Erica Mena Joins Fat Joe & DJ Khaled In Mourning Death Of First Son’s Father

Raul Conde, a founder of Terror Squad and the father of Erica Mena’s first child, has passed away following a long battle with illness. Following the news of his untimely loss, Mena, DJ Khaled, and Fat Joe were among those who paid their respects and tribute to him. While her family grew since then, she still expressed heartbreak for not just herself, but for their 14-year-old son King. As of writing this article, it seems like not much else is known about the circumstances behind Conde’s death. Our prayers, condolences, and best wishes go out to all those who were touched by his life and presence.

My Son officially has a broken heart…” Erica Mena wrote on her Instagram Story on Thursday (November 23) along with a picture of Conde with King. “Life is so short. Please love your people.” “Love you my brother @raul.ts,” DJ Khaled expressed in an IG post of a picture of them together. “You are very rare you the definition of a true brother friend. U always wanted to see everyone win. RAUL I LOVE YOU BROTHER! GOD BLESS. WE GOING MISS U, @raul.ts the legendary RAUL! Love for ever!”

Read More: Why Did “L&HH” Wait To Fire Erica Mena? Reality Starlet Addresses Spice Drama & Losing Her Job

Raul Conde Mourned By Erica Mena, DJ Khaled & Fat Joe

“My Day 1,” Fat Joe chimed in on the social media platform with a picture with Raul and Usher, joining Erica Mena in her grief. “How can a man love another man more than your own biological family. You are 1 of 1 the most loyal EVER. We did it since kids we did everything we dreamed of I love you with every fiber in my body. I thought we’d get old together and look back at the times we had and laugh. No one understood me like you, you we God sent my brother I wish I could get one last talk with you.

“My Condolences to the CONDE FAMILY ty for letting us have RAUL for all these years,” he concluded. “I can tell you not a moment in my life I won’t love and cherish every minute every second I’ve had with RAUL. I want everyone to with my brother a safe passage to Heaven cause he loved GOD SO MUCH. WE ARE TERROR SQUAD 4 Life I love you RAUL TILL WE MEET AGAIN.” For more news and the latest updates on Erica Mena, DJ Khaled, and Fat Joe, come back to HNHH.
Rest In Peace Raul Conde.

Read More: Fat Joe Defends Rappers Who Grew Up “Middle Class”

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​​Hip-Hop Artists Whose Cultures May Surprise Fans: Rubi Rose, 21 Savage, Bruno Mars & More

Rubi Rose, 21 Savage, Dj Khaled

Many top fan-favorite hip-hop artists have backgrounds that might surprise fans. From international upbringings to unexpected cultural influences, artists like Rubi Rose, 21 Savage, Bruno Mars, and more, have unique stories that add another layer to their music. 

Where Are They From?

Here’s a closer look at their diverse backgrounds and celebrate the cultural richness that fuels their artistry:

Rubi Rose

Rubi Rose, born Rubi Rose Benton in Lexington, Kentucky, brings a blend of cultures to her music. 

With an Eritrean immigrant mother who works as a dentist and a father of Japanese and African-American descent who works as a lawyer, Rose’s multi-racial background adds depth to her artistry. Moving to Atlanta during high school, she pursued her rap and modeling career, even appearing in the music video for the Migos hit “Bad and Boujee.”

21 Savage

Despite his strong affiliation with Atlanta, 21 Savage, born Sheyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, has a surprising origin. 

Born in London, England, to Caribbean parents who are British nationals, the rapper’s upbringing adds an unexpected twist to his music. In 2019, he faced legal challenges when it was revealed that he had been living unlawfully in the United States since his non-immigrant visa expired in 2006.

DJ Khaled

DJ Khaled, known for his hit collaborations and larger-than-life persona, also has a unique cultural background. Born and raised in New Orleans to Palestinian immigrant parents, Khaled’s Palestinian heritage sets him apart in the rap industry. 

With a deep love for hip-hop from a young age, he initially went by the name Arab Attack but changed it after the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York City. Khaled has also openly shared his devotion to the Muslim faith. With him being of Palestinian descent, DJ Khaled faced criticism from users on social media during the Israel-Palestine conflict. 

The conflict has lasted since 1948, but on October 7, 2023, Palestinian-led Hamas invaded Israel, which caused Israel to drop numerous bombs in Palestine. 

Bruno Mars

Bruno Mars, the renowned pop and R&B artist, boasts a multicultural heritage that resonates with his diverse fanbase. 

Born as Peter Gene Hernandez in Hawaii, Mars is of Puerto Rican and Jewish descent through his father, while his mother is a Filipino immigrant with Spanish ancestry.  Bruno started performing early as he appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show in the early 1990s as he played with his family’s band.

Usher

R&B legend Usher, whose real name is Usher Raymond IV, has connections to the Creole culture of Haiti, despite being born in Dallas, Texas. 

