From Sweden to the World: “Starmony Voices” Sets the Tone in Collaborative Music-Making using AI

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Photo by Fredrik Mårdh

The Swedish music tech innovator Starmony just launched “Starmony Voices” – a concept that redefines the future of music-making by allowing anyone in their community, and beyond, to share their voice and collaborate with the help of AI technology. Photo by Fredrik Mårdh Stockholm, Sweden, March 04, 2024: Starmony, a leading Swedish music tech company, … Read more

Quando Rondo Agrees To Plea Deal In Federal Drug Case

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Quando Rondo was on the fast track to stardom in the 2010s, but legal problems reared their ugly head. The rapper was sued for assault and battery in 2019, then was linked to a shooting at an Atlanta club in 2020. It got even worse in 2023. Rondo was arrested in June on charges related to drug sales and gang activity. He was released on bond, but arrested in December when the case turned federal. He pled not guilty to all charges. On June 25, 2024, the rapper decided to cop a plea deal.

United States Attorney Jill E. Steinberg filed documentation in the United States District Court Southern District of Georgia on Tuesday. The documentation stated that both sides have agreed to a plea deal. The details of the plea deal, however, were not revealed to the public. The judge presiding over the case has yet to make a decision on said deal. Quando Rondo is currently looking at two counts of conspiracy to violate Georgia’s Controlled Substances Act. He’s also charged with the use of communication facility in commission of a felony involving controlled substances.

Read More: Latto Denies Sleeping With Quando Rondo After Photo Of The Two Goes Viral

Quando Rondo’s Plea Details Has Not Been Revealed

The rapper has made an attempt to turn his life around in light of these serious charges. Quando Rondo recently celebrated eight months of sobriety on Instagram. “I been sober 8 months straight,” he wrote in the caption. “I came along way boy. Thats the only thing I appreciate about this life I finally love being sober. I used to take so many drugs. Tblacc & Pluto them used to say I’m tripping but I’m surprised I didn’t OD. Thats just mean that I’m here 4 a reason.”

The rapper has also had to contend with hate from King Von fans. The aforementioned Atlanta shooting led to Von’s death, and many of his fans hold Quando Rondo partially responsible. The latter addressed this hate during a recent No Jumper interview. “When God call your a*s home you got to go, brother,” he opined. “So, I feel like everybody who is against me because of a past situation, I don’t give a f**k about them because they never been my fans from the get-go.”

Read More: Boosie Badazz Speaks On Quando Rondo Arrest, Posts Throwback Prison Selfie

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MIA Teams Up With Alex Jones To Promote Tin-Foil Clothing Brand

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MIA has had one of the most unpredictable music careers of the 21st century. She was one hailed as a cultural tour de force, with hit singles and an eclectic sound. The artist’s output has lessened in recent years, however, and her statements have become increasingly more controversial. She denounced the COVID-19 vaccine in 2020. She also converted to Christianity in 2022, which sparked more than a few polarizing Twitter posts. None of these incidents compare, however, to her latest venture with Alex Jones.

MIA recently appeared on Jones’ web show InfoWars to promote her new line of clothing. InfoWars may seem like an odd place to promote, but the clothing in question aligns with Jones’ beliefs. The latest set from MIA’s OHMNI collection includes tin-foil items and accessories. The “Paper Planes” rapper went on InfoWars to explain the reasoning behind this aesthetic precaution. She claimed that tin-foil lined items will protect customers from things like electromagnetic frequencies, WiFi and “evil dust.”

Read More: M.I.A. Calls Out GQ For Dropping Her From GQ Men Of The Year Awards

MIA Claims Her New Clothing Will Ward Off “Evil Dust”

In addition to her InfoWars appearance, MIA issued a press release. This further expanded on the concept of the OHMNI collection, and the potential “benefits” it may pose. “Future backwards is R U TUF,” the statement reads. “If the conspiracy theorists are wrong, good for you, you own some beautiful clothes made with pure silver and precious metals. But, if they are right, you just might have saved the future of humanity.” The statement also promises that the OHMNI collection will provide “100% brain coverage” and prevent 4G and 5G from “entering your brain.”

