birthday

Ashanti Shows Love To Ja Rule On His 47th Birthday

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Longtime friends Ashanti and Ja Rule have been in the game with one another ever since she signed to Murder Inc. more than 20 years ago. The two have taken stages worldwide over the years as they perform collaborative singles like “Always On Time,” “What’s Luv?,” and “Mesmerize.” They’re even set to headline the upcoming “I Love RNB” Festival this May out in Long Beach, Ca. Their sibling-like relationship is ever-apparent in Ashanti’s latest tribute to Ja, who celebrates his 47th birthday today.

The “Falling For You” singer uploaded photos of them performing side by side in the celebratory post. Ashanti also shared a video montage of them on stage together over the years, posting it on her Instagram Story. Ja Rule, born Feb. 29, responded to his play-sister’s posts with several heart emojis. Artists Fat Joe and Ginuwine also shouted out the Queens emcee in Ashanti’s comments.

Ashanti Celebrates Her “Big Bro” In New Post

Ahead of his birthday, Chicago lyricist Lupe Fiasco showed loved to Ja Rule as well, calling him his “favorite rapper.” Upon meeting each other backstage at a recent show, Lupe tells him “This all I need right here.” “Listen, I grew up on Ja Rule, you feel me?,” he tells nearby cameras. “I don’t give a f*ck what no motherf*cka say. Ask me who’s my favorite rapper, who I was listening to when I was coming up. Even now!” Rule then went on to express his gratitude towards Lupe, who he calls a “lyricist lyricist.”

These last two occurrences have pelted Ja Rule back into the spotlight as he prepares to hit the stage again. Ashanti, on the other hand, has been a mainstay in the headlines for her music and risqué Instagram photos. Most recently, the celebrated songwriter was spotted wearing one of ex Nelly’s signature chains. The two dated for some time over ten years ago, and now fans speculate their relationship has been rekindled. Back in December, the “Bahama Mama” appeared on The New Norm with Selena Hill and admitted she’s open to collaborating with him again. “If an opportunity presents itself to make a record and get to the bag, we’re probably gonna be all in,” she relays to the host.

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Rihanna’s BFF Melissa Forde Celebrates Singer’s 35th Birthday With Montage

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As if Rihanna didn’t already have enough to celebrate these days, today is her 35th birthday. The singer has been in a whirlwind these last few months as she prepared for her epic halftime performance at the Super Bowl. It went on without a hitch—albeit there was a major surprise when she revealed to the world that she was pregnant with her second child. Following the global attention that her recent performance gave, she’s back to being lavished with well wishes.

One person who has seen Rihanna’s evolution throughout the years, up close and personal, has been her best friend Melissa Forde. For decades, the ladies have flaunted their close friendship and doted on one another, regardless of Ri’s industry status. Not long ago, Forde shared a montage of photos showing the trips, vacations, and all-around fun times with the hitmaker.

Melissa Forde Celebrates Rihanna’s 35th Birthday With Heartwarming Post
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 28: Recording artist Rihanna and Melissa Forde attend the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for NARAS)

“Happyyy Birthdayyy to MY BFF4L @badgalriri,” Forde penned in the caption to he rpost. “Today marks not only your 35th Fine Ass birthday but 20 years of friendship/sisterhood!! Y’all already know how I’m coming behind mines no questions asked!! Love you for life Rob to 20 more years of friendship and many many more years of life and blessings! ❤❤🥳🥳🎉🎊🎈🎁🎊🎊🎉🎈🎈🎉🎊🎉🎈.”

As any bestie does, Forde has praised each and every one of Rihanna’s accomplishments. She shared a photo of herself at the Super Bowl with a camera in hand, along with other press photographers. In that caption, she noted just how monumental a moment Rihanna’s performance was for the Caribbean.

Forde Praises Super Bowl Performance

“Truly a surreal moment for the entire Caribbean!!” she wrote. “MYY BESTIEEE & sister @badgalriri performed for the NFL Halftime SuperBowl Show!! A memory that will live foreverrr in time!! Yes I shed gangster tears because no words could ever explain how proud I am now and always to call you my friend. 🇧🇧🇧🇧🇧🇧#Caribbeanstandup.”

Megan Thee Stallion Spotted Celebrating Her Birthday

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Classy, bougie and ratchet Megan Thee Stallion celebrated her 28th birthday on February 15th. The Aquarius rapper was spotted out on her b-day in a ridiculously gorgeous orange, yellow, and black printed body-con dress. Surprised Megan humbly reacted to her secret birthday celebration, captured on video by DJ Akademiks. Despite recent news circulating around Megan’s current legal battles, this hot girl has a lot to celebrate this year. The 3-time Grammy award-winning artist recently made history as the first black woman to be featured on the cover of Forbes. Her cover commemorates her recognition on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in 2019. Megan reflected in the interview, “I’ll take a break when I’m dead. I’m trying to really build something.”

