Last year, Nicki Minaj had a pretty big night at the VMAs. The beloved rap star and hitmaker was receiving the coveted Video Vanguard award and as a result, delivered a show-stopping melody of some of her most well-known songs. But she also served as an MC of sorts taking over some of the duties that would normally be saved for a host. She shared those duties with LL Cool J and Jack Harlow but apparently, Minaj did such a great job that she’s being invited back.
Once again at this year’s VMAs which take place next week, Nicki Minaj will be serving double duty as host and performer. This time around she’ll be performing her new single “Last Time I Saw You” which has been out for just over a week and already has almost 9 million streams on Spotify. This year, she will also be undertaking MC duties all on her own. “Minaj will announce the show’s star-studded lineup of performers, presenters, and winners,” the announcement of her role reads. As usual, the VMAs have a roster of performers that includes many of the biggest stars in the music industry. The show takes place on September 8 at 8 pm EST.
Nicki Minaj has also been collecting major streaming milestones recently. Her track “Seeing Green” just hit 100 million streams on Spotify. The track became her 75th to hit the major milestone. That came just a week after she became the first female rapper to reach 31 billion total Spotify streams across her entire discography.
Nicki Minaj is gearing up to release her first new album since 2018. Pink Friday 2 is scheduled for later this year. Nicki has continued the campaign towards its release by sharing album covers for it, though she didn’t share which one was the official artwork. What do you think of Nicki Minaj taking on double duties of hosting and performing again at the VMAs? Let us know in the comment section below.
There is more reason to celebrate for A$AP Rocky and Rihanna. The Harlem native could not help but be thankful for a very flattering award he picked up the other night. Flacko was called to attend HFR’s (Harlem’s Fashion Row) 16th Annual Fashion Show & Style Awards on September 5. The ceremony took the time to honor all of the stylistic pioneers of today back in New York. It was also there to recognize the 50th anniversary of hip-hop music.
According to Vibe, Kelly Rowland was also in attendance. She scooped up possibly the biggest award of the night, the Fashion Icon Of The Year. The HFR website lists all of the other five categories. Those included, Stylists Of The Year, Hip Hop Trailblazer Award, Editor Of The Year, Designer Of The Year, and last but not least, the Virgil Abloh Award. TMZ got footage of A$AP Rocky’s acceptance speech and he gave the late great designer and artist all of the praise.
NEW YORK, NY – JULY 10: Rihanna (L) and A$AP Rocky are seen filming a music video in the Bronx on July 10, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Raymond Hall/GC Images)
Rocky told the crowd a story of when Virgil began to recognize the A$AP Mob. He says, “Virgil discovered us, A$AP, us as a bunch of kids before I got my record deal.” Furthermore, he goes on to tell how Virgil helped him with the creative process behind his breakout album LONG.LIVE.A$AP. It is a nice moment to see the rapper take this award since the inspiration is strong still to this day. Now, he gets to take home a precious award that remembers a truly great legacy. Additionally, it symbolizes the great relationship Rocky and Abloh shared.
What are your initial thoughts on A$AP Rocky winning the award from Harlem’s Fashion Row (HFR)? Is Rocky deserving of this achievement? Is Virgil Abloh one of the greatest designers/artists ever? We want to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below. In addition, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest breaking news around the music world.
Many of the year’s biggest award shows unfold in the spring and summer months. Still, just before fall comes, the MTV Video Music Awards are slated on the schedule. The 2023 ceremony is set to take place on September 12. Both Lil Wayne and Doja Cat have already been named as performers. They each just shared their “Kat Food” and “Demons” singles respectively, but we’re curious to see what songs they’ll bring to the stage later this month. In addition to that, Diddy was also confirmed as an act who will be taking the stage next week.
“IT’S OFFICIAL, the hip-hop legend @Diddy is your 2023 #VMA Global Icon Award Recipient!!!” the award show’s official Twitter account announced on Tuesday (September 5) morning. Along with that big news, they confirmed that the New York native will be putting on a rousing performance either before or after he’s given his flowers. “Tune in to @MTV on September 12 to see him accept the award AND perform,” their message concluded.
The latest tracks we’ve heard from Diddy have been two collaborations. There’s “Mandem” with Giggs, as well as “Act Bad” in tandem with the City Girls and Fabolous. It’s possible that either of those could be his performance piece of choice for the VMAs. We’re placing our bets on the latter as it was declared the Song of the Summer by some music lovers. Seeing as he’s confirmed to have new heat on the way soon, it’s possible that Sean Combs could use his big televised moment to debut something totally new too.