This is not the first time MIA has been linked to Alex Jones. The international pop star actually defended Jones after he was ordered to pay the families of the Sandy Hook school shooting. She claimed that the celebrities who allegedly “lied” about the COVID-19 vaccine should also be forced to pay the families of those who suffered. “If Alex Jones pays for lying shouldn’t every celebrity pushing vaccines pay too,” she tweeted in 2022. It seems her feelings towards Jones have only softened with time.

Read More: M.I.A. Targets Jay-Z, Roc Nation & Beyonce In Twitter Rant Over Custody Of Her Son

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Lil Durk Jokes About Paying LeBron, Bronny’s Salaries if they Join the Bulls

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Lil Durk Jokes About Paying LeBron, Bronny's Salaries if they Join the Bulls

The Chicago Bulls are one day from draft day and odds are that while they have a solid strategy in place, rapper Lil Durk is offering some strategic (and financial) assistance, announcing that he would pay LeBron and son Bronny James‘ salaries if they were to join the Bulls franchise.

Taking to Instagram, Chicago native Lil Durk shared an exchange between him and LeBron that went as follows:

“You and Bronny come to Chicago s— I’ll pay you if I got to,” tagging the Chicago Bulls’ Instagram account and saying: “Idc (I don’t care) if I got to go half @chicagobulls it’s time lol.”

While it doesn’t appear that LeBron has much reason to leave the Lakers franchise (and the maximum-paying contract that he is receiving), a new head coach (JJ Redick) and the placement of his son Bronny (who relinquished his NCAA eligibility to enter the NBA draft) may impact his plans for the upcoming season. The Bulls organization has not expressed public interest in either James joining their organization either.

Additionally, despite what Durk has in enthusiasm, he may lack in funding. Reports place Durk’s current net worth at $8 million, which would make it difficult to pay down the tab on James’ eligible extension contract (which is worth $162 million).

As for Durk, a Chicago fan can still dream- and with the recent shakeup of a trade involving Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey (with more moves likely to come soon), Durk might just see a solid season for his hometown franchise.

The post Lil Durk Jokes About Paying LeBron, Bronny’s Salaries if they Join the Bulls first appeared on The Source.

The post Lil Durk Jokes About Paying LeBron, Bronny’s Salaries if they Join the Bulls appeared first on The Source.

The Alchemist Reveals Jay-Z Is The Rapper He Wants To Work With Most

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The Alchemist is one of the most respected producers in the game. His name is synonymous with quality, whether he’s working with Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, or Larry June. The mere fact that he can work all three of these artists denotes a versatility that few producers can match. That being said, The Alchemist is not content to sit on his laurels. He may already have a Hall of Fame resume, but he talked about his dream collaboration during a recent interview with NFR Podcast.

The Alchemist and Cardo linked up to discuss their career goals, and the former made it very clear who he wants to work with: Jay-Z. Somehow, The Alchemist and Hov have yet to officially work together. This is something the producer wants to remedy as soon as possible. “Jay always been on my list,” he stated. “I been saying it for a hundred years. It’s Jay-Z. I would love to. We linked but I keep the faith.” He made it clear that there’s no ill will between him and Jay. He asserted, though, that he’d only want to collab with the Brooklyn rapper if the desire was mutual.

Read More: The Alchemist Brings Spooky Vibes To The Club By Playing Kendrick Lamar “Meet The Grahams” Beat: Watch

The Alchemist Has Known Jay-Z For Twenty Years

For The Alchemist, it’s all about respect and creative unity. “At this point, I hope it would be a mutual thing,” he explained. “Like I would want to work with somebody that would wanna work with me. There’s a couple that’s brewing that’s like bucket list sh*t for me that I hope happens. I still have hopes like that.” The closest The Alchemist and Jay-Z got to working together was on the 2020 Jay Electronica album, A Written Testimony. The Alchemist produced the song “The Neverending Story,” which Jay-Z eventually spit a verse on.