Just a year ago on Meg’s 27th birthday, she announced the launch of her philanthropic endeavor, the Pete and Thomas Foundation. The “Hot Girl Summer” rapper has been known for her charitable actions over her years in the spotlight. Meg has focused on giving back to the Houston community and helping others achieve higher education goals. She herself has prioritized education, and even with a successful music career under wraps, obtained a degree in health administration.

Meg Surprised By Friends

This year, Meg’s entourage surprised her with an intimate dinner, and from DJ Akademiks’s clip, it’s easy to see she was showered with love. But even with the rapid growth of her career over the last 4 years, Megan still has faced unfortunate circumstances that have been made especially apparent in 2023. With continuing legal troubles between the hit-maker and her current label, Roc Nation, Megan still is struggling with her lawsuit. She remains under Roc Nation’s contract despite the deal falling below industry standards. Additionally, Megan has slyly hinted at the ending of her 2-year relationship with Pardison Fontaine, who she unfollowed last week. Making matters even more complicated is the rampant apologies Meg has received in recent weeks from celebrities who spoke poorly of her during the Tory Lanez shooting controversy.

All in all, Megan is a tough cookie who has rightfully earned her spot as a top-charting artist today. We’re sure the 28 will conspire incredible new steps in Meg’s career, based on her hard work and dedication to the game. For all of the latest Megan Thee Stallion news, be sure to keep up with Hot New Hip Hop!

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Tinashe Goes Topless On The Beach For 30th Birthday

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For nearly two decades, Tinashe’s been grinding through the entertainment industry. It began when she appeared in Polar Express with Tom Hanks in 2004. Since then, she had brief stints as a member of a girl group, expanded into her solo career, and later took off as a celebrated artist in her own life. However, she’s continued to prove that she’s one of the hardest-working women in the music industry since then, especially after embarking on a journey as an independent artist.

Though she’s two years removed from her last studio album, 333, she’s continued on a relentless grind in the past year. She joined Flume on tour and delivered several records throughout the year, including the deluxe edition of her 2021 project. Then, she joined Snakehips on “Who’s Gonna Love You” after linking up with Calvin Harris and Offset on “New To You.” Needless to say, she’s been working hard and certainly deserves to celebrate the fruits of her label.

Happy Birthday, Tinashe!

Tinashe caught everyone’s attention this week when she celebrated her birthday on February 6th. The singer reached a huge milestone as she officially turned 30 years old. The singer dropped a spicy picture of herself on a beach with her hands covering her bare breasts. Tinashe’s rocking a neon green bikini bottom and matching sunglasses as she grins from ear to ear. Elsewhere, Tinashe highlighted her birthday dinner, a pic with her family and friends, and a hilarious clip where she’s performing karaoke. 

The timeline undoubtedly appreciated the thirst trap-esque post. She captioned the post, “Dirty, flirty and thriving,” along with a blue heart emoji and a birthday cake. Moreover, there are plenty of individuals who appreciate her. Rubi Rose, Kaytranada, and Jojo slid in the comments to wish her a happy birthday. Meanwhile, Hitmaka hinted that the two have some music sitting in the vault, writing, “Hbd Nashe. Let’s give ‘em what they want.” At 30, Tinashe’s undoubtedly accomplished more than most would in their lifetimes and looks great at the same time. Check out Tinashe’s birthday post above and let us know your favorite Tinashe song in the comment section below.

Kylie Jenner & Travis Scott Face Backlash For Kids’ Astroworld Birthday Party

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Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott recently celebrated their children’s birthdays, but faced some backlash as well. Moreover, the birthday parties for Stormi, 5, and Aire, 1, featured an inflatable blow-up head much like the iconography for Astroworld. Of course, Travis’s reimagining of the closed Six Flags Houston theme park spanned an album, merch, and a festival as well. However, given the tragedy that occurred at the festival’s last incarnation, many believe these decorations are in poor taste. Ten people lost their lives at Astroworld, and it continues to loom over the ex-couple.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 15: Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott attend the 2022 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 15, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

Still, Kylie’s birthday posts for her children touched and charmed many. After all, people just learned Aire’s name recently, so there’s fresh baby fever at play. For Aire, she penned his first birthday message from his mother. “AIRE, she wrote. “my son, my moon, my stars. best year of my life with you. you complete us my angel. mommy loves you. happy 1st birthday. may God always bless you.” Meanwhile, she shared an equally sweet message for her firstborn, Stormi Webster. “i gave you the gift of life and life gave me the gift of you,” the makeup mogul expressed. “the most special girl. this little face. i will miss it as it keeps changing. 5 years of loving you and forever more to go. i will always be there for you storm girl.”