Just days after he makes his presence felt at the 2023 MTV VMAs, Diddy is expected to release his latest LP, The Love Album: Off the Grid. At the end of August, the Bad Boy confirmed a star-studded tracklist. It includes guest appearances from The Weeknd, Summer Walker, and many more. Read all about that at the link below, and check back later for more music/pop culture news updates.
Usually, when there’s discourse to unravel about someone altering the colour of their skin, it’s due to a white person attempting to take on a more Black persona. Alabama Barker is one person who’s often faced with accusations like this, though the teen continues to let them roll off her back as she moves forward in her hip-hop career. On the other end of the spectrum is PinkyDoll, who caused some serious commotion with her appearance at the 2023 Streamy Awards.
Viewers weren’t expecting to see the NPC content creator take the stage at the annual event, but she happily presented Kai Cenat with his well-deserved trophy. As per usual, PinkyDoll was dressed in her best, though many have noticed that her skin looks significantly darker in the video and photos captured at the Steamys than it does in her other social media posts. Many have confessed that they’ve always thought the Canadian is a “yellow bone,” when in reality, she’s a brown-skinned girl.
Some of those chiming in are of the opinion that altering her appearance is intentional on PinkyDoll’s part, perhaps in hopes of attracting a wider audience. “PinkyDoll using colourism to get the bag was an elite game plan,” one Twitter user reflected on Monday (August 28) evening. “Yes yes yes, brown skin so good,” they further joked.
“People been benefitting off blackfishing so I’m not even mad at PinkyDoll for doing the reverse,” someone else wrote in defense of the OnlyFans model. “Stop being colourist then.” Still, there are some who think it’s wrong of the 27-year-old to trick her audience like this.
Keep scrolling to see what Twitter users are saying about PinkyDoll’s first major public appearance at the 2023 Streamy Awards. Do you think the content creator is wrong for seemingly lightening the colour of her skin on camera with filters, or is the controversy not as deep as some are making it out to be? Let us know in the comments, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news.
Pinky Doll has multiple pics on her social media showing her real skin. This is not the huge revelation y’all think it is . Let’s wrap this colorism crusader talk up by 11:59 pls.
You have people calling Pinkydoll smart for allegedly subscribing to and ultimately benefitting from colourism. The mental gymnastics are truly impressive at this point. https://t.co/CUz6NRkYDn
Lil Wayne’s influence over modern-day hip-hop is vast. Now according to HipHopDx, he’s once again being honored for everything he’s contributed to the genre and music as a whole. The BMI R&B/Hip Hop Awards will take place on September 6th and seek to honor rap’s 50th anniversary. “As a legend and superstar of Hip Hop, Lil Wayne is synonymous with the genre,” said BMI VP Catherine Brewton. “He’s been part of the BMI family since 2002, and we’re proud to name him a BMI Icon in keeping with his reputation as one of the most influential artists of all time.”
Lil Wayne is following in the footsteps of rappers like Snoop Dogg and Busta Rhymes who have received the Icon Award in the past. It’s far from the first time Wayne has been honored by BMI. Over his entire career his music has received a grand total of 52 BMI Awards. He’s also been named the BMI R&B/Hip Hop Songwriter of the Year four different times.
A few weeks ago, Lil Wayne joined New Orleans bounce legend Big Freedia and Boyfriend on a new single called “El Nino.” The song ended up on Central City, Freedia’s first new album in 9 years. It’s one of a number of features he’s provided for other artists so far this year. He appeared alongside NLE Choppa on the song “AIN’T GONNA ANSWER.” He was also joined by Roddy Rich and Gucci Mane on one of the singles from DJ Drama’s newest album. Then he teamed up with will.i.am for a new song called “THE FORMULA.”
Elsewhere Lil Wayne recently reflected on his album The Carter III for its 15th birthday. The highly influential and highly successful album is still seen by many as one of the best of the 2000s. Even though Wayne claims he sometimes can’t even remember which songs are from which Carter album, fans still can. What do you think of Lil Wayne being honored with the BMI Icon Award? Let us know in the comment section below.
