J. Cole Announces ‘Off-Season’ Album Release Date

Dreamville boss J. Cole is done making people wait. The hip-hop superstar has announced his long-awaited Off-Season studio album is literally just days away from dropping. J. Cole Announces ‘Off-Season’ Album Date Cole went to his Instagram page for a rare post. Jermaine’s latest snapshot reveals the album’s artwork and reveals a May 14 drop […]

The post J. Cole Announces ‘Off-Season’ Album Release Date appeared first on SOHH.com.

SZA + Daphne Joy Love Erica Mena’s Pregnant Bikini Flex

Erica Mena 5 Perfect Dating App Potential Pics 3

“Love & Hip Hop” star Erica Mena has some true fans – and friends – singer SZA and fellow model Daphne Joy. The mother of two sparked some serious attention courtesy of new bikini pics following breaking news of her pregnancy. SZA + Daphne Joy Love Erica Mena’s Tummy Erica ignited digital heatwaves first by […]

The post SZA + Daphne Joy Love Erica Mena’s Pregnant Bikini Flex appeared first on SOHH.com.

J. Cole Announces His New Album ‘The Off-Season’s Release Date

Welp, that didn’t last long. No sooner had I hit “publish” on this last post about fans’ speculations than J. Cole announced the release date for his upcoming album, now titled The Off-Season, and shared its cover. The album is due next Friday, May 14. Check out the cover below.

This post is being updated.

J. Cole Reactivated His Twitter Account And Fans Are Convinced He’s Releasing New Music Soon

With just one tweet, J. Cole has validated the hype for his upcoming album in the eyes of many and set social media abuzz with anticipation. Although his Dreamville labelmate Bas teased something coming in two weeks at the end of April, there was always a possibility that the teaser could have been invalid or plans might have changed. However, now that the notoriously social media shy Cole has checked in — even without actually sharing any real information — fans are convinced that the release of his new music is imminent, even though all he wrote was, “Is this thing on?”

Cole, who originally teased a 2020 release date for his new album way back in 2019 at Day N Vegas, pushed back the release as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent shutdown of the live entertainment infrastructure like many other big-name artists. He postponed his Dreamville Festival and went more-or-less into seclusion for most of 2020, popping up to offer a handful of singles, including the ill-advised “Snow On Tha Bluff,” which prompted a tesy back-and-forth between J. Cole and Noname. And while members of Cole’s crew, including Earthgang’s Olu, continued to tease Cole’s upcoming project — tentatively titled The Fall Off — he seemed more interested in chasing his hoop dream than rapping.

However, after a long, uncertain wait, Cole crossed off one item from his list after another, and now, here we are. Perhaps the full album will release, or just the video for “The Off-Season,” but it looks like Cole’s fellow Dreamers are going to be watching his newly reactivated account intently for the foreseeable future.

Lil Nas X Says He’s No Longer ‘Afraid’ Of Alienating His Straight Fans

When Lil Nas X released his internet-breaking “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” he was facing criticism from two sides. Several conservative and religious viewers clutched their pearls at the sight of the musician twerking up on Satan. Another side questioned his queer identity entirely. Prior to coming out, Lil Nas X would have listened to his haters as he used to be concerned about alienating his straight fans, but now, he’s just being his most authentic self.

Speaking in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Lil Nas X opened up about the recent controversy surrounding his “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” video. The musician knows that those criticizing him and his music weren’t supporters in the first place. “At first I was really afraid of alienating any of my straight fans,” he said. “But then it was kind of like, if they feel offended, they were never really here for me. They were here for whatever version of myself they made up in their head.”

Another aspect that’s changed for Lil Nas X since his rise to fame is how he’s able to playfully confront haters. When he was first blowing up, the musician would simply block anyone trash-talking him online. But now, he has no problem clapping back:

“I’m very much a chaotic, good person. I almost never want to start shooting at somebody who didn’t bring it to my doorstep, you know? But I kind of live for when somebody tries to get me and I’m ready to throw it back at them tenfold. Do I feel bad about it sometimes? Every now and then, but I feel less bad knowing that I didn’t start it. I try to never throw stones, but if somebody throws one at me, I’m throwing an entire house.”

Drake’s Son Adonis Was Locked In Watching LeBron James Highlights

Part of what makes sports so great is the history that gets passed down from generation to generation, stories told from fathers and mothers to their sons and daughters of the greats they saw. Today, that often means showing highlight reels on YouTube, which has an endless supply of videos of the best from today and compilations put together from yesteryear.

While the generations are often split on the GOAT debates based on who they saw play when they were younger, being able to appreciate greatness is nearly universal among sports fans. Some players, like LeBron James, have careers that span multiple generations and part of what makes his legacy so incredible is that he’s continuing to dominate nearly two decades into his NBA career. That so many have been able to witness his greatness in person or at least live on TV is going to make him a figure discussed, debated, and revered long after he eventually retires.

