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It will most likely be another week or two before we stop hearing about this year’s Grammy Awards, but considering they kick-off in just two days, information regarding the ceremony is coming in like a flood. Much of today’s (March 12) conversation about the Grammys centered around The Weeknd, Justin Bieber, and Beyoncé. We’ve heavily reported on The Weeknd’s shocking snub this year and we also learned that Bieber may not attend the ceremony because his album, Changes, wasn’t included in the R&B categories. Throughout the day, Beyoncé has been trending on social media following the Los Angeles Times‘s interview with British television producer Ben Winston who has taken the helm of this year’s show.

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During their chat, it was noted that Beyoncé, who is leading with nine nominations this year, won’t be performing. It reportedly makes for the third time in the show’s history that the artist with the most nominations won’t be taking to the stage, and Winston was questioned about fans’ reactions when they learn that Bey “opted not to perform.”

“It’s unfortunate, because she’s such a big part of the Recording Academy. We absolutely wish we had her onstage,” said Winston. He also shared a story of another artist—who he didn’t name—being asked to perform this year but they ultimately turned it down because they were still upset about years prior. It’s a strange place for Winston to be in because he’s in charge of making sure the show goes on without a hitch, not who is nominated or wins.

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“You know that’s the deal when you take over the show,” said Winston. He spoke with music executives and labels about “what they thought about the Grammys.” When speaking with the unnamed artist, “She was like, ‘I got snubbed three years ago, and I’m still annoyed about it.’ I told her, ‘Right, but you know that’s nothing to do with me?’ She said, ‘I don’t know — it sort of is, isn’t it?’”

Back in December, Megan Thee Stallion said in an interview that she and Beyoncé were in talks to perform their “Savage (Remix)” at the Grammys, but it doesn’t look as if that’s happening.

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That Coming 2 America feature has Rick Ross thinking about the film industry. Rozay has been enjoying the fruits of his labor as he kicks back on those afternoons on his lavish estate that looks as if it has its own zip code. Ross rented out his estate to Coming to America producers as the Zamunda homestead, and now the rapper has a few questions about movies. The Rap mogul is known for his big business moves and diversified portfolio that keeps those checks coming in, and Ross posed a playful question where he toyed with the idea of creating a movie about his life.

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Over on Instagram, Rozay dropped a few gems on his Instagram Story. In one slide, he asked his viewers who they would have play them in a film, and in the next clip, he asked about himself. “If, question, if your life was a movie, who would play you best?” the rapper asked. He gave a follow-up question. “If there was a film being created around my life, who would play the Boss best? I want your opinion. Who would play Rozay best?”

The answers were interesting, to say the least, as people made suggestions like Jamal Woolard (he portrayed The Notorious B.I.G. in Notorious), Rod Wave, and Sean Kingston. Of course, people slid in the comment section with jokes, as well, but we want to know who you think could tackle the role of Rick Ross in a film about the rapper’s life. 

If you ask Hip Hop legend Grandmaster Melle Mel when the genre’s fashion made a huge shift, he’ll tell you it was when Run-DMC came onto the scene. The group sported looks that, according to Melle Mel, mirrored the hustlers and drug dealers at the time, and soon, everyone wanted to emulate their style. Artists themselves began shifting from the more eclectic styles and moved into streetwear, and over the past few decades, it has evolved into what we see now influenced by both street and prison culture.

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“I’m a direct product of that statement because there was a time where I was first being offered opportunities to perform in front of larger audiences,” said Short. “And up until that point, I was just a little—if you go look at Wild Style, the movie Wild Style, I was a rapper like that that just, whatever I had on that day, that’s what I stepped into the DJ booth with and I rapped. It was no look.”

Too $hort recalled being offered the show and the first thing he thought of was how he would dress. “I’m looking at my influences of ’70s funk, you know what I’m sayin’? The music that was the hottest sh*t out,” he said. “I’m looking at Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five and the rappers that are big, Kurtis Blow, and what they doin’. And then there’s Run DMC who’s the newest, hottest thing and clearly is the now the coolest sh*t.”