One of the most popular parts of the Oscars is the discussion of who hasn’t won one yet. One of those that many fans believe is well overdue for an award is actress Angela Bassett. She’s been nominated for the Best Actress Oscar twice though didn’t win either. The first came in 1994 when she was nominated for What’s Love Got To Do With It. Her role in that film led to a win for Best Actress at the Golden Globes. She was nominated for a second time at the Oscars last year for her role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. For the second time, she didn’t win the award despite winning the same award at the Golden Globes.
Now, Angela Bassett is finally set to get her Oscar though not in the way many fans may have hoped. She’s set to receive an honorary Oscar during this year’s Governors Awards. She’ll be honored alongside Mel Brooks, Michelle Satter, and Carol Littleton. In their statement announcing the honorees the Oscars included a statement about why Bassett was nominated. “Angela Bassett has continued to deliver transcendent performances that set new standards in acting.”
Angela Bassett’s Long-Awaited Oscar
Angela Bassett is set to receive a honorary Oscar at this year’s Governors Awards.
“Angela Bassett has continued to deliver transcendent performances that set new standards in acting.” pic.twitter.com/gANXs4rb7j
Earlier this year when Bassett lost to Jamie Lee Curtis at the Oscars fans were shocked. One of those fans was SZA who said that realizing Basset didn’t have an Oscar made her want to “knock sh*t over.” Both Jonathan Majors and Michael B. Jordan also also acknowledged the reported snub publicly following the award show.
Many other actors and actresses are seen by fans as deserving of an Oscar. For years both Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt were major examples of stars who had never taken home the award. DiCaprio finally won the award for Best Actor in 2016 for his role in the survival movie The Revenant. A few years later Brad Pitt finally won his as well. He took home the Best Supporting Actor award in 2020 for his role in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. What do you think of Angela Bassett’s long-awaited Oscar? Let us know in the comment section below.
It’s no secret that 2023 has been a pretty big year for Ice Spice so far. She released her breakthrough EP back in January which propelled her into the rap mainstream. Since then she’s collaborated with artists like Nicki Minaj, Pinkpantheress, and even Taylor Swift racking up numerous top 10 hits along the way. She and Nicki Minaj just released their second collaboration “Barbie World.” The song is set to appear on the soundtrack to Greta Gerwig’s upcoming new Barbie movie.
But not everyone is happy with Ice Spice. During last night’s BET awards someone caught the “In Ha Mood” singer on her phone in the audience during one of the performances. Rap veterans Sugar Hill Gang, MC Lyte, and Big Daddy Kane were performing together while Ice Spice was busy with something on her phone. This sparked heated debate among fans on Twitter about her actions. Many fans stood up for her. They cited her age as a reason why she wouldn’t care about the older performers and many agreed they were doing the same thing from home. A number of other users showed up to call her actions disrespectful. Others just claimed that the entire discussion is not that deep.
Another BET controversy popped up after Ice Spice posted a photo dump to her Instagram this morning. One of the pictures shows the rapper alongside Lil Uzi Vert. She’s been tied to the “Just Wanna Rock” rapper recently after they shouted her out in a song. The association allegedly caused Uzi’s partner to throw a phone and Ice Spice last night and fans are left trying to put everything together. She also had a pretty major performance during the award show. She pulled out some of her biggest hits like “Munch” and “Princess Diana” during her show-stealing moment last night.
Ice Spice is also hitting the road later this year. She and Doechii are serving as the openers on Doja Cat’s upcoming Scarlet Tour from October to December. What do you think of Ice Spice ignoring one of the performances at the BET Awards last night? Let us know in the comment section below.
The Viewer’s Choice Award offers a rare opportunity for fans to have their input at the 2023 BET Awards. As a result, its list of singles often comprises of hip-hop and R&B’s biggest tracks of the past year. The last award winner was Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage” remix featuring Beyoncé. This year’s list is just as star-studded, featuring one of seven nominations for Drake and Afrobeat icon Burna Boy. Consequently, we’re diving into the commercial success and overarching importance of each of the eight nominations.
“About Damn Time” is a feel-good anthem through and through. Lizzo has always had an innate talent for blending commercial appeal with sonic experimentation. In addition, her pristine vocals cut through just about any form of sound. With her lead single for 2022’s Special, the 35-year-old opted for a disco-infused cut. With dance music having a breakthrough year, it made sense for Lizzo to capitalize on its reinvigorated relevancy. Featuring a churning bassline and booming vocals from Lizzo, “About Damn Time” had hit appeal written all over it. It certainly delivered, reaching the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100.