It also means there’s quite the backlog of LeBron highlights to show this current generation of kids who may only know of Laker LeBron, which is exactly what Drake did with his son Adonis, posting a video of his son absolutely locked in and enthralled by some of James’ best highlights from his younger days.

It’s they type of thing almost every sports fan can immediately relate to, that sense of awe and disbelief as a child watching the very best do seemingly superhuman things. It’s what folks of my generation born in the early 90s had the first time we saw Michael Jordan, surely having similar “OMG” moments as we, knowing the late-career Jordan, first got introduced to some of his early highlights via VHS tapes. Drake’s love of basketball and sports in general is not a secret, and part of the joy of parenthood is finding things to share and enjoy with your kids, which it seems he and Adonis will be able to do with hoops.

A Resurfaced Jay-Z Quote From 2010 Has Fans Debating The Lyrics From ‘Big Pimpin’

Jay-Z fans on Twitter are debating one of the rapper’s biggest hits a tweet from The Source‘s account asserted that Jay “regrets” making “Big Pimpin’,” the third single from his 1999 album Vol. 3… Life And Times Of S. Carter. The Source‘s tweet linked to an article on the magazine’s website which interpreted a quote from a 2010 Wall Street Journal interview to mean that Jay took a negative view of his old song. However, upon realizing the quote in question was over a decade old, fans quickly decried the article and the tweet as “clickbait.”

However, that didn’t stop the tweet from generating conversation, as Jay’s fans chimed in on his imagined reaction to his own lyrics, as well on The Source‘s out-of-context reporting. Some compared Jay’s older lyrics to his new ones, stating they preferred when Jay was “Big Pimpin’” alongside Bun B and Pimp C of UGK to the Jay-Z who makes deals with the NFL and raps about his big business moves like selling Tidal to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey.

Others agreed with the sentiment that Jay’s view must have changed over time. As one pointed out, since 2000, Jay has gotten married, had three kids, and changed his outlook on everything from fashion to his role in politics. Some thought “cancel culture” had finally come for him.

And while the quote in question is still difficult to put into context — after all, it’s just a written quote, and Jay’s notoriously sarcastic in interviews, besides his rapper’s penchant for using metaphorical language to describe a point of view that can get lost in translation in a different format — it’s still proof positive that Jay is still one of the most foremost figures in hip-hop. See more of the polarized responses to Jay’s old quote below, and read the full interview here.

YFN Lucci Named In 105-Count Gang Indictment: Report

YFN Lucci’s legal troubles continue to mount with the rapper reportedly facing additional charges in a 75-page indictment. Per WSBTV, the rapper was among a dozen individuals named in a 105-count racketeering indictment centered around the Bloods gang in Atlanta which Fulton County D.A. Fani Willis described as “unprecedented” in the state of Georgia.


Jerritt Clark/Getty Images

“There’s been a huge spike in violent crime,” Willis said, echoing the sentiment of Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms who acknowledged the rising crime rate in the city. “I made a commitment to bring the best and the brightest minds here, many of which you see sitting here right now so that we could deal with this issue of this violent crime.”

Lucci’s attorney Drew Findling continued to declare his client’s innocence following news of the indictment. “He’s not a gang member. What he is is an internationally recognized musical artist that is a triple platinum winner, that has performed all over the United States and all over the world,” Findling said.

Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant said Lucci’s arrest and the indictment as a whole sends a “significant message” to others in the city. “I think that it sends a significant message, a profound message that regardless of your status that the City of Atlanta and Fulton County in partnership is coming after you if you violate the crimes in our county, in our city,” Bryant said.

YFN Lucci is still facing unrelated murder charges from a fatal shooting that occurred in December. We’ll keep you posted on more information surrounding YFN Lucci’s legal issues. 


Paras Griffin/Getty Images

[Via]

Will Smith Is In The ‘Worst’ Shape Of His Life Right Now

Hollywood and hip-hop star Will Smith lives his life as an open book on social media. The blockbuster leading man recently had no shame in sharing a pic of himself showing off a body that isn’t exactly beach-ready as the summer season approaches. Will Smith Admits He’s Never Been In Worse Shape Maybe he’s preparing […]

The post Will Smith Is In The ‘Worst’ Shape Of His Life Right Now appeared first on SOHH.com.

Renni Rucci Reacts To Foogiano’s Jail Sentence

Southern hip-hop artist Renni Rucci is riding for her man. The popular rapper has stepped up to address her ride or die Foogiano’s publicized jail sentence. Renni Rucci Reacts To Foogiano’s Sentence RR went to her Instagram page to share big words. In addition to wiping her page clean outside of two posts in Foo’s […]

The post Renni Rucci Reacts To Foogiano’s Jail Sentence appeared first on SOHH.com.