Nelly and Ashanti’s eventful 2023, which saw them welcome their first child before marrying, is set to be detailed in a new docuseries.
Month: January 2025
Drake Topping Billboard’s “Biggest Rappers Of The Century” List Leads To Intense Debates
The 2000s have been one of the most competitive eras in all of hip-hop. You can obviously make the argument for the 90s and 2010s as well, but the number of hitmakers from this period is nothing to sneeze at. So, if someone decides to make a list to rank them, they are going to be in for a real doozy. Well, Billboard has gone ahead and attempted to provide their top 10 for “Biggest Rappers Of The Century” and it’s got everyone in a tizzy. According to the publication here’s how their ranking shakes out. The top five in order goes Drake, Eminem, Kanye West, Nelly, and the Jay-Z. Rounding out 6-10 is Lil Wayne, 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj, and then Ludacris.
It seems that they went for rappers that have produced the most hits over this span and perhaps how well they’ve done on their charts. However, the credentials for this list have not been revealed so this is all speculation. If that is indeed how Billboard intended to go about this, then it’s a pretty solid ranking overall. Drake is particularly a no brainer at number one, especially due to his 13 Hot 100 No. 1 singles and 13 Hot 200 No. 1 albums.
Read More: Ice Cube Weighs In On Comparisons Between “No Vaseline” And Drake’s “Family Matters”
Fans Have A Whole Lot To Say About Billboard’s List
The Top 10 Biggest Rappers of the Century, according to Billboard
1. Drake
2. Eminem
3. Kanye West
4. Nelly
5. Jay-Z
6. Lil Wayne
7. 50 Cent
8. Kendrick Lamar
9. Nicki Minaj
10. Ludacris pic.twitter.com/Kof0Vlh5QG— NFR Podcast (@nfr_podcast) January 8, 2025
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Those statistics scored him the title as the “Greatest Pop Star” of the 21st century, beating out names like Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and more. Despite what Billboard will eventually explain as their reasoning behind this list, fans are going to be pretty angry regardless. Right now, they are, however, there are lot of Drake stans pounding their chests in The Boy’s honor. “You mad because your darling is in 8th spot where he belongs?
” one X user writes.
Outside of the Drake and Kendrick Lamar angle, others were very happy with Ludacris and Nelly getting their respect. “People in the replies are showing their age. I don’t think yall understand how many hits Luda and Nelly were putting out in the early 2000s.” Others were upset with Wayne being at six, with one person combating with, “Nelly over Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, & 50 Cent is insane.” Overall, though, given fans’ reactions to this, it further proves just how much of a gauntlet this period is.
Read More: Pusha T Sparks More Clipse Album Hype With Mysterious Social Media Maneuver
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Jay-Z Accused Of Paying People To Sue Rape Accuser’s Lawyer In New Lawsuit
Jay-Z is currently in the midst of a legal battle with Houston attorney Tony Buzbee, who’s representing the woman accusing him of sexually assaulting her with Diddy in 2000. The Grammy-winning rapper was hit with these allegations in December and wasted no time deny them. “These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one,” he said in part at the time.
Earlier this month, Jay-Z and his lawyer were granted permission to file a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. Today, they filed a motion asking the court to sanction Buzbee, accusing him of damaging his reputation with allegedly “false” accusations. According to XXL, however, Buzbee hit Jay-Z with a lawsuit of his own earlier this month. Court documents obtained by the outlet show that Buzbee accuses one of Jay-Z’s lawyers of paying his former client Jose Maldonado to sue him.
Read More: Jay-Z Demands The Court Sanction Tony Buzbee For “False” Rape Lawsuit
Tony Buzbee Goes After Jay-Z’s Lawyer
“On behalf of defendant Marcy Croft, two individuals attempted to call plaintiff (Maldonado) many times,” the lawsuit alleges, “They then went to what they believed was the plaintiff’s home. They actually went to his father’s home. They identified themselves as federal officers. When they realized they had the wrong house, they continued to contact plaintiff. They were pushy.”
Croft issues a statement to the Houston Chronicle in response. “For over 25 years, I have dedicated my career to exposing and dismantling networks of fraud and manipulation,” it reads. “I didn’t ask to be part of this fight. But now that he’s dragged me into it, he should know I’m not someone who backs down. Mr. Buzbee should be worried. Truth and justice are on my side. And I have every intention of holding him accountable.”
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Dwight Howard Invites Shaq to End Feud on Podcast: “Settle This Like HOF Black men”
Gotta love the olive branch strategy. In an attempt to finally resolve their long-standing feud, Dwight Howard has extended a peace offering to Shaquille O’Neal, inviting the basketball legend to appear on his podcast to hash out their differences. The 39-year-old Howard, known for his larger-than-life personality both on and off the court, took to social media on January 7 to address the ongoing tensions between himself and the former NBA MVP.