“Break My Soul” – Beyoncé
“Break My Soul” was a perfect prelude to the rest of Renaissance. Crooning over bouncing Nola drums, the narrative focus of the track is on maintaining positivity throughout the struggles of daily life. A modern-day version of Oliver Cheatam’s “Saturday Night,” the lead single peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard charts. “Break My Soul” was a frustrated outcry in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, inspiring listeners to keep moving forward amidst the painful monotony and insulation of quarantine. It’s a Beyoncé dance anthem through and through, throwing it back to Studio 54.
Jack Harlow has always had a certain level of effortless swagger and bravado to his sound. Consequently, these traits have catapulted him to widespread mainstream success. Sampling Fergie’s “Glamorous,” “First Class” had the marketing armor and catchiness to be an instant hit. “First Class” sees Harlow marveling at his newfound Hollywood status, as the Louisiana native triumphantly states, “I got visions of my mom saying, ‘Wait, this house mine?’” The alpha track off of Come Home The Kids Miss You solidified Harlow as a mainstream force.
“Jimmy Cooks” – Drake ft. 21 Savage
Drake’s Honestly, Nevermind was a mixed bag of Baltimore-influenced dance tracks. However, the outro track “Jimmy Cooks” was a stark detour from the rest of the project. Amid meandering horns and heavy bass, the track quickly caught on as the commercial standout. “Jimmy Cooks” acted as a prelude to the collaborative 21 Savage effort Her Loss, eclipsing 500 million streams on Spotify. For fans that hadn’t taken to Drake’s attempts at experimentation, the track was a reminder of what he can do over a menacing trap beat.
“Kill Bill” – SZA
Grounded in the solemness of feminine icon Princess Diana, SOS was narratively focused on SZA’s struggles with loneliness and past relationships. While the record experienced wild commercial success, no track did more damage on the charts than “Kill Bill.” SZA painfully states, “Hate to see you with some other broad / know you happy” and “Rather be in Hell than alone.” Layered with lofi drums and blissful vocals from SZA, the solo track has eclipsed the billion-stream mark. Her most recent release was a long-awaited moment in her career, with fans waiting five years after the release of CTRL.
“Last Last” – Burna Boy
Burna Boy has had a swaggering, star-studded past calendar year. The African artist just got done headlining a stadium in the UK. Now he’s a Viewer’s Choice nominee at 2023’s BET Awards. “Last Last” edged Burna Boy into the UK mainstream. The track blended Afrobeats with pop, hip-hop, and R&B into what became the song of the summer. The crowning single off of his sixth studio album Love, Damini, Burna’s brazen personality and kaleidoscopic influences will make him a UK unifier for years to come.
“Super Freaky Girl” dominated the TikTok space for weeks, which makes perfect sense when listening to the tongue-in-cheek nature of the hit song. A 2023 BET Awards Viewer’s Choice nomination will be like adding a penny to your piggy bank for hip-hop icon Nicki Minaj, whose career has featured a slew of Grammy nominations and performances. “Super Freaky Girl” features an abrasiveness and crafty hook appeal, echoing a succeeding single to 2014’s “Anaconda.” Even if it doesn’t stand out as a unique sonic moment in Minaj’s deep discography, it’s experienced wild commercial success. It’s going to be a big 2023 for the queen of hip-hop, who has an album on the way later this year.
“Wait For U” – Future ft. Drake & Tems
“Wait For U” is a straightforward somber R&B cut and a slight detour from what much of Future’s I NEVER LIKED YOU sounds like. Full of melodic trap anthems, the Tems sample is undeniably the track’s highlight. However, Future and Drake each carry a subdued tone throughout “Wait For U.” Future states, “I can hear your tears when they drop over the phone,” expressing frustration at how his lifestyle gets in the way of intimate relationships. The track has morphed into the most commercially successful track from Future’s most recent project. I NEVER LIKED YOU has been widely held as one of the best records from the Atlanta icon to date.
Samuel L. Jackson has spent nearly three-quarters of a century walking the Earth, and in that time he’s achieved plenty of accolades. The multi-talent has over 200 acting credits on IMDb to his name and is known to be the second highest-grossing actor of all time, with his previous projects bringing in upwards of $27 billion across the globe. While he’s been nominated for several awards over the years, Jackson doesn’t always win (despite his immense talent). The Pulp Fiction star doesn’t seem to be too bothered by this, and even recently admitted he’d rather play the role of Marvel’s Nick Fury than pick another character just because they’re likely to earn him an Oscar.