After a brief stay in Chattanooga, Tennessee during his early childhood, Usher moved to Atlanta, where he set out to pursue his singing career. With his first single, “Call Me A Mack,” released at 15 for the movie soundtrack of Poetic Justice, Usher showcased his immense talent from a young age.

Rappers Who Grew Up In Middle-Class Backgrounds

In a similar vein, the hip-hop industry has seen artists facing scrutiny for rapping about the “hood lifestyle” despite growing up in middle-class backgrounds. This contradiction highlights the complexity of artistic identities and the need to challenge assumptions about an artist’s upbringing.

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Who Is The Youngest Grammy Award Nominee?

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Today (November 10), the 2024 Grammy Awards nominee nomination list was revealed. Although Taylor Swift could be on course to make history at next year’s ceremony, a few other musicians are setting records now. For example, SZA is leading the pack with a total of nine nominations, which is a show of force by R&B. Fellow R&B vocalist Victoria Monét, Phoebe Bridgers, and Serban Ghenea are in a three-way tie for second most nominated with seven each.

But Victoria Monét’s two-year-old daughter, Hazel, has adorably stolen the spotlight. Both are on the list of first-time nominees. Now, Hazel Monét holds the crown after earning a nomination in the Best Traditional R&B Performance category. Hazel’s voice appears on her mother’s song “Hollywood,” featuring Earth, Wind, And Fire. This makes her the youngest Grammy Award nominee in the show’s history.

It was a shock when LeAnn Rimes was nominated and won her first two Grammys at 14. Boy, times have changed. In 2021, Blue Ivy Carter, the talented daughter of music titans Beyonce and Jay-Z, was considered to hold the title of youngest Grammy nominee ever. At eight years old, the budding singer appeared on her mother’s song, “Brown Skin Girl” with Wizkid and Saint Jhn. When she turned nine, she was formally nominated for the track.

During an appearance on AMP Radio in September, Victoria Monét spoke about incorporating her toddler’s voice on the track. Watch the full interview below.

DJ Khaled Says He And Tyler The Creator Are Actually On Good Terms Despite Their Alleged 2019 Beef

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Back when Tyler The Creator won his second Grammy for Best Rap Album, he made sure to troll DJ Khaled in a video on Instagram, razzing the producer, “I know you’re seething and angry and [saying], ‘Ugh, no one listens to that album!’ These arena tours that are selling out say different, and if you put that much energy into something, maybe everyone will be proud of you too.”

It had by that time become a tradition for Tyler to roast Khaled with his wins after fans determined that Khaled was angry about Tyler’s album Igor outselling his album Father Of Asahd in 2019. But in a new feature for Rolling Stone, Khaled insisted that he and Tyler are actually on good terms and that both instances were just Tyler being Tyler. According to Rolling Stone‘s Jeff Ihaza:

He also tells me he’d like to work with Tems and, surprisingly, Tyler, the Creator, with whom he says he has a good rapport, despite a social media tussle when Father of Asahd was beaten out by Tyler’s Igor on the charts in 2019. (He says they chopped it up at Jay-Z’s Roc Nation brunch earlier this year.)

The tradition of Tyler’s trolling stemmed from a 2019 video Khaled posted on Snapchat in which he addressed haters of his boisterous style and questioned what he actually does. After another rant from Khaled in which he complained that Billboard had discounted several of his album’s sales without warning, the video was reposted on Twitter and presented as a rant about Tyler’s album outselling his.

Unfortunately, once the narrative had solidified, Tyler himself joined in, and while they likely hashed out the misunderstanding behind the scenes, Tyler’s nothing if not a masterful troll, and has taken every opportunity to entertain fans with some lighthearted trash talk. Should the two actually work together for real, though, it’ll surely be a fun moment for hip-hop — especially those fans who are in on the above context.

Meek Mill And Rick Ross Locked In A Release Date For Their Joint Album ‘Too Good To Be True’

Meek Mill and Rick Ross’ upcoming joint album Too Good To Be True officially has a release date: November 10. In a new pair of videos depicting the album’s recording process, the longtime collaborators appear to be locked into the studio, where they receive visits from DJ Khaled and Diddy, who hype up the release before title cards reveal the album’s release date.

Meek and Ross first promoted the project’s impending release with their single “Shaq & Kobe,” later announcing its title and tell Apple Music’s Ebro Darden about its creation.

The project will be released by Ross’ Maybach Music Group imprint in a new partnership with Gamma, a music startup founded by veteran music execs Larry Jackson and Ike Youssef with funding from Apple and A24. The album will see Meek and Ross join forces again for the first time since 2019’s Port Of Miami 2, where Meek appeared on “Bogus Charms.”

