J. Cole’s ‘The Off-Season’ Debuts At No. 1 While Tallying The Highest Streaming Week Of 2021

For three years, fans of J. Cole patiently waited for a new solo album. In those years, the rapper delivered an impressive guest feature run, even spearheading Dreamville’s compilation album Revenge Of The Dreamers III. At long last, the wait ended earlier this month, when the North Carolina rapper shared his sixth album, The Off-Season, which saw Bas, Morray, Lil Baby, and 21 Savage contribute to Cole’s latest hip-hop chapter. Now, the album is Cole’s sixth chart-topper, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

The Off-Season achieved the feat thanks to a total of 282,000 album units, the most for a hip-hop release this year. This number is comprised of 243,000 streaming equivalent album units and 37,000 album sales. The former is a result of 325.05 million on-demand streams of the album’s tracks, making for the most from any full-length effort that was released this year. The previous record holder was Morgan Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album, which posted 240.18 million streams in its first week.

With the debut of The Off-Season at No. 1, all six of J. Cole’s official albums have now held the top spot on the Billboard 200. The rapper’s 2013 release, Born Sinner was the only release that failed to debut at No. 1. The rapper’s only full-length project that failed to reach No. 1 at any point was 2016’s Forest Hills Drive: Live, which peaked at No. 71.

The Off-Season is out now via Dreamville/Roc Nation. Get it here.

Tekashi 6ix9ine’s Making $500,000 Per Show

New York rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine isn’t having any money problems anytime soon. The hip-hop star has lit up social media with big talk and revealed he’s making half a million dollars per live performance. Tekashi 6ix9ine’s Making $500,000 Per Show 6ix9ine went to his Instagram page to share footage of himself from a jam-packed Hidalgo, […]

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Kevin Spacey Starring In 1st Film Since Sexual Assault Allegations

Kevin Spacey is returning to film for the first time since the litany of sexual misconduct and assault allegations were leveled against him in 2017. Spacey is set to star in the Italian film L’uomo Che Disegno Dio, which translates to “The Man Who Drew God.”

The film will be directed by Franco Nero, who spoke about casting Spacey in a new interview with ABC News.

“I’m very happy Kevin agreed to participate in my film,” Nero told the outlet. “I consider him a great actor and I can’t wait to start the movie.”

Kevin Spacey
Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images

Spacey was first accused of misconduct by Anthony Rapp, who says he was abused by Spacey at age 14. Afterward, he was dropped by Netflix’s House of Cards, and replaced in All the Money in the World.

In the years since, Spacey has occasionally uploaded video updates on his YouTube channel.

“If you’re standing in a place that you can no longer remain standing, if you’re suffering, if you need help, if you feel guilt or shame, if you’re struggling with your identity, if your back’s up against the wall, or if you feel that there is no path for you, whatever your situation, I promise you there is a path,” Spacey says in his latest video. “At this time during this holiday and beyond, even if you don’t feel it, there are people out there who understand and who can help, because you are not alone.”

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Quincy Jones Says He Wouldn’t Work With Elvis, Alleges He Was Racist

Legendary record producer Quincy Jones, while speaking about racism in the music industry, told The Hollywood Reporter that he refused to work with Elvis Presley because the iconic singer was racist.

“No. I wouldn’t work with him,” Jones told the publication.

He explained: “I was writing for [orchestra leader] Tommy Dorsey, oh God, back then in the ’50s. And Elvis came in, and Tommy said, ‘I don’t want to play with him.’ He was a racist mother — I’m going to shut up now. But every time I saw Elvis, he was being coached by [“Don’t Be Cruel” songwriter] Otis Blackwell, telling him how to sing.”

Quincy Jones, Elvis
Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

Jones also recalled another instance of racism he dealt with during his career while working on the 1965 film, Mirage

“They called me to do Gregory Peck’s ‘Mirage’ and I came out here. I was dressed in my favorite suit, and the producer came out to meet me at Universal,” Jones explained. “He stopped in his tracks—total shock—and he went back and told [music supervisor] Joe Gershenson, ‘You didn’t tell me Quincy Jones was a Negro.’ They didn’t use Black composers in films.”

Jones produced Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall (1979), Thriller (1982), and Bad (1987), as well as numerous other hit records. He has been awarded 28 Grammys.

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Young Noble, Of 2Pac’s Outlawz, Hospitalized Following Heart Attack

Young Noble, of 2Pac’s rap group The Outlawz, says that he is in the hospital recovering from a sudden, “serious heart attack.”