On Sunday (June 11), Jackson was among the many famous faces on the red carpet at the Tony Awards, where he was nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play. The production the 74-year-old appeared in was directed by his wife, LaTanya, who accompanied him to the event. When it was announced that Brandon Uranowitz beat Samuel in the category, cameras caught a comedic reaction on his face, seemingly hinting that he wasn’t expecting to win in the first place.
Since the moment aired on live television, social media has been cracking jokes about the Star Wars actor. “Sam Jackson never bothers with the fake ‘I’m so happy for them’ face and honestly, I appreciate it,” one person pointed out. “Wow, Samuel L. Jackson DOES NOT want to be at the Tony’s,” another user speculated.
Thankfully, the Washington, D.C. native was later able to redeem himself while presenting the prize for Best Play along with LaTanya. During their time on the stage, he referred to himself as “Samuel L. ‘it’s an honour to be nominated’ Jackson.”
Keep scrolling to see more fan reactions to Samuel L. Jackson’s loss at the 2023 Tony Awards. Do you think the renowned actor should’ve taken home the prize over his competitors? Let us know in the comments, and make sure to check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
Sam Jackson never bothers with the fake “I’m so happy for them” face and honestly, I appreciate it. https://t.co/nmGAAyQXrF
Based on the shout out during the winner’s acceptance speech, it sounds like Jordan E. Cooper maybe should have won it for Ain’t No Mo’ https://t.co/CzjzO2NCxm
— Tammi “Did you wash your hands?” Sparks (@tammirsparks) June 12, 2023
Imagine pretending to think that Brandon Uranowitz did a better job at acting in ANY role than Samuel L.Jackson playing in an August DAMN Wilson play!
Well, the Tony Awards did just that.
— Andrew Jerell Jones, Luke 1:37 (IG:twdbk3) (@sluggahjells) June 12, 2023
wow samuel l. jackson DOES NOT want to be at the tony’s
The Razzie Awards, which took place this weekend, are the annual ceremony that celebrates the worst in film. They are the opposite of the Oscars and host their show around the same time as the Academy’s glamorous event. This year markedly saw Machine Gun Kelly and Mod Sun taking home the dubious honor of worst directors of the year for their movie Good Mourning. The film stars Colson Baker as an actor, with his real-life BFF playing his on-screen friend. It also stars Megan Fox, who is in a turbulent relationship with MGK.
The movie remains a commercial failure. It received next to no positive reviews, and many have called it a complete mess. The recording artist’s project also only made $21,348 after a short time in the theaters. Now the directors of the film get to take home an appropriate award for their directing skills. While the movie Blonde beat Good Mourning for the worst movie, it appears Andrew Dominik did a better job at directing. Aside from the aforementioned award, MGK was also nominated for the worst actor in his movie. However, he was beaten by Jared Leto.
MGK And Mod Sun Win At Losing
Machine Gun Kelly got his start in acting in 2018 and directing in 2021. His first time behind the camera was his latest venture with Mod Sun. The two seem to enjoy working on movies together, as they reunited on Good Mourning after their previous film, Downfalls High. The latter has a much better reputation than their current “award-winning” release. The former arrived in 2021 and is a dramatic musical that showcases Baker’s musical capabilities.
Along with MGK and Mod Sun, there are many others that joined the pair in winning awards this weekend – and not at the Oscars. Disney’s Pinocchio won worst remake, while Jared Leto and Tom Hanks won worst actor and supporting actor for their appearances in Morbius and Elvis, respectively. Currently, neither of the Good Mourning directors has commented publicly on their new and unflattering accolades. Make sure to check back in later as reactions to the Razzie Awards continue to pour in.
@NICKIMINAJ IS PERFORMING AT THE 2023 #VMAs, AND she’s our emcee for the night!!
pic.twitter.com/KoQaaBu6OR
IT’S OFFICIAL 
. Let’s wrap this colorism crusader talk up by 11:59 pls.
(@Fiyasohollywood) 
Wild. 
#TeamOrca (@_tembleque) 
(@tammirsparks) 
(@nicoleybrooke) 