In a seemingly emotional post, Howard expressed his discomfort with the public squabble, particularly given that both men are successful Black icons in the sports world. “I don’t want people to get entertained by two Black men going back and forth over petty stuff,” Howard wrote. “I don’t want to bicker. I just want to settle this like the two successful HOF Black men we are!”
Get this, Howard, acknowledging O’Neal’s undeniable dominance in the game, made a direct call for reconciliation. “You the most dominant center of all time!” he continued. “Come on to the podcast and let’s hash this out.”
What’s more, later that day, Howard took to Twitter to further clarify his intentions. In an X Spaces session, he reiterated that he had never taken the feud personally, emphasizing that his goal was to mend their relationship in a respectful and productive way. “I’ve never had any personal issues with Shaq,” Howard stated, re-affirming his invitation for O’Neal to join him on his Above the Rim podcast. “Let’s sit down and talk, we both deserve to move on.”
However being Howard, did not shy away from throwing a few more what you might call subtle jabs at O’Neal in his posts. In one, he referenced O’Neal’s frequent comments about him, writing, “I won’t ‘Ever say your name again,’ said that 5 times.” This was a subtle dig at O’Neal’s repeated critiques of Howard, despite his previous vow to stop mentioning him altogether.
Still, Howard maintained his desire for a peaceful resolution, adding, “I want peace all around the world,” and continuing to stress his readiness to settle the matter with O’Neal in a constructive way.
The tension between the two big men reignited recently, following comments Howard made during a podcast appearance on Ray Daniels The Gaud Show. When discussing their years of animosity, Howard hinted that he might even show up to TNT Studios to challenge O’Neal to a physical altercation, a suggestion that seemed to push O’Neal over the edge.
In response, O’Neal went on a social media tirade, declaring that Howard was “dead” to him and dismissing the idea of settling things with a fight. The feud appeared to escalate quickly, but Howard’s recent attempts at reconciliation indicate his desire to close this chapter amicably.
As you know, if you’re a fan of the sport, the two basketball giants have a complex history, with Howard often compared to O’Neal throughout their careers due to their similar playing styles and positions. Despite the occasional public back-and-forth, both are widely regarded as among the best centers in NBA history. Howard’s open invitation to O’Neal suggests that, after years of discord, the former teammates might finally be ready to lay their differences to rest—for good.
What do ya’ll think, will Shaq take Howard up on his offer to join the podcast and squash their beef? Time will tell, but for now, Howard is making it clear that he’s ready to put an end to the drama once and for all.
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[SEE IT] Kanye West Rages Against Adidas in Fiery Instagram Rant: “Yeezy Over Everything”
Kanye West’s turbulent relationship with Adidas continues to make headlines. Although it’s been over two years since the rapper and fashion mogul severed ties with the iconic sportswear brand, the 47-year-old has clearly not moved on. Recently, West went on a lengthy and explosive Instagram rant targeting Adidas, accusing the company of trying to “hold him back” and revisiting the drama that unfolded between them.
In the post, Kanye shared a screenshot of a Google search for his popular Yeezy brand, which showed the Adidas website ranking above his own YZY website. “Members at Adidas, stop doing this,” West wrote in the caption. “Stop doing your moves to hold me back. Our partnership is done. You’re a 60 billion dollar company that froze my accounts. Now I’m back on my feet (no pun intended) and I’m not going to stand for this (no pun again).”
West went on to reflect on the years of collaboration with Adidas, highlighting his contributions to the brand’s lucrative Yeezy line. He suggested that Adidas had mistreated him, particularly because of his outspoken nature and willingness to stand up for himself. “Y’all tried to intimidate and oppress me,” he wrote. “Everyone remembers I had major issues with Adidas because of design theft and oppression before ‘the tweet,’” alluding to the anti-Semitic remarks that caused a public fallout and the loss of major business partnerships.
The “Vultures” artist also threw shade at designer Jerry Lorenzo, whose Fear Of God label recently partnered with Adidas. “Side note, y’all know Jerry was corny and disloyal for doing work with Adidas after the way they handled things,” Ye said. “I still showed up to his show that was a copy of my Hollywood Bowl show, being the so-called bigger man, but I’m never doing that again for no one. It’s Yeezy over everything.”
West’s rant was fueled by a sense of betrayal. He believed many of those who once claimed to support him only did so for their own gain. “Now they banished,” he declared. “NO MORE HUGS. Yeezy over everything. I’m not here as a platform for anyone else. I am here to dominate as I always have.”