The Alchemist and Jay-Z have actually known each other for decades. They first met in New York in the early 2000s, which the producer recalled during a For the Record interview. “[Jay] leaned in my ear and was like, ‘Yo when you gonna stop wasting them beats?,’” he stated. Jay-Z was responsible for getting The Alchemist and Beanie Sigel in the studio together, and he even got a chance to hear the producer’s breakout beat, “We Gonna Make It.” The Alchemist claimed that Jay actually passed on the beat before it went to Jadakiss. Hopefully the producer gets his collab sooner than later.

Read More: The Alchemist Teases J. Cole Collab

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Childish Gambino Announces Release Date For New Single “Lithonia”

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Donald Glover is one of the busiest men in Hollywood. He’s an actor, writer, producer, director, and he’s returning to music after four years off. Glover announced that his upcoming album will be his last under the Childish Gambino moniker that made him famous. As a swan song, expectations couldn’t be higher. The details surrounding the album have been scarce, but Gambino is finally getting the ball rolling. Not only did he announce a new single, but he gave a release date that’s right around the corner.

Childish Gambino teased the album via billboard on June 24. These billboards featured the rapper’s name along with the phrase “Bando is coming.” The phrase is in reference to the album’s title, Bando Stone in the New World. Shortly after these billboards surfaced, however, Gambino took things a step further by announcing the lead single. The song will be called “Lithonia” with a subtitle in parenthesis that reads: “Nobody Gives a F*ck.” It will be released on July 2, which is exactly seven days removed from the day it was announced.

Read More: Childish Gambino Teases New Song With Producer Ludwig Goransson

Childish Gambino’s New Single Will Drop On July 2

Childish Gambino’s decision to release a single on a Tuesday is unique, to say the least. Most singles come out on Fridays, especially singles from crossover stars with number one hits under their belt. It’s clear from the promotion, however, that Gambino has a specific vision in mind for Bando Stone. He made reference to this vision during an E! News interview in 2023. Despite starring in two different TV shows, Gambino was compelled to create music after taking such a long hiatus.

“I’m making music right now, I love it,” he told the outlet. “I’m actually working, I’m in the studio. I’ve been bringing people in, like secret people, working on little things. But I just been, you know, making it for fun right now. But soon something will happen, I promise. Something will happen.” Bando Stone in the New World is billed as a “soundtrack,” which is something Childish Gambino has flirted with in the past. The 2013 album Because the Internet was packaged with a screenplay in which scenes were meant to be listened to with specific songs from the album. We’re eager to see how “Lithonia” fits into the concept.

Read More: Childish Gambino Hilariously Shuts Down TikTok Critic With New Song Preview

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Trey Songz Scrapped Tyga Music Video Due To Lack Of Black Representation

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Trey Songz surprised fans on June 25. The R&B singer posted clips from an unreleased music video starring him and Tyga. He also shared the explanation for why the video never saw the light of day. It wasn’t due to any tension with Tyga, or complications with record labels. In fact, everybody but Trey Songz was onboard with releasing the video. The singer told his followers that the reason he chose to scrap the collaboration was because of who was cast in the video. Or more specifically, who wasn’t.

Songz was put off by the fact that the music video did not have a lot of black female representation. “Archives,” he confirmed in the caption. “I scrapped this video cause it wasn’t enough Black women in it. In Spain last time somebody called me n***er didn’t feel right [shrug shoulders emoticon].” Songz made it clear that there were no hard feelings between him and Tyga. “Song cold tho,” he added. “Traw my dawg @tyga.” While the sentiment was well-received, and even praised by some, most of the users in Trey Songz’s comment section criticized him for his reasoning.

Read More: Winter Blanco Accuses Trey Songz Of Physically Assaulting Her In 2018

Trey Songz Was Criticized By Social Media Users

“Yall be in America avoiding black women,” one user wrote. “But gone record a video in a country where there really ain’t none and try to make a spectacle about it. Leave us out of it.” Another user took Songz to task for his making this decision after he shot the video. “It’s him thinking we are silly enough to fall for this nonsense,” they noted. “Sir, you saw that when you filmed the video. But ok…” Several users posited that Trey Songz was trying to appeal to his female audience, given the string of accusations that’ve been made against him recently.