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“That’s the f*ckin’ look,” he added, “I’m right at that moment when Run-DMC is influencing, they run the whole sh*t. They ’bout to be the new king of f*ckin’ rap.” So, in turn, Too $hort decided to copy that look, as well. “I get what [Melle Mel] is sayin’. I don’t know if I agree that that was the moment, but I do know that was the inevitable evolution. What else would it be?”

Watch Too $short explain his experience while also weighing on how people often feel as if Hip Hop belongs to them.

For models, having an appearance in Vogue is a major milestone, but there are a certain number of people who have rained on Ari Fletcher’s parade. The social media star shared that she landed herself a bit feature in British Vogue, and soon, another person, who claimed to be the magazine’s fashion editor, came forward to say that Ari’s team paid for the inclusion. Ari initially wrote, “This moment is a dream and I’m soaking in it. Thanks for all the love and support! I really really really appreciate it, beyond words.”

Soon, she faced criticism that she was faking her accolades, but internet sleuths soon discovered that the aforementioned “fashion editor” was a fake page. Because Ari shared a photo of herself that appeared as if she was on the cover of the magazine, people also targeted her for lying, even though she never implicitly stated that she was the publication’s cover star.

The fake page has since been removed after being called out, but the damage had already been done. Ari was ridiculed for allegedly paying for her inclusion, and while the person who launched the rumor was already revealed to be a Catfish, the negativity poured in for the model. She tweeted that if it only took money to be featured in Vogue, she “would’ve been in there a long time ago.” She added, “People are truly sick. It’s so sad that people actually try to steal people joy. Play with the internet all you want, this is chess not checkers.”

Moneybagg Yo didn’t like to see his leading lady enduring the hate, so he tweeted out his support. “@AriTheDon Dey don’t wanna see u do good or better than dem f*ck em let em kno u just getting started more pressure OTW!” Ari told the rapper, “I just love you [red heart emoji].” Check out the controversy below.

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If there is information to be shared about her circle of Love & Hip Hop Hollywood co-stars, Moniece Slaughter is going to weigh in with commentary. She might share behind-the-scenes details that haven’t been told to the public or put someone on blast by airing out their dirty laundry, but it’s something that fans can’t get enough of. After Apryl Jones was spotted by the paparazzi making her way into a restaurant with Dr. Dre, Moniece hopped on her Instagram Live and revealed to viewers that the purported couple has been together for some time.

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Following her revelation, the reality star returned to social media with allegations that she was threatened by the billion-dollar music mogul. In a recent interview with Hollywood Unlocked, Slaughter details what occurred and said that a man she didn’t know called her with veiled threats. “It the calm before the storm, but he was saying things to me like, ‘Yeah, you know, you mentioned Dre and Apryl on your Live at thirteen minutes and 29 seconds when you were showing your fans your house when they asked you for a house tour,'” Moniece claimed the man said. “Letting me know that he knows the layout of my house. So first of all, a man that I don’t know that just got out of prison, that I’ve never met, couldn’t identify in a lineup, calling my phone, is a threat within itself.”

“Then he goes onto say that, ‘You know, Dre wanted me to tell you to keep his name out your mouth.’ I said, ‘I didn’t say anything negative about him. Yeah, I threw a little shade at her but I didn’t say anything negative about her, either.” Moniece explained that the man told her Apryl is his friend and Dre is his “brother,” adding that “this could become a situation.” Moniece claims this upset her and she questioned what “situation” he was speaking about.

The man allegedly responded that it could be a “situation” for everyone involved, but she told him that she believed he was speaking directly about her. Moniece claims he told her “it can go left” before she “went off” and hung up on him. She said she learned that he’s a “snitch” and that she knows him through acquaintances from the streets. Check out Moniece explaining her “situation” below.

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