Despite his ongoing feud with Adidas, Kanye made sure to highlight the success of his YZY brand, emphasizing his independence. “The Yeezy.com site made 100 million dollars last year and that was with it only being up for 6 months,” he boasted. “I took the site down for 6 months to get control over my Shopify accounts. People wanted to make me believe that I couldn’t do this on my own. We sold over a million pairs of pods, and I’ve been working on ten other styles for the past two years.”
This latest rant comes on the heels of Kanye’s unconventional Super Bowl commercial in 2024, which he self-funded and filmed on his iPhone while riding in the back of a car. In typical Kanye fashion, he humorously admitted that the high cost of the commercial spot meant there was no budget left for the production itself.
The outburst is a continuation of Kanye’s increasingly erratic behavior and controversial public statements, including his widely condemned anti-Semitic remarks in 2022. These comments led to his severing ties with major brands like Adidas, Balenciaga, and GAP, among others. Despite the fallout, West’s outspoken and often volatile nature shows no signs of subsiding, as he continues to battle not only corporate giants but also the public perception of his increasingly erratic behavior.
As Kanye wages war on Adidas, one thing is clear: Yeezy will remain at the center of his world, and he has no plans to let anyone stand in his way.
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What Is Beyoncé Announcing On January 14?
Shortly after her performance at halftime of the Baltimore Ravens/Houston Texans game on Christmas (which is now being affectionately referred to as the Beyoncé Bowl), Beyoncé teased… something coming on January 14. Since then, the BeyHive has been buzzing with speculation about just what she’s got coming down the pike. Considering how secretive she’s been about past projects — whether they’re music releases or product launches — we aren’t likely to learn exactly what the big announcement is until the day, but here are a few possibilities:
A New Album
While this would be the most exciting thing Beyoncé could announce, it also unfortunately seems least likely. After all, she’s still yet to go on tour for Cowboy Carter, and after the blowout, yearlong promo cycle for Renaissance, you would think she’d want to give Cowboy Carter the same treatment — especially with how important the album’s themes seem to be for her.
The Cowboy Carter Tour Dates
In the same spirit, this seems like the likeliest announcement. Fans have undoubtedly been stacking their coins (or recuperating from the last tour), so giving them a few months heads-up before the tour would kick off in the summer seems like it would be a wise idea. Cowboy Carter wasn’t quite as beloved as Renaissance thanks to its departure from the pop-centric sounds we’re used to, so it’d give fans more time to learn those lyrics and put those cowboy boots on layaway (Klarna, Afterpay, same difference).
“The Visuals”
That being said, the thing that most of her fans have clamored for since the release of Renaissance has been the storied “visuals” — a collection of music videos accompanying the glittering, gritty songs Beyoncé has put out so far. It’s an understandable ask; ever since the surprise release of her self-titled album in 2014, which included a music video for every one of its tracks, the star’s releases have been paired with stunning visual components like The Lion King: The Gift, showcasing a new set of dazzling looks and crisp choreography for the Hive to swoon over. However, during the Renaissance tour, Bey did undermine fans’ hopes with a tongue-in-cheek message — although that hasn’t stopped them from asking.
A New Product Launch
In the past year, Beyoncé has launched: A line of hair care products, a collaboration with Levi’s Jeans, a new line of fragrances, and a whiskey brand named after her kids. That may seem like it leaves her with few options, but really, the possibilities are limitless. There are still consumer electronics, frozen foods, footwear, and a thousand other industries for her to conquer — heck, Ivy Park could use a jumpstart, and any of those things could be worth teasing an announcement two weeks out.
For our money, it’s probably the tour announcement. We watched her roll out Renaissance on a similar timeline, and there’s no reason to assume she’d shake things up just yet. We’ll all find out together on January 14.
Pusha T Sparks More Clipse Album Hype With Mysterious Social Media Maneuver
It really feels like Pusha T and No Malice –Clipse– are finally going to deliver their much-awaited comeback album. It’s been 15 years to be exact since their last effort Til The Casket Drops back in 2009. The reason we are sensing an imminent album announcement is because of the confirmation from King Push in December. While speaking at the Art Basel in Miami with Ari Melber for Saint & Citizen’s “Saint Sessions Live” event, he was adamant that it was complete. “It’s done I promise you that it’s done. It’s in my phone,” he insisted. He dropped that bombshell after promising how epic this project is going to be.