In April, Songz settled a $25 million lawsuit out of court. The woman who filed the suit, Jane Doe, stated that the singer sexually assaulted her at a Los Angeles party in 2016. This suit came only months after a different woman accused Songz of assaulting her at his Los Angeles home in 2015. The singer has not publicly addressed the accusations. He did, however, post a cryptic message on Instagram shortly after the $25 million lawsuit was filed. “Lies will never be the truth,” he wrote. “No matter who chooses to believe such. Alhamdulillah.”

Read More: Woman Accuses Trey Songz Of Assaulting Her Friend At A Club

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Kai Cenat Will Host 24-Hour Stream Backstage At Travis Scott’s July Concert In London

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Kai Cenat is set to up his live streaming game with a 24-hour stream, backstage at Travis Scott’s upcoming concert in London. Known for his engaging, hilarious streams and viral moments, Cenat will join Scott at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on July 11, part of Scott’s Circus Maximus tour. Who knows what’s in store for the “chat” but fans of the streamer and Houston rapper are here for it. 

The collab was sparked during one of Cenat’s recent livestreams when Scott called in with the idea: “I got a sold out stadium show. Let’s do 24 hours in London.” Scott continued, “We’ll do it backstage. We’ll go crazy.”

Get this, Scott played a crucial role in Cenat’s streaming success. After Cenat faced a Twitch ban for guideline violations last year, Scott intervened to help him get reinstated, although the specifics of his assistance remain unclear. Since then, Cenat’s career has thrived.

ICYMI, recently, Cenat made headlines with a sleepover stream featuring Kevin Hart and Druski, following a solo stream with Hart. They called in LeBron James, Rich Paul, and BenDaDon, and the event was filled with drinking, dancing, eating, and endless jokes. Hart even teased Cenat for getting rejected by Tyla on a previous stream, bringing him a poster that read “We Friends Tho.”

Meanwhile, Travis Scott continues to enjoy the success of his 2023 album *Utopia*, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and sold 496,000 album-equivalent units in its first week. All 19 songs from the album charted on the Hot 100.

Excited for this event. Something tells me other collabs from top creators and major artists, are sure to follow.

The post Kai Cenat Will Host 24-Hour Stream Backstage At Travis Scott’s July Concert In London first appeared on The Source.

The post Kai Cenat Will Host 24-Hour Stream Backstage At Travis Scott’s July Concert In London appeared first on The Source.

Lil Nas X Explained His Absence And Teased His New Single ‘Here We Go!’ As ‘The Best Song Of All Time’

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Back in January, Lil Nas X teased the ultimate comeback with his single, “J Christ” — the video of which features him being crucified, them making a miraculous return. Many saw this as the rollout for the follow-up of his 2021 debut album, Montero. Nearly six months have passed since then, however, there has been no announcement of his sophomore album (though, Lil Nas X has dropped a few Soundcloud loosies and teased a mixtape called Naserati 2).

But it seems Lil Nas X has finally gotten his momentum back. Today (June 25), he took to social media to tease his new single, “Here We Go!”

In the post’s caption, Lil Nas X explained that he had been feeling hesitant about sharing his music.

“so excited to release the best song of all time this friday!,” he said, “also sorry I’ve been so scared with my art lately. I’m coming around to myself again. I will make you guys very proud.”

According to a report from Billboard, “Here We Go!” will sample Harold Faltermeyer’s “Axel F” and feature in the Netflix original movie Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, set to arrive on July 3.

You can get a look at the official single cover above.

Stephen A Smith Blasts Diddy For Deleting Cassie Apology Video

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Diddy made another questionable move on June 21. The disgraced music mogul deleted all the posts from his Instagram, including his apology video to Cassie. The decision sparked lots of speculation, with some positing that it may be a tactic to avoid further legal troubles. Others interpreted Diddy’s decision as him taking back his apology to Cassie. The backlash grew so quickly that a representative for Diddy issued a statement clarifying that Diddy stands by his apology. This statement wasn’t good enough for Stephen A Smith, however.