Since then, some fans thought that a rift had formed between the two rappers when rumors surfaced that Rick Ross had trouble getting into Meek Mill’s birthday party in 2021. Meek later expressed discontent with his record deal, but Ross downplayed his comments, saying he believed they were directed at Atlantic and not MMG.

However, those rumors appeared to be unfounded; late last year, Ross joined Meek onstage to help celebrate the 10th anniversary of his debut album Dreams & Nightmares.

Too Good To Be True is out 11/10 via Maybach Music Group / Gamma.

DJ Khaled Faces Criticism For Silent Stance On Palestine Conflict

DJ Khaled

Renowned producer and musician, DJ Khaled, finds himself at the center of a debate as people question whether he will speak up for his homeland, Palestine, amidst the ongoing conflict with Israel.  Will DJ Khaled Support Palestine As a prominent figure of Palestinian descent, DJ Khaled’s silence has raised eyebrows, fueling speculation about where he […]

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DJ Khaled’s Nickelodeon-Approved ‘Supposed To Be Loved’ Video Stars Child Versions Of Future, Lil Baby, And Lil Uzi Vert

Ever since Puff Daddy employed child actors to portray The Notorious B.I.G. and himself in Biggie’s “Sky’s The Limit” video, it’s become one of rap’s favorite video formats. It’s been utilized by Danny Brown, Macklemore (twice!), and Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, and Pharrell to enormous success. Add DJ Khaled to that list, as the new video for his ‘Til Next Time single “Supposed To Be Loved” presents pint-sized versions of the producer and his guests Future, Lil Baby, and Lil Uzi Vert.

Created in partnership with Nickelodeon — where Khaled is an eternal fixture thanks to his past participation in the Kids’ Choice Awards and willingness to get slimed for a good cause — the kid-friendly video sees TikTok star Julian Shapiro-Barnum interviewing the actors about love in the style of his popular “Recess Therapy” videos. Their answers are typically innocent yet astute and hilarious and their performances are likewise adorable (its pretty obvious they only barely know the words, but they make up for it in enthusiasm). The Lil Uzi stand-in even has a little costume gem glued to his forehead. The video also premiered on Nickelodeon,l ikely giving Khaled a little more cachet with his own two kids.

Nickelodeon played a pretty big part in the spread and popularity of hip-hop with millennials thanks to shows like All That and Kenan And Kel embracing the culture with their theme songs and musical performances, so it’s nice to see them carry on tradition.

Watch DJ Khaled’s “Supposed To Be Loved” video above.

Will Drake Be On DJ Khaled’s New Album ‘Til Next Time?’

The hip-hop side of the music industry is about to get very busy soon. A slew of rap’s biggest names, from Drake to DJ Khaled to Nicki Minaj, are plotting to release new albums in the fourth quarter of 2023 (or early in 2024) and many of them have been so productive that they’re all featured on each others’ upcoming projects.

Nicki Minaj confirmed that she’s appearing on Drake’s For All The Dogs while expressing her hope that he’ll do the same for her Pink Friday 2. Meanwhile, DJ Khaled, whose albums are always star-studded events, recently revealed that his new album, Til Next Time, is going to have not just one, but two appearances from The Boy.

Will Drake Be On DJ Khaled’s New Album ‘Til Next Time?

As you can see from the video clip above, DJ Khaled seems pretty excited about having two Drake features on his next album. He even holds up a sign announcing the features as he accompanies Drake through the tunnel of an arena.

It’s sweet that Khaled still gets so excited about working with Drake, especially after the duo has racked up such an impressive collection of collaborations over the past decade-plus. While “I’m On One” marks the beginning of their musical relationship, more recently, they’ve teamed up on “Staying Alive,” “Popstar,” and “To The Max,” while they’ve made a habit of semi-trolling each other on social media.

Last November, Drake gave DJ Khaled four luxury toilets for his birthday, while this June, Khaled’s hype video for Drake’s poetry book turned into an inadvertent burn when he noted it was “a sentence.”

Beyoncé & Megan Thee Stallion Set To Blaze The Stage In Houston’s Renaissance Tour

Beyonce Megan Thee Stallion

Beyoncé has reportedly invited Megan Thee Stallion to join her on the highly anticipated Renaissance Tour in Houston, TX. This exciting news comes after the Houston Hottie dropped out of the Global Citizen Festival, choosing to join forces with Queen Bey instead.  Beyoncé x Megan Thee Stallion Megan Thee Stallion will reportedly join Beyoncé on […]

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Houston To Host Extravagant Celebration For Beyoncé’s Homecoming Show

Beyonce

The City of Houston is buzzing with excitement as it gears up to honor its very own superstar, Beyoncé, with a spectacular celebration. In a heartfelt tribute, the city has declared the upcoming weekend as ‘BeyCounty,’ a nod to both Harris County and Queen Bey’s strong roots in the area. ‘Hou Run The World’ The […]

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