“There are no duos in rap today and lyric driven hip-hop lives. You will get to see how hip-hop and street hip-hop matures. It’s been 15 years since we dropped an album… I just think that people are going to witness greatness. This is a chemistry, this is a brotherhood, and when I say that I mean Pharrell as well. He produced it from top to bottom,” Pusha T explained. This was not the only time that he’s spoken so highly of Let God Sort Em Out.
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Could Pusha T Be Getting Ready To Announce Something Big?
With Vulture, he and No Malice confidently stated, “I think the album shows the supreme maturation of a rap duo. I think this is where you get the difference between taste and filler. This music is curated. This is a high taste-level piece of work.” When it comes to Pusha T, we know he’s going to deliver quality, so hearing him say this and confirm that Pharell is having a huge hand in it has us that much more ready to hear it.
It seems we might not have to wait that much longer for it either thanks to the Virginia rapper’s recent move on Instagram. According to AllHipHop, Push wiped his profile entirely clean. Throughout the social media age, when an artist does this, it typically means that something major is coming. We don’t have a release date or even an official lead single release. But given the energy from the duo last year and with a fresh 12 months ahead, it might be a matter of days before we get some revealing updates.
Read More: Jay-Z Demands The Court Sanction Tony Buzbee For “False” Rape Lawsuit
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Ice Cube Weighs In On Comparisons Between “No Vaseline” And Drake’s “Family Matters”
During a recent interview with HipHopDX, Ice Cube reflected on his iconic track “No Vaseline,” and dissing Dr. Dre along with the rest of N.W.A. The outlet was curious about what he had to say about his “stick to producing” remark directed at Dr. Dre in particular, prompting him to describe what his thought process was. “That was all I could do, was tell Dre to do what you do best,” he explained. “Get off the mic and leave me alone! You know?”
He continued, sharing his thoughts on comparisons to the message Drake had for Metro Boomin on “Family Matters.” According to him, he’s not sure whether or not his own lyric inspired Drizzy. Regardless, he was sure to give Dre his flowers, making it clear that he has nothing but respect for the Grammy-winning artist these days.
Read More: Ice Cube Compares Tyler, The Creator To Legendary L.A. Rap Group
Ice Cube Doesn’t Know If He Inspired Drake
“I don’t know [if I inspired that line],” he said. “Dre is a formidable MC. Dre put out a record and everybody better run for cover ’cause the lyrics gonna be on point, the delivery gonna be on point, the music gonna be on point. He’s a formidable MC so I would never use that line [again].” This wasn’t all Ice Cube discussed during his chat with the outlet, however.
He also shared his thoughts on Tyler The Creator, and what he’s managed to do for L.A. hip-hop. “That’s the L.A. people don’t know about. Ultra-creative individuals who won’t conform to the culture of gangbanging. They’re going to be themselves,” he said. “He reminds me of, like, Pharycde,” he also added. “You’re going to always have those groups who are going to stay down with their own style and their own flavor, and going to win with it.”
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Drake Has Been “Ducking” Rolling Loud For Years, According To Co-Founder
There’s no doubt that when you think of the premier music festivals relative to hip-hop, Rolling Loud immediately comes to mind. It’s one of the longer running live events in the genre, with it recently celebrating 10 years just last month. They went all out to celebrate it too, grabbing headliners Travis Scott, Future, and Playboi Carti. That’s also a major reason why Rolling Loud continues to bring millions of fans every year; they can grab the big names. However, one artist in particular they cannot seem to wrangle in is Drake.
If they collaborated it would most likely be a smashing success. However, given the current temperature on Drizzy, that may not be so. But in all the years before the Kendrick Lamar feud it definitely would have “fed families,” as kids these days say. It’s unclear to many as to why this still hasn’t gone through, and its especially baffling to one of Rolling Loud’s co-founders. According to Uproxx, Tariq Cherif made an appearance on Big Boy’s radio show to talk about their recent Rolling Loud California roster announcement among other pertinent details.
Read More: Kanye West Claims Adidas “Used” Him In Scathing Instagram Rant
Drake Had Apparently Received A Triple Headlining Offer Too
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However, at one point during their chat, Big Boy asked if there was someone Tariq and the crew have been wanting to perform. The host even said he didn’t have to name names, but he went ahead and spoke it into existence. “I’ll say it, I don’t care. I feel like Drake’s ducking us,” Tariq began. “I got no beef with Drake… like Drake, I feel like he’s a great artist. We’ve been trying to book him forever.”
He then went onto reveal just how badly they were trying to persuade him to come, offering him a special triple headlining event. “We even offered Drake three nights of Drake… he’d be the headliner for three nights.” But it still was not enough for whatever reason. This is not the first time The Boy has supposedly turned down incredible events, as there was a lot of chatter late last year about him declining the Super Bowl multiple times as well.
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