“Thank you to all my luved ones who been praying for me I had 1 of the worst days of my life yesterday I had a serious heart attack but God is too good & the amazing doctors brung me back an they getting me right,” Noble wrote on Instagram. “I plan to put everything in my life on hold while I recover an get my health all the way right…This will only make me stronger I’m grateful for a second chance an I beg y’all please please please take your health serious all the unhealthy living an stress catches up sooner than later!”

Noble is perhaps best known for appearing on 2Pac’s classic diss track, “Hit Em Up.” He also was featured on the albums Me Against the WorldAll Eyez on MeGang Related [Soundtrack], and The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory.

The Outlawz were founded in 1995 following 2Pac’s release from prison. 2Pac died one year later in the Fall of 1996.

Their final album, LastOnezLeft, was released in 2017.

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Qveen Herby Releases Debut Album “A Woman”

Since 2017, Qveen Herby has been making statements with each EP as she left fans on the edge of their seats wanting more. The short projects offered glimpses into her artistry while she further explored her sound. However, the wait for a debut album has been a long-time coming and on Friday, she finally unveiled her debut album, A Woman, in its entirety. The 12 track project was like by singles “Juice” and Naughty Girl” and remains entirely feature-free. Qveen Herby shines all on her own with Pompano Puff and Nick Noonan handling a majority of the project’s production. 

Qveen Herby’s latest project is well worth the wait. Make sure you press play below and sound off in the comments with your favorite song from Qveen Herby’s album A Woman.

Soulja Boy Reveals The Biggest Lesson He Learned From Beefing With Ice-T

Soulja Boy is riding high off of the success of “She Make It Clap” which is one of the biggest songs on TikTok right now, if not the biggest. The rapper is preparing for the release of his upcoming project Dracoand has been making the rounds in the past week. The rapper recently chopped it up with HNHH for an in-depth conversation about his career from his work as a producer to touring with Young Money in ’09.


Bennett Raglin/Getty Images

While Soulja Boy might be regarded as an innovator these days, he faced some serious criticism at the early stages of his career. In fact, there was that hilarious feud with Big Draco and Ice T who said that the “Crank Dat” rapper “singlehandedly killed hip-hop.” The beef is water under the bridge at this point but Soulja believes that the West Coast OG was simply “confused” at the time.

“Man, I love Ice-T. Fuck all that shit. That shit was petty as hell,” he said. “He was just confused. He didn’t know what was going on! He didn’t know I was the truth. He didn’t know I was the GOAT. He didn’t know he was looking at the future in his eyes! He didn’t know he was listening to the wave. He ain’t know. You can’t fault him for that.”

However, Soulja Boy did reveal that his back-and-forth with Ice T taught him a big lesson: always stay in tune with youth culture.

“When you fall out the mix, you gotta keep your ear to the street. That’s why I’m in tune with my youngin,” he said. “Look, I got some youngins and I keep in tune with my youngins and I keep in tune with the streets. ‘Cause you gonna get lost in the sauce and end up beefing with the GOAT. That’s over with, man. You gotta show love to the younger generation and stand on your morals and principles. He was standing on his morals and principles. He didn’t like that type of music. You can’t do nothing but respect that.”

Peep our full interview with Soulja Boy here or press play below. 

Danny Masterson Will Stand Trial On Three Rape Charges: Report

Danny Masterson’s worst days seem to be ahead of him. The former That 70s Show star has been accused of rape for over a decade now, and has been in and out of court recently trying to defend his name. There have been emotional testimonies presented before a judge leading up to what is now an official trial for the actor. 

LA County Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo found the statements of three women in the preliminary hearings sufficient enough to move forward with a trial. The rape charges go back decades, which made Masterson’s lawyer (Sharon Appelbaum) claim, “Memories fade and memories change.”

Lead defense attorney Thomas Mesereau stated that he believes the case is tainted by religious bias. Masterson is a high-ranking member of the Scientology church, while his accusers are former church members. Mesereau also defended Bill Cosby and Michael Jackson when they were facing sex abuse charges.

Appelbaum says the accusers have a “sisterhood” that “seems to want to take down Mr. Masterson and take down Scientology.” She stated that the accusers ignored court orders, and contacted each other to match up their stories for court. “Over time their stories are becoming more similar to one another,” Appelbaum stated. “They’re taking the language of one another.”

Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller admonished the accusation.“These were not rehearsed statements,” Mueller responded. “They were heartfelt, and they each had their versions of what happened. If there is any consistency in these statements, it was because the defendant was consistent in these acts.”

Masterson admits to having sexual relations with each of them women, however, he disputes that he raped them. He is free on bail, but will be arraigned on June 7.

 

 

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