However, these birthday celebrations came under fire from people who still remember what happened at Astroworld. Moreover, Kylie shared some pictures and videos of their joint party, and users quickly noticed the inflatable Astroworld head. Of course, it’s not the first time this sort of backlash came against the couple for their branding. Stormi’s previous birthday celebrations also featured the inflatable, although Kylie disposed it four months after the tragedy. Furthermore, according to Page Six, this party was unicorn-themed, but the iconography is still hard to swallow.

Regardless, what did you think of Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott facing backlash for Astroworld decorations at their children’s birthday party? Whatever the case, let us know in the comments down below. Also, as always, log back into HNHH for the latest news, gossip and next moves from Travis and Kylie.

Kid Cudi Celebrates 39th Birthday With Jaden Smith, Jenna Ortega & More

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Kid Cudi celebrated his 39th birthday alongside several high-profile celebrities at a party on Sunday. Jaden Smith, Jenna Ortega, and more were all in attendance to support Cudi.

For the event, Cudi rocked a red and blue varsity jacket from his clothing line, Members of the Rage [MOTR].

INDIO, CA – APRIL 12: Kid Cudi performs as part of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at The Empire Polo Club on April 12, 2014 in Indio, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/WireImage)

Kid Cudi has been friends with Jaden Smith for years. As for Jenna Ortega, the two recently worked together on the film, X.

Coincidentally, during the same weekend Consequence revealed some other birthday-related drama involving Kid Cudi. Speaking with The Art of Dialogue. Cons revealed that Cudi once called Drake “fucking corny” at a birthday celebration for Kanye West.

“Drake is like, ‘Yo, it’s just a pleasure to be around y’all and I appreciate y’all embracing me. I grew up watching all your videos. It’s a dream come true,’” Cons recalled. “Cudi right here like, ‘Man, fuck that n***a. That n-gga’s pussy, yo. Why he even here? Fuck’s wrong with this n***a, man? Get this n***a the fuck outta here, he’s so fucking corny.’”

As for new music, Cudi recently suggested that his 2022 Entergalactic album would be his last.

“The Kid Cudi stuff, I think I want to put it on the back burner and chill out with that,” he told Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, before adding, “I think, I want to be done with it. I think, closing the chapter on Kid Cudi.”

Cudi wasn’t the only celebrity to celebrate their birthday on Sunday. Oprah Winfrey also partied with Kim Kardashian, Lori Harvey, and more in honor of her 69th birthday.

Check out a clip from Kid Cudi’s birthday celebration below.

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Consequence Claims Kid Cudi Called Drake “Corny” At Kanye West’s Birthday

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Consequence says that Kid Cudi once called Drake “fucking corny” at a birthday party for Kanye West. During an interview with The Art of Dialogue, Consequence detailed the incident.

He explained that the group had been celebrating at a restaurant in New York City, shortly after working on Drake’s “Best I Ever Had” music video in 2009.

“Drake is like, ‘Yo, it’s just a pleasure to be around y’all and I appreciate y’all embracing me. I grew up watching all your videos. It’s a dream come true,’” Cons recalled. “Cudi right here like, ‘Man, fuck that n***a. That n***a’s pussy, yo. Why he even here? Fuck’s wrong with this n***a, man? Get this n***a the fuck outta here, he’s so fucking corny.’”

LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 22: Consequence of A Tribe Called Quest performs onstage during day 2 of FYF Fest 2017 at Exposition Park on July 22, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for FYF)

Cons went on to say that the two have been at odds for years. He chalked up the reasoning to “a competitive rivalry” over “music, attention, clout, and prestige.”

He added: “There’s been animosity, envy for years…It’s really crazy how it’s manifested over the years. When I seen Cudi and Drake in the ‘Pursuit of Happiness’, I was like, what I’ma do? Call Drake and be like, ‘Yo, you know he don’t really fuck with you like that?’”

Drake and Cudi have publically thrown shade at one another several times over the years. However, back in August, Cudi clarified some of his latest remarks that were interpreted as a diss. He explained that he’s “got love” for the Toronto rapper.

Check out Consequence’s interview with The Art of Dialogue below.

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Kim Kardashian, Lori Harvey, & More Attend Oprah’s 69th Birthday

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Oprah Winfrey celebrated her 69th birthday over the weekend, alongside a number of high-profile celebrities. Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Lori Harvey, and more were all in attendance.

The event was also put on to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Anastasia Soare’s famed beauty brand, Anastasia Beverly Hills. During the night, Oprah was presented with a lavish birthday cake.