The sports analyst took Diddy’s decision and ran with it during the June 25 episode of his podcast. He took Diddy to task for wiping his IG feed and refusing to leave the apology video up, in particular. “If you had a million photos,” Stephen A Smith stated. “And you decided to delete 999,999 of them, that’s the one you should’ve kept up. If you’re sincere. You got 20 million followers on Instagram.” Smith made it clear that he was baffled by Diddy’s decision, given how it’s been interpreted. “Why did you delete that video of the apology,” he asked. “Don’t you want people to know that you were contrite.”

Read More: Roger Bonds Thinks Diddy & Cassie Assault Video Proves The Truth Behind All Their Stories

Stephen A Smith Is Baffled By Diddy’s PR Decision

The rant continues from there. Stephen A Smith laid out the different ways in which deleting the video makes Diddy look worse. “By deleting the video,” he asserted. “You throw all of that out the window. The possibility of the very few people who would ever believe that.” SAS then turned his focus towards the Diddy PR team. “Who are your PR people,” he yelled. “Who are these people? Where is the advice?” He then proceeded to give his advice as to how the Bad Boy founder should have handled the situation.

Unsurprisingly, Smith would have told the mogul to leave the apology video up. “I’d have said never delete your account and never delete that video,” he explained. “Leave that up forever. Because that was you apologizing. And owning up to your transgression. You deleting it from your account… that wasn’t smart.” The final dagger Stephen A Smith delivered was aimed squarely at Diddy. “It comes across,” he opined. “As you wanting to erase everything as opposed to you wanting to be accountable for everything.”

Read More: Diddy Drops $60M Sean John Lawsuit Amid Federal Sex Trafficking Investigation

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Anderson .Paak To Play “Malibu” In Its Entirety On 2024 Tour—What To Know

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Today, Anderson .Paak revealed exciting news about his 2024 tour across the United States. This tour is set to celebrate his critically acclaimed second studio album, Malibu, released in 2016 and earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album. Fans can look forward to Anderson performing Malibu in its entirety during this Fall tour, promising a nostalgic yet fresh experience of his celebrated work.

The 14-date tour, produced by Live Nation, will kick off on Wednesday, September 18, in Bend, OR, at the Hayden Homes Amphitheater. Anderson .Paak will also make stops in major cities such as Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Chicago, and Philadelphia before wrapping up on Sunday, October 13, in Atlanta, GA, at Lakewood Amphitheatre. Special guests Maurice Brown and GAWD will join Anderson on all dates, adding to the hype surrounding the tour.

Moreover, Malibu marked a significant milestone in Anderson Paak’s career. The album followed his EP Link Up & Suede with Knxwledge (as the duo NxWorries) and his celebrated appearances on Dr. Dre’s Compton album. As fans gear up for the tour, they can anticipate a dynamic live performance that celebrates Malibu‘s enduring impact.

How To Get Tickets

This is a must-see tour that is expected to sell out from one date to the next. Tickets will be available starting with an artist presale beginning Wednesday, June 26 at 9:00 am local time. Additional presales will run throughout the week before the general sale beginning Friday, June 28 at 9:00 am local time at andersonpaak.com.

Anderson .Paak 2024 Tour Dates

Wed Sep 18 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater

Thu Sep 19 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre

Sat Sep 21 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre

Tue Sep 24 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl *^

Thu Sep 26 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl *

Fri Sep 27 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre

Sat Sep 28 – Las Vegas, NV – Fontainebleau Las Vegas

Wed Oct 02 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Fri Oct 04 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island

Sat Oct 05 – Sterling Heights, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre

Tue Oct 08 – Philadelphia, PA – TD Pavilion at The Mann

Wed Oct 09 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion

Fri Oct 11 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell at Jones Beach Theater

Sun Oct 13 – Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Amphitheatre

*Non-Live Nation Date / ^Previously announced

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