doesn’t have an inside scoop with any of the artists mentioned.
There’s also the massive leap that would need to be made to patch things up between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. The two artists really tore each other down over the course of the battle, and all signs point to there still being saltiness on both sides. It’s hard to imagine a world in which Drake agrees to go on a Halftime Show stage led by Kendrick Lamar, and effectively bend the knee. It’s also hard to imagine Lamar not playing “Not Like Us,” which has become the biggest hit of his career. Lil Wayne coming out in New Orleans is one thing. Drizzy burying the hatchet is another thing entirely. Take Fivio Foreign’s claim with an enormous grain of salt.
Finally! Warner Bros. has officially released the first trailer for Sinners, the latest film from acclaimed director Ryan Coogler, marking another collaboration with Michael B. Jordan.
We have been tracking this movie from the first cryptic announcement in a while details about the plot have been kept under tight wraps since the project was first announced, the action-packed trailer gives only a broad glimpse into the film’s premise. The official logline remains cryptic:
“Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers (Jordan) return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.”
Now onto the trailer. It offers an ominous line: “You keep dancing with the devil, one day he’s gonna follow you home.”
Behind the camera, Coogler serves as both writer and director for the film, with Jordan taking on a dual role as the twin brothers. The cast also includes Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Benson Miller, and Delroy Lindo.
Produced by Coogler’s Proximity Media, longtime collaborators Sev Ohanian and Zinzi Coogler also serve as producers. The executive producing team includes Ludwig Göransson, Will Greenfield, and Rebecca Cho. Many of Coogler’s frequent collaborators have also joined the project, including Autumn Durald Arkapaw as director of photography, Hannah Beachler as production designer, Michael P. Shawver as editor, Göransson composing the score, and Ruth E. Carter as costume designer.
Sinners is set to hit theaters on March 7, 2025. You can check out the trailer below.
We just really need to know, why do people go after LeBron‘s game? At 39 he’s the oldest player in the NBA. Still playing at a high-level. Breaking records, still. We don’t get it… Help us understand. Maybe Kwame Brown can help us. Okay so LeBron recently responded to Kwame Brown’s weird criticism by sharing a video of himself executing flawless fadeaways and mid-range shots, showcasing his post-game skills. The 39-year-old NBA legend captioned the post with, “Another game of clips of me just running fast and running people over to the basket! No Skill,” a clear rebuttal to Brown’s comments.
Top-tier trolling, if you ask us.
LeBron has had so many of those performances we have to fill you in on what game that was way back when. The video was from LeBron’s 57-point performance for the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Washington Wizards during the 2017-18 season, following John Wall’s claims that the Cavs had purposely avoided them in the playoffs. The next day, LeBron delivered a dominant showing. Maverick Carter initially posted the video on his Instagram story, which LeBron then reshared—an indirect but effective response to Brown.
ICYMI, on the Swish Cultures podcast, Brown had remarked that even at 39, LeBron is primarily a “cut-and-slash” player who lacks a developed post-game and mid-range shot. “His game really hasn’t evolved outside of a 3 and putting his head down and going to the basket,” Brown said. “He doesn’t go like Paul Pierce, getting to a spot, pulling up. Those are the things you normally see out of a superstar player.”
What’s wild is Brown also turned his attention to LeBron’s son, Bronny, who is preparing for his debut with the Los Angeles Lakers. Brown referred to Bronny as a “poor man’s Juan Dixon” and speculated that while LeBron’s influence through Klutch Sports might keep his son in the league for a time, Bronny would need to develop point guard skills to avoid fading out. “I think he’ll bounce around… but if he doesn’t learn how to play point, he’s gonna fizzle out,” Brown added.
Some might say that’s an honest take based on a prediction that nobody knows. Others might call it hate. You be the judge.
LeBron, who is also human, although he can appear superhuman, has acknowledged that criticism can sometimes get under his skin, responded indirectly through his social media post, but Bronny has chosen not to engage. According to LeBron, Bronny takes a different approach to criticism, explaining, “He doesn’t care.” Over his 20-year career, LeBron has become accustomed to public scrutiny, but it appears his son is unfazed by the spotlight.
Whoever said you need to pick a side and stick to it, definitely wasn’t thinking about Metro Boomin. The superstar music producer, who was undoubtedly a key figure in the early stages of the Drake and Kendrick Lamar feud, recently downplayed its significance in an interview with Forbes, referring to the rivalry as “just entertainment.”
Wait? Huh? What are we missing…?
During the Forbes Under 30 Summit, Metro was asked about the rivalry from a producer’s perspective. He shared that, in 2024, “stan culture” has altered the nature of hip-hop beef, making it feel “kind of weird.”
“I feel like the competition is great for the game,” Metro said. “Hip-hop has always been a competitive genre, even if it’s just about the music. It’s not as serious as everyone tries to make it. With hip-hop, there’s a lot of ego involved. You’re supposed to feel like you’re the best. From the top artist to the lowest, you’re supposed to at least believe you’re the best.”
Metro went on to say:
“Back in the day, Jay-Z and Nas went at it, but I was a fan of both,” he explained. “Most people were. And it’s okay. You don’t have to hate one side or the other. The internet just makes things a little too wild now. But I feel like it’s good for the game. At the end of the day, it’s just entertainment. I have love and respect for all my collaborators. I just want to see everyone do their best and continue pushing this genre forward. This is our era, and it’s our responsibility to advance it for the next generation.”
Well, that was interesting…
The ongoing chat around Kendrick and Drake has gained momentum in recent months, fueled by Kendrick’s surprise track drop just before the MTV Video Music Awards which was almost certainly strategic and the announcement of his earth shattering and somewhat controversial headlining performance at the upcoming Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show.
We guess at the end of the day maybe this is all good for hip-hop. We’re not sure.
One of the summers, biggest blockbusters, Bad Boys: Ride or Die—the fourth installment in the Bad Boys franchise, starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence—is set to make its streaming debut on Netflix. Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, who previously helmed Bad Boys for Life (2020), the film was first released in theaters on June 7, where it became a major box office success over the summer.
Following its super successful theatrical run, Bad Boys: Ride or Die transitioned to digital streaming via premium video on demand on July 23. Now, Netflix has confirmed that the movie will be available to stream on its platform starting Tuesday, October 8. Viewers will need a Netflix subscription to access the film on SVOD. Just so you know SVOD means subscription video on demand.
Let’s take you back to the beginning. The Bad Boys franchise began with Smith and Lawrence in the original Bad Boys (1995), directed by Michael Bay, followed by its sequel, Bad Boys II (2003).
But it’s clear Bad Boys has become a serious franchise. And there’s no sign it will be slowing down anytime soon.
Here’s the synopsis for Bad Boys: Ride or Die:
The movie follows Miami Police detectives Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) as they work to clear the name of their late mentor, Commander Lt. Conrad Howard (Joe Pantoliano), who has been falsely framed as a corrupt cop after his death. To uncover the truth, Mike must join forces with Conrad’s assassin, Armando Aretas (Jacob Scipio)—who is revealed to be Mike’s long-lost son.
The star studded cast also features Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Eric Dane, Paola Núñez, Ioan Gruffudd, and Rhea Seehorn, who plays Conrad’s daughter.