Others to make appearances at the celebration included Sofia Vergara, Priyanka Chopra, Jessica Alba, Heidi Klum, and Rita Wilson.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – DECEMBER 12: Oprah Winfrey is seen on stage during her ‘An Evening With Oprah’ tour at Allphones Arena on December 12, 2015, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Don Arnold/WireImage)

Reflecting on her birthday in a post on her website, Oprah explained that she feels better than ever.

“Today, as many of you know, is my 69th birthday. For me, it is such a reward to be turning 69 and to be strong and healthy. This time last year, I was getting over a double knee operation, and now I have never felt better,” Oprah wrote in the post on her website. “As I turn 69, I choose not to focus on the number. For me, the number has always just been a marker. Instead, I choose to celebrate the time I’ve spent living, taking note of all the shifts, the wins, the accomplishments, how much I’ve grown over the past year and I look forward to all that is to come.”

“Next year I’m going be turning 70. Where do I want to be by the time I hit 70? What do I want to accomplish this year? How do I want to feel? May I suggest you think about these things, too?” she continued. “And as I’ve said, with each birthday, you get to decide whether to mark it as the end of your greatest days or the beginning of your finest hours. I choose the latter and hope that you do too because each trip around the sun gifts us with a new beginning.”

Check out posts from Oprah Winfrey’s birthday celebration below.

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Alicia Keys Celebrates Birthday In A Bikini, Swizz Beatz Gifts Her With A Song

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When it comes to celebrating birthdays, Swizz Beatz always makes sure Alicia Keys is honored as best as possible. This week, the acclaimed singer rang in another trip around the sun, and on Instagram, her husband showered her with affection in a way that only he could.

The megaproducer partnered with rapper Marv Milly to create a song in honor of Key’s 42nd birthday. The production remixed several of the hitmaker’s favorites as Milly spit bars about Keys, her impact, and her fearlessness.

Read More: Swizz Beatz Shares Adorable Anniversary Post With Alicia Keys

In the video posted, a montage of Keys in her youth, performing, and her music videos were included.

“Let’s 1st start this amazing Queens Bday with a dedication song thx @forevermarvmilly 🙏🏽,” Swizz wrote in the caption. “Happy Birthday to my amazing wife @aliciakeys 🎂🎂 I wish you many many more years of greatness and Epic blessings . You know we about to go crazy 🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🎂🎂🎂🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂 Everybody wish AK happy Bday let’s go🍾🎉🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎉🎂🎂🎂🎉🎉🎉🍾🍾🎉🎉🎂🎂 stay tuned 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜.”

Milly also shared the video and added, “[Swizz], It’s an honor to honor your Queen/Wife @aliciakeys.”

NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 25: Producer/philanthropist Swizz Beatz and his wife recording artist Alicia Keys (R) attend Haute Living Honors its partner Swizz Beatz with a Louis XIII experience on October 25, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Fernando Leon/Getty Images for Haute Living)
Read More: Swizz Beatz Surprises Alicia Keys With $400K Egyptian Queen-Inspired Chain

Keys also gave a slight reveal of how she spent her big day. She posed beachside in a bikini on what looked to be a tropical vacation.

Check out a few fun moments from the birthday celebrations below.

Brian McKnight Welcomes Baby Boy With Wife Leilani

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Brian McKnight and his wife, Leilani Malia Mendoza, have welcomed a baby boy to the family. The two made the announcement on Instagram, Monday.

The couple made the announcement alongside a photo of the two making a heart with their hands around the infant’s hand.

“‘For this child we have prayed and the Lord has granted us the desires of our hearts’ 1 Samuel 1:27 God’s greatest gift, our son is here!!!” the couple captioned the post. “Brian Kainoa Makoa McKnight. We are so in love!!!!”

PHOENIX, AZ – MARCH 23: Brian McKnight speaks onstage during Celebrity Fight Night XXV on March 23, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Celebrity Fight Night)

McKnight and Mendoza already share a son, Jack, and daughter, Julia. McKnight is also the father of Brian Jr. and Niko with ex-wife, Julie McKnight. The two were married from 1990 through 2003.

McKnight and Mendoza previously revealed that they had experienced a pregnancy loss in a Mother’s Day post.

“The strength I saw in you through the loss of our son and the courage to deal with the hardest loss we’ve ever dealt with in our lives has been truly remarkable,” McKnight wrote.

He continued at the time: “Baby, you are the greatest example of being a mother I’ve ever witnessed. Today was supposed to be Kekoa’s due date, and I know how hard him not being here in the flesh with us is weighing incredibly heavy on us, but I know he is with us just like Julia and Jack are , as shining examples of your exceptional motherhood.”

McKnight and Mendoza began dating back in 2014. They announced their engagement three years later in May 2017.

Check out Brian McKnight and Leilani Malia Mendoza’s announcement on Instagram below.

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